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[Corsair Force GT SSDs put through their paces, have graphs to prove it]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/02/corsair-force-gt-SSD-family-benchmarks/http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/02/corsair-force-gt-SSD-family-benchmarks/http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/02/corsair-force-gt-SSD-family-benchmarks/#comments Corsair Force GT SSDs put through their paces, have graphs to prove it

Instead of singling out one of Corsair's latest SandForce-equipped SSDs, the folks at StorageReview sussed out performance differences by putting each drive through the wringer. Though read / write specs are relatively uniform across the line, barring some slight dips in speed, they dug up a few juicy morsels of info that could benefit both frugal and performance-minded shoppers. In a read intensive gaming test, the 60GB entry drive performed similarly to the 480GB behemoth. Another notable result was a 60% jump in throughput between the 120GB and 180GB models. Keen on eking out the most performance-bang for your buck? Hop over to the source for the full skinny and a bevy of charts.

Corsair Force GT SSDs put through their paces, have graphs to prove it originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 02 Jun 2012 05:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>benchmarkbenchmarksCorsaircorsair forceCorsair Force GTCorsairForceCorsairForceGtDiskdriveForce SeriesForceSerieshard driveHardDiskHardDrivereviewSandForcesolid statesolid state disksolid state driveSolidStateSolidStateDiskSolidStateDriveSSDStorageReviewtestSat, 02 Jun 2012 05:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Toshiba Canvio 3.0 external drives bump up to 1.5TB, give Mac users some love]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/15/toshiba-canvio-3-0-external-drives-bump-up-to-1-5tb/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/15/toshiba-canvio-3-0-external-drives-bump-up-to-1-5tb/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/15/toshiba-canvio-3-0-external-drives-bump-up-to-1-5tb/#comments Toshiba Canvio 3.0

Toshiba's Canvio external drives have just gotten a hefty boost, most of all for data swappers that play both the Mac and PC sides of the computing fence. Both the regular Canvio 3.0 and the Canvio Basics 3.0 have made the jump from 1TB to 1.5TB of capacity to hold that much more in the way of backups and videos. If you spring for the top-end 1.5TB Canvio 3.0, though, you'll also get a new NTFS driver for the Mac that lets you take the USB 3.0 disk between a Mac and a Windows PC without having to either load a special reader app or wipe the drive clean. Living in that technology utopia will cost you $200 when it's ready in early June, but the Mac- or Windows-only among us can pay as little as $120 to get a 500GB Canvio while still getting backup software and one of six glossy colors. More frugal travelers can pay $10 less at the capacity for one of the software-free Basics drives.

Continue reading Toshiba Canvio 3.0 external drives bump up to 1.5TB, give Mac users some love

Toshiba Canvio 3.0 external drives bump up to 1.5TB, give Mac users some love originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 May 2012 22:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>canvioexternal hard driveexternal hddExternalHardDriveExternalHddhard drivehard drivesHardDriveHardDrivesstoragetoshibatoshiba canvioToshibaCanviousb 3.0usb 3.0 hard driveUsb3.0Usb3.0HardDriveTue, 15 May 2012 22:01:00 EST<![CDATA[WD grits teeth, hands over the goodies to Toshiba to regulators and dentists' delight]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/15/wd-toshiba-hdd-asset-swap/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/15/wd-toshiba-hdd-asset-swap/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/15/wd-toshiba-hdd-asset-swap/#comments Image

Western Digital has completed its FTC-ordered handover of assets to Toshiba in order to buy Hitachi's HDD business Viviti. The wedding of the year was halted when regulators, citing monopoly concerns, demanded WD hand over a bundle of IP, R&D materials and production line gear to Tosh. In exchange, Western Digital will take over Toshiba Storage Device (Thailand), the arm of the company that was devastated in the recent flooding. It's WD's aim to integrate the remaining assets into its own local operations -- you can read the official line in the land of pure imagination below.

Continue reading WD grits teeth, hands over the goodies to Toshiba to regulators and dentists' delight

WD grits teeth, hands over the goodies to Toshiba to regulators and dentists' delight originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 May 2012 08:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Anti-CompetitiveBusinessFederal Trade CommissionFederalTradeCommissionFTCHard DriveHard DrivesHardDriveHardDrivesHDDsHitachiminipostMonopolySaleStorageThailand FloodingThailandFloodingToshibaVivitiWestern DigitalWesternDigitalTue, 15 May 2012 08:36:00 EST<![CDATA[WD's 1TB VelociRaptor HDD gets reviewed: substantial gains, moderate price]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/16/western-digital-1tb-velociraptor-review-roundup/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/16/western-digital-1tb-velociraptor-review-roundup/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/16/western-digital-1tb-velociraptor-review-roundup/#comments Image

Western Digital has expanded its line of desktop-grade VelociRaptors to include a 1TB model that's available now for $320, but those kidding themselves with that whole "250GB is enough" thing can get in for as little as $160. Top-level specs include a 10,000RPM spindle rate and a SATA 6Gb/s interface housed within a 3.5-inch heat sink -- useful for lessening the burden of the drive's thermal output on the rest of the machine. Storage Review's tests reveal that sequential read and write transfer speeds top out around 206MB/s, thermal dissipation is excellent with low power consumption, and that random access has improved compared with its 600GB predecessor. They consider the new HDD to be a "very appealing value proposition" and "a blend of high performance, storage, capacity, and low cost."

Hot Hardware discovered virtually identical numbers with their tests, but wasn't quite as forgiving when it comes to the cost-per-GB versus 7200RPM hard drives. However, they call this VelociRaptor the "fastest HDD yet" at "nearly double the capacity of previous" model. You can find even more stats and impressions to chew on at the sources below.

Continue reading WD's 1TB VelociRaptor HDD gets reviewed: substantial gains, moderate price

WD's 1TB VelociRaptor HDD gets reviewed: substantial gains, moderate price originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Apr 2012 20:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1 tb1 tb hdd10000 rpm10000Rpm1Tb1TbHdd2.5 inch2.5Inchhard drivehard drivesHardDriveHardDriveshddmagnetic storagemagneticstorageNAND memoryNandMemorynotouchraffreview roundupReviewRounduprotary acceleration feed forwardsatasata 6gSata6gssdvelociraptorwdwd velociraptorWdVelociraptorwestern digitalwestern digital velociraptorWesternDigitalWesternDigitalVelociraptorMon, 16 Apr 2012 20:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Western Digital ships 7mm HDD for Ultrabooks, losing down pavement cracks]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/11/wd-7mm-scorpio-blue/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/11/wd-7mm-scorpio-blue/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/11/wd-7mm-scorpio-blue/#comments Image
Western Digital is whipping the sheets clear from a new, 7mm tall 2.5-inch mobile HDD that'll sit nicely inside your Ultrabook or other skinny device. The single-platter Scorpio Blue comes in 320 and 500GB varieties and will even sit nearly in 9.5mm slots (just, you know, bring along some blu-tack to pad the void around the drive bay). The units boast of super-low power management, quiet operation (with WD's WhisperDrive tech) and capable of taking a shock of 400Gs. It's available from today via selected retailers, the 320GB edition costing $80 and the 500GB version $100. Just be careful not to look at it side-on, after all, it's so thin you may not find it again.

Continue reading Western Digital ships 7mm HDD for Ultrabooks, losing down pavement cracks

Western Digital ships 7mm HDD for Ultrabooks, losing down pavement cracks originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Apr 2012 14:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>7mm HDD7mmHddHard DriveHard DrivesHardDriveHardDrivesminipostScorpio BlueScorpio Blue 7mmScorpioBlueScorpioBlue7mmUltrabookUltrabooksWestern DigitalWesternDigitalWed, 11 Apr 2012 14:49:00 EST<![CDATA[IRL: Blue Mics Yeti, Western Digital My Passport and Razer's Naga Hex gaming mouse]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/06/irl-blue-microphones-yeti-western-digital-my-passport-and-raze/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/06/irl-blue-microphones-yeti-western-digital-my-passport-and-raze/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/06/irl-blue-microphones-yeti-western-digital-my-passport-and-raze/#commentsWelcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we're using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment.

