Infinity Announced First Movie Title On Hybrid Blu-ray/DVD For Japan

A Japanese entertainment software developer, Infinity has announced the first movie title on a hybrid Blu-ray/DVD disc in Japan. The movie title should be available in February 2009. The Hybrid Blu-ray/DVD disc is a combination of a traditional DVD with the new high-definition BLu-ray format. The new hybrid disc was developed two years ago by JVC, where the top of the disc has blue laser layer of 25GB, while the underneath have two more layers just like an ordinary DVD(8.5GB). The Blu-ray and DVD layers are separated by a semi-reflective film that reflects blue light while it allows the red light to pass through the DVD layer underneath.

Infinity also has noted that discs containing a couple of Blue-ray layers and a solitary DVD layer are also possible in the future. However, the first hybrid releases will be quite expensive. The hybrid HD discs that will be released in February includes a set of four hybrid discs (encoded in MPEG-4 AVC, Dolby Digital, 534 minutes in total) will cost around $406, while DVD version (7 DVD discs, 534 minutes, Dolby Digital) will retail for $266.