| The HD DVD was a high-density optical disc | | | | movies hit store selves and by 2006 Toshiba |
| format for storing data and high-definition video. In | | | | reported that 120,000 of it's own players had |
| the mid 1990's there was a new development in | | | | been sold in the US domestic market. The first |
| electronics. It dawned the birth of the high | | | | movies released on the HD DVD format were |
| definition television as we know it today. The High | | | | The Last Samurai, Million Dollar Baby, and The |
| Definition DVD was brought to market after a | | | | Phantom of the Opera by Warner Home Video |
| demand for better home video playback was | | | | and Serenity by Universal Studios. These movies |
| deemed a requirement for most home theater | | | | acted as the flagship that would move consumers |
| enthusiasts. After all, who wanted to watch a low | | | | towards the HD DVD Players as the serious |
| definition movie on a high definition capable | | | | choice for high definition home theater. |
| television? | | | | However, it was just 2 short years after that in |
| However it wasn't until Shuji Nakamura invented | | | | which Sony came on board and blew the HD DVD |
| practical blue laser diodes that High Definition DVD | | | | and Toshiba out of the water with the Bluray |
| was really permitted to grow legs and start as a | | | | movie disc, sometimes referred to as BD or |
| serious option for high definition video storage and | | | | BR-D. It could store more, offered an easier set |
| playback. There were some lawsuits that created | | | | of development tools for manufacturers and had |
| issues for the manufacturers, but they were | | | | the backing of a major movie studio - Sony itself. |
| resolved and full scale development began shortly | | | | In addition, the Bluray was being built into the |
| after 2001. | | | | PlayStation 3 right from the factory with no |
| 5 short years later the first High Definition DVD | | | | addition add-ons required. |