It's been a busy week for tech writers. Capping out a week populated by not one, not two, but three smartphone reviews, we're happy to take a breather and return our attention to life's littler pleasures. Like USB mics and portable 2TB hard drives. And also, gaming mice.

Continue reading IRL: Blue Mics Yeti, Western Digital My Passport and Razer's Naga Hex gaming mouse

IRL: Blue Mics Yeti, Western Digital My Passport and Razer's Naga Hex gaming mouse originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2TB2tb drive2tb hard drive2tbDrive2tbHardDriveBilly SteeleBillySteeleBlue Microphonesblue microphones yetiBlue micsblue mics yetiBlueMicrophonesBlueMicrophonesYetiBlueMicsBlueMicsYetiDarren MurphDarrenMurphengadgetirlhard drivehard drivesHardDriveHardDrivesHDDirlMy PassportMyPassportNaga HexNagaHexportable hard driveportable hard drivesPortableHardDrivePortableHardDrivesRazerRazer Naga HexRazerNagaHexSean BuckleySeanBuckleyWDWD My PassportWdMyPassportWestern DigitalWestern Digital My PassportWesternDigitalWesternDigitalMyPassportyetiFri, 06 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Western Digital intros My Passport Studio 2TB portable HDD, twin FireWire 800 ports included]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/03/western-digital-mac-my-passport-studio-price-release-date-hard-drive/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/03/western-digital-mac-my-passport-studio-price-release-date-hard-drive/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/03/western-digital-mac-my-passport-studio-price-release-date-hard-drive/#commentsWestern Digital intros My Passport Studio 2TB portable HDD, twin FireWire 800 ports includedJust days after WD revealed new 2TB My Passport drives for the USB 3.0-respecting world, along comes an option for those running OS X. Aside from the conventional USB 2.0 socket on the My Passport Studio, the Mac-friendly unit also packs a pair of FireWire 800 sockets. Not surprisingly, it ships with hardware-based encryption and password protection software, and while it'll probably come formatted for an Apple, there's nothing at all stopping other platforms from taking advantage. It'll ship in any capacity you want so long as you're happy with 2TB, and it'll be available at fine retailers around the globe this month for $299.99.

Continue reading Western Digital intros My Passport Studio 2TB portable HDD, twin FireWire 800 ports included

Western Digital intros My Passport Studio 2TB portable HDD, twin FireWire 800 ports included originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Apr 2012 16:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleFireWire 800Firewire800hard driveHardDrivehddmacMy PassportMy Passport studioMyPassportMyPassportStudioos xOsXportable hard driveportable hddPortableHardDrivePortableHddstoragethunderboltWDWestern DigitalWesternDigitalTue, 03 Apr 2012 16:51:00 EST<![CDATA[TiVo Premiere 500GB coming Sunday along with lower prices for service, XL and Elite DVRs]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/23/tivo-premiere-500gb-price-cuts/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/23/tivo-premiere-500gb-price-cuts/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/23/tivo-premiere-500gb-price-cuts/#comments The new TiVo Premiere featuring an upgraded 500GB hard drive (65 percent more hours of HD storage than the old 320GB unit) that we spotted this morning is official, and will start shipping March 25th -- but that's not it. As we also noted, it only requires a one year service agreement at $14.99 per month or $12.99 for users with multiple boxes, which is cheaper than last year's $19.99 / month package (Lifetime Service is still available as well). If you need more hard drive space, THX Certification or more tuners then you're also in luck, as price cuts are in order for the 1TB Premiere XL (down $50 to $249) and the 2TB Elite models (down $100 to $399). The new pricing should let multi-TiVo homes compete even better with cable company DVR offerings, and once the new multiroom boxes arrive this summer things should only get better. Stake out various online retailers or your local Best Buy to snag one or three on Sunday, but until then check out the press release after the break for all of the numbers.

Continue reading TiVo Premiere 500GB coming Sunday along with lower prices for service, XL and Elite DVRs

TiVo Premiere 500GB coming Sunday along with lower prices for service, XL and Elite DVRs originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Mar 2012 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>500gbdvrhard driveHardDrivehd dvrHdDvrhdpostcrosspremiere elitepremiere xlPremiereElitePremiereXlprice dropPriceDroppricingservicestoragetivotivo premieretivo premiere elitetivo premiere xlTivoPremiereTivoPremiereEliteTivoPremiereXlFri, 23 Mar 2012 13:15:00 EST<![CDATA[TiVo Premiere DVRs may get more storage soon, $149 500GB units appear for preorders]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/23/tivo-premiere-500gb-149-leaked/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/23/tivo-premiere-500gb-149-leaked/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/23/tivo-premiere-500gb-149-leaked/#comments Just like the initial run of TiVo Premiere DVRs two years ago, it appears that a refreshed version has been spotted at retail prior to any official announcement from the company. TiVo may be waiting for its official birthday March 31st to unwrap the new models, but a poster at TiVo Community has dug up listings at Amazon and JR.com showing the new TCD746500 TiVo Premiere with 500GB HDD retailing for $149 (with 1 year service plan at $14.99, of course). That can be compared to the original's 320GB drive that's currently selling at around $80. The listings hint at shipments beginning in the next few weeks, while these drives certainly won't sate the hunger of those pursuing a 1TB Premiere XL or quad tuner Elite model, a claimed extra 30 or so hours of HD recording could be worth waiting for, even at the higher price. We're not seeing indications of any other differences yet, but we'll keep you updated if more information becomes available.

[Thanks, @BrennokBob]

TiVo Premiere DVRs may get more storage soon, $149 500GB units appear for preorders originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Mar 2012 03:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>500gbdvrhard driveHardDrivehd dvrHdDvrhdpostminileakpreorderrecording capacityRecordingCapacitystorageTCD746500tivotivo premiereTivoPremiereFri, 23 Mar 2012 03:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Seagate hits one terabit per square inch, compares self favorably to the Milky Way]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/19/seagate-hits-one-terabit-per-square-inch-compares-self-favorabl/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/19/seagate-hits-one-terabit-per-square-inch-compares-self-favorabl/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/19/seagate-hits-one-terabit-per-square-inch-compares-self-favorabl/#comments You know that big new hard drive you just picked up? Get ready to feel bad. Seagate today is talking up the fact that it has managed to cram one terabit (that's one trillion bits, for the record) into a square inch. That super-dense storage comes thanks to heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) technology, a successor to the perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) being utilized in current hard drives. The manufacturer sees the technology hitting the market later this decade, "doubl[ing] the storage capacity of today's hard drives" in its wake. Just how many bits are we talking about here? Let Seagate put things into astronomical perspective: "The bits within a square inch of disk space, at the new milestone, far outnumber stars in the Milky Way, which astronomers put between 200 billion and 400 billion." More info can be found in the press release after the break.

Continue reading Seagate hits one terabit per square inch, compares self favorably to the Milky Way

Seagate hits one terabit per square inch, compares self favorably to the Milky Way originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Mar 2012 18:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>capacitydensityhard drivehard drive capacityHardDriveHardDriveCapacityheat-assisted magnetic recordingHeat-assistedMagneticRecordingseagateMon, 19 Mar 2012 18:43:00 EST<![CDATA[Seagate releases GoFlex Satellite firmware update: improved battery life, WiFi passthrough]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/19/seagate-goflex-satellite-firmware-update-download/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/19/seagate-goflex-satellite-firmware-update-download/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/19/seagate-goflex-satellite-firmware-update-download/#comments There's nothing quite like under-promising and over-delivering, and it seems that we've got just that scenario in the case of this here rumor-turned-reality. After hearing that Seagate was planning to update the firmware on its GoFlex Satellite streaming hard drive, the company has indeed released version 1.3.5.015 today, a 51MB file that makes quite a few succulent changes. For one, it improves battery life (from five hours to seven), and it also "lifts the restriction on the number of devices that can connect to the drive at one time." Lastly (and perhaps most importantly), it provides a pass-through for internet access when connected to the drive. As you'd expect, the new bits and bytes are available gratis, and they can be downloaded there in the source link.

Seagate releases GoFlex Satellite firmware update: improved battery life, WiFi passthrough originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Mar 2012 15:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>firmwarefirmware updateFirmwareUpdategoflexgoflex satelliteGoflexSatellitehard driveHardDrivehddSeagateupdatewirelesswireless storageWirelessStorageMon, 19 Mar 2012 15:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Seagate GoFlex Satellite reportedly getting firmware update on March 19th]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/17/seagate-goflex-satellite-firmware-update/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/17/seagate-goflex-satellite-firmware-update/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/17/seagate-goflex-satellite-firmware-update/#comments
Still rockin' one of those (cargo) pocket-sized GoFlex streaming drives we showed you a while back? Marvelous. According to Gear Diary, Seagate's given the site intel saying it's getting ready to roll out a Satellite firmware refresh on the 19th of this month. Allegedly, the update will boost the limit on the number of devices that can be connected simultaneously, making the jump from three to eight, as well as promising to double your battery life in the process. The company says the updated firmware will come gratis to all "original devices" (hear that Androids?), while all new GoFlex drives are expected to ship with it on board. And now, you know.

Seagate GoFlex Satellite reportedly getting firmware update on March 19th originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 17 Mar 2012 07:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>go flexgoflexgoflex satelliteGoflexSatellitehard driveHardDrivehddminipostsatelliteseagateSeagate GoFlex Satelliteseagate satelliteSeagateGoflexSatelliteSeagateSatellitestreamerstreamingwirelesswireless streamingWirelessStreamingSat, 17 Mar 2012 07:49:00 EST<![CDATA[Western Digital MyBook Thunderbolt Duo is available now starting at $600]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/15/western-digital-mybook-thunderbolt-duo/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/15/western-digital-mybook-thunderbolt-duo/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/15/western-digital-mybook-thunderbolt-duo/#comments Back at Macworld, we laid our peepers on Western Digital's MyBook Thunderbolt Duo and were able to take a demo setup for a quick spin. Now, the dual-wielding external HDDs are officially on the market. You can snag 4TB (2x 2TB) and 6TB (2x 3TB) versions of this "über-fast" MyBook for $599 and $699, respectively. Don't forget: you can daisy chain up to six of these bad boys via the dual Thunderbolt ports on the kit's backside (if you have quite the piggy bank, of course) -- just like the four-unit set we encountered sporting 700MB/sec read and 500MB/sec write speeds in RAID 0. WD also says the storage devices are Time Machine compatible as soon as you can unpack 'em. If you're anxious to grab one of your own, hit the source link below to part with your funds. And for a quick refresher, take a gander at the gallery below.

Gallery: Western Digital MyBook Thunderbolt Duo eyes-on at Macworld 2012 (video)

Continue reading Western Digital MyBook Thunderbolt Duo is available now starting at $600

Western Digital MyBook Thunderbolt Duo is available now starting at $600 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Mar 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3.5-inch3.5-inch HDD3.5-inchHddexternal hard driveexternal HDDExternalHardDriveExternalHddhard drivehard drivesHardDriveHardDrivesHDDlightpeakMyBookMyBook ThunderboltMyBook Thunderbolt DuoMybookThunderboltMybookThunderboltDuonow shippingNowShippingRAIDstoragethunderboltvideoWD MyBook Thunderbolt DuoWdMybookThunderboltDuoWestern DigitalWestern Digital MyBook Thunderbolt DuoWesternDigitalWesternDigitalMybookThunderboltDuoThu, 15 Mar 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[FTC: Western Digital and Hitachi must give assets and IP rights to Toshiba (update: sale approved)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/ftc-orders-western-digital-share-assets-with-toshiba/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/ftc-orders-western-digital-share-assets-with-toshiba/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/ftc-orders-western-digital-share-assets-with-toshiba/#comments Thought everything was looking rosy for the hard drive hitch of the year? Well, it looks like Federal Trade Commission reckons the union of Hitachi and Western Digital isn't quite there just yet, ordering that the new company would have to shed some of its assets to Toshiba. The FTC wants to ensure a competitive climate in the 3.5-inch hard drive market and avoid Western Digital and Seagate -- the two largest HDD manufacturers -- carving up the whole sector between them. According to the FTC's proposals, Toshiba has to receive the production assets needed to equal Hitachi's current HDD market share, alongside access to Western Digital's research and development resources and licenses to its intellectual property. Regulators had previously stated that WD could expect to sell on some of its production assets in order to get the tie-up okayed. Western Digital now has 15 days to hand over these assets to Toshiba -- who, presumably, aren't complaining -- once the deal with Hitachi is finally inked.

Update: Looks like all the FTC wrangling was worth it, because WD and Hitachi have announced that all the necessary approvals have been obtained and the deal is due to close on March 8th. PR's after the break.

Continue reading FTC: Western Digital and Hitachi must give assets and IP rights to Toshiba (update: sale approved)

FTC: Western Digital and Hitachi must give assets and IP rights to Toshiba (update: sale approved) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 11:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acquisitionanti-competitiveFederal Trade CommissionFederalTradeCommissionftchard diskhard diskshard drivehard drivesHardDiskHardDisksHardDriveHardDriveshddhitachimergerregulatorregulatorssalestoragetoshibawestern digitalWesternDigitalTue, 06 Mar 2012 11:38:00 EST<![CDATA[That's hot: Heat-based recording could boost magnetic drive speed, performance]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/09/thats-hot-heat-based-recording-could-boost-magnetic-drive-spee/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/09/thats-hot-heat-based-recording-could-boost-magnetic-drive-spee/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/09/thats-hot-heat-based-recording-could-boost-magnetic-drive-spee/#comments That's hot: Heat-based recording could boost magnetic drive speed, performanceMagnetic fields are pretty nifty for levitating stuff, carving sponge-like thingamajigs and, of course, data storage. But an international team led by the University of York in the UK has figured out a way to replace magnetic fields for the latter by using ultra-short heat pulses instead. Conventional thinking typically dictates that an external magnetic field is required to store data on a magnetic medium. By using heat, however, researchers were able to record terabytes of information per second in a way that is also more energy-efficient compared to current hard drive technology. As for the time it'll take for the tech to make it to market, well, we have a feeling it won't be as fast.

That's hot: Heat-based recording could boost magnetic drive speed, performance originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>data storageDataStoragehard driveHardDrivehddheatheat storageHeatStoragemagnetic fieldmagnetic storageMagneticFieldMagneticStoragemagnetsstoragethermaluniversity of yorkUniversityOfYorkThu, 09 Feb 2012 20:08:00 EST<![CDATA[Seagate expects flood-related hard drive shortages to continue]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/02/seagate-expects-flood-related-hard-drive-shortages-to-continue/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/02/seagate-expects-flood-related-hard-drive-shortages-to-continue/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/02/seagate-expects-flood-related-hard-drive-shortages-to-continue/#comments Seagate took some time out from its busy earnings reporting schedule to address supply concerns stemming from the recent devastating floods in Thailand. The storage manufacturer announced that hard drives supply will likely fall 150 million units short of demand by year's end. While Seagate's own factories weren't directly hit, suppliers for the company were impacted -- as were competitors, like Western Digital. The events have also had a more positive impact on Seagate, however -- as a result of the floods, a number of large buyers have entered into long-term agreements, according to the company.

Seagate expects flood-related hard drive shortages to continue originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>floodfloodinghard driveHardDrivehddseagatestoragesupplythailandwestern digitalWesternDigitalThu, 02 Feb 2012 09:11:00 EST<![CDATA[OWC Mercury Aura Pro Express SATA 3.0 SSDs doubles your (MacBook) Airspeed velocity]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/27/owc-mercury-aura-pro-express-sata-3-0-ssds-doubles-your-macbook/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/27/owc-mercury-aura-pro-express-sata-3-0-ssds-doubles-your-macbook/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/27/owc-mercury-aura-pro-express-sata-3-0-ssds-doubles-your-macbook/#comments
It's MacWorld, which means those providers of Apple gear are busting out wares for aftermarket insertion into your objects of desire. Other World Computing's latest offering is a slender solid-state drive ready to be crow-barred into last year's MacBook Airs. The bombastically named OWC Mercury Aura Pro Express 6G SSD is a SATA Rev. 3.0 drive with a promised 6Gb/s data speed at sizes of up to a staggering 480GB. Since the stock drives are limited to the 3Gb/s SATA Rev. 2.0 (but the controllers run 3.0), you should find a significant performance bump when swapping in the new unit. The toggle-synchronous NAND drives come in a variety of sizes, starting at 120GB ($260), but it's the brand new and quite beastly 480GB model that has us excited. Sure, $1,150 is a lot to ask for less than half a terrabyte of storage, but you'll get a three-year warranty for all that cash. We may never give you our money, nor our funny pages, but you can have the press release that's after the break.

Continue reading OWC Mercury Aura Pro Express SATA 3.0 SSDs doubles your (MacBook) Airspeed velocity

OWC Mercury Aura Pro Express SATA 3.0 SSDs doubles your (MacBook) Airspeed velocity originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AppleHard DriveHardDriveMacBook AirMacbookAirMacWorldMBAMercury Aura Pro Express 6GMercuryAuraProExpress6gOSXOther World ComputingOtherWorldComputingOWCOWC Mercury Aura Pro ExpressOwcMercuryAuraProExpressSATA 6GBPSSATA IIISATA III SSDSATA Rev. 3.0Sata6gbpsSataIiiSataIiiSsdSataRev.3.0Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:53:00 EST<![CDATA[Western Digital MyBook Thunderbolt Duo eyes-on at Macworld 2012 (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/26/western-digital-mybook-thunderbolt-duo-hands-on-macworld-2012/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/26/western-digital-mybook-thunderbolt-duo-hands-on-macworld-2012/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/26/western-digital-mybook-thunderbolt-duo-hands-on-macworld-2012/#comments Here at Macworld 2012, Western Digital demoed a preview of their essentially finished, yet not final, MyBook Thunderbolt Duo. Scheduled to ship in Q1 for an "aggressive price," the unit plays host to two 3.5-inch drives, which'll come stuffed from the factory in either 4TB (2x 2TB) or 6TB (2x 3TB) configurations. On the outside, you're looking at the MyBook aesthetic you either love or loathe, but around back you'll find all connectivity has been gutted, save for power and two Thunderbolt ports. The latter means that up to six can be daisy-chained off one interconnect, which when setup in RAID 0 equates to rather speedy transfers, like 700MB/sec reads and 500MB/sec writes in the four-unit demonstration configuration we toyed with. And it's future proof too, as there's a door up-top which enables plebes to swap drives should the need arise. We'll keep an ear out for pricing, but until that day arrives, peep them in the gallery below, or in video form after the break.

Gallery: Western Digital MyBook Thunderbolt Duo eyes-on at Macworld 2012 (video)

Continue reading Western Digital MyBook Thunderbolt Duo eyes-on at Macworld 2012 (video)

Western Digital MyBook Thunderbolt Duo eyes-on at Macworld 2012 (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3.5-inch3.5-inch HDD3.5-inchHddhands-onhard drivehard drivesHardDriveHardDrivesHDDlightpeakmacworldmacworld 2012macworld iworldMacworld2012MacworldIworldMyBook Thunderbolt duoMybookThunderboltDuoRAIDthunderboltvideoWD MyBook Thunderbolt DuoWdMybookThunderboltDuowestern digitalWestern Digital MyBook Thunderbolt duoWesternDigitalWesternDigitalMybookThunderboltDuoThu, 26 Jan 2012 16:47:00 EST<![CDATA[ioSafe Solo G3 hands-on]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/11/iosafe-solo-g3-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/11/iosafe-solo-g3-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/11/iosafe-solo-g3-hands-on/#comments ioSafe Solo G3 hands-on After the heavy stench of ozone started to clear, ioSafe officially took the wraps off the Solo G3 -- the latest in its line of fire and waterproof storage solutions. Unlike previous models this one actually manages to ditch the fan, and therefore runs almost completely silent in operation. The G3 isn't for those looking for an inconspicuous device. This external data safe sports a unique design with a perforated exterior and weighs in at a staggering 15 pounds. Around back you'll find the powerjack and switch as well as a USB 3.0 port for high-speed data transfers. The G3 is available starting at $299 for 1TB of storage. Check out the pair of galleries below.

Gallery: ioSafe Solo G3 press shots


Gallery: ioSafe Solo G3 hands-on


Edgar Alvarez contributed to this report.

ioSafe Solo G3 hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Jan 2012 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cesces 2012Ces2012fire proofFireProofhands-onhard driveHardDriveiosafeiosafe solo g3IosafeSoloG3rugged hard driveRuggedHardDrivesolo g3SoloG3usb 3.0Usb3.0water proofWaterProofWed, 11 Jan 2012 16:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Seagate teams with Monster for staggeringly overpriced Momentus XT upgrade kits]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/09/seagate-teams-with-monster-for-staggeringly-overpriced-momentus/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/09/seagate-teams-with-monster-for-staggeringly-overpriced-momentus/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/09/seagate-teams-with-monster-for-staggeringly-overpriced-momentus/#commentsToo lazy to pop your existing HDD out in favor of a Momentus XT solid state hybrid drive? There's a Monster for that. In what has to be one of the poorest partnership decisions of the new millennium, Seagate has decided to hitch its wagon to a company famous for scamming customers, suing small businesses and charging a fortune for things that... well, shouldn't cost a fortune. Here at CES, Seagate and Monster Digital are introducing the Dakar series of upgrade kits, which will be offered with 750GB and 500GB models of Seagate's Momentus XT drive at suggested retail prices of $289.99 and $269.99, respectively. For those keeping count, the drives alone will run you around $100 (500GB) and $185 (750GB), which means that you're paying well over a Benjamin for the following: software (not needed; download cloning apps for free), cables (a couple of bucks on Monoprice), an instructional video (Monster should actually pay you to watch this) and a screwdriver (you have ten -- just look). Great product launch, guys. Just great.

Continue reading Seagate teams with Monster for staggeringly overpriced Momentus XT upgrade kits

Seagate teams with Monster for staggeringly overpriced Momentus XT upgrade kits originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cesces 2012Ces2012Dakarhard driveHardDrivehddhybrid driveHybridDriveMomentus XTMomentusXtmonstermonster digitalMonsterDigitalrip offRipOffscamSeagatesolid state driveSolidStateDrivessdSSHDMon, 09 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sanho's bantam CloudFTP puts USB storage devices online, streams on battery power and sheer will]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/07/sanhos-cloudftp-streams-usb-wifi-hotspot-ces-2012/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/07/sanhos-cloudftp-streams-usb-wifi-hotspot-ces-2012/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/07/sanhos-cloudftp-streams-usb-wifi-hotspot-ces-2012/#commentsPogoplug, as they say, just got served. Sanho -- the same geniuses responsible for the HyperMac -- is introducing yet another intelligent box here at CES 2012. The diminutive CloudFTP is a battery-powered file server that takes popular USB devices (thumb drives, hard drives, etc.) and then streams 'em to up to three different devices or serves vanilla files to any WiFi device within range. Better still, it's capable of syncing data with iCloud, Dropbox, Box and a slew of other online cloud storage devices, and it'll churn out files for a solid five hours before needing a recharge. There's an ARM9 microprocessor inside to handle the ins and outs, and considering that it measures just 2.95- x 2.28- x 0.87-inches while weighing 3.8 ounces, it ought not weigh you down too badly when traveling. It'll ship next month here in the States for $99.95, which is $30 higher and a month later than we heard back in November of 2011.

Continue reading Sanho's bantam CloudFTP puts USB storage devices online, streams on battery power and sheer will

Sanho's bantam CloudFTP puts USB storage devices online, streams on battery power and sheer will originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 07 Jan 2012 16:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cesces 2010ces 2012Ces2010Ces2012cloudcloud sharingcloud storagecloudftpCloudSharingCloudStorageftphard driveHardDrivehddhypershoppogoplugsharingstorageSat, 07 Jan 2012 16:43:00 EST<![CDATA[Hitachi unveils two new HDDs for G-Technology drives, gives Mac users new external storage options]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/06/hitachi-hdds-for-g-technology-external-hard-drives-for-mac/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/06/hitachi-hdds-for-g-technology-external-hard-drives-for-mac/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/06/hitachi-hdds-for-g-technology-external-hard-drives-for-mac/#commentsHitachi just released a couple of PC-centric storage solutions a few weeks ago, and now G-Technology, the company's Mac-centric brand, is getting new HDDs destined for its external dives. First up is the Travelstar 5K1000, a 2.5-inch, 5,400rpm hard drive with 6Gb/s SATA interface with up to 1TB of capacity. It's available in the G-DRIVE mobile, which offers connectivity via USB 2.0 and FireWire 800 for between $150 and $200, depending upon size. Next is the 3.5-inch 4TB Deskstar 7K4000, a 7,200rpm HDD found in the company's G-DRIVE and G-RAID offerings. It offers 3Gb/s eSATA, Firewire 800, and USB 2.0 connections, and will set you back $900 for a dual HDD 8TB G-RAID drive, or between $200 and $450 for the single disk G-DRIVE option when they start shipping in Q1 of this year.

Continue reading Hitachi unveils two new HDDs for G-Technology drives, gives Mac users new external storage options

Hitachi unveils two new HDDs for G-Technology drives, gives Mac users new external storage options originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Jan 2012 06:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>external hddExternalHddg driveg drive mobileg raidg-driveg-drive mobileG-driveMobileg-raidg-technologyGDriveGDriveMobilegraidhard driveHardDrivehddhddshitachimactravelstartravelstar 5k1000travelstar 7k4000Travelstar5k1000Travelstar7k4000Fri, 06 Jan 2012 06:07:00 EST<![CDATA[Western Digital's My Book Live Duo marries RAID and cloud storage, bytes everywhere celebrate]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/05/western-digital-my-book-live-duo-hard-drive-raid-and-cloud-storage/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/05/western-digital-my-book-live-duo-hard-drive-raid-and-cloud-storage/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/05/western-digital-my-book-live-duo-hard-drive-raid-and-cloud-storage/#comments Not only is it the chunkiest My Book we've ever seen, but it possesses the otherworldly ability to live in the here and now and the hereafter. Analogies aside, the new My Book Live Duo is hailed as such: "a personal cloud storage system that combines the benefits of shared storage and remote access with double-safe backup or increased capacity of a dual-drive system with RAID." It's compatible with Mac and PC systems (and yes, Time Machine support is thrown in for good measure), and you'll find a pair of drives within the casing alongside an 800MHz CPU and an Ethernet port. WD's hawking these in 4TB (2 x 2TB) and 6TB (2 x 3TB) capacities, and if you weren't already sold, the units ship with support for the company's WD2go remote access platform -- something that's accessible via the web, iPad, iPhone, iPod touch or Android. Finally, there's a DLNA-certified media streaming badge, and it's available as we speak at select US retailers for $399.99 (4TB) / $499.99 (6TB).

Continue reading Western Digital's My Book Live Duo marries RAID and cloud storage, bytes everywhere celebrate

Western Digital's My Book Live Duo marries RAID and cloud storage, bytes everywhere celebrate originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Jan 2012 10:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cloudcloud storageCloudStoragehard driveHardDrivemy bookMy Book Live DuoMyBookMyBookLiveDuostorageTime MachineTimeMachinewdWestern DigitalWesternDigitalThu, 05 Jan 2012 10:48:00 EST<![CDATA[Transcend's StoreJet Cloud packs inbuilt WiFi, streams media to iOS devices]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/02/transcends-storejet-cloud-fcc-wifi-streams-ios/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/02/transcends-storejet-cloud-fcc-wifi-streams-ios/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/02/transcends-storejet-cloud-fcc-wifi-streams-ios/#comments Yeah, Seagate's GoFlex Satellite and Kingston's Wi-Drive already have this market on lock, but you won't find us kvetching about a healthy dose of competition. Transcend has just outed yet another product in its growing StoreJet lineup, with the StoreJet Cloud stopping by the FCC for a cursory glance prior to being formally revealed here in the States. We're betting it'll get an official reveal next week at CES, where it'll offer wireless media streaming to (at least) iOS devices via an associated app. It looks as if streaming to traditional web browsers will also be supported at launch, with Android support following shortly thereafter. Unfortunately, it also looks like pricing is apt to keep this thing away from the masses, with a paltry 64GB model rumored to run $300.

Continue reading Transcend's StoreJet Cloud packs inbuilt WiFi, streams media to iOS devices

Transcend's StoreJet Cloud packs inbuilt WiFi, streams media to iOS devices originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Jan 2012 23:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cloudfcchard driveHardDrivehddnetworkingstorageStoreJet CloudStorejetCloudTranscendTranscend storejetTranscend storejet cloudTranscendStorejetTranscendStorejetCloudwireless storageWirelessStorageMon, 02 Jan 2012 23:16:00 EST<![CDATA[Seagate shores up its hard drive business, finalizes Samsung purchase]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/20/seagate-shores-up-its-hard-drive-business-finalizes-samsung-pur/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/20/seagate-shores-up-its-hard-drive-business-finalizes-samsung-pur/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/20/seagate-shores-up-its-hard-drive-business-finalizes-samsung-pur/#comments It's taken the pair a fair few months to hammer down the details, but it's finally official: Seagate now holds the figurative keys to Samsung's hard drive business. According to the press release, Seagate will retain some Samsung employees as well as gaining access to the electronics manufacturer's solid-state storage for future products. Samsung will hold onto a 9.6 percent stake of Seagate and cash money said to total around $1.375 billion. You can still expect to see remnant Samsung hard drives floating around next year while Seagate decides how it's going to further its storage business -- hopefully involving more than just shrinking warranties.

Continue reading Seagate shores up its hard drive business, finalizes Samsung purchase

Seagate shores up its hard drive business, finalizes Samsung purchase originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Dec 2011 07:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agreementbusinesshard diskhard disk drivehard driveHardDiskHardDiskDriveHardDriveHDDmagnetic storageMagneticStorageminipostpartnershippurchasesalesamsungsamsung electronicsSamsungElectronicsseagatestorageTue, 20 Dec 2011 07:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Engadget: best sub-$150 SSD?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/17/ask-engadget-best-sub-150-ssd/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/17/ask-engadget-best-sub-150-ssd/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/17/ask-engadget-best-sub-150-ssd/#comments We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is coming to us from Aaron, who was inspired by our Primed article on SSDs to buy one of his own. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

"I've really been thinking about upgrading to an SSD. Speed is a big plus and I'd prefer a SATA 3.0, but I'm concerned about reliability and keeping my budget to around $150. What SSDs are Engadget readers using and what would you recommend? Thanks!"

So come on people, is there a beloved SSD that you'd love everyone to use? Do you prefer Crucial to Super Talent? Can you really upgrade to a decently-sized SSD for under $200? Help a brother out by shouting loudly and proudly (inside voices only, please) in the comments below.

Ask Engadget: best sub-$150 SSD? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 17 Dec 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AskAsk EngadgetAskEngadgetHard DriveHard DrivesHardDriveHardDrivesSATA 3.0SATA IIISata3.0SataIiiSSDsSat, 17 Dec 2011 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hitachi outs a pair of 4TB HDDs for your storing pleasure]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/13/hitachi-outs-a-pair-of-4tb-hdds-for-your-storing-pleasure/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/13/hitachi-outs-a-pair-of-4tb-hdds-for-your-storing-pleasure/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/13/hitachi-outs-a-pair-of-4tb-hdds-for-your-storing-pleasure/#commentsWe here at Engadget believe that, while keeping data in the cloud is certainly convenient, one can never have too much local storage space. Hitachi shares our enthusiasm for commodious HDDs, and has rolled out a pair of 4TB drives to keep all your movies, music, and photos close to home. For those wanting to up the ante in their desktop machine, the Deskstar 5K4000 should do the trick with a SATA 6Gb/s connection and 32MB buffer. Its stablemate, the Touro Desk External Drive, brings the same HDD in an onyx enclosure and connects to your computer via USB 3.0 -- plus you get 3GB of cloud storage free from Hitachi. (Who says you can't eat your cake and have it too?) The 5K4000 is available now for a penny under $400, while the Touro will cost $420 once it hits the market in January.

Continue reading Hitachi outs a pair of 4TB HDDs for your storing pleasure

Hitachi outs a pair of 4TB HDDs for your storing pleasure originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 02:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>4 tb4Tbdeskstardeskstar 5k4000Deskstar5k4000external hard driveexternal hddExternalHardDriveExternalHddhard drivehard drivesHardDriveHardDriveshddhitachistoragesuperspeedsuperspeed usbSuperspeedUsbtourotouro desktouro desk external hard driveTouroDeskTouroDeskExternalHardDriveusbusb 3.0Usb3.0Tue, 13 Dec 2011 02:11:00 EST<![CDATA[Intel cuts Q4 revenue forecast by $1 billion due to hard drive shortages]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/12/intel-cuts-q4-revenue-forecast-by-1-billion-due-to-hard-drive-s/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/12/intel-cuts-q4-revenue-forecast-by-1-billion-due-to-hard-drive-s/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/12/intel-cuts-q4-revenue-forecast-by-1-billion-due-to-hard-drive-s/#commentsWe've already seen quite a few companies lower their forecasts in the wake of the Thailand floods and subsequent hard drive shortage, and it unsurprisingly looks like Intel is no exception. The company issued a press release today advising that its fourth quarter revenue is now expected to come in at $13.7 billion, plus or minus $300 million, and not $14.7 billion (plus or minus $500 million) as previously expected. If you do the math, that means the company is taking around a $1 billion hit in revenue, due largely to a reduction in the worldwide PC supply chain that's led to a drop in processor purchases. According to Intel, thing should begin to turn around in the fourth quarter, when it expects computer sales to be "up sequentially," although it notes that hard drive shortages are expected to continue into the first quarter, with a recovery anticipated to take place over the first half of 2012. The company's full statement is after the break.

Continue reading Intel cuts Q4 revenue forecast by $1 billion due to hard drive shortages

Intel cuts Q4 revenue forecast by $1 billion due to hard drive shortages originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Dec 2011 20:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>earningsfinancialfinancialsforecasthard drivehard drivesHardDriveHardDriveshddintelq4revenueshortagethailandMon, 12 Dec 2011 20:46:00 EST<![CDATA[Retro gadget orchestra nails House of the Rising Sun, puts your garage band to shame (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/05/retro-gadget-orchestra-nails-house-of-the-rising-sun-puts-your/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/05/retro-gadget-orchestra-nails-house-of-the-rising-sun-puts-your/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/05/retro-gadget-orchestra-nails-house-of-the-rising-sun-puts-your/#comments Retro tech plays House of the Rising Sun YouTube user BD594, also known as James Cochrane, is no stranger to pushing retro tech to its musical limits. Back in 2009 he coaxed a scanner, an Atari 800XL and a host of other antiquated gadgets to perform Bohemian Rhapsody. The results, while certainly enjoyable, were a tad tone deaf. Well, in the years since he's tweaking his "musicians" and his orchestra has just issued its second single -- a stunning rendition of House of the Rising Sun, in the style of the Animals. Seriously, this staple of '60s high school rockstar wannabes is absolutely nailed by the assortment of hard drives, oscilloscopes and the scanner. Cochrane isn't alone in his quest to turn obsolete tech into musical magic. Christopher Mitchell managed to hack a Ti graphing calculator and floppy-disk drive into a monophonic media player. While his accomplishment is impressive, he loses this round for wasting his skills on the saccharin stylings of Cold Play. Check out both videos after the break.

Continue reading Retro gadget orchestra nails House of the Rising Sun, puts your garage band to shame (video)

Retro gadget orchestra nails House of the Rising Sun, puts your garage band to shame (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animalsatariatari 800atari 800xlAtari800Atari800xlbd594chris mitchellChrisMitchellchristopher mitchellChristopherMitchellcold playColdPlaydiygraphing calculatorGraphingCalculatorhard driveHardDrivehewlett-packardhouse of the rising sunHouseOfTheRisingSunhphp scanjethp scanjet 3cHpScanjetHpScanjet3cJames CochraneJamesCochranemusictexas instrumentsTexasInstrumentsti-83ti-83 plusTi-83Plusti-99ti-994avideoMon, 05 Dec 2011 18:34:00 EST<![CDATA[OCZ Octane SSD benchmarked, new Indilinx controller holds its ground]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/25/ocz-octane-ssd-benchmarked-new-indilinx-controller-holds-its-gr/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/25/ocz-octane-ssd-benchmarked-new-indilinx-controller-holds-its-gr/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/25/ocz-octane-ssd-benchmarked-new-indilinx-controller-holds-its-gr/#comments Maybe it's just interference from our seasonal goggles, but isn't there something quite cheery about SSD reviews? In the case of OCZ's Octane drive, our good spirits derive from the sturdy performance of its freshly-conceived Indilinx Everest controller, which ought to keep big players like SandForce and Samsung on their toes. HotHardware just reviewed the $369 $879 512GB variant and found that it delivered fast boot-up times, strong read speeds and writes that were just shy of enthusiast-class drives. Follow the source link for the full and possibly festive benchmarks.

Update: Sorry about the optimistic price error. Guess we got carried away with all the holiday discounts. As many of y'all spotted, it's the 256GB version that goes for $369.

Update: We just added links to reviews from AnandTech and Storage Review, which both arrived at similarly positive conclusions.

OCZ Octane SSD benchmarked, new Indilinx controller holds its ground originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 Nov 2011 08:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>benchmarkbenchmarksBenchmarkSoftwarecontrollereveresthard driveHardDriveindilinxindilinx everestIndilinxEverestoczocz octaneOCZ SSDOCZ TechnologyOczOctaneOczSsdOczTechnologysolid statesolid state disksolid state drivesolid state drivesSolidStateSolidStateDiskSolidStateDriveSolidStateDrivesssdssd controllerSsdControllerssdsstorageFri, 25 Nov 2011 08:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Western Digital purchase of Hitachi's hard drive business approved by EU regulators]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/23/western-digital-purchase-of-hitachis-hard-drive-business-approv/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/23/western-digital-purchase-of-hitachis-hard-drive-business-approv/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/23/western-digital-purchase-of-hitachis-hard-drive-business-approv/#comments HDD Two of the hard drive industry's biggest players will soon be just one company. European Union regulators have given a conditional thumbs-up to Western Digital's plans to snatch up Hitachi's storage division for $4.3 billion. The companies are the second and third largest hard disk manufacturers in the world (respectively) behind Seagate, which purchased Samsung's HDD division back in April. Out of concern for the quickly consolidating market, regulators only approved the Western Digital deal after assurances that the company would sell off some its production assets, including a manufacturing plant, and transfer some intellectual property to the new unit being put on the auction block. As soon as WD finds a buyer it'll be free and clear to take over Hitachi's HDD division. So, anyone interested in a hard drive manufacturing plant?

Western Digital purchase of Hitachi's hard drive business approved by EU regulators originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Nov 2011 08:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acquisitioncompetition commissionCompetitionCommissionconditional approvalConditionalApprovaleuropean unionEuropean Union Competition CommissionEuropeanUnionEuropeanUnionCompetitionCommissionhard diskhard diskshard drivehard drivesHardDiskHardDisksHardDriveHardDriveshddhitachimergerregulatorregulatorssalestoragewestern digitalWesternDigitalWed, 23 Nov 2011 08:52:00 EST<![CDATA[Seagate merges Barracuda range, renounces small platters for hungry storage diners]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/01/seagate-merges-barracuda-range-renounces-small-platters-for-hun/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/01/seagate-merges-barracuda-range-renounces-small-platters-for-hun/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/01/seagate-merges-barracuda-range-renounces-small-platters-for-hun/#comments
Seagate's decided its desktop drives were getting a bit flabby. It's ditching the Green and XT brands, and in turn, deeming the entire range Barracuda. The revamped series now carries 1TB platters rather than the five 600GB layers in the older models and all will run at 7200RPM with a 64MB cache. It's part of an initiative to slim a bloated inventory channel for the company's OEM partners. Those with an environmental bent should know that the new drives more than match the Green's environmental prowess, whilst those who are speed hungry will be excited to hear news on the mooted new Barracuda XT. This replacement XT will match the hybrid stylings of the Momentus XT, a hybrid HDD that includes a 4GB SSD to increase cache speed. The 3TB monster will be available for $179.99 as soon as it hits the shipping channels -- which, so far as we can tell, should be anytime between next week and next year.

Continue reading Seagate merges Barracuda range, renounces small platters for hungry storage diners

Seagate merges Barracuda range, renounces small platters for hungry storage diners originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Nov 2011 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Barracuda XTBarracudaXtHard DriveHard DrivesHardDriveHardDrivesHDDHDDsminipostSeagateSeagate BarracudaSeagate Barracuda XTSeagate TechnologySeagateBarracudaSeagateBarracudaXtSeagateTechnologyTue, 01 Nov 2011 17:01:00 EST<![CDATA[OCZ RevoDrive Hybrid review roundup: a speedy and spacious storage solution]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/27/ocz-revodrive-hybrid-review-roundup-a-speedy-and-spacious-stora/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/27/ocz-revodrive-hybrid-review-roundup-a-speedy-and-spacious-stora/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/27/ocz-revodrive-hybrid-review-roundup-a-speedy-and-spacious-stora/#comments Ever since we spent some time with OCZ's RevoDrive Hybrid back at Computex, we eagerly awaited its arrival so that it could be put through its paces. Well, the time has come for the $500 storage mongrel to face the music and for us to find out if it adds up to more than the sum of its SSD and HDD parts. Hot Hardware found the RevoDrive Hybrid delivered on its promise of mind-blowing peak transfer speeds of almost 1GBps, with performance that could only be matched by dual SATA III SSDs in a RAID 0 setup. Everyone spoke well of the Dataplex software that manages the RevoDrive's caching, as it dutifully maxed out performance once it learned usage patterns. TRIM support was a welcome feature, but all noted the niggle that it must be used as the system boot device, so it can't pull duty as secondary storage. All in all, the consensus is that while the RevoDrive Hybrid may be too pricey for some, it's a darn good deal for the performance it provides. Of course, you don't have to take our word for it, so dig into the full reviews at the sources below.

OCZ RevoDrive Hybrid review roundup: a speedy and spacious storage solution originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 Oct 2011 07:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1tb1tb hdd1tbHddhard drivehard drivesHardDriveHardDriveshddoczOCZ RevoDriveocz revodrive hybridOczRevodriveOczRevodriveHybridreview roundupReviewRoundupreviewsrevodriverevodrive hybridRevodriveHybridsolid state driveSolidStateDrivessdThu, 27 Oct 2011 07:37:00 EST<![CDATA[Toshiba introduces tiny enterprise hard drives with big speed and big storage]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/13/toshiba-introduces-tiny-enterprise-hard-drives-with-big-speed-an/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/13/toshiba-introduces-tiny-enterprise-hard-drives-with-big-speed-an/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/13/toshiba-introduces-tiny-enterprise-hard-drives-with-big-speed-an/#commentsHDDYou're probably laughing to yourself right now saying, "300GB? That's not big storage." But, hear us out. The oh-so memorably titled MK01GRRB and MK01GRRR are not your standard hard drives -- these are enterprise-grade disks that spin at 15k RPM and fit in a 2.5-inch bay. Toshiba claims they're the highest capacity 2.5-inch, 15k drives on the market, and we couldn't dig up any evidence to the contrary. The 6Gb/s SAS connection makes sure businesses get the most they can out of those platters spinning at break neck speeds and the GRRR models include a self-encrypting feature. The two drives will start shipping in both 147 and 300GB sizes in Q1 of 2012, but pricing has yet to be announced. Check out the PR after the break for a few more details.

Update: Seagate wrote in to let us know that they had a similar drive at the same size, capacity and speed earlier this year. So, take that, Tosh.

Continue reading Toshiba introduces tiny enterprise hard drives with big speed and big storage

Toshiba introduces tiny enterprise hard drives with big speed and big storage originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 13 Oct 2011 10:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>15k15k rpm15kRpmencryptingencryptionhard diskhard diskshard drivehard drivesHardDiskHardDisksHardDriveHardDriveshddMK01GRRBMK01GRRRself encrypting driveself encryptionSelfEncryptingDriveSelfEncryptionstoragetoshibaToshiba MK01GRRBToshiba MK01GRRRToshibaMk01grrbToshibaMk01grrrThu, 13 Oct 2011 10:42:00 EST<![CDATA[Seagate GoFlex Cinema puts up to 3TB of media files at your TV's disposal]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/13/seagate-goflex-cinema-puts-up-to-3tb-of-media-files-at-your-tvs/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/13/seagate-goflex-cinema-puts-up-to-3tb-of-media-files-at-your-tvs/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/13/seagate-goflex-cinema-puts-up-to-3tb-of-media-files-at-your-tvs/#comments Seagate GoFlex Cinema Seagate's latest addition to its GoFlex line of hard drives is dubbed the Cinema and, as you've probably guessed, it's designed to hook up to your home entertainment system. Inside is a set of spinning platters up to 3TB in size, and around back are HDMI, composite, and S/PDIF hookups. This isn't just some hard drive with a marketing gimmick though. The hardware itself is capable of pumping out 1080p video in a slew of different formats (including MKV and MP4 amongst others), and even comes packaged with a remote for perusing your media collection from the comfort of your milk crate couch. The GoFlex Cinema is available now in Europe, starting at €99 ($136) for the 1TB version and climbing to €179 ($246) for the 3TB model. No word yet on US pricing or availability.

