The Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA) has released the specifications for BDXL (High Capacity Recordable and Rewritable discs), which provides write-once options on 100GB and 128GB capacity Blu-ray discs and rewritable capability on 100GB discs.
The BDA released the Version.3.0 of BD-R and Version.4.0 of BD-RE specifications, both available for licensing. The BD-R v.3.0 includes 100GB and 128GB discs for 2x/4x recording using the UDF 2.5/2.6 file system (BDAV). The BD-RW v.4.0 covers 100 GB BD-RE discs for 2x recording, using the UDF 2.5 file system (BDAV). All the new BD-R and BD-RE discs will not be available in a cartridge.
The BDXL specification is targeted primarily at commercial segments such as broadcasting, medical and document imaging enterprises with significant archiving needs. A consumer version of BDXL is also expected, particularly in those regions where BD recorders have achieved broad consumer acceptance, such as Japan.
The discs reach these high capacities by incorporating three to four recordable layers. Because the BDXL is specially designed formats with specific market segments in mind, newly-designed hardware is required to play back or record BDXL media. However, because the new media specifications are extensions of current Blu-ray Disc technology, future BDXL devices can be designed to support existing 25GB and 50GB Blu-ray Discs.
BDA is also expected to release the specifications for IH-BD (Intra-Hybrid discs). They will incorporate 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. The IH-BD discs also require newly-designed hardware to play back or record.
Source: CDRINFO
