Small, fast, cute — Samsung T1 Portable SSD

Samsung T1 Portable SSD
Credit: GadgetGuy

Small (71 x 53 x 9 mm), fast (450MBps read & write according to Samsung), cute (see photo), 250, 500 & 1000 GB versions.

But … not cheap, no TRIM, no RAPID.

http://www.cnet.com/au/products/samsung-portable-ssd-t1/

http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2015/05/samsung-t1-portable-ssd-australian-review/?dclid=CIip3tn48McCFVebvAod2fAMEg

http://www.gadgetguy.com.au/product/samsung-portable-ssd-t1/

My take: wait for the USB-C version — reversible connector, probably faster & cheaper. / fast small cheap pick two technology products portable hard drives Samsung’s new portable SSD solid state drive T1 faster fastest mechanical hard drive USB flash drive smaller portable hard cheap expensive Samsung T1 portable hard drive extended credit card shape portable mechanical hard drive laptop-grade solid state drive smaller than credit card smaller than the Seagate Seven engineering marvel Samsung T1 850 Evo solid state drives 850 Pro first portable SSD market Sandisk Extreme PRO USB 3.0 traditional USB thumb drive T1 USB 3.0 flash drive blistering fast speeds 625MBps maximum SuperSpeed USB 3.0 standard reach speeds 450MBps read write Samsung real world testing 250GB 500GB 1TB capacities a dollar per gigabyte for 250GB 500GB 1TB Samsung 5-inch microUSB 3.0 to USB 3.0 cable T1’s packaging three-year limited warranty expected service life laptop desktop PC setup software out of the box partition first boot up the T1 format for either Windows or Mac OS X fast flash drive Sandisk Extreme PRO Lexar Jumpdrive P10 benchmark benchmarked Samsung’s TurboWrite software firmware layer initially safe file transfers fastest flash segments distributing data single layer T1’s flash memory maximum speed moves files buffer slower larger capacity memory segments background real world test Samsung Portable SSD T1 average write speed read speed Samsung T1 Portable SSD encryption Windows Mac OS X PC initial software setup AES 256-bit encryption encryption strong your password your password security procedures secure portable hard drive most important files T1’s design dimensions smoothly rounded shape super small storage plug it into your PC included short-length microUSB 3.0 cable T1 Samsung SSD support Samsung’s Magician management software doesn’t support the RAPID performance-boosting mode Magician 850 Pro 850 Evo RAPID caches data system RAM transferring it back and forth improving small medium-size transfers portable drive USB 3.0 interface TRIM isn’t supported Windows Mac OS X not issuing TRIM commands USB 3.0 interface Samsung developing brute-force workaround SSD’s drive performance taper off as it gets full garbage collection a tiny bit slower over time T1 portable Windows boot drive password software T1 SSD Windows PC Mac log in unlock your hard drive encrypt your data external mass storage device hanging off a router password feature Samsung T1 solid state drive drives more expensive per gigabyte comparable performance USB thumb drive storage lowest cost-per-gigabyte flash drive solid state drive small enough as fast as the best SSDs initial price tiny USB storage drive ridiculously fast transfer speeds Samsung Portable SSD T1 /

Canon’s 250-megapixel sensor — clue to the future of photography

Credit: Canon/BBC

Something like this has long seemed to me to be the future of photography — large pixel-count sensor combined with digital zoom.

Two times digital zoom on a 250 megapixel sensor yields a 62.5 mp image. Or 15 mp with a 4x digital zoom. If 4x zoom isn’t enough, add a moderate optical zoom, say 3x, for a 12x combined digital plus optical zoom, yielding the same 15 mp image.

Pixel counts, pixel density, processing speed & storage capacity continue to increase, while cost continues to fall.

Don’t expect to buy a camera with a sensor like this any time soon, but extrapolating from the history of digital photography, expect a consumer camera producing 10 mp images with an 8x digital zoom inside ten years. Implementation could be with no, or a more conservative digital zoom in the camera. Bigger files would be saved in the camera's storage. "Zoom" could be done later by cropping. This alternative would depend on the cost of camera storage at the time.

Remember, you read it here first.

http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-34173423

https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/213596-canons-250-megapixel-sensor-can-read-the-side-of-a-plane-from-11-miles-away

http://www.theverge.com/2015/9/6/9270865/canon-announces-250-megapixel-sensor / electronics optics company Canon developed 250 megapixel sensor digital cameras Canon sensor sensitive read lettering side of an aircraft 18km 11.1 miles away domestic cameras smartphones ultra-high-resolution sensor find role surveillance systems other specialised applications slow shooter Canon overcome several technical hurdles sensor functioning signal timing problems introduced reading data from 250 million pixels 19,580 x 12,600 on board data read chip speed 1.25 billion pixels per second Canon improved signal processing systems ensure picture taking well coordinated sensor measures 29.2mm 1.15in by 20.2mm 0.79in smaller sensors 35mm digital cameras individual pixels sensor about 1.5 microns across approximately the same size consumer cameras Dr Konstantin Stefanov senior research fellow Open University Centre for Electronic Imaging impressive technical feat sensor how useful sensors made bigger bigger more problems large size read once every few seconds specialised applications astronomy surveillance Canon sensor shoot video five frames per second slower rate needed film movies video clips captured 125 times more dense standard HD video 30 times resolution of 4K video Dr Stefanov build bigger sensors very specialised applications hospital X-ray machines sensor replaced photographic plate capture captured image improvements elements imaging system made large sensors unnecessary do not need big sensors use smaller better optics simply increasing the number of pixels is not the only way forward /

This is the ’droid you’re looking for — Star Wars BB-8

That unbelievably cute 'droid from Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens, is available for purchase. Believe it or not, it works just like the one in the movie — arguably better, given that the one in the movie is more prop & puppetry than robot. But it’s not cheap.



http://www.theverge.com/2015/9/3/9253461/star-wars-bb8-droid-toy-video-price-release-date

Physics of how that Star Wars BB-8 toy works
http://www.wired.com/2015/09/physics-star-wars-bb-8-toy-works/?mbid=nl_9415

Star Wars BB-8 toy torn apart to see how it works
http://www.engadget.com/2015/09/04/star-wars-bb-8-teardown/ / searchkeys /

LG’s roll-up keyboard for tablets

Credit: The Gadgeteer

Folding keyboards for phones & tablets are not new, but one with excellent typing response, that rolls up into a rectangular prism, is.

http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2015/09/hands-on-with-lgs-rolly-keyboard-for-tablets/

http://the-gadgeteer.com/2015/09/04/the-lg-rolly-keyboard-rolls-into-a-stick/ / LG’s IFA 2015 booth gadget tech geek attention compact portable LG Rolly Keyboard super-convenient contrivance tablet smartphone typists sending long emails responding writing stories touchscreen portable Bluetooth keyboards Logitech BLOK Pro Tablet Case cases annoying troublesome case your smart device attached keyboard accessory standalone keyboards bulky cumbersome rarely useful Rolly Keyboard solves bag long enough to store it tablet pairing folding keyboards folds itself after each row of keys controller built-in stand forms a cute little rectangular prism unfurled four rows of QWERTY keys function map additional number input Rolly Keyboard magnetic tabs hold it in place when it’s rolled up break with one hand quick flick unfurls Rolly flat layout key layout a little unconventional any Android-compatible Bluetooth keyboard Rolly is made for Android work with an iPad too tested with LG’s new G Pad II 10.1 perfectly responsive quick to mirror typing onscreen app Bluetooth keyboards a second lag fast typing almost impossible key travel OK shallow travel depth two little fold-out prongs Rolly genuinely useful and versatile stabilise keyboard whatever flat surface you’re using it on prongs will hold a tablet 5-inch-plus phone landscape mode securely
international shipping cheap /

Samsung Gear S2 pricing leaked

Credit: The Verge

Samsung’s Gear S2 smartwatch has been reviewed with enthusiasm:

http://www.theverge.com/2015/9/4/9260263/samsung-gear-s2-smart-watch-ifa-2015

And now its pricing has apparently been leaked by a German retailer — right in line with Apple’s cheapest Watch Sport:

http://9to5google.com/2015/09/07/samsung-gear-s2-pricing/ / perfectly round smartwatch smart watch porthole into the future electronics company diversity of awkward smartwatches smart watches too big unwieldy compromised Samsung launched immediately convincing wear worn first smartwatch consider buying Samsung’s Gear S2 unlike any other smart watch smartwatch size and weight of a regular watch works like a watch by show shows showing the time all the time smart watch smartwatch Android Wear Pebble always-on screens weight loss plastic surgeon Apple Watch iconic appearance big obsidian information-less block on the wrist jewelry jewelery mobile computer watch basic fundamentals regular watch useful to people unobtrusive utility comfortable fit unnoticeably light weight make smartwatch appealing Samsung’s Gear S2 handsome light watch beautiful and bright display AMOLED screen recessed slightly Gorilla Glass covering the front attractive halo effect light display internal walls of the watch delightful glow animations signal reach end of a menu list of items austere dark background natural a fit watch familiar round face rotating bezel sensible satisfying navigating Gear S2 interface ingenious obvious rotating bezel watches rotating bezels free control dial watch dramatically improves usability Gear S2 1.2-inch screen user’s finger touchscreen navigating navigation implemented rotating bezel just the right amount of resistance scrolling radial app menu hardly any lag Tizen-based UI Apple’s digital crown similar function offloading controls away from the touchscreen tactile input scheme more intuitive more satisfying experience instant synergy rotating app menu controlling bezel wraps around it hands wrist apps can take a while to load software expertise engineering prowess framework user experience intelligent simple PIN code required watch taken off the wrist Apple Watch recruited partners apps S2 integrated 3G radio smartphone plug into the Nike+ ecosystem smartwatches layer smart functionality Samsung’s integrated health tracking Gear S2’s heart rate sensor comfort watch smart smart watch smartwatch compromised design ergonomics appalling battery life smartphone-dependent software Gear S2 Tizen operating system potential /

Is your phone interfering with your life?

Mobile (cell) phone overuse (aka dependence syndrome or addiction), is a recognised condition which is negatively impacting people’s income, sleep, safety, relationships, & other aspects of their lives.^1,2

http://www.webmd.com/balance/guide/addicted-your-smartphone-what-to-do

Paradoxically, there’s an app for that:

http://www.nickjrparents.com.au/2015/05/17/adults-app-review-self-control
______________

¹ “Cell Phone Addiction Is So Real People Are Going to Rehab for It”, http://www.shape.com/lifestyle/mind-and-body/cell-phone-addiction-so-real-people-are-going-rehab-it

² “Mobile phone overuse”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_phone_overuse / self-control ruled by your smartphone there’s an app for that exercise a bit more restraint checking your phone recent study parents spend too much time smartphones more negative interactions their kids difficult warning to ignore smartphone habit just that bit hard to break there’s an app for that download app smartphone spending too much time smartphone Self Control for Study app originally designed for students lock out lockout smartphones times programmed diminish study distractions great for students bit of help managing smartphone habit Google Play store more than just study helps me to get off my phone do something productive choose pre-enter timeframes throughout your week open the app immediate lock out lockout locks out of all apps phone function help with self-control programming exception apps lock out time self control help setting boundaries smartphone use /

Android phone General Test Mode

Credit: Samsung/Mashable Australia

Samsung Android Phone General Test Mode has a range of functions, including an IR remote for Samsung TVs, to test the IR LED. Other functions include indicator LED, screen colours (reveals stuck or dead pixels), & sensor test.

Can’t say how many Samsung phones this works with, but I have tested it with a few, including Ace, S3, Note 3 & 4. The number of buttons depends on the capabilities of the phone. Some tests, such as “S-pen Hovering” are applicable only to particular models.

To try it, start the phone app, call up the keypad & type:

*#0*#

No spaces — type just as you would for a phone number.

More about Samsung Android Phone General Test Mode:
http://mashable.com/2014/10/27/samsung-galaxy-hidden-menu/

More useful codes at:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s3/general/galaxy-s3-useful-codes-to-test-hardware-t1896748

This item indicates that the above works with all recent Android phones:
http://www.redmondpie.com/hidden-android-secret-codes-for-samsung-htc-motorola-sony-lg-and-other-devices/

Thanks to Bryan for this item. /58 key codes Samsung Galaxy S3 SGS3 Samsung Android phone key general test basic current state of phone’s LCD touch-based smartphone Google hidden menu access dialing specific string of characters troubleshoot hardware issues check your phone's functionality tool first spotted Android Central Samsung Galaxy owners menu host of service checks hidden menu open dial pad enter *#0*# no spaces like any phone number this screen pop up numerous buttons run tests vibration RGB colors touch-screen sensitivity speaker output color checks could be useful single out dead pixels menu functions technical ordinary user perform sensor checks accelerometer sensor ensures photos aligned correctly on your phone displayed upright off-axis slanted test phone displays picture sensor button hidden menu screen display raw data your phone's sensors image test function touch-screen tracker traces path your finger speaker test plays song loudly testing /