HD DVD, High Density DVD, or High-Definition DVD is a high-density optical disc format designed for the storage of data and high-definition video.

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History

The HD DVD disc is designed to be the successor to the standard DVD format. It can store about three times as much data as its predecessor. (15 GB per layer instead of 4.7 GB) The HD DVD standard was jointly developed by a group of consumer electronics and PC companies, spearheaded by Toshiba. On November 19, 2003, the DVD Forum voted to support HD DVD as the HDTV successor of the standard DVD. At this meeting, they also renamed it HD DVD. The format had previously been called the "Advanced Optical Disc" (AOD).

At CES 2006, Microsoft announced that there would be an external add-on HD DVD drive for the Xbox 360 game console; this was released in November 2006. Also at CES ^[1]2006, companies backing HD DVD said that nearly 200 titles would be available for the format by the end of the year.

On March 31, 2006, Toshiba released their first HD DVD player in Japan at ¥110,000 ($934).^[2] HD DVD was released in United States on April 18, 2006,^[3] with players priced at $499 and $799.

The current specification version for HD DVD-ROM and HD DVD-Rewritable is version 1.0. The specification for HD DVD-R is currently at 0.9. The first HD DVD-ROM drives were expected to be unveiled by Q4 2006, with mass production to start in Q1 2007. The actual product launch of both CE and PC units occurred in late 2006. As of December 2006, more than 120,000 HD DVD's had been sold in the United States.^{[citation needed]}

Technical specifications

Hardware

HD DVD has a single-layer capacity of 15 GB and a dual-layer capacity of 30 GB. There is also a double-sided hybrid format which contains standard DVD-Video format video on one side, playable in regular DVD players, and HD DVD video on the other side for playback in high definition on HD DVD players. JVC has developed a similar hybrid disc for the Blu-ray format. These hybrid discs make retail marketing and shelf space management easier. This also removes some confusion from DVD buyers since they can now buy a disc compatible with any DVD/HD DVD player in their house. The HD DVD format also can be applied to current red laser DVDs in 5, 9, 15 and 18 GB capacities which offers a lower-cost option for distributors.

Physical size Single layer capacity Dual layer capacity 12 cm, single sided 15 GB 30 GB 12 cm, double sided 30 GB 60 GB  8 cm, single sided 4.7 GB 9.4 GB  8 cm, double sided 9.4 GB 18.8 GB

Like the original DVD format, the data layer of an HD DVD disc is 0.6 mm below the surface. The numerical aperture of the optical pick-up head is 0.65, compared with 0.6 for DVD and 0.85 for Blu-ray aperture. Both of the new formats are backward compatible with DVDs and both employ the same video compression techniques: MPEG-2, Video Codec 1 (VC-1) and H.264/MPEG-4 AVC.

File systems

Like previous optical disc formats, HD DVD supports several file systems, like ISO 9660 and Universal Disk Format (UDF). Currently, all HD DVD titles use UDF version 2.5 as the file system, the same one used for Blu-ray releases.

Audio

HD DVD can be mastered with up to 7.1 channel surround sound using linear (uncompressed) PCM, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital EX, DTS and DTS ES formats also used on DVDs. In addition, it also supports Dolby Digital Plus and the lossless formats Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD. Currently, most DVD movies are made with 5.1 channels of surround sound. There are relatively few titles that offer 6.1 channels of surround sound. On HD DVD the Dolby formats are mandatory, meaning that a Dolby Digital or Dolby Digital Plus track may be used as the sole soundtrack on a disc, because every player will have a decoder that can process any of these bitstreams.^[4] For lossless audio in movies in the PCM, Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD formats, HD DVD discs support encoding in up to 24-bit/192 kHz for two channels, or up to eight channels of up to 24-bit/96 kHz encoding.^[5] For reference, even new big-budget Hollywood films are mastered in only 24-bit/48 kHz, with 16-bit/48 kHz being common for ordinary films.^{[citation needed]}

Video

The HD DVD format supports a wide variety of resolutions, from low-resolution CIF and SDTV, all video resolutions supported by the DVD-Video standard, and up to HDTV formats such as 720p, 1080i and 1080p.^[6] All movie titles released so far have had the feature encoded in 1080p, with supplements in 480i or 480p. Most titles are encoded with VC-1. The table below doesn't take into consideration cost and that a lot of early Blu-ray titles were in 25 GB format while HD DVD movies are in 30 GB format.

The table below summarizes the differences between conventional DVD-Video specifications and those of the enhanced HD DVD-Video disc.

