Iomega Launch Iomega eGo Mac Edition Portable Hard Drive

Andrew Edney
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2
Iomega Launch Iomega eGo Mac Edition Portable Hard Drive

Iomega Completes New Line of Hard Drives for the Mac With Launch of Iomega eGo Mac Edition Portable Hard Drive.

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Three Drives Offer Something for Every User of Mac Notebooks & Desktops:

· 256-Bit Hardware Encryption Keeps Files Secure

· Desktop Drive Delivers Quick Charge for Your iPad

· Up to 3TB on the Desktop, and up to 1TB for New Portable Models

· All Three Mac Drives Include Bundled Iomega Protection Suite With Mac-Specific Software

Here is the press release:

San Diego, November 10, 2011 — Iomega, an EMC company (NYSE:EMC) and a global leader in data protection, today announced the completion of its new Mac-oriented hard drive line with the launch of the new Iomega® eGo™ Mac Edition Portable Hard Drive, an on-the-go stylish drive with plenty of storage that can withstand drops and still travel easily in a pocketbook or briefcase.

Combined with the recent launches of the Iomega® Helium Portable Hard Drive and the Iomega® Mac Companion Hard Drive, Iomega now has a complete new line of portable and desktop hard drives for Mac users. All three new drives are formatted HFS+ for compatibility with Mac computers right out of the box, making them perfect complements to today’s Apple notebooks and desktops.

“Iomega’s new line of hard drives for the Mac gives enthusiasts everything they need in versatile, high performance storage,” said Jonathan Huberman, president of Iomega Corporation. “The new rugged Iomega eGo Mac Edition Portable Hard Drive and the compact Iomega Helium Portable Hard Drive are ideal for mobile users, creative professionals and digital enthusiasts who demand a stylish and sure way to store, share and backup all of the files on their Mac computers. On the desktop, the stylish Mac Companion Hard Drive delivers plenty of storage and interface options as well as first-of-its-kind quick charge for an iPad. All three of these new Iomega hard drives are compatible with Mac Lion OS and Time Machine, giving Mac users the form and function they want as well as the peace of mind that their data is safe and can be automatically backed up.”

Two Well-Rounded Portable Hard Drives for Mac Users

Available in 500GB* and 1TB** capacities, the new black Iomega eGo Mac Edition Portable Hard Drive has two FireWire 800 ports and one USB 2.0 port for fast performance and versatile connections. The eGo Mac Edition Portable Hard Drive includes a Drop Guard™ Case to help protect the drive from drops of up to seven feet. The eGo Mac Edition Portable Hard Drive requires no external power supply, and comes complete with three cables: one USB 2.0 cable, one FireWire 800 cable, and one FireWire 800-FireWire 400 adaptor cable.

Available in 500GB and 1TB capacities, the new Iomega Helium Portable Hard Drive has one USB 2.0 port and a durable aluminium case, giving mobile users and others peace-of-mind when travelling with their Iomega Helium Portable Hard Drive. The Helium Portable Hard Drive requires no external power supply, and comes complete with one USB 2.0 cable.

One Powerful Desktop Hard Drive

Available in 2TB and 3TB capacities, the new Iomega Mac Companion Hard Drive utilizes a fast 7200 RPM 3.5-inch hard drive in a space-saving design that fits perfectly on the base of the Apple iMac or an Apple monitor. Adding peripheral devices to your Apple computer is no problem with the Mac Companion Hard Drive. The stylish silver and black drive includes two FireWire 800 ports, one USB 2.0 port and a two port integrated USB 2.0 hub that lets you connect multiple devices such as a printer or other external storage device. The Mac Companion Hard Drive doesn’t require the user to buy extra cables – the drive comes complete with one FireWire 800, one conversion FireWire 400-800, and one USB 2.0 cable

Of the many features included with the Mac Companion Hard Drive, Mac users may most appreciate the first-of-its-kind high powered USB charging port for their iPad, iPhone or iPod. (Apple portable products sold separately.) The charging port is a high-powered 2.1 Amp hookup that makes it easy and convenient to charge your iPad and other portable Apple devices so they’re ready to go when you are. ***

The new Iomega Mac Companion Hard Drive is the only major branded external HFS+ Mac desktop hard drive on the market today that incorporates a high powered Apple device charging port and a two-port USB 2.0 hub.

Three Drives + Plenty of Software = Total Solutions

Unlike many competing hard drives, the new eGo Mac Edition Portable Hard Drive, as well as the Helium Portable Hard Drive and the Mac Companion Hard Drive, all boast local and online backup, as well as encryption and anti-virus software:

· 256-bit AES encryption keeps files on your drive safe from prying eyes.

· The Iomega Protection Suite, a comprehensive offering of powerful Mac software that includes:

o Iomega® QuikProtect for simple scheduled file-level backup.

o MozyHome™ Online Backup for convenient online backup of up to 2GB free.

o A free 12-month subscription of Trend Micro™ Smart Surfing for Mac allows users to shop, bank and surf online while staying safe from attacks to your identity and confidential information.

