back-ups
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Facebook to backup its servers with low-power storage devices at 'Sub-Zero' data center
Data backups come in all shapes and sizes. For some, they take the form of external hard drives or a slice of the amorphous cloud. As for Facebook, its upcoming solution is low-power deep-storage hardware contained within a 62,000 square-foot building in Prineville, Oregon near its existing Beaver State data center. Unofficially referred to as "Sub-Zero," the facility will store a copy of the social network's data in case its primary servers need to be restored in an emergency. Rather than continuously power HDDs that are only occasionally used, the new setup can conserve energy by lighting-up drives just when they're needed. One of the company's existing server racks eats up around 4.5 kilowatts, while those at Sub-Zero are each expected to consume approximately 1.5 kilowatts once they're up and running. Tom Furlong, Facebook's vice president of site operations, told Wired that there are hopes to create a similar structure alongside the firm's North Carolina data center. Since the Prineville project is still being planned, Zuckerberg & Co. have roughly six to nine months to suss out all the details before your photos are backed up at the new digs.
APC adds LCD, zero-draw power outlets to new Back-UPS Pro models
A new uninterruptible power supply isn't exactly the sort of thing to garner a ton of attention, but APC's latest Back-UPS Pro models do pack a few more features than your average power supply, and may just have you considering trading up. They're still just as uninterruptible as ever, of course, but the BR1300G and BR1500G models add a snazzy new LCD that displays the estimated runtime and other critical information, as well as some new power-saving outlets that will automatically shut off power to any unused devices. Otherwise, you can expect runtimes of between 92 and 164 minutes (depending on what's connected, of course), six or ten power outlets, and APC's usual PowerChute software for some more enhanced power management. Still no firm word on a release date for these, but they should be available sometime in the second quarter for between $129.99 and $249.99.
APC intros increased-efficiency Back-UPS ES 750
It looks like APC is trying to make its uninterruptible power supplies a little less power-hungry, with its new Back-UPS ES 750 model promising both a boost in efficiency and a savings, however small, on your power bill. Among other things, the ES 750 (which apparently replaces the previous model of the same name) can automatically cut off power to unused peripherals when your computer's in sleep mode, which APC says should save you on average $40 a year on your power bill compared to competing models. Otherwise, you'll get all the features you'd expect in a model of its class, including ten power outlets (five of which have battery backup), and 450 watts of power which, depending on what you have plugged in, can give you up to 70 minutes of run time. Look for this one to set you back an even $100 when its released sometime in January.
Video proof: 360 firmware hacked
Not that it does us any good, but consider the 360 officially hacked. After "months of hard work," a team of hackers from have released video (also here) of a back-up copy of PGR3 running on an Xbox 360 with reprogrammed DVD drive firmware. This comes on the heels of the FW security details being posted on XboxHacker.net. The "new" firmware, which requires a hardware reprogrammer to install, will boot any properly formatted disc with matching CR be data, but does not circumvent region encoding.As explained earlier, the security flaw that allows this is really in the hardware design, so it looks like hackers are in control of the cat/mouse game from now on, even if MS forces an update via XBL. But don't expect it to show up on Xbins any time soon. TheSpecialist explains the group's noble intentions:There are no plans to make some kind of tutorial for n00bs. Intention of this site is to get an understanding of how the 360 is protected, not to enable n00bs playing backups.They hack because they care.[Via MaxConsole]
360 DVD hot-swap?
Somebody named Sharker posted a video on YouTube of a guy booting up PGR3 in a caseless Xbox 360, then "hot-swapping" it for a DVD-RW containing a ripped game. He literally pops out the spinning disc and swaps it for another (and not without sleight of hand flair). Presumably, this is a crude way to by pass the boot system and play those...uh...back-up discs some people keep for insurance purposes. Not sure about the legitimacy of this video or this technique. It's been up there since December, so I'm sure more has been written about it, but a quick search of various hacking sites didn't turn up anything. In any case, I wouldn't recommend trying it at home just yet.[Thanks, Nick M.]Update: According to MaxConsole, this is a "silly old fake video." Proof of real back-up hacks to follow.See also:360 back-up hack in reach?
