Synology Announce the DiskStation DS712+ with DSM 3.2

Synology have just announced a new High-performance & Scalable 2-bay All-in-1 NAS Server for SMB Users called the DiskStation DS712+ and it comes with DiskStation Manager 3.2, their latest interface software.

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Synology® DiskStation DS712+ offers a high-performance, scalable, and full-featured network attached storage solution that meets the needs of small and medium-sized businesses that require an efficient way to centralize data protection, simplify data management, and rapidly scale storage capacity with minimal time spent on setup and management. The Synology DS712+ is backed with Synology’s 3-year limited warranty.

Highlights

●180.91MB/sec Reading, 105.59MB/sec Writing
●2 LAN with Failover and Link Aggregation Support
●Small yet Scalable, up to 7 Drives with Synology DX5102
●iSCSI Support as Virtualization Solution
●Running on Synology DiskStation Manager (DSM)

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Sony Announces Release Date for PlayStation Vita

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Sony announced the date that you can get your hands on the PlayStation Vita today.  Read on for details!

PS Vita

We told you about the PS Vita here, and now Sony has gone and announced an availability date.  Just to remind you of what this product is, here is some background from the Sony website:

Put gaming’s latest innovations to the test

It’s not often that a mobile gaming device sets the standard for an entire industry. Then again, it’s not often that something like the PlayStation®Vita arrives. With a full set of unique new features, that both complement and enhance the gaming experience, you are now free to take the world you play in, anywhere you go.

PS Vita Features

Features like front and back multitouch screens, motion sensors and Six Axis sensors

Chat on the fly

Chat on the fly in the midst of multiplayer action or while watching videos

Multitouch Display

Catch every detail with the PlayStation®Vita system’s stunning, multitouch 5-inch OLED display

Augmented Reality

Merge the real world and the game world with front and rear camera enabled augmented reality

Always on

Take on your friends — or the whole world with Wi-Fi or always-on 3G

Dual analog sticks

Feel the full-on intensity of First Person Shooters with Dual Analog Sticks

PS3 Integration

Enjoy continuous, uninterrupted gameplay between your PS3 and PlayStation®Vita systems with compatible titles

Sony announced that this gadget will be available in the US, Canada, Latin America and Europe on February 22, 2012.  Here is what they said:

This afternoon on stage at the Web 2.0 Summit in San Francisco, I shared some very exciting news that I know the PlayStation Nation has been anticipating since we unveiled PlayStation Vita back in January. For those looking to get their hands on the ultimate in handheld entertainment, I’m thrilled to let you know that starting on February 22, 2012, PS Vita will be available at major retailers in the United States, Canada, Latin America, and Europe.

Our first-party studios and army of publishing partners have been extremely hard at work to ensure that PS Vita launches with a vast library of titles that deliver unique gameplay experiences that go beyond any handheld or mobile device on the market. We have more than 100 games currently in development globally that span many different genres, including Sound Shapes, Resistance: Burning Skies, Uncharted Golden Abyss, Capcom’s Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed, EA Sports’ FIFA, Activision’s Call of Duty, and numerous others that you’ll hear about in the months ahead.

I’ve had the chance to spend some time with several of these titles and I think you’ll be blown away by how each takes advantage of the technology packed into PS Vita to deliver amazing gaming experiences. With its vibrant 5-inch OLED screen, dual analog sticks, dual cameras, and front and rear touch panel, PS Vita will deliver rich, immersive games with stunning graphics, which simply can’t be found anywhere else. Now you’ll be able to play shooters and action titles on-the-go with controls that are familiar, and you won’t have to block out the gorgeous screen to interact with the games.

In addition to the deep portfolio of games, you’ll also have access to native social applications – near and Party – that help you connect with your friends and fellow PS Vita owners. We also recently announced that PS Vita will have your favorite social networking applications like Facebook, foursquare, Skype, and Twitter, so you can share and connect with friends. With PS Vita, you can enjoy the best handheld gaming experience available and stay connected to the people and interests you care about.

It’s never been a better time to be a part of PlayStation Nation and I can’t wait for you to experience this revolutionary handheld system. Stay tuned for more exciting updates as we near the February 22, 2012 launch!

I’ll be interested in trying one of these out when they are available.  I really wish that they had released it in time for the Christmas holidays, but I’ll still be interested in checking this out in February!

PlayStation Vita Features PlayStation Vita Availability Announcement

Kingston Digital Updates Wi-Drive App

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We have mentioned the Kingston Wi-Drive in the past, now today Kingston have updated the Wi-Drive app.

Wi-Drive-Box

Here is what Kingston said:

Added Functionality Includes Wireless File Transfers

Sunbury-on-Thames — October 18, 2011 — Kingston Digital Europe Ltd, an affiliate of Kingston Technology Company Inc., the independent world leader in memory products, today announced an update to the Wi-Drive™ App. By downloading the latest version, consumers can enjoy the following expanded features on the award-winning Kingston® Wi-Drive:

  • Wireless file loading and deleting: File transfers from Wi-Drive hardware to the Wi-Drive App “local” area and vice versa can be done via Wi-Fi.
  • Recognition of Apple device “Open In” option: When working with documents, Wi-Drive presents the “Open In” option so the user can select which App to use to open and copy a file to.
  • Addition of file select and email sending function: User can select and send music, photo, video or document files (up to 10MB size) as email attachments.
  • Minor bug fixes

The updated Kingston Wi-Drive App is available now on the App StoreSM, or can be downloaded from here

Kingston Wi-Drive is backed by a one-year warranty and 24/7 live technical support. For more information visit www.kingston.com/europe

Firecore Updates Seas0nPass Jailbreak Tools Package for AppleTV 4.4 Users

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Seas0nPass has been updated to support a tethered jailbreak of the new AppleTV 4.4 software.

Here is what they said:

Seas0nPass has been updated to support a TETHERED jailbreak of the new AppleTV 4.4 (iOS 5) software released on 10/12/2011 (also supported is the 4.4.1 update released on 10/17/11). Full details on what’s new in 4.4, status of 3rd party features, and how to update are below.

Should I update?

Currently the jailbreak for 4.4+ is tethered, which is a bit less convenient than an untethered version. If the features added in 4.4 excite you it may be worth updating; however, the previous 4.3 version will continue to be supported so updating is not required.

The full list of changes included in 4.4 is below:

  • AirPlay Mirroring: Now with video mirroring – wirelessly stream what’s on your iPad 2 screen to your HDTV.
  • Photo Stream: View photos recently taken on your iOS device and pushed to your Photo Stream in iCloud.
  • Trailers: A whole new way to browse and view hundreds of the latest theatrical trailers.
  • National Hockey League: Watch live games. View highlights, scores, and more.
  • Wall Street Journal Live: Watch up-to-date news, business commentary, and financial analysis from leading experts.

Apple has also added support for subtitles in Netflix and three new slideshow themes: Photo Wall, Flip-up, and Shifting Tiles.

Which plugins are supported on 4.4 and 4.4.1?

  • Media Player (works)
  • Couch Surfer (works)
  • Last.fm (works)
  • Weather (works)
  • RSS Feeds (works)
  • NitoTV (works)
  • Overflow (works)
  • XBMC (not working)
  • Plex (not working)
  • Remote HD (not working)
  • Rowmote (not working)

How do I update?

Seas0nPass will default to the latest untethered version, which is currently 4.3. If you want to use Seas0nPass to update and jailbreak a newer version simply follow the steps below.

  1. Download version 4.4 (9A334v) or 4.4.1 (9A335a) and save the IPSW in an easy to find location.
  2. Download the latest version of Seas0nPass.
  3. Open Seas0nPass then Option + click (Mac) or Shift + click (PC) the Create IPSW button and select the new IPSW file that was downloaded in step #1.
  4. Seas0nPass will complete the jailbreak and restore process automatically.
  5. After the restore is complete, move the AppleTV to your TV and follow the steps for performing a Tethered Boot.

AWIECO WakeOnLan for WHS 2011 Updated to Version 1.1.3

Today saw the release of the updated add-in WakeOnLan from AWIECO.

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The AWIECO WakeOnLAN add-in for Windows Home Server 2011 and Small Business Server 2011 Essentials is a free and useful add-in, which has the ability to remotely turn on a computer. It enables the Server to start up every computer attached to your network. You can also power off a computer out of the Launchpad.

v1.1.3

• Added: Scheduler (PRO)
• Added: Server shut down in Launchpad (PRO)
• Added: Language: Japanese, Polish
• Fixed: Issues with deleted computers

Learn more from the AWIECO website

HP Releases TouchPad Software Update

HP released webOS 3.0.4 for TouchPads today.  Read on for details!

TP 304

Ari Jaaski, who heads webOS services for HP according to his blog site, announced the availability of a webOS update for the TouchPad today.  Here’s what he had to say about it:

We released a new software release (3.0.4) for the HP Touchpad a few minutes ago. It gets downloaded over the air and is automatically updated to your devices. As always, no strings attached. Enjoy.

We have a big number of TouchPads out there, and we wanted to continue serving users and developers. We improved performance, added better support for the camera, made connectivity with non-HP phones possible, improved messaging, touched the UI in many places, etc. Also, we’ve got over 1000 applications available for TouchPad through Application Catalogue.

We have also continued longer term architectural development for webOS. We are working hard around webKit and V8. Those are core engines for the whole webOS. The Enyo framework and developer tools are getting a lot of attention now. We have also some very cool development around UI especially in the area of working with many task simultaneously, and using the table screen even more efficiently. The web development model, strong cloud integration, and a fluid and beautiful UI are the cornerstones of webOS.

If you have a TouchPad, go ahead and update, but be careful if you have patches and/or themes installed.  You may want to uninstall them before updating webOS.

I have two on the way, expected any day now, and I’ll do a review when I receive my units.  Stay tuned!

Ari Jaaksi’s Blog Post

StableBit Scanner 2.0 for Windows Home Server 2011 Beta Updated to 2.0.0.1169

StableBit Scanner 2.0 for Windows Home Server 2011 is now available in beta and has been updated to version 2.0.0.1169.

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An advanced hard disk surface scanner, monitor and more.

Monitors all your hard drives and ensures that every bit holding your precious data is readable.

2.0.0.1169
———-
* Don’t crash if the drive doesn’t report an interface.
* Fixed crash when opening disk context menu with no disk IDENTIFY.

Download the latest beta version from here

RIM to give BlackBerry Customers Free Apps to say Sorry

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Last week anyone with a BlackBerry had some serious problems – for some it lasted days. RIM have today said they will be giving people some free apps as an expression of appreciation.

blackberry-8520-

Here is what they said:

Following the announcement from RIM today, a selection of premium apps worth a total value of more than US $100 will be offered free of charge to subscribers as an expression of appreciation for their patience during the recent service disruptions. The following apps will be made available to customers soon.

SIMS 3 (Electronic Arts)

Bejeweled (Electronic Arts)

N.O.V.A. (Gameloft)

Texas Hold’em Poker 2 (Gameloft)

Bubble Bash 2 (Gameloft)

Photo Editor Ultimate (Ice Cold Apps)

DriveSafe.ly Pro (iSpeech.org)

iSpeech Translator Pro (iSpeech.org)

Drive Safe.ly Enterprise (iSpeech.org)

Nobex Radio™ Premium (Nobex)

Shazam Encore (Shazam)

Vlingo Plus: Virtual Assistant (Vlingo)

Are you a BlackBerry owner and user? What do you think about this? Let us know….

Adobe Reader App for iOS Now Available

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Adobe have today released Adobe Reader for iOS devices.

mzl_jxwizlrx_320x480-75

Adobe Reader is the free global standard for reliably viewing and sharing PDF documents across platfoms and devices. Easily and efficiently access the widest range of PDF file types—including PDF Portfolios, password-protected PDF documents and Adobe LiveCycle rights-managed PDF files. Now available for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch, Adobe Reader offers fast, high-quality interaction with PDF.

View PDF files
• Quickly open PDF files from email , the Web or any application that supports “Open In…”
• View PDF Portfolios, PDF Packages, annotations and drawing markups
• Read text annotations such as Sticky Notes

Access encrypted PDF files
• Open and view password-protected PDF files
• Access files secured by Adobe LiveCycle Rights Management, which helps protect sensitive documents
• Supports the highest grade of PDF encryption, up to AES256

Interact with PDF files
• Search text to find specific information
• Use bookmarks to jump directly to a section in your PDF file
• Select single page or continuous scroll modes
• Easily zoom in on text or images for a closer view
• Quickly navigate through large files using thumbnails
• Select and copy text from a PDF file to the clipboard

Print and share files
• Print wirelessly with AirPrint
• Share PDF files with other applications using “Open In…”
• Email PDF documents as attachments

Available languages
English, Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Dutch, Danish, Portuguese, Swedish, Russian, Czech, Polish and Turkish

Price
Adobe Reader for iOS is a free app

Download Adobe Reader from the App Store now

iPhone 4S First Weekend Sales Top Four Million

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Apple have today said that this weekend’s sales for the new iPhone 4S top four million!

UWHS - iPhone 4S - 9

We did our unboxing a few days ago. Did you buy one? What do you think of it?

Here is what Apple said today:

CUPERTINO, California—October 17, 2011— Apple® today announced it has sold over four million of its new iPhone® 4S, just three days after its launch on October 14. In addition, more than 25 million customers are already using iOS 5, the world’s most advanced mobile operating system, in the first five days of its release, and more than 20 million customers have signed up for iCloud®, a breakthrough set of free cloud services that automatically and wirelessly store your content in iCloud and push it to all your devices. iPhone 4S is available today in the US, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan and the UK, and will be available in 22 more countries on October 28 and more than 70 countries by the end of the year.

“iPhone 4S is off to a great start with more than four million sold in its first weekend—the most ever for a phone and more than double the iPhone 4 launch during its first three days,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “iPhone 4S is a hit with customers around the world, and together with iOS 5 and iCloud, is the best iPhone ever.”

iPhone 4S is the most amazing iPhone yet, packed with incredible new features including Apple’s dual-core A5 chip for blazing fast performance and stunning graphics; an all new camera with advanced optics; full 1080p HD resolution video recording; and Siri™, an intelligent assistant that helps you get things done just by asking.

Elgato Release EyeTV Mobile DVB-T Tuner for the iPad 2

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Elgato today announced the immediate availability of EyeTV Mobile, the first DVB-T tuner for the iPad 2 Dock Connector.

eyetvmobile-gallery-zoom-EN-1

Here is the rest of the press release:

Munich, October 17 – A portable and easy-to-use device, EyeTV Mobile connects directly to the iPad and does not require an Internet connection. The EyeTV Mobile app, available for free at the App Store, offers a full range of TV viewing features including pause, rewind and record. The integrated EPG lets users view up to 7 days of detailed programme guide information and send recommendations to friends by email. EyeTV Mobile offers super fast, beautifully animated channel changes. Using state-of-the art tuner technology with very low power consumption, EyeTV Mobile delivers up to eight hours of live TV. EyeTV Mobile comes with a telescopic antenna, a rod antenna with a magnetic base, and a USB cable. It is available immediately at £99.95 including VAT.

See what’s on at a glance

EyeTV Mobile’s integrated EPG offers up to 7 days of detailed programme guide data (the amount of EPG data varies by broadcaster). A pull-down calendar menu, navigation buttons for Now/Tonight/Tomorrow and genre colours make it very easy to find one’s preferred shows. Users can email programme details directly from the Guide to recommend upcoming shows to friends or print them with AirPrint-enabled printers.
Eight hours of live TV, antenna options for portable and indoor use
On an iPad 2 with a fully charged battery, EyeTV Mobile delivers up to eight hours of live TV (Flight Mode activated, 30% brightness). EyeTV Mobile delivers superior reception thanks to its state-of-the-art tuner and its robust MCX socket for connection to either of the included antennas. The miniature telescopic antenna has been designed for maximum portability while the rod antenna with magnetic base offers more positioning options for indoor use.

Pricing & Availability

EyeTV Mobile is available immediately at a price of £99.95 inc VAT, through Elgato’s online shop (www.elgato.com) and resellers. The EyeTV Mobile app is free and is available on the App Store.

 

Two Minute Review – The Gorillapod Focus from JOBY

It’s time for another one of our Two Minute Reviews. This time its the Gorillapod Focus from JOBY.

UWHS Review - The Gorillapod Focus from JOBY

The Gorillapod Focus is more than just a stand for your camera. Its a stand that you can position into infinite poses on pretty much any surface!

Flexible, wrappable legs allow you to secure equipment weighing up to 5kg (11 lbs) to virtually any surface, enabling you to capture shots you never could before.

Who are JOBY?

From their website:

JOBY creates well-designed, revolutionary products that inspire the creative and active lifestyle.

JOBY is a young, high-growth company that revolutionized the camera accessories market in early 2006 with its GorillaPod line of flexible tripods and continues to redefine the consumer electronics market with its GorillaMobile and GorillaTorch product lines. The brand has a strong and loyal following of consumers who are passionate about both innovative design and functional performance. Founded in 2005, JOBY is a privately-held company headquartered in San Francisco, CA, with offices in Santa Cruz, CA; Geneva, Switzerland; Tokyo, Japan; Singapore and Shenzhen, China.

Specifications

Designed for :

  • Professional camera rigs with large zoom lenses
  • Professional video cameras

Materials :

Legs:

  • Machined aluminum with an anodized gunmetal finish
  • High quality Japanese ABS plastic
  • Durable German TPE grip rings

Camera screw:

  • Stainless steel

Product Dimensions: 29×9.2×9.2cm (11.4×3.6×3.6″)

Holds up to: 5kg (11 lbs)

Product Weight: 500g (1.1 lbs)

Connection: Permanent universal 1/4″ tripod screw and 3/8″ adapter screw

Price : £89.95

What’s in the Box?

The box contains the Gorillapod Focus and an instruction manual.

UWHS Review - The Gorillapod Focus from JOBYUWHS Review - The Gorillapod Focus from JOBYUWHS Review - The Gorillapod Focus from JOBY

A Closer Look

UWHS Review - The Gorillapod Focus from JOBYUWHS Review - The Gorillapod Focus from JOBY

You can position them in many different ways very simply.

UWHS Review - The Gorillapod Focus from JOBY

Rubberized ring and foot grips provide enhanced stability on difficult terrain.

Machined aluminium sockets and high quality injection molded thermoplastic ensure snug joints that stay firm after lots of action.

Using the Gorillapod Focus

After fitting your camera to the top of the Focus (which was just a case of screwing it in place), you then just position the legs into whatever position you want to use it in. They can easily bend into a variety of positions.

UWHS Review - The Gorillapod Focus from JOBYUWHS Review - The Gorillapod Focus from JOBY

You can even wrap them around objects and they hold the Focus into position firmly and securely. Here you can see my DSLR attached to the side of a table leg!

UWHS Review - The Gorillapod Focus from JOBY

Final Thoughts

The Gorillapod Focus is very simple to use, and it can be positioned in many, many different ways and on a variety of surfaces (even and uneven).

I found it very easy to use and it took very little effort to get it into position, whether that was using in on my desk, wrapping it around my desk or hanging it from a curtain rail.

It felt very secure and I wasn’t concerned for a moment that it would drop! I have tried other stand / tripods before and only really had success with the larger ones, which are not great if you have to carry them around with you – where as the Focus is fairly small and can easily be carried around in a bag, along with your camera!

If you have a need to use your DSLR in such a way then you should seriously take a look at this, you won’t be disappointed.

The price isn’t cheap at £89.95, but it is certainly worth it. It’s a welcome addition to my camera bag!

The Gorillapod Focus is available now from the JOBY website.

UWHS Review - The Gorillapod Focus from JOBY

How to Change the Boxee Box Screensaver to Show Your Own Slideshow

D-Link have posted a short how-to guide for Boxee Box owners who want to use their own slideshow as a screensaver.

Here is what they posted:

One of the neat features available on the Boxee Box by D-Link is the ability to use your own snapshots or other images as the screensaver slideshow if you’re tired of the default Boxee icons. It’s definitely a nice surprise for you or your guests when you switch on the TV and automatically see a slideshow of pictures from your recent family reunion or your kid’s last birthday party.

slideshow

This feature is easy to set up, and all you need is an SD card or USB flash drive with your images on it. Here’s how to do it:

  1. Create a folder on your SD card or flash drive named “Slideshow” and place the pictures for your slideshow inside.
  2. Plug your SD card or flash drive into the Boxee Box and navigate to Settings > General > Screensaver and change the screensaver mode to “Slideshow.”
  3. Select the “Slideshow Folder” option and a dialog should appear which allows you to select the folder your slideshow will come from.
  4. Select the “Slideshow” folder on your SD card or USB drive.
  5. Click on the “OK” button on the right hand side of the page, and your personal slideshow screensaver should now be fully functional.

You can now preview your screensaver to make sure it works, and then proceed to impress (or embarrass) your friends with the pictures they didn’t realize you took at the party last weekend.

Have you got a Boxee Box? What do you think of it?

BYOB Podcast Episode 62 Out Now

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The guys over at the BYOB podcast, including our very own Tim Daleo have just released episode 62.

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Here is what is included in this weeks show:

[box style=”rounded” border=”full”]Logitech Link, iOS5, Corsair has more new gear, and answer the question: rack or not? While helping a listener with his huge home build. AMD Bulldozer does it push Intel out of the top slot? It’s a big fat one on this weeks BYOB Podcast[/box]

As usual you can listen to the show from here.