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HP Drives Format Compatibility for High-definition DVDs
Issues formal request to Blu-ray Disc Association to add two technologies to its format
PALO ALTO, Calif., Oct. 19, 2005
HP today announced a significant step toward bridging the differences between the two competing high-definition (HD) optical disk formats by supporting two new technologies to be part of the next-generation standard.
The company has formally appealed to the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA) to include the technologies – mandatory Managed Copy and iHD – as part of its format specification. Both technologies are currently supported in the competing HD-DVD format.
The move reflects HP’s desire to ensure that customers are not forced to choose between competing HD formats for DVDs.
HP has determined that Managed Copy and iHD will address the fundamental technical needs of the PC and help create a seamless experience throughout the digitally connected home:
- Managed Copy: Unlike with today’s conventional DVDs, this feature allows consumers to make legitimate copies of their HD movies and enjoy this content around the home or across their networks. Making this feature mandatory will ensure a consistent consumer experience across all next-generation DVD content.
- iHD: Next-generation HD movies will provide a level of interactive experience well beyond that of today’s conventional DVDs. iHD technology provides a broad foundation to enable new interactivity with standards-based development tools and technologies. It will provide consumers with enhanced content, navigation and functionality for HD films. Furthermore, Microsoft plans to implement iHD support in its Windows® Vista operating system, which will help ease implementation and provide a cost-effective solution for consumers.
“HP is committed to delivering rewarding consumer experiences, and we see format compatibility as critical to making technology accessible and easy to use for consumers,” said John Romano, senior vice president, Consumer PC Global Business Unit, HP. “As a leader in the development and promotion of the Blu-ray Disc format, HP expects these moves to help ensure that the format provides the best possible experience for customers.”
About HP
HP is a technology solutions provider to consumers, businesses and institutions globally. The company’s offerings span IT infrastructure, global services, business and home computing, and imaging and printing. For the four fiscal quarters ended July 31, 2005, HP revenue totaled $85.2 billion. More information about HP (NYSE, Nasdaq: HPQ) is available at www.hp.com.
Microsoft and Windows are U.S. registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions that, if they ever materialize or prove incorrect, could cause the results of HP and its consolidated subsidiaries to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and assumptions. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including the expected development, performance or rankings of products or services; statements of expectation or belief; and any statement of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Risks, uncertainties and assumptions include the development, performance and market acceptance of products and services and other risks that are described from time to time in HP’s Securities and Exchange Commission reports, including but not limited to HP’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended July 31, 2005, and other reports filed after HP’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended Oct. 31, 2004. HP assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements.
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