Not everyone can go, or will want to go to CES in Las Vegas this week. For the last time Steve Ballmer will be giving the keynote and you can watch it live on Microsoft’s Facebook page tonight.
A lot of people there will be live blogging the keynote – you can follow the twitter stream @Aedney – and / or you can watch the keynote here.
Iomega have today announced the new StorCenter ix2 Network Storage device.
Here is what Iomega said today:
SAN DIEGO, January 9, 2012 – Iomega Corporation, an EMC company (NYSE:EMC) and a leading innovator in data storage solutions for small and medium businesses (SMBs), today announced the new Iomega® StorCenter™ ix2 Network Storage, an advanced two-bay desktop network storage device available in multiple configurations and designed specifically for content sharing and data protection as well as cloud computing and video surveillance applications at small businesses, work groups, remote offices and distributed enterprises.
Based on enterprise-class EMC® storage technology, the new Iomega StorCenter ix2 provides up to 6TB* of network storage for small and medium-sized business networks and distributed or remote locations utilizing PC, Mac and Linux computers. The new StorCenter ix2 encompasses many advanced business capabilities usually not available to smaller organizations, including out-of-the-box video surveillance capabilities for up to five IP camera installations. Users can also utilize their choice of cloud backup capability with Mozy, Amazon S3 and EMC Atmos-enabled cloud backup services offered by service providers, as well as Iomega’s revolutionary Personal Cloud technology featuring unparalleled simplicity and versatility for data sharing and protection without any monthly fees or service costs.
“Affordable network storage for small businesses, distributed enterprises and others that effectively balances of ease-of-use in data management with advanced capabilities such as Cloud computing, virtual desktop deployments and video surveillance is the hallmark of the new StorCenter ix2,” said Jonathan Huberman, president of Iomega Corporation. “Our objective at Iomega is to bring the advantages and capabilities of network storage solutions with enterprise-level applications to small and mid-sized businesses in professional services and manufacturing as well as distributed enterprises in retail, banking and other vertical industries. The new StorCenter ix2 is exactly that kind of network storage solution – rich in versatile features and business capabilities and the first of several advanced Iomega network storage solutions coming in 2012.”
Configurations of the new Iomega StorCenter ix2 Network Storage
The new two-bay Iomega StorCenter ix2 Network Storage offers small businesses and others the flexible advantages of three different models: a diskless unit that allows users and channel partners the option to populate the device according to their specific storage needs and pricing preferences, especially in this time of hard disk drive shortages due to the Thailand flooding; a partially populated unit with one drive (1TB, 2TB or 3TB of total storage capacity) that gives users the freedom of choice to increase their storage capacity over time; and a fully populated unit with two drives (2TB, 4TB or 6TB of total storage capacity) for immediate RAID mirroring data protection and other multi-drive network storage capabilities.
All three configurations of the new Iomega StorCenter ix2 Network Storage – partially populated, fully populated and diskless – are expected to be available worldwide in February.
Setup and Capabilities of the New StorCenter ix2 Network Storage
Designed for central storage and backup of business files with an array of advanced features, the compact two-drive StorCenter ix2 uses a CD-less setup process with downloaded software that has the unit up and running in a matter of minutes. Web interface accessible in 17 supported languages, the StorCenter ix2 NAS utilizes the acclaimed EMC LifeLine™ software, a fully-developed Linux operating environment that incorporates select EMC world class storage technologies typically available only for enterprise-level customers
Depending upon the configuration – partially-populated or fully populated – the StorCenter ix2 offers numerous data serving and protection capabilities and advanced enterprise features, including:
· RAID 1 (mirrored) data protection with a fully-populated two-drive configuration.
· User replaceable hard drives for business continuity and disaster recovery.
· Automatic setup of Iomega QuikProtect backup software for simplified PC and Mac computer backups.
· Iomega Personal Cloud for the most economical way to protect, share and access your data from anywhere in the world (Internet access required).
· Video surveillance IP camera support out of the box. (See below for more details.)
· Iomega Link for iOS devices provides a convenient remote iPhone and iPad connection to your data.
· VMware® and XenServer™ certified for virtual desktop implementations.
· Easy to setup device-to-device data replication with two Iomega StorCenter units.
· Expandability of storage capacity by connecting external USB hard drives.
· Native Time Machine® support for use with Apple® Mac backup.
· iSCSI target provides block-level access for most efficient storage utilization.
· Folder quotas, Windows Active Directory Service and more.
The Value of Video Surveillance Capabilities with the StorCenter ix2
Video surveillance of a location’s interior and/or exterior premises is an absolute business requirement for many organizations today, be it a single stand alone business or a distributed enterprise with multiple locations. In contrast to the limitations of the standard DVR approach to video surveillance, the StorCenter ix2 brings the economic advantages of always-on and accessible network storage for small camera count installations.
The StorCenter ix2 has built-in support for up to five UPnP (universal plug and play) network cameras by Axis®, Bosch® or Panasonic®. IP security cameras can capture and store video directly to the StorCenter ix2 without the need of a dedicated PC, allowing users fast playback of video surveillance footage and live-view camera support.
The StorCenter ix2 encodes video as MPEG-4. Users can set up their stored video files to delete after a schedule date or file size limit. The StorCenter ix2 also includes the embedded Axis Video Hosting Service (AVHS) for local to hosted cloud-based management of video cameras and storage of surveillance content. Users also have the option to utilize the downloadable MindTree® SecureMind video service management software. (One camera license with MineTree SecureMind is included free of charge; additional licenses available for purchase.)
Availability
All of the new Iomega® StorCenter™ ix2 Network Storage models are expected to be available worldwide in February 2012. Pricing starts at $199.99 for the diskless model without any included hard drives. (Pricing is MSRP and subject to change at the time of product availability.)
The Iomega StorCenter ix2 series includes a standard three-year limited warranty with U.S.-based phone support up to 13 hours a day, five days a week. Optional service plans include Iomega’s Enhanced Service Plan which includes 24×7 phone support with advance replacement.
For more information on Iomega’s complete line of StorCenter network storage models, including pricing for all models, please go to http://www.iomega.com.
B.J. from Intelisan has been in touch to tell us that their Windows Home Server add-in LDisk has been updated to version 2.0.0.6 and it’s the release candidate.
LDisk Windows Home Server Add-In adds iSCSI Target Storage capability to your Windows Home Server. Using LDisk, you can create a single appliance to provide all your storage and backup needs.
– iSCSI Target Storage for Windows Home Server
– IP SAN (Storage Area Network)- Block transfer
– iSCSI SAN interface over Ethernet
– Snapshot with schedules, revert, and convert to volume
– Fully protected data using SAN Volume duplication
– Supports all Internal or external drives
– Drive Extender for WHS 2011
– Storage Expansion through iSCSI for WHS 2011
Some of the changes in this version are:
Improvements:
1- Improved error recovery for Failed Disks
2- Automatic detection of new disks
3- VMWare/ESX iSCSI support
4- Online Help updates
Fixes:
5- Corrections in pie chart % calculations
![LDisk-2011-iSCSIVolumes_thumb_thumb_[2]](https://i0.wp.com/moviesgamesandtech.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/LDisk-2011-iSCSIVolumes_thumb_thumb_2.jpg?ssl=1 "LDisk-2011-iSCSIVolumes_thumb_thumb_[2]")
Belkin today unveiled its best-in-class wireless networking solution for maximum speed, range and performance, the Advance N900 DB Wireless Dual-Band N+ Router.
With Belkin’s exclusive MultiBeam technology, the N900 creates a robust, blazing-fast network that supports an entire household of Wi-Fi devices and media-intensive activities like online gaming and 3D video streaming.
Featuring dual-band combined speeds of up to 900 megabits per second, the Advance N900 delivers maximum data speeds on both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands simultaneously. Built for high speeds, the N900 uses the IEEE 3×3 standard to transmit data on three streams, which gives 50 percent better throughput. Additionally, Belkin’s exclusive MultiBeam technology delivers a high-powered signal that allows for higher and more consistent network speeds and minimizes the number of wireless dead spots. With 6 embedded MultiBeam antennas, the N900 enables optimized video streaming from multiple devices, throughout the whole home.
Though the Advance N900’s speed and range set the benchmark for the router’s performance, other features of the router combine to create the ultimate wireless home networking experience for laptops, tablets, smartphones and AV devices. IntelliStream quality of service (QoS) automatically prioritizes video and gaming streams to eliminate buffering for uninterrupted streaming, and a 600MHz multi-thread processor enables high-bandwidth multitasking across all devices on the network. The Advance N900 also includes two high-speed USB 2.0 ports for ultra-fast access to attached network storage or wireless printing, and gigabit wirespeed routing for downloading at gigabit speeds and streaming from multiple devices simultaneously. Furthermore, a hardware-based Network Address Translation is implemented in the core chipsets to enable lightning-fast NAT speeds (up to 900+ Mbps) and the ability to route at these speeds—without compromising the performance of the rest of your home network.
The Advance N900 is a snap to install with Belkin’s Easy Setup, a simple process for getting the router out of the box and online in three easy steps, and also comes with pre-configured encryption settings for built-in wireless security.
“An advanced wireless router like the Advance N900 is the backbone of the always-connected lifestyle brought on by the proliferation of the tablet and smartphone ecosystem and the explosion in streaming content,” said Mike Chen, Belkin’s Senior Director of Networking. “With faster speeds, greater range, and more powerful performance, the N900 opens the door for an entirely new way of thinking about the home network, one that enables richer media and entertainment experiences for the whole family, across the whole home.”
The Belkin Advance N900 DB Wireless Dual-Band N+ Router will be available for pre-sale on Amazon.com in January and at other U.S. retailers in April.
Belkin Advance N900 DB Wireless Dual-Band N+ Router (F9K1104) – $199.99
Belkin today unveiled new details about its upcoming Thunderbolt Express Dock.
The latest version of Belkin’s Thunderbolt Express Dock is currently on display in Belkin’s booth, LVCC South Hall #30651, at the 2012 International CES.
The Belkin Thunderbolt Express Dock enables Macbook and Ultrabook users to instantly access multiple desktop peripherals with one cable. The dock allows users to simultaneously connect to multiple USB devices, watch movies in Full HD 1080p, transfer volumes of data in seconds, and view online content at gigabit Ethernet speeds. The dock provides an easy transition from a desktop workstation to unrestricted mobile productivity.
“People purchase MacBook Airs and Ultrabooks for ultimate portability, but constantly plugging-in and unplugging numerous cable-connected peripherals is an annoying and time consuming ordeal,” said Martin Avilla, general manager of Belkin’s Core Business Unit. “The Thunderbolt Express Dock provides a much-needed solution that creates a cleaner, faster, more productive workspace and reliable connectivity to desktop devices and the Internet.”
Belkin Thunderbolt Express Dock – $299
Availability
The Belkin Thunderbolt Express Dock will be available in September 2012 at select retailers worldwide and on Belkin.com.
Last night at CES Unveiled, Parrot announced the new version of their AR.Drone – called the AR.Drone 2.0.
The AR.Drone 2.0, the new generation of its renowned high-tech quadricopter that can be controlled by Wi-Fi using a smartphone or tablet.
With a new high-definition camera, video recording, flight data sharing, new piloting mode, increased stability and brand-new look, the AR.Drone 2.0 offers an experience like no other!
I saw it last night at CES Unveiled and it was very cool! I am hoping to have a play on it this week during CES.
Here is the information on the new AR.Drone:
While in flight, the Parrot AR.Drone 2.0’s front camera transmits real-time what the quadricopter sees onto the pilot’s device screen.
For the first time the AR.Drone 2.0 camera, with a 1280×720 resolution, shows a view from the sky in high definition with smooth and unbelievable images.
The pilot enjoys an experience like never before, as if he was on board. For gaming purposes, this camera also can recognize specific shapes and colors to show augmented-reality elements on the smartphone’s screen.
Thanks to the new AR.FreeFlight 2.0 piloting application, players can record their own HD videos and watch them or share them with the AR.Drone community.
