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PCMCIA posts

ExpressCard 2.0 standard finally finalized, faster than ever

by Donald Melanson, posted Jun 9th 2009 at 2:09PM

A final spec has been promised for over a year now, but the PCMCIA folks have just now finally settled on the long-awaited ExpressCard 2.0 standard which, among other things, incorporates the new SuperSpeed USB spec to allow for faster transfer rates. In real world use, that should translate to transfer rates up to 5Gbps, or roughly 10 times faster than the previous ExpressCard 1.2 standard. Otherwise, you can naturally expect full backwards compatibility with existing ExpressCards and, as PCMCIA hopes, even more products using the format in the future now that it has all that extra bandwidth, although it seems Apple didn't get that memo.

Sierra Wireless AirCard 402 plays PC Card and ExpressCard roles

by Darren Murph, posted Mar 30th 2009 at 3:42PM

We can't say there are an awful lot of folks out there looking for a single mobile broadband card that'll play nice in both PC Card and ExpressCard slots, but for that niche that's intently paying attention, have a look at this. The Sierra Wireless AirCard 402 is the company's first to offer such 2-in-1 functionality, and it's designed to operate on EV-DO Rev. A networks handling speeds of up to 3.1Mbps (downlink) / 1.8Mbps (uplink). Users can also bank on the company's TRU-Locate GPS service to "quickly and accurately establish location for local searches and navigation." There's no mention of a price or release date, but it should be on hand for us to peer at during CTIA this week.

[Via ExpressCard-Info]

Ratoc introduces Wireless USB kit for your PCMCIA-equipped laptop

by Darren Murph, posted Dec 11th 2008 at 4:54AM

Still getting by with PCMCIA, are you? Looking to get into the potentially crumbling world of Wireless USB? Well then, step right up! Ratoc is pumping out its very first WUSB kit with the REX-WUSB1, which includes a rather bulky PC Card (with ultra-wideband antenna) and a four-port WUSB hub. Users with Windows XP / Vista-based machines simply plug in the card, load up the drivers and link their favorite USB peripherals to the hub; from there, you can kick back and enjoy the spoils of wireless printing, wireless cooling and wireless warming -- two of which really aren't all they're cracked up to be. Anywho, the bundle is expected to go on sale in the Land of the Rising Sun later this month for ¥31,500 ($340).

ExpressCard Standard 2.0 accommodating faster speeds soon

by Darren Murph, posted Jun 3rd 2008 at 9:12PM

Somewhere in a dark corner at CeBIT, PCMCIA managed to let out a whisper that informed a few flies on a nearby wall that ExpressCard Standard 2.0 was on the way. Today, however, we've received confirmation that said update is on track for a "second-half 2008 / early 2009" delivery. Put simply, v2.0 is "being developed to accommodate the significantly faster speeds increasingly demanded by today's high-performance mobile technologies," and we're also told that it will comply with PCI-Express 2.0 and SuperSpeed USB, which is "planned for release later this year as part of the USB 3.0 specification." For the paranoid, you can rest assured that the new release will be very backwards compatible, though we aren't told when to expect hardware that will reflect the changes.

Fujitsu's 12.1-inch LOOX R: world's first Penryn ultra-portable?

by Thomas Ricker, posted Dec 18th 2007 at 1:59AM

That unassuming little 12.1-inch laptop is Fujitsu's LOOX R ultra-portable. It weighs in at 1.27-kg (2.8-pounds) with an LED backlit 1,280 x 800 display, up to 4GB or memory and 120GB of disk, dual-layer DVD writer, Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11 a/b/g WiFi, SDHC slot, Firewire, fingerprint sensor, PCMCIA, and more. Lots to like already. Now this: a standard battery running for 9.7-hours with the help of a purposely unspecified Intel processor. With an expected January ship, is it any wonder we're speculating that this is the world's first laptop to run a mobile version of Intel's new Penryn CPU rumored for release on January 6th? The first of many we'll see launch in the new year.

