Nero sent out a press release this morning, announcing that their Nero ShowTime application has received Windows Media Center Edition (MCE) certification.
Nero, leaders in digital media technology, today announced that the Nero ShowTime application of its Nero 7 digital media software suite received Windows Media Center Edition (MCE) certification. The Microsoft Windows Logo Program is designed to help customers identify products that deliver a high-quality computing experience with Windows operating systems.

The Nero ShowTime application of the Nero 7 software suite allows consumers to playback all digital recordings. Providing improved H.264/AVC and DVD-Video playback, Nero ShowTime enhances consumers' enjoyment and ability to manage HD video content on a PC. Also, a new navigation jog-shuttle and the integration of the Nero Scout application provide faster access to all digital files in the home.
If you'd like to read more, Nero's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
CyberLink recently announced a new version of their video editing software. Along with support for iPod and PSP friendly formats, PowerDirector 5 Premium can be used to upload video files directly to YouTube. Here's part of their press release:
CyberLink Corp. (5203.TW), a world leader in digital home solutions, today announced cooperation with YouTube, Inc., a consumer media company for people to watch and share original videos through a Web experience. The collaboration between the two companies has delivered a unique feature for the consumer editing software market, the ability for users to upload video files directly from CyberLink PowerDirector 5 Premium to YouTube.com.
PowerDirector 5 Premium is available now as an online download and is expected to hit retail stores in August for $89.95. More information can be found here. Add a comment
Aside from price, the biggest criticism of Blu-ray so far has been picture quality. Those that picked up the Samsung BD-P1000 quickly found out that the video did not look as good as those in the HD DVD format. AVGuide.com has reported that this is due to the noise-reduction circuit being enabled, causing the picture to soften significantly.
Don Eklund, executive vice president of advanced technologies at Sony Pictures, noticed that the player's image did not match the quality of the master tapes from which the Blu-ray titles were encoded. He contacted Samsung, whose engineers determined that the noise-reduction circuit in the player's Genesis scaler chip was enabled, causing the picture to soften significantly.

According to Jim Sanduski, senior vice president of marketing for Samsung's Audio and Video Products Group, "Samsung is currently working to revise the default settings on the noise-reduction circuit in the Genesis scaler chip to sharpen the picture. All future Samsung BD-P1000 production will have this revision and we are working to develop a firmware update for existing product."
It's good to see that Sony and Samsung are responding to the problem. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment
According to DigiTimes, Lite-On IT surpassed Quanta Storage in slim-type DVD burner shipments last quarter, delivering more than 500,000 drives a month.
Lite-On IT delivered 500,000 slim-type DVD burners a month last quarter, for the first time gaining the upper hand over Quanta Storage in monthly shipment volume of slim-type DVD burners, according to industry sources. (Slim-type DVD burners are used in notebook PCs.)

Quanta Storage is currently the largest maker of slim-type optical disc drives (ODDs) in Taiwan and shipped 300,000 slim-type DVD burners a month last quarter, the sources indicated. Since Quanta Storage obtained Dell's certification for slim-type DVD burners last quarter, the company's monthly shipment volume is expected to increase in the second half of this year, the sources noted.
If you'd like to read more, head on over to DigiTimes. Add a comment
Along with their new Blu-ray burner, Sony has announced two new DVDirect recorders, the VRD-MC3 and VRD-VC30. Both models support Sony's new Hard Disc Handycam camcorders and can burn video to disc at the touch of a button.

Sony Electronics today expanded its DVDirect DVD recorder family with two new models - the video- and digital photo-capable VRD-MC3 and the video-only VRD-VC30 recorders.

Both sport "computer-free" synchronization with Sony's new Hard Disk Handycam camcorders, making it easier than ever to preserve and share memories.

The next-generation DVDirect recorders also enable easy, real-time recording of home video footage, digital still images (VRD-MC3 only) and TV shows from digital video recorders to DVDs, all without the need for a computer.
The VRD-MC3 and VRD-VC30 will ship in October and will cost about $250 and $200 respectively. More information can be found on Sony's website. Add a comment
Sony has officially announced their first Blu-ray Disc burner, the BWU-100A. This aftermarket, internal drive can burn up to 50 GB of data or 4 hours of HD video using BD-R or BD-RE discs.

The new drive(model BWU-100A) supports up to 50 GB of data on BD-R (write once) or BD-RE (rewritable) discs or up to four hours of high-definition video using HDV 1080i on a BD-RE 50GB disc. The new drive is capable of burning a full 25GB disc in about 50 minutes.

For personal content captured on a HDV camcorder, the BD drive is optimized for keeping the video in the native HDV 1080i for playback on home players compatible with BD-AV format and PCs with BD drives installed.

Sony's BD drive also supports recording of standard single layer 4.7GB DVD+R/+RW/RAM discs, 8.5GB DVD+R Double/Dual Layer Discs, and CDs, making it a multi-format burner.
The BWU-100A is expected to ship in August for about $750. If you'd like to read more, Sony's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
The high price of oil is hurting more than just car owners. According to DigiTimes, concerns about the increased cost of optical-grade polycarbonate has pushed the stock price of CMC Magnetics, Ritek and Prodisc to record lows.
The stock price of CMC Magnetics and Ritek, the top two makers of optical discs in Taiwan, and Prodisc Technology, a leading second-tier maker, on July 17 hit their lowest levels of NT$8.18 (US$0.25), NT$7.20 and NT$2.85, respectively, since their listing on the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TSE) due to concerns about the increased cost of optical-grade polycarbonate (PC) arising from price hikes of crude oil, according to industry sources.
If you'd like to read more, head on over to DigiTimes. Add a comment
TEAC Japan recently unveiled a new "Super Multi" drive for the desktop market. Along with 16x DVD±R and 8x DVD±R DL writing speeds, DV-W516GDM can write to DVD-RAM media at 5x.



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: 8x Z-CLV
DVD-RAM: 5x CLV
CD-R: 48x CAV
CD-RW: 24x CAV

Access Times:

DVD-ROM: 160ms
CD-ROM: 160ms

Read Speeds:
DVD-ROM (Single): 16x CAV
DVD-ROM (Dual): 8x CAV
DVD-Video: 6x CAV
DVD±R: 16x CAV
DVD±RW: 12x CAV
DVD±R DL: 8x CAV
DVD-RAM: 5x P-CAV
CD-ROM: 48x CAV
CD-DA (DAE): 48x CAV

Buffer Size: 2MB


Not much else is known about TEAC's new Super Multi drive. As we find out more about the DV-W516GDM, we'll let you know. Until then, a list of specs can be found on TEAC Japan's website. Add a comment
Nero sent out a press release this morning, announcing that its Nero Vision application has recieved the Blu-ray Direct to Disc certification.
Nero, leaders in digital media technology, today announced it has received BD-RE/BD-AV Direct to Disc certification for its Nero Vision application. With this certification, Nero 7, the company's premier digital media software suite in which Nero Vision resides, guarantees consumers that the software is fully compatible with Blu-ray Disc specifications.

Nero Vision enables the recording of video content directly onto rewriteable Blu-ray Discs (BD-RE) with full image resolution. Video may be recorded directly from a DV camcorder or video inputs on the customer's PC in real time. Discs recorded in BD-AV format can contain up to 6 hours of full-quality video on a single layer 25GB rewritable BD-RE.
If you'd like to read more, Nero's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
According to article at DigiTimes, Ritek has started producing LabelFlash CD-R and DVD+R/-R discs for Fujifilm.
Ritek has begun OEM production of LabelFlash CD-R and DVD+R/-R discs for Fujifilm, with an initial small shipment volume of several million discs a month, according to industry sources. LabelFlash technology allows users to directly burn a label onto an optical disc.

Following Plextor's launch of the world's first LabelFlash-enabled DVD burners in the first quarter of this year, NEC, Pioneer, LG Electronics and I-O Data Device have subsequently offered such DVD burners, boosting the adoption of LabelFlash, the sources indicated. Fujifilm is currently the sole supplier of LabelFlash discs, and has outsourced production to Ritek because its own production capacity is not sufficient, the sources pointed out.
Plextor offering a LabelFlash enabled DVD burner? I think someone has their facts mixed up. In any case, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment