Blue ray DVD (Sony, Samsung) vs HD(Toshiba, Microsoft and intel)

[Cheba_Mami]

Blu-ray Disc (BD) is a next-generation optical disc format meant for high-density storage of high-definition video and data. The Blu-ray standard was jointly developed by a group of consumer electronics and PC companies called the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA), spearheaded by Sony. It is currently competing with the HD DVD format for wide adoption as the preferred next generation optical standard, similar to the videotape format war between VHS and Betamax. As of 2006, neither format has succeeded in supplanting the present home video standard, the DVD.

The name Blu-ray is derived from the blue-violet laser it uses to read and write to the chalcogenide disc. A Blu-ray Disc can store substantially more data than a DVD, because of the shorter wavelength (405 nm) of the blue-violet laser (DVDs use a 650-nm-wavelength red laser and CDs an infrared 780 nm laser), which allows more information to be stored digitally in the same amount of space. In comparison to HD DVD, which also uses a blue laser, Blu-ray has more information capacity per layer (25 gigabytes instead of 15) but may initially be more expensive to produce.

The Blu-ray Disc Association unveiled their plans for a May 23, 2006 release date at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January 2006. Since then, Blu-ray was delayed, but finally shipped in the U.S. on June 20, 2006

and

HD DVD (High Density Digital Versatile Disc or High Definition Digital Video Disc) is a digital optical media format which can hold high definition video or other data. HD DVD is similar to the competing Blu-ray Disc, which also uses the same CD-size (120 mm diameter) optical data storage media and 405 nm wavelength blue laser. HD DVD is promoted by Toshiba, NEC, Sanyo, Microsoft, and Intel, among others. In terms of major studios, HD DVD is currently exclusively backed by Universal Studios, and is non-exclusively backed by Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros. Studio Canal, and The Weinstein Company.

At CES 2006, Microsoft announced that there will be an external add-on HD DVD drive for the Xbox 360 game console, due in late 2006. Also at CES 2006, "companies backing HD DVD said that nearly 200 titles would be available for the format by the end of the year."

i think some companies will follow sonys BD exept microsoft consumers will have great compatibility problems

[Cheba_Mami]

Jul 17, 2006 - Disney and Buena Vista Home Entertainment Announce Blu-ray Titles

Buena Vista Home Entertainment (BVHE) president Bob Chapek today announced that BVHE will begin releasing titles beginning September 19, 2006 on the Blu-ray Disc format. Titles available on that date will include Walt Disney Pictures' Dinosaur and Eight Below; Miramax Films' Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back and The Great Raid. These four titles mark the first wave of an ongoing release strategy from BVHE which will support the Blu-ray format. A second wave of releases will be available on October 17, 2006, including Walt Disney Pictures' Glory Road and Haunted Mansion; Touchstone Pictures' Dark Water and Gone in Sixty Seconds; and Dimension Films' The Brothers Grimm.

Read more: Buena Vista





Jul 12, 2006 - Warner Home Video Announces First Wave of Blu-ray Launch Titles

Warner Home Video (WHV), which distributes the largest film library of any studio, today announced that it will launch its first titles in the Blu-ray format on August 1, 2006. The first wave of Warner titles include two new releases, a catalog favorite and a title new to the high definition format: the critically acclaimed Oscar nominated drama Good Night and Good Luck starring David Strathairn and George Clooney; Academy Award winning, Training Day starring Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke; Robert Downey Jr. and Val Kilmer's noir comedy caper Kiss Kiss Bang Bang; and Rob Reiner's clever romantic comedy starring Jennifer Aniston, Kevin Costner, Mark Ruffalo and Shirley MacLaine, Rumor Has It. Future waves of Blu-ray launch titles will be announced in the coming weeks.

Read more: Warner Bros