Blu-ray Disc eXtra Large

Advantages

According to the specification accepted by Blu-ray Disc Association at the end of June, 2010, BDXL should offer three types of the carrier: a three-layer re-recorded Blu-ray-disk with a capacity of 100 GB, the three-layer written disk with a capacity of 100 GB and the four-layer written disk with a capacity of 128 GB.

The increased capacity of disks — not the only advantage. The special covering executing a role of a protective barrier also belongs to their number. It protects an active surface from accidental scratches, sedimentations of dust and fixation of fingerprints, prolonging life. Moreover, users will be able to do marks and to print on outer side of a disk. The surface suitable for this purpose is increased up to 24 mm of internal and 118 mm of outer diameter.

Shortcomings

Lack of BDXL is that disks of this format are not compatible to the existing players and recorders. At the same time also updating of a firmware of devices, the only option — purchase of the new equipment is not an exit. Such equipment will support normal Blu-ray-disks.

History

2010

The Japanese corporation Sharp announced the first-ever laser disks of the BDXL format (Blu-ray Disc eXtra Large is a Blu-ray-disk of the increased capacity). New disks which capacity will be 100 GB will appear in the Japanese market on July 30, 2010. At the time of release the Blu-ray-disks which were in sale had with a maximum capacity of 50 GB are two-layer copies which each layer could contain 25 GB. BDXL — is focused mainly on a corporate segment.

Analogs

Sharp is not the first developer of a Blu-ray-disk capable to contain more than 50 GB of data. Similar developments were shown, for example, by TDK. The Pioneer company in 2008 announced creation of a Blu-ray-disk capable to contain 400 GB of information. Unfortunately, this project which did not require purchase of the new equipment and worked with existing was not brought to commercial implementation.