Pioneer DVR-A09 this month

[ice-berg]

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pna/press/release/detail/0,,2076_4313_191756425,00.html

Las Vegas, January 5, 2005 - Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. continues to lead development of new optical drive technologies for DVD and high-definition recording, launching at the Consumer Electronics Show this week the company’s ninth-generation high-speed, dual format DVD burner and demonstrating for the first time new Blu-ray Disc prototypes for home and computer high-definition video recording.



“Pioneer has long been a catalyst for innovation and pushing the envelope in optical drives and recording technology. With the products we are demonstrating at CES, we are continuing our commitment to pursue technology advancements in DVD recording as well as development of new technologies such as Blu-ray Disc that allow consumers to capture the full impact of high-definition content on a disc,” said Andy Parsons, senior vice president, Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc.



DVD Burning Products For Today

The DVR-A09XL high speed DVD burner introduced today by Pioneer enables computer users to record data, photos and video onto DVD-R, DVD-RW, +R and +RW discs with ease. It also works with dual layer discs, increasing the capacity of a disc from 4.7 to 8.5 gigabytes for even more storage space.



The DVR-A09XL offers many technologies unique to Pioneer, including Quiet Drive for minimal operating noise; Liquid Crystal Control for optimum recording quality; Precision Recording to minimize the effects of long term deterioration of re-recordable discs due to repeated writing; and an Ultra Dynamic Resonance Absorber to reduce vibrations during high-speed recording and playback of discs. The DVR-A09XL comes packaged with high quality software that enables the user to edit home movies, burn music, create photo slideshows and back up data with ease. The DVR-A09XL will begin shipping this month.



A Bright Blue Future

Knowing that eventually even 8.5 gigabytes per disc may not be enough storage space for recording of high definition video, Pioneer is also showcasing a Blu-ray Disc drive prototype that, when released, will have the capacity to store up to 50 gigabytes of information on a single disc.



As the HDTV revolution continues to grow in the U.S. consumers are going to want the ability to record high definition video and to purchase or rent major movie titles in high def. The answer to their need is Blu-ray Disc, a new optical disc format that will enable consumers to enjoy all the benefits of HDTV on a 5-inch optical disc that looks very similar in size and shape to a CD or DVD.



Pioneer is one of 15 major companies that joined together to lead the creation of the Blu-ray Disc format, a compatible standard for high definition recording. The Blu-ray Disc Association has now grown to nearly 100 members including the most trusted brands in consumer electronics, computers, media and several Hollywood movie studios.



Blu-ray Disc offers five times as much capacity as current DVDs, enabling movie studios to put a complete high definition movie on a single Blu-ray disc with more added features than currently available on DVD including interactive features. It also will allow a consumer to record a high definition television program to disc or to store 50 GB worth of data from their computer.



Pioneer is showcasing its Blu-ray Disc future at CES with prototypes of home use and computer recorders. Both will be able to record and play back most DVD discs as well as record and play the new Blu-ray Disc format, making the transition from DVD to Blu-ray Disc easier for consumers. Pioneer’s internal computer drive for Blu-ray Disc recording is expected to ship in 2005. No date has been set for the release of the home Blu-ray Disc recorder, although it is expected to release shortly after movie studios begin releasing movie titles on Blu-Ray Disc in late 2005 or early 2006.

[banger298]

When can i get one??????????????

[kabanero]

Still looks like Pioneer is behind Philips:

http://www.opticalstorage.philips.com/about/news/section-13542/article-14836.html

Philips Demonstrates its Blu-ray Disc PC drive capable of reading and writing on CD, DVD and Blu-ray Discs

Philips Electronics, a world leader in optical storage and a founding member of the Blu-ray Disc Association, will be revealing its prototype all-in-one PC writer that reads and writes CD, DVD and Blu-ray Discs. The demonstration will be held on the Philips booth #9004 at the CES 2005 exhibition. The introduction of this unique all-in-one PC writer is scheduled for the second half of 2005.

The PC drive utilizes Philips' latest compact OPU81 triple-laser optical pick-up unit in which separate infra-red, red and blue lasers share the same optical pathway to provide Blu-ray Disc read/write capabilities as well as read/write compatibility with DVD and CD. This compact optical pick-up unit is based on a flexible architecture, allowing future speed improvements to be easily and cost-effectively implemented.

"With the introduction of this new product concept we have created the ultimate consumer product" said Cor Saris , CEO of Philips Optical Storage. " Combining the success of CD and DVD Recording with the BluRay Recording formats into one PC writer will accelerate the acceptance of this new format in the PC and Consumer market."

Blu-ray Disc is the most advanced new optical storage standard that will satisfy all next-generation requirements in terms of storage capacity, data speeds, copy protection, interactivity, convenience and cost. As consumers worldwide gain access to high-definition TV (HDTV) through cable, satellite and terrestrial channels, they are not going to be satisfied with less than equal quality in their video recordings. Blu-ray Disc is the only format with the capacity of 25 Gbytes on a single-layer disc and 50 Gbytes on a dual layer disc, to offer full-length feature movie playback using high-definition MPEG2 encoding - the native compression technique for HDTV broadcasts - or even more with advanced codecs, like AVC. In addition, for pre-recorded packaged media, Blu-ray Disc has sufficient capacity to include bonus materials and interactive sessions for an unparalleled entertainment experience. For PC users archiving photographs or video and other data on the hard disk, Blu-ray Disc is the only recordable/re-writable format that provides such a quantum leap in optical storage capacity and gives a seamless experience between PC and CE environments.

Philips is yet again at the forefront of supporting the establishment of Blu-ray Disc as the ultimate long-lasting standard that will take the industry forward in a quantum leap instead of a succession of incremental and consumer confusing steps.

Promoted by the world's leading consumer electronics, PC, disc replication manufacturers and movie studios, the global standardization activity for Blu-ray Disc has already attracted a total membership of more than 90 companies to the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA). The BDA includes companies from every part of the value chain in high quality video and multi-media delivery.

High-resolution pictures:

http://www.opticalstorage.philips.com/about/news/section-13543/index.html

[leebo]

So in what way is it different from the 08?

[lenti_75]

So in what way is it different from the 08?

the price.....

[NightWing]

Skip the DL drives. How about some decent DL media!

[ice-berg]

http://www.cdfreaks.com/news/11164

Pioneer DVR-A09 to support 6x DVD±R DL(?)

Today the Japanese company Buffalo has announced a new 16x DVD burner, the DVM-RDM16(FB/IU2) (internal/external), that appears to be a rebadged DVR-109. According to watch.impress.co.jp it will support an impressive 6x DL speed for both DVD+R DL and DVD-R DL (DVD-R DL after a firmware update to be released in late February).

Buffalo DVM-RDM16(FB/IU2) specs
Write speed
DVD+R DL 6x
DVD+R 16x
DVD+RW 8x*
DVD-R DL 6x*
DVD-R 16x
DVD-RW 6x
CD-R 40x
CD-RW 24x


*) With a firmware update.


If the specifications are correct this will make Pioneer DVR-A09 the fastest DL writer, taking the lead from Toshiba’s SD-R5372 which writes DVD+R DL at 5x speed. Buffalo plans to release its rebadged version at the end of January. For increased compatibility Buffalo's version will also write DVD+R and DVD+R DL with DVD-ROM book type according to watch.impress.co.jp .

[nick101181]

I think I'll wait for a blu-ray or HD dvd burner. I paid 300 for my pioneer a06 then one year later they dropped to like 70 bucks .

[sssax2003]

Hmmmmmmm I like the Buffalo.....

[RottenFoxBreath]

i really wonder how much the dvd-rDL media will actually cost.?
especially at "premium" speeds like x6speed poss!
the way the articles descibe it ,it sounds like the 108 is possible to write -rDL as well,if the 109 is the same but quicker.

[raffie]

Knowing that a blu-ray burner will be available in 6 months, does anyone else think that no company wants to make the investment to start producing DL-DVD media in high volumes? It's at least what I think and that's why I'm holding off bying a new burner for 6 months.

[Fandim]

does the 109 still use the same gay write type as the 108? gotta love taking longer to burn 16x than 8x.

[lordsmurf]

I think people are missing the point here: Blu-Ray will require Blu-Ray players. DL discs are still just fine for DVD players.

I don't think many people are going to jump to BR anytime soon, most people have only just gotten their very first DVD player in the past 2 years, even as recent as this past Christmas.

DVD-R DL has a future, thanks.

I'm not buying anything until Pioneer is totally ready: DVD-R DL media, DVD-R DL firmware, and DVD-R DL recording drives. Give me those three with some ability to show reliability, and I'll pull out a credit card and go to the store. But not one minute before.

[mikesbytes]

If the specifications are correct this will make Pioneer DVR-A09 the fastest DL writer, taking the lead from Toshiba’s SD-R5372 which writes DVD+R DL at 5x speed. Buffalo plans to release its rebadged version at the end of January. For increased compatibility Buffalo's version will also write DVD+R and DVD+R DL with DVD-ROM book type according to watch.impress.co.jp .

Isn't Plexor claiming 8X DL

[jntaylor63]

Just don't see the need to jump to DL disk now. Media too high (10 bucks for a DL vs. .90 for two Sinlge layer)

Use Xvid for large movie / single disk back-up. Use PC today for playback, will get a HD-DVD w. DivX-XviD support in future.

[Nilfennasion]

The only practical use for DL media that I have seen to date is for backing up discs that cannot be transcoded without major loss. Which, as luck would have it, is a very small minority of discs currently in the market. Of course, it would help if DL discs could be reliably burned so that one could decide what content they want to keep on there, instead of just making bit-for-bit copies (which will not reliably play back, anyway).

I think the lesson to be learned here is that the companies behind the new medias should stop mucking about with capacity wars and instead do some testing to see how much space is actually needed to reliably store three hours of HD content.

[Epicurus8a]

<EDIT> More info here:
http://www.dvd-recordable.org/

sorry for the previous bad link.

[leebo]

More info here:
http://www.dvd-recordable.org/Reviews+index-req-showcontent-id-133.phtm

The page cannot be found

[Tidy]

does the 109 still use the same gay write type as the 108? gotta love taking longer to burn 16x than 8x.

Something must be up with your system.... I burn 16x with my 108 all the time and it is ALWAYS faster than 8x although I know due to write strategies it will never burn a true 16x.

[Bucky_Katt]

I'm just waiting for printable DL media. Why spend alot on blank media if you can't print what you want on the face. I hate sticky lables, they look cheap.

[stiltman]

Didn't read the whole thread...

I saw the A09 at BestBuy for $129.99 yesterday.

Box had 6X DL but I don't remember if it list +DL and -DL

[kosekjm]

Stiltman,

Best Buy where?

[kamuixtv]

Didn't read the whole thread...

I saw the A09 at BestBuy for $129.99 yesterday.

Box had 6X DL but I don't remember if it list +DL and -DL

Maybe it's $300 or more? $300 worth of blank media may worth a while

[stiltman]

Didn't read the whole thread...

I saw the A09 at BestBuy for $129.99 yesterday.

Box had 6X DL but I don't remember if it list +DL and -DL

Maybe it's $300 or more? $300 worth of blank media may worth a while

No I listed the price. I live west of the mississippi (big area I know) I was surprised to see it too and there was no price tags on the shelf for it. I had to ask for the price

[lordsmurf]

Great ... so where do we go to buy DVD-R DL discs.

[stiltman]

BTW, The box on Pioneers website and the box I saw at BB are different. Might be the difference od XL and not XL. I don't remember seeing XL on the box at BB....If I get a chance I'll go over htere again today

[Nilfennasion]

Maybe the Consortium will try to market DVD-R DL a little better, thus forcing the Alliance to get the finger out and put some effort into convincing us to support DVD+R DL. And people say two competing formats is a bad thing?

[Epicurus8a]

They're here....

Just picked mine up at BB for $130. It includes NovaStor NovaBACKUP, and the following Ulead goodies; PictureShow 3SE, VideoStudio 8 SE DVD, MovieFactory 3.5. I'll hook it up tonight.

BTW, my box says DVR-A09XL.

[SatStorm]

The only thing I can say for certain, is:
"In pioneer we trust"
Now let's see... Where are those DVD-R DL discs to buy few...

[ice-berg]

Anybody tried this burner yet?