IBM concocts microscope with ultra-fine resolution, current MRI bows down

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/15/ibm-concocts-microscope-with-ultra-fine-resolution-current-mri/

The existing MRI has certainly been beneficial to humans everywhere, but IBM researchers are adamant on doing it one better. These gurus, working in tandem with the Center for Probing the Nanoscale at Stanford University, have demonstrated "magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with volume resolution 100 million times finer than conventional MRI." What it's all mean? In short, it could give scientists the ability to investigate complex 3D structures at the nanoscale level, and according to IBM, it may "ultimately be powerful enough to unravel the structure and interactions of proteins." We know, only the nerdiest of you are amazed -- nay, affected whatsoever -- by that statement, but even the layperson can appreciate advanced methods of studying viruses, bacteria and other biological elements. A certifiably riveting demonstration vid awaits you beyond the break.

[Via TG Daily, thanks Speedy]

Continue reading IBM concocts microscope with ultra-fine resolution, current MRI bows down

Filed under: Displays, Misc. Gadgets

IBM concocts microscope with ultra-fine resolution, current MRI bows down originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Jan 2009 02:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Buffalo's 802.11n WiFi dongle: small in size, tiny in price

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/15/buffalos-802-11n-wifi-dongle-small-in-size-tiny-in-price/

Small, fast, and cheap... what could be better? Buffalo's WLI-UC-GN 802.11b/g/n dongle measures just 16 × 33 × 8-mm and costs a mere ¥2,100 (about $24). It supports both Buffalo's proprietary AOSS and the Wi-Fi Alliance's WPS to simplify the process of connecting to secure WiFi networks. Look for the USB 2.0 adapter to ship in Japan and beyond starting next month. Check the hot male-to-female USB bunging after the break.

[Via Akihabara News]

Continue reading Buffalo's 802.11n WiFi dongle: small in size, tiny in price

Filed under: Wireless

Buffalo's 802.11n WiFi dongle: small in size, tiny in price originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Jan 2009 03:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Logic Bolt: The US's First Projecting Cellphone [Cellphones]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/zJbFpcw2dVY/logic-bolt-the-uss-first-projecting-cellphone

We've seen plenty of units from overseas manufacturers, but the Logic Bolt will be the first US cellphone on the market with a tiny projector squeezed inside.

Scheduled for release next month at a pre-contract price between $400 and $500 (or $100 w/contract), the Logic Bolt is a GSM handset with a 320x240 touchscreen, 3MP camera, 4GB storage and MicroSD expansion. Using a bundled adapter, the phone can accept VGA and RCA inputs, passing the signal on for built-in 640x480 projection (or it can obviously play any preloaded media straight from the phone). The battery can only last 2 hours in projection mode, so a second battery comes bundled with the phone.
As you can see, the projection quality doesn't exactly dazzle, but in all fairness, these shots were taken under the less ideal bright conditions of the show floor.
Manufacturer Logic Wireless hopes to release a CDMA/WinMO version of the phone in the next four months, and they're planning a 2.0 version of the product with QWERTY and possibly Android by the end of 2009.

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SanDisk's G3 SSDs Deliver 40,000 RPM Speeds Without Breaking the Bank [Ssd]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/BoGlUDqD7Zs/sandisks-g3-ssds-deliver-40000-rpm-speeds-without-breaking-the-bank

SanDisk's new G3 SSD drives are set to offer read speeds equivalent to a 40,000RPM platter drive at prices that won't make you queasy. The age of SSD laptops is looking imminent.

Coming in 60GB, 120GB and 240GB flavors, the new SSDs offer up speeds of 200MB/s read and 140MB/s write, which is nothing to scoff at. And the prices? Not too bad, with the MSRPs at $149, $249 and $499, respectively. I, for one, would very much like my next laptop to have one of those 240GB (or larger) SSDs in it, and I might just wait another generation in order to ensure that that happens. You've got to think that by next year's CES these things will be pretty damned close to regular HDD prices.

SANDISK UNLEASHES WORLD'S FASTEST MLC SOLID-STATE DRIVE (SSD) FAMILY

Affordable Third-Generation SSDs Based on Multi-Level Cell (MLC) Flash Technology, Equivalent to a 40,000 rpm Hard Disk Drive (HDD)

CES 2009, South Hall, Booth # 30659, LAS VEGAS– —Jan. 8, 2009 – SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ: SNDK) today unveiled its third-generation family of solid-state drives (SSDs). Using multi-level cell (MLC) NAND flash memory technology, SanDisk's G3 Series establishes new benchmarks in performance and price-performance leadership in the SSD industry.

