This Optical Disc Stores Your Data in "Rock"
A new optical format uses a rock-like material for storing data rather than the typical dye-based layer used in current DVDs.
Salt Lake City-based optical disc company Millenniata has launched its M-READY disc storage tech and its M-DISC optical media which promises to store data for up to 1,000 years. Hitachi-LG Data Storage, Inc. already reportedly signed up to manufacture M-READY DVD drives, but no actual release date was provided in Monday’s announcement.
According to Millenniata, data is literally laser-etched into a proprietary inorganic rock-like material embedded in its M-DISC optical media. Unlike typical DVDs sold on the market which use organic dyes to hold data, the M-DISC format won't degrade over time and can be usable on a daily basis. Even more, this new format can be read on any DVD optical drive – it won't be limited to the upcoming M-READY drives.
"Millenniata’s technology has been tested and proven to provide long-lasting data storage," said - Sang Hun Kim, Deputy CMO, Sales and Marketing Division at Hitachi-LG Data Storage, Inc. "We are pleased to partner with Millenniata to provide true permanent storage DVD technology that can stand the test of time."
As seen in the image above, the M-DISC consists of four main parts: a polycarbonate layer, an adhesive layer, a rock-like layer and another polycarbonate layer; the standard DVD consists of a polycarbonate layer, an adhesive layer, a reflective layer, a dye layer and a polycarbonate layer. Based on a diagram, the adhesive layer reshapes around the data etched into the disc's "rock" layer. By comparison, data burned onto the surface of a DVD's dye layer is covered by the reflective layer and the adhesive layer – there's no "molding" taking place.
"Data is stored on the M-DISC by physically altering the recording layer and creating permanent voids or holes," the company explains. "DVDs and other optical discs use organic dyes that break down over time, resulting in corrupt and unreadable data. These organic dyes are highly susceptible to temperature, humidity and even sunlight, starting to fade and decay the moment you record data."
Millenniata said that the actual recording process utilizes higher temperatures and as much as 5 times more energy than any ordinary optical disc. "This allows for permanent engraving on the M-DISC, what we refer to as pits," the company added. "These pits are not affected by temperature, humidity and sunlight the same way dyes are, because the pits are permanent. This means when you burn data onto the M-DISC, it will last as long as you need it to."
M-DISCs will be offered in three ways: one disc for $2.99, a five-pack for $13.89 and a ten-pack for $26.59. One M-DISC has a DVD disc capacity of 4.7 GB of space with comparable performance. Millenniata is also currently working on a Blu-ray version of M-DISC that will be announced at a later date.
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Sweet! bout time we made something like this in the storage media market place
What's more important is will it be more scratch resistant?
Awesome. Hope they release quad-layer blu-ray disks!
I usually find that the drive itself that gives out more often than the disc, however, this technology is still a welcome solution. Hopefully, somewhat sorts out that drive issue as well!
the only problem i see with this is that its not rewritable and if there is an error while burning the data that will make the disc useless.... but its still better then a conventional DVD
Archival DVDs are supposed to last for a hundred years, but actually last for about 5. Will these Thousand year DVDs last for 50?
They can say it will last for any period they like, if they think that they will be dead, or otherwise unavailable when the DVDs start failing.
I won't believe it until they do last for a thousand years, but obviously even if they do, I won't be around to see it.
I'm very concern about this part "Millenniata said that the actual recording process utilizes higher temperatures and as much as 5 times more energy than any ordinary optical disc."
These would be perfect for record archival. Current systems are too sensitive to environmental conditions which could result in the degradation of the records over time. Something like this is perfect for recording permanent information that would last hundreds of years.
THANK THE LORD!!!!!! Now i can back up my New kids on the block albums and i can be sure they will live thru the next millenium!!!!
What's more important is will it be more scratch resistant?
With the protection coat used on blu-ray discs, you can bet that it is more than scratch resistant. DVD don't need a very thin layer of protection like blu-ray so it can be made ticker and since the material used on blu-rays are better.
the only problem i see with this is that its not rewritable and if there is an error while burning the data that will make the disc useless.... but its still better then a conventional DVD
It's no diferent than a dvd-r media or cd-r media. So i'ts not a problem. Besides, i don't think this is targeted on simple consumers. It's more for the enterprise, big companies like record or movies studios that would surely welcome it. How many great movies where lost do to film reels degrading past the point of no return, or do to fires, water flooding...?
woohooo, lots of people raiding the drive's lasers, since higher than 5mW lasers are illegal in the US! (although in Asia you can still get your hands on 1Watt lasers very cheap)!
