Nero has finally dropped the veil of secrecy surrounding Nero 8. Built with ease of use in mind, the suite gives users the ability to do more in less time. It also offers a number of new features including the ability to create high-def video in both Blu-ray BD-AV and HD DVD video formats and upload videos directly to YouTube, MySpace and My Nero.
Nero, leaders in digital media technology, announced today the upcoming release of Nero 8, the next generation of the company’s award-winning, integrated digital media and home entertainment software solution. Designed with consumer ease of use in mind, Nero 8 extends content beyond the PC, allowing users to easily create and edit, convert and share, rip and burn, backup and protect digital media. With Nero 8, users can enjoy their content at home, on-the-go, and online. Additionally, Nero 8 is built to ensure data integrity and reliability and is optimized for use with the new Windows Vista operating system.

Nero 8 introduces the newly-designed Nero StartSmart user interface, which maximizes user efficiency with a one-stop solution for creating and managing digital media projects. With this new interface, prime functions like burning and ripping audio and data discs can now be accessed directly, letting users complete projects with one-click functions. Nero 8 also supports a number of next-generation formats with editing, playback, and burning features. In addition, Nero 8 lets users edit photo slide shows and create High Definition video in both Blu-ray BD-AV and HD DVD video formats.
Nero 8 will be available worldwide on October 1st for a suggested retail price of $99.99. Current Nero owners will also be able to upgrade at a special discounted price. Full details can be found here. Add a comment
Sunplus has announced the launch of their new DVD player platform, the SPHE8203A. According to their press release, the SPHE8203A is the first system-on-a-chip (SoC) to support playback of DivX HD content.
Sunplus Technology Co., Ltd. (TSE:2401) (LSE:SUPD), the world’s leading consumer IC design company, today launched its new generation DVD player platform - SPHE8203A, which is the world’s first SoC solution to support DivX high definition content playback. Sunplus will demonstrate SPHE8203A and its reference design at IFA 2007 (Stand 116, Hall 26) during Aug. 31-Sep. 5.

Sunplus’ SPHE8203A DVD turnkey solution has plenty multimedia added-on features, such as DVD servo control, MPEG1/2/4 video decode, MP3/AAC/PCM audio decode, USB and card reader functions, DVB transport stream demultiplexing, and HDMI 1.2 compliant transmitter. The superior compression and performance of DivX HD enables consumers to enjoy true HD A/V entertainment with legacy DVD-9 discs on SPHE8203A-inside DVD players, at a price point which is much more cost-effective than next-generation blue-laser players.
If you'd like to read more, Sunplus' entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
Corel announced at IFA that Ulead DVD MovieFactory 6 and Ulead VideoStudio 11 are the world’s first DVD editing and authoring programs to be certified for both Blu-ray Disc Movie Video (BDMV) and Advanced Video Codec High Definition Standard (AVCHD) formats. Here's part of their press release:
Corel Corporation (NASDAQ:CREL) (TSX:CRE), a leading developer of graphics, productivity and digital media software, today announced its Ulead DVD MovieFactory and Ulead VideoStudio are the world’s first DVD editing and authoring software programs to achieve certified support of both Blu-ray Disc Movie Video (BDMV) and Advanced Video Codec High Definition Standard (AVCHD) formats. The announcement was made at IFA in Berlin, Germany. IFA runs August 31 to September 5, 2007 at the Messe Berlin. Corel is located in Hall 6.2a, Stand 104 with the Blu-ray Disc Association and in Hall 21a, Stand 104 with the HD DVD Promotion Group.

By receiving certification for BDMV and AVCHD, Ulead DVD MovieFactory 6 and Ulead VideoStudio 11 have passed the stringent quality standards and guidelines set by the Blu-ray Disc Association and AVCHD Testing Center to ensure the best user experience. Users can now produce fun and creative DVD projects with a professional-looking feel in BDMV, AVCHD or standard DVD formats.
While Ulead VideoStudio 11 Plus users will be able to download a free update, users of Ulead DVD MovieFactory 6 Plus will have to pay $19.99 to get support for BDMV, AVCHD and HD DVD Advanced Content formats. Full details can be found here. Add a comment
ASUS has officially announced their new 20x "Super Multi" drive, the DRW-2014L1T. Along with support for LightScribe and Serial ATA, the DRW-2014L1T features 20x DVD±R, 8x DVD±R DL and 14x DVD-RAM writing speeds.

ASUS, provider of high-performance optical drives, today introduced the DRW-2014 L1T internal DVD rewriter with LightScribe direct disc labeling technology. This innovative DVD RW drive provides a high speed of 20X DVD±R write, 8X DVD±R (DL) and 14X DVD-RAM reading capabilities. In addition, users can expect to enjoy five times faster data transfer rates than the current DMA33 standards with the SATA interface...

...Besides boasting an exceedingly fast speed of 20X for DVDs, the innovative LightScribe technology is also able to provide users with customized disc labeling. The LightScribe technology is comprised of three parts: the DRW-2014 L1T Drive, LightScribe-compatible colored discs and LightScribe enabled burning software. After the data has been burnt onto the disc, users only have to flip the disc over to write the graphic and text on the label side - providing professional-grade labels.
Like ASUS's other drives, the DRW-2014L1T also features their QuieTrack, FlextraLink and FlextraSpeed technologies. No word yet on when the drive will hit the US or how much it will be. As we find out more, we'll let you know. Until then, head on over to ASUS's website. Add a comment
Earlier this year, we reported that Plextor's parent company, Shinano Kenshi Co., Ltd., was going through a reorganization. At the time, they planned to reduce Plextor's optical drive business to about 10% of what it was at its peak.

According to a post on Plextor Japan's website, the company has now transferred its entire drive manufacturing and sales business to Shinano Kenshi. While the Plextor brand will continue to be used, Shinano Kenshi will handle the development, design, manufacturing, sales and support of their drives.

This will probably have little, to no, effect on Plextor's American and European subsidiaries. If anything, we may see some new designs coming out of Shinano Kenshi instead of the rebadged drives Plextor is currently offering. Add a comment

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Crucial DDR2-533/PC2-4200 2GB Kit (CT2KIT12864AA53E) @Redaktion ocinside.de
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Roxio sent out a press release this morning, announcing the launch of Popcorn 3. This new version of their DVD copy and video conversion software offers a number of time-saving features as well as support for TiVoToGo ane EyeTV.
Roxio, a division of Sonic Solutions (NASDAQ: SNIC), the leader in digital media software, today released Popcorn 3, the easiest way for Mac users to transfer their favorite personal video entertainment to DVDs and popular portable devices. The latest version of Popcorn comes with innovative time-saving features that streamline and simplify workflow as well as universal video conversion and encoding technology optimized for the broadest selection of devices including iPhone, iPod, Apple TV, BlackBerry, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 compatibility and exclusive TiVoToGo and EyeTV support. With TiVoToGo support, consumers can now easily transfer their favorite TV shows to their Mac, create DVDs or move them to a portable device of their choice for on-the-go viewing.
Popcorn 3 is available now for a suggested price of $49.99. More information is available on Roxio's website. Add a comment

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Venturer Electronics has announced that they will start shipping their first HD DVD player, the SHD7000, in time for the holidays. This low-cost, Chinese manufactured player features 1080i video output, Dolby TrueHD audio, ethernet connectivity and the ability to upconvert standard DVD's.

Venturer Electronics today announced the launch of its first HD DVD player for the North American market. Responding to strong consumer demand for high definition video playback devices, Venturer will introduce the SHD7000 that offers the superior HD movie experience as defined by the DVD Forum.

Featuring 1080i video output and an HDMI connection, the SHD7000 is designed to be compatible with the vast majority of HDTVs already in North American consumers' homes. With Ethernet connectivity to the network , the SHD7000 also allows users to access bonus features from movie studio web servers and unlock special prerecorded content on some HD DVD discs. Dolby TrueHD rounds out the high definition experience by presenting the HD DVD disc soundtrack as it was meant to be heard, virtually equal to the studio master.
While Venturer has not announced a price for the SHD7000, they expect it be "one of the lowest among entry-level HD DVD players". If you'd like to read more, Venturer's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
Sony recently announced the VAIO LT HD PC/TV. This combination PC/TV features a 22" widescreen display, Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB of RAM and 802.11n LAN technology. A Blu-ray drive is also an option, giving users the ability to play back high-def movies and store up to 50GB of data onto a single disc.

Featuring a floating glass design, the VAIO LT HD PC/TV serves as a computer entertainment center, where you can watch and record analog, digital and cable television programming, including premium HD channels. A Cable CARD is required.

Part of a series, the new LT PC/TV comes in multiple configurations, including a standard and an HD model. The high-definition version features a Blu-ray Disc optical drive so you can enjoy high-definition movies, as well as record, store and play back personal content on high-capacity BD media (up to 50 GB on a single disc).

The unit features a 22-inch diagonal WSXGA+ widescreen display, with Sony’s XBRITE-HiColor LCD technology. It displays images in razor-sharp detail, whether watching TV, enjoying family photos or simply surfing the web.
The VAIO LT series will be available in October. Pricing starts at $1,900 for the LT standard model and goes up to $2,900 for the Blu-ray equipped LT HD model. Full details can be found here. Add a comment