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Wow – finally! My favorite movie of the summer will come out to play on DVD and HD DVD on October 16th. Both formats are OK initial releases, but leave plenty of room for future extended/director’s/collector’s editions – the DVD audio is particularly weak. Anyway, both releases have a slew of features – from chest-thumping Chevrolet goofiness to what sounds like a cool CGI-model explorer that takes up an entire HD DVD disc.

For now, there’s going to be 2 releases. Each is two discs, but the features and extras aren’t remotely similar:

1. DVD “Special Edition” – 2 discs
   16:9, DD 5.1 Audio. 5.1 – is that it? Yup.
   Disc One: Feature, with Michael Bay commentary track
   Disc Two: A zillion featurettes/documentaries – see below for full details
2. Transformers HD DVD – 2 discs
   1080p, DD+ 5.1
   Disc One: Feature, “Head’s Up Display” (see below), web-enabled features
   Disc Two: Transformers Tech Inspector – seems to be an interactive production model browser

Final word? There’s no way I’m not getting the DVD release. Its strong out of the gates, but I’m anticipating a future follow-up purchase with better-rounded audio.

The complete details from the Press Release follow after the jump… and there’s more info to come over time!

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Venturer Electronics, maker of oddball, low cost consumer electronics, is getting into the HD game – releasing the SHD7000 in time for the holidays. All the basic specs you’d expect are there: 1080i, HDMI, etc.

Featuring 1080i video output and an HDMI connection, the SHD7000 is designed to be compatible with the vast majority of HDTVs already in North American consumers’ homes. With Ethernet connectivity to the network , the SHD7000 also allows users to access bonus features from movie studio web servers and unlock special prerecorded content on some HD DVD discs. Dolby TrueHD rounds out the high definition experience by presenting the HD DVD disc soundtrack as it was meant to be heard, virtually equal to the studio master. In addition to its HD DVD playback capability, the SHD7000 will upconvert standard DVDs to near HD picture quality via its HDMI connection, allowing a consumer’s existing library of DVDs to look better than ever. [from VE]

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From this Digg thread on the earlier HD-A2 deal at Amazon:

// Netflix plug.
Don’t forget, Netflix offers HD-DVD and Bluray for no additional fee, so once you have those players and watch your free movies, consider signing up. [from Digg]

Thanks, AdamTReineke!

From AVSForum. Apparently having an HD-A2 in your cart with 3 combo discs works out to $210. Then, you get five straight HD DVD’s by mail. Not a bad way to get in the HD game if you feel so inclined! Still good to go as of 4:46 PM central.

…So the end cost is only around $210 for a HD-A2 plus three combo HD-DVDs (with 5 more after rebate).

It worked..

Toshiba A2
300 HD-DVD Combo
Departed HD-DVD Combo
Happy Feet HD-DVD Combo

Total $210 shipped and you get 5 more free by mail in..

Worked for me too…A2 for $210 including 8 HD DVD’s.(3 Combos – 5 mail in)