What is Blu-ray?
The Blu-ray Disc™ (BD) is widely used optical disc standard for High Definition video and audio data, named after the short wavelength blue laser which is used to read and write.
Like DVD, there are a number of Blu-ray Disc™ standards, such as read-only BD-ROM, recordable BD-R and rewritable BD-RE. The single largest feature of BD is its high-density data storage capacity of 25GB per layer on one side. This lets you store many hours of content, such as movies with HD resolution and high-quality music with loss-less audio compression. Blu-ray discs also feature a high-performance interactive function that uses Java™*, called Blu-ray Java™, to deliver a new video experience to users not offered by conventional video media.
The structure of a Blu-ray Disc™
The Blu-ray Disc™ is an optical disc with the same dimensions as the DVD disc: 12cm in diameter and 1.2mm in thickness. By using a combination of the 405-nm-wavelength blue-violet laser, which is a shorter wavelength than the red laser used by DVD, and a high-density objective lens with a numerical aperture of 0.85, BD uses a laser beam spot that is only about 1/5 the size used by DVD. Thanks to these technologies, a single-layer Blu-ray Disc™ can store five times more data than a DVD disc.
One Single-Layer Disc equals five DVDs in Data Capacity
The Blu-ray Disc™ boasts a data storage capacity of 25GB in a single layer and 50GB in a dual layer, because it uses the shorter wavelength blue-violet laser and a high-density objective lens to enable higher-density data reading. When a multi-layer system is adopted in the future, the storage capacity can increase to 100GB and even 200GB. One Blu-ray disc can store a huge amount of data so users can enjoy many hours of high-definition content and high-quality surround sound that could not previously be provided by other media.
The Blu-ray Disc™ optionally supports next-generation surround sound formats like `Dolby® Digital Plus`, Dolby True HD or dts-HD. Connecting a Blu-ray player to an AV centre using an HDMI cable enables linear PCM multi-channel data transfer. This makes it possible to reproduce high-quality 7.1-channel surround sound with each channel offering DVD-Audio quality, delivering a surround sound experience that rivals the quality of the master audio source.
HD Image Quality Video
In addition to the MPEG-2 format used by DVD-Video, the Blu-ray disc uses video codicecs, such as MPEG-4 AVC and VC-1, which deliver high image quality using high compression rates. The data transfer speed is 48Mbps, which is about three times faster than DVD. A future plan also calls for a further increase in the data transfer speed. These technologies allow long-time playback of content with high definition image quality.
The Blu-ray Disc™ optionally supports next-generation surround sound formats like `Dolby® Digital Plus`, Dolby True HD or dts-HD. Connecting a Blu-ray player to an AV centre using an HDMI cable enables linear PCM multi-channel data transfer. This makes it possible to reproduce high-quality 7.1-channel surround sound with each channel offering DVD-Audio quality, delivering a surround sound experience that rivals the quality of the master audio source.
Extensive Hardware and Software Support
The Blu-ray Disc™ specifications have been established mainly by leading electronics, PC and gaming manufacturers around the world, including Panasonic. These companies will support Blu-ray promotion by introducing a variety of hardware. A number of major motion picture companies have expressed their support. A large variety of Blu-ray titles are now available! Please visit the Blu-ray.com site here to see a list of movies available.
Films on Blu-ray discs can also be accompanied by a whole range of fantastic extra features that can be accessed on disc and even online. A new hardware profile, called BonusView enables you to enjoy extras which go beyond what was possible on DVD before. For example, the Picture-in-Picture function provides a small second window which can be watched simultaneously as the movie in which actors and directors can give enhanced commentary about the scene you are watching.
Extensive Hardware and Software Support
The even more advanced profile called BD-Live can also connect to the Internet and handle BD movies that have Internet-enabled content, such as interactive multiplayer games, trailers and extra features you can download from the Internet to local storage.
*Java™ and all Java-based trademarks and logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other countries.
Blu-ray BonusView - your backstage pass behind the silver screen!
Blu-ray gives you access to a new generation of bonus and interactive entertainment possibilities.
A whole new range of exciting and interactive entertainment possibilities
Outstanding high definition picture quality is only the start of the Blu-ray revolution; Blu-ray technology also enables a new range of exciting and interactive entertainment possibilities. If you have ever wanted to watch your favourite film with the director or lead actor explaining significant moments in the film, BonusView* is your backstage pass to the world behind the silver screen.
