Some months ago Philips announced that it had developed a double layer DVD recording enhancement for the ‘+’ variety of recording technology. This bumps up the capacity from around 4.7GB to 8.5GB. (Actually, since recordable DVDs reserve some of their capacity for their own purposes — current ones providing closer to 4.3GB — it is likely that you won’t get a full 8.5GB). These discs will be called ‘DVD +R DL’.
Now Sony is announcing what appears to be the same thing (‘Sony supports both the + and – DVD recordable formats. Initially DL technology will only be available for the + format.’) We can expect products soon since ‘Sony intends to incorporate the new technology into their IT and consumer product ranges progressively over the next 12 months. The first products to feature the technology will be PC drives shipping around June.’
I’m having lunch with a guy from Sony next week so I’ll see what else I can find out. The first question that occurs to me is whether the recorders will be able to record seamlessly across the layer change, or whether it will be necessary to break material up to keep each section wholely on one layer.
I have added an entry for DVD +R DL to the Dictionary of Home Entertainment.