Buffalo LinkStation-Mini NAS Supports RAID

LinkStation Mini enables users to back up, store, and share files in secure location with access from multiple computers simultaneously. Measuring 1.57 x 3.22 x 5.31 in., fanless system, available in 500 GB and 1 TB capacities, supports two 2.5 in. hard drives and includes USB port and GbE connectivity. For small business, unit includes Active Directory integration, user/group permission settings, and SFTP remote access. Files can be managed from any web browser via PC, Mac, or iPhone.

Buffalo Technology, a global leader in the design, development and manufacturing of wired and wireless networking, network storage and direct attached storage solutions, today announced an enhanced model of the sleek and compact dual drive LinkStation Mini(TM). Featuring increased performance, silent operation, a new user interface and support for RAID 0 and RAID 1, the LinkStation Mini offers a feature-rich network storage solution like no other, wrapped up in a small, lightweight package. Fast, reliable, compact, and silent, the LinkStation Mini fits into any environment.

Buffalo's dual drive LinkStation Mini network storage server offers a variety of features for home and business users. Quickly back up, store and share documents, music, photos and videos in a secure, central location with easy access from multiple computers simultaneously. Support for RAID 0 and RAID 1 provides users the choice between maximum capacity and performance or maximum redundancy and reliability.

"Buffalo strives to provide consumers with intuitive solutions that are simple to install and use, so that protecting digital assets is almost automatic," said Ralph Spagnola, vice president of sales at Buffalo Technology. "With the compact dual drive LinkStation Mini, Buffalo has delivered a powerful yet compact network attach storage drive that can quickly and securely protect data, photo, video, and music files from a central location with the automatic protection of RAID 1."

Paired with two 2.5" hard drives and measuring in at 1.57 x 3.22 x 5.31 inches, the LinkStation Mini is the smallest NAS on the market, fitting in the palm of your hand. The fanless design ensures reliable, near silent operation for noise-sensitive settings such as studios, bedrooms, and living rooms. Perfect for streaming multimedia, the LinkStation Mini features gigabit Ethernet connectivity and exceptional performance in a small package.

Available in 500GB and 1TB capacities, the LinkStation Mini incorporates an impressive array of small business features including Active Directory integration, user and group permission settings, and secure SFTP remote access. Also included is the Remote Power Feature, a tool used to power up the unit remotely using the included Navigator software. The USB port on the back of the unit can serve as a method of expansion by adding an external hard drive or it can be used to attach a printer to the network via the integrated print server. Additionally, LinkStation Mini supports UPS alerting, so the unit can gracefully shutdown in the unexpected event of a power failure.

As a DLNA CERTIFIED(TM) media server, the LinkStation Mini streams content to any DLNA compatible media device, including PlayStation 3 and Buffalo's LinkTheater products. The LinkStation Mini is also an iTunes® server, seamlessly integrating with and allowing iTunes access to music files stored on the server's hard drives. Support for Apple® Time Machine® and Apple File Protocol (AFP) make it well suited for any Mac® environment. And for anyone on-the-go, Buffalo's free Web Access feature makes it a cinch to store, share and access files from any web browser via a PC, Mac or iPhone®.

Pricing and Availability

The Buffalo LinkStation Mini is backed by a limited one-year warranty and includes toll-free, 24/7 technical support and is available at an estimated street price of $229.99 for the 500GB (LS-WSX500L/R1) and $329.99 for the 2TB (LS-WSX1.0L/R1).

About Buffalo Technology

Buffalo Technology (USA), Inc., based in Austin, Texas, is a leading global provider of award-winning networking, storage and multimedia solutions for the home and small business environments as well as for system builders and integrators. With almost three decades of networking and computer peripheral experience, Buffalo has proven its commitment to delivering innovative, best-of-breed solutions that have put the company at the forefront of infrastructure technology.

Canon Rebel T2i Digital SLR Camera Offers 18Mp and EOS-HD

The Family Camera is Back, Introducing the EOS Rebel T2i Featuring a Large 18-Megapixel CMOS Sensor and Full HD Video Recording with Selectable Frame Rates up to 30 fps

Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging, today introduced the new flagship model for the Company's highly popular Rebel DSLR line: the Canon EOS Rebel T2i Digital SLR camera. Today's photo enthusiast is looking for a camera that will grow with them as they learn, and that is a perfect description of the new EOS Rebel T2i Digital SLR camera. Retaining all of the traditional characteristics that have made the EOS Rebel series beloved by entry-level photographers and an industry best-seller, the new Rebel T2i succeeds in bridging the gap between an entry-level camera and a true pro-sumer camera.

he Rebel T2i Digital SLR camera includes a variety of new features for photographic assignments as varied as grabbing that action shot from the sidelines or creating memorable family portraits, including: 3.7 fps shooting, an ISO range of 100-6400 (expandable to 12,800), a 63-zone Dual Layer Metering System, and Canon's DIGIC 4 Imaging Processor. There are some moments in our lives where video helps capture the moment better than a still image, and the Rebel T2i offers the best of both worlds with Full HD 1080p video as well as 18-megapixel still images. The Rebel T2i DSLR continues Canon's industry-leading trend in Full HD DSLR video capture with manual exposure control, selectable frame rates and a new external microphone input. There is also a new feature for standard definition recording, Movie Crop, which provides an approximate 7x additional zoom with no loss of image quality when shooting SD quality video.

"There is no question that HD video is the biggest trend in DSLR technology and because of this we are seeing the creativity of still photographers transferring to the moving image. Still photographers are using the various lenses and accessories they are already familiar with to create amazing video footage," stated Yuichi Ishizuka, executive vice president and general manager, Consumer Imaging Group, Canon U.S.A. "Taking that HD video quality and putting it in the hands of entry-level photographers with cameras like our new EOS Rebel T2i, we are seeing a new generation of creative digital artists emerge."

Lights, Rebel, Action - EOS HD Video

Canon's EOS HD video capture has helped spark a major movement in digital imaging, empowering still photographers with the ability to experiment, learn and capture stunning high-definition video through a variety of creative lenses. Continuing this imaging revolution, the new EOS Rebel T2i puts entry-level photographers on the frontline equipped with all the latest EOS HD video features including full HD video at 1920x1080 resolution, selectable frame rates, full manual exposure control and the visual options of interchangeable lenses. Manual video exposure control provides novice filmmakers with the image control they are accustomed to in a still camera, all while shooting professional-level cinematic video. Professional photographers utilize creative lighting, adjustable depth-of-field and a variety of lenses to create powerful still images and video footage, and these are exactly the tools that the new Rebel T2i gives to budding photo and video enthusiasts. Adding a new professional-level feature for EOS cameras, the Rebel T2i includes an Auto ISO function that works in all Creative Zone exposure modes including Manual where users can set a limit to the highest ISO the camera will use, enabling them to retain the lighting and look they desire for a scene. By setting an Auto ISO range, videographers can retain dark shadow areas and avoid blowing out highlight areas in a scene while still retaining the benefit of automatic ISO adjustments. The Rebel T2i DSLR captures video in both NTSC (National Television System Committee) and PAL (Phase Altering Line) standards at selectable frame rates including Full HD 1920 x 1080 at 30 (29.97), 25 or 24 (23.976) fps, and HD 1280 x 720 or Standard Definition 640 x 480 quality video, at 60 (59.94) or 50 fps.

For easier video recording operation and familiar functionality for beginners, the Rebel T2i's autofocus can be operated before or during video recording by pressing the shutter button half-way down in video mode. Another feature debuting in the Rebel T2i is Canon's new Movie Crop mode, where the user can achieve 7x magnification when shooting SD video for a significantly increased "telephoto" effect. Unlike the digital zoom feature found in many compact digital cameras, Canon's new Movie Crop mode actually crops the image directly from the CMOS sensor at full SD resolution to preserve maximum image quality and provide additional zoom power. The new Movie Crop feature is especially helpful for achieving extra full resolution zoom power when filming youth sports, such as a child running to the furthest end of a field. For better sound quality when shooting video, the Rebel T2i DSLR includes an external stereo microphone jack, a first for an EOS Rebel model, in addition to its built-in monaural microphone. These audio and video features supplement a tremendous range of additional must-have video features in an entry-level Digital SLR camera.

For enhanced viewing pleasure and easy video sharing at home, the HDMI video-out capability of the Rebel T2i DSLR includes a new Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) compatibility which allows users to play back still or video files on a CEC-compliant HDTV, using the TV remote to control the camera when connected via HDMI interface.

Camera Feature Set

The EOS Rebel T2i DSLR features a newly developed 18-million-pixel Canon CMOS imaging sensor providing outstanding resolution and light sensitivity for amazing poster-sized prints with fine detail and stunning color. The camera exhibits exceptional low-noise performance incorporating many of the same technologies used to reduce noise in professional cameras such as the EOS 7D. The Rebel T2i camera's basic ISO range is an amazing 100~6400, and via a Custom Function, it can be extended to ISO 12,800. The outstanding ISO range combined with its noise reduction technology allows the Rebel T2i to capture outstanding low-light pictures at events such as candlelit birthday celebrations or recitals where flash photography may be prohibited.

The camera provides 3.7 fps continuous shooting for still photos, making it the fastest shooting Rebel model to date and enabling users to capture that great image of a little leaguer's first swing. The camera features Canon's proprietary iFCL 63-zone dual-layer metering system offering intelligent Evaluative metering with much finer segmentation than any previous EOS Rebel model. The new Rebel T2i also has an expanded ± 5 EV exposure compensation range allowing for much more versatility when shooting in extremely bright or dark environments; or when shooting HDR (high dynamic range) images.

The Rebel T2i DSLR includes a number of professional-level user-selectable Canon image processing features to enhance the image quality of in-camera JPEG files, and to tag RAW images for processing later through Canon's Digital Photo Professional software (included with the camera). These features include Canon's Auto Lighting Optimizer to enhance shadow detail and add contrast to "flat" scenes, Highlight Tone Priority adding up to one stop of detail in bright highlight areas, Peripheral Illumination Correction for automatic correction of vignetting, High ISO Noise Reduction with four user-selectable settings, and Long Exposure Noise Reduction applied to exposures one second or longer. These Canon image enhancements provide new photographers with professional quality automatic image correction on JPEG files right out of the camera.

The EOS Rebel T2i digital camera includes a new enhanced 3-inch LCD monitor featuring 1.04 million dots with a wide 3:2 aspect ratio, wider than previous EOS models. The Rebel T2i camera's LCD monitor can display a full-screen video image utilizing the entire screen during playback. For maximum storage capacity the new EOS Rebel T2i Digital SLR camera is the first EOS model to support SDXC memory cards. With all the new and exciting features of the EOS Rebel T2i, the Rebel series continues to provide great Canon features such as Live View, a built-in pop-up flash, and the EOS integrated cleaning system, as well as compatibility with Canon EX-series Speedlites and Canon EF and EF-S lenses allowing users to fully explore multiple creative photographic possibilities. The new EOS Rebel T2i Digital SLR camera is also compatible with Canon's new BG-E8 battery grip and new RC-6 wireless remote control for both still images and video capture.

Pricing and Availability

The Canon EOS Rebel T2i Digital SLR camera is scheduled to be delivered to U.S. dealers in early March, and will be sold in a body-only configuration at an estimated retail price of $799.99. It will also be offered in a kit version with Canon's EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS zoom lens at an estimated retail price of $899.99.

About Canon U.S.A., Inc.

Canon U.S.A., Inc., is a leading provider of consumer, business-to-business, and industrial digital imaging solutions. Its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ), a top patent holder of technology, ranked fourth overall in the U.S. in 2009†, with global revenues of US $35 billion, is listed as number four in the computer industry on Fortune Magazine's World's Most Admired Companies 2009 list, and is on the 2009 BusinessWeek list of "100 Best Global Brands." Canon U.S.A. is committed to the highest levels of customer satisfaction and loyalty, providing 100 percent U.S.-based consumer service and support for all of the products it distributes. At Canon, we care because caring is essential to living together in harmony. Founded upon a corporate philosophy of Kyosei - "all people, regardless of race, religion or culture, harmoniously living and working together into the future" - Canon U.S.A. supports a number of social, youth, educational and other programs, including environmental and recycling initiatives.

ATI Radeon HD 5570 Graphics Brings a Big Visual Experience to Small Form Factor PCs

The newest addition to the AMD graphics family strengthens the world's only complete line-up of award-winning DirectX 11 capable graphics cards, delivering exceptional HD multimedia and gaming performance at a mainstream price

AMD (NYSE: AMD) today introduced the ATI Radeon HD 5570 graphics card, perfect for end-users seeking an energy efficient, low-profile DirectX® 11 card for small form factor PCs. The ATI Radeon HD 5570 graphics card joins the award-winning line of AMD graphics that fully support DirectX 11, as well as ATI Eyefinity multi-display technology¹ and ATI Stream capabilities.² This latest offering completes a full DirectX 11 refresh of AMD discrete graphics products, bringing customers a choice of cutting-edge graphics cards to match every budget and form factor.

"AMD recognizes that small form factor PCs are becoming more popular and low profile graphics upgrade options have been limited to date," said Matt Skynner, vice president and general manager, AMD Graphics Division. "Customers purchasing small form factor PCs are looking for improved performance while gaming, watching HD video or working with the latest productivity applications.  The ATI Radeon HD 5570 graphics card delivers all of this at a price that won't break the bank."

In addition to ATI Eyefinity and DirectX 11 support, the ATI Radeon HD 5570 also delivers full 1080p HD playback³ and supports ATI Stream technology,² helping to boost performance for video playback and productivity applications, all while enabling a full Microsoft Windows® 7 experience.⁴

A sleek, energy efficient PC based on ATI Radeon HD 5570 graphics, combined with new AMD Phenom^TM II X4 905e processors at 65W and AMD 7-series chipsets, can power immersive gaming and vivid digital entertainment. These platforms are an excellent choice for system builders and home theater enthusiasts seeking Eye-Definition entertainment.

• Advanced performance, affordable price: The ATI Radeon HD 5570 graphics card provides great game play in DirectX® 11 titles such as Codemaster's Colin McRae^TM: DiRT® 2^TM, EA Phenomic's BattleForge^TM , GSC Game World's S.T.A.L.K.E.R: Call of Pripyat^TM and Battlefield: Bad Company^TM 2 as well as DirectX® 9, DirectX® 10, DirectX® 10.1 and OpenGL titles. The ATI Radeon^TM HD 5570 delivers up to a 60 percent performance improvement over the closest competing product in its class.⁵
• Expanding the Desktop: The latest in ATI Eyefinity technology enables up to three displays to be used with a single ATI Radeon HD 5570 graphics card,¹ delivering a highly immersive gaming experience, and helping to boost productivity in home and office applications.
• Accelerate with ATI Stream technology: ATI Stream technology helps to speed up video transcoding and to improve video playback performance with applications such as Adobe® Flash®.  ATI Stream technology also delivers video enhancements that help enable better visual quality and sharper, more vibrant images.²
• Immersive HD multimedia experience: The ATI Radeon^TM HD 5570 graphics card delivers the same rich HD multimedia capabilities as the enthusiast-class ATI Radeon HD 5870, with features such as HDMI 1.3a with Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio for a premium media PC experience.

About AMD

Advanced Micro Devices (NYSE: AMD) is an innovative technology company dedicated to collaborating with customers and technology partners to ignite the next generation of computing and graphics solutions at work, home and play. For more information, visit http://www.amd.com/

Benchmark Reviews offer related Radeon articles in our Featured Reviews: Video Cards section.

Seagate Savvio 10K.4 Small Form Factor Enterprise Hard Drive Launched

Enterprise storage systems can now move to 600GB capacity, 2 million hour MTBF solution

Seagate Ships World's Highest-Capacity, Most Reliable Small Form Factor Enterprise Drive: The Savvio® 10K.4 Hard Drive Enterprise storage systems can now move to 600GB capacity, 2 million hour MTBF solution Seagate (NASDAQ: STX) today announced worldwide shipments of its Savvio® 10K.4 hard disk drive (HDD), the world's highest-capacity and most reliable 2.5-inch enterprise-class drive. Built for the demands of enterprise servers and to enable new levels of data density in external storage arrays, Savvio 10K.4 doubles the capacity of its nearest competitor to 600GB. It is also the first HDD to achieve an unprecedented 2 million hours Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF) reliability rating.

As the industry's only fourth generation, field-proven, 2.5-inch HDD designed for the enterprise, Savvio 10K.4 also features Protection Information for enhanced protection of data-in-flight, a self-encrypting drive (SED) option for the ultimate protection of sensitive data-at-rest and PowerChoice^TM, which allows the Savvio 10K.4 hard drive to deliver improved power savings during idle.

"Our customers face challenging storage needs requiring the most efficient use of space and power while maintaining the highest performance possible," said Howard Shoobe, senior manager, Dell Storage Product Management. "The new 2.5-inch 10K-rpm 600GB capacity point allows a doubling of capacity within the same rack space of current 3.5-inch 15K 600GB drives while increasing overall system-level performance and decreasing power usage."

The combined features of Savvio 10K.4 deliver greater overall value and can reduce the total cost of ownership to IT organizations and administrators eager to optimize their data center's power and performance efficiency. Leveraging the enterprise 2.5-inch small form factor as its platform, Savvio 10K.4 serves as a powerful storage building block when compared to 3.5-inch based systems.

"A transition to 2.5-inch enterprise-class HDDs by server and storage system OEMs is building momentum," said John Rydning, IDC's research director for hard disk drives. "There continues to be nearly insatiable demand for digital content accessed via numerous applications and devices, content that is increasingly delivered from storage systems equipped with high capacity enterprise-class HDDs such as Seagate's Savvio® 10K.4."

About Seagate

Seagate is the worldwide leader in hard disk drives and storage solutions. Learn more at Seagate.com.