LabelFlash
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LabelFlash is a technology which allows users to burn custom designs or images onto DVD media, introduced by NEC in December 2005 (Yamaha's DiscT@2 patent). This is similar to the LightScribe technology invented by Hewlett-Packard earlier. The technology is most commonly used on Toshiba and Gateway branded laptops.
- The resolution is 1000 dpi.
- Uses up to 256 shades in the image.
- Monochromatic with 4 color technology in development
- Labeling process takes 7 minutes at minimum depending on the resolution.
- Burning images on the top side of a disc requires specialized media.
- Specialized Labelflash discs use 0.6 mm thick top coating to avoid fading of image over time, and to protect from scratches.
- Discs are blue on top, thus providing greater contrast with the printed image.
- Current media is approximately twice the price of the similar Lightscribe technology; around €1 ($1.31, ¥116.97) per DVD
- DiskT@2 is a part of Labelflash technology — burning on bottom side (data side) of disc area which is not used by data is possible with any DVD±R media.
Nero and newer versions support this technology.[1] All full versions of Nero 8 support Labelflash, but Nero 7 only supports it with OEM versions bundled with Labelflash-capable recorders and with Nero 7 Premium. For reasons that are not entirely clear, North American purchasers of Nero 7 (Ultra Edition) are not entitled to Labelflash or DiscT@2 support, even though the exact same software sold to European customers (Nero 7 Premium) includes both Labelflash and DiscT@2 functionality. The only difference between Nero 7 Premium and Nero 7 Ultra Edition appears to be the inclusion of (or lack of, respectively) support for Labelflash and DiscT@2.
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[edit] Hardware
The NEC ND-3550A, ND-3551A, ND-4550A, ND-4551A all share the same hardware but only the ND-3551A and ND-4551A are sold with Labelflash support.[citation needed] In addition NEC sold the ND-4571A DVD burning Labelflash drive and also the Sony NEC Optiarc drives AD-7173, AD-7543, AD-7633 and AD-7913 supporting Labelflash writing.[citation needed]
The Pioneer DVR-111, DVR-111L (Original product is Buffalo DVSM-XL516FB series), DVR-111D, and DVR-A11XL all share the same internal hardware as well as Asus 1608P3S,[citation needed] but only the DVR-111L is sold with Labelflash support.[citation needed] By replacing the kernel on the other models with the DVR-111L's, Labelflash and DVD-RAM writing can be enabled on unsupported models.[citation needed]
More recently the Pioneer DVR-112D's firmware can also be replaced with a DVR-112L's firmware.[citation needed]
After initially being introduced in Europe, Fujifilm announced on 25 May 2007 that they will introduce Labelflash media to the US.[citation needed] Until this date, only NEC and Sony NEC Optiarc sold drives supporting the technology. As of fall 2007, Memorex-brand media has started showing up in small quantities at US Best Buy stores, despite minimal initial drive support at retail.[2] LabelFlash drives have since begun to appear in more notebook computers sold at retail in the US (especially retail models).[citation needed]
Early hardware support appeared to provide Lightscribe with a clear advantage over Labelflash, leading to some predictions that LabelFlash would go the way of HD-DVD.[citation needed] However, in late 2007 and the first half of 2008, more US laptops began to feature LabelFlash drives, notably from Toshiba and Gateway.[citation needed]
[edit] Macintosh Support
Some early Mac Pros were shipped with Pioneer DVR-111D SuperDrives. This meant that if a user could CrossFlash their drives firmware, they could burn Labelflash labels. Unfortunately at the time, Mac OS X didn't support Labelflash Burning. Many users were able to burn labels by running Windows XP with Boot Camp, Parallels Desktop or VMWare Fusion.
Macintosh support of Labelflash was announced on 5 June 2007, when BeLight Software announced version 1.4 of Disc Cover for Mac OS X.[3]
