Las Vegas,
January 5, 2005 - Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. continues to lead
development of new optical drive technologies for DVD and high-definition
recording, launching at the Consumer Electronics Show this week the company's
ninth-generation high-speed, dual format DVD burner and demonstrating for the
first time new Blu-ray Disc prototypes for home and computer high-definition
video recording.
'Pioneer has long been a catalyst
for innovation and pushing the envelope in optical drives and recording
technology. With the products we are demonstrating at CES, we are continuing our
commitment to pursue technology advancements in DVD recording as well as
development of new technologies such as Blu-ray Disc that allow consumers to
capture the full impact of high-definition content on a disc," said Andy
Parsons, senior vice president, Pioneer Electronics (USA)
Inc.
DVD Burning Products For
Today
The DVR-A09XL high speed DVD
burner introduced today by Pioneer enables computer users to record data, photos
and video onto DVD-R, DVD-RW, +R and +RW discs with ease. It also works with
dual layer discs, increasing the capacity of a disc from 4.7 to 8.5 gigabytes
for even more storage space.
The DVR-A09XL offers many
technologies unique to Pioneer, including Quiet Drive for
minimal operating noise; Liquid Crystal Control for optimum recording quality;
Precision Recording to minimize the effects of long term deterioration of
re-recordable discs due to repeated writing; and an Ultra Dynamic Resonance
Absorber to reduce vibrations during high-speed recording and playback of discs.
The DVR-A09XL comes packaged with high quality software that enables the user to
edit home movies, burn music, create photo slideshows and back up data with
ease. The DVR-A09XL will begin shipping this month.
A Bright Blue
Future
Knowing that eventually even 8.5
gigabytes per disc may not be enough storage space for recording of high
definition video, Pioneer is also showcasing a Blu-ray Disc drive prototype
that, when released, will have the capacity to store up to 50 gigabytes of
information on a single disc.
As the HDTV revolution continues
to grow in the U.S. consumers are going to want the
ability to record high definition video and to purchase or rent major movie
titles in high def. The answer to their need is Blu-ray Disc, a new optical disc
format that will enable consumers to enjoy all the benefits of HDTV on a 5-inch
optical disc that looks very similar in size and shape to a CD or
DVD.
Pioneer is one of 15 major
companies that joined together to lead the creation of the Blu-ray Disc format,
a compatible standard for high definition recording. The Blu-ray Disc
Association has now grown to nearly 100 members including the most trusted
brands in consumer electronics, computers, media and several Hollywood movie studios.
Blu-ray Disc offers five times as
much capacity as current DVDs, enabling movie studios to put a complete high
definition movie on a single Blu-ray disc with more added features than
currently available on DVD including interactive features. It also will allow a
consumer to record a high definition television program to disc or to store 50
GB worth of data from their computer.
Pioneer is showcasing its Blu-ray
Disc future at CES with prototypes of home use and computer recorders. Both will
be able to record and play back most DVD discs as well as record and play the
new Blu-ray Disc format, making the transition from DVD to Blu-ray Disc easier
for consumers. Pioneer's internal computer drive for Blu-ray Disc recording is
expected to ship in 2005. No date has been set for the release of the home
Blu-ray Disc recorder, although it is expected to release shortly after movie
studios begin releasing movie titles on Blu-Ray Disc in late 2005 or early
2006.
Heritage of Optical Disc
Expertise
Pioneer has been an innovator of
optical disc technology since it brought LaserDisc, the precursor to DVD, to
market in 1980. Since then, Pioneer went on to introduce the first DVD burner
for computer use in 1997, the first DVD recorder as a VCR replacement in 1999,
the first DVD burner priced for home computer users in 2001 and surpassed 5
million sales of DVD burners in 2003. The DVR-A09 is Pioneer's 9th generation
DVD burner for computer use, each successive generation offering greater
features at lower costs.
Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. is
headquartered in Long Beach,
Calif., and its U.S. Web address is
www.pioneerelectronics.com. Its parent company, Pioneer Corporation,
is a leader in optical disc technology and a preeminent manufacturer of
high-performance audio, video, computer and cable television equipment for the
home, car and business markets. The company focuses on four core business
domains including DVD, display technologies, Digital Network Entertainment and
components. Founded in 1938 in Tokyo , Pioneer Corporation (NYSE: PIO) employs
more than 36,000 people worldwide. Its shares are traded on the New York Stock
Exchange.
Source: Pioneer
