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Samsung Galaxy S Tab poised to take on Apple iPad, Dell Streak

Kurt Anderson (HSL) — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 01:47:00 GMT

Today, Samsung announced the release of their tablet called Galaxy S Tab at the IFA conference in Berlin. The tablet will come with Android 2.2, Froyo, but eventually will be upgraded to Gingerbread, which is also referred to as 3.0. The specs of the tablet include a weight of only 380 grams, a 7″ TFT-LCD display at 1024 X 600 pixels, a front-facing camera, 512MB RAM, 16 or 32GB of internal storage in addition to 32GB of SD support, and a 4,000mAh battery for up to 7 hours of movie playback. The Tab was unveiled as a media-centric device, and ships with a Readers’ Hub app that gives access to over 2 million e-reader titles.

Features

Android 2.2 running TouchWiz 3.0
7-inch TFT LCD with 1024 x 600 resolution (WSVGA)
Weighs 380 grams
1GHz Cortex A8 processor
16GB or 32GB internal storage
microSD expansion for up to 32GB additional storage
Front-facing 1.3 megapixel camera and rear 3 megapixel camera with flash
4,000mAh battery
3G data / voice (there’s a speakerphone and Bluetooth for phone calls, but no earpiece)
5GHz dual-band 802.11n WiFi
Standard back color is white, carriers might offer different colors
Full HD video playback
There’s a 30-pin dock connector on the bottom that allows for HDMI, USB, and docking accessories (a car dock at least is planned)

Looks like that Apple and Dell may have a stuff competitor very soon. The Samsung Galaxy S Tab will hit European markets in mid-September, and the USA later this year. No firm idea of price.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

Samsung GALAXY Tab Opens a New Chapter in Mobile industry

A New Smart Media Device, surpasses mobile boundaries, allowing you to enjoy more possibilities on the go

Berlin, Germany, September 2nd, 2010 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, a global leader in mobile technology, today announced the launch of the Samsun GALAXY Tab (Model GT-P1000). Powered by Android Operating System 2.2, the Samsung GALAXY Tab is the first of the company’s tablet devices, representing a new category of mobile products for Samsung.

The Samsung GALAXY Tab brings together all of Samsung’s leading innovations to provide users with more capabilities while on the move. Consumers are able to experience PC-like web-browsing and enioy all forms of multimedia content on the perfectly sized 7-inch display, wherever they go. Moreover, users can continuously communicate via e-mail, voice and video call, SMS/MMS or social network with the optimized user interface.

“Samsung recognizes the tremendous growth potential in this newly created market and we believe that the Samsung GALAXY Tab brings a unique and open proposition to market. There is a new and emerging consumer demand that Samsung can satisfy since mobile is in DNA. This demand continues to grow and develop as users tap its limitless potential,” said JK Shin, President and Head of Mobile Communications Business, Samsung Electronics. “The Samsung GALAXY Tab has been designed to enable consumers to maximize their online experience wherever that may be. The Samsung GALAXY Tab is pushing the market
in new directions and Samsung believes this is only the beginning of its innovations as pioneers in smart media devices.”

A new concept of mobility for media

As a new category of device, the Samsung GALAXY Tab brings a wealth of mobile experiences. lts striking 7″ TFT-LCD display delivers exciting mobile experience for watching films, viewing pictures, e-reading or sharing documents. ln design, its light (380g) build provides perfect nonability, with its svelte dimensions making it easy to grip and use. Supporting the latest Adobe Flash Player 10.1, the Samsung GALAXY Tab fully supports swift seamless viewing of every single page of the web.

The ‘Readers Hub,’ Samsung’s unique e-reading application, provides easy access to a vast digital library – from classical literature to the latest bestsellers and reference materials. At the same time, Samsung unveils ‘Media Hub,’ a gateway to a world of films and videos and ‘Music Hub,’ an application giving access to a wide range of music tunes.

The Samsung GALAXY Tab has made rich communication truly mobile; it presents a level of converged technology that moves beyond mobile or PC to an entirely new category. Users have new powers to consume, create and communicate from wherever they are.

Powerful, always-on communication

With 3G HSPA connectivity, 802.11n Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth® 3.0, the Samsung GALAXY Tab enhances users’ mobile communication on a whole new level. Video conferencing and push email on the large 7-inch display make communication more smooth and efficient. For voice telephony, the Samsung GALAXY Tab turns out to be a perfect speakerphone on the desk, or a mobile phone on the move via Bluetooth® headset.

Powered by a Cortex A8 1.0GHz application processor, the Samsung GALAXY Tab is designed to deliver high performance whenever and wherever you are. At the same time, HD video contents are supported by a wide range of multimedia formats (DivX, XviD, MPEG4, H.263, H.264 and more), which maximizes the joy of entertainment.

While the front-facing camera allows face-to-face video telephony over 3G, the rear-facing camera captures still images and video that you can edit, upload and share, all without any hassle. As online content explodes, the Samsung GALAXY Tab is the best portable solution for every lifestyle that needs a constant connection.

The Samsung GALAXY Tab will be launched in Europe in mid September and ia other markets including Korea, the US and Asia in coming months. .

The Samsung GALAXY Tab is packed with sen/ices to complement and enhance your life in different ways. Access to Android Marketplace lets users download apps and personalize their device infinitely. ln addition, there are pre-loaded applications uniquely designed and optimized for Samsung smart phones and smart media devices.

Applications of the Samsung GALAXY Tab

Readers Hub - Samsung Readers Hub consolidates e-reading applications such as eBooks, magazines, and newspapers. Users can enjoy ‘reading’ with unified and intuitive user experience powered by global eReading sen/ice leaders, Kobo, PressDisplay and Zinio. More than 2 million books including today’s best sellers, over 2,500 titles of magazines in 20 languages and more than 1,600 newspapers in 47 languages are available at launch and will grow the library gradually.

Google Mobile Services - Services like Google MapsTM Navigation (Beta) and Google Goggles are available on Google’s Android platform. With useful location-based services like Google Maps, consumers can search in Standard English instead of entering ara exact address. A search-by-voice function is just as intuitive, meaning searches can also be cnmpleted easily on the go. Google Goggles is a powerful, visual search tool that uses the Samsung GALAXY Tab’s camera to uncover
information – an image of a landmark or aitwork is automatically used to perform a search, delivering relevant content like a description or history. In addition, with a camera, users can enjoy various augmented reality sen/ices which are downloadable in the application market.
More applications will be available from Samsung Apps.

The Samsung GALAXY Tab (GT-P1000) Product Specifications

Network:
2.5G (GSM/ GPRS/ EDGE) : 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz
3G (HSUPA 5.76Mbps, HSDPA 7.2Mbps) : 900 / 1900 / 2100 MHz

OS:
Android 2.2 (Froyo)

Display:
7.0 inch TFT-LCD, WSVGA (1024 x 600)

Processor:
Cortex A8 1.0GHz Application Processor with PowerVR SGX540

Camera:
3 MP Camera with Auto-Focus and LED Flash
1.3MP front camera for Video Telephony

Value-added Features:

Android Market™ and Samsung Apps for more applications and contents

Readers Hub, Media Hub* , Music Hub*, Social Hub

*Availability will be decided by market preference.

Adobe Flash 10.1 player support

Full HD video playback, Thinkfree Office, Swype, Hybrid Widget

Connectivity:
30 pin connector
WiFi 802.11n / Bluetooth® 3.0

Sensor:
Gyroscope sensor, Geo-magnetic sensor, Accelerometer, Light sensor

Memory:
16G / 32G internal memory with up to 32G external memory slot

RAM:
512 MB

Size:
190.09 x 120.45 x 11.98mm, 380g

Battery:
4,000mAh (7 hour movie play)

* All functionality, features, specifications and other product information provided in this document including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability, and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice or obligation.
* Android, Android Market, Google, Google Search, Gmail, and Google Maps are trademarks of Google, Inc.

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2009 consolidated sales of US$116.8 billion. Employing approximately 188,000 people in 185 offices across 65 countries, the company consists of eight independently operated business units: Visual Display, Mobile Communications, Telecommunication Systems, Digital Appliances, IT Solutions, Digital Imaging, Semiconductor and LCD. Recognized as one of the fastest growing global brands, Samsung Electronics is a leading producer of digital TVs, memory chips, mobile phones and TFT-LCDs. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.

MediaSmartHome.com Kicks Off Data Protection Month

Alexander Kent (HSL) — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 16:51:00 GMT

MediaSmartHome.com have dubbed the entire month of September as Data Protection Month. The goal is to raise awareness about data protection and preservation. Please join them throughout the month as they discuss every facet of data protection through articles, interviews, polls, discussions, giveaways and much more.

To spread awareness MediaSmartHome.com teamed up with Proxure to do the "Protect Your Digital Life Giveaway sponsored by KeepVault." KeepVault has offered up several 1-year subscriptions to their fantastic online backup service as prizes throughout the giveaway period.

Something tells me that this is only the beginning. So let’s keep an eye on MSH this month.

More: MediaSmartHome.com

Add-in Update: WHS Backup Database-Backup 1.0.3.3

Alexander Kent (HSL) — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 02:16:00 GMT

Windows Home Server Backup Database-Backup, known as WHS BDBB by Microsoft MVP Alex Kuretz has been updated to a new version adding a number of new features and user interface enhancements.

WHS BDBB is designed to allow the user to easily create and restore a backup of the Backup Database created by Windows Home Server, which contains the backups of all Client PC’s in the home. This is an automation of the steps defined in the WHS Backup documentation from Microsoft.

Screenshots

WHS BDBB version 1.0.3.3 includes the following changes:

Redesigned user interface, tabs now provide room for new features
More documentation within the interface to explain the features of the Add-In, including a warning message that the backup service will be stopped during backup and restore
Increased details about each possible network target, including free and total storage space, volume name and drive letter if known
Added ability to configure individual Health Notification thresholds for each client computer
Added feature to delete the current WHS Backup Database in case of a corrupted DB that Repair is not able to correct
Elapsed time is now reported in the user interface after a backup or restore completes
Don’t display connected drives with filesystem of type CDFS, such as CD/DVD and some external hard drives that have special read-only partitions such as the HP Simple Save
Removed the user prompt to restore Client Registry keys, as this feature is no longer needed since WHS PP2. The registry files are still backed up with each BDBB backup in case the user needs to manually restore
Significant code changes “under the hood” to facilitate new features in the future
New logo

More: mediasmartserver.net

Hands-On: Windows Server Code Name “Aurora” Review

Vicken (HSL) — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 21:18:00 GMT

Microsoft put it best when they advertised the Small Business Server with a slogan, “On the Job 24/7. Just like you.” Aurora “represents a significant departure from our traditional fully on-premise model,” Kevin Kean, general manager of Windows Home and Small Business Servers, wrote in an Aug. 16 posting on The Official SBS Blog. “Aurora extends the ease of use of our traditional SBS products while simultaneously being a great platform for small businesses wanting to combine traditional and cloud computing.” Aurora’s features include advanced backup and file-restoration features, with automatic daily backups of PCs on a network; the server, along with the computers and documents connected to it, can also be accessed from common Web browsers.

Just so that there is no confusion, Aurora is targeting the SOHO (Small Office Home Office), Small Business with less than 25 employees, what Vail does for home users. For a small business that does not have the resources for a full-blown IT department and storage facilities, Aurora is the perfect solution. Aurora shares a common code base with that of Windows Home Server Vail so simplicity of guided installation and configuration wizards and easy integration with cloud services are the staples of this product. Since Aurora is targeted at small business customers rather than consumers it offers a number of additional features for small business over Vail, and logically it omits the more consumer oriented features that come with Vail. For example, Active Directory support and the upcoming cloud application support for Aurora are the main reasons a small business would want to go this route.

*Please, note that the first release of Windows Server Aurora Preview should only be installed for evaluation purposes.

Aurora vs. Vail

Feature	Aurora	Vail
Image Based Backup & Restore	Yes	Yes
Server Backup Support	Yes	Yes
Dashboard Based Management	Yes	Yes
Users & Clients Supported	25	10
Active Directory Support	Yes (Domain Root Only)	No
Homegroup Support	No	Yes
Launchpad on Client PC	Yes (Auto Logs-in)	Yes
Simplified Storage Management	Yes	Yes
System Health Alerts	Yes	Yes
Media Streaming	Not Included	Enhanced support with Silverlight Enabled Media Player
Windows Media Center Integration	No	Partial (Library Support)
Extensibility	Yes, via SDK	Yes, via SDK
Enterprise Cloud Apps Support	Yes, via Subscription	No
Easy Remote Web Access to Server	Yes	Yes

Windows Server Aurora Installation

If you have already seen Vail then you will notice a number of similarities with Aurora. The importance of easy installation is a common theme in both products, with a clear intent that a small business owner should be able to purchase an Aurora server, plug in, install and configure the product without technical assistance in a matter of minutes.

The screenshots below show an installation of Aurora on a new machine:

At this point, if you have used Vail you may notice one tiny difference between the two products, and that is in the Server personalization screen, where a company name and domain name is requested. Aurora will sit at the root of the domain whereas Windows Home Server cannot be joined to a domain. Administrators must choose an original account name in Aurora, whereas the standard “Administrator” account is automatically configured in Vail.

Aurora Clients

When the server is ready, clients are connected to the server by visiting http://myservername/Connect on a web browser. This accesses the Aurora server and downloads a connector application to the local PC. It is important to note that this task needs to be done on each PC that is to connect to the server.

Please note that only some editions of Windows are able to join a domain. In general the professional edition or above will support domain functionality. This means that Windows XP Home Edition and Windows Vista Home, Windows 7 Home Premium are not designed to join domains; only workgroups.

The Aurora Dashboard

For comparison, here is the Windows Server Code Name “VAIL” Dashboard in green.

Visually Microsoft made sure to distinguish between the blue Aurora and green Vail. The Aurora dashboard is designed with five large tabs covering key feature areas, an alert bar providing notification of any issues, and a large pane below with tasks, wizards and reporting information. There are also links to online help pages provided throughout the dashboard.

On the Aurora Home tab there are a number of Getting Started tasks including: configuring server updates, server backup, remote web access, sharing options and email alerts alongside links to centralized storage assistance and Microsoft’s Online Services.

The Aurora LaunchPad

Just like in Windows Home Server “Vail”, the Aurora LaunchPad application provides a simple way for users to access server-based applications and resources like Shared Folders, Backup, Remote Web Access, and access to the Aurora management console, called the Aurora Dashboard. The LaunchPad is extensible via the Auroa SDK which means that third parties can extend the functionality in the future.

Users Tab

On this tab one can manage all of the users who have access to the server – whether they have administration rights, or access to shared folders, remote web access and so on. The Administrator has full control on the password policy to maintain the highest possible security standards, and has the ability to configure accounts and access privileges via simple wizards which control the Active Directory infrastructure which underpins Aurora.

Computers and Backup Tab

The Server and all of the computers connected to the server will be listed in the Computers and Backup tab. The administrator can see the computer status, the computer’s description, Backup status and any alerts for that machine. The pane below will show the Operating system running on that machine. From this tab, it’s possible to view and amend the backup configuration for each machine (including files and folders to be backed up), access and restore files and folders
from computer backups, view and manage alerts and run manual backups of both clients and the server. And as always, all tasks are managed via guided wizards, ensuring the server is simple to use.

Server Folders and Hard Drives

To provide simplified storage and data protection features, Aurora utilizes Microsoft’s Drive Extender technology. When viewing your storage in the Dashboard you will see it as one storage pool, managed automatically by the server and comprising multiple hard drives, while in Windows Explorer shared
folders are treated as distinct entities. The dashboard provides a visual guide as to how your storage is segmented across the shared folders, client backups, space used for data protection and free space available. Data protection can be toggled for each shared folder on the server via a Folder duplication feature which stripes a copy of your data across multiple drives to protect against hard drive failure.

The Server Folders tab provides a folder-based view of your storage, showing the space utilized by the default folders set up by the server. Adding new shared folders to the server and establishing user access rights is made very simple by following a wizard.

The Hard Drives tab shows a physical view of your storage at the drive level. For an additional level of physical security in case natural disaster, or malicious activity hard drives can remain outside of the pool for use as a removable backup drive.

Add-ins

The Add-ins area is where applications for Aurora are viewed and managed. Add-ins can be installed on the server from any client PC, with updates, add-in settings and subscriptions managed from the add-ins tab. Both Aurora and Vail share a common Software Development Kit (SDK) which makes it likely that add-ins will be develop and universal among both platforms. The fundamental different in Aurora and Vail (WHS v2) when compared to Windows Home Server v1 is the way add-ins are installed.

At the time of this article, the only two add-ins available are AWIECO WakeOnLAN and AWIECO RemoteLauncher.

Server Settings Tab

The Server Settings tab shows everything from Windows Update, Date and Time and feedback settings as well as the configuration of Remote Web Access and web domain controls. Under the General settings area you can activate Windows Server Aurora and change the Windows product key. Under the Server Settings tab is where users can restart and shutdown the Aurora server. Under Remote Web Access, the Server can be configured with a free domain provided by Microsoft or your own domain choice managed by a number of partner providers such as eNom and GoDaddy (providers will vary by region). Domain set-up and router port forwarding is handled automatically by the server, although router configuration is dependent on the hardware used.

Remote Web Access

When everything is configures to your liking and you are ready to use Aurora, the Remote Web can be accessed both on the local network as well as on the road. The website provides remote access to network computers and shared files and folders. When used with Internet Explorer, a remote desktop connection can be opened on compatible client PCs and the server itself if you need direct control. Also, the website is built up from gadgets which can be dragged and dropped around the web page to make any layout you may want.

For more information, downloads and the latest news on Aurora visit the Aurora Activity Center and Aurora Forums.

Sneak Peek at Ciphertex Data Security Solutions

Alexander Kent (HSL) — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 23:57:00 GMT

Recently, we were given the opportunity to chat with the founder of Ciphertex, Mr. Jerry Kaner. This was our chance to learn and get the inside look at the latest in data storage and security. Based out of Los Angeles, CA, Ciphertex has made a name for itself by providing Data Security and Forensic Services to governments, military and enterprises around the world. Their products include carefully designed, developed and manufacturing of external data storage systems and security management solutions. Ciphertex products feature the highest levels of hardware encryption, and in−depth data security services featuring the highest level of assessment, intervention and protection. By protecting data from loss, theft or corruption, Ciphertex completes IT´s role in maximizing efficiencies and safeguarding data resources. During our visit to Ciphertex we got a sneak peek at a number of new and upcoming Ciphertex data storage solutions.

CX-RANGER Tower RAID System

This unit is advertised as the world’s most compact 5TB RAID system. The CX-RANGER is built for on-the-go storage (only 8lbs) and real-time back-up. It’s available in 1TB, 2TB, 2.5TB and 5TB capacities. Most notably this sleek and stylish RAID system differs from the competition in that it accommodates up to five hot-swappable 2.5” HDD and not the typical full-sized 3.5” hard disks as found in other network attached storage (NAS) systems. The Ranger uses an integrated RAID microprocessor with support for RAID level 0,1, 0+1, 3, 5 with a data transfer rate up to 3Gbps using SATA II. Note that the host interface is eSATA only and not USB 2.0.

Specifications

Size + Weight	Height: 5.9 inches (149 mm) Width: 4.5 inches (114 mm) Depth: 7.5 inches (190 mm) Weight: 6.4 lbs (2.9 kg)
Capacity	2TB 2.5TB 5TB
Performance	integrated micro processor RAID level: 0, 1, 0+1, 3, 5, LARGE, CLONE Number of channels (host + drive): 1 + 5 Data transfer rate speed: Up to 3Gbps (SATA II) Failed drive auto rebuild
Status Indicators	Failed drive Environment monitor
Host Interface	eSATA
Minimum System Requirements	Windows 2000(SP3), XP(SP1) or later, Vista, Mac OS 10 or later, Linux kernel 2.6 or later
Power Requirements	Line voltage: 100-120V AC. 50/60Hz Maximum continuous power: 60W Operating temperature: 50° to 104° F (10° to 40° C) Relative humidity: 10% to 85% noncondensing
Compliance	FCC, CE
Warranty	1-year limited warranty 1-year free telephone technical support
In the Box	CX-RANGER RAID system Up to five 2.5” SATA hard disc drives 60W EXT. power supply One eSATA to eSATA cable Carrying handle / mounting screws Four gripping rubber feet Quick start guide Installation reference guide / CD Designed and assembled in the USA

CX-CITADEL Tower Raid System

The CX-CITADEL is a first-of-its-kind RAID system in that it features hardware-based 256-bit encryption. Just like the CX-Ranger the CX-CITADEL is also advertised as portable, with the sturdy Ciphertex signature handle mounted on top of the chassis. The CX-CITADEL is available in 4TB, 6TB and 8TB capacities (possibly up to 12TB in the future) using up to four 3.5” disks. The unit packs a lot of horsepower in a small footprint and the most exciting feature is the AES 256-bit hardware based encryption which eliminates the software drag using one-the-fly encryption for optimal performance.

Size + Weight	Height: 9.1 inches (232 mm) Width: 5.9 inches (149 mm) Depth: 13 inches (330 mm) Weight: 22 lbs (10 kg)
Capacity	Up to 8 TB using four 3.5” hard disks
Performance	400MHz storage I/O RAID processor RAID level: 0, 1, 0+1, 3, 5, JBOD Cache memory: 128MB Number of channels (host + drive): 1 + 4 Data transfer rate speed: Up to 3Gbps (SATA II) Auto spare support Bad block auto remapping
Encryption	AES 256-bit encryption engine – NIST & CSE certified
Host Interface	eSATA, Ethernet TCP/IP (RJ-45), RS-232 (DB-9)
Minimum System Requirements	Compatible with any operating system supporting SATA devices
Power Requirements	Line voltage: 90-264V AC. 50/60 Hz Maximum continuous power: 180W Operating temperature: 50° to 104° F (10° to 40° C) Relative humidity: 10% to 85% noncondensing
Compliance	FCC, CE
Warranty	1-year limited warranty 1-year free telephone technical support
In the Box	RAID system Four 3.5” SATA hard disc drives Two encryption keys One 180W power supply w/PFC One eSATA to eSATA cable One monitor cable Carrying handle / mounting screws Four gripping rubber feet Installation reference guide / CD Designed and assembled in the USA

Ciphertex Hardware Encrypted External Hard Drives

The Ciphertex encrypted external hard drive lineup consists out of four models split into two series based on hard drive form factor. The CX-2500 series ships with a 2.5” hard drive in varying in size (250GB and 500GB) and host interface. The CX-3500 series is expected to follow a similar product notation but will ship with full-sized 3.5” hardware encrypted external hard drives.

CX-2500E = 2.5” hardware encrypted external hard drive with USB 2.0 interface
CX-2500ES = 2.5” hardware encrypted external hard drive with eSATA interface
CX-2500SSD = 2.5” hardware encrypted external solid state hard drive (coming soon)
CX-3500E = 3.5” hardware encrypted external hard drive

Maximum Security External Drive
As data storage capacities increase and media becomes more compact and mobile, the risk of lost or stolen data also increases. The Ciphertex hardware encrypted external hard drive eliminates this risk. With AES 256-bit encryption drive data is absolutely secure. And, instead of slow software encryption the Ciphertex solution are hardware-encrypted for full speed performance. Encryption/decryption effectively relays SATA data commands to and from the drive in “real time”.

Unique encryption keys* unlock the drive data – no password required. Simply, once encryption/decryption is enabled remove the USB key for safekeeping.

Each Ciphertex hardware encrypted external hard drive ships with a sturdy and stylish protective carrying case made out nylon, here is a close-up:

We’ll break for now, but stay tuned for hands on reviews of Ciphertex Data Security Solutions in the near future.

More Info: ciphertex.com

Add-in Update: AWIECO Wake on LAN v0.3, Now with Launchpad Support

Alexander Kent (HSL) — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 23:08:00 GMT

AWIECO released an updated version of their Wake On LAN add-in for Windows Home Server code name Vail and Windows Server Aurora. The updated version of the AWIECO Wake On LAN software provides integration into the Launchpad.

Version 0.3 of the beta was released today, and extends the Launchpad which means that there is no need to access the Windows Home Server Dashboard, any user can wake PCs on the network, not just Administrators.

The AWIECO WakeOnLAN add-in for Windows Home Server "Vail" Refresh and Small Business Server “Aurora“ is a free and useful add-in, which has the ability to turn on a computer remotely. It enables the Server to start up every computer attached to your network. The gadget on the WHS or SBS web-interface shows a list of all available and connected computers within your network and provides the possibility to start them up from any location inside your network or via internet, by just one mouse click. You can add further computer to your network manually by entering the MAC address or even delete them. The add-in automatically recognizes, if a computer is already turned on or if it is booting up.

I have been using the AWIECO Wake On LAN add-in for a couple of weeks and the add-in does work as advertised; this is a pleasant surprise considering that the add-in and the underlying Vail/Aurora operating systems are still in beta.

More Info: AWIECO "WakeOnLAN" | Support Forums

Hands-On: ASTAK MOLE Wireless IP Camera Review

Alexander Kent (HSL) — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 05:10:00 GMT

Have you ever heard of a remote controlled network camera? You probably have, but have you ever seen one that claims to integrate with a variety of social networks? Well, now Astak’s Mole Wireless IP Camera claims do exactly that. It retails for $279, which at first thought sounds a bit pricy but when you take into consideration what it can do and all the features it has built into it, then it could make you feel like you got your money’s worth. However, we all know that just because something is jam packed with features doesn’t automatically make it user friendly, so we decided to test it out for ourselves.

About Astak

Astak Inc. is a leading home and business security solutions developer, manufacturer and marketer producing aggressive annual growth in the security and surveillance industry. A distinguishing feature of Astak Inc. is that the Company has a dedicated Research & Development department that strives to continuously improve the quality of the Company's security products. Astak Inc. has also developed overseas manufacturing partnerships that enable the Company to produce innovative and leading technology solutions. Product offerings include wireless and wired cameras, IP Network cameras, and security DVRs, catering to a broad range of end users from DIY customers with residential needs, to big-name resellers, to installers for commercial business needs.

With world-wide branch offices, our technology solutions have boosted Astak Inc. to the forefront of security solutions in this fast-growing market segment. Astak Inc.'s products are distributed through a network of retail and distribution partners including leading national retailers like Costco, Sam's Club, Future Shop, Wal-Mart, Costco Canada, as well as major regional chains like Fry's Electronics, and E-commerce retailers like Newegg.com, WalMart.com, Buy.com, Amazon.com, Frys.com and many others throughout North America. Other retail locations include Costco in Mexico, Sam's Clubs in Puerto Rico, and PriceSmart in the Caribbean.

What is the MOLE?

The MOLE is the all-in-one network camera for all your social network communities. A simple 3-step setup gets this Wi-Fi camera up and running, so that you can automatically send video clips to YouTube or Facebook, even if you’re not there. Sophisticated built-in motion detection controls what you record, and will notify you via Twitter or email if the Mole catches something. You can remotely control the pan & tilt angles, and monitor or record video from anywhere in the world.View it from your iPhone, or any web browser.

Note that the ASTAK Mole is being marketed as the CM-IP700 IP Camera by ASTAK and is essentially the same camera as the ASTAK Mole.

ASTAK MOLE Unboxing

When you open the box you will find a network Ethernet cable, power cord, Wi-Fi antenna, mounting screws, user manual, and software.

ASTAK MOLE Hardware

The back of the Mole’s hardware has connections for audio in/out as well as Ethernet, power, a Wi-Fi antenna, and an SD card reader. The need for the SD card is for integrating the camera with social networks. The Mole can automatically save still shots to the SD card and then mail them out to users on a fixed time schedule. Keep in mind that the SD card is optional; you can use the card and archive videos on it, or use the Mole simply as a live viewing device without recording and forgo its capabilities. Alternatively you can use 3rd party or computer based video recording software.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

ASTAK MOLE Specifications

Video compression: H.264
IEEE 802.11g & 802.11b Compliant
Video resolution: 320 x 240 (QVGA), 640 x 480 (VGA)
CMOS sensor parameter adjustment: Automatic white balance (AWB), automatic gain control (AGC) backlight
compensation(BLC), automatic light control/electronic light control (ALC/ELC)
Video frame rate: 1-30 frame/second
Video compression code rate: 64Kbits/S-2Mbits/S
Audio input: One linear input, impedance: 2.2K Ω
Audio compression: G.726
Audio output: One linear output
Call input: One microphone input
Communication interface: One 10M/100M adaptive Ethernet interface supporting download of high-speed dome and decoder protocols, and transparent protocols
Input power: DC 12V/1A
Maximum power: Less than 6W
System requirement: Microsoft Windows 98/ME/2000/NT/SO/XP/Vista/MacOS
Size: 5.1"(L) x 4"(W) x 5”(H)
Weight: 12 ounces

MOLE Software and Configuration

Although one might think that there would be a lot of quirky setting up involved, we were pleasantly surprised with only a 3- step setup. All we did was plug in the power and Ethernet and we were on our way. To access the Mole itself there is a web browser, so no worries having to install too much software on to your computer.
-We did however install the Astak Mole software for good measure

A third party company called Yoics provides the service for the user to access their webcam via an Internet connection. The first step in setting up the Mole is to create a Yoics account, which involves creating two separate login credentials. One is for logging into the browser, and the other is for connecting to the Mole itself. But before you think that this is annoying and redundant each login serves its own purpose. Yoics will allow you to give others access to your devices, and the Mole provides its own three levels of access should you choose to grant certain permissions.

When it comes to software, the interface has four tabs as your command center (Home, Media, Advanced and System). On the main tab, users can actively view and control the camera while the other tabs adjust light settings and other advanced controls. The Mole’s lens can pan 270 degrees horizontally and tilts 125 degrees vertically all of which can be controlled through the online interface. There are even controls to make the camera do a full range of panning or tilting motions, center the lens, and remember fixed angles. In the advanced settings, we discovered controls that connect the Mole to our wireless network, enable Twitter, YouTube, e-mail notification, scheduled recording times, and motion activation settings.

The Mandatory Firmware Upgrade

Like clockwork, one of the first things I did was check for ASTAK Mole firmware upgrades as I always get overly excited about performing firmware upgrades. As luck would have it, our Mole unit shipped with the production firmware 10-28-09 and a newer firmware was dated 02-16-10, which meant we could download the latest binaries and perform a firmware upgrade. Woo Hoo!

As with most connected and firmware upgradeable devices; I was able to do so from within the Mole web interface.

The actual firmware update is not that exciting and the red on gray font makes it difficult to read clearly.

User experience

We tested the Mole using Internet Explorer, FireFox and Google Chrome on a Windows machine, Apple Macintosh and an iPhone. Our findings lead us to believe that the video quality was much better on the phone (probably due to its small screen), and we were surprised how well we were able to control the camera using the phone. Some of the major features worth testing included motion sensing capabilities and the YouTube and Twitter integration. All three worked flawlessly when the camera sensed our movements in the room videos to YouTube, and automatically tweeted the YouTube links – it was rather cool to see this all in action. The only issues we noticed about the Mole is noise the microphone picked up when the camera was rotating; it is audible enough to drown out quieter sounds in the room. However, the main disappointment was in the blurring that motion creates on the camera. While the still shots were good enough, the smearing and blurring on the video was somewhat of a letdown. Then, when you take controls into your own hands (manual control) it is not as quick as we hoped it would be, and there is a bit of a lag on the directional controls.

ASTAK Mole Motion Detection

The motion sensing capabilities were among the cooler features we were looking forward to testing. When we first setup the social network integration features (YouTube and Twitter) we looked at the Motion detection page and activated that feature with a single mouse-click. Shortly after we had to step out for a little while and forgotten that the motion detection was activated. Upon our return we noticed that the ASTAK Mole caught us walking around and uploaded two videos to YouTube and tweeted links to the videos on Twitter – this was hilarious!

Needless to say that configuring the Mole as a social media integrated security camera is very easy.

ASTAK Mole Night Vision

We have tested quite a few network IP cameras claiming to support various degrees of “night vision”. So, going into this review we were not entirely convinced with a autonomous network camera named “The Mole”; after all, moles aren’t especially known for their great eyesight and 20/20 vision.

Well it turns out that the night vision capability on the Mole is fantastic and is among the best we’ve tested.

Here is an ASTAK Mole night vision and motion detection test illustrating the night vision and recording quality, this video automatically uploaded to YouTube. Turns out we may have captured a little extra (watch closely!)

(Please visit the site to view this media)

Conclusion and Verdict

The Mole is a compelling pick for those shopping for a network camera loaded with features, while we have some hesitations we believe the ASTAK Mole does offer a lot for its price. Its features are a great concept for those who want it to integrate with their lives and social networks, whether you want to use it for security, or simply to check up on when someone got home, the Mole can be your eye in the sky.

Very simple setup, just plug in an Ethernet cord from your router, then the power cord, log in to their site, register your camera, and you should be up and running in about 5 minutes, the Wi-Fi setup is a little more intricate
Although ASTAK claims that it works on any browser, we experienced that some functions worked best in IE and not at all in other browsers
Works on the iPhone but lags sometimes
Supports up to five users logged into one camera at a time
You can move the camera 270 degrees horizontally and 150 degrees vertically from your browser or iPhone
Specify hotspots on the screen that will detect motion and if it detects motion, it will automatically send e-mail alerts, upload videos to YouTube, and Twitter that it uploaded videos
Save all of your videos and pictures to an SD card (up to 8 GB), or to your computer, YouTube and even to your Windows Home Server
Even though it might stutter while real-time streaming, it will record up to 640x480 resolution at 30 fps just fine
Fantastic night vision mode, white balance adjustment, and other manual controls

More: molecamera.com

Want to see what the all the HTML5 hype is all about?

James (HSL) — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 01:17:00 GMT

Here is a great interactive film of Arcade Fire’s new video shows what’s possible with HTML5. The video was announced today on the Official Google Blog.

...(read more)

Want to learn more about Small Business Server (SBS) Code Name “Aurora”?

Alexander Kent (HSL) — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 18:43:00 GMT

Microsoft has made available an extensive range of resources to help us get to know what is new about Aurora. If you have not yet had the chance to get the beta program of the Aurora Small Business Server, or if you are hesitance for any reason, then below are very useful links to help you get acquainted with the software.

Aurora Product Overview

The Aurora Product Overview is a a 48 page document highlighting the background to and features of both the traditional Windows Small Business Server 7 products and the new Windows Server Aurora.

This guide provides an overview of the benefits of a server-based small business solution and introduces Windows Small Business Server Code Name “Aurora” (a new edition of Windows Small Business Server) and Windows Small Business Server “7”. It describes the new and enhanced features of Windows Small Business Server, presents scenario walkthroughs to highlight several of the new capabilities, and provides references to additional resources, including detailed installation instructions for the pre-release software.

[Download]

Aurora Click-Thru Demo

A downloadable interactive click-by-click demo of Aurora’s key features, including initial configuration, client join, and remote web access (RWA).

[Download]

Windows Server Aurora Brochure

A two page brochure (PDF format) highlighting the key features and benefits of Windows Server Aurora.

Ideal as a first server for small businesses with up to 25 users, Windows Small Business Server Code Name “Aurora” provides a cost-effective and easy-to-use solution to help protect data, organize and access business information from virtually anywhere, support the applications needed to run a business, and quickly connect to online services for e-mail, collaboration and CRM.

[Download]

Aurora Demo Video

A 20 minute video showing Aurora in action.

[Download]

More: Microsoft.com

New Add-in: Tentacle Software Blackbox for Windows Home Server

Vicken (HSL) — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 08:42:00 GMT

One of Home Server community's very active add-in developers, Microsoft MVP Sam Wood, has been developing a new add-in called Blackbox for Windows Home Server (v1). A lot of us have found Sam's previous add-in for WHS called Disk Management for Windows Home Server extremely useful, and if you feel that Sam didn't let you down in the past then return the favor and be a beta tester for his new add-in.

Tentacle Software is a software development company based in Auckland, New Zealand that makes cool stuff for Windows Home Server and other Microsoft platforms. Currently, Sam is looking for some open minded testers who would be willing to try out Blackbox and provide him feedback on general usability, features, UI, and other suggestions.

Blackbox requires the following platform:

Windows Home Server v1 operating system (“Vail” isn’t supported in this release)
Windows Home Server Power Pack 3 (installed automatically by Windows Update)
.NET Framework v3.5 SP1 (installed automatically by Windows Update)
A motherboard with supported hardware sensors (most ITE* chips, CPU thermal sensors, hard drive SMART sensors, and UPS battery sensors are supported)

According to Sam, "Blackbox is a hardware monitoring add-in that looks at voltage/temperature/PWM sensors on the motherboard, and can fire actions in response to configurable thresholds."

Blackbox for Windows Home Server provides in-depth real-time monitoring of motherboard, disk, UPS, and graphics card hardware sensors. Administrators can define alerting rules to take actions when a sensor exceeds a specified threshold.

Features

Customizable logging (file, event log, email)
Real-time monitoring of supported hardware sensors
Custom defined rules to perform actions
Adjust fan speed
Create Windows Home Server Health Notification
System Power State (shutdown, suspend, hibernate, or restart)
PWM fan control

The Blackbox add-in looks promissing and for now Sam is looking for a small group of active participants to beta test the add-in. If you want to be a part of this exciting new add-in please visit http://www.tentaclesoftware.com/contact/ and make a request.

More: blog.tentaclesoftware.com

Windows Home Server v2, Vail, Aurora DevKit 1.1 Released

Vicken (HSL) — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 22:01:00 GMT

An update to the version 1 guide for developing add-ins for the next generation of Windows Home Server and Small Business Server has been released by Microsoft MVP Nick Asseloos of ASOFT.

Nick covers the new WHS v2 SDK framework, how to setup Visual Studio for WHS development, creating Tabs and Sub Tabs and lots more goodies and example code to help you jump right into add-in development.

Version 1.1 of the WHS DevKit 2 has been published.

This Kit is an all-in-one package on how to create/build/install and addin for Vail, so if you want to have a go at it take the kit and have fun!

This new version has been updated to support the latest version of Windows Home Server: build 7659.

It contains a lot more information with regards to the first version of the kit; on the various aspects of developing an addin for Vail and now also has a section on how to build an installer too.

You can find it here.
The Vail SDK can be found here.

Take a crack at developing an add-in yourself =)

More: Version 1.1 of the WHS DevKit 2 has been published

WHS vs Vail Part 10–Add - In Management

Chuck Shumar (HSL) — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 11:57:00 GMT

WHS Vail has completely reworked how add-in products interact with the home server. All add-ins written for WHS v1 have to be completely rewritten for WHS Vail. Vail uses a software development kit or SDK that offers the developer a feature rich environment in which to develop add-in products that work seamlessly with Vail. The add-ins are located in the Add-Ins tab where they are centrally managed. Add-in products may interface with the user either as a separate add-in tab or as a sub tab within an existing Vail tab group.

Add an Add-In Product

In WHS v1 all add-ins are installed from the server settings Add-in tab of the Console. This required the installer file to be downloaded from the web to the Add-ins folder on the home server. The Wiki: Windows Home Server Add-In Installation Procedure explains the full details of installing WHS v1 Add-Ins. WHS Vail Add-Ins are installed from the attached computer via the File Download dialog for the Add-In installer file. The following describes the installation method used by both WHS versions.

Description	WHS v1	WHS Vail
In both versions the Add-in installer file is downloaded from the web site. In WHS v1 the file is saved to the home server’s Add-Ins folder. In WHS Vail the Add-In installation file can be run from the file download.
In WHS v1 the add-in is installed from the server settings Add-In tab. Add-In products to be installed appear in the Available tab. In WHS Vail click the Install button for the publisher, enter the server password and click the Next button, click the Accept button for the software license, and click the Install the Add-in button.
The WHS v1 Console and the WHS Vail Dashboard must be closed and reopened to see the newly installed Add-In.

Using Add-In Products

WHS v1 Add-In products that require configuration settings usually appear in the server setting tab associated with the Add-In. Some Add-ins may display information in a separate Console tab or as a sub tab within the Add-in’s server setting tab. WHS Vail has a Dashboard tab for the management of all Add-In products. The Add-ins display their information in a separate Dashboard tab or as a sub tab in an existing Dashboard tab. The following describes the interface methods used by both WHS versions.

Description	WHS v1	WHS Vail
Some WHS v1 Add-Ins use the Add-In’s server settings tab to display information and gather configuration settings.		Not applicable.
Some WHS v1 Add-Ins use both the Add-In’s server settings tab and a Console tab to display information and gather configuration settings.		Not applicable.
WHS Vail has an Add-Ins Desktop tab for the management of add-in products.	Not applicable.
Some WHS Vail Add-Ins use a Dashboard tab to display information or functions.	Not applicable.
When the WHS Vail Add-In is a logical function of an existing Dashboard tab, the Add-In can appear as a sub tab.	Not applicable.

Remove an Add-In

When it is necessary to remove an Add-In product, WHS v1 and WHS Vail use different methods. The Wiki: WHS Add-In Uninstall Procedure explains the full details of installing WHS v1 Add-Ins. The following describes the methods used by each version.

Description	WHS v1	WHS Vail
In WHS v1 the Add-In product is removed from the server settings Add-Ins tab. Click the Uninstall button that is associated with the add-in to remove. In WHS Vail the Add-In product is removed from the Add-Ins Dashboard tab. Select the add-in to remove and click the “Remove the add-in” task.
In WHS Vail a removal confirmation appears. Click the Remove button.	Not Applicable.
Both versions display a message that the add-in has been removed. In WHS v1, the Console restarts. In WHS Vail, the Dashboard may restart depending on the add-in.

The beta version of Windows Home Server code name Vail is an early beta version of the next release of Windows Home Server. The feature set of Vail is not complete and features may change from one beta version to another. Vail is released for testing purposes only and we do not recommend that your existing Windows Home Server be replaced by Vail at this time.

For more information on Windows Home Server Vail checkout the Vail Activity Center.

Beware of Advanced Format Hard Disks for Windows Home Server

Vicken (HSL) — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 02:32:00 GMT

There have been unofficial reports, discussions, and concerns around advanced format hard drives and Windows Home Server, but now Microsoft has issued a KB article to address the issues in question. The advisory note KB2385637 discusses Advanced Format drives and their incompatibility with Windows Home Server v1.

Below is an excerpt from note KB2385637:

Below is the full article:

To improve the speed and storage efficiencies of hard disk drives, manufacturers are moving to a new technology known as “Advanced Format sector disk”. This technology requires the hard disk to be formatted and aligned in 4K sectors instead of the traditional 512 byte sectors that is currently used by most software. This article details the compatibility of these hard disk drives with Windows Home Server.

This article describes the two scenarios that can affect your installation of Windows Home Server. Some manufacturers provide alignment tools for their products; however these tools are not always compatible with the platform and technologies upon which Windows Home Server is built therefore we cannot provide support. You may consult hard disk manufacturers for their recommended solutions on adapting Advanced Format disks with various environments.

The next version of Windows Home Server will support Advanced Format disk in 512 emulated mode from most manufacturers and supports disks larger than 2 terabytes as storage disk, however Extensible Firmware Interface BIOS is required for the System Disk otherwise capacity exceeding 2 terabytes will not be utilized.

Scenario A: Server Disk

You install or replace your disk in your Home Server as a system disk or storage pool with an Advanced Format sector disk.
You will experience performance degradation when using Advanced Format disk in your Home Server v1 for Server Backup, Storage Pool, or System Disk because the disks are formatted and aligned in a way Windows Home Server is not compatible with.

Recommendation Windows Home Server v1: Do not use Advanced Format disks in your Windows Home Server v1.

Windows Home Server ‘Vail’: Upcoming Windows Home Server codename ‘Vail’ will support Advanced Format disks as server disks.

Scenario B: Client Computers

You replace or restore a client computer with Advanced Format drives.
If you replace or restore a hard disk on a client computer with an Advanced Format disk drive, you should not see any issues with Windows Home Server functionality such as Backup and Restore feature.

Recommendation: Windows Home Server functionality is compatible with client computers using Advanced Format disk for Windows Home Server v1 and the upcoming version codename “Vail”.

Note: Windows 7 client users please see KB982018 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/982018/ ) for more information.

Advanced Format Disk Drive

It is important to note that some hard disk manufacturers are releasing Advanced Format drives in the same base models as traditional 512 byte sector drives. Because of this, it is critical that you make sure that the drive you are purchasing is not an Advanced Format drive if you are running Windows Home Server v1. Before you purchase a disk drive, review the product specifications or visit the manufacturers Web site to ensure that the drive is compatible with Windows Home Server. Be aware that Advanced Format drives are not always clearly identified on the retail packaging.

WHS vs Vail Part 9 – Server Settings

Chuck Shumar (HSL) — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 21:57:00 GMT

The “Settings” WHS v1 Console button and “Server Settings” WHS Vail Dashboard button give the user access to configure global settings for the Windows Home Server. The content areas for the WHS Vail server settings have been reformatted from WHS v1. Many of the content area tabs have been consolidated with other functional areas. The settings for the General and Remote Web Access are mostly unchanged and remain as server settings tabs. The functions of the Backup settings tab are merged with the Computers and Backup Dashboard tab. The functions of the Passwords settings tab are merged with the Users and Computers and Backup Dashboard tabs. The Add-ins settings tab and tabs for the add-ins is moved to the Add-Ins Dashboard tab. The Windows Media Center and the Media Sharing settings tabs are merged with the Media server settings tab and the Resources settings tab is removed. WHS Vail add a tab for HomeGroup. The end result is that the Server Settings in Vail are less cluttered and functions have been moved to their logical locations within the Dashboard.

WHS v1 Settings Tabs Not in the WHS Vail Server Settings

The settings for Backup, Passwords, Add-ins, and Resources are removed from the Vail Server Settings. The settings for these tabs are merged with other Dashboard level tabs, except for the Resources that which has been eliminated. The following describes and compares the functions that are removed from the WHS Vail Server Settings.

Description	WHS v1	WHS Vail
The Backup settings tab configures the global backup parameters for WHS v1. WHS Vail has merged these properties with the Computers & Backup Dashboard tab.
The Passwords settings tab configures the global password policy for WHS v1. WHS Vail has merged the password policy in the Users tab and change server password in the Computers and Backup tab.
In WHS v1, the Add-ins settings tab is used to add or remove add-in programs. Each add-in program adds a tab to configure the add-in program. In WHS Vail, the method to add and remove add-in programs has changed and all add-in programs are listed in the Add-Ins Dashboard tab.
The WHS v1 Resources settings tab has been removed from WHS Vail.		Removed from WHS Vail.

WHS Vail Server Settings General Tab

The General settings tab contains areas to configure the Windows Home Server. The configuration areas include date and time, regional information, Windows Update, and error reporting. The following describes and compares the functions that are included in the WHS Vail Server Settings General tab.

Description	WHS v1	WHS Vail
The WHS v1 Settings General tab and the WHS Vail Server Settings General tab contain almost identical configuration areas.
Both WHS v1 and Vail use a similar method for date and time. To set the date and time , click the Change… button. The operating system clock appears to change date and time, time zone, and internet time.
Both WHS v1 and Vail use a similar method for administrator region. In WHS v1 select the region from the drop down box. In WHS Vail click the Change… button. From the operating system’s Region and Language settings select the region and language of the administrator from the drop down box.
Select the country/region location of the server from the drop down box.	Not available in WHS v1.
In WHS v1 there is a setting for Windows Update. Click the On radio button. Click the Update Now… button to install any updates that are pending installation. WHS Vail uses the operating system’s Windows Update setting for its handling of updates. The status of the Windows Update setting is displayed. Click the Change/Install updates… button to install any updates that are pending installation.
Bothe WHS v1 and Vail use the same method to improve the use of the Windows Home Server and report errors. Place a check mark to enable the respective setting.

WHS Vail Server Settings Media Tab

Vail has combined the Windows Media Center and Media Sharing tabs to the Media tab. The following describes and compares the functions that are included in the Media server settings tab.

Description	WHS v1	WHS Vail
WHS v1 Media Center services relied on the use of the Home Server Connector and the Media Center Connector to provide the Media Center services. WHS Vail uses a media server to stream media folders that are stored in shared folders.
WHS Vail supports four levels of video streaming quality. Choose a streaming quality that best matches the computer processor in the server.	Not available in WHS v1.
WHS v1 supports music, photos, and videos as media libraries that can be shared. Choose the libraries that are permitted to be shared. In WHS Vail the documents, music, pictures, recorded TV, and video folders can be included in the media library. Choose the folders that should be included in the media library.

WHS Vail Server Settings HomeGroup Tab

WHS Vail has added a server settings tab for HomeGroup. Home Group is a password protected method to share files and printers with other computers running Windows 7. After a HomeGroup is created the user can allow or prevent the sharing of specific files or folders. The following describes and compares the functions that are included in the HomeGroup server settings tab.

Description	WHS v1	WHS Vail
Click the Join now… button to join an existing HomeGroup.	Not available in WHS v1.
Enter the password for the HomeGroup and click on the Join now button.	Not available in WHS v1.

WHS Vail Server Settings Remote Web Access Tab

The name for the Remote Access tab in WHS v1 is changed to Remote Web Access . In addition, WHS Vail permits the user to change the web site title, images, and links. The following describes and compares the functions that are included in the Remote Web Access server settings tab.

Description	WHS v1	WHS Vail
When Remote Access is not configured both versions click the Turn on button to start the router and domain name configuration wizards.
Both versions locate and configure the router for remote access. Click the Next button to continue.
After the router is configured, both versions display a wizard welcome regarding the setup of the domain name. In WHS v1 click the Next > button or in WHS Vail click the Set up your domain name button.
In both versions, enter the live id and password. Click the Next button to continue.
Choose a name for the domain. In both versions a new domain name can be created or an existing name can be chosen.
In both versions a confirmation displays the URL of the home server.
WHS v1 displays technical information of the router’s configuration.		Removed from WHS Vail.
The Remote Alert settings tab displays the IP address of the router and the domain name that is used to publically access the server.
WHS v1 has limited native support to customize the Remote Access web site. Only the web site headline can be modified. WHS Vail has enhanced and expanded native support to customize the web site. Click the Customize… button to customize the web site.
The Logon Page tab permits the user to change the web site title, the background image, and web site logo. Click the Browse… button associated with the image or logo to locate an alternate image file.	Not available in WHS v1.^*
The Home Page Links tab permits the user to manage the links that appear on the home page. Existing links can be moved or removed and new links can be added.	Not available in WHS v1.^*

^* Add-ins must be used to customize.

For more information on Windows Home Server Vail checkout the Vail Activity Center.

MEGA HomeServerSync 2 YEAR Subscription Giveaway !!!

Alexander Kent (HSL) — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 19:05:00 GMT

Great news, the folks at UWHS have teamed up with Tranquil PC to give away some two year subscriptions to their HomeServerSync add-in for Windows Home Server. This is the first of a number of giveaways.

Over the course of the next few weeks, we will be giving away a total of 10 two year subscriptions to HomeServerSync, each worth a whopping £278 each, which means we are giving away £2780 just for you, our UWHS readers.

If you are not sure what HomeServerSync is, you should check out our review – part one and part two.

HomeServerSync has ten top features, and here are the first two:

1. Off site Backup
You can set and forget HomeServerSync to monitor and backup selected folders on your Home Server to our very secure data centre. Real time or scheduled backups ensure your latest files are always compressed, encrypted then sent to the data centre for long term storage. A generous 100GB is provided with optional extensions available.

2. Offsite Bulk Upload

Getting your files to an offsite backup server is easy, but if you have 100GBs of files to transfer, the process can take quite some time. The optional Bulk Upload service delivers a simple solution – you backup to a USB HDD (the files are encrypted and compressed), then the HDD is sent to HomeServerSync, where the files are ‘copied’ to your account. You can then incrementally upload new files via the internet.

For the official rules and you chance to win, please visit Using Windows Home Server (UWHS).

Good Luck!