Unified DVD format is still uncertain

Despite the rumors that a unified format for the next generation of DVD's is on the way, the situation in the HD-DVD versus Blu-Ray conflict is still unclear.

According to the Nihon Keizai newspaper, an official from Toshiba said Monday that establishing a unified format for the next-generation DVDs based on technology backed by Sony would be very difficult.

The talks between Sony and Toshiba had begun in April, but difficulties arose when the Blu-ray group took a firm standpoint on the unified format being based primarily on the Blu-ray technology.

Yoshihide Fujii, Toshiba's top negotiator, is responsible for the comments that appeared in the Japanese newspaper, but a Toshiba's spokeswoman said the company could not immediately verify Fujii's comments. According to the same source, Toshiba plans to continue negotiating with the rival side for a unified format.

According to the Japanese newspaper report, further progress is unlikely to take place and is encumbered by the fact that Sony owns a movie studio.

Meanwhile, Toshiba released a larger data capacity version of its triple-layer HD-DVD-ROM disc and Sony has boasted that it could develop a four-layer Blu-ray disc that could hold 100GB.

So, from a customer's point of view, we are back to the first step in the Blu-HD war!