Thor-CD

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Thor-CD was a re-recordable CD format proposed in 1988 by Tandy Corporation. [1]

Prior to the introduction of recordable compact discs, Tandy announced a comparable CD format named Thor-CD, [2] otherwise known as the Tandy High-Density Optical Recording (THOR) system, claiming to offer support for erasable and rewritable discs, made possible by a "secret coating material" on which Tandy had applied for patents, [3] and reportedly based partly on a process developed by Optical Data Inc., [4] with research and development undertaken at Tandy's Magnetic Media Research Center. [5]

Also known as the Tandy High-Intensity Optical Recording system, THOR-CD media was intended to be playable in existing CD players, being compatible with existing CD audio and CD-ROM equipment, with the discs themselves employing a layer in which the "marks", "bumps" or "pits" readable by a conventional CD player could be established in, and removed from, the medium by a laser operating at a different frequency. [4] Tandy's announcement was surprising enough to "catch half a dozen industries off guard", [6] claiming availability of consumer-level audio and video products below $500 by the end of 1990, [3] and inviting other organisations to license the technology. [7]

Tandy's announcement attracted enthusiasm but also skepticism of Tandy's capability to deliver the system, [5] with the latter proving to be justified, the technology having been "announced... heavily promoted; then it was delayed, and finally, it just never appeared". [8] After being pushed back for several years, it was finally cancelled due to steep manufacturing costs. [9]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Lazzareschi, Carla (22 April 1988). "Tandy Develops a Compact Disc That's Erasable". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  2. ↑ Fasoldt, Al (1988). "Why Tandy's recordable CD is a breakthrough even if it never makes it to the market" . Retrieved 2006-03-06.
  3. 1 2 "Tandy Challenges Thomson In Race To Market Erasable CD Systems". Electronics. 28 April 1988. p. 21. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  4. 1 2 Lachenbruch, David (August 1988). "News". Radio Electronics. p. 6. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  5. 1 2 "Laserdisk News". Laserdisk Professional. July 1988. pp. 11–12. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  6. ↑ "Tandy Announces Micro Channel Machine, Springs CD Surprise". Compute!. July 1988. pp. 6–8. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  7. ↑ "Tandy Corporation Announces Major Breakthrough In Optical Media: Tandy THOR-CDTM, The First CD-Compatible Record & Erase Technology" (Press release). Tandy Corporation. 21 April 1988. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  8. ↑ Parker, Dana J. (January 1997). "DVD-ROM: Who Needs It, Who Will Use It, and How?". EMedia Professional. pp. 26–28, 30–32, 34–37. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  9. ↑ Hayes, Thomas C. (27 October 1992). "Tandy Ventures Into the Unknown". The New York Times . Retrieved 5 February 2018. Its foray into compact digital recorders with a product known as Thor-CD fizzled because manufacturing costs were too steep.


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