British media technology company New Medium Enterprises (NME) have developed an efficient and cost effective means of manufacturing advanced multi-layer DVD's, according to CNN. In the process they have also eliminated a technical problem, perhaps the technical problem which has plagued DVD companies and promted the development of other formats such as HDDVD and Blu-Ray.
The problem lies in the reliability of discs manufactured under the current DVD process and the fact that more than half of the resulting products are duds. This low success rate or "low yield" makes the multi-layer discs 3 to 5 times more expensive for manufacturers to produce. Having solved this issue however, NME can now successfully manufacture 10 layer discs for a mere 50% increase on the original production costs of a single layer DVD. What's more, a movie can be stored in both formats on the same disc, meaning it can be played on both HDDVD players and Blu-Ray machines. NME has also created new read and write technology for the manufacture of the discs and is willing to license it to other companies.
How do these discs measure up? Think of it this way; A single layer DVD can hold 4.7 GB of information, an HDDVD can hold 15 GB per single layer and the Blu-Ray disc max's out at 25 GB per layer. However, using NME's technology, a ten layer DVD can hold a whopping 47 GB in both formats, meaning greater compatibility and less confusion for the consumer. Surely a convenient and welcome solution to the confusion and childish back and forth we've been subjected to by film studios and electronics companies arguing over competing technologies. "Pick me" Pick me!..."
Oh shut up.
