Blu-ray

Blu-ray disc is an optical disc format designed to supersede the DVD format that provides much higher video and audio resolution and capacity than DVD.

The format was developed by the Blu-ray Disc Association, a group representing makers of consumer electronics, computer hardware, and motion pictures.

The name Blu-ray Disc refers to the blue laser used to read the disc, which allows information to be stored at a greater density than is possible with the longer-wavelength red laser used for DVDs.

The Blu-ray plastic disc is 120mm in diameter and 1.2mm thick, the same size as DVDs and CDs.  Although similar in appearance, Blu-ray discs can only be played back on Blu-ray players (although most Blue-ray players can play back DVDs and CDs).

Blu-ray players offer higher-resolution video and un-compressed multi-channel audio over HDMI, but do not support high-definition analog video output.

During the high definition optical disc format war, Blu-ray Disc competed with the HD DVD format. Toshiba, the main company that supported HD DVD, conceded in February 2008, releasing its own Blu-ray Disc player in late 2009.