Remember when we posed the question as to “whether we’ll ever actually see 100GB Blu-ray disks?”  Despite the technological feasibility and advances by companies such as Sharp, we debated whether the market forces that drive advances in data storage and archiving would lead to a consumer writable Blu-Ray disk of greater than 100GB capacity.  Given all the other data storage options, such as redundant NAS devices, massive USB flash drives, and forever lasting DiamondDiscs, would consumers offer any demand for higher capacity re-writable Blu-Ray disks?

A recent announcement by the Blu-Ray Disc Association (BDA) answers these lingering questions.  In an effort to stay relevant in an era of skyrocketing magnetic and flash storage capacities, the BDA is expected to specify two new Blu-Ray formats that utilize up to four recordable layers.

“The BDXL specification, which is targeted primarily at commercial segments such as broadcasting, medical and document imaging enterprises with significant archiving needs, will provide customers with write-once options on 100GB and 128GB capacity discs and rewritable capability on 100GB discs. The discs reach these capacities by incorporating three to four recordable layers. A consumer version of BDXL is also expected, particularly in those regions where BD recorders have achieved broad consumer acceptance.

…

The Intra-Hybrid Blu-ray Disc (IH-BD) incorporates a single BD-ROM layer and a single BD-RE layer so as to enable the user to view, but not overwrite, critical published data while providing the flexibility to include relevant personal data on the same physical disc. This allows for consumer specific applications where combining published content with related user data on a convenient, single volume is desirable. Both the ROM and the RE layers on IH-BD discs provide 25GB of capacity.”

Both new specifications will require hardware upgrades, since existing Blu-Ray lasers can’t focus on the additional data containing layers added to these discs.  And while any new Blu-Ray burners built to handle these updated specifications will preserve backwards compatibility with existing 25GB and 50GB single and double layer Blu-Ray discs, it’s questionable as to whether the additional 64GB offered by these new discs will be motivating enough for consumer and commercial interests to initiate any changes in their data archiving techniques.

[Via:  BGR]