Seagate GoFlex Cinema puts up to 3TB of media files at your TV's disposal originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 13 Oct 2011 02:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cinemaexternal hard driveExternalHardDrivegoflexgoflex cinemaGoflexCinemahard diskhard driveHardDiskHardDrivehdpostcrossmedia playerMediaPlayerseagateseagate goflexseagate goflex cinemaSeagateGoflexSeagateGoflexCinemaThu, 13 Oct 2011 02:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Need RAID? Fusion F2QR packs two 1TB drives into a portable shell]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/02/need-raid-fusion-f2qr-packs-two-1tb-drives-into-a-portable-shel/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/02/need-raid-fusion-f2qr-packs-two-1tb-drives-into-a-portable-shel/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/02/need-raid-fusion-f2qr-packs-two-1tb-drives-into-a-portable-shel/#comments

Do you demand portability from your Redundant Array of Independent Disks? Then you've probably already seen Sonnet's Fusion F2, with its two 1TB drives and eSATA connector. Today the company introduces the Fusion F2QR, which also features two 2.5-inch, 1TB hard drives -- but now comes with four interface options. You've got your eSATA, of course, but also Firewire 400, Firewire 800 and USB 2.0 connectors. There's a new built-in RAID controller that smooths configuration as well, and the aluminum case and fanless design keep noise to a minimum. All of that fits in a shell measuring 5.9- x 6.1- x 0.95-inches. This slender slab of storage is available now and will set you back $569.

Need RAID? Fusion F2QR packs two 1TB drives into a portable shell originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 02 Oct 2011 03:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1tbesataFusion F2FusionF2hard driveHardDriveMacpcportable raidPortableRaidraidsata raidSataRaidSonnetstorageSun, 02 Oct 2011 03:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Angelbird's Wings PCIe-based SSD preview and benchmarks]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/23/angelbirds-wings-pcie-based-ssd-preview-and-benchmarks/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/23/angelbirds-wings-pcie-based-ssd-preview-and-benchmarks/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/23/angelbirds-wings-pcie-based-ssd-preview-and-benchmarks/#comments Storage enthusiasts (yeah, there is such a thing -- what of it?) would probably tell you that PCIe-based SSDs are a dime a dozen these days. But in all seriousness, the prices we're seeing are proof that a few more competitors wouldn't hurt. A few weeks back, Austria's own Angelbird started to ship a solution that we first heard about during 2010, and we were fortunate enough to pop a Wings PCIe SSD RAID card into our Mac Pro for testing. For years, we've been booting this up and running every single application off of its stock HDD -- a 640GB Hitachi HDE721064SLA360 (7200RPM) -- as we surmise many of you desktop owners might be. Anxious to see if these are the Wings your existing tower needs to soar? Head on past the break for our impressions.

Gallery: Angelbird's Wings PCIe-based SSD

Continue reading Angelbird's Wings PCIe-based SSD preview and benchmarks

Angelbird's Wings PCIe-based SSD preview and benchmarks originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Sep 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>angelbirdangelbird wingsAngelbirdWingsbenchmarkbenchmarkingbenchmarkscresteuropehard driveHardDrivehddimpressionsnandpci epci e ssdpci expresspci express ssdpci-epci-e ssdPci-eSsdPciEPciESsdPciExpressPciExpressSsdpreviewRAIDsolid state driveSolidStateDrivessdstoragewingsFri, 23 Sep 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Western Digital rolls out My Passport, My Passport Studio hard drives for Mac users]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/22/western-digital-rolls-out-my-passport-my-passport-studio-hard-d/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/22/western-digital-rolls-out-my-passport-my-passport-studio-hard-d/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/22/western-digital-rolls-out-my-passport-my-passport-studio-hard-d/#comments
No rainbow of colors or stylized designs here, but Mac users do now have a pair of fairly sleek and streamlined new portable hard drives to consider from Western Digital. That includes the latest My Passport and My Passport Studio (pictured above), the latter of which boasts an all metal enclosure and a pair of FireWire 800 ports in addition to the standard USB 2.0 connector. Otherwise, both are available in 500GB, 750GB and 1TB capacities, and they are of course fully compatible with Apple's Time Machine. Look for the standard My Passport to run between $100 and $130, while the My Passport Studio starts at $130 and tops out at $180.

Update: Storage Review has already taken a look at both drives, and is particularly impressed by the pricier My Passport Studio. Hit the links below for a closer look at them.

Continue reading Western Digital rolls out My Passport, My Passport Studio hard drives for Mac users

Western Digital rolls out My Passport, My Passport Studio hard drives for Mac users originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Sep 2011 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>external hard driveExternalHardDrivehard driveHardDrivemy passportmy passport studioMyPassportMyPassportStudioportable hard drivePortableHardDriveWDwestern digitalWesternDigitalThu, 22 Sep 2011 18:29:00 EST<![CDATA[LaCie ships Little Big Disk Thunderbolt, promises 240GB SSD variant in mid-October]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/20/lacie-ships-little-big-disk-thunderbolt-promises-ssd-variant-in/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/20/lacie-ships-little-big-disk-thunderbolt-promises-ssd-variant-in/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/20/lacie-ships-little-big-disk-thunderbolt-promises-ssd-variant-in/#comments It's taken its sweet time, but folks who weren't exactly keen on the Promise Pegasus finally have a compact option for putting their Thunderbolt port to good use. LaCie has just announced that it's Little Big Disk Thunderbolt external drive -- a first for the outfit -- is available to purchase. For those keeping count, it's only the second overall T-bolt drive to hit the scene, with this 1.4-pounder boasting a pair of 2.5-inch drives, support for JBOD / RAID 1 / RAID 0 and a typically metallic chassis that measures 1.6- x 5.5- x 3.3-inches. We're promised speeds as high as 480MB/sec (for SSD arrangements) and 190MB/sec (for HDD models), and users can daisy chain several of 'em to hit transfer rates of around 800MB/sec. These guys should be available starting today (though Apple's online shop currently has a "one to two week" wait), with the 1TB 7200RPM edition retailing for $399, and the 2TB 5400RPM model listing for $499. We're still awaiting word on the specifics surrounding the October-bound 240GB SSD variant, but those who'd rather press their luck for a free one can enter the ongoing contest in the More Coverage link below.

Gallery: LaCie Little Big Disk Thunderbolt press photos

Continue reading LaCie ships Little Big Disk Thunderbolt, promises 240GB SSD variant in mid-October

LaCie ships Little Big Disk Thunderbolt, promises 240GB SSD variant in mid-October originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applehard driveHardDrivehddLaCieLaCie Little Big Disk ThunderboltLacieLittleBigDiskThunderboltLittle Big DiskLittle Big Disk ThunderboltLittleBigDiskLittleBigDiskThunderboltnow shippingNowShippingon saleOnSaleRadioheadshipshippingshipsstorageThunderboltvideoTue, 20 Sep 2011 13:58:00 EST<![CDATA[OCZ announces slimmer 7.5mm SSD, confirms one resides in LG's P220 ultraportable]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/14/ocz-announces-slimmer-7-5mm-ssd-confirms-one-resides-in-lgs-p2/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/14/ocz-announces-slimmer-7-5mm-ssd-confirms-one-resides-in-lgs-p2/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/14/ocz-announces-slimmer-7-5mm-ssd-confirms-one-resides-in-lgs-p2/#comments LG's P220 ultraportable has been making the rounds since Computex in June, but OCZ has only just now confirmed that it's using a fairly special new 2.5-inch SSD from the company. Unlike traditional 2.5-inch laptop drives that measure 9.5mm thick, this new "custom designed" drive measures just 7.5mm in height, which makes it about 25 percent slimmer. So far only the 128GB variety included in the P220 has been confirmed, but OCZ indicates that it's just the first of more LG laptops to use the new drives. Press release is after the break.

Continue reading OCZ announces slimmer 7.5mm SSD, confirms one resides in LG's P220 ultraportable

OCZ announces slimmer 7.5mm SSD, confirms one resides in LG's P220 ultraportable originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Sep 2011 23:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2.5-inch ssd2.5-inchSsd7.5mmhard driveHardDrivelglg p220LgP220oczp220ssdultrabookultraportableWed, 14 Sep 2011 23:04:00 EST