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Home Entertainment

26 October 2006

A few weeks ago, there were some reports that the Xbox 360's HD-DVD drive could be plugged into a PC and was recognized as an optical drive. Robert McLaws of Windows-Now has been in touch with Microsoft and has learned that this is true. However, you will need to buy additional software if you plan to play back HD-DVD movies.

A member of the Xbox 360 HD-DVD team confirmed for me today that the Xbox 360 HD-DVD drive will in fact be recognized by Windows Vista, but it will NOT ship with decoder software. I'm assuming that Intervideo will have a version of WinDVD sometime in the future that supports HD-DVD. Personally, I think the drive should come with the required software to dual-use enable the device (adding value to a non-trivial purchase), but I'm not a PM at Microsoft.

Hopefully, InterVideo or CyberLink will release software that is compatible with the drive. If you'd like to read more, the entire report can be found here. Add a comment

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Optical Storage

26 October 2006

Here's some surprising news. Due to diminishing profits, Lite-On has decided to stop selling consumer ODD products under the Lite-On brand name.

Lite-On IT, the largest Taiwan-based maker of optical disc drives (ODDs), on October 25 reported its financial results for the third quarter of this year, posting a very small net earnings per share (EPS) of NT$0.033. The company also announced it has decided to stop production of consumer ODDs, mainly DVD recorders, to be sold under its Liteon brand in the global market, while keeping OEM/ODM production of such products.

Lite-On IT's average gross margin dropped from 16.7% in the first half of this year to 13.2% last quarter. Three main reasons for this were the following: the ongoing integration of Lite-On IT's own operating resources with those of BenQ's ODD business unit (acquired by Lite-On IT in April 2006); delays in R&D works on Blu-ray Disc drives, slim-type ODDs and Xbox ODDs; losses due to consumer returns of own-brand DVD recorders sold through the Wal-Mart chain, according to company CEO Danny Liao.

It really isn't clear whether this includes all of Lite-On's ODD products or just their DVD recorders. If you'd like to read more, head on over to DigiTimes.

Update - Thanks to the Dutch website, Tweakers.net, we've learned that this only applies to Lite-On's standalone DVD recorders. Here's a translation (thanks RJW):

A moment ago Dutch Lite-On IT have communicated us that the source article of DigiTimes contained an incorrect reproduction of the facts. The brand Lite-On is still alive. Lite-On will definatly not stop with selling dvd - and cd-burners under its own brand, thus spokesman Maarten Souren. Only the standalone dvd-recorders that are sold under the lite on brand, will be removed from the Lite-On-catalog according to him.

So there you have it. Lite-On will continue to produce PC-based CD and DVD writers. Add a comment

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Software

26 October 2006

Sonic has announced that they've entered into multi-year licensing agreement with Microsoft. As part of the deal, Microsoft will embed Sonic's AuthorScript formatting and burning engine into Windows Vista. The two companies will also work together to develop Certified for Windows Vista digital media applications.

Sonic Solutions (NASDAQ:SNIC), the leader in digital media software, announced today that AuthorScript, the company's proven formatting and burning engine, has been selected to enable a range of DVD and CD recording features in Windows Vista. The built-in AuthorScript engine provides features within Windows Vista that help users archive digital memories to CDs and DVDs, create custom music discs, and perform important data backup functions. Sonic is also working with Microsoft to develop digital media applications that will optimize and enhance consumers' experience with Windows Vista. Certified for Windows Vista applications will include a range of applications within Sonic's Roxio product lines such as Roxio Easy Media Creator 9, the company's flagship digital media software suite of CD and DVD authoring, burning, photo, video, and music tools. As part of the Windows Vista launch program agreement between Microsoft and Sonic, Microsoft will showcase Roxio Easy Media Creator 9 in a range of venues and programs as it prepares for the launch of Windows Vista.

Easy Media Creator 9 is expected to be certified for Windows Vista by the time the OS is launched. If you'd like to read more, the entire press release can be found here. Add a comment

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Optical Storage

25 October 2006

Ever wonder how HD DVD and Blu-ray media was manufactured? You're in luck. Imation Corp has released a new video titled "Imation: Into the Blue". The video includes a brief tour of Imation's Discovery Center and shows how high-definition media is manufactured.

