Synology DS216J

Basicba and affordable network storage

BoseBo Soundlink Revolve

Well-roundedWe sound, but it’ll cost you

NAS (network-attached storage) boxes aren’t the most glamorous of accessories, and Synology’s are no exception, but they’re known for offering a good range of features at a sensible price. This is the successor to the DS215J, which we recommended back in Issue 449, and it keeps the characteristic white plastic box with its vertical strip of indicator lights at the right.

Inside are two bays ready for whichever brand and capacity of SATA and hard drive you choose to slide in, which you can use to their full capacity or mirrored (backing each other up) for security. Folder-level encryption is supported. The installed DSM 6.1 software is the same as you’d get with Synology’s more expensive units. It’s set up from a web browser, but free companion apps for Android and Apple devices give you another option, and all the popular online storage services are integrated.

For Mac users, the DS216J plays nicely with Apple’s itunes and Time Machine, while Synology’s Photo Station image server software will keep anyone’s photos organised – a great use for a NAS in a household that wants one central digital family album. If you want to get techier, you can run a web or email server or a Wordpress blog. The 1GHZ dual-core processor can even decode high-quality video, but only using Synology’s own Video Station program; if you install a media player such as Plex, it can stream video files to a PC (which does the decoding work itself).

Virtual Reality (VR) has taken off in the past year or so, with headsets like the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive beginning to sell in large numbers. These helmets are remarkable, using complex motion tracking to keep the imaginary world in the eyepieces aligned with your head, so you really feel like you’re there. But they need to be connected to a powerful computer – more powerful than most PCS.

Today’s top mobilebile phones,nes, however, have ultratrahigh-res screens andnd advanced graphicss chips, the ideal combinationation for VR. There are waysys to strap them into simplified helmets, ranging from Google Cardboard ( www. snipca.com/25334) to Samsung’s £99 Gear VR ( www.snipca.com/25336). The Zenfone AR is certified for use with Google’s Daydream View (£69 from www.snipca.com/25338, see Issue 492, page 28).

Asus’s sharp, bright AMOLED screen gives a blur-free image, although the Daydreamyd View 3D world still looks slightly pixe pixel late pix ella ted. What sets the Zenfone AR apaapart from other Vr-ready hand se hand sets set si is Google’ sT an go sensor sysystemsystem. It remains to be seen if thithis catches on or remaremains just a curiosity.