Panasonic Introduces Toughbook 31 Rugged Ultraportable
Panasonic's Toughbook line has become a staple in the rugged PC arena; it's an area with few competitors, few customers and typically slower innovation, but the newest Toughbook bucks those trends with some pretty impressive specifications. The Toughbook 31 is one of the first truly tough notebooks to ship with Intel's Core 2010 range of processors, meaning that brains have finally joined brawn. Equipped with a Core i3 or Core i5 processor, an 1100 nit touch panel, rugged certifications beyond MIL-STD-810G and
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StoraDrive Keeps Your Old HDD Safe, Secure And Static-Free
It's a drawer. It's an external hard drive enclosure. It's a plane. No, it's a StoraDrive! NewerTech has just announced one of the most unique, office-friendly products the storage market has ever seen, with the StoraDrive finally ditching the wild, nerdy chassis that most external enclosures have and utilizing something much more subtle and suitable for desk placement. The main purpose for this device is to keep your old drives around, but in a safe location, just in case you end up needing more storage in
Read More ...
EA Sports To Charge $10 For Online Play On Used Game Titles
"It's in the game." That's the slogan that EA Sports has harped on for years. But now, it's only in the game if you buy a game new, or if you cough up even more dough as a used game buyer. We don't necessarily cover too much of the video gaming space here at Hot Hardware, but this particular shift in business practice was simply too glaring (and frankly, important to the entire industry) to pass over. EA Sports has done to sporting franchise companies in the game space what Walmart has done to mom and pop groceries
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Google Working With Verizon Wireless On Upcoming Tablet PC
We were a little surprised to initially hear this news, but should we be? Look at the mobile realm. Apple introduced the iPhone, and the iPhone OS crushed every other mobile OS on the market. A while later, Google introduced Android, and now Android is closing in on Apple's growth rate according to some statistics. Google and Apple have been quietly rivaling each other for the past few years, both looking to innovate just a bit more than the other guy. So when Apple comes out with an iPad, wouldn't you think
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Cellphone "Bill Shock" Gets Shocked By New FCC Task Force
Wouldn't it be nice if your wireless operator shot you a free text message or e-mail whenever you were quickly approaching your monthly minute limit or text limit? Wouldn't it be great if you received some sort of alert whenever you touched down in a foreign country and were about to incur roaming charges for making calls or using data in someone else's homeland? Some carriers already do this (AT&T sends a free text message alerting you to the international data roaming rate for iPhone users, at least),
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Dell Introduces Studio XPS 7100 With AMD Phenom II X6 CPU
AMD's Phenom II X6 launched with quite a bit of fanfare last month, but up until now, they've been somewhat difficult to find in mainstream PCs. Select gaming PC builders have offered them, but the big guys (Dell, HP, Lenovo, etc.) have remained mostly quiet. Dell is among the first to really make some noise with the new CPUs, as the sleek Studio XPS 7100 has emerged today in order to feature AMD's latest processor. Dell's Studio XPS 7100 also features VISION technology from AMD, which aims to provide a "seamless,
Read More ...
Canon Adds Powerhouse Camera To ELPH Line
Canon is expanding its series of PowerShot Digital ELPH cameras with the new PowerShot SD4000 IS Digital ELPH. The PowerShot SD4000 IS is a powerhouse point-and-shoot camera that has high definition (HD) movie-shooting capabilities, a DIGIC 4 image processor, and a 10-megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor. The camera is also Canon's first in the Digital ELPH series to offers Canon's HS SYSTEM, a high-sensitivity system that helps you take good quality pictures in low-light settings. In addition to this HS SYSTEM,
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Boxee Gets Payment Processing For Premium Content, Hints Again At Mobile Access
Boxee has quickly grown from a niche application meant only for Mac users to a Web content portal that everyone wants a piece of. Even D-Link, who agreed to create a uniquely shaped set-top box earlier in the year meant specifically for putting Boxee on the television and giving consumers the ability to finally squash their cable bill. We already heard that Boxee could be coming soon to mobile, and now there's even better news for those who really hope to see the company stick around: they're getting closer
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Mushkin Introduces SandForce SF-1200 Based Calliso SSD
If you find yourself digging through the latest happenings in the memory sector, you've surely heard of Mushkin. The company has been a huge player in the high-end RAM/memory realm for years now, but rarely would put "solid state drive" into a sentence with "Mushkin." Today, that's happening. Joining OCZ, SanDisk, Intel, and loads of other SSD rivals, Mushkin has decided to jump in headfirst with the release of their Callisto SSD. Brian Flood, Mushkin Enhanced director of product development, had this to say
