sandisk

SanDisk firmware update adds OGG, FLAC support to Clip and Fuze

Awhile back, SanDisk released some fairly major firmware for both the Sansa Clip and the Sansa Fuze. Well, technically, the update for each is a different piece of software, but most of the fixes and enhancements are similar, so I'm treating the two as one here.

I finally got around to installing the new firmware on the Clip and I have to say that it's definitely a worthwhile install (most firmware is). If you haven't done it already, make sure you do--I've included some basic steps for updating Sansa players below.

Perhaps the most exciting thing … Read more

BPAV has the Sandisk 8GB Cruzer Micro USB Flash Drive for $35.65, after $44.34 savings.

Save $44.34 on the Sandisk 8GB Cruzer Micro USB Flash Drive from BPAV >> Regular price is $79.99 >> Sale price is $35.65 >> Savings $44.34 (55.43%) >> Click here for deal

SanDisk teams with Veoh on portable Web video player

This is good for those who have grave concerns over others knowing what kind of videos they're watching.

On Wednesday, Veoh announced that its new Web video player (which is still in beta) is now available in a portable version, but only on SanDisk's Cruzer USB flash drive. For those who already own the drive, the download is available for free on SanDisk's site.

That means any TV shows, movies, or other Web videos found on Veoh can be downloaded to the drive and played on any PC, without need for an Internet connection. Veoh has content … Read more

Flash Memory Store has the 16GB SANDISK ULTRA II SDHC CARD for $87.95, after $92.04 savings.

Save $92.04 on the 16GB SANDISK ULTRA II SDHC CARD from Flash Memory Store >> Regular price is $179.99 >> Sale price is $87.95 >> Savings $92.04 (51.14%) >> Click here for deal

SanDisk cranks up solid-state drive speed

LOS ANGELES--Technology introduced at the Windows Hardware Engineering Conference by SanDisk could boost solid-state drive performance in Windows Vista by 100 times.

The largest supplier of flash memory cards unveiled an advanced flash file system for solid-state drives that "has the potential" to accelerate random write speeds by up to 100 times over existing systems.

Despite being generally faster than hard-disk drives (particularly at reading data), solid-state drives fall short of hard disks when they randomly write data. Random writes are generally considered to be the Achilles heel of solid-state drives.

To maximize random write performance, SanDisk developed … Read more

Microsoft: Windows 7 to boost solid-state drives

Updated at 3:40 p.m.with additional comments and clarifications about solid state drives and ATA commands.

Will solid-state drives thrive on Windows 7? Microsoft is set to address that question at the Windows Hardware Engineering Conference this week.

Microsoft will speak to both overall support for solid-state drives and Windows 7 support for Netbooks in Los Angeles at WinHEC 2008, which kicks off Wednesday.

In a conference abstract titled "Windows 7 Enhancements for Solid-State Drives," Microsoft states that "PC systems that have solid-state drives are shipping in increasing volumes" and that it is planning &… Read more

SanDisk layoffs appear to be in the works

In the wake of a big loss posted this week by SanDisk, layoffs appear to be in the offing.

On Monday, SanDisk said in prepared remarks that as part of its efforts to reduce operating expenses, "actions will be implemented in the current quarter" and will include "canceling or exiting a number of products and marketing activities, and will result in employee reduction in R&D, Sales & Marketing, G&A, and Operations."

And on Monday during SanDisk's third-quarter earnings conference call, CFO Judy Bruner spoke about more restructuring to come. In response … Read more

CNET News Daily Podcast: Coming to terms with the iPhone and Apple

The sharp growth in the iPhone was seized upon by investors who bid up Apple's stock even as the overall stock market slumped. CNET News' Tom Krazit reflects upon the import of the iPhone in the context of a strategy shift CEO Steve Jobs charted for Apple years ago.

Listen now: Download today's podcast

Today's stories:

Forrester: Holiday e-commerce growth to slow

iPhone sales buoy AT&T earnings

T-Mobile delivers the G1 (aka Android) phone

Coders get 70 percent of Android Market revenue

Why the iPhone is now Apple's most important product

Solid-state drives: No rush to widespread success

Will 2009 be the year that solid-state drives take off? Maybe not. The speedy drives are catching on, but wider acceptance will take time--and the bad economy isn't helping.

Costs are still high for these drives, which typically outdo--and in some cases blow away--hard disks in performance. "2010-2011...that's when we think the price points for the SSD market get attractive enough to really drive stronger growth," Sanjay Mehrotra, president and chief operating officer of SanDisk, said this week during SanDisk's third-quarter earnings conference call.

Indeed, there is still a wide price gap between hard-disk … Read more

Samsung withdraws offer to buy SanDisk

Updated at 11:40 p.m. with SanDisk response to Samsung letter.

Samsung on Tuesday withdrew its $5.85 billion bid for SanDisk, citing an increasing "risk profile."

This follows a new manufacturing agreement between SanDisk and Toshiba disclosed Monday and a stiff rejection by SanDisk last month of the Samsung offer.

"After nearly six months of efforts to pursue a transaction with no meaningful progress, we are withdrawing our proposal to acquire SanDisk," Yoon Woo Lee, vice chairman and CEO at Samsung Electronics, said in a letter that Samsung released Wednesday in Seoul.

"I … Read more