Remember when movies and TV shows used to come in physical formats? No? Well, before everything was available to stream, we had these discs called Blu-rays, and before that they were DVDs. Sure, they’re a step backwards compared to the convenience of streaming we have now, but as 4K becomes the standard of high-definition, your internet bandwidth may not have the chops to keep up. That where the new format of Ultra HD Blu-ray aims to step in.
The organization behind Ultra HD Blu-ray, the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA), announced the completion of this format this week, and offered up details on the specs of the technology. Discs will be able to handle a ratio of 3840 x 2160 pixels, or 4K, along with high dynamic range content and frame rate expected to be as high 60fps.
As for storage, a dual-layer UHD Blu-ray disc can hold 66GB of data, while a triple-layer disc can store 100GB. Standard Blu-ray discs are capable of 25GB on single-layer and 50GB on dual-layer. This space will allow the new format to provide what the BDA calls “consistent” and “repeatable” movie-watching experiences. New audio formats to be supported include Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.
But don’t think you’ll be able to watch UHD Blu-ray discs on the player you already have. Of course you’ll have to buy a new one. These players are expected to hit the market this fall, but thankfully they will be backward-compatible with the existing Blu-ray format.
SOURCE Blu-ray Disc Association