Buffalo’s upcoming internal and external BD recorder units can burn both single or double-layer BDs up to a sizzling 8x speed, and DVD ±R up to 16x. Of course Blu-ray technology is going to improve, probably following a similar pattern to DVD burning tech. But here’s a funny: these drives use Panasonic SW-5584 units inside… and the speed may actually outstrip the currently fastest available Blu-ray burnable discs. Amusing, and a situation that can’t last long. The drives are SATA-based (with USB 2 on the external unit) and will be available in Japan at first for around $380 for the internal and US$440 for the external drive. [PCWatch]
Yep, we’re still hating on the politicians today. This time though, it’s the pollies who not only want their crackers, but want to edit them on Wikipedia as well.
Online Young Journalist of the Year Asher Moses over at SMH (congrats Asher!) tells us that the politicians changing their own entries to remove information that is either incorrect or biased. What’s more, Parliamentary Librarian Roxanne Missingham is emailing MPs instructions on how to do it.
The problem with this is that it contravenes Wikipedia’s conflict of interest guidelines. And while most edits have been done simply to correct factual errors, there are some changes that remove criticisms of the politicians, or remove biographical information, like Alexander Downer’s wealthy family background.
The ABC just sent out a press release stating that in the first 24 hours after going live, their iView online service has had 58,000 unique vistors, 130,000 views and they streamed 2.3TB worth of video.
If that doesn’t indicate that there’s a market for free, easy and legal video downloads online, then nothing ever will. So Channels 7, 9 and 10… When are we going to see a decent offering from you guys?
And while we’re asking for stuff, how long until we get some more local TV programming on iTunes? Come on networks – stop dragging your feet. You’re losing money and credibility.
There are two things that this Friday seems to be missing here on Giz. The first one is beer. The second is a healthy dose of rage. I’m hoping that the first one naturally turns into the second, although after watching the video above, I’m actually thinking that it might work the other way around.
You see, Logan over at Kotaku got pointed in the direction of this clips from ABC program Q&A. It’s a fairly new show that lets people in the audience ask questions of politicians and their kind about topical current events.
As you can see from the video, the topic in question here is the need for an R18+ rating for games in Australia. What spews forth from the politicians’ mouths is something many would find more offensive than any super-violent game – total ignorance. This wouldn’t be so bad if they admitted they weren’t in a position to make any kind of judgment, but instead most of them used it as an opportunity to propagate their own beliefs and opinions without a passing consideration for the facts.
I just got to play with a phone that had been waterproofed using the Golden Shellback technology, and it was pretty amazing, not to mention legit. In the video above, Golden Shellback inventor Sid Martin took a Golden Shellbacked BB Pearl, started a call, dropped it in a glass of ice water, and it all worked without a hitch. galleryPost('shellbacked', 3, '');
Is GTA 4 a murder simulator? Probably not, but any game based on Showtime’s Dexter damn well better be. According to a tweet by TV squad, a Dexter game is on its way to the iPhone and will be detailed later tonight at the Dexter Comic-con panel. Will we be able to use the iPhone’s accelerometer to bludgeon victims? Or cut up body parts by drawing them (with multiple fingertips) on the screen? Only time will tell–because Dexter himself surely won’t. [TVSquad]
Remember those Sony Vaio notebooks from last week that featured the same keyboard style as the Macbooks? They’ve been priced and dated for Australia.
While this generally isn’t the most exciting news you’re likely to come across on a Friday, it does help me cope with a fairly slow news day.
Prices start at $1,999 and reach the lofty heights of $3,399. But all the juicy bits are lying in the press release which can be found below the fold.
Of course, if you have something a little bit more exciting for us here at Giz AU, don’t forget to send us a tip!
HP may already have an Eee PC competitor in its 2133 mini-notebook, but that $899 starting price isn’t exactly catering to the Eee PC’s market – people who wanta no-frills, cheap and functional mini-notebook.
That’s why HP are looking at following up the 2133 with a low-cost model, sacrificing some of the durability and premium hardware and software options for price, according to APC.
If you’re hanging out to get your hands on a HP-branded mini-notebook, apparently they’ll be landing later this year, although there’s no word on what kind of engine will be running under the hood – the 2133 currently uses the Via C7-M processor, although APC reckons HP will follow the rest of the market in moving to the new Intel Atom chip.
[APC Mag]
Microsoft has a secret new operating system they’re showing to XP-using Vista haters, reports Cnet’s Ina Fried. Codenamed “Mojave,” over 90 percent of the focus groups in San Francisco loved it, with at least one moved to effuse, “Oh wow,” while using it. When can you get hold of this wondrous new operating system? Right now. Mojave is actually just plain ol’ Windows Vista.
Gear Live has word that Apple is beta testing iPhone’s 2.1 firmware and will add more GPS functionality to the phone. Specifically, the core location functions will be able to track what direction you’re moving, and how fast (for turn-by-turn navigation, maybe?). Also worth noting is that iPhone SDK 2.1 is also seeding to beta testers, but cannot be used with the app store. [Gear Live]
