New WD® My Passport™ Elite™ Drives Provide Convenience and Style for Consumers On-The-Go
Illuminated Capacity Gauge and Grab-and-go Dock Add Convenience to the Leading Family of Secure, Portable Storage Solutions

Sydney, Australia – Nov. 10, 2009 – WD® the world’s leader in external storage solutions, today introduced its new ultra-portable My Passport™ Elite™ external hard drives featuring an illuminated capacity gauge and drive lock indicator so users can see at-a glance how much space is left on their drive and whether their data is secure. The convenient grab-and-go USB dock frees up valuable desk space and eliminates the search for USB ports, making it ideal for professionals who take their data back and forth to the office.

Like the previously announced My Passport™ Essential™ drives, the My Passport Elite portable drives feature automatic and continuous backup with WD SmartWare™ software and 256-bit hardware-based encryption. My Passport Elite drives are available now in 3 appealing metallic colors – Metallic Red, Metallic Blue and Charcoal Metallic – and are offered in capacities of 320 GB, 500 GB and 640 GB.

WD market research shows that consumers want a mobile storage device that allows them to not only back up and store their data, but also to keep their data safe should the drive end up in the wrong hands. The new My Passport Elite drives come with integrated WD SmartWare software which makes it easy to backup and secure your data.

When the My Passport Elite drive is plugged in for the first time, the simple and intuitive first backup process launches automatically. The real-time visual interface of WD SmartWare software gives users a reassuring view of their backup as it happens. After the first backup, users’ files are backed up automatically every time they change or add a file. WD SmartWare software creates a separate area on the drive for the backed up files, leaving a large portion of the drive free for carrying or sharing of files. The drives are thus appropriate for both backup and extra storage.

The illuminated capacity gauge on the My Passport Elite drive provides a quick read of how much capacity is available on the drive. The padlock icon indicates that the drive is password protected with 256-bit hardware-based encryption. Typically found only on much more expensive drive systems, the encryption acts as a virtual padlock to keep users’ data secure. Without the correct password, files are simply not accessible.

The unique design of the grab-and-go dock enables the user to quickly connect and disconnect their My Passport drive with one hand. The dock eliminates the need to search for an empty USB port, which can be a frustrating chore, particularly with desktop computers. The dock also provides power  to the drive via the USB port so no separate power supply is needed.

“As portable hard drives grow in capacity, consumers are now able to store their entire digital lives on them. Keeping users’ content secure as well as stylish are two aspects that make My Passport Elite drives our most personal storage devices yet,” said Dale Pistilli, vice president of marketing for WD’s branded products group. “Equipped with WD SmartWare software and hardware-based encryption, WD’s new My Passport Elite drives keep consumers’ personal content safe in one place, while the sleek design and premium finishes infuse a sense of personal style.”

My Passport Elite
Designed for Windows®-based PCs, the new WD My Passport Elite drives with WD SmartWare software feature:
– Convenient, grab-and-go USB dock connection to computer;
– Premium finish in 3 colors including Anodized Red, Anodized Blue and Charcoal Metallic;
– 256-bit hardware-based encryption for peace of mind knowing that data is protected from unauthorized access;
– USB 2.0 interface that powers the drive directly from the USB port on user’s computer, no separate power supply is needed;
– Planet-friendly packaging derived from recycled materials to minimize waste;
– Ready to plug-and-play with Windows PCs, formatted NTFS; and,
– 3-year limited warranty.

Product and Pricing Summary
Manufacturer: Western Digital
Product Name: My Passport Elite 320GB, 500GB and 640GB 
RRP for 320GB: AU$ 149.99, NZ $199.99
RRP for 500GB: AU$ 199.99, NZ $249.99
RRP for 640GB: AU$ 239.99, NZ $299.99
Website: www.westerndigital.com
Australian Distributors: Synnex Australia
New Zealand Distributors: Ingram Micro NZ and Synnex NZ
Availability: Now
Media Kit Download: http://www.gapmarketing.com.au/press_images/WD/Passport_Elite.zip

WD SmartWare Software
WD SmartWare software features: 
– Visual backup displays that show content in categories and shows the progress of backup;
– Automatic and continuous data backup that instantly makes a second copy whenever a file is added or changed;
– Retrieve valuable data to its original location whether it’s lost data or the file has been overwritten; and,
– Customizable control center that allows users to set drive security, run diagnostics, manage the power settings, and more from the WD SmartWare software.

About WD
WD, one of the storage industry’s pioneers and long-time leaders, provides products and services for people and organizations that collect, manage and use digital information. The company designs and produces reliable, high-performance hard drives and solid state drives that keep users’ data accessible and secure from loss. Its advanced technologies are configured into applications for client and enterprise computing, embedded systems and consumer electronics, as well as its own consumer storage and media products.
WD was founded in 1970. The company’s storage products are marketed to leading OEMs, systems manufacturers, selected resellers and retailers under the Western Digital® and WD brand names. Visit the Investor section of the company’s Web site (www.westerndigital.com) to access a variety of financial and investor information.

WD® Introduces New My Book® Elite™ External Hard Drives with Customizable E-Label
E-Label Smart Display Makes Drives Personal

Sydney, Australia – Nov. 10, 2009 – WD®, the world’s leader in external storage solutions, today introduced its new My Book® Elite™ desktop external drives featuring a customizable e-label that’s always visible, even when the drive is unplugged, making it easy to know what’s on the drive and how much space is left. The new My Book Elite also features automatic and continuous backup with WD SmartWare™ software and 256-bit hardware-based encryption. Available now at select retailers and shopwd.com, the new My Book Elite drives are offered in capacities of 1 TB, 1.5 TB and 2 TB.

The e-label smart display on the spine of the My Book drives can be changed easily and as often as desired. It utilizes e-paper technology which reads like ink on paper. With the included WD SmartWare software, users can easily create a label to name their drive or remind themselves of its contents. The e-label also shows available capacity and whether the drive is locked via WD SmartWare software’s powerful password protection and hardware-based encryption. Utilizing e-paper technology, the information on the display remains clearly visible, even when the drive is unplugged, and the customized label can be changed easily as often as desired.

According to research firm Parks Associates, the average U.S. broadband household currently has over 120 GB of digital media and files which is projected to grow to over 1 TB of data by 2013. Many consumers store this content on multiple external drives which often makes it difficult to know what or whose content is on which drive. During the development process, WD researchers visited with consumers and frequently noted a variety of ad hoc solutions to the “what’s on the drive?” or the “whose drive is this?” problems, ranging from hand-written notes to machine printed sticky labels. The e-label smart display was conceived as an elegant and practical solution to address this consumer need.

The new My Book Elite drives come with integrated WD SmartWare software. When the My Book Elite drive is plugged in for the first time, the simple and intuitive first backup process launches automatically. The real-time visual interface of WD SmartWare software gives users a reassuring view of their backup as it happens. After the first backup, users’ files are backed up automatically every time they change or add a file. 

My Book Elite drives also feature user-selected password protection combined with 256-bit hardware-based encryption, which scrambles files before they are stored. Typically found only on much more expensive drive systems, the encryption acts as a virtual padlock to keep users’ data safe.

“The new My Book Elite drives’ unique new e-label smart display and integrated WD SmartWare software give consumers an elegant and practical way to organize their content while enjoying the peace of mind that their data is backed up and secure,” said Dale Pistilli, vice president of marketing for WD’s branded products group. “Even when the My Book Elite drive is unplugged, consumers can easily see at-a-glance what is stored on their drive, how much capacity is available and whether the drive is locked.”

My Book Elite
The new WD My Book Elite drives feature:
– Smart display – a customizable e-label that reminds users of what is stored on the drive and provides available capacity and security status at-a-glance even when the drive is unplugged;
– Smaller, sleeker, more streamlined design and elegant book-like shape that takes up minimal space and allows multiple My Book drives to nestle together neatly like volumes on a shelf;
– WD SmartWare software that visually present consumers’ data in a software control center;
– 256-bit hardware-based encryption and password protection for peace of mind knowing that data is protected from unauthorized access;
– USB 2.0 interface – for convenience and compatibility among multiple computers;
– WD GreenPower Technology™ lowers internal drive power consumption by up to 30 percent, a sleep mode reduces power during idle times, and a power-saving feature turns the drive on and off with your computer;
– Planet-friendly packaging derived from recycled materials to minimize waste;
– NTFS  formatting and are compatible with Windows® XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7;
– 3-year limited warranty.

Product and Pricing Summary
Manufacturer: Western Digital
Product Name: My Book Elite 1TB, 1,5TB and 2TB    
RRP for 1 TB: AU$ 199.99, NZ$ 249.99
RRP for 1.5 TB: AU$ 249.99, NZ$ 299.99
RRP for 2 TB: AU$ 399.99, NZ$ 499.99
Website: www.westerndigital.com
Australian Distributors: Synnex Australia
New Zealand Distributors: Ingram Micro NZ and Synnex NZ
Availability: Now
Download Media Kit: http://www.gapmarketing.com.au/press_images/WD/MB_Elite_image01.zip

WD SmartWare Software
WD SmartWare software features:
– Visual backup displays that show content in categories and shows the progress of backup;
– Automatic, continuous data backup will instantly make a second copy whenever you add or change a file;
– Retrieve valuable data to its original location whether it’s lost data or the file has been overwritten; and,
– Customizable data backup that allows users to set drive security, run diagnostics, manage the power settings, and more from the WD SmartWare control center.

About WD
WD, one of the storage industry’s pioneers and long-time leaders, provides products and services for people and organizations that collect, manage and use digital information. The company designs and produces reliable, high-performance hard drives and solid state drives that keep users’ data accessible and secure from loss. Its advanced technologies are configured into applications for client and enterprise computing, embedded systems and consumer electronics, as well as its own consumer storage and media products.
WD was founded in 1970. The company’s storage products are marketed to leading OEMs, systems manufacturers, selected resellers and retailers under the Western Digital® and WD brand names. Visit the Investor section of the company’s Web site (www.westerndigital.com) to access a variety of financial and investor information. 

Members of the public will have the opportunity to see archaeologists at work at an Open Day for the archaeological dig at Museum Victoria’s Royal Exhibition Building, Saturday 14 November from 10am to 3pm. 

The Open Day will offer the public the opportunity to walk through a real-life archaeological dig and meet the experts involved in the project. Visitors will also get the chance to see artefacts uncovered from the dig. 

The archaeological dig is the first phase of a major project to restore gardens to the western forecourt of the Royal Exhibition Building, an area that until very recently was an unsightly asphalt car park. Funded by the Victorian Government, this three phase project, which began in October, will include the installation of an extensive water harvesting and storage system, including a 900,000 litre underground water tank, which will ensure a sustainable future for this much-loved Melbourne landmark. 

In the final phase, gardens and landscaping based on the original 1880s design will be restored to this important World Heritage site. 

The archaeological exploration of the site currently underway will search for traces of the historic garden beds and other original features. The dig, which is being conducted in partnership with Godden Mackay Logan (GML) and La Trobe University, will include analysis of soil for traces of seeds and pollen that will help identify plants that might have been part of the original nineteenth century garden design.                                                                                                                

Keep up-to-date with daily archaeological discoveries, interviews and videos on the Royal Exhibition Building World Heritage: World Futures website and blog http://museumvictoria.com.au/reb/about-us/world-heritage-world-futures/.

Funding for this project was provided from the Victorian Property Fund on the approval of the Minister for Consumer Affairs.       

See the 2009 FORMULA 1 ETIHAD AIRWAYS ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX gameplay video at the new F1 2009 website www.formula1-game.com  

-Tuesday, 10^th November, 2009- With the 2009 FIA FORMULA ONE World Championship™ coming to a close after an amazing weekend in at the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi the attention of the FORMULA ONE™ fans has moved to the imminent release of the official video game of the season, F1 2009. Coming to the Nintendo Wii™ on 19^th November and PSP® on 26^th November (PlayStation®Portable), F1 2009 will give gamers their first chance to experience the state of the art Yas Marina track for themselves. 

Introduced to the calendar this season, the 2009 FORMULA 1 ETIHAD AIRWAYS ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX is fully playable in F1 2009 and Codemasters has today released a new gameplay trailer showcasing the 5.55km track which has been purpose built for FORMULA ONE on a man made island. The video is available to view at the new      F1 2009 website www.formula1-game.com. 

The website has been relaunched over the weekend with a completely new look and feel to reflect the game’s iconic art style. FORMULA ONE fans visiting the website will be able to view all of the videos and screenshots that have been released for F1 2009 and get the latest news about the game. Gamers can also become a fan of ‘F1 Games from Codemasters’ on Facebook and follow @formula1game on Twitter for the latest news and updates about the F1 2009.

Set for release on 19^th November, F1 2009 on Wii is the ultimate authentic recreation of the 2009 FIA FORMULA ONE World Championship and delivers accessibility for the entire family while offering challenging races for more experienced driving game enthusiasts. The PSP edition, which will also be released on 26^th November and will also be available as a download from the PlayStation® Store at launch, will enable up to four players to battle it out on track in an ad hoc multiplayer session and includes quick-fire challenges for the ultimate in on the go race gaming. Speed to www.formula1-game.com to see the new video and get the latest screens and updates on the official game of FORMULA ONE.

NEW COMEDY ON DVD 

Are you ready to set sail into the future? Climb aboard HMS Boosh, hoist the perspex anchor, set the controls for the heart of the sun and come navigate the silicon seas with Cyborg Patrick and his neon barnacles as The Mighty Boosh Live Future Sailors Tour arrives on DVD from November 11, 2009 

In this live Boosh presentation you will see Howard wrestle with the problems of the universe in tiny shorts while Vince gets his hair extra big and flounces about all thanks to Jean Claude Jaquetti and his nautical gel. Bob Fossil’s dance moves will turn you on, then anger you over and over until you puke. You will then weep with salty joy as Bollo and Naboo move about and say stuff in their own special way. The Boosh are mighty and sailing right into your face, strap your eyes onto your brain double tight, cos it’s gonna get choppy like electric sushi. 

Bonus Disc includes exclusive Future Sailors tour documentary and behind-the-scenes movie clips 

Also available from December 2 and exclusive to JB Hi-Fi, ABC and Dymocks is the Mighty Boosh Live Future Sailors Tour Special Edition which includes the latest Mighty Boosh tour, The Mighty Boosh Live (2006 tour) plus exclusive Boosh ‘Outrage’ playing cards. 

Comedians:         Noel Fielding & Julian Barratt 

Price:                    Standard Edition – $29.95

Classification:     MA15+ 

Duration:              127 mins

Dylan Moran: What It Is Live

Dylan Moran, star and creator of ABC TV’s Black Books is back launching the DVD of his hugely popular tour filmed live at The State Theatre in Sydney. Dylan Moran What It Is Live will be available from November 11, 2009. 

Australian fans should get a real buzz with the feature showcasing Sydney’s State Theatre, filmed on Dylan’s highly successful tour of Australia in early 2009. Dylan’s legendary stand-up rants have sold out across the world, cementing this unkempt wordsmith’s reputation as one of the foremost comics of his generation. His big screen appearances have included Run Fat Boy Run and Shaun Of The Dead.

Likened to Dave Allen and labeled ‘The Oscar Wilde of comedy’ Dylan is unpredictable, bizarre, elegiac, often cruel but above all painfully funny. He sees through the joys and disappointments of human existence with the sensibility and intense perception of a man teetering on the edge. He chews life up and coughs it out…

If one hit of Moran’s bitterness isn’t enough, Dylan Moran: The Whole Collected Thing is also available to own on DVD from November 11. Containing three of Moran’s sell-out tours; Monster (2004), Like, Totally… (2006) and What It Is (2008/9) The Whole Collected Thing is a must-have for all lovers of stand up. 

Comedian:           Dylan Moran

Price:                    What it Is Live – $29.95

Classification:     M

Duration:              77 mins

 Bill Bailey’s Remarkable Guide to the Orchestra 

Comedian and classically trained musician Bill Bailey, joins forces with the brilliantly versatile BBC Concert Orchestra and musical maestro Anne Dudley, in Bill Bailey’s Remarkable Guide to the Orchestra, available to own on DVD from November 11, 2009. 

The show, recorded at London’s magnificent Royal Albert Hall, is Bill’s own uniquely hilarious and irreverent guide to the sounds, styles, and instruments of the orchestra. With a wide and eclectic range of musical subjects from 70’s cop show themes to sci-fi films, horror movies and news themes, viewers will also enjoy some of Bill’s own songs re-imagined for an orchestra. In addition, Anne Dudley, one of the UK’s most celebrated composers and arrangers conducts some of her own specially written new works. 

Completing the Bill Bailey experience this Christmas is Bill Bailey: The Collector’s Edition slimline box set which includes four favourite Bill Bailey Live shows on DVD; Cosmic Jam, Bewilderness, Part Troll and Tinselworm. It is also available from November 11, 2009.

Performers:         Bill Bailey, Anne Dudley and the BBC Concert Orchestra

Price:                    Bill Bailey’s Remarkable Guide to the Orchestra – $19.95

Classification:     PG

Duration:              109 mins

 French & Saunders BIG LIVE BOX SET 

French and Saunders, Britain’s most celebrated female comedians bring both of their sell-out tours to DVD in one Big Live Box Set from November 11, 2009! 

Watch this infectious duo in their side splitting comedy tours featuring the best of their characters and sketches from the past three decades. In June-July 2009, French & Saunders performed over 40 sell out shows across Australia and New Zealand. 

A lively, fun and celebratory farewell to their fans and to each other after 30 years of comedy genius – don’t miss the French & Saunders Big Live Box Set from November 11, 2009. 

Comedians:         Jennifer Saunders & Dawn French

Price:                    $29.95

Classification:     M

Duration:              209 mins

 The Merrick and Rosso Show Series 1 & 2 RAD Box set 

Get your lycra on Australia! The Merrick & Rosso Show Series 1 & 2 RAD BOX SET comes with a totally rad headband for all your sweaty fashion flaunting needs. Hitting shelves November 11 and with over 600 minutes of entertainment on 4 discs, it’s sure to knock your leg warmers off. 

The highest rating show ever on THE COMEDY CHANNEL, The Merrick & Rosso Show Series 1 and 2 has featured many varied and adventurous guests all happy to join Merrick and Rosso in their outrageous stunts and sketches. Top-shelf celebs have included Hugh Jackman, Will Ferrell, Magda Szubanski, Ray Martin, Asher Keddie, Stuart Macgill, Ryan Reynolds, Stephen Curry, The Veronicas, Will Smith and many more. 

So get jogging down to the shops, pick up your copy of The Merrick and Rosso Show Series 1 & 2 RAD Box set, put your rad new headband on, and jog home to enjoy the show. 

Cast:                     Tim Ross and Merrick Watts

Price:                    $39.95

Classification:     M

Duration:              627 mins

Wil Anderson: Wilosophy 

The host of ABC TV’s The Gruen Transfer, Australian comedian Wil Anderson, is back, live on stage taking his newest comedy show Wilosophy around the globe in sold out performances from Melbourne to Montreal. Now Australians can see for themselves what all the fuss is about when Wilosophy lands on DVD from November 11, 2009. 

Wilosophy is described by the man himself as “about 70 minutes of the funniest shit I could think of said in a row!” Well at least he’s honest. The Age described it as “surprisingly heartfelt, regularly courageous and consistently funny… brilliant”. What’s not in doubt is Wilosophy is Wil’s sharpest, edgiest and funniest show yet. Get your copy on DVD from November 11, 2009. 

Comedian:           Wil Anderson

Price:                    $29.95

Classification:     MA 15+

Duration:              146 mins

“…a side-splitting adventure you’ll still be laughing about the morning after.”

Claudia Puig, USA Today 

Some Guys Really Can’t Handle Vegas 

THE HANGOVER: EXTENDED CUT  

Arrives on BLU-RAY for $49.95RRP, DVD for $39.95RRP, ON DEMAND and TO DOWNLOAD this 25 November 2009! 

Experience the mayhem with more content not seen in theatres including more pictures  from the lost camera! 

Re-live the bachelor party gone wrong when The Hangover: Extended Cut arrives on Blu-ray and DVD on 25 November 2009 from Warner Home Video.  From director Todd Phillips (Old School, Starsky & Hutch) comes a laugh-out-loud comedy about three groomsmen and their journey to retrace their steps from a downright crazy Vegas night in hopes of finding the missing groom. Available on DVD and Blu-ray, The Hangover: Extended Cut contains seven additional minutes of hilarious content not seen in theatres!  The original theatrical film will also be available on the Blu-ray version.

Two days before his wedding, Doug drives to Las Vegas with his best buddies for a blow-out bachelor party they vow they’ll never forget…only they did.  When the three groomsmen wake up the next morning with pounding headaches, their hotel suite is trashed and the groom is lost. With little time to spare, the trio attempts to retrace their bad decisions from the night before to figure out where things went wrong in the hopes of finding Doug and getting him back to L.A. in time for his wedding. 

The Hangover stars Bradley Cooper (Wedding Crashers, He’s Just Not That Into You, Yes Man), Ed Helms (TV’s The Office), Zach Galifianakis (What Happens in Vegas), Justin Bartha (National Treasure: Book of Secrets) and Jeffrey Tambor (TV’s Arrested Development).

The Hangover: Extended Cut will be available on DVD for $39.95RRP and on Blu-ray for $49.95RRP.  The original theatrical film will also be available on the Blu-ray version. 

The Hangover will also be available to buy on 25 November as a Digital Download from digital movie retailers. It will also be available to rent ON DEMAND through internet movie retailers and a games console.  

On 9 December The Hangover will be available to rent on a pay per view and ON DEMAND basis through Digital Cable and Satellite TV.  

SYNOPSIS

From Old School director Todd Phillips comes a comedy about a bachelor party gone very, very wrong. Two days before his wedding, Doug (JUSTIN BARTHA) drives to Las Vegas with his best buddies Phil and Stu (BRADLEY COOPER and ED HELMS) and his future brother-in-law Alan (ZACH GALIFIANAKIS), for a blow-out bachelor party they vow they’ll never forget. When the three groomsmen wake up the next morning with pounding headaches, they can’t remember a thing. Their luxury hotel suite is beyond trashed and the groom is nowhere to be found. With no clue about what happened and little time to spare, the trio must attempt to retrace their bad decisions from the night before in order to figure out where things went wrong in the hopes of finding Doug and getting him back to L.A. in time for his wedding. The more they begin to uncover, the more they realise just how much trouble they’re really in!

DVD 

Special Features:

• “Map of Destruction” (TRT 15 min)

Re-trace each step the guys took during their fate-filled evening and see the real locations, learn about their Las Vegas lore and see the filming that took place there.  

• “Three Best Friends Song” (TRT 1:25)

Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Zach Galifianakis “freestyle” their own song.

• Gag Reel (TRT 7:57)  

Rating:

• MA15+ extended cut with special features
• R18+ extended cut with 7mins of never-before-seen footage (see the photos that were too hot for cinemas) and special features 

Approximate DVD Feature Runtime:

99 mins – Theatrical

107 mins – Extended Cut

 BLU-RAY 

Extended un-cut and Theatrical versions of the film

Special Features:

• “Map of Destruction” (TRT 15 min)

Re-trace each step the guys took during their fate-filled evening and see the real locations, learn about their Las Vegas lore and see the filming that took place there.  

• “Three Best Friends Song” (TRT 1:52)

Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Zach Galifianakis “freestyle” their own song.

• More Pictures from the Missing Camera (100 Stills)

                        More photos exposing the events from the night of mayhem.

•  “The Madness of Ken Jeong” (TRT 7:38)

                        Ken Jeong’s non stop hilarious improv.

•  “Action Mash-Up” (TRT :30)

Compilation of all the physical comedy from the film.

• Picture-in-Picture Commentary (TRT 101 min)

Hilarious Picture-in-Picture Commentary of the Theatrical Cut with hangover remedy tips featuring Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, Ed Helms and Todd Phillips.

• Digital Copy of the Theatrical Version

BD-LIVE EXCLUSIVE CONTENT:

• “Iron Mike Online Teaser” (TRT 1:40)

The Champs’ rendition of “In the Air Tonight”

• “Cursing Mash-Up” (TRT :51)

            Hilarious compilation of all the cursing from the film.

• “The Dan Band!” (TRT 1:06 min)

                        The Dan Band performs, “Fame.”

Rating:

• R18+  features both the extended un-cut and theatrical versions with 7mins of never-before-seen footage (see the photos that were too hot for cinemas) and special features

Approximate Blu-ray Feature Runtime:

99 mins – Theatrical

107 mins – Extended Cut

-At Selected EB Games and Kmart Stores, 5 November to 16 November-

Australia, 5 November, 2009

Nintendo announces that from Thursday 5 November – Monday 16 November, Pokémon™ players will be able to receive the Mighty Arceus! Simply by taking their Nintendo DS® or Nintendo DSi™ and a copy of Pokémon® Diamond, Pokémon® Pearl or Pokémon™ Platinum Version into selected EB Games and Kmart stores, fans can add this extremely hard-to-find Pokémon to their game. Arceus holds powers unlike anything seen before!

SEAGATE’S NEW FREEAGENT THEATRE+™ HD MEDIA PLAYER ENHANCES THE ENJOYMENT OF DIGITAL HOME MOVIES AND PHOTOS  

Bring Your Digital Media to Life with True HD and Dolby^® Digital Surround Sound Technology 

SYDNEY— November 04, 2009— Seagate (NASDAQ: STX), the worldwide leader in hard disk drives and storage solutions, today unveiled its new FreeAgent Theatre+™ [Plus] HD media player, the next generation home theatre solution designed to instantly and easily connect your digital media library to your home entertainment system.  

The FreeAgent Theatre+ HD media player leverages a docking system unique to Seagate FreeAgent Go™ portable drives and accessories, providing a quick and easy way to connect your external hard drive to your television or home entertainment centre. After loading the drive with your favourite movies, videos, music and pictures from the home PC, simply slide it into the FreeAgent Theatre+ dock to get instant access to your digital media library. With the FreeAgent Theatre+ player, you can just sit back, relax, point, click and enjoy as digitally captured memories and your favourite movies come to life in 1080p HD video, DTS™ 2.0 + Digital Out, or Dolby Digital technology. The interface is easily navigated with the included remote control, and you can choose from video, photos or music with the up/down arrows on the remote to make your selection. 

The Seagate FreeAgent Theatre+ HD media player includes two additional USB ports for connecting other USB attached storage devices. Also incorporated into the FreeAgent Theatre+ is an Ethernet port for network connectivity, which allows access to digital media through your home network. Enjoy it all, with the included new and improved remote control, from the comfort of your couch. 

“There is so much media that is now being captured and created through various methods and stored on the PC, yet the computer is not the ideal way to enjoy these photos and videos,” said BanSeng Teh, vice president and managing director of Seagate Asia Pacific and Japan, “The FreeAgent Theatre provides the easiest way to view and enjoy video and photos on your HDTV. Simply load up a Seagate FreeAgent Go™ hard drive and drop it into the FreeAgent Theatre+ HD media player dock. It’s a behaviour we’ve all been familiar with for years with VHS and DVDs, but now with digital HD enjoyment.” 

The new FreeAgent Theatre+™ HD media player solution includes:

• HDMI with 1080p HD video playback for high-definition content viewing
• Dolby^® Digital and DTS™ 2.0 + Digital Out audio support surround sound where available.
• Unique docking system eliminates fumbling with cables and connections
• Ethernet connection for accessing shared content on your network or streaming of content from the Internet
• Two additional USB ports and one front-mounted port for digital cameras and additional storage devices
• Simple sync software for PC and Mac^® computers
• Intuitive user interface with DVD-style navigation
• Support for Windows^® XP, Windows Vista^®, Windows^® 7, and Mac OS^® X operating systems, as well as NTFS, FAT, FAT32, HFS+ file support
• Component video and Composite video support
• Optical S/PDIF audio and Stereo RCA sound options  

The software included with FreeAgent Theatre+ HD media player is a rich media-specific synchronization application that enables the automatic transfer and organization of all photo, music, video and movie files stored on your computer.

Technical Specifications

The Seagate FreeAgent Theatre+ HD media player now supports even more Audio/Video and sound formats including MPEG-1, MPEG-2 (VOB/ISO), MPEG-4 (DivX^® /Xvid formats), DivX HD, Xvid HD, AVI, MOV, MKV, RMVB, AVC HD, H.264, WMV9, VC-1, M2TS, TS/TP/M2T, JPEG files up to 20 megapixels, BMP, GIF, PNG and TIFF. Audio formats supported include 5.1 channel surround sound, where available, and popular digital audio formats including: AAC, MP3, Dolby Digital, DTS, ASF, FLAC, WMA, LPCM, ADPCM, WAV and OGG. The FreeAgent Theatre+ player also offers support for SAMI (smi), SRT and SUB subtitles. To download and transfer content to a Seagate FreeAgent Go portable drive using a Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7 operated PC, a 256MB RAM and an available USB port is required. Mac computer users must be running Mac OS X 10.4.11 or 10.5.6 or later and have an available USB port. FreeAgent Theatre connects to any TV with composite, component video or HDMI connection and stereo, optical S/PDIF or HDMI audio connection 

Pricing and Availability

The FreeAgent Theatre+ HD Media Player is available in Australia and New Zealand as a standalone unit only so you can have the option of using it with a FreeAgent Go portable hard drive as a complete solution or only with USB devices you already own. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) is $219 AUD and $269 NZD. 

About Seagate

Seagate is the worldwide leader in hard disk drives and storage solutions. Learn more at http://www.seagate.com.

© 2009 Seagate Technology LLC. All rights reserved. Seagate, Seagate Technology, the Wave logo, FreeAgent, FreeAgent Go, and FreeAgent Theater+ are trademarks or registered trademarks of Seagate Technology LLC or its affiliates in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners. When referring to hard drive capacity, one gigabyte, or GB, equals one billion bytes and one terabyte, or TB, equals one trillion bytes. Your computer’s operating system may use a different standard of measurement and report a lower capacity. In addition, some of the listed capacity is used for formatting and other functions, and thus will not be available for data storage. Seagate reserves the right to change, without notice, product offerings or specifications.

iPHONE TIPPED TO BECOME TOP MOBILE PHONE BRAND IN AUSTRALIA

New Millward Brown Research Reveals iPhone Eclipses BlackBerry, Nokia and Sony Ericsson in Brand Strengths and Predicts Strong Sales in 2010 

Sydney, Australia, 4 November 2009.  iPhone is set to become the mobile phone brand of choice for Australians, according to new research by Millward Brown, a global leader in brand, media and communications research.  

A survey of 400 Australian mobile phone consumers conducted by Millward Brown as part of its 2009 BrandZ brand equity research, found iPhone was perceived to have more brand strengths than Nokia, Motorola, Sony Ericsson and BlackBerry.                                                                

In addition, iPhone’s brand ‘Voltage’ – a derived measure of the probability of growing brand share – is the highest ever seen in Australia.  It suggests an almost certain increase in share in the next 12 months and mirrors 2009 BrandZ survey findings from other markets such as the USA and Brazil. iPhone’s nearest competitor, BlackBerry, also has a higher chance of growing share than losing it, although the degree of certainty was not as marked. 

However, iPhone was outperformed by its rivals on a range of brand metrics including ‘Bonding’, a measure of current brand equity, with Nokia continuing to have the strongest relationship with consumers.  iPhone came in second whilst the remaining three brands were equal third. 

Overall, BlackBerry’s brand metrics increased from 2008 while there was some softening in the results for Nokia, Motorola and Sony Ericsson. 

According to Millward Brown’s Sydney Managing Director, Daren Poole, iPhone has made strong gains since it launched in July 2008. 

“After little more than 12 months in the Australian market, iPhone has gained a strong brand position.  Our research has confirmed it is now on par with Nokia in terms of popularity, even though only nine percent of those surveyed actually owned an iPhone. This bodes well for iPhone when those consumers upgrade their handsets.

 “While there are still more than twice as many people who bond with Nokia than with iPhone, given its meteoric rise over the past year and the forecast for strong sales growth, the iPhone is well on the way to becoming Australia’s mobile phone brand of choice,” Mr Poole commented. 

These findings follow Apple’s fourth quarter results announcement on October 19 which revealed iPhone sales rose 7 per cent to 7.4 million in the September 2009 quarter and 46 per cent of the Company’s revenue for the quarter came from international sales. 

Apple was named the sixth most valuable brand in the world in the Millward Brown Optimor 2009 BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands ranking where it was also ranked fourth according to brand momentum, a measurement predicting short-term growth prospects.  

About BrandZ 

BrandZ is the world’s largest brand equity study. Commissioned by WPP and conducted annually by Millward Brown, the BrandZ study measures the brand equity of thousands of global “consumer facing” and business-to-business brands.  It has interviewed over 1 million consumers globally. Over 20 categories have been researched in Australia.  Mobile phone category data is collected each year via an online survey of 400 18-65 year olds who own or use a mobile phone. 

Consumer perception of a brand is a key input in determining brand value because brands are a combination of business performance, product delivery, clarity of positioning, and leadership.

HULK HOGAN JOINS TNA WRESTLING

“Hulkamania” is back! The biggest name in professional wrestling history, Hulk Hogan, is joining Total Non-Stop Action Wrestling (TNA), the fastest rising wrestling organization in the world. The announcement was made late last week by TNA Wrestling in conjunction with U.S. channel Spike TV at a press conference held in New York City.

“Hulk Hogan is one of the world’s top pop culture icons and the biggest superstar in the history of professional wrestling.  We are truly excited to welcome him into the TNA family,” said Dixie Carter, President of TNA Wrestling.  “Our goal is to become the world’s biggest professional wrestling company. Hulk defines professional wrestling and we look forward to partnering with him in a variety of ways as we continue to grow TNA globally.”

“I’m thrilled to be jumping back into the world of professional wrestling,” said Hogan.  “My fans have been asking me to return to the business for many years on a full time basis, but the timing or the opportunity has never been right until now.  TNA Wrestling is a great company with an already excellent fan base, business and broadcast partner. I firmly believe now is the time for some change at TNA as they are positioned to jump to the next level in their development and I’m here to work with Dixie to help make that a reality.”

Madman Entertainment acquired exclusive Australia & New Zealand distribution rights for TNA content on DVD in 2009. The catalogue was launched in October 2009 with JEFF JARRET: KING OF THE MOUNTAIN, LOCKDOWN 2009 and SLAMMIVERSARY 2009, and will continue throughout 2010 with regular monthly releases.

TNA Wrestling will undertake its long-awaited debut Australian tour in February / March, 2010, featuring a host of big name talent, including Kurt Angle, AJ Styles, Samoa Joe, Christy Hemme, Beer Money (“Cowboy” James Storm & Robert Roode), Motorcity Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin), Daniels, Suicide & many more.