toshiba_4tb_mg_series_hdd.pngToshiba Corporation today announced that samples of two new large capacity nearline hard disk drives (HDDs) are available now. The 3.5-inch 7,200 rpm MG Series includes both SATA and SAS versions, "MG03ACA400" and "MG03SCA400" respectively, that deliver 4TB of storage, the largest capacity yet offered by Toshiba. Samples of lower capacity models in each series are also available.

As business works to keep up with the explosion of unstructured data, large capacity HDDs are crucial tools in IT systems designed to organize and access fast growing reservoirs of valuable information. The massive capacities of the MG Series drives are suited to RAID storage and arrays, tiered virtual infrastructures for public and private cloud deployments, archives and disk-based backup.

To help protect sensitive data from improper disclosure, both the MG03SCA400 series and MG03ACA400 series support a sanitize overwrite function that allows IT administrators to write a predetermined data pattern across the entire user storage area on the disk, effectively erasing all previously written data. The sanitize overwrite operation can be performed before re-allocation, redeployment or retirement of the storage device.

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silicon_power_elite_sdxc_uhs-1.pngSilicon Power, the world’s leading provider of memory storage solutions today announces a brand new series of flash cards - the Elite UHS-1 series. The Elite UHS-1 series contains a complete product roadmap ranging from SDHC, SDXC to microSDHC and microSDXC, ready for all types of devices such as DSLR, Smartphones, tablets and camcorders. With the combination of the large capacity up to 64GB and the remarkable transmission rate reaching at 50MB per second in reading, the Elite UHS-1 series is the ideal gadget for high-speed consecutive picture taking, extended length of Full-HD videos and images, as well as massive storage for all your cherish memories.

SP Elite UHS-1 series is compliant with the SDA Memory Card Standard Version 3.0.1 and the Ultra High Speed Class 1 specification (UHS-1). Compared to SD 2.0, the Elite series presents a tremendous improvement in terms of transmission performance in reading and writing. By offering a whole new photographic experience in high-speed photo shooting and video capturing, the Elite UHS-1 series is your perfect selectoin for DSLR, camcorders, smartphones and tablets users.

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Pioneer Japan sent out a press today, announcing what it claims to be the world's thinnest and lightest slot-loading Blu-ray Disc writer. Thanks to a magnesium alloy case, the BDR-XU02J weighs in at a mere 245g and measures only 133 × 133 × 12 mm. This stylish, USB powered drive is capable of 6x BD-R, 6x BD-R DL, 6x BD-R LTH, 2x BD-RE and 2x BD-RE DL writing speeds and a maximum BD-ROM read speed of 6x. The BDR-XU02J also writes to triple- (100GB) and quad-layer (128GB) BD-R media at 6x and triple-layer (100GB) BD-RE media at 2x.

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The BDR-XU02J includes features like Pioneer's PureRead2+ technology and noise reducing firmware. It also ships with authoring and playback software from CyberLink as well as DiXiM BD Burner 2013, which lets you burn copy-protected digtal content directly from DTCP-IP enabled DLNA devices on your home network. The BDR-S08J is scheduled to ship in late December and is expected to retail for about 22,000 Yen ($266US).

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team_group_ultra_l1_ssd.pngSolid state drive (SSD) is gradually making its way to become the mainstream in 3C product market.  Team Group Inc., one of the leading memory manufacturers in the world, is making improvement in SSD product development by launching the ultra-thin Team Ultra L1 SSD.  As thin as 7mm, the Team Ultra L1 SSD is the most lightweight and compact model which can be installed directly onto new generation of Ultrabooks for faster booting and read/write speed.  Combined with the inherent advantage of shock resistance and stability of SSD, it signifies significant improvement of computer performance and durability.

Team Ultra L1 SSD is provided with SATA III 6Gb/s high-speed interface.  The compact profile and special titanium color finishing highlight the product’s high quality and the sense of modern technology. The continuous read and write speeds go as high as 550MB/s and 520MB/s, respectively. The random write-in speed for small files of 4K reaches up to 80,000 IOPS, not only fast but stable.  In addition, the integration of Dura Write and RAISE (Redundant Array of Independent Silicon Elements) provides support for S.M.A.R.T. and full compatibility with Win7 Trim commands.  It gives the hard drive a boost of burst random writing and effective improvement of computer’s ability to respond and multiplexing performance, making the hard drive a storage solution of extreme speed for consumers.

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lacie_xtremkey_usb3.jpgToday, LaCie expands its industrial-strength storage line with the faster, stronger XtremKey USB 3.0. Designed for users who want to push the limits with their technology, the robust LaCie XtremKey can challenge the most severe conditions.

The LaCie XtremKey received multiple awards for its innovative, rock-solid design. With wear-resistant screw threads and a rubber O-ring, the LaCie XtremKey is waterproof up to 200 meters. "The unique design is inspired by a waterproof screwing closure and thick metal casing," said product line manager Luc Pierart. "When the seam is sealed, the aerodynamic key can withstand extra ordinary circumstances."

Like its predecessor, the latest LaCie XtremKey features a protective cap made of thick ZAMAC metal alloy. Its strength can withstand severe shock, dizzying drops, and the relentless pressure of a 10-ton vehicle. It also survives bone chilling temperatures down to -30°C, and scorching heat up to 200°C.

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VIA Labs, Inc., a leading supplier of USB 3.0 integrated chip controllers, today announced its two latest USB 3.0 device controllers, the VIA VL752 and VIA VL753 SuperSpeed USB 3.0 to NAND flash controllers. The VIA VL752 and VIA VL753 deliver enhanced performance using the latest NAND flash technologies including 19nm, 20nm and 21nm geometries and have been certified by the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) for SuperSpeed operation, ensuring high quality, seamless interoperability, and effortless backwards compatibility.

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The two-channel the VIA VL752 and single-channel VIA VL753 offer data transfer speeds up to 280MB/s, flexible bad block management, support for the latest 200MHz DDR NAND Flash, and a robust ECC engine for greater data integrity. The package sizes from the previous generation of VIA Superspeed USB to NAND flash controllers have been reduced to a QFN68 8 x 8mm package for the VIA VL752 and a QFN48 6 x 6mm package for the VIA VL753 to enable the smallest form-factor designs.

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With a continued focus on delivering the industry's most trusted, high-performance and reliable solutions for content creators, G-Technology today announced that its G-SPEED RAID external storage solutions now come equipped with the industry's highest capacity and most reliable enterprise-class hard disk drives (HDDs), the 4TB HGST Ultrastar drives. With 7,200 RPM performance, 64MB cache, the highest 2.0 million hour mean-time-between-failure (MTBF) HDD specification, and unique enterprise-class features, the G-Technology G-SPEED family continues to deliver uncompromised performance, quality and reliability for the escalating demands of today's post-production workflows.

With video resolutions and frame rates increasing, and 3D projects multiplying, high-capacity high-performance storage requirements are exploding. For example, a short film or commercial shot in 2K resolution requires up to 20TB+ of storage capacity and up to 1,000MB per second (MBps) sustained data rates for editing and post production to ensure data integrity, no dropped frames and a quick workflow. However, to keep up with capacity demands, scaling storage requirements can be challenging especially with limited or shrinking budgets, tempting some to buy cheaper RAID solutions with desktop-class hard drives. But the pros know, when your digital content is your livelihood, it is important to properly balance system requirements with RAID storage features that match the rigors of the post-production environment.

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QNAP Systems, Inc. today announced the release of TV Station, extending Turbo NAS users’ multimedia experience to online TV watching, recording, and playback.

Only requiring simple steps to install a DVB-T USB TV tuner on the Turbo NAS, the TV Station provides an economical option to record digital TV programs and share live or recorded contents with multiple members simultaneously. Live and recorded TV programs are made accessible via web browsers. “As the amount of time spent on watching television programs over the Internet on a computer and the recorded digital content has increased over years, the TV Station rides on the trend to fulfil user’s needs,” said Oliver Lien, product manager of QNAP.

Up to 2 USB TV tuners are supported so that users can enjoy the TV program while recording another program at the same time. “Recording is extremely flexible,” added Lien. “Users can schedule the recording of specific TV programs with the over-the-air EPG (Electronic Program Guide). It only takes few clicks to get it done.”

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transcend_cf170_compactflash.pngTranscend Information, Inc., a worldwide leader in storage and multimedia products, today announced the addition of Industrial use microSDHC Class 10 and CF170 CompactFlash memory cards to its industrial memory card product line. Ideal for use in small form factor devices with demanding performance and capacity requirements, Transcend's MLC-based microSDHC Class 10 and CF170 memory cards are the most reliable high speed, high volume compact storage solution.

Manufactured using brand-name MLC NAND Flash chips, Transcend's Industrial use microSDHC cards guarantee superior performance and long-term stability over their consumer-grade TLC counterparts. Combining advanced Flash technology with the top-of-the-line Class 10 speed rating, these cards provide impressive read/write speeds of up to 20 MB/16 MB per second, losing nothing in transfer performance despite their tiny dimensions. Thanks to their fast data transfer rates, enhanced reliability, and available capacities of up to 32 GB, Transcend's Industrial use microSDHC Class 10 cards are the perfect OEM/bundle pack accessory for compact non-stop applications, including the latest digital cameras, DV recorders, mobile phones, and portable vehicle navigation systems.

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Plextor, leading developer and manufacturer of high-performance digital media and storage equipment, has announced they will be entering the Enterprise SSD Market. The official product announcement and details will be made at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES).

This announcement comes on the heels of the introduction of the M5 Pro which gained accolades from the critical press as one of the fastest—if not the fastest—SATA 6Gbps SSD on the market. This entry into the SSD market also set a standard for data protection and data accuracy with 256-bit AES encryption and TrueProtect—a dual-stage data debugging feature exclusive to Plextor.

The merits and advances of the M5 Pro raises expectations regarding what Plextor will be announcing for the Enterprise segment of the market. This is a natural next step in the evolution of Plextor's SSD development. Plextor has consistently developed SSDs that deliver sustained speed over the long-term with the lowest annual failure rate in the consumer SSD industry.

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