Synology offers a full line of network attached storage servers for both home and office environments. One of the key features of its products is the management user interface call Disk Station Manager which uses AJAX technology to provide a easy to use, rich client experience for managing and accessing their NAS servers via the network and over the Internet.

Synology is announcing the beta release of DSM 2.2 that adds a lot of exciting new features including iSCSI support for virtual storage and a new built-in firewall function to prevent uninvited connections to the server and to protect the server from attacks. Apple users get new features as well such as support for Apple Time Machine allowing Mac OS X users to back up their desktop data to their Disk Stations. iPhone users will get two new applications in the Apple App Store that include DS photo and DS Audio that allow users to upload photos stored on their iPhone/iPod Touch to Disk Station as well as access music stored on Disk Stations through their iPhone/iPod Touch.

I've used an earlier version of Disk Station Manager on a Disk Station DS408 server and it is by far the easiest and slickest interface on any NAS I've come across. The beta can be downloaded from the Synology web site. Current Synology owners will be able to download DSM 2.2 for free when it is finally released sometime in September.