DVD+RW Alliance
 | This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (July 2009) |
The DVD+RW Alliance is a group of electronic hardware, optical storage and software manufacturers who in 1997 created and promoted a format standard of recordable and rewritable DVDs, known as the "plus" format.[1] As of 2004, plus format DVDs were available in three forms: DVD+R, DVD+RW, and DVD+R DL. In late 2005 DVD+RW DL was developed but never produced commercially.
Mission
[edit]The Alliance seeks to develop and promote a format of rewritable DVDs that is universally compatible with both DVD drives in personal computers (PCs) and standalone consumer products (i.e. DVD players and DVD recorders) to allow a greater convergence in function between the two.
Working groups
[edit]The Alliance has two major working groups. The DVD+RW Product Promotions Group is responsible for the promotion work of the Alliance for the plus format and plus format products. The DVD+RW Compatibility and Convergence Group is responsible for working on the technical issues involved in the compatibility between the various hardware products using the plus format.
Leading members
[edit]Eight companies form the leadership of the Alliance:
- Dell Computer Corp.
- HP (Hewlett-Packard Co.)
- Mitsubishi Chemical Corp.
- Royal Philips Electronics N.V.
- Ricoh Company, Ltd.
- Sony Corp.
- Thomson SA (RCA)
- Yamaha Corp.
The above-mentioned companies are only the leadership of the alliance and don't form the whole alliance itself.
Rival formats
[edit]Competing standards developed by the rival DVD Forum are for the "dash" formats (DVD-R, DVD-RW, and DVD-RAM). Alliance leaders Philips, Sony and Thomson were also founding members of the DVD Forum, established in 1995. As of 2009[update], both plus and dash formats seem equally popular with customers, and both are compatible with the vast majority of DVD players.
References
[edit]- ^ "DVD+RW Alliance". pcmag.com. Retrieved 2024-05-20.