Pioneer drops DVD for Blu-ray

PIONEER IS TO stop developing DVD recorders on its lonesome and is to work out what to do about the aging technology with Matsushita.

Intead, Pioneer has plans to shift to Blu-ray format, promoted by Sony Corp and Matsushita, by purchasing key microchips and software from Matsushita.

According to Nihon Keizai Shimbun, Pioneer is recognising that red lasers are old hat and developing the technology will just cost it too much. The outfit was the world's first company to commercialise the production of DVD recorders.

According to Forbes there is more cash for Pioneer in its car-navigation gear and other vehicle-electronics operations. Sharing costs with Matsushita can only help the outfit's bottom line. µ

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