Friday Morning Roundup
The latest happenings from around the web - April 22nd, 2011
Motherboard
- Foxconn P67A-S Motherboard @ ixbtlabs
- Gigabyte X58-OC Preview @ Overclock3D
- ASUS Rampage III Formula Intel X58 Motherboard @ ThinkComputers
- ASRock Fatal1ty P67 Professional Motherboard @ Madshrimps
- Asus P8P67 Deluxe Motherboard (B3) Review (QuadFireX @ 4.8ghz) @ Kitguru
- ASRock E350M1 AMD Fusion APU Motherboard @ Pro-Clockers
- ASUS Sabertooth P67 - B3 Revision Motherboard @ Hardware Heaven
- ECS P67H2-A2 @ Phoronix
Video/Monitor
- MSI R6970 Lightning @ Vortez.net
- Asus DirectCU NVIDIA & AMD Graphics Card Round-Up @ Hot Hardware
- Sapphire Radeon HD 6670 @ Neoseeker
- PowerColor LCS HD6970 @ Overclock3D
Audio/Media
- Plantronics Gamecom 777 Gaming Headset @ eteknix
- Razer Ferox portable speakers @ LANOC
- Corsair HS1A Gaming Headset @ Techreaction
Cases/Modding/PSU
- OCZ ZX Series 1250 W @ Techpowerup
- Cubitek Mini Tank Case @ XSReviews
- Xigmatek Elysium Super Tower Chassis @ Modders-inc.
Cooling
- Be Quiet Dark Rock Pro Cooler @ HT4U
- Noctua NH-C14 CPU Cooler @ Techpowerup
Storage
- Thecus N4200 Pro Four Bay NAS @ Tweaknews
- Netgear ReadyNAS Ultra 2 Plus Network Storage Server @ Legit Reviews
- OCZ Vertex 3 240GB @ Kitguru
- OCZ Vertex 2 160GB 25nm SSD @ Aphnetworks
- Crucial m4 Solid State Drive Tests @ Benchmark Reviews
- Cubitek Magic Cube 8HDD @ Overclockers Club
- OCZ Vertex 2 (E) 120 GB Solid State Drive @ Techarp
Other
- Ripjaws X, G-Skill is back to the Farm @ Cowcotland
- XTRACPADS Logic mouse pad @ Overclockers Club
- Cyberlink PowerDVD 11 Blu-ray Software Review @ MissingRemote
- Enercell Portable Power Bank for iPod and iPhone @ Techwarelabs
- Genius Pen Mouse @ Hardware Secrets
- Roccat Kova+ Max Performance Gaming Mouse @ RWLabs
- Logitech Performance Mouse MX @ Techgage
- Epson WorkForce 840 Inkjet Printer @ Techwarelabs
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Microsoft and Sony looking at 2014 for new consoles, continue to milk the current consoles (and their customers) in the meantime
Looks like current rumbles are right, Microsoft and Sony will continue to milk the current generation of consoles for another few years at least - even though they're at the boundaries of what games can offer. Both companies are waiting the fight out and looking to Nintendo for the launch of their next machine by the end of next year. An insider who has worked with the first-party companies like Sony and Microsoft has said:
Both MS and Sony are telegraphing to each other that they're delaying, to milk the current [generation] and fill in previous craters better.
Industry analyst Billy Pidgeon from M2 Research has said that he thinks there will be a game of chicken between Sony and Microsoft. He goes on to say:
Sony definitely isn't launching a successor before 2014 and could stand to benefit by having Microsoft launch first as PS3 builds in to North America and builds a strong position in Europe. Microsoft claims there's a lot more room in Xbox 360 for developers to max out, but here PS3 could have a strong advantage.
Michael Pachter of Wedbush Securities has said another reason the delay for the next-gen consoles is the slow recovery of the North American economy, saying:I don't think either Sony or Microsoft are interested in a new console till they can advance the technology, and they certainly don't want to launch at a $600 price point. It may take till 2014 to get 2TB hard drives, uber fast CPUs and state-of-the art graphics and sell at $400.
Even though during this recession gaming has not really been affected, we've seen some mammoth sales from virtually all big games and the latest Call of Duty being $1 billion revenue monsters. I also find it funny that people think a $600 price point is out of the question, where people will pay $1000 (in Australia at least - outright I might add) for the latest iPhone in which they really just use for Facebook, phone calls and SMS.Now people are theorising that because the Wii was such a success for Nintendo that graphics and next-gen games and a fresh beginning in next-gen games is not important, as long as it sells and it sells well, that's the most important thing. I guess we should get Michael Bay to come in as an advisor now then? Sheesh.
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Microsoft patent apps that let you buy things, grabs Apple by the balls and says "who's your daddy?"
Some very interesting news has just popped up on my RSS feed, Microsoft back in 2004 (you know, before all the cool Interent, App purchases, iPhones, Androids and everything that makes out lives better) filed a patent application for what is claimed "a way to make purchases through a network-connected portal with a 'streamlined interface'". It pretty much targets eBookstore Apps (Kindle, Kobo, etc) as well as magazine and newspaper apps such as NYTimes and WSJ. Not only that, it covers retail apps like Amazon and any streaming content apps like Pandora or Audible.
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Update: Online Poker Flops On The River With $3 Billion, 65 year indictment
Last week the US Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation indicted 11 defendants involved in American Online Poker sites.
In other news, the American Congress might just make online gambling completely legal- or illegal. Only the next few months will tell.
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The Dream Of Google's Groupon Clone Will Be Alive In Portland
Damn. I guess this is what happens when you turn down a $6 billion bid from the most successful search engine in the country. Google had announced it will be deploying it's thinly-masked Groupon competitor, dubbed "Google Offers", starting in Portland, Oregon.
Google revealed the service back in January of this year, but you can now sign up at a page that claims it will begin to notify you of deals that offer, minimum, 50% off or more at local businesses. And unlike Groupon, these deals will not, I repeat, not require a minimum number of people to register in order to get the offered deal.
Google has a Help Page to answer basic questions, but little is really known regarding the logistics of the service. I'll put my money on "email-based", but that's really just a shot in the dar.
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Team Group upgrades after service to win consumers’ heart
Warranty extended to 3 years for all portable hard drive products and two SSDs
Team Group Inc. has won heated support and recognition from consumers for its comprehensive after-sales service. In hopes to enhance global customer satisfaction and demonstrate its determination for sustainable operations, Team Group announced with immediate effect to extend the warranty from 2 years to 3 years for its portable hard drive products and two SSD products, the Xtreem S1 and Combo C2 Elite. This new policy applies to both new products and products that have been sold, and all consumers can enjoy the thoughtful services come with the extended warranty.
Furthermore, Team Group will continue its acclaimed thoughtful policy for Taiwanese consumers. If consumers ship back a Team Group product to its headquarters for maintenance or repair, they will receive NT$30 postage to subsidize their expenditure when the product is returned. Also, consumers may directly bring their products to the Xander and Weikeng service stations in Taiwan for convenient after-sales service. Please call the Team Group customer service hotline at 0800-821688 for details of the new warranty policy.
As a leading provider of memory storage products to the consumer market, Team Group is committed to providing the best storage, multimedia and data sharing solutions. All Team memory module products come with a lifetime warranty, repair and replacement services. For more information, please visit the Team website at www.teamgroup.com.tw.
About Team Group
Team Group Inc. is a manufacturer of computer products and consumer electronics, established in Taipei, Taiwan in 1997. We manufacture and distribute high quality Memory modules, Memory cards, USB disks, SSD and Portable Hard Drives. Team Group is recognized as one of the leading memory products and consumer electronics manufacturers in the industry. We cover most business regions in the world. Team provides the highest quality products to customers in volume with competitive prices and the best possible after services. Through many years of the close and direct relationships with the leading manufacturers and OEMs, we are able to provide various products even during the shortage and allocation periods. As we continue to grow, we are committed to supporting our customers with superior products, first class service and excellent business growth.
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Razer Introduces Hydra Motion-Sensing Game Controller
Razer, the world's leading high-end precision gaming brand announces the Razer Hydra, the world's first gaming-grade motion sensing controllers powered by Sixense, built to draw you deeper into your PC games. Razer worked closely with Valve and Sixense to create exclusive Portal 2 content to showcase the power of the Razer Hydra in enhancing game immersion. Portal 2 is the highly anticipated sequel to 2007's game of the year. The full version of the game plus the exclusive Portal 2 content will be available in a special edition bundle with the Razer Hydra.
"The Razer Hydra is a significant step forward for the PC gaming industry because it not only affords an almost-physical experience for gamers, but also presents developers an opportunity to innovate and significantly push the boundaries on new forms of gameplay and entertainment," said Gabe Newell, co-founder and president of Valve.
"We are excited to finally bring full motion control to the PC," said Min-Liang Tan, CEO and Creative Director, Razer. "Gamers will be blown away by the pinpoint tracking precision that mirrors every move in-game. They'll also enjoy the exclusive new Portal 2 content created specifically for the Razer Hydra, giving them more bang for their buck."
On top of Portal 2, the Razer Hydra is optimized with over 125 popular PC games out of the box, including titles like Left 4 Dead 2 and World of Goo. Gamers no longer have to wait for scarce motion-compatible games. With the future possibility for more downloadable game configurations and the ability to self-configure motion mapping to your specifications, the Razer Hydra plays virtually every game.
"By working with Razer and Valve, we have established the PC as the best platform for motion gaming," says Amir Rubin, CEO, Sixense. "We developed and optimized 6 Sixense TrueMotion levels for Portal 2 to allow gamers to fully experience the possibilities of motion gaming. Definitely an exciting time to be a PC gamer."
About the Razer Hydra Motion Sensing Controllers
The Razer Hydra is the first gaming-grade motion sensing controllers to bring a whole new dimension of gameplay and immersion to the PC. With compatibility for over 125 games out of the box, and future support for gamers to self-configure controls for any PC game, the entertainment possibilities are virtually endless. Built to deliver location-orientation tracking exact to the millimeter and degree, along with Razer's trademark ultra-low latency, the precision and speed of the Razer Hydra is unrivalled among its kind.
About the Razer Hydra and Portal 2 Bundle
The Razer Hydra is the first gaming-grade motion sensing controllers to bring a whole new dimension of gameplay and immersion to Portal 2. Shoot portals, throw the Weighted Companion Cube, and avoid death traps as easily and intuitively as eating cake. The Razer Hydra is bundled exclusively with the game and comes with six additional levels specifically designed for more portal testing fun with motion control.
Price: Razer Hydra and Portal 2 bundle: US$139.99 / EU€139.99
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Shuttle Announces New Freely Configurable Mini-PC Barebone
Shuttle Computer Handels GmbH, the European subsidiary of Shuttle Inc., one of the leading developers and manufacturers of compact PC solutions such as the world-renowned XPC Mini-PC Barebones, has announced delivery of the new SG41J4. "The front panel of this model can easily be modified by the owner, allowing customisation using photos, logos or information," according to Tom Seiffert, Head of Marketing & PR at Shuttle Computer Handels GmbH. "The creative opportunities are boundless."
The SG41J4 is suitable for Intel Core 2 processors with 1333 MHz FSB and uses the proven Intel G41 Express chipset. Its two memory banks can take DDR3 modules with a total capacity of 8 GB (2x 4 GB). The compact case is able to accommodate an optical 5.25" drive and up to two 3.5" drives. A PCIe-x16 slot can be fitted with dual-slot graphics cards. Alternatively, a PCI slot (32 bit) is available for other expansion cards. If the PCIe-x16 slot is not used, the SG41J4 can operate with the GMA X4500 graphics integrated in the chipset. A digital DVI-D output and an analog VGA output are able to manage up to two monitors.
Furthermore, the SG41J4 sports an array of connectors such as 2x USB at the front as well as 6x USB 2.0, 5.1 audio, PS/2 and Gigabit network ports at the rear. In addition, a serial and a parallel interface can be added with the optional J-RS232 accessory unit.
The 32.5 x 21.5 x 19 cm (DWH) ultra-compact XPC Barebone SG41J4 can be cooled with Intel Boxed CPU coolers or with the optionally available PM65 heatpipe. Its new 250 W power supply unit now has a larger fan which easily copes with more powerful hardware.
A short product video on YouTube shows different views of the product and simple instructions on how to customise the front panel: http://youtu.be/Zgep4bB3npU
Shuttle's recommended retail price for the XPC Barebone SG41J4 is EUR 146.00 (ex VAT). For more information, visit the product page.
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Zowie Announces New MiCO Gaming Mouse for RTS Players
There is no one-size fits all for computer gaming peripherals. All gamers are different and we recognize that each and every one of you has different needs and preferences. Therefore it was only a matter of time until we would put our efforts into developing a mouse for competitive RTS gaming. The ZOWIE MiCO is developed for those of you who won't settle for second best - you want the best from your equipment and seek stability in a high quality mouse that you can trust to always perform flawlessly.
