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July 7, 2008 12:37 PM PDT

Pioneer claims 400GB, Blu-ray-like disc

by Erica Ogg

Got a big archiving project you've been itching to do? Pioneer's latest development could help you keep all your data in one nice, little circular package.

Pioneer 16-layer optical disc

Pioneer says it can store 25GB of data per layer, on 16 layers on a singled disc.

(Credit: Pioneer)

The Japanese electronics maker has been working on an optical disc, which, like Blu-ray, can store 25GB of data in a single layer. But Pioneer says it's one-upped the high-definition format to the sixteenth degree. The company announced today that it has a single disc that contains 16 layers of storage, at 25GB each. That adds up to 400GB of data capable of being stored on a single disc.

Blu-ray comes in single layer (25GB) and dual-layer (50GB) flavors. Pioneer does say that because the lens specification for reading the discs is similar to Blu-ray, "it is possible to maintain compatibility" between its disc and Blu-ray discs. That's not saying it will be compatible, but it would make sense since Pioneer is one of the original Blu-ray Disc Association members.

However, plans for that archiving project will have to be put on pause if you want to use this technology. Pioneer is going to demonstrate it at an industry conference next week, but for now the disc is read-only. Eventually, they'll add write capability as well.

Erica Ogg is a CNET News reporter who covers Apple, HP, Dell, and other PC makers, as well as the consumer electronics industry. She's also one of the hosts of CNET News' Daily Podcast. In her non-work life, she's a history geek, a loyal Dodgers fan, and a mac-and-cheese connoisseur. E-mail Erica.
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Add a Comment (Log in or register) (4 Comments)
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by blabtech.blogspot.com July 7, 2008 10:03 PM PDT
400GB can virtually store anything and everything
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by Wes#1 July 8, 2008 6:44 AM PDT
Just imagine... all 79 episodes of Star Trek (TOS) in standard definition on a single disc...
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by anantesh17 July 19, 2008 4:43 AM PDT
400GB in a single disc,it's like awesome
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by anantesh17 July 19, 2008 10:15 PM PDT
400GB in a single disc,it's like awesome .Wanna see great video of this here it is.

check this out
http://www.uploaded.tv/
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