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For the first time Verbatim is launching an external hard drive which has been specifically created for the Mac community: the Verbatim Store ‘n’ Go Mac Portable Hard Drive. The sleek, minimalistic design in a black or white glossy finish will fit with any MacBook. It comes with a combination of FW800 and USB 3.0 SuperSpeed and HFS+ formatted, while a second version offers USB 3.0 SuperSpeed interface and FAT32 for PC users as well. Both models are available in stores with storage capacities of 500GB. The 1 TB version will be available in Q1 2011.
Both Verbatim Store ‘n’ Go Mac Portable Hard Drive versions offer storage capacities of 500GB (available now) and up to 1TB (available in Q1 2011). The USB 3.0 SuperSpeed delivers data transfer rates up to ten times faster than USB 2.0 (based on USB bus speeds). The pure Mac Version offers one FireWire 800 Port and one USB 3.0 Mini-B port. This combo unit is HFS+ formatted and fully compatible with Apple Time Machine Backup Software.
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As mainstream demand for high-definition (HD) movies, games and other entertainment forces down prices of Blu-ray equipment, STMicroelectronics, a world-leading supplier of ICs for consumer products, is helping manufacturers respond to market pressures by introducing a new chip enabling smaller, lower-cost Blu-ray players and recorders.
The new STODD01 is a power-supply IC capable of generating all the voltages needed to operate the player’s circuitry, including the high-voltage driver for the blue laser supporting HD read/write capabilities. The device integrates three power supplies to drive low-voltage digital ICs, analog circuitry, and the laser driver. Using this chip, designers can eliminate multiple individual power supplies from the printed-circuit board, reducing component costs, design complexity, time to market, and assembly time. The size of the board can also be reduced, which will allow new generations of compact set-top products, game consoles, PC drives and portable HD devices.
Each of the STODD01′s power-supply channels benefits from highly efficient switched-mode conversion, which minimizes energy losses and heat generation. The device also provides a true shutdown mode, helping to minimize standby power consumption. This enables HD products to attract buyers by offering enhanced user experiences and low operating costs. A major manufacturer of DVD and Blu-ray equipment has already qualified the STODD01, recognizing the importance of superior power management as the markets for HD equipment evolve.
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Micron Technology, Inc. today introduced a portfolio of high-capacity flash memory products that will lengthen the life of NAND for years to come. By integrating the error management techniques in the same NAND package, the new Micron ClearNAND devices alleviate the challenges traditionally found in NAND process shrinks. Micron's ClearNAND portfolio extends the opportunities for more advanced NAND process generations to be used in enterprise servers, tablet PCs, portable media players, and dozens of other consumer applications.
"The pace of NAND scaling is largely responsible for the incredible growth and success the industry has seen to date, and for helping to create new flash-based storage solutions," said Glen Hawk, vice president of Micron's NAND Solutions Group. "While the advantages in NAND scaling are evident, so are the challenges with the technology becoming increasingly more difficult to manage. Micron's ClearNAND products remove this management burden for our customers and extend the life of this all-important technology."
Micron's ClearNAND products utilize a traditional raw NAND interface, and include new features that are optimized for high-capacity and high-performance applications. As the industry progresses past 20-nanometer (nm), flash management gets more challenging because the amount of bit errors increases dramatically, impacting NAND performance and reliability. By tightly coupling the error management with the NAND devices in a single package, Micron's customers can continue to take advantage of the highest capacity and lowest cost-per-bit flash memory solution. Micron's ClearNAND products are first designed using its 25nm multi-level cell (MLC) process, and are available in two versions: Standard and Enhanced.
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Super Talent Technology, a leading manufacturer of Flash storage solutions and DRAM memory modules, today announced that they will begin offering Ceedo Personal with their USB 3.0 Express RAM CACHE flash drives.
With the introduction of USB 3.0, external storage devices can now function at unprecedented speeds; up to 10x. This new found speed blurs the line between internal and external storage and has enabled some exciting new usage models.
Ceedo Personal is a portable Windows environment that runs from a USB flash drive. It can transform a flash drive into a virtual PC. Using Ceedo, many standard Windows applications can now be made portable for use on any PC; making it possible for you to install, carry and run the same standard Windows applications that you already own and already know how to use.
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Active Media Products, a leading manufacturer of SSDs and USB drives, today announced a new pop can shaped USB 2.0 flash drive. This unique new style of USB drive is shaped exactly like a standard cola can, in miniature. Active Media Products VP of Sales, Jerry Thomson commented, "so do we call it a soda can, a cola can or a pop can? Whatever you call it, this is one cool USB drive that will make an excellent Christmas gift." It measures merely 1.7 inches tall and 0.8 inches in diameter. The volume of the Pop Can drive is less than half an ounce, or about 96% smaller than a real 12-ounce pop can. The Pop Can USB Drive's very small form factor means it won't add bulk to a keychain, and it will easily slide into a pocket. The red finish recalls vintage cola colors.
The Pop Can Drive includes a strong steel keychain and clip for attaching the drive to a backpack or keyring. This new Pop Can Drive is available now through Amazon, at approximately $11 for the 4GB model and $20 for the 8GB drive.
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Leading flash memory manufacturer, Silicon Power today unleashes their new 2.5” SATA solid state drive (SSD) ~ E20, a new prospect in computer storage! The new E20 challenges SSD limitations with uniquely developed technology to boost read speeds up to 250MB/s and write speeds up to 230MB/s, both data transfer rates surpass the major SSD on the market today. In addition, E20 also supports TRIM Command. It is specifically for Windows 7 users, allowing for swift tens of seconds OS startup time and instant application and software use. For users using other OS, E20 provides Garbage Collection Technology. It enhances SSD’s already strong performances and prevents poor computer responses from long hours of continuous use. It is the ingredient to achieving twice the result with half the effort.
Silicon Power’s brand new SSD E20 proposes effective and practical solutions for most common problems faced by users today:
DDR2 DRAM Cache Memory Implementation: Users are most concerned with lag when using computers as it affects workflow and efficiency. With E20’s built-in DDR2 DRAM Cache Memory, even during continuous intensive-write situations, computers shall lag no more! This feature not only enhances SSD’s read and write performances, it also extends SSD’s lifespan.
Circuit Current Sensor: During read and write, users most dread irregular current supply resulting in data lost or corruption. Silicon Power’s E20 has specially added circuit current sensors to detect fluctuating or abnormal current to effectively protect your personal data!
S.M.A.R.T Support: Through Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology (S.M.A.R.T.), user can monitor the health of E20.
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Toshiba Storage Device Division (SDD), the pioneer in small form factor hard disk drives (HDDs), today announced a 7,200 RPM 2.5-inch (6.4cm) Self-Encrypting Drive (SED) that provides government-grade AES-256 hardware encryption incorporated in the disk drive’s controller electronics. The MKxx61GSYD is the newest addition to the Toshiba family of drives designed for commercial notebooks and security-sensitive applications, including shared desktop PCs. The drive’s built-in hardware encryption offers benefits that go beyond software encryption.
Based on the Opal Security Subsystem Class (Opal SSC) specification from the Trusted Computing Group (TCG), the new Toshiba SED enables secure and quick deployment of encryption on notebook and desktop PCs to protect confidential information. Many organisations are taking steps to comply with security policies and new laws governing data privacy. The SED technology from Toshiba helps IT departments to achieve strong, cost-effective security without interrupting business flow or impacting application performance.
SEDs designed to the Opal SSC specification provide advanced access authentication and built-in hardware data encryption. Because it is an open industry standard, Opal encourages broad support from both security solutions vendors and SED makers – enabling seamless management of most deployments that support both pre-existing software encryption and Opal SSC-specified SED storage. SEDs designed to the Opal specification help organisations easily and cost-effectively protect data from theft or unauthorised access, while easing the administrative burdens associated with re-purposing, or retiring client systems and data storage.
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The CompactFlash Association (CFA) today announced the formation of a new working group to develop a next-generation memory card. Nikon, SanDisk and Sony proposed the new format in order to meet the needs of professional type digital single lens reflex camera (DSLR) and professional video markets over the coming years. CFA members can join the new workgroup for considering the ratification of the new specification.
Sophisticated imaging applications such as High Definition video and professional photography require a new generation of memory cards with cutting-edge speeds and capacities capable of processing the larger file sizes. The development of the new card is designed to meet the future demands of professional imaging and video markets.
“Future professional photography and video applications will require memory cards with faster read/write speeds,” said Mr. Shigeto Kanda of Canon and the CFA chairman of the board. “The development of a new high-performance card standard with a serial interface will meet the needs of the professional imaging industry for years to come and open the door for exciting new applications.”
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SanDisk Corporation, Nikon Corporation and Sony Corporation today announced the joint development of a set of specifications that addresses the future requirements of professional photography and video markets. The three companies proposed the specifications to the CompactFlash® Association (CFA), the international standards organization, with the intent to standardize the format.
Professional photography and High Definition (HD) video applications require a new generation of memory cards capable of processing significantly larger files. To address the imaging industry’s future speed and capacity demands, SanDisk, Nikon and Sony proposed a new card specification whose performance and storage capabilities surpass those of existing memory cards. Once accepted, the new format will enable exciting new possibilities in the professional imaging and video markets.
The proposed specifications achieve data transfer rates of up to 500 megabytes per second (MB/sec) (theoretical maximum interface speed) using the highly versatile PCI Express interface. The increased speeds will enable imaging and video applications that could not be accomplished using the current CompactFlash specification’s Parallel ATA (PATA) interface. CF6.0, released in November 2010, offers maximum performance of up to 167MB/sec.
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ADATA Technology, the worldwide leader in DRAM modules and flash memory products, today released its latest Micro Memory Card Reader, the microReader version III, an ultra-compact and stylish solution for easy and convenient data transfers between mobile phones and PCs via High-Speed USB 2.0 interface.
For users of digital devices who are constantly on the go, moving and sharing personal files from memory-enabled phones to other devices can be a hassle when there is no USB cable on hand. Weighing just 3 grams, and the size of a small coin, the new ADATA microReader is one of the smallest card readers available on the market, with incredible portability that provides the freedom of data transfers any time, any place. Due to its ultra-compact size, the microReader can be plugged into the USB slot of a notebook PC at all times, without blocking the neighboring slots or getting in the way when the computer is stowed in a bag.
Unlike most conventional memory card readers, which have unfriendly card retrieval designs, the microReader features a patented one-push card-ejector that makes any data transfer a fast and pleasant experience. Available in elegant black and passionate red colors, the microReader features a stylish LED indicator that shines brightly when the device is in use.
