Consumer - HD/CD/DVD/Flash

Imation Unleashes Wireless USB External Hard Drive

News — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:55:52 GMT

Imation's new Pro WX Wireless USB hard drive is now available in the U.S. This hard drive is built on Imation’s external hard drive products and is said to be the world's first Wireless USB external hard drive. The Imation Pro WX drive offers a Wireless USB data transfer rate of up to 15MBs/second and 1.5TB of storage capacity. The Imation Pro WX wireless USB hard drive comes with an MSRP of $449.99.

Imation Ships World's First Wireless USB External Hard Drive

Pro WX hard drive offers secure, continuous backup and data protection with 1.5TB of capacity

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 19, 2009-- Imation Corp. (NYSE: IMN) today announced U.S. availability of its much-anticipated Pro WX Wireless USB hard drive. Built on Imation’s award-winning platform of external hard drive products, the Imation Pro WX drive is the world’s first Wireless USB external hard drive. Offering the convenience of fast data transfer rates, speed and capacity required in today’s graphics and data intensive environments, the Imation Pro WX hard drive provides 1.5TB of storage capacity for digitally driven users who crave the freedom of the wireless workspace. Imation will demonstrate the Imation Pro WX hard drive at the Pepcom Wine, Dine & Demo media event at the Hammerstein Ballroom at Manhattan Center Studios tonight from 6 to 9 p.m.

Imation’s Pro WX Wireless USB hard drive provides a unique combination of speed, capacity and security in a convenient 3.5-inch form factor. With a fast Wireless USB data transfer rate of up to 15MBs/second, the product can back up a typical CD in under 50 seconds, and store up to 300,000 photos or 750 hours of video. Inherent in its Wireless USB technology, Pro WX wireless hard drive offers an innovative one-to-one connection that limits the possibility of signal interception and securely backs up data whenever it is in range up to 30 feet, similar to a direct attached storage device.

“Imation continues to be a world leader in delivering innovative storage products designed for our increasingly wireless world,” said James Depuydt, director of technology, Imation. “We are now the first to provide users with a Wireless USB hard drive to continuously back up their most critical data in a unique product design. We will continue to expand our wireless storage capabilities to enable our customers to easily create, store, manage and share digital information.”

The Imation Pro WX Wireless USB hard drive comes complete with an integrated stand for vertical or horizontal orientation; low capacity/data activity indicator lights for easy identification of data processes with built-in sleep mode for energy conservation; and one-touch, backup sync buttons for easy-to-use automatic backup of data, photos, music and videos. The product is compatible with both PC and Mac operating systems and doesn’t require batteries.

“With the launch of the Pro WX, Imation delivers a differentiated approach to address the specific needs of those users who desire or need to connect, store and protect data using a plug-n-play wireless USB drive that provides a capable and secure alternative to cabled solutions,” said Liz Conner, research analyst, IDC.

Imation also announced today its next-generation SSD Upgrade Kit, which will debut at Wine, Dine & Demo, alongside the company’s unique PowerPoint® Karaoke competition.

Pricing and Availability

The Imation Pro WX wireless USB hard drive is currently available for an MSRP of $449.99 through authorized Imation distributors, wholesalers, resellers and e-tailers in the United States. For additional information on Imation’s complete family of wireless storage products, visit www.imation.com.

Kingston Helps Companies Secure Data With New Flash Drive

News — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:57:57 GMT

Kingston is helping companies secure mobile data with its new DataTraveler Locker+ USB Flash drive. This new flash drive encrypts 100% of the contents using 256-bit hardware-based AES encryption. Access to the drive's contents requires a complex password. Brute force attacks against the drive are reduced since the drive locks down and reformats after 10 incorrect attempts. The new DataTraveler Locker+ is available in capacities up to 32GB. Kingston also offers the DataTraveler Locker which allows for both a public and an encrypted zone.

Kingston Digital Ships Secure, Affordable USB Flash Drive

DataTraveler Locker+ Allows Portable Security at Lower Cost

Fountain Valley, CA -- November 17, 2009 -- Kingston Digital, Inc., the Flash memory affiliate of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., the independent world leader in memory products, today announced the release of the DataTraveler® Locker+ USB Flash drive. The DataTraveler Locker+ allows companies of any size to secure mobile data with the ease and confidence of knowing that their data is encrypted and safe. The DataTraveler Locker+ also comes at a lower cost in times of shrinking IT budgets, making it ideal for budget-conscious companies.

"Kingston created this drive to address the rise in data loss and theft which has been a growing problem with expensive consequences. This device gives companies a solution that is not only affordable but provides peace of mind in securing mobile data," said Mark Akoubian, business manager, Secure USB Products, Kingston®. "The DataTraveler Locker+ encrypts 100 percent of the contents and is available at a price point that is very attractive for all entities looking to comply with corporate security policies."

Data on the Kingston DataTraveler Locker+ is secured with 256-bit hardware-based AES encryption. Access to the drive's contents is through a simple to use interface requiring a complex password. The likelihood of successful brute force attacks on the DataTraveler Locker+ is reduced as the drive locks down and reformats after 10 incorrect password attempts.

The 100 percent encrypted DataTraveler Locker+ ships in up to 32GB capacity. For companies in need of a partitionable area on the USB drive for public sharing (e.g., within an office setting), Kingston offers the DataTraveler Locker which allows both a public and encrypted zone. Kingston also ships the DataTraveler Vault – Privacy Edition for enterprise and government customers requiring a speedier, more robust Flash drive. It is also waterproof and Trade Agreements Act-compliant. For more information visit www.kingston.com.

Compatibility Table

Operating System	File Transfer
Windows® 7**	Yes
Windows Vista® (SP1, SP2)**	Yes
Windows XP (SP1, SP2, SP3)	Yes
Windows 2000 (SP4)	Yes
Mac OS X v.10.4 – v.10.6	Yes

Kingston DataTraveler Locker+ USB Flash Drive
Part Number	Capacity and Features	MSRP (U.S. only).
DTL+/4GB	DataTraveler Locker+ 4GB	$ 36.00
DTL+/8GB	DataTraveler Locker+ 8GB	$ 50.00
DTL+/16GB	DataTraveler Locker+ 16GB	$ 100.00
DTL+/32GB	DataTraveler Locker+ 32GB	$ 200.00

DataTraveler Locker+ Features and Specifications:

Full Encryption: 100 percent of stored data is protected by 256-bit AES hardware-based encryption
Secure: drive locks down and reformats after 10 intrusion attempts
Enforced password protection: complex password is user set with minimum characteristics to prevent unauthorized access
Easy to use: no admin rights or application installation required
Guaranteed: five-year warranty with 24/7 customer support
Dimensions: 2.58" x 0.71" x 0.41" (65.76mm x 17.98mm x 10.7mm)
Capacities*: 4GB, 8GB, 16GB, 32GB
Compatibility: designed to USB 2.0 specifications
Operating Temperature: 32°F to 140°F (0°C to 60°C)
Storage Temperature: -4°F to 185°F (-20°to 85°C)
Minimum System Requirements:

USB 2.0 compliant and 1.1 compatible
Two (2) free consecutive drive letters required for use†

* Some of the listed capacity is used for formatting and other functions and thus is not available for data storage. For more information, please consult Kingston's Flash Memory Guide at Kingston.com/Flash_Memory_Guide.

** Does not support ReadyBoost™.

† First free drive letters after physical devices such as system partition, optical drives, etc.

OCZ Ships Pricey Colossus Desktop SSDs In 128GB To 1TB Sizes

News — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:58:28 GMT

OCZ's Colossus has been looming in our "must-have" list for months. We actually saw one in the flesh this past summer, and we heard in August that it would "soon" be shipping in sizes ranging from 128GB to 1TB. With Fusion-io firmly in the consumer business now, it's safe to say that OCZ is probably feeling the pressure with competition nearby. Now, the company is reporting that its high performance desktop replacement drive is now shipping, though Amazon still has it listed with a 1+ month wait. We're guessing the retailer just hasn't received the memo (or their first batch), but it looks like resellers should have stock soon to sell to those with enough cash.

The Colossus SSD is available in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB solutions to accommodate a broader spectrum of applications than current 2.5” SSD products; the 3.5” housing is a straight drop in for many existing rack systems. Pricing details aren't mentioned, but from what we've seen on Amazon, they won't be for the "average Joe." Not like you'd expect anything differently from a product with "SSD" in the model name though, huh?

OCZ Technology Launches Cutting-Edge High-Capacity Colossus 3.5” SSD Line with up to One Terabyte of Storage

SanJose, Calif.—November 17, 2009—OCZ Technology Group, Inc., a worldwideleader in innovative, ultra-high performance and high reliabilitymemory and flash-based storage as an alternative to hard disk drives(HDDs), today released the Colossus 3.5” Solid State Drive (SSD)Series, designed to meet the performance and storage demands ofhigh-end desktop users and enterprise clients. Available in up to oneterabyte configurations, the Colossus Series marks a milestone in solidstate drive technology, making it possible to have both highperformance and high capacity in one solution.

