discs

Denon debuts universal disc player

Looks like Denon has beaten Oppo in launching what could be the world's first player that spins Blu-ray, DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, Super Audio CD, and CD.

The new Denon DVD-A1UD is not only a "true" universal player, it's also fully equipped to unlock the full potential of Blu-ray. It's BD-Live-ready to support Web-based interactive features and decodes high-resolution Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio soundtracks.

For hardcore enthusiasts with dual displays such as a separate projector and flat-panel TV, the DVD-A1UD's twin HDMI 1.3a terminals are sweet additions, while professional-grade balanced audio output will … Read more

OneCall has the Sony HES-V1000 200 Disc Blu-ray Home Entertainment Server for $2498.89, after $1001.10 savings, plus free shipping.

Save $1001.1 on the Sony HES-V1000 200 Disc Blu-ray Home Entertainment Server from OneCall >> Regular price is $3499.99 >> Sale price is $2498.89 >> Savings $1001.1 (28.60%) >> Click here for deal

CRUTCHFIELD has the Sony BDP-S350 Blu-ray Disc high-definition player for $269.99, after $30 savings, plus free shipping.

CRUTCHFIELD has Sony BDP-S350 Blu-ray Disc high-definition player for $269.99, after $30 savings, plus free shipping. >> Regular price is $299.99 >> Sale price is $269.99 >> Savings $30 (10%) >> Click here for deal

Futuresource: Hi-def disc market doing well

According to a recent report by Futuresource, a consulting company that did a survey on how many of us copy DVDs a while ago, the high-definition disc markets in both the U.S. and Europe continue to perform very well, thanks to the fact that the world shifted to one format--Blu-ray--at the beginning of the year.

Currently, taking only big titles into account, the share of total sales being taken by Blu-ray has already hit 5 percent to 6 percent. By the end of the year, this share is estimated to be more than 10 percent. With many hot title … Read more

Pioneer ups the ante, says 500GB Blu-ray-like disc possible

A month after saying it had figured out how to squeeze 400GB of data onto a single optical disc, Pioneer says it can do better than that.

On Tuesday the company said that it is "feasible" to produce a Blu-ray-compatible disc with 20 layers. At 25GB per layer, that amounts to a 500GB disc. The previous claim of 400GB meant just 16 layers were on a single disc.

Blu-ray Discs are currently available in single layer (25GB) and dual-layer (50GB) discs.

The company said that it was able to squeeze more layers in by stacking alternating layers of … Read more

What discs should I buy for my DVD recorder? Ask the Editors

Q: I have a Panasonic DMR-EZ48VK recorder that I recently purchased. This is all new to me. I would like to know what disc-type I should buy for recording VCR tapes onto a DVD disc. Also, is there a different between +r and -r? -- Lisa, via e-mail.

A: Those are excellent questions. Yes, it can be a confusing (and probably a frustrating) shopping experience to browse your local electronics store and decide between all the disc spindles labeled with + and - signs. Then you notice DVD+RW, DVD-RW, dual-layer, and the elusive DVD-RAM discs that are gathering dust on the shelf but are more expensive than the rest. How does one decide which format to choose without pulling out one's hair?

The short answer: Look for DVD+R--the most compatible, cheapest option out there. Using your Panasonic DMR-EZ48VK recorder, you will be able to record up to 4 hours of decent-looking video on LP mode. Since most VHS tapes hold around 2 hours of video, you should be fine. But if you require more disc space and rewritable capabilities, continue reading.

… Read more

Pioneer claims 400GB, Blu-ray-like disc

Got a big archiving project you've been itching to do? Pioneer's latest development could help you keep all your data in one nice, little circular package.

The Japanese electronics maker has been working on an optical disc, which, like Blu-ray, can store 25GB of data in a single layer. But Pioneer says it's one-upped the high-definition format to the sixteenth degree. The company announced today that it has a single disc that contains 16 layers of storage, at 25GB each. That adds up to 400GB of data capable of being stored on a single disc.

Blu-ray comes … Read more

Some help for the abused disc

It may look just like a typical Sony Discman, but Sanwa's CD-RE1AT doesn't play any CDs or DVDs. Instead, it helps to restore damaged discs and make them readable again. We doubt it would be much help for removing deep scratches or cracks, but this should prove useful for removing dust, fingerprints, and oily stains from the disc surface--detritus that can affect the performance of a disc.

But what also caught out attention is that besides cleaning, the Sanwa device apparently also applies a protective layer onto the disc to prevent reading errors in future without grinding it. … Read more

HP's newest multifunction printer includes a built-in DVD drive

The HP Photosmart C8180 isn't cheap, so we wouldn't recommend you throwing down $400 for this multifunction unless you're an amateur photographer who needs a top-notch printer and won't mind waiting more than a minute for each photo.

We just finished testing the C8180 (full review), and we were impressed by its built-in LightScribe drive. LightScribe is a direct disc-labeling system that uses lasers to burn an image directly onto the disc. The LightScribe system is meant to eliminate the smudges and peeling that inevitably happens with sticker labels, and the fact that Hewlett-Packard decided to … Read more