Primera sent out a press release this morning, announcing that its CD, DVD and Blu-ray disc publishers and color label printers are compatible with Windows Vista.
Primera Technology, Inc., the world's leading developer and manufacturer of automated CD, DVD and Blu-ray duplication and printing equipment and desktop color label printers, today announced it now supports Microsoft's Windows Vista operating system. All current hardware and software products are included.

Vista-compatible printer drivers and application software updates are available immediately on Primera's technical support website at www.primera.com. New, factory-sealed boxes will include Vista-compatible software beginning in February 2007.
If you'd like to read more, Primera's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
If you've been thinking about using your Xbox 360 as a DVD player, you'll probably want to check out this article at ExtremeTech first. According to their findings, the console's DVD playback is seriously flawed.
To say that the Xbox 360 is a "decent" DVD player, as we have seen reported in so many places on the 'net, is giving it way too much credit. Frankly, it's a terrible DVD player. Hopefully, this article has provided you with enough evidence to compare Xbox 360 DVD playback with other consumer electronics (and even PCs) and see what you're missing. It's true that not every DVD exhibits the sorts of problems highlighted here. Many don't have any particular errors to speak of. But "many" isn't good enough, and there are enough DVDs—popular ones, at that—with serious problems.

Even those movies that play without noticeable errors don't look quite as good as they should. Though the 360 is limited to 480p through component, in compliance with the DVD Forum's regulations, the images tend to have a bit of a blocky and over-sharp look to them. Microsoft's gaming box does a good job of preserving detail, but it sometimes looks a bit rough. It's like playing a game at low resolution without antialiasing.
The screenshots ExtremeTech has posted show that there are definitely some issues with the Xbox 360's DVD playback. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment
While announced back in 2005, Verbatim's 8x DVD+RW media has been a virtual no-show in most parts of the world. Verbatim Europe recently sent out (another) press release, announcing that the discs will be making their way to store shelves in the near future.

Verbatim announces another addition to its DVD product range, the Verbatim DVD+RW 8x with 4.7 GB storage capacity. Bringing 8x rewritable speed to this popular format will allow users to reduce the recording time by 40 per cent while still providing the inherent flexibility of rewritable format. The new media will be available as 10 pack for £11.50 (RRP incl. VAT).

The new fast DVD+RW is primarily designed for video recording and streaming computer backup applications. Users record 4.7 GB of data in approximately 8 minutes. The discs can be rewritten more than 1,000 times. Similar to Verbatim's entire rewriteable product family, the DVD+RW 8x is an excellent archival disc; The Advanced Super Eutectic Recording Layer (SERL) ensures that users can enjoy perfect noise-free, high-speed data storage every time. With conventional rewriteable media, the recording layer deteriorates with every rewrite, meaning a decrease in quality. With Verbatim rewriteable media however, the recording layer is returned to perfect condition on every erase cycle, leaving a flawless disk for the next recording.
Hopefully, this means that we'll be getting these discs in the US and Canada as well. If you'd like to read more Verbatim Europe's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
As most of you know, the consumer versions of Windows Vista go on sale to day. For people planning to upgrade, Nero has released new version of the Nero 7 suite which includes a number of Vista-compatible applications and features.
Nero, leaders in digital media technology, announces major updates to its premier Nero 7 digital media software suite, which is Windows Vista Ready. These include the addition of the Nero DiscCopy application, for the one-step copying of discs of any format, and the Nero MultiMounter application, for simultaneous viewing of the status of every session of multisession discs, as well as several significant performance and user interface improvements to its Nero Home application.

Nero 7, the industry's leading all-in-one solution for the management of data, audio, video, photo, phone and TV content, reflects the company's "Liquid Media" vision of enabling consumers to quickly access their content anytime, anywhere in the home or on-the-go.

Among the many Windows Vista-compatible applications and features now included in Nero 7 are attractive Windows Vista-styled icons. Backup Explorer search folders and favorite links allow for easy Internet navigation, search and content saving. The suite's optimized StartSmart application, a user-friendly command center, now features ‘Glass' support.
This new version of Nero 7 is available now and can be downloaded from Nero's website. If you'd like to read more, Nero's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
MF Digital has announced that they've partnered with Teac to offer P55 Dye Sublimation Re-Transfer printers with their automated duplication systems. Here's part of their press release:
"We are pleased to announce the partnership with Teac as the Teac P55 printer provides unparalleled CD DVD print quality for those needing high resolution, color prints without the worry of fading or scratching over time," explains Greg Morris, marketing manager. "The award-winning robotics of MF Digital coupled with the Teac Dye Sublimation printer result in the highest performing, automated direct-to-disc labeling system available."

John McGrath, MF Digital sales manager explains, "The resolution is 400DPI which is equivalent to 290LPI - the highest in the industry. This allows the print quality to hold more detail then even silk-screen solutions. In addition, the P55 printer does not bleed between colors, is smudge proof, waterproof, scratch resistant and very stable under UV light, making it the ideal print solution for professional looking, permanent labels."
If you'd like to read more, MF Digital's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
CyberLink sent out a press release this morning, announcing that CyberLink Media Server is being bundled with JVC's DD-3 and DD-8 Networked Media Systems.
CyberLink Corp. (5203.TW), a world leader in digital home solutions, announced today that CyberLink Media Server lets users of JVC's DD-3, and DD-8 series Networked Media Systems access media files over a home network.

Once installed on a PC that is connected to one of JVC's Networked Media Systems, CyberLink Media Server gives users access to video, photo, and music folders on the PC, then allows them to play the media files stored in those folders through their JVC media system. With the growing convergence between consumer electronics (CE) devices and PCs, Media Server complements JVC's home entertainment system with an easy-to-use interface designed for remote control operation.
If you'd like to read more, CyberLink's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
While most movie studios have decided to back Blu-ray or take a more neutral stance, Universal Studios has been a staunch supporter of HD DVD. The company recently announced that they plan to release more than 100 HD DVD titles this year. Along with classic movies like Scarface, Universal plans to release new titles including Children of Men and Smokin' Aces.
Bringing further heat to the burgeoning HD DVD format, Universal Studios Home Entertainment (USHE) will release more than 100 new film and television titles in 2007. Perennial favorites such Scarface and instant classics like 40-Year-Old Virgin, Battlestar Galactica S1 and Oscar-winning Brokeback Mountain will be joined by dozens of new titles released day and date with the DVD.

Since the format's inception in April 2006, USHE has released 60 titles on HD DVD, and currently boasts four of the top 10 best-selling HD DVDs year-to-date, including Casino, Serenity, Fearless and Miami Vice.

Tapping into the studio's vast library, the 2007 slate kicked off on January 18th with the release of The Mummy Returns, followed by Brokeback Mountain starring Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal on January 23, 2007. Following shortly thereafter will be such day-and-date new releases as Golden Globe-nominee Hollywoodland on February 6. More than 90 percent of the planned 2007 Universal titles will be released as combo discs -- which feature an HD DVD version and a standard DVD version of the movie on the same disc.
If you'd like to read more, Universal's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
DivX sent out a press release this morning, announcing that Pinnacle Studio Plus 10.7 has achieved DivX Software Certification. With this certification, Pinnacle Studio users can output their video in the DivX format, knowing that it can be played back on any DivX Certified DVD player or portable device.
DivX, Inc. (NASDAQ:DIVX) today announced that Pinnacle Studio Plus 10.7 has achieved DivX Software Certification. Users of Pinnacle Studio Plus will be able to output their video into the DivX format, and thereby ensure interoperability with the over 50 million DivX Certified consumer electronics devices from major manufacturers on the global market today.

Pinnacle Studio Plus is a powerful yet easy-to-use software video editor that enables users to create polished, high quality movies in a variety of formats, including DivX. DivX is among the world's most popular video technologies with over 200 million DivX software downloads. Video in the DivX format can be easily uploaded without transcoding to popular internet sites such as DivX Stage6 and Photobucket.
If you'd like to read more, DivX's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
It took them nearly a month, but the Advanced Access Content System (AACS) Licensing Authority has finally confirmed that hackers have acquired "title keys", allowing them to decrypt HD movies.
A consortium of movie studios and technology companies backing the encryption system for high-definition DVDs on Thursday confirmed that hackers have stolen "title keys" and used them to decrypt high-definition DVDs through flaws in DVD player software.

Both the title keys and a number of decrypted films have been posted on peer-to-peer Web sites for downloading and copying, a spokesman for the Advanced Access Content System (AACS) Licensing Authority said.

The large size of the files and the high cost of writable hi-def discs make large-scale copying of high-definition DVDs impractical, but the attacks on the new format echo the early days of illegal trafficking in music files, AACS spokesman Michael Ayers said on Thursday.
The AACS LA also confirmed that the keys were acquired from "one or more" player applications but would not say which ones. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment
Earlier this week, Plextor set the record straight, stating that they weren't getting out of the optical drive business. However, with their parent company, Shinano Kenshi Co., Ltd., scaling back its operations, many have wondered whether Plextor would continue to develop their own drives or utilize designs from other companies. According to an article at DigiTimes, Plextor has turned to Lite-On to fill at least some of their orders.
Lite-On IT has also landed PC-use DVD burner orders from Japan-based Plextor, following Plextor's plan to suspend its own PC-use DVD drive business, according to industry sources. The speculation about Lite-On IT spurred the company's share price to reach NT$29.45 on January 24, up NT$1.9 from the January 23 closing price. Some industry watchers, however, said the landed ordered amounts should be limited.
In a way, this really isn't too surprising. Plextor has used BenQ designs in the past. And, with Lite-On taking over BenQ's optical drive business, it makes sense that Plextor place orders with them. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment