SanDisk Professional Next Generation Storage Solutions for your PROJEC – Videoguys

SanDisk Professional Next Generation Storage Solutions for your PROJEC – Videoguys

Explore the revolutionary SanDisk Professional Pro Blade ecosystem, a cost-effective solution that redefines storage expansion. Seamlessly combining SSD NVMe for swift workflows and spinning storage for archiving, backup, and less demanding tasks, this innovative system is perfect for shared environments like Avid or large drive units. The compact and lightweight SanDisk Professional Pro Blade, available in 1, 2, and 4 terabyte configurations, outshines external solutions in reliability and speed. Join us in this video as we dive into the economical and efficient workflow, designed to move data seamlessly from the camera to the edit suite to the archives. Stay ahead in storage with SanDisk Professional Pro Blade – where innovation meets efficiency.

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Special Bundle Offer! Build a PRO-BALDE Workflow Today!

Step 1: Buy a G-RAID Mirror or G-DRIVE Project

Step 2: Add 2 (or more) PRO-BLADE SSD Mags

Step 3: Videoguys will include a FREE PRO-BLADE Transport!

G-DRIVE Project

  • High-capacity and Fast Data Transfers​​
  • 7200RPM Ultrastar® Enterprise-class Hard Drive Inside​​
  • PRO-BLADE SSD Mag Slot (10Gbps)​​
  • Premium Aluminum Enclosure​​
  • Adjustable Brightness​​
  • Load bearing mounting points​​
  • 5-Year Limited Warranty

SERIES​

G-DRIVE PRO​

G-DRIVE PROJECT ​

Brand​

SanDisk Professional​

SanDisk Professional​

Enclosure​

Aluminum​

Aluminum and Plastic​

Size​

8.27 x 5.12 x 1.79 in​

8.27 x 5.24 x 3.01 in | 210 x 133 x 51 mm​

Weight​

2.38 lbs​

3.64-3.68lbs​

Connectivity​

Dual Thunderbolt 3 | Single USB (5Gbps)​

Dual Thunderbolt 3 USB-C (USB 10Gbps Compatible)​

Interface​

Thunderbolt 3 and USB 3.2 Gen 1​

Thunderbolt 3 and USB 3.2 Gen 2×1 ​

Internal Hard Drive​

Ultrastar® enterprise-class 7200RPM​

Ultrastar® enterprise-class 7200RPM​

Up to Transfer Speed (MB/s)​

260MB/s Read & Write (20TB)​

PRO-BLADE: Up to 1000MB/s Read & Write ​
HDD: Up to 260MB/s Read & Write (18TB & 22TB)​

Security Slot​

Kensington Security Slot​

Kensington Security Slot​

Compatibility​

macOS 10.12+​
Windows 10+​

macOS 10.15+​
Windows 10+ (via reformat)​

Features​

​

PRO-BLADE Mag SSD Slot​
Dimmable LED Light​Color-Coded Cables​

G-RAID Mirror

  • High-capacity and Fast Data Transfers​
  • 7200RPM Ultrastar® Enterprise-class Hard Drive Inside​
  • PRO-BLADE SSD Mag Slot​
  • Premium Enclosure​
  • Adjustable LED Brightness​
  • Load bearing mounting points​
  • 5-Year Limited Warranty

​

My Book Duo​

G-RAID 2​

G-RAID MIRROR​

Brand​

WD​

SanDisk Professional​

SanDisk Professional​

Enclosure​

Plastic​

Aluminum​

Aluminum + Plastic​

Enclosure Size​

6.3 x 3.94 x 7.09″​

8.90 x 11.93 x 6.81″​

5.24 x 8.27 x 4.06 in | 133 x 210 x 103 mm​

Weight (lbs.)​

5.56​

6.53​

6.75-7.03lbs​

Connectivity​

1x USB-C (5Gbps)​

2x USB-A (5Gbps)​

2x TB3 (20Gbps)​

1x USB-C (5Gbps)​

1x HDMI​

2 x TB3 and USB-C Dual-Mode Ports​

PRO-BLADE SSD Mag Slot (10Gbps)​

Interface​

USB 3.1 Gen 1​

TB3, separate USB 3.2 Gen 1​

Dual mode TB3, USB3.2 Gen 2×1​

Speed (RPM)​

​

Ultrastar enterprise-class 7200​

Ultrastar Enterprise Class 7200​

Transfer Speed (MB/s)​

360​

500​

HDD 260 | Pro-Blade slot 1000​

Daisy-Chaining​

N/A​

Up to 5 devices​

Up to 5 devices ​

Encryption​

256-bit AES Hardware Encryption​

None​

None​

Secure Access​

WD Security Password Activation​

Kensington Security Slot​

Kensington Security Slot​

Software​

WD Discovery​WD Security (built-in)​

None​

None​

Compatibility​

macOS 11+​
Windows 10+​

macOS 10.12+​Windows 10+​

macOS 10.15+​
Windows 10+​

Warranty​

3 Years​

5 Years​

5 Years​

Others​

​

​

Dimmable LED light​
Color-coded cables ​Hardware RAID control​

PRO-BLADE Transport

  • Powerful​: High 20Gbps performance with up to 2000MB/s read and write speeds with USB 3.2 Gen 2×2
  • Lasting Performance​: Adds Thermal management & protection with an aluminum enclosure and heat sink
  • Built for Pros​: Maintain the style, reliability, and durability that customers love
  • Versatile​: Mount to compatible camera rig and only remove PRO-BLADETM SSD mag for easy reloading when USB-CTM recording​
  • USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 20Gbps port​: Up to 2000MB/s ​
    Thermal Management​: Specially designed heat sink to manage the PRO-BLADETM when running at 20Gbps​
  • Thermal Management​: Specially designed heat sink to manage the PRO-BLADETM when running at 20Gbps​
  • LED Indicator​: Know when it’s connected and when it’s active​
  • PRO-BLADE SSD Mag slot​: Keeps the enclosure and fingers cool​
  • Solid aluminum base​: Provides durability and style while facilitating heat dissipation ​

SAG-AFTRA Signs Agreement To Allow Devs To Use A.I. Voices In Games

SAG-AFTRA Signs Agreement To Allow Devs To Use A.I. Voices In Games

Last September, SAG-AFTRA union members voted yes to authorize a video game strike. Reasons why included a desire for better wages, increased safety precautions, and protections around exploitative uses of artificial intelligence. Now, just a few months later, SAG-AFTRA has signed an agreement with Replica Studios, an A.I. voice technology company, to allow game developers to use A.I. voices, as reported by Game Developer. 

Various video game voice actors, like Yong Yea, the new English voice of Kazuma Kiryu in the Like a Dragon series, have publicly stated that they and other actors they know were not aware of this. “Evey voice actor I know not only didn’t approve this,” Yea writes in a tweet. “[They] pretty much heard about this for the first time today on Twitter.” 

SAG-AFTRA says this new agreement “paves the way for professional voice over artists to safely explore new employment opportunities for their digital voice replicas with industry-leading protections tailored to A.I. technology, allowing AAA video game studios and other companies working with Replica to access top SAG-AFTRA talent.” According to the union, this agreement will enable Replica and union members to engage “under a fair, ethical agreement to safely create and license a digital replica of their voice.” From there, those licensed voices can be used in game development and other interactive media projects from pre-production to final release. 

Curiously, the union says this contract was approved by affected members of its voiceover performer community. But Yea is not alone in voicing his concern over this agreement publicly on Twitter and elsewhere. Steve Blum, whose video game credits include games like Deadpool, Call of Duty: Black Ops, Rocksteady’s Batman Arkham series, and more, tweeted the following in response to SAG-AFTRA’s announcement: 

“[This contract] marks an important step towards the ethical use of A.I. voices in creative projects by game developers, and sets the basis for fair and equitable employment of voice actors as they explore the new revenue opportunities provided by A.I.,” SAG-AFTRA writes. “In addition to establishing minimum terms and conditions, the agreement ensures performer consent and negotiation for uses of their digital voice double and requires that performers have the opportunity to opt out of its continued use in new works.” 

For more, read Game Informer’s coverage of SAG-AFTRA’s 2023 strikes. 

[Source: Game Developer]

What do you think of this news? Let us know in the comments below!

Twitch To Lay Off 500 Employees

Last year was one of the best years for game releases but easily one of the worst for the people who made them, with more than 10,000 workers laid off by various companies, including Microsoft, Epic Games, BioWare, Bungie, Naughty Dog, and many more. Unfortunately, it seems this heartbreaking trend is continuing into this new year as yesterday, Bloomberg reported that Amazon-owned streaming company Twitch is set to lay off 500 employees, or about 35 percent of its staff. 

