The end of the HD DVD / Blu-ray format war has
been declared again, but from a most unlikely source. Recently
Warner patented an all-in-one disc to contain a movie in both competing formats plus DVD, and now New Medium Enterprises has followed that up by claiming it's patented a technology capable of actually manufacturing it. Making its claim even more incredible is the fact that NME is the architect of a third competing format,
Versatile Multilayer Disc (VMD), that already consists of multiple DVD layers. It claims the discs will cost 9 cents apiece to make, compared to 6 cents for standard DVDs -- of course that doesn't include the potential licensing cost for three versions of a movie and three different disc formats, along with the new players NME indicates you may also need to read these multilayer discs. The company still hasn't gotten its
100GB VMD to market after many exhibitions, but with prototypes slated for availability in the first quarter of 2007, we should find out soon enough if this is just hype or if we can finally buy high-def DVDs without picking the next Beta.
posted September 26th 2006 3:08PM
A unified disc is pointless. Beta/Blunder-Ray just needs to die thus, end of problem.
You sound like a loser HeXbox 360 user! BluRay is the only coated disc format boasting near indestructable long life discs, ultimate size and future technalogy! I have DVD discs that are unusable due to scratches and use! I suppose you have lots of money to waste with the other cheap disc formats! Dumb Ignorant Moron!
A unified disc is certainly going to be expensive. We'll see what Warner can do. I think it's pointless as well.
monark, Because Blu-ray discs are encoded near the very top layer of the disc with limited protection, the data is literally at higher risk to damage. Conversely, HD DVD maintains physical protection similar to standard DVD. Also concerns developed regarding Blu-ray's ability to manufacturer the discs at the capacity originally intended. In fact, with the Blu-ray launch in Japan, the discs are being created at single-layer 25 Gigabyte capacity, which is half of the originally intended 50 gigabytes.
maybe if you took care of your discs, they wouldnt be scratched, you cannot condemn an entire format just because you dont know how to be careful
An all-in-one disc would be very good for those who get the PS3, that way if BD fails for movies they won't have to buy an HD-DVD player just to watch hi-def movies.
But BD isn't going to die, even if it fails in the movie market it will quickly defeat HDDVD in the realm of data storage, hands down.
The best investment IMHO is in a BD-RW drive for your PC. It will be the best of both worlds (data storage and HD movies) and if one purpose (like movies for example) fails, you can still use it for the other.
TDK has already figured out how to produce discs with up to 200 GB capacity in theory,so eventually everything current is going to seem inadequate.