End User

New Linksys E-Series Routers Boost Speed, Cut Down Hassle

I'm currently visiting my Mom's home in Portland and had to do some heavy-duty uploading and downloading of files from my Dropbox account, and it seemed to take forever. After a bit of investigating, I was satisfied that there wasn't a problem with my MacBook Pro or Dropbox--it was the classic blue Linksys 802.11b/g router that's been kicking out her Internet connection now for about 6 years.

With the Wireless-N Wi-Fi standard now fully becoming standard (no longer draft) and the need for faster download of streaming media (what with all the HD videos of her grandson that she needs to download), it's high time I upgraded her router. And conveniently, Cisco just announced the launch of its new Linksys E-Series Wireless-N routers this week.

The E-Series isn't completely new, as the top-of-the-line E4200 model came out in January. But the rest of the line-up--which includes four Wireless-N routers of varying specs and prices--continue the design motif that CrunchGear describes as a "little alien racecar." Starting things out is the affordable E1200, which will get you started with the improved speed and enhanced coverage area that Wireless-N provides for just $50. The step-up E1500 adds Cisco's SpeedBoost technology, which might be a better choice for bathing a larger home in Wi-Fi goodness.

Bringing more specs to the party are the dual-band E2500 and E3200, which can operate in both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wireless-N frequencies and thereby improve your overall bandwidth by using those bands simultaneously. Additionally, the E3200 includes four Gigabit wired Ethernet ports (compared to Fast 10/100 Ethernet for the E1200, E1500, and E2500) and a USB port for connecting an external hard drive that can be shared with everyone on your network.

At the top of the E-Series heap is the E4200, which tops out at 450 Mbps throughput at the 5 GHz frequency (compared to 300 Mbps for the E2500 and E3200)--perfect for wirelessly streaming Full HD 1080p video through your home.

And each of the E-Series routers comes with Cisco Connect software, which makes setting up a new Wi-Fi network a breeze even for those who, say, might lean on their son for long-distance home IT projects. With Cisco Connect, you can set up a network in three simple steps, as well as set parental controls and provide Internet access for guests on a separate guest network.

Check out the full lineup of Linksys E-Series routers, and do a little compare-and-contrast for yourself with this handy table.

Linksys Wireless-N Router Comparison

Models:	E1200	E1500	E2500	E3200	E4200
Technology	Wireless-N
Wi-Fi Max Speed	300 Mbps	300 Mbps	300 Mbps	300 Mbps	300 Mbps in 2.4GHz 450 Mbps in 5Ghz
Compatibility	Wireless-N, -B, -G	Wireless-N, -B, -G	Wireless-N, -A, -B, -G	Wireless-N, -A, -B, -G	Wireless-N, -A, -B, -G
Bands	Single-band 2.4 GHz	Single-band 2.4 GHz	Simultaneous Dual-band 2.4 + 5 GHz	Simultaneous Dual-band 2.4 + 5 GHz	Simultaneous Dual-band 2.4 + 5 GHz
Transmit/Receive Streams	2 x 2	2 x 3	2 x 2	2 x 3	3 x 3
SpeedBoost
Power Amplifiers	Integrated On-Chip	External Off-Chip	Integrated On-Chip	External Off-Chip High Power	External Off-Chip High Power
Ports	4 x 10/100	4 x 10/100	4 x 10/100	4 x Gigabit 1 x USB	4 x Gigabit 1 x USB
USB Features				Shared Storage  Shared Printer*	Shared Storage   Shared Printer* Media Server
Wi-Fi Protected Setup	Yes
UPnP Support	Yes
Parental Controls	Time of Day Access Controls Specific Website Blocking
Guest Wi-Fi Access	Separate SSID for guests keeps your WiFi private
Wireless Security	WEP, WPA and WPA2 Personal and Enterprise, RADIUS
Warranty	1 year hardware limited warranty, 90 days complimentary assisted support
Package Contents	Router, AC Adapter, CD-ROM with setup software, Ethernet Network Cable, Quick Start Guide
Setup Software CD	Cisco Connect Windows XP SP3, Vista SP1 or later, Windows 7 Mac OS X 10.5, 10.6