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Dell's New Compact Wireless Mouse is Only $30
If you're a gamer, move along, there's nothing to see here. For everyone else -- particularly those of you who scoff at the high price tags enthusiast grade mice command -- Dell's new WM311 Wireless Mouse with Nano Receiver might be just what you're looking for. At the very least, it should be within your budget, checking in at only $30 before tax (shipping is free). The WM311 is a compact rodent best suited for netbooks and laptops, and since you can choose between Obsidian Black, Tomato Red, Alpine White,
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The State of DirectX 11 - Image Quality & Performance
Touted as one of the biggest milestones in Windows games development in recent years, DirectX 10 ultimately didn't live up to the hype as far as end-users were concerned. A large part of the disappointment was perhaps due to a misunderstanding of what DirectX 10 was supposed to be. DirectX 10 was a fundamental refresh of the entire API and it brought a much-needed reboot to an aging API model. The reboot removed a lot of the legacy clutter left over from over a decade of previous DirectX developments. DirectX
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Google Working With Verizon Wireless On Upcoming Tablet PC
We were a little surprised to initially hear this news, but should we be? Look at the mobile realm. Apple introduced the iPhone, and the iPhone OS crushed every other mobile OS on the market. A while later, Google introduced Android, and now Android is closing in on Apple's growth rate according to some statistics. Google and Apple have been quietly rivaling each other for the past few years, both looking to innovate just a bit more than the other guy. So when Apple comes out with an iPad, wouldn't you think that a Google tablet would be close behind?We've heard of a few tablets from other companies shipping with Android onboard, but so far Google has remained silent on the matter. But a new Wall Street Journal report states that Verizon Wireless, America's largest wireless operator in terms of customer base, is currently working with Google on some sort of tablet computer. That's according to Verizon Wireless' chief executive Lowell McAdam, and the company is hoping to use this partnership to "catch up with iPad host AT&T in devices that connect to wireless networks." McAdam stated:
"What do we think the next big wave of opportunities are? We're working on tablets together, for example. We're looking at all the things Google has in its archives that we could put on a tablet to make it a great experience."
No one wanted to talk about a launch date or price, but if we know Google, they're pushing hard to have this ready as soon as possible. It's a real rat race to be second in line behind the iPad, and we're sure neither company wants this tablet coming out next year. Verizon is also in an interesting place with an LTE network coming later this year; will the tablet come early and support only CDMA (Verizon Wireless' existing technology), or will it ship later as one of the first 4G tablets on the market? Either way, we could seriously see this becoming the main "iPad killer" to watch for. Anything with Google's name on it is worth paying attention to.
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Dell Introduces Studio XPS 7100 With AMD Phenom II X6 CPU
AMD's Phenom II X6 launched with quite a bit of fanfare last month, but up until now, they've been somewhat difficult to find in mainstream PCs. Select gaming PC builders have offered them, but the big guys (Dell, HP, Lenovo, etc.) have remained mostly quiet. Dell is among the first to really make some noise with the new CPUs, as the sleek Studio XPS 7100 has emerged today in order to feature AMD's latest processor.Dell's Studio XPS 7100 also features VISION technology from AMD, which aims to provide a "seamless, intersection of social networking, multimedia creation and security operations that keep pace with everyday living." Users can select the six-core Phenom II X6 or the quad-core Athlon II, with a base six-core machine starting at just $699.
The tower features an oversized 460W power supply, a premium Carbide Silver color, up to 16GB of DDR3 memory, up to 4TB of hard drive space, an integrated 19-in-1 media card reader and support for SATA 6Gbps. It's available to customize starting today.
Elsewhere in the world, Dell also introduced the 13.3" Inspiron M301z ultraportable (for Europe, Japan and China), equipped with an AMD Turion II Neo K625 II CPU. Also, the Inspiron M501R (coming this summer to Europe and the U.S.) brings quad-core performance with an AMD Phenom II chip, integrated ATI Mobility Radeon graphics (optional discrete GPU is available), a 15.6" HD display, up to 8GB of RAM and a 640GB hard drive.
DELL ANNOUNCES NEW PCs THAT KEEP PACE WITH TODAY’S MULTI-TASKING MAVENS
•            Dell PCs with VISION Technology from AMD allow individuals to choose the technology they need to suit their lifestyle.
ROUND ROCK, Texas, May 12, 2010 – Imagine sitting down at the family PC to check out friends’ latest updates and fire up a chat session. But first let’s start transferring a video from the digital camera and arranging and syncing a new music playlist for next week’s workout sessions. Whoops! There’s goes the weekly security scan and you pause…but your PC doesn’t.
That’s what a typical session with the new Dell Studio XPS 7100 desktop PC with the optional AMD Phenom II X6 six-core processor can be: a seamless, intersection of social networking, multimedia creation and security operations that keep pace with everyday living.
Affirming its commitment to make powerful technologies simple and easy to use, Dell today announced new personal computers with VISION Technology from AMD.
“These new Dell PCs with AMD Vision technology are perfect for the tech-savvy individuals looking for feature-packed, yet budget-friendly personal technology that allows them to listen to music, stream video and enjoy gaming, while connecting with friends and family via social networking sites and blogs." “The Studio XPS 7100 desktop, in particular, delivers a nimble, clear, dependable experience while multitasking entertainment activities and multimedia creation.â€
New Products with VISION Technology
Announced today, the Dell Studio XPSÂ 7100 is one of the first desktops available to support powerful AMD Phenomâ„¢ II X6 six-core processor with AMD Turbo Core technology, as well as available quad-core Athlonâ„¢ IIÂ processors, for incredibly fast HD media creation, advanced multimedia capabilities, multi-tasking and immersive 3D gaming experiences. With six-core processor power starting at $699, the Studio XPS 7100 offers exceptional multitasking performance and features a cutting edge, tilt-back design in premium Carbide Silver color. Other key features include:
•            Oversized 460-watt power supply to support future expansion and hardware upgrades including AMD 125W class CPUs and 225W class graphics.
•            Up to 16GB of fast DDR3 dual-channel memory;
•            Up to 4TB (terabytes)of hard drive storage;
•            Premium integrated ports include, eSATA, Optical SPDIF and HDMI for more digital connections; and,
•            Integrated 19-in-one media card reader and SATA 6GB for higher speed disk transfer of HD media;
The Dell Studio XPS 7100 is available immediately directly from Dell.com worldwide, and from participating retailers soon.
Other Highlights:
Dell also announced region-specific systems with VISION Technology from AMD. The Dell Inspiron M301z, a stylish, lightweight (less than 4 pounds/1.8 Kg) and thin (less than 1-inch) laptop with dazzling 13.3-inch widescreen display, will be available in the coming weeks in Europe, Japan and China. For outstanding performance, the Inspiron M301z is available with up to an AMD Turionâ„¢ II Neo K625 II low-voltage processor that offers great battery life for on-the-go entertainment.
The Inspiron M301z sports a sleek, svelte, curvy design that makes it easy to bring entertainment and other projects on the go. Gorgeous and nimble doesn’t mean it compromises performance though, with powerful integrated ATi Mobility Radeon HD 4200 graphics, roomy hard drives up to 640GB, a maximum 8GB of memory and a great software package. With built-in HDMI port that carries both high-definition video and audio in a single cable, the M301z can be easily connected to a large screen TV or computer monitor for an even better media playback experience.
The new Dell Inspiron M501R, available later this summer in Europe and the U.S. at Dell retail partners, brings quad-core performance to the popular Inspiron lineup. It features an available AMD Phenomâ„¢ II Quad-Core processor with integrated ATi Mobility Radeon graphics or optional ATi Mobility Radeon discrete graphics for an even better visual experience. In addition to these powerful CPU and graphics options, the M501R has a 15.6-inch high-definition widescreen display and is available with up to 8GB memory and 640GB hard drive storage.
Dell designed the mid-size Inspiron M501R to be stylish wherever it goes with a sleek new design with curved edges, chrome accents and brushed metal-like finishes on LCD backs. It’s easy to use, too, with great software, smudge-resistant palmrest, an ergonomic full-size keyboard with adjacent 10-key numeric keypad and stiff chassis for exceptional reliability and durability.
About Dell
Dell (NASDAQ: DELL) listens to its customers and uses that insight to make technology simpler and create innovative solutions that simplify daily activities and help people stay, entertained, connected and in touch. Learn more at www.dell.com.
