NVIDIA Intros 3D Vision Pro For Creative Professionals
3D, like it or not, is big business. Not just big business, but huge business. The past 6 months have shown at the box office that people are willing to pay for 3D, particularly with blockbuster films that really take advantage of the effect. NVIDIA knows this quite well, and they have already seen that people are eager to bring 3D to their notebooks and desktops. The company's 3D Vision software/hardware has enabled 3D PC gaming to come to life, but stopping at the consumer realm wouldn't make too much business
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Clearwire To Sell WiMAX Services In Best Buy Next Year
WiMAX is still a fledgling service in America. Even though Sprint and Clearwire have invested tons of money in the 4G service, it's still spotty at best and only available in a few locations. But as with anything, it grows in time, and there's no better way to really grow than to get your service in the faces of consumers. And there's hardly a better way to get in the faces of consumers than to get into Best Buy. Best Buy and Clearwire just unveiled a new relationship that will enable the big box retailer to
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Blu-ray Reaches 100GB Capacity
Thanks to high definition video, pictures, and other digital files, we need increased amounts of storage. Soon, the storage capacity of Blu-ray discs could double. In fact, companies such as Sharp, TDK, and Verbatim are already making plans to launch new discs that can store up to 100GB of data. According to a statement, Sharp will start selling a Blu-ray disc with a capacity of 100GB in Japan starting today. The VR-100BR1 disc conforms to the BDXL format specification announced in April by the Blu-ray Disc
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Liquid Cooling, Air Flow, and Case Design
Bunch of questions regarding Liquid Cooling, and would like suggestions or concerns. I understand the technology, how it works, and why it works, but am confused why builders and developers do what they do.

I've noticed a plethora of cases, pretty much 98% of them, allow LC Radiators of some sort and size to be mounted at the TOP of the case. I was under the impression that the area at the top of the case, in it's general purpose, is for exhausting hot air out of the case...naturally. I was also under the impression that LC Radiators worked more effeciently if Cool Air ran through them to cool the liquid within more effectively. I assume that OEMs, System Builders, and Enthusiasts set up the LC Radiator system to bring in cool air from the top into the case and exhaust the warm air out the back or sides of the case. More on this...

Now there are a handful, of cases that rotate the motherboard tray 90° to help warm air escape out of the case from the top. I like this idea, and it appears to work well. In pictures of OEMs like Digital Storm and MainGear that have similar cases in their supply. I've seen that they utilize a Asetek designed LC that is mounted to the 120mm exhaust fan area. I'm familiar with this type of system and how it works, I happen to use the Corsair badged version for my personal system. Due to age of my case design, I am actually exhausting air out of the case through the rad, mainly because it's the only option I have. Any idea if DS and MG bring the air in the case from the LC unit, or use it as an exhaust? I didn't see any other option than to have the air rise out of the case passively.

I am now speccing a new system from the ground up. I would like very much to future proof as much as possible of the system to last 3 to 5 years. Because the system will be a workstation and primary gaming system, I would like it to run quieter than a full on gaming rig. I am planning to use a custom Liquid Cooling solution and would like to have some suggestions on Case/LC System combos that really work well, but reduce the amount of noise. Some of the LC systems I've seen on YouTube from Digital Storm are screaming monsters! The last thing I want in my room is an AC decible releasing computer.

I like the design of the Silverstone Fortress 2, and notice in the manual that it supports a 240mm Radiator over two of it's three 180mm fans on the bottom of the case. This sounds like the best option for efficiently and performance. Cool air enters from the bottom through the Rad, and escapes naturally through the vented slots and 120mm Fan on top. I also see that Cooler Master's 690II also allows for the mounting of a 240mm radiator at the bottom of the case. However, the most beautiful case on the market in my opinion is the Corsiar 700D. I would love to utilize this case, but have heard stories of horrible cooling performance, even when adding a 360mm radiator at the top of the case.

Input very much appreciated.
_______________________________________________
Jon Lee | Graphic Designer & Owner
MNI Artworks
Austin, Texas

New Los Lobos album

Los Lobos, 'Tin Can Trust'

Listen before you decide to buy it. I liked all but two songs.

NetJets To Add In-Flight Wi-Fi

In-flight Wi-Fi is becoming more widely available. Add NetJets to the list of aircraft where you'll soon be able to surf the Web, check email, and even listen to the latest hits from Pandora at 41,000 feet.
This summer, NetJets will install Aircell's technology on more than 250 of its fleet of 800 private aircraft. The service will be installed on the mid-size and large-cabin aircraft operated by NetJets. NetJets plans to have all future fleet aircraft, including light cabin models, delivered from the factory with high speed Internet service.
Unlike other airlines, NetJets uses a fractional aircraft ownership model in which individuals and companies buy shares of a private business jet. These jets can then be available to use within a few hours' notice.
The Wi-Fi offering from NetJets will be available to its fractional owners at no additional charge. To date, Aircell has already equipped nearly 1,000 commercial jets on eight US airlines with its Gogo Wi-Fi service. Gogo typically costs $5 to $13 based on the number of hours of use.

Obama's BlackBerry "No Fun" Due To Presidential Limits

There's no doubt that the popularity of RIM's BlackBerry handset line has dropped somewhat as newer versions of iOS and Android make the iPhone and the array of Android phones on the market that much more attractive, but for the business people, there's still no real replacement. And you might say that America's President falls into that classification. Barack Obama fought hard early on in order to keep his BlackBerry even though you're supposed to give up your personal phone in exchange for a government-approved phone when you take over as Commander and Chief.

But now that he has been toting that trusty BlackBerry around for a couple of years as President, he doesn't share that same enthusiasm. On a recent appearance on ABC's The View, Obama was asking about his smartphone. His response? "I've got to admit, it's no fun because they think that it's probably going to be subject to the presidential records act, so nobody wants to send me the real juicy stuff." He also confessed that just 10 total people had the authority to send him messages on his BlackBerry. That's sort of comical, but we do feel sort of bad that he fought so hard and now can't even enjoy the spoils of ownership.

But then again, at least he doesn't have to worry about meaningless BBMs in the middle of the night.

Survey Shows T-Mobile Has The Best Customer Care Rankings

According to J.D. Power and Associates' recently released eighth annual U.S. Wireless Customer Care Performance Study, T-Mobile tops other top U.S. wireless carriers in overall customer care. T-Mobile received a ranking of 777 out of a possible 1,000 points.
The study is based on a survey of 9,690 wireless customers who contacted their carrier's customer service department over the past six months. AT&T followed T-Mobile with a score of 757, followed by Verizon Wireless (749) and Sprint (734). According to the survey, the industry average is 753.
The report is based on how well the carriers were able to assist their customers via telephone, through in-store visits, or on the Web. Although 60% of wireless users sought help over the telephone, the survey noted that there are an increasing number of people who are using in-store and Web visits. The people who visited a store to fix a problem reported being more satisfied than they are when they utilize other methods of contact.

The study also finds several key wireless customer care patterns:

Overall, 39 percent of wireless customers contact their carrier due to service and equipment-related issues, while 34 percent contact for billing, 25 percent for incorrect charges, 23 percent for price or cost, 22 percent for call quality, 9 percent for messaging issues, 9 percent for network coverage, and 6 percent for credit issues.
Wireless customers who have had a positive care experience are more loyal and are therefore less likely to switch carriers in the future, on average. Among customers who indicate they â€œdefinitely will not switchâ€ carriers in the next 12 months, the customer care index averages 827, compared with just 602 among those who say they â€œdefinitely will switchâ€â€”a difference of 225 points.
A vast majority of customers get through to their carrier on their first try (90%), but some customers (10%) are misdirected or are put on hold for too long and must make more than one contact. The average wireless customer spends 5.27 minutes on hold when trying to reach their carrier via phone.

Microsoft's Ballmer: Focused On Delivering Windows Tablets ASAP

It should really come as no huge surprise, but Microsoft isn't just waiting around for Apple to rule the tablet PC market all by their lonesome. The company has been somewhat slow in responding to the iPad, which has sold over 3 million units to date and has clearly struck a nerve with consumers. In recent days, company CEO Steve Ballmer has made clear that Microsoft is on the front lines of attack, working hard behind the scenes in order to produce tablets that will not only rival the iPad, but be true competitors in terms of functionality.

He recently stated that Windows-based tablets will be shipping "as soon as they're ready," also saying that the tablet PC push is "job one urgency" with "no one sleeping at the switch." He also confirmed that the goal isn't to "deliver products, but to deliver products that people want to buy." That's an important differentiation. In the past, some have panned Microsoft with pushing things out too early, but the company is showing a clear focus on delivering fully baked, market ready devices.

He also couldn't help but poke at his arch rival, saying about Apple and the iPad: "they've sold certainly more than I'd like them to have sold." Nothing like the company you hate the most succeeding where you should be succeeding to get those gears turning.

Sunday, August 1, 2010

IT News HeadLines (HotHardware) 01/08/2010

Los Lobos, 'Tin Can Trust'

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