Japanese I-O Data announced the release of its first 18x DVD±R super-multi drive DVD burner, the DVR-AN18GL. The ATAPI drive will be available in the Japanese market in the beginning of August. The drive supports 18x writing for DVD±R and 12x for DVD-RAM. It is based on the Sony NEC optiarc AD-7173A model, and it is also offering the LabelFlash disc labeling technology.



Other specifications include 8x writing for DVD±R DL/+RW, 6x for DVD-RW, 48x for CD-R and 32x for CD-RW.

The company will also release two external versions of the drive, with USB 2.0 and dual USB 2.0 / IEEE 1394 interfaces.