AfterDawn: News

Toshiba introduces recorder that can write HD to DVD

Toshiba has showed off a prototype of a new HD DVD recorder that is capable of burning up to two hours of 4 Mbps MPEG-4 high-definition video to regular DVD-+R, +-RW or -RAM discs.

Dubbed the RD-X7, the recorder would be the first HD DVD recorder to support DVD although it would not be the first HD recorder to do so. Sony has a few Blu-ray recorders capable of doing so. Toshiba did say the recorder would be the first to support a "new file format adopted just three weeks ago by the DVD Forum, called "HD Rec."



The two hours of video is most likely when recording to dual-layer DVDs (DVD 9) and not single-layer DVD-5, although it is not clear yet.

It doesn't appear the recorder will be ready for the holiday season, but Toshiba said two other similar models without the HD-Rec support will be available in Japan for the holidays.

Source:
BetaNews

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 4 Oct 2007 18:16

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• 11 comments

• limelight

  Now THIS is a great idea!

  4.10.2007 18:25 #1

• nobrainer

  here is the reason NOT to buy into either hd-dvd or the anti consumer hobbled DRM phone home data reporting blu-ray.

  4.10.2007 23:16 #2

• sk8flawzz

  okkk...??where will these play? on red laser dvd players? ill stick to Dl'ing and converting 1080p rips for my 360

  5.10.2007 01:54 #3

• spydah

  This would be great if HD-DVD players were cheap this would be a great thing but since they are not this is great for the future i guess.

  5.10.2007 04:30 #4

• BludRayne

  Not ANOTHER format! I believe these discs will only play on this player since regular dvd players can't output video at hi def.

  5.10.2007 08:06 #5

• nobrainer

  Originally posted by sk8flawzz: okkk...??where will these play? on red laser dvd players? ill stick to Dl'ing and converting 1080p rips for my 360from the story, i would presume that it plays on a normal up-scaling dvd player and gives you a hi-res viewing without the need for either a blu-ray or hd-dvd player.

  5.10.2007 08:22 #6

• eatsushi

  Quote: i would presume that it plays on a normal up-scaling dvd player and gives you a hi-res viewing without the need for either a blu-ray or hd-dvd player.No it won't. The resulting disc is in MPEG-4 and has a new file format called HD Rec. It won't be recognized by a normal upscaling DVD player as these don't decode MPEG-4 and the file system is different from regular DVD's.

  5.10.2007 08:27 #7

• hughjars

  Originally posted by BludRayne: Not ANOTHER format! I believe these discs will only play on this player since regular dvd players can't output video at hi def. - It's not another format, it's part of the HD DVD format and all HD DVD players can play it.
  
  HD DVD's entry level price is currently $200 and will shortly be (in a couple of weeks) $149.
  Not exactly what I'd call 'expensive', not bottom of the DVD market, of course, but around the level I last paid for mine.....so it makes buying a nice upscaling DVD player which can also play excellent quality HD DVD a real 'no brainer' next time I buy a DVD player.
  
  IMO this capability is actually pretty useful.....especially for the sharing community. ;)

  5.10.2007 08:30 #8

• hughjars

  oops double post, sorry.

  5.10.2007 08:34 #9

• borhan9

  Ill be waiting eagerly for new specs on this drive from toshiba.

  15.10.2007 22:50 #10

• hughjars

  Looks like the HD DVD ROM drive has dropped nicely again.
  
  £62/€90/$124 is the new entry level for PC.
  
  See here - http://www.lambda-tek.com/componentshop/...2&prodID=B75140
  
  or here -
  
  http://www.norskit.com/norskit/default.a...110052092%2C%2C

  18.10.2007 11:50 #11