Tablet hard drives need a tummy tuck, researchers say

Tablet hard drives may soon get a new look, as researchers from the Data Storage Institute (DSI) and A*STAR are working to create a new type of storage device that is thinner and fits better with the technology's form factor.

Current storage models for tablets are generally based on Flash memory, and for the most part, cannot hold much data on board. Instead, tablet owners must rely on other solutions, like cloud services, to store much of their information.

But according to the DSI and A*STAR, the future of tablet storage is likely a hybrid alternative that can reduce power consumption and costs and increase storage capacity. The DSI says it is working to create a hybrid drive that is only 5 millimeters thick -- about 2 millimeters thinner than today's smallest disk drive.

The DSI notes that there are some challenges posed by thinner drives. For instance, the mechanics of disk drives as they are seen today may not be able to perform the same way with thin drives. However, the DSI says it is overcoming these issues to create a more efficient storage device.

Though it has been around for a little over a year and a half, the tablet market is constantly evolving. Scientists from Northwestern University, for example, say they are developing a more efficient battery for the tablet computer that can last up to one week on a single charge.