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Home Entertainment
While the release of "Transformers" has given HD DVD a much needed boost, the format is still lagging behind Blu-ray in regards to movie sales. According to a report by Home Media Research, Blu-ray movies outsold HD DVD by almost 2-to-1 in the U.S. during the first nine months of 2007.
Blu-ray DVD titles outsold rival HD-DVD titles by almost 2-to-1 in the first nine months of the year, but analysts expect additional HD-DVD support and new hit releases to "transform" the high-definition DVD battle score in the fourth quarter.

Home Media Research, a division of Home Media Magazine, said on Tuesday total U.S. sales of Blu-ray discs, using a Sony Corp -backed technology, totaled 2.6 million units from January 1 through Sept 30, versus 1.4 million HD-DVD discs sold.
These numbers are still quite small, especially when you consider that more than 8.3 million "Transformers" DVD's were sold in the first week alone. Unfortunately, high-def sales probably won't come close to these numbers until there is one clear winner. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment

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Optical Storage
With the price of DVD writers dropping to all time lows, there hasn't been much demand for CD-ROM and CD-RW drives. In response, Hitachi-LG Data Storage (HLDS) and Toshiba-Samsung Storage Technology (TSST) will reportedly stop production of CD-ROM and CD-RW drives in early 2008.
Hitachi-LG Data Storage (HLDS) and Toshiba-Samsung Storage Technology (TSST), two of the top three global ODM/OEM for optical discs drives (ODDs), will stop production of CD-ROM drives and CD-RW burners in early 2008 because global demand has been quickly decreasing due to the continuous drop in the price of DVD burners, according to the Chinese-language Economic Daily News (EDN) newspaper.
Taiwan's optical drive manufacturers will continue to produce CD-ROM and CD-RW drives, but the volume is expected to be only 5% of their total shipments. If you'd like to read more, head on over to DigiTimes. Add a comment

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Software
Corel sent out a press release this morning, announcing the HD Power Pack for Ulead DVD MovieFactory 6 Plus. This addon expands the capabilities of Ulead DVD MovieFactory 6 Plus by providing support for AVCHD, BDMV and HD DVD Advanced Content authoring as well as M2TS import.
Corel Corporation (NASDAQ:CREL; TSX:CRE), a leading developer of graphics, productivity, and digital media software, today announced that users of its Ulead DVD MovieFactory 6 Plus software can now install the new HD Power Pack to add AVCHD (Advanced Video Codec High Definition), BDMV (Blu-ray Disc Movie Video) and HD DVD Advanced Content authoring capabilities as well as M2TS import.

“With the new HD Power Pack, Ulead DVD MovieFactory 6 Plus users now have the world’s only all-in-one HD solution for creating professional-looking HD results fast,” said Jeff Hastings, President and General Manager, Digital Media at Corel. “Customers want to produce professional quality videos, whether they are using them in a business context or for the pure enjoyment of family and friends. Our commitment is to ensure we provide tools that are built to take advantage of the latest technologies, while also remaining easy to learn and use.”
Starting today, registered users of Ulead DVD MovieFactory 6 Plus can purchase the HD Power Pack for $19.99. Full details can be found here. Add a comment

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Optical Storage
Sony NEC Optiarc Europe has announced the launch of their first LightScribe capable DVD writer, the AD-7191S. Along with support for LightScribe, the AD-7191S features 20x DVD±R, 8x DVD±R DL and 12x DVD-RAM writing speeds.
Sony NEC Optiarc Europe GmbH (Optiarc Europe) has launched a DVD burner with LightScribe technology. The Optiarc AD-7191S burns DVD+/-R media at up to 20x speed. The LightScribe Label System enables the individual labelling and design of home-burned CD and DVD.

The AD-7191S has a serial ATA interface for data transfer rates of up to 150 MB per second. It burns single DVD media at up to 20x DVD speed, rewritable and dual layer DVDs at up to 8x speed and DVD-RAMS at up to a maximum of 12x DVD speed.
While the AD-7191S's bezel is very NEC-like, there have been numerous reports that it, and the AD-7191A, are based on Lite-On designs. More information, including a full list of specs, can be found here. Add a comment

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3R System R240 Zion Case @Hardware Zone
APEVIA X-Jupiter Jr. G Type Case @ThinkComputers.org
ASUS P5E3 Deluxe Motherboard @Phoronix
Coolmax CUQ-1200B Green Power 1200 Watt ATX Power Supply @Tweaknews.net
Danger Den Torture Rack @HardwareLogic
Lian-Li PC-C32 ATX Case @Virtual-Hideout
M-Audio Studiophile AV 20 Portable Desktop Speaker System @Futurelooks
OCZ Flex XLC PC2-6400 CL3 Memory @DV Hardware
Trendnet TEW-633GR Wireless N Gigabit Router @The TechZone
Ultra m998 Mid-Tower Chassis @Velocity Reviews
Zalman CNPS7800 LED Heatsink @hi-techreviews.com
Zalman VF1000 LED Video Card Cooler @Madshrimps
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Duplicators
Aleratec has announced that they've started shipping the next generation of their LightScribe DVD/CD desktop publisher. This new version of the 1:1 DVD/CD Copy Cruiser Pro HLS features faster DVD LightScribe recorders and a lighter enclosure with a new look.

