The reader may remember the common catchphrase, “be kind and rewind” back in the good old days of the archaic, clunky VHS videocassette. When the much improved DVD came along, the VHS went out quicker than the cassette tape replaced the 8-track. Today, yet another major technological transition is taking place from DVD to Blu-ray.
But does the new technology stack up?
Increased Storage Capacity and Faster Data Transfer Speeds
Blu-ray gets its name from the blue-violet laser it employs to read discs as opposed to the old red laser in DVD players. The new videodiscs store up to five times the amount of data on a single side than a DVD. They are sold as one-sided (25 gigabyte) or 2-sided (50 gigabyte dual-layer).
Data transfer speeds vary from 1x, 2x, and 4x up to 72 megabits per second (Mbps). Like older compact discs, the new ones are available as record only once (BD-R) or rewritable (BD-RW). Those who own camcorders or need lots of memory for backup data storage will find the new technology very helpful.
Enhanced Screen Resolution for Lifelike Picture Quality
In terms of picture quality, home video is witnessing another great leap with the introduction of Blu-ray. The new technology features full 1080p screen resolution to take advantage of the latest generation of HDTVs. It’s a substantial improvement over the old DVD standard of 480p. What this means is an even sharper image and improved colors for a more natural, lifelike picture.
But there’s a caveat. To take full advantage of the new technology’s higher resolution, the disc player must be hooked up to a 1080p HDTV via HDMI cable (most often sold separately). The machine will operate just fine with an older TV, but the viewer will not see the clear, crisp benefits of a true 1080p picture.
Improved Color and Sound Quality
A recently approved international color standard called x.v. Color greatly expands the color space to include billions of colors, some that even the human eye can’t see. This makes the picture sharper and more realistic. Sound quality of Blu-ray is also vastly improved over the old DVD technology. Dolby TrueHD adds even more channels for movie theater-quality surround sound, and is said to be virtually identical to the studio master.
Blu-ray BD-Live: Enhanced Interactivity via Internet
BD-Live is an interactive service that allows viewers to hook the disc player up to the Internet via an Ethernet connection in order to view movie trailers, special features, and even to download ringtones. Interactive games and online communities are available through BD-Live as well.
Upscaling/Backward Compatible Blu-ray Disc Players
For those who possess an extensive collection of DVDs and are not looking forward to the prospect of replacing them, take heart. The new technology is backward compatible and plays both older and newer videodiscs. Furthermore, it up-scales 480p DVD to the sharper 1080p standard. While consumers can purchase a 1080p upscaling DVD player at lower cost, the sound and picture quality won’t be as vibrant as that of the new technology.
Blu-ray technology has much to offer in the way of increased memory capacity, improved picture quality, and better sound. Toss BD-Live internet interactivity into the mix, and it’s no wonder the new technology is becoming wildly popular.
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