Lens That Writes on Both HD-DVD and Blu-Ray

morpheus83 writes "Ricoh claims they have developed an optical component that reads and writes all disk formats -- Blu-ray Disc and HD-DVD, as well as DVD and CD -- with one pickup and one objective lens. The component is a 3.5-mm diameter, 1-mm thick round diffraction plate with minute concentric groves on both sides which function as a diffraction grating. Based on disc information the drive can identify which format disk is loaded, Ricoh's optical diffraction component adjusts the laser beam with its diffraction grating for each format and passes it to the objective lens."

cool.

[celardore]

I wouldn't mind a drive that burned all formats.

In fact, I wouldn't mind a drive that burned anything at all. My last one 'cookied' about 12 discs before it fucked up and my computer wouldn't start if it was connected. Being able to burn any format would certainly be useful though.

This one is going to...

[dnaumov]

...COST ONE MILLION DOLLARS!

And in others news

[Hawthorne01]

Sony Corp, as part of its ongoing commitment to customer service, has bombed the R+D department to a smoking hole in the ground (Being Dabya references in 3...2...1... Write your own schtick, people! :-) ). When asked for an explanation, a Sony spokesperson said that Ricoh's solution "is not in Sony's best interests, and what's in SOny's best interest is in the best interest for the consumer."

In other other news, the Sony spokesperson in the previous story was just hired by Microsoft as Director Of Public Relations. A Microsoft spokesperson was quoted as saying, "His previous experience at the Iraqi Ministry of Information is what clinched it for us. This guy thinks like we do."

Re:well, now that that's settled

[bmo]

"I'm going out for a bicycle ride."

Holy crap, one format war to another!

The following will generate a flamewar in rec.bicycles.tech that go on for months:

Shimano or Campagnolo?
What about mechanical vs hydraulic disc brakes?
Caliper, Cantilever, Centerpull, Coaster, disc, Double pivot, Drum, Roller, Rollercam, Roller lever, Sidepull, Single pivot, Spoon brakes?
Low spoke count wheels vs 32 or 36 count?
Tubular or Clincher tires? What about Tufo?
Octalink or square taper spindle?
British, Italian, French, Swiss, or Raleigh threading?
130 vs 110 mm BHC?
Hook or no hook rims?
Does a wheel hang by its spokes or stand on its spokes?
Disc wheels or spoked wheels?
Hard Anodizing or plain? Does hard anodizing weaken aluminum?

And that's just to start.

--
BMO

Re:well, now that that's settled

[AnyoneEB]

Your vomit looks like square blocks lined up to a grid? You should probably talk to a doctor about that. ;)

trees!

[sky289hawk1]

with minute concentric groves on both sides

to fit so many trees onto a singular lens!

Thank God!

[Barbara, not Barbie]

At least now there's one LESS remote for you guys to hog!

All disk formats?

[tomhudson]

reads and writes all disk formats

Cool - my 5-1/4" floppies aren't obsolete after all! Arkanoids, anyone?

Re:What's The Point?

[bunbuntheminilop]

What have you got against the wikipedia. What did it ever do to you!

one more...

[Anonymous Coward]

You forgot the Sativa vs. Indica War!

Re:Surprise?

[dangitman]

Eventually, somebody ALWAYS starts combining them all together, so a few years after adoption, everything supports everything.

You got that right. I love my reel-to-reel/8-track tape/Laserdisc/Betamax/Magneto-Optical/5.25" floppy drive/gramophone. It has NuBus and everything!

Rioch

[punkrockguy318]

Your going to need to be Rioch as hell to afford one of these!