RSS
 

Archive for June, 2017

Synology launches lower cost NAS with DS1817 and DS1517

17 Jun

Storage solutions company Synology has released ‘value’ versions of two of its recent NAS systems that use lower spec processors, less RAM and which have less comprehensive software packages. The Disk Station DS1817 and DS1517 are slightly scaled back alternatives to the DS1817+ and DS1517+ devices.

Technical differences include the use of 32-bit 1.7GHz Annapurna CPUs instead of the Intel Atom 64-bit 2.4GHz processors of the ‘+’ models, as well as 2GB (DS1517) and 4GB (DS1817) of RAM instead of up to 8GB. The DS1517 has no expandable memory options, while the DS1817 has built in 10GbE instead of the option to run with 10GbE or M.2 SSD cache like the DS1817+. As standard the DS1817 offers sequential throughput of up to 1,577 MB/s reading and 739 MB/s writing, while the DS1517 can manage reading throughput of up to 436.32 MB/s and writing throughput over 449.69 MB/s.

The DS1517 offers 5 drive bays and the DS1817 has eight, but both can couple with two DX517 expansion units which can hold a further five drives each. The maximum capacity of the DS1517 is 50TB, or 150TB when the two DX517 units capacity is included, while the DS1817 can manage 80TB, or 180TB with the DX517s .

The company says that the biggest differences between the value units and the ‘+’ units is the software packages that come with them. The value DS1817 and DS1517 come with fewer business applications and a more limited compatibility with certain file types.

  • DS1817 – $ 849.99/£689/€793 ex tax
  • DS1817+ (2GB) – $ 849.99/£688.33.80/€809 ex tax
  • DS1817+ (8GB) – $ 949.9/£745/€875 ex tax
  • DS1517 – $ 599.99/£567/€653 ex tax
  • DS1517+ (2GB) – $ 699.99/£567/€666 ex tax
  • DS1517+ (8GB) -$ 799.99/£623/€732 ex tax

Follow these links for more detailed comparisons between the DS1517 and DS1517+ and the DS1817 and DS1817+ on the Synology website. These products come with a 3-year warranty, though in many countries a further two years is available.

Press release

Synology® Introduces DiskStation DS1517 and DS1817

Powerful all-in-one NAS solution optimized for your growing needs

Synology® Inc. launched the new DiskStation DS1517 and DS1817, powerful and scalable 5-bay and 8-bay desktop NAS. DS1817 is the first Value series equipped with built-in 10GbE LAN ports and an expandable RAM module, delivering future-proof, high-speed storage for professionals and growing small/medium-sized businesses.

DS1817 is powered by a quad-core 1.7GHz processor with RAM module expandable up to 8GB. Thanks to the built-in 10GbE interfaces, DS1817 can achieve outstanding sequential throughput performance exceeding 1,577 MB/s reading and 739 MB/s writing when using RAID 5. The built-in 10GBASE-T ports and 1GBASE-T LAN ports pave the way for businesses to upgrade to a 10GbE environment, and provide the support of Link Aggregation and failover.

DS1517 is powered by a quad-core 1.7GHz processor, 2GB RAM, and four Gigabit LAN ports featuring failover and Link Aggregation. It delivers sequential throughput performance over 449 MB/s writing and 436 MB/s reading when using RAID 5.

“Growing small and medium-sized businesses expect a cost-effective storage solution that is versatile and expandable for their future demands, while minimizing the initial investment required,” said Katarina Shao, Product Manager at Synology Inc. “The DS1517 and DS1817 are engineered to fulfill such needs, and provides the high performance and flexible scalability to manage, protect, and share data at work.”

Both DS1517 and DS1817 can be scaled up to a raw capacity of 150TB and 180TB respectively with two DX517 expansion units. DS1517 and DS1817 support Synology High Availability (SHA), providing redundancy in case of unexpected network failure or disasters, and ensuring seamless transition between clustered servers. Moreover, DS1817 provides storage solutions for virtualization environments with VMware®, Citrix®, and Microsoft Hyper-V® certificates.

DS1517 and DS1817 run with DiskStation Manager (DSM) 6.1, the powerful and intuitive operating system for Synology NAS devices. Featuring a wide range of applications to bring better productivity at intensive work, DS1517 and DS1817 can serve as a centralized data backup destination. Synology has received numerous media accolades, such as topping the mid-range NAS category in TechTarget’s storage solution survey.

DS1517 and DS1817 are backed by a limited 3-year hardware warranty. An additional extended warranty option is available in select regions for up to five years of coverage.

For more information on DS1517, please visit https://www.synology.com/products/DS1517
For more information on DS1817, please visit https://www.synology.com/products/DS1817
For more information on extended warranty, please visit https://www.synology.com/products/extended_warranty

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on Synology launches lower cost NAS with DS1817 and DS1517

Posted in Uncategorized

 

This video of Boeing’s new planes has nothing to do with photography but we’re posting it anyway because it’s cool

17 Jun

Boeing’s new and very shiny 737 MAX 9 is a pretty cool plane. And so is the equally new and equally shiny 787-10. And in Boeing’s latest promotional video you can see its two newest airliners flying together in close formation, ahead of the annual Paris Air Show.