Additionally, with the “travelling” feature, the pilot can film HD video sequences like a professional! Simply select the direction
In addition to flying the AR.Drone, new application AR.FreeFlight 2.0 – available to download for free from the AppStoreSM and AndroidTM Market – offers players a new interface and several options:
FreeFlight: Access to the piloting application. The pilot can record flights, take HD videos or photos and save them in the piloting device. All the flight data (altitude, speed, duration and place) can be saved, checked by the pilot and shared with the community.
Guest Space: Access an overview of the AR.Drone 2.0, the best flight videos and practical information.
Drone Update: Access the AR.Drone 2.0’s free software updates.
AR.Drone Academy: Get geolocation data of the best flight zones, watch other pilots’ videos and access their shared flight data.
AR.Games: Access applications/games available for the AR.Drone.
After the AR.FreeFlight 2.0 pilot application has been loaded onto an iOS or AndroidTM smartphone or tablet, the Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 connects to the device via Wi-Fi. After connection, all the on-board instruments appear on screen with a cockpit view.
Press the take off button briefly and the four brushless motors turn on. The AR.Drone 2.0 takes off.
Flying is very simple. With your thumbs placed on either side of the screen, a control button automatically forms beneath:
Press and hold the left button and the AR.Drone 2.0 follows the movement of the pilot’s device: it moves forward, backwards or sideways when you tilt the tablet forward, towards you or to the left or right.
Slide your finger over the right button, and the quadricopter rises, descends or rotates right or left.
Thanks to Parrot’s patented new ‘Absolute Control’ mode, the player accesses an even more intuitive piloting system.
With a 3D magnetometer, the AR.Drone 2.0 knows its precise orientation with respect to the smartphone, which becomes the reference point. The pilot no longer needs to care about the orientation of the AR.Drone 2.0’s front camera, which will accurately track the smartphone’s motion and tilt.
Experienced players will select ‘Relative Flight’ mode, the conventional flight mode. This disables Parrot AR.Drone 2.0’s magnetometer. The pilot manages the quadricopter’s orientation with no assistance.
The heart of the AR.Drone 2.0 contains MEMS (microelectromechanical systems). A 3-axis accelerometer, a 3-axis gyroscope, a 3-axis magnetometer and a pressure sensor give the Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 surprising stability, complete with:
2 ultrasound sensors, which analyze flight altitude up to 6 meters. New! A pressure sensor completes the device and provides great vertical stability.
4 blades, specially designed for the AR.Drone 2.0, make it possible to carry out smooth flights.
A second camera, placed beneath the quadricopter and connected to the central inertial unit, measures the craft’s speed using an image comparison system.
The Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 has 2 hulls with specially designed contours. Made of EPP (a material used in designing car bumpers), they are light, highly resistant and protect the quadricopter.
For outdoor flight, the contoured hull, available in three colors (orange/yellow; orange/green; orange/blue), reduces wind resistance and preserves the AR.Drone 2.0’s handling and stability.
When indoor, a second hull protects the blades from any impact. The black-and-white cockpit, underlined with a red stripe, reinforces the quadricopter’s mysterious, thrilling appearance.
Finally, light-emitting diodes (green in front, red in rear), positioned on the landing gear, help the pilot track the orientation of the AR.Drone 2.0 for easier flying.
Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 will be available for purchase at selected retailers in Q2-2012 in the United States for $299 MSRP.
Pure have just launched the Contour 200i Air Wireless Audio System, and last night at CES Unveiled I had a demo.
Pure – the world leading maker of wireless music and radio systems – presents Contour 200i Air, a powerful and stylish wireless audio system with Apple AirPlay* that allows the user to play their music wirelessly via a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch without the need to dock the device.
At an SRP of just £199.99, the Pure Contour 200i Air not only supports wireless streaming, but also includes a dock for iPad, iPhone and iPod for charging as well as music playback.
Says Colin Crawford, Pure’s director of marketing: “Some day we’ll wonder why we ever had to physically connect devices, and Apple AirPlay is leading that behavioural seachange. There is nothing to beat the convenience of sitting back in your armchair to control your music collection with your iPad or iPhone, while the music itself is played beautifully and powerfully by Contour 200i Air.”
Contour 200i Air connects simply to the user’s home network via Ethernet or WiFi, and produces 36W RMS of digital quality sound delivering an expansive, room-filling listening experience. The DSP corrected, high-efficiency audio amplifiers and custom designed 3.5 inch dual full-range speaker drive units ensure exceptional clarity and tonal richness.
Contour 200i Air is an ideal companion to the free Pure Lounge app which enables access to tens of thousands of internet radio stations, on demand content (podcasts and listen again programmes) and ambient sounds, as well as the ability to discover, explore and listen to millions of music tracks via the Pure Music subscription service**. All content from the Pure Lounge app including Pure Music, can be streamed wirelessly to Contour 200i Air.
‘Works with iPhone, iPod and iPad’ compliant, the Pure Contour 200i Air allows users to dock, charge and play their iPad, iPod or iPhone. When docked, music stored on the Apple device can be controlled using the supplied credit card style remote control. It is also possible to connect the Contour 200i Air to a home AV system using the digital audio ouput and there is an auxiliary input for connecting an MP3 player. A multi-coloured LED status indicator shows which source the Contour 200i Air is playing. Software updates are delivered seamlessly to Contour 200i Air over WiFi.
As well as being a key part of the expanding Contour dock family, Contour 200i Air is also part of the an EcoPlus programme, a statement of Pure’s ethical philosophy and ongoing commitment to looking after the environment. All Pure products are designed to minimise their environmental impact and manufactured in ethically approved and audited facilities. They have reduced power consumption in operation and standby, use recycled packaging materials, have the smallest possible packaging and components selected to minimise environmental impact.
Contour 200i Air is available from all good retailers. Please visit www.pure.com.
I saw this last night at CES Unveiled and I have to say I was pretty impressed. Expect a hands-on review in the coming weeks.
*AirPlay enables iTunes users to play their music library, hosted on a Mac, PC, iPad, iPhone or iPod touch on any AirPlay-enabled device such as the Pure Contour 200i Air. If the user has more than one AirPlay-enabled device, the user can control and run a multiroom music environment from a PC or Mac running iTunes.
**Pure Music is a subscription service, which is coming soon to the UK with an international roll out to follow during 2012; the Pure Lounge iPhone and Android App will support the service from the moment it goes live. People can register their interest at www.thelounge.com/puremusic
Amongst the many other announcements from Lenovo yesterday, they also announced the new S2 Smartphone.
The S2 smartphone includes the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon technology and Android 2.3 operating system. The device includes a unique Kernel-level security system to protect personal data, prevent phishing, and control network and SMS traffic. Users can also take advantage of its 8MP super camera to capture amazing panoramic photos on the go. S2 is also ready for the Cloud, and instantly syncs photos, music, videos and personal information with a dedicated online storage space for easy sharing across multiple devices.
The S2 smartphone is available immediately in China. Lenovo will be releasing these products worldwide at a later date. More information on these products is available at http://www.lenovo.com.
Thinner than its predecessors, the IdeaTab S2 10-inch is just one-third of an inch thin and, at a feather-light 1.1lbs, is one of the lightest 10-inch tablets available today.
IdeaTab S2 features the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8960 dual core CPU and Android 4.0 operating systems to offer a better multimedia experience. Running Lenovo Mondrian UI, the user-friendly IdeaTab S2 10” displays customized content and includes easy access to the Lenovo App Shop and the Android Market for thousands of useful apps, such as Amazon Kindle, ooVoo, Angry Birds and mSpot. Its detachable design, combined with a light keyboard dock, can deliver an incredible 20 hours of battery life, which is great for both entertainment and productivity.
The IdeaTab S2 tablet, are available immediately in China. Lenovo will be releasing these products worldwide at a later date.
More on this later in the week.
Here at CES 2012, Lenovo have launch their K91 Smart TV and it runs Android 4.0.
