Sony displays BD-ROM player and dual layer DVD burner at CES

January 8, 2004

Yesterday
we reported that
Toshiba plans to demonstrate a HD-DVD player at CES. Today Sony announced it
will show a prototype high definition player at CES too but instead of HD-DVD
(AOD) this player supports BD-ROM (the read only version of the Blu-ray Disc
format). The dual layer version of BD-ROM will have a capacity of 50 GB and the
1.0 version of the format is expected to be finalized this quarter. Sony
also demonstrates a dual layer 8.5 GB DVD burner and according to CNN it will be
available this quarter already too:

Sound
bite: Hot off the presses, the first of the double-layer DVD
drives and discs will ship this quarter. Sony, historically a flagship in
digital media storage, will be doing a first-look demo.

Real-world
business app: With nearly twice the capacity of standard discs,
or about 8.5GB each, double-layer DVDs will no doubt be instantly
christened the non plus ultra of digital storage for entertainment-media
types.

You'll find the
rest of CNN's article about CES here. Pictures of the BD-ROM prototype player and BD-ROM media
are available at watch.impress.co.jp and Sony's CES press release is available here.

Source: Sony