Sony announces new Blu-ray module, should drive down costs
Sony has announced the development of a new Blu-ray reader / writer module that is not only smaller than previous components, but promises to be cheaper as well due to a simplified manufacturing process. The new laser housing is less than three millimeters thick, according to the Japanese manufacturer and co-developer Nichia Corporation, enabling it to be incorporated into smaller devices such as portable players. Sony predicts that we'll first start seeing 9.5-millimeter laptop BD drives which employ the module later this year.[Via Tech.co.uk, thanks Kiwi616]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
whoelse @ Jan 25th 2008 12:22PM
This is good for Sony! Hope we will see cheaper BD prices soon.
burndive @ Jan 25th 2008 12:41PM
Apple will be all over this.
aplen22 @ Jan 25th 2008 1:29PM
One of the first things that needs to happen to allow BD to go mainstream is this. Now let's see some Profile 2.0 players launch this year at all time low prices and Sony will have this one in the bag. Until that happens, this format's survival even in the wake of WBs defect is a toss up.
Michial @ Jan 25th 2008 2:08PM
I agree this is the next step in mass adoption. But the other fellow who said the format war is still a toss up is only in denial. Its all over. I liken the present situation to a lizard tail that has just been cut off-it still wriggles around for a while even though its dead-the same for the hddvd camp...
amnigo @ Jan 25th 2008 1:29PM
Drive down costs, maybe.
Drive down retail price, I'm skeptical.
DrXym @ Jan 25th 2008 2:38PM
I wonder how much the module adds to costs. Blue laser diodes only cost a few dollars, so I doubt the module adds much more to that. If prices come down it will have more to do with economies of scale and competition between the competing players.
eric @ Jan 25th 2008 2:48PM
cool... now that they are cheaper... let's try to make them 2.0 compliant and add HD DVD support to them and i'm sold :D
DrXym @ Jan 25th 2008 4:46PM
Perhaps you're grossly mistaken or something but a Blu Ray disc is a Blu Ray disc is a Blu Ray disc. It doesn't matter if it happens to contain some BD-J content or not, it will read on each and every single BD player past, present and future.
I doubt it would take much to make the reader HD DVD compliant. Both formats use blue laser diodes so supporting both formats probably requires the ability to alter the wavelength and stepping but little else.
ryan @ Jan 25th 2008 6:25PM
this is great news cant wait to see sub $299 and below sony blu ray players