Japan's NEC claims first disc drive to play 3-G and current DVDs.

http://technology.news.designerz.com...html?d20041222

Technology News
TOKYO (AFP)
Wednesday December 22, 2004

Japanese high-tech giant NEC Corp. said it has developed the first
disc drive that can read advanced DVDs along with current-generation
DVDs and CDs, in a move which will intensify the battle to set the
standard for next-generation DVDs.
NEC\
NEC's researcher Toshiaki Iwanaga displays the world's first three
generation compatible HD-DVD drive
AFP

NEC hopes the technology will help win converts for its
High-Definition DVD (HD-DVD), which is also backed by Toshiba and is
up against the Blu-Ray format of next-generation DVDs supported by
Sony.

High-tech manufacturers have struggled to make a disc drive that can
play and record next-generation DVDs, current DVDs and CDs, but is
also small enough to fit inside a personal computer, NEC said.

A company spokesman said NEC had developed a prototype drive -- using
the HD-DVD format -- and that NEC was preparing it for a commercial
launch.

Next-generation DVD players use blue lasers which employ a shorter
wavelength than the red light used for current DVDs and CDs, allowing
the storage of up to six times as much data and DVD quality similar to
high-definition television.

The extra data space can also be used to develop more features, such
as creating video games with the look and feel of cinema.

"High-definition contents are increasing with the spread of high
definition, large-screen displays and the start of digital terrestrial
TV broadcasting," NEC said in a statement.

"It is anticipated that the need for recording and playing back
high-definition digital contents on optical discs in the home and on
personal computers will continue to grow," NEC said.

NEC said it will exhibit the prototype drive at a consumer electronics
show in Las Vegas from January 6 to 9.

Besides NEC and Toshiba, Paramount Pictures, Universal Pictures, New
Line Cinema and Warner Brothers Studios have also expressed support
for the HD-DVD format, which is expected to see mass-market release in
late 2005.

But Sony scored a victory earlier this month when entertainment
powerhouse Disney threw its weight behind the Blu-Ray format.

Blu-Ray and HD-DVD are not compatible, leading to expectations that
the release of next-generation DVDs could mirror the launch of
videocassette recorders which had duelling formats until VHS triumphed
over Betamax.






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