Toshiba is to make video players capable of playing Blu-ray discs.

Japanese electronics firm Toshiba is to make video players capable of playing Blu-ray Discs – the technology that rivaled its own HD-DVD format and won.

Following a format war that came to a head in February 2008, Toshiba lost out to the Sony and Panasonic-backed Blu-ray technology, after it was further supported by four of the biggest movie studios in the world.

Blu-ray and HD-DVD went head-to-head to see which could dominate the burgeoning market for movies produced in the high definition format, and initially Toshiba made no moves to get involved in the Blu-ray format.

In a statement today (10 August 2009) however, it said it has applied for membership of the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA) and plans to introduce products that support the Blu-ray format.

“In light of recent growth in digital devices supporting the Blu-ray format, combined with market demand from consumers and retailers alike, Toshiba has decided to join the BDA.

“Toshiba aims to introduce digital products that support the Blu-ray format, including BD players and notebook PCs integrating BD drives, in the course of this year. Details of the products, including the timing of regional launches, are now under consideration. We will make announcements in due course.”

The Blu-ray Disc increases DVD capacity by five to ten times – due, among other reasons, to the usage of a blue instead of a red laser and improved lens specifications, allowing for a much smaller focus laser beam which enables the recording of much smaller and higher density pits on the disc.

Due to the fact that the data layer on a Blu-ray Disc is placed much “closer” to the laser lens than in DVD (or even the HD-DVD proposal), there is less distortion resulting in significantly improved tolerances. Hence, more precision and ultra high storage densities are made possible.

Furthermore, as a result of Blu-ray Disc being manufactured as a single substrate disc comparable to CD, but unlike DVD (and the HD-DVD proposal), the manufacturing process does not involve the bonding of two substrates, resulting in less production material, a shorter production time and hence lower production costs per disc.

For more information, visit the Blu-ray Disc Association website.