Tuesday, 11 July, 2006
New development in HD format unification
A new development could bring the unification of the two competing high definition video formats together for consumers.
The HD DVD and Blu-ray formats are battling it out to eventually replace the DVD as the video format of choice for consumers around the world, but now a company has developed a laser that can read and burn both formats.
Ricoh will show its optical device International Optoelectronics Exhibition 2006 due to take place in Japan this week, according to EE Times.
The optical component, or “diffraction device”, adjusts the laser beam so that it is able to play back each format.
“This diffraction device is the first one that is ready for four formats, including BD and HD DVD,” said a Ricoh spokesman.
“It will make it possible to build players and recorders ready for all formats, which will benefit consumers.”
Consumers currently seem confused by the competing technologies and run the risk of investing in dead technology should they choose the format that fails to take off.
Toshiba, the leading developer for the HD DVD format, recently called for renewed efforts to unite the formats.
Comments
| 12 July, 2006 - 9:41
This whole issue is such a nightmare.
Standards exist to try and stop this sort of stuff happening.
I think a lot of people will end up wilth Blu-ray players due to having the PS3.
Other people will end up with HD DVD due to the XBox 360 (apparently it will be shipped with an external HD DVD player).
Who then wants to buy a unit that can play both formats on top of the console they probably have?
Pure madness.
Matto | 12 July, 2006 - 13:19
Its a good idea, but how much extra will these players cost? At the moment I believe the current blue ray price is around the $1000 and HD DVD not too far behind… Are we really looking at 1500 to playback movies that already look fine on DVD?
Other than more capacity, wheres the killer app with next gen dvd?