Forget errors. Nero and other software can check it afterwords for a complete 1:1 write.
I'm very concern about this part "Millenniata said that the actual recording process utilizes higher temperatures and as much as 5 times more energy than any ordinary optical disc."
Concerned with what? It's just the writing process. I'd say it's a very good trade-off if once it's written it stays there. And it's compatible with current DVD technology. Concerned with temperature? Don't play any games while you're burning a disc then.
I would so get one of those BluRay drives. Hurry up and make it mainstream already ! Gotta archive my huge lesbian porn collection (it's the good stuff too) so my children's children can enjoy it !
Meh... By then they'll probably have 5333x3000 screens (16:9) and this stuff would feel like 320x240 to them.
I wonder if I can skip this rock DVD across the water?
why? I mean, tech changes so fast that this is almost obsolete now, much less 10-20 years from now, and you can forget about 100-1000 years from now. There are larger reliable archival storage systems out there now for the corp world, so I am failing to see how this is useful
1000 years... still has 'glue' and plastic (polycarbonite) layer.
These are your next two weak spots in the setup.
You have to give the old Egyptians some credit with their hyroglyphs.
They sure know how to make a recording last :-)
We were storing our data in the "cloud." Now we're storing our data in the "rock." What's next, storing our data in the "lake?"
What's old is new again. Now we are storing data by etching it into a rock. So did Hammurabi, in about 1800 BC.
My concern is with the HEAT obviously inside my tower, Also I think I have a pretty good Power Supply but it also stipulates that it has a bigger power consumption, so what are this drives Power specs requirements?
I hate optical media. I just want it to go away.
Sure, in the event that this proves to be a truly durable (long term) media, I'll concede that there is a purpose for this. But it seems like a gimmick, as it is still susceptible to scratches... Scratches that pop up from general use... Like the scratches I get when I leave my DVD in the player too long...
this is cheap enough and durable enough to replace tape backup, when/if a bluray version is dropped. Easy, cheap archival for business.
Archival DVDs are supposed to last for a hundred years, but actually last for about 5. Will these Thousand year DVDs last for 50? They can say it will last for any period they like, if they think that they will be dead, or otherwise unavailable when the DVDs start failing.I won't believe it until they do last for a thousand years, but obviously even if they do, I won't be around to see it.
Strange, i've have CDs that are about 12 years old and they still work...( FreeSpace 2 FTW!
^I've have CDs
"Strange, i've have CDs that are about 12 years old and they still work...( FreeSpace 2 FTW!)"
CD/DVDs that have commercial software on them are made with a different process.
Do you have any 12 year old CDs that you burned yourself? If you do, give them a try and see if you can read them.
5000 years from know the only evidence of humanity existed are going to be 5000 year old porn movies and star wars.
I imagine a little bird from the flintstones in there with a hammer and a chisel pounding away storing the data..... just like Fred had on his camera.
Back to Bedrock!
Fred & Barney hang on to your chisels!
woohooo, lots of people raiding the drive's lasers, since higher than 5mW lasers are illegal in the US! (although in Asia you can still get your hands on 1Watt lasers very cheap)!
that law is in regards to hadn held lasers numb nuts LOL sorry jsut feeling mean today .. but seriously that law onoly applies to "open end laser equipment" -ie: lasers that can directed at some one's eye sucha s a gun sight laser or little key chain laser. lasers in enclosed electronics can and do get alot more pwoer , then there are lasers that are used for medical surgery and university applications taht are even stronger.
CD/DVDs that have commercial software on them are made with a different process. Do you have any 12 year old CDs that you burned yourself? If you do, give them a try and see if you can read them.
Didn't know that...i didn't burn CDs when i was 6, but maybe my dad did. I think there are some CDs from that time lying about, but it'll be pretty difficult to tell...will give them a shot though...
My concern is with the HEAT obviously inside my tower, Also I think I have a pretty good Power Supply but it also stipulates that it has a bigger power consumption, so what are this drives Power specs requirements?
Come on, power consumption is relatively low for an optical drive. Can't be more than your graphics card at full load. Same with the temperature. You're not burning 24/7 the same thing, you're burning ONCE. Or are you ?
Commend about heat in the tower due to drive is mute. The burner drive is only being offered in external form-factor. Likely because of the increased power draw.