IT-Code-News: IT News Head Lines (TweakTown) 17/04/2014

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

IT News Head Lines (TweakTown) 17/04/2014

TweakTown

Mt. Gox founder not interested in visiting the US to answer subpoena
Mt. Gox founder Mark Karpeles will not return to the United States to explain the company's demise, leading to bankruptcy, as he waits to investigate a subpoena issued by the U.S. Department of Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network division.

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Karpeles has been ordered to speak during a testimony scheduled for Friday in Washington, D.C. A Japanese court was scheduled to discuss the issue, in case the U.S. asks for him to be turned over.
"Mr. Karpeles is now in the process of obtaining counsel to represent him with respect to the FinCEN subpoena," according to a legal filing. "Until such time as counsel is retained and has an opportunity to 'get up to speed' and advise Mr. Karpeles, he is not willing to travel to the U.S."
Needless to say, it's likely Karpeles will take his time selecting an attorney and adhering to the judge's order anytime soon.

Chinese government has no plans to slow down cyberattacks
The Chinese government is improving its cyberattack and cyberspying abilities, and western nations must work to improve their own cyberdefense, according to security researchers.

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The risk of cyberthreats continues to expand as criminals continue to find newer and more creative ways to compromise users.
"Cyberthreat actors are expanding the uses of computer network exploitation to fulfill an array of objectives, from the economic to the political," according to the report. "Threat actors are not only interested in seizing the corporate crown jewels but are also looking for ways to publicize their views, cause physical destruction and influence global decision makers. Private organizations have increasingly become collateral damage in political conflicts. With no diplomatic solution in sight, the ability to detect and respond to attacks has never been more important."
In addition to attacks targeting PCs and servers, Chinese cybercriminals are finding great success targeting mobile devices. Toolkits to help compromise devices are readily available on the black market, with underground forums to distribute techniques easily found in China.

Google Glass XE16 is blasting out to Glass users right now
Google is now rolling out its XE16 software update for Google Glass, with the KitKat-powered update requiring Glass users to update to XE 12.1 first, after which the bigger, more important update bakes itself into Glass.

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In order to update your Glass unit, you'll need to be plugged into charge, over 50% of charge on Glass itself, an have Wi-Fi enabled. I'm currently updating my Glass unit, but it will reportedly take around 20 minutes or so for the update process to complete.

Snoop Dogg will announce your kills in new Call of Duty: Ghosts DLC
Call of Duty: Ghosts' upcoming DLC will see Snoop Dogg as the announcer for multiplayer matches of Infinity Ward's first-person shooter. Snoop Dogg didn't write the lines, but he seems like a natural at speaking them.

The new Snoop Dogg-enabled Call of Duty: Ghosts DLC drops on April 22 for the Xbox, with other platforms receiving it shortly after. The Snoop Dogg Voice Pack will cost $2.99, but it isn't the only one that will be made available. There will be the Drill Instructor Voice Pack that is voiced by the infamous R. Lee Emery, known as The Gunny, also for $2.99.
Does this make you want to play COD: Ghosts more? I'm sure there will be a large number of people who will be in love with this news.

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Private sector, government agencies need to share threat data
There is a growing need for the US government and private sector to improve communication and work on sharing threat and attack information.

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The idea isn't necessarily a new one, with the private sector pestering government agencies to become more transparent regarding cybersecurity threats - especially with sophisticated attacks stemming from Eastern Europe and China.
"We've been trying for three years to get the government to create a protected avenue to share information from the government down to the private sector up to the government," said Tom Ridge, former US Department of Homeland Security secretary, during a recent security conference. "We've been unsuccessful."
As the government wants to hire more employees for the US Cyber Command, both government agencies and private sector corporations are under heavy threat.

The US Navy could power its jets with seawater within 10 years
It looks like the US Navy could be using converted seawater as its next-generation, super-powerful jet fuel. Experts have been working on the idea for over ten years, where it could actually become commercially viable within the next decade.

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Researchers are currently showing off the technique using a model plane, with the tech working by pulling carbon dioxide and hydrogen from water using a catalytic converter. These gases are then turned into a liquid hydrocarbon fuel that could eventually power planes, and ships. Vice Admiral Philip Cullom has said: "We don't necessarily go to a gas station to get our fuel. Our gas station comes to us in terms of an oiler, a replenishment ship".
Cullom continued: "Developing a game-changing technology like this, seawater to fuel, really is something that reinvents a lot of the way we can do business".

'Suspicious backpacks' found at Boston Marathon finish line
A year after the Boston Marathon bombings, two unattended bags have been discovered, with the Boston Police Department's bomb squad now on the scene. They are investigating the area after a man "dropped a backpack at the finish line and marched up the street screaming "Boston Strong!", reports news.com.au.

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That man has reportedly been detained by the Boston Fire Department. This news comes one year after 264 people were injured, and three people died after backpacks exploded near the finish line of last year's Boston Marathon.

Pentagon plans to hire cybersecurity specialists, boost capabilities
The United States wants to improve its Cyber Command over the next two years, and will increase security staff to more than 6,000 employees, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel recently said. Both military and civilian candidates will be included, as the US government wants to improve both cybersecurity and offensive weapons that can be used to target foreign operations.

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The government will likely need to work with universities and private sector companies to try and find candidates - especially with so much competition for skilled cybersecurity experts.
"It has to do with having the skills," said Michael Daly, Raytheon cyber business CTO, in a statement to SCMagazine. "I think that when the jobs are there, the people with the skills are seeking them out and going after them. What we are seeing is a huge backlog as far as being able to hire people into these jobs. The number of security jobs have grown, but these jobs are taking a lot longer to fill."

Gmail just updated to allow inserting of images backed up from phone
Today Google began rolling out a new feature to GMail that allows users to quickly insert images that were backed up from a mobile device into emails. The new feature has been added to the "insert photo" button located at the bottom of the toolbar of new email compositions, and will give users the option to insert an image located in their mobile device image backup folder.

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"Unless you're a budding Ansel Adams, odds are you take most of your photos using your phone. And whether it's photos of your hiking trip or a night out, sending photos to friends and family just got easier," Google said in a blogpost. "Starting today, you can save time and insert your Auto Backup photos from your phone into Gmail messages on the web using the new Insert Photo button."
Google has retained the ability to upload images from your PC and the web, and the new feature will pop up the familiar Google+ image grid and allow you to pick a photo the same way you would if you were sharing it in Google+. Auto Backup is available for iOS and Android and now with GMail integration, it has become more appealing than ever.

Massive FBI facial recognition database has privacy experts worried
The FBI is quickly expanding its Next Generation Identification (NGI) biometric photo database, which could balloon up to 52 million photographs by 2015, according to the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

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The NGI database had around 16 million photos midyear in 2013, with growing concern of the "non-criminal photo" portion of the program - and how the information will be stored.
President Obama's administration recently started a discussion regarding facial recognition privacy, though after the NSA's spying revelations, there will be a lot of criticism and concern.
"This means that even if you have never been arrested for a crime, if your employer requires you to submit a photo as part of your background check, your face image could be searched - and you could be implicated as a criminal suspect, just by virtue of having that image in the non-criminal file," according to the EFF.

bitcoin supporter Charlie Shrem indicted for money laundering
The former vice president of the Bitcoin Foundation, Charlie Shrem, has been indicted on money laundering charges related to the now defunct Silk Road website. Shrem and federal prosecutors were trying to work out a plea deal, but negotiations came to an end.

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Shrem plans to plead not guilty at arraignment later this month before U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff, facing up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
Shrem previously worked with the Bitcoin Foundation and also operated the BitInstant bitcoin exchange company - and was arrested in January. Now facing two counts of conspiracy to commit money laundering and operating an unlicensed money transmitting business.
The US government has been quick to try and prevent users from using bitcoin to support money laundering and illegal behavior - and similar cases are likely in the future.

Personal data theft jumps 11% up to 18% in just six months
About 18 percent of U.S. Internet users have suffered some type of data breach in which personal data has been stolen, and the problems are only mounting further, according to a recent survey by the Pew Research Center. Just six months ago, the figure stood at just 11 percent of users in the United States, with user accounts and sensitive data under continued attack.

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In addition to the Social Security Number, credit card and bank account information that was compromised, 21 percent of online adults also had an email or social media account also compromised.
The massive Target data breach suffered in 2013 accelerated the problem - and the recently disclosed Heartbleed vulnerability will only make things worse.
According to Pew Research Center:
"The consequences of these flaws and breaches may add insult to injury for those who have already experienced some kind of personal information theft. And research suggests that young adults and younger baby boomers may have been especially hard hit in the second half of 2013."

Some websites finding it difficult to fix security after Heartbleed
Many websites trying to boost security due to the Heartbleed vulnerability are finding it difficult and cumbersome, recent reports indicate. If left unpatched, Internet users could find their usernames, passwords, and other sensitive information vulnerable to theft, with two-third of the world's websites vulnerable.

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It's important for companies and website owners to fix the vulnerability, as the NSA reportedly used Heartbleed to snoop on users - and there are warnings that cybercriminals will use the vulnerability as long as they can.
There are many hidden costs in trying to boost security to fix Heartbleed, which may not be appreciated until it's too late.
Here is what Michael Shaulov, CEO of Lacoon Security, recently told the San Francisco Chronicle:
"Just take the salary of all the people in IT and security and divide it by one week - that's probably for everyone, everyone across the board. There is a ripple effect."

Sony PS4 parts service launches in Japan
Typically, if something goes wrong with your game console, you will need to send it in to get repaired. That's not necessarily the case in Japan for PS4 owners with a new service that lets people pick up basic spare parts for their console.

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The spare parts purchase program is directly from Sony and is aimed at local gamers. You can't necessarily pick up any part of the console you might need, but easy to install basic parts are on the list. For instance, you can get a spare HDD cover for around $10.
If you need a new HDD bay bracket for an upgrade, you can get it for $5. You can also pick up basic gear like screw sets for $2.50 and a new power cord for $4. It's unclear if this basic spare part program will be offered in the US. It appears that only parts you can remove or install without voiding a warranty are offered.

Panasonic P31 smartphone debuts with 5-inch screen
Panasonic has announced a new smartphone that is called the P31. For now, the only location we know for sure will get the P31 is India where it will sell for under Rs 11990. For the money, buyers get an Android device running version 4.2.2.

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It features a 12.7cm screen, working out to about 5-inches. The brain is a 1.3GHz quad-core processor. Panasonic uses an 8MP full HD resolution camera on the back with autofocus. Power comes from a 2000 mAh internal battery.
Panasonic considers this phone a phablet and it has the new Panasonic Play Life feature set. That feature set lets the smartphone recognize gestures, supports multi tasking, and supports multiple smartphone modes to get more runtime out of the battery.

New Raspberry Pi 2.8-inch and 4.3-inch LCD kits surface
DIY and hacker types that like working on their own projects will be glad to hear that RS Components has a couple new LCD kits that are available for Raspberry pi-based projects. There are two LCD kits offered that promise to be easy to wire to the Pi.

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One of the kits is the 2.8-inch uLCD-28TU-PI measuring 2.8-inches. The screen has a resolution of 240 x 320 and resistive touch capability. It also has an onboard audio amp and speaker. The other LCD starter kit is a 4.3-inch uLCD-43PTU-PI kit that has a resolution of 480 x 272.
Each of the starter kits has other components in common including a 4D serial Pi adapter, 2GB microSD card, and a uUSB-Pa5 programming adapter. The kits also come with a 150mm female-female jumper cable and a 5-way male-male adapter. Both starter kits are available now.

Samsung Galaxy S5 teardown estimates build cost
The Samsung Galaxy S5 has been one of the biggest smartphone launches that Samsung has had in recent years. Each time a new device launches, you can bet that a teardown showing what the smartphone is like on the inside is coming shortly thereafter.

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Samsung's Galaxy S5 has recently been torn down by research firm IHS with an eye on seeing what the smartphone costs Samsung. The result is a cost estimate of $256. IHS points out that the estimate is only for parts and manufacturing. Costs for marketing and other things required to sell devices are not figured in.
The S5 sells for about $660 off contract indicating a gross margin on the smartphone of around 60%. IHS also notes that there is nothing spectacular inside the smartphone or groundbreaking. The most expensive part is the display costing about $63 following by the memory chips at about $33.
"Our main takeaway is that Samsung has been moved up to the higher-end of the cost spectrum. It used to be that its typical flagship phone sold for $600 without a contract and had a bill of materials of about $200," Andrew Rassweiler said. "Now they're inching up above $250 regularly."

Toshiba Satellite P55t 15.6-inch notebook supports 4K resolution
Toshiba has announced a new notebook computer that will launch on April 22. The machine is called the Satellite P55t and it supports 4K resolution. The native resolution of the display is 3840 x 2160. The screen also has 282 pixels per inch and supports wide viewing angles.

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This machine and its high-resolution screen are aimed at photographers, graphics designers, and others that want the highest resolution possible. Each of the screens used on the notebook are Chroma Tune calibrated and Technicolor Certified.
Each of the notebooks ships with Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5 software installed. An unnamed quad-core Intel core i7 processor is the brain of the notebook. The machine is fitted with up to 16GB of RAM and uses AMD Radeon R9 M265X graphics with 2GB of RAM. Storage is to a 1TB HDD and the machine has four USB 3.0 ports. Toshiba will sell the notebook starting at $1499.99.

Brightest Flashlight app leaked locations of 50 million users
I was one of those 50 million users who installed "Brightest Flashlight" onto my Android smartphones, but location data from each user - which is a number that climbs over 50 million - was transmitting users' real-time locations to ad networks and other third parties.

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The Federal Trade Commission in December last year exposed Brightest Flashlight's wrong doings, announcing a proposed settlement with GoldenShores Technologies, the maker behind the app. GoldenShores Technology is actually a one-man operation based out of Idaho. The FTC explained how the app deceiving tactics in its privacy policy and user license agreement.
Last Wednesday, the FTC confirmed that GoldenShores' owner, Erik Geidl, are not to collect users' geolocation data without clearly outlining how and why they're doing it, and they have to confirm who is receiving the location data. Geidl is forced to inform the FTC about any new businesses he decides to start in the next ten years, and just a few days left to delete all of the data he had collected. The problem here is, that the FTC does not even touch down on the money that Geidl made selling 50 million users' geolocation data. There would have to be a very large sum of money there, but for now it seems like the FTC gave him a simple slap on the wrist.

Dart wants to be your new, super small laptop adapter
If you're like me, you're tired of the old and sometimes proprietary laptop chargers in the world of technology. Well, FINsix wants to change that with Dart, the "world's smallest, lightest laptop adapter," which is now on Kickstarter.

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Dart is very powerful, packing in 65W of laptop charging prowess into its small form factor. Not only is it small, but it's simple, compatible - with most laptops, stylish and cool. It has AC input of 90V-265V and 50/60Hz, weighs just 60gm, and has a cable length of 6 feet. Dart is designed to work with all major laptop brands and models.

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How does Dart do this where others have either failed, or not even attempted? FINsix has managed to get Dart small by using a patented MIT technology called very high frequency (VHF) power conversion. Where a standard AC/DC power converter sucks the power out of your wall, regulating it to the right voltage, and pushing it into your devices, the VHF platform makes these converters much, much smaller.
FINsix is asking for just $79 for the Dart, with all 1,000 units sold out on Kickstarter at the time of writing. The $89 pledge has 471 backers, sitting at $89 with the scale going up to $10,000. Dart will begin shipping to Kickstarter backers in Q4 2014, after which we'll see it shown off at CES 2015.

David Attenborough's next documentary is compatible with Oculus Rift
Atlantis Productions will be making its upcoming documentary, Conquest of the Skies, compatible with Oculus VR's Rift headset. The legendary David Attenborough is attached to the project, too.

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Atlantis Productions' Commercial Director, John Morris, during an interview with Real Screen said: "We're now filming for the Oculus Rift, so when we filmed our recent flight in Borneo, we filmed with an eight-camera rig, so you got the full [360 degree] experience". Conquest of the Skies is filming in Borneo right now, and will be made available to the public later in the year.

Computer hacker 'Weev' computer fraud conviction overturned
Accused hacker Andrew "weev" Auernheimer was released from prison following an appeals court overturning his hacking conviction, calling for the U.S. Justice Department to dismiss identity fraud and conspiracy to violate the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act indictment.

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The Third US Circuit Court of Appeals found that weev should not have been charged in New Jersey, instead facing charges in Arkansas. After discovering a vulnerability in the AT&T website, weev and a co-defendant allegedly disclosed personal information of almost 140,000 iPad owners.
Although New Jersey prosecutors haven't ruled out a retrial in the case, weev's attorneys said it would be considered double jeopardy.
"The indictment needs to be dismissed immediately," said Tor Ekeland, the accused hacker's attorney. "We still have an extremely strong case on the substantive issue, and my client is more than happy to litigate it again. We'll bring a lot more firepower to this issue than we did when we started this case and were working out of a closet."

Microsoft push out yet another update for the Xbox One
Microsoft is pushing another update out for the Xbox One, which includes quite a few new features and improvements. We have the ability of a silent reboot after system updates are installed, and a system update on-demand is now available. That's just scratching the surface, though:

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Game and app saves and updates. A game save progress bar will show you the status of your game saves. You will also be able to easily tell what games and apps are being updated or have been updated recently.
Friends improvements. Notifications will be added to see when favorites and friends sign in to Xbox Live. This was one of the most frequently requested features, so we made it a priority to include it in this update. Also, friends who are in multiplayer will be identified in the friends list.
Kinect voice and motion improvements will continue to be fine-tuned for quality and reliability of Xbox One commands. For example, we've updated some of the gesture functionality to reduce false positives on non-hand objects triggering gesture commands.
Improved GameDVR video quality through compression algorithm improvements.
Blu-ray player supports 50 Hz video output for content recorded at 50 Hz. We'll also be updating the Blu-ray Player app in the coming days to round out these improvements.
Controller and headset adaptor firmware updates will reduce audio static and improve wireless connectivity.
Silent reboot after system updates and system update on demand now available. If your console is in Instant On mode, the update will happen automatically and return to standby upon completion. This means you won't need to power on your console after an update moving forward. If you want to take future updates when available without waiting for your console to do it on its own, we've added this option under system settings and you'll be able to use it next update. It will only show as available when there is an update to take.

CoreRise Comay BladeDrive E28 1.6TB Enterprise PCIe SSD Review

Introduction

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The CoreRise Comay BladeDrive E28 PCIe SSD comes in a full-height 3/4-length form factor. The BladeDrive is a sequential access dynamo, with top speeds of 3,400 MB/s sequential read and 3,200 MB/s sequential write. 4k random read weighs in at an impressive 520,000 IOPS, and 4k random write speed is 440,000 IOPS. Perhaps most impressive are the massive capacity points available. The model we are testing today comes with 1,600GB of storage, and models are available with 800GB and 3,200GB.
Comay is the SSD division for the China-based company CoreRise. Comay is one of the world's largest manufacturers of SSDs and features an extensive line of SSDs for enterprise, industrial, military, and client environments. Comay invests considerable resources into R&D, and their broad background and manufacturing capability leads to many unique features and builds on their SSD products.
Comay's BladeDrive is their first foray into the PCIe SSD market. Comay's experience with multiple custom LSI SandForce SSDs went into the design and build of the BladeDrive E28. The BladeDrive crams eight of the LSI SF-2581 controllers onto the drive. The SF-2581 is an enterprise grade controller with extensive history in the datacenter, and the BladeDrive marks the debut of Comay's first RAID controller. The SBC208 is an 8-channel proprietary controller Comay designed internally, and it is used exclusively in their BladeDrive PCIe SSDs.
Comay utilizes their Cap-X system for power fail protection. Two large capacitors provide enough power to flush the data to the NAND in the event of power loss. LSI SandForce controllers do not utilize DRAM, which is a significant advantage in power loss situations.
Power consumption can be prohibitive with some large capacity PCIe SSDs. The Comay BladeDrive consumes a maximum of 35W under load, which is over the 25W technical limit on some motherboards. Many motherboards can easily handle 35W from the PCIe slot, and unlike other solutions, the BladeDrive E28 doesn't require external power. This reduces cabling and clutter.
Data protection is handled with AES-128, and the BladeDrive also supports SCSI UNMAP commands. This provides TRIM functionality in situations where the host operating system can pass the command. LSI SandForce RAISE technology (Redundant of Independent Silicon Elements) provides RAID-5 like data protection, and BCH ECC is rated to 55 bits per sector.

