Integration

IBM on Wednesday launched a new family of data center building blocks called PureSystems. The aim is offer integrated systems that have expertise to automate maintenance, anticipate computing requirements, and scale servers, storage, and networking resources as needed.

The idea of an integrated system isn't unique, but IBM's twist is that it will be more flexible with PureSystems -- four supported operating systems and five virtualization hypervisors -- and build in knowhow from its research team and services engagements.

"These systems operate with a single pane of glass, support multiple architectures, OSes, and hypervisors all with cloud … Read more

I recently raved about Emotiva's Airmotiv 4 powered speakers, but if you already have a nice pair of speakers and need a great affordable amp, the company's Mini-X a-100 deserves an audition. Emotiva calls the Mini-X a-100 a "Super Flex" amp, which I assume means it's super flexible. You can run it with a CD player, computer, iPod, or as a "second zone" amp in a multiroom system, a rear surround speaker amp, or just a basic amp for a small hi-fi.

The Mini-X a-100 looks like a smaller version of one of … Read more

Are you a fan of Facebook? Twitter? Instagram? Shazam? Nike+?

Would you be interested in a service that essentially combines the functionality of all these mobile apps into one sleek and simple-to-use program? Then perhaps you should give Path a try.

After its most recent update (see my colleague, Paul Sloan's take here), Path could become a major player in the social networking game, expanding its existing 2 million user base. All these enhancements take the brain-child of former Facebook platform manager, angel investor Dave Morin, to a whole new level.

The major integration win for Path comes in … Read more

Aloaha PDF Suite is a versatile PDF creation tool that is available in several versions, including a freeware edition that nevertheless has nearly all the features of the full version. It can create high-quality vector-based PDFs from inside any Windows program. The PDFs it creates are fully compatible with other PDF programs. Aloaha PDF Suite installs a special printer driver that lets you create, save, print, and e-mail PDFs whenever you select Print inside any program that runs in Windows and offers a print command, including Word and other Office apps, Web browsers like IE and Chrome, and Windows itself.… Read more

No doubt about it, Nuforce makes audiophile products that don't conform to the old paradigms. Take a look at the Dia digital integrated amplifier. It's downright tiny, accepts only digital sources like CD, DVD, or Blu-ray players, or an Apple TV, flat-screen TV, game, or cable box. How tiny is the Dia? Just 6 inches by 4.5 inches by 1 inch; and man that's really small. It has one RCA coaxial and two Toslink optical digital inputs. The onboard digital-to analog converter accepts up to 192kHz/24-bit sources, and the analog switching stereo 24 watt per … Read more

After iOS 5 was released alongside the iPhone 4S this past fall, Twitter accounts grew by more than 25 percent, largely because of its integrated place in Apple's mobile operating system.

Now, according to tech site iMore, iOS 5.1 could bring a similar integration for Facebook.

Not that Facebook really needs more users.

But, it should come as a nice addition to iOS for those of us who already use Facebook. It's unclear exactly how integrated Facebook might actually be, but iMore shows a look at the iOS 5.1 beta 3 Contacts app that has an … Read more

Rumors of Apple TV sets have been swirling for months. And the Taiwanese publication DigiTimes added to the mix today, with word that its supplier sources say Apple is ordering components to build 32-inch and 37-inch TVs that should go on sale in the second half of 2012.

There have been rumors floating around for years that Apple is building its own TV. The speculation got amped up this fall after Walter Isaacson revealed in his biography of former Apple CEO Steve Jobs that Apple had finally figured out how to build a user-friendly integrated TV.

"I'd like … Read more

Mercedes knows its cars say "older and established." And that's a problem.

So what's the first thing you tackle to get tomorrow's buyers hooked on Mercedes today? Work on the iPhone interface and all the stuff around it on the car's main screen. We're not sure the 3D disco effect is the perfect end game, but it's a start. Brian Cooley takes you through it.

(CNET's full coverage of the 2011 International Motor Show in Frankfurt)

According to German Web site Macerkopf.de, iOS 5.1, the first major update to Apple's mobile operating system, will give Apple's voice-controlled assistant Siri the capability to access certain hardware features of the iPhone 4S.

The Web site's source is listed as an Apple developer commenting on a forthcoming iOS 5.0.2 update that will address battery issues yet again, as well as the future iOS 5.1 update that will contain the Siri updates.

If you're a power user, this news should be fairly exciting. Giving Siri the capability to adjust hardware settings … Read more