Steria has today announced that it has passed an Operational Readiness Test to act as Prime Systems Integrator for the Ministry of Defence’s Land Systems Reference Centre (LSRC) in a contract over five years.
The LSRC is an independent test facility for military communications and information systems. Steria will manage and coordinate the project, with a team made up of military and civilian staff, as well as third party specialist vendors and stakeholders.
The team will carry out tests and technical evaluations on systems and equipment – in support of all three of the UK Armed Forces operating in the Land Environment – in order to enhance safety, improve efficiencies and ultimately increase performance of military equipment.
“The work LSRC does is vital to ensuring successful military operations across the globe. As such, working with trusted partners including Steria is key in helping us to continue delivering this crucial role,” said Trevor Purches, MOD Assistant Head Medical Information Systems and Enabling Services, Military Solutions, Defence Information Services Team.
The LSRC contract was originally awarded to Steria in 2007, but went up for retender in October 2012. Steria won it again after bringing in a number of new specialist third party suppliers.
One of the third party vendors making up the LSRC team is Net Consulting, which works in networked application performance monitoring, troubleshooting and prediction.
Net Consulting will cover the full application lifecycle from modelling how applications will perform on the intended infrastructure, through to capacity planning of the network bandwidth required to support them.
“The LSRC is an important part of the MOD’s land based testing and assurance capabilities that ensures the reliability, interoperability and performance of business critical information systems,” said Paul Thomas, managing director, Net Consulting.
“Net Consulting is delighted to have been selected by Steria to support the LSRC contract at Blandford over the next five years and is committed to supporting the delivery of assured information systems for the MOD.”
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Showing posts with label Systems. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Systems. Show all posts
Friday, 28 June 2013
Ultrabook systems reach another level with the ASUS TAICHI
What a difference a few years make. Intel's Ultrabook™ standards and Core™ processors have brought us laptops that are thinner, lighter, and more powerful than ever, while managing to offer even better battery life. All Ultrabook systems come equipped with Intel's Anti-Theft Technology, and newer ones have bright, sensitive touchscreens.
Best of all, Ultrabook systems can help us bridge the worlds of desktop and mobile computing. Consider ASUS' TAICHI series of laptop-tablet hybrids. Thanks to its twin screens, a TAICHI works as a conventional laptop and as a tablet: no clumsy twisting or sliding required. And because the two screens can mirror each other or display separate content, two people can watch the same program or video while facing each other. They can even work in separate programs on the one same TAICHI.
TAICHI Program Manager Tony Lin and his product team took some time to help acquaint us with this versatile Ultrabook.
You'll find one of the TAICHI's two screens where you'd first expect it -- facing the keyboard the way you would on a traditional laptop. The other is on the back, facing out. Both are 11.6-inch, full HD, 1920x1080, in-plane switching (IPS) panels. IPS is an LCD technology which arranges the liquid crystal molecules parallel to the glass, offering users "the finest graphic quality…and great viewing angles" of up to 178 degrees, says Lin.
These two screens give you four separate ways to use the TAICHI. Moving from one to another is as easy as opening a laptop or pressing a button.
Notebook mode: Your basic laptop, except that the TAICHI is more than basic. Between the high-quality and touch-sensitive screen, the Intel® Core™ processor, and the backlit keyboard, it's an exceptional PC even if you use it only as a conventional laptop.
Tablet Mode: But when you close the case, the screen on the back takes over and you've got a tablet with the full power of a PC. Need more precision than you can get with your finger? Simply use the included stylus.
Mirror Mode: Now we move into whole new areas of functionality. You can use the TAICHI like a conventional laptop, but with both screens displaying the same images. This, says Lin, makes the TAICHI perfect for showing a presentation to a small audience, "without the need for a bulky projector or clumsy external monitor." You can also watch a movie with a friend while sitting on opposite sides of a table. In fact, thanks to each screen's 178-degree viewing angle, people can sit almost anywhere at the table and still see the movie.
Dual screen mode: Here, the TAICHI effectively becomes two computers, and demonstrates the multitasking power of its Intel® Core™ processor. One user can sit in front and use the keyboard and multi-touch touchpad, while another can run entirely different, touch-friendly programs on the back. By using the bundled Screen Share app, you can run a presentation and see the script on one screen while a small audience views slides on the other.
The ASUS design team knew that consumers wanted to get the best of both tablet and laptop computing. "We are always looking at ways to improve the user experience," Lin told us. "With the TAICHI, we wanted to create a perfect fusion between a Notebook and Tablet..."
Tablets and conventional laptops each have their own strengths. Now consumers don’t have to choose. The TAICHI provides both in one.
Follow me on Twitter: @sajilpl
Best of all, Ultrabook systems can help us bridge the worlds of desktop and mobile computing. Consider ASUS' TAICHI series of laptop-tablet hybrids. Thanks to its twin screens, a TAICHI works as a conventional laptop and as a tablet: no clumsy twisting or sliding required. And because the two screens can mirror each other or display separate content, two people can watch the same program or video while facing each other. They can even work in separate programs on the one same TAICHI.
TAICHI Program Manager Tony Lin and his product team took some time to help acquaint us with this versatile Ultrabook.
You'll find one of the TAICHI's two screens where you'd first expect it -- facing the keyboard the way you would on a traditional laptop. The other is on the back, facing out. Both are 11.6-inch, full HD, 1920x1080, in-plane switching (IPS) panels. IPS is an LCD technology which arranges the liquid crystal molecules parallel to the glass, offering users "the finest graphic quality…and great viewing angles" of up to 178 degrees, says Lin.
These two screens give you four separate ways to use the TAICHI. Moving from one to another is as easy as opening a laptop or pressing a button.
Notebook mode: Your basic laptop, except that the TAICHI is more than basic. Between the high-quality and touch-sensitive screen, the Intel® Core™ processor, and the backlit keyboard, it's an exceptional PC even if you use it only as a conventional laptop.
Tablet Mode: But when you close the case, the screen on the back takes over and you've got a tablet with the full power of a PC. Need more precision than you can get with your finger? Simply use the included stylus.
Mirror Mode: Now we move into whole new areas of functionality. You can use the TAICHI like a conventional laptop, but with both screens displaying the same images. This, says Lin, makes the TAICHI perfect for showing a presentation to a small audience, "without the need for a bulky projector or clumsy external monitor." You can also watch a movie with a friend while sitting on opposite sides of a table. In fact, thanks to each screen's 178-degree viewing angle, people can sit almost anywhere at the table and still see the movie.
Dual screen mode: Here, the TAICHI effectively becomes two computers, and demonstrates the multitasking power of its Intel® Core™ processor. One user can sit in front and use the keyboard and multi-touch touchpad, while another can run entirely different, touch-friendly programs on the back. By using the bundled Screen Share app, you can run a presentation and see the script on one screen while a small audience views slides on the other.
The ASUS design team knew that consumers wanted to get the best of both tablet and laptop computing. "We are always looking at ways to improve the user experience," Lin told us. "With the TAICHI, we wanted to create a perfect fusion between a Notebook and Tablet..."
Tablets and conventional laptops each have their own strengths. Now consumers don’t have to choose. The TAICHI provides both in one.
Follow me on Twitter: @sajilpl
Thursday, 27 June 2013
An Inside Look at How Toshiba’s KIRAbook Raises the Bar for Ultrabook Systems
Toshiba Kirabook i7 Touchscreen $2,000.00(Lowest Price) The Kirabook looks the part of a luxury laptop, and it’s the first Ultrabook to compete with Apple’s Retina lineup. But Toshiba made some disappointing decisions on the way to a $2000 price tag.
All Intel inspired Ultrabook™ systems offer slim designs, lightweight builds, productivity-boosting battery life, and so on. But with so much in common, some models end up getting lost in the crowd. Toshiba engineered its KIRAbook to stand out. It’s slim and lightweight, yes, but goes beyond the Ultrabook basics by integrating state-of-the-art features in exciting new ways.
“KIRAbook is not about being first-to-market with new technologies,” says Carl Pinto, vice president of marketing, Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., Digital Products Division. “Instead, it focuses on implementing these advanced technologies into the form factor in the best way possible.”
The KIRAbook features an Intel Core processor powering a damage-resistant Corning Concore Glass display with a 10-point multi-touch surface. Unlike many 13.3-inch Ultrabook systems, which keep screen resolution low and limit gesture capabilities to the touchpad, the KIRAbook employs a PixelPure touchscreen with a native 2,560 x 1,440-pixel resolution. With a pixel density of 221 pixels per inch, the razor-sharp screen excels at games, movies, photos, and other image-oriented activities. Indeed, for photo editing in particular, PixelPure allows for the kind of fine-detail work that would normally require a high-end desktop monitor.