Developed together with the Korean powerhouse StarTale, ZOWIE MiCO is a reflection of the experience and expertise of some of the best and most recognized StarCraft 2 players in the world. During the development of the ZOWIE MiCO, we faced three major challenges we had to overcome.
Finding the perfect shape wasn't easy, but we are very proud of the result and consider the shape of ZOWIE MiCO as a true piece of art. It is the result of a very extensive development, where we filmed and photographed the hands of players Ace, Rainbow, Bomber, Squirtle and July while they played, in order to create a mockup of a mouse that was the ideal average of the five players. With the mockup in their hands, we were able to perfect it by making slight changes based on the overall feedback they provided.
Second challenge; the perfect click
One thing that quickly became clear to us was that the feeling of every mouseclick is very important to a professional RTS gamer. StarTale expressed the feeling of the perfect mouseclick to be like this:
- Responsive to easy clicking/light pressure
- Upon clicking, button should only travel a short distance before responding
- Provide a clear, firm clicking, so you can feel all of your clicks
We realized that we had to develop our own switches in order to achieve the performance we wanted. We had samples of various custom switches developed and gave them to StarTale to test. We adjusted the leverage of the buttons bit by bit based on their feedback, finally achieving what they defined as the perfect click, which is what you will be able to feel in the ZOWIE MiCO today.
Third challenge; the best sensor for StarTale
The ZOWIE MiCO was originally planned for release late October 2010 so we could reach the Christmas sales, but it was a challenge finding a sensor which lived up to our requirements of high quality and performance. We felt that we couldn't release a product that we are not 110% committed to, so we postponed the release to give ourselves time to complete the development process and create a product we can be proud of.
StarTales gamers are used to playing with 400 and 800 DPI rates, so this was a key point for the development of the ZOWIE MiCO. Where HeatoN put more importance on the lift-off distance rather than the DPI-rates, StarTale felt that having the exact DPI that they are used to is more important to them as RTS-gamers than the lift-off distance.
After several months of testing and trashing, we are confident that we have finally succeeded in finding a sensor that lives up to our requirements of quality and functionality, performing flawlessly on all types of surfaces, except for paper and glass. With the ZOWIE custom lens we were also able to achieve a lift-off distance of 2,0 mm.
General
The ZOWIE MiCO is a small, lightweight ambidextrous mouse, which is perfect for gamers who demand ultimate performance from their mice and prefer the claw-grip playing style.
There's no software for the ZOWIE MiCO. You just plug it into your computer and you will automatically be playing with 500 Hz and your desired DPI-setting between 400/800/1600 DPI.
As we have said before, we are not afraid to try out new things. ZOWIE's R&D team has a lot of ideas on how to improve products by implementing new features and functions to our products. The latest example of this was the new rubberbase which was developed for the G-TF speed, providing a firm suction to the table, so the mousepad doesn't budge unless you want it to.
Features:
- Ambidextrous competitive gaming mouse, usable with both hands
- Perfect for claw-grip and gamers with small hands
- ZOWIE custom lens; 2mm lift-off distance - works on all surfaces
- Co-developed with professional StarCraft & StarCraft 2 players from Korea
- Lightweight, fast and accurate optical gaming mouse
- No drivers or software! Just plug and play
- Adjustable DPI: 400/800/1600
Specifications:
- Dots Per Inch: 400/800/1600
- Max. Acceleration: up to 30G
- Max. Speed: up to 50 inches/second
- USB report rate: 500Hz
- Length of cable: 1.8m / 5.8 ft
- Weight: 68g (ex. cable)
- Connector: USB
- Buttons: 3
Availability and MSRP
The ZOWIE MiCO will be available to end-users on the 1st of June 2011.
MSRP:
- DKK 299
- EUR 34.90
- USD 34.90
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PowerColor Officially Launches First HD 6850 Single-Slot Graphics Card
TUL Corporation, a leading manufacturer of AMD graphics cards, today announces the first-to-market video card: the PowerColor HD 6850 single slot edition. The first available HD6850 single slot edition aims to fulfill the desire of performance and multi-function seekers when space is a premium.
The PowerColor HD 6850 single slot edition clocks in at 775MHz core speed and 1000MHz memory speed; accelerating gaming speed with 1.48 teraFLOPs of computing Power. The slim HD6850 can maximize the rig's performance in a single slot design, allowing a 4 way CrossFireX layout that delivers an out-of-box HD gaming experience like no other.
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