A stalwart name in optical disc recording, Plextor once again puts together a winning effort with its latest PX-B310SA BD Combo Super Multi drive. Contract manufactured and marketed by Philips & Lite-On Digital Storage (PLDS) for Plextor, the PX-B310SA currently retails for $159 and, in addition to reading all types of Blu-ray Discs (BD), DVDs and CDs, writes DVDs and CDs as well.

Fitting right in with the current crop of BD Combos, the PX-B310SA’s retail package includes, in addition to the drive itself, a Serial ATA (SATA) data cable, mounting screws and a catchall application suite — specifically, CyberLink’s BD Solution (which consists of PowerDVD 8 BD OEM 2CH, PowerProducer 5, Power2GO 6, InstantBurn 5, PowerBackup 2.5 and PowerDirector 6.5).

As well, happily, and with its appealing blend of disc testing and drive diagnostic abilities, Plextor’s companion PlexUTILITIES software comes along for the ride to set this kit apart from the pack. Oddly, however, it isn’t enclosed in the box and must be downloaded from the company’s website.

Nero’s DiscSpeed benchmarking tool confirms that the PX-B310SA is an able performer with solid reading and writing chops (see tables, below). For the most part, everything fell in line with my expectations during testing with solid transfer rates sufficient to keep up with most day-to-day tasks.

Alas, I was unable to experiment with the unit’s 12x DVD-RAM capabilities, as suitable blank discs are not widely available in North America.

To my mind it’s also essential that any recorder should support writing to blank discs from as many manufacturers as possible. In this regard the PX-B310SA didn’t disappoint. In particular, all of the fifteen 16x-rated DVD-R SLs and ten out of the ten DVD+R SLs I tested achieved full burning speed.

System requirements for the PX-B310SA, not surprisingly, are the same as any other Blu-ray drive (see The Authoritative BD FAQ). For example, when playing homemade or commercial movies, presume at least a Windows XP/Vista-equipped Pentium Core 2 Duo with 1 GB RAM, Serial ATA (SATA), an ATI Radeon HD series or NVIDIA PureVideo HD graphics card, an HDCP-compliant digital (or analog VGA D-Sub) display, and a broadband internet connection (to access updates and BD-Live features).

Since CyberLink’s BD software solution comes bundled with so many of the PX-B310SA’s competitors, I instead focused my review attention on PlexUTILITIES. A handy maintenance and all around good housekeeping tool, PlexUTILITIES checks for firmware updates, executes simple diagnostics and even provides helpful drive and low-level disc information (see Figure 1, below). Integrated hardware checks include everything from running self-tests to interrogating the condition of the unit’s CD and DVD laser diodes (Iop). And, for those so inclined, elements of disc quality can be evaluated by examining tracking, focus and DC jitter (DVD) as well as measuring digital errors such as C1/C2 (CD) and PIE/PIF (DVD). PlexUTILITIES also takes a stab at tracking erroneous bytes in LDC and BIS blocks for BDs but, unfortunaly, comes up short, as it doesn’t measure standard parameters (SER, RSER, etc.).



For the most part, I found these abilities to be unpolished but, nonetheless, helpful for keeping tabs on the drive and recorded discs. However, with no background information or explanations provided in the documentation, evaluations are obviously geared toward knowledgeable users. It’s also important to appreciate that calibration is not possible and, while meaningful in relation to the individual drive, tests assess disc quality on a relative rather than absolute basis.

Among the drive’s other notable features is PlexERASE. Designed to render unreadable any information stored on previously written CD-R and DVD±R discs, PlexERASE is an interesting option for those looking to destroy personal or other sensitive data. Accessible through PlexUTILITIES or its own dedicated application, PlexERASE functions by randomly overwriting either the complete disc (Full Erase) or, merely, its table of contents (Quick Erase). Quick Erase sanitizes a CD-R or DVD±R in 0:15 to 0:25 but the results are not considered secure by Plextor, since data recovery software may be able to piece together some or all of the original information. Full Erase, on the other hand, is more thorough but takes as much time as it does to create the original disc.

During testing, all worked as advertised and I indeed was unable to read from a handful of wiped discs. However, keep in mind that the degree of destruction needed to prevent recovery depends upon how determined someone is to salvage the information. For example, given sufficient motive, modified drives, custom spin stands, microscopy or other heroic measures might be employed. So, when it comes to erasing data, nothing beats physically obliterating the disc (NIST recommends that CDs and DVDs be reduced to particles no larger than 0.25mm2). That said, PlexERASE should come in handy for eliminating routine materials and preprocessing discs that sit around before being shredded or sent out for destruction, recycling or the like.

While it isn’t the least expensive option going, with its swiftness, attractive features and compelling software bundle, Plextor’s PX-B310SA offers the best performance, utility, and value of any BD Combo drive currently available. It’s a good entry point for anyone looking play BD movies and capable enough to act as a single reading and writing drive solution.

Hugh Bennett (hugh_bennett at compuserve.com), an EMedialive and EventDV contributing editor, is president of Forget Me Not Information Systems (www.forgetmenot.ca), a reseller, systems integrator and industry consultant based in London, Ontario, Canada. Hugh is the author of The Authoritative Blu-ray Disc (BD) FAQ and The Authoritative HD DVD FAQ, available on EMedialive.com, as well as Understanding Recordable & Rewritable DVD and Understanding CD-R & CD-RW, published by the Optical Storage Technology Association (OSTA).

The Authoritative Blu-ray Disc (BD) FAQ Has Moved!

Hugh Bennett’s The Authoritative Blu-ray Disc (BD) FAQ has moved to its new home at Hugh’s News (www.hughsnews.ca).

It can now be found at: www.hughsnews.ca/faqs/authoritative-blu-ray-disc-bd-faq

Samsung Electronics America Inc., a market leader and award-winning innovator in consumer electronics, today announced availability for its Spring 2009 Blu-ray line-up, led by the flagship BD-P4600.

As the world’s slimmest and first wall-mountable Blu-ray player, the BD-P4600 offers compelling multimedia features in a sophisticated design form factor. A great gift idea for Father’s Day, the BD-P3600 provides unprecedented networking capabilities, top-notch video playback and comprehensive audio decoding for an immersive, theater-like experience. The new BD-P1600 player also provides even the most discerning viewer with superior HD performance for the best sports and entertainment viewing pleasure.

Product Availability and Pricing

- Price:
BD-P4600: $499.99
BD-P3600: $399.99
BD-P1600: $299.99

- Availability:
BD-P4600 April 2009
BD-P3600 and BD-P1600 March 2009

"As a leader in technology and design innovation, we are excited to provide Blu-ray players that meet consumer demand for exceptional viewing quality and accessibility to great content," said Reid Sullivan, senior vice president of Audio/Video and Digital Imaging Marketing at Samsung Electronics America. "Samsung’s Blu-ray players go beyond the box, providing the flexibility to access favorite content from the latest Blu-ray discs, on-demand services, and even networked home PCs with ease."

All three players include BD Live™ (Profile 2.0) − interactive content enabled on select Blu-ray discs (BD-P1600 is BD Live™ ready, requires 1GB of memory) − and Bonus View (Profile 1.1) support for picture-in-picture functionality with high definition discs. They include Full HD 1080p Blu-ray playback with DVD upscaling and total HD soundtrack support. All three can also instantly stream more than 12,000 movies and TV episodes from Netflix and Pandora music services (subscriptions required), to deliver an ever-expanding library of entertainment into the living room without having to leave the house. Each player also offers standard CD playback, with support for JPEG photos, to create even more entertainment value.

BD-P4600 and BD-P3600: More Than Your Average Blu-ray Players
Samsung’s newest Blu-ray players continue the trend of stylish and décor-friendly electronics with new versions of Samsung’s Touch of Color™ (ToC™) design and touch sensitive controls. The BD-P3600’s traditional set-top form is just over two inches tall, and comes encased in deep black with charcoal grey highlights curving along the outer edges. The wall-mountable BD-P4600 is just 1.5 inches thin with a piano black design infused with ruby highlights along the outer edges. If wall-mounting is not an option, an integrated stand lets the BD-P4600 be placed on a table at a 25 degree angle.

Both the BD-P4600 and BD-P3600 can access the latest Blu-ray features either wirelessly using the included 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi dongle, or via the traditional wired Ethernet connection. And both players can access the latest BD Live™ and Bonus View Blu-ray features out of the box with the 1GB internal flash memory, leaving the two USB 2.0 ports available for wireless networking and memory expansion duties when needed. Consumers can even stream music, videos, and photos directly from a networked PC with the players, for instant playback and big-screen enjoyment in the living room.

BD-P1600: Anything But Basic
The BD-P1600 is a high-definition Blu-ray player with advanced multimedia features minus the high price tag. The BD-P1600 is Wi-Fi ready (separate purchase of a Wi-Fi USB dongle required), allowing consumers to easily access the latest Blu-ray features, content from Netflix and Pandora, upgrades, and more without the need for additional wires. The BD-P1600 also offers multi-format disc playback (BD, DVD, CD, MP3, JPEG, AVCHD) and the convenience of two USB ports.

All of Samsung’s Blu-ray players offer Full HD 1080p playback with Blu-ray discs, and crisp, detailed upconversion of standard DVDs, and feature an HDMI 1.3 output for a high quality connection to the latest HDTVs.

www.samsung.com

Lite-On, a global leader of optical storage solutions, announces the availability of the iHES208 8X internal Blu-ray Disc Combo. The Blu-ray Disc reader, plus DVD writer, provides consumers an innovative way to playback high-definition content, while maintaining the capability of archiving personal data files onto CD or DVD.

The iHES208 can record on the market’s most popular DVD and CD media, as well as playback from media including Blu-ray, DVD and CD. The drive reads BD-R/RE/ROM discs at up to 8X and supports the following writing speeds: DVD±R at 16X, DVD±R DL and DVD+RW at 8X, DVD-RW at 6X and DVD-RAM at 12X.

"The iHES208 is a great solution for those looking for the advanced technologies of Blu-ray in home entertainment," said Christine Hsing, Marketing Manager at PLDS. "The drive will not only allow them to play high-definition content such as Blu-ray movies, it will also let them easily share data files, presentations, home videos and other image files on DVDs or CDs."

The iHES208 comes equipped with LightScribe technology, allowing users to silkscreen any type of artwork directly onto the surface of the LightScribe-supported CD or DVD. The new LightScribe software completely eliminates the need for printers, permanent markers or adhesive labels and provides a clean, professional appearance that adds to the final touch to your perfect creation. Users simply burn content data as always onto any LightScribe-compatible media, turn the disc over, reinsert into the drive and burn a unique label based on any personal artwork, text or photographs.

The iHES208 also incorporates the latest industry standard Serial ATA interface which provides better performance and compatibility. MSRP for the iHES208 is $159.99, for more product information please visit www.liteonit.com.

Plextor Europe chose CeBIT 2009 in Hannover to unveil its latest optical drive with a choice of interfaces - the internal DVD-ReWriter with ATAPI/IDE interface (PX-860A) and SATA (PX-860SA). Each is capable of reaching market-leading writing speeds of 12x DL and 20x DVD-R, which means they are both versatile and rapid drives.

Plextor is fast becoming known as the premium personal storage experts, having built up an impressive range of optical and hard disk-based products. The company offers something for every requirement - from home users and small offices, up to SME users. From Blu-ray recorders (eg PX-B920SA/UF, PX-B300SA) to pocket HDDs (eg PX-PPH120U), to wireless HD media players (eg PX-MX1000WL) to NAS drives ideal for businesses (eg PX-NAS2X1000L).

Designed to match both black and white PCs, the PX-860 series comes complete with two easy to change front bezels.

As usual, Plextor includes a SATA variant, the PX-860SA. The growth in SATA is for a variety of good reasons: it is scalable, allows more flexibility in system design and adds future-proofing for the computing platform. It also enables system reliability improvements to airflow and thermal dynamics, as well as easier installation and upgrades.

Ideal for business professionals, home enthusiasts and those users requiring the latest speeds, the premium quality PX-860 is an update from Plextor's popular PX-820 series launched last year.

The Plextor PX-860A and PX-860SA are capable of the following speeds:

• 20x DVD+/- R
• 12x DVD+/- R DL
• 8x DVD+RW
• 6x DVD-RW
• 12x DVD-RAM read & Write
• 16x DVD-ROM 40x CD-R
• 32x CD-RW
• 40x CD-ROM

The Plextor PX-860 range will be available from mid April 2009 at Plextor's network of dealers. It is covered by Plextor's Fast Warranty Service (2-year warranty in the EU, Norway and Switzerland (Collect & Return); other countries 1-year carry-in).

In addition, the following software is included in the box: Nero Express 7 Essentials.

The Plextor PX-860 range has been developed to strict environmental and recycling standards - to meet EU RoHS (restriction of hazardous substances) and WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) directives.

www.plextor.com

Blockbuster Inc. (NYSE: BBI, BBI.B), a global leader in entertainment, and TiVo Inc. (Nasdaq: TIVO), the creator of and a leader in television services for digital video recorders (DVRs), today announced they are joining forces to deliver Blockbuster's vast library of premium digital movie titles directly to the television set via TiVo(R) DVRs.

BLOCKBUSTER OnDemand, featuring content to both buy and rent, will be integrated into TiVo Series2(TM), Series3(TM), TiVo HD, and TiVo HD XL DVRs. The move by two leaders in home entertainment will make it even easier for all broadband connected TiVo subscribers to download Blockbuster's content and enjoy a complete television entertainment experience on their individual schedules using TiVo, the best and most comprehensive single solution for delivery and simple, intuitive navigation of broadband, broadcast, and cable content - all from one remote control.

TiVo DVRs will be sold at thousands of Blockbuster(R) stores nationwide as well as online at blockbuster.com, giving both companies new distribution outlets and putting TiVo DVRs and BLOCKBUSTER OnDemand front and center of where video shopping takes place. Additionally, the companies will implement a cross-marketing campaign.

"We are excited to be teaming with TiVo, the company that created the DVR, to make Blockbuster's entertainment content readily available to their millions of subscribers," said Jim Keyes, Blockbuster Chairman and CEO. "Ultimately, our vision is to work with TiVo so that their subscribers can access movies not only through our OnDemand service but also from our stores and through our by-mail service as well. Regardless of a film's availability - through VOD or on DVD - we want to work with TiVo to provide their subscribers unprecedented access to movie content."

"Joining with Blockbuster further distinguishes TiVo as a true universal solution for content providers, making it a one stop shop for any content thru broadband or linear distribution straight to the TV," said Tom Rogers, President and CEO of TiVo Inc. "When consumers walk into one of the thousands of Blockbuster stores entertainment for the home is on their minds -- it could not be more natural to have them exposed to the world of millions of entertainment possibilities for the home that the TiVo Service provides."

The companies expect to have the BLOCKBUSTER OnDemand service integrated into TiVo DVRs in the second half of 2009.

BLOCKBUSTER OnDemand offers one of the most extensive libraries of digital entertainment product in the marketplace, with thousands of titles from the hottest new movie releases to the classics. For more information on BLOCKBUSTER OnDemand delivered via the TiVo service visit www.tivo.com/blockbuster.

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group (WBHEG), today announced the debut of the "Warner Archive Collection" (www.WarnerArchive.com), a selection of movies spanning more than 60 years of filmmaking never before available on DVD. The world’s largest film and television vault is finally open to consumers who can now purchase authentic DVD and digital downloads of more than 150 classic titles for the first time drawn from Warner Bros. Entertainment’s unparalleled film library consisting of pre-1986 MGM, RKO Radio Pictures and Warner Bros. Pictures films. They include Academy Award® nominee "Sunrise at Campobello," "The Citadel," "Mr. Lucky," and many others from the Golden Age of Hollywood and beyond.

To order their movies, fans visit WarnerArchive.com, select their titles, and upon purchase, a state-of-the-art manufacturing on demand (MOD) system creates a made-to-order DVD indistinguishable in quality from a standard pressed DVD. The system places the DVD into a hard plastic Amaray case featuring custom artwork; shrink wraps it and ships the finished package to the customer which arrives in approximately five days. The cost per title is $19.95, plus shipping. Alternatively, movie fans can purchase digital downloads of these classic films to enjoy immediately on their PC. The cost for a digital download is $14.95 per title.

Initially the Warner Archive Collection offers 150 sought after titles including "Possessed" starring Clark Gable and Joan Crawford; "Once Upon a Honeymoon" starring Cary Grant and Ginger Rogers; and "All Fall Down" starring Warren Beatty and Eva Marie Saint. Every month approximately 20 classic films and television programs will be added and by year’s end more than 300 titles will be available online. For a complete list of current titles visit WarnerArchive.com.

"With a cinematic legacy as rich and varied as that found within our library, the challenge has been to meet the voracious demand of consumers who are seeking their favorite films on DVD," said George Feltenstein, senior vice president, Theatrical Catalog Marketing, Warner Home Video. "Whether it’s an Academy Award® -winning classic from Hollywood’s Golden Age, a Sci-Fi cult favorite from the ‘70s, or a silent rediscovery from the ‘20s, the Warner Archive Collection has something for everyone. This unprecedented initiative represents a tremendous effort from Warner Home Video and Warner Bros. Digital Distribution and is representative of the company’s continued dedication to film preservation."

As a companion to the Warner Archive Collection, WBHEG will launch an exciting new podcast series titled the "Golden History of Hollywood." Available in late March on iTunes (www.itunes.com) as well as numerous online sites for free, the "Golden History of Hollywood" features captivating archival recordings from the studio’s vault including behind-the-scenes interviews with stars, radio editions of movies and much more.

Classic movie fans are invited to offer their input on future titles they would like to see in the Warner Archive Collection. Visit WarnerArchive.com and vote for a number of the next 20 titles that will be offered in April.

About Warner Bros. Digital Distribution

Warner Bros. Digital Distribution (WBDD) manages Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group’s electronic distribution streams over existing, new and emerging digital platforms, including pay-per-view, electronic sell-through, video-on-demand, wireless and more. WBDD also oversees the WBHEG’s worldwide digital strategy, partnerships in digital services and emerging new clients and business activities in the digital space.

ArcSoft announced today the release of its newest version of TotalMedia Theatre. ArcSoft TotalMedia Theatre 3 is a powerful, easy-to-use Blu-ray and high-definition multimedia player with enhanced features. The player now supports ASUS Xonar HDAV series audio card to bring true, lossless 7.1 channel output to your home.

TotalMedia Theatre 3 is packed with new features; including enhanced video display results, robust Blu-ray interactive features support, DTS Surround Sensation Ultra PC capability, MKV, FLV and HE-AAC audio support, and direct playback from camcorders to mention a few, providing users with the ultimate movie-viewing experience.

Utilizing ASUS Xonar HDAV series audio card, TotalMedia Theatre 3 enables lossless digital audio pass-through such as DTS-HD Master Audio, Dolby TrueHD, and Dolby Digital Plus, to AV receivers for high-fidelity sounds up to 192 kHz sampling frequency and 24-bit audio resolution, offering an exceptional audio experience to users when watching Blu-ray movies.
"ArcSoft TotalMedia Theatre 3 provides users with powerful Blu-ray and multimedia playback features in a brand new, sleek, and power-saving UI," said George Tang, ArcSoft’s VP and General Manager of Video and Home Entertainment Group. "Beside the more vivid images, the support for Xonar HDAV series audio card brings the exceptional audio effects, marking a new era in movie-viewing experience on the PC."

