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More Smallville HD DVD details
The first network TV series to see release on HD DVD or Blu-ray, Smallville just gave us a few more reasons to eagerly anticipate the release of the season 5 boxed set. There will be an HDi interactive feature for the season premiere episode "Arrival" -- we suppose Warner can't call it IME seeing as its not a movie, but we're sure they'll come up with something -- and all episodes will be encoded in 1080p, with Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtracks. All this HD goodness comes at a price, $79.98 to be exact; a $20 bump over the standard DVD edition when it hits February 6, 2007. Despite the premium price, after watching a series in HD, going back to DVD quality later isn't our preferred option.Update: VideoBusiness is reporting that the 5-disc set will be available November 28, 2006. Sooner = better. (Confirmed.)[Thanks, TJ]
Universal adds U-control tech to King Kong HD DVD
Looks like Universal heard our plea for a little sweetener in its November 14th HD DVD lineup, announcing that King Kong will feature the same U-control features seen in Fast and the Furious 3: Tokyo Drift and Miami Vice. Using HD DVD's HDi interactivity layer, viewers can watch behind the scenes footage and cast interviews while the movie plays in the background, and a "My Scenes" bookmarking feature to easily come back to favorite scenes later. Kong will also be a pack-in with the Xbox 360 HD DVD player, which will be the first place buyers can get a copy. We're still holding out hope for more -- like a TrueHD soundtrack maybe? -- but its obvious that Universal sees it will need more than just excellent 1080p picture quality to convince customers to choose HD DVD this holiday season.
HD DVD tour stops at Digital Life 2006 and drops details on Miami Vice's U-control
The HD DVD tour isn't spending all its time in New York hanging out at the Today Show's new HD studios, its pulled up to Digital Life 2006 at the Javits Center. In a press release issued by the North American HD DVD Promotional Group there were also new details about the upcoming December 5th release of Miami Vice on HD DVD; like Fast and the Furious 3: Tokyo Drift and Accepted, it will include U-control special features. Viewers can check out specs on cars and boats featured in the movie, track car chases through Miami streets via GPS, or look at production photos and cast details while the movie continues to play. Firing off more shots in the format war, the group also announced statistics from AC Nielsen showing HD DVD owners have already purchased an average of 8.4 titles each, and Nielsen Videoscan numbers indicating HD DVD outsold "competing formats" -- we're pretty sure they don't mean VMD -- by nearly 3:1 in August. The best defense is a good offense, and the HD DVD camp is taking the big Blu-ray holiday push head-on, showcasing not just new movies but also new hardware like the Xbox 360 HD DVD player and upcoming Toshiba HD-XA2.
Warner adds 7 high-def releases for October 31
Warner Home Video might have had to cut sales projections but are still supporting HD, announcing three HD DVD releases and four Blu-ray discs due on October 31st. The highest profile title of the seven is V for Vendetta which will include Warner's In Movie Experience (IME), to view director commentary while the movie plays in the background. Joining V on HD DVD are Excalibur and Under Siege. Under Siege is also making its Blu-ray bow on the same day, along with The Phantom of the Opera, Searchers and Unforgiven. All will include the extras present on the standard DVD version -- no 1080p HD extras, 50GB discs or 30/9 combos here -- and we don't expect them given their $28.98 MSRP. Our Google Calendars are of course updated with the releases. Blu-ray may be catching up a bit, with one extra release, but we're sure some who were lucky enough to get a PS3 pre-order are looking to see when V for Vendetta crosses into the Blu.HD DVD release scheduleBlu-ray release schedule
Accepted hitting HD DVD November 14th with HD extras
Those of us waiting for the next fully featured HD DVD release after Fast and the Furious 3: Tokyo Drift now have Accepted to look forward to, on November 14th. Universal is pulling out all the stops on this summer comedy about a guy who opens his own university with a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 soundtrack, U-control interactive features and 1080p bonus footage on the HD DVD side of the combo disc. The typical $39.98 MSRP for a combo disc applies, HD DVD owners have been waiting for more extras and it certainly appears that Universal is equipped to deliver them on every new release now. Accepted vs. Black Hawk Down...decisions, decisions.
DVD International announces eight HD DVD combo releases including DVE HD
Proudly proclaiming itself as the leading independent and fourth overall largest supporter of the HD DVD format, the DVD Acquisition and Development Group has announced HD DVD / DVD combo disc releases for the fourth quarter of this year. Coming from their DVD International division, the most high profile release is the high definition edition of Joe Kane's Digital Video Essentials calibration disc. DVE HD will include 720p and 1080p-encoded versions on the HD DVD side, various test patterns for all manner of A/V setups, and is "HDi capable" -- hopefully this means the menus are easier to navigate, some complained about that on the DVD release (included on the flip side). The seven HDScape discs? Your basic travelogue fare, Exotic Saltwater Aquarium HD DVD, Fireplace HD DVD, Antarctica Dreaming, Visions of Sea: Explorations, Serenity: Southern Seas, HD Window: Hawaii, HD Window: The Great Southwest provide what we're sure are crystal clear looks at various landscapes if you're not already bored to death by them on INHD2 into that type of thing. DVE HD will retail for $34.95, while the HDScape discs will all go for $29.95. A sampler (pictured) is currently on sale at the website for free plus $3.95 shipping.
Fast and the Furious 3: Tokyo Drift HD DVD combo reviewed
The third installment of the Fast & the Furious movie franchise is finally on store shelves in HD DVD format so we can stop posting about it right? Not quite, as it's the first 30GB/9GB HD DVD/DVD combo disc, and includes HDi features at level we haven't seen before. The reviewer at High Def Digest has nothing but praise for the 1080p VC-1 transfer, with all the fast moving cars, CGI and loud colors it manages to keep up without any issues. The soundtrack isn't Dolby TrueHD but it also earns kudos for high quality.. The most interesting aspect of this release is the U-Control interface, surpassing any IME features we've seen so far. The viewer can access extras like director commentary, car information, and insurance damage estimates at any time while the movie continues to play. Some might be worried this is all too complicated, when all they want to do is sit back and watch fast cars, but the review says it's got a very simple learning curve. This could be the start of real next generation home theater experiences...or just another menu to skip during a quick rental of a popcorn flick.
Superman Returns to DVD, HD DVD and Blu-ray Nov. 28th
Summer blockbuster Superman Returns has a date from Warner Home Video, and VideoBusiness says you'll be able to see it no matter what side of the format war you're on. While The Lake House will still be the first triple-release later this month, you can pick up Superman Returns on DVD, HD DVD & Blu-ray November 28th. The standard DVD will be available either as a single disc (MSRP $28.98), 2-disc special edition (MSRP $34.99), HD DVD Combo disc (MSRP $39.99), or Blu-ray (MSRP $34.99). The special edition DVD will come with several hours worth of extras, but no word on the high definition IME extras we've already heard so much about. Still, considering such a high profile release and that they've already got HD extras ready, it seems likely that Superman follows Fast and the Furious 3: Tokyo Drift in being a 30GB/9GB combo disc. We're still not sure how many people are willing to pay a few extra bucks for a combo disc, but Warner is putting a lot of weight behind them. Information on whether or not the disc would allow buyers to fly merely by putting on a cape and yelling "I'm Superman" is also unavailable at this time.
Video of Xbox 360 HD DVD player in action
We've already got the info on the Japanese prices and 1080p support (whether it's really necessary/useful or not), but how about we see the thing in action. Microsoft gave a live demo of the HD DVD drive at the Tokyo Game Show and the guys from Xboxyde were there to see it. The cam video isn't HD, only 960x540, but you can get a good look at the much-ballyhooed special interactive features of the Fast and the Furious 3: Tokyo Drift HD DVD coming soon, as well as the Xbox 360's ability to bring the guide up as the movie continues to play in the background. Even if you're not thinking of getting the HD DVD add-on, who could miss a moment of the glory that is Fast and the Furious 3? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?
Warner announces seven HD DVD & Blu-ray releases for Oct. 10
As expected, Warner Home Video has announced Batman Begins and The Polar Express will be coming to HD DVD October 10th. Also coming to HD DVD that day are Tim Burton's The Corpse Bride (previously announced for Blu-ray), and both Charlie & the Chocolate Factory (2006 starring Johnny Depp) and the original Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory starring Gene Wilder. Batman Begins and Charlie & the Chocolate Factory both feature IME sequences, taking viewers into the creative processes of the directors of each movie while the movie continues to play in the background. In addition Warner will release both Syriana and 16 Blocks on Blu-ray the same day, both previously released on HD DVD, giving them over 50 movies total released on both formats. Other than the two IME-enhanced titles all will have the same extras as their DVD counterparts, the HD DVDs carry an MSRP of $28.99 and the Blu-ray discs $34.99. So far Warner's dual-release strategy seems to be working out well as they've got some of the best titles on each format, best features, and have been able to take their VC-1 encoded movies from HD DVD to Blu-ray and vice versa without trouble.
Batman Begins HD DVD hits October 10
The much-anticipated Batman Begins HD DVD including several HD DVD-exclusive IME (HDi) features will hit store shelves October 10, along with The Polar Express. One consistent complaint about the HD DVD and Blu-ray launches has been the paucity of big, quality titles.This hopefully marks a reversal of that trend and is a sign that studios are also confident in taking advantage of the unique features afforded by the formats. Studios know they have to get things right with their most valuable properties or risk angering millions of fans, now its just up to consumers to show if they're willing to pay the cost for the experience. VideoBusiness expects more details tomorrow including price and features. What this really means is in a month or so we can move on to complaining that Superman and Lord of the Rings aren't out yet but for now, we wait.
Fast and the Furious 3: Tokyo Drift to introduce HD DVD 30/9 quad combo disc
Sure we said we wouldn't post about Fast and the Furious anymore until it came out but we just can't help ourselves. One minor detail released about this movie amongst all the hoopla at CEDIA 2006 was that not only will it include advanced iHD HDi features, it will be the first movie to ship as a quad-layer combo disc. With a dual-layer HD DVD on one side and a dual-layer DVD on the other, this should enable HD DVD viewers to view extras without having to flip to the DVD side, as they did with previous 15/9 combo discs. In a good or bad sign, it still has a $39 MSRP in line with previous combo releases, so no price increase but it will still cost more than a standard HD DVD or Blu-ray disc. Univeral Studios Home Entertainment prez Craig Kornblau sounded positive about its prospects in reaching people outside the current 25,000 HD DVD-equipped households, but we're still not sure many people will bite given the price premium.[Thanks, Tyler]
