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With Green the theme for the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, and Blu-ray the hot topic, Blue Ray Technologies has announced the first 100 percent eco-friendly Blu-ray plant in the world. It is designed as a showcase of how cutting edge technology can be profitable while working with earth instead of against it.If you'd like to read more, Blue Ray Technnologies' entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
"As Blue Ray leads high-definition and consumers into the 21st Century in movies and games, we take seriously the challenge to make manufacturing as clean as the picture on our Blu-ray discs," says Blue Ray Technologies founder Erick Hansen.
For the next-gen company, it's more than just lip service to the Green movement, it's a philosophy built in to every phase of Blue Ray Technologies' operations. Starting with a recycled historical building for its Spokane, Washington, plant, BRT uses underground tanks to cool its production water, solar panels to provide electricity, redirected heat from manufacturing to office space, rainwater collectors, eco-conscious raw materials and packaging plus energy-saving devices everywhere from clean room lighting to the kitchens. Any carbon footprint left is more than zeroed-out by support for tree-planting and methane-recycling programs.
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"Contrary to unsubstantiated rumors from unnamed sources, Universal's current plan is to continue to support the HD DVD format," said Ken Graffeo, executive vice president of HD strategic marketing for Universal Studios Home Entertainment and co-president of the HD DVD Promotional Group.Take note that this statement doesn't dispel any of the rumors claiming that Universal will support Blu-ray as well as HD DVD. In any case, we'll have to wait and see how this shakes out. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment
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Verbatim Americas, LLC, a key media developer for the new DVD Download specification from the DVD Forum, announced today a complete line of Qflix DVD media. Qflix technology, licensed from Sonic Solutions?, allows movies and other video content to be downloaded and legally burned using recordable Content Scramble System (CSS) technology. Backed by Verbatim’s decades-long reputation for delivering media with the highest-quality and broadest compatibility, the new product line will include both Qflix consumer media and printable Qflix Pro media for enterprise use. Verbatim Qflix media will be released to coincide with the availability of Qflix drives and video download services in Q1 2008.Verbatim's Qflix media will be available in Q1 2008. Qflix Consumer, pre-keyed with CSS, will be available in individual slimcases. For professionals, Verbatim will offer Qflix Pro in 50-pack spindles with a white inkjet or thermal-printable coating. Full details can be found here. Add a comment
The applications for Verbatim’s new Qflix media span every consumer, retail and commercial download and burn application, including DVD burning on home PCs, in-store kiosk burning, and manufacturing on demand (MOD) services.
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Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (Matsushita [NYSE symbol: MC]), best known for its Panasonic brand, today announced that the company will change its company name to 'Panasonic Corporation' effective October 1, 2008. The company will also unify its corporate brands to the 'Panasonic' brand across the world.If you'd like to read more, Panasonic's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
The change, that was approved at the company's extraordinary board meeting today, will be submitted for and subject to approval at its ordinary general meeting of shareholders to be held in late June this year.
Upon a company name change, the company will undertake its brand name change from the 'National' brand, which is used for home appliances and housing equipment in Japan, to the 'Panasonic' brand by the end of fiscal 2010, ending March 31, 2010. Subsequently, the 'National' brand will be abandoned and the corporate brands in Japan will be unified to the 'Panasonic' Brand.
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A New Line Home Entertainment spokesman confirms reports that the mini-major is following distributor Warner Home Video’s lead in abandoning HD DVD and releasing all future next-generation titles only in the Blu-ray Disc format.If the rumors are true and Paramount does decide to go Blu-ray, I think we can safely say that the format war is over. Without the support of Hollywood, HD DVD has about as much of a chance as HD VMD in becoming the dominant high-def format. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment
And HBO Video president Henry McGee says HBO, too, is “following the same policy as Warner Home Video.”
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New Medium Enterprises(NME) (OTC Bulletin Board: NMEN) today at International CES 2008 announcedHD VMD players are shipping into the U.S. market. HD VMD is deliveringmaximum-HD 1080p high-quality players to consumers for a groundbreakingMSRP of $199 via PCRush.com and NMEStore.com. All orders for HD VMD playersin January will come with two complementary titles, "Mother Ghost" starringJames Franco and cult hit "Cutting Room."While an affordable alternative to Blu-ray and HD DVD, HD VMD is coming late to the party. The format has very little support from Hollywood and only a few retailers have agreed to carry HD VMD titles and players. Needless to say, it would take a miracle for HD VMD to top Blu-ray to become the dominant high-def format. If you'd like to read more, NME's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
Shipping since December, HD VMD discs and players stand torevolutionize the high-definition disc market, providing consumers with thebest possible HD experience. HD VMD's ground-breaking innovation is itspatented multi-layer disc, which allows for the utilization of proven redlaser technology to provide high definition, versus blue laser technologythat competitors are forced to use due to disc space limitations. With onlyone laser (red), HD VMD players can upconvert existing DVD collections forbetter viewing quality, as well as play true high definition content.
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Corel Corporation (NASDAQ:CREL) (TSX:CRE), a leading developer of graphics, productivity and digital media software, today announced that Ulead DVD MovieFactory Plus received BD-R 1.1 and BD-RE 2.1 certification for BDAV files. Corel's Ulead DVD MovieFactory Plus now provides high-definition BDAV recording of BD-R and BD-RE discs.DVD MovieFactory Plus with BD-R 1.1 and BD-RE 2.1 support is currently available to OEM customers. A retail version will be available in late 2008. Full details can be found here. Add a comment
By receiving certification for BD-R 1.1 and BD-RE 2.1, DVD MovieFactory Plus has passed the stringent standards and guidelines set by the Blu-ray Disc Association to ensure the best possible user experience. DVD MovieFactory 6 Plus has already been certified for AVCHD and BDMV.
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The SharkCopier LS can be used as a publishing system by first creating the disc image art on a computer, then loading the image onto the standalone duplicator for disc label duplication. LightScribe offers a free LightScribe Template Labeler at www.lightscribe.com that supports a fast creative process and a robust suite of label template options. The duplicator can be used anywhere there is a suitable electrical outlet without being tied to a computer with these simple steps:If you'd like to read more, Vinpower Digital's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
1) Load the LightScribe capable CDs or DVDs into the drives
a. Put the label side face down to print
2) The duplicator will laser-inscribe the programmed image onto the discs
3) Flip the disc over in the same drive onto the data duplicating side
4) The duplicator will copy the selected data
5) The duplicated discs will now have a label design and the specified data content
The LightScribe labeling process offers the ability to print and burn in one standalone system, no longer tying the user to a PC or limiting them to a mere 2 or 4 drive maximum capacity. The SharkCopier LS is available in various sizes and prints all discs simultaneously from 1-to-1 up to 1-to-15 to fit the needs of even the most demanding duplication job.
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New KODAK Professional Grade CD-Rs and DVD-Rs are now available for the growing number of photographers, music studios, and other businesses and professionals who want higher quality discs that will safely store their images, videos and data for up to 100 years.If you'd like to read more, KMP's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
“We are introducing these new, professional grade discs for those who can’t take a chance on short-lived silver CD-Rs.,” said Steve Mizelle, President of KMP Media. The firm operates under trademark license from Eastman Kodak Company.
The new 100-year CDs and DVDs are designed for professionals such as photographers, musicians, physicians, law enforcement officers and administrators who store their work on discs. The discs combine superior recording quality with durability that will protect images, sound and data for 100 years. Only archival KODAK 24K Gold Preservation CDs last longer.
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Viacom Inc.'s Paramount Pictures denied a newspaper report that the studio is poised to follow Time Warner Inc. in abandoning Toshiba Corp.'s HD DVD technology.There always seems to be some truth to these rumors. While Paramount may be continuing to support HD DVD, it would not surprise me if they were at least considering Blu-ray. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment
``Paramount's current plan is to continue to support the HD DVD format,'' Brenda Ciccone, a spokeswoman for Paramount, said in an e-mail today.