"The Xonar HDAV series audio card is the world’s first and the only solution capable of providing bit-to-bit exact lossless Blu-ray audio output, without any downsampling of DVD quality," said Sean Lai, Senior Manager, Multimedia Product Marketing Dept., ASUSTek Computer Inc. "With ArcSoft TotalMedia Theatre, users are taken to the next step of audio-video enjoyment."

Key Features of ArcSoft TotalMedia Theatre 3:

• Supports playback of Blu-ray movies and high-definition multimedia files
• Enhanced Blu-ray interactive feature support, including BD Profile 1.0, Bonus View and BD-Live 
• Direct playback from high-definition camcorders 
• Excellent performance with high hardware acceleration compatibility and Advanced De-Interlace (ADI) 
• Home theatre audio experience 
• HDMI 1.3 pass-through support, for lossless 7.1 channel audio output through receivers
• Smart playback features such as Time Stretch and Auto-Resume 
• Advanced video features such as HQV support, and Auto Enhance 
• Popular internet HD video support – MKV
  

For more information about ArcSoft TotalMedia Theatre 3, please visit www.arcsoft.com/intouch/totalmediatheatre3pr

Pricing and Availability
ArcSoft TotalMedia™ Theatre 3 is available for OEM bundling. The retail version is released for purchase online for $89.99 USD on ArcSoft’s eStore on www.arcsoft.com. Upgrade versions are available for existing users starting from $49.99. For more information on ASUS Xonar HDAV series audio card, visit www.asus.com.

Vinpower Digital announced today the availability of their latest innovation; the network connectable standalone duplicator series branded as SharkNet. This series allows a user to create image files or LightScribe print files on their PC and transfer them across an internal network via LAN/Ethernet connection onto the SharkNet Duplicator in order to duplicate image files and/or print LightScribe (LS) label files directly onto CD, DVD, and/or Blu-ray media at their convenience.

The SharkNet provides both convenience and security within any size office environment in an easy to use and operate standalone tower duplicator. With the network connectivity, the SharkNet does not require the person loading the file(s) be near or even in the same room as the duplicator. This allows a company to keep any quantity of manual tower duplicators in a safe optimal environment where users can transfer files directly onto the duplicator as apposed to the longer and more time consuming process of generating a master disc then loading it into the duplicator manually.

The disc duplicator is fast becoming a standard office accessory similar to a paper printer and the networkable capability is essential for this transition.

"The SharkNet series of standalone duplicators are perfect for all office environments," declares Calvin Chang, C.E.O Vinpower Digital. "The disc duplicator is fast becoming a standard office accessory similar to a paper printer and the networkable capability is essential for this transition."

Plus by being able to sequester the SharkNet duplicator into a secure environment, where only authorized personnel can access it, provides a security feature preventing general employees from being able to make copies of unauthorized sensitive or confidential files. Creating an atmosphere where employees must submit their files via the SharkNet so that a gatekeeper of sorts can determine whether that file or label is authorized to make reproductions of is a safety net against unlawful or unethical activities with a company's proprietary information or imagery.

Vinpower Digital's line of standalone network capable duplication towers are available in multiple drive configurations, from one up to an astounding 15 writer drives in a single duplicator. In addition, the SharkNet series duplicators offer large capacity internal hard drives for optimal data storage capability. Vinpower Digital's line of duplicators enable users to make exact digital copies of their original Blu-ray*, DVD, and/or CD content. The SharkNet series also includes a USB interface. This allows the unit to be connected to a single PC without a network interface, allowing the user to transfer their original master content directly from a computer for use in the duplicator.

Note that the ability to print LightScribe files or duplicate content on to Blu-ray discs depends on the model purchased. It must have Blu-ray Disc and/or LightScribe capable drives installed using Blu-ray Disc or LightScribe capable media.

www.vinpowerdigital.com.