Toshiba Moving Forward on 45GB HD DVD Discs

Alon Goldberg · 08-31-2006, 06:54 PM

DVD Times was lucky enough to score a rather enlightening interview with regards to up-coming HD DVD plans from Toshiba. The interview recorded at the IFA consumer electronics show in Berlin, consists of questions and answers like the following on the aforementioned 45GB discs:

http://www.hometheaterblog.com/homet...ba_moving.html

Sean Bryan · 08-31-2006, 10:14 PM

Quote:

DVDTimes: That's what I was going to ask you - what's happening with that. Is it likely we'll see a 45gb disc out?

Jim Armour, Toshiba: The triple layer disc is not actually due out until next year. I believe that the actual book type will not be ratified by something like June next year [2007]. So, announcing they can read triple layer is very odd.

DVDTimes: So, if that does come out, do you know if the current drives would be able to read it with a firmware update? Is there any likelihood that we'll ever see triple-layer film discs?

Jim Armour, Toshiba: Any likelihood... well, if we're actually creating the format, I think there's a likelihood. There is a likelihood - a 45gb capacity could be very useful. Whether drives can read it, I don't know - because, basically the specification hasn't been set. It's like when the first Dual Layer DVD-Rs came out, really old drives couldn't read it. [...] It could well be the same situation. Until the standard has been specified and ratified, you can't really say whether it'll be able to read it.

Interesting. Looks more and more like this may actually be a reality. But I'm still not looking at this a certainty. I definitely get the impression that he is not talking about "data only" triple layer but triple layer for film discs.

Randy Korstick · 09-01-2006, 12:51 PM

Wow! Look at all the problems some people had playing DVD-18's. I can only imagine what these will be like.

Frank@N · 09-01-2006, 03:09 PM

I really hope they work this out and that 2nd gen HD-DVD players will be capable.

True 1080p output and triple layer are the next big guns in the format war.

Along with the overdue death of the 'combo' format...

Dan Hinson · 09-01-2006, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Randy Korstick

Wow! Look at all the problems some people had playing DVD-18's. I can only imagine what these will be like.

Yeah. I’ve read differing opinions as to whether these discs would really be playable on my 1st generation Toshiba, and I have my doubts as well.

I am confident, however, that 45GB discs could be perfected, produced, and ultimately played on future generation players.

**HTF Ads**

Duncan Harvey · 09-04-2006, 02:08 PM

whilst it would be a neat trick to deliver triple layer, I suspect the economics would make two dual layer discs much cheaper to produce.

It would be interesting to know for example, how much data is required for a 3.5 hour film with multiple soundtracks and commentraries (hello LOTR trilogy!!) and whether the 45gb disc is really needed.

Personally I'd have no problems with a long film on one disc and the extras on a second.

Travis Hedger · 09-05-2006, 07:15 PM

Why does a player need 1080p output?

The source is 1080p, passed in 1080i, so what? The key piece of tech is your TV. If it is a proper 1080p set it will de-interlace the signal to a proper bit for bit image of the 1080p source!!!!!

Mark Zimmer · 09-06-2006, 11:32 AM

The problems with DVD-18s have mostly been manufacturing problems, though, as opposed to problems with players being able to read them. As far as a player knows, it's a DVD-9. It may not play because of a mfg. problem, but you can eventually find a copy that plays fine.

Vincent_P · 09-06-2006, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Travis Hedger

Why does a player need 1080p output?

The source is 1080p, passed in 1080i, so what? The key piece of tech is your TV. If it is a proper 1080p set it will de-interlace the signal to a proper bit for bit image of the 1080p source!!!!!

They need it because every day in Best Buys everywhere, salesmen and women are trumpeting that Blu-Ray is superior because it has a 1080P output and the Toshiba HD-DVD players do not.

Vincent

Dan Hitchman · 09-09-2006, 04:20 PM

TV's that can properly de-interlace 1080i to full 1080p are fewer and farther between than you would like to believe (plus the encoded flags are never without errors). It is always better to get the native signal off the disc to a display that can do 1:1 pixel mapping of the full resolution bypassing the scaler without doubling up on conversions (native 1080p source to native 1080p display). If the film is encoded at 24 fps you want a display that can double or triple that rate to 48 Hz or 72 Hz... a rare find indeed, so you eliminate motion judder and reduce or eliminate flicker.

Michael Osadciw · 09-10-2006, 02:58 AM

this still looks very far away...more likely into 2008.