HD DVD (High Definition DVD)


HD DVD is a next generation data disc storage format that holds over twice the data of today's standard DVD. DVDs hold 4.7 Gigs, the new HD DVD will be capable of holding 15 Gigs of data on a single layered disc when they hit the market next year, dual layer HD DVDs will be capable of 30Gigs. Electronics companies behind the new format include Toshiba and NEC who have been a strong part of the development.

Many recording studios already have plans for releasing films on HD DVD discs. Another third party company; Memory Tech has developed a dual layer HD DVD/DVD disc that will hold information in both formats on the same disc. This will be useful for those who want to start their HD DVD disc collection while they watch the cost of early HD DVD players drift slowly out of the stratosphere. A new HD DVD player will be required of the new format, but the players promise to be backward compatible to your old DVD collection. Expect the first boxes to be cost prohibitive until they come out of the early adopter stage.
Toshiba and NEC are two companies dedicated to the new format and many studios have committed to the release of movies on HD DVD. Why do we need another format? The higher storage capacity means the ability to hold more video information which is critical for high definition content. If you want to watch films in high def on your new HDTV this might be the format to do it. Conventional DVDs can only be played a maximum resolution of 480P, that's 480 scan lines displayed progressively. There is no way to make the video higher resolution without additional video information. Data storage application for the new format capable of more than twice the storage of current DVDs will have practical application when rewritable versions of this new media are available.

However, all's not well in HD DVD paradise. A threat looms large to the fledgling format and you guessed it, a competing format. "Blu-Ray" is the name of another next generation storage medium that promises to hold even more data than HD DVD and it has the significant backing of long time format foil; Sony.