Toshiba has announced that it has successfully created a triple-layer HD DVD disc that holds 51 GB of data. It has begun the process of submitting it for regulatory approval. Blu-ray Disc (BD) has been regarded as the winner in terms of capacity since the beginning of the next-generation format war. However, the 51 GB HD DVD would slightly overpower BD, which currently has a maximum capacity of 50 GB. Previously, HD DVDs were only available in 15 GB and 30 GB capacities. Feasibility is a big question, though. It's unclear if the addition of a third layer on an HD DVD would significantly increase mass production costs or time. According to media reports, Toshiba is planning to launch the new format before the end of the year.

In related news, the first laptop computer to feature an HD DVD-R drive, Toshiba Corp.'s Qosmio Q30, went on sale in Japan over the weekend. The Qosmio G30/97A is an upgraded model of the existing Qosmio laptop computer that is already on sale in several markets worldwide. It is based on an Intel Corp. 2GHz Core 2 Duo processor and has a 17-inch widescreen display with 1,920 pixel by 1,280 pixel resolution, which means it can show high-definition images from HD DVD movie discs. The 4.8-kg machine also features a 320G-byte hard-disk drive, digital TV tuner and HDMI (high definition multimedia interface) output.

Toshiba has also announced three new additions to its premier gaming line with the Satellite P100-ST9752, Satellite P100-ST9762 and Satellite P100-ST9772 all featuring Windows Vista Ultimate. The Satellite P100 line features a 17-inch diagonal widescreen display in a 7.1-pound, 1.41-inch slim notebook chassis that features the NVIDIA GeForce Go 7900 GTX graphics(2) card for displaying the latest games and multimedia programs in vivid realism and clarity. The Satellite P100 series also sports a DVI-D output port to allow gamers to enhance their gaming experience by connecting to a larger HD display.