Business News Holding

Tag: hardware-and-technology

  • Overland Storage Launches Tape Libraries With Embedded Functionality


    Overland Storage has announced the availability of the first models in its next-generation NEO SERIES line of scalable, automated tape libraries.

    The NEO E-Series libraries, which provide embedded functionality, are geared at meeting a wide range of demanding data protection and long-term archive requirements.

    According to Overland, the new NEO E-Series enables embedded SCSI, FC and SAS connectivity, easing installations while ensuring connectivity with future interface technologies. Other embedded capabilities include:

    • Improved performance and feature support with enhanced processing power,
    • Further investment protection via Integrated partitioning,
    • More efficient data access due to improved mailslot functionality,
    • Ease of management via remote diagnostics with proactive monitoring,
    • Superior reliability and serviceability through the use of enhanced robotics, more efficient power supply and innovative library/drive interface.

    The new NEO E-Series has been designed t integrate easily with Overland’s REO SERIES of disk-based backup and recovery VTLs, Snap Server NAS appliances, ULTAMUS RAID SAN storage as well as other disk-based products.

    Ravi Pendekanti, VP of worldwide sales and marketing for Overland Storage, said the latest enhancements to the NEO tape family provided mid-range customers with affordable, scalable end-to-end data protection solutions.

    "Over the past decade, the NEO tape libraries have proven themselves as important assets in our customers’ end-to-end data protection and archiving strategies," he said.

    "Therefore, it is imperative that we continue to add new features and functionality while leveraging NEO’s highly regarded and trusted tape technology and proven product architecture."

    The NEO E-Series adds support for LTO HH tape drive technologies and direct-connect interfaces, which Overland said lowers initial expenditures and enables customers to add new capabilities over time while protecting their investments in tape-based backup and recovery.

    Overland’s NEO 2000E scales from 30 to 240 cartridges per module while the NEO 4000E scales from 60 to 240 cartridges.

    NEO2000E and 4000E can be scaled with each other in an almost limitless combination, providing a variety of capacity points to meet end user needs.

    Both tape library models are available now from Overland’s channel partners worldwide with a starting MSRP of USD $12,333.

    Robert Amatruda, research director at IDC for tape and removable storage, said the mid-range tape automation market is expected to exceed USD $1 billion in annual sales, with more than 100,000 units shipped in 2008.

    "The majority of companies still depend on tape for long-term archive and disaster recovery," he said.

    "Overland’s new NEO E-Series, with its increased functionality, should integrate well with a company’s existing disk-based solutions, and help companies meet recovery time and recovery point objectives (RTO/RPO) in both SAN and NAS environments."

  • Hundreds of TV Stations Switch To Digital Despite Delay Bill


    An estimated 40 per cent of US TV stations plan to make the switchover to digital from 17 February.

    This is despite the recent approval of a congressional bill supporting a four-month delay of the transition from analog to digital TV signals.

    The major networks – ABC, CBS and NBC – have agreed to continue broadcasting in analog and digital.

    However, the three networks only control around 100 of the total 1800 TV stations involved in the switchover.

    The Federal Communications Commission said some 681 – or 40 per cent – have either already ended analog transmission or plan to do so after 17 February.

    By deciding to become all digital, these local stations will free up some of the 700Mhz spectrum in those markets that companies such as Qualcomm have bought the rights to use.

    The switch is intended to free up spectrum for public safety and provide better television viewing.

    The US House of Representatives last week voted to delay the mandatory change by four months – to 12 June.

    President Barack Obama is expected to sign the bill into law shortly.

    But the delayed bill gave television stations, which say they’ve spent millions of dollars preparing and educating viewers of the switch-over, the option to transition to all digital on the original date.

    Supporters of the delay were concerned that 20 million mostly poor, elderly or rural households were not prepared due to a shortage of government coupons meant to defray the cost of converter boxes.

  • ZTE to Unveil Range of Smartphones at MWC 2009


    ZTE Corporation is promising to reveal a full portfolio of smartphones at the Mobile World Congress 2009 in Barcelona.

    All in all, 10 different designs are to go on show, including customised handsets for Vodafone and China Mobile.

    The highlight is expected to the the VF 1231 model, which has been developed especially for Vodafone. The smartphone is based on Windows Mobile platform and has a single chip for GSM and EDGE.

    Other handsets due to be paraded in Barcelona is the ‘XIANG’ series of 3.5G super slim HSDPA/HSUPA handsets, the e760 (a

    ZTE’s e760 smartphone

    GSM-based handset custom-made for China Mobile) and the D820/D810 (a CDMA-based handset custom-made for China Telecom).

    Also expected to go on show is the U981, a top-end smartphone that was deployed by China Mobile during the Beijing Olympic Games.

    Xiong Hui, vice president of handset division of ZTE Corporation, said the demand for smartphones has reached the point where they are no longer seen as a luxury or a strictly work-related item.

    He said ZTE recognised this trend early on and invested in developing a range of smartphones.

    "ZTE is meeting the specific requirements of leading mobile operators such as Vodafone and China Mobile, and helping smartphones become a popular item worldwide," he said.

  • ARCHOS Offers Android-powered Smartphone


    ARCHOS is to bring out a touchscreen smartphone based on the Android operating system.

    The new ultra-thin Internet Media Tablet (IMT) will have voice support and deliver "PC-like" performance, according to ARCHOS.

    It is similar to the Archos 5 media tablet – with the big differences being voice support and the Android OS.

    ARCHOS is to use Texas Instrument’s OMAP 3 platform, which will allow the processor to use less power without affecting performance.

    According to hdtv.biz-news, the device will allow playback of HD video while offline.

    Remi El-Ouazzane, vice president and general manager for TI’s OMAP platform business unit, said: "The OMAP 3 platform, with its support for the Android OS, is a powerful tool to support HD video, high quality multimedia and connectivity anytime and anywhere."

    The IMT will be ready in Q3 of this year.

    ARCHOS will give more details about the device at next week’s Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

    But a statement from the company did say that it was "looking to expand beyond portable media players to provide solutions for the converged space, where a foundation in high-quality video content delivery is a benefit".

    "ARCHOS is marrying its rich digital media history with voice functionality to tackle new markets," said the company.

    Some core features of this smartphone include:

    • 5-inch touchscreen
    • Adobe Flash and Flash Video support
    • unrestricted access to TV, movies, music
    • games
    • photos
    • TV recording and HD playback
    • 500GB storage
    • 7 hour video playback battery life
    • runs on a 3.5G 7.2Mb/s HSUPA.

  • UK Capital To Begin HD Terrestrial Tests


    London’s Crystal Palace transmitter has been fitted with equipment necessary for high definition test transmissions to be carried out.

    The modulator equipped for test transmissions using the new DVB-T2 transmission standard was provided by Enensys.

    DVB-T2 high definition tests are scheduled to begin later this month.

    Last September, the BBC successfully performed test transmissions in the UK to receive high def pictures compliant to the DVB-T2 standard using a real-time demodulator.

    It was the first time anywhere in the world that a live end-to-end DVB-T2 chain was demonstrated.

    The UK’s analog transmission ends in 2012 but some parts of the country will get the benefit of DVB-T2 as early as this year.

    The current estimate is that in 2009 there will be three HD channels available in the UK, one of which goes to the BBC and the other two going to ITV, Channel 4 or Five.

    According to DigitalSpy, those broadcasters who plan to launch HD services on multiplex B, which is being reconfigured across the UK in tandem with switchover to support HD broadcasts, will take part in the trials.

    Others taking part include transmission infrastructure provider Arqiva and set top box manufacturers Panasonic, Pace, Humax and Sony.

    Ofcom will chair a steering committee overseeing the trials.

  • ARCHOS Offers Android-powered HD Media-playing Smartphone


    ARCHOS, the company that "invented the PMP", is to bring out a touchscreen smartphone based on the Android operating system.

    The new ultra-thin Internet Media Tablet (IMT) will allow playback of HD video while offline.

    It is similar to the ARCHOS 5 media tablet – with the big differences being that it will have voice support and deliver "PC-like" performance.

    ARCHOS is to use Texas Instrument’s OMAP 3 platform, which will allow the processor to use less power without affecting performance.

    The IMT will be ready in Q3 of this year.

    ARCHOS is expected to give more details about the device at next week’s Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

    But a statement from the company did say that it was "looking to expand beyond portable media players to provide solutions for the converged space, where a foundation in high-quality video content delivery is a benefit".

    "ARCHOS is marrying its rich digital media history with voice functionality to tackle new markets," said the company.

    Some core features of this smartphone include:

    • 5-inch touchscreen
    • Adobe Flash and Flash Video support
    • unrestricted access to TV, movies, music
    • games
    • photos
    • TV recording and HD playback
    • 500GB storage
    • 7 hour video playback battery life
    • runs on a 3.5G 7.2Mb/s HSUPA.

    ARCHOS released the first pocket-sized HD-based MP3 player with the Jukebox 6000 in 2000.

    The company claims to have invented the portable media player in 2003 and was the first to bring television recording, wireless and touch screens to PMPs.

  • TringMe Offers VoIP Calls From Silverlight Apps


    TringMe has launched a widget that allows users to make VoIP calls from Microsoft Silverlight applications. 

    Silverlight doesn’t allow access to a mic – a problem for VoIP calls – so TringMe used a backdoor Flash widget to access it. 

    The Indian start-up’s founder and CEO, Yusuf Motiwala, said they had used a workaround to get past the lack of microphone support in Silverlight. 

    Controversially, this makes use of a competing platform to strengthen an existing platform. 

    Motiwala said it opened the VoIP door to "millions" of Silverlight developers. 

    "There are Silverlight developers who like to create telephony applications but due to the Silverlight limitation, it wasn’t possible so far," he said. 

    "However, with this, they can now easily integrate telephony functionality in their Silverlight applications". 

    Essentially the hack allows users to get the benefits of Silverlight while using Flash for things that Microsoft hasn’t yet programmed into Silverlight.

  • SIP Print Enters UK With FSA-Compliant VoIP Call Recording Solutions


    SIP Print has announced the availability of its voice recording appliances for the UK financial services market. 

    The move marks the preliminary entry into the UK market for SIP Print. 

    creator of the first SIP-based VoIP call recording platform, its systems are fully compliant with the new call recording mandate set forth by the Financial Services Authority (FSA), including a future requirement to record calls originating from mobile phones. 

    According to the FSA policy statement, effective 6 March, 2009, all UK financial institutions must record and archive all telephone conversations and electronic communications relating to client transactions for a period of no less than six months. 

    The new regulations apply to any UK firms participating in the equity, bond and derivatives markets. 

    The FSA has applied an 18-month exemption for the recording of voice conversations from mobile phones and other handheld devices. 

    Don Palmer, CEO of SIP Print, said the need to record calls continues to increase, driven both by internal quality assurance programs and by regulatory compliance requirements. 

    SIP Print specialises in on-premise systems to record and store calls on VoIP systems. 

    "In the United States, the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA) and Sarbanes-Oxley legislation have dictated the recording of certain phone calls by some businesses, and many other firms choose to record calls for internal compliance purposes or for training and customer services needs," he said. 

    "The new FSA regulations for the UK financial services community are yet another example of the trend towards increased regulatory oversight and improved corporate security and protection."

  • HD Communications Launches All-in-one Data Port


    HD Communications has unveiled a new In-Wall Wi-Fi, Data, VoIP, and PoE device. 

    The HD27000 is an all-in-one device designed specifically for hotels, motels and the enterprise market. 

    Don Davis, president and CEO, said these types of enterprises needed good Wi-Fi, a wired ethernet connection, and the ability to plug in a VoIP phone as well as power it. 

    He said the HD27000 is a small, PoE-powered 802.11b/g access point that is IEEE 802.3af PoE-compliant and is designed for locations wired or planning to wire for Category5/Cat5e/Cat6 cable. 

    The HD27000 offers up to four SSID, so customers can set up both public and private networks. The device also has an RJ45 jack on the front that is PoE (IEEE 802.3af-compliant) that can power a VoIP phone or just provide a data port to the location. 

    It also has the latest in security available. 

    "The HD27000 is a result of over two years of working with customers with our earlier in-wall product, the HD24613," said Davis. 

    HD Communications has enjoyed healthy growth in the broadband wireless arena over the past few years, more than doubling its sales in 2008.

  • DTV Transition Delayed Until June


    The US House of Representatives has approved a delay in the cutoff date for analog television broadcasts. 

    The delay is to give more time to the estimated 6.5 million people unprepared for the switchover to digital broadcasts. 

    The date was pushed back four months to June 12, 2009. 

    Only last month, the House of Representatives voted against a delay. 

    With full support from President Barack Obama, the bill is likely to be signed into law fairly quickly when it reaches the White House. 

    The decision is likely to cost taxpayers, broadcasters, and the companies that paid USD $19 billion for the right to use the radio spectrum frequencies that will be freed up from the change, many millions. 

    What could prove frustrating – to say the least – to those hit with costs as a result of the delay is that commentators suggest at least 5 million people may still be unprepared even with the extension to June.

    Another area of possible problem area surrounds Congress’ decision to give stations the option of sticking to the original date 17 February date.

    So while the mandatory switchover has been moved back, some stations could individually cut off their analog signals.

    A situation could arise where half a city’s local OTA stations go all-digital mid-February, while others delay things until June.

    This will not happen with most of the major US television networks – including CBS, ABC, FOX and NBC – as they have decided to fall back to the new June date to prevent chaos.