Sonic has announced that they've entered into multi-year licensing agreement with Microsoft. As part of the deal, Microsoft will embed Sonic's AuthorScript formatting and burning engine into Windows Vista. The two companies will also work together to develop Certified for Windows Vista digital media applications.
Sonic Solutions (NASDAQ:SNIC), the leader in digital media software, announced today that AuthorScript, the company's proven formatting and burning engine, has been selected to enable a range of DVD and CD recording features in Windows Vista. The built-in AuthorScript engine provides features within Windows Vista that help users archive digital memories to CDs and DVDs, create custom music discs, and perform important data backup functions. Sonic is also working with Microsoft to develop digital media applications that will optimize and enhance consumers' experience with Windows Vista. Certified for Windows Vista applications will include a range of applications within Sonic's Roxio product lines such as Roxio Easy Media Creator 9, the company's flagship digital media software suite of CD and DVD authoring, burning, photo, video, and music tools. As part of the Windows Vista launch program agreement between Microsoft and Sonic, Microsoft will showcase Roxio Easy Media Creator 9 in a range of venues and programs as it prepares for the launch of Windows Vista.
Easy Media Creator 9 is expected to be certified for Windows Vista by the time the OS is launched. If you'd like to read more, the entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
Ever wonder how HD DVD and Blu-ray media was manufactured? You're in luck. Imation Corp has released a new video titled "Imation: Into the Blue". The video includes a brief tour of Imation's Discovery Center and shows how high-definition media is manufactured.

Two versions of "Imation: Into the Blue" are available: a 5 minute streaming video clip and a 14 minute video podcast. If you have the bandwidth and the time, I highly recommend the podcast as it includes some great footage of the manufacturing process. Add a comment
Primera has announced their new ADL-MAX Disc Autoloader. The ADL-MAX attaches to any Bravo II or BravoPro Disc Publisher, letting users produce hundreds of discs at a time.


Primera Technology, Inc., the world's leading developer and manufacturer of CD/DVD duplication and printing equipment, today announced its new ADL-MAX Disc Autoloader.

The ADL-MAX Disc Autoloader easily attaches to any of Primera's best-selling Bravo II or BravoPro Disc Publishers. It uses advanced robotics to transport discs from the four integrated input bins into and out of the burning and printing mechanisms of the Bravo II or BravoPro. With ADL-MAX, Bravo II's capacity increases from 50 discs to 325 discs. BravoPro's capacity increases from 100 discs to 350 discs.
The ADL-MAX Disc Autoloader is available now for a suggested retail price of $1995. More information can be found on Primera's website. Add a comment
Plextor Japan has released some details on their new "Super-Multi" drive, the PX-751A. This new drive features 16x DVD±R, 8x DVD+RW, 6x DVD-RW, 8x DVD+R DL, 4x DVD-R DL and 5x DVD-RAM writing speeds. Here are some of the drive's specs:


Writing Speeds:

DVD+R: 16x CAV
DVD+RW: 8x Z-CLV
DVD+R DL: 8x Z-CLV
DVD-R: 16x CAV
DVD-RW: 6x CLV
DVD-R DL: 6x Z-CLV
DVD-RAM: 5x CLV
CD-R: 48x CAV
CD-RW: 32x CAV

Access Times:

CD-ROM: 130ms
DVD-ROM: 140ms

Read Speeds:

DVD-ROM (Single Layer): 16x Max
DVD-ROM (Dual Layer): 12x Max
DVD±R: 16x Max
DVD±RW: 12x Max
DVD±R DL: 12x Max
DVD-RAM: 5x Max
CD-R/ROM: 48x Max
CD-RW: 40x Max

Buffer Size: 2MB
The PX-751A is expected to hit the Japanese market in the middle of November for 8,000 Yen. More information can be found on Plextor Japan's website. Add a comment
Sonic sent out a press release this morning, announcing that their patent for dynamic content revision will be included in the formation of the Blu-ray Disc Patent Portfolio License. This technology gives publishers the ability to update content over the web or a local cache.
Sonic Solutions (NASDAQ: SNIC), the leader in digital media software, announced today that its US Patent 6,944,621 for dynamic content revision has been evaluated as essential to the Blu-ray Disc (BD) specification for BD players and optical media for the purpose of participating in a joint Blu-ray Disc Patent Portfolio License being facilitated by MPEG LA. The Sonic technology covered in the ‘621 patent - one of several the company has related to new high-definition formats - allows for updating or augmenting multimedia content on portable storage media including CD, DVD, UMD, flash memory, and HD DVD. In addition to Sonic's intention to participate in the Blu-ray Disc Patent Portfolio License, the company will continue to license the ‘621 patent directly to content owners, online service providers, software developers, game console manufacturers, consumer electronics companies, in-game advertisers, and other industry partners developing online services and non-BD applications.
As much as I'd like to see new content, I can see this technology being used more for advertising. If you'd like to read more, Sonic's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
Hitachi Maxell has announced their new 8cm DVD+R DL and DVD-R DL media. Developed for camcorders, these discs can hold 2.6GB of data or 54-55 minutes of standard quality video. Here's part of their press release, translated from Japanese:

