Toshiba has introduced two 30GB 2.5-inch hard disk drives (HDD) for use in automotive entertainment, information and navigation applications. These fourth-generation automotive HDDs feature improved capacity and provide alternative temperature ranges to assist automobile manufacturers and aftermarket suppliers in designing robust digital devices for the car.
A leader in automotive-class HDDs, Toshiba commands 81 percent of the automotive HDD market in the first half of 2005 according to TSR and has shipped more than 2 million units to automotive manufacturers and head-unit manufacturers for OEM and aftermarket products. Toshiba's specialized HDDs feature enhanced temperature specifications and humidity control to provide unsurpassed reliability amid the extreme conditions of the automotive environment.
"HDDs are turning the car into the new digital living room," said Amy Dalphy, manager, HDD business unit, Toshiba SDD. "Toshiba has been on the forefront of this transformation as the founder of automotive-class HDDs. Our engineering teams have worked closely with the automotive industry to create right capacities and specifications that can meet the volatile temperature and vibration demands of this rugged environment."
Toshiba's line of automotive HDDs enable a variety of applications, such as GPS navigation, digital music and video, and other telematic systems. According to research firm IDC, the number of HDDs consumed for automotive applications will grow from 2.4 million in 2005 to 8.5 million in 2009, as automotive manufacturers, car dealers and aftermarket suppliers continuously introduce new digital devices that enhance the driver and passenger experience.
"The automotive HDD market has seen steady growth over the last few years with the addition of entertainment and navigation options now available to consumers. IDC expects the market for drives within the automotive sector to experience a 44 percent 2004-2009 CAGR(1)," said Dave Reinsel, director of storage research at IDC. "Drive vendors wishing to capture market share within this segment must have drives such as Toshiba's ruggedized automotive drive, specifically tailored to meet very demanding automotive environments."
The 30GB MK3029GACE and MK3029GAC:
Toshiba's 30GB 2.5-inch HDDs are currently shipping and support temperature ranges from -16 degrees to 70 degrees Celsius (MK3029GACE), and -20 degrees to 85 degrees Celsius (MK3029GAC). Measuring 69.84 mm wide, 100 mm deep and 9.5mm high, these HDDs weigh in at 96g and can withstand operational shock of 200g and non-operational shock of 800g, providing a rugged and dependable option for cars and SUVs as they travel through extreme temperatures and terrains across the globe.
Toshiba launches two 30GB HDDs for cars
Posted on Monday, August 22 2005 @ 18:07 CEST by Thomas De Maesschalck