Picture-in-picture and Audio-Mixing Functions
The ‘Picture-in-Picture’ functionality provides a second small window which can be watched simultaneously on the screen in where, by example, actors and directors can give enhanced commentary about the scene you are watching; whilst the ‘Audio-Mixing’ function lets you choose the soundtrack you would like to listen to: the one from the content playing in the main window, the one from the small second window, or both at the same time. BonusView allows you to truly direct your own entertainment experience.
This whole new generation of bonus material is made possible through the advanced Blu-ray hardware ‘profiles’ which enable interactive functions. BonusView is the first of advanced profile, utilising 256MB local storage (used for storing audio/visual and title updates) and also secondary video and audio decoders, which is typically to allow Picture-in-Picture interactive audio and commentary.
BD-Live supporting Internet enabled content
An even more advanced profile, called BD-Live* can connect to the Internet and play Blu-ray movies that have Internet-enabled content, such as interactive multiplayer games, trailers and extra features you can download from the Internet to local storage, e.g. on exchangeable memory like an SD memory card.
The technology gets you the most from your movie watching. In the near future BD-Live will enable users to join in quizzes and challenge each other in super interactive games.
*Actual functions vary depending on the Blu-ray disc media.
Blu-ray High Clarity Sound
Hear the details you may have been missing. Eliminating the analog video signal output prevents noise from being generated by analog video signals allows for crisp, clear sound recreation from digital sound signal.
Eliminate unwanted noise and enjoy the same true, rich sound quality from the DMP-BD80 Blu-ray disc™ player as it delivers in high-quality Blu-ray video. True to life sounds that surround you as if you were really there. Feel and hear the difference that only Panasonic Blu-ray disc™ players can deliver.
When the analogue video terminal is not being used, the electrical current that flows through the analogue video circuit can be stopped. This prevents adverse effects on the audio signals and produces an even clearer sound. The results are astounding.
HD Audio Decode
The Blu-ray Disc™ theater and players feature decoders that are compatible with all of the latest 7.1-channel surround sound formats used by the Blu-ray Disc™ standard.
96kHz Surround Re-master
The 96kHz Sound Re-master function enhances the sound quality of CDs and other sources It even raises the quality of the multi-channel audio data on Blu-ray Discs™ and DVDs. By increasing the amount of sound information the Surround Re-master can produce highly realistic sounds.
7.1ch analogue Out
The 7.1-channel analogue signal converted by the new 192kHz D/A converter is transmitted in high quality. This signal can be connected to a receiver that does not support HDMI.
* It is available only for Blu-ray disc™, DVD, CD and SD Memory Card.
Premium Picture Quality with latest Blu-ray technology
Achieving the finest high definition images from a Blu-ray disc, through cutting edge audio and visual capabilities.
PHL Reference Chroma Plus Technology
While Panasonic Blu-ray players already produce superb picture quality, the passion it has for innovation encourages Panasonic engineers to continue bringing the very latest in cutting edge audio and visual technology together.
UniPhier* is an incredible new image and audio processor, which combines P4HD** technology with the proprietary Panasonic Hollywood Laboratory (PHL) Reference Chroma Plus technology, resulting in a processor that deftly handles images by reproducing colours and textures that are faithful to the original film, and offers precise digital audio processing. This brilliant new feature combines art and science to bring you the ultimate in high-end entertainment!
P4HD Technology**
To get the best high definition images from a Blu-ray disc, you need a player that renders high-quality progressive images, expresses motion smoothly, and draws sharp diagonal lines. The Panasonic-unique P4HD technology processes more than 15 billion pixels per second, generating each pixel correctly according to information obtained from up to 60 surrounding pixels, and applies the optimum processing to every pixel in the video data on the disc. The result is images with exceptional resolution.
Panasonic Hollywood Laboratories
From the Panasonic Hollywood Laboratories, research which is held in high acclaim by Hollywood professionals provides the background for the unique PHL Reference Chroma Processor Plus*** developed by Panasonic. Here Panasonic studies and improves restoration, colour correction, compression and digital conversion, so that the unique PHL Reference Chroma Processor Plus expresses the fine details and nuances of movie scenes by reproducing clearer colour boundaries, providing all the qualities that a Blu-ray disc has to offer.
*UniPhier is a trademark / a registered trademark of Panasonic Corporation in Japan and other countries.
**P4HD (Pixel Precision Progressive Processing for HD)
***PHL (Panasonic Hollywood Laboratories) Reference Chroma Processor Plus |
