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Optical Storage
Traxdata has announced the launch of their HD DVD-R media. According to their press release, they are the first brand in Europe to bring HD DVD-R media to market.

Traxdata has today announced the launch of its HD DVD-R media, the eagerly awaited successor to the current DVD. This is the only HD DVD-R that is available to buy online and in-stores today, heralding the start of a new era in optical storage media. It is set to revolutionize the quality and volume of data that users can store on one disc.

For the first time, consumers with HD DVD players/recorders will be able to record and watch their favourite movies, programmes or sporting events that are broadcast in HD, providing improved clarity, image sharpness, colours and sound, opening the door to an exciting new world of entertainment. The HD DVD provides three times the amount of digital storage than a standard single layer DVD, offering a massive 15GB to enable users to literally store hundreds of the highest quality photos, music, videos or data.
If you'd like to read more, Traxdata's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment

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Software
As promised, Nero has released a major update for their Nero 7 suite this morning. This "ENHANCED" update brings the version count up to 7.5.1.1 and includes a number of new features and bug fixes. 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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Miguel at Extreme Mhz has taken a look at Samsung's new LightScribe capable 18x DVD±RW, the SH-S182M. Here's a sample of what he had to say about it:
The Samsung SH-S182M was a sheer pleasure to review and had the potential of being on of the best drives you can buy. In fact, the only reason this drive failed to earn my highest recommendation was due to the poor ripping performance. Also, the DVD double layer write performance is questionable as it seemed to struggle quite a bit with the +R format, even when using the highest quality media available.
If you'd like to read more, head on over to Extreme Mhz and check out their review. Also, make sure you enter their latest contest as they are giving away a few 12x DVD-RAM discs. Add a comment

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Optical Storage
CMC and Ritek have reportedly started production of 18x DVD+R and DVD-R media. Unfortunately, the the discs are currently being produced in limited volumes and are expected to fall well short of demand.
Although several leading global brands have already launched or will soon offer 18x DVD burners, CMC Magnetics and Ritek, Taiwan's top two makers of optical discs, currently produce 18x DVD+R/-R discs only in limited volumes and the supply may fall significantly short of global demand, according to industry sources...

...However, the global supply of 18x DVD+R/-R discs appear to be lagging, the sources pointed out. CMC and Ritek are able to immediately start volume production of 18x DVD+R/-R discs as long as the market demand is large enough, the two companies said.
The article also points out that due to high prices, 18x media is not expected to become popular until 2007. If you'd like to read more, head on over to DigiTimes. Add a comment

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Here's an interesting bit of news. According to an article at vnunet.com, companies like Ritek and U-Tech are working on a way to embed RFID chips into DVD's. These chips would then be used to track the discs as they make their way to store shelves as well as a way to prevent illegal copying.
DVDs will soon be tracked with embedded radio transmitter chips to prevent copying and piracy, according to the company which makes movie discs for Warner, Disney, Fox and other major studios.

The technology, which can also be used for Blu-Ray and HD-DVD discs, will allow movie studios to remotely track individual discs as they travel from factories to retail shelves to consumers' homes.

Home DVD players will eventually be able to check on the chip embedded in a disc, and refuse to play discs which are copied or played in the 'wrong' geographical region, the companies behind the technology expect.
While this is a great way to track DVD's, I don't see it as a good way to prevent piracy. RFID chips can be disabled or "zapped" using devices like a modified camera. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment

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Optical Storage
Somehow I missed this earlier but Lite-On has apparently announced support for the HD DVD format. According to their press release, they are developing a half-height HD DVD drive, with plans for commercialization in March 2007.
Lite-On IT, Taiwan's No.1 manufacturer of optical disk drives (ODD), today announced the company would support the HD DVD format, the next-generation DVD standard for the high-definition era, and that it has started development of a half-height HD DVD drive, aiming for commercialization in March 2007. The participation of Lite-On IT, in the fast growing ranks of HD DVD supporters adds to the momentum propelling the market growth and success of HD DVD by expanding the number of ODD suppliers working to sustain the HD DVD industry. HD DVD products are expected to see a rapid boost in demand during the Christmas and year-end shopping season, and Toshiba Corporation of Japan has already launched an Notebook PC with HD DVD-ROM in selected markets, HD DVD players in the U.S. and Japanese markets, and a hard disk recorder with HD DVD for the Japanese market.

