The Crew Motorfest Season 2 kicked off on December 6, marking the start of the game's partnership with Hoonigan, a brand focused on building custom cars capable of performing difficult and precise driving - and looking cool while doing it. Hoonigan is known for their series of Gymkhana films, which feature rally driver and Hoonigan co-founder Ken Block performing incredible stunts in major cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, Mexico City, and more. They also created a YouTube series called This vs. That, which pits two customized cars against one another in a best-of-three drag race, and will frequently post new videos highlighting new and upcoming car builds. According to Hoonigan co-founder Brian Scotto, the company's mission statement (other than not to have a mission statement) is to be nimble and have fun, all in service of entertaining their audience (and themselves).

For Season 2, Hoonigan has completely taken over The Crew Motorfest, bringing a new Playlist, Gymkhaha Grid Masters, as well as curated weekly events on the Main Stage, monthly challenges, a car playground just offshore of the main island, and, of course, bespoke Hoonigan cars that can be earned by completing challenges or purchased from the in-game store. Some of the vehicles include Scotto's 1993 Porsche 911 Turbo TWB, Scotto's 1990 Audi Coupé Quattro, the 1965 Ford Hoonicorn Mustang, the 1988 Chevrolet Big Block ZZ632 Camaro, and the Audi S1 E-Tron Quattro Hoonitron 2021, among many others.

Japanese display maker Mitsubishi Electric unveiled a pair of new DiamondCrysta Wide series 23-inch LCD monitors, the RDT234WX-Z and RDT234WX-3D (pictured in that order), enhanced for display input from smartphones and mobile devices. Both displays feature 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution, 120 Hz refresh rate, and as low as 3.2 ms (GTG) response time. While the RDT234WX-Z features 350 cd/m² brightness 178° viewing angles on both axes, and 5000:1 static contrast ratio; the RDT234WX-3D features 240 cd/m² brightness, 8000:1 static contrast ratio, 178° viewing angles, and includes stereoscopic 3D glasses. Both monitors need dual-link DVI to perform optimally, though HDMI and D-Sub are supported, while limiting refresh-rate.

Mitsubishi made an addition to its DiamondCrysta Wide series with the RDT272WX-BK, a 27-inch widescreen LCD monitor. It utilizes an IPS LCD panel with 1920x1080 pixels resolution, 3.5 ms response time, 178°/178° H/V viewing angles, 8,000:1 contrast ratio, 250 cd/m² brightness, and panel power consumption of 39W. Display inputs include TV, 2x HDMI, 1x DVI, and 1x D-Sub. 6W stereo speakers are included. Measuring 643 x 230 x 444 mm (WxDxH), the RDT272WX-BK weighs about 6.6 kg. It is slated for mid-June.

Freecom, part of the Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Group and award-winning manufacturer of external hard drives and portable storage devices, today unveiled the Hard Drive Sq, a 3.5" external hard drive with an innovative square form factor. With its unique appearance and state-of-the-art technology, the Hard Drive Sq strikes a perfect balance between elegant design and practicality. In addition to being able to back up and store files on a computer, the drive connects directly to a TV set for USB recording and playback, enabling users to store and watch their favourite shows quickly and easily.

"With the Hard Drive Sq, you can really put the information you need at your fingertips - whether it is on your PC, laptop of even a TV screen," said Cas de Heus, marketing and communications manager EUMEA at Freecom. "From a practical point of view, the Hard Drive Sq is everything you would expect from a high-quality external hard drive in that it is fast, easy to use and visually stunning - but the ability to plug it into a TV set gives it an additional edge. People are changing the way that they watch television and with so much great content to choose from, many are opting to record and playback the programmes that they would most like to watch. The Hard Drive Sq enables users to make the most of this by reliably expanding their TV's storage capacity."

Mitsubishi Electric Japan, launched a duo of 23-inch widescreen LED-backlit LCD monitors under its DiamondCrysta Wide series, the RDT234WX and RDT234WX-S. The two differ with the RDT234WX having an anti-glare matte coating, while the RDT234WX-S lacks it. The monitors are backed by IPS panels the provide richer color reproduction, with 1920x1080 pixels resolution, and response time as low as 3.5 ms, if its Overdrive feature is enabled. Both monitors provide 1000:1 contrast ratio (8000:1 DCR), 250 cd/m² maximum brightness, and display inputs that include two HDMI, one DVI, and a D-Sub. 545 x 170 x 394 mm (WxDxH), these monitors weigh around 4.9 kg. Other features include 2+2W stereo speakers and TV tuning (optional). The RDT234WX is slated for May 16, and the RDT234WX-S for June 15.

Mitsubishi Electronics announced its latest consumer display, the DiamondCrysta RDT233WX-Z. This 23.6-inch monitor uses a matte IPS panel that is LED-backlit, and is capable of 120 Hz refresh rate at its native resolution of 1920 x 1080, making it ideal for stereo 3D applications such as Blu-ray 3D and gaming. It is backed by a response time of 5 ms (GTG). Other vital stats include maximum brightness of 350 cd/m², dynamic contrast ratio of 5,000:1, and viewing angles of 178°/178°. Display inputs include two HDMI 1.4, and one each of DVI and D-Sub. To top it off, there's a pair of inbuilt 3W stereo speakers. The Mitsubishi DiamondCrysta RDT233WX-Z is slated for market release on June 29, in Japan. Its price is not known.

Japanese display maker Mitsubishi released its latest addition to the DiamondCrysta series, the RDT233WX-3D. This 23-inch LED-backlit LCD monitor with stereoscopic 3D capabilities uses an in-plane switching (IPS) panel that can provide 178°/178° viewing angles. With full-HD resolution (1920 x 1080), the panel features response time of 3.8 ms (GTG), a honest-sounding 5,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio (1,000:1 static contrast), and its display inputs include HDMI 1.4, DVI, and D-Sub.