Availability and Warranty

The Iomega Mac Companion Hard Drive and the Iomega Helium Portable Hard Drive are now available at Apple stores; the Iomega eGo Mac Edition Portable Hard Drive will be available at Apple Stores later this month. All three products are also available or will be available at other select retailers and etailers worldwide.

All three products include a three-year warranty with registration.

For more information about Iomega storage products, please go to www.iomega.com.

Watch out for our hands-on review of the eGo Mac Edition Portable Hard Drive in the next few days.

Parallels Workstation 6 Launched

Andrew Edney
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0
Parallels Workstation 6 Launched

Today saw the release of Parallels Workstation 6, which lets you run multiple OS configurations at the same time on Windows and Linux PCs.

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Parallels Workstation provides the capability for Small Businesses and Professionals to deploy desktops faster and protect against failure and downtime by reducing costs through desktop and application virtualization. Parallels Workstation lets you run multiple OS configurations at the same time on Windows and Linux PCs. Simplify the way you work across environments, automate routine tasks and enable you to enjoy the flexibility to access and manage locally, remotely or on the go using the Parallels Mobile app for iPad and iPhone.

Professional Grade

  • Tested and certified on more than 25 major Windows editions and Linux distributions
  • Controlled Native Execution (CNE) takes advantage of legacy hardware, providing virtualization without hardware-assisted support
  • Faster VMs with Intel VT-x2 support

Simplicity

  • USB smart connections remember assignments and automatically connect to appropriate VM
  • Easily configure networking profiles across virtual machines for users moving between physical locations
  • Allows for drag-and-drop and copy-and-paste between VMs
  • Integrate applications from multiple VMs onto the host desktop for easy access
  • Automates routine administration tasks to reduce configuration time and simplify mobility

Flexibility

  • Remotely start, stop and reset VMs via the Parallels Management Console
  • Access VMs and their applications while on the go with the Parallels Mobile app for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch
  • Easily convert physical and virtual environments into Parallels Workstation VMs with Parallels Transporter
  • Automatically encrypt VMs for privacy and security

With a special student edition now available for $39.99 and a limited time offer of $49.99 (regularly $79.99) for customers using earlier versions of Parallels Workstation or Parallels Desktop for Windows and Linux, take advantage of this opportunity today!

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Learn more about Parallels Workstation 6 here

Synology Launches RackStation RS812 and RS212 NAS Servers

Andrew Edney
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0
Synology Launches RackStation RS812 and RS212 NAS Servers

Synology have also announced two new RackStation NAS Servers, which are reliable yet economical network attached storage solutions for workgroups and offices.

Rackstation RS812

RS812 - 001

Synology RackStation RS812 offers an affordable and full-featured network attached storage solution, specifically designed for small business and workgroup users who need to share and protect data cost-effectively, while increasing productivity with comprehensive office applications. Running on DiskStation Manager (DSM) operating system, it delivers ease of use and variety of features.

  • Optimal Price/Performance Ratio
  • 2 LAN with Failover and Link Aggregation Support
  • Scale up to 8 Drives with Synology RX410
  • VMware®, Citrix®, Microsoft® Hyper-V® compliance
  • Power-saving with only 37 Watts in Operation
  • Affordable Total Cost of Ownership
  • Running on Synology DiskStation Manager (DSM)

Rackstation RS212

RS212 - 001

Synology® RackStation RS212 offers an affordable and full-featured network attached storage solution, specifically designed for small business and workgroup users who need to share and protect data cost-effectively, while increasing productivity with comprehensive office applications. Running on DiskStation Manager (DSM) operating system, it delivers ease of use and variety of features.

  • 12-Inch Depth to Fit in 2-Post Rack & Wall Mount Rack
  • 2 LAN with Failover and Link Aggregation Support
  • VMware®, Citrix®, Microsoft® Hyper-V® compliance
  • Quiet and Power-saving
  • Hot-swappable Hard Drive Design
  • Running on Synology DiskStation Manager (DSM)

Here is the press release for the two devices:

Milton Keynes, United Kingdom – November 10, 2011— Synology® Inc. today launched RackStation RS812 and RS212, four-bay scalable and two-bay compact rackmount NAS servers, providing workgroups and offices with reliable data sharing and backup solutions, along with versatile business applications.

“The RS812 and the RS212 both come with dual LAN failover and hot-swappable HDD support to guard against LAN or disk failure, providing reliable solutions at an economical price point,” said Wayne An, product manager of Synology Inc. “Both models are certified by VMware® vSphere™, Citrix® XenServer™ and Microsoft® Hyper-V™ to work as storage solutions for virtualization servers,” added Ann.

