According to Fudzilla, the platform will include a new memory controller to accommodate DDR3 RAM which, despite supporting two slots, will remain single-channel. Pineview, the next Atom before Cedarview, hasn’t even shipped yet — that’s expected to be the beginning of next year — so it’s interesting to glimpse this far into the future, where Atom, such as it is, will remain positioned almost exactly where it is now. Oh well! [Fudzilla]

Disclaimer: That Atom sitting on the penny up there is an older version (not that the new one will look any different).

According to Samsung, their new chips are actually the slimmest ever and 40 per cent thinner and lighter than a conventional memory package. Whether those details are true or not, I look forward to seeing them hit the market and start slipping into newer, smaller gadgets. [Information Week via Engadget]

It’s anticipated that PCM will initially be considered too pricey once it does in fact become available to consumers, but what product doesn’t start off like that? Once prices level out and potential issues are sorted out though, it’s predicted that phase-changing memory will kill off flash. Makes sense, since there’s no reason to settle for a less dense product when you could have stacks of memory that’s just as non-volatile after all. [Ars Technica]

Speed

I’ve been happy with a 16GB Patriot Xporter, which Ars mentioned in their 2009 test as one of the fastest. This Corsair is faster. On an informal test transferring 2.7 GB of MP3 files, the Corsair Flash Voyager 128GB was twice as fast in writes and a touch faster in reads.

Note I was very casual about this test. It did not shut down all my other apps during this test, but I did run multiple trials. And I did not test random access or exceptionally large file sizes. Why didn’t I take testing more seriously? Because I just don’t think you’ll really buy this thing when you can get multiple 32GB drives for $US50 or so. This thing is impressive, but all freaks of nature are impressive.

It’s Big

On top of its price and performance, it’s bigger. No, not only in capacity. See?

Yeah, well, it still fits in my pocket. Like a giant pet beetle. The kind that crawled out of skulls and pyramid labyrinth walls in The Mummy, part five, or whatever.

I’d recommend it only if you have so much money that if you lose one, you’ll merely say “oops” and not cry over it like I would.

128GB is a lot of space.

It’s fast.

Kind of big for a USB drive, but still doable.

Expensive

Right now, they’re only shipping in 8GB and 16GB capacities, which have been long available, but soon they’ll be releasing 64GB and even higher flash memory. The X4 tech doesn’t yet extend to SSDs, though it’s not really clear why, but it’s still great news for us gadget hounds. Many smartphones, especially those running Android, WinMo and BlackBerry OS, rely on microSDHC cards for memory, and a 64GB or even higher capacity card would make those much more viable as, say, multimedia machines. SanDisk assures us that the price will not skyrocket, which is a relief. X4 chips should start appearing in stores very soon. [CNET]

Apparently, flash memory cells are highly receptive to light and capable of creating a completely digital image. A focused beam of light directed at sector on the chip becomes a pixel, no analog-to-digital conversion required. Flash memory sensors are up to 100x smaller than current CCDs, too. By my math, that means I could have a 200MP phone camera in my pocket right now.

The drawback: Small pixels are less receptive to light, which could mean problems as pixel density increases. The data also only comes in as 1s or 0s, so grayscale is tricky. Regardless, the researchers are already achieving better grayscale and low-light performance than seen in CMOS sensors.

Edoardo Charbon and the rest of the team at the Technical University of Delft hope to have a working prototype by 2010. We’re still waiting for response from Canon on the rumoured, memory-sensor-based D40 Pico. [Wired]

Please note that this product is not a “real’ Kunai, and cannot be used as such, also we would like to remind you that this product may be dangerous due to its sharp edge and MUST be handle with care,

GeekStuff4U.com cannot be responsible if you misused this product and hurt yourself or others with it.

So it is not the real thing but it can actually cut? Can I take care of my garden with it? Do they just mean you can use it to take one of your eyes out? Are they giving nerd ninja wannabes any kind of ideas here? I hate when the day comes with so many questions. [Geek Stuff 4 U]

All that speed is expensive: The ExtremePro cards start at $US300. If you want a card that’s still damn quick but less pricey, SanDisk also has the new SanDisk extreme, which read/writes at 60MB/second and comes in 8, 16 and 32GB sizes, starting at a more manageable $US130.

SANDISK EXTREME PRO COMPACTFLASH MEMORY CARD RAISES BAR FOR PROFESSIONAL GRADE PERFORMANCE, CAPACITY AND RELIABILITY

World’s Fastest High-Capacity Memory Card Features SanDisk
Power Core Controller That Optimizes Card Endurance and
Boosts Read/Write Speed to up to 90MB/s

Milpitas, Calif., Sept. 14, 2009 – SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ: SNDK), the global leader in flash memory cards, today introduced a new line of SanDisk Extreme® Pro™ CompactFlash® memory cards (http://tinyurl.com/mdjlmm), setting a new standard for fast, reliable, high-capacity memory cards designed for professional photographers. SanDisk Extreme Pro CompactFlash cards feature a new SanDisk® Power Core Controller™, an advanced memory controller that enables lightning-fast read and write speeds of up to 90MB/s1, doubling the performance from previous SanDisk high-end camera memory cards. The cards are shipping worldwide now with storage capacities ranging from 16 gigabytes (GB)2 to 64GB.

“The new SanDisk Extreme Pro CompactFlash line is the direct result of SanDisk’s passion, commitment, and break-through engineering innovation to provide best-in-class flash memory cards for professional photography,” said Eric Bone, vice president, retail product marketing, SanDisk. “The SanDisk Power Core Controller delivers unmatched write speed and reliability, providing photographers with a spectacular combination of performance, capacity and peace of mind that images are safely stored.”

SanDisk develops its flash controllers and memory chips together, allowing the company to perfectly match and fine-tune the two technologies throughout the testing process, resulting in high-performance products with industry-leading endurance. The SanDisk Power Core Controller brings numerous benefits to the SanDisk Extreme Pro CompactFlash cards, including:

High-Performance: The SanDisk® Power Core™ Controller’s dual-lane architecture and software algorithms double card performance, enabling the SanDisk Extreme Pro CompactFlash cards’ read/write speeds of up to 90MB/s over a UDMA-6 bus.

Increased Reliability: The SanDisk Power Core Controller’s firmware algorithms and 42-bit ECC engine maintain data integrity and extended card endurance through optimised wear leveling.

Simplified Design: To further increase overall card durability, the SanDisk Power Core Controller features an integrated design that requires fewer individual components on the card’s printed circuit board.

Professional-Grade Memory:
Faster read and write speeds mean more opportunities to capture the winning shot and less time spent offloading gigabytes of photos afterwards. Large storage capacity enables photographers to capture RAW format images and high-definition video clips in a single session without running out of space.

This unique combination of speed and capacity makes the new line of cards well suited for professional usage models involving large amounts of data and tight deadlines. The SanDisk Extreme Pro CompactFlash cards’ 16 to 64GB capacity range offers the storage space needed to allow extended shooting sessions without having to reload.

“As a professional sports photographer, I rely on a speedy camera and high-performance SanDisk Extreme Pro cards to capture as many images as possible within a few seconds using continuous burst mode,” says Jeff Lewis, professional photographer and member of the SanDisk Extreme Team (http://tinyurl.com/kv7w6n). “How fast you can download and edit images from the cards makes a big difference when it comes to getting sports images distributed. The first images out of the media room tend to be the ones that get picked up. Speed really counts for getting selected by the top photo editors.”

Renowned for their world-class durability, SanDisk Extreme cards guarantee operation at extended temperatures ranging from minus 13 F (minus 25 C) to 185 F (85 C). SanDisk Extreme Pro CompactFlash cards feature RTV Silicone coating for added protection against moisture and humidity. The cards can withstand accidental drops of up to nine feet, and carry a lifetime limited warranty.3

SanDisk Extreme Pro CompactFlash cards are fully compatible with any camera, card reader or other device that supports CompactFlash cards.4 The SanDisk Extreme Pro ExpressCard™ adaptor is optimised to take advantage of the SanDisk Extreme Pro CompactFlash card’s up to 90MB/s read speed. The reader carries an MSRP of $US49.99 and will be available in late October on SanDisk.com and at select retailers.

Pricing and Availability
SanDisk is also introducing new SanDisk Extreme CompactFlash cards (http://tinyurl.com/mdjlmm) at increased performance of previous SanDisk Extreme III CompactFlash cards. The new SanDisk Extreme and SanDisk Extreme Pro cards represent the step beyond SanDisk Extreme III and SanDisk Extreme IV cards, respectively.

SanDisk Extreme CompactFlash cards will be available in capacities of 8GB to 32GB and MSRP ranging from about $US130 to $US375 in the US market, while SanDisk Extreme Pro CompactFlash cards will be available in capacities of 16GB to 64GB and MSRP ranging from about $US300 to $US800 in the US market. Exact pricing for the cards will be set by retailers.

CompactFlash Card Line: SanDisk Extreme
Performance1: 60MB/s read/write speed (400x)
Available Capacity2: 8GB, 16GB, 32GB

CompactFlash Card Line: SanDisk Extreme Pro
Performance: 90MB/s read/write speed (600x)
Available Capacity: 16GB, 32GB, 64GB

About SanDisk
SanDisk Corporation is the global leader in flash memory cards, from research, manufacturing and product design to consumer branding and retail distribution. SanDisk’s product portfolio includes flash memory cards for mobile phones, digital cameras and camcorders; digital audio/video players; USB flash drives for consumers and the enterprise; embedded memory for mobile devices; and solid state drives for computers. SanDisk is a Silicon Valley-based S&P 500 company, with more than half its sales outside the United States.

[SanDisk]