HD DVD backed by Microsoft and Intel

[Alexander Turcic]

Just yesterday, it was announced in an exclusive interview with Tom's Hardware Guide that Microsoft and Intel will back and promote HD DVD as a high-definition video disc standard. In my opinion this announcement does not mean that HD DVD will win over Blu-ray - it just means that Sony will have more incentive to seek a truce with Toshiba & Co. From the press release (PDF) of the HD DVD Promotion Group:

"Until now, we viewed ourselves more as a technology provider for both groups," said Jordi Ribas, Microsoft's director of technology strategy for Windows Digital Media, and a key developer of the VC-1 codec currently in use by both HD DVD and Blu-ray. He revealed that Microsoft and Intel had produced a list of what he called "key requirements for the success of next-generation DVD." For several months, while those requirements were being circulated, both companies worked on developing key standards to be implemented by both formats. Ribas said he was directly involved with implementing the VC-1 codec, and also worked jointly with Disney to produce the iHD interactive layer considered by both camps, but eventually adopted only by HD DVD (Disney is a member of the Blu-ray Disc Association.) During that time, Intel and Microsoft both maintained their public neutrality. But very recently, from the two companies' perspective, things started unraveling unexpectedly for Blu-ray.

Follow-up: HD DVD maybe not a "long-term" standard - Microsoft

[Colin Dunstan]

Naturally, Blu-ray supporters aren't amused:

"Microsoft and Intel's announcement erroneously indicates that HD-DVD has an advantage in a number of areas," they claimed, pointing to the chip and software giants' statement that HD DVD offers a greater storage capacity than BD.

More: http://www.channelregister.co.uk/200...p_vs_ms_intel/