As file sizes for many data types continue to grow, smaller chunks are also becoming more ubiquitous, particularly on social media sites like Twitter and Facebook, and search tools like Google. These high-volume, small-size blocks of data may soon be served up from a specific type of SSD, like the Moneta Onyx prototype developed by a team at the University of California, San Diego.

Onyx uses phase-change memory (PCM), which can rewrite single bits of data (1s and 0s) on demand, rather than rewriting data in larger chunks, yielding sustained 327 megabyte per second (MB/s) reads and 91MB/s writes with smaller file types — two to seven times faster than the most efficient commercial SSDs.

PCM specifically benefits granular data, rather than large files that must be transferred completely (like photos and documents), so the tech is more likely to appear on devices serving up short text-based messages. Traditional SSDs can write larger files faster than the Onyx prototype, though the new drive offers speedier read speeds across the board.

Still, it’ll be at least a couple years before PCM becomes commercially available, but once (and if) it does, you’ll be reading about your coworker’s breakfast or college buddy’s traffic jam milliseconds faster than before.

SOURCE via UCSD

Apple has their iTunes on iCloud in iOS 5 already, and it seemed that HP is going to join aboard! According to Billboard.biz, HP’s discussions with the major record labels about a cloud-based service of some sort are now “heating up,” although that apparently doesn’t mean an actual launch is imminent.

One major label exec told Billboard that the service could be “something like Qriocity for a variety of media, which can be delivered on any HP device,” but added that “we don’t know how serious they are,” which isn’t exactly an encouraging thing to hear.

That uncertainty was echoed by other unnamed sources, who were reportedly unsure about how quickly HP could launch such a service (at least six months away, according to some), while one other said that HP is still “trying to narrow down what their service will look like.”

SOURCE via billboard.biz

ASUS has had a hard time meeting demand for its Eee Pad Transformer since the device’s launch earlier this year, but we clearly don’t have component shortages to blame. Jerry Shen, the Taiwanese company’s CEO, says that he expects to sell 300,000 of the tablets this month, following shipments totaling 400,000 in April and May.

That figure puts the device in the number two spot for worldwide tablet shipments, just behind the prevailing iPad 2. At that rate, ASUS’s latest hybrid will bring in NT $2.5-3 billion (approximately $86.6-104 million), accounting for 10 percent of the company’s total revenue for June — a figure which could increase after sales pick up in Europe and mainland China in Q3.

As for North America, it looks like e-tailers are finally able to maintain inventory of the $399 (16GB) flavor — it’s listed as in stock with major sites, including Amazon and Best Buy.

SOURCE via Taiwan Economics News

Have you ever shop at online boutique just to have doubt at the end whether the shirt’s size fits you nicely? Unless you’re in the rather strange habit of going to stores, trying on clothes, and returning home to purchase them online, you never know how they look on you until the package arrives on your doorstep, which at times really is suck balls, trust me I’ve been there done that.

Last year Fits.me tackled this little niggling e-commerce issue with a shape-shifting male mannequin and finally, after a year of tireless work, the fairer sex has its own FitBot — turns out the female form is much more difficult to replicate. Ah ha! Exquisite species, I have no doubt on their claim on this!

Again, the adjustable, human stand-in is making its debut at the British retailer Hawes & Curtis and our more womanly readers can head to the source to get a better idea of how the White Hipster Shirt would drape across their particular body type simply by moving a set of sliders. But, before you go, check out the pair of videos after the break.

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It’s been almost a decade since Logitech introduced the now revered and oft-imitated MX518 optical gaming mouse, and this mainstay peripheral is finally getting a well-deserved upgrade as the new G400. Externally, the design isn’t much different; it’s merely sporting a stealthier grey hue and a cable that’s “thinner and twenty-five percent lighter.” All of the tweaks Logitech has made to help improve your fragging life are internal. The optical sensor is twice as sensitive with a maximum 3,600 DPI resolution (selectable down to 400) that maintains a tracking speed of 140 inches per second, and the mouse reports 1,000 times per second over USB (up from 250). This little guy will even work with the macros on G-series keyboards. If your clicker-finger is starting to itch for one, $50 will snag you a pre-order from Logitech in the US where it’s due out on June 19th, while the rest of the planet will have to rock their 518s into July.

SOURCE via Logitech

Apple’s iOS is great at displaying content already on a device, but transferring documents from your computer to your iPhone or iPad has traditionally been a tedious, inefficient process. SugarSync’s new mobile device management sets out to help change that, allowing you to send files directly to your smartphone or tablet using a simple web interface.

After selecting a connected device from the sidebar, you can click to upload content, booting it directly to your handheld. A push notification will appear, prompting you to download any or all of the files you uploaded, which will also remain in the cloud — so you’ll be able to access files synched with the SugarSync app from the Web, even when your device is offline.

The feature is rolling out for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch this week, and will be available for Android and BlackBerry soon. It looks like the concept of emailing documents to yourself just to access them on the go is about to follow iTunes sync and tethered updates to a permanent group home in the sky.

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Mobile gamers that need to move around here and there, rejoice! MSI managed to turn a few heads back in April by building a gaming laptop around SteelSeries keyboard with its GX780, and it’s now announced that both it and the higher-end GT780R model are available with a list price of $1,550 and $1,750, respectively.

In addition to that multicolor backlit keyboard, both models pack a 17.3-inch 1920 x 1080 display, a Core i7 2630QM processor, a pair of USB 3.0 ports (plus three USB 2.0), 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB hard drive.

So what’s the difference between the two? The big one is GeForce GTX 560M graphics with 1.5GB of GDDR5 RAM on the GT780R, compared to a GT555M with 1GB DDR5 of VRAM on the GX780.

Hit up either Amazon or Newegg if you’re ready to place an order (both seem to have knocked $100 of MSI’s price).

SOURCE via MSI

Delta may be the first around with 200 iPads at their JFK terminal to entertain some folks waiting to board, but before the year is out American Airlines will be switching out 6,000 in-flight entertainment systems to brand new Samsung 10.1-inch Galaxy Tabs.

Samsung will be customizing the Honeycomb slates with flight related “features” including AA’s streaming service mentioned last month, and possibly even adding “expanded memory” for the devices — no word on how, though.

Panasonic’s console has some competition it seems. It’s notable that these will only be available in “premium cabins” on a handful of long-distance routes, and unless you’re flying in a 767-200, WiFi access — a separate purchase, by the way — may not be available.