LabelFlash vs LightScribe

According to DigiTimes, Yamaha Corporation and Fujifilm are trying to convince leading makers of optical disc drives to adopt LabelFlash, an alternative disc labeling technology to the LightScribe developed by Hewlett-Packard.

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A few leading ODD makers in Taiwan, including Lite-On IT and BenQ, have adopted LightScribe, but LightScribe-enabled DVD burners have not sold well because of expensive LightScribe DVD discs, the sources pointed out.

Although the promotion of LabelFlash has lagged behind that of LightScribe, Yamaha and Fujifilm have attempted to attract Taiwanese ODD makers by lower royalty charges, the sources indicated. The royalty charge for LabelFlash may be about half of that for LightScribe, the sources noted.

For Taiwanese makers, the adoption of LabelFlash hinges on marketability, according to general manager Michael Gong of the Optical Disc Drive Business Unit of Lite-On. Lite-On will chose the technology that best suits customers’ needs, but could volume produce LabelFlash DVD burners in the first quarter of 2006 at the soonest, if the company adopts the technology, Gong indicated.

Source: DigiTimes