We liked the original Iomega StorCenter ix2 back when we reviewed it roughly twelve months ago, but the rest of the home NAS market has advanced in the intervening period and the ix2 is looking a little stale. To address that fact, Iomega have launched the StorCenter ix2-200, their second-gen version of the dual-drive backup station, now boasting removable storage and more. Check out the full SlashGear review after the cut.
The Apple Store is still down and the Cupertino company themselves are still tight-lipped, but thanks to Apple Insider we have a pretty reasonable idea of what might be on the virtual shelves in the next few hours. They’ve received a list of product numbers, complete with some descriptions, which suggest Apple are readying a few new Mac mini units (one without an optical drive), a new 21.5-inch iMac, two new Time Capsules (1TB and 2TB) and a new Airport Extreme.
Updated: All the details of the new ranges here.
Full list after the cut
ASUS’ diminutive O!Play HDP-R1 HD Media Player has finally gone on sale, with the 1080p-capable box priced at $99.99. Announced back in June, the O!Play offers playback of local, network or internet content, via various USB 2.0, eSATA or wired ethernet ports.
If you’re the sort of person who squeals with delight at seeing what logo might be plastered across your next laptop, then prepare to, well, squeal. The WiFi Alliance have unveiled their latest graphics now that 802.11n has been officially welcomed into the fold, and to make things extra-confusing there are now several different versions and taglines depending on just what the networking manufacturers have bothered to include.
Sharp Japan have outed four new LX-series HDTVs, each boasting massive 2,000,000:1 contrast ratios. The range starts from the 40-inch LC-40LX1 and tops out at the 60-inch LC-60LX1, with 46- and 52-inch models in-between; each offers Full HD 1920p resolution, “industry’s lowest” power consumption, and a six-speaker integrated sound system with dual sub-woofers on all but the smallest.
WiFi-sharing enthusiasts FON have released their latest router, the Fonera 2.0n. As the name suggests, the Fonera 2.0n packs 802.11n support, but they’ve also packed it with social networking integration, hard-drive sharing, Twitter status updates (for when someone connects to your router), BitTorrent downloading and webcam hosting.
Spawn Labs have announced their HD-720 remote gaming adapter, and from the sound of it they’re trying to do to console games what Slingbox did for TV. The HD-720 hooks up to your console – both Xbox 360 and PS3 are natively supported, with adapters for other versions – and then streams gameplay over WiFi to your PC. While that might not seem much use if you’re at home, it does mean you can keep up with your favorite game while on the road without having to lug your console along with you.
Video overview after the cut
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In "about bloody time" news, the IEEE Standards Association have finally ratified the WiFi 802.11n standard, meaning we can finally drop the clumsy "draft-n" terminology that has been in use since 2006. Already to be found on many laptops and other devices, WiFi 'n' offers significantly higher throughput compared to 802.11g - theoretically up to 300Mbps - together with improved signal stability.
If only this were a desktop microwave-cum-coffee-machine, ideal for topping up your caffeine levels and heating up your harried lunches, but sadly it’s just Iomega’s latest NAS. The Iomega StorCenter ix4-200d squeezes four SATA-II 3.5-inch drive bays into a reasonably compact footprint, promising RAID 5, 10 or JBOD setups and up to 8TB of standard storage.
Atlona Technologies have unveiled their next high-end AV connectivity gadgets, and if you’ve ever lamented the limitations of lengthy HDMI cords then the AT-HDS100SR and AT-HDS250SR may appeal. Each can take an HDMI input, stereo audio and RS-232 control signal and shuttle it over ethernet cable for up to 825ft.
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