Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCE) today unveiled the new PlayStation®3 (CECH-2000A) computer entertainment system, featuring an extremely streamlined form factor with a 120GB Hard Disk Drive (HDD). The new PlayStation®3 (PS3®) system will become available in stores from September 1, 2009, in North America, Europe/ PAL territories and Asian countries and regions at a very attractive recommended retail price (RRP) of US$299 and €299, respectively. The system will become available in Japan on September 3, 2009, at a RRP of 29,980 yen (including tax). With the introduction of the new PS3 system, SCE will also reduce the price of the current PS3 with 80GB HDD to a RRP of US$299 from August 18 and €299 from August 19. Also in North America, the price of PS3 with 160GB HDD will be reduced to a RRP of US$399 from August 18. By launching a vast library of exciting and attractive software titles for PS3 this holiday season and offering customers a line-up of hardware models and pricing to match their preference, SCE will build on the momentum and further accelerate the expansion of the PS3 platform.

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The internal design architecture of the new PS3 system, from the main semiconductors and power supply unit to the cooling mechanism, has been completely redesigned, achieving a much slimmer and lighter body. Compared to the very first PS3 model with 60GB HDD, the internal volume as well as its thickness and weight are trimmed down to approximately two-thirds. Furthermore, power consumption is also cut to two-thirds, helping to reduce fan noise. While inheriting the sleek curved body design of the original model, the form factor of the new PS3 system features a new meticulous design with textured surface finish, giving an all new impression and a casual look. With the compact body and casual appearance, the newly introduced model will appeal to a wider audience who are looking to buy the best entertainment system for their home.

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Aleratec Inc., leading developer and manufacturer of "Prosumers' Choice" solutions for the USB, Flash, HDD, Blu-ray, DVD CD, duplicating, and DVD/CD publishing markets, announced today the availability of White InkJet Printable, high performance, Duplicator Grade BD-R 4x Blu-ray media. Aleratec Duplicator Grade media is optimized for use in demanding professional duplication applications.

"Responding to Prosumer demand, we are pleased to offer this new white inkjet printable, high performance BD-R 4x Blu-ray media" stated Perry Solomon, Aleratec President and CEO. "Not only is it high performance and duplicator grade, it has a white inkjet printable surface that allows printing on the hub of the discs. It is optimized for use with the Aleratec RoboJet inkjet printers that produce superior, professional quality, high resolution, labels in brilliant colors."

The InkJet Printable BD-R 4x media is available in convenient 25 packs that make volume duplicating and labeling jobs easier and more economical to produce. White InkJet Printable BD-R 4x Duplicator Grade Media it the recommended inkjet printable BD-R media for use with Aleratec BD-R duplicators and robotic inkjet printers.

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SanDisk Corporation, the global leader in flash memory cards, today announced that its SanDisk® Cruzer® Enterprise secure USB flash drives are now enhanced to meet the unique requirements of government employees. The Cruzer Enterprise design was independently tested and certified under Military Standard 810-F environmental standards in addition to being suitable for use by the visually-impaired under Section 508 requirements. Cruzer Enterprise drives feature industry-leading cryptographic modules and encryption algorithms, durable waterproof design, and are fully compliant with Trade Agreements Act (TAA) requirements for purposes of U.S. Government procurements. In addition, the Cruzer Enterprise line of flash drives is listed for Common Criteria certification, which it is expected to receive next month.

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Lite-On (www.liteonit.com), a global leader of optical storage solutions, announces the external slim DVD/CD writer, eTAU208. Created for optimum portability, the external eTAU208 is USB-powered, lightweight and features a unique top-load design. As an external drive, the eTAU208 is also a great power-saver, using less current than a typical internal drive.

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The eTAU208 is a great travel companion for any notebook or netbook without a built-in optical drive. It is powered directly from the notebook through the enclosed USB cable, so there is no need for an AC adapter or nearby outlet. Weighing less than 0.7 lbs, the lightweight device fits easily in any notebook bag and is ideal for travelers, busy professionals and students.

The eTAU208 is a compact, sleek, and round corner designed portable device. With the distinctive built-in USB cable holder, you can neatly store the USB cable and also be certain the cable is in place every time you use the drive. It is also integrated with a top-loading mechanism for convenient CD/DVD backup and playback.

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To offer a greater selection to suit the diverse needs of different customers, Transcend Information, Inc. (Transcend®), a global leader in storage and multimedia products, recently released a brand new Anti-Shock USB Flash Drive—the JetFlash® V70. The drive is made out of a durable eco-friendly rubber that makes it highly resistant to survive shock, splashes and dust. Created with sporty outdoor adventurers in mind, the JetFlash V70 allows users to express their individuality and unique personal style with attractive bright color schemes.

