JAPAN NEWS: Pioneer develops 400GB Blu-ray Disc
Pioneer has developed the world's first 400GB read-only optical disc, opening the way to future releases able to store much more content than current disc formats.
Using no fewer than 16 layers glued together, and each holding 25GB, the disc is able to store about eight times more data than existing dual-layer Blu-ray Disc media, and is said to be fully backwards-compatible with existing players.
The disc, details of which will be announced at the forthcoming International Symposium on Optical Memory and Optical Data Storage 2008 to be held in Hawaii from July 13, is currently a read-only type - just like commercially-pressed Blu-ray Disc titles. However, Pioneer says the technology is also applicable to multilayer recordable discs.
The company has used experience gained in DVD manufacture to solve the problem of getting a clear signal from each recording layer and transmission loss, by altering the disc structure to avoid inter-layer crosstalk.
It has also developed a reading system able to handle weak signals, but maintains that the optical specifications of the reading lens are the same as those used for existing Blu-ray Disc media, so compatibility can be maintained between current and future discs.
Comments
True. But its a great pity DVD-RAM didnt win over the recordable DVD format war, then we might have had a bit of protection...
I mean how hard will it be to render a 16 layer disk unreadable?
And by the time Super HV comes along we may have alternate tech anyway
Ah, but how else is a film/TV show in Super HD (1080p x 4) going to fit on a single disc....
That's what I can see this being prototyped for: we've seen the concept TVs and broadcast technology; now a potential physical format to feed/record them.
To be honest, it's getting silly. I wouldn't trust so much data on a piece of exposed plastic, and whats the chances your 'entire James Bond' will not able to be backed up?
Ye gods, sounds fantastic. Th entire library of .... whatever at 24/192, surround if you want, full cover art, libretti etc, or the whole of the James Bond/BBC Wildlife Unit/Star Wars movies (all versions) on one disc yours for only HOW MUCH!!!! Still perhaps it could find a use in libraries/radio stations, or the services we are all going to be downloading from