Pioneer Provides First DVD-R Capabilities Meeting Version 2.0 Specifications Finalized by the DVD Forum

Simple Firmware Upgrade Available to Current DVD-R Users

Pioneer New Media Technologies, Inc., today announced support for the DVD Forum's 4.7GB "DVD-Recording for authoring" specification in its DVD-R drives (DVR-S201). The version 2.0 specification, finalized in May by the DVD Forum, allows users to record 4.7GB of content to DVD-R media. Current end-users of the DVR-S201 drives can upgrade to the 2.0 specification via a simple firmware download free from Pioneer's Web site at www.pioneerusa.com/dvdrmedia.html on or before July 24, 2000.

"Over the past two years, DVD-R has fast-become the DVD format-of-choice for content developers, as well as testing and archive applications within the video, multimedia and storage industries," stated Hani Gabriel, vice president, Optical Division, Pioneer New Media Technologies, Inc. "In anticipation of the Forum's finalization of the version 2.0 specification, Pioneer has proactively developed the upgrade path for early adopters to meet the most current DVD-R capabilities available."

The firmware upgrade provides current users to record to version 2.0 DVD-R media. Gabriel also noted that the firmware upgrade incorporates an added feature which will allow a completed 2.0 DVD-R disc to be used as a Press Cutting Master Disc, saving both time and money in the replication process.

In support of the growing adoption of DVD-R technology, Pioneer is also expanding it's line of DVD-R media to offer a variety of 3.95GB and 4.7GB DVD-R media including jewel-cased discs, 50-disc spindles, available in both Pioneer branded discs and printable media. For more information on available media, customers may contact their local media distributor or visit the Pioneer Web site.

Identical in size to CDs, DVD-R discs are compatible with existing library and changer mechanisms. Pioneer offers the industry's only internal DVD-R drives within its line of DVD libraries allowing networked environments to easily adopt the technology for high-capacity archive applications and serve as a natural extension of CD-R. Pioneer's DVD libraries assist users in achieving higher quality, faster information flow and significantly more data per volume.

DVD-R is a write-once medium that can store any type of digital information such as video, audio, images, multimedia titles and data files. Using the DVR-S201, discs can be written at 1X and read at 2X speeds. A complete disc can be written in approximately one hour. With its increased capacity it becomes an ideal medium for data intensive storage in vertical markets such as medical imaging and document management. Designed for industrial use, the DVR-S201 provides compatible storage capacity equivalent to a replicated DVD-ROM.

The DVR-S201 began shipping in June 1999 at an MSRP of $5,400. The new shipments of DVD-R drives are now automatically manufactured to meet the version 2.0 specification and continue to be sold complete with pre-mastering software and three blank 4.7GB DVD-R discs. Individual DVD-R discs are available at an MSRP ranging from $35 to $40 per disc.

Pioneer New Media Technologies

Pioneer New Media Technologies Inc. is dedicated to bringing the very best of leading-edge technology to market. Pioneer invented the world's first multiple-disc CD-ROM changer and offered the first multifunction optical drive capable of reading and writing to both MO and WORM. The Optical Division's products include first to market DVD-R and DVD-ROM drives; CD-ROM drives, changers and jukeboxes; optical drives; MO, WORM, and DVD-R media for a wide range of storage solutions in the education, government, legal, banking, medical, insurance, finance, industrial and general business markets. The company is a leading supplier of optical drives to the majority of first tier OEM PC manufacturers. For more information, contact Pioneer New Media Technologies, Inc. at 2265 E. 220th Street, Long Beach, Calif. 90810; phone (310) 952-2111 or (800) 444-6784; URL: www.pioneerusa.com.

Editor's Note: Product photography and evaluation units are available by contacting Amy Gray or Irene Alonso of T&O Public Relations at (949) 833-8006 or agray@topr.com and ialonso@topr.com.