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06 February 2006

The results are in and our readers have chosen the BenQ DW1640 as the top DVD writer for the month of January. Here are the top five drives:

1. BenQ DW1640
2. Plextor PX-716A
3. BenQ DW1655
4. LG GSA-4167B
5. Pioneer DVR-110/A10

Your favorite drive didn't make it onto the list? Then go and vote for February's top DVD writer. Add a comment

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04 February 2006

Here's an interesting bit of news. According to an article at Computeract!ve, TDK has decided not to offer HD-DVD media. Instead they will focus solely on the Blu-ray format.

TDK, one of the leading vendors of DVD discs, is not going to sell media for next-generation high definition HD-DVD drives and will concentrate instead on rival Blu-ray.

The company, a member of the Blu-ray Association, has long been a backer of the technology, but other media vendors, such as Imation, are happy to sell both Blu-ray and HD-DVD discs.

It will be interesting to see how this decision affects TDK. As we reported a few weeks ago, companies like Memorex and Fujifilm plan to offer both Blu-ray and HD DVD media. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment

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03 February 2006

Thanks to DVDRWInfo.net we've learned that LG has another "Super-Multi" drive on the way. While otherwise very similar to the GSA-H10N, the GSA-H10A lacks its sibling's 12x DVD-RAM and 10x DVD+R DL writing speeds. Here are some of the GSA-H10A's specs:

Writing Speeds: DVD+R: 2.4X, 4X, 8X, 12X, 16X DVD+RW: 2.4X, 4X, 8X DVD+R DL: 2.4X, 4X, 6X, 8X DVD-R: 2X, 4X, 8X, 16X DVD-RW: 1X, 2X, 4X, 6X DVD-R DL: 2X, 4X DVD-RAM: 2X, 3X, 5X CD-R: 4X, 8X, 16X, 24X, 32X, 40X, 48X CD-RW: 4X, 10X, 16X, 24X, 32X Buffer Size: 2MB

Read Speeds: DVD-ROM: 16X Max DVD±R: 10X Max DVD±RW: 8X Max DVD±R DL: 8X Max DVD-RAM: 2X, 3X, 5X Max CD-R/ROM: 48X Max CD-RW: 40X Max Access Times: CD-ROM: 125ms DVD-ROM: 145ms DVD-RAM: 165ms

No word on price or availability yet. As we find out more we'll let you know. Until then, more information can be found here. Add a comment

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01 February 2006

LG recently announced a new external LightScribe capable Super-Multi drive, the GSA-5168B. While the drive's specs are otherwise very similar to the GSA-4166B, the GSA-5168B lets you capture and copy video to disc using its "One Touch" system. Here are some of the GSA-5168B's specs.

Writing Speeds: DVD±R: 16x DVD+RW: 8x DVD-RW: 6x DVD±R DL: 8x DVD-RAM: 5x CD-R: 48x CD-RW: 32x

Read Speeds: DVD-ROM: 16x Max CD-R/ROM: 48x Max

You gotta love it when a company uses cute women to promote a new product. We have not heard if or when the GSA-5168D will be available in the US. As we find out more, we'll let you know. In the mean time, LG's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment

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31 January 2006

The RAM Promotion Group sent out a press release yesterday announcing that the DVD-RAM format made a strong showing at this year's International CES.

The RAM Promotion Group (RAMPRG), an industry organization formed to promote the awareness and adoption of the DVD-RAM format, today announced that DVD-RAM made a strong push into 2006, as evidenced by over 50 DVD-RAM compatible products debuted at this year's International CES. RAMPRG member companies including Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi-LG Data Storage, Inc., Hitachi Maxell, Ltd., LG Electronics Inc., Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (Panasonic), Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., TEAC Corporation, Toshiba Corporation and Victor Company of Japan, Limited (JVC), all announced or exhibited innovative product lines featuring DVD-RAM compatible recorders, camcorders, players, PC drives and media.

