- Details
- Optical Storage
The internal DRU-830A drive is shipping now for about $70 after a $20 mail-in rebate. The DRX-830U and DRX-S50U are both expected to ship in October for $100 (after $30 rebate) and $130 respectively. Last but not least, the DRX-830UL-T will ship in December for $130 (after $30 rebate). More information, including a list of specs, can be found here. Add a comment
Based on Sony's 12th generation of optical storage technology innovation, the new 830 series of multi-format DVD burners support all of the industry's leading recording formats in just one drive. Enabling the industry's fastest 18X DVD±R recording speed, the 830 burners deliver a full 4.7 GB of video, data, music or images on standard 16X DVD+R media in about five minutes.
The internal DRU-830A drive and external DRX-830U burner come bundled with the new Nero 7 software suite, a feature-rich package for burning, authoring and editing home movies, creating digital scrapbooks and backing up critical data. The external DRX-830UL-T drive is designed for dual Macintosh and Windows platform support. It also includes Roxio Toast 6 Lite software in the box.
For those looking for a space-saving burner to complement their notebook or desktop PCs, Sony's DRX-S50U drive offers all the advantages of a high-speed DVD/CD burner in a slim external design. This drive also comes with the Nero 7 software suite, including DVD authoring, video editing, photo retouch and disc label creation.
- Details
- Optical Storage
The PX-608U is expected to ship to distributors in North and South America on September 25 with a suggested retail price of $199.99. More information can be found here. Add a comment
Plextor LLC, a leading developer and manufacturer of high-performance digital media equipment, today announced the availability of the PX-608U ultra-portable DVD+/-R/RW CD-R/RW multi-drive. The smallest CD/DVD drive ever to be released by Plextor, the PX-608U measures just 5.43 inches x 6.38 inches x 0.87 inches and weighs less than one pound. The drive is designed for traveling laptop computer users, who can use it as a lightweight, high-capacity, removable storage device.
The PX-608U supports 5X DVD-RAM functionality for removable data storage applications. Unlike other optical media formats, special burning software is not required to write DVD-RAM media on a personal computer. A user simply inserts a blank DVD-RAM disc and the system automatically formats the disc and assigns a drive letter. Users can drag-and-drop files, use the "save as" command, and remove the disc, which can then be read in any PC or desktop player with a drive that supports the DVD-RAM format. The DVD-RAM format offers up to 9.4 GB per double-sided disc.
- Details
- Optical Storage
Warner's plan is to create a disc with a Blu-ray top layer that works like a two-way mirror. This should reflect just enough blue light for a Blu-ray player to read it okay. But it should also let enough light through for HD-DVD players to ignore the Blu-ray recording and find a second HD-DVD layer beneath.If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment
An ordinary DVD recording could be put on the other side, so that conventional DVD players can read the disc as well.
Although the triple-standard disc will cost more to make, it should still be cheaper than pressing three, and shops should be pleased not to have their shelves overloaded with so many different discs.
- Details
- Optical Storage
If you'd like to read more, Traxdata's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
Traxdata has today announced the launch of its HD DVD-R media, the eagerly awaited successor to the current DVD. This is the only HD DVD-R that is available to buy online and in-stores today, heralding the start of a new era in optical storage media. It is set to revolutionize the quality and volume of data that users can store on one disc.
For the first time, consumers with HD DVD players/recorders will be able to record and watch their favourite movies, programmes or sporting events that are broadcast in HD, providing improved clarity, image sharpness, colours and sound, opening the door to an exciting new world of entertainment. The HD DVD provides three times the amount of digital storage than a standard single layer DVD, offering a massive 15GB to enable users to literally store hundreds of the highest quality photos, music, videos or data.
