Seagate Announces Drive Size Breakthrough!

Awesomeness! 60 TB in a single hard drive! How amazing is THAT? Want!

Seagate hits 1 terabit per square inch, 60TB hard drives on their way

“Seagate has demonstrated the first terabit-per-square-inch hard drive, almost doubling the areal density found in modern hard drives. Initially this will result in 6TB 3.5-inch desktop drives and 2TB 2.5-inch laptop drives, but eventually Seagate is promising up to 60TB and 20TB respectively.

To achieve such a huge leap in density, Seagate had to use a technology called heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR). Basically, the main issue that governs hard drive density is the size of each magnetic ‘bit.’ These can only be made so small until the magnetism of nearby bits affects them. With HAMR, ‘high density’ magnetic compounds that can withstand further miniaturization are used. The only problem is that these materials, such as iron platinum alloy or a sprinkling of table salt (really), are more stubborn when it comes to changing their magnetism (i.e. writing data) — but if you heat it first, that problem goes away.

HAMR, which was originally demonstrated by Fujitsu in 2006, adds a laser to the hard drive head. The head seeks as normal, but whenever it wants to write data the laser turns on. Reading data is done in the conventional way. Just so you understand how small the magnetic bits are in a HAMR drive, one terabit per square inch equates to two million bits per linear inch; in other words, each site is just 12.7 nanometers long — or about a dozen atoms.”

Apple’s New iPad is HOT! HOT! HOT!

And, not in a good way! Turns out the new iPad runs very hot (temperature-wise!) So, users are complaining, and Apple, as usual, is not happy that they are complaining!

Apple’s Chilly Response to iPad Heat Complaints

“It’s not uncommon for Apple enthusiasts to start finding fault with their new gadget within a couple days of buying the latest and greatest.

In some rare cases — most famously, with the iPhone 4 antenna — Apple may end up acknowledging some validity to the griping.

But for now, at least, that’s not what’s happening when it comes to reports that the new iPad kicks out more heat than its predecessors.
Here’s their statement, via Apple PR’s Trudy Muller:

‘The new iPad delivers a stunning Retina display, A5X chip, support for 4G LTE plus 10 hours of battery life, all while operating well within our thermal specifications. If customers have any concerns they should contact AppleCare.'”

Microsoft Plans to Wrap-Up Windows 8 Development in Summer, Release in October

Will you be ready? Will you care? Bottom line, will you buy it?

Microsoft Said to Finish Windows 8 in Summer, Debut October

Microsoft will finish work on Windows 8 this summer, setting the stage for personal computers and tablets with the operating system to go on sale around October, according to people with knowledge of the schedule.

The initial rollout will include devices running Intel Corp. (INTC) and ARM Holdings Plc (ARM) chips, making good on Microsoft’s promise to support both standards, said the people, who declined to be named because the plans are confidential. In embracing ARM technology, Microsoft is using the same kind of processors as Apple Inc.’s iPad. Still, there will be fewer than five ARM devices in the debut, compared with more than 40 Intel machines.

The timing would let Microsoft target Christmas shoppers with the new software, which works with touch-screen devices as well as laptops and desktop PCs. The Redmond, Washington-based company, which hasn’t announced timing for the Windows 8 release, aims to take back sales lost to the iPad and reinvigorate the sluggish PC market. Apple (AAPL) released the third version of the iPad this month, posing an even stiffer challenge to Microsoft.

“If they miss the September-October time frame, they’re going to be stuck without being able to ship anything in 2012,” said Michael Gartenberg, an analyst at Stamford, Connecticut- based Gartner Inc. “The last thing Microsoft wants to have is a situation where there are no compelling Windows tablets at a time when the new iPad looks like it’s going to be a good seller for the holidays.'”