07/18, 10:40pm
Up to 8X DVD+R recording, supports dual-layer
Sony Optiarc America has brought out the DRX-S90U bus-powered USB2 slim portable DVD superdrive as a supplement to notebooks, netbooks and desktop computers. The unit can burn dual-layer DVD+R at 8x, regular DVD+R and RW media at 6x and CD-R and RW at 24x speeds (it can also handle DVD-RAM at 5x). The unit requires two USB2 ports to power the burning speeds, and works with both Windows (XP and higher) and Mac operating systems.
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04/27, 7:05pm
Compact, lightweight design for portability
Buffalo Technology has taken the wraps off their new, sleek black portable MediaStation 8x DVD Multidrive, an entirely bus-powered external superdrive that features easy plug-and-play use and a two-year warranty. The drive can handle dual-layer DVD+/-R and RW (and 6x max speed rather than 8x for single-layer) and 24x speed for CD-R and CD-RW discs. Measuring 5.7 inches by 6 inches by .75 inches, the device isn't much bigger than the disks it burns, and the unit weighs only 11 ounces for easy portability.
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12/08, 6:05pm
Updates address noise in Macs and bugs in WiFi.
Apple on Tuesday released updates to address optical noise created by its line of MacBook computers, including EFI Firmware updates for its MacBook EFI Firmware Update 1.4 [3.14MB] and MacBook Pro EFI Firmware Update 1.8 [3.36MB] lines and a SuperDrive 3.0 Firmware Update [18.35MB] for iMacs and Mac minis. According to Apple's SuperDrive Documentation, if you see Revision: KA15 or 2AHG on an iMac, it needs to be update (and it will be either KA16 or 2AHH after the update) and Mac mini with the Revision 2AHF drives require this update (afterwards it will be 2AH1). It is unclear if the updates fix SuperDrive issues revealed by one developer that surfaced shortly after Snow Leopard was released.
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12/17, 10:50pm
OWC Modbook upgrades
Other World Computing (OWC) has released new upgrade options for the Axiotron Modbook Mac-tablet. The available components include memory modules, hard drives and optical SuperDrives. Users can choose to have their orders outfitted with 6GB of RAM and single or dual hard-drive configurations, with capacities of up to 750GB when combining a 500GB HDD in the primary drive bay and 250GB HDD in the secondary bay. Customers can forgo the two-drive option and instead add a SuperDrive that features 8x DVD-R burn speeds and support for Dual-Layer discs.
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12/11, 4:00pm
SuperDrive for MacBook Pro
OWC has released an internal SuperDrive upgrade for the 17-inch MacBook Pro notebook. The Dual-Layer DVD+CD drive is claimed to offer burn speeds of up to 24X with CDs or 8X with DVDs. Customers can also bundle the drive with a package that includes ten blank DVD-R discs, jewel cases, EMC Retrospect backup software, and NTI Dragonburn 4 DVD/CD burning software for Mac.
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06/24, 3:35pm
Blogger hacks MBA_SD
Mobile Technology blogger tnkgrl has posted a workaround for using a MacBook Air SuperDrive with other computers. Previous reports indicated that the internal design of the system only allows it to be recognized by the MacBook Air and that power demands of the Apple-made drive prevent it being used elsewhere: the sole USB port has been boosted past its specifications to supply enough power to use the drive with just the data cable rather than a direct power connection: Tnkgrl, however, says he has successfully circumvented the system: "I have successfully hacked my MBA SuperDrive to work with other Macs and PCs. All you need is a $9 part (shipping extra) and a bit of soldering and you too can do this mod."
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