Blu-ray organic dye colors mass production possibilities

by Nick Doerr { Oct 23rd 2007 at 5:00PM }

Blu-ray has long been wrist-slapped for being the more expensive HD format to produce. Despite that, Pioneer and Mitsubishi have trusted themselves and worked towards a better tomorrow ... so to speak. These two companies have finally made a breakthrough in commercializing recordable Blu-ray discs with an organic dye in the recording layer. This dye is apparently what will make manufacturing Blu-ray discs so cheap. Go figure.

The standardization of this dye basically means that mass production of the discs is possible which would drive costs into the ground -- the same facilities for DVD-R and CD-R are now open to Blu-ray discs. We could see the price of Blu-ray discs themselves fall sooner than expected, though on the consumer side of things, we'll probably still be charged the premium for an HD movie and such. Still, good to know progress is being made!

[via N4G]

Tags: blu-ray

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

jae29one @ Oct 23rd 2007 5:15PM

Might as well start nailing the cofin for HD DVD.. Lol

Larz @ Oct 23rd 2007 5:15PM

Doesn't mean much to the consumer. DVD's and CD's are already pennies to produce...

Kevin @ Oct 23rd 2007 5:15PM

No, It would be smart to reduce the price of the Blu-Ray to the price of at least a DVD so then HD DVD is no longer cheaper. And then to play a Blu-Ray you need a Blu-Ray player, and then HD DVD's player price tag no longer matters.

First.

Kevin @ Oct 23rd 2007 5:16PM

Damn Larz's post wasn't there before.
Oh well.

PJ @ Oct 23rd 2007 5:39PM

It does stink that although items like cds, DVDs and blu-ray discs get cheaper and cheaper to produce, the reduction in price doesnt help the consumer because companies keep dishing them out at extortionate prices.

Its simple maths, why don't companies understand?

EG, something costs:
$20 per item, 20 sold is $400.
$15 per item, 30 sold (because its cheaper) is $450. Sell cheap, sell more! © ® ™ ;)

A game you're not sure about or an album or movie... Surely people are more inclined to buy it if its cheaper, even though they know it might be guff. you're risking less so still prepared to pay for it.

I'm not sure if I've gone off topic or not.
BDs cheaper to make = good.
Organic? Good I guess but whats the life expectancy of the media going to be like? CDs and DVDs crack and split and de-laminate with age. There must be some kind of degradation of the die if its organic?

Dru @ Oct 23rd 2007 5:57PM

So when do BD burners start coming out?

Dru @ Oct 23rd 2007 5:59PM

So when do BD burners start coming out?

Anil @ Oct 23rd 2007 6:13PM

While the price drop might not effect consumers directly, couldn't it result in more studios coming back to the BD camp if they can have increased per unit returns and expect higher volumes due to the greater install base of Bluray v. HD-DVD players?

Andy @ Oct 23rd 2007 7:01PM

@8

I think your onto something. Think back to PS1 and N64 days. Cartridges failed because they cost about $20 to make compared to CDs which cost mere pennies. While the difference between HD DVD and BRD is not as big, a dollar or two in savings is really enticing to big companies. Don't worry paramount only 17 months to go.

Popfrogs @ Oct 23rd 2007 7:05PM

@6 and his twin, #7:

BR burners are already on the market, have been for at least 6 months. Use google sometime.

Konchu @ Oct 23rd 2007 7:32PM

Hmm didn't post my last so ignore if there are double. From reading the source article this is only recordable media. This is not the same as that movie or game you buy on Blu Ray so those cost will be the same time will curve those cost though.So this should not be used to compare manufacure cost except for personal burning applications which is totally cool in it own right, would be much cooler if we could burn video but the current burners do not.

John @ Oct 23rd 2007 8:53PM

I wonder if the Blu camp will take advantage of this, immediately slashing prices to get a one-up over HD-DVD; I wonder if HD-DVD has expensive manufacturing, or are they just similar in price to Blu-Ray because they can be? If so, HD-DVD would be smart to slash prices, right now-- though I don't see that saving them in the long run, more just extending misery...

John @ Oct 23rd 2007 8:52PM

Dru, BD burners are already out. You can get one for your computer, and Sony will have a standalone set for the holidays. I believe Japan already has this.

Dude, just Google "blu-ray recorder"