Synthetic Stone DVDs Can Last 1,000 Years

"Synthetic Stone DVDs Can Last 1,000 Years | HdBluDVD.Com - More HD-DVD, Blu-Ray, DVD Info"Rock may be the future of communication, according to a new start-up that has invented incredibly durable synthetic stone DVDs.

The new discs can be played back in ordinary optical disc drives and hold the same amount of data as the discs we're familiar with. But Cranberry, the company behind DiamonDiscs, argue that its product won't deteriorate from heat or UV rays as ordinary disc will, since the new product lacks the dyes, adhesives and reflective materials found in standard DVD discs.

According to the company, the DiamonDisc uses a higher-intensity laser than ordinary disc burners to etch data into the "diamond-like" surface of its synthetic stone disc. Cranberry's DiamonDisc technology was invented by researchers at Brigham Young University and was first brought to market by Springville, Utah, startup Millenniata.

While Millenniata performs the R&D on the product, Cranberry does the sales and marketing. The company packages a disc drive and 150 discs for about $5,000. Millenniata is in talks with the U.S. government and the military, which are looking for archival media.

"For the military, there's no heat, light, magnetic waves or environmental abuse that will have an impact on these discs," said Joe Beaulaurier, Cranberry's chief marketing officer. The company is planning on providing a Blu-ray version of their product, Beaulaurier said.