Oak Technology enters the CD-Recording software arena!
"...Oak Technology today announced the availability of its new SimpliCD Compact Disc recording software to consumers worldwide. SimpliCD is the first of a new breed of CD-Recording software that embeds directly within the Windows operating system, automating the creation of data, audio, video and photo slide show CDs. Oak's SimpliCD software is now available for consumer purchase and download at a price of $49.95, and physical shipment at a price $64.95.
This integration makes it possible for first time users to easily create CDs without learning complicated software or arcane formatting techniques. Additionally, SimpliCD includes a breakthrough new feature, Picture Slide Show, which burns a collection of digital photos to a CD that will play on TV in consumer VideoCD and DVD Players, as well as computers. In consumer testing conducted by San Jose Focus, a research firm specializing in human interface testing, SimpliCD was found to outperform other CD recording software, specifically in the areas of ease-of use, speed and utility.
Most of the new generation of DVD players are already compliant with the Optical Storage Technology Association's (OSTA) MultiPlay standard, a new industry specification that allows DVD devices to play CD-R and CD-RW discs. SimpliCD's Slide Show feature is the first CD-Recording software of its kind to take full advantage of the MultiPlay specification by automating the process of making consumer photo albums in VideoCD format that play automatically on TV with DVD players. By attaching a digital camera to the PC, consumers can instantly create digital photo albums, or archive for permanent storage. The Slide Show feature automatically converts digital picture (BMP and JPG) files on the fly and records them as slide shows and videos on CD-R or CD-RW discs for viewing on computers and TVs having MultiPlay compliant DVD or VideoCD players.
In addition to Slide Show, SimpliCD is able to create Compressed Audio (CA) albums with MP3 and WMA audio files. Such albums will allow users of computers or consumer players to enjoy 10 times more music on one CD, and additionally will allow user to organize by custom play lists or categories such as artist, album or genre. This new CA specification was developed by a group of companies of OSTA, and will soon serve as an industry standard to facilitate an improved playback experience in future CD and DVD consumer players.
In addition to Slide Show and CA albums, SimpliCD includes the following easy to use capabilities:
SimpliCD Recorder - A multimedia disc creation tool that easily and instantly creates audio, slide show and video discs on CD-R. One of the more exciting applications is the automated ability to convert MP3s to CDs that can play in most standard car stereos, CD/DVD players and CD/DVD drives. The SimpliCD Recorder can also mix and match audio files such as Windows Media AudioTM, WAV and MP3 files, automatically converting them on the fly and burning them to standard CD Audio (Redbook) or CD-Text discs.
SimpliCD Copy - SimpliCD Copy automatically copies audio, game, and software titles to either 74- or 80-minute CD media, enabling consumers to make instant backups of their important digital content. Another unique feature of SimpliCD Copy allows users to seamlessly convert standard audio discs to CD-Text format for playback on home CD jukeboxes.
SimpliCD ROM - This is an easy to use drag and drop feature for creating Data discs for saving digital content to a folder on a hard disk. This unique folder is a part of the desktop and Windows Explorer. The user simply right clicks on the folder and selects "burn."
SimpliCD ReWrite - This module includes a Universal Disk Format (UDF) read/write device driver, with advanced defect management that allows CD-RW discs to be used like floppy disks. Disc tools such as Formatting and Erasing are available at your fingertips from Windows Explorer or from the taskbar menu..." NULL
This integration makes it possible for first time users to easily create CDs without learning complicated software or arcane formatting techniques. Additionally, SimpliCD includes a breakthrough new feature, Picture Slide Show, which burns a collection of digital photos to a CD that will play on TV in consumer VideoCD and DVD Players, as well as computers. In consumer testing conducted by San Jose Focus, a research firm specializing in human interface testing, SimpliCD was found to outperform other CD recording software, specifically in the areas of ease-of use, speed and utility.
Most of the new generation of DVD players are already compliant with the Optical Storage Technology Association's (OSTA) MultiPlay standard, a new industry specification that allows DVD devices to play CD-R and CD-RW discs. SimpliCD's Slide Show feature is the first CD-Recording software of its kind to take full advantage of the MultiPlay specification by automating the process of making consumer photo albums in VideoCD format that play automatically on TV with DVD players. By attaching a digital camera to the PC, consumers can instantly create digital photo albums, or archive for permanent storage. The Slide Show feature automatically converts digital picture (BMP and JPG) files on the fly and records them as slide shows and videos on CD-R or CD-RW discs for viewing on computers and TVs having MultiPlay compliant DVD or VideoCD players.
In addition to Slide Show, SimpliCD is able to create Compressed Audio (CA) albums with MP3 and WMA audio files. Such albums will allow users of computers or consumer players to enjoy 10 times more music on one CD, and additionally will allow user to organize by custom play lists or categories such as artist, album or genre. This new CA specification was developed by a group of companies of OSTA, and will soon serve as an industry standard to facilitate an improved playback experience in future CD and DVD consumer players.
In addition to Slide Show and CA albums, SimpliCD includes the following easy to use capabilities:
SimpliCD Recorder - A multimedia disc creation tool that easily and instantly creates audio, slide show and video discs on CD-R. One of the more exciting applications is the automated ability to convert MP3s to CDs that can play in most standard car stereos, CD/DVD players and CD/DVD drives. The SimpliCD Recorder can also mix and match audio files such as Windows Media AudioTM, WAV and MP3 files, automatically converting them on the fly and burning them to standard CD Audio (Redbook) or CD-Text discs.
SimpliCD Copy - SimpliCD Copy automatically copies audio, game, and software titles to either 74- or 80-minute CD media, enabling consumers to make instant backups of their important digital content. Another unique feature of SimpliCD Copy allows users to seamlessly convert standard audio discs to CD-Text format for playback on home CD jukeboxes.
SimpliCD ROM - This is an easy to use drag and drop feature for creating Data discs for saving digital content to a folder on a hard disk. This unique folder is a part of the desktop and Windows Explorer. The user simply right clicks on the folder and selects "burn."
SimpliCD ReWrite - This module includes a Universal Disk Format (UDF) read/write device driver, with advanced defect management that allows CD-RW discs to be used like floppy disks. Disc tools such as Formatting and Erasing are available at your fingertips from Windows Explorer or from the taskbar menu..." NULL
