What is Windows Home Server?

Sony Introduces World’s Lightest 15.2cm eReader with Enhanced Touchscreen and a Limited Edition Harry Potter Edition

Andrew Edney

-

Aug 31, 2011

Sony Introduces World’s Lightest 15.2cm eReader with Enhanced Touchscreen and a Limited Edition Harry Potter Edition

Sony have just announced the World’s lightest eReader with Enhanced Touchscreen. Oh, and a specially-created limited edition of Reader Wi-Fi for Harry Potter fans!

· Hold effortlessly in one hand: just 168 grams and 8.9mm thin
· Browse and download a huge range of eBooks via Wi-Fi
· Turn pages smoothly, zoom in and out, look up in dictionary or make notes, all on advanced, high-contrast touchscreen
· Borrow eBooks directly and wirelessly from your public library
· Over one month of battery life* lets you read without recharging on holidays or trips away
· Available in three fashionable colours: red, white and black

Treat yourself to the most natural and immersive reading experience with the new Reader™ Wi-Fi^® (model PRS-T1) from Sony – the world’s lightest¹ 15.2cm (6”) eReader that also features an enhanced touchscreen.

Now with Wi-Fi, Reader gives you the additional freedom to buy, borrow or get eBooks for free wherever there’s a wireless connection available.

From the latest releases to popular titles and classics, it’s easy to browse and download titles in seconds from a huge range of compatible bookstores and other web sites. You will also be able to purchase and download eBooks and periodicals via Wi-Fi from the rapidly-expanding catalogue available at the Reader™ Store². What’s more, Reader Wi-Fi is the worlds’ first³ eReader that will allow you to borrow eBooks wirelessly from public libraries thanks to simple, seamless access on the device⁴ via an on-screen ‘Public Library’ icon.

Slipping effortlessly into a bag or pocket, Reader Wi-Fi is no bigger than a paperback book. 8.9mm thin and weighing just 168 grams it’s supremely comfortable to hold, with a gently curving profile that fits naturally in your hand.

Enjoying your favourite book is even more of a pleasure with the advanced Dual Touch screen. E Ink^® Pearl electronic paper displays a clear, glare-free, high contrast image that’s easy to read for hours, even in direct sunlight.

Touch the screen to choose a book. Swipe a finger to turn the page, or zoom in and out by pinching your fingers together or apart. Tap on a word and hold to find its meaning from two built-in English language dictionaries. Words can also be translated to and from English using ten built-in translation dictionaries. You can even write notes on the page or highlight text with a finger or the supplied stylus – just like a real book.

Finding your way around the longest title is refreshingly quick and intuitive. Bookmark pages and return to them instantly, or search for particular passages and jump straight to the text you’re looking for.

While you’re reading, get extra information easily on a word or phrase with in-text access to Google™ and Wikipedia^® look-ups. A simple browser also lets you download other compatible⁵ documents from the web via Wi-Fi for easy reading while you’re on the move.

Reader Wi-Fi handles a wide range of digital formats, including the popular EPUB eBook standard plus PDF and TXT documents. View your collection of digital photos on screen, or plug in a pair of headphones and listen to stored music tracks while you’re reading. The front cover image of your current title or a favourite photo can be displayed as a screensaver when Reader is in standby.

Fine-tune your reading experience with eight adjustable font sizes plus a choice of six font styles. Screen contrast and brightness are easily adjusted for comfortable viewing in any lighting conditions.

Its long battery life lets you read for over one month without needing a recharge (3 weeks with wireless on). Reader Wi-Fi can be used while the battery charges via USB on a connected PC, so there’s no need to interrupt your favourite book.

With a capacity of 2GB – enough to hold around 1,200 eBooks – internal memory space is easily expanded with an optional microSD card to hold tens of thousands more.

Style-matched optional accessories for your Reader include a form-fitting cover with built-in lighting arm that angles for reading at night or in dimly lit places.

