The two companies will develop software and chips that will allow personal computers to play the next-generation DVDs from Toshiba

The two companies will develop software and chips that will allow personal computers to play the next-generation DVDs from Toshiba

Microsoft and Toshiba have announced plans to develop high-definition DVD players and software together using Toshiba's HD-DVD format, and extend that format's usage beyond TV as-we-know-it through cross-license technologies and joint cooperation in designing new models of mobile personal computers. Both comp

HD DVD technology got a noticeable thumbs-up this week when Intel and Microsoft indicated they will back the next-generation DVD technology over Sony's Blu-ray disc. The two HD formats for DVDs are incompatible and both groups you'll recall held discussions earlier this year to work on a possible solution.

Thomson has announced that it will support both the HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc advanced DVD formats by manufacturing both discs and players for both formats. Players will be marketed in the U.S. with the RCA label, and in Europe with the Thomson label. In addition to HDTV, advanced DVD formats promise higher-resolution

This the first time that any Hollywood studio — with the exception of Sony Pictures, which is owned by Blu-ray Disc backer Sony — has announced support for one format

Four major Hollywood studios have selected the Toshiba HD DVD recording format. Paramount Pictures, Universal Pictures, New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Studios will be using the new 30 GB DVD disc format, created by the DVD Forum, an international group of hardware and software companies and content providers. HD DV

Microsoft's VC-1 advanced compression video codec has been certified to be used in the emerging HD-DVD market. The Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA) announced this week that it had approved Microsoft's compression technology, which is based on its Windows Media 9 codec to be used in its BD-ROM specification for video pla