Disc BD-ROM HD DVD-ROM 3X DVD-ROM DVD-ROM Laser wavelength 405 Nanometers 405 Nanometers 650 Nanometers 650 Nanometers Numerical aperture 0.85 0.65 0.6 0.6 Storage capacity single layer 25 GB 15 GB 4.7 GB 4.7 GB Storage capacity dual layer 50 GB 30 GB 8.5 GB 8.5 GB Playback time on two layers (Standard Definition) 23 hours 13.8 hours N/A 4 hours Playback time on two layers (High Definition) 9 hours 5.4 hours 2 hours - Video codecs MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) / VC-1 / MPEG-2 MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) / VC-1 / MPEG-2 MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) / VC-1 / MPEG-2 MPEG-2 Audio codecs lossless (mandatory) Linear PCM/MLP(TRUE HD)[2-ch] Linear PCM/MLP(TRUE HD)[2-ch] Linear PCM/MLP(TRUE HD)[2-ch] Linear PCM[2ch] Audio codecs lossless (optional) DTS HD (lossless) & PCM5.1 (lossless) DTS HD (lossless) DTS HD (lossless) N/A Audio codecs lossy (mandatory) Dolby Digital Plus/DTS/Dolby Digital/MPEG Audio Dolby Digital Plus/DTS/Dolby Digital/MPEG Audio Dolby Digital Plus/DTS/Dolby Digital/MPEG Audio Dolby Digital/MPEG Audio (Europe) Maximum data transfer rate 54.0 Mbit/s 36.55 Mbit/s 36.55 Mbit/s 10.08 Mbit/s Content protection system Advanced Access Content System (AACS-128bit) Advanced Access Content System (AACS-128bit) Advanced Access Content System (AACS-128bit) CSS 40-bit Video systems (maximum) 1920x1080 50/60 Progressive HDTV 1920x1080 50/60 Progressive HDTV 1920x1080 50/60 Progressive HDTV 720x480 and 720x576 50/60 Progressive SDTV Java Support Yes No No -

^[7]

Ongoing development

Although the HD DVD standard has been finalized, engineers continue working to advance the technology. At the Consumer Electronics Show in 2007, Toshiba announced that they have created HD DVDs with 17GB layers, and demonstrated a triple-layer 51GB disc. Because the players on the market today were not designed to work with this format, it is unlikely that any of them could read such a disc, and Toshiba does not claim otherwise. ^[8]

Digital rights management

Commercialized HD DVDs integrate copy protection technology specified by AACS LA (Advanced Access Content System License Authority). "Audio Watermark Protection" is also being considered by AACS for use on HD DVD. If Watermark is adopted by AACS, all HD DVD players will have a sensor that listens for inaudible audio watermarks in the soundtrack of movies. Studios may insert this invisible mark in the soundtracks of theatrical motion pictures. If an HD DVD player does not detect the invisible mark, it means the disc is playing back a copy made from a theatrical print (probably from illegal camcording), and will cause the player to refuse to play the disc. The mark is made by varying the waveform of speech and music in a regular pattern to convey a digital code. These variations are too subtle to be heard by the human ear. Another variation of this system can be used to prevent the playback of discs created by using a camcorder and microphone on a home entertainment center playing a legitimate disc purchased by a consumer. This variation for home entertainment utilizes a watermark that differs from the cinema mark in that it is permitted in normal, signed ROM discs, but generally not permitted on recordable discs.

In addition, HD DVD players must follow AACS guidelines pertaining to outputs over analog connections. This is set by a flag called the Image Constraint Token (ICT), which restricts the resolution for analog outputs without HDCP to 960×540. The decision to set the flag to restrict output ("down-convert") is left to the content provider. Warner Pictures is a proponent of ICT, and it is expected that Paramount and Universal will implement down-conversion as well.^[9] As of March 2006, 5 of the 6 studios releasing HD DVD content have announced they will not use ICT/down-conversion for the time being.^[10] AACS guidelines require that any title that implements the ICT must clearly state so on the packaging.

There is no Region Coding in the existing HD DVD specification, but due to pressure from Hollywood studios the DVD Forum is currently developing a regional lockout scheme.^[11]

Muslix64's exploit

On December 26, 2006 a person using the alias "muslix64" posted a utility named BackupHDDVD and its source code for a working AACS decryptor on the doom9.org forums. The program is not an exploit or hack per se. Rather it is a tool that can be used to decrypt AACS protected content once one knows the encryption key. As such, it is no surprise or indication of vulnerability that such a program is possible and it can be seen as merely an implementation of the publicly available standard AACS Guide. However, Muslix64 claims to have found title and volume keys in main memory while playing HD DVD disks using a software player, and that finding them is not difficult.^[12] Details of how to do this were revealed later (January 12, 2007) by other doom9.org forum members that also found title and volume keys of several movies in main memory of a software player called WinDVD.

