Toshiba Samsung Storage Technology announced the commercialization of the first HD DVD drive for notebooks. The TS-L802A supports reading of HD DVD ROM media, and recording of all CD/DVD formats. Sample shipments will begin by the end of 2005.

The native technological relation of the HD DVD format to the DVD have allowed TSST developers to easily implement HD DVD ROM reading in an optical disc drive for notebooks. The device uses a single objective lens to read HD DVD and read/record on CD/DVD media. As a result, the TS-L802A measures only 128 x 126.1 x 12.7mm (w x d x h), while its weight is about 160g.

The drive supports reading of HD DVD-ROM at 1X, DVD-ROM at 8x speed and CD-ROM at 24x. As far as recording, the TS-L802A writes at 3x on DVD-RAM, 4x on DVD±R/RW, 4x on DVD±R and 2.4x on DVD±R media. The drive is also a 16x/10x CD-RW. Its buffer memory reaches the 8MB.

In addition to single-layer HD DVD discs, the drive will also be able to reproduce dual-layer discs by updating FormWare when the format is established. It supports the "Advanced Access Content System (AACS)" HD DVD copyright protection technology as well. The current AACS technology specification used in this product is the version 0.9, but is expected for upgrading to the version 1.0 by the end of October 2005, and AACS Licensing Administrator (LA) is anticipated to start licensing in November 2005.

The TS-L802A will be exhibited in the HD DVD Promotion Group booth at CEATEC JAPAN 2005, starting in the 4th of October. According to Toshiba Samsung Storage Technology, the first samples of the device will be available late 2005, and shipments will be ready in the beginning of 2006. No word for pricing yet, although the TS-L802A is expected to be more expensive that the usual drives for notebooks.

For more information visit http://www.tsstorage.com (Japanese).