Blu-ray.com

Japanese optical disc manufacturer Infinity has announced the first Blu-ray release which makes use of a hybrid Blu-ray/DVD release. Due to hit store shelves on February 18th, 'Code Blue' will feature four hybrid discs, which feature a single Blu-ray layer (25GB) and two DVD layers (9GB) on the same side of the disc.

The disc has been approved by the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA), but has not been certified by the DVD Forum due to compatibility issues with some DVD players. The company tested the disc on 64 different players - including PC drives as well as standalone DVD and Blu-ray Disc players - and saw 100% compatibility, so the issue seems to be rare.

Infinity has also developed a 50GB version which they are now in the process of getting certified by the BDA. It will be interesting to see if the technology gets adopted for any major Hollywood releases in the future.

Pretty cool if it catches on.

Small chance of this going mainstream.

Studios seem more excited on including Digital Copies or including a bonus DVD version of the film instead (Sleeping Beauty, High School Musical 3, Pinochio)

If these are not leagues better than HD DVD's implementation, then don't bother.

This coming from someone who LOVES this idea, in theory.

I thought I had read before that one of the BD insiders mentioned that eventually, the digital copy would be included on the BD. I like that idea.

Oh FFS why can't they just leave this combo crap dead?

No matter how good the concept the execution is doomed to be crap. Not to mention it limits the BD layer to single-layer. Ugh.

Since the DVD versions (SE at least) are also including the Digital Copies it may just be cheaper to throw an extra DVD disc in the case with the BD instead of making the Digital Copies on the same BD Disc (which I would assume would be more expensive).

Exactly.

Lets do more to confuse the consumer and add to their indecision.

I think the industry wants this format to die.

Article says they are on the same side.

I'd rather they not do this, thanks.

I hear they're going to put a fifth wheel on a car too.

Great - an excuse for the studios to charge us more per release for a DVD verison of the movie we'll never watch.

Bingo!

I wouldn't mind having a dvd version included. Just drop the digital copy from the special editions and give us the dvd copy instead.

I agree. Enough with those stupid digital copies which 90% of the people don't want!

Well, if we go with Warners totals from a few days ago, 300k already used their DCs. Expect all future D&Ds to have them.

Thing is, TDK is the kind of film you want to carry around with you. I haven't used any of my other DC's, but I got TDK because I am annoying some co-workers with every Joker scene.

That would be rather pointless to 95% of people. How many people actually have Blu-ray drives in their computer? If the digital copy is on the BD, then only those with the bd rom can access it.

No VHS = No sale.

Thus the word "eventually."

I've used the DC's of every disc that's come with them. No harm in having a backup copy, right? And I do routinely switch out movies on my iPhone. I know, it's heresy to watch movies on a screen that small, but I do it anyway.

I wouldn't want the DC taking up space if it's a single-layer disc. I imagine that someone's going to point out there's often a gig or two unused anyway, but it at least has the potential to affect the video compression and/or real supplements.

I think they'll eventually just include the code and have you download the DC.

I missed those potentially bogus totals. Were they from every DVD and Blu-ray ever sold which had a digital copy? Ruling out cases where people put copies on multiple devices what were the actual percentage of copies used?

Also, I'd be curious as to how many people watched a digital copy and then botheres to download a 2nd. Just because 300,000 people tried a free thing once doesn't mean that any of them would try it again.

This would be my preference also.

That would mean the studios would have to deal with storage of these files (downloads) instead of just tossing them on a disc (which would be faster for consumers to get over downloads).