| LightScribe technology was introduced to the market | | | | a glossy look, as the dye is located under a 0.6 |
| by Hewlett-Packard in 2004. At that time, there was | | | | millimeter polycarbonate protective layer. Therefore, |
| no other technology available that would let you laser | | | | the actual image cannot be touched directly. Though |
| etch a design to the label side of an optical disc. | | | | this may help lengthen the lifespan of the label, there |
| DiscT@2 had been developed and released by | | | | are no exact quotes on the lifespan of the labels. |
| Yamaha in 2002, but unlike LightScribe technology, | | | | However, it is recommended to keep the discs away |
| DiscT@2 only allowed people to burn a design to the | | | | from extreme heat, dust, and direct sunlight. |
| unused part of the data side of a disc. DiscT@2 was | | | | Like LightScribe disc drives, Labelflash compatible |
| scrapped in 2003 but later developed further into | | | | drives can label and write data to a disc. Labelflash |
| what is now known as Labelflash technology, which | | | | compatible optical disc drives (internal and external) |
| was released in December of 2005. In contrast to its | | | | are available from manufacturers such as Sony |
| predecessor, Labelflash technology allows you to | | | | Optiarc, Teac, Quanta Storage, and Pioneer. In |
| burn images and text to both the label and data sides | | | | addition, certain computer models by Toshiba, |
| of a disc. | | | | Gateway, and Acer include Labelflash compatible disc |
| Now LightScribe and Labelflash have been competing | | | | drives. |
| with each other to gain recognition as the sole leader | | | | Labelflash drives can burn images and text to the |
| in direct disc labeling technology. Though the two | | | | data side of any DVD media (Labelflash compatible or |
| may be comparable in some ways, LightScribe and | | | | not) thanks to the DiscT@2 functions. |
| Labelflash really have a lot of differences that may | | | | Which is Best? |
| make each one more optimal than the other in | | | | As one might expect, there is no clear cut winner in |
| certain situations. | | | | this small technological Cold War. Each has its own |
| What is LightScribe? | | | | advantages and disadvantages. But choosing the right |
| When LightScribe first came to the market in 2004, | | | | direct disc labeling technology is an important question |
| there was a three word phrase strongly associated | | | | that requires taking a look at the value of time and |
| with the technology - "Burn, flip, burn." The idea was | | | | money, the differences between the resulting disc |
| that a person could burn both the data and label | | | | labels, as well as the availability and flexibility of the |
| portions of a disc with one drive, simply flipping the | | | | hardware and software. |
| disc over in the process. The introduction of this | | | | When it comes to the time it takes to burn a label, |
| technology offered people an alternative to both the | | | | neither LightScribe nor Labelflash can stand up to the |
| smear-prone labels printed on inkjet direct-to-disc | | | | ease and speed of printing adhesive labels or simply |
| printers and adhesive labels that can cause problems | | | | labeling a disc with a Sharpie. Set at full quality, both |
| when used with high-speed or slot loading optical disc | | | | drives take roughly half an hour or more to burn a |
| drives. | | | | label to a disc. However, of the two, Labelflash tends |
| Labeling with LightScribe technology requires a so | | | | to burn slightly faster than LightScribe by about four |
| called LightScribe-enabled disc drive and special optical | | | | to five minutes. |
| discs that have a dye coating on the label side. In the | | | | Another significant factor to consider is the |
| beginning, LightScribe disc media was available only in | | | | supported media. For those looking to label both CDs |
| a sepia color and in CD-R and DVD-R formats. | | | | and DVDs, LightScribe is the way to go, as Labelflash |
| However, one can now find discs in DVD+R and | | | | doesn't label CDs. Moreover, Labelflash media tends |
| DVD+R DL formats, as well as in an assortment of | | | | to be considerably more expensive than that of |
| colors. | | | | LightScribe, starting at $1.5 per DVD, whereas |
| When penetrated by the laser of the disc drive, the | | | | LightScribe media starts at $0.30 for CDs and $0.60 |
| coating goes through a nontoxic chemical reaction | | | | for DVDs. However, the DiscT@2 functions of |
| that causes the dye to darken in color. The images | | | | Labelflash allow you to burn text and images on the |
| are written in concentric circles, starting from the | | | | data side of any DVD media regardless of whether |
| center. Burning labels with LightScribe technology | | | | or not it is Labelflash compatible, which can be quite a |
| results in a grayscale image. Once burned, a label | | | | feature for some. |
| cannot be erased from the disc. However, because | | | | One more advantage that LightScribe media has over |
| the hub (center) of every LightScribe disc contains a | | | | Labelflash media is the ability to burn a design multiple |
| series of bars that let the disc drive know the exact | | | | times to improve the definition. This is possible due to |
| rotational position of the disc, one can add more to a | | | | the way the disc drive burns the design and the fact |
| previously burned label or burn it again to sharpen the | | | | that graphics and text are written to the disc due to |
| contrast. Though Hewlett-Packard has reported that | | | | the the darkening of the ink, while the ink of |
| LightScribe labels should last the lifespan of the disc | | | | Labelflash discs lightens to create an image and can |
| itself, it is recommended that one keep his discs | | | | only become so light. Many, nevertheless, prefer the |
| stored away from heat and direct sunlight, as the | | | | glossy, silvery look of Labelflash discs. |
| label may begin to fade prematurely. | | | | Concerning software and hardware support, |
| LightScribe compatible optical disc drives (internal and | | | | LightScribe has quite an advantage over Labelflash |
| external) are widely available in the United States and | | | | owing to its longevity on the market. Another |
| Europe, for both Windows and Mac. Manufacturers of | | | | negative drawback to Labelflash is the lack of drive |
| LightScribe compatible disc drives include HP, Pioneer, | | | | support for the Macintosh community, though it is |
| Samsung, LG Electronics and Memorex. | | | | possible to use Labelflash on a Mac by following a |
| What is Labelflash? | | | | few steps. |
| Labelflash was introduced to consumers in December | | | | Aside from small technical nuances and an individual's |
| of 2005. This project, initiated by Yamaha and | | | | personal preference, there exists the factor of |
| Fujifilm, implements technology originally released by | | | | availability. For many, one technology is better than |
| Yamaha in 2002 under the name of DiscT@2. | | | | the other just because it is easier to obtain in the |
| DiscT@2 allowed you to burn images on the unused | | | | place where he or she lives. Such is the case with |
| part of the data side of a disc. The big disadvantage | | | | LightScribe and Labelflash. Labelflash drives and media |
| to this technology was that the design size was | | | | can be hard to come by in the United States, where |
| often limited due to a large amount of written data. | | | | as it is quite popular in Europe and Asia, though rumor |
| Because of this, the project was abandoned in 2003 | | | | has it that soon Labelflash will be more widely |
| until the development of Labelflash, which uses the | | | | available in the United States. |
| same technology to burn images to the label side of | | | | To Sum It Up... |
| a disc, though the ability to burn images on the data | | | | Both technologies offer the world something that is |
| side of a disc has been retained. | | | | both innovative and fascinating and has helped to |
| Labeling a disc using Labelflash technology can only | | | | solve some of the problems that computer users |
| be done with a special Labelflash compatible disc | | | | face every time they burn music discs, backup |
| drive and discs that have a special dye similar to that | | | | archives, and more. However, direct disc labeling |
| of LightScribe media. The discs are blue in color and | | | | technology also presents problems of its own that |
| are only available in DVD formats. | | | | have yet to be solved. The central essential question |
| Unlike LightScribe media, the dye on Labelflash discs | | | | is whether or not such technology will be able to |
| becomes lighter when penetrated by a laser. The | | | | withstand the test of time with such cheap disc |
| result is a silvery, monochrome image with up to 256 | | | | labeling methods available such as the Sharpie. |
| different shades and 1000 dpi resolution. The label has | | | | |