NAB seems to be the place to be for new Blu-ray authoring software. Sony Creative Software announced today that it will be showcasing updated versions of its DVD Architect and Blu-print applications at the show.
DVD Architect 5 software enables independent producers and videographers to author both a standard definition DVD or a high definition Blu-ray Disc complete with full motion buttons, motion menus, scene selection menus, subtitles and alternate video and audio tracks. The clean, drag-and-drop DVD Architect interface, powerful layout and authoring tools work seamlessly with the Sony Vegas Pro video editing and production software, making it easy to develop dynamic menu-based DVDs, movies, picture slideshows and music compilations. Shipping in mid-June, DVD Architect 5 software will be available as a free downloadable upgrade to all registered Vegas Pro 8 users, as the Vegas Pro software ships bundled with the DVD Architect application...

...Available in May, Blu-print 4.3 enterprise software helps to simplify the complexity of producing fully interactive Blu-ray discs at professional studios or authoring houses. Delivering on the partnership announcement made last month, Blu-print 4.3 now features integration with Ensequence on-Q Create for Blu-ray Java, which enables Blu-ray Disc developers to create and distribute Java based interactive experiences to viewers worldwide. Blu-print 4.3 features an intuitive user interface, as well as automation tools to simplify otherwise daunting tasks, such as creating multi-story Blu-ray discs. Blu-print 4.3 offers a full-featured high level scripting language that saves DVD authors from having to write BD assembly codes, as well as the ability to export all project objects into XML files for easy BD-Java authoring using Ensequence on-Q Create for Blu-ray Java.
More information on DVD Architect 5 and Blu-print 4.3 can be found on Sony Creative Software's website. Add a comment
Sonic has announced the launch of Scenarist BD Edition 4.5. This upgrade to their Blu-ray Disc authoring suite features expanded capabilities for the creation of BD-J titles, numerous workflow enhancements and Sonic's new Scenarist Safeguard tool.
Sonic Solutions (NASDAQ: SNIC), ), the leader in digital media software, today announced the release of Scenarist BD 4.5, a major upgrade to the world's leading professional Blu-ray Disc creation solution. The new version features expanded capabilities for the creation of BD-J titles, which fuse Java-programmed applications to enable the integration of high-definition audio and video with advanced interactivity. Numerous workflow enhancements were added to speed title creation, and the software package also includes Sonic's new Scenarist Safeguard tool for setting security parameters on BD-J content. Scenarist BD 4.5 began shipping at the start of April and is on show at Sonic's Booth (SL8020) at NAB, running April 14 through the 17 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

"Our customers need to increase productivity and throughput efficiency if they are to participate profitably in the BD authoring market," said Chris Neely, vice president of development for Sonic's Professional Products Group. "The Scenarist BD upgrade directly addresses this need, delivering fast and powerful tools for BD production. With an all-new BD-J creation environment and new capabilities such as BD+ content protection and security signing, Scenarist offers our customers all the necessary features to further develop their BD business and to push BD titles in new and exciting directions."
Scenarist BD Edition 4.5 is available now and is being demonstrated at NAB. More information is available on Sonic's website. Add a comment
Last fall, the AACS LA announced that it would be doing “proactive renewals” of the AACS encryption keys. While this was intended to prevent people from ripping new Blu-ray and HD DVD titles, the folks at Slysoft have been able to stay one step ahead of the AACS LA. Slysoft is continuing the trend with AnyDVD HD 6.4.1.1. This new version already supports MKB v7 which won't show up on titles until the end of April.
The Advanced Access Content System Licensing Administrator, LLC ("AACSLA") has again started one of its "proactive renewals". Thus leavingmany owners of new high-definition media (Blu-Ray, HD-DVD) in the dark ifthey cannot update their software or hardware players. This new versionof the protection system will be available on new discs released in lateApril, like both Region B BD titles "Alien vs. Predator 2: Requiem" and"Alvin and the Chipmunks".

In response to that decision SlySoft once again updated its system tosupport those new discs and many that are about to be released in thenext few months. All licensed customers of the product "AnyDVD HD" canupdate to the new version 6.4.1.1 free of charge.
If you want to check out the latest version of AnyDVD, it can be downloaded from SlySoft's website. Otherwise, SlySoft's entire announcement can be found here. Add a comment
CyberLink sent out a press release this morning, announcing that PowerDVD Ultra now supports the playback of interactive BD-Live content.
CyberLink Corp. (5203.TW), innovative solution provider for the connected digital lifestyle, announced today that CyberLink PowerDVD Ultra now supports BD-Live (Blu-ray Disc Profile 2.0) playback functionality, featuring support for advanced interactive BD-Live content.

The latest BD Profile 2.0 (BD Live) format enables powerful Internet-connected activities such as multiplayer gaming, e-commerce, downloading movie trailers and subtitles, and social networking.

“CyberLink PowerDVD Ultra has already been certified for various HD formats including BD-Video Profile 1.1, BD+, AVCHD, and BD-RE 3.0,”said Alice H. Chang, CEO of CyberLink. “Now with PowerDVD Ultra supporting the advanced BD-Live format, CyberLink continues to deliver the best high-definition movie experience on the PC.”
CyberLink PowerDVD Ultra with support for BD-Live will be available by end of April. Users of PowerDVD Ultra will be able to download a free upgrade from CyberLink's website. Full details can be found here. Add a comment
To coincide with the release of PowerDVD 8, CyberLink has launched their new social networking site, MoovieLive.com. Using this web service, PowerDVD 8 users can rate movies, write reviews and find those with similar tastes. MoovieLive also serves as a platform to upload and share Movie Remix files created by PowerDVD.
CyberLink Corp. (5203.TW), a leader in digital home solutions, today officially launched MoovieLive.com, a brand new web service for movie fans and PowerDVD users.

Like all art forms, movies transcend boundaries and unite people of different cultures with common interests. "In the offline world, so many social activities can evolve from a box office movie," said Alice H. Chang, CEO of CyberLink. "With today's internet technologies MoovieLive extend that movie experience from purely watching to a series of online social activities and connecting PowerDVD users across the world with the same movie interests and exploring new movies from friends."

MoovieLive is an extended web service for PowerDVD 8 users to rate movies, write reviews and find friends with similar movie taste. The website also works seamlessly with PowerDVD to build a database of movie information contributed by millions of PowerDVD users worldwide.
Those without PowerDVD can also take advantage of MoovieLive to build their movie collection, rate movies and find friends. Full details can be found here. Add a comment
CyberLink sent out a press release this morning, announcing the release of PowerDVD 8. Along with support for HD audio and video formats, version 8 features a built-in database for organizing a movie collection and the ability to share information, opinions, and remixes via the online community MoovieLive.
CyberLink Corp. (5203.TW), innovative solutions provider for the connected digital lifestyle, today launched the latest version of PowerDVD 8. Featuring maximum playback performance in supporting the latest high-definition video and audio formats, CyberLink PowerDVD 8 introduces new ways for consumers to enjoy movies beyond just watching.

Key features in PowerDVD 8 include:

  • Support for HD audio and video standards and formats, including AVCHD and Blu-ray Discs.
  • Pure Home Theater Audio - lets users enjoy unmatched clarity and purity through their high-definition, 7.1-channel home-entertainment system, or on the go using a notebook.
  • Movie Collection - lets users collect information about movies and sync with their online MoovieLive account.
  • Movie Remix - lets users create their own stories using their favorite DVD movies, rearranging scenes, adding dialog and commentary, subtitles, and on-screen effects.
  • MoovieLive.com - the new online community for PowerDVD users to share comments and remixes, publish reviews, and find friends with the same movie taste.
PowerDVD 8 is now available online and will be available in retail shops beginning May. More information, including pricing, can be found here. Add a comment
Primera announced today that it has begun shipping the latest version of Charismac Engineering's Discribe software with its Bravo-Series and XR-Series Disc Publishers. Discribe v6.0 has been rewritten from the ground up and runs on Apple's Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard operating system. The software features a new user interface and offers support for Blu-ray Disc media.
Primera Technology, Inc., the world’s leading manufacturer of CD, DVD, and Blu-ray Disc duplication and printing equipment, today announced an agreement with Charismac Engineering, Inc. for disc burning software that runs on Apple, Inc.’s Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard operating system. Beginning April 1, 2008, Primera will include Charismac’s new Discribe v6.0 software in all Bravo-Series and XR-Series Disc Publishers.

Discribe v6.0 has been completely rewritten from the ground up in Universal Binary Code for optimal performance on all current Mac platforms. It runs natively on both Power PC and x86 (Intel)-based Mac computers.
Those who bought a Bravo-Series Disc Publisher after September 1, 2007 qualify for a free upgrade. Otherwise, an upgrade can be purchased for $149-$225. Full details can be found here. Add a comment
CyberLink sent out a press release this morning, annoucing the launch of MediaShow 4. This new version of their media management software features a 3D "liquid" interface, direct upload to Flickr and YouTube and the ability to burn videos and photos to DVD in as little as three clicks.

CyberLink Corp. (5203.TW), innovative solutions provider for the connected digital lifestyle, today released CyberLink MediaShow 4, combining photo and video management, enhancement, authoring, burning and sharing in one convenient application. The software features a next-generation 3D "liquid" interface that ensures ease-of-use and fun for users while working on their precious photos and videos.
MediaShow 4 is available now for $49.95. More information is available on CyberLink's website. Add a comment
SlySoft announced this morning that it has released a new version of AnyDVD HD that can remove BD+ protection from Blu-ray discs, including those released by Twentieth Century Fox.
Film studios that have switched to Blu-ray may have crowed a little too early because the much-praised BD+ copy protection is an ad absurdum affair now, too. With today's release of version 6.4.0.0 of AnyDVD HD it is now also possible to make backup security copies of Blu-ray discs protected with BD+.

Richard Doherty of the Envisioneering Group will have to revise his statement from July, 2007 regarding BD+: "BD+, unlike AACS which suffered a partial hack last year, won't likely be breached for 10 years". It is worth mentioning that since he made that statement only eight months have gone by.
If you want to check out the latest version of AnyDVD, it can be downloaded from SlySoft's website. Otherwise, SlySoft's entire announcement can be found here. Add a comment
TMPGEnc announced today that it has added MovieStyle to its software lineup. Using this new software, users can easily convert their video clips for use on popular digital devices such as the iPod/iPhone, Zune and PSP.
TMPG, Inc. (www.tmpg-inc.com), the company that makes digital video easy, has added TMPGEnc MovieStyle to its software lineup. It allows users to easily convert video clips for use on 11 popular digital devices from portables such as the iPod and PSP to full HD devices such as Sony's Playstation 3. The free trial will be available for download on March 27th at www.tmpg-inc.com. The full retail version will be available shortly thereafter at $39.95 per license.

"More and more, people are using digital devices to watch their favorite video clips, whether it's portable devices or video game consoles," remarked Kimi Matsuki, TMPG CEO. "With MovieStyle, users can easily convert video clips for these devices without any video encoding knowledge. That means users of any age, experienced or inexperienced, can use this software to convert video for portable or HD devices. We like to say, MovieStyle: your movies, your digital lifestyle."
As their press release points out, a free trial will be available on March 27th and the retail version will be available shortly thereafter for $39.95. Full details can be found here. Add a comment