Stuff like this is indicative of the problems with the Blu-ray format. Not only did they launch the format with players not fully supporting basic stuff like Ethernet ports for over-the-internet updates, it took them almost two years to get suppliers onto the Blu-ray 2.0 format, which more or less made them catch up with HD DVD's feature set. Blu-ray didn't just put the cart before the horse, they rolled the cart down a hill, waited a year, and asked the horse politely if it could go find the cart.

I don't want this post to be just a chance to re-hash all the old issues with Blu-ray, but really. Three years. It took three years for you guys to get your act together and realize most of the people—the mainstream, not Gizmodo readers—now don't really see the need to buy new players, new discs and new TVs just to watch movies in high def. Hell, one in five people can't tell the difference between SD and HD.

Don't get me wrong; this is a wonderful idea. With combo discs you can eliminate the need for standalone DVD releases, thereby saving shelf space AND putting Blu-ray discs in the hands of people that wouldn't necessarily have purchased Blu-ray. Once these unwitting customers collect enough Blu-ray combo discs, they just might buy a cheap BD player and convert. Really, it's a great sales tactic and something that will ease the transition for the less technologically inclined.

But answer me this, Blu-ray consortium: why did it take you three extra years to pull this off?

I was tempted to try to find a late-90s press release for Pioneer's first 12x CD burner to see how closely the language matched this one—let's just assume "very"—but a) I couldn't find one, and b) I didn't want to diminish Pioneer's achievement here too much—any device that cuts into the atrociously long Blu-ray burn times we've become slowly and begrudgingly accustomed to is a categorically good thing. The BDR-205 is due in October for $250. [Crunchgear]

Pioneer Launches First 12x Blu-ray Disc Writer

High-Speed 12x Write Capability Lets Professional Users and Enthusiasts Quickly Test, Author and Preserve High Definition Content

LONG BEACH, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. today announces its new BDR-205 Blu-ray Disc® Computer Writer, the industry's first and fastest model to feature up to 12x write speed for single and dual-layer Blu-ray Disc (BD) media*. Ideal for authoring providers and system builders, the Pioneer® BD/DVD/CD Writer provides accurate, rapid performance for demanding professional applications.

"The BDR-205 drive represents our ongoing efforts to combine Pioneer's engineering expertise with advanced technologies, and our next generation Blu-ray Disc writer is a great example of our no-compromise approach to optical disc product development," said Steve Cohn, director of optical disc sales for Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. "We are bringing to market the fastest Blu-ray Disc writer to date, and it is just one of the many 'firsts' that have come to define Pioneer's 30-year heritage in optical disc innovation and leadership."

Dynamic Performance for an Array of Professional Users

When utilized with a properly configured PC, the drive's Low Vibration Mechanism Design improves overall writing accuracy, especially for those preserving copious amounts of critical data. Designed for maximum flexibility, Pioneer's writer provides significant solutions for multiple user groups, including:

* System builders can confidently recommend the sophisticated BDR-205 to their clients, noting the drive's unique design, robust build quality and high grade parts
* With 50Gbytes** of storage space on a dual-layer Blu-ray Disc, professional users can utilize the BDR-205 to rapidly test high definition feature films during the authoring process, as well as to back up large volumes of data with ease
* Besides up to 12x write speeds for Blu-ray Disc media, Pioneer's new computer drive also provides read and write speed performance up to 16x for DVD and 40x for CD media

The new BDR-205 Blu-ray Disc computer writer begins shipping October 2009. The retail version of this product, the BDR-2205, will be available Q1 2010 for $249 MSRP.

Pioneer has been an innovator of optical disc technology since it shipped its first LaserDisc products, the precursor to DVD, to the consumer market in 1980. Pioneer went on to introduce the first DVD writer for video authoring use in 1997, the first DVD recorder as a VCR replacement in 1999, the first DVD/CD writer for home computer users in 2001 and the first Blu-ray Disc writer in 2006. Pioneer Corporation is one of the original Blu-ray Disc Founders. More details can be located at www.pioneerelectronics.com.

Charlie Brewer from News Limited walks you step by step (16 worthwhile photos in all) through the whole process as robots transform gem-like polycarbonate granules into laser-readable storage. Humans are present, of course, but they're mostly around to walk through dust rooms and try not to hinder the machines.

The lead shot? It's of the final product being boxed for retail. [news au via Kotaku]

The Asus SBC-04D1S-U External Slim is one of only a few USB-based Blu-ray drives that reads BDs at 4.8x, plus it can read/write DVDs as well. (Sadly, it's tray-loading.)

While there's no price/release date at this time, keep in mind that USB drives like this one tend to rely on your computer for the actual Blu-ray decoding. So while the SBC-04D1S-U will technically play Blu-rays, it's up to Cyberlink software powered by your processor/video card to render the data. [Asus via EverythingUSB]

The Watchmen BD comes out July 21, then Zack Snyder will host a community screening (allowing viewers to watch the movie along with his live commentary on their Blu-ray players) during Comic-Con on July 25. Is the experience worth the price of the disc alone? Definitely not. But if you're a big Watchmen fan, the screening is certainly a nice bonus if you're already purchasing the Blu-ray on day of release. I just wonder if Snyder's bladder is heartier than Nolan's. Place your bets on pee breaks now. And remember, Watchmen is a long movie, too. [Video Business via engadgetHD]

But it supports 1080p playback over HDMI 1.3, optical audio and ethernet.

Perusing user comments on Amazon, the big complaints seem to be load times (which you should expect to crawl), lack of solid BD-R support and poor standard DVD playback quality. If you can tolerate burdening your father—the seed who brought you into the world—with such technological inconveniences, it just might be worth a shot for $100.

Add coupon code "DOTMJR09" and get free shipping. [Meijer via Dealnews]

UPDATE: And if you're willing to pay a little more, Walmart's got a Magnavox for under $130.

It's kinda funny to compare Q1 '09 (upside lots of Blu-ray players, downside recession) to Q1 '08 (more cash in the market, but Blu-ray spec was a mess), but the trends that emerged made sense: 400,000 standalone (i.e. not PS3) units sold this past quarter, up from the low 200,000s way back in early 2008. But the average selling price had dropped substantially, from nearly $400 to $261 now, and headed towards $214. Meanwhile, as most of our readers know, the spec has been ironed out and most players sold nowadays have Ethernet for interactive features. So they're getting cheaper and better.

What's sad is that the people who bought caved and bought Blu-ray players anytime before now were getting the shaft, as the best—or at least the coolest—ones are just coming out, players with Wi-Fi and all kinds of video-on-demand options. (Hopefully, people at least bought upgradeable players like so many are these days.)

Does this mean Blu-ray is going to crack some skulls come Christmas 2009? Not entirely sure there. Fifty-eight percent of people still aren't "very familiar" with Blu-ray. Besides, with all those great VOD apps, who needs actual discs? [NPD via Engadget]

LaCie Doubles the Burn Speed of Its High-Capacity Blu-ray Drive

February 2, 2009

* Burn Blu-ray discs up to 8x
* Store up to 50GB of videos, files and other data on one disc
* Multi-format BD (Blu-ray) and DVD/CD writer in one
* Durable d2 design with whisper-quiet operation

Today LaCie announced that it has doubled the speed at which its high-performance, large-capacity LaCie d2 Blu-ray Drive burns discs to eight times (8x) standard data writing rates. The increased speed to burn files applies to both single and dual-layer discs. LaCie also has upgraded the authoring and backup software that ships standard with the product.

The LaCie d2 Blu-ray Drive packs up to 50 GB of data, or four hours of high-definition video, on a single Blu-ray disc – making it an ideal tool for video professionals and anyone who wants to backup and store significant amounts of data on reliable removable media. It sports both FireWire and USB 2.0 interfaces for high-speed throughput between the drive and a PC or Mac.

"With the doubling of the speed to burn Blu-ray discs, video professionals will be able to spend more time creating content and less time on production," said Christelle Dexet, Multimedia Product Manager for LaCie. "And for those who need to safely store large quantities of information for extended periods of time on secure removable media, the LaCie d2 Blu-ray Drive is an ideal solution."

The exceptionally quiet LaCie d2 Blu-ray Drive comes bundled with the newly revised Easy Media Creator 10 and Toast 9 Titanium software. The easy-to-use software lets Mac and Windows users master video and audio files onto Blu-ray, DVD and CD discs. With the tools customers can also schedule backups for data files, edit videos, create audio mixes and much more.

Plus, users can work with three popular codexes-MPEG2, AVC and VC-1-when creating their Blu-ray content. And the LaCie d2 Blu-ray Drive supports a dozen Blu-ray, DVD and CD formats, including BD-ROM, BD-ROM AACS, BD-R, BD-RE, DVD±R, CD-R and others.

Availability
The LaCie d2 Blu-ray Drive is available now and starts at $449.99. LaCie products are available through the LaCie Online Store or LaCie resellers. For more information, visit www.lacie.com.

Nice to see some creativity in the BD player zone—the wall-mountable 4600 especially, which reminds me a lot of Naoto Fukasawa's awesome wall-mounted CD player (now if only you could watch the Batman logo spin with no door). And on top of Profile 2.0, (via ethernet or USB slots which can accommodate and included wi-fi dongle) and Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD HR/MA decoding and audio bitstream output, both decks will stream Netflix Watch Instantly or Pandora radio. They're available the first half of 2009.

SAMSUNG’S LATEST AWARD-WINNING BLU-RAY PLAYERS OPEN UP A NEW MULTIMEDIA EXPERIENCE PORTAL

BD-P4600 Delivers HD Entertainment for the Whole Family in Contemporary Style;
BD-P3600 Satisfies Home Theater Enthusiasts with Superior Sights and Sounds

LAS VEGAS, January 7, 2009 – Samsung Electronics America, Inc., a market leader
and award-winning innovator in consumer electronics, today unveiled the world’s first
wall-mountable Blu-ray player, the BD-P4600, as well as the new standard for Blu-ray
performance and versatility, the BD-P3600. A 2009 CES “Best of Innovations” Award
Winner, the BD-P4600 unites a plethora of multimedia features in a svelte, first-in-class
package. The enthusiasts’ choice, the BD-P3600 promises top-notch video playback,
comprehensive audio decoding, and unprecedented networking capabilities for an
immersive, theater-like experience. Both players set a new direction for the Blu-ray
category with wireless networking, access to video and music streaming services, such
as Netflix and Pandora, as well as sleek designs. Samsung’s new Blu-ray players will
be on display at Booth #11033 during the International Consumer Electronics Show,
which will be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center, January 8 -11, 2009.

“Samsung is heralding a new direction for the Blu-ray industry with the BD-P4600 and
BD-P3600," said Reid Sullivan, vice president of Audio/Video and Digital Imaging
Marketing at Samsung Electronics America. “The BD-P4600 makes it easier than ever
to bring Blu-ray into the living room with its unique, wall-mountable design, while the
BD-P3600’s comprehensive specs place it on the short list of even the most discerning
Page 2 of 3

- more -

home theater consumers.”

The BD-P4600 and BD-P3600 include BD Live™ (Profile 2.0) and Bonus View (Profile
1.1) support, Full HD 1080p Blu-ray playback with DVD upscaling, and total HD
soundtrack support. Standard CD playback, with support for JPEG photos and DivX
videos, ensure even more entertainment value with the BD-P4600 and BD-P3600.

A New Era of Functional Design
Samsung’s newest Blu-ray players continue the trend of stylish and décor-friendly
electronics, with new versions of Samsung’s groundbreaking 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 gray 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, and finished with clear, prism-like
edging. If wall-mounting is not an option, an integrated stand lets the BD-P4600 be
placed on a table at a 25 degree angle.

Cutting Wires Without Cutting Back on Entertainment
Both the BD-P4600 and BD-P3600 can wirelessly connect to the latest Blu-ray features
when the included 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi dongle is connected to one of the players’ two
USB 2.0 ports, or via the traditional wired Ethernet connection. The two players 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. And with 1GB
internal flash memory, both players can access the latest BD Live™ and Bonus View
Blu-ray features out of the box, leaving the USB 2.0 ports for wireless networking and
memory expansion duties when needed.

Speedy Control and Upgradeability
Samsung’s newest Blu-ray players improve traditional disc loading time to begin fast
playback and can eject a disc in a single second. The players’ touch sensitive controls
Page 3 of 3

help to create a seamless experience that is pleasing to see, hear, and ultimately, use.
To keep consumers updated with the latest features and improvements, Samsungs BD-
P4600 and BD-P3600 also can easily access upgrades wirelessly via the included
802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi dongle, through the wired Ethernet connection, by connecting a USB
drive, or with a CD / DVD / BD.

Total Full HD 1080p Video and HD Soundtrack Support
Samsung’s BD-P4600 and BD-P3600 promise Full HD 1080p playback of Blu-ray discs
and crisp upconversion of standard DVDs through the HDMI 1.3 connection. For a true,
Hollywood-quality experience, both players can internally decode the latest high-
resolution digital multichannel audio soundtracks, including Dolby Digital Plus™, Dolby
TrueHD™ and dts-HD HR / MA®. The BD-P3600 can also output any of the
soundtracks as a bitstream through its 7.1-Channel analog audio outputs, or as an
uncompressed PCM signal, for consumers desiring the best cinematic sound with an
older A/V receiver.

The sets themselves are all 1080p, with 120Hz on the 52, 46 and 42-inch sets of the series. As you might have guessed, the portliness rating here is about as polar opposite of Sharp's insane Limited Edition LCDs as it gets. The press release is conveniently free of dimensions, but as you can see in our shot, these babies are packing quite a bulge.

But then again, thin's not really the idea. Sharp's banking on a world of folks ready to make the jump to Blu-ray who just so happen to need a new TV? Or maybe they're looking to push over the edge ever-dwindling number of households who still haven't made the leap to an HD set? Either way, this seems a little late, but we shall see. Availability starts rolling out this month for the 32, 37 and 42-inch sets, with the 46 and 52-inchers coming in February.

It also reminds us the combination TV/VCR.

Update: We've got prices: $2599, $2299, $1899, $1299 and $1099 descending according to size.

SHARP® PREMIERES WORLD’S FIRST HIGH-DEFINITION LCD TV SERIES WITH BUILT-IN BLU-RAY PLAYER

Full line-up of AQUOS® BD Series Provides All-in-One Home Theater Solution for a Paramount
High-Definition Viewing Experience

LAS VEGAS, January 7, 2009 – Strengthening its position as an innovative leader in the LCD TV industry, Sharp today introduces the world’s first AQUOS® LCD TV Series with a built-in
Blu-ray Disc TM player, for a convenient all-in-one home theater solution. The Full-HD 1080p AQUOS BD series, which includes the 52-inch class (52-1/32” diagonal) LC-52BD80U, 46-inch class (45-63/64” diagonal) LC-46BD80U, 42-inch class (42-1/64” diagonal) LC-42BD80U, 37-inch class (37” diagonal) LC-37BD60U and 32-inch class (31-35/64” diagonal) LC-32BD60U screen class sizes, combines the ultimate high definition television with the ultimate high definition content format with a side-loading multi-slot for Blu-ray, DVD and CD content. The series offers a single-step operation feature that turns on the TV and activates play when a BD disc is inserted. In addition, the BD series features a newly developed Advanced Super View (ASV) Superlucent panel for a dramatically bright and crisp picture with reduced reflection and a new AQUOS Pure Mode for convenient optimized viewing of Blu-ray titles. A new elegant “AQUOS Blue” design includes a subtle blue accent at the bottom of the frame and a swivel stand for viewing convenience.
“We created this series to offer consumers a product that provides the same high-quality, clear picture they’ve come to expect from a Sharp AQUOS, but with the added convenience of a Blu-ray player for a unique combination solution that allows playback of the latest HD Blu-ray movies,” said Bob Scaglione, senior vice president and group manager, Product and Marketing Group, Sharp Electronics Corporation. “This product is a one-stop, stylish home theater and the built-in side-loading Blu-ray slot is also a space-saver for style-conscious consumers, eliminating the need for a separate box and extra cables.”

Superior Image Quality
To realize the full capability of Blu-ray movies, the AQUOS BD Series offers an excellent picture, with the most advanced imaging technology on the market. Sharp’s new ASV Superlucent panel applies an ultra-smooth finish that minimizes gloss while intensifying panel brightness and contrast. The AQUOS Pure Mode automatically senses the Blu-ray disc content and intelligently adjusts display settings such as aspect ratio to optimize the movie image. The LC-52BD80U, LC-46BD80U and LC-42BD80U further improve picture quality with Fine Motion Enhanced technology for 120Hz Frame Rate Conversion, a 10-bit panel for Deep Color compatibility and “dejudder” technology that results in the smooth reproduction of film content. All five models offer fast pixel response time, ensuring that viewers never miss a detail of high-definition content. Additionally, Sharp’s proprietary Spectral Contrast Engine provides deep blacks and high contrast ratios. This ultimate home entertainment series also offers impressive 176 degree viewing angles, enabling the color reproduction to appear bright and vivid from virtually anywhere in a room.

Extensive Connectivity
These Full-HD 1080p models are very fully featured, with four HDMI inputs on the LC-52BD80U, LC-46BD80U and LC-42BD80U and three on the LC-37BD60U and LC-32BD60U, as well as two component video inputs, all of which are 1080p compatible. The HDMI terminals all have 24p input capability for high-quality Blu-ray video processing. A true high-definition TV, the models house a built-in ATSC and QAM tuner for access to DTV channels. The units also feature an RS-232C input for custom installations and a PC input so the TV serves a dual purpose as a PC monitor.

Pricing and availability
• LC-52BD80U will be available in February; pricing is TBD
• LC-46BD80U will be available in February; pricing is TBD
• LC-42BD80U will be available in January; pricing is TBD
• LC-37BD60U will be available in January; pricing is TBD
• LC-32BD60U will be available in January; pricing is TBD

Nice gift or desperate last-ditch, pre-Xmas effort? Who cares—you can choose either a free BD-HP21U deck ($300 list, $220 at Amazon), or $300 off the nicer BD-HP50U ($450 list, $280 at Amazon). These are the eligible TVs:

LC-65XS1U-S
LC-65SE94U
LC-65D64U
LC-52XS1U-S
LC-52SE94U
LC-52SE941U
LC-52SE941U-R
LC-52SE941U-G
LC-52D85U
LC-52D65U
LC-46SE94U
LC-46SE941U
LC-46SE941U-R
LC-46SE941U-G
LC-46D85U
LC-46D65U
LC-42D85U
LC-42D65U
LC-32GP3U-B
LC-32GP3U-W
LC-32GP3U-R

And these are the retailers that are offering the deal:

Best Buy
Sears
Sixth Avenue Electronics
Brandsmart
ABC Warehouse
HH Gregg
Ultimate
ABT
Vanns
PC Richards

Nice that it's not limited to last year's models only.

SlySoft's AnyDVD HD really kickstarted the back-and-forth war with studios over Blu-ray's updateable BD+ copy protection back in March, since it stripped discs of BD+, allowing you to back up Blu-ray movies. Subsequent updates to BD+ copy protection went uncracked for less than a week, Ars notes. But the latest update, last month appears to be the most solid yet, with SlySoft believing it will take three months to bust it this time around.

But it will be busted. And so will the update after it. And the one after that. BD+ might have changed the game from a one-round boss battle to a ten-round boxing match, but it's one that the studios are destined to lose, even if it costs the cracking community more than it did before. [Ars]

From what I can tell, a similar if not identical "blueline" machine can be used to produce whiteprints. (Feel free to chime in regarding that point, builders and architects—deciphering the various printing processes has humbled my brain for at least the next week.) But any way you look at it, this Blu-ray device is pretty much the anti-digital...which is absolutely fantastic. [Thanks Justin!]

There's no question that Blu-ray is still not as inexpensive as DVD, whether you're talking about the players or the discs themselves. But prices have come down in time for the holidays, especially if you're willing to settle for an early generation model or a refurb.

In fact, we have a list of 15 Blu-ray players (thanks to DEG) that don't go for $300 or under just on Black Friday; they go for that little every day if you're willing to do a quick online search. Here are all 15 models, many with links to decent deals if you're too exasperated to search yourself.

Magnavox (NB500MG9)
MSRP: $298
AVG $220

Panasonic (DMP-BD30)
MSRP: $499.95
AVG $250
What We Said

Panasonic (DMP-BD35)
MSRP: $299.95
AVG $200
What We Said

Philips (BDP7200)
MSRP: $399.99
AVG $240
What We Said

Samsung BD-P1000
MSRP: $999
AVG $200 at low end
What We Said

Samsung BD-P1200
MSRP: $799
AVG $200 at low end
What We Said

Samsung BD-P1500
MSRP: $399
AVG $250
What We Said

Sharp BD-HP2OU
MSRP:$399
AVG $250
What We Said

Sharp BDHP21U
MSRP: $349.99
AVG $250

Sony BDP-BX1
MSRP: $499
AVG $290

Sony BDP-S300
MSRP: $499
AVG $250
What We Said

Sony BDP-S301
MSRP:$499
AVG $230

Sony BDP-S350
MSRP: $399
AVG $250
What We Said

Sylvania NB500SL9
MSRP: $349.00
AVG $200

Sylvania NB501SL9
MSRP: $289.99
AVG $220

I've seen some high quality DIVX clips of Futurama before, but when viewing the characters on Blu-ray, the word "perfect" comes to mind (much because you can appreciate the slight imperfections in model outlines). I simply can't imagine Futurama looking better than it does in 1080p. But it's the worthwhile set of extras that makes the disc so desirable.

I particularly enjoyed watching the show's artists draw various characters and explain the process of drafting Zoidberg, Leela and Bender step by step. The short Blooper Reel was also a lot of fun, just to watch the actors create the voices of their cartoon counterparts. And of course you get other bonuses like a full commentary with much of the cast, though everyone gets along so well that it sort of becomes an inside joke fest.

Other releases of the week...

— A Christmas Story (Ultimate Collector's Edition) (Warner)
— The Colt (Echo Bridge)
— Futurama: Bender's Game (Fox)
— Get Smart (2008) (Warner)
— Gunnin' for That #1 Spot (Music Distribution)
— Henry Poole is Here (Anchor Bay)
— IMAX: Extreme (National Geographic)
— Monster's Ball (Lionsgate)
— NBA Champions 2007-2008 (Warner)
— O.A.R.: Live from Madison Square Garden (Summit)
— Planet of the Apes (1968) (Fox)
— Planet of the Apes: 40-Year Evolution Blu-ray Collection (Fox)
— Transsiberian (First Look)
— Universal Soldier (Lionsgate)
— Vexille (FUNimation)
— Warren Miller's Playground (Shout Factory)

[highdef digest]

OWC ANNOUNCES INDUSTRY’S FIRST BLU-RAY EXTERNAL DRIVES WITH “QUAD INTERFACE”

OWC Mercury Pro Features Quad Interface for FireWire800/400, USB 2.0, & eSATA – for Mac and PC 4X Speed Writes up to 50GB, Reads/Writes HD-DVD, DVD/DVD-R, CD-R/RW Discs

October 22, 2008 — Woodstock, IL — Other World Computing (OWC®) http://www.macsales.com, a leading Mac and PC technology company, announced today its new line of OWC Mercury Pro™ Blu-ray “Quad Interface” external drive solutions. The first Blu-ray external drives on the market offering a “Quad Interface” of FireWire 800, FireWire 400, USB 2.0, and eSATA, the OWC Mercury Pro drives feature 4X Blu-ray disc write speed for burning up to 1 gigabyte of data per minute; a data transfer rate up to 150MB per second; Plug and Play connection flexibility; and the convenience of compatibility with both Windows and Macintosh systems.

Burn up to 50GB per Blu-ray Disc and Read/Write to All Optical Media

Immediately available and priced starting at $499.99, the Mercury Pro Blu-ray external drive solutions are ideal for consumers with large amounts of High-Def or other video, photos, music, and data files that they want to archive or retrieve using optical media. Mercury Pro Blu-ray drives read and/or write virtually all optical media, including Blu-ray, HD-DVD, DVD-RAM, and CD-R/RW. The drives provide the well-known advantages of Blu-ray, such as high-capacity storage (burn up to 50GB per disc, enough space for a four hour High-Def movie); full high-quality HD Picture; and Surround Sound capabilities. In addition, the new OWC Mercury Pro Blu-ray drives now have write performance twice as fast as previous Mercury Pro Blu-ray external drive models.

Pricing for OWC Mercury Pro Blu-ray Write and Read external drive solutions:

* OWC Mercury Pro SW-5583: $499.99. Writes and reads Blu-ray, DVD, DVD-RAM, CD-R/RW discs. Includes all connection cables and two 25GB BD-R discs.

* OWC Mercury Pro SW-5583T: $579.99. Writes and reads Blu-ray, DVD, DVD-RAM, CD-R/RW discs. Includes all connection cables, starter media, and full retail version of Roxio Toast 9 Titanium (Mac OS X).

OWC Mercury Pro Blu-ray “Quad Interface” external drive solutions have been fully tested for compatibility with most Apple and Windows built-in and third party DVD/CD tools and players, including Apple iTunes, Apple Disc Burner, Apple iDVD 5, Apple DVD Studio Pro, EMC Retrospect Express, NTI DragonBurn, Roxio Toast, Roxio Easy Media Creator, and Nero Burning.

[OWC]