Microsoft adds Blu-ray burning to Windows

Posted on 18 Aug 2008 at 11:57

Microsoft is to provide native support for burning Blu-ray discs in a forthcoming bundle of new storage features for Windows.

The Feature Pack will enable Windows XP, Vista, Server 2003 and Server 2008 users to burn BD discs without needing to install a third party application. However playback support will still require a third-party application.

The pack will also provide a tool to lockdown portable devices such as USB flash drives with a certificate or password, and new smartcard driver support

The feature pack means Microsoft looks likely to provide native Blu-ray burning support ahead of Apple. Mac OS X users have to rely on third-party tools, though the new Windows tools may work in Boot Camp or virtualisation software. Ironically Apple was a Blu-ray backer, while Microsoft was a vocal advocate for the rival, doomed HD DVD.

Apple chief executive Steve Jobs said in January that Blu-ray playback is not a priority — consumers will ultimately get their video over the internet not on a disc, he said, though as the market leader in that business he may not be entirely objective. His counterpart at Microsoft, Steve Ballmer, has not unambiguously promised playback, saying only in an interview in March that the company will ”support Blu-ray in ways that make sense”.

[photo: Argon Laser by meneldur; some rights reserved]

Author: Simon Aughton

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