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SanDisk's tiny 1TB USB-C stick is the perfect smartphone upgrade
There's a kind of weird pleasure to be derived from the ever-shrinking size of data storage. Sandisk's latest prototype at CES 2018 continues the company's tradition of space crunching, with a one-terabyte USB-C dongle for your next laptop, tablet or Android phone. And, well, what else can I say? Compared to existing, sometimes bigger USB-C storage, it's adorably petite, even at this early stage. However, there's no word on when it'll appear in stores -- and how much it'll cost. I'd just caution any enthusiasm with the point that this could well be another gadget that's easy to lose.
Lacie USB 3.0 RuggedKey now shipping: $40 for 16GB, $70 for 32GB
Encountered much violence lately? Then consider yourself a target for Lacie's new ruggedized USB 3.0 stick, which is now available at the company's online store. Yes, it's as fat as it looks in the SanDisk Extreme comparison photo after the break, but most of that girth comes from the rubbery orange cushion designed to protect your data from water, extreme temperatures and 100-meter drops. Exactly how much of that protection you'd retain even after removing the orange part isn't yet clear, but we can vouch for the fact that an 850MB video file made it across from the RuggedKey to a Retina MacBook Pro at almost exactly the claimed maximum transfer rate of 150MB/s. The write speed wasn't so stunning compared to the SanDisk -- only around 40MB/s when data travelled the other way, or a quarter of the speed of a 64GB Extreme stick -- but then, at $40 for 16GB and $70 for 32GB, the Lacie also comes in a lot cheaper.
SanDisk outs Extreme Pro SDXC, Mobile Ultra microSDXC, new Cruzer USB sticks
Okay, they're not depicted to scale -- but don't they look sweet? In addition to the Memory Vault, SanDisk also chose today to freshen up its SDXC and USB flash products, which should start appearing in candy stores from October. Top billing goes to the Extreme Pro SDXC with 95MB/s reads and purportedly world-beating 90MB/s writes, starting at $110 for 8GB and topping out at 64GB for untold dollars. The Mobile Ultra range for microSDXC-equipped phones and tablets also goes up to 64GB, with 30MB/s transfer rates and a starting price of $25 for 4GB. Then there's the tiny Cruzer Fit and pocket-friendly Cruzer Switch USB sticks starting at the $20 mark, plus a dime for good luck. Click the PR after the break for more sugary details.
Sony accelerates Memory Stick's rate of obsolescence to 50MBps
Only Sony -- the company behind the "Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity" streaming service -- would consider naming its latest flash memory card the "Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo HX." But once you get past its monumental moniker you'll notice that the 32GB (¥17,000 about $200), 16GB (¥9,000 or $106), and 8GB (¥5,000 / $59) MS-HXB series memory cards boast an impressive 50MB per second transfer rate as tested by Sony. That's a pretty decent jump past Sony's older MS-HXA series of cards and should help keep the few remaining Memory Stick-only devices happily bursting into a future dominated by Secure Digital.
Sony slips out second generation TransferJet chip, partners begin to take notice
Bless its heart. Regardless of how loudly consumers yell, Sony can't seem to understand that creating proprietary formats that no other company has any interest in adopting isn't the brightest of ideas. The eventual fates of UMD, ATRAC, MiniDisc and countless others are proof of the outfit's ignorance, but somehow or another, it seem as if TransferJet has a modicum of a chance to gain some traction. Nearly a year after outing its first generation TransferJet chip, Sony is using CEATEC to spring its second generation one into action. From what we can tell, the primary addition to this chip is its native compatibility with USB 2.0 and PCI Express, with hardware and software improvements credited with an effective data transmission boost to somewhere north of 300Mbps. Potentially more interesting, however, is the lower power draw, which could lead to TransferJet embeds within smartphones, tablets, netbooks and other low-cost mobile computers. Across the pond(s) in Tokyo, Toshiba has been caught showing off a TransferJet SD card that could allow a potentially wider swath of devices to support Sony's wireless protocol, although the hardware typically has to be designed specifically to not interfere with the chip's ultra short-range transmissions, and software drivers have to be built as well -- not even all of Sony's new Cyber-shots support its existing TransferJet Memory Stick. We'll be digging for more details (ship date, price, etc.) just as soon as we can.
Verbatim's Clip-it is a USB drive with paperclip ambitions
It sure is hard to differentiate yourself in the highly competitive world of ever-shrinking USB storage. To avoid this trend of disregard, Verbatim has sent its latest offering off to paper management school and the results are now apparent for us to see. The new Clip-it comes with an added incision in the middle of its lilliputian body that allows it to act as a paperclip or maybe even a handsome accessory to your geek chique outfit. Verbatim makes sure to tell us (about eleventy times) that the Clip-it has scooped up a red dot Design Award for its ingenuity, and prices the thing at eminently affordable €8.99 (2GB) and €11.49 (4GB) levels. Those correspond to $12 and $15.34, respectively, meaning you could have the whole set of seven colors for less than what you'd have to spend on just one iWatch.
Guest Post: How to assemble a hot gaming rig for Cataclysm
This article has been brought to you by Seed, the Aol guest writer program that brings your words to our pages. Today's post is the second of a three-part series on preparing your computer for Cataclysm. Last week, we covered upgrading your current system. Today, we'll look at building a system that will play WoW at max settings without breaking the bank. I like my cases how I like my women -- lightweight and protective. A computer case has three purposes in life: to house all the components, to protect them and to provide good airflow to them. Owning the most epic set of plate mail ever created does you no good if you cannot move or breathe in it. However, running around in your auction house tux is also a bad idea if you're the main tank. It's important to find a happy middle ground between the two. When it comes to computer cases, first, pick out something you like. A case should be an expression of its owner! Pick out a few different cases you like and then narrow down the search by the number of fans the case supports. Modern systems will require at least one 120mm front intake fan and one 120mm rear exhaust fan. A top exhaust fan is a nice bonus, since (as everyone knows) heat rises. You should be able to find a decent enough case for around $50 with free shipping.
Guest Post: Is your computer ready for Cataclysm?
This article has been brought to you by Seed, the Aol guest writer program that brings your words to WoW.com. The Lich King is dead, your GearScore is 6,000+, and you have enough alts to run your own 25-man ICC. You cannot wait for the upcoming Cataclysm expansion, but along with the new instances, gear and level cap, there are also significantly increased graphics to consider. You may be ready for Cataclysm -- but is your computer? While we have yet to hear official system requirements from Blizzard, we do know from the Cataclysm FAQ that "there will be incremental tweaks and updates to the graphics engine in this expansion. For example, we've made improvements to the way that water is rendered. We'll announce the exact system requirements closer to the expansion's release." This is the first part of a three-part series on getting your computer up to speed for Cataclysm. Today, we will cover how to cheaply upgrade your current system. Part 2 will look at how to build a cost-effective, brand new system that will still run WoW at full settings. Finally, part 3 will focus on building a future-proof monster computer capable of soloing the Blood Queen herself!
Infinitec's 'infinite' USB memory drive delayed until August, shown streaming to Xbox 360 (video)
If you've always wanted a D&D-style bag of holding, we're thinking Infinitec's IUM is as close as you're going to get, looking like a plain 'ol USB thumb drive but actually storing an infinite amount of, well, stuff. However, you're going to have to wait a little longer to reach into this magic satchel, with the unit's ship date being delayed until the end of August. The price is still the same, at $129, and the company was kind enough to create a video just for you that shows how it all works. It's embedded below, but if you're looking for the Cliff's Notes it shows pairing the thumb drive to a computer, installing some hosting software, and then streaming the Avatar trailer from a laptop to an Xbox 360 in HD with seemingly no lag nor dropped frames. Looks great, but will it work that well in the real world on a typical internet connection? We can't wait to find out. %Gallery-96523%
Sony announces faster Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo HX, children's eyes light up with glee
Can you handle an even faster Memory Stick? It's the Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo HX series, which Sony is speeding up but, curiously, isn't tacking any more random letters to the already ridiculous name. The cards offer maximum capacity of 32GB and transfer rates of 30MB/s, and while Sony doesn't indicate whether that's a read or a write speed (we're guessing read) they should handily out-class even high-class SD-based storage options. Naturally, though, you'll be paying for that performance, with 8GB prices starting at $59.99. No word on how Sony will differentiate these faster cards from the current crop of unnecessarily long-named storage options falling under the Pro-HG Duo HX moniker, but we'll find out when they hit retailers later this summer.
Sony Cyber-shots go 'Bananas!' with GPS+Compass, SD card, HD video, TransferJet
We've got plenty of options for would-be Cyber-shot owners coming out of the Sony press event, so let's get right into it, eh? For those with a little money to burn, the DSC-HX5V and DSC-TX7 compact digital stills rock full HD (1920 x 1080 60i) AVCHD video, Backlight Correction High Dynamic Range (said to improve shooting in low light) and that world famous TransferJet (perfect for moving data back and forth between all those new Sony Memory Sticks and Vaio F Series notebooks). The former includes GPS + Compass and Optical SteadyShot with Active Mode, while the latter has a slim, swanky form factor. On the lower end of things, the DSC-W370 and DSC-W350 are 14MP shooters, while the DSC-W330, DSC-W310, and DSC-S2100 rock a longer zoom and wide-angle lenses. Speaking of that world famous Sweep Panorama, both the W370 and W350 Cyber-shot models can take up to 243 and 268-degree pictures, respectively, "in one easy press-and-sweep motion." And no, this ain't even the best part, for all the new Sony cameras support both dual-SD and MemoryStick. You're pretty stoked, right? Prices, release dates, and PR after the break.
Sony announces line of SD memory cards -- no, really
We've heard rumors that Sony has some pretty interesting things in store for CES, but nothing that's hinted at anything like this shocker: Sony is producing a line of SD memory cards. Those will come in the form of both SD and mircoSD cards, the former of which run the gamut from 2GB to 32GB (all Class 4), while the latter will be available in 2GB, 4GB, or 8GB capacities. Is this the beginning of the end for Memory Stick? Not according to Sony, which assures us that the SD cards merely "complement" its existing Memory Stick line, and strengthen its position as a "full line media supplier." The folks at Sony don't even seem to have been able to bring themselves to show some pictures of the actual cards just yet, but you'll be able to see them for yourself when they roll out later this month, at prices ranging from $14.99 to $159.99.
Get an 8GB PSP Memory Stick for $15
Now that nearly every game on PSP can be downloaded via the PlayStation Store, you may want to invest in a larger Memory Stick. This 8GB Memory Stick PRO Duo is only $15 (with free shipping) at Adorama, and is quite possibly the cheapest we've ever seen a Memory Stick of this size. Remember that Memory Stick Duos are only compatible with the PSP-1000 through 3000 series, and will not fit into a PSP Go. If you want to expand your PSP Go's internal memory, you may want to pick up this 4GB M2 Memory Stick at amazon for $16. [Via Slickdeals.net]
Stoic silence on the battlefield unless you install Dynasty Warriors 6 PSP data
Okay, a little background: Dynasty Warriors 6 is being ported to the PSP. The same Dynasty Warriors 6 that was the basis for Strikeforce, which came out on the PSP first and is now being ported to the Xbox 360 and PS3. This PSP version of DW6 includes elements of Dynasty Warriors 6 Empires. This isn't totally relevant to the news at hand, but it's really complicated and we're kind of proud of ourselves for (presumably) untangling it.This latest Dynasty Warriors 6, Dynasty Warriors 6 Special, won't require users to install data to the Memory Stick, but will have benefits for those who do. If you install the 260MB data, the speech in the game will be voiced. If you don't, your allies and enemies on the battlefield will communicate via text windows.Actually, now that we think about it, not having a thousand dudes yelling at you all the time seems a lot better. Thanks for the option, Koei!
