DVR-blue out of the picture? (1 Viewer)

[Roger W]

Does anyone know if the Sony/Philips/Pioneer high definition DVD format is still being looked at? It seemed like the awesome innovation for the HDTV owner with 5-6 times at many pixels per frame of an entire movie on a 25gig blue-laser disk. Just haven't heard anything since CES 2001.
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[Craig F]

Blue laser demo units are early prototypes. Blue lasers are not ready for prime time. The production yields of the crystals needed are very low making them very expensive. The technology is just not mature enough yet.
The other side of the coin is getting the studios to agree to support a hi-def format. They have been fighting HDTV every step of the way.
IOW: Don't hold your breath.

 

[Dan Hitchman]

The only viable alternative right now is FMD which uses standard red lasers, but has no (as far as I can tell) metallic data layer (so no disc rotting).
It can go up to, I think, ~1 Terabyte of storage at its present configuration.
Warner Brothers' WAMO division is looking to either buy or distribute FMD discs from its parent company. That either means WB wants this as a way to put HD-DVDs into the market, or to have the means to sit on this technology so it can't be used.
Like Craig F. said: the studios hate HDTV (it means higher quality, so no wonder).
Dan
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