Photos: Toshiba's slimmer HD DVD players

Toshiba's second-generation HD DVD player, the HD-A2, is a trimmer-looking sibling of the HD-A1, which debuted in the spring. Scheduled for release in late October, the HD-A2 will offer faster boot-up time (how much faster, Toshiba hasn't disclosed) and a new remote with individual buttons controlling an eight-way cursor. The HD-A2 is designed to scale any video to 720p or 1080i and play CDs, standard DVDs and, of course, HD DVDs. The machine was on display in Denver last week at CEDIA Expo 2006, a showcase and training event for European home technology. The HD-A2 will retail for $500.

This is a prototype of another HD DVD player in development at Toshiba, the HD-XA2. The company plans to release a finished product by January, Ken Ayukawa, senior product planning manager, said Saturday at CEDIA Expo 2006. The HD-XA2, a more upscale and full-featured second-generation HD DVD player from Toshiba, will be one of the first to feature an HDMI 1.3 interface, which can convert all video to 1080p--the best digital resolution available. The HD-XA2 also will offer 7.1 surround sound and stand on vibration-isolating feet designed to prevent damage to the player or disc by a powerful subwoofer.