High-definition video fans can prepare themselves for another new format: AVCHD.The format, developed by Sony and Matsushita Electric Industrial (Panasonic), is aimed at high-definition camcorders and makes it possible to store HD content on currently available 8-centimeter DVDs, the companies said Thursday.AVCHD uses the MPEG4 AVC/H.264 compression system, which is more efficient than the MPEG2 system used on conventional DVDs. As HD video contains about four times as much picture data as standard definition video, a better compression system is essential if anything more than a few minutes of video is to be stored on each disc.Yoshikazu Ochiai, a spokesman for Sony in Tokyo, said that despite the present focus on Blu-ray Disc, the format is currently not feasible for camcorder use. Several hurdles remain before Blu-ray Disc drives can be fitted into camcorders, including bringing down the price of the drive, making it small enough to fit into a camcorder and reducing energy consumption. AVCHD Logo Using AVCHD, about 20 minutes of HD video can be recorded on a single-sided DVD when using the average quality setting, said Ochiai. That compares to about 30 minutes of video when using the same disc with a standard definition camcorder.Sony is already developing a camcorder based on AVCHD but Ochiai wouldn’t provide any details. He did not explain what the acronym AVCHD represents. The company’s current consumer HD camcorders use the cassette-based HDV system, which stores HD video on conventional MiniDV cassettes. Each tape can hold up to 60 minutes of video so it beats AVCHD in recording time, but the new optical-disc system has its own advantages. A major one is random access. Because it’s an optical disc, data can quickly be accessed from anywhere on the disc, and so calling up recorded scenes is much faster than tape.It will also be possible to read the discs in current DVD drives such as those in PCs or DVD players, but AVCHD software will be needed in order to play back content stored on the discs. This is much the same as DVD Video discs, which can be read in PC drives but not played without DVD player software.-Martyn Williams, IDG News ServiceFor related news coverage, read Toshiba Picks HD-DVD for Laptop.Check out our CIO News Alerts and Tech Informer pages for more updated news coverage. Related content BrandPost Why CISOs Are Looking to Lateral Security to Mitigate Ransomware How to fight ransomeware attacks with lateral security By VMware Mar 27, 2023 2 mins VMware Feature State of the CIO, 2023: Building business strategy Despite a focus on core modernization and transformation work, 2023 State of the CIO respondents say CIOs are playing a strategic leadership role with impact that transcends IT. By Beth Stackpole Mar 27, 2023 11 mins CIO Business IT Alignment Digital Transformation Analysis Why data leaders struggle to produce strategic results A recent Gartner survey of data and analytics leaders found that fewer than half think their teams are effective at providing value to their organizations. Here’s how to change that equation. By Thor Olavsrud Mar 27, 2023 8 mins Chief Data Officer Data Management IT Leadership BrandPost How Infosys and Tennis Australia are harnessing technology for good By Veronica Lew Mar 26, 2023 6 mins Infosys Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe