Lite-On has launched its new-generation HDD/DVD recorder, the HD-A970GX, in a move to respond to the growing popularity of high-definition video market.

Philips Research has announced at ISOM 2006, the International Symposium on Optical Materials conference held this past week in Japan, important new developments involving near-field recording technology.

Sony seems to be determined to block any import of the upcoming Playstation 3 games console into Europe before its official release.

Google's new aquisition YouTube has removed 29,549 video files from the popular Web site after receiving a demand from a group of Japanese media companies over copyright infringement.

The AllofMp3 website which is based in Moscow and which the U.S. Commerce Department has branded the world's highest-volume online seller of pirated music plans to release hundreds of thousands of albums free, the site said.

Apple may be preparing to support not only Blu-ray Disc but also HD DVD, it has emerged. The next major relase of the Mac OS X operating system, 'Leopard' may allow users to play and burn both types of high-definition media it has be claimed.

While we've got our eye on that new Xbox HD DVD drive that's about to drop next month, one thing we didn't know is that it'll be able to connect to your regular ol' PC via USB -- so that basically means you can get a sweet external HD DVD drive for £200.

Launch titles for the PlayStation 3 are already "getting up close" to the 25GB limit on current Blu-Ray discs, according to Sony's worldwide studios boss Phil Harrison, who was responding to criticism of the PS3's adoption of Blu-Ray.

Contract-manufacturing quotes for slim-type DVD burners dropped 20% in the third quarter due to fierce competition among Taiwan, Korea and Japan makers, according industry sources.

Apple have admitted that some Video iPods purchased after September 12, may carry a Windows virus called "RavMonE.exe".

RipIt4Me takes up where DVD Decrypter bit the dust. The latest version can be coupled with some burning software or even DVD Shrink to easily create backups of your movies.

Creative has apparently bowed to RIAA pressure, issuing a firmware update for two of its players that removes the FM recording feature. In the past, the music industry has argued that recording from radio broadcasts hurt music sales, and has most recently attempted to stop satellite radio services from implementing similar features.

CDs and DVDs have been around for a while. Nevertheless, American-Israeli company Aladdin think it can breathe new life into these formats by creating a disc that combines optical storage capacity with an embedded electronic smart card chip.

Microsoft has spent the last decade trying to crack the TV market with billion-dollar investments in cable and telecom companies, numerous attempts at moving into the set-top box with limited success and an acquisition of WebTV, a service to allow people to browse the Internet through a TV set.

The International Federation for the Phonograph Industry has issued a new round of lawsuits against peer-to-peer file sharers across the globe, suing 8,000 individuals in 17 countries. This includes the first cases filed in Brazil, Mexico and Poland.

Most Japanese hardware vendors consider recording an essential function for Japanese consumers. Unlike western markets, where DVD players have driven most of today's DVD hardware sales, the Japanese market has focused more on the sales of DVD recorders.

Philips has had no new takers for its new Veeza licensing system for CD-R disc patents in Taiwan since Ritek was the first to join the program late last month.

Maxell has announced that it will stop making DVD recordable media in its current plant in Japan, moving the production to other countries.

Ozzie optoelectronics manufacturer Arasor and laser specialist Novalux have unveiled a working laser TV prototype in Sydney, a modified 52-inch Mitsubishi WD-52627 using Arasor's optical chips and lasers to drive the display.

The DVD Forum plans to draw up a blue-laser HD DVD-ROM format specifically for and only available in the China market.