Toshiba American Consumer Products announced today that they are bringing new features to users of their HD DVD players. New HD DVD titles with web-enabled network capabilities will allows watchers access to advanced content and bonus features not available before.

Toshiba says that all of their players have offered enhanced interactive functionalist like PiP and audio commentary currently available on HD DVD titles. A new firmware update for Toshiba HD DVD players supports improved network connectivity allowing downloading of web-enabled network content.

"Through web-enabled network connectivity, HD DVD is unlocking the door to an entirely new world of entertainment and once again achieving another milestone in next generation DVD," said Jodi Sally, Vice President of Marketing, Toshiba's Digital A/V Group. "With HD DVD, studios have the ability to develop new and unique content for movie fans, enabling consumers to have an entirely new way to access entertainment and customize their home movie experience that is currently not available with any other format."

After installing the firmware update and connecting the Ethernet port available on all Toshiba HD DVD players bonus content can be downloaded from a studios server when available. The Bandai anime title “Freedom” volume 1 is the first HD DVD anime title in the U.S., the first web-enabled content disc and the first twin format disc containing both HD DVD and Blu-ray on one side of the disc. Toshiba also announced that effective July 1 the promotion pricing on their HD DVD players becomes the standard pricing. This means you can get a HD-A2 every day for $299.99, the HD-A20 for $399.99 and the top of the line HD-XA2 for $799.99.