What is Windows Home Server?

Office 365 Jump Start Online Video Series

Andrew Edney

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Jun 28, 2011

Office 365 Jump Start Online Video Series

Today is the day that Office 365 from Microsoft comes out of beta. So why not learn all about it by watching a series of online videos called the Office 365 Jump Start series.

This online video series is comprised of 15 different video segments, each dealing with an aspect of Microsoft Office 365. Below is the catalogue of these videos in the series for quick access for you to the ones you are most interested in.

Learn more about Office 365 from here

Take the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 out for a Spin

Andrew Edney

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Jun 27, 2011

0

Take the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 out for a Spin

Are you thinking of buying the Samsung Galaxy Tab? Would you like to take it out for a spin first? Well Samsung have a Galaxy Tab 10.1 online simulator you can play with.

Sometimes we just want to see how a device works. When you go into a store it is often impossible to get anywhere near a device because of the kids playing Angry Birds on them!

Well, Samsung have developed an online simulator to show you just how the Galaxy Tab works.

Obviously it is not the same as having the real thing in your hands, but it’s certainly better than nothing.

Why not take it out for a spin today?

Test out the Samsung Galaxy Tab for yourself here

Do you have a Galaxy Tab? If so, what do you think of it?

LaCie and Porsche Design Introduce New Generation of Hard Drives

Storage & NAS

Andrew Edney

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Jun 27, 2011

0

LaCie and Porsche Design Introduce New Generation of Hard Drives

Today LaCie an Porsche Design announced two new hard drives joining their exclusive P9000 luxury range – the P9220 and the P9230.

The P9230, which is the desktop model will come in a 1TB model for $119.99 and 2TB model for $159.99. The P9220, which is the mobile model in a 500GB for $104.99.

There are more images and links after the press release.

Here is the press release:

June 27, 2011

Porsche Design Group (Porsche Lizenz- und Handelsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG) and LaCie announce the latest technology to join the luxury brand’s exclusive P´9000 electronics category: the LaCie Porsche Design Mobile (P’9220) and Desktop (P’9230) Hard Drives. The new storage accessories represent cutting-edge USB 3.0 technology, sleek aluminium frame, and purist design.

Since 2003, LaCie and Porsche Design have worked closely to deliver products that are technically inspired, delivering flawless functionality in its purest form. The luxury brand and the leading technology company complement the other, with technical influence from LaCie, together with an exclusive and timeless shape presented by Porsche Design.

“For 20 years LaCie has introduced products that influence and fit right into our digital lives,” says Dr. Juergen Gessler, CEO of the Porsche Design Group. “Since 1972 the Porsche Design luxury brand embodies that philosophy in everything that we have created, bringing a sense of quality and luxury to every single Porsche Design product. We are pleased to introduce a product that resembles superior form and functionality.”

Today the luxury brand and the leading technology company announce the evolution of LaCie’s portfolio designed by Porsche Design, by introducing a new generation of storage solutions. Delivering more than just industry-leading performance, the new design is a combination of premium material and workmanship that completely reflect the Porsche Design signature.

ALUMINIUM FRAME

For Porsche Design, the authenticity and quality of materials further exemplify the components inside. The aluminium frame of the LaCie Porsche Design Mobile and Desktop Hard Drives is elegant by appearance, but supports the vast functionality of the hard drive inside. The LaCie Porsche Design Mobile and Desktop Hard Drives are built with durable and scratch-resistant aluminium, protecting the hard drive mechanics. Each frame is built with precision. The aluminium also regulates heat for guaranteed performance. And for the environment, the aluminium frame is 100 percent recyclable.

BUILT FOR SPEED

Clocking speeds three times faster than USB 2.0*, The LaCie Porsche Design Mobile and Desktop Hard Drives are the fastest USB 3.0 hard drives on the market. Technology enthusiasts will appreciate transferring their digital assets in seconds with no delay to their digital lifestyle, delivering peak performance and pure design.

MORE THAN JUST STORAGE

More than just a beautiful exterior, LaCie Porsche Design Hard Drives come with software to easily install your drive on PC and Mac. Each drive includes backup software, to ensure you have a complete backup of all your digital assets, eco mode for power savings, password protection to keep files secure and 10GB of Wuala secure online storage.

