Pioneer today introduced two D

Jointly developed by Pioneer and Sonic Solutions, Qflix is a new DVD technology that gives consumers the opportunity to purchase licensed Hollywood films, and eventually TV shows, from CinemaNow, some of which have previously been unavailable at retail.

The Qflix-enabled drives allows burning of content on Qfix-certified DVD media using CSS (Content Scramble System), which is the same content protection found on commercially released DVD movies.

"Consumer adoption of digitally distributed entertainment will happen at a far greater rate than the extinction of the DVD player," said Mark Ely, executive vice president of Strategy, Sonic Solutions. "Qflix is an important and necessary bridging technology that allows content owners to deliver a more flexible product that combines the convenience of digital distribution with the permanency and portability of the DVD."

For home audiences who were previously relegated to viewing downloaded content on a small computer screen, Pioneer?s new writers with Qflix technology enables users to preserve digital content for playback on standard DVD players and then watch it on a big screen television.

"Our commitment to enhancing the digital entertainment experience has driven us to expand offerings in new ways, far beyond the traditional computer screen. Now we can provide a packaged media option that can be enjoyed on multiple disc drives or players located throughout a home," said David Cook, president and COO of CinemaNow. "Being able to offer a selection of feature films that are compatible with Qflix technology, unlocks a dynamic collection of content for consumers who are searching for movies or shows that do not even exist on DVD."

Both Pioneer drives incorporate Roxio's Venue software that provides simplified management and writing of downloaded digital content. Also included in the software bundle are applications that allow users to back-up and play their disc media on a PC via the Roxio CinePlayer and Easy CD & DVD Burning software.

Besides featuring 20x write speed to DVD-R and +R, the internal DVR-2920Q and external DVR-X162Q writers boast a variety of other features:

- Optimal Write Support - Recognizes the disc media and adjusts the drive?s write speed to ensure the highest quality

- Quiet Drive - Unique interlocking design ensures low acoustic noise by "trapping" the airflow noise generated by the spinning disc

- Improved Durability - Improved chassis insulation helps protect the drive's internal components from dust and small particles that can hinder the product's operability and lifespan Available at retail stores nationwide and at www.pioneerelectronics.com, the Pioneer internal DVR-2920Q and the external DVR-X162Q DVD/CD writers will begin shipping in October 2008 for a suggested price of $69.99 and November 2008 for a suggested price of $114.99, respectively.

Philips & Lite-On Digital Solutions Corp (PLDS) has also licenced Qflix technology and plans to integrate Qflix into a range of optical disc drives planned for release this year.