Sonic Solutions today unveiled AuthorScript HD-DVD Recorder and AuthorScript HD-DVD Navigator, the industry's first HD-DVD software development kits (SDKs). These two new AuthorScript SDKs enable PC application developers and consumer electronics chip, middleware, and system developers to rapidly integrate and deploy HD-DVD recording and playback functionality in their high-definition video products.

AuthorScript HD-DVD Recorder and AuthorScript HD-DVD Navigator offer a complete recording and playback solution for PC and CE system and software developers looking to add HD-DVD capabilities to their products. AuthorScript HD-DVD Navigator supports all playback functions for HD-DVD titles, including trick modes such as fast forward, reverse and chapter selection. In addition, AuthorScript HD-DVD Navigator supports iHD, HD-DVD's interactivity technology, giving developers the ability to deploy next-generation HD-DVD PC and CE players that enable consumers to view and interact with innovative HD-DVD titles.

AuthorScript HD-DVD Recorder supports data recording to HD-DVD media, allowing storage of up to 30GB on a single disc. It also enables recording of digital video and HDTV content to HD-DVD media.

Blu-Ray support

The company announced broad support for Blu-ray Disc in its Roxio-branded DigitalMedia Archive, Easy Archive and DigitalMedia Studio consumer software products. In addition, Sonic announced its AuthorScript Blu-ray software development kit (SDK), enabling third-party PC application and consumer electronics chip, middleware and application developers to deliver Blu-ray-based recording and playback solutions.

Support for writing data to recordable BD will be incorporated into Roxio DigitalMedia Archive, a Blu-ray-capable archiving solution for home entertainment center PCs, as well as into the Easy Archive component of Roxio DigitalMedia Studio. Roxio will also add Blu-ray support to its CinePlayer line of DVD player software, allowing PC viewing of HD video from Blu-ray Discs.