CES 2008: Verbatim Rolls Out New, Improved Blu-ray Media

The Verbatim company is one of the world's best-known manufacturers of various storage media, and, much as just about every other big name in the industry, it has come prepared at this year's CES with a bag full of goodies, namely six new BD products scheduled to begin shipping in the first half of 2008. The new products include 4x BD-R discs, Single-sided Double-layer (DL) 2x BD-R and BD-RE discs, Mini BD-R and BD-RE discs and 1-2x BD-R LTH TYPE discs.

According to its own statement, due to the increased availability of recorders, players and camcorders that support BD technology, Verbatim sees 2008 as the "Year of Awakening" for blank Blu-ray discs. And in order to meet the future market demand, the company has designed several new products, each of them targeting a different market segment.

Thus, for the users demanding decreased recording times, Verbatim has announced the 25GB 4x BD-R media, which allows users to record an entire disc in approximately 23 min and will arrive at some point in Q1, 2008. Furthermore, the company has also announced a couple of high-capacity disks, namely the 2x BD-R DL media, which will arrive in Q2, with the 4x BD-R DL to follow at a later date (but also in 2008). With two recording layers on a single side, users can record up to 50GB or about 4 hours of HD-quality video on a single disc without having to flip or change the disc. Verbatim is also planning to release 2x BD-RE DL in 2008 as compatible hardware becomes more available.

Another interesting announcement is related to the media designed especially for camcorders. Measuring just three inches (8cm) in diameter, Verbatim's new 7.5GB Mini BD-R/RW discs combine with a BD-compatible camcorder to provide approximately one hour of continuous video capture time on a single side when high-definition (1920x1080i) is used. The Mini BD-R/RW discs will be available in Q1 2008.

Moreover, the company points out the fact that its 25GB BD-R LTH Type discs feature a new technically advanced organic dye in the recording layer that can be burned at speeds of 1x and 2x. By switching from the more expensive inorganic layer used with current BD-R to the new organic layer, manufacturing costs can be reduced. Verbatim will release 2x BD-R LTH Type media in the Spring of 2008.

Well, it looks like Verbatim will provide the media, so all we need right now is an inexpensive Blu-ray burner and we're good to go. And since Sony's got one such device in store (just 200 US dollars), it seems that we'll be "Blu-raying" all through 2008.

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