Category Archives: Computers

Xi3 Modular Computer, Xi3 Micro Server Modules, Xi3 Mobile Data Center



Not only is Xi3shipping their modular computer, they have also introduced the Xi3 Micro Server modules that contains a 2- 1GB Ethernet module, 1 10 GB fiber channel, 4-USB, 40 eSATAp and runs at 40 Watts of power. All in the same Xi3 chassy.

David Politis joins us once again to show us these great products. Along with the Microserver, Xi3 announced the Xi3 data center. 24 units of rackspace – so it can hold a conventional server – but you can also put 3 Xi3 Microservers into the  space and have up to 224 Xi3 computers right in the box. All air controlled and redundant power.

The datacenter also is on a cart which can be pushed, or motorized. This makes the Xi3 datacenter perfect for a small company that has limited space, a mobile company, disaster station, and more. You could literally have your server room move from room to room. Best part is the Xi3 is modular, so more additions will be coming in the future.

Xi3 Microserver will be released and priced later in the year. The datacenter will be around $500,000 .

Interview by Jeffrey Powers of Geekazine

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IEEE Gives a Look Behind Today’s Tech



IEEE, the commonly used abbreviation for the Institute for Electronics and Electrical Engineers, dropped by the TPN booth last month at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas to chat a bit about what is going on with the organization right now.

IEEE.org looks at all aspects of today’s technology, but also helps to set standards for some of it. You may have seen their logo on some products, but they have their hands on a lot more than you may realize, like 3D for instance. They also offer a lot of conferences on a broad range of topics and a large digital library that is open to the public. In addition, they also work with people to ensure the technical accuracy of papers and documentation before publication.

The video below is a fascinating, but technical, look behind the scenes. If you are interested by how this industry works, though, it’s worth checking out.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.

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ARIN: Completion of IPv6 Transition



John from the American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN) chats with Jeffrey and John on the transition from IPv4 to IPv6.

In the past year, the last remaining IPv4 addresses were handed out to global regions. Some areas of the world have already run out of unallocated addresses, so it’s essential that in the next few years everyone starts using IPv6. This year, theWorld IPv6 Launch happens on 6 June 2012, with internet service providers (ISPs), networking equipment manufacturers and web companies permanently enabling IPv6 for their products and services. This is a big step forward in the transition to IPv6 but don’t worry, IPv4 isn’t going away for at least 10 years.

Warning…this interview is for advanced users only.

Interview by Jeffrey Powers of Geekazine and Andy Smith of Geocaching World.


CTX Technologies Mini All-In-One Computer, iPhone Dock



ctx technologies logoThere are some very small computers on the market these days, but CTX Technologies may have one of the most interesting of these new small-form-factor devices. The new box has a mini touch screen and a projector with range up to 80 feet so this tiny screen can be seen as a very big screen on your wall. It has an Intel Atom processor, HDMI port, USB, WiFi, Bluetooth, and more.

CTX Technologies also showed off an iPhone dock that not only charges your handset but can project a virtual keyboard onto the surface in front of it and allow you to type emails, documents, or whatever simply by touching the “buttons”.

The MISEETX computer will be available in April for around $600, while the iPhone dock retails for about $110. You can find more by visiting CTX Technologies and be sure to check out the video demonstration below.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central for the TechPodcast Network.

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MWE Lab – The Emperor Strikes Back



MWE LabGeeks the world over would have left CES this year with tiny holes in their artificial hearts if we here at F5 Live had not stumbled across something like the Emperor 1510 to plug the hole and thankfully MWE Lab delivered. With the growing dominance of mobile technology that suggests you have places to go and things to do it’s always nice to find gadgets that make you not want to leave your home or office. Here’s why the Emperor 1510 does exactly that.

Gianni Martinez was nice enough to talk to us and give us a hands on demonstration despite the fact that he was about to keel over from exhaustion (just like me). Designed to be an ergonomic work station, it’s purpose it straightforward. Create an environment where the user has easy access to the technology they require and allow them to leverage its use in a way that maximizes the user’s performance.

I had a chance to try it out myself and even though I was only able to experience it for a short time, it does seem that 10-12 hour shifts would pass by rather quickly and comfortably. Take into consideration the amount of time and energy we invest into using our computers and a $6,200 investment in yourself is a small price to pay over the long run. Check out our video below and as always leave your questions and comments so we can sure you stay as plugged in as possible to this years CES 2012 news!

Interview by Jon Wurm of F5 Live for the TechPodcast Network.

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Corsair – Classic Gaming Peripherals Done Right



CorsairVisiting the Corsair booth gave us a look some powerful gaming peripherals that will certainly have your opponents rage quitting in no time. Corsair had two new keyboards, two new mice and three new headsets for us to play with this year at CES.

The key thing to note at Corsair is that the devices are designed by gamers for gamers. Everyone at Corsair has the passion and drive to make gaming a better and more enjoyable experience for the consumer and everything that the designers do and put together at Corsair is done with honest care. It’s something you rarely see in manufacturing anymore and was certainly refreshing to see when we got to talk to some of the designers.

Starting with the 90 Series, they are optimized for MMO and RTS games that require a lot of actions per minute or macros recorded to specific keys. The 60 Series are designed for first-person shooters. Both sets of keyboards have the Cherry MX Red keys, which allow very light, precise touches and triple taps for the hardcore gamers. Each of the mice also come with 5700 DPI, however feature adjustable, on-the-fly DPI options for your needs per game. The cool thing about the M60 is that the mouse has a “sniper” button, which drops your DPI immediately to 800 (default) in order to scan, acquire and then take out your enemies. It gives you the option to keep your movements natural and not have to be twitchy when you play your FPS. On the M90, it has 9 macro programmable buttons, however the buttons are placed in a way so that your thumb does not hit them or accidentally trigger a macro. This allows you to not have to disengage some of them because they are simply in the way.

Now, while you can have the best keyboard and mouse on the market, you still need to hear what’s happening around you and Corsair has crafted some gaming headsets that do not overwhelm you with over-enhanced bass. The Vengeance 1100, 1300 and 1500 are here to offer several options for gamers that have different budgets.

With Corsair, all you need is motherboard, CPU and video card and you can get everything else you need for your computer from them. For all our gamers out there, Corsair is definitely worth checking out for your gaming needs.

Interview by Nicholas DiMeo of F5 Live for the TechPodcast Network.

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Shogun Bros – A Twist on PC Gaming



Shogun BrosShogun Bros. was nominated for a CES Design & Engineering Award this year for their X-1 combination mouse, gamepad and demonstration device. Only using 1 AAA battery to power it, you can switch between the optical mouse pointer, gamepad and thumb control-based laser pointer with ease.

Other than the fact that this thing will control three important parts of your life all in one tool, the other cool thing here is that they have partnered up with Assassin’s Creed to deliver customized versions of their X-1. These premium mice are available in Altair White & Ezio Grey and sport a genuine leather look. In other nifty gaming products, a keyboard and mouse set is sure to tickle your taster as the keyboard is compact, yet still comes with everything you’d expect on a full-size keyboard and the mouse supports an option for quick trigger as well as 5700 DPI.

Interview by Nicholas DiMeo of F5 Live for the TechPodcast Network.

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Boxee: TV Tuner Dongle for Boxee Box



Boxee is showing off the new Live TV tuner is a USB dongle that you connect to the Boxee. Plug your cable or antenna to the dongle, and watch your shows from the Boxee box. There is also a social network option to this device that will help you find shows your friends are watching.

The Boxee live TV tuner USB only works on Boxee box. They have put out version 1.5 for Windows, Mac, and Linux, but also announced they will be moving away from those platforms to focus on the Over the Top TV device.

Boxee Dongle is $49. The Boxee is available at $179

Interview by Jeffrey Powers of Geekazine

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KBCovers: Secret Weapon for Creative Types



The Need for Speed

Mousing around is one of the not-so-secret productivity killers, stealing time from creative types around the world. Keyboard shortcuts allow you to keep your fingers in motion – but unless you excel in the game “Missing MatchUps” with your kids, it’s hard to remember hundreds of combinations. And they are all standard patterns, except when they aren’t – like between every applications that you need to use on your project.

KBCovers offers a full range of apps. In both US and European keyboards, for video and photo editing, the covers are made of ultra thin silicone, and offer full color coding to help you learn and remember the shortcuts for your daily use.

Interview by Andy McCaskey and Courtney Wallin of SDRNews for the TechPodcast Network.

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Aviiq: Portable Laptop Stand and Accessories



Light and Compact

A closeup look at just the sort of accessories that a road warrior needs to keep his computing on track and his bag light. Aviiq On The Go presents a group of clever ideas to minimize bulk and weight, yet provide needed capabilities on the road. The folding laptop stand is warranted for three years, and in testing has exceeded 50,000 folding cycles.

The Portable Charging Station reduces the clutter of long cables in the bag, and enables you to maintain the full range of devices while mobile.

Interview by Andy McCaskey and Courtney Wallin of SDRNews for the TechPodcast Network.

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