Samsung seems pretty proud of world's highest density DRAM chip

Those of you who actually keep track of which outfits are on top of others in terms of density (yeah, all 8.4 of you) have a new winner to document, as Samsung has just announced the development of the planet's highest density DRAM chip. By utilizing 50 nanometer technology, Sammy has concocted a four gigabit DDR3 DRAM chip, and if it has its druthers, the low-power device will be used in data centers and servers the world over. The module can be produced in 16GB registered dual in-line memory modules (RDIMM) for servers, as well as 8GB unbuffered DIMM (UDIMM) for workstations and desktop PCs, and 8GB small outline DIMM (SODIMM) for laptops. If dual-die package technology is tapped into, the new device can scale as high as 32GB, though Samsung is careful not to mention just how much you'll have to pay for this stuff.



[ Source: I4U News ]

[ Tag: DDR3, density, DRAM, flash memory, FlashMemory, RAM, Samsung ]

• Google launches Measurement Lab to monitor the tubes, expose meddling

Western Digital 2TB Caviar Green review roundup

Now that the proverbial cat is out of the bag on Western Digital's 2TB Caviar Green HDD, hardware fanatics have had a chance to take the 3.5-inch drive for a spin. While its performance leaves something to be desired -- transferring files took longer than the 1TB Caviar Black or 1.5TB Seagate Barracuda -- instead we've got low heat and noise. Of course, the biggest boon is a ginormous storage capacity for just three Benjamins, the same price as some 128GB SSDs. Solid state be damned, rotating disks aren't going away anytime soon.


[ Source: Engadget ]

[ Tag: 2tb, 2tb caviar green, 2tbCaviarGreen, caviar, caviar green, CaviarGreen, hard disk drive, hard drive, HardDiskDrive, HardDrive, hdd, memory, review, review roundup, ReviewRoundup, roundup, storage, wd, WD20EADS, western digital, WesternDigital ]

• Super Talent unloads 32GB / 64GB SSDs for ASUS Eee PC S101

Google launches Measurement Lab to monitor the tubes, expose meddling

There's not exactly a lack of internet measurement tools out there, but there's none quite as ambitious as the new Measurement Lab (or M-Lab) just launched by Google, along with a little help from the New America Foundation's Open Technology Institute and the PlanetLab Consortium. While it's apparently just now getting up to speed, the tool will eventually let individuals and researchers of all sorts poke and prod the internet to their heart's content, measuring performance, and exposing attempts by telecoms to meddle with network traffic and clamp down on things like BitTorrent or Skype. Those efforts will be facilitated by 36 servers in 12 locations across the U.S. and Europe that Google will be opening up early this year, and all data collected using M-Lab will be made publicly available for other researchers to expand upon. Complete details are available at the link below, although Google seems to be having some bandwidth troubles of its own with the M-Lab site at the moment.



[ Source: InformationWeek ]

[ Tag: google, google m-lab, GoogleM-lab, m-lab, measurement lab, MeasurementLab ]

Super Talent unloads 32GB / 64GB SSDs for ASUS Eee PC S101

If your prior budget forced you to select an ASUS Eee PC S101 with just 16GB of succulent SSD storage space, Super Talent has the cure. The outfit has just introduced three new solid state drives made specifically for the aforementioned netbook, all of which tout 90 MB/sec maximum sequential read speeds and up to 55 MB/sec write speeds. You can select from the FPM16RSE (16GB), FPM32RSE (32GB) or the FPM64RSE (64GB), though you'll have to guess on the prices of the first two. As for the big daddy? It'll run right around $169.



[ Source: HotHardware ]

[ Tag: asus, eee, eee pc, eee pc s101, EeePc, EeePcS101, FPM16RSE, FPM32RSE, FPM64RSE, s101, ssd, storage, super talent, SuperTalent, upgrade ]

OCZ's 250GB Apex SSD reviewed, recommended

We know what you're thinking -- "great, another SSD." Right though you may be, OCZ's Apex line is rather unique. It manages to combine the low cost of MLC technology with the high performance more commonly associated with SLC designs by instituting a dual-controller RAID-0 configuration. The 250GB version that was tested by PC Perspective managed to hold its own, and while it still didn't wow critics the way Intel's X25-M did, it seemed to notch a very solid second place. In fact, they couldn't help but recommend it (and the much, much cheaper 120GB sibling) for those scouting a speedy upgrade without completely decimating the bank account. We couldn't possibly run down the results from the litany of benchmarks this thing endured, so we'll just point you to the read link and suggest you slice out a solid half hour to really look this over.


[ Source: Engadget ]

[ Tag: Apex, OCZ, OCZ technology, OczTechnology, review, reviewed, ssd ]

• Analyst: iPod, Zune, servers to drive high SSD growth

Analyst: iPod, Zune, servers to drive high SSD growth

Solid-state drives may see heady growth despite a sliding world economy, according to a report released Tuesday by a market research company. Devices like the Apple iPod and iPhone are expected to drive growth.

Micron Technology along with its partner Intel are challenging SSD market leaders Samsung and Toshiba, In-Stat said(Credit: Micron) Flash memory revenue in the solid-state drive segment will see compound annual growth rates of over 100 percent through 2012, according to market research firm In-Stat. The type of flash used in solid-state drives is referred to as NAND flash. "You're starting from quite a small base. Back in 2006, you're in the tens of millions (of dollars) kind of a number. By 2012, you're easily over five billion. So the growth rates do get rather high," said Ian Lao, a senior analyst at Scottsdale, Ariz.-based In-Stat. The market researcher forecasts compound annual growth at 106 percent from 2006 through 2012, Lao said. In the consumer segment, Lao says he expects to see most of the growth in small devices like portable music players and smart phones. Music players such as the Apple iPod and Microsoft Zune will adopt solid-state drives instead of the tiny 1.8-inch hard disk drives they use now because of better durability and shock resistance. "They suffer the risk of, hey, I just dropped my Zune, it doesn't work anymore," Lao said. SSDs will provide much greater reliability, he said. And as smart phones become more PC-like, they will graduate from relatively simple flash drives to more sophisticated SSDs with the same Serial ATA (SATA) interfaces used in PCs today, Lao said. An iPhone, for example, with a more computer-like operating system and features would use an SSD, Lao said. Future ultra-portable laptops, represented today by the MacBook Air and HP Voodoo Envy 133, will also drive SSD growth, as will Netbooks. Sharp growth will also be seen in the corporate enterprise market. SSDs will, in an increasing number of cases, replace very-high-speed hard disk drives in server environments, Lao said. Flash drives (non-SSD) will remain widely used in various music players, mobile handsets, after-market cards, and USB flash drives, with a combined market share of more than 80 percent during the next couple of years, according to the report. However, this percentage will drop to about 70 percent by 2012, as SSDs grow in importance, the report said. Worldwide NAND flash revenues are likely to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 29.7 percent from 2007 to 2012 to reach $61 billion, In-Stat said. Revenues for NOR flash--used, for example, to store program code in cell phones--will increase at a 6 percent compound annual growth rate from 2007 through 2012.


[ Source: cnet.com ]

[ Tag: ]

Seattle crowned most wired city in America: where's your town?

Check it, Pacific Northwest -- Seattle, washington was just named Forbes' most wired city for 2009, followed closely by Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Orlando and Boston. Of course, having Amazon and Microsoft within spitting distance probably didn't hurt matters, and the eleventy billion Starbucks WiFi hotspots likely pushed it over the edge. There are 25 other locales in the top 30 that we've yet to mention here, so head on down to the read link to see if your hometown made the cut. Oh, and way to represent, Raleigh -- numero fifteen ain't too shabby.


[ Source: cnmoody ]

[ Tag: broadband, connected, internet, muni-fi, seattle, survey, us, usa, washington, wifi ]

• Apricorn introduces 1.5TB DVR Xpander, succeeds at making it ugly

Seattle crowned most wired city in America: where's your town?

Check it, Pacific Northwest -- Seattle, Washington was just named Forbes' most wired city for 2009, followed closely by Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Orlando and Boston. Of course, having Amazon and Microsoft within spitting distance probably didn't hurt matters, and the eleventy billion Starbucks WiFi hotspots likely pushed it over the edge. There are 25 other locales in the top 30 that we've yet to mention here, so head on down to the read link to see if your hometown made the cut. Oh, and way to represent, Raleigh -- numero fifteen ain't too shabby.


[ Source: cnmoody ]

[ Tag: broadband, connected, internet, muni-fi, seattle, survey, us, usa, washington, wifi ]

• Apricorn introduces 1.5TB DVR Xpander, succeeds at making it ugly

Apricorn introduces 1.5TB DVR Xpander, succeeds at making it ugly

Apricorn's DVR Xpanders have never been the prettiest bunch, but we would've thought a redesign was in order with the introduction of the 1.5TB model. Sadly, our hopes and dreams of a DVR attachment from the outfit that isn't completely heinous have been decidedly crushed, as the latest edition is just as unsightly as prior models. Of course, it can hold up to 187.5 hours of HD content or 843 hours of SD material, not to mention its ability to connect via USB 2.0 or eSATA. So yeah, if all that matters to you is functionality (and not missing a single drama while out on that month-long vacation), we'd say the $239 asking price is totally reasonable.


[ Source: PCLaunches ]

[ Tag: Apricorn, DVR Xpander, DvrXpander, external hard drive, external hdd, ExternalHardDrive, ExternalHdd, hard drive, HardDrive, hdd ]

Leyio personal sharing device provides some UWB on the go

Ultra-wide band hasn't exactly taken off as quickly as some may have liked, but it looks like upstart Leyio is doing its best to push the technology into new, somewhat interesting directions, with its new device promising to let you easily share data wirelessly with others. The device itself, also dubbed Leyio, includes 16GB of memory, and can be paired with a regular USB stick to store some additional data, which can be shared with others at the "flick of a wrist" -- assuming they also have a Leyio, that is. You can apparently also get a little wireless action in at home with the included "Shuttle" dongle for your computer, and it boasts a built-in fingerprint scanner to make all that data flying around a tad more secure. No word on a price just yet, but Leyio says the official launch is on track for April of this year.


[ Source: Pocket-lint ]

[ Tag: leyio, ultra wide band, UltraWideBand, uwb ]

Leyio personal sharing device provides some UWB on the go

Ultra-wide band hasn't exactly taken off as quickly as some may have liked, but it looks like upstart Leyio is doing its best to push the technology into new, somewhat interesting directions, with its new device promising to let you easily share data wirelessly with others. The device itself, also dubbed Leyio, includes 16GB of memory, and can be paired with a regular USB stick to store some additional data, which can be shared with others at the "flick of a wrist" -- assuming they also have a Leyio, that is. You can apparently also get a little wireless action in at home with the included "Shuttle" dongle for your computer, and it boasts a built-in fingerprint scanner to make all that data flying around a tad more secure. No word on a price just yet, but Leyio says the official launch is on track for April of this year.


[ Source: Pocket-lint ]

[ Tag: leyio, ultra wide band, UltraWideBand, uwb ]

Leyio personal sharing device provides some UWB on the go

Ultra-wide band hasn't exactly taken off as quickly as some may have liked, but it looks like upstart Leyio is doing its best to push the technology into new, somewhat interesting directions, with its new device promising to let you easily share data wirelessly with others. The device itself, also dubbed Leyio, includes 16GB of memory, and can be paired with a regular USB stick to store some additional data, which can be shared with others at the "flick of a wrist" -- assuming they also have a Leyio, that is. You can apparently also get a little wireless action in at home with the included "Shuttle" dongle for your computer, and it boasts a built-in fingerprint scanner to make all that data flying around a tad more secure. No word on a price just yet, but Leyio says the official launch is on track for April of this year.


[ Source: Pocket-lint ]

[ Tag: leyio, ultra wide band, UltraWideBand, uwb ]

Seagate says it now fixes 7200.11 drives for real

This Seagate tool determines the model of the installed hard drive.(Credit: Seagate) After releasing a bug-fixing firmware that actually caused havoc by potentially rendering some drives seemingly dead, Seagate on Thursday offered this statement:

Seagate has isolated a potential firmware issue in limited number of Barracuda 7200.11 hard drives and related SATA drives based on this product platform, manufactured through December 2008. In some unique circumstances, the data on the hard drives may become inaccessible to the user when the host system is powered on. While we believe that the vast majority of customers will not experience any disruption related to this issue, as part of our commitment to customer satisfaction, Seagate is offering a free firmware upgrade to proactively address those with potentially affected products. This new firmware upgrade corrects compatibility issues that occurred with the firmware download provided on our support website on Jan. 16. We regret any inconvenience that the firmware issues have caused our customers.

You can go to this Web site to see if your hard drive is affected and download the new working firmware. For owners of hard drives that are bricked due to the previous firmware, Seagate assures customers that the data still resides on the drive, there is no data loss associated with this issue, and the company is working with customers to expedite a remedy. If you are among those concerned, you can e-mail Seagate at:

• Americas: discsupport@seagate.com, disksupport@seagate.com
  
• APAC: ssdc.apacsupport@seagate.com
  
• EMEA: Euro.techsupport@seagate.com

Or you can call Seagate's support center at 1-800-Seagate (1-800-732-4283) However, before anything and when it's still possible, make sure you make a backup of important data.


[ Source: cnet.com ]

[ Tag: ]

• Transcend intros new 1.8-inch SSD drive, 2.5-inch portable hard drive

Transcend intros new 1.8-inch SSD drive, 2.5-inch portable hard drive

It looks like Transcend is intent on keeping everyone happy with its latest batch of portable hard drives, with the company rolling out both SSD and regular hard drive-based models. The SSD drives come in the form of the SSD18M, which boasts a glossy finish with built-in fingerprint capturing technology, eSATA and USB 2.0 interface options, and your choice of 32GB, 64GB, or 128GB capacities. The 2.5-inch StoreJet 25F, on the other hand, is apparently only available in an "astonishing" 500GB capacity, and only includes an USB 2.0 interface, along with Transcend's StoreJet data management software and, of course, that same glossy finish. No word on a price, but both are apparently available now if you're able to track 'em down.



[ Source: Engadget Spanish ]

[ Tag: ssd, ssd18m, storejet, storejet 25f, Storejet25f, transcend ]

Transcend intros new 1.8-inch SSD drive, 2.5-inch portable hard drive

It looks like Transcend is intent on keeping everyone happy with its latest batch of portable hard drives, with the company rolling out both SSD and regular hard drive-based models. The SSD drives come in the form of the SSD18M, which boasts a glossy finish with built-in fingerprint capturing technology, eSATA and USB 2.0 interface options, and your choice of 32GB, 64GB, or 128GB capacities. The 2.5-inch StoreJet 25F, on the other hand, is apparently only available in an "astonishing" 500GB capacity, and only includes an USB 2.0 interface, along with Transcend's StoreJet data management software and, of course, that same glossy finish. No word on a price, but both are apparently available now if you're able to track 'em down.



[ Source: Engadget Spanish ]

[ Tag: ssd, ssd18m, storejet, storejet 25f, Storejet25f, transcend ]

Corsair joins SSD party with 2.5-inch 128GB drive

Corsair is entering the solid-state market with a 2.5-inch 128GB SSD. The MLC NAND-based drive boasts rather moderate 90MB/sec read and 70MB/sec write speeds. At ?326 / $449, it's priced on par with OCZ's offerings, but you're still paying a hefty premium to say goodbye to hard disks. No word yet on availability. The company promises more SSDs are in the pipeline.


[ Source: Engadget ]

[ Tag: 128gb, corsair, corsair s128, CorsairS128, nand, s128, solid state drive, SolidStateDrive, ssd ]

Laser Hard Drive boasts 1Tbits/s access time, doesn't exist yet

Whenever we uncover promising new research into lasers, we can generally be sure that it will sound really awesome, and that it will be a long time before it trickles down to the consumer electronics scene (if ever). That said, research into light powered computing has shown considerable promise -- with some folks estimating that commercial laser-drive hybrids (with picosecond pulse lasers doing the work that magnetic read/write heads once did -- something considered impossible until very recently) will be available in five years time. Although the first drives will only achieve a humble 1 TBits/s, in the future we might see femtosecond-based laser drives reaching speeds beyond 100TBits/s. And you know what they say... that's a lot of terabits.

[ Source: Engadget ]
[ Tag: femtosecond, Hard disk drive, Hard drive, HardDiskDrive, HardDrive, HDD, laser, laser hard drive, LaserHardDrive, picosecond ]

Western Digital about to ship 2TB Caviar Green hard drive?

Western Digital has known that Seagate was toiling away in hopes of being the first to market with a standalone 2TB hard drive, and evidently it has chosen to work its engineers that much harder. In a presumed effort to beat Hitachi (and everyone else) to the 2TB barrier, WD is reportedly aiming to launch its Caviar Green 2000GB WD20EADS later this week, and with it will come 32MB of cache, an 8.9-millisecond seek time and an expected price tag of around €170 ($224). Best of all? It should be "available immediately" just as soon as it's outed for real.

[ Source: Electronista ]
[ Tag: 2tb, caviar, Caviar Green, CaviarGreen, hard drive, HardDrive, hdd, storage, wd, WD20EADS, Western Digital, WesternDigital ]

• Buyer beware: Solid-state drive prices vary--a lot

Buyer beware: Solid-state drive prices vary--a lot

Some solid-state drives are more equal than others--or, to put it another way, command higher prices than rival drives, despite being seemingly quite similar.

SanDisk's G3 Series of SSDs offer capacities up to 240GB(Credit: SanDisk) SanDisk and Toshiba offer a good lesson. At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, SanDisk said it would start shipping 240GB SSDs in "mid 2009," priced at only $499. (Next to a comparable hard-disk drive, that may be a lot of money, but for a solid-state drive, it's dirt cheap.) At the Toshiba booth, however, the story was very different. A Toshiba representative said his company's comparable 256GB SSDs are priced at $800. And this discrepancy is coming from two companies that get their flash chips from the same source: a joint-manufacturing operation in Japan. Below are the prices Toshiba representatives were stating on the show floor versus prices that SanDisk announced. Toshiba/SanDisk solid-state drive pricing:

• Toshiba 512GB: $1,600, SanDisk N/A
  
• Toshiba 256GB: $800, SanDisk 240GB: $499
  
• Toshiba 128GB: $400, SanDisk 120GB: $249
  
• Toshiba 64GB: $175, SanDisk 60GB: $149
  

Throw intel into the mix, and it gets more confusing. "Introductory" pricing for Intel 160GB versions of its X25-M and X18-M Serial ATA (SATA) solid-state drive is $945 for less than 1,000 units. All these drives are based on newly developed multilevel cell technology (which allows the larger capacities), and all suppliers claim superior performance and endurance. (Intel's stellar x25-M SSD performance has actually been validated in reviews.) SanDisk, for instance, says its new G3 SSDs are "more than five times faster than the fastest 7,200 RPM HDDs and more than twice as fast as SSDs shipping in 2008," and provide Long-term Data Endurance (LDE) "sufficient for over 100 years of typical user usage." So what makes for the price discrepancy? Usually, but not always, higher-price SSDs use better controllers--the secret sauce suppliers use to differentiate performance--and other tricks, like larger cache memory, to boost read and write speeds. The stated, or guaranteed, durability of the SSD is also a factor. "The difference in controllers and expected reliability probably explains the difference in price," says Avi Cohen, managing partner at Avian Securities, which tracks the memory chip market. But with manufacturers claiming similar attributes, it can get confusing for the average consumer.

[ Source: cnet.com ]
[ Tag: ]

• TRENDnet unloads one more at CES: TEW-673GR Wireless N gigabit router

TRENDnet unloads one more at CES: TEW-673GR Wireless N gigabit router

If you haven't seen enough of TRENDnet here at CES, you haven't been looking, but for those in need of a new wireless router, these choices are certainly sights for sore eyes. The latest entry from the company here in Vegas is the TEW-673GR 300Mbps Concurrent Dual-Band Wireless N Gigabit Router. Constructed with a dual-band Atheros chipset, the device can handle both 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks simultaneously; essentially, this enables low-bandwidth clients to be assigned to the more congested 2.4GHz band while high-bandwidth, latency-sensitive applications (such as HD streaming and online gaming) head to the uncongested 5GHz band. Can't help you out on a price, but it should be filtering out in short order.

[ Source: Engadget ]
[ Tag: 802.11n, ces, ces 2009, Ces2009, router, TEW-673GR, trendnet, wap, wireless n, WirelessN, wlan ]

QNAP unveils stately 6-bay TS-639 Pro Turbo NAS device

It's been a hot minute since we saw anything fly from QNAP, but today the outfit is unveiling a NAS so intimidating, so beastly that it practically has to be locked away in a data closet. The TS-639 Pro Turbo checks in with six bays, a 1.6GHz Intel CPU, 1GB of DDR2 RAM, gigabit Ethernet and support for RAID 0/1/5/6/5+spare configurations along with built-in iSCSI target service with Thin Provisioning. There's no mention of a price, but that's likely because you just aren't ready to handle the truth.

[ Source: engadget ]
[ Tag: iSCSI, NAS, QNAP, RAID, TS-639, TS-639 Pro Turbo, Ts-639ProTurbo ]

• pureSilicon introduces world's first 1TB 2.5-inch SSD

pureSilicon introduces world's first 1TB 2.5-inch SSD

Pretec may have laid claim to the title of world's fastest SATA SSD, but it looks like pureSilicon has a feather of its own to put in its cap, with it announcing what appears to be the world's first 1TB 2.5-inch SSD drive. You may want to think twice about holding out for one of these in your next laptop, however, as pureSilicon is apparently specifically pitching it as a more energy-efficient solution for servers, datacenters, and supercomputers, with four of the drives able to deliver 4TB in the same space as a standard 3.5-inch hard drive. According to pureSilicon's own benchmarks, the drives "approach" the maximum SATA II transfer speed of 300MB/s and, if 1TB is a bit excessive for your needs, the company also has drives ranging from 32GB to 512GB in its Nitro series. No word on price, naturally, but the drives will apparently be available sometime in the third quarter of this year.

[ Source: Engadget ]
[ Tag: 1tb, 2.5-inch ssd, 2.5-inchSsd, puresilicon, sata, sata ssd, SataSsd, ssd ]

• Sandisk unveils new, faster, bigger laptop SSDs

Sandisk unveils new, faster, bigger laptop SSDs

Last year's proliferation of itty bitty and skinny laptops also helped to drive the proliferation of SSDs, and if Sandisk's latest announcement is any indicator that popularity could really pay off this year. The company has announced a new line of 2.5-inch and 1.8-inch SSDs for laptops of various sizes. The three new models come in 60GB, 120GB, and 240GB flavors, priced at $149, $249, and $499 respectively. Great values, by the sounds, and with 200MB/sec read and 140MB/sec writes, great performance, too. We can't wait until to do some evaluating of our own when these start appearing inside laptops sometime toward the middle of this year.
[ Source: Engadget ]
[ Tag: ]

Netgear intros two new home routers, one 3G WWAN router

Netgear's dropping a bunch of new kit here at CES, so we'll get right to the networking piece here. First up is the RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N modem / router (DGND3300), which integrates an ADSL2+ modem with a 2.4GHz and 5GHz wireless router. Following that is the RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N Gigabit Router (WNDR3700), which is the first product to introduce the outfit's fifth-generation industrial design. It's also packin' 2.4GHz / 5GHz support along with an inbuilt USB port for hooking up a wireless printer. Finally, the 3G Mobile Broadband Wireless Router (MBR624GU) does exactly what it says, which is to create a WiFi hotspot by plugging in a USB 3G modem. No prices are mentioned for any of these, but they should be in stores here shortly.
Routers and Gateways
At CES, NETGEAR will debut three sleek, versatile, feature-rich wireless routers to fulfill the unique
lifestyle needs of different customer segments - for people on-the-go as well as consumers and
prosumers looking to upgrade their network environments and take full advantage of a growing number
of bandwidth-hungry applications, online gaming, and HD video streaming. Also in 2009, in partnership
with OpenDNS®, NETGEAR will introduce a powerful network-based parental controls service for select
Wireless-N routers and gateways, to enable parents to restrict access to unsafe web sites, filter
inappropriate content, and establish time limits around the use of the Internet. (See press release,
"NETGEAR Launches New Series of Versatile Wireless Routers Designed to Meet Needs of Prosumers,
Media Enthusiasts and People On-The-Go.") More information can be found at
(http://www.netgear.com/Products/RoutersandGateways.aspx?for=Home+Networking).
Named "Best of Innovations" in the CES Home Networking category, NETGEAR's RangeMax Dual
Band Wireless-N Gigabit Router (WNDR3700), the first product to introduce NETGEAR's sleek new
fifth generation industrial design, is a simultaneous Dual Band 2.4 GHz and 5GHz wireless router with
Gigabit ports and a USB port to network an external USB storage device for high speed data access from
multiple computers in the network. It incorporates a powerful 680 MHz MIPS processor, high
performance power amplifiers and eight ultra sensitive metamaterial antennas – resulting in faster wired
to wireless throughput and long range wireless coverage. Features include a four-port Ethernet low power
consumption "green" switch, dedicated Quality of Service (QOS) for video streaming over wireless, one-
touch wireless on-off and power on-off buttons, and adjustable transmit power for maximum energy
efficiency. Along with easy and secure Push 'N' Connect with industry standard WiFi Protected Setup
(WPS), the RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N Gigabit Router is the ideal solution for the prosumer with
multiple networked gadgets running multiple applications, online gamers, and video streamers that
require the ultimate network experience.
NETGEAR's RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N Modem Router (DGND3300) integrates an ADSL2+
modem along with a Dual Band Wireless Router operating at both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz – all in
NETGEAR's popular compact industrial design. NETGEAR's modem router uses double firewall
protection including Network Address Translation (NAT), hiding PCs and files from outside users, and a
Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI) firewall denying outside requests for personal information. The Dual
Band Wireless-N Modem Router can also be configured as a wireless repeater to double the range. With a
new multi-language installation wizard, Push 'N' Connect with WPS, and energy saving features, the
modem router is perfect for DSL customers who want a single integrated wireless router and DSL modem
device for all of their growing networking needs.
And for consumers and professionals on-the-go, NETGEAR's 3G Mobile Broadband Wireless Router
(MBR624GU) creates an instant WiFi hotspot using 3G mobile broadband access service for broadband
access virtually anywhere, simply by plugging in any compatible 3G USB modem to the router. Mobile
users thus have the flexibility to create a WiFi network whether in a satellite or temporary office,
construction site, emergency center, hotel, vacation home, at an offsite event or campsite, or even from a
moving recreational vehicle. The 3G Mobile Broadband Wireless Router features auto detection of
compatible 3G USB modems and associated mobile carrier networks to have broadband access almost
instantly. It supports SPI, intrusion logging and reporting, denial-of-service (DoS) protection, up to five
IPsec VPN endpoints, and NAT. With Push 'N' Connect with WPS, energy saving features, and an
optional car power adapter to power the router while on the move, NETGEAR's 3G Mobile Broadband
Wireless Router is ideal for sharing a 3G broadband Internet connection with friends, colleagues and

[ Source: Engadget ]
[ Tag: 3g modem, 3gModem, CES, CES 2009, Ces2009, DGND3300, MBR624GU, modem, neatgear, router, wifi, wlan, WNDR3700, WWAN ]

Clickfree gone wild at CES: 1TB drive, Mac support and online backup

Clickfree's remarkably useful Transformer Cable isn't the only new gear being announced from the outfit today -- far from it, actually. For starters, it's bringing a 1TB backup drive with its heralded auto backup functionality at $229.99. Next, we've got the entirely overpriced ($19.99) five-pack of DataGuard Clickfree DVDs, while the "automatic" Total Backup Clickfree DVDs ring up at just $14.99 for the same quantity. Potentially more notable is the notion that all Clickfree products are now Mac compatible so long as you're using OS X 10.5 (Leopard) or higher and an Intel CPU. Moving on, we're told that Clickfree Online Backup and Flash Backup are both slated to become a reality later this year for folks needing off-site / pocket-sized backup solutions. The full spill is hosted up just past the break, and trust us, it's crowded down there.
Clickfree debuts stunning array of consumer backup products and features at CES 2009, including multimedia DVD, Mac-friendly drives

Storage Appliance Corp.'s latest technology is taking the backup process to a new level of convenience and simplicity
TORONTO – Jan. 8, 2009 – Storage Appliance Corp. – the company whose portable backup systems make backing up computer data manually a thing of the past – unveiled an array of much-anticipated additions to the Clickfree lineup of products and features today during CES 2009 in Las Vegas.
Clickfree has evolved traditional storage technology applications into a modern-day solution that makes saving digital content as easy as connecting your computer via USB cable to the Clickfree backup drive. Clickfree devices are designed to automatically start, search, organize and backup your computer's digital files.
"These latest additions to our lineup of products and features demonstrate yet again why the Clickfree name has become synonymous with effort-free computer backup," said Storage Appliance Corp. CEO Bryan McLeod. "We continue to advance the capabilities of our personal storage devices to make the backup process as simple and intuitive as it can possibly be. Our latest offerings are sure to be a real hit with customers."
The latest new Clickfree products unveiled at CES 2009 include:
• Clickfree 1 Terabyte Backup Drive: The 1 TB Clickfree Backup Drive is an innovative computer backup device that's perfect for small and medium enterprises or home offices where users need to backup multiple computers. Based on a larger 3.5-inch hard drive, the 1 Terabyte Clickfree Backup Drive is the latest addition to the hard drive-based Clickfree lineup. As expected with all Clickfree products, there is no need to install or configure any software. Just connect the device to a USB port and it does the rest. The backup application starts automatically, searching and backing up data without requiring any user interaction. The drive stores 220,000 songs, 440,000 photos, and over 2 million documents. The retail price is $229.99.
• Clickfree Transformer USB Cable: Convert any external hard drive into a Clickfree backup drive. There's no need for any backup software - just plug the Transformer Cable into your PC and plug any size of external hard drive from any manufacturer into the other end of the Transformer. The Clickfree backup application will automatically start, search the computer, organize and backup all of your important data onto the external hard drive. As expected with Clickfree, there is no software to install or set up and over 400 file types are automatically backed up. Use one Clickfree Transformer with many 2.5" or 3.5" external hard drives, giving them all Clickfree simplicity. The retail price is $59.99.
• Clickfree Transformer Combo with 320GB hard drive: The Clickfree Transformer can convert any external hard drive into a Clickfree backup device. For those customers that may not have an external hard drive, Clickfree has bundled one with their Transformer cable. There's no need for any backup software - just plug the Transformer Cable into your PC and plug the included hard drive (or any other external hard drive) into the other end of the Transformer and backup will automatically start. The retail price with a 320GB hard drive is $209.99.
• DataGuard Clickfree DVDs: Clickfree DVDs are perfect for single use scenarios where data needs to be backed up for archival purposes. The incorporated backup application and DVD burning software make the entire backup process a breeze. Triple Guard Protection feature provides extra security from scratches, blemishes and dust. Retail price is $19.99 for a package of 5 DVDs.
• Total Backup Clickfree DVDs: Now one Clickfree DVD will backup all content types. For customers that want to backup all of their content to DVD, the new Total Backup Clickfree DVD is perfect. The incorporated backup application and DVD burning software make the entire process a breeze. Clickfree Total Backup DVDs automatically back up over 400 file types to cover every office, e-mail, photo and music application. The retail price is $14.99 for a package of 5 DVDs.
Advanced new Clickfree product features unveiled today at CES 2009 include:
• Mac Support: Clickfree products are now Mac compatible. Simply plug any Mac- supported Clickfree product into a USB connection and Clickfree does the rest. Mac requirements: MacOS X 10.5 Leopard, Intel Processor, 100 MB of free space.
• Restore Data by Category and to original locations: Completely revamped restore feature now lets you restore files by category, such as Photos. The application will also automatically restore all files to their original locations on the computer without the user having to know anything more about them.

• Migration: Save valuable time and avoid hassles when moving data from one PC to another - just use the new restore tool integrated into Clickfree products. The migration tool supports migration from Windows XP to Windows Vista and Windows Vista to Windows XP-based computers. MS Outlook is fully supported by the restore tool. Backup e-mail from one PC and restore it to another instantly, even backup files from a PC and restore to a Mac.
• Instant Uploading of Photos to Facebook, MySpace and more: Clickfree now comes with integrated support to upload photos to networking sites like Facebook and MySpace.
• Integrated Music Player: Listen to music directly from the backup application. No need to restore the files to a PC or to launch another application just to listen to a tune. The integrated music player is built into the backup application for your convenience.
• Thumbnail View for Video: With built-in thumbnail view, identify and select your videos, click the restore button and you are done!
• Reminder: Clickfree software now includes a backup reminder application that can be configured to remind users by week or month.
• Password protection: ClickFree devices and content are now protected by a password to maximize security of data.
Clickfree products coming in 2009 and being presented at CES 2009 for the first time include:
• Clickfree Online Backup: Never lose another document again, knowing that even in the worst case scenario, your precious data is safely stored off-site. Clickfree Online Backup ushers in a new age in data protection and file recovery by offering the easiest online backup ever. Users can backup multiple computers, have flexible scheduling options, can access their data from anywhere and share files and folders, with support for over 400 different file types.
• Clickfree Flash Backup: This ultra portable, credit card-sized flash memory-based backup solution goes with you everywhere; as expected from Clickfree, it requires no software installation or hardware configuration to start the backup process. Just plug it into a USB port on your computer and it does the rest.
Clickfree's entire lineup of products is designed for the 85 to 95 percent of computer users who, research shows, fail to regularly backup content on their PCs because they do not have the time, desire or skill to install, set up and use confusing or complex software and hardware products.
All Clickfree products are available by ordering directly from the Storage Appliance Corporation's website (www.goclickfree.com) and many retailers. Clickfree products can be found at leading outlets such as Best Buy, FRYS, OfficeMax, and Walgreens, in addition to Amazon.com, Costco.com, Newegg.com, and Walmart.com, with additional major retailers coming soon.
Clickfree is exhibiting additional future products and features from the 2009 International CES at Booth # 31764, LVCC South Hall 3.

[ Source: Engadget ]
[ Tag: DataGuard, backup, ces, ces 2009, Ces2009, clickfree, external hard drive, external hdd, ExternalHardDrive, ExternalHdd, Flash Backup, FlashBackup, hard drive, HardDrive, hdd, mac, one-click, Online Backup, OnlineBackup, os x, OsX ]

• SanDisk showcases new Ultra Backup / Cruzer USB flash drives

LaCie offers up LaCinema Classic multimedia hard drive

It may not be Premiere or anything, but LaCie's LaCinema Classic can still dish media to your HDTV with the best of 'em. Available in capacities as large as 1TB, the multimedia hard drive weighs in at 33 ounces and promises to upscale your digital media to 1080p over HDMI. Of note, the unit is DivX certified and features a S/PDIF audio output, though it might have trouble handling some of the more exotic formats. It's up for grabs as we speak starting at $159 for a 500GB version.

[ Source: Engadget ]
[ Tag: divx, lacie, lacinema classic, LacinemaClassic, multimedia hard drive, multimedia hdd, MultimediaHardDrive, MultimediaHdd, Neil Poulton, NeilPoulton ]

• lacie intros 22x d2 external DVD burner, 2TB Hard Disk MAX

SanDisk showcases new Ultra Backup / Cruzer USB flash drives

Rather than simply adding a new capacity option or throwing another adjective on the end (i.e. Ultra, Xtreme, Gnarly, etc.), SanDisk is actually launching something in the flash drive sector that's worth paying attention to. The Ultra USB Backup is hailed as the planet's first USB key with simple backup software activation at the touch of a button, and with capacities up to 64GB, we'd say this is a pretty decent option for keeping your digital paraphernalia backed up sans an external HDD. In related news, the outfit has redesigned the long-standing Cruzer to fall more in line with today's trends, effectively stripping the retro pastel hues and adding in "iconic new design language developed by global innovation firm frog design." The new bunch is expected in stores this April, with prices ranging from $24.99 to $99.99 for the Cruzer and $39.99 to $199.99 for the Ultra Backup. Full release is after the break.

SANDISK LAUNCHES WORLD'S FIRST BUTTON BACKUP USB FLASH DRIVE
Drives Allow Consumers to Easily Store Critical Files with the Touch of a Button
CES 2009, South Hall, Booth # 30659, LAS VEGAS, January 6, 2009 – SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ:SNDK) today introduced an innovative new family of SanDisk® USB flash drives, including the world's first backup USB flash drive with simple backup software activation at the touch of a button. The SanDisk Ultra® Backup USB portable flash drive is the first offering of the company's new SanDisk Ultra USB product line. With capacities up to 64 gigabytes (1)(GB), the SanDisk Ultra Backup USB flash drive is designed to protect computer users' photos, music, videos, personal and business documents, and other types of digital files, with the simple touch of a button. No software installation is needed. The drive protects onboard digital content with a dual layer of security, including password-protected access control and ultra-secure AES hardware-based encryption.(2)
The new SanDisk USB product family includes three different product lines:
1) The popular SanDisk® Cruzer® USB flash drive which provides simple, reliable and portable storage, plus access to a variety of U3™ applications.
2) The SanDisk Ultra Backup USB flash drive offers the added protection and peace of mind consumers expect from the minds behind flash memory.
3) The SanDisk Extreme® Contour™ provides increased security protection and higher performance levels, enclosed in a sleek industrial design

SanDisk Ultra Backup USB Flash Drive:
Back up critical files with the simple touch of a button
With no cables required, or any complicated software to install, the new SanDisk Ultra Backup USB flash drive is a complete backup solution that provides an incredibly easy way to protect digital files. It uses patent-pending backup technology with capacities up to 64GB, large enough to back up average consumer requirements, as well as critical small business files and documents. In addition to one's digital personal life, these products protect critical work files with a dual layer of both password protection and AES hardware encryption. This ensures content stays private and secure (via data scrambling at the flash controller level) when the drives are either physically removed for portability, or stored away for safe keeping.