^{* Shared printer support available via firmware/software download in Summer 2011 (E4200 and E3200)}

--Agen G.N. Schmitz

Get Connected: Amazon Connected Home Opens Its Doors

While it might be lacking the jet packs and space station vacation resorts I dreamed of as a youth in the mid-70s, I love today's modern world of technology where I get to live and play with technology that would seem so sci-fi or magical some 30-plus years ago. Imagine telling my 10-year-old self back in 1977 that 33 years hence I'd be able to listen to virtually any song I could think of--anywhere in my house and at any time--rather than have to rely on calling up the local radio station to request another play of Meco's Star Wars Theme and wait through hours of Rod Stewart and Peter Frampton before it played. Or that I didn't have to wait until summer re-runs to watch my favorite episode of Logan's Run again (not to mention that a TV with rabbit ears wasn't required).

But while these little bits of magic are available to us in a plethora of forms--gadgets, software, network connections--getting the magic to perform for you and sifting through exactly what you need to make it happen can get overwhelming.

That's where the new Amazon Connected Home section comes in. Officially launching this week, Amazon Connected Home pulls together a plethora of articles, videos, and FAQs about a wide range of technologies that can help you do more in your house without having your mind boggled. The sections include how-to materials on:

• Streaming music through your home
• Watching streaming Internet movies and TV shows on your HDTV
• Improving your cell phone coverage via your own mini cell tower or over Wi-Fi
• Using security cameras in your house and remotely
• Controlling home lighting and appliances remotely
• Sharing printers on your network with multiple computers

Each section provides some options on what might suit your needs, as well as some handy FAQs for those who aren't completely savvy about tech terms like femtocell or powerline networking. (And if you're still not sure about how best to get started with setting up a home network, be sure to check out the Networking 101 guide.)

But the centerpiece of Connected Home is the series of 1-minute videos created for each section and hosted by Paul Hochman (seen on the screen grabs on the right). The Connected Home team and Paul have done a great job at synthesizing the basics of each home-connecting subject and providing a primer on what the tech can do for you as well as introducing some solutions to look into--all with a bit of humor (a spoonful of which definitely helps the tech specs go down).

Now, if you consider yourself an advanced gadget tinkerer who can pull together a PC from spare parts lying around the house, you might feel that these videos might be a bit too basic. But they're perfect for your parents or your less geeked-out friends. I often get phone calls from my Mom, Mother-In-Law, or pals who are swimming hard against the tide of tech and need either some suggestions on how to accomplish certain connectivity projects... and Connected Home is a great place to send them to learn about the possibilities.

But you might also learn a thing or two as well. While going through the videos in Connected Home, my wife (who's an architect) was watching over my shoulder in our home office, and we both got excited about some of the solutions for automating our home that we'd never considered before--from door locks that can open using your cell phone to easy monitoring of our home energy use (we are definitely ordering this featured Black & Decker Power Monitor).

Check out Amazon Connected Home today.

--Agen G.N. Schmitz

Go Green with New ASUS Bamboo Laptop and Get Some Amazon Green Back

The newly revamped Bamboo Series laptop for ASUS is now available at Amazon.com, and you can get a $150 Amazon.com Gift Card with your purchase of the 14-inch ASUS U43JC-X1. Sleekly designed with a combination of brushed metal and rich, deep brown bamboo, the U43JC is specced out with a 2.4 GHz Intel Core-i5-450M, 500 GB hard drive, 4 GB of DDR3 RAM, LED-backlit 14-inch HD display, and up to 10 hours of battery life (with help from the ASUS Super Hybrid Engine's preset power profiles).

Additionally, it's outfitted with some new, bleeding-edge tech, including a USB 3.0 port for up to 10 times faster transfer speeds (as well as two USB 2.0 ports) and Intel's WiDi HD Wireless Display technology--which enables you to wirelessly transmit high-definition video to a compatible HDTV or external monitor.

It also features dual graphics processing--NVIDIA GeForce 310M with 1 GB of discrete memory and integrated Intel HD graphics--with NVIDIA Optimus technology, which seamlessly switches between the two graphics processors depending on the intensity level of your computing needs.

To purchase the ASUS U43JC-X1 and claim your $150 Amazon.com Gift Card, check out this promotion page (which explains how to take advantage of the deal, as well as explains the always important terms and conditions).

--Agen G.N. Schmitz

Turning Heads Everywhere This Spring

 

The HP spring collection has arrived at Amazon, bringing haute couture to high technology. Whether your closet is full of little black dresses or the hottest prints of the season, find the HP computer that’s the perfect accessory for you at home, at work, or on the go.

 

 

Leading this fashion-forward line is the HP Mini 210-1099SE Vivienne Tam Edition netbook. Unwrap the gift-box packaging to reveal this season’s must-have! The champagne gold-colored digital clutch gets its look from the Butterfly Lovers theme of Vivienne Tam’s Spring 2010 Runway Collection. Weighing only 2.69 pounds, it’s ultra-portable and easy to carry in the matching microfiber sleeve included in the box. Customize your desktop with exclusive wallpapers that bring the Butterfly Lovers design onto the display and check your makeup on-screen using the Compact Mirror software. Video chat using the integrated webcam, plus access your favorite websites fast using HP QuickWeb. You can also sync this netbook with your home or office computer using HP QuickSync, built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth^®. And every fashionista knows that accessories complete the look: coordinate your netbook with the HP Wireless Optical Mouse Vivienne Tam Edition.

 

If you’re looking for a laptop with a touchscreen, check out the HP TouchSmart tm2-1070us Notebook PC. It has a 12.1-inch diagonal widescreen display that you can touch, twist and fold flat. Sketch drawings and capture handwritten notes on the go using the included pen. This laptop also sports a stylish finish of brushed aluminum with the riptide design in argento blush.

 

Be sure to look for products from the HP Spring Collection in Sex in the City 2, in theaters May 27, 2010. Mark your calendar!

- Aaron

VideoLAN (of VLC Fame) to Release a Video Editor

In one of the best pieces of open-source software news this month, VideoLAN, the organization behind the popular cross-platform video player/encoder VLC, has announced that they are working on a cross-platform movie editor dubbed the VideoLAN Movie Creator (VLMC).

The VLMC will be open-source software released for Windows, Mac, and Linux, just like VLC.  And because VLC is, hands-down, the best video playing app in existence, it's fair to expect that VLMC will be a strong competitor against Windows Movie Maker and iMovie, with active development and frequent feature updates.  And Linux users will finally have a truly decent basic movie editor.

Not a lot of info is available just yet as the pre-alpha software hasn't been publicly released, but early reports show nonlinear editing, history undo/redo, and an easy-to-understand GUI.  An early version that the public can play with is supposed to come out "very soon", but you can take a tour of the basic features by watching the video below, made by the development team.

--Aric A.

Acer Rises to 2nd Place in Global PC Sales, Announces Chrome OS for 2010

Acer has found itself in a very comfortable second position among global PC sales this quarter, ranking just under computer giant Hewlett-Packard. The Taiwan-based company even surpassed Dell this quarter, and reported some rather impressive numbers: shipments were up 16.6 percent over last year's quarter and 30 percent over last quarter. This is the first time an Asian OEM has held the number 2 spot. Lenovo, based in China, also experienced an impressive leap, finishing just under Dell for a fourth-place rank.

Having just purchased an Acer 23" monitor, I can't say I'm surprised at the news. The reviews for the monitor were extremely positive, and it literally blew everything in its price range out of the water in terms of size and price so even in recession mode I could afford it. And so far, I'm extremely pleased with the product.

But it's no secret that Acer's products have delivered some impressive performance over the last few years at extremely competitive prices. The key to their success, according to iSuppli principal analyst Matthew Wilkins, has to do with the burgeoning trend of smaller, more portable computer sales. In spite of the global recession, Wilkins explains that the notebook market has held strong:

"The third-quarter performances of Acer and Lenovo are just the latest development in the long-term rise of Asian manufacturers in the global PC market… The Asian manufacturers are a growing force in the global PC business due to their aggressive pricing along with their ability to quickly react and embrace new developments, such as the netbook PC."

Acer's netbooks are certainly one of their greatest strengths. For under $400, the little machines pack a punch, such as with the AspireOne, collecting just under 300 five-star reviews since its release. The newer model boasts a sleeker a design and an even longer battery life—over seven hours total. So I'd argue that it's not just a matter of aggressive pricing, but simply solid performance and competitive specifications.

While toying with the idea of buying a netbook recently, many people recommended the Acer. And after a quick visit to the local gadget store, I saw why. The keyboard is excellent, the screen is clear, and the specifications are just as good—if not better in some cases—than some of its competitors. Not to mention the price, too. Sure, it might not have a Vivienne Tam edition, but who cares? It's performance that matters in the long haul.

But Acer has some intriguing plans for the future as well, it seems, that go beyond price and specs. Earlier this month Acer announced that they are planning to release the first Chrome OS notebook, hoping to see it hit shelves some time in the next six months. While we've seen plenty of notebooks and netbooks now coming pre-installed with Linux, this is the first time Acer has gone out and announced their plans to release a Chrome OS product into the wild, as it were. A handful of other manufacturers have expressed interest to do the same, and Dell has even released an unofficial version that works with the Dell Mini 10v Netbook, but that Acer has moved this far ahead in the game is telling.

Perhaps it's beyond aggressive pricing and performance, then. Perhaps the key to surviving during and after the recession is rooted in innovation, too.

Hide Your Netbooks: 10.6.2 Snow Leopard Update to Kill Atom CPU Support

If you've been drooling at the thought of a $300 Apple netbook by installing OS X onto a Dell Mini 10v or similarly compatible ultraportable, you may want to do it now--according to OS X Daily, there's a substantiated rumor that the next Snow Leopard update is going to lock out support for Atom processors. 

If you already have a netbook running OS X, you should be good for a while by simply not updating, and hope that someone in the meantime figures out an easy way to mod the OS X kernel for future installs to reinstate Atom support.

It's rumored that locking out netbooks from future OS X installs is part of laying the groundwork for the release of Apple's long-hinted-at tablet netbook. But either way, if you were thinking about getting your Leopard on for cheap, you may want to hurry.

--Aric A.

Easiest Hack Ever: Install All Your Essential Programs at Once with Ninite

If you've ever had to do a format and reinstall of Windows XP (and I like XP, but everyone's had to do it at least once), you're familiar with the hours spent on a fresh desktop hunting down drivers and all the essential programs you need to get back to being productive.

Ninite (formerly a project called Volery) can take one of the lengthiest steps out of the process of any new Windows install.  It's a site with a catalog of useful free software--familiar apps like Firefox, Pidgin, Skype, and VLC--that you can select for download.  Once you've selected all the software you need, simply click "Get Installer" and you'll download a sub-200K file that you can carry anywhere for future installs.  (The installer will have a huge filename, so you may want to rename it for convenience, but this is optional.)  Keep it on a flash drive, or even save it in a draft email in your Gmail like I do, and you'll always have one-click access to your most-needed apps for those dark days when there's no other way to be sure but to nuke your hard drive from orbit.

Using the installer will install each of the programs you selected without any input needed, selecting each program's default settings and automatically refusing any addons like browser toolbars.  Note that this does mean that if you need special settings, like different install paths, they won't be available; once it starts, you can cancel the process but otherwise can't affect it.

There are only a couple of catches.  First, no 64-bit apps are available, though they're reportedly coming soon.  Second, as mentioned, you only get the default settings with each install, so you'll still have to do a little configuring once everything's up and running.  Lastly, Ninite is currently free to use, but will eventually have the option of "premium accounts", with free accounts to lose some features (but not the basic purpose or functionality).  So you may want to hop on and grab your essential programs while you can. 

Ninite works for Windows XP, Vista, and 7.  Grab your own custom installer at the Ninite website.

Next Year, Will There Be a Place for Linux on the Desktop?

In the interest of full disclosure, I use Linux every day; I use Ubuntu 9.04 on my home desktop (dual-booted with Windows 7 for gaming) and Linux Mint on my laptop, and I enjoy using both.  For a couple of years now I've been one of the flag-wavers anticipating "the year of the Linux desktop", where open-source software and community-driven solutions take the place of locked-down proprietary systems and outmoded DRM schemes.

But even as each iteration of popular Linux distributions like Ubuntu and Fedora get more polished and user-friendly, it seems the practical case for desktop Linux is getting harder and harder to make.  Why?  While Linux will always dominate as an operating system for servers and certain embedded applications, there are two key issues at hand that may make Linux on the desktop nothing more than a novelty next year (if not already).

1) Windows and Mac have both stepped up their game.  There was a window of time about this time last year, where if you wanted a powerful 64-bit OS that was stable, customizable, and had a wide range of useful 64-bit applications available, Linux was actually your only real option.  Mac's presentation has always been tight, but Leopard couldn't take full advantage of the 64-bit Intel chips every Mac was shipping with.  And Vista was...well...Vista; the 64-bit version was plagued with application compatibility problems, and while the situation has been improved since, it was a while before a smoothly-running 64-bit Windows Vista machine was attainable.

But now we have Snow Leopard and Windows 7.  Both operating systems out of the gate are fairly polished, reliable experiences.  The 64-bit Snow Leopard had a few hiccups during takeoff but most issues are being addressed as fast as they're being recognized.  And Windows 7's 64-bit version was more stable even as a beta than any previous Microsoft product in memory.  What this means is that if you want a fast, stable, 64-bit desktop experience, you have three solid choices: Windows, OS X, and Linux.  They all require very little configuration upon install, all are capable of updating themselves automatically, and all have a good number of 64-bit applications available.  So choosing between them now largely comes down to the individual needs of the consumer, and marketing.

2) Embedded devices risk getting more proprietary, not less.  The most appealing thing about Linux is its openness--the desire to absorb all good ideas, support all hardware, and allow anyone to contribute physical changes to the operating system.  But one device stands in direct opposition to those principles, and it's a device that is single-handedly changing the way manufacturers think about making hardware and software: the iPhone.  With the number of shipping units bordering on out of control, and App Store revenue in the hundreds-of-millions-of-dollars range, it's safe to say that the iPhone business model of locked-in hardware and a Byzantine software release process is going to become (or at least heavily influence) the yardstick for future gadget releases.  Indeed, even the Palm Pre, which was supposed to be the partially-open answer to the iPhone, seems to have suddenly found a few cloaks and daggers of their own.

This doesn't leave Linux completely out in the cold--many phones and portable media players work just fine in Linux.  But the iPhone, the big dog at the table, doesn't work with Linux (and running Windows in VirtualBox doesn't count), and if the gadget landscape takes its cues from Apple's business model then the chances of Linux-incompatible devices being released in the short term go up, not down.

What do you think?  Does Linux have a rocky road ahead in the coming year in the face of strong offerings from Microsoft and Apple, or will the increased improvements in compatibility and user-friendliness along with its supreme stability and ability to be customized keep it an appealing free alternative to the major players?

--Aric A.

New MediaSmart Home Servers with Improved Mac and Media Functionality

The nicely compact HP MediaSmart home server.

The new Mac interface.

As mentioned in last week's roundup of Apple news, HP just released updated versions of its MediaSmart home server line--the EX490 with a 1 TB hard disk drive and the EX495 with a 1.5 TB drive. If you're not familiar with the concept, a home server provides much of the same functionality as an external hard drive connected to one of your home computers--you can store media files for accessing by the connected PC as well as other computers on the network and back up your PC's hard drive. Where the home server differs is how it's connected. Instead of being attached to a single PC via USB, the home server connects to your home network's router using Ethernet. This in turn provides you more flexibility for accessing content and backing up files from all of your home computers as well as providing a gateway to accessing files remotely while outside your home.

As noted, both models come with a goodly amount of storage to start you off (either 1 TB or 1.5 TB). But with the growing amount of digital storage home users require for storing digital media files--especially as we move into a brave new world of TV and movies downloaded from the Internet--both MediaSmart servers provide three additional bays for plugging in optional extra hard drives for up to 7 more terabytes of storage. But wait, there's more... Using the four USB ports and one eSATA port, you can connect additional external hard drives for a grand total of 17 TB of internal and external storage.

Back in early 2008, I got to play around with HP's Media Vault mv2120--a smaller version of the MediaSmart server line that offered just one additional hard drive bay. The installation and swapping of hard drives from that open drive bay was easy peasy, and I enjoyed using it for the most part. At the time, our household was a mixed PC/Mac environment, and my wife got the most use out of it as she was the Windows user of the family and the mv2120 only did automated backups from Windows machines. I could manually back up files from my Mac--including an iTunes library that could be shared--but that was it. We also had to use the Windows PC to perform most of the management and maintenance as the web control interface was limited.

HP made great strides at improving functionality for Mac users with its previous MediaSmart release at Macworld earlier this year (the EX485), with compatibility for Time Machine backups--but, it was subsequently discovered that while you could recover individual files, you couldn't do a full system restore.

However, the new EX490/EX495 models now offer full recovery from Time Machine as well as some additional functionality that Mac users have been yearning for from HP's MediaSmarts. TUAW has the overview:

HP obviously listened to the concerns of Mac users while designing the new servers, since a Windows PC is no longer required in order for administration. Instead, Mac owners can use Microsoft's new Remote Desktop Connection for Mac 2.0 to log in and make changes. The servers are also Time Machine friendly, and include a new HP utility that allows bare metal recovery of machines backed up onto the server. Also new to the servers is the HP Media Collector, which automatically collects and organizes media files from Macs or PCs on a network, and then makes the data available for streaming over the Internet.

Additionally, the MediaSmart now includes a video converter software that, according to the press release, "automatically converts videos, including unprotected DVDs, into a format that can be played at the home or remotely. Users are able to control how their videos are converted by selecting the device the video will be played on or choosing specific video settings using the advanced controls features."

And, if you have an iPhone or iPod touch, HP provides a free app (downloadable from the iTunes Store) that enables you to stream your photo, music and video libraries wherever you have an Internet connection. Other improvements to the new lineup include more powerful processors (2.2 GHz Celeron for the EX490 and a 2.5 GHz dual-core Pentium for the EX495) and improved web-based administration interface. I've been dabbling with some research into Mac-friendly home servers recently--now that my wife has inherited my old MacBook Pro--that could handle effortless Time Machine backups as well as provide better media serving to all of our Mac-based machines (including an Apple TV). I'd been focusing on the good potential offered by Iomega's new NAS solution, the StorCenter ix4-200d, but I think I'll be investing in one of the new MediaSmarts this fall.

For more on the new crop, check out this hands-on review as well as a review of the Mac-friendly features over at MediaSmarthome. Both the EX490 and EX495 are shipping now.

--Agen G.N. Schmitz