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Buffalo's TeraStation Pro NAS bumped to 4TB
Check it rippers and thieves, Buffalo is now offering their TeraStation Pro NAS in capacities up to 4TB. That's right, 4,398,046,511,104 bytes which you can carve up to your RAID 1/5/10 delight. It'll cost you ¥378,000 ($3,142) for the ready-made pleasure; pretty steep for those of you with the DIY chops to fashion your own NAS from a quartet of $399 Hitachi 1TB disks.
Buffalo intros 3TB TeraStation Live and TeraStation Pro II
Buffalo has already let a 3TB TeraStation Pro loose in Japan, but the company's now upping the NAS ante 'round these parts as well, introducing a beefed-up TeraStation Pro II for businesses and a new TeraStation Live for the rest of us. True to its consumer nature, the TeraStation Live boasts both iTunes server capabilities and DLNA adherence, while the TeraStation Pro II adds UPS compatibility and Active Directory support, in addition to a number of extra administrative features. Both NASes are otherwise pretty much identical, with two USB 2.0 ports to accomodate some external hard drives (in case 3TB isn't enough for ya), four hard drives on the inside, and support for RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, and RAID 10 configurations. Each device is also identical when it comes to price, with both available now for $2,499 apiece.[Via SmallNetBuilder]
Buffalo's BSKP-CU202/SV Skype phone does conference calling
Conference calling on PSTN is so pre-tech-burst, and Buffalo's making quite sure you're well aware of a VoIP alternative to dialing into those oft held (and frequently toned out) corporate calls. The BSKP-CU202/SV speakerphone boasts a unique, if not awkward design, boasts about its Skype support, and packs six total watts of power to belt out those brutal demands coming from the other end. Reportedly, no drivers are required for this gizmo to work, and it draws all the current it needs to operate from your PC's USB port. Users should also enjoy the echo cancellation technology that's built right in, and just in case you need to swap over to a private conversation, an integrated headphone jack is handily included on the rear. Look for this to hit corporate cubes in Japan soon for a modest ¥9,800 ($82), and feel free to click on through for a few more snaps.[Via EverythingUSB]
Buffalo's WZR2-G300N and WHR-G125 802.11n and g routers
Wireless adapters wasn't the only new gear Buffalo loosed today. Also hitting the streets are two new AirStation routers, one 802.11n (Wireless-N Nfiniti Router WZR2-G300N offers 802.11n), the other g (Wireless-G High Speed Router WHR-G125). Expect both units to have the usual Buffalo AOSSTM (and DS Lite support), a four port 10/100 switch (where the hell is the gigabit?), WPA2, NAT, SPI firewall, and all the rest of the usual router features that ring in on this gear. The price, however, is somewhat noteworthy: $100 for the n, and $50 for the g, both landing in May.
Buffalo's WLI-U2-(S)G54HG USB adapters: 54Mbps at 1,600 feet
Sure, you can go pre-release 802.11n gear if you dare (read: stick with a single vendor). But if you're looking for the latest IEEE cred, then you're stuck with 802.11g for 54 Mbps (max) at distances of 150-feet or so. So check out Buffalo's latest USB adapters: the WLI-U2-G54HG (pictured, right) and WLI-U2-SG54HG -- sporting an extra "s" for suck. Let us explain. Both of these high-gain, 802.11g USB 2.0 WiFi adapters offer an impressive 1,600 feet of coverage. The G54HG does this via its directional antenna and signal strength indicator to dial in the maximum signal strength at those extended distances. The SG54HG on the other hand, packs an omni-directional antenna and a lovely pair of suction cups allowing you to lick'n stick the unit directly onto the backside of your laptop's LCD. Both products hit retail in May for about $49.
Buffalo joins Hitachi in the 1TB HDD club
Perpendicular magnetic recording has brought us storage densities beyond our wildest dreams (well, anything above 640KB is pretty amazing, actually), with Buffalo today joining Hitachi in the exclusive, highly-sought after 1TB 3.5-inch hard drive club. Besides the now-legendary 7K1000, consumers will soon have the chance to pick up a nearly-1,024GB platter known as the almost-impossible-to-remember HD-H1.0TFBS2/3G, which features the same 7200 RPM / 3.0Gbps speeds that we've become accustomed to. Japan will see this one first -- sometime around the end of the month -- for about ¥60,165, so expect an eventual street price of under $500 when these finally spin their way stateside. As for us, we're gonna hold off for the time being, because surely this flood of terabytes means that 1PB models are right around the corner.
Buffalo intros uber-smooth BOMC2-Y01 mice
Buffalo's mice designers are at it again, somehow figuring out how to turn a vanilla mousing peripheral into something out of the ordinary. The BOMC2-Y01 series may not be as retro-inspired as the firm's D-Pad critters, but the built-in Mirrored Reflection Lens (MRL) should purportedly make even the slightest of jerks disappear. The mirror-packed mouse supposedly reads the laser inputs at a much higher sensitivity than the other guys, making it one smooth choice of mouse for those in the market. Additionally, it sports a side-scrolling wheel and comes in "clear lead," silver, white, and black color schemes, but otherwise it looks fairly standard. So if you're digging the ultra-slick approach, you can snap one up later this month for ¥3,720 (or around $32 bucks).[Via AkihabaraNews]
Buffalo intros 1TB / 2TB DriveStation Quattro hard drives
Nah, Buffalo's latest don't sport a gigabit Ethernet connection, but the 1TB HD-Q1.0TSU2/R5 and 2TB HD-Q2.0TSU2/R5 external hard drives do feature both USB 2.0 and eSATA options. The Quattro drives are the outfit's newest additions to the DriveStation lineup, and aside from offering up terabytes of stores in RAID scenarios, it also sports SecureLockWare for automatic encryption, Memeo AutoBackup, and near silent operation. Each unit touts four 7,200 RPM HDDs, RAID 0/1/5 and JBOD functionality, and just in case your PC doesn't play nice with eSATA just yet, it comes bundled with a "free" eSATA PCI card and back plate to get you going. Available right now, the 1TB flavor will run you $599, while you can double your capacity for an extra four Benjamins.[Via TechDigest]
Buffalo's TeraStation Living NAS for the home
Buffalo rolls out with yet another NAS product, only this time they insist that it belongs in your home. TeraStation Living, available as a 1TB or 2TB model, supports DNLA and works with the Buffalo Video LinkTheater suite to sync up with all your media electronics and also stores TV shows, videos (DivX or WMV), photos, and music. TeraStation will be made available in March with projected prices of ¥106,300 (about $896) for the 1TB unit and ¥178,900 (about $1,510) for the 2TB unit. While we can all agree that TeraStation Living's functional configurations are great for "living," some of their commercially-targeted models would look a whole lot nicer in the home.[Via Akihabara News]
Buffalo introduces d-pad-equipped mouse
While it likely won't replace your gamepad anytime soon, Buffalo's latest optical mouse here should at least bring some of that familiar video game flavor to your more mundane, scrolling-related computing tasks -- although you'll have to decide for yourself if that's an improvement or not. Apart from its newfound four-way action, however, the mouse is about as garden variety as they come, with an 800 dpi resolution and, well, two buttons and a cord. On the upside, it does come in your choice of silver or black, and it won't put much of a hurt on your wallet, demanding just 3,320 Yen (about $28) when it streets in Japan next month.[Via Impress]
Buffalo's TeraStation Pro hits 3TB: that's 3,000GB on your home network
Funny thing how NAS disk capacity and DRM hacks possess a near linear relationship, eh? Meet Buffalo's new 3TB (yeah, 3,000GB) TeraStation PRO storage solution for your home network. It's still the same ol' box -- RAID 1/5/10 (across 4x disks), 38MB/s transfer rate (Raid 5), gigabit Ethernet, Active Directory integration, integrated UPS and 2x USB 2.0 jacks to swing even more disk from. And with 1TB drives ready to pop, a 4TB model is just around the corner. The TS-H3.0TGL/R5 is already up for pre-order in Japan for ¥277,305 or about $2,312 of the green after you hunt the beast down. NASty indeed.[Via Impress]
Bill banning iPods and cellphones on New York City streets coming
Brace yourselves good people of New York, mother government is prepared to step in (again) and save you from yourselves. Senator Carl Kruger is reportedly set to introduce legislation that would ban the use of MP3 players, cellphones, and any other electronic device while crossing the street in New York City or other "big cities" in the state. The proposed ban follows two recent pedestrian deaths in Kruger's district where at least one is said to be the result of a person "listening to his iPod." We just gotta wonder: if police can't enforce jaywalking laws in NYC, how could they possibly enforce this?Update: Instead of preaching to the choir on this, why not take Chris' advice from the comments section and send Senator Kruger an email. We're sure he'd love to hear your thoughts on his proposed ban.[Thanks Chris and Jusin Z]
Buffalo intros mobile mouse with retractable USB
If you're looking to cut down on cable clutter in your laptop bag but not willing to go all out for a cordless mouse, you may want to take a gander at Buffalo's latest offering here, which manages to pack a retractable two-foot USB cable into its tiny shell. Apart from that bit of innovation, however, the mouse looks to be entirely unspectactular, with Buffalo only saying that it has "high accuracy tracking" of an unspecified resolution. It does pack the advantage of coordination though, with the mouse available in your choice of silver, white, or black, each setting you back 3,980 Yen ($33). And if you want to take the plunge and go cordless, Buffalo's got you covered there as well, announcing a nearly identical-looking mouse that replaces the wind-up USB with a wireless receiver, and a promised 157 hours of use from the required two AA batteries. Look for it to run a slight premium, demanding 5,320 Yen ($44) when it launches later this month.[Via Akihabara News]
Buffalo offers up Disney USB flash drives
Now that you've returned from your potentially magical trip to Disney World and seen the more robotically inclined characters dancing a jig, the sore spot on the entire trip was likely the lack of Disney-inspired flash drives at the gift store. Fret not, as Buffalo has just unveiled a lineup of USB drives that sport licensed Disney characters such as Mickey Mouse, Winnie the Pooh, and Stitch, which are all part of the RUF2-DFNR series. Judging by the shapes, each character is more suited to sit on your desk rather than becoming your everyday pocket drive, and with just 512MB of capacity, it's fairly clear that these are aimed squarely at Disney fanboys (and girls) who just can't let the opportunity to own a "limited edition" Disney item pass them by. Landing late next month, only 5,000 of each character will be available for sale, and while we're not sure of the exact prices, we're certain the trio will be at least somewhat overpriced (and highly coveted).[Via Impress]
Buffalo's USB WiFi adapter boosts range 210%
If your built-in WiFi antenna is less than phenomenal, or you're just looking to jack some WiFi from another country to avoid severe punishment, Buffalo's AirStation WLI-U2-SG54HP might be the answer. This USB 2.0 stick adapter operates like any vanilla 802.11b/g wireless LAN adornment, but ups the ante by suctioning to the rear of your display and reportedly boosting your reception capability by 210-percent. Granted, we're not sure where the firm is deriving this lofty figure, but it's probably safe to assume that strapping a relatively large antenna on the back of your lappie will persuade a few more far away signals to come your way than your factory-installed alternative. So if you're looking for a way to extend that range (legally), or just enjoy having a tethered weapon at your disposal at all times, Buffalo's WLI-U2-SG54HP can be snapped up next month for ¥3,700 ($31)[Via OhGizmo]
Horizon partners with Navini to spread WiMAX across Northeast US
Following up on Sprint's announcement to spread the WiMAX love to Chicago and Washington, D.C., Horizon is looking to broaden that area of coverage out just a bit by partnering with Navini Networks. This news comes after the FCC approved Horizon's purchase of the WCS A Block spectrum previously owned by the diminishing Verizon, and now the firm is looking to deploy the wireless goods in "Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Richmond, and Cincinnati" for starters. Horizon has selected Navini's 802.16e equipment to get things up and running, and states that its objective it to "provide wireless last mile access to residential, business, and emergency restoration markets," but folks in rural areas will seemingly get shunned for now. Horizon isn't wasting any time getting this thing started, either, as it plans to start building the network in Q1 of this year, with hopes for "ongoing expansion and additional network deployments in the latter part of 2007."[Via TheWirelessReport]
Buffalo's new 20-inch LCD dons black or white
In case that 19-incher was just a hair too small, Buffalo's cranking out a slightly larger panel in its FTD lineup by offering up the 20.1-inch FTD-W2025ADSR. Aside from the unnecessarily long name, this unit rocks a 16:10 aspect ratio, 1,680 × 1,050 resolution, 800:1 contrast ratio, 5-millisecond response time, and a 160-degree viewing angle. Additionally, you'll find a pair of skull-rattling one-watt speakers, DVI / VGA inputs, and an RoHS-approved logo to keep those energy costs minimized. Buffalo's apparently aiming for the trendy crowd, as it offers the panel in both black and white frames, and while we're not really feeling those feet on the stand, you can pick this one up later this month for a currently undisclosed price.[Via Impress]
Buffalo AirStation Wireless - N Nfiniti Dual Band Router & AP WZR-AG300NH
Let's get this out of the way right now: Yes, that's really the name. Buffalo introduced the AirStation Wireless - N Nfiniti Dual Band Router & AP (WZR-AG300NH) today, which they're claiming is the first wireless router to receive Windows Vista Premium Certification. That's nice, but the real selling point is that it can handle simultaneous dual-band operation, meaning you can connect your PC over 802.11b/g and still stream video around your home over 802.11a (which maximizes the amount of bandwidth you have available for moving around high bitrate content like HD video). Debuts early next month with a retail price of $299.
Buffalo intros USB-equipped AirStation Nfiniti Giga draft-N router
Aside from the fact that Buffalo has nearly worn its own AirStation moniker thin with all these router releases, the reviewers say it's got a good thing going, so we've no qualms with it busting out yet another offering in the Nfiniti lineup. The AirStation Nfiniti Giga sports the same basic design and feature set as the, um, non-Gigafied version, but boasts a USB port for retro machines (or stripped ultraportables) that lack at Ethernet port. Still, the unit reportedly supports the draft-spec of 802.11n as well as 802.11b/g, packs a built-in 4-port Ethernet "hub," and claims to offer "up to 80Mbps" through the air. So if you're digging the trio of antennas and need a USB port to boot, you can pick up this router later this month for a surprisingly high ¥34,800 ($295).[Via Akihabara News]
Buffalo announces "world's first" HD DVD drive for PCs: Xbox HD DVD drive sniggers
Hard to believe, but this HDV-ROM2.4FB drive from Buffalo (OEMed by Toshiba) marks a world's first HD DVD drive for PCs. Sure, the Toshiba Qosmio and other media savvy boxes already ship with integrated HD DVD, but you're not going to find any ATAPI HD DVD drives sold independently for PCs. It ships with the third party, PowerDVD HD DVD Edition software required to watch your MPAA-friendly high-def titles in XP or Vista and reads DVD±R/RW and DVD±R/R DL, DVD-ROM and CD-R/RW/ROM formats as you'd expect. At ¥38,850 (about $338) it's a pretty good deal when these ship at the end of the month in Japan, right? Sure, but the $199 Tosh-built Xbox 360 HD DVD player is already out and perfectly capable of pumping HD DVD vids natively under Vista (and even XP after some found driver magic) after installing the appropriate media application. Decisions, decisions. [Via Impress]
