Consumer Corner

Electronic News, Nov 15, 1999 by Tom Murphy

SiliconTech Releases 320Mbyte CompactFlash Card

SiliconTech Inc., Santa Ana, Calif., rolled out a 320Mbyte Type II CompactFlash card, a product it claims has the highest capacity available in its form factor. It also maintains fast speeds of up to 3Mbyte/sec. for writes and up to 1.5Mbyte/sec. for reads. The card replaces traditional rotating media devices for solid state design. It was developed with Silicon Tech's stacking technology, is 5mm thick with 50 pins and is compatible with any full-size Type II slot with the use of a CompactFlash II adapter. The new card is based on a 256Mbit flash device using the AND architecture. It can accept either a 2.2 volt or 5V power supply and features operating and non-operating shock resistance up to a 10-foot drop. The cards are available in OEM quantities of 1,000 for $795.

Analog Devices Introduces Switching for HDTV, Fiber Optic Networks

Analog Devices Inc., Norwood, Mass., has introduced a digital crosspoint switch for high-speed data routing applications such as Standard Definition Television (SDTV), High Definition Television (HDTV) and fiber optic network routing. Analog Devices is touting the switch for its low-power consumption and its low-cost-per-switch point capability. The AD8150 X-stream is designed to enable low-cost switching platforms that can make the transition from SDTV to HDTV without wholesale replacement of rack hardware. The device also is designed to reduce system cost by eliminating the need for expensive and space-hungry heat sinks and other thermal management components. The company says the device's 1.5Gbit/sec. switching is suited for HDTV and high-speed data routing applications. Analog Devices will target television studios with the AD8150 by promising to comply with SDTV standards while providing the capability to migrate to HDTV in the future. The switch is now being sampled and will be produced in volume in January. It will be priced at $90 per 1,000-piece quantities.

Pine Reveals Mini MP3 Player

Pine Technology, Fremont, Calif., is expected to unveil the latest and possibly the industry's smallest MP3 players at Comdex Fall today in Las Vegas. The new device will measure just 2.2 x 2 x 0.8 inches and will weigh 1.75 ounces, according to Pine Technology. D'music Mini is designed to be worn around the neck like a fashion accessory and is expected to be available in the first quarter of 2000 for $139. Pine also said it will demonstrate its D'music CD MP3 CD-Player, which is designed to play ordinary audio CDs and hold more than 200 MP3 tracks on one CD. Pine claims this is also the first MP3 hardware device that doesn't need a computer or Internet connection since MP3 CDs are now available from retail outlets. Samples of D'music will be available in December and will cost $299.