Cross bar's RRAM 20 times faster than flash memory!

The U.S. startup Crossbar has introduced a new, non-volatile memory technology based on resistive RAM (RRAM). Up to 1 TB should be possible to save on a chip, which is 20 times faster than flash memory, and consumes significantly less power. Since 2010 Crossbar operates in secret to his version of Resistive RAM (RRAM), a promising memory technology that could replace flash memory. Crossbar is based on research by the University of Michigan, whose patents acquired crossbar in this area. Professor Wei Lu of the University of Michigan is the co-founded Crossbar. Now the company itself is development well and opens to the public. Crossbar RRAM is to be superior in terms of flash memory storage density, speed and power consumption. Thus, the company promises to accommodate up to 1 TB on a single chip with 200 square millimeters. The chips are stacked, should be capable of the same area store multiple terabytes. It is RRAM that is about 20 times faster than conventional NAND-type flash and that is close to the speed of RAM, promises Crossbar. But the power consumption should be only about 5 percent compared to flash memory, which should lead to significantly longer battery life. At the same time RRAM is to hold 10 times longer than flash memory. RRAM is thereby produced with conventional CMOS process and can be stacked on a logic chip. The RRAM chips consist of three layers: a lower non metallic electrode, central switching medium amorphous silicon and an upper metal electrode. When a voltage is applied to the electrodes, little threads form in the circuit medium. Individual cells are less than 5 nanometers across, turn in less than 100 nanoseconds and are thus able to write data at 140 MB / s. In this case, only a voltage of 3 volts and amperage 1-10 microamperes is required. Unlike flash memory Crossbar RRAM must not be erased before writing and to keep the data for about 20 years. A first Crossbar memory array is made on the basis of RRAM in a commercial fabrication to show that the technique is not far removed from the market. The company plans to bring RRAM chips for NAND (data) and NOR (logic) to the market. Moreover Crossbar wants to license its technology to developers of SoCs (system-on-a-chip), so that they can integrate the storage technology in the next generation of chips. When the first Crossbar chips should hit the market, the company does not reveal yet. It will focus on the first step in embedded SoCs. Applications for Cross bars RRAM are many, if technology holds for what the manufacturer currently promises: consumer electronics, Smartphones and tablets, which offer enough space for personal music and movie collection in HD quality SSDs for servers and desktops, networked sensors with several years of battery life or smart cards with large memory capacity for mobile payments.

Tor confirmed malicious code that grabbed user identification

The Malicious code was distributed over the web host Freedom Hosting; malicious code actually serves to identify Tor users. This was confirmed by the anonymous project. The malicious code is injected via vulnerability in Firefox. In an analysis of the Tor team has now confirmed that yesterday only came to the knowledge. The malicious code is used for identifying users of the Tor network and the information is sent to a company that works together with the secret. The malicious code targeting to grab used in the Tor Browser Bundle version of Firefox 17.0.6 on Windows. That is now known as the magnetosphere malicious code detected by analysis of the host name and MAC address of the attacked computer and transmits the collected information to the IP address 65.222.202.53, which is hard-coded into the malware. The command-and-control server belongs to the company Science Applications International Corporation, which is close to the FBI and the intelligence community. The IP address belongs to the Autonomous System (AS) the NSA. Mozilla was the weak point in Firefox ESR 17.0.7 and Firefox 22.0 which was later resolved on 25 June 2013. Updated versions of Firefox had been rolled out the next day in the Tor Browser Bundle 2.3.25-10 and 2.4.15-1-alpha, 30 June 2013 and 8 in 3.0alpha2 July 2013 entered into 2.4.15-alpha-1. The vulnerability in the browser is also available in versions for Mac OS X and Linux, but the malware grab apparently only Windows machine, then writes the Tor team in a statement.

It assumes that the attacker has a list of Tor users who use the hidden services of the web host Freedom Hosting. Freedom Hosting uses Tor Hidden Services among others for the provision of anonymous websites. There, among other Web sites with pedophile content provided. In addition, the web hosts connections to reputed Silkroad online drug market. The Tor team, meanwhile, advises users urged to update their Tor Browser Bundle. In addition, users should disable Javascript. In future releases, there will be an easy-to-use interface that allows the use of Javascript can be configured. Since the future also other may be vulnerabilities in Firefox, CSS or SVG are expected to users should also consider using a random MAC address. This is possible, for example, in virtual machines like VirtualBox or VMware. The Tor team also advises to use a firewall to prevent such compounds to command-and-control servers. As an alternative to Windows recommend the Tor makers the live distribution tails. The team also asks for help in the implementation of sandboxes and virtualized solutions for the Tor Browser Bundle.

Samsung Be The First Producing 3D Vertical NAND Flash With 1 Terabit

After more than ten years of research, Samsung managed to conventional flash memory with 3D structures to public. Even earlier the chips have only 16 GB of capacity, but that should change soon. Almost simultaneously with the crossbar of RRAM also flash leader Samsung has announced a breakthrough in the production of non-volatile semiconductor memories. The company continues to further increase capacity on three-dimensional structures, but they are configured differently than the Trigates from Intel. Said Samsung "3D NAND Vertical" or NAND V-method is based on the new etching method, can be constructed with up to 24 layers of the memory devices with conventional NAND flash. In this case, proprietary cell structures are used. That the cells are described but unlike most flash memory, Samsung has already mentioned. The company uses the method "Charge Trap Flash" already in some other chips is used since 2002. The cell is first filled with a load and is not directly, and then the controller would have to wait, but the information is previously stored in a charge trap.

Samsung expects this to double the write speed compared to NAND flash that works with the more widely used floating gates. But the main factor for the increase in storage density is the production of several layers. Previously scaled flash memory at this level was primarily through reductions of the structure width. Multiple layers were mainly problems with crosstalk between the lines to control and these will now have solved by Samsung. How many layers of the first fabricated chip in series with V-NAND is, and when it is available Samsung only knows. According to the company that he is already produced in large numbers with 20-nanometer technology, so it should still be available in 2013. Samsung will use the 128 Gigabit large chips, which corresponds to 16 GB, in all common areas of use of fast flash, including SSDs. In future versions it will be up to 1 Terabit can be accommodated on a single chip, which corresponds to 128 GB.

Firefox 23 is available now!

Firefox 23 is available for download. The new version of the browser brings a redesigned logo which is something safe and supports the setup menu. The three options "always load images", "remove JavaScript" and "Always show tab bar" have been removed. Since the first two values by default are active, it is no longer possible to turn off the automatic loading of images and JavaScript directly. The change is justified by the fact that websites - and to satisfy many users; therefore the browser would look broken without images and JavaScript. To disable JavaScript, however, enter into the URL bar of Firefox "about: config", search for "javascript.enabled" and set the value by double clicking on "false". The sharing of content is simplified with Firefox 23: Instead of having to search each website for a Share button, you do it immediately through the Firefox Share button. Facebook has helped in the development of the social API and is the first social network where you can share links via the new button. Since the API is freely available, the usage is expected to increase more in near future. A small change takes Firefox 23 in terms of safety. The loading of "mixed-content content" is automatically blocked and difficult to man-in-the-middle attacks in which an attacker can read your traffic to a Web service. Videos can be played on websites significantly better performance in Firefox 23: clips in H.264 format to be accelerated by the graphics card by default. This is done via the Firefox DirectX Video Acceleration 2 (DXVA2) - and thus only on Windows 7 and 8 Last changes Firefox 23 also own Logo: Three years after the introduction of the last icons icon appears simpler than ever on taskbar and desktop.

Sony unveils a 3D HMD for surgeons

Sony has been around for several years, video glasses on offer with which movies and games can be viewed in 3D. The same technique will now also Surgeons can use the endoscopy, but with a heavily modified device. The 3D glass from Sony, which is intended for endoscopy, is equipped with two 720p OLED displays, which are also used in the glasses HMZ-T2 from Sony. However, medical video glasses HMM-3000MT is somewhat different. The HMM-3000MT is balanced differently, according to Sony, so the doctor can work standing up and align the head forward and down. Anyone who wants can rotate the image shown in unfavorable camera position or use a picture-in-picture function to compare multiple photographs. In addition to the 3D representation of a classical two-dimensional representation is possible, depending on what type endoscope is used. According to the manufacturer, it is also conceivable that several doctors in the operating room using data glasses. To the image processing unit which is connected to the endoscope, two glasses can be connected. In addition, among other things SDI connections DVI are available. The glasses are currently approved for medical use only in Japan, Sony said. Whether the approval is also sought for other countries, is not yet known. The video glasses HMZ-T2 had already presented in May 2012 Sony. Unlike, for example, the VR goggles Oculus Rift it does not fill the entire field of vision of the wearer.