IT News Head Lines (TweakTown) 2/10/2015

Watches are being banned at schools to stop cheating in exams
Something that most of us had taken for granted when in school, was wearing a watch, these days with wearable computing, you have to think twice. Just like some schools are now.

BuzzFeed News is reporting that many universities are issuing blanket bans on all watches during exams, just in case some of them are wearing wearables to cheat during exams. London's City University has said that it "wouldn't be practical" to have people checking every students watch to see if it was an analog, or smartwatch.


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Intel CFO says Apple needs its processors to stay ahead of competition
Apple and Intel have been partnered together for a while, ever since Steve Jobs announced that Mac systems would use Intel processors back in 2005.

At the time it was quite the shock, as Intel was the biggest chipmaker that made processors for PCs that ran Windows, and Microsoft were Apple's biggest enemy at the time. The tides have changed however, as Google was simply a search engine at the time, but they are now Apple's biggest competitor by far. Well, during an interview with Business Insider last week, Intel CFO Stacy Smith talked about how Intel is so far ahead of the competition, that when it comes to PC processors that Apple uses, the company has no choice but to use its CPUs.

Smith said: "Apple is a great partner of ours. Like Intel they like bringing really cool stuff to the market... As long as we're bringing great technology to the marketplace, we're enabling them to do great Apple products". Smith continued: "Our leadership over the rest of the industry is extending. We're not delayed relative to the industry. We're actually ahead of the industry". Smith also added: "For a customer like Apple you'd have to take a big step off performance to step off our architecture. That is what in essence enables us to win across different customers".

What will be more interesting, is how these relationships will change, and how the competitors to Apple will shift and change over the years to come.


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Corning teases 'Project Phire' which could end up as Gorilla Glass 4
Gorilla Glass protects hundreds of millions of smartphones across the world, but it looks like its successor is being teased under the codename of "Project Phire". Corning could turn Project Phire into Gorilla Glass 5, but we won't know much until the company fully unveils Gorilla Glass 5.

Until then, Corning made the project public at the Investors Conference in New York under the codename Project Phire. The name comes from the scratch resistance qualities of sapphire, with the company making a point of the fact that sapphire isn't so great when its dropped, which is a big problem for smartphone users. Project Phire will be the next-gen display protection, which should be splashed onto devices in the near future.

James Clappin from Corning said: "We told you last year that sapphire was great for scratch performance but didn't fare well when dropped. So, we created a product that offers the same superior damage resistance and drop performance of Gorilla Glass 4 with scratch resistance that approaches sapphire".


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Visceral Games: 5 million players have played Battlefield Hardline
The open beta for Battlefield Hardline continues, with Visceral Games' General Manager, Steve Papoutsis, taking to Twitter to announce that 5 million players have taken place in the beta.

Papoutsis said: "Wow, we've passed 5 MILLION players in the #BFHardline beta! So proud of your team. Glad you're having fun and keep that feedback coming". Destiny set the bar last year, with 5 million players taking place in the open beta for Destiny, but Destiny wasn't released on PC. This goes to show that the PC community is huge, and a strong force for even a game like Battlefield Hardline which hasn't been getting the best feedback.

Battlefield Hardline will be released on March 17 for the Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3, PS4 and PC. The beta itself closes today, unfortunately.


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Stardock CEO: DirectX 12 will allow CG-like graphics on PC before 2020
We can expect DirectX 12 games to look radically different in just a few years time, with PC gamers being able to expect that future titles will look as good as the CG in the latest movies. The news is coming from an interview with Stardock CEO Brad Wardell with Inner Circle Podcast, teasing the future of PC gaming and DirectX 12.

Wardell said that if game developers get down and dirty with DirectX 12, games with thousands of on-screen characters, or any large number of objects on screen are usually bound by the CPU when it comes to lighting. Ubisoft has even admitted this for its mess that was Assassin's Creed: Unity. The first generation of DX12 games will see a 10-20% boost, as they are written for DirectX 11 and running DirectX 12. But when there are new graphics engines that are built from the ground up for DX12, the real benefits are going to be very, very clear according to Wardell.

The Stardock CEO claimed that future games would look like The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King by the end of the current console generation. He cites the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One as resource heavy consoles, as they feature 8-core processors with 8GB of RAM and 64-bit operating systems and games that can access any and all of those resources easily. As time goes by, developers will squeeze much more out of the consoles.

Wardell continued, claiming that by the end of this console generation, PS4 and Xbox One games will look as good as movies compared to the games that are out now, which will look really dated by then. He teased that something "crazy" is being worked on by AMD, which is something really exciting. Maybe we're looking at a blend of Mantle and DirectX 12? Nintendo has also teased that it is working closely with AMD on something next-gen, so we'll have to wait and see. E3 2015 isn't too far away, either.


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The CSGO ban saga continues, multiple players handed lifetime holidays
ESEA just joined forces with Valve, standing against match-fixing in the strongest way possible - banning multiple CS:GO players from France and Poland for life, matching their previous actions as seen in retaliation to match-fixing and betting scandals conducted by American and Canadian CS:GO professionals.

The ban-list includes the former ESC gaming CS:GO squad and four ex-members from Epsilon, handing indefinite bans to all players involved just one week before the Poles were set to attend a live qualifier for ESL One Katowice.

The full list of banned players includes:

We recently reported on Kevin "Uzzziii" Vernel and Joey "fxy0" Schlosser's bans with a short 1-year period being originally stated, this information has now changed, seeing these players banned for life.


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Xiaomi's growth continues to pressure other smartphone vendors
Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi has taken the Chinese smartphone market by storm, quickly punting Samsung out the door - and putting global pressure on Apple, Samsung, and others. The company sold 61 million devices worldwide in 2014, tripling its overall sales figure year-over-year - and provides a high quality phone at an affordable price.

"The trend over the last couple of years has been for local vendors, plus Samsung, to dominate the market and make it hard for others," said Chris Jones, principal mobile analyst of the Canalys research firm, in a statement to the Los Angeles Times. "They've been driving down the prices of smartphones and driving up the screen sizes and quality."

Xiaomi remains focused on its home market of China, in addition to India and several other select markets, and isn't focused on trying to expand into the United States just yet. The Chinese company wants to build a stronghold in China, India, Brazil, and select other regions before trying to migrate into the United States and select western markets.


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Netflix is working on a live action 'Legend of Zelda' series
In something that is coming out of nowhere, Netflix has announced that it is in the early stages of developing a live action series based on Nintendo's infamous The Legend of Zelda.

Netflix is reportedly working closely with Nintendo on the project, as the Japanese gaming giant is very protective of its properties, allowing only a few adaptations of its games into movies or TV shows over the years - but let's forget about Super Mario Bros., ok? The series will fall in line with the game, where an ordinary boy named Link has to save Princess Zelda and her fantasy world Hyrule.

The series will be made into an episodic adventure show, something that will include the usual swords and sorcery, but it will be very "light-hearted and kid-friendly" according to Dark Horizons.


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Cooler Master CM Storm Ceres 500 Gaming Headset Review

Introduction

CM Storm has come leaps and bounds in regards to their whole peripheral range. Seeing them start off as an-off shoot of the popular case, cooler and power supply brand Cooler Master, they've really made a name for themselves thanks to feedback from sponsored professional gamers and some solid R&D groundwork.

With this being my first take-home CM Storm offering, I decided to keep a very open mind. I've followed their development throughout the last few years, often making my way over to their booths at various of trade shows, eSports events and competitions that I have either been competing in, working at or visiting as a spectator.

Previously using the Tt eSPORTS Dracco Captain, I expected this to fare quite similarly. Both headsets are of similar price ranges and both companies have similar experience in the peripheral field. However, rated slightly cheaper ($20 on average), the Ceres 500 comes with the ability to function on multiple platforms including the Xbox 360, PS3, PS4 and PC, whereas the Dracco Captain is natively PC-only.

Specifications

As mentioned, this is a mid-range headset. Coming in at $55 when seen on Amazon, this offering from CM Storm will provide you with a basic 2.0 stereo sound output powered by 40mm drivers. Its sensitivity is rated at 116dB ± 4dB and the frequency response is listed as 20 Hz - 20,000 Hz.

