Blu-ray Technology

Imation BD BLU-ray 25gb Rewritable DVD 26165

2008-08-06T08:22:00.000-07:00

The blu-ray discs have the higher capacity of the two new formats, at 25GB for a single layer disc, and 50GB for double layer. With the help of blu ray disc, users are able to record from TV for longer (a double layer Blu-ray disc will be able to record 4 hours of High Definition content or up to 26 hours at standard definition).
The Blu-ray discs provide greater capacity and transfer data slightly faster to and from the player or recorder than HD DVD. The Blu-ray discs provide upto 25GB on single layer and 50GB on double layer and also give faster bit rate. Therefore, the devices will feel naturally responsive. Blu rak disks provide greater interactivity.
The Imation BD Blu-ray DVD uses the new Innovative disc structure using blue laser technology and supports all format standards for Blu-ray hardware, optical media and content protection specified by the Blu-ray Association. The Imation BD Blu-ray disks DVD offer extremely fast access speeds and therefore allow interactive use via broadband web and satellite effective tape cartridges.
The Blu-ray discs provide greater capacity and transfer data slightly faster to and from the player or recorder than HD DVD. The Blu-ray discs provide upto 25GB on single layer and 50GB on double layer and also give faster bit rate. Therefore, the devices will feel naturally responsive. Blu rak disks provide greater interactivity.
For more details and online order, please visit http://www.tape4backup.com
ShawnPaul 34972 Newark Blvd, # 501, Newark CA 94560 Tel: 888-491-4949 Fax: 888-449-5050 Visit Us at http://www.tape4backup.comEmail Us: links@tape4backup.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shawn_Paul

Netflix Blu-Ray - Providing an Alternative to DVD Movies

2008-06-02T07:22:00.000-07:00

By Thomas Martinez

Netflix that is the largest online movie rental service in the world obviously cannot be left behind when it comes to making Netflix Blu-ray available and thus you can expect to be able to rent many such Netflix Blu-ray discs from the company that will surely not want to miss out on the opportunity to capitalize on the expected popularity of Blu-ray movie discs in the coming times. No doubt, HD DVD is very popular and is creating a lot of excitement in the home entertainment space; though as people realize the benefits of Blu-ray discs, they will queue up to also demand to rent Netflix Blu-ray as well.

In fact, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment as well as others including 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment and LionsGate as well as Paramount and even Consumers Electronic Show are pushing Blu-ray movies with as many as ten to twenty titles being launched concurrently, which should also make Netflix interested in stocking them, and add them to their Netflix Blu-ray offerings.

Taking Over From HD DVDs And CDs

Of course, the bulk of Netflix's rental business still revolves around DVDs and CDs though they will nevertheless still want to push ahead with Netflix Blu-ray rentals to ensure that customers get the latest offerings in home entertainment. Of course, it will mean that the company needs to build up strong customer loyalty especially for the relatively new Netflix Blu-ray offerings. Since Netflix basically concentrates all its efforts in serving movie buffs, adding Netflix Blu-ray to their inventory of movie offerings is bound to help increase their popularity, and this has led the company to announce the addition of Netflix Blu-ray to their other offerings.

In fact, though you will find many more HD DVD movie offerings from Netflix than Blu-rays, which definitely offers better and sharper images, there is thus a pressing need to also try out Blu-ray technology albeit with a little apprehension that Blu-ray does not go the way of the Betamax that lost the war with VHS. The driving force behind Netflix Blu-ray offerings would obviously be that they wish to extend the popularity of their services, and with a view to looking ahead a decade or so, they may well benefit from offering Netflix Blu-ray movies to customers.

After all, it only means taking a small step in a totally different direction from offering HD DVDs to also offering Blu-rays and thus there is a need to provide customers that don't know much about Blu-ray technology a means by which they can test the waters and decide for themselves how much of an improvement Blu-ray discs are as compared with HD DVDs.
http://www.techjukebox.com/blue-ray has other well-written and helpful articles not only related to before upgrading learn what blue ray is, but also other information and resources related to blue ray.

This article may be used only in its entirety with all links included.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Thomas_Martinez

Will Blu Ray Play HD Discs ?

2008-05-20T06:52:00.000-07:00

By Adrian Whittle

Blu-ray and HD DVD are competing disc storage formats looking to replace the standard DVD format. In effect, they look to supersede the standard DVD in terms of storage capacity. Although there is always a need to improve on an existing system, these two formats have received much attention because of the imminent appearance of high definition movies, video and television. Notably, high definition movies need more storage space and this is why a search for the next generation of DVD is occurring.

Blu ray and HD DVD are fighting it out to replace the standard DVD. Much research and development has gone into creating each format and various industry giants are adopting one or the other to put into their products.

Sony and Panasonic are two big consumer electronics companies that are going with Blu-ray. All their products will use the blu-ray technology.

Toshiba and NEC are supporting HD DVD and all their products will use HD DVD technology.
In terms of game consoles, the Sony Playstation 3 will use blu-ray and the Xbox from Microsoft will use HD DVD.

All these products will have backwards compatibility whereby they will be able to player the standard DVD's. However, they will not play the competitors format of disc storage. Thus blu-ray will not be able to play HD disks and vice versa.

The truth is that many big companies have so much money invested in their products, that they would want to see the opposition fail, so the last thing they will be doing is making them compatible.

Having said this, Pioneer and LG made an announcement that they would be producing a dual blu-ray/HD DVD player. This will no doubt feature two individual readers, one for blu-ray and one for HD DVD. NEC have also recently announced that they are creating a chip that can be used as the processor behind a universal player that will be able to play both blu-ray and HD DVD's. So things are happening, but you may have to wait a few years before you see products on the shelves and they might be expensive to begin with.

Find reviews on the latest home theater components, including Home theater speakers at http://www.hometheaterreviewed.com . Adrian Whittle writes reviews and features on home theater equipment and accessories.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Adrian_Whittle

Blu-Ray Technology in a Nutshell

2008-05-18T22:28:00.000-07:00

By Martin Wyman

Just when you finally ditched all those VHS tapes in favor of DVD, another technology comes out promising even better picture quality and gobs of storage capacity - Blu-ray technology. But what exactly is a Blu-ray disc and is it worth the upgrade?

If Blu-ray sounds like a sci-fi laser beam to you, you're on the right track. No, it's not an alien death ray gun. While Blu-ray discs are sure to feature plenty of B movies crawling with aliens, the technology behind the format is high tech. Traditional DVD players use red laser beams to read and write the data. These red laser beams do the job however the blue-violet lasers that Blu-ray recorders and Blu-ray players use is far superior. The shorter wavelength of the blue lasers allows for greater focusing precision and tighter packaging of data.

A Blu-ray disc can hold more than five times the amount of data than a DVD disc, up to 50 gigabytes. And the Blu-ray technology promises to evolve with rumors of a multi-layer 200GB Blu-ray disc in the works. Now that's impressive! Imagine getting the entire Star Wars series on a single disc. The technology supports additional layering so today's Blu-ray players will be able to play tomorrow's multi-layer discs.

A key reason to consider investing in a Blu-ray player or recorder is to take advantage of its high definition capabilities. What good is that 50-inch HD plasma TV if you can't enjoy your movies in all their HD glory? Major movie studios support Blu-ray technology with many now releasing movies exclusively in the Blu-ray format. You won't have to toss your DVD collection either as Blu-ray players are backwards-compatible with DVDs.

If you remember the days of Betamax versus VHS, you may be concerned about format wars. Get over it! Major manufacturers including Sony, Apple, Hitachi, HP, Dell, JVC, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, LG, Pioneer, TDK, Philips, Samsung, Sharp, and Thomson are all on board and each played a part in the joint development of the Blu-ray technology.

The future is here folks. Now, if only someone would come out with an affordable jetpack.
Martin Wyman is a contributing author on Blu-ray News at http://www.mangotango.co.uk/technology-news/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Martin_Wyman

Blu-Ray Innovations

2008-05-18T22:27:00.000-07:00

By Martin Wyman

Paper Blu-ray discs? How can that be possible? Not only does paper sound low-tech, how can it possibly handle the abuse that DVDs and CDs undergo? Sony has developed a Blu-ray disc that is made of over 50% paper yet is capable of storing a full 25 gigabytes of data.

You may wonder what possible advantages going to a paper-based bluray disc offers. As an alternative to plastic, paper is the environmental choice. Blu-ray technology is unlike DVD and CD technology. The blue laser does not need light to travel through the substrate making paper a conceivable option. In addition, paper blu-ray products can be printed directly on giving more creative control to the artistic set. Finally, low tech as it sounds, paper is more secure than other optical formats. When the data on a paper Blu-ray disc is no longer needed, simply cut the disc with scissors and throw it away.

Another innovation in Blu-ray technology is the added capacity of multi-layering. TDK’s prototype 200 gigabyte – that’s right, two hundred gigabyte – disc is capable of storing 18 hours of high-definition video encoded at 24 mbps. In addition, TDK features an 8cm mini Blu-ray disc format with smaller storage capacities that are the perfect fit for the next generation of Blu-ray camcorders. Blu-ray technology in the form of a mini disc will allow camcorders to record unprecedented lengths of footage at unheard of quality levels.

Finally, TDK’s innovative “Snap N’ Save” cases seal out dust and dirt for that can damage DVDs, CDs, and Blu-ray discs. These cases are designed to replace spindles and allow for better physical storage.

From paper Blu-ray products (still sounds low tech to us but we know it’s not) to the miniaturization of Blu-ray technology to building a better storage case, the innovations taking place are astounding.

Unsure about Blu-ray? Read our article on what is Blu-ray
Martin Wyman is a contributing author on Blu-ray News at http://www.mangotango.co.uk/technology-news/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Martin_Wyman

Blu-ray for Computers

2008-05-15T07:56:00.000-07:00

By Martin Wyman

They’re coming, they’re coming! The Blu-rays are coming! If you’ve been anxious for Blu-ray technology to arrive to your PC or laptop, the day has come. Blu-ray drives for computers are making their way into the mainstream. These first generation drives come at a pretty penny and often require video card upgrades if you want to view Blu-ray movies on your computer. Both Sony and Phillips have Blu-ray disc drives specifically for computers.

Depending on whether the drive has writing capabilities, this Blu-ray technology lets computer users store up to 50 gigabytes of data on a disc. That’s oodles of storage capacity especially considering many hard drives have less storage capacity. If watching high-definition Blu-ray discs on your computer is the ultimate goal and storage capacity isn’t your primary concern, a Blu-ray player without writing capabilities will suffice. Keep in mind that you will need to upgrade your video card to handle the high definition video.

These Blu-ray disc players and Blu-ray recorders for PCs come in standard 5.25 inch drives just like your typical DVD or CD-ROM drive. If you’ve ever installed a new drive before, you’ll know it’s a matter of turning off the PC, unplugging the PC, opening up the case, installing the Blu-ray disc drive into an available slot, and plugging in the various cables to the motherboard and power supply all the while making sure to be static-free. While you have the case open, swap out your old-fashioned video graphics card for a high definition graphics card. In addition to the physical installation, you must also install software and drivers. If installing the new Blu-ray device, related hardware and software sounds like too much of a hassle, your local electronics store or computer shop will be well-equipped for the job. What’s a little more money to get the job done correctly, right?

Martin Wyman is a contributing author on Blu-ray News at http://www.mangotango.co.uk/technology-news/.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Martin_Wyman

The Benefits of Blu-ray in Playstation 3 Games

2008-05-14T08:11:00.000-07:00

Author: IC

If you have followed the recent development in the entertainment industry, especially video and games, you then know that times are changing yet once again. There was a time when the latest technology in video was called Beta (Betamax) which was replaced by VHS which in term was upgraded to digital video in the form of DVD. This last format is not only used as a standard by the video industry but by the computer and gaming industry as well.

