World’s first Blu-ray/DVD hybrid developed in Japan
Here it is folks, it’s what you’ve all been waiting for (or not): The very first Blu-ray / DVD hybrid disc. With permeable layers for DVD and Blu-ray, and different thicknesses between those layers, the lasers penetrate to certain depths allowing for either the DVD or Blu-ray to be read. There is one huge benefit to this new hybrid disc – backward compatibility. Instead of buying two copies of the same movie (we doubt you actually do that) on Blu-ray and DVD, you only need one disc to play in your Cadillac Escalade, portable DVD player or PS3. Get the picture? For now, it’s only available in Japan, but we suspect this technology will make its way to the States sooner or later. It would only make sense, right?
I doubt it will come to the states. What is the business incentive for the big studios? Rigt now, you have to buy two copies. Do you really think they will come up with an option to allow consumers to only buy one? Fat chance. Of they do come out with it, it will be very close to if not more than buying both Blu-ray as well as the DVD version. No real benefit to the consumer.
@Chad:
I disagree. Either you want the bluray or the dvd version. If it’s the Bluray, you’re going to buy the disc one way or the other, and it can be at the bluray price and you won’t care. If you’re shopping for the dvd version, they can discontinue that and make you buy the hybrid disc at the bluray price. Meanwhile, they’re making/shipping/stocking a single product instead of two, which is a lot cheaper for them. So essentially, even if the price stays the same, they end up making a lot more money on gouging the dvd customers.
W
I agree with Wingles…this would just be another method of expanding Blu Ray by discontinuing regular DVDs altogether.
Yet another technology that HD DVD had at its inception. Yes BD won a long time ago, but it still amazes me that it is playing catchup in terms of features and tech (no I’m not talking about capacity).
Yeah I definitely agree, although in BluRay’s defense, it is a completely different laser technology lol.
(sung to the tune of i’m in love with a stripper) i’m in love with the bluray!
Go betamax! Why wouldn’t you just hook up your escalade with a ps3 I mean come awn..
In your cadillac lolllllllllll . Lexus rulz..
This technology would benefit consumers more than studios and distributers, so you can bet we’ll never see it in the US.
Naturally I would love to be able to drop the same disc in my home theater Blu-ray player for the full HD experience, but also enjoy the compatibility and convenience of DVD when viewing on my laptop or ripping to my iPod.
But unfortunately it ain’t gonna happen. A core feature of the entertainment industry is re-selling the same shit in a new format every 10 years. They are going to reject anything that makes that model less lucrative, or price it into a niche.
And this isn’t just cynical speculation. Where are the dual-sided discs we were promised, the ones with DVD on one side and HD on the other? Yeah, I thought so.
@ Derek:
Were we ever promised this with Blu-ray? I don’t recall that ever being mentioned as a feature for Blu-ray, but I do recall that being a selling point for HDDVD. Not only was it promised on HDDVD, but it was also delivered an several titles.
Sounds to me like your thoughts are a bit cynical and a bit speculative.
No don’t you get it. People will who will eventually buy and Blu-ray player will buy the version that works with their current DVD player and then be able to play it again in the future with their blu-rey player
I have said it before and I will say it again, HD DVD was the better High Definition DVD from conception. Not only did it deliver both the ability to play DVD and HD DVD on a hybrid disc it was ahead of its time. Blu-Ray getting this feature is a little too late and I do not think people will fully embrace Blu-Ray for a while, the cost just doesn’t justify the purchase now. Not with most dvd players now having the ability to upscale DVD’s to near nigh def quality.