HD DVD is a new optical disc format in direct competition with the Blu Ray disc format. It stands for high-definition versatile disc; it is a high-density disc designed to succeed the DVD format the market. It can store about 15 GB of data per layer and was developed by several computer companies led by Toshiba. There is also a dual layer version. It is currently supported by companies such as Microsoft and Intel, as well as many others. For the moment, HD DVD rewritable format is at version 1.0 whereas the HD DVD readable format is at version 0.9. HD-DVD RAM formats are still in development by Toshiba.

One of the primary ways HD DVD discs differ from their Blu Ray counterparts is that they encode the data on the disc below the surface level. This protects the data from scratches and physical damages. Many HD DVDs come in one of two playback formats: A standard DVD format and a HD format. This allows someone who owns a DVD/HD DVD player to play either format on a dual player or stand alone player without having to buy two different versions of a single film or television box set. Another format, called the 3x HD DVD, allows for you to view HD content on a lower end disc. The downfall of this type of HD DVD is that you can only hold very little data on the disc and this makes the playback time very small compared to a full-fledged HD DVD disc.

Over the last nine months, and at the 2007 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Toshiba showcased HD DVDs going up to 17 GB in data storage capabilities. They also showed a 51 GB triple layer disc. They are working on ways to integrate a triple layer disc into current and future HD DVD model players, as of now, they do not know whether or not it will be successful in current market players. Other third-party vendors are working on discs with higher storage capacities to rival the Blu Ray discs. Currently, all HD DVD movies uses the universal disk format as its primary file system, and Toshiba has no plans of changing this.

HD DVD discs encode in a 192 kHZ up to two channels. Film in general is mastered in only 48 kHZ. HD DVD players decode most of the Dolby sound codecs and add the DTS-HD audio codecs, too. This is why many consumers prefer HD DVD audio over Blu Ray audio. Most HD DVD deliver the lossless Dolby True-HD format flawlessly.

Most HD DVDs provide a variety of resolutions to cater to all different types of TVs ranging from 720p to 1080p. Video is encoded in MPEG2 format as well as newer VC-1 and AVC formats which seem to be more efficient during playback. All movies released thus far have been encoded in 1080p, which is the current industry standard for HD.

How does DRM work with HD DVD?

Digital rights management comes in the form of an advanced content license authority. Audio protection has also been considered by Toshiba, but for the moment, they are more concerned with the video protection. Studios have begun the process of adding audio watermarks in their soundtracks and sound titles to prevent them from being easily copied. HD DVD players read the DVD inserted and if it does not contain certain watermarks and imprints, it knows it is a copy and will not play the disc. For the moment, there are no regional HD DVD discs.

Microsoft recently released a HD DVD player as an add-on for its Xbox 360. With the player, you can watch HD DVD players via Xbox instead of purchasing a HD DVD player for your home entertainment system. Many Xbox owners jumped at the chance for the add-on during the last holiday season. It has become a popular component to enhance the overall 360 experience.

HD DVD is just one of the new DVD formats introduced over the last year and a half to replace the current DVD that replaced VHS tapes. Blu Ray, backed and developed by Sony, is its direct competition. At the moment, both are doing well on the market, with each audiophile or videophile picking their own side. Many prefer the HD DVD for its audio quality, while others choose the Blu Ray format for its superior video quality. Depending on what you are looking for when it comes to a home theater experience, either one could be right up your alley.

Currently, DreamWorks, Warner Bros. and New Line are fully behind both formats for the time being. Blu Ray is supported by MGM, Disney and 20th Century Fox as well as Columbia Pictures. HD DVD, on the other hand, is backed by Universal exclusively. You can find a wealth of titles at many consumer retailers as well as online now.

Over the next few years, we will see HD DVD and Blu Ray duke it out. Who will win the format war? Only time will tell. Each person will have to decide which format works out for them, their style and most importantly, their home theater experience. Check out both formats, demo them at stores and see what will work for you to build your new format DVD collection into the future.