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ArcSoft, Inc. announced today at CES its full suite of Blu-ray solutions, including playback, video editing and authoring, plus data backup. ArcSoft TotalMedia(TM) Extreme is a suite of applications that allows consumers to play video, create and edit video and music discs, and back up files, using either Blu-ray discs (BDs), DVDs, or CDs. The component programs are fully integrated, providing an elegant and unified home entertainment experience. ArcSoft Digital Theatre(TM) 2, one of the TotalMedia Extreme applications, is also available as a standalone program. In addition to playing commercial and homemade DVD movies, Digital Theatre plays Blu-ray discs, HD DVDs, AVCHDs, CDs, and a variety of multimedia files.TotalMedia Extreme is available now for OEM licensing and is expected to hit retail in the near future for $149.99. Digital Theatre 2 can also be purchased separately for $69.99. More information can be found on ArcSoft's website. Add a comment
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The Blu-ray Disc Association today declared its victory as the premiere high definition DVD format of choice. Debuted to the U.S. market in June 2006, over 25 companies have released Blu-ray Disc products to date, including players, recorders, high-definition computer drives, recordable media, PC applications, and announced almost 170 movie and music titles.It's going to be interesting to see how the HD DVD Promotions Group responds to this. If you'd like to read more, the Blu-ray Disc Association's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
Driving demand for high definition content, more than one million Sony PlayStation 3 (PS3) units, each featuring a Blu-ray Disc drive, were shipped to the United States in 2006, from launch through the end of the year, as reported by Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA). Demand for PS3 has been extremely high, and according to a recent SCEA survey of over 10,000 PS3 owners, 80 percent indicated they will buy Blu-ray movies and 75 percent said they use the PS3 as a primary device for viewing movies.
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If you'd like to read more, Verbatim's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
Verbatim Corporation and its parent company, Mitsubishi Kagaku Media (Verbatim/MKM) announced today that it will begin shipping single-sided, dual-layer 30GB HD DVD-R media to customers in North America when HD DVD-R DL-compatible hardware becomes available in Q1. The premium-quality dual-layer HD DVD-R media has been shipping throughout Japan since July 2006, when recordable HD DVD hardware first became available.
The high-capacity Verbatim/MKM HD DVD DL media will find extensive application in computer data storage. Business and home users will be able to back up their laptop PCs onto one long-lasting 30GB optical disc. Consumers will also record and enjoy the amazingly sharp images that high-definition video provides. Users will be able to save the data recorded by high-definition camcorders, author and edit the material on their PC, and then burn the content onto HD DVD-R media for viewing on an HD DVD playback device. Many new HD DVD hardware devices will be launched in 2007.
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No word on pricing or availability. As we find out more, we'll let you know. In the mean time, Verbatim's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
Verbatim Corporation and its parent company, Mitsubishi Kagaku Media (Verbatim/MKM), announced today that it has started producing 2X speed 50GB Dual Layer (DL) Blu-ray Recordable (BD-R) and Blu-ray Rewriteable (BD-RE) media for shipment to the US market.
Known worldwide for its premier dual-layer technologies since the launch of the world's first DL DVD media under its own brand, Verbatim/MKM has continued to develop and refine its technologies. By leveraging its DL technologies and expertise, Verbatim/MKM now provides high-quality BD DL media.
With the ability to store up to 50GB or about 4 hours of HD-quality video on a single disc without having to flip or change the disc, the new media offers distinct advantages for professional video production, business storage, backup, archiving, radio and television broadcast storage, education, banking, healthcare and government applications.
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At the International Consumer Electronics Show today, Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. announced the new BDC-202 combination Blu-ray Disc BD-ROM computer drive with enhanced DVD and CD writing and reading capabilities. The newly designed Pioneer drive offers playback of BD-ROM discs allowing users to view Blu-ray Disc high definition programs directly on a properly configured computer. The Pioneer BDC-202 can play multiple Blu-ray Disc formats, as well as provide high-speed reading and writing of DVD and CD formats.No word on price yet. However, Pioneer expects to ship the BDC-202 during the second quarter of 2007. More information, including a list of specs, can be found on Pioneer's website. Add a comment
With a focus on BD-ROM playback, the new Pioneer combination computer drive will be a significant contributor in the emergence of the Blu-ray Disc format for both professional and consumer use on computers. In addition to BD-ROM playback, the BDC-202 allows users to access and transfer A/V and data files rapidly to DVD and CD.
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Nero, leaders in digital media technology, today announced SecurDisc, the first solution for the access control and performance reliability of data stored on optical media that allows it to be distributed and shared securely. The benefits of this technology are realized with CD and DVD media authored via SecurDisc-certified devices and carry the SecurDisc logo. Nero is seeking to build a logo-certification program around its new format with software and hardware vendors interested in distinguishing themselves in the marketplace by offering this technology to their customers.SecurDisc works with most CD and DVD formats and can be added to existing drives via a firmware update. More information can be found on Nero's website. Add a comment
SecurDisc technology offers the following benefits that were previously unavailable to optical storage media users:prohibits unauthorized access to data through password protection detects altered data on authored media through checksum verification increases performance and reliability through redundantly stored data authenticates the origin of data through digital signature verification
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NME Creative and Software Division announced today that it has successfully trialled its HD VMD playback software as well as VMD multilayer PC drives.While NME has yet to break into the US market, they've signed distribution deals in India and parts of Europe. If you'd like to read more, their entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
The company will release the HD VMD playback software for download in February 2007, initially in 10 regions worldwide. The software will also be offered to hardware manufacturers as a bundling solution.
The proprietary Multilayer PC drives will go on sale in the 2nd Quarter to playback the 4-layer VMD discs. The VMD multilayer drives will be made available at an affordable price and can replace all existing PC disc drives.
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Maxell Corporation of America has introduced four new Blu-ray DVD media products that give consumers the ability to record, archive and enjoy HD video content to enhance their high definition experience.Maxell will be announcing pricing at the end of January. More information can be found here. Add a comment
The new Maxell Blu-ray media include single-layer and dual layer configurations and write-once and rewritable formats.
"High definition video is one of the most dramatic innovations that the consumer electronics industry has developed and Maxell is excited to provide recording media that enables consumers to enhance their enjoyment of this new technology," said Don Patrican, executive vice president of Maxell Corporation of America. "Our new Blu-ray media is packaged so consumers can easily understand its use and the media is engineered and manufactured for HD performance."
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TDK, a world leader in digital recording solutions, is exhibiting its latest Blu-ray Disc innovations, breakthrough media storage solutions and award-winning packaging at the 2007 International CES, at the Las Vegas Convention Center, January 8-11, 2007 (TDK booth #N215). The company is highlighting its remarkable 200GB blue laser disc technology, the most advanced optical media ever developed. For the first time, TDK will also showcase prototype 8cm Mini Blu-ray Discs.When encoded at 24Mbps, TDK's new 200GB blue laser discs can store approximately 18 hours of HD video. If you'd like to read more, TDK's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
"TDK's 200GB blue laser disc technology represents an important milestone for optical media. As a founding member of the Blu-ray Disc Association, we are proud of our work to shape the future of digital recording," commented Sethu Palat, TDK Director of Marketing. He continued, "With TDK's technological advancements, Blu-ray is proving to be the ultimate, future-ready format. As the technology continues to evolve, Blu-ray Discs are becoming increasingly important products in TDK's line." Palat concluded, "At CES 2007, attendees can preview the 200GB blue laser disc, and learn more about the technologies behind the format that is redefining the consumer electronics industry."
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Roxio, a division of Sonic Solutions (NASDAQ: SNIC), the leader in digital media software, today launched Toast 8 Titanium, a significant upgrade to its industry-leading Mac disc burning software. Continuing to enhance and extend the functionality of the Mac OS and iLife applications, Toast 8 offers a range of new innovative features and ground-breaking platform firsts that enable users to see, hear, copy, and enjoy their entire digital lives on a disc and on-the-go. Toast 8 is available today at www.roxio.com and at Macworld Expo booth # 314.Toast 8 Titanium is available now and can be purchased directly from Roxio for $99.99. More information can be found on Roxio's website. Add a comment
Headlining Toast 8 are a number of unique new features and enhancements that help redefine the standard for disc burning on the Mac platform. Toast 8 brings TiVo and the Mac together for the first time, enabling users to enjoy their favorite TV programs on their Mac, burn them to disc, or easily convert them for viewing on a mobile device such as an iPod or PSP. Complementing the features of iTunes, Toast 8 enables users to apply professional-quality tools to create superior sounding audio CD mixes and music DVDs. Going beyond the burning options included in Mac OS, Toast 8 introduces Blu-ray Disc burning, as well as automatic disc cataloging, cross-platform data spanning, and disc restoration.
