Earlier, we discussed next generation DVDs that are ready to take the market by storm. Now, I want to give brief introductions to the two competing formats. I’ll save the technical discussion for another time and place, but want to give you just a few bits of information about both Blue-ray and HD DVDs.
The Blue-ray format was first created and developed by the Blue-ray Disc Association, which includes the electronics giants, Sony and Phillips. Blue-ray discs (BD) can hold more data than HD DVDs, but also will probably cost a little bit more to buy. BD capacity is about 23.3 GB on single layer and 46.6 GB on double layer discs. Current DVDs hold about 4.7 GB on single layer and 9.4 GB on double layer discs. One research company is already testing out four and eight layer discs that will hold 100 GB and 200 GB respectively.
You should be able to watch your current DVDs on Blue-ray players, but there are still some worries. BDs have a different type of copy protection than current DVDs, which may limit the type of television that can correctly display the format. Older HDTVs, including a number of models still on the market, may display Blue-ray content in standard definition, which defeats the purpose of having high definition video. Hopefully, all of that will get worked out before Blue-ray products become widely available. Currently, Blue-ray players are available, but in limited numbers. Sony has been delaying the mass release of prerecorded Blue-ray movies and games as they try to work out the kinks.
Initially, Blue-ray didn’t get as much corporate support as HD DVD. Currently, each format has lots of supporters. Among the more well-known supporters of Blue-ray are 20th Century Fox, Apple, Dell, Hitachi, Hewlett Packard, JVC, LG, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Pioneer, Philips, Samsung, Sharp, Sony, and Walt Disney, and Warner Brothers.
HD DVD was created by the DVD Forum and mainly developed by Toshiba. HD DVDs hold less data than Blue-ray discs, but are manufactured with the same machines used to create current DVDs. The result is that, initially, HD DVDs may cost less than BDs to purchase, since they cost less to produce. HD DVDs can hold 15 GB on each layer, so single layer discs hold 15 GB and double layer discs hold 30 GB. A triple layer disc, which will hold 48 GB, is currently in development.
HD DVD movies are already on the market in the United States. A total of five movies were released with the initial release of HD DVDs in April 2006. The goal is to have over 200 HD DVD movies for purchase by the end of 2006.
HD DVD and Blue-ray disc drives for your home computer are already available, but may still be difficult to find. They are also expensive. Prices will begin and continue to drop over the next 12 months or so. One limitation of these disc drives is that in order to display high definition video on your computer, you need a video card and monitor that are HDCP compliant. Currently, most computers in homes across the United States are unable to display true HD video and thus cannot take advantage of the enhanced picture quality that HD DVD and BDs offer.
Major supporters of HD DVD include Hitachi, NEC, New Line Cinema, Paramount Pictures, Sanyo, Toshiba, Universal Studios, Walt Disney, and Warner Brothers.