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Earlier this year, Steve Jobs posted an open letter on Apple's website, urging record companies to abandon DRM technologies. Apparently, someone at EFI took this to heart as the company recently signed a deal with Apple, allowing them to sell DRM-free versions of their music through iTunes.
Apple today announced that EMI Music's entire digital catalog of music will be available for purchase DRM-free (without digital rights management) from the iTunes Store (www.itunes.com) worldwide in May. DRM-free tracks from EMI will be offered at higher quality 256 kbps AAC encoding, resulting in audio quality indistinguishable from the original recording, for just $1.29 per song. In addition, iTunes customers will be able to easily upgrade their entire library of all previously purchased EMI content to the higher quality DRM-free versions for just 30 cents a song. iTunes will continue to offer its entire catalog, currently over five million songs, in the same versions as today -- 128 kbps AAC encoding with DRM -- at the same price of 99 cents per song, alongside DRM-free higher quality versions when available.
While some may not paying a premium for DRM-free music ($1.29 vs. $0.99 per song), this is definitely a step in the right direction. Hopefully, other record companies will see the light and offer DRM-free music through iTunes as well. If you'd like to read more, Apple's entire announcement can be found here. Add a comment

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Home Entertainment
Last week, there were reports that the HD DVD version of 'Children of Men' failed to play on some Toshiba players and the Xbox 360 HD DVD add-on drive. Apparently, these issues aren't limited to just this title. According to TheManRoom, the HD DVD/DVD combo version of 'The Good Shepherd' has similar playback issues.
A couple days ago I cautiously approached Universal's next Combo Format HD DVD with U-Control functionality, 'The Good Shepherd.' My gut suspected the disc would suffer from the same playback issues as 'Children of Men,' but given how that disc's errors have been random across various players, there was at minimum a shot for success. Sadly, my gut was correct. 'The Good Shepherd' disc failed to play on both the HD-A1 and Xbox 360 HD DVD players with the exact same error messages 'Children of Men' returned. Whether my experience will be shared by the greater HD DVD community remains to be seen; however, it's our duty to pass along this caveat to those having pre-ordered the disc or plan to pick it up on Tuesday. Keep those receipts!
Universal has not officially acknowledged these issues. However, the company has already discontinued the combo versions of some titles and has retooled a few upcoming releases to be HD DVD-only. Needless to say, this doesn't look good for the combo format or HD DVD in general. If you'd like to read more, head on over to TheManRoom. Add a comment

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Optical Storage
Back in July, we reported that Matsushita had filed a lawsuit against CMC Magnetics, claiming that they infringed upon three of their DVD patents. According to an article at Reuters.com, Matsushita and CMC have settled their suit. As part of the settlement, the two companies have formed a cross licensing agreement, with CMC paying royalties to Matsushita for 10 years.
Panasonic maker Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd. and Taiwan's CMC Magnetics Corp. said on Monday they have reached a settlement on a DVD-related patent infringement lawsuit.

Matsushita, the world's largest consumer electronics maker, last year filed a patent suit against CMC, charging that the Taiwanese disc maker's DVD discs infringed its patents.

As part of the settlement, they have formed a patent cross licencing agreement on manufacturing and sales of DVD discs, and CMC is set to pay royalties to Matsushita, both companies said.
If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment

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Earlier this week, CyberLink announced support for the AVCHD standard. According to their press release, PowerDVD Ultra already supports AVCHD playback and disc authoring will be added to PowerProducer later this year.
CyberLink Corp. (5203.TW), a world leader in digital home solutions, today announced support for the Advanced Video Codec High Definition Standard (AVCHD) for video playback and authoring. CyberLink has already incorporated AVCHD support in high-definition disc player software PowerDVD Ultra, and will launch support for disc authoring software PowerProducer mid-year.

"The AVCHD format offers exceptional quality for the recording, storage and playback of high-definition video content," said Alice H. Chang, CEO of CyberLink. "With our expertise in developing leading playback and authoring products, CyberLink's support of the AVCHD format delivers greater flexibility for our hardware partners and even more choice for consumers."
If you'd like to read more, CyberLink's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment

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Home Entertainment
High-Def Digest has reported that Xbox 360 owners are having a hard time playing Universal's latest HD DVD release, 'Children of Men.' While this problem doesn't seem to affect everyone, many people can't play parts of the disc or in some cases, get the drive to recognize it at all.
'Children of Men' hit stores earlier this week on March 27, as one of the most highly-anticipated HD DVD releases on the format thus far, and as our Kenneth Brown wrote in his recent review of the disc, it apparently boasts stellar video and audio. Unfortunately, more than a few Xbox 360 owners have had issues playing it on the device's popular HD DVD add-on drive, with many of our readers writing in to say that the disc simply won't play, and that even multiple returns of the disc have produced the same issue.
If you check out the posts in High-Def Digest's forum, you can see that 'Children of Men' isn't the only title people are having problems with. Lets hope that Microsoft can address these issues in the next Xbox 360 update. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment

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Sony has released some details on their new LightScribe capable 18x DVD writer, the DRU-835A. Along with support for LightScribe, the DRU-835A features 18x DVD±R, 8x DVD+RW, 6x DVD-RW, 8x DVD±R DL and 12x DVD-RAM writing speeds. Here are some of the drives' specs:


Writing Speeds:

DVD+R: 4X CLV, 8X P-CAV, 16X, 18X CAV
DVD+RW: 2.4X, 4X CLV, 6X, 8X Z-CLV
DVD+R DL: 2.4X, 4X, 6X, 8X Z-CLV
DVD-R: 4X CLV, 8X P-CAV, 16X CAV, 18X CAV
DVD-RW: 2X, 4X, CLV, 6X Z-CLV
DVD-R DL: 2X, 4X CLV, 6X, 8X Z-CLV
DVD-RAM: 5X, 6X CLV, 8X, 10X, 12x P-CAV
CD-R: 8X, 16X CLV, 24X, 32X, 40X P-CAV, 48X CAV
CD-RW: 4X, 10X, 16X CLV, 24X, 32X Z-CLV

Buffer Size: 2MB 		Read Speeds:

DVD-ROM: 16X Max
DVD±R: 12X Max
DVD±R DL : 8X Max
DVD±RW: 8X Max
DVD-Video: 6x Max
DVD-RAM: 12x Max
CD-ROM/CD-R: 48X Max
CD-RW: 40X Max

Access Times:

CD-ROM: 130ms
DVD-ROM: 140ms
The DRU-835A is most likely based on a drive from Samsung or Lite-On but at this point, I'm not even going to guess which one. No word on when the DRU-835A will ship. However, Sony's website lists the price as being $79.99. More information, including a full list of specs, can also be found here. Add a comment

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Back in 2004, the DVD Copy Control Association (DVD CCA) filed a lawsuit against Kaleidescape, claiming the company's media server violated the license for their Content Scramble System (CSS). Since then, the two sides have battled it out with the latest round going to Kaleidescape. According to report by EETimes, a superior court judge has ruled against the DVD CCA, stating that the licensing contract and specifications were poorly worded and that the CSS spec "is a product of a committee of lawyers."
The decision marks a rare, though small victory for a Silicon Valley startup facing the interests of a group of large movie studios and consumer and computer companies. The ruling also could open the door for other systems makers who want to design personal video libraries that store DVD movies on hard drives.

Judge Leslie C. Nichols ruled against the DVD Copy Control Association (DVD CCA) in a civil suit that asked the court to force startup Kaleidescape to change its design or stop selling its server that stores hundreds of DVD movies on a hard drive array. Nichols said the basis for his decision was his ruling that an entire section of the DVD CCA's spec for the Content Scramble System (CSS) was not technically included as part of the license agreement.
I wouldn't be surprised if the DVD CCA appealed the judge's decision. However, in the mean time, it may open other doors in regards to DVD ripping and fair use. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment

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Home Entertainment
Sony Europe has announced the launch of its first Blu-ray Disc player, the BDP-S1E. Like the BDP-S1, the BDP-S1E features 1080p/24 output and DVD upscaling. However, unlike its American counterpart, it also supports HDMI 1.3 and x.v. Colour.

Responding to a rapidly growing market demand throughout Europe, Sony has announced the latest addition to a Blu-ray Disc family including High Definition gaming, editing and now, the ultimate home theatre experience. The BDP-S1E represents one of the company's most powerful and intelligent consumer equipment models ever developed: the player sets new standards in High Definition audiovisual playback of movies. The superbly stylish BDP-S1E integrates seamlessly within Sony's ‘BRAVIA' Theatre concept to produce one of the most stunning and engaging entertainment experiences ever developed.

Film lovers will relish 24p True Cinema incorporated into this Blu-ray Disc player. Cine cameras actually film at 24 frames per second, but televisions operate at a higher frame rate, so conversion has traditionally been necessary. The result is a 4% discrepancy from the original - the film on TV actually runs 4% faster than the original, and the soundtrack rises by 4% in pitch. When the BDP-S1E is connected to a TV with 24p capabilities such as the ‘BRAVIA' D3000 series, the original 24 frames per second are displayed just as the camera first recorded them. You see - and hear - exactly what you should, exactly as the director intended.
While Sony Europe has not announced a price or ship date yet, the BDP-S1E should hit store shelves some time this summer. If you'd like to read more, the entire press release can be found here. Add a comment

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Logitech FreePulse Bluetooth Headphones @BlueTomorrow.com
Xclio A380 Super Tower ATX Computer Case @Tweaknews.net
HIS Radeon X1950 Pro IceQ3 512Mb AGP Video Card @Madshrimps
ThermalTake Tai-Chi M+ Notebook Cooler @DV Hardware
Cooler Master CoolViva Pro @Overclockers Online

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I-O DATA Japan has announced a new 18X Serial ATA DVD writer, the DVR-SN18GLV. Based on the AD-7173S from Sony NEC Optiarc, the DVR-SN18GLV features 18x DVD±R, 8x DVD±R DL and 12x DVD-RAM writing speeds and support for Labelflash technology. Here are some of the specs:



Writing Speeds:
DVD±R: 18x
DVD±R DL: 8x
DVD+RW: 8x
DVD+R DL: 8x
DVD-RW: 6x
DVD-RAM: 12x
CD-R: 48x
CD-RW: 32x

Read Speeds:
DVD-ROM (Single): 16x Max
DVD-ROM (Dual): 12x Max
DVD±R: 16x Max
DVD±RW: 13x Max
DVD±R DL: 12x Max
DVD-RAM: 12X Max
CD-R/ROM: 48x Max
CD-RW: 40x Max
The DVR-SN18GLV should hit store shelves in the middle of March for about 8,500 Yen ($73US). More information can be found here. Add a comment

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