Reprinted from a DVD+RW Alliance press release:
Dell, Hewlett Packard, Mitsubishi Chemical/Verbatim, Philips, Ricoh, Sony, Thomson and Yamaha, members of the DVD+RW Alliance, announce the feasibility to make a dual layer DVD+R disc compatible with the dual-layer DVD-ROM standard (DVD9). The dual layer DVD+R disc nearly doubles the storage capacity from 4.7 Gbytes to up to 8.5 Gbytes, while remaining compatible with existing DVD Video players and DVD-ROM drives. Demonstrations of the dual layer DVD+R will be given at the DVD+RW Alliance booth at CEATEC JAPAN 2003, which takes place from 7-11 October in Makuhari Messe, Chiba, Japan. Final specifications and the format book are expected to be available within this year and recordable media and recorder products that will use this new dual layer technology are expected in the course of 2004.
Adding an additional storage layer will nearly double the data storage capacity of a current DVD+R disc. Both layers can be accessed from the same side of the disc, meaning there is no need to turn over the disc to benefit from the extra recording capacity. The technology will allow consumers to record DVD quality video up to 4 hours and up to 16 hours in VHS video quality on a single dual layer DVD+R disc and will enable PC users of dual layer DVD+R discs to enjoy increased storage capacity of up to 8.5 Gbytes.
An aggressive feature and performance roadmap has been developed for the DVD+R/+RW format, and compatibility with the installed base of DVD Video players and DVD-ROM drives is key component to this roadmap. Dual layer recording is yet another accomplishment of format strategy designed to bring compatible, simple and functional DVD recording to the consumers.
The companies have been consistent leaders in bringing new DVD recording technologies to consumers. The announcement of dual layer capability comes on the heels of their July 2003 announcement of DVD+R 8x.
About DVD+R/+RW
Today the DVD+R/+RW format is capable of recording up to 4.7 gigabytes of digital video, images or data. This equates to the storage capacity of up to seven CD-R/RW discs and the potential to store thousands of digital photographs or approximately two hours of digital video. The primary benefit of DVD+R/+RW is its two-way compatibility, meaning that DVD+R and DVD+RW media can be played in most DVD video players and DVD-ROM drives tested. (IntelliKey Labs 9/02, 1/03 and 3/03.)
