Toshiba joins Blu-ray disc camp

Toshiba is to start making products that can play Blu-ray discs.

The decision marks a big change for the electronics firm which was the prime mover of the rival HD-DVD format.

Blu-ray and HD-DVD went head-to-head to see who could dominate the burgeoning market for movies produced in the high definition format.

The format war was effectively won in early 2008 when the Blu-ray camp won the backing of all four of the biggest movie studios.

Blu-ray was largely developed by Sony. Its efforts to dominate the HD market were also helped by sales of the PlayStation 3 which has a Blu-ray player built-in.

Toshiba said it would begin production of stand alone Blu-ray players as well as drives for PCs and laptops. Its first products are likely to be ready for the end of 2009.

The Japanese firm also said it would join the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA) - the industry body which oversees development of the high-definition format.

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20 Mindblowing Concept Laptop Designs

The technological trends change very fast. If you are not able to change with technology then new technology makes you outdated. So, we have to keep an eye on the past and future trends of technology.

Initially an idea makes a concept which in turn takes shape and then we see the products based on that concept in the coming days, months or year. Enlisted below are such concept laptops which may be a trend of our future.

Fujitsu’s Turn Table PC

Aspiring DJs to scratch and spin digital media files on the Turn Table PC, a prototype of a combo system from Fujitsu that can serve as a notebook or as a digital turntable.

The design calls for a 20-inch LCD screen that can be folded closed to use the turntable function. Users control the turntable by a touch screen on the outside of the notebook’s lid. Also in the future tech department, Fujistu showed the Ultra Mobile, a handheld computer with a touch screen that includes a built-in digital camera, a digital music player, and support for wireless Internet access. The same size as a CD jewel case, the Ultra Mobile uses a novel method to turn the system on and off: users rotate the front half of the machine–including the screen–45 degrees, changing the computer’s shape from a square to a star.

Cario – Notebook On The Go by Anna Lopez

A slim line, lightweight concept Notebook for the mobile worker. This notebook gives the user possibility to use it without a notebook bag. As Adjusted for use in car whilst stationary to enable a work space for the business commuter. Inside the car the notebook is designed to fit the interior, Once connected into the cars system, through the notebook the user has easy access to personalize the vehicles environment and settings to their preferences. The Notebook would only work in the car while driving as a HUD (head up display) with the projector, for a safe driving. And turn into workmode while stationary and adjusted on the drivers steering wheel.

Intel’s Metro NoteBook

The “metro notebook”, an ultra-thin, ultra-light laptop for the ladies. Designed to be carried over the shoulder, the sub-0.7in thick, 1kg device sports an always-on secondary display for fast info updates. Core 2 Duo, a colour non-volatile e-ink display, entirely wireless communications with reconfigurable antennae able to switch between the Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and WiMAX links the laptop’s envisaged to maintain.

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