HDD
A Green Start: The Data Center’s Role in Climate Change
Just as factories fueled the growth of the Industrial Revolution, the data center is at the core of the Information Age. Entertainment, public services, and private communications are all stored or mediated by it, and as more users join virtual spaces, the demand for fast and reliable digital services grows. But, data centers come with […]
February 27, 2024 • 6 min read Data
What’s Your Create: Jacob Simon
Jacob Simon settles down for this interview amid a flurry of notifications. He lowers the volume but does not silence them. Clients, partners, and activists from all over the world want his insight, and he’ll oblige as soon as he can. It’s rare that Simon is anchored in place for even an hour. Between his […]
January 30, 2024 • 6 min read People
Have Data Centers Reached the SMR HDD Tipping Point?
Shingled Magnetic Recording (SMR) hard drives (HDDs) have quietly existed for nearly a decade. Yet, as with many innovations, their journey to widespread acceptance has been gradual. SMR HDDs have seemingly only tiptoed into the data center. Now, something has changed. Western Digital CEO, David Goeckeler, recently shared that the company’s 26 terabyte (TB) UltraSMR […]
November 21, 2023 • 9 min read Technology
Explained: HDD Areal Density
Have you ever wondered how hard drives manage to store vast amounts of data in such a small space? In part, this is made possible by areal density—the driving factor in HDD capacity. This is areal density, explained. What is areal density? Areal density is the amount of data that can be stored per square […]
October 10, 2023 • 3 min read Technology
Explained: Helium Hard Drives
While helium hard drives are not exactly designed to float in air, helium’s buoyant properties make it useful in storing more data in the same form factor. This is helium hard drives, explained. What is a helium hard drive? A helium hard drive is a hard disk drive (HDD) with an internal enclosure that is […]
August 29, 2023 • 3 min read Technology
Why Collaboration Matters for Climate Action
Western Digital's HDD business unit works with academics and government to catalyze climate action and meet ESG goals.
August 22, 2023 • 6 min read Technology
Inventor Rick Galbraith: Piloting HDD Innovation
Rick Galbraith, distinguished engineer at Western Digital, jokes that he still works at his first job. Based out of the company’s Rochester, Minn. site, he is part of an enclave of distinguished engineers, many of whom hold dozens of patents. He walks the same hallways as he did straight out of college as a young […]
July 18, 2023 • 6 min read People
Explained: OptiNAND™
Data growth is at an all-time high. According to Statista, global data creation is projected to grow to more than 180 zettabytes over the next five years. But how will data storage scale to meet the exponential demand? This is OptiNAND, explained. What is OptiNAND? OptiNAND is Western Digital’s proprietary technology, integrating iNAND embedded flash […]
June 27, 2023 • 3 min read Technology
Recycling Hard Drives, Explained.
The average American household has an average of 22 connected devices, but what happens when we upgrade those devices or they stop working? As we become more dependent on technology, e-waste is becoming a more prevalent issue, with less than 20% being formally recycled. From the growing amount of e-waste pollution to product take-back programs, […]
May 23, 2023 • 3 min read Technology
Preparing for 30TB and Beyond—How Dual Actuators Can Help Make High-Capacity, High-Performance Hard Drives Possible
As the appetite for data grows, technology innovations like the dual actuator and create higher capacity drives to meet the need.
May 2, 2023 • 5 min read Products