Whopping DVD debuts

Toshiba

has developed a triple-layer HD DVD-ROM (read-only) disc with a data capacity of 45GBytes - enough to record twelve hours of high-definition movies on a single disc.

The new disc adds a high-end option to the company’s HD DVD-ROM disc lineup that includes a 15GByte disc (single-layer, single-sided) and 30GByte (dual-layer, single-sided) one.

Toshiba also announced a double-sided, dual-layer hybrid ROM disc comprised of a dual-layer HD DVD-ROM side and a dual-layer DVD-ROM side.

The hybrid disc can store 30GBytes of high-definition content on the HD DVD-ROM side and 8.5GBytes of standard-definition content on the DVD-ROM dual layer side.

Memory-Tech Corporation, Japan's largest independent disc replicator, has confirmed the new 45GByte and hybrid discs can be produced on their existing manufacturing lines and equipment, which are tailored to produce HD DVD discs, with only minor additional investment and minimum additional production cost per disc.