Microsoft Technology Approved for Next-Generation DVD Standard

The DVD Forum steering committee recently approved the initial specification for High-Definition DVD (HD-DVD), a next-generation DVD standard. According to the specification, HD-DVD devices will have to support VC-9, the basis for Windows Media Video (WMV) 9, Microsoft's most recent video codec. HD-DVD will also support the MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) formats, according to the DVD Forum. The decision is a coup for the software giant, which is trying to establish its multimedia formats as industry standards.

HD-DVD isn't the only high-resolution, next-generation DVD format, however. A competing group will offer devices based on a technology called Blu-ray. But HD-DVD offers a number of advantages over Blu-ray, not the least of which is HD-DVD's backward-compatibility with today's DVDs. As a result, tomorrow's HD-DVD devices will play DVDs as well as HD-DVDs.

Thanks to VC-9's and WMV's compression capabilities, HD-DVDs will be able to play back more than 130 minutes of HD video encoded at 15Mbps. This capability played a major role in the inclusion of Microsoft's technology in the specification because at 23GB Blu-ray supports more capacity, and a second-generation 50GB Blu-ray standard is due soon.

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Your Comments (required): To call HD-DVD "backwards compatible" is a little misleading. Sony has already created a laser capable of reading DVD and Blu-ray. I doubt all these manufacturers which back it if they had no intention of making drives capable of reading all current disc formats. In my opinion, Blu-ray has a sizable advantage over HD-DVD. Extensive industry backing among computer and consumer electronics companies (versus the two I know are backing HD-DVD) plus increased capacity make it the tech to watch.

Geoff June 16, 2004

I guess Microsoft isn't happy with dominating the operating system market, the office market, and having a significant amount of strength in almost every other market. Now they have to shove their crap into the DVD business. I know nobody in my family will never buy a movie encoded with WMV. And if there's no other choice, I'll pay the 3 bucks to rent it and rip it for myself into standard MPEG-4 or divx5, like I've been doing with every other DVD the past year.

X June 17, 2004

1) I don't think the increased capacity is needed for HD-DVD. Remember, WMV is able to get lower bitrates than MPEG2 at the same quality.

2) Why should you care who makes the codec? If there's no quality loss what does it matter?

Dan June 20, 2004

Your Comments (required):I do believe that the increased capacity is needed, if I recall the ATSC minimum bit rate for broadcast HD is 19Mbps, and JVC's HD recorders can record at 23Mbps. It is great that WMV can do HD on current DVD's but to comment that the quality is the same would be misleading. The higher the bitrate the greater picture quality the more capacity needed. Lets not settle for the bare minimum. 1080P HD is around the corner which will require additional capacity.

charles June 21, 2004

Our opinions don't matter in the least. Hollywood will decide who wins this format war. To X: HD-DVD (and Blu-ray) will have completely new encryption systems. I'd like to know how you plan to "rip" the new discs.

Bill June 21, 2004

I think choosing denser compression over greater raw data capacity is short sighted. In the long run, we will need both.

Jack B June 21, 2004

Why does it matter who's is supporting what format...if it's good it's good....stop being a HATER!

Romar June 21, 2004

Wow I guess just because its made from Microsoft it must be evil. Its not there fault they made a codec thats better then MPEG-4 or divix5 and I dont think it any of your business what markets they move into.

Abel June 21, 2004

Just because Microsoft makes it doesn't mean it's bad. Just like Sony and the people developing Blu-ray, Microsoft spends LOTS of money researching and developing their technology. This tends to result in quality, although I guess we'll get to see in the next few years which of the two wins the race (or if they do sort of a DVD+- thing and everyone ends up supporting everything).

Austen June 21, 2004

Quit bashing microsoft. They practically mde it possible for you to be on the internet right now, and are continuing to do so with this new technology, making the spread and decentralization of information much easier at a natural humanistic rate.

Avergae user June 22, 2004

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