Details
Other
Microsoft and Toshiba sent out a press release today, announcing plans to form the Advanced Interactivity Consortium (AIC). This main goal of this new group is to promote and extend the interactive features in HD DVD to other services and platforms like DVD players, PCs, portable media players and game consoles.
Toshiba Corp. and Microsoft Corp. today announced plans to form the Advanced Interactivity Consortium (AIC), an open forum aimed at the promotion of superior interactivity for a wide range of next-generation consumer devices, digital content and distribution scenarios. The newly formed organization’s mission is to maximize consumer satisfaction worldwide by accelerating industrywide adoption of advanced interactivity and interoperability across a broad array of HD DVD products.

In addition to its crystal-clear picture quality and sound, HD DVD, the next generation of DVD, approved by the DVD Forum, is the first platform to include advanced interactivity as a basic feature in high-definition movies and players, substantially expanding the possibilities of high-definition home entertainment.
If you'd like to read more, the entire press release can be found here. Add a comment

Details
Other

Biostar Geforce 8600GTS V-Ranger @TweakTown
Chill Innovation CP-520A4 PSU @Metku.net
Ideazon Merc Stealth Illuminated USB Gaming Keyboard @BCCHardware
Microsoft Streets And Maps 2008 With GPS Locator @Futurelooks
MSI NX8600GT Twin Turbo (GeForce 8600 GT) @Hardware Zone
NZXT Lexa Blackline Case @Virtual-Hideout
Viewsonic 42" N4261W 1080p LCD HDTV @I4U
Zalman Z-Machine GT1000 Case @HardwareLogic
Add a comment

Details
Other

ASUS Blitz Extreme Motherboard @Phoronix
ATP ProMax 4 GB SD High Capacity (SDHC) Memory Card @Futurelooks
CoolIT Eliminator and Freezone CPU Coolers @Madshrimps
Logitech G9 Gaming Mouse @TweakTown
MSI P35 Diamond Motherboard @ChileHardware
SteelSeries 5Hv2 Headset @BCCHardware
Twintech OC'ed GeForce 8600GT With HDMI @TweakTown
ViewSonic VX2255wmb 22" Widescreen LCD Monitor @ThinkComputers.org
Zalman Reserator XT Hybrid Liquid Cooling System @Virtual-Hideout
Add a comment

Details
Other
The CD-R patent dispute between Gigastorage and Philips is finally coming to an end. According to DigiTimes, Gigastorage has reached a preliminary settlement with Philips. The two companies will sign a final settlement once they can agree on which disc shipments Philips should be compensated for.
According to industry sources in Taiwan, Gigastorage stopped paying royalty fees to Philips in April 2001 and then Philips filed a charge in the US. After a long process of litigation Philips finally won the suit as judged by the US International Trade Commission in February 2007, the sources pointed.

For the settlement, Philips demands that the compensation be based on all of Gigastorage's shipments of CD-R and CR-RW discs and be paid in 10 years, but Gigastorage thinks only shipments to the US market are subject to the compensation and payment should be in installment over 10 years, the sources pointed out. In addition, it is not certain whether Gigastorage will accept Veeza, Philips' new CD-R licensing system, in the final settlement, the sources noted.
If you'd like to read more, head on over to DigiTimes. Add a comment

Details
Other

A-Data Nobility PD17 2GB Flash Drive @OCModShop
Diamond Viper HD 2900 XT 1GB CrossFire @HotHardware.com
Gigabyte iSolo 210 Case @BCCHardware
Microsoft SideWinder Mouse @I4U
New Standard Keyboards NSK 535 R Keyboard @HardwareLogic
NZXT Lexa Blackline Case @TweakPC
OCZ Vendetta Exposed HDT CPU Cooler @Benchmark Reviews
Add a comment

Details
Other
Earlier this month, we reported that the AACS LA had unveiled the final version of its copy protection system which included watermarking and encrypted keys. ABI Research has now issued a report stating that high-def players may require some hardware modifications to support this new technology.
Furthermore, new watermarking techniques are being implemented that may require enhancements to high-definition DVD hardware platforms. ABI Research sees a high likelihood for the incorporation of these changes, among others. “The watermarking process tags audio content in such a way that analog copies will be rejected by the player,” adds Wilson. “Content owners could unobtrusively tag their original source material and facilitate source detection of pirated material.” Watermarking is already in use in theatre content source.
Unless the AACS LA is going to require that players support these technologies, I don't think too many consumers are going to care that their player won't prevent the playback of watermarked content. If you'd like to read more, the entire report can be found here. Add a comment

Details
Other

Alienware Area-51 7500 @The TechZone
Inno3D GeForce 8600GT iChill @TweakTown
Microsoft Mobile Memory Mouse 8000 @I4U
OCZ Technology PC3-10666 Gold Edition 2GB DDR3 Kit @Bigbruin.com
Samsung BD-P1200 Blu-ray Player @Tweaknews.net
Tagan CS-EL Diablo Mid Tower ATX Case @Benchmark Reviews
Ultra X3 600W Modular Power Supply @ThinkComputers.org
Add a comment

Details
Other

ASUS BC-1205PT Blu-ray ROM Drive @TweakTown
Cooler Master CM 690 Case @ HardwareLogic
Gigabyte Isolo 120 ATX Case @Hi-Tech Reviews.com
Hiper HPU-5K770 770W PSU @PC Apex
Hitachi Deskstar 7k1000 1TB Hard Drive @BCCHardware
Logitech AudioHub @I4U
XFX GeForce 8600 GT Fatal1ty @HotHardware.com
Xigmatek XP-S964 Copper Heatpipe 92mm CPU Cooler @Benchmark Reviews
Add a comment

Details
Other

ASUS P5E3 Motherboard @TweakTown 
Cooler Master Cosmos 1000 Case @Hardware Zone
Corsair Survivor GT USB Flash Drive @Tweaknews.net
Gigabyte GP-S6500 And GP-S7500 @InsideHW.com
Hiper Anubis ATX Case @PC Apex
HIS Radeon HD 2900 PRO 512MB @TweakTown
OCZ Technology PC2-8500 Reaper HPC CrossFire Edition 2GB Kit @Bigbruin.com
Samsung YP-K5 MP3 Player @ThinkComputers.org
Xclio Propeller ATX Case @Futurelooks
Add a comment

Details
Other
Today, CDRLabs brings you an in depth look at Samsung's new Serial ATA equipped "Super WriteMaster" drive, the SH-S203B. This highly anticipated drive features some of the fastest reading and writing speeds available. The SH-S203B is capable of 20x DVD±R, 8x DVD+RW, 6x DVD-RW and 12x DVD-RAM writing speeds and has a maximum DVD read speed of 16x. On top of that, it's the first drive to offer both 16x DVD+R DL and 12x DVD-R DL writing speeds.

In this review we'll take a look at some of the features found on the SH-S203B and see how it compares to some of the 18x and 20x DVD±RW drives from the competition. Does the SH-S203B have what it takes? You'll have to read the review to find out.


Samsung SH-S203B 20x DVD±RW/RAM
If you have any comments or questions about this review or the Samsung SH-S203B, please post them in the forum. Add a comment
  1. Hardware Reviews - 9/24/2007
  2. Hardware Reviews - 9/21/2007
  3. Retailers And Consumers To Be Able To Create Protected DVDs
  4. Microsoft Announces Use Of HDi Logo By Toshiba And Major Hollywood Studios
  5. Hardware Reviews - 9/19/2007

Latest Reviews

Latest Headlines