Blu-ray Format Adds Its Capacity and Functionality

It seems to be much possible for Blu-ray format to go a further step if manufacturers accept new specifications that the Blu-ray Disc Association, the format’s governing body, is probably to finalize soon. For starters, Blu-ray disc capacity could increase up to 128GB which is of course an incredible number compared with today’s maximum 50GB.

In addition, a single Blu-ray disc will be able to store fixed data on one layer and rewritable data on another.

Before either of these upgrades to Blu-ray can occur, however, a consortium of Blu-ray manufactures must agree upon them – which observers expect to happen by the end of the summer. But the fledgling disc types will still face significant adoption challenges.

Problem number one for consumers is that existing Blu-ray hardware won’t be able to take advantage of the new Blu-ray disc enhancements. But requiring everyone to buy new Blu-ray players won’t be an easy sell; and on PCs, where Blu-ray Disc burners have yet to supplant rewritable DVD burners, the task may be even more daunting.

The two distinct Blu-ray disc format enhancements are BDXL (which increases storage capacity) and IH-BD (which adds a read/write layer to Blu-ray discs). The question is, why do we need these new formats?

“In the regions of the world that have BD recorders

[linked to their home entertainment center], there’s perception that more recording capacity is very useful,” says Andy Parsons, Blu-ray Disc Association chairman. In Japan, Parsons says, Blu-ray Disc recorders for use with high-definition televisions account for about 70 percent of the market. In the United States, however, consumer electronics manufacturers have yet to ship a Blu-ray Disc recorder geared toward home theaters.

Even if BDXL doesn’t become the standard way for U.S. consumers to record television programs, it could make a splash in the professional storage market, as a medium for computer backups and archival storage.

Blu-ray has always been a controversial issue since its first appearance, supported by many people while also criticized by the others, it is becoming more and more clear that Blu-ray, with its marvelous storage capacity and functionality, is going to stand in the leading place in the near future.