HD DVD

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search
HD DVD

Media type: high density optical disc

Capacity: 15 GB or 30 GB

Usage: Data storage, including HD video

Optical disc authoring

• Optical disc

• Optical disc image

• Recorder hardware

• Authoring software

• Recording technologies

o Recording modes

o Packet writing

Optical media types

• Laserdisc

• Compact Disc/CD-ROM: CD-R, CD-RW

• DVD: DVD-R, DVD-R DL, DVD+R, DVD+R DL,

DVD-RW, DVD+RW, DVD+RW DL, DVD-RAM

• Blu-ray Disc: BD-R, BD-RE

• HD DVD: HD DVD-R

• UDO

Standards

• Rainbow Books

• File systems

o ISO 9660
  Joliet

 Rock Ridge

 Amiga extensions to Rock Ridge

 El Torito

 Apple ISO9660 Extensions

o Universal Disk Format

 Mount Rainier

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.

The HD DVD disc is designed to be the successor to the DVD format and can store roughly 3-4 times the amount of data as its
predecessor. Although it uses the same blue-violet 405 nm laser as Blu-ray Disc uses, technical differences make the two formats
incompatible. The additional capacity of HD DVD means the discs are more suited to high-definition video than are standard DVDs. In
comparison to its main competitor, Blu-ray Disc, HD DVD has less information capacity per layer (15 gigabytes instead of Blu-ray Disc's
25). HD DVD shares the same basic disc structure as a standard DVD: back-to-back bonding of two 0.6 mm thick, 120 mm diameter
substrates.

Contents
[hide]

• 1 History

• 2 Technical Specifications

o 2.1 Hardware

o 2.2 File Systems

o 2.3 Audio

o 2.4 Video

• 3 Digital Rights Management

o 3.1 Muslix64's exploit

• 4 Interactive content

• 5 Hardware

o 5.1 Compatibility

o 5.2 HD DVD players

o 5.3 Computer Drives

o 5.4 Xbox 360 Accessory

• 6 Released titles

• 7 Marketing

• 8 Industry support
 • 9 See also

o 9.1 Alternative disc technologies

• 10 References

• 11 External links

o 11.1 News

[edit] History
The HD DVD standard was jointly developed by a group of consumer electronics and PC companies, spearheaded by Toshiba. It is
currently engaged in a format war with the Blu-ray disc format for wide adoption as the preferred next-generation optical disc standard,
much as VHS and Betamax competed for the videotape market.

On November 19, 2003, the DVD Forum decided that they would back the HD DVD to be the HDTV successor of the DVD. At this
meeting they renamed it to HD DVD, while it had been previously 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 2006, "companies backing HD DVD said that nearly 200 titles would be available for the format
by the end of the year." [1]

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.

[edit] Technical Specifications

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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.
[edit] 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]

[edit] 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 summarizes the differences between conventional DVD-Video specifications and those of the enhanced HD DVD-Video
disc.

Disc Blu-ray Disc 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

25 GB 15 GB 4.7 GB 4.7 GB
layer

Storage capacity dual

50 GB 30 GB 8.5 GB 8.5 GB
layer

Playback time on two

layers (Standard 23 hours 13.8 hours N/A 4 hours
Definition)

Playback time on two

9 hours 8 hours 2 hours -
layers (High Definition)

MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) / MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) / MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) /

Video codecs MPEG-2
VC-1 / MPEG-2 VC-1 / MPEG-2 VC-1 / MPEG-2

Audio codecs lossless Linear PCM/MLP(TRUE Linear PCM/MLP(TRUE Linear PCM/MLP(TRUE

Linear PCM[2ch]
(mandatory) HD)[2-ch] HD)[2-ch] HD)[2-ch]

Audio codecs lossless DTS HD (lossless) &

DTS HD (lossless) DTS HD (lossless) N/A
(optional) PCM5.1 (lossless)

Dolby Digital Dolby Digital Dolby Digital

Audio codecs lossy Dolby Digital/MPEG
Plus/DTS/Dolby Plus/DTS/Dolby Plus/DTS/Dolby
(mandatory) Audio (Europe)
Digital/MPEG Audio Digital/MPEG Audio Digital/MPEG Audio

Maximum data
54.0 Mbit/s 36.55 Mbit/s 36.55 Mbit/s 10.08 Mbit/s
transfer rate
Content protection Advanced Access Content Advanced Access Content Advanced Access Content
CSS 40-bit
system System (AACS-128bit) System (AACS-128bit) System (AACS-128bit)

