memory

CompactFlash getting a SATA speed boost

Some smaller flash memory formats fit more conveniently into small gadgets, but allies behind the comparatively bulky CompactFlash standard are working to keep their technology desirable. This time, they're trying to follow the same Serial ATA interface route that hard drives took in recent years.

The CompactFlash Association, an industry consortium that oversees the standard, said last week it's formed a working group to revamp the memory card format with the Serial ATA interface, replacing today's older parallel ATA standard. The move will mean faster transfer speeds and larger capacities. Today's top-end CompactFlash products top out … Read more

Ducati takes memory for a spin

Maybe it's just us, but we never really thought digital storage products would ever be considered sexy enough to merit the attention from the likes of Ducati. But the motorcycling legend must see something we don't, because it's lent its famous name to SanDisk to stamp on a USB flash drive and memory cards, according to Fareastgizmos.

The marketing link is speed, as in data transfer rates, which we think will be lost on most true Ducati fans. The items do at least bear the company's signature red-and-black glossy color scheme, however, and the USB drive … Read more

Photos: Cowon iAudio 7 review

Our review is up, and the results are in--Cowon's latest player, the iAudio 7, snagged a CNET Editors' Choice award. This little guy has just about every feature you'd want in an ultracompact MP3 player, plus a rechargeable battery life rated at an incredible 60 hours. You'll have to read the CNET review to get all the details.

Or, if you don't care about details and just want some eye candy, then take a gander at our official Cowon iAudio 7 slide show. If you want a slightly less polished tour, then here's a slide show … Read more

Apple to use 25 percent of the world's flash memory

Flash memory chips bound for Apple's iPods and iPhones will account for 25 percent of the world's total flash output in the third quarter.

So says DRAMeXchange, a market research company out of Taiwan that tracks the memory industry. It's referring to a specific kind of flash memory known as NAND, which is the flash technology of choice for modern cell phones and MP3 players. Flash memory can store data without an electrical charge and without any moving parts, which makes it ideal for mobile devices and increasingly for notebook PCs.

Apple's share of the MP3 … Read more

Soundwave import-only MP3 player

You may have heard that Transformers director Michael Bay, in his infinite wisdom, decided to exclude the beloved Soundwave character from his film (the poor guy took the news pretty hard). I guess the kids today don't care about portable cassette players, even ones that turn into gigantic robots capable of blowing your head off with a sonic concussion cannon. As a side effect, the film's merchandising machine is not cranking out any affordable Soundwave toys for us to clutter our cubicles. I even resorted to buying this cheap piece of crap. Japan, as usual, has the solution. … Read more

Kingston's new card reader handles SD, miniSD, and microSD in one package

If you're a gadget-head like me, you've probably juggled your fair share of memory cards. My digital camera takes an SD card, my cell phone takes a miniSD card, and my friends' cell phones take microSD cards. Obviously, this makes sharing media between the devices a bit of a pain. Sure, miniSD cards usually come with SD adapters, and microSD cards usually come with miniSD or SD adapters, but the whole adapter-swapping dance makes almost makes moving data not worth it.

Kingston Technology just announced the MobileLite 9-in-1 USB Reader, a memory card reader that bypasses all of … Read more

Where there's gold, there must be USB

It's hard to believe, but there was actually a time when gold USB drives were a rare commodity. Now, it seems like a rare week when we don't see one. But that, of course, won't stop us from rolling another one out.

And how can we resist, given the bargains that are to be had these days? The latest model from Israel's E-Jewel, for example, is a 14k specimen that holds 4GB of data for a mere $2,000, according to Coolest-Gadgets. That's a third less than the $3,500 key we cited only a … Read more

Porcelain Memory

Is memory no longer precious? With USB keys being given away as the cheap schwag of the day... cellphones and mp3 players supporting gigs and gigs of data... tiny cards full of data that you toss around your desk as you switch between digicams... What do you use to keep your important data? How do you give them the special storage space they deserve? How about these Porcelain Memory sticks on sale at Charles and Marie? As described on Charles and Marie "Mokkatanten sort of translates to 'elderly aunts drinking coffee and bickering' - not quite what the two … Read more

The $3,500 USB drive

It's not uncommon to see USB drives that look like they belong in a jewelry case, which makes their prices somewhat less outrageous because they can at least do double duty as a pendant or necklace. But then there are other storage keys whose main function seems to be wasting money.

This gold USB drive falls into the latter category, to the tune of $2,800 or $3,500. The price depends on whether you order it with diamonds, as pictured here, and in 14k or 18k gold. Decisions, decisions.

As Shiny Shiny notes, the manufacturer didn't even … Read more

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