Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Blu Ray Revealed

By Ivan j Finch

Technology changes constantly; it's the nature of the beast. Every year it seems there's a new Playstation or gaming model out. We've seen music progress from 8-tracks and DAT machines to cassette tapes, to CDs, and onto MP3s. Similarly, we've seen film move to VHS tapes and DVDs, and now high-definition DVD.

There's no way to predict what will happen next and it's hard to resist the call to consumerism. One thing is for sure: Sony's Blu Ray has impressed the likes of Warner Brothers, Fox, Lionsgate, MGM, Paramount and Disney studios enough to produce all upcoming high-definition releases in the new format.

Manufacturers like Sony, Panasonic, Pioneer, Philips, Samsung, Sharp and JVC (to name a few) are using a different type of laser (blue versus the traditional red) to pack more data with better precision.

To make more advanced games, Sony needed a way to "fit in" more data. While the DVDs in your current collection hold 9 GB of information, the Blu Ray discs are able to hold 25-50 GB, making it five times more efficient! Manufacturers like Sony, Panasonic, Pioneer, Philips, Samsung, Sharp and JVC (to name a few) are using a different type of laser (blue versus the traditional red) to pack more data with better precision.

Before you get angry about having to retire the old DVD player, you should know about some of the other cool features that Blu Ray can offer. Imagine purchasing a new DVD and then downloading exciting, updated bonus material onto the rewritable storage section of the disc. The interactive nature of the Blu Ray format was a major selling feature for film studios because it allows them more creativity and personalized interaction.

If you plan on collecting new releases and snubbing the Blu Ray; forget about it! Sony, Fox, Lionsgate, MGM, Paramount and Disney Studios have all entered exclusive agreements to release all new movies in Blu Ray format, which is roughly 75% of all releases so far.

If you plan on collecting new releases and snubbing the Blu Ray; forget about it! Sony, Fox, Lionsgate, MGM, Paramount and Disney Studios have all entered exclusive agreements to release all new movies in Blu Ray format, which is roughly 75% of all releases so far. If you were one of the unfortunate ones to purchase Toshiba or Microsoft's HD DVD players, then there is not much you can do at this point but cut your losses. The "buzz gift of 2007" is slowly being pushed out of the market in favor of Sony's new media. However, there are some people who suspect that more consumers will stay out of the turf war all together and will simply download new movies.

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