Memory-Tech Corporation and Toshiba Corporation today
announced the latest advance in DVD disc technology: a jointly
developed, single-sided, three-layer ROM disc supporting high capacity
storage and playback of both DVD and HD DVD formats.
The newly announced disc is the latest addition to the DVD TWIN
format, discs that support both DVD and HD DVD content and that are
fully compatible with both formats. The new disc boosts capacity and
expands versatility with a three-layer structure offering support for
two HD DVD layers and one DVD layer or two DVD layers and one HD DVD
layer. Memory-Tech and Toshiba will propose the new disc to the HD DVD
Forum, the industry body that defines DVD standards.
In a two-layer HD DVD configuration, the new TWIN disc has a 30GB
HD DVD capacity, plus 4.7GB of standard DVD capacity. Configured to
maximize standard DVD content, the disc can support 8.5GB on two
layers, plus 15GB of HD DVD content on the third layer. DVD content
can be played back on a standard DVD player, while HD DVD players can
play back both formats.
Memory-Tech and Toshiba together proposed the DVD/HD DVD TWIN to
the DVD Forum in 2004, as a transitional format able to support both
standard DVD and HD DVD content. The single-sided, dual-layer TWIN
disc was adopted as part of the HD DVD specifications, and has found
wide application since HD DVD players and PC drives were launched in
the Japanese and North American markets in March this year. One
advantage is its ability to support both standard definition and high
definition versions of a movie, allowing users to play it back now on
present DVD players, and to enjoy the high definition version once
they upgrade to an HD DVD player.
The only drawback with the first generation TWIN disc was its
limited capacity: support for 15GB of HD DVD content and 4.7GB of DVD
content. The new 3-layer disc meets demand from movie studios and
software companies in North America and Japan for a capacity boost,
and offers double the maximum capacity for each format.
The new disc also maintains two defining features of the HD DVD
format: a low cost and highly efficient manufacturing process.
Memory-Tech has developed a new disc manufacturing procedure that adds
an additional process to form the third layer, but does so on the same
disc replication machines that can be used for DVD and HD DVD mass
production.
Major content companies have welcomed the new format.
"We have been releasing TWIN Format titles since April," said Mr
Hideki Oyagi, General Manager, Visual Entertainment Department, PONY
CANYON INC. "We are getting very positive feedback from the market,
and our TWIN Format titles are selling better than anticipated. The
new 3-layer TWIN Format will allow us to develop even more products
and I am sure it will accelerate acceptance of the HD DVD format in
the market. We welcome the fact that the new format will be accepted
as part of HD DVD family format in the near future."
"We offer our congratulations on the announcement of the new
3-layer TWIN Format," said Mr Kazuo Sakai, Program Vice President,
Digital Entertainment Partner Program, Microsoft Corporation. "We're
hoping the new format finds wide acceptance and supports content
development, and promotes consumer adoption of HD DVD."
Memory-Tech and Toshiba will propose the new format to the DVD
Forum and develop reliable disc manufacturing process together.
Memory-Tech and Toshiba will introduce the new format to content
providers and develop new business opportunities together with studio
partners.
