TDK has reached a landmark in the development of recordable blue laser technology by achieving a groundbreaking capacity of 200GB. Surpassing existing optical media technologies several times over, a 200GB blue laser disc would double the capacity of TDK’s existing 100GB Blu-ray prototype. One of TDK’s new 200GB blue laser discs could store approximately 18 hours of high definition video (encoded at 24Mbps).
The initial Blu-ray Disc standard allows for 25GB single layer Blu-ray Discs and 50GB dual layer Blu-ray Discs. However, a recent signal processing innovation stretches the physical limits of optical media, realizing 33.3GB capacity for each of the disc’s six layers. As with the 100GB disc, and other Blu-ray Disc media, TDK’s 200GB blue laser disc is single-sided.
Bruce Youmans, TDK Vice President of Product Research & Development, said in the press release: “The ultra-ambitious technology roadmap for Blu-ray has now been confirmed as realistic, with landmarks such as this proving the long term value of the format against its rivals. TDK was the first to develop a prototype 100GB recordable Blu-ray Disc, and yet again, our landmark achievement in creating a 200GB disc is affirming the company’s position as a true pioneer in advancing the capabilities of optical media.”
TDK’s 100GB prototype disc uses four 25GB layers to reach 100GB capacity. For the 200GB technology development, TDK has stretched the physical margins of the Blu-ray Disc format, enabling a disc to store up to 33.3GB per layer while staying within the tolerances of the BD playback specifications.
TDK has already been able to achieve 6x (216Mbps) recording speed on a 25GB write-once Blu-ray Disc prototype.
Full press release here.
[Attribution: Macsimum News. Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Rainy Day” for the heads up.]
MacDailyNews Take: HD DVD is sounding even more anemic with this news.
MacDailyNews Note: Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced on March 10, 2005 that Apple was “pleased to join the Blu-ray Disc Association board as part of our efforts to drive consumer adoption of HD.”
According to The Blu-ray Disc Association’s website, HD DVD’s pre-recorded capacities are 15 GB for a single layer disc, or 30 GB for a double layer disc. Blu-ray Disc provides 67% more capacity per layer at 25 GB for a single layer and 50GB for a double layer disc. It’s par for the course that Apple backs the superior format while Microsoft supports the inferior one.
It does, however, bear noting that Apple is playing both sides of the fence in a wait and see mode. According to a press release from April 17, 2005, “Apple is committed to both emerging high definition DVD standards—Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD. Apple is an active member of the DVD Forum which developed the HD DVD standard, and last month joined the Board of Directors of the Blu-ray Disc Association.”
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Roxio Toast 7 for Apple Mac adds Blu-ray support – July 25, 2006
Apple and Microsoft showdown over Blu-ray vs. HD DVD? – July 14, 2006
Analysts: Blu-ray coming to Apple Macs sooner than later – July 14, 2006
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Blu-ray Disc blank media hits U.S. shelves – May 22, 2006
Blu-ray Disk Associaton: we’ll win DVD format war over HD-DVD – May 12, 2006
RUMOR: Apple asks studios to include iPod video content on Blu-ray discs – April 25, 2006
Sony postpones PlayStation 3 release until November due to Blu-ray delay – March 15, 2006
Broadcom announces decoder chip that plays both Blu-ray and HD DVD – January 03, 2006
Forrester Research: Apple-backed Blu-ray will win over Microsoft-backed HD DVD – October 20, 2005
BusinessWeek: ‘it looks as if HD DVD’s days are numbered’ – October 07, 2005
China to develop own as-yet-unnamed DVD format; Blu-ray vs. HD DVD vs ? – October 07, 2005
Paramount’s decision gives Blu-ray slight lead over HD DVD in next gen DVD format war – October 04, 2005
Record set straight on Blu-ray Disc Association’s superior high definition format – September 29, 2005
Microsoft backs cheaper, less sophisticated, lower capacity HD DVD over Apple-backed Blu-ray format – September 27, 2005
Twentieth Century Fox joins Apple, Dell, HP, others to support Blu-ray Disc format – July 29, 2005
Poll shows Apple-backed Blu-ray preferred by consumers over HD DVD for next-gen DVD standard – July 14, 2005
Microsoft allies with Toshiba on HD-DVD vs. Blu-ray Disc backers Apple and Sony – June 27, 2005
Apple joins Blu-ray Disc Association Board of Directors – March 10, 2005
Microsoft should stick with HD-DVD.
I just realized that MDN like Apple plays both sides of any news.
If Apple batteries catch on fire the news are bias as Apple recalls batteries for the safety of their customers
MDN headlines are just fun with the credibility of National Enquirer
I Just (got off the short bus),
“Bias?” Learn the language. If you meant “biased,” you’re definitely a ‘tard. Please, for the humor value, explain to us all what’s “biased” about MDN’s article about TDK achieving 200GB per Blu-ray Disc?
200GB? Damn, that’s a lot of pron.
A pack of 50 discs should handle my collection.
Spankin and wankin helps with the stress, baby.
If/when Hollywood gets hold of this technology, the amazing thing is that you could put an entire season of a 45-minute show (like The West Wing or 24) on a single disc.
Whilst the base media may be more expensive, the studios will win out by saving on packaging.
