Archive for: flash memory
Well stomp on frogs and shove a crow bar up my nose. SD app storage, a feature that has been requested across many platforms to alleviate space issues when meager amounts of device memory are concerned have been around for several years. WindowsMobile, a widely panned and criticized as “old” mobile OS has had this feature for years. So why does a modern OS such as Android miss out? Since Android has been levied against Apple and Microsoft as a legitimate contender, being limited to at most 256MB for apps (especially considering the iPhone’s 16GB/32GB app storage capacities and WinMo support — ‘nough said) has so far hurt in some respects Android’s ability to attract hardcore developers and apps. Those who routinely root their Android devices often make use of a handy little app called Apps2SD that allows storing applications on the SD card. While not perfect, it’s relatively failsafe with your obvious bugs that come from the app being “unofficial”. Google thankfully is listening — at least it seams — as a new posting in the Google Android Group blog calls out for developers knowledgeable with Apps2SD as well as those familiar with web storage w/source/patch management. A blurb that highlights the goodness we’ve all been craving:
“At the android-platform group, we’ve been hashing out a scheme for adding in official apps-to-sd support to AOSP. We have a couple of google engineers following along/helping out and are now at a state where the initial testing implementation (we’re using an incremental development approach) steps are defined in a fairly simple manner and we are ready to start at it from an actual implementation details/start coding perspective.
The actual thread is located here: http://groups.google.com/group/android-platform/browse_thread/thread/bf0709c157451cd9
Basically, if implemented, it will do the following;
1) totally obsolete current hacker apps2sd approaches by allowing actual sdcard removal from device.
2) ultimately ship with devices stock (when in a state where it is easy to use, stable, and at least as secure for non-root users as internal storage currently is).
3) keep application data on the same device as the actual application with no side-effects (like internal apps being broken while waiting for second partition to mount).
4) allow MULTIPLE sdcards containing apps to be swapped on the same device.
5) allow sdcard containing apps to be swapped between DIFFERENT devices.
Note: 4 and 5 are not in the initial implementation, first proof of concept and working system, then enhancement with additional features. 4 and 5 are not requirements for inclusion in AOSP, but they are cool features that ultimately should be implemented.
What we need:
Several good developers, web storage w/source/patch management, etc.
Anyone interested, please read the thread to get an idea of the current state of thought, and please don’t pollute that thread with nonsense. There is a current state of organization, and though not set in stone, it should be considered as NOT open for major architectural changes (i.e., the google engineers don’t have any major problems with the proposal that we can’t work through). Minor glitches and implementation details will be handled along the way. If you must pollute a thread with nonsense, use this one.”
The eagerness in all of us wants to see this implemented as soon as possible. But with the announcement above, it’s clear that we still have some time before such functionality becomes officially supported within Android. Perhaps Android 3.0 will bring this highly sought after feature. Perhaps sooner. Looking forward to Friday and my switch to the Moto DROID, I as well am anxiously awaiting the day SD app storage support becomes official. With SD cards dropping in price and rising in capacity constantly, the number of apps you can store is virtually limitless via hot-swappable means. *salivates* I can’t wait…
Phandroid > AndroidSpin
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Speed. Pure blinding speed. That’s what Super Talent is dishing out with their “Super Talent RAIDDrive” USB 3.0 flash drive. Instead of crawling along at USB 2.0′s pathetic excuse for speed, the RAIDDrive will effectively shuttle your 1′s and 0′s back and forth before you even know what’s happening. According to Super Talent, the drive will run at a brisk 200MB/s (with a legacy driver). If using a newer, A UASP driver (USB Attached SCSI) driver, end users will be able to achieve up to 320MB/s continuously meaning the mid-range 64GB flavor can be filled in as little as 3 minutes. Now that’s something worth getting excited over isn’t it! Initially, the RAIDDrive will come in 32GB, 64GB, and 128GB flavors with further additions likely as flash memory prices come down. Imagine that, a 128GB flash drive that you can actually fill before your body ceases existing…
Now if only we could get any computer hardware that makes use of and supports USB 3.0….
Geeky-Gadgets > Everything USB
Even though the storage market is quickly shifting to solid state memory and flash devices, the lingering issues persist. As SSD’s and flash memory age, they begin to slow and run the risk of blocks of memory failing. Not necessarily a great retirement option to look forward to. While the blocks of memory failing is still something to worry about, slowing down with age will soon no longer be an issue. However, there is hope for the mechanical eschewing foe thanks to Indilinx. The ingenious and downright god send solution comes by way of a new firmware that instructs SSD’s to “clean” themselves when idle. What the drive does is actively searches out for garbage data and gets rid of it, which in return speeds up performance of read/write times that said garbage would have previously hindered. What it all means is that with this firmware installed on your SSD storage device, one can expect even older SSD’s to start performing pretty close to original speed if not right at original speed. Sweet! The speed claims aren’t just PR fluff either. The folks of at Hot Hardware ran a series of tests that fully back up these claims as they saw old drives become new again. Look for firmware fixes to hopefully be released in the near term so that we can all enjoy this new found youth.
