Blazing Samsung 256GB SSD Is the One We've Been Waiting For

This is the solid-state drive that we've been waiting for: a full 256GB, which Samsung says is "the world's fastest and largest capacity 2.5-inch, MLC-based SSD with SATA II Interface." Sick sequential read and sequential write speeds of 200 and 160 MBps, respectively, put it in the same speed range of more nimble single-level cell SSDs (single vs. multi-level explained). Available in Sept. with mass production starting by "year end" (yay cheaperness), and Sammy says we'll see a 1.8-inch version by then too. Check it out being groped by a lady, along with the press release.

Samsung Develops World's Fastest and Largest Capacity 2.5-inch, MLC-based (256GB) SSD with SATA II Interface

Taipei, Taiwan, May 26, 2008 - Samsung Electronics, the world leader in advanced memory technology, announced today that it has developed the world's fastest, 2.5-inch, 256 Gigabyte (GB) multi-level cell (MLC) based solid state drive (SSD) using a SATA II interface, at the fifth annual Samsung Mobile Solution Forum held here today. Samsung's new 256GB SSD is also the thinnest drive with the largest capacity to be offered with a SATA II interface.

With a sequential read speed of 200 megabytes per second (MB/s) and sequential write speed of 160MB/s, Samsung's MLC-based 2.5-inch 256GB SSD is about 2.4 times faster than a typical HDD. Furthermore, the new 256GB SSD is only 9.5millimeters (mm) thick, and measures 100.3x69.85 mm.

Once introduced, the Samsung's 256GB SSD will mark the largest capacity SSD from the global market leader in SSD sales, effectively eliminating density as a barrier to SSD adoption in the consumer space.

"With development of the 256GB SSD, the notebook PC is on the brink of a second stage of evolution. This change is comparable to the evolution from the Sony Walkman to NAND memory-based MP3 players, representing an initial step in the shift to thinner, smaller SSD-based notebooks with significantly improved performance and more than ample storage," said Jim Elliott, vice president, memory marketing, Samsung Semiconductor, Inc.

Through major advancements in proprietary controller technology, Samsung's new MLC 256GB SSD, besides being comparable in speed to an SLC-based SSD, also boasts reliability equal to that of SLC SSDs, with a mean time between failures (MTBF) of one million hours, while costing considerably less. Power consumption is also exceptionally low at 0.9 watts in active mode.

In addition, the drive offers a sophisticated data encryption process that prevents data stored on the SSD from being accessed in an unauthorized manner, even after the SSD is removed from the PC.

Overall, the number of computing units in which SSDs are being offered is expected to increase dramatically once Samsung's previously announced 128GB SSD and the new 256GB SSD are launched. At present, Samsung is actively involved in high-capacity SSD design-in activities for all of the top PC and server manufacturers from the U.S., Asia, and Europe.

Samsung is expected to begin mass producing the 2.5-inch, 256GB SSD by year end, with customer samples available in September. A 1.8-inch version of the 256GB SSD is expected to be available in the fourth quarter of 2008.

According to a Q1 2008 report by the semiconductor market research firm iSuppli, the SSD market will grow at an annualized average of 124 percent during the four-year period from 2008 until 2012. iSuppli now projects SSD sales to increase by an additional 35 percent in 2009 over what it projected last year, 51 percent more in 2010, and 89 percent more in 2011, and continue to show dramatic increases in subsequent years.

Source: http://gizmodo.com/393198/blazing-samsung-256gb-ssd-is-the-one-weve-been-waiting-for

Black Eee PC 901 look good, just not $650 good

here you have it, ASUS' Amos 'n Andy companion to the Martin 'n Lewis Eee PC 901. The 8.9-inch Atom-based lappie show no signs of the rumored Bluetooth or anything else unusual that we can see. Black is certainly predictable as a continuation of the original Eee PC 700-series color scheme. It's certainly not as surprising as the expected $650 price tag on the original $199 low-cost laptop.


Source: http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/black-eee-pc-901-look-good/

Acer Predator gaming rig: Faster. Deeper. Harder. Further

Hey, that's Acer's overtly compensating tag line, not our take on this totally over-the-top gaming rig. Acer's new Aspire G7700 Predator desktop offers options such as an overclocking quad-core, Core 2 Extreme proc, up to 8GB of DDR2 800/1066 memory, and 3x NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GTX graphics cards kept in check by liquid cooled core. It features what Acer calls a "world's first optical bay mechanism" revealing a pair of 5.25-inch drive bays which you can stuff with a DVD drive, BD/HD DVD drive or both. The box can be configured with up to 4x, 3.5-inch SATA hot-swappable hard drives (including 10k RPM raptors) with RAID support. No street date or pricing yet, but we've got plenty of pics in the gallery.


Source: http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/acer-predator-gaming-rig-faster-deeper-harder-further/

Sony Brings Out 5.1 Home Theater Sound System With Golf Ball-Sized Speakers

Demonstrating that fab things come in small packages is this Sony lay-dee, who's proffering one of the five golf ball-sized speakers of the HT-IS100 home theater sound system for your loving eyes to inspect. It's a 5.1-channel, three-HDMI input system and will be released in Japan on July 15 at a cost of around $870. Full details and a couple more pics below.



The small-fry speakers come with a subwoofer/amp with built-in 32-bit S-Master digital amplifier. Total output is 45W x 5 channels, with 100W x 2 from the sub. Supported audio formats include Dolby Digital and DTS, Dolby Pro Logic II, MPEG-2 AAC and linear PCM, as well as Standard, Multi, and various movie and sounds modes.



And if any of you are itching to make a joke about ping pong balls, JUST DON'T, okay?


Source: http://gizmodo.com/392325/sony-brings-out-51-home-theater-sound-system-with-golf-ball+sized-speakers

Spy Shots: BMW V3 3-series based crossover

BMW is currently developing two new models based on its 3 and 5-series that are designed to take the carmaker into the burgeoning crossover market. The new vehicles will be loosely based on the current Touring wagons but will adopt a taller ride-height and high roof design to maximize interior space.

The prototype seen here is still wearing an E91 3-series wagon body but with a new front-end attached. This is likely because engineers are conducting engine and air-flow tests. Mechanicals will be borrowed from the regular 3-series and X3 SUV, and both RWD and xDrive AWD configurations will be offered. Power will come from a range of four and six cylinder engines.

Though the car’s name is yet to be revealed, earlier reports suggested the new model will be called the V3 and will be the first addition of a new V-series of vehicles.

The idea for the new V-series first came under consideration back in 2004 but was put on hold due to a lack of resources and the ongoing development of several other key models. BMW’s new chairman, Norbert Reithofer, was reluctant to enter another segment but surging demand for crossovers both in Europe and the U.S. appears to have changed that. As these spy shots reveal BMW is still in the early stages of testing, which means the new model won’t arrive in showrooms for several years at least.

Source: http://www.motorauthority.com/news/crossovers/spy-shots-bmw-v3-3-series-based-crossover/

North American Ford Fiesta to cost less than $15K

North America has missed out on a host of exciting and award-winning Ford products sold in Europe for decades - vehicles like the S-Max, Mondeo and Fiesta compact - but that will soon change as the Blue Oval has introduced a new global strategy where only one model, albeit in slightly different variations, will be sold across all markets. The first of these new global models will be the Fiesta due in North America late next year or in early 2010.

Pricing has for long been an issue for Ford when introducing European-spec models into North America. The cars in Europe are significantly more expensive than their equivalent counterparts North America and, with the U.S. dollar continuing to weaken, the problem has been compounded.

Despite the unfavorable condition, Edmunds reports that the new Fiesta will cost less than the current U.S. model Focus, which already sells for less than $15,000. To achieve the low price point, Ford’s U.S. design director for cars, Murray Callum, explains that engineers were able to keep costs low by working with suppliers on new technologies that produce premium-type interior materials for a lot less money.

