Netgear is set to launch a new HD media player called the EVA9150 Digital Entertainer Elite.This box will put free videos & photos from YouTube & Flickr, as well as content from your PC, onto your high-definition TV.

"We are positioning it for people who are a bit in the know and looking for a way to get content of their choice on their TVs," says David Henry, director of home and consumer products for Netgear.

The EVA9150 player includes an user interface that allows users to choose content from free sources such as YouTube and Flickr.

The EVA9150, which , will face some tough competition from rivals such as Apple TV, Linksys Media Extender, Roku Netflix player and even Microsoft's Xbox 360 gaming console system.

What sets Netgear's product apart from its competitors, says the company, is that it will include a 500 GB hard drive making it "the world’s largest video jukebox for the home." Apple TV offers 160 GB and XBox only offers 120 GB, says Netgear.

The EVA 9150 Digital Entertainer Elite also supports 1080p high-definition video and users can even swap out the hard drive and add another one. The product supports multiple content platforms as opposed to Apple TV which is tied to iTunes primarily or Roku to Netflix, says Netgear.

"Roku does not play anything from your computer or the network such as Internet radio, YouTube or photos. It also doesn't have a hard drive or wireless capabilities," says Henry. "The Digital Entertainer Elite is broader."

The EVA9150 will cost $400 (about 305 Euros) & will ship in the 1st quarter of 2009.

Thanks to Toshiba, geeks will soon have reason to try and get on Santa's 'Good' list this holiday shopping season. The company's Storage Device Division (SDD) today announced what it claims is the world's first dual-platter 240GB 1.8-inch hard drive for use in portable media players, camcorders, and other gadgets. Toshiba also introduced a single-platter 120GB model.The two new PATA hard drives take areal density up to an impressive 344 gigabits-per-square-inch. Toshiba said the feat was made possible using its fourth-generation perpendicular magnetic recording technology, which bodes well for future devices utilizing the 1.8-inch form factor.

In addition to offering a higher capacity, Toshiba said its 240GB drive comes optimized for power performance and offers a 33 percent overall improvement in energy consumption efficiency when compared to the company's previous generation two-platter 160GB drive.

No word yet on pricing or specific availability, though Toshiba did say its "new 1.8-inch HDDs will be incorporated into CE and mobile PC products shipping this holiday season."

A new media player hits the American market for just $99.99. All the credit goes to the maker - Nextar. Termed as T30, the media player never lets you feel lonely or sad; with its various functionality it entertains us all the time, leaving behind all the worries and boredom.

Users can watch videos and photos on the 3.5-inch TFT LCD color display that offers a resolution of 320×240 pixels, listen to music and FM radio. The slim T30 player also comes equipped with 4 GB of built-in memory and up to 2 GB SD media slot, Hi-Fi and stereo output and support for RM/VOB /DAT/RMVB/ASF/WMV/MPG/MPEG/MP4/ MKV file formats. It also comes with AVI converter software to convert the files to a compliant format. So that they can easily play MP3, DRM9 and WMA file.

In addition to internet support, Nextar T30 sports side-mounted buttons, built-in FM tuner, software-controlledlock-up function, AV cable adapter, USB cable, earbuds and a carrying pouch. Besides, consumers can also reach e-book while you listen to music due to its txt.format.

Measuring only half an inch in depth and weighing merely 3.7 ounces, the T30 also comes pre-installed with an in-built rechargeable 1000 mAH Lithium Ion battery for charging by connecting via USB 2.0 port to a PC.

Nextar T30 media player can be purchased from retailers like Walmart.com, BonTon, Academy, Seventh Ave and DBL.