* Astronomy

Samsung Electronics and Microsoft will next month show off the ready-to-market version of a hybrid hard drive (HHD) which can greatly reduce boot-up time of laptops and desktop PCs.

The new product will be introduced along with Microsoft’s Windows ReadyDrive feature at the U.S. software maker’s annual Windows Hardware Engineering Conference on May 24 in Seattle. ReadyDrive refers to software technology that supports the HHD.
The HHD is the convergence of a flash memory chip and a conventional platter-type magnetic disk drive. To save the time and energy spent spinning a metal disk drive it is designed to use static flash memory when starting a PC,.
Samsung and Microsoft have been co-developing the product and revealed the first prototype at the same conference last year. But this year’s model will be almost identical with what will be sold in the market later this year, though the basic concept of the product was unchanged, Samsung said on Monday.

"This one will be more fitted to Windows Vista as Microsoft plans to release the new operating system within this year. We have tailored the hybrid disk to Windows Vista" - Lee Seung-han, Samsung’s public relations official.

The Hard disk drive is the most used data-storing device of a PC. The hard disk drive market is becoming more lucrative year by year. According to market researcher iSuppli, global hard drive sales increased 23 percent from 305 million units in 2004 to 376 million in 2005.
Samsung is the sixth largest maker in the world, with a 7.2 percent share in 2005.
The HHD has been developed at Samsung Electronics’ semiconductor division. The company hopes the HHD will be the gap-filler between the traditional hard disk and next-generation flash-driven hard drives, which Samsung aims selling as early as next year.
The world’s largest flash memory maker hopes it can expand its memory chip market dominance to the hard drive market by developing flash-driven static disk drives (SDD). However, high prices and a low storage capacity of flash memory are hindering the commercialisation of the SDD, leaving the market opportunity to the hybrid drives.

The two firms aim to market the HHD- and ReadyDrive-equipped laptops from late this year in accordance with the launching of Windows Vista.
The HHD and ReadyDrive technologies are expected to perform a crucial role in Windows Vista by improving both performance and credibility. Windows Vista will leverage the feature to speed up the system and elongate battery life, while making it less vulnerable to external shock.

Source

Microsoft will finalise Windows Vista build 5381 as Beta 2 on May 22, 2006.

Available if you attend WinHEC

Microsoft plans to include an updated music player in Windows Vista. Some of the new features will debut with the release of the Windows XP version of Windows Media Player 11.
Microsoft is on track to release Media Player 11 before the end of June.

Last weekend Microsoft held an event for its partners to increase its ready PC sales this year, especially during the traditionally profitable Christmas season. As you remember, the release of Windows Vista moved to January 2007 causes concerns as a key reason for possible PC demand drop this year.

At the moment the Vista Logo Requirements are in their version 0.8, expected to reach the final version, according to Microsoft, by the end of June this year. As there are three primary components that dictate PC rating - CPU, memory, and graphics - there are supposed to be 3 logos in whole:

* Windows Vista Capable (OS can be installed and work with some features disabled)
* Windows Vista Ready (OS can work with all the key features enabled, including the Aero interface)
* Windows Vista Compliant (premium and most performing PCs).

The already familiar Designed for Windows XP logo will also continue to exist.

According to the information, a Windows Vista Capable PC is to feature 512MB RAM, DirectX 9 graphics (including integrated). The second and third segments will respectively require 512MB RAM (1GB optional) and 1GB RAM (2GB optional). No integrated graphics is allowed to these groups as well. Vista Ready will also require the support of the yet unreleased DirectX 9.0L, while Vista Compliant will require Shader Model 2.0 support as a must. (which may mean compatibility with DirectX 9.0L, not its complete support). The Aero interface will require 1,800 MB/s and higher graphics memory throughput. So a 64MB card will only be able to operate at 1024x768, higher resolution demanding 128MB.

As for the CPU, Microsoft mentioned it should be modern. Intel claimed the minimal recommended CPU for Vista should be Pentium 4 630. (it operates at 3GHz, has 2MB L2 and 800MHz FSB). With this rather powerful CPU Intel recommends its 945G integrated graphics.

These requirements do not mention DirectX 10 (WGF) that is obviously meant not to scare away autumn and winter buyers. Perhaps, the DirectX Next itself will also be delayed and won't be launched together with Vista.

Meanwhile, some especially impatient vendors do not wait for Microsoft's final requirements. Epson was the first to announce its Windows Vista Capable PC - Endeavour Pro 3500:

* Intel Pentium 4 630
* Intel 975X
* GeForce 6600 GT
* 512MB DDR2
* 80GB
* Gigabit Ethernet
* 6 x USB 2.0

As you can see, it's a rather usual PC of today, while its hard drive might even seem outdated. However its configuration is actually categorised as the least performing required.