Kingston’s latest SSDNow V+ reviewed in 128GB flavor

Kingston’s SSDNow V+ series is hitting the streets, and bit-tech.net has put it, and its new Toshiba controller, through the ringer. That new silicon offers TRIM support in Windows 7, intended to remove any lingering fears of performance degradation , and this drive has been graced with 128MB of internal cache to conquer random read and write performance. In general the review finds that the controller does its job and TRIM’d deletes don’t have a major affect on performance, but there still was some degradation after 1TB worth of writes and deletes

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Kingston’s latest SSDNow V+ reviewed in 128GB flavor

News: Apple Launches "MacBook Repair Extension Program for Hard Drive Issues" (source: The Mac Observer)

Apple has launched a repair program called “MacBook Repair Extension Program for Hard Drive Issues.” As the name suggests, it is intended to deal with a batch of MacBooks that have had a specific hard drive issue. Under the program, Apple will replace the ..

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News: Apple Launches “MacBook Repair Extension Program for Hard Drive Issues” (source: The Mac Observer)

Samsung does the 2TB shuffle with EcoGreen F3EG hard drive

Look out, Western Digital — you’ve got a little competition up there in the rarefied storage air. Samsung just got official with its newest EcoGreen HDD, the 1.5TB and 2TB F3EG. This here drive is the followup unit to last year’s F2EG, and aside from sucking down as little power as possible for a capacious internal drive, it also incorporates a 3.0Gbps SATA interface, native command queuing features and 16MB / 32MB of buffer memory. It should be making its way out onto European and US shelves this month starting at $179.99, thus bringing your ultimate archival dreams that much closer to reality.

Samsung does the 2TB shuffle with EcoGreen F3EG hard drive originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 06:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tested to Destruction – Hard Drive

Jason, Suzi and Ortis test the latest rugged hard drive to the max! Watch Tested to Destruction – Hard Drive on FiveFWD

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Tested to Destruction – Hard Drive

Pen Drive – Data Storage system

The Pen drive is also called as a USB flash drive or Jumpdrive. It is a portable USB flash memory device that can be used to quickly transfer audio, video, and data files from the hard drive of one computer to another. With a construction that is small enough to fit into a pocket, the pen drive derives its name from the fact that many of these USB drive devices resemble a small pen or pencil in size and shape. It consists of a NAND-type flash memory data storage device integrated with a USB interface. USB flash drives are typically removable and rewritable, much smaller than a floppy disk, and most weigh less than an ounce (30 g). Storage capacities can range from 64 MB to 256 GB with steady improvements in size and price per capacity.

iPhone – Trends and Technology of iPhone

Pen drive offer potential advantages over other portable storage devices, particularly the floppy disk. They have a more compact shape, operate faster, hold much more data, have a more durable design, and operate more reliably due to their lack of moving parts. Additionally, it has become increasingly common for computers to be sold without floppy disk drives. USB ports, on the other hand, appear on almost every current mainstream PC and laptop. These types of drives use the USB mass storage standard, supported natively by modern operating systems such as Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, and other Unix-like systems. USB drives with USB 2.0 support can also operate faster than an optical disc drive, while storing a larger amount of data in a much smaller space.

IP Phone – The Internet Phone

Nothing actually moves in a flash drive: the term drive persists because computers read and write flash-drive data using the same system commands as for a mechanical disk drive, with the storage appearing to the computer operating system and user interface as just another drive.

A flash drive consists of a small printed circuit board protected inside a plastic, metal, or rubberized case, robust enough for carrying with no additional protection—in a pocket or on a key chain, for example. The USB connector is protected by a removable cap or by retracting into the body of the drive, although it is not likely to be damaged if exposed. Most flash drives use a standard type-A USB connection allowing plugging into a port on a personal computer, but drives for other interfaces also exist.

Satellite phone – Connecting people anytime anywhere

Tips On How To Use your iPod As A Hard Drive

At some point most people have needed to transfer files from one computer to another. Floppy drives are virtually obsolete. Not all computers have a CD burner and unless you use a re-writable CD you can only use it for files one time. So how can you do it? Ever thought of using your iPod? Few people realize the iPod can be used for much more than listening to songs and watching videos. The device can also be used as a hard drive to store every kind of file you will need. Here are a few tips on how to use your iPod as a hard drive.
First, connect your iPod to your computer. Once the iPod has been connected open the iTunes window. Then open the iPod preferences window. In the iPod preferences window you can select Manually manage songs and playlists or Enable disk use. If you would like to use your iPod for disk storage and you would still like for iTunes to automatically update your iPod library then choose Enable disk use. This will allow your iPod to store files and play music.
Once you have set up your iPod to store files you can drag the files you want to store into the iPod window. When you have finished moving the files click the iPod eject button in the lower-right corner of the iTunes window. The iPod screen will show Ok to disconnect when it is safe to unplug it.
You can also use your iPod as a hard drive without using the iTunes window. First connect your iPod to the computer that has the files you would like to store. Then go to My Computer. You will see the iPod listed as an available drive. Double click the drive and copy the files you want to store into the root folder. Alternatively, you can create a separate folder for storing your files to avoid confusing your files with the files the iPod needs to operate. Do not put anything in the folder labeled iPod_Control because that folder contains music and video files and information required for the iPod to read music and video files correctly.
If you are using your iPod without having iTunes running you will need to manually disconnect the iPod from the system. Open My Computer. Browse to the drive that lists your iPod. Select the drive and drag it to the recycle bin. Once the drive has been deleted, you can safely detach your iPod from the computer. Avoid detaching your iPod from the computer with going through these steps first. Doing so can result in corruption of important files.
The iPod shuffle can also be used for storing files. Using a USB flash drive does this. To configure the iPod shuffle to store files, open the iPod preferences window from within iTunes. In the iPod preferences window use the slider to choose how much of the drive you would like to use for storing files and how much you would like to use for storing songs. You can add files in two ways. The first way is to drag and drop the icon for the file you would like to add onto the iPod folder in the iTunes screen. The second way is to navigate to the iPod drive through My Computer and add file. If you have the file open you can save it to the iPod by going to File, Save As. In the location window click on My Computer and select the iPod drive.
The iPod shuffle must be removed in a similar way to a regular iPod. If you are working through the iTunes window click the iPod eject button in the lower-right corner of the window. When the iPod screen shows Ok to disconnect you can safely remove your iPod. You can also remove the iPod shuffle if you are not working in iTunes by deleting the drive icon from the My Computer folder. As with a regular iPod, be careful not to detach the iPod shuffle from computer without first removing it in one of the two ways described above.
Hassle no more with emailing files to yourself in order to access them from another location. As long as you have your iPod and the USB cord or your iPod shuffle, you can access and store all the files you need.

Sega Genesis Ultimate Collection: Mega Drive your iPhone

Don’t get to whip out your Sega Mega Drive and relive your childhood as often as you’d like?

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Sega Genesis Ultimate Collection: Mega Drive your iPhone

Lockheed Martin introduces ‘PC on a stick’ flash drive — yes, Lockheed Martin

Lockheed Martin introduces ‘PC on a stick’ flash drive — yes, Lockheed Martin originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 19 Jan 2010 15:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Why Every PC User Should Own A Flash Drive

CD burners were hailed as one of the biggest advances in home-computing technology several years ago, but now they are primarily used for recording music. While PC users once used 70- or 80-MB discs to backup data, the trend has shifted to the larger, easier, almost-infinitely-rewritable flash drive.

WHAT IS IT?

A flash drive is a small device that connects to your computer’s USB port. It’s also called a memory stick or flash device. It can store any type of data you want, from installation files to the novel you’ve been working on since high school. Data transfers can take as little as two or three seconds, depending on the amount of data and the capabilities of your computer. The size of each drive can range from 32 MB to 8 GB (a maximum that is sure to increase with technological advances), giving you much more storage space and flexibility than CD-R/W discs.

Flash drives come as separate unites that can be purchased almost anywhere computers or electronics are sold. Some companies have also integrated them into MP3 players and other electronic devices for added convenience. The flash drives recommended here, however, are the “standalone” types.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

The flash drive is inserted in any available USB port on your computer. Newer Windows operating systems will automatically detect and install any drivers necessary to make the device work. Users running older OS versions might have to download software from the drive maker’s Web site, but this only takes a few moments.

Once the unit has been detected, you can begin storing and retrieving data. It is very similar to your computer’s hard drive in functionality, but is much smaller and infinitely portable. You can store any type of data, from song files to software, and access or overwrite it any time you want.

When you want to remove the device, eject it through the “safely eject hardware” icon. You can now remove the flash drive and take it anywhere that you want to go.

HOW MUCH IS THIS GOING TO COST ME?

Depending on where you live and shop, smaller flash drives can cost as little as nine dollars, or less than a spindle of CD-R discs. The largest can be a few hundred dollars, but remember that you are getting several gigabytes’ worth of storage space. That’s probably at least one-fourth of your main hard drive. You can use two or three flash drives to back up your entire computer system, including operating-system files, irreplaceable documents, and system preferences.

HOW SECURE IS MY DATA?

Thoughts of security risks tend to keep people from considering a flash drive, but there is no good reason to worry about it if you take proper steps to prevent data theft, loss or destruction. Many flash drives come with programs that allow you to set passwords and lock files. You can download this sort of software if it does not come with your drive, or you can use the password-protection features in your programs. For example: if you do not want anyone to access your MS Word document, you can use its password-protect option to ensure that nobody can read it without your personal password. You can also use a zipping utility with its password-protect feature to keep groups of similar files secure, not to mention easy for you to find.

The best line of defense against unwanted viewing or use of your data is to keep an eye on your flash drive. They are small, which is good for portability reasons. It is bad, especially if the drives are attached to key chains or lanyards, because many people have the bad habit of lying them down randomly and forgetting their locations. To prevent this, find a safe place to keep your drive, such as in your purse or front pocket, and do not put it down until you are in your home. If you are concerned about debris or pocket lint infiltrating the USB connection, use the plastic cap that came with the drive; many companies include a couple of spares in case you misplace them. You should also write your name and contact information on the drive so that, if lost, the finder will know how to contact you for its safe return.

WHAT ABOUT VIRUSES?

When using your flash drive with any computer, you should ensure that your anti-virus program includes this drive in its scans. If you are trying to download directly to the flash drive, check your anti-virus preferences to ensure that it is scanning downloads as they transfer onto your computer. Treat the flash drive as you would your computer’s “regular” hard drive and it should be safe.

WHY SHOULD I SWITCH FROM CDS?

There are several very good reasons to buy a flash drive: the best is that you can keep the CD burner for other projects, or as a backup in case you decide that you don’t like the flash-drive option.

Other reasons include:

-Portability. Flash drives allow you to import data and files into computers that are not connected to the Internet. You can also switch back and forth between computers with CD burners and those without them, something that you could not do in the past unless you had a large stack of floppy disks.

-Memory. With larger drives, you are getting more memory than a CD or floppy disk. The largest flash drives will give you several gigabytes’, which no CD-R can do at this point.

-Speed. Depending on your computer’s age and condition, you can transfer data faster than you can even initialize your CD-burning software.

-Simplicity. In many cases, flash drives are plug-and-play devices. You do not need any special technical knowledge or training to use them correctly.

WHERE CAN I GET ONE?

Any office-supply store will carry them, as will computer and electronics stores. A Web search will give you plenty of options and good prices if you comparison shop.

WHAT ELSE SHOULD I KNOW?

-If you are transferring data from one computer to another, you must have the same programs installed on both computers. The files themselves can be easily moved with a flash drive, but it does not do you any good if both (or all) computers do not have the programs required to access that data. The good news is that you can use the flash drive to transfer installation files for the programs if it is allowed in the software’s licensing agreement.

-You should always put the plastic cap back on the “port end” of the flash drive when it is not plugged into the computer. Dust, moisture and other elements will get into the drive and possibly ruin it. Because this drive was not a cheap investment, you should do everything you can to protect it.

-You should know what version of USB your computer is using before you purchase, or try to use, a flash drive. You can find this information in the Hardware Information section of your computer. If you are running an older version of USB (i.e. something below 2.0), you should check the flash drive’s packaging before you buy to ensure compatibility. Most drives will work with older USB versions, but be sure before you fork over your hard-earned money: some stores will not refund or exchange your purchase.

-The flash drive does not replace your CD burner, but it will virtually eliminate the need for your floppy drive. You might still occasionally find software drivers on floppy disks, but most companies have switched to CD-ROMs. You should keep the floppy drive around as long as it is functional, but do not be surprised if you rarely use it.

-Read the instructions that come with the flash drive so that you will know how to care for it. Remember: it is a highly-portable hard drive, so some sort of maintenance is required.

Taking Xbox 360 in a Flash Drive

The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft in co-operation with IBM, ATI and SiS.  With its Xbox live service, players can compete on line and download arcade games such as game demos, TV shows, trailers, music videos or rented movies.  Xbox 360, which is the successor to Xbox, is the seventh generation gaming system competing with Sony’s play station 3. 

The Xbox 360 – launched on MTV on May 12, 2005 – is the first console to provide a near simultaneous launch across three major regions with wireless controller support.  The console sold out completely at release and as of September 2007, 13.4 million units have been sold worldwide with a variety of three versions. 

Development:  Xenon, Xbox 2, Xbox FS, Xbox Next or Next Box were the initial names during development of Xbox 360.  Before the advent of Xbox 360 using Apple’s Power Mac G5 hardware, several alpha development kids were spotted. 

Xbox 360 launch:  The Xbox 360 was released on November 22, 2005 in the United States of America and Canada.  Microsoft had officially launched Xbox 360 in thirty six countries in its first year of launch, more countries than any console had launched in a single year and because of its early launch, the Xbox 360 has taken the lead on both of its competitors, Sony’s play station 3 and Nintendo’s Wii.

There are three standard variants in Xbox 360.  Xbox 360 Arcade, the Xbox 360 and the Xbox 360 Elite.

The Xbox 360 Core was an entry level now replaced by Xbox 360 Arcade.  The core system is the bundle of composite video cables, capable of only SDTV resolutions.  The Xbox 360 Core may utilize a separately sold 20 or 120 GB Hard Drive.

The Xbox 360 Arcade is the replacement for Xbox 360 Core.  It includes a wireless controller, 256 MB memory unit, composite AV cable, HDMI 1.2 output, 5 Xbox Live Arcade titles with packaging labeled ‘go play’ and also a ‘welcome video’ and several game trailers/demos. 

The Xbox 360 generally called the ‘premium’ or ‘pro’ has all the features of the Xbox 360 core and has a combination of composite cable and component cable.  The Xbox 360 also has a detachable 20 GB Hard Disc Drive which stores downloaded content, compatible with original Xbox games and store game data. 

The Xbox 360 Elite is the fourth and most expensive variation of the console.  It includes a 120 GB Hard Drive and a Matte black finish.  The Elite was released in August 2007. 

On the day of Xbox 360’s release, Microsoft added a basic non-subscription service – Silver – to its already established premium subscription based service called Gold.  The Xbox Live Marketplace designed to download purchased or promotional content offers movie game trailer and game demos.

The Xbox Video Marketplace is an exclusive Video Store to download high definition and standard definition television store and movie on to Xbox 360 console. 

The Xbox Live Arcade is an on-line service used to distribute downloadable video games to Xbox and Xbox 360 owners operated by Microsoft. 

The Xbox 360’s graphical user interface “GUI” is the Xbox 360 dashboard which features five blades and can be launched automatically when the console boots up without a disc.

A new feature called Xbox Original was launched to download original Xbox games directly to Xbox 360

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