In breaking news out of Japan today (April 3, 2006), Samsung is rescheduling its initial U.S. Blu-Ray player launch from May 23 to June 25 in order to complete compatibility testing with several Blu-Ray test discs that will become available in late April from product manufacturers and content providers.On a positive note, Samsung has added a few new features to their new player. The BD-P1000 will now provide native 1080p output via HDMI for Blu-ray titles mastered in 1920 x 1080 resolution and can upconvert standard DVD's to 1080p. The company has also upgraded the memory card interface by adding support for Mini-SD and Memory Stick Pro Duo formats. If you'd like to read more, head on over to EETimes. Add a comment
According to the company, the hardware development for Samsung's BD-P1000 Blu-Ray player is complete and ready for mass production in Suwon, South Korea once these compatibility tests are passed. The company still anticipates that the Samsung BD-P1000 will be the first Blu-Ray player to launch at a national level in the United States.
InterVideo, Inc. (NASDAQ:IVII - News) announced today that ASUSTeK Computer Inc (ASUS), the worldwide leader in motherboards, is bundling InterVideo MediaOne Gallery with new ASUS motherboards. Using this software suite, consumers can easily create, organize, burn, and share their video, audio and photo files with a single, tightly-integrated interface. This collaboration underscores ASUS's strategy to provide a total value-added multimedia solution for users, so that they can fully enjoy the advantages of digital convergence.If you'd like to read more, InterVideo's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
"We're delighted that ASUSTeK has chosen InterVideo's MediaOne Gallery for their Deluxe motherboards," said Steve Ro, CEO and President of InterVideo. "The MediaOne Gallery software suite combined with ASUS motherboards are an unbeatable combination delivering amazing performance and convenience. Together, they provide the perfect blend of power, productivity and entertainment."
RIDATA Hard Coated, Double Sided, Mini DVD-R 4X media is available now and costs less than $2 a disc if purchased in a pack of 10. More information can be found here. Add a comment
Ridata Hard Coated, Double Sided, Mini DVD-R Features a 4X recording speed and each side can record up to 1.46GB.This creates storage for up to 60 minutes of Audio & Video recording time virtually eliminating the need to carry numerous discs. For security, the information on the DVD-R is permanently recorded (write-once) and cannot be altered or erased with an archival life span of over 100 years. The small discs are also compatible with DVD-ROM drives and DVD-Video players.
The special hard coating technology protects media against scratches that can occur when the discs are transferred between cases, camcorders and DVD players. RIDATA Hard Coated, Double Sided, Mini DVD-R 4X media are up to 100 times more scratch resistant than standard optical discs and will easily wipe clean fingerprints, ink smudges, and accidental food or beverage spills. Hard Coating features rapid static discharge to aid in preventing dust from adhering to the disc.
The DVD6C Licensing Group, consisting of seven Japanese companies and Warner Home Video, on March 31 announced a 30.8% reduction in its royalty charge rate for DVD-R discs from US$0.065 to US$0.045 per disc. Leading Taiwanese makers indicated that this will help lower their production cost as well as speed up the shift of production from CD-R to DVD-R discs.If you'd like to read more, head on over to DigiTimes. Add a comment
DVD player and recorder units will have a combined market of 176.6 million units sold worldwide in 2010, up from 140.8 million units in 2005, reports In-Stat (http://www.in-stat.com). The forecast for 2006 predicts that Europe will be the strongest region for DVD players and recorders with a combined total of 38.4 million units sold, the high-tech market research firm says.While there's a lot more to this study, I can't say that I'm surprised by any of the information in this press release. If you'd like to read more, In-Stat's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
"The DVD player market benefits from versatility in form factors. DVD players can be seen in portable renditions, or integrated with VCRs, or in the back panel seats of SUVs. While DVD recorders have come down in price, there is still delineation in the pricing of DVD players and DVD recorders- each represents a different value proposition," says Chris Kissel, In-Stat analyst. "The future of this market though is all about high definition DVD players based on 'blue laser' technology; however, the future may be farther off than we would like. These players will enter the market at premium prices, and as there has been no compromise between the HD-DVD camp and the companies that sponsor Blu ray technology, a format battle seems inevitable. There will be some casualties, companies and consumers alike."
DVD player and recorder units will have a combined market of 176.6 million units sold worldwide in 2010, up from 140.8 million units in 2005, reports In-Stat (http://www.in-stat.com). The forecast for 2006 predicts that Europe will be the strongest region for DVD players and recorders with a combined total of 38.4 million units sold, the high-tech market research firm says.While there's a lot more to this study, I can't say that I'm surprised by any of the information in this press release. If you'd like to read more, In-Stat's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
"The DVD player market benefits from versatility in form factors. DVD players can be seen in portable renditions, or integrated with VCRs, or in the back panel seats of SUVs. While DVD recorders have come down in price, there is still delineation in the pricing of DVD players and DVD recorders- each represents a different value proposition," says Chris Kissel, In-Stat analyst. "The future of this market though is all about high definition DVD players based on 'blue laser' technology; however, the future may be farther off than we would like. These players will enter the market at premium prices, and as there has been no compromise between the HD-DVD camp and the companies that sponsor Blu ray technology, a format battle seems inevitable. There will be some casualties, companies and consumers alike."
DVD Writing Speeds: DVD+R: 16X, 12X, 8X, 6X, 4X, 2.4X DVD+RW: 8X, 6X, 4X, 2.4X DVD+R DL: 8X, 6X, 4X, 2.4X DVD-R: 16X, 12X, 8X, 6X, 4X, 2X, 1X DVD-RW: 6X, 4X, 2X, 1X DVD-R DL: 8X, 6X, 4X, 2X DVD-RAM: 5X CD-R: 40X, 32X, 16X, 10X, 4X CD-RW: 32X, 24X, 20X, 16X, 10X, 4X | Read Speeds: Access Times: DVD-ROM: 130ms |
Until April 27, HD-AX1 will come bundled with two complimentary HD DVD titles: "Resident Evil" and a Japanese film, "Moonlight Jellyfish". More information can be found here. Add a comment
Toshiba Corporation today took the home video experience to the next, high definition level, as it started the Japanese roll out of the world's first commercially available HD DVD player. The new player, HD-XA1, delivers high definition images and crystal clear sound, bringing home entertainment to a new level.
Toshiba's HD-XA1 is the first player to support the HD DVD format approved by the DVD Forum, the international association that defines and promotes DVD standards. HD-XA1 supports playback of pre-recorded HD DVD, offering consumers stunning digital high-definition picture quality far surpassing that of standard DVD. Sound is also enhanced. Along with L-PCM 5.1ch audio, HD-XA1 supports the clarity and realism of three next generation surround-sound formats, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD, and sound sources can be output to audio systems via the player's HDMI output or multi-channel audio output. Support for up-conversion of standard DVD to a resolution of 1080i or 720p through HDCP capable HDMI output allows consumers to enjoy current DVD libraries with output resolution scaled to their HDTV or HD displays.
As usual, if you have any comments or questions about this review or the Memorex MRX-500N, please post them in the forum using the link provided below. Add a comment
Memorex MRX-500N 16x DVD±RW