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Unlike USB flash drives that are made of plastic or metal materials, Transcend’s JetFlash V70 is made of eco-friendly silicone rubber that provides a pleasant tactile feel and offers excellent protection for stored data while working, exercising, or traveling outdoors. For added piece of mind, the JetFlash V70 fully meets rigorous U.S. military drop-test standards (MIL-STD-810F 516.5—Transit Drop), literally making it one of the most robust USB Flash Drives available. The V70 also has an eye-catching streamlined shape and vivid bright colors that set it apart from the normal USB flash drive crowd. Additionally, the JetFlash V70 is equipped with a unique tethered cap holder that prevents it from getting lost when removed from the drive during file transfer.

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WD®, the world's leader in external storage solutions, today introduced a new version of its popular WD TV media player. The new WD TV Mini Media Player now enables playback of RealNetworks®, Inc.'s RealVideo™ content and provides a more affordable way for consumers to play their stored digital content in up to 1080i HD resolution directly on their HD television.

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The WD TV Mini Media Player connects to a user's TV or home theater and plays digital movies, music and photos stored on USB drives such as the best-selling WD My Passport portable drive. As with other WD TV models, the WD TV Mini Media Player supports playback of digital media on most USB mass storage devices such as digital camcorders and digital cameras. The new compact design is small and portable enough that users can easily take it with them when they travel and play their digital media anywhere on any TV in up to 1080i HD resolution.

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Lite-On Europe has announced its new external slim DVD writer, the eTAU108. The highly portable eTAU108 is an ideal solution for those who own a notebook without an optical drive included, but who still want to burn files to discs, playback content, and access data or install software from CD or DVD discs.

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Portability is the key for this new external DVD writer, which suits the mobile user. Power supply comes directly from the notebook through the enclosed USB cable, so there is no need to be close to a power socket to operate the drive. The drive has robust top-loader design and round corners. The eTAU108 will be available in a piano black and a pearl white version. And with less than 350 grams, this lightweight device fits easily in any small (notebook) bag.

Writing speeds of the eTAU108 are 8X for DVD±R and DVD+RW, 6X for DVD±R DL and DVD-RW, 5X for DVD-RAM and 24X for CD-R(W). Reading speeds are 8X for DVD-ROM and 24X for CD-ROM.

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With the announcement today of its new InSight(TM) Portable USB Hard Drives, Verbatim(R) Americas, LLC, the world’s leader in storage media technology, takes hard drive design to a new dimension. The sleek, durable enclosure is enhanced with a premium piano black finish that will appeal to professional as well as home users. Additionally, the InSight Portable Hard Drive features an Always On display, which automatically calculates and continuously displays the customizable drive name and available free space, even when the drive is disconnected from the computer. Shipping now, the palm-sized external hard drive will enable Windows(R) and Mac(R) users to instantly add 320GB or 500GB of stylish, removable capacity to their notebook or desktop systems.

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“The new enclosure design for InSight Portable Hard Drives adds a touch of elegance to the external hard drive product category,” says Charles Klinker, Verbatim’s Director of Marketing, HDD Products. “Users have the option to personalize their drive’s name, e.g., TUNES&PICS, which, along with the free space, shows on the 32 x 128-pixel display even when the drive is unplugged from the user’s computer. The ability to quickly glance at several drives and identify the one that has pictures of the kids, your music collection or video library, for example, adds a level of convenience not previously available in portable hard drives.”

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AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition CPU @ I4U, Benchmark Reviews and HotHardware.com
Crucial 128MB MLC SSD @ BCCHardware
HP ProBook 4411s Notebook @ Hardware Zone
nMediaPC HTPC 8000 Wood MCE Case @ Benchmark Reviews
NZXT Panzerbox Case @ Rbmods
QNAP TS-239 Pro Turbo NAS @ PC Review
Synology Disk Station DS409slim NAS @ Bigbruin.com
Thermaltake ISGC-300 CPU Cooler @ BCCHardware
Verbatim Rapier V1 Laser Gaming Mouse @ InsideHW

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OCZ Technology is proud to officially extend the warranty of all its Solid State Drives to three years, from its top performing Vertex EX to the value-oriented Solid 2 Series. OCZ previously extended this warranty only for the premium top-end offerings originally specified two year period.

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After extended performance in the field and extensive testing, OCZ determined that it is able to support a longer warranty with the intention of adding value and increased peace of mind to customers looking to take advantage of all the benefits of flash based storage, including improved battery life, greater durability, shorter boot ups, and overall snappier performance in desktops, notebooks, and netbooks. Though the drives and their hardware are unchanged, the longer warranty reflects the confidence in their performance and durability, especially due to the exceptional advances in controller technology and firmware.

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