Some background info. First, sector remapping—a custom solution from Intel— is a method that makes sure wear and tear on the drive is spread over the entire space instead of just in a small area (which would cause the drive to fail earlier). Intel's algorithm unfortunately makes files become fragmented eventually, and defragmenting software currently on the market just screw things up further.

Intel says it's working on a solution, but currently customers with the X25-M can only completely wipe the drive and start fresh in order to reclaim that lost performance. It's not a death knell to SSDs, since the problem can (theoretically) be fixed by either allowing defragmentation software access to the distribution algorithm so as to actually defragment, or having the SSD controller keep track of the fragmentation in the first place and try and minimize it. [PC Per via Ars Technica]

The 2.5-inch FTM28GO25H claims a 100MB read rate and a 40MB write rate, faster than the “cheap” SSD modules of yesterday. If 128GB seems like too much space for you to handle, the company's offering a similarly spec'ed 64-GB model as well for $179. [Super Talent via JKontherun]

Jul 01, 2008 04:00

OCZ Technology Announces Core Series SATA II 2.5 Solid State Drive Delivering the World's First Truly Affordable High-Performance SSD for Consumers at Price Points Less Than 50% of Comparable High Performance SSDs

SUNNYVALE, Calif. —(Business Wire)— Jul. 1, 2008 OCZ Technology Group, Inc. (LSE:OCZ), a worldwide leader in innovative, ultra-high performance and high reliability memory and computer components, today unveiled the OCZ Core Series SATA II 2.5" Solid State Drives (SSDs). OCZ has gained momentum in this pioneering technology, which uses NAND flash instead of rotating platters as the storage medium, and is a high-performance, highly reliable and energy-efficient alternative to conventional hard disc drives.







The OCZ Core Series delivers the performance and reliability of the latest SSDs at a 50% less price per gigabyte than other high speed offerings currently on the market. For the first time, OCZ is putting SSD technology within reach of the average consumer, and delivering on the promise of SSDs as an alternative to traditional hard drives in consumer targeted mobile applications.

"SSDs offer higher performance, reliability, and energy efficiency than conventional HDDs but the cost variance has limited adoption of vastly superior SSD technology, until now," said Ryan Petersen, CEO of OCZ Technology. "It is our mission to deliver the highest performance products to consumers at reasonable prices, and with the release of the Core Series SSDs we have done exactly that."

OCZ Core Series Solid State Drives enable enhanced productivity in everyday computing and intensive multi-tasking applications. Perfect for notebooks, the Core Series is ideal for energy-efficient mobile computing to extend battery life, increase access time, and provide a durable alternative to conventional hard disc drives with superior shock resistance. High capacities and low power consuming NAND flash technology provide the necessary performance and battery life boosts generated by the proliferation of mobile gaming and new ultra-thin laptops. With fast access and seek times combined with excellent reliability, the OCZ Core Series SSDs are the answer for consumers demanding this latest storage technology.

The drives feature a durable yet lightweight alloy housing, and because OCZ SSDs have no moving parts, the drives are not prone to damage from common mishandling. Designed for ultimate reliability, these SSDs have an excellent 1.5 million hour mean time before failure (MTBF) ensuring peace of mind over the long term. All Core Series SSD drives come backed a two year warranty and OCZ's legendary service and support.

Core series SSD drives are available in capacities of 32GB, 64GB, and 128GB and deliver incredible 120-143Mbs/ 80-93Mbs read/write speeds and seek times of less than 0.35ms, making the Core series up to 10x as fast on a seek-time basis and up to 40% faster on a R/W basis that the best performing 2.5" HDDs on the market, all while consuming 50% less power. MSRPs at time of launch are USD $169, $259 and $479 for 32GB, 64GB and 128GB models respectively.

SONY INTRODUCES THE WORLD’S FIRST CAMCORDER WITH SMILE SHUTTER TECHNOLOGY

SAN DIEGO, June 18, 2008 – Sony is taking the lead in the camcorder industry by introducing the first high-definition camcorder with both Smile Shutter™ and face detection technologies.

The HDR-CX12 Memory Stick® Handycam® camcorder can record full 1920 x 1080 HD video and 10-megapixel photos on Sony Memory Stick PRO Duo™ media and any Memory Stick PRO Duo (Mark2) media cards. Roughly the size of a soda can (2.8-inches wide by 5.3-inches tall by 2.8-inches deep), this ultra-compact model will allow for easy transfer of video and stills from media cards to a compatible PC to share via email, uploading to the Internet or burning to disc.

With Sony’s unique Smile Shutter technology you can capture smiling photos and record video at the same time. When activated the technology will detect and automatically take a photo when your subject smiles - without having to switch to photo mode or press the photo button.

It also features child and adult prioritization so you can capture photos when your intended subject group smiles. This camcorder can even detect and capture a smile while in standby mode – just aim the camcorder and you’ll capture smiling moments.

“Advanced technologies such as ‘smile shutter’ make memory capture automatic so you can relax and enjoy the moment at hand,” said Kelly Davis, director of camcorder marketing at Sony Electronics. “Leveraging these key technologies across multiple product lines is another example of Sony’s commitment to anticipate consumer needs by making video capture more seamless, easy and fun.”

Advanced Features and Performance

In addition to face detection technology, the camcorder is packed with powerful features such as ClearVid® CMOS sensor with Exmor™-derived technology for stunning video detail and clarity, a BIONZ™ imaging processor, an advanced Carl Zeiss® Vario-Sonnar® T* 12x optical zoom lens and Super SteadyShot® optical image stabilization for smooth video and clear photos.

The model has a 2.7-inch Clear Photo LCD Plus™ screen, Dolby® Digital 5.1-channel surround sound recording and a built-in zoom microphone to record clear dialogue. It has an assignable dial that can be customized to manually control focus, brightness and white balance.

The camcorder will ship with a supplied 4GB Memory Stick PRO Duo (Mark2) media card so that you are ready to start recording almost straight out of the box. A supplied Handycam Station™ cradle makes for easy DVD creation with its One Touch Disc Burn button. Also bundled is Picture Motion Browser software to easily view, organize and store video and photos on a compatible PC.

Price and Availability

The HDR-CX12 camcorder will be in stores early August for about $900. It will be available at Sony Style® retail stores, online through www.sonystyle.com and at authorized dealers nationwide. Online pre-orders will begin on June 20th at www.sonystyle.com/handycam.

[Impress]

LAS VEGAS, NV (April 13, 2008 ) - Panasonic unveiled here at NAB the AG-HPX170, a fully solid-state P2 HD handheld camcorder. A full production quality tool, the solid-state handheld camcorder enables high definition and standard definition recording, the widest zoom lens in its class, and a HD-SDI interface for connection to baseband production and distribution infrastructure, all in a lightweight 4.2-pound body.

Fully solid-state, the two-slot HPX170 is a 1080p capable camcorder that offers the compelling advantages of P2 technology including: no moving parts unlike tape, hard disk drive, or disc-based systems; instant random access to recorded HD or SD content; a faster IT compatible file-based workflow; and the ability to operate in harsh environments with resistance to temperature extremes, shock and vibration.

Building on the success of the AG-HVX200, the HPX170 is equipped with new advanced 1/3-inch 16:9 3-CCDs and a high-performance digital signal processor with 14-bit A/D conversion and 19-bit processing to deliver broadcast-quality, independent frame recordings. The HPX170 offers a 13X Leica Dicomar zoom lens with a 28mm wide-angle setting (the widest in its class) and a cam-driven manual zoom for smooth, easy and precise operation. For added flexibility, the camera provides auto or manual focus and iris.

The multi-format camera records in 20 HD and SD formats; in a variety of 1080i and 720p formats in DVCPRO HD, in 480i in DVCPRO50 and DVCPRO, and in 480i in DV. It's switchable between 16:9/4:3 aspect ratios. The HPX170 offers a 20-step frame rate selection in 720p mode for variable-speed shooting in the 12fps to 60fps range to acquire fast- or slow-motion in-camera effects. For added creative flexibility, professionals can select from a variety of advanced gamma functions and settings including a CineGammaTM mode.

With its two P2 card slots, users can record up to 64 continuous minutes of the highest quality DVCPRO HD recording using currently available 32GB P2 cards. Record times will double with the release of Panasonic's 64GB P2 card in the fall. Other user-friendly recording modes include hot swapping for non-stop recording, loop record, pre-record, interval and one-shot recording. A time/date stamp function makes it ideal for use in law enforcement environments.

The HPX170 is equipped with an HD/SD-SDI output standard for live feed productions as well as for editing and monitoring. It also has IEEE 1394 and USB 2.0 interfaces for fast P2 content transfer into NLE systems, and offers a composite output, component output (mini D-terminal) and a time-code setting via IEEE 1394. The camera also features a built-in stereo microphone and two-channel XLR audio input terminals supporting 48V phantom power supply with a selectable mic/line; and manual audio level volume (two-channel). Other convenient operational features include clip preview on the camera's 3.5" color LCD monitor; instant recording startup, scene files, assignable user buttons, focus assist and a camera remote function.