As the world’s first smart TV powered by QualComm’s 8060 Snapdragon dual core CPU, the K91 is also the world’s first smart TV running the Android 4.0 operating system – which will revolutionize technology in the living room. Its smart “Sandwich” UI unites three major smart TV functions, including Video On Demand (VOD), Internet applications and traditional TV programs. The online HD VOD is tailored to an individual consumer’s viewing history, and delivers the best picture and audio quality with 3D FPR technology delivering flicker-free video on a full HD IPS panel at 240hz with SRS TruSurround. Internet applications include thousands of choices from the Android Market and Lenovo Store, including console games.
Additional smart TV features include voice control with natural language processing and speech recognition technology, allowing viewers to use voice commands to control the remote. Video interaction is even possible with the built-in 5MP webcam, which integrates face recognition technology for security benefits and advanced parental control. With cloud support, consumers can access their favorite songs and videos with ease, share files between the TV and their tablet, smartphone or PC, and even control the TV via tablet and smartphone.
The K91 smart TV are available immediately in China. Lenovo will be releasing these products worldwide at a later date.
More on this later in the week.
Lenovo announced at CES 2012 an exciting lineup of new consumer laptops and desktops at the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show, providing a variety of PCs to suit every computing need, style desire and palette preference, with the debut of new colors including Peony Pink, Electric Blue and Ruby Red.
New laptops in the IdeaPad U Series, Y Series, S Series and Z Series provide a full spectrum of styles, colors and performance for every consumer – from mobile professionals to students and everyone in between. New models of IdeaCentre desktops range from the performance K Series to the space-saving multi-touch IdeaCentre B Series All-In-One (AIOs).
“Our new lineup of consumer laptops and desktops for 2012 reflects our commitment to deliver bold products that set the standard for innovation and style in consumer technology,” said Peter Hortensius, president, Product Group, Lenovo. “But as technically innovative as these products are, we are more than ever focused on fun. With improved sound and entertainment capabilities on the inside and unexpected candy-colors on the outside, we believe that these new consumer devices will help deliver the complete computing experience that individual customers are seeking.”
Lenovo is expanding its Ultrabook™ portfolio following the recently announced IdeaPad U300s, with the IdeaPad U310 and U410, two “ultra” laptops with attractive price points. Powered by the Intel® Core™ Processor family, these thin and light performance laptops include Ultrabook versions with 64GB SSD drives for caching data, and versions with up to 500GB Hard Disc Drive (HDD) storage. Both versions feature ultra-responsive performance with fast boot times and quick resume from sleep thanks to Lenovo’s Windows 7 Enhanced Experience tuning. The PCs also features other smart elements including Lenovo Smart Update which automatically updates mailbox, instant messaging and social media messages even in sleep mode, with up to eight of hours of battery life.
The ultra slim and light U310 and U410 are ideal for any and all mobile needs, weighing 3.74lbs (1.7kg) and 4.18lbs (1.9kg) and measuring only 0.7” (18mm) and 0.83” (21mm) thick respectively. For optimal visuals when consuming or creating content, the U310 has a 13.3” HD 16:9 display featuring Intel® GMA 3000 HD graphics, while the U410 features NVIDIA® GeForce® 610M 1GB graphics. Weaving fun into a stellar computing experience, the U310 and U410 come with Intel® Wireless Display (WiDi) Technology1for wireless use on any big screen. Created with today’s fashion savvy consumer in mind, the U310 and U410 are available in an array of fun colors including Aqua Blue, Cherry Blossom, Graphite Gray, Ruby Red, Sapphire Blue and Spearmint.
The new IdeaPad U Series laptops will be available beginning in May from $699.
Lenovo introduced two mini laptops to fill the computing needs between the netbook and the notebook. The IdeaPad S200 and S206 are lightweight and super thin, without sacrificing computing excellence. Making mobile computing even more convenient, the S200 and S206 comes with a large 11.6 inch HD widescreen and are just 0.81 inches (20.7mm) thick2 and weigh 2.8 pounds (1.3kg). These slimmer-than-ever mini laptops also showcase design details beyond the standard netbook including, a high-quality tactile finish and Accutype keyboard with individual rounded keys.
The S200 comes with an Intel® Atom dual core processor and up to 32GB SSD3 storage, while the S206 features an AMD dual core processor. Created to be an ideal travel companion with up to 4 hours of battery life, these mini laptops allow users to get online in seconds and run basic apps without starting Windows thanks to the Lenovo Quick Start ‘instant on’ function. Additional features include an integrated 0.3M HD Webcam for seamless video chatting and Web calling, and 802.11b/g/n Wi-F. Select models also have integrated Bluetooth®3 capability. As a lightweight solution for Web browsing, both mini laptops are available in the following bold hues – Cotton-candy Pink, Crimson Red, Electric Blue, Graphite Grey and Pearl White.
The new IdeaPad S Series laptops will be available beginning in June from $349.
For a high-performance laptop capable of handling intensive multimedia applications, look no further than the new IdeaPad Y480 and Y580. Powered by the Intel Core Processor family, these new Y Series 14” and 15” full HD display laptops satisfy the highest level of graphics and processing performance when working on intensive multimedia and gaming, featuring up to NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX660M 2GB GDDR5 graphics.
Entertainment abounds with Dolby Home Theatre V4 enhanced audio, JBL® designed speakers and OneKey™ Theater II for one-touch audio-visual optimization providing clearer, brighter images and richer audio. The Y580 also supports back-lit keyboard and HD camera with night view. With an optional TV tuner3 and Intel® Wireless Display (WiDi) Technology1 users can take the advanced multimedia features to the largest screen in the house for an unbeatable and completely immersive experience.
The new IdeaPad Y Series laptops will be available beginning in April from $899.
Striking the right balance of value and performance, the new IdeaPad Z Series laptops fit the bill perfectly. With the latest processor and graphics technology options, the Z Series laptops are ideal for multimedia tasks and are available in a range of dazzling colors – Amber Orange, Apple Green, Cherry Red, Coral Blue, Graphite Grey, and Peony Pink.
The Z series comes with smart features like the Intelligent Touchpad for easy scroll, zoom and rotate functions, and the Lenovo OneKey® Rescue System for simple data backup and recovery. For a superior entertainment experience, the Z Series come with OneKey® Theater II for one-touch audio-visual optimization for clearer, brighter images and richer sound, and up to NVIDIA® GeForce® GT640M 2GB graphics with DirectX® 11. Available with screen sizes of 13.3, 14, or 15.6”, these laptops come with a backlit LED HD display (1366×768), 16:9 widescreen, integrated DVD reader or Blu-ray Disc™ drive4 and HD graphics support. HDMI output and Intel® Wireless Display (WiDi) Technology1allow for easy enjoyment of all multimedia on a large screen.
The new IdeaPad Z Series laptops will be available beginning in April from $599.
In addition to the other new laptops, we announced new laptop models in our G Series. The three new G Series laptops G480, G580 and G780 14”, 15.6” and 17.3” HD screens, OneKey® Rescue System for simple data backup and recovery, and Veriface facial recognition, offer durable build quality, smart Lenovo technologies and basic multimedia functions at an affordable price.
The new Lenovo G Series laptops will be available beginning in June from $399.
The digital home gets a sleek upgrade with the new IdeaCentre B Series AIO desktops. The B540 uniquely combines a 23 inch full HD frameless screen with state-of-the-art multi-touch and optional 3D vision for a truly powerful and interactive entertainment experience. Powered by the Intel Core Processor family and supporting an adjustable VESA mount, it provides a rich entertainment experience anywhere in the living room. The IdeaCentre B540 also features superior graphics technologies for a great gaming experience with up to NVIDIA GeForce® GT 650M 2GB graphics with DirectX®11.
Featuring a compact design suitable for any room of the home, the B340 comes with a 21.5” full HD touch-screen display and Lenovo IdeaTouch for an enhanced range of touch-optimized multimedia applications. Along with the B540, the B340 can optionally be configured with OneKey® TV4 – a unique function to turn the desktop screen into an HD TV at the click of a button, making it easy to switch between TV and PC modes with the picture-in-picture (PIP) function. Users can even watch TV without powering on the PC as the TV hardware is independent of the PC itself. These new AIOs come integrated with entertainment features, such as the Lenovo High-Sense (720p HD) Webcam for high-quality video chats, and a DVD reader or Blu-ray Disc™ drive, making them a great PC for the family.
