With having all but won the next-gen DVD tussle between and HD-DVD, the firm appears to be pushing ahead with plans to improve the technology.

Apparently, the company has now succeeded in reducing the size of the diode that produces the blue laser which reads the disc. The diode is now only 3mm thick, and will be used in 9.5mm drives. Panasonic have already announced a slimline tray-loading drive, however, slot-loading drives are also now possible, with Apple's name being mooted in hope rather than expectation.

The new diode can now also read discs printed using organic dye, which is easier and cheaper to mass produce - Sony looking to address a popular complaint from third-parties considering support of the format. The diode itself is also cheaper to create.

It is hoped that this new could leader to cheaper drives, not to mention more laptops integrating the technology.

This report is taken from our sister site Tech.tm.

By Luke Guttridge