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The BDZ-V9 will be launched on December 8th for ¥300,000 ($2,545). The BDZ-V7 will follow on December 16th and will cost ¥250,000 ($2,121). If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment
The machines both feature hard-disk drives for day-to-day recording and a Blu-ray Disc drive for longer term storage. The BDZ-V9 has a 500GB drive and the BDZ-V7 has a 250GB drive. There are two digital tuners in each recorder so that two high-definition programs can be recorded simultaneously.
Both were unveiled during a news conference at the Ceatec show, which opened today and runs until Saturday at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, east of Tokyo.
The recorders are designed to appeal to videophiles with demands for high specifications, including Linear PCM audio and 1080p (1,080 lines progressive scanning) output, which is the highest of several image levels judged to be high-definition. The recorders can also be connected to Sony's recently launched high-definition camcorders by a Firewire connection and can playback the AVCHD-format discs used in the cameras.
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Although advanced technology attachment packet interface (ATAPI) is the mainstream interface standard for optical disc drives (ODDs) currently, serial ATA (SATA) stands a chance of replacing the former in the second half of 2007, according to sources in Taiwan's ODD manufacturing industry.We've had an early sample of the Sony AW-Q160S in the 'Labs for a couple weeks now and while it works fairly well with newer motherboards, there are still issues with older chipsets. If you'd like to read more, head on over to DigiTimes. Add a comment
SATA has been adopted for several DVD-burner models, such as the Sony AW-Q160S, Asustek DRW-1814BLT and DVD-E616A3T, the sources indicated. Samsung, Pioneer and the Taiwan-based Lite-On IT and BenQ will launch SATA DVD burners this quarter, the sources noted.
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InterVideo, Inc. (NASDAQ:IVII - News), a leading provider of integrated digital and high-definition multimedia and audio/video content solutions in the PC, CE and wireless industries and a member of the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA), announced today that the company's next-generation playback software, WinDVD BD(TM), has passed Sun Microsystem's TCK (Technology Compatibility Kit) logo program test.If you'd like to read more, InterVideo's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
"By obtaining Sun's TCK logo for Java(TM) technology, WinDVD BD once again proves itself to be the most advanced Blu-ray Disc software player available on the market," said Steve Ro, CEO of InterVideo. "Java is a key enabling technology for users' interactive Blu-ray experience. InterVideo has cooperated closely with Sun and is proud to announce that WinDVD BD is one of the first software players able to deliver full compatibility with all Blu-ray Discs featuring BD-J interactivity."
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Your favorite drive didn't make it onto the list? Then go and vote for October's top DVD writer. Add a comment
- Pioneer DVR-111/A11
- BenQ DW1650/1655
- LG GSA-H10N/H10L/H10A
- (tied) Lite-On SHM-165H6S/165P6S and Plextor PX-760A/760SA
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- Duplicators
The first Multi-Drive Blu-Ray system with both duplication and recording functionality began shipping today from Microboards Technology, LLC. Called CopyWriter Blu-Ray, the system will be used for recording and duplicating stored multimedia and data content.As you can imagine, Microboards' new duplicator is not cheap. If you want to go all out and get the ten-recorder system, expect to pay nearly $20,000 for it. More information can be found here. Add a comment
CopyWriter Blu-Ray systems can be used in a standalone mode for duplication, or can be connected to a PC or Mac via a USB 2.0 connection for accessing one of the Blu-Ray drives.
Besides traditional large data storage applications and video footage archival, Microboards Blu-Ray towers have garnered the interest of a wide range of industries, from video game developers to medical imaging and patient records.
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HP High Definition DVD-ROM Drive -- which provides the superior picture quality of high-def movies(5) in a portable device for use with widescreen notebooks. The external drive offers advanced interactivity; for example, users can access the Internet(6) and chat while watching a movie, or play games that are seamlessly integrated into a movie. Backwards compatible, the drive not only supports new HD DVDs, but also regular CDs and DVDs.We have not heard when the HD100 will ship or how much it will be. However, you can expect to see it on store shelves in time for the holiday shopping season. If you'd like to read more, HP's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
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The fact that Quanta Storage is looking to obtain a license from another company suggests that it will not continue licensing ODD patents from Philips, industry sources indicated. This is may be due to Philips charging higher royalty fees than companies such as Sony, Matsushita Electric Industrial (Panasonic) and Pioneer, the sources noted. For Quanta Storage, Sony would be the best partner among Japan-based candidates because Sony NEC Optiarc, an ODD joint venture between Sony and NEC, is very likely to release ODM/OEM orders to Quanta Storage if it becomes a licensee of Sony, the sources pointed out.The article also hints that Quanta's decision may also be due to Lite-On's use of Philips' patents. If you'd like to read more, head on over to DigiTimes. Add a comment
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DivX Codec now includes a 1080HD encoding mode allowing you to create full size 1920 x 1080 resolution video in high quality DivX format. Videos encoded using this new setting are suitable for playback on fast desktop computers and are more likely to play on future hardware devices than videos encoded using unconstrained mode, and unlike unconstrained mode, 1080HD encoding will be available for free in the DivX Community Codec. Both 1080i and 1080p encoding is supported.More information on the DivX 6.4 Codec can be found here. That page also has a download link if you want to try the beta out. Feel free to share your experiences in our forum. Add a comment
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Royal Philips Electronics' promotion of Veeza, its new licensing system for its essential CD-R disc patents, in Taiwan has scored initial points by successfully persuading Ritek to an agreement, but the effort has been frustrated in China because makers of CD-R discs there have consistently boycotted Veeza and none have signed up for it, according to industry sources in Taiwan.The article also points out that with most Chinese manufactured CD-R discs ending up on the domestic market, companies in that country do not feel pressured to compromise with Philips. If you'd like to read more, head on over to DigiTimes. Add a comment
While Philips' promotion of Veeza in Taiwan is through separate talks with each of the target CD-R disc makers, fellow makers in China have authorized the China Audio & Video Association (CAVA) to negotiate with Philips on behalf of them, the sources pointed out. CAVA thinks the Veeza royalty is too high to be acceptable, the sources indicated.
