20 April 2018, Düsseldorf, Germany – Toshiba Electronics Europe GmbH (TEE) announces capacity expansions and new model variations to its lineup of internal hard disk drives (HDDs), expanding the company’s profile in the hard drive space. Within the range, three of the hard drive families have been upgraded with different advances over previous models, including capacities and storage buffer. The N300 NAS Hard Drive for network attached storage (NAS) and the X300 Performance Hard Drive for high-performance or gaming PCs now feature a 10 TB^[1] model, as well as smaller variants, and larger cache options, while the L200 Laptop PC Hard Drive for consumer and professional laptops now comes with up to 2 TB of storage and an increased cache of up to 128 MB for the newly added models.

The 3.5-inch^[2] N300 NAS Hard Drive (N300) is designed for use in personal, home office and small business network attached storage applications such as for scalable RAID systems^[3]. The HDD family has expanded its capacity to 10 TB of storage (up from 8 TB in 2017). It is optimised for the performance, reliability and endurance requirements of 24/7 operation high-capacity storage.

The 10 TB model features 7,200 rpm, sustained data transfer speeds up to 248 MB/s and an increased, 256 MB data buffer, while all capacities come with rotational vibration (RV) sensors, as well as supporting a 180 TB/year workload rate^[4]. Toshiba has also implemented advanced technologies such as Toshiba’s Stable Platter Technology and delivers high performance, reliability, endurance and scalability in multi-bay NAS systems in which large amounts of data need to be efficiently stored and accessed daily.

The 3.5-inch X300 Performance Hard Drive (X300) is targeted at both high-performance- and gaming-PC markets. Now offering up to 10 TB of storage, as well as 8 TB, 6 TB, 5 TB and 4 TB variants, the family can quickly store and provide access to even the fastest-growing gaming libraries. The HDD features Toshiba’s Dynamic Cache Technology, optimizing cache allocation during read/write to provide high-level performance in real time, plus improved tracking accuracy performance through reduced system vibration during read/write operations.

The X300 runs at a 7,200 rpm read speed, and implements an increased, 256 MB data buffer to ensure a game is never affected by lag. The X300 delivers extreme performance and robust capacity for creative and professional applications including graphic design, animation, photo and video editing, and PC gaming.

The 2.5-inch L200 Laptop PC Hard Drive (L200) for ultra-portable PCs and laptops provides high capacity upgrades, is shock and vibration-resistant and is designed to work with every major brand notebook computer, gaming systems and for external storage use. The 2018 family adds a new, thinner 1 TB version and increases the maximum storage to 2 TB. The HDD family now comes with two size options (7 and 9.5 mm) and three capacity options (500 GB, 1 TB and 2 TB). The new 2 TB 9.5 mm and the slim 1 TB 7 mm models offer an increased cache of 128 MB, which delivers improved performance over the 8 MB cache models. The L200 lineup has a low power profile compared with a 3.5-inch HDD, to help optimize the device’s battery life, as well as built-in shock sensor and ramp loading technology for reliability.

The new internal HDD models are part of TEE’s new ‘Write your story’* branding concept for its internal and external hard drives. This initiative is based on the premise that whether you are a datacenter infrastructure manager, an architect, or a travel blogger – storing your important data is possible – with the right hard drive. As part of this, each internal HDD family will now be colour-coded according to application: Gold for NAS (N300), silver for high-performance and gaming PCs (X300), green for surveillance-footage applications (S300), blue for video streaming (V300), red for consumer and professional PCs and laptops (P300, L200), and dark blue for enterprise systems (Enterprise Capacity MG Series, Enterprise Performance AL Series). Toshiba’s new category branding will be displayed on both the device label and retail packaging to clearly communicate each HDD category’s use case and device application.

Toshiba continues to expand product offerings with higher storage capacity and performance. The increased capacities for the N300, X300, and L200 HDD model series further illustrate Toshiba’s efforts to continue offering drives for every storage application from PC, gaming, NAS, enterprise, surveillance and video streaming. General availability of the new capacity models will start in May 2018. For further information and the detailed product specifications visit: www.toshiba-storage.com.

Notes:

[1] Definition of capacity: A gigabyte (GB) is 1,000,000,000 bytes and a terabyte (TB) is 1,000,000,000,000 bytes. A computer operating system, however, reports storage capacity using powers of 2 for the definition of 1TB = 2⁴⁰ = 1,099,511,627,776 bytes and therefore shows less storage capacity. Available storage capacity (including examples of various media files) will vary based on file size, formatting, settings, software and operating system, such as Microsoft Operating System and/or pre-installed software applications, or media content. Actual formatted capacity may vary.

[2] 3.5-inch means the form factor of HDDs. It does not indicate drive’s physical size.

[3] As for “Drive Bays Supported”, please contact your solutions provider because the compatibility with the host device will vary based on the system.

[4] Workload is a measure of the data throughout of the year, and it is defined as the amount of data written, read or verified by commands from the host system.

The new S300 and V300 series are the latest models to join the internal HDD lineup and showcase Toshiba’s new HDD branding concept.

