Hitachi Global Storage Technologies (Hitachi) today introduced two new CinemaStar hard drives optimized for use in digital video recorders (DVRs) and set-top boxes. The CinemaStar 7K1000.B is available in a broad range of capacities up to one terabyte (1TB) and the CinemaStar 5K320 delivers up to 320GB of capacity and incorporates innovative Hitachi CoolSpin technology.CoolSpin drives use a motor speed optimized for low power and acoustics, enabling Hitachi to deliver the industry's quietest, most energy-efficient 3.5-inch hard drives. Hitachi CoolSpin enables a new generation of DVRs and set-top boxes that store more hours of video, run more quietly and use less power.

The new Hitachi CinemaStar drives include the following:

• Drive mechanics designed for continuous 24x7 operation
• Silent-seek acoustics for nearly inaudible operation
• Three low-power idle modes for best-in-class power utilization and heat emission
• Smart Command Transport (SCT) and SmoothStream technology optimizes the drive for uninterrupted audio and video streaming
• Expanded temperature range to enable fan-free DVR designs
• Ramp load/unload design to increase shock protection and power savings
• Thermal monitoring and fly-height control to enhance drive reliability during lengthy video encoding/decoding sessions
• Optional Bulk Data Encryption (BDE) for increased protection against data loss
• Proven perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) technology helps to ensure maximum stability, reliability and data integrity

CinemaStar 7K1000.B
The CinemaStar 7K1000.B is based on the recently-introduced, second-generation Hitachi 7,200 RPM terabyte hard drive family. The new 3.5-inch drives, available in capacities ranging from 160GB to 1TB, leverage seven generations of power management technology to deliver best-in-class low power and thermal emissions. Hitachi used HiVERT technology, first pioneered on 2.5-inch Travelstar drives, to increase the power efficiency characteristics of the drive. The CinemaStar 7K1000.B enables device manufacturers to develop DVRs that run cooler and require less power, which ultimately leads to longer product life.

All CinemaStar products are enhanced with silent-seek acoustics to deliver bedroom-quiet operation, and a Hitachi patented load/unload ramp mechanism that helps prevent disk wear and protects the disk during non-operation. The CinemaStar 7K1000.B is also built using the industry's most reliable perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) technology for maximum stability, reliability and data integrity.

1TB CinemaStar hard drives can hold up to 247 hours of MPEG-4 encoded high definition video1 and can support more than 10 simultaneous data streams.

CinemaStar 5K320
The CinemaStar 5K320 provides up to 320GB capacity and features innovative CoolSpin technology to deliver a new level of power efficiency and quiet operation for digital video applications. Key to CoolSpin technology is an optimization of motor speed to provide an ideal balance of performance, power utilization and acoustics.

Both CinemaStar drives announced today combine a targeted 1.2M hour Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF)3 and extended operating temperature range to maximize DVR lifespan. At 3.1W idle power, the CinemaStar 5K320 helps meet low power compliance targets for consumer electronics devices and allow consumers to save on their energy costs.

The digital video recorder market continues to experience robust growth. IDC estimates that shipments of hard drives for personal video recording applications will grow at a 14% annual growth rate between 2007-20122.

"Hitachi has been making dramatic improvements in power savings generation to generation and our CoolSpin product line in particular, sets new standards for power-efficient audio/visual hard drives," said Larry Swezey, director, Consumer and Commercial HDD Marketing and Strategy, Hitachi Global Storage Technologies. "The Hitachi CinemaStar drives are designed to excel in DVR and set-top box applications, where cool operation, quiet acoustics and overall power efficiency are of critical importance."

Availability
The CinemaStar 7K1000.B will begin shipping to customers worldwide in August and the CinemaStar 5K320 is expected to ship in September, 2008.