Pioneer demonstrates dual layer burning capacity on A06

[Noua]

I was under the impression that the 1100a was never successfully flashed to a 1300a?

That's not quite right. It was always possible to flash the NEC1000a into NEC1100a and 1100a into 1300a although this wouldn't unlock the -r burning capacity...
Last week a new firmware was relaesed by anonimous source (reports say that it was the first one for this model - beta) that unlocked and therefore allowed bual burning capacity. Also the NEC 1100 and 1300 have the same board, with only some transistors being different. So we all new that this was a possibility but what we didn't knew was how to unlock the system. Today it's possible to turn your NEC 1100 into 1300, but there are some negative reports on this issue.

Now, this is totally differente (A06 - dual burning), and make us believe that we might have some kind of easter egg hidden in our drive. If so then it's great cause we won't need to buy a new drive for dual layer burning. If not then too bad.. When I bought my drive I didn't expected to burn dual layer anyway...
Now has for real capacity (because what we've seen is just a demo) well, I believe that we're still a long way... W'll see, anyway "It has begun...

[Ian]

I got a reply back from Pioneer USA's PR person in regard to my question about the A06 and its support for dual layer DVD-R. Here's part of her reply:

...Although we used a modified DVR-A06 writer, it'scrucial to realize that it's far too early in the process to say whether we will be able to make existing drive models support the eventual finished format that emerges from the specification process. Many companies are involved with establishing specifications for DVD Forum formats, so the final product is likely to be somewhat different from what we presented last week. We therefore cannot promise future compatibility on existing drives with a format that hasn't been fully developed yet.

I have encouraged everyone to assume that dual layer -R recording will only be possible on future drive models. As for when, the best guess I can make is a very nonspecific "later this year"...

This is pure speculation, but I bet we won't see dual layer support on the A06. However, the A07 is another story. If I find out more info, I'll let you guys know.

[Noua]

I was affraid of this but like i said, i didn't bought the A06 to burn dual layer, and specially with Ritek disc costing 50€...
Anyway, one moer escuse to get the A07...

[Noua]

Just to raise some questions and kill some of the expectation, here's what someone said on RPC1 forum:

"OK, let me do my moderator's job an dampen everybody's spirits a bit:

1/ This is experimental firmware. It's not out yet, and if it is ever released, this won't happen before a very long time. Besides the dual layer media are not even there. It's hard enough to get 8x DVD-R media for the upcoming DVR-107, despite this drive being released shortly, so I wouldn't expect burning anything dual before at least another year...

2/ I personally doubt that Pioneer will ever release a dual layer firmware be it for the DVR-106 or the DVR-107.
Why? Simply because of licensing issues.
When you bought your 106, you didn't pay for dual layer burning, and that prevents Pioneer from letting you burn anything dual.
As far as I know, before you can burn any type of media with a DVD drive, you need to have bought various licenses (which are included in the retail price):
You want to burn for 1x -> you have to pay the DVD-Forum for 1x burning of DVD-R media. 2x, 4x, 8x? Same thing (individual licence I think). -RW -> one more license to pay. +R/+RW -> yet another license for Philips & sony this time.
So I wouldn't expect anything different for dual layer format, and once the dual DVD-R format has been approved by the DVD Forum, you will be required to have paid for a license format to be able tot burn dual.
Unfortunately, when you bought your DVR-106 (or DVR-107), you won't pay for the dual layer burning license.
Therefore, even if they have it, it will probably be illegal for Pioneer to provide the dual layer DVR-106 or DVR-107 firmwares, and I suspect the first drive to have the dual layer licensing issue resolved to be the DVR-108.
Besides, introducing a upgraded version of the DVR-107 with dual format is good marketing for Pioneer...
There's quite a difference between producing an experimental firmware and producing a customer firmware.

3/ Before DVR-107 is introduced to the market, Pioneer would sure like to find a way to sell as many DVR-106 as it possibly can.
And suddenly, guess what, instead of using the upcoming DVR-107 to demonstrate dual layer burning (which would have been the logical thing to do) they fetch an old DVR-106 for a demonstration that is sure to generate much hype.
This looks like a very smart marketing trick: You let people believe that you will release a firmware for the DVR-106 that will support dual layer, and then you just have to watch them clear the DVR-106 shelves in anticipation for something that will never come and make way for your brand new DVR-107. That's a real marketing beauty!

Did anybody hear any official statement from Pioneer telling that they are commited to release a dual layer firmware for the A06?

4/ Doesn't it look as strange to you that Pioneer demonstrated dual layer capabilities of the 106 with 200 MB of data only.
A proper demonstration would have been to actually record a FULL dual layer DVD (8.5 GB of data). How comes Pioneer used such a small amount of data?
Surely, if their excuse was the time it took to do the demonstration, it was not really a problem to add a couple more demo drives, as all they had to do was to pick another 106 drive and flash with the dual layer firmware. So I'm really getting puzzled.
Being suspiscious, I'd say that this could hide the fact that the A06 might not be able to burn a complete DVD-9 properly (as most write errors happen near the end of the media) and that by limiting themselves to 200 MB, Pioneer wanted to stay in a safe burning zone.

There sure are a lot of answers we would like to have regarding this demo, and until we find them out, I don't think it would be wise to take anything for granted or give in to the hype.
I obviously hope I'm wrong, and that Pioneer will release a fully working DVR-106 dual layer firmware, but only time will tell.

Gee, I wish I had been to the CES. I would have loved to ask a few questions to the Pioneer guys there (and get throwned out of the show shortly afterwards )..."

You can check it here...

[dodecahedron]

#3 and #4
need i say more?

[Ian]

As far as the small amounts of data.. they were doing a demo. I don't think the people in the audience want to sit there for 50 minutes or more while a full 9.4GB disc is burned.

[kirpen]

It wouldnt be very smart to put such a drastic upgrade on an old product. How on earth will they pay for all the time and research that went into it if people can buy the old chep model and upgrade it. This far more then a speed bump.

[sk44tyler]

I contacted Pioneer recently and asked them about the capability of the A06 or A07 being able to burn dual layer disks with a firmware update. They first sent me this email...

Thank you for contacting Pioneer Electronics, Inc. Currently, we don't have any information regarding dual layer reading/writing for the Pioneer drives.

Then later they sent me this email...

Thank you for contacting Pioneer Electronics, Inc. The Pioneer DVR-A06 or the DVR-A07 will not burn a double layer disc. The DVD Forum has not approved the specifications for "Dual Layer" recording. Unfortunately we have not been given of any ETA as to when that technology will be available.

So they don't actually say that either burner won't ever be able to burn dual layer discs. Who knows at this point.

[RJW]

There has been some speculation going on by the european magazines. Some indicatee the following based on a rumoured road map:


Pioneer will release the end of the year a dual layer burner with the code name A09. In between we will see a release of another drive A08.


At least that what some magazines are claiming while others say we can't confirm or deny it since we haven't seen any info about it.

So it seems that gossip on dual layer is stories is very hot these days.