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EA Sports To Charge $10 For Online Play On Used Game Titles
"It's in the game." That's the slogan that EA Sports has harped on for years. But now, it's only in the game if you buy a game new, or if you cough up even more dough as a used game buyer.We don't necessarily cover too much of the video gaming space here at Hot Hardware, but this particular shift in business practice was simply too glaring (and frankly, important to the entire industry) to pass over. EA Sports has done to sporting franchise companies in the game space what Walmart has done to mom and pop groceries stores: made 'em hurt, bad. EA Sports is basically the only company still out there making AAA sports games, and consumers rarely think to look beyond the "Madden" football franchise or any other franchise owned by the company.
Nothing's wrong with being big, and in fact, EA Sports titles are generally the best out there. Rarely do they receive negative reviews, and rarely are consumers not eager to buy the next installation. But this change may temper that excitement. Starting with Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11, anyone who buys EA Sports titles used (as in, not brand new from the retail shelf) will be forced to pay an extra $10 to EA Sports in order to unlock full online multiplayer functionality. For Xbox 360 users, that's on top of the fee you pay each month to access Xbox LIVE. Basically, it's highway robbery.
For years now, video game companies have hated the used game market, while consumers have loved it. But a line has been drawn here, and in the future, if you purchase older, used EA Sports games, you'll be playing solo or local multiplayer only unless you pony up. Used game buyers will be given a week-long "trial" of the online functionality; after that, they'll have to pay $10 for an unlock code. New game buyers receive a "free" unlock code in the box. The real kicker is that many sports games are best enjoyed online, so this hurts doubly bad for avid online sports players.
The worst part is that this is likely to start a trend; when one airline began charging for checked baggage, everyone else followed suit within just a few weeks. How long before every other gaming company out there slaps this $10 fee on their own used titles? Not long, we're afraid.
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Cellphone "Bill Shock" Gets Shocked By New FCC Task Force
Wouldn't it be nice if your wireless operator shot you a free text message or e-mail whenever you were quickly approaching your monthly minute limit or text limit? Wouldn't it be great if you received some sort of alert whenever you touched down in a foreign country and were about to incur roaming charges for making calls or using data in someone else's homeland? Some carriers already do this (AT&T sends a free text message alerting you to the international data roaming rate for iPhone users, at least), but the FCC would like for everyone to join in.A new Consumer Task Force at the entity has been tasked to look long and hard at what many consumers call "bill shock" in order to remedy a problem that has been growing as the world becomes more of a global market place and as smartphones become more socially acceptable to carry around everywhere. The plan is to create some sort of way for U.S. carriers to give their customers a notification "when they are running up unusually high charges for data usage, roaming or other uses beyond what is covered by regular monthly fees."
Reportedly, the FCC has received "hundreds of complaints" from consumers who didn't know they were running up a huge bill, and then suddenly were hit with a mobile bill in the hundreds or thousands of dollars without warning. European carriers are already required by law to send an SMS when a customer is running up charging or close to their monthly text/data limit, and it sounds like the FCC wants America to follow suit.
No final plans have been put into place yet, but we wouldn't be surprised if this was implemented soon. It sounds like a quick and easy fix, and since some carriers are doing it already, it shouldn't be too much of a pain for everyone else. The only downside is that we probably won't get to hear about those $12000 iPhone bills any more, and how hard people have to fight to get it carved down to something reasonable when they download movies in France via tether "without any knowledge" of roaming fees.
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Mushkin Introduces SandForce SF-1200 Based Calliso SSD
If you find yourself digging through the latest happenings in the memory sector, you've surely heard of Mushkin. The company has been a huge player in the high-end RAM/memory realm for years now, but rarely would put "solid state drive" into a sentence with "Mushkin." Today, that's happening. Joining OCZ, SanDisk, Intel, and loads of other SSD rivals, Mushkin has decided to jump in headfirst with the release of their Callisto SSD.Brian Flood, Mushkin Enhanced director of product development, had this to say about the announcement: "The Callisto SSDs continue Mushkin Enhanced's tradition of high-performance, high-reliability flash storage products and we're very pleased with the performance and responsiveness this product provides. We're confident the Callisto will not only meet the expectations of the market, but exceed them." The high-performance angle is evident here. This device boasts read speeds of up to 285MB/s and write speeds of up to an impressive 275MB/s, and it's equipped with the new SandForce SF-1200 controller.
It's available starting today in sizes of 60GB, 120GB and 240GB, but prices have yet to be disclosed.
