![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/techielobang.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/dsi_c281.jpg\" "\\"dsi_c281\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nIn the near future, tablets might have a super large storage (1 TB) with fast speed access using this hybrid hard disk drive from A*Star. The most important part is that this drive is super affordable when compared with SSD. Of course, do not drop it though.<\/p>\n
Here is the Press Release<\/p>\n
A*STAR\u2019s Data Storage Institute Launches Next Generation 5mm Hybrid Hard Disk Drive<\/h2>\n
SINGAPORE, 1 November 2012: <\/strong>The \u201cA-Drive\u201d, one of the world\u2019s thinnest 5mm hybrid hard drive in a 2.5\u2019\u2019 form factor, was officially launched by Mr. S. Iswaran, Minister in the Prime Minister\u2019s Office and Second Minister for Home Affairs and Trade & Industry, to commemorate the Data Storage Institute\u2019s (DSI) 20 years of R&D in the area of data storage capabilities.<\/p>\n The \u201cA-Drive\u201d represents the next generation of storage innovation providing capacities of up to 1 TB Hard Disk Drive (HDD) with 32 GB Solid State Drive (SSD). This potentially allows the \u201cA-Drive\u201d to store over 250,000 songs in its 5mm body. The \u201cA-Drive\u201d also addresses limitations of the popular, yet expensive, flash-based SSD, as well as the conventional HDD for the consumer and business industry.<\/p>\n DSI\u2019s \u201cA-Drive\u201d is set to change the consumer and enterprise landscape, targeted specifically for tablets, ultrabooks, and future data centres. With its slim form factor, the \u201cA-Drive\u201d could fit into tablet devices, greatly expanding its storage space while extending battery life by up to 30%. The \u201cA-Drive\u201d will be a cheaper alternative to the SSDs currently used in ultrabooks, offering the same instant-on capability but with larger storage capacity. In addition, the \u201cA-Drive\u201d can be extended for enterprise storage applications, reducing power consumption by up to 50%, resulting in greener and more efficient data centres with better optimisation of the already limited rack space.<\/p>\n \u201cToday, our year-long vision of creating a 5mm thin hybrid hard drive in 2.5\u2019\u2019 form factor with increased storage capacity and reduced power consumption at a lower cost for manufacturers has become a reality,\u201d said Dr. Pantelis Alexopoulos, Executive Director of DSI. \u201cWe have managed to fit an amazing amount of innovation and advanced technology into a thinner, cheaper, and faster design, and we think the consumer and enterprise impact will be significant.\u201d<\/p>\n One of the main challenges in reducing the thickness of current 7mm hard disk drives by almost 30% without compromising on its performance and stability is its spindle motor design. To achieve a reduction in size, DSI researchers developed a proprietary axial field motor which runs smoother, quieter, more efficiently, lowering power consumption by up to 70% yet at a fraction of the cost of SSDs. The motor\u2019s design has been patented, along with 30 other unique designs for the \u201cA-Drive\u201d. In addition, DSI has collaborated with multinational corporations and local companies, such as Seiko Instruments, Miyoshi, and Unisteel, to develop key components for the \u201cA-Drive\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cOur capabilities today have been the result of two decades of collaboration with industry partners around the world. This has enabled DSI to develop groundbreaking solutions like the \u2018A-Drive\u2019. We look forward to future partnerships as we continue our drive towards new innovations that will shape the data storage landscape,\u201d said Dr. Alexopoulos.<\/p>\n The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) is Singapore’s lead public sector agency that fosters world-class scientific research and talent to drive economic growth and transform Singapore into a vibrant knowledge-based and innovation driven economy.<\/p>\n In line with its mission-oriented mandate, A*STAR\u00a0spearheads research and development in fields that are essential to growing Singapore\u2019s manufacturing sector and catalysing new growth industries.<\/p>\n A*STAR supports these economic clusters by providing intellectual, human and industrial capital to its partners in industry.<\/p>\n
\nAbout the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n