Hi theasp. I agree it is a bit of a pain that Nero Cover Designer doesn't have a direct interface to the CD database. To work around this problem when I want to load the CD information, I put the CD into the drive and begin the copy process, taking it to the point where Nero Burning Rom calls up the CD database and allows you to launch Cover Designer with the information CD pre-populated. I then cancel the copy after launching Cover Designer. Agreed, it isn't very convenient, but it does work.
For some alternatives, read through these threads:
http://www.cdrlabs.com/phpBB/viewtopic. ... 5121#45121
http://www.cdrlabs.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=9344
http://www.cdrlabs.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=9787
And here is a freeware interface to the Gracenote CD database that will copy the information to the clipboard so you can paste it into whatever application you desire.
http://www.pucb.com/cdinfo/
cfitz