Seagate 5mm 2.5-Inch HDD for Android Tablet

Seagate Technology plc took the wraps off the Ultra Mobile HDD laptop designed exclusively for mobile devices.

Integrated with the Seagate Mobile Enablement Kit which includes Seagate’s Dynamic Data Driver software technology, the new storage solution delivers up to 7x the storage capacity of a traditional 64GB tablet with the same power, performance and reliability of a flash device.

"Coupling an ultra-thin, high-capacity HDD with software designed to optimize integration into tablets at a value-add price has allowed us to deliver a truly ground-breaking solution, enabling our partners to reimagine the mobile device," said Steve Luczo, president, CEO and chairman, Seagate. "By empowering our OEMs with this revolutionary new technology, we have invited the industry to re-think the mobile market making this offering a true game-changer in the world of storage."

"When comparing side by side a tablet and a portable PC, today’s tablets are trading off storage capacity in order to realize a thin and light form factor device and long battery life," noted John Rydning, IDC’s research VP for HDD drives and semiconductors. "Seagate’s new Mobile Enablement Kit will bring PC-like storage capacity to future thin and light tablet designs, and position Seagate as a potential storage solutions provider to the fast-growing tablet market."

Seagate has addressed several areas beyond a standard laptop HDD to optimize mobile applications. These areas include shock management, heat and vibration and gyroscopic motion – all of which have been  tested to ensure the drive delivers the best experience in a tablet solution.

Seagate Dynamic Data Driver Software
Keeping pace with mobile storage demands presents other challenges as well including power consumption requirements, device drops by consumers and user demands. Merging the new Ultra Mobile HDD with the Dynamic Data Driver software alleviates these obstacles enabling OEMs to fit high-capacity storage into mobile devices.

Seagate’s use of Dynamic Data Driver software addresses these challenges through a combination of system design considerations. Reduced power consumption and improved performance are achieved through an intelligent caching design that is implemented at the system level. As a result a mobile device using 8GB of flash and the Ultra Mobile HDD and Dynamic Data Driver software have the power consumption equal to that of a 64GB tablet and the performance equal to that of a 16GB tablet – while costing less than either.

The software provides drive protection through the use of enhanced motion sensor and thermal monitoring algorithms to control drive access and avoid usage conditions that might harm it. The drive is so well insulated that in many cases a dropped device’s screen would break before its HDD drive.

To further reinforce reliability for mobile devices, the drive integrates Seagate’s own Zero Gravity Sensor providing better shock management. Incorporated power modes support the drive in sleep, standby and idle enabling it to consume 0.14W and support the battery life demanded by tablets. Its slim, rugged design allows it to be utilized in new emerging applications like convertible and detachable storage.

Leveraging the company’s experience with ultra-portable applications like iPods, MP3 players, and handheld video recorders, the newly-engineered 2.5-inch drive is 5mm thin while weighing in at a mere 3.3oz – about the same as a light bulb. Featuring up to 500GB of capacity, it delivers the high areal density in a small, thin form factor while supporting over 100,000 photos, 125,000 songs or 62 hours of high-definition video and movies.

The Mobile Enablement Kit includes the Ultra Mobile HDD, Dynamic Data Driver software, and an optional customized reference design which allows HDD-powered tablets to deliver high-capacity storage space to an end user in a mobile solution. The kit is currently designed to support the Android OS.

The Ultra Mobile HDD will be available separately and as part of the Mobile Enablement Kit. Dynamic Data Driver software not sold separately.

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