Outside of the occasional leaked roadmap, one of the best ways to predict the future of consumer electronics is by looking at the evolution of the components within. Take this Toshiba NAND package for instance. While the launch of a 64GB embedded NAND flash memory module (the highest capacity in the industry) that combines sixteen 32Gb NAND chips fabricated using 32nm manufacturing processes might sound a bit boring, consider its uses. As you'll recall from the
iPhone 3GS teardown, Apple's lovely uses either a single 16GB or 32GB Toshiba NAND module depending on the model purchased. The fact that Toshiba is now sampling its new high-capacity chips with mass production set to begin in Q1 2010 hints at what we can expect from the next-gen iPhone rumored to have
landed in Foxconn's lap. That's enough capacity for 1,070 hours of recorded music (at a 128Kbps bit rate), 8.3 hours of 17Mbps high definition video, and 19.2 hours of 7Mbps standard definition video according to Toshiba's calculations. The iPod touch, you'll remember, differs by using a pair of NAND packages for a total of 32GB or 64GB of flash today. Anyone for a 128GB iPod touch? Check the module's internals after the break -- fascinating stuff, really.
posted December 15th 2009 2:32AM
cant wait :)
Awesome! I don't suppose that this could mean 32 GB Micro SDHC cards anytime soon, does it?
@Dafrety
I believe there is price fixing going on for flash memory.
I bought an 8GB microSDHC in november 2008 for $15, the price increased to $20 at the beginning of 2009 and has now finally just dropped back down to $15. On XDA-Developers someone had test 16GB and 32GB microSDHC cards before the 16GB were even out. The 16GB are out but are still expensive and the 32GB, even though they have the ability to manufacture them (they had test ones over a year ago!) have still not come out.
@Dafrety
Maybe its because of inflation that it costs more now than it did last year- my $0.02
We will find a way to fill the chip. Porn?...
@mianmian
Lossless audio.
@jon that would be a cool update if they added support
@Bryce If who added support? Apple?
I have a lot of lossless audio on my iPhone already. iTunes supports and plays it out of the box. Not FLAC mind you, but Apple Lossless format seems to have better file sizes anyways.
@jon
Lossless PORN
lossless indeed. Everybody wins in PORN
Just out of curiosity, what does this have to do with Apple? I don't understand how an announcement of a new flash memory product correlates directly to Apple. It could have just as easily pertained to any other company that uses that type of memory but Engadget can't stand to have an article that doesn't involve Apple if it can be avoided.
I stay off TUAW for a reason. I might have to start doing the same with Engadget.
@Steve B The reason we bring up Apple in this case is simple:
1) first we have to make this Toshiba flash memory news applicable to gadgets, context is important
2) iPhone is a hugely popular device around the world. Even if you don't have one you've definitely heard of it or seen it. Therefore, it's the easiest device to achieve (1)
3) we know more about the iPhone thanks to (2) than pretty much any other device on the market. Few devices receive a detailed teardown with every component labeled down to the vendor and part number
@Thomas Ricker
I think in this case, it's a pretty huge stretch. Unless I missed something, there's no specific proof any Apple product will use this chip. On the flipside, tons and tons of devices use NAND flash memory, so the news itself is perfectly valid. To use breaklaw's comment below, why not write about how a 128GB Zune HD is now possible? Or, better yet, just write how all such devices could have increased capacity?
@Steve B
You know, your right, it has almost nothing to do with Apple. And for the sake of prolonging the grace period of Apple free articles, Thomas could have forgone the mentioning of Apple. Even if he knows Apple has for the last few years, brought most (if not all) their NAND flash memory from Toshiba. Even if Mr. Thomas Ricker thinks Toshiba's NAND flash breakthroughs/development directly affects the next update to Apple's flagship products, he didn't have to mention Apple.
@Colin B Well, Zune HD is not as widely known (only available in the US) and we don't have a rumor that production orders were just landed for a new Zune like we do next gen iPhone. And Apple buys far more NAND than Microsoft, so much that it's currently being accused of manipulating prices.
@Cyrs Historically, Apple has purchased its NAND through Samsung.
http://www.engadget.com/tag/apple%2Cnand
@Thomas Ricker
just replace "iphone" with "smartphones" and "ipod" with "mp3 players" and everyone can relate to your article - you don't have to mention any specific device for this to qualify as interesting to gadget lovers
Jeez, give Mr. Ricker a break.
He was just putting two and two together for those that didn't realize a possible implication of this development, one that affects a lot of people: new and bigger iThings.
@groggit
Why not new and bigger things in general rather than iThings??
The iAudience is indeed larger but the article could have been written more generally and still have been interesting for the entire gadget audience not just those interested in iThings.
Some would think Apple are the only ones affected by this.
@(Unverified) Samsung supplies the memory for iPhones. This is an announcement of a new Samsung memory chip. Thus it is contextually relevant to mention possible iPhone capacity increases.
I'm not an Apply fanboy but you guys are really just being haters. And whining. Stop being whiny haters.
@Chris Aversa
For me, anybody that starts accusing other people of being "haters" pretty much deserves to be hated.
Yes, TSST is the supplier for the iPhone's flash memory, but do you really think it's the only device to have flash memory supplied -- at least predominantly -- exclusively by TSST? It is naive to assume so, and does give a little credibility to the presumed Apple bias on this blog.
@ytilanigiroon
Here's a question for you: Why do you care? Stop bitching. It's extremely likely that Apple will use these chips, so what are you arguing against? The article doesn't say that nobody else will be using them.
Give it a rest. Nobody cares that you hate Apple or any mention of Apple.
