DVD compatibility in sight?
Fresh off its success with the MultiRead CD classification, the Optical Storage Technology Association (OSTA) is setting its sights on a universal specification that will bring together the dysfunctional DVD family.
OSTA's new Writable DVD Subcommittee includes representatives from DVD technology companies, major media manufacturers and system integrators. Their goal is to develop a compatibility specification, with compliance tests and tools, for all writable DVD formats, including audio and video players.
Despite its promise, DVD has suffered through a recent market slow-down; Dataquest recently slashed its 2001 rewritable DVD drive shipment projections from 17 million to less than 2 million units. Vendor squabbling has resulting in several incompatible DVD standards and an overall sense of confusion among end-users.
"Consumers are afraid of backing the wrong horse," said Felix Nemirovsky, the new committee's chairman. A specification that shields customers from compatibility issues "could be critical for DVD to reach its ultimate potential."
OSTA's Writable DVD Subcommittee will convene January 13 and 14 in South San Francisco. Non-member companies interested in participating should contact OSTA at 805-963-3853.