Blu-ray Disc recordable

Blu-ray Disc recordable (or BD-R) refers to two optical disc formats that can be recorded with an optical disc recorder. BD-R discs can be written to once, whereas BD-RE can be erased and re-recorded multiple times. Disc capacities are 25GB (23.31 GiB) for single layer discs and 50GB (46.61 GiB) for double layer discs. [http://www.blu-ray.com/faq/#bluray_speed blu-ray.com] ]

As of September 2008, BD-R/RE drives up to 6x are sold for about US$242 and 2x single-layer BD-R discs [ [http://www.memorylabs.net/lgggbluray6x1.html www.memorylabs.net] ] with a capacity of 25 GB can be found for US$10. The theoretical maximum for Blu-ray Discs is about 12x, as the speed of rotation (10,000 rpm) causes too much wobble for the discs to be read properly. This is similar to the 20x and 52x respective maximum speeds of DVDs and CDs.

Version

BD-RE Versions

There are three versions of rewritable Blu-ray Discs (BD-RE): [ [http://www.blu-raydisc.info/format_spec/r2_specs.php blu-raydisc.info] ]

Version 1.0
* unique BD File System
* not computer compatible

Version 2.0
* UDF 2.5 file system for computer use
* the use of AACS
* BD-R Version 1.0 follows this specification

Version 3.0
* camcorder (8 cm) discs added
* backward compatible with Version 2.0
* BD-R Version 2.0 follows this specification

BD-R Versions

Version 1.2
* add BD-R Low To High (BD-R LTH) standard. [ [http://www.cdrinfo.com/Sections/News/Details.aspx?NewsId=21422 LTH was included in the "Blu-ray Disc Recordable Format Ver.1.2" specifications. ] cdrinfo.com]

peed

BD-R LTH (Low To High)

BD-R LTH is a write-once Blu-ray disc format that features organic dye recording layer. The advantage of BD-R LTH is it can protect a manufacturer's investment in DVD-R/CD-R manufacturing equipment. Only modifications are required to current equipment; no investment in new production lines is required. It is believed this can lower the cost of discs. [ [http://www.cdrinfo.com/Sections/News/Details.aspx?NewsId=21422 Pioneer and Mitsubishi Develop Low cost BD-R Discs Using Organic Recording Layers] cdrinfo.com]

Old Blu-ray players and recorders can't utilize BD-R LTH, however, a firmware upgrade could enable the device to access BD-R LTH. Panasonic has already released such a firmware update last November for its DMR-BW200, DMR-BR100 and the MR-BW900/BW800/BW700 models. [ [http://www.cdrinfo.com/Sections/News/Details.aspx?NewsId=21913 Firmware Adds Support for LTH BD-R Discs to Panasonic Recorders] cdrinfo.com] Pioneer is also expected to ship the first LTH BD drives in Spring of 2008 [ [http://www.cdrinfo.com/Sections/News/Details.aspx?NewsId=22521 Taiyo Yuden, Mitsubishi and Maxell Release First LTH BD-R Discs] cdrinfo.com] . Furthermore, Sony's Playstation 3 received firmware upgrade to enable BD-R LTH reading in March, 2008 [ [http://www.afterdawn.com/news/archive/13371.cfm PS3 firmware update v2.20 available -- added support for LTH BD-R] afterdawn.com] .

ee also

* Optical Disc Authoring
* Optical Disc

References

External links