@Everyone under this post
why are there so many of you crying because the word Apple was used? It's an opinion of the writer- last time I checked iPods are the most selling MP3 player on the market, why wouldn't you use them as an example?
With 128GB and 720+p tv out I'll finally have a reason to upgrade my ipod touch 1g.
@LeJay Same here, actually; I'm still sitting on a 16GB first-gen iTouch. 128GB would be a welcome upgrade :)
@LeJay "Anyone for a 128GB iPod touch?" Can we get this post back on the topic of the original post? The fact of the matter is, the quote above is the most interesting thing. This means the end of mechanical disks in iPods, period. We all knew it'd come, apparently next year will be the year.
PAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALM!
I love my pre, but i'm gona want to upgrade in like 1 year or so. So get flash, eneable gpu support, roll out a dual core 1ghz phone with 64gb of storage, and a landscape keyboard, kinda like the droid. Add a 5-6 megapixel camera (not 12, just a good quality 5-6 is better..), add a better battery, and call it a day... Also, don't forget video recording...
@Nimer55
Add a better battery? What, you think Apple has been using substandard batteries this whole time? No, see, Apple has actually been using the best battery technology they can find, which is why the iPhone still has among the best battery life of all full featured smartphones. Better than the Pre, better than Droid. That's not a coincidence, it's because Apple is using the absolute best battery technology there is right now.
As soon as battery tech improves, Apple will implement it. But stop thinking it's as easy as going to Radio Shack and getting a better one. It doesn't work that way.
Oh and video recording? Have you heard of the 3GS?
@Jack
uhhh, i never mentioned apple...
I was talking about the pre.. I think the iphone is a great phone, i'm glad it came out when it did (changed the industry!), but it's not for me! First of all i can't stand virtual keyboards. The pre's one isn't the best, but at least it's a physical keyboard, and i can easily type on it without looking down. I like the multitasking (i always have over 4 things open). Now that's not to say i don't wish it has some stuff from the iphone, or android, but currently it's my favorite phone. once google makes navigation available in canada, and makes it so you can download it on a micro sd card, i will be extremely tempted to shift phones.
The things i want is more video formats, higher capacity (64gb would be great). So i can throw in a whole bunch of tv shows, and view them. A faster cpu (dual core 1ghz would be nice), and more ram for online pages. Everything else is a plus! A bigger screen like the hd2 would be really nice. If it does all that, i could compramise a realy keyboard. O, hdmi out would also be outstanding.
I know that sounds like a crazy wish list, but in 1-2 years, it will happen!
I want a 128GB Zune HD.
@breaklaw With Mac support!
@breaklaw
Yeah too bad none of it is HD video on the ipods..
If nothing else, this can lead to smaller and (CHEAPER) 64GB flash drives.
Now, if we could get more USB 3.0 interfaces....
128GB flash based iPod classic please.
@pika2000
I support this notion!!!
@pika2000
Ok Sir, that will be $299 plus tax. Ah Sir, you know, for a little extra you could have our new 128GB touch, with a tall glass of wifi, and a side of apps.
@Cyrs Can the iPod Touch do shuffle-by-album? Nope. So much for "the best" iPod. I'll take the regular iPod, thank you very much.
@Cyrs
I want to listen to music. No games please. No wi-fi please. Just music..
@egress63
Unless that WiFi means that I can sync without wires. I'd be extremely interested in plugging my iPod and iPhone in at night and have them both sync while nested in my iHome iP88. It's a completely superfluous feature, because I could just as easily plug them into my computer in the other room... but it's all the way over _there_...
@egress63
Nano? Shuffle? iPod classic?
Too bad the battery on the iPhone can't last as long as what it can contain.
@(Unverified) nice troll there! I bet you can't play the contents of a palm pre on a single charge either
@norp
Yeah, someone really needs to speed up battery dev. Flash memory is better than conventional HDDs in terms of power usage but it's still disappointing nevertheless.
Dunno, stopped being interested in the Pre months ago.
Newsflash! The next generation of flash chips will have twice the capacity of the last generation, and the next generation of flash based devices will have twice the capacity of the last generation.
That said, breaking 100GB is quite a milestone.
*would be
http://www.misterbg.org/AppleProductCycle/
Cant come up with a non apple use, I am ashamed
Why waste so much on increasing memory, I can't even fill half of my 16GB iPhone.. I beg Apple to spent the same money on a better Camera (or a flash?). After reading this I'm worried for a 64GB iPhone with a 3.2 mega pixel camera!!!!???
@(Unverified)
First of all, do you live in a bubble or something? What makes you think every person on earth has the exact same needs and wants that you do? Just because you don't have more than 8 GB of music doesn't mean nobody else does.
And then it's not just about music, is it? You can load full length movies onto them, and then there's those 120,000 apps you have to choose from. Anybody can fill up a 64GB iPhone.
The camera in the iPhone 3GS is actually really good, it's better than the Droid's camera. Megapixels don't mean anything, it has nothing to do with the QUALITY of the camera. The current iPhone camera is as good as most cheap point and shoots, with the added bonus of manual focus and exposure control. There really isn't much to complain about with the 3GS camera.
@Jack I don't live in a bubble, I just own an iPhone. If that 64GB was 'open' much like a Flash drive, I would be more than happy to welcome it. And if you think you can fill up 64GB with 120,000 apps then, my friend, turn this system off and go to bed and never come out of your bubble because there is a world out there which actually knows the size of apps!
And if you think the camera on iPhone is better than trust me, you need to move out of your own weak and pointless thoughts. It's people like you who cum every time Apple launches a new 'mouse' for Mac!