Microsoft & Toshiba to push HDi features beyond HD DVD

Toshiba and Microsoft are taking their HD DVD partnership outside players and discs, by announcing the Advanced Interactivity Consortium. The idea behind the "open forum" is to take the interactive features found in HD DVD movies to other platforms, and potentially see HDi-style features on digital download services that connect directly to your PC, PMP, console or HDTV. The movie studios that currently support HD DVD (Dreamworks, Paramount, Universal and Warner Bros.) are also on board with additional partner invitations to be extended shortly. Whatever the result of this team is -- from simple website tie-ins or maybe HDi features on VOD/Xbox Live Video Marketplace/Zune, it's apparent HD DVD is just one part of these companies plans for digital media.