While Universal's commitment to back HD DVD exclusively has reportedly ended, the studio isn't dropping the format quite yet. According to High-Def Digest, Universal recently issued a statement, reaffirming its support for HD DVD.
"Contrary to unsubstantiated rumors from unnamed sources, Universal's current plan is to continue to support the HD DVD format," said Ken Graffeo, executive vice president of HD strategic marketing for Universal Studios Home Entertainment and co-president of the HD DVD Promotional Group.
Take note that this statement doesn't dispel any of the rumors claiming that Universal will support Blu-ray as well as HD DVD. In any case, we'll have to wait and see how this shakes out. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment
Verbatim announced this week that they will be offering a complete line of Qflix DVD media. The line will include both Qflix consumer media and printable Qflix Pro media for retail and commercial applications.
Verbatim Americas, LLC, a key media developer for the new DVD Download specification from the DVD Forum, announced today a complete line of Qflix DVD media. Qflix technology, licensed from Sonic Solutions?, allows movies and other video content to be downloaded and legally burned using recordable Content Scramble System (CSS) technology. Backed by Verbatim’s decades-long reputation for delivering media with the highest-quality and broadest compatibility, the new product line will include both Qflix consumer media and printable Qflix Pro media for enterprise use. Verbatim Qflix media will be released to coincide with the availability of Qflix drives and video download services in Q1 2008.

The applications for Verbatim’s new Qflix media span every consumer, retail and commercial download and burn application, including DVD burning on home PCs, in-store kiosk burning, and manufacturing on demand (MOD) services.
Verbatim's Qflix media will be available in Q1 2008. Qflix Consumer, pre-keyed with CSS, will be available in individual slimcases. For professionals, Verbatim will offer Qflix Pro in 50-pack spindles with a white inkjet or thermal-printable coating. Full details can be found here. Add a comment
Matsushita Electric announced today that it will change its company name to 'Panasonic Corporation'. Once approved by the company's shareholders, the name change will go into effect on October 1, 2008.
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (Matsushita [NYSE symbol: MC]), best known for its Panasonic brand, today announced that the company will change its company name to 'Panasonic Corporation' effective October 1, 2008. The company will also unify its corporate brands to the 'Panasonic' brand across the world.

The change, that was approved at the company's extraordinary board meeting today, will be submitted for and subject to approval at its ordinary general meeting of shareholders to be held in late June this year.

Upon a company name change, the company will undertake its brand name change from the 'National' brand, which is used for home appliances and housing equipment in Japan, to the 'Panasonic' brand by the end of fiscal 2010, ending March 31, 2010. Subsequently, the 'National' brand will be abandoned and the corporate brands in Japan will be unified to the 'Panasonic' Brand.
If you'd like to read more, Panasonic's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
Things definitely aren't looking good for HD DVD. Home Media Magazine is reporting that both New Line and HBO are abandoning HD DVD in favor of Blu-ray.
A New Line Home Entertainment spokesman confirms reports that the mini-major is following distributor Warner Home Video’s lead in abandoning HD DVD and releasing all future next-generation titles only in the Blu-ray Disc format.

And HBO Video president Henry McGee says HBO, too, is “following the same policy as Warner Home Video.”
If the rumors are true and Paramount does decide to go Blu-ray, I think we can safely say that the format war is over. Without the support of Hollywood, HD DVD has about as much of a chance as HD VMD in becoming the dominant high-def format. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment
With HD DVD and Blu-ray hogging most of the spotlight, its easy to forget that there is a third high-def format available. New Medium Enterprises (NME) announced today that HD VMD players are now shipping in the U.S. and can be purchased from PCRush.com and NMEStore.com for less than $200.
New Medium Enterprises(NME) (OTC Bulletin Board: NMEN) today at International CES 2008 announcedHD VMD players are shipping into the U.S. market. HD VMD is deliveringmaximum-HD 1080p high-quality players to consumers for a groundbreakingMSRP of $199 via PCRush.com and NMEStore.com. All orders for HD VMD playersin January will come with two complementary titles, "Mother Ghost" starringJames Franco and cult hit "Cutting Room."

Shipping since December, HD VMD discs and players stand torevolutionize the high-definition disc market, providing consumers with thebest possible HD experience. HD VMD's ground-breaking innovation is itspatented multi-layer disc, which allows for the utilization of proven redlaser technology to provide high definition, versus blue laser technologythat competitors are forced to use due to disc space limitations. With onlyone laser (red), HD VMD players can upconvert existing DVD collections forbetter viewing quality, as well as play true high definition content.
While an affordable alternative to Blu-ray and HD DVD, HD VMD is coming late to the party. The format has very little support from Hollywood and only a few retailers have agreed to carry HD VMD titles and players. Needless to say, it would take a miracle for HD VMD to top Blu-ray to become the dominant high-def format. If you'd like to read more, NME's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
Corel recently announced that Ulead DVD MovieFactory Plus has received BD-R 1.1 and BD-RE 2.1 certification. With support for BD-R 1.1 and BD-RE 2.1, DVD MovieFactory Plus users will be able to create movies using the BDAV format.
Corel Corporation (NASDAQ:CREL) (TSX:CRE), a leading developer of graphics, productivity and digital media software, today announced that Ulead DVD MovieFactory Plus received BD-R 1.1 and BD-RE 2.1 certification for BDAV files. Corel's Ulead DVD MovieFactory Plus now provides high-definition BDAV recording of BD-R and BD-RE discs.

By receiving certification for BD-R 1.1 and BD-RE 2.1, DVD MovieFactory Plus has passed the stringent standards and guidelines set by the Blu-ray Disc Association to ensure the best possible user experience. DVD MovieFactory 6 Plus has already been certified for AVCHD and BDMV.
DVD MovieFactory Plus with BD-R 1.1 and BD-RE 2.1 support is currently available to OEM customers. A retail version will be available in late 2008. Full details can be found here. Add a comment
Vinpower Digital has announced the release of the industry's first standalone LightScribe publishing system. According to their press release, the SharkCopier LS can duplicate discs and burn LightScribe labels without being connected to a computer.
The SharkCopier LS can be used as a publishing system by first creating the disc image art on a computer, then loading the image onto the standalone duplicator for disc label duplication. LightScribe offers a free LightScribe Template Labeler at www.lightscribe.com that supports a fast creative process and a robust suite of label template options. The duplicator can be used anywhere there is a suitable electrical outlet without being tied to a computer with these simple steps:

1) Load the LightScribe capable CDs or DVDs into the drives
         a. Put the label side face down to print
2) The duplicator will laser-inscribe the programmed image onto the discs
3) Flip the disc over in the same drive onto the data duplicating side
4) The duplicator will copy the selected data
5) The duplicated discs will now have a label design and the specified data content

The LightScribe labeling process offers the ability to print and burn in one standalone system, no longer tying the user to a PC or limiting them to a mere 2 or 4 drive maximum capacity. The SharkCopier LS is available in various sizes and prints all discs simultaneously from 1-to-1 up to 1-to-15 to fit the needs of even the most demanding duplication job.
If you'd like to read more, Vinpower Digital's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
Kodak Media Products has also announced the availability of its Professional Grade CD-R and DVD-R media. These new discs offer quality recording and an archival life of up to 100 years.
New KODAK Professional Grade CD-Rs and DVD-Rs are now available for the growing number of photographers, music studios, and other businesses and professionals who want higher quality discs that will safely store their images, videos and data for up to 100 years.

“We are introducing these new, professional grade discs for those who can’t take a chance on short-lived silver CD-Rs.,” said Steve Mizelle, President of KMP Media. The firm operates under trademark license from Eastman Kodak Company.

The new 100-year CDs and DVDs are designed for professionals such as photographers, musicians, physicians, law enforcement officers and administrators who store their work on discs. The discs combine superior recording quality with durability that will protect images, sound and data for 100 years. Only archival KODAK 24K Gold Preservation CDs last longer.
If you'd like to read more, KMP's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
Paramount has reportedly shot down the rumors stating that they will drop HD DVD in favor of Blu-ray. In an email to Bloomberg.com, a Paramount spokesperson has stated that the company plans to continue to support the HD DVD format.
Viacom Inc.'s Paramount Pictures denied a newspaper report that the studio is poised to follow Time Warner Inc. in abandoning Toshiba Corp.'s HD DVD technology.

``Paramount's current plan is to continue to support the HD DVD format,'' Brenda Ciccone, a spokeswoman for Paramount, said in an e-mail today.
There always seems to be some truth to these rumors. While Paramount may be continuing to support HD DVD, it would not surprise me if they were at least considering Blu-ray. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment
Kodak Media Products has announced a new line of "self-burning" CD-R media. Similar in concept to Memorex's SimpleSave DVDs, these new hybrid CD-R discs come with built-in software.
New KODAK AutoMagic self-burning CDs make it easy even for computer novices to burn sound, images and data onto a CD-R. The disc has built-in software for copying digital content onto the CD.

“This is great news for all the people who want to store images, music or data on a CD but lack the computer skills,” said Jim Gordon, Sr. Vice President of Marketing for KMP Media. “Now they can avoid the hassle of downloading, installing and learning how to use a more complex software package.”

The unique, built-in software on each KODAK AutoMagic CD makes it easy. It takes just a few clicks and leaves no software clutter behind when the job is finished. The hybrid CD-R discs are designed for use with Microsoft Windows 2000, XP and Vista operating systems.
The KODAK AutoMagic CD-R is available now and is expected to retail for about $4.99 for a 2-pack. Full details can be found here Add a comment