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Software

23 June 2008

CyberLink sent out a press release this morning, announcing that PowerDVD has been certified for BD-Profile 2.0 (BD-Live) and AVCREC. With support for these two features, PowerDVD users can access Internet-connected content and play back high-definition video recorded onto a standard DVD using the MPEG-4 AVC format.

CyberLink Corp. (5203.TW), innovative solutions provider for the connected digital lifestyle, today announced that CyberLink PowerDVD has received certification for two advanced features of the Blu-ray Disc format—BD-Profile 2.0 (BD-Live) and AVCREC—confirming PowerDVD’s support for the playback of interactive BD-Live movie content and high-definition MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) content stored on DVDs.

PowerDVD supporting BD Profile 2.0 (BD-Live) format allows Internet-connected activities such as multiplayer gaming, e-commerce, the downloading of movie trailers and subtitles, as well as social networking. These features provide PowerDVD users with more ways to enjoy movies. Supporting AVCREC format enables PowerDVD to playback the recording of high-definition video onto DVD recordable discs using the MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) format. With the growing popularity of high-definition video camcorders and video editing software, users are able to produce their home movies in high-def formats, or record HDTV programs, and playback their recorded high-definition video with PowerDVD.

CyberLink PowerDVD with support for BD-Live and AVCREC is available for purchase online. Existing PowerDVD 8 users can also update their software for free. If you'd like to read more, CyberLink's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment

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Optical Storage

23 June 2008

DigiTimes is reporting that Sony will be launching its first Blu-ray combo drive in July. While the article doesn't include a lot of specifics, it does state that the drive is expected to cost about NT$7,000 (US$230).

Sony will launch its new Blu-ray Disc (BD) Combo drive in the Taiwan market at a tentative retail price of about NT$7,000 (US$230) in July 2008, according to Sony Taiwan.

While Sony has launched the BDU-X10S BD-ROM drive in the Taiwan market at a retail price of NT$6,999 plus a free BD movie disc, the model to be launched in July is the company's first BD Combo model in Taiwan, Sony Taiwan indicated.

We haven't heard anything from Sony regarding their new BD combo drive. However, if they truly do plan to launch it in July, we should be seeing an official announcement soon. If you'd like to read more, head on over to DigiTimes. Add a comment

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Software

23 June 2008

CyberLink recently announced that PowerDVD has received DTS-HD Master Audio certification. With the ability to decode DTS-HD Master Audio, PowerDVD owners will be able to enjoy high-quality audio using lossless compression and support for 7.1-channel output.

CyberLink Corp. (5203.TW), innovative solutions provider for the connected digital lifestyle, announced today that PowerDVD receives certification by DTS for the support of DTS-HD Master Audio technology.

The combination of CyberLink PowerDVD and DTS’s latest technology enables the ultimate entertainment experience when playing high-definition content and Blu-ray discs movies on PCs. DTS-HD Master Audio allows bit-for-bit reproduction of the original studio master soundtrack and supports up to 7.1-channel output, for a lifelike audio performance.

CyberLink PowerDVD featuring DTS-HD Master Audio support will be available as an upgrade to existing users in July 2008. Full details can be found here. Add a comment

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Optical Storage

20 June 2008

The high price of oil is hurting more than just car owners. Taiwan's disc makers are also looking a hike in polycarbonate costs. According to DigiTimes, polycarbonate suppliers plan to raise prices by 5-7% later this year.

While the third quarter of each year is traditionally an off-peak period for Taiwan-based blank CD-R and DVD+R/-R disc makers, the third quarter of 2008 will potentially see makers facing an additional negative impact as polycarbonate suppliers plan to raise prices from the current level of US$2.3-2.4/kg by 5-7% due to large hikes in oil pricing, according to industry sources in Taiwan.

The traditional slow sales period is mainly due to decreased demand in the US and Europe over the summer, the sources indicated. Based on received OEM orders, utilization rates are estimated to drop from 70-80% currently to 50-60% in the third quarter of 2008, the sources noted.

