Although Steve Jobs has decided to skip the use of Blu-ray for Apple MacBooks, accessory makers still consider the high-end drive as an important peripheral for the Macbook family.Amex Digital has announced the launch of the Portable Blu-ray Super Multi Drive to allow MacBook users to watch or play Blu-ray disc.

This external unit connects easily to MacBook products through a USB 2.0 cable. The Blu-ray is compatible with the BD single and double-layer media along with DVD±RW discs.

It is said that the BD-RE / -R (single-layer) discs can burn at 2x, while dual-layer versions would burn at 1x and the blank DVDs burns at a rate of 4x to 8x.To charge the Blu-ray system, users need to use a USB cable or a power adapter.

The BDP-2 Blu-ray player carries a price tag of $289 (approx. Rs. 14,078) and the BDR-2 Blu-ray recorder costs $389 (approx. Rs. 18,950).

Sharp has announced 6 new LCD TVs under the AQUOS DX Series. This line up comprises of various screen sizes which include 26-inch LC-26DX1, 32-inch LC-32DX1, 37-inch LC-37DX1, 42-inch LC-42DX1, 46-inch LC-46DX1, and 52-inch LC-52DX1.

The new AQUOS DX TVs come equipped with a built-in digital tuner, Blu-ray and a bottom-mounted speaker.

The built-in Digital W Tuner allows users to record programs while watching TV. It also has H.264/AVC (Advanced Video Coding) standard of the MPEG-4 suite to allow 5X extended HD video recording (5X Mode), support for 2X Mode and 3X Mode with Full-Capture Extended HD Recording.Developed by using a high-class and high-quality Kameyama LCD panel, the DX series of LCD TV shows compatibility with Sharp’s 1-Bit digital amp to restore original sounds and side-port Bass Reflex speaker to offer powerful deep bass sounds.

Scheduled to hit the Japanese market by November, the Sharp AQUOS DX Series of LCD TVs priced around 200,000 yen to 500,000 yen (approx. Rs. 95,960 to Rs. 239,865).