OCZ has announced the expansion of its peripherals under the Alchemy line with Illuminati backlit multimedia keyboard.

OCZ claims the Illuminati "won't leave you in the dark". The keys can be backlit with either red or blue LEDs. It features 14 multimedia and internet hotkeys, to help users manage music, web, and video applications with the touch of a button. The sleek design and rubber coated keys improve both tactile feel and user comfort.

Ryan Edwards, Director of Product Management at the OCZ Technology Group commented, “The Illuminati Keyboard offers multimedia consumers a host of features including rubber coated keys for comfort while both working and gaming, fourteen quick launch keys to better access to multimedia, and the choice of two backlit colors making it easier to make full use of the keyboard in low light environments.”

OCZ says Illuminati features an extremely reliable lifestyle of 5 million cycles, and is compatible with Windows XP (SP2 or later) and Windows Vista. With its plug and play feature, there's no need for additional drivers.

Sony has announced finger vein authentication technology called "Mofiria." Sony says it offers higher accuracy on personal identification and forgery resistance because it uses the veins inside the human body. Finger vein patterns differ from person to person and do not change over the years. The user-friendly technology can be mounted on mobile devices such as a personal computer or mobile phone.

Mofiria uses a unique method where a CMOS sensor diagonally captures scattered light inside the finger veins. The captured finger vein image, and data from the pattern is compressed into the size of one-tenth to store in memory. The position of a placed finger is automatically and simultaneously corrected. Sony claims authentication accuracy of less than 0.1% for the FRR (False Rejection Rate) and less than 0.0001% for the FAR (False Acceptance Rate). Identification takes only about 0.015 sec using a personal computer CPU and about 0.25 sec when using a mobile phone CPU.

Sony says it plans to commercialize mofiria in the 2009 fiscal year, incorporating it into mobile devices, gateway security systems and solution services.

LaCie has announced d2 Blu-ray Drive that burn Blu-ray discs up to 8x standard data writing rates.

The LaCie d2 Blu-ray Drive can pack up to 50 GB of data, or four hours of high-definition video, on a single Blu-ray disc. The drive features a pair of firewire 400 and USB 2.0 connectivity for high-speed throughput between the drive and a PC or Mac.

“With the doubling of the speed to burn Blu-ray discs, video professionals will be able to spend more time creating content and less time on production,” said Christelle Dexet, Multimedia Product Manager for LaCie. “And for those who need to safely store large quantities of information for extended periods of time on secure removable media, the LaCie d2 Blu-ray Drive is an ideal solution.”

The LaCie d2 Blu-ray Drive comes bundled with the newly revised Easy Media Creator 10 and Toast 9 Titanium software, that lets users master video and audio files onto Blu-ray, DVD and CD discs. Users can also schedule backups for data files, edit videos, create audio mixes and much more.

It supports a dozen Blu-ray, DVD and CD formats, including BD-ROM, BD-ROM AACS, BD-R, BD-RE, DVD±R, CD-R and others. It also records DVDs at up to 16X, CDs up to 48X, and supports dual-layer DVD recording for up to 8x.

The drive is available now with the cost starting at $449.99.

With Logitech G9 Laser Mouse, gamers have the ability to tune their mouse for the way they play - including features such as weight tuning, interchangeable grips and custom-color LEDs. Logitech now introduces G9 Laser Mouse ID Grip to make it even more personal with the image of your choice printed on the palm area of the grip.

You can choose from a gallery of designs created by Logitech, or provide your favorite image. A rub- and fade-proof image is applied with a specially designed custom printing process that infuses it into the surface of the grip. This helps to provide a durable image that won’t fade even after intense gaming.

“In surveying gamers who own a Logitech mouse, we learned that more than 65 percent want to mod their hardware,” said Rory Dooley, Logitech senior vice president and general manager of the Control Devices business unit. “The Logitech G9 Laser Mouse ID Grip provides gamers with a new level of personalization.”

Logitech’s grip also presents a new shape. The broad-shaped grip provides exceptional palm and wrist support during gameplay, and can make even those gamers with large hands feel comfortable. A soft-touch side grip offers a comfortable texture that feels good during short gaming sessions and epic battles. The ID Grip can be attached or detached with the push of a button.

Logitech G9 Laser Mouse ID Grip is available online at Logitech for $20 in the U.S. only.

Link: Logitech

NewerTech has announced Voyager, the world’s first ‘Quad Interface’ SATA I/II Hard Drive Docking Station supporting FireWire 800/400, USB 2.0, and eSATA. It can turn any 2.5" or 3.5" SATA I/II hard drive up to 2.0TB into a fully bootable and hot-swappable external drive solution.

Voyager provides Plug and Play ease of use for a fast external hard drive solution that works with both Macs and PCs. User needs to insert any standard 2.5" or 3.5" SATA I/II hard drive (up to 2.0TB) into Voyager’s compact docking base and select the fastest of the four interfaces for read/write data speeds of up to 3.0Gb/s. The dock also supports hot-swapping functionality for fast access of multiple hard drives.

The weighted base and non skid rubber feet help in stable operation, while offering push button drive eject for safe hard drive removal.

Voyager includes all its supported interface connector cables and an auto-switching power supply for worldwide compatibility. NewerTech Voyager is available at MSRP of $100.

Link: NewerTech
 

Blockbuster has introduced the 2Wire MediaPoint digital media player, offering movie fans instant access through their television sets to thousands of titles from the latest movie releases to classic favorites.

The MediaPoint player is being offered free with advance rental of 25 Blockbuster OnDemand films for $99. After the initial 25 rentals, movies will be available for as little as $1.99 each.

The MediaPoint digital media player works seamlessly with any broadband connection, either wirelessly via built-in Wi-Fi or wired via Ethernet cable. The player uses progressive playback, not streaming, so the video quality is consistent irrespective of the internet connection. Movies can be played right away or saved to watch later. Additionally, the player supports HD video content and can be connected to HDTVs. It can be integrated seamlessly into home entertainment systems through composite cable, HDMI, component cable, or Toslink.

"The MediaPoint digital player, featuring BLOCKBUSTER ONDEMAND, is entertainment made easy. We are bringing Blockbuster, and the thousands of movies in our digital library, straight to customers' televisions," said Jim Keyes, Blockbuster Chairman and CEO. "The player is simple to use, delivers DVD quality video, and there's no monthly subscription commitment.”

Link: Blockbuster

Nokia has announced a smart home platform, Nokia Home Control Center, offering the basis for next generation security, smart home solutions and household energy management systems.

Nokia Home Control Center is based on an open Linux based platform enabling the home owner to build a technology-neutral smart home that can be controlled with a mobile phone, using a unified user interface. Nokia says it supports the most common smart home technologies, including Z-Wave. It allows third parties to integrate their own smart home solutions and services.

It will allow consumers to monitor and control their electricity usage, switch devices on and off, and monitor different objects, such as temperature, camera, and motion. In future, entire systems within the home can be connected to the Nokia platform. All solutions based on Nokia Home Control Center can be used through a smart phone or PC locally or remotely.

"We see there is growth potential in the smart home market", said Teppo Paavola, Vice President, Head of Corporate Business Development, Nokia. "The home of today has intelligence everywhere, but to date there has not been a solution that is interoperable with wide range of home systems that can easily be controlled. We believe that the mobile device is an ideal interface to control home intelligence, especially when the user is not at home."

Nokia expects the solution to become commercially available by the end of 2009.

Link: Nokia

TiVo has teamed up with Domino's to offer its broadband connected subscribers the pizza on demand. Tivo subscribers can order pizza for delivery or pick-up, and track delivery timing, right from their TV sets using the TiVo service.

The subscribers can access their Domino's Pizza order from various advertising entry points on the TiVo user interface where they have to click on “Order Your Dominos Pizza Now.

TiVo subscribers can set-up a user name and password on Dominos.com so that they can simply log-in with a simple account number while placing the order. They can also enter their delivery address, build their pizza order right from the television set by selecting type of crust, toppings, and sauces, and get the pizza delivered by their local Domino’s Pizza.

Karen Bressner, Senior Vice President of Advertising Sales, TiVo Inc said, “With just a few clicks of the remote, TiVo users can pause their program, order a pizza, and then sit back, relax, and return to their favorite show without missing a single second. Now, TiVo delivers the absolute best television viewing experience…and a pizza.”

The new service is offered free to all broadband connected TiVo subscribers and supports both delivery and pick-up orders. Viewers are required to pay in cash when the pizza is delivered.

Link: Tivo

Cygnett has unveiled GrooveNeo dock, an iPod accessory that works as a speaker system and alarm clock. With GrroveNeo, you can wake up to your favourite iPod tracks, AM/FM radio or buzzer

It features large format digital time displays and touch-sensitive keys for easy programming and operation. The dual 2.75” full-range speakers bring power & energy to every track on your playlist with real-time bass response. The easy dock & play system charges your iPod while it plays.

A full-function remote is also provided to control both your iPod and GrooveNeo. The GrooveNeo dock is available now for $90.

Link: Cygnett

Logitech has unveiled the cordless Logitech diNovo Keyboard, Mac Edition offering a comfortable typing experience with its PerfectStroke key system.

With its high-gloss, semi-translucent Plexiglas frame, sharp angles and thin profile, the new diNovo keyboard promises to be the perfect companion to your Mac desktop, with all the buttons in the familiar Mac-style layout in a slim, easy-to-use layout.

It also offers one-touch access to Mail, Safari, iTunes, Exposé, Cover Flow, Dashboard, QuickLook and Spaces. Further, Play, Pause, Mute and Volume buttons simplify media control.

The diNovo Keyboard, Mac Edition employs Logitech’s advanced 2.4 GHz wireless technology to reduces interference, effectively eliminating delays and dropouts.

Compatible with any Mac computer, including the MacBook Air, iMac, MacBook or MacBook Pro, the Logitech diNovo Keyboard, Mac Edition cordless keyboard is available in the U.S. and Europe for $99.99.

Link: Logitech