TMPG, Inc. has announced the release of TMPGEnc DVD Author 3 with DivX Authoring. Along with support for DivX authoring, the software includes new features like HDV capture, improved format importing and multiple subtitle streams.
TMPG, Inc. (www.tmpg-inc.com), the company that makes digital video easy, is set to add TMPGEnc DVD Author 3 with DivX Authoring software to its growing TMPGEnc line. Offering many new features and some terrific advancements over its predecessors, the new product is the perfect, all-in-one DVD authoring solution for any video enthusiast, whether a beginner or an experienced videographer. Release date is scheduled for late January 2007 (French and German version available Q2 2007).

"Users will enjoy the many great enhancements our TMPGEnc DVD Author 3 with DivX Authoring offers," stated Kimi Matsuki, TMPG CEO. "These include HDV capture, DivX authoring, multiple subtitle streams, and the ability to import popular video formats for authoring to DVD or DivX. Of course, they can still cut-edit, create custom menus, and burn projects to a CD (DivX only) or DVD to show others."
TMPG Inc. has not announced a price yet. However, TMPGEnc DVD Author 3 with DivX Authoring will be available for download beginning in late January 2007. More information can be found here. Add a comment
Nero released a new version of Nero 7 this morning. There is no change log yet. However, this new update brings the version count up to 7.7.5.1. If you'd like to check it out, the update can be downloaded here or via BitTorrent. As usual, feel free to share your experiences in our forum. Add a comment
Sonic Solutions sent out a press release this morning, announcing that their Scenarist software will soon support Warner Bros. Total Hi Def disc. Thanks to a new product called THDassign, Scenarist users will be able to combine finished HD DVD and Blu-ray projects for release on Total Hi Def disc.
Sonic Solutions (NASDAQ: SNIC), the leader in digital media software, today announced its Scenarist Workgroup authoring systems for HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc will support Warner Bros. Total Hi Def disc through a new product called THDassign. With Sonic THDassign, facilities and content providers will have a simple and streamlined way to combine finished high-definition projects created in Scenarist HD DVD and Scenarist Blu-ray Disc authoring systems for release on the Total Hi Def disc, which plays the HD DVD format on one side and the Blu-ray Disc format on the other. THDassign is expected to be available as a separate add-on for Scenarist systems in February 2007...

...THDassign works by providing essential meta-data and volume tagging information for the CMF outputs from both Scenarist HD DVD and Scenarist BD authoring systems. This information is essential to maintaining volume integrity when combining the format layers in a Total Hi Def disc. Scenarist is the world's only system that provides professional-level authoring for both HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc formats, providing specification-level access and the hands-on control required for advanced interactive title creation.
If you'd like to read more, Sonic's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
CyberLink sent out a press release this morning, announcing the launch of MagicDirector 2. Fully compatible with CyberLink PowerCinema and Windows Vista Media Center, MagicDirector 2 lets users edit recorded and captured videos with a remote control. When finished, the video can be output for viewing on PSP and iPods or uploaded to the web.
CyberLink Corp. (5203.TWO), a world leader in digital home solutions, announced today the release of MagicDirector 2, automated video editing software enabling easy movie production from recorded video files and playback on PSP, iPods, and uploading to the web.

CyberLink MagicDirector incorporates a number of magic tools to edit videos automatically. MagicDirector's editing features are based on CyberLink's intelligent video editing technology called Magic Cut. By simply setting a length and a theme, Magic Cut intelligently analyzes content, retaining the best clips, and applies video effects automatically to produce final video productions.
MagicDirector 2 is available online in both Standard and Deluxe versions for $49.95 and $79.95 respectively. More information can be found on CyberLink's website. Add a comment
CyberLink has announced the launch of PowerCinema 5. With this Vista-ready software, users can watch digital TV, view photos and videos or even check the weather and news, all from their PC.
"CyberLink PowerCinema lets users turn their PC into a multi-functional media center that combines the best features of today's must-have consumer devices," said Alice H. Chang, CEO of CyberLink Corp. "Users can enjoy premium TV and DVD content as well as work with their personal media files, while plug-in options expand functionality according to their interests."

PowerCinema's stylish 3D interface and support for remote control operation allow the easy navigation of features, including recording and playing TV programs, watching DVDs and video files, synchronizing music files with portable music players, editing photos, and playing picture slideshows, among many other digital media activities.
PowerCinema 5 is available now for $99. More information is available on CyberLink's website. Add a comment
NTI has announced a new version of their USB storage partitioning and encryption software, NTI Ninja. This new version runs off the USB device, giving users the ability to access their secured data from any PC.
NewTech Infosystems, Inc. (NTI), announced today a new version of NTI Ninja, the preferred data security solution for users and manufacturers of USB Flash and other external USB drives. In addition to the user-adjustable partitioning, anti-tamper encryption and password protection that have made NTI Ninja so popular, the new version has been enhanced with a new level of convenience. Users can now access the secured data stored on their private partition from any PC, anywhere - there is no need to pre-install Ninja on the PC to access the users' private data.

"Flash drives are ideal for the growing number of business people, students, and consumers who want to keep their digital data with them wherever they go," said Bill Yao, NTI president and CEO. "In addition to being able to store, protect, and share the information on these devices, users also want convenient access, and that is what NTI Ninja delivers. Users can now access the private data stored on their Ninja-protected USB device from any PC without having to pre-load the Ninja software on the PC."
I downloaded NTI Ninja back in September when NTI was giving it away for free. While it has come in handy, I've had to install it on all of my PC's. Needless to say, I'll be upgrading to this new version. If you'd like to read more, NTI's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
Sonic has launched a new DVD authoring system called Scenarist Publisher. Developed with authoring studios in mind, Scenarist Publisher automates the authoring workflow, reducing both production times and costs.
Sonic Solutions (NASDAQ: SNIC), the leader in digital media software, today launched Scenarist Publisher, a revolutionary DVD authoring system for the creation of full-featured DVD-Video titles from a simple, yet powerful, wizard-driven interface. Built upon Sonic's world-standard Scenarist authoring engine, Scenarist Publisher automates the authoring workflow, allowing multiple titles with different content to be generated from a single Scenarist DVD project with virtually no additional authoring. By leveraging authoring time across multiple titles, Scenarist Publisher drastically reduces QC requirements while vastly increasing productivity, giving authoring facilities the option to redeploy their skilled authors to work on new high-definition titles. Scenarist Publisher is also the platform upon which Sonic is building an efficient and cost-effective system for Hollywood studios and other content owners to quickly prepare premium catalog video entertainment for on-demand electronic distribution.
Scenarist Publisher is available now, and is being demonstrated at CES. More information is available on Sonic's website. Add a comment
Corel has announced that InterVideo WinDVD BD now supports the full range of Blu-ray formats, including BD-RE 3.0 and BD-R 2.0. The software will also be showcased this week at Corel's CES booth.
Corel Corporation (NASDAQ:CREL - News; TSX:CRE - News), a leading provider of digital media software, today announced that InterVideo WinDVD BD software now supports playback of rewriteable Blu-ray Discs, BD-RE 3.0 (BDMV format on BD-RE) as well as BD-R 2.0 (BDMV format on BD-R) and BD-ROM discs. Corel's next-generation Blu-ray (BD) playback solution will be showcased this week at Corel's CES Booth, South Hall - 4/35377. Visitors to the booth will learn first-hand how WinDVD BD can be combined with notebooks, barebone systems and TV tuners to maximize the high-definition experience.
The press release also mentions that WinDVD BD is being bundled with Plextor's new Blu-ray Disc writer, the PX-B900A. Of course, we wouldn't know this as Plextor has not sent us one yet (hint hint). If you'd like to read more, Corel's entire announcement can be found here. Add a comment
ArcSoft has announced their new TotalMedia Extreme software suite. With its four primary applications, the TotalMedia Extreme suite can be used to playback and create Blu-ray titles.
ArcSoft, Inc. announced today at CES its full suite of Blu-ray solutions, including playback, video editing and authoring, plus data backup. ArcSoft TotalMedia(TM) Extreme is a suite of applications that allows consumers to play video, create and edit video and music discs, and back up files, using either Blu-ray discs (BDs), DVDs, or CDs. The component programs are fully integrated, providing an elegant and unified home entertainment experience. ArcSoft Digital Theatre(TM) 2, one of the TotalMedia Extreme applications, is also available as a standalone program. In addition to playing commercial and homemade DVD movies, Digital Theatre plays Blu-ray discs, HD DVDs, AVCHDs, CDs, and a variety of multimedia files.
TotalMedia Extreme is available now for OEM licensing and is expected to hit retail in the near future for $149.99. Digital Theatre 2 can also be purchased separately for $69.99. More information can be found on ArcSoft's website. Add a comment
Nero sent out a press release this morning, announcing their new SecurDisc technology. This new hardware/software solution offers features previously unavailable to optical storage media users including the ability to prohit unauthorized access to data through password protection.
Nero, leaders in digital media technology, today announced SecurDisc, the first solution for the access control and performance reliability of data stored on optical media that allows it to be distributed and shared securely. The benefits of this technology are realized with CD and DVD media authored via SecurDisc-certified devices and carry the SecurDisc logo. Nero is seeking to build a logo-certification program around its new format with software and hardware vendors interested in distinguishing themselves in the marketplace by offering this technology to their customers.

SecurDisc technology offers the following benefits that were previously unavailable to optical storage media users:
  • prohibits unauthorized access to data through password protection
  • detects altered data on authored media through checksum verification
  • increases performance and reliability through redundantly stored data
  • authenticates the origin of data through digital signature verification
  • SecurDisc works with most CD and DVD formats and can be added to existing drives via a firmware update. More information can be found on Nero's website. Add a comment