The read/write cycle continues: 6x Blu-ray BD-Rs in July

Panasonic has announced the upcoming availability of 6x BD-R media, claiming a data transfer rate of 216 megabits per second.

Developments in Blu-ray thus far have occurred on a fairly regular basis; on an average of every eight to ten months, the market receives a new generation of blue laser products. This month, just around 8 months after Blu-ray got widely bumped up to 4x, we have begun to see 6x devices and media.

With each subsequent generation, consumers also get treated to the marked drop in price that is customary with advances in technology. The first BD-R recorder from Pioneer, the BDR-101A, premiered in May 2006 with an MSRP of just around $1,000, after which prices for 2x and 4x burners were cut almost in half.

LG has already made available three 6x Blu-ray burners, all under $400.

BD-R media have thus far premiered at about the same price point. However, when production of the next generation begins, that's when the prices drop. 25 GB 2x discs originally cost between $20-30 each, but have dropped to between $8-12 after the proliferation of 4x. Today, 4x media have come down to around $10-15 per disc. Japanese site PC Watch expects Panasonic's 6x discs to retail for ¥1,700 and ¥4,000 for the 25- and 50 GB versions, or about $15.75 and $37.00 respectively.