Verbatim to Deliver Industry's First Double-Layer DVD+R Disc

[BJ_M]

Stores Up to 16 Hours of Video (?) or 8.5 Gigabytes of Data on a Single Side

LAS VEGAS (Jan. 09, 2004) -- Verbatim Corporation announced that it is on schedule to deliver the industry's first Double-Layer DVD+R (DVD+R DL) discs. The new 2.4x DataLifePlus media nearly doubles the storage capacity on DVD recordable discs from 4.7GB to 8.5GB on a single side while maintaining compatibility with existing DVD video players and DVD-ROM drives. Verbatim's target launch date is spring 2004 to coincide with DVD+R DL hardware introductions by DVD+RW Alliance members.

With Verbatim's new DVD+R DL discs, consumers can store up to 4 hours of DVD-quality video or up to 16 hours of VHS video quality on a single disc. PC users will also benefit by being able to archive nearly 8.5GB of data--all without having to stop and turn the disc.

The new media is fully compatible with the DVD+R DL standard endorsed by the DVD+RW Alliance and incorporates the Double-Layer DVD+R technology developed through the collaboration of Verbatim's parent company, Mitsubishi® Kagaku Media (MKM) and Philips.

The development of reliable Double-Layer media is the key technology enabler for Double Layer DVD+R recording. The ultimate challenge was to develop materials and manufacturing processes for multi-layer discs that allow the properties of two unique layers, once recorded, to meet the DVD read only specifications for DVD-ROM drives and DVD video players. During recording (and reading), each layer can be targeted without disrupting data on the other layer.




The first recording layer of the Verbatim DVD+R DL disc is semi-transparent, providing enough reflectivity for writing/reading data on the first layer, yet transmitting enough laser power to read/write on the second layer by refocusing the laser. In addition to optimizing layer reflectivity, new Metal Azo recording dyes were developed by MKM for each layer to optimize parameters such as signal amplitudes and power margins and ensure full compatibility with current DVD standards.

"Compatibility was a top priority in developing our Double-Layer media," said Tim Clatterbuck, Verbatim Director of Optical Storage Marketing. "Content developers will be among the first to make the switch to Double-Layer technology because multimedia and video files require so much capacity. They can increase their productivity with the 8.5GB DVD+R media without worrying about playback compatibility. It will be the same as their 4.7GB discs, just more capacity."

Availability
Scheduled to begin shipping in spring 2004, Verbatim 8.5GB Double-Layer DVD+R media will be available through authorized resellers and the Verbatim web site. Verbatim backs the quality of its complete line of DataLifePlus DVD media with a lifetime warranty.

About Verbatim
Verbatim Corporation, a Mitsubishi Kagaku Media Company, is currently the only firm in the world that designs, develops and manufactures high-performance, high-quality CD-Recordable, CD-ReWriteable, DVD-Recordable and ReWriteable DVD media products, and a complete family of MO media, as well as magnetic media and imaging products. Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, parent company of Mitsubishi Kagaku Media, is Japan's largest chemical company and one of the world's leading manufacturers of information storage products.

Source: Verbatim Corporation

[mujahid7ia]

When the burners for this stuff finally comes out, will we be able to back up DVD9's?

[AarontheRipper]

Yeah, but how much are they going to cost/when is your average joe going to be able to afford it?

[AarontheRipper]

Yeah, but how much are they going to cost/when is your average joe going to be able to afford it?

[Kingnog]

When the burners for this stuff finally comes out, will we be able to back up DVD9's?

I hope you realize that when they do finally come out, and you do finally buy them....hollywood will come up with something better in (a guess) a few months or so. So...hehe. I wouldnt waste my money.

[jmgallego]

Ohh...how I wish my current burner could be upgrade...

Also, I guess this is one of the reasons that the dvd burners are coming down in price! :P

[indolikaa]

I'm holding out for dual-sided/dual-layer DVD+R; i.e., DSDL-DVD-18+R

[mujahid7ia]

When the burners for this stuff finally comes out, will we be able to back up DVD9's?

I hope you realize that when they do finally come out, and you do finally buy them....hollywood will come up with something better in (a guess) a few months or so. So...hehe. I wouldnt waste my money.

LOL, DVD-18s