After showing off some fancy kit at CeBit 2010 Synology today released DiskStation Manager 2.3. Major changes are available so if you own a Synology NAS from our UK store then get updating!

Regards, DE Support Team support@digitalera.co.uk

Click more for offical release notes

2010/03/08)

New Features

1. New Volume Manager:
   • The Synology Hybrid RAID (SHR) simplifies the RAID setup, allowing the DiskStation to maximize the available storage of varying disk capacities yet with data protection. Experienced administrators may still use a manual option of creating a storage volume.
   • RAID10, 3-way RAID 1 and 4-way RAID 1 volume types are supported.
   • Block-based iSCSI target is supported and providing faster performance of file transfer.
   • The Volume Manager User Interface has been updated with additional graphics and illustrations.
   • RAID 5 to RAID 6 migration is supported.
2. EZ-Internet: The EZ-Internet Wizard is now available for guiding through the steps to establish access to DiskStation from the Internet, including firewall settings, PPPoE setup, DDNS registration, and router port forwarding configuration*. The “Router Configuration” feature is also available on the management UI under “Internet Connection” category, which accomplishes the port forwarding tasks on the router for you. View the supported router list here.
3. Shared Folder Encryption: AES 256-bit shared folder encryption is supported with the DiskStation. The encrypted shared folder cannot be accessed until it is mounted by entering the encryption key.
4. Backup Enhancements:
   • In addition to the existing “shared folder” level backup, “sub folder” level backup is now supported.
   • NetBackup shared folder is supported to act as the backup source. This allows backing up the data sets from DiskStation A to DiskStation B, and from DiskStation B to DiskStation C, and so on.
   • Amazon S3 is now supported as a backup target.
   • The Backup Wizard now allows backing up Surveillance Station event recordings with all the settings, including notifications, privileges and licenses.
5. File Station 3:
   • Local file browsing is supported (Java Runtime Environment is required) for easy browse and upload the local folders or files to DiskStation with drag-n-drop actions.
   • Multiple tasks are now supported. Upload tasks are performed in the background and with the upload queue listed at the bottom of the File Station.
   • Files and folders on the DiskStation can be compressed directly from the File Station.
   • .7z and .iso compressed files extraction is supported.
6. Surveillance Station 4:
   • 162 more IP camera models from Sony, Mobotix, JVC, IQeye, Edimax, Siemens and other brands are now supported. View the complete list here.
   • H.264 video format is now supported.
   • Intelligent PTZ now supports preset positions, patrol paths, and guard schedules on each camera.
   • Manual recording is supported during camera live view.
   • E-Map is supported, which allows assigning an uploaded image to each live view layout, and deploy corresponding cameras or sub-maps to the image.
   • Enhanced user accounts privilege allows deciding not only the privilege of each user (manager vs. spectator), but also which IP cameras each user can access.
   • Event export function is supported to allow archiving the recorded events to an external storage device or another shared folder. At a later time the events can be mounted back for review on Surveillance Station.
   • More advanced camera settings are supported, including direct live-view streaming from the IP cameras, different image resolutions and frame rates settings for recording and live view, along with pre- and post-recording time and more flexible recording schedule configuration.
   • The sync-event player is improved with better time accuracy.
   • Motion detection setting is improved with threshold testing utility.
7. iPhone Support: A new iPhone app, DS cam, is available on Apple^® App Store for free. DS cam allows users who own an iPhone/iPod touch to live view the IP cameras (in MJPEG format), take snapshots, and view recorded events on your Surveillance Station whenever network connection is available.
8. Photo Station 4:
   • Browsing photos with a photo wall or an image flow view is now supported.
   • Adjusting photo thumbnail size with a sliding bar when browsing photos is now supported.
   • Uploading photos and creating sub-folders through Photo Station UI is supported (Flash 9 is required). Enhanced privilege control allows customizing which albums each user accounts can access or upload photos.
   • Virtual albums are now supported, including albums of recent photos or videos.
   • Google map function is integrated, allowing browsing the location where the photo is taken if the geo-information is available in the photo, or manually edit the Google map location.
   • Enhanced album access permission allows easily setting the public/private attribute of all albums.
   • 1024X768 blog layout is supported and 10 new banners are newly provided.
   • Photo Uploader utility is available in the new Synology Assistant to allow uploading photos and videos to the DiskStation which photo thumbnails and H.264 films pre-generated with the client computer.
   • RAW image files are supported including *.arw, *.srf, *.sr2, *.dcr, *.k25, *.kdc, *.cr2, *.crw, *.nef, *.mrw, *.ptx, *.pef, *.raf, *.3fr, *.erf, *.mef, *.mos, *.orf, *.rw2, *.dng and *.x3f.
9. Audio Station 2:
   • Audio Station 2 now also utilizes AJAX technology. It allows browsing the music library by folder, album, artist or genre, browsing the albums in thumbnail view or cover flow view, and managing the playlist and the now-playing queue with right-clicks.
   • M4A music is now supported in streaming mode.
   • Streaming music from other UPnP/DLNA media servers within LAN is supported.
   • Internet radio (MP3 only) is now supported in streaming mode.
   • SHOUTcast and RadioIO Internet Radio are supported with automatic updates.
   • iTunes Server Smart Playlist is supported to be played on Audio Station.
   • In addition to USB mode and web-streaming mode, Audio Station 2 now supports streaming music, stored on DiskStation or other UPnP/DLNA media servers, to an UPnP compatible digital media renderer (DMR). View the supported DMR list here. Streaming music simultaneously in the 3 modes is allowed.
10. Download Station Enhancements: MegaUpload download with a premium account is supported.
11. Management UI Enhancements:
    • A thin UI header option is available for maximizing the operation area of all applications.
    • Directly entering a specific application after login is supported.
    • Left-hand menu items are now customizable where menu options which are infrequently used can be hidden from view.
    • Items in the My Favorites are now also available as a list on the top of the left-hand menu for quick access.
12. Wake on LAN: Remotely turning on the DiskStation over the local area network or the Internet is supported.
13. Wireless Support: With the supported wireless dongles, the DiskStation will be accessible via 802.11b/g/n wireless connectivity. Both the infrastructure and Ad-Hoc modes are supported. View the supported USB wireless dongle list here.
14. Added PHP Modules: FreeType, PDO, dba, dbase, pdo_sqlite, SQLite, shmop, wddx, xmlrpc and zip
15. Enhanced Mac Compatibility: Mac Decomposed Unicode character sets handling is enhanced.

