Broadcom Corporation (Nasdaq: BRCM), a global leader in semiconductors for wired and wireless communications, today announced new media PC solutions that enable flawless playback of high definition (HD) video content across the widest range of PCs in the industry. By lowering CPU utilization, and integrating seamlessly into Microsoft Windows Vista and Windows XP environments, Broadcom's media PC solutions enable mainstream PCs featuring integrated graphics to play back high definition content from either a Blu-ray Disc or HD DVD, as well as from HD downloaded or broadcast content. The new Broadcom media PC solutions are available in three add-in card formats (including desktop PCI Express, PCI Express mini-card or ExpressCard 34), and as a chipset solution for PC motherboard applications.Broadcom's media PC solutions are in full production today and are priced at less than $40 each. More information can be found here. Add a comment
Tech-On also reports that LG will be offering the GGC-H20N. This lower priced drive will lack the GGW-H20N's BD-R/RE recording capabilities. If you'd like to read more, Tech-On's entire article can be found here. Add a comment
Hitachi LG Data Storage, Inc. (Hitachi LG) has exhibited "GGW-H20N" prototype optical disc drive for desktop PCs that supports both Blu-ray Disc (BD) and HD DVD at its booth as a reference presentation at "COMPUTEX TAIPEI 2007" being held in Taipei, Taiwan.
"We have already started sample shipments and plan volume production and shipments for the second half of 2007," a booth attendant said.
Sonic Solutions today announced that MediaTek, a market leader in fabless semiconductor technology for wireless communications and digital media solutions, is implementing CSS recording into the latest chipsets, which can ensure the Qflix compatibility of optical storage drives. Qflix technology enables the burning of Internet video content to DVD with Content Scramble System (CSS) encryption - the same copy protection found on commercially released DVDs. DVD writers using the new MediaTek chipsets, combined with online entertainment delivery services built on Sonic software, will create an ecosystem to provide consumers a safe, legitimate, and reliable way to purchase, download and record entertainment to DVD...With big names like MediaTek And PLDS supporting Qflix, it only be a matter of time before other drive and chipset manufacturers get on board. If you'd like to read more, Sonic's press releases can be found here and here. Add a comment
...Sonic Solutions today announced that PLDS (Philips & Lite-On Digital Solutions Corp.) is adopting Qflix technology for integration into a range of optical disc drives. The new drives will facilitate the recording of movies and video programs to DVD with Content Scramble System (CSS) encryption. As the industry-approved content protection mechanism used on mass-produced discs and incorporated into all DVD players, CSS has been deemed essential by major content providers for the on-demand digital distribution of premium entertainment. The optical disc drives from PLDS form a critical piece of the electronic sell through ecosystem, and will include Qflix branding as a symbol to consumers looking for legitimate and reliable "purchase, download, and burn" home solutions.
CyberLink Corp. (5203.TW), a leader in digital home solutions, has announced Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD movie playback software PowerDVD Ultra now supports the high-definition playback and content protection technologies of Intel's GMA 3000 series integrated graphics chipsets.If you'd like to read more, CyberLink's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
"The Intel 3 series chipsets, featuring Intel's GMA 3100, X3100 or X3500 graphics, enable robust and cost-effective solutions that provide high-quality movie playback for standard and high-definition content, including Blu-ray Discs and HD DVDs," said Richard Malinowski, Vice President & General Manager of Intel's Chipset Group. "PowerDVD Ultra's optimization for Intel's GMA 3100, X3100 and X3500 graphics, ensures exceptional performance, enabling users to enjoy high-definition movies on many mainstream mobile & desktop PCs moving forward."
Software Architects, Inc., the leading developer of UDF file system technology for computers and consumer electronics products, announced its release of BlueDisk Driver v1.0 for Apple systems running OS X 10.4.SAI's BlueDisk Driver for OS X 10.4 is available now for $49.95. More information is available on their website. Add a comment
BlueDisk Driver enables both Intel and PowerPC based Apple computer systems to format, read and write to re-writable Blu-ray discs using the standard Mac Finder interface, including “drag & drop” writing to disc. Discs are formatted in standard Apple HFS+ format for readability on an any driver equipped Apple system. The native Mac OS does not support Blu-ray disc drives or BD-RE media.
No word on pricing or availably. However, SanDisk's new 64GB SSD's will be on display this week at Computex Taipei 2007. More information can be found here. Add a comment
Reaching for the “sweet spot” of memory storage for laptop computers, SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ: SNDK) today expanded its line of solid state drive (SSD) products with the introduction of a 64-gigabyte (GB)1 SSD aimed at both enterprise users and early adopter consumers such as gamers. SanDisk 1.8-inch UATA 5000 and 2.5-inch SATA 5000 SSD products, which already are available in a 32GB capacity, are compatible as drop-in replacements for hard disk drives in most mainstream notebook computers.
Corel Corporation, a leading developer of graphics, productivity and digital media software, today announced that ASUSTeK Computer Inc., is bundling InterVideo WinDVD with its complete line of ASUS BD/HD notebooks. Designed to deliver all of the benefits of high-definition audio and video without the complexity, WinDVD is the world's most popular video playback and navigation software.If you'd like to read more, Corel's entire press release can be found here Add a comment
ASUS BD/HD notebooks to be bundled with WinDVD include the Lamborghini VX2; the G1, G2 and W2 series for gaming and digital entertainment; the F3 series for business; and the A7 series for personal digital entertainment.
Japan's Toshiba Corp. aims to put disk drives for high-definition DVDs on all its laptops next year as it strives to gain an edge in the high-stakes next-generation DVD format battle, a Toshiba executive said on Tuesday.While this will definitely get more HD DVD drives out there, it will probably raise the overall cost of the laptop. As we've seen with the PS3, this is not the way to win over consumers. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment
Sony Corp. equips its PlayStation 3 (PS3) game consoles with Blu-ray drives to win people to the rival high-definition DVD format, and Toshiba should use a similar tactic, said Toshiba Senior Vice President Hisatsugu Nonaka.
"The demand is there: people want to watch their favorite movies in high-definition on the road," he told reporters at a news conference.
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Advanced Media, Inc. is the manufacturer and marketer of the popular RIDATA brand of recordable DVD media, electronic storage products, and digital media accessories. Today, the company announced that parent company RITEK is the only Taiwan-based optical disc manufacturer to offer certified HD-DVD-R (recordable, write once) and HD DVD-RW (rewritable) media. Advanced Media will provide marketing, sales and distribution of the discs to the United States.Volume production of HD DVD-R and HD DVD-RW media will begin in the second half of this year. If you'd like to read more, the entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
"What the certification means to consumers is that they can be assured that certified RIDATA HDDVD's are a compatible, high quality HDDVD to purchase. Taiwan is a large supplier of DVD media to the U.S. Through our parent company RITEK and its enormous production capacity, Advanced Media can quickly respond to market demands in the shortest time possible. We will continue to leverage our competitive manufacturing advantages to provide U.S. consumers both Blu Ray and HDDVD discs at affordable prices," stated Harvey Liu, president of Advanced Media Inc.