- Details
- Optical Storage
The DRU-820A is already showing up at Best Buy stores and is reportedly based on the BenQ DW1670. If your local Best Buy store doesn't have the DRU-820A in stock yet, the drive can be purchased through SonyStyle.com for $79.99 after a $20 mail-in rebate. Add a comment
Writing Speeds: DVD+R: 2.4X, 4X, 6X CLV, 8X ~ 12X P-CAV max., 16X CAV
DVD+RW: 2.4X, 4X, 6X CLV, 8X Z-CLV
DVD+R DL: 2.4X, 4X, 6X CLV, 8X Z-CLV
DVD-R: 4X CLV, 8X P-CAV, 16X CAV
DVD-RW: 2X, 4X, 6X CLV
DVD-R DL: 2X, 4X
DVD-RAM: 5x CLV
CD-R: 8X ~16X CLV, 32X P-CAV, 40X ~ 48X CAV
CD-RW: 4X ~ 10X CLV, 24X ~ 32X CAVRead Speeds: DVD-ROM: 16X Max
Access Times:
CD-ROM: 48X MaxCD-ROM: 135ms
Buffer Size: 2MB
DVD-ROM: 130ms
- Details
- Optical Storage
CMC Magnetics, the largest producer of optical discs in Taiwan, on February 10 announced an additional investment of NT$500 million (US$15.6 million) in Prodisc Technology, Taiwan's third largest maker of optical discs, to increase its stake ratio to 11.93%, making it Prodisc's largest institutional shareholder.What's interesting is that CMC's biggest competitor, Ritek, also has a stake of nearly 5% in Prodisc. If you'd like to read more, head on over to DigiTimes. Add a comment
- Details
- Other
In this review we'll take a look at some of the features found on the PX-740UF and see how it compares to some of the 16x DVD±RW drives from the competition. Does Plextor's external writer have what it takes? You'll have to read the review to find out.
If you have any comments or questions about this review or the Plextor PX-740UF, please post them in the forum by clicking the link below. Add a comment
Plextor PX-740UF 16x FireWire/USB 2.0 DVD±RW
- Details
- Other
Since the read head of the Pioneer BDR-101 works with only one lens, one did without the support of CDs. In the test we could for the first time burn a once recordable Bd-r of TDK. The BD-R blank has a capacity of 22,56 GByte, somewhat more than a again-recordable BD-RE, which comes on 22,23 GByte. The remaining storage location needs the BD-RE for spare substitution of the defect management.According to the article, Pioneer expects to ship the BDR-101 to their OEM customers by the end of the month. The drive is expected to go for $975 which is almost double that of the Samsung SH-B022. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment
In order to burn an BD-R with 2X (CLV, corresponds to 9 MByte/s) completely, the BDR-101 needed 45:05 min. In addition Pioneer supplied a test computer, on which a special version was installed by Nero 7,0,5,2. The Disc could be read also problem-free with 2X. The average access time to a coincidentally selected sector amounted to 300 ms.
The equipment could likewise describe an DVD-R with 8X (ZCLV) in 10:27 min. The write quality with a TDK blank was throughout good with a small error rate. During the reading of an DVD-R the BDR-101 reached a transfer rate of 8,2 MByte/s with a middle access time of 272 ms. A two-part Dvd-9 was selected with 7,5 MByte/s and 252 ms.
- Details
- Flash Memory
Maxell has announced its entry into the memory card and USB flash drive category with a new line that will include Compact Flash, Multi Media, Multimedia Mobile, MiniSD, Secure Digital, and Extra High Speed Secure Digital cards, as well as USB 2.0 flash drives. Capacities will range from 128 MB to 8 GB, depending on the format; and all products will be covered by Maxell's limited lifetime warranty, including the 24/7/365 bilingual technical support line.If you'd like to read more, Maxell's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
- Details
- Software
Nero, leaders in digital media technologies, announced today that Samsung is sending out test samples in Europe of its Samsung Blu-ray disc devices together with a special test version of Nero 7 supporting the Blu-ray disc format.As usual, reviewers in the US and Canada seem to be getting the shaft. In any case, Nero's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
This makes Samsung - and Nero - the first who have brought this technology out of the labs and into the test market. Both companies have thereby established themselves as the leaders in bringing to market the first Blu-ray optical disc technology for storing and managing high definition movies, music, games, photos and more.
Featuring the Nero 7 Blu-ray test version, Samsung's new Blu-ray disc technology - which offers huge storage capacity of up to 25GB in a single layer and 50GB in a dual layer and which reads Blu-ray discs at up to 2x, CDs at up to 40x and DVDs at up to 12x - is being sent out to media reviewers in Europe.
- Details
- Optical Storage
The Taiwan Information Storage Association (TISA) has asked Royal Philips Electronics to revise the Veeza system launched last month for the licensing of its CD-R disc patents. Although the new system carries a lower charge for each disc, it requires licensing for every shipment, which TISA says creates difficulties for the makers.You'd think with the money they're saving on royalties, they could hire some more people to manage the licensing. For the entire article, head on over to DigiTimes. Add a comment
- Details
- Other
The Taiwan Information Storage Association (TISA) has asked Royal Philips Electronics to revise the Veeza system launched last month for the licensing of its CD-R disc patents. Although the new system carries a lower charge for each disc, it requires licensing for every shipment, which TISA says creates difficulties for the makers.You'd think with the money they're saving on royalties, they could hire some more people to manage the licensing. For the entire article, head on over to DigiTimes. Add a comment
- Details
- Other
Toshiba and South Korea's LG Electronics have signed an agreement to share their worldwide patents for optical disc products, the two companies said Thursday. Toshiba also announced an additional investment in computer chips.It will be interesting to see if this will affect Toshiba's joint venture with Samsung (TSST) or LG's relationship with Hitachi. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment
The cross-licensing agreement between Japanese electronics-maker Toshiba and LG is expected to expedite product development and reduce development costs for optical products such as next-generation DVDs, the companies said in a joint statement.
- Details
- Home Entertainment
Sony Pictures on Tuesday became the first major studio to put a price tag on Blu-ray discs when they become available in U.S. stores this year.Keep in mind, these are wholesale prices. Retail pricees are expected to be $5-15 higher, making new releases as much as $39. Needless to say, I'll be holding onto my DVD player, at least until prices come down. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment
At the same time, the studio unveiled what many observers believe will be a key component of the next-generation, high-definition optical disc's marketing strategy: bundling various formats together to give consumers more flexibility and mobility.
Catalog Blu-ray disc titles will wholesale for $17.95, about the same as DVDs when that format hit the market in 1997. New-release Blu-ray discs will wholesale for $23.45, a premium of 15%-20% over what suppliers were charging for new theatrical DVDs.
