The Samsung SE-208BW is a new product that combines an external optical disk drive (ODD) with wireless connectivity to create a smart media hub. Offering traditional CD/DVD playback and writing capabilities, the SE-208BW enables smartphone, tablet and PC users to wirelessly stream and play CDs and DVDs on their smart devices. The SE-208BW breaks new ground for ODD’s by adding wireless access point (AP) and repeater functionality to connect the drive to an Ethernet LAN cable. For users with an existing AP that suffers from weak signal strength, the SE-208BW also serves as a repeater to amplify Wi-Fi signals and widen the connectivity range across the home. For users looking for smart backup solutions, the SE-208BW can wirelessly connect to a smartphone or tablet PC to easily backup data such as pictures, video or contacts onto CDs or DVDs without ever turning on a computer. The SE-208BW also supports Dynamic DNS, which enables the drive to work as a private server. Simply connect an external hard disk drive or USB memory drive and the Internet LAN cable to the SE-208BW and it becomes a personal Cloud Server. For TV’s with DLNA compatibility, the SE-208AB comes with Allshare allowing users to view drive content through the TV menu to play and record multimedia files onto CDs and DVDs. The drive also offers a USB power interface that eliminates the need for a separate electrical outlet. The SE-208BW drive is engineered to be compatible with all major operating systems, including Win7 and Mac OS.
 

Just A Pinch (justaapinch.com) is a food-focused social network. The site includes over 70,000 user-generated recipes, electronic recipe boxes, user groups, contests and other features that have created a virtual online social community. Unlike other recipe sites that often purchase or scrape the Internet to build their recipe database, the recipes at Just A Pinch are submitted by home cooks. The site welcomes novice cooks who are invited to turn to the community for advice but professional chefs are also attracted to Just A Pinch for the wealth of new ideas and insights into food trends that it offers.
 

Hearing aids, no matter how advanced their technology, provide no benefit if they are thrown in a drawer. So Oticon created a hearing device, the “Intiga,” that would find immediate acceptance in users. A new study by researchers at Towson University in Baltimore, MD and Hörzentrum in Oldenburg, Germany suggests that individuals new to hearing amplification are pleased to use the Intiga. The Intiga’s small shape hides well behind the ear and the almost invisible receiver wire and ergonomically shaped speaker ensure fitting comfort and retention throughout the day. The hearing instrument’s surface is smooth and unbroken with invisible microphone openings and no push buttons to attract attention. Bluetooth capabilities allow the Intiga to connect wirelessly to cell phones, becoming a hands-free headset. With the addition of the Oticon ConnectLine system, audio from televisions and landline phones can be streamed directly to the Intiga. The discreet ConnectLine clip-on microphone can be used with the Intiga to enhance a user’s ability to engage in one-on-one conversations in difficult listening environments. The Oticon Intiga is available in 13 colors ranging from subtle shades that blend to complement natural skin and hair tones to more vibrant contemporary colors including terracotta, vivid lilac and natural henna.
 

The M-DISC from Millenniata (www.Millenniata.com) provides long-lasting storage by laser etching data into an inorganic rock-like material. Other recordable DVDs use organic dyes to hold data, and these fade and degrade over time. An accelerated life test performed by the US Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division at China Lake, Calif. tested five brands of archival-quality DVD discs for data longevity and reliability. The test found that the M-DISC was the only solution that suffered no degradation or data loss. All other discs tested failed. Millenniata has announced a manufacturing and marketing partnership with Hitachi-LG Data Storage to manufacture Millenniata compatible (M-DISC compatible) DVD drives and market them through its sales channels. All M-DISC compatible aftermarket drives will include the M-DISC logo indicating the ability to write to M-DISCs. Any DVD drive can read an M-DISC. One M-DISC has a DVD disc capacity of 4.7GB of space with comparable performance. A Blu-ray version of the M-DISC is expected to be announced at a later date. One M-DISC retails for $2.99 with about a ten percent discount for ten disc purchases.