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Pioneer will be presenting the details of its research at the International Symposium on Optical Memory and Optical Data Storage 2008 (ISOM/ODS2008), which begins on July 13. If you'd like to read more, Pioneer's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
Pioneer Corporation has succeeded in developing a 16-layer read-only optical disc with a capacity of 400 gigabytes for the first time in the world. Its per-layer capacity is 25 gigabytes, which is the same as that of a Blu-ray Disc (BD). This multilayer technology will also be applicable to multilayer recordable discs. This development has bolstered Pioneer's confidence in the feasibility of a large-capacity optical disc, which is expected to become necessary in the near future.
For multilayer optical discs, it has been difficult to obtain clear signals from each recording layer in a stable manner due to crosstalk from adjacent layers and transmission loss. Utilizing the optical disc production technology that it has developed in the DVD field, Pioneer solved these problems by, among other things, using a disc structure that can reduce crosstalk from adjacent layers, resulting in a 16-layer optical disc that can playback high-quality signals from every layer.
As for the read-out system, Pioneer achieved stability in the playback of recorded signals by employing a wide-range spherical aberration compensator and light-receiving element that can read out weak signals at a high signal-to-noise ratio in the optical pick-up mechanism. Since the optical specifications of the objective lens, such as NA (Numerical Aperture), are the same as those for the existing BD discs, it is possible to maintain compatibility between the new 16-layer optical disc and the BD discs.
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Pioneer has landed OEM orders for Blu-ray Disc (BD) Combo drives from Hewlett-Packard (HP) with shipments to begin in July 2008, according to industry sources in Taiwan.If you'd like to read more, head on over to DigiTimes. Add a comment
International PC vendors originally preferred BD-ROM drives to BD Combo drives because of much lower costs, the sources indicated. But, recent OEM quotes for BD-ROM and BD Combo drives have slipped to US$95 and US$110-120 respectively, the sources noted. As a result vendors are beginning to use BD-ROM drives in entry-level models, BD Combo drives in mid-range models, and the much more expensive BD burners in high-end models, the sources pointed out.
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If you'd like to read more, ProAction Media's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
The new DVD Media allows companies to experience significant savings in postage: A lighter DVD, combined with reduced weight to the actual printed piece can result in savings of up to $0.30 in shipping costs alone something literally unheard-of in the industry.
While one would expect a lighter DVD material and a lower-priced shipping package to result in substantial disadvantages where durability and reliability are concerned, the Flex-Lite Disc packs another surprise: The DVD's flexible nature makes it possible to ship in a standard envelope, or an adhesive vinyl sleeve. All of this comes while providing a much higher level of protection than the average DVD mailed in heavy cardstock, which unfortunately still risks breakage.
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If you'd like to read more, ProAction Media's entire press release can be found here (PDF). Add a comment
ProAction Media announced this week that they are debuting a brand new type of Disc that is not only eco-friendly, but also cost-effective. The new Flex Lite Disc is made using 50% less plastic than regular DVDs, which reduces the carbon footprint for manufacturing by more than 70%. The Flex-Lite Discs are created usinga special process where bonders are not necessary, resulting in a Disc that is 100% recyclable.
The new Flex-Light Disc is incredibly lightweight and is flexible - making it a more durable data storage solution than thetraditional DVD Media. ProAction Media created this new disc with consumers in mind: Too often, DVDs are damaged in the mail, and the traditional material used for most discs is very unfriendly to the environment. Now, consumers can feel even better about saving money on their DVD replication needs, thanks to this new durable and eco-friendly material.
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If you'd like to read more, ProAction Media's entire press release can be found here (PDF). Add a comment
ProAction Media announced this week that they are debuting a brand new type of Disc that is not only eco-friendly, but also cost-effective. The new Flex Lite Disc is made using 50% less plastic than regular DVDs, which reduces the carbon footprint for manufacturing by more than 70%. The Flex-Lite Discs are created usinga special process where bonders are not necessary, resulting in a Disc that is 100% recyclable.
