Ok, I know we’ve already had a few different announcements and launches already, and many of you already have your OEM copies installed, but for the rest of the world out there, Microsoft are today announcing the official release and general availability of Windows Home Server.
The release coincides (neatly) with the news that the HP Mediasmart Home Server is available to pre-order today at major online retailers. The 500Gb EX470
, circuitcity.com and compusa.com.
Also today Microsoft are announcing new hardware and software partners for the platform - I’m covering the news in detail in separate posts, but here are the highlights in today’s announcement:
Hardware
- HP Mediasmart Server now available to pre-order online in the USA. Product will be shipping at the end of November.
- Fujitsu Siemens Scaleo Home Server will be shipping in Europe in “late” 2007.
- Iomega today annouce availablity in early 2008 of their Iomega HomeCenter Server, shipping with 500Gb storage and four hot swappable drive bays.
- Velocity Micro are today announcing availability of their NetMagix HomeServer, which can be stored vertically and horizontally, with storage options starting at 1Tb.
- The Life|ware Life|storage system will also be shipping in early 2008, including Life|ware Entertainment and Automation Server software for home management.
- Maxdata will soon be releasing their Belinea o.center system, also with 4 drive bays (no date is given on this one, and it could just be Germany only).
- Medion will ship their Medion Home Server system in Europe before the end of the year, which, as we saw in this year’s IFA preview, includes PacketConnect media streaming software.
- Tranquil PC’s T7-HSA is now shipping in 500Gb and 1Tb options worldwide from the UK. (Check out our review)
- Small system builders including Advantech, Ace Computers, PC Club and Universal Systems Inc. are also now offering Windows Home Server systems utilising the System Builder version of WHS.
Software
Okay, let’s take a look over at the software side. A number of software developers today announced support for and availability of applications to extend the potential of Windows Home Server. Here’s the highlights:
- Avira today announced that its malware detection and removal technology will support Windows Home Server.
- Diskeeper are releasing Diskeeper 2008 HomeServer, which defragments and optimises your home server’s hard disks - again, the software is available today.
- Embedded Automation Inc. today released the mControl add-in for Windows Home Server, which provides home automation functionality.
- Proxure Inc. announced the release of KeepVault for Windows Home Server, providing automatic, online backup and storage of data.
- SageTV LLC released SageTV Media Server for Windows Home Server, enabling media streaming from Windows Home Server to any PC or Macintosh, at home or over the Internet.
- SightSpeed Inc. announced SightSpeed 6.0 video chat service compatibility with Windows Home Server.
- Telligent Systems’ forthcoming content management platform, Graffiti CMS, will be compatible with Windows Home Server, enabling users to quickly create personal Web sites and blogs.
- WiLife Inc. announced the release of Command Center Software version 2.1 home security software for Windows Home Server.
- Additional support for Windows Home Server will come in the future from other hardware and siftware manufacturers such as Alwil (Avast Anti-Virus), F-Secure (Anti-Virus), CEIVA (digital photo frames), Iron Mountain (off-site data protection), JungleDisk (online backup services), Lagotek (home automation management), LobsterTunes (mobile streaming), PacketVideo (in home and mobile streaming), Raxco PerfectDisk (disk defragmentation), Riptopia (CD ripping), Sonos (in home music distribution and playback) and Whiist (web page hosting).
Phew! That’s a lot of news… check out Microsoft’s Press Release for the full details, and I’ll be covering the bigger stories in separate blog posts.
More Information: MS Press Release 05.11.07
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