Toshiba Develops 3-Layer DVD and HD-DVD

morpheus83 writes, "Toshiba, in collaboration with disk manufacturer Memory Tech Japan, has successfully combined a HD-DVD and DVD to a single 3-layer, twin-format disk. The resulting disk conforms to DVD standards so it can be played on DVD players, and also on HD-DVD players after upgrading the firmware. The disk can have either Single Layer DVD (4.7GB) + Dual Layer HD DVD (30GB); or Dual Layer DVD (8.5GB) + Single Layer HD DVD (15GB). There will not be a long wait as the new disk can be produced on the existing HD-DVD mass production line with minor process additions."

Well done Toshiba

[Kimos]

I think we just figured out who's going to win in HD-DVD vs. Blu-Ray...

Blu-Ray?

[jma05]

PS3... Where is the Blu-Ray Advantage now?

Bravo!

[The Dalex]

This is a perfect example of ingenuity that you will rarely see in the Sony camp, thanks to their rabid pursuit of a closed, proprietary-format monopoly. This is something that benefits consumers first and foremost, and reinforces my decision to back HD DVD whenever possible. Even if Sony could do this technologically, I see them killing the idea for marketing reasons.

Re:Good news for Microsoft...

[tlhIngan]

Yeah, but it's all about the firware update... You'd have to get everybody with an existing dvd player to have this done. Or in the case you posted about, you'd need everybody with an existing Xbox 360 to have a firmware upgrade.

In the article summary (and TFA), DVD players will not have to be modified. Existing HD-DVD players, though, will need a firmware update to handle it.

Re:Good news for Microsoft...

[eln]

TFA says it will play on a standard DVD player now without modification. The firmware upgrade is for everyone who currently owns an HD-DVD player, which other than XBox 360 owners is pretty much nobody.

This could be a moderately successful bridge technology for movie studios, especially if it became possible somehow to expand it to 4 layers. It would save the cost of having to produce two different versions of the same movie (like they had to do with DVD and VHS), a savings which I'm sure they would pass on to the consum*snort*

Sorry, I couldn't get through that whole sentence with a straight face.

Re:AKA

[PFI_Optix]

Yeah, Sony's going to have a hard time dealing with this one.

You can buy a movie today, watch it on your DVD player today, and watch it on your HD-DVD player in a few years when the prices come down. It takes all the scariness out of being an early adopter; at the very least, you've got a perfectly good DVD.

Now it's official

[Overzeetop]

Since the entire net community has proven that 4.7GB DVDs are perfectly acceptable, this paves the way for barebones movies at 4.7GB plus the HD version on dual layer. They'll be marketed as "future proof" and they'll charge you an extra $5-10 for the privledge. And you'll happily pay it becuase you know if you buy the DVD version you'll probably want the HD version eventually, and the initial cost - resale of the DVD will probably be in the $5-10 range.

Of course, if they really wanted HD-DVD to win, they'd _only_ produce the dual version. That way its a value added product, and you don't have to upgrade all the players in the house to get the most benefits. As you drop your DVD in favor of HD, your discs stay the same. Folks who are quality nuts will get an HD box pretty soon anyway, and the other 98% of the population will never know the difference of the lost 1-2GB of space.

It is seriously brilliant. Marketing can still fumble th ball on this, but properly played this could be the difference in who wins the format war.

Re:Counter-Counterpoint

[Tyger]

It seems to me they don't need to buy the PS3 FOR the BR player.... They just need to buy it, then some time at the store say "Gee, I have this PS3 that says it can play blue-ray, might as well get a few movies and see what it's all about." The barrier to entry is much lower if you already have something that can play the movies.

Re:Counterpoint

[GweeDo]

I can't see them matching the installed base that will rumble into place as soon as Sony get their act together.

Sorry man, Sony users don't rumble [eurogamer.net] anymore...

Re:Good news for Microsoft...

[geminidomino]

ATRAC. Memory stick. Minidisk. UMD.

Re:Now it's official

[Overzeetop]

Yes, they'll need to switch to dual format asap to really lock in the consumer.

Blockbuster (And NetFlix) will beg to get these discs. It means 1/2 the normal inventory for them. They can't abandon DVD - too many instaled players, but they want all of your business so they'd have to have the HD version too. What a nightmare for inventory. Unless they have dual formats. Nobody wants to go back to the VHS/DVD dichotomy of a couple years ago. (And nobody wants VHS/Beta, either, so by choosing DVD/HD combos they kill both bad possibilties)