DVDRW Double Layer 2.4X Disc Specification Ready for Distribution to Licensees

World’s First Double Layer Rewritable DVD

The DVD+RW Alliance, a voluntary association of industry-leading personal computer, optical storage and consumer electronics manufacturers that support the Plus format for DVD recording, has announced the release of version 1.0 specifications for 2.4X rewriting on Double Layer DVD+RW media by HP, Mitsubishi Kagaku Media/Verbatim, Royal Philips Electronics, Ricoh, Sony Corporation, Thomson Inc. and Yamaha.

DVD+RW media and writers are designed to rewrite up to a full 8.5 GB DVD+RW. The new 2.4X DVD+RW Double Layer discs will be based on new phase-change materials, which enable writing on both the semi-transparent layer 0 and the more reflective layer 1.

Due to its special characteristics, the new DVD+RW Double Layer media will only be read and write compatible with new specially designed recorders and read out devices. The read out reflectivity on both layers of the new media is very low when compared with traditional single layer DVD+RW media. Red laser reflectivity is specified between 5 and 10 percent for the new media and 15 to 20 percent for traditional single layer media.

The new Double Layer DVD+RW specification includes 8cm disc format and will increase recording time or data capacity, nearly doubling in any application.

About DVD+R/+RW
The DVD+R/+RW format is capable of recording up to 8.5 gigabytes of digital video, images or data. This equates to the storage capacity of up to eleven CD discs and the potential to store thousands of digital photographs or nearly doubling digital video recording time, compared to single layer disc.

About the DVD+RW Alliance
The DVD+RW Alliance is a voluntary group of industry-leading personal computer, optical storage and consumer electronics manufacturers. The companies promote the universally compatible, rewritable DVD+R/+RW format that enables true convergence between personal computing and consumer electronics products. Further details about the DVD+RW Alliance and member companies can be found at http://www.dvdrw.com. Product or service names mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners.