Blu-ray Discs expand to 128GB

[luke_c]

This probably isn't a response to the 3D onslaught or even "superbit" releases like the upcoming Avatar 2D disc, but just in case the standard 50GB Blu-ray discs were beginning to feel a bit -- how do you say... cramped? -- the Blu-ray Disc Association's rolling out a new BDXL format capable of holding up to 128GB (write-once) or 100GB (rewriteable). Before you get too excited, you should know that you'll need a new player to access these -- even a firmware update won't save the PS3 this time -- since they go up to three or four layers deep and will likely need a more powerful laser. While our home movies can be compressed just fine, corporations currently still using other mediums for archiving might appreciate the extra space, as well as the new IH-BD discs, designed with one 25GB read-only layer, and one 25GB rewritable layer on the same platter. If you're looking for a place to permanently back up that super high-res "amateur photography," take heart -- a consumer version is in the works, though it will first be aimed at markets where Blu-ray Disc recorders are popular, or available at all (read: maybe Japan, definitely not the US). No word when the new hardware will actually hit the market, but final specs are due "in the next few months." In the meantime, check out the full details after the break.

Source.

 

[prowler]

More powerful laser.
More electricity.
More global warning moans.
More laser burn outs.
More money!

 

[Bladexdsl]

waste of time really movies are never going to use that much space or ps3 games...unless SE make another FF game

all current brd players won't be able to use them either so you'll have to run out and get a whole new player. they can shove them up their ass!

 

[Deleted_171835]

Lame. You'll have to buy a whole new player.

I prefer HVD's over Blu-Ray. They hold more and can use Quad HD. Maybe they'll use it in the next-gen consoles.

 

[Cablephish]

They're certainly going to put this in the 4th iteration of PlayStation.

 

[BORTZ]

wow thats alot of storage on one disc.

 

[TM2-Megatron]

Lame. You'll have to buy a whole new player.

I prefer HVD's over Blu-Ray. They hold more and can use Quad HD. Maybe they'll use it in the next-gen consoles.

God, "quad HD" is such a stupid name; are they really calling them that? They should've just done 4KTVs.

 

[Bladexdsl]

Lame. You'll have to buy a whole new player.

I prefer HVD's over Blu-Ray. They hold more and can use Quad HD. Maybe they'll use it in the next-gen consoles.

nintendo is using them they helped develop them

 

[Deleted_171835]

Lame. You'll have to buy a whole new player.

I prefer HVD's over Blu-Ray. They hold more and can use Quad HD. Maybe they'll use it in the next-gen consoles.

God, "quad HD" is such a stupid name; are they really calling them that? They should've just done 4KTVs.

Yep. Crappy name for 2160p. Ever heard of Super Quad Full High Definition? It's a real name!

 

[Vidboy10]

Somebody loves reading engadget....

 

[geoflcl]

Ugh... A new player? What a pain in the ass. We ought to just put up with Blu-Ray's "cramped" 50GB limit for at least a few more years before we try to reinvent it.

Or better yet, just go digital. Screw physical media.

 

[ecchi]

Or better yet, just go digital. Screw physical media.

I personally think that the 50gbs is enough for a blu-ray disc, however with digital media there are problems. For countrys like Australia, we have insanely slow download and upload speeds. It hard enough for Australians to find a deal under 100 Dollars for 50gbs of data.

 

[geoflcl]

Ah, sorry, I forgot about Australia. Sorry, you guys. You guys are troopers!

Anyway, yeah, I think 50GB should be more than enough. What in the world couldn't fit on 50 cold, hard, gigabytes?

 

[ecchi]

Ah, sorry, I forgot about Australia. Sorry, you guys. You guys are troopers!

Anyway, yeah, I think 50GB should be more than enough. What in the world couldn't fit on 50 cold, hard, gigabytes?

Haha, it's painful but we manage. Not to mention our internet is going to be completely filtered.

 

[BoxShot]

Ah, sorry, I forgot about Australia. Sorry, you guys. You guys are troopers!

Anyway, yeah, I think 50GB should be more than enough. What in the world couldn't fit on 50 cold, hard, gigabytes?

The internet, a person, etc.

Anyways >.> isn't it early to actually be making even bigger blu-ray disc? I'd rather get 128gb msds! Though those would be EXTREMELY expensive.

 

[zuron7]

Can't everyone use HDD's?
Do we still have to be stuck with stupid old discs.

 

[MelodieOctavia]

Can't everyone use HDD's?
Do we still have to be stuck with stupid old discs.

This. 2TB Media boxes to replace every Blu-Ray player.

 

[Cermage]

Can't everyone use HDD's?
Do we still have to be stuck with stupid old discs.

hard drives are no where as portable as brd's. hard drives cost less, but once you drop them, most likely they're gone. right now flash memory and brd/multi-layer dvd's is where to go in terms of portable memory.

yeah 128gb is a bit overexcessive, but iirc MGS4 had a hard time fitting on the conventional 50gb DL blu-ray. right now many games are limited by how much space they use, i'm sure the creators of this years AVP wanted to go all out on textures (they still went pretty far... enough to cause a lot of problems on low vram cards) but was limited to 2 DL dvd's and a 32gb install.

 

[MelodieOctavia]

Can't everyone use HDD's?
Do we still have to be stuck with stupid old discs.

hard drives are no where as portable as brd's. hard drives cost less, but once you drop them, most likely they're gone. right now flash memory and brd/multi-layer dvd's is where to go in terms of portable memory.

yeah 128gb is a bit overexcessive, but iirc MGS4 had a hard time fitting on the conventional 50gb DL blu-ray. right now many games are limited by how much space they use, i'm sure the creators of this years AVP wanted to go all out on textures (they still went pretty far... enough to cause a lot of problems on low vram cards) but was limited to 2 DL dvd's and a 32gb install.

MGS4 A.K.A Metal Gear Solid: The Movie.

Its alot easier to fit models and textures, than Cut scenes.

 

[Omega_2]

luke, you've picked up my recent bad habit after I got better from it, didn't you? XD

Ah, sorry, I forgot about Australia. Sorry, you guys. You guys are troopers!

Anyway, yeah, I think 50GB should be more than enough. What in the world couldn't fit on 50 cold, hard, gigabytes?

The internet, a person, etc.

Anyways >.> isn't it early to actually be making even bigger blu-ray disc? I'd rather get 128gb msds! Though those would be EXTREMELY expensive.

yeah, a 16GB msd is already as much as a game, and no idea if they're even past 'Class 4', iirc