Features

 

 

 

Interactive DVDS

Name a popular quiz programme, and the chances are it will be available on an interactive DVD. It is hugely popular. But why is it so popular? Here are our top five reasons why interactive DVDS are the buzz word in entertainment today.

1. They are fun - you can't escape it, they are compelling. Whether on your own or in a crowd, they guarantee laughs with a bit of added excitement and tension - superb!

2. You can take them anywhere - fully portable, you can take them round to friends or on holiday, without breaking your back.

3. They make a fantastic present -stuck for what to buy? They always love you for buying them an interactive game based on their favourite TV show.

4. They are family friendly - bringing generations together, choose the right title and all can join in.

5. They won't break the bank - not as price competitive as DVDs yet, they still represent value for money compared to a board game - and no missing pieces either!

 

 

 

Blu-Ray VS HD DVD

Choosing to ignore the Betamax versus VHS battle of the video players, Blu-ray and HD-DVD continue to battle on.

However, what is the difference and what difference will it make to us?

Blu-ray and HD-DVD are high capacity discs which hold up to 10 times more data than the current regular DVD. They both have the same physical size and appearance as a CD or DVD. But the similarities really end there. The new discs are read by a blue laser in the drive which has a shorter wavelength than the red laser used with CDs and DVDs. Also, the discs have much smaller, tightly packed pits which allows more capacity crammed into the same sized space.

The Blu-ray disc has a single layer capacity of 25GB and a double layer capacity of 50GB. This is enough capacity of over 7 hours of high definition video.

The Blu-ray disc is supported by the companies in the Blu-ray Disc Association. They include Sony, Apple, Dell, Panasonic, Pioneer, Philips, TDK, Sharp, Twentieth Century Fox, Walt Disney and Warner Brothers. With the launch of Sony's PS3 this year, many feel that the market will be more willing to adopt the Blu-ray disc. However, these discs are very expensive and the equipment is expensive too. Replicators are reluctant to purchase new replication lines for the Blu-ray equipment without more confidence that this format emerge the winner.

So who will win the battle? Only time will tell.