Ahead Software, leaders in digital media technology, today announced that the latest addition to its Nero product, Nero Recode 2, has already surpassed 20 million downloads within the first four weeks of release. Nero Recode 2 which includes Nero Digital, the world’s fastest MPEG-4 video and audio codec, are part of last month’s update of Nero 6.3.

Nero Recode 2 is the first application to take full advantage of Nero Digital’s power. In addition to its capabilities to re-author, copy, recode and reduce MPEG-2 streams (DVD-9 to DVD-5), Nero Recode 2 can transcode ‘non-protected’ DVD movies to Nero Digital, preserving chapters, sub-titles, multi-channel audio and above all else, quality - all at lightening speed. No other application today offers these features.

“The worldwide success of Nero Digital is extraordinary,” said Richard Lesser, CEO of Ahead Software AG. “Nero Digital will soon be the number 1 brand in MPEG-4 with many CE devices to support this new standard.”

Ahead’s award-winning flagship product Nero 6 provides an all-in-one comprehensive CD/DVD burning suite. Ahead’s product line also includes Nero Digital - audio/video technology, SIPPS - VoIP, and across - professional computer aided translation software. Ahead distributes its products globally through world’s leading drive manufacturers and PC makers, as well as leading worldwide retailers.

Designed for optimum compatibility with the ISO/14496-2/3 MPEG-4 standard, the Nero Digital MPEG-4 A/V codecs feature the utmost speed and quality video coding algorithms and full High Efficiency AAC in MPEG audio.

With DVD quality at only 20 percent of the space, Nero Digital video codec supports the most popular simple and advanced MPEG-4 visual profiles, and can decode all other MPEG-4 implementations.

The Nero Digital audio codec is built on Ahead’s proven proficiency in AAC technology, but goes much further with significant efficiency and quality enhancements. A key core component of MPEG- 4, High Efficiency AAC in MPEG audio is an incomparable bandwidth extension technique allowing bit rates to be considerably reduced with no definable quality loss.

Nero Recode is both a re-quantizing and transcoding application, and is a world’s first in its class. Non-protected DVD-Video discs and DVD folders, including DVD-9 titles, can be re-authored in MPEG-2 by re-processing the MPEG streams. The user can choose to keep the menu structure of the source DVD or re-author a DVD from one or more DVD-Video titles.

In addition, Nero Recode features the ability to convert DVD titles into Nero Digital, making it possible to fit an entire movie onto a CD with virtually no perceivable loss in audio or video quality. A unique video and audio preview with expanded window view and full screen mode includes Dolby (R) Digital audio preview (DTS preview through S/PDIF). Also a watch-while-you-burn mode allows you to enjoy the movie in full screen video and multi-channel audio while copying a complete DVD, re-authoring a DVD or converting DVDs to Nero Digital(TM).

Nero Digital is the result of extensive co-development by Ahead Software and one of the World leaders in video and signal processing, Ateme of France. Further information is available from the www.nerodigital.com web site.

“Nero Digital will be one of the World’s first complete end-to-end MPEG-4 solutions to include MPEG-4 High Efficiency AAC profile,” says Udo Eberlein, President of Ahead Software Inc. “With its unbeatable video and audio encoding power, we are confident that Nero Digital will be best positioned to become ‘the’ technology leader in the ever increasing MPEG-4 market.”

Nero Recode and Nero Digital will be part of the ‘free’ PowerPack upgrade for the Nero 6.0 Ultra- Edition that will also include 5.1 Dolby(R) Digital playback and stereo encoding. The free PowerPack will be made available later this year.

Already adopted as a mandatory codec for next generation HD-DVD and Blu-ray standards, AVC/H.264 is set to have a major impact in the future of video broadcasting and content distribution. Jointly developed by the Video Coding Experts Group (VCEG) of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and the MPEG committee of ISO/IEC, AVC/H.264 has huge compression efficiency over MPEG-2, while at the same time integrating effortlessly into the existing MPEG-4 architecture of Nero Digital(TM).

Nero Digital(TM) is a complete Audio/Video codec solution, based on the MPEG-4 standard, but engineered to a level that breaks all previously seen quality and speed barriers. In keeping full compatibility with MPEG-4, Nero Digital(TM) proves that not all mp4 video codec’s and mp4/AAC codec’s are equal, going way beyond the limits of other such competitive approaches. By having both audio and video in the codec offerings, Nero Digital(TM) represents one of the very few ‘all in one’ solutions in the World of A/V compression.

Nero Recode 2.2 allows for the direct importing of most video file formats, and non-protected DVD’s for encoding or transcoding into Nero Digital(TM). A range of MPEG-4 profiles are supported, including AVC/H.264 highlights such as Cinema, Portable, Mobile, Standard, and HDTV, for the ultimate in video quality creation. New CE devices supporting these profiles are expected in mid 2005.

“By bringing AVC/H.264 encoding into applications such as Nero Recode 2.2, any user can experience the video future today”, says Jim Corbett of Ahead Software AG, “With upcoming industry support for AVC/H.264 in next generation DVD and broadcast standards, we can be sure that Nero Digital(TM) will be ideally positioned to become the World’s leading MPEG-4 solution.”

Nero Digital(TM), co-developed by Ahead and Ateme, is the first complete MPEG-4 audio and video solution for home entertainment and CE devices.

TV premiere for Nero Recode video files

All you need to do to experience Nero Digital file formats “Live” on TV is to follow these three simple steps: First, install the Nero Recode CE DVD transcoding software that comes with the package on your PC, then convert the existing video files into Nero Digital format and finally burn them onto a CD or DVD. They are now ready to play back on the newly developed DVD player. The encoding process simultaneously reduces the films to a fraction of their original file size, with almost no apparent loss in quality.

“Personal” home movies - simple to use and without restriction

In addition to current standard functions and video file support, such as MP3, JPEG, VCD and SVCD, the “SCO 5000ND” DVD player manufactured by Siemssen also supports the playback of DVD audio files. The integration of Nero Digital offers enormous advantages, such as the support for various audio languages and subtitles. The latter can be retrieved using the same navigation buttons as those used to play back a standard DVD. In addition, the device is equipped with an AC3 Decoder as well as a YUV Output to enable full-screen reproduction (Progressive Scan) via video projectors, and plasma or LCD screens. The attractively designed slimline casing also offers other special features, such as a 5-in-1 card reader for all standard memory cards that allows MP3 files or even photo files to be visualized straight onto your TV screen. The product also supports DivX and Xvid playback functions, as well as the Nero Digital function.

“By combining the Nero Recode CE software with our devices, we now offer the complete solution for archiving video files in the best possible quality” stated Roberto Cataneo, Head of Digital Product Development at Siemssen, “We are very happy to have had the chance to collaborate with Ahead on developing our DVD products to include the Nero Digital standard profile in the last few months, thus allowing us to establish the first ever device of its kind on the market.”

Nero, leaders in digital media technology and developer of award-winning Nero applications, announced today the availability of a 30-day free trial version of its award winning Audio/Video compression codec, Nero Digital(TM).

The free 30-day trial bundle of Nero Digital(TM) includes three ground breaking Nero applications: Nero Recode 2 CE, which allows users to create Nero Digital(TM) content; Nero ShowTime 2 CE, which allows users to play back Nero Digital(TM) content; and Nero MediaHome CE, which allows users to share Nero Digital(TM) content to any UPnP(TM) or DLNA compliant consumer electronics device, and to PCs and laptops in your home network.

The free 30-day trial bundle of Nero Digital(TM) let the user experience the newest technologies like MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, delivering a home entertainment experience in a quality no other compression technologies can match. Already adopted as a mandatory codec for next generation HD-DVD and Blu-ray standards, AVC/H.264 is set to have a major impact in the future of video broadcasting and content distribution.

Nero Digital(TM) is a complete Audio/Video codec solution, based on the MPEG-4 standard, but engineered to a level that breaks all previously seen quality and speed barriers. It delivers DVD-quality at a compression far greater than MPEG-2, enabling the complete contents of personal videos and movies of a home DVD to easily fit on a CD, or increasing the capacity of a DVD by factor 5 and higher. Nero Digital(TM) videos can be played back on PCs running the Nero Digital(TM) codec and on the fast growing number of certified Nero Digital(TM) consumer electronic devices.

“This is a great opportunity for us to show the world what Nero Digital(TM) is all about”, said Jim Corbett, Executive Director of Nero AG. “Users will be able to create, play and share Nero Digital(TM) files and build up their own personal video library without worrying about disc or hard drive space, taking full advantage of the industry’s most powerful audio and video compression technology.”

Nero Digital(TM) co-developed by Nero and Ateme, is completely based on industry standard MPEG-4 Video (MPEG-4 SP/ASP and AVC/H.264) and MPEG-4 Audio (LC AAC, HE AAC and PS AAC) compression technologies, allowing the flexibility to play other popular MPEG-4 compliant content, yet offering advanced interactive features in unmatched audio and video quality. With Nero Digital(TM), users can fit more high quality audio and video content to any given screen size spanning mobile phones to HDTV, on CDs, DVDs, flash memory and hard drives.

The Nero Digital(TM) codec has proven to be a winner when directly compared to other popular codecs, having performed a clean sweep of all recent codec comparisons.

To continue the Nero Digital(TM) experience after the trial period, users can upgrade to Nero 6 - The Ultimate All-In-One Digital Media Solution offering over 16 applications for all your digital media needs. Furthermore, Nero will complete the Nero Digital(TM) experience by releasing Nero Digital Pro, providing unlimited Nero Digital(TM) capabilities and further establishing Nero’s dominant position in the MPEG-4 codec space.

TV premiere for Nero Recode video files

All you need to do to experience Nero Digital file formats “Live” on TV is to follow these three simple steps: First, install the Nero Recode CE DVD transcoding software that comes with the package on your PC, then convert the existing video files into Nero Digital format and finally burn them onto a CD or DVD. They are now ready to play back on the newly developed DVD player. The encoding process simultaneously reduces the films to a fraction of their original file size, with almost no apparent loss in quality.

“Personal” home movies - simple to use and without restriction

In addition to current standard functions and video file support, such as MP3, JPEG, VCD and SVCD, the “SCO 5000ND” DVD player manufactured by Siemssen also supports the playback of DVD audio files. The integration of Nero Digital offers enormous advantages, such as the support for various audio languages and subtitles. The latter can be retrieved using the same navigation buttons as those used to play back a standard DVD. In addition, the device is equipped with an AC3 Decoder as well as a YUV Output to enable full-screen reproduction (Progressive Scan) via video projectors, and plasma or LCD screens. The attractively designed slimline casing also offers other special features, such as a 5-in-1 card reader for all standard memory cards that allows MP3 files or even photo files to be visualized straight onto your TV screen. The product also supports DivX and Xvid playback functions, as well as the Nero Digital function.

“By combining the Nero Recode CE software with our devices, we now offer the complete solution for archiving video files in the best possible quality” stated Roberto Cataneo, Head of Digital Product Development at Siemssen, “We are very happy to have had the chance to collaborate with Ahead on developing our DVD products to include the Nero Digital standard profile in the last few months, thus allowing us to establish the first ever device of its kind on the market.”

For additional information on Nero Digital, please visit www.nerodigital.com.

About Ahead

On the global digital media market Ahead Software offers the most reliable CD/DVD-software applications in the entire industrial segment. Since the company was founded in 1995 its leading product, Nero, has established a loyal clientele of more than 160 million users throughout the world.

Ahead’s award-winning flagship product, Nero 6, provides an all-in-one comprehensive digital media solution. Ahead’s product line also includes Nero Digital(TM) - audio/video technology, the new Nero PhotoShow Elite - the easy and complete photo solution, SIPPS - VoIP, and across - professional computer aided translation software. Ahead distributes its products globally through world’s leading drive manufacturers and PC makers, as well as leading worldwide retailers, online partners, and also directly to consumers at www.nero.com. Ahead Software AG is headquartered in Karlsbad, Germany, with its subsidiaries Ahead Software Inc. located in Glendale, California, USA and Ahead Software K.K. located in Yokohama, Japan.

About Ateme

Ateme is headquartered in France (www.ateme.com). It is a world leading providers of hardware and software solutions for video and signal processing in embedded market. Ateme delivers custom services on top of its boards and algorithms. Since 2002, Ateme centers its strategy on applicative reference designs which targets the specific markets of video-security, broadcast and consumer electronics. The result to OEM is a faster product design, a shorter time to market and total costs reduction. Ateme operates worldwide thanks to its distribution network.

About Siemssen

Siemssen is a service provider, specializing in technical consumer goods and based in Hamburg, Germany, that can look back on a very long corporate history (founded in 1846). Siemssen is one of the leading service providers for diverse brand names in Europe and is considered by those in the know to be the technological pioneer of digital end devices.

Optimised Nero Digital(TM) DSP hardware, VHDL core, Nero Digital(TM) Mobile, DRM base band decoder, and enhanced MPEG-4 H264/AVC and PS/HE/AAC Nero Recode and Nero ShowTime, all to be presented at IBC

Ahead Software, leaders in digital media technology, will exhibit a formidable line-up of Nero Digital(TM) technologies all taking advantage of an unrivalled quality and performance breakthrough currently changing the face of video and audio compression. Centred around MPEG-4, Nero Digital(TM) is the World’s only complete codec solution embracing MPEG-4 video, and AAC (Advanced Audio Coding), LC and HE (High Efficiency) with Parametric Stereo extensions.

Recognised as one of the World’s fastest MPEG-4 encoders during independent testing, the Nero Digital(TM) video codec will soon feature cutting edge AVC/H264 encoding for the very latest in next generation MPEG-4 technology. On the audio front, Parametric Stereo extensions enable Nero Digital(TM) AAC to achieve incredibly low bit rates at little or no quality compromise. In fact, in recent 32kbps blind listening tests conducted by the respected Hydrogen Audio community, Nero Digital(TM) audio came out on top surpassing established codec’s such as mp3PRO, WMA, Real, and Vorbis.

For the first time, demonstrations will take place of dedicated Nero Digital(TM) DSP hardware boards, and VHDL core based on the Nero Digital(TM) audio decoder, including multi-channel HE AAC. On the mobile front, the fully optimised Nero Digital(TM) video and audio decoders bring unprecedented playback enhancements to a wide range of portable devices including SmartPhones and Pocket PC’s. With advancements in DRM (Digital Radio Mondial), direct radio capture from current digital AM broadcasts will be shown using a Nero Digital(TM) base band decoder.

On the application side, both Nero Recode and Nero ShowTime will be updated to include H264/AVC support. Direct encoding or transcoding from any video or DVD source to H264/AVC with full playback along with 5.1 HE AAC audio, will again present an industry first.

“It’s been extremely gratifying to see the broadening of Nero Digital(TM) into several new and exciting areas”, said Jim Corbett, Executive Director at Ahead Software AG, “Fully optimised dedicated DSP hardware, VHDL core, and support for Digital Radio Mondial are major initiatives in the widespread adoption of Nero Digital in the audio/video World. We strongly believe Nero Digital(TM) represents the best in its class, and we look forward to welcoming all visitors to the Nero booth at IBC 2004″

Ahead Software, leaders in digital media technology, today announced that its brand new MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 codec is now fully integrated in Nero Recode 2.2, currently part of the Nero 6 digital media suite. With this inclusion, AVC/H.264 becomes a central part of the wider Nero Digital(TM) MPEG-4 technology, delivering a new dimension in superior audio and video compression.

Already adopted as a mandatory codec for next generation HD-DVD and Blu-ray standards, AVC/H.264 is set to have a major impact in the future of video broadcasting and content distribution. Jointly developed by the Video Coding Experts Group (VCEG) of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and the MPEG committee of ISO/IEC, AVC/H.264 has huge compression efficiency over MPEG-2, while at the same time integrating effortlessly into the existing MPEG-4 architecture of Nero Digital(TM).

Nero Digital(TM) is a complete Audio/Video codec solution, based on the MPEG-4 standard, but engineered to a level that breaks all previously seen quality and speed barriers. In keeping full compatibility with MPEG-4, Nero Digital(TM) proves that not all mp4 video codec’s and mp4/AAC codec’s are equal, going way beyond the limits of other such competitive approaches. By having both audio and video in the codec offerings, Nero Digital(TM) represents one of the very few ‘all in one’ solutions in the World of A/V compression.

Nero Recode 2.2 allows for the direct importing of most video file formats, and non-protected DVD’s for encoding or transcoding into Nero Digital(TM). A range of MPEG-4 profiles are supported, including AVC/H.264 highlights such as Cinema, Portable, Mobile, Standard, and HDTV, for the ultimate in video quality creation. New CE devices supporting these profiles are expected in mid 2005.

“By bringing AVC/H.264 encoding into applications such as Nero Recode 2.2, any user can experience the video future today”, says Jim Corbett of Ahead Software AG, “With upcoming industry support for AVC/H.264 in next generation DVD and broadcast standards, we can be sure that Nero Digital(TM) will be ideally positioned to become the World’s leading MPEG-4 solution.”

Nero Digital(TM), co-developed by Ahead and Ateme, is the first complete MPEG-4 audio and video solution for home entertainment and CE devices.

Nero, leaders in Digital Media Technology, will integrate the new Nero Digital MPEG-4 video and audio codec’s into Nero Recode, a compelling inclusion in the free PowerPack upgrade for the Nero 6.0 Retail box.

Designed for optimum compatibility with the ISO/14496-2/3 MPEG-4 standard, the Nero Digital MPEG-4 A/V codecs feature the utmost speed and quality video coding algorithms and full High Efficiency AAC in MPEG audio.

With DVD quality at only 20 percent of the space, Nero Digital video codec supports the most popular simple and advanced MPEG-4 visual profiles, and can decode all other MPEG-4 implementations.

The Nero Digital audio codec is built on Ahead’s proven proficiency in AAC technology, but goes much further with significant efficiency and quality enhancements. A key core component of MPEG- 4, High Efficiency AAC in MPEG audio is an incomparable bandwidth extension technique allowing bit rates to be considerably reduced with no definable quality loss.

Nero Recode is both a re-quantizing and transcoding application, and is a world’s first in its class. Non-protected DVD-Video discs and DVD folders, including DVD-9 titles, can be re-authored in MPEG-2 by re-processing the MPEG streams. The user can choose to keep the menu structure of the source DVD or re-author a DVD from one or more DVD-Video titles.

In addition, Nero Recode features the ability to convert DVD titles into Nero Digital, making it possible to fit an entire movie onto a CD with virtually no perceivable loss in audio or video quality. A unique video and audio preview with expanded window view and full screen mode includes Dolby (R) Digital audio preview (DTS preview through S/PDIF). Also a watch-while-you-burn mode allows you to enjoy the movie in full screen video and multi-channel audio while copying a complete DVD, re-authoring a DVD or converting DVDs to Nero Digital(TM).

Nero Digital is the result of extensive co-development by Ahead Software and one of the World leaders in video and signal processing, Ateme of France. Further information is available from the www.nerodigital.com web site.

“Nero Digital will be one of the World’s first complete end-to-end MPEG-4 solutions to include MPEG-4 High Efficiency AAC profile,” says Udo Eberlein, President of Ahead Software Inc. “With its unbeatable video and audio encoding power, we are confident that Nero Digital will be best positioned to become ‘the’ technology leader in the ever increasing MPEG-4 market.”

Nero Recode and Nero Digital will be part of the ‘free’ PowerPack upgrade for the Nero 6.0 Ultra- Edition that will also include 5.1 Dolby(R) Digital playback and stereo encoding. The free PowerPack will be made available later this year.

About Ahead

Ahead Software AG, headquartered in Karlsbad, Germany and its subsidiary Ahead Software Inc. located in Glendale, California provide high-level customer service to all the markets of the world today. Please find more information at www.nero.com.

With over 100 million users World-wide, Nero has transformed the CD and DVD recording landscape since its inception in 1995. Famed for its power, stability, and intelligent approach to any recording task, Nero has become the software of choice for the World’s leading drive manufacturers and PC makers in their bundles.

Update to Nero 6.0 Ultra Edition Customers

Nero, leaders in Digital Media Technology, has announced the immediate availability of the new Nero 6.3 PowerPack. This free update will be available at www.nero.com before the close of business on December 12, 2003.

The Nero 6.3 PowerPack is a feature-rich update of immense proportions, as it not only adds a huge amount of new functionality to existing applications within the award-winning Nero 6 Ultra Edition, but also introduces Recode 2, the World’s most advanced DVD re-quantizer and transcoder.

Powered by Nero Digital-Ahead Software’s all-embracing MPEG-4 video and audio solution-Recode 2 can re-author, copy, re-process and shrink MPEG-2 streams (DVD-9 to DVD-5) and transcode ‘non-copy-protected’ DVD movies or DVD folders to Nero Digital, preserving chapters, sub-titles, and surround sound audio.

Other highlights of the PowerPack include unlimited MP3 encoding, OGG vorbis support, AMD 64-bit support and Hyper-Threading. There are also significant quality improvements to the video applications within Nero 6 Ultra Edition, NeroVision Express and ShowTime.

NeroVision Express 2.1 introduces several new filters, DVD-VR import, DV Camera export, dual pass encoding, Undo/Redo functions, Half-D1 resolution for DVD and other features, while Nero ShowTime adds powerful post-processing for Nero Digital, Dynamic Noise Control (DNC) for CD/DVD during playback, IFO and DAT file playback support, and subtitle and chapter support for Nero Digital.
InCD 4.1 brings DVD-RAM and DVD-RW quick format into the supported DVD features, and has significant speed improvements.

Finally Nero BackItUp includes on-the-fly compression and recording (compression can be done without using any temporary storage of hard disc while burning on CD/DVD), hot plugging of recorders, and several other feature enhancements.

The Nero 6.3 PowerPack is available now as a free update to all Nero 6 Ultra Edition customers.

About Ahead

Ahead Software AG, headquartered in Karlsbad, Germany and its subsidiary Ahead Software Inc. located in Glendale, California, provides high-level customer service to all the markets of the world today. Please find more information at www.nero.com.

With over 120 million users world-wide, Nero has transformed the CD and DVD recording landscape since its inception in 1995. Famed for its power, stability, and intelligent approach to any recording task, Nero has become the software of choice for the world’s leading drive manufacturers and PC makers in their bundles.