Brand: MacNews

VST Firewire Disk Encryption 1.0, for Mac OS X, allows users of VST FireWire hard drives that were password-protected with VST Format under Mac OS 9.x to be unlocked under OS X.

Both LaCie and FireWire Direct today introduced new FireWire hard drives based on Oxford’s 911 chip, which supports transfer speeds of up to 35MB/sec — roughly double the speed of previous generation FireWire drives. FireWire Direct’s Ultra II drives are available in the following capacities and prices: 20GB/7200RPM (US$199), 40GB/5400RPM ($199), 40GB/7200RPM ($239), 60GB/7200RPM ($299), 75GB/7200RPM ($369), 80GB/7200RPM ($359).

Sony today cut prices on its proprietary Memory Stick storage format. The 128MB Memory Stick, which now carries a US$149.95 price tag, sells for almost half of what it did before. New pricing for the other capacities follows: 8MB ($24.95), 16MB ($34.95), 32MB ($49.95), 64MB ($79.95). Sony also reduced prices on its Magic Gate Memory Sticks, which feature a chip that protects digitally secured and copyrighted material: 32MB Magic Gate ($69.95), 64MB Magic Gate ($99.95), 128MB MagicGate ($169.95).

XLR8 today cut prices across the board on its G3 and G4 upgrades, which range in speed from 400 to 500 MHz. At the low end, the 400MHz G3 upgrade is available for US$229 now, while the high-end dual 500MHz G4 upgrade is available now for $1,199. The price cuts average about 7 percent.

MacCentral reports that Apple will be exhibiting at the International Broadcasting Convention, which takes place September 14-18 in Amsterdam. The company will have both a regular booth set up as well as an Apple iCafe. More than 1,000 exhibitors and close to 50,000 attendees are expected.