Sony to speed up Dual DVD recorders with firmware
updated 06:40 pm EST, Tue January 13, 2004
Sony Dual DVD recorders
Sony today announced it will release a free firmware upgrade to its 530 series of dual format DVD/CD-recordable drives that will allow them to achieve up to 8X DVD-R and 4X DVD-RW recording speeds. Owners of the will be able to download the free firmware upgrade from Sony's Storage Support Web site in late February. The updated firmware will enable recording of a full 4.7GB DVD-R disc in around 10 minutes when using 8X DVD-R media. In addition, using 4X DVD-RW media, users will be able record a full 4X DVD-RW disc in less than 15 minutes.
The firmware upgrade will increase the drives' DVD-R speed from an original 4X, and their DVD-RW speed from an original 2X. Both drives also support up to 8X DVD+R and 4X DVD+RW, as well as up to 40X CD-R and up to 24X CD-RW recording speeds.
The internal DRU-530A model is $220, while the external DRX-530UL drive be under $300 when it becomes available in early February. There is an additional $30 mail-in rebate in place for both models through July 4, 2004.