On January 2, 2007 "muslix64" published a new version of his/her program, with volume key support.[1]

Cyberlink, developers of PowerDVD maintain that their software was not used as part of the exploit.[2]

The claimed attack (extraction of the encryption keys from a software player) highlights the inherent weakness of software movie players for the PC platform. The use of encryption doesn't offer any true protection in this scenario since the software player must have the encryption key available somewhere in memory and there's no way to protect against a determined hacker extracting the encryption key (if everything else fails the user could run the program in a virtual machine making it possible to freeze the program and inspect all memory addresses without the program knowing). Avoiding such attacks would require changes to the PC platform (see Trusted Computing) or that the content distributors do not permit their content to be played on PCs at all (by not providing the companies making software players with the needed encryption keys). Alternatively, they could use the AACS system's revocation mechanism to revoke a specific software player after it is known to have been compromised. In that case, the compromised players could still be used to break old titles but not newer releases as they would be released without encryption keys for the compromised software players requiring hackers to break other players. The latter alternative is not a desirable option, because it would result in legitimate users of compromised players being forced to upgrade or replace their player software in order to view new titles.

On January 13, 2007 "LordSloth" on Doom9 discovered how to grab the volume license keys from WinDVD's memory. With that discovery, it became possible to take backup of HD DVDs. Later that day, the first pirated HD DVD, Serenity, was uploaded on a private torrent tracker.

Interactive content

HD DVDs use the iHD Interactive Format to allow interactive content to be authored for discs. iHD is based on web technologies such as HTML, XML, CSS, SMIL, and ECMAScript (JavaScript), so authoring in iHD should be a fairly easy transition for web developers. No existing DVD authoring experience is required. In contrast, Blu-ray Disc content is authored using either a scripting environment for basic content, or a Java-based platform (BD-J) for advanced content. DVD video discs utilize pre-rendered MPEG segments, selectable subtitle pictures, and simple programmatic navigation which is considerably more primitive.

Hardware

Compatibility

Backward compatibility will be available with all HD DVD players, allowing users to have a single player in their homes to play all types of HD DVD, DVD and CD discs. There is also a hybrid HD DVD format which contains both DVD and HD DVD versions of the same movie on a single disc, providing smoother transition for the studios in terms of publishing movies, and letting consumers with only DVD drives still use the discs. DVD disc replication companies can continue using their current production equipment with only minor alterations when changing over to the format of HD DVD replication. Due to the structure of the single-lens optical head, both red and blue laser diodes can be used in smaller, more compact HD DVD players.

HD DVD players

On April 18, 2006, Toshiba released the first HD DVD players for the United States, the Toshiba HD-A1 and Toshiba HD-XA1. Both players sold out within days of their release. ^{[citation needed]} They utilize an Intel Pentium 4 processor and contain 1 GB of RAM; the drive mechanism is also an IDE HD DVD drive. The units run a specialized version of the Linux operating system booting off a USB thumbdrive. The HD-A1 was also rebadged by RCA and sold as the HDV-5000.

During the fourth quarter of 2006, Toshiba began releasing its second generation HD DVD players for the US. The Toshiba HD-A2 was released in early December for $499.99; the Toshiba HD-XA2 is expected to be released in late December for $999.99. The high-end model, the HD-XA2, will feature HDMI 1.3 and 1080p output.^[13]

On October 18, 2006, VidaBox announced the first Dual HD player / media center capable of playing back both Blu-ray Disc (BD) & HD DVD formats. The VidaBox MAX and VidaBox LUX can have both drives upgraded to play both high-definition formats up to their native 1080p resolutions at 24-bit color.^[14]

On January 5, 2007, at CES, LG Electronics (LGE) announced the LG BH100 hybrid Blu-ray and HD DVD standalone set-top player,^[15] to become available in Q1 of 2007 at a retail price of $1,199 (US). No detailed specifications for the player have been release, other than it will feature 1080p, DTS-HD audio.

As of December 2006 roughly 120,000 Toshiba HD DVD players have been sold in the U.S. along with 150,000 units coming in the form of HD DVD upgrade kits on Xbox 360s.^[16]

Computer drives

On May 16, 2006 Toshiba released its first PC with a HD DVD-ROM drive, the Toshiba Qosmio 35. There are also a number of laptops and desktop from Hewlett Packard (HP), Acer, Samsung, LG Electronics (LGE), Fujitsu and others equipped with HD DVD drives. All desktop systems so far use the NEC HR-1100A HD DVD-ROM, which is for OEM usage only.

Buffalo Technology announced on October 10, 2006 the first HD DVD-ROM drive for retail purchase, the HDV-ROM2.4FB (dual-layer read-only, 2.4x HD DVD read performance), with a suggested retail price of $320 US, it comes bundled with Cyberlink's PowerDVD HD DVD Edition. On January 8, 2007, at CES, LG Electronics (LGE) announced the GGW-H10N SATA 5.25" half-height combo drive for computers,^[17] which is a hybrid HD DVD and Blu-Ray drive that can read both blue-laser formats, but only writes to Blu-Ray or standard DVDs and CDs blank media. The LG GGW-H10N drive is set to be released before the end of January 2007 and will retail for a suggested retail price of $1200 US.

