Some New Tech stuff: There are two new tech items that photographers should watch. 1. M Disk is a type of BluRay disk that supposedly will hold 100GB of data and has a durability of...

Ron Dial Loc: Cuenca, Ecuador

There are two new tech items that photographers should watch.

1. M Disk is a type of BluRay disk that supposedly will hold 100GB of data and has a durability of 1000 years. The rating is controversial and is under investigation. Only certain BlyRay burners can handle M Disk and are on the market now. M Disks are being marketed by Verbatium and some other manufacturers. Something to keep an eye on.

2. USB 3.1 also called USB C is a new type of USB connector and cable which transmits and receives data at 10GB @ sec. Requires a new connector on a motherboard although there are adapters being made. The cable is so much faster than USB 2 which transmits at 480 MB@ sec. Hard drives and other peripherals are now on the market.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

I'm always skeptical about anything that claims a ridiculously long durability like 1000 years. Technology changes so fast that things are obsolete in 10-20 years. Can you buy readers for storage media from 50 years ago outside of an antique store? 8" floppies? 7 track tape? Wire recordings? Claims like that are based on extrapolation of accelerated stress testing. Extreme extrapolation, in my view.

100 GBytes isn't really a large amount of data any more. How large were image file sizes 10 years ago compared to now? How many photos do you take now compared to 10 years ago? Useful storage these days is measured in Terabytes. What will be unit be 10 years from now? Do you really want to sort through 50 disks to find the image you want?

I'm not impressed with M-disk claims.

BBurns Loc: South Bay, California

Ron Dial wrote:

...2. USB 3.1 also called USB C is a new type of USB connector......

Your statement is absolutely correct.
What your statement did not inform readers was the fact that this connector, much like Apple's Lightning connector, is reversible.
Meaning that do not have to worry which way you plug it in. No more jammed plugs. A major step forward.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

DirtFarmer wrote:

I'm always skeptical about anything that claims a ridiculously long durability like 1000 years.

Yes, I remember when the pyramids were built, the contractor claimed 2000yrs...., everybody scoffed at it, including the pharaoh!!!

SS

CO

I've been using M-Discs for some time. Traditional CD's and DVD's use a dye-based layer that can degrade over time. M-Discs use a mineral based layer. The data becomes permanently etched on the layer. You just need a CD/DVD burner that is M-Disc compatible. I have an LG slim DVD burner that records to them. I know its 1,000 year life is irrelevant but it's an indicator of just how stable they are.

Dr.Nikon Loc: Honolulu Hawaii

Thnx guys .. I'm never too old to lean something. New .. The 3.0 USB I have used since day one .. But until now .., never heard of the " M" disc ...thnx ..

BBurns Loc: South Bay, California

SharpShooter wrote:

Yes, I remember when the pyramids were built, the contractor claimed 2000yrs...., everybody scoffed at it, including the pharaoh!!!

SS

Cynicism to an Art Form!!

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

Ron Dial wrote:

There are two new tech items that photographers sh... (show quote)

1. Since none of us are durable for a 1000 years, and the technology to read the discs will be obsolete way before then, there are better ways to ensure image/data longevity.
2. It takes a little bit more than a cable or connector to upgrade from USB 2.0 to USB 3.0 or 3.1.

If you want durable technology, look at something like Stonehenge. How to work out how to use it you just go ask a Druid, if you can find one who knows and will tell you!

BBurns Loc: South Bay, California

Peterff wrote:

...If you want durable technology, ....just go ask a Druid!

Follow The Sun - The Beatles

CO

Peterff wrote:

1. Since none of us are durable for a 1000 years, and the technology to read the discs will be obsolete way before then, there are better ways to ensure image/data longevity.
2. It takes a little bit more than a cable or connector to upgrade from USB 2.0 to USB 3.0 or 3.1.

If you want durable technology, look at something like Stonehenge. How to work out how to use it you just go ask a Druid, if you can find one who knows and will tell you!

M-Discs are kind of like Stonehenge:

Features:
Stability: M-DISC uses a patented rock-like recording surface instead of traditional organic dye to etch your records.

Longevity: Up to 1,000 years
*Recognized ISO/IEC 10995 International Standard, verifying Millenniata’s claim that the M-DISC DVD lasts in excess of 1,000 years. (in the normal usage environment 25C/ RH50%)

Engrave in Stone: When the data layer is written by a focused laser, the intense heat generated causes the innermost layers to melt and to move away from the laser spot, creating a hole in the data layer.

The Data Layer: The data layer is composed entirely by inorganic materials and compounds, including metals and metalloids.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

CO wrote:

M-Discs are kind of like Stonehenge: br br i Fea... (show quote)

Sure, but nobody uses Stonehenge for its original purpose anymore. I'm sure that M-DISCs will endure, but good luck finding a device to read them a few decades from now. The whole idea of digital is that it isn't wedded to a single form factor or device type. My wife and I have plenty of VHS material still, and the mechanism to transfer the content to digital media, but nobody makes VHS players or recorders any more. Once the last ones die, the content is inaccessible. M-DISC will likely follow the same fate.

As Scott McNealy once said: "Technology has the shelf life of a banana!"

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

Ron Dial wrote:

There are two new tech items that photographers sh... (show quote)

The M disks are nothing new, many photographers have been using them for many years! I myself have a few for image storage (they are about 10 years old)!

MrBob Loc: lookout Mtn. NE Alabama

SharpShooter wrote:

Yes, I remember when the pyramids were built, the contractor claimed 2000yrs...., everybody scoffed at it, including the pharaoh!!!

SS

Yes, and the base of the Great pyramid is level to a 16th. of an inch... I know my house isn't....

sloscheider Loc: Minnesota

Ron Dial wrote:

There are two new tech items that photographers sh... (show quote)

Both of these (M Disk in particular) have been around for some time... Apple started implementing USB C over a year ago - one neat feature is you can plug a USB C power bank into your MacBook and extend the battery life.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Ron Dial wrote:

There are two new tech items that photographers sh... (show quote)

Don't you just love when a product comes out and they say, "data and has a durability of 1000 years". WHO'S GOING TO CHECK!!!!!!!!!!!!!