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

You have to give Psystar some credit here – they certainly have some balls! Despite their on-going legal trouble with Apple, Psystar continues to up the ante – this time releasing a software package called “Rebel EFI” which essentially makes it possible to run OS X on compatible non-Apple branded PCs. The software is free to download and try although there is limited hardware functionality. The trial version is time limited to two hours – afterwards you’ll need to purchase Rebel EFI from Psystar for $49.99. Looks like you’ll need Snow Leopard to make this work (is this true folks?). Check out the FAQ for instructions on how to install the image.

[Check it out via Ubergizmo]

Technorati Tags: Psystar Rebel EFI

MetroPCS introduces their first Windows Mobile 6.1 smartphone in the form of the new Samsung Code (SCH-i220) handset. Features of the Samsung Code include:

• Optional WizPro interface allows users to easily customize their home screen
• Full complement of Microsoft productivity applications including contacts, calendar, tasks, notes, voice recorder, and Windows Live
• ActiveSync technology support
• Full HTML web browser
• Stereo Bluetooth support
• 2.0 megapixel camera
• Support for up to 32GB memory cards
• QWERTY keyboard
• Built-in MP3 player

The Samsung Code is available now at MetroPCS for $299.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: MetroPCS, Samsung Code

Windows Mobile fans who are also AT&T customers will be thrilled to hear that two new HTC Windows Mobile 6.5 handsets will be coming to the wireless carrier. The two Windows Mobile smartphones, the HTC Tilt 2 and the HTC Pure, feature large touch-screen displays as well as HTC’s unique TouchFLO 3D user interface.

AT&T also announced that they would be supporting the upcoming Windows Marketplace for Mobile once Microsoft releases it later this year.

Here’s what you need to know about the two new Windows Mobile 6.5 handsets.

HTC Tilt 2:

• 3.6 inch widescreen WVGA 480 x 800 display
• Qualcomm MSM 7201a processor clocked at 528 MHz
• 512MB ROM and 288MB RAM
• HSDPA/UMTS: 850/1900/2100 MHz
• GSM/GPRS/Edge Quad-band 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
• HSDPA / UMTS
• HSUPA (capable)
• Internal GPS antenna
• Tri-Axis Accelerometer
• Can be tilted for an expanded viewing area as well as a large QWERTY keyboard
• Dual speakers and dual microphones with advanced noise cancellation
• HTC Straight Talk – simplified conference calling and activation of speakerphone by simply turning over the device
• 3.2 megapixel camera
• Bluetooth 2.1
• Wi-Fi
• microSD slot
• Measures 115.4 x 59.2 x 16.45 and weighs 6.3 oz

HTC PURE:

• Slim bar style handset
• Qualcomm MSM 7201A clocked at 528 MHz
• 512MB ROM and 288MB RAM
• All touch-screen device with 3.2 inch WVGA display
• 5.0 megapixel auto focus camera with video capture
• HSPA/UMTS (850/1900)
• GSM/GPRS/EDGE Qual-band (850/900/1800/1900Mhz)
• HSDPA
• EGPRS Functionality
• Internal GPS antenna
• FM radio
• Wi-Fi
• microSD slot
• Expandable memory
• Gravity sensor
• Ambient light sensor
• Measures 109.9 x 53.4 x 14.95 and weighs 6.28 oz

The HTC PURE will be available for $149.99 while the HTC Tilt 2 will be available for $299.99. Both are after a $50 dollar mail-in rebate and a new two year agreement on a minimum $69.99 plan. The PURE is available now at AT&T retail stores while the Tilt 2 will be available in the coming weeks.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: AT&T, HTC PURE, HTC Tilt 2, Windows Mobile 6.5

Sprint has a new Windows Mobile smartphone coming and its called the Samsung Intrepid. Featuring Windows Mobile 6.5, the Intrepid supports Sprints’s EV-DO Rev A network, international roaming, and a new customizable Today screen which displays the features the user access the most as well as important information such as new emails, text messages, missed calls, and upcoming appointments.

Features and specs to the Intrepid include:

• 2.5 inch touch-screen display with 320 x 240 resolution
• Full QWERTY keyboard
• 3.2 megapixel camera and camcorder
• Microsoft ActiveSync and Microsoft Office Mobile (edit Word and Excel files, view PowerPoint)
• Windows Mobile email
• Stereo Bluetooth support
• microSD slot with support for up to 32GB
• Easy access to social networking sites including Facebook, Flickr, and Twitter
• IM and threaded text messaging
• Wi-Fi connectivity
• Pre-installed SIM card

The Samsung Intrepid will be available starting on October 11th for a price of $149.99 along with a new two year agreement (and after a $50 dollar instant savings, and $100 mail-in rebate)

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Sprint, Samsung Intrepid, Windows Mobile 6.5

Samsung announced last week that their entire lineup of Omnia smartphones would be equipped with Windows Mobile 6.5 once the OS is released by Microsoft. Current owners of Windows-based Omnia phones will also be eligible for upgrades although a timetable has yet to be determined.

Finally Samsung announced the latest model to hit the Omnia series – the B7330 (pictured above). Features of the B7330 include:

• Windows Mobile 6.5 Standard
• Quad-band GSM/EDGE support
• 7.2 Mbps HSDPA/2 Mbps HSUPA radios
• Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.0 connectivity
• Built-in aGPS
• Built-in FM with RDS support
• Full QWERTY keyboard
• 3 megapixel autofocus camera
• microSD card support (up to 32B)

The B7330 will be available in October.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Samsung Omnia B7330, Windows Mobile Smartphone

Here’s a pretty sweet deal. Microsoft is offering cash-strapped college kids a chance to purchase Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium for a mere $29.99. All you’ll need is a valid college email address to be eligible for this offer (yes.. that means you don’t necessarily have to be in college to get this offer – as long as you still have that college email address! Shh…)

Just head on over to http://www.win741.com/ and then click on the “Buy” tile. Then click on “Buy Now $119.99 $29.99” and you’ll be directed to the digitalriver.com website which will then send you an email confirmation.

The offer is good until January 3rd, 2010 at 12:00 AM CST so you do you have some time to take advantage of this offer. Oh yeah.. you won’t be able to download the purchase until October 22nd when Windows 7 becomes officially available.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Windows 741, Windows 7 College Offer

Apple announced today that the next version of OS X, version 10.6 (a.k.a. Snow Leapard), will go on sale starting on Friday, August 28th at Apple retail stores, Apple authorized resellers, and at Apple online. Snow Leopard includes:

• Hundreds of refinements – approximately 90 percent of the 1000+ projects within OS X. Improvements include

• More responsive Finder
• Faster Mail
• Faster initial backups with Time Machine
• Dock with Expose integration
• QuickTime X
• 64 bit version of Safari 4 which is 50 percent faster
• Half the size of previous OS X version and frees up approximately 7 GB of disk space

Pricing for OS X Snow Leopard will be as follows:

For 10.5 Leopard users, a single user upgrade license will cost $29 dollars while the Snow Leopard Family Pack will be available for $49.

For Tiger users with an Intel Mac, the Mac Box Set which includes OS X Snow Leopard, iLife 09 and iWork 09 will be available for $169 while the Family Pack will be available for $229.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Apple, OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard

As we mentioned earlier this morning, Lenovo will be introducing several new products tomorrow in what amounts to their first entry into the digital home space. First up is Lenovo’s first ever home theater PC – the IdeaCentre Q700 – with features such as 1080p playback, digital surround sound, and connectivity straight to an HDTV set. Secondly, to complement the HTPC product, Lenovo will be rolling out their first ever Windows Home Server product –the IdeaCentre D400. The D400 provides a central storage solution for all of your digital content as well as providing an easy means to backup all of your networked PCs. Finally, Lenovo will be rolling out the world’s thinnest nettops in the form of the IdeaCentre Q100 and Q110 series.

Oh and one more item – Lenovo will also be updating their IdeaPad U series of notebooks with the new IdeaPad U450p laptop – a new 14 inch thin and light notebook.

Let’s jump right to it shall we?

First up, there’s Lenovo’s first ever home theater PC – the IdeaCentre Q700.

Features and specs to the Q700 include:

• About the size of a consumer DVD player
• Can be placed vertically or horizontally
• Supports 1080p full HD playback
• 7.1 digital surround sound
• Your choice of fast Intel Core 2 Duo processors
• Support for up to 1TB of disk space
• Eight USB 2.0 ports and an eSATA port
• HDMI and VGA connector

Lenovo currently has one model’s specs up on their website (Q700-3015). This system features the following:

• Intel dual core Pentium Processor E5200
• 4GB PC2-5300 DDR2 RAM
• Intel GMA X4500 graphics
• One VGA, One HDMI with HDCP support
• Choice of 320GB, 500GB, or 640GB 7200RPM SATA drive
• Multi-format DVD burner
• 4 in 1 media card reader
• Intel G43 Express Chipset
• Eight USB 2.0 ports
• microphone
• headphone
• FireWire 400 connector
• Realtek ALC888s HD audio
• Gigabit Ethernet
• Optional NTSC/ATSC tuner
• Black color bezel
• Measures 2.36 x 7.87 x 9.84 inches and weighs 5.69 pounds
• Available in August according to the PDF

The Q700 will be available through business partners and www.lenovo.com with a starting price of around $499 (yes.. I’m lining up for one of these bad boys I think..)

Moving onto storage now, as we mentioned earlier this morning, Lenovo’s first ever Windows Home Server product will be the IdeaCentre D400.

Features of the D400 include:

• Support for up to 8 terabytes of total disk space
• Hot swap different brands and capacities of hard drives
• Five USB ports including a front mounted port with one-touch data copy function
• eSATA port for high-speed data transfer
• The D400 will have a starting price of $499

Next up, Lenovo has these down-right super-sexy, super-thin nettops – the IdeaCentre Q100 and Q110.

Featuring a new stylish black patterned design, the nettops measure a mere 0.7 inches thin making them about the size of a book! Features include:

• Intel Atom processor
• The Q110 model will be equipped with NVIDIA ION graphics which means this box will be able to support HD video and provide accelerated media conversation etc
• Measures 6 x 6.3 x 0.7 inches
• Q100 runs on just 14 watts when idle and 40 watts at full operation
• Q100 supports VGA output while Q110 supports 1080p HD video with DirectX 10 graphics along with NVIDIA CUDA technology
• The Q100 will have a starting price of $249
• The Q110 will have a starting price of $349

Finally, here’s information on the newly announced IdeaPad U450p notebook/laptop.

• Intel Pentium SU2700 processor or Intel Core 2 Solo SU3500 processor
• Windows Vista Home Premium
• Intel Integrated Graphics X4500
• 3-4GB RAM
• 14 inch HD antiglare display with 1366 x 768 resolution
• Touchpad
• 250 – 320GB 5400 RPM HDD
• DVD burner
• 6 cell lithium ion battery
• Wi-Fi
• Prices starting at $799

Have to admit – the IdeaPad U450p looks pretty sweet in terms of portability. These inexpensive thin and lights are certainly making heads turn if you ask me.

Technorati Tags: Lenovo, IdeaCentre Q700 HTPC, IdeaCentre D400 WHS, IdeaCentre Q100/Q110 Nettops, IdeaPad U450p Laptop

Oh man.. I can’t stand teasers.. and Lenovo is totally being a tease by releasing sneak peaks (or pictures at this point) of two sets of upcoming products – the D400 Windows Home Server and the Q100/Q110 nettop systems.

Not much is really known about either product but according to this tweet from the official Lenovo Twitter account, the Q100/Q110 nettop is supposedly “some of the thinnest nettops in the world”. Heck.. it’s definitely one of the sexiest nettops out there if you ask me. Expect this to be an Atom-based system – would love to have this in the kitchen coupled with a nice wall-mounted display.

As for the D400, this is Lenovo’s first Windows Home Server product featuring four hot swappable hot drives, 4 USB ports, and a single eSATA port. In many ways it resembles the Acer Aspire easyStore Windows Home Server. You’ll be able to find more info at WeGotServed.com.

Expect Lenovo to release information on these two product lines this week. Exciting stuff.

[Check it out via Akihabara News]

Technorati Tags: Lenovo, Lenovo Q100/Q110 Nettop, Lenovo D400 Windows Home Server