Gadgetstronics

One of the many complaints about the new MacBook Air concerns the optional Solid State Drive. Not its price (at $1000, it’s only $50 more than Dell’s) but its longevity. Instead of just bitching and moaning, Charles Arthuer over at the Guardian did some research.

It turns out that the fears about SSD life are based in the 1990s. Back then, drives could only stand as little as 10,000 write cycles. And because drives were smaller, a given block would be written to often. Today, though, that number is up to two million cycles. After some calculations (linked below), we get to a theoretical life of 51 years for a 64GB SSD. Even in a worst-case scenario, a 160GB drive will last for 13 years, putting spinning-platter hard drives to shame.

You’ll be a lucky Mac Owner indeed if your notebook is still working in 2059. And by that time, 64GB will look as ridiculous as a 110KB floppy does today.

So how long might the Flash drive in a (pricey) MacBook Air last? [Guardian]

SSD Myths and Legends - "write endurance" [Storage Search]

Debunking Misconceptions in SSD Longevity [Bitmicro]

Touch displays are seen as the new wireless promised land these days. The SGH-i900 is Samsung’s latest attempt to get a piece of the action: this phone has 3G and a GPS, two items that tops iPhone owners’ whish list. It will also come with applications like MSN Messenger, the Web Browser Opera, and many others. However I don’t think that this will come even close to the mobile Mac OS X… As I said before, having cool hardware is not enough these days. This is just my own speculation – let’s wait and see what comes out of this.

• 3.5” 240×400 Touch Display
• 5 Megapixel Camera
• Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR
• Integrated GPS
• FM Radio
• TV Out
• Micro SDHC
• 112×56x12.5mm

Looks like Panasonic wants to claim top spot where the most powerful alkaline battery in the world is concerned with its Evolta battery that boasts a shelf life of 10 years - perfect for those who are worried about battery leaks. With the ability to hold charge for a decade, this makes it perfect for use in emergency bunkers. The Panasonic Evolta batteries will be released this April although no retail price has been suggested as at press time. Do you think that Panasonic’s Evolta and their Oxyride batteries will be made available side-by-side at retail stores, or will the former phase out the latter?

On top of the 16 chips that Intel announced at the CES, Intel is expected to release 15 new mobile chips for their Montevina platform in May 2008. Seven of the chips are for regular laptops with eight more for low-power systems.

Some of the low-power chips will feature the old 800MHz bus speed, but all of the regular laptop chips will blaze with 1066MHz bus speed goodness and core speeds ranging from 2.26GHz - 3.06GHz and possibly higher. Is it worth buying a new laptop now or should you wait a few months? Well, that’s always the question, isn’t it?

Read more at Digitimes.

Asus has announced that it will ship versions of its Eee PC with Windows XP in the first quarter of 2008. There will be a 4GB version and 8GB version (we’re talking about the storage capacity here – not the RAM). We don’t know how much this version will cost yet, but you have to factor in the Windows XP license fee.

If you don’t know about it, the Eee is a light and low-cost laptop that is powerful enough to get on the web, send email and other basic tasks that make up for a good chunk of one’s daily computer routine. The current version runs Linux. More Asus Eee Stories.

Posted Jan 15th 2008 11:49AM by Thomas Ricker
Filed under: Cellphones, Portable Audio, Portable Video
If you saw the 1.1.3 leaked firmware then this isn’t a surprise. The new iPhone firmware features Google maps with location, up to 9 total home screens, Webclips, the ability to SMS multiple recipients, and more. That more being lyrics, subtitles, languages, chapters, in your iPod media. To customize a screen you just touch and hold the icon for a couple of seconds and it begins to “shake.” Right, just like we saw in the video. Flicking your finger across the screen moves to the next screen. iPod touch users, it’s all yours (minus the phone related apps, naturally) for $20. No, we’re not kidding.

You know theres a lot of competition out there when hard-drive manufacturers start commissioning fashion designers to get an edge on one another. Iomega just came up with a portable version that’s a looks just like an item that’s near to our hearts, quite literally: a flask.

