PowerDVD and Hitachi-LG Will offer first Ultra HD Blu-ray playback for PC

Cyberlink purchased a rather expensive license and certification from the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA). This will allow them to offer Ultra HD Blu-ray playback. PowerDVD is now the first ever software player to be certified and Ultra HD Blu-ray playback should become available in 2017.

Ultra HD Blu-ray offers 4K content at 3840×2160 resolution, but also a expanded color range, high dynamic range and high-frame rate (up to 60fps) content and supports the latest sound formats like Dolby Atmos.

This certification ensures that PowerDVD will be able to deliver Ultra HD Blu-ray and other 4K content with 3840×2160 resolution as well as support of high dynamic range (HDR) presenting a wide range of contrast and fine detail in dark and bright areas; a wider color gamut (for supporting 4K/HDR monitors at TVs); frame rates up to 60 fps and support for object-based surround sound formats (like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X).

A PC will need to have an Ultra HD Blu-ray drive, a 4K Ultra HD-supporting computer monitor, 4K graphics card including the ability to read and playback HEVC 10-bit and support HDCP 2.2 content protection and read and play HDR-10 high dynamic range metadata. Thus far, some of those hardware elements remain limited or scarce, although that should change soon. CyberLink said Ultra HD Blu-ray supporting versions of PowerDVD will be available in early 2017 from the company’s online store and authorized CyberLink retailers. The company is also working soliciting hardware manufacturers to provide versions of the software to support forthcoming Ultra HD Blu-ray drives, PCs and other devices.