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InterVideo, Inc. (NASDAQ: IVII) an industry leader in next-generation DVD and multimedia software, today announced its commitment to support HD DVD. At WinHEC 2006, InterVideo showcased its plans for HD DVD playback support on PCs in late 2006 and early 2007.If you'd like to read more, InterVideo's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
With a growing list of top movies available and favorable reviews of the latest HD DVD players, the community of supporters for HD DVD hardware and software continues to grow. Already this year, innovative PC OEMs such as Toshiba have begun offering HD DVD drives in desktop and notebook PCs. Additionally, a full line of IHV components from leading manufacturers including Intel will help support HD DVD playback on PCs. InterVideo has reaffirmed its commitment to include HD DVD support in all of its PC products and will focus on developing new software that will ensure seamless playback on Windows Vista PCs.
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Like Blu-ray, HD DVD will also be getting region controls. It will be interesting to see how this will effect existing HD DVD players as they do not support this feature. If you'd like to read more, the Steering Committee's entire list of resolutions can be found here. Add a comment
- Approval of "DVD Specifications for High Density Recordable Disc for Dual Layer (HD DVD-R for DL) File System Specifications, Version 2.0"
- Approval of
"-DVD Specifications for High Density Re-recordable Disc (HD DVD-RW) Physical Specifications, Version 1.0
-DVD Specifications for High Density Re-recordable Disc (HD DVD-RW) 1x-speed Optional Specifications, Revision 1.0"- Approval of
"-DVD Specifications for High Density Re-recordable Disc for Dual Layer (HD DVD-RW for DL) Physical Specifications, Version 2.0
-DVD Specifications for High Density Re-recordable Disc for Dual Layer (HD DVD-RW for DL) 1x-speed Optional Specifications, Revision 1.0"- Approval of "Logo/Mark for HD DVD-RW Dual Layer"
- Approval of "To begin to develop Physical Specifications for China only HD DVD-ROM format in WG-11 ad hoc while China Sub Committee resolves policy issues"
- Approval of
"HD DVD RPC Ad hoc group to work with appropriate WGs to develop a specification and enforcement plan for RPC on HD DVD-Video including region map and requirements in consultation with the studios"
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While we have not heard if or when the GBW-H10N will be available in the US, it is expected to hit the European market in June for a whopping 799 Euros ($1020US). More information can be found here. Add a comment
LG Electronics, market leader with optical memory drive assemblies, brings its first Blu ray burner to GBW-H10N with the model on the market. With burning speeds of 4x with BD-R and 2x with BD-RH-media the youngest member of the LG super multi-family stands out clearly against the competition. The new internal model is besides fully downward-compatibly and thus able, also CDs and DVDs, inclusive DVD-RAM (5x), to burn. The innovative drive assembly concept super Multi Blue guarantees that no user must do without the used fuel comfort. The GBW-H10N comes in the middle of June on the German market. The noncommittal price recommendation is with 799, - euro.
DVD Writing Speeds:
BD-R (SL): 2x, 4x CLV
BD-RE (SL): 2x CLV
DVD+R: 2.4x, 4x CLV, 8x Z-CLV, 12x P-CAV
DVD+RW: 2.4x, 4x, 6x, 8x Z-CLV
DVD+R DL: 2.4x, 4x CLV
DVD-R: 2x, 4x CLV, 8x, 12x P-CAV
DVD-RW: 1x, 2x, 4x, 6x CLV
DVD-R DL: 2x, 4x CLV
DVD-RAM: 2x, 3x Z-CLV, 5x P-CAV
CD-R: 4x, 8x CLV
CD-RW: 4x, 8x, 10x CLVRead Speeds:
BD-ROM (SL): 4.8x Max
BD-ROM (DL): 4x Max
BD-R (SL): 4.8x Max
BD-RE (SL): 2x Max
DVD-ROM (SL): 16x Max
DVD-ROM (DL): 8x Max
DVD-RAM: 2x, 3x, 5x P-CAV
DVD-Video: 8x Max
DVD±R/RW: 10x Max
DVD±R DL: 8x Max
CD-R/RW/ROM: 40x Max
CD-DA (DAE): 40x Max
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Nero, leaders in digital media technology, announces today that it has joined Microsoft as an early adopter independent software vendors (ISVs) of the Windows Vista Certified for Windows Vista Logo Program. As participants in the program with its Nero Burning ROM as the pilot application, Nero will adhere to the specific standards created by Microsoft and offer its customers the seamless integration of Nero software into the Windows Vista operating system.If you'd like to read more, Nero's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
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"Blu-Ray is really important for the games side of our business because what it does is it give us the ability to have 50Gb of information actually on the disc," Maguire said.It's going to be interesting to see what game developers can do with Blu-ray. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment
"With PlayStation 3 you're looking at a Cell chip that has immense computing power. That means you're going to need a huge amount of storage as well - we really need that Blu-Ray disc because what we don't want to be doing is swapping discs half way through loading. It's really important to us."
