jef195 used our news submit to tell us about this most informative story running over at Video Business. We have read that the Blu-ray high definition disc will be introduced in 2006, but now we hear that there is some discontent in the the ranks of the Bluray camp of supporters. At least when it comes to Bob Chapec, Buena Vistas president of Home Entertainment AKA Disney!
During a
press demo held at the 20th Century Fox lot in Los Angeles on
November 29, Andy Parsons, senior VP for advanced product development for Pioneer let it slip that the 50GB was not going to be available immediately. He commented that the 25GB discs will be out in the first half of 2006, but downplayed the need for the double layer version as something that the industry would ‘grow into over time.” However, Chapek of Disney let it be known clearly that they had wanted the 50GB capacity version ‘from the get-go.”
|
But Chapek said he envisions packing discs with a full panoply of high-def bonus materials, extensive interactive features and other new types of content, which would require the higher capacity of the 50GB version. All the content would be seamlessly integrated and accessible without leaving the movie. |
This story has many valuable tidbits of information besides the delay of the discs. For one thing, it says that the launch is in the firs half of next year. It lets us know that Blu-ray has a java interface ready to go and they were able to demonstrate it. It also indicates what many have been hoping, that at least with Disney releases, new and desirable added value content would be placed on these discs in order to help justify the leap to high definition. Chapek also states later on in the article, that Disney plans to release hybrid Blu-ray/DVD discs, this could help get the media format rolling, as folks could use the discs now and later when they upgrade, they have some content on hand to watch.
Even after reading Mr. Parsons statement, we may still have to wonder why the two layer disc will not be offered immediately, especially since Disney wants it and they say they thought it was going to be there for them.
Interestingly, there has been considerable work done to provide for a hybrid disc from both camps. At the Register, we can read that JVC announced a prototype, triple layer, hybrid Blu-ray/DVD disc in 2004. The triple layer disc incorporates a single 25GB BD layer, then below that resides a dual-layer 8.5GB DVD structure suitable for todays red laser players. Toshiba and Memory Tech have also provided a means for an HD-DVD disc, that in addition to the 15GB blue laser layer, provides a single red laser DVD layer, with enough storage capacity for 4.7GB worth of video and audio data.
Source: Various
5 Comments
[edited by Crabbyappleton on 04.12.2005 07:28]
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