TarDisk is launching its new ‘Pear’ product today, a customized SD card solution for MacBook users that can double the device’s storage capacity while using software to create a hybrid drive that works hand in hand with your built-in drive.
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Apple appears ready to allow third-party solid state drives (SSDs) to use TRIM, an OS-level tool for reclaiming unused space, as a new report claims that an at-your-own risk TRIM tool will debut in either OS X Yosemite 10.10.4 or OS X El Capitan 10.11. TRIM keeps SSDs running quickly as they get filled up with and purged of content, automatically reallocating deleted file space to be used by new files.
According to the report, MacRumors forum users experimenting with El Capitan’s new Rootless security system have discovered a new built-in tool called “Trimforce,” which force-enables TRIM for SSDs even if they weren’t “validated for data integrity while using that functionality.” The tool’s language suggests that the feature can be enabled at the user’s own risk: “By using this tool to enable TRIM, you agree that Apple is not liable for any consequences that may result, including but not limited to data loss or corruption.” Users of excellent third-party SSDs haven’t reported any issues with data loss or corruption under OS X.
Although a third-party app from Cindori called TRIM Enabler has enabled third-party SSDs to work properly under OS X, Apple partially blocked the app last year, forcing users to disable a new Yosemite security feature if they wanted TRIM support. In El Capitan, Trimforce can apparently be enabled without permanently disabling Rootless security. Cindori notes that “Apple has done a full 180 and opened up parts of their driver that allows you to access Trim functionality,” so updates will be coming soon to TRIM Enabler “to take advantage of the Apple sanctioned way of enabling Trim.”
There is some debate as to whether the Trimforce tool will make it into a late version of Yosemite or arrive first in El Capitan. A reader tip suggested that Trimforce is also found in the beta version of OS X Yosemite 10.10.4, but the aforementioned report claims that it is not yet in the beta code. In either case, easier third-party TRIM support is coming soon, a boon for Mac users interested in replacing their old iMac hard drives with SSDs for up to 5X speed increases.
See that little $190 daughter card up there^? It houses 240GB of Transcend SSD and it could replace the 64GB or 128GB SSD that came in your MacBook Air in as little as 5 minutes. Even better, Transcend just released larger versions in 480GB and 960GB sizes to blow your SATA III MacBook Air or Pro into new worlds of space. Keep in mind these are SATA-based SSDs and Apple’s latest round of MacBook Pro/Airs came with speedier PCIe SSDs so you can’t use these on Apple’s late 2013/2014 models (see bottom of the article for compatibility list).
I got my hands on a demo unit and took it for a test drive…
