Apple to join Blu-ray

Blu-ray is the next-generation optical disc format. It has been developed to enable recording, rewriting and playback of high-definition video (HD), as well as storing large amounts of data. A single-layer Blu-ray disc can hold 25GB, which can be used to record over 2 hours of HDTV or more than 13 hours of standard-definition TV. There are also dual-layer versions that can hold up to 50GB of data. They’re blue and the pre-recorded discs are see through – different from our standard opaque media discs.

Current optical disc formats such as DVD, DVD-R, DVD-RW and DVD-RAM use a red laser to read and write the data, Blu-ray uses a blue violet laser instead.    The benefit of this is that it has a shorter wavelength which makes focussing the laser spot easier and with greater precision allowing information to be contained more tightly and stored in less space. 

It was announced at the end of last week that Apple Computers has committed to join the Blu-ray Association and will now occupy a seat on the main board.

Currently Dell and HP are the two other computer companies that sit on the board.  Apple are the 16th company to join the board, joining 110 other companies that have committed themselves to Blu-ray.

This is a significant step for Apple as they try to makes waves in the media industry.  No doubt this will also be of huge benefit to Blu-ray as it will generate lots of new discussion about the association and the new HD format. 

Philips and Sony have recently announce computer drives capable of burning Blu-ray discs – or ‘BD’ as they as soon to be known by.  It is said that the US and European Market will first experience Blu-ray in the Sony Playstation 3.

Blu-ray is expected to replace VCRs and DVD recorders over the coming years, with the transition to HDTV. The format is also likely to become a standard for PC data storage and HD movies in the future.

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