Just when
one thought that double/dual layer write-once media was the last addition to the
list of DVD recordable formats, the DVD+RW Alliance has just announced the
release of version 1.0 specifications for 2.4x speed writing to Double Layer
DVD+RW by various media manufacturers. This comes just about a month after
Philips Licensing
released the version 1.0 specifications for DVD+RW DL media.
Like write-once Double Layer DVD+RW media, DVD+RW
DL media features a native capacity of 8.5GB and will use phase-change materials
as with current DVD+RW media. Unfortunately, due to its very low
reflectivity of 5% to 10%, this media can only be written to and read from using
new DVD writers and ROM drives designed to handle this media and cannot be read
in existing DVD-ROM or rewriter drives. This new DVD+RW DL specification
covers both 8cm and 12cm media.
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DVD+RW media and writers are designed to rewrite up to a full 8.5 GB DVD+RW. The new 2.4X DVD+RW Double Layer discs will be based on new phase-change materials, which enable writing on both the semi-transparent layer 0 and the more reflective layer 1. |
With PC Blu-ray and HD DVD writers coming out shortly,
it will be interesting to see how this media pricing compares with rewritable
Blu-ray and HD DVD media, considering how expensive Double Layer DVD+R media
cost when it first hit the market. On the other hand, unlike DVD+/-R DL
media, as DVD+RW DL media will not be compatible with existing drives, chances
are that sales will be very slim, considering how poor DVD+/-R DL media is
selling at present due to its poor compatibility and high
pricing.
Source: TMC.net