Major Changes of Synology Data Replicator 3 (v.142)

1. (780) Enhanced Windows Live Mail backup on Windows 7.
2. (782) Enhanced My Documents backup on Windows 7.

In the last few months we have noticed a lot of emails and phone calls from customers asking what DS card to buy for the new DSI XL console.  We have (by looking through server logs) noticed customers searching for DSi XL flashcards on our site, and why not we! after all we are UK DS card experts. 

As far as we know all DSi flashcards have been tested and found working on the Japanese version of the DSi XL which at the moment runs on version 1.4 firmware. So this should make the DSi cards from our UK store compatible with the UK/EU DSi XL when it is released in March.

However we do suggest you purchase a DS card that can have its firmware upgraded, so if Nintendo release new firmware you have a fighting chance to keep using your DS card.

Regards, DE Support Team support@digitalera.co.uk 

We have been selling Dune products for a few years now and the 3.0 model really takes media streaming and Blu-ray playback to another level. Digital streaming movies and Blu-ray all in one box is a winner with us.

Having gained awards where ever it was reviewed the Dune BD 3.0 really does stand out. The good thing about the BD Prime is it can be used by non geeks! it is as simple as taking home and plugging in just like a normal Blu-ray player. Unlike the Popcorn Hour C200 the Dune 3.0 comes with a Blu-ray drive built in so no fiddling around.

Like all good media players you can stream movies from your home network (PC or NAS), stream from the internet (TV & Radio) and using the built in torrent even download movies straight to an internal hard drive (just give us a call for a price).

We couldn’t speak higher of the unit and as UK network media player specialists we know they will go fast so grab one while stock lasts.

Full spec of the CD Prime 3.0 here. Don’t forget to have a quick google for multi region patches

Regards, DE Sales Sales@digitalera.co.uk

The official blurb is “Turn any Electrical Socket into a Network Port” How cool does that sound?

We currently sell the Devolo homeplug range here in the UK. We did a lot of research into the best homeplug’s (it was very boring to test them) but after some real life testing with our NAS’s and media players at home and our NAS’s and PC’s at work and we are more than happy to add Solwise to our product lineup.

Solwise sell some rather funky homeplug’s including a 200Mbps Home Plug AV with 11n WiFi & 2 Ethernet Ports version and the High Power 200Mbps Home Plug.

For product information check out our homeplug range, If you are looking to buy in volume please call us on 01793 238824 and ask to talk to Alan or email us at sales@digitalera.co.uk.

Unpack. Connect. Network. Thanks to PowerLine Ethernet Adapters or HomePlugs, you can now set up a home network easily and economically. Be sure to read our full guide to HomePlug’s and our HomePlug/Powerline FAQ

Regards, DE Sales Team Sales@digitalera.co.uk

Like Christmas and a birthday rolled into one the wait is over the Popcorn Hour A200 has arrived in the UK, and we have secured enough stock to handle pre-orders as well as any new orders for a while.

To go along with the launch of the Popcorn Hour A200 in the UK we have also reduced the price of the C200.

Regards, DE Sales Team Sales@digitalera.co.uk