Toshiba America Consumer Products, announced today details of an integrated marketing communications plan to launch its line-up of HD DVD players.
The Toshiba HD DVD players, models HD-XA1 and HD-A1, will be the first HD DVD players to hit the U.S. market and are expected to begin shipping to retailers in March of this year.
Toshiba will tour around 40 cities across the US in order to educate retail salespeople and provide them with support materials to aid in the sale of the HD DVD players, according to the company.
Beginning on February 20th and continuing through April, Toshiba will conduct consumer and media demonstrations, as well as sales and product training for selected electronic retailers.
Toshiba's new HD DVD players provide visual quality supported
by leading-edge video compression technologies. The players include the capability to support
Advanced Navigation, also referred to as "iHD," offering interactive
features. Both the HD-XA1 and HD-A1 are backward compatible, allowing users to
continue to enjoy their libraries of current DVD and CD software. Both models
connect to HDTV sets via a High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) and
output copy-protected HD content (through the HDMI output) in the native
format of the HD DVD disc content of either 720p or 1080i. Standard definition
DVDs can be upconverted for display at 720p or 1080i (through the HDMI
output).
Expected Pricing and Availability: HD-XA1 ($799.99, March 2006); HD-A1
($499.99, March 2006)
Toshiba also said that design specifications and dimensions of the HD DVD players are not final and and may change. In addition, a firmware upgrade is required for full interactive features, and warned consumers that certain disc, digital connection and other compatibility issues are possible.
Specifications:
|
Toshiba XD-XA1 |
Toshiba HD-A1 |
|
|
|
Price |
$799.99 |
$499.99 |
Video |
Disc Playback: HD DVD, HD DVD-R, DVD, DVD-R/-RW/-RAM, CD, CD-R/-RW HD Content Output via HDMI (Disc Native Resolution)
11-bit / 216MHz Video DAC
Video Up-Conversion for SD DVD (720p/1080i)
Enhanced Black Level (0IRE / 7.5IRE Selection)
Letterbox / Pan & Scan Support |
Audio |
Built-in Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS and
DTS-HD Decoders
Dolby Pure HD Compatible (2 Channel)
Four 32-bit Floating Point Digital Signal Processors
Multi-Channel 24-bit/192kHz Audio DACs
HDMI Audio support up to 5.1 L-PCM
5.1 Channel Bass Management
Speaker Size
Speaker Distance
User Selectable Crossover (80Hz, 100Hz, 120Hz)
Channel Level Adjustment
Dynamic Range Control
MP3 and WMA Playback |
Connections |
Front panel |
2 USB Terminals |
|
Rear panel |
1 High Definition Multimedia Interface (ver. 1.1)
1 ColorStream Pro Component Video (gold plated)
1 S-Video (gold plated)
1 Composite Video (gold plated)
1 Stereo Analog Audio (gold plated)
5.1 Multi-Channel Analog Audio (gold plated)
1 Coaxial Digital Output (gold plated)
1 TosLink Optical Digital Output
1 Ethernet 10/100 Port
1 RS-232C |
Convenience |
Motion Activated Backlight Remote Control
|
Pre-programmed Remote Control w/ TV Controls
|
Tri-Lingual OSD (English, French/Japanese)
Bit Rate Display
FL Dimmer
Fast Forward
Fast Reverse
Slow Play
Step Play
Time Search
A-B Repeat
Screen Saver
Parental Lock |
Dimensions(W x H x D)
|
17.72" x 4.33" x
13.39" |
17" x 4" x 14" |