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Panasonic and Ulead Systems Inc. announced today that Ulead VideoStudio 5.0 DVD Edition, a new version of the widely used Ulead consumer video editing software, supports Panasonic's new 4.7GB combination DVD-RAM/R drive, DVDBurner.

Ulead is also offering a downloadable version of Ulead DVD Plug-in that will enable VideoStudio 5.0 and MediaStudio Pro 6.0 users to record DVD videos directly to a Panasonic DVDBurner drive without requiring any additional software. With DVDBurner, Ulead customers can record to rewritable DVD-RAM media for random-access editing and to secure, write-once DVD-R General media for playback by nearly every DVD drive, player and recorder available.

Ulead VideoStudio 5.0 DVD Edition is a completely integrated PC video editing solution that enables consumers to turn home videos into entertaining, theater-quality movies. A simple, step-by-step workflow guides the user from video capture to editing and export. With the convenient storyboard and timeline modes, users can quickly and easily add striking titles, 3-D transitions, video filter effects, video/graphic overlays and audio music or voiceovers.

By adding the Ulead DVD Plug-in recently developed for DVDBurner, the earlier version of VideoStudio and Ulead's MediaStudio Pro 6.0 can be used to produce content in the DVD format and store it using the combination DVD-RAM/R drive.

MediaStudio Pro 6.0 is an award-winning non-linear digital video editing solution that is used by professional content developers around the globe. Corporate marketing departments also use MediaStudio to quickly create presentations, merchandising and promotional materials as well as interactive training materials and special event videos. The software includes integrated tools for video capture, editing, animated video painting, vector-based drawing, audio editing and numerous transitions and filters.

With the Panasonic DVDBurner, finalized videos and clips can be organized by categories, using a single-sided 4.7GB DVD-RAM disc to store up to 2 hours of high-quality videos for less than a penny per Megabyte. The ability to edit and overwrite the DVD-RAM discs more than 100,000 times makes the media even more cost-effective. Video, audio, image and data files can be added to the disc and deleted just like a hard drive. And with DVD-RAM technology's random access capabilities, users can jump to a specific video or even a specific video frame almost instantly for editing or playback.

For archiving or sharing videos and small-scale distribution, users can switch from recording to rewritable DVD discs to write-once DVD simply by inserting a broadly compatible DVD-R General disc into the Panasonic DVDBurner.

"Panasonic's new DVDBurner delivers a new level of flexibility, performance and compatibility to corporate and home video producers at a price point they can afford," said Lewis Liaw, senior vice president of engineering at Ulead Systems, Inc. "With rewritable and write-once DVD functionality in the same drive, users have the best of both worlds."

The Panasonic DVDBurner writes to DVD-R General media at a full 11.08Mb/sec. The DVD-RAM media can be written to at 22.16Mb/s (equivalent to 18x CD) excluding verification. In addition to being able to play back DVD Forum standard DVD video, DVD-ROM and DVD-R discs, the versatile drive provides 24x CD read performance, making it exceptionally versatile.

"Ulead continues to set the pace in the video editing and authoring arenas," said Mark Shibata, marketing general manager of Panasonic Industrial Company. "By enhancing their products with advanced DV and MPEG-2 capabilities and adding support for the Panasonic DVDBurner, they make it possible for professionals, businesses and consumers to maximize the benefits that the DVD format offers."

Ulead markets VideoStudio 5.0 DVD Edition and MediaStudio Pro 6.0 to OEMs, resellers and end users. The products are available in retail and online stores for an estimated street price of $129.95 for VideoStudio 5.0 DVD Edition and $495 for MediaStudio Pro 6.0. Both products can also be purchased direct at www.ulead.com. Owners of VideoStudio 5.0 and MediaStudio Pro 6.0 can add the DVD capabilities to their programs by downloading the Ulead DVD Plug-in from www.ulead.com for $39.95.

The Panasonic DVDBurner drive is available for immediate delivery to OEMs and through authorized channel partners. The industry-standard combination rewritable and write-once drive has a suggested retail price under $600. Bare single-sided DVD-R media is available from Panasonic and other media manufacturers with a retail price of about $10. Bare 4.7GB DVD-RAM media from Panasonic and other media producers can be overwritten more than 100,000 times and has a suggested retail price of approximately $25.