Pioneer Japan sent out a press today, announcing what it claims to be the world's thinnest and lightest slot-loading Blu-ray Disc writer. Thanks to a magnesium alloy case, the BDR-XU02J weighs in at a mere 245g and measures only 133 × 133 × 12 mm. This stylish, USB powered drive is capable of 6x BD-R, 6x BD-R DL, 6x BD-R LTH, 2x BD-RE and 2x BD-RE DL writing speeds and a maximum BD-ROM read speed of 6x. The BDR-XU02J also writes to triple- (100GB) and quad-layer (128GB) BD-R media at 6x and triple-layer (100GB) BD-RE media at 2x.

The BDR-XU02J includes features like Pioneer's PureRead2+ technology and noise reducing firmware. It also ships with authoring and playback software from CyberLink as well as DiXiM BD Burner 2013, which lets you burn copy-protected digtal content directly from DTCP-IP enabled DLNA devices on your home network. The BDR-S08J is scheduled to ship in late December and is expected to retail for about 22,000 Yen ($266US).

Today, LaCie expands its industrial-strength storage line with the faster, stronger XtremKey USB 3.0. Designed for users who want to push the limits with their technology, the robust LaCie XtremKey can challenge the most severe conditions.

The LaCie XtremKey received multiple awards for its innovative, rock-solid design. With wear-resistant screw threads and a rubber O-ring, the LaCie XtremKey is waterproof up to 200 meters. "The unique design is inspired by a waterproof screwing closure and thick metal casing," said product line manager Luc Pierart. "When the seam is sealed, the aerodynamic key can withstand extra ordinary circumstances."

Like its predecessor, the latest LaCie XtremKey features a protective cap made of thick ZAMAC metal alloy. Its strength can withstand severe shock, dizzying drops, and the relentless pressure of a 10-ton vehicle. It also survives bone chilling temperatures down to -30°C, and scorching heat up to 200°C.

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Solid state drive (SSD) is gradually making its way to become the mainstream in 3C product market.  Team Group Inc., one of the leading memory manufacturers in the world, is making improvement in SSD product development by launching the ultra-thin Team Ultra L1 SSD.  As thin as 7mm, the Team Ultra L1 SSD is the most lightweight and compact model which can be installed directly onto new generation of Ultrabooks for faster booting and read/write speed.  Combined with the inherent advantage of shock resistance and stability of SSD, it signifies significant improvement of computer performance and durability.

Team Ultra L1 SSD is provided with SATA III 6Gb/s high-speed interface.  The compact profile and special titanium color finishing highlight the product’s high quality and the sense of modern technology. The continuous read and write speeds go as high as 550MB/s and 520MB/s, respectively. The random write-in speed for small files of 4K reaches up to 80,000 IOPS, not only fast but stable.  In addition, the integration of Dura Write and RAISE (Redundant Array of Independent Silicon Elements) provides support for S.M.A.R.T. and full compatibility with Win7 Trim commands.  It gives the hard drive a boost of burst random writing and effective improvement of computer’s ability to respond and multiplexing performance, making the hard drive a storage solution of extreme speed for consumers.

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Plextor, leading developer and manufacturer of high-performance digital media and storage equipment, has announced they will be entering the Enterprise SSD Market. The official product announcement and details will be made at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES).

This announcement comes on the heels of the introduction of the M5 Pro which gained accolades from the critical press as one of the fastest—if not the fastest—SATA 6Gbps SSD on the market. This entry into the SSD market also set a standard for data protection and data accuracy with 256-bit AES encryption and TrueProtect—a dual-stage data debugging feature exclusive to Plextor.

The merits and advances of the M5 Pro raises expectations regarding what Plextor will be announcing for the Enterprise segment of the market. This is a natural next step in the evolution of Plextor's SSD development. Plextor has consistently developed SSDs that deliver sustained speed over the long-term with the lowest annual failure rate in the consumer SSD industry.

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