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 Continue reading...

Remember the Y2K, the Year 2000 processor problem that stampeded the IT industry? Now a modernization of HDD formats could create a real hard drive snafu…

Hard disk drive (HDD) processing will shift from the historical sector lengths of 512 to 520 byte increments to increments of 4096 bytes per sector using Advanced Format technology.

The transition to 4096 byte sectors (or 4K) will affect all software and hardware components that interact with the HDD.

When properly optimized, Advanced Format Continue reading...

Created using the flexible Em-ITX form factor, VIA launches 6.5" and 15" VIA VIPRO touch screen panel PCs for next gen Human Machine Interface applications

The 6.5" VIA VIPRO VP7806 and 15" VIA VIPRO VP7815 are both fanless and durable with IP65 compliant LED backlit panels that can withstand temperatures of -20°C to 60°C.

With touch panel navigation, 2 megapixel autofocus IP camera, microphone and speakers, the VIA VIPRO series looks good for next gen panel apps that Continue reading...

Jon Peddie Research (JPR) says the S3D market is poised for rapid growth: almost 1 million dedicated S3D PCs will ship in 2010, but that will grow to 75 million by 2014.

Although most PCs will be S3D capable due to the GPUs that are in them, not all PCs will be S3D PCs because they need a special monitor, glasses, and appropriate content. JPR expects to see S3D PCs achieve a much higher growth rate than their more traditional counterparts and they will have a higher ASP.

JPR sees 7 major apps that Continue reading...

In his address to RetailVision, Gartner consultant Ranjit Atwal told delegates we've finally crossed a threshold where Gartner can declare—based on evidence, not opinion—that consumers consider the PC is a necessity.

Besides the fact that PC sales grew during a recession, we are now averaging 1.5 pcs per person in advanced markets.

To further support the body of evidence, a Gartner study indicates—for the first time—a majority of customers would prefer their PC to a TV Continue reading...

IDC sees new opportunities for emerging sub form factors, such as ultrathin portables and all-in-one desktops.

Bob O'Donnell, Program VP, Clients and Displays says, "Hardware vendors and software developers should seize the opportunity to promote differentiation by rewriting the computing experience to match the new variety of PC sub form factors arriving in the market."

IDC's predictions for the PC industry in 2010 are:

1. Ultrathins will be under 5% of total portable PC shipments. Continue reading...

Gartner expects the business PC market to bounce back in 2010, with Windows 7 migration as the catalyst.

They also expect mobile PCs to drive 90% of PC growth over the next three years. (In 2009, mobile PCs accounted for 55% of all PC shipments.)

Worldwide PC shipments should be up 20% in 2010 (366.1 million units).

Mini-notebooks will boost mobile PC growth in 2010, but will decline noticeably afterward, as they face growing competition from new ultra-low-voltage (ULV) ultraportables and next-gen Continue reading...

First OCZ Technology Group unveiled the OCZ Onyx 32GB SATA II 2.5-inch solid-state drive series, "an ultra-affordable" for under $100.

Now Intel ships the 40GB X25-V Value SATA SSD at USD$125.

When it comes to price per gigabyte, HDDs are still far cheaper than SSDs cost from $2.50 to $3 per gigabyte, while hard disk drives cost around 10 cents per gigabyte. There probably will be an uptake of the 40GB SSD, but it's not going to replace a HDD in a notebook at this point.

SSDs are Continue reading...