Aleratec, Inc., leading developer and manufacturer of Aleratec Award Winning "Prosumers' Choice" solutions for the Blu-ray, DVD/CD, USB duplicating, and DVD/CD publishing markets, announced it is now shipping the 1:1 DVD/CD Copy Cruiser Pro HLS using a lighter enclosure with a new look and faster DVD LightScribe recorders. The 1:1 DVD/CD Copy Cruiser Pro HLS is the next generation of the award winning personal disc publisher that records and duplicates DVDs and CDs and produces custom silkscreen quality labels without a printer. This all in one machine can duplicate DVDs and CDs in its standalone mode with no computer required. The 1:1 DVD/CD Copy Cruiser Pro HLS produces professional looking DVD/CD copies for customers or staff anytime with the ability to create custom labels with the included Aleratec Disc Publishing Software Suite.
The 1:1 DVD/CD Copy Cruiser Pro HLS is available now for an estimated retail price of $349. More information can be found on Aleratec's website. Add a comment

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Home Entertainment
The Australian tech site, Smarthouse, has reported that Toshiba is working with Microsoft on a new version of the Xbox 360. Developed in response to the PS3, this new Xbox would include an internal HD DVD drive, larger hard drive and new entertainment software.
Microsoft, according to insiders at Toshiba owner of the HD DVD patents, claim that Microsoft is working on a brand new Xbox that will incorporate not only a new HD DVD drive but a large hard drive and new entertainment software that is a spin off from its struggling media centre offering.

The device is being developed in response to the PS3 driving sales of games software and Blu-ray content in several countries. A recent Sony Brand Wave study conducted in five countries including the UK, Australia, France Germany and Spain revealed that a key reason that consumers are buying a PS3 is because it includes a Blu-ray player.
While Microsoft has denied in the past that they are working on an HD DVD equipped Xbox 360, I would not be surprised if one was in the works. Hopefully they can get it out on the market before the format war is over. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment

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Duplicators
Epson recently announced the release of their new integrated desktop disc duplication solution, the Discproducer. Designed for businesses, the Discproducer is equipped with Epson's AcuGrip robotic technology and can burn and print up to 100 discs per job.

Epson, a leading manufacturer of advanced inkjet printing,precision imaging and robotics technology, today announced the release ofDiscproducer, a compact, integrated desktop disc duplication solutiondesigned for businesses that need to create professional quality CDs orDVDs on demand.

Discproducer enables the creation of individualized disc content, labelcontent or both, at quantities of one to one-hundred discs per job. UsingDiscproducer, educators, disc publishing service bureaus and professionalphotographers can burn and print up to 100 copies of the same disc orunique discs, making it an ideal and flexible solution for low-volume discpublishing where high quality customized labeling is required.
The Discproducer will be available in the first quarter of 2008. If you'd like to read more, Epson's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment

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Optical Storage
With the OEM price of 4x and 8x DVD+R/-R media at an all time low, many companies are switching their orders from CD-R to DVD+R/-R discs. As a result, the CD-R production capacity among Taiwan-based manufacturers has fallen from 70-80% in the third quarter of this year to 60-70%.
As second-tier Taiwan-based makers of blank optical discs have lowered OEM quotes to compete for orders for 4x and 8x DVD+R/-R discs, OEM orders originally for CD-R discs have been switched to DVD+R/-R discs and this has caused decreases in CD-R production utilization rates for many makers in Taiwan, according to industry sources.

While OEM prices for CD-R discs have stayed at US$0.09-0.10 currently, those for 4x or 8x DVD+R/-R discs have dropped to US$0.11-0.12 and some makers have even quoted US$0.10, the sources indicated. The reduction in price gap has pushed OEM orders from CD-R to DVD+R/-R discs, and consequently, the utilization of CD-R production capacity among Taiwan-based makers has fallen from 70-80% in the third quarter of this year to 60-70% at present, the sources pointed out.
If you'd like to read more, head on over to DigiTimes. Add a comment

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Other

Apevia X-Jupiter Jr G Mid Tower ATX Case @Benchmark Reviews
ASUS Blitz Formula & Blitz Extreme Motherboards @Virtual-Hideout
Crucial Ballistix 2GB PC3-12800 DDR3 Dual Channel Memory Kit @Bigbruin.com
Foxconn "Digital Life" X38A Motherboard @Hardware Zone
Kingston HyperX DDR3 PC11000 CL5 @ChileHardware
Kingwin Z1 Hard Drive Enclosure @Tweaknews.net
Noctua 80mm And 120mm Case Fans @HardwareLogic
OCZ ATV 4GB USB Flash Drive @OCModShop
Rosewill R6AS5 PC Case @ThinkComputers.org
Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST31000340AS 1TB HDD @I4U
Thermaltake Toughpower 1kW PSU @BCCHardware
X-Arcade Tankstick Dual Joystick Controller @Futurelooks
XFX GeForce 8800 GTS Fatal1ty @TweakPC
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