Today, we are in a position to achieve even greater data densities on discs through the use of blue lasers which have shorter wavelengths than red ones. The new optical engineering technique is used in HD-DVDs and Blu-ray discs with storage capacities of 15 to 100 gigabytes, as these are the only ones that can fully satisfy the digital data requirements of high-definition TV.

But researchers at Bayer MaterialScience are already working with partners such as InPhase Technologies in the USA on holographic storage media (manufacturing partner: Maxell) which are set to continue the revolution in digital data discs. The new disc type – called TapestryTM – has a capacity of 300 gigabytes and is currently in its test phase. Unlike a conventional CD or DVD, data is no longer written and read bit by bit, but stored in the form of holograms, i.e. in entire data blocks all at once. This means that the read/write process can be accelerated many times over.

http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=40061

Good luck getting the studios to shell out another 1B to remaster yet again for this medium.

My understanding is that these hologram technologies are very difficult to mass produce -- the process isn't anything like CD/DVD/HD-DVD etc. So this is probably a number of years away, and many people predict that by then electronic distribution will supplant physical media production.

Not good for movie distribution -- but a very viable answer for long term computer data storage/archival. At the projected 1 TB capacity finally tape has some new optical storage competition. I understand that they are initially targeting medical record archiving, etc.

Not good for movie distribution -- but a very viable answer for long term computer data storage/archival. At the projected 1 TB capacity finally tape has some new optical storage competition. I understand that they are initially targeting medical record archiving, etc.

I suppose a 1 TB Tapestry disc could backup about 20 ripped BD DL's.

Of course I think the current drives are limited to a smaller size and cost about $11K.

- Tom

I suppose a 1 TB Tapestry disc could backup about 20 ripped BD DL's.

Of course I think the current drives are limited to a smaller size and cost about $11K.

- Tom

If the BDA has their way you will never be able to rip them. No managed copy.

If the BDA has their way you will never be able to rip them. No managed copy.We will have to see what those sly software pirates of the caribbean manage to do.... :D

We will have to see what those sly software pirates of the caribbean manage to do.... :D

I would much rather have mandated managed copy than have to resort to such nefarious means.

Screw anti-consumer DRM.

I would much rather have mandated managed copy than have to resort to such nefarious means.Actually I agree. I've resisted ripping any HD DVDs to hard drive even though I have an Xbox add-on drive connected to my Vista 64 PC. Waiting for proper MMC or at least MC. Expect that PC HD player playback will be locked down tighter in the future and software players to have to use things like TPM, etc.