Sony Interactive Entertainment has filed a patent that is now viewable to the public - as spotted by SegmentNext today - and the newly registered device could be designed to function as part of an updated variant of the PlayStation 5 home video game console. The 2020-era patent document showcases a type of detachable optical disc drive, and industry experts reckon that this mountable media reading device is destined, following past rumors, to feature in an upcoming PlayStation 5 hardware revision.

No reference is made to Sony's popular gaming console within the patent filing, but it is highly likely that the new optical drive will factor into the refreshed console's modular makeup - its overall shape shares design aesthetics with the PS5. Sony currently offers customers two variants of the PlayStation 5 - the more advanced model is fitted with an internal 4K Blu-Ray compatible disc drive, while the other one functions as a purely digital download device. The modular revamp is expected to arrive later this year, in a more compact form factor that industry insiders have called "D chassis" - it is not known whether this variant will outright replace the older models. A more powerful PlayStation 5 "Pro" model is expected to arrive after the modular redesign, with tipsters pointing to a launch window in mid-to-late 2024.

CyberLink Corp., announced today the release of PowerDVD 22, the latest version of its award-winning movie and media playback software which lets users enjoy an immersive experience for movies, music, and YouTube. The software plays movies in 8K, 4K HDR Blu-ray, and a wide range of media formats across any PC, laptop, TV, tablet or phone. PowerDVD 22 builds on CyberLink's pioneering media technology by offering exciting new features that offer users more control and customization options. Users can tailor their experience to match their preferences, for example, deeper colors, better lighting, and enhanced audio, such as high-fidelity 7.1 surround sound.

PowerDVD 22 includes a new keep pitch algorithm that maintains audio quality at the highest level during slow-speed playback, ideal for honing in on a video's most intricate details without a distorted soundtrack. PowerDVD 22 optimizes playback between devices. New tools allow users to trim and extract any section of their media's video or audio and convert them into smartphone-friendly formats. This includes MP4 for video and AAC or MP3 for audio. PowerDVD 22 also boasts faster transcode and uploading times, faster playback, and thumbnail generation on any part of the play bar for easy media skimming.

It took a while for this discovery as it's probably rare for people with modern PCs to also have Blu-ray optical drives. Apparently PCs with Intel 12th Gen Core "Alder Lake," and older 11th Gen Core "Rocket Lake" processors, as well as the latest Windows 11 OS, are unable to playback protected 4K Blu-ray video discs, as the DRM component is broken in the absence of Intel Software Guard Extensions (SGX). Intel introduced SGX with 6th Gen Core "Skylake," and deprecated it with "Rocket Lake." To be clear, playback of Blu-ray discs at 1080p isn't affected.

CyberLink, makers of the PowerDVD software that's bundled as an OEM application with optical drives to play back protected Blu-ray video; put out a statement on its website confirming that they're unable to help with this situation, as they don't control the DRM, the Blu-ray Association does. "The removal of the SGX feature, and its compatibility with the latest Windows OS and drivers, has caused a substantial challenge for CyberLink to continue supporting Ultra HD Blu-ray movie playback in our player software," it stated. Just to clarify, this only affects playback of Blu-Ray content at 4K—1080p is not affected.Many Thanks to Steevo for the tip.

QNAP Systems, Inc. partnered with Vinpower Digital, a leading supplier in Optical Disc hardware and media solutions, to integrate Vinpower's industrial-grade blu-ray optical disc drive for the TVS-882BR Blu-ray NAS series, allowing users to write NAS-based content directly onto CD, DVD, or Blu-ray optical discs as an additional back-up solution.

The TVS-882BR series provides an excellent solution for storing large amount of digital contents and allows for easy sharing through a network. However, it's always recommended to follow a "3-2-1" rule when storing digital content. The "3-2-1" rule represents having at least three copies of your data, of which two should be stored on two different media and one backup copy should be kept offsite. This rule is specifically designated for protecting against natural disasters that could potentially destroy all property and data stored in an affected region. That is why QNAP had the foresight to also include a Blu-ray writer drive onto theTVS-882BR Blu-ray NAS series.

Microsoft has said that demand for its upcoming Xbox One X games console is meeting expectations, and then some. Panos Panay, corporate vice president of devices, told CNBC that he wouldn't be able to talk about specific numbers, but that demand was, quote, "super high". He added that "I won't compare it to other consoles. What I'll say is the demand for Xbox One X right now is exactly where we anticipated, even more so when you see that excitement for the product... this is something that resonates with gamers."

