On Tuesday Synology released DiskStation Manager 5.2, a significant update to the software that runs on all the NAS units the company makes. Synology has long been known for being an app-centric NAS platform, with a significant level of support and apps – most of which are free – from both Synology and third parties that run natively on Synology products.
The DSM 5.2 update significantly enhances many of Synology's own built-in applications, further enhancing support for the entire product line. As always, DSM updates work retroactively on most (if not all) of the units that Synology has ever shipped, increasing functionality for both new and long-time customers alike.
The full DSM 5.2 release notes are available, and key features likely to be of interest to TMO readers include:
- File Station updates allow for more seamless integration and transfer among popular public cloud services such as Dropbox, Box, Google Drive and OneDrive.
- Docker, a new virtualization package that adds the ability to run thousands of containers created by developers all over the world. It includes access to a container/image repository, making it simple to run virtualized containers right on your own NAS.
- Updates to Synology's Note Station (think "private Evernote") include a new to-do list feature, a Chrome-based Web Clipper, web-based presentation mode and the ability to export notes in HTML for non-Note Station users' use.
- New Mac (and Windows and Linux) Cloud Station apps to add even more support to the company's popular private cloud service (think "private Dropbox"). Features include even more right-click-from-the-Finder optimizations for generating sharing links, copying to Cloud Station and pausing/resuming syncing from specific folders.
- Updates to DS Audio and Audio Station (think "private iTunes Match and streaming") allow for better playlist management and the ability, if necessary, to transcode high-quality tracks in Apple Lossless, FLAC, OGG and AIFF (especially helpful for bandwidth-constrained streaming!).
- Video Station, Synology's video management and playback system, now adds hotkeys for fast forward, rewing and volume in any web-based playback. Additionally the web interface is update to allow movie deletion right from the browser.
The update list goes on and is worth checking out for new and old DiskStation owners alike. As always, this update to DSM 5.2 is free for anyone running a Synology DiskStation. Just visit your own DiskStation's DSM Manager page, choose Control Panel > Update & Restore. It should appear there already. Standard backup-before-making-significant-changes warnings apply. Enjoy!