17 April 2018, Düsseldorf, Germany – Toshiba Electronics Europe GmbH (TEE) has unveiled its 2018 lineup of internal hard disk drives (HDDs), which adds two new 3.5-inch^[1] HDD families: The S300 Surveillance Hard Drive designed specifically to meet the needs of the surveillance market and the V300 Video Streaming Hard Drive for reliable video recording, editing and streaming. The launch comes at the same time as TEE’s new ‘Write your story’ branding concept for its hard drives, with the internal hard drives now being colour-coded according to application.

The new S300 Surveillance Hard Drive (S300) is a highly-scalable, -robust HDD family that is ideally suited to managing the vast amount of data that comes from an array of up to 64^[2] security cameras, which operate 24/7. It is designed for high speed, capacity and reliability to ensure the mission-critical surveillance footage can continually be recorded.

The surveillance HDD family is available in 4, 6, 8 and 10 TB^[3] variants – an increase of 2 TB over the 2017 lineup. The S300 has a mean time to failure of 1 million hour; features a data buffer up to 256 MB ^[4]; implements advanced technologies such as Toshiba’s Stable Platter Technology; and supports large-scale server systems with the ability to back up to as many as 64 high-resolution video^[2] streams.

Additionally, the S300 supports 8+ drive bays, has a workload of up to 180 TB per year^[5], performs at up to 7,200 rpm with a maximum data transfer speed^[6] of 248 MB/s^[7], and comes with a three-year limited warranty. The S300 also includes built-in RV sensors to help suppress vibrations in multi HDD platforms. It supports surveillance network video recorders (sNVR), surveillance digital video recorders (sDVR), hybrid sDVR (analog and IP) and RAID storage arrays for surveillance.

The second new family, the V300 Video Streaming Hard Drive (V300) enables users to stream, record, edit and play video on digital video recorders (DVR), network-video recorders (NVR), set-top boxes and TV efficiently and reliably. Furthermore it is optimised for 24/7^[8] operation, making it applicable to use in video surveillance systems as well. It reduces energy consumption by up to 25% (compared to Toshiba’s P300 Desktop PC HDD model) by using a lower-spin design; this also reduces heat generation and gives the HDD a longer life.

Additionally, the S300 supports 8+ drive bays, has a workload of up to 180 TB per year^[5], performs at up to 7,200 rpm with a maximum data transfer speed^[6] of 248 MB/s^[7], and comes with a three-year limited warranty. The S300 also includes built-in RV sensors to help suppress vibrations in multi HDD platforms. It supports surveillance network video recorders (sNVR), surveillance digital video recorders (sDVR), hybrid sDVR (analog and IP) and RAID storage arrays for surveillance.

The second new family, the V300 Video Streaming Hard Drive (V300) enables users to stream, record, edit and play video on digital video recorders (DVR), network-video recorders (NVR), set-top boxes and TV efficiently and reliably. Furthermore it is optimised for 24/7^[8] operation, making it applicable to use in video surveillance systems as well. It reduces energy consumption by up to 25% (compared to Toshiba’s P300 Desktop PC HDD model) by using a lower-spin design; this also reduces heat generation and gives the HDD a longer life.

Additionally, the V300 includes Toshiba’s Silent Seek Technology to minimise noise and heat during operation. Its 64 MB buffer gives smooth performance and its temperature controls curb overheating. The family comes in 500 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB and 3 TB models, has a SATA 6.0 Gbit/s interface and has a two-year limited warranty.

The launch of the two new models comes at the same time as TEE’s new ‘Write your story’* branding concept for its internal and external hard drives. This initiative is based on the premise that great ideas need great data storage solutions that are reliable, best in performance and most importantly: safe. Whether you are an infrastructure manager for a datacenter, an architect needing to collaborate by sharing and working simultaneously on multiple files, or a travel blogger / parent needing to safely store precious video and photos everything is possible – with the right tools.

As part of this, each internal HDD family will now be colour-coded according to application, helping to ensure the right product is used every time: Gold for NAS (N300), silver for high-performance and gaming PCs (X300), green for surveillance-footage applications (S300), blue for video streaming (V300), red for consumer and professional PCs and laptops (P300, L200), and dark blue for enterprise systems (Enterprise Capacity MG Series, Enterprise Performance AL Series). The user friendly, easy-to-identify color coded drive labels and retail shelf packaging makes it easy for consumers and customers to shop for the drive they need.

“Across the range, our whole line-up of HDDs has been strengthened and the HDD branding has been refreshed to make it easier for the consumer and customers to shop for the right application,“ said Lorenzo Martinez-Palomo, General Manager, HDD Business Unit, Toshiba Electronics Europe GmbH. “The addition of the new S300 family of surveillance-specific HDDs is of particular note, not only because the market is growing rapidly, but also because this application demands exceptional robustness and high reliability. The S300 is among the best possible options to meet this sector’s needs.”

Toshiba continues to expand product offerings with higher storage capacity and performance. The new S300 and V300 HDDs further illustrate Toshiba’s efforts to continue offering drives for every storage application from PC, gaming, NAS, enterprise and now surveillance and video streaming.

The S300 and V300 will be available from April 2018. For further information on the Toshiba Hard Disk Drive products and the detailed product specifications, please visit: www.toshiba-storage.com.

