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Nero 8 has received certification for authoring and playback of writeable Blu-ray Disc Video (BDMV) titles and with the new update now supports advanced and interactive features for High Definition audio and video. The certifications were presented by Sony Corporation’s Blu-ray Disc testing center and ensure maximum compatibility with other Blu-ray devices for trouble-free operation.While the latest Nero 8 update adds these new features, you will still need to buy the Blu-ray/HD DVD Plug-in to take full advantage of them. If you'd like to read more, Nero's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
The latest update of Nero 8 also includes play back of Mini HD DVD-Video discs, and burning of HD DVD-Video onto DVD-R/RW media. Smart Encoding, a feature that detects compliant incoming data formats from AVCHD camcorders, avoids time-consuming re-encoding by skipping the recoding step for AVCHD content when the destination format is also AVCHD. Advancements in the Nero 8 home entertainment features offer even more flexibility by letting users fast forward, and pause content streamed throughout the digital home via Nero’s home media server application.
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The battle between high-definition formats HD DVD and Blu-ray is also set for a resolution next year, although which side will deliver the knockout blow is still unclear.Screen Digest isn't naming any names. However, they're probably expecting Warner to choose a side in the battle between Blu-ray and HD DVD. While the company has been releasing titles on both formats, its been rumored that they may support Blu-ray exclusively. If that was the case, the format battle could very likely be decided by the end of next year. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment
"It would only take one major player to shift allegiances to push the tipping point one way or another," said analyst Richard Cooper.
Sony's Blu-ray has enjoyed a good year, boosted by sales of the PlayStation 3 hardware and software. With both sides engaged in price-cutting of their hardware delivery systems, 2008 will see the battle shift to the content arena.
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Firmware Update v2.10 is now live. This new system update enhances media playback on the PLAYSTATION 3 in a number of ways that the PS3 community has indicated are important.While the first Profile 1.1 compatible titles won't hit stores for another month or so, its good to see that the Playstation 3 is ready for their release. If you'd like to read more, the entire blog post can be found here. Add a comment
We are introducing a much-requested video playback format with this update: DivX and VC-1 (WMV) videos become playable in the Video section of the XMB. This update also brings the PS3’s Blu-ray drive up to Profile 1.1. “Picture in Picture” and other enhancements become available on Profile 1.1 compatible Blu-ray discs.
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A-DATA Nobility & Classic PD17, PD18 & PD19 USB Flash Drives @Madshrimps
Antec P190 Silent Performer Casing @Hardware Zone
ASUS GeForce EN8800GT TOP 512MB @TweakTown
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ASUS Radeon HD 3850 & 3870 TOP @Phoronix
SilverStone TJ10 Case @HardwareLogic
SteelSeries QcK Mousepad @SweMOD
Zalman CNPS8700 @ChileHardware
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Intel Corporation announced its latest entry into the solid-state drive market with the Intel Z-P140 PATA Solid-State Drive (SSD), one of the tiniest in the industry aimed at handheld mobile devices. Smaller than a penny and weighing less than a drop of water, these 2 Gigabyte (GB) and 4GB ultra-small devices are fast, low-power and rugged, with the right size, capacity and performance for mobile Internet devices, digital entertainment and embedded products.The Intel Z-P140 is currently sampling with mass production scheduled in the first quarter of 2008. Full details can be found here. Add a comment
SSDs use flash memory to store operating systems and computing data, emulating hard drives. The Intel Z-P140 PATA SSD has an industry standard parallel ATA (PATA) interface and is optimized to enhance Intel-based computers, and will be an optional part of Intel’s Menlow platform for mobile Internet devices debuting in 2008.
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The new electrical specification, known as S3200, builds upon the IEEE 1394b standard, preserving all the advantages of FireWire while offering a major and unprecedented boost in performance. The new speed uses the cables and connectors already deployed for FireWire 800 products, making the transition forward easy and convenient for 1394 product vendors and their customers. Because the 1394 arbitration, data, and service protocols were not modified for S3200, silicon and software vendors can deploy the faster speed FireWire quickly and with confidence that it will deliver its full potential performance. The S3200 specification is expected to be ratified by early February.While there is no word on when S3200 devices will hit the market, the 1394 Trade Association expects to ratify the specification in February. If you'd like to read more, the entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
FireWire 800 products deployed since 2003 have proven that IEEE 1394b delivers outstanding performance. Operating without polling, without idle times, and without continuous software management, FireWire 800 efficiently delivers more than 97 percent of its bit rate as payload -- not overhead. FireWire 800 hard drives today can easily move over 90 megabytes per second. S3200 preserves 100 percent of the 1394b design efficiency and will deliver extremely high payload speeds reaching nearly 400 megabytes per second. Other interface technologies struggle to deliver half their advertised bit rate to the user, even under optimal conditions.
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For the week ended Nov. 24, Sony captured 60% of all BD unit sales; and Samsung was its only significant competitor with 32%, according to DisplaySearch. Panasonic was far behind, corralling a 5% share.If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment
Collectively, BD-exclusive players far outpaced demand for dual-format players, which primarily encompassed LG’s first-generation model on shelves. BD-only players represented 37% of all high-def units sold. HD DVD-only was at 62%, and dual-format, less than 1%.
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Fastmac's 4x Blu-ray optical drive upgrade is available now for a special introductory price of $579.95. Full details can be found here. Add a comment
Fastmac today announced a 4x Dual Layer Blu-Ray optical drive upgrade for Apple's Mac Pro & PowerMac G5 computers. The new 5.25-inch, tray loading drive uses one of the fastest Mac-compatible Blu-ray mechanisms to provide up to 50 Gb of storage on 1 dual or double layer disc, without sacrificing compatibility with standard DVD & CD recordable media. Using a SATA connection, the drive's 4x BD-R DL mechanism allows professional Mac users to burn upto 50GB of data on 1 disc in less than 50 minutes.
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Aeneon XTune 2GB DDR3 1333Mhz Memory @BCCHardware
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