Archive for May, 2012
GBM 9.0 just released!
May 31st
Looking for a sleek and elegant backup? Well, look no further; Genie Backup Manager has just been released with a whole new look and features that will delight and excite everyone.
Some of these features include:
- Amazon S3 Backup support.
- Added Windows 8 support.
- Enhanced FTP engine.
- Secure FTP (FTPS) Support.
- New and enhanced interface.
- Enhanced Volume Shadow Copy support.
- Improved Disaster Recovery engine.
- New CD/DVD/Blu-ray burner.
- Enhanced Blu-ray support.
- Enhanced performance.
- Enhanced memory management; takes less memory resources
- Updated Genie Agent notifications
- Enhanced system schedule
- Added social integration elements.
You can check all the features here : GBM Pro , GBM Server , GBM Home
Why Genie Backup Manager Pro 9
Genie Backup Manager Pro is an ideal backup solution for Small and Medium Businesses who are seeking full system backup to virtually any storage device. It is designed to target minimal RTO (Recovery Time Objective) to ensure business continuity in case of disasters.
A very cool noteworthy feature of the new GMB pro 9 is the Amazon S3 Backup support.
Why Genie Backup Manager Home
Genie Backup Manager Home is ideal for users who want full control of their backup procedures.
Why Genie Backup Manager Server 9
Genie Backup Manager Server is an ideal backup solution for Small and Medium Business Servers who are seeking full system backup, Microsoft SQL Backup and Microsoft Exchange Backup to virtually any storage device.
So, if you are looking for a robust, award winning, longtime backup solution ; GBM 9.0 is the backup for you.
Here is your 101 on FIFA 13!
May 30th
If you are a hardcore IFA gamer, then behold; it is back and fiercer than ever! The ball control and the attacking are what entice us this time. They’ve done an excellent job, hands down, in bringing the football experience to a more real to life dynamic, complete with all the team and player related trimmings one would expect from a FIFA game.
Last year, we were excited about the new and enhanced tactical defending that took the game to a whole new level, however, this year we have a lot more to be excited about. So here is everything you need to know.
First touch control
This is undoubtedly the most significant change that we had spotted onto the whole FIFA experience. A new entire system just for receiving passes has been developed. Hence, if you get sent a dodgy ball then chances are you will lose control of it, letting players from the opposing team take advantage of your mistakes.
Now, the way you receive a ball will differ each time a pass is sent in a player’s direction, due to controls such as defensive pressure and ball orientation. Of course, they always say that “a bad workman always blames his tools”, yet this still brings new dynamics to the game.
On the other hand, it is quite notable how different the actual touch of the ball really is; over hitting a ball or sending it loose in the wrong direction are all possible actions now. All of this ultimately make up a game that, rather than being plainly accidental, is intriguing enough to keep it exciting.
Free Kicks revamped
We all know how disappointing free kicks can really be owing to the sometimes poor game execution. FIFA have decided to revamp this aspect giving you a whole set of passing abilities and the opportunity to position up to three players around the kick.
Don’t get too excited just yet, for the other team will be able to block a free kick even better now with the ability to add new players to the wall as well as taking them away; add to that the ability to move it backward and forward as well! A player running across can even be sent to try to ambush the kick.
Player impact 2.0
Last year, with FIFA 12, the mean through which players would interact with each other on screen was, yes, quite marvelous, with the animations so perfectly actualized. Yet the only problem was that, not much was actually done to enhance the gameplay.
FIFA have learnt their lesson with the new player impact engine. Now, you will be able to choose to mess up receiving or making a pass, depending of course, on factors such as player size. Gaining positions over other players has also been altered with the new push and pull mechanic.
Genuine as ever
FIFA certainly does not disappoint with more and more teams and leagues added. As anticipated, the Premiership has been dealt with accurately as has another 500 officially licensed clubs and more than 15,000 players.
Unfortunately, we cannot unveiled more details than this, but stay tuned for the new added elements to EA Sport Football Club. Career mode along with online have had a substantial revamp.
FIFA 13 will be making its way onto Xbox 360, PS3 and PC in August 2012.
Looking for a simple, elegant backup solution?
Genie Timeline 2012 is a new version of the number one continuous data protection program Timeline 2.1. It offers the first metro style user interface; enhanced performance, and added features. Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter for the latest news.
>Follow @Genie9backup
Google; a new visual dictionary!
May 29th
Have you ever wondered what it would be like if we’d place the 21,000 words found in our everyday dictionary with their visual equivalent assembled from whatever shows up first for each word in Google’s image search? Apparently UK artists, Ben West and Felix Heyes, were also intrigued to find out as well; hence the birth of ‘Google’.
The visual dictionary, so appropriately named, is a 1240 page behemoth of JPGs, GIFs and PNGs in alphabetical order.
“We used two PHP scripts my brother Sam wrote for us,” says Ben about the process in an email.The first one takes a text list of dictionary words and downloads each image in sequence, and the second lays them out into columns and outputs a PDF.” The PDF was then printed into a beautiful book – handbound, thumb indexed pages held together in a marbled paper hardcover, the golden Google logo clearly oblivious to whatever internet monstrosities it may contain.
Ben and Felix are currently looking into having a small run of softcover editions of Google printed to sell. To sign up for a copy and to see more work by the two go to Ben West and Felix Heyes
So why would should we bother with this new lexicon? Ben says that it ultimately is whatever you make of it; unfortunately we live in a day and age of shrinking attentions spans, collective media lethargy and hindrances of reference books as opposed to the convenience of Google.
So, if a picture is worth a thousand words (or, better yet, a billion dollars) let’s see just how much this visual dictionary will be worth.
Looking for a simple, elegant backup solution?
Genie Timeline 2012 is a new version of the number one continuous data protection program Timeline 2.1. It offers the first metro style user interface; enhanced performance, and added features. Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter for the latest news.
>Follow @Genie9backup
Poke to unlock; the next Facebook phone?
May 28th
Well, the Olympics haven’t even started yet, but it seems as though the long jump competition is already off to a kick start. Facebook has certainly captivated headlines recently, with its $1 billion Instagram purchase in April, its sudden comment-censorship in May and of course the much deliberated IPO just last week.
However, with the latest unveiling of a camera app for the iPhone , as well as a universal app store (https://www.facebook.com/AppStore) it’s becoming rather clearer that Facebook is heading in the unsettling direction of the Mobile phone platform.
The New York Times says the social network has hired six hardware and software specialists with iPhone experience with the aim to get a Smartphone to market by next year.
“Mark is worried that if he doesn’t create a mobile phone in the near future that Facebook will simply become an app on other mobile platforms,” said an anonymous Facebook employee in an interview with Nick Bilton.
This attempt is marked as the company’s third at actualizing a Smartphone into its core business; initial rumors in 2012 put the Fb Smartphone on the spot, yet the company deviated from mobile development, ostensibly due to the realization of just how difficult it actually is to plunge into building mobile hardware.
The fact that Facebook’s mobile experience can be accounted for as novice, this rumor might be a bit too farfetched, at least for now. For starters, for this to actually work out, Facebook would need to find a suitable partner to manufacture the physical device, while improving their current mobile apps excessively. Having a set of core apps, when all is said and done, is not enough; they ought to be popular, and with the not so rave Facebook-mobile app reviews, this might be a bit difficult to achieve. Sure, Facebook would have a great advantage leveraging its strengths to make a superior contact list, but it’s doubtful that will excite enough people to get on board with a Facebook phone.
What’s next? Fb TV most probably, so that everyone will be able to enjoy social updates and sitcoms.
Looking for a simple, elegant backup solution?
Genie Timeline 2012 is a new version of the number one continuous data protection program Timeline 2.1. It offers the first metro style user interface; enhanced performance, and added features. Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter for the latest news.
>Follow @Genie9backup
No socket? No problem
May 27th
How many of us, in this day and age of the smartphones, are struggling with constantly having to charge our beloved device? Long gone are the days when you can charge your phone and forget it for a couple of days, now you’re lucky if you can make it through the day without plugging it in somewhere.
Ted Tewksbury, Chief executive of California-based IDT (Integrated Device Technology), is tackling this issue with the introduction of a new set of microchips that will deliver “contactless charging”.
His vision is getting rid of the conventional phone-charging cables through incorporating existing technology; inductive coupling.
Inductive charging
Inductive charging uses the electromagnetic field to transfer energy between two objects. A charging station sends energy through inductive coupling to an electrical device, which stores the energy in the batteries. Because there is a small gap between the two coils, inductive charging is one kind of short-distance wireless energy transfer. The other kind of charging, direct wired contact (also known as conductive charging or direct coupling) requires direct electrical contact between the batteries and the charger. Conductive charging is achieved by connecting a device to a power source with plug-in wires, such as a docking station, or by moving batteries from a device to charger. Induction chargers typically use an induction coil to create an alternating electromagnetic field from within a charging base station, and a second induction coil in the portable device takes power from the electromagnetic field and converts it back into electrical current to charge the battery. The two induction coils in proximity combine to form an electrical transformer.
So how will this actually work?
Well, imagine instead of having to plug your phone into the wall when the battery runs low, you can simply place it onto the wireless charging surface; which could be either your desk, a cup holder in your car or even the armset of an airplane seat.
IDT hopes to grab a slice of a small but potentially sizeable market for wireless smartphone charging chips that could reach $800 million by 2014.
Tewksbury seems quite confident that if enough phone manufacturers would be willing to take the plunge and build it into the smartphone software, then carand even furniture makers are sure to follow!
Yet it remains ambiguous as to how this new technology will boost cost to both producers and consumers. IDT says, though, that in mass production, the chips by themselves would add less than $2 to the cost of a smartphone.
Wireless charging technology could also be used for laptop computers, digital phones, tablets and MP3 players.
Texas Instruments and other chipmakers are offering competing chips but IDT’s are smaller and cheaper, Tewksbury argues.
“We expect some revenue by the second half of the year,” he said. “By 2014 you can expect IDT will be the market share leader. How much revenue? That will depend on how many other players there are and how fragmented the market becomes.”
Looking for a simple, elegant backup solution?
Genie Timeline 2012 is a new version of the number one continuous data protection program Timeline 2.1. It offers the first metro style user interface; enhanced performance, and added features. Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter for the latest news.
>Follow @Genie9backup
Audi; destination e-bike!
May 24th
Audi, the company that has brought us the hybrid-diesel racecars as well as many of the greatest car designs are tackling two-wheels now; the bicycles!
Yes, it is true…Audi has presented last week, at the Wörthersee Tour event in Austria a high-end, ultra-light carbon fiber electric bicycle. This new pedicycle would be ideal for stuntmen; it permits computer-controlled tricks as well as enabling you to strut down the road at 50mph!
Our inner child is incredibly thrilled yet upset that this was not available when we were actually 12 or 14 and busy learning to factor quadratic equations; a skill arguably even more useless in adulthood than being able to ride a bike on one wheel!
Audi has certainly geared up the experience with the bike’s specs:
1. A carbon fiber frame weighs just 3.53 pounds (1.6kg ) and a 2.3kW motor with a lithium ion battery (FYI; pedal-assist electric bikes’ legal maximum in most legislations is about a tenth of that). The bike’s total weight is 24lbs (11kg).
2. An on-board computer control, hydraulic brakes and gears.
3. A touch-screen on the top-tube that controls riding mode selection, recording of trick sequences as well as adjustment of various e-bike functions as electric pedaling assistance and lighting.
4. A display that show cases speed, distance, battery charge, energy consumption and inclination.
5. The battery can be charged in 2.5 hours or quickly swapped and gives a claimed range of 50-70km.
6. The seat height is continuously adjustable from a handlebar control, even while riding.
7. A Smartphone app to control the built-in immobilizer.
The bike’s designated as a high-performance bike for trick cycling, including the ability to ride on its back wheel alone in two (Power Wheelie and Balanced Wheelie) of the five available modes: Pure, Pedelec, eGrip, Power Wheelie, and Balanced Wheelie.
The pure mode is basically what you and I would simply call “pedaling”. The Pedelec mode will permit you to do 50mph. Riding solely on the back wheel is posibile by either picking an angle in Power Wheelie mode or shifting your weight in the Balanced Wheelie mode.
As stylish and high tech this bike really is, you’re going to need a license, registration and a helmet of course to be able to use it on the road.
Many automakers also sell performance bikes as lifestyle accessories, but nothing like Audi’s e-bike. BMW i Ventures, the New York City-based venture fund for mobility related investments, is providing seed money for a more mainstream electric bicycle that would be light and foldable. Drive to the train station in the suburbs, carry the bike on board, get to your destination city, unfold the bike, and motor electrically to your office a mile or two away.
There’s no word on whether Audi will ever actually sell this thing, though some automotive sites have speculated it’d have a Ducati label if they did, as the group recently bought Ducati.
Looking for a simple, elegant backup solution?
Genie Timeline 2012 is a new version of the number one continuous data protection program Timeline 2.1. It offers the first metro style user interface; enhanced performance, and added features. Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter for the latest news.
>Follow @Genie9backup
Bemilo: The mobile network designed for kids!
May 23rd
It’s not uncommon to see a 6 year old nowadays operate an iPad, or any other gadget for that matter, with absolute ease. Children are being brought up into such a fast paced world that they practically come programmed to know these stuff by default. This was definitely not the case for those growing up in the 80’s and 90’s.
Back in those days, carrying a phone was a privilege you earn when you’re in high school and off to a dance or some sort of important outing. While we agree that it is highly beneficial for children to carry a mobile device so that their parents can check on them regularly, their concerns are also justified.
Texting during class is one of those concerns; hindering the child from actually benefiting from the lesson. Sending inappropriate images, sleep deprivation, lack of productivity and bullying are becoming more conventional than they ought to be!
On the other hand, according to a research published on Monday, more electromagnetic waves are taken in by children in and around the frequency band of 1000 MHz – which is used in FM broadcasting – and 1 GHz, the frequency band of mobile telecommunication.
Also, according to this same study, children who use cell phones are often more likely to develop Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
The study was conducted by researchers from the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute, Korea Communications Commission and the Korean Institute of Electromagnetic Engineering and Science.
Bemilo, a new mobile network launching in the United Kingdom, targets these issues and hope to eliminate some of those concerns with controls that allow parents to select the times of day the phone can be used and the numbers it is capable of dialing.
“Bemilo’s exclusive functions put YOU in full control of your child’s mobile service,” the network promises. “Putting a stop to mobile bullying, late night phone use, and rising monthly mobile phone bills.”
Bemilo is a MVNO, or mobile virtual network operator, that runs on the Vodafone’s infrastructure. The network’s SIM card will allow parents to load money onto their child’s phone on a PAYG basis.
There’s a base charge of £3.95 ( $6.21) a month, with calls charged at 10p ($0.16) per minute, texts charged at 10p ($0.16) per message and data charged at 25p ($0.39) per MB. Parents can control how much is spent, what time of day the phone is used, when data is switched on or off, and whether or not their child is allowed to send photos or video. There’s also the ability to ‘turn off’ the phone during school hours or at night without removing the ability to contact certain numbers (such as parents or guardians). You can also block certain numbers from contacting your child, a feature designed to combat bullying.
For more info, check out their official website.
Looking for a simple, elegant backup solution?
Genie Timeline 2012 is a new version of the number one continuous data protection program Timeline 2.1. It offers the first metro style user interface; enhanced performance, and added features. Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter for the latest news.
>Follow @Genie9backup
Marine police; new recruiters will be aquatic!
May 22nd
If you’re heading to Northern Spain this summer, port Gijon in particular; do not be frightened if a yellowish fish sprints beside you.
Apparently scientists from all over the globe, in a bid to combat pollution, are experimenting and eager to update the marine watch with a revolutionary robo-fish, composed solely from fiber and metal.
A number of these are actually undergoing rigorous tests to find out if they are compatible to become the new aquatic police.
“The idea is that we want to have real-time monitoring of pollution, so that if someone is dumping chemicals or something is leaking, we can get to it straight away, find out what is causing the problem and put a stop to it,” explains Luke Speller, a senior scientist at the research division of BMT Group, a technology consultancy.
The idea is speeding up the shore monitoring process from months to seconds; since at the moment, samples are being taken once a month, according to Dr Speller.
This could eliminate the chances of a ship leaking chemicals into the coastline and getting away with it.
The fish, which are 1.5 meters (5 feet) long and currently cost 20,000 pounds ( $31,500) each, are designed to swim like real fish and are fitted with sensors to pick up pollutants leaking from ships or undersea pipelines.
So what’s so special about this fish?
1. A minute chemical sensor is one of the key features that lives inside the fish. Water is allowed to pass through the body of the fish and could pass over the chemical sensor allowing scientists to detect pollutants in the water such as lead, copper etc.
2. The fish can also “see” under water using a sonar; this allows the fish to perform obstacle avoidance and range viding under water so it knows where it is and can stay safe and return to base when its battery life runs low.
3. Deep inside the core of the fish lives a small computer than runs the artificial intelligence of the fish allowing it to figure out where to go and the best ways to monitor pollution.
4. The fish can work either autonomously, or co-ordinate with each other through acoustic signals, to transmit their readings back to shore station, that could be up to a kilometer away.
5. Another key feature of the fish is its propulsion ; it doesn’t use a propeller like standard underwater robotics, but has a tail, which allows it to look and move like a fish under water ; this is quieter, more efficient and also allows for better maneuvering.
After the tests this week, the team will look at modifications needed to move the fish into commercial production, which they expect to reduce the cost of each unit and hopefully prolong the current eight hour battery life.
Looking for a simple, elegant backup solution?
Genie Timeline 2012 is a new version of the number one continuous data protection program Timeline 2.1. It offers the first metro style user interface; enhanced performance, and added features. Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter for the latest news.
>Follow @Genie9backup
While Facebook says “I do”, Microsoft says : ” I object” !
May 21st
“Oh my God, not another social network site!” Those were our exact thoughts when we first read about Microsofts’s So.cl ( pronounced “social” ) being launched yesterday. With Facebook, Twitter and G+, it is getting rather hectic trying to manage all of one’s accounts. It seems that everyone wants a bite of the social apple, yet their success is bound by either having the backing of a large Internet player, or an idea that introduces something exceptional to the scene. We have previously discussed the two platforms; Pinterest Vs Reddit.
Yesterday, it seems there was a malfunction, and the site that was in beta went live for a brief period of time; not brief enough though since the keen eyes caught up. Apparently, it has been live when first seen, then it has gone to invites for a couple of days and now it is what we have today. Our guess is that the invites had generated enough interest to go live. Is this a successful silent/ accident launch? Hmm, that is quite arguable, but it seems that the So.cl project was being used at Microsoft for months already for internal purposes, so maybe their somewhat of a secretive launch is to test the waters.
Signing up is either with your Windows Live ID or your Facebook account. If you’ve chosen the latter to sign up, you can follow your fellow Facebook buddies that are already using So.cl and then move on to start exploring some suggested topics and popular users.
So.cl combines web browsing, search and social networking with each other, according to Microsoft.
Well, here is So.cl 101:
1. As in any social network, you can follow other users to view their posts in your newsfeed. You also have the option of browsing through the global feed; though we’re not too keen as to how this might work when/if millions of users start posting.
2. Once you find a post that intrigues you, you have 5 options: you can like it, comment on it, tag it, share it or riff it. Since the last one there sounds a bit puzzling, we shall further explain it; riffing a post basically signifies posting a response to that post. For instance, if you see a post full of photos of Amsterdam, you might want to riff it to add your own photos or notes that relate to the original post. A link to the riffed post is added to the original post and vice versa. This works similarly as YouTube’s video response feature.
3. New posts are created by entering a topic of interest into the form at the top of the page. Bing is obviously the search engine behind So.cl; hence you will find images, videos and texts as well as results from feeds in the results’ listing. Content, links and tags can be manually added to your posts as well.
4. One cool feature is the ability to join and create video parties. By doing so, you will be able to create a chat room and add videos to it from various video hosting web sites. Other users can then join this room and chat about the videos that they watch, and add their own videos.
5. A bookmarklet is available that allows you to share content that you stumble upon on the internet directly to So.cl.
The video party idea is quite appealing, but is it enough to captivate let alone drive away the many Facebook fans? Humm, we think not. One disappointment already spotted is the inability to sign out; you can only do so by deleting cookies.
It is recommended of course, that new users check the settings to make sure the notification and privacy settings are to their liking. By default, emails will be sent out on a weekly basis, and notifications will be sent out when someone comments on a post/ search, tags the user, invites/sends a private message.
Well, in order not to be judgmental and prejudice, we’ve created an account to see how it actually goes, have you?
Looking for a simple, elegant backup solution?
Genie Timeline 2012 is a new version of the number one continuous data protection program Timeline 2.1. It offers the first metro style user interface; enhanced performance, and added features. Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter for the latest news.
>Follow @Genie9backup
It’s raining…Zucker-Buck!
May 20th
This week is certainly one that will go down in history for Facebook’s founder, Mark Zuckerberg; turning 28, taking Facebook public at a $ 104 billion valuation but most importantly marrying recently medical UC San Francisco graduate, and longtime girlfriend Priscilla Chan.
Now that Facebook Inc. has become a public company, wearing a hoodie will be the least of Mark Zuckerberg’s concerns.
Mark apparently received some condemnation for his apparel when the social-networking giant was pitching its initial public offering to investors. Zuckerberg will remain Facebook’s most-powerful shareholder after what has turned out to be a modestly successful IPO.
His personal stake in Facebook is now worth around $19.1 billion, making him richer than Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, according to Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index. Going public has made him the 29th-richest person in the world.
Santa Clara University law professor Stephen Diamond argued that investors did in fact want to Zuckerberg to stay in charge, since he is the one responsible for where his company is today. On the other hand, shareholders are worried that if things go wrong- which presumably they will- Zuckerberg might not be capable of dealing with some of these challenges. “The hoodie debate” personifies these concerns; it is quite venturesome to invest in an individual who holds so much power, and is relatively so young and inexperienced.
So, ultimately who are the big winners of the IPO?
We’ll give you the top three :
1. Sheryl Sandberg; the company’s chief operating officer has been on board since 2008 when she was propelled to leave Google. Her current salary is a modest $300,000 which has helped by almost 1.9 million shares, which are now worth $72 million. Not too bad huh?
2. Reid Hoffman; LinkedIn founder has been on board very early on when he, alongside Peter Thiel in 2004 had invested in Facebook. Back then, Myspace was dominating the social scene, yet their smart move paid off; Hoffman’s remaining stake is now worth $138 million and Thiel is valued at $1.1 Billion.
3. Paul David Hewson ( or most commonly known as U2’s front man, Bono) ; it turns out that Bono is also part of the Elevation Partners investment group, which has an almost 1.5% stake in Facebook. Elevation is taking $176 million off the table, and will still be left with a whopping $1.3 billion. This ought to compensate for the company’s disappointing investment in Palm and Forbes magazine.
Let us know how you feel about these historic chain of events, whether you actually take them to heart or simply do not regard them as important, we’d love to hear from you!
Looking for a simple, elegant backup solution?
Genie Timeline 2012 is a new version of the number one continuous data protection program Timeline 2.1. It offers the first metro style user interface; enhanced performance, and added features. Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter for the latest news.
>Follow @Genie9backup