IFA 2006: Pioneer planning dual-format HD optical drive?
There's a buzz around the Net that Pioneer may be set to launch a dual format (hybrid) HD DVD/Blu-ray drive next year - the BDR-103. It's based on a German press release which, though difficult to read in translation, suggest this.
It seems to read that the Blu-ray burner will be able to read HD DVDs - whether this means read and write I don't know.
The article already makes mention of blue laser production problems.
We already know that a hybrid is highly possible, after Ricoh's announcement of a component that can produce a blue laser at the required specs for each format. We'll have to wait for a more formal (and easy to understand) announcement in due course.
Could this be the beginning of irrelevancy for the format war?
Read the interestingly translated (by Google) press release.
Hybrid is the only way to go for both formats. Consumers are too confused to buy right now.
Posted by: HD DVD Freak | September 18, 2006 4:05 PM