Samsung, in their infinite wisdom and wish to show the world that their memory cards are extremely durable and can survive even at the edge of outer space, have launched a helium balloon up toward the stars with a payload of 200 paper planes, each one of them containing one of their hardcore cards. When the balloon reached the desired height above Earth, the planes were released, and the balloon with parachute was retrieved via tracking device.
Why would they do such a thing? Where’s the fun in all this besides the fact that blasting off airplanes from 36,500 meters above Berlin? Each one of the cards attached to the planes has embedded in it a message (we assume a txt file) sent into Samsung by fans of the company, each one of them readable by the people who end up finding the planes, each one of these people invited to enter the message into this space: http://projectspaceplanes.com/ask.
For some people, 64GB of storage may not be enough. Especially on a tablet device that has full access to the iTunes Store, as well as Apple’s App Store (for both the iPad and the iPod Touch/iPhone). Racking up the movies, music, and games/apps to fill up 64GB of memory may seem like a feat, but we imagine that it can be a pretty easy endeavor for some. That’s why getting an external memory unit is a great fix. So, here’s the HyperDrive, manufactured by the guys who brought us the HyperMac batteries. This time it’s an external storage unit that, as the title suggests, can connect directly to your magical and revolutionary tablet device from Apple.
The HyperDrive does a few work-arounds to make it so that the iPad can register the external memory unit. The problem comes in the fact that the iPad’s Camera Connection Kit has a limit of only 32GB available memory, so the HyperDrive gets around that by creating separate, iPad-readable 32GB drives, which allows you to store up to 750GB of stuff with (relative) ease. The HyperDrive features a 3.2-inch color touchscreen, so navigation should be pretty simple, too.
The HyperDrive can read up to 12 types of memory cards, so you should be okay if you feel like you have some off brand, or something similar. And, if you need a memory card back-up device, the HyperDrive will help you there, too. And, while 750GB may be too big for some, you’ll be happy to know that the full range starts at 120GB (for $299), all the way up to 750GB (for $599). So, if you’re wondering if you can use the iPad instead of your laptop, well, here’s one step closer to getting your answer.
The Technocel Battery Boost is an interesting device that is designed to be used as portable storage and to keep your phone charged up on the go. The device has a retracting USB port and is designed to fit on a keychain.
The battery inside the small device has 600mAh of power and is a rechargeable lithium ion battery. The battery promises to add about an hour of run time to your mobile phone. The small charger also has a microSD card slot.
That microSD card slot lets you plug the device into your computer to move and store files like you would any other flash drive. The USB connector is retractable for a more compact design and you don’t have to mess around with caps that get lost easily. The device is Sprint branded and can be picked up at Sprint stores for $29.99.
Lexar have outed their latest multi-format memory card reader, compatible with 24 different types of flash storage, and they’re particularly excited by how easy it is to hook up to an iPad’s USB/Dock Connector adapter and import photos straight onto the Apple tablet. In fact, Lexar’s director of marketing, Jeff Cable, was so excited he drove straight down to the beach to take photos of a pretty lady with a surfboard, just so he could demonstrate the functionality on video.
As well as transferring files to your iPad, when plugged into a regular computer you can transfer files between memory cards; we’re assuming each of the five slots simply shows up as a separate drive. All the common formats are supported, including microSD, CompactFlash, Memory Stick and more; the full list is in the press release below. The Lexar Multi-Card 24-in-1 USB Reader is available now, priced at $29.99.
Press Release:
Lexar Media Introduces Multi-Card 24-in-1 USB Reader For Easy and Reliable File Transfer
All-in-One Solution Enables Concurrent Downloads and Card-to-Card Transfer of Multimedia Files
Multi-Card 24-in-1 USB Reader Key Messages:
Allows for quick and easy download of photo, video, music, and other files
Includes five slots and supports 24 memory card formats
Enables concurrent downloads to a host computer and card-to-card file transfer
Pop-up design protects card slots when not in use
Fremont, CA, June 24, 2010 – Lexar Media, a leading global provider of memory products for digital media, today introduced the Lexar® Multi-Card 24-in-1 USB Reader. Featuring five slots and supporting 24 popular memory card formats, the newest reader is an all-in-one solution enabling concurrent downloads and card-to-card file transfer. The highly versatile card reader was developed with a unique pop-up design, which allows the card slots to be protected when not in use, and comes equipped with a Hi-Speed USB 2.0 cable. The reader makes it easy to quickly download photo, video, music, and other files from nearly any memory card to a host computer. For additional information about the Lexar Multi-Card 24-in-1 USB Reader, visit www.lexar.com.
“From cameras and camcorders to mobile phones and GPS units, so many of today’s devices rely on memory cards, and not all of them use the same format. Managing these various cards can be cumbersome and confusing for consumers, causing them to mistakenly think they need to purchase multiple card readers,” said Jim Chan, product marketing manager, Lexar Media. “The Lexar Multi-Card 24-in-1 USB Reader simplifies this process, eliminating the need for different readers and providing the ability to transfer important files and memories from nearly any memory card format.”
The Lexar Multi-Card 24-in-1 USB Reader supports the following memory cards formats:
CompactFlash slot: CompactFlash® Type I and Type II
Secure Digital slot: SD™, SDHC™, miniSD™, miniSDHC™, MMC™, MMCplus™, and RS-MMC™
Mobile slot: microSD™, microSDHC™, and M2™
Memory Stick slot: Memory Stick™, Memory Stick (with MagicGate™), Memory Stick PRO™, Memory Stick PRO Duo™, Memory Stick Duo (with MagicGate), Memory Stick PRO Duo Mark 2, Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo™, and Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo “HX”
xD-Picture Card slot: xD-Picture Card™, xD-Picture Card Type-M, xD-Picture Card Type-M+, and xD-Picture Card Type-H
In addition to ease-of-use and reliable performance, the Lexar Multi-Card 24-in-1 USB Reader provides consumers with the reliability they have come to expect from Lexar Media. All Lexar memory card and card reader designs are tested in the Lexar Quality Labs, facilities with more than 800 digital cameras and memory card devices, to ensure performance, quality, compatibility, and reliability. Lexar performs this extensive testing in an effort to provide customers with the highest level of confidence.
The Lexar Multi-Card 24-in-1 USB Reader includes a one-year limited warranty. The reader is available for purchase through B&H, Adorama, J&R, Future Shop, Best Buy Canada, Amazon.com, and on Lexar.com. The Lexar Multi-Card 24-in-1 USB Reader includes a one-year limited warranty.
About Lexar Media
Lexar Media is a leading designer, manufacturer, and marketer of NAND flash and DRAM memory products under the Lexar and Crucial® brand names. Lexar Media offers products in all major flash and DRAM memory categories, including consumer and enterprise-level USB flash drives, industry-leading memory cards for photography, and all popular form factors of memory cards for mobile devices. Under the Crucial brand, Lexar Media offers industry-leading solid-state drives (SSD) and more than 250,000 DRAM memory upgrades for 50,000 computer systems. For more information about Lexar brand products, visit www.lexar.com, and for Crucial brand products, visit www.crucial.com.
Lexar Media is vertically integrated with Micron Technology, one of the largest semiconductor manufacturers worldwide. Lexar Media, Inc. is a subsidiary of Micron Technology, Inc. Lexar Media is a division of Micron Europe Limited, a division of Micron Semiconductor Asia Pte. Ltd., and a division of Micron Japan, Ltd.
Lexar. When Memory Matters.™
About Micron
Micron Technology, Inc., is one of the world’s leading providers of advanced semiconductor solutions. Through its worldwide operations, Micron manufactures and markets DRAM, NAND flash memory, CMOS image sensors, other semiconductor components, and memory modules for use in leading-edge computing, consumer, networking, and mobile products. Micron’s common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the MU symbol. To learn more about Micron Technology, Inc., visit www.micron.com.
When we last saw the AirStash, it was keeping its mystique about it and refusing to disclose any salient details beyond the fact that it’ll function as a wireless SD/SDHC card reader. Today, the fog of war is lifted with the news that the AirStash is now officially on sale for $99.99, and will come with a battery good for five hours of continuous data streaming. Marketed primarily at iPhone OS devices, it creates a wireless network that allows any WiFi and browser-equipped computer to access the storage cards within it. The UI is built around HTML5 and recharging is done via a USB connection, which also turns the AirStash into a simple SDHC card adapter when plugged in. Check out our hands-on with it from CES over here and look for a full review coming up shortly. We do care so very deeply our portable storage.
Panasonic are the latest memory card manufacturer to throw their metaphorical hat into the SDXC ring, and they’ve a capacious duo to show for it. The Panasonic 64GB and 48GB SDXC cards are each Class 10 and can apparently manage up to 22MB/s transfer speeds.
In case you’re wondering, in a compatible camcorder 48GB of storage is good enough for 6hrs 20m of Full HD AVCHD video. Both cards will be available on February 19th, priced at the equivalent of $550 for the 48GB and $700 for the 64GB.
Since you’ll probably want to get your photos and video off the cards at some point, Panasonic have also outed a new SDXC memory card reader . Currently compatible with Windows machines only, the reader not only accepts the new, high-speed memory cards but SD/SDHC and microSD/SDHC memory too. It will retail for the equivalent of $55 and will also arrive on February 19th.
Because nothing says “I ain’t afraid of no recession” like plopping down an excess amount of Benjamins for a Bluetooth earpiece, Vertu has unveiled its V accessories collection. $780 gets you a Bluetooth 2.1-compliant earpiece with 6 hours of charge time (same one we saw hit the FCC recently, we suspect), $490 for a USB memory card reader that as a consolation prize comes with a 2GB microSD card, and as for the ballpoint pen, asking price is a cool $330. For all three purchases, it’s recommended you purchase the special leather case for protection — and if these gifts are already comfortably in your price range, hey, why not?
