IT-Code-News: IT News HeadLines (HotHardware) 25/02/2010

Samsung Begins Mass Production Of 40nm RAM Modules
"Samsung" and "Green Memory" have actually been uttered in the same phrase before, and with more and more focus being put on just how much energy our computer memory consumes, it makes sense to see the company following up on their 30nm technology with this: the industry's first volume 40nm-class Gigabit DDR3.In other words, mass production has begun on this stuff, which promises to offer high capacities with lower power demands. More memory on fewer DIMMs? Sign us up. According to the company this 4Gb-based
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Microsoft Hits New Low (in Price), Releases Trio of Sub-$30 'BlueTrack' Mice
Sure, those of us into first person shooters would love to frag our friends with a Razer Mamba or Logitech G9x, but if your gaming diet consists of Peggle with a side of Bejeweled, then there's no sense in dropping a Benjamin (or more) on a rodent. Nor will a dedicated gaming mouse level up your Microsoft Office Ribbon Hero skills (yes folks, this one actually exists - check it out here).Lucky for you, there are no shortage of wallet-friendly rodents to choose from, including three brand new entries from Microsoft's
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Apple Boots Swimsuit Store App; Insists Complaints Led To App Store "Racy App" Ban
As you probably know, Apple is purging apps that are somewhat racy from the App Store, including those, according to a developer, that include women in bikinis. Yet the Sports Illustrated app is still in the App Store, and we smell favoritism.Phil Schiller, head of worldwide product marketing at Apple, pretty much confirmed that in statements he made to the New York Times. He said:â€œThe difference is this is a well-known company with previously published material available broadly in a well-accepted format."Ah,
Read More ...

LaCie Introduces Faster, Updated Professional NAS Drive Lineup
One look, and you know it's a LaCie. The iconic storage brand has just introduced their newest lineup of desktop Network Storage solutions, aimed at small-to-medium sized business but perfect for the prosumer at home, too. These don't look any different from the outside than LaCie's prior NAS offerings, but it's what is inside that counts. And what's inside is more power.Three new drives are seeing updates today: the LaCie d2 Network 2 (single disk), LaCie 2big Network 2 (two disks) and LaCie 5big Network 2
Read More ...

Valve Introduces "A Brand New Steam," Beta Available Now
Some may argue that Steam has a monopoly on the digital distribution of PC games, and while it is obviously the most well-known outlet for acquiring new titles without getting a physical disc, we can't help but say that our experience with the program has been great. There are obviously a lot of others out there feeling the same way, as the service has grown 200% (up to 25 million users) over the past year, with 12 billion player minutes being logged per month and 75 billion Steam client minutes per month.That
Read More ...

CompactFlash Cards Could Hold Petabytes, Make Hard Drives Look Puny
Secure Digital has a great deal of mindshare these days, and far more notebooks ship with integrated SD card readers than CF card readers. But that's not to say that CompactFlash is losing steam. CF has always been more of a "professional" format, used almost exclusively on higher-end DSLR cameras and rarely ever on lower-end point and shoot devices. With 1080p video features and more megapixels coming to cameras, the CompactFlash Association has to stay one step ahead in order to provide specifications that
Read More ...

Walmart Buys VUDU: The Next Big Player In Digital Distribution?
VUDU has been around for years. They were actually one of the first movie-streaming companies to emerge in the last decade, but they never seemed to gather a huge amount of support. Netflix already had a ton of buzz surrounding them, so when they decided to add a streaming option to complement the by-mail service, many flocked to it. Amazon's Video on Demand has also found a small group of supporters, but regardless of the different boxes and technology deployments, VUDU never seemed to get the respect it was
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Origin's New EON18 Gaming Laptop Offers Power & Speed
Origin is a fairly new boutique system builder, but already the company is making some noise in the gaming community. The company's latest machine is the new EON18 custom gaming laptop. Featuring "the most powerful and fastest gaming technology in the world," the EON18 combines today's fastest processors and graphics solutions to give you a screaming laptop. â€œThe new EON18 is all about gaming, power and performance, with the combination of Intelâ€™s Core i7 Extreme processor and NVIDIAâ€™s GeForce GTX 285M graphics
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MSI Announces New All-in-One PCs
MSI announced its lineup of all-in-one PCs that it will be showing off at CeBIT 2010. Included in the announcement are a large screen 3D all-in-one PC, high performance PCs utilizing Intelâ€™s new Core i3/i5/i7 processors, eco-friendly all-in-ones for business users, and all-in-ones with premium sound technology. The new Wind Top All-in-One 3D PC combines a 24-inch 120Hz LED display and full 1080p HD resolution with 3D shutter glasses. The new Wind Top AE2420 and Wind Top AE2280 All-in-One PCs offer a 22- or 24-inch
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Belkin Gets You Ready For USB 3.0 With New Accessories
SuperSpeed USB is finally here, and while it's not going anywhere fast, it's also not exploding into the market place at a rapid pace. As with any brand new technology, it takes awhile for companies and consumers to let go of what's familiar and embrace something different, particularly when there are incompatibilities involved.USB 3.0 is a fantastic upgrade to a globally famous standard, and while USB 2.0 products will work with USB 3.0 sockets at the slower speed, users will need actual USB 3.0 ports in order
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AMD Now Shipping 8, 12-core Processors To Early Customers, OEMs
In a blog post yesterday, AMD's director of product marketing John Fruehe announced that the company is now shipping its eight and 12-core "Magny-Cours" processors to OEMs and select manufacturers. Magny-Cours, you may recall, is AMD's next-generation server CPU and consists of two Istanbul cores side-by-side on the same package. Since AMD has no native octal-core design, it's implied that the eight-core version of Magny-Cours consists of two Istanbul processors with two cores on each disabled. If Magny-Cours
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FBI Investigating High Schools Alleged Webcam Spying
It's an acknowledged fact that modern technology, Google and the rise of social networking sites like Facebook have changed the rules when it comes to expectations of privacy. Most of the time, when we hear that these evolving expectations have tripped someone up, it's because an employee once considered a shoo-in for a job was disqualified when the potential employer found distasteful evidence in the candidate's MySpace profile, blog, or previously unmentioned extensive filmography in German and Japanese porn.
Read More ...

SanDisk Ships 60GB And 120GB S3 Solid State Drives
Another day, another new device from SanDisk. Shortly after the storage behemoth introduced their 64GB Ultra SDXC memory card, here comes something for the notebook users. The S3 solid state drive is a suitable replacement for the notebook HDD that's dragging you down so much, and it's available in two sizes (60GB and 120GB).The flash-based drive couples speed and reliability into a stunning 2.5" form factor, and it also uses ExtremeFFS to "accelerate random write performance." It's said to be up to twice as
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Nvidia Eases Users into DIY Scene with GeForce PC Kit
As power users, we sometimes take for granted the process of putting together a new PC. For most of you reading this, rolling your own rig is old hat by now, but not everyone falls into this category. If we think back to our very first build, most of us would agree that the concept was a little daunting at first, at least until it came time to dive in and plug all the parts in.We can preach how it easy it is to build your own machine until we're blue in the face, but none of it matters until you take that leap
Read More ...

AMD Now Shipping 8, 12-core Processors To Early Customers, OEMs

In a blog post yesterday, AMD's director of product marketing John Fruehe announced that the company is now shipping its eight and 12-core "Magny-Cours" processors to OEMs and select manufacturers. Magny-Cours, you may recall, is AMD's next-generation server CPU and consists of two Istanbul cores side-by-side on the same package. Since AMD has no native octal-core design, it's implied that the eight-core version of Magny-Cours consists of two Istanbul processors with two cores on each disabled.

If Magny-Cours is more-or-less an Istanbulx2, however, the upcoming Maranello platform is something altogether different. Maranello, which uses an LGA-style pinout, supports 16-48 cores, and provides each physical socket with four channels of DDR3 and up to four DIMMs per socket. Magny-Cours is aimed at retaking the upper end of the server market, where it should pack enough CPU horsepower and memory bandwidth to challenge Intel's six-core Westmere Xeons. Whether or not it can hold its own against the octal-core Nehalem-EX is another matter, though AMD will undoubtedly have room to compete on price, particularly if it proves a capable challenger to Westmere.

In his post, Fruehe claims that this information is actually coming out a bit earlier than AMD intended due to a reseller claiming to be selling the next-generation chips before they're actually available. Later this year, AMD will follow its new high-end server parts with the midrange Lisbon platform. Lisbon will use a different socket than Magny-Cours (a first for AMD, which has not differentiated its server products by socket type (with the exception of some Socket 939 1xx Opterons) since it launched K8 in 2003. Both the Maranello and San Marino platforms will be compatible with AMD's Bulldozer processor, which is scheduled to debut in 2011.

Apple Boots Swimsuit Store App; Insists Complaints Led To App Store "Racy App" Ban

As you probably know, Apple is purging apps that are somewhat racy from the App Store, including those, according to a developer, that include women in bikinis. Yet the Sports Illustrated app is still in the App Store, and we smell favoritism.

Phil Schiller, head of worldwide product marketing at Apple, pretty much confirmed that in statements he made to the New York Times. He said:

â€œThe difference is this is a well-known company with previously published material available broadly in a well-accepted format."

Ah, we see. By the way, the Playboy app is still in the App Store as well.

While there is obviously some measure of truth to that statement, some of the apps, such as Wobble (demo below), which have a sort of racy component to them, but don't even specifically provide racy photos in them. Strangely, also, new apps continue to be approved that should be banned, such as Adult Sex Trick, which appears to have been updated just yesterday.

At the same time, as far as why they made this change, Schiller said:

â€œIt came to the point where we were getting customer complaints from women who found the content getting too degrading and objectionable, as well as parents who were upset with what their kids were able to see.â€‌

OK, so they are not so upset with Playboy or SI. آ We get it!

At the same time, since swimsuits are banned, or at least bikinis, an app for a swimsuit store has been booted from the App Store as well. آ

It's an unfortunate truism that a store selling swimsuits would probably have bikinis. آ As Gerrard Dennis, managing director of The Simply Group, which operates Simply Beach and six other online stores said, "The e-mail [from Apple] arrived straight to a junk mail folder on Friday and to be honest we thought it was a spam joke. We then checked iTunes to find the app had in fact been removed. It seems like political correctness gone mad. Itâ€™s just women in bikinis, swimsuits and kaftans."

It's true that Apple is playing favorites here. آ Apps such as the Playboy app and the Sports Illustrated app are still in the store, despite the fact they are far more titillating than a swimsuit store's app. آ

The developer of the Simply Beach application, Exploding Phone, has resubmitted the app to the App Store, this time with an age restriction, hoping the app will be restored. آ Andrew Long, managing director of Exploding Phone said, "Being optimistic, maybe a new set of eyes at Apple will realize that the app is a store selling beach clothes and approve it. But we'll have to wait and see."

At any rate, it's not as though iTunes itself doesn't have plenty of racy material among its videos or even its music. Mobile Safari is able to access plenty of stuff on the web, as well, though famously, not Flash.

Speaking of which, watch that Wobble demo below:

Thieves really are NOT rocket Scientists!

Thieves really are NOT rocket Scientists it seems. Crying and it's been proven again in Florida.

See It Here,...........

Valve Introduces "A Brand New Steam," Beta Available Now

Some may argue that Steam has a monopoly on the digital distribution of PC games, and while it is obviously the most well-known outlet for acquiring new titles without getting a physical disc, we can't help but say that our experience with the program has been great. There are obviously a lot of others out there feeling the same way, as the service has grown 200% (up to 25 million users) over the past year, with 12 billion player minutes being logged per month and 75 billion Steam client minutes per month.

That kind of growth takes a toll on an infrastructure, and Valve is making sure that they are well prepared for the continue influx. As the world continues to spin and more hoursholds procure broadband Internet access, it makes sense to think that gamers would shy away from physical discs and resort to downloading their games. It's quicker, there is less hassle and it satisfies the "instant gratification" itch. That's a pretty powerful combination of positives, and the newest Steam update looks to serve the hungry gaming community.

The new version of Steam, which is available now in "Public Beta," is an opt-in process being served to all users who want it. If you already have Steam and wish to see what the Beta is all around, just enter the program and select UI Update under Beta Participation. The new look will provide users with the ability to see what games their friends have purchased from Steam (senseآ a social networking aspect?), and news outlets can now integrate their feeds through Steam's all-new aggregator. Try it out and see if it's better or worse -- nothing to lose!

Steam Update Announced - Public Beta Open Now

New Features Advance Leading Gaming Platform

February 23, 2010 --Valve announces a new version of Steam which is immediately available in publicbeta.

In the last 12 months, Steam has grown 200%. There are now 25 million users, 1000+ games, 12 billion player minutes per month, and 75 billion Steam client minutes per month. To accommodate this growth, a new Steam client has been created.

This opt-in beta is available immediately to all Steam users. If users already have Steam installed on their computer, they can take part in the beta by clicking this link (steam://open/settings)and then selecting "UI Update" under Beta Participation. If they don't have Steam installed, they can download it here (http://store.steampowered.com/). To preview the new Steam client without taking part in the beta, a complete rundown of the new features is available here (http://store.steampowered.com/uiupdate/).

Increasingly the most effective way of reaching new gamers is through the existing players of a game. With the new Steam release, gamers will now be able to see which games their friends have purchased directly within the Steam storefront. 25 million gamers create a highly effective and knowledgeable source of purchase suggestions.

News outlets now have the ability to reach the Steam community through the new client's News aggregator functionality. Those organizations interested can contact Doug Lombardi at lombardi@valvesoftware.com.

With users purchasing more and more games through Steam, new methods of library management were needed. The new client introduces library customization tools to help gamers sort, group,and find games in libraries which for some hardcore players contain hundreds of titles. In addition to having lots of games, gamers needed methods of tracking all of their achievements in a standardized cross-game fashion, which is now possible with the new release.

"We made hundreds of changes to the Steam client as a result of customer feedback on the interface,performance, and functionality," said John Cook, Director of Steam Development at Valve. "For example, we swapped out the Internet Explorerآ rendering engine with WebKit, which gives us a bunch of size, stability and performance benefits. This release of Steam leaves us well prepared for another year of strong growth."

About Steam
The leading online platform for PC games and digital entertainment, Steamdelivers new releases and online services to over 25 million PC users aroundthe world. For more information, please visit steamgames.com.e, software, gaming, update, gamer

LaCie Introduces Faster, Updated Professional NAS Drive Lineup

One look, and you know it's a LaCie. The iconic storage brand has just introduced their newest lineup of desktop Network Storage solutions, aimed at small-to-medium sized business but perfect for the prosumer at home, too. These don't look any different from the outside than LaCie's prior NAS offerings, but it's what is inside that counts. And what's inside is more power.

Three new drives are seeing updates today: the LaCie d2 Network 2 (single disk), LaCie 2big Network 2 (two disks) and LaCie 5big Network 2 (five disks).These pro units promise 70MB/sec on the data access front, and they also include compatibility with Macs (Time Machine) and PCs. You'll also get Wake-on-LAN support, and if you spring for the 5big, you'll also see an extra LAN port (that permits load balancing or link aggregation for boosted Ethernet performance) and the ability to configure the drive as an iSCSI target client, not to mention uninterrupted power supply support through USB host ports.

The units are available now starting at around $300, with the main updates being a new 1.2GHz processor, enhanced performance (up to 70MB/s), a new "widget-like" interface, USB interface and automated software updates.

LaCie Introduces Next Generation of Desktop Network Storage Solutions for Small-to-Medium Businesses

آ آ آ * Fast data access with transfers of up to 70 MB/s

آ آ آ * Multiple hot-swap RAID modes, including RAID 6

آ آ آ * Full-featured widget-managed web administration

آ آ آ * Extremely quiet and energy-efficient

آ آ آ * Up to 10TB of shared desktop network storage

LaCie announces the next generation line of network storage devices for small to medium-sized businesses: the LaCie d2 Network 2 (single disk), LaCie 2big Network 2 (two disks) and LaCie 5big Network 2 (five disks).

Delivering superb data access of up to 70 MB/s, these professional, reliable central storage devices allow users to share files instantly or back up any PC or Macآ® on a network. These complete backup solutions are Time Machineآ® compatible and include Genie Backup Manager Proâ„¢ (Windowsآ®) and Intego Backup Manager Proâ„¢ (Mac). With these applications you can make encrypted, compressed backups, restore office files, and even perform disaster recovery.

These professional solutions feature extensive benefits for IT managers, boasting an intuitive, web-based administration tool organized by easy-to-use widgets. This tool allows you to manage users, groups, and shares, and place disk use quotas easily. Further simplifying user administration is the ability to join a Windows domain using Active Directory, which automatically imports users and respects existing permissions. The administration tool can also be configured to send email alerts in the case of a temperature event or if a disk quota is exceeded.

Designed for flexibility, these desktop solutions fit into any small-to-medium business environment and are ideal for a range of applications. They can be stacked or installed in racks to conserve space, and for the ultimate in flexibility, the LaCie d2 Network 2 and LaCie 2big Network 2 can be connected directly via USB to a PC or Mac. To ensure complete data access, they can even be easily accessed remotely through automatic port forwarding and Dynamic IP integration. The LaCie 2big Network 2 and LaCie 5big Network 2 feature hot-swappable disks and RAID 1 for redundancy, and the 5big Network 2 offers RAID 6 for superior performance and security.

"With superb performance, design and reliability, this next generation of desktop NAS devices achieves new heights in flexibility for small- and medium-sized businesses," said Edin del Mar, LaCie's SOHO NAS Product Manager. "Thanks to major advances in design and usability, this new product line proves LaCie's continued dedication to melding form, function and versatility."

Sturdy aluminum cases, power-saving mode, scheduled deep sleep, and RoHS compliance mean this line of products is designed to be eco-friendly. Wake-on-LAN compatibility means the product can be turned on from a computer without needing to physically be near it.

The LaCie 5big Network 2 has additional features, such as an extra LAN port that permits load balancing or link aggregation for extraordinary Ethernet performance. The product can be configured as an iSCSI target client to add flexibility in corporate IT environments. The LaCie 5big Network 2 also guarantees UPS (uninterrupted power supply) support through USB host ports, which helps it to manage power failures.

Availability and Warranty
Backed up with a 3-year limited warranty, the LaCie d2 Network 2, 2big Network 2, and 5big Network 2 are available through the LaCie Online Store, LaCie Reseller+, LaCie Storage Partner, starting at the suggested retail price of $229.99. For more information, visit www.lacie.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

###

FBI Investigating High Schools Alleged Webcam Spying

It's an acknowledged fact that modern technology, Google and the rise of social networking sites like Facebook have changed the rules when it comes to expectations of privacy. Most of the time, when we hear that these evolving expectations have tripped someone up, it's because an employee once considered a shoo-in for a job was disqualified when the potential employer found distasteful evidence in the candidate's MySpace profile, blog, or previously unmentioned extensive filmography in German and Japanese porn. In tumultuous times like these, it's understandable that employers and employees can both be caught unawares. Every now and then, however, an organization or individual will make such a mind-blowingly stupid decision that we're left collectively dumbstruck at such an awesome, frightening, and all-encompassing display of ineptitude.

Happily, today is one such day. Put on your helmets kidsâ€”we're headed to Philadelphia where a wealthy suburban school district is facing allegations of privacy invasion that would rouse a lawyer's...conscience faster than a trip to your local gentleman's club.

You Couldn't Make This Stuff Up ~
Last November, Lower Merion School District student Blake J. Robbins was called to task by Vice Principal Lindy Matsko principal's office for allegedly engaging in improper behavior. The bombshell is that Robbins wasn't accused of doing anything on school grounds or even during the school day, but had done his naughty needs in his own home. As evidence, Matsko cited a photo taken by Robbin's webcam without his knowledge or consent. Blake's parents contacted the Vice Principal, who confirmed that the school district had installed remote monitoring software that allowed it to activate the webcam of any of the Macbooks it provided to its 1800 students. Neither parents nor students were ever notified that this feature existed, nor were they provided with information on the school's remote monitoring policy.

In the wake of the incident, both the FBI and the DA of Montgomery County have announced they'll investigate to determine if privacy laws or federal regulations on remote wiretapping were violated through the school's actions. According to district spokesperson Doug Young, the school is vaguely aware it made a booboo. ""There was no specific notification given that described the security feature," Young said. "That... was a significant mistake."

Wearing one black sock and one blue sock is a mistake. Wearing one black sock, one white sock, and two different shoes when you're scheduled to give a presentation to the company CEO is a significant mistake. What Lower Merion has done falls under the category of "unbelievable world-class stupidity." Young insists that Lower Merion has only activated webcams in an attempt to find lost or stolen laptops, but there's a massive hole in that story. To date, the school has not challenged the issue at the heart of the lawsuitâ€”namely, that the allegations of improper behavior on the part of Blake Robbins were made based on webcam evidence.

Think about that for a moment. Obviously the parents didn't know the laptops could be used for remote monitoring, or Blake's parents wouldn't have contacted the school for additional information. Blake himself could have lied about the existence of a webcam photo, but if there was no photo there would be no allegation of improper behavior at home. Furthermore, if Blake had entirely misrepresented the scenario that led to him being called on the carpet, you'd think the principal would have said so back in November.

As for the improper behavior itself, the family's attorney has stated that Blake was eating Mike and Ike's candy while using the computer. Legal experts and those possessed of common sense have jointly weighed in on the school district's behavior, noting the nearly limitless potential for abuse when the school district has the power to spy on its students at any time, place, or manner of its choosing. As a final bit of irony, we leave you with the last sentence of the flier originally distributed when the laptops were given out. "While other districts are exploring ways to make these kinds of incentives possible, our programs are already in place, it is no accident that we arrived ahead of the curve; in Lower Merion, our responsibility is to lead."

All we can say is, way to go.The original complaint filed by Blake's parents is here.

CompactFlash Cards Could Hold Petabytes, Make Hard Drives Look Puny

Secure Digital has a great deal of mindshare these days, and far more notebooks ship with integrated SD card readers than CF card readers. But that's not to say that CompactFlash is losing steam. CF has always been more of a "professional" format, used almost exclusively on higher-end DSLR cameras and rarely ever on lower-end point and shoot devices.

With 1080p video features and more megapixels coming to cameras, the CompactFlash Association has to stay one step ahead in order to provide specifications that will stand up to the demands of modern pro cameras. Unlike SD, CF cards are typically used by those who making at least a portion of their living with a camera, so it's vital that there's enough speed and space to handle the rigors of day-to-day shooting.

In order to provide for the target market, the CompactFlash Association has just announced the availability of the CF 5.0 specification, which brings about the potential for higher transfer rates and larger capacities. Currently, cards top out at 28-bit, but CF 5.0 allows for 48-bit support, and thus a theoretical increase in size to 144 petabytes. If you didn't know, a petabyte is made up of 1000 terabytes, so yeah, this is pretty massive. The current limit stands at 137GB, which is still huge compared to even the newest SDXC cards on the consumer side. There's no indication of when petabyte-sized CF cards will make it to market, but we suspect it'll be a few years yet. And after they do hit, we plan on picking up one of those CF-to-SSD adapters and fixing our laptop up with one of the most sizable flash-based storage solutions on the planet.

Nvidia Eases Users into DIY Scene with GeForce PC Kit

As power users, we sometimes take for granted the process of putting together a new PC. For most of you reading this, rolling your own rig is old hat by now, but not everyone falls into this category. If we think back to our very first build, most of us would agree that the concept was a little daunting at first, at least until it came time to dive in and plug all the parts in.

We can preach how it easy it is to build your own machine until we're blue in the face, but none of it matters until you take that leap and find out for yourself. Hoping to push you in that direction, Nvidia has put together a DIY bundle they're calling the GeForce PC Kit. Here's what you get:

Processor	Intelآ® Pentium E5300
Operating System	Not Included Supports (Windows XP, Vista, 7)
Memory	2 GB DDR2
Graphics Card	NVIDIAآ® GeForceآ® 9800 GT
Hard Drive	3.5â€‌ SATA 250 GB (7200 rpm)
Optical Drive	DVD R/RW
Power Supply	500 Watts
Networking	Integrated 10/100 Ethernet, No wireless LAN
Keyboard and Mouse	Microsoft keyboard and mouse
Chassis	CoolerMaster Elite 334 NVIDIA Edition
Front Productivity Ports	2 USB, 1 Audio
Back Ports	1 Serial port 1 VGA port 1 LANآ 4 USB 2.0 Ports 3/6 Flex Audio Jacks 1 PS/2 mouse port 1 PS/2 keyboard port
Audio	Integrated 7.1 channel sound with front audio ports
Dimensions	D 19.1â€‌ x W 8.0â€‌ x H 16.3â€‌

آ
We can already hear the groans from those of you who were hoping for a Core i5 foundation, or even an AM3 setup if shooting for a low-budget build. But if you can get past the pedestrian parts and dated socket (LGA775), Nvidia's done something pretty neat and unique here, which we hope they will continue to do. The GeForce PC Kit successfully bridges the gap between the DIY scene and a pre-built rig, giving weary would-be builders a boost of confidence in knowing that the parts they're buying will all be compatible.

The motherboard comes with the CPU and cooler already installed; it's up to you to put everything else together and shove it all into the Cooler Master case. Nvidia also includes a screwdriver to save you from fumbling around your toolbox for the right size Phillips-head, so all you need to add is a monitor, OS, and a bit of elbow grease.

Nvidia's GeForce PC Kit is available now for $500 from CompUSA and TigerDirect (both Systemax subsidiaries).

Belkin Gets You Ready For USB 3.0 With New Accessories

SuperSpeed USB is finally here, and while it's not going anywhere fast, it's also not exploding into the market place at a rapid pace. As with any brand new technology, it takes awhile for companies and consumers to let go of what's familiar and embrace something different, particularly when there are incompatibilities involved.

USB 3.0 is a fantastic upgrade to a globally famous standard, and while USB 2.0 products will work with USB 3.0 sockets at the slower speed, users will need actual USB 3.0 ports in order to make the most of any external hard drive or other USB 3.0 peripheral that they may purchase over the next few months and years. Belkin, which knows a thing or two about making accessories, has just announced four new products to help people upgrade their existing systems with USB 3.0 support. It's not exactly cheap to upgrade, but it's far less expensive than buying an all new machine once USB 3.0 ports are commonplace on them (which still hasn't happened, by the way).

For desktop/tower users, the SuperSpeed USB 3.0 PCIe Add-In Card has you covered. All you need is a free PCIe card slot, and once you pop this in, your machine will now be able to take full advantage of USB 3.0 speeds. For notebook users, the SuperSpeed USB 3.0 ExpressCard gives you a pair of USB 3.0 ports if you're willing to deal with a bulge, while a couple of USB 3.0 cables ensure that the transfers remain speedy from drive to PC. In case you're wondering, USB 3.0 are required to take advantage of USB 3.0 speeds, so your stash of USB 2.0 will soon be a lot less attractive.

All of the devices will ship in April (U.S.) or May (Canada), with pricing listed below.

