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Optical Storage

02 August 2006

Mitsubishi Chemical has announced that they will be releasing their new 8cm DVD-R DL media on the Japanese market in late August. Here's part of their press release, translated from Japanese:

Mitsubishi chemical media Ltd. (The headquarters: the Tokyo Minato Ward and president: Otsuka heavy morality) begins two one side layers DVD-R for DL (The write-once type: for one time recording) as 8cmDVD disk for the video camera, and it begins to appear in the world and sales will begin in the end of August this year. Moreover, it will begin to sell it at the same time by one one side layer 8cmDVD-R and as much as one one side layer 8cmDVD-RW widely widespread for the video camera.

This new media has a capacity of 2.6GB, giving video camera owners the ability to record 54 minutes of video in SP mode. Mitsubishi has not announced a price. However, the media is expected to run about 3000 Yen. If you'd like to read more, the entire press release can be found here. Add a comment

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Optical Storage

02 August 2006

Plextor Japan has unveiled a new standalone CD/DVD eraser. Aptly named the PLEXERASER, this new device destroys the recording layer of a recordable CD or DVD, making it unreadable.



The PLEXERASER takes about three minutes to destroy a CD or single layer DVD. As you might imagine, it takes twice as long to destroy a double layer disc. And no, the PLEXERASER cannot be used to record discs, only destroy them.

Plextor Japan plans to ship the PLEXERASER PX-OE100E in mid September for about 25,000 Yen ($218US). No word yet on whether or not it will make its way to the US. As we find out more, we'll let you know. In the mean time, more information can be found on Plextor's website. Add a comment

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Optical Storage

01 August 2006

DigiTimes has reported that Taiwanese drive manufacturers are hoping to obtain additional OEM orders for consumer DVD burners from Japanese companies like JVC and Sony.

Leading Taiwan-based optical disc drive (ODD) makers retain good chances to obtain additional OEM orders for producing consumer DVD burners, such as JVC CU-VD10 Everio Share Station (direct DVD-video burner) and Sony VRD-MC1 (external DVD+RW/-RW burner), from Japanese brands, according to industry sources in Taiwan.

Consumer DVD burners can be used to directly record digital video and photos from a camcorder or another source onto a DVD disc without being connected to a PC. Considered as more profitable than PC-use DVD recording drives, the consumer burners are currently priced at US$200-300, the sources indicated. Sony VRD-MC1 is already produced by Lite-On IT, the largest maker of optical disc drives in Taiwan, on an OEM basis, the sources pointed out.

If you'd like to read more, head on over to DigiTimes. Add a comment

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Home Entertainment

01 August 2006

If you've been hoping for a hybrid Blu-ray/HD DVD player, you're probably not going to want to read this. According to an article at The Inquirer, LG has canned the hybrid Blue-ray/HD-DVD player that was planned for launch at the end of this year.

According to Bob Perry, VP of LG sales and channel marketing, hybrid product has been canned. Bob continued: "LG remains part of the Blu-ray camp and will make a product announcement later in the year". Perry was speaking on product plans at the company's '2006 Summer Line Show' this week in New York.

Let's hope that Samsung can come through with their hybrid player. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment

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Optical Storage

31 July 2006

Last week, Panasonic filed a patent infringement lawsuit against CMC Magnetics. According to an article at PC World, Panasonic claims that CMC infringed upon not one, but three of their patents.

The three patents named in the complaint are: U.S. patent 4,847,132, which covers a protective layer for a reversible data storage disc; patent 5,790,487, which relates to optical data recording media; and patent RE 37,185, which covers an optical recording head for use in an optical disc data storage system.

Panasonic asserts that CMC and two U.S. affiliates, Hotan and KHypermedia, infringed on all three patents. The company is asking the court for damages relating to the infringement and an injunction against further infringement.

If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment

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Other

31 July 2006

DigiTimes has reported that manufacturers of blue-laser DVD players and recorders could be facing a shortage of pick-up heads in the fourth quarter of this year.

The production of blue-laser pick-up heads (PUHs) by only a few makers, including Pioneer, Philips, Hitachi and Sony, is insufficient to meet increasing global demand for blue-laser DVD players, recorders, drives and burners, and the shortage is expected to be significant in the fourth quarter of this year, according to industry sources in Taiwan.

Although the global market for next-generation blue-laser drives, burners and players/recorders is still in its infancy, international vendors of desktop and notebook PCs as well as consumer electronics have placed OEM orders for such products to test the market during the traditional peak season next quarter, the sources indicated. The Sony PlayStation 3 (PS3, with a built-in Blu-ray Disc drive), which is scheduled to be launched in November, accounts for part of the demand, the sources noted.

If you'd like to read more, head on over to DigiTimes. Add a comment

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Other

28 July 2006

BCCHardware has put together a review of Plextor's latest "Super-Multi" drive, the PX-750A. Here's a sample of what they had to say:

Overall, I'm extremely impressed with this drive from Plextor. While it may not be the fastest unit on the plant, in testing it has been rock solid. If this is the drive that begins to bring Plextor back to the forefront of the "King of Quality", this is a good start. We had absolutely no issues with this drive during testing and the benchmarks above reflect our experience. It's not 100% perfect in our tests as it does have some slowdowns when reading disks, but it bounces back up and finishes in top form.

If you'd like to read more, head on over to BCCHardware and check out their review. Want a second opinion? Our review of the PX-750A can be found here. Add a comment

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Other

27 July 2006

Reuters has reported that the EU's antitrust officials are already looking into the licensing strategies used by Blu-ray and HD DVD. According to the article, the EU wants ot make sure that the licensing terms do not break their competition rules.

European Commission antitrust officials are probing the licensing strategies of two rival new generation DVD developers, HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc, the EU executive said on Thursday...

...The Commission wants to know whether the licensing terms of the DVD formats could break European Union competition rules, but it said this was not the start of a formal investigation.

Once the EU receives more information, it could decide to open a formal investigation or drop the case. More information can be found here. Add a comment

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Other

27 July 2006

Thomson sent out a press release this morning, announcing that the next-generation DVD manufacturing and distribution capabilities of its Technicolor Home Entertainment Services business are in place and operational.

Technicolor Home Entertainment Services' next-generation DVD replication lines are installed at the company's worldwide headquarters in Camarillo, Calif. The company has three HD DVD replication lines, and three Blu-ray Disc replication lines, in place to meet early studio and consumer requirements. In addition, Technicolor Home Entertainment Services has installed dedicated, state-of-the-art mastering and testing equipment for both of these new formats in its Advanced Media Development Center in Camarillo. This facility also houses complete printing, custom packaging, and distribution facilities to support North American retail operations. The company plans to add future capacity for both formats in different geographies to meet projected demand, and to satisfy the ongoing needs of studio and independent right holder customers.

If you'd like to read more, Thomson's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment