Win a new Leo HS4 Performance Home Server with Tranquil

Andrew Edney
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0
Win a new Leo HS4 Performance Home Server with Tranquil

Our friends at Tranquil have been in touch to say that they are running a competition to win one of their new Leo HS4 Windows Home Servers.

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To celebrate the launch of Windows Home Server 2011, Tranquil PC are opening a competition to WIN a Leo HS4 Performance Windows Home Server 2011 system.  You’ll need to answer a few questions, and you’ll need to get the last question right to be entered.

You can enter the competition here

Enter the WHS 2011 competition, and the lucky winner will WIN a brand new Leo HS4 Home Server 2011 appliance, complete with a powerful Intel i3 CPU, 2GB of RAM and a 2TB primary hard disk (3 spare bays).

The prize, selected at random, will be announced on this page on Friday May 20th, and the server will be shipped on Monday 23rd May.

The competition is open GLOBALLY so even if you are outside of the UK you have a chance of winning.

DABS and the Connected Home

Andrew Edney
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0
DABS and the Connected Home

UK supplier DABS.com have just put together an interesting page called the Connected Home. This shows you different rooms in the house and shows how devices can be used.

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Here is how they are showing the Connected Home:

Welcome to our connected home. We’ve put our home on show so that you can see exactly how easy it is to create a connected home and what entertainment you can have in the various rooms throughout your home simply by buying a few key products. To find out more about the products in our home simply hover over them and you’ll quickly see how everything is connected.

You can then click on various elements in each room to see more.

Connected Home

Tour the DABS Connected Home now

New WHS Add-in Released: Snoop-De-Dupe

Jim McCarthy
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3
New WHS Add-in Released: Snoop-De-Dupe
A new add-in for WHS was released today, Snoop-De-Dupe.  It aims to help you manage duplicate files on your home server.
SnoopDeDupe
Jim from SnoopDeDupe.Com contacted us today to let us know of a new add-in available for WHS.  Here’s what he had to say:
A new add-in for Windows Home Server was released today: Snoop-de-dupe! It watches your server in real-time and notifies you when duplicate files appear on the server. You can view the duplicates and take action on them (delete, create a hard-link to save HDD space, or ignore) directly from the Home Server Console. A version supporting Windows Home Server (original) is now available; support for WHS/SBS 2011 is coming soon.
Product features:
  • Supports Windows Home Server
  • Automatic, real-time continuous file de-duplication scanning
  • 160-bit SHA-1 de-duplication hash for optimum results
  • Windows Home Server Console integration
  • Pause and Resume operation at any time for maximum efficiency of your server
  • Select any folders of your choosing on your server for de-duplication scanning
  • Simple, easy-to-view heads-up status display to monitor progress
  • Easy to navigate list of duplications for: deleting, linking, or ignoring duplicate files
  • Quick-launch feature allows for viewing contents of duplicate files
  • 15 day free trial available
I’ll be reviewing this one soon, so stay tuned for updates.

HDHomeRun Prime CableCARD Tuner Now Available to Preorder

Andrew Edney
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11
HDHomeRun Prime CableCARD Tuner Now Available to Preorder

As you know, here at UWHS we are big fans of the HDHomeRun (Tim has several) and back at CES Tim talked to Silicon Dust about their forthcoming HDHomeRun Prime. Well now its available for pre-order.

HDHomerun1HDHomerun2HDHomerun3

Product Features
  • Three Tuners: Anywhere on Your Network QAM64/256
  • TV sources: Unencrypted digital cable TV, Premium digital cable TV
  • Works with popular DVR software
  • Works with existing HDHomeRun Units, HDHomeRun PRIME can be added to your existing, HDHomeRun device set up to allow for additional tuners on your home network, Allows multiple signal input sources on the same network
  • Compatible With: Windows Media Center (for use with encrypted or copy controlled content), Other Popular DVR Programs (for use with copy freely content)
Technical Details
  • Model: HDHR3-CC
Check out the Silicon Dust website to sign up for more information

The retail price appears to be under $220, with Amazon having it now for pre-order at $207.20. So what are you waiting for, pre-order yours today! And let us know!

Here is a little video on the Prime:

UWHS Giveaway Diskeeper 2011 Giveaway 2 – The Results

Andrew Edney
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2
UWHS Giveaway Diskeeper 2011 Giveaway 2 – The Results

Over the last week we have been running another one of our giveaways – this time giving you a chance to win one of three copies of Diskeeper 2011 for Windows Home Server or Professional. And now it is time for the results.

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You can check out our hands-on review of Diskeeper 2011 for Windows Home Server here

So we asked you to download the trial version and then let us know. How easy was that?

Right, so here are the three winners, ok, actually FOUR winners. We had so many entries I managed to squeeze another licence for you guys:

Alex Brander

Kevin Tubbs

Claudiu Popa

Rick Simons

Congratulations guys, Diskeeper will be in touch with you very soon with your prize. For everyone else, we have a few more Diskeeper goodies to giveaway over the next few weeks, so keep your eyes open here at UWHS.

BYOB Episode 41 Out Now

Andrew Edney
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0
BYOB Episode 41 Out Now

The guys over at the BYOB podcast, including our very own Tim Daleo have just released episode 41.

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Here is what is included in this weeks show:

[box style=”rounded” border=”full”]This week we discuss PCIe in detail. We have a short sermon from Tim on bus basics and we round table different ideas and concepts.[/box]

As usual you can listen to the show from here.

Paragon Software Releases Hard Disk Manager 11 Professional

Andrew Edney
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3
Paragon Software Releases Hard Disk Manager 11 Professional

Earlier this week Paragon Software released the latest version of their Hard Disk Manager software – Hard Disk Manager 11 Professional. This version supports SSDs, Advanced Format Drives and USB 3.0, along with some other new features.

paragon

Hard Disk Manager Professional is an integrated set of powerful tools that is specially designed to tackle most of the problems encountered while using Windows PC.

It includes all the latest technologies in managing stand-alone Windows environments: drive partitioning and file system optimization, disaster recovery and system migration, data sanitization and boot management for both, virtual and physical systems. And it’s open to Boot Camp users as well!

New features and benefits:

  • Empowered data safety and disaster recovery tools for both physical and virtual Windows environments.
  • All type of migration operations for physical and virtual environments: Full spectrum of virtual and physical migration operations: P2V, P2V Restore, V2P, V2V, P2P and Migrate OS to SSD to move any Windows OS since XP from a regular hard disk to a fast SSD (Solid State Drive) even of a smaller capacity. In addition, Paragon Connect VD technology, which works with virtual disks as if they were physical, is now included.
  • New Automatic partition alignment for computer performance optimization: All partitioning (resize, move, creation) and copy with resize operations now take partition alignment problems into account with all volumes being automatically aligned by sector (for drives with non-512b sector size offset\ border will differ) . Hard Disk Manager 11 Pro users do not need to worry about possible system performance decline caused by unaligned partitions.
  • Full set of Partition Management operations: All partitioning operations can now be maintained on physical or virtual environments. For mixed systems environments, Hard Disk Manager 11 Pro allows easy install and management of several diverse operating systems on a single hard disk drive.
  • Updated wiping technologies can efficiently dispose data on any HDD, SSD, flash-drives and laptops.
  • Support of latest technologies – AFD (Advanced Format Drive) ready: Full support of new large HDDs with advanced format structure and large sector sizes. Hard Disk Manager 11 Pro places volumes accordingly to new partition alignment rules and is able to manage partitions on these drives.
  • USB 3.0 ready: New USB 3.0 port grants the possibility to access to external HDD and Flash drives on the new high-speed version of the traditional serial port
  • Conversion of basic MBR to basic GPT disks; support of modern virtual machines.
  • WinPE 3.0 based bootable environment: Support of a wider range of hardware configurations with the option to add drivers for specific hardware on-the-fly.

The software retails for $99.95 and there is a trial you can download and test.

We will be doing a full hands-on review soon, so watch this space.

Learn more about Hard Disk Manager 2011 Professional here

Gadget Show Live 2011 Hall of Fame Video

Andrew Edney
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0
Gadget Show Live 2011 Hall of Fame Video

The guys and girls from the Center for Computing History who put on the excellent Gadget Hall of Fame exhibit at the recent Gadget Show Live have posted a video they took at the event. And if you like retro tech you will love the video.

CCH logo

I’m planning on visiting the museum very soon and will post a full report of my day.

Learn more about what they did for the Gadget Show Live here

Now sit back and enjoy the video.

The Home Server Show 133 Out Now

Andrew Edney
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0
The Home Server Show 133 Out Now

Dave and the guys over at the Home Server Show have just released show 133.

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Here’s what Dave says about this weeks show:

This podcast is late! Dave was traveling this week and joined the show via a lousy Skype connection so there are audio issues throughout. That doesn’t mean it’s not a good show as we had Timothy Black (VinylFreak) and Mike Howard (GeekAccountant) join Jim and Dave to discuss the week’s news. We discuss the Vulkano review and get heavy into Media on this episode. We also hit the new segment of “Off Topic” again. It’s a great show, enjoy.

You can listen to or download the show from here.

DataCore DriveHarmony Beta Update—Public Beta

Jim McCarthy
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8
DataCore DriveHarmony Beta Update—Public Beta

DataCore also announced the timing for the public beta for DriveHarmony, the add-in that they are bringing to market to augment WHS2011’s disk drive management features.  Read on for details!

datacore

Earlier today, we brought you the news that DataCore has named their add-in product and has announced the start date for the OEM beta.  In a prior post, we disclosed that the beta process would begin with an OEM beta at the beginning of May and that a public beta would start soon thereafter.  Carlos Carreras contacted me this afternoon to announce that the public beta will begin on 16 May 2011.  This is consistent with the approach that we reported to you on 15 April.

Also, he gave us a little insight into the name that was used for the add-in.  In Carlos’ own words:

The name plays off of the musical naming theme used in our products (music = creativity) and ties back to making drives “harmonious” thru the pooling and mirroring capabilities being introduced.

So mark your calendars for 16 May and prepare to download the beta.  DataCore is looking for help in ensuring that the user interface in particular is easy to use and functional, and would appreciate your involvement in the public beta.

DataCore Technology DriveHarmony Announcement

CloudBerry Backup for Windows Home Server Updated to v 2.1.1

Andrew Edney
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0
CloudBerry Backup for Windows Home Server Updated to v 2.1.1

Our friends at CloudBerry Labs have been in touch to say that they have just updated their CloudBerry Backup Add-in for Windows Home Server to version 2.1.1.

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The update is for Windows Home Server V1, with 2011 and Small Business Server 2011 Essentials versions following on some time next week.

The update includes:

  • Long paths support – backup path longer than 260 symbols
  • Custom credentials for network locations
  • Memory Management Improvements
To learn more, and download the latest version, click here

DataCore Beta Update

Jim McCarthy
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3
DataCore Beta Update

Carlos Carreras from DataCore has been in contact today with an update on the beta for their add-in.  Read on for details!

datacore

Carlos Carreras got in contact today to let us know that the OEM beta will begin on Tuesday, May 3, 2011.  In addition, the add-in will be named DataCore DriveHarmony.  Catchy!

We’ll continue to bring you updates as we become aware of them, so please stay tuned to UsingWindowsHomeServer.Com!

GIGABYTE Touch BIOS – A Friendly Way To Change Your Settings

Andrew Edney
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0
GIGABYTE Touch BIOS – A Friendly Way To Change Your Settings

Have you ever wanted to change some settings in the BIOS on your computer but were confused by all the settings? Well GIGABYTE have just introduced the Touch BIOS to make things that little bit friendlier.

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Navigating through the BIOS to control and change system settings can be daunting for many people who are not regular PC DIY users. With Touch BIOS™, GIGABYTE engineers have completely re-imagined how users can interact with their BIOS, allowing for a more familiar icon-based user experience. In fact, with a touch screen monitor, GIGABYTE Touch BIOS™ is as easy to use as most apps on your iPhone. Check out this 3 minute Touch BIOS™ video introduction to see just how easy BIOS control can be.

Touch navigation requires a touch enabled monitor + Windows 7 operating system.
Mouse navigation is supported with any standard monitor (including touch enabled monitor) + Windows XP/Vista/7 operating system.

It is available for all GIGABYTE Z68 series motherboards, and I would assume it is something that will be added to future motherboards from GIGABYTE.

As usual, the warning here is not to mess with your BIOS unless you know what you are doing, but still, its cool that there is a friendly way to change things if you need to.

I wonder what the BYOB guys will think of this?

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Take a look at the video below to see it in action.

You can learn more from the GIGABYTE website

Tranquil Also Announce SQA-5H Series 3 with Windows Home Server 2011

Andrew Edney
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0
Tranquil Also Announce SQA-5H Series 3 with Windows Home Server 2011

Earlier this week we told you about the Tranquil PC Leo HS4 Windows Home Server. Well Tranquil are also updating their SQA-5H range to include Windows Home Server 2011 as well.

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Check out the review we did of the original SQA-5H Windows Home Server And don’t forget if you are an existing SQA-5H owner Tranquil are offering upgrade options

Shipping and pre-orders
Tranquil are accepting pre-orders from 27th April 2011, and the new WHS 2011 Servers will commence shipping from May 16th. Order early to avoid disappointment.

An ‘Early Bird’ coupon code will be offered to all who pre-order, before the shipping date. To claim your Early Bird discount of £35.00, just enter the following coupon at the checkout WHSEB35


What do you get

  • SQA-5H Series 3 Home Server appliance
  • 4 spare HDD bays (5 in total)
  • 2TB Low Energy Primary Hard Disk
  • 2GB DDR2 RAM
  • Intel Atom D525
  • Media Kit including PC Restore CD and Server Restore DVD
  • 24 month RTB (return to base) warranty

Please note this version is not optimised for real time video transcoding, if you wish to use this service, and get an overall higher performing WHS2011 server, please consider the Leo HS4

Learn more and place your order here
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