Reader Wi-Fi with Pottermore download offer⁶

Sony’s first offer in its collaboration with J.K. Rowling’s eagerly anticipated Pottermore website (www.pottermore.com) is a specially-created limited edition of Reader Wi-Fi (PRS-T1) which includes a voucher that enables Harry Potter fans to download the first Harry Potter eBook title, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, from Pottermore. Pottermore, a unique website which builds an exciting and immersive online experience around the Harry Potter books and is the exclusive retailer of the Harry Potter digital eBooks, is partnered by Sony.

Reader Wi-Fi (model: PRS-T1) by Sony is available in Europe from October 2011, depending on country.

ZOTAC Announced Palm-sized ZBOX Nano AD10 Mini-PC

Tech

Andrew Edney

-

Aug 31, 2011

5

ZOTAC Announced Palm-sized ZBOX Nano AD10 Mini-PC

ZOTAC have announced the new palm-sized ZBOX nano AD10 mini-PC powered by the AMD E-350 APU platform.

The new ZOTAC® ZBOX nano AD10 series shrinks the standard ZBOX form factor and adds more home theatre PC friendly features for your digital media needs.

Powered by the AMD “Brazos” E-350 APU Platform with Discrete-Class AMD Radeon™ HD 6310 graphics, the ZOTAC® ZBOX nano AD10 series packs plenty of performance with hardware video decode acceleration technologies for popular high-definition video formats, including Blu-ray and Adobe® Flash®, into a miniature 127mm x 127mm x 45mm form factor that fits in the palm of your hand.

“The ZOTAC® ZBOX nano AD10 series is our smallest mini-PC,” said Carsten Berger, marketing director, ZOTAC® International. “Despite the miniature size, the ZBOX nano AD10 series has nearly all the same features as our award-winning ZBOX and ZBOX Blu-ray series, and even introduces a couple new features.”

New to the ZOTAC® ZBOX nano AD10 series is an integrated infra-red receiver with bundled Windows Media Center compatible remote control – a USB IR receiver is also bundled.

“There was a lot of demand for a bundled remote with our mini-PCs so we listened and engineered a solution that would work for all home theatre PC installation scenarios,” Mr. Berger added. “Our dual IR receiver solution enables use of the remote control with all placements, including hidden and wall-mounted installations.”

Customizing the ZOTAC® ZBOX nano AD10 series remains easy with two thumb screws that unlock the internals. A DDR3 SO-DIMM slot and space for a 2.5-inch SATA 6.0 Gb/s hard drive or SSD is available in the ZOTAC® ZBOX nano AD10 while the ZBOX nano AD10 Plus ships with 2GB of memory and a 320GB hard drive preinstalled.

A new VESA 75/100 mount for monitor or wall mounting installations is included with all ZOTAC® ZBOX nano AD10 series mini-Pcs and enables users to attach the mini-PC in four different orientations for improved flexibility.

Price wise, it’s £249 inc vat for the plus model, and £189 for the barebones version with no HDD or memory.

ZOTAC Debuts Palm-Sized ZBOX nano AD10 series
AMD E-350 APU platform
1.6 GHz, dual-core
AMD Radeon HD 6310 graphics processor
80 unified shaders
Engine clock: 500 MHz
ZBOX nano AD10
- 1 x DDR3-1066 SO-DIMM slot
- Support 1 x 2.5-inch SATA 6.0 Gb/s HDD/SSD
- ZBOX nano AD10 Plus
  - 2GB DDR3
  - 320GB 5400RPM HDD
  - 2 x SuperSpeed USB 3.0 ports
  - HDMI & DisplayPort outputs
  - AMD UVD technology(hardware accelerated H.264, VC-1, decode)
  - Dolby TrueHD & DTS-HD: Master Audio bitstream ready
  - Gigabit Ethernet
  - Onboard 802.11n WiFi
  - Onboard Bluetooth 3.0 technology

Product Name	ZBOX nano AD10	ZBOX nano AD10 Plus
SKU	ZBOXNANO-AD10	ZBOXNANO-AD10-PLUS
Memory	1 x 204-pin DDR3-1066 SODIMM slot	2GB DDR3
Hard Disk	1 x 2.5-inch	320GB 5400RPM
CPU	AMD E-350 APU Platform (1.6 GHz, dual-core)
GPU	AMD Radeon™ HD 6310
Video Memory	Unified Memory Architecture
Display Options	HDMI (w/audio) & DisplayPort
Memory Card Reader	6-in-1 (SD/SDHC/MMC/MS/MS Pro/xD)
SATA	eSATA (rear)
Ethernet	10/100/1000Mbps
WiFi	Onboard 802.11n WiFi & Bluetooth 3.0
USB Ports	2 USB 2.0 (rear)2 USB 3.0 ports (rear)
Audio	Onboard analog stereo high-definition audio7.1-Channel digital audio (LPCM and Bistream capable via HDMI)
DirectX® Support	DirectX® 11 with Shader Model 5
Other Features	OpenCL compliant, OpenGL® 4.1 compatible, AMD UVD technology
HDCP:	Yes
Software Features
Windows® 7 Capability	Windows® 7 with Aero® user interface and DirectCompute compatible

WHS 2011 Add-in: Drive Bender Beta 4 Release v1.1.7.8 Out Now

Windows Home Server

Andrew Edney

-

Aug 31, 2011

0

Today saw an update to Beta 4 of Drive Bender for Windows Home Server 2011 released, taking it to version v1.1.7.8.

Here is what is included in the beta 4 update:

DriveBenderWHS v1.1.7.8

(10M)

Windows Home Server Only
The Windows version will be posted within the next 24 hours.
Release v1.1.7.8 – beta (2011-08-31)
– Update: Smooth Streaming now has much improved performance while using less RAM.
– Bug fix: Smooth Stream memory leak has been rectified.
– Update: New MSI installers for all versions of Windows. These will automatically upgrade from the previous non MSI installer and also clean up legacy beta code.
– Bug fix: Fix a bug with directory enumeration which could crash the service, or report incomplete enumeration under heavy load.
– Update: Directory enumeration is much more responsive and uses much less RAM.
– Update: The file health monitor now checks for “empty” duplicates.
– Update: Windows mount points for the individual pooled drives (i.e. via “…\System\Mounts”) are no longer available by default, and must be explicitly enabled via the options.

For more information check out the Drive Bender website

Ford Announce Evos Concept Car

cars

Andrew Edney

-

Aug 31, 2011

0

Ford have just announced a new cloud connected concept car called the Evos – and it looks very cool!

· Ford Evos Concept showcases Ford’s first truly global design language and a new vision for customer-focused and intuitive technologies

· Dramatic four-door, four-seat fastback concept with state-of-the-art lithium-ion plug-in hybrid powertrain previews Ford’s new global design language with distinctive exterior and interior design cues

· Driver engagement technologies explore seamless enhancement of the driving experience, driver well-being and smart, electrified powertrain.

· Ford Evos Concept makes global debut at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show

Ford’s global Research and Innovation team, led by Paul Mascarenas, was tasked with building Evos Concept around a technology experience as visionary as the design. The result signals how Ford intends to build on the momentum of innovations like the SYNC in-car connectivity system.

“At Ford, the future of technology in the car will be defined by the experience that it delivers to the driver and passengers,” said Paul Mascarenas, chief technical officer and vice president of Ford Research and Innovation. “We see technology as more than just an impressive list of microprocessors, sensors and software; it’s about the application of that technology to create an experience that enhances the driver’s time behind the wheel.”

The concept’s technology experience embraces a new generation of driver interaction and awareness currently under development in the Ford Research and Innovation laboratories. Seamless connectivity between the vehicle and the driver’s ‘personal cloud’ of information is at the heart of the vision for its capabilities.

“The possibilities are fascinating when we explore how to enable a seamless lifestyle between home, office and car linked by access to the driver’s personal information,” Mascarenas said.

With information from the cloud, the vehicle can provide the same connected lifestyle the driver experiences at home or office. The car knows the driver, and automatically adapts handling, steering and engine controls to deliver an exceptionally dynamic driving experience.

Ford researchers are focusing their efforts in this area to deliver on four key customer benefits: personalisation, seamless enhancement of the driving experience, looking after the driver’s well-being and delivering smart electrified powertrain optimisation.

The personalised, cloud-connected lifestyle

While today’s Ford products provide drivers with many personalisation options, cloud connectivity will enable future Ford vehicles to take the experience to the next level.

Drawing from a detailed understanding of the driver’s preferences and driving habits, the Ford Evos Concept combines this personal information with additional data from the cloud, such as the driver’s work schedule and local traffic or weather conditions. This information provides a personalised and seamless experience as the driver transitions in and out of the car.

“We’re researching how we can use patterns or preferences set by the driver to make life simpler,” said Mascarenas. “The car gets to know you and can act as a personal assistant to handle some of the usual routines of a daily commute.”

It could automatically play the same music or news program that was just streaming at home, or heat or cool the interior to an ideal temperature before the driver gets in without having to be requested by predicting departure time based on his calendar. Wirelessly communicating with devices in the home, it could close the garage door and switch off the lights automatically as it pulls away.

“This cloud-connected vision shows the enormous potential of tailoring the driving experience to suit the exact personal tastes and moods of the driver,” said Mascarenas. “From recommending a great driving road from friends on your social networks or resetting your alarm clock to let you sleep in when a morning meeting gets cancelled!”

Enhanced driving experience

Ford Evos Concept explores adaptive vehicle technologies to redefine the driving experience.

Current technology requires vehicle chassis settings to be defined based upon the abilities and tastes of a cross-section of drivers and the topography of typical roads. The concept foresees tuning handling and performance to the road ahead and the specific individual behind the wheel.

Learning driver habits and capabilities, the technology can overlay map and weather data sourced from the cloud to adjust powertrain, steering, suspension and braking systems for optimum enjoyment, comfort and safety. Because the vehicle is adaptive and honed to maximum performance based on the situation, it takes driving engagement to a new level.

Driver wellness

Ford researchers have already developed technologies focused on driver wellness, such as the heart-rate monitoring seat and certified allergy-free interiors. With a seamless connection to the cloud, the Ford Evos Concept monitors the physical state and workload of the driver and adjusts the driving experience accordingly.

“Our wellness research and technologies are focused on relieving driver stress and enhancing their situational awareness,” said Mascarenas. “Drivers around the world are spending more time behind the wheel, and the car should not be another stress point in their lives.”

The Ford Evos Concept is also equipped with advanced air quality sensors and filtration systems to help allergy sufferers. Location aware, it can access air quality data from the cloud and proactively suggest a healthier route to the destination.

In dynamic driving situations, the vehicle may simplify the appearance of the instrument panel to display only necessary gauge information and switch the driver’s connected smartphone to “Do Not Disturb” mode to help keep the focus of attention on the road.

Cloud-optimised hybrid powertrain

Completing the vision for the Ford Evos Concept is a state-of-the-art lithium-ion plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain providing the same next-generation performance and fuel economy as the Ford C-MAX Energi scheduled for introduction in North America in 2012 and Europe in 2013.

Ford ‘powersplit’ hybrid architecture allows the electric motor and petrol engine to work together or separately to maximise efficiency. The advanced powertrain typically runs in all-electric mode before switching to charge-sustaining hybrid mode for continued optimal fuel efficiency.

Cloud connectivity would provide further opportunities to enhance performance and efficiency by selecting the optimum combination of powertrain modes for any given journey.

“Access to historical driver behaviour and travel patterns allows us to calculate the optimal fuel and energy efficiency by predicting the destination,” said Mascarenas. “Our researchers are working to increase understanding of driver behaviour, develop accurate protocols to predict it and enhance the trip by providing the smartest use of fuel or battery for the situation.”

The cloud-optimised powertrain would automatically ‘know’ when to save energy and switch modes, using information about the vehicle’s predicted travel route, any emission zone restrictions during the journey and current weather conditions.

In the future, communities may place firm restrictions on the types of vehicles allowed to use certain roads or highway lanes, and some city centres may choose to be open only to full electric vehicles. Helping drivers comply with such regulations could therefore be among the benefits of this technology. For example, the French government is considering creating zones mandating lower emissions, while cities such as London, Berlin, and Stockholm already have them in place.

This capability would further enhance the performance of Ford’s advanced PHEV technology, which offers an overall driving range of more than 500 miles (800 kilometres) using the battery and engine – more than any other plug-in or extended-range electric vehicle.

“With its leading-edge ‘cloud-optimised’ PHEV powertrain offering outstanding efficiency and range with supreme driving enjoyment, the Ford Evos Concept highlights our vision for greener, smarter vehicles with outstanding customer appeal,” said Kuzak.

Ford Evos Concept

Windows Phone 7 Connector for Mac Updated to Version 2.0

Andrew Edney

-

Aug 31, 2011

0

Windows Phone 7 Connector for Mac Updated to Version 2.0

Microsoft have released version 2.0 of it’s Windows Phone 7 Connector for the Mac.

We first mentioned the Windows Phone 7 Connector Mac last December when it was in beta.

Windows Phone 7 Connector is a simple, easy-to-use application designed to sync your favourite media files from your Mac, with your Windows Phone 7 or Zune HD. You can also sync photos and videos you captured on your phone with your Mac, and when needed, update your Windows Phone 7 software.

What’s New in Version 2:

Full sync and import support for Apple Aperture software
Drag and drop import of files from Browse Device
Ringtone transfer support (for phones running Windows Phone 7.5 or later)
Improved video conversion
Support for Windows Phone Marketplace (for phones running Windows Phone 7.5 or later)
Localization support for 13 additional languages
Improvements to backup and restore operations
Improved configuration for podcast sync and photo import
Improved iTunes import support in certain languages
Improved metadata support for videos

Download from the App Store now

New HP ProLiant MicroServers – The Specs

Andrew Edney

-

Aug 31, 2011

3

New HP ProLiant MicroServers – The Specs

Last night we brought you a video that HP had posted previewing their new HP ProLiant MicroServers with Small Business Server 2011 Essentials. Now we can bring you the specs.

In the US:

In the UK:

I love my MicroServer and cant wait to try the new faster models!

Update on TouchPad Availability

Gadgets
Tech

Jim McCarthy

-

Aug 31, 2011

0

HP published an update on TouchPad availability today. Read on for details!

The HP blog site The Next Bench published an update, announcing that HP was making more TouchPads to cover demand. Here is what they said:

I finally have some solid news to share about TouchPad availability.

Before I share, let me first say thank you for enthusiasm for this product. Since we announced the price drop, the number of inquiries about the product and the speed at which it disappeared from inventory has been stunning. I think it’s safe to say we were pleasantly surprised by the response.

Despite announcing an end to manufacturing webOS hardware, we have decided to produce one last run of TouchPads to meet unfulfilled demand. We don’t know exactly when these units will be available or how many we’ll get, and we can’t promise we’ll have enough for everyone. We do know that it will be at least a few weeks before you can purchase. See more information in the updated FAQs below.

Bryna (@BrynaatHP) and I (@MarkatHP) will update you here and on Twitter on the status of the new batch of systems. Please continue to share your thoughts and questions with us. Although we can’t respond to every one directly, we are sharing your feedback with teams inside HP.

Q: When is HP getting more HP TouchPads? One week, two weeks, a month?

A limited supply are coming and it will be a few weeks before they are available. As we know more about how, when, and where TouchPads will be available, we will communicate that here and through email to those who requested notification. We can tell you that HP’s Small and Medium Business team has sold out of HP TouchPads and will not have more inventory.

Q: Can you comment on whether HP had to manufacture more to meet the recent demand?

HP will be manufacturing a limited quantity of TouchPads with webOS during our fourth fiscal quarter 2011, which ends October 31.

Q: Will HP continue to make more TouchPads with webOS to meet the demand?

HP is discontinuing the development of webOS devices and is winding down device operations within our fourth fiscal quarter 2011.

Q: Will the notification/alert emails go out all at once so everyone has a fair shot?

All those who requested notification have been notified today that more are coming in the future, and will be notified again when more specifics are known.

Q: How does HP plan to address disappointed customers?

All those who requested notification have received a one-time exclusive offer along with their email as our thanks for their patience and loyalty throughout this situation.

Q: What about retailers? Some retailers won’t price match or drop their price to $99.

Each retailer will manage their own policy and process regarding pricing and price matching. Please contact the local retailer of your choice to see what their current position is.

Q: Please limit stock to 1 per person: some people are getting 20 and then selling them on craigslist and eBay for a major profit.

If more inventory is available in the future, there will be an order limit.

Q: What if you already own a TouchPad but want to get $99 pricing?

Please contact the retailer or the specific HP store where you originally purchased for their policy on this question.

Q: What about other regions, such as hp.ca, etc.?

At this time, other regions have limited to no inventory available. Please check with your chosen retailer or your local hp.com web site for more information.

Q: Any news on discounted TouchPad accessories or Pre2 or Veer phones or accessories?

Limited inventory remains on TouchPad and smartphone accessories. Please visit HP Home & Home Office or your chosen retailer for current availability as this situation is changing rapidly.

HP probably had some minimum quantity contracts and so I assume that they will make as many as they can to cover orders received and to satisfy these contracts. Keep in mind that tear-down sites have estimated HP costs at over $200 per unit, so they are losing money on every unit that they make and sell at these fire sale prices. I would not expect many more to come available. I’ll update you as I learn more.

HP Preview New HP ProLiant Microserver with Windows SBS 2011 Essentials

Andrew Edney

-

Aug 30, 2011

1

HP Preview New HP ProLiant Microserver with Windows SBS 2011 Essentials

HP have just released a video showing the new ProLiant Microserver with Windows SBS 2011 Essentials.

ProLiant Server

We are big fans of the original ProLiant Microserver, so a new one is definitely interesting. More info when we get it!

And don’t forget my new SBS 2011 Essentials Book is available now!

Iomega Introduces New Helium Portable Hard Drive For Mac Users

Andrew Edney

-

Aug 30, 2011

0

Iomega Introduces New Helium Portable Hard Drive For Mac Users

Today Iomega introduced a new hard drive aimed at Mac users called the Helium Portable Hard Drive.

Available in 500GB and 1TB capacities, the new Iomega Helium Portable Hard Drive is formatted HFS+ for compatibility with Mac computers right out of the box. Unlike competing portable hard drives, the Helium Portable Hard Drive boasts both local and online backup, as well as encryption and anti-virus software:

With a durable aluminum case, mobile users and others can take comfort in traveling with their Iomega Helium Portable Hard Drive.
256-bit AES encryption keeps files on your Helium Portable Hard Drive safe from prying eyes.
A comprehensive suite of Mac software that includes one free year of protected internet surfing.

The Iomega Helium Portable Hard Drive requires no external power supply, and comes complete with one USB 2.0 cable.

Iomega Protection Suite, Mac Edition, Included

Owners of the new Iomega Helium Portable Hard Drive receive a powerful suite of Mac-oriented software solutions bundled with their drive:

Iomega^® QuikProtect for simple scheduled file-level backup.
MozyHome™ Online Backup for convenient online backup of up to 2GB free.
A free 12-month subscription of Trend 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 new Iomega^® Helium Portable Hard Drive is available worldwide in two capacities: the 500GB model is $99.99, and the 1TB model is $149.99. (Pricing is U.S. suggested retail.) The Helium Portable Hard Drive is initially available at Apple retail stores and the Apple online store. Later this month, the product will be available from additional retailers, etailers and at www.iomega.com.

Both models of the Iomega Helium Portable Hard Drive include a three-year warranty with registration.

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

Stem Innovation Announces iZON Remote Room Monitor

Andrew Edney

-

Aug 30, 2011

0

Stem Innovation Announces iZON Remote Room Monitor

Are you looking for a security camera that can live stream to your Apple iOS device and even record to YouTube? Then take a look at the iZON Remote Room Monitor.

App-controlled wireless network video camera streams audio and video
to iPod touch, iPhone and iPad

Stem Innovation, LLC today announced the iZON Remote Room Monitor, an app-controlled video camera that enables live streaming of audio and video to an Apple iOS device, anywhere in the world. iZON easily joins most wireless networks to provide secure remote monitoring via the free Stem:Connect App for iPod touch, iPhone and iPad.

iZON can watch and listen for you, alert you when there is motion or noise and even
record to a free, private YouTube account — automatically

iZON is incredibly easy to setup and use. iZON can be placed on any horizontal surface
or mounted to a ceiling. It tilts and swivels easily on its unique magnetic base.
Download the free Stem:Connect App, then simply plug iZON in and set it up on your
local wireless network. A few simple steps help you to create a secure user account and
begin streaming live audio and video. iZON is peace of mind, connecting you to the
most important people, places and things in your life.

“iZON gives our customers an engaging way to stay connected,” says Gary Bart,
President and CEO of Stem Innovation. “The combination of its incredible ease of use,
automated features and affordable pricing is a game-changer.”

iZON Remote Room Monitor

iZON is available today at www.steminnovation.com and in select Best Buy locations.
iZON will be available soon at Apple retail stores across the U.S. and Canada. iZON will
be arriving at all Target retail locations in early October. The suggested retail price is
$129.95.

Stem Innovation is a Florida-based company created in July 2010 by product designer
and industry veteran Gary Bart. Stem is focused on the development of cutting-edge,
app-based accessories.

New HP TouchPad OTA Update Coming Soon

Tablets & Slates

Andrew Edney

-

Aug 30, 2011

8

According to CNET, there is a new OTA coming to the HP TouchPad soon.

Here is what CNET were told:

We expect that HP TouchPad owners can look forward to an over-the-air update that will enhance the platform and add functionality and a growing applications catalog,” an HP spokesperson told CNET today in response to an e-mail query. HP would not elaborate on what those enhancements would be.

HP also said that it is seeing “huge spikes in activations and between 3-5X downloads of apps” as a result of the fire sale launched on August 19.

The most interesting comment was this:

“HP is fully committed to the ongoing support and service of customers who purchased webOS devices…We plan to continue to investigate the best ways to leverage WebOS software and grow the applications,” the spokesperson said.

Ok, so HP are fully committed to an OS that only runs on two devices, both of which they discontinued within weeks of being launched and have no plans to launch any more? I’m sorry, but that sounds a little silly to me!

So let’s see what happens then!

Boxee App Library Updated to Include MOG Instant Music Streaming

Digital Home

Andrew Edney

-

Aug 30, 2011

1

Boxee App Library Updated to Include MOG Instant Music Streaming

Today MOG lands in the Boxee App Library with instant streaming of over 11 million songs, all in better than HD audio (320 kbps).

MOG’s music library blasts and serenades in the highest quality audio available for streaming pretty much anywhere. The massive song library will make sure you’re never searching for more than a few seconds for what you want, whether it’s top pop music hits or traditional Indian classics.

Create your own playlists or have Mog build a radio station for you based on artists and songs you love for a no-fuss way to keep the music going… and to help you discover bands you’ve never heard of.

So head over to http://www.mog.com/boxee now and sign up for a free 14 day trial now to check out one of the top music streaming services on the web today, now available on Boxee.

Twonky Release TwonkyServer 6.0.36

Digital Home

Andrew Edney

-

Aug 30, 2011

0

This week saw Twonky release an update to its TwonkyServer software, bringing it up to version 6.0.36.

What is TwonkyServer?

Here is how Twonky describe it:

Is your Playstation® 3 connected to your home network? Do you have a digital photo frame with a wireless Internet connection, or what about an Internet radio? Provide your favorite devices with that missing link to your computer’s music, video and photo collections. Download the popular, powerful TwonkyServer and truly experience the connected home.
TwonkyServer makes it possible for your devices to retrieve your media files from wherever they’re stored. Using your device’s remote and menu system, view your computer’s media library, or an online media feed, and just press play.

TwonkyServer is available for Windows®, Mac® and Linux, so it will work for any connected home.
If you have Windows Home Server, you can still use TwonkyServer. View this install guide to see if it’s the right option for you.

We even offer a mobile version of our server. Currently available free in the Android™ app store, TwonkyServer Mobile lets you serve music, photos or video from your phone to devices all around the home.

TwonkyServer is part of our TwonkyManager, so if you have a Windows PC and want many amazing features beyond what we offer in TwonkyServer, please see TwonkyManager.

You can choose your platform and download the updates from the Twonky website.

Here is what is included in the update:

– This software update includes a new feature that allows you to wirelessly sync media from your mobile device to your computer. For more information about using this feature with our Twonky Mobile Android app, check out the “Syncing Your Files” section below.
– A new client adaptation was added for Sony Bravia, Sony Blu-Ray Home Theaters and Sony Blu-Ray Players. With this change, all files that could be played through other DLNA servers are now also supported by TwonkyServer.
– Fixed a problem with the web config page not launching that occurred when installing TwonkyServer on a Mac running the Lion OS.
– Fixed YouTube streaming problems
– Information about other improvements and bug fixes can be found in the TwonkyServer release notes, which can be found in the TwonkyServer folder under Program Files\Twonky.

Review of the Aleratec HDD Copy Cruiser Mini

Andrew Edney

-

Aug 29, 2011

5

Do you need a hard drive duplicator and docking station? If the answer is yes, then take a look at our review of the Aleratec HDD Copy Cruiser Mini.

The Aleratec HDD Copy Cruiser Mini is both a powerful HDD duplicator and a versatile HDD docking station in one lightweight, portable device.

This essential tool for building, upgrading and backing up computer systems requires no computer to run, eliminating the need to tie up a computer for hours running complex software to duplicate hard disk drives.

A single button-push is all that is required for a fast 72 MB/sec sector-by-sector copy that includes partition and boot sector information, resulting in perfect clones/backups.

Additionally, connecting the HDD Copy Cruiser Mini to a computer via USB 2.0 gives instant, hot-swappable access to up to two hard disk drives at a time.

Sector-by-sector standalone hard disk drive cloning
One-button operation for cloning
Dual plug-and-play hard disk drive access via USB 2.0
Supports both 2.5” and 3.5” SATA I/II hard disk drives
Safe and easy hard disk drive quick-release buttons
Supports Windows 2000/XP/Vista/7, Mac OS10.3 or later, Linux
AC Powered: 100-240V 50-60Hz 1.5A

Aleratec HDD Copy Cruiser Mini

Who are Aleratec?

From their website:

Aleratec creates “Prosumers’ Choice” professional-grade duplicators for hard disk drives, USB flash drives, flash memory and optical discs (BD/DVD/CD), as well as optical disc publishers, blank media, disc shredders, disc repair and related accessories, at consumer-friendly prices. The company’s commitment to quality and its customers has produced product lines which regularly win industry accolades for their innovation, reliability and ease-of-use.

Headquartered in Southern California, Aleratec’s exceptionally-skilled team of trained professionals design user-friendly, high-performance hardware along with intuitive software to assist corporations and organizations of any size with all their media technology needs. Aleratec’s comprehensive line of innovative products enable businesses to cut costs, streamline workflow and increase revenues.

For over a decade, Aleratec has served as a leading provider of disc duplicating and publishing solutions for specialized markets including government agencies, educational facilities, houses of worship and audio recording professionals.

What’s in the Box?

Along with the HDD Copy Cruiser Mini is a USB 2.0 cable, a power adaptor and cable, an eSATA cable, a quick start guide and a registration card.