TDK intros first mini Blu-Ray discs

Imation's partner TDK today matched Hitachi's unveiling of the first Blu-Ray camera with the introduction of the first recordable mini Blu-Ray discs. Much smaller than the normal variety, the 3-inch discs still share the same fundamental recording method and store up to 7.5GB on a single layer -- enough to hold a complete hour of widescreen 1080i video. The media also shares the same DURABIS protective coating that TDK boasts can withstand even deliberate attempts to scratch the surface, reducing the problems that plague CDs and DVDs.

Discs play in any tray-loading movie or computer Blu-Ray drive and ship in one-disc packs for both write-once versions ($25) and rewritable ($35) versions. Both will be ready by September, a month ahead of the Hitachi HD cameras' official launch.