Brand: MacNews

Plextor today announced the PlexWriter 24/10/40U CD-RW drive, which features USB 2.0 connectivity. The drive operates as a USB 1.1 device under Mac OS 8.6 and later (and is therefore limited to 4x writing speeds) and as a USB 2.0 device under Mac OS X. The US$229 drive also features Burn-Proof technology, and while no Mac software is included, the drive is Mac compatible.

Logitech today announced a special edition of its classic wheel mouse, painted crimson red for the holiday season. The US$29.95 mouse features two buttons, a scroll wheel, and 2x optical sensor.

SONICblue, best known for its MP3 players, today introduced its Advanced Digital Audio Center, which integrates into a user’s home stereo and allows CDs to be recorded to its 40GB hard drive, played over a receiver, copied to a portable player, or burned back onto another CD. The device also includes a modem, allowing users down the road to stream digital music from their collection or download new content.

Apple’s PowerBook G4 is now available from the Apple Store with a CD-RW/DVD combo drive, as we expected this past weekend. The drive features recording speeds of up to 8x—twice that off the combo drive on Apple’s iBook—and can read DVDs at 8x and CDs at 24x.

Dr. Bott today introduced its iPod Connection Kit II, which replaces the FM Transmitter bundled with the original iPod Connection Kit with a cassette tape adapter. Both kits also include an auto charger, mini stereo extension cable, mini stereo to RCA cable, mini stereo connection cable, and an iPod carry pouch. The kit will ship in January for US$47.95.