The new IdeaCentre B Series AIOs will be available beginning in June from $699.
The new IdeaCentre K430 traditional tower desktop takes performance and upgrade capabilities to new heights with powerful processing, optional dual graphics support3 and twin hard drives3 along with massive memory and storage. It packs a powerful punch with super-fast processing powered by the Intel Core Processor family and up to 32GB of DDR3 memory. For extreme gamers and those that need intensive multimedia support, the IdeaCentre K430 does the job with high-performance dual graphics cards featuring NVIDIA SLI or ATI CrossFireX technology and optional twin hard drives in a RAID0 configuration.
With the K430 users have plenty of storage space with its huge capacity of up to 4TB HDD and up to 128GB SSD storage. The K430 also comes with a custom designed portable 500GB hard drive complete with a Universal Storage Module (USM) interface dock on the front of the PC for convenience that is compatible with other USM portable hard drives. The energy-efficient Power Control Switch with three color-coded speed options, lets users choose between turbo, auto and cool running modes based on the computing load.
The new IdeaCentre K430 tower will be available beginning in May from $599.
The new Lenovo H520s offers a slim solution for home computing, at half the size of a standard desktop PC. The H520s combines affordability with a great range of entertainment and processing features, plus Lenovo Assistant – a simple new interface that helps organize favorites, clean history and junk files, and manage the PC’s network connections and energy consumption settings.
The new Lenovo H520s desktop will be available beginning in June from $499.
Yesterday during the Acer press conference at CES 2012, Acer showed off their forthcoming next generation Acer Iconia Tab.
The new Iconia Tab will be one of the first Android tablets to feature a full HD display with a resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels.
It will come with the latest version of Google’s mobile OS, Android 4.0 (also known as Ice Cream Sandwich), and it is powered by NVIDIA’s new quad core Tegra 3 processor.
The demo of a full HD movies (Transformers Dark of the Moon) was stunning.
More news on the next generation Iconia Tab when we get it.
LOVEFiLM today confirmed that the price of it’s monthly unlimited streaming package will be £4.99, which is £1 lower than Nexflix.
Nextflix finally launched in the UK today, and so some might say the timing is impeccable, but for customers this is great news.
LOVEFiLM always announced that they now have 2 million paying subscribers!
Do you use either of these services? Let us know what you think.
Today saw Netflix finally launch in the UK, and you can get a free trial now.
This is part of what Netflix posted on their blog:
Today we’re bringing Netflix to the UK and Ireland. I am Neil Hunt, chief product officer at Netflix. I’m proud to have led the product team that brings Netflix to the country where I grew up, after spending most of my career in California.
Click-to-Watch TV Programmes and Films Over the Internet
Netflix is available now, and anyone can get a one month free trial: click-to-watch TV programmes and films streamed instantly over the Internet to your smart TV, game console, computer, tablet, or mobile device. After the free trial, it costs just £5.99 or €6.99. Our catalog is full of complete TV programmes such as The Only Way is Essex, Prison Break, and Damages (watch from the pilot episode all the way through the last complete season) and great films such as 3:10 to Yuma, Blitz and The English Patient, with new content added continuously.
Streaming to TVs, Computers, Tablets, and Mobiles
We have spent the last four years building and refining streaming players for the major game consoles, smart TVs, Blu-ray players, tablets, and mobile phones, as well as Mac and PC-based computers. We have honed and refined the apps based upon our experience in the Canadian, US, and Latin American markets. The current versions have some cool streaming technology that starts streaming the video instantly and quickly scales up to high definition with surround sound when your broadband connection supports it. If you don’t have a game console or smart TV, there are nifty smart TV adaptor products on the market that convert a regular television to an Internet-connected television starting at around £50.
So why not sign up for a free trial here.
Are you going to give it a try? Let us know….
