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  • First Portable 3D Monitor for Viewing Without Glasses

    The Swiss brand nvp3D introduced the FreeD Multi-Media Player – the first portable autonomous 3D monitor for viewing without glasses.

    This device is autonomous, that means there is no need of a computer connection to view. The content – videos and photos – is displaying on 7-inch monitor from the SD card. Autonomy of the player is limited by the battery to approx. 2 hours.

    nvp3D have been using larger autostereoscopic screens for more than two years but their price remains high and it wasn’t easy for people to acquire content. Now, the company assures its device is priced accessibly for the public at large – already loaded with several short 3D films, it is offered on their site for 450 Swiss francs (~$425).


     

    The Swiss company, based in La Croix-sur-Lutry near Lausanne, actually specialises in 3D documentaries, thus to develop a solution for providing access to 3D content for viewing on the screens, they have worked jointly with manufacturers like Pavonine (Korea), Vestel (Turkey) and Inlife (China).

    They piloted the new player in the final development phases for Inlife, inventor of the product. Initially designed by Inlife as a Photo Frame, the player has evolved in the direction of a 3D video reader.

    “As a small Swiss business, we are please to have been involved in the development of this product, which marks a turning point in the history of 3D,” said Philippe Nicolet, director of nvp3D.

    The company’s www.freedvision.com is, as they claim, the first site dedicated to the world of 3D without glasses. It offers free downloads of content in the appropriate format, to be transferred to the SD card of the autostereoscopic monitor.

    At first, the company will provide videos produced by nvp3d, but they hope very quickly to expand the offer to other source of both videos and photos from amateurs and professionals alike.

    The site will also post general info on the world of 3d without glasses.

    The city of Lausanne, that has lent active support following the release of its first 3D film about the town, will obtain a few FreeD Players to introduce its residents to the new technology, and to serve as a 3D souvenir for honoured guests.

    Swiss Watch TV, owner of the nvp3D brand, is currently seeking investors to finance a project to create live 3D television in Switzerland.

  • Harris Stratex Networks Introduces New Backhaul Timing Solution

    Harris Stratex Networks introduces a synchronization feature for its Eclipse Packet Node high-speed IP wireless backhaul platform.

    This new feature enables mobile operators to cross the ‘sync divide’ by providing a key component for the efficient migration of existing TDM infrastructure to an all-IP transport network.

    The patent-pending Distributed Sync will be supported by a new plug-in network sync module for the Eclipse Packet Node intelligent nodal indoor unit.

    It offers a smooth synchronization migration path for operators planning to evolve their transport network to all-IP, enabling them to introduce all-packet transport, while at the same time maintaining the reliability and security of their proven TDM-based synchronization.

    Distributed Sync complements standards-based solutions such as Synchronous Ethernet or IEEE 1588v2, and enables operators to delay moving to these IP-based schemes until after their network migration to IP transport is well progressed or complete.

    It offers a standard, primary reference clock traceable for 2.048/1.544 MHz clock output at the base station over a multi-hop, nodal backhaul network without having to use valuable payload capacity, even in an all-IP environment where no TDM transport capability is available.

    According to Paul Kennard, Harris Stratex chief technology officer, this new distributed timing capability will be of significant interest to operators who are looking for a solution to their network synchronization challenges as they start to introduce Ethernet transport in the backhaul.

    “Unlike other solutions currently being considered, Distributed Sync will enable operators to take a low-risk evolutionary approach to network timing,” he said.

    The company’s Eclipse Packet Node solution, featuring the new Distributed Sync feature, will be part of the multi-vendor Carrier Ethernet Interoperability test being conducted by the European Advanced Networking Test Center (EANTC) in Berlin from Aug. 24 – Sept. 4, 2009.

    It also will be part of the Multi-Vendor Interoperability showcase at the IIR Carrier Ethernet World Congress in Berlin, Sept. 22–24, 2009.

    Harris Stratex introduced the Eclipse Packet Node product earlier this year Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The solution provides an evolutionary path for operators to introduce packet-based Ethernet/IP transport into their network, with a smooth and low-risk migration to all-IP.

    The platform supports a compelling set of features, including comprehensive nodal networking, ultra-high link speeds up to 2 Gbit/s, advanced adaptive coding and modulation with XPIC, and full native multi-service support for TDM and Ethernet/IP traffic.

  • DataPipe Rolls Out 3PAR Cloud-Agile Services

    3PAR, a provider of utility storage, announced that managed global IT service provider and 3PAR Cloud-Agile partner DataPipe now offers differentiated virtual private array (VPA) and disaster recovery (DR) services as part of their Stratosphere cloud services, which are powered by 3PAR Utility Storage.

    DataPipe is the first member of the 3PAR Cloud-Agile program to offer its customers 3PAR Cloud-Agile ASSURED and 3PAR Cloud-Agile SECURED services through this program.

    As the company claims, 3PAR Cloud-Agile ASSURED powers DataPipe’s delivery of highly available and flexible business continuance solutions which are easy to use, quick to implement, and require minimal effort to maintain. 3PAR Cloud-Agile ASSURED leverages 3PAR Remote Copy and gives DataPipe the ability to offer cost-effective, flexible, and robust remote data replication, DR, and autonomic data backup to end users.

    “With 3PAR and VMware powering Stratosphere, we have been able to extend the value we deliver to our customers and enhance the security, agility, and cost-efficiency of the services we offer,” said Michael Parks, Chief Technology Officer for DataPipe.

    He assures that with the new 3PAR cloud service his company offers isolated, secure virtual private array services for performance and security levels previously only available with dedicated hardware, but with a cost structure approaching that of a shared service offering.

    DataPipe delivers VPA services as a value-added “shared” hosting option with the security of a dedicated environment. 3PAR Cloud-Agile: SECURED employs the combination of 3PAR Utility Storage and 3PAR Virtual Domains to give DataPipe the ability to deliver high performance levels while providing secure segregation within a shared, virtualized hardware platform that is protected from unauthorized access, monitoring, and control.

    “As cloud computing has gained momentum, we’ve seen the spotlight mainly cast on virtual private servers and security concerns at the virtual server level,” said Jeff Boles, Senior Analyst and Director at Taneja Group.

    “However, virtual private server deployments are only as secure as the storage foundation upon which they are built. 3PAR Cloud-Agile SECURE enables providers like DataPipe to offer VPA services that ensure security, segregation, and data integrity from the ground up, to complement the security that VMware delivers at the virtual server level,” he added.

    According to Parag Patel, vice president of VMware, combining VMware vSphere 4 with private and resilient 3PAR Utility Storage, service providers like DataPipe are able to meet the demand for security and high availability from their customers who utilize services delivered via the cloud.

    DataPipe provides custom solutions for complex internet-facing infrastructures, proactively managing security, monitoring, storage, datacenter operations, servers, and applications including database administration and software stack.

  • Q2: Nokia Retains Lead but Apple and RIM Are Rising Fast

    “Smart phones continue to shine as one of the brightest spots of the technology industry, with shipments growing despite the global recession,” says the recent Canalys’ report on the Q2 key smartphone market trends.

    “Innovation in interfaces, design, applications and promotion continue to excite consumers, which, in contrast to the PC industry, is helping to keep average selling prices stable. The rise in data traffic seen by mobile network operators is finally generating a return on their investment in broadband capacity and will drive further infrastructure expenditure,” the autors predict.

    According to the report, Apple has established industry leadership in terms of industrial design, ease of use and application availability, offering one of the most desirable devices on the market and setting a standard that rivals are striving to emulate. It reinforced its position during the quarter by launching the iPhone 3GS.

    Pete Cunningham, Canalys senior analyst, said, “Apple has revolutionised the smart phone sector, leapfrogging more experienced rivals. The competition must move much faster to close the gap in terms of functionality and design and at the same time try to target Apple’s weak spots. These are primarily related to its business model, which requires premium upfront pricing, high cost of ownership and, in many countries, a restricted operator line-up.”

    The research shows that the competition is building in a number of different forms. RIM has successfully expanded its product portfolio to include a wide selection of devices and interfaces that appeal to a range of customers at different price points. This includes 2.5G models that are smaller, lighter, lower cost and have better battery life than most of its 3G rivals. Palm has received widespread acclaim following the launch of the Pre in the US during Q2.

    Chris Jones, Canalys VP and principal analyst, added, “As a relatively small company, Palm has shown what creative leadership and focused investment can achieve. By going back to its roots and developing its own operating system, it has produced an innovative and differentiated product. Investors have responded to this, with its share price growing over 70% this year. Palm still has plenty of challenges ahead – it must find the resources to launch the Pre on the global stage, while continuing to fund development of its product pipeline.”

    Another emerging trend is the rise of the Google-led Android OS, which is already taking 3% of the smart phone market. Success so far has been driven through HTC, but with many other vendors, including Samsung, joining the fray, volumes are expected to increase substantially. The free licence model, tight integration with Google applications and the potential for a high degree of vendor and operator customisation are all benefits attracting industry participants.

    Jones continued, “It is noteworthy how differently the smart phone business is developing compared to the PC industry. PCs are a highly standardised, commoditised platform, where one model is often largely indistinguishable from another. Consequently, PC price points are incredibly low, which is good for customers, but the industry lacks excitement. Smart phones are different – Nokia, Apple, RIM and Palm have all achieved success by developing their own operating systems and delivering distinct devices and interfaces. Android customisation will further add to this diverse mix. As a result, new smart phones are front page news around the world."

    “The main loser has been Microsoft’s highly standardised Windows Mobile platform. Its smart phone market share has now fallen below 10% and the trend is likely to continue as many of its OEM partners, including HTC, Motorola and Palm, are focusing investment on other platforms,” he conclude.

    In addition to smart phones, netbooks are the other hot area within the technology industry in this difficult year. The competition and opportunities created between these platforms will be discussed at the Canalys Mobility Forum, taking place on November 17, near London’s Heathrow Airport.

  • IFA 2009: the World’s Leading Trade Fair for Consumer Electronics is Coming

    IFA 2009 – the business event no. 1 for consumer electronics – will take place in Berlin from September 4-9.

    IFA 2009 will be the second time that the leading brands in consumer electronics and in the household appliance industry have been displayed together.

    This year over one thousand companies will be occupying 200,000 square metres of display space!

    For one week international media interest will be concentrated on IFA. Also the Biz-News journalists will be reporting directly from Berlin covering the latest in CE products.

    Apart from providing the hot news, we’ll be video interviewing the representatives of all the major and interesting companies, which will demonstrate us their newest products and share with as their opinions and expectations related to the CE market.

    In 2009 the main industry topics at IFA will be devoted to HDTV & wireless communications, innovative audio and smart interfaces, as well as ecology and lifestyle.

    Traditionally a large number of new technologies and products make their debut at IFA.

    Here are the expected CE highlights for IFA 2009:

    A new sat nav from Falk
    The new F12 high-end sat nav from Falk features a larger storage capacity, high-speed processor, realistic building images, the ability to input special destinations by voice command or clicking on the screen, and is due to become the new flagship of Falk’s sat nav range.

    T-Mobile – second-generation Android Smartphone, more mobile TV and mobile navigation
    T-Mobile is presenting impressive mobile communication, information and entertainment innovations at IFA. These include the T-Mobile G2 Touch, the second-generation Android-based mobile phone, which can be customised to a virtually unlimited degree. Android Market™ applications allow users to add numerous functions of their choice.

    The Navigon MobileNavigator for iPhone
    The long list of technical specifications includes Reality View Pro, a lane assistant (Pro), a speed assistant, daytime and night-time operating modes, and an option for displaying POIs en route, thus setting the MobileNavigator apart from its competitors.

    VideoWeb S500 – a world first for the first hybrid HDTV satellite receiver
    VideoWeb is presenting the first receiver to combine HDTV broadcasting, internet TV and numerous internet applications in a single unit. The VideoWeb S500 is a high-performance HDTV computer which is constantly updated over the internet with the latest applications and product additions.

    LG entire screen LED backlighting
    At this year’s IFA LG is presenting its new Slim Direct LED technology which guarantees outstanding picture quality on new LCD TV sets, despite extremely slim lines. Covering the entire rear surface of the screen, the advantage of these LEDs over conventional Edge LED technology is that that they can be partially dimmed. So-called local dimming increases the contrast and reduces power consumption. LG’s new LH9500 will be one of the highlights at IFA displaying this technology.

    New TV stars from Philips
    The 9700 series once again sets standards in terms of picture definition, contrast and image dynamics. Featuring a characteristic design and brushed aluminium front they look good in every size (40, 46, and 52 inches). All models have a hybrid tuner for receiving analogue cable, DVB-T and DVB-C with CI+ broadcasts. Picture quality is outstanding with the Full HD screen (1920x1080p), while 200 Hertz Clear LCD technology and the Perfect Pixel HD Engine ensure images are detailed, clear and razor sharp.
    .
    SV series from Toshiba – fully automatic high-end TV sets
    With its SV models, Toshiba is introducing its first television sets with LED backlighting, which, by combining picture quality, ease of operation and eco-friendliness ensure that viewers can enjoy a premium viewing experience.

    HD+ Ready receivers from Humax
    Digital equipment specialists and HDTV pioneers Humax are eager for scheduled new HDTV transmissions from SES Astra and private broadcasters to begin. When HD+ is launched in late 2009 Humax will naturally be supplying innovative und easy-to-operate new sets.

    New TV sets from Sharp
    With Sharp, compared with the alternative method of installing LEDs on the sides, the LEDs covering the rear surface of the LCD provide an even lighting effect and more intense colour. However, LED backlighting technology is not the reason why the two new AQUOS series have received the accolade of “best picture”.

    New headphones from Sennheiser
    The heart of the HD 800 is a completely new sound transducer and an innovative headphone design. The looks of the HD 800 are the perfect match for its outstanding sound quality. Uncluttered styling and a black and silver finish make this a genuine designer object.

    Mitsubishi Electric’s new full HD beamer
    Mitsubishi Electric is presenting two new home cinema beamers at IFA, the HC6800 and HC3800. Both of these newly developed products offer Full HD viewing quality, and with their high light intensity are suitable for use not only in dark a projection room but also in the living room.

    Loewe Reference Home Entertainment System
    Even before the start of IFA journalists were rating the new Loewe Reference Home Entertainment System as the ultimate in design. The Loewe Reference 52 Full HD+ 200 flat-screen TV exceeds all expectations. Featuring a massive 52-inch screen and measuring barely 60 millimetres in depth its sheer presence is impressive.

    …and many more.

    Be with us at IFA 2009 from September 4th!

  • IFA 2009: The Countdown Is On!

    IFA 2009 – the business event no. 1 for consumer electronics – will take place in Berlin from September 4-9.

    IFA 2009 will be the second time that the leading brands in consumer electronics and in the household appliance industry have been displayed together.

    This year over one thousand companies will be occupying 200,000 square metres of display space!

    For one week international media interest will be concentrated on IFA. Also the Biz-News journalists will be reporting directly from Berlin covering the latest in CE products.

    Apart from providing the hot news, we’ll be video interviewing the representatives of all the major and interesting companies, which will demonstrate us their newest products and share with as their opinions and expectations related to the CE market.

    In 2009 the main industry topics at IFA will be devoted to HDTV & wireless communications, innovative audio and smart interfaces, as well as ecology and lifestyle.

    Traditionally a large number of new technologies and products make their debut at IFA.

    Here are the expected CE highlights for IFA 2009:

    VideoWeb S500 – a world first for the first hybrid HDTV satellite receiver
    VideoWeb is presenting the first receiver to combine HDTV broadcasting, internet TV and numerous internet applications in a single unit. The VideoWeb S500 is a high-performance HDTV computer which is constantly updated over the internet with the latest applications and product additions.

    LG entire screen LED backlighting
    At this year’s IFA LG is presenting its new Slim Direct LED technology which guarantees outstanding picture quality on new LCD TV sets, despite extremely slim lines. Covering the entire rear surface of the screen, the advantage of these LEDs over conventional Edge LED technology is that that they can be partially dimmed. So-called local dimming increases the contrast and reduces power consumption. LG’s new LH9500 will be one of the highlights at IFA displaying this technology.

    New TV stars from Philips
    The 9700 series once again sets standards in terms of picture definition, contrast and image dynamics. Featuring a characteristic design and brushed aluminium front they look good in every size (40, 46, and 52 inches). All models have a hybrid tuner for receiving analogue cable, DVB-T and DVB-C with CI+ broadcasts. Picture quality is outstanding with the Full HD screen (1920x1080p), while 200 Hertz Clear LCD technology and the Perfect Pixel HD Engine ensure images are detailed, clear and razor sharp.
    .
    SV series from Toshiba – fully automatic high-end TV sets
    With its SV models, Toshiba is introducing its first television sets with LED backlighting, which, by combining picture quality, ease of operation and eco-friendliness ensure that viewers can enjoy a premium viewing experience.

    HD+ Ready receivers from Humax
    Digital equipment specialists and HDTV pioneers Humax are eager for scheduled new HDTV transmissions from SES Astra and private broadcasters to begin. When HD+ is launched in late 2009 Humax will naturally be supplying innovative und easy-to-operate new sets.

    New TV sets from Sharp
    With Sharp, compared with the alternative method of installing LEDs on the sides, the LEDs covering the rear surface of the LCD provide an even lighting effect and more intense colour. However, LED backlighting technology is not the reason why the two new AQUOS series have received the accolade of “best picture”.

    New headphones from Sennheiser
    The heart of the HD 800 is a completely new sound transducer and an innovative headphone design. The looks of the HD 800 are the perfect match for its outstanding sound quality. Uncluttered styling and a black and silver finish make this a genuine designer object.

    Mitsubishi Electric’s new full HD beamer
    Mitsubishi Electric is presenting two new home cinema beamers at IFA, the HC6800 and HC3800. Both of these newly developed products offer Full HD viewing quality, and with their high light intensity are suitable for use not only in dark a projection room but also in the living room.

    Loewe Reference Home Entertainment System
    Even before the start of IFA journalists were rating the new Loewe Reference Home Entertainment System as the ultimate in design. The Loewe Reference 52 Full HD+ 200 flat-screen TV exceeds all expectations. Featuring a massive 52-inch screen and measuring barely 60 millimetres in depth its sheer presence is impressive.

    A new sat nav from Falk
    The new F12 high-end sat nav from Falk features a larger storage capacity, high-speed processor, realistic building images, the ability to input special destinations by voice command or clicking on the screen, and is due to become the new flagship of Falk’s sat nav range.

    T-Mobile – second-generation Android Smartphone, more mobile TV and mobile navigation
    T-Mobile is presenting impressive mobile communication, information and entertainment innovations at IFA. These include the T-Mobile G2 Touch, the second-generation Android-based mobile phone, which can be customised to a virtually unlimited degree. Android Market™ applications allow users to add numerous functions of their choice.

    The Navigon MobileNavigator for iPhone
    The long list of technical specifications includes Reality View Pro, a lane assistant (Pro), a speed assistant, daytime and night-time operating modes, and an option for displaying POIs en route, thus setting the MobileNavigator apart from its competitors.

    …and many more.

    Be with us at IFA 2009 from September 4th!

  • Pillar First to Deliver 2TB SATA to Enterprise Customers

    Pillar Data Systems, the provider of Application-Aware storage systems, is the first network storage company to make 2 terabyte SATA drives available to the enterprise market.

    The drives have been introduced in a frame of the company’s initiative to “Stop Storage Waste” and will be available as a part of the its Axiom storage system.

    The new drives push the Axiom’s overall usable capacity to over 1.6 petabytes per system, while driving down overall power consumption by 50 percent and space consumption by 2X.

    According to the company, Pillar is the only storage vendor to guarantee 80-percent utilization on its Axiom storage system. “No other open systems storage array on the market today can deliver that level of disk utilization without performance degradation,” they assure.

    The Pillar Axiom differentiates performance based on application priority, what Pillar calls Application Aware Storage. The company claims that this system “can dramatically reduce floor space and energy demands, and lower Total Cost of Ownership by up to 50 percent.”

    Additionally, the Axiom system performed the fastest rebuild times in the industry, according to an independent analyst report. In April the Demartek’s study showed the Pillar Axiom 500 performed the fastest drive rebuilds – up to 71-percent faster – with minimal impact to application performance, when compared to competitors EMC (EMC CX3-40) and Network Appliance (NetApp FAS3050c.)

    “As drive sizes continue to increase, more storage will be wasted unless you have a storage architecture that can utilize the full capacity with no performance degradation,” said Bob Maness, Vice President of Pillar Data Systems.

    “Our latest innovations around SSDs and now 2TB drives will make it even easier for end-users to increase capacity and performance, while improving the overall efficiency of their system,” he added.

  • Nokia Unveils N900 – The New Company’s Flagship Handset

    Nokia has finally launched the N900 – running on the new Maemo 5 latest company’s smartphone, which has evolved from Nokia’s previous generation of internet tablets.

    “The open source, Linux-based Maemo software delivers a PC-like experience on a handset-sized device” says the company’s announcement.

    Nokia N900 packs an ARM Cortex-A8 600 MHz processor, up to 1GB of application memory and 3D graphics accelerator with OpenGL ES 2.0 support. The result is, as the company promises, “PC-like multitasking, allowing many applications to run simultaneously.”

    New Nokia comes with a 3.5-inch 800×480 pixel touchscreen, the full physical slide-out QWERTY, internet connectivity with 10/2 HSPA and WLAN, Wi-Fi 54Mbps data transfer, Mozilla-based browser and full Adobe Flash 9.4 support.

    To get the most out of the 5MP camera, Carl Zeiss optics, dual LED flash and 800 × 480 resolution video recording, Maemo software and the N900 come with a new tag cloud user interface.

    The device also features GPS with pre-installed Ovi Maps, Bluetooth 2.1, FM transmitter, TV-out and 1320mAh battery.

    The panoramic homescreen can be fully personalized with shortcuts, widgets and applications. Maemo software updates happen automatically over the internet.

    N900 has 32GB of storage, which is expandable up to 48GB via a microSD card.

    "The Nokia N900 shows where we are going with Maemo and we’ll continue to work with the community to push the software forward. What we have with Maemo is something that is fusing the power of the computer, the internet and the mobile phone, and it is great to see that it is evolving in exciting ways," said Anssi Vanjoki, Executive Vice President of Nokia.

    Nokia N900 will be available in select markets from October 2009 with an estimated retail price of EUR 500 and will be displayed at Nokia World, Stuttgart, on September 2.

  • Blu-ray Won’t Replace DVD as the Primary Drive for PCs

    Despite a rapid rise in the sales of consumer Blu-ray players, a fall in their prices and an increase in the number of high-definition movie titles, Blu-ray drives in PC systems have been left singing the blues, according to iSuppli.

    iSuppli’s recent report says that by 2013, Blu-ray drives will be found in only 16.3 percent of PCs shipped, up from 3.6 percent in 2009.

    “BDs won’t be replacing DVDs as the primary optical drive in PC systems through at least the year 2013,” said Michael Yang, senior analyst for storage and mobile memory at iSuppli.

    “They eventually will find success, but during the next five years, that success will be limited in the PC segment.

    According to Yang, the two main reasons hampering the adoption of Blu-ray drives in PCs include costs as well as the lack of a library of movies that justifies the need for consumers to move to a different drive in their PCs.

    Cost, Yang said, is the primary impediment. Given the high price of the product, consumers are unwilling to pay the extra money in order to obtain a high-definition drive. “The cost issue is amplified by the fact that the library of content is so small that there really isn’t a reason for users to switch at the moment,” Yang added.

    And while this is changing and studios are rolling out more Blu-ray content every week, there remains a long way to go.

    A tertiary factor worth mentioning is the difficulty of supplanting an incumbent storage medium in PCs—a distinction currently held by the DVD-RW drive.

    “From a historical perspective, each of the successful storage media in PCs has gained popularity only when content became available and when consumers actually understood that what they were getting was easy to use and worth the cost,” the report says.

    For instance, the once-ubiquitous 3.5-inch floppy drive had a lifespan of 15-plus years, surviving well past its prime. Eventually, it was replaced by CD-ROMs—which, in turn, gave way to DVD drives.

    A changeover occurred and the floppy disk finally supplanted when it became apparent that CD-ROMs not only offered a distinct advantage but were also the medium being adopted by everything from music to games to movies.

    Such a pivotal moment, Yang said, has not yet arrived for the Blu-ray drive. “It’s undeniable that Blu-ray delivers a higher-definition picture, better sound quality and larger storage space for home entertainment,” he remarked.

    “However, these benefits may have little or no value when viewing the content on a smaller desktop or laptop PC screen and using poor speakers.”

    Until BD costs decline and user knowledge increases, the technology will continue to struggle – the report concludes. 

  • Spectra Logic Launches Next Level Tape Storage Solution

    Spectra Logic, a provider of data protection solutions, has launched what it claims is the industry’s first integrated system for deduplication, remote site replication and automated migration to tape.

    Demand for integrated management of tiered backup solutions is increasing as more companies consider using deduplication in their data protection environments.

    Spectra’s solution integrates disk-based deduplication to tape by providing policy-based, integrated remote site replication and automated migration of replicated data to tape.

    According to the company, Spectra’s nTier Deduplication is “fast, scalable and easy-to-manage.” As a fully scalable deduplication appliance for small and medium-sized organizations, nTier Deduplication offers the ability to add capacity to installed appliances as needed.

    nTier Deduplication achieves increased deduplication efficiency by sharing deduplication catalogs among remote sites. Users no longer need to establish multiple policies across numerous sites or purchase separate software to move replicated deduplication data to a tape archive.

    “As data volumes grow, IT Administrators are continually challenged to protect everything they need to protect,” said John Webster, senior analyst at Illuminata.

    “The integration and policy-based automation of deduplication with other data protection processes available with nTier Deduplication helps IT administrators more easily and quickly meet their growing data protection obligations.”

    nTier Deduplication can be scaled up to 60TBs of raw capacity, without interrupting data availability and without requiring any migration of data.

    The simple field capacity upgrades are available as needed and do not require a disruptive unit replacement. The solution eliminates the need for additional equipment, multiple policies or third-party software.

    nTier Deduplication runs up speeds up to 900MB per second, and the company assures that it’s compatible with all major backup software applications. Base pricing for an nTier500 v80 Deduplication appliance starts at $23,500.

    At the same time Spectra has announced the general availability of its latest storage management software – BlueScale 10.6 that offers high availability features for the enterprise that were previously only available on disk.

    Integrated into Spectra T-Series tape libraries, BlueScale 10.6 delivers the first “hot spare” drive available for tape libraries, proactive notification of potential hardware failure with Hardware Lifecycle Management (HLM) and auto-discovery of new media through its Media Lifecycle Management (MLM) enhancements.

    The company says that “the intelligent remote management capabilities allow customers to monitor the health of media and hardware, alleviate unscheduled site visits, and reduce costs and resource requirements.”

    BlueScale 10.6 is available as a free upgrade to existing customers with current support contracts.