Designed as drop-in replacements for hard-disk drives (HDDs) in notebook PCs, the initial members in the SanDisk G3 family are SSD C25-G3 and SSD C18-G3 in the standard 2.5" and 1.8" form factors respectively, each available with a SATA-II interface. Available in capacities of 60, 120 and 240GB*, the unit MSRPs are $149, $249 and $499, respectively.

The G3 SSDs are more than five times faster than the fastest 7,200 RPM HDDs and more than twice as fast as SSDs shipping in 2008, clocking in at 40,000 vRPM1 and anticipated sequential performance of 200MB/s read and 140MB/s write3. The G3 SSDs prov! ide a Lo ngterm Data Endurance (LDE) of 160 terabytes written (TBW) for the 240GB version, sufficient for over 100 years of typical user usage. (2,3)

"SanDisk's G3 SSD has met the demand of a 120GB SSD at less than $250 with an exceptional user experience" said Rich Heye, sr. vp and general manager, Solid State Drives (SSD) business unit, SanDisk. "Three key features developed by SanDisk enable this new design: a new SSD algorithm called ExtremeFFSTM allows random write performance to potentially improve by as much as 100 times over conventional algorithms; reliable 43nm multi-level cell (MLC) all bit-line (ABL) NAND flash; and SanDisk's new SSD controller, which ties together the NAND and the algorithm."

"With large capacities and aggressive pricing, SSDs are poised to enter mainstream corporate notebooks in 2009." Heye explained, "Given the current economic environment, corporate IT managers have also described a desire to extend the service life of existing notebooks. These notebooks are already maxed out on DRAM, and struggle to meet users' performance expectations. These existing WinXP notebooks can be upgraded to a 60GB SSD for $149, resulting in a system that frequently outperforms a new notebook with a HDD, thereby delaying the need for large capital purchases."

"Web-Feet Research has tested the replacement of the HDDs in three year old Notebooks with SSDs and has found an improvement in boot times, application loading and general user responsiveness that, in many cases, exceeds what a new notebook with an HDD can deliver," said Alan Niebel, Principal at Web-feet Research. "In these challenging economic times, IT managers are looking for ways to reduce IT spending without adversely affecting their user base and the SanDisk G3 SSD solution extends the notebook replacement cycle an additional two years at minimal cost."

The SanDisk G3 SSDs will be available to this market in mid 2009, in a 2.5" PATA configuration expressly for this purpose. In addi! tion, th e SanDisk G3 SSDs will be available on sandisk.com for do-it-yourself (DIY) enthusiasts. "An SSD upgrade improves the user experience like nothing else you can do to a computer." Heye concluded.

SanDisk's flash technology is produced at fabrication plants in Yokkaichi, Japan, where SanDisk and its partner, Toshiba Corporation, share the output. The SSD controller and firmware were designed by SanDisk expressly for the G3 SSD.

If you would like to learn more about flash and the significant role that it plays inside laptops and other consumer electronic devices, please visit SanDisk's SSD Academy at http://www.sandisk.com/ssd. Here you can learn about solid state drives and the great promise they present to the computing market

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Vocaloid 3: Japanese Synthesized Singing Sensation Now Knows English [Vocaloid]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/EKjKthVe8zQ/vocaloid-3-japanese-synthesized-singing-sensation-now-knows-english

Vocaloid, the super-popular singing synthesizer from Japan has now gotten an update—and it (she) is bilingual! Meet Megurine Luka, who's "moody and husky" voice is now yours to command in both Japanese and English.

Vocaloids 1 and 2, featuring much higher-pitched robotic singers became the #1 selling software on Amazon Japan. I think the fact that they had pretty, doe-eyed, teenage anime android girls (complete with "personalities" and "back stories") as mascots probably helped their appeal.

That's Luka-chan trying out her synthesized vocal chords in English—singing Amazing Grace. Previously, Western vocaloid fans had to enter all the text in katakana... like this admittedly adorable version of Miku (Vocaloid 2) singing The Proclaimer's 500 Miles.

[ Gizmodo Japan]

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