DT501HS PC Card handles DVB-H and HSDPA

by Darren Murph, posted Nov 14th 2007 at 5:19AM

If you've ever wondered just how much functionality could be crammed into a single PC Card, it seems that Onda and Siano are out to give you an answer. Deemed the "world's first combined DVB-H / HSDPA card" for Italy's TIM, the DT501HS enables users to suck down mobile TV and internet content in one fell swoop, but we've no idea if / when this thing will be made available on any other carrier(s). Notably, this device relies on Siano's wee PCB-mounted SMS8021 antenna, which means that you won't find any external protrusions here. As for pricing, we weren't able to locate any hard figures, but those parked in Italy should be able to snap one up anytime now in TIM stores.

[Image courtesy of Cellular]

ASKA intros HD32F PCMCIA hard drive

by Donald Melanson, posted Jul 27th 2007 at 8:42AM

ExpressCards may have stolen their thunder, but all those PCMCIA slots out there are far from useless just yet, as evidenced by this latest product from Japan's ASKA Corporation. Its new HD32F portable hard drive will let you put that slot to use for some extra storage (either 20GB or 40GB), although you will have to put up with a rather large protuberance as a result (which you can pretty up a bit by sliding a picture into the drive's built-in picture frame). For non-PCMCIA use, the drive can also simply be plugged in using a USB cable. Look for this one to set you back ¥14,700 or ¥27,825 ($124-$235) depending on the size -- in Japan only, of course.

[Via Akihabara News]

Buffalo unveils draft-N WZR-AMPG300NH router, PC Card

by Darren Murph, posted Jun 29th 2007 at 2:55PM

Going over two months without releasing yet another router is quite a feat for Buffalo, but the firm is yet again giving the wireless crowd something to cheer about with its WZR-AMPG300NH. Part of the ever-growing AirStation NFINITI lineup, this draft-N device purportedly plays nice with 802.11a/b/g as well, boasts throughput of around 153Mbps, and includes MIMO technology to make full use of the trio of antennas. You'll also find the typical WPA2 certification, and if you need a WiFi adapter in order to make use of it, the WLI-CB-AMG300N PCMCIA network card fits the bill perfectly. Look for both devices to land in Japan next month (well, we hope) for ¥40,200 ($328), or pick up the router by its lonesome for ¥31,700 ($258).

[Via AkihabaraNews]

Sony's Network Camera CF WiFi card hits the FCC

by Darren Murph, posted Jun 29th 2007 at 8:27AM

Here's an interesting find. Upon initial inspection, the SNCA-CFW5 CompactFlash wireless card (uncovered after the jump) doesn't seem all that special, but after perusing the owner's manual a bit, it's evident that this here 802.11b/g card has some very specific intentions. Apparently designed to operate exclusively in "Sony Network Cameras" (presumably of the surveillance variety), this unit has found its way into the FCC and looks to be green lit for operation on the 2.4GHz band. Moreover, the SNCA-AN1 external antenna can be added on to extend the range even further. Unsurprisingly, there's no hints of whether or not this here device will eventually be tweaked for use in other wares, but it's only a matter of time before someone shoves this thing in a laptop or digicam and tests lady luck.

Continue reading Sony's Network Camera CF WiFi card hits the FCC

Phoebus 3G router converts PCMCIA data card into WiFi

by Darren Murph, posted Jun 23rd 2007 at 5:02PM

Yeah, this trick most certainly has a thin layer of dust on it, but there's just something special about a portable pyramid that turns your average PCMCIA data card into WiFi. The 3G Phoebus MB6000 purportedly plays nice with "most cellular PCMCIA cards on the market today" sans drivers or complicated software installations, which enables plug 'n play access to your data network regardless of current location. Aside from turning your card into a wireless access point for multiple users to connect to, it also enables wired Ethernet connections and a security suite that will only allow authenticated users to view the network. Such a fine convenience, however, was bound to come at a rather steep price, so you should probably make sure you'll be spending an awful lot of time surfing on the go before shelling out $299.95.

[Via ChipChick]

NEC's goes 802.11n Draft 2.0 with Aterm WR8400N router / PCMCIA card

by Darren Murph, posted May 23rd 2007 at 3:18PM

Last fall, NEC took its WARPSTAR lineup into the realm of draft-N with the Aterm WR8200N, and thanks to all this Draft 2.0 hubbub that's going around, apparently it figured now would be a good time to hop on the next bandwagon. The Aterm WR8400N four-port router and Aterm WL300NC PCMCIA card both tout theoretical transfer rates of around 300Mbps, are backwards compatible with 802.11a/b/g devices, support "Multi SSID" / WEP / WAP protocols, and can automatically detect and connect to signals in both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. No word just yet on price nor availability, but we're sure it'll get lost in the crowd of similar alternatives before too long anyway.

[Via Impress]

Sierra Wireless AirCard 875U now available on AT&T Premier

by Darren Murph, posted May 7th 2007 at 11:50AM

At long last, the wait for Sierra Wireless' AirCard 875U on AT&T is over, as the USB WWAN modem has just popped up on the firm's Premier webstore. Unsurprisingly, this 2.2-ounce portal to the world connects via USB 2.0 and provides interoperable service between BroadbandConnect and EDGE networks. You'll find all the quad-band GSM and tri-band HSDPA love you could ever need here, and while Windows 2000, XP, and Vista users are all taken care of, it looks like the OS X crowd will have to sit this one out for awhile. So if you're interested in hopping on the 3.6Mbps mobile internet highway, head on over to AT&T Premier with $379.99 (or $149.99 with a new two-year contract) ready to hand over.

P.S. -Macs can get their 3G on with Sierra's Mac driver support here.

[Thanks, Jake]

Uber-slim G4 Mouse slides away in your PCMCIA slot

by Darren Murph, posted May 7th 2007 at 1:11AM

Under normal circumstances, a palm-sized mouse with a built-in wireless transceiver is about as portable as it gets, but the G4 Mouse just showed all the other guys how a mobile mouse should be constructed. The uber-slim mousing instrument folds perfectly flat in order to fit in your PCMCIA slot when not in use, and when you're all settled, it pops out, ejects a USB cable, and folds into a more ergonomic position for all your mousing needs. Additionally, the slot card mouse comes in pink, blue, and silver colors, and it appears that you can even get a matching pouch if say, a 120GB hard drive is already occupying your PC Card slot. The 800 DPI mouse boasts a left / right click and a touch-sensitive scroll wheel, touts Windows compatibility, and will run you a respectable ?46,500 (or about $50). Click through for a couple more snaps.

[Via CacheYourCash]

Continue reading Uber-slim G4 Mouse slides away in your PCMCIA slot

Clearwire gets FCC nod to release WiMAX-class laptop card

by Darren Murph, posted May 2nd 2007 at 8:26AM

Things are lookin' up in the WiMAX arena, as the oft stubborn FCC has reportedly given a green light to Clearwire to produce "the first WiMAX-class laptop card to connect to the Clearwire network." Of course, we've seen pre-WiMAX cards hit other continents and witnessed quite a bit of high talkin' at 3GSM, but now that the Commission has granted its final approval on this iteration, it won't be long before users here in the US can test things out. In an attempt to deliver "true wireless broadband with a device that facilitates even greater portability than the firm's existing modem permits," the forthcoming PCMCIA Type II card will utilize Motorola's Expedience wireless access system, but unfortunately only seems to play nice with Windows XP and Vista for now. Still, folks within a Clearwire service area should really start saving those pennies, as the currently unpriced card should be landing sometime "during the second half of this year."

[Via TGDaily]

Stealth Imaging unveils 120GB PCMCIA NAND hard drive

by Darren Murph, posted Apr 18th 2007 at 8:47AM

By now, it's probably safe to assume that you've found a peripheral or two to occupy your previously lonely ExpressCard slot, but if you're still miffed when it comes to the oh-so-overlooked PCMCIA slot, Stealth Imaging's got your answer. During NAB 2007, the firm announced that it would be offering up a 120GB NAND solid-state hard disc drive in the form of a CardBus Type II adapter, which would check in at 86-millimeters long and 5-millimeters thick. Furthermore, the device will reportedly sustain 132Mbps read / write rates, sport random seek times of under 50-nanoseconds, and consume "less than one-third of the power used in a typical spinning HDD." Unfortunately, there was no word on when the Windows / OS X compatible device would grace store shelves, but you can start cleaning the dust out of that PCMCIA slot now in preparation.

[Thanks, Kevin]