HdUpgradePack
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HD DVD "download center" features previewed
The big HD DVD press event at CES isn't until this evening, but Corel sent out information about new networking features they'll be demoing. New HD DVDs supporting the features will be able to open a "download center" on the screen and download additional clips from content providers, and also share collections of clips called "my scenes" with other people who own the same movie. They'll be demoing these features on an Intel-based PC running Intervideo's WinDVD software -- apparently running the still MIA HD Upgrade pack -- tonight. We wonder if these functions will ever extend to people who don't yet own a particular movie, but its still a step up from people sending low-res YouTube clips of famous movie scenes around.
WinDVD 8 HD Upgrade pack priced, tested
DL.TV has a clip up showing a preview of the HD Upgrade pack for the Intervideo WinDVD 8 player. Although the software was slated to be available already, it's still not up on Intervideo's website. The Blu-ray / HD DVD playing add on is priced at $26 and the DL.TV guys hooked up the cheapest HD DVD drive they could find to test it out. They confirmed you'll need a pretty powerful PC to play back movies smoothly, and they weren't able to get it working over non-HDCP connections (no word on if they tried VGA) at all. While Sony BWU-100A owners got their Cyberlink upgrade recently, other HD drive owners will have to find a player by other means until the HD Upgrade is available.
