I-O Data Japan has announced a new Blu-ray Disc writer based on the Panasonic SW-5584. The BRD-SP8 features 8x BD-R, 8x BD-R DL and 2x BD-RE writing speeds as well as a maximum BD-ROM read speed of 8x. Here are some of the specs:

i-o data brd-sp8 400.jpg

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Lite-On Europe announced this week, that it will begin shipping its new 22x DVD writers in October. Along with SecurDisc, the drives will support a new feature called SmartErase. Similar to Plextor's PlexEraser technology, SmartErase destroys the data on CD-R and DVD±R media without physically damaging the disc.
iPod Touch Air Jacket @ BCCHardware
Kingston 4GB PC2-6400 HyperX Memory @ Virtual-Hideout
QNAP TS-409 PRO Four Bay NAS Network Attached Storage System @ Tweaknews.net
Samsung SyncMaster 2053BW @ InsideHW
Sans Digital MS1U Media Saver @ ASE Labs
Spire SP175SU-SL-EU 2.5" SATA to USB Hard Disk Enclosure @ Rbmods
Thermaltake VH6000BWS Armor+ Case @ HardwareLogic
Tuniq Ensemble 1200W Power Supply @ Bigbruin.com Add a comment
With the price of NAND flash memory continuing to decline, manufacturers like SanDisk have resorted to a more agressive pricing strategy. According to a report at DigiTimes, Kingston is also preparing to cut the price of its memory cards.

Pressured by an intensified inventory loss, Kingston is said to be prepared for a price cut for its memory cards. Sources at the company indicated that they were prompted to initiate the price cut amid a weakening price trend, as well as rival SanDisk's previous claims for a more aggressive pricing strategy during the company's investor conference. But the sources did not reveal a concrete time frame nor a range for the discounts.

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NewTech Infosystems recently announced the launch of NTI Shadow v4.0. This new version of NTI's automated backup/synchronization software offers a number of enhancements including a cleaner GUI, NTI Ninja for USB storage protection and bi-directional sync. Add a comment
Fabrik recently announced its new eco-friendly external hard drive, the SimpleTech [re]drive. The [re]drive uses less power than traditional external drives and is constructed of bamboo and recycled aluminum. It also offers 500GB of storage and support for Turbo USB 2.0, which Fabrik claims is up to 25% faster than USB 2.0.
fabrik simpletech redrive 400.png
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Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (MCC) completed the construction of its new polycarbonate resin production facility in March 2008. While the facility was supposed to begin commercial operation in July, MCC has decided to postpone its start-up due to the high price of crude oil and the depressed polycarbonate resin market. Add a comment
Despite the failure of HD DVD, China is moving ahead with its own version of the format. While the CBHD (China Blue High-definition Disc) promises lower manufacturing costs and royalty fees, Taiwan's drive manufacturers believe that it will have a hard time competing with Blu-ray Disc in the Chinese market. Add a comment
ASRock X48 TurboTwins-WiFi Motherboard @ BCCHardware
ASUS EN9800GTX TOP Graphics Card @ HotHardware.com
BlueAnt Z9i Dual Mic Bluetooth Headset @ BCCHardware
CineRaid Quad-bay SATA/SAS RAID Device @ ThinkComputers.org
Mighty Mouse 5 Waterproof Mouse @ I4U
Scythe Zipang 140mm CPU Cooler @ Madshrimps
Thermalright TRUE Black 120 CPU Cooler @ Virtual-Hideout
Thermaltake Toughpower 1200 Watt Power Supply @ Tweaknews.net
Western Digital Caviar Blue SE16 Hard Drive @ InsideHW
Wolfking Trooper MVP Gaming Mouse @ I4U Add a comment
With the threat of cheap, Chinese manufactured Blu-ray players looming on the horizon, companies like Sony, Samsung and LG have begun to reduce the price of their entry-level Blu-ray Disc players. According to DigiTimes, retail prices in the US have by dropped by an average of 25%, bringing the price of BD players below $300. Add a comment