IT-Code-News: IT News HeadLines (TweakTown) 07/04/2011

iPhone 4 May Be Stalking Users

If you're part of a small group of affected users, your iPhone might be using the rear-facing camera to snap pictures of you without your knowledge. Wired reports. According to some recent posts on Apple's Support Forum, users have been complaining about an unusually observant iPhone 4 Facetime feature. User MrGQ posted the following:

This is very weird. I am experiencing the exact same issue recently. Most notably just minutes ago when i called my GF and i saw a "picture" of myself from today when i was at the office. I know it was from today because i had the exact same shirt. The weirdest thing is that picture is not stored on my iphone. Anyone else experiencing this?

I tried using my iPhone, much to my chagrin/relief there was no such error. I have to say, ever since the debut of pre-installed webcams, I've wondered if one day I won't notice that green light flashing on my MacBook, even though I'm not running Skype or PhotoBooth. I wonder sometimes how difficult that would be to hack into- my friends and I used to play around with Trojan Horse programs on each other's computers back in the 90's that would let us turn the monitor on and off and eject the CD-ROM drive (amongst other things); I can't imagine that similar viruses or coding couldn't handle turning the webcam on and off.
Just remember to close your laptop and cover your iPhone with a sock or something the next time you change, or shower. Also, you know how you play iPhone 4 games at any idle moment? Like, when you're on the john? Might want to stick to crossword puzzles from now on. Just sayin'.

GameStop Launches Digital Facebook Store

This morning, GameStop launched a massive digital retail store on their Facebook Fan Page. The store was developed by Adgregate Markets, a Sausalito, CA based startup that has already designed and built around 50 other digital Facebook stores. This seems like a natural move for Gamestop as they already have around 1.8 million likes on their fan page. Facebook stores utilize an already-present consumer market, as those same fans will receive promotions and marketing incentives on their respective Facebook Newsfeeds. Selling merchandise on Facebook also allows users to do things like "like" and Share products on other people's Facebook walls, as well as gift products for Facebook friends.
According to Venturebeat, Gamestop hopes that the arrival of the Facebook store will generate revenue somewhere around $1.5 billion, more than 10% of their total sales. With almost 7,000 stores, it's clear that the video game retailer has no intention of going completely digital, but with online stores and video game digital renting services becoming more and more prevalent, GameStop now has a hand in digital revenues.
Adgregate, founded in 2009, offers "the only secure" social retailing system, utilizing services like McAfee to protect email and credit card information. With GameStop, Adgregate's system also connects with GameStop's to ensure accurate inventory descriptions to coordinate localized physical purchases. As of the writing of this article, GameStop is now #115 on the top 500 Internet Retail list.

Google to Stream Google I/O

Though this year's Google I/O conference sold out in 59 minutes, Google will be offering a live stream of the various goings-on on their website, according to a blog post today. The conference will be held in downtown San Francisco at the ever-popular Moscone Center, host to many an Apple conference, GDC, and other tech happenings. Beginning May 10th at 9:00 AM PST, the international online community will be able to stream the conference in its entirety for both days. All videos will be captioned, and available in all of the languages that Google currently supports (including Cherokee). For sessions that they won't be able to livestream, Google says they will attempt to get HD recordings posted within 24 hours on the Google I/O page, which will be the destination for all live-stream needs. Google is also offering an HTML5 badge for livebloggers and newsies, so make sure to visit the site to get yours.
Mark your calendars, and make sure that wherever you are on May 10th you have a solid internet connection- you don't want to miss out on this. We'll also be liveblogging the event as it happens, so be sure to check in periodically.

Japan Hit By Second Earthquake

Less than one hour ago, Japan was hit by a 7.4 magnitude off the coast of Miyagi in Northeastern Japan at around 730 AM PST, according to a report by CNN. So far no casualties have been reported, but authorities evacuated the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, which was 113 km from the epicenter of the quake. Tokyo Electric Agency is reporting that the power is still on at the plant and there is little, if any damage to its structural integrity.
Japan issued a tsunami warning to inhabitants of the Miyagi prefecture and the surrounding coastal area as a precaution, but authorities claim that there is no imminent danger of a wide-scale massive Pacific Tsunami, especially not to Hawaii or California.

