Toshiba has released firmware update version: 1.4 for their HD-XA1, HD-A1 and HD-D1 HD-DVD players, which is said to “address certain disc playback and HDMI/DVI related problems identified by Toshiba”.

As usual The players can be updated by one of two methods; either by attaching the player to an internet connection or requesting a firmware update disk from Toshiba as they become available.

At last check the update still wasn’t available to my player via ethernet but I’m told the updates are staggered out to individual players based on some unique identifier, possibly serial number or IP address, keep checking the update screen for availability.

–edit– 1.4 should be available via ethernet to all owners now.

R.Hollis

A duke and a king on HD-DVD, Warner Brothers has announced that The Dukes of Hazzard and Enter the Dragon will be released on HD-DVD July 11th.

“Dukes will be the second HD-DVD offered by WB with In-Movie Experience (IME) extra features. No specifics on what these features are were offered other than they’d be “rouble-making, car-crashing and barroom-brawling.” All extra features available on the standard DVD version will be included along with Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 audio.

“Enter the Dragon” will not be blessed with IME features but like Dukes will also have the same suite of extras from the standard DVD version and Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 audio.

Both titles will carry an SRP of $28.99.”

Source: The Man Room

R.Hollis

Let’s face it, both Blu-ray and HD-DVD titles and hardware could hardly be considered cheap, one may be less expensive than the other but that doesn’t mean either format is pocket change.

I for one look forward to any cost savings I can get, which is why I’m happy to hear that Universal plans to reduce the price of their HD-DVD’s, by five dollars on each of their titles.

Universals HD-DVD’s that previously retailed for $34.95 will soon sell for $29.95.

R.Hollis

Hitachi and Mitsubishi have announced single layer HD-DVD-R blank media. Re-Writable and Dual-Layer HD-DVD blanks are expected sometime later this year.

This move would obviously signal the launch of HD-DVD recorders sometime later this year, although no specifics are known about the stand-alone recorders at this time.

With HD-DVD laptops popping up everywhere, it should only be a matter of time before HD-DVD player/recorders are launched.

R.Hollis

Back in May we reported that Toshiba had pushed a Japanese only XA1 firmware update, and as speculated Firmware Update Version: 1.2 has been released for all current Toshiba HD-DVD players.

The update is available via the player’s ethernet update system, or alternatively you can contact Toshiba and request an update disc be sent by mail.

Toshiba’s official 1.2 update description reads as: “This firmware update addresses certain disc playback and HDMI/DVI related problems identified by Toshiba.”

R.Hollis

Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment.

According to Video Business Online, Toshiba HD-DVD players are “flowing to retail” after weeks of low on-hand supply apparently Toshiba has begun to “ship new players to an increasingly larger pool of retailers on a weekly basis” According to company VP of marketing Jodi Sally.

Also RCA has shipped their HD-A1 clone, the RCA HDV5000. So it appears at least the initial supply shortages have been remedied. Both the Toshiba HD-A1 and RCA HDV5000 retail for $499, but several shoppers have reported finding the players even below the manufacturers recommended price.

Another interesting bit of news in the Video Business Online article is the amount of HD-DVD titles sold. Scarsdale New York’s Value Electronics reports that “most of Value?s HD DVD customers are choosing to buy every software title available.” It seems that those who have taken the plunge with HD-DVD want all the available content they can get their hands on.

R.Hollis