Sony & Panasonic team up for new 300GB discs by 2015

[djgeneral]

Sony and Panasonic just can’t let go of physical media. Today the two companies announced plans to develop another optical disc format with at least 300 gigabytes of storage by the end of 2015, significantly more space than Blu-ray, the current high-end disc.

Dual-layer Blu-rays currently top out at around 50 gigabytes (every layer of storage is around 25 GB). Newer BDXL discs can reach 100GB and 128GB, but they aren’t compatible with existing players (and they’re not a significant enough bump to warrant upgrades for most).

When it comes to movies and video games, Blu-ray has proven to be a worthy successor of the mega-popular DVD, which only held around 9GB of data (dual-layered). But as Hollywood looks at new media formats like 4K, there will soon be a need for much more storage.

The biggest threat for the new unnamed disc format isn’t its predecessor, though — it’s streaming media. Netflix’s streaming service has helped to popularize the notion of on-demand high-definition content, while services like Vudu offer even higher quality versions of films for the true quality freak. With newer streaming video codecs, as well as faster Internet service in developing countries, streaming massive 4K resolution films could soon be viable.

http://venturebeat.com/2013/07/29/be...discs-by-2015/

[42041]

Wrong subforum for this, probably.
The Sony press release says the format is for the professional market, so I wouldn't get too excited.

[djgeneral]

Originally Posted by 42041

Wrong subforum for this, probably.
The Sony press release says the format is for the professional market, so I wouldn't get too excited.

I've seen a lot of BD news placed in this section before so this is where I put it.

As for the professional market, I'm sure it will be available for "regular" people as well.

[HD Goofnut]

This is old news. News of the new BDXL discs has been around since January.

[Tns49]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

This is old news. News of the new BDXL discs has been around since January.

This is not BDXL. Not sure it was given a name.

http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/News/Pr...1307/13-0729E/

[img eL]

Originally Posted by 42041

Wrong subforum for this, probably.
The Sony press release says the format is for the professional market, so I wouldn't get too excited.

The first 25GB Blu ray disc'c were for the professional market too as well

[GenPion]

This won't make a big difference on home media's marketplace, unless everyone suddenly upgrades to 70 in. plus 4K HDTV's. I don't see how it would.

There was talk about higher capacity discs around this storage capacity a few years ago but the discs never actually materialized. 50 GB is plenty of space for a HQ film presentation. Could it be even better? Probably, to be sure. But I don't even see how we would jump to another format already. Lots of people are still discovering Blu-ray and I don't think there will be widespread demand for something better as a format.

The best benefit of something like this would be "complete season", "complete film series", etc. releases on ONE DISC. Which would theoretically bring down costs to consumers and manufactures. But studios wouldn't probably want us to own a complete season of a show in HD or a complete film series on a single disc. And would this storage capacity be compatible with Blu-ray?

[HeroicWaffles]

Agreeeeeeed

[DaViD Boulet]

When 4K is ready for disc-based home delivery, even if 50GB turns out to be enough with new codecs, we'll need a new BD "format" for players to read the discs. Might as well bring on higher capacity media at the same time since you'll need a new player anyway.

I doubt that 4K streaming will satisfy the videophile who's interested in 4K image quality. Today's 1080p streaming can't hold a candle to Blu-ray, so I'm skeptical that 4K streaming will suddenly do significantly better given the added bandwidth challenge it will face.

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by DaViD Boulet

When 4K is ready for disc-based home delivery, even if 50GB turns out to be enough with new codecs, we'll need a new BD "format" for players to read the discs. Might as well bring on higher capacity media at the same time since you'll need a new player anyway.

I doubt that 4K streaming will satisfy the videophile who's interested in 4K image quality. Today's 1080p streaming can't hold a candle to Blu-ray, so I'm skeptical that 4K streaming will suddenly do significantly better given the added bandwidth challenge it will face.

Bingo! Just like people bought new 3D players so too will people have to buy 4K players, hopefully they'll make sure it plays 3D as well right from the get go.

4K screens are at their extreme infancy in terms of market adoption, I have no doubt that in another 2 years they'll have a new disc format ready for pristine 4K encodes perhaps supporting new Dolby and dts configurations like Atmos, I look forward to it.

I would love to jump up to a 65"+ 4K screen another few years down the road if the titles are being released. I can't see broadcast quality 4K being anywhere near what the next physical disc format will bring (and it could be largely based on Blu-ray technology too) as they can't come anywhere near to current 1080p Blu-ray quality with either picture or sound at the moment.

Viva physical media - still buying vinyl records and that format is several decades old.

[vargo]

These will be writeable discs for professional use. Nothing to do with a consumer movie format.

[Tellymon]

Physical media forever

[cbas593]

Sony And Panasonic Developing 300 GB Successor To Blu Ray

With an anticipated release date of 2015 I would like to know how my fellow members of the forum feel about this.

For more info follow this link to IGN: http://m.ign.com/articles/2013/07/29...sor-to-blu-ray

[benricci]

Originally Posted by cbas593

Sony And Panasonic Developing 300 GB Successor To Blu Ray

With an anticipated release date of 2015 I would like to know how my fellow members of the forum feel about this.

For more info follow this link to IGN: http://m.ign.com/articles/2013/07/29...sor-to-blu-ray

Already a thread on this. Plus it's the wrong section.

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=224963

[cbas593]

Originally Posted by benricci

Already a thread on this. Plus it's the wrong section.

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=224963

New blu ray format that will be available in North America, perfect section.

[tru_to_blu]

IGN is more reliable than venturebeats. He was posting a article that might be news to some people. Chill out.

[lcummins]

If they do use it for releasing movies and TV, as long as the player is backward compatible with current BD (like current Blu-ray players can play DVD), it won't bother me at all. Just don't try and make us upgrade all over again!

[stratford]

Who is going to be buying this new format?
Most people as a whole are happy with a DVD, or even happier to ruin their eye sight with a 'no questions asked copy' from an aquaintant.
Region locks and DRM will be broken soon enough, so why bother with them?