HP Calls on Blu-Ray to Make DVD Format Compatible With HD DVD
By Kyodo News International, Tokyo
Oct. 20–NEW YORK — Hewlett-Packard Co. emerged as an arbitrator Wednesday in the battle for the next-generation DVD format by urging the Blu-ray Disk Association to adopt two technologies already endorsed by its rival HD DVD camp, the U.S. personal computer maker said.
“HP is committed to delivering rewarding consumer experiences, and we see format compatibility as critical to making technology accessible and easy to use for consumers,” said John Romano, senior vice president of HP’s consumer PC global business unit.
HP, itself a major supporter of the Blu-ray format, said its proposal reflects its desire to ensure that customers are not forced to choose between competing high-definition formats for DVDs.
In its appeal submitted to the Blu-ray Disc Association, the company suggests adoption of two technologies — mandatory Managed Copy and iHD — in the Blu-ray specifications. Both are to be featured in the HD DVD format.
Managed Copy allows consumers to make legitimate copies of their high-definition movies and enjoy this content around the home or across their networks.
By making this feature mandatory, users can store a digital movie on a home network and then move the content from a computer screen to a television.
The iHD technology provides a new interactivity, such as enabling users to navigate information about the films while watching them.
Software powerhouse Microsoft Corp. is a supporter of the HD DVD format and plans to introduce iHD in its Windows Vista next-generation operating system.
The competition over the high-definition DVD format has been fought fiercely between the Blu-ray association, led by Sony Corp. and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., and Toshiba Corp.-led HD DVD group.
Microsoft and Intel Corp., a semiconductor giant, decided last month to take sides with HD DVD.
Among major PC makers, HP, Dell Computer Corp. and Apple Computer Inc. back Blu-ray.
Major Hollywood studios are equally divided between the two formats.
Talks between Sony and Toshiba to unify their high-definition DVD formats broke down earlier this year.
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