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Other World Computing announced today it has released a new firmware version—MP5.0.1—to deliver optimum performance and stability from its industry-leading, SandForce Driven Mercury Solid State Drive line when installed in the latest Macs and PCs. The GUI driven, Mac experience friendly and bootable updater for Solid State Drives is freely available from OWC for use exclusively with OWC Mercury Extreme Pro, Mercury Electra, and Mercury Aura Pro SSD models.
OWC’s proprietary firmware updater, now available with support for all of Apple’s latest Mac models, as well as nearly all prior machines, eliminates the need for a PC, ownership of Windows or other operating system, or the creation of a specially designated drive partition that many SSD updaters have required. Mac users only need to download the updater from OWC’s site, obtain and burn a DVD, and then boot from that DVD to launch an easy to use, point and click GUI for installing the latest firmware revision to their OWC Mercury SSD. OWC’s Mac-friendly firmware updater continues OWC’s unmatched firmware update support for Mac users of SandForce-based SSDs. OWC also provides update support for PCs running the Windows or Linux OS.
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Power Quotient International (PQI), a member of the Foxlink Group, successfully unveiled the Wi-Fi enabled PQI Air Drive during the 2012 International CES to much fanfare. The product was well-received and widely praised, and is officially available for purchase in countries around the world beginning today.
The PQI Air Drive is rooted in the concept of sharing and emphasizes a patented small, lightweight circuit design and the incorporation of the latest Wi-Fi technology. It offers a solution for users of smart phones, tablets, and other handheld devices who often run into the problem of limited memory expansion when the built-in memory becomes inadequate. The PQI Air Drive presents a slew of industry breakthroughs in terms of user friendliness by achieving major reductions in both volume and weight. The unique and elegantly designed body is as small as a credit card and only 8 mm thick, enabling it to easily slide into a shirt pocket. Its finely brushed metal shell with a hairline finish is available in both iron grey and jet black, giving the product a glossy and transparent look of sophisticated luxury that also keeps it free of fingerprints and smudges. The entire device weighs only 55 grams, making it the lightest and most portable model in the industry. In addition, the friendly SD card slot supports plug and play. Consumers can tailor the device’s capacity as needed including instant expansion up to 32GB SDHC. When the power is turned on, a green power indicator light and a blue Wi-Fi indicator light flash at the same time to clearly indicate disk activity. Instant two-way file transfer and sharing with friends have never been easier.
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Toshiba Corporation today announced breakthroughs in NAND flash that secure major advances in chip density and performance. In the 19 nanometer (nm) generation, Toshiba has developed a 3-bit-per-cell 128 gigabit (Gb) chip with the world's smallest die size—170mm2—and fastest write speed—18MB/s of any 3-bit-per-cell device. The chip entered mass production earlier this month and Toshiba and its technology partner, SanDisk, unveiled its key technology advances at the International Solid State Circuits Conference (ISSCC) in San Francisco, California on Feb 22 (local time).
Manufacturers of NAND flash memories must respond to demand for higher densities at competitive costs for such applications as USB memories and memory cards. Toshiba has achieved both through the application of its innovative technologies.
The new 3-bit-per-cell 19nm generation device uses the three-step programming algorithm and air-gap technology for transistors, effectively reducing coupling between memory cells down to 5%, achieving a write speed performance of 18MB/s. In three-step writing technology, it writes through rough distribution in the second step, and tightens as well-defined distribution at the third.
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Netflix, Inc. today announced immediate availability of Netflix on PlayStation® Vita (PS Vita), the first Sony handheld entertainment system to feature Netflix.
PS Vita can stream TV shows and movies from Netflix in high quality on its brilliant 5-inch multi-touch display via Wi-Fi. Netflix members can also start playing a title on one device, for example on their TV through PlayStation 3, and resume watching on PS Vita right where they left off. PS Vita owners who aren't yet Netflix members can sign up on the device for a month free trial.
"We are very excited that Netflix is available on PS Vita at launch," said Greg Peters, vice president of product development at Netflix. "Many Netflix members love their PlayStation entertainment consoles and handhelds. We're glad to offer PS Vita users the ability to enjoy Netflix wherever and whenever they want."
"PS Vita is the ultimate portable entertainment device," said Phil Rosenberg, senior vice president of business development at Sony Computer Entertainment America. "Netflix perfectly complements the most extensive launch line up of games in PlayStation's history. Now in addition to a steady stream of amazing games titles, PS Vita gamers will also have a great catalogue of TV shows and movies at their fingertips."
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SMART Storage Systems today announced the Optimus Ultra Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) solid-state drive (SSD). An industry-leading combination of performance, capacity, reliability and endurance, the Optimus Ultra is designed to meet enterprise storage application needs, facilitating broad SSD adoption in enterprise environments.
Designed for the enterprise environment, the Optimus Ultra SAS SSD delivers read/write performance of 100K/60K IOPS and a sustained transfer rate of 1GB/s in wide port operation, while achieving 25 full random drive writes per day for a period of five years with consumer-grade multi-level cell (MLC) NAND flash. This powerful combination of performance and endurance addresses the storage requirements of even the most demanding enterprise customers. The Optimus Ultra SSD is available in useable capacities ranging from 150GB to 1.2TB, meaning enterprise organizations and OEMs no longer need to sacrifice capacity to realize the performance gains of solid-state storage.
"Enterprise organizations and IT shops are flocking to solid-state storage because of the quantum leap in system performance that this technology engenders," said Arun Taneja, Founder & Consulting Analyst, Taneja Group. "Vendors that can deliver SLC-like performance and endurance at MLC-like prices will clearly command a lot of respect as system designers try to make SSD-based storage pervasive."
