Blu-Ray Disc  (BD)
  405nm "blue-violet" laser.

  May 2002 Blu-Ray 1.0 specs. published.

  April 2003 - Sony released a HD DVD-RW in Japan
     HD-DVD attempted to maintain some backwards compatibility with DVD, 
     but movie producers did not want to stock 2 formats.
  R.I.P. Feb.-Mar. 2008.

  Versions - all Blu-Ray readers can read.
    BD-ROM - read-only prerecorded (manufactured).
    BD-R - Worm disc for PC data.
    BD-RW - RW PC data disc. 
    BD-RE - RW disc for HDTV.
 
  * Additionally - some attempts have been made to export the Blu-Ray
    protocols to work on DVDs.


  Single sided - single layer 
    27 GB (2 hours of HD video - 13 hrs. of standard broadcast).

  Single sided - dual layer 
    50 GB storage.

  BD-XL 4x layer 100 GB needs BD-XL writer, but all readers should be able
    to read(?).

  The recording layer is closer to the surface. And even with advanced
    coatings, discs are more sensitive to scratches.

  Currently uses UDF for the file-system.

  MPEG2, MPEG4 for storing audio/video.

  Video discs follow a tightly defined directory structure/file naming
    protocol. Additionally, fairly extensive copy-protection scheme
    embedded in the recording.

  Use Java platform for menu display (?) and other features.

  3 region set up. 
    A - western hemisphere and most of southeast Asia.
    B - Europe, Africa, Australia, etc.
    C - Asia/Russia

  DRM - Digital Rights Management - encoding to prevent copy. 
    Advanced Access Content System - AACS 
      Uses a key system to "unlock" data under certain conditions.
  
    BD+ - virtual machine that can repair hacked players and descramble
      encrypted data.
 
    BD-ROM Mark - additional decryption key that is not normally copied
      by copy software. Marked data can only be decoded if mark present.

    BluRay movies (producers) are required allow a limited number of 
      duplicates for backup protection or to allow user to watch from 
      a server. Legal ripping software actually accesses a database to
      manages the number of ripped copies from a particular disc.

    Like CSS, AACS has been cracked and ripping software available, but
      could be considered illegal. This software does not check in. 

    Interesting article : www.macworld.com/article/1150731/dvdripping_faqs.html

  Experimental recording on 46 (200GB) layer disks.