Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Japan to reduce rare earth consumption in response to China's export controls]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/08/japan-china-rare-earths-consumption/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/08/japan-china-rare-earths-consumption/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/08/japan-china-rare-earths-consumption/#comments
Japan took another step toward lessening its rare earths dependence today, announcing plans to drastically reduce consumption levels in response to China's continued market dominance. Of particular concern to the Japanese government is dysprosium -- a rare earth used in the production of high-powered magnets. China, which accounts for about 95 percent of the world's rare earth supply, has been tightening export controls on the metal in recent months, sending global prices skyward. With its domestic supplies dwindling, Japan has now committed to reducing its dysprosium consumption by 30 percent over the next few years, as part of a $65 million initiative. Much of that money will presumably go toward helping manufacturers develop alternative production and recycling methods, as some already have. Toyota, for instance, has found a way to produce hybrid and electric vehicles without using dysprosium, while Mitsubishi, Panasonic and TDK are currently looking at ways to extract the metal from old air conditioners. If effective, the government's program would reduce domestic consumption by between 200 and 400 tonnes per year.

Japan to reduce rare earth consumption in response to China's export controls originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asiachinaconsumptiondysprosiumeconomicseconomyexportexport controlExportControljapanjapanesemanufacturingmetalmitsubishipanasonicrare earthrare earth mineralsrare earthsRareEarthRareEarthMineralsRareEarthsrecyclingresourcestdktoyotatradeWed, 08 Feb 2012 21:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Engadget Primed: all mobile displays are not created equal]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/19/engadget-primed-all-mobile-displays-are-not-created-equal/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/19/engadget-primed-all-mobile-displays-are-not-created-equal/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/19/engadget-primed-all-mobile-displays-are-not-created-equal/#commentsPrimed goes in-depth on the technobabble you hear on Engadget every day -- we dig deep into each topic's history and how it benefits our lives. Looking to suggest a piece of technology for us to break down? Drop us a line at primed *at* engadget *dawt* com.

The quality of a mobile phone's display is arguably the most important factor to consider when you establish a relationship with a handset. It's inescapable, really. Whether you're playing a rousing game of Robot Unicorn Attack or (regrettably) drunk-dialing an ex, it's the one interface element that you're consistently interacting with. It's your window to the world and your canvas for creation, and if it's lousy, it's going to negatively influence everything you see and do. Today, we're delving into the world of mobile displays, where we're aiming to entertain and edify, and hopefully save you from making regrettable decisions -- when it comes to purchasing new phones, anyway.

In this edition of Primed, we'll be examining the different qualities and underlying technologies of several displays, starting with the ubiquitous TFT-LCD and moving through the nascent realm of glasses-free 3D and beyond. We'll also be addressing the importance of resolution and pixel density. Finally, we'll be scoping out a handful of upcoming technologies -- while some are thoroughly intriguing, others are just plain wacky. Go ahead... buy the ticket, take the ride, and join us after the break. It's Primed time.

Continue reading Engadget Primed: all mobile displays are not created equal

Engadget Primed: all mobile displays are not created equal originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Aug 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1080p3d720pamoledappleAutoStereoscopicautostereoscopic 3dAutostereoscopic3dclearblackdisplaydisplayse inke ink tritonEInkEInkTritonengadget primedEngadgetPrimedflexibleflexible amoledflexible displayFlexibleAmoledFlexibleDisplayfwvgaglasses-free 3dGlasses-free3dhitachihvgaipslcdliquid crystalliquid crystal displayLiquidCrystalLiquidCrystalDisplaymirasolmobile displaymobile displaysMobileDisplayMobileDisplaysmotorolanokianovanova displayNovaDisplayoledortustechpixel densityPixelDensityppiprimedqhdqvgaretina displayRetinaDisplays-lcdsamsungscreenscreensslcdsmartphonesmartphonesstereoscopicstereoscopic 3DStereoscopic3dsuper amoledsuper amoled plussuper lcdSuperAmoledSuperAmoledPlusSuperLcdtdktfttft lcdTftLcdtoshibatransparenttransparent oledTransparentOledwvgaFri, 19 Aug 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[TDK starts mass production of transparent OLEDs, makes texting and walking safer]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/31/tdk-starts-mass-production-of-transparent-oleds-makes-texting-a/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/31/tdk-starts-mass-production-of-transparent-oleds-makes-texting-a/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/31/tdk-starts-mass-production-of-transparent-oleds-makes-texting-a/#comments TDK Transparent Display TDK is taking those transparent OLED screens we saw back in October and putting them into mass production. The 2.4-inch, QVGA (240 x 320) UEL476 display has a transmittance of 40 percent, but obscures light passing through the front so others won't be able to read your text messages from behind. Obviously, these aren't going to find their way into high-end Android handsets, but they may have a home in fashion phones like Lenovo's S800. And, you know, they seem perfect for SMS addicts who can't stop their thumbs from flying even while walking. Check out the full PR after the break.

Continue reading TDK starts mass production of transparent OLEDs, makes texting and walking safer

TDK starts mass production of transparent OLEDs, makes texting and walking safer originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 May 2011 20:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>displaydisplayslenovo s800LenovoS800OLEDpm-oledpmoleds800screenscreenssee throughsee-throughSeeThroughTDKtransparenttransparent displaytransparent oledTransparentDisplayTransparentOledUEL476Tue, 31 May 2011 20:28:00 EST<![CDATA[TDK's new line of Boomboxes and audio gear now officially available]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/03/tdks-new-line-of-boomboxes-and-audio-gear-now-officially-availa/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/03/tdks-new-line-of-boomboxes-and-audio-gear-now-officially-availa/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/03/tdks-new-line-of-boomboxes-and-audio-gear-now-officially-availa/#comments TDK has slowly been rolling out some of its new audio gear since it first showed off the line at CES in January, but it's now finally officially announced that the whole lot is readily available across the US and Canada. That includes both its two-speaker and three-speaker Boomboxes, its "room-filling" Sound Cube, a set of high-end headphones, and even a belt-drive turntable -- those range in price from $249 for the headphones to $499 for the three-speaker boombox. Of course, while TDK is boasting quite a bit about the sound of the gear, it's also placing a heavy emphasis on their appearance, for which it can thank design firm Ziba. Don't miss the more coverage links below for a bit of insight into how it crafted the products.

