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Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Toshiba's HD DVD Promotional Campaign In Japan

From November 1, 2007 to January 31, 2008, Toshiba will begin a marketing campaign in Japan that offers a free copy of "Transformers" HD DVD for every HD DVD recorder/player purchased.

Gifts for every RD-A301 purchased:
  • Transformers (2007) HD DVD
  • Original Transformers action figure
  • 5 Blank HD DVD-R discs
  • 5 Blank DVD-R discs

Gifts for every RD-A600/300 purchased:

  • Transformers (2007) HD DVD
  • 5 Blank HD DVD-R discs
  • 5 Blank DVD-R discs

Gifts for every HD-XF2/XA2 purchased:

  • Transformers (2007) HD DVD

Full details here.

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New Hard Disk Recorder with HD DVD And "HD Rec" in Japan

Toshiba Corporation today announced the launch of a new digital video recorder (DVR) with HD DVD drive that integrates key new features that bring greater freedom of recording to the HD DVD, including recording of HD video to standard DVD discs. The new DVR, HD DVD VARDIA RD-A301, integrates HD Transcoder, which achieves longer recording time for high-definition (HD) video, and also supports"HD Rec", which allows recording of HD video to standard DVD discs in HD quality. The RD-A301 will be available in the Japanese market in the middle of December, and advance orders will be accepted from November 1.

The RD-A301 integrates an HD Transcoder that converts MPEG2 video, the standard for digital HD broadcasts, to MPEG4 AVC, a high-efficiency video compression technology that supports longer recording times while maintaining picture quality. As a result, longer HD videos can be recorded to HD DVD-R discs. The DVR also supports "HD Rec", which facilitates recording of HD video on conventional DVD discs, such as DVD-R discs.

The new DVR also integrates an HD DVD recordable drive that supports recording and playback of HD DVD-R, DVD-R, DVD-RAM and DVD-RW discs, allowing consumers to record to various kinds of DVD discs. The powerful combination of these capabilities with the new HD Transcoder and "HD Rec" offers viewers a wide range of choices of recording media, including highly affordable DVD discs.

The RD-A301 also supports dual recording of HD broadcasts, a very popular feature of earlier VARDIA models, and can record two digital HD broadcasts simultaneously. This is a must-have feature when viewers want to record two programs that are on at the same time. The new DVR also achieves significant advances in downsizing, with a height of only 69mm.

From November 1, 2007 to January 31, 2008, Toshiba will run a HD DVD player and recorder marketing campaign that will include a free HD DVD of "Transformers", this year's mega-hit movie, for purchasers of a relevant HD DVD product who register for the campaign.

Full details and key technical specifications of this DVR on this Toshiba press release.



Click on the preview image above for a larger view of the back.

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Details of 'Amateurs' & 'King Of California' HD DVDs

King Of California HD DVD will be available to own in North America, come January 29, priced at $34.98 a piece. Specific details follow...

  • 1080p High Definition 16x9 1.85:1
  • Dolby Digital-Plus 5.1 (English) & DTS 5.1 (English)
  • Special features:
    - "Making of" featurette
    - Outtakes
    - Commentary Audio with writer/director Mike Cahill & his production team
    - Previews

The Amateurs HD DVD will be available to own in North America, come February 12, at $34.98 a piece. Specific details follow...

  • 1080p High Definition 16x9 1.85:1
  • Dolby Digital-Plus 5.1 (English)
  • Special features (subject to change):
    - "Making of" featurette
    - Previews

Specific details are subject to change.

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Tuesday, October 30, 2007

New Line Confirms 'Mr. Woodcock' On HD DVD


New Line Home Entertainment has officially announced that they will release Mr. Woodcock on HD DVD soon, though it will not be day-and-date with the DVD release on January 15.

Details of the single-disc HD DVD release ($35.99 SRP):

  • 1080p High Definition 16x9 2.35:1
  • DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 (English)
  • English [SDH] & Spanish subtitle options
  • Bonus material include:
    - “Making-of” documentary
    - Deleted scenes
    - P.E. “Trauma Tales” featurette
    - Theatrical trailer
    - Web Enabled Features (HD DVD-exclusive)

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Monday, October 29, 2007

An Update On Japanese HD DVD Releases of 'Harry Potter' films

Just wanted to mention that, in Japan, the first 3 installments of Harry Potter film series has just been removed from Warner's High-Definition release slate.

That would mean, on November 21, only Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire will be available to own in high-definition on HD DVD in Japan. The previously reported disc specification for the Japanese HD DVD release of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix remains unchange - it will still be a 2-disc HD DVD set.

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HD DVDs Released This Tuesday




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Friday, October 26, 2007

Some Interesting Reads Around The Web - Transformers HD DVD

  • The Washington Times has an article that covers the HD DVD-exclusive features found on the Transformers HD DVD, calling the 2-disc HD DVD set a "technologically advanced two-disc wonder that Optimus Prime would appreciate".

  • The screenshots of Transformers 2-disc HD DVD with the HD DVD-exclusive features in action are provided below... Many thanks to 'piturra' - a forum poster on AV Science and HD DVD Format Discussion forums - for taking the time and effort to produce these screenshots. You can view the rest of them on this thread in the HD DVD Format Forum. More screenshots taken by other posters on the AV Science Forum can be found on this thread. In my opinion, the discs are on the whole absolutely awesome! To me, it certainly is more than meets the eye...

