With the price of DVD writers dropping to all time lows, there hasn't been much demand for CD-ROM and CD-RW drives. In response, Hitachi-LG Data Storage (HLDS) and Toshiba-Samsung Storage Technology (TSST) will reportedly stop production of CD-ROM and CD-RW drives in early 2008.
Hitachi-LG Data Storage (HLDS) and Toshiba-Samsung Storage Technology (TSST), two of the top three global ODM/OEM for optical discs drives (ODDs), will stop production of CD-ROM drives and CD-RW burners in early 2008 because global demand has been quickly decreasing due to the continuous drop in the price of DVD burners, according to the Chinese-language Economic Daily News (EDN) newspaper.
Taiwan's optical drive manufacturers will continue to produce CD-ROM and CD-RW drives, but the volume is expected to be only 5% of their total shipments. If you'd like to read more, head on over to DigiTimes. Add a comment
Corel sent out a press release this morning, announcing the HD Power Pack for Ulead DVD MovieFactory 6 Plus. This addon expands the capabilities of Ulead DVD MovieFactory 6 Plus by providing support for AVCHD, BDMV and HD DVD Advanced Content authoring as well as M2TS import.
Corel Corporation (NASDAQ:CREL; TSX:CRE), a leading developer of graphics, productivity, and digital media software, today announced that users of its Ulead DVD MovieFactory 6 Plus software can now install the new HD Power Pack to add AVCHD (Advanced Video Codec High Definition), BDMV (Blu-ray Disc Movie Video) and HD DVD Advanced Content authoring capabilities as well as M2TS import.

“With the new HD Power Pack, Ulead DVD MovieFactory 6 Plus users now have the world’s only all-in-one HD solution for creating professional-looking HD results fast,” said Jeff Hastings, President and General Manager, Digital Media at Corel. “Customers want to produce professional quality videos, whether they are using them in a business context or for the pure enjoyment of family and friends. Our commitment is to ensure we provide tools that are built to take advantage of the latest technologies, while also remaining easy to learn and use.”
Starting today, registered users of Ulead DVD MovieFactory 6 Plus can purchase the HD Power Pack for $19.99. Full details can be found here. Add a comment
Sony NEC Optiarc Europe has announced the launch of their first LightScribe capable DVD writer, the AD-7191S. Along with support for LightScribe, the AD-7191S features 20x DVD±R, 8x DVD±R DL and 12x DVD-RAM writing speeds.
Sony NEC Optiarc Europe GmbH (Optiarc Europe) has launched a DVD burner with LightScribe technology. The Optiarc AD-7191S burns DVD+/-R media at up to 20x speed. The LightScribe Label System enables the individual labelling and design of home-burned CD and DVD.

The AD-7191S has a serial ATA interface for data transfer rates of up to 150 MB per second. It burns single DVD media at up to 20x DVD speed, rewritable and dual layer DVDs at up to 8x speed and DVD-RAMS at up to a maximum of 12x DVD speed.
While the AD-7191S's bezel is very NEC-like, there have been numerous reports that it, and the AD-7191A, are based on Lite-On designs. More information, including a full list of specs, can be found here. Add a comment

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Aleratec has announced that they've started shipping the next generation of their LightScribe DVD/CD desktop publisher. This new version of the 1:1 DVD/CD Copy Cruiser Pro HLS features faster DVD LightScribe recorders and a lighter enclosure with a new look.

Aleratec, Inc., leading developer and manufacturer of Aleratec Award Winning "Prosumers' Choice" solutions for the Blu-ray, DVD/CD, USB duplicating, and DVD/CD publishing markets, announced it is now shipping the 1:1 DVD/CD Copy Cruiser Pro HLS using a lighter enclosure with a new look and faster DVD LightScribe recorders. The 1:1 DVD/CD Copy Cruiser Pro HLS is the next generation of the award winning personal disc publisher that records and duplicates DVDs and CDs and produces custom silkscreen quality labels without a printer. This all in one machine can duplicate DVDs and CDs in its standalone mode with no computer required. The 1:1 DVD/CD Copy Cruiser Pro HLS produces professional looking DVD/CD copies for customers or staff anytime with the ability to create custom labels with the included Aleratec Disc Publishing Software Suite.
The 1:1 DVD/CD Copy Cruiser Pro HLS is available now for an estimated retail price of $349. More information can be found on Aleratec's website. Add a comment
The Australian tech site, Smarthouse, has reported that Toshiba is working with Microsoft on a new version of the Xbox 360. Developed in response to the PS3, this new Xbox would include an internal HD DVD drive, larger hard drive and new entertainment software.
Microsoft, according to insiders at Toshiba owner of the HD DVD patents, claim that Microsoft is working on a brand new Xbox that will incorporate not only a new HD DVD drive but a large hard drive and new entertainment software that is a spin off from its struggling media centre offering.

The device is being developed in response to the PS3 driving sales of games software and Blu-ray content in several countries. A recent Sony Brand Wave study conducted in five countries including the UK, Australia, France Germany and Spain revealed that a key reason that consumers are buying a PS3 is because it includes a Blu-ray player.
While Microsoft has denied in the past that they are working on an HD DVD equipped Xbox 360, I would not be surprised if one was in the works. Hopefully they can get it out on the market before the format war is over. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment
Epson recently announced the release of their new integrated desktop disc duplication solution, the Discproducer. Designed for businesses, the Discproducer is equipped with Epson's AcuGrip robotic technology and can burn and print up to 100 discs per job.

Epson, a leading manufacturer of advanced inkjet printing,precision imaging and robotics technology, today announced the release ofDiscproducer, a compact, integrated desktop disc duplication solutiondesigned for businesses that need to create professional quality CDs orDVDs on demand.

Discproducer enables the creation of individualized disc content, labelcontent or both, at quantities of one to one-hundred discs per job. UsingDiscproducer, educators, disc publishing service bureaus and professionalphotographers can burn and print up to 100 copies of the same disc orunique discs, making it an ideal and flexible solution for low-volume discpublishing where high quality customized labeling is required.
The Discproducer will be available in the first quarter of 2008. If you'd like to read more, Epson's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
With the OEM price of 4x and 8x DVD+R/-R media at an all time low, many companies are switching their orders from CD-R to DVD+R/-R discs. As a result, the CD-R production capacity among Taiwan-based manufacturers has fallen from 70-80% in the third quarter of this year to 60-70%.
As second-tier Taiwan-based makers of blank optical discs have lowered OEM quotes to compete for orders for 4x and 8x DVD+R/-R discs, OEM orders originally for CD-R discs have been switched to DVD+R/-R discs and this has caused decreases in CD-R production utilization rates for many makers in Taiwan, according to industry sources.

While OEM prices for CD-R discs have stayed at US$0.09-0.10 currently, those for 4x or 8x DVD+R/-R discs have dropped to US$0.11-0.12 and some makers have even quoted US$0.10, the sources indicated. The reduction in price gap has pushed OEM orders from CD-R to DVD+R/-R discs, and consequently, the utilization of CD-R production capacity among Taiwan-based makers has fallen from 70-80% in the third quarter of this year to 60-70% at present, the sources pointed out.
If you'd like to read more, head on over to DigiTimes. Add a comment

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Sony NEC Optiarc Europe recently announced the launch of their new slimline Blu-ray combo drive. The BC-5500A supports the playback of Blu-ray Disc movies and can read and write to all current CD and DVD formats.

Sony NEC Optiarc Europe GmbH (Optiarc Europe) has launched its first Blu-ray Disc Combo (BD Combo) for notebooks. The Optiarc BC-5500A supports BD playback at double speed as well as read and write of conventional DVD and CD media. This versatile product gives even mid-range notebooks the BD capability that is currently a privilege of the top-of-line notebooks.

Optiarc BC-5500A is a fruit of successful integration of the advanced components technologies from Sony and NEC. It sports Sony’s optical pickup module and NEC’s system LSI in the heart of the drive, that enable 2x BD reading speed for flawless playback of high definition video. Thus the BC-5500A is the ideal device for notebook users that are interested in burning DVDs and CDs and additionally are looking to be able to play back Blu-ray Discs and watch HD-movies.
The BC-5500A will be available in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, starting in September. More information, including a full list of specs, can be found here. Add a comment