All-in-one Blu-ray optical head by Sony

Lasse Penttinen
17 May 2004 12:07

According to the source, Sony has been able to develop a multi-purpose optical head for recorders. The new combo optics is able to read and record on CDs, DVDs and of course Blu-rays. This is the first 'triple format' implementation of a next generation recording technology. Earlier NEC announced a combo mechanics for HD-DVD and DVD compatible recorders.

The proliferation of high-definition televisions is expected to spur demand for video recorders using blue lasers, since the recording capacity of next-generation DVDs is almost four times that of existing discs.
Sony is part of a consortium that includes some of the world's biggest consumer electronics makers, such as Philips and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd, maker of Panasonic products, to back a technology called Blu-ray.