A downside to the BlackArmor is that its write speed could be better compared with its read speed. However, once it's set up, the NAS offers very fast read throughput rates, hassle-free remote access, great expandability, and a vast amount of storage capacity: 8TB and beyond. Note: The device is sold in 2TB, 4TB, and 6TB capacities. Currently, you will need to supply your own drives to reach 8TBs, as Seagate hasn't released that model yet. Also, the NAS's high initial price point, while not a problem for businesses, may stress most consumer's pocketbooks. If you're looking for a simple NAS for the home, we recommend the WD My Book World or the Iomega Media Home Network drive. For most small businesses, however, the BlackArmor has what you need.
Design and setup
The BlackArmor NAS server has a bold-looking design with four bays on its front and a top that protrudes further, showing off its tiny LCD. Each bay can hold one SATA hard drive of any capacity, meaning that currently the device can hold up to 8TB of storage. Currently, the device comes in three versions: with two hard drives (2TB BlackArmor 420) or with all four bays populated (4TB or 6TB BlackArmor 440), and you can completely replace these hard drives yourself, without any tools. You can also hot-swap any hard drive when the device is in operation in case of hard-drive failure. Seagate recommends you only use its hard drives and only provides tech support when you use its hard drives, but both BlackArmor versions work with SATA hard drives from any vendor.
Considering its large size, the BlackArmor's fan is surprisingly quiet. Also, it is the first NAS server we've seen that lets you replace its cooling fan. This is a useful feature, as over time the fans tend to collect dust, become noisier, or just stop working.
On the back of the BlackArmor are two Gigabit Ethernet ports and three USB ports, with another USB port on the front for quick and convenient thumbdrive connectivity. The device supports both USB external storage devices and printers. A small LCD on the front displays the status of the USB-connected device, providing information such as IP address, link status, data, time, and so on. On the right side of the LCD are two navigation buttons that we found rather confusing to use at first, as they are not labeled. The BlackArmor's backup solution is based on Acronis' excellent True Image and comes with a license for 10 computers. One of its more useful features is the capability to quickly recover a crashed computer by booting from the included software CD that lets you perform a complete system recovery from a backup contained on the BlackArmor NAS.
Thanks to the included discovery software utility, setting up the BlackArmor was a simple task. Once you have everything setup, the utility assists in finding the NAS server on the network and will let you map network drives to its two default share folders: "public" and "download." Fortunately, the utility isn't needed to access the NAS as it fully supports SMB protocol and can be easily found using Windows Explorer.
You can also use the discovery utility to launch the BlackArmor's Web interface, but this is where the simplicity ends. Unfortunately, you will need to figure out a lot by yourself as we found the NAS server's manual rather scant on details.
Features
Though it lacks support for IP cameras, the BlackArmor 440/420 NAS server has a long list of features. In this review, we touched on only those we found significant or unique to this device.
General features: The BlackArmor has a standard user account management. By default, the device comes with an "Admin" account that lets you log in and create other user accounts. Though this default account has administrative privileges, it doesn't include all of the features of a user-created account. For example, you won't be able to use the Admin account to access the NAS remotely over the Internet. This is confusing since most, if not all, NAS servers, give the "Admin" account the same (or more) access to features as it does regular accounts.
Showing posts with label Communication. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Communication. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Click Here Sony X-Series Walkman (16GB)
Touch-screen MP3 players are all the rage, so it was only a matter of time before Sony hopped on the bandwagon. As it turns out, it was more time than we all anticipated. The company's X-Series Walkman was announced at CES 2009 and was expected to hit shelves in mid-June, but the player didn't go on sale until early July. The good news is that the final product is every bit as impressive as the preproduction model that CNET got to play with back in May. The X-Series Walkman offers a high-quality design with a gorgeous screen, a fun and innovative interface, and a plethora of cool features--just be prepared to pay for it accordingly. The player is priced the same as the iPod Touch, with the 16GB going for $299 and the 32GB listing for $100 more.
Design
Sony did not skimp on the construction of the X-Series Walkman, which is modeled after a geode with its glossy face and back plates wrapped in a glittering textured edge. The player is made of sturdy metal and has a weighty quality that makes it feel as expensive as the price tag insists. It's not as slim as the iPod Touch, measuring 3.8 inches by 2.1 inches by 0.4 inch, but it's still quite pocket-friendly, and the 3-inch OLED display is nothing to scoff at. Our one complaint is that the shiny surface is extremely smudge-prone and nearly impossible to keep clean given the touch screen interface.
Of course, the fingerprints are easy to ignore thanks to the fact that Sony went above and beyond with the interface, which is the best touch-screen utilization next to the iPod Touch. In fact, it's the only other touch screen we've come across that's actually fun to use. It has the "bounce back" effect when you are quickly scrolling through a long list, and a rather cool and unusual tilted scrolling effect for video and album art that's hard to explain in print--best to check out our First Look video for that. But perhaps best of all, you don't even need to use the touch screen for playback controls. The Walkman has tactile play/pause and track shuttle buttons on the top side, as well as a dedicated volume rocker on the right edge, meaning blind (in-pocket) navigation is a possibility with this player. That's truly a rarity in a touch-screen device. Another cool physical characteristic: the giant hold switch on the back.
- CNET editors' rating: stars Excellent
Detailed editors' rating - Average user rating: 4.5 stars out of 11 reviews
- See all user reviews
-
Product summary
The good: The Sony X-Series Walkman is a solid device with a sleek, utilitarian design and a unique, engaging interface; it's compatible with both Mac and Windows and supports podcasts from iTunes and videos from Amazon Unbox; it offers a plethora of features including an onboard Slacker app, integrated YouTube support, Wi-Fi, an FM tuner, and built-in noise canceling. The included earphones are nicer than average, the sound quality is excellent, and the rated battery life is superb.
The bad: The X-Series is expensive, and it's a fingerprint magnet. The included app does not transcode much video adequately.
The bottom line: The X-Series is a superb choice for audiophiles who want a luxury device with an excellent touch-screen interface and plenty of other bells and whistles.
Specifications: Device type: Flash player ; Flash memory installed: 16 GB ; Battery: Lithium ion See full specs
CNET editors' review
- Reviewed on: 07/07/2009
- Released on: 07/01/2009
Touch-screen MP3 players are all the rage, so it was only a matter of time before Sony hopped on the bandwagon. As it turns out, it was more time than we all anticipated. The company's X-Series Walkman was announced at CES 2009 and was expected to hit shelves in mid-June, but the player didn't go on sale until early July. The good news is that the final product is every bit as impressive as the preproduction model that CNET got to play with back in May. The X-Series Walkman offers a high-quality design with a gorgeous screen, a fun and innovative interface, and a plethora of cool features--just be prepared to pay for it accordingly. The player is priced the same as the iPod Touch, with the 16GB going for $299 and the 32GB listing for $100 more.
Design
Sony did not skimp on the construction of the X-Series Walkman, which is modeled after a geode with its glossy face and back plates wrapped in a glittering textured edge. The player is made of sturdy metal and has a weighty quality that makes it feel as expensive as the price tag insists. It's not as slim as the iPod Touch, measuring 3.8 inches by 2.1 inches by 0.4 inch, but it's still quite pocket-friendly, and the 3-inch OLED display is nothing to scoff at. Our one complaint is that the shiny surface is extremely smudge-prone and nearly impossible to keep clean given the touch screen interface.
Of course, the fingerprints are easy to ignore thanks to the fact that Sony went above and beyond with the interface, which is the best touch-screen utilization next to the iPod Touch. In fact, it's the only other touch screen we've come across that's actually fun to use. It has the "bounce back" effect when you are quickly scrolling through a long list, and a rather cool and unusual tilted scrolling effect for video and album art that's hard to explain in print--best to check out our First Look video for that. But perhaps best of all, you don't even need to use the touch screen for playback controls. The Walkman has tactile play/pause and track shuttle buttons on the top side, as well as a dedicated volume rocker on the right edge, meaning blind (in-pocket) navigation is a possibility with this player. That's truly a rarity in a touch-screen device. Another cool physical characteristic: the giant hold switch on the back.
Dragging your finger across the screen lets you tilt and scan quickly through album art and video frames.
In general, navigating the X-Series is a simple task. All of the main functions are laid out as icons on the top screen, where you are free to set any photo as wallpaper for personalization purposes. Delving into the music menu takes you to a list of songs, artists, albums, genres, or playlists, depending on where you left off. A soft key that appears at the bottom of all music screens allows you to choose between the various subnavs for music, including a folder browser option. Album art is always front and center, and you can choose to view by cover art only for a more visual experience.
Indeed, album art is the most prominent item displayed on the playback screen, which also features soft keys for playing, pausing, and skipping tracks. Or if the old-fashioned way of switching songs doesn't appeal to you, you can tap and hold on the album art and then use tilt-and-scroll to visually select another track. The playback screen also offers up track, artist, and album name; a battery meter and clock; and soft keys for pulling up a contextual menu, stepping back through menus, and connecting to the Web for song-related content (more on this later).
Even getting content onto the X-Series Walkman is an easy and enjoyable process, something that could not be said of Walkmans of years prior. Sony includes its excellent, superlight Content Transfer app. It allows for simple drag and drop of media files directly from your desktop or from within iTunes. You may also choose to use a jukebox such as Windows Media Player or Rhapsody. Although the X-Series will mount as a UMS device for use with a Mac or Linux machine, the app is made only for Windows.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Squad Positioning System for Firefighters
I just saw an episode of Rescue Me last week where one of the firefighters was trapped, and the rest of the dysfunctional characters didn’t know where he was. Just watch the show on Hulu if you don’t know what I’m talking about.Perhaps Dennis Leary and his comrades should use the Squad, a compact indoor position system that enables firefighters to know their location, as well as the location of their partners. This concept gadget, designed by a University of New South Wales student Roy Hareguina, uses a sonar sensor to provide a map of the surrounding area, instead of a GPS.
Sonar might not be the ideal tool for this type of work, but firefighters cannot depend on blueprints when ceilings have caved in or when weak floors give out. Sometimes all a fireman needs to know is the location of someone who needs rescuing, and let the axe do the rest.
The Squad units are set up to “take the heat”, having a melting point of 662° Fahrenheit (343°C). It is made of polyetheretheretone (PEEK) with a tough aluminum and zinc frame, and coated with fluorosilicone for impact protection and waterproofing. You may notice that buttons are large, but this is because it is meant to be used by firemen wearing thick gloves.
So far, the Squad is only a concept, but I could easily see firemen of the future wearing one on their arm.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
TomTom to bring navigation to iPhone
The days of buying a separate GPS gadget to sit in your car may be numbered with news that TomTom is going to release a software solution that works with your iPhone.
TomTom is set to base a new system around the use of the iPhone which will not only include software, but a car kit. The software app will run directly on the iPhone providing the functionality you would normally associate with one of their separate GPS units. This will include IQ Routes and the latest maps from Tele Atlas.
The accessory is called the TomTom car kit for iPhone which will make mounting the iPhone in your vehicle simple and secure as well as adding speakers for voice instructions, enhanced GPS, hands-free calling, and in-car charging.
No details of pricing or release dates, have been released yet. But Scott Johnson, spokesman for the company has stated that we can expect to see them appearing before the end of the summer.
Another question that remains unanswered is whether this will be only for the new iPhone 3Gs or older models too.
Matthew’s Opinion
The markets seem to have received this news very positively as TomTom’s share price has jumped around 13%. You can see why as they are the only company providing navigation services to have managed to land a deal with Apple leaving the competition like Garmin at a disadvantage.
TomTom will no doubt continue to sell its existing product line, but now has access to millions of new customers who may want to save themselves some money on buying a separate navigation system and just buy the car kit and app for their iPhone. I am hoping it works with older iPhone models too and TomTom would surely be missing out on a lot of sales if they didn’t support them.
Now we just need to find out the price of the app and the car kit. I suspect it may be one of the most expensive apps you ever buy for your iPhone, but if it is saving you a few hundred dollars off the price of a separate gadget then it’s going to be worth it, right? Add to that the fact you are going to be carrying your iPhone around so no getting lost while on foot either as it works without the car-kit.
Microsoft My Phone available to everyone
If you want to sync your contacts, calendar, photos, videos, text messages, music and more to the cloud and are running a Windows Mobile phone with version 6 or above, then you now have a free way to do it thanks to Microsoft’s My Phone service. Back in February Microsoft slipped a bit and prematurely made its new My Phone service live. Now it’s officially available to everyone.
When I was using a Windows Mobile phone as my primary device I used to pay for a hosted Exchange service at 4smartphone. Then I moved to Google Sync since I also use an iPhone and other devices. The process was a bit involved but it was worth it for me.
For the everyday Windows Mobile user, though, this service is a no brainer since you just have to install the My Phone service on your phone and then Microsoft takes care of the rest. If you lose your phone in the future or want to make changes to your information from a web-based interface, My Phone will deliver what you need.
Read more about the My Phone service or give it a try at MyPhone.Microsoft.com
Microsoft offers mice with four-wheel drive
Microsoft has come out with three new mice based on the company’s BlueTrack Technology. The BlueTrack Technology allow mice to work on virtually any service. In fact, Microsoft says the new mice are like bringing, “four-wheel drive to your desktop”.
The BlueTrack Technology is capable of working on services that both optical and laser mice can’t. This includes smooth and shiny surface such as granite and marble and tough surfaces such as carpet. The technology has also received awards including the CNET Editor’s Choice Award. You can see our review of the SideWinder X8 gaming mouse.
The Wireless Mobile Mouse 6000 includes the first nano transceiver that sticks out only 0.8 centimeters from a USB port. The Wireless Mouse 5000 includes a snap-in transceiver and is ambidextrous while the Wireless Desktop 3000 includes a sleek mouse and keyboard combo.
Brian’s Opinion
I’m glad that there is finally a mouse that will be able to work on a number of surfaces. There is nothing more annoying then trying to explain to someone why an optical mouse won’t work on a glass or reflective surface. Considering how much many of us use a mouse each day it’s worth spending the money to get a good one.
You have to wonder what motivated Microsoft to get into selling mice and keyboards. That must have been a big jump for a company which was predominantly known for software only. It was a good move though since Microsoft has clearly had some success over the years.
I remember going to Comdex many years ago and seeing the first Microsoft optical mouse. It was refreshing to know I wouldn’t have to clean out the ball of my mouse anymore. Who would have thought that mice technology would continue to evolve even more since then?
Report to Congress: GPS network might fail soon
A report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) warns Congress that years of under-investment in the US-owned Global Positioning System (GPS) has left the satellite-based system at risk of serious failure.
GPS operates via a network of satellites positioned around the globe. Many of these satellites are ageing and may begin to fail in the near future. The system is fault-tolerant in that it can still operate with one or more satellites out of action, but in such a case performance would suffer, with users encountering blackspots or receiving less accurate positioning data.
The report states:
It is uncertain whether the Air Force will be able to acquire new satellites in time to maintain current GPS service without interruption. If not, some military operations and some civilian users could be adversely affected.
The GPS system was developed by the Department of Defense and the US Air Force, primarily for military purposes including weapon targeting systems and navigation of military vehicles and troops. However, the system is freely available for civilian use around the world; billions of consumer devices including car-based satnav modules, smartphones and even high-tech sports watches rely on the network to operate.
According to the report, upgrades to the system have been beset with delays and overspending, with the launch of the first replacement satellite now running almost three years behind schedule (now set for November this year, but originally scheduled to be launched in early 2007).
Whilst few believe that the US government will allow GPS to fall into serious disrepair, the delays allow other systems to gain ground. The EU is pushing ahead with its modern alternative to GPS, Galileo, whilst China has its Compass satellite navigation network and Russia is upgrading its aging GLONASS system with investment from India.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Texting Is Preferred Communication Method for College Students
Texting Is Preferred Communication Method for College Students Now that we have more communication devices and methods than we can handle, perhaps we should look to the college kids to show us the way forward.
Indiana’s Ball State University recently surveyed about 300 college students, and found that text messaging is their favored form of telecommunication, becoming more popular than e-mail, instant messaging and calling. 94-percent of the students questioned said that they send and receive text messages. The study also found that 99.7-percent of students have a “mobile communications device” (i.e. cell phone). By our calculations, that’s every surveyed student but one.
When using said cellies to keep in touch, 59-percent of students prefer texts, 17-percent favor phone calls, nine-percent tend to send instant messages, and seven-percent are most likely to send e-mails. This all goes to further our thesis — college kids just love giving what little spending money they have to cell phone operators like AT&T and Verizon.
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