Original URL: http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/12/19/sharp_boosts_blue-laser_diode_output/
Sharp has begun mass-producing blue-laser diodes, a move that may help alleviate the current dearth of this critical component (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/08/29/blue_laser_diode_dearth/) for Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD drives.
Sharp began volume production last month, shipping 150,000 diodes from its factory in Japan, the company said yesterday, according to a Reuters report (http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=technologyNews&storyID=2006-12-19T110130Z_01_ROB914390_RTRUKOC_0_US-SHARP-BLUELASER.xml). Sharp also said it plans to ramp up production through 2007 to 500,000 units in 12 months' time.
In addition to Sharp, the big blue-laser diode makers are Sony and Nichia. Sony's output has gone almost entirely into Blu-ray Disc drives destined for its PlayStation 3 games console. Nichia hasn't been able to supply sufficient diodes for every other drive manufacturer. The upshot: next-generation optical drives announced earlier this year have missed mid-year and later shipment windows.
Sharp's entry into the market should help ease the situation, and as Nichia also ramps up its output, prices of Blu-ray and HD DVD drives should fall. ®
Samsung BD-P1000 Blu-ray Disc player (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/11/15/review_samsung_bdp1000/)
LG GBW-H10N internal Blu-ray disc burner (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/12/13/lg_gbw_h10n_blu_ray_burner/)
Pioneer BDR-101A internal Blu-ray disc burner (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/08/25/review_pioneer_bdr-101a/)
Samsung SH-B022 Blu-ray Disc writer (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/03/17/review_samsung_sh-b022/)
Blu-ray drive maker slashes burner price by €100 (18 July 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/07/18/lite-on_slashes_blu-ray_pricing/
Sony signals fall in Blu-ray, HD DVD hardware prices (24 April 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/04/24/sony_ramps_blue-laser_diode_output/
Toshiba unveils PC-friendly HD DVD drive (5 January 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/01/05/toshiba_unveils_hddvd_drive/
Studio to end Blu-ray, HD DVD war with dual-format disc (4 January 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/01/04/warners_readies_total_hd_disc/
LG to launch dual-format HD DVD, Blu-ray player (4 January 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/01/04/lg_dual-format_dvd_player/
Sony posts movie playback patch for Blu-ray burner (19 December 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/12/19/sony_posts_bluray_burner_patch/
Dell takes orders for Blu-ray laptop (12 December 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/12/12/dell_touts_blu-ray_laptop/
China unveils fleet of 'HD DVD killer' players (7 December 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/12/07/china_unveils_54_evd_players/
Toshiba puts back UK HD DVD roll-out (15 November 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/11/15/tosh_delays_uk_hd_dvd_rollout/
Diode dearth still hindering blue-laser drive shipments? (29 August 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/08/29/blue_laser_diode_dearth/
Firm forecasts cash not clash for Blu-ray, HD DVD (13 July 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/07/13/blue-laser_money_spinner/
Toshiba unveils world's first HD-DVD player (3 April 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/04/03/toshiba_unveils_hddvd/
Rivals start to spin Blu-ray, HD DVD alternatives (31 March 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/03/31/next-gen_dvd_rival_roundup/