iOS 5 Battery Problems Continue

5

We reported that we had experienced poor battery life on the new iPhone 4S and iOS 5 recently, and a few days ago Apple released an update to fix it. For some, myself included, this fix didn’t work!

battery

According to Apple, the update “Fixes bugs affecting battery life”. Personally I haven’t experienced any increase in battery performance, and it is just as poor as it was before the update.

Worse still, after applying the update I noticed that I had problems with my email on the iPhone. I had a number of messages that simply said “No Sender” and “No Subject” even though prior to the update they were proper emails.

Removing the accounts and re-adding them fixed that, but it shouldn’t have happened.

One good thing though was the over the air (OTA) updates from Apple worked like a charm (all be it not fixing the problems) and it was nice for one to only have to do a small download for the update instead of the usual 650MB+ per Apple device.

Regarding the battery problems, website AllThingsD are reporting:

“The recent iOS software update addressed many of the battery issues that some customers experienced on their iOS 5 devices,” the company said in a statement given to AllThingsD. “We continue to investigate a few remaining issues.”

So, come on Apple, fix this issue and fix it soon!

Did the fix work for you? Let us know…..

The Home Server Show Episode 160 Out Now

Dave at the guys at the Home Server Show have released episode 160.

home_server_show_small_thumb_thumb_t[1]

Here’s what Dave has to say about this weeks show:

I had to Skype in from a remote location this week but I think we pulled off a great podcast. My audio is not the best but John and Jim sound great and the conversation was just as good. An add-in for an add-in and another good chat about VM’s, SSD’s, and drive extender add-ins. Outtakes thrown in for good measure! Enjoy.

As usual you can listen to the show from here.

WHS Add-in Update: CloudBerry Backup Updated to Version 2.5

Our friends at CloudBerry Labs have been in touch to tell us that their CloudBerry Backup software has been updated to version 2.5.

CloudBerry S3 Backup is a powerful Windows program that automate backup and restore processes to Amazon S3 cloud storage.

New version of CloudBerry Backup 2.5 comes with an ability to backup data to local storage such as local disks, network shares and NAS devices. While the previous version of CloudBerry Backup had some basic support for local backup, with the newer version the users can take advantage of all product functionality available for cloud backup including block level differential backup, data encryption, data compression and data versioning.

CloudBerry Backup 2.5 lays the foundation for a full hybrid cloud backup implementation. The users can decide what data to store locally for high availability and what data to store in remote locations such as Amazon S3 and Windows Azure.

Local backup

With this feature you can backup data to local disks, SAN, NAS and remote file shares. This is useful if you like to backup only subset of your data to the cloud for advanced protection but also like to keep your data locally for fast access and reduced costs.

There is a new account type called File System Storage account and you have an option to choose it on the Backup Wizard dialog.

image001

All you have to do is to specify the path to the folder where you want the backup created.

image003

Everything else will work just like with any other storage provider. you can choose the Advanced Mode with the Block Level Backup option

image005

you can configure Purge options and how many versions to keep

image007

you can configure Compression and Encryption

image009

Kinect Sports: Season Two Free Game Add-On Available Now

0

If you have the Kinect Sports: Season Two game for the Xbox 360, then you can get a free add-on for it called Challenge Pack #1.

Skiing_Rare_KS

“Kinect Sports: Season Two” Serves up Free Game Add-On to Separate the Pros from the Rookies

Launching Nov. 7, “Kinect Sports: Season Two Challenge Pack #1,” sponsored by Braun, brings six heart-thumping, sweat-inducing activities to elevate your game and inspire competitive fun for the whole family

 

Players, take your mark. The teams from Rare and Big Park Games today unveiled “Kinect Sports: Season Two Challenge Pack #1,” a free game add-on sponsored by Braun, and the first of our monthly updates for “Kinect Sports: Season Two.” Available Nov. 7 on Xbox LIVE Marketplace, “Challenge Pack #1 stirs up friendly competition in the living room with six new Challenge Play activities, helping eager athletes hone their athletic prowess on the field, green, court, slopes and even the dart board.

Invest sweat equity in all six new sports featured in “Kinect Sports: Season Two” through new exciting activities available in Quick Play and Challenge Play, allowing you to compete with your friends and family either in your living room or send a challenge over Xbox LIVE for friends to tackle later:

· Baseball: Frantic Fielder – Oil up your mitt and get ready for action! “Frantic Fielder” for Baseball gives all new meaning to playing catch. Fielding an endless stream of balls from a lineup of mascots tests everything from hand-eye coordination to speed. The more you catch the harder it gets – three misses and you’re OUT!

