There doesn't seem to be much that I don't like about the mini ITX platform. I get everything I want and need and compact platform. Motherboard manufacturers have figured out how to pack all the power, performance, and features into a tiny little package. What isn't there to like about it? I have used the mini ITX platform for building NAS and compact file servers, but I never really considered using the platform for a gamer or daily use machine. ASRock thinks they can get me to turn to the Dark Side and leave my ATX, bigger is better, roots for their Z97E-ITX/ac motherboard and the ITX platform.

When I think about a NAS I think Linux and I think web based administration. Well, when I think about Buffalo, I think I love the hardware and I just use the administration. Buffalo, a solid hardware platform, starts to really look dated and unimpressive when comparing their administration to the likes of QNAP, Synology, and ASUSTOR. To address this, Buffalo has released another 5400 NAS appliance and slapped a WSS on the end of its name. If you don't know what that means... it means that Buffalo has outfitted their WS5400DR2 with Windows Storage Server 2012 R2 and is working at bringing their NAS back under the big lights.

QNAP® Systems, Inc. today announced the release of the business-class TS-x53U Turbo NAS series with a quad-core processor, four LAN ports, and the cost-efficient expansion enclosures that enable easy capacity expansion.

Having been a long time fan of the home theater PC, I have many times experimented with different platforms. These range from XBMC (now KODI), MediaPortal, Windows Media Center, PLEX, and a few others. What always led me back to XMBC, now KODI, was the incredible list of available addons. These addons added a ton of functionality that I couldn't find anywhere else. Recently, I decided to give PLEX another go as some of my family moves towards portable devices and in the interest of preventing another mutiny, I figured I would proactively implement an additional, easy to use, portable streaming solution.

QNAP recently released an update to their QTS Operating System, QTS 4.1.3, that implements a couple of enhancements and a slew of bug fixes. Although the list of Enhancements is short, it does include things like: VPN Client/Server, NAS over HDMI, Block-Based LUN Backup, and Storage Pool support for X51 and X53 models.

Last year, we covered some of the addons we felt were the best out there for XBMC. Well, this is a new year and with the new year comes a new list... and name (KODI). This list will NOT include the previously mentioned items in last year's list of top addons. Here is my list for the Best KODI (XBMC) Addons for 2015

Windows Storage Server is an exciting development in the storage platform. It can run on nearly any spec'd hardware and allows for simple management of storage appliances across a wide variety of manufacturers. Unlike customized NAS OS from other platforms, you get similar features and functions across an array of manufacturers. It is offered in two flavors, provides simple management, and runs like a champ. Additionally, having familiarity with Windows Server operating systems allows administrators to dive right in.

Now, this is one press release I have been waiting for. One of my biggest issues with the NAS OS experience was solved with Windows Storage Server 2012 R2 and it was the ability to manage multiple NAS from a single interface. Well, with this app release from QNAP, they are officially back on my "nice" list.

QNAP® Systems, Inc. today announced that its Enterprise and SMB-class Turbo NAS products now support HGST’s Ultrastar He8 helium-filled hard disk drives (HDDs). By incorporating HGST’s HelioSeal™ platform technology, enterprise users benefit from enhanced NAS performance, maximized storage capacity, and optimum energy efficiency for reduced total cost of ownership (TCO).

QNAP® Systems, Inc. today announced the release of CloudBackup Station, adding more support for backing up data stored on a QNAP NAS to cloud storage services such as Amazon S3, Amazon Glacier, Google, RackSpace, HP Cloud, IBM SoftLayer, WebDAV-compatible cloud storage, and allowing users to build a comprehensive plan for disaster recovery.