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Flash Memory

02 November 2007

Transcend recently announced the arrival of its new SD/MMC Card Reader S5. While small in size, the S5 features a built-in USB connector and support for the latest SDHC standard. The reader can also access data from newer, mini-size mobile phone memory cards via an adapter.

Transcend, a global leader in flash products and peripherals, is proud to announce the arrival of its new SD/MMC Card Reader S5. With industry-leading compact size, attractive all-white design, multi-format convenience, and built-in USB connector, the S5 is the easiest, most convenient portable card reader available.

Memory cards have become an important part of our digital lives. We rely on them for storing photos, video capturing, listening to music or even watching movies with portable devices. Transcend’s Card Reader S5 allows quick and easy access to all the data on your memory cards - without the hassle of messy cables and drivers. The S5 plugs directly into any USB 2.0 (or 1.1) port and is capable of data transfer rates up to 480Mb/s. In addition, it supports the latest SDHC standard for hi-end large capacity memory cards. The reader also gives you the added benefit of accessing data from newer, mini-size mobile phone memory cards such as miniSD, microSD and MMCmicro via an adapter. The Card Reader S5 has a sleek design that makes it compact and portable, with rounded edges for easy handling.

No word on pricing or availability. If you'd like to read more, Transcend's entire press release can be found website. Add a comment

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Optical Storage

02 November 2007

While most manufacturers are releasing DVD burners with a maximum DVD±R writing speed of 18x or 20x, Buffalo has announced a new series of "Super Multi" drives that writes at 19x. Here are some of the specs for the DVSM-XE1219FBS (SATA) and DVSM-X1219FB (ATAPI):

Writing Speeds: DVD±R: 19x DVD±R DL: 8x DVD+RW: 8x DVD-RW: 6x DVD-RAM: 12x CD-R: 48x CD-RW: 32x

Read Speeds: DVD-ROM (Single): 16x Max DVD-ROM (Dual): 12x Max DVD±R: 16x Max DVD±RW: 12x Max DVD±R DL: 12x Max DVD-RAM: 12X Max CD-ROM/CD-R: 48x Max CD-RW: 40x Max

Judging by the pictures, Buffalo's new drives are based on Lite-On designs. The DVSM-XE1219FBS and DVSM-X1219FB will ship in mid-November and are priced at 6,900 Yen ($60US) and 6,300 Yen ($55US) respectively. More information can be found here. Add a comment

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Home Entertainment

02 November 2007

With Toshiba slashing the price of their HD DVD players in time for the holiday season, Blu-ray fans have been looking to Sony, and other Blu-ray backers, expecting them to do the same. In a recent talk with TWICE, Stan Glasgow, president of Sony Electronics, indicated that price cuts are on the way. The company plans to cut the price of their $499 player to about $399 but doesn't expect to go much lower than that.

When asked about Blu-ray player pricing from Sony for the holiday season, Glasgow said it should be “in the $399 range ... I don’t expect it to go much lower than that.”

When asked where the industry is in the format battle between Blu-ray and HD DVD, he noted, “It continues. I still find it curious that there are 170 companies backing [Blu-ray] and two companies behind [HD DVD]. I find some abnormality in that. Hopefully when all the [movie] titles reach the market this season and the beginning of 2008, [consumers] will see the [difference] in performance.”

While its good to see that Sony is finally dropping the price of their players, they're going to need to do more if they want to compete with Toshiba. I really can't see the average consumer jumping on the Blu-ray bandwagon this holiday season when they can get an HD DVD player for $200-$300 less. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment

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Other

01 November 2007

Antec Veris Fusion Black 430 Media Case @Virtual-Hideout
D-Link ANT24-0230 Xtreme N 2.4GHz Antenna @Futurelooks
Hercules i-XPS 120 Outdoor iPod Dock @I4U
Lubix UBHS-LC1 Stereo Bluetooth Headset @BlueTomorrow.com
Thermaltake SopranoRS 101 And WingRS 100 Cases @TweakTown
Western Digital Scorpio 250GB 2.5" HDD @TweakTown

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Home Entertainment

01 November 2007

Over the last week or so, we've seen a number of retailers drop the price of Toshiba's second-gen HD DVD player below $200. As if that wasn't cheap enough, Walmart will be offering the Toshiba HD-A2 this Friday for a mere $98.87.


Take note that this is an in-store special so it is unlikely that you'll be able to order the HD-A2 through Walmart's website at this price. Also, this price is not valid in Wisconsin, Oklahoma or Utah as it is illegal to sell items for less than cost in these states. According to the manager at my local Walmart, those that live in these states will be able to pick the player up for about $198.

Needless to say, there will probably be a mob of people outside of your local Walmart tomorrow morning. Be prepared to get there early and wait in line.

