"This drive is using its laser to actually etch into the bottom of the CD in the unused data portion of a CD, be it audio or data. That ability allows you to put graphics or text on the bottom of a CD."
Product manager Mark Becknauld. The etched labels on the disc, which Yamaha calls Disct@2, look very cool... but there is only room to do that if you record less than its full capacity. The drive also features speedier CD RW recording. Another new function... that could turn out to be controversial, is the capability to duplicate audio CDs... even those with copy protection. The company says it does not encourage illegal copying... but...
"Yamaha believes that any content that you purchase, be it data or audio, is yours. You're entitled to copy it yourself for your own home back up. I mean, we all buy CDs and obviously you don't want to put that in your car and have it get scratched up or lose your copy of Adobe PhotoShop that you paid 500 dollars for. I think most of our users want to be able to back up their existing CDsy."
As new copy protection methods or used... Yamaha says the drives ... which are scheduled to begin shipping next month, can be upgraded. Bloomberg Boot Camp, I'm Fred Fishkin.