I own a very basic Lenovo Windows laptop, used primarily to run SpectraCal’s CalMAN video calibration software and also to store hi-res audio and other FLAC files I’ve accumulated. The second is the addition of “casting” technology to send your personal music, photo, and video files directly to a Roku, Apple TV, or Google Chromecast.īefore we go any further, let me state for the record that my primary computer is a Mac, and PowerDVD is not Mac-compatible. The first is a new TV Mode UI that’s optimized for big-screen viewing and designed to be controlled via Cyberlink’s free PowerDVD Remote app for iOS and Android. The Ultra software includes two key features that are absent from the lower-priced Pro ($79.95) and Standard ($59.95) versions of PowerDVD 16. The top-of-the-line PowerDVD 16 Ultra software ($99.95) not only aims to turn your laptop or desktop PC into a media center PC, but the software also makes it easier to stream your personal media files wirelessly to today’s most popular streaming media players. And there’s certainly no shortage of technology solutions in that category–from DLNA to AirPlay to Windows Play To, etc.Ĭyberlink’s PowerDVD software is a big name in media management, and the newest version– PowerDVD 16–caught my eye precisely for its emphasis on home theater integration. One challenge that these users face is finding the most intuitive way to get all of those files off the computer to enjoy through a higher-quality AV system. They’ve embraced lossless/hi-res audio files and perhaps are ripping bit-for-bit copies of their Blu-ray movies onto their hard drive. More advanced users have likely graduated beyond MP3/WMA/AAC audio rips and the digital movie copies that accompany many Blu-ray discs. Other extras: All the drives we tested came with one-year warranties and claimed to support the archival M-DISC format, though we didn’t test those claims.Is there anyone reading this who has never used some type of media management software on a computer? In this age of digital music files, digital photos, and digital movie downloads, it almost seems unthinkable that any modestly tech-savvy person has not had at least a passing go-round with a free software program like iTunes, Windows Media Player, or VLC.But if a drive comes with decent playback and burning software, that’s a plus. Free (but potentially illegal) solutions are available for all of those problems, which we cover in the Playing DVDs and Blu-rays section. But macOS can’t play Blu-rays without extra software, Windows 10 can’t play Blu-rays or DVDs, and neither operating system includes software for burning video discs that you can play in DVD or Blu-ray players. Usable software: Both Windows 10 and macOS offer tools for burning data to DVDs and Blu-ray discs, and macOS still includes a DVD player app for playing video discs.Sturdiness: Few external disc drives are pretty, but the case shouldn’t fall apart under light pressure, the connections shouldn’t be wobbly, and the buttons should work when you press them.Operating system support: All drives we tested were detected by Windows 10 and macOS 10.15 Catalina without our installing any additional software, and the operating systems’ built-in disc reading and burning features worked without requiring any extra drivers or configuration.Almost all of the cables included with drives we tested had USB Type-A connectors on the computer’s end, but the inclusion of a USB-C cable or a USB-A–to–C adapter in the box is a nice bonus. On the drive’s end, we prefer the still-common Micro-USB port, though the larger Mini-USB is fine too (optical drives with USB-C ports are rare to nonexistent). Connector and cable: Drives should use standard detachable USB cables so that a frayed or broken cable doesn’t ruin the entire drive.Noise: All optical drives make noise, but the drive shouldn’t drown out the movie or show you’re trying to watch.Price: A good DVD drive shouldn’t cost more than $40, and a good Blu-ray drive should cost around $100.But if you’re burning or ripping discs, the rate at which a drive can move data from your computer’s hard drive to the disc or vice versa becomes more important.
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