IT-Code-News: IT News HeadLines (TechConnect Magazine) 15/10/2009

First Intel Pine Trail-based All-in-One PC pictured
Later this year Intel will introduce its 'second-gen' Atom platform known as Pine Trail which consists of a two-chip solution and will be used for everything from MIDs (Mobile Internet Devices), netbooks, nettops and, All-in-One desktops. Now, it may not look like much but the KND PC pictured below is the first All-in-One to be based on the Pine Trail platform.

Dubbed K1850, the Pine Trail machine has an 18.5-inch panel (touchscreen or not, we're not sure), a 1.66 GHz dual-core Atom D510 processor, 2GB of RAM, a 250GB hard drive, integrated graphics (the graphics core is found within the Atom chip), and a DVD drive. Moreover, it features a 3-in-1 card reader, Ethernet and WiFi.

The first Pine Trail-powered systems as expected to start shipping late this year but the real avalanche of such products will come in 2010.

Photo courtesy of Shanzai.

Mushkin develops the Mulholland series flash drives
In addition to getting itself a new website, memory manufacturer Mushkin is also finishing up work on the Mulholland line of flash drives. Unfortunately, there's isn't much info about the storage solution other than it will have a USB interface, offer "incredible read/write speeds" (vague right?) and come in 2, 4, 8, 16 and 32GB capacities.

The Mulholland drives don't have a release date either so we'll just have to wait on Mushkin to make a move regarding them.

Nvidia provides new SLI profile update
The Fermi builder in Santa Clara, Nvidia Corp. has let loose a new version of its SLI profile update, a little program that will provide those using multi-GPU GeForce setups, with support for the latest games. This third release of the tiny app is recommended for use with the GeForce 191.07 driver, it works on Windows XP/Vista/7 and it features:

Added support for:

- Borderlands
- Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
- G-Force
- FIFA Soccer 2010
- League of Legends: Clash of Fates
- NHL 2009
- Order of War
- Pro Evolution Soccer 2010
- Race On
- Star Trek: D-A-C

Increased performance for:

- Champions Online
- Dragon-Age: Origins

To download the new SLI profile update visit Nvidia's website.

Mitsubishi preps the MDT243WG II 24-inch multimedia LCD
Mitsubishi will soon be adding a new Viseo-branded product to its line, namely the MDT243WG II 'multimedia' LCD screen. Seen below, the upcoming 24.1-inch display has a native resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, a 6ms (GTG) response time, a 2000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, a brightness of 500 cd/m2, and the MP Engine II which is supposed to offer improved image quality.

The MDT243WG II also has two 5W speakers, a 3.5mm audio jack, as well as S/PDIF, D-Sub, DVI and dual HDMI connectivity. Mitsubishi's LCD is expected to start selling in Japan on October 28.

Sophos update their endpoint security software
Sophos security has today release a new security product that is a combination of data loss prevention, anti-malware and encryption software - an endpoint security platform that helps firms meet security needs in a cost effective and, overall more simple way.

The new version of the software, now branded Sophos Endpoint Security and Data Protection, ESDP (not to be confused with Symantec Endpoint Protection, SEP), will be available for free as an upgrade to users of the current package.

Sophos boast that their expertise in this segment is what has produced a software that can prevent the accidental loss of sensitive data without ever impacting productivity.

"Our agent is already scanning every file for malware, intercepting every communication and controlling every USB stick, Bluetooth connection and so on," said Sophos vice president of endpoint security John Shaw. "So far, the DLP industry has insisted on reinventing the wheel with separate agents and separate management infrastructure. This slows users down and involves the IT team in a huge project that they haven't got time or money for, and it's these overburdened IT teams who find our offering so appealing."

The software is also geared ready for network administrators to create mass group policies for remote access software and other similar attributes, all from a single, easy to use Dashboard.

Licensing won't be so cheap however, coming in at أ‚آ£20.75 per user, per year, when 500 users are signed on - but as with all enterprise solutions, this does include the company's 24 x 7 support by phone, email and web.

HP officially announce MediaSmart EX490 UK launch
Hewlett-Packard have announced that they will very soon make the HP MediaSmart EX490 available to consumers in the United Kingdom - opening up pre-orders now with a promise that they will be out of the doors tomorrow.

This is great news for European Home Server enthusiasts, but it does beg the question as to why the EX495 won't be released on this side of the Pacfic - perhaps due to the similarities with the StorageWorks X510, which is basically the same model with a new name.

Their UK press release reads:

HP Launches New Home Server with Enhanced Features for PCs and Macs
أ¢آ€آœThe explosion of digital content is attracting a new kind of buyer to the home server space,أ¢آ€آ‌ said Shaun Hobbs, HP Accessories and Services Category Manager, UK. أ¢آ€آœThis buyer not only wants power and capacity but also ease of use. The new HP MediaSmart Server EX490 delivers on all fronts.أ¢آ€آ‌

أ¢آ€آœThe new release of HP MediaSmart Server software and hardware continues HPأ¢آ€آ™s leadership in building compelling functionality on top of the Microsoft Windows Home Server platform,أ¢آ€آ‌ said Russ Madlener, director, Solutions Marketing, Microsoft. أ¢آ€آœHP is delivering a true cross-platform product by adding the ability to administer the server from a Mac using Microsoftأ¢آ€آ™s new Remote Desktop Connection Client for Mac 2.أ¢آ€آ‌

The new video converter automatically converts videos (including unprotected DVDs) into a format that can be played at the home or remotely. Users are able to control how their videos are converted by selecting the device the video will be played on or choose specific video settings using the advanced controls features.

In addition, owners of an iPod touch and iPhone can download a free HP MediaSmart Server iStream application from Appleأ¢آ€آ™s App Store, enabling them to stay connected to their digital media stored on the server. Users can easily access their pictures, listen to their music collection and watch their favourite videos أ¢آ€آ“ all streamed directly to their mobile device from their HP MediaSmart Server.

HP MediaSmart Server EX490 features include:

أ‚آ· New HP Media Collector
أ‚آ· New HP Video Converter
أ‚آ· Improved user interface with new web- based home page
أ‚آ· Mac administration, media collections and a new Mac disc recovery feature
أ‚آ· HP Media Streamer
أ‚آ· Server for iTunes
أ‚آ· PC Hard Drive Backup
أ‚آ· Server Backup
أ‚آ· Smart Power Management
أ‚آ· Intel Celeron. Two gigabytes of DRAM
أ‚آ· Expandability: additional drives can be added for up to 7 terabytes internal storage and 17 TB of storage using internal and external drives.

Available from 15th October, the HP MediaSmart Server EX490 will ship with 1TB of hard disk storage space, and weighs in at أ‚آ£429.

File Property Changer 1.43 release
File Property Changer offers users a quick, efficient way to change a variety of factors related to files. While this program proved to be effective, it may not appeal to everyday users. The program helps to modify file attributes (read-only, archive, hidden, system). File Properties Changer can process all files in folder (directory). Program can save a list of files. User can also print a list of files.

Changes in this version include:
- Minor update with various bug fixes and feature enhancements.

Wesbsite: Segobit Software
Download: File Property Changer (FPC) 1.43

Microsoft invade American television via Family Guy
Microsoft will be invading the American airwaves on November 8th, as they have signed a deal with Seth MacFarlane, creator of sensationally popular U.S. animation comedy "Family Guy," for a special episode.

The episode, named "Family Guy Presents: Seth & Alex's Almost Live Comedy Show", will feature no commercial time on FOX's clocks, and have the show's most memorable musical sets with some original animation, and some surprise celebrity guests.

So what do Microsoft get out of this? Well, it is thought that some of the sketches are to focus on how to simplify your PC and to show off how fast and easy Windows 7 is to use.

"We're working with FOX on innovative brand integrations that will show how the power and simplicity of Windows 7 can enhance the content FOX viewers love," said Gayle Troberman, general manager of consumer engagement and advertising at Microsoft. "We have simplified the PC with Windows 7, and together with FOX, we're simplifying entertainment."

The special will air on Sunday November 8th at 8.30pm Eastern and Pacific on the U.S. FOX network.

Acer announces Snapdragon-powered Android 1.6 smartphone
Acer has now introduced the Liquid, a touchscreen smartphone equipped with Qualcomm's Snapdragon chipset that is loaded with the Android 1.6 OS (codenamed Donut). The shiny new phone, has HSPA support, a 800x480 pixels touchscreen, a 5 megapixel camera with 'improved' autofocus, a built-in GPS, and comes with the Spinlets application which enables free streaming of music and video that can be shared with friends and family through web-posting or email.

Acer mentioned that the Liquid will have Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Picasa and Flickr integration but it didn't provide more info so it's uncertain when the smartphone will arrive or how much it will cost.

Google Voice users getting invites for friends/foes
Apparently craving more testers, Google has now started to provide Google Voice users with invites which they can send to other people, enabling them to join the free one-number-fits-all service. Rolling out over the next few weeks, the invites - three per user, will be accessible via the 'Invite a friend' link on the left-hand side of the inbox.

Google Voice assigns users one number for all their phones and provides them with calling features like call blocking and screening, call conferencing, SMS, voicemail transcripts, low-priced international calls and more. For more info about the service see this page.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

IT News HeadLines (TechConnect Magazine) 15/10/2009

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