If you've been looking beneath couch cushions in an attempt to scrounge up enough cash to pick up a pair of Hauppauge HD PVRs for some sweet dual recording action, hold your horses just a second. We're seeing conflicting reports floating around the web stating that Hauppauge isn't officially supporting dual tuner setups, yet some inquiries are yielding the opposite response. Interestingly, we've heard that the HD PVR drivers actually do understand multiple tuner setups, but the outfit has yet to test and officially acknowledge support for such scenarios. For those who already grabbed a couple, why not give it a go and let us know how it turns out? Either way, we're hoping Hauppauge clears this up in short order, but we'd probably steer clear of ordering several until that happens.

[Via TV Squad]

Read - HD PVRs don't support dual tuner setups
Read - HD PVRs do support dual tuner setups

Apparently, Steve Ballmer didn't just take time to respond to the latest iPhone announcements and give that whole Monkey Boy Dance another go during the Mix '08 event. Oh no, he most certainly took the opportunity to address Microsoft's stance on where it was headed now that the format war has concluded. Granted, it's not like it ever had much choice here but to pick up the pieces and support the Blu camp, but for those who put a great deal of stock in confirmation, Mr. Ballmer did say that it had "already been working on, for example, in Windows, device driver support for Blu-ray drives and the like." He also noted that "Toshiba had moved on" and that it too was moving forward, but unfortunately, he didn't make a peep about the recently rumored Xbox 360 BD add-on. Still, we're hoping that one thing will lead to another, if you catch our drift.

[Via Gamespot, thanks rooshma]

It's no surprise to hear of consumer demand swaying decisions in America in regard to HD content, but it seems as if the cries for more high-def are making their way east. According to the Dubai World Trade Centre, "discerning consumers in the region are driving broadcasters to expedite their shift towards high definition transmission and upgrade their existing facilities at a faster pace." The 2007 industry report by the Satellite Industry Association also "indicated a huge upswing in consumer demand for more high definition (HD) content." As it stands, broadcasters in the Middle East are just starting to employ HD technology, but given the rate at which areas such as Dubai adopt newfangled technology, we wouldn't be surprised to see guests at the Burj Al Arab enjoying a hundred or so HD options in the not-too-distant future.

[Image courtesy of Volja]

Although Rock began offering a Blu-ray option on its pricey gaming rigs soon after Toshiba threw in the HD DVD towel, prospective buyers were forced to specifically inquire in order to get one. Now, however, the company has finally bit the bullet and began offering internal BD drives as an option on its gamut of gaming laptops. Reportedly, Rock's CEO Nick Boardman proclaimed that he was "disappointed that HD DVD didn't make it," but noted that even if you have a machine on order right now, you can "stick with HD DVD, downgrade to DVD-RW or upgrade to Blu-ray" sans issue. Interestingly, the company is still offering up HD DVD drives as "standard," but we suppose it has to move that suddenly worthless inventory somehow, eh?

[Via Tech Digest]

Granted, Netflix did warn us that renting HD DVDs from it would become a lesson in futility in due time, but we're receiving multiple reports that the company has already began switching queued HD DVD titles to vanilla DVDs. If this is going on en masse, that's a pretty quick changeover, to say the least. So, dear readers, have any of your HD DVDs mysteriously morphed into regular DVDs overnight? Sound off below!

[Thanks, Chris and Aaron]

Though we already knew that Onkyo was officially pulling its support for HD DVD, we previously had no idea if the firm would divert those efforts to the format left standing. Now, however, we're hearing that the outfit's R&D teams already have a "development program in place" for BD, but unfortunately, little is known beyond that. We're also curious to see if Onkyo's first BD player will be one that it actually creates -- you know, considering that its DV-HD805 HD DVD deck was little more than a rebranded HD-XA2.

While many stores are slashing down HD DVD player prices as much as management will allow, it seems that one diehard supporter is casting a blind eye to the whole format war meltdown. Rock -- which tooted its own horn after making HD DVD standard on many of its laptops -- hasn't changed its approach one iota. Even now, the firm is still offering up internal HD DVD drives (and writers) in a plethora of its machines, and curiously enough, there's not even an option to select a Blu-ray or combo player. C'mon Rock, we know you're just trying to clear out inventory, but at least give prospective buyers a choice in the matter, would ya?

Update: Looks like a DVD-RW "downgrade" option is currently available for those that inquire, and Blu-ray options should be added in due time. Thanks, Felix!

