Corsair announced this week that it be debuting its new 32GB Flash Voyager and Flash Survivor USB drives at CES 2008. Both flash drives are bootable and are large enough to hold more than 16 full-length high-def movies or an entire season of a TV series.
Corsair www.corsair.com, a worldwide leader in high performance computer and flash memory products, announced today that it is expanding its Flash Voyager and Flash Survivor USB family lines with new 32GB capacity offerings. The new Corsair 32GB Flash Voyager and Flash Survivor USB drives will be debuted at the Consumer Electronics Show 2008 (CES) next week in Las Vegas in the Corsair Suite at the Wynn Hotel and at Showstoppers CES 2008.

Users now have the ultimate solution for storing, transporting and backing up large amounts of personal and professional data. Whether using the Corsair proprietary all-rubber Flash Voyager or the aluminum-encased water-proof Flash Survivor, the large amounts of data on the drive will be safeguarded for users with an active lifestyle. Corsair USB drives provide the added ruggedness and performance not found in other storage drives utilizing rotating media.
The Corsair 32GB Flash Voyager and Flash Survivor USB drives are available now and priced at $229.99 and $249.99 respectively. Full details can be found here. Add a comment

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ASUS has announced two new "Super-Multi" drives, the DRW-2014S1 and DRW-2014S1T. Along with 20x DVD±R and 8x DVD±R DL writing speeds, the two drives can write to DVD-RAM media at 14x.

In order to provide users with increased data storage, ASUS, a leading provider of high-performance optical storage devices, today announced the new DRW-2014S1/S1T - an industry leading DVD rewriter that supports 14X DVD-RAM write, 20X DVD+/-R and 8X DVD+/-R dual layer media sources. It also features Over-speed Burning - a feature that saves users precious time.

The ASUS DRW-2014S1/S1T features Over-speed Burning - a technology that is able to burn DL 2.4X discs at 8X speeds. Users need only need to spend 18 minutes rather than 47 minutes while waiting for data backups - a time savings of 29 minutes!
No word yet on pricing or availability. As we find out more, we'll let you know. In the mean time, ASUs's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
Netflix and LG announced today they are developing a set-top box that will allow consumers to stream movies and other programming directly to their televisions. While details are still sketchy, technology for this new service will be embedded in a networked player planned for the second half of 2008.
Netflix Inc. (Nasdaq: NFLX), the world's largestonline movie rental service, and LG Electronics, a global consumerelectronics leader, today announced they are joining forces to develop aset-top box for consumers to stream movies and other programming from theInternet to HDTVs -- bypassing the need to use a personal computer.

The collaboration is expected to deliver a compelling new online homeentertainment service via technology embedded in an LG networked playerplanned for the second half of 2008. Today's announcement sets the stagefor next week's 2008 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES(R)),which will emphasize digital content as well as hardware solutions.
While Netflix and LG have not revealed any details regarding price, Home Media Magazine is reporting that the set-top box will cost about $799. If you'd like to read more, the entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
DigiTimes has reported that CMC is planning to do their annual equipment maintenance during the first quarter of 2008. By stopping production, the company hopes to avoid a possible oversupply of CD-R and DVD+R/-R discs.
CMC Magnetics, the largest Taiwan-based producer of blank optical discs, is planning annual equipment maintenance in the first quarter of 2008, with the stoppage of production intended to also help avoid a possible oversupply of CD-R and DVD+R/-R discs in the traditional off-season, according to the company. Ritek, the second largest maker, indicated that it is considering whether to make a similar move and will reach a decision soon.

CMC has not yet decided when to start the planned maintenance nor the time length, with the decision hinging on the receipt of orders, the company pointed out. CMC has production bases in Taiwan, China, Thailand and Hong Kong. Three of these, excluding the one in Thailand, were put into annual maintenance in a period around the Lunar New Year in 2007, the company indicated. Ritek also took maintenance measures around the same time, according to the company.
Second tier manufacturers like Prodisc, Gigastorage and Lead Data are also planning on or considering doing equipment maintenance during the first quarter. If you'd like to read more, head on over to DigiTimes. Add a comment
Transcend has announced a 16GB version of its JetFlash V10 USB flash drive. This value-priced drive features a retractable USB connector and comes bundled with Transcend’s JetFlash elite software package which includes functions like Autologin, PC-Lock, Mobile E-mail and DataBackup.

Transcend Information, Inc. (Transcend), a worldwide leader in flash memory products, today introduced a huge 16GB version of its JetFlash V10 USB 2.0 Flash Drive. A member of Transcend’s popular JetFlash Value Series, the V10 is a stylish compact flash drive with outstanding performance. Its special capless design includes a retractable USB connector with lock-switch, which makes the drive easier to use and protects the connector from damage when not in use. The JetFlash V10 measures a mere 64 x 21 x 10 mm and weighs only 11g. For extra convenience, the V10 features a lanyard / keychain attachment loop to prevent loss and make it easier to plug in and remove from your computer’s USB port.
If you'd like to read more, Transcend's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
Advanced Media announced today that they will be introducing the first Smart Compact Flash Cards at CES 2008. The RIDATA SMART CompactFlash Card features an internal data monitoring system so that users can easily monitor the card's status.

Advanced Media, Inc., is a manufacturer and marketer of the popular RIDATA brand of recordable CD and DVD media, electronic storage products, and digital media accessories. The company is introducing the first Smart Compact Flash TM Cards at CES 2008. Featuring high-speed access to reading and writing and up to 16GB of storage capacity, the self-monitoring CF card is ideal for virtually any flash media storage application.

“We are pleased to introduce the RIDATA SMART CompactFlash Card, which is the first of its kind in the industry,” stated Harvey Liu, Advanced Media president. “The flash memory market is growing quickly due to the number of new applications that use flash media for storage. As capacity continues to increase, RIDATA saw the need for an internal data monitoring system to ensure the safety of your data.”
If you'd like to read more, Advanced Media's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
Rumors about an HD DVD equipped Xbox 360 are flying again this week. According to Brier Dudley of The Seattle Times, Microsoft may announce plans at CES to give the Xbox 360 an internal HD-DVD drive. The company is also rumored to be working with Toshiba to develop a digital video recorder with a hard-drive, HD-DVD drive and Xbox gaming capabilities.
I've speculated on my blog that Microsoft may be preparing to license the Xbox gaming platform to consumer-electronics companies.

In particular, Microsoft could work with Toshiba to develop a digital video recorder with a hard-drive, high-definition HD-DVD drive and Xbox gaming capabilities. They're already allied against Sony and other backers of the Blu-ray DVD format, and Toshiba could help Xbox finally penetrate the Japanese market.

Microsoft could also make a splash by announcing plans to give the Xbox 360 an internal HD-DVD drive, putting it on par with Sony's PlayStation 3 that has a built-in Blu-ray drive.
While Brier Dudley is usually a pretty reliable source for Microsoft related news, this nothing more than a rumor at this point. We won't know for sure until Bill Gates steps on the stage at CES next week. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment
SanDisk has announced their latest USB flash drive, the Cruzer Titanium Plus. What makes this drive unique is that it includes an online backup service. To protect against loss or theft, files copied to the Cruzer Titanium Plus are automatically backed up online.

SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ:SNDK) today announced Cruzer Titanium Plus, a USB flash drive that offers automatic online backup for every file copied to the drive, giving users true peace of mind. Cruzer Titanium Plus will be featured at the 2008 International Consumer Electronics Show from Jan. 7 to 10, where SanDisk will be demonstrating products at Booth #30768, South Hall 3, in the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Cruzer Titanium Plus, with a capacity of four gigabytes (GB)1, is the first flash memory product from SanDisk to offer online backup. Users get the best of both worlds, with access online and offline: Data is always available when Cruzer Titanium Plus is plugged into any computer. Users also get quick access to their backed-up files through any computer connected to the Internet, should they forget to bring the drive with them, or if the drive is lost or stolen.
The Cruzer Titanium Plus is expected to be available in March for a suggested retail prices of $59.99. Full details can be found here. Add a comment
According to a new study by ABI Research, high-def PC drives will bring in revenues of about $2 billion by 2012. Of that, about two-thirds will be able to play back both Blu-ray and HD DVD content.
With consumers confused about which format to buy and a relative paucity of drives available to computer manufacturers, how rapidly will HD optical drives enter the PC market?

“ABI Research expects high-definition drives to bring in revenues of about $2 billion by 2012,” says principal analyst Steve Wilson. “Of that, about two-thirds will be accounted for by universal drives, which can play either format. Few universal drives are sold today, partly because of their higher price. But those prices will fall to about the same as Blu-ray players by 2009, and we forecast universal player sales to exceed Blu-ray the following year.”
The price of combination Blu-ray/HD DVD drives have already come down considerably. The LG GGW-H20L retails for $399 which is less than what most single format Blu-ray writers go for. If you'd like to read more, ABI Research's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment