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Sonic Solutions (NASDAQ:SNIC - News), the leader in digital media software, broke new high-definition ground today with the release of Toast 7 with Blu-ray Disc (BD) support -- the first application of its kind for the Mac. The software ushers in a new era of advanced optical disc recording providing Mac users with the ability to store as much as 50 GB of data on a BD-R (recordable) or BD-RE (rewritable) disc. The Blu-ray Disc capabilities extend Toast's long history of Mac-platform firsts and exemplify Sonic's commitment to helping the industry make a successful transition to next-generation formats. Toast 7 with BD support is available exclusively for original equipment manufacturers developing next-generation external BD drives. The first drives to feature Toast 7 with BD support are expected to be available later this quarter.If you'd like to read more, Sonic's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
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Hitachi-LG Data Storage (under CEO Kazuya Hori) has developed the half-height Blu-ray disc drive GBW-H10N for built-in use in PCs that achieves 4x high-speed recording for the first time in the industry. Production is slated to begin in late July 2006.No word on pricing. As we find out more, we'll let you know. In the mean time, Hitachi-LG Data Storage's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
This product or so-called super-multi Blu-ray disc drive can record and play back Blu-ray format discs BD-R and BD-RE, play back BD-ROM, record and play back all-format DVDs (DVD-RAM/R/RW, +R/RW), as well as CD-R and CD-RW, and play back DVD-ROM and CD-ROM.
The GBW-H10N can record and play back 25GB large-capacity Blu-ray discs BD-R and BD-RE suitable for storing high-quality images. For BD-R in particular, this product achieves quadrupled data transfer speed as fast as 144 Mbps for the first time in the industry. Video data saved on a HDD can be transferred to a disc and a large volume of data backed up in a short time. Moreover, the BD-RE 2x recording speed is realized as the currently highest speed in the industry.
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In this review we'll take a look at some of the features found on the DW1655 and see how it compares to some of the 16x DVD±RW drives from the competition. Does the DW1655 have what it takes? You'll have to read the review to find out.
As usual, if you have any comments or questions about this review or the BenQ DW1655, please post them in the forum by clicking the link below.
BenQ DW1655 16x DVD±RW
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Hewlett-Packard (HP) has reduced the initial licensing fee to use its LightScribe technology to US$250,000-300,000 in order to encourage leading manufacturers of optical disc drives in Taiwan to adopt the technology over the competing LabelFlash technology developed by Fujifilm and Yamaha Corporation, according to industry sources. LightScribe and LabelFlash allows users to directly burn a label onto specially coated DVD discs.If you'd like to read more, head on over to DigiTimes. Add a comment
With CMC Magnetics and Prodisc Technology the only two Taiwan-based makers adopting LightScribe, HP's promotion of the direct labeling technology in Taiwan has fallen short of expectations, the sources pointed out. HP lowered its initial licensing fee to produce LightScribe drives to encourage more manufacturers to make optical drives using the technology. HP is willing to negotiate the amount of the initial licensing fee and royalty payments with interested Taiwan-based makers, the sources indicated.
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In a brief statement from Chris Stephenson, a general manager at Microsoft, the giant of Redmond, Washington said that Zune will be a new music and entertainment project covering a "family of hardware and software products" and that it will launch in 2006. Zune will use a hard drive to store music and will have a feature that could ripple through all portable music devices: a WiFi wireless connection to download music.While Microsoft has not announced an official launch date, the first Zune devices are expected to ship by the end of the year. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found DigiTimes. Add a comment
Stephenson also confirmed that a video player version is under development. And there are reports that a new subscription-based music service will accompany the hardware release.
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A local court has imposed a provisional seizure of assets on Optodisc Technology, a second-tier maker of optical discs in Taiwan, as well as on the personal assets owned by company chairman David Wang and president Jasper Chao, according to the company's filings with the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TSE) on July 21.If you'd like to read more, head on over to DigiTimes. Add a comment
Two Taiwan-based banks, TC Bank and the Bank of Kaohsiung, asked for the provisional seizure to protect their creditor rights, according to the filings. According to the local court's decision, the provisional seizure covers a portion of Optodisc's factory buildings and manufacturing equipment as well as part of the personal assets of Wang and Chao, noted the filings.
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MPEG LA announced today that the first meeting of essential Blu-ray Disc(TM) patent owners, consisting of 17 companies, was held in Los Angeles on July 6-7 for the purpose of creating a joint license providing fair, reasonable, non-discriminatory access to essential patents, as an alternative to negotiating separate licenses. Participating companies included CyberLink Corporation; Dell Inc.; Hewlett-Packard Company; Hitachi Ltd.; Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.; LG Electronics Inc.; Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (Panasonic); Mitsubishi Electric Corporation; Pioneer Corporation; Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.; Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.; Sharp Corporation; Sony Corporation; TDK Corporation; Victor Company of Japan, Ltd.; and Warner Home Video Inc.According to MPEG LA's press release, additional patent holder meetings are planned, and work on the joint license will continue. More information can be found here. Add a comment
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CyberLink Corp. (5203.TW), a world leader in digital home solutions, announced today that CyberLink BD Solution is being shipped with Sony's first BD-R/RE burner, the BWU-100A drive.The Sony BWU-100A is expected to ship in August for about $750. If you'd like to read more, CyberLink's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
Optimized to keep 1080i HD video in native high-definition format from capture to playback, the Sony BWU-100A drive also supports recording of standard single layer 4.7 GB DVD+R/+RW/RAM discs, 8.5 GB DVD+R Double/Dual Layer Discs, and CDs, making it a true multi-format burner. CyberLink's BD Solution offers a complete software suite for a host of advanced authoring and burning functions optimized for the Blu-ray Disc (BD) format, allowing users to capture HD video from an HDV format camcorder and record it to 50 GB or 25 GB BD discs.
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The DVD+RW Alliance, in light of Taiwan's importance in the production of optical discs and drives, will set up a Taiwan branch of its DVD+RW Compatibility and Convergence Group (DCCG), the Taiwan Compatibility and Convergence Group (TCCG), tentatively by September of this year, according to the alliance at a seminar in Taipei on July 19.The article also mentions that DCCG has offered certification for 8x DVD+RW DL discs to several makers and plans to finish the specs for 16x DVD+RW DL media at the end of this year. If you'd like to read more, head on over to DigiTimes. Add a comment
Currently, Taiwan-based makers of DVD+R/RW burners and discs have to send their products to DCCG in Japan for compatibility testing and verification and the establishment of TCCG will reduce time and costs for the makers, according to industry sources.
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Nero, leaders in digital media technology, today announced that the Nero ShowTime application of its Nero 7 digital media software suite received Windows Media Center Edition (MCE) certification. The Microsoft Windows Logo Program is designed to help customers identify products that deliver a high-quality computing experience with Windows operating systems.If you'd like to read more, Nero's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
The Nero ShowTime application of the Nero 7 software suite allows consumers to playback all digital recordings. Providing improved H.264/AVC and DVD-Video playback, Nero ShowTime enhances consumers' enjoyment and ability to manage HD video content on a PC. Also, a new navigation jog-shuttle and the integration of the Nero Scout application provide faster access to all digital files in the home.
