Tuesday, September 21, 2010

IT News HeadLines (Techradar) 20/09/2010


Techradar
HTC HD7 price and release date details revealed

The first Windows Phone 7 phone from HTC, the HTC HD7, has been unveiled in a leaked document, which details the handset's price and release date.
The document is meant for the German market but does give a decent indication of when the phone is likely to come to the UK.
According to WMPoweruser, who was given the document, the HTC HD7 is being released in Germany 18 October and will cost €559 if you want it contract free.
7 heaven
The HD7 is the likely successor to the HD2, with the 7 denoting the Windows Phone 7 OS which powers the device.
The HTC HD7 is rumoured to be a very powerful machine, possibly packing a dual-core 1GHz Snapdragon processor, a 4.3-inch 800×480 touchscreen and 8MP camera.
An HTC Window Phone 7 prototype has been caught in the wild a few times now and has gone under the guise of HTC Mozart, Mondrian and Schubert.
If it does turn out to be called the HTC HD7 then we will be glad, as naming the device after German classical composers and Dutch painters is just getting silly.
The 18 October release date is bang on the money for the release of Windows Phone 7, which has been confirmed in the UK as coming out in October.



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ATVOD takes over UK VOD regulation
ATVOD has formally taken over the regulation of video on demand, as the UK gears up for the arrival of the likes of YouView, Quriocity and Google TV.
Ofcom announced that the Association for Television on Demand would be its co-regulator back in March, but the handover of responsibility has now happened.
VOD explosion
The timing is appropriate with video on demand getting major headlines this month, including the rebranding of major UK IPTV scheme Project Canvas to YouView.
The Advertising Standards Association will still deal with complaints about advertising.
The world of video on demand is growing rapidly, with the BBC iPlayer dominant at the moment, but connected television services, consoles, set top boxes and other broadcasters' offerings are beginning to make a major impact.
VOD includes not only the plethora of catch-up television, but also internet on-demand television and other non-linear television.



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4chan targets MPAA, RIAA and Aiplex with DDoS attacks
4chan has been up to its old tricks again and has delivered a DDoS attack on the official website for the MPAA (Motion Picture of America Association) and Aiplex, a company which recently admitted it uses denial-of-service attacks to take down torrent sites.
TechRadar reported on Aiplex's denial-of-service confession earlier this month.
Obviously not happy with the way Aiplex is targeting torrent sites or how the MPAA is tackling movie piracy, mambers of 4chan were invited to use its 'Low Orbit Ion Cannon' on 17 September to target Aiplex and the MPAA.org.
The scheduled attack was fittingly called Operation Payback.
Target practice
The attacks worked, according to TorrentFreak, who notes that both sites were taken down and it was only until the MPAA moved to a new IP address that it managed to get its site up and running again.
Just yesterday, Operation Payback continued with the website of the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) successfully targeted.



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In Depth: 20 best free WordPress themes
Love it or loathe it, Wordpress is the engine behind over 25 million web sites. That's a lot of blogging. The beauty of the platform is the way that it separates layout from content.
Using standard HTML, JavaScript and CSS you can make a Wordpress site look any way you like. But there's no need to do all that coding from scratch when there are so many ready to use themes available for free.
And, to make it even easier, we've picked out 20 of the very best WordPress themes around.
1. Extreme Typewriter
Edgy, unusual and contemporary, Extreme Typewriter is a simple, eminently hackable theme that looks good and works well from installation onwards. There are few frills, but a tabbed menu for fixed pages is very welcome.
Extreme typewriter
2. VeryPlainTxt
This clean, plain theme pays homage to hipster lit repository McSweeney's. VeryPlainTxt is a great theme for customisation - and it'll need it. Not because it doesn't look good, but because it's so popular.
VeryPlainTxt
3. Handgloves
Tastefully designed, Handgloves combines modular navigation tools with social media integration. By default, the text is styled using Helvetica - which of course only works if the user has Helvetica installed...
Handgloves
4. The Morning After
WooThemes is home to an extensive premium Wordpress design catalogue and The Morning After is one of their freebies. It's not a cut-down, commercial theme though. It's a fully featured magazine-style layout, well worth the download.
Morning after
5. Vector Flower
EZwpthemes specialise in graphically striking layouts with colourful backgrounds. We're a fan of the site's more illustrative templates. Vector Flower's a popular choice - ideal for arty bloggers.
Vector flower
6. ClearPress
Fully widgetised, with three newspaper style columns and a dynamic dropdown menu for navigation, ClearPress is a good choice for news sites. Pages can still be quickly and readily accessed above the fold links.
Clear press
7. Charlene
If you like your blog to be clean and readable, Charlene could be the template for you. With chunky headlines and clean sans text, it gives you a basic two column layout for straightforward blogging.
Charlene
8. WPESP Portfolio
WPESP uses its two columns in a different way to traditional blog layouts, with the sidebar reserved for images rather than navigation. Ace for designers, photographers and cartoonists.
Wpesp
9. theSevenFive
Fancy using Wordpress like FriendFeed - but with complete control over the look and layout? theSevenFive theme's what you're looking for, with built in support for Flickr, Vimeo, Twitter and more.
75
10. The Side Blog
The second of Press75's freebies, The Side Blog is a simple but great looking black and grey blogging layout. With thumbnails in sidebar navigation and page links above the fold, it's professional yet simple.
Side blog
11. Modularity Lite
Graph Paper Press are better known for premium themes, so the high quality of Modularity Lite should come as no surprise. Fully Wordpress 3.0 ready, with widget and menu support, there are built in image cropping tools too.
Modularity lite
12. Neutica
We recommend this popular layout for design conscious bloggers. Striking and modern, you might need to hack the colour scheme to make sure your blog stands out from any other Neutica's around.
Neutica
13. Cleanr
You can't get much cleaner than Cleanr, a simple black and white design with splashes of red. It's great for project blogging and Tumblr style scrapbooking.
Cleanr
14. Neonsential
Combining slick widgets with a clean lines, Neonsential is set to be a popular pick. Stuffed full of useful gadgets like drop down menus, related posts and ad blocks, all you have to do is a bit of tweaking to make it your own.
Neon
15. Color Paper
You'll find lots of scrappy, grungy themes if you look hard enough. Color Paper's the only one that really cuts it. Bonus points: you can download the original Photoshop file, for easier customisation.
Color paper
16. Artarius
Artarius gets the blogging balance right with good looks and useful features. Our favourite; an AJAX powered slideshow of posts at the top of the page.
Artarius
17. Delicate
Delicate's what it's called and delicate is how it looks. With widget support it's easy to customise and Flickr integration makes it a good choice for photography fans.
Delicate
18. The Erudite
If you want your site to be all about the writing, give The Erudite a go. JavaScript powered menus make for a clean reading experience, with clever use of drop caps. It's easy to customise with dashboard settings too.
Erudite
19. Retromania
Retromania's natural textures make it easy on the eye - and the Photoshop source images are available for theme hackers.
Retromania
20. ComicPress
ComicPress gives you the tools to craft a site that places visual imagery up front and centre. Highly configurable, it's the best quality free Wordpress template we know.
Comicpress



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Report: iPad with FaceTime due early 2011
An Apple iPad featuring FaceTime videocalling is due to be released in early 2011, according to reports from Apple's suppliers in Asia.
Display component vendors undergoing validation with Apple right now have revealed that the updated iPad will arrive at some point in the second quarter of 2011, suggesting that we could be seeing iPad 2 arriving at some point in the spring next year.
FaceTime iPad calls
DigiTimes claims that Apple suppliers expect that the updated iPad will arrive by the second quarter of 2011, featuring full FaceTime video-calling compatibility.
DigiTimes goes on to cite TPK Touch Solutions, Wintek, Cando, and Chimei Innolux as suppliers for Apple's next gen ultra-thin touch panels, set to feature reinforced glass.
All display components in testing are for a 9.7-inch screen size, so it seems like we might forget those rumours of a small-screen Apple iPad. At least for now.
FaceTime is already available on the iPhone 4 and the recently-released 4th-gen iPod touch



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London Mayor reveals Tube phone network plans
Boris Johnson, the mayor of London, has revealed more about his plans to kit out the London Underground with a mobile phone signal, announcing that he wants mobile operators to bear all the costs of the installation.
City Hall explained last week that it would not push the cost of getting the Tube mobile-ready to the tax payer, with Johnson preferring that the five big mobile phone operators - Vodafone, Orange, O2, T-Mobile and 3 – would spread the cost of the project.
Modest proposal
Although no solution has been finalised, according to City AM, the Greater London Authority has said that a solution: "remains dependent on the market providing a credible proposal that satisfies both technical and commercial considerations".
According to the Sunday Telegraph, Johnson is hoping to have phone reception installed in the tube network before the 2012 Olympics, something which was also outlined in the Digital Britain report.
Last June, however, it was decided by Transport for London that allowing mobile phones to work underground was not "financially viable".
Considering that there's been a promise of decent air conditioning in carriages for what seems like forever, we are not exactly holding our breath that we will soon be able to phone folks from under the paving slabs of Baker Street any time soon.



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Tough choice in Golden Joysticks' Shooter of the Year
Left 4 Dead, Halo and Call of Duty are amongst the massive names competing in the Golden Joysticks' ITN Game On Shooter of the Year award this year.
The Shooter of the Year has become one of the most sought after awards at the Joysticks – which are run by TechRadar publisher Future.
This year's line-up is particularly strong, buoyed by the presence of gaming megalith Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Xbox's Halo ODST and Valve's Zombie blastathon Left 4 Dead 2.
"The FPS genre is perhaps the most fervently supported of any gaming category," explains the Golden Joysticks' release.
"The soaring sales and continuing popularity of the nominated titles in the ITN Game On Shooter of the Year category proves that whilst video gaming has broadened it's appeal into a mainstream lifestyle pursuit over the last few years, quality shoot 'em ups have grown their popularity in the bedroom and living rooms of the world."
The full list for Shooter of the Year is:
Aliens vs Predator
Battlefield: Bad Company 2
Bioshock 2
Borderlands
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Halo 3: ODST
Left 4 Dead 2
Metro 2033
Metroid Prime Trilogy
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Call of Pripyat
You can vote on this award and much, much more at http://www.goldenjoystick.com.



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WIN! A Powermat wireless charging station for your iPhone
Getting tired of the nightly wired tangle of trying to get some juice into your iPhone? Then check out the Powermat wireless charging system for iPhone, a bundle of a new ultra-slim Powermat 1X charging mat and a receiver for the iPhone 3GS or 3G.
Users can simply drop and charge their iPhone, or other Powermat-enabled gadgets, onto the mat which can sit discreetly on your desk or bed-side table.
Each bundle costs £49.99, and includes the ultra-slim mat with one wireless power access point, allowing users to drop their device down and walk away.
Powermat competition
It uses inductive coupling to transfer energy via a magnetic field from a charging circuit inside the mat to another charging circuit in the receiver which is embedded in, or attached to, the device.
When the mat and the device are in immediate proximity, an RFID "handshake process" will work out if there's a valid connection between the mat and device, and how much power is needed, allowing the transfer to begin. And to keep things nice and green, the Powermat will cease transmission when the phone is full, so you can save polar bears in the process too.
We've got ten of these bundles to give away, which include the iPhone Powermat case for the 3G and 3GS and the Powermat 1X Wireless pad, so if you want to be in with a chance of winning, simply click here to answer this question:
What does RFID stand for?
1. Radeon Fidelty Intuition Delegation
2. Radio Frequency Identification
3. Really Fat Igloo Dweller
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please note that this competition is only open to UK residents over 18 years of age.
There is no cash alternative to the prize and unless agreed otherwise in writing the prize is non-refundable and non transferable.



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Epson showcases ultimate fish screensaver
Epson is touting the first Full HD live broadcast from under the Red Sea, in what could be considered the ultimate screensaver.
Fish have been a screensaver for PCs across the globe for decades, and although Epson's underwater showcase at Photokina is to show off its projectors and not really meant to save screen burn, it's certainly not hard to draw parallels.
At least, that's our stance, and we're sticking to it.
"This exhibit and Full HD live broadcast is a unique opportunity to bring images of the stunning Red Sea to a wider audience," said David Pilsof, producer of the Epson Red Sea event, held in Eilat, Israel
Sharp and colourful
"Sharp and colourful images, created using high-quality Epson projectors, and exciting underwater events will delight visitors and give them an impression of the beauty of underwater nature.
Ido perkal's 2009 photo winner
"That's why we are happy and proud to work with Epson as professional imaging partner."
Interestingly a screen/fishtank hybrid was mooted by sci-fi author Robert Heinlein in his classic Strangers in a Strange Land back in 1961. Fact.
Epson has a long history of conservation projects in the Red Sea, and TechRadar hopes that its latest Photokina showcase helps a worthy cause.
You can see the broadcasts, when they go online, at http://www.eilatredsea.com/?CategoryID=206&ArticleID=228



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Fujifilm FinePix X100: retro compact camera unveiled
Fujifilm has unveiled what may be the nicest-looking compact we have seen all year – the Fujifilm FinePix X100.
Fujifilm has given the X100 a decidedly retro feel, offering up a chassis which emulates the look of a Rangefinder.
But underneath the classic exterior are some pretty meaty features, which point to the higher-end of the compact market.
Inside you get a 12.3MP APS-C CMOS sensor and a newly developed EXR processor, while the lens chosen for this fixed-lens camera is a Fujinon 23mm.
Also on board is a hybrid viewfinder, which combines an optical viewfinder and an electronic viewfinder system, which mirrorless camera systems like the MicroFourThirds range pack.
Fujifilm finepix x100
Other features include: a 2.8-inch rear LCD, hot-shoe connectivity, 200-6400 ISO and 5fps continuous shooting.
The camera supports SD / SDHC / SDXC memory cards and its dimensions are 127x75x54mm. There is also the ability to record 720p movies.
Fujifilm is being a bit of a tease about when we will actually be able to get the camera.
The company has so far only mentioned that UK release date will be early 2011, with no hint whatsoever on pricing.
The camera was unveiled at Photokina 2010, so we are hoping more details are released once the show hits its stride.



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Video: Samsung Cetus i917 revealed in hands-on video
Samsung's upcoming Windows Phone 7 handset – the Samsung Cetus i917 – has been filmed in the hands of a project manager for Microsoft.
The Samsung Cetus is one of those phones which everybody knows about but it hasn't actually been announced in any official capacity.
The footage, part of an internal Microsoft behind-the-scenes video, show off an app on the handset which controls the heating, lighting and garage doors of a house.
According to Windows Phone 7 program manager Charlie Kindel, the smartphone he shows of was been pre-loaded with "a fairly sophisticated home control system which is front-ended with web services, so I have got the ability to control any of the lights in the house, my garage doors…"
Samsung Cetus
The handset he is using to show off the app (and what Windows Phone 7 can do) appears to be the Samsung Cetus i917.
The last time TechRadar got wind of the Cetus was back in July, where some information on its specs popped up.
These revealed that the Cetus has a 4-inch OLED screen, 5MP camera, front-facing camera, GPS and Bluetooth.
There is no UK release date as of yet for the Samsung Cetus but expect more details to appear when Windows Phone 7 officially arrives in October.



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Flip announces new 60fps HD video cameras
Flip has announced a new range of HD video cameras, with the new Flip MinoHD and UltraHD offering budding movie makers and home video enthusiasts improved features and better-quality HD video.
The new Flip MinoHD and UltraHD cameras still offer 720p video, just as their predecessors did, but also offer a number of improvements. Namely, you are now able to shoot image-stabilised video at 60 frames per second (fps).
Flip has launched four new cameras— the 8GB and 4GB UltraHDs ($199 and $149 in the US, UK pricing to follow shortly) and 8GB and 4GB MinoHDs ($229 and $179 in the US, UK pricing soon).
Flip UltraHD, MinoHD
"Cisco's Flip Video, the world's leader in shoot-and share video cameras, today rolled out an exciting all-new line up of affordable UltraHD and MinoHD video cameras with a host of compelling features: signature Flip Video simplicity; innovative enhanced HD video quality with always-on image stabilisation, expanded product personalisation options; and more ways to share video using pre-loaded FlipShare software," reads the US press release.
"Flip also announced today Designed for Flip, a new program offering fun accessories from a wide range of partners that include everything from wide angle lenses and external microphones to battery chargers and a portable projector."
Other than the cheapest 4GB Ultra HD, all the other new Flip models have new sensors that shoot 720p video at 60fps with image stabilisation. Which basically means no more 'shaky-cam' footage of your hols or your favourite festivals and gigs and the like.
Faster, more stable
In addition to faster, more stable footage, the other main new feature found on the new Flip UltraHDs is the FlipPort, which lets you attach various proprietary Flip accessories, which we expect to hear more about in the next few months.
We expect to see new accessories such as external mics, lapel mics, battery-boosting packs, projector add-ons, waterproof cases, wide-angle lenses and more soon. Stay tuned for more details on those as and when we get them.



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In Depth: Best Android phone 2010: which should you buy?
The recent massive successes of Google's mobile platform are due in quite large part to the vast array of Android-powered handsets thrown out there by the smartphone makers, who have squeezed the open source operating system into a wide range of smartphones.

HTC makes loads of them, Samsung makes loads more of them and LG has a stack in the pipeline - and the mobile networks are sticking their logos over cheaper imports from the likes of Huawei and ZTE to add to the Android handset frenzy.
Android phones can be picked up SIM-free from around £80 these days with prices topping out above the £500 mark for power models with screens bigger than your granddad's TV set, while monthly tariffs vary wildly between £15 and £35.
But which one do you need? Allow us to round up the best Android phones for each budget and sector, from pocket-money spares for the kids to the flashiest piece for all you "prosumers" out there.
Best Android phone for price: Samsung Galaxy Apollo
There are cheaper phones out there in the shape of the Vodafone 845 and several Huawei and ZTE models, but you really need a capacitive touchscreen to get the most from Android. Which is what you get in the Samsung Galaxy Apollo, along with Android 2.1 and a choice between Samsung's Touchwiz user interface and an Orange skin. A great, fast phone - for "free" on £20 contracts.
Samsung galaxy apollo
Best Android phone for portability: Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Mini Pro
The X10 Mini was a great, tiny phone - then came the X10 Mini Pro. Equally small, but with a QWERTY keyboard sliding out from underneath. The core Android experience may be the slightly ageing Android 1.6 meaning a few apps won't work here, but Sony Ericsson's user interface makes great use of the tiny 2.5" screen - and an Android 2.1 update is on the way soon.
Z10 mini pro
Best Android phone for nerds: Google Nexus One
If you're seriously into Android, you simply have to own Google's own-brand Nexus One. The hardware is much the same as that of the HTC Desire, plus an extra noise-cancelling mic to help improve audio quality. But it's not about that - you need the Nexus One as it offers the unbranded vanilla Android experience. The first phone to bring its users Android 2.2, Nexus One owners will always be one step ahead of the masses.
Nexus one
Best Android phone for media and photography: Sony Ericsson Xperia X10
The mammoth Xperia X10 Android phone has had a few problems with software glitches, poor battery life and is still powered by Android 1.6 - but there's no better Android phone out there today for photo use. The 8 megapixel camera with LED flash and autofocus takes great shots, with video emerging equally sharp and smooth. If you have a bag or pocket big enough to house it, the X10's a great media phone.
Xperia x10
Best pay as you go Android phone: T-Mobile Pulse
The T-Mobile Pulse has been around since 2009, and for good reason. The Huawei-made handset features a capacitive touchscreen, which is unheard of at this super-budget end of the market, plus T-Mobile has recently upgraded the phone's OS to Android 2.1. And you can currently get this from T-Mobile for £99. An ideal spare/replacement for the accident prone smartphone fan.
Tmobile pulse
Best Android phone for productivity: Motorola Milestone
There's not much in the way of serious business phones in the Android sector right now, so if you're planning on doing a lot of typing and pretending you're working, the slab-like Motorola Milestone is the only option for QWERTY fans. Motorola's updated the thing to Android 2.1, plus 2.2 is on the cards for later in 2010. Until HTC's QWERTY-packing HTC Desire Z arrives, this is the best thing for text-heavy work.
Motorola milestone
Best Android phone overall: HTC Desire
It's nearly six months old, which is about a million in mobile phone years - yet the HTC Desire remains the best Android phone of all. All UK networks are in the process of upgrading it to Android 2.2, so even launch original models are right on the cutting-edge.
HTC had to swap the Desire's original 3.7" AMOLED screen for a Super LCD model due to manufacturing shortages, but it's still a dazzling phone - and Android 2.2 adds the ability to shoot video in 720p HD. It's actually getting better with age.
HTC desire
NB: While we've had hands-on time with the recently announced HTC Desire HD and HTC Desire Z, we're yet to put them through their paces in full, in-depth reviews, so these handsets haven't been included in this article.




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Review: Samsung N230
Over the past two years, Samsung has established itself as a major player in the netbook market, releasing a range of high-quality mini-laptops to great acclaim. The N230 is its latest effort and aims to provide a staggering 14-hours of mobility.
While it falls slightly short of its target, it is nevertheless an excellent device for the frequent traveller. Ample mobility is provided by a large six cell battery.
While running a range of office and multimedia applications concurrently, we were able to keep working for more than ten hours with ease. While this falls short of the promised 14-hours, it is an impressive result nonetheless.
With the battery protruding 9mm from the base of the chassis, the keyboard is raised at an angle towards the user, making for a more comfortable typing angle.
The keyboard is designed using the popular isolation-style, with each key cut through an individual hole in the chassis' top panel. Ample space is provided between each key and all keys move with a firm and responsive typing action.
Ample protection
This quality is continued across the rest of the 1.2kg chassis. The resilient matt-black plastics and brushed-metal finish used on the interior provide ample protection for the internal components, although the glossy lid is prone to scratches.
Adding to the Samsung's travel usability is the use of a matt finish on the 10.1-inch screen. Eliminating distracting reflections, it is easy to enjoy maximum visibility in all lighting conditions. The downside is that images are less vibrant than we would like.
In terms of performance, the N230 is no different from most other netbooks on the market. The Intel Atom processor provides limited power and is only suitable for basic office use and browsing the internet.
In short, this is a machine intended for content consumption rather than creation. With that in mind, the 250GB of hard drive storage provides ample space for carrying all your photos and music with you as you travel.
As with most netbooks, there is no integrated CD/DVD drive, but a 4-in-1 card reader allows access to popular digital storage card formats.
For high-speed internet access, 802.11n Wi-Fi lets you wirelessly connect to hotspots when at home or on the move. Fixed networks can also be joined via a 10/100 Ethernet port. An integrated camera rounds out the features.
While the N230 falls short of its promised 14-hour battery life, there's no denying the quality on offer. With more than ten hours of mobility, a great keyboard and an equally usable screen, this is a fantastic netbook for the frequent traveller and one that's very easy to recommend.
Related Links

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Asus unveils Crosshair IV Extreme Mobo
Asus has unveiled the new Crosshair IV Extreme Republic of Gamers motherboard boasting AMD's 890FX chipset including a 'slew of user friendly overclocking features'.
The CrossLinx 3 technology on the AMD board offers the ability to use graphics cards from different vendors and generations.
"With CrossLinx 3 technology, Crosshair IV Extreme users gain the ability to mix and match multiple graphics cards from both Nvidia and ATI, including models of different GPU generations," explains Asus.
LucidHYDRALOGIX engine
"This technology uses the LucidHYDRALOGIX engine, which bridges various graphics cards to enable their simultaneous usage.
"By removing compatibility hurdles, CrossLinx 3 makes it possible to experiment with different configurations of graphics cards for maximum performance."
The layout has five PCI express expansion slots with two for native graphics cards either on their own or in CrossFire configuration and three that can take a range of other options – it all sounds like immense fun.
The Crossfire IV Extreme also offers RC Bluetooth, ROG iDirect and ROG Connect, 6 SATA 6Gb ports, 2 SATA 3GB ports and two external SATA 3Gb ports along with Intel Gigabit LAN and support for up to 16GB of DDR3 RAM.



