Plextor PX-B120U portable 3D Blu-ray drive
With every technological revolution comes the inevitable pressure on the consumer's wallet. Take the switch from cassette tape to CD for example, or from VHS to DVD, neither of which seemed crucial at the time, yet people were shelling out huge sums to avoid being left behind. And soon everyone will be forced to switch from analogue to digital TV. The latest tech revolution to hit wallets is the 3D one, with 3D video in the home the latest “must have”. But Plextor says its PX-B120U portable drive will make the whole thing more affordable. You’ll still need to shell out for a 3D screen, but playback of HD Blu-ray and 3D movies can be achieved for less than £100. The PX-B120U works as part of a “through system” when connected to a PC, laptop or media centre, or direct to TV when used with a PlexMedia box (due for launch next year).
PRICE £92
CONTACT plextor.com
Mophie Workbook iPad case
One criticism of Apple’s iPad is its lack of a built-in stand. Without a stand, users wishing to watch videos on the tablet must either hold it for the duration or attempt to prop it up in some way, with varying degrees of success. This has prompted many third parties to release iPad cases that double up as stands, and the Mophie Workbook is one of them. This folio is fully-adjustable, meaning it can accommodate any viewing angle thereby catering for everyone no matter how tall or short they are. It is available in five colours – black, white, orange, brown and grey.
PRICE £49.99
CONTACT mophie.com
ASUS N Series notebooks
The new N series “Sonicmaster” notebooks from Asus have been specially designed with music listeners in mind by Asus’ “Golden Ear” team, with help from Bang & Olufsen. Asus says that gone are the “crackling and tinny noises of outdated technology”. The N53 and N73 are powered by Intel’s Core i5 and i7 processors, but both models have large speaker chambers, powerful amplifiers and extensive software-based audio processing. What’s more, both come with 100 free music downloads from Universal Music.
PRICE From £649.99
CONTACT asus.co.uk
App of the week
Lufthansa Magazine for the iPad
It’s the turn of the iPad this time, and an app we flagged up in a news story this week (see online news December 8). Lufthansa’s in-flight magazine, Lufthansa Magazine, is now available in digital format. The monthly magazine and its two offshoots – Lufthansa Exclusive and Lufthansa Woman’s World – have a combined readership of 750,000. But unlike the print edition, this digital iPad version uses all the whizzy technology the iPad has on offer, such as enabling video playback and interactive features. The December issue, for example, has an interactive 3D tour of a Lufthansa A380.
PRICE Free
CONTACT itunes.apple.com