The AG-HPX170 will be available in fall 2008. It will be covered by Panasonic's five-year limited P2 HD warranty*.

However, since the drives themselves are $549, don't expect bargain basement prices for these laptops. But think of the electricity you'll save in not charging these as often, and the speed increases you'll get when checking email and working on your PowerPoint presentations! – Jason Chen

Press Release [Dell]

So let's say you get yourself a couple of 12GB CompactFlash cards—that would cost you about $260, and they're capable of read and write speeds of about 9MB per second. Not the fastest drives in the world, but still serviceable. For under $300, you have yourself a solid-state laptop. But 24GB isn't going to be enough storage space, is it?

We've heard talk of Samsung cranking out 64GB CompactFlash cards before too long, though they won't cost any $130, that's for sure. Anyway, if you don't need that much storage space, low-priced solid-state notebook conversions just got a whole lot easier. – Charlie White

Product Page [Addonics]

ReadyDrive, the feature Windows Vista has to optimize read/writes for flash hard disks, hasn't been talked about much. That's because other than a handful of Korean manufacturers, there hasn't been many flash or hybrid flash disks.

So we don't really know how big an improvement these flash disks will make in everyday computing, but if it's anything like ReadyBoost, then it's nothing extraordinary. But not being limited by a USB bus and having access to SATA may mean larger performance gains than we thought. – Jason Chen

Press Release [Adtron via Gizmag via Uber Gizmo]

The biggest unanswered question: How much will it cost? Anybody have a guess? Take a look at another pic of the other side of this drive:

A-Data's not the only one building drives like this, we can just smell it. It won't be long before all disks will be made this way, and not a moment too soon! – Charlie White

A-DATA to present its 2.5 inch 128GB SSD [AVing USA]

Fujitsu Siemens SSD vs HDD Boot Up Time (Spanish) [Gizmologia]

It's clear that the industry wants to move toward such flash-based hard drives and it's probably better for consumers in the long run (no moving parts = less chance of a catastrophic system crash at the absolute worst possible time). Now we just need to wait a little while for prices to drop, then we can swoop and enjoy the benefits. – Nicholas Deleon

Samsung First To Release NAND Powered Notebooks [SlashGear]

The same analysts also thought that Apple is currently working on an ultra-portable PC, and the NAND memory could fit quite snugly into those as well. Both of these are estimated to be released in 2007 at MacWorld. We'll find out soon enough. – Jason Chen

Apple seen delivering "ultra-portable" at Macworld [AppleInsider via i4u]

On the plus side, there's an MP3 player and voice recorder included, and they all record onto an SD memory card that can be upgraded to 2GB. Perhaps the best thing about this diminutive device is its price, going on sale in Singapore this month for $229. Expect to see it stateside soon thereafter. – Charlie White

Press Release

But still. It's quiet, more durable, more efficient and faster than the Q1 with the spinning disk inside. Plus, you can play back video, still photos or audio without having to boot it up at all. Even so, we're thinking this UMPC platform is a bust, and this is just a marketing concept. For a product with a solid-state disk inside that we think more resembles the future, take a look at Samsung's other announcement of the day, the Q30 laptop.

Samsung Press Release

The lack of moving parts will also allow it to go fanless, making it absolutely silent, plus it'll be more efficient, boosting battery life. Here comes the downside, though: it's going to cost $3700 for all this solid-state goodness, and it's saddled with an old-fashioned Celeron M 753 (1.2GHz) chip. Bring on the Core Duos, and lower that price! Come to think of it, it wasn't too long ago when all laptops cost that much or more. Just think of this as a peek into the future.

Press Release [Samsung]

The device collects all the same info as any other weather stations do, such as air temperature, wind speed and direction, relative humidity, barometric pressure, rainfall and solar radiation, but does all this just quietly sitting on top of a pole instead of requiring all that distracting paraphernalia. Only problem is, the thing costs $4500, over 20 times more than the lowest-end weather station that communicates wirelessly. Anyway, the WeatherHawk 500 lets you be the weather geek of the neighborhood without pissing everybody off, sending all your information to a website and communicating with all the other stuff in your smart home. They'll thank you for it, someday.

Product Page [via CE Pro] Thanks, Julie!