Samsung Blu-ray Writer Se-506 Mac Software

Download firmware for Samsung SE-506BB. The following files are available for download for the drive: Samsung SE-506BB.

For what it is worth, I have this problem as well. The drive tray wouldn't even eject with one cable, so I flipped to another. I could then open the tray (seems odd to me) but the disc would not mount. Here is the console log info that indicates that the OS is getting incorrect feedback from the driver saying the disc is faulty. This same reader/cable/disc work fine on my 10.10.5 MacBook Air and had worked perfectly fine with this same MBP prior to service (and 'complimentary' upgrade to EC by Apple).


Console

1/9/16 12:34:49.000 kernel[0]: 011849.735343 AppleUSB20HubPort@fa130000: AppleUSBHostPort::resetGated: retrying enumeration in 100 ms

1/9/16 12:34:50.000 kernel[0]: 011850.924723 AppleUSB20HubPort@fa130000: AppleUSBHostPort::resetGated: retrying enumeration in 200 ms

1/9/16 12:34:51.000 kernel[0]: 011852.236095 AppleUSB20HubPort@fa130000: AppleUSBHostPort::resetGated: retrying enumeration in 400 ms

1/9/16 12:34:52.000 kernel[0]: USBMSC Identifier (non-unique): (korean characters removed) 0xe8d 0x1956 0x0, 2

1/9/16 12:35:10.000 kernel[0]: disk3: alignment error.

1/9/16 12:35:12.432 mds[74]: (Volume.Normal:2464) volume:0x7ffc330a4c00 ********** Bootstrapped Creating a default store:1 SpotLoc:(null) SpotVerLoc:(null) occlude:0 /Volumes/ENTOURAGE

Samsung Blu-ray Writer Se-506 Mac Software Reviews

Software

1/9/16 12:35:12.456 mds[74]: (Volume.Error:577) vsd:0x7ffc33173400 Open failed. failureCount:0 (null)

1/9/16 12:35:23.000 kernel[0]: smb_smb_ssnsetup: SOL doesn't support extended security, this server will be deprecated in the future!

1/9/16 12:35:27.471 mds[74]: (Volume.Normal:166) vsd:0x7ffc33173400 DisabledStore recycle:0 context:{

DisabledRecycleCount = 1;

}

1/9/16 12:35:27.502 mds[74]: (Volume.Error:577) vsd:0x7ffc338c6000 Open failed. failureCount:1 {

DisabledRecycleCount = 1;

}

1/9/16 12:35:57.502 mds[74]: (Volume.Normal:166) vsd:0x7ffc338c6000 DisabledStore recycle:2 context:{

DisabledRecycleCount = 2;

}

1/9/16 12:35:57.540 mds[74]: (Volume.Error:577) vsd:0x7ffc308c8400 Open failed. failureCount:2 {

DisabledRecycleCount = 2;

}


The drive works perfectly fine with this disc on 10.10.

DVD Burners

Editor Rating: Excellent (4.0)

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  • Pros

    • Compatible with both Windows and Mac.
    • Supports all major optical formats, including triple- and quad-layer Blu-ray XL.
    • AV connectivity.
    • Built-in 2D to 3D conversion and DVD upscaling.
  • Cons

    • Thicker and heavier than competitors.
    • BDXL formats aren't widely supported, and may not justify the extra expense.
  • Bottom Line

    The Samsung SE-506AB External Slim Blu-ray Re-Writer is a convenient portable Blu-ray optical drive, with Mac compatibility, AV connectivity, and other goodies thrown in for good measure.

The Samsung SE-506AB External Slim Blu-ray Re-Writer is a portable Blu-ray optical drive, similar to the Pioneer BDR-XD04 ($149.99 direct, 4 stars). Portable optical drives are becoming increasingly important as manufacturers slim down laptops and ultrabooks by removing the optical drive entirely. A slim optical drive like the Samsung SE-506AB can be carried in a laptop bag or tucked out of sight in a drawer to be used only when needed. Setting the Samsung apart, however, are features like Mac compatibility, tools for 2D to 3D conversion, and support for bleeding edge formats like triple- and quad-layer Blu-ray. All those extras add up to a great deal, making the Samsung SE506AB our Editors' Choice for portable optical drives.

Design
Unlike the Pioneer BDR-XD04 , the SE-506AB uses a tray-loading design, with a drive tray ejecting out the front of the unit. The SE-506AB has plastic construction, and the exterior is covered in a textured polka-dot pattern. Measuring 0.76 by 5.7 by 5.7 inches (HWD), the Samsung SE-506AB is wider and thicker than the Pioneer BDR-XD04, but still small enough to slip into a backpack or laptop bag. It weighs 0.79 pound, a few ounces more than the Pioneer.

The SE-506AB is powered via USB using the included USB Y-cable. Unlike most USB Y-cables included with these sorts of drives, this cable has beefy plug connectors, reducing the likelihood of developing a break or a short at this common point of failure. Unlike the Sony Optiarc BDX-S600U ($150 street) or the Asus SBW-06C1S-U Blue ($150 street), the Samsung SE-506AB is designed for use in a horizontal orientation only.

SEE ALSO: Samsung Launches 870 QVO SSDs in Capacities Up to 8TB

As portable optical drives go, the Samsung SE-506AB is nearly silent. Unlike the noisy Pioneer BDR-XD04, the Samsung makes almost no noise at all, even when burning data to a disc. It also stayed cool, never getting warmer than 85 degrees Fahrenheit (as measured with a Fluke IR thermometer).

Features
The SE-506AB works with all common optical formats, including Blu-ray, DVD, and CD. With both read and record functionality, this slim drive extends its usefulness even further. Like the Pioneer BDR-XD04, the SE-506AB is compatible not only with standard single- and dual-layer Blu-ray discs, it also will read from and record to triple- and quad-layer discs.

Unlike most external optical drives, which are Windows-only, the SE506AB is also Mac (OS X) compatible, providing Blu-ray support for your iMac or MacBook Pro in addition to filling the hole left by the MacBook Air (which has no optical drive at all). One of the unique aspects of the drive is that, unlike most portable optical drives, the SE-506AB can be used with a USB-equipped TV or home theater system in addition to a standard PC. The drive is compatible with both Linux and WinCE.

Like the Pioneer BDR-XD04, the SE506AB also supports BDXL triple- and quad-layer media. Where a single layer Blu-ray disc can hold up to 25GB per disc, and dual-layer discs up to 50GB, new BDXL formats like triple-layer media holds up to 100GB, and quad-layer up to 128GB.

BDXL formats may be the next big thing in storage media, but at the moment, it's pretty rare. The few recordable BDXL discs that are on the market must be imported from Japan and sell for between $90-$100 per disc. You also will run into problems trying to play the discs on any other player, because unlike dual-layer Blu-ray discs, regular Blu-ray hardware doesn't support BDXL.

The SE506AB also comes with CyberLink 3D video software, which supports 3D playback and offers upscaling for standard definition DVDs for improved playback on high definition displays. By using the included TrueTheater 3D conversion tool, you can 'transform 2D movies in 3D'—a process which adds some 3D layering to otherwise 2D images. Samsung covers the SE-506AB with a one-year warranty.

Performance
Supporting all major optical formats, the SE506AB had no problem reading any of the discs we tried, Blu-ray, DVD, or CD. The SE506AB has read support for all commercially available Blu-ray formats, including BD-ROM, BD-R and BD-RE in dual-, triple-, and quad-layer formats. Read speeds vary between 4x for triple-layer BD-RE discs and 6x for standard BD-ROM. All formats of DVD and CD are supported, including odd shaped discs, such as DVD business cards. DVD media reads at 8x, while CD media reads at 24x. These speeds are identical to those offered by Pioneer's BDR-XD04.

Equally broad support is available for for writable media, supporting all formats of BD-R and BD-RE, including dual-, triple-, and quad-layer discs. Write speeds range between single- and dual-layer BD-R (6x), triple- and quad-layer BD-R (4x), and all BD-RE formats (2x). Writing support includes DVD+R and DVD-R (8x), single and dual-layer DVD+/-RW (6x), and both CD-R and CD-RW (both at 24x). It gave us no problems in testing, and the included CyberLink software is straightforward and easy to use.

The Samsung SE-506AB External Slim Blu-ray Re-Writer offers all of the usefulness and portability of the Pioneer BDR-XD04, with the added benefit of being quiet and staying cool. It's a little bigger and a little heavier, but with the SE-506AB's AV connectivity and built-in 2D to 3D conversion (not to mention cheaper price), a few ounces are easy to overlook. The Samsung SE-506AB External Slim Blu-ray Re-Writer snags our Editors' Choice for portable optical drives.

COMPARISON TABLE
Compare the Samsung SE-506AB External Slim Blu-ray Re-Writer with several other external optical drives side by side.

Software

Samsung Blu-ray Writer Se-506 Mac Software 2017

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