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Duplicators

16 April 2007

Rimage has announced that it will be launching its new Video Protect technology at the NAB 2007 show. According to their press release, Video Protect prevents ripping of copying of DVD's while ensuring a very high level of playback compatibility.

When digital content must be guarded against inappropriate copying, Rimage customers can trust Rimage Video Protect to provide a solid barrier against unauthorized copying. This new feature is built into the Rimage software suite, ensuring seamless execution and streamlined workflow when using QuickDisc or Rimage Rapid API authoring operations. Pre-release content, screeners and on-demand production DVDs can now be protected on-the-fly using Rimage Video Protect on a Rimage digital publishing system.

"With Rimage Video Protect, our customers can protect their sizeable investments in original content," said Dave Suden, chief technical officer for Rimage. "This exclusive technology is highly desired by our customers in the digital content production and distribution marketplace, and we believe it delivers a stronger and more compatible anti-rip solution than others on the market."

Rimage Video Protect inhibits ripping and disc copying software, not playback devices, from performing as intended, ensuring excellent playback compatibility. The seamless integration of Rimage Video Protect into the Rimage system allows content producers to protect revenue and distribution plans without changing workflow processes or compromising deadlines.

Video Protect is built into the Rimage software suite and will be available as a feature on the Producer III series and 5100/5300 series digital publishing products beginning in June 2007. More information can be found here. Add a comment

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Software

16 April 2007

Sonic sent out a press release this morning, announcing their new parallel stream encoder, CineVision PSE. Based on Microsoft's VC-1 encoding technology, CineVision PSE can be deployed across an array of parallel processing computing systems, giving authoring facilities the ability to encode multiple simultaneous streams in near real-time.

Sonic Solutions (NASDAQ:SNIC), the leader in digital media software, today announced that it has entered into a commercial agreement to broadly deploy Microsoft's advanced VC-1 encoding technology, known as the PEP Encoder, in the professional high-definition title creation industry. Already used by studios to prepare video assets for a significant number of HD DVD titles, the all new version of the PEP Encoder, re-branded as Sonic CineVision PSE (Parallel Stream Encoder), is being released worldwide and supported by Sonic. Ideal for enterprise-level authoring facilities with large processing infrastructures, CineVision PSE is a best-of-breed VC-1 encoding platform that provides an unprecedented level of fine-parameter and pre-processing controls to tackle the intricate high-level image quality requirements of Hollywood.

If you'd like to read more about CineVision PSE, Sonic's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment

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Software

16 April 2007

Nero has announced that they will be adding HD video authoring and playback capabilities to Nero 7 Ultra Edition Enhanced. Among other things, Nero owners will be able to capture and edit video from AVCHD camcorders, author and playback Blu-ray Discs and, with an optional plug-in, view HD DVD movies with Nero ShowTime.

Nero, leaders in digital media technology, announces the addition of high definition video authoring and playback capabilities to Nero 7 Ultra Edition Enhanced, reaffirming the software suite's status as the ultimate digital home entertainment solution. The updated version allows users to harness the full power of high definition video, including AVCHD and editable Blu-ray (BD-AV) video capturing, authoring and playback. An optional plug-in adds HD DVD-video playback capabilities as well.

"Nero 7 Ultra Edition Enhanced includes more than 20 industry-leading applications in a single suite, making it the most powerful and versatile digital media entertainment solution available," commented Udo Eberlein, Chief Operating Officer, Nero AG. "The addition of AVCHD, Blu-ray and HD DVD support places Nero 7 Ultra Edition Enhanced on the forefront of high definition video creation and management."

No word on when the next Nero 7 update or the HD DVD plug-in ($24.99) will be available. As we find out more, we'll let you know. In the mean time, Nero's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment

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Optical Storage

16 April 2007

Sony has announced that they will be unveiling their new dual-layer Professional Disc media at this year's NAB show. Developed for XDCAM systems, Sony's PFD50DLA media can hold 50GB of data or 4.5 hours of HD content.

Sony's new dual-layer version of the XDCAM Professional Disc media more than doubles the storage capacity and recording capabilities of the original single-layer optical media.

These upgrades, combined with faster transfer rates, significantly increase the XDCAM system's potential as an efficient production technology and as a long-term archiving option.

The new dual-layer disc, model PFD50DLA, has a total storage capacity of 50 GB. Professional users can record up to 4 hours and 30 minutes of high-definition content on the dual-layer disc when shooting in MPEG HD 4:2:0 mode at 18 Mbps, or 3 hours and 20 minutes at 25 Mbps, and 2 hours and 30 minutes at 35 Mbps. In DVCAM mode, users can record about 3 hours and 10 minutes of content onto the new disc.

Sony currently plans to ship their new dual-layer media in September. More information can be found here. Add a comment

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Other

16 April 2007

Toshiba has announced that it will exit the film and DVD production and distribution business and has agreed to sell its interest in Toshiba Entertainment to the Japanese advertising agency, Hakuhodo DY Media Partners.

Toshiba Corporation announced today that it has agreed to transfer its interest in Toshiba Entertainment Inc. (Toshiba Entertainment) to Hakuhodo DY Media Partners Inc. (Hakuhodo DY Media Partners). Effective May 1, 2007, Toshiba Entertainment will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Hakuhodo DY Media Partners.

