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BenQ announced that it has decided to separate its own-brand and IMS (integration manufacturing and service) businesses, with the IMS segment to become independent in 2007, while BenQ to focuses on BenQ Mobile Business Group (BMG) and Digital Media Business Group (DMG) for its own-brand business, according to KY Lee, chairman and CEO of BenQ, at an investors conference on August 24.If you'd like to read more, head on over to DigiTimes. Add a comment
The company has been evaluating the move for two years and decided to separate its own-brand business from IMS since the branding businesses of BenQ and BenQ-Siemens have reached economies of scale, Lee said.
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The version of Windows Media Player that will ship with Windows Vista won't include playback support for either Blu-ray or HD DVD movie titles.I can't say I'm surprised. The current version of Windows Media Player doesn't play back standard DVD movies without drivers from a 3rd party either. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment
"In box we have the Microsoft VC1 decoder...but in order to do playback [of Blu-ray and HD DVD titles] you will need a third-party player such as...PowerDVD from Cyberlink," Mark O'Shea, OEM Systems Engineer for Microsoft Australia told CNET.com.au.
VC-1 is a Microsoft-developed video codec adopted by many movie studios as the video standard for their commercial HD DVD and Blu-ray titles.
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Ulead Systems Inc. (TSE:2487), a subsidiary of InterVideo Inc. (NASDAQ: IVII) and a 17-year industry leader in video, image and DVD software, today announced Ulead DVD MovieFactory 5 Plus, an enhanced companion to its market-leading DVD MovieFactory 5 standard version. "When we released DVD MovieFactory 5 in March, it earned high praise for its ease-of-use and intuitive DVD authoring", said Eldon C. M. Liu, president of Ulead. "The Plus version offers additional creative content and templates. Digital media enthusiasts will appreciate the expanded disc burning functionality, multi-format disc copying, support for music DVDs and Blu-ray Direct-to-Disc burning."DVD MovieFactory 5 Plus will be available in retail stores and at www.ulead.com for $79.99 starting in late August. More information can be found here. Add a comment
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The LH-18A1P also support's Lite-On's new WriteSmart technology. Similar to HyperTuning and SolidBurn, WriteSmart automatically detects and decides the optimal write strategy for DVD±R media. More information, including a list of specs, can be found here. Add a comment
While many people thought 16X would be the maximum writing speed for DVD±R, Lite-On IT is one of the companies pushing the limit. Lite-On IT will increase writing speeds on DVD-R(W) drives from 16X to 18X. The first 18X drive, the LH-18A1P is expected to be available from October 2006.
The LH-18A1P makes DVD recording quicker than ever before. The drive can write both DVD+R and DVD-R at 18X, thanks to SmartWrite technology. Double and Dual layer discs can be written at 8X. Besides DVD±R(W) compatibility, this drive also incorporates Super AllWrite technology and therefore rewrites DVD-RAM discs at 12X. This new drives allows users to burn there data quicker then ever before, on all popular media formats.
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Lite-On IT, Taiwan's largest optical disc drive (ODD) maker, has received orders from Toshiba for half-height (H/H) HD-DVD burners, according to sources at components suppliers.The article also mentions that HP and other computer manufacturers are expected to launch HD-DVD equipped PC's in September of 2006. If you'd like to read more, head on over to DigiTimes. Add a comment
Toshiba is releasing the H/H models to Lite-On IT in order to focus its own production on slim-type HD-DVD burners in the face of strong competition from the Blu-ray Disc (BD) camp, the sources said.
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Plextor also announced a new slot loading DVD writer, the PX-608AL, that is designed to be built into laptops. Both the PX-608CU and PX-608AL will be available in October of this year. More information can be found here. Add a comment
Plextor today announces its new shape ultra-portable DVD writer - the smallest available in the world. Measuring just 15.9mm high and weighing 250g, the pocket-sized PX-608CU is ideal for mobile laptop users and those requiring a modern, stylish and compact unit to use anywhere.
The newly-designed clamshell chassis is the latest innovation from Plextor and not only provides a highly portable ergonomic unit for improved ease of use, but it also incorporates high reliability and durability for long term operation.
It is USB 2.0 bus-powered for both maximum convenience and true plug-and-play usability (no need for an external power supply) - very handy for the mobile executive to burn CDs and DVDs on the move, or for home users to burn and back-up important data from multiple computers.
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Microsoft Taiwan, in response to questions raised by Taiwan-based developers of on-line, PC and console games, has confirmed that the HD-DVD drive to be used with its Xbox 360 game console is to merely play back HD-DVD movies and not to support games on HD-DVD, according to industry sources.The article also mentions that Microsoft is concerned that by putting games on HD DVD it may increase costs and decrease the stability of the software. If you'd like to read more, head on over to DigiTimes. Add a comment
Taiwan-based game developers think blue-laser support for games is key for the Xbox 360 to be competitive with the Sony PlayStation 3 (PS3) which will have a built-in Blu-ray Disc (BD) drive, the sources pointed out. These developers are disappointed that the external drive will not support games and feel unwelcomed by the HD-DVD interest group, the sources indicated.
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According to our contacts at Lite-On, the LH-2B1S has a suggested retail price of $649.00. While not exactly cheap, this is a good $350 less than the drives from the competition. If you'd like to read more, Lite-On's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
LiteOn IT, the world's leader in optical storage solution proudly announces the LH-2B1S, the company's first Blu-ray Disc (BD) triple writer. The LH-2B1S uses the revolutionary blue laser technology instead of red laser existing in today's optical drives. The new technology provides an extremely precise laser focus and greatly increases storage capacity. LH-2B1S can store up to 50GB of data on a double-layer BD disc, equivalent to 9 hours High-Definition (HD) video or 23 hours of standard definition content or 72 CDs on a single disc. The new LH-2B1S triple writer will be available in September 2006.
The new LH-2B1S is ideal for professionals who have a growing need of archiving large files and content on a single disc. Commercial advertising, studio and catalog photographers, movie makers, and IT managers will greatly benefit from this technology as it plays back High-Definition (HD) content and archive massive data to reduce physical storage space.
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Imation Corp (NYSE: IMN - News), a worldwide leader in removable data storage media, today announced the availability of its first recordable HD DVD media. Now, Imation HD DVD and Imation Blu-ray media, which was announced last month, provide businesses of all sizes with a high-capacity solution for managing their growing quantity of critical data storage. Available in single-layer, Imation HD DVD can store up to 15GB of digital files -- three times the capacity of standard DVDs -- and are ideal for reliable data and image storage, including medical and government imaging, photography, videography, as well as high definition video recording.With no HD DVD writers on the market, it makes you wonder who exactly they expect to buy this media. In any case, Imation's single layer HD DVD discs are available now for a suggested retail price of $19.99. More information can be found here. Add a comment
"Imation understands the ever-growing storage needs of today's businesses and the need for a wide-range of innovative solutions to meet those needs," said Jim Milligan, general manager, Imation Commercial and OEM Division. "Today's release of Imation HD DVD provides businesses with a format choice for their high definition recording needs and demonstrates Imation's continued commitment to offer a variety of quality options to store and transfer critical data."
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Lite-On IT, the largest maker of optical disc drives in Taiwan, on August 18 announced it is developing half-height (H/H) HD-DVD burners, with a volume production target set for March 2007.If you'd like to read more, head on over to DigiTimes. Add a comment
Although the company has scheduled production of H/H HD-DVD burners, Lite-On IT appears to retain a neutral attitude between Blu-ray Disc (BD) and HD-DVD.