- Details
- Software
- Details
- Other
The Samsung SH-S182M was a sheer pleasure to review and had the potential of being on of the best drives you can buy. In fact, the only reason this drive failed to earn my highest recommendation was due to the poor ripping performance. Also, the DVD double layer write performance is questionable as it seemed to struggle quite a bit with the +R format, even when using the highest quality media available.If you'd like to read more, head on over to Extreme Mhz and check out their review. Also, make sure you enter their latest contest as they are giving away a few 12x DVD-RAM discs. Add a comment
- Details
- Optical Storage
Although several leading global brands have already launched or will soon offer 18x DVD burners, CMC Magnetics and Ritek, Taiwan's top two makers of optical discs, currently produce 18x DVD+R/-R discs only in limited volumes and the supply may fall significantly short of global demand, according to industry sources...The article also points out that due to high prices, 18x media is not expected to become popular until 2007. If you'd like to read more, head on over to DigiTimes. Add a comment
...However, the global supply of 18x DVD+R/-R discs appear to be lagging, the sources pointed out. CMC and Ritek are able to immediately start volume production of 18x DVD+R/-R discs as long as the market demand is large enough, the two companies said.
- Details
- Other
DVDs will soon be tracked with embedded radio transmitter chips to prevent copying and piracy, according to the company which makes movie discs for Warner, Disney, Fox and other major studios.While this is a great way to track DVD's, I don't see it as a good way to prevent piracy. RFID chips can be disabled or "zapped" using devices like a modified camera. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment
The technology, which can also be used for Blu-Ray and HD-DVD discs, will allow movie studios to remotely track individual discs as they travel from factories to retail shelves to consumers' homes.
Home DVD players will eventually be able to check on the chip embedded in a disc, and refuse to play discs which are copied or played in the 'wrong' geographical region, the companies behind the technology expect.
- Details
- Optical Storage
Lite-On IT, Taiwan's No.1 manufacturer of optical disk drives (ODD), today announced the company would support the HD DVD format, the next-generation DVD standard for the high-definition era, and that it has started development of a half-height HD DVD drive, aiming for commercialization in March 2007. The participation of Lite-On IT, in the fast growing ranks of HD DVD supporters adds to the momentum propelling the market growth and success of HD DVD by expanding the number of ODD suppliers working to sustain the HD DVD industry. HD DVD products are expected to see a rapid boost in demand during the Christmas and year-end shopping season, and Toshiba Corporation of Japan has already launched an Notebook PC with HD DVD-ROM in selected markets, HD DVD players in the U.S. and Japanese markets, and a hard disk recorder with HD DVD for the Japanese market.Keep in mind Lite-On is supporting Blu-ray as well with their own line of BD players and PC based drives. If you'd like to read more, Lite-On's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
Lite-On IT has undertaken an extensive evaluation of HD DVD technologies, and concluded that HD DVD will be a major driving force in connection with the coming generation of ODD with blue laser pick-up heads, because of its cost advantage and its proven technical reliability, including superior backward compatibility with DVD. By joining the HD DVD market ahead of many other suppliers of ODD drives, Lite-On IT intends to take full advantage of the excellent market opportunities provided by HD DVD and contribute to the sound growth of the next generation DVD industry.
- Details
- Software
InterVideo, Inc. (NASDAQ: IVII), an industry leader in bringing next-generation H.264/MPEG-4 AVC technology to consumers, announced today InterVideo iVideoToGo Platinum, the easiest way to copy* personal videos for playback on a video-enabled iPod and Sony PSP devices. Priced at only $29.95, the software is a 3-step solution that lets users quickly convert their existing DVDs and video files into iPod- and PSP-compatible files that provide smooth, flawless playback.iVideoToGo Platinum is available now through InterVideo's website and will hit retail stores in October. More information can be found here. Add a comment
Easily one of the fastest conversion tools on the market, iVideoToGo Platinum is equipped with a simple, friendly interface and it utilizes a single window for all tasks. iVideoToGo Platinum is able to support both iPod and PSP formats. And with just three steps to complete the copy process, there's no learning curve-even a beginner can have immediate success.
