High-def DVD players headed for stores

LOS ANGELES – Toshiba/NEC plans to have its high-definition DVD hardware on retail shelves in early 2005.

The manufacturing partnership announced at a Tokyo showcase the last week of July that HD DVD players will be available next year in the United States and Japan. The Toshiba/NEC format is endorsed by the DVD Forum, an international association of 200 companies.The rival Blu-ray HD format – which is backed by 13 manufacturers, including Sony, Samsung, Philips, Dell and Hewlett-Packard – is expected to introduce its players in the States by the end of 2005.Blu-ray hardware has already launched in Japan.So far, the only home-video distributor to officially endorse one of the HD formats is Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment, whose parent company, Sony, is a key proponent of Blu-ray.- Nampa-ReutersThe Toshiba/NEC format is endorsed by the DVD Forum, an international association of 200 companies.The rival Blu-ray HD format – which is backed by 13 manufacturers, including Sony, Samsung, Philips, Dell and Hewlett-Packard – is expected to introduce its players in the States by the end of 2005.Blu-ray hardware has already launched in Japan.So far, the only home-video distributor to officially endorse one of the HD formats is Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment, whose parent company, Sony, is a key proponent of Blu-ray.- Nampa-Reuters