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22 January 2007

CDRLabs is looking to expand its staff by adding one or two software reviewers. These people must be able to work on their own, be motivated and work under deadlines. In return, you'll be able to check out the latest software while earning some extra spending money. If you're interested, send me an email. Add a comment

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Software

22 January 2007

TMPG, Inc. has announced the release of TMPGEnc DVD Author 3 with DivX Authoring. Along with support for DivX authoring, the software includes new features like HDV capture, improved format importing and multiple subtitle streams.

TMPG, Inc. (www.tmpg-inc.com), the company that makes digital video easy, is set to add TMPGEnc DVD Author 3 with DivX Authoring software to its growing TMPGEnc line. Offering many new features and some terrific advancements over its predecessors, the new product is the perfect, all-in-one DVD authoring solution for any video enthusiast, whether a beginner or an experienced videographer. Release date is scheduled for late January 2007 (French and German version available Q2 2007).

"Users will enjoy the many great enhancements our TMPGEnc DVD Author 3 with DivX Authoring offers," stated Kimi Matsuki, TMPG CEO. "These include HDV capture, DivX authoring, multiple subtitle streams, and the ability to import popular video formats for authoring to DVD or DivX. Of course, they can still cut-edit, create custom menus, and burn projects to a CD (DivX only) or DVD to show others."

TMPG Inc. has not announced a price yet. However, TMPGEnc DVD Author 3 with DivX Authoring will be available for download beginning in late January 2007. More information can be found here. Add a comment

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Optical Storage

22 January 2007

Lite-On Europe has announced two new 20x "Super AllWrite" DVD writers, the world's first 20x DVD rewriter with Serial ATA interface, the LH-20A1S, and the world's first 20x external DVD rewriter, the LH-20A1PU. Here's part of their press release:

The LH-20A1S is an internal drive made for advanced computer enthusiasts. It incorporates, in addition to fast writing speed, a Serial ATA (SATA) interface. The SATA connection eliminates potential information and performance "bottlenecking " by offering at least 150 MB/s data transfer rate which should improve performance significantly compared with the Parallel ATA (PATA) connections you find on most current DVD rewriters. SATA also uses thinner data cables allowing better airflow to the LH-20A1S drive.

The LH-20A1PU is an external drive which can be enjoyed by both advanced and beginning computer enthusiasts. The LH-20A1PU features the Lite-On patented EZ-DUB technology which makes copying and storing of data possible with a single press of a button. The LH-20A1PU can be easily connected to your PC through a USB 2.0 connection.

The LH-20A1S will be available on the European market mid-February for € 49 including VAT. The LH-20A1P should hit store shelves shortly after for € 69 including VAT. More information, including a full list of specs, can be found on Lite-On's website. Add a comment

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Optical Storage

20 January 2007

The Japanese newspaper, Shinano Mainichi Shimbun, has reported that Shinanokenshi, Plextor's parent company, plans to exit the CD/DVD drive business. Due to competition from Korean and Taiwanese manufacturers, the company has experienced declining profits. As a result, its optical drive business will be reduced to about 10% of what it was at its peak. Translated from Japanese:

It was announced that Shinanokenshi (Ueda city) assumed that the achievement got depressed due to the earnings deterioration of the disk drive business for the personal computer on the 19th, and reorganized the business including the voluntary retirement recruitment that became the first in this company. This business reduces greatly because the price fell sharply because of the competition of South Korea and a Taiwanese manufacturer. The closing of accounts at the period on February, 2007 is expected to fall to the final deficit at two terms, and strengthens the development of the high-value-added commodity such as motors for the car while the review of a domestic and foreign production base and the staff assignment is advanced.

According to the article, the Plextor brand will continue but will focus on industrial equipment and audio equipment for the visually handicapped.

While this news doesn't surprise me, we have not heard anything from Plextor's American or European subsidiaries yet. It's possible that they may remain in the optical drive business by rebadging drives or focusing on Blu-ray but at this point, we'll have to wait and see. Thanks to WesleyTech.com for pointing out this news. Add a comment

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Home Entertainment

19 January 2007

DigiTimes has reported that Taiwan's optical drive manufacturers think that a $500 entry level HD DVD player may be available in the second half of 2007.

In view of Toshiba's recent launch of an inexpensive HD DVD player with a retail price of US$599, Taiwan optical disc drive makers think an entry-level HD DVD player priced at up to US$500 may be available in the second half of 2007.

The increasing upgrade in resolution of large-size LCD TVs and PDP (plasma display panel) TVs to full HD (high definition), 1,920x1,080, will boost demand for Blu-ray Disc (BD) and HD DVD players/recorders, the sources indicated. However, the currently available BD and HD DVD drives are very or quite expensive and the critical price level at which demand will begin to take off is estimated to be US$500 based on the development history for DVD drives, the sources pointed out.

Apparently Taiwan's manufacturers haven't checked the price of Toshiba's second generation HD DVD player, the HD-A2, as you can already buy it for less than $400. If you'd like to read more, head on over to DigiTimes. Add a comment

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Software

18 January 2007

Nero released a new version of Nero 7 this morning. There is no change log yet. However, this new update brings the version count up to 7.7.5.1. If you'd like to check it out, the update can be downloaded here or via BitTorrent. As usual, feel free to share your experiences in our forum. Add a comment

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Optical Storage

18 January 2007

Verbatim's parent company, Mitsubishi Chemical, has announced that they be releasing their new HD DVD-R media for PC data on the Japanese market on January 25th. Here's part of their press release, translated from Japanese:

This corporation in 2006 July sold the HD DVD-R disk for video video recording for the first time in the world, hi-vision image such as terrestrial digital broadcast while it was hi-vision picture quality actualized the fact that it leaves to the disk. This time it continues to this, adjusts to the sale of the corresponding equipment and sells the HD DVD-R disk for the PC data. As for this product, we answer the various demands of the customer even in the world of PC where in the future increase of the data quantity is expected more and more the capacity of single sided 1 layer 15GB with, high picture quality including handling the image contents, as the bulk media whose reliability is high.

Mitsubishi has not announced a price. However, according to AV Watch, it is expected to cost about 1500 Yen. If you'd like to read more, the entire press release can be found here. Add a comment

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Optical Storage

17 January 2007

Lite-On recently unveiled their latest Super AllWrite drive, the LH-20A1S. Along with support for Serial ATA, the drive features 20x DVD±R, 8x DVD±R DL and 12x DVD-RAM writing speeds. Here are some of the LH-20A1S's specs:

Writing Speeds: DVD±R: 20x Max DVD±R DL: 8x Max DVD+RW: 8x Max DVD-RW: 6x Max DVD-RAM 12x Max CD-R: 48x Max CD-RW: 32x Max

Read Speeds: DVD-ROM: 16x Max CD-ROM: 48x Max Access Times: DVD-ROM: 160ms CD-ROM: 160ms

No word on pricing or availability yet. As we find out more we'll let you know. Until then, more information can be found on Lite-On's website. Add a comment

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Home Entertainment

17 January 2007

Last week, there was a lot of hubbub about Sony and their stance about porn on Blu-ray. According to one adult film studio, Sony had threatened to withdraw the license from any copying facility making pornographic films. As the folks at the Inquirer have found out, this isn't entirely true.

The answer is that it hasn't. Once you get past the sensationalist headlines, there's more to it. Big-time porn studio Vivid has announced its first Blu-ray porn movie, so there's obviously a leak somewhere in the Blu-ray condom. Even the Blu-ray disc Association has reacted quickly by saying there is no ban against adult movie content.

It's true that Sony doesn't care for porn on its devices. It was unhappy when porn started arriving on the UMD disc format for the PSP and from certain quotes by porn makers, Sony is not actually being that helpful with Blu-ray. It's not blocking them but, at the same time, it's not exactly pointing them in the direction of Blu-ray disc manufacturers that can help them out. Many are having to find their own production sources.

Vivid isn't the only company putting porn on Blu-ray either. As we reported the other day, the Japanese studio "Glayz" is also publishing adult films in the format. If you'd like to read more, the Inquirer's entire article can be found here. Add a comment