Maxtor Fusion 500GB Review

The Maxtor Fusion is a Personal Web Server that looks like an external hard drive connected directly to your Ethernet network. I said “looks like” because it’s not just a hard drive: it’s a little computer that acts as silent file/web server.

In the past, such devices where annoying to setup but Maxtor did a good job with the Fusion. The setup program detects the IP address of the unit and brings you to an administration page from which the user can set the IP address, port and even configure a dynamic DNS service, which is handy when the device is connected to the internet with a dynamic (changing) address.

Our 500GB unit can be connected to external USB drives for backup purposes – because it’s never safe enough (most people learn the hard way). I wish that the Maxtor Fusion cannot be accessed by a USB or Firewire connection, this would have been great for the administrator when copying hundreds of gigabytes to populate the drive. I suppose that most users could simply use a Gigabit Ethernet connection, even if it’s much slower *in practice* than Firewire.

The administrator can create individual accounts and let users upload and share their files. Each user has a private and a public area and it is even possible to create “micro-links” – a direct URL to a file hosted on the Maxtor Fusion. That’s nice if you want to share a single file or if you want to link to it from your web page.

The good news is that the Fusion has a graphics user interface (GUI). The bad news is that it needs some work. The GUI doesn’t resemble any well known user interface and most people that I’ve created accounts for did search for simple things like saving a file from the Fusion to their local hard disk. A customizable home page would also be great!

I find this device to be very convenient for the tech-savvy user and small-businesses that want to share files but don’t need enterprise-grade security. In my opinion, the Maxtor Fusion is not ready for the average consumer: some knowledge of TCP/IP (network protocol) is necessary to do the setup and this could be a problem for many users. Opening a port in the firewall or in the router could be challenging as well. I can’t blame Maxtor for this, because TCP/IP was simply not designed to be used by consumers. IPV6 might solve some of that by removing the need for routers and network address translation (NAT).

The Maxtor fusion is a good product that lets people share files without leaving their main computer on. The user interface could use some improvements, but it should not stop you from considering using it.

(c) www.ubergizmo.com

The nurian Z1 from Hanuribiz does e-dictionary one better

by Paul Miller

The category of "electronic dictionary" was already stretched to its limits with all that MP3, game and video functionality manufacturers have been stuffing in, but it looks like we've officially advanced beyond any sort of reasonable definition with this here nurian Z1 from Hanuribiz. For starters, the 5-inch LCD display and Windows CE 5.0 should give you a decent hint that this thing isn't all about the dictionary action -- though there does happen to be English, Chinese, Japanese and Korean dictionary content on board. The unit can handle Flash content, MP3, video, games, PIM functions and even wireless internet. Probably the closest thing to this Z1 in size is HTC's decked Advantage handheld, so if you're looking for a more spacious keyboard, fine with CE 5.0, and can settle for about half the sexy, you can pick one of these up for 500,000 KRW, about $533 US.

(c) www.engadget.com

FoxFury LED Headlamps

by Evan Ackerman

FoxFury, well known for making seriously professional LED headlamps, is now offering models designed for personal use. Not only do FoxFury headlamps feature an array of 24 (!) LEDs, the LEDs themselves are customized to maximize lighting for different applications. The standard Outdoor model (shown above) uses a combination of white and green LEDs to provide better vision, since the human eye is most responsive to green light (which is one of the reasons that green lasers look so bright). Other versions are optimized in other ways… The scuba version, for example, uses blue and green LEDs, since marine life is most sensitive to red light, and you don’t want to scare the fishies.

The headlamp itself is rugged and waterproof, with recesses to protect the LEDs. It provides a 45 degree field of illumination at 430 candlepower, giving you a good view out to 150 feet. Some versions even have an ambient lighting sensor to help preserve the batteries; it takes 4 AAs and should run 8 hours at full blast. The Signature versions will set you back $169.99.

(c) www.ohgizmo.com

Apple TV -- now due mid-March

Looks like the Apple TV took a little longer to put the spit and polish on than Apple initially thought. According to Apple PR Director of Mac products Lynn Fox, "Wrapping up Apple TV is taking a few weeks longer than we projected, and we now expect to begin shipments mid-March." Odd, being that Apple first showed this thing off last Fall -- and bummer for everybody waiting for their product. But you'd rather have it right than have it all crappy-wrong-first-gen, no? That was the silver lining for Vista's delayed launch, anyway.
P.S. -For those who just got a pang of sadness on what you're missing out on, maybe these pics of the Apple TV we took at Macworld 2007 will cheer you up.

(c) www.engadget.com

Even Jedi Masters get wet in the rain

Even Master Yoda would have been unable to create a Force Shield over his head indefinitely to prevent the rain on Dagobah from wetting his coat. Hence, the existence of the Lightsaber Umbrella that helps keep pesky Sith Lords at bay as well as fulfilling its greater mission - keeping the owner dry as a bone. This umbrella's spine features the illuminating properties of an LED flashlight that is bound to thrill and excite the whole legion of rabid Star Wars fans. Even if you can't tell the difference between a Wookie and a Stormtrooper, there is no harm in owning one of these $41 babies.

(c) www.uberzimo.com

Even Jedi Masters get wet in the rain

Even Master Yoda would have been unable to create a Force Shield over his head indefinitely to prevent the rain on Dagobah from wetting his coat. Hence, the existence of the Lightsaber Umbrella that helps keep pesky Sith Lords at bay as well as fulfilling its greater mission - keeping the owner dry as a bone. This umbrella's spine features the illuminating properties of an LED flashlight that is bound to thrill and excite the whole legion of rabid Star Wars fans. Even if you can't tell the difference between a Wookie and a Stormtrooper, there is no harm in owning one of these $41 babies.

(c) www.uberzimo.com

Coby MP3 player tastes like Chocolate

CES 2007 - With the astounding success of LG's line of Chocolate cellphones, there are plenty of other manufacturers who decided to implement the touch functionality on their devices, and the Coby C7XXX series is one of them. This portable MP3 player looks really good, featuring touch keys that are lit in red upon contact. There are three models available - the C7055, the C7085, and the C7095 which comes in capacities of 512MB, 1GB, and 2GB. I tested the C7095 and it sounded great even with a pair of generic headphones. Unfortunately, the 1.66" TFT LCD display is a little too small for my liking, and as with everything new and shiny these days, the C7095 picks up fingerprints faster than an investigator on CSI. Alternatively, you can opt for the 20GB hard drive version which supports video in addition to music and comes with a 2" TFT LCD display

(c) www.ubergizmo.com