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Ritek boasting ten-layer HD DVD / Blu-ray discs?
Forget single-layer media, that dual-layer stuff that was all the rage last year, and even the triple-layered flavor that got announced just days ago. Heck, even an eight-layer disc would be forced to bow down to the sure-to-be-outdone-soon ten-layer rendition supposedly crafted by Ritek. No sooner than we all celebrated the idea of a 51GB HD DVD, Ritek has reportedly "designed HD media with a full ten layers," not to mention the supposed three- and four-layer coasters it has laying around while working its way up. As if that weren't impressive enough, it also claims that this multi-layer process can be applied to both HD DVD and Blu-ray, a feat that Toshiba's recent creation can't quite compete with. Of course, Ritek officials were quick to point out that the "real barrier to this advancement is the lack of reader / writer laser diodes to support the additional layers," but if there really are 250GB BD discs just waiting to get spun, those lasers aren't too far behind.[Via Slashdot]
Researchers develop metamaterial with negative refractive index
We've got next-to-invisible objects and cameras with ridiculously large sensors, and thanks to a team of brilliant researchers over in Germany, now we've got "an exotic material with a negative refractive index for visible light." Gunnar Dolling and his colleagues at the University of Karlsruhe in Germany have created a metamaterial with layers of silver sandwiching a thin sliver of nonconducting magnesium fluoride on a glass sheet, and once an array of square holes were etched in, his tests showed that the "structure had a negative refractive index of -0.6 for light with a wavelength of 780-nanometers," besting the previous record of 1,400-nanometers. While the scientific babble may not mean much to you, the long and short of it is that this discovery could "lead to further breakthroughs in invisibility cloaks, which could hide objects from the human eye" and make escaping your troubles quite a bit easier. Moreover, the technology could be used in "superlenses" to see details "finer than the wavelength of visible light," but Dolling is reportedly more interested in studying the effects of his discovery than attempting to build any mystical devices, which is probably for the good of mankind, anyway.[Via Slashdot]
Samsung's VM-DC560 26x optical zoom camcorder
Ever since the first digital camcorders hit the market, manufacturers have competed with each other to see who could up the digital zoom on their cameras to the highest level, each time proudly displaying their camera's capability to turn light into pixelated nonsense with stickers on the side of the lens. Although Samsung is guilty of placing absurdly high digital zooms on its cameras as well, the company's recent unveiling of the VM-DC560 with a 26x optical zoom -- which doesn't result in quality degradation, unlike digital zooms -- certainly makes amends. Besides the peeping tom's best friend of a lens, the VM-DC560 also includes a 1.1 megapixel CCD (presumably for still shots), a dual layer recordable mini-DVD drive, and a 2.6 inch widescreen LCD, all in a relatively standard looking gray case. No word on pricing or availability, although we'd bet on birdwatchers in the far east being the first to get their hands on it.
Hack your Mac Pro SuperDrive for fun and profit
It's not uncommon for computer manufacturers to swap and switch out various components for similar or near-identical parts during a production run, and Apple has been known to partake in this practice in the past. That being said, occasionally a manufacturer will use a part which has a slightly higher build quality or performance than its counterpart in other machines and simply throttle down the performance of the superior part through firmware.Although some of the new Mac Pro towers ship with the familiar Pioneer DVR-111D optical drive, the majority of the systems contain the apparently non-existent Sony DW-D150A. I say non-existent because the ubergeeks over at HardMac noticed that DW-D150A isn't a recognized Sony model number. After some more thorough research, it came to light that the drives billed as Sony DW-D150A are in actuality NEC 4570 mechanisms. You're probably asking yourself right about now why on earth I'm going on about something as innocuous as differing model numbers, and in most cases, you'd be right to question my sanity. However, in this rare instance, I have reached through the haze of confusion that normally clouds my mind, and at least for now I have a firm grip on the real world. The significance is this: The NEC 4570 kicks the pants off the Sony DW-D150A in almost all aspects of reading and writing, and has some extra features to boot.Sony: - DVD -/+R 16x - DVD+R DL 8x - DVD+RW 8x - DVD-RW 6x - CD-RW 32X - CD-R 32XNEC:- DVD -/+R 16x - DVD-R/ DL 8x - DVD+RW 8x - DVD-RW 6x - DVD-RAM 5x - CD-RW 32x - CD-R 48xNaturally, Apple has locked down the specifications of the NEC 4570 to keep things fair, but that doesn't mean we can't do a bit of hacking and regain all that sweet sweet performance. A few simple commands in the terminal, some pixie dust, and a little bit of luck, and you've got yourself one speedy optical drive. Disclaimer, Disclaimer, Disclaimer: Needless to say (but I'll say it anyway) this hack is totally unsupported by Apple, and there is no guarantee you won't brick your SuperDrive. Attempt at your own risk.
My theory on why Apple isn't including Blu-ray drives in Macs
Engadget HD linked a theory from Robert X. Cringely as to why Apple hasn't included Blu-ray drives in any of their Macs yet (it isn't even an option in the Mac Pro), despite being on the board of the Blu-ray Disc Association. Mr. Cringely more or less links the lack of Blu-ray in Macs to movies and Apple's strategy with downloadable iTS content and the upcoming iTV. The thinking goes: if Apple can sell you a downloadable movie through the iTS and an iTV on which to watch it - why undercut that model with a Blu-ray drive built right into the machine?I disagree. There's plenty of other uses and potential (heck, they can hold up to 50GB) in these warring next generation optical formats (Blu-ray and their mortal enemy, HD-DVD), and that's exactly the point: these formats are in the middle of an industry polarizing war, and I think Apple hasn't committed to including either in their machines because they don't want risk leaving their customers high and dry once the dust settles and (dear lord, finally) one format wins out. The iTS/movie downloads/iTV theory doesn't hold water in my book also because that would mean they should eliminate CD and DVD drives from their machines - after all, those drives can undercut their iTunes Store music and movie purchases, right? These discs can hold a lot more than simple movies.This ridiculous Blu-ray/HD-DVD situation is Betamax vs. VHS all over again, and while Apple is known for pushing the envelope on which technologies they adopt, I believe they're simply waiting for an actual standard to emerge. The only question is when these camps are going to get over themselves and stop forcing consumers to stock up on Advil for every trip to the electronics store.
Samsung @ CEDIA - HDMI optical extender - DAB-OC10
Samsung is trying to break into the custom install market with their HDMI optical extender. This little device will take an HDMI signal and send it down any optical cable (30 meter comes with it) to the other receiver. The DAB-OC10 will be available 'soon' at a price of $350. Don't expect this device to end up at a Circuit City or Best Buy near you though, even though that is where it should be, Samsung is presenting this device to the custom install market.More pics after the jump.
Mobile Phone Telescope for crappy telephoto photography
We'd almost get excited about this optical 6x attachment if it supported any decent cameraphones, but the compatibility list shows all of three devices: the Nokia 6230 / 6230i and 6680. Granted, the entire back of the phone has to be replaced, but throw us a bone, guys: the 6230 has a VGA camera and the 6230i and 6680 (with its 6682 sibling) don't do much better with 1.3 megapixels. That's alright -- can't be too comfortable in the pocket, anyway.
The EEM-GTMS-300BK finger mouse
Being that we're not precisely masters of the Japanese language -- written or spoken (that's why we have Engadget Japan after all) -- we're not even sure who the makes this thing, but it looks like the cleverly named EEM-GTMS-300BK finger mouse is now available (at least across the Pacific). The mouse straps onto your finger, and it should work on any surface thanks to the 800 dpi optical sensor, not unlike your run of the mill optical mouse. The device itself weighs 35 grams and, as you can see, isn't wireless, although you can convientently (and we use the word loosely here, people) wrap up the cable with the finger strap. It also appears to be Windows only, but doesn't require a specialized driver and is shown plugged into a Mac, so who knows. List price looks to be 4,980 Yen ($45US), but at least one Japanese online retailer is selling it for as little as 3,140 Yen ($28US), a real deal if this is actually something you've been looking for (and happen to live overseas).[Via Akihabara News]
Microsoft goes "HD" with Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse 3000
Microsoft has upgraded its Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse with "High Definition Optical Technology" tracking technology, which the company boasts puts its mice "two generations ahead" of other pointing devices. According to Microsoft, the Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse works at 1,000 dpi, captures 6,000 frames per second, uses a low-powered chip to conserve battery power, and offers smoother tracking on any surface. Not bad for a $30 mouse that doesn't even use a laser. A desktop version, the Wireless Optical Mouse 2000 will also be available for $30, while the Laser Mouse 5000 will be priced at $50. As for Microsoft's appropriation of the term "High Definition," we'll have to cut them a break, given that Logitech and other rodent-makers also use the term for their high-DPI pointers.
