Buffalo Japan rolled out a 2 terabyte variant of its MiniStation HDPNTU3 portable HDD series. Models in the series are characterized by fast USB 3.0 SuperSpeed interface, and a shock-absorbing internal drive frame that lends higher shock tolerance, although Buffalo stopped short of mentioning the exact shock tolerance figure. The new variant (model: HD-PNT2.0U3-GBJ) provides 2 TB of unformatted capacity, and supports USB 3.0, which eliminates interface bottlenecks. It relies on the same connection for power. Its feature-set includes Buffalo's Turbo PC software, which speeds up drive access by up to 2 times; and native 256-bit AES data-encryption. Measuring 82 x 118 x 22 mm, the MiniStation weighs about 260 g. It is expected to hit stores by late-June, priced at 31,080 JPY (US $392).

MIPI Alliance and the USB 3.0 Promoter Group today announced the completion of the SuperSpeed USB Inter-Chip (SSIC) specification. The specification defines a chip-to-chip USB based internal interconnect for mobile devices as well as other platforms. SSIC offers MIPI Alliance's M-PHY high bandwidth and low power capabilities combined with SuperSpeed USB performance enhancements.

The M-PHYSM interface, a high speed serial interface, targets up to 2.9 Gbps per lane with scalability up to 5.8 Gbps per lane and offers a low pin count and exceptional power efficiency. SuperSpeed USB offers a 5 Gbps signaling rate, up to 10 times faster than Hi-Speed USB (USB 2.0), enhanced protocol and power management and backward compatibility with the existing USB device and software model.

Apple today unveiled an all new 15-inch MacBook Pro featuring a stunning Retina display, all flash storage and quad-core processors in a radically thin and light design. Measuring a mere 0.71 inches and weighing only 4.46 pounds, the completely redesigned MacBook Pro sets a new standard in performance and portability for pro users.

"The MacBook Pro with Retina display pushes the limits of performance and portability like no other notebook," said Tim Cook, Apple's CEO. "With a gorgeous Retina display, all flash architecture and a radically thin and light design, the new MacBook Pro is the most advanced Mac we have ever built."

Patriot made an addition to its Gauntlet line of storage products, the Gauntlet NODE. While other storage manufacturers are offering fully-built wireless HDDs, Patriot Gauntlet NODE gives you the flexibility to add your own 2.5-inch SATA drive (be it HDD or SSD). The enclosure supports 802.11 b/g/n (up to 150 Mbps), with WPA security. It packs a lithium ion battery, which can keep it running for up to 5.5 hours, on full charge. In the wireless mode, the NODE can stream media and files to iOS and Android devices (phones and tablets), for which it has apps in both marketplaces. It doesn't end there, the Gauntlet NODE even features USB 3.0 SuperSpeed interface, with which it can connect to PCs as common USB mass-storage device, and allow you to quickly transfer files. The device charges with its included AC adapter.

Apacer is presenting their entire product line of state-of-the-art storage solutions for consumer and industrial usages at Computex Taipei 2012, June 5 to 9, at booth T202A on the 2nd floor of Taipei International Convention Center. Apart from their very comprehensive USB 3.0 line-up including SuperSpeed flash drives, external hard drives as well as card readers, this year Apacer will also be showing their leading overclocking memory modules in live demonstrations.

Century Japan introduced CRNS35U3MR "EX Volume" 2-bay HDD enclosure, which provides fast external storage. The enclosure holds two 3.5-inch SATA hard drives in lockable caddies. It allows you to run them in standalone (as independent USB mass-storage volumes), or in RAID 0 (performance) and RAID 1 (redundancy) modes. To alleviate host interface bottlenecks, the enclosure utilizes USB 3.0 SuperSpeed interface.

The enclosure draws power from an external AC power line (power supply is located internally), its controller logic spins down the hard drives sensing extended periods of inactivity (5 minutes, by default). The enclosure also has a temperature-controlled fan that completely spins down, below a temperature threshold. Measuring 130 x 210 x 115 mm (WxDxH), the enclosure weighs about 1922 g. Slated for early-June, the CRNS35U3MR from Century is priced at 14,800 JPY (US $186).

Lenovo today at its Accelerate Channel Partner Conference in Las Vegas previewed the upcoming ThinkPad X1 Carbon laptop, the lightest 14-inch Ultrabook in the industry.1 With an amazingly thin and extremely powerful design, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon shatters the mold of traditional laptops. Also today, Lenovo announced a new portfolio of ThinkPad laptops in the T, X, L and W Series built to power small businesses, government agencies, educational institutions and large corporations. The laptops range from models designed for extreme portability to mobile workstation performance.

Created for those who demand the highest levels of performance, mobility, entertainment and design, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon exceeds Ultrabook specifications by using a premium carbon fiber rollcage to create a durable Ultrabook weighing less than three pounds. Other premium features include 3G connectivity for anywhere anytime access, Lenovo RapidCharge for a near-full battery charge in 30 minutes, and Intel vPro technology for manageability.

Scythe introduced a pair of new external HDD/SSD enclosures under the KAMAZO series. These include the KAMAZO-S35-U3-BK, designed for 3.5-inch SATA drives; and KAMAZO-S25-U3-BK, designed for 2.5-inch SATA drives. Both enclosures take advantage of USB 3.0 SuperSpeed interface to eliminate interface bottlenecks. Made of anodized aluminum, the KAMAZO-S35-U3-BK measures 112 x 197 x 30 mm (WxDxH), weighing 268 g. This enclosure draws power from an external AC adapter. The KAMAZO-S25-U3-BK, on the other hand, relies on USB for both bus interface and power. It measures 80 x 131 x 18 mm, weighing 126 g. Apart from running on PCs as USB mass storage devices, these enclosures are supported by smart TVs such as Toshiba Regza and Sharp Aquos. Slated for May 16, the KAMAZO-S35-U3-BK is priced at 2,480 JPY (US $31), while the KAMAZO-S25-U3-BK goes for 1,280 JPY (US $16).

Lexar introduced a new variant of its Professional USB 3.0 Dual-Slot Reader, which it launched back in May, 2011. The new variant supports faster UDMA7 mode for the CompactFlash bay, which allows users to take advantage of the company's recently-launched Professional 1000X Series CompactFlash cards. The new transfer mode, combined with the new CF cards, churns out transfer rates as high as 167 MB/s. In addition, the reader's SDXC/SDHC/SD card slot supports SD UHS-I with maximum transfer rate of 104 MB/s. To make sure there is zero interface bottleneck with the host PC, the reader takes advantage of the 5 Gb/s USB 3.0 SuperSpeed interface. Measuring 69.9 x 63.5 x 25.4 mm, the reader weighs about 69 g. Its pricing is not disclosed, yet.

Japanese peripherals company Marshal introduced Easy Go MAL-3435SBKU3, a desktop external hard drive enclosure, which can pack a 3.5-inch SATA hard drive. Apart from close to zero interface bottlenecks, thanks to its USB 3.0 SuperSpeed connection, the enclosure's design focus is on cooling. It packs an 80 mm fan on its side panel for ventilation of the hard drive and other electronics. The fan can be toggled, and its designers claim that running it can lower the drive's temperatures by as much as 10°C. Its native logic features an Eco Mode feature, which completely spins down the drive while keeping its volumes mounted on the host machine, when there is inactivity for a set amount of time. The enclosure is made of rugged materials such as steel and ABS. Measuring 46 x 210 x 146 mm (WxDxH), it weighs a little over 600 g. It is priced at 3,480 JPY (US $43).

DisplayLink, the leading provider of technology for virtual graphics and USB-connected computing, today announced its support for 3rd generation Intel Core processors and supporting mobile Intel HM76 and Intel B75 express chipsets with SuperSpeed USB 3.0.

DisplayLink's DL-3000 chip platform with USB 3.0 is shipping today in adapters, monitors and docking stations from leading vendors. The broad availability of onboard USB 3.0 in systems using 3rd generation Intel Core processors means that a huge new segment of the market now has access to easy-to-use docking, and multi-display possibilities.

The next big-ticket unveiling by GIGABYTE is a new high-grade gaming keyboard under its AIVIA series, called Osmium. This one of the very few keyboards that come with USB 3.0 SuperSpeed interface. While we really can't imagine the keyboard needing the bandwidth that comes with USB 3.0, it's probably the increased power capacity (up to 900 mA) that the keyboard might need, for its power-hungry LED lighting and core-logic. Another possibility is that the keyboard features a USB 3.0 hub.

The AIVIA Osmium is a mechanical gaming keyboard, which is said to utilize the best switches out there, for gaming. The keyboard supports multiple simultaneous key-presses, which is important in gaming scenarios. Apart from a conventional QWERTY layout, the Osmium features several macro-keys, local storage for macro profiles, and quick cycling through macro-profiles. Two scroll-wheels give you analog control over illumination brightness, and volume. The keyboard is illuminated blue, and features a large palm-rest. More details are awaited.

