December 8th 2004

HD-DVD Sticks It To Blu-Ray......again

Why not discuss HD-DVD Sticks It To Blu-Ray......again in the DVD Recorder World Forums?

Other Blu-Ray news stories

Late August "Last Chance For Unified Format" >> PS3 May Have Faster Blu-Ray Drive >> Sharp Modifies Blu-Ray Format To Create 100GB Disc >> Sony - Toshiba Alliance Is Boost for HD-DVD >>

Other HD-DVD news stories

Late August "Last Chance For Unified Format" >> PS3 May Have Faster Blu-Ray Drive >> Sony - Toshiba Alliance Is Boost for HD-DVD >> Blu-Ray and HD-DVD Talks Scrapped >>

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Toshiba has hammered another nail in the Blu-Ray coffin, by announcing a dual layer HD-DVD and DVD disc.

This means that studios will be able to sell discs that have the DVD version of a film on one side and the HD-DVD version on the other, easing the transition for consumers scared that they'll have to rebuy their entire DVD collection when they upgrade.

The discs contain 2 layers. A DVD layer with a 4.7GB capacity and a lower HD-DVD layer which can hold 15GB. The specification is yet to be ratified by the DVD Forum, but Toshiba and Memory-Tech (the joint developers of the format) will meet with the organisation before the end of the year to start the process.

Last week, 4 major Hollywood studios gave their backing to the HD-DVD format, ahead of Sony's next-generation rival, Blu-Ray.

All in all, a bad few days for Blu-Ray and Sony.