[opendtv] News: Matsushita chief backs effort to unify next-generation DVD spec
- From: Craig Birkmaier <craig@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: OpenDTV Mail List <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 3 May 2005 08:32:19 -0400
http://www.eet.com/news/latest/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=161601806
EE Times: Latest News
Matsushita chief backs effort to unify next-generation DVD spec
Yoshiko Hara
EE Times
(04/28/2005 4:06 PM EDT)
TOKYO - Matsushita President Kunio Nakamura endorsed the effort to
unify the next-generation DVD standard, saying Thursday (April 28)
concessions from both sides on technology are possible.
"I support the unification" effort, Nakamura said during a
question-and-answer session while announcing Matsushita's quarterly
financial results. "We cannot compromise on the point of the 0.1 mm
[cover layer]," he added.
Nakamura's comments were the first by a Japanese consumer electronics
executive since statements last week by Sony executives about a
possible compromise.
Momentum has been building among companies, consumers and governments
to unify the rival HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc specs for next-generation
DVDs. Negotiations are continuing, according to an industry source.
There is general agreement on both sides that unification is
critical, but compromises on narrow issues like the physical format
of new disks has so far proven elusive.
Reports here suggested that Sony and Toshiba, leaders of the rival
format camps, would reach an accord on a unified format by the end of
April.
"There is no change in preparation for the introduction," said a
spokesman of Memory-Tech Corp., a major disk replicator and backer of
the HD DVD format. Toshiba plans to introduce the first HD DVD player
in the fourth quarter. Hollywood studios will release at least 89
movie titles in parallel with the player introduction.
The Blu-ray Disc group has not specified the timing for introducing
BD-ROMs. The HD DVD group is apparently seeking a deal before Japan's
Golden Week festivities beginning Friday (April 29).
For now, the HD DVD group is preparing additional specifications to
strengthen its format. The specs could be revealed after Golden Week
(April 29 to May 8).
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