Toshiba Entertainment is a film production and distributor that acquired Amuse Pictures, Inc. in 2003.

Toshiba Group is optimizing allocation of management resources through a strategic policy of "Focus and Concentration," with the objective of maximizing corporate strengths and potential for growth and profit. Following discussions of Toshiba Entertainment's film production and distribution business, and consideration of how best to secure the company's interests over the long term, Toshiba decided to transfer its 100 percent interest in the company to Hakuhodo DY Media Partners.

Toshiba seems to be cutting their losses. After backing out of the Japanese music market in December, it was only a matter of time before their film division got the axe. If you'd like to read more, Toshiba's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment

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Other

13 April 2007

CDRLabs has taken a long overdue look at ASUS's first LightScribe enabled "Super-Multi" drive, the DRW-1612BL. Based on an all new design, the DRW-1612BL is capable of 16x DVD±R, 8x DVD+RW, 6x DVD-RW, 16x DVD±R, 8x DVD+RW, 6x DVD-RW, 8x DVD±R DL and 12x DVD-RAM writing speeds and a maximum DVD read speed of 16x. Along with support for LightScribe, the drive also includes features like ASUS's FlextraLink, FlextraSpeed and QuieTrack technologies.

In this review we'll take a look at some of the features found on the DRW-1612BL and see how it compares to some of the 16x DVD±RW drives from the competition. Does the DRW-1612BL have what it takes? You'll have to read the review to find out.

ASUS DRW-1612BL 16x DVD±RW/RAM

If you have any comments or questions about this review or the ASUS DRW-1612BL, please post them in the forum by clicking the link below. Add a comment

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Home Entertainment

13 April 2007

For the last year or so, there have been rumors that Samsung was working on a combination HD DVD/Blu-ray player. It appears that these rumors were true as the company has announced plans to introduce a dual format High-Definition (HD) player in time for the holidays. Samsung's Duo HD player (BD-UP5000) supports both HD-DVD and Blu-ray as well as their interactive technologies, HDi and BD-Java.

Samsung's Duo HD player (BD-UP5000) will fully support both HD-DVD and Blu-ray Disc formats and their interactive technologies, HDi and BD-Java. With the Duo HD consumers can enjoy additional studio content such as trailers, director's comments, more elaborate interactive menus and behind the scene footage. The new Duo HD joins Samsung's next generation DVD line-up which includes Samsung's second generation Blu-ray player available at retail this month. Together, these two models offer the consumer a strong line of High-Definition players to match Samsung's award winning, and best selling, line of HDTVs.

"We welcome Samsung's Duo HD player as another solution in the marketplace that will help reduce consumer confusion and buyer hesitancy towards HD media," said Ron Sanders, President of Warner Home Video. "This is an innovative product that can move us closer to mainstream consumer adoption of HD technologies."

"We are very pleased to announce the upcoming release of our Duo HD player. Consumers are hungry for more HD content but are currently confused about competing formats. Samsung's Duo HD player will allow consumers access to every HD movie title available regardless of the authoring format. Samsung is committed to making life simpler through technology and will market next generation DVD products which will satisfy the consumer and market requirement. This is a big win for the consumer.

No word on pricing or availability. As we find out more, we'll let you know. In the mean time, Samsung's entire press release can be found review. Add a comment

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Other

13 April 2007

Miguel at ExtremeMhz has taken a look at LG's new LightScribe capable "Super-Multi" drive, the GSA-H22N. Here's a sample of what he had to say about it:

Unlike the Samsung SH-S183L I previously reviewed here, this drive was quite unpredictable in many areas of testing. This drive had the potential of being one of the very best options out on the market. This was quickly out of reach when it came down to its riplock in firmware. It was quite upsetting actually and it will basically cripple this drive significantly. Fortunately though, there is some modified firmware you can load to help remedy this. However, you will still likely face some minor issues when loading such firmware and still must be prepared to accept its poor read performance on a majority of DVD-Video discs. Also, its highly questionable write performance on DVD+R DL media is something to keep in mind as well. The drive did not consistently write to this media very well.

If you'd like to read more, head on over to ExtremeMhz and check out their review. Add a comment

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Software

12 April 2007

Yep, more new software from Sonic. Earlier today, the company unveiled CineVision 2.0. This upgrade to their professional encoding solution features a number enhancements including improved encoding quality of HD video codecs and the ability to encode a single file for HD DVD and Blu-ray output.

Sonic Solutions (NASDAQ: SNIC), the leader in digital media software, today unveiled CineVision 2.0, a major upgrade to the company's professional encoding system that has been enhanced to tackle the complex encoding challenges of next-generation Blu-ray Disc (BD) and HD DVD optical disc formats. The latest version sets a new standard for control and workflow efficiency with a range of features and enhancements including the integration of best-of-class Digital Vision image enhancement technologies, advanced segment-based editing functionality with multi-take capabilities, and dual-format legalization control. CineVision 2 also further improves encoding quality of all three next-generation HD video codecs: H.264 (AVC), VC-1, and MPEG-2.

While CineVision 2.0 won't be released until May, Sonic will be demonstrating it next week at NAB. More information can be found here. Add a comment