Our spies have returned from Taiwan and have delivered Lite-On's latest product roadmap. While we cannot post the files our spies acquired, we can give you an idea of what to expect for the rest of 2008 and most of 2009.
Blu-ray fans will be happy to know that Lite-On has a number of new Blu-ray Disc drives in the works. Hot on the heels of the iHES206 is an 8x BD Combo drive, the DH-8E2S/L (iHES208). The company is also looking at releasing a new BD-ROM drive (DH-403S) during the first half of 2009 as well as a 10x BD Combo drive (DH-10E3S/L) later in the year. Lite-On is also looking to tackle the notebook market by offering their own line of slim BD Combo drives which includes both tray (DS-4E1S) and slot loading (DL-4ETS) models.
Lite-On's Blu-ray Disc writers will also be getting a much needed speed boost. The company currently plans to introduce an 8x Blu-ray Disc writer (DH-8B2S/L) some time in 2009 with a 12x writer (DH-12B2S/L) scheduled for the end of the year. Lite-On will also be introducing its first slim Blu-ray Disc writer (DS-6B1S/L) during the second half of 2009.
While Blu-ray has definitely become the focus at Lite-On, they haven't abandoned the DVD quite yet. The company plans to release a new 22x DVD writer (DH-22A9P) at the end of this year and is currently looking to introduce its first 24x DVD writer during the first half of 2009. According to our sources, the DH-24AAS will be based on the Mediatek MT1879 chipset and have features similar to Lite-On's current 22x DVD writers. If the DH-24AAS is a success, Lite-On could release a second 24x DVD writer (DH-24AMS) during the second half of 2009. Also keep an eye out for Lite-On's first 18x DVD-ROM drive (DH-18D5S) during the first half of 2009.
Lite-On's line of slim DVD writers will be getting an update as well. The company will be releasing new tray (DS-8A3S/L) and slot loading (DL-8ATS/L) models at the end of this year, with its first 9.5mm drive (DU-8A3S) coming in mid-2009. The entire line will get revamped again during the second half of 2009 with new tray (DS-8A4S/L) and slot loading (DC-8A2S/L) 12.7mm models as well as a slot loading 9.5mm drive (DO-8A1S). A number of these drives have already been tagged by Plextor for released under their brand.
Please keep in mind that these plans could change at any time. As we've seen in the past, development days and market changes can push back a drive for months or cause it to be dropped from a company's product lineup altogether.
