LabelFlash is an emerging technology that allows a user that owns both a LabelFlash drive and LabelFlash media to "burn" any image or text onto the surface of that media. It's certainly more elegant than a sharpie, doesn't have the smudging concerns of inkjet media and disc printers, and takes roughly half the time it takes to burn a LightScribe label. At the moment, FujiFilm is currently the only LabelFlash media supplier and has announced they will be outsourcing part of the production responsibility to Ritek.
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Following Plextor's launch of the world's first LabelFlash-enabled DVD burners in the first quarter of this year, NEC, Pioneer, LG Electronics and I-O Data Device have subsequently offered such DVD burners, boosting the adoption of LabelFlash, the sources indicated. Fujifilm is currently the sole supplier of LabelFlash discs, and has outsourced production to Ritek because its own production capacity is not sufficient, the sources pointed out. LabelFlash is comparable with LightScribe, which was developed by Hewlett-Packard (HP), in disc labeling functions, the sources said. Although LabelFlash was offered about one year later than LightScribe and therefore is less known, the former can label both sides of a disc while the latter can label only the non-recordable side, the sources pointed out. In addition, LabelFlash can make a label in only 5-20 minutes, faster than LightScribe, the sources noted. To offset the disadvantage, HP plans to offer color LightScribe technology later this year to replace the existing monochrome version, according to the sources. The competition between the two disc labeling technologies is expected to heat up, the sources added. Among leading Taiwan-based makers, Lite-On IT and BenQ are licensees of LightScribe technology for DVD burners while CMC Magnetics is licensed for CD-R and DVD+R/-R discs, the sources indicated. |
It will be interesting to see if Ritek comes out with new media codes for this new venture or if they will just slap a LightScribe surface onto pre-existing media codes. Either way, if Ritek's reputation and quality as of late has any carryover to these LabelFlash discs, then I can see LightScribe hanging on for a bit longer especially with the prospect of color LightScribe discs on the horizon.
Discuss this and other labeling conerns in the CDFreaks
Source: DigiTimes
