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- Optical Storage
Some things I found out, and can talk about is the 360 HD-DVD drive can be plugged into a PC and it will be recognized as an optical drive, but will not play HD-DVD movies. I asked what if you have the proper HD-DVD software on the PC, to that [redacted] said that he didn't know, it hadn't been tried yet- maybe there's something there...I'm guessing the inability to play HD-DVD movies is due to the lack of software. If it is possible, I know I'll be first in line to pick up one of those drives. With a price tag of only $199, they're a cheap way to add HD-DVD playback to an HTPC. If you'd like to read more, the entire report can be found here. Add a comment
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- Software
Nero, leaders in digital media technology, announces that ESS Technology Inc.'s ES8380/ES8381 Phoenix(TM) HD Enhanced(TM) DVD processor is Nero Digital(TM) Certified. Nero Digital, co-developed by Nero and Ateme, is based on industry standards MPEG-4 Video (MPEG-4 SP/ASP and AVC/H.264) and MPEG-4 Audio (LC AAC und HE AAC) compression technologies. It enables the delivery of more high quality MPEG-4 compliant audio and video content at lower bit rates, while offering advanced interactive features.If you'd like to read more, Nero's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
The Phoenix ES8380/ES8381 single-chip HD Enhanced DVD processor, which features an integrated servo controller and RF amplifier, provides users with standard DVD decoding (with options to support MPEG-4 ASP decoding, HDMI transmitter and Class D power bridges). It incorporates advanced video enhancement features such as an HDTV encoder that can display JPEG pictures at full HD resolution, as well as video up-scaling and de-interlacing to display video at HD resolution.
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- Duplicators
The Bravo SE Blu is available now for a suggested retail price of $2995. More information can be found on Primera's website. Add a comment
Primera Technology, Inc., the world's leading developer and manufacturer of CD, DVD and BD duplication and printing equipment, today announced its Bravo SE Blu Disc Publisher.
Instead of producing Blu-ray Discs one at a time, the Bravo SE Blu automates the entire burning and printing process. An advanced, sixth-generation robotic mechanism is used to transport discs into the built-in Pioneer BDR-101A Blu-ray Disc/DVD Recorder. After recording, each Blu-ray Disc is individually inkjet printed direct-to-disc in full-color at up to 4800 dpi resolution. Up to 20 discs per job can be produced automatically and hands-free.
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- Optical Storage
Following an announcement by NEC of chips supporting both the HD DVD and Blu-ray formats, Taiwan-based optical disc drive (ODD) makers said they are not considering launching dual-standard drive models for the two disc standards..If you'd like to read more, head on over to DigiTimes. Add a comment
..Although NEC claims the new dual-standard chips can help reduce costs by 20-30%, Taiwan-based ODD firms said the overall production cost of ODDs using the chip may not be less than that of disc drives using chips that support a single DVD standard since overall costs are determined by other factors, such as the cost of the optical pick-up head (PUH) and yields.
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- Home Entertainment
New Medium Enterprises said this week that it has begun taking orders for its HD VMD (Versatile Multilayer Disc) player, a format that the company says will support high-definition video. The $175 player will begin shipping in November, according to a company spokesman.The article also mentions that NME plans to begin marketing file formats, encryption technology, authoring tools and compression technologies. While all this is great, it won't really matter if movie studios don't get on board. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment
In addition, the player will be shown off at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January, where an improved model will be released, the NME representative said.
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- Optical Storage
Among makers of optical discs in Taiwan, only CMC Magnetics, Ritek, Prodisc Technology, Daxon Technology and Lead Data are currently capable of producing 16x DVD+R/-R discs, while second-tier and smaller makers produce 4x and/or 8x discs, the sources indicated.If you'd like to read more, head on over to DigiTimes. Add a comment
As demand for 16x DVD+R/-R discs grows with the increasing use of 16x and 18x DVD burners, some makers have mislabeled their discs with higher speeds in order to grab profits, the sources pointed out, noting that there have been reported cases of counterfeited TDK 8x and 16x DVD+R/-R discs made by small makers in Taiwan.
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- Home Entertainment
In 2006, the bulk of the $16.9 bil. revenue will come from standard-definition DVD ($16.8 bil.)," said Wade Holden, Kagan analyst. "By 2009, VHS will be virtually extinct and high-definition DVD revenue should grow to more than $2.6 bil. as the format war works itself out, either via one winning format or a combination HD DVD/Blu-ray player being introduced to the market. By 2015, VHS will be history and high-definition DVD will be the major-market shareholder with $18.3 bil. in revenue.I have to agree with this study. Contrary to what Blu-ray and HD DVD promoters want you to think, the DVD is not going away any time soon. More information on Kagan's report can be found here. Add a comment
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Japanese chip maker NEC Electronics Corp. said on Tuesday it began shipping a chip compatible with both Blu-ray and HD DVD formats in next-generation DVDs, bridging a format war splitting the electronics industry in two.While this is a step in the right direction, we still need an optical pick-up capable of reading both Blu-ray and HD DVD formats. Right now, NEC plans to begin production in the fourth quarter of 2006 with monthly shipments reaching 300,000 units in April. More information can be found here. Add a comment
If other hybrid technology is developed, the new chip could lower costs to build dual-format players, helping consumers and the movie industry sidestep the rivalry between the two opposing camps.
The chips go on sale for 10,000 yen ($84), roughly the same price as NEC Electronics' chips which read only Blu-ray or only HD DVD formats, the world's No. 8 chip maker said.
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Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE) today announced the imminent arrival of its first three 50GB dual-layer Blu-ray Discs (BD). The heart-warming comedy Click, starring Golden Globe-Nominee Adam Sandler, Oscar-Winner Christopher Walken and Kate Beckinsale, will be available on store shelves October 10. Black Hawk Down, the Oscar-winning, action-packed drama from director Ridley Scott, starring Josh Hartnett, Ewan McGregor, Tom Sizemore and Eric Bana, features new Blu-Wizard(TM) technology and will be available to film fans on November 14. The hilarious box office hit, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, starring writer and producer Will Ferrell and Oscar-nominee John C. Reilly, hits shelves December 12. All three titles were authored by the Sony Pictures Digital Authoring Center (DAC) and manufactured by Sony DADC.At this time, SPHE has not announced pricing for these 50GB BD titles. Personally, I would not be surprised if they were a few bucks more than those on single layer discs. If you'd like to read more, SPHE's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
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- Software
Sonic Solutions (NASDAQ: SNIC), the leader in digital media software, and Macrovision Corporation (NASDAQ: MVSN), the leader in digital media protection, today announced a licensing agreement to provide the industry's first comprehensive content protection solution to enable the custom manufacturing of secure DVDs by retailers, e-tailers and DVD production facilities. The new solution will make it possible for movie studios and other content owners to expand the number of titles in their catalog that are available for purchase by consumers in a variety of channels.DVD On Demand with RipGuard and ACP is expected to be available later this quarter. More information can be found on Sonic's website. Add a comment
The solution will integrate Macrovision's RipGuard and ACP technologies into Sonic's DVD On Demand technology solution, which will allow content encrypted with the industry-standard Content Scramble System (CSS) found on mass-replicated DVDs to be recorded directly to optical DVD media. Sonic will license the new combined solution to video publishers and distributors.