The main advantage of DVD over VHS and tapes is that the data can be stored for years without suffering any distortion, the storage capacity is greater and the video quality improved tremendously. When it comes to data storage, DVD discs come in 4.7GB versions for a single layer disc and 9GB for dual layers which increases the amount of data that can be recorded on a single disc. Current Playstation 3 games use the DVD technology in order to offer better graphics in extremely complex games, however a new format has emerged which is changing the way digital (HD) video and games are recorded. The two formats which are considered the upgrade of DVD discs are HD-DVD and Blu-Ray. Companies which manufacture video players and data readers have recently adopted the Blu-Ray format as the new standard.

Blu-Ray offers many benefits over DVD, for instance a dual layer DVD can hold up to 9GB of data, Blu-Ray on the other hand can hold 25GB per layer! that means that a single layer Blu-ray disk can hold almost 3 times more information than the largest DVD disc (9GB dual layer) and the dual layer blu-Ray disc can hold up to 50GB of information! such numbers are truly impressive for a single disc; but that's not all, this new format is truly "future proof" since it has support for multiple layers which can enable a single disk to hold between 100-200GB
So what do these facts and numbers mean to the PS3 gaming community? Simple, if you liked the video resolution in PS3 games which are currently designed and distributed on DVD, then just imagine playing the same game in high definition with improved digital sound and bigger worlds. 50GB discs can improve a game in every aspect as much as 5.5 times and a 200GB disc can hold information for an incredibly huge game which could be as much as 22 times better than the current DVD based PS3 version.

As you see, this type of technology is literally changing the way games are made and movies recorded. Blu-ray technology allows movie makers to include every single detail of their production and still have plenty of space to include extra footage. Game designers and programmers will also enjoy the benefits of having nearly unlimited space with discs which are extremely flexible in terms of storage capacity (25-50-100-200GB) Playstation 3 games and the technology associated with it is relatively new so you can expect future versions to use the Blu-Ray technology to its full capacity in order to deliver HD graphics and take your favorite games to a whole new level.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/technology-articles/the-benefits-of-bluray-in-playstation-3-games-338738.html

DVD & Blu-ray Media: Thinking Ahead

2008-05-12T07:48:00.000-07:00

Author: Pablo Zedd

The new solution for enjoying high definition media is the technology known as blu-ray.
If you are after making your movie collection artwork lasting, then DVD Blu-Ray media disc is the right one for you.

Blu-ray Disc

The DVD Blu-ray disc is an optical disc storage media format, which is developed and promoted by the Blur-ray Disc Association (a group of companies that represent computer hardware, consumer electronics, and motion picture production). The structure of the disc contains a unique reading formulation. It uses blue-violet laser for reading mechanism resulting for a shorter wavelength of 405 nm, roughly shorter than those of a standard DVD or CD (650 nm wavelength). The shorter the wavelength is, the bigger the data storage capacity. Also, the DVD Blu-ray disc both a 25 GB capacity (single layer) and 50 GB capacity (dual layer) and a wide range of usage.

Since the Blu-Ray disc's launched in 2007, its acceptance as DVD media replacement has significantly increased. Blu-ray has had much support from consumers as well as movie studios and this has greatly contributed to its triumph over HD-DVD.g., Warner Brothers, Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Walt Disney). The positives of Blu-ray had people believing, from an early stage, that it would be the future of high definition media.

Its Unique Recording Layer

Normally, the standard DVD would have a recording layer that is squeezed in between two 0.6 mm layers of polycarbonate plastic. The Blu-Ray Disc on the other hand, has a recording layer of 1.1-mm think plastic substrate and is secluded by a 0.1-mm thin cover layer. Because of this, better disc reading is achieved since the laser does not require traveling distantly to the point of focus. A 0.85 NA lens aperture manages to to hold greater capacity due to larger density which is more focused.85 NA lens aperture.

Any tilt issues that were previously a problem included with substrate stresses can be effectively reduced. Consequently, such stresses occur during the production procedure, specifically while at the injection molding process. In these instances, the laser bean can be caused to split into two different segments. If the player overheats, then the system will stop reading any information from the disc.

Having the recording layer closer to the surface however causes some drawbacks.