When paired with a Synology RX410 expansion unit, the RS812 can grow capacity to up to 8 hard drives on-the-fly. The RS812 is also powerful to manage demanding business applications. It reads at 109.7 MB/sec and writes at 50.6 MB/sec under RAID 5 configuration. The scalability and performance can’t be beat in this price range.

Featuring a shallow form factor, the RS212 is 12 inches in depth, fitting well to 2-post and wall mount rack cabinets and ideal for space-constrained environments, such as school dorms and small offices. It comes with replaceable motherboard and I/O ports posited on the front panel to streamline server management process. The RS212 can operate in a stringent thermal environment of 45 degree Celsius at the highest, offering utmost reliability under rigorous conditions. Its fan spinning can adjust intelligently according to system temperature, which contributes to its low noise level measured as 28dB(A).

Powered by a 1.6 GHz processer, the RS812 and the RS212 are equipped with 512 MB and 256 MB RAM respectively, two USB ports and one eSATA port. Both the RS812 and RS212 are energy efficient, consuming 37 watts and 25.3 watts respectively in operation.

The RS812 and the RS212 both run DiskStation Manager 3.2 (DSM 3.2), the operating system of every Synology NAS Server. DSM makes complicated things simple and hard things possible by providing versatile features on a snappy, intuitive, and multitasking web-based user interface. Synology has received a plethora of recognitions worldwide, among which include “Excellence Award of 2011” for storage from PC PRO, U.K.

Synology Introduces DiskStation DS212j NAS

Andrew Edney
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1
Synology Introduces DiskStation DS212j NAS

Today Synology introduced the DS212j budget-friendly NAS server, providing users with a ubiquitous cloud storage space and rich multimedia experience

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Synology DiskStation DS212j is designed to provide a solution of file storage and sharing with data protection for your home environment with low power consumption, quiet operation and reliability. Running on DiskStation Manager (DSM) operating system, it delivers ease of use and a variety of features.

  • 24/7 Power-Saving Download Server
  • DLNA® Certified Media Server
  • Effortless Backup
  • Anywhere Access
  • Power-saving with only 17.6 Watts in Operation
  • Running on Synology DiskStation Manager (DSM)

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Here is the press release:

Milton Keynes, UK – November 10, 2011—Synology® Inc. today unveiled that its popular j Series line is available now with the newest generation of DiskStation DS212j, a budget-friendly, easy to use, and versatile 2-bay NAS server.

“The DS212j is designed to work seamlessly with iPhone®, iPad® and AndroidTM phones, letting users to stay in touch with their stored digital content on-the-go,” said Darren Lin, product manager of Synology Inc. Synology offers various mobile apps that allow users to access to data, view photos, stream music and videos and even view live feeds from IP cameras on-the-roam. “Thanks to DS212j’s ability to add terabytes for our mobile needs, our tablet and smartphones storage limitations are now gone,” added Lin.

Synology introduces DS212j with a brand-new enclosure design that provides improved functionalities and aesthetic appeal to its users. It features two additional side ventilation openings and a larger 92mm rear fan that enhance heat dissipation with its elevated overall airflow to keep the system running cool 24/7 as well as minimizing the noise level to 18.3 dB(A). Designed with energy efficiency in mind, power consumption of the DS212j is further reduced to 17.6 watts under full operation and has surpassed its predecessor with a 45% reduction at 5.5 watts when hard drives enter hibernation mode. The DS212j runs on a 1.2 GHz processor, equips with 256MB RAM that doubles the amount of its predecessor and
includes one Gigabit LAN connection with two USB ports.

The DS212j operates on DiskStation Manager 3.2 (DSM 3.2), the operating system of every Synology NAS Server. DSM makes complicated things simple and hard things possible by providing versatile features on a snappy, intuitive and multitasking web-based user interface.

The predecessor of DS212j, known for its extensive features and ease-of-use, received numerous media recognitions from worldwide that include PC Magazine’s Editor’s Choice and expertREVIEWS’s Best Storage Product of 2011.

For more information please visit:
http://www.synology.com/products/product.php?product_name=DS212j&lang=enu

Voices of Sesame Street’s Bert & Ernie now available for TomTom

Andrew Edney
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0
Voices of Sesame Street’s Bert & Ernie now available for TomTom

If you have a TomTom device and feel the need to have Sesame Street’s Bert and Ernie direct you, then today is your lucky day!

Bert & Ernie

The voices of Bert & Ernie are now available for TomTom devices. Developed in association with Sesame Workshop and Locutio Voice Technologies, drivers can join the duo on their adventures, whether they’re off to Sesame Street or anywhere else.

Bert & Ernie’s directions will help to put a smile on every drive. The friends deliver navigation instructions together and enjoy fun banter such as: “U-turn ahead, Bert. Just me turn? All of us Bert.”

There is a video of the pair in action, so fans can find out what they were up to in the recording studio. Click http://youtu.be/cE4a_nqiurY to see it.