Two versions of "Imation: Into the Blue" are available: a 5 minute streaming video clip and a 14 minute video podcast. If you have the bandwidth and the time, I highly recommend the podcast as it includes some great footage of the manufacturing process. Add a comment

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Duplicators

25 October 2006

Primera has announced their new ADL-MAX Disc Autoloader. The ADL-MAX attaches to any Bravo II or BravoPro Disc Publisher, letting users produce hundreds of discs at a time.

Primera Technology, Inc., the world's leading developer and manufacturer of CD/DVD duplication and printing equipment, today announced its new ADL-MAX Disc Autoloader.

The ADL-MAX Disc Autoloader easily attaches to any of Primera's best-selling Bravo II or BravoPro Disc Publishers. It uses advanced robotics to transport discs from the four integrated input bins into and out of the burning and printing mechanisms of the Bravo II or BravoPro. With ADL-MAX, Bravo II's capacity increases from 50 discs to 325 discs. BravoPro's capacity increases from 100 discs to 350 discs.

The ADL-MAX Disc Autoloader is available now for a suggested retail price of $1995. More information can be found on Primera's website. Add a comment

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Optical Storage

25 October 2006

Plextor Japan has released some details on their new "Super-Multi" drive, the PX-751A. This new drive features 16x DVD±R, 8x DVD+RW, 6x DVD-RW, 8x DVD+R DL, 4x DVD-R DL and 5x DVD-RAM writing speeds. Here are some of the drive's specs:

Writing Speeds: DVD+R: 16x CAV DVD+RW: 8x Z-CLV DVD+R DL: 8x Z-CLV DVD-R: 16x CAV DVD-RW: 6x CLV DVD-R DL: 6x Z-CLV DVD-RAM: 5x CLV CD-R: 48x CAV CD-RW: 32x CAV Access Times: CD-ROM: 130ms DVD-ROM: 140ms

Read Speeds: DVD-ROM (Single Layer): 16x Max DVD-ROM (Dual Layer): 12x Max DVD±R: 16x Max DVD±RW: 12x Max DVD±R DL: 12x Max DVD-RAM: 5x Max CD-R/ROM: 48x Max CD-RW: 40x Max Buffer Size: 2MB

The PX-751A is expected to hit the Japanese market in the middle of November for 8,000 Yen. More information can be found on Plextor Japan's website. Add a comment

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Other

25 October 2006

Sonic sent out a press release this morning, announcing that their patent for dynamic content revision will be included in the formation of the Blu-ray Disc Patent Portfolio License. This technology gives publishers the ability to update content over the web or a local cache.

Sonic Solutions (NASDAQ: SNIC), the leader in digital media software, announced today that its US Patent 6,944,621 for dynamic content revision has been evaluated as essential to the Blu-ray Disc (BD) specification for BD players and optical media for the purpose of participating in a joint Blu-ray Disc Patent Portfolio License being facilitated by MPEG LA. The Sonic technology covered in the ‘621 patent - one of several the company has related to new high-definition formats - allows for updating or augmenting multimedia content on portable storage media including CD, DVD, UMD, flash memory, and HD DVD. In addition to Sonic's intention to participate in the Blu-ray Disc Patent Portfolio License, the company will continue to license the ‘621 patent directly to content owners, online service providers, software developers, game console manufacturers, consumer electronics companies, in-game advertisers, and other industry partners developing online services and non-BD applications.

As much as I'd like to see new content, I can see this technology being used more for advertising. If you'd like to read more, Sonic's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment

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Optical Storage

25 October 2006

Hitachi Maxell has announced their new 8cm DVD+R DL and DVD-R DL media. Developed for camcorders, these discs can hold 2.6GB of data or 54-55 minutes of standard quality video. Here's part of their press release, translated from Japanese:

Hitachi Maxell, Ltd. (The execution post president: Yoshito Kakuta) will put the series, 8cmDVD-R DL disk, and 8cmDVD+R DL "Easy selection" disk for the DVD video camera with the recording layer in two layers in one side of the disk on the market on November 24.

The market expands to the DVD video camera in the background of convenience that makes the best use of the feature of record type DVD like the height etc. of the random access and the reproduction interchangeability. Needs of "Take a picture for a long time" and "High-resolution taking a picture" expand more than before with the extension of the group of users, and the disk where it answers this is requested in recent years.

According to AV Watch, Maxell's 8cm media is expected to cost about 1300 Yen. More information can be found here. Add a comment