Looks like DualDisc wasn’t the only format approved by the DVD Forum last week — the HD-DVD specification was pushed through, as well, including the VC-9 codec (read: Windows Media Player 9) from Microsoft. That means along with MPEG-2 and MPEG4 codecs, all certified HD-DVD playback machines will bundle Microsoft’s technology, passing along royalties to the company with every device sold. That is, of course, if HD-DVD becomes the next generation DVD-replacement standard of choice. Sony and friends are still pushing the non-compatible Blu-ray format which has a pretty major head start, with one preliminary Sony device already shipping (with more consumer hardware on the way, but no content).
Read [CNet]
