Sharp has started commercial production of blue laser diodes, which could be good news for manufacturers of both blue laser HD formats.
The HD-DVD and Blu-Ray HD disc formats require lasers with a shorter wavelength then previously used with optical media. This is what enables the reading (and burning) of data at higher densities. Sharp reckons there's a lot of growth potential in the market... one of the standards has to be a winner, right? The company has said it is now producing 150 000 units a month, according to Reuters. By the end of next year, capacity will be at 500 000/mo.
Right now, Sony and Nichia Corp rule the blue laser diode market. However, manufacturers have been struggling to get hold of blue laser diodes for a while now, thanks to a certain bungling games console division deciding to make a console far too expensive for parents to afford this Christmas (not that it's available here in Europe anyway... a blessing?), swallowing up Sony's capacity.
What does this mean for the HD player markets? Will they roll out quicker now? Guess we'll have to see what happens.
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Reuters.com - Sharp starts blue laser diode production.