Mushkin Enhanced Announces Callisto(TM) Solid State Disk
Next-Generation Solid State Drive offers high-performance storage
ENGLEWOOD, Colo., May 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Mushkin Enhanced, (www.mushkin.com), a global leader in high-performance computer products, announced today the release of a new solid state drive series, Callistoâ„¢. The Callisto Series further underlines Mushkin Enhanced's commitment to the exciting and burgeoning solid state drive segment.
"The Callisto SSDs continue Mushkin Enhanced's tradition of high-performance, high-reliability flash storage products and we're very pleased with the performance and responsiveness this product provides. We're confident the Callisto will not only meet the expectations of the market, but exceed them." – Brian Flood, Mushkin Enhanced director of product development. Boasting read speeds of up to 285MB/s and write speeds of up to an impressive 275MB/s, the Callisto series is equipped with the industry-acclaimed Sandforce SF-1200 controller. The Callisto Solid State Drive is available immediately online at the Mushkin Enhanced website as well as our other online partners, and is backed by a 3-year warranty and an industry-leading support staff.
Part Numbers:
MKNSSDCL60GB – 60GB Callisto™ SSD
MKNSSDCL120GB – 120GB Callisto™ SSD
MKNSSDCL240GB – 240GB Callisto™ SSD
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Canon Adds Powerhouse Camera To ELPH Line
Canon is expanding its series of PowerShot Digital ELPH cameras with the new PowerShot SD4000 IS Digital ELPH. The PowerShot SD4000 IS is a powerhouse point-and-shoot camera that has high definition (HD) movie-shooting capabilities, a DIGIC 4 image processor, and a 10-megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor.
The camera is also Canon's first in the Digital ELPH series to offers Canon's HS SYSTEM, a high-sensitivity system that helps you take good quality pictures in low-light settings. In addition to this HS SYSTEM, the PowerShot SD4000 IS features a f/2.0 lens and image stabilization.
Another really cool feature of this camera is its fast burst rate: The PowerShot SD4000 IS boasts of the fastest high-speed burst rate to date in a Canon PowerShot Digital ELPH camera with the ability to capture 8.4 frames per second. Unlike other ELPH cameras, the PowerShot SD4000 IS has aperture and shutter controls giving you the ultimate control over your photos.
The Canon PowerShot SD4000 IS will come in three colors: red, black, and silver. There will also be a limited edition white model available directly from Canon while supplies last. The PowerShot SD4000 IS will sell for approximately $350 and will be available at the end of May.
DESIGN MEETS FUNCTIONALITY WITH THE NEW CANON POWERSHOT DIGITAL ELPH CAMERA: THE POWERSHOT SD4000 IS DIGITAL ELPH CAMERA
LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., May 11, 2010 – Placing top-level Canon features in a modern, stylish frame, Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging, today announced the newest addition to the PowerShot Digital ELPH camera series- the Canon PowerShot SD4000 IS Digital ELPH camera. This new powerhouse point-and-shoot camera is the first of the Digital ELPH series to offer a high-sensitivity system, known as Canon's HS SYSTEM, with a CMOS sensor and bright f/2.0 lens. Offering consumers the most enhanced image quality available in an ELPH series camera, these features help to capture those wonderful moments in low-light conditions. The PowerShot SD4000 IS Digital ELPH camera also has high definition (HD) movie-shooting capabilities, providing an additional option for cataloging memorable events. Primarily, the new PowerShot SD4000 IS is great for any user with an attention for up-to-date functionality and style.
Whether attending a relative's sunset wedding or meeting friends in a dimly lit restaurant, these are times where the new PowerShot SD4000 IS showcases its best attributes. The new 10-megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor, in conjunction with the DIGIC 4 image processor creates Canon's HS SYSTEM to enhance image quality in low-light situations and helps reduce noise at high ISO speeds. Along with Canon's HS SYSTEM, the f/2.0 lens allows more light to enter, permitting higher shutter speeds, for further reducing the effect of camera shake and increasing image sharpness and quality. In addition, the combination of Canon's HS SYSTEM and the f/2.0 lens enables users to take photos without a flash, resulting in a more natural look while providing greater depth of field, making it an exemplary tool for portrait photography. In addition, the PowerShot SD4000 IS has the fastest high-speed burst rate to date* in a Canon PowerShot Digital ELPH camera with 8.4 frames per second (fps). New to the ELPH cameras, the PowerShot SD4000 IS has aperture and shutter controls allowing for enhanced flexibility and creative control, making this camera great for shooters who are interested in getting even more out of their photography.
"With the introduction of the new PowerShot SD4000 IS, Canon is putting the power of high-quality photography in an ultra-compact size to amplify the experience and quality customers see when shooting with a Canon camera," said Yuichi Ishizuka, executive vice president and general manager, Consumer Imaging Group, Canon U.S.A. "The two functions in the HS SYSTEM allow our customers to capture the clearest pictures in any setting, resulting in more of a professional look."
For the Design-Centric
A treat for the eyes, the PowerShot SD4000 IS has beautifully crafted curves, texture and a modern look that appeals to a design-savvy user. With all of its new features, the Canon PowerShot SD4000 IS elevates the current ELPH series, offering advanced settings in a polished, sculpted, compact frame, making it an essential item to tote anywhere.
Get Creative with HD Movie
The addition of the HD Movie feature in the new PowerShot SD4000 IS is one of the most distinguished characteristics that makes this camera a must-have for anyone. This dual-purpose camera allows users to creatively compose video, helping to capture unforgettable moments from a child's first baseball game to a son or daughter walking up to the podium on Graduation Day. Users can also have more fun with HD movie footage by using the My Color function, composed of Color Swap and Color Accent options. In addition, video content is easily downloaded from the camera via USB connection and can be easily played back on your HDTV via an HDMI output connector.
Timing is Everything
As an added bonus, the new Canon PowerShot SD4000 IS has a new Super Slow Motion movie function that allows users to record video at a very high frame rate, possessing the appearance of slow motion when played back at regular speed. The Super Slow Motion movie function captures a subject at 240 frames-per-second (fps), and later plays back the footage at 30 fps, allowing each moment of footage to be appreciated in super slow motion while maintaining great image quality.
Additional Features
- A 3.0-inch wide angle (28mm equivalent) wide screen LCD allows for easy on-camera previewing and reviewing of menus and images.
- A 3.8X optical zoom with optical image stabilization helps to ensure images will be clear and how they were meant to be captured.
- Support of the high-spec SDXC memory cards with the maximum storage of two terabytes (TB) in SDA standard.
- Eye-Fi memory card connectivity, where wireless data can directly transfer to PCs.
- New scene modes, such as miniature and fish-eye effects help to increase overall creativity.
- Smart Shutter technology, which automatically takes pictures when a person smiles or winks; resulting in less re-takes.
The new Canon PowerShot SD4000 IS is available in three different color variations: red, black and silver. In addition, while supplies last, there will be an exclusive, limited edition white PowerShot SD4000 IS model available direct from Canon (www.shop.usa.canon.com). Scheduled to be available at the end of May, the Canon PowerShot SD4000 IS Digital ELPH camera retails for an estimated price of $349.99.
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StoraDrive Keeps Your Old HDD Safe, Secure And Static-Free
It's a drawer. It's an external hard drive enclosure. It's a plane. No, it's a StoraDrive! NewerTech has just announced one of the most unique, office-friendly products the storage market has ever seen, with the StoraDrive finally ditching the wild, nerdy chassis that most external enclosures have and utilizing something much more subtle and suitable for desk placement.The main purpose for this device is to keep your old drives around, but in a safe location, just in case you end up needing more storage in the future. This unit has a stackable drawer with an anti-static enclosure for 3.5" HDDs, and the cases come with two drawers that can be built upon. Each have labels for archive purposes, and they're made from injection molded ABS plastic.
Unfortunately, no ports or chipsets are included, so you can't use this as an external hard drive enclosure, but it's probably the safest and classiest way to store your old platters that we've seen. It's the new bookcase--better get used to it. Each StoraDrive is just $9.99.
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Rip Blu-Ray to 720P use VOB? MKV? MP4?
I've already backed up DVDs and am streaming them to my PS3. I'm very disappointed at the lack of menu and chapter mark support in the DLNA protocol but that's for my other thread.
* I'm primarily setting this media library up to stream music videos during parties, and give my kids a good selection of classic movies and animated features that I know they like to watch over and over again. They've just destroyed our DVD collection and I'm not going to let that continue to happen, especially with Blu-Rays. I myself am not the time that is a movie junky that likes to watch movies over and over or just have bragging rights that I have 200 titles on my server.
I'm getting ready to start ripping Blu-Rays and am wondering what people's opinions are on a good method based on my needs/setup.
I've got powerline ethernet (only give me about actual 25mbit/s bandwidth), but will soon either put in Wireless-N or hard wire ethernet so lack bandwidth shouldn't cause a problem.
Storage is going to be a limiting factor as I don't really re-watch a lot of movies so I'm not going to spend the time and money to setup a 2TB RAID 5 array when I know in another couple years, I'll be able to stream most any movie I want in hi-def via Netflix or some other provider. I've got a 1TB and a 640MB drive. I'll use the 1TB drive for media storage and backup the important stuff (home movies, mp3 collection, photos) on part of the 640MB drive or use online storage. If my drive crashed and I lost a bunch of DVD and Blu-Ray rips, it would not be a big deal as I'll rarely have the need to view/burn those rips anyway.
I've compared 1080P to 720P and for the videophile, definitely 1080P is a better, but for my kids and me, it's really just creating an unnecessarily large filesize in my mind just putting more of a load on my storage capacity, my server (when transcoding) and my network bandwidth. If once in a blue moon I want to watch something in its 1080p glory, I'll just pop the BD in the machine. Anything new I've never seen, I just rent/stream the BD from Netflix anyway.
So I'm guessing the best format is to transcode the BD using a program that can transcode M2TS 1080P files to 720P VOB? Am I correct to understand it is impossible to stream video with DTS / True HD, etc audio to the PS3 - it has to be converted to AC3 in the VOB?
If I want to get filesize down even further is really the only feasible solution to transcode to 720P resolution, X264 in an MP4 container? Realizing I can't pass through AC3 or DTS in MP4, it has to be transcoded to AAC. I did this with music videos using a CRF of 20 and the quality is quite good and size is 25-30% the size of the source VOB. I don't think I want to do this with movies though, I want high-quality 720P with little or no additional artifacts.
Any suggestions from those that have already walked ahead is greatly appreciated.
* I'm primarily setting this media library up to stream music videos during parties, and give my kids a good selection of classic movies and animated features that I know they like to watch over and over again. They've just destroyed our DVD collection and I'm not going to let that continue to happen, especially with Blu-Rays. I myself am not the time that is a movie junky that likes to watch movies over and over or just have bragging rights that I have 200 titles on my server.
I'm getting ready to start ripping Blu-Rays and am wondering what people's opinions are on a good method based on my needs/setup.
I've got powerline ethernet (only give me about actual 25mbit/s bandwidth), but will soon either put in Wireless-N or hard wire ethernet so lack bandwidth shouldn't cause a problem.
Storage is going to be a limiting factor as I don't really re-watch a lot of movies so I'm not going to spend the time and money to setup a 2TB RAID 5 array when I know in another couple years, I'll be able to stream most any movie I want in hi-def via Netflix or some other provider. I've got a 1TB and a 640MB drive. I'll use the 1TB drive for media storage and backup the important stuff (home movies, mp3 collection, photos) on part of the 640MB drive or use online storage. If my drive crashed and I lost a bunch of DVD and Blu-Ray rips, it would not be a big deal as I'll rarely have the need to view/burn those rips anyway.
I've compared 1080P to 720P and for the videophile, definitely 1080P is a better, but for my kids and me, it's really just creating an unnecessarily large filesize in my mind just putting more of a load on my storage capacity, my server (when transcoding) and my network bandwidth. If once in a blue moon I want to watch something in its 1080p glory, I'll just pop the BD in the machine. Anything new I've never seen, I just rent/stream the BD from Netflix anyway.
So I'm guessing the best format is to transcode the BD using a program that can transcode M2TS 1080P files to 720P VOB? Am I correct to understand it is impossible to stream video with DTS / True HD, etc audio to the PS3 - it has to be converted to AC3 in the VOB?
If I want to get filesize down even further is really the only feasible solution to transcode to 720P resolution, X264 in an MP4 container? Realizing I can't pass through AC3 or DTS in MP4, it has to be transcoded to AAC. I did this with music videos using a CRF of 20 and the quality is quite good and size is 25-30% the size of the source VOB. I don't think I want to do this with movies though, I want high-quality 720P with little or no additional artifacts.
Any suggestions from those that have already walked ahead is greatly appreciated.
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What is a good new notebook to buy for creating digital art and watching movies?
My current notebook is no longer doing what I need, so it's time for a replacement. I'll be creating art (in programs like Photoshop), writing in Word, watching movies, etc. There are two musts: accurate colors shown (as accurate as I can get, I mean) and a widescreen display. Interested in another HD screen. Thank you! I just need some help finding the notebook I'm looking for!
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Windows 7 and Fallout 3 - Compatible?
I have a delima I have been trying to solve, and that is should I buy a Windows 7 Laptop PC? Im exited to jump on to Intel's latest i7 Quad Core Mobile Processor, DDR3 Memory, and GDDR5 Descrete Graphics (My model has GDDR5! Yay!); however, when I started looking at my gaming and software cases, I bacame worried... Fallout 3 is one of my favorite action-RPG's ever, and on the back of the case... there is no Windows 7 Compatibility stated. Fallout 3 is fairly old and because it states compatibility with Windows Vista, cant it run on Seven as well? I really need advice here, thanx!
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Boxee Gets Payment Processing For Premium Content, Hints Again At Mobile Access
Boxee has quickly grown from a niche application meant only for Mac users to a Web content portal that everyone wants a piece of. Even D-Link, who agreed to create a uniquely shaped set-top box earlier in the year meant specifically for putting Boxee on the television and giving consumers the ability to finally squash their cable bill. We already heard that Boxee could be coming soon to mobile, and now there's even better news for those who really hope to see the company stick around: they're getting closer to finding a true revenue stream.The company already stated that they wanted to give users access to more and more premium content to supplement the free offerings, and today they're announcing a partnership with Vindicia as their payments platform provider. Vindicia's CashBox solution will allow Boxee content partners to "offer premium content through a wide variety of payment methods and plans, from individual pay-per-view charges to premium subscription models," and the solution will "enable Boxee content partners to price and package their content as they wish, whether it is premium content, content from their existing library, or extras that will never made it on the air." End-users can purchase content via credit card, gift card or PayPal, so all of the major bases are covered.
Better still, it works globally, so users all over the world can participate. Oh, and listen to this: "Lastly, while Boxee plans to make the payment platform available to content partners for Boxee’s unique TV experience, Vindicia’s flexibility also makes it possible for us to enable payments on our website and across mobile platforms like the iPhone, Android and iPad." There's that mention of mobile platforms again, and we're hoping that those mobile apps are released during the summer (when this payment solution is launched).
One Step Closer to Boxee Payments with Vindicia
A few months ago we told you we wanted to give you more access to premium content on Boxee (in addition to what’s currently free), and we wanted to give content owners new ways to offer and price content. Today we’re excited to announce we’ve taken a big step forward choosing Vindicia as our payments platform provider.
Vindicia’s CashBox solution will enable Boxee content partners to offer premium content through a wide variety of payment methods and plans, from individual pay-per-view charges to premium subscription models. Vindicia’s flexibility will enable Boxee content partners to price and package their content as they wish, whether it is premium content, content from their existing library, or extras that will never made it “on air.â€Â Users will be able to purchase this content via credit card, gift card, or PayPal.
The unique solution, which handles currency exchanges, VAT, and GST automatically, will be available to content providers worldwide. Vindicia already powers great experiences for online gaming (Blizzard), online stores (deviantArt.com), and subscription software (Symantec) and we’re excited to be working with them to build an awesome experience on Boxee.
Lastly, while Boxee plans to make the payment platform available to content partners for Boxee’s unique TV experience, Vindicia’s flexibility also makes it possible for us to enable payments on our website and across mobile platforms like the iPhone, Android and iPad. Boxee’s eventual expansion to these platforms will pave the way for universally accessible content no matter where a user is (we love this idea!).
We will release the Boxee payment platform by the end of the summer.
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Dell's New Compact Wireless Mouse is Only $30
If you're a gamer, move along, there's nothing to see here. For everyone else -- particularly those of you who scoff at the high price tags enthusiast grade mice command -- Dell's new WM311 Wireless Mouse with Nano Receiver might be just what you're looking for. At the very least, it should be within your budget, checking in at only $30 before tax (shipping is free).The WM311 is a compact rodent best suited for netbooks and laptops, and since you can choose between Obsidian Black, Tomato Red, Alpine White, and Peacock Blue (looks like someone on Dell's marketing team has a future at Crayola if the whole PC thing doesn't work out), you can pick one up that won't clash with your notebook.
Outside of the aesthetics, other features include a 3-button optical design, 1000 DPI tracking, automatic power on/off with indicator light, and a USB mini-receiver with concealed, fold-up storage. What more could you want in an inexpensive, compact notebook mouse?
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