Burn-and-print device announced for Blu-ray media

A leading manufacturer of optical disk duplicators has announced its first automated burn-and-print device for Blu-ray media. Primera Technology's Bravo XR-Blu Disc Publisher combines Pioneer's new BDR-101A Blu-ray Disc/DVD recorder with full-colour direct-to-disc inkjet printing. Initially it supports only the single-layer 25GB Blu-ray (BD) discs though a future firmware update will add compatibility with dual-layer 50GB media. ...more

Pfizer, Microsoft crack down on 'generic' Viagra pedlars

Drugs giant Pfizer has carried out its threats to take legal action against spammers promoting 'generic' versions of its Viagra erectile dysfunction (ED) medication. It is joined by Microsoft and the two are filing parallel suits against two international pharmacy spam rings. The two operate websites - CanadianPharmacy and E-Pharmacy Direct - that allegedly sell illegal and purportedly generic versions of Viagra. ...more

Half a keyboard = faster typing

Do you own a PDA? Are you constantly banging your head against the wall whenever you want to write a document using a stylus? Well your prayers could be answered in the shape of the Half Keyboard - it is exactly what it says on the box, half a keyboard. The keyboard was designed with Palm and Handspring PDAs in mind and the people behind this unique input device say that you can type even faster using half as many keys. Matias, who designed the Half Keyboard, has also developed a version that can be worn on the wrist. ...more

LaCie plugs USB drives into TV for video playback

LaCie has introduced a portable USB hard drive that can be plugged into a TV to playback video or display JPEGs. The Silverscreen drive will play MPEG-1, MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 video via NTSC/PAL composite, S-video, analogue YPbPr, VGA or RGB via Scart; surround sound is supported via optical digital output with compressed Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS pass through. ...more

Hi-Grade hits the Gigahertz heights

Hi-Grade has announced two 1Ghz PIII notebooks: the UltiNote AS8400 and the Atlas/Hi-Grade Flyer 3400-1000. The former sports an internal CD-R/W and DVD-ROM combo drive. A TV-out socket, coupled with the S3 Savage MX 2x graphics chip, means you can plug it in to the telly once you get back from the office and use it as a standard DVD player. ...more