Term of the Moment
automation
Definition: Blu-ray
The current optical disc format for high-definition (HD) video at 2K resolution (for 4K Blu-ray, see Ultra HD Blu-ray). Developed primarily by Sony, Blu-ray discs have the same diameter as DVDs, but the pits are a third the size on tracks packed more tightly together. As a result, movies with 1,080 lines of resolution can be recorded, compared to 480 or 576 for a DVD (U.S. NTSC format is 480 lines, PAL format is 576 lines). Blu-ray players read CDs and DVDs, support navigation via menus programmed in Java and feature advanced audio and video formats (see Java, Dolby Digital, DTS, H.264, VC-1).
Commentary and Extra Content
All players support Profile 1.0. Bonus View (Profile 1.1) requires 256MB of flash memory and uses a second A/V codec for running picture-in-picture commentary. BD-Live (Profile 2) requires 1GB of flash to access content from the Internet such as scenes that were cut, interviews with the director and actor history. See BD-Live.
Blu-ray History
In 2003, the first Blu-ray recorders were sold in Japan, and in 2006, Sony's PlayStation 3 was one of the early products to feature a Blu-ray drive (see PlayStation). For several years, Blu-ray competed with HD DVD for the new high-res standard, but HD DVD was later abandoned (see HD DVD). See HTL Blu-ray, HD formats, Blu-ray 3D, DVD and DTV.
Blu-ray and More
Blu-ray Disc Xtra Large (BDXL)
Commentary and Extra Content
All players support Profile 1.0. Bonus View (Profile 1.1) requires 256MB of flash memory and uses a second A/V codec for running picture-in-picture commentary. BD-Live (Profile 2) requires 1GB of flash to access content from the Internet such as scenes that were cut, interviews with the director and actor history. See BD-Live.
Blu-ray History
In 2003, the first Blu-ray recorders were sold in Japan, and in 2006, Sony's PlayStation 3 was one of the early products to feature a Blu-ray drive (see PlayStation). For several years, Blu-ray competed with HD DVD for the new high-res standard, but HD DVD was later abandoned (see HD DVD). See HTL Blu-ray, HD formats, Blu-ray 3D, DVD and DTV.
FULL-SIZE 120MM DISCS Record
---Modes--
Layers GB Hours ROM RE R
DVD (480/576 lines)
Single (DVD-5) 4.3 2 X X X
Dual (DVD-9) 7.9 4 X X X
BLU-RAY (1,080 lines)
Single 25 4.5 X X X
Dual 50 9 X X X
Triple BDXL 100 18 X X
Quad BDXL 128 23 X
ROM = Read Only (pressed movie disc)
RE = REwritable
R = Recordable (write once)
The award-winning Oppo BDP-103 plays Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D and DVD movies, numerous video formats from a USB flash drive (orange USB inserted), as well as music from CD, SACD and DVD-Audio discs. "FW Found" means a firmware update is available.
For permanent archival storage, this Sony optical system records on quad-layer BDXL discs one time only. The plastic demo unit (top) reveals all 12 discs in the 1.5TB cartridge (see table above).