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Sonic Debuts Blu-ray Disc Burning and Playback Software at CeBIT 2005 (23/3/2005)

Record Now and CinePlayer Showcase New BD format; AuthorScript Blu-ray SDK Allows Developers to Quickly Add BD Support in Wide Variety of Applications

Sonic Solutions(R) (NASDAQ:SNIC), the leader in digital media software, and Philips & BenQ Digital Storage Corporation (PBDS), a leading Blu-ray (BD) technology company, today debuted Blu-ray Disc recording/playback solutions that will allow consumers to burn and play back discs in the new high-capacity BD digital media format. In a joint demonstration with PBDS, Sonic unveiled its AuthorScript Blu-ray Data Recording Software Development Kit (SDK) as well as Blu-ray support in its popular Roxio- and Sonic-branded RecordNow and CinePlayer HD consumer software applications. Deployed on almost 200 million PCs, Sonic's AuthorScript is the core burning engine that underlies all of Sonic's professional and consumer software applications; it is also the leading CD and DVD burning SDK used by software developers such as Adobe, AOL, Microsoft, Sony and many others. With the AuthorScript Blu-ray SDK, Sonic makes it easy for software developers to add support for recording BD discs into their applications.

By showcasing the integration of Sonic's software and PBDS' Triple writer (Blu-ray, DVD, CD) drive, the two companies are underscoring their commitment to a smooth and rapid adoption of the BD format, which offers more than 70 times the capacity of CDs and more than 5 times the capacity of DVDs, making it ideal for archiving digital media such as home movies, recorded TV shows, music collections, and digital photos.

"Working together with Sonic gives us access to proven, reliable burning technology," said Paul Jochjims, senior product manager at PBDS. "This collaboration will help us offer our customers a quality, easy-to-use solution that's ready at the earliest possible stage of this exciting new market."

"Sonic is delighted to be working closely with PBDS on BD applications," said John Newman, director of European operations for Sonic's Roxio division. "By providing us with early access to PBDS Triple writer technology, this collaboration allows us to accelerate the delivery of complete BD burning solutions for our entire spectrum of customers, including home users and professionals."

Presented at the BenQ booth (Hall 21, Stand B20), the Blu-ray demonstrations highlight Roxio's consumer BD recording technology that enables quick and easy creation and backup of digital media onto Blu-ray discs. High definition video content will be burned to the BenQ drive with RecordNow software and played back from BD using CinePlayer HD.

Sonic plans to make its AuthorScript Blu-ray Data Recording SDK available for licensing in the summer of 2005, enabling producers of personal computer (PC) and consumer electronics (CE) products to immediately support Blu-ray drives when they become available.

www.sonic.com