subject: Blu-ray Technology Bringing High Definition Into Your Home [print this page] It almost seems like a lifetime ago that DVDs were the cutting edge in home cinema technology, leaving VCRs and videos rendered obsolete. Now it is the DVD that is being pushed out of the limelight and left to one side. Since before the millennium major manufacturers had been looking for a new way to store large amounts of data so that high definition films could be stored and viewed.
From 2000 onwards there was a battle between the Blu-ray disc and Toshibas HD DVD, however by the time 2008 rolled around Blu-ray had settled comfortably in as the consumers preferred choice. Nowadays, the Blu-ray association is represented by almost 200 of the leading manufacturers in consumer electronics, including computer, video game, film, and music companies.
With the Blu-ray disc finding its way into so many peoples homes, it seems theyre certainly here to stay, but how does this new technology work? As mentioned, Blu-ray disc simply has a larger capacity than regular discs, meaning it can store higher definition films, which are obviously larger files. A dual layer Blu-ray disc can store anything between 25GB and 50GB, a triple layer disc can store as much as 100GB, and a quadruple layer disc as much as 128GB. With the average high definition film sizing at around 50GB, the implications are clear.
Blu-ray players are able to read these vast amounts of information stored on the Blu-ray disc by using a blue-violet laser, in case you havent guessed yet this is where the name Blu-ray comes from. Unlike the red laser that is found in regular CD and DVD players, the blue laser has a much shorter wave length allowing it to make much more precise readings. This is why regular DVDs are compatible with Blu-ray players, and how a Blu-ray player is able to up scale the quality as well. So, for any of you who have invested a significant amount of money in DVDs, dont worry as theyre not obsolete yet.
When combined with an HD TV and a surround sound system, a Blu-ray player certainly is a powerful tool in creating an effective home cinema experience. Despite the fact that this technology is still relatively new there is still a wide variety of affordable Blu-ray discs available, and as with any new technology the prices are already beginning to fall quite significantly. Although DVDs still remain part of the picture, it is still only a matter of time until Blu-ray discs reign supreme.
