Finally, Canada is getting a legit digital download option, now that Zip.ca and Sonic Solutions have announced plans to team up on a movie service. Though short on details (according to the PR it is still "exploring a number of models," including a la carte and subscription) CEO Curt Millar's stated goal to become consumer's destination for online movie access should be bolstered by using CinemaNow, since its service is already supported on hardware from TiVo to PC to LG Blu-ray players and more, it shouldn't be too difficult to work with hardware already in customers homes or coming out in the future. Millar told Joystiq his company "would love" to follow Netflix's lead to console access, but don't run to your Xbox 360, PS3 or Wii just yet, Canucks, there's no partnerships to announce yet.

[Via Joystiq]

Hot on the heels of Pioneer's latest Qflix-enabled duo comes a fresh pair from Plextor. The PX-806SA (internal) and PX-Q840U (external) both feature Sonic Solution's sophisticated burn technology that enables users to imprint CinemaNow movies onto specially-keyed blank DVD media. Yes, you actually need proprietary media for this to work -- fun, right? Anywho, the drives come bundled with Roxio Venue / Creator 10 CE software alongside a pair of recordable Qflix discs, and both should be available right now in North / South America for $89.99 and $149.99, respectively. Full release after the break.

Sonic Solutions has announced it will no longer sell the HD DVD version of its Scenarist professional authoring software, focusing instead on Blu-ray and digital distribution. Sonic -- provider of consumer authoring software under the Roxio brand (still w/ that sweet HD DVD flavor, at least for now) -- plans to expand its features to ease creation of BD Live features, and package high definition video for delivery on any of the many platforms popping up. It's not all bad for red fans, Sonic promises to continue customer support and product updates "where appropriate" for its HD DVD package, and a special promotion for users to switch to Blu-ray, although the terms aren't mentioned.

[Thanks, Kiwi616]

Now that Blu-ray burners are (finally) hitting PCs, and that uber-expensive media is (finally) available if you look hard enough, we're sure those folks shooting in drool-worthy 1080i / 1080p need an authoring program to finalize their work. While Roxio already released its Toast software with BD support, the firm has now thrown down a revamped version of DVDit Pro HD, built to author and output media to DVD or Blu-ray writeables. Boasting pre-constructed menus, features, and slideshows, the software can handle (and output) 720p, 1080i, and / or 1080p content. Of course, if you're not much on the cookie-cutter approach, Roxio provides the tools to build your own scenarios from scratch. So if you've already thrown down for a built-in Blu-ray burner, have stacks of BD-Rs waiting to be used, and have hours of HD content awaiting production, what's another $499.99 to get this application, right?

[Via DVGuru]

The Logitec LBD-A2FU2/WM Blu-ray burner for Macs & PCs has unfortunately been delayed again until mid-August, but they've shown off the box for the external edition and announced it will ship with Roxio's Toast 7 Titanium. All the delays should give you sufficient time to scrape together the $1100 or so dollars you'll need to take one of these home. What we really want to know is if that price includes some playback software, unlike Sony's BWU-100A drive.


[Via Engadget]

Is that Blu-ray drive-sporting Power Mac Mac Pro just around the corner? Maybe, maybe not, but for Apple users who like to stay ahead of the curve they can expect to see the new Toast 7 w/ BD support bundled with Blu-ray recorders shipping soon. The Toast Dynamic Writing feature makes the jump to next-gen, allowing Mac users to drag-and-drop to 50GB BD-R or BD-RE discs with ease. No mention of whether the automatic disc-spanning feature is intact, at $47.99 and 50GB each a dual layer disc (whenever they are available) should be more than enough. Still, with pricetags of at least $750 it may be some time before even deep-pocketed Apple aficionados jump in. The Logitec LBD-A2FU2 Blu-ray burner for Macs & PCs we previewed back in April has apparently slipped, Amazon Japan dates its release as July 31, for 132,762 yen ($1,136 US).

This is as good a time as any to (re)start an Apple rumor about a Blu-ray burner in the next product refresh. All we need to do is check our calendar for Lord Steve's next public appearance and there is your totally unsubstantiated predicted release date. We'd express more concern about the lack of consumer edition HD DVD recording software if there were, you know, any burners available or even officially announced in the U.S.

[Thanks for the tip Joe L.!]