“The new Colossus Series is designed to boost desktop and workstationperformance and is for high power users that put a premium on speed,reliability and maximum storage capacity,” said Eugene Chang, VP ofProduct Management at the OCZ Technology Group. “The Colossuscore-architecture is also available to enterprise clients with lockedBOMs (build of materials) and customized firmware to match their uniqueapplications.”

In addition to ample capacity, the OCZ Colossus deliversexcellent performance made possible by an internal RAID 0 architecture.Excelling at small file processes during common tasks such as emailing,web browsing, and file transfer, Colossus allows for a state-of-the-artcomputing experience from basic to complex applications:

For enterprise applications, Colossus SSDs not onlydiminish performance bottlenecks suffered by mechanical hard driveinfrastructures, but reduce both heat and noise and provide a moredurable alternative. This translates into exceptional energy-savingsand reduced maintenance costs. Furthermore, the Colossus line is builtwith cost-effective multi-level cell (MLC) flash to make it a viableoption for enterprise clients hesitant to adopt competing products dueto the higher costs.

The Colossus SSD is available in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB solutionsto accommodate a broader spectrum of applications than current 2.5” SSDproducts; the 3.5” housing is a straight drop in for many existing racksystems. The Colossus SSD series has an excellent 1.5 million hour meantime between failures (MTBF) and comes backed by a leading 3-yearwarranty and dedicated technical support, ensuring peace of mind overthe long term. Additionally, OCZ offers unique customization optionsfor OEM clients that may require tailored hardware and firmwaresolutions for their unique business.

For more information on the OCZ Colossus SSD Series, please visit our product page here.

About OCZ Technology
OCZ Technology Group, a member of JEDEC, designs, develops, andmanufactures ground-breaking, high performance memory and premiumcomputer components, including solid state drives and computer powersupplies. OCZ products are the first choice for enterprise andconsumers needing high-reliability, premium-grade solutions. OCZ’scontinually invests in R&D to continuously push the limits ofperformance, speed, and value for consumers, system integrators, andOEM clients. For more information visit our website at www.ocztechnology.com

Fusion-io ioXtreme PCI Express SSD, Tested and Burned In

News — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:24:04 GMT

The first time we looked at Fusion-io's ioDrive product, we offered the notion that it was a "disruptive technology", something that had the potential to set the industry on its ear. Of course the ioDrive is an enterprise-class product that showed the significant potential of PCI Express direct-attached SSD storage but its cost structure was such that the mainstream market couldn't possibly even begin to justify it, no matter what the upside performance looked like. And then of course we heard of Fusion-io's more consumer-targeted play, the ioXtreme, which debuted at E3 this past summer. Obviously, E3 is a consumer electronics entertainment venue so it became abundantly clear that Fusion-io wasn't only productizing their technology for the enterprise space but for the enthusiast, workstation professional and power user as well.

Today we've got a full deep-dive look at Fusion-io's ioXtreme PCI Express Solid State Drive. Weighing in at a pricey $899 for 80GB (standard card), it's definitely still a high ticket item but it's at least approachable now, for those of you that have the need for speed as they say. Just how much speed? And what about RAIDing a couple of these bad boys together? We aim to quantify that for you, as well as a couple of the product's early release caveats, in the pages ahead.

Hitachi Reveals Redesigned 2TB SimpleDrive External HDD

News — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:30:19 GMT

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies (Hitachi GST) has been riding the 2TB bandwagon for some time now, producing a solid 7200rpm 2TB internal HDD and outfitting its G-Technology line with the same spacious platters. Nowm, the company is announcing the availability of the newly designed SimpleDrive external HDD, and surprise, surprise, it'll have a 2TB drive within.

Also, the firm announced that all of its 3.5-inch retail drives are now available in 2TB capacities, and two of those solutions include the Hitachi SimpleTech Pro Drive and the two-drive, RAID 0/1 Duo Pro Drive. Each of these are available now, with the new 2TB SimpleDrive USB 2.0 Desktop External Hard Drive costing $249.99.

HITACHI DEBUTS NEW2TB SIMPLEDRIVE
Third-Generation ExternalStorage Solution is Loaded with 2TBs of Simple, Reliable Storage and BackupOptions for Consumers and Business Users; 2TB Capacities Now Available Across
Hitachi’sEntire Retail 3.5-Inch Product Line
SanJose, Calif., November 16, 2009 –Hitachi Global Storage Technologies (HitachiGST) today announced the availability of the newly designedSimpleDrive™ desktop external hard drive with capacities of up to twoterabytes (2TB). In addition, the company announced that all of its 3.5-inchretail drives are now available in 2TB capacities, featuring the HitachiDeskstar 7K2000, the industry’s first 2TB 7,200 RPM hard drive thatblends performance and high capacity with low power features. New, upgradedsolutions include the Hitachi SimpleTech Pro Drive™; the two-drive, RAID0/1 Duo Pro Drive™; and the Hitachi Internal Hard Drive Kit for thedo-it-yourself (DIY) computer-upgrade market. All products are now available.
“Hitachicontinues to build its channel presence with an expanded portfolio of 2TBstorage solutions for business users, consumers or virtually anyone who needsadditional capacity to manage the growing number and size of their digitalfiles,” said Azmat Ali, vice president of marketing, Branded Business,Hitachi GST. “Even though people are inundated with digital contentdaily, many are not taking the necessary precautions to safeguard theircontent. Our external drives, together withconsistent backup practices, will help people keep their digital memories,entertainment and business documents safe.”
NewSimpleDrive USB 2.0 Desktop External Hard Drive
Witha new design that clearly communicates a purpose – solid data protection– the SimpleDrive balances ruggedness and ease of use all in one streamlinedpackage. The new Hitachi SimpleDrive sits vertically for a non-invasivefootprint, which is important for a small home or office environment. With upto 2TB capacity and a plug-and-play design, the SimpleDrive gives both Mac andPC users simplicity, reliability and enough capacity to store or backup 665,000photos, 500,000 MP3s or 4,000 hours of standard video¹. Deliveringstyle and substance, it features an anodized aluminum enclosure to keep theSimpleDrive cool, and a reliable, high performance, low-power Hitachi harddrive inside to help protect your pics, flix, tunes and docs. Now available atOfficeMax stores nationwide, the Hitachi SimpleDrive comes in 500GB, 1TB and2TB capacities, with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of$99.99, $129.99 and $249.99, respectively.

Extended2TB Hitachi Family
Tohelp relieve users of data overload and free up more working space, Hitachi nowoffers the following solutions in 2TB capacities:
SimpleTech Pro Driveby Hitachi - With four interface options (USB 2.0, FireWire 400, FireWire 800,and 3Gb/sec eSATA) and two levels of backup protection, the Pro Drive is asmart investment that delivers virtually everything you need in a singlestorage and backup solution. Its compact design lets you stack multiple unitsor stand them upright to optimize desk space. A built-in security lock helpsensure that the drive remains where you left it. Capacities and MSRPs include500GB ($119.99), 1TB ($169.99) and 2TB ($299.99).
SimpleTech Duo Pro Drive by Hitachi -With two drives in one, the Duo Pro Drivegives you two ways to save your data: RAID 0 (speed) or RAID 1 (mirroring).RAID 0, or striping, leverages both hard drives inside to read/write files,making storing and accessing files significantly faster than using one diskalone. If using eSATA in RAID 0, you can receive six times the speed of USB2.0, ideal for home video editing or working with graphic-intensive files. Foradded data protection, RAID 1, or mirroring, makes an extra copy of storedfiles on the second internal hard drive, so you always have two separate copiesof your important stuff. Interfaces include eSATA and USB 2.0. MSRP is $199.99for 1TB, $299.99 for 2TB, and $499.99 for 4TB.
Hitachi Internal Hard Drive Kits -Easily boost the capacity and performance of your Mac or PC desktop computer inminutes with a HitachiInternal Hard Drive Kit. Each premium kit features a proven and reliablehigh-performance drive, easy installation instructions, a SATA cable andmounting screws. Balancing low-power and performance, Hitachi hard drives comein 5400 RPM and 7200 RPM with up to a 32MB cache buffer. The MSRP of the 2TB,7,200 RPM Hitachi Internal Hard Drive Kit is $249.99.
Two Levels of Protection -Local Backup and Highly-Secure Online Backup
AllHitachi SimpleTech desktop external hard drives ship with two levels of databackup to better protect and manage personalor professional content. Hitachi Local Backup offers simple wizards to guide usersin setting up automatic backups on specific days or dates that is convenientfor you. Automatic file selection provides easy identification of particularfile types to back up—for example, photos, emails or documents—regardless of where they are stored on the computer’s drive.
In addition to local backup software, Hitachi’s external drivefamily comes with 2GB of free online backup space from Hitachi Ultimate Backup. For only $4.95 per month, users can access unlimitedcapacity and back up all of their files and media collections offsite. Usersset up Ultimate Backup once, andit automatically and regularly backs upcontent behind the scenes to a secure offsite location. All data is encryptedfor security using 128-bit SSL encryption while in transit, with an option fora private encryption key. Offsite 448-bit Blowfish encrypted servers are housedby a Fortune 500 company, helping to ensure file protection, longevity,security and peace of mind.
HitachiSimpleTech products are Mac and PC compatible, and feature a three-yearwarranty.
AboutHitachi Global Storage Technologies
HitachiGlobal Storage Technologies (Hitachi GST) develops advanced hard disk drives, enterprise-classsolid state drives, and innovative external storage solutions and services usedto store, preserve and manage the world’s most valued data. Founded bythe pioneers of hard drives, Hitachi GST provides high-value storage for abroad range of market segments, including Enterprise, Desktop, MobileComputing, Consumer Electronics and Personal Storage. Hitachi GST wasestablished in 2003 with its U.S. headquarters located in San Jose, California.For more information, please visit the company’s website at www.HitachiGST.com
AboutHitachi, Ltd.
Hitachi,Ltd., (NYSE: HIT / TSE: 6501), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a leadingglobal electronics company with approximately 400,000 employees worldwide.Fiscal 2008 (ended March 31, 2009) consolidated revenues totaled 10,000 billionyen ($102.0 billion). The company offers a wide range of systems, products andservices in market sectors including information systems, electronic devices,power and industrial systems, consumer products, materials, logistics andfinancial services. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company'swebsite at www.Hitachi.com
Hitachi trademarks are authorized for use in countriesand jurisdictions in which Hitachi has the right to market the brands. Hitachiis not liable for third parties’ unauthorized use of Hitachi trademarks.All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners.
Onegigabyte (GB) represents one billion bytes and one terabyte (TB) represents onetrillion bytes. Actualcapacity will vary depending on operating environment and formatting.
Hitachiexternal hard drives and Hitachi Ultimate Backup serve as an element of anoverall backup strategy.
¹Actual storage may vary depending on thecompression rate applied. Capacities may not be combined.

