Aleratec has unveiled the latest version of its Super Copy Tower, the 1:11 DVD/CD Super Copy Tower HS. With a maximum writing speed of 20x, this new DVD/CD duplicator can turn out 120 DVDs an hour.

Aleratec, Inc., developer and manufacturer of Aleratec Award Winning DVD/CD Duplicating and Publishing Solutions, unveils its next generation of the Super Copy Tower, the new high speed 1:11 DVD/CD Super Copy Tower HS stand alone DVD/CD Duplicator. This all new DVD/CD duplicator can make up to 11 simultaneous DVD copies at up to 20x or 11 simultaneous CD copies at up to 48x without a computer. The Aleratec 1:11 DVD/CD Super Copy Tower HS can produce more than 120 typical DVDs per hour, a truly impressive throughput capacity. This Super Copy Tower supports DVD-RAM and 8.5GB Double Layer technology. Also featured is a new removable 160GB hard disk drive for secure storage of frequently used source discs.
The 1:11 DVD/CD Super Copy Tower HS is available now for an estimated street price of $1999. More information is available on Aleratec's website. Add a comment
NetBlender has announced that they've released their new advanced content authoring tool, DoStudio. Thanks to DoStudio's graphical user interface, content for HD DVD, Blu-ray Disc, and DVD's can be created in half the time.
Features of DoStudio include: adding picture-in-picture of streaming video over the primary DVD video stream for live commentary, creating translucent pop-up menus that can be navigated without interruption of video playback, adding web connectivity to DVD, HD DVD, and Blu-ray titles, and more. And DVD One can apply the same interactive features to standard DVDs through NetBlender's Blended DVD solution.

Featuring a graphical user interface that handles many development tasks visually, DoStudio frees the developer from hand-writing hundreds of lines of code. And when code-tweaking is required, the developer uses an easy-to-learn adaptation of XML called DoML, or DVD One Markup Language. When the Advanced Content is ready for viewing, the DVD One compiler writes the final code in any next generation format. The compiler currently supports HDi and netBlender for DVD-Rom. BD-J support will be released later in 2007.
DoStudio is available now and can be license for $99/month. More information is available on NetBlender's website. Add a comment
Doug Carson & Associates, Inc. has announced that the first 3X DVD-ROM was cut using their equipment. A variant of the DVD-ROM format, 3X DVD-ROM supports UDF 2.5 and HD video, allowing the discs to be played back on an HD DVD player.
Doug Carson & Associates, Inc. (DCA) is proud to announce that the first 3X DVD-ROM disc was successfully mastered & replicated at Sonopress' North Carolina facility using DCA's MIS 8.5 DVD formatter software on January 17, 2007.

The title was produced through a partnership with Sonic Solutions, the leader in authoring products.

3X DVD-ROM is a variant of DVD-ROM, allowing for HD video & UDF 2.5 on the DVD format. 3X DVD-ROM discs are played back in HD DVD players. Several manufacturers are looking to 3X DVD-ROM as a low cost entry into the HD video market.
If you'd like to read more, DCA's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
Over the weekend, Slysoft announced the first official release of AnyDVD HD. Here's part of their press release:

At first look, the mention of "Added HD DVD and AACS Support" appears rather "so-so" but behind this annoucement exists a real revolution. For the first time, it is possible for the average user to get around the previously uncrackable AACS copy protection of the new HD-DVD generation with a few simple clicks of the mouse.

Officially, the film industry and the AACS consortium is, of course, not very happy about this development. However, behind closed doors, they are likely pleased to have learned from past experiences with the CD and DVD that the users are now finally able to make unlimited use of this new medium HD DVD, i.e to enjoy his "fair-use rights". It is expected that a real "boom" will occur with HD-DVDs.
If you'd like to check out the latest version of AnyDVD HD, you can download it directly here. Otherwise, more information can be found on Slysoft's website. Add a comment
ESS Technology has reportedly sold its HD-DVD and Blu-ray technologies to the Hong Kong-based electronics distributor, SiS Holding Ltd., for $13.5 million. The agreement includes the sale of certain tangible assets, licensing of related intellectual property and the transfer of associated employees.
Digital video processor vendor ESS Technology Inc. has sold its HD-DVD and Blu-ray Disc DVD technologies and related assets to SiS Holding Ltd., a Hong Kong-based electronics distributor, for $13.5 million, ESS said Friday (Feb. 16).