The demand is so high, in fact, that there have been numerous reports of shortages, which means supply isn't even being able to sustain demand for the new Xbox, 4K-enabled console that launches on November 7th. Whether this stems from the fact that demand really is "super high", or limited production, or a mix of those two, is always up for debate. However, one only has to consider the amount of hardware that's being crammed in such a tiny box to glimpse the massive effort in engineering that was needed for this console - it's a mass of custom hardware, 60% smaller than the Original Xbox One, while delivering almost 5x the performance. It's likely this demand is fueled by the total of 130 games (and counting) that have already been confirmed to receive Xbox One X compatibility patches. The presence of a UHD Blu-Ray solution also doesn't hurt its media pedigree either, though the $499 cost of entry is somewhat steep by console standards. Here though, it's definitely well deserved - at least when one takes into account the hardware.

QNAP Systems, Inc. today launched the TVS-882BR Blu-ray NAS series (including the TVS-882BR and TVS-882BRT3 models). QNAP also announced a partnership with Fengtao Software to provide an all-in-one backup solution with its DVDFab software. DVDFab provides a complete solution for backing up disc-based files to the NAS for more convenient storage while also enabling NAS-based files to be written to discs for disaster recovery purposes. The TVS-882BRT3 also features four Thunderbolt 3 ports, providing a highly-efficient collaborative environment for media professionals, while also allowing instant writing of their creative works to disc. The TVS-882BR can also serve as a Blu-ray player, allowing direct playback via HDMI using Linux Station or Virtualization Station (third-party media player software required - may require separate license purchase).

"The TVS-882BR series - available with a pre-installed Blu-ray Disc drive or an empty 5.25-inch bay - takes a unique place in the QNAP NAS line-up by enabling users to directly consolidate optical disc-based data to their NAS for easier management and sharing. The ability to write data to discs also provides another layer of data protection alongside modern NAS and cloud-based methods," said Dan Lin, Product Manager of QNAP. "With robust hardware and M.2 SATA 6Gb/s support, the TVS-882BR provides users with a complete range of IT solutions, including deploying resource-demanding virtualization applications, online collaboration, and building a shared Blu-ray NAS workstation," Lin added.

BIOSTAR announces its latest motherboard designed for Intel 6th-generation processor which offers a packed array of features perfect for gaming and entertainment. The BIOSTAR Hi-Fi H170S3H features Hi-Fi Audio, Hi-Fi Power and 3D Hi-Fi to fully maximize your listening experience. This coupled with the full barrage of BIOSTAR enhancements, gives you the ultimate value for your gaming build without breaking the bank. Native support for PCI-E M.2 allows you to arm yourself with high-speed M.2 storage and choosing H170 gets you more USB3.0 ports along with native PCI-E RAID0 and RAID1 support. The board supports DDR3 memory so no need to change DIMMs when you upgrade your PC.

The BIOSTAR Hi-FI H170S3H comes with an optimal power design with MOSFET cooling for sturdier power delivery to the CPU to enhance performance, coupled with Crossfire support with 2x PCI-E X16 slots gives you more flexibility in upgrading later on with another GPU. The board also supports onboard dual-HDMI, both are 4K ready. The Hi-Fi H170S3H is certified BIOSTAR 6+ Experience board covering BIOSTAR's expertise: Audio+, Video+, Speed+, Protection+, Durability+ and DIY+.

BIOSTAR's latest gaming products cover both the mainboard and VGA card spaces with two products that offer a sweet spot for performance versus investment in hardware. The motherboard is the Gaming H170T which is the best valued motherboard of the Gaming Skylake platform (other brands are at least $169 and up) and the GPU is the Gaming GeForce GTW980Ti, a 6GB GDDR5, 384bit, full size PCB, high-end 3D graphic solution, supporting NVIDIA's PhyX and CUDA technology at 4K resolutions.

BIOSTAR's latest mainboard, the Gaming H170T is based on Intel's H170 chipset which is a single-chip design that supports Intel 6th generation socket 1151 Intel Core processors. The Gaming H170T comes with Hi-Fi Technology built inside, delivering Blu-Ray audio, Puro Hi-Fi features an integrated independent audio power design with a built-in amplifier. The technology utilizes audio components with an independent power delivery design for a significant reduction in electronic noise producing superb sound quality. Moreover, the Hi-Fi H170T supports USB 3.0, PCIe M.2 (32Gb/s), SATA Express (16Gb/s) and has DisplayPort for monitor output.

The Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA) today announced completion of the Ultra HD Blu-ray specification and released the new logo that will delineate Ultra HD
Blu-ray products. The Ultra HD Blu-ray specification, which represents the work of global leaders from the consumer electronics, IT and content creation industries, will enable delivery of Ultra HD content via Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc to the rapidly growing number of UHD TV households.

"For years, Blu-ray Disc has set the standard for high definition picture and audio quality in the home. Ultra HD Blu-ray will do the same for UHD home entertainment," said Victor Matsuda, chair, BDA Promotions Committee. "The technical capabilities of Blu-ray Disc, in particular its significant storage capacity and high data transfer rates, will enable the delivery of an unparalleled, consistent and repeatable UHD experience."

Pioneer is developing a new media based on the Blu-ray standard, which offers 256 GB of unformatted capacity. The capacity is achieved by recording data in a staggering eight layers, double that of Blu-ray XL, which relies on four layers to achieve 100 GB of capacity. Pioneer claims it has even made strides towards an even newer Blu-ray media that could, in the near future, offer 512 GB of unformatted capacity. The 256 GB Blu-ray disc could prove useful for making large data backups, or even imaging your SSD. Pioneer isn't the only player in the high-capacity optical disc game. Sony and Panasonic collaborated to announce ArchivalDisc, an optical disc that offers 300 GB of capacity, except that it doesn't stick to the Blu-ray standard, and you'll need specially made disc-drives to use them. Since Pioneer's disc builds on the existing Blu-ray standard, it will be cheaper for optical drive makers to adopt it.

Other World Computing (OWC), a leading zero emissions Mac and PC upgrade and storage technology company has upgraded the OWC Mercury Pro External Blu-ray Optical Drive to professional grade 16X BD-R write speeds, 128 GB BDXL compatibility, and high-speed USB 3.0 connectivity.

Read and Write Double, Triple, Quad Layer BD-R Discs
In addition to single and double layer BD-R discs, the Mercury Pro External offers expanded support for up to 100 GB of data on triple layer BDXL-R/BDXL RE discs and up to 128 GB on quad layer BDXL-R discs. For comparison, 128 GBs of data on a single quad layer BDXL disc is the equivalent of 27 standard DVDs or five single layer Blu-ray discs.

Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. today officially released its BDR-XS05 slot loading BD/DVD/CD burner, which can be used in a horizontal or vertical (standing up) position to save on desk space. The slot loading mechanism on the BDR-XS05 adds elegance and a differentiating style to conventional tray or clamshell drives, and is intended for discerning consumers opting for a device that combines technology, performance and great cosmetic appeal.

The versatile and slim BDR-XS05 supports all BDXL discs and includes CyberLink software for Blu-ray and DVD playback, video editing and authoring, and data/file storage. In addition, the drive offers USB 3.0 connectivity for high speed read and write performance.

NZXT is well known manufacturer, specializing in computer cases for real gamers with nice unique and stylish design. Today they release new model with codename Source 530 which has black exterior/interior and a chic NZXT logo, highlighted in white. Next to it we can find two fast USB 3.0 ports and also audio in and out. Front panel is made from special mesh, which helps to keep quiet and efficient airflow inside your PC. As one of the first models on the market, the Source 530 has place to install inside extra fan with pivot feature, which can be rotated manually towards CPU more or on graphic cards, depending on the needs.

At the front cover there are three external 5.25" bays, which can be used to install for example Blu-Ray burner and dual water cooling reservoir. Below them we can find six bays in cages for 3.5" HDDs, where we can install also 2.5" SSD. All the cages all fully modular, what gives the possibility to install even four two-slot graphic cards with maximum length of 444mm. In this situation we can still use one 2.5" slot behind mainboard tray. NZXT Source 530 is not big tower type, but it can still fit all the latest motherboards like E-ATX, ATX, microATX and Mini-ITX. Like it would not be enough, there is also a space to mount water cooling radiators, including the biggest 360mm at the top.

Typical officegoers often don't understand the underlying power distribution with desktop USB hubs, which plug into the computer's rear USB ports, and give out four downstream ports on the desk. When a power-hungry USB device like external HDD or external optical drive is plugged into such downstream ports, it falls short of power, and doesn't work reliably. To address just that, Buffalo rolled out a new line of portable Blu-ray XL writer drives, which give you the flexibility of both bus-only power, and DC power input (referred to by Buffalo as "power boost").