Bert & Ernie are sure to lighten the mood!

Bert & Ernie’s voice is available to download now for £7.95.

Hear Bert & Ernie in action and find out more about the voice at http://www.tomtom.com/en_gb/products/voices/bert-ernie/index.jsp.

Griffin and Dijit Announce Android-Compatible Beacon Universal Remote Control System

Andrew Edney
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1
Griffin and Dijit Announce Android-Compatible Beacon Universal Remote Control System

Griffin and Dijit have announced an Android-compatible beacon universal remote control system – and it’s available now.

Griffin

Griffin Technology Inc., one of the world’s foremost creators of innovations for everyday life, and Dijit Media, a San Francisco-based software company whose Universal Remote and TV Show Guide App software integrates consumers’ media viewing experience with their smart devices, have announced a new Android-only version of the Beacon™ Universal Remote Control System. The wireless AV controller pairs with Android devices via Bluetooth and works with Dijit’s free Universal Remote App enabling complete control over the entire home entertainment system directly from the Android interface.

“With the proliferation of new Android-based phones being announced each week, Beacon for Android was a natural progression for us,” said Mark Rowan, President of Griffin Technology. “We look forward to bringing the most powerful and easiest-to-use remote control to the Android user base.”

Beacon works by converting Bluetooth signals from smartphones and tablets into infrared signals required to control consumer electronics devices. Beacon gives users complete control over TVs, DVRs, stereos and other home entertainment devices, but with the flexibility of a touchscreen interface. Best of all, it’s a remote that they’ll never lose in the couch again.

“Android now has a huge following, and we are really excited about bringing our remote control and tv show listings app to the Android Market,” said Maksim Ioffe, Founder and CEO of Dijit Media.  “Our mission is to create the greatest ‘second screen’ entertainment platform, and Android compatibility brings us one step closer to helping millions of people get a little bit more out of their TV experience.”

Beacon is powered by 4 AA batteries. Set-up is quick and easy: there are no bulky cases or dongles, no wires or cables. Just pair via Bluetooth and download the free Dijit app for Android, which now boasts compatibility with tablets and smartphones running Android OS 2.3.3 or greater.
Features of the Dijit app for Android include:

  • Tablet Interface: transforms your tablet into a powerful home entertainment console
  • Consumer Electronics Support: Beacon is compatible with more than 200,000 devices
  • Search and Discover TV Shows: browse by time/date, search, discover new shows, and watch with just a tap using the Guide
  • Rich TV Show Listings: access tv episode details, upcoming schedules, and Cast & Crew info

Beacon for Android, $69.99, is now shipping and available at www.BestBuy.com and on http://www.griffintechnology.com.  Dijit’s Universal Remote App, a free download, can be found on the Android Market. To learn more visit www.griffintechnology.com/beacon and watch the video of Beacon in action.

The Digital Lifestyle Show #328 – Down on the beach

Andrew Edney
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0
The Digital Lifestyle Show #328 – Down on the beach

This weeks Digital Lifestyle Show has just been released – its show 328.

DLS Show

Here’s what Ian says about this week show:

Back for another show and this week while Garry suns himself on a beach somewhere (he claims to be working) Andrew and I talk over the weeks news including, DVBLink updates, new Airplay tools for Windows Media Center, QVIVO, Plex for Google TV, My Movies, Kinect trouble, myFord Touch and EPG tools for Windows Media Center

You can listen to or download the show from here.

NETGEAR Announce New Versions of ReadyNAS Duo and ReadyNAS NV+

Andrew Edney
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0
NETGEAR Announce New Versions of ReadyNAS Duo and ReadyNAS NV+

Yesterday NETGEAR announced new versions of it’s ReadyNAS Duo and ReadyNAS NV+ devices.

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Here is the press release:

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Nov. 9, 2011 — NETGEAR®, Inc. (NASDAQGM: NTGR), a global networking company that delivers innovative products to consumers, businesses and service providers, today announced new versions of their ReadyNAS® Duo and ReadyNAS NV+ network attached storage systems. Value-conscious business users and home media enthusiasts may now access data twice as fast as previous generations, pay up to 30% less than similar products, and still receive 24/7 support and a 3 year warranty. A completely updated interface means that in as few as 8 mouse clicks users can create a secure private cloud for storing and accessing their music, photos, videos and documents from anywhere in the world.

The two-bay ReadyNAS Duo v2 and 4-bay ReadyNAS NV+ v2 systems redefine reliability, affordability and simplicity for professional and home users alike. Both systems include hot-swap disk drive bays and automatic capacity expansion, as well as USB 3.0 ports (an industry first) for up to 20% speedier backups. An updated photo sharing application allows print quality private photo sharing without 3rd party services or fees. Both include ReadyNAS Remote, a mobile app for iOS, Android, PC and Mac platforms that delivers 128-bit SSL access to information stored on the ReadyNAS from anywhere. And finally, both can stream music, HD movies and photos to home media devices like TVs, game consoles and TiVo.

Gartner ranks* NETGEAR’s ReadyNAS family of unified storage products as the global leader in the sub-$5000 price band. “Many small businesses have witnessed a drastic increase in the amount of digital content, such as digital imagery and archival records in medical or professional service applications” said Pushan Rinnen, Research Director for storage at Gartner Inc. “Meanwhile, it has become increasingly important for digital content to be accessed from mobile devices and to be backed up properly for protection. A NAS system can solve these problems and has become a critical component in modern offices without strong local IT expertise.”

“Redesigned in a big way, the ReadyNAS Duo v2 and NV+ v2 are great additions to the ReadyNAS family,” explains Matthew Mulvaney, a long-time ReadyNAS user.

“The sleek new interface makes administration easier than ever before and after just a few clicks through the setup wizard, the system is ready for use. My mobile devices can use it seamlessly and sharing photos with friends and family is a breeze. I can amaze them with a slideshow of photos set to their favorite music. It’s basically become my own private cloud!”

“Businesses and home users are interacting with more devices, from more locations, and with more information than ever before,” said Matt Pahnke, NETGEAR’s storage product marketing manager. “Sharing data between devices and locations is only getting more difficult. NETGEAR’s ReadyNAS Duo v2 and NV+ v2 are cost-effective and incredibly easy-to-use solutions to the content sprawl problem, ensuring capacity and secure mobile access.”

Pricing and Availability

These two new products are available worldwide from November 13th.Suggested retail prices start at $199 for the Duo v2 and $399 for the NV+ v2.

Both ReadyNAS systems come with 90 days of 24/7 technical support in over 16 languages worldwide and a three year limited warranty. Additional ProSupport service upgrades for next-business-day part swap are also available.

More information To learn more about both ReadyNAS Duo v2 and NV+ v2, please visit www.netgear.com/private-cloud

Kingston Technology Announce Next Generation Entry-Level SSDNow V Range of SSDs

Andrew Edney
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0
Kingston Technology Announce Next Generation Entry-Level SSDNow V Range of SSDs

Kingston Technology today announced the next generation of its entry-level, budget SSDNow V range.

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The new Kingston SATA Rev 3.0 (6Gb/s) SSDNow V200 is nearly twice as fast as the previous SSDNow V100 SSD. It is also up to 20 percent less in price than its predecessor SSDNow V100 drive making it one of the best price/performance SSD solutions in the marketplace1. With better performance and a lower cost, the value-driven SSDNow V200 is perfect for cost-conscious consumers who are looking to upgrade to Flash-based, hard-drive solutions for the first time.

The SSDNow V200 is available in 64GB, 128GB and 256GB capacities as either a stand-alone drive or as an upgrade kit to make installation easy. The desktop bundle kit includes the SSD, cloning software, DVD with step-by-step installation video, cables (SATA data and power), and 3.5″ hard-drive mounting brackets and hardware. The notebook bundle includes the SSD, DVD with step-by-step installation video, cloning software and a 2.5″ external enclosure for easy OS and data transfer from HDD to SSD during cloning.

Features

  • Multiple capacities — to fit your design needs
  • Form Factor — 2.5-inch drive available in both 7.0mm (64GB & 128GB only) & 9.5mm (256GB) to fit more systems
  • Faster — boots system and applications faster than a hard drive
  • Silent — runs silent and cool
  • Reliable — with no moving parts, solid-state drives are less likely to fail than standard hard drives
  • Convenient — all-in-one kits with all the components for easy installation
  • Supports S.M.A.R.T. — monitors the status of your drive
  • Supports TRIM — ensures maximum performance on compatible operating systems
  • Guaranteed — three-year warranty, 24/7 tech support

Specifications

  • Form factor — 2.5″
  • Interface — SATA Rev. 3.0 (6Gb/s) – with backwards compatibility to SATA Rev. 2.0 (3Gb/s) , SATA Rev. 1.0 (1.5Gb/s)
  • Capacities — 64GB, 128GB, 256GB
  • Dimensions —
        64GB & 128GB – 69.8mm x 100.1mm x 7mm
      256GB – 69.8mm x 100.1mm x 9.5mm
  • Weight —
        64GB & 128GB – 88g
      256GB – 105.2g
  • Storage Temperatures — -40°C to 85°C
  • Operating Temperatures — 0°C to 70°C
  • Vibration Operating — 2.17G Peak (7–800 Hz)
  • Vibration Non-Operation — 20G Peak (10–2000 Hz)
  • Sequential read —
        64GB – up to 260MB/s
        128GB – up to 300MB/s
      256GB – up to 300MB/s
  • Sequential write—
        64GB – up to 100MB/s
        128GB – up to 190MB/s
      256GB – up to 230MB/s
  • Max Random 4k Read —
        32GB – 32,000 IOPS
        64GB – 36,000 IOPS
      256GB – 32,000 IOPS
  • Max Random 4k Write—
        32GB – 1,400 IOPS
        64GB – 2,500 IOPS
      256GB – 4,000 IOPS
  • Power Consumption — 0.491 W (TYP) Idle / 1.87 W (TYP) Write
  • Life expectancy — 1,000,000 Hrs MTBF
Learn more from the Kingston website

