Sony slips LTH Blu-ray recordable disc support in 2.20 PS3 update

While BD-Live got the majority of the attention in the PlayStation 3's 2.20 firmware update, it appears Sony has made another important addition by implementing support for cheaper organic dye-based LTH (Low to High) Blu-ray recordable discs. These version 1.2 BD-R's, announced back in September, are manufactured with a different process that allows plants to upgrade CD and DVD equipment more easily. Existing Blu-ray players can't read the discs, which debuted in Japan last month, without a firmware update. Sony Japan's upgrade web site notes the new support, confirmed by AV Watch; although it went unmentioned in U.S. press materials, we'd assume the upgrade made it over here for any of those looking to burn (slightly) cheaper Blu discs.


[Via Engadget Japanese]

[Roberini Posted Mar 25th 2008 10:39AM]

Bring it. At $20 a disc, Blu-ray blank media would not gain any ground. I'm looking forward to getting a burner for no more than $100 and the media for $5.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 25th 2008 10:56AM]

Prices have been dropping quite rapidly, so those price points will be hit before we know it. I've been surprised how quickly they've been coming down, compared to DVD-R at the equivalent time in its life.

I hope the PS3 and standalone players will add support for AVCREC discs soon. My home videos are always short, so it would be cool to be able to author them in HD on DVD-R media for friends & family.

http://www.engadgethd.com/tag/avcrec/

[erwos Posted Mar 25th 2008 11:14AM]

I'd also like AVCREC support.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 25th 2008 11:31AM]

Ouch, I guess its good I went with PS3? For those who didn't, I hope they get firmware updates too.

[mdntcallr Posted Mar 25th 2008 1:28PM]

PS3 is the player to have. it is an excellent device.

i concur, would like the playback ability for AVCREC, But also the ability for recording HD to regular blank dvd's as well.

i believe a new burner adds this ability as an interm helper. this helps prevent needing the expensive BD-R's for each burn, some smaller files only need dvd's, but if you can put an hd file on it.... yay!

some will hate this, but others will like it as it advances HD, but keeps blank media costs down

[simbadogg Posted Mar 25th 2008 3:55PM]

i agree, i recorded transformers in HD on my dvr and burned it to a VC1 codec, and it came in at exactly 8.49 gigs, just small enuff for a DL dvd, i'd love for this support too