Competition between the HD-DVD and Blu-ray high-density disc formats is heating up.
Disney announced it was floating “ a number” of technical proposals, centered on an interactive layer, to both camps to encourage potential unification. Executives at other movie studios reportedly view the proposals as a way for Disney to participate in the pool of patent royalties generated by the formats.
Meanwhile, Philips, a long-time partner with Sony – the main force behind Blu-ray -- has unveiled an optical disk drive that can burn and play CDs, DVDs, and the new Blu-ray standard, but not HD-DVDs. The new Philips drive has three lasers, including Blu-ray's blue laser.