SuperSpeed USB 3.0 PCIe Add-In Card (F4U023) - $79.99

آ آ آ * Connects up to 127 USB devices (through cascading additional hubs)
آ آ آ * Supports plug and play and hot-swap functionality

SuperSpeed USB 3.0 ExpressCardâ„¢ (F4U024) - $79.99

آ آ آ * Fully compliant with ExpressCard specification 1.0 and Universal Serial Bus 3.0 specification Revision 1.0
آ آ آ * Supports plug and play and hot-swap functionality
آ آ آ * Connects up to 127 USB devices (through cascading additional hubs)

SuperSpeed USB 3.0 Premium A-B Cable, 4 ft.(F3U158-04) - $39.99 ; 8 ft. (F3U158-08) - $49.99

SuperSpeed USB 3.0 Premium Micro-B Cable, 4 ft. (F3U165-04) - $39.99; 8 ft. (F3U165-08) - $49.99

New Bike in Europe

There's a new Bike in town,....if you happen to live in Europe that is.

For a small (choke-choke) price, you can have the brand new YikeBike.

See It Here!

I ordered four of them,....and then realized that I had been taking a nap, and I'm still way too cheap to buy even one of them.

It IS A COOL THANG though,...........

Walmart Buys VUDU: The Next Big Player In Digital Distribution?

VUDU has been around for years. They were actually one of the first movie-streaming companies to emerge in the last decade, but they never seemed to gather a huge amount of support. Netflix already had a ton of buzz surrounding them, so when they decided to add a streaming option to complement the by-mail service, many flocked to it. Amazon's Video on Demand has also found a small group of supporters, but regardless of the different boxes and technology deployments, VUDU never seemed to get the respect it was due.

At least it never got the public respect it was due. Behind closed doors, VUDU has been receiving a great deal of respect and attention, and from the world's largest retailer: Walmart. It's a strange story, that's for sure. Walmart is known for cut-rate prices and for "putting it to the Little Guy," but it's hardly known for digital services. Walmart has tried to get into the digital distribution market before, but it closed up an MP3 delivery model as iTunes took off. One can only assume that this acquisition will allow Walmart to really make a serious move in the content streaming business, but again, only time will tell if this will end up being more successful than the failed MP3 attempt.

Walmart is not saying openly how much they paid for VUDU, but some reports are suggesting as much as $100 million in cash will be changing hands. That's a lot to pay for a company that hasn't received very much mainstream attention, but the underlying technology is underrated. VUDU can deliver true 1080p material over a mid-range Internet connection, while even Netflix tops out at 720p. There's certainly a competitive advantage here, and Walmart obviously has a thought in mind to take advantage of it. People buy DVDs like crazy for Walmart, but will they really jump to rent those same movies via the Internet from the same company? It's sort of difficult to wrap your head around Walmart as a digital company, but who knows, maybe this is just the beginning of an all new take on retail.

Origin's New EON18 Gaming Laptop Offers Power & Speed

Origin is a fairly new boutique system builder, but already the company is making some noise in the gaming community. The company's latest machine is the new EON18 custom gaming laptop. Featuring "the most powerful and fastest gaming technology in the world," the EON18 combines today's fastest processors and graphics solutions to give you a screaming laptop.

â€œThe new EON18 is all about gaming, power and performance, with the combination of Intelâ€™s Core i7 Extreme processor and NVIDIAâ€™s GeForce GTX 285M graphics all wrapped up in a package that is portableâ€‌, says Kevin Wasielewski, CEO/Co-Founder of ORIGIN PC. â€œThe EON18 is for gamers who crave power and speed over cute and petite.â€‌

Key features of the EON18 Custom Gaming Notebook include:

CPU: Intelآ® Core i7 Extreme processors
GPU: Dual NVIDIAآ® GeForce GTX 285M â€“ SLI Technology
Artwork: Unlimited Color and Design Options
Display: 18.4â€‌ FullHD (1920 x 1080) widescreen LCD
Memory: Up to 8GB Dual Channel DDR3 1333MHz
Storage: Up to three Solid-State hard drives w/RAID configurations
Optical: Dual-layer Blu-ray disc burner
Chassis: Programmable gaming buttons; Touch sensitive access buttons
Starting at US $2,299

You can also customize your ORIGIN EON18 with your own design thanks to ORIGIN's partnership with Killer Paint.

MSI Announces New All-in-One PCs

MSI announced its lineup of all-in-one PCs that it will be showing off at CeBIT 2010. Included in the announcement are a large screen 3D all-in-one PC, high performance PCs utilizing Intelâ€™s new Core i3/i5/i7 processors, eco-friendly all-in-ones for business users, and all-in-ones with premium sound technology.

The new Wind Top All-in-One 3D PC combines a 24-inch 120Hz LED display and full 1080p HD resolution with 3D shutter glasses. The new Wind Top AE2420 and Wind Top AE2280 All-in-One PCs offer a 22- or 24-inch multi-touch display and the latest Intel Core (Core i3/i5/i7) processors. The Wind Top AP1920 and AE1920 19- and 20-inch All-in-One PCs, as well as the Hetis/DC520/DE220 10L, 4.7L and 2L Wind Box Mini-PCs focus on energy consumption, providing 90% lower average hourly energy consumption than a traditional 300W desktop PC.

MSI Computer to Showcase a Dazzling Array of New and Industry-First All-in-One PCs at CeBIT 2010

Industry-First 24-inch 3D All-in-Ones and High-End Audio-Equipped Models Featuring Stylish, Eco-Friendly Designs Demonstrate MSIâ€™s Commitment to Innovation and Technology Leadership

CITY OF INDUSTRY, Calif. â€“ Feb. 23, 2010 â€“ MSI, a leading manufacturer of computer components and systems, will provide CeBIT 2010 attendees with a unique opportunity to experience the latest, most technologically advanced All-in-One (AIO) PCs on the market today. MSI will showcase a wide range of innovative new AIOs offering industry-leading performance and multimedia entertainment capabilities for home and business users at its exhibit booth (Hall 17, Booth C38) at the annual CeBIT tradeshow in Hannover, Germany, March 2-6, 2010.

From the first 24-inch, full HD (1080p) 3D All-in-One PCs to the extreme-performance, eco-friendly Wind Top All-in-Ones featuring the new Intelآ® Coreâ„¢ processors and premium, hi-fi audio, MSI is raising the bar on AIO performance, usability, energy-efficiency, and functionality. MSI will also demonstrate its new power-saving LOHAS (Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability - http://www.lohas.com/) models, setting a new standard in green computing.

World's First Large Screen, Full HD 3D All-in-One PC

MSIâ€™s Wind Top All-in-One 3D PC integrates advanced 3D display technology with powerful CPU processing to deliver smooth, clear and vibrant 3D images with a high level of image detail and clarity. Combining a large, 24-inch 120Hz LED display and full HD (1080p) resolution with 3D shutter glasses allows home users to experience the 3D movie theater experience in the comfort and convenience of their living rooms.

High-Performance Intel آ® Core Series Processors: the Wind Top AE2280/AE2420

Featuring a 22- or 24-inch multi-touch display, the new Wind Top AE2420 and Wind Top AE2280 All-in-One PCs are equipped with the latest Intelآ® Core (Core i3/i5/i7) processors and Intelâ€™s Turbo Boost technology, which automatically increases CPU frequency on demand, delivering maximum performance for HD movies, sophisticated 3D games and other resource-hungry applications. Combining an intuitive multi-touch display with high-performance processing power, these Wind Top All-in-One PCs combine sleek, stylish looks with the raw power to make traditional desktop PCs a thing of the past.

Eco-Friendly AIOs for Business Users: the Wind Top AP1920/AE1920 and Wind Box Mini-PCs

The Wind Top AP1920 and AE1920 19- and 20-inch All-in-One PCs, as well as the Hetis/DC520/DE220 Wind Box Mini-PCs, combine energy-efficiency, a small desktop footprint and enough processing power for todayâ€™s productive and environmentally-minded business users. Providing 90 percent lower average hourly energy consumption than a traditional 300W desktop PC, each of these MSI models have achieved U.S. Energy Star certification, and will adhere to the European Unionâ€™s new EuP (Energy using Product) environmental directive that will take effect in 2010. In addition, these innovative PCs utilize coating materials that are free from harmful substances and packaging material that is 80 percent recyclable.

Premium Sound Technology: Wind Top AE2280/AE2260/AE2220/AE2400/AE2420

MSI is the first PC company to incorporate high-quality speakers into 22-inch and 24-inch All-in-One PCs. The MSI Wind Top AE2280, AE2260 and AE2220 are equipped with two 5-watt Hi-Fi speakers, while the 24-inch AE2400 and AE2420 feature 10-watt speakers for added bass response. In addition, MSIâ€™s unique Premium Sound Technology adjusts audio output when viewing a 1080p Full-HD video, and all Wind Top All-in-One models provide excellent sound reproduction across the low, medium and high frequency ranges.

A Full Range of All-in-One Sizes, Configuration and Colors

MSI Computer offers the industryâ€™s largest range of AIO sizes and configurations to meet the unique needs of any home or business user. MSIâ€™s CeBIT exhibit will showcase All-in-One PC models with the widest variety of screen sizes, including 18.5-inch, 19.5-inch, 21.5-inch, and 23.5-inch models. In addition, MSI will also display its new Wind Top PCs that are available in a variety of rich, beautiful colors designed to suit the personality of individual users.

For more information about MSI Wind Top All-in-One PCs, please visit MSI's website at www.msi.com.

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Thursday, February 25, 2010

IT News HeadLines (HotHardware) 25/02/2010

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