Get 30X more data on a MiniDisc

Sony has developed a new technology allowing 40 hours of recording to fit on a MiniDisc, 30 times more than at present. Discs and players will apparently be out within 2004. Sony will also be lobbying other makers to adopt the new standard. Apparently this is a direct attempt to hit back at the iPod. No information yet on what the technology is or what the audio quality is like.

[Update] The only other info we can find on this says just that the new standard achieves a higher read/write density, though the size and shape of the disks remains the same as at present. It will also be possible to store image files, and (grimace) the plan is to include copyright protection to prevent multiple copies.

[Further update] Gizmodo has the details. We doff our cap in respect.

[Via the Nikkei Shimbun (Japanese)]