By Tiffany Ayuda
The sound can make you feel the rattling in your bones. The images can make you believe that you’ve teleported to movie scenes in your memory, but together, you can experience reality in the comfort of your home or dorm room. If you don’t believe in “magic,” then Disney’s new Blu-ray technology and surround sound will have you “wishing upon a star” for it.
The Blu-Ray phenomenon arrived at the Roosevelt Field Mall this past weekend, just one of many stops on the tour. Outside of Macy’s department store, plasma screens showed clips of film to demonstrate the technology.
“It’s very nice,” says Luz Heset, an audience member. “I would watch with it every day if I could own one.”
After being an established type of DVD for over a year, the tour spreads the word of what the technology has to offer, says Emma Roberts, co-host and spokesperson for Blu-ray.
“Blu-ray Technology is the most advanced form of packaged home entertainment,” Roberts says.
With up to six times the regular resolution than the regular and high definition (HD) DVDs, it’s no surprise that a majority of movie studios in Hollywood now use Blu-ray.
According to Roberts, Blu-ray delivers a truly unique viewing experience because of the high quality of picture resolution.
Through their Disney Magical Blu-ray Tour, Roberts and her co-workers are promoting the “magic” of Blu-ray and attracting a growing number of customers all over the country. The Blu-ray Tour started in August in Los Angeles and has been to at least 17 other locations.
“It’s a really great system that Disney and Pixar have created to enhance your entertainment viewing,” Roberts says.
Blu-ray discs offer at least 50 gigabytes of space for information, while HD only offers 30. In addition, Blu-ray is now used by music recording studios and music artists because it allows the singer to add sound and dialogue without much editing, and recording is efficient.
Another special feature of Blu-ray is that it is compatible with PlayStation 3 gaming systems. PS3s are able to play Blu-ray discs, so sound and images are heightened to a whole different level of entertainment.
Blu-ray discs released 400 movie titles in its first year in the market. According to a DVD release report, about two million Blu-ray discs have been sold.
Emma Roberts gives a presentation of Blu-ray technology near Macy’s in Roosevelt Field Mall this past weekend. (Tiffany Ayuda)
(Tiffany Ayuda)