Toshiba Expands HD DVD Capacity To 45GB

KingFish

Toshiba has developed a prototype HD DVD disc that increases the format's storage capacity by 50 percent and brings it much closer to that of the rival Blu-ray Disc, the company said Tuesday.

The new disc has a capacity of 45GB, which is just under the 50GB offered by a dual-layer Blu-ray Disc. The added capacity removes one of the clear advantages Blu-ray Disc held over HD DVD, and gives content producers plenty of space to store longer high-definition movies, or extra content such as trailers, outtakes, or interactive features.

Toshiba accomplished the capacity jump by adding an extra data storage layer to the disc. Each HD DVD layer has a capacity of 15GB and the new disc packs three such layers.

The company also announced a second prototype disc that uses the same basic technology. The hybrid disc combines a dual-layer HD DVD with a dual-layer DVD to provide a double-sided disc that can be played in either HD DVD or DVD players.

Such a disc could be a benefit to consumers in the early days of HD DVD. A hybrid disc could be used as a transitional format enabling consumers to buy discs for use in current DVD players while building up a library of high-definition content for the time when they purchase an HD DVD player.

Source: PC World

GrayFox

Why don't they all just merge to create a single format that will take over dvd's.

danball1976

Eh-hem:

Next Gen Unification Soon? (09:21 PM EDT): While reports continue to come out slowly regarding the talks between the HD-DVD and Blu-Ray camps, one piece of information via the CED today has unconfirmed but recent information regarding the talks. The two sides are deep into the how and what of to do in terms of integrating the two formats as each side has things they most definitely want to keep. According to the sources, Toshiba has given up its hold on wanting the 0.6 mm disc structure in favor of Sony's 0.1 mm data substrate which allows it to hold much more information. In return, Blu-Ray would adapt HD-DVD's modulation technology in place of its own. The potential agreement on the disc structure is going to be one of if not they key thing that needs to be decided on as the 0.6 mm structure allows for easier upgrades in replication lines (though there is much speculation about cycle times and whether the gains are truly there) while the new 0.1 mm structure would require brand new lines and a sizeable amount of capital expenditure.

Reports leaked to the Japanese press indicate that the proposal for unification could be ready as soon as May 16th which is something that Sony desperately needs due to their earlier commmittment to making the Playstation 3 a Blu-Ray capable device and much of their entertainment business riding on the success of the console and all that it entails.

And:

Toshiba Denies Rumors, Announces Triple-Layer HD-DVD (01:38 PM EDT): Denying the reports coming out of the Japanese press about immiment unification plans with the Blu-Ray group, Toshiba has unveiled at the Media-Tech Expo 2005 event that they have achieved a triple-layer HD-DVD format that is capable of storing 45 gb. This places it just under the 50 gb that the dual layered Blu-Ray format is pushing. This new form of HD-DVD hasn't been formalized by the HD-DVD Group yet and isn't a part of the spec but it shows that they understand the importance of space capacity, something that Blu-Ray has had as a significant advantage. One disadvantage to this new triple-layer format however is that it is for pre-recorded material and initial word has it that it is far too complex for consumer recording for some time, whereas Blu-Ray offers dual layer recording right out of the gate

Source: www.animeondvd.com