Recently unveiled in Tokyo, Japan, TDK's new prototype Blu-ray Disc records data at 72 Mbps--double the 36Mbps rate of the current Blu-ray Disc specification--according to TDK. The increased speed has been accomplished through recent advancements in disc recording layer formulations. The initial Blu-ray Disc standard allows for 25GB single layer Blu-ray Discs and 50GB dual layer Blu-ray Discs. To achieve 100GB capacity, the prototype Blu-ray Disc incorporates four 25GB layers. Like all Blu-ray Disc media, TDK's prototype 100GB Blu-ray Disc is single sided. Because Blu-ray Disc media's data tracks are quite narrow even in comparison with DVD media, precise, stable interaction between the laser and the recording material is especially critical to ensuring error-free recording and playback. TDK developed DURABIS, a hard coating technology that makes bare Blu-ray Disc media a reality by protecting the disc surface against common contaminants such as scratches, fingerprints, and dust adherence. DURABIS increases the scratch resistance of Blu-ray Disc media by a factor of 100, according to TDK. Because the DURABIS coating technology rapidly discharges static electricity, the discs also resist the accumulation of dust. www.tdk.com
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