Hitachi Maxell, Ltd. (The execution post president: Yoshito Kakuta) will put the series, 8cmDVD-R DL disk, and 8cmDVD+R DL "Easy selection" disk for the DVD video camera with the recording layer in two layers in one side of the disk on the market on November 24.

The market expands to the DVD video camera in the background of convenience that makes the best use of the feature of record type DVD like the height etc. of the random access and the reproduction interchangeability. Needs of "Take a picture for a long time" and "High-resolution taking a picture" expand more than before with the extension of the group of users, and the disk where it answers this is requested in recent years.
According to AV Watch, Maxell's 8cm media is expected to cost about 1300 Yen. More information can be found here. Add a comment

Elife Colorful Card USB Drive @ ThinkComputers.org
Thermaltake Big Typhoon VX CPU Cooler @ Futurelooks
Zalman Reserator 2 Water Cooling System @ Tweaknews.net
Crucial Ballistix 1GB Kit DDR2-800/PC2-6400 Memory @ Redaktion ocinside.de
ECS P965T-A Motherboard @ Overclockers Online
Thermaltake MozartTx @ VIA Arena
[ Add a comment
HP has announced their new 18x "Super-Multi" drive, the dvd940i. Along with support for LightScribe, this Lite-On manufactured drive features 18x DVD±R and 12x DVD-RAM writing speeds.
18X will be the new writing speed standard on HP drives. HP will launch the dvd940i: a new, high-speed internal drive with DVD±R/±RW and DVD-RAM read/write, ±R double-layer capability, and LightScribe direct disc labeling. HP will also introduce an external version of this drive: HPdvd940e.

HP's supermulti drive offers high speeds and double-layer recording, and it's LightScribe Version 1.2 - ready for high-contrast labeling. It lets users easily preserve, edit and share up to 8.5 GB of video, photos, and multimedia presentations on one double-layer disc - and quickly store back up and transport files on DVDs and Cds. The dvd940i/e records double-layer DVDs at up to 8X, recordable DVDs at up to 18X, rewritable DVDs at up to 8X and DVD-RAM at up to 12X.
The dvd940i is expected to hit store shelves in November. If you'd like to read more, HP's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
Lite-On has officially announced their latest HDD/DVD recorder, the HD-A970GX. Along with HDMI output, the HD-A970GX includes features like a 320GB hard drive and DivX video playback.

Lite-On IT Corporation (TWE: 8008), the world's leading optical drive supplier, today announced the launch of its new-generation HDD/DVD recorder, the HD-A970GX, in a move to respond to the growing popularity of high-definition video market and to demonstrate its continuing endeavors in the consumer electronics segment...

...With an advanced HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) output, HD-A970GX offers you hassle-free connection to the new-generation HDTV or HD-ready TV set with a single HDMI cable. Meanwhile, to bridge the current gap between the lower-resolution analog signals and the expanded display capability of HDTV, the HD-A970GX incorporates a video upscaler to enhance the source picture resolution up to 1080p (Progressive mode). This conversion process allows users to enjoy improved, near high-definition images.
No word on pricing or availability yet. As we find out more, we'll let you know. In the mean time, Lite-On's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
Digital Media Applications sent out a press release this morning, announcing the release of their new DVD authoring software solution, ROCKETDVD.
Digital Media Applications, an innovative software developer has released ROCKETDVD, a new DVD authoring software solution that provides prosumers and media professionals with a fast and automated method to create and author DVDs. With an easy to use interface, professionally designed DVD templates and compatibility with DVD duplicators, ROCKETDVD streamlines the entire DVD authoring process by creating a totally integrated work flow.

ROCKETDVD provides videographers and small production studios a simple and intuitive way to author DVDs. In addition to supporting standard DVD burners, it also supports automated DVD duplicators that utilize PTBurn such as the Primera Bravo.
ROCKETDVD is available now for $399.00. A trial version can also be downloaded from Digital Media Applications' website. More information can be found here. Add a comment