The N2560 Network Attached Storage system by Thecus is a mid-level NAS system and it packs an Intel Atom-based Dual-Core processor as well as 2GB of DDR3 RAM. It’s got HDMI and SPDIF Audio outputs on the back for direct media streaming, and can hold 2 HDDs. The N2560 is expected out in May/June 2014 and will retail for $339.
Lately consumers have been shunning the traditional desktop PC for laptops. Today’s mobile processors are powerful enough to meet the average user’s needs, and now power-sipping mobile chips are regularly showing up in PCs sold by companies such as Lenovo, Apple, and Dell. Is there still room for desktop CPUs in computers you won’t hide under the table?
When I reviewed the Synology DS213j, I was impressed with not only the physical device, but also Synology’s Disk Management software called DiskStation Manager AKA DSM. Today, Synology released DSM version 5.0 which includes a revamped user experience, overall performance boosts, optimized multimedia and mobile experiences, and more. Check out the full list of features at Synology’s website.
If any old picture is worth a thousand words, how much would a big, bright, crisp picture be worth? That’s the question raised by the Epson Stylus Photo R2000 printer. 13″ wide, it serves up images that pop off the page; while my other printers max out at 8 1/2″X11″, this printer can handle 13″X19″ printer paper with stunning results.
I love my digital media, so I built my own Home Theater PC that streams all of my movies and TV shows to my HDTV. So, a Network Attached Storage system is perfect for me. The Thecus N2310 is an entry-level NAS with two Hard Drive bays, RAID support and a slew of other features. It retails for $159.
My iPhone-shopping brother-in-law wrote, “I think I know the answer, but is 32GB enough capacity for normal users? I do not have tremendous amounts of data and generally don’t store much in the way of videos.” iPhone storage capacity is a potential issue, but it is one that’s easily resolved thanks to the SanDisk Connect Wireless Flash Drive.
I visited the Cambridge Audio suite during CES 2014. I put on headphones. I listened. The sound stinked. I put a Cambridge Audio DacMagic XS USB DAC / Headphone Amp between the headphones and laptop. The sound was amazing — you might even say magical! The recording was fine. It was the laptop amp and the DacMagic that made all the difference. It turns out the audio amp on a laptop is an amazingly cheap component of most computers. It is fine for notifications and the like, but when it comes to listening to music the amps fall short. They…
An item came across my desk recently that I’m really looking forward to testing, the Thecus N2310 Network Attached Storage system. It’s got two hard drive bays, features RAID support, built-in FTP and BitTorrent clients, and is supposed to take only 5 minutes to set up. Plus, it’s competitively priced at $159. Stay tuned for my full review.
One of the things I love about the new Nokia Windows Phones is that they can utilize inductive charging. Being able to lay my phone on a Qi enabled charging pad throughout the day without plugging in any cables is too convenient; having a charging pad that looks as stylish as the $69.99 TYLT VU is pretty cool, too.
I was impressed by Blue Microphone’s Spark Digital. In my review I noted that it, “the world’s first studio condenser microphone to offer both USB and iPad connectivity” does an excellent job of recording audio from both your Mac and your iPhone. I did, however, lament the fact that it only shipped with a 30-PIN Apple connector. No longer!
Over the past few years I have worked to eliminate as much of the paper-clutter as possible. The NeatConnect cloud scanner takes “paperless” to an entirely new level by allowing you to scan directly to various cloud services without the need of a computer. It is a case of “the right tool for the right job at the right time”.
The Penclic Mouse R2 is designed as an ergonomic alternative to the typical computer mouse. Designed in Sweden, the Penclic was created to coerce it’s owner to use healthy and natural movements to prevent Repetitive Strain Injury or RSI, which may be caused by regular use of a typical computer mouse. The Penclic Mouse R2 retails for $80.
Do you, like me, have boxes of old pictures and greeting cards that are just begging to move into the digital age? Thankfully Epson recently announced the solution.The Epson Perfection V550 Photo offers “superior quality scanning and the ability to upload scans directly to services like Facebook and Picasa”. Just $199.99.
Periods of back trouble can’t slow me down, so I’ve had times when all my writing was done while standing. Many actually feel more productive when working at a standing desk, and I cannot disagree. If you have ever considered using a standing desk, Ergotron’s new WorkFit Sit-Stand Workstations for Apple are worth a look. Check both out here.
A new, stylish external storage solution from Brinell GmbH recently surfaced, revealing seven beautiful SSD form factor styles to choose from. Sporting USB 3.0 specs, the Brinell external SSDs offer zippy read/write speeds in UAS Turbo mode of 420/330 MB/s respectively, with prices starting from about $216 for the 120GB version to $768 USD for 500GB capacity. High-end performance meets high-end materials, with Brinell’s SSD external drives featuring components such as Makassar ebony, Nappa leather, carbon fiber, or stainless steel in various stylings. The externals are lightweight too, weighing in at around 4.2 ounces. Plus, in addition to their zippy,…
Blue Microphones’ Snowball mic is an impressive plug-and-play USB mic for PC and Mac. Now the $99.99 microphones are available for a limited time in Hot Pink, Wicked Purple, Bright Orange, Neon Green and Electric Blue. The Snowball has two condenser mic capsules and can switch between three settings for the best possible recordings. Just $99.99, check it out now.
Neccessity truly is the mother of invention. I threw out my back. Still, I have tons of writing I need to do. I do have an Ergotron Standing Desk but I wanted to be in my kitchen with the doors and windows open. Enter my “mobile standing desk”… an Ikea Poang ottoman set atop our island. Works like a charm.
Bedtime. You check your email one last time, remove your glasses, grab your phone charger and discover the wire has once fallen to the floor… again. You just want to go to sleep, but instead, are blindly searching for the cable. Qooqi, a convenient cable organizer and holder is here to help. Back it on Kickstarter. Qooqi, pronounced “cookie”, is a small unibody aluminum disc designed to hold up to five cables, each 4mm thick, in one place. The metal disc is less than 2” in diameter and as thick as an iPhone 4/4S. The bottom sports nano pad technology…
A few months ago, we reviewed the Spark Digital from Blue Microphone. It impressed me with its design, features and quality. (I also really liked the way it looks.) The Spark Digital has an MSRP of just under $200. That’s not a bad price, but it also puts it a bit out of reach of most consumers looking for a budget speaker. That’s why the Nessie from Blue Microphone intrigued me. Judie and I first saw it at CES 2013, and we were impressed with the design, the quality, the onboard technology and, perhaps most of all, the price. The…
ARS Technica has a hands-on look at using the Leap Motion Controller. If you aren’t familiar with this device, which just began shipping this week, it is a small box that connects to your Mac and allows your hands to act as input devices for your computer. Now in and of itself, that isn’t so interesting. After all, it is your hands on a mouse or trackpad that currently allow you to input and control your computer. The difference here is that the Leap Motion Controller allows you to simply wave your hands in front of the screen and control…
Surge protectors are not the most interesting of accessories. At the same time they are an important part of getting your gear up, running and protected. Most of the time power strips with surge protection come in a straight line of outlets, but that is not the case with the Powramid Power Center and USB Charging Station from Accell. It has a most unusual shape, and it is designed for today’s multi-device setups. Let’s take a look. First and foremost, the Powramid Power Center and USB Charging Station has room for six different plugs to connect at the same time….