The camera can also shoot short video clips that can be saved to a Memory Stick--Sony's chewing gum-sized flash memory device.

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Perhaps the biggest gain may be in dual storage computers where a flash memory device is used for storing operating systems, software and frequently accessed content (and maybe even for write caching) while a hard disk drive provides much less expensive mass storage of user data.

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Over 8 times as many gigabytes of NAND flash memory has shipped than DRAM, making flash memory the largest solid state memory device on the market and enabling many mobile devices such as smart phones and tablet computers.

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Thus a device that uses flash memory to accelerate the performance of a HDD seems like a pretty good compromise between the two technologies.

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Kolodgy recommends using a "token, " another type of device based on flash memory that functions as a key, made by companies such as Rainbow Technologies.

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These drives are based on flash memory - which stores data even after its device is turned off - and are about the size of a large cigarette lighter.

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Under its shiny new skin, new hardware and software, such as a slimmed down version of Apple's OS X operating system and a flash memory drive, instead of the current iPod's mechanical hard drive, could keep the new device thin and light.

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In addition, flash memory is making its way into more enterprise and client computer applications, both as a stand alone storage device and as a cache memory and system accelerator.

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Apple introduced its version, called Fusion Drive, that tiers storage on flash memory or a HDD depending upon frequency of use, but appearing to the user as a single storage device.

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