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The DVD Forum held their 35th Steering Committee meeting earlier this week. Among other things, the group approved the specifications for DVD-RW DL media. Here are some of the highlights from the meeting:
  • Approval of "DVD Specifications for Recordable Disc for Dual Layer (DVD-R for DL) File System Specifications, Version 3.0"
  • Approval of "Inclusion of 44.1kHz audio family into HD DVD-Video as mandatory"
  • Approval of "DVD Specifications for Re-recordable Disc for Dual Layer (DVD-RW for DL) Physical Specifications, Version 2.0"
  • Approval of "Version-up Information for the following Specifications:
    -DVD Specifications for High Density Rewritable Disc (HD DVD-RAM) Physical Specifications (Version 1.0 to 1.1)
    -DVD Specifications for High Density Recordable Disc (HD DVD-R) Physical Specifications (Version 1.0 to 1.1)
    -DVD Specifications for High Density Recordable Disc for Dual Layer (HD DVD-R for DL) Physical Specifications (Version 2.0 to 2.1)
    -DVD Specifications for High Density Re-recordable Disc (HD DVD-RW) Physical Specifications (Version 1.0 to 1.1)
    -DVD Specifications for High Density Re-recordable Disc for Dual Layer (HD DVD-RW for DL) Physical Specifications (Version 2.0 to 2.1) "
  • Approval of "The following conceptual proposals:
    -HD DVD application format (HD DVD-Video/Video Recording) recording on red laser DVD recordable media
    -Red laser recording function: Type 1 & 2 (provisional approval and details including physical specifications will be decided for Type 2 later)
    -Creation of format specifications by related WGs (WG-1, 3, 5, 6 and 9)"
Some of the proposals are interesting. In particular the ability to record HD DVD video content onto standard DVD media. If you'd like to read more, the Steering Committee's entire list of resolutions can be found here. Add a comment

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Home Entertainment
Here's an interesting bit of news. According to an article at DigiTimes, Microsoft is working on a new version of the Xbox 360 equipped with an internal HD-DVD drive.
Microsoft has started designing a new-generation of Xbox 360's equipped with an internal HD-DVD drive and is selecting manufacturers in Taiwan to build the drive, according to sources in Taiwan's optical disc drive (ODD) industry.

Microsoft will offer an external HD-DVD drive for its Xbox 360 at around the end of this year, in an attempt to compete with the Sony PlayStation 3 (PS3), which will have a built-in Blu-ray Disc (BD) drive, the sources indicated. The external HD-DVD drive, however, can only play back movies, the sources noted.
The article also mentions that if things go smoothly, we could see the new version of the Xbox 360 in the first half of 2007. If you'd like to read more, head on over to DigiTimes. Add a comment

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Optical Storage
BenQ has officially unveiled their new 18x DVD±RW drives, the DW1800 and DW1805. According to BenQ's website, the two drives offer 18x DVD±R, 8x DVD±R DL and 12x DVD-RAM writing speeds as well as features like SolidBurn and QSuite. The DW1805 ups the ante even further, offering support for LightScribe technology.


We have not heard when these drives will ship or if they will be available in the US. Considering BenQ has already pulled out of the European market, I wouldn't hold my breath. If you'd like to talk about BenQ's new drives, feel free to join the discussion in our forum.

Update: For some reason BenQ has removed both drives from their website. Add a comment

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Optical Storage
Sony Europe has announced the launch of its first Blu-ray Disc drive, the BWU-100A. Capable or reading and writing to single and dual layer BD media, the BWU-100A can be used to burn up to 50 GB of data or 4 hours of HD video.

Sony Europe's IT Peripherals division today announced the launch of its first Blu-ray Disc (BD) drive retail kit for PCs. The Sony BWU-100A drive reads and records single and dual layer Blu-ray Disc Recordable (BD-R) and Rewritable (BD-RE) media, providing up to 50GB capacity per disc for recording personal High Definition media content as well as for general data storage, back-up and archiving. With a free software upgrade and a suitably-specified playback environment, the BWU-100A is also capable of playing back commercial Blu-ray movies. Backward read and write compatibility with all major DVD and CD formats make the BWU-100A a true multi-format burner and the ideal upgrade option for any computer - including single-bay barebone or media centre PCs. The stylish Sony BWU-100A drive comes bundled with the CyberLink BD Solution software suite making it a complete out-of-the-box solution.
Contrary to CNET's claims, the BWU-100A will be able to play back commercial Blu-ray movies. Of course, you'll still need HDCP compliant hardware if you plan to view your movies at higher resolutions. If you'd like to read more, Sony's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment

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Optical Storage
TDK has announced that they've started shipping their 50GB dual layer recordable Blu-ray Disc media. Here's part of their press release:
TDK, a world leader in digital recording solutions, today announced that it has begun shipping 50GB dual layer recordable Blu-ray Disc media. Retail pricing is set at $47.99 for a 50GB BD-R (recordable). TDK 50GB BD-RE (rewritable) media will be available in the first quarter of 2007 with retail pricing set at $59.99...

..."The launch of 50GB dual layer Blu-ray Disc media is a significant achievement for this revolutionary new format and for TDK," noted Bruce Youmans, TDK Vice President of Product Research & Development. "By doubling the format's capacity, the 50GB discs provide users with the opportunity to store an unprecedented amount of data on convenient and cost-effective removable media. From hard drive backups to HD video authoring, these discs offer new possibilities." He continued, "TDK innovations such as the company's CuSi inorganic dye formulation and our exclusive DURABIS 2 hard coating technology have played a key role in enabling the achievement of remarkable capacities, fast transfer rates and revolutionary durability for TDK Blu-ray Discs."
If you'd like to read more, TDK's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment

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Optical Storage
Verbatim Australia sent out a press release this morning, announcing the availability of their new glossy white inkjet printable 52x CD-R and 16x DVD+/-R media.
Verbatim Corporation, the market leader in premium-quality printable media, has announced the immediate availability of a new family of glossy white inkjet printable 52X CDR and 16X DVD+/-R media. The new discs combine a shiny white printable surface with ultra-reliable, high-speed recording technology and broad read compatibility. With Verbatim's unique glossy media, users can make their recordings look distinctive with vibrant, full-colour images and crystal-clear text.

The new glossy discs feature an exceptional inkjet-printable surface that provides superior ink absorption and excellent drying properties. When combined with any colour inkjet printer, users can print photo-quality images directly to the disc surface to customise their CDs and DVDs. Both DVD-R and DVD+R discs feature full surface, edge to edge printing capabilities.
More information, including prices, is available on Verbatim's website. Add a comment

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Optical Storage
Mitsubishi Kagaku Media/Verbatim, Memory Tech Corporation, and Plasmon have announced that they've developed a new optical storage format called UDO-DMD, or Ultra Density Optical - Digital Master Disk. Based on blue laser UDO technology, UDO-DMD was designed for secure distribution and long-term storage of HD DVD content.
Mitsubishi Kagaku Media (MKM)/Verbatim, Memory Tech Corporation (MTC), and Plasmon today announced a technology and business alliance to manufacture and promote a new optical storage format called UDO-DMD (Ultra Density Optical - Digital Master Disk). UDO-DMD has been designed specifically for the secure distribution and long-term storage of high value HD DVD content between authoring studios and disc mastering facilities.

Based on professional blue laser UDO technology, DMD drives and media have been optimized to meet the stringent security and reliability requirements of the HD DVD content industry. Many studios today depend on magnetic tape and RAID systems to transport and archive valuable content. Video content is often lost on tapes because they are fragile for transport and unreliable for long-term storage, and managing rapidly growing data on RAID is insecure and cost prohibitive for archives that must be maintained for many years. By contrast, UDO-DMD provides an extremely stable media housed in a robust cartridge that has a data life far greater than tape or RAID storage. To minimize the risk of content piracy, the new DMD media cannot be written and read in standard UDO drives. DMD also provides physical WORM (Write Once Read Many) recording for content authenticity and an additional cartridge locking security feature to minimise the risk of valuable content loss.
According to the press release, DMD will initially be released with a 30GB capacity, growing to 60GB in the second quarter of 2007. More information on DMD can be found here. Add a comment

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Optical Storage
ASUS has officially announced their new LightScribe capable DVD writer, the DRW-1612BL. Along with support for LightScribe, the DRW-1612BL features 16x DVD±R, 8x DVD+RW, 6x DVD-RW, 8x DVD±R DL and 12x DVD-RAM writing speeds.

ASUSTeK Computer Inc. (ASUS), a leading provider of high-performance optical drives, today introduced the DRW-1612BL internal DVD rewriter, which incorporated LightScribe direct disc labeling technology. The innovative feature enables images to be burnt onto disc surfaces as labels using the same drive that wrote in the data. The DRW-1612BL provides high-speed 16X DVD +/-write and 8X DVD+/-R (DL), and supports 12X DVD-RAM read and write as well.

Three unique elements are needed to make LightScribeto possible: the DRW-1612BL Drive, LightScribe-compatible discs and LightScribe enabled burning software. When data writing is completed, just turn over the disc to burn graphics and text onto the disc surface as label.
At this time we have not heard if or when the DRW-1612BL will be available in the US. As soon as we find out, we'll let you know. In the mean time, ASUS's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment

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Home Entertainment
High-Def Digest is back again with another comparisons between Blu-ray and HD DVD. This time around, they take a look at Warner Home Video's second wave of Blu-ray titles. What makes it even more interesting is that these are some of the first Blu-ray titles to use the VC-1 codec.
That said, with all things being equal and this second round of comparisons being apples to apples -- same title, same master, same codec, same supplemental material -- it is telling that I found it almost impossible to detect any differences between the Blu-ray and HD DVD discs. And any discrepancies I did see often felt like nitpicking. Which means that this stage of the game -- at least while we're still using first-generation hardware -- I'm starting to feel like in comparing the two formats, I'm not so much reviewing software, but hardware. If I see visible noise, a difference in contrast, or wonky black levels -- are these the faults of the disc, the player, or the display device? Or a kink in the chain somewhere in between?
It's good to see that the VC-1 codec has leveled the playing field some what. If you'd like to read more, Hi-Def Digest's comparison can be found here. Add a comment

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Optical Storage
Memory Tech and Toshiba have announced that they've developed a new version of the TWIN format. By utilizing a three-layer structure, the new TWIN disc supports 30GB of HD DVD content and 4.7GB of standard DVD content.
The newly announced disc is the latest addition to the DVD TWIN format, discs that support both DVD and HD DVD content and that are fully compatible with both formats. The new disc boosts capacity and expands versatility with a three-layer structure offering support for two HD DVD layers and one DVD layer or two DVD layers and one HD DVD layer. Memory-Tech and Toshiba will propose the new disc to the HD DVD Forum, the industry body that defines DVD standards.

In a two-layer HD DVD configuration, the new TWIN disc has a 30GB HD DVD capacity, plus 4.7GB of standard DVD capacity. Configured to maximize standard DVD content, the disc can support 8.5GB on two layers, plus 15GB of HD DVD content on the third layer. DVD content can be played back on a standard DVD player, while HD DVD players can play back both formats.
Memorytech and Toshiba still need to have the new TWIN disc approved by the HD DVD Forum. Once it is, they plan to introduce the new format to content providers. More information on the new TWIN disc can be found here. Add a comment

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