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Princeton unveils PNS01S NAS in compact, aluminum enclosure
Apparently Princeton's taking a breather from pumping out those LCD monitors and external battery packs, as its latest introduction comes in the form of a (relatively) compact NAS. The PNS01S sports a sleek, aluminum enclosure measuring just 2.36- x 8.27- x 7.17-inches, and comes in both 400GB and half-terabyte flavors. Each device boasts a fanless design, houses a SATA drive touting 16MB of cache, and offers up eSATA, USB 2.0, and gigabit Ethernet ports on the rear. Aside from playing nice with both Macs and PCs, it includes NetBak Replicator software to simplify those scheduled backups, and should be available later this month for a currently undisclosed price.[Via Akihabara News]
Hack your Mac Pro SuperDrive for fun and profit
It's not uncommon for computer manufacturers to swap and switch out various components for similar or near-identical parts during a production run, and Apple has been known to partake in this practice in the past. That being said, occasionally a manufacturer will use a part which has a slightly higher build quality or performance than its counterpart in other machines and simply throttle down the performance of the superior part through firmware.Although some of the new Mac Pro towers ship with the familiar Pioneer DVR-111D optical drive, the majority of the systems contain the apparently non-existent Sony DW-D150A. I say non-existent because the ubergeeks over at HardMac noticed that DW-D150A isn't a recognized Sony model number. After some more thorough research, it came to light that the drives billed as Sony DW-D150A are in actuality NEC 4570 mechanisms. You're probably asking yourself right about now why on earth I'm going on about something as innocuous as differing model numbers, and in most cases, you'd be right to question my sanity. However, in this rare instance, I have reached through the haze of confusion that normally clouds my mind, and at least for now I have a firm grip on the real world. The significance is this: The NEC 4570 kicks the pants off the Sony DW-D150A in almost all aspects of reading and writing, and has some extra features to boot.Sony: - DVD -/+R 16x - DVD+R DL 8x - DVD+RW 8x - DVD-RW 6x - CD-RW 32X - CD-R 32XNEC:- DVD -/+R 16x - DVD-R/ DL 8x - DVD+RW 8x - DVD-RW 6x - DVD-RAM 5x - CD-RW 32x - CD-R 48xNaturally, Apple has locked down the specifications of the NEC 4570 to keep things fair, but that doesn't mean we can't do a bit of hacking and regain all that sweet sweet performance. A few simple commands in the terminal, some pixie dust, and a little bit of luck, and you've got yourself one speedy optical drive. Disclaimer, Disclaimer, Disclaimer: Needless to say (but I'll say it anyway) this hack is totally unsupported by Apple, and there is no guarantee you won't brick your SuperDrive. Attempt at your own risk.
Flash-based MacBooks next year?
Buzz has been flying for a while now around the hard drive's belated evolution into flash-based drives, much like the solid-state memory found in the iPod nano. Engadget has of course been covering this NAND flash memory for some time, while manufacturers have been demoing real-world notebooks that use them as early as March 2006. The advantages of these drives are far better power usage (meaning: much longer battery lives), faster seek times (meaning: stuff works faster), vastly improved durability (no moving parts) and even some claim "instantaneous" OS booting.This all gets interesting when considering Apple's position, as they have one of the largest reputations with NAND flash memory manufacturers among PC makers, due to the success of the iPod. Sure, Samsung has been showing off their own flash-based notebook prototypes, but that's because they're cheating - they're one of the largest manufacturers of NAND memory. Apple's close relationship with these manufacturers is leading many to speculate that they could be one of the first manufacturers with a flash-based notebook, even as early as 2007, especially since Samsung is already selling commercial models with at least 32GB NAND drives baked in.This is, of course, speculation, and when speculation comes from the rumor gurus, you'd darn well better take it with at least one, if not two, grains of salt. Besides, back in March, a 32GB NAND flash drive cost $900 alone at $30/GB. With the way things move in this industry, prices should undoubtedly be at least a little better by now, but the question of when they become appealing enough for manufacturers like Apple to start including them as standard parts is anyone's guess. If anything, I'll bet that we'll start seeing rumors of NAND-based MacBooks at Macworld San Francisco 07 once the season kicks in. Stay tuned.
AV geeks love the 360 HD-DVD drive
The crowd at AVForums seems to think the 360 External HD-DVD Drive is a great value.for the mid-market audio/visual enthusiast. Do you know any non-gamers who are planning on purchasing a 360 primarily for home theater use?
California to go hands-free in the car
Banning phone use while driving is all the rage these days -- despite evidence suggesting it doesn't help -- and now California's the latest to join the bandwagon. The law, which goes into effect January 1, 2008, requires the use of a hands-free device when chatting behind the wheel, lest some Erik Estrada type pulls you over and slaps you with a $20 fine. Repeat offenders get their fine upped to $50, but apparently has no adverse effect on the driver's insurance premium; we suspect a sizable number of Californians are going to view an occasional $50 chat with a CHiP as more of a price of doing business than a deterrent (but then again, maybe that's the idea). And no, being parked in LA traffic won't count as an exemption.[Via Autoblog]
Microsoft announces "Live Drive" 2GB iDisk-like storage
Continuing their new Live platform push, Microsoft has announced an iDisk-like service dubbed Live Drive. This bagillionth addition to the Live product family will boast 2GB of online storage, accessibly via any computer with a web browser (read: IE or possibly Firefox - if enough people bug them for it), which can also live on a Windows Vista computer as a virtual drive.MacNN, where we found this, didn't have many more details as to whether Live Drive will mimic any other .Mac functionality, such as application and data syncing, and we can't seem to get in with Firefox or Safari so that's all you get for now. Ultimately, with services like Live Drive and AOL's upcoming 5GB of free online storage via Xdrive, the virtual storage market is definitely heating up. Let's just hope it hasn't gotten too hot in the kitchen for .Mac.
First Blu-ray PC drive won't play Blu-ray movies -- We know
Sony's first Blu-ray drive was officially unveiled a few days ago and to the surprise of many, it will not allow Blu-ray movie playback. But this isn't new. We have known this for a while as there are two things standing in the way. One, there has to be a software to allow for playback and two, your graphics card must decrypted the HDCP signal. Cyberlink is working hard on the first part and their software has been certified to playback both Blu-ray and HD DVDs but it hasn't been released yet. The only AACS-supported playback application is the OEM version of Intervideo WinDVD that's bundled with Sony's Blu-ray equipped VAIO notebook. ATI and NVIDIA both have graphics cards in the works that allow for HDCP processing but again, they are not released yet. Once both of these prereq's are met, then this drive will allow for playback, but till then, it is only going to record.
HD-DVD drive will be the cheapest
Speaking to Larry Hryb (AKA Major Nelson) in his recent pod blogcast, Microsoft's Albert Penello assured listeners that the upcoming HD-DVD add-on for the 360 would be the "cheapest HD-DVD player you can buy without a doubt, when it comes out." Now, with current players going for $400 or more, this means the anticipated add-on could cost over $300. Still, most speculate a price of around $200. The reason Microsoft can afford to make it so cheap less expensive than the $500-1000 competition is that the 360 itself will be handling the brunt of the work. Just to squeeze in a little offhanded Sony bashing, Penello reiterated that the 360 is about "choice." Quoth he, "We're not betting our whole console on an unproven media format ... Look, the thing about it is they are betting the company on Blu-ray, and they are making the consumers pay for their bet." So, now the million dollar question, would you buy the HD-DVD add-on for 200 bucks? [Via Evil Avatar]
Plextor announces Plexeraser destruct-o-drive
Plextor has announced a new CD/DVD drive that you'll want to keep safely out of reach of unsuspecting friends and family members, 'cause its sole purpose is to destroy whatever optical media you feed it. The Plexeraser appears to use the same technology that's been available in some previous Plextor drives, but this looks to be the first standalone model, and also the only one to come in a stylish orange color scheme -- no doubt intended to further emphasize the danger. Unfortunately, the Plexeraser takes a full six minutes to permanently wipe out all the data on a disc, making it about five minutes and fifty seconds slower than some other data destruction methods we can think of, and a lot less fun.[Thanks, Benjamin]
