Blu-ray or HD DVD? That’s the big question these days when we’re talking about high definition video content. Well.. the folks at Axonix Corporation are saying - why not have both with their new MediaMax HD Entertainment Server. MediaMax HD is the first Media Server system to play via Cover Art or Metadata both HD DVD and Blu-ray movies. The system actually includes a MediaDeck 4 system and a MediaServer box with oodles of storage space. MediaMax HD DVD provides the following:

• Instant playback of media stored on it’s Media Server including HD and SD DVD movies, CD, MP3, and WAV music, photos, and downloaded music and movies via the Axonix NetPlay service
• Includes a MediaServer and one or more MediaDeck 4 HD Media Players which include either an SD, HD DVD or Blu-ray drive
• MediaMax interface allows you to browse your media collection utilizing vivid HD quality cover art
• Browse via metadata including Genre, Actor, Director, Artist, Album, Title, Favorites, or by Playlists
• Supports SD/HD DVD movies, downloaded movies, music CDs, downloaded WMA and MP3s, imported or ripped WAV, converted iPod music, Internet radio, JPEG photos, etc

MediaDeck 4 is $3495 with an SD DVD/CD drive; $4995 for the MediaDeck 4 HD DVD with integrated HD DVD drive, $5995 for the MediaDeck 4 Blu-ray  with integrated Blu-ray drive. All the MediaDeck 4 models support the playback of HD movies loaded on the MediaServer. MediaServers with up to 13 TBs of RAID 6 are available with or without HD or SD drive. The Spectra 2 SD 500GB Series MediaServer starts at $5795.

[Check it out]

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Onkyo has announced the launch of their first HD DVD standalone player in the form of the DV-HD805. The DV-HD805 will be available in the fall timeframe of this year and will support HDMI version1.3a.

Key features of the Onkyo DV-HD805 include:

• Supports Dolby TrueHD, dts HD Master Audio, Dolby Digital Plus, and DTS-HD High Resolution Audio
• Supports 24 frames per second playback
• Supports HDMI v.1.3a enabling Deep Color support
• Includes Ethernet port to for web-enabled content
• Includes on-board HQV Reon VX video processing chipset for video scaling to 720p, 1080i, 1080p

The DV-HD805 will be available at a price of $899 which seems a tad bit high for an HD DVD player considering third generation Toshibas are now under $500 dollars. Thanks to Gizmodo for the picture of the player.

[Check it out viz Gizmodo]

Technorati Tags: Onkyo DV-HD805, HD DVD player

As expected, Toshiba officially announced their third generation lineup of standalone HD DVD players yesterday with the introduction of three new units all priced under $500 dollars. Enhancements found in the third generation include 1080p/24 frames per second (24p) support and CE Link connectivity which allows the player to communicate and control another consumer electronics device via HDMI. The three new players are the entry level HD-A3, the mid-range HD-A30, and the new top of the line HD-A35.

All the new systems feature new cosmetic changes including rounded edges, slim chassis designs (only 59.5 mm tall), and high gloss, black acrylic face plates.

Features of the HD-A3 include:

• 1080i output
• MSRP of $299.99 and due October 2007

Features of the HD-A30 include:

• 1080p output
• 1080p/24p support
• CE-Link allowing two way control between HD DVD player and a TV via HDMI
• MSRP of $399.99 and due September 2007

Features of the HD-A35 include:

• 1080p output
• 1080p/24p support
• CE-Link allowing two way control between HD DVD player and a TV via HDMI
• Deep Color via HDMI
• 5.1 channel analog output
• High Bit Rate Audio (up to 7.1 channel) via HDMI - bypasses the player’s internal audio processor and sends the signal to a 7.1 capable receiver
• MSRP of $499.99 and due October 2007

[Check it out via PC Magazine]

Technorati Tags: Toshiba, HD DVD players, HD-A3, HD-A30, HD-A35

Toshiba is set to release their third generation HD DVD standalone players on October 1st. You can expect three new models to come from Toshiba - the HD-A3, the HD-A30, and the high end flagship model, the HD-A35. Not much on details as of now but the HD-A3 is expected to sell for $299, the HD-A30 for $399 and the HD-A35 for $499. More models and lower prices to help put the pressure on the Blu-ray camp.

[Check it out via Ubergizmo]

Technorati Tags: Toshiba HD DVD players, HD-A3, HD-A30, HD-A35

If you’re wondering where things stand between Blu-ray and HD DVD currently, check out this comparison chart published by News.com whcih shows background information, and some early sales figures for the two competing formats. The numbers are interesting and of course somewhat misleading right now as Blu-ray is integrated into the Sony PS3 console. What is evident is the role the game consoles are playing in helping users choose a high def format. HD DVD has the slight edge when it comes to standalone players sold but Blu-ray has the edge in content availability of course and in backing.

[Check it out]

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There’s a funny article over at ExtremeTech written by Loyd Case detailing his latest home theater endeavors. Loyd decided to try out a new HDTV set - the Sony KDS-55A2020 - and in doing so, fell into the upgrade nightmare that I ran into earlier this year. You get a 1080p capable display and you end up wanting to go 1080p throughout the system. So Case went from just upgrading his television set to getting a new HD DVD player.. and then a new Blu-ray player.. and then finally, a whole new receiver in the form of the Onkyo TX-SR875.

Earlier this year, I went through nearly the same type of upgrade nightmare. I decided to get a new 1080p Samsung LCD HDTV monitor.. but in doing so, I realized I really should upgrade my receiver to support HDMI connections. Of course, now that I have a 1080p display, I’m looking into getting a new Blu-ray player (since I already have am HD DVD player in the form of the Xbox 360 HD DVD player). One upgrade begets another doesn’t it? Well enjoy the read!

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Home Theater Madness, Home Theater Systems, ExtremeTech

Do you love your Toshiba HD DVD player but wish it supported 24p (or 24 frames per second) playback? Well it soon will! Toshiba has announced that they will be adding 24p playback support via an upcoming firmware update for their second generation HD DVD players. The supports players include the HD-XA2 and the HD-A20. The current crop of Toshiba HD DVD players support 30 frames per second playback. One thing to keep in mind though. If your HDTV doesn’t have a supporting frequency for 24p playback, 3:2 pulldown will still occur at some point. Most LCDs have a 60 Hz refresh rate. You’ll want a newer LCD with at least 120Hz refresh rates to fully support 24p playback.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Toshiba, 24p playback

It looks like the upcoming Samsung dual format BD-UP5000 player will come out a bit sooner than expected. We originally reported the player was slated to come out in October but now Samsung has supposedly stated the Blu-ray/HD DVD standalone player will come out in Europe by the end of next month (August). Other rumors are stating that the Samsung BD-UP5000 could be priced as low as €400 ($548/£271). Again - that’s JUST a rumor. The BD-UP5000 will supposedly offer full interactive support for both Blu-ray and HD DVD titles which stands in contrast to the LG dual format player which fully supports Blu-ray but only plays the movie portion of an HD DVD disc.

[Check it out]

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If you don’t subscribe to Home Theater Mag, then you might be interested in reading this article entitled “Blu-ray and HD DVD Face Off“ over on their website. The article first appeared in the June 2007 edition of the magazine and essentially covers the backgrounds of both Blu-ray and HD DVD. They then compare three different high definition players - the Tosiba HD-XA2 HD DVD player, the Panasonic DMP-BD10 Blu-ray player, and the LG BH100 Blu-ray/HD DVD player. If you’re not familiar with either Blu-ray or HD DVD, then you should definitely give this article a look over as it gives some great background high level information on both formats and the state of affairs of the format wars as it stands now.

Here’s a blurb from the article:

Until the average consumer can buy the cheapest player on the market and rent a disc without looking at the label (”What do you mean this disc won’t play in my player?”), neither format will gain mass acceptance. Regardless, this is going to drag out over years, and there is no possibility that either format (or both combined) will grow as fast as DVD. If Sony, et al, and Toshiba are lucky, they’ll grow faster than VHS.

[Check it out]

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Home Theater Blog has posted an excellent look into the newly released HD HQV Benchmarks. They take both the Blu-ray and HD DVD discs for a test drive across several players and got the following summaries.

The Sony PS3 (couple with a JVC DLA-HD1) got a 100 out of 100 score.

The Toshiba HD-A2 received a 65 out of 100 score.

The Sony BDP-S300 received a 75 out of 100 score.

You can read more about the tests and the player scores here at Home Theater Blog.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: HD HQV Benchmarks, Home Theater Blog