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Review: MSI GX660R
MSi is a Taiwanese component manufacturer that also produces laptops. The GX660R is the company's latest gaming machine and, apart from a slightly suspect keyboard, this is a great laptop that boasts serious performance, great sound and useful features at a competitive price.
In keeping with its gaming credentials, the laptop features a garish design. The angular lines and fully customisable orange LED lights dotted around the chassis won't suit everyone, but will appeal to those who like their laptop to stand out.
Build quality is excellent and the tough materials make this a laptop that will comfortably survive rigorous gaming use. Weighing in at 3.5kg, this is a surprisingly light gaming laptop and, while not spectacular, the 118-minute battery life isn't shocking for a machine this powerful.
Spongy keyboard
One slight disappointment is the spongy keyboard. You can feel it flexing beneath your fingers as you type, which is disconcerting, and it isn't as responsive as we would like. However, it is comfortable to use and you might not mind the action.
The 15.6-inch screen offers a full high-definition (HD) 1920 x 1080-pixel resolution and is both detailed and bright. Test images proved crisp and clear, and Blu-ray discs (played on the integrated Blu-ray optical drive) and photos look fantastic.
As expected, the quad-core Intel Core i7 processor (combined with 8192MB of DDR3 memory) provides formidable everyday performance, and you'll have no problems running multimedia-heavy applications, such as music or high-definition video editing software when not gaming.
The laptop also features MSI's Turbo Drive Engine which, when activated by a hotkey, overclocks the processor over its own Turbo Boost speed, giving a 4.8 per cent increase in power when you need it.
Graphically the laptop is extremely capable. The ATi graphics card despatched our benchmarking software ruthlessly and you'll have no problems running the latest games with the settings turned up.
Audio specialist Dynaudio has built the laptop's speaker system and sound quality is actually very impressive – easily beating all other 15-inch laptops we've reviewed.
A fan booster button lets you instantly set the cooling system to maximum, successfully drawing heat away from the palmrest, which remained at a cool temperature during all our testing.
Two USB 3.0 ports provide extremely fast data transfer rates to external devices.
The MSI GX660R proves to be a very competent gaming machine with a raft of excellent features at a very sensible price. All in all, this laptop comes highly recommended.
Related Links



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We7 launches app for Android handsets
UK music streaming service We7 is launching an application for Android, and offering a two-week trial of the full version to lure people in.
With the likes of Spotify stealing much of the attention, We7 is keen to push its new app, which will work on Android handsets and offers unlimited streaming.
The mobile service is only available to people on the Premium Plus subscription of a penny under £10 a month, but does allow favourite content to be cached so that no internet connection is needed.
People can trial the service for two weeks through the app, but will then need to pay out if they want to continue to use it.
Access love
"We love giving people access to their favourite music and enabling them to consume it, wherever and however they want it, said Steve Purdham, we7 CEO
"The new Android app version continues to extend our mobile strategy."
"We know that many consumers have been frustrated with mobile music apps in the past, generally, they download 'free apps' but cannot play songs without paying for a subscription.
"We wanted to resolve this, that's why we've included the free trial so users can sign up and immediately play music.
"Users just need to go to The Android Marketplace and download it, we're confident that they'll love it!"
The Android version has apparently been greatly changed form the iPhone app, and includes a new user interface, offline mode, haptic feedback support and personal online playlists.

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We7 launches app for Android handsets
UK music streaming service We7 is launching an application for Android, and offering a two-week trial of the full version to lure people in.
With the likes of Spotify stealing much of the attention, We7 is keen to push its new app, which will work on Android handsets and offers unlimited streaming.
The mobile service is only available to people on the Premium Plus subscription of a penny under £10 a month, but does allow favourite content to be cached so that no internet connection is needed.
People can trial the service for two weeks through the app, but will then need to pay out if they want to continue to use it.
Access love
"We love giving people access to their favourite music and enabling them to consume it, wherever and however they want it, said Steve Purdham, we7 CEO
"The new Android app version continues to extend our mobile strategy."
"We know that many consumers have been frustrated with mobile music apps in the past, generally, they download 'free apps' but cannot play songs without paying for a subscription.
"We wanted to resolve this, that's why we've included the free trial so users can sign up and immediately play music.
"Users just need to go to The Android Marketplace and download it, we're confident that they'll love it!"
The Android version has apparently been greatly changed form the iPhone app, and includes a new user interface, offline mode, haptic feedback support and personal online playlists.



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London to host Internet Week Europe in November
London will host the inaugural Internet Week Europe in November, with a host of the web's best known brands involved in a seven day celebration sponsored by Yahoo.
Internet Week has proven to be a success in the US, where the New York celebration has been running for three years.
And now the organiser David-Michael Davies along with Nicolas Roope and Nick Farnhill are keen to bring the event to Europe.
London calling
"We started in New York because we really just wanted to bring the industry to life and found – because it's New York – that we got national interest, people coming from all over the country and having events in the city," Davies told the Guardian. "Now we want to bring people to London.
"We felt we wanted to engage the entire European industry and London is a similar city to New York in that every internet company has an outpost there or travels through there.
"It's a big, big benefit to the city here in New York. The community comes together to help programme everything and it really is part of the story of the resurgence of the tech industy here in New York."
Internet Week Europe will run from 8-12 November, and more details on the events are expected to trickle out until those dates.



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Facebook denies plans to develop a mobile phone
Facebook has denied rumours that it is planning on developing mobile phone hardware in the future, although has confirmed that it is pushing deeper into the mobile space.
The initial rumour of a 'Facebook phone' came from TechCrunch, with the website claiming that it has sources close to a Facebook project that claim the company is working with an unnamed third party to build mobile hardware.
Facebook already has a number of smartphone apps, with plans to develop those already available and release more in the near future.
Jaime Schopflin, a spokesman for Facebook, said in no uncertain terms that the company "is not building a phone."
Deeper integration with mobile
Schopflin added that Facebook's current projects included "deeper integrations with some [mobile] manufacturers," adding:
"Our view is that almost all experiences would be better if they were social, so integrating deeply into existing platforms and operating systems is a good way to enable this.
"The bottom line is that whenever we work on a deep integration, people want to call it a 'Facebook Phone' because that's such an attractive soundbite, but building phones is just not what we do," Schopflin added.



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Sony PlayStation Move tear-down report
Sony's PlayStation Move motion-controller is finally available for gamers in the UK, with iFixit doing the requisite tear-down to let us all know exactly what tech and components are inside Sony's new game controller.
And while iFixit notes that is is relatively easy to take apart the PS Move controller and then reassemble it, we really would not advise that you try this at home!
Wand, gyroscope, accelerometer
PlayStation Move is made up of a light wand with seven buttons, a compass, a gyroscope, an accelerometer, and a vibrator motor.
Sony has also provided the necessary safety strap, to ensure there are no broken windows or TV screens due to Move controllers being flung across the room by accident.
Sony also ships the PlayStation Eye camera along with the new Move controller, which is exactly the same tech the company has been selling since October 2007.
Reliability score
iFixit awards Move an 8 out of 10 Repairability score (10 being easiest to repair), although we of course hope that Sony is not going to have to repair too many of these things in the near future.
"All one needs to do is remove a few Phillips screws to pop it open," notes iFixit.
"Inside we found other easily replaceable components: the battery can be removed by unplugging its connector, and the trigger comes out as one unit. It looks like you may not have to toss your $50 controller in the trash if it runs out of juice."
Some of the highlights of the Move teardown include details on how the PlayStation Move is able to locate the motion controller in 3D space (unlike the Wii), as the PlayStation Eye camera "visually recognizes the X/Y position as well as the relative size of the glowing sphere on the motion controller to pinpoint the controller's location."
PlayStation Move also "contains many of components found in today's smartphones: a processor, accelerometer, gyroscope, Bluetooth transmitter, vibrating motor, and even a MEMS compass," notes iFixit, adding that: "It's an amazing amount of tech for the money."
The battery in Move lists a minimum capacity of 1320 mAh at 3.7 Volts and "gets brownie points for being able to be disconnected from the Move without any soldering. Just unplug the connector and plug the new one in."
You can see the full teardown over at www.ifixit.com/Teardown/PlayStation-Move-Teardown



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T-Mobile HTC Desire Android 2.2 update lands
If you're a T-Mobile customer with an HTC Desire, then your Android 2.2 update time has come.
Go to Settings > About Phone > System Softtware Updates > Check Now, and you should get a message to let you know that Android 2.2 is ready to download.
It's a 90.93MB update so you might want to do it over your Wi-Fi connection.
Wondering about Android 2.2 features and whether you should bother? For starters, it's faster. And it has better HTML 5 support. And it allows you to use your phone as Wi-Fi hotspot.
To help you get up to speed with your new OS, check out our 20 handy Android 2.2 tips and tricks.



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T-Mobile HTC Desire Android 2.2 update lands
If you're a T-Mobile customer with an HTC Desire, then your Android 2.2 update time has come.
Go to Settings > About Phone > System Softtware Updates > Check Now, and you should get a message to let you know that Android 2.2 is ready to download.
It's a 90.93MB update so you might want to do it over your Wi-Fi connection.
Wondering about Android 2.2 features and whether you should bother? For starters, it's faster. And it has better HTML 5 support. And it allows you to use your phone as Wi-Fi hotspot.
To help you get up to speed with your new OS, check out our 20 handy Android 2.2 tips and tricks.



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