Blu-ray Disc

The Blu -ray Disc (abbreviated BD; often only Blu-ray ) is an optical digital storage medium. It was developed as a high -definition successor to DVD, and offers its predecessor towards a considerably increased data rate and storage capacity. On Blu -ray movies can therefore be stored with much higher resolution. Blu- ray players are backwards compatible with DVDs in general, so that they can be played. BD sat in the format war against the competing HD DVD and VMD through. The production and development of the competing HD - DVD technology - including equipment - was set in March 2008.

Origin of the name

The name Blu -ray Disc is of English origin. Blue ray literally means blue ray, which refers to the purple light beam of the laser used (405 nm). The spelling without the e in the name was chosen to enter this as a distinctive brand names.

History

The specifications for the Blu- ray Disc were on 19 February 2002 by nine companies of the Blu -ray Group - decided - Panasonic, Pioneer, Philips, Sony, Thomson, LG Electronics, Hitachi, Sharp and Samsung; this grouping were joined by end of January 2004, Dell and Hewlett -Packard as well as mid-March 2005 Apple and Acer. After some introduced by Hewlett -Packard improvement proposals were rejected, HP came in 2005 from the consortium and joined the HD DVD camp. The end of the competition between the Blu -ray Disc and HD DVD began on 19 February 2008, when Toshiba HD-DVD as the main developer announced the termination of the development of the competition format.

2009 were sold in Germany 450.000 BD player, representing an increase of 150 % over 2008. As of 2010, some movie titles were each with a DVD and a Blu -ray Set (DVD / Blu -ray Bundle) offered. Similarly, some issues of new 3D Blu -ray titles are linked to the acquisition of a 3D Blu- ray player and / or 3D TV, so this time being only in combination exclusively available are ( for example, " The Chronicles of Narnia III ").

In 2011, 806.8 million euros with Blu -ray discs have been implemented in Europe. In Germany possessed in 2012, 11.55 million people over a Blu -Ray or HD - DVD player.

2010, approximately 2.9 million feature film or series products were also purchased from the Internet with a perpetual right of use (so-called electronic sell -through, EST) via download. Source: Association of Audiovisual Media eV

Source: Association of Audiovisual Media eV

Technology

The Blu- ray Disc is available in three versions: as a read-only BD -ROM (similar to DVD-ROM), as once variation BD -R (similar to DVD ± R ) and as a rewritable BD -RE (similar to DVD ± RW).

The Blu- ray Disc is based on a deep -violet indium gallium nitride diode laser with 405 nm wavelength, the rewritable Blu- ray Disc uses the phase-change technology.

It has - just like CD and DVD - a diameter of 12 cm. A Blu-ray disc can hold with a layer of up to 25 GB and with two layers of up to 50 GB of data. Alternative sources name as gross capacity 21.7 GB.

Currently ( March 2013 ) are BDs available in sizes 25, 50 and 100 GB in the trade.

TDK has managed to accommodate a six-layer disk 200 GB, the capacitance of a layer was increased to 33.3 GB. Pioneer stated in July 2008 to have produced prototypes with 400 GB on a disk with 16 layers; a development of a market-ready version was planned by the year 2010. Instead, the BDXL was published in 2010 with 100 GB of memory. Also, the company announced in 2013 [ deprecated] versions with up to 1 TB of memory.

Furthermore, it should allow twice the transfer rate ( data transfer rate ) of 72 Mbit / s when writing instead of the originally specified maximum single 36 Mbit / s, the new phase-change technology. An important part of the specification is also a copy in the form of a unique identification number. In addition, Blu -ray discs are particularly well suited for full HD video, thanks to the high resolution of better quality than the current systems such as PAL and NTSC the offer, but also need more space accordingly. BD players generally support the first introduced by Panasonic and Sony high-definition AVCHD format.

In practice, the technical specifications for Blu -ray video discs are as follows: The total data rate is limited to 53.95 Mbit / s. Of these, 40.00 Mbit / s (VC -1 and AVC in the form of MPEG -2 ) reserved for the pure video stream, the remaining 13.95 Mbit / s for audio tracks ( in the form of Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS, DTS-HD high Resolution Audio, DTS-HD Master Audio and linear PCM).

Another change over the DVD is the reduced distance of the laser for disk as well as the lower wavelength ( and therefore different color ) of the laser beam. Furthermore, the protective layer on the laser side of 0.1 mm compared to 0.6 mm of DVD is significantly smaller. Due to the resulting greater susceptibility to scratches and dust was initially planned, the Blu- ray Disc only in a kind cassette ( plug-in module or cartridge called ) offer similar to the time the MiniDisc. Instead, however, a coating called " Durabis " was developed, which no longer makes the use of a cassette case is absolutely necessary.

Because of the smaller distance between the medium and the laser optics and the thinner protective layer, a lens with favorable numerical aperture are used, which may focus the beam efficiently. Thus typo and stronger variations are reduced and it is possible to play a Blu -ray disc, for example, of metal or other rigid, opaque materials combined to build, which can be operated at much higher speeds than a polycarbonate lens with a thin transparent support layer, from which then results in higher transmission rates. In addition, with respect to the DVD shorter wavelength of the laser beam allows a much higher data density, and therefore an increased storage capacity.

Numerical Aperture Diameter of the laser spot track pitch

Video resolution on video playback

On BD-ROM, the contents can be arbitrary. To play on a Blu -ray video player ( not a computer drive) allowed the maximum resolution of the video material on the Blu- ray Disc 1920 × 1080 pixels at a maximum of 29.97 fields per second are ( interlaced i). In progressive scan ( p) 720 pixels can at a resolution of 1920 × 1080 pixels up to 24 frames per second at 1280 × up to 59.94 frames per second achieved.

Copy protection

For the Blu- ray Disc copy the Advanced Access Content System ( AACS ) from the area of Digital Rights Management is provided as for the HD DVD. There are programs whose distribution is illegal in Germany, that circumvent this copy protection. Since about 2010, some Blu -ray discs included in the soundtrack the Cinavia watermark. Since February 1, 2012, all sold Blu -Ray Players need to realize this and stop the sound or the picture after about 10 minutes. The use of the VEIL copy protection is under consideration. In addition, the BD technology is to test the authorized reproduction and for decryption. Since BD is constantly evolving, continuous updates of the player are needed.

Provider

Manufacturer

The largest producers of pre-recorded Blu -ray discs are Bertelsmann Arvato, Cinram, Sony and Technicolor. The German manufacturer of special plants Singulus Technologies manufactures automated Blu- ray production.

Players

BD players are produced inter alia by Denon, Daewoo, Funai, JVC, Kenwood, Lite -ON, LG, Loewe, Marantz, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Philips, Pioneer, Sharp, Sony, Samsung, Onkyo, Oppo and Toshiba.

Also, Sony's PlayStation 3 game console has a BD drive. You can play games and movies in addition to this format. The new Blu -ray Disc standard 2.0 is now thanks to a firmware update on the console possible, which makes the PlayStation 3, according to the manufacturer's first BD player, which actually supports this standard.

The PlayStation 4, the successor to the PS3 is able to play Blu- Rays. Similarly, the published end of 2013 Xbox One has a BD drive.

Since 2011, increasingly, 3D-capable Blu -ray players are produced.

Recording equipment

The first available outside of Japan recording device is the Panasonic DMR- BW500, which is sold in Australia and France, which HDTV is broadcast via DVB- variants. The French variant allows a device's internal record of the two - especially for the "TNT HD system " designed ( a work based on the DVB- T system ) - receiving parts receivable French TV program on the built-in 500 GB hard drive, as well as transcoding / compression on Blu -ray Discs and DVDs. A copy of DV video is also possible. For the Japanese market available Blu- ray recorder copy protection Copy Once and the voltage is not in Europe are due to the local broadcasting using ISDB usable. For spring 2010, the first Blu- ray recorder with integrated twin HDTV satellite receiver and the ability for HD reception for Germany have been announced.

Computer drives

In addition to the Blu -ray video players and recorders and PC drives are offered by many manufacturers. There are read-only drives, combo drives from disc burner and BD- read drive and Blu -ray burner for writing to BD -R and BD -RE blanks. The latter can be just like DVD burners are used both for storing data and for creating Video BDs, which is especially interesting for owners of HD video cameras. Self-developed Blu -ray discs can be played back by most current Blu -ray players now, if more compatible BDMV format used ( with start menu) - BDAV, the second format for consumers, which only contains the video data without menu, of some devices not read properly.

Some BD drives, in addition to Blu- ray Disc and HD DVD playback.

Film Studios

All major film studios such as 20th Century Fox, Metro -Goldwyn- Mayer, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Paramount, Universal Studios, The Walt Disney Company, Warner Bros. and Constantin Film publish HD movies on Blu- ray Disc

Interactive application layer

As part of the Blu- ray Disc specification of an interactive application layer is further defined that will replace inter alia the record DVD menu. This application layer is called BD -J and is programmed in a variant of Java that is based on a modification of the Multimedia Home Platform or GEM specification ( Globally Executable MHP). It also makes it possible to integrate interactive applications such as interactive movies ( choice of one of several storylines or movie ends ), inserts, games, websites or additional multimedia information.

Data rate

The indication " 1 × " corresponds to a data rate of 36 Mbit / s Ensures that data is read about four times as fast as a DVD the same rotational speed (1 × ). Drives for use in movie playback devices are operated with up to 1.6 times that speed, ie 54 Mbit / s, which limits the maximum data rate of a content stream is limited, including all camera angles and audio tracks to this value at the same time. The AV bit rate is limited to 48 Mbit / s. Drives for the computer use ( or for later game consoles ) but already create 8 times the speed ( ie 288 Mbit / s, about 36 MB / s).

Recording speed

Variants

Professional Discs

• Professional Disc for Data (PDD ): professional version of Sony with robust processing and a different file system; available from May 2004 in Japan, no longer produced since 2006.
• Professional Disc for Broadcast ( PDB): professional version of Sony with robust processing and another file system, is used in XDCAM camcorders and recorders as video and audio recording medium for the MPEG2 IMX format.

These variants do not correspond to the products for consumers. They are intended exclusively for professional use and are only produced in small numbers.

Stereoscopic variant

In December 2009, the Blu- ray Disc Association, a specification for stereoscopic video was released that uses the standard MPEG -4 MVC, an extension of the standard already in use MPEG -4 AVC. A playback with compatible 3D Blu -ray discs is also on the previous players that do not support the stereoscopic video output, monoscopically possible.

4K variant

Currently, a working group of the Blu -ray Disc Association (BDA ) on an evolution of the current Blu -ray works standards. It is primarily concerned with the ability to playback 4K films with 3840 × 2160 pixels which have a too large amount of data to find on current Blu- ray Discs place. For the first time confirmed Samsung is now the technical specifications of Ultra High Definition Television or 4k Blu- Ray Disc, accordingly to the digital optical storage medium have four layers and thus can store more than 100 gigabytes. Samsung confirmed at the Consumer Electronics Show 2014 in Las Vegas planning to try to bring the first 4K Blu -ray players and media storage end of 2014 to the trade.

Small Format

For Blu- ray Disc with diameter of 12 cm, there is also a 8cm Blu- ray Disc 8cm variant can save it as a single-layer BD -RE or BD -R 7.5 GB. This reduced size is to find application in such a small camera application and is currently being used by Hitachi DZ- DZ- BD70 and BD7H.

The Mini Blu- ray Disc is a based on the red laser DVD with Blu -ray data structure and content, so the designation BD -9 is used, a mixture of BD ( for Blu- ray Disc) and DVD - ninth These discs are aimed at the normal user who still does not have a Blu -ray burner, but already wants to play his movies with a Blu -ray player. Although the disks have the same data structure, but can not yet be provided with the AACS encryption. The wheels should rotate at least three times the normal speed in order to achieve a data rate of 30.24 Mbit / s, why are not played properly it from many Blu -ray players ( which are usually designed for only 1 times normal speed).

Blu -ray small sizes or types with a special design such as in the star, saw blade or heart shape can not be on a slot-in drives, as they are installed, for example, in the PlayStation 3, is used.

As a medium for video games and computer games

Blu-rays are also used as a storage medium for both video and computer games. The game console PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One own a Blu -ray drive and can therefore movies and games from Blu -ray discs read. Blu -ray discs as media for games will be used in part because of higher memory requirements in higher quality textures and game graphics, but also serve as an indirect copy, because the piracy at home users only until reaching the mass market of Blu -ray burners and blanks can be done small extent. Even in the PC sector, the Blu -ray can be used for games, but was used until now only a few providers.

Players profiles

The Blu -ray specifications contain requirements for players, which are summarized in the so-called profiles.

The space required for BD- Live memory need not be installed mandatory in the device, but can also be placed on a USB flash drive or a memory card. Especially with cheaper devices without recording function, this method is common.

Regional Code

As with the DVD region code is implemented in the Blu- ray Disc again, which is to prevent, for example, an acquired in the U.S. Blu- ray Disc can be used on European players. The codes are different from those of the DVD. In practice, many film production companies waive partially or entirely on an implementation of region codes (for example, Time Warner ). This means that at the moment about 70 percent of the movies available on Blu- ray Disc have no regional restriction.

• A / 1

• B / 2

• C / 3

Unlike the DVD region code of the Blu -ray region code on computers but not verified only by the player software, from the drive or operating system. It is stored in a file, the playback software or in the registry (for standalone players, he is part of the firmware). In some Internet forums hacks are published to reset the Blu -ray region counter, sometimes uninstalling and reinstalling the playback program is recommended.

Criticism

In addition to the advanced interactive capabilities of BD -Live ( programmability ), which run transparent to the user, it is possible that user profiles can be created without the user's knowledge that can be communicated in a row from the player to the manufacturers via the Internet. Thus, it is possible that the manufacturer of a Blu -ray unnoticed by the user obtains statistics of how often a film (or parts thereof) has been played with what settings ( language, subtitle, etc.). This privacy advocates see a problem, especially since the user is not informed about the purchase still must approve the use.