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Optical Storage

04 February 2006

Here's an interesting bit of news. According to an article at Computeract!ve, TDK has decided not to offer HD-DVD media. Instead they will focus solely on the Blu-ray format.

TDK, one of the leading vendors of DVD discs, is not going to sell media for next-generation high definition HD-DVD drives and will concentrate instead on rival Blu-ray.

The company, a member of the Blu-ray Association, has long been a backer of the technology, but other media vendors, such as Imation, are happy to sell both Blu-ray and HD-DVD discs.

It will be interesting to see how this decision affects TDK. As we reported a few weeks ago, companies like Memorex and Fujifilm plan to offer both Blu-ray and HD DVD media. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment

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Optical Storage

03 February 2006

Thanks to DVDRWInfo.net we've learned that LG has another "Super-Multi" drive on the way. While otherwise very similar to the GSA-H10N, the GSA-H10A lacks its sibling's 12x DVD-RAM and 10x DVD+R DL writing speeds. Here are some of the GSA-H10A's specs:

Writing Speeds: DVD+R: 2.4X, 4X, 8X, 12X, 16X DVD+RW: 2.4X, 4X, 8X DVD+R DL: 2.4X, 4X, 6X, 8X DVD-R: 2X, 4X, 8X, 16X DVD-RW: 1X, 2X, 4X, 6X DVD-R DL: 2X, 4X DVD-RAM: 2X, 3X, 5X CD-R: 4X, 8X, 16X, 24X, 32X, 40X, 48X CD-RW: 4X, 10X, 16X, 24X, 32X Buffer Size: 2MB

Read Speeds: DVD-ROM: 16X Max DVD±R: 10X Max DVD±RW: 8X Max DVD±R DL: 8X Max DVD-RAM: 2X, 3X, 5X Max CD-R/ROM: 48X Max CD-RW: 40X Max Access Times: CD-ROM: 125ms DVD-ROM: 145ms DVD-RAM: 165ms

No word on price or availability yet. As we find out more we'll let you know. Until then, more information can be found here. Add a comment

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Other

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