One of the interesting inclusions is their microphone attachment. Set as a 3.5mm connection, it snaps in quite nicely and can be dismounted quickly stored away as you see fit.

Although rated at 1.06 lbs in total weight, the headset feels quite light in the hands and when on the head. This would be thanks to the plush leather headband and large cloth circular ear cups that are over-ear in design - easily fitting over my large head without providing pressure on my skull or ears.

Furthering the list of specifications and features includes the actual connection options to various devices. Unfortunately, this headset will connect to your PC though USB, seeing the 3.5mm jack used for audio console applications and the USB then turning into a power-only supplier.

Lastly is the microphone specifications - stated by CM Storm, with the sensitivity at 1kHz, the Ceres 500 is rated at -54 ± 3dB with the frequency response being 100 Hz - 10,000 Hz. My friends in mumble and Skype were able to hear me loud and clear - marking what I believe to be a turning point in gaming headset microphone technology. Gone are the days of microphones being bass-less and washed out by almost any background noise. I've come to discover that most decent headsets released from early 2013 onward generally has a very decent voice option.

Pricing & Availability

As previously mentioned, the CM Storm Ceres 500 is listed for a low to mid-range price point of $55 when seen on Amazon's US store. This is rated at $20 above its smaller-sibling, the Ceres 300, which offers a very similar package without some of the luxury extras and comfort options.

What's in the box?

Featuring various console and PC connection cables, CM Storm's Ceres 500 also comes with a very handy guide showing you clearly displayed diagrams on how exactly you should connect it to each system - this guide states what cables to use and where they go. This is something that is overlooked by other companies, seeing them often assume that you know how these things work.

This is a surprisingly simple package from CM Storm, with no extensive manual, carry pouch or accessories of any kind included. In the future, we'd like to see CM Storm follow suit of companies by providing handy carry-pouches for their products. Not only is it a cool looking inclusion, but it actually helps in general transporting use and product protection when travelling.

PRICING: You can find the Cooler Master Ceres-500 Foldable Gaming Headset 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 Cooler Master Ceres-500 Foldable Gaming Headset retails for $59.99 at Amazon.

Canada: The Cooler Master Ceres-500 Foldable Gaming Headset retails for CDN$68.26 at Amazon Canada.
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PNY Reveals Their Versatile Range of Hook Series USB Flash Drives
PNY Technologies, Inc. ("PNY"), world renowned manufacturer of USB and Memory products, has officially released an assortment of Hook Series USB Flash Drives. These metal Flash Drives feature a unique design that sets them apart from other USB Drives available in the market today. Each of these USB Flash Drives feature an integrated hook-and-lock mechanism that offers safe and secure storage for all of your important files.

Specially crafted with high-quality metal housing and polished designs, each of the PNY Hook USB Flash Drives are durable enough to withstand daily and rigorous use. These flash drives can hook on to everything that it is attached. You can attach your Hook USB Drive to your wallet, bag, purse, belt loops and other accessories. The Hook series of PNY USB Flash Drives are ultra-compact and extremely portable in size - perfectly suited to carry your files anytime and anywhere.

The PNY Hook series range includes a variety of designs and features under their diverse range of USB flash drives:

• Hook Attache: The Hook Attache is an ultra-compact, portable and functional USB flash drive. Manufactured in high-quality zinc alloy with durable metal covering and multiple-plated surface of copper and nickel, the Hook Attache lends a rich, modern and industrial look. Available in memory capacities ranging from 4GB to 64GB, you can transfer and share songs, movies, pictures, music, documents and more.
• Transformer Attache: True to its name, the Transformer Attache can rotate 180 degree and completely transform to change its position. It's distinguished hook-and-lock function allow the Transformer Attache to be securely attached to your bags or backpacks. The Transformer Attache is crafted in a high-quality metallic casing that gives it a professional and classic appeal. It's durable and resilient against water, dust and scratches.
• Mini Hook Attache: Weighing 6.88g and measuring at 4.5mmH x 12mmW x 39mmL, the Mini Hook Attache is the smallest and lightest USB flash drive among the PNY's Hook series. Despite being ultra-compact and lightweight, it also features the hook-and-lock function that allows it to be extremely portable. It can be easily attached to bags, backpacks and wallets. Its exterior casing is made up of strong metal housing with a high quality, shock resistant layer. Available in silver, the Mini Hook Attache can store images, music, files with storage options ranging from 4GB to 32GB.
• Gold Hook Attache 3.0: The Gold Hook Attache offers USB 3.0 specifications for faster transfer of files from your computer. This gold edition flash drive comes in a durable metallic casing with golden color plating. Mirror reflective surface and carabineer hook design lends a classy, rich and modern look. It exudes high fashion and taste with its well-crafted and precise attention to beauty and functionality. Carry it as a personal accessory at professional environments, or at social events if you want to make an impression. The Gold Hook Attache also makes an excellent gift option for your friends and family. It is available at memory capacity from 8GB to 64GB.
• Hook Attache 3.0: With USB 3.0 specifications, the Hook Attache 3.0 offers fast data transfer of files, documents and much more. Store and transfer files in minutes with read and write speed up to 115MB/s read and 21MB/s write (in 64GB capacity). It's created with high quality zinc alloy casing topped with smooth silver color, multiple-plated with copper and nickel finish. The carabineer hook design allows it to be hooked on to wallets, bags or backpacks. It's the ultimate storage solution.

The Hook series of flash drives are available at storage options varying from 4GB to 64GB. All the models work smoothly with all the recent versions of Windows operating system and also Mac OS 10.3 and above. The Hook Series USB Flash Drives offer 5 years of limited warranty.


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Synology DiskStations DS215j and DS115 are En Route to Stores
Synology America Corp. today announced that the DiskStation DS215j is now available for purchase and the DS115 will be available next week. "The DS215j and the DS115 were delayed in Q4 due to the west coast dock issues, and with this behind us, we've seen a lot of demand for these new models, and we're really excited to see them available in the US and soon in Canada," said Jason Bonoan, Product Marketing Manager at Synology America Corp.

The DiskStations are powered by a dual-core processor with Floating-Point Unit (FPU) that unlocks its power in multitasking and multimedia processing. The platform upgrade enables the DS215j to deliver average read speeds over 111 MB/sec and average writes over 87 MB/sec, a 19% gain in writing compared with its predecessor, while keeping its power consumption as low as 13.4 watts in full operation and 5.3 watts when hard drives hibernate. The addition of the SuperSpeed USB 3.0 interface further boosts its file transfer speeds.

By leveraging Synology Surveillance Station, the DS215j is also a full-featured network video recorder. It supports up to 10 channels of simultaneous high-definition footage streaming at 240 FPS in 720p. The DS215j comes with 2 free IP camera licenses and supports up to 10 cameras, making it an ideal surveillance solution for homes and small offices.

The DS215j runs on DiskStation Manager (DSM) 5.1, an intuitive operating system that provides a host of applications to bring better productivity at work and offer a new level of multimedia experience. Synology was named Best NAS Device Brand, voted for by PC Pro readers, with over a quarter of all NAS drives bought by PC Pro readers made by Synology.

For more information, please visit the product pages of DS215j and DS115.


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Adesso Announces the EasyTouch 635 Gaming Keyboard
Adesso Inc., a leading manufacturer of computer input peripherals, has unveiled the EasyTouch 635, the Full Size Mechanical Gaming Keyboard. Also known as AKB-635UB, this sleek and sturdy mechanical keyboard with gamer-specific features bring much needed weight to any gamer's arsenal.

Built to last up to fifty million keystrokes, AKB-635UB mechanical key switches provide instant tactile and audible response in typing that improves accuracy, productivity, and efficiency. The N-Key Rollover function permits up to 6 keys to be pressed as the same time, making it a great advantage for gamers and fast typists. One of the new features is the shortcut to disable the Windows Key, preventing the application screen from being minimized when it is hit accidentally during gaming.

Weighing at a hefty 2.7 pounds, EasyTouch 635's minimalistic, sturdy design is built to last, while the solid, box-like structure and the reduction of non-essential space in the layout make it easy to fit within cramped areas. Under the keyboard, the USB cable can also be re-directed safely to the top, left, or right of the keyboard, preventing fraying or loosening of wires from constant bumps. Finally, AKB-635UB's built-in Hotkeys provide quick access to Media Player controls, such as Volume Control, Track Navigation, Stop, Play, Mute, and Pause.

At the MSRP of $99.99, EasyTouch 635 is available for purchase at major retailers and e-retailers.

Specifications:

• Key Layout: 104-Key US Layout
• Key Type: Mechanical Switch Technology
• Indicators: Num Lock, Caps Lock, Scroll Lock, & Winkey Lock
• Multimedia Hotkeys: 8 (Volume Up, Volume Down, Play/Pause, Stop, Previous Track, Next Track, Mute, Windows Key Lock)
• Operating System: Windows 8, 7, Vista, & XP
• Dimensions: 17.3" x 5.3" x 1.5" (440 x 135 x 38 mm)
• Weight: 2.7 lbs

Features:

• The EasyTouch 635 has Mechanical Key Switches, bringing instant tactile and audible response in typing that improves accuracy, productivity, and efficiency up to 50 million keystrokes.
• The EasyTouch 635's N-Key Rollover function allows up to 6 keys to be pressed at the same time, ensuring each key is hit with precision, making it great for gamers and fast typists.
• The EasyTouch 635 Windows Key Lock lets you temporary disable the Windows Key during gaming, making sure the screen doesn't get minimized in the middle of a game.
• The EasyTouch 635's adjustable USB Cable lets you reroute the cable to the front or the either side of the keyboard, saving desktop space while preventing it from fraying due to constant bumping or movement.

For more information, visit the product page.


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G.SKILL Tops Fastest DDR4 Frequency Record Once Again at 4355MHz
G.SKILL International Co. Ltd., the world's leading manufacturer of extreme performance memory and solid state storage, is thrilled to announce a new record for fastest DDR4 memory frequency, set at 4355 MHz.

The record was set with G.SKILL's extreme performance Ripjaws 4 series DDR4 memory on the ASUS Rampage V Extreme motherboard and Intel i7-5960X processor under extreme cooling with liquid nitrogen. Check out the CPU-Z record validation here.

In addition to this new DDR4 frequency record, G.SKILL memory kits have also been used to set a total of 9 world records in January 2015 (source). TridentX series memory and 3 world records set with the G.SKILL Ripjaws 4 series memory, this marks a great start to the year or 2015.

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Samsung Electronics Mass Producing High-Density ePoP Memory
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., the world leader in advanced memory technology, announced today that it is now mass producing the industry's first ePoP (embedded package on package) memory - a single memory package consisting of 3GB LPDDR3 DRAM, 32GB eMMC (embedded multi-media card) and a controller. For use in high-end smartphones, the extremely thin ePoP combines all essential memory components into a single package that can be stacked directly on top of the mobile processor, without taking any additional space - a distinct improvement over existing two-package eMCP memory solutions.

"By offering our new high-density ePoP memory for flagship smartphones, Samsung expects to provide its customers with significant design benefits, while enabling faster and longer operation of multi-tasking features," Jeeho Baek, Senior Vice President of Memory Marketing at Samsung Electronics. "We plan to expand our line-up of ePoP memory with packages involving enhancements in performance and density over the next few years, to further add to the growth of premium mobile market."

The new ePoP provides an ideal "one-package" memory solution, satisfying the market needs for high speed, high energy efficiency and compactness. The 3GB LPDDR3 mobile DRAM inside the ePoP operates at an I/O data transfer rate of 1,866 Mb/s, and sports a 64-bit I/O bandwidth.

When it comes to design efficiency, the ePoP memory saves a significant amount of space, enabling smartphone manufacturers to use the space for components like the battery pack. Because of its thinness and special heat-resistant properties, Samsung's smartphone ePoP does not need any space beyond the 225 square millimeters (15x15mm) taken up by the mobile application processor. A conventional PoP (also 15mm x 15mm), consisting of the mobile processor and DRAM, along with a separate eMMC (11.5mm x 13mm) package, takes up 374.5 square millimeters. Replacing that set-up with a Samsung ePoP decreases the total area used by approximately 40 percent.

The single-package configuration also meets the semiconductor package height ceiling of 1.4 millimeters (mm).

OEMs can use Samsung's ePoP memory for a wide range of mobile devices. Samsung already has been offering a similar single-package solution for wearable devices, referred to as "wearable memory". The new configuration for phones can be easily customized not only for use in flagship smartphones but also in other sophisticated mobile devices such as high-end tablets, in collaboration with global mobile companies.


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Kingston Releases FIPS 140-2 Level 3 Encrypted USB Flash Drive
Kingston Digital, Inc., the Flash memory affiliate of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., the independent world leader in memory products, today announced a pair of next-generation encrypted USB Flash drives designed to safeguard an organization's valuable data. The DataTraveler 4000 Gen. 2 and DataTraveler 4000 Gen. 2 Management Ready protect sensitive information with high-level encryption.

DataTraveler 4000 G2 is FIPS 140-2 Level 3 certified so it provides a tamper-evident seal for physical security to detect and respond to attempts to access, use or modify the cryptographic module. Data is protected by hardware-based 256-bit AES encryption in XTS mode and the drive casing is made of titanium coated stainless steel. The drive is designed to reduce the possibility of successful brute force attacks as it locks down and reformats after 10 failed password attempts.

DataTraveler 4000 G2 Management Ready features the same security and features as DataTraveler 4000 G2 but also offers optional SafeConsole management from BlockMaster. SafeConsole gives organizations powerful tools including the ability to remotely reset passwords, configure password and device policies and activate audit for compliance. DataTraveler 4000 G2 Management Ready gives companies the flexibility to initially deploy the drive as a stand-alone, secure device, and then have the option of adding a central management solution later.

Both drives offer USB 3.0 data transfer rates and are available in 4GB, 8GB, 16GB, 32GB and 64GB capacities. DataTraveler 4000 G2 and DataTraveler 4000 G2 Management Ready utilize industry-leading NAND and controller design that allows the NAND to be interchanged without requalification and certification. This allows enterprise companies to add the drives to their standards list with confidence.

DataTraveler 4000 G2 and DataTraveler 4000 G2 Management Ready are backed by a five-year warranty, free technical support and legendary Kingston reliability.

DataTraveler 4000 G2 & DT4000 G2 Management Ready Features & Specifications:

• High-end FIPS Validated Security: 100-percent of stored data is protected by hardware-based, 256-bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) in XTS mode
• Tamper-Evident seal: physical security to detect and respond to attempts at physical access, use or modification of the cryptographic module
• USB 3.0: latest USB standard guarantees backwards compatibility with USB 2.0
• Read-Only Access Mode: when selected, access files in Read-only Mode to avoid potential Malware risks
• Enforced password protection: complex password is user set with minimum characteristics to prevent unauthorized access
• Secure: drive locks down and reformats after 10 intrusion attempts
• Easy to use: no admin rights or application installation required
• Customizable: preload content, password length, maximum number of password attempts and internal/external serialization numbering
• Co-logo available
• Ruggedized: titanium-coated stainless steel casing
• Waterproof1: protected against water damage
• TAA Compliant
• Guaranteed: five-year warranty with free technical support
• Dimensions: 3.00" x 0.9" x 0.47" (77.9mm x 22mm x 12.05mm)
• Speed:

o USB 3.0: 4GB: 80MB/s read, 12MB/s write

• 8GB & 16GB: 165MB/s read, 22MB/s write
• 32GB: 250MB/s read, 40MB/s write
• 64GB: 250MB/s read, 85MB/s write

o USB 2.0: 4GB: 30MB/s read, 12MB/s write

• 8GB-64GB: 30MB/s read, 20MB/s write
• Capacities3: 4GB, 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, 64GB
• Operating Temperature: 32°F to 140°F (0°C to 60°C)
• Storage Temperature: -4°F to 185°F (-20°C to 85°C)
• Minimum System Requirements:

o USB 2.0 compliant and 1.1 compatible

o Two free drive letters required for use


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