Austin, Texas-based FireWire peripheral maker FirewireDirect.com Inc. has announced that it has successfully tested Pioneer’s firmware update for DVD-R drives. New documentation is available with the information.
Pioneer recently issued a technical advisory regarding its DVD-R mechanisms — including those used by third-party manufacturers in FireWire-based interfaces like those sold by FirewireDirect.com. According to Pioneer, such drives can overheat when writing new 4x media that is currently being released to the market. Although 4x media is starting to make its way to the retail space, the current drives are still 2x rated.
Pioneer’s announcement coincided with the release of a Windows-only firmware updating utility that enables users of such drives to update their mechanisms to overcome the problem. Thus far, Pioneer has not released a Mac firmware updater, although FirewireDirect stated that one would be forthcoming on a CD-ROM expected to be released by Pioneer soon.
In the interim, FirewireDirect said that users’ options include attaching their FireWire DVD-R mechanisms to a PC to upgrade, or to return the drive to FirewireDirect for service. More details are available on FirewireDirect.com’s Web site.