I-O Data HDPG-SU withstands 220 pounds of pressure
Not everyone needs a hard drive that's certified by Department of Defense standards, but I-O Data has created an external USB hard drive that can withstand fairly heavy scrutiny -- about 220 pounds worth. Although we're unsure whose DoD has given their blessing to the drive, it doesn't nullify the HDPG-SU's ability to be stomped on by Arnold Schwarzenegger without getting its platters bent out of shape. The plainly styled drives, only available in black or silver, have not only been tested to resist serious pressure, but also to withstand relatively small drops from 122cm (about 4 feet), which isn't spectacular considering the plethora of drives that park their heads on tumbles anyway. These rugged beasts will be available in 40GB, 80GB, and 120GB sizes, and while pricing and availability aren't yet known, we're left wondering what kind of secretive branch of government certifies a drive without any form of security built-in, biometric or otherwise, because what good will the DoD have with a military-grade / ruggedized drive that a thief can simply tap right into? [Via Mobilemag]
Sony unveils BWU-100A Blu-ray burner
This thing has been around for quite a while in prototype form, but Sony has finally gotten around to joining the pack and unveiling a PC drive for their own format. The BWU-100A Blu-ray burner doesn't have a whole lot of surprises -- other than that purple faceplate which will most likely totally clash with your PC case -- but the $750 pricetag is a nice move. It also manages all three lasers types, allowing it to read and write single layer 4.7GB DVD+R/+RW/RAM discs, 8.5GB DVD+R Double/Dual Layer Discs, and CDs. With 2x burning speeds for BD-R or BD-RE media, you can fill a 25GB Blu-ray disc in 50 minutes, and we're guessing 50GB discs should fill at a similar rate. Sony also touts the ability to move 1080i HDV camcorder footage natively to the BD-AV format for home playback, with a whole four hours fitting on one 50GB disc. The drive should be out in August, and is available for pre-order now.
MS shoots down internal HD-DVD drive rumors
Cesar from GamerScoreBlog addresses some wild speculation from an Australian Toshiba exec concerning supposed plans for an internal HD-DVD drive:Saw a few stories online about an Xbox 360 with a built-in HD DVD drive: not true. We have no plans to release an Xbox 360 with an internal HD DVD. What we showcased at E3 was an external HD DVD drive, and we're sticking with that. We've always had a games-first emphasis with the Xbox, but some consumers can build on the platform - like by adding a Windows Media Center Edition PC. By keeping the drive external, we're offering consumers a choice in creating their own hi-def experiences. So: no plans for an internal HD DVD. Exactly. Why force people to pay for tech they don't need (and piss off early adopters). That's Sony's job.
Seagate's leaking hard drives for 10x the fun
The wild and wacky frontier of hard drive technology is always full of surprising new ways to keep those drive capacities growing, and this new patent for leaking nanotube-housed lubricant onto disc platters is no exception. Apparently, a heated hard disc is capable of cramming more data into closer quarters, but the method hasn't been implemented in current drives since the heat evaporates the lubricant that allows the recording head to travel smoothly over the disc, causing a fatal disc crash. Seagate's new patent addresses the issue by storing lubricant in a special material made from millions of carbon nanotubes and embedded in the drive housing. As the disc spins, lubricant is slowly leaked out, and the disc can be kept safe for its whole lifetime. The upshot of all this is that Seagate can use the heat-assisted recording to cram several terabits per square inch into a drive -- 10 times as much data into the disc than is currently possible. We guess there'll be a bit of a wait for this to make it to market, but we greatly look forward to an educational video on the subject all the same.[Via New Scientist]
SuperDrive Firmware Update v2.0 for some PowerPC-based Macs
Apple has released a firmware update for SuperDrives in a variety of PowerPC-based Macs, including: PowerBook G4 (12 -inch 1.5GHz) PowerBook G4 (15-inch 1.33GHz, 1.5GHz, or 1.67GHz) PowerBook G4 (17-inch 1.67GHz) iMac G5 (17-inch 1.6GHz or 1.8GHz) iMac G5 (20-inch 1.8GHz) Mac mini G4 The update "fixes burning speeds when writing to certain recordable DVD media". Check out Apple's support document and download page for details and instructions on installing the update.