On another level: assuming these capacities can be made available as a recordable medium, these discs are going to land up being the future back-up medium as hard drives start to evolve to terabyte-plus capacities.
200GB is big, but it’s not ‘Collosal’.
Or even HVD.
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This is GREAT NEWS!!
30GB is rather anemic for HD movies, it only stores a few hours.
For storage, BlueRay is the “sh*t”, computer users need large space in a small medium.
However if all one is going to put on a High Def DVD is a 2 hour movie, then HD-DVD is cheaper to manufacter becaus eit doesn’t require a investment in new fabs.
BlueRay has some stringent copy protection schemes. HD-DVD by microshit is shooting for mandatory circulation of the content to other devices.
Tastes great! Less filling!
who is going to win?
Sony is almost as evil as microsoftie.
Bus Driver
I don’t agree with” I Just” but neither with you bubba.
Picking on a poster for their spelling errors, grammatical mishaps and syntax confusion is lame beyond words. It happens all the time here yet we all know that this is an internationally visited forum.
Good point about a whole TV season on one disc.
How about a whole set of classic movies (i.e John Wayne classics) on one disc.
Considering that the biggest hard drive can hold 500 GB – getting 200 on one Blu-Ray disc is amazing.
Once the availabilty and prices for writers and discs go down it will certainly be a faster and cheap way to back up data. Maybe even Apple have that in mind for their Time Machine software.
MW – “Price” – kinda fits.
55.114.199.114
The difference is that the initial price of Blu-Ray will not last long, as it will become more common to manufacture.
Blu-ray is a true next generation disc format, while HD-DVD is more incremental of the DVD..
They talk about it more on the Blu-Ray site. Check it out there.
MW: society…
I’ll get behind Blu-Ray for the sole reason that M$ is writing the software (menus and such) for HD-DVD… I don’t want M$ software anywhere near my computer, much less my home theater! I’ll take the Java-based Blu-Ray over M$-proprietary HD-DVD any day, any time.
–mAc
I won’t buy any next gen optical format until it’s fast, cheap and proven reliable
recordable DVD still has way too many bit failures for long term backup use
100 to 200 gig would be great for backing up SD video projects from Final Cut
“I just realized that MDN like Apple plays both sides of any news.
If Apple batteries catch on fire the news are bias as Apple recalls batteries for the safety of their customers
MDN headlines are just fun with the credibility of National Enquirer”
You have to understand this isn’t a “news site”. When you come here, you know what the spin will be, and you expect it. It’s the same as when people criticize Rush Limbaugh or Al Franken for being partisan. They are not news outlets, they are news commentary. If CNN or ABC showed bias in the news, that is when criticism should come in.
“HD-DVD is cheaper to manufacter becaus eit doesn’t require a investment in new fabs.”
You are correct, unfortunately that will not save the format. Markets are controlled by the consumer. If the consumers love the Blue Ray because the picture is better (higher bit rates), and can hold more special features that they want, then Blu-Ray will win through demand. Consumers do not care which one will be easier for the manufacturers. Of course the manufacturers could just refuse to make them-but I doubt that will happen.
>Markets are controlled by the consumer.>
Yeah, they buy the cheap crap. ie. windows computers….
How much are the discs and the recorders going to cost? This is sounding like a great backup solution….
I heard the cost for the earlier version was around $50.00 a disc. ??
not cheap – for now
“>Markets are controlled by the consumer.>
Yeah, they buy the cheap crap. ie. windows computers….”
They also buy iPods.
The next phase up after Blue-Ray, Holographic Storage.
Inphase-Technologies
How it works
3D Atomic Holographic Optical Data Storage
Keyword: prototype – don’t expect to see this any time soon. It’s good that they are working on it, but it’s going to be a while before it’s consumer ready. I won’t be making $100.00+ coasters any time soon. There is also the fact that current single-layer write-once Bluray media is more expensive than hard drive space – for now. Interesting, but companies enjoy bragging rights like this. I’ll check back in 5 years.
OS X RootKit Hunter released
Not Intel Mac compatible, might flag your old Apache web server app.
http://www.net-security.org/software.php?id=664
Other good stuff, mouse over the Apple lower left.
Your welcome
Backwards compatibility is over-rated. HD-DVD is a stop gap, which would have been great 5 years ago… Blu-Ray already holds more data and deserves to win this round.
That said, not everyone has the ready cash to spend on such “luxuries” (as they’re currently priced at such.)
I’d really like to see an upgrade facility provided too… one where DVD’s are swapped out for next-gen discs for a minimal charge… if I pay for the licence to watch such and such a movie on a DVD, why do I have to pay yet again to get it on blu-ray (or HD-DVD?) Not forgetting some who upgraded from video-tape either.
Oh, and I’d also like hypersonic air transportation too, but neither this nor “upgradeable” discs will happen in the near future.
And they wonder why people steal movies!
It’s gonna be more important for the home user to be able to back up large quantities of data. Not just stuff like account etc but video files, photos, music. I’ve got 3 gigs of photos and 20 gigs of music. If I wanted to backup my video stuff that would be another 100 gig in the last 3 years.
If Blu-Ray can do 200 gigs on one disk, it can handle a lot of data backup for the home user that will be needed in the next 5 years.
“It happens all the time here yet we all know that this is an internationally visited forum.”
You need a comma after “here”.