Several Thousand Apps and Games Coming to Kindle Fire Next Week

Andrew Edney
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0
Several Thousand Apps and Games Coming to Kindle Fire Next Week

Facebook, Pandora, Netflix, Rhapsody, Games from Electronic Arts, Zynga and Rovio, and Several Thousand More Apps and Games Coming To Kindle Fire Next Week

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Just like with movies and TV shows, music, books, and magazines, Kindle Fire offers a fully-integrated Android apps and games experience – purchase or register for an app or game once, enjoy it on your Kindle Fire and other Android-based devices – and all apps and games are backed up in the Amazon Cloud for re-download anytime

SEATTLE, Nov 09, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) — (NASDAQ: AMZN) – When Kindle Fire customers across the country open their boxes next week, they will be able to choose from several thousand of the most popular Android apps and games, including Netflix, Rhapsody, Pandora, Twitter, Comics by comiXology, Facebook, The Weather Channel and popular games from Zynga, EA, Gameloft, PopCap and Rovio. Kindle Fire customers will be able to download these apps and games without having to register multiple times and using Amazon’s simple and secure 1-Click payment technology. Plus, all apps are Amazon-tested on Kindle Fire for the best experience possible, customers can get a great “paid” app for free every day, and once you’ve downloaded an app from the Amazon Appstore, it’s available on Kindle Fire as well as your other Android-based devices.

“We started talking to app developers everywhere the day we introduced Kindle Fire, and the response has been overwhelming,” Dave Limp, Vice President, Amazon Kindle. “In addition to over 18 million movies, TV shows, songs, books, and magazines from Amazon, we are excited to offer customers thousands of apps and games to choose from on Kindle Fire – from Pandora and Rhapsody to Facebook and Twitter to Netflix, as well as popular games from EA, Zynga and many other top game developers. And this is only the beginning – we’re adding more apps and games every day across all categories.”

With the Netflix app, Kindle Fire customers who are Netflix members can browse and instantly watch unlimited TV shows and movies and resume watching where they left off on their TV or computer. “We’re excited to team up with Amazon to give what we think will be a huge community of Kindle Fire owners the opportunity experience all that Netflix has to offer,” said Bill Holmes, Vice President of Business Development at Netflix. “We’re certain that our members will have a great viewing experience on Kindle Fire.”

“EA is proud to be part of Kindle Fire,” said Bernard Kim, Senior Vice President & Head of Global Sales and Marketing at Electronic Arts. “On Kindle Fire, we’re offering some of the world’s most popular titles with incredible gameplay and breathtaking graphics that anyone can play and enjoy anytime, anywhere.”

“Zynga strives to deliver the best mobile social gaming experiences that can be enjoyed by players anytime and anywhere,” said David Ko, Chief Mobile Officer at Zynga. “Teaming with Amazon to make Words With Friends a featured game on the Kindle Fire provides us with a great way to reach new and existing players on a fresh and exciting device.”

“As Gameloft continues to create games for the mass market, Kindle Fire comes as a very exciting new platform for us to offer our games on,” said Baudouin Corman, Vice President of Publishing for the Americas at Gameloft. “Not only does it provide us with an innovative channel for us to reach new audiences, but the tablet is set to enable a great gaming experience as well. In effect, we plan on providing Kindle Fire customers with a large catalog of top quality premium and free-to-play games.”

“We’re excited to be bringing our massively popular games to Kindle Fire,” said Andrew Stein, Director of Mobile Product Management at PopCap Games. “Kindle Fire is a great gaming device, and consumers will love the touch-screen optimized adaptations of top titles such as Plants vs. Zombies.”

“Personalized radio has the power to enhance all types of experiences anytime, anywhere and we’re thrilled that Pandora is a launch app on the new Kindle Fire,” said Jessica Steel, Executive Vice President of Business and Corporate Development at Pandora.

“We are really stoked to offer our members the Rhapsody experience on one of the most anticipated new devices this holiday season,” said Brian McGarvey, Vice President of Business Development for Rhapsody. “We want to make sure Rhapsody is available on every must-have device, including the Kindle Fire.”

“Being a featured app on Kindle Fire will allow The Weather Channel to continue to fulfill our mission of providing consumers with the most reliable weather information to help plan their daily lives – no matter where they are and what device they use,” said Cameron Clayton, Executive Vice President of Digital Product at The Weather Channel Companies.

Additional examples of apps and games that will be available to Kindle Fire customers include Allrecipes, Bloomberg, Cut the Rope, Doodle Fit, Doodle Jump, Fruit Ninja, Jenga, LinkedIn, Zillow, Airport Mania, Battleheart, Pulse, The Cat in the Hat, Quickoffice Pro, Jamie’s 20-Minute Meals, IMDb Movies & TV, and Monkey Preschool Lunchbox.

Kindle Fire offers more than 18 million movies, TV shows, songs, books, magazines, apps and games, as well as free storage in the Amazon Cloud, Whispersync for books and movies, a 14.6 ounce design that’s easy to hold with one hand, a vibrant color touch screen, a powerful dual-core processor and Amazon Silk – Amazon’s new revolutionary web browser that accelerates the power of the mobile device by using the computing speed and power of the Amazon Web Services Cloud – all for only $199. Customers also enjoy a free month of Amazon Prime, providing access to Prime Instant Video with 13,000 movies and TV shows available for unlimited streaming and the new Kindle Owners’ Lending Library where Kindle owners can now choose from thousands of books to borrow for free including more than 100 current and former New York Times Bestsellers – as frequently as a book a month, with no due dates.

Are you going to buy the Kindle Fire, or have you already pre-ordered it? If so, let us know!

If not, why not pre-order it today?

Packard Bell Unveils Slimmest Ever All-in-one PC

Andrew Edney
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0
Packard Bell Unveils Slimmest Ever All-in-one PC

Packard Bell today announced the arrival of the revamped PB oneTwo, all-in-one PC.

pParis touch_right view_disc drive open_WPP

Available from November, the new PB oneTwo retains the features that made it such a success, with a stunning new streamlined design that will look great in any home.

Now 65% slimmer, the PB oneTwo’s cool design looks great wherever you place it. Light enough to carry from room to room, you can adjust the tilt – so you get perfect viewing whether it’s mounted on the wall or placed on a desk.

The new PB oneTwo is a cinema, digital TV, sound system, photo gallery, meeting point, monitor, DVD player/recorder (including Blu-Ray playback) and more, in just one, super-sleek design.

The PB oneTwo is the new interactive hub for the home and the window to your digital world – a place to have fun, play games, listen to music, watch TV, share experiences, video chat and so much more. 2nd Generation Intel Core™ processor supplies all the power you need for fast, seamless performance. Stunning graphics from nVIDIA®, AMD or Intel® support the amazing Full HD 16:9 display (1920×1080 resolution); vivid 5.1 Creative® THX® TruStudio PC™ with two 2.5 W speakers immerse you in the surround sound experience.

Available in 21.5” or 23”, the PB oneTwo offers intuitive touch capability. The PB oneTwo offers an array of cool touchscreen widgets that make the oneTwo experience come alive. Just one touch, and you can connect with friends on Facebook® or Flickr, view YouTube, tweet on Tweeter, share photos, head to your favourite web pages and so much more. You can even handwrite a memo on-screen, set an alarm, or create a slideshow with your own personalised soundtrack.

Get creative and enhance your pictures using Adobe Photoshop Elements 9-full version. The PB oneTwo is packed with fun, inspiring applications to enhance your interactive experience.

Equipped with 4 USB 2.0 ports, 2 USB 3.0 ports for extra quick data transfer, a 5-in-1 card reader, HDMI®-in , jacks for audio in and out mean you can connect your digital camera, tablet, mobile phone, hard drive, headphones and more with ease.

Luca Rossi, EMEA Consumer Division Director, says “The PB oneTwo has been a sales hit for Packard Bell, and this new version demonstrates the company’s firm commitment to the all-in-one market.”

Price and availability

The PB oneTwo M (21.5”) and PB oneTwo L (23”) will be available in November for respective ESPs of £599 inc and £699 inc.

PB oneTwo M Specs:

One Two M

PB oneTwo L Specs:

One Two L

The Boxee Box is Getting a Live TV Tuner

Andrew Edney
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The Boxee Box is Getting a Live TV Tuner

According to website Gigaom, the Boxee Box is getting a live TV Tuner. This is really good news for Boxee Box owners!

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What Gigaom said:

Boxee Box owners will soon be able to watch live television through the device, with the help of a special USB dongle that functions as a tuner for free over-the-air HD TV signals. The live TV feature is part of a major update to the Boxee platform that is likely going to be rolled out over the coming weeks.

Personally I can’t wait to try it out!

They also had a short video:

 

FireCore Release Media Player 0.94 for 2nd Gen AppleTV

Andrew Edney
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FireCore Release Media Player 0.94 for 2nd Gen AppleTV

FireCore have just released an update to it’s Media Player application, taking it to version 0.94. If you have ATV2, go update now!