The article also states that it is unclear whether or not the increased cost of polycarbonate will have an effect on OEM pricing. For the benefit of consumers, lets hope that the price stays where it is. If you'd like to read more, head on over to DigiTimes. Add a comment

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Other

19 June 2008

ASRock K10N750SLI-WiFi nForce 750a Motherboard @ThinkComputers.org
ASUS MK241 LCD Monitor @ I4U
Boogie Bug Black Pearl MicroATX Case @Madshrimps
G.Skill 4GB DDR3-1600 Pi Series Dual Channel Memory Kit @Bigbruin.com
Samsung SyncMaster 2693HM @InsideHW
Tagan Icy Box IB-290STUSD-B External HDD Enclosure @HardwareLogic
Toshiba Portege M800 Notebook @Hardware Zone
Zalman VF900-Cu Ultra Quiet Heatpipe VGA Cooler @Benchmark Reviews

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Hard Disks

19 June 2008

CDRLabs has put together a brief review of Western Digital's new dual-disk storage system, the My Book Mirror Edition. Like the name suggests, the My Book Mirror Edition automatically "mirrors" your data between the two disks so that if one should fail, your data will remain safe. The My Book Mirror Edition also features a built in capacity gauge and with its fan-less design and GreenPower hard drives, it uses a third less power than other dual-drive systems.

In this review we'll take a look at some of the features found on the My Book Mirror Edition and see how it performs. Is it a good choice for those looking to backup their data and keep it safe? You'll have to read the review to find out.

Western Digital 2TB My Book Mirror Edition

If you have any comments or questions about this review or the Western Digital My Book Mirror Edition, please post them in the forum. Add a comment

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Optical Storage

19 June 2008

NEC Electronics has announced a new system LSI capable of 8x Blu-ray writing speeds. According to Tech-On!, the SCOMBO/UM2A's analog and digital signal processors have also been combined into a single chip. As a result, the SCOMBO/UM2A is 20% smaller and uses 33% less power than NEC's previous model.

This time, NEC Electronics employed a wideband analog signal processing circuit in order to support Blu-ray 8x recording and playback. The circuit was originally developed for use in 20x DVD systems. Furthermore, the company adopted the CMOS technology to produce the analog circuit, instead of using the BiCMOS technology.

As a result, the analog circuit can be integrated with the digital signal processing unit in a single chip. Compared with the company's existing product, the footprint of the latest chip is 20% smaller, and the power consumption was reduced by 33% to 1.8W.

NEC is currently shipping samples of both the SCOMBO/UM2A and SCOMBO/UM2P (playback only) and are priced at $14 and $19, respectively. The company currently plans to produce 300,000 units per monthy, increasing to 1,000,000 per month by the end of 2008. If you'd like to read more, Tech-On's entire report can be found here. Add a comment

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Software

19 June 2008

TMPG, Inc. announced this week that it will be releasing an updated version of TMPGEnc 4.0 XPress at the end of June. This new version of their encoding software adds input support for AVCHD, AAC in an MPEG-2 stream and embedded MPEG-4. It also provides output support for High Definition MPEG-4 video and Blu-ray BDAV/BDMV templates.

TMPG, Inc. (www.tmpg-inc.com), the company that makes digital video easy, is introducing an updated version of its popular video encoding software TMPGEnc 4.0 XPress. Due to user demand TMPG, Inc. has now added input support for AVCHD, AAC in an MPEG-2 stream and embedded MPEG-4 input support. The new update also provides output support for High Definition MPEG-4 video and Blu-ray BDAV/BDMV templates. The software upgrade will be available at the end of June at www.tmpg-inc.com and will be free for current TMPGEnc 4.0 XPress users. New users may purchase the updated software for $99.95 per license.

"We have had many requests for these particular high definition video and Blu-ray upgrades and we are pleased to now offer them to our customers,” stated Kimi Matsuki, TMPG Inc. CEO. “As always, we will continue to keep TMPGEnc 4.0 XPress relevant and up to date with support for the latest formats for our customers."

More information, including the entire list of new features, can be found on TMPG's website. Add a comment

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Other

18 June 2008

Asus MK241H 24" Widescreen LCD Monitor @HotHardware.com
BFG 9600 GT OCX Video Card @I4U
CoolIT Systems nVIDIA 8800 Series Dual Drive Bay VGA Cooler @Futurelooks
HP DVD-1040e External DVD Writer @CD Freaks
Motorola Bluetooth Headset H680 @ BlueTomorrow.com
MSI P45 Platinum Motherboard @TweakTown
Thermaltake Armor+ MX Case @BCCHardware

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