Samsung Ships First Hybrid Drives March 8, 2007

READ MORE Gadgets , Gizmodo UK , Laptops , PC , Storage , Technology

samsung_hybrid.jpg Here we go, the future of hard disk drive technology [at least for a few years] is finally underway with Samsung launching the first of its hybrid HDDs. The 80GB, 120GB and 160GB 2.5in drives are winging their way to system builders right now and you can expect them to start appearing in new notebooks very soon.

Unlike regular drives, these come with either 128MB or 256MB of Flash memory, which will be used as a temporary cache for the most-used applications. The end result is a boot-up time that is twice is fast, as well as faster application access and resume from sleep, as well as a 10 per cent boost to battery life.

According to Samsung, the new drives are also five times more rugged than regular drives since the drive’s platters will be idle 99 per cent of the time which = less disk spinning = less chance of damage when you drop your notebook.

The only things conspicuous by their absence in all of the product information are prices, which you clever ones will realise is not so much an marketing oversight, but a big flashing neon sign that reads: “How Much!!??!!”.-Martin Lynch

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First Mac TV Tuners From Pinnacle TV March 8, 2007

READ MORE Apple , Entertainment , Gadgets , Gizmodo UK , Laptops , Online , Peripherals , TV

pinnacle tv for mac.jpg Pinnacle TV has decided there’s money in Macs after all, launching its first two TV tuners for Apple systems.

The two USB tuners are the Pinnacle TV for Mac DVB-T Stick and the Pinnacle TV for Mac Hybrid Stick. The first one is a digital TV tuner and allows us European users to watch, time shift and record our fave TV and radio shows.

The hybrid has both digital and analogue TV tuners and can act as a video capture device too, which is handy. Both come bundled with the Elgato EyeTV Lite software, an AV adaptor cable, mini-antenna and remote control.

Shipping this month, they cost £60 and £90. Oh yeah, they come in black and – you guessed it - white.-Martin Lynch

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Sony Unveils Playstation Home March 8, 2007

READ MORE Blu-ray , Consoles , Entertainment , Gadgets , Games , Gizmodo UK , HD , HDMI , Home Cinema , Home Entertainment , PS3 , Xbox

pshome1.jpg

The big online push for the PS3 was always on the cards, especially since the Xbox Live service is so massive, and yesterday Sony let the cat out of the bag.

It’s called Playstation Home and will be an online world, vaguely similar to Second Life, where PS3 users get to meet, greet, hang out, what high-def movie trailers and even create a little bit of world content. Players can create an highly customised avatar and they also get their own apartment [above] which they can decorate to their heart’s content.

Developments in the game world though – public spaces where people meet –will be controlled by Sony to ensure that it stays family-friendly. You can also expect to see ads. There will be places dedicated to different games, prizes for reaching certain levels in games, a Hall of Fame, places to shop and share things with others, and even show the content stored on their PS3 to others while in their apartments.

Home goes into closed Beta testing soon and will launch in the Autumn, which probably means Christmas. This is ambitious stuff and may finally provide Xbox Live with some real online competition. And it’s free, which is always good. -Martin Lynch


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