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No word on pricing or availability. If you'd like to read more, Verbatim Europe's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
One package, two processes. Verbatim has released a digital photo album that will delight fans of digital data storage just as much as it will please people who appreciate professional photos. The digital photo album is a box containing a CD-R 52x for back-up copies of precious photos and photographic paper coated on both sides for brilliant print-outs of your favourite pictures.
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Second-tier Taiwan makers of blank optical discs, including Prodisc Technology and Optodisc Technology, have launch price competition for OEM orders quoting US$0.14-0.15 for a 16x DVD+R/-R disc, 17-18% lower than the general level of US$0.17-0.18, according to industry sources.The article also mentions that 18-20x DVD+R/-R discs will not be in significant demand until the fourth quarter of the year. If you'd like to read more, head on over to DigiTimes. Add a comment
CMC Magnetics and Ritek, the top two makers, have not followed suit in lowering prices for 16x DVD+R/-R discs, but have reduced OEM quotations for 8x discs by 10-20%, the sources pointed out.
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Take note that the PX-DB608AL includes only one PX-608AL. If you'd like the dual configuration, you will need to pick up a second PX-608AL or some other slim line optical drive. No word on price yet, but our European readers can expect to see the PX-DB608AL on store shelves some time in April. More information is available on Plextor Europe's website. Add a comment
Proving that two-into-one does go, Plextor announces the first space-saving Slim line optical drive solution for desktop PCs. The compact 'dual-bay' Plextor PX-DB600 enables two optical slim line drives to be positioned into the space of just one 5.25" drive bay - making it ideal for lifestyle chassis and small form factor Media Center PCs.
Developed from their extensive experience in laptop opticals, the dual-layer multi-format (DVD+/-R and DVD-RAM) Plextor PX-608AL and the dual bay PX-DB600 (combined as the PX-DB608AL) enables greater flexibility and convenience for 'small footprint' PC-owners. For example, users can watch a DVD movie while burning other media to disc, and copy discs directly without saving to the hard disk first.
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OEM prices for blank CD-R discs have risen 5-8% since the fourth quarter of last year mainly due to Royal Philips Electronics' promotion of it Veeza licensing, but quotes for next quarter will not meet makers' expectations, with prices expected to remain flat, according to leading Taiwanese makers of optical discs.Thankfully, it does not look like CD-R disc prices will go up at all next quarter and the OEM price of DVD+R/-R media will actually drop by 3-5%. If you'd like to read more, head on over to DigiTimes. Add a comment
With leading Taiwanese makers of CD-R discs accepting Veeza last quarter and early this year, large retail players in the US and Europe increased their inventory levels in anticipation of rising prices due to Veeza royalty payments, the sources indicated. The situation pushed up OEM prices of CD-R discs 5-8% this quarter and makers have been producing at full capacity, the sources noted.
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| Writing Speeds: DVD±R: 18x DVD±R DL: 8x DVD+RW: 8x DVD+R DL: 8x DVD-RW: 6x DVD-RAM: 12x CD-R: 48x CD-RW: 32x | Read Speeds: |
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With Hewlett-Packard (HP) and Dell evaluating the feasibility of adopting half-height 20x DVD burners, and other PC brands already having decided to adopt such burners for market segmentation and the promotion of sales of desktop PCs equipped with Windows Vista in the second quarter, 20x stands a good chance of replacing 16x to become the mainstream writing speed of DVD burners in the fourth quarter of 2007, according to leading Taiwan optical disc drive makers.The article also mentions that Hitachi-LG Data Storage (HLDS), Toshiba-Samsung Storage Technology (TSST) and Pioneer are preparing to start volume production of 20x DVD burners in the second quarter. If you'd like to read more, head on over to DigiTimes. Add a comment
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TDK has partnered with Primera to optimise the printable surface of its BD-R media for use with Primera's world renowned line of inkjet BD-R disc publishing and duplication products. In an extension of the existing close partnership between the two companies, TDK is delivering increased flexibility in printable media by broadening customisation options for the European duplication industry.TDK has also partnered with Rimage to develop thermal printable Blu-ray discs. These discs are coated with a special thermal-optimised surface that not only delivers bright, high-resolution full color images and text, but also prevents warping.
TDK's BD-R is manufactured to Rimage specifications for maximum color performance with Rimage's high-resolution Everest thermal printer technology. By using one of Rimage's DVD/CD compatible thermal printers, duplicators and publishers can customise BD-R discs by printing text and graphics directly on each disc's label-side surface, creating the potential for more visually vibrant designs. In addition, the new formats allow the printing of high quality custom text and graphics directly onto a wider printable area ranging from 24mm to 118mm in diameter.TDK's inkjet and thermal printable Blu-ray Discs will be available in April 2007. No word on price yet. However, more information can be found here and here. Add a comment
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Sony NEC Optiarc Inc., launches its new sales company, Sony NEC Optiarc Europe GmbH ("Optiarc Europe"). The European headquarters will be at Ismaning near Munich, Germany. Optiarc Europe, the optical disc drive specialist, will present itself to a broad public at CeBIT for the first time before officially starting to trade in the EMEA region on 2nd April 2007.This is definitely good news for our European readers. Hopefully Sony NEC Optiarc will decide to tap into the American market and launch a sales company over here as well. If you'd like to read more, Sony NEC Optiarc's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
The new sales company will be a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony NEC Optiarc Inc. ("Optiarc Japan") based in Tokyo, Japan. Optiarc Japan is invested by Sony Corporation (55%) and by NEC Corporation (45%), set up in April 2006. The joint venture company develops and manufactures optical disc storage drives. In the EMEA region the new company takes charge of sales and marketing activities of optical disc storage drive products manufactured by its parent company.
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Due to the long Chinese New Year Holiday, Taiwan optical disc makers saw their revenues drop sequentially in February, with leading players CMC Magnetics and Ritek seeing revenue drops of 21.3% and 14.0%, respectively. Second-tier players Gigastorage, Lead Data, Optodisc Technology and Princo also reported falling revenues for February.Revenue is expected to rebound but due to the price of DVD+R/-R discs, it may not reach the same levels as last year. If you'd like to read more, head on over to DigiTimes Add a comment
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The global demand for 8.5GB DVD+R/-R DL (single-sided double-layer) discs, due to fast growing demand for full HD (high-definition) TV, may increase by 122% from an estimated 90 million discs in 2006 to 200 million discs in 2007, according to Japan-based market survey organization BOC at a round robin test seminar held in Taipei by the RW PPI (Re-writable Products Promotion Initiative) under the Japan-based DVD Forum on March 8.The article also points out that Blu-ray and HD DVD discs are expected to account for 2% of total disc sales in 2007 and 11% in 2011. If you'd like to read more, head on over to DigiTimes. Add a comment
