A US court has banned American Software Company RealNetworks from selling a program that lets people make copies of their DVDs.

The ruling stops Real from selling RealDVD, a piece of software that allows you to make back-up copies of their movie discs and save them to their computer.

Although free DVD ripping software is already available online, Real raised the hackles of Hollywood executives in 2008 because it paid for a license to the DVD Copy Control Association, believing that it could be interpreted to allow the services they wanted to provide.

In her ruling, Judge Marilyn Hall Patel said:

“While it may well be fair use for an individual consumer to store a backup copy of a personally-owned DVD on that individual’s computer, a federal law has nonetheless made it illegal to manufacture or traffic in a device or tool that permits a consumer to make such copies.”

Campaigners had argued that consumers had the right to make personal copies of material they had legally obtained, and that Real should not be punished.

Real Networks said that it was “disappointed” in the ruling and would take time to examine the verdict closely before considering whether to appeal.

Do you agree with the judges verdict or do you think we should be able to copy our own DVDs??

Either way you can watch them on the DVD players and recorders available here at AJ Electronics, for more details please visit the website.

The 2009 Panasonic Blu-ray players launched earlier this year will now be able to view more than just Blu-ray discs, following a deal with Amazon.

According to Panasonic, current owners of Panasonic’s 2009 Blu-ray disc players in the USA will automatically receive a free software update to be able to access their Video On Demand service.

The Blu-Ray players, which were launched in April, will be able to access 45,000 titles, 1000 of which are in HD.

Models to get the software update include the DMP-BD60, BD70V, BD80 and the company’s portable Blu-ray disc player, the B15.

As well as Amazon Video On Demand, VIERA CAST will continue to provide access to YouTube, Picasa Web Albums, Bloomberg News and weather information says Panasonic.

To shop for current Panasonic Blu-Ray players at AJ Electronics please click here.

According to an Ofcom report the average broadband speed delivered in urban areas is 4.6 megabits per second compared to an average of 3.3 Mbps delivered in rural areas.

Ofcom have reported that over half of broadband users are on packages that promise speeds of “up to” 8 Mbps but research found that in practice they received an average of 4.1 Mbps.

They also found that no broadband customers were receiving the top download speeds advertised by the country’s largest internet service providers.

The highest speed that can be received is around 7.2 Mbps if they lived close to the telephone exchange through which their connection is routed.

In rural areas, households are further from the exchanges leading to a great number of internet “not spots”.

The six-month study involved more than 60 million broadband performance tests in 1,600 homes, and found the average broadband speed in the UK in April to be 4.1 Mbps.

According to the communication regulator Virgin Media’s next-generation fibre-optic broadband network achieved closest to the advertised speeds, while other suppliers, offered users much less than the “8 Mbps” speeds advertised.

Regardless of whether you get 4 Mbps or 8 Mbps broadband speed, your internet service will look fab on the desktops and Macbooks available here at AJ Electronics.

For more information please visit our website.

For the latest 42 inch plasma HDTV, Panasonic created the 42-inch TC-P42G10 Viera G10 Series Plasma for those who demand the best possible viewing experience. The new G10 Series boast cinema-quality movie reproduction, clear, smooth sports and gaming action as well as Web entertainment

The Panasonic 42” Plasma HD TV is THX certified and other features include a 600Hz Sub-field Drive for fast processing video signals. It has the new feature “Infinite Black” that Panasonic is touting as its new black level.

This 42inch plasma TV comes with the company’s internet media player, VieraCast which allows you to pull up a series of web widgets with the simple push of a button, nothing groundbreaking here, but it is nice to have access to your Picassa and Flickr accounts or watch videos from your favorite video sharing site on your HDTV.

Panasonic TC-P42G10 Viera G10 Series Plasma 1080p resolution combines with a 480 Hz processor to bring you exceptional clarity and smooth, fluid motion, even during high-speed action.

For hardcore gamers, Panasonic introduced a specialised Game Mode to help ensure fluid and seamless game play by minimizing time lag when displaying game images. Turn Game Mode and get the resolution enhancements you need to win.

With all these features, The Panasonic G10 series HD TV have the qualifications to be a perfect heir to the vacant plasma king’s throne, now that Pioneer has left the plasma business.

What do you think? Is Panasonic a worthy heir to the vacant Plasma TV throne?

With holidays around the corner, a digital camera is an essential summer buy, after all you don’t want to be missing classic snaps such as your Aunty falling in to the pool.

AJ Electronics offer a wide range of digital camera to suit everyones wants and needs.

Our selection includes Panasonic, Canon and Nikon cameras of the highest quality that will provide you with beautiful snapshots during these Summer months, as long as you use it correctly of course!

Whether it’s a waterproof camera you’re after or a stylish digital camera that will impress your friends and family, we have it all.

For AJ Electronics full range of digital cameras, please visit the product page.

Interesting one this. A new joint venture company has been formed by LCD TV rivals Sony and Sharp. The new company called Sharp Display Products Corporation will be open for business from April 1st 2009 with the intention on focusing on large LCD TV panels.

Sharp will have 66% of the company and Sony will have 34%. The venture is aimed to help both companies; to give Sony ready access and control over large LCD panel and to relieve the site development off Sharp. The first screens from Sharp Display Products are expected to be launched in just under two years from now.

The second joint venture could possibly be by Toshiba who are currently in negotiations to buy out Panasonics stake of a joint LCD venture.

Presently, Panasonic controls 40% of Toshiba Matsushita Display Technology which produce small LCDs used in mobile phones and the deal, said to be initiated by Panasonic, should be worth several million yen when completed. Panasonic have refused to comment on the buyout but has admitted that its current strategy is to focus on larger LCD TV panels (sound familiar?) and larger Plasma TV panels.

Sony, Philips, and Panasonic are joining together to create a less expensive and simpler licensing process for companies that wish to make Blu-ray devices.

A new license will be established by the middle of 2009 as a ‘one-stop shop’ for device makers. The license will include all necessary Blu-ray, DVD, and CD patents for selling Blu-ray players.

The licensing program will be handled by a new licensing company to be led by Gerald Rosenthal, former head of intellectual property at IBM. It will be based in the U.S., but will have local branches in Asia, Europe, and Latin America.

Instead of having to approach Blu-ray, DVD, and CD holders individually and paying them separate royalties; the single license should reduce the total cost of royalty payments by 40%, according to Sony.

The fees for the new licenses will be $9.50 for a Blu-ray player, and $14 for a Blu-ray recorder.

The idea for a one-stop shop for Blu-ray has been floating around since a 2007 meeting of the 18 companies that hold Blu-ray patents. Licensing fees can be extremely lucrative for disc format patent holders: several years ago license fees for making a DVD player cost between $15 and $20.

This one-stop shop will help avoid the headache DVD licenses created. To make a DVD player or disc, manufacturers have had to ink deals with three separate organisations that represented various patent holders.

For our selection of Blu-Ray players, please click here.