The new BRXL-PC6VU2-C line of portable Blu-ray writers, pictured below, are capable of running bus-powered. If the drive detects it isn't getting enough power from its USB port, it lights up an LED, which prompts you to plug in its AC adapter, which makes up for the power deficit. When bus powered, the drive is limited to low read/write speeds, to keep power draw from the motor low (reliable, prevents write errors). This neat little arrangement makes sure the drive runs smoothly when it's plugged in directly to a computer, and gives you the flexibility of plugging it into a hub. Measuring 145 x 153 x 19 mm (WxDxH), the drive weighs about 340 g. Blu-ray XL 4-layer and 3-layer discs are written at 4X, single- and double-layer Blu-ray at 6X. When bus-powered, it writes all kinds of Blu-ray RE drives at 2X. When "power-boosted," those speeds go up to 6X. DVDs are written at speeds of up to 8X, CDs at 24X. Slated for an early-September launch in Japan, these drives are expected to go for 10,920 JPY (US $112).

MyDigitalSSD delivers where others cannot-Our all-new Super Cache 2 SSD is the world's fastest low density Cache Drive and/or Boot Drive that delivers up to a 50X boost in performance over a standalone HDDstarting at less than the cost of a couple of Blu-Rays. Get a 24GB for $39.99, 32GB for $42.99, 64GB for $62.99, or 128GB for $99.99.

For more details, including real-world benchmark testing using a Lenovo ThinkPad X220, visit this page. Super Cache 2 SSDs are now currently available for preorder here.

Pioneer unveiled the colorful new BDR-XS05J portable Blu-ray XL writer. Its faux-aluminum plastic body can latch on to a selection of four body panels, bushed aluminum, piano black, soft pink, and glossy white. Measuring 135 x 135 x 20.3 mm (WxDxH), and weighing in at 330 g, the drive features a slot-type disc-loading mechanism, and USB 3.0 SuperSpeed. It uses a single cable for both power and data connectivity.

Moving on to its chops as an optical drive, the BDR-XS05J can write single- and double-layer BD-R and BD-R LtH discs at up to 6X, triple- and quadruple-layer ones at 4X, and all kinds of BD-RE discs at 2X. DVDs are written at speeds of up to 8X, and CDs at 24X. Blu-ray discs of all kinds are read at speeds of up to 6X, DVDs at 8X, and CDs at 24X. Bundled software include Cyberlink PowerDVD 10, PowerDirector 10, PowerProducer 5, Power2Go 7 (for pure-read), InstantBurn 5, PowerBackup 2, LabelPrint 2, and MediaShow 6.

Pioneer rolled out a sleek new portable Blu-ray XL drive compatible with Macs, the BDR-XU02JM. Measuring 133 x 133 x 12 mm (WxDxH, without stand), and measuring 245 g, the drive stays slim thanks to its slot-in disc loading mechanism, which along with the silvery metal body, complements the new breed of ODD-less MacBooks.

The BDR-XU02JM from Pioneer can write single- and double-layer BD-R discs at speeds of up to 6X; triple- and quadruple-layer ones at 4X; BD-R (LtH) at 6X, single-, double-, and triple-layer BD-RE discs at 2X, DVDs up to 8X, and CDs up to 24X. The drive uses a single USB 2.0 cable for both host-connectivity and power. It features a 4 MB buffer. It is slated for later this month, beginning with the Japanese market.

TEAC introduced the BD-W512GSA, a cost-effective Blu-ray writer drive designed to make the standard accessible to more PC users. Sold in bulk/OEM packaging priced around €79, the drive can write Blu-ray BD-R discs at 12X speeds, BD-RWs at 8X, double-layer discs around 8X, DVDs at 16X, and CDs at 48X. While it can read triple- and quad-layer discs, it doesn't appear like the drive supports writing the two formats. It is built in the conventional 5.25-inch SATA form-factor, and comes with black and white bezel options.

Pioneer announced the BDR-208JBK, an internal SATA Blu-ray writer drive, which the company claims to have the highest Blu-ray writing speed. The drive can write Blu-ray ROM (BD-R) at 15X, dual-, triple-, and quad-layer BD-R at 14X, 8X, and 6X, respectively. BD-RE discs are written at 2X, DVDs at 16X, and CDs at 40X. The drive features PureRead3+, which lets the drive correct read errors on scratched discs. The drive includes a suite of software by Cyberlink, including PowerDVD 10, PowerDirector, Power2Go 7, InstantBurn 5, and LabelPrint 2.