Continue reading TDK's new line of Boomboxes and audio gear now officially available

TDK's new line of Boomboxes and audio gear now officially available originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 03 Apr 2011 23:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2 speaker boombox2SpeakerBoombox3 speaker boombox3SpeakerBoomboxboom boxboomboxdesignheadphonessound cubeSoundCubeST800tdkthree speaker boomboxThreeSpeakerBoomboxturntabletwo speaker boomboxTwoSpeakerBoomboxzibaSun, 03 Apr 2011 23:03:00 EST<![CDATA[TDK's Three Speaker Boombox (and other assorted audio goodies), hands-on]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/05/tdks-three-speaker-boombox-and-other-assorted-audio-goodies/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/05/tdks-three-speaker-boombox-and-other-assorted-audio-goodies/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/05/tdks-three-speaker-boombox-and-other-assorted-audio-goodies/#comments Remember TDK's retro-tastic triple ghettoblaster? It's here at CES 2011's Digital Experience along with a smaller two-speaker unit that's much the same thing, a pair of headphones with an in-line equalizer, a classic turntable, and what TDK's calling the "Stereo Cube." We'll head back real soon to give them a full test, but what we know right now is that this particular stereo is large, heavy and -- in more ways than one -- loud. See some snapshots below, and find prices and details after the break.

Gallery: TDK's retro-cool boomboxes at CES 2011

Continue reading TDK's Three Speaker Boombox (and other assorted audio goodies), hands-on

TDK's Three Speaker Boombox (and other assorted audio goodies), hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 23:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audioboomboxghetto blasterghettoblasterhands-onspeakerspeakersstereoTDKThree Speaker BoomboxThreeSpeakerBoomboxWed, 05 Jan 2011 23:18:00 EST<![CDATA[TDK debuts $499 'Three-Speaker Boombox']]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/05/tdk-debuts-499-three-speaker-boombox/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/05/tdk-debuts-499-three-speaker-boombox/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/05/tdk-debuts-499-three-speaker-boombox/#comments
Some recent attempts at a modern boombox may have been less than faithful to the original incarnation, but TDK looks to at least have its heart in the right place with its simply-named "Three-Speaker Boombox." Set for an official debut at CES in January, the $499 device boasts a streamlined design compared to the 1980s-era originals, but it's still unmistakably a boombox and, according to Crave's early hands-on, it pumps out a surprising amount of sound from its 35 watt RMS speakers. You'll also get a full range of audio inputs (including iPhone / iPod support via USB, rather than a dedicated dock), a built-in AM / FM radio, an OLED display on the front and, perhaps best of all, some oversized aluminum knobs. Needless to say, we'll be keeping our eyes out for this one at CES.

TDK debuts $499 'Three-Speaker Boombox' originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 05 Dec 2010 02:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boomboxcesces 2011Ces2011tdkthree speaker boomboxthree-speaker boomboxThree-speakerBoomboxThreeSpeakerBoomboxSun, 05 Dec 2010 02:56:00 EST<![CDATA[TDK develops 1TB optical disc, leaves other optical storage feeling emasculated]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/11/tdk-develops-1tb-optical-disc-leaves-other-optical-storage-feel/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/11/tdk-develops-1tb-optical-disc-leaves-other-optical-storage-feel/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/11/tdk-develops-1tb-optical-disc-leaves-other-optical-storage-feel/#comments We've heard about 1TB-sized optical discs in the past, but TDK has now revealed a 1TB monster of its own at CEATEC. Unlike existing Blu-rays which use four recording layers at most, TDK's creation features 16 layers on both sides of the disc, each capable of storing up to 32GB apiece. If you're keeping track of the optical storage arms race, that's seven more gigabytes per layer than Pioneer's 400GB and 500GB disc achievements made back in 2008. TDK's prototype also has the potential to leverage existing Blu-ray technologies, since it's made from a material already found in BDs and shares the same beam aperture. On the down side, the current version's recording layers measure 260μm -- that's more than twice as thick as its Blu-ray counterpart -- and causes aberrations in today's fat-layer-hating optical lenses. Outside of its Biggest Loser qualifications, though, TDK says "its commercialization depends on disc manufacturers." Considering the company has yet to sell the 10-layer 320GB discs revealed at CEATEC 2009, however, we're doubtful this 1TB improvement will hit stores anytime soon.

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TDK develops 1TB optical disc, leaves other optical storage feeling emasculated originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Oct 2010 07:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1 TB1 TB optical disc1Tb1TbOpticalDiscbdxlBlu-Rayblu-ray discBlu-rayDisccdsceatecceatec 2010ceatec japanceatec japan 2010Ceatec2010CeatecJapanCeatecJapan2010createccreatec japanoptical discoptical discsOpticalDiscOpticalDiscstdkTDK discsTdkDiscsMon, 11 Oct 2010 07:14:00 EST<![CDATA[TDK's see-through and curved OLED display eyes-on (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/05/tdks-see-through-and-curved-oled-display-eyes-on/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/05/tdks-see-through-and-curved-oled-display-eyes-on/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/05/tdks-see-through-and-curved-oled-display-eyes-on/#comments Remember the Sony Ericsson Xperia Pureness? At a list price of $1,000, it'd be hard to forget -- but with a monochrome see-through display, the whole transparency thing was little more than a novelty on a phone that served little practical purpose. TDK might have the solution with its new transparent QVGA OLEDs, available now to manufacturers in monochrome and in a lovely color variant by the end of the year. At two inches, they offer 200ppi pixel density and are more secure than you might think: the light only shines in one direction, so you actually can't see any data from the back even though you can still see through the display. At a glance, the display's didn't seem as vibrant as the best AMOLEDs on the market, but then again, these are passive matrix -- and you can really tell in our videos after the break where the refresh scans stand out. Guess that's the price you pay for transparency, right? We've also got some video of the 3.5-inch flexible OLED screens TDK's got on hand; they're not transparent, but considering the long, narrow resolution, we can't help but think they'd make for amazing wristwatches (or high-tech glowstick replacements at raves).

