Philips presents world's smallest CD player

Yesterday Philips presented the world's smallest CD player. This device is small enough to be used in cellular phones, digital cameras and other portable devices. With its 1 GB storage capacity on a 3 cm disc it can even hold more data than current CDs and saves a lot of space.

Philips has demonstrated the world's first fully functional miniature optical disc drive using blue laser technology. Up to 1 Gbyte of data can be stored on a single-sided optical disc of just 3 cm in diameter, matching the size constraints of portable devices such as digital cameras, mobile phones, PDAs and portable Internet devices. This prototype illustrates Philips' leadership in optical storage technology, which is driven by superb media robustness and the low cost per Mbyte of the storage medium, making it optimally suited for large-scale distribution of pre-recorded content.

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Using these miniature key components, a first fully functional prototype optical drive of just 5.6 x 3.4 x 0.75 cm3 was realized. Further research is underway to achieve an even higher level of miniaturization. The demonstrator set-up, with the driving electronics currently still on a separate board, successfully played back MP3 data from a 3 cm diameter optical disc

And if that wasn't enough, they're trying to make it even smaller too, especially the height of this device is considerd too much.

Before you know it we have CD players to fit in our watches, then you can really enjoy your music everywhere.

Unfortunately, this device won't market for a few more years, the costs of blue laser technology are too high and need further development first.

Source: Philips Newscenter