DVD Era Arrives with Technology Demonstration of DVD Rewritable Drives at COMDEX
biz.yahoo.com
Logical Migration Path for CD-ReWritable Products Ensured
LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 18, 1997--Hewlett-Packard Company, Philips Electronics N.V., Sony Corporation [NYSE:SNE - news], Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, Ricoh Company Ltd. and Yamaha Corporation today delivered on the promise of providing the familiar CD experience on a DVD with a prototype technology of DVD-ReWritable (DVD+RW) discs here.
With the growing trend of multimedia documents that require large amounts of disc space, DVD+RW offers the ability to create, share, store and access these content-rich documents easily using a single disc.
DVD+RW, a 120mm disc format that contains an initial capacity of 3.0 GB per disc surface is based on the Phase-Change ReWritable format specification adopted by the announcing companies.
The technology demonstration will feature technology jointly developed by HP, Philips and Sony. The six companies endorsing the Phase-Change ReWritable specification, which was authored by HP, Philips and Sony, represent more than 75 percent of the CD-Recordable and CD-ReWritable worldwide market, according to Santa Clara Consulting, a Calif.-based consulting group.
''DVD follows the same trend in storage capacity as computer systems -- higher performance and larger capacity,'' said Mike Matson, HP vice president and general manager of the Information Storage Group. ''As documents get continually richer with the incorporation of audio, video and complex graphics, there is a growing need to deliver larger storage solutions. However, those solutions must be as easy to use as floppies or CDs. The DVD+RW technology is a natural extension of our CD-RW technology, and we look forward to embarking on this new era in storage technology.''
''The DVD+RW group offers an interesting solution for future data-storage requirements,'' said David Bunzel of Santa Clara Consulting. ''By eliminating the need for a caddy, ensuring CD-R compatibility and offering a slightly higher capacity, this product offers a compelling alternative to the proposed DVD-RAM products. The participants in the group represent more than three quarters of the CD-R/RW writer business and recognize the critical data-storage needs of the market.''
The DVD+RW specification is based on input from a wide range of sources, including end users, PC manufacturers, CD- and DVD-ROM drive manufacturers, media manufacturers and software developers. The DVD specification is designed to offer data-storage and distribution markets a smooth migration path from CD to DVD, preserving customers' existing CD and DVD-ROM investments.
DVD-ROM drives will be able to read DVD+RW discs at virtually no additional cost. DVD+RW format does not require a cartridge or caddy. However, it does provide specifications for an optional CD-compatible caddy for additional media protection, if such protection is needed in harsh-use customer environments such as auto-repair stores or emergency rooms. The DVD+RW specification is an open format that has been submitted to ECMA, a widely recognized international standards body, for review and adoption.
ABOUT HP
HP's Information Storage Group, which focuses on the rapidly growing extended-storage market, manufactures and sells information-storage products based on tape, magneto-optical and CD-RW technologies. HP storage solutions include digital-audio-tape (DAT) drives and digital-linear-tape (DLT) libraries, minicartridge (QIC) tape drives and software, CD-ReWritable drives, and magneto-optical drives and jukeboxes. These products are sold through a variety of distribution channels under the HP SureStore and HP Colorado brand names, as well as to OEM customers.
HP is the official information-technology hardware and maintenance supplier to the 1998 World Cup soccer tournament.
Hewlett-Packard Company is a leading global provider of computing, Internet and intranet solutions, services, communications products and measurement solutions, all of which are recognized for excellence in quality and support. HP has 121,900 employees and had revenue of $42.9 billion in its 1997 fiscal year.
Information about HP and its products can be found on the World Wide Web at hp.com .
ABOUT MITSUBISHI CHEMICAL CORPORATION
Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation is one of the world's leading manufacturers of information storage products as well as chemical products. In a line-up of information storage products, MCC are marketing various products such as floppy disks, magnetic tapes, hard disk media, 130mm and 90mm MO disks, 130mm WORM disks and CD-R and CD-RW disks. Mitsubishi Chemical Corp. recorded sales of approximately $14 bil. for 1996 ended March 31 1997 on a consolidated basis, and employs around 30,000.
ABOUT PHILIPS ELECTRONICS
Philips Electronics of the Netherlands is one of the world's largest electronics companies, with sales of $41 billion in 1996. Its 269,900 employees in more than 60 countries are active in the areas of lighting, semiconductors and components, consumer products, professional products and systems, and software and services. Quoted on the NYSE, London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam and other stock exchanges, it is a world leader in lighting, color television sets, electric shavers and recorded music (PolyGram).
ABOUT RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
Ricoh Company, Limited, is one of the world's leading manufacturers of office equipment, including copiers, facsimiles, digital equipment. The Ricoh group consists of 128 consolidated subsidiaries and affiliates in Japan and 232 overseas, which includes production, sales and research and development facilities. As of March 1997, the Ricoh group employed approximately 60,000 people with recorded annual revenues of $10.6 billion.
ABOUT SONY ELECTRONICS
Sony Electronics is one of the world's leading manufacturers of audio, video, and information technology products in both the consumer and professional fields. Its music, pictures, and video game businesses also make Sony one of the world's most comprehensive entertainment companies. Sony recorded consolidated annual sales of over $45 billion in the fiscal year ended March 31, 1997 and employs 163,000 worldwide.
ABOUT YAMAHA CORPORATION
Yamaha Corporation, the world's largest musical instrument manufacturer, offers a diversity of sound, music, and multimedia products. Yamaha's recent venture into sound source technology applied to sound generator chips and electronic devices is enjoying exponential growth. It also developed the world's first 4X-speed CD-R and commercialized CD-ReWritable. Yamaha recorded sales of $3.2 billion in the fiscal year ended March, 1997. |
