Philips & Lite-On Digital Solutions (PLDS) is introducing a new generation of 4 different DVD writers, all with 22X writing speeds and a unique data erasing feature for DVD±R (DL) and CD-R discs.

By increasing the DVD writing speed to 22X, the Lite-On internal DVD writers offers an up to date solution for those users who are looking for the fastest DVD writing speeds on the market. But what makes the Lite-On DVD writers stand out from the crowd is its capability to permanently erase the content of DVD±R (DL) and CD-R discs. Lite-On has developed the SmartErase technology to give users the possibility to permanently erase those discs that contained confidential data that should not be retrievable in any way.

How does it work? SmartErase overwrites the original data on the disc with random meaningless characters so that the original data can no longer be read by any drive. Once a disc is “SmartErased”, you don?t have to worry about someone accessing the confidential data that used to be stored on the disc. Where other “techniques” as shredding or breaking a disc, or throw it in the waste bin still have a potential risk of data recovering, SmartErase guarantees that data will be erased permanently.

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Imation Ltd. will release its first 6x BD-R and BD-R DL media in Japan next month, under the TDK brand.

The new 6x BD-R media offer have a wide power margin at any writing speeds from 1X to 6X. In addition, Imation unveiled the first BD-R DL media for 6x recording. Both types of discs will be available in Japan in the end of September for 1,500 Yen ($13.85) and 3,000 Yen ($27.7), respectively.

The company will offer the new Blu-ray discs in versions for both recording (for BD recorders) and data (for PC use). All new products feature TDK’s Durabis 2 hard coating layer for enhanced protection against dust and scratches.

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Plextor Europe launched its latest 20x DVD-ReWriter drive in two separate internal formats - the PX-820A is IDE/ATAPI and PX-820SA is SATA.

These latest DVD-RW drives from Plextor?s popular PX-800 series offer fast burning speeds of up to 20x , including up to 12x Dual-Layer burning , and incorporate multi-format (DVD+/-R & DVD-RAM) technology.

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Pioneer has succeeded in developing a 16-layer read-only optical disc with a capacity of 400 gigabytes for the first time in the world.

Its per-layer capacity is 25 gigabytes, which is the same as that of a Blu-ray Disc (BD). The technology can be also applied to multilayer recordable discs, Pioneer said.

For multilayer optical discs, it has been difficult to obtain clear signals from each recording layer in a stable manner due to crosstalk from adjacent layers and transmission loss. Utilizing the optical disc production technology that it has developed in the DVD field, Pioneer solved these problems by using a disc structure that can reduce crosstalk from adjacent layers, resulting in a 16-layer optical disc that can playback high-quality signals from every layer.

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Japanese scientists have proposed a new method for storing more data on optical discs by using arrays of multidirectional V-shape pits.

Current high-density optical recording systems in combination with a blue laser diode and a high numerical aperture (NA) optics have increased the capacity of optical disks to a 20 Gbits level in the Blu-ray system. For further increase of the data storage capacity, technologies such as a holographic data storage, a polarization multiplex recording system, a multilayer optical disk have now been developed.

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Panasonic, the leading brand by which Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. is known, announced today that it has developed the world’s first Write-Once Blu-ray Discs(BD-R) with 6X writing speed. The new discs will be available in Japan with both 25GB and 50GB capacities in July.

Panasonic, which introduced the world’s first dual-layer 1X BD-RE Blu-ray Disc in 2004, 2X BD-R/RE Discs in 2006, and 4X BD-R Disc in 2007, is now launching the world’s first 6X BD-R to meet consumer demand to write and read large amounts of data at a higher speed. The new 6X discs have a maximum data transfer speed of 216Mbps, which is 20% faster than that of 16X DVD-R discs. This transfer speed, along with the discs’ high capacity, allows consumers to use these discs for a variety of applications such as storing High Definition video or backing up PC data.

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The new program allows users to rent a Primera Bravo SE Disc Publisher along with the company’s PTRip software for just $299 per week. The Bravo SE’s built-in robotics will load personal music CDs into the unit and rip tracks into Apple iTunes or Windows Media Player – automatically and “hands-free.” Anyone who owns a bunch of CDs and wants a new and easy way to rip them to their computer should be interested in the Primera Bravo Rent & Rip program.

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LG Electronics today launched its new line of optical disc drives, featuring one of the fastest Blu-ray reading and writing speeds available at a super-fast 6x.

The latest models — LG BE06, LG GBC-H20L, and LG GBW-H20L - are available now through U.S.retail stores as well as other online electronics retailers.

Unique to LG, the line offers SecurDisc capabilities, which provide data protection and content access control on all current optical formats and LightScribe technology.

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Plextor JP wil release the DVD super multi-drive PX-820A and PX-820SA series of 20x DVD burners in Japan by the end of the month.

The super-multi DVD burners burn on DVD recordable discs at 20x, DVD-RAM at 12x, DVD+R DL/+RW at 8X, DVD-RW at 6x, CD-R at 48x and CD-RW at 32x. The drives are also capable of burning DVD-R DL media at 12x.

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Falcon Technologies International (FTI) today introduced a complete line of Gold CD-R and DVD-R media with specially-optimized 24k Gold reflective layer designs and formulations that offer ultra-long 300 and 100 year archival lifespans, respectively, based on accelerated aging tests.

The discs’ long archival capabilities make them the ideal solutions for a wide variety of applications, including the preservation of important documents such as company and government records, photographs and video files.

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With Samsung and LG having already launched 22x DVD burners, Sony and BenQ plan to launch competing products in July and the third quarter of 2008, respectively, according to industry sources in Taiwan.

BenQ will have Lite-On IT undertake ODM production of its 22x DVD burners, while Sony’s will be produced by either Sony NEC Optiarc, a joint venture of Sony and NEC, or an ODM/OEM maker in Taiwan or South Korea, the sources indicated.

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