Audio Video News

Pioneer Displays 400GB Blu-ray-playable Optical Disc

SV Staff  |  Dec 2, 2008

Already bored with dual-layer discs?  Plain old Blu-ray passé? Then we've got news for you! Pioneer is showing off a 16-layer 400GB optical disc. Each layer on this read-only optical disc has 25GB of storage. Pioneer was showing it off at the IT Month Fair in Taipei.

Pioneer is sayng this disc is playable on Blu-ray players and could be available before 2010. Rewritable discs will be out 2010-2012, and 1TB discs by 2013.

Keep reading to see what Pioneer had to say about the new format.

From Digitimes:

The technology of the super multi-layer read-only disc is based on Blu-ray Disc (BD) with a breakthrough in material of reflective layers, according to Pioneer High Fidelity Taiwan. The specifications of the pick-up head (PUH) of the disc is the same as those for the PUH of blank BD discs, and therefore the Pioneer discs can be read on BD players, the company said.

Comparison of main specifications between BD and Pioneer's super multi-layer

Specification

BD

Pioneer's super multi-layer

Storage capacity and number of layers

25GB for single layer; 50GB for double layers

400GB for 16 layers; 500GB for 20 layers under development

Material of reflective layers

Metallic

Dielectric

Track pitch

25nm

10&14nm

PUH

405nm, 0.85

405nm, 0.85

Source: Company and industry players, compiled by Digitimes, December 2008 

Looks like even before Blu-ray takes off, it's obsolete. What technology stands a chance these days? —Leslie Shapiro

DigiTimes

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