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Toshiba surprises with firmware 4.0 HD DVD player update
Honestly, we were taken aback when Toshiba released version 3.0 firmware for its launch HD DVD players two years after release, but that has been replaced by absolute shock, at a 4.0 software update for the long-dead format. The whole family can join in on this one, either via the player or downloading and burning a copy from the website, with updates available for the whole line: HD-A1, HD-XA1, HD-D1, HD-A35, HD-A2, HD-A2W, HD-A2C, HD-D2, HD-A20, HD-XA2, HD-A3, HD-D3, HD-A30. The only official word is this patch "addresses certain playback issues" -- forum posters report 1080p/24 playback jaggies on MPEG-4 AVC-encoded titles like Transformers is no longer a problem. If everything is working fine (and, of course, you're still using your HD DVD player) it may be best to wait until more reports to avoid any potential compatibility problems.[Via Slashgear]Read - AVS ForumRead - Resource for : Firmware Update Information for Owners of Toshiba HD DVD Players:
Toshiba pushes firmware 3.0 update to first-gen HD DVD players
All those still hanging onto your obsolete vintage first generation HD DVD players have a reason to plug in the network cable and turn them on one more time, as Toshiba has issued a version 3.0 firmware update for the HD-A1, HD-XA1 and HD-D1. Similar to an earlier update for the Xbox 360 HD DVD add-on, the patch tweaks network connectivity a bit as well as clearing up some HDMI handshaking issues. The update quietly came online April 26, and of course can be issued by burning it to a CD or calling Toshiba and requesting a disc by mail. So go ahead, pour a glass of wine, dim the lights and celebrate a little quality time with a two year-old box that still offers features some new players can't match.[Via DVD Town]
Toshiba brings 2nd-gen HD DVD action to the US
We've already seen these players get dolled up for their European release as the HD-E1 and HD-XE1, but now Toshiba is showing some love for North America with their new HD-A2 and HD-XA2 HD DVD players. No real surprises in this A1/XA2 followup, and not a whole lot of spec love. The main enhancement goes the the XA2, which can now output a full 1080p resolution, and includes HDMI version 1.3 for enhanced color and sound thanks to the doubled bandwidth. The best news is the pricetags: the HD-A2 will be out in October for $500, while the HD-XA2 should follow in December for $1,000. Not quite free, but a whole lot better than our friends over in Europe fared. Keep reading for live pics and some spec sheets.
Toshiba HD DVD firmware updated again? Version 1.3
That's the latest buzz at AVS Forum, where poster PFC5 has posted this image of the mystery 1.3 update. However due to server problems it hasn't been distributed to very many others and we still don't know what it does, if anything. The original poster originally had a problem with his Toshiba displaying an RCA splashscreen, so that may be the only difference between this and the official 1.2 update now available for download. Otherwise, there's not much to say at the moment until early adopters get their hands on it and try it out. Oddly, contrary to some reactions around the net regarding updates and bugfixes becoming commonplace in consumer electronics, many posters in the thread are encouraged by the indication Toshiba will provide frequent updates for issues discovered by the community. This isn't that surprising when you think back to the many problems early adopters often have to deal with without an official response or fix (anyone remember many of the early DVD players? Ouch.)Earlier news on HD-A1/HD-XA1 firmware updates:Problems with Toshiba's HD DVD playerToshiba HD-XA1 HD DVD player firmware upgrade leakedToshiba HD-A1/HD-XA1 firmware update(officially) releasedThanks for the tip WiFiSpy!
Toshiba HD-A1/HD-XA1 firmware update (officially) available
Well that was quick. Just a few days after the 1.20 patch was posted for download on AVS Forum, Toshiba HD DVD player owners can now download the update directly to their player via the ethernet port. We still don't have an official list of what this fixes, however HDMI connection problems, BTB (blacker than black) & WTW (whiter than white) HDMI clipping, and various freezing/lockup issues are among the problems reportedly sent packing. PC World says you can also get the update from Toshiba's website, however at the moment the link doesn't work. A few new buyers are also reporting their players shipped with the 1.2 firmware.Now that you can download it over the ethernet port feel free to upgrade without fear, but tell everyone you burnt a CD from a guy on AVS Forum anyway, it makes you sound more hardcore. Some have remarked on how disturbing this trend is, I'm just glad these issues are being resolved, through whatever means necessary. Early adoption is not for the faint of heart, whether it is a car, computer or washing machine, the first few revisions are rarely bug-free.Update 2.0: The link does work now, thanks cassiusdrow!