DiamonDisc DVD Will Keep 4.7GB Alive For 1000 Years

News — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:36:29 GMT

One thing is for sure in the world of optical storage: "big enough" isnever really "big enough." Back in the day, a typical CD-R was plentyto archive a year's worth of images, and now even a single-layer DVD-Ris too small for some. Blu-ray Discs can already hold 50GB of data, butthat's not stopping disc manufacturers from striving to cram even morebits onto those round platters.

Earlier this year, we heard that TDK was working hard on creating a special Blu-ray Disc that could hold 320GB of data, and while that'sprobably a few years out at best, another company is looking at thiswhole lust for storage from a different angle. Cranberry's DiamonDiscis a product that's available now, and while it'll only hold 4.7GBworth of data (the same as a traditional DVD-R), it'll hold that datafor far longer than most of the cheap-o discs you've got sitting around.

According to the company, these DiamonDiscs will last up to 1,000 yearswithout degrading. Granted, it's hard to say if DVD drives will even bearound in 100 years, but if you can somehow get your great, great,great, great grandchild one, there's a decent shot that he or she willbe able to view your paltry 12MP photos in the year 3001. The discs aredesigned to operate in most traditional DVD players/burners, and theycost $34.95 if you buy them individually. You can get a better price ifyou choose to buy in bulk, but you'll still be paying a pretty penny.

The secret to the disc's ability to hold data for so long is that ithas no adhesive layers, dye layer or reflective layer to deteriorate -thereby avoiding the "data rot" that quickly corrodes all recordableDVDs. The transparent Cranberry DiamonDisc can withstand prolongedtemperatures extending up to 176 degrees Fahrenheit as well as UV raysthat would destroy conventional DVD disks.

Beyond its obvious appeal to those wishing to permanently preserveirreplaceable family memories, Cranberry DiamonDisc technology is along-overdue solution for professionals, companies, non-profits andgovernment offices that require reliable digital archiving. In additionto offering the Cranberry DiamonDisc 1,000-Year Data Storage Solutionon a diamond-hard physical disk, Cranberry DiamonDisc also makesavailable a replacement program should the physical disk ever be lost.
For full details about the revolutionary technology behind theCranberry DiamonDisc™ and easy ordering instructions, visit thecompany's web site at www.cranberry.com.

ioSafe Announces 2TB ioSafe Solo Fireproof & Waterproof External Hard Drive

News — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:46:29 GMT

ioSafe is expanding its lineup of ioSafe Solo external USB hard drives with a new 2TB model for $399. Like other models in the line, the new drive is waterproof and fireproof. With the new drive, ioSafe hopes to provide both business and home users with an easy way to backup and protect against data loss. Additional details are available in the press release below.

ioSafe Announces the Availability of the Two Terabyte ioSafe Solo - Fireproof and Waterproof USB External Hard Drive

The ioSafe Solo, the world's first high capacity fireproof and waterproof external hard drive, now offers up to two terabytes (2 TB) of storage space. Priced at $399, the 2 TB ioSafe Solo provides an unprecedented amount of physically secure storage for both irreplaceable personal data and mission-critical business data.

AUBURN, Calif., Nov. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Strengthening its portfolio of fireproof and waterproof data storage solutions for home and small businesses, ioSafe today announced the availability of a 2 TB version of the award-winning ioSafe Solo family of USB desktop external hard drives. With prices starting at $149 for the 500 GB model, the waterproof and fireproof ioSafe Solo represents one of the easiest and most economical ways for both home users and businesses to backup and protect against data loss.

"The 2 TB ioSafe Solo is a great product for anyone looking to buy a desktop external hard drive who needs the high capacity and single drive simplicity. When used as a backup device, the ioSafe can protect against data loss from primary hard drive failure, accidental deletions as well as fires, floods and other forms of physical disasters," said ioSafe CEO, Robb Moore. "Businesses struggling with disaster recovery or regulatory compliance such as HIPAA, PCI or Sarbanes Oxley can also use ioSafe hardware to add simple and secure protection. The ioSafe Solo is one of the easiest, fastest and least expensive ways to protect your data."

Pricing and availability

The 2 TB ioSafe Solo is available now from domestic and international resellers as well as HDDFireSafe.com, Newegg.com, Amazon.com, Buy.com and Provantage.com. Distribution for the ioSafe Solo is available through Ingram Micro, a stocking distribution partner of ioSafe. Suggested retail pricing is $399 USD.

Plextor Announces Blu-Ray Writer With 12x Write Speeds

News — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:03:26 GMT

Plextor announced a new Blu-ray internal writer, the PX-B940SA. This new drive features Blu-ray write speeds of up to 12x, which Plextor claims is the fastest available on the market today. The drive comes with CyberLink’s BD Suite software package and uses a Serial ATA interface. In addition to Blu-ray, the drive also supports DVD R/RW and RAM. It can accept both 12cm and 8cm discs (horizontally) and has a 4MB buffer.

Plextor Announces PX-B940SA Internal Blu-Ray Writer with 12x Write Speeds

PX-940SA provides 12x Blu-ray write speeds in addition
to high-definition Blu-Ray playback

(Fremont, CA – November 10, 2009) – Plextor, a leading developer and manufacturer of high-performance digital media equipment, introduces its latest entry into the Blu-ray market with the new PX-B940SA internal BD writer. Featuring Blu-ray write speeds of up to 12x – the fastest available in the market – the drive also includes CyberLink’s BD Suite software package, including the TrueTheater™ HD technology to provide users with the latest in high-quality movie playback.

Using a Serial ATA interface, the internal PX-B940SA provides users with a convenient solution for Blu-ray playback, while simultaneously offering increased storage capacity with BD writing capabilities. Bundled with CyberLink’s TrueTheater™ HD technology, consumers can easily boost DVD video and audio quality to achieve HD-like results and smoother playback.

“Blu-ray is fast-becoming the standard for quality movie playback, and we’re taking that to the next level with the addition of BD writing capabilities,” said Christine Hsing, Marketing Manager at Plextor. “Plextor has always been a leader in the optical market and we’re proud to offer our users a simple, all-in-one Blu-ray solution.”

The PX-B940SA not only uses the latest Blu-ray technology but is also a highly versatile dual-layer DVD drive that combines multiple formats – DVD R/RW and RAM – into one. It can accept both 12cm and 8cm discs (horizontally) and has a large 4MB buffer to ensure there is no data interruption. Write speeds: 12x BD-R DL/SL, 2x BD-RE, 16x DVD+R/-R, 8x DVD+RW, 6x DVD-RW, 8x DVD+/-R DL, 5x DVD-RAM, 40x CD-R and 24x CD-RW.

The included TrueTheater™ HD further allows users to make the most of their standard DVD content by enhancing video and audio playback quality. The software turns standard content into HD-quality images, eliminating jagged edges and distracting video artifacts during playback of standard content on high-resolution displays. CyberLink’s video up-scaling technology can convert video resolution from 480p to 1080p, making standard-definition content played on HD screens appear to be as detailed and sharp as high-resolution video.

The internal PX-940SA 12x BD writer is now available for $279 MSRP. For more information on the PX-B940SA, please visit www.plextor.com.

OCZ to Deliver SandForce-based Solid State Drive Solutions

News — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:11:18 GMT

OCZ Technology to Deliver SandForce-based Solid State Drive Solutions for both Enterprise and Consumer Applications

San Jose, Calif. - November 10, 2009 - OCZ Technology Group, Inc., a worldwide leader in innovative, ultra-high performance and high reliability memory and flash-based storage as an alternative to hard disk drives (HDDs), today announced its collaboration with SandForce on OCZ’s next generation of mainstream and enterprise solid state drives (SSDs). Based on the highly-anticipated SandForce SSD Processor family, OCZ’s new line of SSDs will be the pinnacle of storage options designed to optimize complex IT infrastructures as well as the computing experiences of everyday consumers.

To accommodate a wide range of consumer and enterprise storage applications, OCZ’s impending solutions will feature various configurations of SandForce’s innovative SF-1500 and SF-1200 SSD Processors and multi-level cell (MLC) and single-level cell (SLC) NAND flash memory, all with the objective of providing best-in-class storage with exceptional performance, reliability, endurance, and power efficiency. The SandForce-based SSD line will be available in multiple interfaces including 3Gb/s SATA and 6Gb/s SAS in capacities ranging from 50GB to 400GB, addressing an assortment of storage and infrastructure requirements.

“OCZ is committed to delivering SSD solutions to our enterprise clients and also has a strong following for our consumer solid state products; partnering with SandForce enables us to offer an even more robust offering to both these markets,” said Ryan Petersen, CEO of the OCZ Technology Group. “Together with SandForce we are focused on making enterprise-class MLC-based SSDs which offer excellent reliability and performance coupled with superior total cost of ownership for all our customers.”

“OCZ has a proven track record in the design and manufacture of solid state drives and is in a distinctive position to deliver SSDs to both the enterprise and consumer space,” said Thad Omura, VP of Marketing at SandForce. “SandForce SSD Processors reliably enable the usage of low cost, MLC-based SSDs in volume, mainstream enterprise applications.”

The OCZ Technology Group aims to take storage to the next level with SandForce SSD Processors, further increasing the advantages of SSDs over traditional hard disc drives for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), enterprise clients, and enthusiast consumers who place a premium on performance, total cost of ownership (TCO), and efficiency. Product announcements will be made in the next few weeks leading up to the 2010 International CES show.

About OCZ Technology
OCZ Technology Group, a member of JEDEC, designs, develops, and manufactures ground-breaking, high performance memory and premium computer components, including solid state drives and computer power supplies. OCZ products are the first choice for enterprise and consumers needing high-reliability, premium-grade solutions. OCZ’s continually invests in R&D to continuously push the limits of performance, speed, and value for consumers, system integrators, and OEM clients. For more information visit our website at www.ocztechnology.com.

About SandForce
SandForce is transforming data storage by pioneering the use of commodity Flash memory in enterprise and client computing applications with its innovative SSD (Solid State Drive) Processors. By delivering unprecedented reliability, performance, and energy efficiency, SSDs based on patent-pending SandForce DuraClass technology unleash the full potential for mass-market adoption of SSDs using NAND Flash memory. Founded in 2006, SandForce is funded by leading venture capital investors and first tier storage companies. For more information, visit SandForce at www.sandforce.com.

Corsair Introduces Survivor GT Family Of Rugged USB Flash Drives

News — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:05:20 GMT

It's tough to stand out in the USB flash drive game. It's easy to pick a favorite MP3 player, a favorite TV brand and even a favorite game console, but does anyone really pay attention to USB flash drive marketing? We'd argue that one company that has managed to stick out is Corsair, particularly with its Survivor line of drives.

The company has just introduced its Survivor GT family, a crew of new ultra-rugged, high-speed USB flash drives in 32GB and 64GB capacity. Naturally, these are made from some pretty tough stuff, and they'll withstand just about anything you can throw at them. No prices are mentioned, but we're guessing you'll pay a fine premium for the ability to take your flash drive into the rough (and keep your data safe).

Corsair® Announces New Flash Survivor™ GT Family of USB Flash Drives
- New ultra-rugged, high-speed USB flash drives in 32GB and 64GB capacity -
FREMONT, Calif., November 10, 2009 — Corsair,a worldwide leader in high-performance computer and flash memoryproducts, today announced two new Flash Survivor GT USB flash drives.The new drives are available in capacities of 32GB and 64GB, andfeature the same ultra-durable metal housing found on all FlashSurvivor models, along with the signature red GT highlights.
“TheFlash Survivor GT is the ultimate flash drive for users requiring bothhigh speed and extreme ruggedness,” said John Beekley, VP of TechnicalMarketing at Corsair. “These drives will carry your data and media intothe harshest environment and still provide rock-solid protection.”
Corsair’sultra-durable Flash Survivor USB drives have proven extremely popularwith consumers thanks to their super-strong, CNC-milled, aircraft-gradealuminum casing, which makes them practically indestructible. Eachdrive is also fitted with a molded, shock-dampening collar and EPDMseal, which provides water-resistance to a depth of 200 meters. Inindependent reviews, the Corsair Flash Survivor has suffered countlesstests of strength, and always comes out on top!
The32GB and 64GB Flash Survivor GTs are available immediately fromCorsair’s authorized distributors and resellers worldwide. All CorsairUSB flash products are backed by a 10-year Limited Warranty. Completecustomer support via telephone, email, forum and Tech Support Xpress isalso available.
More information about the Corsair Flash Survivor GT can be found at corsair.com/products/survivor.
About Corsair
Founded in 1994, Corsair Memory, Inc., is a worldwide leader in highperformance components for personal computers. Specializing in veryhigh performance memory and ultra- efficient power supplies, ourflagship products, Including Dominator™ memory modules, are the choiceof overclockers, enthusiasts, and gamers everywhere. Our expertise indesign and manufacturing is also evident in our complete line of FlashVoyager® and Flash Survivor™ USB storage devices. Corsair offers 24/7customer support via forums and the Tech Support Express helpdesk. Formore information, please visit www.corsair.com

Centon Rolls Out MLB Flash Drives A Week Too Late

News — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:10:58 GMT

The Major League Baseball season may be over, but you can bet fans of the New York Yankees won't be forgetting the 2009 season anytime soon. Just a few months after Dell announced that it was selling notebooks with MLB covers, along comes Centon Electronics with a ploy of its own to milk ardent supporters of the club (or any club, really) for a few more dollars.

The company, which is best known for producing DRAM and flash-based memory wares, has today introduced their officially licensed MLB Key chain USB Flash Drives. As expected, all 30 MLB teams are included, though we get the impression that quite a few more orders will be placed for Yankees and Red Sox dongles compared to Royals and Pirates. The drives are fully compatible with Mac and PC systems, and they sport a capless slide design to help you from losing half of it.

They're available in 2GB, 4GB and 8GB sizes, though pricing isn't immediately available.

G.Skill Announces Falcon II Solid State Drives

News — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:33:08 GMT

G.Skill Announces Falcon II SATA II 2.5” Solid State Drive (SSD)

Taipei, Taiwan - 11 November, 2009 - G.Skill International Co. Ltd., manufacturer of extreme performance memory and solid-state storage with solid quality, has today released its Falcon II SATA II 2.5” Solid State Drive (SSD).

Featuring the new Indilinx ECO controller, the Falcon II SSD can be perfectly matched with the latest 34nm NAND flash memory, which has a greater data density for a positive impact on affordability for the customer. Along with a large 64MB DRAM cache and specialized controller design, the Falcon II SSD provides the ideal, stutter free stability and long life through advanced wear leveling algorithms. The performance of the 64GB SSD is rated at 220/110MB/Sec (Read/Write), while the 128GB and 256GB SSDs are rated at an impressive 220/150MB/sec.

In addition, the Falcon II will feature the latest Indilinx 1819 version firmware which offers improved support for the Windows 7 TRIM command. The Falcon II provides Windows 7 users an ideal SSD solution with high performance and stability.

All G.Skill’s Falcon series SSD solutions come with two years warranty and G.Skill’s FAE team is always ready to provide consumers complete technical support via online forums, telephone and email.

About G.Skill
Established in 1989 by enthusiasts, G.Skill is a leading memory manufacturer based in Taipei, Taiwan. The company's top priority is Quality. All of our products undergo a series of the most rigorous tests and strict quality control processes. In addition to a committed, qualified IC testing house to examine our products, all G.Skill products are 100% tested to ensure the highest yield, reliability and quality.

Asus O!Play AIR HDP-R3 Brings 802.11n Streaming, Card Reader

News — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 01:34:18 GMT

Asus may have been a little known computer company just a few yearsback, but today it's gaining steam and branching out into more and moreareas. Take this product for example, the O!Play AIR HDP-R3. It's thesecond set-top box in the "O!Play" lineup, and while this one doesn'tlook at that different (physically, anyway), there are a few niceextras added in for those who chose to pass on the first edition.

At its core, this is a simple media streamer/player. You simply hook itup near your HDTV, get it on your network (via Ethernet or Wi-Fi), andthen enjoy whatever media you have on your network. This one ships with802.11n support, which should get high-def content from your mediacollection to your television without as many drops. It also ships within inbuilt card reader, which allows for media to be loaded locally solong as it's on a CF, SD MMC, or Memory Stick/MSDuo card.

You'll also find an HDMI 1.3 ports, USB 2.0 port, eSATA/USB 2.0 comboport and a Wi-Fi LED indicator on the front. We're hearing that it willship soon in Europe for around €90, but we're still eager to see ifit'll ship to the US.

Intel 34nm X25-M Gen 2 SSD Performance Update

News — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:13:37 GMT

Intel has just released a firmware update for their 34nm Gen X25-M solid state drives that not only boosts sequential write performance, but adds support for the TRIM feature as well. A performance optimization tool is also being release today, for users of Windows Vista and XP, who won't be able to take advantage of TRIM.

We flashed one of our Intel 34nm Gen 2 X25-M 160GB SSDs with the new firmware and ran a handful of tests under Windows 7 to see what kind of affect it had on performance. Details of the update process and optimization tool are posted, as well as before and after benchmarks...

Intel 34nm X25-M Gen 2 SSD Performance Update

Paramount & Kingston To Deliver Movies Via Flash Memory

News — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:53:26 GMT

Thanks to a new partnership between Kingston and Paramount Digital Entertainment (PDE), a division of Paramount Pictures, you'll have another option for purchasing your favorite movies: flash memory. Instead of buying a traditional DVD or Blu-ray Disc, the two companies are hoping you'll like their new offer to purchase movies on Kingston USB drives and SD cards. Full-length motion picture feature films will be available to consumers as part of a bundle package and for sale.

“This unique agreement enables PDE to make available its entertainment offerings on USB and SD cards,” said Alex Carloss, EVP and GM of Paramount Digital Entertainment. “As more and more movies are viewed on computers and other portable devices, having a relationship with Kingston will become increasingly important to Paramount for years to come.”

“Kingston is very excited to join forces with Paramount Digital Entertainment on this venture as they are one of the most innovative and forward thinking studios for digital distribution,” said Rick Webb, vice president, consumer markets group, Kingston. “PDE adds great value to our memory products. We look forward to working with them to bundle additional Paramount content on our full line of USB drives and Flash memory cards.”

Currently, "Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen" is available at OfficeMax stores for $29.99. The movie comes on a Kingston DataTraveler I drive.

Toshiba Introduces New 1.8-inch SATA HDDs

News — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:28:43 GMT

Toshiba added two new 1.8-inch Serial ATA HDDs to its lineup. The MKxx33GSG series focuses on high capacity and top-end performance. It is available in 320GB, 250GB, and 160GB capacities. This hard drive uses 42% less power during seek operations than best-in-class 5,400 RPM 2.5-inch HDDs.

The MK1235GSL is a single-platter 120GB drive. Toshiba claims this drive is the most power-conservative HDD on the market. It offers a high-capacity, low 5-millimeter profile for battery-conscious ultra-mobile computers. The MK1235GSL series is currently shipping in volume production, while the MKxx33GSG is scheduled to enter mass production in early December.

Toshiba Introduces Two 1.8-Inch Hard Disk Drive Families for Both High Performance and Long Battery Life in Mobile Computing Applications

New 1.8-inch SATA HDDs Demonstrate Leadership in Capacity, Power Consumption and Areal Density

IRVINE, Calif., Nov. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Toshiba Storage Device Division (SDD), a division of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. and the industry pioneer in small form factor hard disk drives (HDDs), today announced new additions to its 1.8-inch Serial ATA HDD product line, covering the full range of mobile computing applications. The introductions include a high-performance 5,400 RPM family, offering an industry-leading 320GB(1) capacity, as well as a power-efficient, slim 4,200 RPM model with 120GB of storage for applications that require low-power consumption and an ultra-compact form factor.

Toshiba has designed these 1.8-inch HDD products to meet a variety of mobile computing needs based on specific market requirements. With high capacity and top-end performance, the MKxx33GSG series is available in 320GB, 250GB and 160GB capacities and uses 42 percent less power during seek operations than best-in-class 5,400 RPM 2.5-inch HDDs. The single-platter 120GB, MK1235GSL is the most power-conservative HDD on the market and offers a high-capacity, low 5-millimeter profile for battery-conscious ultra-mobile computers.

Significantly surpassing 2.5-inch HDDs in durability, Toshiba's 1.8-inch HDDs can tolerate up to 1,500Gs of non-operational shock and 500Gs of operational shock, which are 50 percent and 25 percent more durable than the most rugged 2.5-inch HDDs. As a result of this extreme ruggedness, 1.8-inch HDDs have been incorporated into some of the most demanding applications for shock and vibration.

"Toshiba 1.8-inch HDDs provide a compelling solution for any application that demands extreme mobility along with the ability to reliably and quietly store large amounts of user content," said Maciek Brzeski, vice president of marketing at Toshiba Storage Device Division. "As the market demands smaller devices, manufacturers can take advantage of the 1.8-inch form factor's small footprint, low power consumption, light weight, proven durability and volume manufacturability. With these benefits, Toshiba 1.8-inch HDDs have served as the foundation for a variety of innovative consumer electronics and PC products that have continued to evolve and transform the market over the years."

High-Performance Solutions for Mobile Computing

Designed for performance, the high-end SATA MKxx33GSG line provides speedy access to data with its 16MB cache buffer, 5,400 RPM rotational speed and disk transfer rates of up to 830 Mb/second. At 320GB, the highest-capacity model in the family can store up to either 90,000 digital photos, 84,000 digital music files or 260 downloaded digital videos(2) - all in a storage device about the size of a credit card.

Built on a technology platform utilizing 160GB per disk, this high-performance HDD family is ideally suited for thin-and-light mobile PCs, ruggedized mobile PCs, mini-notebooks and external add-on storage solutions.

Cost-Effective, High-Capacity Storage

The single-platter 120GB MK1235GSL offers a cost-effective solution for manufacturers looking to make the most of small form factor mobile applications. Its slim 5-millimeter and ultra-low power, 4,200 RPM design make the MK1235GSL SATA HDD an optimum choice for compact, power-efficient products, such as smartbooks, netbooks or battery-conscious mini-notebooks, as well as converged devices leveraging touch-screen technology.

Solid Track Record for Interoperability and Reliability

To ensure the highest level of interoperability with other host system components, both the MKxx33GSG and MK1235GSL HDDs have successfully completed strenuous verification testing by industry-designated SATA Interoperability Labs. As a result, these HDDs carry the certified SATA mark of compliance award issued by the Serial ATA International Organization, the industry committee governing the standards for SATA technologies and specifications.

Toshiba has a solid track record in delivering high-volume 1.8-inch HDD shipments. The company recently surpassed the 70 million unit shipment milestone and has consistently maintained the number one position in 1.8-inch HDDs, since entering the market in 2000. According to industry analyst firm IDC, Toshiba shipped more than 80 percent of 1.8-inch HDDs worldwide in the third quarter of 2009.

Availability

The MK1235GSL series is currently shipping in volume production, while the MKxx33GSG is scheduled to enter mass production in early December. For more information on Toshiba's line of industry-leading small form factor hard drives, visit www.toshibastorage.com.

Product Specifications

LaCie's Network Space 2 Is The Sexiest NAS We've Ever Seen

News — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:55:45 GMT

If Apple is the king of design in the laptop world, LaCie is far atop the hard drive world. Without exception, this company produces the most glamorous and gorgeous HDDs we've ever seen, and it's probably the only HDD company that actually makes you think that their products are desirable. It's amazing what good design can do, right? After all, the HDDs within the enclosures are the same as any--it's the exterior that makes this firm so special.

The Network Space 2 is the latest good-looker to emerge, with a sleek black design crafted by Neil Poulton and all the promise of a NAS. It's been far too long since we've seen a NAS drive we could stand to look at for more than a few minutes, so we'd say this is arriving not a moment too soon. The drive is able to stream multimedia onto any UPnP/DLNA compliant devices like PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 or PC, and it'll also act as an iTunes server if you'd like it to. Heck, it'll even manage/download your torrents even if the connected PC is shut down.

It promises transfer rates of 65MB/sec over Ethernet, or if you'd like, you can plug it in via USB so it'll act as a standard USB external hard drive. For now, it's only available in Europe in 1TB form for an undisclosed amount, but it should start shipping in the US soon.

LaCie Network Space 2: Simplifying The Network Storage Experience

LaCie today announced the LaCie Network Space 2, design by Neil Poulton– a leading-edge Network Attached Storage (NAS) and media server. TheLaCie Network Space 2 combines the performance of a full-featured NASsolution, with a unique and customized way to manage the totalexperience.

Easy to Use
LaCie Network Space 2 was designed to be as convenient anduser-friendly as a classic USB external hard drive. With the advancedLaCie Network Assistant, you can be up and running in a few shortsteps. To help you manage your desired product preferences, the LaCieNetwork Assistant now offers new dashboard functionality. You cancustomize the dashboard with useful widgets to access network and driveinformation, administer user accounts and monitor drive capacity.

Home Entertainment
LaCie Network Space 2 makes it easy to stream photos, music and videosto computers on the local network or to any UPnP/DLNA compliant deviceslike PlayStation^®3 or Xbox^® 360. It includes iTunes^® serversoftware so Mac and PCs can see and play content from the LaCie NetworkSpace 2 directly through the iTunes interface. It also includesDownload Machine that allows multiple torrent downloads, even when yourcomputer is turned off.

High Performance and Versatility
While the LaCie Network Space 2 can perform at speeds of up to 65MB/s**over the Ethernet connection, you may choose to leverage it as anexternal USB hard drive – connecting it directly to your computer foroff-network file transfer and accessibility.

Additionally, there is a USB 2.0 host connection in the front of thedevice that allows you to connect a USB flash drive, external harddrive or digital camera, and import files automatically without theneed of a computer.

Eco Friendly
The LaCie Network Space 2 includes a built-in power management widget,which lets you control both the light on your drive, as well as yourdrive's Eco Management; placing the drive into a low power setting atscheduled time intervals or when the product is inactive. Additionally,the Network Space 2 can be awakened through its Wake-on-LANfunctionality, making it a powerful, efficient and eco-friendly mediaserver for the home.

"The LaCie Network Space 2 is a state-of-the-art solution for customerswanting to share and store media files from anywhere in the house,"said Patrick Salin, LaCie Digital Home Business Unit Manager. "LaCie'snew dashboard functionality makes it simple for users to enjoy thefeatures of network storage, and further shows our commitment toenhancing the experience of our customers."

Designed exclusively for LaCie by Neil Poulton, the compact LaCieNetwork Space 2 has a sleek, mirror-polished black finish with a blueLED strip on its underside that creates an ambient glow.

Availability
The LaCie Network Space 2 is available in a 1TB capacity in Europe andwill be available worldwide later this year. For more productinformation, visit www.lacie.com.

About Neil Poulton
Neil Poulton was born in Thurso, Scotland. A graduate in IndustrialDesign from Edinburgh University and Milan's Domus Academy, Poultonfirst came into public view in 1989 as the creator of "the ageingpens," pens made from a "living," wearing plastic that changes colorand form with use. Today, Neil Poulton designs and developsbest-selling, award-winning products for a variety of internationalclients including LaCie & Artemide. Since 1991, Poulton has livedand worked in Paris, France. www.neilpoulton.com

About LaCie
Located in the USA, Canada, Japan, Australia, Europe, Singapore andHong Kong, LaCie is the leading manufacturer of computer peripheralsfor Windows, Apple and Linux users. LaCie creates external storagesolutions and color monitors that help professionals and everydaypeople easily manage their digital lives. LaCie has differentiated itsproducts through original designs and leading-edge technology.Established in France in 1989, LaCie is listed on Euronext underFR0000054314 (LAC). For more information, visit www.lacie.com.

Super Talent Announces "World's First" USB 3.0 RAIDDrive

News — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 01:28:54 GMT

Super Talent unveiled a new SuperSpeed USB 3.0 RAIDDrive which supports transfer speeds up to ten times faster than USB 2.0 drives. The new drive will come in 32GB, 64GB and 128GB capacities and is backward compatible with USB 2.0 ports. (Of course, when plugged in to slower ports, you'll be limited in speed.) Using a separate UAS Protocol driver with a USB 3.0 port, the SuperSpeed drive can reach up to 320MB/second transfer speeds. Look for the new drives in December.

Super Talent Announces World's First USB 3.0 RAIDDrive

USB Drives Support UAS Protocol to Attain Transfer Speeds up to 320MB/sec

San Jose, California - November 4, 2009 - Super Talent Technology, a leading manufacturer of Flash storage solutions and DRAM memory modules, today announced the new SuperSpeed USB 3.0 RAIDDrive, which supports transfer speeds up to ten times faster than USB 2.0 drives. The new drive, in 32GB, 64GB and 128GB capacities, is fully backward compatible with USB 2.0 ports, but operates at slower speeds.

The USB 3.0 RAIDDrive uses patented "multiple pairs of differential serial data lines technology" for optimal NAND flash performance. "This product underscores Super Talent's continued leadership in USB drives." said Super Talent COO, C.H. Lee. "We've developed the world's first mobile USB 3.0 flash drive. It delivers phenomenal performance and it incorporates our own patented technology".

Part Number	Description
STU32GSSK	32GB SuperSpeed USB 3.0 Drive
STU64GSSK	64GB SuperSpeed USB 3.0 Drive
STU28GSSK	128GB SuperSpeed USB 3.0 Drive

Measuring 95 x 37 x13.5 mm, the SuperSpeed drive is a truly portable drive. Like most USB drives, it requires no separate cable. It plugs directly into any USB port. Although this drive will work in USB 2.0, it delivers transfer speeds up to 200MB/sec only in USB 3.0 ports. Using a separate UAS Protocol driver with a USB 3.0 port this SuperSpeed drive can reach up to 320MB/sec transfer speeds. This product will be available in December from Super Talent resellers worldwide. Interested parties can register here for USB 3.0 product availability updates.

SanDisk's 2nd-Gen pSSD Used In Sony's Slim VAIO X Notebook

News — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:44:32 GMT

Two things we like are solid state drives and skinny notebooks, so you can only imagine our excitement over this one. Sony's super-slim, highly stylish VAIO X laptop is relying on SanDisk's modular SSD, giving this thing an extra boost of speed it may otherwise miss out on. We've shown time and time again in testing that SSD-based machines are far quicker and much more enjoyable to use then HDD-based rigs, so we think Sony's making a smart move by incorporating this one into a machine that'll undoubtedly get a lot of attention.

SanDisk's second-generation pSSD Solid State Drive (64GB) has been selected for use in the VAIO X, and given its diminutive size (54mm x 32mm x 4.4mm), the 7.1-gram device is a perfect fit. In addition, the drive’s power consumption (average power of 0.15W2) is significantly lower than that of a traditional hard disk drive. SanDisk pSSD Gen2 drives support Windows XP, Linux, and Windows 7, the OS of choice for the Sony VAIO X laptop.

SanDisk’s modular solid state drive, SanDisk pSSD, offers 9,000 vRPM³ of performance and has the added benefit of employing nCache™ technology, a large non-volatile write cache technology that boosts burst random write performance up to three times over steady state performance and up to 20 times faster than pSSD Gen1 to further enhance the user experience⁴. nCache technology improves user responsiveness and helps prevent incidence of drive "stalling".
“The release of Sony's VAIO X symbolizes a market shift towards pioneering flash-based laptop designs, eliminating the weight and size constraints of the legacy hard disk drive,” said Doreet Oren, director product marketing, solid state drives, SanDisk. “The SanDisk pSSD drive enables laptops to be thinner and lighter, while eliminating the mechanical slow downs and malfunctions most commonly attributed to the hard disk drive.”
“The selection of SanDisk pSSD drives by tier-1 OEMs for the newest small, thin and light-weight laptop designs is a vote of confidence for not only SanDisk solutions, but also for the potential of SSDs to move the computing market light years forward,” said Jim McGregor, analyst at In-Stat, a Reed Business independent industry research firm. “PC OEMs understand the performance and power consumption benefits of SSDs and are working hard to bring these solutions quickly and affordably to the end user.”

G-Technology By Hitachi Adds 2TB HDD To Entire 3.5" Product Line

News — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:28:39 GMT

G-Technology may not be the first name you think of when it comes to hard drives, but thanks to Hitachi picking it up, we'd say that could all be changing soon. Today, the company has announced that it's doubling capacity of its 3.5" product line. More room for more stuff--exciting!

Hitachi’s 2TB, 7,200 RPM, 32MB cache buffer hard drive is now being implemented across the entire 3.5" product line, and now G-Tech's upgraded single-drive and ultra-fast, low-cost RAID systems include the G-DRIVE, G-SAFE, G-RAID, G-SPEED eS, G-SPEED eS Pro, G-SPEED eS PRO XL, and G-SPEED FC XL can all reah as high as 32TB. And just think--this will all feel like small beans when a 4TB HDD hits the market on the day after your spring for a 2TB model.

G-Technology By Hitachi Doubles Capacity Across 3.5-inch Product Line

New High-Performance, High-Capacity G-Tech External Drives Give Digital Creative Pros More Room and More Speed to Drive Creativity™

HD EXPO, Los Angeles, Calif., November 2, 2009 – G-Technology by Hitachi (www.g-technology.com), a leading provider of premium storage solutions for the Mac, creative pro and high-end audio/video (AV) markets, today announced that it is incorporating Hitachi’s 2TB, 7,200 RPM, 32MB cache buffer hard drives across its entire 3.5-inch product line. Now with capacities ranging from 2TB to 32TB, G-Tech’s new upgraded single-drive and ultra-fast, low-cost RAID systems include the G-DRIVE, G-SAFE, G-RAID, G-SPEED eS, G-SPEED eS Pro, G-SPEED eS PRO XL, and G-SPEED FC XL. With the addition of these new drives, G-Tech is now the only external storage provider in the world with a complete line of 2TB, 7,200 RPM drive-based, external storage solutions specifically designed for the Mac and AV markets.

Hitachi’s G-Technology-branded solutions offer performance, reliability and capacity that are needed for today’s video editors, graphic designers, photographers and other digital media professionals. Because these professionals demand tons of storage headroom and massive data throughput for editing, cutting, layering and rendering high definition (HD) content, G-Tech uses nothing but the best hard drives and fastest interfaces—eSATA, FireWire 800, FireWire 400, USB 2.0, mini SAS and Fibre Channel. For those who want to upgrade to new G-Tech 2TB-based solutions, this could mean the difference between storing approximately 84 hours of 1080i HDV on a 1TB drive to storing 168 hours on a 2TB drive in the same physical footprint.

From rugged portable drives to ultra-fast rack-mount arrays, G-Tech storage solutions support virtually all levels of AV production and have become well-established in production facilities worldwide.

“As file-based acquisition rapidly increases, so does the need for fast, reliable and large capacity storage solutions. G-Tech’s Fibre Channel and FireWire storage products have been a cornerstone in our business, providing transport, I/O and render solutions that we need to be successful,” said Michael Cioni, CEO of LIGHTIRON Digital, a Hollywood-based post production house that focuses entirely on end-to-end file-based sequencing. “With G-Tech’s new 2TB, 7,200 RPM-based external storage solutions, production can minimize the number of shuttle drives going to and from the set, and post production can minimize its storage footprint, while increasing its overall storage capacity. Storage and speed of this size couldn't have come at a better time.”

“I can’t wait to get my hands on some of the new 2TB G-Tech external drives. For an HD stock footage company like mine, I need reliable, high-capacity, high-performance storage devices for editing, formatting and transporting content through the workflow process and ultimately to the client,” said Clark Dunbar, founder of Mammoth HD. “We have to know that the equipment we invest in will work, and we rely on G-Technology.”

“We've grown accustom to using G-Tech products over the years, as they have consistently delivered high performance, high capacity, peace of mind and affordability. G-Tech drives perform without a stutter, which is critical as we race to deliver projects such as the Sundance-winning film FUEL,” said Todd Sali, founder of thesandbox, a solar-powered production and post boutique studio. “From the outstanding G-DRIVE minis used in our field production, to the G-SPEED eS for screaming-fast, direct-connect video editing, to the mother ship G-SPEED FC XL, we count on the security and performance of the incomparable Hitachi drives inside. We are thrilled to see the new 2TB capacities coming online, which will give us the ultimate in storage density, performance and price.”

Availability

G-Tech’s new 2TB-based external storage solutions are now available. For more information, please visit www.g-technology.com

About Hitachi Global Storage Technologies

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies (Hitachi GST) develops advanced hard disk drives, enterprise-class solid state drives, and innovative external storage solutions and services used to store, preserve and manage the world’s most valued data. Founded by the pioneers of hard drives, Hitachi GST provides high-value storage for a broad range of market segments, including Enterprise, Desktop, Mobile Computing, Consumer Electronics and Personal Storage. Hitachi GST was established in 2003 with its U.S. headquarters located in San Jose, California. For more information, please visit the company’s website at http://www.hitachigst.com.

About Hitachi, Ltd.

Hitachi, Ltd., (NYSE: HIT / TSE: 6501), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a leading global electronics company with approximately 400,000 employees worldwide. Fiscal 2008 (ended March 31, 2009) consolidated revenues totaled 10,000 billion yen ($102.0 billion). The company offers a wide range of systems, products and services in market sectors including information systems, electronic devices, power and industrial systems, consumer products, materials, logistics and financial services. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's website at http://www.hitachi.com.

Hitachi trademarks, including G-Technology, G-SPEED FC XL, G-SPEED eS PRO XL, G-SPEED eS Pro, G-SPEED eS, G-RAID, G-SAFE and G-DRIVE, are authorized for use in countries and jurisdictions in which Hitachi has the right to market the brands. Hitachi is not liable for third parties’ unauthorized use of Hitachi trademarks. All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners.

One gigabyte (GB) represents one billion bytes and one terabyte (TB) represents one trillion bytes. Actual capacity will vary depending on operating environment and formatting.

USB 3.0 and SATA 6G Performance Preview

News — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:57:53 GMT

Just the other day, we gave you a sneak peek at a couple of motherboards Asus had coming down the pipeline that featured USB 3.0 and SATA 6G support, the P7P55D-E Premium and the P6X58D Premium. If you haven't seen the original post, be sure to check it out here. In it, we talk about the boards' PLX PCI Express Gen 2 switch implementation and how it connects to the NEC USB 3.0 and Marvell SATA 6G controller chips.

P7P55D-E Premium and P6X58D Premium with USB 3.0 and SATA 6G

It turns out that one of the boards we showed you, the P55-Express based P7P55D-E Premium is very close to hitting the market. In fact, we already have on in house were able to run a few quick tests on it. In addition to the motherboard, we got our hands on an external USB 3.0 hard drive and one of Seagate's new 2TB SATA 6G hard drives.

USB 2.0 vs. USB 3.0 Hard Drive Performance

First up, we thought we'd show you what kind of impact USB 3.0 has on performance. The two images above show ATTO Disk Benchmark runs with the USB 3.0 hard drive connected to the P7P55D-E Premium. The test on the left was run with the drive connected to a USB 2.0 port, the one of the right with it connected to a USB 3.0 port. Be sure to click on the images to pop larger versions because the graphs look to have a similar trends. You'll see that when connected to a USB 3.0 port, the drive was about 5 - 6x faster. Although these are just quick, preliminary tests, it appears that USB 3.0 will be an absolute must for users in need of fast, cheap external storage as it becomes more prevalent.

SATA 3G vs. SATA 6G Hard Drive Performance

Next up, we have some benchmarks using the Seagate Barracuda XT SATA 6G drive. The ATTO and HD Tach tests on the left were conducted with the drive connected to a common SATA 3G port, the tests on the right were conducted with it connected to the Marvell SATA 6G controller present on the P7P55D-E Premium. Save for one part of the HD Tach testing, there isn't much of a performance difference here. Due to an aggressive cache algorithm that utilizes a portion of system memory with the Seagate Barracuda XT SATA 6G connected to the Marvell SATA 6G controller on the P7P55D-E Premium, it offers a burst rate that is off the charts in HD Tach. In the remaining portions of the HD Tach test though, performance remains largely unchanged. According to ATTO, there are some slight performance benefits to be had by connecting the drive to the SATA 6G controller, but the deltas were quite small--somewhere in the neighborhood of 5MB/s.

As it stands today, it's obvious that its going to take something much faster than a current-gen, spinning-platter hard disk to tax a SATA 6G connection. Perhaps next-gen products and future SSDs will show a larger benefit.

Kingston Announces 40GB SSD Desktop Upgrade Kit

News — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 22:12:07 GMT

We just got our hands on a new product Kingston is announcing today, targeted at PC owners in the market for a relatively inexpensive SSD upgrade to boost system performance.

Kingston is marketing the new 40GB Desktop Upgrade Kit as a performance upgrade for existing system owners hindered by the performance of their spinning hard drives. Instead of offering a high-capacity SSD as part of the kit, however, Kingston went with an Intel-built, Kingston branded, low-capacity SSD. A representative from Kingston contended that SSDs were considered a performance upgrades by most PC enthusiasts, and not storage / capacity upgrades. As such, the Kingston 40GB Desktop Upgrade Kit is designed to replace a boot drive and host only the OS and perhaps the user's most commonly used applications, while complimented by a larger capacity drive for bulk storage.

Kingston's 40GB Desktop Upgrade Kit

The 40GB Desktop Upgrade Kit includes a 2.5" 40GB SATA SSD, a 4-pin Molex-to-SATA power adapter, a SATA cable, and a disc complete with drive cloning software to facilitate migration from one drive to another. Although this video wasn't produced with the Kingston 40GB Desktop Upgrade Kit in mind, we're posting it here to show one way to migrate data from one drive to another, when upgrading to an SSD.

Kingston's 40GB Desktop Upgrade Kit will be available the week of November 9 and carried an MSRP of $130. A more affordable stand-alone drive will also be offered for an MSRP of $115. We are told, however, that with rebates, the kit may be had for as low as $85, which would make it a great companion to that copy of Windows 7 you were thinking of picking up.

More information about the Kingston 40GB Desktop Upgrade Kit is available in the full press release, posted below...

Kingston Digital Releases SSD Desktop Upgrade Solution

40GB Solid-State Drive to Boost Desktop Performance; Aggressive Launch Promotion with Newegg.com Announced

Fountain Valley, CA -- October 26, 2009 -- Kingston Digital, Inc., the Flash memory affiliate of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., the independent world leader in memory products, today announced the release of the SSDNow V Series 40GB Boot Drive, the latest addition to its V (Value) family of solid-state drives (SSD). The Kingston SSDNow V Series 40GB Boot Drive is one of the best and most cost-effective ways to accelerate any desktop’s boot, shutdown and application load times. It is available for as low as $84.99 after rebates (U.S. only) at e-tailer Newegg.com at launch*.

“The SSDNow V Series 40GB Boot Drive offers instant performance enhancement coupled with reliability and lower power consumption at a fraction of the cost of a new system,” said Ariel Perez, SSD business manager, Kingston. “The 40GB Boot Drive is the latest offering in our V Series SSD line. It provides a low-cost upgrade solution that complements the installed hard-disk drive to extend the life cycle of existing desktop computers and workstations in homes and offices.”

Using the industry-standard PCMark Vantage Advanced HDD Suite, the 40GB Boot Drive received a score of 13,883, whereas a 7200RPM hard-disk drive attained a score of 3,708**. PCMark Vantage Advanced HDD Suite runs a series of tests such as Windows Vista startup, importing photos, adding music to Windows Media Center and application loading. The score is an indicator of how many bytes were moved per second.

Kingston’s SSDNow V Series 40GB Boot Drive is designed for novice SSD users looking to increase their current desktop performance. As part of Kingston’s goal to provide an easy upgrade path for first-time SSD users as well as do-it-yourself system builders, the drive is also available with a bundle that includes cloning software, 2.5" to 3.5" brackets and SATA data and power cable extenders. The SSDNow V Series 40GB Boot Drive is designed for a desktop system to be used in conjunction with an existing hard-disk drive (HDD). A PC operating system and key applications reside on the SSD while all data such as documents, music, files and photos remain on the HDD.

The Kingston SSDNow V Series 40GB Boot Drive has an MSRP of $115.00 (U.S.) and will begin shipping on November 9, 2009. It is backed by a three-year warranty, 24/7 tech support and legendary Kingston reliability. For more information visit www.kingston.com.

Kingston SSDNow 40GB Boot Drive Features and Specifications:

Sequential Speed***: up to 170MB/sec. read and 40MB/sec. write
Performance: enhances productivity; makes users more efficient
Innovative: 2.5" form factor; uses NAND Flash memory components
Silent: runs silent and cool with no moving parts
Reliable: less likely to fail than a standard hard drive
Shock Resistant: no moving parts; handles rougher conditions than a hard drive
Supports S.M.A.R.T.: Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology
Guaranteed: three-year Kingston warranty, 24/7 tech support
Capacity: 40GB
Storage temperatures: -40° C to 85° C
Operating temperatures: 0° C to 70° C
Vibration operating: 2.17G (7-800Hz)
Vibration non-operating: 20G (20-2000Hz)
Power specs: Active: 0.15W (TYP); Sleep: 0.06W
Life expectancy: 1 million hours MTBF

Seagate Technology Reports Fiscal First Quarter 2010 Results

News — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 20:10:34 GMT

Seagate Technology Reports Fiscal First Quarter 2010 Results

Quarterly revenue of $2.66 billion
Establishes long-term gross margin target of 22-26%
Fiscal year-to-date debt reduction of $685 million

SCOTTS VALLEY, Calif. - October 20, 2009 - Seagate Technology (NASDAQ: STX) today reported financial results for the quarter ended October 2, 2009 of 46.3 million disk drive unit shipments, revenue of $2.66 billion, gross margin of 24.5%, net income of $179 million and diluted earnings per share of $0.35. The financial results for the quarter include $10 million of purchased intangibles amortization, $46 million of restructuring and a write down of long-lived assets of $64 million. The aggregate impact of these items is $120 million or approximately $0.23 per share.

During the first fiscal quarter, Seagate reduced short-term borrowings and long-term debt by approximately $465 million primarily with the maturity of its $300 million floating rate senior notes and by paying down its revolving credit facility by $150 million. Subsequent to the end of the first fiscal quarter, Seagate paid off the remaining balance of its revolving credit facility of $200 million and made open market purchases of $20 million, bringing the total debt reduction during fiscal 2010 to approximately $685 million.

"At a time when economic conditions remained challenging we are very pleased with the company’s financial performance, delivering strong revenues, margins and cash generation," said Steve Luczo, Seagate CEO. "The company has returned to its operating model well ahead of our expectations of six months ago and now expects to sustain gross margin of 22-26%. Although mission critical enterprise demand in particular has yet to recover to historical levels, we benefitted from our time-to-market product delivery to customers integrating our notebook, desktop and enterprise drives."

Business Outlook
While visibility has improved throughout the calendar year, the ongoing uncertainty in global economic conditions makes it difficult to predict product demand and other related matters, which makes it more likely that Seagate's actual results could differ materially from current expectations.

For the December quarter, the company is planning for the overall industry demand for disk drives to be 153 - 160 million units. As a result, the company expects revenue to be approximately $2.75 - $2.85 billion and gross margin as a percent of revenue to be near the high end of the company's targeted range of 22-26%. In today's financial results conference call, the company will also provide an update on current and expected business conditions, including key underlying assumptions, for its financial outlook for fiscal year 2010.

The December quarter outlook does not include the impact of any potential new restructuring activities, future mergers, acquisitions, financing, dispositions or other business combinations the company may undertake. The company's policy is to refrain from commenting on any such activities.

OCZ Z-Drive m84 PCI-Express SSD Review

News — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:32:26 GMT

An interesting thing about NAND Flash SSD (Solid State Drive) technologies, beyond the fact that the market is flush with competitive product offerings, is that the technology itself is very flexible and adaptable to a number of different design approaches, other just the straight-forward SATA-based SSDs. Take for example the RAID 4-pack configuration we setup here with Intel's X25-M SSD or perhaps the omnipotent Fusion-io ioDrive. Granted, these are rather high-end, pricey setups, but you get the gist that solid state storage arena is just getting warmed up.

In a sort of hybrid version of Fusion-io's product and our little RAID 4-pack array we setup for testing, memory solutions manufacturer OCZ Technology has introduced an almost fully integrated solution of their SATA-based SSD technology, along with a third party RAID controller, all wrapped up clean and tidy on a standard plug and play (no longer pray) PCI Express X8 adapter card. Dubbed the Z-Drive, we first got a look at this wild-eyed beast back in May. It wasn't quite ready for prime time back then and it re-emerged again in early September with specs that admittedly caused a pavlovian response of our salivary glands.

Today, we get to satiate ourselves with a deep dive look at the new OCZ Z-Drive, in a tasty 256GB variant that drops in at an almost reasonable $899 price point that is on near cost parity with a standard mid-range SSD. This is a very different approach to SSD technology, one that occupies a PCI Express slot instead of a SATA port. First we'll dig into what makes it tick and then we'll see how it ticks through our benchmark time trials.

OCZ Z-Drive m84 PCI-Express SSD Review

SanDisk Ships X4 Flash Cards: SDHC Capacity Limit Now In Question

News — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 08:18:40 GMT

We know--most of you think "AMD" when you hear "X4," but there are actually more than one X4 technologies that you should be aware of. In a quiet, but remarkably excited announcement made this week by SanDisk, it has made clear that actually products are now shipping based around the revolutionary X4 memory technology, and while it doesn't really mean much for you now, it will in time.

You see, SDHC and Memory Stick PRO cards employing X4 tech can grow to be huge--much larger than the capacities we're seeing today. Based on 43-nanometer process technology, the 64-gigabit (Gb) NAND flash chip is the highest-density single-die memory device in the world to enter production; put simply, this new technology holds four bits of data in each memory cell, twice as many as the cells in conventional multi-level cell (MLC) NAND (2-bits-per-cell) memory chips. You don't need to be an eletrical engineer to understand what kind of potential that holds.

Without a doubt, it's the largest-capacity monolithic 64 Gigabit Flash chip in the world, and it's shipping en masse right now. Unfortunately, consumers probably won't even notice, as the first memory cards to ship based on this solution are 8GB and 16GB cards--sizes that we've already grown used to seeing. But as we stated earlier, it's the future that's important here. This X4 tech enables flash card makers to scale up to larger capacities, and hopefully cost will fall for consumers all the while. We know SDXC is champing at the bit to come in and steal away SDHC's thunder, but for all of us with SDHC gear, we'll take all the retro-improving we can get.

“The development and commercialization of X4 technology represents an important milestone for the flash storage industry,” said Sanjay Mehrotra, president and chief operating officer, SanDisk. “Our challenge with X4 technology was to not only deliver the lower costs inherent to 4-bits-per-cell, but to do so while meeting the reliability and performance requirements of industry standard cards that employ MLC NAND. Our world-class design and engineering team has applied its deep experience with high speed 2 and 3-bits-per-cell flash chip designs and collaborated closely with our leading design partners to develop and perfect new and powerful error correction algorithms to assure reliable operation. This intensive multi-year effort has generated powerful new patents and know-how, and demonstrates SanDisk’s relentless drive for innovations that result in the ever expanding use of flash storage in consumer applications such as music, videos, photos, games and numerous third party applications.”
“The shipment of 4-bits-per-cell technology is a necessary evolution for the industry,” said Joseph Unsworth, research director, Gartner. “Enabling this technology in mainstream products demonstrates a cost advantage in the flash memory industry that considers 2-bits-per-cell in a memory device as standard. The NAND industry continues to see a rapid pace of innovation, and adoption of this technology will be essential to remain competitive.”
SanDisk’s Advanced Development Efforts
SanDisk pioneered the removable flash memory storage industry since the company’s inception in 1988. The company continues to lead the industry with advancements in MLC and controller technology with the development of 2-bit, 3-bit and 4-bit-per-cell and 3D technologies.
Tel Aviv University (TAU) had provided a significant contribution to the X4 advanced error correcting and digital signal processing technology, which was licensed exclusively to SanDisk by Ramot at Tel Aviv University Ltd., TAU’s technology transfer company. “X4 took five years of development at SanDisk, and the finished product is a testament to the hard work and collaboration of the parties involved,” said Dr. Ze'ev Weinfeld, Ramot's CEO. "Once we created the basic approach, SanDisk brought this to fruition by developing its advanced X4 controller and matching it with its advanced 43nm, 64Gb X4 memory thus making full X4 product implementation possible. This highlights the benefit commercial companies may gain from cooperation with TAU, building on our pool of talent and expertise.”