Also, the Xbox 360 add-on external HD DVD drive can be connected to a PC via USB. The Xbox 360 external HD DVD add-on drive was released with a suggested retail price of $199 US, making it the least expensive standalone drive for computers.

Xbox 360 accessory

Microsoft has also released an add-on HD DVD drive for the Xbox 360 which attaches to the console via USB 2.0 cable. The drive was released at the end of November 2006 and was sold out in both online and retail stores. As of January 2007 it has sold more than 100,000 units. Many view the add-on as Microsoft's answer to the Playstation 3 which includes a Blu-Ray player, HD DVD's main competitor. However console add-on's of this type are traditionally (and notoriously) relatively unsuccessful due to poor sales.

The Xbox 360 does not currently offer a HDMI or DVI outputs. HD DVD's can be viewed at 720p or 1080i through component cables and up to 1080p with VGA cables. Some TV's will not accept 1080p content without an HDMI connection due to HDCP. The 1080p resolution is still new and expert such as Cnet have said that the only way an expert can tell the difference between 1080i and 1080p is if the screen is over 60" inches. The add-on also does not support lossless audio nor DTS found on some HD DVD's, and does not support Dolby Digital EX. Though future support via firmware upgrades should enable some, if not all of these outputs.

The add-on HD DVD drive for the Xbox 360 can also connect to a PC using the supplied USB 2.0 cable. Using this, combined with a software that supports playing HD DVDs (such as Cyberlink PowerDVD Ultra or WinDVD 8) and hardware that meets minimum requirements (HDCP compliant video card and monitor if using DVI or HDMI, relativly high-performance PC), one can use the drive for 1080p HD DVD playback on a PC.

Released titles

The first HD DVD titles released on April 18, 2006 were The Last Samurai, Million Dollar Baby, The Phantom of the Opera by Warner Home Video; and Serenity by Universal Studios.^[18] As of 16 January 2007, 138 titles have been released in America and 61 in Japan.^[19]

Marketing

A $150 million advertising campaign is being planned for HD DVD. The campaign is being handled by Goodby Silverstein & Partners, the same agency that created the "Got Milk?" campaign.

The campaign will encompass all media: print, internet, television, and other outlets. All advertising will boast the tagline "The Look and Sound of Perfect.", including the website itself.^[20][21]

Industry support

HD DVD is promoted by Toshiba, NEC, Sanyo, Microsoft, and Intel, among others. In terms of major studios, HD DVD is currently exclusively backed by Universal Studios, The Weinstein Company/Genius Products, and is non-exclusively backed by Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros., Warner Music Group, New Line Cinema, HBO, and Image Entertainment (including Discovery Channel),^[22] Magnolia Pictures,^[23] Brentwood Home Video, Ryko, Koch/Goldhil Entertainment,^[24] and Studio Canal. HP, Lite On, Onkyo, Meridan and Alpine also support HD DVD non-exclusively.

Also with history as a reference, the adult-movie/pornography industry may have a big influence in the HD DVD versus Blu-Ray format war, at least when it comes to home rental and retail purchases or pressed movies as it generates multi-billion annual revenue worldwide, (with US$57 billion in annual revenue worldwide reported in May, 2006). HD DVD is currently exclusively backed by several adult-movie/pornography studios/publishers, like Digital Playground Inc., Wicked Pictures, Pink Visual, Bang Bros, and ClubJenna Inc. (which on 22 June 2006 was acquired by Playboy Enterprises), and HD DVD is also non-exclusively backed by Vivid Entertainment.

Hybrid players/readers

Some companies, such as NEC, Broadcom, STMicroelectronics, and VidaBox, have developed dual-format or hybrid player technologies. NEC,^[25] Broadcom,^[26] and STMicroelectronics^[27] have seperatly developed a single chip/laser that can read both the HD DVD and the Blu-Ray disc standard, while VidaBox has released a Windows Media Center PC with a HD DVD and Blu-Ray drive^[28] by using two laser-pickups inside one HD DVD/Blu-Ray ROM drive. Broadcom and STMicroelectronics will be selling their dual-format single chip/laser solution to anyone willing to OEM a product based on the chip, so it is expected that more brand names like Samsung and others will announce/release hybrid players during 2007.

Hybrid media/discs

On the media disc side, Warner Bros. officially announces Total Hi Def (THD) at CES 2007. Total Hi Def (Total HD) hybrid discs supports both HD DVD and Blu-Ray, HD DVD on one side (up to two layers) and Blu-Ray on the other side (up to two layers). Warner Bros. stated at their press conference that first Total HD releases will come out in the second half of 2007, no specific titles have yet been announced.

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