With its members now watching more content streamed over the Internet than on discs delivered by mail, Netflix, Inc. today introduced a $7.99 streaming-only subscription plan in the United States, the first time it is promoting a 100 percent streaming option in the U.S. The plan, which allows members to instantly watch unlimited movies and TV episodes streamed from Netflix to TVs and computers, is available now to both new and existing members.

"We are now primarily a streaming video company delivering a wide selection of TV shows and films over the Internet," said Reed Hastings, Netflix co-founder and CEO. "Today's action reflects the tremendous customer value we've injected into streaming from Netflix, our initial success with a pure streaming service in Canada for $7.99 a month and what our U.S. members tell us they want."

The company also announced that the price of its popular subscription combining unlimited movies and TV shows streamed instantly over the Internet and unlimited DVDs delivered quickly by mail, with one DVD out at a time, will increase by a dollar a month to $9.99. Prices of subscription plans allowing for more DVDs out at a time will also increase and are detailed at http://blog.netflix.com. Price changes take effect now for new sign-ups and in January for existing members.

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Today LaCie announces the smallest SSD USB 3.0 drive, delivering speeds up to 260MB/s – LaCie FastKey. Small enough to hide in the palm of your hand, LaCie’s FastKey can transfer 1000 mp3 or five DIVX files in less than 60 seconds.

While the FastKey can perform up to 10 times faster than USB 2.0, its peak performance goes far beyond that. Combining the performance of SSD, USB 3.0 and DRAM cache technology, the FastKey can write small files up to 100 times faster than your average USB 2.0 hard drive.

“With most flash drives, transferring a large number of photos and mp3 files can take a few minutes,” said Luc Pierart, Business Unit Manager, Personal Storage, LaCie. “With the Fastkey, transferring small files is immediate. You can back up or share your music and photo libraries as you head out the door.”

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Lite-On announces today the introduction of their most versatile 24X DVD writer to date: the iHAS624. The iHAS624 is a fast and reliable SATA DVD Writer with various disc labeling techniques as well as Smart-Erase for safe and permanent disc erasing. The drive is designed for DVD writing at 24X and features the latest optical drive technologies for accurate disc writing. This DVD Writer reduces the time it takes to reliably secure business files, backup personal files or create DVD videos.

Using LabelTag means a convenient and cost-effective way for labeling any DVD±R single layer disc without using additional software. LabelTag is a patented Lite-On feature that allows users to create a circular label on the data discs. When creating the disc, users can add text and/or images printed on the same side of the disc where the data is stored. No need to use markers, stickers, or even the hassle of flipping the disc. There is no special media required and the disc remains fully compatible with other playback devices.

Additionally, users can choose to label their discs with LightScribe technology. With LightScribe one can directly create customized labels and burn them onto LightScribe compatible DVDs and CDs.

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Super Talent Technology, a leading manufacturer of Flash storage solutions and DRAM memory modules, today announced their 480GB UltraDrive MX SSD is now shipping.

The UltraDrive MX features a new dual-interface for both SATA II and mini-USB connections. The new dual-interface enables this SSD to offer a new level of flexibility and consumer convenience by enabling the customer to use this drive as either an internal SSD or an external SSD.

For customers thinking about upgrading their PC or notebook to a Solid State Disk, the dual-interface UltraDrive MX is perfect. Customers can first utilize the USB connector to create an image of their existing internal hard drive. Once complete, the drives can be swapped and the PC rebooted. In the past, creating such an image required an external hard disk enclosure. Now this operation can be completed, faster, easier and with less expense.

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