According to Pogoplug, your Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 should automatically see any attached hard-drive and automatically be able to stream video, photo and music content from it across the network.  Meanwhile, the updated Active Copy will obviously require you to have a second Pogoplug somewhere else, but it could be handy if you want to mirror data at both the home and the office.

Pogoplug say the updated firmware will be automatically pushed out to units worldwide from this morning, as long as they have an internet connection.  The functionality answers two of our main criticisms of the device, and brings it back into the game against Iomega’s iConnect which we reviewed last week.

Press Release:

Pogoplug™ Launches Media Streaming and Offsite Backup

San Francisco, Calif. – March 16th, 2010 – Pogoplug, the multimedia sharing device that allows users to access their media anywhere on the web, today adds two new features to the award-winning device. Starting today, Pogoplug users can stream content to Xbox 360 and PS3 game consoles. The enhanced Active Copy feature now automatically copies files to a Pogoplug in another location.

With game console support, Pogoplug owners can now easily access, share, and stream their media directly to their Xbox 360 or PS3 from any local or remotely located Pogoplug. Gamers can watch home movies from their Pogoplug connected external hard drive on their Xbox 360 or PS3, share slideshows or listen to their entire music library without ever putting down their game controller. The Xbox 360 or PS3 automatically sees the drives connected to the Pogoplug and the contents of other shared Pogoplugs.

“By adding media streaming capabilities to the Xbox 360 and PS3 through your Pogoplug, we are making it easier than ever to access your media on your television,” said Daniel Putterman, Cloud Engines CEO. “The new version of Active Copy is revolutionary. Now anyone can easily keep a safe copy of their files in another location.”

Active Copy enables users to backup folders on their computer to a Pogoplug connected drive. Whenever new files are added, or changes are made to an existing file within the Active Copy enabled folder, these files are automatically copied to a chosen destination folder. Now users can also use Active Copy to automatically backup key files from one Pogoplug to another off-site Pogoplug, for additional safety and redundancy.

Both features came from user requests and both update to all Pogoplugs worldwide via an automatic firmware upgrade today. For support or other questions, please visit the support page at www.Pogoplug.com/support and the community website, www.pogoplugged.com.

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The assumption is that they’re referring to Windows Mobile 7, rather than WinMo 6.5.3 which has been recently revealed on devices like the Sony Ericsson Aspen.  The advert falls short of describing any new functionality being tested, however it does describe a greater context which Microsoft expect MyPhone to pave the way for:

“The My Phone service is the initial release in a bigger vision to combine these two critical areas into a compelling customer experience, enhancing the Windows Phone platform with powerful web integration scenarios around data protection, device management, social networking, location awareness, ease of use, integration with partner services, and much more.” Microsoft job advert

The timescales involved also seem to suggest that we won’t see a new version of MyPhone rolled out until Windows Mobile 7 drops, something not expected until the end of 2010.  Last we heard, Microsoft were planning a significant overhaul to their smartphone platform, with Zune and Xbox integration but the removal of some of the more complex functionality (such as multitasking); a comprehensive cloud-based counterpart would seem an obvious partner for such a device.

[via WMPowerUser]

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The DiskStation DS1010+ is based on Intel’s latest Atom dual-core D510 1.66GHz processor (in effect the nettop version of the N450), complete with up to 3GB of RAM (1GB standard), and Synology reckon it has 250-percent faster performance than its DS509+ predecessor.  As well as the five onboard bays – each happy with a 3.5-inch 2TB HDD – you can pair it with the DX510 five-bay external enclosure; RAID 1, 5 or 6 setups are supported, and there are dual gigabit ethernet ports, four USB 2.0 ports and an eSATA port.

As for the DiskStation DS110j, that’s a little more homely with just a single ethernet port and three USB 2.0 ports, an 800MHz processor and 128MB of RAM.  However it has similar media sharing and backup functionality to the DS1010+ (albeit with no RAID support, obviously).

Both are available in the US and Canada now, in both diskless and HDD-pre-installed forms.  No word on how much the Synology DiskStation DS1010+ comes in at, but the DiskStation DS110j is $150 with no included storage.

[via Linux for Devices]

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Much as in the business world, the bulk of these PCs did not come into the home in an ordered or planned manner. In addition, like business, they have gone from disconnected to connected, both to the Internet and with each other. I’m not even going to get into the plethora of other devices these PCs are connected to and I’ve talked in the past about the mess that is the home network that ties them all together.

Unlike business adoption of technology, consumers do not have IT departments nor the budget for technology and support. Despite deploying multiple PCs, consumers are often uneducated in working with the underlying technology and making it work together. The result is a consumer environment that is rapidly becoming as complex (and in some cases, far more complex) than a comparable sized business infrastructure. While few business attempt to move video over their networks, a good deal of consumers are engaged in attempting to watch video, music or pictures stored in on one PC on another computer in their home, or even simply figure out what information is stored where.

We know from business use, multiple PCs require ordered management, data version control as well as application and OS version control. Backup in particular is a huge issue. Users need to think not only how to use content today but how to preserve digital content for the future. The real issue is, backed up data. While old family pictures may fade, I never lost a shoebox to a hard disk crash. Here’s the truth about PC hard drives. There are only two types of people in the world. Those that have not lost data to a disk failure yet and those that think that it won’t happen again to them. The rest of us have a backup strategy except that there’s very few of the rest of us. Now, while you might be able to re-install your apps in the event of a disaster and perhaps re-install your music (you never downloaded anything that you didn’t own, did you?) how will you re-create all your digital pictures, papers, poems, e-mails and the like. This is a huge PC management issue (and one that even business users still aren’t good at) and most consumers are putting all their eggs in one very shaky basket.

Let’s not forget general maintenance includes regular OS, application and security updates. Overall, a series of tasks most households are simply not prepared for and sadly there are few tools are available for consumers to assist them with these tasks.

I’ve talked many times in the past how most heads of households do not desire the CIO titles, their spouses do not wish to run a help desk and children do not want to do technical support. The lack of consumer grade management tools is setting the stage for two potential events: a backlash from consumers over the difficulty in managing their home technical infrastructure, or frustration when the irreplaceable is lost and can’t be replaced. There are also opportunities for vendors to fill the gaps with consumer friendly technology, as well as providing other opportunities at retail for consumer level service offerings to manage home complexity. So how do you manage the multiple PCs in your persona life? Leave a note in the comments on how you best manage a problem that’s growing by leaps and bounds with no single solution in sight.

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Iomega give owners a personalized web address through which they can access content on any drive plugged in, whether they’re doing so from a Mac, PC or Linux machine.  From that UI it’s also possible to remotely administer the iConnect, establishing BitTorrent downloads or triggering backups from networked machines.

In addition to remote access, it’s also possible to duplicate the contents of one drive to another (complete with a one-touch QuikTransfer button on the front panel) and share up to two printers.  It also offers UPnP DLNA media streaming, simple photo slideshows and Iomega throw in some backup apps too.

The Iomega iConnect will go on sale worldwide later in January 2010, priced at $99.99 with no ongoing subscription fees.

Press Release:

Iomega Announces New iConnect Wireless Data Station

Save Costs and Bring Your Own Desktop and Portable USB Storage into Your Network With New Iomega HDD-Less NAS Device

SAN DIEGO, January 5, 2010 – Iomega, an EMC company (NYSE: EMC) and a global leader in data protection, today announced the worldwide launch of the Iomega® iConnect Wireless Data Station, an economical NAS device that provides a simple way to bring all of your USB storage into your network, allowing you to connect, share and access files anywhere, even over the Internet.

On display at the Iomega booth at this week’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, the iConnect Wireless Data Station has no onboard storage, instead allowing users to bring all of their desktop and portable USB storage into their network. Connect the Iomega iConnect device to your router in either a wired or wireless configuration*, and it’s as easy as plugging external USB drives or USB Flash drives (any brand) into any of the four USB ports on the Iomega iConnect device, making the drives automatically connected to and accessible from any computer on your network or remotely via the web.

Benefits and Features of the new iConnect Wireless Data Station
With the new iConnect Wireless Data Station, users interact with an easy-to-understand interface that provides all the latest in multimedia serving as well as remote access features that makes it a breeze to access your own data, whether in the office, the home, or anywhere else in the world.**

Among the many value-add features of the iConnect Wireless Data Station:

• Easy file sharing, data backup and print serving from any networked Windows® PC, Mac® or Linux workstation.
• Gigabit Ethernet and wireless connectivity by connecting directly to your router in either a wired or wireless (802.11b/g/n wireless protocol) configuration.
• Remote access allows you to connect securely from anywhere in the world and get full access to pictures, videos, files – everything stored on the connected USB drives. An added bonus: remotely access and administer the iConnect device through a personalized web address.
• Simple expandability means you can add storage capacity by simply connecting more or larger external USB drives.
• Device-to-device replication for data protection allows you to define a job to copy and/or synchronize files to and from the connected USB drives or any other shared storage on your network. Iomega makes it easy with one-touch copying with the QuikTransfer button on the front of the iConnect device.
• Print Serving with intelligent print sharing capability for up to two USB printers.
• Time Machine® support allows Apple® users to easily backup any Mac computers running OS X (10.5 or later) using Time Machine.
• UPnP™ DLNA Certified AV Media Server provides the ability to stream photos, audio content and videos to a variety of media devices, such as game consoles (Microsoft Xbox® 360, Sony PlayStation® 3), audio bridges, iTunes® players, networked digital picture frames, Iomega® ScreenPlay™ products and more.
• Photo slideshow capabilities with an integrated utility based on the Cooliris™ technology for quick browsing and sharing of pictures stored on the connected USB drives.
• Torrent download manager allows the iConnect device to manage peer-to-peer file transfers without the need of a dedicated PC.
• Picture Transfer Protocol (PTP) provides no touch, automatic transfer of photos from digital cameras via one of the four USB ports on the iConnect device.

Backup and Security Software for a Total Data Protection Solution
The new Iomega iConnect Wireless Data Station comes complete with a portfolio of backup and security software, including native security support with robust username and password authorized access. RSA® BSAFE® encryption security technology for protecting installs and upgrades from viruses or malware is included, too. RSA is the security division of EMC that protects digital data at many of the world’s largest banks.

Also included with the iConnect Wireless Data Station is the Iomega Protection Suite of software. Available via download, the Iomega Protection Suite includes Iomega QuikProtect for simple scheduled file-level backup; a choice between EMC® Retrospect® Express or Express HD to back up your data, plus applications and settings; and a free subscription to a market-leading software that protects your PC with anti-virus, anti-spyware, and web security protection.

Compatibility
The iConnect Wireless Data Station is compatible with Windows®, Mac OS®, and Linux® PCs. The interface is localized for 18 languages (including English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Traditional and Simplified Chinese, German, and Russian).

Price and Availability and Warranty
The new Iomega® iConnect Wireless Data Station, on demonstration at the Consumer Electronics Show (Booth # 31823, South Hall 3), January 7-10, in Las Vegas, will available worldwide later this month for $99.99. (Pricing is U.S. suggested retail.) The iConnect Wireless Data Station is backed by a three-year warranty (with product registration).

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Round the back there are two gigabit ethernet ports, along with serial, VGA, PS/2, four USB 2.0 and a mini-USB.  There are also two PCIe x8 slots, two PCIe x4 slots and two PCI-X slots, while boot files are kept on two 2.5-inch HDDs and ten hot-swappable fans keep everything cool.

A 2.33GHz Intel quad-core Xeon with 2GB of RAM keeps things churning, and the whole thing will work as a NAS or as an iSCSI appliance.  As we said, overkill for most homes and the price will likely put you off too: $7,999 for the 6TB model, rising to $9,999 for the 12TB and $13,999 for the 24TB.

Press Release:

LaCie 12big Rack Network: A Rock-Solid Enterprise Class NAS and iSCSI Appliance

• 19″ 2U rack-mounted NAS and iSCSI for SMB and branch offices
• Powered by Microsoft® Windows Storage Server 2008
• Server-class motherboard, Enterprise Class drives, and hardware RAID controller
• Data deduplication, file replication, data encryption, and built-in back up

Today LaCie has announced the release of its new network-attached Storage (NAS) and iSCSI solution for SMBs and corporate satellite offices, the LaCie 12big Rack Network.

To assure rock-solid reliability in demanding 24/7 corporate operating conditions, the 12big Rack Network is built on an Intel® server class motherboard that features two 1GB Ethernet links and a quad-core Xeon® processor. To assure superior performance over its lifetime, the 12big Rack Network is reinforced with a hardware RAID controller (RAIDs 0, 1, 10, 5, 50, and 6), redundant power supplies, and multiple hot-swappable cooling fans. In addition, the 12big Rack Network uses Enterprise Class hard disks, which means superior sustained performance and compliance with the highest quality standards.

Outfitting the Lacie 12big Rack Network with a hardware RAID engine means greater efficiencies in data management, bolstering its high reliability and profound scalability. While the quad-core Xeon processor is designed to successfully serve 500+ users’ requests all the time, the hardware RAID controller XOR engine calculates the massive RAID parities protecting all critical data. With the XOR engine, you can scale the disk capacity upward by connecting an extra 12big Rack Serial through its expansion port without any impact on performance. Even more, the XOR engine strengthens the global system stability by reducing the rebuild time of RAID protected data disk arrays in the unlikely event of a disk failure.

“Clearly, performance, reliability, and flexibility are of utmost importance for any business when choosing a NAS solution,” noted Erwan Girard, LaCie’s Solution Business Unit Manager. “This is exactly what you’ll find with the 12big Rack Network. From 6TB to 48TB, addressable as files or blocks, the solution can scale up without any tradeoff in speed or reliability. Essential features such as an internal backup engine, file deduplication, remote file replication, and global name spaces demonstrate that LaCie wants to make certain that IT professionals have the necessary tools to efficiently manage their data.”

Out of the box, the 12big Rack Network is pre-installed with Microsoft’s ready-to-configure Windows Storage Server 2008 Standard Edition. LaCie demonstrates its commitment to high-end server solutions by running Windows Storage Server from two RAID 1-protected internal 2.5″ disks.

“Windows Storage Server 2008 breaks new barriers in management efficiency and data
protection,” said Eric Jewett, Director, Windows Server Marketing, “Single Instance Storage [SIS] will save data disk space, Active Directory integration will ensure that the 12big Rack Network will seamlessly integrate into the IT ecosystem, DFS- Replication will provide file replication services that can be used in high availability infrastructures, and Bitlocker drive encryption makes certain that confidential data is inaccessible when disks are moved to unauthorized locations. With Microsoft’s server-based solutions, the LaCie 12big Rack Network will actively protect data through local or remote copies thanks to its built-in back up engine running Windows Server Backup.”

Constructed with best-of-breed components, the LaCie 12big Rack Network will store your critical data while offering hassle-free maintenance and scalability without sacrificing performance. Further, LaCie knows that IT professionals demand straightforward solutions, which is why there is no need for additional software licenses, cables, or rack mounting kits as all pieces and features are shipped in the 12big Rack Network box.

Availability
The LaCie 12big Rack Network is available in various capacities through the LaCie Online Store, LaCie Reseller+, and LaCie Storage Partner starting at the suggested retail price of $7999.00 (excluding VAT).

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The Drobo S also has a faster ARM processor than its Drobo predecessor (that will remain on sale alongside it) and overall Data Robotics are saying it’s offering 150-percent the performance of that earlier model.  Storage is up to 10TB (depending on redundancy) and as before the system is self-healing and automatically sets itself up when you throw in a new drive (or replace an existing one).  However it’s not compatible with the DroboShare network adapter.  The Drobo S is available now, priced at $799 sans-drives or up to $1,799 with five 2TB drives in place.

The DroboElite, meanwhile, drops the FireWire and USB 2.0 connectivity of the DroboPro in the pursuit of absolute speed.  Up to 255 Smart Volumes can be addressed, together with up to 16 simultaneous hosts, and a choice between single- or dual-drive redundancy (i.e. a choice between space or data safety).  The DroboElite will kick off at $3,499 sans-drives.

Press Release:

DATA ROBOTICS LAUNCHES NEW DROBO WITH eSATA

Drobo S Delivers High Performance Desktop Data Storage

SANTA CLARA, CA – November 23, 2009 – Data Robotics, Inc., the company that delivers the best data storage experience ever, today introduced Drobo S, a professional-class storage solution designed for Windows, Mac, and Linux users who require high-speed data transfers and reliable data storage. With the introduction of eSATA and a fifth drive bay, as well as enhancements to FireWire 800 throughput, the Drobo S offers 150 percent of the performance of the current four-bay Drobo, making it an ideal storage solution for creative professionals, small offices, and home office users.

Built on the company’s award-winning BeyondRAID virtualized storage platform, which eliminates the lock-in of traditional RAID configurations, Drobo S features a one-click toggle between single- and dual-drive redundancy and provides protection against up to two concurrent drive failures. Drobo S supports on-the-fly capacity expansion along with the flexibility to replace failed drives, add drives, and swap out drives from disparate vendors and of varying sizes without ever losing access to data.

“Data Robotics’ Drobo S is an important addition to the company’s product line because it offers professional users a larger, faster, more reliable data storage solution with all of the automation and simplicity that Drobo fans are accustomed to,” said Brian Babineau, senior analyst at Enterprise Strategy Group. “Small offices and creative professionals generate large quantities of data that need to be kept secure for both short and long term storage. With its automatic capacity expansion and self-healing technology, Drobo S is an ideal way for customers to manage explosive data growth without becoming or hiring storage experts.”

Drobo S Features and Benefits:

5-Drive Capacity and Instant Expansion to 10TB – Customers with growing storage requirements can easily add data capacity with minimal effort. To add capacity, customers simply insert a new hard drive or replace the smallest drive with a larger one, even when all five drive bays are full. With Drobo S, expansion is automatic and instantaneous, and access to data is always maintained.
Single- and Dual-Drive Redundancy – The Drobo S dual drive redundancy option protects against the simultaneous failure of up to two hard drives. Customers can engage this option with a single click without ever losing access to their data.
Self-Healing Technology – With BeyondRAID, the Drobo S continually examines data blocks and sectors on each drive to flag potential issues. The preemptive “scrubbing” helps ensure data is being written only to healthy drive areas and automatically keeps data in the safest state possible – even when a drive fails.
Interface Options – Users can take advantage of eSATA, FireWire 800, and USB 2.0 connections for ultimate flexibility.
“Drobo S represents our continued commitment to our customer base of professionals and small and home office users,” said Dr. Geoff Barrall, CEO and founder of Data Robotics. “Significant performance enhancements, the addition of eSATA, increased capacity, and the flexibility of single- or dual-drive redundancy make the Drobo S an ideal solution for this increasingly sophisticated set of users.”

Price and Availability Drobo S is currently available starting at a price of $799 MSRP, with multiple configurations to $1,799 for a 10TB (5x 2TB) solution. Drobo S is available now from authorized partners worldwide and on www.drobostore.com. For a list of partners or to learn more about Drobo S, please visit www.drobo.com/drobo-s.

Press Release:

DATA ROBOTICS INTRODUCES FIRST iSCSI SAN THAT MANAGES ITSELF

Fastest Drobo Ever, DroboElite, Brings BeyondRAID with Multi-host Support to SMBs

SANTA CLARA, CA – November 23, 2009 – Data Robotics, Inc., the company that delivers the best data storage experience ever, today announced DroboElite, the first iSCSI SAN storage that manages itself. DroboElite is a powerful and flexible business class data storage solution that brings Data Robotics’ award-winning BeyondRAID technology to a broader range of small and medium businesses (SMBs). The fastest Drobo to date, DroboElite features a new hardware architecture that includes an enhanced processing engine and dual high-speed iSCSI interfaces for 150 percent of the performance of previous Drobo models. True multi-host support with LUN affinity allows small and medium businesses with limited IT resources to simplify management and reduce costs by consolidating storage across multiple servers.

“We’ve been using Data Robotics storage for several years because it is so simple to use and keeps our data safe. The new DroboElite solution takes Data Robotics’ technology to the next level. It enables us to pool storage capacity across several servers and the Smart Volume technology makes it easy to efficiently provision, reclaim, and re-provision storage across our business environment,” said Tarun Chachra, CTO at KSL Media.

DroboElite delivers automated capacity expansion and one-click single- or dual-drive redundancy for optimal data protection for Windows, Mac and Linux machines. The new system extends the number of Smart Volumes – Data Robotics’ unique thin provisioning that pulls storage from a common pool of drives – so that users can now create up to 255 virtual storage volumes, making DroboElite an ideal solution for companies that require storage solutions that can scale with their infrastructure.

“As SMBs mature they typically deploy multiple servers in both virtualized and non-virtualized configurations, creating a need for storage that is easy to manage but has the flexibility to continually grow as the server mix becomes increasingly complex,” said Benjamin S. Woo, vice president, enterprise storage systems, at industry analyst firm, IDC. “A unique thin provisioning approach like the Data Robotics’ Smart Volume technology gives companies optimal use of their existing storage and allows IT managers to more effectively manage their entire IT network without wasting time and money on storage management.”

DroboElite Features and Benefits

Multi-host Support – Companies with multiple servers can easily add or consolidate storage by connecting the DroboElite into their existing TCP/IP network and utilizing the industry-standard iSCSI protocol.
Fastest Throughput of any Drobo Solution – Enhancements such as multiple stream optimization and dual Gigabit Ethernet interfaces for high-speed iSCSI deliver best-in-class performance.
Tested VMware-ready Features – With dual iSCSI ports and the ability to create up to 255 Smart Volumes, DroboElite can support growing VMware environments and advanced functionality including VMotion, Storage VMotion, snapshots, and high availability.
8-Drive Capacity with Instant Capacity Expansion to 16TB and Beyond – DroboElite ensures continuous data access by automatically expanding data capacity and enabling IT managers to efficiently mix and match drive brands, capacities, and speeds.
Advanced Thin Provisioning – Smart Volumes allow companies to create new volumes in seconds and manage them over time by pulling storage from a common pool rather than a specific physical drive allocation. Smart Volumes are also file system aware which allows deleted data blocks to be immediately returned to the pool for future use.
Simplified Dual-Drive Redundancy – Companies are protected against the simultaneous failure of up to two hard drives without losing access to their data. With a single click, companies can switch back to single disk redundancy if capacity runs out without losing access to their data.
“Data Robotics’ continued success is a testament to our providing the best data storage experience ever. Our products are exceedingly simple and straightforward to use while providing all of the features that SMBs need to keep their data safe and accessible,” said Dr. Geoff Barrall, CEO and founder of Data Robotics. “We can deliver cost savings up to 90 percent compared to other iSCSI solutions by combining cost-effective hardware with robust iSCSI features. The new DroboElite takes our solutions to a significantly higher level of performance and supports our mission of bringing the benefits of BeyondRAID technology to a much greater range of businesses.”

Price and Availability
DroboElite is currently available starting at a price of $3,499 MSRP, with multiple configurations to $5,899 for a 16TB (8x 2TB) solution. DroboElite is available now from select partners worldwide and on www.drobostore.com. For a list of partners or to learn more about DroboElite, please visit www.drobo.com/products/droboelite.php.

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That includes data migration tools, including a one-click transfer of files from, say, Windows Vista to Windows 7, or from OS X (10.5 onwards) to a PC or vice-versa.  It’s also possible to schedule backups; previous Clickfree drives automatically started the backup process when you initially plugged them in, but the C2 can be set to do that at regular occasions.  The company will even sell you a docking station which makes semi-permanent connections more streamlined.

Data on the drive itself is easier to deal with, too, with a new attachments category that collates email attachments, the ability to burn files direct from the C2 to a CD/DVD (obviously your host system will need an optical drive) and media imports from iPods and iPhones.  There’s also 256-bit encryption with hardware acceleration so that it doesn’t slow down backups or future file access.

250GB and 500GB C2 versions (in black or white) are available now, priced at $139.99 and $189.99 respectively; a 320GB version will hit QVC on October 28th, priced at $159.99.  The optional dock is $20.

Press Release:

Clickfree Redefines Consumer Backup Again with the Launch of C2

Clickfree continues to innovate and deliver the ultimate backup experience

TORONTO – Oct. 13, 2009 – Clickfree, the inventors of effortless backup, today announced the launch of C2, its new flagship portable hard drive. With C2, Clickfree once again redefines consumer backup by bringing together an amazing set of features that have never before been available in a single backup product. Without adding complexity to Clickfree’s signature approach to effortless backup, consumers will now be able to automatically import music from iPods and iPhones, burn backed up files to CDs and DVDs, extract and organize all email attachments and protect files with encryption. All these new features in a beautiful high-gloss unit with a built-in USB cable makes it the most portable drive on the market.

New product features include:

• Redesigned Interface: Clickfree has reworked automatic backup and restore into an even simpler process, designed so that even the least technically savvy will be totally comfortable backing up their computer. Included in the many new features is a search page that shows a summary of new and changed files as it finds them.

• Built-in USB Cable: Snapping securely into place, there’s no cable to lose and no tangled mess in a briefcase. The ultimate convenience for quickly sharing content, just plug the C2 into any computer to simply view and share files from the C2. There’s even an optional docking station available to keep desks tidy.

• iPod Music and Playlist Import: Clickfree has included this great feature from its popular Transformer for iPod. When C2 is connected, users will be able to plug any iPod or iPhone into another USB port on the computer and the C2 will import music and playlists from the device right into iTunes.

• Migration: Clickfree is the only backup solution for simple, hassle free migration between computers or when upgrading operating systems. With the launch of Windows 7, many people will need a simple and efficient way to transfer files. Clickfree’s intuitive software will transfer your files to exactly where they need to be – even if it’s a new computer with a new operating system and the file structure has changed. This means applications will find digital content without additional confusing work.

• Encryption: C2 customers can be confident their data is secured with powerful encryption technology by simply entering a password. The C2 uses 256-bit hardware-based encryption – a very high grade of security to ensure that no one will be able to access data files without the password. By using a hardware-based solution – a chip inside the hard drive itself – the C2 handles all of this without slowing down the computer or backup.

• Use it for Backup or Storage: Free space on the C2 drive can be used as portable storage, just like any other external hard drive.

• DVD burning capability: Customers wanting to create an additional DVD backup for another location like a safety deposit box can now do so easily with the built in DVD backup solution included in the C2. It is ideal for users who want the added comfort of having an additional snapshot of their files without having to install or learn complex archiving software. Clickfree recommends two backups for the ultimate data protection, and makes both effortless.

• Sharing: Easily share photos and other digital media. With the software built right-in, users can simply plug the drive into any computer to view or transfer photos quickly and easily. From the rich photo viewer, users can see their photos. And with built-in software tools, they can effortlessly set these photos as wallpaper, print, email, or share onto facebook or myspace.

• Scheduled backup: Leave the C2 plugged in, and it will continue to backup all day.

“We already had a great backup solution that had superior user-friendly features; we wanted to go beyond that. We listened to the needs of our consumers and added features that would add to the Clickfree ultimate backup experience without straying from our core simplicity. With C2 we found a way to enhance our award winning back-up technology while preserving our heritage of super simple backup,” said Bryan McLeod, Clickfree CEO. “It’s still as simple as connecting your C2 to a computer and watching as the technology starts itself without any installation or setup. We continue to stand above our completion in terms of features combined with simplicity – this is why our highly rated Clickfree solutions continue to win over consumers — by making computer backup effortless.”

After being connected to a computer, Clickfree technology shows a simple countdown then proceeds to search, organize, and copy precious data onto the C2 backup drive. Files are organized into categories: photos, videos and email attachments – and each category can be individually viewed to confirm the backup is complete.

For those who would like to dig a little deeper, Clickfree provides an option to configure the backup. Simply connect the USB cable and let C2 automatically begin or easily select what to back up by choosing Options. The simple interface allows consumers to determine which content they would like saved. Like other Clickfree products, the Clickfree C2 can easily backup multiple computers, with each backup identified clearly by computer name within the Clickfree software.

Available in a high gloss black or white finish, the Clickfree C2 comes in 250GB and 500GB storage capacity and retails for $139.99 and $189.99 respectively. An optional dock is sold separately for quick and tidy computer connection. A 320GB capacity drive will be available exclusively through QVC for 30 days starting October 28, 2009 and will sell for $159.99.

Automatic Clickfree products can be found at www.clickfree.com and leading retail outlets such as Brandsmart, Dell.com, OfficeMax, hhgregg, Bernies, CDW, QVC, Kmart, Electronic Express as well as many other local and online retailers.

About Clickfree
Storage Appliance Corporation, operating under the Clickfree(TM) brand makes technology easy for consumers. As the inventor of effortless consumer backup, the Clickfree(TM) software makes backing up a PC or Mac as easy as plugging it in to the USB port — no software to install or configure. Recognized as the market leader in consumer backup, Clickfree has received numerous awards from CNET(TM), PCMag(TM), and Laptop(TM) magazine. Clickfree’s software is not just easier – it’s smarter. With 23 patents pending, this exclusive technology is only available to Clickfree(TM) customers. Visit www.Clickfree.com for additional information.

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Unlike the ix2, the ix2-200 has twin user-accessible drive bays, and they’re filled with low-power drives that are automatically spun-down when not in use.  The StorCenter also has DLNA media streaming, RAID 1 drive spanning for improved data security, three USB ports for plugging in external drives or webcams, and optional Bluetooth for wirelessly transferring files from mobile devices.

It’s worth noting that those two bays aren’t hot-swappable, so you’ll need to power-down and whip out your screwdriver to switch them out.  Still, most of Iomega’s target audience are unlikely to be looking for that sort of capability anyway; they’ll be more pleased with the straightforward remote access, Apple Time Machine compatibility and one-touch photo transfers.

All three versions are available in the US and Europe now, priced at $269.99 for the 1TB, $369.99 for the 2TB, and $699.99 for the 4TB.  They’ll drop in Asia come November.

Press Release:

Iomega Announces Next Generation “Green” Desktop Network Storage Appliance With Powerful Enterprise and Consumer Features

Compact StorCenter ix2-200 Features:
Easy Push Button Appliance-to-Appliance Copy and Backup
Disk Spin Down for Energy Efficiency
User Replaceable Disk Drives and More

San Diego, October 8, 2009 – Iomega, an EMC company (NYSE: EMC) and a global leader in data protection, today announced the next generation of its popular double-drive desktop NAS appliance with the worldwide launch of the new Iomega® StorCenter™ ix2-200. Based on industry-leading enterprise-class EMC® storage technologies, the versatile yet affordable StorCenter ix2-200 wraps ease-of-use around big business data management functionality and advanced media serving and other consumer features that make it the ideal NAS appliance for small business users and home users.

Available in 1TB*, 2TB and 4TB capacities, the new ix2-200 utilizes a very simple four-step setup to be operational in a matter of minutes – be it in a business setting or in the digital home. Starting at less than $270.00, the ix2-200 employs an easy-to-understand interface to provide robust data management and protection for the serious business user, as well as the latest in multimedia serving and remote access features that makes it a breeze to access your own data, whether in the office, the home, or anywhere else in the world.**

Among the standout business features of the new StorCenter ix2-200:

Device-to-device replication for business continuity and file recovery
iSCSI block-level access for efficient storage utilization
RAID 1 configurations for optimized data protection
Windows® Active Directory support
A new front panel QuikTransfer button for easy copying of selected files
User replaceable hard drives
Multiple IP security camera support
And for the forward-thinking small business, VMware® certification for virtualization installations.
The new StorCenter ix2-200 also has a treasure trove of features for the digital home, including:

A DLNA® certified UPnP® AV Media Server that makes the ix2-200 the central repository for serving up all your movies, pictures, music and other files to any compatible device on your network
Serves as a Time Machine® target for Apple® computer backups
Built-in torrent support for file-sharing without the need for a dedicated PC
Bluetooth® capability for uploading all kinds of digital content from a smart phone
Cooliris™ slide show plug-in allows for easy photo viewing
And remote access to the ix2-200 from anywhere in the world
“The new StorCenter ix2-200 is definitely the easiest to use small office and consumer network storage appliance in the marketplace today,” said Jonathan Huberman, president of Iomega and the Consumer and Small Business Products Division of EMC. “Combining EMC’s world class enterprise storage and security technologies with advanced media serving features makes the ix2-200 a versatile and affordable NAS appliance that gives smaller organizations, work groups and home users not only cost-effective and robust network storage but some of the same sophisticated data management capabilities as a Fortune 100 corporation – but without any need for IT experience.”

The new Iomega StorCenter ix2-200 NAS appliance is now available in the Americas and Europe from retailers, VARs and IT resellers, including valued Iomega partner CDW.

“When it comes to managing and protecting digital content, small businesses today face many of the same challenges as much larger organizations,” said Matt Troka, vice president, Product & Partner Management, CDW Corporation. “Iomega’s new StorCenter ix2-200 delivers cost-effective network storage with advanced enterprise features at extremely affordable prices. For the budget conscious small business with a need for dependable network storage that is easy to setup and maintain without any internal IT expertise, the compact StorCenter ix2-200 offers a great value proposition, which makes it a viable data storage and back-up solution for our customers.”

The Little Compact Desktop NAS Appliance with Lots of Capabilities
The new StorCenter ix2-200 NAS desktop appliance utilizes the acclaimed EMC LifeLine™ software, a fully-developed Linux operating environment and suite of applications that is designed for cross-platform support with Windows®, Mac® and Linux computers. The LifeLine operating system presents a simple-to-use graphical interface that makes it easy to perform valuable business tasks while remaining confident that your data is securely stored, protected, and accessible whenever and wherever you need it.

Small office users will enjoy the ix2-200’s fast Gigabit Ethernet connectivity and high-performance embedded architecture, which boosts productivity by making data readily accessible and secure over a local network at the office or in the home. The ix2-200 also boasts the versatility of three USB 2.0 ports for adding printers or additional storage capacity with external USB drives.

Key Features of the StorCenter ix2-200 NAS Appliance
The new ix2-200 NAS appliance’s many features make it one of the most advanced, innovative and easy-to-use double-drive network storage devices available today. Among the features:

Device-to-Device Replication (copy jobs): Copy or backup files to and from the ix2-200 to any other NAS or USB-attached storage device without the need for a client computer. Jobs can be set to run at pre-determined schedule or at the touch of the ix2-200’s new QuikTransfer button. The ix2-200 uses either the rsync or Windows File Sharing protocol to transfer data between itself and another network storage device.
iSCSI Support: Provides block-level access for the most efficient storage utilization, especially for database, email and backup application performance. This feature also allows host-based operating systems and virtualization software to use the full capabilities of their native file systems, such as enabling VMFS for VMware utilization.
VMware® Ready Certification: The ix2-200 is certified as both NAS (NFS) and iSCSI storage for VMware ESX Server 3.5 and 4.0 vSphere. The ix2-200 is listed on the VMware hardware compatibility list, enabling small offices and work groups to affordably take advantage of the benefits and advanced features offered by shared storage in a VMware environment. The ix2-200 is the ideal storage match for smaller virtualization deployments that use the new VMware vSphere Essentials and vSphere Essentials Plus software packages.
Remote Access: Set up remote access and remotely manage and access pictures, videos, work files and other digital data on the ix2-200 from anywhere in the world. Just enter a personalized web address into any browser for easy downloading and uploading of files securely.
RAID Support: RAID 1 with automatic RAID rebuild for data redundancy and protection. Single volume (JBOD) mode also available.
Multiple Network Protocols: Works in Windows, Linux and Mac environments with network protocol support including CIFS/SMB/Rally, NFS, and AFP/Bonjour. The ix2-200 also supports advanced protocols such as HTTP, FTP and SNMP.
Time Machine® Support: Lets Apple® users easily backup to the ix2-200 with Mac computers running OS X (10.5 or later) using Time Machine.
Windows® Active Directory Support: Allows the ix2-200 to function as a client member in an Active Directory domain, giving users and groups access to the ix2-200.
Uninterruptible Power Supply Support: Enables unattended system shutdown without data loss in the case of power failure.
Gigabit Ethernet: high speed connectivity with jumbo frame support
Video Surveillance: Connect up to five Axis® Network video cameras for real-time monitoring and video capture, without the need of a dedicated computer (dependent upon system workload and network conditions). The ix2-200 can be used as a storage target for other network surveillance cameras as well.
Print Server: Supports intelligent print sharing capability for up to three USB printers directly connected to the ix2-200.
UPnP AV/DLNA Certified Media Server: Compatible with UPnP and DLNA certified media players, the ix2-200 streams photos, audio content and videos to not only laptops and computers but a variety of media devices, including game consoles (Xbox® 360, Sony PlayStation® 3), audio bridges, iTunes™ players, networked digital picture frames and other compatible devices.
Bluetooth capability: Allows users to upload contacts, photos and more from a cell phone, pocket PC or Blackberry® phone (Bluetooth USB adapter required, sold separately).
Photo Slideshow: Integrated utility based on Cooliris™ technology for quick browsing and sharing of pictures stored on the ix2-200 to both local and remote users.
Picture Transfer Protocol (PTP): Supports no touch, automatic transfer of photos from digital cameras via one of the three USB 2.0 ports on the ix2-200.
Versatility: Supports read and write on various formats, including Fat32, NTFS or ext2/ext3 formatted hard disks; also supports HFS+ (ready only).
Backup and Security Software for a Complete Solution
The StorCenter ix2-200 provides data backup and protection for any number of desktops and laptops with integrated EMC Retrospect® Express backup software. During the set-up process, users choose files and folders for scheduled automatic backups. After that, any changes or additions are updated and saved automatically.

For data security, the ix2-200 also includes RSA® BSAFE® encryption security technology for protecting installs and upgrades from viruses or malware. RSA is the security division of EMC that protects digital data at many of the world’s largest banks.

A Power Saving “Green” NAS Appliance
The StorCenter ix2-200 utilizes such power saving features as automatic hard drive spin down when the ix2-200 isn’t copying or serving up data, power consumption “green” hard disk drives, and an Energy Star® certified power supply. All of these features ensure the most efficient or minimal power consumption.

Compatibility
The StorCenter ix2-200 is compatible with Windows®, Mac OS®, and Linux® PCs. The interface is localized in 11 supported languages (English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Traditional and Simplified Chinese, German, and Russian).

Price, Availability and Warranty
The new 1TB StorCenter ix2-200 NAS appliance is now available in the Americas and Europe for $269.99, the 2TB model is now available for $369.99, and the 4TB model, which will be available later this month, is $699.99. (All prices are U.S. suggested retail.) All three capacities of the new StorCenter ix2-200 will be available in Asia in November. The StorCenter ix2-200 is backed by a three-year warranty (with product registration).

About EMC
EMC Corporation (NYSE: EMC) is the world’s leading developer and provider of information infrastructure technology and solutions that enable organizations of all sizes to transform the way they compete and create value from their information. Information about EMC’s products and services can be found at www.EMC.com.

About Iomega
Iomega Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of EMC Corporation headquartered in San Diego, is a worldwide leader in innovative storage and network security solutions for small businesses, home offices, consumers and others. The Company has sold more than 410 million digital storage drives and disks since its inception in 1980. Today, Iomega’s product portfolio includes one of the industry’s broadest selection of direct-attached external hard drives; industry leading network attached storage products for the home and small business; and the ScreenPlay family of multimedia drives that makes it easy to move video, pictures and other digital files from the computer room to the livingroom. To learn about all of Iomega’s digital storage products and managed services solutions, please go to the Web at www.iomega.com. Resellers can visit Iomega at www.iomega.com/ipartner.

NOTE: This release contains “forward-looking statements” as defined under the Federal Securities Laws. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of certain risk factors, including but not limited to: (i) adverse changes in general economic or market conditions; (ii) delays or reductions in information technology spending; (iii) our ability to protect our proprietary technology; (iv) risks associated with managing the growth of our business, including risks associated with acquisitions and investments and the challenges and costs of integration, restructuring and achieving anticipated synergies; (v) fluctuations in VMware, Inc.’s operating results and risks associated with trading of VMware stock; (vi) competitive factors, including but not limited to pricing pressures and new product introductions; (vii) the relative and varying rates of product price and component cost declines and the volume and mixture of product and services revenues; (viii) component and product quality and availability; (ix) the transition to new products, the uncertainty of customer acceptance of new product offerings and rapid technological and market change; (x) insufficient, excess or obsolete inventory; (xi) war or acts of terrorism; (xii) the ability to attract and retain highly qualified employees; (xiii) fluctuating currency exchange rates; and (xiv) other one-time events and other important factors disclosed previously and from time to time in EMC’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. EMC disclaims any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements after the date of this release.

###

* 1 TB = 1,000,000,000,000 bytes.

** Requires an Internet connection.

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Four different premium features are on offer: making the phone ring through the web interface, locking it remotely, tracking its location (as long as it’s in the US) and wiping the handset completely.  These features will be free of charge until November 30th, after which point they will require a 7-day access fee of $4.99 (in the US); My Phone is also available to download for Windows Mobile 6.1 device users.

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A further version will support T-Mobile USA’s 3G bands.  However, the existing MiFi 2200 available on Sprint and Verizon will not support the applications, as those models lack the app processor and memory found in the 2352/2372.

As for functionality, that has not been fully detailed but Nomadesk’s app will not only allow WiFi-connected users to access files stored on a memory card inserted into the MiFi’s microSD slot, but sync with cloud-based storage, while Alcatel-Lucent’s app provides a standalone business security suite with automatic patches and anti-virus updates.  Eye-Fi’s software, meanwhile, is expected to offer image uploads to various online galleries.  Novatel have previously described to us a situation where images could be sent from a digital camera to the MiFi, stored on its memory card (leaving you fresh room on the camera itself for more shots), then automatically resized and the edited images uploaded to an online gallery; meanwhile the full-resolution shots would be kept on the MiFi itself, saving on your included data bundle in the process.

While Eye-Fi’s SD cards offer some of that functionality, and will in fact work with a MiFi as a simple WiFi-enabled 3G connection, the MiFi software would allow you to offload content from your camera even without a 3G connection.  Then the MiFi would automatically upload the shots when it next goes online.

Future applications for MiFi might download a local copy of email, RSS and other news, for reading when you don’t necessarily have a wireless connection.  The MiFi is also – with the right software – capable of pinging a WiFi-connected device to alert it to new information, in the manner of push email.  Novatel Wireless kicked off their MiFi Developer Program back in July.

Press Release:

Novatel Wireless Introduces Second Phase of MiFi™ Developer Program

Intelligent Platform Enables Innovative Applications and Increased Value

SAN DIEGO – Oct. 6, 2009 – Novatel Wireless, Inc., (Nasdaq:NVTL), a leading provider of wireless broadband access solutions, today announced the second phase of the MiFi Developer Program. Available to select software developers and enterprise customers through the Novatel Developer’s Lounge, the MiFi Developer Program provides a rich set of application programming interfaces (APIs), detailed programming guides and technical support for the creation of value-added software applications on the MiFi platform.

Leveraging MiFi’s ample storage capacity, processing power, and GPS capability, software developers will be able to deliver innovative mobile applications for both consumers and the enterprise. One such Novatel partner is leveraging the MiFi SDK to develop an intelligent file management, sharing, and storage application offered through MiFi’s Web UI. The application provides access to local files, the SD card, and cloud storage, as well as several unique user options for file sharing, synch and security.

“With this expansion of the MiFi Developer Program, we will be working with a select number of developer partners to bring additional applications and value to the intelligent MiFi platform. Supporting our partners in the development community is key, so this phase of expansion will give us greater exposure to developer requirements,” said Rob Hadley, CMO, Novatel Wireless.

For more on the Novatel Developer’s Lounge visit:
http://www.novatelwireless.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=219&Itemid=545

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Meanwhile there’s also an integrated DVD burner, which can be used to either load data onto the N2R1 or create further backups; alternatively you can quickly slap a bunch of clips and images onto a disc to force upon friends and family.  Both wired and WiFi b/g/ connectivity is supported, and there are also USB connections for plugging in external drives and the like.

Optionally, the LG N2R1 can be set up to allow remote access via the web, so no matter where you are that enchanting picture of your nephew with soup flying out of his nose can be shown to anyone foolish enough to sit still when you say “oh, I simply must show you these photos!”  The LG N2R1 NAS will go on sale this fall, with an MRSP of $299 for the 1TB model and $399 for the 2TB.

Press Release:

LG ELECTRONICS HELPS PROTECT CONSUMERS’ DIGITAL MEMORIES WITH NETWORK ATTACHED STORAGE

Provides Easy-to-use, Secure Storage of Personal Multimedia Entertainment Files

ATLANTA, Sept. 10, 2009 – LG Electronics introduced a new Network Attached Storage option for consumers looking to protect their multimedia entertainment files, this week at Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA) EXPO 2009 (Booth #2623).

To help safeguard treasured family memories, photos and music, LG’s Network Attached Storage (NAS) model N2R1 uses a proven system of multiple hard drives used for sharing and replicating data to prevent possible damage or loss. Called RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Discs), this system automatically backs up and restores files for added security in the event of a hardware failure.

With up to two Tera-bytes (TB) of storage, the N2R1 provides a wealth of storage capabilities, allowing consumers to continue building their digital libraries of music, movies and other multimedia files. For an enhanced level of convenience, the N2R1 includes a DVD Re-Writer and Playback feature for additional back up or file sharing options.

“Consumers continue to create digital memories, from photos to family videos and it’s important that these irreplaceable moments are saved in a secure place,” said Peter Reiner, senior vice president, marketing, LG Electronics USA, Inc. “With LG’s Network Attached Storage, consumers now have a virtual `Library on Command’ that allows them unlimited access to their favorite memories, whether at home or on the road.”

Connectivity and Compatibility

For consumers who cannot be tied down by wires, the N2R1 has integrated WiFi connectivity for easy connection to any 802.11g wireless home network. The MyMedia feature allows consumers access to videos, photos and music through a DLNA-certified media player, placing digital entertainment libraries within easy reach of the big-screen. For music aficionados, the N2R1 also has iTunes™ connectivity for a networked music option.

The Network Attached Storage is compatible with a variety of operating systems such as Windows, Linux and Mac operating systems, allowing for installation in any home entertainment environment. It also provides remote support with easy access to files from anywhere an Internet connection is available, allowing consumers to show off their favorite pictures or movies even when they are away from home.

The N2R1 will be available online and at national retailers early this Fall for the manufacturers suggested retail price of $299 for 1TB of storage and $399 for 2TB of storage.

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When we reviewed the original Transformer back in March, we described it as “getting close to foolproof”. The new Transformer for iPod is similar in setup if not in appearance, a small white plastic dongle with a short USB cord and a USB port on the side. Unlike the Transformer, though, you plug in your iPod or iPhone – using the standard USB cable that comes with the PMP – rather than a normal external hard-drive; the Transformer for iPod then hooks up to your Mac or PC and the Clickfree magic starts.

That magic is the company’s homegrown backup software, which is stored on the dongle itself and requires no installation on the host computer. The name of the app is simplicity, and left to its own devices it can manage an entire backup regime with no user input. A countdown timer starts ticking as soon as it boots up, and if left untouched it automatically scans the commonly backed-up directories and files – documents, photos and the like – and shuffles any new or changed data onto the iPod or iPhone’s spare capacity. Clickfree insist that no existing data on your iPod – such as music or video – will be over-written.

Alternatively, you can select which specific directories are scanned so as to accommodate any non-standard filing structure you may have. Once the Transformer has identified any new or changed files since its last scan, it copies just those over. Obviously your initial backup takes the longest; after that, the speed is proportional to how often you plug in, though as it’s a USB 2.0 connection you won’t see as speedy a transfer as with faster FireWire drives. Still, we didn’t notice much difference between backing up to an iPod and using the original Transformer with a standard USB 2.0 hard-drive.

Where the products differ is in the Transformer for iPod’s new musical abilities. The device also allows you to bring back any music or playlists from your iPhone or iPod to the host computer at a single click, or indeed any iPod you may have to hand. Obviously DRM-encrypted tracks won’t play, unless you can authorize them to the new machine, but standard files will be fine. Should you need to restore your files, that’s a case of interrupting the Transformer for iPod before it starts automatically scanning your system and then choosing which documents you’d like to copy back from a regular explorer interface.

There’s a lot to be said for taking advantage of extra storage capacity that you’re already carrying around with you, especially if you’re using an iPod classic which only the most avid music collectors have likely filled. On smaller capacity devices, however, it’s a balance between usability for the PMP’s core purpose – a portable music device – and the potential for ever-increasing backup sizes. A 4GB iPod nano, for instance, is unlikely to be much of a backup companion for all but the most spartan of off-device storage.

Still, there are plenty of people with a few important documents, bookmarks and photos that they’d like to safeguard, and a chunk of spare iPhone or iPod space crying out to be better used, and for them the Clickfree Transformer for iPod makes perfect sense. At $49.99 it’s reasonably priced, too – $10 cheaper than the original Transformer – though ironically its biggest competitor will be another Clickfree device. Next month, the company will release the Transformer SE, an update to the original model, that for $89.99 includes both iPod/iPhone backup and the ability to use a regular hard-drive. That appeals to our forward-thinking nature, though many users will certainly find the Transformer for iPod sufficient for their everyday backup needs.

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There’s also wireless drive sharing and a USB port to hook up either an external hard-drive or a printer.  Time Capsule works with both Macs and PCs, and can support up to 50 simultaneous users.

Most impressively, the new 2TB model comes in at exactly what the 1TB model previously retailed for: $499.  The 1TB Time Capsule has dropped to $299, while the 500GB model has been discontinued.  Both ship within 24hrs.

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The RTX400-QR may be relatively dedicated in its purpose, but there’s no shortage of flexibility when it comes to hooking it up. This isn’t a NAS – there’s no network connectivity – but you do get USB 2.0, eSATA, a FireWire 400 and two FireWire 800 ports, the latter of which can be combined for even speedier transfers. Up front there are four 3.5-inch SATA-II hard-drive bays.

Installing drives is particularly straightforward, requiring no brackets, trays or guide-rails. Having slotted in a drive (they’ll only go in the correct way up) the door automatically catches shut, and closing it fully installs it completely. Opening the door again disconnects the drive, allowing you to pull it out. It’s incredibly simple, and we wish all hard-drive bays were designed so well.

Once you’ve slotted the drives into place, the RTX400-QR offers various levels of RAID depending on your backup and data access priorities. RAID 0, 1, 10, 3 and 5 are all supported, together with JBOD (treating all the volumes as one big drive, though at the expense of redundancy). WiebeTech provide a simple configurator utility in order to flick between the RAID modes, though it’s worth noting that this will only function if you’re hooked up via one of the Firewire ports.

Above the drive bays there’s a compact LCD display with a pair of small buttons underneath, which can be used to show capacity, general status, unit temperature and any error messages. Cooling is via two temperature-controlled fans at the rear, which we found to be louder than WiebeTech’s “so quiet they’ll be hard to detect” boasts. Still, they do their job as we didn’t experience any overheating issues during our testing.

We chose to compare the WiebeTech RTX400-QR with one of our everyday local backup systems, the MicroNet Platinum RAID array. With both set up in RAID 5 and connected via a single Firewire 800 connection, a single 12GB file took 3 minutes and 36 seconds to transfer on the RTX400-QR and 3 minutes and 21 seconds on the MicroNet. Times were the average of three test cycles.

WiebeTech are billing the RTX400-QR as a portable backup solution, and while it may seem faintly ridiculous to be toting a four-drive block around with you, they’ve at least made it straightforward to do so. The metal casing is sturdy and flex-free, and there’s a huge handle up top which is well-attached. That’s good, as the array weighs around 21lbs with drives installed (or 16lbs bare).

On the systems we connected the RTX400-QR to, it was immediately recognized and mounted as an external drive; that means you’re free to use any backup app you choose. WiebeTech also provide a copy of ProSoft’s Data Backup, which supports drive imaging, full and partial backups, scheduling and incremental saves.

In all, we were pleased with the performance of the WiebeTech RTX400-QR. It fell a little short of the speed we’re used to from our comparison array, but not by any significant amount, and the ease of drive installation and swapping counts for a lot. The company also deserve credit for including all the necessary cables in the box, and if you buy direct from WiebeTech – complete with drives – they’ll format it in your choice of Windows or Mac setup. At $899 for the empty array (rising to $1,515 for 4TB) it’s not a cheap option, but the RAID flexibility and sturdiness mean you’re getting a serious backup system for your money.

Rating:

4 out of 5 gears

WiebeTech RTX 400-QR quick-look:

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Ports include gigabit ethernet, two USB 2.0 and a single eSATA which can be used to add extra external storage to the drive.  Inside there’s a 1.2GHz processor together with 128MB of DDR2 RAM, and the DS409slim can apparently operate normally without its fan being on.

As well as basic backup duties, the DS409slim will act as a file server, email server, web server and DLNA home media server.  Synology include Disk Station Manager 2.1, which manages RAID settings, backup, a BitTorrent downloader, FTP and HTTP settings, as well as UPnP streaming; meanwhile a new version, 2.2 Beta, will be released sometime this month, offering iPod touch/iPhone photo and audio access.

The Synology DS409slim is available now, priced at around $400 without drives.

Press Release:

Synology Introduces the DS409Slim, the Most Compact, Energy Saving 4-Bay NAS on the Market for Home and Small Business Users

Synology® America Corp. today launched the new 2.5″ 4-bay Disk Station DS409slim, a highly anticipated addition to the 09 series product line bringing lower power consumption, virtually quiet operations and an extremely small footprint both physically and financially while providing the same reliable data sharing and backup solutions that Synology is well known for. The DS409slim is one of the most versatile, energy efficient and stylish network attached storage devices on the market

Synology® America Corp. today launched the new 2.5″ 4-bay Disk Station DS409slim, a highly anticipated addition to the 09 series product line bringing lower power consumption, virtually quiet operations and an extremely small footprint both physically and financially while providing the same reliable data sharing and backup solutions that Synology is well known for.

The DS409slim uses 2.5″ hard drives which increases shock tolerance and reduces power consumption. The DS409slim consumes only 19 watts of power under normal operating conditions with all four hard drives installed. The smart fan design keeps the DS409slim’s fan off under normal operations resulting in an extremely quiet Disk Station that is perfect for sitting on an office desk or in living room.

“The DS409slim is one of the most versatile, energy efficient and stylish network attached storage devices on the market,” says Heather Morford, marketing director of Synology America Corp. “When you look at its compact size, you would never dream that it’s a full featured file server, backup solution, surveillance station, email server, web server and home media server. It’s designed for the SMB market but as an ‘all in one solution’; it’s also a great choice for home users. Home users will appreciate the surveillance features to keep watch on the house or kids, being able to stream or share files over the internet and the peace of mind that it serves as a solid backup solution to protect important memories and financial information. Best of all, it can sit on a bookshelf and won’t look like you have an IT department in your living room,” adds Morford.

Though small, the DS409slim is configured to perform. With 4 hot-swappable drives, a 1.2 GHz CPU, 128MB DDRII RAM, one Gigabit LAN port, two USB2.0 ports and one eSATA port it can handle all the needs of a small to medium business. The DS409slim supports up to 2 TB with the combination of four 2.5″ SATA or SSD hard drives of 500GB each. The physical footprint of the DS409slim remains stylish and compact with the total size being just larger than a 12 oz coffee cup (120 x 105 x 142 mm).

The DS409slim comes with Disk Station Manager 2.1 firmware which supports Windows ADS integration, cross platform data sharing, RAID data protection and several backup alternatives. Multimedia applications include; Download Station 2-functions as a 24×7 BitTorrent, FTP, HTTP, eMule and NZB dpwnload center. Audio Station supports music, Internet radio stations, and iPod playback with connected USB speakers. UPnP support allows users to stream multimedia files with an UPnP DMA on a stereo system or a TV-set. Sony PS3 and Microsoft Xbox360 are also supported.

DSM 2.2 Beta will be released in July 2009 with the official version releasing in September 2009. DSM 2.2 includes many new features that the DS409slim will be able to utilize; a new DLNA compliant Media Server which ensures interoperability between the DS409slim and various DLNA certified CE, PC and mobile devices. iPhone support allows users to upload photos to DS409slim or to browse photos stored on DS049slim with iPhone/iPod Touch and the ability to stream music with the iPhone/iPod Touch.

DSM 2.2 Beta will be free for download on Synology’s official website in July 2009
Availability
DS409slim is now shipping in the US.

About Synology
Founded in April of 2000, Synology Inc. develops next-generation Network Attached Storage (NAS) products for the home, small and medium sized business markets. Providing a secure way of storing and sharing digital content, Synology products are feature-rich, easy-to-use, energy-efficient and affordable. All Synology product investments are enhanced with free software upgrades and 24/7 online support.

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Unlike the Acer Aspire easyStore AH340-UA230N also announced today, the SNAP NAS does not run Windows Home Server.  That doesn’t leave it short on functionality, though; as well as RAID 0/ 1/ 5/ 6/ 5 + hot spare, single, JBOD, Online RAID Capacity Expansion, and Online RAID Level Migration setups, it offers AES 256-bit encryption, remote access and more.

The twin ethernet ports can either offer failover provision in case one connection fails, be used with load balancing to increase overall throughput, or even have independent IPs to allow the NAS to be access from two different workgroups.  New drives are automatically included into the RAID array, and there’s a one-touch copy button which transfers files from drives plugged into the front-panel USB port onto the SS-439, or vice-versa.

With four low-power HDDs the SNAP SS-439 Pro Turbo NAS uses just 18W, and the fan automatically responds to temperature to reduce power consumption and noise.  The NAS is available now, priced at around $800.

Press Release:

QNAP Unveils the First 2.5″ SATA, 4-bay, Intel Atom-based SS-439 Pro Turbo NAS

TAIPEI, Taiwan –(Business Wire)– May 21, 2009 QNAP Systems, Inc. today announces the first 2.5″ SATA HDD, 4-bay, Intel Atom-based SS-439 Pro Turbo NAS dedicated to SMB and SOHO users. Designed with Intel Atom N270 1.6GHz CPU, 1GB DDRII memory, and DOM (Disk on Module) architecture, the SS-439 Pro is the most compact, powerful, and power-saving 2.5″ 4-bay NAS that supports RAID 5/ RAID 6 for highly secure data protection. The NAS supports four 2.5″ SATA hard drives which are featured with high stability, low power consumption, low vibration, and longer life expectancy. With excellent cooling and energy-saving design, the power consumption of the NAS with four hard drives installed is as low as 18W. Moreover, the SS-439 Pro supports 3 USB 2.0 ports and 2 eSATA ports for storage capacity expansion and backup destination, and advanced features such as built-in iSCSI target service (max 8 iSCSI devices) with Thin Provisioning, Online RAID Capacity Expansion, Online RAID Level Migration, AES 256-bit volume-based encryption, Wake on LAN, automatic policy-based IP blocking, instant SMS and email alert, BT and eMule download, schedule power on and power off, 2 Giga LAN ports, 4 IP cameras for network surveillance, etc.

“The SS-439 Pro is a compact, silent, and power-saving server which is ideal to work for long hours in the office. When four low power 2.5″ hard drives are installed, the power consumption of the NAS is only 18W, which is almost the same as an energy-saving light bulb. It is an environment-friendly storage solution that largely saves the electricity expense of the users and minimizes pollution to the earth,” says Jerry Deng, Product Manager from QNAP.

The SS-439 Pro is a powerful server of diversified features, e.g. network server, FTP server, web server with built-in phpMyAdmin, Joomla, MySQL/SQLite, editable php.ini, printer server etc. The exclusive QPKG software expansion feature and the Surveillance Station (network surveillance) are also provided.

For more information about the SS-439 Pro Turbo NAS, please visit http://www.qnap.com/pro_detail_feature.asp?p_id=120.

About QNAP

QNAP Systems, Inc. is a dominant provider of Linux OS embedded network-attached storage (NAS) and network surveillance system. We have released numerous NAS and NVR series, providing our customers high performance and high reliability backup and security solutions.

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Windows Home Server is kept chugging along on an Intel Atom 230 1.6GHz processor, paired with 2GB of DDR2 RAM.  Network connectivity is via a gigabit ethernet connection, and the whole thing measures 8.3 x 7.8 x 7.08 inches. 

Acer have slapped on various neat usability touches, including a top-mounted power button (since the easyStore will likely be living under a desk) and a one-touch copy button that backs-up a USB device to designated folders, including sorting files by type.  Windows Home Server does its usual backup chores, creating drive images of any PC on the network.

The Acer Aspire easyStore AH340-UA230N Home Server is available now, priced at $399.99.

Press Release:

New Acer® Aspire easyStore Home Server
Provides Access to Family’s Digital Data From Anywhere in the World

Networks PCs, centralizes data and provides daily data back-ups for just $399

SAN JOSE, CALIF., May 21, 2009 – Acer, the third largest vendor in the PC market, today announced the new Acer® Aspire easyStore Home Server for customers in the United States. Designed for households and home-based businesses with multiple PCs, Aspire easyStore offers a simple way to network home computers, centralize, share and protect digital data as well as access it remotely from anywhere in the world.

Outfitted with Microsoft® Windows® Home Server, the Aspire easyStore offers many benefits. For example, parents can access their children’s homework while traveling for business. They can also upload videos and photos from sports events or summer vacations to the server, even while away from home. At any time, from anywhere, every family member with a PC in the home network can access photos, videos, music and other documents from the home server. This centralization of digital data saves significant time by eliminating the need to transfer data from one PC to another, every time someone wants a photo, video or other document that’s stored on another PC. It’s also a safeguard. If a netbook or notebook is damaged, lost or stolen, users don’t lose their data along with it, since it’s backed up at home. In addition, when a new system is added to the network, it’s quick and easy to upload data from the computer to the server.

“The trend of multiple computer devices per household continues to grow, particularly with regard to mobility. A significant pain point for consumers is how to consolidate and protect their digital data that’s spread among multiple devices,” said Sumit Agnihotry, Vice President of Product Marketing for Acer America. “Aspire easyStore is the ideal solution for networking home PCs and providing round the clock data protection. Offering remote access to digital data at home from anywhere in the world and automatic daily back-ups, it’s the perfect companion to netbooks and notebooks. It’s an extremely practical and affordable way to simplify and manage one’s personal digital life.”

“It’s great to have Acer as a valued partner for Microsoft’s Windows Home Server in North America. Acer’s solution gives consumers new options for purchasing Microsoft Windows Home Server. And Acer’s reputation as a key contributor in the PC and consumer electronics field further demonstrates the industry’s commitment to this growing product category,” said Kevin Kean, General Manager, Windows Home and Small Business Server Group at Microsoft.

Small and Stylish Design, Significant Storage Capacity
Smaller than standard servers, the handsome black tower measures just 8.3-inches (H) x 7.8-inches (W) x 7.08-inches (L). HDD status LEDs emanate a soft blue light and complement the handsome black bezel. The power button is located on top for easy access and reach. One-touch USB copy enables quick file uploading. Users just plug in the USB device and push the button. The data is automatically sorted and stored by file type into designated folders.

Outfitted with an Intel® Atom™ processor 230 and 2GB DDR2 memory, the Aspire easyStore AH340-UA230N Home Server has the guts to organize and back-up files quickly. The 1TB hard drive and three hot-swappable hard drive bays available for storage expansion provide enough room for filing, storing and backing-up a vast library of songs, videos, photos, games and documents.

The hot swappable HDD cage enables users to increase their data storage, by adding up to three 3.5-inch internal hard drives, which means it offers up to about 7 TB of total data storage. The cage is outfitted with release levers for each drive to keep them secure. In addition, a recovery/reset pinhole provides additional data protection by enabling system restores and data recoveries with just one-touch.

The server works with DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) 1.5 Certified Home Server (DMS) and digital media player (DMP) to enable music playback as well as photo and video viewing on a TV. For internet security, Aspire easyStore comes with a six-month free trial of McAfee Total Protection Service.

Windows® Home Server Simplifies Home Computing, Enables Remote Access

Microsoft® Windows® Home Server centralizes digital media in one location, making it easy to access files, photos, videos and music from any PC on the network. It also protects critical data by creating an image-based backup of every home computer every day, so users can restore a single file or an entire PC. With Windows Home Server, users can access the home network from the office or the road, for full access to their files and applications, just as if they were sitting in front of their home PC.

Specifications, Pricing and Availability
The Acer® Aspire easyStore AH340-UA230N Home Server is available in the U.S. via leading online technology retailers and authorized resellers.

Acer® Aspire easyStore AH340-UA230N Home Server: Available now for a MSRP of $399.99

* Intel® Atom™ Processor 230 (1.6GHz)
* Microsoft® Windows® Home Server
* 2GB DDR2 Memory
* 1TB Hard Drive
* Three Empty Hot Swappable Hard Drive Bays
* Five USB 2.0 Ports
* One eSATA Port
* 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet
* 200 Watt Power Supply
* RJ-45 LAN Port

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Up until now, the service had been in closed beta status, with only those whom Microsoft invited to take part able to access it.  Currently it’s free to sign up to and try, though we imagine that will change once Microsoft roll out the service properly.

Users get 200MB of free storage, and the default backup schedule is once per day; the latter can be changed, however, though it will obviously impact on how much data is transferred.  My Phone is expected to launch properly when Windows Mobile 6.5 is released.

[via SlashPhone]

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The Traveler can be used with multiple computers, with each backup kept distinct.  Files can also be browsed and viewed without having to restore them, and three capacities are available: 16GB for $79.99, 32GB for $149.99 and 64GB for $249.99.

As for DVD  Transformer, that is basically a USB dongle which includes a version of Clickfree’s software.  Once inserted, it intelligently scans the PC for personal files, then burns them to a CD or DVD inserted into the computer’s own optical drive.  The DVD Transformer is $39.99.

We reviewed two of Clickfree’s products – the standalone 320GB Clickfree HD325 hard-drive and the Clickfree Transformer – back in March, and came away very impressed.  You can find the full review here.

Press Release:

Storage Appliance Corp. introduces Clickfree Traveler, world’s smallest totally automatic PC backup device, and Clickfree Transformer, a simpler way to burn data to optical discs

The size of a credit card, the Clickfree Traveler slips easily into a wallet; New Clickfree DVD Transformer bypasses tricky CD & DVD burning software

TORONTO – MAY 7, 2009 – Storage Appliance Corp., developers of Clickfree, the easiest-to-use PC backup solutions on the market, today announced two new products, the Clickfree Traveler and Clickfree DVD Transformer. Available May 7, 2009, both devices are PC and Mac compatible, and eliminate the confusing and time-consuming hassle associated with backing up irreplaceable digital data.

As light as a pen and the size of a credit card, the flash-based Traveler slips easily into a wallet, allowing business travelers, photographers, music lovers and others to carry up to 64GBs of data in their hip pocket or purse. The Clickfree DVD Transformer enables consumers to quickly and easily back up important data to optical discs, bypassing tricky CD and DVD burning software. Coupled with recordable CDs and/or DVDs, it’s an inexpensive yet foolproof way to back up important files.

“Consumers need simpler solutions for protecting their digital data,” said Bryan McLeod, CEO, Storage Appliance Corp. “Clickfree’s patented auto-launching software completely automates the entire process, making PC backup effortless. Our expanded product line and new form factors give consumers numerous options and price ranges for backing up their precious and irreplaceable data.”

Clickfree Traveler Lightens the Load

Despite its small size, like all Clickfree products, the Traveler includes an auto-launch feature so there is no need to install or configure software. Just insert the Traveler’s USB plug into a PC, and Clickfree does the rest, searching, copying and organizing more than 400 file types of digital data including documents (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Outlook email and contacts, photos, video, music and even favorite websites.

Road warriors and other professionals who typically operate with large amounts of data (photographers, graphic artists, financial planners), will find the Clickfree Traveler lets them carry hefty presentations or huge art portfolios in their wallet or purse. With the Traveler, business professionals will always have easy access to important content and can quickly restore critical information in the event of a lost, stolen or malfunctioning computer. Netbook users will find it a perfect complement to these smaller devices, allowing them to carry even more data without increasing their load. Other key benefits include:

Backup multiple computers: Just plug it into any computer and the Traveler will automatically start, search, backup and organize content, keeping each PC’s data separated by user.

Intuitive backup summary: The Clickfree patented application provides a clear and simple backup summary that lists the number of files backed up, the total size of the backup, details of files by type and more.

Easily browse backed up files: Review any backed up file by using the backup application or Windows Explorer. For backed up photos, Clickfree also provides a thumbnail view that eliminates the need to open the entire file.

Restoring data is simple: Just plug the Traveler into a new computer and restore all files to their original locations. Easily transfer files between computers, and even from PC to Mac.

Range of capacities and prices: To meet a wide range of needs and budgets, the Clickfree Traveler is available in several capacities:
16GB – $79.99 (U.S.)
32GB – $149.99 (U.S.)
64GB – $249.99 (U.S.)

Clickfree DVD Transformer — an Inexpensive, Easy Solution for Students and General Household Use

The Clickfree DVD Transformer is also a small, flash-based device that connects to a PC’s USB port, automatically searching the entire computer for documents, photos, music files, videos and more. Once the search is complete and the content identified, consumers simply insert a blank disc into the computer’s burner and Clickfree does the rest. Tricky CD and DVD burning software is now a thing of the past.

At $39.99 (U.S.), it is an economical way to quickly backup and save files inexpensively. Coupled with the recordable CDs and/or DVDs most households have laying around, moms and dads can easily burn the latest family photos to send off to the grandparents, while its small size and low-cost makes it a must-have for any student with homework assignments and costly music libraries on their PCs.

The Transformer is an inexpensive yet foolproof way to back up important files.

The Clickfree DVD Transformer will automatically backup data to optical discs of many popular formats, including CDR, CDRW, DVD+R, DVD-R and Dual Layer DVD.

Other key benefits include:

Backup Multiple Computers: There is absolutely no limit – just connect the Clickfree DVD Transformer to any computer and the Clickfree software will automatically start and search for digital content. Users can repeat the process with as many computers as needed and the DVD Transformer keeps a complete record of every computer and every backup disc created.

Incremental Backup Support: After the initial backup, users subsequently have the option of just backing up new or changed files rather than starting from scratch.

Disc Spanning Support: Users can back up content to a single or multiple CDs or DVDs.

Disc Management: The DVD Transformer will keep a record of every disc ever created on any computer. Just insert any disc while the Clickfree application is running and it will tell you what computer backup it is from, what backup set, and what disc of a multi disc set.

Backup Summary: Simple and easy to understand, it lists the number of files backed up, the total size of the backup, details of files by type and more.

Backup is only as good as the restore

Both the DVD Transformer and Clickfree Traveler come complete with Clickfree’s unique automatic “Smart Restore Technology” that is as easy to use as Clickfree backup. It allows the customer to effortlessly restore or share all files with any PC or Mac. Other manufacturer’s products that claim to restore applications and operating systems (“Image backup”) fail to mention that these can only be restored to an identical computer and will also restore viruses, malware and corrupt applications and registry settings. All these problems can be avoided with Clickfree’s automatic Smart Restore Technology.

Availability

Clickfree products can be found at www.Clickfree.com, or at the following U.S. retailers: Best Buy, Office Max, Kmart, Walgreens, Ultimate Electronics, Cord Camera and Amazon.com

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Features for the STORY Station include a USB 2.0 interface and Auto Backup, SafetyKey and SecretZone functions to make for the optimum level of security for your data. There’s also a power-saving mode.

The hard drive is encased in a brushed aluminum exterior. You can expect the STORY Station from Samsung to be released in Europe sometime in May in 500GB, 1TB and 1.5TB options. Other areas will get this device as well, though release dates are not yet known, nor is the pricing.

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The Replica makes it so you can restore documents, applications and various other items should your PC ever crash. It works in a continuous backup fashion, so you don’t have to manually back up your data–though you can if you want.

You can also use it to restore individual files that you may have deleted by mistake. It works with Windows XP or Vista and comes in 250GB and 500GB versions that will retail for $129.99 and $199.99, respectively. The latter of which is intended for multi-PC back up and includes a dock. Both will be available in May.

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That means  automatic setup, mixed capacity drives and even hot-swapping: you can pull out one drive at a time when in single-redundancy mode, or two at a time in dual-redundancy.  Even swapping between those redundancy modes is automated, and you can flip either way as often as you like with DroboPro working out all the details.  If you’re very rich and have a lot of data, you can hook up sixteen different DroboPro units (each rocking 16TB) and address them as one common store.

Connections include a USB 2.0 port, two FireWire 800 ports (backward compatible with FireWire 400 with the right adapter) and a gigabit ethernet jack.  The latter is for playing nice with the super-fast iSCSI protocol.  No word on whether the DroboPro will work with the Drobo NAS peripheral.

Of course, this is resolutely a small business device and the pricing matches those aspirations.  An empty DroboPro costs $1,299, though Data Robotics will happily take $1,599, $1,849 or $3,999 off you for a DroboPro outfitted with four 500GB drives, eight 500GB drives or eight 2TB drives respectively.  There are also to configurations (four 500GB and eight 500GB) which include the 3U DroboPro Rack Mount, priced at $1,749 and $1,949 respectively.  The DroboPro is on sale now.

Press Release:

DATA ROBOTICS UNVEILS DROBOPRO, THE FIRST SMB DATA STORAGE SYSTEM THAT MANAGES ITSELF

Scalable BeyondRAID Platform Eliminates Capacity Over-Provisioning and RAID Lock-In

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – April 7, 2009 – Data Robotics, the company that is changing the way the world stores and protects digital content, today introduced DroboPro, the first business class storage array that manages itself. DroboPro delivers a radically simplified storage experience enhanced by advanced self-monitoring and self-healing functionality that enables small and medium businesses (SMBs) to maintain uptime in the face of constant data growth. Built on the company’s award-winning BeyondRAID™ virtualized storage platform, DroboPro provides enterprise-level business continuity features—including protection against multiple concurrent drive failures and no-downtime capacity expansion with thin provisioning—while eliminating the lock-in of traditional RAID configurations.

DroboPro with BeyondRAID offers IT managers the unprecedented flexibility to replace failed disks, upsize the capacity of disks, and with one click switch between single and dual disk redundancy without costly downtime. Providing the most straightforward user experience ever designed for business class storage, DroboPro enables companies to devote more resources to business growth and significantly less time and money to managing their storage. With DroboPro IT managers no longer have to make difficult and confining choices upfront about how to provision capacity for the future.

“At many businesses, IT managers are responsible for much more than just storage, let alone having to predict the future of their company’s business and dynamic storage needs,” said David Reinsel, group vice president, storage and semiconductors, at industry analyst firm IDC. “A forward-thinking approach to flexible and highly available data storage, like Data Robotics’ DroboPro, not only should save IT managers capital and administrative costs, but also should provide them more time to focus on managing their front-end applications, such as Microsoft Small Business Server and Microsoft Exchange.”

“It’s critical that our company’s data is always accessible. Devoting time and resources to manage our storage is challenging, especially as our data continues to grow each year. The ability to survive two drive failures and DroboPro’s high-speed iSCSI interface make it the ideal primary storage for our mission-critical applications server,” said Wayne Titus, owner, AMDG Financial. “Because DroboPro manages the RAID levels automatically, we no longer need to buy more storage than we need today in anticipation of estimated future requirements. As our business grows, DroboPro grows with us. We can add additional drives as needed, and the new capacity is instantly available. With DroboPro, we have a high-performance storage solution our business can afford, with the features, functionality, and ease of use that are ideal for any small business.”

DroboPro Features and Benefits

Up to 8 Disks for Instant Expansion to 16TB and Beyond
Customers can grow storage in line with their data capacity needs with minimal effort. To add capacity, customers simply insert a new hard disk or replace the smallest disk with a larger one, even when all eight disk bays are full. Unlike traditional RAID systems, the BeyondRAID technology found in DroboPro enables IT managers to efficiently mix and match disk brands, capacities and speeds, enabling continuous expansion as disk capacities grow. With DroboPro expansion is automatic and instantaneous, and access to data is always maintained.
No Headache Dual Disk Redundancy
The DroboPro Dual Disk Redundancy option protects against the simultaneous failure of up to two hard disks. Customers can engage this option with a single click, without ever losing access to their data. When it runs out of capacity, customers can switch DroboPro back to single disk redundancy with a click. Unlike moving between RAID 5 and RAID 6, there’s no need to reformat or migrate data off of the array, potentially saving hours or days.
The Virtues of Smart Volumes
Smart Volumes allow customers to create new volumes in seconds and manage 16TB volumes over time with ease. The timesaving Smart Volume management technology integrated into DroboPro allows volumes to pull storage from the common pool of disks rather than a specific physical disk allocation. The labor of resizing and migrating volumes is replaced with the simplicity of intelligent engineering.
Triple Interface Featuring iSCSI
DroboPro attaches directly to a server or workstation that requires storage, or to a shared server or workstation on a network that can provide access to multiple clients. Interface options include iSCSI (using Gigabit Ethernet), FireWire 800, and USB 2.0. DroboPro reduces the complexity of iSCSI by introducing zero configuration connection establishment for both Windows and Mac OS X.
Rack Mount Ready, Desktop Quiet
DroboPro fits into a rack mount environment or can sit on a desktop. Dual smart fans automatically manage their speed to optimize both cooling and operating noise. (DroboPro rack-mount sold separately.)
“DroboPro was built on the belief that there is no reason that storage should be complex or expensive in order to be effective. We’ve taken storage to a level that is truly simple and straightforward without losing the necessary features that businesses need,” said Dr. Geoff Barrall, CEO and founder of Data Robotics. “Leveraging the capabilities that are built into DroboPro, businesses can quickly take advantage of this robust, cost-effective storage solution to ease the burden of nonstop data growth.”

Price and Availability DroboPro is currently available starting at an entry price of $1299 MSRP, with multiple configurations to $3999 for a 16TB rack-mountable solution. DroboPro is available now from authorized partners worldwide and on www.drobostore.com. For a list of partners or to learn more about DroboPro, please visit www.drobo.com/drobopro.

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More details, plus video overview after the cut

The Text Chat feature allows for conversations with up to 15 other people at any one time.  It works with an on-screen keyboard, the Wireless Keypad or a third-party keyboard peripheral, and can be accessed as a standalone feature or while playing games.  Users can take part in up to three chatrooms at once.

As for the Friends List, this is newly added to the XrossMediaBar, and allows for sorting by online status.  Sony have also increased the attachment file limit for messages, from 1MB to 3MB.  Video backup allows content bought for the PS3 to be saved onto an external hard-drive (though not, it seems, watched from there) to save PS3 space.

The Sony PS3 v2.70 firmware is available now; you can wait for your console to prompt an upgrade, or trigger it yourself through the settings menu.

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Video demo after the cut 

According to Corsair, the vast majority of users have a My Documents folder containing less than 64GB of data: that means one of the company’s 64GB Flash Voyager drives is enough for a full backup.  Alternatively, they’re promoting the Voyager Port (and NovaBACKUP 10’s “Disaster Recovery” tool) to make a full image of an SSD-based netbook, the full storage of which often comes in at under 32GB.

No word on pricing as yet, but the Corsair Voyager Port has a 10 year warranty.  As an alternative – which works with both flash and USB hard-drives – check out our review of the ClickFree Transformer. 

Press Release:

Corsair announces Voyager Port

Corsair develops innovative solution to transform any USB flash drive into
a powerful and flexible portable backup and recovery device

Fremont, CA, March 31st, 2009 – Corsair®, a worldwide leader in high-performance computer and flash memory products, today announced the Voyager Port portable backup solution for USB flash drives.

The Voyager Port transforms any USB flash drive into a powerful data backup solution, complete with a simple, one-button file backup feature. The Voyager Port requires no external power supply and features a USB 2.0 port for the latest, high-speed USB flash drives.

“USB flash drives, such as Corsair’s shock- and water-resistant Flash Voyager drives, are smaller and far more durable than portable hard disk drives, which have moving parts that are vulnerable to shock” said Jim Carlton, VP of Marketing, Corsair, “And with 64GB Flash Voyagers now available, USB flash drives are ideal backup solutions.”

The Voyager Port is seamlessly integrated with the included copy of award-winning data backup and recovery software NovaBACKUP 10, to easily store and protect your important data. Simply press the Voyager Port’s backup button and you need never again be without your most important documents, photos, email contacts, music and other data.

“Your most important personal data, such as documents, spreadsheets, PDFs and presentations generally only occupies a few gigabytes of hard disk space, meaning that huge hard disk-based backup drives are largely wasted,” continued Carlton. “Our research indicated that over 80% of users have a ‘My Documents’ folder of less than 64GB, and more than 85% need to regularly transport less than 64GB of data between different PCs. This shows that USB flash drives are an efficient method of backing up your data, and with high-capacity USB flash drives, there’s still plenty of room for your favourite music, photos and even movies.”

The Voyager Port, combined with 32GB or 64GB USB flash drives, also makes an ideal total backup solution for notebooks and netbooks with smaller main storage drives. Simply use NovaBACKUP 10’s Disaster Recovery option to take a snapshot of the system to preserve your data in the event of a failure.
The Voyager Port is available immediately from all good stockists, and is backed by a 10-year warranty and comprehensive customer support via telephone, email, forum and the Tech Support Express helpdesk.

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The container-sized backup system is monitored for power, heating and cooling, fire, smoke, and water detection, together with physical access points, and Sun can dispatch technicians or security as the need arises.  More details in the overview video here.

Of course, what this now means is that someone will probably steal the internet.  One day we’ll turn on our computers and there’ll be no internet to play with, as some light-fingered fellow will have made off with Sun’s box.  Enjoy it while it’s still here, people.

[via GigaOm]

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Video demo of the EeeNAS after the cut

EEE-PC.de shot some video (in German) of the EeeNAS D200, showing off the backup PC’s four ethernet ports, WWAN port, four USB 2.0 ports – which can be used to hook up USB hard-drives to add to the storage on offer – audio in/out and DVI video port.  Rather than being a dumb NAS, the Eee PC Station D200 is actually a full nettop, with an Intel Atom N270 1.6GHz CPU, 2GB of DDR2 memory, Intel 945GSE graphics, a DVD drive and WiFi. 

Meanwhile Blogeee have offered up screenshots of the EeeNAS D200’s remote GUI (in the gallery below), confirming its specifications.  It also confirms that the D200 has space for two HDDs – in this case a pair of 500GB Hitachi drives – which can be set up in RAID 0, 1 or JBOD.  Still no news on pricing or availability.

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Both of the Clickfree products work in pretty much the same way.  The standalone Clickfree HD325 is an all-in-one backup solution, offering 320GB of compact storage; the Clickfree Transformer Cable, meanwhile, lets you use your own external hard-drive or even a USB flash drive.  According to Clickfree, any portable backup drive, such as the HD325, manufactured after January 1st 2009 is Mac compatible, as is the Transformer Cable.

Setup is simple: in the case of the Transformer Cable you first have to hook up a USB hard-drive, then you plug either of them into a spare USB port.  After the typical minute or so as the drive is recognized (which only happens the first time), the Clickfree auto-backup wizard springs to life.  From here you can allow the software to collate the common files – documents, emails, images, music, etc. – or add in specific folders of which you’d prefer the entire contents to be saved.  There’s no easy way to create a full drive mirror; the Clickfree is more about personal data than it is full system restores.

Once you’ve selected – or let the app select – the targets, Clickfree begins indexing the files.  As with installation, the first time takes the longest, as your whole hard-drive is scanned for relevant data.  This is more time-consuming than, say, focusing on just what’s in the Vista “Documents” folder, say (or the equivalent in another OS), but it’s also more thorough, scraping up personal files hidden elsewhere on the drive that may have been scattered by errant software.

After indexing the copying begins, and how long this takes depends on the number of files Clickfree has found and the speed of the hard-drive.  In the case of the HD325 that’s a 5,400rpm 2.5-inch model with 8MB cache; with the Transformer Cable it depends on what you have to hand.  Subsequent backups – triggered by plugging the HD325 or Transformer Cable-equipped USB drive back into the computer – are much faster, as Clickfree only copies across new or altered data.  Old versions of files are preserved, and if you delete one from your computer it’s not automatically deleted from the Clickfree drive; that takes up more space, yes, but it’s very useful if you later realize you were too quick to empty the Recycle Bin.

Restoring data is similarly straightforward.  Triggered either from the Clickfree backup app or accessing the drive directly through the Explorer window (or equivalent), you can choose to restore individual files, browse through them (with an integrated picture viewer and media app) or restore the whole lot.  Rather than being slotted back into the directories they came from, Clickfree puts all data into a single Restored Files directory; that makes it easy to sift through, but does leave you with the chore of reorganizing afterward.

As backup systems go, it’s getting close to foolproof.  Thanks to the nature of the Clickfree software it’s possible to leave everything at its default setting and be confident that pretty much all the data you’d hope to have preserved after a system crash would be safe.  Alternatively, there’s enough granularity of choice to save specific files or data sets that Clickfree might overlook, together with the knowledge that next time it will include them automatically.

It’s not perfect, though.  There’s no provision for scheduled backup – it simply runs when you plug it in, or when you manually load the Clickfree app – and experienced users might miss some of the flexibility on offer in more advanced systems.  We’d also like to see a hardware button on the drive or cable itself, rather than having to physically unplug the Clickfree every time, though at least that does promote storing the backup elsewhere as is good practice.

The Clickfree HD325 drive can be used with up to twenty different computers, keeping data on each distinct and separate.  As it’s bus-powered it’s probably the easier of the two products (there’s a 5V DC input but no AC adapter supplied), though the Transformer Cable does have its own charms.  It’s cheaper outright, assuming you already have an external drive or can pick one up cheaply, and it has no limitations on how many machines you can use it with.  You could also feasibly use it with a USB RAID hard-drive, and add in an extra layer of protection in case of drive failure, something the HD325 doesn’t offer.

For the target audience, though, any sort of backup is likely to be an improvement: every year researchers declare how few people actually backup their data, generally prompting a couple of burnt DVDs and then a lapse back into laziness.  Clickfree certainly cuts through that, and if you’re too lazy to plug in a USB cable once a week then perhaps there’s no saving you.  The geek in us prefers the Clickfree Transformer cable – at $59.99 you get the clever software along with flexibility – but as an all-in-one solution the Clickfree HD325, at $179.99, is 320GB of sheer simplicity.

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Underneath the touchscreen there’s a slot-loading DVD burner, for loading software and making backups.  ASUS are playing the specs of the EeeNAS PC close to their chest, but we do know that it’s intended for 24/7 operation, has a near-silent 28dB noise output and comes with an uninterrupted power supply (UPS).

Multiple simultaneous connections are supported, and the ASUS EeeNAS PC can operate as a media server as well as a backup device.  No news of pricing nor availability, but this is one Eee PC that we’re particularly interested in finding out more about.

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That means devices can switch between the two bands for the fastest throughput, and considering the Time Capsule now supports up to fifty users it’s a useful addition.  The Time Machine also works as the WiFi n router, with guest networking (a separate password-protected guest account for visitors), and print server.

Thanks to compatibility with OS X Leopard Time Machine, setup is straightforward, and the Time Capsule also works with PCs.  It’s available in 1TB and 500GB capacities, priced at $499 and $299 respectively, and ships within 24hrs.

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