· Darts: Smart Shot – Exercise the brain and throwing arm simultaneously with “Smart Shot” for Darts. If hitting the bulls-eye wasn’t challenge enough, try competing against the clock with mathematical puzzles that require a sharp mind and even sharper aim.

· Football: Crazy Kicker – As the star kicker in “Crazy Kicker” for Football, you’ll discover the challenge of making a 40-yard field goal with all eyes watching. Account for factors like distance and wind to line up your shot perfectly and score! The crowd and mascots will cheer you on with every amazing goal.

· Golf: Champion Chip – “Champion Chip” for Golf takes the short game to a new level. Chip shots become increasingly challenging from different surfaces, distances, and with natural obstacles like wind steering the course.

· Skiing: Cool Ringings – Swoosh down the slopes with a license for speed, dodging mascots and ringing the cowbells for extra points in “Cool Ringings” for Skiing. Five different courses help players build their ski legs just in time for ski season.

· Tennis: Rapid Returner – Breaking a sweat is easy with “Rapid Returner” for Tennis, where mascots serve up a variety of zingers at increasing speeds to the forehand, backhand, net and baseline. If you’re looking for the ultimate Tennis training game, grab your racquet for and get ready for action.

New game add-ons will be made available each and every month through Spring 2012, with each release including some kind of free content to keep you on the field and in the game. Stay tuned for more details on additional challenges, features and even a whole new sport coming next year!

Apple Release iOS 5.0.1 To Fix Battery Life Problem

1

Apple have just released the iOS 5.0.1 update to fix the battery life problems – hurray!

IMG_1099

iOS 5.0.1 Software Update

This update contains improvements and other bug fixes, including:

•    Fixes bugs affecting battery life
•    Adds Multitasking Gestures for original iPad
•    Resolves bugs with Documents in the Cloud
•    Improves voice recognition for Australian users using dictation

Products compatible with this software update:

•    iPhone 4S
•    iPhone 4
•    iPhone 3GS
•    iPad 2
•    iPad
•    iPod touch (4th generation)
•    iPod touch (3rd generation)

My iPhone 4S is downloading the update right now!

Iomega Launch Iomega eGo Mac Edition Portable Hard Drive

Iomega Completes New Line of Hard Drives for the Mac With Launch of Iomega eGo Mac Edition Portable Hard Drive.

eGo_Portable_Mac_black

Three Drives Offer Something for Every User of Mac Notebooks & Desktops:

· 256-Bit Hardware Encryption Keeps Files Secure

· Desktop Drive Delivers Quick Charge for Your iPad

· Up to 3TB on the Desktop, and up to 1TB for New Portable Models

· All Three Mac Drives Include Bundled Iomega Protection Suite With Mac-Specific Software

Here is the press release:

San Diego, November 10, 2011 — Iomega, an EMC company (NYSE:EMC) and a global leader in data protection, today announced the completion of its new Mac-oriented hard drive line with the launch of the new Iomega® eGo™ Mac Edition Portable Hard Drive, an on-the-go stylish drive with plenty of storage that can withstand drops and still travel easily in a pocketbook or briefcase.

Combined with the recent launches of the Iomega® Helium Portable Hard Drive and the Iomega® Mac Companion Hard Drive, Iomega now has a complete new line of portable and desktop hard drives for Mac users. All three new drives are formatted HFS+ for compatibility with Mac computers right out of the box, making them perfect complements to today’s Apple notebooks and desktops.

“Iomega’s new line of hard drives for the Mac gives enthusiasts everything they need in versatile, high performance storage,” said Jonathan Huberman, president of Iomega Corporation. “The new rugged Iomega eGo Mac Edition Portable Hard Drive and the compact Iomega Helium Portable Hard Drive are ideal for mobile users, creative professionals and digital enthusiasts who demand a stylish and sure way to store, share and backup all of the files on their Mac computers. On the desktop, the stylish Mac Companion Hard Drive delivers plenty of storage and interface options as well as first-of-its-kind quick charge for an iPad. All three of these new Iomega hard drives are compatible with Mac Lion OS and Time Machine, giving Mac users the form and function they want as well as the peace of mind that their data is safe and can be automatically backed up.”

Two Well-Rounded Portable Hard Drives for Mac Users

Available in 500GB* and 1TB** capacities, the new black Iomega eGo Mac Edition Portable Hard Drive has two FireWire 800 ports and one USB 2.0 port for fast performance and versatile connections. The eGo Mac Edition Portable Hard Drive includes a Drop Guard™ Case to help protect the drive from drops of up to seven feet. The eGo Mac Edition Portable Hard Drive requires no external power supply, and comes complete with three cables: one USB 2.0 cable, one FireWire 800 cable, and one FireWire 800-FireWire 400 adaptor cable.

Available in 500GB and 1TB capacities, the new Iomega Helium Portable Hard Drive has one USB 2.0 port and a durable aluminium case, giving mobile users and others peace-of-mind when travelling with their Iomega Helium Portable Hard Drive. The Helium Portable Hard Drive requires no external power supply, and comes complete with one USB 2.0 cable.

One Powerful Desktop Hard Drive

Available in 2TB and 3TB capacities, the new Iomega Mac Companion Hard Drive utilizes a fast 7200 RPM 3.5-inch hard drive in a space-saving design that fits perfectly on the base of the Apple iMac or an Apple monitor. Adding peripheral devices to your Apple computer is no problem with the Mac Companion Hard Drive. The stylish silver and black drive includes two FireWire 800 ports, one USB 2.0 port and a two port integrated USB 2.0 hub that lets you connect multiple devices such as a printer or other external storage device. The Mac Companion Hard Drive doesn’t require the user to buy extra cables – the drive comes complete with one FireWire 800, one conversion FireWire 400-800, and one USB 2.0 cable

Of the many features included with the Mac Companion Hard Drive, Mac users may most appreciate the first-of-its-kind high powered USB charging port for their iPad, iPhone or iPod. (Apple portable products sold separately.) The charging port is a high-powered 2.1 Amp hookup that makes it easy and convenient to charge your iPad and other portable Apple devices so they’re ready to go when you are. ***

The new Iomega Mac Companion Hard Drive is the only major branded external HFS+ Mac desktop hard drive on the market today that incorporates a high powered Apple device charging port and a two-port USB 2.0 hub.

Three Drives + Plenty of Software = Total Solutions

Unlike many competing hard drives, the new eGo Mac Edition Portable Hard Drive, as well as the Helium Portable Hard Drive and the Mac Companion Hard Drive, all boast local and online backup, as well as encryption and anti-virus software:

· 256-bit AES encryption keeps files on your drive safe from prying eyes.

· The Iomega Protection Suite, a comprehensive offering of powerful Mac software that includes:

o Iomega® QuikProtect for simple scheduled file-level backup.

o MozyHome™ Online Backup for convenient online backup of up to 2GB free.

o A free 12-month subscription of Trend Micro™ Smart Surfing for Mac allows users to shop, bank and surf online while staying safe from attacks to your identity and confidential information.

Availability and Warranty

The Iomega Mac Companion Hard Drive and the Iomega Helium Portable Hard Drive are now available at Apple stores; the Iomega eGo Mac Edition Portable Hard Drive will be available at Apple Stores later this month. All three products are also available or will be available at other select retailers and etailers worldwide.

All three products include a three-year warranty with registration.

For more information about Iomega storage products, please go to www.iomega.com.

Watch out for our hands-on review of the eGo Mac Edition Portable Hard Drive in the next few days.

Parallels Workstation 6 Launched

Today saw the release of Parallels Workstation 6, which lets you run multiple OS configurations at the same time on Windows and Linux PCs.

XP_Win7_Win8

Parallels Workstation provides the capability for Small Businesses and Professionals to deploy desktops faster and protect against failure and downtime by reducing costs through desktop and application virtualization. Parallels Workstation lets you run multiple OS configurations at the same time on Windows and Linux PCs. Simplify the way you work across environments, automate routine tasks and enable you to enjoy the flexibility to access and manage locally, remotely or on the go using the Parallels Mobile app for iPad and iPhone.

