MacNN review, Kanguru

In brief: MacNN has reviewed the Smart Alec Backpack from Tom Bihn, Kanguru Solutions has unveiled its Kanguru Clone high speed stand alone hard drive duplicator, and an announcement made at the SXSW claims that indie music labels will soon have a simple way to bypass major music labels. NewTek has released a behind-the-scenes video featuring the creation of visual effects sequences or Warner Bros. movie "300," and Panasonic has begun offering its Wi-Fi phone for use with Skype. MacNN's review of Tom Bihn's Smart Alec Backpack computer bag reveals its flexibility as well as how much the tote can actually carry. The bag features a splash-proof zipper and comes in a variety of colors which include crimson, steel, sage, black, and kiwi.

Kanguru Clone released

Kanguru Solutions has unveiled the Kanguru Clone, a high speed stand alone hard drive duplicator that can quickly copy hard drives with SATA support. The device enables users to clone multiple volumes with one click rather than manually copying each hard drive, and supports SATA as well as IDE hard drives in both 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch sizes.

The Kanguru Clone also features an LCD screen to aid the copying process, and offers two models that accommodate four or 12 hard drives simultaneously.

Indie music to circumvent iTunes?

Indie music labels will soon have a simple means to bypass major music labels, according to an announcement made at the SXSW music festival. A service developed by the Independent Online Distribution Alliance and DownloadCentric will enable labels as well as individual artists plug albums into their own websites without the need to recreate any of the information they have already submitted to the group.

The system, which has already gone live for labels such as Six Degrees and System, could threaten larger stores such as iTunes by allowing independent artists set the terms of how they sell their music without the need to build a store from scratch.

Behind-the-scenes of "300"

NewTek has released a behind-the-scenes video featuring the creation of visual effects sequences for "300," a new film adaption of Frank Miller's graphic novel. Pixel Magic and Screaming Death Monkey created more than 200 visual effects shots by using the full feature set of LightWave 3D software.

The artists utilized set extensions, living smoke, oceans, sies, helmets, shields, swords, arrows, and armies.

Panasonic debuts Wi-Fi phone for Skype

Panasonic has begun shipping its new Wi-Fi phone for use with Skype internet communication software. The KX-WP1050 is one of a series of planned products that are Skype Certified, using Wi-Fi access to allow Skype users to make and receive free Skype-to-Skype calls or make low cost SkypeOut calls to landlines as well as mobile phones worldwide.

by MacNN Staff