
While big tech builds massive data centers, Seagate drops bombshell with 40TB drives that can change everything
Seagate
has already shipped some 40TB hard drives, but they are not available for public sale yet. These new drives use Heat-Assisted Magnetic Recording (HAMR) tech to store more data on each disk platter , 4TB per platter multiple 10 platters is equal to 40TB, as per reports.
The drives are built on a new platform called Mozaic 4 plus, which is part of Seagate's next-gen storage tech. Only limited units have been sent to Seagate's customers so far for testing. Big testing phase will continue into 2026, so these drives won't be mass-produced until the first half of 2026.
The goal is to move a large chunk of Seagate's data storage to HAMR-based drives because they're more efficient for data centers. These high-capacity drives help reduce space and increase efficiency in massive data centers , that's where the real use is.
Seagate leads, but HAMR lags
Seagate also plans to launch 44TB drives by 2027 and 50 TB drives by 2028. Their original target was 50TB by 2026, but it's delay shows how hard it is to scale HAMR tech. Still, this 40TB drive puts Seagate ahead in the race to make the world's biggest hard drive.
Rival company Western Digital is going a different route , they're still using ePMR and OptiNAND for now. WD is also working on HAMR, but they'll launch their 40TB HAMR HDD only by late 2026. WD says HAMR will be truly useful only at 40TB and beyond, so till then they're improving old tech like UltraSMR to stretch HDD capacity.
Live Events
Toshiba, another competitor, is working on Microwave-Assisted Magnetic Recording (MAMR) right now. Toshiba wants to release a 35 TB HAMR drive before 2026 and may combine MAMR plus HAMR to push capacity. These drives are not for regular people or gamers , they're designed for huge data centers and AI-heavy work like cybersecurity.
Even though it's not in stores, Seagate's 40 TB shipment proves they're leading the tech game, even if it'll take time to fully roll out. But still, getting to commercial use will be tough, and other companies are being cautious , that shows it's a long, tricky journey.
FAQs
Q1. What is Seagate's 40TB hard drive used for?
It's made for big data centers, not for personal or home use.
Q2. When will Seagate's 40TB drive be available to buy?
Mass production may start in 2026 after testing is finished.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Economic Times
2 hours ago
- Economic Times
Don't mix business with tourist visas, affirms tax tribunal ruling
Mumbai: The perils of travelling on a tourist visa for business purposes may not be confined to run-ins with foreign authorities. Sometimes it could even spell trouble with the local taxman. Indian businessmen who spend months abroad to look after overseas interests and carefully preserve their NRI status, may even find themselves in a spot if the tax authorities question their 'residency' status due to the type of visas approved by countries they travelled to. Recently, a tribunal has upheld the Income Tax (I-T) department's decision to tax the 'global income' of the bakery chain Hot Breads founder who, according to the tax office was a 'resident' for certain years, and not an NRI as claimed by the Chennai-based relaxation on the period of stay given to someone who was abroad for employment or business was denied to Mahadevan as he had travelled on tourist visas. His argument that the visits were purely in connection with his businesses in multiple countries was rejected by the Chennai bench of the I-T Appellate Authority, a quasi-judicial authority. (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) Mahadevan to Move Court When contacted, a family member speaking on behalf of Mahadevan, said, "We are currently reviewing the order of the Hon'ble ITAT in detail. While we are disappointed with the outcome, we believe we have a strong case on merits and are considering all available legal options. We remain committed to full compliance with all applicable laws and regulations and will continue to cooperate with the authorities as required."The residency status of an individual is determined by the rules on the number of days spent. If someone stays for 182 days or more in India, he is considered as a resident whose global income (along with local earnings) for that year may be taxed in India. Alternatively, if a person spends at least 60 days in a year and a total of 365 days in the previous four years, he too is treated as a tax the second rule extends a partial exemption to those travelling overseas for jobs or self-employment. For them, the minimum period of stay is 182 days instead of 60. This relief was not given to number of days are typically counted on the basis of the timing-stamp on passports. The tax office, however, obtained the information from the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO)-a practice that was upheld by the Tribunal. Based on the FRRO data, the I-T department claimed that Mahadevan had spent 182 days or more in the assessment years 2013-14, 2014-15, and if the duration of stay were less than 182 days, Mahadevan's overseas travels would not have been considered to treat him as a resident-thanks to his tourist visas and despite his argument that a person would not travel a country frequently for tourism. The tribunal held that every country restricts visas for specific purposes."The decision underscores the importance of holding the correct visa category, as an inappropriate visa can jeopardize an individual's residential status and complicate the taxation of the global income in India. Nevertheless, if it can be factually established that the individual left India for the purpose of conducting business and genuine business activities were indeed undertaken abroad (though under an inappropriate visa), then the benefit of extending the 60-day period to 182 days under Explanation 1(a) to Section 6(1) of the I-T Act should be granted. However, it is important to note that such a benefit is available only when the individual 'leaves' India for the purpose of employment or business and not 'visiting' abroad in connection with business," said Ashish Karundia, founder of the CA firm Ashish to Rajesh Shah, partner of Jayantilal Thakkar & Co, "A resident Indian becomes non-resident only if they go abroad for employment, including self-employment. Simply staying outside India for 182 days does not make anyone a non-resident. The type of visa is equally important. But this is ignored-either due to ignorance or for convenience." The ruing implied that an assessee cannot avoid tax on global earnings merely because he runs businesses abroad. Countering ITAT's decision to disregard the tax residency certificate issued by the UAE to Mahadevan, Harshal Bhuta, partner at the CA firm PR Bhuta & Co, said "An individual staying in the UAE for over 183 days in a calendar year qualifies as a resident of UAE under the India-UAE DTAA (tax treaty), irrespective of the purpose of stay. In cases of dual residency, the treaty's tie-breaker rules must apply and the treaty-based residency cannot be summarily disregarded."


India Today
2 hours ago
- India Today
3 agencies to work to curb road dust in Delhi-NCR, focus on paving, greening
In a significant step towards reducing dust pollution in the Delhi-NCR region, three key agencies will now work together under a structured framework for the redevelopment of urban Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the CSIR-Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI) and the School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), New Delhi, to jointly implement a Standard Framework aimed at curbing road dust agreement outlines a comprehensive redevelopment strategy that prioritises paving and greening of footpaths and sidewalks to address the persistent issue of dust pollution. As part of this collaboration, a Project Monitoring Cell (PMC) will be set up at CAQM, with both CSIR-CRRI and SPA providing technical and institutional support. The PMC will coordinate and oversee the phased rollout of the framework across NCR states, ensuring adherence to the detailed redevelopment initial phase of implementation will focus on nine major urban and industrial centres in the NCR: Delhi, Faridabad, Gurugram, Sonipat, Ghaziabad, Noida, Greater Noida, Bhiwadi and Neemrana. The framework will benefit from CSIR-CRRI's expertise in road engineering, standardisation and asset management, combined with SPA's proficiency in sustainable urban planning and green redevelopment model includes specific features such as designing road cross-sections based on road type and Right of Way (ROW) width, incorporating greening measures within the ROW to suppress dust, and deploying a Web-GIS-based Road Asset Management System (RAMS) to ensure efficient maintenance. It also advocates the use of innovative technologies in road construction and upkeep to further control dust and SPA will guide the PMC in manpower planning and provide technical supervision throughout the redevelopment process. A dedicated dashboard is also being developed to enable real-time, data-driven monitoring and assessment of progress across project move comes shortly after CAQM enforced Stage I of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP-I) in Delhi-NCR and neighbouring regions, following a deterioration in air quality. The decision was made after a meeting of the GRAP subcommittee last Saturday, which reviewed air quality trends, weather forecasts and the Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi. The introduction of GRAP-I marks the beginning of stricter anti-pollution measures during the smog-prone latest redevelopment initiative is expected to complement GRAP actions by addressing one of the major contributors to Delhi-NCR's air pollution: dust from unpaved roads and poorly maintained urban surfaces.


Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Byju's sells US subsidiaries at steep discount
BENGALURU: Byju's has sold its US-based subsidiaries, Epic and Tynker, as part of US bankruptcy proceedings, in what appears to be a fire sale. This marks the latest step in the Indian edtech company's asset liquidation following its financial collapse. Epic was acquired for $95 million by the Chinese education firm TAL Education Group, while CodeHS purchased Tynker for $2.2 million in cash, according to court filings. Both transactions were approved by US Bankruptcy Judge Brendan Shannon on May 20 and are intended to help lenders recoup losses from a $1.2 billion term loan extended to Byju's. Tynker was acquired by Byju's in 2021 for a reported $200 million, while Epic was bought the same year for about $500 million. The latest sale values underscore the sharp write-downs now facing the company's global portfolio. According to a report by EdWeek Market Brief, Tynker's latest sale followed 48 rounds of competitive bidding between CodeHS, operating through a newly formed entity called Tynker Holdings, and another party, Future Minds. CodeHS CEO Jeremy Keeshin, identified in court as the sole member of Tynker Holdings, said the acquisition would allow the company to support learners as they progress from basic coding tools to advanced computer science content. Epic's sale faced an eleventh-hour intervention from the US Department of Justice, which flagged the potential need for a CFIUS (Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States) review due to the buyer's Chinese ownership, court records show. Judge Shannon described the episode as a 'fire drill,' though the transaction ultimately received approval. Both sales are being overseen by a court-appointed trustee managing the asset disposal on behalf of creditors. Byju's, once valued at $22 billion, is now facing insolvency proceedings in India over non-payment of dues, while its international operations are being dismantled through US bankruptcy court. TOI previously reported that the asset sales form part of a larger restructuring effort as Byju's attempts to navigate legal, regulatory, and financial pressures following its aggressive global acquisition spree. Other subsidiaries, such as Aakash, remain under scrutiny amid separate legal proceedings. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now