ESS (Fremont, Calif.) said it would cease operation of its camera phone business and pursue licensing of its image sensor technology and patents. The company said this action would reduce operating expenses by roughly $2 million per quarter.
If you'd like to read more, head on over to EETimes. Add a comment
Plextor Europe has announced a new 18x multi-format DVD writer, the PX-800A. Along with 18x DVD±R and 8x DVD±R DL writing speeds, the drive can write to DVD-RAM media at 12x. Best of all, Plextor claims that the PX-800A will be "priced cost-effectively."

Plextor, the personal storage and high reliability optical drive manufacturer, today announces the first DVD-RW drive from its new PX-800 series: the ATAPI/IDE PX-800A. At 18x it is still one of the fastest drives in the world (Plextor was the first to launch 18x products with the PX-760 series).

It also incorporates multi-format (DVD+/-R & DVD-RAM) technology to satisfy the demand for high end drives from enthusiast/professional users. In fact, it is Plextor's first drive capable of 12x DVD-RAM.

Even though this high reliability drive comes from Plextor, the market leaders in quality, it will be priced cost-effectively. The drive is in line with Plextor's high quality product requirements, and supports burning quality technologies like Buffer Underrun proof technology, which prevents buffer underrun errors.
Is the PX-800A a new design or one of the Lite-On manufactured drives we've been hearing rumors about? I guess we'll have to wait until the end of March when they hit store shelves. In the mean time, Plextor's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment

PowerColor X1550 512MB @Overclockers Online
ThermoHawk 200 IR Temperature Meter @ASE Labs
Arctic Cooling Accelero X2 @BCCHardware
Spire SwordFin PC Case @ThinkComputers.org
CORSAIR HX 620W Power Supply Unit @Futurelooks
Alienware Area-51 7500 Desktop PC @I4U
MSI P6N SLI Platinum (NVIDIA nForce 650i SLI) @HardwareZone
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Earlier this week, Sharp announced their new Blu-ray Disc player, the BD-HP1. What makes the BD-HP1 unique is that, when paired with one of Sharp's Aquos LCD TV's, it can also function as a Blu-ray Disc recorder.

Sharp Corporation introduces into the Japanese market the BD-HP1 Blu-ray Disc Player, which has a Hybrid Recording function that works with the AQUOS LCD TV iLink connection to allow recording of high-definition programs on Blu-ray Disc (BD-RE), an industry first.

With the ability to record high-definition images from video software and digital broadcasting sources and give high-definition, high-resolution images and high sound quality superior to that of DVD, the Blu-ray Disc is expected to become an indispensable part of the high-definition equation.
The BD-HP1 will go on sale in Japan on March 20th for a suggested retail price of 150,000 Yen ($1,256). More information can be found on Sharp's website. Add a comment
The Japanese company, Buffalo, has announced a new 18x "Super-Multi" drive with a Serial ATA interface. Based on the Pioneer DVR-212, the DVSM-X1218FBS features 18x DVD±R, 10x DVD±R DL and 12x DVD-RAM writing speeds. Here are some of the specs:



Writing Speeds:
DVD±R: 18x
DVD±R DL: 10x
DVD+RW: 8x
DVD-RW: 6x
DVD-RAM: 12x
CD-R: 40x
CD-RW: 32x

Read Speeds:
DVD-ROM (Single): 16x Max
DVD-ROM (Dual): 12x Max
DVD±R: 12x Max
DVD±RW: 8x Max
DVD±R DL: 8x Max
DVD-RAM: 12X Max
CD-ROM/CD-R: 40x Max
CD-RW: 32x Max


The DVSM-X1218FBS should hit store shelves in the beginning of March for 8,500 Yen ($71US). More information can be found here. Add a comment
Good news for people running Windows Vista. CyberLink has announced that their software products are "Vista Ready." The company is also providing a verification feature on its website where users can test to see if their software needs a patch or an upgrade for it to work with Vista.
CyberLink Corp. (5203.TW), a world leader in digital home solutions, today announced that its complete range of home entertainment and personal creativity products are ready for the release of Microsoft Windows Vista.

CyberLink also launched a verification feature on its website that allows consumers to test if their existing software is "Vista Ready". The CyberLink Software Vista Upgrade Test quickly scans software and determines whether the versions of the software currently in use are ready for Vista. After testing, users can choose to update through available patches or purchase an upgrade to become "Vista Ready".
CyberLink's Vista Upgrade Center can be accessed directly here. Unfortunately, when I click on it, the page literally comes up in Chinese. Hopefully they'll fix it soon. In the mean time, a full list of "Vista Ready" products is available on CyberLink's website. Add a comment