Blu-ray Disc – The Next Generation

Blu-ray Disc (BD) is one of the latest optical disc formats specifically created for the storage of data and high-definition video. This format was designed to be the successors to the standard DVD (SDVD) format in response to a need for increased disc capacity. A single layer BD has over 5 times the capacity of a single layer DVD (25GB vs. 4.7GB).  A dual layer BD can hold up to 50GB of data which equates to about 9 hours of high definition video or about 23 hours of standard definition video.

About Blu-ray

The name Blu-ray Disc is a trademark of Sony Corp. and is derived from the blue color of the laser used to read and write BDs. The standard was developed by the Blu-ray Disc Association, a group of computer and electronics companies. Products first became available to consumers in North America in June 2006. More about Blu-ray . . .

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Products

Blu-ray products include:

• Players & Recorders - Components used primarily for the playback and recording of high-definition video including gaming consoles
• Drives & Systems - Internal computer drives and and systems
• Media - Blank media for the recording and burning of data and video
• Movies Music & Games
• Software - For the playback and recording of data and video

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Industry Support

The Blu-ray standard is supported by the over 250 members of the Blu-ray Disc Association. Prominent members include:

• Apple
• Dell
• HP
• Hitachi (Founder)
• LG (Founder)
• Mitsubishi Electric (Founder)
• Panasonic
• Pioneer (Founder)
• Philips (Founder)
• Samsung (Founder)
• Sharp (Founder)
• Sony (Founder)
• Sun Microsystems
• TDK
• Thomson (Founder)
• Twentieth Century Fox
• Walt Disney
• Warner Bros.