Home server for PCs and Macs

HP’s MediaSmart Server is a home server designed for use with both Windows and Mac computers. Based on the MS Windows Home Server platform, the HP MediaSmart Server ex485/ex487 is a central repository for automatically backing up and accessing digital music, videos, photos and documents from multiple computers on a home network. The MediaSmart Server automatically organizes files across all computers, streams media across a home network and the Internet, and publishes photos to popular social networking and photo sharing sites. The server offers online backup which duplicates designated folders to Amazon’s S3 online backup service for an additional layer of protection.

“A growing number of digital-savvy households have both Windows and Mac computers, with hundreds and sometimes thousands of media files and documents scattered across these devices,” said Jason Zajac, vice president of strategy, Worldwide Attach Group, HP. “The HP MediaSmart Server protects, stores and organizes this content from anywhere on a network so consumers can access and share it any place they are connected.”

The HP MediaSmart Server ex485 with 750 GB of hard disk storage is $599, while the HP MediaSmart Server ex487 with 1.5 TB is $749. The server can be pre-ordered now and will ship in February. See it at www.hp.com/go/mediasmartserver.

It’s a family affair

BabyCenter (www.babycenter.com ) is the largest online resource for expectant and new parents around the world. The site has nurtured more than 100 million parents since its launch in 1997. The BabyCenter international sites attract over six million visitors a month and provide a trusted online destination for parents. The site is available in seven languages, including a newly launched Arabic site.

BabyCenter offers pregnancy and parenting information, covering preconception through age eight. The site’s online community lets parents connect with other parents and parents-to-be through bulletin boards and live chat. There’s also a BabyCenter Store featuring thousands of products, all accompanied by extensive guidance to give parents an easier way to research baby gear, supplies and gifts. A shopping tool, “Parents’ Picks,” enables shoppers to see products other parents rate highest, as well as parents’ comments on those products.

Instant photo sharing

SnapMyLife was launched in April, 2008 and has grown to more than 1.5 million unique visitors per month and over 500,000 registered users. Mobile phone users from every country in the world use SnapMyLife (www.snapmylife.com) to share pictures, make friends and see location-tagged pictures on interactive maps. The site is optimized for viewing directly on mobile phones, offers location tagging and interactive picture maps, and uses sophisticated filtering technology to ensure a great experience for a wide range of audiences.

Learn before spending

Learn and Save (www.learnandsave.com) is a new consumer networking website that brings how-to tutorials, high-quality information and money saving coupons to consumers. The site launched this week with more than 15,000 tutorials for consumers. Learn and Save tutorials provide consumers with free instructions on activities and topics that suit their interests — such as setting up a home network, preparing for a job interview or taking better digital pictures.

Imagine you are a consumer looking for information on backcountry skiing and snowboarding. By watching the “Basics of Backcountry Travel” you can learn helpful tips about the four main modes of backcountry travel and what items you should bring on your trip, so you can make better decisions before booking travel or buying gear.