Source: Engadget, Hot Hardware
Maybe my mind is a tad in the gutter this fine Monday afternoon…so what. I call it as I see it. Childish humor aside, the Elephant USB drive does as most USB drives do, storing data, except with a small twist that not all drives offer – water protection. Housed inside a removable silicon jacket, the house of colors (available in black, blue, pink and brown) Elephant Flash Drive will give the youngsters a generous 4GB of storage. What do those youngin’s have that could fill that? Who knows. Whatever the case, if you want to be the coolest parent in the world (for the next 12 hours at least), you’ll spend the necessary $29.95.
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Source: Geeky-Gadgets
Fingerprint scanners and readers are becoming more ubiquitous on laptops as the threat of theft with a mobile device is obviously much higher than that of a desktop based computer. Flash drives with encryption technologies are nothing new either. However, blending the two while itself also is not “new”, is still something that isn’t widely seen in the flash drive scene yet. If mobile security is at the top of you list, you may want to give the USB Fingerprint Security Flash Drive a look. While the drive tops out at 16GB, you are only allowed to secure up to a nerdy technical 7.79GB of data with the remaining 7.11GB of data free for wondering eye to see. As far as other specs go, the drive comes across as just a so-so deal. But is it really? Read on to find out.
While traditional spinning hard drives are becoming more and more endangered as SSD’s drop in price while rising equally in reliability and storage space, even the standard 2.5″ SSD has a new competitor. Except this time, the competitor is one of its own. Shown off at Computex, the nano SSD drive looks to usher in a whole new range of possibilities for SSD’s and the devices that they are incorporated in. One look at the picture above shows you just how great a feat science has once again accomplished. The nano flash drives are no bigger than the face of a watch yet hold 128GB of data! While the write/read speeds of 160MB/s and 150MB/s respectively aren’t going to break any records, however, considering how tiny this little nano monster is, those numbers are nothing to scoff at by any means. Hopefully we’ll see these things popping up in devices before you know it! Another picture inside gives you a good grasp of the nano SSD’s real size compared to 2.5″ and 3.5″ drives.
If you’re a fan of Legos and all things that remind you of your childhood, the Lego Flash Drive could very well make its way into your home and coax more money from your wallet, loosening the death grip that is surely embracing it. This tiny building block turned digital vault will come with a tiny storage to match that tiny size. The 1GB of available storage won’t appease all users as many have much more than 1GB they need to take with them. However, given the size and construction of these devices, building a super Lego Flash Drive by connecting several of these together could prove to be pretty handy if not a tad geeky and cool. Support for both Windows and Mac OS coupled with 10 color choices means no one is left out of the party or rendered unable to “express themselves”. Building that super Lego Flash Drive will set you back a pretty penny however as the drive and all of it’s measly 1GB of storage will cost you $49.95 for the privilage. Ouch. Hit up Smile 123 and order yours now.
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Source: Geeky-Gadgets
For all of the Transformers fans, this next showcasing of gadget geekiness and love will surely win over your hearts and geek filled heads. Instead of the other dumb flash drives that have made their way through this site, take a minute to gander at the latest in USB coolness – the transforming USB flash drive, or “Ravage” if you know your transformers stuff. Why carry around a boring stick of a flash drive when you could pass time with multiple USB Ravage flash drives reeinacting battle scenes bringing out the kid deep down within you again. The Ravage flash drive comes with a stomach large enough for around 2GB of data meaning most of your digital junk should fit inside. If you have the money ($43) and are mondo cool, head over to NerdApproved and pick one up.
Source: Slippery Brick
Those in the market for a blazing fast SSD who are fortunate enough to have been able to attend CeBit will no doubt know about OCZ’s Z-Drive screaming fast SSD. With read/write speeds of 500MB/s and 470MB/s respectively, the drive is definitely fast. OCZ has finally released pricing and storage specs and I have to say the results aren’t surprising though still painful to bare. The Z will come in 250GB, 500GB, and 1TB sizes and ring in at a stratospheric $1,561.30, $2,450.50 and $3,368.99 also respectively. So, if you’ve been going through life and cursing at the mere thought and struggle of having to lug around four god awful limbs attached to your torse, give a little and get a little. Besides, when you have a screaming fast SSD and all of the non movable speed you could ever dream of, who really wants to walk around anyway?
Source: Engadget