Offer for one free year of EGM ends today
"Free" offers on the internet often come with annoying trials and lengthy cancellation procedures, but this one here's legit -- it's actually running from the subscription web site of the publisher of EGM, Ziff Davis Media.You may have seen this offer for 12 free issues of Electronic Gaming Monthly on Joystiq or other game sites out there. Basically, what's happening is the Ziff Davis Game Group is running a subscription drive for the mag, sponsored by the World Cyber Games. Free subs are only on offer through today, however, so get a move on if you want a piece of the printed action.Of course, EGM may be no OPM, but it's helpful for even the healthiest fanboy to get a balanced diet of multiplatform news and information on a regular basis. Also, please note that you're under no obligation to sign up for the World Cyber Games page which follows the EGM subscription one, so you can absolutely get your free mag without registering with the WCG.[Via Joystiq]
Samsung division CEO bans company use of 8GB SGH-B570
We've heard stories about companies banning the use of certain kinds of products, such as cameraphones or digital audio players, since they could potentially be used to snap pics of or download classified info. But in what must be a first-of-its-kind case, Samsung has actually banned employees from using one of the company's own products out of industrial espionage fears. Ki-Tae Lee, CEO of Samsung Electronics Telecommunications Network, has apparently warned employees not to pick up the company's SGH-B570 cellphones, because the music-playing phone's 8GB capacity "is more than enough to steal all confidential data about our company." No word yet as to whether Lee is also banning Samsung's various thumbdrives, USB hard drives and audio players, which can also be used to slurp company data. Also, we have to admit to being just a little disappointed that all of the company's confidential data can fit on a single 8GB cellphone. What does that say about Samsung's R&D capabilities?Read (sub. req'd.)
Sony comes out and dismisses rumors
Like we said, there was no truth to the information claiming that the 20GB system wouldn't be compatible with wireless controllers or be upgradable. Sony has come out and called that BS. A Sony representative said, "Both configurations will support bluetooth PS3 controllers. The only non-upgradeable feature of the 20GB configuration will be the HDMI output."There's also some news about Sony releasing an adaptor for the use of memory sticks, SD and compact flash cards with the console.
Buffalo's "all the cool kids are doing it" Blu-ray burner
They're just stuffing that Panasonic OEM drive into a USB 2.0 case like everyone else is, but Buffalo has the distinction of selling their external BR-H2U2 Blu-ray drive for $1012, along with black and white internal versions for the equally steep $916. The drives will be shipping (in Japan, at least) early this June, so early adopters looking for a little abuse between now and then can feel free to drop by our place to be kicked in the head and have your money lit on fire.[Via Akihabara News]
Logitec brings Blu-Ray to Macs with the LBD-A2FU2
NOTE: This is not the same Logitech of mice and keyboard fame. But who cares! This is the first Blu-Ray burner that will work with PCs and Macs. What's that you say? Won't work with your Intel Mac Mini or MacBook Pro? They do have an external version coming out as well that will run on ether firewire or USB for a few bucks more. The drive itself though appears to be simply a re-badged Panasonic drive with the same price tag. So for about $850 you can except to see this drive at the end of June.[via Akihabara News]
IODATA launches BRD-UM2 & BRD-AM2B Blu-ray drives
Looks like Panny's not the only company showing off their Blu-ray offerings in Japan today. IODATA's got two of their own: the internal BRD-UM2, and external USB BRD-AM2B, which will go for ¥110,250 and ¥121,800, respectively (that's $942 US and $1,041 US, also respectively). Looks like these will also burn dual-layer BD-R and BD-RE media, as well as your usual DVD±RW and CD-RW, and will even beat Panasonic's offering to market by a solid 9 days with a June 1st release date. So keep an eye out with your favorite gadget importer and keep that credit card clean.[Via Impress]