Lite-On IT has undertaken an extensive evaluation of HD DVD technologies, and concluded that HD DVD will be a major driving force in connection with the coming generation of ODD with blue laser pick-up heads, because of its cost advantage and its proven technical reliability, including superior backward compatibility with DVD. By joining the HD DVD market ahead of many other suppliers of ODD drives, Lite-On IT intends to take full advantage of the excellent market opportunities provided by HD DVD and contribute to the sound growth of the next generation DVD industry.
Keep in mind Lite-On is supporting Blu-ray as well with their own line of BD players and PC based drives. If you'd like to read more, Lite-On's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment

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Software
InterVideo has announced their new video conversion software, iVideoToGo Platinum. With iVideoToGo Platinum, users can easily convert their DVD's and videos to a PSP or iPod friendly format.
InterVideo, Inc. (NASDAQ: IVII), an industry leader in bringing next-generation H.264/MPEG-4 AVC technology to consumers, announced today InterVideo iVideoToGo Platinum, the easiest way to copy* personal videos for playback on a video-enabled iPod and Sony PSP devices. Priced at only $29.95, the software is a 3-step solution that lets users quickly convert their existing DVDs and video files into iPod- and PSP-compatible files that provide smooth, flawless playback.

Easily one of the fastest conversion tools on the market, iVideoToGo Platinum is equipped with a simple, friendly interface and it utilizes a single window for all tasks. iVideoToGo Platinum is able to support both iPod and PSP formats. And with just three steps to complete the copy process, there's no learning curve-even a beginner can have immediate success.
iVideoToGo Platinum is available now through InterVideo's website and will hit retail stores in October. More information can be found here. Add a comment

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Home Entertainment
Reuters has reported that Samsung plans to make some improvements to its BD-P1000 Blu-ray disc player. Among other things, they plan to add Java title compatibility and modify the setting for the noise filter which should provide a slightly sharper picture.
Samsung Corp's (000830.KS) Samsung America Inc on Thursday said it would make some improvements to its Blu-ray high-definition DVD players ahead of the holiday season.

"As we approach the 2006 holiday season, Samsung will make a running line production improvement to BD-P1000 Blu-ray disc players destined for the U.S. market," the company said in a statement.

The production line improvement will include a modified setting for the noise filter reduction circuit that will provide a slightly sharper picture, it said.
While these improvements will be built into future players, existing BD-P1000 owners will be able to add them via a free firmware update. Expect to see this update in late October. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment

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Home Entertainment
Toshiba sent out a press release earlier today, announcing its second generation HD DVD players, the HD-A2 and HD-XA2. While it does not look like the HD-A2 offers much more than their first generation players, the HD-XA2 ups the ante with support for HDMI 1.3 and 1080p output capability.
The new high end Toshiba HD-XA2 HD DVD player is designed to output 1920 x 1080p, the highest HD signal currently available, via High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) 1.3. HDMI version 1.3 is the most current, major enhancement of the HDMI specification, which adds support for Deep Color technology. The HD-XA2 also incorporates a 297MHz / 12 bit Video DAC with high-quality, 4x oversampling for increased bandwidth for true playback of an HD picture to a video source. The HD-XA2 comes with a picture setting function allowing customers to optimize picture quality with user adjustable settings for color, contrast, brightness, edge enhancement and block noise, among others. The new HD-XA2 HD DVD player's 1080p output capability complements Toshiba's new Cinema Series Pro LCD TVs which provide true HD 1080p input capability via HDMI.

The HD-XA2 will be one of the first next generation players to support the video portion of HDMI version 1.3. HDMI 1.3 supports the demands of future high definition display devices, such as Deep Color enabling 36-bit (RGB or YCbCr) color depths, up from the 24-bit depths in previous versions of the HDMI specification. This allows Deep Color compatible display devices to deliver outstanding video quality.
The HD-A2 will ship in October for $499.99. The HD-XA2 will follow up in December for a whopping $999.99. More information on both players is available on Toshiba's website. Add a comment

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The guys at CD Freaks have gotten their hands on an early sample of Plextor's new standalone CD/DVD eraser, the PlexEraser PX-0E100E. Here's what they had to say about it:
Our opinion about this device is that we strongly believe that this product is not in the first line aimed for the private and normal everyday user, but rather for Companies, Organizations, Financial institutions, Hospitals/Medical institutions, Government departments, Military and Research establishments, which wants to destroys sensitive data stored on CD/DVD in an environmentally and friendly way.
If you'd like to read more, CD Freaks' entire review can be found here. Add a comment

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