The format provides five times larger capacity than today’s DVDs, with unprecedented storage capacity of 25 GB (single-layer) and 50 GB (dual-layer). Blu-ray DiscTM players will be fully backward compatible with current CD/DVD formats, delivering entertainment content in full high-definition (HD) quality, under a secure environment made possible through the most advanced copyright protection technology.

Blu-ray DiscTM was created to match the accelerating growth in digital consumer electronics and computer technology. The platform supports the convergence of film, music, gaming and other computer entertainment in a single standard. Sony Computer Entertainment’s adoption of Blu-ray DiscTM ROM technology in the next-generation PlayStation 3 system was announced at the 2005 Electronic Entertainment Expo.

Blu-ray DiscTM is supported by more than 160 leading hardware and software manufacturers, including the leading innovators in the CE and IT industries.

At a glance

Single layer capacity: 25GB (currently 4.7GB)
Double layer capacity: 50GB (17 GB)
Recordable capacity: 50GB or 6-9hrs of HD (8.5GB or 2-4hrs of HD)
Industry support: 160+ companies
Backward compatible: Yes (thank god!!!)
Laser: Blue, 405nm (Red, 650nm)
Cost: Efficient
Video/Audio Codecs: MPEG2, VC-1, Dolby Digital