Pioneer introduced the new BDR-S08J line of internal SATA Blu-ray writer drives in the standard 5.25-inch form-factor. The series includes three variants based on the bezel color, BDR-S08J-W (matte white), BDR-S08J-BK (piano black), and BDR-S08J-KR (rubberized black), pictured in that order below. The drives feature SATA 3 Gb/s interface with 4 MB cache, and are capable of writing Blu-ray disc (BD) -R at 15X, BD-R double-layer at 14X, BR-R triple-layer at 8X, BD-R quadruple-layer at 6X, single-, dual- and triple-layer BD-RE at 6X; DVDs at 16X, and CDs at 40X. The three will include Windows 8-compatible drivers and versions of PowerDVD 10 and PowerDirector 9 software from Cyberlink. The three will reach stores (beginning with Japanese), in mid-November.

Identity theft is something many students take for granted until it happens to them. Laptops and notebook computers are a potential gold mine for thieves unless you encrypt your data, according to Addonics Technologies. The CipherUSB from Addonics provides a simple and inexpensive way to encrypt data stored on flash drives, flash media, USB hard drives as well as Blu-ray, DVD or CD media.

A student's mobile device may include your resume, transcripts, school or internship applications, or financial records? Equally, administrators who use a laptop for their job, may have files such as human resources records, student applications, transcripts, research data or payroll information stored on their system. Should your laptop be lost or stolen, you want the data inside to be electronically inaccessible.

Keeping your data safe is important. That's why Thecus is manufacturing state-of-the-art devices that make managing your data storage look like a piece of cake! But what do you do when you reach the limit of storage of your hard drives? You could of course by bigger disks, a NAS with more bays or add some external hard drives connected through USB 3.0 or eSATA ports. The cost can add up pretty quick and not everyone can afford all this material.

A more economical and simpler approach to free up some space on your NAS is to transfer your data onto something permanent that can be stored away. Those photos and videos that you haven't watched in years, those projects in 2002 that are no more needed for reference, things you don't want to get rid of because you know the minute you do, Murphy's Law will kick in and you'll need them again.

Closely trailing I-O Data, Buffalo Japan launched its portable Blu-ray XL writer drive, the BRXL-14U3. The drive implements USB 3.0 to ensure there are no bandwidth bottlenecks to affect buffer overrun protection, which writing discs at high speeds. Speaking of speeds, this drive is capable of writing BD-R single layer at 14X, double-layer BD-R at 12X, triple/quadruple-layer BDXL-R at 6X, and BD-RE XL at 2X. It features DTCP-enabled disc writing, with its bundled Buffalo DiXiM BD Burner 2011 software. Cyberlink-made Blu-ray 3D playback software is included. Slated for late-April, the BRXL-14U3 is priced at 23,205 JPY (US $286).

Logitec Japan launched a new line of USB 3.0-compatible portable Blu-ray writer drives, under the LBD-PME6U3 series. The drives rely on a single USB 3.0 connection to the host for both power and connectivity. The drives are capable of burning Blu-ray discs at speeds of up to 6X. The drives come in three main variants, and three color options. The LBD-PME6U3V includes TotalMediaExtreme 2 Blu-ray authoring software, the LBD-PME6U3LBK includes a lighter version of the same software, TotalMediaRecord 2, while the LBD-PME6U3MSV includes just ROXIO Toast 11 Titanium.

These three are available in three color options, black, silver, and red, on the top-panel. This top-panel is made of rugged brushed aluminum. Measuring 136 x 142 x 19 mm (WxDxH), these drives weigh about 300 g. Prices start at 9,555 JPY (US $117), and go all the way up to 21,525 JPY (US $265).

I-O Data introduced the BRP-U6C line of portable Blu-ray drives. Capable or reading quad-layer and triple-layer (Blu-ray XL) discs at 4X speed, the drives read single and double-layer Blu-ray discs at 6X speed, and BD-RE at 2X. Apart from that, DVD±R discs are read at speeds of up to 8X, and CDs at speeds up to 24X. These drives are available in three color options, Pearl White (BRP-U6C), Piano Black (BRP-U6CK), and Oriental Red (BRP-U6CR). Measuring 140 x 147 x 19 mm (WxHxD), weighing about 300 g. The drives are bus-powered. Available now, the BRP-U6C from I-O Data is priced at 11,500 JPY (US $139).