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David Richards

Seagate Reveal ReadyFirst Drives

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Seagate and Samsung have revealed a new geration of hard drives using ReadyFirst technology.

At this year’s WinHEC conference, Samsung and Seagate were showing prototypes of ReadyDrive capable hard drives.
Both companies plan to ship laptop hard drives using ReadyDrive first. Samsung is talking about the technology also moving into large scale data centers, due to the power and thermal output reductions possible by keeping drives spun down for substantial periods of time. 
 
ReadyDrive is a Windows Vista technology that takes advantage of 128MB of more of high speed flash memory embedded directly on the hard drive itself. The flash memory can be used as both a read and write cache. Mobile PCs can realize substantial power savings by using ReadyDrive capable hard drives in mobile PCs.


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Think this is interesting? Click to find out how Samsung’s PC division plans to replace the entire hard drive with flash memory, in two computers due this summer.


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In one demo, which showed a constantly running script of office applications, the hard drive only spun up every three or four minutes. Samsung Associate Director of Flash Marketing Don Barnetson noted that laptops can see system power consumption decrease by up to 40% using ReadyDrive. 
 
ReadyDrive is a Windows Vista only technology. Drives with the ReadyDrive flash cache can work in non-Vista systems, but with few of the advantages of ReadyDrive. ReadyDrive also requires updated ATA command sets in the driver, which won’t be back-ported to Windows XP.

HP Goes After SMB Storage Market

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SMBs can now choose a new virtual library system and tape library, as well as install improved software for HP ProLiant servers.


HP today announced new and updated storage products designed to make it easier for small and medium businesses (SMBs) to protect critical information.

As part of HP’s business protection portfolio, SMBs now can choose a new virtual library system and tape library as well as install improved software for HP ProLiant servers.

The portfolio is part of the HP Simply StorageWorks program, which includes products, software, and services that help SMBs prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from unexpected events that can impact their operations.

The HP StorageWorks Virtual Library System 1002i delivers unattended backup and improved restore performance by helping businesses protect their data when offsite storage of data tapes is not required. The VLS1002i stores up to 1.5 terabytes (TB) of data, or up to 3 TB when using the integrated data compression feature, which enables small businesses to restore files in minutes rather than hours.

The HP ProLiant Data Protection Storage Server family now has an option for StorageWorks Data Protector Express. The software now offers online backup of the Data Protection Storage Server replicas and system as well as an automated disaster recovery capability.

In addition, Data Protector Express is integrated with the HP tape drive’s One-Button Disaster Recovery utility, which allows small businesses to restore a server’s operating system, software applications, and data by pressing a button and following on-screen instructions.

All HP tape drives and tape autoloaders will ship with Data Protector Express Single Server Edition software.
 

Pioneer Launches BluRay Burner

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Pioneer Electronics has begun shipping what it calls “the first commercially available” aftermarket PC Blu-ray Disc recorder (BD-R) on the U.S. market.

The BDR-101A drive will be bundled with Sonic Solutions’ Roxio Blu-ray Disc software and a blank TDK 25GB write-once (BD-R) disc with a US$999 suggested retail. It is expected that Pioneer will launch the product in Australia

 “As we move deeper into the transition to high-definition content creation and distribution, increasing storage capacity will become more and more critical,” said Andy Parsons, Pioneer senior VP. “Blu-ray Disc technology fulfills the rapidly growing need for additional storage space, and Pioneer is proud to be one of the first companies bringing it to market through the BDR-101A.”

This first-generation drive is targeted toward professional users and early adopters who will be using Blu-ray for advanced storage needs.

The Roxio software bundle will support high-definition BD authoring applications by transferring BD images to BD-R and rewriteable BD-RE media.

The TDK media, which shipped last month, retails for $19.99 a disc.

Earlier this week Sony introduced a high-end Vaio notebook sporting a Blu-ray burner.

 

LG Reveal Worlds Thinest Screen

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LG has unveiled one of the thinnest TFT LCDs ever made.

Specifically made for portable devices the two new screens were only 2″ and 2.2″ in size, and an unbelievable 1.48mm (0.058-inches) thin.

These displays are able to handle Quarter VGA resolutions, that deliver according to LG crisp, clear graphics for use in a video phone or small device such as PDAs, slim cell phones, portable gaming units and PMPs.  LG claim that they will soon deliver one of the slimmest phones seen in the world fitted with one of the new screens.

FREE Vista And Microsoft Office Downloads

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A new version of Microsoft’s operating system and Office suite could be launched in Australia in the first quarter of 2007. A free version of of both lots of software is available for testing.

 The challenge for Microsoft in releasing test versions of Office and the operating system at the same time is that the teams haven’t worked together during beta. I don’t know of anyone who has run the two betas on top of each other,” Enderle Group Principal Analyst Rob Enderle said recently.

While speculation still abounds over the actual delivery date of Microsoft’sWindows Vista operating system, the software giant is publicly vowing an on-time delivery of the next version of its Office productivity suite of applications.

Microsoft said it is on target to debut Office 2007 at the end of the year as planned with Australia tipped to get the final version in possibly March 2007. The product suite, which includes Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint, will be optimised to run on the Vista operating system.

The final test version is ready, but the “better together” strategy that Microsoft is playing up with its next generations of Office, Windows Vista, Windows Server “Longhorn” is gated by the delay of the new operating system.


A String of Betas
Microsoft is getting closer to releasing the trio of new products. The company unveiled beta 2 versions of Windows Vista, Windows Server “Longhorn” and the 2007 Microsoft Office system at Windows Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC) on Tuesday. It is the first time that Microsoft has simultaneously released the test versions of all three of the company’s flagship products.

“The challenge for Microsoft in releasing test versions of Office and the operating system at the same time is that the teams haven’t worked together during beta. I don’t know of anyone who has run the two betas on top of each other,” Enderle Group Principal Analyst Rob Enderle told TechNewsWorld. “These products come out of different development groups that have historically have not cooperated well.”

Waiting on Vista
It’s not as much about how well the Office 2007 team cooperates with the Vista team at this point, though. It’s about how well the Vista team executes going forward. Vista’s delay could have a direct impact on Office 2007 sales as customers may wait to invest in the new suite until Vista is finally released.

Microsoft’s “better together” strategy promises customers who use all three products together four key benefits: simplification, better content protection and management, easier access to information and reduced IT costs and improved security. Since Office 2007 is optimised for Vista, customers may choose to hold out until the new operating system finally debuts to leverage those promises.

Alternatively, customers might not choose to upgrade to Vista at all until the bugs are worked out. A laundry list of features in the new operating system isn’t compelling droves of corporate customers to purchase upgrade rights, according to Directions on Microsoft Research Director Rob Helm. “The Windows client division has to tell corporate customers why they want Windows Vista, and why they shouldn’t wait until they buy new hardware,” he said in a research report.

Costly Delays
Still, there are plenty of consumers who are eagerly, if not patiently, awaiting the upgrade. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer delivered more bad news to those consumers at a Tuesday news conference in Tokyo: Vista could be delayed a few more weeks. “We are on track for shipping  early in the year,” he noted.

It could be a costly few weeks, and has certainly been a costly few years. Microsoft intended to roll out Vista in 2004. Goldman Sachs analyst Rick Sherlund estimated that each month the product is not released costs Microsoft between US$150 million and $200 million in lost revenue.

“Comments from management indicate that it is a tight schedule and leads us to question if January may be optimistic,” Sherlund said in a May 15th research report. 

VISTA Dowloads via http://msdn.microsoft.com/windowsvista/downloads/products/getthebeta/default.aspx

OFFICE Beta Download Site

Convoy Seeks Sales Manager

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ADVERTISMENT: Leading CE distributor Convoy is looking for a senior sales executive in NSW to sell across some of the most successful brands in the CE market today.

 Area Manager – Sydney Metro Based

· Convoy is a national distributor of consumer audio and video products

· Leading world class brand portfolio

·Great earning potential!

· Intrastate travel

Are you looking for a new challenge? This is an excellent business opportunity for a Professional sales person to join a Company that is growing has leading brands and has a great future ahead.

Convoy International was established in 1965 and is today a leading wholesale distributor and marketer of a wide range of leading branded audio, video and cable products. We have offices in all States.

We represent throughout Australia Harman Kardon, Bowers & Wilkins, JBL Home and Car products, Monster Cable & OmniMount. Sales are to both Independent retailers and the major Chains.

 We are looking for an Area Manager to service Sydney and NSW Southern regions. Reporting directly to the Managing Director in the Sydney Office, this is a broad based position that will allow you to use and develop all your skills and encourages creative selling.

 Your main responsibilities will include:

· Maintain and expand the dealer network within the allocated territory

· Manage sales, promotion, display, advertising and service for all the Convoy

Brands within the territory

· Instigate regular dealer staff training for the Convoy Brands

· Event manage local product releases

· Actively seek and investigate new opportunities for growth

This position will also entail regular travel within the territory as well as to bi-annual marketing conferences in Sydney.

 We offer great earnings potential, a fantastic product portfolio, a friendly and dedicated Head Office team and full support for your sales efforts. In turn, you will be a professional and enthusiastic sales individual with great organisational and time management skills. You will be a creative thinker with the ability to thrive in an independent and continually challenging role and of course, you will be able to liaise effectively with people at all levels.

Does this sound like you? If you are ready to take on a new and interesting role in a progressive company, then we need to hear from you. Please note that only short listed candidates will be contacted.  Please email your resume using the “Apply Now” at jobs@convoy.com.au

Acer Score Massive Deal

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Acer Computer Australia has won the National Australia Bank contract to supply PCs and notebooks over a twelve month period – a contract that is tipped to be the largest corporate contract in Australia for 2006.

Acer Corporate National Sales Manager, Frank Ugolini, attributes Acer’s success with this major win to having a proven track record in large scale rollouts and to Acer’s ability to give customers flexibility and reliability in installation, service and support both with the bank and other clients.

“To win what will most certainly be the largest corporate contract in Australia this year is testament to Acer’s strength and reputation in the large corporate market segment. It’s our customised approach to service management, our flexibility and reliability in product offering and the strong backing of our service and support that has proven a great match for NAB’s IT requirements.

“We took the time to understand NAB’s business issues over the past several years and tailored a solution around its requirements,” continued Ugolini. “While many major vendors are shipping their facilities overseas, the market is voting with its feet on dealing with Acer because we have local assembly and local, dedicated support offerings which are not outsourced to overseas facilities and call centres.  This enables us to tailor our processes to specific customer needs which guarantee’s our clients much more aggressive SLA’s than our competitors as well as significant cost reductions.”
 
“Winning this contract cements Acer position as a dominant player in the corporate segment.”

The contract will be rolled out with Acer Veriton 2800 and 5800 Desktop PCs, lightweight and powerful TravelMate 3282 and 3012 notebooks and also includes 19 and 17-inch LCD monitors.

Desktops and notebooks for NAB will include Acer’s Asset tagging process where asset labels are to be applied during the production process at its Homebush Bay assembly facility. Acer’s advanced eCommerce tracking system then provides NAB with the ability to track the entire history of the equipment including service and installation. This tracking system extends to include the full technical specifications of any system ordered, any software preloaded on the system and the actual delivery location of the system.

Frank Ugolini explains Acer’s deployment approach for all customers, “The costs of deploying, managing and integrating systems can sometimes cost more that the upfront hardware price. Recognising this, Acer offers a range of value-added services to help reduce the long-term costs of running IT equipment to allow our customers to concentrate on running their core business.”

“These value-adds often include SOE management and installation, onsite set-up of new equipment, training and handbooks to familiarise end users with new hardware, data-cleaning old hardware and a range of other services that help customers get the easiest and most efficient installation of their new hardware.”

Motorola Creams Bluetooth Market

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Global sales of wireless Bluetooth headsets for mobile phones rose 153 percent to 33 million units in 2005, representing a wholesale value of $1 billion, and are expected to grow 70 percent in 2006, according to a survey released last night.

 Motorola the world’s second biggest mobile phone maker, controlled 28.2 percent of the Bluetooth headset market, according to market research group Strategy Analytics.

Denmark’s GN Store Nords Jabra unit was second with 16.3 percent and Plantronics third with 12.3 percent market share.Popularity of the devices was fueled by falling prices for Bluetooth headsets as well as traffic laws in many countries which require hands-free calling while driving.

The cheapest Bluetooth headsets sell for around $65.00 Sales to-date have been dominated by mono headsets for mobile voice, said Chris Ambrosio, director at Strategy Analytics.

“Looking forward, future revenue growth will increasingly be driven by the need for stereo headsets in mobile music and rich media, like TV,” he said. “However, with average retail pricing in excess of $100 today, stereo Bluetooth headset prices will need to fall by more than 50 percent in order to hit the mass-market sweet spot, which we find to be below $50.”

Around one in every eight Bluetooth phones sold in 2006 can beam a stereo sound signal to a stereo Bluetooth headset. Bluetooth is a short-range radio technology currently mostly used to connect cell phones to separate devices like headsets or microphones.

Chips 100 Times Faster Than Current Ones Tested

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Scientists in the USA have driven an IBM processor – made of germanium impregnated silicon – to over 500GHz, at least 100 times faster than current desktop chips.

Although the addition of germanium makes silicon chips run more efficiently, it doesn’t eliminate the heat generated by such intense computations. Liquid helium was used to drop the initial temperature of the chip to -268.5C, just a shred above absolute zero, which enabled it to hit the 500GHz mark. At room temperature the same processor managed around 350GHz – still an astounding feat.

The team, composed of scientists from IBM and the Georgia Institute of Technology, are investigating the potential of using non-silicon materials within chips. Germanium – especially when used in conjunction with silicon – doesn’t significantly increase the cost of manufacturing chips, unlike expensive materials like Gallium Arsenide. The scientists believe their experiments could lead to processors that hit 1THz at room temperature.

“We observe effects in these devices at cryogenic temperatures, which potentially make them faster than simple theory would suggest,” Professor John Cressler told the BBC. “Understanding the basic physics of these advanced transistors arms us with knowledge that could make the next generation of silicon-based integrated circuits even better.”