Notes:

[1] 3.5-inch means the form factor of HDDs. It does not indicate drive’s physical size.
[2] Number of surveillance cameras support capability depends on model and is defined by performance simulation with High Definition cameras at 10 Mbit/s rate. Actual results may vary based on various factors, including the types of cameras installed, the system’s hardware and software capabilities, and the video compression technology used, as well as system variables such as resolution, frames per second, and other settings.
[3] Definition of capacity: A gigabyte (GB) is 1,000,000,000 bytes and a terabyte (TB) is 1,000,000,000,000 bytes. A computer operating system, however, reports storage capacity using powers of 2 for the definition of 1TB = 2⁴⁰ = 1,099,511,627,776 bytes and therefore shows less storage capacity. Available storage capacity (including examples of various media files) will vary based on file size, formatting, settings, software and operating system, such as Microsoft Operating System and/or pre-installed software applications, or media content. Actual formatted capacity may vary.
[4] This specification is valid for the S300 10 TB, 8 TB and 6 TB model.
[5] Workload is a measure of the data throughout of the year, and it is defined as the amount of data written, read or verified by commands from the host system.
[6] Read and write speed may vary depending on the host device, read and write conditions, and file size.
[7] This specification is valid for the S300 10 TB model.
[8] V300 drives are designed for always-on, low transaction workloads of 72 TB/year.

The new S300 and V300 series are the latest models to join the internal HDD lineup and showcase Toshiba’s new HDD branding concept.

17 April 2018, Düsseldorf, Germany – Toshiba Electronics Europe GmbH (TEE) has unveiled its 2018 lineup of internal hard disk drives (HDDs), which adds two new 3.5-inch^[1] HDD families: The S300 Surveillance Hard Drive designed specifically to meet the needs of the surveillance market and the V300 Video Streaming Hard Drive for reliable video recording, editing and streaming. The launch comes at the same time as TEE’s new ‘Write your story’ branding concept for its hard drives, with the internal hard drives now being colour-coded according to application.

The new S300 Surveillance Hard Drive (S300) is a highly-scalable, -robust HDD family that is ideally suited to managing the vast amount of data that comes from an array of up to 64^[2] security cameras, which operate 24/7. It is designed for high speed, capacity and reliability to ensure the mission-critical surveillance footage can continually be recorded.

The surveillance HDD family is available in 4, 6, 8 and 10 TB^[3] variants – an increase of 2 TB over the 2017 lineup. The S300 has a mean time to failure of 1 million hour; features a data buffer up to 256 MB ^[4]; implements advanced technologies such as Toshiba’s Stable Platter Technology; and supports large-scale server systems with the ability to back up to as many as 64 high-resolution video^[2] streams.

Additionally, the S300 supports 8+ drive bays, has a workload of up to 180 TB per year^[5], performs at up to 7,200 rpm with a maximum data transfer speed^[6] of 248 MB/s^[7], and comes with a three-year limited warranty. The S300 also includes built-in RV sensors to help suppress vibrations in multi HDD platforms. It supports surveillance network video recorders (sNVR), surveillance digital video recorders (sDVR), hybrid sDVR (analog and IP) and RAID storage arrays for surveillance.

The second new family, the V300 Video Streaming Hard Drive (V300) enables users to stream, record, edit and play video on digital video recorders (DVR), network-video recorders (NVR), set-top boxes and TV efficiently and reliably. Furthermore it is optimised for 24/7^[8] operation, making it applicable to use in video surveillance systems as well. It reduces energy consumption by up to 25% (compared to Toshiba’s P300 Desktop PC HDD model) by using a lower-spin design; this also reduces heat generation and gives the HDD a longer life.

Additionally, the S300 supports 8+ drive bays, has a workload of up to 180 TB per year^[5], performs at up to 7,200 rpm with a maximum data transfer speed^[6] of 248 MB/s^[7], and comes with a three-year limited warranty. The S300 also includes built-in RV sensors to help suppress vibrations in multi HDD platforms. It supports surveillance network video recorders (sNVR), surveillance digital video recorders (sDVR), hybrid sDVR (analog and IP) and RAID storage arrays for surveillance.

The second new family, the V300 Video Streaming Hard Drive (V300) enables users to stream, record, edit and play video on digital video recorders (DVR), network-video recorders (NVR), set-top boxes and TV efficiently and reliably. Furthermore it is optimised for 24/7^[8] operation, making it applicable to use in video surveillance systems as well. It reduces energy consumption by up to 25% (compared to Toshiba’s P300 Desktop PC HDD model) by using a lower-spin design; this also reduces heat generation and gives the HDD a longer life.

Additionally, the V300 includes Toshiba’s Silent Seek Technology to minimise noise and heat during operation. Its 64 MB buffer gives smooth performance and its temperature controls curb overheating. The family comes in 500 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB and 3 TB models, has a SATA 6.0 Gbit/s interface and has a two-year limited warranty.

The launch of the two new models comes at the same time as TEE’s new ‘Write your story’* branding concept for its internal and external hard drives. This initiative is based on the premise that great ideas need great data storage solutions that are reliable, best in performance and most importantly: safe. Whether you are an infrastructure manager for a datacenter, an architect needing to collaborate by sharing and working simultaneously on multiple files, or a travel blogger / parent needing to safely store precious video and photos everything is possible – with the right tools.

As part of this, each internal HDD family will now be colour-coded according to application, helping to ensure the right product is used every time: Gold for NAS (N300), silver for high-performance and gaming PCs (X300), green for surveillance-footage applications (S300), blue for video streaming (V300), red for consumer and professional PCs and laptops (P300, L200), and dark blue for enterprise systems (Enterprise Capacity MG Series, Enterprise Performance AL Series). The user friendly, easy-to-identify color coded drive labels and retail shelf packaging makes it easy for consumers and customers to shop for the drive they need.

“Across the range, our whole line-up of HDDs has been strengthened and the HDD branding has been refreshed to make it easier for the consumer and customers to shop for the right application,“ said Lorenzo Martinez-Palomo, General Manager, HDD Business Unit, Toshiba Electronics Europe GmbH. “The addition of the new S300 family of surveillance-specific HDDs is of particular note, not only because the market is growing rapidly, but also because this application demands exceptional robustness and high reliability. The S300 is among the best possible options to meet this sector’s needs.”

Toshiba continues to expand product offerings with higher storage capacity and performance. The new S300 and V300 HDDs further illustrate Toshiba’s efforts to continue offering drives for every storage application from PC, gaming, NAS, enterprise and now surveillance and video streaming.

The S300 and V300 will be available from April 2018. For further information on the Toshiba Hard Disk Drive products and the detailed product specifications, please visit: www.toshiba-storage.com.

Notes:

[1] 3.5-inch means the form factor of HDDs. It does not indicate drive’s physical size.
[2] Number of surveillance cameras support capability depends on model and is defined by performance simulation with High Definition cameras at 10 Mbit/s rate. Actual results may vary based on various factors, including the types of cameras installed, the system’s hardware and software capabilities, and the video compression technology used, as well as system variables such as resolution, frames per second, and other settings.
[3] Definition of capacity: A gigabyte (GB) is 1,000,000,000 bytes and a terabyte (TB) is 1,000,000,000,000 bytes. A computer operating system, however, reports storage capacity using powers of 2 for the definition of 1TB = 2⁴⁰ = 1,099,511,627,776 bytes and therefore shows less storage capacity. Available storage capacity (including examples of various media files) will vary based on file size, formatting, settings, software and operating system, such as Microsoft Operating System and/or pre-installed software applications, or media content. Actual formatted capacity may vary.
[4] This specification is valid for the S300 10 TB, 8 TB and 6 TB model.
[5] Workload is a measure of the data throughout of the year, and it is defined as the amount of data written, read or verified by commands from the host system.
[6] Read and write speed may vary depending on the host device, read and write conditions, and file size.
[7] This specification is valid for the S300 10 TB model.
[8] V300 drives are designed for always-on, low transaction workloads of 72 TB/year.

Updated, stylish low-profile look-and-feel and practical features refresh and unify 500GB to 3TB CANVIO portable hard drive family

9^th January, 2018 – Toshiba Electronics Europe GmbH has announced the latest evolution of its popular CANVIO family of portable hard drives for personal storage. Combining practical features with updated slim, curved design, the CANVIO PREMIUM, ADVANCE and BASICS models provide a fresher, unified look and feel while delivering flexible capacity options of 500GB^{[1] [2]}, 1TB, 2TB and 3TB. The use of Toshiba’s 1TB platter technology supports low profiles, allowing the 2TB versions of all three new CANVIO models to be thinner than their predecessors.

The CANVIO PREMIUM series offers versatile connectivity in a stylish design with an aluminium finish and diamond-cut edges in silver metallic or dark grey metallic. The thin, slender body makes the device easy to store. It is accompanied by a pouch as well as a USB Type-A to USB Type-C^[3] adapter that can be inserted in any orientation for easy connectivity to everything from notebooks to high-end desktop PCs. Additionally, the PREMIUM model offers Toshiba Storage Backup Software and Storage Security Software for download, enabling users to effortless back up and protect important data through password protection and an improved user interface. The 2TB devices in the PREMIUM line-up have a 13.5mm profile and are 5.5mm slimmer than the previous model.

The CANVIO ADVANCE series is available in four colour options – black, white, blue or red – with a glossy finish. The 2TB devices in the product line-up have a 14mm profile and are 5.5mm slimmer than the previous CANVIO CONNECT II model. ADVANCE models also come with the aforementioned Toshiba Storage Backup Software and Storage Security Software as additional features.

The newly designed CANVIO BASICS series offers an entry-level 2.5” portable hard drive for all kinds of storage needs, ranging from PC data to photography. The model is pre-formatted for Windows^[4] PCs and works right out of the box, allowing users to collect content immediately and take their drive anywhere. Available in capacity options of 500GB, 1TB or 2TB, the new BASICS series features a minimalistic design, sleek, matt surface and a thin 14mm profile.

“Toshiba is always looking to provide today’s customers with better solutions to manage increasing digital data demands with the development of more compact, high-capacity devices”, says Noriaki Katakura, General Manager HDD Business Unit, Toshiba Electronics Europe GmbH. “We reached a major milestone with the creation of an even denser storage solution. The Toshiba 1TB platter technology allows us to manufacture slimmer and more convenient to use CANVIO models with higher capacity storage compared to their predecessors.”

The CANVIO models blend form and function, offering high-capacity storage, easy backup and trustworthy security in a slim, stylish design. As stated above, for ADVANCE and PREMIUM models, the brand new Toshiba Storage Backup Software is available for download, enabling users to easily back up important data through an improved user interface with an option to set a backup schedule. Moreover, the new Toshiba Storage Security Software allows for simpler password setting with a more intuitive user interface so that users can protect private data and prevent unauthorised access.

The CANVIO models will be available February 2018.

Notes:

[1] Definition of capacity: A gigabyte (GB) is 1,000,000,000 bytes and a terabyte (TB) is 1,000,000,000,000 bytes. A computer operating system, however, reports storage capacity using powers of 2 for the definition of 1TB = 2⁴⁰ = 1,099,511,627,776 bytes and therefore shows less storage capacity. Available storage capacity (including examples of various media files) will vary based on file size, formatting, settings, software and operating system, such as Microsoft Operating System and/or pre-installed software applications, or media content. Actual formatted capacity may vary.

[2] The CANVIO PREMIUM and CANVIO ADVANCE will be available with 1TB, 2TB and 3TB. The newly designed CANVIO BASICS will be available with 500GB, 1TB and 2TB.

[3] USB Type-C and USB-C are trademark of USB Implementers Forum.

[4] Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries

How do NAS and surveillance HDDs differ from regular desktop drives?

Network-attached storage (NAS) and surveillance hard disk drives (HDDs) are designed and tested to deliver reliable, long-term 24×7 operation. The drives found in most desktop and laptop computers aren’t built with this type of usage in mind.

Moreover, NAS HDDs, such as the Toshiba N300 and surveillance HDDs, typically incorporate rotational vibration (RV) sensors. These enable multiple drives to be safely mounted close together in the same enclosure, and still operate reliably. Without the sensors, there’s a risk of rotational vibration affecting other drives in a multi-bay system.

Where do NAS and surveillance drives sit in relation to the high-end HDDs found in servers?

Like NAS and surveillance HDDs, server-grade hard drives are designed for 24×7 operation and for systems where multiple disks operate in close proximity. The key difference is around data workloads: server HDDs are built for the high-volume work associated with large numbers of users and intensively used production databases. NAS and surveillance HDDs are engineered for the less-demanding workloads typical of surveillance or central network data storage.

Consequently, NAS and surveillance HDDs sit between server-grade and desktop-type drives, both in terms of workload capability and price.

With more and more data being stored in the cloud, what is driving the continued demand for local storage, particularly NAS?

We’ve all heard about the global data explosion, and while the cloud offers part of the storage solution, there are situations where data needs to be housed locally. There is also an increasing appreciation of the importance of robust, reliable backups. Combined with the world’s ever-growing data volumes, this need to keep copies of data is multiplying storage capacity requirements across the board, from home users with NAS- and surveillance systems to large enterprises.

NAS systems have evolved and now incorporate many of the features you would previously only see in more-expensive Enterprise storage server systems with Fibre Channel connections. This means that as storage demands grow, particularly in businesses, NAS systems with Toshiba’s N300 NAS HDD can be used for ever-larger parts of it.

With SSDs getting cheaper all the time, is there still a place for spinning-disk storage?

The cost of solid state drives (SSDs) has come down considerably, and indeed some high-end NAS systems use them for caching. SSDs are all about performance, but spinning-disk HDDs still have the upper hand when it comes to providing large amounts of capacity in an economical way. And with lots of Research and Development, particularly to increase the data density and number of platter is going on around HDDs, we should see the cost per GB continue to fall and significant increases in capacity. As a result, they’ll remain an essential part of the storage ecosystem for at least the next 10 years.

Why is it that HDDs can scale more economically than SSDs?

In essence, an SSD is made up of storage cells, each with its own read/write transistor and wiring. Despite of smaller geometries and 3D cell stacking, to double the capacity, you double the number of storage cells, which in turn doubles the number of transistors and wires required – and scales up the cost. With a spinning-disk HDD, there are ways to increase the recording density and add less expensive platters without increasing the drive’s physical size or significantly adding to its cost.

What capacities can we expect to see from NAS-grade disk drives in the short- and medium-term?

We’ve recently seen improvements to the way data is recorded and to the number of platters you can fit into the standard 3.5-inch form factor. Both these enhancements mean you can now get NAS-grade drives with capacities above 8 TB.

The next steps could be to bring the helium-filled disks – which you can already find in some server-grade applications – to NAS systems. This enables the platters to be thinner, meaning you can fit more of them into the same size of enclosure. This development should see NAS drive capacities boosted to around 14 TB.

There’s also work going on in the HDD industry to develop new recording technologies, which should see NAS HDD capacities edge towards and eventually break through the 40 TB capacity barrier.

Author:

Rainer W. Kaese – Senior Manager Business Development Storage Products, Toshiba Electronics Europe

Rainer Kaese has been with Toshiba for over 20 years. He initially specialized in application specific ICs, managing the ASIC Design Center, and later the Business Development Team for ASIC- and Foundry Products. He is currently responsible for the introduction of Toshiba’s Enterprise HDD and SSD products into Datacenters, Cloud Computing and Enterprise applications.

All your favourite files in your suitcase

Summer is coming and, for most people, it’s time for holidays. But it is also time to solve the eternal dilemma of “what to pack into the suitcase?” Whether you are planning a beach holiday, a trip to the mountains or a city tour, a small element of technology in your suitcase is essential for making your holidays unforgettable.

Gone are the days when the most technological product that people brought on vacation was the camera. Now a space needs to be found for smartphones, tablets and wearable devices that help people to capture and save their most beautiful and unrepeatable moments at any time. But what if a device runs out of memory space at the most crucial moment of the vacation? Toshiba offers a range of personal storage solutions from smartphone storage to portable hard drives, allowing you to go on holiday with total peace of mind while bringing along items with a touch of modernity and style.

Canvio for Smartphone – Backup. Charge. Relax.

Stay cool. The Toshiba Canvio for Smartphone backs up your data and charges your smartphone in one single user operation, so you can lean back and enjoy your summer vacation. All you need is the sleek Canvio for Smartphone with 500 GB of storage space and its accompanying Android™ app – connect up and you get a backup automatically each time you charge. There’s no need to worry about the technical details. Your holiday pictures, videos, music, contacts and documents are kept up to date and safe. And if you lose your phone, you can simply transfer the data to the new device and you‘re good to go.

Canvio Premium – Through summer with style

The Canvio Premium is pocket-sized and, with a soft pouch included, it’s easy to carry with you on vacation. Stylish and slim, it is available in silver and dark grey metallic and it is perfect for the modern lifestyle-oriented consumer looking for a superior storage unit. Even if you do not have an internet connection, you can have your favourite entertainment available. Just connect the Canvio Premium to your PC and you will be set. With the supplied Type-A to Type-C USB adapter, even more of those connections are possible. You will have access to the entertainment saved on the hard drive as movie or music files. And to travel in total serenity and security, Canvio Premium lets you lock your device with a password that protects it against unauthorized access.

Canvio Connect II – A touch of colour

The elegant and lightweight portable hard drive, Canvio Connect II, can be easily brought wherever you go and it comes in a variety of colours to match your style: black, white, satin, red and blue gold. It has a maximum capacity of 3 TB, making it almost impossible to use up all of your memory! And if you want to watch your favourite movie or listen to your favourite playlist during the vacation, you can use your Canvio Connect II to connect to your digital library. You will have access to fantastic entertainment wherever you are at any time and you won’t even need WI-FI connection.

Range now includes three models for optimum performance and scalability choice

13th February, 2017, Düsseldorf, Germany – Toshiba Electronics Europe (TEE) Personal Storage Division has added a new 8 TB [1] model to its 3.5-inch internal High-Reliability Hard Drive N300 for NAS (Network Attached Storage) for personal, home office and small business users. Optimized for the performance, reliability and endurance requirements of 24-hour x 7-day operation high-capacity storage, consumers can now choose to match needs more closely with the 8 TB version added to the previously launched 4 and 6 TB versions.

The N300 series is designed for NAS environments where large volumes of data need to be reliably stored around the clock. With support for up to eight drive bays in multi-RAID NAS designs, this means configuration can grow in line with evolving data storage needs.

All drives in the N300 series feature a large 128 MB data buffer and Toshiba’s Dynamic Cache Technology, a self-contained cache algorithm with on-board buffer management, that optimizes cache allocation during read/write to provide the high-level performance demanded by real-time domains.

In order to maximize reliability, Toshiba’s N300 series employs advanced technologies. These include advanced control and sensing technology to mitigate the effect of vibration, shock and heat and prevent downtime. Multiple shock sensors, for example, detect and compensate for shock and rotational vibration, while error recovery control minimizes recovery time from data errors. Reliability is further supported through Toshiba’s Ramp Load technology that reduces disk head wear and tear.

The 8 TB model of the High-Reliability Hard Drive N300 will be available from February 2017 and is backed by an extended three-year warranty.

[1] One Gigabyte (1GB) means 10 = 1,000,000,000 bytes and One Terabyte (1TB) means 10 = 1,000,000,000,000 bytes using powers of 10. A computer operating system, however, reports storage capacity 30 40 using powers of 2 for the definition of 1GB= 2 = 1,073,741,824 bytes and 1TB = 2 = 1,099,511,627,776 bytes, and therefore shows less storage capacity. Available storage capacity (including examples of various media files) will vary based on file size, formatting, settings, software and operating system and other factors.

The new consumer drives deliver performance and scalability for round the clock storage for personal, home office and small business use

January, 2017, Düsseldorf, Germany – Toshiba Electronics Europe (TEE) Personal Storage Division has launched a new series of 3.5-inch internal NAS (Network Attached Storage) hard drives for personal, home office and small business use. The High-Reliability Hard Drive N300 series of consumer drives is optimized for the performance, reliability, endurance and scalability requirements of 24-hour x 7-day operation high-capacity storage.

Toshiba’s N300 series is designed for NAS environments where large volumes of data need to be reliably stored and accessed day-in, day-out. Support for up to eight drive bays in multi-RAID NAS designs means that a user’s NAS configuration can grow in line with their evolving data storage needs.

Drives in the N300 series are offered with capacity options of 4 TB [1] and 6 TB and all feature a large 128 MB data buffer. Toshiba’s Dynamic Cache Technology – a self-contained cache algorithm with on-board buffer management – optimizes cache allocation during read/write to provide the high-level performance demanded by real-time domains. Toshiba’s N300 series employs advanced technologies that maximize reliability. These include advanced control and sensing technology to mitigate the effect of vibration, shock and heat and prevent downtime. For example, multiple shock sensors detect and compensate for shock and rotational vibration, while error recovery control minimizes recovery time from data errors. Thanks to the Toshiba Stable Platter technology, a tied spindle motor stabilizes the motor drive shaft at both ends to curb system-induced vibration. Use of high-endurance components ensures durability in harsh environments and reliability is further supported through Toshiba’s Ramp Load technology that reduces disk head wear and tear.

The High-Reliability Hard Drive N300 will be available from January 2017 and are supplied with a three-year warranty.

[1] One Gigabyte (1GB) means 10 = 1,000,000,000 bytes and One Terabyte (1TB) means 10 = 1,000,000,000,000 bytes using powers of 10. A computer operating system, however, reports storage capacity 30 40 using powers of 2 for the definition of 1GB= 2 = 1,073,741,824 bytes and 1TB = 2 = 1,099,511,627,776 bytes, and therefore shows less storage capacity. Available storage capacity (including examples of various media files) will vary based on file size, formatting, settings, software and operating system and other factors.

CANVIO 2-in-1 external drive offers charging and backup in one single user operation

4^th January, 2017 – Toshiba Electronics Europe GmbH, Personal Storage has announced it is now shipping the ‘CANVIO for Smartphone’, an innovative portable storage device for backing up and charging^[1] Android™^[2] phones in a single operation.   

It is estimated that a small minority of smartphone users have backups – and just 8% backup their phones regularly (survey conducted by AVAST)^[3]. The CANVIO for Smartphone backs up and charges a connected phone in one single user operation, meaning that users will be able to feel peace of mind about saving important personal data such as photos, videos, music, documents, and contacts. Backups^[4] are automatically created each time the smartphone connects without the need for user intervention and after activating this function in the intuitive Android app.

As well as smartphone charging and backup, the CANVIO for Smartphone allows users to manage data via their phones using the app. At the same time the device can simplify the set-up of new smartphones by providing an easy route to transfer data from an old phone with just a few taps. For PC users, the CANVIO for Smartphone can still be used as a conventional external hard drive, backing up data via USB Type-A and USB Type-C™^[5] interfaces. Finally, it can be shared by several devices, enabling multiple users to benefit from data backup and data sharing.

“Thousands of mobile phones are lost, stolen, dropped and broken every day, yet most users backup the data on their phones infrequently, if ever at all,” says Lorenzo Martinez-Palomo, General Manager of Toshiba Electronics Europe GmbH, Personal Storage Division. “Charging phones, however, is something that users have to do regularly. By providing charging and storage, the CANVIO for Smartphone provides an elegant 2-in-1 solution that gives users the peace of mind that their precious personal data will be backed up every time the phone is charged.”

The CANVIO for Smartphone features a sleek, stylish, circular white casing and has a storage capacity of 500 GB^[6]. The device is supplied with an AC adapter, a USB 2.0 Micro-B cable, a USB 2.0 Type-C cable and a USB Micro-B – Type-A adapter.

^[1] To enable automatic backup and charging, the Android smartphone has to be turned on with sufficient  battery level and the designated app has to be installed.

[2]Android^TM is a trademark of Google Inc.

[3] Global AVAST Mobile Backup Survey conducted by AVAST Software s.r.o. (March 2015) with 288,000 mobile device users in countries including the United States, Germany, India, Mexico, and Russia:
https://blog.avast.com/2015/03/31/reasons-why-people-dont-back-up-their-mobilephones-and-other-facts/

^[4] Backup might not be executed depending on remaining low  battery level of smartphone.

^[5] USB Type-C^TM is a trademark of USB Implementers Forum.

[6] One Gigabyte (1GB) means 10⁹ = 1,000,000,000 bytes and One Terabyte (1TB) means 10¹² = 1,000,000,000,000 bytes using powers of 10. A computer operating system, however, reports storage capacity using powers of 2 for the definition of 1GB= 2³⁰ = 1,073,741,824 bytes and 1TB = 2⁴⁰ = 1,099,511,627,776 bytes, and therefore shows less storage capacity. Available storage capacity (including examples of various media files) will vary based on file size, formatting, settings, software and operating system and other factors.

TOSHIBA TO PREVIEW INTEGRATED HOME BACKUP AND CHARGING SOLUTION FOR MOBILE PHONES AT IFA 2016

1^st September, 2016 – Toshiba has announced it will use IFA 2016 in Berlin to preview a new product that Toshiba is developing for backing up and charging Android™ phones in a single user operation.    

