The DVD+RW Alliance has released the final draft specifications for 8X rewriting on DVD+RW media by HP, MKM, Philips, Ricoh, Sony and Yamaha. The spec paves the way for DVD+RW media and writers that will be able to rewrite a full 4.7 GB DVD+RW in less than eight minutes.

The new 8X DVD+RW discs will be based on phase-change materials which can be rewritten at high speed. The laser of the drive must be able to deliver short high power write-pulses to achieve the right thermal balance between the erase and write steps.

DVD+RW writers and recorders complying with the 8X rewrite specification are expected to become available in coming months.