| Long gone are the times when all we had | | | | store 50 GB. |
| were compact discs, first for music, | | | | As a counterpart of the HD-DVD's iHD |
| then for data storage and movies. The | | | | Interactive Format, Blu-ray will use the |
| DVDs came next, boasting of what seemed | | | | HDMV, as well as Java software support |
| then as tons of data storage. | | | | to implement interactive menus. |
| But as they say, times quickly change, | | | | A Comparison |
| and so does the technology. Personal and | | | | Factors going for the HD-DVD: The DVD |
| commercial demands for data storage -- | | | | Forum is its big daddy. The movie |
| be they for music, movies, games, or | | | | industry, which counts among its ranks |
| software -- are outstripping the present | | | | Universal Studios, Warner Brothers, New |
| capacities of optical discs. | | | | Line Cinema, and Paramount Pictures, |
| Fortunately, two new players in the | | | | supports the format. The giants of the |
| optical storage scene have arrived -- | | | | IT industry -- Toshiba, NEC, Sanyo, the |
| HD-DVD and Blu-Ray. Both share | | | | DVD Forum, Microsoft, and Intel -- also |
| similarities, and at the same time | | | | support the format. All HD-DVDs and |
| compete against each other to become the | | | | HD-DVD players are backward compatible, |
| new standard technology for the future. | | | | meaning they will still support old |
| This match-up will eventually determine | | | | DVDs. It is cheaper and faster to |
| the successor to the DVD. While it might | | | | manufacture than Blu-Ray discs. |
| seem a boon to consumers to have two | | | | Factors going for Blu-Ray: Blu-Ray has |
| disc types to choose from, the battle | | | | the support of the world's largest |
| between the two discs might be | | | | electronic companies -- Sony, HP, Dell, |
| disastrous to the industry. | | | | Pioneer, Philips, Panasonic, Samsung, |
| HD-DVD | | | | Apple, LG-Electronics, and Mitsubishi |
| HD-DVD stands for either High Density | | | | Electric. There are also companies from |
| Digital Versatile Disc or High | | | | the entertainment industry that support |
| Definition Digital Video Disc. The | | | | the format -- Electronic Arts, MGM, Walt |
| HD-DVD's look is a familiar one -- it is | | | | Disney, and 20th Century Fox. The |
| 120 mm in diameter, the same size as a | | | | PlayStation 3 will be supporting Blu-Ray |
| CD and DVD. A single-sided HD-DVD can | | | | discs. Blu-Ray discs have faster data |
| hold 15 GB of storage, while a | | | | transfer rates than their counterparts. |
| dual-sided one can store 30 GB. A | | | | Blu-Ray discs have larger storage |
| triple-sided HD-DVD, a huge possibility | | | | capacities than their counterparts. |
| courtesy of Toshiba, can hold 45 GB. | | | | As you can see, each side has its |
| HD-DVDs use the iHD Interactive Format, | | | | advantages and disadvantages. It's |
| which will allow interactive content to | | | | really too tough to call at this point |
| be written for the discs. | | | | as to who will emerge the winner. But |
| Blu-Ray | | | | one thing is certain -- the commercial |
| Blu-Ray takes its name from the laser | | | | industry disdains this battle of |
| that it uses -- a 405 nm wavelength blue | | | | attrition, as any format war has the |
| laser, which is also employed by the | | | | potential to split the market into two |
| HD-DVD. A single-sided Blu-ray disc, | | | | incompatible sub-markets; these smaller |
| which shares the same diameter with the | | | | markets means that the format war kills |
| HD-DVD, CD, and DVD, can hold 25 GB of | | | | off revenues. |
| storage, while a dual-sided one can | | | | |