HP today announced a "significant step toward bridging the differences between the two competing high-definition (HD) optical disk formats." The company said it is proposing two new technologies to be part of the next-generation standard.

The company said it has formally appealed to the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA) to include the technologies – mandatory Managed Copy and iHD – as part of its format specification. Both technologies are currently supported in the competing HD-DVD format, which has Microsoft's blessing. Blu-ray is supported by Sony and was recently criticized by Bill Gates as being "anti-consumer" because of its copy-protection scheme.

HP's said its move "reflects HP's desire to ensure that customers are not forced to choose between competing HD formats for DVDs." The company said is has determined that Managed Copy and iHD will address the fundamental technical needs of the PC and help create a seamless experience throughout the digitally connected home.

What is managed copy? According to HP, unlike with today's conventional DVDs, this feature allows consumers to make legitimate copies of their HD movies and enjoy this content around the home or across their network. Making this feature mandatory will ensure a consistent consumer experience across all next-generation DVD content, HP said.

What is iHD? "Next-generation HD movies will provide a level of interactive experience well beyond that of today's conventional DVDs," HP said. "iHD technology provides a broad foundation to enable new interactivity with standards-based development tools and technologies. It will provide consumers with enhanced content, navigation and functionality for HD films. Furthermore, Microsoft plans to implement iHD support in its Windows Vista operating system, which will help ease implementation and provide a cost-effective solution for consumers."

"HP is committed to delivering rewarding consumer experiences, and we see format compatibility as critical to making technology accessible and easy to use for consumers," said John Romano, senior vice president, Consumer PC Global Business Unit, HP, in a prepared statement. "As a leader in the development and promotion of the Blu-ray Disc format, HP expects these moves to help ensure that the format provides the best possible experience for customers."