Hewlett Packard not happy with Blu-Ray DVD format progress

Tech Giants Hewlett Packard has warned that they are not happy with the progress made by Sony on the Blu-Ray format. They have now warned that they might be forced to support the competing HD DVD format being developed by Toshiba if Sony does not add certain features to the Blu-Ray format.

They are particular interested in having features like interactivity and technology for copying DVDs on the Blu-Ray format. These are the kind of features, which Toshiba is backing on for their HD DVD format. If Hewlett Packard shifts its support to HD DVD, it would be a big jolt to Sony, which already has challengers in the form of Intel and Microsoft for their developed format.

Hewlett Packard, Intel, and Microsoft are three companies very relevant to the Personal Computer market. Microsoft Vista is already expected to support HD DVD out of the box. Even the upcoming Xbox 360 is expected to support this format in its later variants. Toshiba has also made their HD DVD format to have features like iHD, which allows for interactivity, and managed mandatory copy, which lets users copy DVDs and store the digital file on a home network.

Market analysts believe the threat from HP is just a bluff to get Sony to incorporate certain features, which they are not interested to put in the Blu-Ray format. They would at best end up supporting both the formats, which is going to make the decision to choose one of the two formats (for the customer) even murkier.