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Making a jump into the PCIe space can be a bit daunting; there are several entrenched players in this space with a long history of delivering reliable solutions. Today, we are placing the BladeDrive against the Micron P420m and the Micron P320h. The P420m is a value-oriented PCIe SSD that utilizes 25nm MLC NAND, while the P320h sets the bar for high performance with its SLC NAND. This varied test pool will help ascertain the position of the BladeDrive in the PCIe SSD market.
A considerable strength of the BladeDrive comes in its capacity. There simply are not many PCIe SSDs that offer 3,200GB of flash capacity on one device. The BladeDrive also provides endurance ratings of 3, 6, and 12 PiB. The endurance threshold is competitive with other MLC PCIe SSDs on the market.
The design utilizes SSD and RAID controllers to handle all processing. This is in contrast to some solutions that use the host system resources for SSD management. When scaling beyond one PCIe SSD per system, the offloaded architecture allows for cleaner performance scaling and does not subject the host system to undue resource consumption. Comay provides multi-drive performance specifications that indicate near-linear performance scaling.
Comay also includes an easy-to-use GUI for management and SMART data monitoring. The BladeDrive E28 features an MTBF of 2,000,000 hours and a 3-year limited warranty. Let's take a look at the impressive collection of flash on the next page.
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Nanoxia Deep Silence 6 HPTX Chassis Review

Introduction, Specifications, and Pricing

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Having had the opportunity to see three previous solutions in chassis design from Nanoxia, we have a pretty good handle on what these chassis are built for. First of all, the main point behind any of their cases is right in the naming: Deep Silence. In this quest to limit noise as much as possible, they have used ideas that we have seen many others offer, including solid doors on the front to redirect sound away from the user, sound absorbing materials applied to door panels as well as the doors, and use of a PSU gasket, but they have also taken an idea and ran with it since it first arrived, and that would be their Active Air Chimney. This feature allows users to close the top of the chassis for near silence when not in use or when they aren't needing the most out of the cooling system. When it is needed, there are panels that rise with the slide of a switch and allow these cases to vent freely through the top, increasing the cooling performance.
We saw the original, and we saw the second version, but we somehow missed out on the third version and were next given the DS4. We have seen this chassis evolve over the years, and again, we skip a generation as we look at their latest creation. As the title suggested, this is the largest Deep Silence chassis ever to be offered, and it includes room for anything from Mini-ITX on up to dual-socket HPTX boards like the EVGA series. On top of that, full provisions were made in this design to be sure to maximize the ability to water cool a system inside of this chassis. Considering the amount of hardware that can go into an SR-2 or SR-X build, having room in the front and in the top is a must, and Nanoxia delivers their own unique way of getting this done.
While the largest of all Nanoxia designs, this Deep Silence 6 we are about to see is also one of the heaviest cases we have ever received, and that includes the Cosmos 2. For a bit of perspective, think along the lines of a Sherman Tank of cases. With a chassis design that is along the realm of the 900D in size, it has much thicker steel used in the chassis construction. Nanoxia then added thick plastic panels to the front and back, and while they were at it, they added in some very dense noise absorbing materials to deliver a chassis that is just over 45 pounds empty. So, keep all that in mind as we look at this new beast of a chassis from Nanoxia.

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In the chart provided by Nanoxia, we see the Deep Silence 6 comes to market in three colors: white, anthracite, and the black version we were given to test. This is the first chassis to be qualified as a "Big-Tower," so we will be calling it a super-tower from this point forward. The DS6 has two front doors that are clad in a brushed metal with plastic trim around the edges, but it offers a very squared off and blocky presence. The left side of the chassis offers optional fan placements, but the DS6 comes shipped with a sound proof plate out of the box. The back of the chassis offers us everything from water cooling holes with grommets to ten expansion slots, a fan, and a whole lot of perforated metal for passive ventilation. We already covered what the top offers in ventilation, but it is also where you find the front I/O panel that is hidden away under a cover. As for the right side of the chassis, it is flat and isn't much more than a panel of black paint applied with the same textured finish the rest of the chassis receives inside and out.
Inside of this chassis, there is compatibility for HPTX, E-ATX, XL-ATX, ATX, Micro-ATX, and Mini-ITX motherboards. The DS6 also offers four 5.25-inch bays, one of which is convertible to 3.5-inch via a supplied tray, and there is room for thirteen storage drives. To cool this monster, they have supplied the DS6 with five 140mm fans, but there are plenty more options to consider. The front of the chassis has a pair of 140mm fans and filters in the lower section of the bezel. On the other side of the HDD rack from those fans, there is a bracket. On this bracket, you can install fans and radiators for 120mm, 140mm, 240mm, or 280mm, including thick ones.
The top of the chassis has another two 140mm fans in it out of the box, but here you can also hang a radiator. Anything in the range of a single 120/140mm on through 280mm and 360mm radiators can go here. There is also a 140mm fan in the rear of the chassis, and the last optional location is in the floor and can only be used by removing the HDD rack that currently sits over it.
For so much material, so much size, and the features and styling offered in the DS6, we do find the pricing to be steep, but that was expected. Looking around the Internet to find the best deal available, we found that the availability of this chassis is somewhat limited in the US, but everywhere we looked, we found at least two of the three versions in stock and ready to ship. Since we display the actual pricing below at the time of posting, we will classify this in the over $200 USD category, and we don't see the price dropping that drastically anytime soon.
For this price, buyers expect everything and the kitchen sink, and by the time we are done looking at, building inside of, and testing out the Deep Silence 6, we will have a much better grasp on its value and if this behemoth is going to be the next chassis in your "must have" wish list.
PRICING: You can find the Nanoxia Deep Silence 6 for sale below. The prices listed are valid at the time of writing but can change at any time. Click the link to see the very latest pricing for the best deal.
United States: The Nanoxia Deep Silence 6 retails for $229.99 at Amazon.
Canada: The Nanoxia Deep Silence 6 retails for CDN$302.33 at Amazon Canada.
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HGST Ultrastar SSD800MH 12Gb/s SAS3 Enterprise SSD Review