Gallery: TDK's see-through and curved OLED display eyes-on

Continue reading TDK's see-through and curved OLED display eyes-on (video)

TDK's see-through and curved OLED display eyes-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Oct 2010 02:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ceatecceatec 2010Ceatec2010curvecurvedhands-onoledpm-oledpmoledsee throughsee-throughSeeThroughtdktranslucenttransparentvideoTue, 05 Oct 2010 02:19:00 EST<![CDATA[TDK flexes its transparent OLED muscles with CEATEC demonstrations]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/04/tdk-flexes-its-transparent-oled-muscles-with-ceatec-demonstratio/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/04/tdk-flexes-its-transparent-oled-muscles-with-ceatec-demonstratio/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/04/tdk-flexes-its-transparent-oled-muscles-with-ceatec-demonstratio/#comments Finally a bit of competition to pep up the transparent OLED market. Samsung and LG seem to have had this party all to themselves until now, but TDK is stepping in with a 2-inch passive matrix screen and a humble QVGA (320 x 240) resolution. Sure, those aren't groundbreaking specs, but a claimed 50 percent transmittance -- meaning that half of what's behind the screen can be seen through it -- beats its Korean competitors rather handily. Another prototype being shown off by the company is a 3.5-inch flexible OLED panel that redefines thinness with a slinky 0.3mm profile. It's made using a resin substrate and covers an unimpressive 256 x 54 pixels at the moment, but again, that's just how good things get started: with small steps of awesome. We'll keep an eye out for both of these as we prowl the halls of CEATEC 2010.

Continue reading TDK flexes its transparent OLED muscles with CEATEC demonstrations

TDK flexes its transparent OLED muscles with CEATEC demonstrations originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Oct 2010 08:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ceatecceatec 2010Ceatec2010flexibleflexible oledFlexibleOledoledpassive matrixPassiveMatrixprototypeqvgaresin substrateResinSubstrateseethroughtdktranslucenttransparenttransparent oledTransparentOledMon, 04 Oct 2010 08:39:00 EST<![CDATA[TDK inflates to BDXL, bringing 100GB writable Blu-ray discs in September]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/22/tdk-inflates-to-bdxl-bringing-100gb-writable-blu-ray-discs-in-s/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/22/tdk-inflates-to-bdxl-bringing-100gb-writable-blu-ray-discs-in-s/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/22/tdk-inflates-to-bdxl-bringing-100gb-writable-blu-ray-discs-in-s/#commentsTDK inflates to BDXL, bringing 100GB writable Blu-ray discs in SeptemberWhy, it seems like only yesterday that 50GB was an awful lot of capacity. Now, not so much. BDXL discs are here to rescue your data, and TDK is the latest to roll out triple-decker discs with 100GB of capacity. As with the others, these discs will only work in BDXL-compatible readers and writers, meaning yet another early round of devices is in the process of being obsoleted. (Remember Profile 2.0?) These discs are set to ship in Japan in September, and sometime later will come the quadruple-decker BDXL discs with 128GB. We wonder, though: can a retail offering really be considered a "pack" if it only contains one disc?

TDK inflates to BDXL, bringing 100GB writable Blu-ray discs in September originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Jul 2010 08:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>100gbbdxlblu-rayjapanlife on recordLifeOnRecordtdktsk life on recordTskLifeOnRecordThu, 22 Jul 2010 08:23:00 EST<![CDATA[TDK's TH-WR700 cans do wireless over Kleer]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/02/tdks-th-wr700-cans-do-wireless-over-kleer/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/02/tdks-th-wr700-cans-do-wireless-over-kleer/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/02/tdks-th-wr700-cans-do-wireless-over-kleer/#commentsTDK's TH-WR700 cans do wireless over Kleer The majority of the wireless music options we've seen rocking Kleer have, to this point, been of the ear bud variety -- nice, but not if you're more of a can man. For those who like a little more heft, welcome to TDK's TH-WR700 wireless headphones, a $190 set that still looks to be too small if you're going for the completely immersive over-the-ear style, but are said to provide less noise than comparable Bluetooth units and pledge to perform with 32Ω impedance, 20Hz-20kHz frequency response, and 108 dB/mW sensitivity. That price also nabs you the Kleer transmitter adapter, which has a 3.5mm input and just so happens to be fit perfectly on an iPhone. Coincidence? Don't bet on it.

TDK's TH-WR700 cans do wireless over Kleer originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Feb 2010 09:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apple iphoneAppleIphonecansheadphonesiphonekleerportable headphonesPortableHeadphonestdktdk th-wr700TdkTh-wr700th-wr700Tue, 02 Feb 2010 09:17:00 EST<![CDATA[TDK unveils fashionable, colorful solar chargers (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/07/tdk-unveils-fashionable-colorful-solar-chargers/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/07/tdk-unveils-fashionable-colorful-solar-chargers/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/07/tdk-unveils-fashionable-colorful-solar-chargers/#comments Solar power is something we've seen touted in every big tech trade show for as long as we can remember, but it's taken until recently to make it a bit easier on the eyes. Enter TDK's design-, color-, and sun-enhanced chargers, found hanging out under a hard light in the back of the company's CEATEC booth casually powering a fan. It's definitely a step up from dark paneling, so how long until we see this applied to some stylish mobile phones, eh world? Video after the break.

Gallery: TDK's designer solar chargers


Continue reading TDK unveils fashionable, colorful solar chargers (video)

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TDK unveils fashionable, colorful solar chargers (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 09:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ceatecceatec 2009Ceatec2009ecoenergyfeaturedfeaturesgreenhands onhands-onHandsOnsolarsolar chargesolar chargersolar panelsolar powerSolarChargeSolarChargerSolarPanelSolarPowertdkWed, 07 Oct 2009 09:51:00 EST<![CDATA[TDK's heavily stacked 320GB disc shows its nearly-clear face at CEATEC]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/07/tdks-heavily-stacked-320gb-disc-shows-its-nearly-clear-face-at/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/07/tdks-heavily-stacked-320gb-disc-shows-its-nearly-clear-face-at/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/07/tdks-heavily-stacked-320gb-disc-shows-its-nearly-clear-face-at/#comments
As with pretty much every other optical disc out there that claims to hold a near-infinite amount of data, we're still skeptical about TDK's ability to actually bring to market the 320GB spinner you see above. But hey -- it's got ten 32GB layers and it's practically see-through. Did you really expect us to walk on by without clicking the shutter even once? Exactly.

Gallery: TDK's 320GB optical disk

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TDK's heavily stacked 320GB disc shows its nearly-clear face at CEATEC originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 01:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>320gb32gbbdblu rayblu-rayblu-ray discBlu-rayDiscblue laserBlueLaserblurayceatecceatec 2009Ceatec2009discdiskfeatureshands-onhdoptical mediaOpticalMediaother formatsotherformatspicspicturesTDKWed, 07 Oct 2009 01:59:00 EST<![CDATA[TDK's heavily stacked 320GB disc shows its nearly-clear face at CEATEC]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/07/tdks-heavily-stacked-320gb-disc-shows-its-nearly-clear-face-at/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/07/tdks-heavily-stacked-320gb-disc-shows-its-nearly-clear-face-at/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/07/tdks-heavily-stacked-320gb-disc-shows-its-nearly-clear-face-at/#comments
As with pretty much every other optical disc out there that claims to hold a near-infinite amount of data, we're still skeptical about TDK's ability to actually bring to market the 320GB spinner you see above. But hey -- it's got ten 32GB layers and it's practically see-through. Did you really expect us to walk on by without clicking the shutter even once? Exactly.

Gallery: TDK's 320GB optical disk

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TDK's heavily stacked 320GB disc shows its nearly-clear face at CEATEC originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 01:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>320gb32gbbdblu-rayblu-ray discBlu-rayDiscblue laserBlueLaserceatecceatec 2009Ceatec2009discdiskfeatureshands-onoptical mediaOpticalMediapicspicturesTDKWed, 07 Oct 2009 01:59:00 EST<![CDATA[TDK stacks 10 layers on a single 320GB disc]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/02/tdk-stacks-10-layers-on-a-single-320gb-disc/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/02/tdk-stacks-10-layers-on-a-single-320gb-disc/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/02/tdk-stacks-10-layers-on-a-single-320gb-disc/#comments Even though we have yet to see the long-hinted 100GB and 200GB prototype Blu-ray discs as real products, TDK is looking beyond that, ready to display 320GB ten-layer platters at CEATEC 2009 that can be read and written with current blue laser technology. Key in stacking so many layers is improving the transmittance of the outermost layer as seen above - that nearly clear one on the right doesn't require a more powerful laser to get through. The only thing we can't see? When or if any of these will actually be released.

[Via Hot Hardware]

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TDK stacks 10 layers on a single 320GB disc originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 16:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>320gb32gbblu-rayblue laserBlueLaserceatecceatec 2009Ceatec2009disktdkFri, 02 Oct 2009 16:27:00 EST<![CDATA[TDK stacks 10 layers on a single 320GB disc]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/02/tdk-stacks-10-layers-on-a-single-320gb-disc/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/02/tdk-stacks-10-layers-on-a-single-320gb-disc/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/02/tdk-stacks-10-layers-on-a-single-320gb-disc/#comments Even though we have yet to see the long-hinted 100GB and 200GB prototype Blu-ray discs as real products, TDK is looking beyond that, ready to display 320GB ten-layer platters at CEATEC 2009 that can be read and written with current blue laser technology. Key in stacking so many layers is improving the transmittance of the outermost layer as seen above - that nearly clear one on the right doesn't require a more powerful laser to get through. The only thing we can't see? When or if any of these will actually be released.

[Via Hot Hardware]

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TDK stacks 10 layers on a single 320GB disc originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 16:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>320gb32gbblu rayblu-rayblue laserBlueLaserblurayceatecceatec 2009Ceatec2009diskhdother formatsotherformatstdkFri, 02 Oct 2009 16:09:00 EST<![CDATA[TDK looks to deliver 2.5TB hard drives in early 2010]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/07/tdk-looks-to-deliver-2-5tb-hard-drives-in-early-2010/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/07/tdk-looks-to-deliver-2-5tb-hard-drives-in-early-2010/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/07/tdk-looks-to-deliver-2-5tb-hard-drives-in-early-2010/#commentsIt's been a little while since TDK has made some news in the neverending race for next big hard drive breakthrough, but it looks like that could be changing fairly soon, with a recently revealed roadmap indicating that the company currently has some 640GB drive platters suitable for a 3.5-inch drive going through qualification tests by its OEMs. While nothing's obviously official just yet, TDK is reportedly looking to begin mass production of the platters in November of this year, which could pave the way for some four-platter, 2.5TB drives to debut as early as February of next year. As Register Hardware points out, a five-platter, 3.2TB drive would also be possible, though somewhat less likely. We can dream, though.

[Via Electronista]

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TDK looks to deliver 2.5TB hard drives in early 2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Aug 2009 21:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2.5tb2.5tb hard drive2.5tbHardDrive3.5-inch3.5-inch hard drive3.5-inchHardDrivehard driveHardDrivetdkFri, 07 Aug 2009 21:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Movie Gadget Friday: Strange Days]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/31/movie-gadget-friday-strange-days/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/31/movie-gadget-friday-strange-days/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/31/movie-gadget-friday-strange-days/#commentsAriel Waldman contributes Movie Gadget Friday, where she highlights the lovable and lame gadgets from the world of cinema.

On our last episode of Movie Gadget Friday, we rode around the robotics-dependent world of Runaway. Traversing from robots-gone-wrong to "wire-tripping"-technology-junkies, this week jacks-in to the cyberpunk streets of LA in Strange Days. While lacking in computer gadgetry, there is no shortage of leather pants, grunge metal, huge cell phones and random rioting in this 1995 film. Keeping true to the times, we can't get over how even the murderer commits crimes while managing to sport a fanny pack.


SQUID Receptor Rig

Short for Super-conducting Quantum Interference Device, the SQUID receptor rig consists of a two-part system: a lightweight, flexible mesh of electrodes and a recorder. The technology had originally been developed for the feds to replace body wires, but has since leaked onto the black market. The SQUID acts as a magnetic field measurement tool on a micro level. By placing the electrodes over your head and activating the recorder, your first-person audio-visual-sensory experience is recorded wirelessly, direct from the cerebral cortex onto a TDK 60-minute MiniDisc. The rig can also be hacked using a signal splitter and simstim attachment - allowing someone else to experience your experience in real-time. Optional accessories for the rig include a fanny pack for closely storing the recorder and various wigs for concealing your otherwise obvious surveillance of others.

Unfortunately, there appears to be no way to directly upload these recordings to the net, leaving room for inefficient, in-person, illegal "playback" dealings of MiniDiscs similar to buying and selling drugs. From sex to committing crimes, clients to the self-proclaimed "switchboard of souls" dealers are able to jack-in to a variety of illicit activities without leaving their home. More after the break.

Continue reading Movie Gadget Friday: Strange Days

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Movie Gadget Friday: Strange Days originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 17:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1995columncolumnscyberpunkfeaturefeaturedfeaturesminidiscmovie gadget fridayMovieGadgetFridaysimstimsonysquidstrange daysStrangeDaystdkFri, 31 Jul 2009 17:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Lenovo, Dell and TDK layoff thousands, bum out thousands more]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/lenovo-dell-and-tdk-layoff-thousands-bum-out-thousands-more/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/lenovo-dell-and-tdk-layoff-thousands-bum-out-thousands-more/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/09/lenovo-dell-and-tdk-layoff-thousands-bum-out-thousands-more/#comments
No longer content to sit on the sideline while companies like Logitech and Creative get all the press, Lenovo, Dell and TDK are all "restructuring." And you know what that means. Lenovo: cutting 11 percent of its work force. Dell: cutting 1,900 jobs, closing its plant in Limerick. TDK: cutting 8,000 jobs and closing four plants. This might be a tad depressing, but don't lose heart, people! As Sony's Gary Shapiro pointed out at the company's keynote this morning, tech companies "don't seek bailout money, we seek opportunity." After all, the company knows a thing or two about "opportunity."

Read: Lenovo Expects Quarterly Loss, Plans Job Cuts
Read: Dell to axe 1,900 jobs
Read: Japan's TDK to cut 8,000 jobs, close four plants
Read: Layoff Blog

Update: Shapiro is the President and CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association. Our bad.

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Lenovo, Dell and TDK layoff thousands, bum out thousands more originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Jan 2009 08:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cost-cuttingdelllayofflayoffslenovosonytdkFri, 09 Jan 2009 08:45:00 EST<![CDATA[TDK trots out industrial CompactFlash cards / SSDs]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/18/tdk-trots-out-industrial-compactflash-cards-ssds/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/18/tdk-trots-out-industrial-compactflash-cards-ssds/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/18/tdk-trots-out-industrial-compactflash-cards-ssds/#commentsNot just everyone can get away with consumer-level kit, and if you plan on keeping that Counter-Strike server running for another four years without so much as a hiccup, you should probably look into some industrial-strength materials. To that end, we present to you a new pair from TDK: a U.DMA 6-compatible CompactFlash card and a line of PATA SSDs, both of which boast a maximum capacity of 16GB. Both lines combine the original GBDriver RA8 U.DMA 6-compatible NAND Flash memory controller with a high-frequency SLC NAND Flash memory module for read speeds of up to 50MB/sec and write speeds up to 30MB/sec. You'll also find an error correction function scalable to 15 bit/sector ECC to provide high data reliability -- remember, zero hiccups -- and a static wear leveling function to greatly increase the write life span. Sadly, no pricing figures are disclosed, but both crews should start shipping next month.

[Via SlashGear]

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TDK trots out industrial CompactFlash cards / SSDs originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CFCFG8ACompactFlashflashflash memoryFlashMemorymemory cardMemoryCardNANDNAND flashNandFlashra8SDG8ASSDTDKUDMATue, 18 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dark Knight Blu-ray set to break shipping records, sales records next?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/12/dark-knight-blu-ray-set-to-break-shipping-records-sales-records/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/12/dark-knight-blu-ray-set-to-break-shipping-records-sales-records/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/12/dark-knight-blu-ray-set-to-break-shipping-records-sales-records/#commentsHopefully Iron Man isn't getting too cozy in the #1 Blu-ray spot, with over a million copies of The Dark Knight headed to store shelves on December 9. Iron Man set a first week mark of over 500,000 sold on an unknown quantity shipped, but it's probably a bigger question whether Warner can keep it's BD-Live servers working than whether it can take the top spot. VideoBusiness points out the old days of March '07 when Casino Royale shipped 100,000 units, or 300's 250k combined high definition disc launch last year. Number watchers will also be keeping an eye out for Blu-ray's share of first week sales; last year Transformers set records with 190,000 HD DVDs compared to 8.3 million DVDs, with Iron Man averaging around 10% how many will chose Batman the way it was meant to be seen?

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Dark Knight Blu-ray set to break shipping records, sales records next? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batmanbdblu rayblu-rayblurayhdrecordrecordsshippedtdkthe dark knightTheDarkKnightWed, 12 Nov 2008 15:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Imation brings first 6x Blu-ray recordable discs to US]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/17/imation-brings-first-6x-blu-ray-recordable-discs-to-us/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/17/imation-brings-first-6x-blu-ray-recordable-discs-to-us/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/17/imation-brings-first-6x-blu-ray-recordable-discs-to-us/#comments
We had a dream back in June that America would one day be able to buy 6x BD-Rs for these 6x Blu-ray burners without relying on a Japanese importer, and today, that dream has been realized. Imation is bringing TDK Life on Record media to US soil, marking the first time 6x Blu-ray recordable (BD-R) and Blu-ray recordable double layer (BD-R DL) media has been available here. Unfortunately, this stuff is still absurdly expensive -- expect to hand over $13.99 for a single BD-R in October, while a BD-R DL 1-pack will ring up at a staggering $32.99.

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Imation brings first 6x Blu-ray recordable discs to US originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Sep 2008 16:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bdbd-rbd-reblu-rayImationmediaoptical mediaOpticalMediarecordablerecordable mediaRecordableMediaTDKususaWed, 17 Sep 2008 16:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Imation brings first 6x Blu-ray recordable discs to US]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/17/imation-brings-first-6x-blu-ray-recordable-discs-to-us/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/17/imation-brings-first-6x-blu-ray-recordable-discs-to-us/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/17/imation-brings-first-6x-blu-ray-recordable-discs-to-us/#comments
We had a dream back in June that America would one day be able to buy 6x BD-Rs for these 6x Blu-ray burners without relying on a Japanese importer, and today, that dream has been realized. Imation is bringing TDK Life on Record media to US soil, marking the first time 6x Blu-ray recordable (BD-R) and Blu-ray recordable double layer (BD-R DL) media has been available here. Unfortunately, this stuff is still absurdly expensive -- expect to hand over $13.99 for a single BD-R in October, while a BD-R DL 1-pack will ring up at a staggering $32.99.

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Imation brings first 6x Blu-ray recordable discs to US originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Sep 2008 16:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bdbd-rbd-reblu rayblu-rayblurayhdImationmediaoptical mediaOpticalMediaothersrecordablerecordable mediaRecordableMediaTDKususaWed, 17 Sep 2008 16:21:00 EST<![CDATA[TDK announces 64GB 1.8-inch HS1 micro SATA drives, we scream in glee]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/02/tdk-announces-64gb-1-8-inch-hs1-micro-sata-drives-we-scream-in/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/02/tdk-announces-64gb-1-8-inch-hs1-micro-sata-drives-we-scream-in/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/02/tdk-announces-64gb-1-8-inch-hs1-micro-sata-drives-we-scream-in/#commentsTDK HS1 micro ssd 1.8-inch
Things are looking up in the SSD race: TDK has just announced what they are calling the smallest Micro SATA SSD drives. The HS1 series will measure just 1.8 inches with 16, 32, and 64GB capacities and will use single-level cell NAND flash memory. Read / write speeds are spinner-like 100MBps and 50MBps respectively and are expected to be energy efficient at 20mA. Security wise, we're looking at 128-bit AES encryption with 7-bit error correction. They won't come cheap, though: prices are expected to run $900, $1,500, and $2,000 for the three capacities.

[Via Electronista]

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TDK announces 64GB 1.8-inch HS1 micro SATA drives, we scream in glee originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Jun 2008 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.8-inchbreakingbreaking newsBreakingNewsmicro sataMicroSatasatassdtdkMon, 02 Jun 2008 17:29:00 EST<![CDATA[TDK intros SATA-compatible industrial SSD drives]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/12/tdk-intros-sata-compatible-industrial-ssd-drives/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/12/tdk-intros-sata-compatible-industrial-ssd-drives/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/12/tdk-intros-sata-compatible-industrial-ssd-drives/#commentsIt's far from the first SATA-compatible SSD drive, but TDK seems to think its new GBDisk RS1 series drives will be just the ticket for some very particular users (though not likely you or us). Apparently designed specifically for industrial use, the drive uses single level cell NAND flash memory (as opposed to multi-level cell) and a GBDriver RS1 SATA controller, which TDK says will together help it maintain data reliability while standing up to frequent, high-speed data writing. You will have to make do with some fairly small storage capacities even by SSD standards, however, with the drives topping out at 16GB, all of which come in 2.5-inch drive enclosures. No word on prices just yet, but you can look for them to start rolling out this June.

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TDK intros SATA-compatible industrial SSD drives originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 May 2008 11:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>flash memoryFlashMemorynanndsataSLCssdtdkMon, 12 May 2008 11:25:00 EST<![CDATA[TDK intros slim new USB flash drives]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/18/tdk-intros-slim-new-usb-flash-drives/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/18/tdk-intros-slim-new-usb-flash-drives/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/18/tdk-intros-slim-new-usb-flash-drives/#comments
TDK certainly hasn't put quite the priority on USB flash drives as it has on its other media, but it looks like the company is making a decent effort with its latest drives, which manage to keep things about as small as you're likely to want. Available in 1GB, 2GB, and 4GB varieties, the drives weigh in at a mere three grams, and measure 32 x 15 x 8 mm, with a sliding USB connector (and ReadyBoost functionality) also thrown in for good measure. No word on a price just yet, but you can look for them to be available in Japan by the end of the month.

[Via Akihabara News]

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TDK intros slim new USB flash drives originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 Feb 2008 13:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>flash driveFlashDrivetdkusb driveusb flash driveUsbDriveUsbFlashDriveMon, 18 Feb 2008 13:04:00 EST<![CDATA[TDK also looking to boost hard drive capacity]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/02/tdk-also-looking-to-boost-hard-drive-capacity/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/02/tdk-also-looking-to-boost-hard-drive-capacity/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/02/tdk-also-looking-to-boost-hard-drive-capacity/#commentsJust try naming a major player in the hard drive biz not touting some sort of stupendous breakthrough to boost HDD capacity, and you're likely to come up fairly empty. Nevertheless, TDK is hopping on the ever-growing bandwagon, as it has reportedly "developed the technology to more than double the data storage capacity of hard-disk drives compared with the most advanced products now available by modifying the design of magnetic heads and disks." Notably, we've heard of similar processes before, but TDK is suggesting that its method can offer up the capability to "read and write 602-gigabits of data per square inch" while producing drives up to 3TB in size. Best of all, this all seems to be a bit beyond the drawing board, as the outfit hopes to mass produce the heads sometime in 2010. [Warning: read link requires subscription]

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TDK also looking to boost hard drive capacity originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Oct 2007 09:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>capacityhard driveHardDrivehddsizetdkTue, 02 Oct 2007 09:37:00 EST<![CDATA[IBM's next gen flash storage to feature spinning electrons]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/20/ibms-next-gen-flash-storage-to-feature-spinning-electrons/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/20/ibms-next-gen-flash-storage-to-feature-spinning-electrons/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/20/ibms-next-gen-flash-storage-to-feature-spinning-electrons/#commentsYou don't usually think of IBM in the context of flash memory innovation, but all those processors Big Blue cranks out require some kind of cache , and the company's new joint venture with TDK is designed to create the next-gen of flash, using a technology called "spin torque transfer" that will allow scaling beyond 65nm. STT-RAM, as it's called, uses a current to "spin-polarize" electrons and align their magnetic fields to represent 1s and 0s. Intel and others have invested heavily in a rival next-gen tech called phase change, but IBM says STT is faster and may last longer. Obscure system-on-a-chip next-gen flash memory format war, here we come!

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IBM's next gen flash storage to feature spinning electrons originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Aug 2007 23:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>flashibmintelspin torque transferSpinTorqueTransferstt-ramtdkMon, 20 Aug 2007 23:52:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony, others named in video tape price-fixing scheme]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/21/sony-others-named-in-video-tape-price-fixing-scheme/http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/21/sony-others-named-in-video-tape-price-fixing-scheme/http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/21/sony-others-named-in-video-tape-price-fixing-scheme/#commentsSeems we can't have a month go by without another industry-wide price fixing scandal. Today's cartel was bent on fixing the prices of professional-grade video tapes used in television. An infamous list of swindles which includes DRAM, LCDs, and online-music just to name a few. While the EU regulators citied "several companies," only Sony would confirm that they were charged with the crime. Fingers are also wagging in the direction of Panasonic, Fujifilm, Hitachi Maxell and TDK but all declined to comment on the matter. So innocent until proven guilty, mkay. The EU's charges are based on raids it made in 2002 as well as information received since, under a leniency program. Companies now have two months to respond. If guilty, companies could be fined as much as 10% of their annual global sales. Oh my.

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Sony, others named in video tape price-fixing scheme originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Mar 2007 09:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fujifilmhitachilegalmaxellpanasonicprice fixingPriceFixingscandalsonytdkWed, 21 Mar 2007 09:46:00 EST<![CDATA[TDK's Xa-10 mini flat panel speakers]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/21/tdks-xa-10-mini-flat-panel-speakers/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/21/tdks-xa-10-mini-flat-panel-speakers/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/21/tdks-xa-10-mini-flat-panel-speakers/#comments TDK just slipped NXT's crazy-thin SoundVu technology into your pocket. That's right, the 80 × 117 x 16-mm (3.15 x 4.6 x 0.63-inch) Xa-10 flat panel speaker brings a 1.2W x 2ch waft of breathy bass you might otherwise choose not to float from your trou. The speakers will accept USB power (or batteries) and a mini-stereo input when they hit Japan in March for just ¥2,980 or about $25.

[Via Impress]

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TDK's Xa-10 mini flat panel speakers originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Feb 2007 03:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>japanNXTportable audioportableaudiosoundvuspeakertdkxa-10Wed, 21 Feb 2007 03:02:00 EST<![CDATA[TDK's Durabis 2 coating protects 200GB Blu-ray discs]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/19/tdks-durabis-2-coating-protects-200gb-blu-ray-discs/http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/19/tdks-durabis-2-coating-protects-200gb-blu-ray-discs/http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/19/tdks-durabis-2-coating-protects-200gb-blu-ray-discs/#comments
One of the consumer worries of Blu-ray Disc vs. HD DVD is the durability of that ultra-thin, 0.1-mm layer protecting your BD-stored data. HD DVDs on the other hand, use a comparatively thick 0.6-mm surface layer just like standard DVDs making them appear -- on paper anyway -- more rugged over the stretch, right? Not necessarily so. At least not when TDK or others apply protective coatings to their optical media. The 6-layer, single-sided 200GB BD disc on the right in the image above is coated with TDK's "Durabis 2" hard-coating technology -- the disk on the left is a standard DVD; both were subjected to equal treatment by the steel-wool and a Sharpie. Any questions?

[Thanks, Dave]

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TDK's Durabis 2 coating protects 200GB Blu-ray discs originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Jan 2007 08:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bdblu rayblu-raybluraydurabisdurabis 2Durabis2hdhd dvdHdDvdtdkFri, 19 Jan 2007 08:46:00 EST<![CDATA[TDK's Durabis 2 coating protects 200GB Blu-ray discs]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/19/tdks-durabis-2-coating-protects-200gb-blu-ray-discs/http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/19/tdks-durabis-2-coating-protects-200gb-blu-ray-discs/http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/19/tdks-durabis-2-coating-protects-200gb-blu-ray-discs/#comments
One of the consumer worries of Blu-ray Disc vs. HD DVD is the durability of that ultra-thin, 0.1-mm layer protecting your BD-stored data. HD DVDs on the other hand, use a comparatively thick 0.6-mm surface layer just like standard DVDs making them appear -- on paper anyway -- more rugged over the stretch, right? Not necessarily so. At least not when TDK or others apply protective coatings to their optical media. The 6-layer, single-sided 200GB BD disc on the right in the image above is coated with TDK's "Durabis 2" hard-coating technology -- the disk on the left is a standard DVD; both were subjected to equal treatment by the steel-wool and a Sharpie. Any questions?

[Thanks, Dave]

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TDK's Durabis 2 coating protects 200GB Blu-ray discs originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Jan 2007 08:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bdblu-raydurabisDurabis 2Durabis2hd dvdHdDvdtdkFri, 19 Jan 2007 08:46:00 EST<![CDATA[TDK unveils 16.5GB mini Blu-ray discs at CEATEC]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/05/tdk-unveils-16-5gb-mini-blu-ray-discs-at-ceatec/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/05/tdk-unveils-16-5gb-mini-blu-ray-discs-at-ceatec/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/05/tdk-unveils-16-5gb-mini-blu-ray-discs-at-ceatec/#comments If you think those 50GB Blu-ray blanks are asking a bit much from the ole wallet, and haven't found a Blu-ray burner without all sorts of issues to begin with, TDK is moving forward anyway with its latest twist on Blu-ray technology. It's only fitting that the same folks bringing us the 200GB variety have announced their plans to drop a smaller, more compact version, and that's precisely what happened at today's CEATEC festivities. The 8-centimeter recordable disc handles 16.5GB on a single layer, and is being designed for next generation camcorders, such as the ones Hitachi's been showing off at the same show. Although nothing definitive has been said, the groundwork has apparently been laid for a dual-layer variety (that's 33GB for those still counting) to hit shelves in the even-more-distant future.

[Via Ubergizmo]

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TDK unveils 16.5GB mini Blu-ray discs at CEATEC originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Oct 2006 17:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>8cm bd-r8cm blu-ray8cmBd-r8cmBlu-rayCEATEChdtvminimini BD-Rmini blu-raymini blu-ray discsMiniBd-rMiniBlu-rayMiniBlu-rayDiscsTDKThu, 05 Oct 2006 17:49:00 EST<![CDATA[TDK's 32GB Solid State Disk joins the party]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/18/tdks-32gb-solid-state-disk-joins-the-party/http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/18/tdks-32gb-solid-state-disk-joins-the-party/http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/18/tdks-32gb-solid-state-disk-joins-the-party/#comments

Samsung's been hogging the Solid State Disk limelight for months with their 32GB SSD first peeped at CeBIT. So it does our invisible hand some good to hear TDK launch their version of the 32GB SSD, albeit in sample quantities only for the time being. TDK's unit connects to a standard IDE connector yet measures in at 80 percent the size of standard 2.5-inch laptop drive. And like the Sammy SSD, we expect to see some blazin' reads and writes with better protection against shock, faster OS boots and sleep recovery times, longer battery life and reduced weight when TDK gets around to mass production. So for now, all we really want to say is welcome to the party TDK. Now how 'bout driving down that premium pricing, mkay?

