DVD nanotechology...850GB on one DVD coming soon

[Gordon Moore]

http://www.iomega.com/about/prreleases/2005/052405_two_new_patents.html

Iomega Corporation Announces Two New Patents
In The Fields of Nano-Technology and Compatibility of Digital Devices

Media please contact:
Chris Romoser, Iomega Corporation, (858) 314-7148 romoser@iomega.com

Analyst/Investors, please contact:
Tom Liguori, Iomega Corporation, (858) 314-7188

For Immediate Release

Iomega Corporation Announces Two New Patents In The Fields of Nano-Technology and Compatibility of Digital Devices
***
Iomega's Patent Portfolio Stands at More Than 530 Patents

SAN DIEGO, May 24, 2005 - Iomega Corporation (NYSE: IOM), a global leader in data storage celebrating 25 years in business, today announced that the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) recently issued two highly notable patents to Iomega for its work with (1) nano-technology and optical data storage, and (2) external storage media.

On April 12, 2005, U.S. Patent No. 6,879,556 titled Method and Apparatus for Optical Data Storage was issued to Iomega. This patent is the first in a series of nano-technology-based subwavelength optical data storage patents sought by Iomega. The patent covers a novel technique of encoding data on the surface of a DVD by using reflective nano-structures to encode data in a highly multi-level format. This technology, termed AO-DVD (Articulated Optical - Digital Versatile Disc), allows more data to be stored on a DVD and could allow future optical discs to potentially hold 40-100 times more information with data transfer rates 5-30 times faster than today's DVDs, and at similarly low costs. This invention was recently recognized as a winner of the Nanotech Briefs' Nano 50 awards in its product category. The Nano 50 awards are given to the "best of the best" in the industry - the innovative people and designs that will move nano-technology to key mainstream markets.

Iomega is working to investigate the commercial feasibility of this format and other nano-structural data encoding formats. One possibility being investigated, termed NG-DVD (Nano-Grating - DVD), uses nano-gratings to encode multi-level information via reflectivity, polarization, phase, and reflective orientation multiplexing. Iomega is concurrently evaluating and developing appropriate partners to leverage this intellectual property for producing commercial data storage devices.

"Subwavelength optical data storage can provide an array of mechanisms by which the state of a focused spot of light upon reflection can be precisely changed. This is the key to new commercially interesting multi-level optical data storage that this technology represents," commented Fred Thomas, Chief Technologist, Research and Development, Iomega Corporation. "The nano-replication technologies that are used to fabricate these structures at low-cost are just emerging from various labs. I believe the scope of Iomega patents issued and pending in this area, in conjunction with these exciting new nano-replication technologies, will make this a fertile area for optical data storage development and innovation for years to come. As high definition content becomes more pervasive, Iomega sees significant technology partnership and licensing opportunities for this intellectual property."

Thomas will present an overview of subwavelength optical data storage technology at the prestigious Information Storage Industry Consortium (INSIC) symposium in July in Monterey, CA.

On August 31, 2004, U.S. Patent No. 6,785,091, titled Interchangeable Cartridge Data Storage System for Devices Performing Diverse Functions, was issued to Iomega. This is the third in a very exciting series of related patents that apply to Iomega's pioneering work related to bridge media - the use of media, or disks, that can work on a computer as well as other devices. The new '091 patent covers inventions dating back to at least November 1996, for exchanging digital data among multiple digital devices. A common digital data format is employed to further facilitate exchange of data between devices.

"Iomega believes these bridge media patents provide for broad range market protection for manufacturers of various types of mobile data storage devices," stated Thomas Kampfer, Executive Vice President, Business Solutions and General Counsel, Iomega Corporation. "The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has confirmed that Iomega invented the broad concept of exchanging data between a computer and another digital device using removable data storage. As devices such as digital cameras and cellular telephones become more complex, consumers are able to benefit from Iomega's creativity by using simple, removable data storage media to exchange information between the device and a computer."

Today, Iomega's multifaceted portfolio of patents totals more than 530 issued patents worldwide, addressing a wide variety of technical areas. The Company has multiple patents in the areas of data storage, servo writing, security, software and digital rights management.

[Pieter]

Gordon, what do you see?

Another ray in the glimmer of hope and progress?

OR

One of Macbeth’s witches tossing another magic toad into the cauldron of uncertainty and squandered factious application?

[Gordon Moore]

I see them drumming up a news worthy press release to boost stock earnings. Patents are meaningless until we see some sort of product.

I don't see them muddying the waters as I believe Iomega won't stray far from the PC arena. If their past performance is any indicator....this will be the equivalent to a zip drive which will intitally be embraced and then fall to the wayside because it was a proprietary technology.

On the home-front they won't get studio backing, so as a possible media choice for hometheater this will not fly. There's too much invested in BluRay and HD-DVD. That said, the HD-DVD camp may turn to this to take a shot at BluRay....who really knows ? It's an interesting press release none-the-less. 8)

[Pieter]

Patents are meaningless until we see some sort of product.

Even that does not amount to much today.

I don't see them muddying the waters as I believe Iomega won't stray far from the PC arena.

Specifics and Iomega aside, do you think the streams of HI-FI and PC will converge to the extent of them being indestighuishable. Sorta' "I'm going back to vinyl! That's the third time today I've lost coms with my speaker. Damn that SpeakEasy virus!"

It's an interesting press release none-the-less. 8)

We've become accustomed to you flashing us with these. Thanks.

[Gordon Moore]

pecifics and Iomega aside, do you think the streams of HI-FI and PC will converge to the extent of them being indestighuishable.

One day (at least one would hope) but not in it's current form. Even MCE pc's try to blur that line but I just don't see the 2 coming together in a way Mom and Pop from Idaho are going to buy one box to rule them all. Part of the problem is that they look too much like a PC.... some have gotten better but they really should have thought that part out first. Using ATX boards in a PC style case was NOT a good idea HP, comcrap and the like. Really bad implementations shot themselves in the foot trying to sell the idea based on simple software rather than the lifestyle sexy, small, artistic methodologies of APPLE. the WINTEL based guys really screwed up there, thinking easy to use software with a simple GUI was going to sell MCE pc's (with MS's reputation none-the-less was going to sell the idea).

Apple and the small form factor pc's have promise but I think the closest we will come for the next10 years or so is the recordable DVD player with scaler built-in and native Hi-Def (whatever wins out). The other side, and quite possibly the absolute closest, we might come is the next evolution of X-Box or PS3 (because the 360 and the PS3 are really good 8) ). I think those blur the lines much better than the media center pc. That's as far as the 2 technologies will come together and still NOT a true livingroom PC (in my mind).

Maybe it's too much technology in one box that overwhelms people. When you sit at a PC, you are in one mindset... when you sit in front of the DVD player or AV or gaming gear, you are in another mindset altogether. Maybe the answer is they will never some together because the simplicity of certain gear just makes it impossible to do so for the average consumer.

There's simply too much stigma with the geek factor that keeps the 2 seperate in peoples minds. Each has it's place and for some reason other than the folks here there and on AVS , "Joe Down the Street" could care less and can't seem to see how they are a natural fit.

We've become accustomed to you flashing us with these. Thanks.

Just keeping the topics current

[aud19]

I think the biggest problem with a true convergence unit is that it needs to be simple enough to operate for the average Joe/Jane while being flexible enough for technophiles. No easy task by any means!! If someone can figure that out they might have something