Pioneer rolled out a sleek new portable Blu-ray XL drive compatible with Macs, the BDR-XU02JM. Measuring 133 x 133 x 12 mm (WxDxH, without stand), and measuring 245 g, the drive stays slim thanks to its slot-in disc loading mechanism, which along with the silvery metal body, complements the new breed of ODD-less MacBooks.

The BDR-XU02JM from Pioneer can write single- and double-layer BD-R discs at speeds of up to 6X; triple- and quadruple-layer ones at 4X; BD-R (LtH) at 6X, single-, double-, and triple-layer BD-RE discs at 2X, DVDs up to 8X, and CDs up to 24X. The drive uses a single USB 2.0 cable for both host-connectivity and power. It features a 4 MB buffer. It is slated for later this month, beginning with the Japanese market.Source: Hermitage Akihabara

TEAC introduced the BD-W512GSA, a cost-effective Blu-ray writer drive designed to make the standard accessible to more PC users. Sold in bulk/OEM packaging priced around €79, the drive can write Blu-ray BD-R discs at 12X speeds, BD-RWs at 8X, double-layer discs around 8X, DVDs at 16X, and CDs at 48X. While it can read triple- and quad-layer discs, it doesn't appear like the drive supports writing the two formats. It is built in the conventional 5.25-inch SATA form-factor, and comes with black and white bezel options.Source: Hardware.info

Pioneer announced the BDR-208JBK, an internal SATA Blu-ray writer drive, which the company claims to have the highest Blu-ray writing speed. The drive can write Blu-ray ROM (BD-R) at 15X, dual-, triple-, and quad-layer BD-R at 14X, 8X, and 6X, respectively. BD-RE discs are written at 2X, DVDs at 16X, and CDs at 40X. The drive features PureRead3+, which lets the drive correct read errors on scratched discs. The drive includes a suite of software by Cyberlink, including PowerDVD 10, PowerDirector, Power2Go 7, InstantBurn 5, and LabelPrint 2.

Pioneer introduced the new BDR-S08J line of internal SATA Blu-ray writer drives in the standard 5.25-inch form-factor. The series includes three variants based on the bezel color, BDR-S08J-W (matte white), BDR-S08J-BK (piano black), and BDR-S08J-KR (rubberized black), pictured in that order below. The drives feature SATA 3 Gb/s interface with 4 MB cache, and are capable of writing Blu-ray disc (BD) -R at 15X, BD-R double-layer at 14X, BR-R triple-layer at 8X, BD-R quadruple-layer at 6X, single-, dual- and triple-layer BD-RE at 6X; DVDs at 16X, and CDs at 40X. The three will include Windows 8-compatible drivers and versions of PowerDVD 10 and PowerDirector 9 software from Cyberlink. The three will reach stores (beginning with Japanese), in mid-November.Source: Hermitage Akihabara

Identity theft is something many students take for granted until it happens to them. Laptops and notebook computers are a potential gold mine for thieves unless you encrypt your data, according to Addonics Technologies. The CipherUSB from Addonics provides a simple and inexpensive way to encrypt data stored on flash drives, flash media, USB hard drives as well as Blu-ray, DVD or CD media.

A student's mobile device may include your resume, transcripts, school or internship applications, or financial records? Equally, administrators who use a laptop for their job, may have files such as human resources records, student applications, transcripts, research data or payroll information stored on their system. Should your laptop be lost or stolen, you want the data inside to be electronically inaccessible.

Keeping your data safe is important. That’s why Thecus is manufacturing state-of-the-art devices that make managing your data storage look like a piece of cake! But what do you do when you reach the limit of storage of your hard drives? You could of course by bigger disks, a NAS with more bays or add some external hard drives connected through USB 3.0 or eSATA ports. The cost can add up pretty quick and not everyone can afford all this material.

A more economical and simpler approach to free up some space on your NAS is to transfer your data onto something permanent that can be stored away. Those photos and videos that you haven’t watched in years, those projects in 2002 that are no more needed for reference, things you don’t want to get rid of because you know the minute you do, Murphy’s Law will kick in and you’ll need them again.

Closely trailing I-O Data, Buffalo Japan launched its portable Blu-ray XL writer drive, the BRXL-14U3. The drive implements USB 3.0 to ensure there are no bandwidth bottlenecks to affect buffer overrun protection, which writing discs at high speeds. Speaking of speeds, this drive is capable of writing BD-R single layer at 14X, double-layer BD-R at 12X, triple/quadruple-layer BDXL-R at 6X, and BD-RE XL at 2X. It features DTCP-enabled disc writing, with its bundled Buffalo DiXiM BD Burner 2011 software. Cyberlink-made Blu-ray 3D playback software is included. Slated for late-April, the BRXL-14U3 is priced at 23,205 JPY (US $286).Source: PCWatch

Logitec Japan launched a new line of USB 3.0-compatible portable Blu-ray writer drives, under the LBD-PME6U3 series. The drives rely on a single USB 3.0 connection to the host for both power and connectivity. The drives are capable of burning Blu-ray discs at speeds of up to 6X. The drives come in three main variants, and three color options. The LBD-PME6U3V includes TotalMediaExtreme 2 Blu-ray authoring software, the LBD-PME6U3LBK includes a lighter version of the same software, TotalMediaRecord 2, while the LBD-PME6U3MSV includes just ROXIO Toast 11 Titanium.

These three are available in three color options, black, silver, and red, on the top-panel. This top-panel is made of rugged brushed aluminum. Measuring 136 x 142 x 19 mm (WxDxH), these drives weigh about 300 g. Prices start at 9,555 JPY (US $117), and go all the way up to 21,525 JPY (US $265).Source: PCWatch

I-O Data introduced the BRP-U6C line of portable Blu-ray drives. Capable or reading quad-layer and triple-layer (Blu-ray XL) discs at 4X speed, the drives read single and double-layer Blu-ray discs at 6X speed, and BD-RE at 2X. Apart from that, DVD±R discs are read at speeds of up to 8X, and CDs at speeds up to 24X. These drives are available in three color options, Pearl White (BRP-U6C), Piano Black (BRP-U6CK), and Oriental Red (BRP-U6CR). Measuring 140 x 147 x 19 mm (WxHxD), weighing about 300 g. The drives are bus-powered. Available now, the BRP-U6C from I-O Data is priced at 11,500 JPY (US $139).

Eurocom is supporting the new line of high performance GeForce GPUs from NVIDIA including the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675M, 670M and 660 in single and SLI configurations in select models. Eurocom will also be supporting the NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M in select Optimus models.

The addition of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX and GT series GPU offers users new levels of high performance GPUs for computing in single and SLI (dual) configurations in new Eurocom notebooks based on next generation Intel technology. The new NVIDIA 600 series GPUs will complement the NVIDIA Quadro GPUs, already offered by Eurocom to its professional clients. NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675M comes with 2 GB of DDR5 memory, 384 CUDA cores with the GPU running at 620 Mhz for the utmost in graphics performance. Eurocom will be utilizing NVIDIA 3D technology in single and SLI configurations to improve overall graphics and 3D professional capability with enhanced performance. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670M comes with 1.5 GB DDR5 memory, 336 CUDA cores with the GPU running at 598 MHz. NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 660M comes with 1.5 GB DDR5 memory, 384 CUDA cores, with the GPU running at 835 MHz.

ORIGIN PC is excited to announce the launch of the new NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680 video card for their award-winning desktops and the new NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675M notebook GPU for their record breaking EON17-X laptop. Now whether you're gaming at home or on the go, you can now experience faster, smoother and richer gaming like never before. It's more than just innovative, it's game-changing. And to celebrate the launch of the most power efficient GPU ever created, ORIGIN PC is giving away a free 90GB Corsair Force GT Solid State Hard Drive on their systems for a limited time.

Buffalo Inc. has today announced the world's fastest internal Blu-ray writer, a drive called BRXL-14FBS-BK which is capable of burning single-layer BD-R discs at up to 14x speed. Seen below, Buffalo's new optical drive has a SATA interface, it takes up one 5.25-inch bay, and also offers writing speeds of 12x for BD-R DL, 6x for BDXL, 2x for BD-RE, 16x for DVD-R/+R, 8x for DVD-R/+R DL/+RW, 6x for DVD-RW, 5x for DVD-RAM, 48x for CD-R and 24x for CD-RW.

The BRXL-14FBS-BK is bundled with DiXiM BD Burner 2011 and a heap of CyberLink software (PowerDVD 10, PowerDirector 8 HE, PowerProducer 5, Power2Go 7, InstantBurn 5, PowerBackup 2, MediaShow 5) and is scheduled to ship (in Japan) at the end of this month priced at about $232.

Plextor unveiled the PX-B950SA internal Blu-ray disc writer drive. Built in the 5.25-inch form-factor, the drive supports SATA interface. It is capable of burning single-layer BD-R at 12X, double-layer BD-R at 8X, single/double-layer BD-RE at 2X, DVD±R at 16X, DVD+RW at 6X, DVD-RW at 12X, and CD-R at 48X. Blu-ray discs are read at 8X, DVDs at 16X, and CDs at 48X. The drive is backed by an 8 MB cache. CyberLink BD Suite and PowerDVD come bundled. It is priced at 11,980 JPY (US $154).Source: Hermitage Akihabara

Pioneer unveiled a new internal Blu-ray writer drive in the 5.25" form-factor, the BDR-PR1. The drive is designed keeping data archival in mind, more than Blu-ray video, since with increase in capacities of an archive media, so does the risk of random writing errors that destroy data in the archive. Stringent quality control is implemented in selection of its parts, and testing of the drive. Its mechanism also works to reduce recording variability, ensuring higher archive fidelity. In other words, it trades off speed for quality of recording.

The Pioneer BDR-PR1 features SATA 3 Gb/s interface, which is rather new for optical drives. It can write BD-R single-layer, BD-R double-layer (50 GB), and BD-R (LtH) at 6X, single and double-layer BD-RE at 2X, DVD±R single-layer at 16X, and DVD±R double-layer at 8X. CD-R is written at 40X. The drive packs a 4 MB write cache. It is slated for market release towards the end of this month, its pricing is not fixed.

Lite-On unveiled the new iHBS112-04 internal Blu-ray disc writer drive. The drive is built in the standard 5.25-inch form-factor, supporting SATA interface. It is capable of writing BD-R single-layer at 12X, BD-R double-layer at 8X, BD-RE single and double-layer at 2X, and DVD±R at 16X. The drive features Lite-On's ABS (auto-balanced spindle) feature, which works to reduce noise and vibrations caused by the drive when revved up and spinning at high speeds. The drive features 8 MB of write cache. In Japan, it is priced at 6,980 JPY (US $90). It will be sold under its own label and those of various other companies, as Lite-On is a major upstream ODM of optical disc drives.Source: Hermitage Akihabara

VIZIO, America's #1 LCD HDTV Company, announced today an innovative line of five premium personal computers designed to turn the PC market upside down and accommodate the entertainment needs and wants demanded by consumers. Set to launch with Windows 7 in spring 2012, the elegantly designed PCs will provide an entertainment experience only VIZIO can deliver, complete with top notch 2.1 audio and video quality. The personal computing line consists of two all-in-one computers, two thin + light notebooks and one notebook. VIZIO's line was developed to raise the bar in personal and home entertainment while also keeping powerful performance at the forefront.

Much like its entrance into the HDTV category nearly a decade ago, VIZIO believes it has identified a need in the PC world for a device that addresses a recent change in consumer behavior. Growing popularity in video streaming services has resulted in the need for personal computers that can stream content for a family movie night and put together an important business presentation the following day. The VIZIO PCs address this change by meeting both the entertainment and productivity demands.

Today Pioneer revealed to the world its newest optical drive, the slim (0.55-inch thick) and light (~ 240 grams) BDR-XD04 external Blu-ray writer boasting support for triple-layer and quad-layer BDXL discs.

The BDR-XD04 has a USB 2.0 interface and features 4 MB of buffer memory, the PowerRead and PureRead2+ technologies for smooth video and audio playback, an Auto Quiet Mode that minimizes its operating noise, plus a manual eject lever. The drive also offers write speeds of up to 6x for BD-R(-DL), 4x for BD-R TL/QL, 2x for BD-RE, 8x for DVD-R/+R/+RW, 6x for DVD-R DL/+R DL/-RW, 5x for DVD-RAM, and 24x for CD-R/RW media.

The Pioneer BDR-XD04 is bundled with CyberLink's PowerDVD 10 BD3D, PowerDirector 9 and Power2Go 7 and is set to become available as of mid-January priced at $150.

SAPPHIRE Technology has just announced a new model in its successful HD 6900 series of graphics cards - the HD 6970 2GB with a new super efficient Dual fan cooler and Dual BIOS giving users the choice of fast, quiet operation or performance tuning.

The new SAPPHIRE HD 6970 has the same internal architecture as the standard model, with 1536 stream processors and 96 texture processing units, and clock speeds are 880MHz for the core and 1375Mhz (5.5Gb/sec effective) for the 2GB of GDDR5 memory. This new design has two 90mm fans with thin impellers that can move the same amount of air at 10% lower rotation speeds than conventional fans, keeping noise low, and their special dust repelling bearings contribute to high reliability.

Earth will soon shroud in the dark of the moon as the great war between the AUTOBOTS and DECEPTICONS explodes, threatening to tear our planet apart. Razer, the world leader in high performance gaming hardware, under license from Hasbro, Inc., will unleash a unique Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon Collector’s Edition product line to prepare you for the metal on metal battle of epic proportions now available on DVD and Blu-Ray.

Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Megatron, and Shockwave: four legends crafted and transmuted into four uniquely designed Razer DeathAdder mice to give you unparalleled gaming performance while evoking the heart-pumping excitement and robot wonder of the Transformers universe.

Toshiba's Digital Products Division (DPD), a division of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., today announced its latest line of smartly equipped yet affordable Satellite L700 and Satellite C600 Series laptops. Designed for style, versatility and affordability in mind, these laptops deliver the performance needed for everyday computing with prices starting as low as $379.99 MSRP.

Building on its reputation for special editions and silent cooled graphics cards, SAPPHIRE Technology has just introduced the ULTIMATE Edition of the SAPPHIRE HD 6670, boasting the full performance and features of the fan cooled models, but with a totally silent heatpipe cooler. Helping to demonstrate its best-in-class performance the HD 6670 ULTIMATE bundle will include an access code for the latest hot driving game, Codemasters Dirt3! The SAPPHIRE HD 6670 ULTIMATE has 480 Stream Processors and sports 1GB of the latest DDR5 memory. With clock speeds of 800MHz core and 1000MHz (4GHz effective) for the memory, it delivers the same performance as fan cooled models, but with a totally silent heatpipe cooler, making it one of the fastest and most capable silent-cooled graphics card available today.

The output configuration on the bracket is Dual-Link DVI, HDMI and DisplayPort and a DVI to VGA adapter is included. The SAPPHIRE HD 6670 ULTIMATE will support three monitors in Eyefinity mode with a suitable DisplayPort monitor or active display adapter. In addition, native CrossFire support allows two or more cards to be used together for additional performance on a suitable CrossFireX compatible mainboard.

Japanese peripherals company I-O Data unveiled its new BRD-U8S external optical disc writer that supports Blu-ray 3D. Making use of the USB 2.0 interface and backed by a 4 MB write cache, the drive can write single and double layer BD-R at 8x speeds, BD-RE at 2x, DVD±R at 16x, DVD±R double layer at 8x, DVD+RW at 6x, DVD-RAM at 12x, CD-R at 48x, and CD-RW at 24x. Measuring 158 (W) x 220 (D) x 50 (H) mm, the BRD-U8S weighs 1.2 kg. Slated for release in Japan next month, and backed by a 1 year warranty, the I-O Data BRD-U8S is expected to be priced at $233.Source: TechConnect Magazine

Plextor, a leading developer and manufacturer of high-performance digital media equipment, announces the newest addition to its Blu-ray lineup with the new PX-LB950UE external 12X Blu-ray Writer – the fastest Blu-ray writer available in the market today. This drive features the latest superspeed USB3.0 and eSATA connections, providing bandwidth for high data transfer rate.

Supplied with advanced Blu-ray and DVD playback software and recording applications, the PX-LB950UE offers a full Blu-ray HD experience. The drive is designed to provide smooth and quiet HD Blu-ray movie playback with excellent sound reproduction and a crystal clear picture quality. This drive also supports 3D playback and is able to convert 2D contents to simulate 3D effects.

MSI, the leading global graphics card and mainboard manufacturer, today launches the N520GT-MD1GD3/LP graphics card utilizing the latest NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 GPU. Featuring MSI's exclusive Predator in-game video capture function with Afterburner 2.1.0, N520GT-MD1GD3/LP allows gamers access to a free utility that captures all of their classic in-game moments and share them amongst friends. With a single slot and low profile design, the N520GT-MD1GD3/LP works perfectly on smaller mainboards and in slim cases. Supporting next-generation DirectX 11 and NVIDIA 3DVision technology, the N520GT-MD1GD3/LP is the perfect choice for HTPC entertainment.

ASUS has just launched the new BW-12D1S-U, the world’s fastest external 3D Blu-ray writer. It enables an easy transition from DVD, the fastest and most reliable Blu-ray burning performance, and a unique artistic approach to optical media.

With burning speeds up to 12X via USB 3.0, Optical Tuning Strategy (OTS) technology for the best writing quality available and high definition 3D playback, the BW-12D1S-U further highlights the attention ASUS pays to design, arriving in a form inspired by diamond shapes. It also includes a unique blue power indicator for an artistic touch, and features a matching stand that allows for practical two-way horizontal and vertical placement to help users save space with increased versatility.