Other features include support for DLNA, NFS and SMB multimedia sharing and a 1TB single SATA hard drive on the TS-109 (2TB with an external eSATA or USB drive) or 2TB for the TS-209. Unfortunately, No pricing or release date information has been announced.

From the press release:

QNAP Announces Next Generation 500MHz CPU+256MB DDRII TS-109 Pro/TS-209 Pro II Turbo NAS Series

Taipei, Taiwan, April 2008 - The leading network-attached storage (NAS) provider QNAP Systems, Inc. today unveils the next generation Linux-embedded one-bay and two-bay NAS: TS-109 Pro II and TS-209 Pro II for power users, SOHO, and business users. The TS-109 Pro II and TS-209 Pro II series adopts high performance Marvell 500MHz CPU and 256MB DDRII large memory, which is a double of the memory size of the previous generation (TS-109/209 series) and becomes the best hardware specifications in the present SOHO NAS market. The Turbo NAS maintains superior system performance even if there are multiple accesses to various network services of the server concurrently. The new models are equipped with enhanced software functions, including the new BitTorrent download engine, built-in Joomla! CMS 1.5.1 for ease of PHP/MySQL-based web server hosting and upgraded TwonkyMedia version 4.4.4 for DLNA compliant media playing. Other professional features such as HDD S.M.A.R.T., complete log system, schedule backup from NAS to external storage device, etc. are also available. TS-109 Pro II and TS-209 Pro II series is the ideal choice of high performance and energy-saving NAS for modern business and home users.

Upgraded BT engine for high-speed download
Besides the outstanding hardware specifications, the BitTorrent download performance of TS-109 Pro II and TS-209 Pro II series is largely enhanced. The high-speed DHT mode and TCP/UDP tracker protocols are supported to overcome the drawbacks of slow download of general embedded systems. You can now enjoy the level of P2P download speed as PC-based BT download. The optional firmware with encrypted BT is also provided on QNAP website for users who are suffered from traffic shaping by ISP to increase the download speed! QNAP also provides the remote management software-QGet to allow you to manage the download tasks of multiple NAS servers remotely over the local network or the Internet. According to Mr. Laurent Cheng, Product Manager from QNAP, "Most power users are used to using PC for BT download. However, PC-based BT download is energy-consuming and the fan is always noisy. As the performance of embedded system improves and evolves, we strongly believe that QNAP's energy-saving Linux embedded NAS will become an alternative solution to replace PC as a download server."

Supports DLNA, NFS, SMB multimedia sharing to set up the home multimedia centre
QNAP NAS is the NAS device with the highest compatibility with tens of different DLNA media players, Sony PS3, and Microsoft Xbox360 gaming consoles. With the upgraded TwonkyMedia version 4.4.4, the popular DivX video can be streamed to Sony PS3 from NAS. Users can enjoy more of the music, photos, and video sharing function in the home network. Moreover, the Turbo NAS Pro series works well with NFS supported High-Definition (HD) DMA for HD video streaming. They can also be connected to XBMC (modded from Xbox gaming console) via SMB for media playing. The high compatibility, energy-saving and reliable features have made QNAP NAS the first choice for setting up the digital home multimedia centre.

Feature-rich NAS for modern business
The advanced functions which are only available in enterprise-level NAS models are now supported in QNAP Turbo NAS series. The HDD S.M.A.R.T. (Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology) is supported for users to monitor the status of hard disk drive and check the potential problems. The comprehensive log system allows administrator to track the file-level connection logs and the status of all online users. The Turbo NAS provides numerous built-in functions which can be easily managed via the web interface, e.g. network storage, file server, encrypted FTP server, encrypted remote replication, printer server, etc. The intelligent backup software NetBak Replicator is also offered for users to back up data from multiple Windows PCs to the NAS. Also, Windows AD authentication is supported for efficient user account management and reduced maintenance cost.

About QNAP TS-109 and TS-209 Turbo NAS
QNAP TS-109 series supports up to 1TB single SATA hard drive. The total storage capacity can be expanded to 2TB with an external eSATA or USB drive. With the unique fanless design and aluminum alloy case, the noiseless TS-109 is suitable for operation in digital home environment. Moreover, the power consumption rate of TS-109 is less than 14.4W under normal operation. This energy-saving design enables the server to run 24x7 non stop. TS-109 series supports 12-in-1 complete functions and high transfer performance. TS-109 Pro was honored the "The Best NAS Box" from MAXIMUMPC (US), "Lord of NAS" from Hexus (UK), and "Golden Bear Award" from Bjorn3D (US) etc.

QNAP TS-209 series is the only 2-bay, RAID 1, hot-swappable NAS model in the current SOHO NAS market. With 12-in-1 functions, the maximum storage capacity supported is 2TB. TS-209 is a perfect large-storage and high security solution for home, SOHO, and SMB users. TS-209 Pro was honored "Gold Medal Award" from ComputerGEIL.dk (Denmark), Golden Award from InfoMods (France), and "Product of the Year 2007" from Hardware-TEST.dk (Denmark) etc.

PlayStation 3 owners who want to shove a bunch of DivX/XviD movies onto a server to stream to their consoles for HD movie action will be thrilled. Less thrilling is the price: $699 in May. Those features aren't cheap, nor are the smaller laptop drives they use to power it. Then again, for about $699 you could also get a Windows Home Server, which is quite full-featured but isn't nearly as compact. On the third hand, we're not sure why you would need a NAS to be all that compact unless you were living in a tiny apartment or wanted to sneak it through customs. [Buffalo]

Promise's VTrak E-Class RAID delivers a great combination of performance, features and value. When configured with Xsan 2 and Final Cut Studio 2, it can deliver up to 6 streams of 8-bit uncompressed high definition video, 22 streams of ProRes HQ compressed HD video and 26 streams of 8-bit uncompressed SD video at costs as low as $1.12 per GB.

"Xserve RAID is still available while supplies last and we will continue to sell the 500 and 750GB drive modules," said Apple's Anuj Nayar, "for new RAID purchases we recommend the Promise VTrack E-Class subsystem." However, if you try to buy an Xserve RAID in the Apple Store, you will be greeted with this message:

The item you have selected is currently not available from the Apple Store.

Please note that Apple cannot guarantee availability of any product.

So those purchases are probably limited only to resellers. There's not mention of Xserve RAID demise in Apple press release about the latest version of its Storage Area Network filesystem manager, which now allows for a single workstation to access multiple SANs at the same time. It is also "qualified to work with third-party RAID storage," just like the Promise RAID system.

Apple Introduces Xsan 2

CUPERTINO, California—February 19, 2008—Apple® today introduced Xsan® 2, the first major upgrade to its easy to use, high performance, enterprise class Storage Area Network (SAN) file system for Mac OS® X. Combining enhanced performance with Apple's legendary ease of use, Xsan 2 makes it easier for first time users to set up and quickly deploy a SAN; introduces MultiSAN, allowing users on a single workstation to access multiple SANs at the same time; is fully integrated with Mac OS X Leopard™ and Mac OS X Server Leopard and is now qualified to work with third-party RAID storage.

Administration tools have been completely redesigned in Xsan 2, making it easier than ever to set up and manage a SAN file system. Xsan 2 intelligently handles different data types, file sizes and usage scenarios for ideal performance. For example, administrators have the ability to pre-set volume workload settings for optimal streaming of all file types, from very large files, such as uncompressed HD video to small data center files. Xsan 2 includes a new feature, MultiSAN, for users who need to access multiple Xsan volumes from the same workstation or server, such as in newsrooms with separate SAN volumes for production and broadcast.

Xsan 2 is fully integrated with Mac OS X Leopard and takes complete advantage of core Mac OS X features, such as Spotlight™ to search across multiple SAN volumes. Xsan 2 also works seamlessly with Server Assistant in Leopard Server for easy setup and configuration of SAN volumes. Leopard Server features, such as iCal® Server, Mail Server and Podcast Producer, can now integrate with Xsan 2 to support clustered file systems, improving performance and scalability and reducing the impact of a service outage from the loss of any one server.

For the first time, Xsan 2 has been qualified with third-party RAID storage hardware. Along with Apple's Xserve® RAID, Xsan 2 supports third-party RAID solutions from Promise Technology in configurations tuned and optimized for Xsan, Mac OS X Server and Apple's professional applications.

Pricing & Availability
Xsan 2 is available immediately through the Apple Store® (www.apple.com) and through Apple Authorized Resellers for a suggested retail price of $999 (US) per node.

Apple has qualified Xsan 2 with Xserve, Mac® Pro and Apple Fibre Channel PCI-X cards. Xsan 2 requires Mac OS X version 10.5 or Mac OS X Server version 10.5 software installed and will support qualified Fibre Channel switches from vendors such as Brocade, QLogic and Cisco, and RAID storage hardware including Xserve RAID and Promise VTrak E-Class RAID subsystems.

Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning computers, OS X operating system and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital media revolution with its iPod portable music and video players and iTunes online store, and has entered the mobile phone market with its revolutionary iPhone.

[New storage RAIDThanks Jacob]

Sony Playstation 3 with 750 GB of storage in RAID [Newlaunches.com]

First, the 8 GB USB stick, which has 32 MB/s write and 27 MB/s read. This will be available sometime in June, but prices haven't been set.

The 4 GB high speed CF card for digital cameras is also set for release in mid-June with no price yet (they better get crackin', it's June as of today).

Lastly, the USB 2.0/Firewire compatible external hard disk enclosure that comes in two models. The HD-W500IU2/R1 holds up to two 250 GB hard disks in RAID1, or as separate hard disks for 500 GB total storage. The HD-W800IU2/R1 holds two 400 GBs, for RAID or normal storage. This too will be available in June.

Thanks to Jimmy for the translations! – Jason Chen

8 GB USB Stick [Buffalo]

4 GB CF [Buffalo]

800 GB External Enclosure [Buffalo]

On the storage side, RAID 0, 1 and 5 can be configured to support four 250GB hard drives, which makes for a maximum of 1 Terabyte. Even Dean Cain couldn't handle that much Teri Hatcher.

New 1TB Iomega NAS Device Offers 802.11g [Digital Trends]

Product Page [Anthology Solutions]

That said, I'm looking at this hunk of aluminum and plastic and wondering why this has to be so hard. For 30 years PCs have been the bane of our existence. Trust me—the car, the ability to leave one community for another, has done more for us as a society than the computer ever will. Everything—government, utilities, manufacturing—ran just as smoothly sans Windows XP and regular BIOS updates as it does now, which isn't saying much. We've just made it much easier to destroy our lives with a single keystroke.

I would like to propose the following Gizmodo challenge to OEMs out there. [WARNING - RANT]

I am not a stupid man. I back up. I learn from my mistakes and come back stronger for them. I pride myself in maintaining my hardware the way a solider maintains his or her weapon—I know its power and its place in my life, and I know that failure is not an option. Sure, call me melodramatic, but everything on this stupid Mac Mini means something to me. It's hours spent installing and tweaking. It's a desktop that is as cosy to me as my own bed. It's the collection of my days, in electronic form, and I can tell you that it, like my body, will ultimately fail. But does it have to fail so fucking much?

This is my plea. OEMs, Apple, Dell, whoever is out there—give me the idiot's PC. Mirror my drives and allow for instant failover upon boot failure. Make that a standard. Make me completely unaware of its existence. Put two drives in there, don't tell me about one, and let me wend my merry way through the highways and byways of the Interweb. If a catastrophic disk failure occurs, and with larger disks and harder working apps, this is inevitable, I'll get a happy little paper clip that appears to tell me to buy a new "date module." Don't call it a drive. Don't tell me what it is. It holds my crap, that's it. Let me pull out the broken "data module," let me pull a string to initiate the physical destruction of my data using some sort of nails-on-the-chalkboard cheese grater thing, and let me throw it into the recycling bin.

This would prevent 99% of your service calls right there. RAID isn't rocket science, but it isn't standard equipment. Maybe there's some good reason this won't work, and I'm sure I'll get 500 emails from CS ninjas who will inform me that I'm full of it, but let that happen. But disks are now holding our lives. I can backup all I want, but if I never had to think about backing up, I will pay the extra $200 for mirrored drives.

Oh, you say, there's an error between the computer and the chair. Bullshit. That's laziness. I was in IT and I know that no sysadmin wants to shut down a game of FreeCiv so he/she can hear about "This new feature we want to add to the shopping cart. Can we figure out where the people who browse our site live? Just from the IP address?" I know we hate hearing about how people can't print. I know we hate BSoDs on some distant HR person's computer because his ficus grew into the power supply fan. IT folks, and by extension, the folks who make the PCs and warez that pleases us so, want to reduce the amount of heartache that goes into making something work right the first time. For the most part, we're very good at what we do. We make excellent software that does excellent things. We code and debug and release excellent product. OS X is a masterpiece on par with the cathedrals. Yeah, team. But once the stuff hits the fan, that's it. Joe User is left holding a hunk of plastic and metal in the line for the Genius Bar. We should be out body surfing and loving our loved ones, not doing the sysadmin tango.

RAID every single PC on every desk, and bugs and failures will look much less damaging. Give me a saftey net, and give me, as Joe User, the oppurtunity to do something for myself, namely get a new "disk module" for my PC and a security blanket for my porn stash.

Sorry about the rant. I'll go back into my cave now.