LabelFlash

LabelFlash is a technology which allows users to burn custom motifs 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 resolution is 1000 dpi.
* Uses up to 256 shades in the image.
* Monochromatic with 4 colour 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.
* Specialised 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 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 [http://www.nero.com/nero7/eng/Nero_Burning_ROM_Release_Notes.php 7.0.2.8] and newer versions support this technology. 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.

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. 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.

The Liggy and Dee team produce many aftermarket firmware updates for various optical drives, including these NEC models. In early 2006, a tool was released by another party to update the boot information on these drives to enable Labelflash support. Because of possible legal issues that may arise from enabling patented Labelflash technology on these drives, the team has stated on their website that while containing the EXACT SAME HARDWARE, - "Please note that it is IMPOSSIBLE to enable DVD-RAM support on 3550 and 3551 drives or Labelflash on 3550 or 4550 drives by using (our) drive converter." There is however a site that claims their tool can do that, but does not guarantee it will work for everyone, and usage is at your own risk and it voids warranty.

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, but only the DVR-111L is sold with Labelflash support. By replacing the kernel on the other models with the DVR-111L's, Labelflash and DVD-RAM writing can be enabled on unsupported models. The Dangerous Brothers offer RPC-1 firmware for the DVR-111, DVR-111D, DVR-111L and DVR-A11XL on [http://tdb.rpc1.org/ their site] or you can download the official RPC-2 [http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fbuffalo.jp%2Fproducts%2Fcatalog%2Fitem%2Fd%2Fdvsm-xl516fb%2Findex.html&langpair=ja%7Cen&hl=en&safe=off&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&prev=%2Flanguage_tools Buffalo firmware] .

More recently the Pioneer DVR-112D's firmware can also be replaced with a DVR-112L's firmware. The Dangerous Brothers offer RPC-1 (beta as on 18 June 2007)version of the DVR-112L's firmware at [http://tdb.rpc1.org/#DVR112L their site] .

After initially being introduced in Europe, Fujifilm announced on 25 May 2007 that they will introduce Labelflash media to the US. Until this date, only NEC and Sony NEC Optiarc sold drives supporting the technology. As of fall 2007, Memorex-brand media [http://www.memorex.com/html/newsroom_pr_show.php?PressID=163] has started showing up in small quantities at US Best Buy stores, despite minimal initial drive support at retail. LabelFlash drives have since begun to appear in more notebook computers sold at retail in the US (especially retail models at Best Buy).

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. However, in late 2007 and the first half of 2008, more US laptops began to feature LabelFlash drives, notably from Toshiba and Gateway.

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 [http://www.belightsoft.com/products/disccover/overview.php Disc Cover] for Mac OS X. This version doesn't support the DiscT@2 feature, but may, in the future.

oftware compatibility

Commercial software that currently supports writing Labelflash labels:
* [http://www.nero.com/eng/technologies-labelflash.html Nero 8]
*Nero 7 Premium.
*Roxio Easy Media Creator 9.
*B's Recorder GOLD8 BASIC by BHA.
*CyberLink LabelPrint 2
*Dragon Burn 4 by NTI.
*Disc Cover 1.4 by BeLight Software

FujiFilm/Yamaha also provide a basic solution for burning Labelflash labels called [http://labelflash.jp/enjoy/softdl.html Labelflash Index Maker] .

ee also

*DiscT@2
*LightScribe

External links

* [http://labelflash.jp/ Official Labelflash site]
* [http://www.cdfreaks.com/reviews/First-Look-Labelflash/ First Look: Labelflash - Introduction]
* [http://liggydee.cdfreaks.com/page/ Liggy's and Dee's modified NEC firmwares]
* [http://tdb.rpc1.org/ The Dangerous Brothers RPC-1 Firmware]
* [http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/15/fujifilm-introduces-labelflash-media-to-us/ Fujifilm introduces Labelflash media to US]
* [http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/09/how-to-supersize-your-mac-pros-superdrive/ Early Mac Pros Contain Pioneer DVR-111D]