Sony NEC Optiarc has announced the launch of its new European sales company, Sony NEC Optiarc Europe GmbH. The new company will go into operation on April 2nd and will handle sales and marketing for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Sony NEC Optiarc Inc., launches its new sales company, Sony NEC Optiarc Europe GmbH ("Optiarc Europe"). The European headquarters will be at Ismaning near Munich, Germany. Optiarc Europe, the optical disc drive specialist, will present itself to a broad public at CeBIT for the first time before officially starting to trade in the EMEA region on 2nd April 2007.

The new sales company will be a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony NEC Optiarc Inc. ("Optiarc Japan") based in Tokyo, Japan. Optiarc Japan is invested by Sony Corporation (55%) and by NEC Corporation (45%), set up in April 2006. The joint venture company develops and manufactures optical disc storage drives. In the EMEA region the new company takes charge of sales and marketing activities of optical disc storage drive products manufactured by its parent company.
This is definitely good news for our European readers. Hopefully Sony NEC Optiarc will decide to tap into the American market and launch a sales company over here as well. If you'd like to read more, Sony NEC Optiarc's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
Nero has announced that Nero Linux 3 will be unveiled at CeBIT. This new version of the program features an improved graphical user interface, native support for 64-bit operating systems and data recording for Blu-ray and HD DVD.
Nero, leaders in digital media technology, announced today that Nero Linux 3 will be unveiled at CeBIT. The new version of the definitive burning application for Linux operating systems will feature Blu-ray and HD DVD data recording support as well as an improved graphical user interface that is similar to the look and feel of the current Nero Burning ROM 7 edition.

"Nero has long recognized the importance of including the Linux community in our broad user base," said Udo Eberlein, Chief Operating Officer, Nero AG. "By ensuring that the functionalities of our most popular application are available to users of the Linux operating systems, we are also ensuring that Nero's cutting-edge burning technology is enjoyed by users all over the world."

In addition to Blu-ray and HD DVD burning capabilities, Nero Linux 3 will also natively support 64-bit systems, as well as Unicode in all languages currently supported by Nero's flagship product, Nero 7.
A beta version of Nero Linux 3 is expected to be available at the end of March. More information can be found here. Add a comment
Slysoft recently announced that AnyDVD will now let consumers play back discs protected with "Protect DVD-Video" on computers running Windows MCE 2005. Without AnyDVD, these discs aren't playable at all.
With the help of today released AnyDVD, discs protected with "Protect DVD-Video" can now be played on Windows MCE 2005, with Windows Media player or Zoom Player. WITHOUT ANYDVD RUNNING, THESE DISCS CANNOT BE PLAYED!Examples: "Wer früher stirbt..." and "Perfume", both R2, German

Giancarlo Bettini, SlySoft CEO: "Shame on the makers of this really bad protection. They don't do their customers a favour, if they cannot watch the original disc! We really hope that they get these discs slapped in their faces by their (ex)customers."
If you'd like to try it out, a demo version of AnyDVD can be downloaded here. Otherwise, more information is available on Slysoft's website. Add a comment
While HD DVD has been dominating the market in Europe, the Playstation 3 and its built in Blu-ray player will hit stores in a little more than a week. To help fend off the invader, Studio Canal, Universal, Toshiba and Microsoft have rallied together, forming the European HD DVD Promotional Group. Like its counterparts in North America and Japan, the group will work to promote the format and co-market HD DVD hardware.
At a press conference at CeBIT 2007, Studio Canal, Universal, Toshiba and Microsoft were on stage to announce the formation of a new trade organization, the European HD DVD Promotional Group, Ltd., which will include movie studios, distributors, consumer electronics companies, IT companies, PC makers, disc replication companies and authoring houses companies throughout Europe and around the globe. As the European counterpart to the North American HD DVD Promotional Group and working with the HD DVD Promotion Group originally organized in Japan, the new non-profit organization completes the global promotion structure for HD DVD, working to educate consumers on the quality and value of the format.

"After a strong year in North America and Asia, HD DVD is drawing attention in Europe, with unrivaled quality and affordable prices," said Ken Graffeo, Executive Vice President, HD Strategic Marketing, Universal Studios Home Entertainment. "HD DVD is the most recognized brand name worldwide for high definition packaged media and we now have a strong group of companies behind it, from hardware manufacturers to studios and distributors."
While HD DVD releases have been a bit slow as of late, more than 600 titles are expected to be on store shelves by the end of 2007. If you'd like to read more, the entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
Roxio sent out a press release earlier today, announcing the launch of Roxio Copy & Convert 3. With this new software, consumers can make copies of their CD's and DVD's or convert their music and videos so that it can played back on portable devices.
Roxio, a division of Sonic Solutions­ (NASDAQ: SNIC), the leader in digital media software, today launched Roxio Copy & Convert 3, the ultimate solution for quickly and easily managing, transferring, and enjoying digital entertainment on PCs, set-top players, or mobile devices. In addition to making high-quality copies of personal CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray Discs, this next generation edition of Roxio's Easy DVD Copy program now enables consumers to move their favorite movies and music to portable devices such as iPods, PSPs, and mobile phones. Roxio Copy & Convert 3 also adds greater file support, batch conversion capabilities, automatic music cataloging, and the ability to backup iPod music to any PC.
Roxio Copy & Convert 3 is available now and can be purchased directly from Roxio for $49.99. More information can be found on Roxio's website. Add a comment
ArcSoft isn't the only company demonstrating new software at CeBIT. CyberLink has announced that they will be showcasing their Digital Lifestyle Solutions. The company plans to have live demos of their TV and media servers as well as their high-definition movie creating and playback software.
CyberLink Corp. (5203.TW), a world leader in digital home solutions, today demonstrated its range of entertainment software for Today's Digital Lifestyle, in Hall 21, booth C02 at CeBIT 2007, Germany.

"As a key entertainment enabler within the digital home, CyberLink software covers a full spectrum of activities, from high-definition movie playback and premium TV sharing over the home network, to media creation and disc burning on Blu-ray Discs and HD DVDs," said Alice H. Chang, CEO of CyberLink. "We're pleased to be in Germany to attend the world's largest IT fair, showcasing our strengths in the digital home with easy-to-use products for consumers and our OEM partners alike."
More information, including a full list of products, is avialable on CyberLink's website. Add a comment
ArcSoft has announced that they will be demonstrating ArcSoft Digital Theatre 2 at CeBIT. This new playback software supports HD DVD titles as well as commercial and homemade DVD movies.
ArcSoft, Inc. is demonstrating its High Definition solutions this week at CeBIT, where ArcSoft Digital Theatre 2 is featured at the HD DVD Promotion Group booth (Hall 1, Stand L59). The new player supports HD DVD playback, as well as commercial and homemade DVD movies and a variety of multimedia files on Windows XP and Windows Vista systems.

"We're very pleased to be showcasing our high definition solutions, which are among the best performing in the industry," said Michael Downs, ArcSoft Vice President of Marketing and Business Development. "We've been working closely with the HD DVD Promotion Group, leading graphics chipset companies, and the major Hollywood studios to ensure that we can effectively provide the complete spectrum of HD DVD functionality to our customers."
Whiel ArcSoft doesn't mention it in their press release, Digital Theatre 2 can also playback Blu-ray movies. If you'd like to read more, ArcSoft's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
Nero has announced that they will be releasing a new version of Nero 7 in April that will add a copy protection feature to their SecurDisc technology. Here's part of their press release:
Nero, leaders in digital media technology, announced today that the April update of the Nero 7 digital multimedia suite will include a new feature of SecurDisc technology. Now users can benefit from an innovative copy protection feature designed to prevent duplication of PDF documents saved on DVDs created with SecurDisc.

SecurDisc is a technology that offers a full feature set of security-related functions through a combined hardware/software solution and additionally offers encryption with password protection, digital signature, and higher data reliability through data storage redundancy and defect management.
From what we've seen, SecurDisc works quite well. Unfortunately, its only supported by a few drives at the moment. If you'd like to read more, Nero's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment

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Palm Treo 700p @Project PDA
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Video Business has reported that Lionsgate will be releasing two movies, Ultimate Avengers: The Movie and Ultimate Avengers 2, on a single 50GB Blu-ray Disc. These two films are also the first direct to DVD titles to be released on Blu-ray.
Lionsgate and Marvel Enterprises plan to use Blu-ray Disc to its full capacity with the first double feature release on the format.

The companies will debut Ultimate Avengers: The Movie and Ultimate Avengers 2 on one 50GB Blu-ray disc April 24 for a suggested retail price of $39.99. Prebook is March 28.

The films will be the first direct-to-DVD releases to debut on Blu-ray.
To fill up the rest of the disc, the release will also include two featurettes, a gag reel, a trivia track and a first look at the movie Dr. Strange. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment