Pioneer shows off 16-layer 400GB Blu-ray Disc, affirms compatibility with current players

[xtop]

http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/02/p...rms-compatibi/

When Pioneer first introduced its unicorn-like 16-layer 400GB Blu-ray Disc, we weren't sure if the thing would make it beyond the drawing board, let alone be compatible with existing BD decks. Over at the IT Month Fair in Taipei, Pioneer showed up to showcase the capacious disc, and better still, a DigiTimes report asserts that these are indeed compatible with Blu-ray readers already on the market. Currently, the 400GB disc is slated to hit mass production sometime between now and 2010, while rewritable versions won't hit until 2010 to 2012. Not like it really matters though -- a 1TB disc is on track for 2013, and you know you'll be waiting for the latest and greatest.

[cathexist]

...holy crap

[Leopold BUTTERS]

nice..LOTR all on one disc all extended lol, they could do LOTR and the 2 hobbit movies. And tv shows all on one disc for the entire season. This is cool.

[ADRiiAN`]

Aw you beat me too it.
But damn 400GB!
That's a lot of HD!

[xtop]

Originally Posted by Leopold BUTTERS

nice..LOTR all on one disc all extended lol, they could do LOTR and the 2 hobbit movies. And tv shows all on one disc for the entire season. This is cool.

400gb isnt even enough for uncompressed tho!

[quexos]

So is this for video too or just for data storage as I've heard many say ?
If it's just data storage I am not interested. If it can play video, why don't they bring quad-layer discs to market first now and those 16 layered discs by 2010 ?

[tron3]

There is something to be said about not putting all your eggs in one basket. That many layer changes are sure to create play back issues. Better get cracking on the firmware, people.

[xtop]

Originally Posted by quexos

So is this for video too or just for data storage as I've heard many say ?
If it's just data storage I am not interested. If it can play video, why don't they bring quad-layer discs to market first now and those 16 layered discs by 2010 ?

well i remember hearing they'd never us anything more than 50gb for movies..so who knows if that still holds true or not

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by xtop

well i remember hearing they'd never us anything more than 50gb for movies..so who knows if that still holds true or not

They replicate movie discs (manufacture the disc and stamp the content onto it). This is a recordable, which would mean a studio would have to duplicate to use it.

I would have never expected any major commercial duplication (some small run DVDs are duplicated), but then Sony went ahead and announced those CD(-R)s which are burned with a blue-violet laser to reduce jitter (coughing ... BS ... coughing) so who knows.

Gary

[AlexKx]

THIS is what I understood was what Blu-Ray was suppose to be able to do and was one of the MAJOR points of this format!!!!! THIS is what and why I have been waiting and paying attention to this new format since the year 2000 THREE years after d.v.d.s came out. Back when it was called "Multi-Versatile Disc" and being developed by independant people from half a dozen different places on Earth.

I was told my numerous people...if not everyone here for that last couple of years of how stupid I was and out of touch and such a fool for thinking that one of if not THE reason Blu-Ray discs were to be the next format was because of the incredible storage space in terms of how many hours could be put on one disc. I had always understood that one of the MAIN reasons of switching to this format was that they would be able to increase the storage size over time...and in the NEAR future AND keeping this same format so that it would not even have to get a new player! I pray to God that this happens as well as the music industry adapting this new format the sooner the better.

[Anthony P]

this is cool, on the other hand if it ever shows up (or anything beyond 50GB) I have no idea. On the other hand capacity is not the only metric and unless they increase the bitrate it is relatively useless for movies in my opinion. After all who wants 8-10 movies on one disk (not that I would complain if it happened but how many 10 movie sets are there)?

[Leopold BUTTERS]

Originally Posted by xtop

400gb isnt even enough for uncompressed tho!

uncompressed video? I am confused.

[xtop]

Originally Posted by Leopold BUTTERS

uncompressed video? I am confused.

yeah..all those video codecs out there are compressing the video!

[Blu Titan]

Funny story about this. I received an e-mail from a co-worker titled "Blu-ray already obsolete?", and after opening it the information and link to the 400GB
Pioneer disc was enclosed. Apparently, he believed that this was a new movie format to replace Blu-ray. I obviously explained the whole issue, and then I was blown away when he said, "yeah, but this information is about an optical disc and Blu-ray is not optical...is it?"

[WriteSimply]

Originally Posted by Blu Titan

Funny story about this.

Your co-worker better not be a scientist or an engineer.

The BDA could use these 400/500GB discs and increase the read bandwidth so that it can be used with BD3D for true 1080p video.


fuad

[ixlegitballinxl]

good news, I wonder what source they will choose to showcase this?

[doctorsteve]

Originally Posted by xtop

Not like it really matters though -- a 1TB disc is on track for 2013, and you know you'll be waiting for the latest and greatest.

I'm speechless.

So would this allow for movies to be encoded to support x.y. color? (10 bit)

[doctorsteve]

Originally Posted by AlexKx

I pray to God that this happens as well as the music industry adapting this new format the sooner the better.

Try praying to the BDA instead.

[Blackraven]

Crazy shit

I'd never even imagine that we'd break 200 GB (using existing 25-GB per layer technology). Pretty sick indeed.

That said though, if they EVER release the LOTR Trilogy Extended Editions ON ONE DISC, I'd buy it in a heartbeat.

Of course, if they released it as individual discs, then I'd buy it of course.............yet if they put everything on one disc, then I'd buy that as well.

*Assuming that they use 50 GB individual discs x 3 movies = 150 GB. Then if they want to use 50 GB discs for the bonus features/extras/etc. x 3 films = 150 GB.

It would still fit hahaha :lol: :P

/*Also assuming that they use 1080p with the H.264/MPEG-4 codec along with HD compressed and uncompressed audio (Dolby TrueHD, DTS HD-MA, LPCM).....and whatever stuff they can put and think of atm. :P

[supersix4]

hmm I bet digital download people are waiting to hear how dd's will match this lmao




awsome news!