Does this video have anything to do with photography? Absolutely not. But you should watch it anyway.

Read about our experience recently shooting the 737 MAX 9 first flight

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on This video of Boeing’s new planes has nothing to do with photography but we’re posting it anyway because it’s cool

Posted in Uncategorized

 

Photographer uses ‘antique’ photo technique to illustrate struggles of Native Americans

17 Jun

$ (document).ready(function() { SampleGalleryV2({“containerId”:”embeddedSampleGallery_4545210807″,”galleryId”:”4545210807″,”isEmbeddedWidget”:true,”standalone”:false,”selectedImageIndex”:0,”startInCommentsView”:false,”isMobile”:false}) });

During the Dakota War of 1862, the United States government hung 38 members of the Dakota Indian Tribe in Mankato, Minnesota – the largest single-day mass execution in US history. A day after Shane Balkowitsch learned about this event – something most Americans have never heard of – he made the plate ‘Death by Oil’ (pictured above) using an antique photo process called wet plate collodion, which was first developed (no pun intended) in 1848.

The oil in the photo links the struggles of Native Americans in 1862 to the present time, in which they are again standing up to the US Government to protect their homeland. In this case, it is from the proposed Dakota Access Pipeline.

Wet plate photography requires subjects to sit still for long exposures, sometimes as long as 30 seconds. It involves applying a collodion emulsion onto a glass plate and sensitizing the plate for 3 minutes in a bath of silver nitrate, then taking the photo while the plate is still wet (which requires a portable darkroom). According to Balkowitsch, while the photos come out black and white, ‘they capture real life more beautifully and romantically’ and they will last for hundreds of years, unlike more traditional modern photographic prints. Balkowitsch is one of a very small group of photographers still using the collodion wet plate process and has made over 2300 plates since 2012.

Balkowitsch’s full collection of wet plate photos is available for viewing online.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on Photographer uses ‘antique’ photo technique to illustrate struggles of Native Americans

Posted in Uncategorized

 

Crazy Cat Castle for Sale: 20 Acres of Terror in the Arizona Desert

16 Jun

[ By SA Rogers in Destinations & Sights & Travel. ]

Are you one of the 3 billion people worldwide estimated to be infected with toxoplasmosis, the brain-controlling parasite passed onto humans by our feline overlords? This protozoa invades the host’s brain and makes it do things that are counterproductive to survival – and apparently good taste. How else would you explain this Arizona real estate listing for a dream home only a crazed cat mom could love? “If you love cats this is the home for you!” reads the Caldwell Banker description. “If not bring your sandblaster!”

The first important thing to note is that the former owners actually only had two cats. This isn’t an out-of-control animal hoarding situation. It’s just an extremely bonkers decorating scheme carried out by people who are really, really into cats. You might think – “So, what, they’ve got some built-in cat walkways and cat castles?”

Oh, they’ve got those things, all right. Including a three-story Medieval cat castle made of stone. Upstairs, in what was apparently the cat overlords’ bedroom, every single surface is plastered with stuffed cats, photos of cats, oversized posters of cats, cat toys, cat houses, stockings full of cat treats. But that’s not all.

Continue going through the photos and you’ll see that the theme carries throughout the rest of the house. The kitchen, bathroom, living room and bedrooms are all similarly decorated (on top of log cabin wall surfaces painted a garish mix of colors.) There’s even a cat-shaped chandelier.

The 2,500-square-foot home is listed for $ 240,000, and it comes with 20 acres of land in the town of Concho, about 200 miles northeast of Phoenix. The town itself has a population of just 38. So really, what we’re looking at is the perfect place for mind-controlled cat slaves to establish their very own cat-worshipping compound. Or, you know, just a really great sanctuary for cats that need a safe and loving home.

Share on Facebook





[ By SA Rogers in Destinations & Sights & Travel. ]

[ WebUrbanist | Archives | Galleries | Privacy | TOS ]


WebUrbanist

 
Comments Off on Crazy Cat Castle for Sale: 20 Acres of Terror in the Arizona Desert

Posted in Creativity

 

A visual history of Canon autofocus and how it works today

16 Jun

This short video does an excellent job explaining how autofocus systems work, without over-complicating the subject matter. It touches on the various types of autofocus systems in Canon cameras as well as specific features like subject tracking and Dual Pixel AF.

