Samsung has officially announced its new DVD±R DL burner, the SH-W162L (£35). Not only is the drive super speedy at 16x, but it’s equipped with LightScribe (Disc Labelling) technology.

The maximum speed for +R DL has been increased to 8x, while -R DL writing speed remains at 4x. In addition, the drive offers 8x DVD+RW and 6x DVD-RW media burning speed. It can also write +R and -R media at the maximum speed of 16x.

LightScribe is an optical disc recording technology that utilises specially coated recordable CD and DVD media to produce laser-etched labels. LightScribe was invented by Hewlett-Packard and licensed to numerous hardware manufacturers, media manufacturers and software developers.

Although currently limited to PC DVD/CD drives, HP has ambitions to make LightScribe present in consumer electronics products such as stereo-component CD recording decks and set-top DVD recorders.

The surface of a LightScribe disc is coated with a reactive dye that changes colour when it absorbs 780nm infrared laser light. The etched label lasts approximately 9 months under indoor lighting without fading, but optical media should always be stored in the dark, so the label should last longer than 9 months in real-world application.

LightScribe labels burn in concentric circles, moving outward from the center of the disc. Images with the largest diameters will take longest to burn. Currently LightScribe is monochromatic.

The list of manufacturers of LightScribe compatible drives and LightScribe media is rapidly expanding. They include Hewlett-Packard, Philips, and LG. In addition, other companies, such as BenQ and LaCie, sell re-badged LightScribe drives manufactured by others. Software manufacturers also support LightScribe, with Nero Burning ROM introducing support as of version 6.6.0.8.

The SH-W162L offers the benefit of many technologies including: Silent Pulse Width Modulation (SPWM) and Automatic Ball Balancing System (ABS) to maximise performance and lower the volume of in use clatter when recording or reading at top speeds.

There’s also Speed Adjustment Technology to match the speed to the functionality of the disc, Tilt Actuator Compensation (TAC) for preferred writing condition when interacting with the objective lens, and Double Optimum Power Control, which balances the laser power on the sides of the disc for a better writing performance. Buffer Under Run Error is avoided by the power save attribute.

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BIOS, Feb 28, 06 | Print | Send | Comments (0) | Posted In DVD drive