Unfortunately, this leaves the disc exposed to dust, unwanted fingerprint marks, and to some possible accidental abrasions or scratches. Developers created a special layer to cover the disc to effectively avoid any issues associated with scratches. This protective coat is made sufficiently hard to avoid any accidental abrasion or scratch. The great thing is that the special layer can allow you to simply remove the dirt and dust by wiping wiping with a non-abrasive soft cloth. You will find that this is impossible to achieve with a standard DVD based media.

Choosing Wisely

Going for the Blu-ray media products may perhaps be the practical way of protecting your long-years of painstaking effort to accomplish adding and completing your movie collection. And a meticulous work as such must not allow resources, time, and effort to get wasted. There is no point investing on items that aren't future proof in the long term. Obviously, when you choose for Blu-ray media, you are actually giving yourself later rewards. You protect your movie collection artwork in the sense that they are highly protected and so quality of your collection will last for many years to come and for the next generations to appreciate.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/computers-articles/dvd-bluray-media-thinking-ahead-377808.html

A New Form of Digital Media: Blu-ray

2008-05-12T07:39:00.000-07:00

Author: Pablo Zedd

Technology has come a very long way of the past years and has altered the method in which people vie their movies. You can probably remember the days when people watched their home movies through their VCR's. Of course these VHS tapes were bulky, consumer a lot of storage room, and output much lower quality visuals than seen today with DVD's and the emerging BD media. LaserDiscs's soon thereafter replaced the VHS and VCD's but this was short-lived when DVD was introduced to the scene. DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) was of course much more advanced than VCD and stored six times more information.

A single DVD with a storage capacity of 4.7 GB is capable of storing one full-length movie as well as other behind-the-scene footages and other extra features. Due to this, DVD's have had a major impact on the movie industry and as a result a greater number of people are purchasing DVD's to view in their homes. The DVD may however be replaced by a new technology that would further enhance the movie industry. This new technology is known as Blu-Ray.

Blu-Ray technology is considered to be the next-generation DVD. Blu-Ray Discs or BD can record, store and are able to play back more video, digital audio, as well as computer data. BDs can also store a full length high-definition movie which usually takes a higher bandwidth and storage space. Compared to DVDs. Blu-Ray Discs have the advantage on the amount of information that it can store. A single-layer BD has the capacity to store 27 GB of digital information. This single-layer BD is enough to hold more than two hours of high-definition videos or to hold more than 13 hours of standard video. A double-layer BD on the other hand can be able to store more than 4.5 hours of high-definition video because of its 50 GB storage capacity.

Laser lights are effectively the way in which optical disc storage media (for example DVD and Blu-ray) are able to read information, with Blu-ray utilizing blue violet rays whereas DVD uses red ultraviolet rays. The amount of information that can be stored in discs is dependent on how large and precise the laser light is. Blue laser has a shorter wavelength than that of red laser and because of this, blue laser is more precise and can write information in much smaller spaces. This is the reason why a lot more information can be stored in a Blu-Ray disc.

A huge storage capacity is not the only advantage of a Blu-Ray technology. Blu-Ray Discs can also transfer information at a higher rate. Blu-ray discs are so revolutionary because they are capable of a data transfer rate of 36 Mbps (megabits per second) whereas a standard DVD can only transfer at a rate of 10 Mbps.

Two technologies namely, Blu-ray and High Definition DVD (HD-DVD)are competing against each other to successfully become the official storage medium for the future of high definition media. Blu-Ray discs were first utilized by Sony in their PlayStation 3 games and because of this, BD is now becoming popular among giant movie production studios such as Warner Brothers which have stated that they will only release their High Definition movies in BD formats starting May of 2008.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/art-and-entertainment-articles/a-new-form-of-digital-media-bluray-365886.html

Blu Ray or Hd Dvd: Picking One Could be a Gamble

2008-05-11T08:15:00.000-07:00

Author: Terry Burns

Blu ray technology and HD DVD technology are fighting each other to become the DVD format of the next generation. Blu ray and HD DVD are fighting against each other in a similar style as the VHS and Betamax battle of the 1980's.

