Sony and Panasonic are teaming up to build the Next Gen optical disc format codenamed ‘Archival Disc’. The new disc format is aimed at users who wish to put data into long-term digital data storage. The first systems are expected to launch around 2015 at 300GB but greater storage capacity discs offering 500GB and 1TB are on the Archival Disc wish list. We first heard of Sony’s and Panasonic’s agreement last July but today we have some more information and specifications.
Dust, water resistant and not sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity makes the optical disc a great choice. The Japanese tech giant also go on to say that the ODDs have allowed for “inter-generational compatibility,” so that users can still read old discs as the formats evolve.
Archival Disc specifications
- Disc size (type): 300 GB (write-once)
- Optical parameter: Wavelength λ=405 nm (nanometres), Numerical Aperture NA=0.85
- Disc structure: Double-sided Disc (3 layers/side), Land and Groove Format
- Track pitch: 0.225μm (micrometres)
- Data bit length: 79.5nm (nanometres)
- Error correction method: Reed-Solomon Code
