HD DVD - The Look and Sound of Perfect

HD DVD is an optical disc format that stands for High-Definition Digital Versatile Disc. It uses a blue laser, which allows for far more data density per disc than a standard DVD. So what does that mean? Well, for starters, HD DVD delivers six times the picture resolution of normal DVDs, up to 7.1 channels of high-resolution audio, amazing interactivity and more bonus content than there are movies about unrequited love. And that translates into a truly awesome movie-watching experience, the likes of which you just can't get anywhere else.

The easy answer is that you can experience movies in a vastly improved way over standard formats due to major advances in interactive and compression technologies and the increased storage capacity of HD DVDs.

If you want a more technical answer, take a look at the specifications. HD DVD is the only high-definition optical format to mandate that certain features be included in every playback device. That means you are guaranteed to be able to take full advantage of every feature offered by a movie without compatibility issues. Push a button to see the director appear on-screen to discuss a scene as it plays. Or connect online instantly to download tons of bonus content and updates. These are features that movie titles either already offer or will offer in the near future, and the best part is that the players you buy today are guaranteed to support them.

Imagine being in a shark cage. A great white swims by and looks at you with its black, emotionless stare. You can count the rows of razor-sharp teeth as it glides past. You feel the vibrations of its giant tail as it circles around you, going back in the deep blue water.

Luckily for you, HD DVD is exactly like that except you won't go into cardiac arrest.

For really real.

When you watch TV, the picture you see is made up of hundreds of scanned lines that make up the image on the screen. Depending on the type of digital TV you have, there will be more or fewer lines of resolution—480, 720 or 1080. If you have more lines (1080), then you’ve got a clearer picture. Interlaced (that's what the "i" is short for) and progressive (and that's what the "p" stands for) are the two scanning techniques that are used. Experts agree that progressive images tend to look better than interlaced, so a 1080p image will look better than a 1080i on the screen. If you have digital cable, you’re most likely getting content at 1080i, which is good, but not the best possible resolution. As a reference point, your DVDs are all 480p and all HD DVDs are 1080p. So HD DVD offers you the best quality, as long as your TV can handle it.

First, you need an HD TV—something that can display 1080i resolution or higher. Then you'll need a high-definition signal. You can order HD cable or satellite channels, buy a special tuner to get HD broadcast channels, or you can buy an HD DVD player and choose from hundreds of HD DVD movies.

Eye care experts agree that there is usually less strain involved in watching TV for prolonged periods than there is in performing close-up work like sewing or reading. But be sure to sit a comfortable distance away from your screen—not eyeballs to screen. After all, if you’re that close, how could you appreciate the full stunning picture? Overall, the worst damage that prolonged HD DVD–watching can do is leave your eyes fatigued. While HD DVD’s incredible definition will not do irreparable damage to your senses, the only danger it may pose is in making your non-TV world look a little disappointing by comparison.

Yes. HD DVD players are backwards compatible, meaning they can play movies in the original DVD format just as easily as HD DVDs. Plus, HD DVD players are some of the best up-converting DVD players on the market today—making those old DVDs look better than they ever have before. They will even play your audio CDs with crystal-clear sound quality.

It depends on what you mean by that. If being able to experience the interactive features and improved picture and sound quality of the HD DVD version would turn the beat around for you, then yes. If the movie is on DVD and you think HD DVD’s ability to "upconvert" the film's resolution will make you love it a little more, then yes again. But if we’re talking about improving actor performance, love story believability or overall movie quality, you’re out of luck. Amazing as it is, there are some things not even HD DVD can make better.

Interactive features cover a broad spectrum of what’s possible with HD DVD. It's all thanks to the format’s revolutionary HDi™ technology—a disc-authoring language that allows you to connect to the Internet for special features you can download without leaving the movie. With HD DVD you can change menu options from anywhere in the movie and get all sorts of interactive content you just can't get on a standard DVD. You can turn picture-in-picture director's commentaries on or off anytime you want, and you can bookmark your favorite scenes and the player will remember them. Cool, huh? You can even share your favorite scenes with your friends online or download new content, movie trailers, or interviews. Since a network connection comes standard with every player, HD DVD brings "interactive" to a whole new level.

Upconverting DVD players take a standard definition DVD and use upsampling techniques to make it appear to be higher resolution. You might see upconverters claiming to be 1080i or 1080p, but it's not true high definition, since your picture quality is limited by the source content on the disc itself. So while you might get some additional detail on larger HD TVs, the difference between upscaled content and true HD content will be clear.

Unless you're referring to the marriage of your HD TV to your DVD player, no. For live, non-televisual, three-dimensional relationship troubles, we advise you to seek professional help, pronto.

You better believe it. With mandatory support for networking, every HD DVD player can take advantage of the Internet for player firmware updates, making the process quick and easy. Check out the HD DVD manufacturers manual or contact them for instructions on receiving and installing the latest firmware updates.

Toshiba Customer service: 1-800-631-3811
Toshiba: http://www.tacp.com/customersupport

Qosmio® PC: http://pcsupport.toshiba.com
Xbox®: http://www.xbox.com:80/en-US/hardware/x/xbox360hddvdplayer/default.htm