Blu ray Disc is an optical disc format designed for HD video and high density data storage. Backing Blu ray technology are power house companies such as Pioneer, Samsung and Sony. HD DVD is mainly supported by Hewlett-Packard, Intel, Toshiba and Microsoft and is supported by the big movie company, Universal Studios. Many of the movie studios have announced that they will be releasing movies in both formats. Overall it should be noted however, that 84% of the movies released last year support Blu-ray technology.

Blu ray has support from the following studios at the time of this writing; Sony Pictures, MGM, Columbia TriStar, Disney, Touchstone, Miramax, Fox, Paramount, Warner and Lions Gate. Paramount, Studio Canal, Universal, Warner and The Weinstein Company has decided to back the HD DVD format.

Blu ray received it's name from the blue laser it uses to read the data. This format was created for rewriting, recording and playing of HD video. They also can store large amounts of data. It holds five times more storage capacity than regular DVD’s. It can store over 9 hours of high definition video on a disc. Because of its larger storage capacity, Blu-ray discs can hold the resolution formats to give you that extraordinary High Definition picture and sound.

There are some differences between the two formats. First of all it’s their storage. By utilizing larger numerical aperture lens, Blu-ray is able to write more data on the same size disc. Because of the larger capacity, movie studios will be able to release movies with more HD features on Blu ray than HD DVD. A Blu-ray disc can hold up to 25GB and a dual layer 54 GB while an HD disc can hold up to 15 GB and a dual layer 30 GB. The other noticeable difference is price. The Blu ray discs are more costly.

You can not play HD DVD discs on Blu ray players and vice versa, however, both will play CD's and DVD's. And that is where the battle begins. You need to decide whether you want to invest in a Blu-ray player or a HD player as each will only be able to play there own format discs.
So let's summarize the format battle. Both formats are comparable in high definition picture quality. When making a decision on which format to purchase, you must consider cost and amount of content available in each format. One thing is for sure, it is a very uncertain market. It’s very possible that you could decide on a format; purchase a player and buy movies and then be very upset if the format you choose leaves the market. More than likely, the format which goes into Christmas 2007 with the lowest price tag and widest range of movies will become the format standard.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/technology-articles/blu-ray-or-hd-dvd-picking-one-could-be-a-gamble-128176.html

Presenting Your Blu-ray Collection

2008-05-10T08:03:00.000-07:00

Author: Pablo Zedd

High Definition is slowly taking the world by storm. When consumers were first introduced to the mind blowing visuals of HD, they were simply amazed. Blu-ray is leading this new innovations with its ability to read HD video. Of course the Blu-ray Associations faced its challenges, having to compete with HD-DVD which also provided the ability to read HD media. After a long race to the finish, HD-DVD developers, Toshiba had no choice but to back out after Blu-ray gained higher levels of support.

The increase in the storage capacity makes it possible for BDs to hold High Definition Movies which normally take up a lot of storage space. Blu-Ray technology enables the full support of 720p, 1080i and 1080p High Definition videos. BDs can also be used to store high-fidelity audio files which also take up a lot of storage space. Using Blu-Ray technology also makes it possible for 7.1 channel audio mastering with lossless DTS HD and Dolby True HD audio formats.

When videos and audios are in High Definition (HD) formats, they have increased clarity and fidelity. High Definition produces such a beautiful picture that it feels like watching a movie in a cinema. The increased fidelity of the sound when played in a 5.1 surround sound system makes watching movies at home more pleasurable. As a result many inidividuals are slowing changing over to Blu-ray. This is a fact made evident by a February 1, 2008 article that shows that Blu-Ray movie titles hold an 80 percent market share for the month of January.

So far, there are a total of 500 High Definition movie titles that are available in the Blu-Ray format. Warner, along with other movie studios have announced that high definition movies will only be released to the Blu-ray format from May 2008.

Unfortunately HD-DVD has fallen from its grace as Blu-ray captured the market securing the support of 80% of high definition consumers. The popularity of BD movies may be attributed to the increased clarity of the movies and may also be attributed to the Blu-Ray cover arts that are included when you buy these BD titles.

