zippyjuan

Sony to Use Blu-Ray Disks in PlayStation 3

Next-Generation Sony’s Game Machine Acquires New Media
by Anton Shilov
08/08/2004 | 12:16 AM

While Microsoft targets “good-old” DVD as media type for its next-generation console, Sony’s Entertainment Division prepares to integrate a disk drive that will use innovative Blue-Ray format into the forthcoming PlayStation 3 console.

Blu-ray, also known as Blu-ray Disc (BD) is the name of a next-generation optical disc format jointly developed by thirteen leading consumer electronics and PC companies, such as Dell, Hitachi, HP, LG, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Pioneer, Philips, Samsung, Sharp, Sony, TDK and Thomson. The format was developed to enable recording, rewriting and playback of high-definition television (HDTV). Blu-ray makes it possible to record over 2 hours of HDTV, or more than 13 hours of SDTV on a 27GB disc. There are also plans for higher capacity discs that are expected to hold up to 54GB of data, according to Blu-Ray.com web-site.

Sony’s PlayStation 3 consoles will integrate so-called BF-ROMs, optical drives that can read, but not record Blu-Ray disks, aSony’s official said on a press-conference in Tokyo, Japan, GameSpot web-site reports. While the standard is yet to be finalized, it is pretty clear that Sony’s implementation of BF-ROMs may have vital consequences for the standard’s popularization.

Sony said it will reveal more details on the PlayStation 3 at a premiere event in Japan on March 31, 2005. The console will also be on display at next year's E3 confab in Los

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Mike_N_Ike

So does that mean you won't be able to watch DVDs on it?

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Chgoman

If they only incorporated the Blue Laser, you wouldn't as it is too narrow to effectively read existing DVD's that are written with a wider bandwidth red laser, but I'm sure they will use a dual laser head that can shoot both a blue and red laser for backward compatibility. Sony has always been really good about keeping things as compatible as possible.

kei2

The question is, what format will third-party software companies want to develop for? If the Blu-ray allows for higher capacity without any other changes, this gives PS3 a big leg up over XB2.

bachviet

I still wouldn't buy Sony.

I wonder how long it takes blu-ray to replace the regular DVD. Right now not all American homes have DVD player.

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Tommy Boomfiger

Blu ray will only become a standard for movies if all the hollywood movie houses agree on it as a standard. Right now the 2 major parties are HD DVD and Blu Ray. If they choose hd dvd, blu ray will be pretty much limited to data, ps3 (and other sony stuff). There is no current standard for blu ray to support current dvds, but that doesnt mean it wont, but it really depends on the manufacturer and the software they put in thier boxes.

There is still one big issue that is in play, neither hd dvd or blu ray is completely open source. hd dvd uses microsoft windows media and blu ray uses mpeg 2, same as used in current dvds. I really hope the blu ray camp wins this fight, im not too big on windows media formats

Agent Plissken

I hope the blu ray camp wins also, but unfortunately the next standard for home video has already been determined to be HD DVD. Blu ray camp is still looking to overturn this, especially since the specs have changed since the orignal decision (blu ray originaly needed to be encased in a plastic case simmilar to original CDROMs, but no longer needs this case due to a new protective coating on the disks)
Blu ray is huge compared to hd dvd, and the only reason hd dvd won originally is because they know most consumers are morons.

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