Standard deviation

Attempts by the world’s electronics companies to agree a common standard for
recordable digital video discs are in disarray. In April, all ten major
electronics companies agreed to discuss a common standard. Then a group led by
Toshiba said it would be launching recorders using an independent standard. And
last week Philips, Sony and Hewlett Packard agreed to promote their own
standard, in an attempt to persuade the other companies to come back to the
negotiating table. The two standards will be incompatible.