All posts by Richard

Aspera, Big Data, Cloud Storage, Storage

Aspera Drive Offers Sharing, Collaboration Platform For Big Data

Aspera, Inc. today announced the beta availability of Aspera Drive, their new unified sharing and collaboration platform for big data, combining complete desktop explorer integration with performance and ease of use, transparent support for on–premise and cloud storage, and with security, management and access control.

The Aspera platform allows for transfer and synchronization of files sets of any size and any number with maximum speed and robustness at any distance, with the full access control, privacy and security of Aspera technology. Its architecture allows the platform to be deployed on-premise, in the cloud, or in a hybrid model.

Aspera Drive brings remote file browsing, transfer, synchronization, and package sending and receiving to the desktop, browser and mobile device. A backend architecture and API allows for fine-grained, centralized control over content access, security and bandwidth, regardless of content storage location – on premise or on cloud.

Compact Disc, Data storage device, Flash memory, Hard disk drive, Punched card, Quiz, Solid-state drive, Storage

Think You Know About Storage Devices? Take a Quiz To Find How Much

“From punched cards to disks, from CDs to SSDs, impressive technological progress has enabled us to store more and more data – and access it with increasing speed. But how well do you know these storage devices that make our lives so much easier?”

Tech Week Europe has an online quiz to test your knowledge.

Education, quantum computing, qubits, Research

Cloud Computing is Dead. Long Live Quantum Cloud Computing

Qcloud “…aims to provide resources for anybody interested in quantum technologies, in particular those who want to have some practical experience of using and manipulating information using quantum computers.”

We don’t even pretend to understand quantum computing. Now it’s in the cloud?!?

The Bloch sphere is a representation of a qubit, the fundamental building block of quantum computers (source: Wikipedia).

Denial-of-service attack, GitHub, Outage Alert

Breaking: GitHub Back Up After Today’s DDoS Attack

GitHub was essentially down for about an hour today, starting at around 11 am Eastern (1500 UTC) due to a reported DDoS attack. From their status page:

15:05 UTC We’re currently experiencing a large DDoS attack. The site is experiencing major packet loss and is mostly unavailable. We’re working to further mitigate the attack.

16:10 UTC We’ve mitigated the DDoS attack and the site should responding normally. We’re still investigating the cause of the small increase in exceptions when accessing the GitHub API.

Application programming interface, Cloud Elements, Messaging, Partnerships, SendGrid, Tools, Twilio

Cloud Elements Releases Unified Twilio, SendGrid Messaging Hub

Cloud Elements, today announced the availability of a new developer tool to connect Twilio and SendGrid, the two leading cloud API platforms for SMS messaging, voice and email respectively via a single uniform application programming interface (API). The Cloud Elements Messaging Hub provides a single console to provision, integrate, monitor and maintain these services, providing an integrated messaging platform that delivers seamless interaction between the leading SMS, voice and email service providers. With Cloud Elements’ Messaging Hub, software developers now have the quickest and most cost-effective way to bring Twilio and SendGrid services into their SaaS applications.

Available without charge for the remainder of 2013, the Cloud Elements Messaging Hub allows developers to easily provision and integrate services within their specific environments with a simple click of a mouse. The Element’s singular dashboard offers automated monitoring, innovative tagging for granular account tracking, and seamless, interoperability between services (e.g., send an email, receive a text confirmation).

“Twilio is the top innovator in SMS and voice messaging services and SendGrid leads the email services market,” said Mark Geene, CEO of Cloud Elements. “Cloud Elements’ mission is to make it easier for developers to integrate, monitor and maintain the cloud services their applications depend on. Cloud Elements brings these two messaging leaders together with a uniform API and consolidated monitoring, logging and analytics. Developers can use both of their services in a fraction of the time with a fraction of the code.”

”We’re excited by what Cloud Elements is doing with their new Messaging Hub,” said Lynda Smith, CMO of Twilio. “Developers often work with multiple APIs in the process of building out their solutions. The Cloud Elements approach allows them to manage them from a single dashboard, freeing up more time to create cool things. We can’t wait to see what Cloud Elements’ customers build with this new tool.”

“Our mission at SendGrid is to make email simple, easy and fast for developers,” said Jim Franklin, CEO of SendGrid. “Cloud Elements is bringing our existing partnership with Twilio to the Cloud Elements customer ecosystem, and is making it even easier for developers to integrate both email and messaging by offering a singular, uniform API and dashboard. The resulting streamlined integration, maintenance and management benefits are big wins for any developer looking to save time and money.”