Maxit Mag

Dell has expanded its Studio XPS family with the introduction of a new premier desktop PC, the Studio XPS 435. Bold and distinctive design of Studio XPS 435 blends pure white and translucent black bezel accented with brilliant crimson orange trim.

Powered by Intel Core i7 processors with Intel Turbo Boost Technology, the Studio XPS 435 features up to 24GB DDR3 RAM and ATI Radeon HD4870 1GB GDDR5 graphics. It also features 3 angled USB ports; top-mounted integrated 15-in-1media card reader; built-in infrared receiver; and optional Blu-Ray Disc.

Studio XPS 435 is designed helps in its expandability, enabling easy upgrades to future technology. The full-sized ATX tower includes six DIMMs for up to 24GB tri-channel memory, three hard drive bays capable of up to 4.5TB of storage and dual optical options.

Studio XPS 435 desktop PC is available through their website in the U.S. for a starting price of $1,099.

Just a week after introducing 4-bay TS-439 Pro Turbo NAS, QNAP has now announced the TS-809, an eight-bay network attached storage system. Powered by Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4 GHz CPU and 2GB DDRII memory, it supports 8 SATA drive bays that accommodate up to 12TB storage capacity.

TS-809 offers advanced RAID features including support for RAID 0/1/5/6/5+spare, Online RAID Capacity Expansion and Online RAID Level Migration. It also features iSCSI with Thin Provisioning, AES 256-bit volume-based encryption, automatic policy-based IP blocking along with instant SMS and email alert. TS-809 had reached over 126MB/sec read rates and 111MB/sec write rates in QNAP lab

The NAS comes with the Surveillance Station feature which supports real-time monitoring and video playback from up to 4 IP-based cameras. TS-809 also provides a wide array of server functions like file server, FTP server, DDNS support, Web server with built-in phpMyAdmin, Joomla, MySQL, SQLite, editable php.ini, MySQL server and printer server. You can access these from Mac, Linux or Windows-based machines.

"The TS-809 Pro adopts Intel Core 2 Duo high performance CPU which brings extremely high speed experience for multiple business applications. It is an excellent choice for storage-hungry enterprises who demand for outstanding system performance in an intensive data access environment," said Laurent Cheng, Product Manager from QNAP.

No word yet from QNAP on the price or availability of the TS-439 Pro Turbo NAS.

Aleratec has introduced a new stand alone 1:1 HDD Cruiser, a high speed 1:1 hard disk drive duplicator that can support copy speeds of up to 70MB/s. It is equipped with a USB 2.0 port that allows access to both SATA drive bays from a PC to view and edit hard drives before duplicating.

The 1:1 HDD Cruiser’s drive bays are equipped with quick and easy loading doors. The source and target drives are loaded in the drive bays without the need for external cables. Each drive bay has internal Non Scratch SATA connectors designed for greater than 50,000 swap cycles minimizing worries about drive connection issues.

"The 70MB/sec copy speed of our new Aleratec 1:1 HDD Cruiser is twice as fast as many competitive offerings and it is equipped with quick load bays so there are no cumbersome external cables needed." said Perry Solomon, President and CEO of Aleratec. "With the USB 2.0 port connected to both drive bays provides JBOD access to drives in each bay. A customer can attach the 1:1 HDD Cruiser to a PC, load it with hard drives, and use it for additional storage or backup when not duplicating. Only Aleratec offers an affordable, easy to load and unload, hard drive duplicator with these extra features."

The 1:1 HDD Cruiser supports 3.5 inch SATA hard disk drives; an optional 2.5 inch SATA hard drive adapter 2 pack is also available for $37. The Aleratec 1:1 HDD Cruiser is available for $315.

Western Digital has introduced updated version of its My Book World Edition network storage drive compatible with PC and Mac computers.

It offers automatic, continuous backup for all the computers on the network. Designed for consumers having multiple computers on a home network, the new drive will be available in 1 terabyte and 2 terabyte capacities. The device backs up the files from all network-connected computers. Any changes to the files on these computers are automatically and continuously backed up to the drive.

The device also offers media server capability with DLNA 1.5 and UPnP certification to stream content to Xbox 360, PS3, wireless digital picture frames and connected audio receivers. The drive sports a capacity gauge that lets you see at a glance how much space is available. USB 2.0 Utility Port lets users extend the storage of the WD My Book World Edition drives. Users can also securely and remotely access files on the World Edition drives from a remote Internet connection.

The new My Book World Edition 1 TB network hard drive is available for is $229.99 USD. WD expects 2 TB capacity system to be available later this month and will retail it for $449.99 USD.

Kingston has increased the capacity of its CompactFlash Elite Pro Flash memory cards to 32GB. With larger capacity and fast data transfer rates, it is designed to meet the demands of both advanced amateur and professional photographers. It offers 25MB/sec. read and 20MB/sec. write speeds.

"The Kingston 32GB CF Elite Pro card is designed to keep pace with and not limit the productivity of the most advanced digital camera equipment on the market," said Wendy Lecot, Flash business development manager, Kingston Digital. "Combining the large storage capacity along with fast read and write speeds makes this card ideal for continuous capture and download of images."

The Kingston 32 GB CF Elite Pro is available for $154 and is backed by a lifetime warranty.

CyberPower, best known for its gaming computers, has just announced its Windows Home Server 100. The small form factor home-based server automatically backs up computers on a home network and allows users to restore a single file or an entire PC.

This energy-saving server features Intel 1.6GHz Atom 330 Dual Core processor on the Intel’s Mini-ITX mainboard with Intel GMA 950 & S-video output support, 10/100/1000Mbps Gigabit Ethernet. It offers 2GB of RAM and a 500GB SATA-II hard drive and runs Microsoft Windows 2003 Server OEM version.

It also features a secure and personalized website address to let users organize their digital media in a central location. The 500GB Windows Home Server 100 is priced at $399, with the option to customize it from the company web site with numerous component options.

Link: Hot Hardware

Sandisk has introduced two new ImageMate memory card readers today, the ImageMate All-in-one and the ImageMate Multi-card.

The new readers offer increased efficiency and faster data transfer rates than their predecessors and also have upgraded software applications. They are also smaller and sleeker with detachable tripod base. The All-In-One memory card reader can reach speeds of up to 34 MB per second when using a Extreme IV 45MB/s CompactFlash card, and the Multi-Card reader is capable of up to 30 MB/s read and 27 MB/s write data transfer rates when using a Extreme III 30MB/s Edition SDHC card.

SanDisk ImageMate readers also have a transfer button that automatically launches a user-defined application or web site, such as Adobe Photoshop or flickr.com, to transfer or edit photos.

“The new SanDisk ImageMate readers are two of the fastest and most reliable USB readers, capable of transferring 1-gigabyte of data in less than 35 seconds,” said Jennifer Lee, senior product marketing manager, SanDisk. “The ImageMate readers’ space-saving vertical design makes them unobtrusive on your desk, but with such stylish looks they can’t help but stand out.”

The ImageMate All-in-one reader offers card-to-card data transfers and supports SD, SDHC, miniSDHC, microSDHC, MMC, Memory Stick, MSPD, xD and CompactFlash. It is available now for $29.99.

The ImageMate Multi-Card reader supports xD, Memory Stick, SD, SDHC, and MMC and is retailing for $19.99.

OCZ has announced the expansion of its peripherals under the Alchemy line with Illuminati backlit multimedia keyboard.

OCZ claims the Illuminati "won't leave you in the dark". The keys can be backlit with either red or blue LEDs. It features 14 multimedia and internet hotkeys, to help users manage music, web, and video applications with the touch of a button. The sleek design and rubber coated keys improve both tactile feel and user comfort.

Ryan Edwards, Director of Product Management at the OCZ Technology Group commented, “The Illuminati Keyboard offers multimedia consumers a host of features including rubber coated keys for comfort while both working and gaming, fourteen quick launch keys to better access to multimedia, and the choice of two backlit colors making it easier to make full use of the keyboard in low light environments.”

OCZ says Illuminati features an extremely reliable lifestyle of 5 million cycles, and is compatible with Windows XP (SP2 or later) and Windows Vista. With its plug and play feature, there's no need for additional drivers.

Researchers at Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft have presented a new innovation, iPoint 3D, that allows people to interact with a 3-D display through simple gestures. There is absolutely no need to touch it with a data glove or use 3D glasses.

The system features a recognition device, not much larger than a keyboard that can be suspended from the ceiling above the user or integrated in a coffee table. Its two built-in FireWire cameras detect hands and fingers movement in real time and transmit the information to a computer.

As the interaction is entirely contactless, the system appeals to video gamers and is ideal for scenarios where contact between the user and the system is not possible or not allowed, such as in an operating room, says Paul Chojecki, a research scientist at the Fraunhofer Institute for Telecommunications.

iPoint 3D will be presented by the researchers at CeBIT in Hanover, Germany.

Link: Engadget

Vuzix has announced the widespread retail availability of the iWear AV310 Widescreen personal media viewer. It is worn by users like a set of eyeglasses and offers a 16:9 aspect ratio with 3D capabilities.

The device projects a virtual 52' screen from 9-feet. A single AA battery provides enough juice to run it for five hours. It offers independent +2 to -5 diopter focus, providing individual adjustment for each eye. The AV310 is compatible with iPod, video cameras, gaming consoles, DVD players & other devices with a video output for NTSC or PAL.

Other features of iWear AV310 include twin high-resolution LCD displays, one for each eye, removable and comfort fit earbuds with adjustable, hypoallergenic nosepiece. The AccuTilt viewer offers 15 degrees of tilt adjustment. It also offers on-screen display settings control.

The Vuzix AV310 Widescreen is available at Brookstone, SkyMall, MicroCenter, Hammacher Schlemmer and Vuzix.com, priced at $249.95.

Link: Electronista

Samsung has announced the launch of two BEAT Edition mobile phones, the Samsung BeatDJ and Samsung BeatDISC. Loaded with Bang & Olufsen audio technology and music application for finding, purchasing and recommending music, the Beat Edition handsets are designed to satisfy music lovers.

The BeatDJ comes with 50MB of on-board memory, expandable to 16GB with the microSD card slot. The Beat DJ application lets users add voice and sound effects to their favorite songs. With the phone's touch screen 2.8-inch AMOLED display, users can 'scratch' records and create their personal tracks.

Both the phones offer B&O ICEpower amplifier, 3-megapixel cameras, GPS and Samsung’s DISC User Interface. The Samsung BeatDISC also offers a slide-out keypad with a 2.6-inch display.

“The Samsung BEAT Edition handsets will take music on mobile phones to a whole new level of quality and exciting user experience,” said JK Shin, Executive Vice President and head of Mobile Communication division in Samsung Electronics. “With amazing sound quality and advanced music application, the BEAT Edition handsets will appeal to a growing base of consumers that want to consolidate their music playing devices without compromising on style, function and experience.”

Samsung has not yet given any release dates or pricing for the Beat edition phones.

Link: SlashGear