Vision - September/October 2007 - (Page 35) suppliers are integrating a small amount of flash memory as a supplement to the standard magnetic HDD. Called a hybrid disk drive (H-HDD) these configurations employ a flash buffer to cache data, allowing the platters of the hard drive to remain motionless. Because the hard drives do not spin constantly as they do in conventional HDDs the combination saves energy and extends battery life in laptops. Granted, H-HDDs still are a work in progress. To promote the technology, Seagate, Hitachi, Fujitsu, Samsung and Toshiba have formed the Hybrid Storage Alliance group. Samsung has launched its MH80 Series, a 2.5-inch H-HDD offered in 80-GB, 120-GB and 160-GB capacities with 128- or 256-MB of flash memory. Microsoft is encouraging PC makers to utilize H-HDD solutions by including a feature in its Vista operating system called Windows ReadyDrive, which lets OEMs earmark the additional flash memory capacity for SuperFetch, another Microsoft program. SuperFetch employs a tracking algorithm to anticipate the next required file or program and pre-loads it in flash memory so Windows Vista can access it directly instead of pulling it from the disk drive. Makers of portable flash cards are trumpeting new advances, too. Toshiba has expanded its line of memory cards with the launch of a 4-GB microSD High Capacity (microSDHC) product. Capable of sustained write speeds of 4 MB/s, the cards are aimed at mobile phones that can record and display video and high resolution images. Toshiba’s 4-GB miniSDHC cards are expected to be available worldwide this fall. Eager to do its part to boost sales of memory cards to phone suppliers, SanDisk has begun sampling 6- and 8-GB microSDHC flash cards. The company estimates that an 8-GB microSDHC card can store more than 2,000 digital songs or more than 5,000 5 MP pictures or as many as five hours of MPEG 4 video. SanDisk claims these cards will enable mobile phones with a compat- ible microSDHC slot to have as much storage as the largest capacity Apple iPhone. In an interview with Dr. Eli Harari, founder, chairman and CEO of SanDisk, CE Vision reported in its last issue that 2007 has been a difficult year so far for the flash industry. Hyper competitive pricing in the volatile memory business mean lean times at least in the short term. However don’t count flash out yet. Harari said, “There are a number of potential catalysts for driving demand in 2008, including the impact of the iPhone and other multimedia phones on consumption of 4-gigabyte to 16-gigabyte flash in mobile phones, the adoption of 32-gigabyte to 128gigabyte solid-state disks in notebook PCs, and the continuing proliferation of NAND flash into higher capacity music players, video players, personal media players and gaming consoles.” Harari added, “Flash memory will run into some fundamental limits just like disk drive technology within the next 10 years. However, in our industry, 10 years is a lifetime.” • ON TOP OF HERE FLOATING HERE UP HERE AROUND HERE OR WAY OVER HERE IN HERE HERE LAYING HERE WHILE HIDING HERE WATCH YOUR TV ANYWHERE. The Slingbox lets you watch your living room TV anywhere in the world through the Internet on your laptop or cell phone. slingbox.com www.ce.org September/October 2007 35 http://slingbox.com http://slingbox.com
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