The new Flex-Light Disc is incredibly lightweight and is flexible - making it a more durable data storage solution than thetraditional DVD Media. ProAction Media created this new disc with consumers in mind: Too often, DVDs are damaged in the mail, and the traditional material used for most discs is very unfriendly to the environment. Now, consumers can feel even better about saving money on their DVD replication needs, thanks to this new durable and eco-friendly material.
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International retail prices of blank 4-6x DVD+R/-R DL discs have dropped by about 50% during the first half of 2008 to around US$1, spurring a fast growth in global demand. As the only two Taiwan-based makers of such discs, Ritek and CMC Magnetics are benefiting from the market surge, according to industry sources in Taiwan.With blank Blu-ray Discs being relatively expensive, the demand for DVD+R/-R DL media is expected to double in 2009. If you'd like to read more, head on over to DigiTimes. Add a comment
Japan-based Mitsubishi Kagaku Media (MKM) and Hitachi Maxell originally dominated the global production of such discs with relatively high OEM quotes, but Ritek, CMC and India-based Moser Baer India (MBI) entered the segment bringing price-cut competition, the sources indicated. As a result, OEM quotes have continually fallen and so have retail prices.
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CMC Magnetics and Ritek have 6x Blu-ray Disc (BD)-R discs in the process of certification by potential clients and plan to kick off volume production in August and some time in the third quarter, respectively, according to the two companies.The article also points out that 6x BD-R discs are expected to be relatively expensive and that discs rated at 2x and 4x will remain the mainstream standard. If you'd like to read more, head on over to DigiTimes. Add a comment
Japan-based Matsushita Electric Industrial (Panasonic) last week became the world's first vendor to unveil 6x BD-R discs and will launch single- and double-layer versions for sale in Japan next month, according to industry sources in Taiwan. The BD Association approved the 6x BD-R specification in March defining a maximum write speed of 216Mbps, 20-25% faster than that of 16x DVD+R/-R, the sources noted.
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Memorex SimpleSave Photo & Video Back-Up DVDs will be available this summer at Fry’s Electronics and OfficeMax stores. This discs come in packs of five with slim storage cases for a suggested retail price of $14.99. If you'd like to read more, Memorex's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
Consumers will use their digital cameras more than ever this summer to capture memories and thrilling moments from family vacations, backyard get-togethers and warm weather activities. Memorex, the leading brand of optical media at U.S. retail and a portfolio brand of Imation Corp (NYSE: IMN), offers Memorex SimpleSave Photo & Video Back-Up DVDs, an easy and hassle-free way to back up those precious summer pictures and safeguard them against heartbreaking loss due to PC crashes. Available now, the discs are record-once DVDs with embedded software that automatically finds, organizes and backs up photo and video files on PCs and connected drives. The software is auto-launching and requires no installation, making SimpleSave a totally new way to back up content with almost no effort required.
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Asustek Computer's contract for OEM production of optical disc drives (ODDs) for Pioneer will expire in July 2008, and the Taiwan-based vendor of motherboards and PCs may dispose of its ODD business by closing the business unit or selling it, according to industry sources in Taiwan.Lets hope that Asustek doesn't pull out of the optical disc drive business altogether. While some of their more recent drives have had their share of issues, they've come up with some pretty unique designs over the years. Anyway, if you'd like to read more, head on over to DigiTimes. Add a comment
While Pioneer has been Asustek's largest OEM client of ODDs, the Japan-based vendor has been expanding its ODD production capacity at its two factories in Dongguan, southern China, the sources pointed out. In addition to half-height and slim-type ODDs, the two factories began to produce Blu-ray Disc (BD) Combo drives earlier this year, the sources indicated.
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Sony will launch its new Blu-ray Disc (BD) Combo drive in the Taiwan market at a tentative retail price of about NT$7,000 (US$230) in July 2008, according to Sony Taiwan.We haven't heard anything from Sony regarding their new BD combo drive. However, if they truly do plan to launch it in July, we should be seeing an official announcement soon. If you'd like to read more, head on over to DigiTimes. Add a comment
While Sony has launched the BDU-X10S BD-ROM drive in the Taiwan market at a retail price of NT$6,999 plus a free BD movie disc, the model to be launched in July is the company's first BD Combo model in Taiwan, Sony Taiwan indicated.
