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International vendors of optical discs, in light of growing demand for 8cm single-sided single-layer DVD+R and DVD+RW discs, are expected to begin volume production of 8cm DL (single-sided double-layer) DVD+R and DVD+RW discs in the fourth quarter of this year, according to DVD+RW Alliance representatives attending the ongoing Computex Taipei 2006.Considering we still haven't seen 12cm DVD+RW DL media, I have a hard time believing that they will begin volume production of 8cm discs by the end of this year. Then again, they could prove me wrong. If you'd like to read more, head on over to DigiTimes. Add a comment
Global demand for 8cm DVD discs of all standards is estimated to increase to 120 million discs this year, according to the representatives. Mainly due to fast growing demand for higher storage capacities for use in portable digital video camcorders and DVD recorders, 8cm DVD+R/+RW DL discs will be in more demand beginning next year, the representatives indicated. The DVD+RW Alliance finished the technological specification for the 8cm DVD+RW DL format in March of this year, paving the way for its volume production.
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The TripleWriter (SPD7000) is expected to ship in August of 2006. More information can be found here. Add a comment
The new Philips TripleWriter (SPD7000) showcases Philips' ability to integrate PC products and technologies into the consumer electronics realm. The drive features recording and playback capabilities of all popular optical storage formats including CD, DVD and Blu-ray, which allows users to select their media of choice depending on the preferred application. Philips' TripleWriter features a 2x (72 Mb/s continuous data-rate) read and write speed on BD-ROM, BD-R and BD-RE media. The drive reads and writes a variety of legacy media including CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD+R, DVD+R DL, DVD-R, DVD-R DL, DVD+RW and DVD-RW.
For further convenience, Philips introduces four robust and easy-to-use disc types: 25 and 50 GB versions of BD-R and BD-RE. The Blu-ray has a revolutionary protective cover layer utilizing an advanced hard coating technology, offering superior robustness, better than CD and DVD. This coating prevents fingerprints and scratches and makes the Blu-ray disc easy to clean.
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Nero, leaders in digital media technology, today announced that its Nero 7 Essentials digital media software suite has been selected by ASUSTek Computer Inc. (ASUS) as the digital media software to power demonstrations of its new DRW-1612BL LightScribe DVDRW drive at Computex 2006. The demonstrations will allow users to experience with the formidable hardware and software solutions working together to burn audio, video and data discs.For those wondering, the DRW-1612BL features 16x DVD±R, 8x DVD+RW, 6x DVD-RW, 8x DVD±R DL and 12x DVD-RAM writing speeds. More information can be found here. Add a comment
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Lite-On IT, one of the world's biggest optical disc drive manufacturers, is ready for the next generation of optical disc formats. Lite-On IT announces to start producing BD (Blu-ray Disc) compatible drives in Q3 2006 and to introduce Lite-On branded Blu-ray drives to the market in August 2006.Lite-On also points out that the LH-2B1S will also feature a Serial ATA (SATA) interface. More information can be found here. Add a comment
The LH-2B1S will be the first Lite-On drive with Blu-ray Disc technology. Thanks to the use of the blue-violet laser, it enables users to record, rewrite and playback high-definition video (HD) as well as storing large amounts of data. The Blu-ray Disc format offers more than five times the storage capacity of traditional DVDs and can hold up to 50GB of data on a double layer BD disc and up to 25GB on a single layer BD disc. Naturally, the drive will also be compatible with DVD±R(W) (DL) media and CD-R(W) media.
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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, today announced that its WinDVD HD(TM) is the first software HD DVD disc player to include Dolby TrueHD and Dolby Digital Plus technologies for high-definition audio.If you'd like to read more, Intervideo's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
Both Dolby TrueHD and Dolby Digital Plus are surround sound audio codecs developed by Dolby Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE:DLB - News) as the next-generation audio technologies for high-definition programming and media. Dolby TrueHD delivers tantalizing sound and offers an unprecedented home theater experience. Dolby Digital Plus combines the efficiency to meet future broadcast demands with the power and flexibility to realize the full audio potential of HD DVD discs for an amazing high-definition experience.
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Toshiba placed a first firmware update for its Hp-DVD-Player HD-A1 available in the USA and Japan and HD-XA1 finished. The update is to be distributed be able to be downloaded in the countries mentioned by Toshiba on a Disc or shortly on-line. In addition one must connect the Player by its Ethernet interface with the Internet. The update accelerates among other things the start of the operating system of the Players which is based on Linux, eliminates some drive assembly problems and crashes and improves the black value rendition at the HDMI connection. Helvetica, sans-serif,AnnouncementIf your HD DVD player is connected to the internet, you'll be able to download it directly from Toshiba. Otherwise CD's with the update will be available. More information can be found here. Add a comment
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Japanese electronics maker Pioneer Corp. (6773.T: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Tuesday it would postpone the North Amercian launch of next-generation DVD players using Blu-ray technology to this autumn from its previous launch schedule of June, citing a delay in the development process.With Sony's Blu-ray player reportedly delayed until August and Pioneer's until fall, its now up to Samsung. Hopefully they can ship their player before the first Blu-ray titles hit store shelves on June 20th. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here here. Add a comment
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Pioneer Corp will stop developing DVD recorders on its own, as stiff price competition is causing the firm to lose money in this segment and is looking to link up with Matsushita Electric Industrial Co to cut costs, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported, company sources said Saturday.As far as I can tell, this only applies to Pioneer's set top DVD recorders and not their PC based drives. As we find out more, we'll let you know. In the mean time, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment
Pioneer plans to continue developing next-generation DVD recorders based on the Blu-ray format, promoted by Sony Corp and Matsushita, by purchasing key microchips and software from Matsushita, the business daily said.
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"We have a prototype ready and we are going to ship [the product] before the end of the year," BenQ Chairman KY Lee said in an interview. The prototype drive was unveiled at a Taipei news conference the same day. It is a standard "half-height" drive designed for use in desktop computers, and can also write DVDs and CDs.BenQ did not specify a price. However, if its like other Blu-ray drives, it won't be cheap. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment
Blu-ray Disc is one of two new optical-disc formats vying to replace DVD for high-definition content. Blu-ray Disc and the competing HD DVD format aren't compatible, so consumers face a choice between the two or waiting until a clear victor emerges. BenQ has put its weight behind Blu-ray Disc, but Lee said its support isn't necessarily exclusive.
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Demand is increasing for 18x DVD burners with sales volume in 2007 expected to catch up with that of 16x models, currently the mainstream writing speed, according to sources in Taiwan's optical disc drive (ODD) industry.If you'd like to read the entire article, head on over to DigiTimes. Add a comment
Toshiba-Samsung Storage Technology (TSST) this month will launch its 18x Super Multi DVD burners, which have a writing speed of 12x for the DVD-RAM format, higher than the 4-6x of other Super Multi models, the sources indicated. Japan-based Plextor launched a 18x DVD Dual burner in February of this year. Lite-On IT, Taiwan's largest ODD maker, is poised to begin volume production of 18x DVD burners next quarter.
