Welcome to a new Backblaze blog feature we’re calling, “Tech to Track.” Each installment gives us a chance to round up links we think are particularly cool or interesting and present them here with a bit of commentary.
Unlimited Cloud Storage for Your Photos… If You Have the Right Phone
Google’s new Pixel smartphone has Android fans excited. The sleek design, AMOLED screen and 12.3 megapixel camera (with an 8MP front facing camera) are all tentpole features. The best part is that it doesn’t catch on fire like the Samsung Galaxy Note 7. But where to put all those pictures, especially when you can shoot 4K video? “Smart storage” is Google’s answer. Google offers free storage for full-resolution photos and videos you shoot with the Pixel. Don’t let unlimited cloud storage make you complacent, though! Keep a local backup of those pictures, then back up that hard drive with Backblaze.
“Google’s Pixel Smartphones Come With Free Storage for Full-res Photos and Videos”
Google Muscles Into the Mesh Wi-Fi Market
Finding spots in your home or office where your Wi-Fi doesn’t work? Does your internet connection slow way down or get unreliable in the bedroom or the family room? Wi-Fi “mesh” networks are an increasingly popular way to overcome such issues. Instead of one big Wi-Fi network router, smaller devices work together to broadcast a stronger network. Eero, Luma, Ubiquiti, and Linksys already play in this space. Now Google’s muscling in. Google Wi-Fi comes with “Network Assist” technology to get you the best speed available. Better yet, it’s manageable through an Android and iOS smartphone app. Look for it to be available in the U.S. in time for the holidays starting at $199, with three packs for $299—a lot cheaper than Eero’s offering.
“Introducing a New Kind of Wi-Fi System”
Samsung Marches on Towards SSD/HD Pricing Parity”
Spinning hard disk drives continue to be the price per gigabyte leaders, but don’t expect that to last forever. Solid state drives (SSDs) continue to plummet in price as more companies and consumers demand the storage technology. Samsung says that by 2020, it’ll offer 512GB SSDs that will cost the same as a 1TB hard drive. We’re looking forward to the day we can build out a Backblaze Storage Pod with SSDs and not break the bank.
“Samsung Expects 512GB SSDs to Cost the Same as a 1TB HDD in 2020”
CERN Is Running Out of Disk Space for Data From the LHC
The Large Hadron Collider is running out of disk space. The world’s biggest particle accelerator is operating more efficiently and with better reliability than CERN scientists expected. That means a lot more data to collect. CERN researchers have short-changed themselves on the amount of storage they need to store and analyze all that data. Hey, CERN, give us a call—we’re happy to help with Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage!
“The Large Hadron Collider of All Places Is Running Out of Disk Space”
What tech have you seen this week that you think is particularly interesting? Leave us a note in the comments!
