Toshiba launched HD DVD player months ahead of rival Sony's Blu-ray. (File photo)

    BEIJING, April 20 (Xinhuanet) -- As one of the most anticipated next-generation machines in the tech industry, Toshiba's HD DVD players finally hit stores Monday in America, months ahead of rival Sony's Blu-ray.

    Meanwhile, two studios released three movies in this next-generation optical disc format, which means both player and software of HD DVD are now available in market. 

    Toshiba Marketing vp Jodi Sally said, "Retailers who have received players to date have reported very positive sales. I am very pleased to see the demand for high-definition content being fulfilled to the early adopters with our HD-DVD players." 

    Blu-ray concedes that success does have something to do with getting to the market sooner, however it has argued that the content to be available on the format is what matters.

    First three titles of HD DVD are "Serenity" from Universal Studios Home Entertainment, "The Last Samurai" and "The Phantom of the Opera" from Warner Home Video. According to news reports, each title will only have a shipment of 10,000 or less. This is due to only 10,000 of the HD DVD players being initially available at launch. 

    Warner's Oscar-winning "Million Dollar Baby" was supposed to be available Tuesday as well, but has been postponed.

    Other Universal titles in the HD-DVD pipeline include "Apollo 13" and "Doom" on April 25, followed by "Jarhead," "Cinderella Man" and "Assault on Precinct 13" on May 9 and "The Chronicles of Riddick," "The Bourne Supremacy," "Van Helsing" and "U-571" on May 23.

    Warner and Paramount Pictures will support both HD DVD and Blu-ray, with Universal exclusive to HD DVD. However, other studios are currently exclusive to Sony's Blu-ray format, including Disney, 20th Century Fox, MGM, and Lions Gate.

    Blu-ray discs aren't expected on shelves for another month, with the first players arriving June 25. Enditem

(Agencies)