Blue-laser backers move to promote rival formats

By Alun Williams

Posted on 27 Sep 2004 at 13:03

The battle for supremacy for next-generation blue-laser optical disc technology - Blu-ray Disc (BD) versus High-Definition DVD - has taken a couple of (admittedly rather small) twists and turns.

Sony has boasted that it will soon begin shipping 'key components' of BD technology, such as optical heads and optical related semiconductor devices (such as Photo detector and Laser diode driver ICs). These should be available in December, with the significance being that manufactures will be able to develop BD-related products and begin to expand the market.

'By making available to the industry the key components and technologies of Blu-ray Disc recorder, drive and other BD related products,' said Dr. Osamu Kumagai of Sony's Device Solutions Company, 'We expect the Blu-ray Disc market to expand, and thus our consumers will enjoy, record and experience High Definition contents'.

The technology was also recently confirmed as part of the spec of Sony's next generation gaming console, the PlayStation 3.

The latest announcement is really just another salvo in the next-gen optical disc format battle. On one side stands Blu-Ray (supported by Sony, Pioneer, Samsung, Matsushita, Philips and Microsoft) and on the other stands the rival, backwards-compatible HD DVD format (supported by Toshiba, NEC, Sanyo, and Memory-Tech).

Speaking of HD DVD, its supporting companies have announced the formation of the HD DVD Promotion Group. This will be 'a voluntary association, to promote development of HD DVD hardware and content, assure early product launches, and promote the widespread commercial dissemination of HD DVD hardware and software products in the marketplace'.

The companies expect to establish the official organisation in spring 2005, with the group promoting the HD DVD format at exhibitions and seminars around the world. Note that a similar Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA) was formed by Sony back in May 2004.

Developed to enable recording and rewriting of high-definition television (HDTV), Blu-ray enables over two hours of recording on a 27GB disc (about 13 hours of standard-definition television). More information can be found at www.blu-raydisc-official.org. HD DVD, by contrast, only offers up to 15GB per layer but it is backwards compatible with DVD - the laser can read both blue and red frequencies - meaning consumers can play existing DVDs in the drive.