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14 November 2007

Good news for American Blu-ray fans. Philips & Lite-On Digital Solutions (PLDS) USA has announced that the DH-4O1S Blu-ray BD-ROM drive will be available through retail outlets in the U.S. in late November at a suggested list price of $199.99.

Philips & Lite-On Digital Solutions (PLDS) USA, proudly introduce its first internal BD-ROM (Blu-ray Disc Reader) drive to the market. The new Lite-On DH-4O1S is the perfect all-in-one disc reading device for most popular media formats including Blu-ray Disc, DVD and CD discs. The DH-4O1S Blu-ray BD-ROM drive will be available at retail outlets in late November with an affordable suggested list price of $199.99.

“With the increasing availability of Blu-ray Disc movies and other video content, consumers now have an affordable way to view the brilliant picture quality Blu-ray technology offers right on their personal computers,” says Christine Hsing, Marketing Manager at PLDS. “Beyond that, the BD-ROM can serve as a playback device to their HD TVs by connecting an HDMI cable from the PC to the TV. This would save consumers hundreds of dollars on the purchase of a standalone Blu-ray player solely for that purpose,” Ms. Hsing added.

The DH-4O1S BD-ROM retail pack comes with an extra silver bezel to match some computers, and a SATA cable for easy connection. Also included in the package is the latest Cyberlink Power DVD software for playback of Blu-ray disc media, DVD, or CD multi-media content.

If things go as planned, we should have a review of the DH-4O1S in the coming weeks. In the mean time, PLDS USA's entire announcement can be found here. Add a comment

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Optical Storage

14 November 2007

PC Advisor has reported that PLDS (Philips Lite-On Digital Solutions) plans to introduce a read-only Blu-ray drive in time for the holidays. According to the article, the DH-4O1S is able to read both single and dual layer Blu-ray media at 4x and is backwards compatible with most CD and DVD formats.

PLDS (Philips Lite-On Digital Solutions) says the world’s first BD-ROM (Blu-ray DVD-ROM) drive will be a versatile read-only device capable of reading every major optical disc type. As well as Blu-ray discs, the PLDS DH-401S will be able to access and read content from any DVD+/-R and DVD+/-RW drive and any type of CD-R/RW media.

Jelmer Veldman, marketing manager for PLDS Europe, explained that because it is a read-only device, the Philips-Lite-On partnership was able to keep retail costs down. They hope the probably price tag of £125 will entice consumers to swap their existing PC CD-ROM drives for the DH-401S Blu-ray drive.

While I applaud PLDS for introducing a read-only Blu-ray drive, the £125 ($258US) price tag is still a bit high for consumers, especially when they can get a Blu-ray combo drive for nearly the same price. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment

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13 November 2007

According to DigiTimes, Philips is currently working on a new licensing scheme for DVD drives and players. Once it is completed, this DVD patent LSCD (Licensed Status Confirmation Document) system will be imposed on electronics manufacturers. As with Philips' Veeza licensing scheme, the LSCD system will prevent unlicensed products from entering the US, European and Japanese markets.

Royal Philips Electronics plans to extend its patent licensing scheme for blank optical discs - such as Veeza for CD-R discs -to DVD drives as well as any consumer electronic DVD device, such as players and recorders, through imposing its DVD patent LSCD (Licensed Status Confirmation Document) system on such makers, with the system being drawn up and possibly coming into force soon, according to the Taiwan Office of Philips Intellectual Property & Standards.

Philips' LSCD system will not substantially influence Lite-On IT and Quanta Storage, the largest Taiwan-based makers of half-height DVD burners and slim-type DVD burners, respectively, according to industry sources in Taiwan. This is because Lite-On IT and Philips have set up the joint venture Philips Lite-On Digital Solutions (PLDS) in Taiwan and Quanta Storage has a shelter from the patent claim through its cross-licensing with Sony which, along with Philips, is among the members of the DVD 3C Patent Group, the sources pointed out.

The LSCD system is expected to have a negative impact on second-tier manufacturers in China and Taiwan, as many of them have not obtained licensing from the 3C DVD or DVD 6C patent groups. If you'd like to read more, head on over to DigiTimes. Add a comment

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Optical Storage

12 November 2007

Maxell has announced that they will be releasing their new inkjet printable 4x BD-R media to the Japanese market on November 26th. The company also plans to ship their double layer 50GB BD-RE media at this time. Here's part of their press release, translated from Japanese:

This time Maxell will release a recordable BD-R discs, 4x speed record corresponds to a disk to move to significantly reduce the time. Additional label, the ink jet printer compatible with the printing layer and label printer that can print directly, as well as water-based ink pens HAJIKAZU also can be hand-painted. In particular, the "super-whitening HIROBIRO label," The adoption of BD-R discs, the disk around the parts of the color Merat, wide can be printed, recorded, as well as from the original library building have fun MASU.

The simultaneous release of the corresponding single-sided double layer recording rewritable BD-RE DL disc (50 GB), as is the quality of high-definition video in 260 minutes that long recording, and the VHS videotape sensation, KURISHI recording can be.

While Maxell has not announced any prices, AV Watch expects their inkjet printable 4x BD-R discs to cost about 1,700-1,800 Yen ($15.50-$16.40US) and their 50GB BD-R media to cost about 5,500 Yen ($50US). More information can be found here. Add a comment

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Optical Storage

09 November 2007

Pioneer Australia has leaked some details on their 20x DVD writer, the DVR-115D. This new drive features 20x DVD±R, 10x DVD±R DL, 8x DVD+RW and 6x DVD-RW writing speeds. Here are some of the specs for the DVR-115D:

Writing Speeds: DVD+R: 20x, 18x, 16x, 12x, 8x, 6x, 4x. 2.4x DVD-R: 20x, 18x, 16x, 12x, 8x, 6x, 4x, 2x, 1x DVD+R DL: 10x, 8x, 6x, 4x, 2.4x DVD-R DL: 10x, 8x, 6x, 4x, 2x DVD+RW: 8x, 6x, 4x, 2.4x DVD-RW: 6x, 4x, 2x, 1x CD-R: 40x, 32x, 24x, 16x, 10x CD-RW: 32x, 24x, 20x, 16x, 10x, 4x

Read Speeds: DVD-ROM (Single): 16x Max DVD-ROM (Dual): 12x Max DVD±R: 12x Max DVD±RW: 8x Max DVD±R DL: 8x Max DVD-RAM: 5x Max DVD-Video: 5x Max CD-ROM/CD-R: 40x Max CD-RW: 32x Max

While the DVR-115D lacks DVD-RAM writing capabilities, it would not be surprising if Pioneer released similar models with support this feature as well as Serial ATA. No word yet on availability. As we find out more, we'll let you know. In the mean time, more information can be found here. Add a comment

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Optical Storage

07 November 2007

At this year's ODS meeting, Sony presented their results on four-layer Micro-Reflector recording. Since then, the company has been working to increase data transmission speed, memory density and the number of recording layers. According to Tech-On, Sony recently demonstrated a medium equivalent to a seven-layer disc and announced plans to develop a 20-layer 500GB disc by 2010.

Sony Corp wrote and read data on a medium equivalent to a seven-layer disc by using "Micro-Reflector method," a multilayer recording technology using holographic recording.

The company calculated the error rates of reproduced signals after signal conditioning such as equalizing. Until now, the company wrote and read on discs of up to four layers and announced only the eye patterns of reproduced signals.

This time, the achievement was announced at ISOM' 07, an international conference on optical memory, which took place Oct 21-25, 2007, in Singapore. At the conference, Sony made speeches about speeding up data transmission speed, improving memory density per layer and increasing the number of recording layers even more.

If you'd like to read more, Tech-On's entire report can be found here. Add a comment

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Optical Storage

06 November 2007

Verbatim sent out a press release this morning, announcing the world’s first color-background LightScribe 16x DVD-R and DVD+R media. These new discs were designed specifically for LightScribe-compatible drives and are available in red, orange, yellow, blue and green.

Verbatim Corporation, the storage media producer known for offering the widest range of premium-quality LightScribe media, announced today the world’s first Color-background LightScribe 16x DVD-R and DVD+R media. The new 4.7GB LightScribe DVDRs are available in vibrant shades of red, orange, yellow, blue and green in addition to the original gold color. Verbatim has begun shipping them in the US market in 25-packs which include five discs of each color.

The richly colored DVDRs are produced using LightScribe Media Version 1.2 coating technology on the label side for enhanced image contrast and faster label printing. The data side of the discs incorporates the innovative technologies that deliver the premium quality features consumers have come to expect from the Verbatim brand-- high reliability, stability and longevity with high performance and broad compatibility.

Verbatim's Color-background LightScribe 16x DVD-R and DVD+R media will be available in the US starting in Q4 2007. Full details can be found here. Add a comment

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Optical Storage

06 November 2007

Faster Blu-ray Disc media will soon be on the way from CMC Magnetics and Ritek. According to a report by DigiTimes, the two companies recently obtained level A laboratory certification for 4x BD-R SL media.

Optical disc makers CMC Magnetics and Ritek recently obtained level A laboratory certification for 4x Blu-ray Disc (BD)-R (recordable, write once) SL (single-sided single-layer) discs, according to the two companies.

CMC and Ritek are keeping apace with each other in terms of their progress in R&D for blue-laser optical discs, with each having so far secured level A laboratory certification for 2x HD DVD-R SL, 1x HD DVD-RW (rewritable) SL, 2x BD-RE (rewritable) SL and 4x BD-R SL, according to industry sources in Taiwan.

CMC has also developed 4x BD-R DL discs and is in the process of getting them certified. If you'd like to read more, head on over to DigiTimes. Add a comment

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02 November 2007

While most manufacturers are releasing DVD burners with a maximum DVD±R writing speed of 18x or 20x, Buffalo has announced a new series of "Super Multi" drives that writes at 19x. Here are some of the specs for the DVSM-XE1219FBS (SATA) and DVSM-X1219FB (ATAPI):

Writing Speeds: DVD±R: 19x DVD±R DL: 8x DVD+RW: 8x DVD-RW: 6x DVD-RAM: 12x CD-R: 48x CD-RW: 32x

Read Speeds: DVD-ROM (Single): 16x Max DVD-ROM (Dual): 12x Max DVD±R: 16x Max DVD±RW: 12x Max DVD±R DL: 12x Max DVD-RAM: 12X Max CD-ROM/CD-R: 48x Max CD-RW: 40x Max

Judging by the pictures, Buffalo's new drives are based on Lite-On designs. The DVSM-XE1219FBS and DVSM-X1219FB will ship in mid-November and are priced at 6,900 Yen ($60US) and 6,300 Yen ($55US) respectively. More information can be found here. Add a comment