QNAP Systems, Inc. today released the Turbo NAS QTS 4.1.2 operating system, introducing NAS Installation over HDMI - a pioneering function in the NAS market that allows installing a NAS without a network connection, and adds several new features including VPN Server support, VPN Client support, block-based LUN backup, subtitle (*.SRT) support for Video Station and File Station, embedding subtitles into transcoded videos, Chromecast streaming, and more.

“We have made many enhancements to the business and home features in QTS 4.1.2 to provide a better user experience and to make the Turbo NAS a great companion in the workplace and for home entertainment,” said Willy Kuo, product manager of QNAP.

QNAP is the first NAS provider to provide NAS installation over HDMI. Users can now enjoy extreme convenience by setting up their Turbo NAS locally without a network connection: just connect a keyboard, mouse and HDMI monitor to the Turbo NAS, and the NAS installation process can be completed effortlessly. “NAS installation over HDMI is a breakthrough innovation that eliminates many difficulties that users may encounter when initially setting up their NAS. No complicated procedures are necessary, no network expertise is required, and it helps users to quickly finish installing their NAS just like operating a PC,” added Kuo.

Today, CDRLabs brings you a review of Lexar's new 2-in-1 USB flash drive, the JumpDrive M20 Mobile. Designed for use with On-The-Go (OTG)-enabled Android tablets and smartphones, the M20 Mobile sports a thumb slide design with a connector on each end - micro-USB and USB 3.0 - that both retract. With these two connectors, users can  transfer playlists, photos, videos and files between their OTG-enabled Android devices, or from device to computer, without the use of cables or Wi-Fi. The M20 Mobile also leverages USB 3.0 performance, offering read speeds of up to 120MB/s. At these speeds, you can transfer a 3GB HD video clip in less than one minute, compared to the 4 minutes it takes using a standard USB 2.0 drive.

QNAP Systems, Inc. today announced the TS-x31+ series Turbo NAS for small and home offices. Embedded with a dual-core 1.4 GHz ARM Cortex-A15 CPU, the TS-x31+ series provides a powerful yet energy-efficient solution for file storage, sharing and data backup with hardware-accelerated encryption, coupled with the easy-to-use cloud-based Notes Station 2.0, various multimedia applications and more.

"For home & small businesses, a powerful, secure yet affordable cloud storage solution is becoming a key investment for improving everyday business workflow," said Jason Hsu, product manager of QNAP. "With the TS-x31+ series, users can build a cost-efficient private cloud with ensured security and comprehensive business applications, " added Hsu.

Transcend Information, Inc. (Transcend), a leading manufacturer of storage and multimedia products, is proud to announce the launch of the JetFlash 880 OTG (On-The-Go) Flash Drive. Designed to transform the way Android users carry, transfer and exchange personal digital content, the JetFlash 880 features a USB 3.0 interface for even faster transfer speeds between computers to boost efficiency.

Besides a SuperSpeed USB 3.0 interface which provides 10 times the bandwidth of USB 2.0, the dual access JetFlash 880 also features a micro USB 2.0 interface for Android devices that support USB On-The-Go. This allows users to move or copy files to and from their device's memory card via a steady USB connection that is faster and more reliable than Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and mobile internet 3G/4G. Combining two interfaces into one high-capacity flash drive up to 64GB, the JetFlash 880 focuses on the portable storage needs of mobile device users and eliminates dependence on computers, cables and adapters.

Synology America Corp., known for providing enterprise storage features at SMB price, announces its latest NAS storage solutions for SMB users - the RackStation RS815+ and the DiskStation DS2415+.  With the award-winning OS DiskStation Manager, the RS815+ is a 4-bay 1U server, expandable to 8 bays, when paired with the RX415 expansion unit.  It is available in both single and redundant power (RP) configurations to provide options for peace of mind.  The DS2415+ is a 12-bay desktop model expandable to up to 24 drives when paired with the DX1215 expansion unit, allowing up to 138TB usable storage in Synology Hybrid RAID (SHR).

Designed to help users maximize their productivity, both models include quad-core CPUs optimized for embedded applications. Both offer read speeds in excess of 380MB/s and write speeds in excess of 360MB/s.  The new chipset includes an encryption assist allowing 256-bit AES encryption for sensitive data without a noticeable performance penalty on reads, and write speeds of 158MB/s (RS815(RP)+) and 198MB/s (DS2415+).

Silicon Power, the world’s leading provider of memory storage solutions, today introduces the latest SATA III solid state drives - Slim S85 and Velox V85 with huge capacities up to 960GB. They have also proven to deliver amazing Read/ Write speeds during live tests which massively reduce boot time and enhance system responsiveness. In addition to increased work efficiency and gaming performance, the super slim 7mm height makes Slim S85 and Velox V85 easy to carry and use.

Engineered with a quality controller and the ultra-fast 6Gbps SATA III interface, Slim S85 and Velox V85 provide amazing Read/Write speeds of 560MB/540MB/sec for ATTO test and 530MB/510MB/sec for CDM (CrystalDiskMark) test. With such an extraordinary performance, Slim S85 and Velox V85 offer reliable and ultra-fast transmission especially for high-resolution photos, video and multimedia files. This is a comprehensive system transformation for professionals and gaming enthusiasts - instant boot times, incredible data transfer speeds, enhanced multitasking capability, and pro-level reliability. On top of that, 960GB high storage space enables users to move all data from an existing hard drive to the newly installed SSD. You won't be haggling over more room to store games, music, films and applications. Compared to a hard drive, S85 and V85 realize higher stability to be shockproof and vibration-proof for there's no moving part contained. Built with S.M.A.R.T. monitoring system and ECC technology, they offer safe data transmission; meanwhile, Wear Leveling technique promises prolonged lifespan and improved durability.

CDRLabs has taken a long overdue look at Samsung's EVO and PRO microSD cards. Completely redesigned with bright, color-coded hues, these memory cards are available in a variety of capacities and performance levels for use in many different consumer electronic devices. Samsung's PRO and EVO microSD cards support Ultra High Speed (UHS-I) Grade 1 level performance and offer fast read speeds of up to 90MB/s and 48MB/s, respectively. The cards have also been designed to be waterproof, temperature proof, X-ray proof and magnet proof, allowing them to withstand some of the harshest conditions.