I was bummed that I couldn’t make it to the screening of Cars 2 last week with some bloggers that I would have loved to catch up with…and also learn about the new 3D Blu-Ray technology from resident geek Steve Fenech, the editor for TechGuide.
But, thankfully, I managed to shoot through some questions via email to help demystify what Blu-Ray and 3D Blu-Ray is all about for those of us who are not very technically inclined.
N: Can you please explain what exactly Blu-Ray technology is, for someone who is not very technical like me?
Steve: Blu-ray technology basically allows for more information to be stored on a disc. This extra space allows the full high definition version of the movie along with extras to fit on a single disc.
And with 3D, which is kind of like two movies – one for each eye – it can only ever fit on Blu-ray. You’ll never see high definition or 3D on DVD – there’s just not enough room on the disc. Blu-ray also allows for better sound quality as well because the soundtrack has not been compressed to fit on the disc – this is also known as “lossless” audio.
N: What’s the difference between Blu-Ray and DVD?
Steve: A traditional DVD can only store 4.7GB whereas Blu-ray can fit up to 50GB per layer. DVD movies are all in standard definition whereas Blu-ray movies are full high definition. Blu-ray full high definition movies have five times the resolution of standard definition DVD movie.
N: Why do you think brands like Disney are now using Blu-Ray instead of just DVD?
Steve: Disney has embraced Blu-ray, as have all the other studios, because consumers are now investing in full high definition flat screen TVs and their films can look and sound just as goodat home as they were in cinemas.
N: Would you need a player with Blu-Ray capability to be able to watch something on Blu-Ray?
Steve: To view Blu-ray you need a Blu-ray Disc player. But the device is also “backwards compatible” so they can play Blu-rays and regular DVDs as well. To view 3D Blu-ray you need a 3D Blu-ray player which is also backwards compatible – it can play 3D Blu-ray, 2D Blu-ray and DVD as well.
Viewing 3D movies requires a 3D Blu-ray Disc, a 3D Blu-ray Disc player and a 3D TV. The Sony PlayStation is still Australia’s most popular Blu-ray player and the only player in the market which can be upgraded to 3D Blu-ray playback capability. There are 1.4m PS3s and more 150,000 3D capable TVs in Australian homes. 8 per cent of all TVs sold are now 3D capable and this figure is growing as a rate of 300 per cent every three months according to GfK.
N: I know that the VCD format never really reached Australia, and we went straight to DVD instead, do you think Blu-Ray will surpass DVD and make DVDs obsolete in the future?
Steve: DVD is still a very popular format that isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Blu-ray has certainly seen a faster take-up rate by consumers and is becoming more popular year on year. Blu-ray won’t make DVD obsolete but will sit side by side as the high definition alternative.
I guess we’ll soon be embracing the 3D technology by the looks of things. Meanwhile, as a bonus for sitting and reading through all this tech speak, I’ve got a super awesome Cars 2 prize pack to giveaway. The pack includes:
- Cars 2 Blu-ray and DVD
- Invisible Pen with UV Light set
- Cars 2 watch
- Credit Card Sized USB Flash Drive
- Mini Car toolkit
- Spy Ear Phone
