Pioneer Electronics (USA) continues to lead development of new optical drive technologies for DVD and high-definition recording, launching at the CES

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.