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Pioneer Multimedia is once again
proving its leadership in DVD technology by launching the world's
fastest DVD-ROM drive, the 10X DVD-AO4SZ. The new drive will be
bundled in retail outlets throughout Europe from October with a
cutting-edge package including FOX Interactive's X-Files Game and
Interplay's Baldur's Gate. Both titles are DVD-ROM versions.
With market leading transfer rates
of 10X for DVD-ROM (13.5 MB/s) and 40X for CD-ROM (6 MB/s), the
new drive operates more than 40 per cent more efficiently than its
predecessor and supports multiple disc formats including DVD-R and
DVD-RW. It also comes with improved seek and access times of 90ms
and 100ms for DVD-ROM and 70ms and 80ms for CD-ROM and is
completed with ATAPI (DVD-AO4SZ) interface.
The drive can read both single and
dual layer DVD discs. In comparison to a CD-ROM disc, a
single-sided, single-layer DVD disc offers seven times the
capacity and a double-sided, dual-layer DVD disc, 26 times the
capacity.
Both the X-Files game and Baldur's
Gate incorporate visual and audio DVD quality and are indicative
of the capacity and flexibility of the new technology. The X-Files
game incorporates MPEG2 video and high quality sound. This
material includes specially created footage used only for this
game. The X-Files is a great adventure game that intrigues the
mind. Extensive knowledge of the TV series however is not
necessary.
Baldur's Gate is an exciting
role-playing game in true Dungeons and Dragons tradition. The 7
disc CD-ROM version was a Top 5 hit across Europe and is now
available on one DVD-ROM (DVD-5).
Chris Tampsett, Optical Systems
Product Manager at Pioneer Multimedia comments, "This is the
fastest DVD-ROM drive on the market, with excellent features and,
bundled with such a fantastic package, we are confident that it
will be extremely well received. We will be supporting it with an
extensive marketing campaign.
"Pioneer Multimedia invests
considerably in research and development and as a key member of
the DVD Consortium, which decides the specifications for future
technology, we are at the fore front of multimedia development.
Our innovations this year, with our 2nd generation DVD-R writer,
720 disc DVD autochanger and now the fastest DVD-ROM drive, are
clear evidence of our lead in the market."
NB notes to editors:
Product features:
512 Kbytes buffer memory
Digital audio output (ATAPI only)
Front panel headphone jack and volume control knob
Compatible with Windows 98 Plug and Play standard, Windows
NT3.51/4.0, Windows 3.1, MS-DOS6.0 or later
The DVD-A04SZ is equipped with
Pioneer's slot-in disc loading mechanism, featuring a chucking
system for safer disc handling, as well as enabling horizontal and
vertical mounting for added flexibility, making it ideal for the
requirements of OEMs. Like Pioneer's other DVD-ROM drives, the
mechanism grips the disc by both edges without touching the data
surfaces and operates gently to eliminate any risk of damage. In
addition, ejected discs are held in the slot with the central hole
visible to allow discs to be removed without leaving fingerprints
on the data surfaces.
Pioneer Electronic (Europe) N.V's,
(PEE) Multimedia Division is part of the Pioneer Electronic
Corporation (PEC) which began as an audio products manufacturer in
Japan in 1938 and is now a world leader in electronics products
for the home, commerce and industry. Based outside London,
England, PEE's Multimedia Division has nine distribution
subsidiaries located throughout Europe and is a leader in
multimedia technology, both optical disk and large screen
audio-visual display and electronic presentation.
Photography, reviews and
further information are available. Please contact :
Erik Haugen [email protected]
Tel: +44 1753 789 698
Fax: +44 1753 789 880 |
