In Win Buc Review
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OWC Announces Mercury Extreme Pro 6G SSDs
Illinois-based Other World Computing (OWC) today announced its latest 2.5" SSDs as part of the Mercury Extreme Pro 6G series. The new drives are based on the SandForce SF-2281 controller and offer speeds of up to 559MB/s (read) and 515MB/s (write). As the series name suggests, all drives use the SATA 6.0Gbps interface. Other features across the series include 2X-nm MLC NAND Flash memory, TRIM and NCQ support, up to 60,000 IOPS random read and write performance (4kB) and a three-year warranty. The 120GB variant is shipping now for US$319.99. Pre-orders are also available for the larger 240GB and 480GB variants, retailing at US$579.99 and US$1,799.99 respectively.
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iOS and Android Continue to Edge Into Portable Gaming Market
In the world of gaming, you have computers, consoles, handhelds, and mobile phones. You may think that the handhelds by Nintendo and Sony hold the entire portable market, but mobile phones have been slowly creeping into the space. Now, iOS and Android devices have edged even further into the portable gaming market and take up a fairly sizeable chunk. iOS and Android devices account for 34% of the total portable gaming market, the Sony PSP at a mere 9%, and the Nintendo DS at 57% for 2010. In 2009, the Nintendo DS held 70% of the market, the Sony PSP at 11%, and iOS at 19%. Both the dedicated gaming handhelds dropped in 2010, but the mobile phones rose to take up even more of the market. If you're wondering about the big picture for all of gaming, iOS and Android only take up 8% of that, handhelds at 16%, and consoles at 76%. Computers are not tallied into the overall score.
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ESRB Ratings Determined By Robot
Ever since 1994, major retailers as well as game system manufacturers like Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo will not even allow games to be released until they have been given an ESRB rating. As of yesterday, human staff at the ESRB are no longer tasked with analyzing the new game content. A computer algorithm programmed to search for commonly accepted social norms will automatically render its verdict on a suitable rating based on a standardized questionnaire. Inappropriate language will be broken down into 6 different levels of intensity. Sexual content will be treated much like it has been, judged on its frequency during the game and how much of the human body is portrayed in the nude. In addition to the questionnaire, developers will submit a DVD of all the worst situations present in its title. No actual gameplay will be reviewed until after the game has been released to the public. The ESRB is confident the new system will work well and small post-release assessments will be all that is necessary to ensure accurate ratings.
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Vonage Announces New Plan
Wireless phones seem to be making the home phone market slimmer and slimmer as the years go on as prices continue to drop through various carriers. Some VoIP companies are still around however and Vonage is one of the major entities, trying to make a comeback into the market. They have just announced their most recent plan, dubbed the World Premium Unlimited, which features unlimited calling to mobile phones across forty-two countries and eighty landlines for a mere fifty-five dollars a month. Unlimited long distance to the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico is included with the plan but, sadly, it requires the use of a touch tone phone and the use of a Vonage adapter as well in order to make calls to Brazil, Mexico, and the United Kingdom. Though not the most robust phone plan available, it is a interesting plan for many people who are using VoIP solutions as of right now.
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Google Maps Allows User Contribution
Google has released an extension of its online Google Maps that will allow users to add new places to the database. Google Maps is available in 183 countries worldwide, but not all of the maps are detailed enough in some of the more remote areas. By allowing the average user to pitch in, some of the sections with less coverage may be improved from any of the residents with an Internet connection. Well supported areas also seek to benefit since the local populace will be able to improve directions or the accuracy of different landmarks in their city. The editor will even allow users to input such things as where parks are or even where individual dormitories may be on a college campus. Google will be adding a lot of verification for the new information, like checking accuracy, and will reward users who contribute a lot of good information with more privileges and even the ability to undo or change another user's input. In addition, Google will include Map Maker Pulse, which will allow users to watch the maps bear new updated information in real time.
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G.Skill Announces Fastest 8GB Memory Kit
G.Skill has announced the upcoming release of an addition to its Ripjaws-X series of desktop memory. The new set will provide the fastest kit of 2x4GB modules on the market. The modules will run at 2300MHz CL9, and will require just 1.65V. G.Skill has put the memory through some rigorous testing, and claims that it will provide the best in stability and performance. According to senior R&D Manager Michael Chao, this memory will "broaden your choices for building up an extreme performance workstation and a gaming machine."
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Alienware Goes Official with the M18x, M14x, and M11x R3 Laptops
Alienware's M14x laptop was leaked a little while back and today the company has finally come clean as Alienware has announced two new laptops and a revision for a current one. The new laptops are the M18x, the M14x, and the M11x R3, with sizes of 18", 14" and 11", respectively. All three feature Intel Sandy Bridge processors and NVIDIA Optimus technology, as well as slightly tweaked cases and the M14x and M18x even feature WirelessHD technology to display video on your big screen TV. All three laptops feature HDMI 1.4a output and USB 3.0 connections. The M11x R3 and M14x are available now from the Alienware website while the M18x will launch later in May. The M11x finally gets a Sandy Bridge upgrade and an NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M powering the 1366x768 resolution LED screen. You can have up to 16GB of DDR3 RAM in the M11x, plus there is optional Intel WiMAX technology to get you connected to the Internet wherever you may be.
The M14x also features an Intel Sandy Bridge processor, either a dual-core or quad-core model, up to 8GB of DDR3 RAM, an NVIDIA GeForce GT 555M GPU with up to 3GB of VRAM, and either a 1366x768 or 1600x900 resolution LED screen. NVIDIA Optimus technology is on board to switch between the discrete or integrated GPU, plus Intel WiMAX technology is included. The M14x weighs in at 6.5 pounds so it should still be light enough to take with on trips. The M18x is the new flagship laptop and it definitely shows when you look at its specifications. There is a quad-core Intel Core i7 Extreme processor capable of speeds up to 4GHz, dual AMD or NVIDIA GPUs, up to 32GB of DDR3 RAM, and an 18.4" 1080p LED screen. There are both HDMI and DisplayPort outputs, as well as an HDMI input for connecting a game console to take advantage of the 1080p display. You can even play games in 3D on the M18x, though I don't recommend taking it with you as it weighs in at a staggering 16 pounds.
The Alienware M11x R3 and M14x are available now for $999 and $1,199, respectively. The M18x will be available in May though no price was mentioned.
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Samsung and Seagate Join Forces After HDD Buyout
Samsung and Seagate have joined forces after Samsung sold the hard disk drive-manufacturing wing to Seagate. Seagate bought Samsung's HDD business for $1.375 billion in equal amounts of cash and stock. Samsung now holds 9.6 percent of Seagate's shares and will have the ability to vote on Seagate's Board of Directors. Due to all these events, Samsung and Seagate will start cross-licensing devices. Seagate will also begin furnishing Samsung's PCs and other electronics with hard disk storage devices. With this new alliance Seagate hopes to improve its relationship with TDK Corporation/SAE Magnetics and by doing this should allow for all companies to boost the time-to-market on new products. You should expect to see these changes in full effect by the end of this year.
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