The LaCie Porsche Design Mobile Hard Drive (P’9220) comes in 500GB and 1TB capacities. Additionally, a 750GB model will be available exclusively in the worldwide Porsche Design Stores. The LaCie Porsche Design Desktop Hard Drive (P’9230) comes in 1TB and 2TB capacities. The products will be available through the LaCie Online Store and select retailers including Amazon, B&H, Best-Buy.com, and Micro-Center, starting at $104.99. For more product information, visit http://www.lacie.com.

ABOUT PORSCHE DESIGN

Porsche Design is a luxury brand with a particular focus on technically inspired products. The Porsche Design brand was established in 1972 by Professor Ferdinand Alexander Porsche. The products stand for functional, timeless and purist design, characterised by their technical innovation. The product portfolio includes watches, sunglasses, luggage, a fashion collection for men and women as well as sports apparel, electronic products and a men’s fragrance line. All the products under the brand are designed at the Porsche Design Studio in Zell am See (Austria) and are available worldwide in the company’s own stores, franchise stores, shops-in-shops, high-end department stores and exclusive specialist retailers. For additional information, visit www.porsche-design.com.

Learn more about the P9230 desktop drive Learn more about the P9220 mobile drive

Drive Bender Beta 4 Release v1.1.5.2 Out Now

Windows Home Server

Andrew Edney

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Jun 27, 2011

1

Today saw an update to Beta 4 of Drive Bender for Windows Home Server 2011 released, taking it to version v1.1.5.2 only a couple of days after v1.1.5.1.

Here is what is included in the beta 4 update:

Release v1.1.5.2 – beta (2011-06-27)
– Bug fix: A deadlock could occur when heavy IO was happening. This would cause the service to appear to lockup (and the pooled drive to go offline).
– Bug fix: Validation could attempt to validate a folder that no longer exist.
– Bug fix: Smooth Stream was over allocating RAM during heavy IO activity.
– Bug fix: A number of memory leaks fixed.
– Bug fix: The merge dialogs, select path option no longer throws an error.
– Update: A number of internal changes that have made the pool more responsive.
– Update: Improved feedback during adding, merging, converting and removing a drive.
– Update: The add and merge drive functions now have the option as to weather or not to renamed the volume.
– Update: Many other interface bug fixes and enhancements.

For more information check out the Drive Bender website

TomTom App for the iPhone Updated

Apple

Andrew Edney

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Jun 27, 2011

1

Last year we reviewed the TomTom SatNav app for the iPhone. Today see an update to version 1.8 bringing updated maps and some new features.

The update is 341 MB in size, so don’t even try and attempt it unless you are on wi-fi or you are downloading it on your computer first.

BlackGold Announce Dual Tuner BGT3600 Tuner Card

Andrew Edney

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Jun 26, 2011

2

BlackGold Announce Dual Tuner BGT3600 Tuner Card

Earlier this month we brought you news of the BGT3620 – a new single tuner card. Now BlackGold have announced a new dual tuner card – the BGT3600.

Here is what BlackGold are saying:

Anticipated release June / July 2011

The BGT3600 is the world’s premium multi-channel hybrid tuner, digital demodulator, analogue capture, intelligent remote PCI-express PCTV product, implemented on a miniature platform. The product is capable of receiving standard and high definition digital broadcast program content, including the new UK Freeview and Freesat HD channels. It is designed to transform a personal computer into the ultimate audio video entertainment system, supporting external video streams and worldwide HD broadcast streams.
Hardware receiver support – world standard analogue terrestrial (PAL, NTSC, CECAM), dual digital terrestrial including both DVB-T and DVB-T2, dual digital satellite DVB-S and DVB-S2, digital cable DVB-C.
Hardware external video – Composite video CVBS, S-video, Component video YPbPr, Component video RGB
Hardware remote – IR remote receiver, learning receiver, remote S3 wake-up (OEM special order only, not with standard product. This is an option if a system builder requires a remote control other than the normal Microsoft Media Center remote USB IR sensor used for most systems)
Hardware profile – Miniature profile solution exceptionally low real estate, supporting compact half height and full height PC systems. (131mm x 69mm PCB outline including PCI-e fingers)
The BGT3600 is the perfect Windows 7 Media Center and other high end PVR application TV partner. No other product in this class provides the extensive support for Media Center of the BGT3600:
1. 32 and 64 bit Broadcast Driver Architecture (BDA) WHQL drivers
2. Infra Red remote control including S3 wakeup from remote control (OEM special order only, not with standard product. This is an option if a system builder requires a remote control other than the normal Microsoft Media Center remote used for most systems. It is not required by most users and is only available for high volume special order. Windows S3 Wake-up is standard on ALL BlackGold products and is not dependant on the BlackGold Remote.)
3. Special Media Center support for tuning and scanning of DVB-C channels
4. External video equipment connection via an audio/video adapter cable supporting composite video –yellow phono connector, S video – mini DIN connector, component RGB video – red/green/blue phono connectors and stereo audio – red/white phono connectors

The product has been architected to allow simultaneous management of four broadcast program streams. Hardware tuner and demodulator technology supports the detection, receiving and processing of HD terrestrial and HD satellite streams. The driver pack design allows operation with the broadest selection of PVR and Media Center applications; permitting the viewing, pausing and recording of multiple programs – dependent on the flexibility of the application multiple programs – dependent on the flexibility of the application.
UK operation supports all available Free-To-Air channels
All Freeview digital terrestrial (DVB-T & T2) TV and radio channels
All available analogue terrestrial TV channels.

Supports reception of all Freesat channels, supports reception of DVB-S/S2 standard and high definition transport streams from any world location.

Rock solid reliability – BlackGold is an accredited Microsoft development partner and provides Microsoft compliant drivers.
The world’s smallest and only (dual DVB-T/T2 plus DVB-S/S2) half height card design enables this product to grace even the smallest and sleekest entertainment PC’s.
Supplied with interchangeable half and full height brackets to accommodate all PC enclosure types.
The supplied Microsoft compliant BGT3600 driver supports both the 32 bit, and for those requiring the ultimate performance, 64 bit versions of Windows 7, Vista and XP.
The BDA driver supports multiple BGT3620 card installations.

Note: DVB-T2 is not yet available in all UK areas. It will be rolled out over the next two years. Check with DTG to see when it will be available in your area.

Expected availability week commencing 18/07/2011

I know I want one! How about you?

Learn more from the BlackGold website

Serviio Add-in for Windows Home Server V1 Updated to Release 0.5.2.0

Windows Home Server

Andrew Edney

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Jun 26, 2011

0

Serviio Add-in for Windows Home Server V1 Updated to Release 0.5.2.0

The Windows Home Server V1 add-in called Serviio has been updated to Release 0.5.2.0.

This is what Paul said:

The add-in manages (and optionally installs) Petr Nejedly’s excellent and free Serviio DLNA media server. If you’re not familiar with Serviio, it is a transcoding-capable media server that “just works.” It streams just about every media file out there to any device, and based on a device profile, transcodes the media only if necessary for that device. it was recently recommended by Sony as “the” server to use for it’s TV’s, Blu-Ray players, and game console.

Here is what is included in this update:

UPDATE ** moved to stable. 1200+ downloads and no major issues reported, so I suppose it is ready. New features will be added to the 0.6.0.0 release, which will correspond with the Serviio release (currently in beta).

Download the latest build here

Recover Your Precious Files with Diskeeper Emergency Undelete

Andrew Edney

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Jun 26, 2011

4

Windows Home Server is great at recovering lost or deleted files from your backed up machines. But what do you do if you haven’t backed up your computer, or the file was on a memory card or flash drive? That’s when Emergency Undelete comes to the rescue.

Here is how Diskeeper describes Emergency Undelete:

It only takes one lost file to quickly realize how valuable this software is.

You can be the hero to the friend in need or save yourself big time when you accidentally delete the presentation you are about to give while out of town on business. For just $19.95 you are prepared whenever and wherever you need to recover a file from any PC, thumb drive, external hard drive or camera.