Toshiba HD-XA1 HD DVD player firmware upgrade leaked
Early adopting Toshiba HD-XA1 HD DVD player owners may be in for a special treat this weekend, as a poster on AVSForums has obtained a copy of a firmware upgrade early and posted it for download. Rumors on the board indicate Toshiba may release the update for owners to via disc or download next week, but if you just can't wait, all you need is a CD-R and a copy of Nero and you should be in business. So what does the update do other than flipping your firmware number over to 1.2? Early reports from posters yorkie2k and sspears indicate reduced load times, no freezing when searching/skipping around movies and fixes for HDMI connection problems. Although the update is labeled for the HD-XA1 premium player, users have not reported any problems with the HD-A1 after upgrading. As usual, applying as yet unofficial updates could void your warranty, brick your player or kick your cat, so proceed with caution. Fortunately, as an early adopter, we know you're used to throwing caution to the wind, so update your player and let us know how it goes. Increased performance and stability may just be what Toshiba needs to lure the cautious off the fence and into buying.[Thanks for the tip WiFiSpy!]
Toshiba reloads HD DVD players
Not only is the RCA HDV5000 available now, the Toshiba HD-A1 may be a little easier to find in your neighborhood as they have announced they are shipping "to an increasing pool of retailers on a weekly basis". Much like the Xbox 360 last fall, the Toshiba HD-A1 and HD-XA1 have been almost totally sold out since release, but with such a limited quantity available it is impossible to know how much demand really exists. Also of note is that retailers share our frustration with constantly-shifting release dates, but remark that the few who have HD DVD players are buying nearly every copy of the titles that are available. We'd love to see the sales numbers of Rumor Has It. So if you need high-def DVD right now, keep calling retailers near you, even if they originally didn't stock it as Toshiba also claims they will be in more than 5000 storefronts nationwide by the end of the year.
Toshiba's HD DVD players almost sold out
Apparently not everyone is disappointed with Toshiba's initial HD DVD players; that is the cheaper HD-A1. They are sold out across the web at retailers like Amazon, BestBuy, Crutchfield, and Walmart. These are not small town retailers here and if they are having stock issues with the HD DVD players, who else is? The first shipment from Toshiba in early April was estimated to be close to 10 to 15,000 that reached 3,000 stores. A Best Buy spokeswoman has said though that it is kind of hit and miss for the player in their stores; some have it, some don't. The more expensive HD-XA1 isn't having this problem though and seems to be in good supply everywhere as this stock issue is just for the $499 HD-A1. So what happens when stores are sold out of an electronic (think XBOX 360) Ebay has 'em but for a price. The average selling price for the $499 HD-A1 on Ebay has a $50 premium on it bringing the cost up to $550. So has any of our readers gone to a store with the thought of buying one only to be sent away because the store didn't have any?[via Home Theater Blog]
Problems with Toshiba's HD DVD player
So, has anyone been having issues with their HD DVD players. There are only two of them out there, the Toshiba HD-A1 and HD-XA1 and they both seem to be having "issues." Most of the problems have involved freezing up during the movie. To solve this, a user would have to hit pause in order for the audio and video to sync back up. It seems that this happens on every movie and sometimes more then once. The bad units seem to have a common thread however; all seem to have been made in March. Are any of our readers experiencing this?
USA Today's take on Toshiba's HD DVD player
So the HD DVD player has been out about a month now and people are starting to take notice. USA Today's Edward C. Baig has a review up of the higher end model - the HD-XA1. This is the $800 unit that includes the motorized front plate and backlit remote. His take on it: he doesn't give one. In fact the only thing he says about the player is that Apollo 13 got stuck in it and he had to swap it out with another one. There is little information about the picture quality and took us sometime to locate where he talked about it; it is on the left hand side bar. While it is nice to see HD DVD in the mainstream, articles that don't talk about the picture quality is not going to help HD DVD or Blu-ray.
HD-DVD reviews: They like, not like, LOVE it
That's what Reuters is saying and if the poll Ken pointed out in AVS Forums is any indication, they are correct. Toshiba's HD-XA1 has, despite limited content, poor demos, massive size and little public awareness, found acceptance with initial buyers and reviewers. I know many of our readers will be shocked to hear this, but apparently there is a considerable audience waiting for high definition content free from nasty compression artifacts and limited television broadcast schedules. More interesting to note is that some buyers are expressing hesitance towards Blu-ray, with its players starting at $1000 and going up from there. Did they just interview some HD-DVD fanboys (Odds are high they did, with only 10,000 units in stores.), or is there a possibility even the early adopting home theater community won't spend that much on movies? Whatever the case may be, we know two things for sure. HD-DVD is currently the absolute best format with <7 titles available on the planet; and Blu-ray, the clock is ticking, better get in the game.[Updated (working) link]
Toshiba HD-A1 HD DVD player review roundup
Now that Toshiba's HD-A1 HD DVD player is finally available in stores -- and there are even some discs out to play on it -- reviews are starting to trickle in, mainly from dedicated early adopters, who've braved confused sales clerks, cumbersome boxes, and a remote with more options than Windows Vista, to try the player themselves. We saw one of the first such reviews, from The Man Room, yesterday. Now, we've had a chance to check out a few more (props to PC World's Martyn Williams, who not only got one of Toshiba's Japanese HD-XA1 players to review, but even checked out the bundled Japanese films "Biohazard" and "Moonlight Jellyfish"). If there's a consensus opinion, it's that HD DVD may be great for early adopters and HD connoisseurs, but less discerning viewers may not see what the big deal is. As Ben Drawbaugh puts it on HDBeat: "Bottom line is that HD-DVD is great, but will you notice? If you can't tell the difference between DVD's and HBO HD than you might be just as well off with a upconverting DVD player. If you never noticed HBO-HD's cropped movies, non-dynamic sound and compression artifacts you may be better off sticking with HBO-HD. If you do notice these annoyances you won't be disappointed with HD-DVD or Blu-Ray." HDBeat DVD Town PC World High Def DVD Digest CNET AVSForum (long thread of user reviews and reports)
Hands-on pics of Toshiba HD-XA1 HD DVD player
We admit that, for most of you, pics of Toshiba's HD-XA1 HD DVD player from every conceivable angle probably won't be as exciting as similar shots of, say, the latest from certain gaming or computing companies. Nevertheless, we can't help but feel a little frisson from finally getting to see this box in action. Or inaction, since there are no shots of it actually showing any HD DVD flicks. Still, courtesy of AV Watch, we get to see some of the setup screens (in Japanese, of course), the remote, and the inputs, which will have to tide us over until this player (and some accompanying content) finally makes its way to US stores.
Toshiba's HD DVD now on sale! (in Japan)
The day is finally here! High definition DVDs are moving in and those ol' DVDs are gettin' kicked to the curb. (just joking) Toshiba has officially started selling their first HD DVD player...too bad it is only in Japan. The HD-XA1 is selling for 93,436 yen ($795) but it comes packaged with high-def copies of Resident Evil and Moonlight Jellyfish (an extra star goes to anyone that has seen this.) Unfortunately, the cheaper HD-A1 is no where to be seen.
Toshiba Takes HD-DVD on the Road
Toshiba is ramping up their marketing campaign in anticipation of their late March release by continuing to take HD-DVD on the road. Toshiba is bringing the HD-XA1 to 40 cities and over 130 stores thought the US and PC World took a look.The demo includes some movie trailers as well as a HD vs SD comparison. My friend at the local Tweeter store is supposed to call me when he find out what day they are coming so that I can go check it out first hand. If we get our peepers on this, we'll check in with an update.
