Toshiba Launches XDE DVD

Author Hugo Jobling
Published 18th Aug 2008
Toshiba Launches XDE DVD
Discuss this article  4 comments    Email this to a friend  Email this to a friend TrustedReviews NewslettersTrustedReviews Newsletters

When Toshiba announced it was killing off HD DVD back in February (and taking a hefty ¥100bn financial hit in the process) there was some speculation as to where the company would head thereafter. The answer: eXtended Detail Enhancement (XDE) DVD and the XD-E500 player.


The simple premise of the XD-E500 is to offer the best HD experience possible while still using plain old standard definition DVDs. Toshiba's fairly reasonable argument is that many people buying HD TVs don't have an HD player to go with them, but do have a comprehensive library of DVDs which therefore want up-scaling to be played to best effect. Three selectable setting are available offering different image enhancing tweaks:

  • Sharp Mode offers improved detail enhancement that is one step closer to high definition. Edges are sharper and details in films are more visible. Unlike traditional sharpness control, XDE technology analyses the entire picture and adds edge enhancement precisely where it's needed

  • Colour Mode makes the colours of nature stand out with improved richness. Blues and greens are more vivid and lifelike. Colour Mode combines the improvement in colour with the detail enhancement of Sharp Mode and is ideal for outdoor scenes

  • Contrast Mode is designed to make darker scenes or foregrounds more clearly visible without the typical "washing out" that can occur with traditional contrast adjustment. Recommended for dark scenes where detail may be difficult to notice, Contrast Mode is also combined with Sharp Mode to provide a clearer viewing experience
Obviously XDE isn't intended to be a rival to Blu-ray, but nonetheless we can't help but feel disappointed. What we'd really like to see is brilliant up-scaling built in to an equally good Toshiba Blu-ray player - hard feelings over the HD format war or not.

Still, we'll reserve judgement on XDE and the Toshiba XD-E500 until we have a player in and give it a decent look at.

Link:
Toshiba XDE (currently redirecting to Toshiba's homepage).

Discuss this article  4 comments
Email this article to a friend Email this to a friend


 

Newsletters

Register to receive the latest Reviews and News Headlines directly to your Inbox every day, and enter our regular competitions. More Info.

Your Name


Email Address


Latest 4 of 4 Comments

Have your say: Leave a comment below about this article.

Comment Stephen Allred said on 18th August 2008

Toshiba need to bite the bullet and start making Blu-ray players.

Comment jopey said on 18th August 2008

If they really wanted to kick Sony in the teeth they would release a Blu-Ray for a reasonable price. If there was an easy region hackable £100-200 profile 2.0 Blu-Ray player, it wo... more

Comment Juxtah said on 18th August 2008

Well from reviews in the US picture quality is barely different from a player costing half as much, swing and a miss Toshiba. Now incorporate this into a blu-ray player so people c... more

Comment Hugo said on 18th August 2008

Rumour has it some Regzas might get the same upscaling tech, which would be nice. I've yet to see a TV that could make The Hits look good.

See all 4 comments on this article.

Add Comment Add your comment

You must be logged in to comment. Login or register here.