Repair your discs with Sanwa's CD-RE1AT

It may look just like a typical Sony Discman, but Sanwa's CD-RE1AT doesn't play any CDs or DVDs. Instead, it helps to restore damaged discs and make them readable again. We doubt it will be much help for removing deep scratches or cracks, but this should prove useful for removing dust, fingerprints and oily stains from the disc surface--detritus that can affect the performance of a disc.

But what also caught out attention is that besides cleaning, the Sanwa device apparently also applies a protective layer onto the disc to prevent reading errors in future, without grinding it. The Sanwa CD-RE1AT retails for 7,350 yen (US$69.30) and is designed to work on discs ranging from 8 to 12cm (including Blu-ray). It weighs about 300g and is powered by an AC adapter. Cleaning kit refills are available at 2,310 yen (US$21.78), while restore kit replacements are going for 2,415 yen (US$22.77) each. Cross your fingers that this Japan-only device eventually makes it outside to other markets.

Via Akihabaranews
Picture Credit: Sanwa

Asetek offers a new liquid solution to cool those hot video cards

If you think the new generation of video cards, the Radeon HD 4800 series and the GeForce GTX 200 series, from ATI and Nvidia, respectively, are hot (as they actually are, literally and figuratively), then just know that they can be cool, too. Liquid-cooled, that is.

Asetek just announced its first liquid cooling solution, called LCLC, for the latest video cards from the two leading GPU companies. Asetek's new liquid cooling solution is compact yet powerful enough to bring the temperature of the card down to less than 80 degrees Fahrenheit during peak performance. This allows users to run their high-end 3D games or graphics-intensive applications without being bothered by the fan noise or heating up the office, especially during hot weather. This also opens up the GPU overclocking business to a new potential.

Asetek claims its liquid-cooling solution has gone through rigorous environmental testing assurance and can withstand shock, vibration, and thermal stress continuously during up to 50,000 hours (about six years) of operation with absolutely no end-user maintenance required. Furthermore, the new new cooling method is compact enough to make the card take up only one slot instead of two like other bulky alternatives, leaving end-users more slots for other hardware upgrades. This is especially significant in ATI CrossFire or nVIDIA SLI configurations, where multiple cards are used in a single machine.

Now the question is: What's your game?

Via CNET Crave

iriver's unsinkable MP3 player

Quite literally, iriver has thrown its latest digital music player into the deep end and ensured that it floats. The Speedo Aquabeat is a waterproof player built to sink or swim. It can hit depths of up to 3m, or if detached from the user, easy to retrieve, thanks to its floatable and lightweight (35g) design. Naturally, this comes bundled with a pair of waterproof earphones which we reckon can do double duty as ear plugs to seal out water, too.

Other than these pool-friendly features, the Speedo Aquabeat, an accessory made for the swimwear brand, offers pretty basic MP3 features: Fixed 1GB storage, no LCD display, USB charging, Playlist Editing Software and a built-in battery capable of 9 hours' playback. If this floats your boat, you can get it in lime, black or pink, at US$145 from online stores and selected markets.
Via Newlaunches
Picture credit: Newlaunches

Bono's (RED) charity to launch online music service

Good news, celebrity charity aficionados: Project (RED) is going to be providing some music for that Bono-approved iPod nano of yours.

The high-profile nonprofit organization, which donates a chunk of profits to combat AIDS in Africa, will be launching a subscription music service this autumn.

The as-yet-unnamed service will launch in September, according to The New York Times, and cost US$5 per month, although there's no news on availability outside the US.
Read more »

Creative's Zen X-Fi to take on the iPod touch and Zune?

While rumors of the Zen X-Fi have been buzzing on the Web for a few months now, it looks like the guys at epiZENter may have just confirmed the player's existence with detailed information and photos they have uncovered, supposedly from Creative's own site.

As with rumors earlier, the Zen X-Fi is said to come with onboard Wi-Fi, just like the Apple iPod touch and Microsoft Zune players. This will allow users to stream or download content from Creative's "Public Media Server" and a home server. Additionally, users can also set up an account with Creative to chat on Yahoo or the Microsoft Live! instant messaging service. The nine-button keypad on the right of the display will be used for typing, like on a mobile phone, according to the epiZENter posting.
Read more »

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