SanDisk takes SDHC memory card to 32GB

SanDisk, one of the best known makers of flash memory cards, has started making the jump to 32GB capacity.

The company announced its 32GB Ultra II SDHC card Thursday at the Photo Marketing Association tradeshow in Las Vegas, a model designed with the needs of flash-based video cameras.

It will cost about US$350 when it goes on sale in April, the company said. A US$180 16GB Ultra II card will be available in March, and both come with a MicroMate USB card reader.

In addition, SanDisk announced a US$100 8GB Ultra II Plus card. It hinges open to reveal a USB plug that lets the card be directly connected to a computer.

All the new cards can write data at 15MB/sec, a notch up from the 9 or 10MB/sec of earlier Ultra II models, SanDisk said. However, that's not as fast as CompactFlash models, where SanDisk's top-end Extreme Ducati cards reach 45MB/sec.

SanDisk spokesman Ken Castle wouldn't comment on when the company's 32GB CompactFlash cards might reach the market. Competitors PNY and Transcend announced their 32GB CompactFlash cards in January.

"We've chosen to go with the SD first. That's where the momentum has been," Castle said. "Camcorders with HD (high-definition video) can eat memory pretty quickly."

SanDisk in 2007 sued 25 flash-card competitors, including Transcend and PNY, alleging patent infringement.

Via Crave CNET

"Hip Office" really isn't

If this concept ever becomes a reality, it should come with a public-service warning along the lines of those gambling-addiction 800 numbers posted at casino ATMs. Because anyone who considers getting one must have a severe workaholism problem, not to mention a dire need for fashion intervention.

German designer Henning Kunow touts the "Hip Office" (get it?) as an ergonomic way to do work on a laptop, attaching it to a fiberglass belt around your waist. Judging by the photos on OhGizmo, it can even allow you to blissfully tap away while sitting, standing, or even walking.

Still, we have a hard time viewing it as a device that promotes a healthy workplace. In addition to its dubious weight distribution, there are much more immediate concerns--such as knocking stuff over while turning around, or perhaps walking into the occasional wall.

Via Crave CNET

A desktop keyboard for mouse-haters

No, this isn't a picture of a laptop busted in two, though we've certainly had occasion to take such photos in the past due to either clumsiness or blue-screen rage. This is actually a wireless keyboard from Japan's Sanwa that has a touchpad like the one on your laptop, seen on Akihabara News.

Why? We have no idea, other than to cater to those folks who just hate using a mouse for some reason. (Samsung has apparently identified that niche as well.) Sanwa also makes a corded version, if you're really particular about keyboards. Personally, we'd rather see that space used for a touchscreen or something else more useful. Besides, if we did away with the mouse, how would we get a massage?

Via Crave CNET

A blow-up mouse for the lonely nerd

Now why didn't we think of this? While the lonely at heart have their inflatable dolls, here's a blow-up mouse version for the lonely tech nerd. You can not only take this to bed, you can actually put it to use. Not that kind of use. Designers Bongkun Shin, Heungkyo Seo, Jiwoong Hwang & Wooteik Lim did intend for this to be a working mouse, and packed electronic circuity on a small flexible board within the Jelly Click. So all you need to do to use this is puff away, attach the USB cable, and click. Oh, and since it floats, this is one rodent that won't sink on you. For now, though, it's all just hot air till a commercial unit actually scuttles out.

Via Yanko Design

PicLens for better image browsing

This is what you get when you do a Google Image search for "rainbows" in PicLens.
Searching for an image on the Internet can be a trying experience. Even though it has gotten much easier with sites like Google Images and Flickr, you generally have to click on and load many thumbnail index pages before finding the one you need. Well, PicLens is something that may actually make that process fun.

Available as a plugin for Firefox, Safari and Internet Explorer, PicLens presents photos on a virtual 3D wall from inside your browser.
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