Blu-Ray covers are the cover art that represents the movie being purchased. The cover art shown on the Blu-Ray covers are responsible for attracting a customer to buy the movie. Blu-Ray covers usually have the movie title in the front with a cover art that is related to the movie. The front cover may include a collage of the scenes of the movie along with images of the stars in action. The front cover is designed for the purpose of attracting a potential buyer and making that buyer want to watch the movie. The rear of a Bly-ray cover presents the synopsis, credits, special features, screen captures and much everything else which is found on a regular DVD cover. Blu-ray technology has captured the market and wowed many with its ability to deliver High Definition visuals.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/art-and-entertainment-articles/presenting-your-bluray-collection-381004.html

Blu-Ray: How HD-DVD And Blu-Ray Differ

2008-05-08T07:20:00.000-07:00

Author: Ben Anton

DVDs continue to be the prominent medium for home theater entertainment. The technology is being refined and improved upon by a number of manufacturers, making its future slightly uncertain though it is definitely clear that it will continue is one format or another. Many of you have probably been hearing about Blu-ray and HD-DVD discs and their path as the next generation of DVDs. The discrepancies between the two are confusing many home theater buyers, so it's important to know just what each of these new technologies has to offer so that you can make an informed decision on what to purchase and when.

Let's start by discussing just what Blu-ray is. Chances are, if you've stepped into any of the leading home theater and electronics stores in the country, you've seen Blu-ray discs advertised in the DVD section. In truth, Blu-ray discs are somewhat like traditional DVDs, except that they have the ability to record, rewrite, and playback high definition (HD) video that is compatible with the growing number of HD televisions finding their way into home theaters every year. Unlike traditional DVDs, Blu-ray discs can hold nearly five times as much data. On a single layer disc, they can hold 25GB of data, and 50GB can be stored on a dual layer disc. By being able to hold so much more, Blu-ray discs are able to easily store the advanced information necessary to provide content in HD format.

HD-DVD offers the same technology, though it isn't able to hold as much information as Blu-ray. Developed by Toshiba and NEC, it is able to hold three times as much data as traditional DVDs. While this may be less than Blu-ray, the data capacity of HD-DVDs still exceeds the amount needed to watch major blockbusters in high-definition. HD-DVD also came out much sooner and was first quoted to be the successor to the standard DVD format. HD-DVD is completely compatible with HD-DVD players, which in turn are compatible with HD televisions. High definition technology is certainly the wave of the future for home entertainment, and HD-DVD was the first disc technology formatted for it.

Both Blu-ray and HD-DVD discs use a new form of laser that improves on what the standard DVD used. While older, standard DVD models used a red laser to transfer content from disc to player to screen, these two technologies use a blue-violet laser instead. The main benefit with using blue-violet lasers is that they have a shorter wavelength than red lasers. This means that they can be focused with a much higher rate of accuracy.

As you can see the differences between these two formats are very few, In short, Blu-ray is able to hold more information than HD-DVD, but HD-DVD has been around for much longer and still holds an adequate amount for any applications currently in the market. Both formats use blue-violet lasers to better read the information.

The biggest question right now is which format will end up on top. Blu-ray has the added advantage of being backed up by some major players in the movie business. Seven of the eight major Hollywood movie studios have released films in Blu-ray format recently, while five of them are releasing films exclusively on Blu-ray. HD-DVD has the backing of several major consumer electronics manufacturers but does have some ground to make up with the production companies. However, with the added experience of being in production longer and having consumers more familiar with the name, it's very possible for them to pull ahead. The race to be the top home entertainment format will continue on and the consumer will simply need to wait to see which one wins. In the meantime, players are available for both formats and some manufacturers have players that satisfy both formats available.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/computers-articles/bluray-how-hddvd-and-bluray-differ-228320.html

Blu-Ray's Going To Be The Next DVD in Technology

2008-05-04T08:52:00.000-07:00

By Rogue Zah

We all know, just a few days ago, Toshiba announced they will give up developing, manufacturing and marketing HD-DVD products. After all, the "next-generation format war" ends up. And we also know, Blu-ray Disc and HD-DVD are two new optical storage technologies that were the two sides fighting for the war, that who's going to be the successor of DVD. Is it really true that DVD has its days tapered off?

