UWHS Giveaway – Win a Drobo, well TWO Actually!

Andrew Edney
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11
UWHS Giveaway – Win a Drobo, well TWO Actually!

Ok, so it’s time for another of our UWHS giveaways. This time we are giving away TWO Drobo 2nd Generation 4 Bay devices worth $399.00 each!

Drobo_Front

Drobo 2nd Generation – 4 Bay FW800 & USB 2.0 Storage Array

No Headache Data Redundancy

Drobo utilizes a revolutionary storage technology that makes it simple for anyone to use, yet is powerful enough for business. Once you experience the power of Drobo, the idea of keeping multiple external drives or a RAID 5 array will seem as antiquated as that 28.8Kbps modem in the back of your closet.

Incomparable Expandability

Your library of data grows every moment. Now, your storage solution expands in seconds, too. Drobo holds up to four hard drives, can expand at any time, and supports up to 16TB on a single volume as disk sizes increase. Choose how big you want your Drobo today with any combination of drives capacities.

Note that the 4-bay Drobo does not yet support 3TB drives.

Speed Demon: FireWire 800 & USB 2.0

Why compromise? Safety and accessibility now go hand in hand. Experience Drobo with both FireWire 800 and USB 2.0. It’s the data protection and peace of mind you need with the performance and interface you want.

What Do You Have To Do To Win?

As we said, we are giving away two Drobo’s worth $399 each, plus the shipping, so that’s a prize fund worth over $800! It’s the biggest single giveaway we have ever done!

Right, so in order to be entered to win, you have to do the following:

1. Sign up to win by clicking here. This is very important, if you skip this part you won’t be eligible!

2. Make sure that you follow us on Twitter (@aedney) and then tweet the following:

I want to win a Drobo with @aedney, UWHS and @Drobo. Visit http://bit.ly/Ct7vB and RT for your chance to win. #Drobo

Or just click the Tweet button below to do it automatically.

[twitter style=”horizontal” text=”I want to win a Drobo with @aedney, UWHS and @Drobo. Visit http://bit.ly/Ct7vB and RT for your chance to win. #Drobo” float=”left”]

 

 

3. Like us on Facebook (if you haven’t already).

 

 

4. Leave a comment on our Facebook page and Drobo’s Facebook page telling us why you deserve to win a Drobo.

 

Doing all that should only take a few moments and it could win you a Drobo! In fact, if you do numbers 2 and 4, they are EXTRA chances for you to win, as long as you do number 1 and 3!

The giveaway will end on Saturday 27th August 2011, and the two winners will be announced on the site at some point next week.

The giveaway is open to anyone, anywhere in the world – our usual competition T’s & C’s apply!

So what are you waiting for – get entering now.

And a very special thank you to our friends at Drobo!

Squeezebox Server v.7.6.1 for Windows Home Server Released

Andrew Edney
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1
Squeezebox Server v.7.6.1 for Windows Home Server Released

Back in July we told you about Squeezebox Server 7.6.0. It had a few problems! Now Logitech have just released the latest version of their Squeezebox Server software for Windows Home Server, taking it up to version 7.6.1.

SqueezeBox

It doesn’t matter if your library includes 100 tracks or 100,000. Or if you rip your own CDs or buy your music from services like iTunes and Amazon MP3.

Download Squeezebox Server software today and start listening to your personal music collection on a Squeezebox in any room in your home.

Version 7.6.1 has just been released, so head over and download it now.

Download Squeezebox Server for WHS here

HP TouchPad Fire Sale: UK Update

Andrew Edney
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6
HP TouchPad Fire Sale: UK Update

On Friday Jim told you about the price drop on the HP TouchPads in the US. Now there is information on the price drop for the UK!

HP TouchPad

Currys and PC World tweeted the following:

Currys & PC World stores: HP Touchpad SALE CONFIRMED FROM TUESDAY AM, Limited Stock £89 for the 16gb and £115 for the 32gb

And Dixons are due to start selling the TouchPads at the same reduced price some time later today (Monday).

Are you going to get one at this low price?

LG Optimus Sol Android Smartphone Announced

Andrew Edney
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0
LG Optimus Sol Android Smartphone Announced

LG Electronics (LG) today announced the latest addition to the LG Optimus smartphone series: the LG Optimus Sol (LG-E730). Running on the Android 2.3 Gingerbread platform, the LG Optimus Sol offers 9.8mm slimness with a brilliant 3.8-inch “Ultra AMOLED” display. Sol is aptly named for its high clarity display which makes content easy to see even in bright and sunny conditions.

Optimus-Sol

“The Optimus Sol stands out from its competitors as the most affordable 1 GHz Android smartphone with an AMOLED display,” said Dr. Jong-seok Park, President and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “By introducing a no-nonsense phone that boasts one of the best displays on the market, we think we have a real winner for consumers looking for a subtle but visually stunning phone.”

With a depth of only 9.8mm, the LG Optimus Sol boasts a sophisticated design, solid feel and enhanced user experience. Users can enjoy a great web browsing performance thanks to the 1GHz CPU, as well as enhanced Flash 10.1. on a 3.8-inch WVGA Ultra AMOLED display with a superior color gamut. The new and improved Ultra AMOLED display has a two-fold advanced reflection rate compared to standard AMOLED displays, and reduces image quality degradation.

The device uses an enhanced idle-based power management system that boosts battery life by 20 to 30 percent. With the Dark UI selected, the Optimus Sol utilizes less white light in order to extend the battery life performance. The phone includes a 5.0MP camera for fast auto-shuttering, auto-focusing and shot-to-shot. Users can also take full advantage of multimedia connectivity via onscreen links to DLNA and Wi-Fi Direct.

This new handset will be introduced in Europe beginning mid-September, followed by roll-outs in Central and South America. The Optimus Sol will be available in black, titan and white, availability depending on the region.

UWHS Giveaway : Win a SteelSeries 5Hv2 Headset Medal of Honor Edition – The Winner

Andrew Edney
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0
UWHS Giveaway : Win a SteelSeries 5Hv2 Headset Medal of Honor Edition – The Winner

In our latest UWHS giveaway, we have the SteelSeries 5Hv2 Headset Medal of Honor Edition for you worth €89.99. And here is the winner!

IMG_5887_thumb1_thumb_thumb

The SteelSeries 5Hv2 Headset Medal of Honor™ Edition is the premium quality headset designed for PC gamers who seek comfort and quality sound reproduction in a unique design specifically created for Medal of Honor™ gamers. The XL-sized, hear-through, cloth ear cushions that fit comfortably around the ear offers players a relaxed audio experience while reducing background noise. With the custom built soundscape via 40mm SunDancer(SCS) units, gamers can pinpoint the direction of noises and movement throughout the game from footsteps to approaching vehicles. The headset features a durable, double-braided, nylon cord and dismantles into 3 separate parts. Its retractable, unidirectional microphone presents users with adjustable, convenient and clear voice communication. This product was made in cooperation with Electronic Arts® and is part of a limited edition series of products.©2010 Electronic Arts. Medal of Honor is a trademark of Electronic Arts Inc.

And the Winner is?

Congratulations to Mahmoud G – your SteelSeries 5Hv2 will be winging its way to you this week.

And thank you to our friends at Steelseries for the cool headphones

Don’t worry if you didn’t win this time – this week we will be launch out biggest ever giveaway, so stay tuned!

WHS 2011 Add-in: Drive Bender Beta 4 Release v1.1.7.6 Out Now

Andrew Edney
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1
WHS 2011 Add-in: Drive Bender Beta 4 Release v1.1.7.6 Out Now

Today saw an update to Beta 4 of Drive Bender for Windows Home Server 2011 released, taking it to version v1.1.7.6.

image46_thumb1_thumb_thumb_thumb_thu

Here is what is included in the beta 4 update:

Drive Bender v1.1.7.6 (9.6M)

Release v1.1.7.6 – beta (2011-08-22)
– Bug fix: Networked mount points now start correctly (these were hanging the startup process).
– Update: License issues are now sent via the alert system.

For more information check out the Drive Bender website

Installing SQL 2008 R2 Express with Management Tools on Windows Home Server V1

John Keller
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3
Installing SQL 2008 R2 Express with Management Tools on Windows Home Server V1

sql1

sql41

Introduction

Back when I originally started using SQL Server 2008 R2 Express with Management Tools it had been on my Windows Home Server Version 1 before I decided to make the move to Windows Home Server 2011. Since I don’t think Window Home Server Version 1 is not going to disappear anytime soon and a lot of people use different applications that require a Database and Management Tools that I would do a how to article for Windows Home Server Version 1  as well. As you can see in the Prerequisites there are some variations from doing the installation on Windows Home Server 2011 including certain hotfixes being installed and insuring all current Microsoft Updates are up to date as well, However it will still do the same job as Windows Newer Line of Server Operating Systems.

Prerequisites

– A Windows Home Server Version 1 with at least a Intel Dual Core or AMD equivalent and 2GB’s of system Memory.

– Download Microsoft Windows Installer 4.5 for Windows Server 2003.

– Download the 32 bit installer of the SQL 2008 R2 Express with Management Tools. (The software is free but you will most likely have to register with a Windows Live account).

– Insure that Your Home Server Version 1 has all current updates from both Windows and Microsoft Update

– A Separate Drive (Internal and not External) that is NOT APART OF THE DE (DRIVE EXTENDER) POOL.

– Remote Desktop or Keyboard, Mouse, and Monitor.

Before You Start

Do a backup of your system drive before you begin the installation just in case the install does not go as planned and the registry somehow gets damaged.

Disclaimer

The How to information is intended as a guide or helping resource to those who are trying to install SQL 2008 R2 Express with Management Tools on their Windows Home Server Version 1. There is no 100% guarantee that this will install correctly the 1st time installing this application on your home server and there is the slight chance of registry damage to your home server Operating System. I assume no responsibility for any consequences of the install and the user will assume the full risk of any adverse effects of a bad installation.

Installation Instructions

1) Power down your Windows Home Server

2) Install a Secondary Hard Drive (internally and not externally), Once completed power on your Home Server.

3) Once your Home Server has booted up login either via Remote Desktop or Console.

4)  Upon successful login right click on “My Computer”, and click on “Manage”.

Note 1 – You will not be adding this drive into the DE (Drive Extender) Pool.

V25A_thumb1

5) If this is a new drive your home server will automatically start the “Initialize” Disk Box as seen below, click “Cancel” (We will not be converting the Disk to “Dynamic”).

sql11

Home Server Status for Windows Home Server 2011 Version 2.0 Released

Andrew Edney
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6
Home Server Status for Windows Home Server 2011 Version 2.0 Released

Do you miss some of the information you used to see in WHS V1? Well Jerry Wade has written an app that brings that information to WHS 2011 and it’s just been updated to version 2.0 with some new features.

This is how Jerry describes this app:

It wasn’t long ago I told my friend, John, about my wonderful WHSv1. He decided to create his own box and use WHS 2011. However, he noticed that the icon did not give him the same information as mine such as, connectivity and backup in progress (eg: blue icon). After pondering over this, I decided to put my limited programming skills to work and develop a home server status application.

Here is what Jerry shared with me this afternoon:

Since version 1.0, we have re-written almost 100% of the coding that went into this application. So, what has changed? Here is the list:

Code re-write to make better use of multi-threading routines for checking backup and connectivity.

A better looking settings page.

Ability to assign a password to the settings page for those who wish to secure HSS on their network.

Ability to enable/disable the Dashboard item within task bar context menu/jumplist and tray icon menus.

Wake-On-LAN option for those who put their servers to sleep.

Add up to four of your own File and URL links to the HSS context menu and tray icon menus.

Most wanted feature – Backup progress:

If you choose to use the task bar icon, pinned or not, your icon will show the progress of your backup in green, just like you see when you download files in your Internet browser or copy a file with Windows Explorer. Hover over the icon and you will see the percentage of the backup. If you choose to use the tray icon, simply hover over the icon to see the percentage of your backup in progress.

With these new features, comes a new registration feature. Try out HSS for 14 days and if you like it, then for $6.95 you can obtain a license to use the Home Server Status application on all computers connected to your WHS 2011.

Requirements:

  • .NET Framework v4.0
  • Windows 7 – 32/64bit
  • Microsoft Windows Home Server 2011 Connector
  • Windows Home Server 2011

Windows 7 32/64bit Download Link: HSSv2.0
For support please contact homeserverstatus@gmail.com.

Frankly, I think all those features for $6.95 is a bargain, and I encourage you to support Jerry in the developement of this add-in.

Update Rollups Coming Tuesday for WHS 2011 and SBS 2011 Essentials

Andrew Edney
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7
Update Rollups Coming Tuesday for WHS 2011 and SBS 2011 Essentials

If you have been waiting for the first updates for WHS 2011 and SBS 2011 Essentials, then your wait it nearly over. Tuesday sees the release of the first update rollup (UR).

WHS 2011 Logo

According to Susan Bradley’s SBSDiva blog:

Tuesday, August 23, 2011
New non-security content:
  • Update Rollup for Windows Small Business Server 2011 Essentials (KB2554629)
    Locale: All
    Deployment: Important/Automatic Updates
    Classification: High Priority, Non-Security, Update Rollups
    Target platforms: Windows Server 2008 R2
    Approximate file sizes:

    • Update Rollup for Windows Small Business Server 2011 Essentials update: ~ 31828KB

    Description:
    Install this update to resolve issues in Windows. For a complete listing of the issues that are included in this update, see the associated Microsoft Knowledge Base article for more information. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer.

  • Update Rollup for Windows Home Server 2011 (KB2554634)
    Locale: All
    Deployment: Important/Automatic Updates
    Classification: High Priority, Non-Security, Update Rollups
    Target platforms: Windows Server 2008 R2
    Approximate file sizes:

    • Update Rollup for Windows Home Server 2011 update: ~ 32095KB

    Description:
    Install this update to resolve issues in Windows. For a complete listing of the issues that are included in this update, see the associated Microsoft Knowledge Base article for more information. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer.

  • Update Rollup for Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 Essentials (KB2554636)
    Locale: All
    Deployment: Important/Automatic Updates
    Classification: High Priority, Non-Security, Update Rollups
    Target platforms: Windows Server 2008 R2
    Approximate file sizes:

    • Update Rollup for Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 Essentials update: ~ 32046KB

    Description:
    Install this update to resolve issues in Windows. For a complete listing of the issues that are included in this update, see the associated Microsoft Knowledge Base article for more information. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer.

So keep an eye out for Tuesday – more information soon!

UWHS Giveaway : Last Chance to Win a SteelSeries 5Hv2 Headset Medal of Honor Edition

Andrew Edney
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2
UWHS Giveaway : Last Chance to Win a SteelSeries 5Hv2 Headset Medal of Honor Edition

This is the last chance you have to enter our new UWHS giveaway, and this time we have the SteelSeries 5Hv2 Headset Medal of Honor Edition for you worth €89.99.

IMG_5887_thumb1_thumb

The SteelSeries 5Hv2 Headset Medal of Honor™ Edition is the premium quality headset designed for PC gamers who seek comfort and quality sound reproduction in a unique design specifically created for Medal of Honor™ gamers. The XL-sized, hear-through, cloth ear cushions that fit comfortably around the ear offers players a relaxed audio experience while reducing background noise. With the custom built soundscape via 40mm SunDancer(SCS) units, gamers can pinpoint the direction of noises and movement throughout the game from footsteps to approaching vehicles. The headset features a durable, double-braided, nylon cord and dismantles into 3 separate parts. Its retractable, unidirectional microphone presents users with adjustable, convenient and clear voice communication. This product was made in cooperation with Electronic Arts® and is part of a limited edition series of products.©2010 Electronic Arts. Medal of Honor is a trademark of Electronic Arts Inc.

Want to Win?

Ok, so what do you have to do to win this cool prize worth €89.99?

Make sure that you follow us on Twitter (@aedney) and then tweet the following:

I want to win the MoH Headphones from SteelSeries with @aedney and UWHS. Visit http://bit.ly/Ct7vB and RT for your chance to win.

Or just click the Tweet button below to do it automatically.

[twitter style=”horizontal” text=”I want to win the MoH Headphones from SteelSeries with @aedney and UWHS. Visit http://bit.ly/Ct7vB and RT for your chance to win.” float=”left”]

The giveaway will run until Monday 22nd August, and which point we will pick a winner at random who tweeted and post it on the site.

Good luck! And thank you to our friends at Steelseries for the cool headphones

Sonos and Mac OS X Lion Problem – A Further Update

Andrew Edney
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3
Sonos and Mac OS X Lion Problem – A Further Update

Last month we reported that Sonos were warning users not to upgrade to Mac OS X Lion because of some issues. Now they have issued a further update on the situation.

play3_angle__thumb_thumb

Here is the update from Sonos:

Progress Report: Sonos and Lion resolution coming soon

First things first. We’d like to apologize. We know that not being able to use your Sonos system with Lion (Mac OS X 10.7) has been a real drag.

What’s taking so long? Trust us, we’re not happy either. The Sonos team has been working feverishly with the team at Apple for the last month, and we’ve had some challenges that delayed the fix. The good news is that we’ve worked with Apple to isolate the problem and we believe we have a fix. To make sure it’s right, we’re going to test it rigorously before releasing it to you.

The long and the short of it. We are began beta testing earlier this week and if all goes well, we expect that you will be able to enjoy Sonos with Lion in the next two weeks. We promise to let you know the moment it’s ready.

Thanks again for your patience.

Sincerely,
Andrew Schulert
Vice President, Quality
Sonos, Inc.

So hopefully not too much longer to wait then!

BYOB Podcast Episode 55 Out Now

Andrew Edney
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0
BYOB Podcast Episode 55 Out Now

The guys over at the BYOB podcast, including our very own Tim Daleo have just released episode 55.

BYOB300_thumb_thumb_thumb

Here is what is included in this weeks show:

[box style=”rounded” border=”full”]Hyper-V, HP Web OS, Live Mesh, and HP StorageWorks X310 just to name a few of the subjects we discuss tonight. Michael (no-control) could not join us tonight and we wish him the best in his move. As always, let us know what you think and if you have any interest in a guest appearance to discuss your hardware please let us know. Important Announcement: One of us makes a singing debut, check it out…[/box]

As usual you can listen to the show from here.

Intel Release Firmware Update for SSD 320 Series Bad Context 13x Error

Andrew Edney
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1
Intel Release Firmware Update for SSD 320 Series Bad Context 13x Error

This week, Intel finally released an update for its SSD 320 series drives to fix the Bad Context 13x error that plagued a number of people.

intel-ssd-320-series

Intel has posted a firmware update for the Intel® SSD 320 Series (firmware 4PC10362) which addresses the Bad Context 13x Error being discussed on the Communities site and elsewhere. You can download the new firmware here:

www.intel.com/go/ssdfirmware

Also posted at this link are Read Me, Release Notes, and SSD Firmware Update Tool Guidelines which provide detailed firmware update instructions and other relevant information such as the most current firmware revision available.

What should I do if I have not experienced this issue?

In order to provide the best user experience, Intel always recommends users download and install the latest firmware. As with any storage device, Intel recommends users frequently back up their data and periodically check for firmware updates. The Intel® SSD Toolbox provides a host of utilities to monitor your SSD, including displaying detailed information such as the currently installed firmware revision.

 

What should I do if I have already experienced this issue?

If you have already experienced a drive failure or encounter this problem before the firmware update was released, please contact your Intel representative or Intel customer support (via web: www.intel.com or phone: www.intel.com/p/en_US/support/contact/phone) for an SSD replacement. An alternative option is to use the Intel ® SSD Toolbox or similar tools to perform a secure erase in order to restore the SSD to an operational state; all data will be erased. After secure erase, update your SSD with the new firmware. The firmware update will not recover user data.

Background:

For users unfamiliar with the issue, an Intel SSD 320 Series drive may exhibit a drive capacity of 8MB and an electronic serial # field containing a message of “BAD_CTX 0000013x” caused by an unexpected power loss under specific conditions. Once this error occurs, no data on the SSD can be accessed and the user cannot write to or read from the SSD.

HP TouchPad Fire Sale: Update

Jim McCarthy
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5
HP TouchPad Fire Sale: Update

Last night, I told you about the price drop on the HP TouchPads.  Today I have an update; read on for details!

HP TouchPad

Here is what Best Buy is saying online:

Best Buy’s HP TouchPad Return
and Price Match Policies

What should I do if I purchased the HP TouchPad outside of the 14-day return policy and would like to return it?

Best Buy is extending its return/exchange policy on the HP TouchPad and all HP TouchPad accessories to 60 days. Come into a Best Buy store and we will help you find another tablet to fit your needs or issue you a refund.

Does the Best Buy Price Match policy still apply if I see the HP TouchPad discounted at another retailer?

No. As of August 19, 2011, the HP TouchPad is on clearance and we will no longer be selling the units so we will not offer any price matches. As mentioned above, we will still be offering an extended return/exchange policy.

It seems that Best Buy is not going to match the HP fire sale prices of $99/$149 based on this statement and the fact that the shopping cart prices are still at the old higher levels.

Wal-Mart is showing out of stock online at the fire sale prices, and I confirmed via a trip to the local Peoria Wal-Mart that the store is not matching the on-line prices.

Amazon is showing the old prices.

Microcenter is showing the old price until you put it in your shopping cart, which then switches to the fire sale pricing.  I ordered two this way today; hat tip to a bloke named Andrew Edney for finding that one!

HP is showing out of stock for fire sale prices.  I expect them to sell out returns from Best Buy and other sales channels that won’t discount, so keep an eye on this page.

Good luck shopping!

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