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Nero 8 update brings Blu-ray authoring, mini HD DVD support
Sure, there are a couple of software suites out there that offer up Blu-ray authoring, but it's still far from being a common feature. Additionally, we'd have to say that Nero is one of the more popular burning applications, and the firm's latest update to Nero 8 adds in BDMV authoring and playback, improved file encoding speed and support for mini HD DVD-Video discs. If you're unfamiliar with the latter, it's essentially the process of squeezing down content more suitable for an HD DVD onto a vanilla DVD for playback in an HD DVD player (phew) -- something we've certainly touched on before. For existing Nero 8 owners, you can snag the new plug-in for $24.99, while current owners of the plug-in will reportedly be able to upgrade gratis.
Sony releases Blu-Print Blu-ray authoring software
If you're interested in making Blu-ray discs like the big boys, Sony's own Blu-Print software is now available for the low, low price of $50,000 per license (there's also a 30-day free trial available if you really need a test-run first). Unfortunately they didn't note which codecs are available yet, but you can use the software to add all the BD-J interactive features and popup menus you could ever want. The software is Windows-only, and we're sure if spending $750 to $1000 or more on the necessary burner makes sense to you that this package is well within your price range.[Via DV Guru]
