The gradual evolution of the optical disc technology saw the arrival of the DVDs. DVDs changed the entire entertainment experience. People could watch the latest blockbusters from the comfort of their homes with their latest high definition DVD players, with unmatched picture quality and audio output. DVDs are everywhere, so too are DVD players. You have the high definition DVD players with all sorts of features. The future lies with emerging technologies like Blu-ray and advanced optical discs.

Blu-ray Discs

Blu-ray, popularly known as BD or blue-ray discs, is a next-generation optical disc that has been developed by the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA). The group consists of leading consumer electronics giants, PC and media manufacturers, like Philips, Samsung, Sony, Sharp, HP, Hitachi and Panasonic, to name a few. The format enables recording, rewriting and playback of high definition video (HD). One major advantage that the technology has over conventional DVDs is that it allows for more storage capacity. It can hold up to 25GB on a single layered disc and 50GB on a dual-layer disc. The technology also incorporates advanced video and audio codes for the ultimate high definition viewing experience. The name Blu-ray is used because the format uses a blue-violet laser, instead of a red laser as in the case of traditional DVDs.

Another major advantage with Blu-ray format lies in the fact that the entire technology is backwards compatible. You can now play your old CDs and DVDs through a BD/DVD/CD compatible unit. The blue-violet laser has a shorter wavelength than a red laser, which enables it to focus on a disc area with greater precision. The data is also packed on the surface of a disc more tightly. This explains the disc