Pioneer Japan recently sent out a press today, announcing its new portable, clamshell type Blu-ray Disc writer, the BDR-XD06J-UHD. This USB 3.0 equipped drive measures only 133 × 14.8 x 133 mm and weighs in at a mere 230g. The BDR-XD06J-UHD is capable of 6x BD-R, 6x BD-R DL, 4x BD-R LTH, 2x BD-RE and 2x BD-RE DL writing speeds and a maximum BD-ROM read speed of 6x. It also writes to triple- (100GB) and quad-layer (128GB) BD-R media at 4x and triple-layer (100GB) BD-RE media at 2x.

What makes the BDR-XD06J-UHD truly special is its ability to play back Ultra HD Blu-ray content. When installed in a Windows 10 PC with the included WinDVD software and an i7 or i5 Kaby Lake processor, users can play back movies at 4K resolutions. The drive also ships with authoring software from CyberLink and is equipped with Pioneer's PureRead3+ technology, which greatly improves the reading performance of scratched and dirty discs. The BDR-XD06J-UHD is expected to hit stores in late March for about 15,000 Yen ($134US).

CDRLabs has put together a brief review of Patriot's new 256GB LX Series microSDXC memory card. Equipped with the latest 3D NAND technology, this dime-sized card gives smartphone, drone and action camera users the capacity they need to capture hours of 4K Ultra HD video and thousands of high-resolution images. The 256GB LX Series microSDXC card is also Class 10, U3 qualified, allowing for sequential speeds of up to 90MB/s read and up to 80MB/s write for the quick capture of images and speedy transfer of data from camera to computer.

Team Group, the world’s leading memory brand, today officially announces the launch of its fastest storage solution designed for gamers with the introduction of the T-FORCE CARDEA M.2 solid-state drive. The T-Force CARDEA M.2 SSD utilizes x4 PCIE 3.0 for up to 2600MB/s read speeds along with NVMe and TRIM support. The custom-made T-FORCE cooling module enhances looks as well as endurance for continuous high-intensity usage. This combination of high-speed data transfer, aggressive looks and effective cooling makes the T-FORCE CARDEA the perfect upgrade for gamers who want the best for their system.

Named after the Goddess of Storm, the T-FORCE CARDEA utilizes new-generation PCIE Gen3 x4 to breakneck 2600MB/s read and 1400MB/s write sequential performance and with up to 180K/140K IOPS in random read/write operations. The T-FORCE CARDEA’s speed brings fast boot-up along with a responsive operating system that loads games and application faster for a smoother experience with reduced loading time. NVME.

Transcend Information, Inc. (Transcend), a leading manufacturer of storage and multimedia products, is proud to release the Ultimate UHS-I U3M Video Speed Class 30 (V30) microSD memory cards. These MLC-based microSD cards reach blazing-fast transfer speeds of up to 95MB per second and offer optimum protection with capacities up to 128GB, ideal for 4K Ultra HD recording.

Transcend Ultimate microSD cards are manufactured with top-tier MLC NAND flash chips, providing consistent long-life durability and endurance. The newly-released Ultimate UHS-I U3M microSD cards meet the new UHS Video Speed Class 30 (V30) standards of the SD Association, offering minimum sequential write speed of 30MB/s, ideal for 4K video recording. With capacities of up to 128GB and read and write speeds of up to 95MB and 60MB per second, Transcend Ultimate UHS-I U3M microSD cards are perfect for recording fast-paced action and capturing smooth 4K Ultra HD and Full HD videos. Transcend Ultimate microSD cards are designed for use in action cameras, dashcams, smartphones, tablets, digital cameras, and drone cameras.

QNAP Systems, Inc. today announced the new TS-431X NAS - a cost-effective dual-core business NAS supporting 4 drives, one built-in 10GbE SFP+ port, and hardware-accelerated encryption. Along with its application-aware design and abundant productive features including containerized virtualization, centralized email management, a private-cloud-based note-taking tool, and Virtual JBOD, the 10GbE-ready TS-431X is a perfect NAS for small and midsize businesses looking for backup, restoration, private cloud, and higher bandwidth for rigorous data processing.

Powered by a dual-core AnnapurnaLabs, an Amazon company Alpine AL-212 1.7 GHz processor and 2GB/8GB DDR3 RAM (upgradable to 8GB), the TS-431X delivers up to 956 MB/s read speed with 10GbE, and up to 312 MB/s read speed with AES 256-bit volume-based data encryption. The integrated 10GbE SFP+ port enables exceptional throughput for intensive data transfer, and fast backup and restoration for an ever-growing amount of data.

The latest special edition Game Drive for Xbox from Seagate is here! In collaboration with Microsoft and 343 Industries, Seagate introduces the Game Drive for Xbox Halo Wars 2 Special Edition Portable Drive. Emblazoned on the drive’s enclosure with an image of Atriox, warlord of the banished and fearsome villain, this product is the perfect complement to the long-awaited Halo Wars 2 set to release next week.

The newest addition to Seagate’s popular line of storage for gamers, the Seagate Game Drive offers 2TB of capacity to store 50+ Xbox games, plug-and-play functionality and compact size. Now, players can free up space on their console’s internal drive while consolidating all their favorite Xbox games into a single location, boosting storage for Xbox One S and Xbox One.

ADATA Technology, a leading manufacturer of high performance DRAM modules, NAND Flash products, and mobile accessories today launched the XPG SX950 SSD and its accompanying gaming-styled EX500 drive enclosure. Loaded with up to 960GB of 3D MLC NAND and driven by a SMI controller, the SX950 utilizes a custom ADATA PCB and is backed by an extra-strict chip sorting process to ensure an SSD that can handle prolonged high demand. Performance reaches 560MB/s read and 530MB/s write. Bearing the signature XPG look, the EX500 is aimed at gamers and case modders, boasting a textured enclosure and a vibrant yet aggressive feel. It arrives with a spacer and bracket for easy install on desktops and notebooks. For users that would like to use the SX950 as external storage, the EX500 offers a stylish, durable, and easy-install enclosure that pairs instantly with desktops, notebook! s, and game consoles via high speed USB 3.1.

ADATA is completing its transition to stacked memory, or 3D NAND. This allows for SSDs with bigger capacities without a correlating increase in prices paid by end users. The SX950 uses durable 3D MLC (multi-level cell) NAND Flash and SMI controller. Consumers can choose from 240GB, 480B, and 960GB versions of the SX950. Not only denser (higher capacity), 3D NAND is also roughly 10% faster than 2D NAND and so the SX950 outpaces its predecessor, the SX930 – reaching 560MB/s read and 530MB/s write.