The explosion in global sales of laptops and mobile devices has exponentially increased the vulnerability of digital files. Computer users can quickly lose precious photos, music, videos and professional work files due to drops, spills, theft, viruses and other incidents. PC Magazine (www.pcmag.com) conducted a research study on annualized notebook failure rates published in July 2008 which found that more than 24 percent of business notebooks need repair each year due to failures.
"Like flossing our teeth or balancing our checkbooks, when it comes to backing up our digital files, even though people know they should do it, they simply don't – and that behavior is putting many consumers' precious digital content at serious risk," said Kent Perry, director of USB product marketing, SanDisk. "We're delivering incredibly simple backup to protect people's most valuable digital content at Main Street prices. With our wide array of capacities and price points, consumers can even choose to store particular file types like digital music or photos on different USB flash drives."
A 2008 Consumer Electronics Association market research report, titled "Amassing Digital Fortunes: A Digital Storage Study," found the average U.S. online adult has nearly 1,800 files stored, and plans to store another 1,060 digital files during the next year. This amounts to approximately 30GB3 of content that needs to be backed up. The study found that digital photos are considered to be the most valuable because of their irreplaceable natures.
SanDisk Cruzer USB Flash Drive:
Reliable storage with a new contemporary look
The SanDisk Cruzer has been redesigned with a contemporary look as part of the new SanDisk USB family of flash drives. These portable, reliable drives are designed to share consumers' digital world with ease, with up to 32GB of storage for simple sharing of photos, videos and other files.
The entire new SanDisk USB family introduces an iconic new design language developed by global innovation firm frog design. Signature design elements include juxtaposed L shapes that create a dynamic, yet balanced, composition, a bright red USB connector and a simple cap-less design, which exposes the USB connector for use via a dynamic sliding mechanism. When plugged in to a host device, a glowing, amber-colored LED light alerts users that the drives are ready for reading or writing data.
The new SanDisk USB family will continue to have U3™ Smart technology, developed by SanDisk, which allows applications to run from a SanDisk USB flash drive without having to be installed on a computer. (4) PC-users can download a variety of both free and paid software, games and content by visiting www.u3.com, or by accessing the SanDisk USB Program Wizard in the U3 Launchpad. Among other bonus applications available for download is the Veoh™ Web Player for SanDisk, which enables users to watch, download and share Internet video content.
The various product lines of SanDisk USB flash drives will continue to include the sleek and high-performance SanDisk Extreme Contour as its high-end storage solution for maximum security and speed. This showpiece of innovative design sports super-fast data transfer speeds at 25MB/second read and 18MB/second write.(5) It also includes superior security with 256-bit AES USB hardware encryption and password-protected access control.
Pricing and Availability
The new SanDisk USB flash drives will first become available in April 2009.(6) The SanDisk Cruzer drive will be available in capacities of 4GB-32GB with MSRP's ranging between $24.99 and $99.99. The SanDisk Ultra Backup drive will be available in capacities of 8GB-64GB with MSRP's ranging between $39.99 and $199.99. The SanDisk Extreme Contour USB flash drive is available in major retailers today.
The SanDisk Cruzer drive includes a two-year limited warranty, (7) the SanDisk Ultra Backup drive includes a five-year limited warranty, (8) and the SanDisk Extreme Contour includes a lifetime limited warranty.(9)
About SanDisk
SanDisk Corporation, the inventor and world's largest supplier of flash storage cards, is a global leader in flash memory – from research, manufacturing and product design to consumer branding and retail distribution. SanDisk's product portfolio includes flash memory cards for mobile phones, digital cameras and camcorders; digital audio/video players; USB flash drives for consumers and the enterprise; embedded memory for mobile devices; and solid state drives for computers. SanDisk (www.sandisk.com/corporate) is a Silicon Valley-based S&P 500 company, with more than half its sales outside the United States.

[ Source: Engadget ]
[ Tag: backup, ces, ces 2009, Ces2009, Cruzer, extreme contour, ExtremeContour, flash drive, FlashDrive, SanDisk, Ultra Backup, UltraBackup, usb drive, usb flash drive, usb key, UsbDrive, UsbFlashDrive, UsbKey ]

LaCie intros 22x d2 external DVD burner, 2TB Hard Disk MAX

Two new ones have arrived today from the labs of LaCie, and neither are destined to ever end up inside of your PC. Up first, we've got the slightly speedier d2 external DVD±RW drive with LightScribe, which toasts discs at up to 22x and connects to PCs via USB 2.0 or FireWire (400, presumably). For those in need of HDD-based storage, the glossy black Hard Disk MAX comes with a pair of 1TB drives that can be set in either a RAID 0 or RAID 1 configuration with the simple flick of a switch on the back panel. There's also a USB port on the front for additional expansion, and the USB 2.0 socket 'round back is what links it up with your computer. Both are available right now for $119.99 / $269.99, respectively.

[ Source: Engadget ]
[ Tag: d2, dvd burner, DvdBurner, external dvd burner, external hard drive, external hdd, ExternalDvdBurner, ExternalHardDrive, ExternalHdd, Hard Disk MAX, hard drive, HardDiskMax, HardDrive, lacie, Neil Poulton, NeilPoulton ]

Iomega's Home Media Network Hard Drive backs up files, streams content

Slowly but surely, the multimedia hard drive is becoming more and more relevant. At first, it was outlets like Mvix doing the honors, and then mainstays such as LaCie got in while the gettin' was good. Now, we've got ole Iomega trying its hand at the game, with the introduction of the Home Media Network Hard Drive at Macworld in San Francisco. The drive, which includes the firm's LifeLine software, enables users to easily backup their precious files and stream music, photos, videos and all manners of other multimedia between computers, networked TVs, gaming consoles, etc. For those curious, it'll function just fine as an iTunes server and play oh-so-nice with DLNA certified devices, and aside from the obligatory gigabit Ethernet jack, there's also a USB port for adding a shared network printer or extra capacity. It should be available early this month for $159.99 (500GB) / $229.99 (1TB).
[ Source: Engadget ]
[ Tag: ]

• Clickfree Transformer Cable gives any USB hard drive auto backup functionality

Clickfree Transformer Cable gives any USB hard drive auto backup functionality

If you're not about to sell off your current stable of external USB hard drives just to experience the wonders of Clickfree backups, you're staring your solution right in the face. Clickfree has just introduced its new Transformer Cable, which is "the first and only USB cable that turns ordinary external hard drives into truly automatic Clickfree backup solutions." Put simply, users just connect their USB HDD to their PC via this here cable, and without any software installations or black magic, the external drive automatically begins to search through, organize and backup your data. The painfully simple cord should be available right now for the mildly reasonable price of $59.99; full release is after the break.
New 'Transformer Cable' from Clickfree is the first and only USB cable that turns ordinary external hard drives into truly automatic Clickfree backup solutions

Storage Appliance Corp.'s latest breakthrough turns any external hard drive from any manufacturer into an effortless, Clickfree backup solution, eliminating the risk of losing precious photos, videos, music and data forever
TORONTO – Jan. 5, 2008 – Storage Appliance Corp. – the company whose portable backup systems made the otherwise laborious task of backing up computer data manually a thing of the past – today announced another breakthrough with the launch of its Clickfree Transformer Cable. The new Transformer USB cable instantly turns any competitor's external hard drive into a Clickfree automatic backup device, completely eliminating the hassle and confusion of installing and configuring backup software. Like all Clickfree products there is no software to install or configure, it is truly automatic - right out of the box.
"The Clickfree name has become synonymous with effort-free computer backup. Regardless of what the competition claims, our new Clickfree Transformer Cable is the only way to make a regular external hard drive easy to use, requiring no software or configuration, and immediately backing up everything that matters from your computer's hard drive," says Storage Appliance Corp. CEO, Bryan McLeod. "The Transformer Cable works with any manufacturer's USB external hard drive to deliver automatic, no-click backing up. Finally, you can stop avoiding backup because it was too much trouble!"
The Transformer USB cable is so easy to use. Simply plug it in to your computer, then connect the other manufacturer's hard drive and it instantly becomes a totally automatic Clickfree backup drive that searches, organizes and backs up all of your PC data and digital files. There are no instructions to read, no software to install and configure, no copying and pasting files, it's really that easy.
Clickfree's entire lineup of products, from the Transformer Cable to Clickfree portable backup drives and DVDs, are designed for the 85 to 95 percent of computer users who, research shows, fail to regularly backup content on their PCs because they do not have the time, desire or skill to install, set up and use confusing or complex software and hardware products.
The Cable Backup has a retail price of $59.99 and will be available starting January 1, 2009 by ordering directly from the Storage Appliance Corporation's website (www.goclickfree.com) and other retailers.
Clickfree products can also be found at leading outlets such as Best Buy, FRYS, OfficeMax, and Walgreens, in addition to Amazon.com, Costco.com, Newegg.com, and Walmart.com, with additional major retailers coming soon.

[ Source: Engadget ]
[ Tag: backup, cable, ces, ces 2009, Ces2009, Clickfree, one-click, Storage Appliance, StorageAppliance, Transformer Cable, TransformerCable ]

• Verbatim debuts quad interface 500GB / 1TB external HDDs

PQI showcasing microSATA SSD, ExpressCard SSD and more at CES

Good heavens, it's been years since we've seen anything noteworthy leave the labs of Power Quotient International. Thankfully, the outfit will be relevant once more when CES rolls around, as its forthcoming SSD line has quite a few big hitters. First up is the 1.8-inch microSATA SSD S518, which is destined to squeeze into tight spaces in capacities of up to 125GB, while the 32GB ExpressCard SSD S520 finally gives you a reason to utilize that funky slot over there that's gone untouched for months. There will also be a 2.5-inch SATA SSD S525 (available in sizes up to 125GB) and an elusive e-SATA Combo Card S530. As for details on pricing and availability? You'll have to wait till the show gets rolling for that, but the full release is waiting just past the break to tide you over.
PQI Shows Off Their Latest SSD Products at the 2009 CES
Taipei, Taiwan ~ 2008.12.31 ~ Visitors attending the 2009 CES at Las Vegas during Jan. 8 ~ 11, 2009 can locate Power Quotient International Co., Ltd. (PQI) at the Venetian Tower 233, 234. At the exhibit, PQI will have on display their full range of Solid State Drive (SSD), USB Flash Drive (UFD), Memory Module and Flash Memory Card. Four new SSD products makes their debut ~ 1.8" microSATA SSD S518, Express Card SSD S520, 2.5" SATAв…Ў SSD S525 and e-SATA Combo Card S530. Of which, the 32GB Express Card SSD S520 utilizes PCI/E slot and PQI's patented Intelligent Stick Interface. Users have the option of using it as a USB flash drive or to extend its PC / laptop storage capacity through PCI/E slot. The 64GB e-SATA Combo Card S530 has an e-SATA connection interface and it reaches a maximum read speed of 90MB/Sec.

Both PQI's 1.8" microSATA SSD S518 and 2.5" SATA SSD S525 are available with a maximum capacity of 128GB. The 1.8" microSATA SSD S518 can be installed into PCs or laptops and the 2.5" SATA SSD S525 comes with two interfaces for storage expansion.

SSDs are advantaged over traditional hard drives in read/ write speeds, shock proof, low power consumption, lighter body weight and quiet operation. In addition to industrial, embedded, server and medical industries, PC applications are beginning to see the implementation of SSDs in high end performance systems. Having more than 10 years of experience in solid state storage technology, PQI's SSD and DOM products are ahead of the pack providing customers with a diverse and complete solution!

Other innovative PQI products at CES including a series of waterproof USB flash drives and Intelligent Drive i828, winner of Product Design Award ~ 2009 German iF Award. The Intelligent Drive i828 utilizes a clip-on design that allows for users to make use of existing i828(s) to increase their storage capacity, indefinitely.

For more PQI news or the latest PQI product information, please visit PQI at www.pqigroup.com.

[ Source: PC Launches ]
[ Tag: ces, ces 2009, Ces2009, express card SSD, expresscard, ExpressCardSsd, PQI, SSD ]

Verbatim debuts quad interface 500GB / 1TB external HDDs

While they aren't the first quad interface external drives on the market, Verbatim's adding to the bunch with a new 500GB and 1TB model. Slated to debut at this year's Macworld Expo, the pro audio / video-grade drives are Mac and PC compatible and tout USB 2.0, FireWire 400, FireWire 800 and eSATA II sockets. Each unit weighs 3.3-pounds and features 3.5-inch HDDs with 7,200RPM spindle speeds and 32MB of cache. Grab one right this very moment for $179.99 / $249.99, respectively.

[ Source: InformationWeek ]
[ Tag: external hard drive, external HDD, ExternalHardDrive, ExternalHdd, hard drive, HardDrive, HDD, quad interface, QuadInterface, Verbatim ]

A-DATA launches XPG Dual SSD RAID enclosure

So yeah, the easy part about getting the ssd RAID setup of your not-so-lofty dreams is the acquisition of A-DATA's newest XPG Dual SSD RAID enclosure. The tough part is smuggling enough cash in through untraceable means to procure a few 256GB SSDs. For those who don't mind living dangerously, the aforesaid chassis is compatible with twin 2.5-inch SATA SSDs and / or HDDs mounted on a standard 3.5-inch form factor drive cage. Users can connect it to a PC via SATA or USB once those drives have been acquired and installed, but you'll have to wait until the end of this quarter to see it ship.

[ Source: Slashgear ]
[ Tag: A-data, hdd enclosure, HddEnclosure, raid, sata, ssd, ssd enclosure, SsdEnclosure, XPG ]

• RunCore's 1.8-inch netbook SSDs now shipping, 2.5-inch 256GB edition coming soon

Video: Shouting at disk drive causes high latency, low morale

Here's a tip for everyone who hasn't made the jump to solid state: try to be nice to your disk drive. Brendan Gregg from Sun's Fishworks team wanted to see the effects of vibrations on his disk array, so he proceeded to shout at it. On video. Yeah, we bet that's pretty embarrassing for the drive in question, and what results is a sharp spike the number of I/O operations that take over 5ms to complete. Moral of the story? Yelling at your computer isn't going to make it run any faster. How about next time we see how it reacts to Ozzy, Mozart and warm, gentle nuzzles? We've placed video of Gregg's sadistic hardware taunts after the break.

[Via: Slashdot ] [Tag: brendan gregg, BrendanGregg, disk array, DiskArray, disks, fish works, FishWorks, latency, shout, shouting, sun, yell, yelling ]