The Mitsubishi DiamondCrysta RDT233WX-3D features stereo 3D support, and bundles a pair of 3D glasses; Giga Clear II image enhancement engine that adjusts various image parameters dynamically to give out the best image quality; and PIP (picture-in-picture) function. 2W stereo speakers are embedded. Its stand is designed to allow height and tilt adjustments. Slated for release by the end of May, the Mitsubishi DiamondCrysta RDT233WX-3D is expected to be priced at 52,800 JPY (US $645).

Mitsubishi Electric announced a new premium 27" monitor. The RDT271WV packs a full-HD (1920 x 1080) panel that is LED-backlit, has a maximum brightness of 300 cd/m², 25,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, and 6.5 ms response time. Display connectivity includes a Japanese D5 port, DVI, D-Sub, and HDMI. It also packs a set of 3W stereo speakers. Available in Japan, the RDT271WV is priced at ¥52,800 (around $633).

Mitsubishi introduced the VISEO MDT231WG, one of the first 120 Hz monitors that make use of an IPS panel for better image quality. Further, it makes use of LED-backlit illumination for great viewing angles. This 23-inch panel provides full-HD (1920 x 1080) resolution, 5.5 ms response time, 350 cd/m² maximum brightness, and contrast ratios of 900:1 CRO, 5,000:1 DCR.

Features are a plenty, there's a 2.1 speaker set with 2x 3W stereo and 5W sub-woofer, Mitsubishi MPIII and GIGA Clear II image engine that work to enhance image quality, and connectivity that includes D5 digital port, S-Video, component, D-SUB, DVI-D, analog audio in/out and digital optical. Set to release in Japan, it costs around ¥116,800 (around US $1,400).

As many as nine major chip vendors were fined a total of 331 million Euros (US $404.2 million) for participating in illegal price-fixing activities, by the European Union authorities. These include Samsung, Hynix, Nanya, Elpida, Infineon, NEC, Toshiba, Hitachi, and Mitsubishi. A 10th company in this price-fixing cartel was Micron Technology, which escaped the fine for exposing the malpractice to the EU authorities. Of these Samsung was given the single biggest fine of 146 million Euros, followed by Infineon at 57 million Euros. The fines were reduced by 10% because all companies extended cooperation in the investigations.

The price-fixing cartel mostly involved bad trade of DRAM chips, and was active between 1998 and 2002, operating with a network of contacts which secretly exchanged pricing information. They colluded to fix prices of DRAM chips sold to major PC and server manufacturers. Investigations in the scam began in 2002 when Micron blew the whistle on the cartel. "By acknowledging their participation in a cartel the companies have allowed the Commission to bring this long-running investigation to a close and to free up resources to investigate other suspected cartels," said EU's Competition Commissioner, Joaquin Almunia. "As the procedure is applied to new cases it is expected to speed up investigations significantly," he added.

Mitsubishi's latest display boast of an industry first in double-speed interpolation, a technique of combining 60 Hz images for a more fluid 120 Hz output. The RDT232WM-Z which carries this feature, is a 23-inch TN panel monitor with 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution, 3 ms response time, 1000:1 contrast ratio, 3W stereo speakers, and inputs which include DVI, D-Sub, and HDMI as display connectivity. It will be available in the Japanese market from June 11.

Mitsubishi Electric released the Diamondcrysta WIDE RDT232WX. This 23-inch LCD display comes in two variants, that with glossy screen, and that with a matte (anti-glare) screen. The panel has a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels with 3.8 ms of response time (GTG), 1000:1 contrast ratio (5000:1 dynamic), 300 cd/m², and 3W stereo speakers. Inputs include DVI, D-Sub, and HDMI. The variant with the glossy screen will be priced at US $464 and that with the matte screen at $484, when the two release later this month in Japan.

The Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA) today announced the finalization and release of the "Blu-ray 3D" specification. The specification, which represents the work of the leading Hollywood studios and consumer electronic and computer manufacturers, will enable the home entertainment industry to bring the 3D experience into consumers' living rooms on Blu-ray Disc, the most capable high definition home entertainment platform.

"Throughout this year, movie goers have shown an overwhelming preference for 3D when presented with the option to see a theatrical release in either 3D or 2D," said Victor Matsuda, chairman, BDA Global Promotions Committee. "We believe this demand for 3D content will carry over into the home now that we have, in Blu-ray Disc, a medium that can deliver a quality Full HD 3D experience to the living room."

The "Blu-ray 3D" specification fully leverages the technical advantages of the Blu-ray Disc format to deliver unmatched picture quality as well as uniformity and compatibility across the full range of Blu-ray 3D products, both hardware and software. Notably, the specification allows every Blu-ray 3D player and movie to deliver Full HD 1080p resolution to each eye, thereby maintaining the industry leading image quality to which Blu-ray Disc viewers are accustomed. Moreover, the specification is display agnostic, meaning that Blu-ray 3D products will deliver the 3D image to any compatible 3D display, regardless of whether that display uses LCD, Plasma or other technology and regardless of what 3D technology the display uses to deliver the image to the viewer's eyes.

Mitsubishi made a return to black with the Viseo MDT243WG satin black. This 24.1 inch LCD monitor has a native resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels (WUXGA), and comes with a matte-black finish. The panel has a static contrast ratio of 1000:1, maximum brightness of 500 cd/m², and access time of 5 ms. It takes input from two HDMI connectors (perhaps to connect to different sources of video and audio, or different audio/video sources altogether). Apart from HDMI, DVI-D, S-video and D-Sub are available. The monitor embeds a stereo 2x 5W speaker set. At 99,800 Yen (€745), it's your average professional-grade monitor.