If you have a lot of audio CD's, ripping and importing them into iTunes or Windows Media Player can take a considerable amount of time. To streamline the process, Primera has launched its new "Rent & Rip" program. The program allows people to rent a Primera Bravo SE Disc Publisher and use the included PTRip software to automatically rip their entire CD collection. Add a comment
Pioneer Electronics announced two new 20x DVD writers this week. The DVR-116D (PATA) and DVR-216D (SATA) are capable of 20x DVD±R and 12x DVD±R DL writing speeds and offer support for Pioneer's new Optimal Write Speed function. Pioneer has also redesigned the drives’ internal mechanisms to reduce noise and protect against dust.
Add a comment

Aliph Jawbone Bluetooth Headset @BlueTomorrow.com
ASUS Lion Square CPU Cooler @Virtual-Hideout
Cyber Snipa Stinger Mouse @BCCHardware
GeForce 9600 GT Round-Up: PNY, MSI, ASUS @HotHardware.com
MSI RX3870-T2D512E OC Videocard @HardwareLogic
Samsung SC-MX10 Digital Camcorder @ThinkComputers.org
Thermaltake ProWater 850i Liquid Cooler @TweakTown
Add a comment

Apevia X-Jupiter G-Type Case @Virtual-Hideout
ASRock K10N750SLI-WiFi Motherboard @BCCHardware
DFI LanParty LT X48-T2R Motherboard @InsideHW
E-Power Thunder 550-watt Power Supply @High Tech Reviews
Hiper Type-M 780W Power Supply @Phoronix
Inno3D GeForce 9600GT iChill Hurricane @TweakTown
LapLogic Aerogel Extreme LapDesks @BCCHardware
Zalman Reserator XT External Water Cooling System @ThinkComputers.org
Add a comment
According to DigiTimes, Taiwan's second-tier disc makers are facing a shortage of TFP (tetrafluoro-propanol). In preparation for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, the Chinese government is attempting to reduce air polution by asking the country's three TFP makers to cut or stop production for 100 days. As a result, second-tier disc makers have been forced to reduce or temporarily halt production.
In preparation for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, the China government in April 2008 asked the three TFP makers and other chemical producers to cut or stop production for 100 days in an attempt to reduce air pollution, the sources pointed out. In addition, the China government placed a temporary ban on the transportation of dangerous goods, including TFP for export, beginning June 2008, the sources indicated.

The situation has resulted in a short supply of TFP for second-tier disc makers, the sources pointed out. CMC Magnetics and Ritek, the top-two Taiwan-based makers of blank optical discs, have not been substantially affected by the shortages because they have supplies guaranteed by long-term contracts, the sources indicated.
This comes at a bad time as the third quarter is traditionally the peak period for blank optical discs. The decreased production could push up OEM quotes for the quarter. If you'd like to read more, head on over to DigiTimes. Add a comment
While Blu-ray got off to a slow start this year, things are looking up for the format. Singulus announced this week that it received orders for 21 Blu-ray dual-layer machines during the first quarter of this year. This already exceedsthe number of machines the company sold when the DVD was introduced 11 years ago.
Singulus received orders for 21 Blu-ray dual-layer machines in the first quarter and said on Monday the figure showed the new technology was being adopted faster than its predecessor, DVD, 11 years ago.

"This means that the orders for Blu-ray in the first year of the dual layer technology already by far exceeded the volume at the start of the DVD eleven years ago with 17 machines," Chief Financial Officer Stefan Baustert said.
If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment

Asus Striker II NSE Motherboard @I4U
Cooler Master Centurion 590 @InsideHW
Corsair XMS3 DHX DDR3-1600 EPP 2.0 Certified 4GB Dual Channel Memory Kit @ThinkComputers.org
Crucial Ballstix PC3-16000 2GB EPP Memory Kit @HardwareLogic
MSI N9600GT Hybrid Freezer Graphics Card @TweakTown
Samsung 22" Widescreen LCD Monitor 2220WM-HAS @Benchmark Reviews
SanDisk Cruzer Micro 4GB USB Stick @Madshrimps
Thermaltake BlacX SE SATA to USB Dock @TweakTown
Toshiba Satellite X305-S6845 Notebook @HotHardware.com
Add a comment
NEC Electronics announced today that it has setup a software development center in Taiwan. The new center, named Taiwan Storage Technologies and Solutions, will develop firmware for drives equipped with the NEC's LSI chips. It will also offer technical support services and handle the marketing of its optical disc business in Asia. Here's part of their press release, translated from Japanese:
NEC Electronics today announced the sale of 100 percent subsidiary of NEC Electronics Taiwan (President: Shiniti Kubo, Headquarters: Taipei City) in the drive for optical storage device embedded firmware development and support to become the center of "Taiwan optical storage and Development Center (hereinafter Development Center) "to open.

The development center is built-in system LSI chips for optical storage and firmware development support and marketing activities with the goal established by the original staff of 10 local technology, new products to LSI device built into the drive The firmware development and marketing of optical disc business activities in Asia.
If you'd like to read more, NEC's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
LaCie recently announced the release of its new Remote Burn software. Using Remote Burn, Mac owners can share their DVD writer with other computers or burn data to multiple drives across a network.
LaCie today announced LaCie Remote Burn software for both its Portable DVD±RW with LightScribe, Design by Sam Hecht and d2 DVD±RW with LightScribe drives for FireWire that also include Toast Titanium. With LaCie Remote Burn, users can take full advantage of the LaCie DVD±RW burners' fast write speeds from any Macintosh located on the local network. Exclusively available to LaCie, Remote Burn can easily burn files with simple drag and drop, while automatically calculating the type of DVD/CD needed. When ready to burn, the software sends data across the network to selected computers with attached LaCie burners.

“LaCie Remote Burn is a complete solution for easily sharing multiple burners plugged into a Macintosh at home or in the office,” said Christelle Dexet, LaCie Product Manager. “With three clicks of a mouse, one can burn their data to a remote LaCie DVD±RW drive or duplicate a custom DVD/CD using multiple burners over the network. In addition to our drives' stylish design, LightScribe Direct Disc Labeling technology and the bundling of a complete version of Toast Titanium, LaCie continues to offer the most advanced burning solution for Macintosh users.”
LaCie's Remote Burn software is available now and comes bundled with its Portable DVD±RW with LightScribe, Design by Sam Hecht and d2 DVD±RW with LightScribe drives for FireWire. More information about Remote Burn can be found on LaCie's website. Add a comment
As usual, ASUS unveiled a slew of new products at this year's Computex. Along with the usual assortment of motherboards and videocards, the company introduced the world's first HDMI 1.3a compliant sound card. Designed next generation home theater PCs, the Xonar HDAV1.3 is capable of decoding Blu-ray movies and takes full advantage of lossless digital audio formats such as Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio.

ASUS, a leading name in high quality computer components and solutions, announces the world's first HDMI 1.3a compliant audio/video enhancement combo card - the Xonar HDAV1.3. Capable of outputting uncompressed multichannel high definition audio from Blu-ray movies, the Xonar HDAV 1.3 also enhances video with an onboard Splendid HD processor - providing ultimate multimedia enjoyment.

The Xonar HDAV 1.3 features Protected Audio Playback Systems (PAPS) and full Advanced Access Content System (AACS) certification. Without both of these certifications, typical PCs will need to downsample Blu-ray audio to DVD quality (48K/16bit). By closely working with ArcSoft's Total Media Theater, ASUS' Xonar HDAV1.3 is capable of decoding Blu-ray movies and takes full advantage of lossless digital audio formats such as Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio for professional, high-fidelity sounds at 24bit, 96-192Khz. The PCI Express based Xonar HDAV1.3 is designed from the ground up for next generation home theater PCs (HTPC); and is equipped with the proprietary AV200 audio processor and HDMI1.3a certified Splendid HD video processor - making it capable of delivering the highest quality 7.1 channel 192K linear pulse code modulation (LPCM) audio and high definition video through the HDMI port.
No word yet on pricing or availability. With all this though, the Xonar HDAV1.3 probably won't be cheap. If you'd like to read more, ASUS' entire press release can be found here. Add a comment