Ahead Software has published a Release Candidate version of their upcoming NeroNET software. NeroNET is a client / servers software that gives IP network users access to recordable drives. So it efficiently shares a drive for a number of workstations and makes physically centralized burning possible.

According to Ritek, recordable DVD discs are in short supply. Both Ritek and CMC Magnetics are planning to transfer part of their CD-R discs production lines to recordable DVD disc manufacturing.

Manufacturers looking for a higher-capacity recordable DVD format will want to mark Feb. 17 on their calendars. The nine companies promoting Blu-ray Disc technology--a next-generation recordable DVD format using blue-violet lasers--announced Thursday that licensing will begin Feb. 17. Blu-ray Disc technology allows for 27GB storage capacities on a single-sided 12cm disc. DVDs hold 4.7GB of data. Hitachi, LG Electronics, Matsushita Electric Industrial, Pioneer, Royal Philips Electronics, Samsung Electronics, Sharp, Sony and Thomson are known as the "Blu-ray Disc Founders" and have been pursuing a broad acceptance of the format.

Samsung Electronics (Q.SSE), a world-class maker of optical drives, introduced a 52x CD-RW drive last week and has now completed development of the world's first 52x RW-DVD combination unit (model: SW-352).

A tip that leads to a conviction could mean a $10,000 (£6175) prize. Offering a whole new take on Customer Appreciation Day, 321 Studios announced the reward for tips leading to the conviction of anyone using its DVD-copying software for piracy.

BenQ, the Taiwanese electronics manufacturer, and Philips of the Netherlands have announced a joint venture to design, develop and sell computer CD and DVD disk drives.

With the release of two new models, Toshiba has lowered its prices on DVD-burning notebooks to nearly $2,000 (£1,235). The company have launched a pair of Satellite notebooks that include its mobile DVD-RW drive.

Just a quick reminder about our monthly newsletter. Anyone who joins before the 31st of March will be entered into a prize draw to win a Pioneer A05 and 200 4 speedDatawrite.DVD Discs. Details of how to join our mailing list are on the left hand side of our homepage.

This competition has been sponsered by Datawrite.The new brand name for Datasafe Media.

Tom's Hardware have done a quick run down of 6 DVD burners - the burners tested were:

Philips DVDRW228(DVD+R/ RW)
Pioneer DVR-A05 (DVD-R/ RW)
Ricoh MP5125A (DVD+R/ RW)
Sony DRU120A (DVD+R/ RW)
TEAC DV-W50E (DVD-R/ RW)
Sony DRU-500A (DVD-R/ RW and DVD+R/ RW)
Conclusion :
You will notice that all the burners in the tests are pretty much equal. Though some models did better in some tests, the differences are minimal for both read and write. We can't even distinguish by price, since the recommended price for each of them is around $300. But we can differentiate two categories of use."
Click Here for the full review.

QSound Labs, Inc. (NASDAQ: QSND), a leading supplier of audio software solutions, and InterVideo, Inc., a leading provider of software for movies, music and DVDs, today announced the immediate availability of the QDVD plug-in for InterVideo's popular DVD player, WinDVD. QDVD is available for download from both QSound's and InterVideo's web sites for $14.95 US.

Five new devices record to DVD-RAM and DVD-R discs, while the high-end models include a VHS deck and built-in hard drive.

The ND-1300 is NEC´s 4x DVD writer supporting DVD+R(W) and DVD-R(W). This NEC DVD writer provides a complete solution for data backup, storage and distribution - from sharing films and music to archiving a massive 4,7 Gb/s of content on one DVD disk alone.

Building on its leadership in DVD Recording, Philips Electronics introduced two new DVD Recorders and a DVD Recorder home theater system today at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. Based on DVD+RW technology, the new DVDR75, DVDR80 and LX9000R provide consumers with three new products to enjoy the benefits of DVD+RW that include outstanding picture quality and the ability to capture memories on a rewritable DVD+RW or permanent DVD+R disc. With the ability to play the recordings back on most existing and future DVD players, consumers can share their memories with family and friends.

Can Microsoft be trusted? How music labels, Hollywood studios and consumers answer that question could determine whether the software giant dominates digital media the way it does Web browsers or desktop productivity applications, say analysts. The Redmond, Wash.-based company is engaged in a tried-and-true tactic of giving away highly valuable technology as a means of getting a foothold in an emerging market. The strategy, which was instrumental in Microsoft's victory in the so-called browser wars, is being replayed in the digital media market.

Thanks to our regular contributor Flash we have a brand spanking new review of a 7 Drive DVD+R Duplicater.

Take a moment to consider that next CD or DVD-ROM drive upgrade. If you thought it could damage your PC - or even your person - would you go slow? Consumers like to buy the latest, swiftest devices, but research from Sweden and the experiences of Australian PC users show that speed can inconvenience and possibly kill. At revolutions of about 200 metres per second, today's state-of-the-art lead-foot drives approach the speed of sound - 340 metres per second through air at room temperature - subjecting the spinning disc to a force 1500 times that of gravity, researchers have found.

Toshiba Storage Device Division improves the performance of its popular desktop CD-RW/DVD-ROM combination drive. Toshiba's new SD-R1312 CD recordable combination drive is also available as a desktop PC upgrade kit.

A company called ClearPlay currently offers a service that allows (paranoid...) DVD consumers the ability to "sanitize" their DVD movies when they play their DVDs on their PCs. Now their plan to enter the stand-alone player market is threatened by the movie industry.

If you think your prized collection of DVD movies will last a lifetime, think again - some are already starting to rot while others are falling apart. Unofficial estimates put the number of affected discs at between one and 10 per cent. Yet some of the largest distributors for Hollywood Studios are accused of refusing to accept the problem exists and replace faulty products.

Prassi - one of the originators of CD and DVD duplication softwares have recently announced their '3rd coming' as the software company starts up afresh.