Okoro Media Systems Releases New Media Servers

How did I let this one slip by me?  Congratulations to Okoro Media Systems for jumping into the Windows Home Server Market.  Okoro has been a long-time builder of high quality SageTV and Media Center servers.

Okoro Media Systems, manufacturer of digital entertainment systems for the high end audio video market, is pleased to announce the availability of the 2009 RK Digital Entertainment Servers. This new line of rack mounted servers feature the latest technology while making available custom solutions for many different home theater installations. Each RK system is powered by these standard features:

Rack Mountable Chassis
Intel i7 processor technology
80 GB Solid State Hard Drive OS Drive
Minimum 2TB Media Storage
Blu-ray Drive
Minimum 6GB RAM.
RS232-support
Multi-zone Audio Support

“Our customers and installers have always enjoyed our elegantly designed machines. However we have had many requests for rack mounted systems with more media center options. We are now offering multi-zones audio, solid state drives and SageTV for satellite HD DVR support in our line of premier Digital Entertainment Servers.” says Christopher Curry VP of Sales and Marketing.

The following options are currently available:
Operating Systems:
·Windows Vista Ultimate 32Bit
·Windows Vista Ultimate 64Bit
·Windows Home Server 32bit

Media Servers:
·SageTV
·Windows Media Center

Storage Options:
·SSD OS Drive RAID 1 (Mirroring)
·SSD OS Drive RAID 0 (Striping)
·2 – 32 TB of RAID Storage

Solutions Available:
·SageTV
Satellite and Cable HD premium HD capabilities via HDPVR
Full Music/Photos/Recorded TV/Blu-ray/DVD libraries on extenders
Multi-zone Audio controlled via UMPC or MID

Read more about Okoro Media Systems and the RK Server line here.

Popularity: 9% [?]

Microsoft Announces Windows 7 available for Pre-Order at 50% discount

Microsoft has announced the ability to pre-order Windows 7 at a 50% discount.  This discount will end on July 11th, and the product will shop on October 22nd.

The retail pricing plans for Windows 7 have been officially announced via the Windows 7 Blog. The prices are lower than what Vista had at its launch.

We will offer people in select markets the opportunity to pre-order Windows 7 at a more than 50% discount. In the US, this will mean you can pre-order Windows 7 Home Premium for USD $49.99 or Windows 7 Professional for USD $99.99. You can take advantage of this special offer online via select retail partners such as Best Buy or Amazon, or the online Microsoft Store (in participating markets).

You can find more information on the pre-order program here. 

Here is more information from Ed Bott’s “Screaming Deals” article on ZDNet.

The program kicks off tomorrow, June 26, in the United States, Canada, and Japan. It’s scheduled to end July 11 in the U.S. and Canada and on July 5 in Japan—”or while supplies last,” Microsoft notes.

The discount is 50% or more over the normal estimated retail price (ERP) of the two mainstream consumer editions. In the United States, you’ll be able to buy a Windows 7 Home Premium upgrade for $50 or get Windows 7 Professional for $100. Outside the U.S., Microsoft says, “the special low pre-order price will vary by country.”

The offer is available online at Best Buy and Amazon.com. For the first time that I can remember, the online Microsoft Store will match these discounted prices instead of sticking with the full list price.

If you live in the United Kingdom, France, or Germany, the pre-order period will open on July 15 and close on August 15—or while supplies last.

Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade

Windows 7 Professional Upgrade

 

 

Follow these Amazon links to view the details and pre-order!  If you pre-order with Amazon you can get release date delivery!  Amazon Prime members get Free release date delivery.

 

Also available at Newegg.com

Popularity: 1% [?]

The Home Server Show – 46 Add In Challenge 2009 Top Ten

Today’s show we will talk about the Add-In Challenge Top Ten Ideas.  I’ll go through them one by one and Jim, Chris, and John will throw in their two-cents as well!

Zune HD

Google Analytics for Windows Home Server

Add-In Challenge 2009 Go here to vote!

More details on the top ten ideas

The WHS Add-in Idea Challenge 09 is being run in cooperation with home-server-blog.de, wegotserved.com and the HSB Add-in Team.   Check here for more details and dates.

Syncing bookmarks with Windows Home Server by Drashna

Leave me a voicemail with Skype! Click me to call HomeServerShow.com

Follow the Podcast on Twitter!

Don’t forget to vote for the Home Server Show at Podcast Alley.

My Blog at thedigitallifestyle.com

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Popularity: 7% [?]

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (19.2MB)

Windows 7 RC x64 WHS Password Conflict

When you live on the bleeding edge of technology, you are bound to find a bug now and again.  Users of the 64 bit version of the Windows 7 Release Candidate (Build 7100) have been reporting a problem connecting their machine to their Windows Home Server.  The connector software installs correctly (usually) but then the client alerts you that your Win7 machine and WHS passwords are not the same (even though they are).  When trying to enter the passwords in the prompt to fix the problem, the WHS password is not accepted (even though it is typed correctly).

Thankfully, Dan Parkinson posted a solution in the Windows Home Server Software Forums that works like a charm.  I can’t say I understand why it works, but it does.  Let’s hope this is corrected in the release version of Win7 to avoid confusion amongst WHS users.

Here is the solution posted by Dan:

Run secpol.msc
Drill down through Local Policies | Security Options.
Find Network Security: LAN Manager authentication level.
Set this Send NTLM response only (It is blank by default in the x64 RC)

Reboot the Win7 machine and you should be in business.  (Good work Dan!)

Popularity: 16% [?]

HomeServerShow Live!

There is no podcast this week because I am roasting in hot and sunny Florida.   I am going to test Qik.com for possible use at CES in 2010.  Qik is a video application for mobile phones that allows you to send video from your phone.  It even allows for live video feeds.  You can check in periodically to see what I’m up to.  You do not have to login to view video from Qik users.

http://qik.com/homeservershow

Stay tuned for possible footage of Space Shuttle Endeavour launch at 7:17 A.M. EST, Saturday, June 13th. 

Here is Endeavour on the pad and ready to go.  Weather is clear so it’s just a matter of getting a spot to view the launch and juggling all my cameras!

 

Give Qik.com a try and tell me what you think about it.  If you know of any similar service I would be interested to hear about it.

http://qik.com/homeservershow

Leave a comment or a twitter DM.  http://twitter.com/homeservershow

Popularity: -0% [?]

Hard Drive Dock for Windows Home Server

This deal is from VANTEC NST-D100SU NexStar 2.5/3.5′ target=_blank>ZipZoomFly.com.  Its not very pretty but I like the fact that it’s USB and eSata.  I like the ability to instantly plug a drive in to my WHS or other machines.  It’s $34.99 with a $15 rebate.  End price is $19.99.  Not bad!

 

“The Vantec NexStar Hard Drive Dock is a complete and easy way to add or swap hard drives to your computer.  It gives you the flexibility of connecting any SATA I/II hard drive to your computer via USB 2.0 or eSATA connection without opening up your computer case or installing into an enclosure.  Simply just insert any 2.5” or 3.5” SATA I/II hard drive into the NexStar Hard Drive Dock and you are ready to transfer, copy, or backup files. Quick and easy, the Vantec NexStar Hard Drive Dock is the perfect solution to access your hard drive in seconds.”

 VANTEC NST-D100SU NexStar 2.5/3.5" Hard Drive Docking Station $19.99 after $15 MIR Shipped til 6.7

Popularity: 1% [?]

The Home Server Show 45 – Add Ins I would like to see

Show 45 is all about the Add-In competition sponsored by WeGotServed.com.  Since the competition is closed for submission I am going to share with you my submission and some Add-In’s that I would like to see.  I am joined again by Jim Collison for news and color analysis as well as John(aka Diehard) and Chris Lux.  This was a fun show to record with these guys and I hope you enjoy it.  I am working on a new show format with these guys so hopefully the segments will be cleaned up soon.  Make sure you listen to the whole show this week.  I have a blooper and an out-take at the end.

Please leave me your comments on how you like the co-hosting and if there is anything you would like covered in a future show.

If you would like to record an intro for the podcast give it a shot!  Record an 8 second clip introducing the show and I’ll get it on a future podcast.

Don’t forget that I sometimes publish videos on YouTube.com.  I recently put up a small HD clip of the Blue Angels. I know it’s not WHS related but it’s cool!  I just wanted to test a little HD for some future videos.

The Add-In Competition at WeGotServed.com

Future versions of Windows Home Server?

HP releases Time Machine and Amazon S3 backup services for HP 470 and 475 owners

Twonky Media Server releases in late June

Our special guest, CTLux and his blog from Kenya.

Leave me a voicemail with Skype! Click me to call HomeServerShow.com

Follow the Podcast on Twitter!

Don’t forget to vote for the Home Server Show at Podcast Alley.

My Blog at thedigitallifestyle.com

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Popularity: 5% [?]

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (25.7MB)