HiDef Blu-ray Discs can now hold nearly three times as much programming with today’s approval of specs that will allow for four layers of data on a single disc.
The Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA) has announced the finalization and release of the specifications for BDXL, the new multi-layer recordable Blu-ray Disc format with up to 128GB of capacity for single use or multiple recordings.
Movies on Blu-ray Disc today are typically either 25GB capacity (single layer) or 50GB (double layer).
With the completion and approval of the specification, manufacturers can now obtain licensing information and license applications needed to begin production of the high capacity write-once and rewritable discs and hardware.
The new format is targeted primarily at commercial segments such as broadcasting, medical and document imaging enterprises with significant archiving needs, but they could also be used for consumer applications to capture and playback HiDef broadcast and satellite programming in markets where set-top Blu-ray recorders are prevalent.
BDXL offers triple layer 100GB RE (rewritable) and R (write-once) discs and quadruple layer 128GB R discs.
“By using the existing Blu-ray technologies, we have created a long-term and stable solution for archiving large amounts of sensitive data, video and graphic images,” said Victor Matsuda, Blu-ray Disc Association Global Promotions Committee chair. “We expect further growth of the Blu-ray Disc market as the introduction of 100GB/128GB discs will expand the application of Blu-ray Disctechnologies.”
Because the new media specifications are extensions of current Blu-ray Disc technologies, future BDXL capable recorders can easily be designed to play back existing 25GB and 50GB Blu-ray Disc formats.
— By Scott Hettrick