ZOTAC International, a global innovator of graphics cards, mainboards and mini-PCs, today redefines the mini-PC form factor with the extra small ZBOX nano XS AD11 Plus mini-PC. The ZOTAC ZBOX nano XS AD11 Plus is the world's smallest PC capable of delivering a rich high-definition desktop computing experience.

An AMD E-450 APU with Radeon HD 6320 graphics processing sits at the heart of the ZOTAC ZBOX nano XS AD11 Plus to render beautiful Microsoft DirectX 11 graphics and playback stunning online and offline high-definition content. The completely new ZOTAC ZBOX nano XS chassis shrinks the ZBOX nano chassis by nearly 17-percent into a 106-milimeter box that is only 37-milimeters tall that can easily slip into a jacket pocket.

I-O Data released the HDS2-UT USB 3.0 external RAID enclosure. It is available in three variants with pre-installed hard drives: the 2 TB HDS2-UT2.0, 4 TB HDS2-UT4.0, and 6 TB HDS2-UT6.0. Measuring 90 x 135 x 176 mm, and weighing 2.2 kg, the HDS2-UT is a 2-bay external 3.5" SATA HDD enclosure, with the ability to run its two drives in RAID 0, RAID 1, and JBOD modes. To take advantage of RAID 0, the enclosure connects to the host over 5 GT/s USB 3.0 SuperSpeed interface. Also included is software to build, manage, and monitor RAID volumes. The enclosure relies on an external power brick. Slated for market release in late-April, the HDS2-UT 2 TB, 4 TB, and 6 TB variants are priced at 35,490 JPY (US $439); 46,725 JPY (US $578); and 66,780 JPY (US $827), respectively.

I-O Data unveiled a new USB 3.0 host card (model: USB3-PEX2S), which is designed to be server-grade, with out of the box support for Windows Server, including USB 3.0 SuperSpeed support for Windows 2003, 2003 R2 64-bit/32-bit; Windows 2008, and 2008 R2 64-bit/32-bit. The low-profile capable card provides two USB 3.0 SuperSpeed ports, and appears to be driven by a Renesas-made chipset. It connects to the system bus over PCI-Express 2.0 x1, and draws auxiliary power from a SATA power connector. Slated for market launch in late-April, the USB3-PEX2S from I-O Data is priced at 3,885 JPY (US $48).

The USB 3.0 Promoter Group today announced that the USB Power Delivery specification and SuperSpeed USB Inter-Chip (SSIC) specification are both on track for completion by the end of Q2 2012. Both specifications are currently at a 0.9 draft completion level, essentially the equivalent of final specifications that implementers can use to start developing products. Prototyping activities to help validate the major technical elements of each specification are well underway and will be completed prior to the final release of these specifications.

The USB power delivery specification will enable increased power delivery via USB cables and connectors, expanding cable bus power capabilities in USB applications. The specification enables higher voltage and current to deliver power up to 100 Watts. It also enables a switchable source of power delivery without changing cable direction. The specification is compatible with existing cables and connectors and will coexist with the USB Battery Charging 1.2 specification and existing USB bus-powered applications.

Pericom Semiconductor Corporation (NASDAQ: PSEM), a leading supplier of high-speed connectivity, signal-conditioning and timing solutions, today announces the launch and volume production ramp up of its USB 3.0 ReDriver Signal Conditioning product family. The product family is being designed into platforms offering the new USB 3.0 serial protocol, and enables these high speed channels to operate over longer distances and still meet the signal specifications.

In related news, the 'Pericom Add-On Card 7741' has passed all USB-IF workshop compliance tests and has been awarded official SuperSpeed USB certification. Pericom's latest generation PI3EQX7741 USB 3.0 ReDriver signal conditioning IC was mounted on the add-on card and directly in the signal path for all USB 3.0 tests.

Japanese store Kuroutoshikou listed USB3.0R-P4-PCIe, a reference design USB 3.0 host add-on card. Driven by Renesas μPD720201 chipset, the card gives out four USB 3.0 SuperSpeed ports. Three of these ports are wired out on the rear expansion bracket, while the fourth one is an internal port (type-A plug, not header). The card draws auxiliary power from a SATA power connector, it talks to the rest of the system over PCI-Express 2.0 x1. A part of the reason why not all four ports are located on the bracket, is that the card is just about capable of being low-profile, due to its half-height PCB. USB3.0R-P4-PCIe could be re-branded and sold through various major brands. Slated for late-March, it is priced at 3,000 JPY (US $36).

Japanese store Kuroutoshikou listed the GW2.5CL-SUP3, a 2.5" external HDD/SSD enclosure. Measuring 73 x 122 x 135 mm (WxDxH), the enclosure is a rare combination of an internal SATA interface supports SATA 6 Gb/s data-rate, while its external interface is USB 3.0 SuperSpeed, which alleviates interface bottlenecks to a great extant. A unique feature here is an LED-based display that gives you a very rough idea of the free-space left on the installed HDD/SSD. Installing or removing a drive is a tool-free process. On sale now, the GW2.5CL-SUP3 is priced at 3,000 JPY (US $36.5).

ORICO unveiled the 9548RUS3 (4-bay) and 9558RUS3 (5-bay) external RAID enclosures. Built with front-loading 3.5-inch SATA HDD caddies, these enclosures can be set to run the installed HDDs in a variety of RAID modes (0/1/3/5/10) apart from standalone. The inbuilt RAID controller supports physical drives with capacities up to 3 TB only, although the RAID volumes can be bigger. The enclosures then connect to a host over USB 3.0 SuperSpeed and eSATA. Both models are available in black and silver color options, the main unit draws power from an external power brick, and is ventilated using two 60 mm fans. The panels are made of aluminum. ORICO did not give out pricing/availability information.

Seagate is working on a new variant of the 9 mm-thick FreeAgent portable hard drive it launched back in April 2011. The new variant features a fast 7200 RPM drive, with a capacity of 500 GB. The original model had 320 GB capacity. Measuring 124 x 78 x 9 mm, and weighing 160 g, the drives take advantage of USB 3.0 SuperSpeed interface, with a single cable handling power and connectivity. The new 500 GB variant costs about $170, which is very high compared to the launch price of the 320 GB variant, which was around $99, but then you have to take into account the escalation of HDD prices across the industry since September 2011.

GIGABYTE introduces its latest whitebox All-in-One PC based on the Thin Mini-ITX standard and addressed to channel resellers, VARs and system integrators. Being the biggest screen size (24") in GIGABYTE's All-in-One PC offering, the GB-AEGT aims at establishing its supremacy as the ultimate entertainment All-in-One PC. To do so, it offers the worldwide exclusive ability to receive off-the-shelf double slot desktop graphic cards up to 400W.

Gaming on an All-in-One PC won't be a dream anymore, and to complete this dream the GB-AEGT has a full load of multimedia features detailed below. In addition to these features, the GB-AEGT naturally keeps GIGABYTE homemade modular design and is fully upgradable thanks to an easy access to all the internal components.

Colorful is well-known for its highly innovative graphics card designs, it is one of China's leading graphics card brands. Some of its graphics card designs have captured our imagination. Its latest creation is a DIY mini-ITX barebones system for gaming, called Desert Eagle. The package consists of Colorful's own-design slim-form-factor (SFF) chassis, which bears a swanky combination of red and black, with ample perforations and and top handles; a custom-design, low-profile Colorfire AMD Radeon HD 6750 graphics card (Colorfire is Colorful's Radeon-selling brand); a mini-ITX socket LGA1155 motherboard based on the Intel H67 chipset (model: i-H67HD U3); and a 300W PSU.

Buffalo Japan announced two new lines of memory card readers that take advantage of the USB 3.0 SuperSpeed interface, the BSCR09U3 series, and the BSCRD04U3. The BSCR09U3 has a typical desktop form-factor, it measures 85 x 13 x 49 mm (WxDxH), weighing about 35 g. It supports a variety of media formats, including SD/SDHC/SDXC (standard, mini, and micro), MS-Duo, M2, CompactFlash, and XD Picture Card, with zero interface bottlenecks.

The BSCRD04U3, on the other hand, resembles the shape of a flat highlighter pen. It measures 33 x 15 x 69 mm, weighing 17 g. Once uncapped, it can be plugged directly to a USB 3.0 port, or extended via a cable. This reader only supports SD/SDHC/SDXC (standard, mini, and micro). Both card readers are available in black and white options. Slated for April, the BSCR09U3 is priced at 3,402 JPY (US $41.8), while the BSCRD04U3 goes for 2,826 JPY (US $34.7).

ORICO also unveiled the 8618NAS, a single-bay NAS device that's built in the top-loading "toaster" dock form-factor that allows snappy docking and removal of SATA HDDs and SSDs in the 3.5" and 2.5" form-factors. This unique device connects the SATA HDD/SSD to the network over gigabit Ethernet, with support for most modern home-NAS technologies, or to a standalone PC over USB 3.0 SuperSpeed interface, as a mass-storage device. The 8618NAS from Orico is slated for early-March. Its pricing and other functional details are still under wraps.