DVD is great. It can store movies, music, and even backup data with a DVD burner like Nero. Of course, all the stored can be also conversely ripped out with DVD ripper software like ImTOO DVD Ripper Ultimate. But, with the introduction of high-definition TV (HDTV) to the world, DVD storage capacity showed to be insufficient to this application.

DVD supports a resolution up to 720×480 pixels, while HDTV works with resolutions as high as 1920×1080 pixels. Just to give you an idea, two hours of high-definition video with data compression requires 22 GB of storage space. Keep in mind that the maximum capacity of a DVD is of 17 GB, if a DVD-18 disc is used (a dual-sided dual-layer disc).
So how to provide a higher data storage capacity for high-definition contents? Here are the two DVD successor candidates: Blu-ray Disc and HD-DVD.

In fact, a Blu-ray Disc or a HD-DVD is just a DVD disc with a higher storage capacity to store high-definition contents. The main motivation to the creation of a DVD successor was the introduction of HDTV, which requires a higher disc storage capacity, feature a regular DVD cannot provide. But how a Blu-ray Disc or a HD-DVD is able to store more data than a regular DVD disc?

Both Blu-ray and HD-DVD discs have the same physical size of DVD discs (and CDs), with a diameter of 12 cm (120 mm, around 4 ¾").

As we can see in Video Converter Software and Hardware Review Blog, technologically speaking Blu-ray and HD-DVD are very similar, the main difference between the two being the storage capacity.

A single-layer Blu-ray disc can hold up to 25 GB, while a single-layer HD-DVD disc can hold up to "only" 15 GB. A dual-layer Blu-ray disc can store up to 54 GB, while a dual-layer HD-DVD can store only up to 30 GB.

As we saw, on the storage size Blu-ray has a better advantage over HD-DVD, even though Blu-ray discs are more expensive. A single-layer Blu-ray Disc can hold up to 25 GB while the same disc using HD-DVD technology can store only 15 GB. A dual-layer Blu-ray Disc can store up to 54 GB, while the same disc using HD-DVD technology can store only up to 30 GB.

In terms of compatibility, both Blu-ray and HD-DVD players are capable of playing CDs and DVDs, but it won't be possible to read a Blu-ray disc on a HD-DVD player and vice-versa (it is technically possible to create a player that can read both formats, but it will probably cost almost twice, as it will need two separated circuits inside the unit, one for each technology, and someone are trying to...).

For now, DVD discs continue to be a good choice for the average Joe. If you are not a technology freak, why not just keep going with your Nero and ImTOO?
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rogue_Zah

A Short Introduction to Blu-ray

2008-05-04T02:23:00.000-07:00

By Chuck Red

Blu ray is a next generation optical media format developed by the Blu ray disc association, a group of leading consumer electronics and technology companies such as Apple, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Philips, Samsung, Sony, TDK to name, but a few.

The format was developed for high definition video, as well as storing large amounts of data. A single layer Blu ray disc can hold 25gb of data, which is the equivalent to over 2 hours of high definition television or more than 13 hours of standard definition television. There are also dual layer versions of Blu ray that can hold up to 50Gb of data.

While current optical media uses a red laser to read and write data, the new format uses a blue-violet laser instead. Despite the different type of lasers uses, Blu ray drives can be made backwards compatible.

The benefit of using a blue laser is that blue light has a shorter wavelength so that it can be focused on a smaller target area than a red light laser. This allows data to be packed in more densely allowing more space for data in the same sized physical space.

Blu ray is called Blu ray because it uses a blue light laser to write data onto the disc.

Blu ray is expected to replace VCRs and DVD players and recorders over the coming years because Blu ray offers so much more capacity. Although it will take time for Blu ray technology to be come wide spread because the cost of DVD drives and media is so much cheaper than Blu ray at this time.

Chuck Red runs several websites including http://blueraystore.co.uk/ and http://blueray-media.co.uk/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chuck_Red