Staff Writers

At the CTIA Wireless IT and Entertainment 2005 trade show, SanDisk announced a new SanDisk technology called TrustedFlash.

The flash memory card allows users to buy premium music, movies and games on flash memory cards for use in mobile phones, laptop computers, PDAs and other portable devices. Music labels and movie studios will be able to release premium content on TrustedFlash products because of the security and digital rights management solutions available to them.  Users will also be able to download content from online digital services through their mobile phone or PC.  Alternatively, they can purchase pre-recorded content on SanDisk’s gruvi cards, one of the first products to be released with TrustedFlash. Memory cards with TrustedFlash technology will be available in microSD, miniSD and SD formats. TrustedFlash will also incorporate mVideoGuard Mobile DRM (digital rights Management) technology from NDS Group.

The cryptographic engine core used in TrustedFlash was designed by Discretix Technologies, an Israeli company that provides embedded security solutions for flash memory and portable devices such as mobile phones. SanDisk will use its CryptoFlash core to meet the security needs for TrustedFlash Cards.

Some companies taking advantage of TrustedFlash are; EMI Music who will release the new Rolling Stones album, ‘A Bigger Bang’ on SanDisk’s gruvi music card. Samsung will be one of its partners in providing mobile phones that support TrustedFlash. Yahoo! Music Engine a software application will be available with music cards that feature SanDisk’s new technology.

 SanDisk has also introduced another product — SanDisk iNAND. It’s a 4GB embedded flash memory storage device that can be used as an alternative to micro hard drives; the iNAND will incorporate SanDisk’s TrustedFlash technology. It can be used as storage for products such as MP3 Players, GPS devices, personal media players and mobile phones.

Appointing Bluechip Infotech as a distributor for its new range of LCD displays and barebones systems, the emerging PC powerhouse Asus is set to take on the big guns in the monitor market.The distributor will be carrying two 17 inch LCD monitors from the PM17S range with up to 8ms response times and built-in speakers. The barebones systems, such as the S-Presso “digital home” model features Instant On technology that allows users to play DVDs and music without having to booth up to the operating system. The S-Presso also comes with and integrated TV-Tuner and the proprietary Asus Home Theatre applications.

“Asus Australia has gained a lot of momentum and is now at a significant stage of our ongoing expansion plans in the channel and product depth.” says Ted Chen, ASUS Australia Director. “As such we are delighted to announce Bluechip IT as our distributor for LCD Monitors and barebone PCs. Bluechip offers a unique position in terms of the focus and resources to sell these products based on their experience, complimentary brands and after-sales support for resellers”.

With the new offerings from ASUS, Bluechip plans to focus on the retail channel and system integrators looking to penetrate the slimline desktop market and multimedia systems for the digitally integrated home or small office.

“We are proud to have ASUS onboard Bluechip. ASUS’ quality line of 17″ LCD monitors and barebone PCs significantly adds value for our resellers by adding to our current product portfolio of great brands,” says Johnson Hsiung Managing Director of BlueChip IT. “We can now offer a true multimedia PC with the product flexibility and excellent service support from ASUS.”

With nearly 73 tonnes of antiquated computer hardware recycled in the last fiscal year, Dell hopes to triple the amount of gear it keeps out of landfill by extending the scheme.

For the Australia and New Zealand markets last year the company collected a combined total of 72.65 tonnes of used computer equipment and now Dell plans to extend the pilot to include customers in Brisbane. The free recycling program was only available to Sydney and Melbourne customers in the past.

Dell plans to triple product recovery volume by 2009.

Joe Kremer, Managing Director for Australia and New Zealand said: “Dell launched Australia’s first, and still only, national recycling service for consumers in 2003. And in 2005 we significantly expanded our efforts with a number of new initiatives to help make it easier for our customers to recycle.”

“Last year we introduced a pilot for Australia’s first free PC recycling offer, successfully held our first community recycling day at a Sydney school and also conducted free recycling offers for printers and CRT displays,” Mr Kremer said.

Globally Dell has recovered 36.1 million kilograms of product for reuse or recycling in the last year. More than half of this came from customers, increasing Dell’s recovery of product from customers by 72 percent over fiscal year 2005 volumes.

In its mission to bravely go where Microsoft feared to tread, Aussie start-up IceTV has had another win, signing up network specialist Netgear.

Following closely behind a recent deal to licence the Electronic Program Guide to Altech for use with its Maestro Media Center PCs, IceTV has now signed Netgear which will incorporate the guide in its WGT634U Wireless Media Router.
Prior to launching its Media Center PC operating system in Australia, Microsoft promised it would deliver an Electronic Program Guide, but this promise was never fulfilled and the company has refused to provide an explanation.
This has opened the way for IceTV to become the dominant force in Electronic Program Guides locally. This latest deal will see the iceguide integrated with a wireless router which can be connected to a Topfield PVR via a USB port. The router will then automatically update the PVR every day by downloading the latest version of iceguide from the Internet.
“Netgear’s router is one of the only devices of its kind that offers USB connectivity required for the Topfield PVR,” said Duncan Ross, Chief Executive Officer, IceTV.
“Previously it was necessary to connect the Topfield to an Internet-enabled PC to download the guide. Once the Netgear router has been updated with IceTV’s firmware and connected to the Topfield, iceguide is automatically updated every day, so users always have the latest seven-day schedule available on their Topfield PVRs.” 
Sue Ponder, Director of Retail and Distribution, Netgear says the collaboration with IceTV is another example of how pervasive the Internet – and particularly wireless Internet – has become in the home.
“Wireless technology frees us from the limits of using cables to access information resources like the Internet that are becoming central to the home entertainment experience,” said Ponder. “We are delighted to be working with electronic entertainment leaders like IceTV to deliver a fully-automated content and scheduling service for Topfield PVR customers that will no doubt elevate their enjoyment and experience of digital entertainment.”
Ponder says Netgear’s WGT634U wireless media router also gives users a number of advanced features over and above its iceguide integration.
“The WGT634U can transfer information at 108 Mbps when used with any of Netgear’s 108 Mbps wireless adapters; that’s up to 10 times faster than standard 802.11b routers,” she said. “As a media router, the WGT634U also gives users wireless access to their media files, such as MP3s, videos and photos, without relying on a host PC. Just attach an external USB disk drive or memory stick to the router and any information stored on these devices is immediately available on the wireless network.” 

The ongoing battle of high-end chips is due to hot up this week. AMD today (US time) will announce new and faster dual-core Opteron processors, trying to pip Intel at the higher end of the mass market.

 Meanwhile, Dell will announce boxes powered by dual-core Xenons from Intel and some computer makers are banding together to keep Intel’s attention focussed on its slow-selling Itaniums.

AMD will gong in its Opteron 180, 280 and 880, which are 2.4GHz chips with one, two and up to eight processors. The dual-core Opterons are used in machines from Sun, H-P and IBM – three of the top four server sellers.

Intel has several dual-core and multi-core processor designs, but the main wave won’t hit the market until later this year.

Previous Opteron dual-core models topped out at 2.2GHz, except for a few 2.4GHz “special edition” models that need 120 watts, compared with 95 for the ordinary Opterons. So far, only Sun has used the SE chips. Heat is obviously a problem.

Ordinary Opterons running at 2.4GHz erode Sun’s SE speed advantage, but AMD indicates more and faster SE models are possible. Pricing remains the same as for the slower chips: in 1000-unit quantities, AMD’s 880 costs $2649, the 280 $1299, and the 180 – which won’t ship for another 30 days – $799.

Back in Rita-deluged Texas, Dell will announce its first server with 2.8GHz, dual-core Xeons in two workstations and four servers, to ship next month. The servers will cost from US$2448 to $2748, while the Precision 470 and 670 start at $2479 and $2779.

Meanwhile some big names are applying their shoulders to the Itanium wheel in a bid to keep it rolling. Besides Intel and Hewlett-Packard – the creators of Itanium – the group includes Unisys, Silicon Graphics, NEC, Fujitsu, Hitachi and Bull. The so-called Itanium Solutions Alliance plans to foster development of software for the chip.

The companies say they remain committed to Itanium, which is designed for high-end computing chores, even though customers are flocking to the lower cost x86 offerings from Intel and AMD.

Hitachi Data Systems has introduced a new global customer and partner education initiative, the Certified Storage Professional Program.

Validating the skills and expertise in the architecture, implementation, support and administration on the company’s own products, the certification is also the first vendor provided course to include the Storage Networking Industry Association’s vendor-neutral certification program.

The SNIA will recognise the Hitachi credentials in its own certification program, enabling participants to take advantage of credentials used in two different, but complementary, major storage certification programs.

“Hitachi Data Systems worked closely with the SNIA to better meet the skills and knowledge needs of the storage community,” said Mark Kay, managing director, Hitachi Data Systems – Australia and New Zealand.  “The training and certification program is an opportunity for all partners, customers and employees to deepen their skills and knowledge of products, technologies and best practices offered by Hitachi Data Systems, and develop their expertise in deploying these services and solutions. In addition, this upgraded program was specifically designed in response to customer and partner input on how to better meet time-to-market and implementation needs.”

Hitachi Data Systems certification program was developed in part from the SNIA’s Job Task Analysis Survey, the results of which help determine the direction and method of the SNIA’s certification and educational programs.  Hitachi Data Systems’ global, role-based program builds upon and certifies the skills and knowledge of participants as storage industry professionals. 

“The collaboration between Hitachi Data Systems and the SNIA supports our mission of ensuring storage networks become complete and trusted solutions through educational outreach,” said Wayne M. Adams, chair, SNIA.

“The SNIA education curriculum encompasses a wide range of vendor-neutral topics designed to improve storage networking management and administration skills through better understanding of best practices. Hitachi Data Systems has taken a leadership role in the storage industry by using the SNIA certification model as the foundation for its certification programs.”

The Hitachi Data Systems Certified Storage Professional 2006 Program offers the widest variety of delivery platforms to best accommodate its customers and partners, including:

• Global proctored testing
• Hands-on performance-based testing
• Internet non-proctored testing
• Internet proctored testing
• Continuing education for recertification

For more information on Hitachi Data Systems Certified Storage Professional 2006 Program, visit http://www.hds.com/products_services/education/certifications.html

For information on the SNIA’s Educational offerings, please visit www.snia.org

According to IDC Asia Pacific results for server and storage marketshares for the region HP tops the list, but in Australia the company slips in one or two categories.

It always rings alarm bells in an Aussie journo’s mind when a company starts trumpeting marketshare figures for the entire Asia Pacific region rather than Australian figures. But according to IDC Australia Senior Analyst for Servers and Workstations Margaret Banaghan, all IDC’s server shares are calculated at the regional level.
She took the trouble to check the last quarter figures for Australian shares and revealed that while HP Australia is generally fairing pretty well on a regional level, the local business needs to pick up its game in one or two areas.

The figures released by HP’s PR agency outlined how according to IDC’s Asia/Pacific Quarterly Enterprise Server Tracker, in first Quarter 2005 (sure it’s a little late, but HP PR has been awfully quiet since Carly left) the company has maintained a leadership position in the overall server and storage market in Asia Pacific (including Japan).

In revenue terms the company held the number one spot in Unix servers, Linux servers, Windows servers, Itanium (naturally) and the x86 server market segments. The company also held the top spot for disk storage market according to IDC’s APJ Disk Storage Market Performance Summary.

Looking at the Australia only figures, Banaghan told SmartOffice News that Hewlett Packard owns the top spot in Windows and x86 slices. It also owns the Itanium market since it is about the only company offering product.

But when it comes to the Unix market, Sun leads the local competition and the Linux server market is lead by IBM.

In Disk Storage the company also rates second behind disk powerhouse EMC.

All the same, the company also had a ripper quarter with highlights such as x86-blade server units up 118.6 per cent year-on-year.
Beating out Sun in the region with a 29.8 per cent Unix revenue doesn’t leave Sun with much of a comeback and the company’s ProLiant servers have now led the AP market for 12 consecutive quarters. In fact it extended it lead in first Quarter on a year-on-year basis with a 26.5 percent unit shipment and a 28.4 per cent revenue share.
From an OS point of view getting 29.3 per cent share of Windows and 25.7 per cent share of the Linux server market is a good result for a company in the throes of a CEO execution. Carly Fiorina was sacked as CEO around the middle of February. Perhaps the company competition took it easy for the rest of te quarter thinking HP would lose its way.

How’d they do it? “HP’s success in the server and storage markets is the result of good execution of their enterprise infrastructure strategy, which goes beyond hardware to include infrastructure solution capabilities,” says Avneesh Saxena, Vice President, Computing Systems, IDC Asia/Pacific. “Users today are looking to buy solutions, rather then mere boxes, that help them improve an existing business process and reduce the cost of IT.”

Lenovo Australia announces its first IBM desktops incorporating 64-bit dual-core CPUs and the latest Desktrino architeture.

The two models ThinkCentre M52 and ThinkCentre A52, which will be available locally next month, are 40 per cent smaller than traditional ThinkCentre desktops. Though they come with all you would expect from the IBM lineage, ThinkVantage, Embedded Security Subsystem, Rescue and Recovery with Antidote Delivery Manager helps users restore or recover infected or deleted files. The Antidote Delivery Manager, specifically, allows IT staff to deploy updates and patches to ensure security.
The PCs are based on Intel’s Desktrino “Professional Business Platform” technology the new 945G chipset with P4 600 CPUs with Hyper-Threading, High Def Audio and the 950 Graphics Media Accelerator.

Lenovo also says it plans to release ThinkCentre desktops incorporating Intel Active Management Technology, a hardware-integrated tool supporting advanced PC asset management in the fourth quarter.

Pricing for the ThinkCentre M52 starts at AUD$1400.