Blu-ray and Blu-ray Player FAQs – Answers To Simple Questions

What is Blu-Ray?
Blu-ray or Blu-ray disc is an optical disc storage medium. It was created to be used for recording, rewriting and playback of high-definition video (HD). Its physical appearance is the same as a DVD or CD. You can tell the difference between the discs by locating the Blu-ray Logo.

What do I need to watch Blu-ray Disc Movies?
You require the following:
- HDTV (recommended 1080p)
- HDMI cable (provides the best image quality), Many players will have option video connections such as S-Video, Component Video Outputs and Composite Video Outputs
- Blu-ray DVD Player (You can not use Blu-ray Discs on a DVD Player)
- Blu-ray Discs

Do you need an Internet connection?
No. An internet connection is not needed. It is only needed for some extra features such as updating Firmware, downloading new extras, watching recent movie trailers, web browsing, home network, Online Streaming etc.

Who was involved in developing Blu-ray?
The Blu-ray Association (BRA) are members from the fields of motion pictures, consumer electronics and computer hardware. They created this disc format and are made up of more than 180 member companies. Some of the board of Directors are: Apple Computer, Inc., Dell Inc.,
Hewlett Packard Company, LG Electronics Inc., Pioneer Corporation, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Sharp Corporation, Twentieth Century Fox, Walt Disney Pictures, Warner Bros. Entertainment

Are Blu-ray DVD Players backwards compatible with DVD?
Most manufacturers make Blu-ray Disc Players that can read CDs, DVDs and Blu-ray. All new Blu-ray Players will up-scale standard DVDs to near High Definition levels (1080p).

How Does DVD Up-scaling Compare to actual Blu-ray Discs?
Up-scaling your DVDs will make them look better than the ever did before. However, when compared to Blu-ray, the pictures will seem flatter and softer. They will not be as crisp or sharp as Blu-ray images.

What is a 3D Blu-ray DVD Player?
A 3D Blu-ray DVD Player is a player capable of playing back 3D Blu-ray Discs as well as standard 2D Blu-ray Discs and DVDs. A 3D Blu-ray DVD Player can produce two 1080p signals for each eye at the same time. A 3D TV and 3D glasses are also required to view 3D images.

How much content or data can be stored on a Blu-ray disc?
This is one of the stronger features of the Blu-ray format. It has five times more storage capacity than DVDs. It can store 25GB (single layer) and 50 GB (dual layer).

The Discs are also future proof when dealing with storing data. Meaning it has support for a multi-layers disc. This will allow the storage volume to be raised to 100-200GB (25GB/layer) by adding extra layers to the discs. (100/128 GB – BDXL)

How much video can actually be on one Blu-ray disc?
On a Dual Layer Disc over 9 hours of high-definition (HD) video on a 50GB disc.
Over 22 hours of standard-definition (SD) video on a 50GB disc.

What video codecs can be supported by Blu-ray?
Blu-ray Players can handle the following video codec’s:
MPEG-2, H.264/MPEG-4 AVC, SMPTE VC-1
Be aware, it will be up to the movie studios to choose their video codec for their movie releases.

What audio codecs does Blu-ray support?
Linear PCM (LPCM) – Has up to 8 channels of uncompressed audio. (This format is required in all Blu-ray Disc Players.)
Dolby Digital (DD) – This is the format found on DVDs, Supports 5.1-channel surround sound. (This format is required in all Blu-ray Players.)
DTS Digital Surround – Another audio format used by DVDs, Capable of 5.1-channel surround sound. (This format is needed in all Blu-ray Players.)
Dolby Digital Plus – An enhancement of Dolby Digital, Supports 7.1-channel surround sound. (This format is not needed in all Blu-ray DVD Players.)
Dolby TrueHD - This is a “lossless” compression codec. Capable of encoding 8 channels of audio. (This format is not required in all Blu-ray Players.)
DTS-HD High Resolution Audio – Similar to Dolby Digital Plus, it is an enhancement over DTS, Capable of 7.1-channel surround sound. (This format is not required in all Blu-ray Players.)
DTS-HD Master Audio – A “lossless” audio codec similar to Dolby Digital TrueHD. Capable of  encoding 8 channels of audio. (This format is not required in all Blu-ray Players.)

Be aware, it will be up to the film studios to choose their audio codec for their film releases.

What does a Blu-ray DVD Players cost?
Prices vary from manufacture and player. Blu-ray products range from entry level players to hi-end players. The first production of Blu-ray Disc Players had very high price tags, but now you can see a steady drop in prices for almost every entry level and mid-range players. You can get a good quality Blu-ray Player for around $100 to $250.

About the Author

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I would like to offer this FREE BLU-RAY PLAYERS BUYING GUIDE when you visit http://www.Bluray-DVD-Players.com Or Visit our Holiday Gift Ideas page for great deals on Blu-ray Players: Holiday Gift Ideas Copyright 2010. This article may be freely distributed if this resource box stays attached.

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