The Register® — Biting the hand that feeds IT

Feeds

Sony signals fall in Blu-ray, HD DVD hardware prices

You want blue-laser diodes? We got 'em

Agentless Backup is Not a Myth

Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD players look set to get cheaper now that Sony has formally begun selling blue-laser diodes, a key component of machines that can read the two next-gen optical disc formats.

Sony has been manufacturing blue-laser diodes for some time, but its output is believed to have gone entirely to meeting the giant's own demand for Blu-ray Disc drives in its PlayStation 3. Yesterday's announcement, made in Japan, that it will start punching out 1.7m blue-laser diodes for third parties means it's now able to meet its own needs and have that number spare.

A dearth of blue-laser diodes hindered Blu-ray Disc's roll-out in 2006, as Sony focused on producing sufficient numbers for the PS3, and rival producers Nichia and Sharp ramped up diode production to meet the needs of Blu-ray and HD DVD drive makers.

Nichia expects to reach 2m units a month by the autumn, EETimes reports, while Sharp expects to hit 500,000 a month by the end of the year. Sony said it's targeting output of 5m units, but it didn't provide a timescale.

Customer Success Testimonial: Recovery is Everything

More from The Register

Samsung Galaxy Note 8: Proof the pen is mightier?
Sammy’s iPad Mini killer has a stylus to stab other rivals too
Microsoft lures buy-curious vixens, corduroys with a cheap fondle
Surface slab sales latest: Will no one rid Ballmer of these turbulent tabs?
First look: iOS 7 for iPad
No, Apple hasn't released it yet, but that doesn't stop intrepid devs
 breaking news
Curtain drops on Apple Store ahead of WWDC: What lies behind?
Steve Jobs watching from on high. No pressure, lads
 breaking news
Cold, dead hands of Steve Jobs slip from iPhones: The Cult of Ive is upon us
Billionaire biz baron's death clears way for uber-shiny iOS 7
Airbus imagines suitcases that find themselves
Point your mobe at your smalls to track their every move
Surprise! Intel smartphone trounces ARM in power trials
Tests show equal performance while sipping significantly less juice
Samsung plans LTE Advanced version of Galaxy S4
1Gbps download capability could stiffen drooping S4 sales forecasts
Apple said to be 'exploring' 5.7-inch iPhone
Who's the copycat this time, Mr. Cook?