Sharp brings its own blue lasers to the party
By Richard Lawler 
posted Dec 19th 2006 1:11PM
posted Dec 19th 2006 1:11PM
It might not have said so on the flyer, but Blu-ray and HD DVD in 2006 have been largely a BYOL affair, since neither Sony nor Nichia were able to supply enough of the lasers that are at the basis of both formats to meet demand. Well Sharp -- which hasn't released its DV-BP1U Blu-ray player yet -- has now decided to jump into the blue laser game as well, producing 150,000 units per month; they expect to be up to 500,000 units per month by September of next year. A company spokeswoman said most of the diodes will go into Sharp products, but we're sure European PlayStation 3 fans wouldn't mind seeing a few truckloads headed in Sony's direction, while everyone else is just hoping to see price drops on high definition players across the board.Read - Sharp starts blue laser diode production
Read - Sharp to Make Laser Diodes for Blu-Ray, HD Recorders
But I thought Blu-Ray was dead? Nobody in their right mind would start up production on a dead format... [/sarcasm]
Very nice, more supply of ps3's and less ebayers making profit. It is a dream to come true.
SCENARIO: You’re one of the last 3 soldiers on a beach, having survived waves and waves of enemy attacks. Your buddy starts talking about how he can’t wait to get back to Brooklyn and kiss his girl and take her to a Dodgers game (Brooklyn Dodgers that is). Then BOOOOM he gets blown the F up!! Leaving 2 of you!
All of a sudden you hear the roar of PT boats in the distance. Both of you wounded and tired start making your way down to the beach. Suddenly, a not quite dead enemy solder rears up and shoots your last remaining buddy dead! You finally make it to the waters edge and is rescued by the PT boats.
MORAL OF THE STORY: Sharp is to Blueray as the PT boat is to that Last Soldier! Sony and the PS3 ladies and gentlemen now have “legs”. THIS IS BIGGER NEWS THAN THE SUM OF ITS PARTS!!!
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LDM
Water-bending Master
http://www.eternal-champions.com/images/ldm_master_builder!.jpg
Can't the diodes be used for HD-DVD as well?
Technically yes, and it's possible that they will... but since Sharp backs Blu-Ray they'll most likely be used in that format. Then again, if Toshiba offers a good chunk of change for them, Sharp would probably be happy to turn a better profit by selling to the HD-DVD format.
...blazer
On second thought, if Sharp is looking long-term, they might pass up short-term profits on the diodes to try and give Blu-Ray a better chance at market domination by sheer availability.
Depends on Sharp's perspective on future markets and weight/inside knowledge on long vs. short term plans.
>>Can't the diodes be used for HD-DVD as well?
It could be being that both formats use 405 nm diodes, however, Sharp is one of the Blu-ray founders, and receives royalties from each Blu-ray sold. Sharp is not part of the HD-DVDs 6C patent pool, which gets patents from every HD-DVD/DVD sold and Sharp would have no incentive to contribute to the HD-DVD which they would have to pay royalties to. The 6C group include Toshiba, NEC, Time-Warner(Engadget is a AOL Time-Warner publication), etc.
Incorrect, sharp wouldn't have to pay royalties to HD-DVD just for supplying parts needed to make these players. Both standards use blue lasers for their shorter wave-length (and resulting higher data-density), and last I checked, blue is a color and can't be patented. Unless Microsoft already did ;)
So how long before Sharp threatens to blow up the ocean?
>>Incorrect, sharp wouldn't have to pay royalties to HD-DVD just for supplying parts needed to make these players.
You miss the point, you won't see Sharp supplying crucial components to HD-DVDs the same way you won't see Toshiba diodes in Blu-rays. For Sharp, if HD-DVD succeeds then they will have to pay royalties for every HD-DVD player they make to the 6C, if Blu-ray succeeds Sharp gets royalties from every Blu-ray player and disc made.
Both formats are backed by different groups of corporate conglomerates that own patents on the technology inside them (and get royalties from them). This is why you see companies like Toshiba, NEC, Micrsoft, Universal, Time-Warner (HD-DVD) on one side, and other companies like Matsushita/Panasonic, Sony, Sharp, Samsung, Apple, Sun on the other (Blu-ray).