Video News

Reprinted from a Ulead press release:

DVD Workshop 2 is available at www.ulead.com for $495. DVD Workshop 2 will also be available through video resellers nationwide by mid-February. For upgrade pricing, a list of video resellers, and other information go to www.ulead.com.

DVD Workshop 2 lets users include alternate music, languages, and commentaries in DVD projects with multiple audio and subtitle tracks. To save disc space and create intricate menu navigation, playlist creation lets users link a sequence of assets-movies, menus, and chapter points–to buttons without duplicating assets. Creative professionals can even replicate DVD titles with Workshop’s support for Digital Linear Tape (DLT), and dual layer DVDs (DVD-9) for replicating discs with double the capacity. DVD Workshop 2 offers copyright protection with support for Macrovision and CSS formats, and control over which geographic region can view DVD titles with region coding.

Reprinted from a Bella Corporation press release:

Bella Corporation, a leading supplier of video solutions, has announced the immediate availability of their exclusive Premiere Pro Upgrade kit for their Adobe Premiere keyboards. These specially designed kits contain both new keycaps as well as a Bella Custom Keyboard Layout offering the following advantages:

Reprinted from an iamusic.com press release:

To help producers significantly reduce the time spent explaining music licensing issues to their clients, iamusic.com is offering a free collection of Music Licensing FAQs. These FAQs answer the reoccurring questions and dispel the “myths” about music licensing — efficiently — within any web page on the producer’s web site.

Issues addressed include:

Reprinted from an ADS press release:

ADS Tech (www.adstech.com) announced today that it is now shipping its new PYRO 1394b PCI Card and PYRO 1394b Cardbus for Notebooks.

The PYRO 1394b PCI Card is a true 64-bit PCI interface card that supports FireWire devices with transfer speeds up to 800 Mbps. By upgrading to the new card, PC, Mac and network users can achieve twice the speed of 1394a for improved workflow and increased productivity. With two FireWire 800 ports and one FireWire 400 port, the PYRO PCI and Cardbus cards will work with all future and legacy 1394a devices.

More efficient than 1394a, the ADS Tech PYRO 1394b PCI and Cardbus cards reduce data delays on the bus. It also reduces signal distortion, enabling higher throughput and making the card ideal for high-speed storage, backup and video capture solutions. With the new card, users have the real time delivery they need for audio and video applications where dropped or out-of-order frames cannot be tolerated.

The PYRO 1394b cards leverage ADS Tech’s PYRO/FireWire leadership to deliver an OHCI-compliant 1394b host controller with support for 100 Mb/sec. (12.5 MB/sec), 200 Mb/sec. (25 MB/sec.), 400 Mb/sec. (50 MB/sec.) and 800 Mb/sec. (100 MB/sec.) data transfer speeds. Two ports are available for 1394b connections and one port for 1394a connections.

In addition to being fully backward-compatible with FireWire 400/1394a devices, ADS Tech’s new 800/FireWire Cards are compatible with all DV editing software supporting OHCI FireWire cards.

Designed to provide the vital link between PCs or Macs and the multitude of FireWire devices now available, the PYRO 1394b Cards deliver plug-and-play convenience-users don’t have to shut down their system or wait for it to reboot when a FireWire device is connected. The devices are instantly recognized. Users can also connect up to 63 FireWire devices or up to 16 devices daisy chained together in a single chain.

Pricing, Availability
Available through ADS Tech’s network of online and retail channels worldwide, the PYRO 1394b PCI Card has an ESP of US$80. The kit includes the PYRO 1394b PCI Card, with two nine-pin 1394b ports and a six-pin 1394a port. The PYRO 1394b Cardbus for Notebooks has an ESP of US$99. The kit includes the PYRO 1394b Card Bus, a connector dongle with two nine-pin 1394b ports and a six-pin 1394a port.

Both the PYRO 1394b PCI Card and Cardbus can be used with Windows 2000 and XP PCs and FireWire-enabled Mac OS X (10.2.6) systems.

ADS Tech also offers a new PYRO 1394b Drive Kit that works with the PYRO 1394b Card to convert HD, CD and DVD drives to FireWire solutions that can be connected to PC, Mac and network servers. The PYRO 1394b Drive Kit has an ESP of US$119.

Reprinted from a Verbatim press release:

Widely recognized for advancing Recordable DVD media technology, Verbatim Corporation announced today shipments of engineering samples of its new DataLifePlus 8X DVD-R media to DVD burner manufacturers for compatibility testing. With the new 8x DVD-R discs, users can fill an entire 4.7GB disc in less than 10 minutes, significantly faster than the 15 minutes current 4x media delivers. Verbatim will begin shipping the new media to resellers as drives supporting the 8x DVD-R format become available. Burners with 8x DVD-R support were being shown by Pioneer, NEC, SONY and several others at CES last week and are scheduled to be available to retailers in late February.

