SanDisk will produce SSD in UltraDIMM size

Install a SSD on a DDR slot allows particularly benefit from a very low latency. This is the concept of UltraDIMM.

In development for a few months now, the format UltraDIMM on what work Smart Storage Systems and Diablo Technologies consists of a SSD in DRAM array format compatible with DIMM slots for present DDR3, to enjoy a very high bandwidth and very low latency.

Today we learn that SanDisk has decided to produce SSD in UltraDIMM size with capacities of 200 and 400GB and assembled based on NAND flash MLC chips engraved in 19 nm. SSD in modules format which present, characteristic side, latency of only 150 microseconds in reading and 5 microseconds in writing. This is much better than what can be offered any other SSD, even on PCIe interface. SanDisk also evokes speeds of 1 GB/s in reading (150,000 IOPS) and 760 MB/s in writing (65,000 IOPS).

However, useless to dream of the arrival of such solutions in our PC for a few years at least, SanDisk has announced its intention to produce these SSD UltraDIMM in very small quantities at first, and make first use of industries that are able to really take advantage of this very low latency. But who knows, once fully developed, perhaps the UltraDIMM will prevail in the machine of good old Mr Everyone at a decent price.

LG G Flex: a pre-order, price in Orange, and bubbles surcharge

The first screen smartphone flexible and curved LG comes to us in a few weeks, but in a single operator, and at a high price...

Major trends mobility in the end of 2013, smartphones of curved screens are undoubtedly one of the most curious and we do not really know what to think, as the technological prowess is as impressive as its utility seems limited... Anyway, it is LG that will have the scoop to be the first to try a luck with the G Flex, smartphone 6'' which has been quite convincing our eyes there a few weeks.

Flexible phablette (pronounced ten times in succession to sharpen your language) has just arrived preorder in Orange, only operator to have at the moment the right to sell it. The release date is however not specified, but the prices are known: from $ 397 with a plan and a commitment of 24 months, or $ 957 naked.

In parallel with this imminent arrival, our fellow Android And Me relayed a somewhat unpleasant discovery: early versions of G Flex have a slight problem of "bubbles" on the screen, which appear after too many bending attempts of the device. A relatively minor concern according to the manufacturer, since enough to hold it to make them disappear. Not sure, $ 957 the smartphone, this response is appropriate to first time buyers...

IBM will invest $ 1.2 billion to expand its cloud computing business

With the development of online services, it becomes capital for major industry agents such as IBM, investing heavily in the cloud.

Very active in the lucrative sector of cloud computing, the american IBM decided to invest not less than $ 1,2 billion in the expansion of its activities. Eventually, the computer giant will deploy 15 new data centers on five continents and do not intend to stop there because it has already announced its intention to bring its total to 40 data centers in 15 different countries.

These announcements follow the acquisition to $ 2 billion last year, from the American company SoftLayer precisely specialized in cloud computing. As for the new IBM data centers, they are made ​​in China, USA, Japan, India, Canada or Mexico. Next year, new facilities should be built in the Middle East but also on African soil.

The objective of this very strategic move would be to fight effectively against the behemoth Amazon Web Services (AWS) of Jeff Bezos, which already has many customers, as the specialist of the american SVOD, Netflix.

Pretty cases InWin of the last CES already on sale

Aluminum and tempered glass go together in the new enclosures manufacturer InWin, but these are not given...

InWin is a manufacturer of enclosures that loves originality, but unfortunately is very few distributed by home. 

Good news, was present at the last CES with the intention of finding new distribution partnerships, and why not in Europe. Still, the brand has made ​​a good impression with its 901 (mini-ITX) and 904 (average lap), designed with brushed aluminum panels and tempered glass walls, all assembled with taste.

901 accepts, despite its compact design, the ATX power supplies that are up to 200 mm deep, and the performant dual-slot graphics cards. The CPU cooler must not exceed 130 mm, and we note the presence of two 2.5'' bays, ventilators of 90 and 120 mm delivered pre-mounted and a slot for slim optical drive. In short, the 904 is a more impressive version of this case, accepting motherboards at micro-ATX and ATX formats. Both products are already on sale at select stores, as Neweeg where 901 InWin is proposed at $ 190, and the 904 for $ 280.

Other products, still at the prototype stage, were presented by the U.S. InWin living as a Tou at limited edition fully tempered glass for the outer part. InWin, which also sells power under its name, had finally in its cartoons 550W 80Plus Gold and 900W 80Plus Platinum models (coming in the range Serenity).

Galaxy S5: a different interface and an announcement at MWC?

Rumors and leaks around the Galaxy S5 accelerate broadly, as its presentation approach. But can we really believe it?

As usual, the following lines are subject to our old disclaimer dedicated to rumors of all kinds and are taken with the rigor tongs. But what do you want: as soon as we attack the "famous" next Galaxy S, one can not help but wander and try to sort fact from fiction.

Today, however, there is concrete, since Evleaks Twitter account publishes catches the home screen of the smartphone star of Samsung, which seems totally different from the TouchWiz interface to which we are accustomed for some years now. The very square side and "Flipboardien" is indeed far from the preceding curves and this design is reminiscent of a Windows Phone. That in any case is in line with rumors of a complete overhaul of TouchWiz 2014. And we do not complain, as it begins to age.

The other information, more nebulous and difficult to take it seriously, comes from high-tech blogger Eldar Mutarzin, who said yesterday on Twitter that the Galaxy S5 would be presented at the Mobile World Congress on February 23 for a late April release. The maneuver would be in any case astonishing from Samsung, the manufacturer has now made ​​it a habit to present its Galaxy S at an event apart, around the month of March.

Kindle Fire HD 8.9''

Slowly, but surely, Amazon continues its location on the tablet market, offering this time a version "large format" of the Kindle Fire HD. Does it do in a single pass through the XL box or a real new product?

There are a few months, it was discussed all the good that we thought of the Kindle Fire HD, a 7-inch tablet thought by Amazon and excellent for everything related to reading content. Sold $229, it certainly suffered from a less than ideal interface and oriented primarily to the content of website, but offered very good performance and attractive design.

A few months later, Amazon decides to decline again its Kindle line with the enlarged view of the Fire HD version now equipped with a screen of 8.9'' to the definition of 1920x1200.

Look and design side, we are on familiar ground: unsurprisingly Fire HD 8.9'' takes every feature the appearance of original Fire HD, with its edges still a little too wide, but its grip very pleasant, thanks to the rubber coating on the back. Suddenly, the sensations are good, it does not slip and touch it is very soft. 

Compared to the Kindle 7'', this new format is also more pleasing to the eye and gives an impression of 16/9 more pronounced. Suddenly, the feeling of being faced with a digital photo frame, as it could be the case in the previous model, disappears.

As for size and weight, they are in line with what is on the market, in this price range, it is correct to say, nothing more. With 560 grams on the scale and 8.8 mm thick (it is slightly thinner than the Fire HD), 8,9'' is certainly not the most sleek and lightweight tablet on the market, but remains quite convincing on this point.

Screen: the main argument?

In terms of connectivity, again nothing new: we find the classic micro USB port for charging, mini HDMI port for connection to a TV, and a 3.5 mm jack taking. Note that like on the Kindle Fire HD 7'', the tablet recharges via USB to a PC, only when it is in standby. Another flaw, again this is here: the strange position of ignition button and volume, still little evident to use. Even if, suddenly, they blend well in the device design, their discretion serves the use  everyday.

This new version of the Kindle Fire HD stands out most of the former, of course it is on the screen, both larger and with better definition. Thus passes from 1280x800 at 216 ppi to 1920x1200 at 254 ppi, all on an IPS panel of almost 9 inches. And we must admit that the result of this expansion is very convincing, since end up with a significant visual comfort, while avoiding too large slab, which could reduce the grip comfort.

This format 8.9'' seems in any case ideal for viewing content and in particular videos, especially the display quality is generally very good, the colors - so slightly saturated Super AMOLED - are beautiful despite sometimes a lack of uniformity, and the maximum brightness makes optimum use in all circumstances, as its very wide viewing angles there still a fairly high persistence, which is particularly noticeable when the carousel (the equivalent of multitasking on the tablet) is used, while icons leaving enough visible drag. Same for fast scrolling of images on a video, which is not perfectly clear. Anyway, in this price range and in this format, the screen of Kindle Fire HD 8.9 is very satisfactory.

3D limit, extra autonomy

During the test of Kindle Fire HD 7'', we noted a very satisfactory autonomy, guaranteeing a dozen hours of use without flinching. The situation is the same here, see best. Playing a 720p video (max brightness, WiFi on) runs for almost 8 hours, a good hour longer and can ultimately approach 11h of autonomy. Attention to 3D games, however, that seem to consume much more and are dropping quickly the charge nivel.

Moreover, the 3D performance of Kindle Fire HD 8.9'' seem to be one of its weaknesses. If the score in Epic Citadel is correct (45 fps), it is only 1249 in Antutu Benchmark. This is far less than the vast majority of other tablets on the market and it shows some recent games like Real Racing 3. Apart from this problem, the performances of Fire HD 8.9 are quite irreproachable. Web browsing is fluid and precise, and the original browser (for one moment) proves pleasant to use.

The Amazon OS (based on Android) remains meanwhile completely identical to that found on previous models of Kindle Fire, with the same qualities and the same defects. If the media content is always highlighted and fun to browse, some essential features in Android are lacking. A good point, however, on the Amazon App store increasingly rich and furnished and offers many common applications with the Google Play Store.

Thus kindle Fire HD 8,9 proves very successful iteration of Fire HD, and provides undeniable  reading comfort, because of its ideal screen size and good ergonomics. And if it does not clearly revolutionize the Kindle range, it offers a very interesting quality/size/price ratio.