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Imation brings first 6x Blu-ray recordable discs to US
We had a dream back in June that America would one day be able to buy 6x BD-Rs for these 6x Blu-ray burners without relying on a Japanese importer, and today, that dream has been realized. Imation is bringing TDK Life on Record media to US soil, marking the first time 6x Blu-ray recordable (BD-R) and Blu-ray recordable double layer (BD-R DL) media has been available here. Unfortunately, this stuff is still absurdly expensive -- expect to hand over $13.99 for a single BD-R in October, while a BD-R DL 1-pack will ring up at a staggering $32.99.
Corel's WinDVD nabs BD-R 1.1 and BD-RE 2.1 playback certification
Corel's not satisfied with simply snagging DTS-HD Master Audio certification for WinDVD 8; it's also trumpeting the ability of WinDVD to fully support BD-R 1.1 and BD-RE 2.1 recordable / re-recordable media. Reportedly, this certification proves that said application "has passed the stringent standards and guidelines set by the Blu-ray Disc Association to ensure the best possible user experience," but it's not like that spill really means anything to you. You can, however, now rest assured that WinDVD will be all BFF like with discs that use H.264 and VC-1 for encoding. Availability? OEMs can get it now, retail consumers will see it in early 2009.
Mitsubishi ramps up Blu-ray recordable disc manufacturing
Add Mitsubishi Kagaku Media (Mitsubishi, Verbatim) to the list of manufacturers expanding Blu-ray support in the pending absence of HD DVD. The manufacturer, which has been releasing recordable media for both sides, is adding a Blu-ray production line to its Singapore plant that will expand companywide production from 200,000 to 700,000 units a month when it comes online in July or August, along with production outsourced to other manufacturers. Nothing is set in stone, but hopefully those of us recording movies and data 50GB at a time have more plentiful (and cheaper) discs to look forward to.
Mitsubishi develops corrosion-resistant DVD-Rs for the long haul
Yeah, companies have been trumpeting their ability to crank out discs that will last long after Martians come and evaporate our minds here on Earth for some time, but for archive junkies out there, more is always better. On deck today is Mitsubishi's ARLEDIA DVD-Rs, which reportedly feature corrosion-resistant coatings made from gold and silver. 'Course, you can only write to these at 8x, but they are expected to last about twice as long as traditional recordable discs. Not like you'll be around to prove 'em wrong, though. [Via Impress]
Ritek readies 2x HD DVD-R media
Granted, the majority of you probably haven't forked out just yet for a pricey HD DVD burner, but just in case you've got one in mind for the future, Ritek is readying the equally expensive media you'll have to pick up. According to DigiTimes, Ritek has "secured certification for its blank 2x HD DVD-R" discs, which would enable write speeds double that of its existing media. Additionally, the firm has reportedly obtained certification for blank BD-R discs as well, and while it's certainly late to that party, we'll take all the competition we can get.
Victor's single-sided 8.5GB DVD-RW coming in August
While everyone is up in arms over the Blu-ray vs. HD-DVD debate, Victor is creeping up from behind with some fresh DVD technology that you never even saw coming. The Japanese company has created a new variation on the DVD-RW format with a single-sided, two-layer disc that can handle up to 8.5GB of data on one side. Up until now, if you wanted to get that much onto a rewritable, you would have had to use a dual-sided disk, but it would appear that Victor has found a way around those problems. No telling if this opens the door for a double-sided, two-layer disc with 17GB of capacity, but it sure does seem to be heading in that direction.[Via Impress]
Imation shipping HD DVD-Rs
Did we miss something? Because we like HD DVD as much as anybody, but first Memorex and now parent company Imation has announced they are shipping HD DVD-R 1x single-layer HD DVD-Rs and we're not sure where -- outside of Japan -- to get a burner for them. We're sure these will satisfy your 36Mbps, 15GB at a time storage needs, but unless you've imported a Toshiba RD-A1, good luck getting data on them. Dual-layer packaging pictured, however those aren't available yet, only single-layer for $19.99.
RITEK rolling out HD DVD-Rs next month
HD DVD-Rs are on the way, with Maxell/Hitachi and Mitsubishi/Verbatim announcing shipments to Japan in July, and September in the US, now Advanced Media, better known as RITEK or RIDATA, has announced they will ship single-layer HD DVD-Rs to the US in late July. Other than the 15GB discs next month, they will release dual-layer 30GB HD DVD-Rs and single-layer HD DVD-RWs sometime in the fourth quarter.We're still left guessing as to the burning speed supported by the discs as that is not mentioned in the press release. There is also no specific price mentioned, but we can expect HD DVD recorders to become available around the same time as the media.
Philips preps for Blu-ray: BDP9000 player and SPD7000 burner
We knew they were coming but Philips went ahead and made things official, just so we don't forget their two major Blu-ray products scheduled for the third quarter of this year. No really specific details about the features but the BDP9000 Blu-ray player will retail for $999 just like the Samsung and Sony units. The SPD7000 TripleWriter burner (what is with all the big numbers? Would it not sound as powerful if it were the SP7?) is also slated for fall release, although they are already shipping 25GB single-layer BD-R media.[Via Engadget]
HD DVD-R/RW media available July 5 in Japan
Hitachi and Mitsubishi have both announced today that (in Japan at least), they will be releasing single layer HD DVD-Rs, with RW and dual layer blanks to come later this summer. Still no recorders announced, but with their importance in the Japanese market and media now scheduled, they can't be very far off. Impress approximates the price at about 2,000 yen ($17.75 US), which is about the same price as single layer Blu-ray media. What the press releases don't seem to say is whether this media is 1X or 2X speed rated; because of the difference in the specifications 1X (36.55mbps) media could still play HD DVD content, but would be a slower burner than the Blu-ray drives that are coming out rated at 2X (72mbps) or higher. Impress only mentions the Hitachi as being 1X. [Via Impress Watch]Read - Hitachi HD DVD-R/RWRead - Mitsubishi HD DVD-R/RW
LG's 4x Blu-ray burner: GBW-H10N
Just when we were getting used to Pioneer's Blu-ray recording drive, LG has announced one that, on paper at least, blows it away. Like Pioneer's drive, it only supports burning to single-layer (25GB) Blu-ray discs, but it ups the speed from 2x to 4x for burning and playback. Also unlike the Pioneer, it will read and write to CDs. Only BD-R discs get the extra speed however, with rewritable BD-REs still limited to 2x recording. This drive is slated to hit in the summer at a cost of €799 ($1020 USD). With dual-layer (50GB) Blu-ray media slated to become available this summer, we have to wonder when we sill see a burner that can use it.
Sony's Blu-ray blanks on the way; 50GB in June
Not to be forgotten in the BD-R and -RE party is Sony themselves, who have announced they are shipping single-layer recordable Blu-ray discs, with dual layer versions to follow in June, The pricing follows the model set by TDK, $20/$48 for BD-R single/dual and $25/$60 for BD-RE single/dual layer respectively. With the burners going for about $850, we'll take a raincheck, unless someone really needs to back up all their episodes of mariposaHD.[Via Engadget]
Sony ships 25GB Blu-ray recordables; 50GB to come in June
Lest anyone question their position as king of the Blu-ray mountain, Sony has announced that it has started shipping single-layer 25GB Blu-ray discs, and will begin follow up with 50GB discs in June. Yes, we know that TDK has already announced their own dual-layer discs (and is even working on eight layer 200GB versions), but it looks like Sony may just get their 50 giggers out the door first. Pricing is set at about $20 per disc for the single-layer version and $48 for the 50GB discs. Yes, that's right. The higher-capacity disc will have a higher per-GB price than the single-layer version. Such is the price for burning on the cutting-edge (and, no, we're not even going to try to visualize that horribly mixed metaphor).
TDK: Ok, we're done with the 200GB recordable Blu-Ray
That was fast. It took 'em years to develop recordable DVDs, then another couple more for the dual layer variety, but now but a few weeks after TDK announced their hard workin' intentions to develop 8-layer 200GB recordable Blu-ray discs, they've got it bagged. Balls to the fact that we still don't have the players; the interesting thing about these discs, however, is that the data isn't stored on thin layers of dye, no no. Apparently when each layer of bismuth peroxide and germanium oxide is heated to 690K by laser, microscopic air bubbles form and create the bits we've come to know and obsess over. Oh sure, these discs are probably going to be horrendously expensive in the beginning, but isn't it nice to know we're already good to go on capacities large enough to archive years of home movies? [Warning: link is Japanese and requires subscription.][Via Newlaunches]
