SiteMap The Home of DVD News, Reviews and Hot Deals DVD, news, reviews, advice, hardware, firmware, software

» Verbatim 6x BD-R & 2x BD-R LTH

» RealNetworks Still Developing Facet

» BitTorrent App Banned Apple

» Samsung Mobile Gets E-Ink

» Windows 7 Gets Anti-piracy Options

» Pioneer A05 Manual PDF

» A03 2 Speed Firmware Hack DVD-R Media

» Pioneer Boot Disks Flash A03 / 103

» Nero

» Winzip

» Computex 2004 - New Burners

Link:

Manufacturers DVD burners showing off latest wares Computex 2004 in Taipei Taiwan. New offerings include 16x DVD±R drives Asus BenQ. Burner Image DVD+R DVD+RW DVD+R (DL) DVD-R DVD-RW BenQ DW1600 16 - 2.4 - - BenQ DW1620 16 - 2.4 8 - BenQ DW1630 (Due October) 16 8 4 16 8 BenQ DW1650 (as DW1630 serial ATA interface) 16 8 4 16 8 ASUSTeK DRW-1608 16 8 2.4 - - MSI DR16P 16 8 2.4 - - MSI. DR12P 12 - 2.4 8 - GIGABYTE GO-W1608A 16 8 2.4 8 - Toshiba TS-H552B 16 8 2.4 16 8 BTC DRW1016IM 16 8 - 12 8 BTC DRW1108IB (with built-in card reader) 8 4 - 8 4 Toshiba TS-L532A 8 - 2.4 8 - Toshiba TSL-632S (with 3x DVD-RAM) 8 4 - 8 4 BTC BDW0810SI 8 4 - 8 4

» Datawrite Grey 8x Speed DVD-R

Link:

The New 8x Greys Datawrite Lead in Code 00 6C 00 00 01 40 C1 FD 9E D8 52 00 02 88 0D 0C .L...@....R..... 88 88 90 00 03 46 55 4A 49 46 49 00 04 4C 4D 30 .....FUJIFI..LM0 33 00 00 00 05 B8 83 00 30 00 01 00 06 09 0F 10 3.......0....... 88 78 90 00 07 29 82 10 21 00 00 00 08 05 17 0D .X...)..!....... 0F 07 07 00 09 96 06 0D 0B 78 88 00 0A 80 00 00 .........X...... 00 00 10 00 0B 05 1A 17 96 77 75 00 0C 7C DF B9 .........WU..|.. 93 11 11 00 0D 1A AA D0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................ disc arrived a day later expected due a mix up carriers so most enthusiasts amongst already had time buy try a few. discs in cake boxes 25 sealed a tight strong shrink wrap. I had difficulty in removing wrap there was easy tear strip wrapping being strong tight. I had use a knife cut off. Once opened top label was shape a disc remained in lid there was usual clear protective disc top discs. There was foam pad top discs fitted tub a glove was needed. descriptive wrapper around side discs was loosely fitted sealed a circle previous wrappers. much easier remove discard. discs a light grey in colour standard Datawrite inscriptions - one noticeable difference - "8x DVD-R". Although was in small print I feel could stand out more. discs FUJIFILM03 leadin code first time I believe Datawrite use manufacturer. I done very little testing Fuji media I always a fan film video recording tape. dye a dark colour a purple tinge similar Ritek we love a darker colour. I checked disc burning speed in my Pioneer 107 came up 8x speed. My first test disc took just over 8 minutes a full DVD examination burn was even I could clearly see 6x – 8x changeover point. Playback in my Mustek was smooth positive chapter skipping freezing. I checked playback in my other players results. speed graph produced was perfect my normal test speed almost perfect full read speed PI/PO jitter tests came out very good amongst best I tested. Here a speed read scan: Here a PI/PO Jitter scan I burnt tested 20 discs now test graphs comparable these. Well can I say repeat myself again a good 8x speed disc a budget price I highly recommend them. Datawrite excelling themselves Yellows then these. only could colour attractive!

» Datawrite Yellows v2 RITEKG04 Dye

Link:

The New Ritek Manufactured v2 Datawrite Yellows examining new Ritek disc Datawrite I find a subtle difference v1 yellows: color a different shade yellow - a "Coleman's" yellow wife likened something appeared in a baby's nappy. printing disc stencil cut-out silvery/gold media surface. type printing avoid any likelihood discs ever being overprints. Well that's appearance over I cannot say I am over impressed let's see how perform My initial burn was in my Pioneer 107 a title my test movie took around 15 minutes burn 4x speed resulting in a good disc compatible my DVD players. I now burnt 20 discs in my Pioneer 105 106 107 burners disc playback compatibility good even in my old Mustek player. discs give positive chapter skipping smooth playback without any signs freezing. discs compatible over my full range players speed graphs produced good just dropping off slightly top end. I tested disc record ability 6x 8x find 8x speed burning produced errors expected in view fact RITEK downgraded RITEKG04 media so inhibit recording high speed. limited Datawrite media RITEKG04 media produced one can only assume force consumers purchase dearer 8x media (although now a very reasonable price). 6x burning produced a good burn although I only burnt 1 disc 6x I expect similar results future burns. I started use DVDInfoPro3 my PI/Jitter scans discs produce lowest error graphs I so far. program still in development stage so graphs accuracy yet calibrated PI error rates 50 12% jitter. I compare results 1136 PI & 16.5% jitter another media compared VERBATIM 20 PI 12.6% jitter. results disc go up class Verbatim certainly amongst best media I tested so far program. I scanned numerous samples disc here one latest: Conclusion disc indeed a major upgrade Datawrite finally decided produce classic disc RITEKG04 dye. disc I personally go in wanting a quality media a very economical price - just a pity color cannot ways.

» DVD Media Testing

Link:

I get asked regularly how I go testing my DVD media so here an insight how I standard PC equipment. I usually accept samples test in full retail tubs spindles - way I can see there could any transit damage due poor packaging. I examine suface discs imperfections paying particluar attention outer rim. I never one completely perfect one so don’t alarmed when don't either. Examine underside disc irregularities in dye scratches disc. scratches reflect quality disc a bearing results may get. Packaging discs improved recently there little problems in area. Next we need test whole disc so an ideal movie should one a total file size just under 4.38gigs burn disc limits outer edge. test purposes I always burn maximum speed rating particular disc (i.e. I don't initially try burn 8x a 4x rated disc). burn I examine burn surface irregularities prior checking usability a file transfer scan DVDTestPro a Toshiba SD-M1712 DVD-ROM drive had read speed limit restrictions lifted in firmware Because high speed reading now available drive I limit read speed 12x I find gives me a good indication readability media. 16x read gives a very erratic graph most media. 8x read gives a smooth graph most good media. graph 12x can smooth rough depending media. I always use DVD-ROM drive 12x read limit give an accurate comparison different discs. read speed graphs show disc in drive read 16x 12x 8x indicate my point. 16x speed 12x speed 8x speed a read speed I run KProbe test my Liteon DVD-ROM drive. I am looking here lowest possible reading. Ideally PI (Parity Inner) errors should rise above 50 PO (Parity Outer) errors above 5 (with an average less 10 PI less 1 PO). course ideal figures I am looking acceptable specifications a lot higher. An acceptable PI large areas disc exceeding 280. worry too much high single spikes exceed 280. An acceptable PO large areas disc exceeding 32 PO (actually PI uncorrectable) errors worry too much high single spikes exceed 32. I profess know a lot actual PI/PO errors other errors disc corrected information disc. Any one in knowing DVD specs can download THIS DOCUMENT look forward heavy reading. Now I burnt disc checked readability necessary see works in DVD players possible. My most fussy DVD player an old Mustek I use player first check disc prone freezing in playback lower grade media. Firstly I check how long takes load intro menu listen any unusual noises player drive starts read disc. Playback main film watch first few minutes any signs pixilation film freezing. Fast forward reverse speeds check continuity smoothness. Chapter skip forward reverse check finds chapter points quickly easily. Play back last 10 minutes disc scrutinise output reason outer edge disc most likely area any defects. I then try disc in players possible (I currently 10) disc should play in them. I a few players most discs I test play in my worst players before I give A OK. I newer players play disks I thrown out because playback errors so a good player ideal testing media quality. I personally only burn Movies backup purposes so my tests biased way possible burn data PS2 games test most important thing try content test disc near a full disc possible test limits devices can. type movies burn test purposes need specific layout VOB structure can affect playback a poor quality disc my tests I use three different types 1: A complete movie only just intro & title followed film covers full size disc give an easy test chapter skips fast forward reverse playback consistency towards end disc 2: A multi movie enabling select different movies specific parts disc ability select last movie scrutinize outer area disc 3: (This one play outer area difficult read errors) movies especially Disney ones habit intro warning last VOB disc followed various screens appear random VOBs disc means when movie starts laser jump rim disc play before going back title then play movie. Any problems disc show up way starts up can start a title intro still warning then go blank whilst searches next part intro sometimes find intro play errors others remain blank ages then go start film skipping intro entirely worst case just remain blank lock up disc error. intro starts normal movie starts play makings a good burn. I think DVD producers deliberately give us difficulty in making backups movies in difficult cases remastering makes disc playable (but that’s another subject) Since I started writing article Nic Wilson DVDInfoPro commenced development his next release v3 one main features he added PI/PO & Jitter testing in conjunction NuTech DVD burners provisional appearances impressed me so much I went out purchased a NU DVDRW DDW-082 so I could try out. I am amazed detail produced graphs although there a noticeable similarity in graphs. detail & accuracy far superior KProbe tests actual scaling much better. I now built up a dedicated DVD media Test Rig so I can produce better comparisons. Test Rig my test drives mounted externally case so I decide change any easy. consists NU burner LITEON LTG166 reader TOSHIBA SD-M1612 & TOSHIBA SD-M1712 readers in addition 2 removable HD bays My PI/PO/Jitter test done NU drive speed tests done TOSHIBA 1712 drive had read speed limitations removed then externally restricted 12x speed I find best speed me compare discs. an example type graph expect DVDInfoPro3 sure my tests produce a fair comparison medias I never burn a copy fly I always burn a disc image a title scans I sure burn near a full disc possible. My scans done drives any unusual results I rescan sure correct I burn least 10 discs particular media test consistency before I can a final conclusion any single discs come out exceptionally good bad noted counted in my final evaluation. Well that’s how I test my DVD's standard equipment I was go in professional approach had money spare. I go AudioDev CATS system. For Info & Resources Visit: Flash's website: http://flashman.rpc1.org

» Pioneer DVR-107 Patched Firmware v1.13