The IT Nerd

Other World Computing today announced the acquisition of PowerON Services, Inc., a recognized leader in IT asset disposition (ITAD), trade-in, reverse logistics, refurbishment, and technology value recovery solutions. 

Organizations are making massive investments in technology infrastructure at a time when innovation, especially around AI, is moving incredibly fast, and many are left wondering whether the systems and devices they already own can still keep up. The reality is, much of that technology still has tremendous value and capability left in it, but extending its life in a secure, efficient, and scalable way isn’t easy. 

The PowerOn acquisition is an ideal enhancement to OWC’s SellYourMac.com, one of the world’s largest and most trusted purchasers and resellers of used Apple computers, iPhones, and iPads. Together, the three will ensure organizations have access to the best ways to upgrade, reuse, recover, deploy, and manage technology so they can save money, reduce complexity, remain agile, and keep more equipment out of landfills.

For more than three decades, PowerON Services, Inc. has remained at the forefront of the IT asset disposition (ITAD), trade-in, and electronics value recovery industry, delivering innovative take-back and reuse solutions to some of the world’s largest organizations. Founded in 1994, PowerON specializes in the movement, processing, refurbishment, and responsible recycling of used computing, mobile, and consumer electronic devices. Headquartered in Roseville, California, just outside Sacramento, the company operates a primary processing facility supported by a network of third-party partner facilities serving customers across the Americas, Europe, and Asia-Pacific regions. As part of the OWC family of companies, PowerOn’s operational and services footprint will be dramatically expanded across America and around the world. PowerON’s comprehensive service offerings include customized and turnkey product take-back programs, value recovery solutions, reuse strategies, reverse logistics, repair services, secure data destruction, recycling, de-manufacturing, and brand protection initiatives. The company’s leadership team brings more than 100 years of combined experience across the ITAD and trade-in industries, with expertise spanning global sales, software development, customer service, logistics, value forecasting, design, marketing, and data security. This collaborative and multidisciplinary approach enables PowerON to deliver world-class reuse and recycling solutions while helping clients maximize value recovery and support sustainability goals.

PowerON Industry Certifications and Recognition

PowerON maintains some of the industry’s highest operational and environmental standards through multiple internationally recognized certifications, including:

• ISO 9001:2015 Certified
• ISO 45001:2018 Certified
• ISO 14001:2015 Certified
• R2v3 Certified

PowerON has also earned significant recognition for its growth and environmental leadership, including:

• Seven-time recipient of the Inc. 5000 “Fastest Growing Privately Held Companies in America” award
• Two-time honoree of the Sacramento Business Journal’s “Top 50 Fastest Growing Companies”
• Recipient of the 2011 Waste Reduction Awards Program (WRAP) Award

Bringing PowerON into OWC brings together two companies that believe technology should last longer, deliver more value, and create less waste. By combining OWC’s world-class data storage, memory cards and readers, connectivity, expansion, software and apps, accessories, and services with PowerON’s take-back programs, ITAD services, reverse logistics, and value recovery experience and expertise, the two companies will enable customers to achieve a more complete technology lifecycle ecosystem built around smarter reuse, sustainability, and long-term ROI.

Other World Computing today announced it will showcase its unrivaled roster of storage, memory, software, apps, connectivity, PCIe expansion, memory cards, and readers at next month’s COMPUTEX TAIPEI, a leading exhibition for AI and startups, taking place June 2-5, at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center (Halls 1 & 2) and Taipei World Trade Center (Hall 1).

Visitors to OWC Booth R1002, 4F, Nangang Hall 2 will have an opportunity to view live demos of the following OWC solutions: 

OWC Storage Solutions

• OWC Envoy Ultra First, fastest, and only certified 8TB Thunderbolt™ 5 portable SSD 
• OWC ThunderBlade X12: Fastest and highest capacity production shuttle and editing RAID SSD in the universe.
• OWC Express 1M2 80G: Ultra-fast, compatible, and reliable portable USB4 NVMe SSD – build your own or choose ready-to-run solutions.
• OWC Guardian: USB 3.2 (10Gb/s) hardware-encrypted bus-powered portable NVMe SSD. 
• OWC Express 4M2 Ultra: The fastest compact DIY NVMe RAID. Period. 
• OWC StudioStack: Up to 32TB of stackable Thunderbolt 5-powered storage.

OWC Shared Storage Solutions

• OWC Jellyfish Nomad: NVMe SSD powerhouse designed for DITs, independent 3D and VFX studios, and on-the-go editing teams, featuring the powerfully enhanced OWC Jellyfish Manager.
• OWC Memory (Server, Datacenter, Midrange, NAS RAM, Notebook, and PC): Upgrade the performance of nearly any laptop or desktop with OWC memory.

OWC Software & Apps

• OWC Innergize Software: Checks card health and lifespan, updates firmware for optimal performance, fully sanitizes cards to prevent slowdowns or dropped frames, and prepares them for use with a simple pre-flight check before every shoot.
• OWC SoftRAID 8: Ideal solution to manage your RAID arrays while delivering robust protection coupled with exceptional speed.
• OWC MacDrive 12: One solution for complete Mac disk access on Windows.

OWC Connectivity Solutions

• OWC Thunderbolt 5 Hub: Compact port expansion hub that turns one Thunderbolt 5 connection on your computer into multiple high-speed ports.
• OWC Thunderbolt 5 Dock: All-in-one command center for eliminating cables, expanding ports, and maximizing performance at your desk.
• OWC Thunderbolt 5 Dual 10Gb/E Network Dock: High-end network + connectivity docking station built for professionals who need serious network speed.

OWC PCIe Expansion

• OWC Mercury Helio 5S: Powerful expansion solution that adds an external PCIe slot to your Thunderbolt 3-equipped laptop, space-constrained Mac, or Windows PC desktop.

OWC Memory Cards & Readers

• OWC Atlas Ultra SD V90 & V60 Memory Cards: High-performance, highest quality memory cards for advanced photography and video recording at maximum camera settings.
• OWC Atlas Pro CFexpress 4.0 Type B Memory Cards: Cost-effective, highest quality memory cards for the most demanding needs of professional photographers and the most common use cases of professional filmmakers.
• OWC Atlas Ultra CFexpress 4.0 Type B 2TB Memory Cards: High-performance, highest quality memory cards for the most demanding video recording uses of professional filmmakers and continuous burst mode shooting by advanced photographers.
• OWC Atlas Pro CFexpress 4.0 Type A Memory Cards: High-performance, highest quality memory card for ingesting up to 2x faster with your Sony Alpha and FX cameras.
• OWC Atlas CFexpress 4.0 Reader: Ultra-fast compact USB4 (40Gb/s) CFexpress 4.0 Type B card reader for creative professionals – includes Type A to B adapter for fast ingest of Type A cards.
• OWC Atlas Dual CFX/SD Reader: Dual-Slot CFexpress Type B and SDXC UHS-II card reader. 

Strada

Strada’s Peer-to-Peer Collaboration Platform: enables video content professionals to access, share, and review large video files stored on local drives anywhere in the world without needing to upload anything to the cloud.

To learn more about COMPUTEX TAIPEI, please visit: https://www.computextaipei.com.tw/en/index.html.

Other World Computing today announced the appointment of M2M Direct as a UK distribution partner. Effective April 6, 2026, the agreement expands OWC’s reach across the UK, making its full portfolio more accessible to specialist retailers, value-added resellers, system integrators, and e-commerce channels as part of the company’s broader European growth strategy.

For OWC, this builds on an established UK presence and pairs it with a partner that brings the reach, expertise, and execution to dramatically expand it across a highly business-critical market. For M2M Direct, it adds a high-performance portfolio that aligns with where demand is going – content creation, data-heavy environments, and AI-driven workloads that don’t leave room for compromise. For the channel, it opens the door to more opportunity – giving partners access to solutions they can confidently bring to customers, expanding what they offer and how they show up. And for end users, it simply means better access to technology that performs, scales, and keeps up with the way modern work actually gets done.

Resellers interested in becoming OWC partners can contact M2M Direct here: sales@m2m-direct.co.uk to learn more about the OWC Deal Registration and Partner Programme.

Strada, the media collaboration start-up co-founded by brothers Michael Cioni & Peter Cioni, today announced a significant investment from Other World Computing (OWC). This investment marks a key milestone in Strada’s current fundraising program, further accelerating the Company’s product roadmap.

Strada’s peer-to-peer collaboration platform enables video content professionals to access, share, and review large video files stored on local drives anywhere in the world without needing to upload anything to the cloud. OWC provides innovative, high performance technology solutions that empower creative professionals to achieve their creative and business goals. OWC aims to create a world where technology enables imagination, offering tools from capture to collaboration to completion with minimal environmental impact.

Over the coming months, OWC and Strada will commence co-marketing initiatives, including events and social media collaboration, and will extend special incentives to customers who purchase packages of OWC and Strada products. In addition, both companies will share a booth at NAB 2026.

 Other World Computing today announced the launch of the OWC StudioStack, the world’s first, fastest, and highest-capacity Thunderbolt 5 stackable hybrid storage solution for Mac Studio and Mac mini machines. In addition, the company announced the OWC Mercury Helios 5S, the most powerful and easiest way to utilize PCIe cards with Thunderbolt 5/4/3 and USB4 notebooks and small form factor computers like the Mac Studio, as well as add more Thunderbolt 5 ports.

OWC StudioStack

With the OWC StudioStack, users can upgrade their Mac Studio and Mac mini devices with the fastest and highest capacity stackable hybrid storage solution on the planet – all wrapped up in an aircraft-grade aluminum that nestles perfectly underneath your setup.

Key Features:

• Internal Class Speed: Up to 6302MB/s real-world performance
• Capacity: Up to 8TB NVMe SSD and up to 24TB HDD storage space
• Expanded Connectivity: Three Thunderbolt 5 (USB-C) 80Gb/s and three USB-A 10Gb/s ports for more device, display, and drive possibilities
• Widely Compatible: Use with Thunderbolt 5/4, USB4 Macs and PCs, and Thunderbolt 3 Macs
• Highly Reliable: Aircraft-grade aluminum offers rugged protection of installed SSDs plus effective heat dissipation to keep everything cool for consistent top speed
• Near Silent Operation: Engineered with a smart, adaptive fan that activates only when needed, making it ideal for uninterrupted creative focus
• Future Flexible: Both DIY “build your own” and ready-to-run solutions are easily future upgradeable with a faster, higher capacity 2280 NVMe M.2 SSD and a higher capacity SATA 3.5″ HDD or 2.5″ SSD
• Complete: Includes Thunderbolt 5 80Gb/s cable

OWC Mercury Helios 5S

Modern notebooks, small form factor computers, and “all-in-one” desktop computers are slender marvels of engineering, but they have a significant shortcoming: a lack of internal space to install PCIe cards for added functionality. The OWC Mercury Helios 5S opens a world of pro-grade, full-size workstation capabilities to those machines via a single Thunderbolt or USB4 connection.

Key Features:

• Expands Small Machines: Use video capture, high-speed fiber/Ethernet, NVMe RAID, audio I/O, and other cards to unlock the potential of MacBooks, Mac Studio, Mac mini, and other space-confined computers lacking a PCIe slot
• Internal Class Speed: Up to 6000MB/s bandwidth available for simultaneous read/write
• Pro Level Card Ready: (1) PCIe 4.0 x4 (x16 mechanical slot) for half-length, full-height, single or double-width cards
• Expanded Connectivity: Three Thunderbolt 5 (USB-C) 80Gb/s ports, each with 15W power delivery for more device, display, and drive possibilities
• Widely Compatible: Use with Thunderbolt 5/4, USB4 Macs and PCs, and Thunderbolt 3 Macs
• Whisper Quiet: Aircraft-grade aluminum housing and high-efficiency cooling fan provide cool, nearly silent operation
• Easy Card Installs: Captive thumb screws, so no tools required
• Complete and Secure: Includes Thunderbolt 5 80Gb/s cable and power cord retainer

The OWC StudioStack is available for pre-order now at a starting price of $329.99, with shipping planned for mid-December. To learn more, please visit: https://www.owc.com/solutions/studiostack.

The OWC Mercury Helios 5S is generally available now (GA) for $329.99. To learn more and order, please visit: https://www.owc.com/solutions/mercury-helios-5s.

The OWC StudioStack and OWC Mercury Helios 5S will be showcased live and in-person, together with other key OWC Thunderbolt 5, storage, and connectivity solutions in OWC Booth #8218 during next week’s Inter Bee 2025, taking place November 19 – 21, at Makuhari Messe (Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan).

SellYourMac.com (SYM), a reCommerce and IT asset transition service company committed to reusing, repurposing, and recycling used Apple products, today announced the launch of SellYourMac Canada, now available at www.sellyourmac.ca. Canadian customers can now easily and securely sell their used Apple devices for top value while contributing to sustainability and responsible e-waste management.

Part of the Other World Computing family of companies, SYM Canada buys and sells used Apple computers, iPhones, iPads, and accessories. Its mission is to help reduce the amount of e-waste hitting landfills and dumps, and help individuals, schools, businesses, and other organizations offset the high costs of upgrading to newer electronic devices by purchasing their old ones. Because SYM deals solely with Apple products, it is more accurate than its competitors in assessing and pricing these products, enabling SYM to pay more than the competition.

Products purchased by SYM include Apple MacBook, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iMac, Mac Pro, Mac Mini, Cinema Display, iPhone, iPad, iPod, and Apple TV. SYM no longer purchases pre-Intel-based Apple computers. However, SYM will responsibly recycle these devices with the help of its r2 and e-Stewards certified (zero-landfill) recycling partners. To learn more, please visit: https://www.sellyourmac.ca/. 

SellYourMac.com the leading reCommerce and IT Asset Transition Service provider dedicated exclusively to Apple products and an Other World Computing company, today announced SellYourMac.com Founder and CEO, Brian Burke, will join a panel discussion titled, “Standing out in the Noise – a Dive into Marketing Your Products and Services to the Masses” at the ITAD Summit 2025 (July 29 – 30, Bellagio Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, NV). 

Joining Brian The Mac Man on the panel, set to take place on July 29, from 1:00 – 2:00 pm, will be Rachael Weir, Head of Marketing, Vyta, and Danae Gullicksen, Marketing Professional, URT. Together, they will dive into effective strategies for marketing ITAD products and services in a crowded marketplace, with insights on how to differentiate brands, build visibility, and engage target audiences at scale.

About Brian Burke, Founder/CEO, SellYourMac

Brian Burke is a seasoned tech entrepreneur and thought leader who founded SellYourMac.com and now serves as the Mac Man at Other World Computing, specializing in Apple product resale, IT asset disposition, artificial intelligence, and digital innovation.

Brian The Mac Man is passionate about empowering underprivileged students through gifting Apple technology. He believes gifting them a Mac can truly change their lives, their outlook on the world, and their future job prospects.

As a lifelong learner, Brian is a 2x TEDx Talk speaker, has become a Sommelier, an Apple Certified Mac Technician, a Notary Public, an Ordained Minister, a PADI Certified Scuba Diver, a professional speaker on LinkedIn optimization, having now grown his LinkedIn network to 210,000+, and a professional speaker on ChatGPT!

 Other World Computing  today announced the general availability of the new OWC USB-C Quad HDMI 4K Adapter, ideal for creative professionals and power users, and the redesigned OWC USB-C Dual HDMI 4K Adapter, ideal for everyday tasks, classroom use, and bring-your-own-device environments.

OWC USB-C Quad HDMI 4K Adapter ($149.99)

Expanding visual workspace with up to four 4K UHD displays just became easier, more efficient, and cost-effective with the OWC USB-C Quad HDMI 4K Adapter. All that’s needed is a single Thunderbolt, USB4, or USB-C port on a Mac, PC, or Chromebook to create a dramatically immersive viewing experience. No more multiple adapters hassle and the burden they put on a notebook’s CPU, interface bandwidth, and battery life. Simply plug in this visual upgrade to utilize multiple Ultra-High Definition monitors in business presentations, creative projects, stock trading, or WFH settings. Powered by cutting-edge DisplayLink Pro technology, this adapter simply delivers a smooth and reliable multi-display experience while simultaneously charging a computer.

Features/Benefits:

• Maximize – Transform one Thunderbolt, USB4, or USB-C port on your Mac, PC, or Chromebook into four 4K HDMI displays and power
• Display Limitation Solution – Solves the external display limitation of Apple Silicon MacBook and MacBook Pro machines
• Flexible – Choose either Extended or Mirror display modes
• Efficient – Reduces demand on host CPU, interface bandwidth, and notebook battery versus using multiple adapters with higher overall resource consumption
• Convenient – Bus powered via the 11.8″ integrated USB-C cable for use anywhere
• Powerful – Up to 90W pass-through power when used with a USB-C power adapter
• Complete – One easy, affordable solution vs costly hassle of multiple adapters and cables
• HDMI Pass Through Support – Allows audio signals to pass through the adapter to the connected displays
• Protected – 1 Year OWC Limited Warranty

OWC USB-C Dual HDMI Adapter ($69.99)

The OWC USB-C Dual HDMI 4K Display Adapter was purposefully built to solve the one-display limit of base model M-series Mac notebooks as well as expand the visual workspace of port-limited machines. With universal USB-C compatibility, this display expansion solution can be used with millions of Thunderbolt 3/4/5, USB4, and USB-C equipped Macs, PCs, and Chromebooks.

Palm-sized with an integrated USB-C connecting cable, this bus-powered adapter can be placed discreetly in a workspace or easily carried to remote multi-display setups and BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) business or classroom presentations. Plus, this innovative adapter is backward compatible, so it can be used with any HDMI display, projector, or TV at its maximum resolution.

Features/Benefits:

• Maximize – Transform one USB-C, USB4, or Thunderbolt port on your Mac, PC, or Chromebook into two 4K HDMI displays and add a second adapter for up to four displays
• Solution – Easily solves the one external display limitation of base model Apple silicon M1, M2, M3, and M4 Macs
• Flexible – Choose either Extended or Mirror display modes
• Convenient – Bus powered via the 9″ integrated USB-C cable for use anywhere
• Portable – Palm-sized for easy mobility
• Complete – One easy, affordable solution vs costly hassle of multiple adapters and cables
• HDMI Pass Through Support – Allows audio signals to pass through the adapter to the connected displays
• Protected – 1 Year OWC Limited Warranty

Both adapters are available today.

Other World Computing today announced it will showcase its award winning family of Thunderbolt 5 storage and connectivity solutions, as well as its unparalleled roster of end-to-end workflow solutions – including memory cards and readers, portable SSDs, desktop and shared storage, docks, hubs, and LTO backup and archiving, at COMPUTEX TAIPEI 2025. 

Attendees visiting OWC Booth #J0527a at 1F of the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, Hall 1 (TaiNEX 1), will experience firsthand how the OWC Envoy Ultra, OWC Thunderbolt 5 Hub, OWC ThunderBlade X12, and the newly announced OWC Thunderbolt 5 Dock deliver unmatched speed, connectivity, and efficiency to accelerate creative workflows and professional productivity:

• OWC Envoy Ultra – Boasting ultra compatibility with Macs, PCs, iPad Pros, Chromebooks, and Surface devices, this portable SSD is ready for rugged, on-the-go use, with bus-powered convenience, a built-in cable, and blazing real-world speeds of over 6000MB/s.
• OWC Thunderbolt 5 Hub – Transforms a single Thunderbolt 5 connection into three additional Thunderbolt 5 ports and one USB-A port, with support for up to 80Gb/s bi-directional data transfer and up to 120Gb/s bandwidth for high-res displays.
• OWC Thunderbolt 5 Dock – With 11 versatile ports, it combines exceptional speed, broad device compatibility, and support for high-res displays into one streamlined solution that makes expanding workflows completely effortless.
• OWC ThunderBlade X12 – This production shuttle and editing RAID SSD makes seemingly impossible video workflows fast, simple, and seamless, with peak and sustained write speeds of up to 6600MB/s and 5990MB/s, respectively.

OWC will also showcase its full ecosystem of storage, connectivity, and backup/archiving solutions during the COMPUTEX TAIPEI 2025 event. Each is designed to simplify and accelerate every step of the workflow, from capture to completion. That includes everything from high-performance memory cards and portable SSDs to powerful desktop and shared storage, flexible docks and hubs, and reliable LTO archiving.

• OWC Memory Cards and Readers – Built for photographers, videographers, and content creators, delivering the speed, reliability, and seamless integration, especially with OWC’s Innergize software, to keep workflows smooth from capture to completion.
• OWC Portable SSDs – Ultra-fast, rugged, and bus-powered storage solutions, like the Envoy Pro FX and Express 1M2, designed for creative professionals who demand top-tier performance, cross-platform compatibility, and durable reliability in the field.
• OWC Desktop Storage – High-capacity, high-performance storage solutions, like the Mercury Elite Pro and ThunderBay series, with versatile connectivity options and robust RAID support, catering to the demanding needs of creative professionals and businesses.
• OWC Jellyfish – The OWC Jellyfish is a high-performance, easy-to-use shared storage solution, offering capacities ranging from terabytes to petabytes, designed specifically for video teams. It enables seamless collaboration on 4K, 6K, and up to 12K projects without dropped frames. With intuitive management software, built-in security features, and scalable storage options, the OWC Jellyfish empowers creative professionals to streamline their post-production workflow efficiently.
• OWC Docks and Hubs – A full range of docks and hubs (in addition to Thunderbolt 5 solutions), including Thunderbolt 4, Thunderbolt 3, and USB-C options, that expand connectivity, power delivery, and workflow flexibility for users at home, in the studio, or on the go.
• OWC Archive Pro Ethernet – Fast and reliable network-based LTO backup and archiving solution engineered for media and entertainment (M&E) pros, government agencies, and any-sized business that needs to protect large volumes of critical data