Professional Grade

  • Tested and certified on more than 25 major Windows editions and Linux distributions
  • Controlled Native Execution (CNE) takes advantage of legacy hardware, providing virtualization without hardware-assisted support
  • Faster VMs with Intel VT-x2 support

Simplicity

  • USB smart connections remember assignments and automatically connect to appropriate VM
  • Easily configure networking profiles across virtual machines for users moving between physical locations
  • Allows for drag-and-drop and copy-and-paste between VMs
  • Integrate applications from multiple VMs onto the host desktop for easy access
  • Automates routine administration tasks to reduce configuration time and simplify mobility

Flexibility

  • Remotely start, stop and reset VMs via the Parallels Management Console
  • Access VMs and their applications while on the go with the Parallels Mobile app for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch
  • Easily convert physical and virtual environments into Parallels Workstation VMs with Parallels Transporter
  • Automatically encrypt VMs for privacy and security

With a special student edition now available for $39.99 and a limited time offer of $49.99 (regularly $79.99) for customers using earlier versions of Parallels Workstation or Parallels Desktop for Windows and Linux, take advantage of this opportunity today!

PW6%20welcome%20screen

Learn more about Parallels Workstation 6 here

Synology Launches RackStation RS812 and RS212 NAS Servers

Synology have also announced two new RackStation NAS Servers, which are reliable yet economical network attached storage solutions for workgroups and offices.

Rackstation RS812

RS812 - 001

Synology RackStation RS812 offers an affordable and full-featured network attached storage solution, specifically designed for small business and workgroup users who need to share and protect data cost-effectively, while increasing productivity with comprehensive office applications. Running on DiskStation Manager (DSM) operating system, it delivers ease of use and variety of features.

  • Optimal Price/Performance Ratio
  • 2 LAN with Failover and Link Aggregation Support
  • Scale up to 8 Drives with Synology RX410
  • VMware®, Citrix®, Microsoft® Hyper-V® compliance
  • Power-saving with only 37 Watts in Operation
  • Affordable Total Cost of Ownership
  • Running on Synology DiskStation Manager (DSM)

Rackstation RS212

RS212 - 001

Synology® RackStation RS212 offers an affordable and full-featured network attached storage solution, specifically designed for small business and workgroup users who need to share and protect data cost-effectively, while increasing productivity with comprehensive office applications. Running on DiskStation Manager (DSM) operating system, it delivers ease of use and variety of features.

  • 12-Inch Depth to Fit in 2-Post Rack & Wall Mount Rack
  • 2 LAN with Failover and Link Aggregation Support
  • VMware®, Citrix®, Microsoft® Hyper-V® compliance
  • Quiet and Power-saving
  • Hot-swappable Hard Drive Design
  • Running on Synology DiskStation Manager (DSM)

Here is the press release for the two devices:

Milton Keynes, United Kingdom – November 10, 2011— Synology® Inc. today launched RackStation RS812 and RS212, four-bay scalable and two-bay compact rackmount NAS servers, providing workgroups and offices with reliable data sharing and backup solutions, along with versatile business applications.

“The RS812 and the RS212 both come with dual LAN failover and hot-swappable HDD support to guard against LAN or disk failure, providing reliable solutions at an economical price point,” said Wayne An, product manager of Synology Inc. “Both models are certified by VMware® vSphere™, Citrix® XenServer™ and Microsoft® Hyper-V™ to work as storage solutions for virtualization servers,” added Ann.

When paired with a Synology RX410 expansion unit, the RS812 can grow capacity to up to 8 hard drives on-the-fly. The RS812 is also powerful to manage demanding business applications. It reads at 109.7 MB/sec and writes at 50.6 MB/sec under RAID 5 configuration. The scalability and performance can’t be beat in this price range.

Featuring a shallow form factor, the RS212 is 12 inches in depth, fitting well to 2-post and wall mount rack cabinets and ideal for space-constrained environments, such as school dorms and small offices. It comes with replaceable motherboard and I/O ports posited on the front panel to streamline server management process. The RS212 can operate in a stringent thermal environment of 45 degree Celsius at the highest, offering utmost reliability under rigorous conditions. Its fan spinning can adjust intelligently according to system temperature, which contributes to its low noise level measured as 28dB(A).

Powered by a 1.6 GHz processer, the RS812 and the RS212 are equipped with 512 MB and 256 MB RAM respectively, two USB ports and one eSATA port. Both the RS812 and RS212 are energy efficient, consuming 37 watts and 25.3 watts respectively in operation.

The RS812 and the RS212 both run DiskStation Manager 3.2 (DSM 3.2), the operating system of every Synology NAS Server. DSM makes complicated things simple and hard things possible by providing versatile features on a snappy, intuitive, and multitasking web-based user interface. Synology has received a plethora of recognitions worldwide, among which include “Excellence Award of 2011” for storage from PC PRO, U.K.

Synology Introduces DiskStation DS212j NAS

Today Synology introduced the DS212j budget-friendly NAS server, providing users with a ubiquitous cloud storage space and rich multimedia experience

002

 

Synology DiskStation DS212j is designed to provide a solution of file storage and sharing with data protection for your home environment with low power consumption, quiet operation and reliability. Running on DiskStation Manager (DSM) operating system, it delivers ease of use and a variety of features.

  • 24/7 Power-Saving Download Server
  • DLNA® Certified Media Server
  • Effortless Backup
  • Anywhere Access
  • Power-saving with only 17.6 Watts in Operation
  • Running on Synology DiskStation Manager (DSM)

001004

Here is the press release:

Milton Keynes, UK – November 10, 2011—Synology® Inc. today unveiled that its popular j Series line is available now with the newest generation of DiskStation DS212j, a budget-friendly, easy to use, and versatile 2-bay NAS server.

“The DS212j is designed to work seamlessly with iPhone®, iPad® and AndroidTM phones, letting users to stay in touch with their stored digital content on-the-go,” said Darren Lin, product manager of Synology Inc. Synology offers various mobile apps that allow users to access to data, view photos, stream music and videos and even view live feeds from IP cameras on-the-roam. “Thanks to DS212j’s ability to add terabytes for our mobile needs, our tablet and smartphones storage limitations are now gone,” added Lin.

Synology introduces DS212j with a brand-new enclosure design that provides improved functionalities and aesthetic appeal to its users. It features two additional side ventilation openings and a larger 92mm rear fan that enhance heat dissipation with its elevated overall airflow to keep the system running cool 24/7 as well as minimizing the noise level to 18.3 dB(A). Designed with energy efficiency in mind, power consumption of the DS212j is further reduced to 17.6 watts under full operation and has surpassed its predecessor with a 45% reduction at 5.5 watts when hard drives enter hibernation mode. The DS212j runs on a 1.2 GHz processor, equips with 256MB RAM that doubles the amount of its predecessor and
includes one Gigabit LAN connection with two USB ports.

The DS212j operates on DiskStation Manager 3.2 (DSM 3.2), the operating system of every Synology NAS Server. DSM makes complicated things simple and hard things possible by providing versatile features on a snappy, intuitive and multitasking web-based user interface.

The predecessor of DS212j, known for its extensive features and ease-of-use, received numerous media recognitions from worldwide that include PC Magazine’s Editor’s Choice and expertREVIEWS’s Best Storage Product of 2011.

For more information please visit:
http://www.synology.com/products/product.php?product_name=DS212j&lang=enu

Voices of Sesame Street’s Bert & Ernie now available for TomTom

0

If you have a TomTom device and feel the need to have Sesame Street’s Bert and Ernie direct you, then today is your lucky day!

Bert & Ernie

The voices of Bert & Ernie are now available for TomTom devices. Developed in association with Sesame Workshop and Locutio Voice Technologies, drivers can join the duo on their adventures, whether they’re off to Sesame Street or anywhere else.

Bert & Ernie’s directions will help to put a smile on every drive. The friends deliver navigation instructions together and enjoy fun banter such as: “U-turn ahead, Bert. Just me turn? All of us Bert.”

There is a video of the pair in action, so fans can find out what they were up to in the recording studio. Click http://youtu.be/cE4a_nqiurY to see it.

Bert & Ernie are sure to lighten the mood!

Bert & Ernie’s voice is available to download now for £7.95.

Hear Bert & Ernie in action and find out more about the voice at http://www.tomtom.com/en_gb/products/voices/bert-ernie/index.jsp.

Griffin and Dijit Announce Android-Compatible Beacon Universal Remote Control System

Griffin and Dijit have announced an Android-compatible beacon universal remote control system – and it’s available now.

Griffin

Griffin Technology Inc., one of the world’s foremost creators of innovations for everyday life, and Dijit Media, a San Francisco-based software company whose Universal Remote and TV Show Guide App software integrates consumers’ media viewing experience with their smart devices, have announced a new Android-only version of the Beacon™ Universal Remote Control System. The wireless AV controller pairs with Android devices via Bluetooth and works with Dijit’s free Universal Remote App enabling complete control over the entire home entertainment system directly from the Android interface.

“With the proliferation of new Android-based phones being announced each week, Beacon for Android was a natural progression for us,” said Mark Rowan, President of Griffin Technology. “We look forward to bringing the most powerful and easiest-to-use remote control to the Android user base.”

Beacon works by converting Bluetooth signals from smartphones and tablets into infrared signals required to control consumer electronics devices. Beacon gives users complete control over TVs, DVRs, stereos and other home entertainment devices, but with the flexibility of a touchscreen interface. Best of all, it’s a remote that they’ll never lose in the couch again.

“Android now has a huge following, and we are really excited about bringing our remote control and tv show listings app to the Android Market,” said Maksim Ioffe, Founder and CEO of Dijit Media.  “Our mission is to create the greatest ‘second screen’ entertainment platform, and Android compatibility brings us one step closer to helping millions of people get a little bit more out of their TV experience.”

Beacon is powered by 4 AA batteries. Set-up is quick and easy: there are no bulky cases or dongles, no wires or cables. Just pair via Bluetooth and download the free Dijit app for Android, which now boasts compatibility with tablets and smartphones running Android OS 2.3.3 or greater.
Features of the Dijit app for Android include:

  • Tablet Interface: transforms your tablet into a powerful home entertainment console
  • Consumer Electronics Support: Beacon is compatible with more than 200,000 devices
  • Search and Discover TV Shows: browse by time/date, search, discover new shows, and watch with just a tap using the Guide
  • Rich TV Show Listings: access tv episode details, upcoming schedules, and Cast & Crew info

Beacon for Android, $69.99, is now shipping and available at www.BestBuy.com and on http://www.griffintechnology.com.  Dijit’s Universal Remote App, a free download, can be found on the Android Market. To learn more visit www.griffintechnology.com/beacon and watch the video of Beacon in action.

The Digital Lifestyle Show #328 – Down on the beach

0

This weeks Digital Lifestyle Show has just been released – its show 328.

DLS Show

Here’s what Ian says about this week show:

Back for another show and this week while Garry suns himself on a beach somewhere (he claims to be working) Andrew and I talk over the weeks news including, DVBLink updates, new Airplay tools for Windows Media Center, QVIVO, Plex for Google TV, My Movies, Kinect trouble, myFord Touch and EPG tools for Windows Media Center

You can listen to or download the show from here.

NETGEAR Announce New Versions of ReadyNAS Duo and ReadyNAS NV+

Yesterday NETGEAR announced new versions of it’s ReadyNAS Duo and ReadyNAS NV+ devices.

nvplus_productimage_lowres18-8092rnd2xxx_duo_productimage_lowres18-8067

Here is the press release:

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Nov. 9, 2011 — NETGEAR®, Inc. (NASDAQGM: NTGR), a global networking company that delivers innovative products to consumers, businesses and service providers, today announced new versions of their ReadyNAS® Duo and ReadyNAS NV+ network attached storage systems. Value-conscious business users and home media enthusiasts may now access data twice as fast as previous generations, pay up to 30% less than similar products, and still receive 24/7 support and a 3 year warranty. A completely updated interface means that in as few as 8 mouse clicks users can create a secure private cloud for storing and accessing their music, photos, videos and documents from anywhere in the world.

The two-bay ReadyNAS Duo v2 and 4-bay ReadyNAS NV+ v2 systems redefine reliability, affordability and simplicity for professional and home users alike. Both systems include hot-swap disk drive bays and automatic capacity expansion, as well as USB 3.0 ports (an industry first) for up to 20% speedier backups. An updated photo sharing application allows print quality private photo sharing without 3rd party services or fees. Both include ReadyNAS Remote, a mobile app for iOS, Android, PC and Mac platforms that delivers 128-bit SSL access to information stored on the ReadyNAS from anywhere. And finally, both can stream music, HD movies and photos to home media devices like TVs, game consoles and TiVo.

Gartner ranks* NETGEAR’s ReadyNAS family of unified storage products as the global leader in the sub-$5000 price band. “Many small businesses have witnessed a drastic increase in the amount of digital content, such as digital imagery and archival records in medical or professional service applications” said Pushan Rinnen, Research Director for storage at Gartner Inc. “Meanwhile, it has become increasingly important for digital content to be accessed from mobile devices and to be backed up properly for protection. A NAS system can solve these problems and has become a critical component in modern offices without strong local IT expertise.”

“Redesigned in a big way, the ReadyNAS Duo v2 and NV+ v2 are great additions to the ReadyNAS family,” explains Matthew Mulvaney, a long-time ReadyNAS user.

“The sleek new interface makes administration easier than ever before and after just a few clicks through the setup wizard, the system is ready for use. My mobile devices can use it seamlessly and sharing photos with friends and family is a breeze. I can amaze them with a slideshow of photos set to their favorite music. It’s basically become my own private cloud!”

“Businesses and home users are interacting with more devices, from more locations, and with more information than ever before,” said Matt Pahnke, NETGEAR’s storage product marketing manager. “Sharing data between devices and locations is only getting more difficult. NETGEAR’s ReadyNAS Duo v2 and NV+ v2 are cost-effective and incredibly easy-to-use solutions to the content sprawl problem, ensuring capacity and secure mobile access.”

Pricing and Availability

These two new products are available worldwide from November 13th.Suggested retail prices start at $199 for the Duo v2 and $399 for the NV+ v2.

Both ReadyNAS systems come with 90 days of 24/7 technical support in over 16 languages worldwide and a three year limited warranty. Additional ProSupport service upgrades for next-business-day part swap are also available.

More information To learn more about both ReadyNAS Duo v2 and NV+ v2, please visit www.netgear.com/private-cloud

Kingston Technology Announce Next Generation Entry-Level SSDNow V Range of SSDs

Kingston Technology today announced the next generation of its entry-level, budget SSDNow V range.

105390-ssd-kingson-ssdnow-v200

The new Kingston SATA Rev 3.0 (6Gb/s) SSDNow V200 is nearly twice as fast as the previous SSDNow V100 SSD. It is also up to 20 percent less in price than its predecessor SSDNow V100 drive making it one of the best price/performance SSD solutions in the marketplace1. With better performance and a lower cost, the value-driven SSDNow V200 is perfect for cost-conscious consumers who are looking to upgrade to Flash-based, hard-drive solutions for the first time.

The SSDNow V200 is available in 64GB, 128GB and 256GB capacities as either a stand-alone drive or as an upgrade kit to make installation easy. The desktop bundle kit includes the SSD, cloning software, DVD with step-by-step installation video, cables (SATA data and power), and 3.5″ hard-drive mounting brackets and hardware. The notebook bundle includes the SSD, DVD with step-by-step installation video, cloning software and a 2.5″ external enclosure for easy OS and data transfer from HDD to SSD during cloning.

Features

  • Multiple capacities — to fit your design needs
  • Form Factor — 2.5-inch drive available in both 7.0mm (64GB & 128GB only) & 9.5mm (256GB) to fit more systems
  • Faster — boots system and applications faster than a hard drive
  • Silent — runs silent and cool
  • Reliable — with no moving parts, solid-state drives are less likely to fail than standard hard drives
  • Convenient — all-in-one kits with all the components for easy installation
  • Supports S.M.A.R.T. — monitors the status of your drive
  • Supports TRIM — ensures maximum performance on compatible operating systems
  • Guaranteed — three-year warranty, 24/7 tech support

Specifications

  • Form factor — 2.5″
  • Interface — SATA Rev. 3.0 (6Gb/s) – with backwards compatibility to SATA Rev. 2.0 (3Gb/s) , SATA Rev. 1.0 (1.5Gb/s)
  • Capacities — 64GB, 128GB, 256GB
  • Dimensions
        64GB & 128GB – 69.8mm x 100.1mm x 7mm
      256GB – 69.8mm x 100.1mm x 9.5mm
  • Weight
        64GB & 128GB – 88g
      256GB – 105.2g
  • Storage Temperatures — -40°C to 85°C
  • Operating Temperatures — 0°C to 70°C
  • Vibration Operating — 2.17G Peak (7–800 Hz)
  • Vibration Non-Operation — 20G Peak (10–2000 Hz)
  • Sequential read
        64GB – up to 260MB/s
        128GB – up to 300MB/s
      256GB – up to 300MB/s
  • Sequential write
        64GB – up to 100MB/s
        128GB – up to 190MB/s
      256GB – up to 230MB/s
  • Max Random 4k Read
        32GB – 32,000 IOPS
        64GB – 36,000 IOPS
      256GB – 32,000 IOPS
  • Max Random 4k Write
        32GB – 1,400 IOPS
        64GB – 2,500 IOPS
      256GB – 4,000 IOPS
  • Power Consumption — 0.491 W (TYP) Idle / 1.87 W (TYP) Write
  • Life expectancy — 1,000,000 Hrs MTBF
Learn more from the Kingston website