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Mike Wheeler

Compact Media Player Offers Wireless Downloads

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A new credit-card sized digital media player from Creative Technologies is not only available in 16 and 32-GB configurations, but also offers wireless technology for downloading and streaming music and videos.


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The Zen X-Fi digital media player uses the manufacturer’s X-Fi improves digital audio sound by restoring the high and lows lost during file compression back to crystal clear clarity.

The Zen X-Fi 16GB and 32GB models feature wireless technology, for downloading and streaming music and videos wirelessly from a PC to the player instantly within a home network. There is also an 8GB model, but it is not wireless. The Zen chat function means users can keep in touch with friends and family at free Wi-Fi hotspots through Yahoo Messenger and MSN Messenger.

With a 2.5-inch-high resolution colour LCD screen, users can watch movies in precision, and the included EP-830 earphones offer excellent noise-isolation capabilities and minimise sound loss.

Sharing audio is easy with a built-in speaker in the Zen X-Fi, so family and friends can enjoy music and movies without the need for a separate speaker system.

Other features of the unit include an integrated 32 station FM radio, SD card slot, a battery life of up to 36 hours audio and 5 hours video playtime, voice recording functions, and a personal organiser for the ultimate all-in-one entertainment solution.

RRPs:
Zen X-Fi 8GB (no Wi-Fi) – $249.95
Zen X-Fi 16GB (with Wi-Fi) – $329.95
Zen X-Fi 32GB (with Wi-Fi) – $399.95

Storage Solution For Small Businesses

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Powered by Intel Celeron 1.6GHz CPU, 1GB DDRII memory, the Q-Nap 5-bay TS-509 Pro delivers multiple business applications and intensive concurrent data access for SMBs.


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The Linux OS and applications of the NAS are embedded in the flash DOM. Moreover, the dual Gigabit LAN ports can be configured as Failover, Load balancing, or serving two different subnets, which enables more deployment options in a business network environment.

With versatile server features, RAID data protection, and solid hot swappable hard drive design, the TS-509 Pro also has a handy LCD panel for “Touch-N-Go” PC-less RAID installation, displaying system information, and basic server configuration.

The schedule power on/off and Wake on LAN features are available for IT administrators to flexibly manage the NAS server’s up time and wake up the NAS in the local network remotely. Hard Disk Drive S.M.A.R.T (Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology) and comprehensive log system are offered to let server managers monitor the system closely.

Each unit is equipped with unique Online RAID Capacity Expansion and Online RAID Level Migration. With Online RAID Capacity Expansion, users can select to purchase the most cost-effective hard drives for initial server setup and upgrade to larger ones in the future. With Online RAID Level Migration, users can start from one drive firstly and add more to upgrade the RAID level in the future with the data retained.

 



The TS-509 Pro supports versatile server functions, e.g. File server, FTP server, printer server (max. 3 sets), DDNS support, Web server with built-in php, MyAdmin, Joomla, MySQL/ SQLite, editable php.ini, MySQL server, UPnP/DLNA media streaming (built-in TwonkyMedia server), iTunes server for music sharing, as well as HTTP/FTP/BT download server. All these server functions can be shared among different users across Linux, UNIX, Mac, and Windows platforms.

Users can also make use of the encrypted remote replication and backup to external devices features for extra data protection. Various data storage and management mechanisms- FTP server with SSL/TLS encrypted technology, SSH login, and web page SSL login are provided for secure data transfer and access.

RRP
$1,099

Data Protection For Small/Medium Businesses

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D-Link’s 4-Bay Network Storage Enclosure (DNS-343) is designed to offer backup and recovery features for digital homes and small-to-medium-sized businesses.


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The 4-Bay Network Storage Enclosure (DNS-343) is claimed to be a secure and powerful solution for storing and accessing files and digital media across the network and over the Internet, offering tool-less drive installation, OLED display and Gigabit connectivity along with scalable features for expansion.

Users can file share, as well as secure important data, and it can operate in a variety of drive configurations including Standard, JBOD, RAID 0, 1 and 5 to offer customers flexibility when configuring their data safeguard strategy.

Using the DNS-343 with four internal SATA drives and RAID technology, users can mirror (duplicate data on multiple drives) and/or stripe (share data across multiple drives) between the four drives, ensuring maximum protection of valuable data. If one drive fails, the others function normally until the failed drive is replaced.

The 4-Bay Network Storage Enclosure rounds out the D-Link family of network storage devices that now include 1, 2, 4, 8 and 15-bay solutions.

 


With its tool-less installation, the DNS-343 is designed to accommodate up to four SATA drives offering up to 4000GB of storage, which can be inserted without any tools or attaching cables. In addition, the unit is a scalable solution, allowing users to start with one SATA hard disk drive (HDD) and add three more to accommodate growth.

Customers can configure the DNS-343 to create users and groups and assign them to folders with either read or read/write permissions. This is ideal for an office environment with employee-specific sensitive data, or for the home to ensure children can only access age appropriate material.

The DNS-343 provides a variety of data protection options to help avoid data loss due to hard drive failure. It offers simplified management software, allowing users to create schedules and rules including real-time full, or incremental backups, and storage quotas for specific user groups. Using included backup software, users can automatically safeguard data on to the system to create a failsafe protection solution from accidental data loss on the PC.

Other features include a built-in FTP server to access files over the Internet and a UPnP Media Server to stream digital content to compatible media players (such as those found in D-Link’s MediaLounge product line).The 4-Bay Network Storage Enclosure OLED displays important information including IP address, hard drive statistics, temperature, RAID status, and server status (FTP and UPnP).

The D-Link Network Storage Enclosure also features a USB port that can act as a print server port, allowing a USB printer to be added to the network without the need for a dedicated computer. The USB port can also support an Uninterruptible Universal Power Supply (UPS) monitor that supports smart signaling over a USB connection. In the event of a power outage, the UPS monitor would safely shut the unit down and then automatically power back up when power resumes.

RRP
$800

ViewSonic Monitors Offer Detailed Imaging

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VP 50 is a series of monitors comprising the 22-inch widescreen VP2250wb, 26-inch widescreen VP2650wb and traditional 4:3 19-inch VP950b claiming up to 110 percent colour gamut (VP2650wb) guidelines and OptiColor technology for detailed imaging.

Manufacturer ViewSonic claims the new series has the widest tonal range and largest colour gamut for these types of screens. The displays have quick response time, dynamic contrast ratio and four USB ports.


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The VP950b combines 1280×1024 native resolution, 2ms response time, 280 nits of brightness (typ) and a 2000:1 dynamic contrast ratio (typ).

The VP2250wb offers a 1680×1050 native resolution, 2ms response time and 3000:1 dynamic contrast ratio (typ) for clear, crisp images.

The VP2650wb has a 1920×1200 native resolution, 3ms response time and a 3000:1 dynamic contrast ratio (typ) providing the ability to display high definition 1080p Full HD content and deliver fluid, full-motion images.  

ViewSonic has also included PerfectSuite Plus software for settings adjustments and colour calibration, as well as asset management and theft deterrence features to provide hassle-free set-up and maintenance.

All VP 50 Series monitors support HDCP, are Windows Vista certified and offer an ultra-slim bezel featuring an industrial design, a 4.7-inch height adjustment range, and a 120-degree swivel, pivot and tilt. With its ThinEdg design and integrated mounting holes, these new models also allow for easy tiling of multiple displays.   

 

RRP

VP950B           $449

VP2250wb      $699

VP2650wb      $1,099

Telstra COO Winn Quits

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Telstra Chief Operating Officer Greg Winn is to return home to the United States at the end of this month, ending a three-and-a-half year association with the Telco giant.

Initially on a two-year contract, Winn – along with former public affairs chief Phil Burgess – was brought in by Sol Trujillo and was known as one of the three amigos being one of the trio of top American executives at Telstra.

A critic of the Federal Government’s internet filtering programme, Winn headed Telstra’s networks and operations, and has been a key driver of the transformation of the company’s IT systems, networks, product development and procurement processes. He was integral to the building of Telstra’s nationwide Next G mobile network, as well as the company’s Next IP network.

Winn also oversaw delivery of field workforce productivity improvements focused on reducing costs while demonstrably improving the customer experience.

Fixed Price-Per-Page Printing Service

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PagePack is a new Managed Print Service (MPS) that Fuji Xerox has launched aimed at small- and medium-sized businesses.

PagePack provides customers with a fixed price per page cost model for printing in-house. Customers are only charged a fixed cost per page basis, irrespective of how much toner or other consumables are used. Fuji Xerox believes this makes the cost of printing predictable, visible to business owners and easier to manage.
Features of the package include:

  • Have the ability to customise and rebrand PagePack as their own MPS offering
  • Have the freedom to set terms and conditions for their customers
  • Have control over end user cost per page pricing

“With PagePack, Fuji Xerox Printers will provide the infrastructure for resellers to implement their own MPS program, allowing them to own and manage all aspects of their customer relationships and control their profit margins,” said Tom Lewis, Marketing Manager of Fuji Xerox Printers.

Aussie Online Addiction Costs Employers

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A new report out by Sensis shows that Australians are costing their employers money by spending too much time on social networks during work time, and at home a significant number of parents are not keeping tabs on their children’s internet habits.


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Over 30 percent of children under the age of 15 are left unsupervised on the computer, which can be dangerous for those left open to dodgy websites on the net. The up side is that 4 in 10 households do use internet filters.

Also on the downside is the 20 percent of employees who spend company time on social networks such as Myspace and Facebook. 

“But at the same time, we are seeing many businesses clamp down on employees using [these] sites,” report author Christena Singh said. “Whether we love or loath new technology, it appears Australians can’t stay away from its allure.”
With social networking sites as a whole, seven out of 10 Australians in their 20s use these sites, and the drop-off rate is exponential as age increases, and taper off at less than one in 10 for over 65s.

Mobile technology has also been embraced including six out of 10 using a mobile e-mail device mainly for work, with half of those surveyed saying they respond to work-related e-mails in their personal time, either always or most of the time.

Other interesting facts is an increase in notebook computers amongst small businesses (up 10 percent to 60 percent); 84 percent of households are internet enabled with 73 percent having broadband connections; six in 10 Australians (64 per cent) made purchases online in the past year; an increase in businesses with websites (up 3 percent to 54 percent); while interestingly, more Australians supplied personal information online during the year (up four percentage points to 38 per cent).

Netgear Storage Solution For Small Businesses

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A six-bay desktop network-attached storage solution for small- and medium-sized businesses that provides up to 6TB of network-attached storage. This enables SMBs with up to 200 users to store, back up and share digital data across the LAN or WAN from a combination of Windows, Macintosh and Linux platforms, claims Netgear.

The ReadyNAS Pro product line is available in storage capacities of 1.5TB, 3TB and 6TB.

“Small- and medium-sized businesses have been yearning for a tailor-made storage solution to help them better manage their ever-increasing volumes of digital information,” says Ryan Parker, managing director, NETGEAR Australia. “The ReadyNAS Pro family has the capacity and scalability of a true business-class solution that will help smaller businesses backup and protect their critical information today, and provide additional capacity as their storage needs grow.”

Parker says that SMBs looking to replace their traditional file and print servers should seriously consider the ReadyNAS Pro.
The ReadyNAS Pro supports RAID 0, 1, 5, 6 and auto-expandable X-RAID2 to provide solid data protection against single or double disk failure. It features dual redundant Gigabit Ethernet ports for failover protection, which ensures availability to stored data. Housed in a compact desktop form factor, the ReadyNAS Pro products support up to six SATA II hard drives via six lockable, hot-swappable disk trays. Three USB 2.0 ports enable the connection of external USB drives, printers and battery backup devices.

With an Intel dual-core processor, ReadyNAS Pro can read data at over 108 MBps and writing at over 102 MBps. In addition to a Web-based graphical user interface (GUI) and setup wizard for ease-of-use and setup, ReadyNAS Pro features an LCD display that provides quick and intuitive system status readings. It incorporates active system monitoring that continually monitors for abnormal situations or part failures, and emails system alerts to the network administrator.

RRP
From $3,099

Refillable Bottle To Reduce Landfill Waste

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Hydration in the home or office is about to go green with the launch of the Kor refillable hydration vessel, claims local distributor Culligan Water.


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Designed for both the home and office, the Kor refillable water bottle has features that include one-handed lid hatch system that allows easy opening and closing, a hinged cap that stays open while you drink and doesn’t leak even when laid flat, and an extra-wide mouth small enough for a sip but big enough to chug or for ice cubes.

“We want Australians to think “refill, reuse, recycle” by combining a refillable water bottle with their home or office water filter,” says Tim Gordon, general manager of Culligan Water. “For only cents per litre of impurity-free drinking water, everyone can reduce the use of water, oil, plastic and carbon emissions required to make bottled water by each person using just one bottle.

“Our aim is to reduce plastic bottle waste into landfills by 100 million bottles per year. We can achieve this if people move from buying single use disposable bottles to re-useable bottles like the Kor bottle.”

Designed into the cap is a place for a KOR Stone – a small, disc-shaped token with a message that only you can see when drinking. Also the bottle is made from Eastman Tritan, which is free of bisphenol-A (BPA), a leaching toxin found in polycarbonate bottles.

RRP
Bottle $39

See it: www.culliganwater.com.au

Cheap Running Costs For Kyocera Printers

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While Kyocera sees itself as environmentally friendly, its claims its new range of colour printers will open the eyes of its competitors due to its low running costs.


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The A4 colour 21-30ppm printer market continues to grow strongly (+33 percent in 2008 over 2007), with predictions by IDC that growth will continue over the next few years.
Taking advantage of this market, Kyocera has responded by releasing its A4 colour printer range, which it claims has easy toner installation, as well as easy cleaning and paper jam removal thanks to the complete front access.
The company says there is improved printer quality due to:

  •  New small spherical toner and enlarged colour spectrum
  • Continuous calibration process keeps quality high
  • Automatic cleaning and registration for high quality and reliability
  • 3rd generation of interactive touch down developing system
  • 9,600 dpi equivalent resolution, trapping functionality
  • Perfect for Office Software: Excel, Word, PowerPoint

Other features include:

  • High print engine speed supported by 533/667 MHz CPU, 256 MB
  • Fast first page printing and reduced warm-up time
  • Print jobs can be managed individually
  • Duplex and network interface as standard
  • Duplex printing in landscape and portrait modes
  • Up to 3/4 paper cassettes for a maximum of 1,400/2,150 sheets
  • Support of coated paper with optional Multi-Media Feeder
  • Dedicated envelope mode
  • Control Panel timeout eliminates performance bottleneck in networks
  • New print controller technology for state of the art security functionality
  • Easy set up departmental codes via Control Panel for accounting
  • Up to 100 department codes can be managed
  • The department codes are locked with a pin code
  • Accounting reports with detailed information per department code

FS-C5100DN $899
FS-C5200DN $1,399
FS-C5300DN $1,69