Release Dates for Transformers (2007) HD DVD:

  • Australia - November 1
  • Germany - December 10
  • Japan - December 19
  • Netherlands - December 13
  • North America - October 16
  • United Kingdom - December 3

Please note that the screenshots/images of the Transformers HD DVD are reproduced here on this blog for informational purposes only. No copyright infringement is intended.

Last post for the week...

Quick Updates On HD DVD Releases

  • German HD DVD release of Death at a Funeral will be available to own, come December 5. Full details here.

  • The release date for The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Live At Monterey (The Definitive Edition) has been moved to November 26 as confirmed by some of the online retailers. Details of this HD DVD release has been updated.

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Thursday, October 25, 2007

Toshiba (Europe) Updates Firmware of HD-E1, HD-EP10 & HD-XE1 to v2.5 (Updated Oct 25)

If you've been faithfully checking for v2.5 firmware update via the (HD-E1, HD-EP10 or HD-XE1) HD DVD player's ethernet connection over the past day or so, you'd have realised that the update is finally available via the proper channels.

This firmware update includes support for 1080p/24Hz OUTPUT (for HD-XE1 and HD-EP10), additional OSD languages, improved network connectivity supporting the download of web-enabled network content associated with certain HD DVD discs, and also addresses certain disc playback and HDMI/DVI related issues identified by Toshiba.

If you're new to this entire firmware update routine, you may want to check this out. This PDF document explains to you how you can obtain the latest firmware update (in this case, version 2.5) for your HD-E1, HD-EP10 and HD-XE1 HD DVD players. Installation instructions are also provided in the same document.

If you're already familiar with entire firmware update routine, Toshiba has provided the update information sheets that indicate to you what exactly has been changed after you have installed the update on your HD DVD player. For HD-E1; HD-EP10; HD-XE1

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'Death at a Funeral' On HD DVD In Germany, December 5

Sterben für Anfänger (or Death at a Funeral) (2007)
  • 1080p High Definition 16x9 1.85:1
  • DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (German) & DTS-HD 5.1 (English)
  • Optional German subtitles
  • Bonus material include:
    - Interviews
    - Photo galleries
    - Production Notes
    - Cast & Crew Information
    - German and U.S. Theatrical trailers.

You may refer to this post for a list of HD DVD titles released in other territories...

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Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Japanese HD DVD Release of 'Top Gun'

We've previously posted that the Japanese HD DVD release of Top Gun is unique because it reportedly contains a discrete 6.1-channel Dolby TrueHD audio track, plus an audio commentary, presumably ported over from the DVD release.

Since the disc will officially be available to own in Japan from October 26 (this Friday), we would like to seek confirmation from readers who have received the disc with regards to the presence of the above-mentioned audio specification and features.

You may post your response in this forum thread. Kindly also provide snapshot(s) of the HD DVD cover plus the disc, as proof of ownership. Thanks in advance.

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'Bridge to Terabithia' Available Now On HD DVD In Italy

This may not be news to some of our readers... but we're posting this to benefit those who do not know about this.

In Italy, Mondo Home Entertainment has released Bridge to Terabithia on HD DVD. The HD DVD is now available to own for € 29,90 RRP each. Specific details follow...
  • 1080p High Definition 16x9 2.35:1
  • DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (English & Italian)
  • Bonus material includes:
    - Interviews with cast and crew
    - Teasers, trailers & TV spots

The Italian film, La tigre e la neve, starring Roberto Benigni, is also available to own on HD DVD, for €21.90 each. Specific details follow...

  • 1080p High Definition 16x9 2.35:1
  • DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (Italian)
  • Italian (HOH) subtitle option
  • Bonus material includes (Pending confirmation):
    - Interviews with cast
    - Filmography
    - Production featurettes
    - Trailer
    - Photo gallery

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v2.5 Firmware Update for HD-E1 Sold in SE-Asia, Hong Kong and India

Toshiba has released the v2.5 firmware update for HD-E1 HD DVD players sold in the following regions/countries - Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and India.

This firmware update includes support for additional OSD languages, improved network connectivity supporting the download of web-enabled network content associated with certain HD DVD discs, and also addresses certain disc playback and HDMI/DVI related issues identified by Toshiba.

There is still no news on a firmware update for the HD-EP10/XE1 sold in some parts of East Asia.

Full details here.

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Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Newly Restored Classic Films From Bob Hope & Bing Crosby On HD DVD, this Feb 19

Both Road to Rio and Road to Bali, will be available to own in high-definition exclusively on the Bob Hope & Bing Crosby Double Feature HD DVD, come February 19, 2008. This HD DVD title will be priced at $19.98 SRP. According to information provided to us, these two films are newly restored and mastered in high-definition for this HD DVD release.

Road to Bali (1952/Color/91 mins)

- TOGETHER AGAIN!...in the BEST and FUNNIEST "Road" Picture Yet!

Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, and Dorothy Lamour team up in their sixth "Road" picture, Road to Bali, which was the only film in the series to be shot in color. Hope and Crosby star as two out-of-work vaudeville performers who are on the lam. The two are hired by a South Seas prince as deep-sea divers in order to recover a buried treasure. They meet beautiful Princess Lala (Lamour) and vie for her affections. Of course, the boys run into the usual perils such as cannibals, a giant squid, and numerous cameos from some of Hollywood's biggest stars.

Road to Rio (1947/B&W/100 Min)

- Si, Si ! It's the maddest, merriest "Road" picture of all! You'll See!

To avoid being charged with arson after burning down a circus, Hot Lips Barton (Bob Hope) and Scat Sweeney (Bing Crosby) stow away on an ocean bound ship. Aboard the vessel, the duo fall for Lucia Maria de Andrade (Dorothy Lamour), who is under the spell of her evil aunt (Gale Sondergaard). The aunt has arranged a marriage for the young beauty.

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'Galaxina' Back On Track for HD DVD, this Feb 19

Galaxina - The 26th Anniversay Special Edition will be available to own in high-definition exclusively on HD DVD (non-combo), come February 19, 2008 (instead of January 8). The disc is expected to retail for $19.98 SRP. Specific details (subject to change) are as follows...
  • 1080p High Definition 16x9 2.35:1
  • Dolby Digital-Plus 5.1 (English)
    Dolby Digital Mono (English)
  • Audio Commentary with Writer/Director William Sachs and Star Stephen Macht (Thor)
  • Audio Interview with William Sachs by Stephen Norquist
  • Four Still Galleries and Storyboards
  • Two complete scripts (original script and shooting script)
  • 6 Page Booklet with Stills and a Biography of Dorothy R. Stratten
  • Additional Footage From the International Cut
  • Trailer

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HD DVDs Released This Tuesday






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Monday, October 22, 2007

Universal Studios Confirm Disc Specs of Two Comedy HD DVDs

Mr Bean's Holiday HD DVD/DVD Combo will be released on November 6. The HD DVD version will contain a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 audio track. Full details here.

Come December 18, Balls of Fury will be available to own in high-definition exclusively on HD DVD/DVD Combo disc. The HD DVD version will also contain a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 audio track. Full details here.

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'Bug' (2006) On HD DVD In Germany, December 6

Bug (2006) HD DVD
  • 1080p High Definition 16x9 1.85:1
  • DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (German) & DTS-HD 5.1 (English)
  • German (HOH) subtitle option
  • Bonus material include:
    - Director’s Commentary
    - Interview/Discussion with director William Friedkin
    - BUG: An Introduction
    - Behind the scenes und Interviews

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More Music HD DVDs...

...in the United Kingdom.

In addition to the Jimi Hendrix Experience - Live At Monterey HD DVD, both Take That - The Ultimate Tour and ABBA - The Movie (1977) will also be available to own in high-definition on HD DVD, come October 29, at £19.99 RRP each.


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Snowboarding Action Film 'First Descent' On HD DVD In Germany

First Descent (2005) will be available to own in high-definition exclusively on HD DVD in Germany, this October 26.

Follow five snowboarding icons (Shaun White, Hannah Teter, Terje Haakonsen, Shawn Farmer and Nick Perata) on this epic Alaskan journey as they ride the most challenging and dangerous mountains on the planet. Featuring some of the most jaw-dropping snowboard footage ever caught on film, this incredible motion picture tracks the rebellious, inspiring and sometimes controversial evolution of snowboarding from an underground American movement to a full-fledged global phenomenon.

Specific details follow...
  • 1080p High Definition 16x9 2.35:1
  • DTS-HD 5.1 (English & German)
  • Bonus material include:
    - Making Of
    - Extended Snowboarding Action
    - Promo Reel
    - Deleted Scenes
    - Trailer

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Friday, October 19, 2007

Some interesting reads around the web...

  • Our friends over at HighDefDiscNews.com has uploaded their review of Face/Off 2-disc Special Collector's Edition HD DVD. You may read the review here.

  • Microsoft and Toshiba working on an upcoming Xbox with built-in HD DVD playback capabilities? Read the full article here (SmartHouse).

  • Blu-ray vs. HD DVD: a Solution Abroad (Wall Street Journal) - The article explains how imports, especially HD DVD imports, defeats the content exclusivity problem.

  • And lastly, just encountered an interesting site that allows you to examine how a person's love of USB gadgets can get seriously unhealthy.... Humor aside, the website was created by the USB Implementers Forum to promote USB.

Our HD DVD Release List is updated with the latest information. This will be the last post for the week... Will be back next Monday.

Quick Updates... (Updated)

Shortly after Universal announced White Noise on HD DVD earlier this week, it has now indicated that White Noise 2 will also be available to own in high-definition exclusively on HD DVD. This will be a HD DVD/DVD Combo release priced at $39.98 SRP and should be expected to arrive at retail before 1st quarter of 2008 ends.

Extras include deleted scenes and featurettes/documentaries - The Making of White Noise 2, Journey into Madness & Exploring Near-Death Experience. This HD DVD also contains web-enabled features that allows you to get connected to download exclusive content, trailers and updates directly to your HD DVD player.

