Ian at DP-Now has reviewed the new version of the Vosonic X’s Drive. I’ll leave it to Ian to explain what an X’s Drive actually is:

“An X?s Drive is a portable repository into which you can dump photos from your camera?s memory cards for later retrieval via a USB cable connection to a host computer. Why would you want one? Rather than buy lots of memory cards you can empty your cards into the X?s Drive as you go. The X?s Drive family is based around a battery-powered portable hard drive unit. The hard drive itself is the same specification as that used by most notebook computers: a 9.5mm high 2.5 inch drive. In fact, you can buy an X?s Drive unit without a hard drive and fit your own, if you wish.”

I’ve just bought the original version of the X’s Drive with a 20Gb hard-drive, which has enough space for about 3000 Canon EOS 10D RAW files. So far I’ve encountered no problems and can recommend it as an affordable way to store large numbers of digital camera files.

Website: DP Now - Vosonic VP2060 X’s Drive II Review

DP-Now have reviewed the Lacie 6-in-1 Media Reader.

“Lacie’s new compact and slim-line 6-in-1 (Compact Flash I/II and Microdrive, SD/MMC, SmartMedia and Sony Memory Stick) universal media reader is less than half the price of the model it replaces and that couldn’t boast a high speed USB 2.0 interface.”

Website: DP-Now - Lacie Media Reader Review

Fuji released a press statement today announcing 2 new versions of its proprietary Super CCD.

Website: FujiFilm

“Tokyo, Japan, January 22, 2003, Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. is pleased to announce the Super CCD HR and Super CCD SR - two significantly advanced 4th-Generation versions of the company’s proprietary Super CCD, a key device that has paved the way for exceptional digital camera imaging quality.

The high-resolution version of the Super CCD HR announced today incorporates a total of 6.63 million pixels* into a 1/1.7” chip, performance made possible through new strides in miniaturization. Cameras equipped with this imaging device can produce up to 12.3 million recording pixels, resulting in remarkably high-resolution images.

Incorporating the same miniaturization technology as the HR version, the Super CCD SR also features a new configuration that produces approximately four times wider dynamic range. Also measuring 1/1.7” in size, the new Super CCD SR incorporates 6.7 million total pixels* (3.35 million S-pixels and 3.35 million R-pixels).”

The Super CCD HR increases the number of pixels to 6.63 million (up to 12.3 million recording pixels), doubling the resolution of the current Fuji 6900/02 cameras.

In comparison the Super CCD SR only incorporates 3.14 million total pixels, for 6.0 million recording pixels. Its main innovation lies in expanding dynamic range. Apperently this new CCD will “produce smooth and wide tonal range without losing detail in dark areas or washing out in bright areas” by incorporating 2 distinct types of pixel.

Fuji haven’t yet announced any new cameras that incorporate either CCD.

DPReview have a very detailed analysis of this story, including a slide presentation from Fujifilm UK.