Mobile phones are rapidly becoming the ‘device of choice’ for storing precious personal contents such as contacts, documents, music, photos and videos. However, despite the significant risks of data loss that occurs when these devices are lost, stolen or damaged, it is estimated that just 8% of people backup their smartphone data daily (survey conducted by AVAST).

Toshiba’s innovative new technology is designed to address this important issue by making data backup at home as simple as charging a phone – which is something most people have to do on a daily basis.

As well as backing up critical data, the Toshiba solution will also offer a special function for simplifying data transfer between devices. This will be particularly useful for users who want to migrate contacts, photos and videos from an old phone to a new phone.

Working with an easy-to-use Android app, Toshiba’s new product can also facilitate the management of data without the need for a host PC. PC users will also be able to use the technology to back up data via USB Type-A and USB Type-C interfaces.

While the integrated backup and charging station will not be officially launched until 2017, visitors to IFA 2016 will have the first chance to take a look at the new product on the Toshiba booth (Hall 17, Booth 105).

New 7mm 500 GB HDD for mobile devices will improve storage capacity and performance of notebooks and gaming consoles 

April 13^th – Toshiba will shortly be expanding its range of 2.5-inch HDDs with a slimline drive that allows users to quickly and easily add 500 GB^[1] of high-performance internal storage to notebooks and gaming consoles.

Offering reliable performance for everyday users and gamers, the 7mm profile L200 – Slim Mobile Hard Drive is the latest addition to the Toshiba L200 family of hard drives for mobile computing platforms. The drive features a Serial ATA 3.0 / ATA8 and combines a proprietary cache algorithm with buffer management that ensures rapid access to frequently-used applications and data.

Toshiba’s new slimline drive offers Advanced Format (AF) storage and uses Perpendicular Magnetic Recording (PMR) and Tunnel Magneto-Resistive (TMR) recording technology to deliver high-density, high-speed and stability. Data security is supported through a built-in shock sensor that enhances resistance to shock and vibration and ramp loading technology that protects data while the drive is on the move.

Designed for optimum performance, the L200 – 7mm offers support for native command queuing (NCQ), incorporates an 8MB buffer, and operates with a rotational speed of 5400rpm.

The new drive will be available from May 2016. A two-year warranty is provided as standard.

[1] One Gigabyte (1GB) means 10 = 1,000,000,000 bytes and One Terabyte (1TB) means 10 = 1,000,000,000,000 bytes using powers of 10. A computer operating system, however, reports storage capacity 30 40 using powers of 2 for the definition of 1GB= 2 = 1,073,741,824 bytes and 1TB = 2 = 1,099,511,627,776 bytes, and therefore shows less

Toshiba’s new Canvio for Desktop offers up to 6 TB of storage in a stylish and versatile design

11th, March 2016 – Toshiba today announces the launch of the Canvio for Desktop, a new external hard disk drive (HDD). Following from its predecessor, the Canvio Desk, the unit combines storage of up to 6 TB¹ with the future-proof USB 3.0 port making transferring files fast and easy.

The Canvio for Desktop allows users to store and backup files in a centralised place, right next to their computer. Available in a range of capacities – 2 TB, 3 TB, 4 TB, 5 TB and 6 TB, the device can hold thousands of valuable photos, files and music tracks. Powered by USB 3.0 technology, the Canvio for Desktop offers quick transfer speeds for fast download or transfer of large files in short timeframes. Plus, the USB 3.0 port is backwards compatible, supporting connection with older hardware using USB 2.0 ports just as easily and allowing data transfer when upgrading computer hardware. Canvio for Desktop hard drives are preformatted with NTFS for Windows^® 10, Windows 8.1 and Windows^® 7 and the drive comes with a NTFS driver for Mac making it possible to use either a Windows^® or Mac PC without the need to reformat.

Files are safely protected with pre-loaded software that provides customisable backup options. Automatic backups can be scheduled any time and day, eliminating the risk of losing family photos and videos.

Encased in a stylish and versatile design the Canvio for Desktop can be placed horizontally, vertically or laid on flat on the desk. It can also be locked with a unique password, preventing unauthorised users from accessing private data stored on the hard drive. Plus, the hard drive includes a security lock slot, allowing use of a lock to secure the device and prevent theft or damage. Also using ECO power-off technology, the HDD turns off when the device it is connected with turns off, thus saving energy in the process.

The Canvio for Desktop HDD will be available in the colour black and in capacities of 2 TB, 3 TB, 4 TB, 5 TB and 6 TB. It will be available on the market from mid-May. From March 14^th to 18^th the new external hard drive will be presented at CeBIT 2016 together with the whole storage line-up of Toshiba in hall 14, booth H52.

[1] One Gigabyte (1GB) means 10 = 1,000,000,000 bytes and One Terabyte (1TB) means 10 = 1,000,000,000,000 bytes using powers of 10. A computer operating system, however, reports storage capacity 30 40 using powers of 2 for the definition of 1GB= 2 = 1,073,741,824 bytes and 1TB = 2 = 1,099,511,627,776 bytes, and therefore shows less storage capacity. Available storage capacity (including examples of various media files) will vary based on file size, formatting, settings, software and operating system and other factors.