“We color-calibrated each unit’s screen at the factory for optimal picture quality and a broad range of true-to-life colors, something no one else in the industry does,” notes Pinto. To help highlight the KIRAbook’s photo and video acumen, Toshiba bundles full versions of Adobe Photoshop Elements 11 and Premiere Elements 11.
The KIRAbook incorporates several industry-leading design elements, including a magnesium-alloy lid and chassis, DTS Studio Sound-enhanced Harman Kardon speakers, and a roomy touchpad that supports all Windows 8 gestures, just like the screen.
The entire system weighs only 2.6 pounds, with a profile that’s a mere 0.7 inches. Despite these svelte specs, the KIRAbook packs a full-size HDMI output, three USB 3.0 ports (most Ultrabook systems have just two), and a backlit keyboard for easier typing in low-light environments. Intel® Wireless Display is on hand to allow wireless screen sharing with compatible TVs and projectors, and a 256GB solid-state drive allows for lightning-fast booting, shutdown, and overall performance.
Pinto sums it up thusly: “KIRAbook was designed to be the perfect union of elegant design, meticulous craftsmanship, and unparalleled performance—it is ultimately equipped with all the features and capabilities a user could ever need.”
Twitter: @sajilpl
Friday, 21 June 2013
The Best Ultrabook Systems Under $800
If you’ve been eyeballing an Ultrabook™ but think your budget won’t accommodate one, fear not: There are plenty of ultra-thin, ultra-light, ultra-speedy systems that won’t break the bank. In fact, for $800 or less, you can replace your aging, under-powered laptop with one of these state-of-the-art machines. Why opt for an Ultrabook? They’re ideal for business travelers, offering not only slim, lightweight designs, but also lightning-fast boot speeds and enough battery life to survive a coast-to-coast flight. Here’s a look at four of the best models you can get for under $800.
A dual-personality Ultrabook: half laptop, half tablet
Lenovo ThinkPad Twist Can’t decide between a laptop and a tablet? Who says you have to? True to its name, the business-friendly ThinkPad Twist can alternate between the two: The screen pivots and folds down atop the keyboard when you’re ready to stop typing and start tapping. In meeting parlance, that means you can sit at a conference table or stand on the factory floor and still have easy access to your documents. Plus, you get 500GB of storage along with extra gigabytes of solid-state space to improve performance. If there’s a downside here, it’s that the 12.5-inch touchscreen is a little smaller than ideal laptop size, while the entire system feels a little heavy when used as a tablet.
A midsize Ultrabook with a downsize price tag
Asus Vivobook Want to use Windows 8 the way Microsoft intended? Choose an Ultrabook that has a touchscreen so you can tap, pinch, and swipe your way through apps and operations. The Asus VivoBook features a 14-inch multi-touch display and a 500GB hybrid drive: ample storage for your stuff, plus a 24GB solid-state drive to help Windows boot faster. However, if you use a lot of peripherals, you may be disappointed to learn that only one of the system’s three USB ports supports USB 3.0.
Style, speed, and portability in one streamlined package
Acer Aspire S5 Acer’s dazzling matte-black Aspire S5 is without a doubt one of the most travel-friendly Ultrabook systems in the group, weighing just 2.6 pounds and measuring a scant 0.6 inches thick. What’s more, it comes with a 128GB solid-state drive, meaning Windows 8 boots, runs, and shuts down even faster than laptops with hybrid drives. The 13.3-inch screen lacks touch capabilities, though, so you’ll have to rely on the roomy touchpad if you want gesture-powered interaction with Windows 8.
Big screen, fast storage, small price
Vizio CT15-A4 Ultrabook systems are designed for easy portability, but some users need a bigger workspace than the typical 13- or 14-inch screen affords. The Vizio CT15-A4 raises the bar to 15.6 inches, at the same time bumping screen resolution to 1,920 x 1,080—same as you’d get from a big desktop monitor. Translation: more words, windows, and spreadsheet cells on the screen at a time, and sharper-looking movies. The system also packs a 128GB SSD for blazing performance. Just keep in mind that at around five pounds, this outweighs some smaller systems. It might make your carry-on a little harder to carry on.
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