65% of data loss is caused by accidental deletions. Don’t wait until you’ve already lost a file to look for a solution. Just the act of looking for a solution on your PC, could cause the lost file to be overwritten and unrecoverable.

Now you can easily recover files, photos, videos, music and more in seconds. You can even restore files that were deleted from the Windows Recycle Bin. Accidentally deleting a file doesn’t mean it has to be lost forever.

When you delete a file on your PC or other external storage device, it isn’t really deleted; the space the file was using is simply marked as being available for re-use. If nothing has needed that space since the deletion, the data is still there and the file can be recovered using Emergency Undelete.

Emergency Undelete Can Recover:

Files: Recover all your files, no matter how you deleted them.

Photos: Get your precious one-of-a-kind photos back fast.

Videos: Momentous videos are irreplaceable – recover them before they are gone for good.

Movies: Your favourite movies are far from gone.

Music: Your entire music collection that has taken years to collect – saved in an instant.

We will be reviewing Emergency Undelete very soon, so watch this space.

Learn more from the Diskeeper website

Windows Home Server 2011 Transfer Manager

Windows Home Server

Andrew Edney

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Jun 26, 2011

1

Windows Home Server 2011 Transfer Manager is an add-in that gives your WHS box (or SBS 2011 Essentials) the ability to control any uploads and downloads.

There isn’t a lot of information on the add-in on their website at this time (although there is a short guide PDF you can download):

The new Windows Home Server 2011 has a great extension for the client that is called Launchpad.

You are able to manage the important tasks without logging in to the Windows Home Server with the Dashboard. This is great, because you can also start client applications with the Launchpad.

The Server Transfer-Manager is a Server Application to transfer your data.
however the tasks to do so (e.g. collect your transfer URLs) are of course client tasks.
You should be able to do it from the client with the Launchpad.

The latest version of the beta, released last week is build 0.5.594.

Have you used it yet? Let us know what you think.

Download the latest build here

Windows Home Server Migration Assistant WHS2WHS Updated to Version 1.05

Windows Home Server

Andrew Edney

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Jun 25, 2011

0

Windows Home Server Migration Assistant WHS2WHS Updated to Version 1.05

We told you about the WHS Migration Assistant WHS2WHS last month, and now it has been updated to version 1.05.

The WHS Migration Assistant (WHS2WHS) is designed to help primarily with the planning of the data move from Windows Home Server to Windows Home Server 2011. There are two versions of WHS2WHS: the basic version and the Pro version. The Pro version, in addition to the planning functions, has functions for partially automating the actual data movements and other functions for saving, restoring and printing multiple plans. NOTE: WHS2WHS Pro does not directly copy, erase nor move any data. It provides a planning template as well as a framework for invoking other tools, using the plan as a guide.

Download WHS2WHS Basic here Learn more from the MediaDogg website

And don’t forget that UWHS hosts the Official Support Forums for WHS2WHS, so if you have any questions, suggestion or comments come join in the conversation.

Visit the Official WHS2WHS forums here

Change History …

Pro Version big price drop – On Sale!
Removed Stop button from Copy loop (Pro)
Added sort to include drive letter to context menu
Fixed bug in “mark complete” context menu ite

BYOB Podcast Episode 48 Out Now

Tech

Andrew Edney

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Jun 25, 2011

0

The guys over at the BYOB podcast, including our very own Tim Daleo have just released episode 48.

Here is what is included in this weeks show:

[box style=”rounded” border=”full”]Vertex 3 BSOD saga, Asus Sabertooth is redeemed, Gigabyte Z68 Board, MSI R6970, and the Seagate 3TB freeagent USB 3 external Drive on this weeks BYOB Podcast [/box]

As usual you can listen to the show from here.

ZOTAC Launch New GeForce GTX 550 Ti Multiview Graphics Card

Andrew Edney

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Jun 25, 2011

0

ZOTAC Launch New GeForce GTX 550 Ti Multiview Graphics Card

Are you looking for a multiview graphics card? Then ZOTAC have just released a new triple-display card called the GeForce GTX 550 Ti Multiview.

Embrace triple-monitor computing with the ZOTAC GeForce® GTX 550 Ti Multiview graphics card. The ZOTAC GeForce® GTX 550 Ti Multiview enables three simultaneous independent displays from a pair of HDMI outputs combined with dual-link DVI or DisplayPort outputs – a ZOTAC exclusive feature – from a single graphics processor.

NVIDIA® SLI™ readiness enables two ZOTAC GeForce® GTX 550 Ti Multiview graphics cards to work together and deliver up to twice the performance of a single card for the ultimate gaming experience. NVIDIA® PhysX® technology takes realism to another level for unprecedented immersion with the ZOTAC GeForce® GTX 550 Ti Multiview graphics card.

New ZOTAC GeForce GTX 550 Ti Multiview graphics card
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti GPU
Engine clock: 900 MHz
192 unified shaders
Shader clock: 1800 MHz
1GB DDR5 memory
Memory clock: 4100 MHz
192-bit memory interface
Dual dual-link DVI, DisplayPort & Dual HDMI
(Triple-display only capable with one DVI or DP and dual HDMI displays)
PCI Express 2.0 interface (Compatible with 1.1)
Microsoft DirectX 11 & OpenGL 4.1 compatible
NVIDIA CUDA technology with CUDA C/C++
NVIDIA PhysX technology
ZOTAC Boost Premium software bundle included

Product Name	ZOTAC® GeForce® GTX 550 Ti Multiview
GPU	NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 550 Ti
Engine Clock speed	900 MHz
Unified Shaders	192
Shader Clock	1800 MHz
Memory Clock speed	4100 MHz
Memory	1024MB DDR5
Memory interface	192-bit
Display Outputs	Dual dual-link DVI, DisplayPort & dual HDMI (Triple-display only capable with one DVI or DP and dual HDMI displays)
HDCP	Yes
Cooling	Active (with fan)
DirectX^® version	DirectX^® 11 with Shader Model 5.0
Other hardware features	Hardware accelerated Blu-ray ready
Software Features	Hardware Video Decode Acceleration Technology, NVIDIA^® CUDA^™ technology, OpenGL^® 4.1,
Windows 7 capability	Windows® 7 with DirectCompute support

Learn more from the ZOTAC website

Would You Like to Test Windows Phone 7 with Windows Home Server 2011?

Andrew Edney

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Jun 25, 2011

0

Would You Like to Test Windows Phone 7 with Windows Home Server 2011?

We have talked about the RC of the Windows 7 Phone Connector before. Tranquil are offering people the opportunity to test the Windows 7 Phone Connector with their Windows Home Server 2011 boxes.

Should you want to give this a try, please just drop a line to win7phonetest@tranquilpc.co.uk (they will also advise how to get the Phone Add In).

Have fun and let us know what you think about it.

LaCie CloudBox Appears Overhead to Protect Your Data At Home and in the Cloud

Andrew Edney

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Jun 25, 2011

0

LaCie CloudBox Appears Overhead to Protect Your Data At Home and in the Cloud

Safe in the Box. Secure in the Cloud. That’s how LaCie describe their new CloudBox product.

The CloudBox is designed by Neil Poulton, who has designed a number of other LaCie items.

Automatic daily backup to the cloud
Recover your files from the cloud even in case of theft, fire, or physical damage.
AES encryption keeps your files secure

With the LaCie CloudBox, you’ve got everything you need for storage and backup. Just copy and paste your most files to your CloudBox, and they will automatically be backed up online daily. It’s that simple: your data is backed up on a local hard drive and again in the cloud for double protection. The CloudBox includes a one-year online backup contract for 100GB, which can be easily renewed.

AES 128-bit encryption is used to protect your data in the cloud. This is very important, especially after the issues that Dropbox suffered this week. The last thing you want is your data that is stored in the cloud accessible to those who shouldn’t have access to it.

The CloudBox will be released very soon and will retail for around $199, and it will work with both Windows and Macs.

Learn more from the LaCie website

Check out the video below: