Norton 360 Version 2.0 Ships

Posted in Software with tags , , , , on March 7, 2008 by chopperarris

Symantec’s all-in-one software security solution now includes backup to iPod, Blu-ray and HD DVD discs. The newest version also includes Symantec’s patent-pending ‘Browser Protection’ technology, which defends against drive-by downloads and other new or unknown threats that exploit vulnerabilities in Internet Explorer.

Designed to protect on multiple fronts, Norton 360 includes anti-virus, anti-spyware, firewall, intrusion protection, and SONAR behavioural detection technology. There is now also Norton Identity Safe, which stores passwords and other personal information securely, in addition to automatic form-filling capabilities and one-click log-in to trusted sites.

Fans of the product’s backup feature now have even more options. Local backup options now include Blu-Ray, iPods, HD-DVD discs, or shared drives, in addition to internal drives, CD/DVD drives, USB drives, mapped network drives, or external hard drives.

Also new to Norton 360 is Network Monitoring, which checks the status of wireless security, maps connected devices, alerting you when you are connected to an unsecure network. Smart Background Scheduler has been enhanced with the ability to prevent tasks from initiating automatically while in battery power mode and now throttles bandwidth for online backups to minimize impact on performance. Finally, you now have the option to manually scan individual files and folders and to shutdown your computer upon completion of a task.

Norton 360 version 2.0 is available now for £47.99 (includes 1-year service subscription and protection updates) and can be installed on up to three PCs. The product includes 2GB of online storage, though additional online storage can be purchased.

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Pipex Is Now FREEDOM4

Posted in Broadband with tags , , , on March 7, 2008 by chopperarris

Pipex Communications plc has renamed to FREEDOM4 Communications plc as part of its new focus to concentrate on business-strength Internet services and hosting solutions. The company’s Ordinary Shares will now trade with the TIDM (Tradable Instrument Display Mnemonic) of ‘FFC’.

The business divisions for FREEDOM4 Communications plc include WiMAX-powered wireless broadband provider FREEDOM4 and GX Networks Ltd, the parent company for the Web hosting and business brands. These include Vialtus Solutions (formerly Pipex Business), 123-reg, WebFusion, Supanames and Donhost. It is business as usual with all brands with the only changes being made in the reference to the parent company.

FREEDOM4 Communications plc is a provider of business Internet solutions. The company provides a range of corporate voice, Internet access, security, domain name registration as well as shared and dedicated hosting solutions.

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TV Shipments Gone Crazy

Posted in Square eyes with tags , , , , , on March 7, 2008 by chopperarris

Last year, global TV shipments rose 4% to almost 200 million units, worth over £50bn, and growth will accelerate to reach 280 million units, worth £80bn, by 2012, according to a new consumer electronics industry report from Understanding & Solutions.

The global TV boom is being powered by our desire for flat panel TVs, which are rapidly replacing CRT sets, plus growth in emerging markets, which are also trending away from CRT to flat panels. Emerging markets accounted for over 50% of global TV shipments in 2007 and will rise to more than 65% by 2012.

LCD is rapidly growing to become the dominant display technology for television, and accounted for 40% of shipments in 2007 and 64% of market value. By 2012, LCD will account for over 80% of the market.

Strategic supply of LCD panels has become a critical competitive issue, with huge concentrations of volume under the control of major producers, including manufacturing joint ventures between TV brand leaders Samsung-Sony and LG-Philips.

Following significant price decline in 2006, the rising cost of raw materials and strong demand for LCD in TVs and laptop computers meant prices were relatively stable in 2007. TV manufacturers are also having to add cost with new features like digital tuners and high definition connectivity (HDMI), while at the same time introducing fire retardant and recyclable materials.

Bigger is better for most, too. The flat panel trend is fuelling consumer appetite for larger TV screens worldwide, not just for the living room but in bedrooms, playrooms and other locations around the home. For example, shipments of TVs with screens larger than 37 inches in Europe have risen from just 4% of total in 2004 to 23% in 2007, and are set to rise to over 40% by 2012, according to the report.

Average prices have been moving up as consumers opt for larger screens. Average selling prices in the UK rose 5% in 2007, for example. The larger screen trend is in turn driving rollout of High Definition TV and will also boost demand for a new generation of Blu-ray high definition video.

Over the next four years, TV market growth will be strengthened by major sporting events, with purchase spikes occurring around the Olympics, the Football World Cup and the UEFA championships. These events are likely to offset near-term economic uncertainties. Flat panel TV is a must for the modern home, and global sports events normally trigger high acquisition rates, especially as all of these upcoming events will be broadcast in High Definition. Time to get the chequebook out …

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Apple Opens Up The iPhone

Posted in Apple with tags , , , on March 7, 2008 by chopperarris

Apple has previewed its iPhone 2.0 software. Not available in full until June, the beta release of the software is actually available to selected developers and enterprise customers now.

The iPhone 2.0 beta release includes both the iPhone Software Development Kit (SDK) as well as new enterprise features such as support for Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync to provide secure, over-the-air push e-mail, contacts and calendars as well as remote wipe, and the addition of Cisco IPsec VPN for encrypted access to private corporate networks. Anyone can download the Beta iPhone SDK for free and run the iPhone Simulator on their Mac.

Apple said it’s pretty stoked about creating a vibrant third-party developer community with potentially thousands of native applications for iPhone and iPod touch. The iPhone SDK provides developers with a set of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) and tools so they can use to hopefully create innovative applications for iPhone and iPod touch.

Apple has licensed Exchange ActiveSync from Microsoft and is building it right into the iPhone, so that iPhone will connect out-of-the-box to Microsoft Exchange Servers 2003 and 2007 for secure over-the-air push e-mail, contacts, calendars and global address lists. Built-in Exchange ActiveSync support also enables security features such as remote wipe, password policies and auto-discovery.

The iPhone 2.0 software supports Cisco IPsec VPN, as well as the ability to authenticate using digital certificates or password-based, multi-factor authentication. The addition of WPA2 Enterprise with 802.1x authentication enables enterprise customers to deploy iPhone and iPod touch with the latest standards for protection of Wi-Fi networks.

During the beta iPhone SDK program, a limited number of developers will be accepted into Apple’s new iPhone Developer Program and offered the ability to get code onto iPhones for testing. The Standard Program costs $99 (£50) per year and gives members an iPhone SDK and development tools; access to pre-release iPhone software; technical support; the ability to get code onto iPhones for testing; and distribution of applications via the new App Store. The Enterprise Program costs $299 (£150) per year.

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Dell Lappy Goes Extreme

Posted in Laptop with tags , , on March 7, 2008 by chopperarris

Dell has entered the fully ruggedised laptop market with the monster Latitude XFR D630. Built for men who drink pints and tell dirty jokes, the rugged laptop is being pitched at government and commercial customers, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get a piece of the action. Available now in the U.S. from $3899, the Latitude XFR D630 should make its way over to our shores in a month or so.

The system meets MIL-STD 810F standards from the U.S. Department of Defense for products that operate in extreme temperatures, moisture and altitude, and other God-forsaken conditions. It shares common images and components with Dell’s current line of Latitude laptops to simplify deployment and maintenance. Dell says a patent-pending thermal management system allows the rugged laptop to use latest generation technology and deliver up to four times better graphics performance than the Panasonic CF-30.

The Latitude XFR D630 is hard as nails because it has shock isolated mounting to help protect hard drive, LCD and core electronic elements, as well as a sealed keyboard designed to withstand driving rain and dust. Dual locking butterfly mechanisms provide easy access to components. You don’t have to be in the Army to buy one.

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Iomega Bumps REV To 120GB

Posted in Bits 'n bobs on March 7, 2008 by chopperarris

Iomega’s third-generation REV drive has been bumped to 120GB. Available worldwide in April as an external USB 2.0 and internal SATA interface model, a REV 120GB ATAPI interface model is planned for mid-year.

Compared to entry-level tape products like LTO-1 and DAT160 format tape drives, the new REV 120GB Backup Drive offers more native capacity, near instantaneous random access to files, faster backups and restores, and ruggedised cartridges - all at a much better drive price.

Each 120GB REV disk holds approximately 48,000 photos, 2000 hours of music or 12 hours of high-definition prOn.

Iomega introduced its REV technology with the first generation REV 35GB Backup Drive in 2004, followed by the second generation REV 70GB Backup Drive in 2006. Designed to provide the performance of a hard drive with the removability of tape, Iomega’s patented REV technology divides its components into a drive bay and a low-cost removable disk. The drive heads and electronics reside in the REV drive, while hard disk platter and fluid-dynamic bearing motor are located in the REV disk.

The REV disk is designed for zero maintenance, sealed against outside air contamination while in operation and when not in the drive. The virtual clean room environment of the REV system is supported by automatic head-cleaning, air filtration, and two-stage error correction for automatic data verification.

The REV 120GB Backup Drive features transfer rates of up to 35MB/s (max), estimated 30-year archival life, and an estimated one million rewrite durability. REV 120GB disks are also expected to be available in April in single packs and five-packs. Pricing for the REV 120GB Backup Drive and disks will be announced closer to product availability. Whet your appetite here.

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Roxio Gets Into Online Backup

Posted in Software with tags , , , on March 7, 2008 by chopperarris

Roxio has brought BackOnTrack Online to the UK. It’s a digital media storage solution that automatically and continuously protects your personal data. Content is encrypted and uploaded to a remote and secure Roxio online backup centre for future access.

In the event of data loss due to a system crash or you just being an idiot, digital files can be restored from any Web-connected computer. A 1-year subscription offering unlimited storage space is available for £39.99, or a 2-year package will set you back £69.99.

Powered by the backup solution provider Carbonite, BackOnTrack Online takes the complication and guess work out of data protection thanks to automated data uploading and unlimited storage capacity. Lengthy videos, extensive photo and music collections, or even the entire contents of a hard drive can be uploaded!

Set it once and forget it means new and changed files are automatically detected and uploaded whenever the computer is connected to the Internet. BackOnTrack Online will upload content to the Internet after the computer is idle for a few minutes. All files are automatically encrypted for privacy before being transferred to Roxio’s secure remote backup centre.

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Motion Toughens Up With Rugged Tablet PC

Posted in Laptop with tags , , on March 7, 2008 by chopperarris

Motion Computing’s new F5 tablet PC is butt ugly, but it isn’t designed for swanky marketing types who press the flesh all day. No. This bad boy is a balance between a commercial-grade device and fully-rugged PC that will be right at home in the arms of a strapping young alpha male.The F5 (£1350 to £2000) addresses issues encountered by mobile workforces across industries like field service, manufacturing, government and construction.

Besides being hard as nails, the F5 sports an Intel Centrino processor, is IP54 rated and designed to withstand exposure to dust and moisture, has a View Anywhere outdoor display and built-in handle, and there’s a shock-mounted hard drive and combined accelerometer, designed to detect drops and shocks in order to reduce the possibility of data loss.

To improve workflow there’s also a digital camera, RFID and optional barcode scanner, along with embedded wireless broadband and optional SanDisk 32GB solid state drive (SSD). The system runs Microsoft’s Windows XP Tablet PC Edition or Windows Vista Business and comes with a 3-year ‘field-ready’ warranty (i.e. covers damage from short drops (approx. 30 inches), and ordinary course exposure to rain and dust).

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Alienware Desktop Delivers Quad Graphics

Posted in Desktop PC with tags , , on March 7, 2008 by chopperarris

Fancy remortgaging? Alienware has pimped its elite ALX CrossFireX desktop computer to include quadruple graphics power by adding ATI CrossFireX. The Alienware ALX CrossfireX is the first quad GPU gaming solution to support DirectX 10.1 and features CrossFireX technology.

Alienware’s ALX CrossFireX utilises two ATI Radeon HD 3870 X2 graphics cards, each housing two GPUs and a full 1GB of dedicated graphics memory - that’s 2GB of dedicated GDDR-3 graphics memory. OMG! This multi-GPU structure allows CrossFireX to deliver up to 4X the graphics processing power and 4X the mayhem.

With ATI’s Catalyst software and Microsoft Windows Vista you can un-lock the GPU controls to manually set the engine and memory clocks for overclocking. Temperature displays and VPU recover safety features make it easier to properly maintain your system. An auto-configure utility option overclocks to a preset, stable speed, should you go mad.

The ALX CrossfireX bad boy will cost you from £3557. Alienware is keen to point out that it has much-needed finance packages.

 

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Computer ‘Waste’ Out Of Control

Posted in Treehugger with tags , , , on March 7, 2008 by chopperarris

Fujitsu Siemens Computers is screaming at the top of its lungs for dedicated IT and electronic and electrical waste departments at municipal tips across the country.

The call to arms is supported by the company’s research that reveals that over the past five years 12.5 million unwanted PCs or laptops have not been re-used or recycled by their owners and that one in four people dumps their computer at the local tip.

This ‘waste’ is a result of only one in two unwanted computers being recycled or donated to another person over the past five years. Only one in 10 (10%) Brits claims their discarded computer was actually recycled via a manufacturer’s recycling facility, and four in 10 (41%) claim to have given their old computer to a friend or charity.

The new findings indicate that many people make no attempt to recycle their unwanted IT hardware, with over 1 million people saying they had dumped their computer or laptop in their household rubbish (4%) or the countryside (1%). Furthermore 6.2 million people say they have unused computers lying around their home or garden, while 5.1 million people just took their old computer to their local dump.

Over six months on from the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive coming into effect, it’s clear that not enough is being done on the front lines of the battle against IT waste. Electrical and electronic waste is the fastest growing waste stream in the UK. Around 1.8 million tonnes are generated every year. The main component of waste electronic equipment is large household appliances known as white goods, which make up 43% of the total. The next largest component is IT equipment, which accounts for 39%.

Although the survey showed that one in four people do take their rubbish to their local tip, unless their laptop or PC is assessed on the site, there is no guarantee that it will be passed on for re-use or recycle. This is a huge missed opportunity. At present, just 26% of IT WEEE waste is recycled, out of 94,600 tonnes collected. With the right facilities these thrown away units could easily be reused elsewhere and those facilities need to be at the municipal sites where people drop off their waste.

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