Nero released another major update to Nero 7 this morning. While there is no change log yet, we've heard from sources within Nero that version 7.5.7.0 will offer support for Windows Vista. 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
Nero has announced that ESS Technology's Phoenix HD Enhanced DVD processor has achieved Nero Digital certification. Here's part of their press release:
Nero, leaders in digital media technology, announces that ESS Technology Inc.'s ES8380/ES8381 Phoenix(TM) HD Enhanced(TM) DVD processor is Nero Digital(TM) Certified. Nero Digital, co-developed by Nero and Ateme, is based on industry standards MPEG-4 Video (MPEG-4 SP/ASP and AVC/H.264) and MPEG-4 Audio (LC AAC und HE AAC) compression technologies. It enables the delivery of more high quality MPEG-4 compliant audio and video content at lower bit rates, while offering advanced interactive features.

The Phoenix ES8380/ES8381 single-chip HD Enhanced DVD processor, which features an integrated servo controller and RF amplifier, provides users with standard DVD decoding (with options to support MPEG-4 ASP decoding, HDMI transmitter and Class D power bridges). It incorporates advanced video enhancement features such as an HDTV encoder that can display JPEG pictures at full HD resolution, as well as video up-scaling and de-interlacing to display video at HD resolution.
If you'd like to read more, Nero's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
Sonic Solutions has announced that they've entered into a licensing agreement with Macrovision. According to their press release, two companies plan to integrate Macrovision's RipGuard and ACP technologies into Sonic's DVD On Demand.
Sonic Solutions (NASDAQ: SNIC), the leader in digital media software, and Macrovision Corporation (NASDAQ: MVSN), the leader in digital media protection, today announced a licensing agreement to provide the industry's first comprehensive content protection solution to enable the custom manufacturing of secure DVDs by retailers, e-tailers and DVD production facilities. The new solution will make it possible for movie studios and other content owners to expand the number of titles in their catalog that are available for purchase by consumers in a variety of channels.

The solution will integrate Macrovision's RipGuard and ACP technologies into Sonic's DVD On Demand technology solution, which will allow content encrypted with the industry-standard Content Scramble System (CSS) found on mass-replicated DVDs to be recorded directly to optical DVD media. Sonic will license the new combined solution to video publishers and distributors.
DVD On Demand with RipGuard and ACP is expected to be available later this quarter. More information can be found on Sonic's website. Add a comment
InterVideo has announced that WinDVD BD has been certified by Sun Microsystems for standard BD-J content playback. Here's part of their press release:
InterVideo, Inc. (NASDAQ:IVII - News), a leading provider of integrated digital and high-definition multimedia and audio/video content solutions in the PC, CE and wireless industries and a member of the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA), announced today that the company's next-generation playback software, WinDVD BD(TM), has passed Sun Microsystem's TCK (Technology Compatibility Kit) logo program test.

"By obtaining Sun's TCK logo for Java(TM) technology, WinDVD BD once again proves itself to be the most advanced Blu-ray Disc software player available on the market," said Steve Ro, CEO of InterVideo. "Java is a key enabling technology for users' interactive Blu-ray experience. InterVideo has cooperated closely with Sun and is proud to announce that WinDVD BD is one of the first software players able to deliver full compatibility with all Blu-ray Discs featuring BD-J interactivity."
If you'd like to read more, InterVideo's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
DivX Labs has released beta 1 of the DivX 6.4 Codec. Along with a new 1080HD encoding mode, this new version of the DivX Codec includes features like faster multipass encoding, high efficiency resize filters and adaptive noise reduction.
DivX Codec now includes a 1080HD encoding mode allowing you to create full size 1920 x 1080 resolution video in high quality DivX format. Videos encoded using this new setting are suitable for playback on fast desktop computers and are more likely to play on future hardware devices than videos encoded using unconstrained mode, and unlike unconstrained mode, 1080HD encoding will be available for free in the DivX Community Codec. Both 1080i and 1080p encoding is supported.
More information on the DivX 6.4 Codec can be found here. That page also has a download link if you want to try the beta out. Feel free to share your experiences in our forum. Add a comment
CyberLink has announced that they will be demonstrating an optimized version of PowerDVD at Intel Developer Forums in the US and Asia. With support for Intel Clear Video Technology, this new version of PowerDVD offers features like true HD video playback and ddvanced digital display support.
CyberLink Corp. (5203.TW), a world leader in digital home solutions, will share the stage with Intel at developer forums in the United States, Taiwan, and South Korea, showcasing the developmental experience of optimizing PowerDVD for Intel motherboards and personal computers.

Supporting the latest generation of digital video content, discs formats, and technology, CyberLink delivers high-performance high-definition video playback on the PC. To achieve this, CyberLink has optimized PowerDVD 7 for Intel Clear Video Technology, enabling a wide range of features including MPEG-2 hardware acceleration decoding, advanced de-interlacing, and ProcAMP-enabled support on Intel G965 Express Chipset motherboards and personal computers.
If you'd like to read more, CyberLink's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
Just a reminder that NTI will be releasing their new Ninja software at midnight tonight (Pacific time). To kick off the launch, NTI is offering free downloads for one day only.

Starting at midnight tonight, NewTech Infosystems (NTI) will be making their new Ninja software - a USB data storage and protection software solution - available free on their web site, www.ntius.com. Unlike most fixed partition USB software, NTI Ninja allows users to adjust the size of their public and private partitions on their portable storage device. In addition, the software provides users with complete storage area anti-tamper encryption and password protection.

The new software was developed to meet the dramatic increase in today's mobile workforce, the increased use of USB storage devices and the need to protect content and data from being stolen or compromised on the small, portable devices.
If you miss out on your free download, the software can otherwise be purchased for $24.95. More information on the launch of NTI Ninja can be found here. Add a comment
As promised, Nero has released a major update for their Nero 7 suite this morning. This "ENHANCED" update brings the version count up to 7.5.1.1 and includes a number of new features and bug fixes. 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
InterVideo has announced their new video conversion software, iVideoToGo Platinum. With iVideoToGo Platinum, users can easily convert their DVD's and videos to a PSP or iPod friendly format.
InterVideo, Inc. (NASDAQ: IVII), an industry leader in bringing next-generation H.264/MPEG-4 AVC technology to consumers, announced today InterVideo iVideoToGo Platinum, the easiest way to copy* personal videos for playback on a video-enabled iPod and Sony PSP devices. Priced at only $29.95, the software is a 3-step solution that lets users quickly convert their existing DVDs and video files into iPod- and PSP-compatible files that provide smooth, flawless playback.

Easily one of the fastest conversion tools on the market, iVideoToGo Platinum is equipped with a simple, friendly interface and it utilizes a single window for all tasks. iVideoToGo Platinum is able to support both iPod and PSP formats. And with just three steps to complete the copy process, there's no learning curve-even a beginner can have immediate success.
iVideoToGo Platinum is available now through InterVideo's website and will hit retail stores in October. More information can be found here. Add a comment
Nero sent out a press release today, announcing that Nero 7 Essentials is being shipped with NU Inc.'s new external Blu-ray Disc writer, the HBR258.
Nero, leaders in digital media technology, today announced that its Nero 7 Essentials digital media software suite will be bundled with all of NU Inc.'s HBR258 half-height external Blu-ray Disc drives beginning in late September. The new HBR258 can read and write to BD, CD and DVD media.

Nero 7 Essentials features state-of-the-art applications that enable Blu-ray Disc (BD) data recording and packet writing; DVD playback and authoring; video editing and capturing; data backup and archiving; and includes a full digital home entertainment and media management solution.
If you'd like to read more, Nero's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment