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HD DVD to start promoting HDi with logo
HD DVD's interactive layer has had sort of an identity crisis, officially the DVD forum considers it is an implementation of their Advanced Navigation, but we like to remind them that it's the only implementation. During development, Microsoft code named it iHD, but later renamed it to HDi -- we believe this is because the name iHD is a little too Apple. Regardless of what you call it, it has proven to be the best interactive layer in the format war. Sure BDJ isn't quite done yet and this might change, but as of today there isn't much of an argument when you compare the releases. So like all companies today, they're going to make sure everyone know who's to blame for all that great interactive content and in the STB market that means a logo. Logos can be even more important when devices like the LG's BH100 support HD DVD, but not HDi. So look for the logo on every HD DVD player and HD DVD cover before throw down your cash.
Universal's HDi extras on Children of Men & Smokin' Aces HD DVDs unveiled
Sure 1080p video and various iterations of surround sound audio are nice, but we've been waiting to see more interactive BD-J and HDi (or is it Advanced Navigation?) features on next gen discs, and Universal is bringing just that with their next two high profile releases. Children of Men hits first on March 27th and will let viewers watch the video billboard ads shown in the film, in their entirety, rather than just the short clips visible in the movie. Smokin' Aces follows on April 17th and features a Google Earth tie-in to show the location of each assassin during the film. VideoBusiness got the heads up from Microsoft's director of HD DVD evangelism, who also noted we expect to see three HD DVD titles featuring internet connectivity this year and that these movies "just scratch the surface". The HD DVD camp will need to do a few things Blu-ray isn't in order to keep pace in the format war, we'll see if extra features prove to be a difference between the two.
