NTI-About Blu Ray Disc

Blu-ray is supported on the hardware side by Hitachi, LG (also supports HD-DVD), Matsushita (Panasonic), Pioneer, Philips, Samsung, Sharp, Sony, HP, Dell, Apple, TDK, and Thomson (Note: Thomson also supports HD-DVD). On the software side, Blu-ray is supported by Sony/Columbia, Twentieth Century Fox, Walt Disney Studios, MGM, Paramount (also supports HD-DVD) and Warner (also supports HD-DVD). Apple Computer has also announced support for Blu-ray.

HD-DVD is the second major High Definition Disc format (see Blu-ray, above) that is vying to replace the current DVD standard in the U.S. market, and a direct competitor of Blu-ray. HD-DVD is supported on the hardware side by Toshiba, LG (also supports HD-DVD), NEC, Sanyo, Thomson (Note: Thomson also supports Blu-ray). On the software side, HD-DVD is supported by New Line Cinema, Paramount Pictures (also supports Blu-ray), Warner Brothers (also supports Blu-ray), and Universal Pictures. Microsoft has also added its support to HD-DVD.

Are Blu-ray and HD-DVD Players Compatible with Standard DVDs and CDs?
So far, both Blu-ray and HD-DVD player manufacturers have included the ability for their units to playback standard DVDs, this is expected to continue. This means your current DVD library is playable on either a Blu-ray Disc or HD-DVD player. Also, when you play a standard DVD in either a Blu-ray Disc or HD-DVD player, you can view it at standard DVD resolution or have the player upscale the DVD playback signal to match 720p/1080i and, in some cases, 1080p mode that will be a better match for viewing on an HDTV.

With respect to standard CDs, most Blu-ray Disc and HD-DVD players will play standard CDs/CD-R/RW discs. However, there are some exceptions to this, most notably on first generation models from Sony and Pioneer, as well as the Blu-ray/HD-DVD combo player from LG. If you desire CD compatibility, make sure you read the specs or features brochure of the unit you are considering to confirm this.

What is Available to Play on a Blu-ray or HD-DVD Player?
There are a growing number of films and other video content now available in both the Blu-ray Disc and HD-DVD formats. Currently, Several hundred titles are available. Prices for the titles are about $5-or-$10 more than current DVDs. Prices for movies, just as for players, are expected to go down over time as competition heats up and more disc quantities of each film are produced.

However, the movie studios have lined up with one format or the other, primarily. For example, as of 2008, Sony/Columbia, Disney, Lionsgate, New Line, and Warner are curently releasing their titles only in the Blu-ray format, while Universal and Paramount/Dreamworks are releasing its titles only in the HD-DVD format

Of course all this could change as time goes on. For example, there has already been some studio shifting as Paramount/Dreamworks has switched from releasing movies on both Blu-ray and HD-DVD, to going HD-DVD exclusive. On the other hand, Warner, which also was releasing in both the Blu-ray and HD-DVD formats will, after May 2008, be releasing hi-def titles only on Blu-ray.

This current state of affairs will be confusing for the consumer for the time being, as many hit movies, as well as classics, will be unavailable for those that exclusively own one format player or the other

Lastly, remember that both Blu-ray and HD-DVD players can play standard DVDs as well. In fact, you can play your standard DVDs in an upscaled mode that will approach the quality of high definition resolution. Also, most Blu-ray and HD-DVD players are, and will be, compatible with standard CDs, however, there may be some exceptions. If you require this compatibility, check to see if the official Compact Disc logo is on the front panel of the player, or that you at least ask the salesperson. To make sure, you can sometimes download the user manual from the manufacturer's website ahead of time, or, better yet, bring a CD with you to the dealer and make sure it plays

Are Blu-ray and HD-DVD Discs Region Coded, Like DVDs?
Blu-ray has instituted a Region Coding scheme, however, it is more logical than current DVD Region Codes.

Regardless of the Region Coding question, the consumer also needs to take into consideration the technical differences between various television and video systems. While North America, Japan, and Latin America employ an NTSC-based 30 Frames-per-second video system, most of the rest of the world is employs a PAL-based system with 25 frames-per-second. In addition, some of the other technical standards in use for audio processing and video processing could vary. This means that an HD-DVD disc, even though not region coded, from another part of the World may not necessarily play on a North American HD-DVD player or vice versa.

What Types of Connections Do Blu-ray and HD-DVD Players Have?
Blu-ray and HD-DVD players have the same connections as a standard DVD player, such as Composite, S-Video, and Component video outputs as well as Analog Stereo and Digital Optical and Digital Coaxial Audio outputs. However, two additional outputs include:

Starting from left to right, are the analog audio outputs. On this Blu-ray Player, there are both Analog Stereo Outputs and Analog 5.1 Channel Outputs. If you have an AV receiver without a Dolby Digital or DTS decoder, you can use the analog stereo outputs. However, if your AV receiver is equipped with 5.1 channel analog inputs, you should use the 5.1 channel analog outputs of the Blu-ray. The Blu-ray player has its own built-in Dolby Digital and DTS decoders, if your AV receiver does not have them.

Moving right, there is both a Composite video output and S-Video output. These connectors plug into the same type of connectors on a TV, Video Projector, or AV receiver. You can only access standard definition resolution through these outputs.

Movng still further right, is the Component Video output. The component video output consists of Green, Blue, and Red connectors. The component outputs of a Blu-ray player can pass both standard definition and high-definition (720p, 1080i) signals. It must be noted that the ability to access high definition signals through the component outputs is determined by the instructions placed on the actual Blu-ray Disc. This option is determined by each movie studio on an individual release basis.

Just to the right of the Component Video Outputs is the HDMI output. This output can pass both standard resolution and high definition signals at all times. It is also the output that has the ability to pass 1080p signals, in addition to 720p and 1080i. In addition, standard DVDs, when upscaled to 720p or 1080i, are accessible via this connection. In addition, if your Television has a DVI-HDCP connection (not pictured), rarther than HDMI, you can connect the HDMI output to a DVI-HDCP connection via a cable connection adapter.

To the right of the HDMI output are the Digital Optical and Digital Coaxial Audio Outputs. If you have an AV receiver with digital optical or digital coaxial audio inputs, use these connections to access surround sound.

Can I Play a Blu-ray Disc on an HD-DVD player or Vice-Versa?
Since the Blu-ray Disc and HD-DVD formats are incompatible, due to differences in actual physical disc structure, you cannot play a Blu-ray Disc in an HD-DVD format player, nor can you play an HD-DVD in a Blu-ray Disc format player.

However, there have been indications by some manufacturers concerning the intention to make Blu-ray Disc/HD-DVD combo players, which would certainly make it less confusing for the consumer. Unfortunately, no such player has been demonstrated or offered at this point.

Other alternatives that have been proposed to solve this problem include a dual Blu-ray/HD-DVD disc. This would be a disc that would have the Blu-ray version of the film or program on one side and the HD-DVD content on the other side. A similar solution is already being provided on some HD-DVD titles, in which the HD-DVD content is on one side of the disc and standard DVD content is offered on the other side.

Are There Blu-ray and HD-DVD Recorders?
Both Blu-ray and HD-DVD technology support high definition video recording, and you will see recorders in both formats appearing on store shelves with the next year. However, if you desire high definition video recording on disc now, you can buy Blu-ray Writers to install in your PC, and Sony has also begun to introduce a Laptop and Desktop PC with Blu-ray recording capability.

The two types of Blu-ray Recording formats are:

BD-R: A record-once only format disc, similar in concept as a DVD-R, DVD+R, or CD-R disc.
BD-RE: A re-writable format disc that can be erased, edited, and re-used multiple times, similar in concept to DVD-RW, DVD+RW, DVD-RAM, or CD-RW disc.

The format disc announced for HD-DVD recorders is HD-DVD R (single layer) and HD-DVD R-DL (Dual Layer), which are record-once format discs, similar to BD-R. It is also anticipated that most, if not all, Blu-ray and HD-DVD recorders will be able to also record in one or more of the current standard DVD recording formats, such as DVD-R/-RW or DVD+R/+RW.

One important point to remember is that Blu-ray or HD-DVD disc you make yourself can only be played on that format's player or recorder.

What Can I Record on a Blu-ray or HD-DVD Recorder?
You can (or will be able to, as things stand currently), record anything on a Blu-ray or HD-DVD recorder that you can on a DVD recorder or VCR, only at much higher quality than current technology allows, provided your source material is of good quality (VHS will still look like VHS!). Blu-ray and HD-DVD recorders will have both analog and digital video input capability for recording from any type of VCR or Camcorder, and will most likely include both an analog and digital TV tuner, so you can record both standard and high definition Television shows.

However, keep in mind, copy-protection issues. For instance, many pay-cable channels, such as HBO, do not allow certain types of recordings to be made (such as trying to make a copy of an original recording for a friend that you made of the Sopranos).Also, you will not be able to make copies of copy-protected DVDs or Blu-ray or HD-DVD discs.

What Type of TV Do I Need To Use With a Blu-ray or HD-DVD Player or Recorder?
Although both Blu-ray and HD-DVD players can be connected and used with any Television that has at least Composite video inputs, the only way to access high definition content and resolution is through either the HDMI connection, or Component Video connections. In other words, you need an HD-Compatible television to see the benefits of either Blu-ray or HD-DVD.

NOTE: Although, currently, high definition resolution can be accessed using the Component Video connections of an Blu-ray or HD-DVD player, this is at the movie studios' discretion. In the future, discs may be encoded to allow access to high definition resolution only via the HDMI connection.

The reason for this is that although the Component Video connections allow owners of older, pre-HDMI, or DVI-HDTV-equipped, HDTVs to enjoy the benefits of Blu-ray and HD-DVD, video signals traveling through component connections are more easily pirated that than those the travel through the digitally copy-protected signal traveling through an HDMI connection.

How Much are Blu-ray and HD-DVD Players? - Is It Worth Buying One Now?
Currently, as of 2007, you can find basic HD-DVD players priced as low as $250 or less at some outlets, and up to $999 for high-end units. It is anticipated that a basic HD-DVD player may be as low as $199 by 2008. One the other hand, Blu-ray Players start at about $449 and can go up to $1,500 for high-end models.

Despite all the benefits of Blu-ray and the capabilities of Blu-ray Disc and HD-DVD, the decision as to whether to jump in now, or wait and see what happens as the Blu-ray/HD-DVD war plays itself out, presents a real challenge to the average consumer. The current crop of HD-DVD players are showing up at about $250 and Blu-ray Disc players are starting to show up at $499. No prices have been announced for HD-DVD or Blu-ray Disc recorders as they also become available, but expect prices well above $1,000 to start.

Lingering Questions About Blu-ray and HD-DVD
Questions, such as software availability and format viability over the long term, is a real concern at this point. On the positive side, both Blu-ray and HD-DVD players are totally compatible with the standard DVD format, as well as CDs. However, if, down the road, your Blu-ray or HD-DVD player is no longer useful and the rival format is the only one left, you will not be able to play your Blu-ray or HD-DVD discs on the rival format's machine.

NOTE: LG is the first manufacturer to offer a Blu-ray Disc/HD-DVD Combo Player. The BH100 features Blu-ray and HD-DVD playback at 1080p using a single drive, as well as 1080i upscaling of standard DVD content. However, the BH100 does not play standard music CDs. Also, the disc loading time for Blu-ray and HD-DVD discs has been reduced to about 25 seconds, making the BH100 the fastest loader to date. In addition, at the $1,199 price point, the BH100 is more expensive than buying two entry-level Blu-ray and HD-DVD players.

New tech toys are hard to resist, and if you are willing to take the plunge into high definition DVD, despite future uncertainty, then consider Blu-ray or HD-DVD as a possible choice. One way to look at it is, instead of waiting, you can be enjoying true hi-definition DVD right how with a Blu-ray Disc or HD-DVD player, especially if you have a large screen HDTV or HD-Compatible video projector. On the other hand, if you are on a limited budget or do not wish to take a format risk at this time, for less than $200 there are a variety good DVD players with 720p/1080i/1080p upscaling capability that can narrow the gap between standard DVD and Blu-ray or HD-DVD, and you don't have worry about your current DVD library becoming obsolete - standard DVDs, and players to play them, will be around for some time.

Blu Ray Disc FAQ