Introduction

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HGST, a Western Digital company, has a complete range of storage offerings for the datacenter. The looming merger completion with WD has not had much effect on business for HGST; they have continued to acquire companies with flash-based portfolios and IP. VeloBit, sTec, and Virident have all come under the HGST umbrella to bolster their SSD ranks, and many see this as the bellwether of HGST becoming WD's SSD wing upon merger completion.
A full family of platter-based products solidify the base of HGST's product stack. HGST still collaborates with Intel in a joint development program that leverages Intel's industry leadership in core controller and NAND technologies, and Intel leans on HGST's vast experience with the SAS interface. HGST's NAND supply is guaranteed through a Joint Development Agreement with Intel, though the specifics of that agreement are not public knowledge. However, guaranteed NAND supply of any variety is a big win for HGST, and it provides them a significant advantage during periodic flash shortages.
The mainstream use of MLC has led to stratification in the SSD product stack for the major manufacturers. The Tier-0 Ultrastar family consists of three members to address every performance segment: high endurance, mainstream endurance, and read intensive. The 12GB/s Ultrastar SSD800MH, codenamed Sunset Cove, sets atop of HGST's performance pyramid with class-leading speeds of 145,000/100,000 read/write IOPS. Sequential read speeds of 1,200 MB/s and 750 MB/s write speed leads the current crop of 12Gb/s SSDs.
The high-endurance Ultrastar SSD800MH comes in a 2.5-inch form factor with a 15mm z-height in 200GB, 400GB, and 800GB capacities. The drive can operate in two power envelopes, 9W or 11W, to satisfy requirements for performance hungry applications. Dual-port SAS provides full duplex operation, multipath, and failover High Availability features. The drives feature 512MB, 1024MB, or 2048MB of SDRAM depending upon capacity.
The SSD800MH features end-to-end data protection with T10 Data Integrity Field (DIF) compliance, extended ECC, and Exclusive-OR (XOR) parity for protection from die failure. Parity-checked internal data paths operate without an external write cache, and power loss management is provided by an electrolytic capacitor. These capacitors are more reliable and tolerate heat better than supercapacitor designs. This SSD provides the highest endurance with up to 25 DW/D (Drive Writes per Day) for the toughest workloads, such as HFT and OLTP environments. The 800GB model can tolerate 36.5PB of random writes in its five-year warranty period, or 20TB per day of random writes.

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The mainstream endurance SSD800MM, evaluated here, features sequential speeds of 1,200/750 MB/s read/write and 145,000/100,000 read/write IOPS. This drive has an endurance rating of 10 DW/D (Drive Writes per Day).
The Read Intensive Ultrastar SSD1000MR brings up the low-end of the endurance pyramid, and it features sequential speeds of 1,200/700 MB/s read/write and 145,000/70,000 read/write IOPS, respectively. With an endurance rating of 2 DWPD, this SSD is clearly intended for the write-once, read-many class of applications, such as audio/video streaming, cloud computing, and other Internet applications. While the other models top out at a capacity of 800GB, the SSD1000MR offers a larger 1TB capacity point.
Today, we will test the SSD800MH against its mainstream brother, the SSD800MM, and the Toshiba PX02SSF040, the high endurance heavyweight contender from Toshiba.
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