More and More Data Storage
Remember the days of the 128MB flash drive? Seems crazy that just a few years ago a storage device with that capacity was much in demand. I/OMagic has just released their new TeraBank 1000GB (1TB) external USB 2.0 hard disk drive. The TeraBank 1000GB has been repackaged in a sturdier, black and silver enclosure, making it more robust in mobile environments.
The price of the device has been reduced as well. It now retails for $299.99. The TeraBank easily connects to PCs and Macs. The drive comes with a power adapter and a USB 2.0 cable for a fast transfer rate of up to 480MB per second; the TeraBank 1000GB also works with USB 1.1 ports but at slower speeds.
Arabic-Enabled Blackboard Academic Suite
Edutech Middle East in collaboration with Blackboard Inc. is about to launch the Arabic-enabled version of Blackboard Academic Suite. This bundle of Blackboard’s widely-accepted applications for higher education institutions will enable the region’s universities to provide advanced teaching tools, allow users to share educational content and build a learning community.
With an Arabic user interface, students and teachers in the Middle East can easily adopt the technology and utilize it effectively. The Arabic version allows users to view all features and tools in the Learning, Community and Content systems from right to left according to the orientation of the Arabic written language. The Arabic Language Pack can be selected at the system, course and user level, providing flexibility to all users to choose their preferred language.
1.8-Inch HDDs Are Giants in Mobile Market
Samsung Electronics new 1.8-inch hard disk drives (HDD) are playing a dominant role in the growth of the mobile storage market. Consumer electronic companies are building new multimedia products built around Samsung’s Spinpoint N2 Series drives, which are smaller than a business card, but hold 160GB capacity at 4200 RPM.
User Created Content (UCC) has become a major hit with consumers, facilitated by the arrival of the Web 2.0 era. The new generation of 1.8-inch HDD storage provides many benefits to users, including higher storage capacities than existing tape or DVD devices and HDD storage enables the design of camcorders that are smaller and lighter.
The 1.8-inch HDDs are also popular in devices such as MP3 players and personal media players. Samsung’s Spinpoint N2 Series 160GB has the capacity to store more than 40,000 MP3 files or 100 HD quality movies.
Clean Up Smarter Than Ever Before
If you spend too much time on house cleaning, maybe now is the time to get some help. IRobot has brought out its new iRobot Roomba 500 series Vacuum Cleaning Robots. The new robots can free themselves from almost any household jam, minimizing the need to prep rooms before Roomba begins cleaning. Plus, using wireless technology, the robots now know when they have finished cleaning one room and will then move on to the next.
IRobot’s proprietary built-in intelligent sensing system can detect when Roomba is approaching a wall or obstacle and will automatically slow the robot for a gentler impact and quieter operation. A new mobility platform in the 500 series allows Roomba to travel on thicker carpets, climb higher thresholds and transition easily between floor surfaces. The iRobot Roomba 500 series Vacuum Cleaning Robots are available immediately and range in price from $249 to $399.