Toshiba Ships HD-XA1 HD DVD Player in Japan
Toshiba Corp. has started the Japanese roll out of the world's first commercially available HD DVD player. The new player, HD-XA1, delivers high definition images and crystal clear sound, bringing home entertainment to a new level.
Toshiba's HD-XA1 is the first player to support the HD DVD format. It supports playback of pre-recorded HD DVD, offering consumers digital high-definition picture quality that far surpassing that of standard DVD. Along with L-PCM 5.1ch audio, HD-XA1 supports three next generation surround-sound formats, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD, and sound sources can be output to audio systems via the player's HDMI output or multi-channel audio output. Support for up-conversion of standard DVD to a resolution of 1080i or 720p through HDCP capable HDMI output allows consumers to enjoy current DVD libraries with output resolution scaled to their HDTV or HD displays.
HD-XA1 also goes beyond the capabilities of standard DVD with extensive support for advanced navigation and interactive features offering new and exciting ways to interact with content. The player's "pop-up menu" displays movie chapters with thumbnails while the movie plays, and allows users to navigate menu features without pausing playback. Picture in Picture (PIP) with motion video functions include the ability to play supplementary video over the main program, allowing viewers to watch bonus content, such as a superimposed director's commentary or a documentary about the making of the movie, while the movie plays.
Initial shipments of HD-AX1, until April 27, will bundle two complimentary HD DVD movie discs, "Resident Evil" and a Japanese film, "Moonlight Jellyfish".
Toshiba said it has brought the first HD DVD player to market to promote the early and fast penetration of the next generation DVD format, and to stimulate the penetration of content software based on HD DVD. The company will enhance its line-up of HD DVD products by introducing notebook PCs with HD DVD-ROM drives and HD DVD recorders with integrated HDD.
Key Features of the New Player:
- Playback of high definition content and support for advanced content features: Alongside playback of high-definition quality HD DVD content, the HD-XA1 supports enhanced functionality and diverse features. While those features depend on content, the player's "pop-up menu" displays menu or movie chapters while the movie plays, enabling to search desired functions or jump to a desired scene through chapter guide. The player also supports PIP with motion video functions. For example, director's and actor's commentary can be motion video super-imposed concurrently when the movie continues to play, allowing them to literally point to the material they are discussing.
- Next generation surround-sound formats: HD DVD supports Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD, next generation surround-sound formats, and also supports L-PCM 5.1ch. Analog 5.1ch output integrated into the HD-AX1 allows consumers to enjoy surround sound simply by connecting the player to an AV amplifier with analog input.
- Digital high definition picture output with up-converter and HDMI output: Through the HDMI interface, high-definition pictures stored in a disc can be displayed digitally in HD, on digital TVs and displays that incorporate HDCP capable HDMI input. Such TVs include Toshiba's new TV REGZA Z1000 series. Through the HDMI interface, standard definition DVDs can be up-converted to an output resolution of 720p or 1080i, to complement the performance of a HDTV.
- Compatible to playback various discs including current DVD software: In addition to prerecorded DVD software, HD-XA1 supports playback of DVD-R, DVD-RW and DVD-RAM discs. It is also compatible with music CDs and playback of CDs in WMA or MP3 file format.
The HD DVD format is standardized by the DVD Forum. Specifications of HD DVD-ROM physical, file and application formats were approved by the Forum in August 2005. In addition to a versatility that enables support for diverse applications, including players, recorders, PCs and automotive devices, HD DVD's main features are:
- The same disc structure as DVD, two 0.6 mm-thick polycarbonate discs bonded back-to-back. This structure makes it easy for HD DVD to achieve backward compatibility with DVD hardware devices, and also assures a simple manufacturing process for discs and hardware devices, resulting in reasonable manufacturing costs.
- Robust playability, with no need for a disc cartridge to protect against surface blemishes and fingerprints.
- The ability to meet capacity demands. The DVD Forum has approved HD DVD-ROM discs with a data capacity of 15 GB with a single-layer disc and 30 GB with a dual-layer disc. High data capacities are achieved by adopting a shorter wavelength blue-violet laser and advanced data processing technologies, assuring the ability to store large capacity data sources, including high-definition images.
- Adoption of advanced navigation and content features to enhance the entertainment of consumers.
- Adoption of AACS (Advanced Access Content System) to secure robust content protection.
- Using twin format disc technology (single-sided dual-layer; DVD 4.7 GB and HD DVD 15 GB), a single disc can store both HD DVD and DVD versions of a film, allowing consumers to immediately enjoy the standard definition movie on today's DVD players and to playback the same movie in HD on an HD DVD player at a later date. A combination disc (double-sided dual-layer; DVD 8.5 GB and HD DVD 30 GB) is now under development.
البته ربطی به blue - ray نداشت ولی...