The next generation Blu-Ray optical disc is one of the latest items to hit store shelves this year.  Blu-Ray (BD) is unlike anything on the market, in which it is capable of storing high-density media like High-Definition (HD) video and data.  This new technology provides more possibilities for high-definition media than ever before. 

Developed by Blu-Ray Disc Association (BDA), the new Blu-Ray technology is different from the standard DVD players; in which DVD players have a high frequency red laser, 650 nm, and Blu-Ray has a blue-violet laser, 405 nm.  The Blu-Ray’s storage capacity is more than doubled because of its shorter blue-violet wavelength.  A single Blu-Ray disc can hold up to 25 gigabytes, a double layer disc can hold up to 50 gigabytes, and to keep up with future technologies a multi layer disc can hold up to 100-200 gigabytes.

Along with the standard CD and DVD players, Blu-Ray will also have several formats for the PC.  The formats include standard read-only, recordable, and rewritable discs that are suited for HD media and data storage.  Included with the Blu-Ray disc formats, Blu-Ray drives feature several security measures that prevent illegal copies from being viewed.  Unless an output signal contains an Image Constraint Token (ICT) Blu-ray can not convert down to analog outputs due to the AACS copy-protection system that is now adopted on HD-DVD. A feature called Mandatory Managed Copy (MMC), that is included in the Blu-Ray’s format, will insure legal copies of Blu-Ray movies can be viewed. 

Most of the leading technology companies will feature Blu-Ray in a wide variety of products.  HP, Dell and Sony are said to include Blu-Ray on some of their computer models for home and business use. Sony’s new Playstation 3, coming out in the fall, will also feature a read-only Blu-Ray drive.  Currently it is unknown whether or not Nintendo plans to include Blu-Ray on the new Wii.  Samsung and Sony have debuted Blu-Ray players that are capable of not only viewing Blu-Ray media but can read both DVDs and CDs.  Several Blu-Ray formatted movies have already made it to store shelves along with many that are soon to be released. 

 In conclusion, the development of Blu-Ray benefits both consumers and businesses with a wide variety of uses.  Through its many uses, the movie and gaming industries can highly benefit from Blu-Ray.  Because of the massive storage capabilities, games can be taken to a whole different level that will continue to awe and amaze their players for years to come.  Also, the Movie industry can provide consumers with more in depth, detailed and interactive releases of their favorite movies.  Several soon to be released Blu-Ray products include BD player, video recorders, movies, games, gaming platforms and data storage discs.  With this huge leap in data disc storage, the possibilities continue to grow in light of this new product.

Info from:
http://www.blu-ray.com
http://www.blu-raydisc.com

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