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For the last month or so, there have been reports that Sony's more recent DVD releases will not play on some DVD players, including one of their own models, the DVP-CX995V. According to Video Business, Sony has come clean about the problem, stating that it was caused by an update to their ARccOS copy protection scheme. While Sony claims that they've received a very small number of complaints, they are offering replacement discs to those that are affected.
Sony said the problem was due to an update of its ARccOS copy-protection system, an additional layer of protection meant to prevent ripping. The studio has included ArccOS on its DVDs for the past two years. The copy-protection is continually updated to keep ahead of hackers.

"Recently, an update that was installed on approximately 20 titles was found to cause an incompatibility issue with a very small number of DVD players (Sony has received complaints on less than one thousandth of one percent of affected discs shipped)," the company said in a statement. "Since then, the ARccOS system has once again been updated, and there are no longer any playability problems."
While I'm sure this will give Sony haters one more reason to go off, you have to give the company credit for making things right. It's too bad they didn't do the same with the whole rootkit debacle. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. 0 Comments

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Netgear Wireless-N RangeMax Package @BCCHardware.com
In Win Alpha 360 mATX Case @ThinkComputers.org
Flexiglow Cyber Snipa Tracer Mousepad @Tweaknews.net
Cooler Master GeminII @Overclockers Online
Microsoft Wireless Notebook Presenter Mouse 8000 @BlueTomorrow.com
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Logitech X-540 5.1 Surround Computer Speaker System @Tweaknews.net
Lexmark P450 Compact Photo Printer With CD Burner @Bigbruin.com
Sapphire Pure Innovation HDMI PI-AM2RS690MHD (AMD 690G) @HardwareZone
NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GTS @HardwareZone
ECS NF650iSLIT-A vs. MSI P6N Platinum @ChileHardware
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Maxell has announced that they will be demonstrating their SVOD (Stacked Volumetric Optical Discs) system for the first time at this year's NAB show. By stacking 100 ultra thin optical discs, Maxell's SVOD system can store as much as 5 terabytes of data in a single cartridge.
The Maxell SVOD technology leverages the DVD format to create a cost- effective archive storage solution. It is targeting the broadcasting and content service market in addition to a wide range of applications for small to large businesses including examples such as regulatory compliance, medical records and imaging, and video surveillance. Not commercially available yet, the Maxell SVOD prototype is designed using 100 disc cartridges providing a storage capacity that ranges from 940 GB to 5 terabytes. The prototype is scalable to a rack type storage system for capacity of more than one patabyte.
While Maxell originally intended to introduce SVOD early this year, the technology is still in development. If you'd like to read more, Maxell's entire press release can be found here 0 Comments

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XFX GeForce 7600GT Fatal1ty 650MHz In SLI Mode @TweakTown
Powercolor X1550 SCS @Overclockers Online
CPU Heatsink Roundup @Madshrimps
Ultra X-Pro 600W Energy Efficient PSU @BCCHardware
Griffin iTrip Auto for iPod @ ThinkComputers.org
Samsung SyncMaster 275T 27 Inch LCD Monitor @Tweaknews.net
Samsung YP-K5 4GB MP3 Player @Everything USB
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Toshiba has announced that it will exit the film and DVD production and distribution business and has agreed to sell its interest in Toshiba Entertainment to the Japanese advertising agency, Hakuhodo DY Media Partners.
Toshiba Corporation announced today that it has agreed to transfer its interest in Toshiba Entertainment Inc. (Toshiba Entertainment) to Hakuhodo DY Media Partners Inc. (Hakuhodo DY Media Partners). Effective May 1, 2007, Toshiba Entertainment will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Hakuhodo DY Media Partners.

Toshiba Entertainment is a film production and distributor that acquired Amuse Pictures, Inc. in 2003.

