Tiny optical disc could store five movies

The electronics company Philips has been secretly researching the technology in Britain at its research centre in Southampton. It uses a miniature optical disc that records, plays back and erases data using the same precision blue lasers that are being developed for the next generation of high-definition video recorders.

Complete story here.

better than DVD?

One of these companies trying to finish developing a similar super mini micro disc, just anounced last week they either need to sell the company, raise $100 Mil in new capital, or both. I don't remember which one but I think they already had demonstrated a working prototype.
so close, but no cigar

If they can really, make them that cheap people will just carry a few blanks in their pockets
That will lead to people figuring out a few second to late them they just put their complete software backup in a parking meter, or a coke machine

hey, do you remember how many megabytes or gigabytes it can hold?
10?

how bout the microdrives from IBM, wont that be a competitiont too?

southampton.. thats just a few miles away from me

/me infiltrates the research centre >

T-Shirt, read the link next time :P

Philips says it was "just coincidence" that DataPlay of Colorado, US, a firm offering a rival micro disc technology, hit a cash crisis just as Philips decided to come clean about its SFFO technology. DataPlay is designed to record just 250 megabytes per side of a 3.2-centimetre disc, but so far without the option to erase and reuse the disc.

My bad, I just skimmed it as I had read the basics before. this sleep thing (or lack of it) keeps getting in the way! :/

Originally Posted by eviltechie

hey, do you remember how many megabytes or gigabytes it can hold?
10?

how bout the microdrives from IBM, wont that be a competitiont too?

{"Thirty gigabtyes translates to more than 12 hours of television quality video. But Blu-Ray discs are expected to hold between 40 and 50 gigabytes of data."
this is on standard size DVD disks.
and Microdrives are little hard disks, not the same potential as a removable media optical format.

lol
i know its a hard drive

but it is used as removable media in many new digital cameras
it might just be the trend of the future

but 50GB, that is something that microdrive doesnt have yet
so depends how fast things goes and how the prices match up

also depends on the development having more data on a platter...

things will be revolutionalized when the true nanotechnology is invented...

i can only wish that day come sooner...