Seagate announces 4TB GoFlex Desk external hard drive

Seagate today announced a 4TB variant of its GoFlex Desk external hard drive, touting it as the highest capacity single-volume external storage device on the market. The company is not saying how many platters are inside the new drive but considering it has already announced 1TB per platter drives, we're assuming they went with four platters with an areal density of 625Gb/s per square inch.

They aren't mentioning spindle speed or cache size, either. What they do mention is that the GoFlex Desk will ship with support for USB 2.0 and USB 3.0, while a Mac version shipping later this month will offer USB 2.0 and FireWire compatibility. The company’s GoFlex Desk for Mac hard drive offers similar features but comes pre-formatted in the HFS+ format.

Like other members of the GoFlex Family, the GoFlex Desk allows users to change adapters to work with a range of interfaces (USB, FireWire, eSATA), and apparently a Thunderbolt update could be on the way.

Seagate is also introducing a new design that will become standard across the entire GoFlex line by the end of the month. Although the company mentions that the GoFlex Desk's new design should leave "a smaller footprint," this external drive still weights 2.93 pounds and includes a power supply cord, so naturally it doesn't quite qualify as portable.

The GoFlex Desk is retailing for $250 on Seagate's website and comes with a two year warranty.

Panasonic announces Android-based Toughpad tablets

Panasonic has officially announced a new line of rugged Android tablets today that will sell under the Toughpad moniker. Just like the company's Toughbook products, the 10-inch A1 and 7-inch B1 Toughpads are designed to withstand mountains of abuse, from extreme temperatures between 14 and 122 degrees Fahrenheit to 4-foot drops as well as dust and water spills. The new tablets are aimed at users operating in heavy-duty usage scenarios, such as utility crews on the road, military staff in combat situations, or engineers doing the rounds at a construction site.

The Toughpad A1 will arrive in spring 2012 for a hefty $1,299. That will get you a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, Android 3.2 Honeycomb, a daylight-readable LED-backlit display (1024x768), 1GB of DDR2 memory, Wi-Fi, options for WiMAX or LTE connectivity as well as 3G networking, a front-facing 2-megapixel camera and rear-facing 5-megapixel camera with an LED flash, 10-hour battery life, and ports for microUSB, microSDHC and HDMI.

In addition, the Toughpads will sport enterprise-class security features such as software and hardware encryption, dual-factor authentication and enhanced VPN. Panasonic says the tablets should meet security standards like FIPS 140-2 for government use and HIPAA for medical use. They also include custom device management controls, which should make them easy for IT administrators to deploy, and access to Business AppPortal for curated enterprise apps.

Clearly, this isn't the thinnest and prettiest tablet on the block -- the A1 weighs in at a hefty 2.13 pounds, compared to the iPad 2 and 10-inch Galaxy Tab, which weigh in at around 1.3 pounds. Then again, Panasonic is going for a niche market here where security, reliability and durability are key selling points.

Unfortunately, while the A1's specs look competitive by today's standards, by the time this tablet actually arrives on the market it might feel a bit dated next to tablets running Android 4.0 powered by quad-core chips. The 7-inch Toughpad B1 will launch even later in 2012, though no specifications or pricing details have been revealed so far.

Toshiba announces 24nm toggle-mode DDR NAND flash

Toshiba has introduced new flash memory chips that offer more performance and storage capacity in less space than existing parts. The company's new 24nm e-MMC chips feature toggle-mode double data rate (DDR) NAND flash memory, which boosts random access and sequential performance over single data rate NAND. All the while, they offer plenty of storage capacity for today's smartphones, tablets, e-book readers, digital cameras, printers, and more.

The JEDEC e-MMC v4.41-compliant parts cram up to 128GB of NAND (16 64Gb/8GB chips) alongside an e-MMC controller in a single package -- a feat that Toshiba claims to be the first to achieve. Featuring the world's smallest geometry e-MMC, the company's new components utilize advanced chip thinning and layering technologies to produce parts measuring only 30 micrometers thick (0.0001 inches -- thinner than the average human hair).

"The utilization of our new toggle-mode DDR NAND die at 64Gbit density is key to enabling our e-MMC to support the higher performance, and smaller, thinner packages that customers desire," said Scott Beekman, Toshiba America's senior business developer manager of mobile communications memory . "For example, our 128GB e-MMC can now be supported in a smaller 14 x 18 package, which many space conscious applications can support."

We've included Toshiba's list of key features at the end of the post. Samples of 8GB, 16GB, 32GB and 64GB packages are already shipping with mass production set for the third quarter. Meanwhile, 2GB, 4GB and 128GB densities will begin sampling later this year with mass production scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2011 or first quarter of 2012. The company hasn't said precisely who plans to purchase the chips or what devices they'll appear in.

• Faster performance using toggle-mode DDR NAND.
• The JEDEC e-MMC V4.41 compliant interface handles essential functions, including writing block management, error correction and wear leveling. It simplifies system development, allowing manufacturers to minimize development costs and speed up time to market for new and upgraded products.
• A wide product line-up supports capacities from 2GB to 128GB.
• The 24nm 64Gbit die enables smaller e-MMC packages.
• The new chips support the advanced partitioning and security of e - MMC V4.41. Multiple storage areas can be configured, including several enhanced memory areas for system files or code, and a multi-level cell (MLC) area for data storage.

Samsung announces 20nm DDR 2.0 NAND chip production

Samsung Electronics today announced it has begun production of a high-performance toggle DDR 2.0 multi-level-cell (MLC) memory chip. The 64-gigabit MLC NAND flash chip is manufactured with 20nm-class process technology and can transmit data at a bandwidth of up to 400Mb/s (50MB/s). This provides a 10-fold increase over the 40Mb/s (5MB/s) SDR NAND widely used today, and a three-fold boost over 133Mb/s (16.6MB/s) toggle DDR 1.0, 32Gb NAND flash.

"With this Samsung is leading the market, which is evolving to fourth-generation smartphones and Serial ATA 6Gb/s SSDs," said executive VP of memory sales & marketing Wanhoon Hong. "We will continue to aggressively develop the world's most advanced toggle DDR NAND flash solutions with higher performance and density, since we see them as vital to enabling a greater diversity of services for mobile phone users worldwide."

The Korean company expects the availability of storage density as high as eight gigabytes (64Gb) in a single chip will trigger widespread acceptance of Toggle DDR-based high-performance flash in USB flash drives and SD cards, as well as smart phones and SSDs, replacing previous four gigabyte (32Gb) chips that Samsung started producing last year.

Back in April, SanDisk and Toshiba announced the world's first NAND flash memory chips manufactured using a 19nm process technology, which also use Toggle DDR2.0 to enhance data transfer speed. High-volume production planned for the second half of 2011, though, while Intel and Micron also have a 20nm 8GB (64Gb) part planned for production in that timeframe. According to IHS iSuppli, shipments of NAND flash memory with 64Gb or higher density are expected to account for approximately 70% of total NAND flash memory shipments in 2012.

Razer announces its Hydra motion sensing PC controller

It's been over a year since Razer and Sixense partnered up to develop a "revolutionary true-to-life, next-generation motion sensing and gesture recognition controller for PC gaming." Today we finally get to meet that controller: the Razer Hydra. As you'd expect the new peripheral will enable Wii-like gameplay across a number of PC titles, but rather than targeting a casual-gaming audience Razer is promising to take accuracy to the next level for serious gamers.

The Hydra's tracking technology works by way of a base station that emits a magnetic field, which Razer says allows the exact location and orientation of the handheld controllers to be detected with millimeter and degree accuracy. Razer is also promising ultra-low latency in order to get the most fluid and precise game experience ever.

The controller itself is reminiscent of the Nintendo Wii Nunchuk. It comprises two pieces, connected to the base station by an anti-tangle braided cable, and each features an analogue stick, four face buttons, a trigger button and a bumper, along with the magnetic motion sensors. Razer says the system was designed to be used in the typical seated in front of a PC set up, so while some may lament the lack of wireless functionality, it also means no batteries and lighter weight.

Razer has optimized the Hydra for compatibility with over 125 games out of the box, including Battlefield Bad Company 2, Bulletstorm, COD: Black Ops, Crysis 2, Resident Evil 5, and Valve's Portal 2. The controller will support downloadable configurations for future titles, and apparently can also be custom configured to work with other games.

The Razer Hydra will be available standalone for less than $100 or as part of a special edition Portal 2 Bundle for $140. Pre-orders will start in May, with shipping due to commence in June. You can check out a few more gameplay videos of the Hydra in Black Ops, Buletstorm and Left 4 Dead 2 over at Razer's website.

Hitachi announces first USB 3.0 external drives

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies (Hitachi GST) has announced a new line of Hitachi Touro Pro desktop and mobile external hard drives, which offer both local backup and cloud storage functionality. The Touro Pro line is an all-in-one solution to help protect, transport, and store your photos, music, videos, and documents for easy access from anywhere.

The Touro Mobile Pro Portable Drive (500GB for $110 or 750GB for $130) has the following features: sleek mobile design, 7200 RPM drives, local and cloud backup, cloud access anytime, upgrade for more cloud storage and apps, USB 3.0 interface, and USB powered. The Touro Desk Pro External Drive (1TB for $130, 2TB for $180, or 3TB for $230) has the following features: stackable desktop design, 7200 RPM drives, local and cloud backup, remote access anytime, upgrade for more cloud storage and apps, and USB 3.0 interface.

With a few clicks, the Hitachi Touro Pro local backup software will backup your photos, music, videos, and documents from your computer directly to the drive. Once installed, backups run quietly and automatically every 30 minutes, though you can schedule custom backups on a time or day that's convenient for you.

In addition to simple local backup features, the Touro Pro family's online storage option ensures your data is always accessible in the cloud, allowing you to access and share files from any browser, tablet, or smartphone. When using the cloud service, all content is stored in its natural format (no proprietary formatting), so files are easy to view, download, and share. You can even share your online content with others by just sending them a link. To start you off, you'll get 3GB of online storage for free. For more storage, there is an option to upgrade to 250GB for only $49 per year (you'll also get Hitachi's iPhone and iPad apps).

"Unbound by convention, Hitachi GST was the first to blend personal storage with cloud backup. We're liberating our customers from the limitations of today's technology and giving them free reign about where they store and how they access their digital content," Mike Williams, general manager of Hitachi GST Branded Business Group, said in a statement. "Our new intelligent storage products and services continue to redefine how we connect to our content -, while providing data protection, simplicity and ease of use for just about anyone."

SandForce Announces 2nd Gen SSD Processors

SandForce has officially announced the SF-2200 and SF-2100 SSD processors.

Thursday Patriot Memory announced that its new Wildfire line of SSDs will use the SandForce SF-2200 processor to achieve sequential read and write speeds up to 500 MB/s (@ 128K blocks) via a SATA 6 Gb/s interface. However SandForce also released its own announcement that same day, officially launching the SSD processor and its slower 3 Gb/s SATA-based brother, the SF-2100.

"With high profile products now incorporating SSDs as standard storage media and most other system vendors offering them as options, the market for client SSD applications is poised for growth as SSD prices decline,” said Joseph Unsworth, Research Director, NAND Flash & SSD at Gartner. “SSD controllers that can deliver superior performance and reliability without the dependence on DRAM will have a compelling value proposition across a wide range of client applications.”

As previously indicated, the SF-2200 enables sequential read and write speeds up to 500 MB/s. The SF-2100 processor only achieves sequential read and write speeds up to 250 MB/s. However, both processors arrive in a single-chip "DRAM-less" form factor and feature DuraClass Technology (RAISE, DuraWrite), support for advanced 30nm- and 20nm-class NAND flash from all leading flash vendors, advanced ECC engine correcting, power and performance optimization and tuning features, OPAL security with 256-bit AES encryption and automatic, line-rate double encryption with a drive-level password.

In addition to the SandForce and Patriot Memory announcements, OCZ Technology revealed that its new Vertex 3 SSD will use the new SandForce SF-2200 processor, but will "raise the bar" by achieving 550 MB/s read and 500 MB/s write transfer rates and up to 60,000 IOPS (4k random write) via a SATA 6 Gb/s interface. The SSD will arrive in 120 GB and 240 GB capacities, and feature both TRIM support and a 3-year warranty. To see our hands-on impressions of the drive, check out Andrew's review right here.

In related news, OCZ also announced on Thursday the Vertex 3 Pro SSD which will rely on the SandForce SF-2500 processor. This version will be geared to business consumers seeking enterprise-grade MLC (Multi-Level Cell) SSD storage for their server farms and IT infrastructures. This Pro edition will arrive in three flavors: 100 GB, 200 GB, and 400 GB models.

The Vertex 3 and Vertex 3 Pro will ship after next week's International CeBIT tradeshow in Hanover, Germany. Patriot's Wildfire line of SSDs are expected to arrive sometime in Q2 2011.

Intel announces third-generation SSD: 320 Series

Intel has announced the its Solid-State Drive (SSD) 510 series. The new Intel SSD 510 features SATA 6Gbps performance to take full advantage of Intel's transition to higher speed SATA bus interfaces on the recently introduced 2nd generation Intel Core processors (also know as the Sandy Bridge platform).

The SSD 510 series uses 34nm NAND flash memory and supports data transfers of up to 500MB/s, doubling sequential read speeds, and more than tripling the sequential write speeds (up to 315MB/s) of Intel's current 3Gbps SSDs. Intel is thus touting that the series offers the fastest sequential read and write speeds of any consumer SATA SSD available today, beating a traditional HDD by more than 50 percent.

The series is available now (launching a day early) in 120GB ($284) and 250GB ($584) flavors. Prices are for 1,000-unit quantities. Both products include a limited 3-year warranty.

Intel SSDs are available at Best Buy or Fry's Electronics in the US or online from Internet outlets such as Amazon.com or Newegg.com. To copy and clone data from a user's old HDD to a new Intel SSD, the chip giant offers a free cloning utility: Intel Data Migration Software. You'll also get the Intel SSD Toolbox with Intel SSD Optimizer, a free utility which provides Windows users with a powerful set of management, information, and diagnostic tools to help maintain the SSD.

"The Intel SSD 510 Series helps round out our SSD product line and was specifically designed for applications that require high sequential media transfers," Pete Hazen, director of marketing for Intel's NAND Solutions Group, said in a statement. "Whether it's a gamer wanting impeccable visual performance and faster game loading, or a performance-intensive workstation user, the new 6Gbps SATA SSD from Intel is not only significantly faster than the top 10,000 RPM gaming HDD, it's also faster than two RAIDed gaming HDDs."