Toshiba Corporation and Microsoft Corporation have announced plans to launch the Advanced Interactivity Consortium to extend interactive features in HD DVD. The consortium will be a platform for companies to collaborate on improving the digital home entertainment experience and bringing advanced interactive features, including Web-enabled features, to digital downloads that go to DVDs, PCs, gaming consoles and cell phones. Bringing companies together will ensure interoperability of HD DVD players and services, said Hisatsugu Nonaka, corporate executive vice president for Toshiba, in a news release.
Microsoft's XML-based HDi development environment creates an interactive layer for HD DVD movies. HDi, supported by the HD DVD players and media, is currently a mandatory feature across players. Robbie Bach, president of Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft noted that the company hopes to extend interactive capabilities to digital download services by collaborating with other consortium members, which currently include movie studios DreamWorks Animations SKG, Paramount Pictures Corporation, Universal Studios and Warner Bros Entertainment Incorporated.
News source: PC World
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