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Here is what FireCore posted:

Happy Wednesday! To help get you through the rest of the week we’ve got a freshly baked version of Media Player that includes a few new goodies. More details on what’s included can be found below.

What’s new in version 0.9.4?

  • Added new folder artwork in Grid View
  • Added loop and shuffle playlist options
  • Added TV Show series cover art in Grid View and Top Shelf
  • Added top to bottom and right to left navigation in grid view
  • Added global settings for enabling/disabling subtitles
  • Added support for large photo collections
  • Added support for folders containing dot (‘.’) in their name
  • Added (watched) view options in List View (use Play/Pause button to switch mode)
  • Improved metadata caching logic
  • Improved TV Show filename parsing
  • Improved Grid View stability
  • Improved metadata fetching speed
  • Resolved issues with audio file metadata fetching
  • Resolved issues with chapter selection screen layout observed on short files
  • Resolved issues with metadata reloading in Grid View
  • Resolved issues with TV Shows aired date
  • Resolved issues with hangs on certain DVD menus
  • Resolved minor memory management issues
  • Resolved issues with scrolling in Top Shelf
  • Resolved issues with folder names overlapping in Grid View
  • Minor UI improvements

Nice! How do I get it?

With aTV Flash (black) installed, Media Player 0.9.1 can be downloaded on your ATV2 through the Maintenance –> Manage Extras menu. If you need to re-install aTV Flash (black) links for the latest version can be found under the Downloads tab in your account.

New users can pre-order aTV Flash (black) here.

WHS 2011 Add-in: Drive Bender Updated to version 1.2.1.5

Andrew Edney
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WHS 2011 Add-in: Drive Bender Updated to version 1.2.1.5

Drive Bender, the add-in for Windows Home Sever 2011 that replaces Drive Extender, has now been updated to version 1.2.1.5.

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What is it?

Drive Bender is state of the art, single point storage pool technology for Microsoft Windows. Drive Bender presents multiple hard drives as a single pool of data storage, either as one or more drive letters, or a network shared drive. Drive Bender is able to do this with any drive recognized by Windows, including external drive such as USB, Firewire etc.

Expandability

Drive Bender also provides the user with the ability to seamless expand their storage pool by simply adding a new drive. Adding a new drive expands the pool by the size of the new drive. Existing data within the pool is redistributed to the new drive to ensure the pool remain balanced.

Drive merging and converting

Drive Bender also offers a merge capability, allowing users to take a drive that contains data, and merge that drive (and data) into the pool. In addition there is also a drive conversion feature. This can take and existing drive letter (mounted against a physical drive) and convert this into a pooled drive. Once completed, new hard drives can be added to expand the once fixed drive.

Data redundancy

To further ensure data safety, Drive Bender can automatically duplicate any file added to a Drive Bender pool. File duplication is determined at the folder level and occurs on the fly as data is being written to the pool. More importantly, files are only duplicated across physical drives ensuring maximum safety and data redundancy.

Non-destructive

One of the key Drive Bender features is its non-destructive file system technology. In short, this means that all drives within a Drive Bender pool are utilizing standard NTFS format and file structures. This is to such an extent that a drive can be pulled from the pool and read on any machine capable of reading an NTFS formatted drive. More over, drives attached to the pool can be done so without modification, if a drive is added (not merged) that contains existing data, that data will remain untouched.

Ease to try

Because of our non-destructive file system, taking Drive Bender for a test drive is easy. Simply specify the drives to be included in the pool, and you are ready go. The drives are not formatted (unless specified), the only change made to the drive is the addition of a folder that holds the contents of the pool and a small number of configuration files.

The technology

Drive Bender employs existing, proven kernel mode file system technology. Having spent many years developing kernel mode drivers, we are able to use this experience to great extent. The end result is a product whose performance will closely match that of the underlying drive.

The story

Early in 2010 we prototyped a Drive Extender style application with the view of releasing a product that would work with all versions of Microsoft Windows. However soon thereafter, Microsoft announced Vail (a new version of Windows Home Server) and a small business server product, codename Aurora, both of which contain their Drive Extender technology. Given this, and the possibility that Drive Extend may well make its way to other Microsoft platforms, we shelved the project.

However later that same year, Microsoft announced that they would be dropping Drive Extender from all their products (including Windows Home Server 2011), leaving the door open for Division-M to resurrect the Drive Bender project!

Release v1.2.1.5 release (2011-11-07)

– Update: Implemented the “Pool setup wizard”.
– Update: Fully integrated help system.
– Update: Documentation has been greatly improved.
– Bug fix: A number issues with add, merge and convert a drive have been fixed.
– Bug fix: Creating a folder now implements the requested attributes against the folder.
– Bug fix: The health monitor could take a very long time to perform a single pool scan.
– Update: The amount of I/O generated by the health monitor has been greatly reduced.
– Bug fix: A number of minor interface and server issues.

Download Drive Bender from here
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