Ninja Kunai USB Drive: the tech equivalent of getting a foreign language tattoo
You know how the vast majority of us would like to be ninjas, but don't know where to start? Well, we have found the answer -- that missing link between geek and ninja -- in the form of the Ninja Kunai 2GB flash drive. This USB accessory-cum-gimmicky 90s toy is inscribed with ... something, and, well, looks mildly threatening. Here's the really awesome part: it costs $125.35. Some might scoff and others might scowl, but just think of how exclusive this thing is going to be. Buying one of these will mark you out as truly individual.[Via TechnaBob]
Gresso Grand Monaco USB is the closest you'll get to a supercar 'drive'
Le's face the cold hard facts: with only a single-digit percentage of the global population able to afford a Ferrari, most of us are just gonna have to make do with an Atom-based replica instead. Spending inadvisable amounts on USB drives, on the other hand, that's something we can all do. Say hello to the $200 Grand Monaco Classic, a 32GB memory stick that continues Gresso's tradition of wasting expensive materials -- titanium, ceramic and carbon, in this case -- on otherwise fungible goods. Not outlandish enough for ya? Click past the break for the 64GB Double Security version, which costs $500. Disregard for basic economics comes as standard on both models. [Via Luxury Launches]
Engadget's back to school guide: mid-range
Feature Index | On the cheap | Money's no object So you're off to college / university / whatever they call it in your neck of the woods, and you've got a bit of a budget, but you're still looking to lay down a nice bit of cash. Luckily for you, we've got a huge list of recommendations that won't break the bank, but still deliver where it counts. These items were chosen with price range in mind, but of we kept an eye on the specs and capabilities in order to give you the best range of options within this budget. Laptops Netbooks Mobile Phones E-reader Dock / Alarm Printer Digital Cameras Laptop Bag Television Fun Stuff!
Sony announces specs for 2TB Memory Stick XC
Looks like those Sony 2TB memory sicks we warned you about way back in January are finally coming to pass, and Sony Insider has dug up the details. As appearing on Sony's oss-formats.org site, the Memory Stick XC keeps the current form factor for memory sticks (most likely these guys will be backwards compatible) with the XC series (XC Duo, XC-HG Duo, XC Micro (M2 XC), XC-HG Micro (M2 XC-HG)) using the exFAT file system, and the PRO series (including the PRO Duo, PRO-HG Duo, Micro (M2), HG Micro (M2-HG)) using the tried and true FAT12/16/32. Memory freaks can thrill to the specifications for the new class after the break.[Via Sony Insider]
Brando HD Media Player Docking Station does multi-format 1080p
It seems that Brando can't go a month without bringing out yet another slightly-improved domicile for your orphaned SATA HDDs. Following in the footsteps of the very recent Multimedia Dock, the latest unit adds H.264 decoding to the already present DivX, Xvid and MPEG-4, while output graduates to full 1080p. Featuring HDMI and a plethora of supported media formats, the humble docking station has certainly grown up, but is it enough to compete with standalone media players? Input flexibility would suggest so -- the new device accepts 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch hard drives, alongside USB flash memory, SD, MMC, and MS cards -- but alas, Brando loses the plot at the final hurdle, asking for an astronomical $199. With prettier alternatives available at half the price, this is unlikely to sell like hotcakes, but Brando's breakneck refresh cycle give us the feeling it won't be long before we see that perfect do-it-all dock.
Sony's 32GB Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo HX proves that product naming is hard
What's not to love here? Just look at that handsome blister pack, ready to mince flesh in your enthusiasm to get at Sony's largest and most convolutedly named Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo HX. The 32GB stick is rated at 20MBps reads or 15MBps writes when using the bundled USB adapter. Imagine, had you purchased pretty much any device other than that Cyber-shot, Handycam, or Alpha shooter from Sony you could have been enjoying 30MBps read/writes from 32GB SDHC class 10 cards. Nope, no availability date or pricing announced, how could that information possibly be useful in a press release?
