There's been some talk recently about those forthcoming sub-$100 Chinese Blu-Ray players that are expected flood the US market around the holiday season. All the while, however, the country has been developing a blue laser disc technology of its own.

The technology is called China Blue High-Definition or CBHD. The players will cost roughly half the price of their Blu-Ray counterparts in the country--about 2,000 yuan ($293 US). While the laser technology of the discs is similar to that of Sony's Blu-Ray, the discs themselves are closer to standard DVDs, made up of two 0.6 mm discs, rather than the 1.1 mm disc and 0.1 mm protective layer employed in Blu-Ray.

More than 100 movies will be available on the format in China by year's end.