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TDK's 32GB Solid State Disk joins the party originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 Sep 2006 09:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>32GB SSD32gbSsdNANDSamsungSSDTDKMon, 18 Sep 2006 09:09:00 EST<![CDATA[TDK reveals 6x BD-R disc]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/tdk-reveals-6x-bd-r-disc/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/tdk-reveals-6x-bd-r-disc/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/02/tdk-reveals-6x-bd-r-disc/#comments
Even though the fastest Blu-ray burner you can buy today maxes out at just a 2x write speed, media manufacturer TDK is already looking towards a wonderful future filled with 4x and faster drives writing 200+GB of data to 8-layer discs. Now that they're gotten the capacity part down, the company is hard at work on discs that won't take five hours to burn, and the first fruit of this labor -- a 25GB platter rated at 6x -- was recently unveiled at Japan's Eighth Data Storage Expo -- although don't expect it to hit stores until next year. They were also showing off that 100GB quad-layer BD-R we heard about awhile back but never got the chance to peep, so make sure to follow the Read link to check out that plus many more exciting shots from what we hear was a pretty happening storage conference.

[Via HDBeat]

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TDK reveals 6x BD-R disc originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 02 Jul 2006 18:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>100gb200gb6x write speed6xWriteSpeedbd-rblu-rayburnersdata storage expoDataStorageExpohdtvjapanquad-layertdkSun, 02 Jul 2006 18:43:00 EST<![CDATA[TDK shows off 6x BD-R discs]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/29/tdk-shows-off-6x-bd-r-discs/http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/29/tdk-shows-off-6x-bd-r-discs/http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/29/tdk-shows-off-6x-bd-r-discs/#comments We don't even have 4x Blu-ray burners yet, but that didn't stop TDK from showing off 6x speed recordable media recently in Japan at the 8th Data Storage Expo. They also showed off a quad-layer 100GB Blu-ray disc, although it was only a prototype, they do expect to ship 4x discs before the end of this year. We're looking forward to burning 25-50GB at a time, we're not looking forward to waiting an hour for it to finish.  These high speed discs need to get here and fast, HD DVD-Rs need to get their speed up to compete (actually, they need to become available at all but thats just splitting hairs).

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TDK shows off 6x BD-R discs originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jun 2006 16:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>6xbd-rblu-raydvdhdhdtvhigh definitionHighDefinitionsonytdkThu, 29 Jun 2006 16:46:00 EST<![CDATA[TDK's Xa-40 2.1-channel speaker cube]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/19/tdks-xa-40-2-1-channel-speaker-cube/http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/19/tdks-xa-40-2-1-channel-speaker-cube/http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/19/tdks-xa-40-2-1-channel-speaker-cube/#comments

Just like Kensington, Logitech and countless others before them, it's TDK's turn to roll-out some NXT-based flat panel speakers. The Xa-40 cuboid brings a 3.5-mm mini-jack for connecting your portable DAP and features 2 x 5W NXT panels and a 10W sub to get your wee-man thump on. Measuring in at 165 × 180 × 175-mm (6.5 x 7.1 x 6.9-inches) and 3.3-pounds, the Xa-40 is expected to pull about ¥6,000 on the open, Japanese market or right around $52 Stateside. So if you've got a thing for cubes, you'd best start saving for the August 21 drop date.

[Via Impress]

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TDK's Xa-40 2.1-channel speaker cube originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Jun 2006 09:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audiocubeNXTportable audioportableaudiosoundspeakerTDKMon, 19 Jun 2006 09:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Pioneer shipping BDR-101A Blu-ray drives]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/18/pioneer-shipping-bdr-101a-blu-ray-drives/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/18/pioneer-shipping-bdr-101a-blu-ray-drives/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/18/pioneer-shipping-bdr-101a-blu-ray-drives/#comments One step closer to store shelves near you, the Pioneer BDR-101A recorder is now shipping enabling you to save 25GB at a time on your handy BD-R or BD-RE disc. It comes with Roxio burning software and a few TDK blanks (it should for $1000). PC World had good impressions of the drive when they reviewed it recently, having no problem burning Blu-ray discs, albeit with the tradeoffs of no CD read/write, managed copy support and a lack of included video editing software. These are interesting strategies by the Blu-ray and HD DVD camps, while HD DVD is seen as having support from PC companies like Microsoft and HP; they have pushed a standalone box out first, while Blu-ray is pushing PC-compatible drives in advance of the standalone player launch.

[Corrected manufacturer]

Pioneer shipping BDR-101A Blu-ray drives originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 May 2006 11:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bd-rbd-rebdr-101ablu rayblu-rayBluRayburnerhdhd dvdHdDvdhdtvhigh definitionHighDefinitiontdkThu, 18 May 2006 11:08:00 EST<![CDATA[Blu-ray recordable media appears at Circuit City Stores]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/blu-ray-recordable-media-appears-at-circuit-city-stores/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/blu-ray-recordable-media-appears-at-circuit-city-stores/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/blu-ray-recordable-media-appears-at-circuit-city-stores/#commentsWow. This is a surprise. Circuit City is selling and stocking blank Blu-ray discs on their website and in their stores. They are single sided 25 gig TDK media for $24.99. We did know this was coming but not this soon. Do you think we need to go into how this is somewhat strange considering that there are no drives out yet to utilize these discs? Panasonic has a PC drive coming in June for $850 and and IO Data has their drive coming out a month later. But till then these discs will be nothing but a conversation starter.

Blu-ray recordable media appears at Circuit City Stores originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 May 2006 07:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blu-raydtvhdhdtvtdktvMon, 15 May 2006 07:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony's Blu-ray blanks on the way; 50GB in June]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/07/sonys-blu-ray-blanks-on-the-way-50gb-in-june/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/07/sonys-blu-ray-blanks-on-the-way-50gb-in-june/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/07/sonys-blu-ray-blanks-on-the-way-50gb-in-june/#comments
Not to be forgotten in the BD-R and -RE party is Sony themselves, who have announced they are shipping single-layer recordable Blu-ray discs, with dual layer versions to follow in June, The pricing follows the model set by TDK, $20/$48 for BD-R single/dual and $25/$60 for BD-RE single/dual layer respectively. With the burners going for about $850, we'll take a raincheck, unless someone really needs to back up all their episodes of mariposaHD.

[Via Engadget]

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Sony's Blu-ray blanks on the way; 50GB in June originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 07 May 2006 11:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bd-rbd-rebd-rwblu rayblu-rayBluRayformathdhdtvhigh definitionHighDefinitionrecordablesonytdkSun, 07 May 2006 11:44:00 EST