DVD Burning Bits.com - Ahead Software’s Nero Enhances DVD+R Double Layer (DL) Recording With New Technology

Ahead Software, leaders in digital
media technology, announced today the technology behind the world’s first all-in-one
DVD+R Double Layer (DL) software suite, Nero 6. The two essential technologies that
will help smoothly usher in Double Layer DVD recording are Nero LayerMagic™, to
speed up the DL burning process and Nero SmoothPlay™, to provide seamless DL
playback. The Nero 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 for the first time ever.

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

Nero’s LayerMagic™ effectively decreases the amount of time required to master a
DL DVD by automatically distributing video content equally between the two layers in
order to simplify the final layout in the recording process. If the “padding” recording
process is used in which filler content, not actual video data, is recorded to even out
the data on both layers, there is high risk of creating incompatible discs. Nero Layer
Magic™ however avoids padding by distributing the content between the two layers
in equal parts, ensuring that the second layer is already in a compatible state at the
end of the recording process which greatly reduces recording time.

Nero SmoothPlay™ automatically modifies video content written to the end of the
DVD so that delays in playback are reduced to an absolute minimum. The process of
switching from one layer to another takes a considerable amount of time as the drive
needs to refocus its laser to the second layer as well as perform any seeking
operation necessary to find the beginning of the data on layer two. Due to that, many
badly mastered DVD-Video media will cause the player to interrupt playback at or
shortly before switching layers. Nero SmoothPlay™ avoids these problems by coding
detailed instructions into the DVD’s navigation data, making most DVD-Players
perform the caching and playback optimization necessary to prevent playback
distortion. When applying the unique Nero SmoothPlay™ algorithm, the optimum
layer break location for both new and pre-mastered DVD-Video content will be
detected by analyzing video signal and navigation structures, ensuring maximum
compatibility with standalone DVD players as well as the smallest possible delay in
switching from one layer to another when playing back mastered video content.

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 ™, 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 DVDVideo
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, providing users with an at-aglance
overview of what DVD drives have to offer.

“With new technology comes new challenges and with new challenges comes new
solutions,” says Richard Lesser CEO of Ahead Software AG. “Nero already has the
answers to questions that haven’t been asked, with new technology like Nero
LayerMagic and Nero SmoothPlay that will ensure a smooth, consistent and
successful recording process.”

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.
For additional information, please visit www.nero.com.

About Ahead
Ahead Software provides the most reliable CD/DVD software applications available to
serve digital media markets worldwide. Since its inception in 1995, Ahead’s leading
application, Nero, has built a loyal customer base of more than 120 million users
world-wide.
Ahead’s award-winning flagship product Nero 6 provides an all-in-one comprehensive
CD/DVD burning suite. Ahead’s product line also includes Nero Digital – audio/video
technology, SIPPS – VoIP, and across – professional computer aided translation
software. Ahead distributes its products globally through world’s leading drive
manufacturers and PC makers, as well as leading world-wide retailers, online
partners, and also directly to consumers at www.nero.com. Ahead Software AG is
headquartered in Karlsbad, Germany, with its subsidiary Ahead Software Inc. located
in Glendale, California USA, and a further subsidiary set to open soon in Japan.