Media type High-density optical disc Encoding VC-1, H.264, and MPEG-2 Capacity 15 GB (single layer) 30 GB (dual layer) Read mechanism 1x@36 Mbit/s & 2x@72 Mbit/s Developed by DVD Forum Usage Data storage, including high-definition video HD DVD or High-Definition Digital Versatile Disc is a high-density optical disc format designed for the storage of data and high-definition video.[1] HD DVD was designed principally by Toshiba, and was envisaged to be the successor to the standard DVD format. However, in February, 2008, Toshiba abandoned the format, announcing it would no longer develop or manufacture HD DVD players[1]. This manufacturing cessation of the HD DVD format and its associated discs and players leaves Blu-Ray Discs as the dominant format for the new generation of high-capacity versatile/video discs. HD DVD is derived from the same underlying technologies as DVD. Since all variants except the 3x DVD employed a blue laser with a shorter wavelength, it can store about 3¼ times as much data per layer as its predecessor (maximum capacity: 15 GB per layer instead of 4.7 GB per layer). Much like the VHS vs. Betamax format war during the late 1970s and early 1980s, HD DVD was in a "format war" with rival format Blu-ray Disc to determine which of the two formats would become the leading carrier for high-definition content to consumers. In 2008, major content manufacturers and key retailers began withdrawing their support for the format. Toshiba's withdrawal from the format ended the high definition optical disc format war, effectively making rival Blu-ray the dominant format for high definition video discs.[2] The HD DVD Promotion Group dissolved on March 28.[3]