Japanese researchers develop a 42GB super DVD

[akrako1]

http://www.crunchgear.com/2008/06/26/japanese-researchers-develop-a-42-gb-dvd/

A research team from the Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials of prestigious Tohoku University in Northern Japan announced it has found a way to multiply the amount of data that can be stored on a DVD or CD by a factor of 9.

It is claimed the result was achieved by shaping the pits on a DVD’s surface, which are usually flat, like “V”s. The researchers say a V-shaped pit can hold as much data as 2^9 flat pits, making the development of 42GB DVDs possible.

This fascinating technology has two main drawbacks. Firstly, the new super discs cannot be used in existing CD/DVD drives. It is secondly impossible to apply the new technology to Blu-ray discs.

Nice graphic and link to announcement available at above link.

[SCDVD]

Since it won't work in regular DVD drives, it's just some other "new" technology. Why don't they call it V-Ray? Personally I don't think they have a prayer with this.

[guns1inger]

Why don't they call it V-Ray?

The name's been taken -> http://www.chaosgroup.com/en/2/index.html

However I agree with your sentiment.

[Nelson37]

Sounds like that hi-capacity CD thing with the wobbly grooves, I think they actually made a few of the drives for those. Too little, too late.

[PuzZLeR]

Are these guys smoking crack? What a complete waste of time.

That's like saying you can make old monochrome monitors color, but won't work with PCs today, probably be much more expensive anyway, and overlooking the fact that nicer, bigger color LCDs are availble NOW at affordable prices.

I mean, even if this new disc (A) could play in CD/DvD drives, and even if it (B) was cheaper than empty blu-rays, and even if (C) it was 58GB - 8GB more than current 50GB BD empties instead of 8GB less at 42GB and even if (D) you could use this technology to increase capacity on blu-ray discs, it would still be nothing more than a (VERY, VERY, VERY, VERY) short term viable product. On a demand graph the curve would be too sharp - downwards - to justify costs to bring to market.

Given the fact that (A) (B) (C) and (D) aren't even true, then this curve is undefined. Translation: drug rehab.