While Sony and Toshiba are battling out to decide on the standards for the next generation DVD format, there is a new format of storage called Holographic memory discs which offers capacities much more than what these new formats promises us in a years time.

A computer disc about the size of a DVD that can hold 60 times more data will go on sale in 2006, according to its American developer InPhase Technologies. The discs, holding 300GB each, use so-called Tapestry holographic memory technology to store data by interference of light. InPhase Technologies along with their partners Hitachi Maxell would start delivering the discs and compatible drives by the end of next year in the retail market.

New discs can store more than 26 hours of broadcast-quality high-definition video on a single 300GB disk, recorded at a data rate of 160Mbps. The discs are 13cm in diameter and a little wider and thicker than conventional DVDs.

Unlike other technologies (such as DVD/Bluray/DVD-HD) that record one data bit at a time, holography allows a million bits of data to be written and read in parallel with a single flash of light. This enables transfer rates significantly higher than current optical storage device.This enables transfer rates significantly higher than current optical storage device.

Looks like Blu-ray and HD-DVD will have competiton even before they get started

http://www.newscientist.com/article....ine-news_rss20