Toshiba Updates HD DVD Player Firmware

Toshiba has issued a firmware update for its first HD DVD players to add support for Dolby True HD and improve DVi and HDMI connectivity.

If you’re an early adopter of the HD DVD format, odds are decent that you’re ogling those hi-res lines using Toshiba’s HD-XA1, HD-A1, or HD-D1 HD DVD players. If so, Toshiba has now issued a firmware update to add support for Dolby Tue HD surround sound audio, enable network enhancements for Internet-related content, and fix issues with the systems’ HDMI and DVi connectivity.

The update is available for free; users can connect their players to the Internet using the Ethernet port on the back of their unit (instructions on downloading the firmware update are on page 57 of the owner’s manual), or by contacting Toshiba to receive the firmware update on disc via postal mail.

In addition to adding support for five-channel Dolby True HD, the update prepares for Internet-delivered content possibly tied to future HD DVD titles by integrating support for browser-like cookies. While being able to fetch information from the Internet might mean enhanced content or information, we’re betting it’s also going to be an advertising channel—and let’s not forget that certain organizations’ misuse of cookies have created all manner of privacy concerns in Web browsers. Toshiba says the firmware update enabled support for accepting or denying cookies; let’s hope users have some control over that. The update also addresses playability issues (including some pixelization problems), fixes intermittent problems with HDMI and DVi output, and addresses an issue whereby users would hear a high-frequency whine from their screen when turning on the HD DVD unit.