Pioneer develops 400GB optical disc

Pioneer has developed a 400GB optical disc, easily surpassing previously announced prototypes. The new disc manages to pack 16 layers, each with a 25GB capacity, into a conventional 12cm diameter optical disc.

The prototypes are similar to Blu-ray Disc technology and slight changes to the hardware on a Blu-ray drive would allow the new Pioneer discs to be used on one.

Pioneer doesn't have any plans to commercially produce the disc but is looking to work with disc manufacturers who would make it themselves. The technology is about ready to enter commercialisation, said Michiko Kadoi, a spokeswoman for Pioneer in Tokyo.

A one-sided Blu-ray Disc has 25GB of capacity, far less than the Pioneer disc. Pioneer plans to detail the technology at the International Symposium on Optical Memory and Optical Data Storage 2008 that will be held in Hawaii from July 13.

News source: PC Advisor