Toshiba announces new 1.8″ drives

If 160GB is not enough capacity for an iPod, Toshiba has announced a new prototype of a 1.8″ HDD that could potentially hold up to 240GB. Through a technology called Discrete Track Recording (DTR), Toshiba has been able to fit 120GB on a single platter, and up to 240GB on a dual platter. The HDDs would keep the same form factor that is currently used in the iPod classic. Toshiba has plans to begin mass production of these drives in 2009.

Once these drives become available for mass production, it is almost certain that Apple will include these drives in the iPod. At the moment, the iPod classic can house 80GB on a single-platter drive, and 160GB on a dual platter drive. These new drives from Toshiba would tack another 40GB onto the 80 gig model, and a whopping 80GB onto the 160 gig model while keeping the same form factor. Now if they could manufacture a flash drive with that kind of capacity, we’d be all set. Personally, I don’t think I would mind having a slightly larger iPod Touch or iPhone (though I’ve never seen either in person) if that meant it could house 80, 160, or in the future up to 240GB. What about you?

[via MacRumors]