Lenovo Announces New AMD-Powered Ideapad Notebooks, Desktops
When we covered AMD's earnings and plans for 2010 a few weeks back, we noted that AMD CEO Dirk Meyer was bullishly predicting continued growth for AMD in desktop, mobile, and server, even as Intel ramps up pressure in all three segments. AMD's mobile offerings have become more competitive over the past few months thanks to the introduction of its 45nm mobile chips, and Lenovo has definitely noticed. The OEM announced two new Ideapad notebooks based on AMD CPUs today, both of which should be available by March.
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Afer Nine Years, IE6 Finally, Nearly, Almost, Just About Dead
Internet Explorer 6 may have taken its own sweet time to die given that the browser's security flaws are the stuff of legend, but it appears that the 'Net as a whole is finally ready to move on. While IE6 still accounts for up to 20 percent of the browser market according to some metrics, its share drops dramatically once Chinese users are filtered out of the equation (IE6 has an estimated 50 percent of the Chinese market.) Consumers have moved away from Internet Explorer 6 for years—it did more to popularize
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Intel Prepares to Demo Netbook Apps At Mobile World Congress
The Mobile World Congress runs from February 15-18 this year, and Intel has announced it plans to display several applications specifically developed for netbooks and mobile devices. Intel first announced its plans to debut an App Store for Atom, aka AppUp at CES in January The company's plans have drawn inevitable comparisons to Apple's App Store, but the presentations at MWC will be a useful first look at what Intel's application developer partners have in mind in terms of customized netbook software. According
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Showing The Love: HH and Cyberpower PC Sweepstakes
In the spirit of Valentine's Day, we thought it would be fun to give away yet another awesome gaming system! In conjunction with our good friends at CyberPower PC, with support from Thermaltake, Gigabyte, Kingston, XtremeGear, and Sapphire, we’ve put together a killer rig to give away to celebrate Valentine's Day! This time around, you could win a full Intel Core i7-based system, complete with a Radeon HD 5870 pushing the pixels, a Kingston SSD, and an awesome, Thermaltake Element-S case. We promise this
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Garmin-Asus Intros Nuvifone A50 Smartphone With Android OS
Garmin-Asus already announced one major smartphone for the Mobile World Congress expo next week in Spain, but Windows Mobile 6.5.3 may not excite the masses. In order to fire up some interest from the other crowd, the company is also introducing another new nuvifone in the A50.The A50 differs slightly in design, but the biggest change is under the hood on the software front. Google's Android operating system is powering this phone, which should be a welcome change for those who weren't fond of Garmin-Asus' hand-crafted
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News Of Palm Production Shutdown Causes Unnecessary Panic
Despite its new smartphone platform, webOS, Palm isn't out of the financial woods yet. And if you read the OTR Global report today that said that Palm was halting its production lines for its webOS products, you might have sold off all your Palm stock. Thing is, it's all about a holiday, not bad news from Palm.Many global firms are experiencing this: anything going on in China will be halted next week for Chines New Year. Thus, this shutdown shouldn't be used as a reason to panic, but rather evidence that
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iKey Creates War-Ready Keyboard That Straps On Your Arm
If you're old enough to remember the Nintendo NES Power Glove, you'll definitely get a kick out of this. iKey Designs has just introduced a customized, wearable keyboard for SpecOps Systems, and it's probably one of the most interested input peripherals that we've seen in the past few years. SpecOps has a pretty awesome mission in life: to design rugged, wearable computer technology to provide enhanced situational awareness of the battle space for military soldiers to use in the field. If it's good enough for
Read More ...
Microsoft Patches 17-Year-Old Bug, But Fix May Crash Systems
A few weeks back, Microsoft confirmed the existence of a 17-year-old bug in all 32-bit versions of Windows that could, under certain circumstances, be used to gain control of a system. The flaw's usefulness was limited, since anyone with administrative access to a system probably doesn't need a hack to gain control of it, but Redmond issued a patch (KB977165) anyway. Unfortunately, Microsoft may have traded a bit of embarassment over the continued existence of such an old problem for a full-on facepalm. After
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LaCie Announces Rugged eSATA Drive: Speed On The Go
If you've been getting used using USB 2.0, and you have no intentions of ever upgrading, LaCie may have the thing to sway you against your better wishes. The storage company has today introduced an expansion to their "Rugged" family, as the Rugged eSATA slips in to provide users faster transfer rates than they're used to while also freeing up a USB port for some other duty.The Rugged drive isn't changed in design (well, aside from that different looking port), but now with the Power eSATA connector, users can
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Digital Storm Announces Extreme Black | OPS Gaming PC Lineup
We've personally experienced the potency of Digital Storm gaming rigs, and it looks like the company is now ready to really up the ante when it comes to power and performance. Digital Storm may not as huge a name in the industry as Alienware, but it certainly offers up the best of the best for those who are willing to pay.The new Black|OPS line of high-performance gaming computers are some of the most wicked machines that the company has ever offered, equipped with Core i7 CPUs, ATI's 5970 GPU and optimized
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iBuyPower And Asetek Team Up For Exclusive Cooling Solution On Level 10 Chassis
The Level 10 case has almost taken on a life of its own. Just mention "Level 10" within PC enthusiast circles, and most of the will likely know exactly what you're talking about. It's easily one of the most innovative PC enclosures that we've seen in years, and while it's certainly expensive, those in the position to buy one and showcase it should certainly treat it--and everything within it--with care.In order to do so, you might want to consider a top notch cooling solution, and the folks at Asetek certainly
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Cheap TV Shows Rumored For iTunes--Could Apple Do To Video What They Did For Audio?
