Blu-ray and HD DVD Behind the Scenes: Imation Corp Goes 'Into the Blue' to Show the World How High-Definition Recordable Media Is Manufactured

Blu-ray and HD DVD Behind the Scenes: Imation Corp Goes 'Into the Blue' to Show the World How High-Definition Recordable Media Is Manufactured

OAKDALE, Minn. and CERRITOS, Calif., Oct. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Nearly 50 million high-definition televisions (HDTVs) will be installed in U.S. households by the end of the year. With satellite and cable broadcasts now feeding high-definition (HD) content to millions of households, consumers are gearing up for the next step -- the ability to record HD programming onto high-definition optical media. Anticipation for HD-capable, set-top DVD recorders has been growing, and optical media manufacturers are ramping up to make HD recordable and rewritable media commercially available.

Unlike standard DVD media that uses red laser technology, high-definition DVD media uses state-of-the-art, blue-violet laser technology to support crystal-clear HD broadcast and video recording, as well as high-capacity data storage. Imation Corp (NYSE:IMN), the only company in the Americas capable of manufacturing blue laser recording media, depicts the unique manufacturing process, technology and consumer uses of high-definition media in a new video titled, "Imation: Into the Blue." Filmed at Imation Corp's Discovery Technology Center, the video is designed to help consumers and businesses understand how blue laser technology and manufacturing work, the differences between blue laser and red laser media formats, and the benefits of using high definition media. Imation's Discovery Technology Center, located in Oakdale Minn., is the western world's only modular manufacturing facility capable of producing all four formats of high-definition recordable and rewritable media, and the video offers an educational glimpse into the center's cutting-edge manufacturing processes. "Imation: Into the Blue" is available for viewing at: http://www.imation.com/intotheblue

Applications for High Definition Optical Media

To deliver pictures of unsurpassed clarity and brilliance right at home, HDTV makes the most of the increased resolution of high definition plasma and LCD television screens. However, creating a high definition picture requires the transfer of more digital information and at a faster rate -- six times more than a standard definition screen. As a result, Hollywood entertainment companies looked to optical storage manufacturers to develop a new recording and playback medium to provide content for HDTV home viewing, which led to the creation of the 25GB Blu-ray and 15GB HD DVD formats, versus today's DVDs which offer 4.7GB of capacity.

"High definition optical media represents a giant leap beyond today's DVDs, fulfilling the promise of a complete home theatre experience," says Jim DePuydt, R&D laboratory director, Imation Corp. "Just as DVD media vastly improved picture quality over VHS tape, high-definition media once again serves to revolutionize home entertainment with advanced optical technologies for a truly exceptional home theatre experience. Blue-laser media also delivers unsurpassed capacity for data and photo backup."

Blue-laser media's high capacity allows consumers to store true high-definition recordings on a single disc for a genuine home theatre experience, and provides businesses with more high capacity storage options. Both Blu-ray and HD DVD media record and preserve the digital quality of HD broadcasts, including enhanced 7.1 channel surround sound, brilliant widescreen aspect ratio, and high resolution 1080i picture.

Imation produces rewritable and recordable Blu-ray and HD DVD media under the Imation and Memorex brands. Cerritos, Calif.-based Memorex is the leading brand of optical media at U.S. retail; Imation delivers optical media technologies engineered for businesses.

Imation, the Imation logo, Memorex and the Memorex logo are trademarks of Imation Corp and its subsidiaries. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

Source: Imation Corp

CONTACT: Jamie Ernst, +1-210-495-5757, jernst@brodeur.com, or Chris
Walker, +1-602-808-1170, cwalker@brodeur.com, both of Brodeur, for Imation
Corp

Web site: http://www.imation.com/intotheblue

NOTE TO EDITORS: For press inquiries or to obtain video footage, please contact Jamie Ernst or Chris Walker

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