Discs store old and new data formats

Wanting to avoid compatibility problems, two Japanese companieshave developed a DVD that can play on existing machines and theupcoming high-definition players, raising hopes for a smoothtransition as more people dump old TV sets for better screens.

Toshiba Corp. and Memory-Tech Corp. say their disc has a dual-layered surface that can store both types of data on the same side.

For consumers, that eliminates the potential headache of having toown two types of DVD players: Both will be able to read such discs,though only the newer equipment can take advantage of the highertiontechnology.

The HD-DVD discs will hold 4.7 gigabytes in the current format and15 gigabytes in high resolution, Memory-Tech spokesman Masato Otsukasaid. The new discs don't cost more to make, he said.

Its competitor, Blu-Ray has more storage space, but HDDVD isexpected to be cheaper because its technology closely resemblescurrent DVDs.

www.blu-ray.com

www.dvdsite.org

www.memory-tech.co.jp/index_e.html

www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,118869,00.asp

p2pnet.net/story/3230

Digital sunglasses -- hard to see the draw

Oakley's new high-tech sunglasses -- nicknamed Thump -- which havea built-in digital music player and speakers, may be one of thosereally cool, hard-to-resist gizmos that should stay off yourChristmas short list, at least for another year. These supershadescost $395 for a pair with 128 megabytes of memory and $495 for the256-megabyte version, which means the larger version holds roughly 64four-minute songs. This does not compare favorably with the smallestof Apple iPod music players, which have 4 gigabytes of memory andretail for about $249.

www.oakley.com

Rating stuff very big with wired Americans

Twenty-six percent of adult American Internet users -- about 33million people -- have rated a product, service or person using anonline rating system. These systems, also referred to as "reputationsystems," are interactive wordmouth networks that assist people inmaking decisions about which users to trust, or to compare theiropinions with those expressed by others. Many Web sites utilize someform of the application, including eBay, Amazon, Moviefone andAmihot.

A nationwide phone survey of 1,399 Internet users from May 14 toJune 17 by the Pew Internet & American Life Project showed that 29percent of male Internet users and 22 percent of female Internetusers have rated something online.

"Internet users see these systems as a way to help them figure outwhat information and people they can trust online," said Paul Hitlin,a Research Associate at the Pew Internet Project. "People also seethe Internet as a place where they... can recommend a CD, warn abouta dishonest salesperson, or even defend their high school historyteacher."

www.pewinternet.org

CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0126 or bainbird@gazette.com