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Mendelssohn - A Midsummer Night's Dream Ballet HD DVD from Opus Arte will be available to own in North America, starting November 20 at $39.95* SRP each (* subject to change). The main feature on both titles will be presented in 1080i High Definition 16:9 Anamorphic video. Both Dolby TrueHD 5.1 & 2.0 audio options are provided. Bonus material on Mendelssohn - A Midsummer Night's Dream HD DVD is limited to the cast gallery.

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Early Details of 'The Bourne Ultimatum' HD DVD (Updated)


[September 28, 2007] Originally posted
[October 19, 2007] Updated with screenshots

As with Bourne Identity and Bourne Supremacy HD DVDs, The Bourne Ultimatum HD DVD will contain Universal Studios' HD DVD-exclusive U-Control interactivity. At this moment in time, we are able to confirm that the U-Control interactivity package for this title also includes picture-in-picture instant access to video featurettes/commentary.

Also look out for the web-enabled features on the HD DVD, such as sharing of favorite scenes on The Bourne Ultimatum HD DVD with buddies on your pre-defined buddy list via Best Buddies/My Scenes. Other movie-related downloadable content could also be expected. Just click on the screenshot to get a better view.


Other production featurettes and documentaries present on the disc includes Man on the Move - Jason Bourne, Rooftop Pursuit, New York Chase, Planning the Punches, Driving School, etc. Plus an audio commentary by the director.

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Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Third Installment of Anime 'Freedom' On HD DVD, December 11

Bandai Visual USA has announced that Freedom Vol. 3 will be available to own in high-definition exclusively on HD DVD, this December 11.

Freedom Vol. 3
  • 1 Single-sided disc (HD DVD/DVD Twin Format Disc*) / $39.99 SRP
  • Main feature on the HD DVD layer will be presented in 1080p High Definition Widescreen 16x9 (VC-1 Encode) video with Dolby Digital-Plus 5.1 (Japanese) & L-PCM 2.0 (Japanese) audio options.
  • English subtitle option is provided.
  • Bonus material include:
    - FREEDOM 2 Digest (Internet connection required)
    - FREEDOM 3 TV Commercial Flash (Internet connection required)
    - Next Episode Trailer (Also present on the DVD layer)

* The HD DVD/DVD Twin format disc is a single-sided disc with both the high-definition and standard definition versions of the main feature on one side. When the disc is inserted into an HD DVD player, you may select the version you would like to watch. On a DVD player, it will just play back the standard definition version stored on the DVD layer of the disc.

Bandai Visual USA has also provided a list of bonus materials for Freedom Vol. 1 & 2 HD DVDs that can be downloaded to your HD DVD player over the Internet via the HDi network functionality present on every HD DVD player.

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'Artic Tale' On HD DVD, December 4

Paramount Home Entertainment has announced that Arctic Tale (2007) will be available to own in high-definition exclusively on HD DVD, come December 4, at $39.99 SRP each.
  • 1080p High Definition 1.85:1
  • Dolby Digital-Plus 5.1 (English, French & Spanish)
  • English [SDH], French, Portuguese & Spanish subtitle options
  • Special Features include:
    - Making of Arctic Tale
    - "Are We There Yet? World Adventure: Polar Bear Spotting"
    - Theatrical Trailer (HD)
(HD) - Presented in high-definition.

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First Firmware Update for Toshiba's Third-Gen HD DVD Players

Toshiba America has just released the v1.1 firmware update for HD-A3/D3, HD-A30 & HD-A35 HD DVD players.

This firmware update improves network connectivity for supporting the download of web-enabled network content associated with certain HD DVD discs, improves certain video and audio processing capabilities, and also addresses certain disc playback and HDMI/DVI related issues identified by Toshiba.

Important Note: Certain HD DVD discs may contain or have the capability of downloading studio-provided, web-enabled network content. To minimize any potential compatibility and/or connectivity issues, before viewing such content, it is recommended that you perform the firmware update process to ensure that your HD DVD player is using the latest firmware version.

Full instructions on how to obtain and install the firmware update via this webpage.

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Universal Studios' First Wave Of HD DVDs for January '08

Universal Studios Home Entertainment has announced White Noise, The Pianist and Mobsters available to own in high-definition exclusively on HD DVD, come January 8, 2008. All of them are non-combo HD DVD releases priced at $29.98 SRP each. Specific details follow:

Mobsters (1991)

  • 1080p High Definition Widescreen 1.85:1
  • Dolby TrueHD 5.1 (English)
    Dolby Digital Plus (5.1 English and 2.0 French)
  • English [SDH] & French subtitle options

The Pianist (2002)

  • 1080p High Definition Widescreen 1.85:1
  • Dolby TrueHD 5.1 (English)
    Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 (English & French)
  • English [SDH] & French subtitle options
  • Bonus Material include:
    - The Story of Survival

White Noise (2005)

  • 1080p High Definition Widescreen 2.35:1
  • Dolby TrueHD 5.1 (English)
    Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 (English & French)
  • English [SDH] & French subtitle options
  • Bonus Material include:
    - Feature Commentary with Director Geoffrey Sax and Michael Keaton
    - Making Contact: E.V.P. Experts
    - Recording the Afterlife at Home
    - Hearing is Believing: Actual E.V.P. Sessions
    - Deleted Scenes with Optional Director's Commentary

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Jimi Hendrix Experience ‘Live at Monterey’ 40th Anniversary Theatrical Launch Event

In conjunction with the launch of the DVD and HD DVD release, the Jimi Hendrix Experience ‘Live at Monterey’ 40th Anniversary Theatrical Launch Event will be held at London Hippodrome (10-14 Cranbourn Street, London, WC2H 7JH) in the United Kingdom on Thursday October 25th, 7.45pm.

The event begins with a major theatrical simulcast featuring Hendrix’s legendary Monterey footage that will be screened at 7:45pm, followed by an hour-long live concert performed by an all-star band featuring guitarist Gary Moore, and surviving Jimi Hendrix Experience members, Mitch Mitchell (drums) and Billy Cox (the bassist who also played in the Band of Gypsys), plus Darrin Mooney (drums with Primal Scream) and Dave Bronze (bass). Eddie Kramer, Hendrix’ original recording engineer responsible for all of Jimi’s seminal studio albums, will handle the 5.1 Surround Sound mix at the cinecast at the Hippodrome.

This exclusive, historic, and one-time only theatrical music film event and tribute concert to one of rock'n'roll's greatest electric guitarists, will receive a simultaneous pan-European HD broadcast to cinemas screens (including selected VUE cinema screens around the UK) in hi-definition and 5.1 Surround Sound.

Tickets go on sale on Wednesday October 10th at 9am GMT and will be available to order from the official theatrical cinecast microsite: http://www.hendrixatmonterey.com/ or by calling Ticketmaster on 0870 400 0700, http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/.

Tickets for this historic Hendrix one-time-only screening and live concert event at The Hippodrome are priced £35+VAT and £175+VAT for special VIP tickets (booking fees apply). This event is open to 18’s and over.

To find out which VUE Cinemas in the UK will be screening the Live Hendrix cinecast on October 25th, please visit http://www.hendrixatmonterey.com/.

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New Line Confirms 'Shoot 'Em Up' On HD DVD


New Line has confirmed that Shoot 'Em Up will be available to own on HD DVD soon, though it will not be a day-and-date release with the DVD. Each copy of the HD DVD will be priced at $35.99 SRP. Specific details follow
  • 1080p High Definition 16x9 2.35:1
  • 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio (English)
  • Bonus Materials include:
    - Picture-in-picture option allowing viewers to watch behind-the-scenes footage and on-screen commentary concurrently with the running feature.
    - Web Enabled Features (HD DVD only)
    - “Ballet of Bullets – Making Shoot ‘Em Up” documentary
    - Feature length audio commentary from director and writer Michael Davis
    - Deleted scenes with commentary from director and writer Michael Davis
    - Scene animatics with commentary from director and writer Michael Davis
    - Theatrical trailer

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Monday, October 15, 2007

An excitement that's hard to contain...


Over the past weekend, reviews of Transformers (2007) HD DVD had begun popping up on the Internet.

As we don't post HD DVD reviews on this blog - although I did post a mini-review of the theatrical release of Transformers in June - due to a variety of reasons including a lack of time, listed below are the weblinks to the reviews done by other HD review websites.

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This Tuesday's HD DVD Releases...




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Friday, October 12, 2007

Quick Updates...

  • [North America] Stardust will be available to own in high-definition exclusively on HD DVD, starting this December 18. Each copy will have an SRP of $39.99. It will be a non-combo single-disc HD DVD set and the disc will contain all the bonus materials found on the DVD release, with some of them presented (Good Omens: The Making of Stardust and the theatrical trailer) in high-definition.

  • [North America] First Look has indicated that they will release The Amateurs (2005) on HD DVD in February 2008. Release date is set on Feb 12. All other details are TBA.

  • [Japan] Transformers (2007) has been officially announced on HD DVD. The 2-disc HD DVD set is expected to arrive at retail in Japan starting December 19. All the bonus materials found on the North American HD DVD release will also be found on these 2 discs. Main feature specs are also similar to the North American HD DVD release with the French & Spanish audio tracks replaced by a Japanese audio track (Dolby Digital-Plus 5.1). RRP is ¥4,700 (without relevant taxes).

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Thursday, October 11, 2007

Details of Onkyo DV-HD805 HD DVD Player (Updated October 11)


Onkyo DV-HD805 HD DVD Player
Prices: $899 MSRP (North America) / 999€ RRP (Germany & Austria)
Retail Availability: Fall 2007 (North America and Europe)
  • Accepts various disc media, including DVD-R/RW, DVD-R DL and CD-R/RW
  • Analog Devices 297 MHz/12-bit NSV video DAC to support 4x oversampling for output via component video.
  • HQV Reon VX video processing chipset provides exceptionally precise DVD video scaling (to 720p, 1080i or 1080p)
  • HD DVD Output resolutions: 720p/1080i/1080p (inclusive of 1080p/24Hz)
  • Supports 24 frames per second Playback - This ensures that the user will be able to experience the playback of films recorded to HD DVD with an ultra-smooth, stable video resolution.
  • Wolfson and Burr-Brown 192 kHz/24-bit audio DACs
  • Uses Analog Devices SHARC DSP for enhanced dynamic range
  • Outputs linear PCM audio signals from Dolby TrueHD (5.1 ch), Dolby Digital Plus (5.1 ch), Dolby Digital, DTS-HD High Resolution Audio (Core), DTS-HD Master Audio (Core) and DTS
  • Uses DTS-HD Advanced Digital Output to stream DTS-HD High Resolution Audio, DTS-HD Master Audio and DTS
  • Also streams Dolby TrueHD and Dolby Digital Plus with bit-for-bit reproduction
  • Bi-directional RS-232 port for control
  • Gold-plated component, S-video and composite video outputs
  • Gold-plated 5.1-multichannel and 2-channel audio outputs
  • 2 digital outputs (coaxial [gold-plated]/optical)
  • 2 extension ports
  • HDMI (v1.3a) with Deep Colour and High-bit-rate audio streaming features
  • Ethernet Port for web-enabled features found on HD DVD discs and for further firmware updates.


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Wednesday, October 10, 2007

The Various HD DVD Releases Of 'Pan's Labyrinth'

As New Line announces Pan's Labyrinth to be available on HD DVD in North America, this December 26 and Optimum Home Entertainment's HD DVD release arrives in U.K. on November 19, I can't help but think of the French HD DVD release from Wild Side Video which is now available. Similar audio specs and a THX-certified high-definition transfer on the French HD DVD release... I wonder which of the three would look and sound better?

The on-the-fly menus on the French HD DVD release looked aesthetically pleasing to me, at least based on the screenshots provided. Maybe menus should be rated and given grades in reviews and comparisons. Those menu screenshots can be viewed here.

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Tuesday, October 09, 2007

Coverage of Other HD DVD Releases...

Anyone interested in current and upcoming HD DVD titles that do not have English audio and subtitles?

We have the intention of covering news and information on the growing list of HD DVD releases that do not have English audio and subtitles. For instance, Japanese films, German films and French films that do not have English audio when released on HD DVD in their own countries.

Either post a comment via the Blogger comments function or drop us an e-mail stating that you're interested. Please do not post comments or e-mail us if you're not interested.

When we gather enough interest and if my schedule for the near future permits, I may just proceed with the coverage on this blog.

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Experience 'Pan's Labyrinth' with Extraordinary Picture and Sound Quality and Enhanced Interactive Capabilities On HD DVD

New Line Home Entertainment has announced that Pan's Labyrinth will be available to own in high-definition on HD DVD, starting December 26. This blogpost is an update regarding the HD DVD-exclusive features that will be found on this HD DVD title. (These details were not found on the back-cover artwork.)

Main feature will be presented in
  • 1080p High Definition 1.85:1
  • DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 (Spanish)
  • English [SDH] & Spanish subtitle options

This HD DVD version will contain all the supplemental materials previously found on the 2-disc DVD release plus more. The HD DVD-exclusive extras include:

  • Enhanced Visual Commentary: Exclusive high definition feature takes you behind the scenes while viewing the film
    – Picture in Picture Video Commentary
    – Linkouts (HD DVD only)
    – Synchronized Storyboard and Art Gallery (HD DVD only)
  • Web Enhanced Features (HD DVD only): Additional interactive features available through your HD player’s internet connection
    – New Line Portal
    – Scene Shuffle and Share
    – Polling
    – Highlights
    – Trivia

Complete details of this HD DVD title available here.

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Universal Pictures Japan Hints At Future HD DVD Titles? (Updated)


At CEATEC Japan 2007, when it was Universal Pictures' (Japan) turn to present on stage, a slide provided by Universal Pictures Japan seems to suggest that titles such as Babe, Back to the Future Trilogy, Casper, Extra-Terrestrial, Jaws and Jurassic Park are among the major catalog titles that will be available on HD DVD in the future.

This is possibly the first time that Universal Pictures/Studios had publicly displayed these titles to be among some of the future HD DVD titles.

Update:
  • HD DVD Promotion Group had indicated that the slide presented by Universal Pictures Japan, listing Jaws, Extra-Terrestrial and Jurassic Park as future HD DVD titles, is erroneous.
  • This is because and I quote, "Universal has not made any formal announcements regarding Spielberg catalog titles coming to HD DVD at this time."
  • There was however no clarification made about the other titles such as Babe (1995), Back to the Future Trilogy and Casper (1995) which appeared on that slide.

Blogger's note to readers:

Please note that we're aware that an apology had been issued by the HD DVD Promotion Group (http://www.hddvdprg.com/eng/index.html) - not the North American HD DVD Promotional Group (http://www.thelookandsoundofperfect.com/) - in January this year to both Steven Spielberg and Universal Studios Home Entertainment, for having mistakenly listed Jaws, E.T. and Jurassic Park as coming soon in the HD DVD Release List previously found on the official site (http://www.hddvdprg.com/eng/index.html).

As we took that particular release list with more than a pinch of salt at that point in time and did not want to propagate unsubstantiated news, we refrained from posting anything about Jaws, E.T. and Jurassic Park coming to HD DVD earlier this year based on that release list nor did we post about the apology.

That's why we mentioned that "This is possibly the first time that Universal Pictures/Studios had publicly displayed these titles to be among some of the future HD DVD titles."

Full article here. [AV Watch / In Japanese]

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Monday, October 08, 2007

BCI Announced 'Ultimate Force' (2006) On HD DVD

Ultimate Force (2006) HD DVD (90 minutes / Nov 13 / $19.98 SRP)

Main Feature Presentation
  • 1080i High Definition 16x9 1.85:1
  • Dolby Digital Stereo
  • No subtitles

Bonus Materials

  • 480i Standard Definition
  • Mono
  • English subtitles
  • "Making-of" Featurette
  • Interview with Mirko "Cro-Cop" Filipovic
  • Trailer
  • HD-exclusive: Footage of Mirko training

Synopsis:

Axon Rey (Filipovic) is a heavily decorated war hero and former tactical police officer who has been recruited by a covert government organization to fight enemies of the State. Schooled in the martial arts and the latest high-tech weapons, Rey, now code named Sphinx, is an elite member of the Sanction Division of SATO (State Anti-Terrorist Organization), a clandestine collective of assassins under the direct control of SIN (State Intelligence Network).

Sphinx failed his last assassination mission. Normally, the state dealt with such a failure easily—it executed the executioner. Since Sphinx is their top assassin, his controller, Janus, decided not to eliminate him, immediately. He sends him to a rehabilitation island called Gulag 7 where Sphinx must face 5 opponents: other government operatives who have been sent to the island for various reasons. Refusal to fight means death. Now, he must fight his way off the island. It’s kill or be killed…

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HD DVDs To Be Released This Tuesday, October 9

Both Evan Almighty (HD DVD/DVD Combo disc; $39.98 SRP) and Twilight Zone: The Movie ($28.99 SRP) will be available to own on HD DVD, starting this Tuesday.

Evan Almighty will also contain HD DVD-exclusive extras, part of Universal Studios' HD DVD U-Control experience, such as:
  • Picture-in-Picture - Viewers will get a truly "inside" look at the making of the movie through Behind-The-Scenes footage and interviews with cast and crew.
  • Ark Building for Dummies - 3-D pop up graphics give a step-by-step guide to ark building for the viewers at home.
  • Other web-enabled features, exclusively on the HD DVD, to be explored.

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Friday, October 05, 2007

New HD DVDs From Universal Studios, New Line and Paramount

From New Line Home Entertainment -
From Paramount Home Entertainment -
From Universal Studios Home Entertainment -

Click on each of the links above for specific details of the respective HD DVD titles.

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Toshiba and Microsoft Announce Plans to Form Advanced Interactivity Consortium

Toshiba Corp. and Microsoft Corp. today announced plans to form the Advanced Interactivity Consortium (AIC), an open forum aimed at the promotion of superior interactivity for a wide range of next-generation consumer devices, digital content and distribution scenarios. The newly formed organization’s mission is to maximize consumer satisfaction worldwide by accelerating industrywide adoption of advanced interactivity and interoperability across a broad array of HD DVD products.

In addition to its crystal-clear picture quality and sound, HD DVD, the next generation of DVD, approved by the DVD Forum, is the first platform to include advanced interactivity as a basic feature in high-definition movies and players, substantially expanding the possibilities of high-definition home entertainment.

The new organization will also focus attention on ways to bring these advanced scenarios to other services and platforms, including digital downloads to DVD players, PCs, TVs, cell phones, portable media players and game consoles.

“Creating attractive consumer experiences with advanced interactivity is critical to bringing digital home entertainment to the next level,” said Hisatsugu Nonaka, corporate executive vice president at Toshiba. “In order to create these ecosystems, we wanted to bring together a group of companies committed to extending these scenarios across a wide variety of platforms. The Advanced Interactivity Consortium will advocate for these platforms as well as help ensure interoperability of HD DVD players and services.”

“The Advanced Interactivity Consortium has its roots in the work we’ve done with HDi™ and HD DVD, but is open to all companies interested in bringing a broader set of experiences to consumers on different platforms,” said Robbie Bach, president of the Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft. “We look forward to contributing to this effort with HDi, our implementation of HD DVD’s interactive layer, and to collaborate with AIC members on how to extend interactive compatibilities to the consumer electronics market. The goal is to ensure a high-quality experience not only through optical discs but also through new digital download services.”

Based on easy-to-program Web standards, HDi technology naturally lends itself to cross-platform implementations and integration in online content services. For content owners, HDi provides a simple development environment, resulting in a seamless and visually consistent experience from device menus to Web-based applications.

The Advanced Interactivity Consortium will also include major Hollywood studios DreamWorks Animation SKG, Paramount Pictures, Universal Studios and Warner Bros., which have given their commitment to these advanced scenarios and experience bringing new features to consumers. Each studio currently distributes or will distribute HD DVD titles with HDi-enabled features, from advanced in-movie navigation, bookmarking and picture-in-picture, to Web-enabled communities, content downloads and e-commerce stores.

“We are pleased to support the formation of the Advanced Interactivity Consortium and look forward to further developing interactive scenarios on HD DVD that will extend the consumer experience to new platforms,” said Craig Kornblau, president of Universal Studios Home Entertainment and Universal Pictures Digital Platforms. “By following a standards-based approach, this collaboration will uniformly benefit consumers as well as the industry."

The AIC founding member companies plan to formalize the organization shortly and to extend additional partner invitations.

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Wednesday, October 03, 2007

Mini Video Coverage Of HD DVD Booth At CEATEC 2007

The Japanese blogsite, HD DVD DeGoGo, has uploaded video clips that show the buzz around the HD DVD booth at CEATEC 2007.

You may want to check them out.

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Universal Studios Take HD DVD's Web-enabled Interactivity To A New Level


The Guaranteed Internet Connection in Every HD DVD Player Allows Movie-Specific Access to Content, Community Building and Online Purchases

Today, Universal Studios Home Entertainment raised the bar on HD DVD’s unique web-enabled experiences by unveiling an Internet infrastructure that allows it to take advantage of the guaranteed Internet connection in every HD DVD player and deliver compelling, title specific features. Heroes: Season 1 on HD DVD was the first title to take advantage of web-enabled capabilities, but with the forthcoming availability of Evan Almighty on HD DVD, Universal is setting the stage for new home entertainment experiences with web-enabled features such as the Download Center, U-Shop, and much more. Taking advantage of the infinite possibilities of web-enabled experiences, Universal is utilizing HD DVD to explore the promise of digitally distributed scenarios and infusing movie content with e-commerce and social media capabilities.

In addition to title-centric experiences available through any HD DVD player, a new website, http://www.universalhidef.com/ , will serve as an online destination for PC-based interaction, enabling cross platform consumer engagement with additional content, fan communities and much more. The site also establishes a cross-platform integration point to take advantage of the growing web properties already in place across NBC Universal.

This new infrastructure augments all the great features available through recent HD DVD releases, such as Heroes: Season 1, Knocked Up and the forthcoming Evan Almighty. Fans can download bonus scenes and make an online profile, or even add new, downloadable experiences long after a title leaves the store shelf. The interface allows consumers to register and create a personalized experience, while taking the first step toward participating in a fan community around their favorite movies or TV shows. Once registered, the account will be recognized by a consumer’s player whenever a new web-enabled Universal disc is inserted. It can remember user preferences and multiple accounts with different passwords all registered on the same player.

An overview of some of the features coming to future Universal HD DVD titles and on UniversalHiDef.com includes:

  • U-Shop

    The first functionality of U-Shop will be enabled with HD DVD release of Evan Almighty. With Universal U-Shop, viewers have the opportunity to shop for items from the movie right from their living room. Consumers can access the entire store from their HD DVD player and start purchasing exclusive items from titles that offer this feature.

  • Features/Download Center

    Users will be able to scroll over numerous stills of the many interactive experiences that are already released on HD DVD. Web-enabled features allow consumers the opportunity to download exclusive trailers, content and games right to their HD DVD player, allowing one-click access to the Download Center. Consumers can also sign up for newsletters, sweepstakes and partner offers.

  • Best Buddies/My Scenes

    Users will learn how create a Best Buddies list and collect and send their favorite movie clips to friends. Here, users will register their best buddies, who will be uploaded to the server and then accessible from their HD DVD player. Users can manage their buddy list using the HD DVD playback experience or via the PC to build a connected community of friends and movie fans.

  • Customer Support

    The support section features instructions in the “screen grabs” format for easy step-by-step instructions. A list of error codes will also be provided to help identify any issues, along with links to customer support sites for Xbox and Toshiba are also available.

In addition to the current web-enabled titles of Heroes: Season 1, Knocked Up and soon Evan Almighty, experiences on Universal HD DVD titles and UniversalHiDef.com will continue to grow and evolve with the fan community, offering synched live events, user-generated content, user commentaries, 360 experiences, and more. The possibilities are endless with HD DVD’s guaranteed web capabilities on every player regardless of make, model or price.

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Tuesday, October 02, 2007

'Hero' On HD DVD In Germany, this October 11

Hero / 100 minutes
  • 1080p High Definition 16x9 1.85:1
  • DTS-HD 5.1 (German & Mandarin)
  • German subtitles
  • Bonus materials include interviews and production featurettes/documentaries.

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'Tideland' On HD DVD...

In Germany, Tideland will be available to own in high-definition on HD DVD starting November 7.

Tideland (2005) / 113 minutes
  • 1080p High Definition 16x9 2.35:1
  • DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (German) & DTS-HD High Resolution Audio (English)
  • Optional German subtitles
  • Bonus materials include audio commentary by Terry Gilliam, deleted scenes, interviews and production featurettes, and trailers.

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'Fantastic Four' & 'Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer' On HD DVD

Fantastic Four (2005) HD DVD has been available for sale in Germany, since August. On the other hand, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer is expected to be released on HD DVD in Germany, this December 14. Specific details follow...

Fantastic Four (2005)
  • 1080p High Definition 16x9 2.35:1
  • DTS-HD 5.1 (English & German)
  • German (HoH) subtitles
  • Bonus materials include production featurettes & documentaries, deleted scenes, audio commentary and music videos.

Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer

  • 1080p High Definition 16x9 2.35:1
  • DTS-HD 5.1 (English & German)
  • German (HoH) subtitles
  • 3 Audio Commentaries by the cast, director and production crew
  • Production documentary and featurettes
  • Extended/Deleted Scenes
  • Animatics/Storyboards
  • Interviews

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