News
Toshiba’s perpendicular hard drives made for next iPod?
Toshiba today announced the availability of its first hard drive based on perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR), a new technology that increases the amount of data a drive can hold. The new MK4007GAL 1.8-inch PMR drive can store 40GB of data on a single platter, making it possible for thinner portable devices with larger capacity.
Toshiba, which makes the hard drives found in current iPods, hinted that future gadgets will take advantage of the new innovation, noting that an 80GB version is on the way. “The addition of PMR technology will increase capacity options for product designs beyond those currently on the market today, especially as Toshiba introduces an 80GB 1.8-inch HDD with PMR later this year,” the company said.
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1
why dont they put this things in pc or notebooks,!
Posted by Jonboy_sidewinder on August 16, 2005 at 3:53 PM (PDT)
2
PMR is being added to notebook drives. Seagate had there’s out the door a month or two ago, a 160GB 2.5” notebook hard drive.
Posted by rhythmicmoose on August 16, 2005 at 3:57 PM (PDT)
3
“...can store 40GB of date on a single platter…”
**data
Posted by Jason on August 16, 2005 at 6:04 PM (PDT)
4
I wonder how much smaller an ipod could be, or should be, especially if they are planning on adding video…
Posted by stone on August 16, 2005 at 9:15 PM (PDT)
5
well,
i hope they can find a way to increase battery life while keeping the ipods the same size.
THe most we could ask for are:
smaller size
bigger hard drives
longer battery life
but i think that’s a lot to ask for.
Not sure if they can (or will) pull it off in the 5Gs
Posted by brian on August 16, 2005 at 9:28 PM (PDT)
6
MobileMag.com has uncovered some details about the new iPod chip. It seems it will be more efficient. With the new chip, a 5G iPod Photo would give around 45 hours, and the iPod Mini around 54 hours.
If they also include the new HD, there will be nice improvements in iPod size and battery life.
I hope they also increase the screen size.
Posted by zipods.com on August 16, 2005 at 11:59 PM (PDT)
7
I hope it happens SOON. Down to about 240MB of free space. Yikes.
The hitachi flash animation about this technology is HILARIOUS. Very… School house rocks.
http://www.hitachigst.com/tech/techlib.nsf/techdocs/3A60F00EE490F11686256FDC004BCDC2
Posted by Puck in washington dc on August 17, 2005 at 6:30 AM (PDT)
8
I’m telling you, the ultra-thin iPod is on the way! I’ll eat my hat if it’s not announced by Q1 2006.
Posted by Frank Z on August 17, 2005 at 8:27 AM (PDT)
9
Very Cool. Now if they’d just start putting these large-cap mini HDs in OTHER portable devices that really mattered (like PDAs, portable gaming devices and phones). Also it’d be neat if someone offered swap-out kits using stuff like this.
One of the (only) kewl things about the old Nomad Zen is you could swap out its HD for a bigger one pretty easily; the main reason why the Zen was so big in size was because it used a standard-size laptop drive. 20GB not a big enough cap? How about a low-profile 40GB or even 60GB instead? Neat hack.
Posted by flatline response on August 18, 2005 at 1:28 AM (PDT)
10
Where can I buy one of thes 80Gb drives???
Posted by Andy on August 26, 2005 at 3:13 AM (PDT)