720x480 and 720x576

Video systems 1920x1080 50/60 1920x1080 50/60 1920x1080 50/60
50/60 Progressive
(maximum) Progressive HDTV Progressive HDTV Progressive HDTV
SDTV

Java Support Yes No No -

[7]

[edit] 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 [8]. 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 [9]. 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. [10]

[edit] 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 exploit on the doom9.orgforums. This hack appears to use a similar methodology to the DeCSS hack, exploiting weak player keys.
The title keys are located on the disk in encrypted form, but need to be decrypted for content to be played - BackupHDDVD does not do
this, but Muslix64 claims that the title keys were found in main memory, and that finding them is not difficult, using the publicly available
AACS Guide as a reference. [11]

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

Neither version of the source code actually contains any hack of the AACS system; they simply allow you to decrypt content (using
publicly disclosed specifications) once a user has obtained the highly confidential title keys. The source code provides no title keys, nor
does the author give any details how to acquire them, so the published package cannot be used for any unauthorized decryption.

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

It should be noted that even if this exploit proves true, it does not represent any actual hack of the AACS system, but a circumvention
based on a weak software implementation.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Hardware
[edit] Compatibility
Backward compatibility will be available with all HD DVD players, allowing users to have a single player in their homes to play both HD
DVD and DVD 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.

Note that rewritable HD DVD media doesn't exist yet, and it's uncertain whether currently available HD DVD players and recorders will
be compatible with rewritable media.

In January 2007, LG, the Korean electronics firm unveiled a new player that is capable of re-writing CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray disks and
can also playback HD DVD's

[edit] HD DVD players

VidaBox MAX Dual Blu-Ray+HD DVD System

On April 18, 2006, Toshiba released the first HD DVD players for the United States, the Toshiba HD-A1 and Toshiba HD-XA1. 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.[12]

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. [13]

On January 5, 2007, LG unveiled a player capable of playing both BD and HD DVD media (as well as the existing formats).

On January 8, 2007, at CES, it was announced that HD-DVD has sold more than Blu-ray Disc [citation needed]. It was announced previously
(prior to the Playstation 3 launch) that HD DVD had captured two thirds of the early market however Blu-ray was almost 50% more
profitable.

[edit] Computer Drives

On May 16, 2006 Toshiba released its first PC with a HD DVD-ROM drive, the Toshiba Qosmio 35. This PC is the first to have a slim
height optical disc drive. Toshiba's Digital Products Division, introduced Toshiba Qosmio G35-AV600, the latest version of its flagship
"4-in-1" audio-video entertainment notebook with new enhancements. The Toshiba G35-AV600 is a complete package featuring
Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 and integrated TV tuner, digital video recorder (DVR), virtual surround-sound stereo,
and HDMI output. The notebook includes the world's first 1-bit digital amplifier in a notebook PC. There are also a number of laptops and
desktop from HP, Acer, Samsung, LG, Fujitsu and others equipped with HD DVD drives, these so far uses NEC HR-1100A HD DVD-
ROM (which is for OEM usage only). Buffalo Technology announced on the 10th of October 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. One can also use the Xbox 360 add-on external HD DVD drive connected
to a PC via USB, the Xbox 360 external HD DVD add-on drive suggested retail price is currently $199 US. A software player that
supports HD DVD playback (like the very latest WinDVD and PowerDVD) is required to playback HD DVD Video on a PC.

[edit] 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. 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 unsucessful due to poor sales. The Xbox 360 outputs 1080p for games and
movies through component and VGA cables[3]. The Xbox 360 does not currently offer a HDMI or any other digital-video output. Many
TVs do not accept 1080p through their component inputs, and only a few accept the signal through the VGA/PC input. But, a number of
new TVs, such as the new Samsung LCD and DLP models, support 1080p over component. The add-on also does not support lossless
audio nor DTS found on some HD DVD's, and does not support Dolby Digital EX.

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) and hardware that meets minimum requirements (HDCP
compliant video card and monitor if using DVI or HDMI, relativley high-performance PC), one can use the drive for 1080p HD DVD
playback on a PC.
[edit] Released titles
Main article: List of HD DVD releases
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 [14]. To date (26th December 2006),130 titles have been released in America and 61 in
Japan[15].

[edit] Marketing
A $150 million advertising campaign is being planned for the 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." A new Web site was also launched on July 11, 2006, http://www.TheLookandSoundofPerfect.com, which touts the HD
DVD's superior video and audio capabilities and includes trailers of HD DVD movies. [16]

[edit] 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, and is non-exclusively backed by Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros. (including subsidiaries
HBO[17] and New Line Cinema)[18], Warner Music Group, The Weinstein Company (through Genius Products)[19], Image Entertainment
(including Discovery Channel)[20] , Magnolia Pictures[21], Brentwood Home Video, Ryko, Koch/Goldhil Entertainment[22], and Studio
Canal. It is rumored that Hewlett Packard may support HD DVD, but as of now, they are part of the Blu-ray Disc Association Board of
Directors, making it impossible for HP to support HD DVD in the foreseeable future.

Some companies, such as NEC or VidaBox, have developed dual-format or hybrid technologies. NEC is developing a single chip that
works with either HD standard[23] , while VidaBox has released a Windows Media Center PC with a HD DVD and Blu-Ray drive[24].

[edit] See also

• List of HD DVD releases

• Dolby Digital Plus, one of the mandatory audio codecs for HD DVD hardware.

• 1080p, high-definition resolution supported by HD DVD & Blu-ray.[25]

• Format war

• Comparison of high definition optical disc formats

[edit] Alternative disc technologies

• Blu-ray Disc

• Enhanced Versatile Disc (EVD)

• Forward Versatile Disc (FVD)

• Professional Disc for DATA (PDD or ProDATA)

• Versatile Multilayer Disc

• Fluorescent Multilayer Disc

• Digital Multilayer Disk

• Holographic Versatile Disc - a proposed next generation disc after HD DVD and Blu-ray

• Tapestry Media

• Ultra Density Optical

 • AVCHD

[edit] References
1. ^ "HD DVD backers promise 200 movies"

2. ^ "Toshiba HD DVD Player: First Release In Japan"

3. ^ http://www.videobusiness.com/article/CA6324750.html "HD DVD set to launch quietly. Toshiba to ship between 10,000 to 15,000
players"

4. ^ Dolby Audio Coding for Future Entertainment Formats

5. ^ (July 2005). "Requirements Specification for HD DVD Video Application". Version 1.0. Retrieved on 2006-06-27.

6. ^ HD DVD – A technical introduction

7. ^ Picture from Blu-ray website

8. ^ "High-def ‘down-converting’ forced. Consortium backs technology to prevent piracy on analog signals"

9. ^ "Universal won't downsample HD DVD content"

10. ^ "Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD: Regional Differences"

11. ^ HD-DVD Content Protection already hacked?. TechAmok (2006-12-28). Retrieved on 2007-01-02.

12. ^ Toshiba announces introduction of second generation HD DVD players. Toshiba (September 14, 2006).

13. ^ VidaBox Introduces World’s First Dual HD DVD & Blu-Ray Player / Media Center (2006). Retrieved on 2006-10-18.

14. ^ http://www.videobusiness.com/article/CA6323662.html "Uni delivers Serenity to HD DVD. Sci-fi adventure first from studio on
high-def format on April 18"

15. ^ http://www.hddvdprg.com/eng/list/list.pdf "HD DVD Promotion Group Release List"

16. ^ HD DVD Backers to Launch Massive $150 Marketing Blitz.

17. ^ Warner Sets 'Sopranos' HD DVD, Blu-ray Dates.

18. ^ Warner Bros. joins Blu-ray Disc Association, plans to release Blu-ray titles.

19. ^ Genius Jumps into HD DVD, Blu-ray.

20. ^ Discovery Channel Brings 'Atlas' to Blu-ray, HD DVD.

21. ^ Psst! Magnolia Jumps Into Blu-ray with 'Bubble'.

22. ^ 'Chronos' HD DVD Gets New Distributor; Blu-ray Version on the Way.

23. ^ NEC unveils chip to bridge Blu-ray/HD DVD divide.

24. ^ VidaBox Intros World's 1st Dual-Format Blu-ray/HD DVD Player/Media Center.

25. ^ Marc Perton. Early HD DVD flicks to be 1080p. April 13, 2006.

[edit] External links

• HD DVD Promotion Site

• US site
 • International Site

• AACS Key repository

• The Authoritative HD DVD FAQ by Hugh Bennett

• The High Definition DVD FAQ

• CDfreaks Article On HD DVD vs Blu-ray

• Authoring in HD DVD

• HD DVD The Saga Continues

• Projector Central article comparing HD DVD to Blue-ray

• Complete HD DVD Upcoming Release List

[edit] News
• BBC: Next-generation DVD battle begins

• ProjectorCentral first impressions on HD DVD

• BetaNews article on Microsoft and Intel Supporting HD DVD

• HD DVD Ships 1.5 Million Movie Titles as of November 16, 2006