SEGA Releases New Sonic Teaser Trailer

Almost 2,500 people "liked" the idea that there's a forthcoming Sonic game, according to the hedgehog's Facebook Fan Page this morning. There is very little information about the new game, but fans of the series will notice that both New and "Old" Sonic are featured in the teaser trailer, indicating the same will apply in the game itself.
Though some commenters were pretty pissed off about the game potentially not being available on the Wii, many an XBox 360 owner rejoiced to learn that he wouldn't have to borrow his girlfriend's Wii anymore to play Sonic. Many Facebook users speculated as to whether it was a reboot or a brand new title, but the trailer clearly opens with a "20th Anniversary Screen", leaving little wonder as to the anniversarial nature of the game.
Check out the trailer:

OWC Introduces Mount Pro 2.5-inch Drive Sled For Adding Any 2.5-inch SATA Drive To 2009-2010 Apple Mac Pro
OWC Introduces Mount Pro 2.5" Drive Sled For Adding Any 2.5" SATA Drive To 2009-2010 Apple Mac Pro
$24.99 powder coated aircraft grade aluminum bracket with lifetime warranty offers easy addition of 2.5" hard disk drive or Solid State Drive to Apple Mac Pro 'Nehalem' & 'Westmere' models
April 7, 2011 Woodstock, IL -- Other World Computing (OWCآ®) http://www.macsales.com, a leading zero emissions Macآ® and PC technology company today announced the OWC Mount Pro drive sled for adding any 2.5" Serial ATA (SATA) hard disk drive or Solid State Drive (SSD) to 2009 and later Apple Mac Pro 'Nehalem' & 'Westmere' models. Manufactured with the highest quality processes and materials including powder coated aircraft grade aluminum, the $24.99 MSRP bracket comes backed by a lifetime warranty.

Offers Plug & Play Addition Of Performance Boosting OWC SSD
Mac Pro owners seeking to dramatically increase system performance can use the Mount Pro to add one of the fastest SSDs on the market, the OWC Mercury Extreme Pro SSD, and experience data rates up to 285MB/s. The bracket comes with four drive mounting screws and replaces an existing 3.5" drive tray. The OWC Mount Pro perfectly aligns the SATA connector on the mounted 2.5" drive into the back plane SATA ports on the Mac Pro.
Looks And Runs Cool
With a highly durable blue powder coated finish, the OWC Mount Pro looks great while also offering at a glance verification of which Mac Pro drive bays contain 2.5" form factor drives. The open design of the Mount Pro aids in drive heat dissipation.
Proclaimed The "Best Solution" By Leading Mac Performance Site
Leading Mac testing and benchmarking site, MacPerformancGuide.com, called the OWC Mount Pro "By far the best mounting solution yet for installing up to four 2.5" drives into a Mac Pro. The sled bolts the drive in securely and allows far superior air flow to any other design." To read the complete review comments, visit:
http://macperformanceguide.com/blog/2011/20110210_DriveSled--upgrades.html
Immediately Available At $24.99, SSDs Available From $99.97
The OWC Mount Pro is immediately available priced at $24.99 MSRP from Other World Computing at www.macsales.com. It is compatible with all 2009 and later Apple Mac Pros with Model ID 4,1 and 5,1. For more information on the OWC Mount Pro, visit:
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other%20World%20Computing/MMP35T25/ For more information on OWC Mercury Extreme Pro SSDs, visit: http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/internal_storage/Mercury_Extreme_SSD_Sandforce
For more information on nearly 200 upgrades and accessories from OWC for the Apple Mac Pro, visit:
http://eshop.macsales.com/search/Mac+Pro
"These high quality brackets really make adding a 2.5" drive to a 2009 and later Mac Pro Plug and Play easy," said Larry O'Connor, Founder and CEO, Other World Computing. "When you consider the dramatic results adding an OWC Mercury Extreme Pro SSD to a Mac Pro can achieve, the OWC Mount Pro is really the key to unlocking Mac Pro performance."

About Other World Computing (OWC)
Other World Computing (OWC) has been providing quality hardware products and support to the computer industry since 1988 and features one of the largest online catalogs of computer, iPodآ®, iPhoneآ®, and iPadآ® enhancement products through its e-commerce portal www.macsales.com. As a member of the Apple Developer Program, OWC also provides extensive US based technical support for Macintosh users around the world as well as Internet access via www.fastermac.net and www.owc.net

Velocity Micro Announces the Inclusion of the Asetek 570LC in the Raptor Signature Edition
Velocity Micro Announces the Inclusion of the Asetek 570LC in the Raptor Signature Edition
Asetek cooling solution also an option on the award winning Raptor Z90

