InterVideo has announced the launch of their new DVD playback software, WinDVD 8. Along with support for Windows Vista, WinDVD 8 offers a number of new and expanded features including support for high-def formats like MPEG2-HD, VC1, WMV-HD and H.264 HD.
InterVideo, Inc. (NASDAQ:IVII - News) today announced WinDVD 8, the latest release of the software DVD player favored by 175 million users worldwide. WinDVD 8 takes video and audio playback to the next generation with Windows Vista(TM) compatibility. Offering an unprecedented list of new and expanded features, the new version delivers the smooth, crystal-clear video and rich surround sound users have come to expect from WinDVD.

"With the advent of the Windows Vista era, being able to use a single software solution to play all DVD/video/audio in multiple formats simplifies our customers' digital lifestyle," said Steve Ro, CEO and President of InterVideo. "People are eager to adopt next-generation technologies like H.264, VC1 or the UPnP ability in the new Windows Vista OS, and WinDVD 8 provides this path. WinDVD users worldwide can always get the most out of their current systems. Now, WinDVD 8 users can also leverage the enhanced multimedia features and capabilities of Windows Vista."
WinDVD 8 is currently available at InterVideo's web site and will be at retail outlets within the next few weeks. The Gold and Platinum versions are priced at $39.95 and $59.95 respectively. More information on both can be found here. Add a comment
Sunland International sent out a press release this morning, announcing the DIGISTOR DW-ISD081. This new slim-line drive features 8x DVD±R, 4x DVD±RW and 2.4x DVD+R DL writing speeds.
Sunland International (SLI), a leading distributor of optical and data storage products, today announced they will expand their product offering to include the new DIGISTOR Slim-line Internal DVD Writer. DIGISTOR's new drive, DW-ISD081, will offer an industry leading 24 month warranty.

Designed with the needs of notebook and server manufacturers in mind, the DW-ISD081 offers the ability to record DVD±R/RW+RDL with speeds of up to 8X as well as CD-R/RW at up to 24X. The new drive is also fully compliant with the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directeive 2002/95/EC of the EU.
The DW-ISD081 will begin shipping on November 10th. More information can be found here. Add a comment
NVIDIA released a new set of NVIDIA Forceware drivers today. One of the highlights of this release is the inclusion of NVIDIA's new PureVideo HD technology which provides hardware acceleration for decoding H.264, VC-1, WMV and MPEG-2 movies.
Movie lovers can now build a PC to enjoy a spectacular HD DVD or Blu-ray experience with the release of new NVIDIA Forceware drivers featuring NVIDIA PureVideo HD technology. PureVideo HD technology combines high-definition video decode acceleration and post-processing to deliver extraordinary picture clarity, smooth video, brilliant color, and precise image scaling for high definition movies. The drivers are available now from NVIDIA.com.

"This is a milestone in PC entertainment," said Scott Vouri, general manager of multimedia at NVIDIA. "NVIDIA is proud to be the first graphics processing company in the world to make it possible for consumers to build or upgrade a PC to play HD DVD and Blu-ray movies."
Keep in mind that you will need an HDCP compliant video card and monitor if you plan to play HD DVD and Blu-ray movies at high resolutions. More information on PureVideo HD can be found on NVIDIA's website. Add a comment
Many people have expected the adult film industry to be the deciding factor in the battle between Blu-ray and HD DVD. With no clear winner, film makers in the US have decided to be release titles in both formats.
In view of the stalemate between HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc (BD), producers of adult films in the US will adopt both for the time being by offering HD DVD and BD movie titles, according to sources in Taiwan's optical disc drive (ODD) industry.

US-based Vivid Entertainment, one of the world's largest producers of pornographic movies, plans to release HD DVD and BD movie discs early next year, the sources pointed out. Since the estimated average production cost of US$50,000 for a BD adult movie is much higher than that of US$10,000 for a DVD version and with BD players costing between US$700-1,000, the market acceptance of BD or HD DVD titles is questionable, the sources indicated.
I can't imagine there is a huge demand for high-def porn, but you never know. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment
According to an article at DigiTimes, Lite-On is expected to begin shipping 18x LightScribe DVD burners to HP later this month. As we reported in the past, these new drives will support version 1.2 of HP's LightScribe technology.
While Lite-On IT is expected to start shipping 18x DVD burners to Hewlett-Packard (HP) this month, the growing tension in competition between Lite-On IT, Hitachi-LG Data Storage (HLDS) and Toshiba-Samsung Storage Technology (TSST) facilitated OEM prices to further drop, according to sources at Taiwan-based optical disk drive (ODD) makers.

The sources detailed that this month, Lite-On IT starts shipping internal (940i) and external (model 940e) models of 18x DVD burners to HP. Both burners support the latest 1.2 version of HP's LightScribe technology.
If you'd like to read more, head on over to DigiTimes. Add a comment

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It appears that Sony's new Blu-ray player isn't the only one being delayed. According to a report at ElectronicHouse.com, the Pioneer BDP-HD1 has also been pushed back to December due to quality control issues.
The BDP-HD1, originally expected to ship in October, will now be available in December. The player has not passed the company's quality control requirements, and it will be available when it does.

"All of the player's specifications had not been finalized in time to meet Pioneer's quality control requirements," the Pioneer spokesperson writes in an email to ElectronicHouse.com.

"The BDP-HD1 needs to pass our testing to ensure it fulfills the high performance expectations associated with Pioneer Elite."
This is actually the second delay for the BDP-HD1. Pioneer originally intended to ship it back in May. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment
If you thought that the DVD-RAM format was going the way of the dodo, think again. DigiTimes has reported that for the month of August, Super-Multi drives accounted for more than 66% of the world's DVD burner shipments.
Super Multi DVD burners have surpassed DVD Dual burners in global shipment volume with 12x DVD-RAM set to become mainstream in 2007, according to Kenji Koishi, director for the Compatibility Working Group of the Recordable DVD Council (RDVDC) at a symposium held in Taipei on October 31.

Of about 12 million DVD burners shipped globally in August of this year, eight million units, or 66.7%, were Super Multi models and four million were Dual ones, Koishi cited survey statistics as saying. The proportion of Super Multi for August of 2005 was less than 40%, Koishi indicated.
With Maxell deciding not to sell their 12x DVD-RAM media outside of Japan, its going to be hard for it to become mainstream. If you'd like to read more, head on over to DigiTimes. Add a comment

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The staff here at CDRLabs has been impressed with the level of knowledge and expertise our readers have exhibited over the years. With this in mind, we are launching a user submitted article program. For each article accepted and published, CDRLabs will pay $25US (cash or equivalent in products).

Articles must be:
1. Original content written by the submitter

2. Semi-related to the rest of the content on the website (optical storage, multi-media, etc)

3. Submitted in .doc or .txt format with pictures as .jpg or .png
Articles will be edited for grammar and spelling and large pictures will be resized. If you have any questions, please post them in the forum.

On a semi-related note, we are looking to expand our staff by adding one or two software reviewers. These people must be able to work on their own, be motivated and work under deadlines. In return, you'll be able to check out the latest software. If you're interested, send me an email. Add a comment