Tues - Intel & Microsoft back Toshiba's HD-DVD disc format

Intel and Microsoft have announced their backing for Toshiba's HD-DVD technology for next-generation DVD's. This move may give them a significant edge over Sony's rival Blu-ray disc technology.

The companies hope their endorsemeent of HD-DVD will push the computer, comsumer electronics and entertainemnt industries to agree a single optical disc standard.

They argue that Toshiba's HD-DVD format offers higher quality, is more affordable and can be manufactured to be compatible with current DVD standards as well.

Toshiba and Sony have been at odds over which has the better solution for years, sparking fears af another disruptive and expensive format war such as that between VHS and Betamax over video cassette recorders.

Microsoft will engineer their next version of Windows to support HD-DVD in the default settings and Intel said that its new Viiv chip, designed for consumer entertainment PC's and devices would also be optimised for Toshiba's format.

Hollywood has so far split over the technology, with Time Warner, Viacom, Paramount and NBC Universal supporting HD-DVD and Walt Disney, 20th Century Fox, Sony Pictures and Universal backing Blu-ray.

Toshiba plans to ship HD-DVD players in December, while Sony will release Blu-ray in its PlayStation3 due for release next year.

The next generation discs will be capable of recording high definition films and video games.

This looks like bad news for Sony. Lucky Stringer is now on board!