Hasta La Gadget!

There are a few different types of SSDs on the market today for storing data in computer systems. Typically, when we think SSD what comes to mind are the 2.5-inch form factor drives that are used in larger notebooks and desktop computers. However, when it comes to putting SSDs and some of the incredibly thin ultrabooks and other small notebooks on the market those 2.5-inch form factor SSDs are simply too big.

In thin and small devices, mSATA SSDs such as the one in the picture above are typically used that do away with the housing and plug directly into the mainboard of the computer. Mushkin has announced a new extremely high-capacity mSATA SSD that is certain to find its way into high-end ultrabooks and other compact computing devices in the future.

The new storage device is the world’s first 480 GB mSATA SSD cramming an incredible amount of storage space into the tiny MO-300 mSATA form factor measuring 50.80 x 29.85 x 4.85 mm. The storage device uses the mini PCIe interface and has user upgradable firmware.

The SSD uses a SandForce SF-2281 SSD processor and supports ATA APM, Security Set, and NCQ features. The little storage device also has integrated BCH ECC providing up to 55 bits correctable per 512 byte sector. The little SSD will be available in early January via resellers and distributors for $499.99. With this little SSD being available via distributors, you should be able to find one to upgrade your existing computer.

Mushkin unveils world’s first 480 GB mSATA SSD is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

If you’re all about keeping your applications up to date, especially if you’ve got a giant presentation at a board meeting at the end of the week and use Apple’s suite of iWork tools, you’ll want to pay attention to this wave of upgrades. It’s time first of all for iWork to be updated to version 9.3, this allowing iWork for Mac to support iWork for iOS 1.7 apps. In addition to this, you’ve got Keynote, Numbers, and Pages to update this afternoon as well.

If you’ve made your purchase of any of the following apps via a software box, you’ll be getting this update via your Software Update feature inside of OS X – up in the left-hand corner there under the Apple. If you’ve purchase them through the App Store for Mac, that’s where you’ll be going to grab these updates. The result is the same either way, but the means are certainly different in getting this all to go through and forward.

With Pages 1.7 you’ll be getting a collection of new features including the ability to add reflections to shapes and to lock and unlock objects – simple stuff, game-changing for some. You’ll be able to use Change Tracking to see which bits of body text have been modified in your project, you can accept and reject individual changes just as you would review a document, and you can preserve calculation in tables when you’re importing them from and exporting them to Pages for Mac – hot stuff. You can now preserve tracked changes in documents exported in Microsoft Word or Pages formats, and perhaps most importantly: you can now import Pages and Microsoft Word documents with change tracking (important if you’re going to preserve it) and continue to track these changes to body text.

In Numbers 1.7 you’ll have new compatibility with Numbers for Mac and Microsoft Excel, this beginning with the ability import and export Number for Mac spreadsheets with filters and to turn filters off and on. This update brings in the ability to preserve rich text in tablets when importing and exporting, add reflections to shapes, and lock and unlock objects. You can also now hide and unhide rows and columns.

Keynote 1.7 allows you to work in a newly compatible way with Microsoft PowerPoint and Keynote for Mac with the ability to import and export all Microsoft PowerPoint and Keynote for Mac slide sizes as well as presentation themes, master slides and present styles included. You can now play back all Keynote action builds, add new slide transitions including Shimmer and Sparkle, and preserve calculations in tablet when you’re importing from and exporting to Keynote for Mac. This update adds reflections to shapes, of course, and the ability to lock and unlock objects. Finally it allows new print layout options like printing with presenter notes, with builds, and without backgrounds.

Grab it all from your respective Appstore, be it mobile or desktop, right this minute! Have a peek at our gigantic Apple portal as well for the big jump into the Apple-only news universe.

Apple updates iWork suite for mobile/desktop compatibility is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Velocity Micro has been a boutique computer manufacturer for a very long time. In years past, the company was best known for making high-end and very expensive computers for gamers and enthusiasts. The company is back with a new product called the Edge AIO.

The Edge AIO has a 23.6-inch screen supporting full 1080p HD resolution. The machine is fully customizable to meet individual needs and budgets. The Edge AIO starts at $799.99 and price goes up significantly depending on the options you choose.

The case of the computer has a pearl white finish and the machine has a number of options including discrete graphics cards, a quad core processor, and additional RAM. Tech support for the company is 100% based in the US, which is getting to be a rarity in the market today. Processor options include a range of Intel Core i3, i5, and i7 offerings.

There are a number of solid-state storage options and the machine comes with integrated Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. The front web cam supports 720p resolution for video conferencing and chats. The machine also features a SD memory card slot and USB 3.0 ports. Velocity Micro also integrates a DVD burner into the machine along with an Ethernet port. The machine is available to order right now.

Velocity Micro unveils new Edge AIO computer is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

One of the biggest downsides to having an Intel processor inside of a mobile device compared to having an ARM processor is been power consumption. Intel processors traditionally use more power than competing products leading to shorter battery life for the devices using Intel processors. However, Intel is aiming to change that with the goal of reducing the power consumption on its Ivy Bridge processors.

CNET reports that an industry source familiar with Intel’s plans has stated that Intel plans to cut power consumption significantly for future versions of its Ivy Bridge chip. The most powerful Ivy Bridge chips on the market today consume 17 W of power. These chips are commonly used in various Windows ultrabooks and inside the Apple MacBook Air.

According to the source who claims to be familiar with Intel’s plans, the future version of the Ivy Bridge chip will have power consumption well below the 17-watt level. The power consumption of the chip would be low enough that computer makers could use the chip inside tablets. Microsoft plans to use an Ivy Bridge Core i5 inside the Surface Pro tablet set to launch soon.

However, that Surface Pro tablet will use the 17-watt chip that’s already on the market and is expected to have roughly half the battery life of me Surface RT tablet using a ARM processor. Right now the downside to Intel’s line of low power consumption chips, such as the Z2760, is that the performance is significantly less than what the Ivy Bridge parts offer. By comparison, power consumption on ARM processors, commonly used in mobile devices such as tablets, is typically below two watts.

[via CNET]

Intel plans to make Ivy Bridge chips more power miserly is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

I don’t know when I started liking camo-patterned stuff, but it was a long time ago. I’ve got plenty of US army pants and shirts to prove my obsession. As camo goes, the digital camo on these headphones looks pretty good and while it won’t protect you from getting fragged, you’ll still look good.

The ASUS Echelon Camo Edition Gaming Headset is aimed at PC gaming enthusiasts. The Echelon camo is inspired by digital camouflage patterns that are popular in games and real-world military apparel. But it’s not all about looks. This headset has got 50mm neodymium magnet drivers to make those explosions sound nice and loud. The ear cups are comfortable and isolate up to 30 dB of noise, allowing you to block out the real world while you blow stuff up in the virtual one. Its braided cord will allow some flexibility, and it will probably not end up tangled like most of your headphones.

ASUS hasn’t announced the price or release date yet for the Echelon Camo headset, but I’d expect it to arrive very soon.