Hasta La Gadget!

While most companies seem to use CES to unveil new products and hardware, some use the show to launch new software. Synology is one such company, bringing its DiskStation Manager up to version 4.2 beta during the show. DiskStation Manager, as pretty much every Synology user already knows, is the operating system the company has developed for its network attached servers.

The list of new features found in DiskStation Manager 4.2 beta is absolutely huge, so Synology users are definitely in for a treat. Some of the major highlights of this release include an expansion of QuickConnect to cover DS Photo+, DS File, and DS Audio. This upgrade should make it easier for new users to set these features up, which is always a plus.

iOS users now also have a DS Cloud app at their disposal, which seems to essentially be Synology’s in-house version of Dropbox. DSM’s Package Manager is also getting a pretty major overhaul with this release, and it adds a bunch of new ease-of-use features and new apps that users have specifically been asking for. If you’ve been bugging Synology for new apps and functionality in the Package Manager, there seems to be a pretty good chance that your wishes have been granted.

Jumping back to the Cloud-related features, Synology has done quite a bit with syncing in this latest release. For instance, Cloud Station is being brought up to version 2, and with this new version, the size limit for files is doubling – now users can sync files up to 10GB in size, rather than just 5GB. DiskStation Manager 4.2 beta is available for download right now from Synology’s website, with the full release following in another month or so. Be sure to check out our CES portal for all of our coverage from the show!

Synology DiskStation Manager makes jump to version 4.2 beta is written by Eric Abent & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

If you hadn’t noticed, Dropbox is on a major photography kick lately, and it’s not stopping just because the holidays are nearly in full swing. Its new Android beta helps users deal with their photos by the bushel, either sharing or scrapping multiple photos at once as well as organize them into photos. Anyone less than photographically inclined will still see a few interface tweaks that partly mirror the earlier iOS updates, as well as a new option to receive betas as soon as they’re posted. There’s inherent risks to using unfinished code, so take that into account before getting involved; it’s still hard to resist when Dropbox has been handing out free storage to Android device buyers like candy.

Filed under: Cellphones, Storage, Internet, Mobile

Comments

Via: Android Police

Source: Dropbox Forums

Since there are tons of music player options for the desktop, a lot of underrated players get left behind, MediaMonkey being one of them. However, the team is still alive and well, and they just released a beta music player app for Android that comes with some pretty cool features that a lot of music junkies can benefit from.

The new beta is packed with all of the features you would expect in a mobile music player, and it also comes with video support even. You’ll also find podcast support, handy category navigation, a car-friendly user interface, even WiFi syncing if you happen to use MediaMonkey for Windows, since that’s the only way to take advantage of the feature.

The app can also wirelessly syncs play history (play counts, last played, date added, etc.), and it’ll also sync playlists, videos, and podcasts. However, in order to take advantage of all the new features, you’ll have to update to the beta version of the desktop player for Windows as well — both are free downloads.

The app might not be for everyone, but folks who want excessive control over their local music collection should definitely consider giving it a try. It’s not available in the Google Play store, so for now you’ll have to download the APK file from the Reddit thread, since MediaMonkey decided to release it on their closed forums.

[via Reddit]

MediaMonkey beta for Android released, offers WiFi sync, podcasts, more is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Microsoft has unleashed Socl into beta for all comers to probe, bringing it out of the experimental stages and a step closer to a full-fledged site. We first heard about the project back in July when it was dubbed Tulalip, and MS Research’s Fuse Labs officially launched it internally and into some universities back in October last year. The site carries the Windows 8 tile-like look, and Fuse says that imagery is emphasized over “blue links” for search, helping democratize the site “even for people who speak different languages.” That lets you find others via posts, a people gallery, or someone’s page — where new posts, people and interests can be viewed all at once. A nav bar allows articles to be created by topics like web, videos or news, and users can create “parties,” where they can chat, create playlists or watch videos with others in a similar fashion to Google Hangouts. The project was coded using Redmond’s Java-hued Typescript to allow for rapid coding changes, according to Fuse’s blog in the source below. To try it out for yourself, check the “more coverage” link.

Filed under: Internet, Microsoft

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Via: Techmeme

Source: Microsoft Research FuseLabs

Far Cry 3 officially launches today in Australia, with the European release arriving tomorrow, and the US seeing the game next week on December 4. To celebrate the launch, NVIDIA has released a new beta version of its GeForce graphics drivers that come with some very specific improvements for the game.

NVIDIA has updated it’s 310.54 beta drivers to 310.64 beta, and while you may not think it’s a huge update, NVIDIA claims that the update will boost framerates in Far Cry 3 by up to 38% when using Nvidia’s latest GeForce 600-series graphics chips. That’s certainly nothing to scoff at, especially considering that you can get that kind of framerate boost for free.

The claim comes from NVIDIA’s own internal testing, which the company ran the game at a 1920×1080 resolution with graphics setting maxed out. The test system used an ASUS Rampage IV Extreme motherboard with an Intel Core i7-3960X processor clocked at 3.3 GHz, 8 GB of RAM, and a GeForce GTX 670, GTX 680 or GTX 690 depending on the test.

In addition to the Far Cry 3 improvements, the new beta drivers also include tweaks for Call of Duty: Black Ops II and Assassin’s Creed III, along with general performance tweaks that provide up to a 16% boost in games like Battlefield 3, Skyrim, and StarCraft II. The new beta drivers are available now to download on NVIDIA’s website.

NVIDIA releases GeForce 310.64 beta drivers aimed at Far Cry 3 is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.