Apple did it once. Can they do it again? Back in 2003, iTunes launched into the world in a big way, and what happened next would change the record industry and the music landscape forever. Before iTunes, people still flocked to stores to buy CDs, and any sort of online portal for accessing music was either illegal or hard to navigate. Steve Jobs somehow managed to convince the record labels to allow $0.99 downloads and cheaper album downloads through iTunes, and now it's the largest seller of music, online or
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Microsoft Patches 17-Year-Old Bug, But Fix May Crash Systems
A few weeks back, Microsoft confirmed the existence of a 17-year-old bug in all 32-bit versions of Windows that could, under certain circumstances, be used to gain control of a system. The flaw's usefulness was limited, since anyone with administrative access to a system probably doesn't need a hack to gain control of it, but Redmond issued a patch (KB977165) anyway.Unfortunately, Microsoft may have traded a bit of embarassment over the continued existence of such an old problem for a full-on facepalm. After the company released its latest set of security patches on Tuesday, Windows XP users began complaining that the update crashes their systems. Attempting to boot, either normally or in safe mode, reportedly causes BSODs; the appropriate forum thread is located here.
Not pictured:آ Picard's netbook.
Microsoft has already identified a potential work-around, but the fix requires that the customer have access to the Windows XP Recovery Console. This, in turn, requires a Windows XP disc, but the vast majority of netbook vendors don't actually ship XP discs with their systems. Those of you without access to this rather important bit of media will presumably need to wait for additional repair information or resign yourself to reinstalling from scratch.
We at Hot Hardware would like to note that this issue does not affect all Windows XP systems that are patched with KB977165. It just so happens that we've got a system handy with an absolutely fresh install of XP SP3 that had been fully patched as of Sunday. We downloaded KB977165, ran it, and the system rebooted with no trouble whatsoever. This may be cold comfort to anyone sitting on a useless netbook at the moment, but whatever it is that is causing the BSODs, it's not universal.
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Showing The Love: HH and Cyberpower PC Sweepstakes
In the spirit of Valentine's Day, we thought it would be fun to give away yet another awesome gaming system! In conjunction with our good friends at CyberPower PC, with support from Thermaltake, Gigabyte, Kingston, XtremeGear, and Sapphire,آ we’ve put together a killer rig to give away to celebrate Valentine's Day! This time around, you could win a full Intel Core i7-based system, complete with a Radeon HD 5870 pushing the pixels, a Kingston SSD, and an awesome, Thermaltake Element-S case.
We promise this machine will be great for all of theآ gamers out there! And it could be all yours! As we've done with previous sweepstakes, we’ll be giving away this rig away to a randomly selected contributor to our on-line forum and news discussion systems (see below for details). The complete break-down of components in the system includes:
| آ | Case: Thermaltake Element-S CPU: Intel Core i7-920 2.66GHz Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-X58A-UD5 Cooling: XtremeGear HP-1216X PSU: 1Kilowatt Thermaltake GPU: Sapphire Radeon HD5870 1GB Memory: Kingston 6GB KHX1600C8D3K3 SSD: Kingston 64GB SSD-Now Hard Drive: 500GB WDآ 7200RPM Optical Drive: 22X DVDآ±/آ±RW + CD-R/RW OS: Windows 7 Ultimate Keyboard: Xtreme Gear Multimedia Mouse: XtremeGear Optical USB 3 Button آ Retail Value: ~$2,000.00 |
To be entered into the sweepstakes, you’ve got to be a registered, active member of our forum and a resident of the United States. If you’re not already a member, you can sign up quickly and easily (and for free), right here.
From this point forward, we’ll be monitoring discussions here in the news and in the forum.آ We will be randomly selecting a winner based on community involvement and contribution. You can also increase your chances of winning by signing up for our HotHardware RSS News Alerts or becoming a fanآ ofآ HotHardware via our respective Facebook or Twitter pages. The contest will run through the middle of nextآ month, and we'll announce the winner on March 15, 2010.
This is a great chance for to you to win a custom, ultra powerful new system. Now go make some new friends in the forum and get in the running! Good Luck!
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Time to upgrade to the world of Quad core, for $500 (or less) Advice needed!
Hello everyone. I'm new here to Hot Hardware. Found a link through Guru3d and I like what I see so far.
Ok, formalities are over, let's get down and dirty.
I am currently sitting on a deadlocked AMD socket 939 rig with absolutely no upgrade potential left. It's just not worth the money to even buy another gig of memory anymore. Current system is as follows:
ECS KN1 Lite mobo (socket 939)
AMD Athlon 64 4000+ san diego edition (single core) 2.4ghz (oc at 3.0ghz)
2gigs Patriot pc3200 DDR
GeForce 9800gtx 512mb (oc)
WD 350gb HDD/Seagate 200gb HDD (both Ultra ATA/133)
Cooler Master 600watt ATX PSU
And that's the critical parts. Optical, case, etc are of no consequence atm.
I have been saving and researching for months into getting a new gaming rig for a decent budget and it's a no win/never ending battle for me. I picked up a nice Viewsonic 1080p 24" LCD at costco for under $200 right before christmas, so my target resolution is 1920x1080 and pretty much used for gaming exclusively, but movies and music are played on it also.
Here's what I'm looking for advice on atm.
CPU-
MOBO (onboard sound is ok. I'm over the need for soundcards/but discrete Video is preferred)-
VGA-
RAM-
---and if it can be squeezed in, but not mandatory at this time---
HDD-
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I can't ever decide on my own because of so many factors.
1. The FASTEST AMD is barely any faster than the SLOWEST Intel it seems, and is often trounced in tests and benchmarks in the same price categories.
2. Chipsets drive me crazy!! I was almost set on AMD's 785g NB chipset, only to find out that the 800 series is coming out this quarter, supposedly. Will that drive prices down on the 790FX? If so, I should hold off a couple more months. Or should I look toward Intel and shoot for an I5? But still, which chipset do you choose? It gets even worse over there.
3. Memory speed and Overclocking. DDR2 or DDR3? AM2+ or AM3? Just more mud in my eye.
4. Should I worry about SATA 3.0 and USB 3.0 "futureproofing" now and save myself headaches later? Or not worry about it.
...and I guess to end it, my final hang up:
5. Should I buy brand new or attempt to save money and buy used?
Any tips or advice is appreciated. I'm very open minded about any suggestions here, but a couple of things I would like to TRY and make a base system building block are:
1. Quad core preferred, but if I can get a very fast dual core at good enough price to enable me to spend more on a better video card upgrade, then it may be worth it.
2. Max setting gaming performance for 1080p (1920x1080)
3. 4gigs of memory please
Thanks anyone and everyone. Hope this project goes as intended. 
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iKey Creates War-Ready Keyboard That Straps On Your Arm
If you're old enough to remember the Nintendo NES Power Glove, you'll definitely get a kick out of this. iKey Designs has just introduced a customized, wearable keyboard for SpecOps Systems, and it's probably one of the most interested input peripherals that we've seen in the past few years.SpecOps has a pretty awesome mission in life: to design rugged, wearable computer technology to provide enhanced situational awareness of the battle space for military soldiers to use in the field. If it's good enough for war, it's probably good enough for whatever crazy adventure you've got planned. The new keyboard was designed after a customer asked for a computer with an integrated board that was small enough to fit within the system and was durable enough to use in harsh environments. iKey was turned to in order to find the answer, and this wild device is what sprung to life.
The KYB-170-OEM is impressive in terms of durability. It's completely sealed to NEMA 4X specifications, which means it is resistant to dirt, dust, liquids and other ingress when properly installed, and it's available with a USB cable and is designed to meet MIL-STD-461E requirements. There's no details on pricing, but unless you have a good reason to consider a war-ready keyboard that can be strapped on your arm, you probably don't want to know.
Features on the KYB-170-OEM include a 17-key keypad that functionsjust like a cellular phone does when texting. Characters are accessedby pressing the appropriate key sequentially until the desiredcharacter is produced. It also features an integrated micro ForceSensing Resistor (FSR) pointing device and can be manufactured with anyavailable color of LED lighting for use in dark environments.
TheKYB-170-OEM is completely sealed to NEMA 4X specifications, which meansit is resistant to dirt, dust, liquids and other ingress when properlyinstalled. It is available with a USB cable and is designed to meetMIL-STD-461E requirements.
Severalmodels of the WC2 featuring the integrated keyboard are now undergoingdual testing in theater and stateside. Meanwhile, iKey now offers theKYB-170-OEM as a standard product. iKey also continues to designcustomized, rugged peripheral solutions that meet the specific needs ofcustomers.
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How to convert video and audio between MP4, H.264, MOV, TOD, MOD, TS, MTS, M2TS, TP, MKV, AVI, DivX, WMV, MPG, 3GP, 3G2, FLV, RM, MP3, WMA, AAC ...
This step-by-step tutorial will show you how to convert video and audio between MP4, H.264, MOV, TOD, MOD, TS, MTS, M2TS, TP, MKV, AVI, DivX, WMV, MPG, 3GP, 3G2, FLV, RM, MP3, WMA, AAC, etc on both Windows and Mac OS X with Video Converter Platinum and Video Converter for Mac.
It includes 4 parts:
Part 1: Why do you need a Video Converter and Video Converter for Mac
Part 2: How to use Video Converter for Windows users
Part 3: How to use Mac Video Converter for Mac OS users
Part 4: How to edit video and audio files (take Mac Video Converter as an example)
Part 1: Why do you need a Video Converter and Video Converter for Mac
The function of Video Converter and Video Converter for Mac are identical, the only difference is the Video Converter for the Windows OS, but the Video Converter for Mac is designed for Mac OS. Their functions are as follows:
1. Convert video between all popular formats
Convert video between MP4, H.264, MOV, TOD, MOD, TS, MTS, M2TS, TP, MKV, AVI, DivX, WMV, MPG, 3GP, 3G2, FLV, RM, etc.
2. Convert audio between all popular formats
Convert audio between MP3, MP2, AAC, AC3, WAV, WMA, M4A, RM, RAM, OGG, AU, AIF, AIFF, APE, FLAC, NUT, etc.
3. Extract audio from video files
Extract video to only the audio for your listening.
4. Support almost all popular portable players
Convert your video and audio to PSP, iPod Classic, iPod Touch, iPod Nano, iPhone (3G), iPhone, Zune, Zune 2, Blackberry, Nokia, Creative Zen, Sony Walkman, iRiver PMP, Archos, PS3, Apple TV, Xbox, iPAQ, Pocket PC, Mobile Phone, etc.
5. Easy and powerful video and audio editing (Trim, Crop, Merge, Effect, Capture Picture)
Trim video or audio clips, crop video play region, merge several video or audio files into one file, adjust video effect, capture pictures from video.
Part 2: How to use Video Converter for Windows users
Make Preparations: Download and install Video Converter Platinum
Step 1: Add the video or audio files
Click the "Add File" button to add your video files. The supporting input format including:
After you add the file, you would see the following picture. 
Step 2: Choose the output format from the "Profile" Column
The supporting output format including:
Click "Settings" to open the settings window.
You can change the video encoder, resolution, frame rate, bitrate and audio preferences.
Step 3: Start conversion
Click the "Start" to convert your file.
Part 3: How to use Mac Video Converter for Mac OS users
You can download it for free (choose Intel Version OR Power PC Version according to the processor of your iMac/MacBook/MacBook Pro/MacBook Air/Mac Pro... )
Step 1: Add video or audio files
Click the "Add Files" button or directly use drag & drop to add video or audio files you want to convert to the program.
Step 2: Output Settings
Choose the format from the format drop-down list before the conversion.
This smart video converter provides optimized default settings for a series of players, so if you don't know what formats your player supports, you can just select the format according to the device name.
If you don't want to use the default video and audio encoding settings, just click the "Settings" button to customize output settings.
Step 3: Start the Conversion
When you are ready to convert the added videos on Mac, Click the "Convert" button to start conversion and then you can just go out for a walk or take a nap, and the conversion may have been finished when you come back.
Part 4: How to edit video and audio files (take Mac Video Converter as an example)
1. How to trim video or audio clips?
Step 1: Tick the Check boxes of the video or audio files you want to trim, and click the "Trim" button to open the Trim window below:
Step 2: Drag the slider to set the starting time and ending time, click OK.
Note: You can preview the trimmed video or audio clip before conversion in preview window.
2. How to crop video clips?
Step 1: Check the video you want to crop, and click the "Crop" button to open the Crop window below:
Step 2: Select an output aspect ratio and the available options are: Keep Original, full screen, 16:9 and 4:3.
Note: You can enter the crop values manually or drag the rectangular selection frame round the video to select the displaying area.
3. How to set video effect
If you want to adjust the video effect of your movie, you can click the "Effect" button and drag each effect adjustment slider to set the brightness, contrast, saturation and volume. You can also choose a special effect from the Effect drop-down list to apply to your movie.
4. How to merge several video or audio files into one?
You'll find "Merge into one file" at the bottom of the program window, after you select the video or audio files you want to convert and finish the output settings, you can tick the check box of "Merge into one file" to merge several files into one.
5. How to capture pictures (bmp, jpg) from movie?
Step 1: Go to "iSkysoft Video Converter" > "Preference" to set the image format (JPEG, BMP) and select output folder.
Step 2: After the files are added, preview the movie and click the "Snapshot" button to capture picture.
Step 3: You can click the "Snapshot Folder" button to view the captured pictures.
Done.
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iBuyPower And Asetek Team Up For Exclusive Cooling Solution On Level 10 Chassis
The Level 10 case has almost taken on a life of its own. Just mention "Level 10" within PC enthusiast circles, and most of the will likely know exactly what you're talking about. It's easily one of the most innovative PC enclosures that we've seen in years, and while it's certainly expensive, those in the position to buy one and showcase it should certainly treat it--and everything within it--with care.In order to do so, you might want to consider a top notch cooling solution, and the folks at Asetek certainly have experience in that department. As of today iBuyPower, which is the exclusive home to buying the case alone, has partnered with Asetek to develop the "first and only liquid cooling solution" for the famous Level 10 chassis.
The best part is that the new solution is available at no charge if you're looking to buy the case, as it is being bundled as a part of iBuyPower's 2010 Liquid Cooling Initiative. Can't beat free, right?
iBUYPOWER Partners with Asetek to Develop the First and Only Liquid Cooling Solution for the Level 10 Tower
Posted on: 11 February 2010
El Monte, CA – February 11, 2010 – iBUYPOWER, a leading innovator in gaming PCs, is excited to announce the first and only liquid cooling solution for the Thermaltake Level 10 enclosure.آ Working together, iBUYPOWER and Asetek engineers have developed a system that allows the mounting of an Asetek Liquid cooling system in the Level 10 Chassis from Thermaltake.آ The Levels 10 unique asymmetrical design features individual compartments for various system components, putting space at a premium and conflicts with standard mounting of liquid cooling systems.آ The adapted liquid cooling system in iBUYPOWER systems fits a 120mm Asetek LCLC system to the chassis.
“At iBUYPOWER we are always up to a challenge,†said Darren Su, Vice President of iBUYPOWER.آ “The Level 10 case dimensions do not accommodate standard liquid cooling systems, and required us to design a cooling system that fits its exact dimensions.آ It’s just another example of iBUYPOWER’s dedication to innovation.â€
“When iBUYPOWER decided to liquid cool the Level 10 Chassis, Asetek’s Total Solutions Team was quick to respond with the guidance on how to optimize liquid cooling performance in this unique chassis,†said Steve Branton, Asetek’s Director of Marketing. “This our commitment to â€کThermal Management Done Right!â€
The new Level 10 Liquid Cooling solution is available now exclusively at www.iBUYPOWER.com on Level 10 systems at no additional cost, as part of iBUYPOWER’s 2010 Liquid Cooling Initiative, dedicated to bringing liquid cooling to the mainstream gamer at no extra cost.آ Other iBUYPOWER Labs innovations include iBUYPOWER’s Power Drive Overclocking Service, Harmony Sound Reduction System, the Internal USB Expansion System (improves front panel and internal USB connectivity), and the Specialized Advanced Packaging System (expanding foam packaging to prevent damage from shipping).
For additional information please contact iBUYPOWER PR representative Mark Olson at 305-576-1171 x17 and markolson@maxborgesagency.com or visit www.iBUYPOWER.com.
About iBUYPOWER
iBUYPOWER Computer, an enterprise in association with American Future Technology Corporation (AFT), is one of the largest system builders in the PC gaming industry.آ Located in Los Angeles County, iBUYPOWER’s mission is to provide a complete computing solution to meet the needs of the surrounding community and customers nationwide. Currently, the company’s product lines include gaming desktops, gaming notebooks, workstations, media center PCs, peripherals and multimedia products. www.iBUYPOWER.com.
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Digital Storm Announces Extreme Black | OPS Gaming PC Lineup
We've personally experienced the potency of Digital Storm gaming rigs, and it looks like the company is now ready to really up the ante when it comes to power and performance. Digital Storm may not as huge a name in the industry as Alienware, but it certainly offers up the best of the best for those who are willing to pay.The new Black|OPS line of high-performance gaming computers are some of the most wicked machines that the company has ever offered, equipped with Core i7 CPUs, ATI's 5970 GPU and optimized for overclocking. In order to keep things cool while the OC takes place, the systems ship with the Sub-Zero Liquid Cooling System. Unlike many system builders, Digital Storm puts the overclocking power in the hands on the customer, as the TwisterBoost Overclocking process is said to "optimize and overclock the system’s processor, memory, and graphic cards."
There's also a Noise Suppression Package to keep it as quiet as an HTPC, and really, the amount of power here is only limited by the choices you make (and the money you spend) during the build process, but the Extreme configuration has a base price of $3,102.
Digital Storm Unleashes the Ultimate Gaming Experience with Black آ¦OPS Gaming PC
Custom gaming PC sets a new benchmark for extreme performance with Intel i7 + ATI, Sub-Zero Liquid Cooling, TwisterBoost Overclocking and Noise Suppression Package
Fremont, Calif. - (February 11, 2010) – Digital Storm, the predominant name in system integration, proudly unveils its most elite line of gaming PCs to date: Black|OPS. With the Black|OPS line of high-performance gaming computers, Digital Storm has elevated the standards to which gamers hold their computers to. By integrating the industry’s best hardware, including the Intel i7 processor and ATI 5970 graphics card, then optimizing and overclocking these components, Digital Storm has created the ultimate gaming PC that delivers unparalleled performance.
At the core of Black|OPS gaming machines is Digital Storm’s Sub-Zero Liquid Cooling System. Comprised of the industry’s best known brands and components, the Sub-Zero Liquid Cooling System effectively removes performance inhibiting heat from the processor, video cards, and even the motherboard’s chipset.
Digital Storm gives its customers the chance to push their Black|OPS system to the extreme with its TwisterBoost Overclocking process. TwisterBoost optimizes and overclocks the system’s processor, memory, and graphic cards. After the TwisterBoost Overclocking process is completed, each machine is subjected to a strict stability test to ensure all components are completely stable. All TwisterBoost Overclocked machines, as is the case with all Digital Storm machines, are backed by the company’s 3 year parts and labor warranty.
Digital Storm has upped the ante by offering its customers an industry leading Noise Suppression Package. Through the use of noise dampening material, tuning of fan speeds, adjusting chassis air-flow and analysing the system’s noise signature, Digital Storm has virtually eliminated the transmission of sound emanating from the PC.
Prior to shipping to the customer, each Digital Storm system undergoes a rigorous 72-Hour Stress-Test. Digital Storm technicians stress-test and benchmark the system via industry standard testing software coupled with a proprietary testing process that detects components which can be prone to future failure.
“With Black|OPS, our engineers designed, integrated and optimized our gaming PCs from the ground up; the result is nothing less than astounding,†commented Rajeev Kuruppu, Digital Storm’s Director of Product Development. “Unlike other gaming PC integrators, who simply cram the latest hardware into chassis, Digital Storm’s engineers select the highest quality components and ensure that every piece works in perfect unison with each other. We truly believe that our Black|OPS systems will redefine the standards that gamers hold their systems to.â€
Digital Storm’s Black|OPS systems are currently available for purchase at www.DigitalStormOnline.com. The Extreme configuration has a base price of $3,102 & each Digital Storm system comes with a 3 year parts and labor warranty, including replacement parts, and lifetime customer support.
آ
To learn more about Digital Storm’s complete product offerings, please visit www.DigitalStormOnline.com.
Blackآ¦OPS Technical Specifications
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News Of Palm Production Shutdown Causes Unnecessary Panic
Despite its new smartphone platform, webOS, Palm isn't out of the financial woods yet. آ And if you read the OTR Global report today that said that Palm was halting its production lines for its webOS products, you might have sold off all your Palm stock. Thing is, it's all about a holiday, not bad news from Palm.Many global firms are experiencing this: anything going on in China will be halted next week for Chines New Year. Thus, this shutdown shouldn't be used as a reason to panic, but rather evidence that globalization has its bumps.
Here's the official statement. It should be noted that Palm says that production was ramped up pre-holiday to be sure there were enough Verizon devices for the carrier.
Palm regularly adjusts its product manufacturing levels to manage inventory. In anticipation of the Verizon Wireless launch and Chinese New Year, we increased production levels prior to February, and anticipate ramping production back up after the Chinese New Year ends.It's true, however, that the latest comScore numbers show Android creeping up on Palm. The sheer variety of different devices is making an impact. Some even predict that the device availability, as well as the relative openness of Android vs. the App Store and its more draconian policies, will lead to Android overtaking the iPhone, in the (not so near) future.
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Garmin-Asus Intros Nuvifone A50 Smartphone With Android OS
Garmin-Asus already announced one major smartphone for the Mobile World Congress expo next week in Spain, but Windows Mobile 6.5.3 may not excite the masses. In order to fire up some interest from the other crowd, the company is also introducing another new nuvifone in the A50.The A50 differs slightly in design, but the biggest change is under the hood on the software front. Google's Android operating system is powering this phone, which should be a welcome change for those who weren't fond of Garmin-Asus' hand-crafted OS that resided on the original nuvifone that shipped on AT&T last year. The company claims that you'll get the best of both worlds here, with Android providing a great, familiar mobile experience and the Garmin turn-by-turn GPS guidance that has gained so much popularity.
Specifications include a 3.5" HVGA display (capacitive touchscreen), a touchscreen keyboard, 4GB of internal storage, a microSD card slot, 3MP camera, and an accelerometer that enables the picture to change from portrait or landscape mode based on how you hold the device. As with other Android devices, this one also has one-click access to a variety of Google services, and there's also on-device sync with Microsoft Exchange server in order to satisfy the corporate users. Pricing and release details are expected for most of the world later this year, but Europe should see the first by the summer.
Access to thousands of applications
The A50integrates Googleâ„¢ mobile services with one-click access to GoogleSearchâ„¢ by voice, Google Mapsâ„¢, Gmailâ„¢, YouTubeâ„¢, calendar, contactsand Android Marketâ„¢, where users can find more than 20,000 applicationsto expand and personalize their phone to fit their lifestyle.Powerful enterprise email capability
High-sensitivity GPS receivers with Garmin navigation
TheA50 includes on-device sync with Microsoft Exchange server, with theability to wirelessly synchronize contacts, calendar and enterpriseemail. Account setup is quick and easy, and in a few simple steps userswill have their contacts, calendar and email ready to go.
TheA50 receives its location (latitude and longitude) information frommultiple sources including satellite, network-based and terrestrialsources.آ These overlapping technologies ensure that A50 customers havethe best location and navigation experience a smartphone can offer.Garminnavigation is included and preloaded on the A50. Because maps areinstalled on the device, customers will not have to wait for thirdparty maps to download from a server, nor will they lose theirturn-by-turn, voice-prompted navigation if they are out of cell phonecoverage. The A50 also has many of the same features as a high-endGarmin nأ¼viآ® navigation device such as lane assist with junction viewthat guides drivers to the correct lane for an approaching turn or exitand realistically displays road signs. Ready for pedestrian orautomotive navigation out-of-the-box, the A50 includes a custom Garmincar mount and vehicle power cable.
The A50 also supportscityXplorer™ maps so that customers can plan and use routes thatinclude public transit options such as bus, tramway, metro and suburbanrail systems. cityXplorer content is available as an optional downloadfor select cities. Thanks to the A50’s e-compass, customers will knowtheir heading even when standing still.
In addition to AndroidMarket, the A50 has preloaded, apps through Garmin-Asus’ connectedservices, which includes real-time, location-relevant information likeweather, traffic, fuel prices, safety cameras, flight status,.Connected services information varies by country.
Customers also have access to Street View in Google Maps and 3D landmark images.
Surf the web
Witha powerful, multi-touch capable WebKit browser, the A50 allows users tobrowse the web at quick speeds and view streaming content. In addition,it automatically identifies location information embedded within webpages allowing the user to quickly navigate to the locations publishedon the world-wide web.آ
Take quality photos
TheA50 includes a three mega-pixel camera with auto-focus thatautomatically geotags images with an exact latitude and longitudereference of where the photo was taken.آ Customers may then save theimage so they can navigate back to the location, or email thegeo-tagged image to friends.
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LaCie Announces Rugged eSATA Drive: Speed On The Go
If you've been getting used using USB 2.0, and you have no intentions of ever upgrading, LaCie may have the thing to sway you against your better wishes. The storage company has today introduced an expansion to their "Rugged" family, as the Rugged eSATA slips in to provide users faster transfer rates than they're used to while also freeing up a USB port for some other duty.
The Rugged drive isn't changed in design (well, aside from that different looking port), but now with the Power eSATA connector, users can expect speeds up to 90MB/s in a mobile, portable form factor - without compromising bus power capability. Additionally, you can use it as a USB drive if that's all your have access to in a pinch, and it comes with an extra 10GB of Wuala online storage for one year, allowing you to store, share and access your online storage from anywhere.
The LaCie Rugged eSATA will be available in 500GB capacity for $159.99 from the LaCie Online Store, LaCie Reseller+ and LaCie Storage Partners.
LaCie Rugged eSATA: Mobile Storage for Fast Data Transfer
آ آ آ * Power eSATA interface allows you to work faster
آ آ آ * Rugged casing is ideal for protecting valuable data on the go
آ آ آ * Up to 90MB/s through Power eSATA
آ آ آ * Compatible with standard eSATA ports
LaCie today announced the Rugged eSATA, the first mobile external hard drive on the market that features a Power eSATA interface. The Rugged eSATA offers major storage capacity and a cost advantage over eSATA SSD solutions, and is one of the only portable, bus-powered eSATA solutions on the market.
Bus-powered when connected to a USB-eSATA combo port, the LaCie Rugged eSATA combines superior transfer speeds of up to 90MB/s in a truly mobile form. The USB-eSATA combo interface, also known as Power eSATA, features a slightly different connector than eSATA and is frequently found on late-model laptops. The drive is also compatible with standard eSATA ports when the included USB power-sharing cable is connected.
"We are thrilled to integrate power eSATA technology into our best-selling Rugged mobile hard drive," said Anne-Sophie Marchand, Consumer Product Manager. "This solution brings dazzling transfer speeds to customers on the go, while still ensuring compatibility with standard eSATA and USB 2.0 connectors."
Housed in the award-winning Rugged casing designed by Neil Poulton, the LaCie Rugged eSATA features a unique scratch-resistant aluminum shell, internal anti-shock absorbers, and a shock-resistant rubber bumper to better protect files against everyday blunders.
Availability
The LaCie Rugged eSATA will be available in 500GB capacity through the LaCie Online Store, LaCie Reseller+ and LaCie Storage Partner starting at the suggested retail price of $159.99 (VAT included). For more information, visit www.lacie.com.
About Neil Poulton
Neil Poulton was born in Thurso, Scotland. A graduate in Industrial Design from Edinburgh University and Milan's Domus Academy, Poulton first came into public view in 1989 as the creator of "the ageing pens," pens made from a "living," wearing plastic that changes color and form with use. Today, Neil Poulton designs and develops best-selling, award-winning products for a variety of international clients including LaCie & Artemide. Since 1991, Poulton has lived and worked in Paris, France. www.neilpoulton.com
About LaCie
Located in the USA, Canada, Japan, Australia, Europe, Singapore and Hong Kong, LaCie is the leading manufacturer of computer peripherals for Windows, Apple and Linux users. LaCie creates external storage solutions and color monitors that help professionals and everyday people easily manage their digital lives. LaCie has differentiated its products through original designs and leading-edge technology. Established in France in 1989, LaCie is listed on Euronext under FR0000054314 (LAC). For more information, visit www.lacie.com
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Cheap TV Shows Rumored For iTunes--Could Apple Do To Video What They Did For Audio?
Apple did it once. Can they do it again? Back in 2003, iTunes launched into the world in a big way, and what happened next would change the record industry and the music landscape forever. Before iTunes, people still flocked to stores to buy CDs, and any sort of online portal for accessing music was either illegal or hard to navigate. Steve Jobs somehow managed to convince the record labels to allow $0.99 downloads and cheaper album downloads through iTunes, and now it's the largest seller of music, online or offline, in the world. Talk about a sea change.If you've been paying attention to the Internet video landscape, you'll see that same time of foreshadowing behavior. Currently, the industry is in somewhat of a pickle. Venues like Hulu are enabling consumers to view hit TV shows online, on their own time, for no charge other than sitting through select advertisements. Most of the major TV networks are now offering all of their hit shows for viewing online, and some are even letting them stream in HD. It's a great deal for the consumer who can't always make time on a given night for a given show, but now content owners are beginning to wonder if they aren't giving away too much for too little.
Things really started to get hairy last March, when NBC Universal executives reportedly told Hulu executives to block Boxee from accessing their content. Boxee is an up-and-coming software overlay that makes it easier to access web-based programming. Underneath, it works just like a browser, opening standard URL links to pull in video. It's just a really elegant way of doing it, but that excuse still wasn't enough for Hulu. Recently, at a hearing in the US Congress, the Hulu and Boxee situation was brought to light, and while nothing was hammered out in terms of a peace agreement, progress was made in the way of "restarting talks."
In reality, the online TV space is very unstable right now. A lot is going on in different ways, and no one really has any handle or control on things. It's sort of a free for all, and while that's sort of at the heart of the Internet revolution, you can't put it past Apple to really take charge and lead a new world of media consumption. According to a flurry of new reports, Apple is indeed "in discussions with television networks to lower the price of downloaded TV shows when the company begins selling its new iPad tablet computer."
If you'll recall, the company's Apple TV was called "a hobby" by Steve Jobs, meaning that it just wasn't as near and dear to his heart as something like the iPhone or iPad. But that doesn't mean that Apple wants the device to sit around with untapped potential. Years after the low-key Apple TV release, we may see its full potential unveiled, and we could see iTunes take it to the next level as the go-to media player for both Windows and Mac users. Reports say that Apple has already been "testing" a $0.99 price point for certain shows on iTunes, and it's hoping to nail down a final deal with content providers before the iPad goes on sale in March. And that makes perfect sense. The iPad is a multimedia lover's dream come true. It's the perfect size for watching shows on the go, and while many people were stumped that the company didn't announce a Hulu deal, you know that Steve Jobs would prefer you to get wrapped up further into the iTunes ecosystem than looking for content elsewhere. Maybe that lack of Flash is just some master plan to funnel users into using iTunes for all of their media desires.
Apple could also be looking to push down prices for popular TV shows and movies, and now that the iPad is nearing release, the company finally has real incentive to work hard to make it happen. The success of the iPad could depend largely on how robust Apple's iTunes store is, and Apple could really make the iPad much more attractive if it could do to video what it already did for music.
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Win7 now phoning home every 90 days.
Apparently Microsoft won their WGA lawsuit on the 10th. To celebrate, they've renamed it WAT and lined up a Win7 patch to make it start looking at your systems every 90 days: http://lauren.vortex.com/archive/000681.html.
Get legal, or get Kubuntu.
Now - let's see who here can set the record for the number of times they need to re-authorize due to hardware changes. :)
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