Sony this week announced a new 4 GB model as part of its Memory Stick PRO Duo lineup. The company also introduced a revamped packaging design with colour coding for easier identification of different series. Additionally, products now come with a standard Memory Stick adaptor. The PRO Duo format promises access speeds of up to 80 Mbps and write speed of 15 Mbps. Sony is expected to release an 8 GB version in the coming months.
Freescale today announced commercial availability of the industry’s first Magnetoresistive Random Access Memory (MRAM). The non-volatile standard is said to provide read and writing speeds of up to 200 MB/s. Other advantages over conventional flash memory include lower power consumption and resistance to degradation. Freescale’s 4 Mb device, dubbed MR2A16A, is suitable for networking, security, data storage, gaming and printing applications.
Sony has released the Micro Vault Tiny USB drive series with devices measuring 1.45x3x2.4 mm (0,57x1,18x0,94 inch) and weighing no more than 1.5 g. The product is available in a variety of colors and capacities ranging from 256 MB to 2 GB. A software tool called Virtual Expander is said to boost storage approximately three times by automatically compressing and decompressing data. The ultra-small USB drive also comes with a rubber carrying case equipped with a clip and strap for transport.
Qimonda, the Infineon spin-off, today announced that it has shipped the industry’s first samples of DDR3 SO-DIMM memory to ATI. The 512 MB modules, based on 512 Mb components, are clocked at 800 MHz and 1067 MHz. First notebooks equipped with DDR3 SO-DIMM should appear in 2007. The standard, however, is not expected to surpass DDR2 in volume before 2009.
OCZ has launched a DDR2-800 memory with low latencies of 3-4-3-9 as the inaugural model of its new Titanium Alpha Edition. This series brings a multicolored version of the XTC honeycomb heatspreaders finished with a scratch-resistant titanium deposition process. OCZ has also released a DDR2-800 Platinum Revision 2 with 4-4-4-15 latencies. Both memories are available in 1 GB modules and 2 GB dual channel kits.
Transcend is promoting a new USB drive, the JetFlash 210, equipped with a fingerprint scanner to protect data. The device, available in 1 GB (orange) and 2 GB (blue) versions, is preformatted as two logical drives, one shared and one secured, with resizable capacities. It also features a Web site auto-login function and a status led.
Kingston last week announced a DDR2-1066 HyperX memory with 5-5-5-15 latencies. It operates at 2.2 volts. In a marketing move, Kingston said that the modules have been tested for optimal performance with an ASUS P5B Deluxe motherboard, based on Intel’s P965 chipset. The HyperX 1066-MHz is available in a 1 GB kit (2 x 512 MB) with a suggested retail price of USD 284.
Super Talent has announced a new line of USB flash drives with high-speed data transfer rates of 25 MB/s (read) and 12 MB/s (write). The devices feature a shock-resistant rubber housing in red, yellow and black. The company expects to ship 1 GB and 2 GB versions of the drive later this month and a 4 GB model in July. The 1 GB Fireball has a suggested retail price of USD 35.
Mushkin has added a DDR2-800 model to its Enhanced Performance memory line. The EM2-6400 is rated at 5-5-5-12 and operates at 1.9 volt. It is available in 512 MB or 1 GB modules and 1 GB or 2 GB dual channel kits. The products are expected to hit retail by the end of the month. Prices were not announced.
Enthusiast memory maker Mushkin has added a DDR2-1000 device to its REDLINE overclocking-aimed lineup. The eXtreme Performance XP2-8000 has 4-5-4-11 latencies and operates at 2.2 volts. It is available with the characteristic red finish in 512 MB and 1 GB modules or 1 GB and 2 GB dual channel kits.
High-performance memory maker OCZ has launched a new line of products aimed at gamers. The Special Ops Edition features a camouflage motif over its XTC honeycomb heatspreaders. OCZ said the modules will have a low price tag but did not reveal prices. First products include DDR400 (2.5-3-3-8 latencies, 2.8 volts), DDR2-667 (4-4-4-12, 1.9 volt) and DDR2-800 (5-5-5-12, 2 volts) parts, available both as independent modules and dual channel kits.
After announcing the Enhanced Performance Profiles (EPP) standard along with Nvidia, Corsair today launched its first DDR2 products based on such specs, one of them setting a new memory speed record. The TWIN2X2048-8500C5 kit includes two 1 GB modules running at 1,066 MHz. The memory operates at 2.2 volts with low latencies of 5-5-5-15. Corsair also released 800 MHz TWIN2X2048-6400C4 kits with 4-4-4-12 latencies. Both series feature black XMS heat spreaders.
Intel, Micron, Sony, Hynix and other companies this week announced the formation of the Open NAND Flash Interface Working Group (ONFI), which aims do develop a standardized chip-level interface for the attachment of NAND flash memory to host systems. Among other things, the group wants to establish a common pin-out, a standard command set and a self identification mechanism. The specification is expected to be completed in the second half.
Standardization body JEDEC this week announced that it has formally approved the Fully Buffered Dual In-line Memory Module (FB-DIMM) specification. FB-DIMM provides greater bandwidth and a higher capacity per channel compared to current solutions. The standard is based on DDR2 memory and on-DIMM Advanced Memory Buffer (AMB). A fast serial bus channel between the memory and the host memory controller enables an easier routing for multiple channels across the motherboard. Future versions will scale up to the DDR3 generation now being standardized by JEDEC.
Taiwanese PQI will soon start shipping a tiny flash drive capable of holding up to 16 GB. The card-sized (85x54x3 mm or 3.3x2.1x1.2 in.) U510, featuring a retractable USB 2.0 connector, will be available in stylish silver, gray and a special edition soccer ball theme. Pricing is not yet known.
