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03 February 2006

Just a reminder that CDRLabs is offering an ad-free subscription-based service. For a low monthly or yearly fee, CDRLabs.com can be viewed without any ads. This subscription service also gives members access to a special section of the forum and benefits like a larger attachment quota. The larger quota is great for all of you that like to upload writing quality scans.

As our introductory price, we will be offering the following subscription options:

$1/month subscriptions, with the option of auto-renewing

$10/year subscriptions, with the option of auto-renewing

For instructions on how to subscribe, please see this forum thread. Add a comment

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Software

02 February 2006

VSO-Software has announced the release of ConvertXtoDVD 2.0. A new version of DivXtoDVD, ConvertXtoDVD includes many new features including WMV3 support and the ability to automatically create DVD menus using the conversion file list.

VSO ConvertXtoDVD allows you to convert and then burn your video files that were originally only playable on your PC so that they are now playable on any DVD Player. ConvertXtoDVD handles your everyday digital multimedia life, extending support beyond AVI files, XVid, MPEG 1/2/4, VOB, MOV, and now WMV 3 and HD formats and more.

"We clearly underestimated the common usage of WMV formats in our previous version. We were expecting people to use much more exotic formats when in fact they are still using a lot the default software that comes with Windows! With new support of WMV3, the creation of a DVD from files of your digital camera becomes a 1 click task." says Claire Waledisch which manages a part of the technical support in VSO-Software. Once again VSO-Software listens to their users and has implemented their requests.

ConvertXtoDVD 2.0 will be available in early February for 35 euros / USD. If you'd like to read more, additional information ca be found on VSO-Software's website. Add a comment

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Optical Storage

01 February 2006

LG recently announced a new external LightScribe capable Super-Multi drive, the GSA-5168B. While the drive's specs are otherwise very similar to the GSA-4166B, the GSA-5168B lets you capture and copy video to disc using its "One Touch" system. Here are some of the GSA-5168B's specs.

Writing Speeds: DVD±R: 16x DVD+RW: 8x DVD-RW: 6x DVD±R DL: 8x DVD-RAM: 5x CD-R: 48x CD-RW: 32x

Read Speeds: DVD-ROM: 16x Max CD-R/ROM: 48x Max

You gotta love it when a company uses cute women to promote a new product. We have not heard if or when the GSA-5168D will be available in the US. As we find out more, we'll let you know. In the mean time, LG's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment

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Software

01 February 2006

Here's some good news for Nero 6.6 owners. Nero has released another set of updates, bringing the version count up to 6.6.1.4. If you want to try these updates out, you can download them directly using the links below.

Nero Burning Rom 6.6.1.4 - download

p>NeroVision Express 3.1.0.25 - download

Nero Media Player 1.4.0.35b - download

NeroMIX 1.4.0.35 - download

Once Nero updates their website, change logs for these updates will be available here. As usual, feel free to share your experiences in our forum. Add a comment

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Duplicators

31 January 2006

Disc Makers has announced a new CD/DVD duplicator called the Pico. What makes the Pico special is that it can also be used to rip up to 25 CD's at a time.

With the new enhanced Riptastic software loaded into the Pico, users simply stack up to 25 of their favorite CDs, click to start the process, and the system will automatically covert CDs to MP3 files or any other file type of your choice. The user-friendly software even looks up artist, album, and track titles automatically.

The Pico doubles as the world's smallest automated DVD/CD duplicator and allows any small business owner, musician, filmmaker, teacher, or salesperson to duplicate (burn) up to 25 copies at a time for projects or presentations.

The Pico is available now for $699. If you'd like to rip your audio CD's using the duplicator, the Riptastic software is an additional $99. More information can be found here. Add a comment

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Optical Storage

31 January 2006

The RAM Promotion Group sent out a press release yesterday announcing that the DVD-RAM format made a strong showing at this year's International CES.

The RAM Promotion Group (RAMPRG), an industry organization formed to promote the awareness and adoption of the DVD-RAM format, today announced that DVD-RAM made a strong push into 2006, as evidenced by over 50 DVD-RAM compatible products debuted at this year's International CES. RAMPRG member companies including Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi-LG Data Storage, Inc., Hitachi Maxell, Ltd., LG Electronics Inc., Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (Panasonic), Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., TEAC Corporation, Toshiba Corporation and Victor Company of Japan, Limited (JVC), all announced or exhibited innovative product lines featuring DVD-RAM compatible recorders, camcorders, players, PC drives and media.

If you'd like to read more, the RAMPRG's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment

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Other

30 January 2006

Wow, those guys at heise online sure are lucky. First Samsung's Blu-ray writer and now NEC's new HD DVD-ROM drive, the HR-1100A. Translated from German:

While Samsung in its BD drive assembly blocks two lenses (one for CDs and DVDs, one for the BD), NEC uses a particular in the HR-1100A only for all three formats. It is however substantially heavier obviously with so a combination lens to select the old CDs and DVDs. The test sample, which corresponds to the level of development of the past summer according to NEC, was noticeable by very high access times, which varied between 142 ms with the CD-R, 370 ms with the HD DVD and 1057 ms with a DVD-9. NEC promises that this with the final version smaller are to fail.

HD DVDs reads the drive assembly with double speed and comes thereby on an average transfer rate of 8,7 MByte/s. With a DVD-9 it reaches 6.2 MByte/s, with an DVD-R 7.4 MByte/s and with an CD-R 3.7 MByte/s - not towering above, but acceptable.

NEC obviously has some work to do before the HR-1100A is released later this year. If you'd like to read more, head on over to heise online. Add a comment

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Other

27 January 2006

Before I forget, our friends over at CD Freaks have taken a look at Philips' latest DVD±RW, the DVDR1648. Here's a sample of what they had to say about it:

The two new features - SolidBurn and Overspeed introduced with this drive seems to be an excellent combination. If a DVD±R is good enough for 16x, it will write them at 16x. If not it will adjust and lower the writing speed, until a new suitable speed have been found and learned.

The DVDR1648 impressed CD Freaks enough to earn their "Safe Buy" award. If you'd like to read more, their entire review can be found here. Add a comment

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Other

27 January 2006

CDRLabs finishes up the week with an in depth look at ASUS's new 16x DVD±RW, the DRW-1608P2. Based on the Pioneer DVR-110D, DW-1608P2 is capable of 16x DVD±R, 8x DVD+RW and 6x DVD-RW writing speeds and has a maximum DVD read speed of 16x. More importantly, it's one of the first drives with the ability to write to both DVD+R DL and DVD-R DL media at 8x. The DRW-1608P2 also includes features like 40x CD reading and writing speeds, 32x rewriting speeds, and support for technologies like FlextraLink and FlextraSpeed.

In this review we'll take a look at some of the features found on the DRW-1608P2 and see how it compares to some of the 16x DVD±RW drives from the competition. Does ASUS's new drive have what it takes? You'll have to read the review to find out.

ASUS DRW-1608P2 16x DVD±RW

As usual, if you have any comments or questions about this review or the ASUS DRW-1608P2, please post them in the forum by clicking the link below.
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