Just when you thought 50GB of data storage was enough, Hitachi has to waltz in and offer double that amount with a new prototype four layer Blu-ray disc. Normally, you'd need a different optical head to read from a disc of this type, but that doesn't seem to be the case with this one. That is, if need be, Hitachi says it will play in regular Blu-ray drives that exist now (which includes our lovely PS3).
Well, there is a catch. All Blu-ray players would have to have their optical heads tweaked a
little bit, but it's something that can be worked out in a firmware update. No word on a release for the discs, but as soon as they finish stabilizing the signal quality, we'll hear an announcement of some kind.
[Thanks, Gunegune!]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Tru-blue @ Oct 9th 2007 11:35AM
that's interesting. I wonder what "tweaks" to the optical head will be needed if these discs come into fruition.
ruibing @ Oct 9th 2007 11:35AM
That is a lot of storage space. I hope BD-R becomes mainstream soon.
ruibing @ Oct 9th 2007 11:36AM
@1 - Just firmware upgrade is reported to be enough.
coplice @ Oct 9th 2007 11:55AM
would be nice to have the 2 star wars trilogy on a single blu-ray disk :p
or many seasons of stargate :D
Philip @ Oct 9th 2007 12:37PM
Just when HDdvd reaches 51gigs to outbeat the bluray by 1gig (cough lmao cough) they double 50 gigs.
Check and Mate! I just hope the format war ends soon.
I am only sideing the bluray cause of storage space, every other factor HDdvd and Bd match each other in quality
Phil @ Oct 9th 2007 12:48PM
This seems a good enough time to say...
Anything you can do, I can do better.
Soon enough, the HD-DVD boys will say "No you can't" and we'll fit back with "yes we can!"
Isn't the PS3 supposed to support some fancy Blu Ray stuff stuffs for running commentaries and the such like - stuff that's more advanced than what is found on current-gen DVD's?
Think of all the Unreal Maps I could have on a 100gb disc..... yay me!
frank @ Oct 9th 2007 1:10PM
hitachi has already said they are working on an 8 layer disc=200gb that will work on current players. ritek is working behind closed doors for 10 layers for both blu ray and hddvd 250gb and 150gb but wont work on existing players, and looks to be a long way off.
as of right now i dont see much need for even a 100 gb disc but holy crap that's still awesome.
drdre74 @ Oct 9th 2007 1:32PM
Just think what GTA would be like with 100GB. The size of the city would be crazy. Devs would have to step up on the extra content to fill that bad boy up.
Sauvage @ Oct 9th 2007 1:50PM
I want MGS4 delayed so that it comes with 100GB of textures, maps and high quality audio!
ShaggyB @ Oct 9th 2007 2:18PM
#5 Let me ask you a few questions sense size seems to be what you think is important in hd-dvd vs blu-ray.
1. Superman Returns, Which version has a better quality? Is there a difference in video? Is there more actual information on the Blu-ray Disc?
2. 300, Which version has more content on the actual disc?
3. Do you really think a blu-ray disc is completely filled?
4. Name a current movie that is in Blu-ray that due to the size of Hd-dvd can not be done in its 35 gig standard.
5. Do you honestly think all blu-rays will go to 100 gig or do you believe it will be more for storage and computer purposes?
6. 51gig vs 50 gig was a joke (more over it was to take away the blu-ray can hold more thing) how does 100 gig vs 50 gig mean anything other than mine is bigger when the average 2.5 hour movie doesn't fill 35 gigs with extras and bonus features?
Sorry I am growing very tierd of hearing Blu-ray noise on how they have more space when they still dont utilize the space they have with extra features in hd and with more content than hd-dvds have. (300 is the best example, Blu-ray version is just not good enough. Features are the selling point.)
btrowbri @ Oct 9th 2007 2:33PM
Actually he never even mentioned that he supported blu-ray becuase of the movies. He said he supported it because of the storage space. Which includes games. Heavenly Sword filled a whole blu-ray disc. And sony said that killzone 2 is already looking like its going to take up the whole disc. Unreal Tournament 3 developers said that the ps3 is going to get more maps becuase of the extra space that they can utilize due to the extra space on blu-ray.
heckthor @ Oct 9th 2007 2:47PM
I dont see the point on this kind of stuff... it ain't worth it if the games or movies studios do not use the whole disk everytime they release a game or a movie, Sony (i Love my ps3) promised or talked so much about Real Hi Def with the 1080p signal but when it comes to their own games they release it at 720p that just sucks... Now its the movies, whats the point if they are gonna charge probably double the price (which wouldn't be so bad) but when you watch the movie there's only a few extras on the disc, in order to get everything a movie has to offer you have to pay for another disk (Especial Editions) which would probably be another 30 bucks, is just not worth it... the only reason i keep buying blu rays is cuz it sure looks better than regular dvds but because of content... I think Not... Soon this stupid war will be over and we will all win... Hopefully... I want TRANSFORMERS on Blu Ray... or an Xbox360 with the hd dvd drive included... PLEASE BLU RAY AND HD DVD COMPANIES "FINISH THE FIGHT" ALREADY...
ShaggyB @ Oct 9th 2007 3:37PM
#11 btrowbri: #5 did mention hd-dvd vs blu-ray.
"Just when HDdvd reaches 51gigs to outbeat the bluray by 1gig (cough lmao cough) they double 50 gigs.
Check and Mate! I just hope the format war ends soon.
I am only sideing the bluray cause of storage space, every other factor HDdvd and Bd match each other in quality"
what he didnt mention was games at all. I can see the benefit of blu-ray in storage media ie computers and games. But what i fail to see is how Blu-ray movie buffs support the format based on size of the disc alone, being that no movies use the entire thing. Nor does Blu-ray offer more features or content per disc than Hd-dvd. In fact in dual releases they are either equal or Hd-dvd has more options and content. (case example 300) These extra features take up space on the disc which means Blu-ray is actually using less space than Hd-dvd does. (in that case)
Again to Blu-ray movie supporters answer the questions above. (I have both and i just cant understand the fanboyism displayed to either based on the reasons ive read.)
As to storage space and games, 100gig sounds great but if heavenly sword takes up 50 gig id hate to see what game would fill 100 gig. Heavenly sword is far too short a game to take up that much space.
Nonhippyhippy @ Oct 9th 2007 4:03PM
i wud love if some people made a 100gb game in a few years for these new discs and then want to port it to the xbox or pc.... anyone think of a way to fit 11 dvds into a single case?
Joe @ Oct 9th 2007 9:10PM
to number 10
since you claim to own both formats, you must obviously know that some blu-rays are now using 50gb instead of the 25gb disks. and you must also know its because of the superior audio tracks encoded onto the disks. and as more and more "extra" content is added, the more of a squeeze hd dvd has. do you honestly think the cars blu-ray would fit on a hd dvd? maybe the movie itself sure, with one audio track. but blu-ray (where applicable) uses more than 25gb for multiple tracks, ie 5.1, uncompressed 5.1, dolby truehd, etc etc.
when the stuio's are being smart, they take advantage fo the extra space on blu-ray. hate it or not, its silly to want hd dvd to win
Starfire @ Oct 9th 2007 9:58PM
More space may not be needed now, but it offers convenience. Lord of the Rings Trilogy on one disk, a whole 24 series on a disk or two. With high-def video you can never have too much space... though for all that I have to agree with #10, that when it comes to a regular movie, HD-DVD has enough space just for that.
But for games and storage, not really. Repetitive textures have really damaged 3D gaming and with this kind of development, developers will have less need to compromise.
Consolcwby @ Oct 10th 2007 2:55AM
@ShaggyB: Capacity is important further on down the road. 1080p is not the "highest" hd standard - within 10 years it will be 3x - 5x that. So HD-DVD currently is more of a stop-gap measure during hd's infancy. BD's higher capacity makes it possible to ensure it lasts well beyond 2016.