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The NVM Express 1.0 specification that defines an optimized register interface, command set and feature set for PCI Express (PCIe)-based Solid-State Drives (SSDs) has been released today by the NVMHCI Work Group. The goal is to help enable the broad adoption of SSDs using the PCIe interface.
The significant advances in performance enabled by non-volatile memory-based storage technology, as embodied in PCI Express-based SSDs, has demanded the surrounding platform infrastructure evolve to keep pace and allow the system to realize the full potential of these devices. A primary goal of NVM Express is to provide a scalable interface that unlocks the potential of PCIe-based SSDs now and into the future. The interface efficiently supports multi-core architectures, ensuring thread(s) may run on each core with their own queue and interrupt without any locks required. For Enterprise-class solutions, there is support for end-to-end data protection, security and encryption capabilities, as well as robust error reporting and management capabilities.
The NVM Express specification offers numerous benefits as a standard interface through the interoperability it fosters. For example, each OS vendor may confidently write a driver that works for devices from multiple vendors. OEMs may procure devices from diverse suppliers that all implement a consistent feature set. Time to market may be reduced as validation times shrink with standard drivers and OEMs leverage the same test suites across devices.
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According to Futuresource research, worldwide pre-recorded Blu-ray video disc production exceeded 400m units in 2010, an increase of nearly 60% compared with 2009. Factoring in PS3 titles, overall BD production volumes were significantly higher, and the longer-term outlook shows production volumes will continue to expand, with annual global output on track to reach two billion discs by 2014.
“The BD replication industry saw capacity utilisation improve markedly during 2010, with replicators working flat-out during the final months of the year to get product on the shelves in time,” says Jim Bottoms, Director and Co-founder, Futuresource Consulting. “With the growing demand for titles on the high definition format, Q4 2011 BD capacity utilisation will average more than 80% in North America and more than 75% in Europe. Taking into consideration production spikes during that period, the figure is dangerously close to the industry’s operating limit, and given the high level of market expansion expected over the next few years – driven by growing player ownership and falling title retail prices – substantial additional investment is required this year to prevent peak quarter capacity shortages.”
These shortages could result in order backlogs and compromised street dates. The problem will be further compounded by the increasing use of combo packs, featuring more than one BD, as well as collectors’ box set promotions involving some of the leading film franchises of recent years, which will put pressure on both replication capacity and hand pack capabilities.
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Patriot Memory, a global pioneer in high-performance memory, NAND flash, storage and enthusiast computer products, today unleashes the Supersonic Magnum -- a 128GB USB 3.0 SuperSpeed flash drive that combines lightning-fast performance with massive storage capacities.
The Patriot Supersonic Magnum combines a single-chip native USB 3.0 controller with eight-channels of memory to deliver sequential read and write speeds up to 200MB/s and 110MB/s respectively – beyond the performance capabilities of internal hard drives.
“We continually try to raise the performance bar when it comes to our flash drives. With our new eight-channel memory controller, we are able to reach read and write performance levels previously impossible with external storage,” says Les Henry, Patriot Memory’s Vice President of Engineering.
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Verbatim, an industry pioneer and the world’s number one brand leader in optical media, is now shipping its Blu-ray Re-Writable Double Layer (BD-RE DL) discs nationwide.
Compatible with standard Blu-ray players and recorders from leading manufactuers, these BD-RE DL discs are re-writable up to 1,000 times and can support up to 1080p resolution videos and multiple audio formats.
Designed specifically for high definition video and audio data, these double-layer discs can support storage capacities of up to 50GB – twice that of a single-layer disc. Plus, Verbatim treats these discs with its own proprietary HardCoat™ technology to protect against scratches, fingerprints and dust build-up, reducing playback and recording errors.
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The gauntlet is thrown down once again! PQI, one of the top 10 flash memory brands in the world, has enthusiastically unveiled the H567L/V 2.5" external hard drive. The hard drive casts aside traditionally thick, heavy, and inflexible exterior molds by utilizing precision engraving polishing technology to create an elegant mirror-like exterior on both the front and back plates. All sides are coated with an aluminum mist to give it a glossy finish and a surface as smooth as the skin of a newborn babe. With its contrasting diamond black and aurora white color scheme and diffusion of indiscernible yet dazzling radiance, the H567L/V captivates everyone around it. In addition, PQI demonstrates its close attention to fulfilling user wishes by installing four raised points on the back of the device to protect against scratches, prevent slippage, and reduce noise, all while offering protection from inadvertent and annoying scrapes and even cutting down on noise produced during use.
By offering four storage options of 320GB, 500GB, 640GB, and 750GB, different capacity requirements have also been addressed. Also, the exclusive bonus application software Ur Fortress provides users with complete data encryption functions, including confidential document security protection and personal image and video protection guarantees, enabling users to more effectively backup their data and manage confidential documents.
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Corsair, a worldwide designer and supplier of high-performance components to the PC gaming hardware market, today announced the Flash Voyager® USB 3.0 family of USB flash drives.
The new Flash Voyager USB 3.0 models bring SuperSpeed USB 3.0 performance to the Flash Voyager family, and share the same durable rubber housing and stylish looks that have made the Flash Voyager family a favorite of consumers looking for fast, reliable, and portable data storage. All Flash Voyager USB 3.0 models are shockproof, water-resistant, backward compatible with USB 2.0/USB 1.1, and provide easy plug-and-play compatibility with most operating systems.
"The faster read speeds offered by USB 3.0 make high-speed data storage much more convenient," said Thi La, Vice President of Memory Products at Corsair. "For example, high-bandwidth videos can be viewed directly from the USB drive, so you no longer have to wait while they are copied to a hard drive or SSD."
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Seagate today began shipments of the industry’s most elegant, easy-to-install 3TB desktop drive – the Barracuda® XT hard drive – a product that eliminates the need to purchase extra hardware or software to overcome the 2TB barrier. The Barracuda XT hard drive delivers the highest available capacity for home servers and workstations, high-definition video editing and production systems, high-performance PC gaming systems and desktop PCs.
Legacy PC BIOS designs and device drivers and older operating systems such as Windows XP are incapable of using hard drive capacities beyond 2.1TB. The upshot is that existing desktop drives with more than 2.1TB of storage capacity must be deployed with additional software or hardware and may also require extra device drivers to overcome this limitation.
The Barracuda XT hard drive with free Seagate DiscWizard™ software is a complete, easy-to-deploy solution. DiscWizard software makes it simple to configure the computer operating system and device drivers to access the full 3TB of capacity on legacy systems using Windows XP and PC BIOS and on personal computers equipped with newer versions of Windows or the new UEFI BIOS. The new DiscWizard software is available for free download at www.seagate.com/beyond-2TB.
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Greenliant Systems, a leader in energy-efficient, highly secure and reliable solid-state storage products, is now sampling the industrial-grade version of its SATA interface NANDrive GLS85LS embedded solid-state drive (SSD) product family to select customers. Available in 2, 4 and 8 GB, the new NANDrive devices operate at temperatures between -40 and +85 degrees Celsius, giving customers long operating life and high reliability storage that can endure harsh environments.
The industrial-grade Greenliant NANDrive combines a SATA NAND controller with single-level cell (SLC) NAND flash die for a fully-integrated SSD in a multi-chip package. For applications requiring the durability and speed of solid-state storage in very small form factors, SATA NANDrive devices are one of the industry's smallest SSDs at 14mm x 24mm x 1.85mm. NANDrive is offered in a 145 ball grid array (BGA), 1mm ball pitch package for easy, space-saving and cost-effective mounting to a system motherboard.
"Designers of industrial electronics are concerned about the lifetime of their products and how changes in technology will affect those products," said Bing Yeh, CEO of Greenliant Systems. "NANDrive is an integrated SSD that addresses these concerns with robust wear leveling technology and advanced error correction code (ECC) algorithms. It extends the NAND flash lifetime and gives customers added protection against NAND flash supply issues."
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Fidelity Electronics is an award winning company that delivers digital memory products and electronic accessories under the Fidelity brand, and under private label for leading manufacturers and retailers.
The USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface was introduced in 1996 to facility efficient data transfer between a host computer and peripheral devices. The USB 2.0 protocol replaced USB 1.1 in 2001, and today runs on 6 billion devices worldwide. The USB 3.0 interface is currently being introduced as the next leap forward in flash storage innovation.
“While the actual rate of performance depends on the various operating systems and media, write speeds should prove +30% faster, and read speeds should more than double”, says Alex Bukengolz, Fidelity Information Technology Manager.
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OCZ Technology Group, Inc., a leading provider of high-performance solid-state drives (SSDs) for computing devices and systems, will focus on expanding its SSD market reach at this year’s CeBIT tradeshow in Hannover, Germany. OCZ’s latest products and technology will be on display at the event in Hall 17, Booth D31.
“CeBIT is an excellent opportunity to showcase our new innovative solid state drive products which address both consumer and enterprise applications,” said Alex Mei, CMO of OCZ Technology Group. “From mission-critical data management to mobile computing, OCZ continues to redefine storage performance, reliability, and power efficiency, and our continued presence at CeBIT demonstrates our focus and commitment to the European market.”
With its cutting-edge SATA 6Gbps technology, the recently unveiled OCZ Vertex 3 SSD Series will be demonstrated live, showing its industry leading speeds and superior data management for all file types and sizes. OCZ will also highlight custom solid state drives including the expanding Deneva SATA and Helios SAS SSD lines, both of which offer enterprise and OEM clients tailored solutions designed specifically for their unique applications.