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Thermaltake, being the industry pioneer brand with expertise in PC power and thermal solutions, and continues to drive toward the corporate mission of "delivering the perfect user experience" in all segment of the market, began the Max series with a simple idea of creating a protective cover to magnify the ease of removing a HDD from Thermaltake chassis and evolved into a character that can maximize and utilize the function of HDD. Today, brings in the Max 5G 2.5" hard drive external enclosure and the Max Duo (SSD & HDD) rack with USB 3.0 ports to stretch the solutions provided by the Max series for users.
Thermaltake Max 5G 2.5" Hard Drive External Enclosure
- High flow metal mesh design allows for better airflow and improved heat dissipation.
- Press button release mechanism allows for quick and easy tool-less drive removal and installation.
- Supports USB 3.0 SuperSpeed Maximum Transfer Rate up to 5.0 Gbps.
- Plug & Play Installation Ready to Work in seconds, No software or power cord needed.
- Supports 2.5” SATA I/II/III Technology Hard Drives or SSDs.
- Windows & Mac OS Compatible.
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SanDisk Corporation, a global leader in flash memory storage solutions, today announced it has developed the world's smallest 128 gigabit (Gb) NAND flash memory chip currently in production. The semiconductor device can store 128 billion individual bits of information on a single silicon die 170mm2 in size - a little more than a quarter of an inch squared, or smaller than the area covered by a U.S. penny.
The use of NAND flash memory in high tech equipment like smartphones, tablets and solid state drives (SSDs) allows advances in the full function, small form factor devices that are highly valued by consumers. Shrinking the size of NAND flash memory allows smaller, more powerful computing, communications and consumer electronics devices to be built while keeping costs low.
SanDisk built the 128Gb NAND flash memory chip on the company's industry-leading 19 nanometer (nm) process technology. A nanometer measures one-billionth of a meter, meaning that 19nm circuit lines are so small that about 3,000 of them could fit across the width of a human hair. The chip also employs SanDisk's three-bit per cell (X3) technology that allows the company to build NAND flash memory products with the ability to read and write three bits of information in each memory cell.
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Leading memory storage brand, Silicon Power announces the launch of the Year of the Dragon Souvenir Edition Touch 836 USB flash drive to welcome this lucky Chinese Zodiac Year with customers. The Chinese dragon has a legendary mystery and symbolizes good fortune and luck. SP/ Silicon Power combines traditional Chinese spirit and brilliant design into modern technology to create a unique and excellent product.
Inherited the design concept of the SP/ Silicon Power Touch series, the tiny and one-step forming streamlined casing of Touch 836 thoroughly brings out its exquisite and modernistic features to the consumers. The antique bronze color of the device also perfectly portrays the majesty of the Chinese dragon. The coating is processed using a metal sandblasting technique to reflect a luxurious metallic glamour and also to protect the surface from scratches. The front of the designer casing features an extraordinary dragon totem, and comes with a strap hole that is easy for users to carry it around to satisfy their instant storage needs as well as for good fortune and luck!
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ADATA Technology, a leading manufacturer of high-performance DRAM modules and NAND Flash application products, today unveiled its latest slim profile USB Flash drive, the DashDrive UV100. With a length of only 41mm and a thickness of just 5.8mm, it enters the market as an extremely compact and economical solution to those who view data portability as a day-today necessity.
The DashDrive UV100 incorporates the capless design that has proved to be a successful hallmark of ADATA Flash drives, eliminating the risk of cap loss. An integral strap hole makes the drive easy to carry on a lanyard or keychain. In a nod to the ever-increasing design requirements of the fashion-conscious, the drive boasts a diamond-cut bevel exterior, allowing owners to express their unique personal style. However, the key feature of the product may well be its highly competitive price point, which will make the UV100 an ideal option for those who use Flash drives on a daily basis and are looking for a highly portable backup drive.
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Hitachi Global Storage Technologies (Hitachi GST) today announced that it has shipped more than 25 million Travelstar™ Z-series, 7 millimeter (mm) z-height, 2.5-inch hard disk drives (HDD), enabling a new era of thin and light portable computers, ultra-compact CE devices and industrial systems. The company also announced that it is now shipping its new 500GB, Travelstar Z7K500 drive – the industry’s fastest and highest capacity, one-disk, 7,200 RPM HDD. All Hitachi GST Z-series drives can serve as a direct replacement for standard, 2.5-inch 9.5mm hard drives. They feature common connectors and mounting points for simple integration into existing systems, and enable greater design flexibility to differentiate and meet market demands for new, thinner, lighter and more robust devices.
Embraced by many of the top PC OEMs, the Ultrabook specification authored by Intel™ offers opportunities to create a compelling tablet-like computing experience in an ultra thin laptop design. In addition to providing a thin and light design, instant-on capabilities, and an extended battery life, PC OEMs must also create high-quality, cost-effective solutions to help drive competition, differentiation and mass adoption.
To help achieve this goal, a key part of Intel’s Ultrabook specification is combining a 7mm HDD with a SSD cache, giving OEMs the ability to explore the limits of modern ultra thin and light designs without sacrificing capacity, performance, battery life or quality. For instance, a Hitachi 7mm HDD combined with an SSD cache can help OEMs meet the Ultrabook specification for performance and start up times, while providing a high-capacity, space-efficient, and cost-effective solution. Based on Hitachi’s OEM customer plans, this combination is expected to ship in a significant majority of Ultrabooks in 2012.
