The DVDRevo provides DVD-R capacity for creating discs with up to 4.7GB of data; it can read DVDs at 6x, writes DVD-Rs at 2x; it can also read CDs at 24x, write CD-Rs at 8x; and write to CD-RW at 4x. Supported formats include DVD-Video, DVD-ROM, and DVD-R, as well as CD-ROM, CD-Audio, CD-R, CD-RW, CD-I, CD Bridge, CD Extended, CD Mixed Mode and Photo CD.
CD CyClone indicated that the DVDRevo is based on a mechanism manufactured by Pioneer New Media Technologies Inc. Apple also uses a Pioneer-made DVD-R mechanism in its high-end Power Mac G4 configuration, which it has dubbed the “SuperDrive” for its ability to read and write both DVDs and CDs.
In early January, before Apple announced the availability of Pioneer’s DVD-R technology in its Power Mac G4 733 MHz configuration, MacCentral spoke with Pioneer New Media Technologies about the new mechanism, which a spokesperson explained as being considered by several different manufacturing partners. Windows-compatible PC maker Compaq was the first company out of the gate to announce a new system which uses the drive.
Inclusion of Pioneer DVD-R drives on Macs seems crucial to Apple’s future strategy. Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced during a recent meeting with financial analysts that Apple hoped to include the “SuperDrive” on consumer Macs as pricing and availability allowed — hopefully next year.
CD CyClone said that the drive ships with “everything you need to record DVD titles for playback on most standard DVD players” along with what’s needed to burn CDs, too. The plug-and-play FireWire interface is complemented by an external design that features a carrying handle.
Details are scant on the specific software bundle that will be included with the drive and the drive’s actual availability. Representatives of CD CyClone Duplication could not be reached for comment as we went to press with this article. CD CyClone is distributing the drive along with Adicomm, whose online e-commerce site All4DVD.com is now accepting pre-orders for the DVDRevo.
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