The company’s “eGo” line has decent capacities (160GB to 250GB) at reasonable prices ($140 to $230)

[Product Page] [Via]

Posted Jan 12th 2008 2:20AM by Thomas Ricker
Filed under: Portable Audio, Wearables
Regardless of its looks, the MP3 Smart Jacket won’t save your life. In fact, if you wear it you’ll likely be risking a few limbs by way of a geek pummeling. A good thing we guess since you’re supposed to wear it while exercising. No price is available, but you’ll find it taking up space over at the appropriately named Tech Tools USA URL.

Have you ever thought that your mobile phone had already achieved everything? Indeed, it had metamorphosed. From its main “connecting people” function, it became a radio, a camera and a media player. I mean the cell phone is being used for different kind of things it was never intended for. You must be wondering what other abilities can be there?

This time the cell called Biashara is looking forward paying your bills. Other word, this gadget is a 2 in 1 item - a mobile phone and a sale point. You won’t have to worry about your monthly bill’s payments as the gadget’s terminal accepts credit and debit card payments.

It was launched in Kenya in order to help taxi drivers to carry out payments and forget the necessity of carrying much cash but it showed itself to be a perfect device for all businessmen too.

The device has keyboards on the both sides. On one side you make calls, on the other side read credit and debit cards as well as do transactions. It does even have a wireless printer so you can print out receipts freely. And don’t even worry about its battery as there are 50 hours of standby time, which covers 3000 transactions which is pretty enough even for a Sheikh.

Posted Jan 15th 2008 9:29PM by Ryan Block
Filed under: Misc. Gadgets
It was a big first day at Macworld — maybe not iPhone big, but certainly big enough. We know most anyone who’s not into Apple (and even a few who are) is ready for their regularly scheduled programming to return, and the good news is, for you, the Apple glut is over. But if you’re not quite ready to let go (or missed the real-time wall to wall coverage), check it all out below.

Keynote

• Live from Macworld 2008: Steve Jobs keynote
• Stevenote video now live on Apple’s site

MacBook Air

• The MacBook Air
• Apple MacBook Air first hands-on
• Video: MacBook Air hands-on
• MacBook Air: plenty more details
• MacBook Air doesn’t have a user-replaceable battery
• MacBook Air battery replacements: $129, free install!
• MacBook Air features Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
• The MacBook Air SuperDrive
• Apple USB Ethernet Adapter brings RJ-45 to your MacBook Air
• Apple MacBook Air and MacBook Pro size showdown
• Apple offers up Micro-DVI to DVI / VGA / Video adapters for MacBook Air
• Apple announces Remote Disc to wirelessly install software on MacBook Air
• Meet the new MacBook family
• Apple’s MacBook Air is available for pre-order
• First Macbook Air multi-touch control panel screenshot
• Poll: Did you pre-order a MacBook Air?

iPhone / iPod Touch

• Apple’s sold 4 million iPhones since launch
• Apple adds five apps to the iPod touch — for a price
• iPhone firmware 1.1.3 update announced: it’s just like we heard
• Updated firmware 1.1.3 is available for iPhone and iPod touch, sort of
• The skinny on iPhone and iPod touch firmware 1.1.3
• Apple iPhone firmware 1.1.3 hands-on
• Video: iPhone firmware 1.1.3 doing its thing
• Apple TV (Take 2), iPod touch, and iPhone: yep, more details here, too
• Poll: Are you spending $20 on new iPod touch apps?

More (groan!) after the break.

iTunes movie rentals

• Apple introduces iTunes movie rentals, HD rentals
• Apple and Fox announce iTunes-ready digital copies on discs
• More details on Apple’s iTunes movie / HD rentals
• Apple’s iTunes 7.6 plays nice with 64-bit Vista

Apple TV

• Apple unveils the Apple TV, take 2
• Apple TV Take 2 hands-on
• Video: Apple TV Take 2 menu hands-on
• Apple TV (Take 2), iPod touch, and iPhone: yep, more details here, too

Time Capsule

• Apple introduces Time Capsule, a NAS companion to Time Machine
• Apple Time Capsule hands-on

Other

• Apple Macworld booth tour
• Apple ships five million copies of Leopard in three months