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May 25, 2005 12:36 PM PDT

Iomega aiming for 800GB DVDs

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Storage company Iomega is looking to increase the capacity of DVDs up to 100 times, meaning it could, conceivably, create 800GB discs.

The San Diego-based company announced on Tuesday that it had been issued a patent, U.S. Patent No. 6,879,556, which covers a method of encoding data on the surface of a DVD so more data--on the order of 40 to 100 times that of current capacities--can be stored. Current DVDs can hold up to about 8.5GB of data. Data transfer speeds would also jump five to 30 times, according to the company.

The technique uses reflective nano-structures to encode data on a multilevel format.

Iomega is looking to commercialize the procedure and is searching for partners to produce data storage devices, the company said.

The move would allow companies to significantly increase DVD capacity without having to transition to next-generation formats. Companies are already squabbling over two formats in development, Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD, and groups are working to establish their preferred format as the industry standard.

Increased capacity on discs is significant as the entertainment and broadcast industries move toward high-definition picture quality. That move will mean discs will have to get heftier to hold movies in high definition. Movies on DVD are a highly profitable business for entertainment companies.

Iomega will detail the technology based on the patent at the Information Storage Industry Consortium symposium in July in Monterey, Calif.

See more CNET content tagged:
Iomega Corp., patent, DVD, entertainment, format

Add a Comment (Log in or register) (6 Comments)
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One little scratch and your data is toast
by bobby_brady May 25, 2005 1:47 PM PDT
eom
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One little scratch and your data is toast
by bobby_brady May 25, 2005 1:47 PM PDT
eom
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DVD's will soon need to be in enclosures
by wazzledoozle May 25, 2005 3:18 PM PDT
Like the sony minidisc, to prevent any kind of scratch.
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DVD's will soon need to be in enclosures
by wazzledoozle May 25, 2005 3:18 PM PDT
Like the sony minidisc, to prevent any kind of scratch.
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Disruptive Technology For Movie Industry
by Stating May 25, 2005 6:41 PM PDT
Iomega should partner with the movie industry to get funding. At 4 gig per movie, one disk would hold 200 titles. A couple of these and you have an entire film library. Go online, pay to get an unlock code, put the DVD in your computer, enter the code, and watch your movie. No need to mess anymore with Netflix, Blockbuster, or Movielink. Same could be done with music.


Keith
www.techcando.com
Reply to this comment
Disruptive Technology For Movie Industry
by Stating May 25, 2005 6:41 PM PDT
Iomega should partner with the movie industry to get funding. At 4 gig per movie, one disk would hold 200 titles. A couple of these and you have an entire film library. Go online, pay to get an unlock code, put the DVD in your computer, enter the code, and watch your movie. No need to mess anymore with Netflix, Blockbuster, or Movielink. Same could be done with music.


Keith
www.techcando.com
Reply to this comment
(6 Comments)
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