Looking to salvage technology
Microsoft has confirmed that it will stop making HD DVD players for the Xbox 360.
The news was expected after Toshiba gave up the high-definition video format battle to Sony's Blu-ray. While Microsoft said that it would continue to provide standard warranty support for its HD DVD players it had no intention to make any more.
Over the weekend Blair Westlake, a Corporate Vice President of Microsoft's media and entertainment group, said in a written statement that Redmond had not given up entirely on the technology.
There are some components, such as HDI, which add interactive features to DVDs, and its VC-1 video encoding technology, which Microsoft hopes can be applied to other platforms.