Sony, Panasonic reveal new Archival Disc format
The new "long term storage" format will take 300GB of data and seems to have a logo written in Klingon.
If you've been waiting for the next physical media after Blu-ray — something, perhaps, that would allow 4K video into the mainstream — then keep waiting. This isn't it.
Archival Disc is actually a high capacity disc designed for long term storage – as the name might have suggested. While Archival Disc format will start with 300GB, Sony and Panasonic have plans to quickly increase that to 500GB and then, eventually, 1TB. Current Blu-rays store 50GB.
Archival Disc will be a write-once, dual-sided-recording media with three write layers per side.
Both companies have been quick to clarify that Archival Disc is a professional storage solution and not something that's designed for the average user.
"The development is specifically for professional archiving," a Panasonic spokesperson told PC World. "We are not currently considering optical discs for household consumer use."
The format is expected to be available early next year.