Events

HP Unveils Its First Ultrabook for Business – The HP Folio13

News
Tech

Andrew Edney

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Nov 16, 2011

HP Unveils Its First Ultrabook for Business – The HP Folio13

Today HP announced it’s first Ultrabook for business, called the HP Folio13 it is supposed to deliver up to 9.5 hours of battery life.

Image Source: Ritchies Room

Here is the press release:

BRACKNELL, UK, Nov. 16, 2011 – HP today introduced its first business Ultrabook, the HP Folio. It features a thin and light design, best-in-class battery life, strong security options and a responsive solid state hard drive for the ultimate mobile experience.

The HP Folio¹³ delivers up to 9.5 hours of battery life, best- in- class among current Ultrabooks on the market. With all day battery life, users will no longer be saddled with carrying power adapters to charge their notebook, while a wide array of ports eliminates the need to carry cumbersome dongles. Mobile professionals can now stay productive and get through their entire day – from home to business to home- with only the HP Folio¹³.

Measuring less than 18 millimetres thin and utilizing an ultra slim 33.8 cm (13.3”) diagonal high-definition (HD) BrightView display, the Folio¹³ weighs just 1.49 kg.

Powered by the latest Intel Core processors, the HP Folio¹³ also includes Intel Rapid Start Technology, which provides ultra-low power consumption when not in use and a fast resume time when needed – saving time while extending battery life and stand-by time.

The HP Folio¹³ includes a backlit keyboard for mobile users who work in low-light conditions. A full array of ports, including RJ-45 and USB 3.0, allows users greater flexibility to connect to the information they need. The HP Folio¹³ also includes a solid state drive (SSD) with 128 GB of storage for fast response times and increased reliability.

An optional TPM Embedded Security Chip protects data in email and information on the hard drive for security-conscious users.

The HP Folio¹³ features HP CoolSense technology, which uses advanced hardware and intelligent software for a noticeably cooler notebook. The notebook also includes an HP Imagepad for highly accurate advanced multitouch gesture support.

Additional features include an HP TrueVision HD Webcam for brighter, cleaner HD images, and Dolby Advanced Audio.

The HP Folio¹³ also can be configured with a range of Microsoft Windows® 7 operating systems, including Windows 7 Professional. A three-year limited warranty is available through an optional HP Care Pack.

Users who need a desktop-like environment or additional audio, video, network and USB connectivity can connect the HP Folio¹³ to the HP USB 2.0 dock.

Pricing and availability

– The HP Folio¹³ is expected to be available at the beginning of February with a starting price of £849.99

Review of Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary for the Xbox 360

Andrew Edney

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Nov 16, 2011

0

Review of Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary for the Xbox 360

Yesterday we told you about Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary for the Xbox 360 – and today we have our review (it would have been yesterday but we were playing it all night!)

“Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary” is a spectacularly remastered version of the original “Halo” campaign, created in celebration of the 10th anniversary of one of the most beloved franchises in gaming history. With a bounty of new features including cooperative play over Xbox LIVE, a bundle of some of the most beloved multiplayer maps in “Halo” history reimagined for Xbox LIVE, new challenges and a new story to uncover.

Developed by 343 Industries in collaboration with Saber Interactive and Certain Affinity, “Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary” immerses you in the landmark campaign and genre-defining multiplayer game that helped revolutionize the first-person shooter genre and sparked one of the most iconic science-fiction universes of all time.

Features

· Stunningly remastered campaign. Relive the award-winning adventure that defined “Halo: Combat Evolved” as one of the best games of the decade with breathtaking next-gen graphics and audio remastered for the Xbox 360. Engage in epic-scale battles against the backdrop of the eponymous “Halo” ringworld, and relive nostalgic memories with the ability to toggle Classic mode to play the original version.

· Online campaign co-op. For the first time, experience the story that started it all with a friend on Xbox LIVE and launch a cooperative assault against the Covenant, whether you live across the street or halfway around the world. Xbox LIVE Gold membership required for online multiplayer gameplay.

· Classic “Halo” multiplayer maps reimagined. Wage battle on six detailed remakes of some of the most beloved “Halo” multiplayer maps of all time, and bring the fight to the Covenant on a stunning and resonant new Firefight map.Remastered in the “Halo: Reach” engine and inspired by maps from “Halo: Combat Evolved” and “Halo 2,” these iconic battlefields reignite the heart-pounding multiplayer action of the original favourites and let you relive epic confrontations like you’ve never experienced them.

Developed in collaboration with Certain Affinity, the new multiplayer maps are included on the “Halo: Anniversary” game disc, which means players will not need to own the original “Halo: Reach” game to play. The first of the new remakes to be revealed at E3 Expo 2011 will be the fan-favourite map Damnation.

· New challenges and enhanced story. Unlock up to 1,000 Achievement points as you clash with online opponents and battle through the campaign, and uncover never-before-revealed backstories told in motion-graphic form that foreshadow new mysteries in the story of “Halo 4.”

To see the difference in the graphics, take a look at the screenshots below. The images on the left are the original versions, the ones on the right are the new ones.

Watch the trailer below:

Halo trailer

Final Thoughts

I really can’t believe it has been 10 years! Seriously, where has the time gone!

Halo was the reason I actually purchased the original Xbox – I even had one sent from a friend in the US just so I could get it straight away!

When you start this new version you can see all the effort the developers have gone into to add more atmosphere to the game. New cut scenes, better graphics and even Kinect integration really make this fantastic game even better!

When the game starts it doesn’t take long until you start remembering the sequence of events, and it feels like you are seeing an old friend again.

The graphics are amazing, and if you really feel the need to see what the graphics were like before you can press a button on the controller and see for yourself. I don’t recommend staying on the old graphics though.

Gameplay wise it does feel a little dated now, which really isn’t surprising considering the game itself is 10 years old, but even so it really is fun to play again!

If you have a Kinect, there is a small update that is needed when you first play the game which enabled you to use the Kinect for various in-game gesture and voice features, for example asking Kinect to select and analyse enemies and objects. It takes a little bit of getting used to, but it is a nice addition.

If you have a 3D enabled TV, there are even audio and visual enhancements for you – I don’t have a 3D TV so I wasn’t able to test these.

The game also includes codes to download some Avatar armour and a Grunt Funeral Skull and a 2 day gold pass to play Halo Reach Anniversary Map Packs.

All in all, if you are fan of Halo, this is a must, if for no other reason than the sheer fun of reliving hours and hours of lost time on the original. Plus you can play some cool multiplayer games and even involve your Kinect.

Right, I’m off to play it some more!

Learn more on the Xbox website

Demand 5 App for iOS Updated to version 2

Apple
News

Andrew Edney

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Nov 16, 2011

0

Demand 5 App for iOS Updated to version 2

The Channel 5 Demand 5 app for iOS devices has been updated to version 2, and you now get access to the majority of Demand 5 content.

Catch up on Channel 5 programmes in this Demand 5 app for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch.
• This app provides up to 30 days of free and unlimited access to a wide selection of Channel 5 programmes.
• To ensure you are provided with the best viewing experience, this application requires Wifi.
• Rights restrictions around content mean that not all programmes can be made available and that this application is restricted to use within the UK.

What’s New In Version 2.0.0

This major update gives you access to the majority of Demand 5 content on iPad, iPhone and iPod touch.

Milkshake! content will be included in this version of the app very soon.

Exclusive : Unboxing the Viridian PC VHS-5HC Colorado Edition Server

Andrew Edney

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Nov 16, 2011

0

Exclusive : Unboxing the Viridian PC VHS-5HC Colorado Edition Server

Back in September we told you about the announcement from Viridian PC about their new VHS-5HC Colorado Edition Server. We now have our hands on one and it’s time for our exclusive unboxing.

Here is what Viridian PC say about it:

Our Colorado Storage server range comes pre-installed with Microsoft Windows Storage Server R2 2008 Essentials, based on Windows Server 2008 R2, ths OS is 64-bit and supports the latest technology such as Advanced Format hard drives. Microsoft have improved many aspects of Windows Home Server such as the remote access and media streaming to give a much improved experience.

The VSS-5HC Colorado Edition server delivers an outstanding range of features in a very compact unit. The server comes with features not typically found on small home servers, such dual Intel network adapters featuring redundancy and teaming and optional Intel Active Management Technology (Intel AMT requires a CPU upgrade to i5/i7 or Xeon).

Using the latest dual and quad-core Intel ‘Sandy Bridge’ processors, this server is remarkably energy efficient, drawing as little as 30w at idle when coupled with green hard drives. The base configuration uses the Intel Pentium G620T which offers excellent value for money, however those seeking more power can upgrade to a choice of CPUs right up to the quad-core i7-2600S or even the amazing quad-core Xeon E3-1260L which combines all the features of the i7 with a TDP of just 45W.

Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 Essentials is installed on the internal 2.5” hard drive, leaving all of the space on the data drives free. The data drives are housed in hot-swap bays and can be configured as RAID 5 to protect against drive failure, or without RAID for use with drive pooling add-ins.

VSS-5HC Colorado Edition Specifications

CPU : Intel Pentium G620T, 2.2GHz, dual core, 64bit, 3MB cache (other processor options available)
Chipset : Intel C206
Memory : 4Gb DDR3 1333MHz, Max 8Gb
Networking : 1 x Intel 82574L Gigabit LAN port, 1 x Intel 82574LM Gigabit LAN port
Storage : 5 x free SATA hot-swap drive bays, 160Gb internal drive for Operating System
Graphics : Intel Integrated Graphics
USB : 4 x USB 2.0 (4 Rear), 2 x USB headers on motherboard
Expansion slots : 1 (x16) PCI-Express
Remote Management : Intel Active Management Technology v.7 (requires upgrade to i5, i7 or Xeon)

Power supply : 350w 80Plus Certified
Physical dimensions : (W) 199mm x (H) 280mm x (D) 366mm
2 year return-to-base warranty as standard.

Price wise, the VHS-5HC starts at £675.00.

Watch out for our hands-on review shortly.

Learn more from the Viridian PC website

InteliSAN Announce iBrick Servers

Andrew Edney

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Nov 16, 2011

3

Along with the announcement about LDisk, BJ from InteliSAN also told us about two new servers they are launching, called iBrick.

– NAS (Network Attached Storage)- File transfer

– iSCSI SAN (Storage Area Network)- Block transfer

– 4 to 10 Terabyte Internal Storage

– Expandable through USB, eSATA, iSCSI/Ethernet

– Integrated local and Cloud Backup

– Incremental backup

– Bare metal restore or folder/file restore

– Standard GigaBit Ethernet port

– Snapshot, scheduled, revert, and convert to volume

– Duplication, Raid-1 for data protection

– Simple Central User Interface

Models:

IB100: 5 Drives, WHS-V1 + InteliSAN Software : $1395 / $1695

iBrick™-100 (IB100) is the first in a series of InteliSAN’s Unified Storage Subsystems that
provides all your storage needs in one appliance. IB100 gives you a SAN, NAS, and Backup in one stylish, compact design. IB100 use of standard Gigabit Ethernet eliminates the need for expensive HBAs, switches, or cables. It’s easy-to-use user interface provides a central
management station to configure, allocate, and manage the storage resources and backup all client computers. Your data is protected with hot-swap hard drives, and drive redundancy
through RAID technology. IB100 integrated backup is an ideal solution for backing up client
computer local disks or iSCSI attached disks. Local and Cloud Backup provides for double
protection and ease of mind for any kind of failures. After initial backup, subsequent backups
will only be incremental backup which reduces time to backup and network usage. Flexible
restore allows for either full bare-metal restore, or file/folder restore.

IB200: 4 Drives, WHS-2011 + InteliSAN Software : $1495 / $1795

iBrick™-200 (IB200) is the one of InteliSAN’s Unified Storage Subsystems that provides all
your storage needs in one appliance. IB200 gives you a SAN, NAS, and Backup in one stylish, compact design. IB200 use of standard Gigabit Ethernet eliminates the need for expensive HBAs, switches, or cables. It’s easy-to-use user interface provides a central management station to configure, allocate, and manage the storage resources and backup all client computers. Your data is protected with hot-swap hard drives, and drive redundancy through RAID technology. IB200 integrated backup is an ideal solution for backing up client computer local disks or iSCSI attached disks. Local and Cloud Backup provides for double protection and ease of mind for any kind of failures. After initial backup, subsequent backups will only be incremental backup which reduces time to backup and network usage. Flexible restore allows for either full bare-metal restore, or file/folder restore.

Learn more from the InteliSAN website

WHS Add-in: LDisk for Windows Home Server

Andrew Edney

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Nov 16, 2011

1

WHS Add-in: LDisk for Windows Home Server

B.J. from Intelisan has been in touch to tell us about a new WHS add-in they have developed called LDisk which adds iSCSI Target Storage capability to your Windows Home Server.

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

At the moment there are no prices available for either the WHS V1 add-in or the WHS 2011 add-in. They are offering a 30 free trial for now.

Learn more from the Intelisan website

QNAP TurboNAS Firmware: 3.5 Deep Dive Part Six: Media Streaming

Jim McCarthy

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Nov 16, 2011

0

QNAP TurboNAS Firmware: 3.5 Deep Dive Part Six: Media Streaming

This is Part Six of our QNAP TurboNAS Deep Dive series and we look at media streaming capabilities. Read on for details!

In Part One of this series, we told you how to set up the ISCSI target functionality in TurboNAS 3.5. In Part Two, we covered adding users. In Part Three, we covered volume management and SMART data. In Part Four, we covered cloud backup services. In Part Five, we covered the remote access capabilities inherent in TurboNAS 3.5. In Part Six, we’ll cover the media streaming capabilities.

Media Streaming Features

TurboNAS has three main media streaming features: a Twonky media streaming DLNA server, and iTunes server for sharing music, and the Multimedia Station for streaming media over the internet and network to connected devices.

Twonky Media

The current release of Twonky Media being used on TurboNAS is 5.1.6. Under Application Servers, click on UPnP Media Server and follow the link to the Twonky configuration page.

Here is what you’ll see:

Click on PC Media Browser and you’ll see this:

Click on the wrench for settings and then click on Sharing. Make sure that your media directories are all listed. I am only sharing Multimedia here.

If you want to use transcoding of your content, click on Transcoding under Advanced Setup and check off the selections that you want to use. Be careful here; these devices run on Atom chips and don’t have tons of memory, so your mileage will vary.

That’s it! I’ve streamed primarily MP4 video (AAC/H.264 encoding) and WMV video files with a combination of PlayStation 3’s, a Sony blu-ray player, my HP TouchPad and various PC’s in the house with very good results. They content just plays.

Spotify App for iOS Updated to Version 0.4.21

Apple
News

Andrew Edney

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Nov 15, 2011

0

The Spotify app for iOS has been updated to version 0.4.21 – and you can even try Spotify Premium for free with it.

Get free access to Spotify Premium now! With Premium you’ll get access to 15 million tracks from thousands of albums and artists on your iPhone, iPod Touch & iPad. If you haven’t tried Premium before, you can try it on your mobile for 48-hours, completely free. You don’t even have to enter credit card details. Simply download this app and log in*.
If 48-hours isn’t enough, you can extend your trial by 30 days by following the details in the email we send you when you log in.

Great features

– Instant access to over 15 million tracks
– Stream online
– Listen offline – no mobile connection needed
– Share music with your friends
– Star your favourite tracks
– Wirelessly sync your own MP3s to your iPhone, iPod Touch & iPad
– Create and sync playlists
– Send the tracks you listen to direct to Last.fm & Facebook

* If you don’t have log in details – simply register for a free Spotify account on the Spotify website. Full mobile terms of Use & 48-hour free trial terms and conditions can also be found on the Spotify website.

What’s New In Version 0.4.21

* New: (iOS 5 only): Cover art and track metadata is shown on lock screen
* New: Feature intro shown for first-time Spotify Mobile users
* New: Toggle posting to Facebook from Settings
* New: Incognito mode
* Changed: iOS 4.0 or later is now required to run Spotify on your iOS device.

More Information on the WD Sentinel DX4000

Timothy Daleo

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Nov 15, 2011

1

Today WD has announced the release of their WD Sentinel DX4000 in 4TB and 8TB models running Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 Essentials. This small office storage server offers complete protection for your data, PCs and remote access. With a 4TB model selling for $949 it is a great deal in today’s market.

This new WD server offers Plug-and-Play installation, easy maintenance and secure remote access. Using Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 Essentials. I have been using this server and it has great performance, style and functionality. The 4TB model is $949.99 and the 8TB model is $1,499.99. These prices are very competitive considering the systems run Windows® Storage Server 2008 R2 Essentials!

The customized WD Dashboard provides everything you need to manage your WD Sentinel DX4000!

Five Levels of Data Protection

WD Sentinel DX4000 provides five levels of data protection for every device on the small office network and is supported by WD Guardian Services.

The Drives Inside: Pre-configured with WD’s award-winning enterprise-class drives for durability and reliability.
RAID: Featuring levels 1 and 5 for data protection and speed.
Daily Backup: Automatic backup and recovery software provides daily full system back ups for up to 25 devices on your network. Simply set it and forget it.
Redundant Network Connectivity: Dual Gigabit Ethernet configured in Adaptive Fault Tolerance (AFT) automatically switches to second network port in the event of a network failure.
Optional Disaster Recovery Protection: Connect to the small business cloud provided by optional disaster recovery software and store your data offsite for disaster recovery.

Check out the WD Sentinel DX4000 Small Office Storage Server at:

http://www.wdc.com/en/products/products.aspx?id=610

Physical Specifications

I have been using this server and it has great performance, style and functionality. I will be posting more updates and articles soon so check back!

Timothy Daleo

WD Launch the WD Sentinel DX4000 Small Office Storage Server

Andrew Edney

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Nov 15, 2011

0

WD Launch the WD Sentinel DX4000 Small Office Storage Server

Today WD launched their new WD Sentinel DX4000 Small Office Storage Server running Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 Essentials.

WD Sentinel is easy to install and provides secure centralized storage, complete data protection and data access for your employees, clients or vendors while in the office or working remotely from anywhere.

Featuring hardware and software from industry leaders, it delivers a reliable, cost effective and easy-to-manage storage server designed for small office environments.

Here at UWHS we have been beta testing this little beauty for a couple of months now, and I have to say I really like it! Stay tuned for a more information and a full review soon.

WD Guardian Services for Small Business

WD Sentinel DX4000 is backed by WD’s world-class customer service and support. All WD Sentinel small business customers will receive free tech support for 30 days from the time of the first call. WD Sentinel customers may wish to upgrade their service plan to one of three options:

WD Guardian Express: Offers next-day parts replacement service including shipping and handling costs.
WD Guardian Pro: Offers a one year support agreement with WD service, express parts replacement and priority access to technical support.
Guardian Extended Care: Service that extends the product warranty from the standard three year warranty to five years.

Price and Availability

WD Sentinel DX4000 small office storage server is available at select U.S. retailers and online at the wdstore.com. MSRP is $949.99 USD for 4 TB and $1,449.99 USD for the 8 TB.

Specifications

System Requirements

Internet connection (for system updates and web access)
Wired or wireless router with an available 10/100/1000 Ethernet port

Connectivity

2 Gigabit Ethernet ports
2 USB 3.0 ports

CPU

Intel AtomTM D525 1.8 GHz Dual Core
2 GB RAM

Server Operating System

Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 Essentials

Supported Client Operating Systems

Windows XP with service pack 3, 32-bit versions only
Windows Vista with service pack 2, all 32-bit and 64-bit platforms
Windows 7, all 32-bit and 64-bit platforms
File sharing support for Mac OS X 10.5.x, Mac OS X 10.6.x, Linux/Unix

Supported Web Browsers

Internet Explorer
Apple Safari
Mozilla Firefox
Google Chrome

Network Authentication

Active Directory

Network protocols

CIFS, NFS, HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, WebDAV

File Sharing Protocols

CIFS/SMB, NFS, FTP, WebDAV

RAID Levels

RAID 1 (2 drives only) and RAID 5 (3-4 drives)
Automatic migration and capacity expansion

See the full spec and more details at the WD website