Following a poll on Amazon.com, Criterion has announced that it’s next Blu-ray release in the US will be the much-loved Howards End. The Academy Award-winning Merchant Ivory classic is an adaptation of E.M. Forster’s 1910 novel, and stars Helena Bonham Carter, Emma Thompson, Anthony Hopkins and Vanessa Redgrave. No word on whether we’ll get to see any of the other titles up for consideration, or even a release date for the winner, but if you want an idea of the sort of extras Criterion might include check out the specs for the DVD edition.

Home entertainment whistle blower The Digital Bits has posted a rumoured Paramount/DreamWorks Blu-ray release slate for later in the year. Citing industry sources, the site stresses that the mooted US discs listed are still unconfirmed - some have been mentioned before however, and we’d be surprised if at least a couple failed to make it to retail be fore the end of the year.

01/09/09: Braveheart
15/09/09: Deep Impact, Escape from L.A., 48 Hours
22/09/09: Star Trek: The Original Series - Season 2, Gladiator: Extended Edition, Galaxy Quest
03/09/09: Forrest Gump, It’s a Wonderful Life

Star Trek: The Next Generation - Original Motion Picture Collection is set to coincide with the as-yet-undated Blu-ray release of J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek.

The latest edition of High Definition Review is here with plenty to keep your hunger for HD at bay.

This issue we talk to Benjamin Button director David Fincher about his love for Blu-ray.

Take at look at the huge franchises set to break into high definition.

Open the doors to Samsung’s house of tomorrow.

Review every new Blu-ray release including: Ghostbusters, Frost/Nixon and Valkyrie.

We also examine the new generation of internet-enabled HDTVs

On sale now from newsagents and at the Imagine Publishing eShop: www.imagineshop.co.uk.

Microsoft has announced an updated HD version of it’s Zune portable media player. Set to feature at next week’s E3 Expo, the Zune HD will support 720p video that can be output to an HDTV via a separate docking station with built-in HDMI port. The device also features a widescreen 16:9 OLED touchscreen with a resolution of 480×272, and will enable users to browse the internet over WiFi, stream songs from the Zune store. Microsoft are also promising to demonstrate how Zune will integrate with Xbox LIVE which could take the form of video or game downloads - will Apple be able to offer more when their expected iPhone revision comes out? Stay tuned. Or should that be zuned?

Disney has announced coming-of-age comedy Adventureland for Blu-ray. Written and directed by Superbad’s Greg Mottola, and based on his own experiences of working in a theme-park in the 1980s, Adventureland stars Jesse Eisenberg as a college grad who winds up in a seemingly dead end job as a games host at a local amusement park. Also featuring Twilight’s Kristen Stewart, Ryan Reynolds and comedy specialists Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig, Adventureland hits the US on August 25 with the following extras:

- Blu-ray Exclusives: Frigo’s Ball Tap, Lisa P’s Guide To Style, Welcome to Adventureland
- Deleted Scenes - with optional audio commentary by Greg Mottola
- Audio commentary - with Greg Mottola and Jesse Eisenberg
- The Making Of Adventureland
- Digital Copy