Hasta La Gadget!

Ugh, seriously Intel? While we’ve been waiting for 34nm-based SSDs for what feels like ages now, it’s not so much the new process technology that had our interest piqued. Instead, it was the hope of a 320GB model from the outfit. Today, Intel got official with a new pair of 34nm SSDs, though neither of ’em are any larger than the previous 50nm X25-M (2.5-inch) and X18-M (1.8-inch). In fact, the new units even boast the same model names. The newcomers arrive in 80GB and 160GB sizes, and while actual hard drive benchmarking tools are apt to show a marginal increase in performance, even Intel admits that most folks won’t see “noticeable gains” in real-world use. So, what’s the point of popping out 34nm SSDs that are silver instead of black? Lower prices, or so the company says. If the market reacts to the cost savings that are being passed forward, you can expect the 80GB model to run $225, while the 160GB edition gets marked at $440, both in quantities of 1,000. Call us spoiled, but we’re still longing for more.

[Thanks, Joseph]

Continue reading Intel’s 34nm SSDs go official, no 320GB model in sight

Filed under: Storage

Intel’s 34nm SSDs go official, no 320GB model in sight originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 12:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hankering for an SSD that’s as big as your traditional HDD? So is Intel, or so we hear. In fact, we’ve been hearing whispers that a capacious 320GB solid state drive was in the works since January, and now those whispers have been upgraded to library-like voices. According to the generally reliable Golum, Intel’s so-called Postville SSD family is well on its way to reality, and with them should come much needed price drops. The new series should top out at 320GB, with an 80GB and 160GB version falling underneath. Word on the street has it that both of the smaller two will be around $100 cheaper than the same-sized X25-M drives, though there’s been no leaks on the 320GB model’s MSRP. Still, Intel has a golden opportunity here if it’ll just get these things to market — a cheap(er) SSD with a brand name like Intel could blow the solid state market wide open.

[Thanks, Marius]

Filed under: Storage

Intel’s 34nm-based 320GB solid state drive creeps closer to reality originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 18 Jul 2009 08:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oh Brando! Junky plastic spy gear and novelty toys flow from your throat like a stream of Sky Mall regurgitation. Once in a while, though, a gem can be panned from the dirty silt of your catalog. And one of those times is now.

Brando’s six-in-one flash set is distinguished by two things. One, every component appears to be useful and two, it’s cheap. $88 for a box of translucent plastic parts might not sound cheap to you but in the world of photo accessories it is a steal.

You get the standard light modifiers: a circular honeycomb grid, a softbox, a set of barn-doors and a neat, extendible conical snoot. You also get the more unusual globe diffusor, which looks just like a lightbulb and should aid in getting the go-everywhere “bare bulb” look, a beauty dish (called a mini-reflector, here) and the odd plastic flash adapter, which itself looks like it could give a nice strong central beam with soft edges.

The adapter is supplied in different sizes and will even fit the monster Nikon SB900 and Vivitar 285HV strobes. The only problem will come if this is just too thin and plasticky to last. Other than that, it looks like a sound addition to any strobist’s kit.

Product page [Brando via Oh Gizmo!]

A few days after blocking PlayStation 3 users, Hulu has yet to respond to questions concerning the change which has only helped to fuel rumors it is related to the Microsoft ad campaign currently featured on the site, but that seems less likely now that we’ve confirmed it also began blocking the Flash-enabled Skyfire browser on Windows Mobile devices at the same time. Whatever the cause is, if you prefer a homegrown hack over something like PlayOn or TVersity, Eric over at ypass.net has put together a simple enough walkthrough for creating an “unblockable” workaround by setting up a locally connected PC running Linux or Windows with the freely available Squid proxy server software that will make your PS3 look like appear as a PC running a Firefox (or whatever you prefer) browser to any website that asks. Of course, just like the other solutions your computer will need to stay running to keep you connected, but we figure it’s a small price to pay for enjoying relatively low res Flash video running on an HDTV.

Read – Got a PS3? Want Hulu Back? Easy enough…
Read – Squid-setup for Windows NT /2k /X

Filed under: Cellphones, HDTV, Home Entertainment, Networking

Hulu still silent on PS3, Windows Mobile blocking – but there’s a free solution originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor has it that Intel is prepped to launch its new SSDs in the next two weeks. According to sources speaking to the The Inquirer, the new solid state disks will feature that smaller 34nm NAND Flash developed by Intel and Micron. As usual, the smaller manufacturing processes should allow for higher density SSDs (as high as 320GB) at a reduced cost to manufacture. In fact, INQ says, “there will be drives big enough to replace the HDDs in most, if not all laptops.” With Intel already cutting SSD prices we remain optimistic that this rumor is true.

[Via TrustedReviews]

Filed under: Storage

Intel launching cheaper SSDs with up to 320GB capacity in two weeks? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 05:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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