Update - Best Buy has also lowered the price of the HD-A2 down to $99.99. There doesn't appear to be a limitation for those, like myself, that live in Wisconsin either. Add a comment

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Other

31 October 2007

3DConnexion SpaceNavigator @Metku.net
Altec Lansing PT8051 Wireless Theater System @I4U
Antec Veris Fusion Black HTPC Case @Tweaknews.net
Lian Li PC-B58 Mid-Tower Case @Benchmark Reviews
Rosewill RDF-670B Digital Picture Frame @Futurelooks
SoundGraph iMON Ultra Bay LCD Display @Virtual-Hideout
Thermaltake Bigwater 760i Water Cooling Kit @HardwareLogic
ZEROtherm BTF92 OC Edition CPU Cooler @ ThinkComputers.org

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Optical Storage

31 October 2007

ASUS has announced the release of their new HD DVD-ROM drive. The HR-0205T is capable of playing back both single and double HD DVD-ROM media at 2.4x and is backwards compable with most existing CD and DVD formats. With an operating noise of only 21.1 dB, ASUS also claims that the HR-0205T is the quietest optical drive on the market.

Catering to users who need an optical disc drive that is able to provide high definition movie playback, versatile multi-functionality and quiet operations, ASUS, leading producer of multimedia products, has today released the new ASUS HR-0205T Optical Disc Drive. This new generation HD DVD ROM drive supports reading data from DVD+R/RW/DVD-R/RW formats, and is the quietest ODD in the market, operating at a mere 21.1 dB - providing users with the best HD movie playback entertainment experience.

The HR-0205T is able to support 2.4X HD DVD ROM/2.4X HD DVD ROM(DL)/2.4X HD DVD-R Read, 5X DVD±R/ 5X DVD+RW/ 5X DVD-RW/ 5X DVD±R (DL), 15X CD-R/ 15X CD-RW; and 15X DVD-ROM/ 15X CD-ROM Read formats - giving the user maximum flexibility and support for any type of disc media.

No word yet on pricing or availability. As we find out more, we'll let you know. In the mean time, ASUS's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment

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Hard Disks

31 October 2007

At a recent press event, Toshiba launched its new digital video recorder (DVR), the HD DVD VARDIA RD-A301. Using its built in HD Transcoder, the RD-A301 can record 159 hours of high-def video to its built in hard drive or nearly 16 hours onto a 30GB HD DVD disc. The RD-A301 also supports Toshiba's new HD Rec feature which allows it to record up to two hours of high-def video onto a single layer DVD-R disc.

Toshiba Corporation today announced the launch of a new digital video recorder (DVR) with HD DVD drive that integrates key new features that bring greater freedom of recording to the HD DVD, including recording of HD video to standard DVD discs. The new DVR, HD DVD VARDIA RD-A301, integrates HD Transcoder, which achieves longer recording time for high-definition (HD) video, and also supports"HD Rec", which allows recording of HD video to standard DVD discs in HD quality. The RD-A301 will be available in the Japanese market in the middle of December, and advance orders will be accepted from November 1.

The RD-A301 integrates an HD Transcoder that converts MPEG2 video, the standard for digital HD broadcasts, to MPEG4 AVC, a high-efficiency video compression technology that supports longer recording times while maintaining picture quality. As a result, longer HD videos can be recorded to HD DVD-R discs. The DVR also supports "HD Rec", which facilitates recording of HD video on conventional DVD discs, such as DVD-R discs. "HD Rec" allows a single-layer 4.7GB DVD-R disc to store up to two hours of HD video, working in combination with HD Transcoder.

The HD DVD VARDIA RD-A301 will ship in mid-December and is expected to cost about 100,000 Yen ($868US). More information, including a full list of specs, can be found here. Add a comment

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Home Entertainment

31 October 2007

Panasonic has officially announced its latest Blu-ray Disc player, the DMP-BD30. This next-generation Blu-ray player will be the first to offer full support for the Final Standard Profile (BD Profile 1.1) which adds new functions such as Picture-in-Picture and Audio Mixing. The DMP-BD30 also includes features like 1080/24p output, support for HDMI 1.3B and an SD Card slot for playback of High Definition content recorded in the AVCHD format.

Panasonic, a leader inHigh Definition technology, announced today the introduction of theDMP-BD30, the next generation High Definition 1080p Blu-ray Disc player.The DMP-BD30 is the first Blu-ray player to be introduced with FinalStandard Profile, which adds a variety of new and enhanced features to theBlu-ray arena and one that separates the Panasonic Blu-ray player from therest of the field. Also unique to the DMP-BD30 is the inclusion of an SDMemory Card slot for playback of High Definition content recorded in theAVCHD format. The SD slot also allows for viewing of digital still imagesrecorded to an SD Memory Card.

Final Standard Profile is an advanced function added to the Blu-raystandard, which opens the door to new functions such as Picture-in-Picture(which displays a second image in a sub window) and Audio Mixing (allowsthe consumer to switch the sound between the main and sub windows).

The DMP-BD30 is expected to ship to retailers in mid-November and will retail for about $499. Full details can be found on Panasonic's website. Add a comment