It starts with the dawn of autofocus and moves on to modern day from there. And though it is marketing material from Canon USA, it’s still worth a watch. In fact, it got us thinking about how incredibly far AF technologies have come in just about 30 years. Imagine where we’ll be in another 30.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on A visual history of Canon autofocus and how it works today

Posted in Uncategorized

 

Ricoh R Development kit now shipping

16 Jun

The RICOH R Development Kit that was first shown to the public at Mobile World Congress this spring is now shipping and available to order for $ 499. The camera is capable of live-streaming fully spherical, 360-degree video in 2K resolution at 30 frames per second. The footage is stitched on the device in real time to fit the standard Equirectangular Projection Format. Streaming video can be output via HDMI or USB, and, when using a power adapter, continuously up to 24 hours. The camera can also record onto a micro SD card.

The kit consists of the camera, camera stand, a software development kit (SDK) as well as image-control tools and source code. Thanks to an open API the camera is controllable via USB. Potential applications include live streaming of events, telepresence, computer vision and surveillance.

The kit includes a camera stand and an SDK and source code to encourage third parties to build apps for it. Along with the camera hardware the following items have been made available:

  • “RICOH R Console” image-control tool (for PC/Mac)
  • “RICOH R Console” source code *through GitHub
  • Guide on how to do 360-degree live stream on YouTube
  • Users’ forum for developers
  • Other technical information, tools

Full technical specifications and more information can be found on the Ricoh website.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on Ricoh R Development kit now shipping

Posted in Uncategorized

 

Video: shooting the streets of Tokyo with the X-T20

16 Jun

We’re fans of the Camera Store TV and their highly-entertaining , informative videos. We also think Chris and Jordan are genuinely nice dudes. The duo was recently flown out to Japan by Fujifilm and while there they reviewed the X-T20, both in the streets of Tokyo and while touring a Fujifilm factory.

The video is full of useful information and observations about the camera, from the field. By the end it becomes pretty clear that Chris really enjoys using the X-T20 for travel and street photography. And we tend to agree.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on Video: shooting the streets of Tokyo with the X-T20

Posted in Uncategorized

 

Video: a quick introduction to panning photography

16 Jun

Panning is a cool and simple way to photograph moving subjects or objects. And when executed properly, it can make a subject appear to be moving considerably faster than it really is. Panning is also an easy way to deal with a messy or distracting background – simply blur it away. Plus, it’s just plain fun and can result in some really creative outcomes.

In this how-to video, Josh Katz provides useful tips for getting started and improving your pans. If the concept is new to you, this video is a great place to start. All you’ll need is a camera with the ability to set a custom shutter speed and a moving subject.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on Video: a quick introduction to panning photography

Posted in Uncategorized

 

2017 Roundup: $1200-2000 ILCs – Crop-sensor

16 Jun

Last updated: June 16, 2017

For those wanting to step up from entry-level and midrange ILCs, there are many things to consider, including the choice between a DSLR or mirrorless camera, what sensor size suits you best, how important video is to you, and of course the lens system.

While full-frame cameras typically offer superior image quality and more control over depth-of-field, crop-sensor cameras are extremely capable in their own right – and are (usually) more compact and less costly. They can also often shoot faster, with many of the models in this group include sophisticated focus systems and more capable video.

We’ve split the $ 1200-2000 ILC marketplace into two segments – cropped sensor cameras (which you’ll find in this roundup) and full-frame options.

The price range covered means there’s a wide variety of cameras here, from the PEN-F with its Four Thirds sensor and style-conscious mirrorless design, up to the D500 which is essentially a smaller-sensor version of Nikon’s professional sports camera, the D5. Depending on your needs, one of these crop-sensor cameras might just be right for you.

Here are the competitors in this crop-sensor round-up:

  • Canon EOS 7D Mark II
  • Fujifilm X-Pro2
  • Fujifilm X-T2
  • Leica TL
  • Nikon D500
  • Nikon D7500
  • Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II
  • Olympus PEN-F
  • Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5
  • Sony Alpha a6500

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on 2017 Roundup: $1200-2000 ILCs – Crop-sensor

Posted in Uncategorized

 

Lomography unveils Lomo’Instant Panama Edition

16 Jun

Lomography has launched a new model in its range of instant film cameras today. The Lomo’Instant Panama Edition is technologically very similar to the other cameras in the Lomo’Instant range but features a design that according to Lomography has been inspired by “the lusty smell of rainforests, the rumble of tamborito drums, and the salty taste of the air as you sail through beautiful tropical islands”.

Like other Lomo’Instant cameras the Panama Edition captures images on Fuji Instax Mini film with an exposure area of 42 x 64mm. It also offers some manual control over the exposure process, allowing for shutter speeds from 1/125sec to Bulb mode for long-exposure and up to +/- 2EV exposure compensation. You can also shoot multiple exposures and the camera comes with a standard tripod mount and a built-in flash.

The Lomo’Instant Panama Edition is $ 105 on its own or comes in a kit with close-up, portrait and fisheye lenses that will set you back $ 129. The box also contains a range of colored gel filters but no film or battery. More information is available on the Lomography website.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on Lomography unveils Lomo’Instant Panama Edition

Posted in Uncategorized