Ford is also hoping that buyers downsizing from big SUVs packed with leather and luxury equipment will still find the car cheap and good value when compared with their current gas-guzzling trucks.

Source: http://www.motorauthority.com/news/hatchbacks/north-american-ford-fiesta-to-cost-less-than-15k/

Spy Shots: 2010 BMW M3 sedan facelift

The BMW M3 sedan only made its debut last October and it’s still not on sale in a number of markets around the world, but despite this prototypes for a facelifted version of the performance sedan have already spotted ahead of its sale launch early next year. The changes are in line with the midlife update for the regular E90 sedan, due later this year, and entail a number of very minor revisions to both the exterior and cabin.

Most of the car remains unchanged although there are a few differences such as the updated headlights with new LED details, which double as daytime running lights. Up back will be a new bumper with a modified diffuser and redesigned taillights.

The sedan model will also be offered with the ‘Space Gray’ color option that was formerly limited to the M3 Coupe.

The car’s 420hp 4.0L V8 is likely to remain unchanged although it will be offered with the new seven-speed M-DCT dual-clutch transmission.

Source: http://www.motorauthority.com/news/sedans/spy-shots-2010-bmw-m3-sedan-facelift/

Is This the Sony Ericsson Xperia X2?

Take a gander at the mystery device in the video above (whilst being soothed by the dulcet tones of Underworld's “Jumbo.”). Although the video seems to use some PSP-Esque graphics, this is definitely a communication device that the big SE has up its sleeve. It's new to us, at any rate.

We bring it up because during our Q&A about the Sony Ericsson Xperia X1, the execs were pretty adamant that “Xperia” is going to refer to an entire line of devices -- which is why the first is called the “X1.” It sure doesn't seem to fit well into any of SE's other other device brands. Now, it's not even certain that the above promo is for an Xperia device, or that said device will run of top of Windows Mobile, nor even that everybody else but us knows exactly that this mamma jamma is and we're posting here with Sony-flavored egg on our face.

In any case, we threw some grabs from the video after the break. Anybody care to enlighten us?

Source: http://www.wmexperts.com/articles/rumors/is_this_the_sony_ericsson_xper.html

Video of iDial Application for iPhone

I don’t know about any of you, but if I’m doing word association, Vista and perfection don’t often go together. But … this new VistaPerfection 2.0 iPhone theme is awfully impressive.

VistaPerfection was created by Spec Works (MMi forum member ebl4287).

It’s a Summerboard compatible theme that gives your iPhone that unmistakable ‘I’m a PC’ feel - and has a very complete set of customization elements, including:

• Over 90 icons
• Dock
• WiFi icon
• Boot and restore images
• Sliders
• Edge icon
• Vista login/logoff (unlock/lock) sound scheme

You’ll need to go through a fair number of steps, using the Categories app from the BigBoss source (and be comfortable with connecting via SSH to you phone for some of the steps) - but there is a very good set of instructions for you to follow - and the results look well worth the effort.

VistaPerfection is not on Installer just yet - so head over HERE for the download link and instructions on how to get it all looking and working just so...


Source: http://justanotheriphoneblog.com/wordpress/2008/05/17/vista-perfection-on-the-iphone/

Samsung's 82-inch QuadHD LCD: Now with 120Hz

Samsung's stream of 82-inch monsters packing the company's latest technology continues unabated, this time a minor update to the QuadHD behemoth we saw at CES brings so-outdated 120Hz motion processing and LED backlighting to keep blur and judder far, far away. We know what you're thinking, its 3840x2160 resolution is no good unless you can write on it, luckily Samsung also has an 82-inch ultra high definition e-Board in its SID 2008 booth. OLED fans take heart, Samsung has reached economies of scale, hopefully meaning reasonably priced (and longer lasting) thin screens are due sooner instead of later. The Korea Times notes LG's at the show as well, showcasing LCD roll-printing technology to replace the photolithography process that currently births the flat panels on our walls, but we simply can't be bothered with a company that's only the number two LCD manufacturer in the world.


Source: http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/18/samsungs-82-inch-quadhd-lcd-now-with-120hz/