Details

• Print

Optical Storage

27 February 2006

Sony and NEC have announced that they've signed an agreement forming a new joint venture, Sony NEC Optiarc Inc. The two companies will spin off their respective optical disc drive businesses on April 1 and transfer them to the joint venture on April 3.

Sony Corporation ("Sony") and NEC Corporation ("NEC") announce today that they have signed a definitive agreement to establish a joint venture company, Sony NEC Optiarc Inc., in carrying out optical disc drive business. Shinichi Yamamura, currently Deputy President of Video Business Group of Sony, will serve as the president of the new company. Sony and NEC will separate their respective optical disc drive businesses on April 1, 2006 in preparation for creating this joint venture. The planned date of establishment of Sony NEC Optiarc Inc, is April 3, 2006 and it will take over the two separated businesses in creating one company.

This newly formed venture is expected to be the world's second-largest optical disc drive maker, topped only by Hitachi-LG Data Storage (HLDS). If you'd like to read more about the joint venture, Sony's press release can be found here. Add a comment

Details

• Print

Optical Storage

27 February 2006

Samsung America has officially announced their new LightScribe capable DVD writer, the SH-W162L. Along with support for LightScribe, the SH-W162L can write to dual layer media at 8x.

Samsung Electronics Ltd., the worldwide digital consumer electronics and information technology leader, announces its fastest dual layered DVD recorder. The new SH-W162L is a unique LightScribe(TM), enabling 16X DVD re-writeable drive with 8X dual speed recording.

LightScribe technology is embedded in the DVD drive and lets users engrave labels, photos, and designs right onto the CD and DVD discs with no hassle at all. The result is a professional look with no worries about labels falling off or sloppy marker smudges. The drive's label making software is pre-loaded with an array of designs and labels for users who choose not to create their own label.

According to Samsung's press release, the SH-W162L is shipping now for an estimated street price of $70. More information can be found here. Add a comment

Details

• Print

Optical Storage

27 February 2006

Verbatim has announced that they've added glossy 52x CD-R and 16x DVD+/-R discs to their already extensive line of inkjet printable media. Here's part of their press release:

Verbatim Corporation, the market leader in premium-quality printable media, announced today a new family of glossy white inkjet printable 52X CDR and 16X DVD+/-R media. The new discs combine a shiny white printable surface and fast drying times with ultra-reliable, high-speed recording technology and broad read compatibility. With Verbatim's unique glossy media, users can make their recordings look distinctive with vibrant, full-color images and crystal-clear text. The next generation of photo and video storage media were unveiled at the PMA (Photo Marketing Association) Convention which began here yesterday.

Verbatim's glossy white inkjet printable media is expected to ship in April and will cost $19.99 for a 20-pack of CD-Rs or $24.99 for a 20-pack of DVDRs. If you'd like to read more, their entire press release can be found here. Add a comment

Details

• Print

Optical Storage

27 February 2006

Here's some good news for those waiting for 8x DVD-R DL media. According to RW PPI representative director, Koki Aizawa, the media is expected to go into volume production during the second half of 2006.

The RW PPI (Re-Writable Products Promotion Initiative) under the DVD Forum based in Japan is carrying out its M8 test plan to facilitate volume production of 8x DVD-R DL (single-sided double-layer) discs and the corresponding burners/recorders, according to RW PPI representative director Koki Aizawa at the organization's round robin test seminar held in Taipei on February 23. Aizawa expects volume production of both 8x DVD-R DL discs and devices to begin in the second half of the year. The round robin test seminar, was sponsored by the Taiwan Recording-media Industries Association (TRIA) and took place in Taiwan for the third time.

The article also mentions that the RW PPI is working to improve the compatibility between recording/playback devices and DVD-R, DVD-R DL and DVD-RW discs. If you'd like to read more, head on over to DigiTimes. Add a comment

Details

• Print

Optical Storage

23 February 2006

Pioneer Japan has released a set of firmware updates for their latest series of 16x DVD±RW drives, the DVR-111, DVR-111D and DVR-A11XL. Here is the change log for firmware v1.06:

Support New 16x DVD-R Media
( 12x writing:DST, LGE, Gigastrage, Postech )
Support New 16x +R Media
( 12x writing:BeAll, MustTech, Daxon, MAM-E, Interaxia,E-top, Gigastorage, Infosource, Ritek, FTI )
DVD-R/+R Writability has improved.
DVD-R/+R Readability has improved.
DVD-RW/+RW Writability has improved.
DVD+RW Readability has improved.
DVD+R DL Writability has improved.
DVD-RAM Writability has improved. (DVR-111/A11 only)
DVD-RAM Readability has improved.

DVR-A11XL v1.06 - Download

DVR-111 v1.06 - Download

DVR-111D v1.06 - Download

Pioneer has also updated their list of supported media to reflect the changes in the new 1.06 firmware. If you have any comments or questions, feel free to leave them in our forum. Add a comment

Details

• Print

Optical Storage

23 February 2006

Lite-On America sent out a press release last night, announcing their new LightScribe capable 'Super AllWrite' DVD writer, the SHM-165H6S. Along with support for the latest version of LightScribe, the SHM-165H6S features features 16x DVD±R, 8x DVD+RW, 6x DVD-RW, 8x DVD+R DL, 4x DVD-R DL and 5x DVD-RAM writing speeds.

Lite-On IT, one of the world's leading manufacturers of optical storage solutions for PCs and Home Entertainment centers, is introducing the world's first DVD optical drive capable of reading and writing to all disc media currently available today, including DVD-RAM and Double-Layer +/- format discs. In addition, the new optical drive incorporates the latest version (1.6x) of LightScribe labeling technology.

The new LiteOn SHM-165H6S "Super All-Write" internal optical DVD burner offers a one-stop archival and presentation solution for anyone who has a need to copy and store information, files, photographs, music or any other important media. The ability to read, write and re-write to any disc format on the market offers users the ability to purchase disc media based on price, capacity, or brand with the added comfort of knowing that whatever the decision, the media will work flawlessly with the "Super All-Write" SHM-165H6S.

The SHM-165H6S will be available nationwide in February 2006. More information can be found on Lite-On America's website. Add a comment

Details

• Print

Optical Storage

22 February 2006

DigiTimes has reported that Ritek and CMC took the top two spots in global DVD+R/-R disc shipments during the 4Q of 2005.

Ritek and CMC Magnetics, the top two makers of optical discs in Taiwan, respectively maintained the first and second largest share of global shipment volume for DVD+R/-R discs during the fourth quarter of 2005, according to Japan-based market research firm Fujiwara-Rothchild.

India-based Moser Baer India (MBI) surpassed two Taiwanese makers, Daxon Technology and Prodisc Technology, to jump from the fifth largest maker of DVD+R/-R discs in the third quarter of 2005 to the third largest maker in the fourth quarter. This was mainly due to MBI's successful price-cutting strategy, according to local industry sources.

If you'd like to read more, head on over to DigiTimes. Add a comment

Details

• Print

Optical Storage

22 February 2006

Thanks to the Japanese company Buffalo, we've learned that Pioneer has a new Labelflash capable DVD writer on the way. Like the DVR-111D, the DVR-111L features 16x DVD±R, 8x DVD+RW, 6x DVD-RW, 8x DVD±R DL and 5x DVD-RAM writing speeds. Here are some of the drive's specs:

DVD Writing Speeds: DVD+R: 16x DVD+RW: 8x DVD+R DL: 8x DVD-R: 16x DVD-RW: 6x DVD-R DL: 8x DVD-RAM: 5x CD-R: 40x CD-RW: 32x

Read Speeds: DVD-ROM (Single Layer): 16x Max DVD-ROM (Dual Layer): 12x Max DVD±R: 12x Max DVD±RW: 8x Max DVD±R DL: 8x Max DVD-Video: 5x Max DVD-RAM: 5x Max CD-ROM: 40x Max

We have not heard when Pioneer plans to ship the DVR-111L. However, Buffalo's new drives should hit store shelves by the middle of March. More information can be found here. Add a comment

Details

• Print

Optical Storage

17 February 2006

Here's an interesting bit of news. DigiTimes has reported that Lite-On plans to introduce an 18x DVD burner in the third quarter of this year.

With Plextor recently announcing its PX-760A 18x DVD burner (DVD+/-R/RW CD-R/RW), Lite-On IT stated it also plans to volume produce 18x DVD burners in the third quarter of this year, though BenQ currently does not have any plans for the segment at the moment, according to executives from the two Taiwan-based companies.

The article mentions that Sony and Pioneer may also introduce 18x DVD burners. However, BenQ has no plans to do so. Instead, the company will focus on Blu-ray drives. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment