Details

• Print

Other

03 April 2007

In February, Lite-On announced that they would be taking the place of BenQ in a joint venture with Philips. This new joint venture, named Philips Lite-On Digital Solutions Corporation (PLDS), was recently given the green light by the European Commission and will go into operation on May 1st.

The earlier announced joint venture between Royal Philips Electronics (Philips) and Lite-On IT Corporation (Lite-On) is starting to take shape. The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the entry by Lite-On IT into Philips & BenQ Digital Storage Corporation (PBDS) of Taiwan. Lite-On IT has taken over BenQ's shares in PBDS and the name has now changed to Philips & Lite-On Digital Solutions (PLDS).

PLDS will be effective in Europe from 1st of May 2007. Lite-On IT BV, the European head office of Lite-On IT Corporation, will continue to provide the same service to it's customers under the new flag of PLDS. The company will handle sales, marketing, service, finance and logistics of Optical Disc Drives (ODD). PLDS will continue to sell ODD under the brand names Lite-On and HP (under exclusive license from Hewlett-Packard).

If you'd like to read more, Lite-On Europe's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment

Details

• Print

Other

02 April 2007

Earlier this year, Steve Jobs posted an open letter on Apple's website, urging record companies to abandon DRM technologies. Apparently, someone at EFI took this to heart as the company recently signed a deal with Apple, allowing them to sell DRM-free versions of their music through iTunes.

Apple today announced that EMI Music's entire digital catalog of music will be available for purchase DRM-free (without digital rights management) from the iTunes Store (www.itunes.com) worldwide in May. DRM-free tracks from EMI will be offered at higher quality 256 kbps AAC encoding, resulting in audio quality indistinguishable from the original recording, for just $1.29 per song. In addition, iTunes customers will be able to easily upgrade their entire library of all previously purchased EMI content to the higher quality DRM-free versions for just 30 cents a song. iTunes will continue to offer its entire catalog, currently over five million songs, in the same versions as today -- 128 kbps AAC encoding with DRM -- at the same price of 99 cents per song, alongside DRM-free higher quality versions when available.

While some may not paying a premium for DRM-free music ($1.29 vs. $0.99 per song), this is definitely a step in the right direction. Hopefully, other record companies will see the light and offer DRM-free music through iTunes as well. If you'd like to read more, Apple's entire announcement can be found here. Add a comment

Details

• Print

Other

29 March 2007

Back in 2004, the DVD Copy Control Association (DVD CCA) filed a lawsuit against Kaleidescape, claiming the company's media server violated the license for their Content Scramble System (CSS). Since then, the two sides have battled it out with the latest round going to Kaleidescape. According to report by EETimes, a superior court judge has ruled against the DVD CCA, stating that the licensing contract and specifications were poorly worded and that the CSS spec "is a product of a committee of lawyers."

The decision marks a rare, though small victory for a Silicon Valley startup facing the interests of a group of large movie studios and consumer and computer companies. The ruling also could open the door for other systems makers who want to design personal video libraries that store DVD movies on hard drives.

Judge Leslie C. Nichols ruled against the DVD Copy Control Association (DVD CCA) in a civil suit that asked the court to force startup Kaleidescape to change its design or stop selling its server that stores hundreds of DVD movies on a hard drive array. Nichols said the basis for his decision was his ruling that an entire section of the DVD CCA's spec for the Content Scramble System (CSS) was not technically included as part of the license agreement.

I wouldn't be surprised if the DVD CCA appealed the judge's decision. However, in the mean time, it may open other doors in regards to DVD ripping and fair use. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment

Details

• Print

Other

28 March 2007

Logitech FreePulse Bluetooth Headphones @BlueTomorrow.com
Xclio A380 Super Tower ATX Computer Case @Tweaknews.net
HIS Radeon X1950 Pro IceQ3 512Mb AGP Video Card @Madshrimps
ThermalTake Tai-Chi M+ Notebook Cooler @DV Hardware
Cooler Master CoolViva Pro @Overclockers Online

Add a comment

Details

• Print

Other

27 March 2007

CDRLabs is looking to expand its staff by adding one or two software reviewers. These people must be able to work on their own, be motivated and work under deadlines. In return, you'll be able to check out the latest software while earning some extra spending money. If you're interested, send me an email. Add a comment

Details

• Print

Other

26 March 2007

Thermalright HR-07 @Overclockers Online
ASUS P5N-E SLI 650i Motherboard @ThinkComputers.org
Ultra X-Pro 800Watt ATX Power Supply @Tweaknews.net
Golden Mars GeeDom Flash Drive and SD Memory @The TechZone

Add a comment

Details

• Print

Other

23 March 2007

Velocity Micro Gamers' Edge DualX Custom Gaming Computer @ThinkComputers.org
Zalman ZM-600HP 600 Watt Modular Heatpipe Cooled Power Supply @Futurelooks
PowerColor X1650 XT 256MB AGP Video Card @Bigbruin.com
SilverStone Decathlon DA750 PSU @DV Hardware
Dell 2407WFP 24" LCD Display @DV Hardware

Add a comment

Details

• Print

Other

22 March 2007

OhMiBod iPod Vibrator @The TechZone
Coolermaster NotePal S Notebook Stand @ThinkComputers.org
Spire RocKeteer VI 600W @ Overclockers Online
Viewsonic VX2035wm 20inch Widescreen LCD @BCCHardware
Creative Live! Cam Optia Webcam @Everything USB
MSI G965MDH (Intel G965) Motherboard @HardwareZone

Add a comment

Details

• Print

Other

22 March 2007

Thanks to John Daly and Erick Hansen, indie film makers will soon be able to release their movies on Blu-ray. The two industry leaders recently formed the world's first indie Blu-ray manufacturing and distribution company, Edge of Light Media (EOL).

The world's first independent Blu-ray film distribution and manufacturing company, Edge of Light Media (EOL), has been launched by award-winning film producer John Daly and DVD pioneer Erick Hansen to release indie and mini-major films, TV shows and music videos worldwide in the high-definition disc format.

The bold move is considered key to not only Blu-ray, but to overall HD acceptance as the majors now control virtually all the manufacturing and distribution of the emerging Blu-ray disc technology while most films produced in the U.S. and abroad are made outside the studio system. EOL has actively begun seeking Blu-ray arrangements with indie film distributors, mini-majors and TV production companies for their new releases and catalog titles and a manufacturing plant is currently under construction by Hansen in Spokane, Washington.

The new joint venture will team Daly's Film and Music Entertainment (FLME:Pk) with Hansen's Blue Ray Technologies Inc.. The new Edge of Light Media offices will handle sales and authoring out of Film and Music's new offices at 5900 Wilshire in Los Angeles while manufacturing and fulfillment will be handled by Blue Ray's new Spokane plant. The operation will be overseen by Lon Gibby and Gibby Media Group with Bobby McGee handling worldwide sales for EOL.

EOL's manufacturing plant is expected to be up and running by early spring. If you'd like to read more, the entire press release can be found here. Add a comment