The DVD Forum on Sep 12 approved the introduction of another extension of the HD DVD format, which allows HD DVD Format content to be stored on red-laser recordable Discs. The decision was announced yesterday on the 39th meeting of the DVD Forum's Steering Committee.

The organization introduced the "HD REC" logo, to be included in the products that conform to the specifications related to the recording of HD DVD video content on red-laser DVD-R/RW/RAM media.

In addition, the DVD Forum approved the optional specifications for HD DVD-ROM Physical Specifications Version 1.2: Triple Layer Twin format, Revision 1.0. The specifications are related to the recently announced extension of the HD DVD format, which refers to single- sided disc with one DVD layer and two HD DVD layers. The available capacities are 4.7GB for DVD and 30Gb for HD DVD. Additional information for the new HD DVD triple-layer discs is available here.

The Steering Committee also approved the use of standard content of HD DVD-Video specifications as well as the use of the file system of HD DVD-ROM in the Chinese version of the HD DVD, the CH-DVD (China High Definition DVD). The move underlines the strong relation of the new Hi-def Chinese format with the HD DVD. After all, the differences between these two formats are very small.

Other decisions of the DVD Forum include:

Approval of the DVD Specifications for High Density Read-Only Disc [HD DVD-ROM (51G)] Part 1 Physical Specifications, Version 1.9

Approval of
-DVD Download Blank Disc Test Specification, Version 1.0
-DVD Download disc Writer Test Specification, Version 1.0

Approval of HD DVD & DVD Non-Mandatory Verification Tools Requirements & Guidelines, Version 1.0

Last but not least, the Steering Committee decided to extend the MOU between the DVD Forum and the Chinese Optical Memory National Engineering Research Center (OMNERC) until December 31, 2007, and to authorize CSC to engage in preliminary discussions with OMNERC to facilitate drafting definitive agreements.