Business News Holding

Tag: hardware-and-technology

  • Sun Expands Unified Storage Family


    Sun Microsystems is extending its Unified Storage family with an array that allows solid state disk (SSD) drives and hard disk drives to be used in the same chassis and under the same management interface.

    The Sun Storage 7310 is a comprehensive, Flash-powered storage system that includes leverages Hybrid Storage Pool capabilities.

    In addition to the maximum 64GB of DRAM cache, it can be configured with up to an additional 600GB of SSD cache (1.2TB for cluster version) for enhanced application performance.

    John Fowler, executive vice-president, Systems, Sun Microsystems, said the Storage 7310 opens up a door for customers to more widely deploy high availability clustered storage and experience the power and economic benefits of Unified Storage.

    Other features within the Sun Storage 7310 storage system include:

    • Three times (3x) less power consumption than traditional storage solutions
    • Scalability up from 12TB to 96TB capacity with no interruption to system availability
    • High network throughput with four 1Gb Ethernet ports per controller and optional 10Gb connectivity
    • Single controller offers two PCI slots for additional network or tape-backup connectivity for easy plug and play integration

    The Storage 7310 is available immediately and costs from USD $40,165

  • HP Launches New SMB Storage Offerings, Cuts Staff


    Hewlett-Packard is to introduce several new storage, virtualization, PC, printing and services offerings in an effort to capture a larger share of the Small and Midsize Business (SMB) market.

    The move comes as the company begins consultations on cutting nearly six thousand European jobs, including 850 in the UK and Germany.

    Many of these are at its plant in Erskine, Renfrewshire, because production of servers and storage devices is moving to the Czech Republic.

    HP had warned that more job cuts were coming when it announced second quarter results recently. The company made profits of USD $1.72bn on sales of USD $27.4bn in the three months ended April.

    The new offerings announced this week are part of the Hewlett-Packard Total Care initiative for SMBs, aimed at providing a full range of products, services, tools, training, financing and recycling.

    On the storage side, HP unveiled a new SMB line of appliances and expanded its existing MSA family.

    This includes the StorageWorks X1000 family of appliances, which brings together both file storage and application-based storage.

    The X1000 line replaces HP’s entry-level All-in-One storage appliances. It is based on the vendor’s latest-generation ProLiant G6 server platform, and includes Microsoft’s new Windows Storage Server 2008 Standard x64 Edition operating system.

    Another newcomer is the StorageWorks X3000, a gateway appliance that connects to other storage capacity on the back end to add iSCSI and file services capabilities to existing storage arrays.

    HP also unveiled two new models in its MSA 2000 family of storage arrays. The StorageWorks 2000i includes an iSCSI interface, and the StorageWorks 2000sa includes a SAS interface.

    HP also is helping smaller businesses with new virtualization bundles that include both server and storage technology.

    The bundles include a combination of ProLiant servers, LeftHand software for building virtual storage appliances, VMware software for building virtual servers, ProCurve switches and HP’s Insight management software.

  • Corevault Issues Guidelines on Disaster Data Protection


    CoreVault has released guidelines to ensure organizational safety and expedient data Relevant Products/Services recovery in the event a catastrophe strikes.

    The managed backup and recovery solutions provider said that forward-thinking companies in severe-weather-prone area should take maximum precautions when preparing for disruptions caused by tornadoes and other natural disasters.

    The US experiences more tornadoes each year than any other country in the world.

    In 2008 alone, there were 1,691 confirmed tornadoes reported in the US, second only to 2004 with 1,817 confirmations.

    Tornadoes cost roughly USD $2 billion in damages and 125 lives lost each year.

    Jeff Cato, vice president of Marketing for CoreVault, said catastrophic storms affect businesses in the United States each year.

    He said this meant companies must take a more proactive stand on protecting their data in a more secure and off-site manner, especially those in high risk areas.

    "Preparation and proper planning is the best defense against extended downtime in these situations and having a proper disaster recovery plan in place can make the difference between keeping or losing one’s business," he said.

    According to Disaster Recovery Planning: Managing Risk and Catastrophe in Information Systems, companies that experience a computer outage for more than 10 days will never fully recover financially, and 50 per cent of companies suffering such a loss will be out of business within five years.

    Five things organizations of any size can do to ensure business continuity in the event of a catastrophe are:

    • Develop a written disaster recovery plan that identifies systems and assets critical to business continuity
    • Establish a disaster recovery team with assignments and training that leverages employee strengths in order to address the difficult and stressful task of rebuilding operations after a disaster
    • Identify a physical recovery location to restore business operations should the organization’s physical location become unusable
    • Update and test disaster recovery plan processes on a regular basis like performing recovery drills to assure reinstatement of both physical and digital assets. In addition, testing the functionality of IT systems is also critical
    • Protect business database Relevant Products/Services, email and all important Electronically Stored Information (ESI) off-site at a trusted managed backup and recovery provider’s information vault

  • PANDUIT Launches Fiber Optic System To Address Data Center Demands


    PANDUIT has introduced next-generation, high-speed data transport capabilities for the data center.

    The high performance, fiber optic system to connect server, storage, and network systems is aimed at meeting ever-increasing bandwidth and application requirements.

    Rick Pimpinella, fiber research manager at PANDUIT, said that as virtualization, consolidation, and convergence initiatives continue to grow more pervasive, so do the demands placed on the physical infrastructure.

    He said PANDUIT was launching its OM4 Fiber Optic System to meet the needs for faster processing speeds and greater storage capabilities, as well as long-reach and cross-connect deployments.

    "As a result of our continued research into multimode fiber performance and our active participation in standards committees, we can now offer the next progression in high performance optical connectivity," he said.

    "PANDUIT is able to offer a fiber system that exceeds the bandwidth specification being proposed in the draft standard for OM4."

    Pimpinella said the company’s OM4 Fiber Optic System offers high performance and seamless integration of 10 Gb/s Ethernet and 8Gb/s Fiber Channel network capabilities and beyond, to minimize physical infrastructure risk in the data center.

    He said it integrates multi-fiber low loss MTP and single fiber connectivity solutions with premium grade high performance laser optimized multimode fiber (with a minimum EMB of 5000 MHz·km) to deliver consistent performance and reliability of critical systems.

    The modular system includes pre-terminated cassettes, interconnect assemblies, equipment cords and harnesses.

  • Positive Signs For Interoperability Between VOIP Systems


    It would appear that efforts to address problems of compatability and interoperability between the various VoIP protocols, packages and services are making some headway.

    For users – and especially small businesses – the issue has been of growing concern as the popularity of VoIP has led to a huge increase in the number of VoIP services.

    As Erica Stewart points out in her NetSquared blog, these potential users may want to adopt VoIP for their communication needs – but compatibility issues prevent them from fully entrusting their operations to such a service.

    However, she goes on to say that developments have been made since Stefan Oberg, Skype’s Vice-President for Business, announced the launch of a development program with Digium (the developers of Asterisk) last autumn.

    The partnership aims to incorporate Skype with the Asterisk system in a way that will allow the Asterisk PBX handle Skype calls more clearly and efficiently.

    Stewart says clients using this service now have the capability to make and receive Skype calls from within their existing Asterisk software and hardware systems.

    She says the partnership between the two well-known VoIP providers points to the growing interoperability between the various VoIP systems.

    "A small business owner can become more at ease in knowing that despite the multitude of both open source and proprietary voice codecs available in the market, there are efforts to be able to connect them to one another," she says.

    "These moves towards partnerships and idea and technology sharing, only bodes well for the goal of interoperability between Voice over Internet Protocol systems."

  • Skype Update With Screen Sharing – and Reinstated Extras


    Skype has released a beta version of its software for Windows which includes a screen sharing feature.

    The Skype 4.1 release also reinstates some extras that were removed in the previous update – much to the disappointment of many subscribers.

    With the screen sharing feature, which is view-only, users get the choice to record the full screen or a region.

    It is also possible to shift between full and partial screen modes. With one-way viewing, the "guest" sees only the screen selected.

    This addition moves Skype into the realm of low-cost international business communications, although it is limited to two users – host and guest.

    It would seem logical for the screen sharing function to be expanded in the future to group calls.

    Screen sharing was made available to Mac users in the last beta version of the Mac client in January – so Mac users now have the possibility of sharing screens with PC users.

    The Windows beta has also reintroduced two features dropped from the 4.0 version – birthday reminder alerts and contacts-sharing.

    The former simply send an automatic reminder on a contact’s birthday if this detail is available on their profile.

    Skype 4.1 also reinstated are a screen reader accessibility tool and a contacts import function from Gmail, Windows Live Hotmail, AOL and LinkedIn.

  • JVC Launches Full HD LCD Monitor Targeted at Digital SLR Users


    JVC is launching a super slim 42-inch LCD TV monitor that features a color space that is wider than a typical HDTV’s.

    The company says this effectively means the JVC Xiview LT-42WX70 has established a new category in flat panel TV design.

    It is being targeted at digital imaging professionals and enthusiasts using high-end digital SLR cameras.

    JVC claims the set allows them for the first time to see the subtle colors, details and textures of their images faithfully reproduced.

    According to a company statement, the monitor features expanded color space capacity encompassing 100 per cent of HDTV broadcasting’s (sRGB.904) color space.

    It also has a coverage rate of 96 per cent for Adobe RGB — a color space for still photographs taken on high-definition digital SLR cameras.

    This allows it to provide accurate reproduction of both video and still photographs.

    Depending on the source signal – video or stills – the user selects a color mode from among Wide (the TV’s color space), Normal (ITU-R BT.709; HDTV standards), x.v.Color (xvYCC extended gamut), sRGB (same primaries as HDTV) and Adobe RGB.

    The LT-42WX70 also features 52 picture-quality adjustment properties for tweaking both still and video images source-by-source to the exact colors and tones the user prefers.

    In addition, JVC’s GENESSA Picture Engine produces video images without blur, color bleed or noise for clear images with smooth movement.

    The JVC LT-42WX70 is available now and is priced at USD $2,399.95.

  • New HDMI Cable Adds Internet Data to Video and Audio


    A new version of the High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) cable has been announced by the industry alliance responsible for licensing the specification.

    HDMI Licensing said the upgraded 1.4 version of HDMI will make it easier to connect Internet-connected HD video devices to TVs and other appliances.

    The new cable will be able to transfer Internet data as well as video and audio data – something that the existing version isn’t able to do.

    It will mean users can get rid of the Ethernet cables connecting every web-connected device. It transfers data at up to 100 megabits per second.

    According to market research firm In-Stat, over 394 million HDMI-enabled devices are expected to ship in 2009, with an installed base of 1 billion devices.

    By the end of 2009 100 per cent of digital televisions are expected to have at least one HDMI input.

    Among the other improvements offered by the new HDMI version are networking capabilities with Ethernet connectivity and an Audio Return Channel to enable upstream audio connections via the HDMI cable.

    Steve Venuti, president of HDMI Licensing, said the the 1.4 specification will support some of the most exciting and powerful near-term innovations, such as Ethernet connectivity and 3D formats.

    "Additionally, we are going to broaden our solution by providing a smaller connector for portable devices and a connection system specified for automobiles, as we see both more and different devices adopting the HDMI technology," he said.

    Venuti said consumers will also see new HDMI cables introduced to the market.

    In order to take advantage of the HDMI Ethernet Channel, consumers will need to purchase either a Standard HDMI cable with Ethernet, or a High Speed HDMI cable with Ethernet.

    Consumers connecting an external device to an in-vehicle HDMI-enabled HD system will need the new Automotive HDMI cable.

    Functions offered by the HDMI 1.4 specification include:

    • HDMI Ethernet Channel: The HDMI 1.4 specification will add a data channel to the HDMI cable and will enable high-speed bi-directional communication. Connected devices that include this feature will be able to send and receive data via 100 Mb/sec Ethernet, making them instantly ready for any IP-based application.
    • The HDMI Ethernet Channel will allow an Internet-enabled HDMI device to share its Internet connection with other HDMI devices without the need for a separate Ethernet cable. The new feature will also provide the connection platform to allow HDMI-enabled devices to share content between devices.
    • Audio Return Channel: The new specification will add an Audio Return Channel that will reduce the number of cables required to deliver audio upstream for processing and playback. In cases where HDTVs are directly receiving audio and video content, this new Audio Return Channel allows the HDTV to send the audio stream to the A/V receiver over the HDMI cable, eliminating the need for an extra cable.
    • 3D Over HDMI: The 1.4 version of the specification will define common 3D formats and resolutions for HDMI-enabled devices. The specification will standardize the input/output portion of the home 3D system and will specify up to dual-stream 1080p resolution.
    • 4K x 2K Resolution Support: The new specification will enable HDMI devices to support high-definition (HD) resolutions four times beyond the resolution of 1080p. Support for 4K x 2K will allow the HDMI interface to transmit content at the same resolution as many digital theaters. Formats supported include:  3840×2160 24Hz/25Hz/30Hz and 4096×2160 24Hz
    • Expanded Support For Color Spaces: HDMI technology now supports color spaces designed specifically for digital still cameras. By supporting sYCC601, Adobe RGB and AdobeYCC601, HDMI-enabled display devices will be capable of reproducing more accurate life-like colors when connected to a digital still camera.
    • Micro HDMI Connector: The Micro HDMI Connector is a significantly smaller 19-pin connector that supports up to 1080p resolutions for portable devices. This new connector is approximately 50 per cent smaller than the size of the existing HDMI Mini Connector.
    • Automotive Connection System: The Automotive Connection System is a cabling specification designed to be used as the basis for in-vehicle HD content distribution. The HDMI 1.4 specification will provide a solution designed to meet the rigors and environmental issues commonly found in automobiles, such as heat, vibration and noise. Using the Automotive Connection System, automobile manufactures will now have a viable solution for distributing HD content within the car

    The HDMI specification 1.4 will be available for download no later than June 30, 2009.

  • NEC Upconverting Chip Promises Sharper Full HD Image


    NEC Electronics has announced a new chip that reduces blurring when SD images and video are expanded and displayed in 1920 x 1080 resolution HDTVs.

    The µPD9280GM is also capable of supporting one billion colors (30-bits color depths – or "Deep Color"), which enhances color vividness and accuracy of display, according to the company.

    Another feature of the super-resolution ASSP is an increased operating frequency of 150 megahertz (MHz), compared to the previous 108 MHz.

    This enables the advanced processing of image data and boosts images with higher resolution even on full HD television broadcasts.

    The µPD9280GM’s super-resolution technology also enables high-resolution processing with just one frame of image data.

    This reduced processing load eliminates the need for expensive, external high-capacity memory.

    Conventional image-resolution technologies use a multiframe technique to process image data, which require large-capacity external memory – making it expensive and difficult to create hardware capable of real-time processing.

    NEC said the new chip will help to better archive valuable images, data and memories previously recorded with only low-resolution technology in various applications, from security camera and automotive backup camera to medical endoscope.

    Mass production is scheduled to begin in July 2009, starting from 100,000 units per month, and expected to reach approximately 1,000,000 units by 2010.

  • Microsoft Confirms Zune HD with XBox Live Tie-In


    Microsoft is to launch the Zune HD this autumn and the device will have access to TV, movies and games through the Xbox Live Video Marketplace.

    Essentially being lined up as a rival to Apple’s iPod Touch, the new PMP will have a built-in HD Radio receiver, an OLED touch screen interface, wi-fi, a multi-touch UI for Internet Explorer.

    The new Zune will feature a 16:9 widescreen format display (480 x 272 resolution) and have HD video output to allow video to be played on an HDTV.

    While the new features are certainly an improvement on the original Zune, it will be interesting to see whether consumers like the fact a Zune dock has also to be bought for outputting HD video.

    The HDMI audiovisual docking station connects to an HDTV in 720p.

    The apparent lack of an app store also seems to be a potential stumbling block for the Microsoft device.