Ahead Software announced today the world's first all-in-one DVD+R Double Layer (DL) software suite. All of Nero's applications in this enhanced version of its OEM digital media suite will fully support DVD+R DL drives, allowing 8.5GB DVD writing, authoring, backup and recoding the first time ever.

The optical recording technology landscape will once again be transformed in 2004 with Double Layer DVD recording that will double the capacity of existing writable DVD discs, broadening the universe of video and data storage.

NeroVision Express 2 takes video capturing, editing, photo slideshows and animated menu creation to the next level with its support of full DVD-Video authoring on DVD+R DL, doubling the capacity to four hours of standard DVD quality video. Equipped with the most powerful MPEG recoding engine available and featuring Nero Digital (TM), the world's fastest MPEG-4 encoder available, Nero Recode 2 enables the user to recode several non-copy protected movies to a single DVD+R DL disc in DVD-Video format, or more than ten movies in Nero Digital's MPEG-4 format. Nero Digital combines MPEG-4 video with HE-AAC audio and has full subtitle support.

In addition, this complete, comprehensive software suite offers Nero BackItUp, which takes full advantage of the increased capacity of a DVD+R DL disc, allowing users to run scheduled backups, password-protect their data and choose from various backup modes such as full or incremental. Nero Express 6 allows users to burn standard data and digital audio discs with up to 8.5 GB in size. Also included is the essential drive testing utility, Nero Toolkit, the powerful DVD and digital video playback software Nero ShowTime, the standard packet writing application InCD 4 and the label creator Nero Cover Designer. Each application can be accessed with a single click via the one-of-a-kind application launcher Nero StartSmart, proving users with an at-a-glance overview of what DVD drives have to offer.

"Ahead Software has been working extensively with key DVD+RW Alliance members to create the ultimate all-in-one software package that is optimized for Double Layer DVD Recording," says Richard Lesser CEO of Ahead Software AG. "This is a quantum leap in recordable DVD technology, and Ahead Software's engineers have worked tirelessly to bring these engineering achievements in DVD+R Double Layer technology to consumers across the globe."

The Nero OEM digital media suite with unrivalled features for DVD+R Double Layer (DL) technology will be included in worldwide bundles from major drive manufacturers from Q2, 2004, and is available for PC and drive OEMs.

NeroVision Express 2 website: nero.com