Verbatim Shipping LightScribe 8X DVD+R DL Media

Verbatim Americas, LLC is shipping the world’s first LightScribe 8X DVD+R Double Layer (DL) discs. The new media provides consumers and businesses with 8.5GB capacity on the DVD’s storage side and direct-to-disc burning of silkscreen-quality text and graphics on the label side. At 8X speed, the industry’s fastest DVD DL burning speed, an entire 8.5GB single-sided disc can be filled to capacity in 15 minutes or less.

The new media leverages many of the same technologies that set the standard for high-speed DVD+R Double Layer (DL) disc performance, reliability and compatibility. Verbatim and its parent company, Mitsubishi Kagaku Media (MKM), have consistently been at the forefront in developing DVD+R DL technologies and LightScribe media coating. Verbatim was also the first company to release DVD+R DL discs and LightScribe media worldwide.

LightScribe certified, Verbatim’s new double-layer media is fully compatible with LightScribe-enabled drives, duplicators and the latest software licensed by Hewlett-Packard Company (HP). The discs are produced with LightScribe Media Version 1.2 coating technology on the label side to provide enhanced contrast for photos, graphics, images and text. Verbatim’s new DVD+R DL discs deliver LightScribe direct-to-disc labeling quality and convenience without requiring any software or firmware upgrades.

By offering compliance that exceeds the DVD+R DL standard, users also have the assurance that Verbatim’s new LightScribe media is compatible with the new multi-format drives and duplicators that support 8X DVD+R DL technology and most DVD playback devices.

The increased storage capacity required by digital content, especially HD video, and the volumes of Internet content that are being downloaded are driving the demand for higher-capacity storage. With two recording layers on a single side, Verbatim’s new LightScribe 8X DVD+R DL media nearly doubles the storage capacity of a DVD from 4.7GB to 8.5GB. The higher capacity enables businesses, content developers and consumers to store up to 3.5 hours of DVD-quality videos, about one hour of HD video or 8.5GB of data without having to flip the disc. The capacity and 8X performance that these discs provide also make them ideal for backups and archiving.

Since its launch early in 2005, LightScribe’s adoption rate has grown substantially. Today, most of the major optical drive manufacturers include LightScribe Direct Disc Labeling technology with their burners. LightScribe also recently reported that the direct disc labeling technology is now licensed by over 80 electronics and software companies worldwide, including many disc publishing systems manufacturers.

Availability and price
Verbatim LightScribe 8X DVD+R DL media is available in the US through leading retailers, Internet resellers and distributors with a street price of about US$20.00 for a 10-disc spindle in a hanger box.