Microsoft has chosen sides in the next-gen optical format way, and it has fallen squarely on the side of Toshiba’s HD DVD format. They’ve even enticed HP over to their side by talking up iHD. And supposedly Microsoft will be supporting HD DVD in Windows Vista. (Strange that they have such bad DVD support in XP. DVD is an accepted format with no competitors. But HD DVD support? Sure, they’ll toss that in.) Anyway, officially Microsoft has professed no support for the Blu-ray format. But read this:

Much has been made of Microsoft’s supposed plan to include native support for only HD-DVD in their next OS, either in order to force customers to install extra software on their own and/or to force OEM’s to face licensing costs on their own. Despite that, Windows IT Pro says internal Microsoft documentation indicates a plan to add Blu-ray DVD support to beta versions of Windows Vista.

So maybe, just maybe, they will be supporting Blu-ray (which would be really nice).

HD Beat - Microsoft WILL support Blu-ray? In Vista at least (maybe?)

Here they come! HD DVD and BD are coming, and among the products to hit our shelves will include burners. Samsung has a BD burner coming, and it’s model designation is SH-B022.

This burner will write 25GB of data in less than 45 minutes. That’s because it has a 2x writing speed. Nice for a first generation product. Interesting details quoted here:

The drive uses a set of two lens in order to read/write Blu-Ray discs and read DVD and CD media. Note that the final version of the drive will also support double layer BD discs with 50GB capacity. What is currently missing in the SH-B022 is the AACS copy protection, which is still not finalized.

The Samsung Blu-ray burner is supposed to sell for around $500 in April. Of course, the release date would be dependant upon the BDA’s (Blu-Ray Disc Association) progress, in the conclusion of the “Blu-ray Disc format logo license” and also the finalization of the “copyright protection technology license” for Blu-ray.

Note that the BDA has already completed the specifications for the BD-ROM, BD-RE and BD-R formats on January 2, 2006. The approved specifications include both single (25GB) and dual (50GB) layer discs.

The completion of the BDA’s schedule is also expected to allow software makers to gear-up their BD recording applications to support the creation of a BD-AV disc (BD-ROM), as well as a BD-AV disc.

Once the specifications are completed, in order to use the SH-B022 to playback HD Blu-Ray movies on your PC you need apparently at least a 3Ghz CPU and a 128MB Graphics-Card that supports that support copy protection interfaces HDMI, DVI or HDCP.

CDR Info - First Look: Samsung SH-B022 Blu-Ray Burner

Engadget has a sneak peak at the new Sony camcorder, the HDR-HC3. It’s somewhat of a little brother to the HDR-HC1, with a lower gross pixel count, but it has higher resolution stills and a higher res LCD display.

I have a Sony camorder, but as yet my video escapades still reside in the real of SD. One day…

engadget - Sony’s HDR-HC3 HD camcorder leaked

If you’d like one of the great Panasonic PT-AE900U LCD projectors for cheap (well, relatively), the you might want to head over to Visual Apex, which is offering up to $700 worth of rebates and incentives when you buy such a projector from them.

Audioholics - Panasonic PT-AE900U LCD Projector with $700 in Rebates from VisualApex!

In March Toshiba will bring their new HD-AX1 and HD-A1 HD DVD players to the American market. They will play HD DVD discs as well as DVD discs, upconverting the latter to 720p or 1080i (over HDMI) if you so wish. Using HD DVD discs, the player can play back native HD in 720p or 1080i, also over the HDMI output.

The new HD DVD players will output copy-protected HD content through the HDMI interface in the native format of the HD DVD disc content of either 720p or 1080i. Through the HDMI interface, standard definition DVDs can be upconverted to output resolution of 720p or 1080i to complement the performance of a HDTV. As the conversion takes place in the player, the signal remains free from excessive digital-to-analog conversion artifacts.

SACD and DVD-Audio seem to be getting nowhere, and now HD DVD offers another hi-res audio option, with the inclusion of DD+ and DTS-HD.

The lossless mandatory formats include Linear PCM and Dolby TrueHD (only 2 Channel support is mandatory). The TrueHD format is bit-for-bit identical to the high resolution studio masters and can support up to eight discrete full range channels of 24-bit/96k Hz audio. Another lossless format (specified as an optional format) is DTS-HD. This employs high sampling rates of up to192k Hz.

Both models feature built-in multi-channel decoders for Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD (2 channel), DTS and DTS-HD. The HD-XA1 employs the use of four high performance DSP engines to decode the multi-channel streams of the wide array of audio formats. These high performance processors will perform the required conversion process, as well as the extensive on-board Multi-Channel Signal Management including: User Selectable Crossovers, Delay Management and Channel Level Management.

The new HD DVD players can pass digital information to a Surround Sound Processor/Receiver via S/PDIF or HDMI. For Dolby Digital and DTS, the bitstream will be passed through both connections just as in a standard DVD player with the same interfaces. Dolby Digital Plus and DTS-HD content will be converted to a standard bitstream format that is compatible with any processor equipped with decoders of the respective formats and output through S/PDIF and HDMI. Additionally, all the audio formats for either DVD or HD DVD will be decoded to PCM and output via HDMI in either stereo or multi-channel.

The HD-AX1 will retail for an MSRP of $799.99, while the HD-A1 will go for $499.99. Let the HD war begin!

HiddenWires - Toshiba Introduces Line-Up of First HD DVD Players for the U.S. Market

Yahoo! has an article about HD camcorders, and they point out a couple interesting things. Like the fact that buying an HD camcorder is still an expensive affair. And the fact that editing video requires a beafier computer:

You need a powerful computer with plenty of memory to deal with this extra data and compression. For example, Pinnacle recommends a minimum of 512MB of system memory and a graphics card with 128MB of RAM for standard-resolution video, but that goes up to 1GB of system memory and a 256MB graphics card for working with 1080i HD video. That’s a minimum requirement–the more memory, the merrier.

Luckily there is plenty of software to edit HD video. But what are you going to do when you’re done editing your video? You can watch it back on your computer, sure. Or if you find some way to transfer it to a DVHS HD tape, then you got it made. But who has a DVHS player? You’ll have to wait for BD and HD DVD recorders and players to hit the market before your lovely vacation in Bermuda can be shown off in HD on your HDTV. But wait - there is another option. There are a couple DVD players out there than can play HD from normal DVD’s, stored in the WM9 format. But this will also probably end up being a solution just for yourself. Not many people have those compatible players.

Yahoo! News - Making Movies: HD Camcorders not Ready for Prime Time?

Sharp is adding some more LCD displays to its lineup.

The B series of displays will replace the A series. And they also have the G series. Altogether, there are four 1080p LCD displays in their lineup. And have DVI, HDMI, and Firewire ports. I don’t really see a need for DVI if you have HDMI, but it’s nice to see the Firewire. All displays and HD devices should have them.

Sizes range from a puny 26″ to a majestic 65″.

engadget - Sharp’s new Aquos B and G HD LCDs include four 1080p models

If there’s one thing that you know will look good in HD, it’s National Geographic. People keep those magazines in their attacks just for the warm fuzzy feeling that there’s some good photos up there. And now that spectacular imagery is coming to HDTV’s near you. Well, maybe:

The month marks both the fifth anniversary of the National Geographic Channel as well as the birth of NGC-HD, the much anticipated high-definition version. You can now receive all NGC in HDTV… well, you can if you do your part in calling both local cable and satellite operators with a demand that they carry it. (Call 1-877-77-NGCHD for more information).

So if you want it, you have to ask for it.

Zebra stripes in HD. Mmmm….

HDTV Magazine - National Geographic Goes HD

Mr. Phillip Swann did an informal comparison of HDTV support on both Comcast and DIRECTV in the Washington area. I counted 18 bullet points of things he found on Comcast. And I saw 9 bullet points of DIRECTV HDTV programming. Mr. Swann then says:

You notice a trend here? It’s no surprise that DIRECTV’s high-def owners are getting frustrated. There are some good channels in the lineup, but it’s simply not enough. We need more choices, more channels.

Ain’t that the truth! And it’s even more frustrating when there are shows in HD that you can’t get because your local cable or satellite provider doesn’t offer it. Which is the case with me right now. My favourite show is available in HD - just no to me! And I’m the most important person when it comes to things about me.

I want my HD!
I want my HD!
I want my HD!

Please?

TVPredictions - Comcast HDTV vs. DIRECTV HDTV

Sony’s SXRD and JVC’s D-ILA technologies are basically their refinements of LCOS, or Liquid Crystal on Silicon. Sony and JVC are the only two major manufacturers to have any real success with LCOS. Intel tried to enter the market and gave up. Toshiba sold some sets for a while and gave up. So far, Syntax-Brillian has not given up. They’ve recently signed a deal with The Advantage Group to distribute its 720p and 1080p LCOS HDTVs. Unfortunately for you and me, they sell into the custom installation and custom retail markets.

The HDTV monitors, based on Brillian’s proprietary Gen II LCoS(TM) microdisplay technology, feature a three- or six-megapixel light engine and offer the highest commercially available on-screen native LCOS contrast ratio (without special optical compensation) — up to 4000:1 — in a rear-projection HDTV. The Brillian HDTVs feature exceptional grayscale performance, deep black levels, high brightness, a 170-degree viewing angle, an ultra-fine-pitch 16:9 widescreen, artifact-free full-motion video, and outstanding audio performance. Brillian HDTV products also provide software upgradeability and a wide range of calibration features designed to optimize the viewing experience for home theater and commercial applications. Gamma, color temperature control, RGB, and gain/offset are modifiable on a per-input basis with password-protected access. Free Imaging Science Foundation (ISF) calibration is included with each set purchased.(1)

Yahoo! Finance - Syntax-Brillian Signs with The Advantage Group

If you’re into tech gadgets and would like to watch a show in HD about them, then your first stop should be here. You won’t find any such show here, but you should always stop here first anyway. Then you can head on over to Akihabara News for some gadget shows in HD.

Akihabara News must have had a successful test run of their HD news. They are now going to run all of them in high definition and what else is better then to debut a HD product. The small HD camcorder by Sanyo is the subject of this video. The video is in WMV9HD format and they are distributing the 60 MB file via Bit Torrent. The video is of course great quality video and goes over the basic features of the camcorder.

HD Beat - Akihabara News now in HD

I subscribe to a Netflix-type service called at zip.ca. It’s great. My mailbox is literally across the street from me, so I don’t have to walk more than 12 steps to get all the DVD’s I want. I saw this press release from Netflix saying that they will offer HD DVD and BD rentals (when the time comes) to their subscribers. And, of course, that immediately prompted me to contact zip.ca to see if they’ll do likewise. I haven’t heard a reply yet, but here’s hoping!

BTW, I can’t recommend this kind of service enough. If you watch a decent amount of movies (like I do), then this is totally worth it.

[via HTDude]

Netflix - Press Release

P.S.

Davis over at Thomas Hawk’s Digital Connection also points out that it won’t cost anything extra to rent them versus the old standby DVD. Interestingly, that is a reflection of the thought that HD DVD discs won’t cost any more than normal DVD discs. Which is nice.

Thomas Hawk - Netflix Continues Online DVD Dominance

Worried about electromagnetic interference? Then you might want to check out Gefen’s fiber-optic DVI and HDMI cables.

Gefen’s new DVI and HDMI All-Fiber cables solve the problem by supplying all-fiber components bundled in a durable cable that protects data during its travels from source to HD display, resulting in brilliant, uncorrupted imagery on the receiving end, even when extended hundreds of feet in length.

“The elimination of copper components and the full reliance on fiber optics provides the perfect conduit for sensitive information and those with EMI concerns,” said Hagai Gefen, president and CEO.

Both DVI and HDMI All-Fiber cables come in varying pre-cut lengths with either DVI or HDMI connectors on both ends to support today’s digital video computers, audio/video sources and displays.

Gefen Delivers All-Fiber DVI and HDMI Cables For Shielded HD Video Play