IO Data took the wraps off of a new HDD unit made specifically to attach to those new Regza ZH500s, the DiXim HVL4-G2.0 is compliant with the latest DLNA / DTCP-IP standards to easily record TV shows via the network. It's got space for four drives up to a maximum capacity of 2 TB in a RAID 5 array, limiting recording space to a max of 1.5 TB. Because of copy protection, it only records from Toshiba's TVs right now, and can be controlled completely via remote. Doubt we'll be seeing this here anytime soon, but it'll be on store shelves in Japan later this month for 111,615 ($1,090 US).

[Via AV Watch]

I-O Data is very worried about your data. Very. Worried. How concerned is the Japanese company about protecting your precious files? Well, they've gone and created a 16GB, freezable, droppable, completely water-proof USB flash drive just for your sake (and sweet Yen). You need only watch a few moments of the psychedelic mind-melter that is the promo video to realize you should... nay, must, purchase one of these puppies while the gettin's good -- as it were. Check out the technofied vision after the break, then be prepared to drop ¥25,300 (around $230) to own a piece of history.

[Via Akihabara News]

Remember I-O Data's dual-DVD burner released last year? Yeah, that one. Well, it's back and better than ever. Bumping the model name from DVR-UW8D to DVR-UW8D2, their newest super duper bumps DVD and CD write speeds across the board. Of course, it still does its thing (dupe non-commercial CDs and DVDs with a single button press) without the assistance of a PC. An expensive trick for the ¥53,000 (about $430) price it'll snag.

[Via Impress]

It had been a tick since we'd heard from I-O Data's LCD department, but its latest offering steps it up from the 22-inch version seen earlier this year by expanding the screen real estate and adding new inputs. The LCD-MF241X sports a 24.1-inch 1,920 x 1,200 panel, comes in black or white motifs, and offers up DVI, VGA, composite, S-Video, and twin HDCP-compliant HDMI connectors. Additionally, you'll find a trio of USB ports mounted on the side, and a wireless remote can switch the inputs for you while kicked back on your couch. Unfortunately, you'll just have to wonder what the eventual price and release date will be, but feel free to click on through to see that port assortment up close.

[Via Electronista]

I-O Data is updating their Rec-POT series of hard disk recorders to 1TB this morning with this, the HVR-HD1000LE. The recorder connects over Firewire to a variety of devices including Panasonic's Blu-ray recorders, Sharp DVD recorders, HueMAX set-top tuners, and Sony, Toshiba, Sharp, and FORIS.TV televisions to capture hi-def broadcasts direct to disk. Only in Japan starting April 12th for ¥79,800 (about $680).

[Via Impress]

If you're one of the unfortunate few outside of Japan to get locked into iVDR media after it was touted as the next big thing, well, take heart: I-O Data still loves you. Today they announced 80GB (iVDR-80) and 160GB (you guessed it, the iVDR-160) cartridges. Available late April in Japan for ¥38,850 (about $333) or ¥22,050 (about $189) of the green stuff for the 160GB and 80GB cartridges, respectively. Ouch. We hear they'll look great stacked up side-by-side with your MiniDisc collection.

[Via Impress]

A few months and a new operating system later, it looks like I-O Data is upping the ante on its 17- / 19-inch LCDs in a couple big ways. Both of the firm's newest displays, which come in at 19- and 22-inches, sport a black or silver color scheme, dual 1.5-watt stereo speakers, VGA inputs, HDCP-compliant DVI ports, audio inputs, and of course, the obligatory Vista certification. The smaller of the two boasts a 1,440 x 900 resolution, 300 cd/m2 brightness, 800:1 contrast ratio, five-millisecond response time, and a viewing angle of 170-degrees. The 22-inch variety, however, steps up to a WSXGA+ resolution, but aside from that detail, remains identical in terms of specifications to its smaller sibling. Both monitors are scheduled to hit the Japanese market in late March, and while the LCD-AD192XW/B will run you ¥39,800 ($330), the model your eyes truly desire (read: the larger LCD-AD221XW/B) will demand an extra ¥10,000 ($83).

[Via Impress]
Read - I-O Data's LCD-AD192XW/B
Read - I-O Data's LCD-AD221XW/B

In a bid to become one of the first in what's sure to be a mile-long list, I-O Data is launching two new TV tuners that tout Windows Vista compatibility. Making sure that both laptop and desktop owners alike are satisfied, the firm has released both a PCI flavor (GV-MC/RX3) and an external edition (GV-MC/TZ), but both units handle essentially the same capturing and channeling duties, save for the RX3's handy coaxial input, of course. Both units feature S-Video / composite inputs, 10-bit DACs, noise reduction capabilities, and the assurance of functioning perfectly in Microsoft's forthcoming operating system. Optionally, the couch-dwellers out there can spring for the IR remote kit (¥4,230; $36), which provides your standard volume, channel, and playback controls, as well as a few "Media Center-centric" buttons to keep your PVR on track. Both tuners / converters are slated to hit shelves in "late January" to coincide with that looming OS release date, and while the RX3 will run you ¥12,500 ($105), the TZ will demand ¥14,600 ($123).

[Via Impress]

I-O Data is back on the RoHS-compliant NAS trail again, as its new LANDISK Tera offers up a secure, environmentally-friendly way to stash and share your data over a network. The new drive comes in both 1TB and 2TB flavors, supports RAID 5, boasts four hot-swappable bays, and now features AES 256-bit encryption. Additionally, this data cube comes dressed in all black, keeps your data under lock and key, and even touts a secondary security lock that can only be accessed with your chipped USB thumb drive. Aside from touting gigabit Ethernet, you'll also find support for Windows Active Directory and a data tracking feature to keep watch over who moves your precious files. Both units can be snapped up sometime next month, and while the 1TB variety will run you ¥99,800 ($846), the 2TB edition will demand ¥168,000 ($1,424).

[Via Akihabara News]

If LG's selection of 17 / 19-inch LCD-wear wasn't exactly anywhere close to your price range, I-O Data is stepping up to fill the void. The LCD-A175 series contains a trio of 17-inch models donning white, silver, and black enclosures, while the LCD-AD195 lineup offers up the same trifecta in a slightly larger form. Both displays sport a 1,280 x 1,024 resolution, 300cd/m2 brightness, 700:1 contrast ratio, 5-millisecond response time, VGA inputs, built-in power supplies, cable management systems, and dual 1.5-watt stereo speakers. The 19-incher raises the bar ever so slightly by adding a DVI input, but otherwise rocks the same decent specifications as its smaller sibling. Both monitors should be available later this month, and while the little guy will run you ¥34,800 ($295), the LCD-AD195 can be had for ¥39,800 ($337).

Read- I-O Data LCD-AD195 series
Read- I-O Data LCD-A175 series

If that 500GB LaCie gigabit NAS didn't do it for you then try on the new RoHS-compliant (read: environmentally friendly) Giga LANDISK from IO-Data now with up to 750GB of SATA disk. That's right, another network attached storage device with room to grow off additional 1x eSATA or 2x USB 2.0 disks. Lickity quick eSATA disks allow for mirroring your precious data while an additional USB port allows you to attach a remote printer or host USB devices like digital cameras for PC-less data transfer. They've also furthered that Toshiba alliance with the ability to record HD television when connected over gigabit Ethernet to Toshiba's REGZA Z2000 series of Televisions and yeah, it plays nice with DLNA streaming devices like IO-Data's own AVel LinkPlayer. Prices start at ¥33,285 (about $285) for 160GB of disk on up to ¥92,400 (about $790) for that biggie 750GB spinner when they ship in late November. With competition on the rise and prices in free-fall, isn't it about time to move your data to the LAN? Mama always said it was good to share.

Not everyone needs a hard drive that's certified by Department of Defense standards, but I-O Data has created an external USB hard drive that can withstand fairly heavy scrutiny -- about 220 pounds worth. Although we're unsure whose DoD has given their blessing to the drive, it doesn't nullify the HDPG-SU's ability to be stomped on by Arnold Schwarzenegger without getting its platters bent out of shape. The plainly styled drives, only available in black or silver, have not only been tested to resist serious pressure, but also to withstand relatively small drops from 122cm (about 4 feet), which isn't spectacular considering the plethora of drives that park their heads on tumbles anyway. These rugged beasts will be available in 40GB, 80GB, and 120GB sizes, and while pricing and availability aren't yet known, we're left wondering what kind of secretive branch of government certifies a drive without any form of security built-in, biometric or otherwise, because what good will the DoD have with a military-grade / ruggedized drive that a thief can simply tap right into?

[Via Mobilemag]

Sure, it won't look very nice perched atop your Mac mini but don't give up on I-O Data's new GV-1394TV/M3 analog tuner for Macs just yet. Using the iEPG programming guide, this little box allows you to schedule and record your favorite NTSC broadcasts directly to your Mac over Firewire. It will even convert video directly to MPEG-4/h.264 for direct transfer to your connected iPod when recording is finished. Included software is fully compatible with iLife 6 making it easy to manipulate video in iMovie or to burn to DVDs via iDVD. Expected to begin shipping in Japan next month for about $240. Still, when it's this hard to tell the front of the unit from the back on a product destined for the living room, well, we'll understand if you pass.

[Via Impress Watch]

Looks like Panny's not the only company showing off their Blu-ray offerings in Japan today. IODATA's got two of their own: the internal BRD-UM2, and external USB BRD-AM2B, which will go for ¥110,250 and ¥121,800, respectively (that's $942 US and $1,041 US, also respectively). Looks like these will also burn dual-layer BD-R and BD-RE media, as well as your usual DVD±RW and CD-RW, and will even beat Panasonic's offering to market by a solid 9 days with a June 1st release date. So keep an eye out with your favorite gadget importer and keep that credit card clean.

[Via Impress]

In what would appear to be a global release, though it's unclear from the machine translation, Panasonic just announced that they will be shipping their LF-MB121JD Blu-ray Disc drive for PCs (not to be confused with their DMP-BD10 player expected in September) in OEM, regular, and slimline slot-loading form factors, starting 10 June with support for 13 BD / DVD / CD formats. The drive delivers on both 25GB and dual-layer 50GB Blu-ray discs allowing you to write at 2x (72Mbps) speeds to both BD-R / RE formats via a suite of bundled software. It also features 8x write speeds to both DVD±R and DVD RW, 4x to DVD±R DL, 6x to DVD-RW, 5x to DVD-RAM, 24x to CD-R and 16x to CD-RW. Pretty much the same unit (and may well be) as the BenQ BW1000, but superior to both the Samsung SH-B022 (which can read but not write to DVD and CD formats) and the Pioneer BDR-101A which, oddly, the last time we looked, didn't support CDs at all. Panasonic also announced their 25GB and 50GB 2x discs which will hit the shelves starting April 28 just in time to prime the pump a bit.

[Via Newlaunches]