WD Enter Small Business Marketplace with Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 Essentials

Andrew Edney
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WD Enter Small Business Marketplace with Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 Essentials

On Monday, Western Digital announced that they would be entering the Small Business Marketplace with offerings using Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 Essentials (formally codename Breckenridge).

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There are no real details on the hardware or any pricing yet, but watch this space, that information should start coming out very soon.

It’s good to see some support for Storage Server 2008 R2 – now how about some more support for WHS 2011?

Here is what WD have said:

IRVINE, Calif. – July 12, 2011 – Western Digital® (NYSE: WDC), a leader in digital storage solutions, announced it will be offering a small-office storage server product and has signed an OEM software agreement with Microsoft Corporation to include the Windows® Storage Server 2008 R2 Essentials operating system software. WD® will combine its leading storage technologies with Microsoft’s operating system to deliver a complete storage solution for the small business market. The result will be a product that simplifies connection, protection and collaboration online for small businesses and the information technology services organizations that support them.
Fast, dependable and secure access to data, along with complete backup and recovery capability are becoming as crucial for small-to-medium-sized businesses (SMBs) as it is for large enterprises. According to Forrester Research, SMBs will outpace the projected IT market growth rate of 7.1%. In terms of infrastructure spending increases, storage and servers top SMBs’ hardware budget plans. Fifty-three percent of SMBs indicate that they will increase their storage spend.1 To serve this market, WD joined with Microsoft to incorporate the most advanced online features so businesses can easily and securely share information with clients, consultants or satellite offices located anywhere in the world.
“Small businesses will find great value in the combination of WD’s hardware solutions and the recently released Microsoft Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 Essentials solution from Microsoft. I am excited about the opportunity we have with WD and their solutions for helping small businesses run more efficiently,” said Nick Parker, VP of Worldwide Marketing for the OEM Division at Microsoft.
“By combining Microsoft’s platform with WD’s strength in the storage market, the two organizations bring extraordinary synergies that boost productivity and efficiency for small business. With this, WD will offer storage solutions for small business that provides centralized, online shared storage capable of meeting the storage requirements of the small business owners in today’s fast paced business environment,” said Thomas Gallivan, WD’s vice president of marketing for SMB branded products.
To receive future sales and product information regarding WD’s upcoming SMB products, please email smbstorage@wdc.com.
About WD
WD, one of the storage industry’s pioneers and long-time leaders, provides products and services for people and organizations that collect, manage and use digital information. The company designs and produces reliable, high-performance hard drives and solid state drives that keep users’ data accessible and secure from loss. Its advanced technologies are configured into applications for client and enterprise computing, embedded systems and consumer electronics, as well as its own consumer storage and home entertainment products.
WD was founded in 1970. The company’s storage products are marketed to leading OEMs, systems manufacturers, selected resellers and retailers under the Western Digital® and WD brand names. Visit the Investor section of the company’s website (www.westerndigital.com) to access a variety of financial and investor information.
1 Forrester Research, Demand Insights: The SMB Hardware Infrastructure Market, April 20, 2011

AT&T to Sponsor Kindle 3G in the US

Andrew Edney
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0
AT&T to Sponsor Kindle 3G in the US

Today Amazon announced that AT&T are sponsoring Kindle 3G in the US brining the price down to a very reasonable $139.

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Check out our review of the Amazon Kindle

Here is what Amazon said:

New price for Kindle 3G with Special Offers is $139 – still no monthly fee or annual contract

Never pay for or hunt for a Wi-Fi hotspot

Kindle 3G customers read more

SEATTLE, Jul 13, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) — NASDAQ:AMZN–With Kindle 3G, there’s no wireless set up, and no paying for or hunting for Wi-Fi hotspots. Kindle 3G’s always-on global wireless connectivity means that wherever you are – at the beach, on the train, or stuck on the tarmac – no problem, you can download books and periodicals in less than 60 seconds and start reading instantly. Amazon pays for Kindle’s 3G wireless connectivity, which means the convenience of 3G comes with no monthly fees, data plans, or annual contracts. Today, Amazon.com announced that AT&T has agreed to sponsor Kindle 3G with Special Offers and that it is now available at a new price of $139. Kindle 3G with Special Offers is the same as the $189 Kindle 3G, plus money-saving special offers and sponsored screensavers.

“Kindle 3G is more convenient – customers never have to hunt for or pay for a Wi-Fi hotspot – they simply download and read books anytime, anywhere. Kindle 3G customers read 20 percent more books, and take advantage of twice as many special offers,” said Jeff Bezos, Founder and CEO, Amazon.com. “A big thank you to AT&T for helping to make the new $139 price possible.”

“Kindle 3G is by far the fastest-growing connected device on the AT&T network. We consistently hear from customers how much they enjoy the freedom of not being tied to a Wi-Fi hotspot and instead being able to download and read new books anytime, anywhere on AT&T’s fast, reliable network,” said Ralph de la Vega, President and CEO, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. “We are excited to sponsor Amazon’s best Kindle – Kindle 3G with Special Offers – at the new lower price of only $139.”

Kindle 3G includes all the same features that helped make the third-generation Kindle the #1 bestselling e-reader in the world:

  • Free 3G wireless, no annual contracts, no monthly fees
  • Global 3G coverage means books in under 60 seconds in over 100 countries and territories
  • Paper-like Pearl electronic ink display, no glare even in bright sunlight
  • Lightweight body for hours of comfortable reading with one hand
  • Kindle Store with over 950,000 books – largest selection of the most popular books
  • Seamless integration with free “Buy Once, Read Everywhere” Kindle apps for iPad, iPod touch, iPhone, Android, PC, Mac, BlackBerry and Windows Phone

Learn more at http://www.amazon.com/kindle3G.

StableBit DrivePool for Windows Home Server Build 1925 Now Available

Andrew Edney
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1
StableBit DrivePool for Windows Home Server Build 1925 Now Available

Today the latest beta version of the Windows Home Server Drive Extender replacement StableBit DrivePool build 1925 has just been released.

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  • Combine all your hard drives into one big storage pool (except the system drive with the OS).
  • Add and remove drives from the pool at any time without re-partitioning or manually moving folders.
  • Create duplicated folders on the storage drive pool that are protected against single drive failure. If a drive fails on which a duplicated file was stored, the contents of that file will remain readable even without the drive.
  • All your data is stored in standard NTFS files. You can always access your files even if the Windows Home Server completely crashes or this add-in can’t be used.

The changes in this version are:

1.0.0.1925 ———-

* When moving a file within a pooled folder, if the destination already existed there was a chance that the move could fail because it would try to switch the pool part that the file was on.

Download Stablebit Drivepool build 1925 here Learn more about StableBit DrivePool here

Have you tried it? What do you think?

Updated Windows Home Server 2011 Hardware from PC Specialist

Andrew Edney
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2
Updated Windows Home Server 2011 Hardware from PC Specialist

Early last month we told you about a new player entering the Windows Home Server 2011 hardware market – a UK based company called PC Specialist. They have now updated their offerings and reduced their prices. Why not take a look?

pcspecialist_thumb3

The website now includes an intelligent configurator that helps you build your perfect Home Server.

pcspecialist

Configure your PC Specialist Home Server today

Samsung Launches New SSD Upgrade Kit Including Norton Ghost 15.0

Andrew Edney
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0
Samsung Launches New SSD Upgrade Kit Including Norton Ghost 15.0

Today Samsung are launching a new SSD 470 upgrade kit which includes a full copy of Norton Ghost 15.0 to help with data migration.

WHS - Samsung 470 SSD

Norton Ghost 15.0, which usually retails for £39.95 will be included as part of the new kit. Ghost, if you have never used it, is a very easy to use software package that helps you backup, restore and migrate data, and is perfect for migrating from an existing HDD to an SSD.

We reviewed the Samsung 470 Series SSD back in March.

Take a look at our Samsung Series 470 SSD review here

Here is what Samsung have said:

Samsung launches new SSD Upgrade Kit with improved convenience and usability

New, easy-to-install SSD package

All SSDs include a genuine, full version of Norton Ghost 15.0 to enhance usability and ease data backup and recovery frustrations

Easy and convenient installation, even for novices.

Samsung is launching a new SSD 470 package with greatly enhanced user convenience features compared to the existing SSD 470 series.

This July, all Samsung 470 Series SSDs will include a full copy of Norton Ghost 15.0 to greatly reduce the frustration of data migration, backup, and recovery. While the physical installation of the drive is trivial to many users, the tedious process of installing the OS, running OS updates, installing patches, reinstalling software, setting up user preferences, and migrating old data is frustrating and time-consuming. With the inclusion of Norton Ghost 15.0, the time it takes to migrate to a new SSD is reduced by up to 75 percent, meaning your new drive can be up and running in under an hour instead of nearly four.

Additionally, desktop users will benefit from the included connecting cables and new, adjustable mounting brackets.

Stefanie Summerfield Head of Business Development – Memory said, “The new Samsung SSD 470 series is top-notch in terms of user convenience in the industry. I believe it will provide a new level of consumer satisfaction.” She added, “Samsung’s included software solutions significantly reduce the difficulty of data migration and management for novice users. We are serious about this industry and will play hard to expand our market share in the SSD market.”

The Samsung SSD 470 series was launched in Korea last January and sold 10,000 units within two months, thanks to its fast data processing speed, impact resistance, and superior multitasking support. Samsung Electronics UK are now launching the 470 series later this month and including a full version of Norton Ghost 15.00. Samsung believe this combination of high quality hardware and Norton software will be an ideal solution for consumers looking to boost the performance of their existing laptop or desktop.

Learn more from the Samsung website

HP TouchPad 4G Coming to AT&T in the US

Andrew Edney
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1
HP TouchPad 4G Coming to AT&T in the US

Only a short time since the HP TouchPad was released in the US, there is news of an HP TouchPad 4G with a better spec.

touchpad

Here is what HP are saying today:

For those webOS fans out there who want the most flexibility for staying connected with a TouchPad, there’s more info out today about the HP TouchPad on the AT&T mobile broadband network.

The TouchPad 4G will have a faster 1.5-GHz processor, 32GB of storage, integrated GPS and all the benefits of being connected via AT&T’s network – meaning you can get web access in more than just Wi-Fi hotspots. Greater access means increased productivity, so TouchPad 4G will be a great fit for anyone who needs near-constant connectivity – making it great for businesses, consumers, and anyone who needs to download files, stay on top of email, and access the web while staying mobile.

Specific pricing and availability date will be forthcoming from AT&T, but TouchPad will be available in time for back to school through HP commercial channels, AT&T Business Services and major retailers.

Turn Your iPad into a Star Trek PADD

Andrew Edney
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1
Turn Your iPad into a Star Trek PADD

If you ever wanted one of those cool PADDs from Star Trek: The Next Generation, well now you can have one, as long as you have an iPad!

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The Official Star Trek PADD (Personal Access Display Device) immerses fans in a rich interactive database of Star Trek information and images with an authentic reproduction of the LCARS style interface introduced in the Star Trek: The Next Generation series.

The PADD provides access to the official Star Trek database from StarTrek.com of aliens, ships, places, technologies, and episode guide. The app includes a true reproduction of LCARS, the computer interface commonly used in Starfleet and the United Federation of Planets during the 24th century, and includes familiar computer sound effects and voice, making it enjoyable to everyone.

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Features of the Star Trek PADD app include:

-Browse or search through official database of Star Trek television series information, including aliens, ships, places, technologies, and episode guide
-Rich, immersive LCARS graphical interface, introduced in Star Trek: The Next Generation television series
-Authentic computer sound effects and voice
-Jump to related information through cross-links to other content
-Read the latest news from the Star Trek Facebook page and Star Trek Twitter feed
-Enjoy two self-running diagnostic modes with an overview schematic of the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D

The official Star Trek PADD app database does not include all information within the Star Trek Universe. We will continue to update the database as information becomes available.

This is the official Star Trek app produced for CBS by ArcTouch.

It is available now in the iTunes Store for $4.99 in the US and £2.99 here in the UK.

Very cool – I’m downloading mine now. Make it so!

KeepVault Announce New Pricing and Improvements

Andrew Edney
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0
KeepVault Announce New Pricing and Improvements

Today KeepVault have announced some new pricing for its backup service, along with some improvements.

gI_73996_kvlogonewhighres2010

Here is the announcement:

KeepVault Pro

– new flat rate pricing of $0.15/GB/month (when paying yearly) and no per device/seat fees

– buy exactly the storage you need, eg no pricing tiers just buy what you need and upgrade at any time

– the new pricing and the increased flexibility makes KeepVault Pro very price/feature competitive in the Pro/Small Medium Business market

– enhanced backup reports web console showing details per device on the state of your backups

Both KV Pro and KeepVault

– web access available to both Pro and regular users

– new mobile enhanced website with WebApp for iOS users

– Live chat support in addition to our highly regarded email support

Learn more from the KeepVault website

Remote Potato HD for iPad Launched

Andrew Edney
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0
Remote Potato HD for iPad Launched

Today saw the release of Remote Potato HD for the iPad.  Not heard of Remote Potato? Read on….

Imagine having your entire library of TV shows, music, pictures and videos with you wherever you go – without having to sync.

With Remote Potato, your entire media library is in your pocket wherever you go: Watch a movie on the bus! Listen to that album you forgot to sync up! Show your work colleagues your home photos!

  • Watch videos, movies or recorded TV shows streamed from your home PC over 3G or WiFi!
  • Stream songs from your home music library – anywhere in the world.
  • Remotely view your photos in crystal clear detail; download/email them to friends.
  • AirPlay support: send movies and videos to your television via an AppleTV.
  • Sync up albums and songs for offline access.
  • Listen to music in the background while using other apps.
  • Control music playback from Bluetooth or Apple™ remote headphones.

Windows 7 Media Center users can also:

  • Browse your TV Guide and schedule recordings.
  • Watch previously recorded TV shows – streamed live from your home PC*
  • The first app in the world to directly stream WTV recorded TV files to your iPhone!

If you’ve not already installed Remote Potato, now’s the time to grab a copy of the free server software which runs on your home PC and makes all this possible.

Then, once it’s up-and-running, head to the App Store to download a copy of Remote Potato to your iPad – for the ultimate multimedia experience, wherever you are!

The app is $6.99 in the US and £3.99 here in the UK – not bad at all!

Learn more from the Remote Potato website

Check out the video below to see Remote Potato in action:

Sony Announce HD-PG5 External Hard Disc Drive

Andrew Edney
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0
Sony Announce HD-PG5 External Hard Disc Drive

Today Sony have announced their very first external hard drive – the HD-PG5.

HD PG5

Here is what Sony have said:

First external hard drives from Sony offer reliable data storage and expanded home entertainment options

 

HD-PG5 series drives are compatible with BRAVIA® TV and other devices by Sony

 

·         500GB portable external hard drives with stylish design

  • High-speed transfers via USB3.0 with supplied Data Transfer Accelerator software
  • Record HDTV programmes from BRAVIA® via USB connection
  • Direct Copy from Handycam® camcorders (HD-PG5U)
  • Includes Password Protection Manager, Backup Manager and FAT32 Formatter software

 

The first ever range of external hard drives from Sony keep your precious data safe, while offering a range of exciting new home entertainment experiences.

 

With a generous capacity of 500GB, the new HD-PG5 series offers plenty of space to store and safeguard your videos, photos, documents, digital music and more.

 

The HD-PG5U connects via USB with compatible BRAVIA® models, allowing direct recording of HD television programmes from the TV’s tuner or connected cable/satellite service. The supplied USB adaptor cable also allows easy ‘PC-free’ transfers of video footage from compatible Handycam® camcorders with Direct Copy function, including the new DCR-SX21E and DCR-SR21.

 

PlayStation®3 users can connect the hard drive via USB and view stored AVCHD videos and photos via the ‘Filmy’ application – with no PC needed.

 

Available in a choice of black or white finishes and weighing a travel-friendly 180g, the stylish drives co-ordinate beautifully with your PC, BRAVIA® or PlayStation®3. The smoothly-contoured case is finished in a scratch-resistant paint layer that keeps your drive looking good for longer. The minimalist design is enhanced by a single blue LED that indicates drive activity.

 

Connection to your PC is via a single USB cable, with no separate power adaptor needed. Support for USB 3.0 SuperSpeed assures blazing data transfers up to 3x with compatible PCs. Even if you’re connected via USB 2.0, pre-loaded Data Transfer Accelerator software also doubles effective transfer rates to slash backup times when you’re in a hurry.

 

All HD-PG5 models are ready to use with a generous suite of security and

backup applications. Easy-to-use Password Protection Manager software uses powerful 256-bit security to safeguard your files against unauthorised access. Just key in your personal password to lock or unlock data when the HD-PG5UB is connected to any PC. Backup Manager software takes care of protecting your precious files with automated scheduled backups.

 

Supplied FAT32 Formatter software allows re-formatting of the drive from NTFS, to support Direct Copy function with Handycam® or playback with PlayStation®3.

 

The new HD-PG5 series of 500GB external hard drives by Sony is available from mid July 2011 in United Kingdom, France and Germany only.

 

Technical specifications: external hard disk drive (model HD-PG5 series)

 

Disk size 2.5 inch
Capacity 500GB
USB port USB 3.0/USB 2.0×1
Transfer Rate (Max) Max. 5Gbps (USB 3.0) / Max. 480Mbps (USB2.0)
Supported OS Windows 7（32bit/64bit), Windows Vista（32bit/64bit); Windows XP; Mac OS X 10.4 or later
(NB: Mac OS supports only USB2.0)
File System NTFS[model HD-PG5U: FAT32]
Package Dimension (Approx. W x H x D) 80x16x126mm
Package Weight (Approx.) 180g
PC Software (pre-loaded) Data Transfer Accelerator, Backup Manager, Password Protection Manager, FAT32 Formatter
Cable USB3.0 cable (60cm) Standard-A to Micro-B

[Model HD-PG5U only: supplied cable length 1m / includes supplied USB adaptor cable for Handycam®]

Apple Release New iLife 11 Updates

Andrew Edney
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0
Apple Release New iLife 11 Updates

There are rumors that Lion will be released this week, but today Apple released a number of updates for it’s iLife 11 software.

iLife 11 updates

The updates include:

iPhoto 9.1.5 Update

This update supports general compatibility issues, and also addresses overall stability and performance. Minor issues addressed include:

•  The date range of each event now updates correctly to reflect changes made to photos using the Adjust Time and Date command

•  Addresses an issue that could cause the Photos view to scroll incorrectly when Event Titles are displayed

•  Fixes a problem that could prevent Ken Burns animations from being applied correctly on photos in a saved Classic slideshow

•  Deleting photos from a web album using the contextual menu now removes them from the album without deleting them from the library

•  Addresses an issue that could prevent a crop adjustment from being removed from a photo when using the Revert to Original command

The update is recommended for all users of iPhoto ’11.

iDVD 7.1.2 Update

This update improves overall stability and addresses a number of minor issues, including the following:

  • Improves reliability of imported iPhoto ’11 slideshows.
  • Fixes a problem that could prevent files from re-linking.
  • Addresses an issue that could cause iDVD to use all available CPU capacity when searching for missing files.

This update is recommended for all iDVD 7 users.

iMovie 9.0.4 Update

This update improves overall stability and addresses a number of minor issues, including the following:

  • Support for opening projects imported from iMovie for iOS.
  • Fixes an issue where some audio adjustments were not preserved.
  • Addresses a performance issue when using large quantities of video clips with keywords.
  • Resolves issue with slow application launch when working with large iPhoto libraries.

The update is recommended for all users of iMovie ’11.

PerfectDisk 12 Updated – Now at Service Pack 1

Andrew Edney
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2
PerfectDisk 12 Updated – Now at Service Pack 1

Last week we told you that PerfectDisk 12 was about to get a service pack. Well today they have released the updates, taking it to Service Pack 1 (build 275).

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The PerfectDisk 12 Client and Enterprise Console have been updated to Build 275. These latest builds include various bug fixes.

You can “Check For Updates” in the products or wait for Autoupdate.

Client fixes:

  • There were several issues where the S.M.A.R.T. tab indicated outrageously high temperatures. This was due to PerfectDisk not recognizing the drive model and trying to apply an incorrect set of rules to interpret the S.M.A.R.T. data. In this build PerfectDisk will only provide S.M.A.R.T. data for drives in recognizes. More drives will be added in later service packs.
  • Real time defragmentation aggressively allocated space to prevent additional fragmentation. This resulted in consuming large amounts of space unnecessarily. The main symptom was rapidly growing log files. This has been corrected.
  • On some Windows XP systems the drives were grayed out and PerfectDisk could not be used. This was due an issue with WMI which has been corrected.
  • On Windows 7, the hidden 100mb partition created to support bitlocker has been added to the excluded drives list automatically. There is no benefit in defragmenting this partition.
  • Multiple text changes were made to maintain the PerfectDisk consistent with the PerfectDisk Console.
  • When enabling or disabling the SMART feature, the PerfectDisk GUI did not reflect the changes until you closed and reopened the GUI. This has been fixed.
  • There was a bug in displaying the MFT statistics. Text was inserted where numerical values should have been. This has been corrected.
  • When SMART polling occurred, the SMART Tab refocused to the first disk in the list. This has been fixed to leave focus on whatever disk was selected.
  • When entering a license key the Help menu still allowed you to reenter it. This has been fixed.
  • When right clicking on a file in the Most Fragmented Files list, and choosing to open the folder you would get an error if the file path contained a space. This has been fixed.
  • Ability to set partitions as Thin Provisioned has been removed from the PerfectDisk consumer product line. This feature is for corporate thin provisioned SAN environments.
  • There was a bug in the VMware Host product which caused the GUI to crash when performing an offline defrag on a virtual volume. The crash was in the PerfectDisk GUI and did not affect the virtual volume. This has been fixed.
  • Data retention rules were added to prevent the log file growing too large. Before Service Pack 1, all alerts were saved. Now Alerts are saved for two weeks and then purged.
  • During a defrag pass, the hibernate file is temporarily removed to free up space to improve defrag performance. If the computer was shutdown during a defrag pass or when a defrag pass was PAUSED, the hibernate file was not restored. This has been fixed.
  • Additional information was added to the log when performing a Zero Fill pass (Server product only).
  • Some of the Alerts had the incorrect text. The Alert indicated you had exceeded a threshold when it should have indicated you dropped below the threshold value. values were also being incorrectly flagged as alerts when they were not. These have been fixed.
  • S.M.A.R.T. temperature graph appeared to be out of date. This was due to only graphing 1000 data points, where there could have been up to 44,600. This has been fixed.
  • After an Analyze pass, PerfectDisk made a recommendation on what type of defragmentation pass was needed and allowed you to start that pass right away. There was a bug which caused PerfectDisk to start the default defrag pass not the currently recommended. This has been fixed

Console fixes:

  • Functionality to ignoring console alerts was broken (Error interface not registered). This has been corrected.
  • The PerfectDisk Console allowed more than one managed group to have the same name. This has been corrected.
  • Multiple text changes were made to maintain the PerfectDisk Console consistent with PerfectDisk.
  • Alert and Warning icons were incorrect. This has been corrected.
  • Manual synching of the PerfectDisk 12 clients is handled differently then in PerfectDisk 11. In PerfectDisk 12, the client initiated the synch. In PerfectDisk 11 the Console initiated the synch. This caused issues when manually synchronizing from the Console to v12 clients. The v12 Console was upgraded to allow manually synchronizing with v12 clients.
  • Computer Description was incorrect. It displayed the Computer Name not the description. Description has been removed.
  • Synch schedules were displayed as DAILY even though they were WEEKLY schedule types. This has been fixed.
  • There was some cutoff text on the Reporting Tab. This has been fixed.
  • The offline help check box was removed as there is no offline help for the console. Last defragged date was inconsistent between the Client and the Console. This has been corrected.
Read our review of PerfectDisk 12 Home Server edition for WHS 2011 Read our review of PerfectDisk 12 Home Server edition for WHS V1

Introducing the Renault FRENDZY – A Fully Fledged Office on Wheels

Andrew Edney
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1
Introducing the Renault FRENDZY – A Fully Fledged Office on Wheels

Ahead of the 64th Frankfurt Motor Show, Renault revealed details of its latest concept car, FRENDZY. And they describe it as a fully fledged office on wheels!

FRENDZY 1

The FRENDZY looks very futuristic (well it is a concept car), but what makes this so interesting is that a Blackberry PlayBook is right there in the center acting as part of the dashboard! As it is a concept, don’t expect to see it in your local showroom just yet! Read on to find out more!

Here is what Renault said:

After the notion of ‘love at first sight’ expressed by DeZir, discovering the world with Captur and the establishment of a family with R-Space, FRENDZY presents the world of work. It is the fourth step in Renault’s design strategy based on the different stages of the human life cycle.

The latest concept car to be produced under the leadership of Laurens van den Acker is the perfect multi-talented vehicle. As a commercial business vehicle which can double up perfectly as a comfortable passenger car, it meets the requirements of business users on the one hand and those of families on the other.

A fully fledged office on wheels with the introduction of the new BlackBerry PlayBook tablet, the electrically powered FRENDZY showcases Renault’s new design language.

FRENDZY 2

The user-friendly layout of the driver’s environment and tablet turn FRENDZY into a truly interactive and communicative tool. The BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablet recently launched by Research In Motion (RIM), plugged into the dashboard, has enabled the concept of an office on wheels to become reality. BlackBerry PlayBook is ultra-portable (seven-inch touchscreen, 425g in weight, measuring 130mm x 194mm x 10mm), yet it delivers advanced performance, uncompromised web browsing with support for Adobe® Flash®, HD multimedia, advanced security features and out-of-the-box enterprise support.

BlackBerry PlayBook can allow users to benefit from an effective workplace and unrestricted mobility while on the go. This makes it particularly well suited to neighbourhood deliveries and local craftsmen, for whom it is a genuine work tool, both inside and outside of the vehicle.

The tablet connects directly into the centre console, ensuring perfect convenience of operation once on the move. As soon as it is plugged in, it becomes an integral element of the vehicle and configures itself into the Renault environment. Continuity of work is assured once the device is removed, and it can of course be used for all of the renowned BlackBerry PlayBook tablet features.

The device has an important role to play, too, in the customization of the vehicle as it controls the exterior screen while the vehicle is in motion and when parked, for business as well as for personal uses – pictograms illustrating life with electric vehicles, or the viewing of a film, for example.

Sensors located on each door sill log the loading or unloading of packages equipped with RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) chips containing key information such as destination address, weight and dimensions. This gives users a real-time inventory of the goods being carried in their vehicle. In addition, tradesmen can automatically calculate or re-calculate their itineraries on the basis of this information.

For more information about Renault FRENDZY visit: www.renault.com

For more information about BlackBerry PlayBook visit: http://uk.blackberry.com/playbook-tablet/

Record HD Content Directly to your PC with the Hauppauge Colossus

Andrew Edney
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0
Record HD Content Directly to your PC with the Hauppauge Colossus

Today Hauppauge announced a new PCI Express card called the Colossus which enables you to record HD content, including from games consoles, directly to your computer.

Colossus_low res

Colossus is a High Definition video recorder for making real-time H.264 compressed recordings at resolutions up to 1080i. HD PVR records component video (YCrCb) from video game consoles and cable TV and satellite set top boxes, with a built-in IR blaster to automatically change TV channels for scheduled recordings.

Colossus also has an HDMI input port, so you can record HD video at up to 1080i from a un-encrypted HDMI source.
Note: most cable and satellite TV set top boxes encrypt HDMI output, so you cannot record from these sources.

Audio is recorded using two channel stereo or optical audio with five channel Dolby Digital.

The recording format is AVCHD, which can be used to burn Blu-ray DVD disks. Two hours of HD recordings, recorded at 5 Mbits/sec, can be burnt onto a standard 4.7 GByte DVD-R or DVD-RW disk for playback on a Blu-ray DVD player.

Cost wise you are looking at around £120 for the card.

Colossus has these features:

  • Record high definition video using H.264 video encoding with digital audio. Colossus is an internal PCI Express board, full height, and runs with Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows XP.
  • Includes a built-in high quality hardware H.264 high definition encoder, for high performance, high quality video recordings
  • Record high definition video at up to 1080i resolution. Also records standard definition video. Record at datarates from 1Mbs to 20Mbs.
  • Record your game play in HD (up to 1080i) with component video and digital audio (optical) from Xbox360 or PS3 game consoles.
  • Record your favorite TV programs from HD cable TV and satellite set top boxes. Colossus connects to most HD cable TV and satellite TV receivers with component video and optical digital audio. Stereo audio inputs are supported, too.
  • Burn your video game play or your favorite TV programs onto AVCHD disks in high definition using standard DVD media. These AVCHD disks can be played back on a blu-ray DVD player. Up to 2 hours of HD AVCHD video can be recorded on standard DVD-R disks at 5MBits/sec.
  • Create HD recordings which can be played back on the Xbox 360 and PS3
  • Includes Hauppauge’s WinTV v7 TV application for automatic recording of TV programs from cable or satellite set top boxes
  • Includes Arcsoft ShowBiz to record video game play. Burn HD disks or upload video game play in HD to YouTube
  • Colossus has component video plus stereo and digital audio pass through, to allow HD recording and viewing at the same time.
  • NTSC and PAL support
  • HDMI input port included. If you have an un-encrypted HDMI video source, such as a digital SLR, you can record directly from this source.
    Note: most cable and satellite TV receivers do not support un-encrypted HDMI video.
  • Includes IR blaster and IR receiver/learn cable. Colossus can “learn” your cable TV or satellite remote control and can automatically change the channel on your set top box.

colossus_back_panel_big colossus_diagram

Colossus Specifications

Hardware encoder
  • H.264 AVCHD video encoder
  • AC-3 recording from AC-3 source
  • AAC audio encoding from PCM source
  • Recording datarate: from 1 to 20 Mbits/sec (user selectable in the ArcSoft ShowBiz application)
  • Recording format:
    • up to 1080i from component video (YCrCb or YPrPb)
    • NTSC: 720p60, 1080i60, 480i60, 480p60
    • PAL: 720p50, 1080i50, 576p50, 576i50, 480p50, 480i50
      Note: the video input format determines the recorded format. For example, 1080i input records at 1080i, 720P records at 720P, etc. Any other format conversions needs to be done with the MediaConvert program (supplied).
  • NTSC or PAL supported
System Requirements

Note: when playing back video recordings made with the Colossus, a fast CPU and at least 256MB of graphics memory are needed.

  • Processor Requirements (minimum for HD playback): Dual core CPU 2.0GHz or faster
  • Windows 7 (32 and 64-bit), Windows Vista or Windows XP service pack 2 (32-bit)
  • Graphics with 256MB memory (or greater)
  • PCI Express x1 slot
  • Sound card for audio playback
  • CD-ROM drive for installing the Colossus software
Bundled software applications
  • ArcSoft “ShowBiz” for video recording and authoring and burning of your TV recordings onto a Blu-ray DVD compatible disc
  • Hauppauge WinTV v7 application, with support for the Hauppauge remote control and IR blaster
Input and outputs

Note: video input on Component and HDMI sources is limited to 1080i

  • A/V cable input adapter with:
    • Component video input
    • Left/ Right RCA audio input
  • A/V cable output adapter with loop through audio and video:
    • Component video output
    • Left/ Right RCA audio output
  • Optical audio input and loop through output
  • HDMI input (Note: for use with un-encrypted HDMI video sources)
  • IR Blaster output
Learn more from the Hauppauge website
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