CDRLabs kicks off the week with a review of Patriot's 240GB Pyro SE solid state drive. This new and improved version of the Pyro is powered by the same SandForce SF-2281 controller and shares many of the same features including a SATA 6Gb/s interface and native TRIM support. However, instead of asynchronous NAND, the Pyro SE is equipped with 25nm synchronous MLC NAND to deliver up to 550MB/s read and 520 MB/s write speeds as well as a maximum of 85,000 IOPS.

Pioneer Japan sent out a press release this morning, announcing the its new BDXL compatible Blu-ray Disc writer, the BDR-207JBK. Along with the ability to playback BDXL discs, the drive can write to triple- (100GB) and quad-layer (128GB) BD-R media at 6x and triple-layer (100GB) BD-RE media at 2x. The BDR-207JBK is also capable of 12x BD-R, 12x BD-R DL, 6x BD-R LTH, 2x BD-RE and 2x BD-RE DL writing speeds and includes features like Pioneer's PowerRead and PureRead2 technologies and a new power-saving mode. Pioneer rounds all this out with a software bundle from CyberLink that supports BDXL recording as well as Blu-ray 3D playback.

The BDR-207JBK is scheduled to ship in early January and is expected to retail for about 18,000 Yen ($231US).

Plextor, a leading brand of high-performance storage and digital media solutions, announces plans to differentiate its ODD portfolio by offering a stand-alone optical storage device under the name of PlexEasy (PX-650US). With the PlexEasy, Plextor largely wants to target a new audience that is less familiar with PC but have a need to make backups of their precious data. The PlexEasy will be a compact 8x DVD writer that can be used without a PC, it will feature a built-in SD card reader and USB port which allows end users to make direct backups from data that is stored on SD Cards or on digital devices like tablets, smart phones, hard disks, flash drives, camcorders, and digital cameras.

PlexEasy is meant to provide an easy and intuitive way for lesser- or lightly skilled end users to make reliable backups of their data without having to use a PC. It will support mass storage devices and the Picture Transfer Protocol (PTP), an image transfer technology integrated into many models of cameras and smartphones. For users, this means that PlexEasy can be used for burning photos directly from a camera (point-and-shoot or DSLR) or smartphone (iOS, Android, Blackberry etc.). The drive’s compatibility with mass storage devices enables the connection of MP3 players, flash drives, and external hard disks. Users are able to transfer videos, music, or other data from a device to DVD or from an SD card to an external storage device.

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ADATA Technology Co., Ltd., a worldwide leader in DRAM memory and Flash application products, today introduced the S396 Solid State Drive (SSD), providing a needed cost-effective entry solution to what is often seen by consumers as a high-priced component market. Now, consumers who have been hesitant to upgrade their machines are provided with an appealing incentive.

After extended periods of use, many computers see a marked decrease in system speed. A common method seen to eliminate this problem is to upgrade the hard drive to a SSD. Because the method by which SSDs transfer data is entirely different from that of conventional hard drives, SSDs provide markedly higher speeds. In addition, SSDs have further advantages of low heat-discharge, low power-consumption, lightweight structure, and high impact resistance.

The S396 utilizes optimized firmware, allowing for appreciably increased performance. In normal situations, 90% of computing tasks involve transfers of data packets 4KB in size. This means that the performance of 4KB file transmission plays a critical role in users’ experience. The S396 runs 44K IOPS of 4KB random write and 280/250 MB/s of sequential read and write.

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