By Dale Farris, Vice-President
Golden Triangle PC Club
April 2004

Operational Overview

Nero 6 Ultra Edition is a fully enhanced, user-friendly upgrade to the previous burning software - Nero 5.5. Not only will you receive a complete solution for burning CDs and DVDs, but a whole collection of applications catering to all your digital media needs. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, Nero 6 Ultra Edition is equipped with different modes for using the software to the maximum capability.

Nero 6 Ultra Edition includes all of the applications listed below within one seamless solution. All of these programs and functions can be accessed via the new Nero StartSmart command center. You simply choose the task you would like to carry out and Nero StartSmart launches the appropriate application to get you started.

Major New Updates

The major updates in Nero 6 Ultra Edition are:

Unlimited MP3 encoding and OGG vorbis encoding/decoding (only for US customers and requires online registration within 90 days)

Significant usability improvements

AMD64bit support

Hyper threading support

New Features - NeroVision Express 2.1.0.0
DVD-VR import
Export to DV camera
Improved capture quality and hardware support
Powerful Undo/Redo function
Choose between 1-Pass and 2-Pass encoding
Default template for new project
New filters/effects - Invert Color - Multiply pixel - Gamma correction - Edges detection - Emboss - Enhance details - Enhance edges - Enhance focus - Light edges - Shift edges - Soften filter

Splitting function for slideshows with a large number of pictures to choose from

Half-D1 resolution for DVD supported

AMD64bit support

New Features - Recode 2.0.0.0
1:1 DVD to DVD Copy with original menu
Remake a DVD from one or multiple DVD movies
Convert DVDs in amazing quality to Nero Digital while using the Nero Digital profile templates
Fit the Nero Digital files to DVD, CD or custom size
5.1 channel audio support
Unique Watch-while-you-Burn mode
Burn-at-once technology
Quick and advanced analysis model
AMD64bit support

New Features - Showtime 1.5.0.0
AB Bookmark repeat
Added time search feature (direct input of the target time to jump)
Subtitle and chapter support for Nero Digital
All player features available through right-click
Double-click on display changes to full screen
Double-click on full screen changes to normal window
IFO and DAT files playback support
Powerful post-processing for Nero Digital available
New image settings for film effects
Dynamic Noise Control (DNC) for CD/DVD during playback
AMD64bit support

New Features - InCD 4.1.0.0
DVD-RAM support
DVD-RW quick format
Significant performance improvements on high-speed media

New features BackItUp 1.2.0.0
On-the-fly compression/recording (Compression can be done without using any temporary storage of hard disc while burning on CD/DVD)
Hot plugging of recorders
Support for HD-Burn recorder
Read-me file on every disc to tell the backup name, disc number and backup information file location
Significant usability improvements
AMD64bit support

Additional Features:
Dolby Digital 5.1 playback
Dolby Digital stereo encoding
Nero Digital
Unlimited MP3 encoding

Nero Plug-Ins

Enhance Nero functionality with plug-ins. The Nero 6 Ultra Edition package includes the most comprehensive set of CD and DVD recording tools ever compiled! Nero 6 Ultra Edition already includes the following Plug-Ins:

DVD-Video Plug-in (available separately at the www.nero.com webshop)
Multichannel Plug-in (available separately in the www.nero.com webshop)
Nero Digital Audio Plug-in
WMP9 Plug-in

Additional Plug-Ins available to fully enhance your digital media capabilities:
mp3Pro Plug-in (available in the www.nero.com webshop)
WMA Plug-in (available in the www.nero.com webshop)

Using the Program

Nero StartSmart
StartSmart serves as the central starting point and command center for all your digital media needs. Whatever task you need to perform, Nero StartSmart automatically launches the best application to do the job. Nero StartSmart is user friendly for all types of users and can be easily switched to either beginner or expert mode. You decide what task you want to accomplish, and Nero decides the best solution.

Nero Burning ROM 6

It all started with Nero Burning ROM which is still the heart of the Nero 6 Ultra Edition package. Nero Burning ROM is the ultimate software when it comes to burning CDs and DVDs. Its unsurpassed stability and reliability have gained Nero Burning ROM a huge success rate, especially with the arrival of Nero Burning ROM 6. Let yourself be taken by surprise by all the new features – you’ll be amazed.

Nero Burning ROM 6 offers you a variety of NEW features:

The new design makes the program interface clearer and easier to utilize. The integration of the "burn" window within the Nero interface makes it possible for you to continue working in Nero while the burning process is going on.
New and modern icons have been added
Allows simultaneous burning on a number of recorders
Data can be moved more quickly into the compilation window by drag & drop
Support for miniDVD and extra-long Joliet file names of up to 109 characters
Integration of intelligent drive-locking so Nero and InCD 4 both know which drives can be used
Support for disks that have been formatted with InCD (support to copy formatted discs)
Higher quality and faster MPEG-1/2 encoders
HE-AAC – highly improved codec
DVD-Video plug-in included CD+G copying now possible (if supported by the source drive)
Support for multiple recording with four recorders at the same time

Nero Express 6
Nero Express 6 combines the performance and efficiency of Nero Burning ROM 6 with a simplified interface. It doesn't matter if you are a beginner or an expert, Nero Express will guide you through the necessary burning procedures more quickly and more easily.

The philosophy behind Nero Express 6 is very simple: Take the features and the performance of Nero Burning ROM that users love. Add a particularly user-friendly interface that is easy for beginners (and comfortable for professionals) to handle

Nero Vision Express 2
The popularity of DVD is increasing from month to month. High video quality, audio with surround sound and an astonishing durability are making this format the medium of the future. NeroVision Express 2 easily leads you through the whole process of making Video CDs, Super VideoCDs or high-value DVDs.

Now you can transfer all your old home movies and start developing perfect home videos without any difficulty. Be creative and share the results with your family and friends. Store your memories safely on CD or DVD so that future generations will be able to enjoy them too.

Nero BackItUp
A brand new feature integrated in Nero 6 Ultra Edition is an advanced backup program called Nero BackItUp. Nero BackItUp allows you to start complete backups of defined areas of the hard drive as needed or planned as regularly recurring jobs.

The software supports complete backups as well as incremental, differential, and updating storage. The backup files can then be easily and directly burned on CDs or DVDs. When the complete securing of data has been chosen, the restore function permits the selective repair of individual files in a safeguarded data set. Entire hard drive sections can be saved to disks as well as individual files.

Nero ShowTime
Nero ShowTime is an amazing application which offers you vibrant picture quality for all DVD formats compatible with Nero Digital (MPEG-4).

Some of the features include:

Outstanding picture quality for DVD’s (movies, TV shows, and home videos)
Plays back any DVD video format from a disc or hard drive
Powerful cinema sound
Stylish user interface

Nero SoundTrax
Nero SoundTrax lets you mix and modify your own special audio CD compilation like a professional DJ. Fade the tracks into each other and adapt the speeds to create an optimum mix, instead of simply playing a list of tracks one after another. Nero SoundTrax can also record from tapes and your voice. Anyone can create unique disks with a large range of additional effects. Digitalize your old music collection and preserve it forever.

Nero Wave Editor 2
Nero Wave Editor 2 offers you the most complete range of audio processing. It records and reworks audio data and offers numerous improvement functions for recording from tape or vinyl records.

Nero Cover Designer
With Nero Cover Designer, you can design a vast number of ways to create your own covers and labels for the disks you have produced. A range of templates simplifies the tasks but still leaves plenty of space for creating your own designs. Graphics and images can be created directly for each file or imported via scanner. The program can also be adjusted to print onto pre-cut labels of various manufacturers.

NeroMIX
NeroMIX goes above and beyond as an all-in-one CD recording solution. Transform your computer into the ultimate recording studio. With the CD Recording and Digital Audio Suite, you can:

Mix your tracks, add different effects, use the equalizer, and become a DJ!
Transfer and burn music onto a CD Design the "look" of the media player any way you want while playing your music or videos!
Print labels and play lists with Nero’s own Cover Designer!
Organize your music any way you like it!
Click on the appropriate navigation on the right panel leading you to specific product information.

Nero ToolKit
Nero Toolkit consists of programs that supply information about the system, CD and DVD drives, and optimum running modes. It offers the most accurate and comprehensive drive testing available.

Here are the details of each program:

Nero CD-DVD Speed 2: tests the speed of the existing drives
Nero DriveSpeed 2: adjusts the write speed to minimize drive noise
Nero InfoTool 2: supplies the user with a summary of the main characteristics of the drives, the disks in the drives, and the installed software

Nero ImageDrive
Nero Image Drive - New Virtual Disk Drive Allows Direct Access to CD/DVD Images
Get direct access to disk images without prior burning with Nero Image Drive
The software can create one or two virtual CD/DVD drives, so any CD image can be loaded.

Windows Explorer has access to any of the files once completed.

Nero ReCode 2
With Nero Recode 2, you never have to watch bad quality movies or use multiple discs for audio or video. Now you can make backups of unprotected DVDs without any visible loss of quality AND fit a whole film on a CD!

The solution is both clever and simple. With Nero Recode 2 you can convert DVD movies to Nero Digital using the world’s fastest MPEG-4 audio and video encoder. Remove unwanted material such as subtitles or bonus material from any DVD (9 GB), convert and compress to fit an entire movie in DVD video and audio quality onto one CD. Nero Recode 2 does it all without any quality loss!

InCD 4
Write to CDs and DVDs as if they were hard drives! With the help of InCD 4, the packet-writing tool, rewritable CDs and DVDs can be formatted to allow them to be written from any program, as if they were large disks or hard drives.

Simply drag and drop the required data from Windows Explorer to the RW drive and the data will be saved on the medium. For systems that do not support MRW, InCD also has Easy WriteReader 4. This allows disks in MRW format to be read on computers that do not have InCD 4 installed.

Update Nero 6

Major Nero 6 Ultra Edition Update Includes the PowerPack.

Please note: To get the Major Update of Nero 6 and the PowerPack you have to download all 4 update packages. If you are only interested in the Nero PowerPack, please just download package 1 and package 2, which you need to install both to get the full functionality. Nero recommends that you download all 4 packages to enjoy all brand-new features included in the Major Update.

Once completed, these update packages will take your Nero 6 edition to edition 6.3.1.6.


Update Package one Current version: 6.3.1.6 Release date: March 18th, 2004

Update Package two Current version: 2.1.2.0 Release date: March 18th, 2004

Update Package three Current version: 4.2.4.1 Release date: April 16th, 2004

Update Package four Current version: 1.4.0.20 Release date: March 18th, 2004

Nero 6 Ultra Edition Update Package one contains:
Nero StartSmart
Nero Burning ROM 6
Nero Express 6
Nero BackItUp
Nero Cover Designer
Nero Wave Editor
Nero SoundTrax
Nero Toolkit
Nero Image Drive

Nero 6 Ultra Edition Update Package two contains:
NeroVision Express 2
Nero ShowTime
Nero Recode 2

Nero 6 Ultra Edition Update Package three contains:
InCD

Nero 6 Ultra Edition Update Package four contains:
NeroMIX

Targeted Customers

Ahead's Nero 6 Ultra Edition can handle all of your burning, authoring, and playback needs, and then some. Built on Ahead Software's venerable Nero Burning ROM mastering app and InCD packet-writing software, Ultra Edition adds a capable DVD/movie file player, a much-improved Nero Vision Express 2 movie-authoring and editing application, and the brand-new BackItUp program. Augmenting the bundle are audio editors, a host of utilities, a jewel-case cover designer, and MPEG-4 encoding a la DivX.

Nero 6 Ultra also ties the suite together with an elegantly designed launch panel, called StartSmart, that is completely configurable and shows only the applications you use.

As you can see from the above listed functions, this newest Nero 6 Ultra Edition is truly an awesome program, providing just about all the media creating and storage tools anyone could possibly ever need. With the program's extremely reasonable price point, I think all customers will definitely realize super value for their modest investment in this feature-rich application that belongs on all PCs used for media files.

A major benefit of an integrated suite approach is that users learn a single workflow and behavior regardless of the digital media task being accomplished or the media file type being used. Another major benefit is that the customer knows that all the applications within the suite will work seamlessly together. As consumers use an increasingly diverse set of digital media devices, this has become a more important requirement.

Price

$99.99 retail (A bargain for this multi-faceted, diverse application)
$69.99 for electronic download
(20% discount for 3 or more copies)

Minimum System Configuration Requirements

General Requirements
Windows 95B, NT4, 98, 98SE, ME, 2000, XP, Server 2003
P-300MHz processor minimum
P-500MHz for DVD playback
P-800MHz for capturing to hard disc
P-IV 1.6GHz for capturing to DVD video
64MB RAM
128MB RAM for video editing
500MB free hard disc space minimum
4.8GB free hard disc space for DVD images
Screen resolution of at least 800 x 600 pixels, 16 bit color depth or higher
CD and/or DVD recorder
I E 4.0 or higher
Windows compatible soundcard

Special Requirements
Firewire (IEEE 1394) for DV-Capturing
TV-Tuner or Video Capture Board for analog capturing
Printer for covers and labels
Internet access for working with the Internet database
CD and/or DVD recorder for rewritable discs is necessary for packet writing

About Ahead Software

Ahead Software is the technology leader in CD and DVD recording solutions. Headquartered in Karlsbad, Germany, with a subsidiary located in Glendale, California, Ahead has a global customer base including manufacturers, OEMs, distributors and retail partners.

Nero Burning Rom along with Nero Express is the world's premier CD/DVD application software. Related products include InCD, NeroVision Express, Nero ShowTime and Nero Digital. Nero Digital is the most complete MPEG-4 audio and video compression technology available to date, including state-of-the-art audio with MPEG-4 High Efficiency AAC. Ahead Software is a member of the MPEG-4 Industry Forum and takes part in M4IF's interoperability tests.

Today's software market is developing with incredible speed, and Ahead Software plays an important role in this growth. Ahead’s outstanding software engineers and product managers are today creating the products for tomorrows world!

It's a fact that software products are becoming more and more complex in order to meet the needs and expectations of every user. The challenge is to make state-of-the-art technology extremely usable and fun! This is precisely where Ahead Software is placing its emphasis - otherwise what use are all these innovations if in the end the user cannot keep up with the technology?

The combination of cutting-edge technology and its user-friendly implementation has brought Ahead Software much praise and many awards . With the release of Nero 6, Ahead Software is clearly one of the leading companies in the CD/DVD Recording market.

All the experience Ahead Software has gained over the years is put to good use serving new markets with innovative solutions. That is why Ahead Software is now investing in the future of Voice-Over-IP technology – with a new product called “SIPPS”. Once again Ahead is delivering a product, which includes tomorrow’s technology – already today!

Contact

Ahead Software
330 N. Brand Blvd., Ste 695
Glendale, California 91203-2335
Tech Support - 1-888-309-4212
techsupport@nero.com
www.nero.com

Steve Massinello
Senior Account Executive
Giles Communications
914-798-7127
smassinello@giles.com

You can also order from other retailers or online vendors.