Microsoft has announced that its trademarked HDi logo will soon appear on all Toshiba HD DVD players.

In addition, Universal Studios Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Entertainment will include the HDi logo on packaging for HD DVD movie titles beginning in the fourth quarter of this year.

HDi technology is Microsoft's implementation of the interactivity layer for the HD DVD format, that offers advanced features as network connectivity and community scenarios.

Microsoft HDi technology powers the interactive capabilities in every stand-alone HD DVD player on the market as well the HD DVD drive for Xbox 360.

Although not of major interest to the average consumer, the assumption is that by introducing the HDi logo, the HD DVD players will hope to highlight the interactivity of the format and strengthen branding.

Blu-ray's rival interactive platform Blu-ray Disc Java, or BD-J has been criticised as unstable and inconsistent.