Source
TOKYO (AFP) - Sony and Toshiba may agree on a common standard for the next generation of DVD technology within a week, ending a battle for a dominant system that had raged in the industry.
The "blue laser" players will use light beams with a shorter wavelength than the red light of current DVD and CD players, promising higher data storage and picture quality to match high-definition television.
The two companies are close to hammering out a format that would couple Toshiba's software technology with Sony's disc structure, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun said, without citing sources.
This would end the battle for dominance between their incompatible systems -- the Blu-ray Disc format proposed by Sony and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., and the HD DVD standard supported by Toshiba.
The three firms have been in talks to craft a common standard and a detailed plan could be finalized at a May 16 meeting, the report said.
Toshiba rejected the report, however, saying it has no concrete plan, although it believed a single format would benefit consumers.
"At this point ... nothing has been decided and absolutely no decision has been made for unification on any basis," it said in a statement.
"The indication that a unificaiton agreement on the basis (of Sony's disc system) is imminent is unfounded and erroneous," it said.
For its part, Sony said it wanted to bring "the best consumer experience" and was "open for discussions with supporters of other formats".
However, it said, "we cannot comment on specifics beyond that, at this time".
The struggle between the major Japanese electronics firms has recalled the 1980s battle between the VHS and Betamax standards for video players that caused a split between home appliance makers and movie studios worldwide.
Some electronics firms, including Paris-based Thomson S.A., have said they will support both HD DVD and Blu-ray formats.
Supporters of the Blu-ray technology include Apple Computer, Dell Inc., Hewlett-Packard and Samsung Electronics.
Among the Hollywood studios, Walt Disney Co. and Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc. back Blu-ray, while HD DVD supporters include Paramount Pictures, Universal Pictures and Warner Brothers Studios.
The Sony-led Blu-ray disc is expected to be able to store more data but it would also require greater revamping of current production lines, making it more expensive in the short term.
Toshiba's software, which offers efficient data transfer and copyright protection, would be incorporated into the unified format.
TOKYO (AFP) - Sony and Toshiba may agree on a common standard for the next generation of DVD technology within a week, ending a battle for a dominant system that had raged in the industry.
The "blue laser" players will use light beams with a shorter wavelength than the red light of current DVD and CD players, promising higher data storage and picture quality to match high-definition television.
The two companies are close to hammering out a format that would couple Toshiba's software technology with Sony's disc structure, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun said, without citing sources.
This would end the battle for dominance between their incompatible systems -- the Blu-ray Disc format proposed by Sony and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., and the HD DVD standard supported by Toshiba.
The three firms have been in talks to craft a common standard and a detailed plan could be finalized at a May 16 meeting, the report said.
Toshiba rejected the report, however, saying it has no concrete plan, although it believed a single format would benefit consumers.
"At this point ... nothing has been decided and absolutely no decision has been made for unification on any basis," it said in a statement.
"The indication that a unificaiton agreement on the basis (of Sony's disc system) is imminent is unfounded and erroneous," it said.
For its part, Sony said it wanted to bring "the best consumer experience" and was "open for discussions with supporters of other formats".
However, it said, "we cannot comment on specifics beyond that, at this time".
The struggle between the major Japanese electronics firms has recalled the 1980s battle between the VHS and Betamax standards for video players that caused a split between home appliance makers and movie studios worldwide.
Some electronics firms, including Paris-based Thomson S.A., have said they will support both HD DVD and Blu-ray formats.
Supporters of the Blu-ray technology include Apple Computer, Dell Inc., Hewlett-Packard and Samsung Electronics.
Among the Hollywood studios, Walt Disney Co. and Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc. back Blu-ray, while HD DVD supporters include Paramount Pictures, Universal Pictures and Warner Brothers Studios.
The Sony-led Blu-ray disc is expected to be able to store more data but it would also require greater revamping of current production lines, making it more expensive in the short term.
Toshiba's software, which offers efficient data transfer and copyright protection, would be incorporated into the unified format.
ELL - news), Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (005930.KS) and Philips Electronics NV (PHG.AS).
