Toshiba gains 51GB HD-DVD approval
- Posted September 9th, 2007 at 07:52 EDT by
- 59 Comments
The DVD Forum, the international DVD standards authority, has approved a 51GB single-sided HD-DVD disc.
This disc uses three layers to store more information that is currently available on the Blu-ray discs, although those, too, can support multi layers to cram more data into one disc. In fact a Blu-ray disc can store 50GB on two layers.
Even though this new disc is most likely months away from being ready for mass production, it may serve as a threat to Blu-ray's main selling point: its superior storage capacity. On the other hand, 200GB Blu-ray discs, which use up to 8 layers, are currently being prototyped. The question then becomes, how much space is too much? In terms of high definition videos, it will soon become redundant, as movies and extra features will only take so much space, but perhaps for simple data storage, the bigger the better.
According to Toshiba, its entire line of HD-DVD players will be able to read these new three layer, 51GB discs, but will require a firmware update to do so.
Be sure to check back for more HD format war news.
Source: ScreenDigest
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Dogswithguns
- 4:29am EDT - September 9th, 2007
- 5
WOW, let's just keep both formats on the shelves for all to enjoy..... Im going with the blu-ray.
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galaxyman14
- 5:16am EDT - September 9th, 2007
- 8
Sony, or someone who makes BD discs, should release a 100 gig disc. I'm sure it's possible. It would nullify HD-DVD's increase in size. And if the PS3 could read the discs that would be awesome! They could just update the firmware like the HD-DVD guys are doing, right?
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Psydistix
- 5:19am EDT - September 9th, 2007
- 9
While this may show that this competition will be heated, there is one key aspect to keep in mind. The XBox 360s' still do not have a built-in HD-DVD players in them. Nor, do the games get built into an HD-DVD. If Microsoft is truly going to support HD-DVD, they will have no choice, but to implement an HD-DVD disc for developers to make games with. Add-ons have proven to fail in video game history. Whether it is Sega, Sony or Microsoft, they have all fallen short in one form or another by trying to add-on the consumer, sort of speak.
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alegionwithintent
- 5:20am EDT - September 9th, 2007
- 10
i think its kind of arbitary already because even if it does bring them alongside blu-ray in terms of capacity, blu-ray already has such a backing in place that they effectively have the drop on HD-DVD anyway. just as -Zaku- was saying.
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Real Gambler
- 5:25am EDT - September 9th, 2007
- 11
Would be curious to see how much more they cost to produce, and how easy it is to update the firmware....
Compatibility would also be an issue... It's ok to say Toshiba player can be upgraded, but what about people who own something else.... Can the HD-DVD 360 addon be upgraded as well? What about toshiba laptops with players??? They all have to work, otherwise, many people won't be happy if they buy a movie on a three layer dvd and it doesn't work on their xbox, laptop or whatever else...
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Stef Nighthawk
- 5:51am EDT - September 9th, 2007
- 13
So they are admitting that storage is everything. Still Blu-ray has an extra layer of copyright protection that will still keep the movie studios interested.
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Staticneuron
- 6:52am EDT - September 9th, 2007
- 16
Blu ray has other advantages such as pushing a higher bitrate (hence the sound quality is always rated higher) but this makes alot of things pointless doesn't it. Without a doubt I have a feeling that they can make triple layer blu rays. But they won't because financially it doesn't make sense. It doesn't make sense for the HD-DVD camp other than them saying see... we can do in three layers what blu ray does in two.
By the time the hd dvd camp actually uses this, I highly doubt their prices on the 50 gigs willl match the 50 gig prices on the BR discs. Which points to where this war is going. Support, superior technology and a lower price point will make things a wrap. It echos's so many issues.
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Draco
- 7:03am EDT - September 9th, 2007
- 17
Blu-ray still has the ultimate ability to go with a larger disc size... they've got room to move while HD-DVD is touting this as their major bonus point. Biggy. Blu-ray has some huge support for them. The war won't be over for awhile but I think a winner has been pretty much declared.
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tmac032986
- 8:07am EDT - September 9th, 2007
- 18
Another desperation move. When, oh when will this damn war end. Aren't the results already clear. Blu-Ray will reign supreme in the end, it's just a question of how long and how much more b.s. we have to listen to.
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Jbthegreat
- 8:27am EDT - September 9th, 2007
- 20
Well isn't that a kick in the balls....btw not for a long time are we ever gonna need 200gb
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