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Acoustica Inc. has released Acoustica CD/DVD Label Maker Version 3.08, which adds support for simultaneous multi-drive LightScribe Direct Disc Labeling.Acoustica CD/DVD Label Maker is available now for $21.95. If you'd like to give it a try, a 7-day trial can be downloaded from their website. Otherwise, more information can be found here. Add a comment
Users with multiple LightScribe drives attached to their computers can print multiple copies of LightScribe labels simultaneously, or can now print multiple label designs on different drives concurrently.
Only the number of LightScribe drives attached to a user's computer limits the number of simultaneous LightScribe print jobs. LightScribe (www.lightscribe.com) -- a laser disc labeling technology found in many popular brands of disc burners, laptops and PCs -- gives people the ability to easily burn silkscreen-quality photos, graphics, images and text directly onto discs.
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ImationCorp. (NYSE: IMN) and TDK (NYSE: TDK) announced today that they havereached a definitive agreement under which Imation will acquire TDK brandworld wide recording media business and use of the TDK brand name forrecording media products, for $300 million in a combination of Imationcommon stock and cash with potential for payment of up to an additional $70million based on future financial performance of the acquired business. TDKwill retain its R&D, manufacturing and OEM business. The boards ofdirectors of both companies have approved the transaction.As with Memorex, Imation will continue to supply TDK brand products to the market. TDK will also continue R&D and manufacturing operations for recording media and will supply Imation as well as its other OEM customers. If you'd like to read more, Imation's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
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Sony Shiroishi Semiconductor Inc. (hereafter Sony Shiroishi), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation (hereafter Sony), today announced that as of March 2007, cumulative shipments of laser diodes have reached 2 billion units since it started production in 1986.Sony also plans to ship a low cost (~$8) blue-violet laser diode for Blu-ray Disc players in June. If you'd like to read more, the entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
As of April 2007, Sony Shiroishi has also established industry-leading monthly production capacity of 1.7 million blue-violet laser diodes, offering a comprehensive product lineup of blue-violet laser diodes for the wide-ranging needs of external customers as well as for use in Sony products. Furthermore, with Sony Shiroishi scheduled to start mass production of high-power output 240mw diodes from November this year, Sony and Sony Shiroishi will continue to stand at the forefront of the technological development and market for laser diodes going forward.
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While HD DVD backers are hoping that new releases and cheaper players will narrow the ever widening sales gap, they're going to need more than a mass buy by fanboys to pull it off. If you'd like to read more, Home Media Magazine's entire article can be found here. Add a comment
Of the high-definition discs consumers bought in the first quarter of this year, 70% were Blu-ray Discs and just 30% were HD DVDs, according to sales figures provided by Home Media Magazine's market research department.
Blu-ray took the lead in February, and its percentage of total sales accelerated to the point that, in March, the format accounted for nearly three out of every four high-def discs sold.
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Get ready to get your cheap HD on kids. Wal-Mart just threw down some serious green for a batch of Chinese-made HD DVD players. Just as they brought DVD players down to near-disposable status, their deal for 2 million HD DVD players produced by China's Great Wall corporation will ultimately do the same for hi-def optical. The guts are developed by Taiwan's Fuh Yuan with a touch of help from Japan's TDK. How much? A magical $299, that's how much -- $100 less than the cheapest available HD DVD rig (Toshiba's A2) and half of Sony's $600 BDP-S300 Blu-ray Disc player. It's not clear when we'll see the first units on Wal-Mart shelves, only that the final shipment from the order is expected before 2008 is over.With the Toshiba HD-A2 already selling for less than $330 on Amazon, the price of Walmart's player is a bit high. Then again, its very likely that the price will come down before it actually ships. If you'd like to read more, Engadget's entire report can be found here. Add a comment
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If you'd like to read more, Panasonic's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
Panasonic, the leading brand by which Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. is known, will double production of its dual-wavelength high-power laser for DVD recorders to 10 million units a month in FY'07.
Panasonic led the industry in November 2005 by pioneering production of a dual-wavelength high-power laser as a light source for DVD recorder pickups. This product has enjoyed a good reputation for high quality. The device offers several advantages over use of monochromatic lasers for each wavelength because it combines two laser wavelengths in a single chip: an infrared beam (with a wavelength of 780 nm, for CD use) and a red beam (with a wavelength of 650 nm, for DVD use) As a result, light source point adjustment is unnecessary, the optical pickup system can be simplified, and the number of peripheral parts can be halved. These benefits helped dual-wavelength lasers to capture a 15% share of the total market for DVD recorder pickups in FY'06.
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Sony said the problem was due to an update of its ARccOS copy-protection system, an additional layer of protection meant to prevent ripping. The studio has included ArccOS on its DVDs for the past two years. The copy-protection is continually updated to keep ahead of hackers.While I'm sure this will give Sony haters one more reason to go off, you have to give the company credit for making things right. It's too bad they didn't do the same with the whole rootkit debacle. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment
"Recently, an update that was installed on approximately 20 titles was found to cause an incompatibility issue with a very small number of DVD players (Sony has received complaints on less than one thousandth of one percent of affected discs shipped)," the company said in a statement. "Since then, the ARccOS system has once again been updated, and there are no longer any playability problems."
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Netgear Wireless-N RangeMax Package @BCCHardware.com
In Win Alpha 360 mATX Case @ThinkComputers.org
Flexiglow Cyber Snipa Tracer Mousepad @Tweaknews.net
Cooler Master GeminII @Overclockers Online
Microsoft Wireless Notebook Presenter Mouse 8000 @BlueTomorrow.com
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Nero, leaders in digital media technology, today announced it will release of the stand alone version of BackItUp 2, a complete data backup and disaster recovery solution. BackItUp 2 is Vista-ready and provides versatile capabilities such as highly configurable automatic backup scheduling, data encryption, virus protection, and extensive media and storage device compatibility. BackItUp 2 will be available early May in North and South America through Nero's volume licensing program.While Nero has not provided pricing information yet, you can bet it will be a fraction of what you'd pay for the entire Nero suite. If you'd like to read more, Nero's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
"The BackItUp 2 application and our volume licensing program make it easy for businesses to ensure the preservation of their mission-critical data," said Udo Eberlein, Chief Operating Officer, Nero AG. "In addition to offering category-leading disaster recovery, backup scheduling and data security tools, BackItUp 2 delivers unprecedented support for media formats and devices, including a broad assortment of network storage solutions."
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Marking the first anniversary of HD DVD hardware and movies sold to consumers, the North American HD DVD Promotional Group announced today that sales of dedicated HD DVD consumer electronics players reached more than 100K units sold in the United States, ahead of any other high definition format. This figure does not include sales of HD DVD PC drives or the Xbox 360 HD DVD player, which are also selling strongly.With more than 70 new titles scheduled to be released by the end of July and player prices already hovering around $300, HD DVD is definitely ready to give Blu-ray a run for its money. If you'd like to read more, the entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
As consumers see lower prices for high definition players, the manufacturing efficiencies of HD DVD are keeping the format one step ahead. As the first to bring CE player prices down below the $400 mark, Toshiba is hearing encouraging news from retailers.
