http://sev.prnewswire.com/computer-electronics/20071204/AQTU17804122007-1.html

Web Communities Flourish With New HD DVD Titles
Transformers, Heroes draw in thousands of fans with web connected interactivity


LOS ANGELES, Dec. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Fans of summer smash hits and groundbreaking TV series are tapping into the web-enabled communities offered by HD DVD. "Transformers" from Paramount Home Entertainment and "Heroes: Season One" from Universal Home Entertainment are among the titles that saw significant online usage of the web-connected features.

"Transformers," which continues to be one of the top selling titles in any high definition format, had more than 80,000 unique online users, with 31% returning to download additional content as it became available. Universal's current web-enabled titles, which include "Heroes: Season One", "Knocked Up", and "Evan Almighty", saw an average of 30% of HD DVD purchasers going online to download content and connect with other fans.

"We've only scratched the surface in offering web-connected experiences to fans of hit movies and TV shows, so it was great to see so many connecting online for these titles," said Ken Graffeo, executive vice president of HD strategic marketing for Universal Studios Home Entertainment, and co-president of the HD DVD Promotional Group. "As more titles from the HD DVD studios include access to downloads, trailers and community pages, the owner of any HD DVD player can take advantage of these web-connected experiences."

Made possible through Microsoft's HDi(TM) technology, web-connected features are supported in every HD DVD player due to the mandatory hardware requirements inherent in the HD DVD specifications. The specifications include a network connection, picture-in-picture capability, and persistent storage on the player itself. Collectively, these features bring a fan's favorite movie or program to life, allowing for in depth second viewings, and allowing content creators to add new material to the experience over time.

"Seeing the fan base rally around 'Transformers', 'Heroes' and other key titles on HD DVD was validation that there's an interest in extending the movie watching experience," said Chris Saito, vice president of worldwide HD DVD marketing, Paramount Home Entertainment. "Growing and feeding the fan communities is a critical piece to evolving home entertainment, and this is an example of where HD DVD is meeting the challenge."

Web-enabled features found on Paramount's "Transformers" include downloadable Sector 7 Transmission videos, "Transformers" Profiler with still photography and bios, and "Intelligence Mode", a special data dashboard providing stats on the various Autobots and Decepticons, a GPS locator and factoids. The "Transformers" HD DVD also includes Menubots, which allow fans to customize their menus to a variety of themes, from Bumblebee to Megatron.

Universal's "Heroes: Season 1" HD DVD offers a Download Center filled with exclusive content, trailers and show updates. The boxed set also includes a Genetic Abilities Test where fans can test themselves and post their "hero profile" to the Heroes community site on NBC.com, triggering a unique access code to view exclusive content.

Knocked Up is the only title I have so far that has any web features, and they are just deleted scenes and movie trailers. Pretty disappointing. Hopefully Santa will be bringing me some titles with better web extras. :)

Mike

You might want to get 'Transformers' and 'Heroes'. They both have great interactivity.

You might want to get 'Transformers' and 'Heroes'. They both have great interactivity.

Unfortunately I bought Heroes on SD shortly before I took the HD DVD plunge. Can't decide if I want to get Transformers or not. I was into the movie until John Turturro's character was introduced. A little too hokey for me.

Mike

I have not tried any of the online content yet. Say you download some content is this stuff stuck on your memory or can you delete it. I have a toshiba a2.

I have not tried any of the online content yet. Say you download some content is this stuff stuck on your memory or can you delete it. I have a toshiba a2.

You can delete it all at any time.

So far the only movie I have with web features is Transformers and it's been cool to see but I want more. :) At least Harry Potter looks like it will offer some interesting new online features.

I just downloaded the Menubots feature. It's only the beginning but I bet some are irked this feature isn't available on their discs. The Menubots download includes 3 different in-movie menu overlays. The scenes menu is reconfigured pretty drastically on Optimus Prime. It's a pretty lite download, too...HDi is just starting to show it's capabilities and it's looking good!...:)

I just downloaded the Menubots feature. It's only the beginning but I bet some are irked this feature isn't available on their discs. The Menubots download includes 3 different in-movie menu overlays. The scenes menu is reconfigured pretty drastically on Optimus Prime. It's a pretty lite download, too...HDi is just starting to show it's capabilities and it's looking good!...:)

I know.:)

I for one think the online features for Transformers are pretty neat. The heads-up display feature with trivia track was a great justification for an immediate follow-up viewing of the movie.

Aside from online features, just having persistent storage in general is very useful. For instance, some (perhaps all) of Warner's latest HD DVDs save the last audio track that you listen to. This means you don't have to select TrueHD every time you put in the disc and want the TrueHD track. Universal's solution of making TrueHD the default audio track is more elegant, however.

I really like the Bumblebee Menubot, very nice.

Is it possible to download the web-enabled features directly to an external USB HDD because of 128 MB space limitations ?

Is it possible to download the web-enabled features directly to an external USB HDD ?
I think this will be a future feature. Nothing that I know of has been announced at this time.

So can you download the extras using the 360 add on drive or do you need a standalone player?

The Xbox 360 should do it no problem. I have an HTPC and PowerDVD Ultra downloads the extras.

The Xbox 360 should do it no problem. I have an HTPC and PowerDVD Ultra downloads the extras.

I can confirm this as well:
I have the XBOX 360 AddOn Drive, used with my HTPC and PowerDVD Ultra build 3516. It will download web-enabled features for Transformers, 300, Heroes, and more. Works like a champ, and I've got all the storage I need because it's an HTPC not a stand-alone player.

I can confirm this as well:
I have the XBOX 360 AddOn Drive, used with my HTPC and PowerDVD Ultra build 3516. It will download web-enabled features for Transformers, 300, Heroes, and more. Works like a champ, and I've got all the storage I need because it's an HTPC not a stand-alone player.

With the Xbox drive hooked up to your HTPC does it actually save it to your hard drive though as opposed to the drives internal memory? Seems odd that you would be able to do this on the HTPC when with the Xbox you can't even save it to its HDD.

Some features are cool but extras like deleted scences should be on the disc not the internet.