The faster recording that can be achieved with Verbatim’s new 8X DVD-R discs will help content developers and duplicators increase their productivity while maintaining the broad playback compatibility that DVD-R is known to provide. Higher-speed recording will also benefit busy consumers who want to quickly share their videos with family members as well as businesses that want a fast, cost-effective solution for limited distribution of high-quality training and marketing videos or multimedia presentations.

“Media quality becomes a major concern with higher recording speeds,” said Tim Clatterbuck, Verbatim’s director of optical storage marketing. “The increased speed can cause distortion on the recorded mark of media that isn’t specifically designed for higher laser powers and can, in turn, lead to read-back errors. To prevent these problems, our new 8x DVD-R media incorporates Verbatim’s proprietary Metal Azo recording layer technology which has been fine-tuned to produce an improved power margin and greater sensitivity. As a result, the new media provides unmatched stability at recording speeds of up to 8x.” Like all Verbatim media, the discs are produced using precision molding technology which ensures the excellent flatness of the disc surface, a critical factor for minimizing errors during high-speed recording.

Price, Availability
Verbatim DataLifePlus 8x DVD-R discs will have an estimated street price of $3.99 and will be available through authorized resellers and the Verbatim web site in Q1 2004. The new media will be packaged in jewel cases, multi-packs and spindles. Blank inkjet printable and thermal printable discs will also be available. Verbatim backs the quality of its complete line of DataLifePlus DVD media with a lifetime warranty.

Reprinted from a in-sync press release:

In-sync announces the Loki Product line. Loki is a plug and play Real Time uncompressed SD-SDI board and software solution. The software for Loki is a new Speed Razor 5.6 version. Loki hardware is specifically designed for in-sync by AJA of Grass Valley, California.

The Loki bundle comes complete with:

Reprinted from a Sharp press release:

With more camcorders being sold than ever, users are seeking better ways to edit, store and share the precious memories they capture. Sharp Electronics Corporation introduces two new additions to its line of recordable DVD products that make it easy to transfer home movies from a camcorder onto DVD. The new recordable DVD player (model DV-SR3U) and a recordable DVD model with a built-in hard drive (model DV-HR300) will allow consumers to easily record and store favorite TV shows and other programming.

“Now that consumers are familiar with the superior picture quality and ease-of-use of DVD players, they are also demanding full-featured DVD recorders that let them replace a VCR,” said Bob Pleyer, Manager, Digital Media Devices, Sharp. “The DV-HR300 has simple editing features for those who want to create a highlight DVD of a baby’s first year, a wedding, a summer vacation or any other event that can be played back on virtually any DVD player.”

Recordable DVD with Hard Disc Drive (model DV-HR300)
Sharp’s newest recordable DVD player has an internal hard disc drive (HDD) that can record and store more than 100 hours of programming, so consumers can record a full season of several shows and watch them anytime. The DV-HR300 combines an 80GB hard disc drive and a DVD-R/RW recorder to create the ultimate all-in-one viewing, recording and storage device. Users will appreciate the high-speed dubbing, CD/MP3 playback and simultaneous recording/playback. The unit provides convenient and simplified programming with VCR Plus+ and has a DV Terminal with i.Link so consumers can digitally transfer video directly to DVD. Searching for a specific moment on a disc is made easier on the DV-HR300 with the “High Speed Access” thumbnail view and Quick Search functions.

Progressive-Scan Recordable DVD Player (model DV-SR3U and DV-HR300U)
Sharp’s new DVD recorders deliver unsurpassed picture quality and ease of use for simple DVD recording and viewing. With one-touch digital video recording for long-term digital archiving and progressive scan functionality for better picture quality than standard DVD players, the DV-SR3U is ideal for preserving and archiving digital photographs and home videos, in addition to viewing the latest movies. Users can easily search through discs via the enhanced Disc Navigation System with thumbnail display, which includes a Title Menu and instant access to the recorded table of contents. The DV-SR3U and DV-HR300U allow for easy searching and replay at any time with one-touch rewind or immediate return to the main menu.

About Sharp DVD Recorders
Both the DV-HR300 and DV-SR3U use re-writeable DVDs that can be recorded on more than 1,000 times, delivering more than six hours of programming or 4.7 gigabytes (GB) of data storage. Consumers can record on DVD-R and DVD-RW, and play back DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW, DVD-Video, CD-DA, CD-R/RW, audio CDs, video CDs and MP3 files. High quality audio processing includes Dolby Digital and Digital Theater Systems (DTS). Additionally, all of Sharp’s recordable DVD players comply with all available copy protection technologies.

Reprinted from a YesVideo press release:

YesVideo, Inc., the leaders in automated digital media authoring, announced today that Apex Digital has chosen to include YesVideo’s automated video-to-DVD creation software, YesDVD, with a new line of consumer DVD recorders scheduled to ship in Spring 2004. With a YesDVD enabled DVD recorder from Apex, consumers will be able to instantly create DVDs from home videos that include scene chapters, highlight music videos and customized DVD covers with one touch of a button on their remote control, all in the comfort of their living room.

YesVideo has developed proprietary technology that best captures video and digitally transfers images to DVD. YesDVD software automatically determines logical chapter points, creates thumbnail images from scenes, and places them on the DVD’s main menu and DVD case for easy searching and viewing. A YesDVD also includes highlight music videos made from the best clips from the video source synchronized to jazz, rock and classical tunes. The result is a professionally edited DVD that is fun to view with friends and family.

“The YesDVD software will enable Apex customers to easily create DVDs from home videos with professional features without the confusion consumers often report about PC-based DVD authoring software,” said Sai-Wai Fu, chief executive officer at YesVideo. “The new YesDVD enabled DVD recorders from Apex will be an easy and enjoyable experience for consumers.”

“Consumers today are seeking a simple solution for preserving precious video memories to DVD to last a lifetime,” said Steve Brothers, president at Apex Digital. “By including the YesDVD software on our new line of DVD recorders, we continue to provide our customers with the most innovative and consumer-friendly software available today.”

Reprinted from a Sharp press release:

Sharp’s new top-of-the-line Viewcam Z series digital camcorders are designed for the fast-growing widescreen TV market, offering a high-quality wide TV recording mode and wider shooting angles. All three of Sharp’s new 2004 Viewcam models have an enhanced “free angle shooting” grip and are outfitted with Sharp’s advanced CG Silicon LCD screens, providing advanced functionality, versatility and durability for excellent viewing under all lighting conditions, even bright sunshine.

“With the proliferation of widescreen 16:9 televisions in America’s living rooms, consumers want their home videos to fill their screens, just like their DVD movies. Sharp’s new 1.33-megapixel VL-Z800U delivers the finest widescreen videos in the popular MiniDV format. Camcorder owners can now create their own Hollywood productions,” said Bob Pleyer, Manager, Digital Media Devices, Sharp.

Enhanced Widescreen Recording
The Viewcam VL-Z800U captures 151 percent more picture information in the widescreen mode than competing models. Video displayed on a 16:9 screen is sharper, less pixilated and more realistic than previous models. The VL-Z800U also records scenes that are 23 percent wider than last year’s model, making it perfect for filming breathtaking panoramas, indoors or outdoors. A new Digital Gamma Correction feature ensures uniform brightness across the entire screen for less shadow and more detail. “This camcorder is made for widescreen TVs,” Pleyer said.

All of Sharp’s new compact and lightweight Viewcam Z series camcorders have an improved swivel grip, one of the key features that made last year’s models so popular. Now with a range of 240 degrees, consumers can easily record scenes that are high above or well below their scope of vision while comfortably taping with one hand.

The VL-Z800U and VL-Z500U also let consumers record high-quality full-motion video in total darkness. The built-in LED lights are great for capturing such poignant moments as a child blowing out birthday candles or a sleeping baby. The results are bright, full-color video. The new Viewcam camcorders also have improved battery life so consumers won’t have to worry about recordings getting cut short due to lack of power.

Another key feature for the product trio is the superior 2.5-inch CG Silicon swing-out LCD monitor and smaller color viewfinders. Continuous Grain Silicon, invented by Sharp, delivers ultra-high performance while consuming less power. Images on the monitor are no longer wiped out, even in bright sunshine, so the camcorders can be used in almost all conditions.

Reprinted from a Panasonic press release:

Building on a tradition of DVD innovations, Panasonic introduces two new sleek and compact DVD camcorders to its 2004 camcorder line — the VDR-M50 and VDR-M70 DVD-RAM/DVD-R DIGA Palmcorder Camcorders — that are as full featured as they are easy to use. Both DVD camcorders record high-quality digital video and still images onto removable 8cm DVD-RAM and DVD-R discs, allowing for non-linear editing and within the camcorder.

“Panasonic continues to bring excitement to DVD recording with our two new DVD camcorder models,” said Rudolf Vitti, national marketing manager of the Panasonic Optical Group. “These two models combine the comprehensive features you would expect from a DVD camcorder. Yet, they are convenient and easy to use, delivering more professional results for the casual videographer.”

The VDR-M50 DVD camcorder weighs 1.15lbs and has an 18x optical zoom for dynamic shooting. It has a 1/6″ 680,000 pixel CCD which allows sharper and vibrant recording. And the unit’s 240x digital zoom allows users to capture that perfect moment, no matter how away they are. The VDR-M70 DVD camcorder weighs a mere 1.10lbs and has a 10x optical zoom. It has a 240x digital zoom and a 1/4″ 1,020,000 pixel CCD.

Both the VDR-M50 and VDR-M70 slim, compact design camcorders have a 2 1/2 inch color LCD monitor for easily capturing or playing back images. These DVD camcorders use either DVD-RAM or DVD-R discs and offer a variety of recording and playback selections. The Digital Electronic Image Stabilization helps compensate for unintended hand and/or camcorder movement.

Other innovative features of the VDR-M50 and VDR-M70 include: