Optical Storage Symposium 2005 To Be Held in Conjunction with
Digital Imaging ’05 Conference

Fourth Annual Event Will Focus on Imaging
Interoperability, Blue Laser Technology, Archival Storage
and Alternative Data Storage

OSTA will host its fourth annual Optical Storage Symposium on September 28, 2005, at the Hyatt Regency, San Francisco Airport, Burlingame, California. Details on the sessions can be found in this issue and on OSTA’s website at http://www.osta.org/oss.
For the first time, the event is co-located with the 4th Annual Digital Imaging ’05 Conference sponsored by InfoTrends/CAP Ventures, taking place on September 28-29, enabling attendees of both events to participate in a joint session for the two conferences and selected joint activities, including a keynote luncheon on Wednesday, September 28.
OSTA’s annual Optical Storage Symposium draws business and technology leaders from a diverse range of industry segments including consumer electronics, digital photography, entertainment, music, personal computers, optical and archival storage to exchange ideas and keep pace with the latest industry trends. Presentations and roundtable forums will focus on perspectives and prospects for optical storage technology and how it impacts each of these industry segments.

“ Each year we hear from the attendees what a great benefit the symposium has been for them by providing a means to meet with executives from different industry segments to exchange ideas and the information needed to keep pace with the latest trends in the marketplace,” said David Bunzel, OSTA president. “By hosting this symposium in conjunction with Digital Imaging ’05, OSTA continues to act as a catalyst to address issues that affect consumers, manufacturers and developers of digital content.”
At the co-located Digital Imaging ’05 Conference, conference attendees will benefit from the in-depth insights and market analysis provided by a team of expert industry analysts speaking on topics that will include camera phones, photo printing, digital cameras and video and the digital living room plus several additional timely topics.

“Each year we hear
from the attendees
what a great benefit
the symposium has
been for them by
providing a means to
meet with executives
from different
industry segments to
exchange ideas and
the information
needed to keep pace
with the latest trends
in the marketplace.”

David Bunzel
OSTA
President






Register in advance
and save! Early hotel
registration discounts
available until
September 6.





Attention members:
September meetings
will be held only for
the MPV and UDF
Committees. The
meetings will at the
Hyatt Regency San
Francisco Airport,
preceding OSS 2005

For OSS 2005 sessions, two tracks are planned: OSS, focused primarily on consumer electronics, and COSA (Commercial Optical Storage Applications) to address archival storage and compliance requirements. For the OSS track, topics include: Blue Laser Optical Storage: A Technology Waiting to Happen; What to Choose– Alternative Data Storage Technologies and Imaging Interoperability Between CE Devices – How Do We Get There? (this is the joint session with Digital Imaging ’05). Topics for the COSA sessions include: Archive Based Applications – Utilizing Optical for Compliance with Regulations to Avoid Risky Conversions and Overspending; The Search for an Archival Medium – the 100-Year Optical Disc; and Tiered Storage Management – What It Is and the Benefits in both Archival and Backup Applications. To complete the day, a joint OSS/COSA session titled, Beyond DVD - What's in Store for the Future of Archival Optical Media, is expected to be of interest to all attendees.

Click here for a detailed agenda for the symposium, or see page 4.

A limited number of additional sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information, please contact Debbie Maguire at debbieostaorg
, or by phone at (408) 253-3695.

The cost for this information-packed event is just $395 for OSTA members or associates, and $495 for non-members. Registration includes continental breakfast, keynote lunch and closing reception. OSTA discussion sessions and the joint session with InfoTrends are also included in the registration fee. Limited walk-up reservations at the door are available for $450 for members and $550 for non-members. For more information, or to obtain the registration form, visit the OSTA Web site at http://www.osta.org/oss.or call (408) 253-3695.

THE OSTA Optical Storage Symposium – 2005 will be held at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport, 1333 Bayshore Highway, Burlingame, CA 94010. For room reservations, call (650)347-1234 or fax number (650)696-2669. Ask for rooms in the OSTA Block. To take advantage of group rates, hotel reservations must be made by September 6, 2005

For more information, or to register for the Digital Imaging ’05 Conference please visit www.infotrends-rgi.com.

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Limited Third Quarter Meetings
in September

As a result of OSS 2005, planned for September 28, there will be NO complete OSTA quarterly meetings in September. Meetings have been scheduled as follows. Please note that these Committee meetings will be held at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport, 1333 Bayshore Highway, Burlingame, CA

• September 26 – MPV Committee Meeting 9 am to 5 pm
• September 27 – MPV Committee Meeting 9 am to 5 pm
• September 27 – UDF Committee Meeting 9 am to 5 pm
• September 27 – Board Meeting – Evening 6 pm.

OSTA 2005 Officers

Chairman
Robert Zollo,
Software Architects,
Inc.

Vice Chairman
Parker Lee, POC
Technologies

Treasurer
Ronan Ryan,
Verbatim

President
David Bunzel, Santa
Clara Consulting Group

2005 Committee
Chairs

Blue Laser ad hoc
Committee Chair
Bob Zollo, Software
Architects, Inc.

Commercial Optical
Storage Applications
Committee Chair
Roy Slicker, Pegasus
Disk Technologies

DVD Compatibiity
Committee Chair
Subutai Ahmad, Yes
Video

Marketing Committee
Chair
David Bunzel,
Santa Clara Consulting
Group

MPV (MusicPhotoVideo)
Committee Chair
Felix Nemirovsky,
Chuba Consulting

UDF Committee Chair
Lee Prewitt, Software
Architects, Inc.

Robert Zollo Appointed OSTA
Chairman

Parker Lee Continues Active Role as Vice Chairman;
Lee Prewitt to Chair UDF Committee

In June, Robert Zollo was elected Chairman by the OSTA Board of Directors, to a one-year term. He succeeds Parker Lee, who has served OSTA as Chairman for the past two years, as Vice Chairman in 2002, and has now been elected to serve as Vice Chairman for 2005. In other organization changes, Lee Prewitt has been elected as Chairman of the UDF Committee, to replace Hans Mons, who retired in June. David Bunzel continues as President, and Ronan Ryan, Director of Product Marketing for Verbatim, will continue as OSTA Treasurer.

Mr. Zollo is President and co-founder of Software Architects, Inc. a 17- year-old software development and technology licensing firm that specializes in system level software and technology, based in Bothell, Washington. Prior to his appointment as OSTA Chairman, he served on the OSTA board of directors for the past 8 years and was instrumental in coordinating the drafting and publishing of the original UDF specification and subsequent licensing of the UDF specification to the DVD Forum. A graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, he has a BS degree in engineering, an MBA in marketing and entrepreneurship from Southern Illinois University and is a graduate of the U.S. Army Aviation School. He has also served as the Vice Chairman of the WSA, the largest trade association representing the software development industry.

In addition to an active role in OSTA, including his current post as Vice Chairman, Mr. Lee is Director of Marketing for POC Technologies, a web application company specializing in development of easy-to-use imaging applications. He has held executive positions with technology firms including Sonic Solutions, Planetweb and eCal for the past 15 years, as well as his own consulting firm specializing in Internet marketing.

Mr. Prewitt, Director of Engineering for Software Architects, Inc., has been an active member of OSTA and the UDF Committee for six years, and will now chair the UDF Committee. He is also active as a principle on the DVD Compatibility committee and is the developer of the MPV IS validation tool ValidateMPV. He was also a member of the SAI team that commercialized the world's first rewritable UDF file system software product, WriteDVD!™. He has managed the development of a variety of UDF-based software products for computers and consumer electronics applications, and he also oversees one of the two OSTA DVD compatibility test sites located at SAI.

Hans Mons, who chaired the UDF Committee since 1999, recently retired from this post, as well as his position as Technology Officer for Philips

Thank you to Hans
Mons for many years
of dedicated service
to OSTA!

New MPV
Specifications coming
soon:

• Portable
Storage Profile
• Digital Camera
Guidelines
• Interoperability
Specification

MPV Whitepaper now
available at
www.osta.org/mpv

Dual Tracks at OSS –
2005 cover issues of
interest to general
Optical Storage
solutions as well as
Commercial Optical
Storage Applications.

Electronics. Since joining OSTA in 1994, Mr. Mons was actively involved
in the association’s growth and success. He contributed to the
development of MultiRead, an optical drive specification that enables all
classes of CD discs (CD-Audio, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW) to be read on
current and future CD and DVD devices. He was also instrumental in the
development of the UDF specification. Through his continuous
involvement in the storage industry, Mr. Mons was active in the
development of the CD Audio encoding and decoding system and the
standardization functions related to CD Audio, CD-ROM, CD-R, and
recordable DVD.

OSTA held a reception for Mr. Mons during the June meetings. He plans
to spend more time in retirement playing Renaissance Oboe and Bassoon
with his small ensemble in the Netherlands.

---

MPV Update

MPV is gaining steam in the marketplace. Samsung has released its Digimax i5 digital still camera with MPV support. Users can create and play back photo slideshows directly on the camera. Hewlett-Packard's ImageZone uses MPV for managing the creation and representation of photo albums, cards and bulk uploading of photos to the HP photofinishing webservice. Upcoming products such as InterVideo's MediaOne let users create MPV CDs and DVDs. Additional supporters include Nero, Olympus and TV Guide OnScreen.

OSTA's MPV Committee has a series of new specifications and programs
rolling out this summer including the Portable Storage profile, the
Digital Camera guidelines and the Interoperability Specification
(MPV-IS) -- working to guarantee the successful exchange of collections
of media from device to device. Along with the MPV-IS will be the
rollout of the MPV Trademark/Logo licensing program. Details about these
new specs and programs will be given at the upcoming events: OSS' 05
(Sept. 28 in Burlingame, CA) and the Fall Tokyo Seminar. For those new
to MPV, be sure to download and read the newly-published MPV
Whitepaper available at: http://www.osta.org/mpv/public/documents/
technology/MPV-Whitepaper-July-2005.pdf.

---

OSS – 2005 Agenda

Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2005
Registration Opens and Continental Breakfast: 7:30 AM

8:30 a.m. Session 1 0SS Blue Laser Optical Storage: A Technology Waiting to Happen
Vendors from both the Blu-ray and HD-DVD groups continue to promote their respective technologies, but is the market ready for these products? What factors will be critical for Blue Laser products to succeed? Will recordable or ROM technology drive the market? Will there be any content to record? Can Hollywood agree on copy protection that will also be acceptable to the consumer? Do consumers need high-definition movies? A panel of industry experts will discuss and debate the various issues that will influence the future prospects of Blue Laser Technology.

Thank you to our OSS
2005 sponsors:

Toshiba America
Information Systems,
Inc.

2005 Co-Location
Partner

9:30 a.m. Session 1 COSA
Archive Based Applications – Utilizing Optical for Compliance With Regulations to Avoid Risky Conversions and Overspending
Vendors and users alike are scrambling to meet regulatory requirements for storage of a wide range of data and information. Email archive is one of the hottest applications within the compliance arena, with huge fines being imposed by the Government for non-compliance. Come hear how specific users and leading storage software companies have utilized optical storage as a compliant, secure and scalable archive storage media within critical data protection and management applications.

Topics for the 9:30 a.m. COSA session on Archive Based Applications
include:

• The numerous data types being regulated.
• The issues faced by users: Encryption, Retention Periods, Non-
Alterable Media, etc.
• How solutions are being structured and data and information
protected utilizing optical storage.
• Why optical storage is being utilized – longevity and retention
periods vs. migration and conversion on other media.
• Total Cost of Ownership reductions utilizing optical storage.

10:30 a.m. Session 2 OSS
What to Choose…Alternate Data Storage Technologies
While optical discs are a standard for removable storage, significant markets have developed for alternative storage products in both niche and mass market environments. USB Flash drives are not only replacing floppy disk drives, but new applications are developing for these products. Small hard disk drives are competing in the removable storage market because of their high capacity and decreasing cost. Other removable storage products are in the market and being developed, their proponents hoping to capture a share of this significant growth market.

10:45 a.m. Session 2 COSA
The Search for an Archival Medium – The 100-Year Optical Disc This session features presentations from the Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the user community for what they envision as a medium of choice for archival and digital preservation. An important session for both optical disc manufacturers and end-users who have to decide what are the desired characteristics of the best optical medium for archival purposes.

Issues to be discussed include:

• What are the critical applications that would require 100 year media
performance?
• What would end-users be willing to pay in terms of overall cost in
time and expense?
• What is the role of the Federal Government in digital preservation?
• What is industry doing to address this problem?
Keynote Lunch

1:45 p.m. Session 3 OSS
Imaging Interoperability Between CE Devices – How Do We Get There?
(Joint Session with InfoTrends)
Sure, all devices play JPGs but transferring collections of photos from device to device often means losing the "metadata" that was painstakingly entered by the consumer. Join a panel of industry leaders for a roundtable discussion about what companies and organizations are doing about imaging interoperability.
They'll respond to key questions, such as:

• Do consumers care or need better interoperability?
• How will interoperability affect consumers’ behavior while using
digital images?
• Will cell phone imaging drive the need for easier and better
exchange of images & Metadata?

2:45 p.m. Session 3 COSA
Tiered Storage Management – What It Is and the Benefits in both Archival
and Backup Applications
Increasingly, users are faced with storing more and more data over longer periods of time. Tiered storage is about using the best and most secure media for critical data storage requirements throughout the retention periods. Access requirements, storage costs and the need to avoid penalties for not storing the proper information at any given point are primary end user concerns. The session will focus on the following topics:

• Tiered storage is not primary and secondary magnetic disk and
adding more disks is, according to major disk vendors,
“ increasingly impractical”.
• The real benefits of true tiered storage are speed, cost and
reliability over many years.
• Traditional “backup” data is being split into static or a more
permanent data set, utilizing the appropriate RW and WORM
media types for each. See the advantages of adding optical to
the standard backup application to create an inexpensive but
secure compliant solution.

4:15 p.m. Session 4 OSS/COSA
Beyond DVD – What’s In Store for the Future of Archival Optical Media
This session features presentations on the next generation of optical
technologies for archival and digital preservation, including Blu-Ray, HDDVD,
FVD, and holographic disc storage. An important session for
archivists, government agencies and librarians to become aware of future
optical technologies and their impact on future collection management.
This session also provides an opportunity for end-users to speak directly
with the industry on their future storage needs and current challenges.

Issues to be discussed include:

• What are the differences in these technologies and the
applications they address?
• Have there been any successful early adopters with these
technologies for archival purposes?
• What does industry see as the role of standards and
interoperability for these technologies?

5:45 p.m. Closing Reception – Joint gathering with InfoTrends

 

“The proposed
collaboration
between Ecma and
OSTA on defining the
next generation
standards for very
large scale optical
recording media
represents an
important step in
expanding the
adoption of optical
recording products
on a global basis. We
look forward to
furthering the
technical discussions
between our two
organizations. We
have collaborated for
mutual benefit in the
past with the original
UDF specification. It
makes sense to build
on this partnership
to define the next
generation of
standards for
Holographic media.”

Robert Zollo
OSTA
Chairman

OSTA to Collaborate with Ecma
International on File Systems and
Logical Formats for Holographic
Recording Media

Robert Zollo, OSTA Chairman, was invited by Jan van den Beld, Director General of Ecma International (European Computer Manufacturer's Association) to present on areas of potential technical collaboration on file systems and logical formats for holographic recording media at the second meeting of the newly formed TC-44 committee in Montreux, Switzerland 19-20 May.

This technical committee was formed to develop the first international standard for holographic recording media. Ecma is the pre-eminent technology standards organization for the EC and works closely with the ISO (International Standards Organization), in Geneva, Switzerland to" fast track" important new technology standards to benefit economic adoption of products based on those technologies.

Mr. Zollo presented the history of OSTA's collaboration with Ecma. Ecma served to "fast track" the submission of the Ecma 167 standard for volume and file structures for non-sequential recording media that was based on OSTA's development of what is now known as the UDF specification. ISO later published the ISO 13346 standard based on Ecma 167. The TC-44 committee has identified the need for a next generation file system to support very large scale holographic optical media. Mr. Zollo presented the recent work of the OSTA UDF Committee in publishing UDF versions 2.5 and 2.6 to address the logical format requirements of large capacity blue laser recording media. He proposed collaboration between OSTA’s UDF Committee and Ecma’s TC-44 committee to begin work on drafting a new UDF version designed to address the requirements of holographic media. As the UDF committee is a standing committee with representation from a wide variety of major optical OEM and software companies, and TC-44 committee lacks representation of software companies, it was suggested that OSTA take the lead in recommending an appropriate new specification with input from TC-44 members.

" Holographic recording technology represents a new frontier in optical recording," said Zollo. “The proposed collaboration between Ecma and OSTA on defining the next generation standards for very large scale optical recording media represents an important step in expanding the adoption of optical recording products on a global basis. We look forward to furthering the technical discussions between our two organizations. We have collaborated for mutual benefit in the past with the original UDF specification. It makes sense to build on this partnership to define the next generation of standards for Holographic media."

The next Ecma TC-44 meeting is scheduled to be held 28-29 August I Maui, HI. OSTA will be represented by Lee Prewitt, UDF committee Chair.

 

OSTA
19925 Stevens Creek Blvd.
Cupertino, CA 95014 USA

David Bunzel
President
(408) 253-3695
(408) 253-9938 FAX dbunzel@osta.org

Visit OSTA on the
Web at www.osta.org

Newsletter Editor
Jan Johnson
Multipath
Communications.
jan@multipathcom.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

On The Horizon
By David Bunzel
President
Optical Storage Technology Association

On behalf of the Optical Storage Technology Association, I am very pleased to report on the progress of the upcoming Optical Storage Symposium – 2005. Please take a close look at the agenda, which addresses important issues related to current trends in the marketplace, future developments, standards challenges facing the industry, such as imaging interoperability between CE applications and more.

Our fourth annual Symposium will be held on Sept. 28, 2005 at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport, in Burlingame, CA. Partnering with InfoTrends/CAP Venture’s Digital Imaging ’05 event will enable greater interchange of information related to challenges and opportunities in the digital imaging industry. At the same time, we are also presenting a full day of information in the Commercial Optical Storage Applications track, addressing important considerations in archival storage. If you have not made your arrangements yet to attend, I encourage you to immediately visit the OSTA Web site at www.osta.org/oss, or call (408) 253-3695. I can guarantee you that you will not want to miss this stimulating event.

OSTA encourages you to provide the organization with any feedback you may have regarding this newsletter. I also would like to invite interested industry participants to attend our next quarterly meeting. For more information on membership, visit the OSTA Web site at www.osta.org, or contact Debbie Maguire, OSTA Administrator, at (408) 253-3695 or at
debbieostaorg

Thanks once again for your support, and I look forward to seeing you at
the Optical Storage Symposium in September.

Warmest regards,

David Bunzel
President
Optical Storage Technology Association