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'Freedom 1' Offers First Look at HD DVD Twin-Format Disc
Tue Jun 19, 2007 at 12:00 PM ETTags: HDi, Bandai Visual (all tags)
The first US "twin-format" HD DVD/DVD release (the anime title 'Freedom 1') doesn't hit store shelves until June 26th, but our Kenneth Brown got a sneak peak this week, and tells all in his just-posted review.
Not to be confused with double-sided HD DVD/DVD combo discs, twin-format discs can contain up to three layers of recorded content on a single-sided disc. 'Freedom 1' uses two of those layers -- a 15GB HD DVD layer, and a 4.6GB standard-def DVD layer.
Looking at the disc itself, Kenneth says you'd never guess it's anything special. Unlike combo discs, one side has a printed label, while the other side looks just like a normal HD DVD disc. Pop it in an HD DVD player or a standard-def player, however, and the twin-format disc starts to work its magic, auto-detecting the player format and hopping to the proper layer without the user having to make any selection.
As for video quality, Kenneth says this first-ever anime release to hit high-def disc in the US looks excellent, boasting "vivid colors, perfect black levels, and crisply detailed linework." Considering the program's running time of only 25 minutes, arguably that's no great feat for a 15GB HD DVD, but it is an encouraging sign for both Microsoft and the disc's distributor Bandai, who reportedly worked together to tweak the VC-1 encode specifically for anime.
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| The front and the back of the twin-format HD DVD/DVD 'Freedom 1' disc. | |
As if a brand-new disc type and a newly-tweaked codec weren't enough, 'Freedom 1' is also notable for its inclusion of several more-advanced HDi-enhanced extras, including a customizable picture-in-picture track, and some additional supplementary features accessible only through your HD DVD player's internet connection.
For more details and a comprehensive overview of this disc and all of its features, check out Kenneth complete review of 'Freedom 1.'
See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.
- Related links:
- First Twin HD DVD to be released in US! [High-Def Digest Forums]
- First HD DVD/DVD Twin disc hits U.S. in June, along with new HDi features [Engadget]
Online Interactivity to Spearhead Universal's 2007 HD DVD Assault
Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 03:50 AM ETTags: Exclusive HD Content, HDi, Universal, Microsoft (all tags)
Universal Studios Home Entertainment is betting that interactivity will boost HD DVD in its next-gen battle against Blu-ray, with the studio planning to release three major titles in 2007 with web-connected features.
While no HD DVD-supporting studios have yet taken advantage of the Ethernet capabilities found on all Toshiba first- and second-gen HD DVD players, that is due to change by year's end, when Universal will unveil three, as-yet-announced releases to take advantage of the format's web connectivity.
The news came courtesy of Kevin Collins, Microsoft's director of HD DVD evangelism, who outlined the studio's plans to Video Business. Microsoft, Toshiba and Universal have been the primary backers of the HD DVD format since it's launch last year.
"We are still scratching the surface of what we are capable of doing, but Universal is leading the format in terms of exploring all the different aspects that are out there now," said Collins. "By the holidays, there will be a lot more features."
To date, Blu-ray titles have featured relatively little interactivity, as its BD-Java technology is still being tweaked for implementation on future titles. Of course that hasn't stopped Blu-ray from taking the sales lead over HD DVD over the last two months, following the introduction of the Blu-ray enabled PS3 and a steady stream of new disc releases.
Hoping to reverse the trend, Universal will continue to promote existing HDi-based interactivity in the form of its "U-Control" feature on two key upcoming HD DVD titles, 'Children of Men,' due March 20, and 'Smokin' Aces,' which streets April 17. The studio promises features even more advanced than those seen on earlier "U-Control" titles such as last September's 'The Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift.'
On 'Children of Men,' viewers get a chance to see the film’s featured video billboard advertisements in their entirety, with the HD DVD allowing users to click on each of the approximately ten billboards and watch the complete ads.
'Smokin' Aces,' meanwhile, will integrate Google Earth to identify specific locations of assassins during the film.
We'll keep you posted as Universal's HD DVD plans continue to heat up throughout the rest of the year.
A complete list of all currently-announced Universal titles can be found in our HD DVD Release Schedule. Stay tuned...
See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.
- Related links:
- Universal Pushes HD Interactivity in New Titles [Video Business]
- Earlier on High-Def Digest:
- February Disc Sales: Blu-ray Continues to Outsell HD DVD (Mar 09, 2007)
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