Toshiba Group is optimizing allocation of management resources through a strategic policy of "Focus and Concentration," with the objective of maximizing corporate strengths and potential for growth and profit. Following discussions of Toshiba Entertainment's film production and distribution business, and consideration of how best to secure the company's interests over the long term, Toshiba decided to transfer its 100 percent interest in the company to Hakuhodo DY Media Partners.
Toshiba seems to be cutting their losses. After backing out of the Japanese music market in December, it was only a matter of time before their film division got the axe. If you'd like to read more, Toshiba's entire press release can be found here. 0 Comments

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CDRLabs has taken a long overdue look at ASUS's first LightScribe enabled "Super-Multi" drive, the DRW-1612BL. Based on an all new design, the DRW-1612BL is capable of 16x DVD±R, 8x DVD+RW, 6x DVD-RW, 16x DVD±R, 8x DVD+RW, 6x DVD-RW, 8x DVD±R DL and 12x DVD-RAM writing speeds and a maximum DVD read speed of 16x. Along with support for LightScribe, the drive also includes features like ASUS's FlextraLink, FlextraSpeed and QuieTrack technologies.

In this review we'll take a look at some of the features found on the DRW-1612BL and see how it compares to some of the 16x DVD±RW drives from the competition. Does the DRW-1612BL have what it takes? You'll have to read the review to find out.


ASUS DRW-1612BL 16x DVD±RW/RAM
If you have any comments or questions about this review or the ASUS DRW-1612BL, please post them in the forum by clicking the link below. 0 Comments

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Miguel at ExtremeMhz has taken a look at LG's new LightScribe capable "Super-Multi" drive, the GSA-H22N. Here's a sample of what he had to say about it:
Unlike the Samsung SH-S183L I previously reviewed here, this drive was quite unpredictable in many areas of testing. This drive had the potential of being one of the very best options out on the market. This was quickly out of reach when it came down to its riplock in firmware. It was quite upsetting actually and it will basically cripple this drive significantly. Fortunately though, there is some modified firmware you can load to help remedy this. However, you will still likely face some minor issues when loading such firmware and still must be prepared to accept its poor read performance on a majority of DVD-Video discs. Also, its highly questionable write performance on DVD+R DL media is something to keep in mind as well. The drive did not consistently write to this media very well.
If you'd like to read more, head on over to ExtremeMhz and check out their review. 0 Comments

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TrendNet Wirelss N Router @The TechZone
ECS NF650iSLIT-A Motherboard @TweakTown
Logisys PC Extension Station @Bigbruin.com
Revoltec FightMouse Gaming Mouse @DV Hardware
Ruckus MediaFlex NG 802.11b/g Wireless Multimedia Router @HardwareZone
Logitech diNovo Edge Bluetooth Wireless Keyboard @ThinkComputers.org
Kingston 2GB PC2-9600 KHX9600D2K2 Memory @ASE Labs
Coolermaster X Craft 250 External Hard Drive Enclosure @Madshrimps
Foxconn N5M2AA-EKRS2H AMD Socket AM2 Motherboard @Redaktion ocinside.de
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Over the weekend, we reported that Toshiba had filed a complaint with the U.S. ITC, claiming that Daewoo and 16 other companies had violated their DVD patents. Toshiba announced this morning that they've also filed a lawsuit against these companies, demanding monetary damages and an injunction prohibiting them from selling DVD-related products in the United States.
Toshiba Corporation announced today that on April 6, 2007, Toshiba and Toshiba America Consumer Products, L.L.C. filed a formal complaint with the International Trade Commission (ITC) against 17 manufacturers and importers of DVD players, DVD recorders and other DVD-related products, as a means to halt infringement of Toshiba's DVD patents. Toshiba's filing requests that the ITC prohibit the importation into the United States of DVD players, DVD recorders and other DVD-related products by the companies named in the complaint. In a related move, Toshiba also filed suit in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California on the same day, seeking damages resulting from infringement of Toshiba's DVD patents by the same 17 companies.
If you'd like to read more, Toshiba's entire press release can be found here. 0 Comments
  1. Sonic Releases White Papers On High-Definition Format Production
  2. Toshiba Files Complaint Against Daewoo Over Patent Violations
  3. Cheap DVD Writer Roundup @ Tom's Hardware
  4. Hardware Reviews - 4/3/2007
  5. PLDS To Start In Europe From May 1st

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