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Taiwanese makers of CD-R discs are generally reluctant to accept Veeza, the sources indicated. The new royalty rate of US$0.025 per disc, though 44.4% cheaper that the original US$0.045, still accounts for 20-30% of OEM prices of CD-R discs, much higher than the 3-5% desired by Taiwanese makers, the sources pointed out. In addition, Taiwanese makers are dissatisfied with Philips' incapability of imposing Veeza on makers of CD-R discs in China and India, which subjects them to unfair competition.It's not known what Philips will do if manufacturers fail to sign onto the Veeza program. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment
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The conundrum isn't apparently lost on the consumer electronics industry or Hollywood. According to German-language Spiegel Online, there is reportedly a behind-the-scenes, unofficial agreement between Hollywood and some consumer electronics manufacturers, including Microsoft and Sony, not to use ICT until 2010, or possibly even 2012. Without providing more details, the report suggests that Hollywood isn't exactly happy with the situation, and could very well renege on the agreement, such that it is. But the agreement is there nonetheless, presumably to help the industry transition to HDMI. This could explain why the very same studios that pushed for HDMI and ICT have recently announced that they would not use it for the time being.This is definitely good news for consumers. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found website. Add a comment
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The conundrum isn't apparently lost on the consumer electronics industry or Hollywood. According to German-language Spiegel Online, there is reportedly a behind-the-scenes, unofficial agreement between Hollywood and some consumer electronics manufacturers, including Microsoft and Sony, not to use ICT until 2010, or possibly even 2012. Without providing more details, the report suggests that Hollywood isn't exactly happy with the situation, and could very well renege on the agreement, such that it is. But the agreement is there nonetheless, presumably to help the industry transition to HDMI. This could explain why the very same studios that pushed for HDMI and ICT have recently announced that they would not use it for the time being.This is definitely good news for consumers. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found website. Add a comment
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Adding to its popular PlayO line of recordable media, accessories, and portable electronic products, Abcron Corporation today announced the PlayO Scratch Shield Double Sided MiniDVD product.If you'd like to read more, the entire press release can be found on Abcron's website. Add a comment
With a total storage capacity of 2.92GB, these Double Sided MiniDVDs allow users to read or write twice the content of traditional MiniDVDs. Scratch Shield technology provides the discs with a unique damage-resistant surface layer that guards against scratches, finger smudges, dust and ultraviolet rays, thereby ensuring longevity.
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NEC has offered its own-brand DVD burners without burning software for sale in the European market at an average price of below US$30, lower than the US$33-35 quoted by Taiwanese OEM makers, according to Taiwanese makers of optical disc drives (ODDs).The article also mentions that NEC may be trying to clear out their inventory before Sony NEC Optiarc goes into operation. If you'd like to read more, head on over to DigiTimes. Add a comment
DVD burners without burning software are not packaged for retail sale and thus 10-20% cheaper than DVD burners of the same models for retail sale, the sources pointed out. DVD burners that don't include burning software are generally supplied to international and regional PC brands but sometimes available for sale through retail channels, the sources indicated.
