TDK just began their sample shipments of cartridge-less Blu-ray Discs. 2006 will be the year of Blu-ray vs. HD DVD, so it will be interesting to see which format ends up o­n top.

TDK Corporation has begun shipment of mass production samples of bare-style Blu-ray Disc recordable media. The discs have no cartridge, and mass production will begin as soon as TDK receives the license to do so.

The samples that were shipped were BD-R 25 recordable media (single side, single layer/25GB), BD-R 50 (two sides/50GB), and the rewriteable BD-RE 25 (single side, single layer/25GB), as well as the BD-RE 50 (single side, two layers/50GB). All media have a record and playback speed of 2x (72Mbps). Mass production is slated to make roughly 100,000 discs per month available from the company's Senkyokugawa Techno Factory by Spring 2006.

BD-RE discs and recorders that are already o­n sale are BD-RE Ver.1.0. and use a cartridge, but these new products do not have a cartridge. Using the "DURABIS 2 Coat" developed by TDK for cartridge-less BD-R/RE discs, they have greater protection against damage and dirt.

The formation of the cover layer features a proprietary high precision spin coat, allowing for discs that are flatter. BD-R uses a dual-layer construction of inorganic silicon and copper alloy. Because of this, the discs have a longer life.

BD-RE uses high density, high sensitivity recording ingredients and membranes created specifically for the media. This allows for improved recording/playback capabilities and overwrite capabilities, so the discs can be recorded and written over 10,000 times.

Inspired by:
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/av/docs/20051213/tdk.htm

Press Release:
http://www.tdk.co.jp/tjaah01/aah57700.htm