Sony Announces Double Layer DVD Burners

[Ian]

SONY HEATS UP THE MARKET WITH NEW DOUBLE LAYER DVD BURNERS

Users Can Record Up to 8.5GB of Data or Up to Four Hours of Video onto a Single Double Layer DVD Disc

SAN JOSE, Calif., March 17, 2004 - Sony Electronics is adding two DVD+R Double Layer (DL) DVD drives to its family of Dual RW burners. The internal DRU-700A and external DRX-700UL drives mark Sony's entry into Double Layer recording.

Nearly doubling the storage capacity of current DVD recordable discs, the double layer DVD drives allow users to record up to four hours of high-quality MPEG-2 video or up to 8.5 GB of data, music and/or images on compatible DVD+R DL media.

The new burners will debut with an initial DVD+R DL recording speed of 2.4X. They will also feature up to 8X DVD±R, 4X DVD±RW, 40X CD-R and 24X CD-RW recording, providing users with double layer, dual format, and high-speed burning all in one drive.

"Sony continues to be a forerunner in DVD technology by leading the charge in delivering double layer technology to the market," said Robert DeMoulin, marketing manager for branded storage products in Sony Electronics' IT Products Division. "As the pioneer of dual format drives, we were the first to address confusion over competing DVD standards; with double layer, we will now satisfy the need for higher capacity."

Sony's double layer drives will benefit both consumers and businesses in need of ample, yet cost-effective storage solutions. Consumers can store more than 2,000 songs on a single DL DVD - about seven days of music without a commercial break. Double layer recording also makes sense for businesses that deploy training information and video on DVD, and for independent filmmakers who want to create a prototype of their work on a double layer DVD videodisc before committing to mass replication.

"Double layer recording is the next milestone in DVD technology," said Wolfgang Schlichting, research director for removable storage at IDC. "Sony's double layer drives put twice the recording power in the hands of the consumer, reducing the need to handle multiple discs when working on new storage-intensive applications."

DVD+R DL discs are single-sided with two information layers that can be independently recorded to and read from. Both layers can be accessed from the same side of the disc, so there is no need to turn the disc over during recording or playback. DVD+R DL discs, when recorded, are also fully compliant DVD9 discs, and therefore compatible with most consumer DVD video players and DVD-ROM drives.

The internal DRU-700A drive comes with an ATAPI interface for easy installation inside a PC and includes a black replacement bezel for those with black-colored PC cases. The external DRX-700UL drive features a radical sleek and space-efficient design, and offers connectivity with both i.LINK® (IEEE 1394) and hi-speed USB (USB 2.0) digital interfaces for simple set-up and maximum flexibility.

DVD and CD Software Suite
Both of Sony's double layer drives come bundled with DVD video authoring software, as well as with DVD/CD burning software for creation of data, music, and video DVDs and CDs. The full-featured software suite also includes packet-writing software for users to easily record files and folders by dragging to the icon of a DVD+RW/CD-RW disc. All tasks and applications are accessible via the unique Nero StartSmart launcher, which serves as the ultimate command center, giving the user one-click access to all programs in the package. The software suite includes:

· AHEAD Nero® Burning ROM 6 SE/ Nero Express® 6 CD/DVD mastering software for data, audio and CD/DVD writing and copying;

· AHEAD Nero VisionExpress 2 VCD/SVCD and DVD authoring software for advanced video capturing, authoring, full video editing and photo slideshow creation; users can crop, clean up, add special effects to photos and then add transitions and a soundtrack, as well as cut, edit, dub, and turn videos into Hollywood-style masterpieces;

· AHEAD InCD® 4 packet writing software for formatting rewritable discs so they can be used like large floppy disks with drag-and-drop capability;

· AHEAD Nero ShowTime* DVD-Video playing software for viewing DVD movies and personal video projects, along with MPEG-4 compatibility;

· AHEAD Nero BackItUp backup software for complete PC backup, with an easy-to-use wizard interface for multiple backup modes, automatically scheduled backups, and backups spanning several CDs or DVDs;

· AHEAD Nero ImageDrive* virtual disc drive software for setting up a virtual CD/DVD-ROM drive, which looks like a real drive to the PC and behaves in just the same way;

· AHEAD Nero MediaPlayer / Wave Editor management/jukebox software and audio editing software for audio file creation with various filters and effects;

· AHEAD Nero Cover Designer disc label creation software for creating individual CD/DVD covers and labels; and

· AHEAD Nero Toolkit drive tool software for critical media and drive analysis used by drive manufacturers worldwide.

Availability and Pricing
The new drives are expected to start shipping by the end of the second quarter at estimated selling prices of $230 for the internal DRU-700A and $330 for the external DRX-700UL. Sony DVD/CD rewritable drives are sold through resellers and retailers nationwide, mail order catalogs, and select online shopping sites, including sonystyle.com.

Sony supports what it has coined as "worry-free" installation, along with easy operation in addition to toll-free customer and technical service, Monday through Saturday, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. CST. The company also provides a one-year limited warranty from the original date of purchase.

Specifications for Sony's New 700 Series of Dual RW Drives

Sony DRU-700A DVD/CD Rewritable Drive
· ATAPI (EIDE) internal interfacee drives put twice the
· Read/Write Speeds:
- DVD+R DL: 2.4X CLV (max.) writing
- DVD+R: 8X Z-CLV (max.) writing
- DVD+RW: 4X CLV (max.) rewriting
- DVD-R: 8X Z-CLV (max.) writing
- DVD-RW: 4X CLV (max.) rewriting
- DVD-ROM reading (single layer): 12X CAV (max.)
- DVD-ROM reading (dual layer): 8X CAV (max.)
- CD-R: 40X P-CAV (max.) writing
- CD-RW: 24X Z-CLV (max.) rewriting
- CD-ROM: 40X CAV (max) reading
· Dimensions: 145.8 x 41.3 x 165 mm - excluding bezel (W x H x L)
- 1" shorter depth than standard home factor
· Compatible with Microsoft® Windows® 2000 / Windows XP
· Burst data transfer rate: 33.3 Mbit/s max.
· Random access time: 160 ms (CD-ROM), 200 ms (DVD-ROM)
· Buffer memory: 2 MB
· Buffer under-run error protection technology: Sony Power-Burn conformed
· Recording method (CD): Disc at Once, Track at Once, Session at Once, Packet Writing(DVD): Random Access Write (DVD+RW/DVD-RW/CD-RW), Sequential Write (DVD+R/+RW, DVD-R/-RW/CD-R/RW)iauthoring software, as well as wit
· Compatible disc format: DVD-ROM, DVD-Video, DVD+R DL, DVD+RW, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD-R, CD-ROM, CD-DA, Video CD, Photo CD (multi-session), CD TEXT, CD Extra, and others

Sony DRX-700UL DVD/CD Rewritable Drive
· Hi-Speed USB (USB2.0) and i.LINK external interfaces
· Full Speed USB (USB1.1) compatible with lower write/read performance
· Read/Write Speeds:
- DVD+R DL: 2.4X CLV (max.) writing
- DVD+R: 8X Z-CLV (max.) writing
- DVD+RW: 4X CLV (max.) rewriting
- DVD-R: 8X Z-CLV (max.) writing
- DVD-RW: 4X CLV (max.) rewriting
- DVD-ROM reading (single layer): 12X CAV (max.)
- DVD-ROM reading (dual layer): 8X CAV (max.)
- CD-R: 40X P-CAV (max.) writing
- CD-RW: 24X Z-CLV (max.) rewriting
- CD-ROM: 40X CAV (max) reading
· Dimensions: 164 x 52 x 234 mm (W x H x L)
· Compatible with Microsoft® Windows® 2000 / Windows XP
· Burst data transfer rate: USB: 480 Mbit/s max; i.LINK interface: 400 Mbit/s max
· Random access time: 160 ms (CD-ROM), 200 ms (DVD-ROM)
· Buffer memory: 2 MB
· Buffer under-run error protection technology: Sony Power-Burn conformed
· Recording method (CD): Disc at Once, Track at Once, Session at Once, Packet Writing(DVD): Random Access Write (DVD+RW/DVD-RW/CD-RW), Sequential Write (DVD+R/+RW, DVD-R/-RW/CD-R/RW)
· Compatible disc format: DVD-ROM, DVD-Video, DVD+R DL, DVD+RW, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD-R, CD-ROM, CD-DA, Video CD, Photo CD (multi-session), CD TEXT, CD Extra, and others

[vsekh]

Might be worth waiting for this drive if dual layered media will be available when this drive becomes available.

[Ian]

A couple of pics:





These drives are supposedly based on Lite-On's upcoming DL drive, but the DRU-700A still looks a lot like the DRU-530A.

[dodecahedron]

the external one looks really cool!

[dolphinius_rex]

Any idea when it will be out?

Or, along the same lines, do you know which dual layer burner will be the first one out?

[vsekh]

I have a feeling Philips will release the first dual layer burner, then others will follow.

I'm surprised Liteon has not announced a dual layer burner yet.

[Ian]

I still have a hard time believing BenQ and Phillips will ship their drives in April. I don't know about Philips, but BenQ usually overestimates their ship dates (Ex: they were supposed to have the first 8x DVD writer... uh huh..)

[Noua]

Looks nice... Is this a real Sony drive? hum.. with + standard flushing the market with dl burners maybe pioneer can antecipate their own dl and increase market competition (drop on burner prices)?

[Ian]

Looks nice... Is this a real Sony drive?

Sony won't admit it, but some unconfirmed sources have said that it will be manufactured by Lite-On.

[Noua]

That's what I thought... they had already anounced that they woul stop manufacturing dvd burners (single layer), so this isn't a surprise...
Nevertheless it looks nice... Still miles away from the A07 UX...

[Ian]

Sony won't admit it, but some unconfirmed sources have said that it will be manufactured by Lite-On.

Well.. this sorta confirms it:

http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/45751

[dodecahedron]

Ian, do you have any info directly from Lite-On about dual-layer DVD recorders?

[Ian]

No, but I can ask.

[Sam555]

:(
Regarding double layer technology, most of people overlooked key point that is compatibility with existing DVD players and drives. Since firmware needs to be upgraded, technically most of existing DVD players and drives CAN NOT READ the disc written by double layer technology. Imagine, you buy Sony’s double layer DVD drive, which is $50 higher price than normal drive, and double layer 2.4X+R disc, which is Yen1,500 in Japan (equivalent to$12.5 per disc!). You’ll record your family video image on the double layer disc and take to your DVD player in living room. Then very likely your DVD players CAN NOT play the disc!! Manufactures don’t mention about this problem but this is already common knowledge in the industry. For a while after launch of double layer technology, it’s useless at least for consumers.

I'd like CDRLabs to conudct this play back test with extsing DVD players and DVD-ROMs.



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[Ian]

One of these days I'll get around to doing some compatibility testing. For all future reviews though, I will be testing for this capability.

In regards to the DRU-700A, it does support bitsetting for DVD+R DL media so this does help with compatibility some what.