server

If you like the MediaShare NAS server but are discouraged by its rather large size and heavy weight, there's now an alternative. Verbatim announced today the mini version of the home NAS server, aptly called MediaShare Mini Sharing Station, that's just about one-third the size of the MediaShare.

Unlike the MediaShare that comes with built-in storage, the MediaShare Mini manages to stay "mini" by offering only four USB ports, into which you can plug USB external hard drives and turn them into the storage space of the home network storage system. This makes it very similar … Read more

After January 31, you will no longer be able to buy an Xserve, the Apple server meant for large businesses, the company said via a note posted on its site today.

Apple says it will however continue to support the hardware, including warranties and customer service.

Close watchers of the company shouldn't be too surprised about the sudden axing of the Xserve. Apple hadn't updated the hardware since April 2009, which is a long time between updates for a company that keeps its hardware on a 9-month to a year update cycle.

In its place, Apple is offering … Read more

Microsoft has revealed details of the next generation of Windows Small Business Server, including names and the final feature set.

The software maker introduced Small Business Server (SBS) 2011 Standard Edition, formerly known as SBS 7, and Small Business Server 2011 Essentials, previously code-named "Aurora," in a blog post today. The Standard version of the updated server suite will arrive in December, while the Essentials version will be launched in the first half of 2011, Microsoft said.

SBS 2011 Standard is "an effective refresh" for previous editions, Michael Leworthy, Microsoft's senior product manager for Windows … Read more

Microsoft this week unveiled the Release Candidates for Windows 7 Service Pack 1 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1.

The new releases are the last public test versions before the RTM (release-to-manufacturing) editions for both products hit the market early next year, according to a Microsoft blog. The Release Candidate for Windows 7 SP1 holds no new features since the product's initial beta came out in July. Microsoft has previously said that Windows 7 SP1 would offer nothing new but would simply be a collection of minor updates and fixes already released.

Still the launch of a … Read more

This is an update of a deal I posted a couple months back.

The CloudEngines Pogoplug is a nifty little gizmo that turns ordinary USB hard drives into network-attached storage. And not just network-attached, but also Web-accessible. And phone-accessible. The key word here is "accessible."

It originally sold for $129, but the second-generation Pogoplug is on sale at Buy.com for just $43.99 shipped. Thankfully, it's the gray model, not that eye-burning pink one I originally wrote about.

Here's how it works: you connect up to four USB hard drives to the Pogoplug, then plug … Read more

A virtual machine can be a very handy tool to have, as it lets users run multiple operating systems on one computer. Do you have to run Windows for work but prefer Linux for pleasure? Not a problem! A virtual machine can give you the best of both worlds, and VMware Player is one very easy way to set it up.

The program is plain and intuitive, with a wizard design that walks you through each step of the virtual machine creation process. The opening menu lets you select whether you want to create a new virtual machine, open an … Read more

About a month after releasing the beta version, Synology announced today the release of the third major revision of its robust Linux-based firmware for DiskSation NAS servers. The firmware is called DiskStation Manager 3.0 and will work on all of Synology's NAS servers made in 2007 or later.

The new version of the operating system boasts many new features, including the ability to multitask within its Web-based user interface. You can now open the user management function in one window and the surveillance system in another; these windows are kept within the Web interface and you can move … Read more

Let me say this upfront: I haven't tried them myself. But the digital media servers from San Francisco-based Olive seem aimed at a weird niche between audiophile and technophobe.

A lot of home audio devices let you stream digital music from your computer to your stereo over a home network. Olive's digital servers also connect to your stereo, but let you rip CDs to digital formats right on the device--no computer required. (Or, if you're you're lazy and rich, the company will do the dirty work for you.) Then you can play the resulting digital files … Read more

Apple has released an update for its professional applications suites, which include Final Cut Pro, Logic Studio, and other advanced creative professional applications. The update adds compatibility for new camera formats and addresses a number of stability issues.

Unfortunately, but as we have come to expect, Apple does not detail which formats and stability improvements have been added. Nevertheless, Apple recommends this update for all users running Final Cut Studio, Final Cut Server, and Logic Studio.

The installer includes updates for Final Cut Pro, Motion, Color, Compressor, and Apple Qmaster. It should be available via Software Update for people who … Read more