These layoffs follow two rounds of layoffs Twitch experienced last year. Bloomberg expects the layoffs to be announced today. As for why, the publication says running Twitch is extremely expensive and the company has struggled to financially get on top of the cost to support billions of hours of livestreamed content.

Twitch To Lay Off 500 Employees

Just last year, Twitch’s chief revenue officer, chief content officer, chief customer officer, and chief product officer left the company. Plus, in December, Twitch announced it would be ending its service in South Korea. And, according to Bloomberg, Twitch has worked on increasing its advertising in recent years but despite that focus, it has remained “unprofitable,” its sources say. 

These 500 cut jobs expected to happen today join 400 positions cut over 2023 at Twitch, and these layoffs join an ever-growing list of layoffs that made last year one of the worst ever for game developers and people in game development-adjacent industries. 

In January of last year, Microsoft laid off 10,000 employees amidst its ongoing $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, which it completed in October. 

Striking Distance Studios, the team behind 2022’s The Callisto Protocol, laid off more than 30 employees in August of 2023. That same month, Mass Effect and Dragon Age developer BioWare laid off 50 employees, including long-time studio veterans. The following month, in September, Immortals of Aveum developer Ascendant Studios laid off roughly 45% of its staff, and Fortnite developer Epic Games laid off 830 employees. 

In October of last year, The Last of Us developer Naughty Dog laid off at least 25 employees, and Telltale Games also underwent layoffs, although an actual number of affected employees has not yet been revealed. Dreams developer Media Molecule laid off 20 employees in late October.

In November, Amazon Games laid off 180 staff members, Ubisoft laid off more than 100 employees, Bungie laid off roughly 100 developers, and 505 Games’ parent company, Digital Bros, laid off 30% of its staff. 

In December, Embracer Group closed its reformed TimeSplitters studio, Free Radical Design, and earlier in the year, Embracer closed Saints Row developer Volition Games, a studio with more than 30 years of development history. A few weeks before the winter holidays, Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering owner Hasbro laid off 1,100 employees. 

The games industry will surely feel the effects of such horrific layoffs for years to come. The hearts of the Game Informer staff are with everyone who’s been affected by layoffs or closures.

[Source: Bloomberg]

Unity To Lay Off 1800 Employees

Unity To Lay Off 1800 Employees

Video game engine creator Unity is laying off 1800 employees, or 25% of its workforce, according to a report from Yahoo! Finance. The company announced these layoffs in an internal memo sent out on Monday, January 8. These job cuts follow a turbulent 2023 for the company after it attempted to introduce per-install fees to developers using its game engine before later walking it back. 

Unity is expected to lay off 1800 people by the end of March and once complete, it will be the company’s largest round of layoffs ever. It will be its fourth round of layoffs since July 2022, as noted by Yahoo! Finance. The job cuts are expected to affect all departments at Unity. 

These impending layoffs at Unity join an ever-growing list of layoffs that made last year one of the worst ever for game developers and people in game development-adjacent industries. 

In January of last year, Microsoft laid off 10,000 employees amidst its ongoing $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, which it completed in October. 

Striking Distance Studios, the team behind 2022’s The Callisto Protocol, laid off more than 30 employees in August of 2023. That same month, Mass Effect and Dragon Age developer BioWare laid off 50 employees, including long-time studio veterans. The following month, in September, Immortals of Aveum developer Ascendant Studios laid off roughly 45% of its staff, and Fortnite developer Epic Games laid off 830 employees. 

In October of last year, The Last of Us developer Naughty Dog laid off at least 25 employees, and Telltale Games also underwent layoffs, although an actual number of affected employees has not yet been revealed. Dreams developer Media Molecule laid off 20 employees in late October.

In November, Amazon Games laid off 180 staff members, Ubisoft laid off more than 100 employees, Bungie laid off roughly 100 developers, and 505 Games’ parent company, Digital Bros, laid off 30% of its staff. 

In December, Embracer Group closed its reformed TimeSplitters studio, Free Radical Design, and earlier in the year, Embracer closed Saints Row developer Volition Games, a studio with more than 30 years of development history. A few weeks before the winter holidays, Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering owner Hasbro laid off 1,100 employees. 

The games industry will surely feel the effects of such horrific layoffs for years to come. The hearts of the Game Informer staff are with everyone who’s been affected by layoffs or closures.

[Source: Yahoo! Finance]