Blu-ray is the next-generation optical disc format. It was developed to enable recording, rewriting and playback of high-definition video (HD), as well as storing large amounts of data. The format offers more than five times the storage capacity of traditional DVDs and can hold up to 25GB on a single-layer disc and 50GB on a dual-layer disc. This extra capacity combined with the use of advanced video and audio codecs will offer consumers an unprecedented HD experience.

Ok, So Why Is It Called "Blu-ray"?

While current DVD technologies rely on a red laser to read and write data, the new format uses a blue-violet laser instead, hence the name Blu-ray. The benefit of using a blue-violet laser is that it has a shorter wavelength than a red laser, which makes it possible to focus the laser spot with even greater precision. This allows data to be packed more tightly and stored in less space, so it's possible to fit more data on the disc even though it's the same size as a regular DVD/CD.

You can also find a complete line of Blu-ray Disc Players & Recorders at our Blu-ray Store along with a huge and growing list of Blu-ray DVDs.

You probably already have a DVD player and DVDs, so you might be wondering...

Will Blu-ray replace DVDs?

Yes, that's the expectation. The Blu-ray format has received broad support from most of the major movie studios as a successor to today's DVD format (more on that below). The two formats (Blu-ray and DVD) will most likely co-exist for quite some time until HDTVs become more widespread.

Why Should You Upgrade From DVD to Blu-ray?

Well, in case you haven't figured it out yet, the simple answer is HDTV. If you've ever seen high-definition video on an HDTV, then you know just how incredibly sharp the picture is and how vivid the colors are. In fact, HD offers five times the amount of detail compared to standard-definition (SD). The problem with today's DVDs is that they only support SD and don't have the necessary storage capacity to satisfy the needs of HD. That's where Blu-ray comes in, as it offers sufficient storage capacity and enables playback, recording and rewriting of HD in all of the HD resolutions including 1080p. The format also supports high-definition audio formats and lossless audio.

In addition to the greater video and audio quality, the extra storage capacity also means there will be plenty of room for additional content and special features. This combined with the new BD-J interactivity layer adopted by Blu-ray will bring the menus, graphics and special features to a whole new level. For example, you will be able to bring up the menu system as an overlay without stopping the movie, and you could have the director of the movie on the screen explaining the shooting of a scene while the scene is playing in the background. The advanced interactivity combined with the networking features of Blu-ray will also allow content producers to support new innovative features such as downloading extras, updating content via the web, and watching live broadcasts of special events.

Thanks to the greatly enhanced HD video and audio quality as well as the advanced interactivity and networking features, Blu-ray represents a huge leap forward in the DVD viewing experience and will offer consumers an unprecedented HD experience. "That's awesome!" you say, "But...

Will I Be Able To Watch My Old DVDs On My New Blu-ray DVD Player?

Yes! The leading consumer electronics companies have already demonstrated products that can read/write CDs, DVDs and Blu-ray discs using a BD/DVD/CD compatible optical head, so you don't have to worry about your existing DVD collection becoming obsolete. In fact, most of the Blu-ray players coming out will support upscaling of DVDs to 1080p/1080i, so your existing DVD collection will look even better than before.

You can also find a complete line of Blu-ray Disc Players & Recorders at our Blu-ray Store along with a huge and growing list of Blu-ray DVDs.

You may have already heard of Blu-ray and now you know that it's basically high-def for DVDs. Perhaps you have also heard of HD-DVD. This is where there can be some confusion. As the name implies, HD-DVD is also high-def DVD. So is Blu-ray the same thing as HD-DVD? NO!

HD-DVD is the name of a competing next-generation optical disc format. It is actually quite different from Blu-ray, even though it also relies heavily on blue-laser technology to achieve a higher storage capacity.

So What Is The Difference?

The first difference is capacity. Because Blu-ray utilizes a lens with a greater numerical aperture than HD-DVD, the laser spot can be focused with greater precision to fit more data on the same size disc. This allows Blu-ray to hold 25GB per layer (50GB on a dual-layer disc), whereas HD-DVD can only hold 15GB per layer (30GB on a dual-layer disc). Blu-ray has also adopted a higher data transfer rate for video and audio. The greater capacity and data transfer rates for Blu-ray will allow the movie studios to release their movies with higher quality video and audio than the HD-DVD format.

The War Is Over!

The second main difference, and perhaps the more important one, is content. The Blu-ray format has received broad support from the major movie studios as a successor to today's DVD format. Seven of the eight major movie studios (Warner, Paramount, Fox, Disney, Sony, MGM and Lionsgate) have released titles for Blu-ray, whereas HD-DVD only had initial support from two major movie studios (Paramount and Universal). More and more of the studios have announced that they will be releasing hi-def movies ONLY in the Blu-ray format.

Why Does That Matter To You?

The 2 formats are NOT compatible. You can't play a HD-DVD disc in a Blu-ray DVD player, and you can't play a Blu-ray disc in an HD-DVD player, so it's very important that you know there's a difference. Just as there was a VCR war 30 years ago in which VHS vanquished Betamax, HD-DVD has been duking it out with Blu-ray. Based upon recent developments in the industry, Blu-ray is clearly on its way to supremacy, while HD-DVD is dying a slow, painful death.

You can also find a complete line of Blu-ray Disc Players & Recorders at our Blu-ray Store along with a huge and growing list of Blu-ray DVDs.

Below, we feature in-depth information and reviews on the best Blu-ray DVD players on the market from each of the top manufacturers.

You can also find a complete line of Blu-ray Disc Players & Recorders at our Blu-ray Store along with a huge and growing list of Blu-ray DVDs.

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