IT-Code-News: IT News HeadLines (TechConnect Magazine) 04/04/2010

Western Digital's next-gen VelociRaptor hard drives detailed
Now yet announced by Western Digital, the new VelociRaptor family of speedy hard drives is closing in and will likely enter the enterprise and enthusiast markets later this quarter. The upcoming drives, which have a 2.5-inch form factor, but will also be available with a 3.5-inch mounting frame (IcePack reloaded) doubling as a heatsink, boast 150GB, 300GB, 450GB and 600GB in capacity, feature a working speed of 10,000 RPM (rotations per minute), a 32MB of cache, a SATA 6.0 Gbps interface, a MTBF of 1.4 million hours, a 3ms latency, and a sustained transfer speed of 145 MB/s.

The new VelociRaptors also have a sound output of up to 37 dBA, NoTouch ramp load technology for reduced wear, Pre-emptive Wear Leveling, and will be backed by a five-year warranty.

CDBurnerXP version 4.3.0.2015 software update
CDBurnerXP is an application to burn optical disks including cd, DVD, H-DVD, Blu-Ray Discs. It can create ISO and multilanguage interface.

It is able to burn audio-CDs with or without gaps between tracks. Data verification can be done after burning process. The software also can be used as bin/nrg to ISO converter and can used for simple cover printing.

Changes include:
- Option for automated CD-Text generation
- Added more possible actions to the "Waiting for disc" dialog
- Fixed/Updated Romanian installer translation
- Only create Microsoft Windows compliant start menu shortcuts
- Fixed error message "not enough free space on disc" when copying

Website: CDBurnerXP
Download: CDBurnerXP 4.3.0.2015

WHS Add-in FirePlay Media Server updated
Nigel Wilks has released an update to FirePlay for Windows Home Server, an interface for FireFly Media Server allowing you to play MP3s stored on your home server in a web browser.

Changes include;
- Updated FirePlay code to 0.92.
- Installer searches for FireFly.exe and will fail if not found.
- Installer updated to improve on IIS install for Ã¢Â€ÂœunusualÃ¢Â€Â setups.
- By popular demand, the Ã¢Â€ÂœPrevent DownloadsÃ¢Â€Â setting is now enabled by default (stops people Ã¢Â€ÂœleechingÃ¢Â€Â your music).

Website: FireFly Media Server
Download: FirePlay 0.92

RIM's AppWorld celebrates 1 year being live
Research in Motion are celebrating the first anniversary of their AppWorld BlackBerry online applications store, the service which now offers over 6,000 applications for the popular corporate-esque communications devices.

The AppWorld is available in 46 countries today worldwide, far grown from its United States/Canada/United Kingdom launch in 2009.

Originally designed to make it easier and faster for users to browse, download and update their Apps, the service has served as exactly that, and amongst the 6,000 applications now available are the so-called super-apps such as BlackBerry Messenger, Facebook and Poynt. These applications are praised by RIM as those that users love and use every single day, with the tight integration into the user's inbox, calendar and address book on their handsets.

RIM said that the App World currently has 36 million global BlackBerry subscriber accounts, and over 200,000 registered app developers worldwide.

Once installed, BlackBerry App World automatically presents the relevant catalogue of applications available for the specific BlackBerry handset the user is operating. As well as a front page carousel showcasing a selection of applications, App World lets customers search the available selections by keyword, and read reviews by other users.

The AppWorld also includes a folder called My World, which tracks the applications that users have downloaded, allowing them to reinstall applications or transfer them to a new BlackBerry device.

If you're a BlackBerry owner/user and you don't have the AppWorld in store - don't let it down on its birthday, go install it today!

Samsung announce U250 and U200 all-in-ones
Global electronics giant Samsung have today perked media interest as they signal their entry into the British Desktop PC markets, with the launch of two all new fully touchscreen all-in-one desktops - the 23" U250 and the 20" U200.

The machines are claimed to boast HD screens, supporting up to 1600 x 900 resolution and offering an "unparalleled experience", supporting multi-touch functionality via the Windows 7 Home Premium platform.

These all-new all-in-one personal computers are monitor and desktop combined in a single unit - and with their multi-touch capacitive screens they are more than capable of applications such as wall-mounted units.

"Through the new U250 and U200, weÃ¢Â€Â™re offering customers the ultimate touch-screen computing experience for the home," said Darren Thacker, head of retail for SamsungÃ¢Â€Â™s Mobile Computing Division, arguing that Samsung decided to use its strengths in the netbook and notebook space to make this push into a UK home PC market which has been growing steadily for the past five years.

"WeÃ¢Â€Â™ve combined class-leading design with a simple to use interactive experience to create the next generation of home PC. WeÃ¢Â€Â™re confident that the look and performance of these new models will prove popular with a wide range of home computing users." he added.

The Samsung U200 and U250 will be available exclusively at PC World and PCWorld.co.uk from May 2010, although pricing has yet to be confirmed.

4.8 million netbooks shipped in Q1
According to IDC, the netbook market has slowed its growth pace in the first quarter of this year but it still managed to top 4.8 million shipped units. This result is 33.6% higher than the 3.6 million recorded in Q1 2009 but back then the on-year increase was a massive 872%.

The data provided by IDC may seem like material for a 'glass half full/empty' debate (at first) but what we really have here are two facts that don't contradict each other. True enough, netbook growth is not what it was in Q1 2009 but we're dealing with a more mature and slightly saturated market. Also true is that netbooks are still selling very well and are the highest-growing category in the portable PC zone, not to mention the PC market in general.

Netbook sales in 2009 were of around 33.3 million units and in 2010 estimates put the market at 50 million.

Sunday, April 4, 2010

IT News HeadLines (TechConnect Magazine) 04/04/2010

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