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Optical Storage

13 July 2006

Imation sent out a press release this morning, announcing the availability of its Blu-ray Disc media. Available in recordable (BD-R) and rewritable (BD-RE) formats, these single layer discs can store up to 25 GB of data.

Imation Corp (NYSE: IMN - News) today announced the availability of its Blu-ray media to major IT and data storage channel partners at its "Blue Technology" conference. Imation designed the conference and tour of its new advanced optical manufacturing facility at Imation world headquarters in Oakdale, Minn. to educate Imation channel partners on blue-laser optical technologies, and their application for high definition media in the enterprise. These leading optical media distributors and their customers know the challenge of keeping up with today's exploding data storage requirements, which are expected to triple by the end of the decade. Now, with Imation Blu-ray media, professionals have a simple solution for managing their growing quantity of critical data storage. Available in recordable (BD-R) and rewritable (BD-RE) formats, Imation Blu-ray discs store up to 25 GB of digital files -- five times the capacity of standard DVDs -- and are ideal for reliable business backup, including medical and government imaging, photography, videography, as well as high definition video recording.

Imation's Blu-ray recordable (BD-R) and re-writable (BD-RE) media will be available in August for a suggested retail price of $19.99 and $29.99, respectively. More information can be found here. Add a comment

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Optical Storage

12 July 2006

I-O DATA Japan has announced a new series of drives based on Sony NEC Optiarc's upcoming 18x "Super-Multi" drive, the AD-7173A. Along with 18x DVD±R and 12x DVD-RAM writing speeds, these internal and external drives feature support for Labelflash technology. Here are some of the specs:

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: DVD-ROM (Single): 16x Max DVD-ROM (Dual): 12x Max DVD±R: 16x Max DVD±RW: 13x Max DVD±R DL: 12x Max DVD-RAM: 12X Max CD-R/ROM: 48x Max CD-RW: 40x Max

The DVR-AN18GL and DVR-UN18GL should hit store shelves in early August for ￥9,300 ($80US) and ￥13,600 ($117US) respectively. More information can be found here and here. Add a comment

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Optical Storage

12 July 2006

TDK sent out a press release today, announcing the launch of its Snap N' Save product line. An alternative to disc spindles, Snap N' Save cases offer greater protection and organization options.

TDK, a world leader in digital recording solutions, today announced the launch of its Snap N' Save product line, recordable DVD and CD media supplied in innovative Snap N' Save cases. Offering the ultimate combination of robust disc protection and compact media storage, Snap N' Save cases snap closed, securely protecting your discs by sealing out dirt, dust and other contaminants that can have a negative impact on media performance. A new alternative to disc spindles, Snap N' Save cuts down on case clutter, enables keeping multiple disc sets together for superior organization, and seamlessly integrates with your home media library. TDK is offering DVD and CD media in Snap N' Save cases in a variety of colors and pack sizes.

"We're pleased to offer our customers ultimate performance DVD and CD media packaged in Snap N' Save cases," commented Bruce Youmans, TDK Vice President of Marketing. "Snap N' Save offers the same bulk storage capabilities of a spindle, but is designed to provide stronger disc protection. What's more, with a variety of colors and pack configurations, Snap N' Save offers seamless storage and organization options alongside CD jewel cases and DVD movie boxes in our customers' home media libraries."

Media using TDK's Snap N' Save cases are available now. More information, including prices, can be found here. Add a comment

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Optical Storage

12 July 2006

A scientist at the Harvard Medical School is reportedly developing a new DVD coated in proteins from a genetically altered microbes. Developed as a hard disk replacement, these protein-based DVDs will be able to store at least 20x more than the Blu-ray and eventually even up to 50TB of information.

An Indian born scientist in the US is working on developing DVD's which can be coated with a light -sensitive protein and can store up to 50 terabytes (about 50,000 gigabytes) of data.

Professor V Renugopalakrishnan of the Harvard Medical School in Boston has claimed to have developed a layer of protein made from tiny genetically altered microbe proteins which could store enough data to make computer hard disks almost obsolete.

If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment

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Optical Storage

11 July 2006

Here's an interesting bit of news. According to DigiTimes, Lite-On may offer Serial ATA DVD burners in the 4Q of this year.

Lite-On IT, the largest maker of optical disc drives (ODDs) in Taiwan, is planning production of DVD burners supporting the SATA (serial advanced technology attachment) interface standard, according to industry sources.

Lite-On IT, recently scheduled a tentative launch for later this quarter in response to LG Electronics' unveiling its GSA-H30N, a SATA Super Multi DVD burner model, the sources pointed out.

If you'd like to read more, head on over to DigiTimes. Add a comment

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Optical Storage

10 July 2006

DigiTimes has reported that Lite-On and BenQ are concerned that a tight supply of laser diodes may delay the release of their Blu-ray Disc burners.

Optical disc drive (ODD) makers such as Lite-On IT and BenQ recently expressed concerns that a tight supply of key component laser diodes may affect the release of Blu-ray Disc burners, according to the Chinese-language Commercial Times.

The yields for Blu-ray laser diodes are still low due to a high technical barrier, with only Sony and Nichia being the only suppliers, stated the paper. In addition, Sony is setting aside a major proportion of its laser diode capacity for its upcoming PS3, which may also affect the availability of its Blu-ray laser diodes, the paper said. Sony is currently the major supplier of laser diodes for Royal Philips Electronics, BenQ and Lite-on IT, the paper indicated.

If you'd like to read more, head on over to DigiTimes. Add a comment

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Optical Storage

07 July 2006

Here's an interesting bit of news. According to the Japanese newspaper, Nihon Keizai Shimbun, Ricoh has developed a device that can read both Blu-ray and HD DVD discs.

Ricoh Co has developed a device that can read both the Blu-ray and HD DVD next-generation DVD formats, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported.

The newspaper, without identifying any sources, said Ricoh was aiming to commercialize this technology as soon as the end of next year.

Blu-ray uses a wider blue laser beam than HD DVD and records data at a distance of 0.1 mm from the surface, while HD DVD records at a distance of 0.6 mm.

If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment

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Optical Storage

07 July 2006

The German magazine c't has found a gaping hole in the copyright protection used by Blu-ray and HD DVD movies. When testing the Sony Vaio VGC-RC 204 and Toshiba Qosmio G30 they discovered that they were able to copy each frame of a movie by simply pressing the Print Screen button.

Blu-ray and HD DVD are supposed to be highly secure. There is AACS and HDCP, which when enforced make it impossible to copy movie data from a disc.

The premier German computer magazine found now out that you can make copy each frame of a movie by just pushing print screen on a computer. They tested this with the Blu-ray Sony Vaio VGC-RC 204 and the HD DVD Toshiba Qosmio G30 notebook.

Toshiba has reportedly acknowledged the copy protection hole and has stated that future versions of the player software will not have this issue. If you'd like to read more, head on over to I4U News. Add a comment

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Optical Storage

06 July 2006

Here's an interesting bit of news. According to DigiTimes, Foxconn has landed OEM orders from Matsushita (Panasonic) for half-height(H/H) DVD burners. Volume shipments are expected to begin later this quarter.

The sources said the orders that Foxconn landed are mainly for H/H DVD burners and this is the first time that Foxconn has landed such orders from Matsushita. As Matsushita mainly focuses on slim-type ODDs, the company has sunk to number six in the global H/H DVD burner market, trailing Hitachi LG Data Storage (HLDS), Pioneer, NEC, Toshiba-Samsung Storage Technology (TSST) and Lite-On IT, the sources commented.

It will be interesting to see if they use Matsushita's own designs or the ones Foxconn was using for BTC's drives. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment