The Windows Home Server Team Blog reports that ASUS will soon be releasing their first Windows Home Server product – the TS Mini Home Server. Powered by a 1.66GHz Intel Atom processor, the TS Mini will come in two flavors – a 500GB system with one empty hard drive bay for $349 and a 1 terabyte system with one empty hard drive bay for$529.

Key unique features of the TS MIni (outside of what you’d get from Windows Home Server) include:

• One year of free 500GB online storage. Backup and synchronize data from  home server to ASUS Web Storage for redundant security
• ASUS exclusive Xtor Manager allows you to directly backup, synchronize, and manage files and folders between external USB and eSATA storage devices and the TS Mini.
• 6 USB ports and 2 eSATA ports
• ASWM Management provides real-time system health monitoring including fans, temperature, disks, drives, network, memory, and processors
• Energy Star 5.0 certified

Specs include:

• Intel Atom N280 processor clocked at 1.66GHz
• 1 memory slot for up to 2GB of memory – comes with 1 GB
• 2 hard drive bays
• Gigabit Ethernet
• Measures 245 x 96 x 204mm and weighs 2.7Kg
• 90W power supply

The TS Mini is available for pre-order now at Amazon.com and at Newegg.com.

[Check it out via Windows Home Server Team Blog, PC Magazine]

Technorati Tags: ASUS TS Mini, Windows Home Server

The Dell Adamo XPS notebook officially went on sale yesterday with a starting price of $1799. At that price you’ll get the following specs on the Adamo XPS:

• Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
• 128GB SSD
• Intel Core 2 Duo SU9400 clocked at 1.4 GHz
• 13.4 inch WLED HD (720p) LCD panel
• 2.0 megapixel camera
• 4GB RAM
• Intel GS45 integrated graphics
• Intel 5300 WLAN 802.11n Wi-Fi
• 20WHr batter
• HD audio 2.0
• Dell Wireless 370 Bluetooth Module
• Metallic keyboard
• Ethernet Network USB adapter

Interestingly enough, hardware customizations are next to nill as most of the option add-ons are external drives, additional software, and additional batteries. The 40WHr battery will cost you an extra $100 dollars. So in reality, the starting system priced of $1799 is really all you need except for maybe an additional battery. Not too shabby.. though still pricey for most consumers.

As to when it ships – preliminary ship dates show 12/23/2009 – ah… a Christmas gift indeed.

[Check it out via Direct2Dell]

Technorati Tags: Dell Adamo XPS

And speaking of the Mini 3, DigiTimes also reports that Foxconn Electronics is responsible for the production of these handsets. Foxconn will manufacture a 2.75G version of the handset for China and a 3G version for the Brazilian market.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Dell, Mobile Internet Device, MID, Foxconn, Qisda, Mini 3

In need of a new pair of headphones that can effectively block out ambient noise? Check out the new Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7b Quiet Point active noise-cancelling over-ear headphones capable of blocking out approximately 90 percent of environmental noise.

The headphones feature Quiet Point active noise-cancellation technology which makes use of miniature microphones in each earpiece to detect environmental noise. The headphones then apply a sound-cancelling signal against the noise thereby blocking out 90 percent of the ambient noise.

A winner of a CES Innovations 2010 award, the ATH-ANC7b also come with padded earcups, adjustable headband, a 5.2 and 3.3 feet detachable cable, a 1/4 inch adapter, an airline adapter, and finally a hard carrying case.

The Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7b headphones are available for a suggested price of $219.95.

