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Hard Disks

08 May 2008

Hitachi announced this week that it has begun shipments of its fourth-generation 7,200 RPM mobile hard drive, the Travelstar 7K320. According to Hitachi's claims, this new 320GB hard drive is not only 12% faster than its predecessor, it uses 22% less power.

Continuing its longstanding tradition of delivering superior performance with no sacrifices required, Hitachi Global Storage Technologies (Hitachi GST) today began shipment of its fourth-generation 7,200 RPM mobile hard drive, the Travelstar 7K320. The new drive delivers 60 percent higher capacity than its predecessor, while improving application performance by 12 percent and power consumption by 22 percent. The drive's quiet acoustics improve the experience of watching movies or listening to music on a notebook PC. The 2.5-inch drive is offered with optional Bulk Data Encryption for users wanting increased data security. Hitachi also plans to ship enhanced-availability (EA) models, designed to provide high-capacity storage for low-duty-cycle, 24x7 applications.

The performance attributes of the Travelstar 7K320 allow consumers to opt for a full-featured notebook or compact desktop model, while still achieving all the capacity and performance typically associated with a more traditional desktop PC. The new drives bring forth a number of essential features that are in strong demand from manufacturers of notebooks, compact desktops, gaming systems, blade servers and video surveillance systems. Some of these attributes include best-in-class operating shock protection of 400Gs, 5,400 RPM-equivalent power consumption and quiet acoustics.

The Travelstar 7K320 is shipping now and is expected to cost around $220. If you'd like to read more, Hitachi's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment

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Optical Storage

08 May 2008

With LG and Samsung launching 22x DVD writers, the rest of the industry has been scrambling to catch up. According to DigiTimes, both Sony and BenQ plan to launch their own drives later this year.

With Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics having already launched 22x DVD burners, Sony and BenQ plan to launch competing products in July and the third quarter of 2008, respectively, according to industry sources in Taiwan.

BenQ will have Lite-On IT, the largest Taiwan-based maker of half-height optical disc drives, undertake ODM production of its 22x DVD burners, while Sony's will be produced by either Sony NEC Optiarc, a joint venture of Sony and NEC, or an ODM/OEM maker in Taiwan or South Korea, the sources indicated.

If history repeats itself, Sony's 22x DVD writer will most likely be based on a Samsung design. As far as the BenQ drive goes, this is probably a good indication that Lite-On will be introducing their own 22x DVD writer later this year. If you'd like to read more, the entire article is available at DigiTimes. Add a comment

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Other

07 May 2008

LG GGW-H20L Blu-ray Rewriter & HD DVD-ROM @Hardware Zone
NZXT Tempest ATX Mid Tower Enclosure @TweakTown
OCZ ReaperX HPC DDR3-1333 2GB Memory Kit @ThinkComputers.org
S3 Chrome 430 GT Graphics Card @TweakTown
Sans Digital MobileSTOR MS2UTN+ RAID Enclosure @ASE Labs
SuperTalent 8GB Pico Flash Drive @BCCHardware
VL System M-Play Blast LCD Case Display & Remote Control @Tweaknews.net
Xigmatek Achilles S1284 HDT CPU Cooler @Benchmark Reviews

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Other

06 May 2008

A-Data FP2 USB-Stick Fingerprint @TweakPC
Auzentech X-Fi Prelude 7.1 Sound Card @TweakTown
Cooler Master Real Power Pro 850 Watt Power Supply @Tweaknews.net
NVIDIA nForce 780a SLI Motherboard Round-Up @HotHardware.com
NZXT Alpha Classical Series Mid-Tower Case @Benchmark Reviews
Razer Piranha Gaming Headset @BCCHardware
SanDisk Ducati Extreme @InsideHW
ThermoLab Micro Silencer CPU Cooler @TweakTown
Tyan Thunder n3600M Motherboard @Phoronix
Zalman ZM850-HP 850W Modular Power Supply @ThinkComput ers.org

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Optical Storage

06 May 2008

At this year's Consumer Electronics Show, Memorex introduced its new all-in-one backup solution, the SimpleSave DVD. With SimpleSave, consumers can automatically find, organize and back up their files just by inserting the disc into their DVD writer. The software automatically launches from the DVD, finds the designated files types and then burns them up onto the very same disc.

To give you an idea of what to expect from Memorex's SimpleSave DVD media, I've put together a short article showing how to backup and restore your files using this technology. If you have any comments or questions, please leave them in the forum. Add a comment

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Home Entertainment

06 May 2008

Panasonic sent out a press release this morning, introducing its third generation Blu-ray Disc player, the DMP-BD50. This new player offers a long list of features including lossless Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio, Panasonic's Uniphier digital video processor, VIERA Link technology and support for BD-Live.

Corporation of North America, the principal U.S. subsidiary of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (NYSE: MC), announces the introduction of the anticipated DMP-BD50, Panasonic's third generation Blu-ray disc player -- the ultimate playback source for high definition 1080p content. Blu-ray media offers a wide range of functions that foster the transition to HD -- including 1080p image quality, lossless Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio and versatile Picture-in-Picture applications. The BD50 adds the new BD-Live function, which uses the internet to further enhance the consumer's entertainment experience and employs VIERA Link, a technology that allows the consumer to operate VIERA Link equipped home theater components with a single remote. The DMP-BD50 will be available this spring and will have an SRP of $699.95.

BD-Live opens up a myriad of interactive possibilities for the consumer. In the future, BD-Live will allow users to connect the DMP-BD50 to the Internet to download such data as images and subtitles, and to join in multi-player interactive games that are linked to bonus movie content contained on Blu-ray discs.

The DMP-BD50 will be available this spring for a suggested retail price of $699.95. Full details can be found here. Add a comment

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Other

05 May 2008

ASRock Penryn 1600SLIX3-WiFi 680i Motherboard @ThinkComputers.org
Diamond Viper Radeon HD 3650 1GB Graphics Card @HotHardware.com
MSI GeForce 9600GT 1GB OC Graphics Card @TweakTown
Noctua NH-U12P Heatpipe CPU Cooler @Benchmark Reviews
Tuniq Miniplant 950w Power Supply @Virtual-Hideout
Tuniq Tower 120-LFB CPU Cooler @BCCHardware
Zotac GeForce 9800 GTX 512MB AMP! Edition @Hardware Zone

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Other

05 May 2008

The InfoSmart Group announced today that it has acquired a $5 million loan from two investors. According to the company's press release, the money will go towards addition BD production lines as well as the development of Blu-ray Disc sales and marketing efforts in local and international markets.

InfoSmart Group, Inc. ("InfoSmart" or the "Company") (OTCBB: IFSG), a leading recordable digital versatile disc ("DVDR") manufacturer in Hong Kong and Brazil, today announced that on Wednesday, April 30th, 2008 it closed on a $5.0 million commercial secured lending transaction (the "Loan") with two institutional investors. The proceeds of the Loan are marked for the Company's development of Blu-Ray Disc (BD) sales and marketing efforts in their local and international markets.

For more detailed information on the Loan referred to in this release, reference is made to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and related exhibits thereto.

Parker Seto, CEO of InfoSmart Group, stated: "While our company continues to reap the benefits of traditional DVDR lines in emerging markets like Brazil, we are also preparing for the continued development of media in developed markets such as Asia. The addition of BD production lines to our recent acquisition of our first Anwell unit not only expands our Blu-Ray production capacity, but also adds balance to our product portfolio which now consists of DVDR, Flash Memory and now BD."

If you'd like to read more, InfoSmart's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment

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Software

05 May 2008

CyberLink sent out a press release this morning, announcing the launch of PowerDirector 7. This new version of PowerDirector offers end-to-end high-def video production including advanced editing tools and full support for Blu-ray Disc authoring.

CyberLink Corp. (5203.TW), innovative solutions provider for the connected digital lifestyle, today launched the latest version of its video-editing software PowerDirector. Featuring end-to-end high-definition format support, PowerDirector 7 allows users to turn their captured videos into professional-looking movies with ease...

" With the wide availability of high-definition camcorders, video enthusiasts are looking for powerful tools that can create the kind of masterpieces they expect for their high-quality video content," said Alice H. Chang, CEO of CyberLink. "CyberLink PowerDirector 7 combines its popular automated editing and video enhancements tools with more advanced editing options, for pro-like results. What's more, by accessing DirectorZone - PowerDirector's website for video effects and DVD menus - users can share their creativity with others, uploading effects and templates they've created and downloading those made by video-editing fans all over the world."

PowerDirector 7 is now available online and will be available in retail shops at the beginning of June. More information, including pricing, can be found here. Add a comment