Panasonic introduces DVD recorder

With DVD becoming the format of choice for the home cinema buff, enthusiasts have lauded news of a recordable DVD format. Such machines are slowly becoming a reality as Panasonic announces the DMR-E20, a DVD video recorder. The DMR-E20 is based upon the DVD-RAM and video formats agreed by the DVD forum, and is compatible with audio/video and PC applications. ...more

iTunes pricing policy under threat from record labels

Apple faces the prospect of reconsidering its one-price-fits-all policy for iTunes downloads or risks losing the backing of the major record labels. With Apple's agreements with the labels due for renewal early next year, the New York Times reports that the labels' are no longer prepared to let Apple determine how downloads should be sold. Disharmony is already evident in Japan, where Sony declined to sign up to iTunes because, it is thought, Apple was not flexible enough on pricing, despite making concessions that it has not sanctioned elsewhere. ...more

Apple records first-ever billion dollar profit

Apple has announced record revenues and profits for the last financial quarter, after selling more than 20 million iPods and seeing a 28 per cent growth in Mac sales. Revenues of $7.1 billion generated a profit of $1,004 million; previous record figures, reported for the same quarter last year, were $5,749 million and $565 million respectively. ...more

Google Earth explores the Mac

Google has released a beta of the Mac version of its standalone satellite imagery and mapping application, Google Earth. The company describes the software as akin to a Web browser, but for the earth. The Mac version offers the same features as its PC equivalent, such as animated driving directions, zoom in and out capabilities and 3D buildings view, and more. ...more

Three new screens from Philips

Philips has just announced prices for its three new high-end monitors: the Brilliance 202P4 and 109P4 aperture-grille models and the 201B4. The models, weighing in with 22in, 19in and 21in screen sizes respectively, offer Philips' Auto Calibrate function that continually recalibrates colour temperature and luminance, which Philips claims to extend operational life by 30 per cent. The monitors are also sRGB compatible, meaning that the colours you see on the screen should exactly match those printed out on an sRGB-compatible printer, for example. ...more