Technorati Tags: Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7b Noise-Cancelling Headphones

PhotoLink One-Touch 5×7 Scanner:

• Scan 5 x7 inch (or smaller) traditional prints onto memory card or directly with PC
• Simply insert photo into the feed area of the scanner and push a single button to begin
• 1800 x 1200 pixel resolution and 600 dpi clarity
• Usable out of the box – no software to install
• Supports SD, MS, MS Pro, MMS, XD cards
• mini-USB port for USB connection
• 512MB SD card included
• Measures a mere 7.5 x 1.75 x 3 inches

PhotoLink Personal Photo Scanner:

• 5 in 1 memory card reader with support for SD, MS, MS Pro, MMC, XD
• Scan slides, negatives, and prints
• Place slide, 35mm negative or photo print (4 x 6 or smaller) into device and push a single button
• Transfer to a memory card or to a PC
• Comes with 512MB SD card
• Image scan at 300 dpi resolution
• Slides or negatives scan at 1200 dpi
• Auto-feed, cropping tools, color balancing, and film-type detection
• Measures 6.15 x 1.8 x 1.5 inches and weighs 0.5 lbs

The PhotoLink One-Touch 5×7 Scanner has an MSRP of $129.99 and is available now while the PhotoLink Personal Photo Scanner has an MSRP of $129.99 and will be available exclusively through QVC through Dec. 5th.

Technorati Tags: Pandigital PhotoLink One-Touch 5x7 Scanner, Pandigital PhotoLink Personal Photo Scanner

Looking for a high speed replacement for that 3.5 inch internal hard drive of yours? You might want to check out OCZ Technology’s new announced Colossus 3.5 inch Solid State Drive (SSD) with storage capacities up to a whopping 1 terabyte. Yup.. 1 terabyte of fast solid state storage.

The Colossus delivers high performance made possible by using an internal RAID 0 architecture. You’ll get read and write speeds up to 260 MB/second with sustained write speeds up to 220 MB/s. Colossus is built using cost-effective multi-level cell (MLC) flash memory which keeps these drives somewhat reasonably priced (at least for enterprises).

The OCZ Colossus will be available in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB capacities and has a 1.5 million hour mean time between failures. Other specs include:

• 128MB cache
• < 1 ms seek time
• lightweight aluminum casing

Amazon has the 500GB model available for $1766.99 and the 250GB model available for $1122.99

[Check it out]

[Check out the product page]

Technorati Tags: OCZ Technology Colossus Solid State Drive

• Vertical form factor with a “non-invasive footprint”
• Up to 2TB of storage space
• Plug-and-play support
• Anodized aluminum enclosure keeps the drive cool
• Available in 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB capacities

The 500GB has an MSRP of $99.99. The 1TB an MSRP of $129.99 and the 2TB an MSRP of $249.99.

In addition to the SimpleDrive USB 2.0 Desktop External Hard Drive, Hitachi also announced 2 terabyte solutions in the form of :

• SimpleTech Pro Drive with four interface options (USB 2.0 FireWire 400, FireWire 800, and eSATA). 500GB available for $119.99, 1TB for $169.99, and $2TB for $299.99
• SimpleTech Duo Pro Drive – two drives in one supporting RAID 0 or RAID 1. Includes eSATA and USB 2.0 interfaces. 1TB goes for $199.99 while the 2TB goes for $499.
• Hitachi Internal Hard Drive Kits – available in both 5400 and 7200 RPM speeds with up to 32MB cache buffer. The 2TB 7200RPM HDD has an MSRP of $249.99.

Technorati Tags: Hitachi, SimpleDrive USB 2.0 Desktop External Hard Drive

Chinon Corporation announces a complete music and TV solution today with the introduction of the AVi, the industry’s first portable iPod docking station with built-in LCD monitor and digital TV tuner. You’ll be able to view content, listen to music, and watch TV, all from a single docking station.

Features and specs include:

• Combines the look of a retro boom box with a modern rubberized black finish and silver trim
• 7 inch LCD monitor
• AUX input
• ATSC digital TV tuner with AV out
• Built-in telescopic radio antenna
• External telescopic TV antenna
• Digital FM and alarm clock
• Full-function remote
• Plays local TV channels, and content from iPod including music videos, pre-recorded movies, TV shows, and videos
• 3 hour battery life
• Plays and charges iPod at the same time

The AVi can be purchased for $199.99 only at www.chinonusa.com.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Chinon Corporation, AVi iPod docking station

AT&T also announced today the upcoming availability of the LG Shine II handset featuring a stainless steel construction, polished rounded edges, and a 2.2 inch wide mirror LCD. Specs to the Shine II include:

• 2.0 megapixel camera with flash and video recording
• Image editor allows users to resize, crop, rotate, color adjust photos, insert fun frames, and produce mirror effects
• Built-in music player with customizable equalizer, music recognition, and ringtone creator
• Direct-to-device music download capabilities
• Built-in stereo Bluetooth wireless
• Java 2.0 support
• Support for AT&T Navigator

The Shine II will be available starting on November 22nd for $119.99 after a mail-in rebate and a new two year agreement (you’ll receive a $50 dollar AT&T Promotion Card).

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: AT&T, LG Shine II

AT&T announces the upcoming availability of the BlackBerry Curve 8520 smartphone. The Curve 8520 is a compact smartphone with features such as a full QWERTY keyboard, a touch-sensitive trackpad, a built-in media player, and built-in Wi-Fi. Other notable specs include:

• Dedicated media keys
• Email, text, IM, picture messaging
• 320 x 240 resolution display
• 512MHz processor
• 256MB of flash memory
• 2 megapixel camera
• Video recording
• DataViz Documents to Go suite for editing and viewing Microsoft Office documents
• Corporate and personal email support

The BlackBerry Curve 8520 will be available in the coming weeks for a price of $99.99 after a $100 dollar mail-in rebate and a new two year agreement with a minimum $59.99 data plan.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: AT&T, BlackBerry Curve 8520

I just had to repost this one. This is one awesome knife-throw from a game of Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2.. wow..

Thanks Vivek for the linky

[Check it out via G4TV]

Technorati Tags: Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 Knife Throw

IN5504:

• DLP: .67″ WUXGA DarkChip
• BrilliantColor enhancement
• Wired and wireless DisplayLink technology
• 16 x 10 aspect ratio
• 5000 Lumens high brightness and 4000 Lumens on Eco mode
• 2000:1 contrast ratio
• 2000 hour lamp life for high brightness and 2500 hours on eco mode
• Inputs include 2 HDMI, 1 BNC, 1 component, 2 – 15 pin VGA, 1 S-video, and 1 composite, USB
• Audio inputs include stereo RCA, 3.5 mm
• Measures 13 x 39 x 23.4 inches and weighs 44.1 lbs
• Available in Matte Black, Matte White, Glossy Black, or Wood Grain optional skins

IN5534:

• 16 x 9 aspect ratio
• High brightness of 7000 Lumens, and eco mode brightness of 5500 Lumens
• 2000:1 contrast ratio
• Wired and wireless DisplayLink technology
• DLP: .67″ WUXGA DarkChip display technology
• 2000 hour lamp life for high brightness and 2500 hour lamp life for eco mode
• Inputs include 2 HDMI, 1 BNC, 1 Component, 2 VGA, 1 S-Video, 1 Composite, and USB for DisplayLink
• Stereo speakers
• Measures 9.45 x 26.38 x 17 inches and weighs 44.1 lbs

Technorati Tags: InFocus Corporation, IN5534, IN5504

Those Android smartphones just keep on coming don’t they? Samsung shows off their latest Android handset today with the announcement of the Galaxy Spica I5700 (where the heck do they come up with these names anyhow??). The Galaxy Spica comes with an impressive 800MHz application processor which should make the handset one of the more powerful Android smartphones out on the market.

Features and specs to the Galaxy Spica include the following:

• HSDPA 3.6Mbps (900/2100) and EDGE/GPRS (850/900/1800/1900) network support
• Android version 1.5
• 3.2” HVGA(320×480) TFT display
• 3 megapixel camera with auto focus
• Video support: MPEG4, H.263, H.264, WMV, DivX
• Audio support: MP3, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, WMA
• Full Web Browser
• Google Search, Google Maps, Gmail, YouTube, Google Talk
• Android Market
• 3.5mm Ear jack
• GPS
• Bluetooth 2.1
• Wi-Fi
• 180 MB of internal memory and microSD slot
• 1500mAh battery
• Measures 115 x 57 x 13.2mm

Looks like the Samsung Galaxy Spica won’t be coming to the U.S. anytime soon though. The handset is currently available in Europe, CIS, and soon the MEA region.

Technorati Tags: Samsung Galaxy Spica I5700

Confirming what most in the mobile industry already knew, Dell announced last week they were entering the smartphone market with the announcement and introduction of the Android-powered Dell Mini 3 smartphone. Dell also announced two mobile carrier partnerships, China Mobile – with a customer base of over 500 million customers, and Claro – a mobile network serving over 42 million customers in Brazil, both of which will carry the new Mini 3 smartphone.

According to a China Mobile spokesperson:

“We are excited for Dell to be among the first manufacturers to introduce new technology based on the OPhone platform. We look forward to working with Dell as it brings innovative new products and services to add value to our customers’ lives.”

Details of the phone models will be announced on a partner-by-partner basis when the devices become available in stores. (Let’s hope the MIni 3’s specs are better than the original rumors). The Mini 3 is expected in late November for China Mobile and by the end of the year for Claro.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Dell Mini 3, Android smartphone, China Mobile, Claro

In a ruling filed in the Northern District Court of California on Friday, Judge William Alsup “ruled that Psystar had violated Apple’s rights to reproduce OS X, distribute it, and to create derivative works.”. In addition, the judge also ruled in favor of Apple in the areas of contributory infringement, copyright misuse, and violation of the DMCA. Yes, as expected, Psystar got hammered in the court system.

However according to Groklaw, there are still issues that have not been resolved including “Apple’s allegations of breach of contract; induced breach of contract, trademark infringement; trademark dilution; trade dress infringement; and state unfair competition under California Business and Professions Code § 17200; and common law unfair competition”

Going forward, a hearing has been set for December 14th to determine what kind of “relief” Apple can request – aka – what damages Apple will suck out of Psystar.

Yeah.. see ya Psystar – it was nice knowing ya.

You can read the PDF version of the order here.

[Check it out via PC Magazine]

Technorati Tags: Apple, Psystar

The Palm Pixi smartphone featuring the Palm webOS is now available for Sprint customers at a price of $99.99 after a new two-year contract, and instant-savings of $200 dollars, and a mail-in rebate of $100 dollars.

Features of the Pixi include:

• Dual-band CDMA2000 with support for EvDO Rev A
• 2.63 inch multitouch screen with 18 bit color and a 320 x 400 resoluton
• Universal search for searching across contacts, applications, Google services, etc
• Built-in full HTML web browser
• 2.0 megapixel camera with LED flash
• Combined IM, MMS, and SMS messaging
• All-in-one calendar
• Integrated contacts from multiple sources
• Linked contacts and layered calendar
• Ambient light, accelerometer, and proximity sensors
• Audio Formats: MP3, AAC, AAC+, AMR, QCELP, WAV
• Video Formats: MPEG-4, H.263, H.264
• GPS navigation enabled
• Email support including Microsoft Exchange, POP3/IMAP
• Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR with A2DP stereo
• 8GB memory with 7GB user available
• 3.5 mm stereo jack
• Compatible with Palm Touchstone charging dock
• Measures 2.17 x 4.37 x 0.43 inches and weighs 3.26 oz

Make sure to head on over to the Boy Genius Report for some unboxing pics of the Palm Pixi.

[Check it out]

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Sprint, Palm Pixi,

T-Mobile customers looking for another Android-powered handset to choose from will be happy to hear that the new Samsung Behold II will be available exclusively from the carrier starting on November 18th. The Behold II is the first handset from T-Mobile to feature a 3.2 inch AMOLED display for “crisper colors and wider viewing angles”. You’ll also find an impressive built-in camera with a 5 megapixel resolution and capabilities such as autofocus, zoom, flash, five shooting modes, and video capture.

Other features and specs for the Samsung Behold II include:

• Samsung’s TouchWiz user interface for easy customization of movable widgets and one-touch access to commonly used features and applications
• Three different home screens for multiple workspaces
• Support for Google mobile services including Google Search, Google Maps, YouTube, and Google Talk.
• Support for the Android Market
• Personal and corporate email
• IM, text, picture, and video messaging
• Built-in aGPS
• Bluetooth 2.1
• Visual voicemail
• Support for up to 16GB external memory
• Includes 2GB microSD card
• Support for T-Mobile’s 3G network

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Samsung Behold II, T-Mobile, Android smartphone

There’s a new chumby in the wild and it’s called the “chumby one”. This new Wi-Fi enabled device joins the original chumby (now known as the “chumby classic”) and includes new features such as ABS plastic casing, a battery option, an FM radio tuner, and a volume knob. The best part? The chumby one is cheaper than the original chumby – $119.95 vs. the price of $199.95 for the chumby classic. AND for a limited time through November, the chumby one is available for $99.95.

Just like the original chumby classic, the chumby one provides access to more than 1500 applications spanning 30 different categories. You’ll be able to download a variety of widgets including Pandora Radio, The Weather Channel, and the New York Times. Other specs to the chumby one include:

• 3.5 inch LCD color touchscreen display
• Optional rechargeable lithium ion battery – about one hour of power on a full charge
• 1 USB 2.0 port
• 454MHz ARM processor
• 64MB SDRAM
• 2GB internal microSD card
• 2W mono speaker
• Stereo headphone output
• Accelerometer
• 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi
• Dimmable backlight
• One-click control panel access
• Measures 4 x 4 x 3.5 inches

So why is the classic more expensive? The classic is a bit wider, comes in a variety of colors, has an extra USB 2.0 port, comes with stereo speakers, and features an Italian leather housing. On the flip side, the classic has a slower processor, and only 64MB of NAND flash ROM.

If you’re looking for a cool holiday gift, definitely consider a chumby – whether it’s the one or the classic. These devices make great devices for the home or office – offering up information on the fly thanks to a Wi-Fi network and without the need for a PC.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: chumby industries, chumby one

As the name implies, the TruLink Wireless VGA with Integrated Audio allows you to wirelessly display video and audio content from a computer to a remote monitor, project, or television set up to 30 feet away.

Cables To Go also offers a variety of wired and wireless cable solutions including a 4 port wireless USB hub, wireless USB to VGA adapters, and a standalone wireless VGA device adapter.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Cables To Go, TruLink Wireless VGA with Integrated Audio

The Dell Inspiron Zino HD is a new affordable compact desktop PC introduced last week and suitable for a wide range of tasks – everything from basic computing to media center activities. Measuring a mere 7.5 inches square and 3.5 inches tall, the Zino HD looks great anywhere in the home or office. Outfit the system with an optional Blu-ray drive and a dual-core AMD Neo processor and the Zino HD could very well function as a low-end HTPC system.

The Zino HD has a starting price of $229 and is available in 10 colors making it an attractive option to folks considering nettop systems. Features of the Zino HD include:

• AMD processors or dual core Athlon Neo X2 6850e
• Up to 8GB dual channel DDR2 memory
• Up to 1TB internal hard drive space
• Combo DVD/CD-RW drive with optional Blu-ray disc combo
• Gigabit Ethernet with wireless option
• Optional wireless keyboard and mouse
• Built-in 2.1 HD audio and 4 in 1 media card reader
• Integrated ATI graphics adapter with standard HDMI and VGA video connections and optional 512MB discrete ATI graphics adapter
• Four USB 2.0 ports and two eSATA ports

One thought does come up with the Zino HD – is this system a better choice than say the Apple Mac mini? It’s not entirely clear in our opinion. On the low end of the spectrum, it’s hard to argue with the price of the $229 Zino HD. However, configure the Zino HD with more powerful AMD processor options, and it’s harder to say which is the better deal. If you’re concerned about processor performance than the $599 Mac mini clearly has the better processor with the 2.26GHz Intel Core 2 Duo. However, you’ll get more hard drive capacity and more system memory with the Zino HD in this price range – both important for media center considerations. You can even configure a Zino HD with a low-end AMD processor, 3GB RAM, DVD burner, 500GB HDD, integrated graphics and an 18.5 inch HD monitor for $549 – $50 dollars less than the Mac mini.

Not a bad deal – especially if you need a fully configured basic PC system.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Dell Inspiron Zino HD, HTPC