Sharp will introduce into the Japanese market two new models of AQUOS Blu-ray Disc recorders featuring a disc drive that supports the new BDXL format for Blu-ray Discs and enables recording and playback of triple- and quadruple-layer Blu-ray Discs – a world first. The new BD-HDW700/BD-HDW70 Blu-ray Disc Recorders will be available in Japan at the end of this month.

This disc drive was developed by Pioneer Digital Design and Manufacturing Corporation – a joint venture in which Sharp has a 34% stake.

BDXLis a new format for multi-layer recordable Blu-ray Disc whose specifications were recently approved by the Blu-ray Disc Association. The BDXL format allows for additional recording layers beyond the current dual-layer format (with up to 50GB in storage capacity) to provide triple-layer discs (100GB) and quadruple-layer discs (128GB).

Sharp will also introduce the VR-100BR1 triple-layer Blu-ray Disc media (write-once) that conforms to the BDXL format specification. This new format enables the recording of approximately 12 hours of terrestrial digital TV broadcasts or 8.6 hours of BS digital TV broadcasts. It expands the range of applications for Blu-ray Discs to include recording and saving of long-feature HDTV programmes or multiple episodes of serial dramas onto a single disc in the original HD format.

A ‘hard coat’ process applied to the disc surface forms a protective barrier coating against scratches and dirt that may cause read and write errors. There is also wide print area of labeling. In addition to enabling color labeling to be printed over nearly the entire disc (from 24mm inner diameter and to 118mm outer diameter for disc), oil-based or water-based marker pens can be used to hand-write labels.

Story filed 19.07.10