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Just days after we heard that Warner was soldiering on with its plans to release HD DVDs as scheduled until May 31st, along comes word that Universal may not be following suit. According to a studio representative speaking with HighDefDigest, the outfit's "entire HD DVD slate is currently in flux," which could mean absolutely nothing or that the company won't be dishing out any more red titles whatsoever. 'Course, that leaves certain hits like Charlie Wilson's War up in the air, but hopefully Universal will either get these stragglers out on HD DVD or convert 'em to Blu-ray, at least.

[Thanks, Kiwi616]

While early adopters won't see a single red cent from Toshiba now that HD DVD has bit the proverbial dust, HDScape movie owners looking to make the transition to Blu-ray may be happy to hear of its latest program. In a move that we can only hope other studios mimic, the firm is enabling customers that previously purchased flicks on HD DVD to exchange the paper casewraps they came in for an $11.95 BD version. Yep, this means you can keep your HD DVD case and disc, but you won't be able to use one casewrap to receive a discount on a different title. For step-by-step instructions on how to take HDScape up on its offer, head on down to the read link -- and for folks scouting stellar deals on the now-defunct red format, you can snag quite a few of its HD DVDs for just $6.95.

No surprises here, but apparently Amazon is staying on top of the format war happenings in an attempt to clarify the issue for potential HDM customers. According to a recent blog posting on the site, Blu-ray is dubbed "the remaining high-definition disc format," and it also noted that consumers that have "been waiting to jump into high-def have a clear path to follow." According to Peter Faricy, vice president of movies and music at Amazon, the firm is now "recommending Blu-ray as the preferred digital format," and it fully expects to update its High-Def 101 page accordingly over the next few days.

[Via Blu-ray, thanks to everyone who sent this in]

It's obviously not a secret that Blu-ray came out on top of the world's most recent physical media scuffle, but Best Buy's Canadian branch is most certainly not being subtle about announcing said fact. The main splash screen currently on the site grabs your attention with "Format War Over: Blu-ray Wins! We've got your Blu-ray needs covered." Sheesh -- tell the world how you really feel, why don'tcha?

No need to sound the alarms. We definitely assumed that Warner would continue to release HD DVDs until May 31st -- even after the format completely fell apart -- but thanks to DVDTown, now we've got a nice cushion of confirmation. According to "studio sources" that spoke with the site, the outfit will indeed continue pushing out red flicks as promised until June dawns, after which it will crank out Blu-ray Discs alone unless demand necessitates any restocking of older HD DVD titles. Nothing new here, but nice to know Warner won't be ditching the failed format early.

The writing was already on the wall, but it looks as if Onkyo actually won't be pursuing the long lost HD DVD format any longer. According to a Japanese report at Yomiuri Online, the firm will be discontinuing production of HD DVD players following Toshiba's own decision to abandon the format, but it will continue to provide service for customers that already snapped up the DV-HD805. Interestingly, there was no mention of Onkyo's plans in regard to Blu-ray, but nevertheless, yet another red supporter has definitely waved its white flag.

[Via Widescreen Review, image courtesy of Bret Philpot]

Shortly after Samsung stated its intentions to focus on Blu-ray in the future, along comes LG looking out for those guinea pigs who've already started building up a respectable HD DVD library. Reportedly, the firm stated that it felt it "necessary to provide a player which supports both formats and therefore creates simplicity and convenience for the existing HD DVD consumer." Furthermore, Daniel Aziz, marketing manager for LG Electronics, was quoted as saying that Toshiba's announcement "does not rule out HD DVD immediately, as there are still a number of consumers who have chosen HD DVD and begun to build a HD DVD collection." 'Course, we wouldn't try to read between any lines here -- it seems that LG won't be yanking its combo players anytime soon, but there's no doubt it understands that the future is Blu.

[Via HighDefDigest, thanks JoseB]

Japan's NHK has followed up The Hollywood Reporter's earlier indications Toshiba was ready to dump its money-losing HD DVD business, with news that the company is prepared to cease manufacturing software and hardware, at a loss of hundreds of millions of dollars. This caps the worst week ever for red, when HD DVD was dumped by Netflix and Wal-mart, pushed to the background by Best Buy and put on -- an apparently incredibly short -- deathwatch right here. Toshiba is mum on the subject right now, but we hear there's plenty of cheap players and movies in a dumpster around back of the HQ.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in; via Reuters; warning, Japanese read link]

Update: Along with an English translation of the NHK's article (Thanks sfditty!) comes additional confirmation from Reuters sources, it's a wrap. Toshiba is shutting down its DVD manufacturing facilities in Aomori Prefecture, Japan, while official word is expected "soon".