ConsumerIT - For Europe's High Volume PC Retailers, Distributors & Builders

Toshiba's new hard disk drive features a data wipe just after powering down.

Toshiba's SED (Self-Encrypting Drives) will allow for deletion of secure data prior to disposing or repurposing hard drives.The technology revolves around invalidating a hard-drive security key when a system's power supply is turned off.

The new Wipe capability will go into future versions of the drives but Toshiba wants to put this feature on storage devices in copiers and printers, which handle secure documents in digital imaging environments.

Go Toshiba SED

Apple will still have more than 60% of the tablet market in 2012, says iSuppli despite Acer's chairman prediction that Apple will shrink to 20% when market stabilizes.

Certainly all the big guns will aim at iPad: vendors working on tablets include Acer, Dell, HP, LG, Motorola, Blackberry and Samsung.

But that list lulls distracts from the real deluge that will come from Asian OEMs using any OS they can bend to the task (think Android, Chrome, MeeGo, Brew, Windows7 etc) and any form of channel (think private label for disties, retailers, telcoe, etailers, telcoms and all-comers.)

Orange will launch three devices before the end of 2010, one of which will be an Android under its own brand, targeting the mass-market for 100 euros with a 2-year service contract. Bloomberg notes  AT&T is bullisheough to claim tablets will kill notebooks. That's right, notebooks, not netbooks, to be done in by$1000 tablets on high end.

Go iSuppli: Apple to Dominate Tablets through 2012

RIM enters the tablet game with the Blackberry Playbook - its first device of the sort.

The announcement follows news of rival tablet devices such as Samsung's Android powered Galaxy Pad.

With a 7" screen, dual core processor and dual cameras it's described as a 'professional-grade' tablet aimed at business executives.

A slick video presentation highlights the tablet's strengths against the iPad, including multitasking, tabbed web browsing, and Flash 10 and HTML 5 support. It also shows videoconferencing and business presentation capabilities.

The Playbook supports wi-fi but has to be paired to a Blackberry handheld to access 3G networks.

RIM emphasises the Playbook's security strengths and seamless connection to other Blackberry devices and Enterprise server.

Also highlighed are unbusinesslike features like power as a gaming platform and HD video playback.

The device seems to be an answer to both the iPad and core enterprise market tablets like Cisco's Cius.

RIM commands 3rd place in European smartphone sales after Nokia and Apple.

Its international sales are growing strongly particularly in Asia, while dominating the US smartphone market with 18.2% market share (down from 19%). It faces increasing competition from the iPhone and Android devices from Motorola and HTC.

Go RIM Unveils Playbook

Watch Playbok preview

Vogels' BaseCover fixes to an iPad’s back and comes with an aluminium receptor which connects to other mounts for walls, desks and cars.

For example, the WallMount is a small button mount which can be screwed to any wall. Once secured, the iPad can be fully rotated.

The TableStand holds the iPad on any surface in portrait or landscape mode.

The CarMount fixes to the headrest for use by backseat passengers.

The starter kit includes BaseCover and WallMount, and the other mounts sell separately.

Go Vogels Mount and Cover