Digital Trends
Toshiba America Consumer Products has rolled out a set of three new Digital Media Frames that aim to do more than display folks’ digital photos somewhere more convenient than a PC tucked away in a study: through a partnership with FrameChannel the picture frames can also pull in real-time information like news, sports, weather, and traffic info. But that’s not all: the frames can also take into images from sites like Flickr, PhotoBucket, and even Facebook.
After a valiant battle to keep its format alive following a brutal blow from Warner Bros., Toshiba may finally be getting ready to wave a white flag. According to anonymous sources cited in the Hollywood Reporter, an announcement of HD DVD’s death will be on its way within weeks.
Toshiba representatives officially denied the move, but offered the Reporter only weak affirmations of the company’s intention to continue. “Toshiba will continue to study the market impact and the value proposition for consumers, particularly in light of our recent price reductions on all HD DVD players,” Toshiba’s VP of marketing, Jodi Sally, told the paper.
Rings and a trophy won’t be the only things on the line at this year’s Super Bowl: Toshiba recently revealed that it has laid out $2.7 million for a 30-second spot during the game to highlight HD DVD, which could represent either a last gasp, or the beginning of salvation for the struggling format. Toshiba’s vice president of marketing, Jodi Sally, confirmed the move to Home Media Magazine in its latest issue.
Electronics maker Toshiba is ratcheting up competition with the Blu-ray high-definition video camp again, announcing its third generation of its HD-A HD DVD players for the U.S. market. The three new units are timed to hit retailers just as the end-of-year holiday buying season ramps up, and all three units will be priced under under $500, and with low-end pricing starting at just $299.99.
Keeping pressure on the Blu-ray high definition disc camp, Toshiba today announced a firmware update which will enable its HD DVD players to access Web-enabled content on new HD DVD titles via the player’s integrated Ethernet ports. The idea is that once connected to a user’s home broadband network, users will be able to download additional premium content from movie studios’ online services to complement their HD DVD titles—or unlock additional content tucked away on the HD DVD disc.
The North American HD DVD Promotional Group – the folks behind the HD DVD format and associated hardware – today announced sales of HD DVD players had breached the 100,000 mark here in the United States. This figure does not include sales of HD DVD PC drives or the Xbox 360 HD DVD player.
These numbers, which come on recent news Blu-ray Discs are outselling their HD DVD rivals, comes as welcome news to Toshiba, the primary pusher of this particular next generation disc format. Toshiba recently introduced a new HD DVD player for around $500.
Toshiba is getting ready for the end-of-year holiday buying season by ratcheting up the stakes in the HD DVD versus Blu-ray format war. Toshiba has announced plans to being a second generation of its HD DVD high-definition disc players to the U.S. market.
The HD-A2 and HD-XA2 will replace Toshiba’s initial HD DVD offerings, the HD-A1 and HD-XA1. The entry-level HD-A2 will support output resolutions of 720p or 1080 via HDMI and hit U.S. markets in October for an estimated $499.99 retail price.
Not only can users record and playback their favorite TV shows and build personal movie libraries with the RD-XS54, they can also expand the recorder’s capabilities through other devices and rooms in the home.
“Home networks are rapidly increasing,” said Jodi Sally, Vice President of Marketing, Toshiba America Consumer Products Digital A/V Group. “With our network capable DVD recorder we enhance the functionality of the unit. Whether it is being able to schedule a recording via email or by using your home PC to program new recordings, the RD-XS54 makes recording and playback easier and more flexible for consumers.”
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