If you'd like to read more, the RAMPRG's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment

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26 January 2006

Ritek has posted a warning on their website, letting consumers know that counterfeit DVD media has shown up on the Japanese market.

Recently there are piracy products in Japan market and below picture is to help you verify the product you bought. Please contact authorized distributor for the Ritek trade mark and standard packaging and make sure product is distributed by RITEK Japan Branch-Ritek Japan Incorporation.

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26 January 2006

Pioneer Japan has released yet another set of firmware updates for their latest series of 16x DVD±RW drives, the DVR-110, DVR-110D and DVR-A10XL. Here is the change log for firmware v1.39:

Support New 8x DVD-R Media
( 8x writing:KINGDISC, INFOMEDIA, POSTECH, RITEK, MUST, INTERAXIA, UMEDISC, VANGUARD, TCL, MEGANMEDIA, GIGASTRAGE, INFOSOURCE, INFOSMART, DST )
Support New 16x DVD-R Media
( 12x writing:FUJIFILM, BEALL, LEADDATA, OPTDISC, MBI, AMC, PRODISC, INTERAXIA, GIGASTRAGE, MJC, FTI, PRINCO, KINGDISC, RITEK, CMC, DAXON )
Support New 4x DVD-R DL Media
( 4x writing:CMC )
Support New 6x DVD-RW Media
( 6x writing:TDK )
Support New 8x +R Media
( 8x writing:PHILIPS, INFODISC, UMEDISC, WEALTH FAIR, MAM-E, INTERAXIA, AMC )
Support New 16x +R Media
( 12x writing:MUST TECH, OPTDISC, DAXON, LEADDATA, LGE, GIGASTRAGE, FTI, RITEK )
( 8x writing:E-TOP )
Support New 8x +R DL Media
( 8x writing:Verbatim )
Support New 8x +RW Media
( 8x writing:Verbatim )
( 6x writing:SONY )
DVD-R/+R Writability has improved.
DVD-R/+R DL Writability has improved.
DVD-RW/+RW Writability has improved.
DVD-RAM Writability has improved.
DVD-RAM Readability has improved.
¥Problems which unable to set up some of the CD-Extra media are solved.
¥Format error problem on +RW media combined with specific applications under the conditions Matsushita DVD-RAM driver installed in Windows ME or Windows 2000 are solved.

DVR-A10XL v1.39 - Download

DVR-110 v1.39 - Download

DVR-110D v1.39 - Download

Pioneer has also updated their list of supported media to reflect the changes in the new 1.39 firmware. If you have any comments or questions, feel free to leave them in our forum. Add a comment

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25 January 2006

The Japanese company Buffalo has announced a new series of drives based on Pioneer's upcoming 16x DVD±RW, the DVR-111D. Here are some of the specs for Buffalo's new DVM-RXG16 series:

DVD Writing Speeds: DVD+R: 16x DVD+RW: 8x DVD+R DL: 8x DVD-R: 16x DVD-RW: 6x DVD-R DL: 8x 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

While the case, or chassis, has gone through some changes, the specs are very similar to the DVR-110D. We have not heard when Pioneer plans to ship the DVR-111D. However, Buffalo's new drives should hit store shelves by the middle of February. More information can be found here. Add a comment

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25 January 2006

DigiTimes has reported that Ritek recently received certification from Philips for their 8x DVD+R DL discs. According to the article, they are only the third manufacturer to do so.

Ritek, one of the top two makers of optical discs in Taiwan, on January 24 announced it obtained certification for 8x DVD+R DL (single-sided double-layer) discs from Royal Philips Electronics last week, becoming the only the third company to receive such certification.

Mitsubishi Kagaku Media (MKM, a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Chemical) and Ricoh in Japan are the only other two companies to have received the certification.

I could have sworn that Ritek got their 8x DVD+R DL discs certified back in October but I guess that wasn't the case. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment