Sony Updates Vaio Line with Penryn
Sony has finally updated its sexy Vaio series with the latest Intel Penryn processors. Apart from this upgrade, a few models have been equipped with Blu-ray drives as well.
Among the new upgrades, the first series to get a spruce-up is the Vaio AR60. This new series comes with an Intel Core 2 Duo T8300 processor, Nvidia GeForce 8600M GT graphics (512MB VRAM) and a Blu-ray drive. The 17-inch WUXGA widescreen display gives you 1080p Full HD in brilliant color, with X-black LCD screen enhancement and super-bright double lamp illumination. The AR60 also provides 4GB RAM, hybrid DVB-T digital/analog tuner, remote control, and HDMI.
Next to be upgraded is the VAIO SZ70 Series. The highlight of this series is the fact that these are lightweight (1.79kg) ultraportable machines that boast a carbon fiber chassis and power-saving LED screens. The notebook also incorporates an Intel Core 2 Duo T9300 processor and a unique Stamina Mode switch that allows users to select between settings i.e. they can choose extended battery life of over 5 hours or exceptional graphics power, depending on what they need. It has 4GB of memory and a 250GB hard drive.
Next up is the VAIO CR30 Series, which can be customized with either C2D T8100 or T8300 processor. It offers a 1.3 megapixel Motion Eye webcam, and a unique AV Mode feature that lets you watch films on DVD or play audio CDs without needing to start Windows.
The final product in our list is the Sony Vaio TP2 Home Entertainment Center. This is the famous circular HTPC that now packs in an Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 processor, Blu-ray Disc Combo Drive, HDMI, hybrid DVB-T digital/analog tuner, and a 500GB hard disk.
source:tech2
Canon VIXIA HV30 HD Camcorder With Advanced DIGIC DV II Image Processor
Canon has recently announced the launch of its latest VIXIA HV30 HD camcorder, which is the successor to the highly acclaimed, award-winning Canon HV20, incorporating Canon exclusive advanced features to bring knowledgeable and demanding videographers the ultimate in HD video and digital photo quality.
The latest Canon VIXIA HV30 is the stylish and compact camcorder which able to capture 16:9 format, true 1080 High Definition resolution video to MiniDV cassette tapes.
Key Features Of Canon VIXIA HV30:
* 2.96 Megapixel Full HD CMOS Sensor (1920 x 1080)
* DIGIC DVII image processor
* SuperRange Optical Image Stabilization
* 2.7-inch Multi-Angle Vivid Widescreen LCD
* Instant AF (Auto Focus)
* HD Video Lens - 10x HD Genuine Canon Optical zoom
* HDMI & Advanced Accessory Shoe Terminals
* 30p Progressive Mode and 24p Cinema Mode
“With the exception of those features, the product is the same as the HV20. Is it a revolutionary product? No. But it’s a very strong product as the HV20 was a very strong product and we added just a couple of features…to make it even more attractive to a wider range of consumers,” said Mitchell Glick, assistant manager of Product Marketing, Consumer Division for Canon USA.
The new Canon VIXIA HV30 HD camcorder is expected to be available at the end of February for $999.
Barracuda bites back in ClamAV spat
Security vendor Barracuda Networks has vowed to defend itself against a patent infringement accusation by Trend Micro..
Barracuda claims to have received repeated requests from Trend Micro to remove ClamAV from its products or pay a licence fee.
ClamAV is a free and open source security application originally developed by Tomasz Kojm in 2001. More than a million unique IP addresses download updates daily.
The software was acquired by Sourcefire, the company that created Snort, in August 2007.
However, Barracuda claims that Trend Micro is seeking to enforce a patent that gives it control of antivirus scanning at the gateway, thereby dragging ClamAV, as a gateway scanning tool, into the row.
“Trend Micro’s actions illustrate that ClamAV and other open source projects remain vulnerable to commercial patent holders attempting to hinder the free and open source community,” said Dean Drako, president and chief executive at Barracuda.
“Trend Micro appears to be seeking an interpretation of its ‘600 patent such that it would have exclusive control of gateway antivirus scanning.
“Scanning for viruses at the gateway is an obvious and common technique that is used by most businesses worldwide.
“So this interpretation would mean that anyone, including the owners of the more than one million active ClamAV installations, could potentially be sued by Trend Micro.”
Barracuda claims that Trend Micro’s subsequent ITC claim alleges that Barracuda infringes on Trend’s ‘600 patent, but effectively implies that any anyone using ClamAV at the gateway infringes on the patent.
Barracuda believes that the patent is invalid due to prior art, and that neither its products nor ClamAV infringe the patent.
“Trend Micro’s claim with the ITC is unfounded since the ITC generally oversees import issues,” said Drako.
“Barracuda designs and manufactures all of the products in question in the US. We believe that Trend Micro’s actions are a blatant abuse of the US legal system.
“Since Trend Micro is a consumer of free and open source software we call on Trend Micro to drop these attacks.”
Juniper launches its first ever Ethernet switch
Cisco rival Juniper networks ups the ante this week with the launch of itsfirst Ethernet switches.
Cisco-rival Juniper Networks has today launched its first ever enterprise-class Ethernet switches, the EX series.
Juniper is launching three switch ranges in the range, code-named Hurricane, the EX 3200 series, its fixed configuration platform, the EX 4200 series, a Power over Ethernet (PoE)-based range, and the EX 8200 terabit chassis-based system. All will run under Juniper’s single-source network operating system, Junos.
The EX 3200 series is a standalone system, available in 24 or 48 gigabit port versions and aimed at low-density regional and corporate office deployments. The systems come with optional four port gigabit small form factor pluggable (SFP) and two port 10 GbE uplink small form factor pluggable (XFP) modules.
The EX 4200 series is a stackable system which can be deployed in datacentres or corporate and regional office environments. The EX 4200 series comes in 24 or 48 gigabit port versions, and offer 802.3af-based Power over Ethernet (PoE).
There is also a 24 port gigabit fibre only model, the EX 4200. This uses what Juniper calls, ‘Virtual Chassis’ technology to enable the interconnection of up to 10 EX 4200’s over a 128Gbit/s backplane.
The modular EX 8200 terabit chassis-based systems are aimed at enterprise high-density 10GbE enterprise core and aggregation deployments. There are two models: an eight-slot 1.6 terabit chassis and a 16-slot 3.2 terabit chassis.
Juniper said that these switches, would, “Offer some of the industry’s highest wire-speed 10GbE port densities for its switch class - 64 ports in the eight-slot chassis and 128 ports in the 16-slot chassis.”
The EX 3200 and EX 4200 series switches should be available in March according to Juniper, with list pricing for the EX 3200 series and EX 4200 series starting at $4,000 and $6,000 respectively. The EX 8200 series is expected later this year.
