It has ports for RCA cables on it, and you connect it to your existing audio gear with the to shoot the tunes out to your computer via USB. The device has recording level controls and volume controls on board, and it ships with software for digitizing tracks onto your PC or Mac. It also has a headphone port that will allow you to listen as you convert. The Vinyl Forever converter will ship sometime in 2012 for under $35 (USD).

The ever-industrious console hacking gods at XCM have come up with this new gadget which lets you take any console with a component video output and connect it to your PC via the computer’s USB port. The Vbox2 Advanced can handle signals from the Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, PS3, PS2, Xbox, GameCube or even the PSP 2000/3000 series. As an added bonus, the box lets you actually capture video or screenshots from your games.

Since the device supports USB 2.0 “plug-and-play”, you don’t even need to do any configuration to get it up and running. While the Vbox2 does support Windows 7, Vista and XP, it doesn’t work with Mac OS or Linux. Oh well, there’s always something.

At this point, XCM hasn’t announced pricing or a release date, but you can probably pre-order one over at Extreme Mods or TotalConsole or ConsoleSource.

For starters, the Archos comes with double the storage for less cost than Apple’s set top boxes. The TV+ also supports recording of content from analog video devices (note the component, S-video and composite inputs on the back panel), and acts as a full DVR, complete with a TV program guide. Just like it’s competition, the device only handles standard-def content, meaning that you’ll be able to store a whopping 700 hours of video on on the larger model.

In addition to its media recording an playback capabilities, the Archos TV+ can surf the web using an optional Opera browser with Flash capability. It can even read PDF files if the mood strikes you. There’s also access to the Archos Content Portal which allows for digital downloads and streaming of new content to the box. Network connectivity is provided via built-in 802.11g Wi-Fi or a wired Ethernet port. I particularly like the provided QWERTY remote control, which should make web surfing and navigation a breeze compared to normal remotes.

The 80GB version of the TV+ will retail for $249, while the 250GB model will run $349. Expect to see the Archos TV+ hit stores sometime this later this year. You can check out the detailed product specs here.

[via Ubergizmo]

New Medium Enterprises’ (NME) proprietary HD VMD (Versatile Multilayer Disc) format uses standard red lasers, but crams in 4 layers per disc to handle the data needs of full high-definition content. VMD’s cost advantage comes from the fact that discs and players can be produced using much of the already existing infrastructure that’s set up to produce standard DVDs. First generation VMD will store up to 24GB, but there are already plans in the works to expand this capacity further using more layers, and potentially thinner wavelength blue lasers as prices come down.

The manufacturer claims the format supports full 1080i and 1080p resolutions, as well as bit rates up to 40 Mbps (about half way between the two competing HD formats). The players support video compressed in MPEG- 2, MPEG-1, VC-1, H-264(AVC) formats. As an added bonus, HD VMD is region free, so you don’t have to worry about where you bought your discs. Audio support includes Dolby Digital and DTS, but none of the more advanced audio formats you might find on Blu-Ray and HD DVD players. Even the least expensive HD VMD players offer HDMI and component outputs, and will scale old-school DVDs up to 1080p over the HDMI connection.

The most obvious downside to the budding format is the current lack of available content. NME has only scored distribution rights to a a handful of movies that I’ve ever heard of. Launch titles include: Hostage, Apocalypto, Pulp Fiction, Babel, Saw II and Saw III. Most of the other movies are either lesser-known independents, older films or Bollywood features from India. It’s doubtful that the company will be able to garner support from most major studios, given their already significant investments in the other HD formats. With HD DVD and Blu-ray prices on the decline, HD VMD will face a serious uphill fight.

At the heart of the compact box is a 120GB 2.5-inch hard drive, capable of storing many hours of HD content in MPEG 2, WMV9HD, or DiVX formats. The tiny box has outputs for component video and coax digital audio, but doesn’t offer HDMI at this point. Regardless, those outputs should satisfy most of us with a high-def craving.

It’s even got AC3 and DTS audio processing circuitry, so you can have full surround sound if you hook it up your amplifier’s digital input. In addition to its video playback capabilities, it’s also a full-fledged audio server, with playback of MP3, WMA and OGG format sound files.

As is typically the case with these cool Korean gadgets, you’ll probably have a tough time finding one outside of the region. If you’re willing to deal with the overseas shipping you can find these for about 219,900 KRW (about $235 USD.)

The DV-980H supports Dolby Digital Surround EX, which adds the surround back speaker channels, giving the player a leg up over traditional 5.1 surround. The player’s video processing circuitry can crank out 1920×1080 full frame images, letting you take advantage of the native pixel resolution of today’s top of the line 1080p displays.

This is a true “universal” player, supporting DVD, DVD-Audio and SACD format discs. Of course, it doesn’t play today’s high definition formats like Blu-ray or HD-DVD, but it’ll sure make your old DVDs look as good as they possibly can. The player also handles DivX format video files with ease.

In terms of connectivity, the 980H offers an HDMI (v1.2a) digital output, as well as component video, optical, coax, and discrete analog outputs for each of the eight audio channels too.

The only real gotcha here is that this player doesn’t include the stellar Genesis/Faroudja video chipset that was found in the classic DV-971H and DV-981HD models. But if you’re looking for both 1080p output and 7.1 channel audio, this new model is the way to go.

As is always the case with OPPO’s players, the DV-980H offers a ton of bang for the buck, retailing for just $169.

[via SlipperyBrick]

Along with two cooling fans, the add-on gives you easy access to VGA, Component, Composite and S-Video outputs. There’s also four USB connectors, a TOSLink optical out for digital audio and an Ethernet pass-through. The GA-CX1005XB Docking Station Fan will be available from Japan’s DigitalCowboy starting July 13th. Pricing information hasn’t been announced yet.

[via AV Watch]