by Gary Mintchell | Jan 6, 2025 | Industrial Computers
Computing hardware has been part of my working life and study since the late 1970s. We incorporated PCs into automated assembly systems in the mid-1980s. Recently a publicist I’ve known for years signed on a new client that brings me back into computing technology innovations—Other World Computing (OWC). I’d never heard of the company only to discover the headquarters is located less than 30 minutes from my new home in northern Illinois.
I have successfully avoided the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) having had experiences exhibiting at the old COMDEX in Las Vegas. I am not there again this year. I do have news from CES by way of OWC. For you computer hardware junkies out there—enjoy.
OWC Unleashing Next-Level Performance, Connectivity, and Capacity for Creatives and Business Professionals
Other World Computing (OWC) announced its latest innovations: the OWC ThunderBlade X12, a game-changing professional-grade RAID solution – the next step in OWC’s TB5 solutions; and the OWC USB4 40Gb/s Active Optical Cable, for long-distance connectivity without compromising speed or reliability. OWC also announced the general availability (GA) of the OWC Thunderbolt 5 Hub, redefining workflow efficiency with its unparalleled connectivity.
The OWC ThunderBlade X12 is the answer to Motion Picture Professionals and DITs looking for a production shuttle RAID capable of offering large amounts of storage at blazingly fast sustained speeds in a portable solution. To be more specific, the biggest problem this product solves is the need for a RAID solution compatible with RAID 5 that offers large amounts of storage at blazingly fast sustained speeds to streamline ingestion and backup times on set while also having a small footprint so that can be used as a shuttle drive. Beyond that, it’s also considered a premium editing drive for video editors and VFX artists working with cutting-edge workflows such as multi-cam sequences at 4K and 6K, 8K and 12K RAW video, or stereoscopic 360 VR (Spatial Video). It’s the ultimate shuttle RAID for production use and the premium external editing drive for cutting-edge workflows.
The OWC ThunderBlade X12 will be available in March.
The OWC Active Optical Cable is the fastest, most powerful, and most reliable solution for cost-effective long-distance connectivity of Thunderbolt 4/3 and USB4/3/2 devices. It provides up to 40Gb/s of stable bandwidth, up to 240W of power delivery, and up to 8K video resolution at up to 15 feet. Featuring universal USB-C connectivity and optical fiber technology, it eliminates the 2-meter distance limit of traditional copper-based Thunderbolt and USB4 cables so devices can be placed further away for noise reduction, provide more convenient access, be hidden for a more aesthetic work environment, or enable more efficient cable management in professional settings.
OWC Active Optical Cable – Key Features/Functionality:
- Longer distance connectivity enables optimal placement of USB4 and Thunderbolt 4/3 devices for a highly organized, convenient, quieter, and productive workspace
- Work and play faster with up to 40Gb/s of stable data transfer speed over long-distance
- Connect to millions of Thunderbolt 4/3 and USB4/3/2 USB-C equipped docks, displays, eGPUs, PCIe expansion, external SSDs, RAID storage, and accessories
- Lab-certified to safely deliver up to 240 watts (3M) or 60 watts (4.5M) to charge your devices quickly
- Supports high-resolution displays up to 8K, including DisplayPort over Thunderbolt, Apple Pro Display XDR, Apple Studio Display, LG Ultrafine, and any display plugged into a Thunderbolt dock or hub
- Braided nylon exterior over advanced internal fiber optical cable for highly durable and consistent signal reliability immune to EMI/RFI interference
OWC Thunderbolt 5 Hub
Now generally available (GA), the OWC Thunderbolt 5 Hub is the perfect compact connectivity solution to solve the big problem of not having enough Thunderbolt 5 ports. Now you can turn a single cable connection from your machine into three Thunderbolt 5 ports and one USB-A port. With up to 80Gb/s of bi-directional data speed – up to 2x faster than Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 – and up to 120Gb/s for higher display bandwidth needs, you will redefine your productivity.
OWC Thunderbolt 5 Hub – Key Features/Functionality:
- Adds more universally compatible Thunderbolt 5 (USB-C) ports to a Mac, PC, or iPad Pro to greatly expand device connectivity possibilities and productivity
- Work and play faster with up to 80Gb/s of bi-directional data speed and up to 120Gb/s for higher display bandwidth needs
- No worries or confusion…connect to Thunderbolt 5, Thunderbolt 4, Thunderbolt 3, USB4, or USB-C machine or device with 100% compatibility
- Delivers the best performance of devices with today’s computers and the best speed possible in the future with any Thunderbolt 5 Mac or PC
- Create three separate daisy chains of devices – even bus-powered – and remove devices from one chain without affecting the other chains
- Safely delivers up to 140 watts to charge the most power-hungry notebook computer
- Connect to the latest and future Thunderbolt, USB-C, and DisplayPort displays for incredible 4K, 5K, 6K, and up to three 8K displays
- Built-in OWC reliability and dependability for Mac and Windows
- Fanless aluminum enclosure for quiet and cool operation
The OWC Thunderbolt 5 Hub is now generally available for $189.99
by Gary Mintchell | Dec 6, 2024 | Automation, Enterprise IT, Industrial Computers
I think this is the last of the meetings I had at Automation Fair last month. The team at Stratus discussed the ztC Endurance platform. Stratus is know for high availability, redundant server and compute technology. This new platform enables organizations to run critical applications without downtime or data loss, in edge or data center environments, using intelligent, predictive fault tolerance based on Stratus’ redundant hardware architecture, hardened drivers, and Stratus Automated Uptime Layer with Smart Exchange.
Both OT and IT teams face the challenge of delivering reliability to both centralized and distributed locations across their operations. They also may lack on-site technical staff needed to maintain complex infrastructure. Platforms running critical applications must be easy to deploy, easy to manage, and easy to service—and not just in data centers, but at the edge of corporate networks.
Stratus ztC Endurance provides continuous availability and ensures data integrity for mission-critical applications running at the edge, operations center, and data center. Delivering seven nines (99.99999%) uptime, its Automated Uptime Layer with Smart Exchange provides continual proactive health monitoring and automatically takes action to maintain system availability and protect against data loss when needed. Coupled with the platform’s modular design of hot-swappable customer replacement units (CRUs), ztC Endurance makes it easy for OT and IT teams to manage and support. ztC Endurance delivers the processing power and performance to host dozens of software applications as virtual machines (VMs), dramatically reducing the number of PCs or servers required for OT and IT teams to manage and maintain.
Key Benefits
- Seven nines availability for critical applications: Built-in computing fault tolerance delivers 99.99999% availability to run critical applications.
- No loss of data: Redundant computing architecture combined with intelligent automated management prevents in-flight data loss and ensures data integrity.
- “Zero touch” management and support: Modular design plus pro-active remote health monitoring and self-healing simplifies system management and serviceability for both IT and OT teams.
- Rapid modernization and workload consolidation: Modernize infrastructure and streamline operations by leveraging virtualization to consolidate multiple software workloads onto a single platform.
- Multi-layered security: Supports multi-layered defense-in-depth approaches, with focus on both process and product security guidelines to ensure maximum protection.
- Lower TCO: Reduce IT footprint and purchase fewer software licenses on a highly reliable platform with an expected 7-10 year lifespan, twice that of traditional servers.
by Gary Mintchell | Nov 21, 2024 | Automation, Industrial Computers, Technology
Other World Computing’s products are not often directly automation related. You may find many uses outside of control and HMI applications. They also show where some breakthrough computing resources are heading. These news items relate to Thunderbolt 5 ports and storage for high resolution photography.
Other World Computing (OWC), a leader in delivering high-performance, secure, and sustainable technology solutions that enhance and extend the life of Macs and PCs, announced the general availability launch of the OWC Thunderbolt 5 Hub – opening a new world of workflow possibilities and performance.
By turning a single cable connection into three ThunderboltTM 5 ports and one USB-A port, the new OWC Thunderbolt 5 Hub breaks the connectivity handcuffs of host machines not offering enough Thunderbolt 5 ports. With up to 80Gb/s of bi-directional data speed – up to 2x faster than Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 – and up to 120Gb/s for higher display bandwidth needs, the OWC Thunderbolt 5 Hub redefines productivity. Connect portable SSDs exceeding 6000MB/s*, up to three 8K displays @60Hz with DSC, today’s USB-C connector compatible devices, and yesterday’s USB-A desktop accessories – all while keeping modern notebooks and tablets powered and charged up for mobile use with 140 watts.
Key Features of the OWC Thunderbolt 5 Hub:
- Easy Port Expansion – Adds more universally compatible Thunderbolt 5 (USB-C) ports to a Mac, PC,iPad Pro, or tablet to greatly expand device connectivity possibilities and productivity
- Incomparable Speed – Work and play faster with up to 80Gb/s of bi-directional data speed and up to 120Gb/s for higher display bandwidth needs
- Works with Millions – No worries or confusion…connect to Thunderbolt 4, Thunderbolt 3, USB-C, or USB4 machine or device with 100% compatibility**
- Best Today, Best Tomorrow – Delivers the best performance of devices with today’s computers and best speed possible in the future with a Thunderbolt 5 Mac or PC
- Multiple Daisy Chains – Create three separate daisy chains of devices – even bus-powered – and remove devices from one chain without affecting the other chains
- Powerful – Safely delivers up to 140 watts to charge the most power-hungry notebook computer
- Stunning Visuals – Connect to the latest and future Thunderbolt, USB-C, and DisplayPort displays for incredible 4K, 5K, 6K, and up to three 8K displays***
- Thunderbolt Certified – Built-in OWC reliability and dependability for Mac and Windows
- Silently Cool – Fanless aluminum enclosure for quiet and cool operation
For further information and specs or to place an order.
Other World Computing (OWC), a leader in delivering high-performance, secure, and sustainable technology solutions that enhance and extend the life of Macs and PCs, announced the general availability launch of the latest addition to its OWC Atlas Pro family of memory cards – the 240GB OWC Atlas Pro CFexpress 4.0 Type A Card. Based on popular demand, this new capacity option combines the fast speeds users expect from OWC with a more accessible price point, making it the ideal choice for Sony users who require professional-grade performance without the need for maximum capacity.
OWC CFexpress 4.0 Type A Atlas Pro cards are perfect for pro filmmakers and extreme action photographers who want to dramatically speed up their offloads while retaining full compatibility with existing devices. Users experience double the speeds of CFexpress 2.0 cards with 1850MB/s read speeds through OWC Atlas USB4 CFexpress 4.0 card reader while providing 1700MB/s write speed for current and future cameras that can take advantage of such performances. OWC’s Atlas CFexpress 4.0 Type A cards are VPG200 certified, ensuring they work seamlessly with all existing Sony camera modes. Like the 480GB to 960GB cards, the new 240GB capacity cards are:
- Lightning Fast – Up to 1700MB/s write and 1850MB/s read speeds for the most advanced use cases of professional content creators, including fast burst RAW image sequences and high bitrate video recording up to 8K
- Dependable – Delivers 400MB/s minimum sustained write speed
- Compatible – Designed for use in Sony Alpha and FX cameras, including a9 III, a1, a7SIII, a7IV, a7rV, FX3, FX6, FR7, and FX30, as well as CFexpress Type A memory card readers and reader slot-equipped devices
- Supportive – VPG200 certified to work with all Sony camera modes and enable the highest allowable settings in Sony Alpha, FX, and FR7 cameras
- Compliant – Fully compliant with CFexpress Type A 4.0 specification and meets Type A 2.0 specifications
- Versatile – Includes Type A to Type B adapter to obtain maximum speed when paired with an OWC Atlas USB4 CFexpress 4.0 Card Reader
- Tough – Impact, bend, shock, ESD, UV ray, and X-ray resistant
The 240GB capacity Atlas CFexpress Type A cards are now generally available for $199.99.
by Gary Mintchell | Oct 28, 2024 | Automation, Edge, Industrial Computers, Networking, Wireless
- Expands the number of Nokia-owned and best-in-class industry applications integrated on the MX Industrial Edge (MXIE) to drive efficiency, productivity and OT security.
- New applications help to improve worker safety and enable responsive video for machine remote control, leading to higher operational efficiency and strengthening OT environment security.
I may not use a Nokia handset any longer, but the company still releases many products for industrial applications.
Nokia announced six new applications deployed on the Nokia MX Industrial Edge (MXIE) to help enterprises improve worker safety, site security, enhance operational efficiency and secure OT environments in manufacturing, mining, ports, and chemical industries.
In line with industry developments, Nokia MXIE on-premises edge solution, part of Nokia’s private wireless offering, supports ecosystem neutrality enabling the deployment of applications to help support growing diverse Industry 4.0 use case needs.
Offered as-a-service, these new applications are Ascom Ofelia, Fogsphere, innovaphone PBX & myApps, Nokia Real-time eXtended Reality Multimedia (RXRM), OneLayer, and Redinent and join our existing portfolio of Nokia, and third-party digitalization applications.
Improving situational awareness to enhance worker safety and site security
Worker safety remains a high priority in industrial settings. The new applications enable digitalization to increase situational awareness, better deal with incidents, and increase the use of real-time data and knowledge which are key to improving worker safety and site security. The new applications include the following:
Ascom Ofelia – Ascom Ofelia helps enterprises shift from separate alarm systems to one unified alarm solution, improving incident management, increasing situational awareness, and ensuring a safer workplace.
Fogsphere – A comprehensive, multi-modal AI platform to enhance workplace safety, security, and operational intelligence, with real-time solutions for PPE compliance, behavioral analysis, emergency management, access control, intrusion detection and vehicle monitoring.
Connecting workers to achieve higher efficiency
Connected worker applications are essential to overcome workforce challenges such as worker shortages, retention issues, and difficulty attracting new talent, which are key to achieving the efficiency and productivity needed to outperform the competition. Applications can give workers real-time information to make their jobs easier and machine tele-operation more efficient. New items include the following:
innovaphone PBX & myApps – Secure, scalable IP telephone system with built-in features like conferencing, voicemail and waiting queues for advanced business communication and smart business applications. Its on-premise MXIE solution ensures full data control and meets ISO27001 standards.
Real-time eXtended Reality Multimedia (RXRM) – Software solution with low latency 360° video and 3D OZO audio capture that helps to improve productivity, employee safety, teleoperations, situational awareness & remote technical support.
Securing OT assets to strengthen the overall security
Asset visibility, zero trust principles and effective vulnerability management in OT environments will be enabled by the new applications including:
OneLayer – Discovers, manages, secures, and classifies all IIoT assets on private networks, including those behind cellular routers. Acting as a zero-trust access broker, it enforces zero-trust security principles within OT environments while delivering zero-touch asset management and operational intelligence.
Redinent – Discovers IIoT assets and helps create inventory, identifies IIoT vulnerabilities and ongoing threats. It informs the security operation center (SOC) about the findings.
by Gary Mintchell | May 7, 2024 | Automation, Embedded Control, Industrial Computers, Internet of Things, Interoperability
Interoperability forms a key feature for useful technology. Think of train rail gauges. Or shipping cargo containers. Or much of our industrial technology—much, but far from all. The drive of technology application suppliers for proprietary lock in is strong. Many will open up only as much as customers demand immediately.
This news comes from ABB and the Linux Foundation regarding a new interoperability initiative for industrial applications. They call it “Margo” which is Latin for “edge.” Cute, eh? Better than many names I’ve seen over the years.
In brief:
- Margo, a new open standard initiative for interoperability, will address key roadblocks to digital transformation
- The initiative is hosted by the Linux Foundation and driven by a founding group of industrial automation solution providers, including ABB Process Automation and ABB Machine Automation (B&R)
- Margo aims to unlock interoperability at the edge – a key layer of Industrial IoT ecosystems where plant data is transformed into AI-powered insights to drive efficiency and sustainability
- At the Hannover Messe on April 23, 2024, founding members ABB (including B&R), Capgemini, Microsoft, Rockwell Automation, Schneider Electric (including AVEVA) and Siemens announced collaboration on a new initiative to deliver interoperability for Industrial IoT ecosystems.
Hosted by the Linux Foundation and open to further interested parties, the Margo initiative draws its name from the Latin word for ‘edge’ and will define mechanisms for interoperability between applications, devices and orchestration software at the edge of industrial ecosystems. In particular, Margo will make it easy to run and combine applications from any ecosystem member on top of the hardware and runtime system of any other member. Margo aims to deliver on its interoperability promise through a modern and agile open-source approach, which will bring industrial companies increased flexibility, simplicity and scalability as they undergo digital transition in complex, multi-vendor environments.
“Mastering efficiency, flexibility and quality faster than competitors is key to success in today’s industrial world,” said Bernhard Eschermann, CTO, ABB Process Automation. “Digitalization can help deliver on these benefits, but digital ecosystems require a robust, secure and interoperable framework at the edge, connecting operations and information technologies. For ABB, a long-standing advocate of open automation systems, driving a forward-thinking collaborative initiative like Margo is key to achieving this goal.”
“The more sources you get data from, the better the decisions you can make,” explained Florian Schneeberger, CTO of ABB’s Machine Automation division (B&R). “Yet, while the benefits of digitalization increase with scale, so do the challenges of navigating heterogeneous industrial ecosystems. That’s why interoperability is so crucial to unlocking the full potential of digitalization. It empowers organizations to adopt and scale Industrial IoT solutions at full speed without large teams of IT specialists.”
In March 2024, ABB became a member of the Linux Foundation. This will enable the company to further enhance efforts in promoting open community collaboration, helping unlock innovation and enable better products and experiences for customers. This further strengthens ABB’s commitment to open standard based systems.
by Gary Mintchell | Apr 29, 2024 | Automation, Industrial Computers
Catching up on some back news. This is part of the flurry of news around chipmaker partnerships with computer hardware suppliers. This one is Advantech, a Taiwan-based computer manufacturer, and Qualcomm Technologies. I have not had a conversation with Advantech for years, but they’ve always been an interesting company not shy about touting their advances as you can see in their release.
They are no less than revolutionizing edge computing.
Advantech proudly announces its strategic collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. to revolutionize the edge computing landscape. This effort, combining AI expertise, high-performance computing, and industry-leading connectivity, is set to propel innovation for industrial computing. This collaboration establishes an open and diverse edge AI ecosystem, paving the way for best-in-class solutions tailored to AIoT applications. The announcement was also made at Embedded World 2024.
Oh, and everyone is also touting AI. Advantech’s goal is to develop an advanced lineup of Edge AI Platforms and a dedicated Edge AI SDK for edge AI applications.