Richmond, VA -April 7, 2011 - Velocity Micro, the premier independent builder of premium, high performance desktop computers, notebooks, peripherals, and tablets, announces the immediate inclusion of the Asetek 570LC CPU cooling solution in all Raptor gaming PCs. A truly maintenance free, premium cooling solution, the Asetek 570LC allows Velocity Micro's team of engineers to build and overclock some of the fastest, quietest, and most reliable gaming PCs on the market.
"One of the biggest challenges when building any ultra-performance desktop is dissipating the heat generated by the CPU, especially when overclocking. Essentially, heat is your enemy," said Randy Copeland, President and CEO of Velocity Micro. "The Asetek 570LC allows our engineering team to quietly and efficiently cool the CPU for a more powerful, longer lasting desktop. That gives us a distinct edge over the competition."
"In the battle against heat, liquid cooling is a premium weapon, and the engineering team at Velocity Micro has selected the heaviest gun in the Asetek arsenal for their Raptor gaming PCs," said Steve Branton, Director of Marketing at Asetek. "The choice of the 570LC is indicative of the robust, extreme performance components Velocity Micro selects to deliver best-in-class gaming systems to its customers."
The Asetek 570LC gives Velocity Micro engineers up to 10آ° C more headroom when overclocking versus standard air cooling. This allows them to push CPU speeds higher without sacrificing reliability or overall system longevity. Other key advantages include:
- Totally maintenance free, factory sealed liquid cooling loop
- Extremely quiet at just 26 dB
The Asetek 570LC is available as an option immediately on the Raptor Z90 and by default on Velocity Micro's flagship system, the Raptor Signature Edition. For more information or to configure your own ultra-performance, liquid-cooled Velocity Micro PC, visit www.velocitymicro.com.

ABOUT VELOCITY MICRO, INC.
Velocity Micro, Inc. is the premier high-performance personal computer provider in North America. Founded in 1992, Richmond, Va.-based Velocity Micro custom builds award winning gaming, mobile, multimedia, small business, workstation, visual supercomputers and peripherals. Velocity Micro products are currently available at most consumer electronics retailers nationwide. For more information, please call (800) 303-7866 or visit www.VelocityMicro.com.
Velocity Micro has earned over 60 industry awards, including 11 PC Magazine Editor's Choice awards. CNET, Maximum PC, Mobile PC, PC World, Computer Gaming World, Computer Shopper, and PC Gamer editors have all chosen Velocity Micro systems as some of the industry's best-performing, highest-quality, and most reliable PCs.
ABOUT ASETEK, INC.
Asetek is the world leading system thermal and acoustic management solution provider to OEMs servicing the gaming, workstation and performance PC markets. The company's liquid thermal management systems deliver superior thermal and acoustic performance in a factory sealed unit that sets new standards for reliability and suitability for large volume production. Leading OEMs use Asetek's liquid cooling products in systems where customers demand exceptional performance, quiet computing and maximum reliability.

Elpida Develops 4-Gigabit DDR2 Mobile RAM Operating at 1.2V and 1066Mbps
Elpida Develops 4-Gigabit DDR2 Mobile RAM Operating at 1.2V and 1066Mbps
Elpida Memory, Inc., Japan's leading global supplier of Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), today announced that it has developed a 4-gigabit DDR2 Mobile RAMTM that employs state-of-the-art 30nm process. This new Mobile RAM features a low operating voltage of 1.2V, achieves a 1066Mbps high-speed data transfer rate, and uses roughly 30% less operating current compared with stacking two of Elpida's 40nm 2-gigabit products. Through sophisticated circuit design and advanced process technology, this product achieves the world's smallest class in chip size for a 4-gigabit LPDDR2. In addition, it is an eco-friendly DRAM equipped with a low power feature that targets mobile devices such as smart phones and tablet PCs by contributing to extended operating times of battery-powered devices.
Currently, the rapidly expanding market for smart phones and tablet PCs is striving to expand the features of its operating systems. As a result, the ideal density of DRAMs is also rapidly on the rise, and there is an increasing need for high density DRAMs - 8-gigabit for high-end smart phones and 16-gigabit for high-end tablet PCs. At the same time, there is a strong demand for smaller, thinner, and lighter DRAM packages, and attention is being focused on advanced package technologies such as Package on Package (PoP) and Multi Chip Package (MCP).
Elpida plans to ship the new DDR2 Mobile RAM as PoP, FBGA packages, and as a bare chip for MCPs. The company's PoP and FBGA packages fully leverage die-stacking technology to provide an extensive line-up of 8-gigabit to 16-gigabit products that can meet a variety of customer needs. The new 4-gigabit DDR2 Mobile RAM achieves the thinnest package yet at 0.8mm (in the case of an 8-gigabit product consisting of two stacked 4-gigabit chips), which meets the need for DRAM that is not only higher density, but also thinner packages.
Sample shipments of the new 4-gigabit DDR2 Mobile RAM will begin in April, and mass production is scheduled to start at Elpida's Hiroshima Plant in June of this year. Production is also planned at Rexchip Electronics Corporation in order to guarantee a stable product supply.
Elpida, a leading provider of DRAM for mobile devices, uses advanced technology to support the development of the next generation of smart phones and tablet PCs.

ZOTAC Announces GeForce GTX 580 AMP2! Edition Graphics Card
ZOTAC Announces GeForce GTX 580 AMP2! Edition Graphics Card
ZOTAC International, a leading innovator and the world's largest channel manufacturer, today introduces the ZOTAC GeForce GTX 580 AMP2! Edition - its fastest single-GPU graphics card. The ZOTAC GeForce GTX 580 AMP2! Edition is designed to amplify cooling performance and gaming at extreme high-definition resolutions.
A custom high-performance heat-pipe heatsink enables the ZOTAC GeForce GTX 580 AMP2! Edition to stay cool and whisper-quiet while dual orange 92mm fans add a stylish ZOTAC touch to create an enthusiast-grade graphics card that combines performance and style in a single 2.5-slot graphics card.

The ZOTAC GeForce GTX 580 AMP2! Edition boosts gaming performance by doubling the video memory of standard ZOTAC GeForce GTX 580 graphics card for a total of 3GB of video memory. The 3GB of video memory ensures the ZOTAC GeForce GTX 580 AMP2! Edition is able to render the latest Microsoft DirectX 11-enabled games and applications with maximum details and performance at resolutions up to 2560x1600.

"Enthusiast gamers demand the absolute best performance available. With the ZOTAC GeForce GTX 580 AMP2! Edition, we are able to boost high-resolution gaming performance while reducing noise levels and temperatures," said Carsten Berger, marketing director, ZOTAC International.

To let users take advantage of the graphics processing power available from the ZOTAC GeForce GTX 580 AMP2! Edition, a copy of Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood is bundled with the card. Brotherhood takes gamers on an epic action-packed journey through a beautifully rendered replication of ancient Rome, Italy as Ezio, the master assassin.

GIGABYTE Announces 'Initial K Contest' on HWBOT
-- GIGABYTE Announces "Initial K Contest" on HWBOT--
-- Are You Quicker than a Rabbit? --

City of Industry, California, April 06, 2011- GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY Co., Ltd, a leading manufacturer of motherboards, graphics cards and other computing hardware solutions today announced a new overclocking competition in conjunction with HWBOT.org called the "Initial K Contest".

Since this is the year of the rabbit in Asian astrology which symbolizes "quick" and the Easter bunny is soon to make an appearance in the West, we thought it would be fun to have a challenge to see just how quick some of you are with our P67 motherboards. As you probably figured out by the title, the GIGABYTE "Initial K Contest" focuses on Intel's K sku CPUs. Split into 6 stages, contestants who place in the top ten for each stage will receive points. The champion at the end with the most points will win one of HiCookie's first born X58A-OC boards. 2nd and 3rd place winners will each receive a GIGABTYE P67A-D3-B3 motherboard. Good luck everyone and hop to it!

For complete contest details and rules, please visit: http://hwbot.org/competition/gbt_initial_k

About GIGABYTE Upgrade Your Life
GIGABYTE, headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan, is known as a global leading brand in the IT industry, with employees and business channels in almost every country. Founded in 1986, GIGABYTE started as a research and development team and has since taken the lead in the world's motherboard market. On top of motherboards and graphics accelerators, GIGABYTE further expanded its product portfolio to include notebook and desktop PCs, digital home entertainment appliances, networking servers, communications, mobile and handheld devices, servicing every facet of people's lives at home or business. Everyday GIGABYTE aims to "Upgrade Your Life" with the most innovative designs and impeccable quality and services. Visit www.gigabyte.us for more information.

Friday, April 8, 2011

IT News HeadLines (TweakTown) 07/04/2011

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