Mac gets Sony DVD burner

Sony plans to release a double-layer DVD burner that is compatible with the Macintosh platform, Data-Storage-Today reports.

The drive is capable of recording up to four hours of MPEG-2 video or up to 8.5GB of data, songs and images on compatible DVD+R media. It will start shipping in December at a retail price of approximately $230.

Double-layer DVDs are single-sided discs with two information layers that can be independently written to and read from. Users can access both layers from the same side of the disk.

Universal Music Group has licensed songs from its stable of artists including U2 and Eminem to a company that has developed technology to prevent the unauthorised distribution of audio tracks over online file-sharing networks.

The deal with Snocap will see the record company eventually having its music sold over one or more file-sharing networks, reports Associated Press.

Sony BMG Entertainment has also been in talks to sell its music on the upcoming Mashboxxx file-sharing service. The service is expected to use technology to block computer users from trading copyright songs without permission, but would allow them to download promotional or restricted versions of songs at no charge.

The eight-CD soundtrack for the Take-Two Interactive Software Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas PlayStation 2 title will be released on 7 December, reports Reuters.

The set features more than 80 tracks drawn from the 1990s West Coast music scene, with a mix of rock, rap, R&B and country.

Among the artists featured are Kool & The Gang, Rick James, Public Enemy, Willie Nelson, Patsy Cline, Joe Cocker, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Soundgarden and Stone Temple Pilots.

The box set is expected to retail for around $50.