IT-Code-News: IT News Head Lines (techPowerUp) 16/01/2012

An Open Letter to the Gaming Community from CD Projekt RED
A month ago, we reported that CD Projekt RED, makers of The Witcher 2 had claimed that they could identify '100% of pirates' and had started an RIAA-style 'settlement letter' shakedown (extortion) tactic in Germany. Well, unsurprisingly, this hasn't gone down too well with their customers and the outcry has been loud and strong, especially on gog.com, where their forums have been full of posts from disgruntled customers. Well, it looks like the pressure has gotten too much for them and they have backpedalled furiously on this decision and issued an open letter, published on rockpapershotgun.com. In it, they state that they want people to continue to have faith in them and stressed how they're still totally against 'piracy' of their products and appealed for gamers to refrain from engaging in it:

In early December, an article was published about a law firm acting on behalf of CD Projekt RED, contacting individuals who had downloaded The Witcher 2 illegally and seeking financial compensation for copyright infringement. The news about our decision to combat piracy directly, instead of with DRM, spread quickly and with it came a number of concerns from the community. Repeatedly, gamers just like you have said that our methods might wrongly accuse people who have never violated our copyright and expressed serious concern about our actions.

Anno 2070's Draconian DRM: Guru3D's Graphics Card Review Killed Off
Hilbert Hagedoorn of well-known PC tech review site guru3d.com recently bought a copy of Ubisoft's Anno 2070 and wanted to use it in one of his graphics card reviews. However, he became badly unstuck. This game comes on the Steam platform and the store page states: "3rd-party DRM: Solidshield Tages SAS 3 machine activation limit". Unfortunately for Guru3D, they found out exactly what this means, which resulted in just one performance graph, an aborted review, an unplayable game – and bad publicity for Ubisoft once again. They have published an article about their experience, pledging not to use their titles again because of this DRM.

(PR) Sony Adds Ultra-high-speed Interface Compatibility to Its Line of SD Media
At CES 2012, Sony announced it is expanding its line of SD cards with a new flagship series designed for ultra-high speed interface (UHS-I) compatibility, giving DSLR users superb speed and high performance. The new cards are available in capacities of 32 GB (SF-32UX), 16 GB (SF-16UX) and 8 GB (SF-8UX).

The new cards offer significantly higher transfer speeds up to 94 MB/s (read) and 45 MB/s (write, for SF-8UX, write speed is 22 MB/s), ideal for the burst shooting and HD video modes of today's DSLR cameras and HD camcorders (based on Sony tests and dependent on host hardware). They can also realize rapid data rates when transferring content - even large, high-resolution HD files - back to their PCs. And when used with non-UHS-I supported hardware, the new Sony cards will still maintain Class 10 speed.

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(PR) Sony Enhances Capabilities of Its USB MicroVault Memory Devices
At CES 2012, Sony unveiled its enhanced USB memory MicroVault line. The new models (USM-Q, USM-P and USM-M) range from ultra-fast, high performance devices to stylish, easy-to-use models - all designed to meet consumers' various needs.

"Everyone has different requirements for what they want to do with their photos or videos, so why should all storage devices be the same?" said Viviano Cantu, Director of Consumer Media for Sony Electronics. "We're offering something for everyone with this enhanced line of USB memory devices."

Patriot Displays Range of Industrial and Macbook Air SSDs
Patriot Memory displayed its four main client bare-PCB SSD lines, the Industrial Series mSATA, Industrial Series half-height-mSATA, 1.8-inch half-height Industrial Series, and Mac Series SSD-stick. All three Industrial Series products are driven by PHISON controllers, and are available in MLC NAND flash and SLC NAND flash variants, each with its own capacity options. The mSATA MLC is available in capacities ranging from 16 GB to 128 GB, mSATA SLC from 4 GB to 32 GB; mSATA half-height MLC from 4 GB to 32 GB, mSATA half-height SLC from 1 GB to 8 GB.

The "Slim SATA" (half-height 1.8-inch) MLC is available in capacities ranging from 16 GB to 128 GB, and its SLC variant is available in capacities ranging from 4 GB to 32 GB. Moving on, Patriot has SSD sticks for Macbook Air, and other Apple devices that support this form-factor, these sticks are driven by SandForce SF-228x controllers, feature MLC NAND flash memory, and are available in capacities of 120 GB, 240 GB, and 480 GB.

Thrustmaster Shows Off Replica A-10 C Stick
Gaming peripherals expert Thrustmaster displayed its latest joystick for consumer flight-simulators, and popular multiplayer online games such as Tom Clancy's HAWX series and Battlefield 3. Its design is a replica of the flight stick A-10 C Thunderbolt II ground-attack aircraft, an iconic plane for many military aviation enthusiasts. While games like Battlefield 3 don't give you playable a A-10 C, its playable fighters are equipped with chain guns that let you perform some ground-attack maneuvers. Apparently Thustmaster got all its design rights in order, as it bears the coveted "Hotas Warthog" and USAF badges. It is accompanied by a replica throttle unit.

RunCore Displays Single-Chip SSDs
RunCore showed off its engineering potential in four "single-chip" solid-state drives (SSDs). If we're playing semantics here, almost every USB flash drive in the market these days is a "single chip SSD", but in context of these drives, "single chip" refers to a component that combines MLC NAND flash and a SATA interface controller into a single package. The number of NAND flash channels internally is not known, but RunCore thinks these chips should offer good performance in the value segment.

The blue PCBs in the first picture depict single-chip SSDs in three main client form-factors: 2.5-inch SATA, 1.8-inch SATA, and mSATA. As you can see, there's just one main chip, no controller, no cache DRAM, nothing else, except power-conditioning components and firmware ROM chips on the back side of the PCB.

Cooler Master Elite 120 Mini-ITX Case Pictured
Cooler Master is preparing a new HTPC case for mini-ITX form-factor motherboards, the Elite 120, which was pictured at CES. It is built mostly from SECC steel, but its front bezel is made of aluminum. The case measures 240 x 205.6 x 382.5 mm (WxHxD). It features one 5.25-inch drive bay, four 3.5-inch bays, and two 2.5-inch ones. The only fan included with the case is a 120 mm front intake, but there are provisions for more fans, at least one on the side. Its front-panel includes one USB 3.0 port, two USB 2.0, and audio jacks.

Cooler Master HAF XM Case Pictured
Cooler Master unveiled the latest in its High Air Flow (HAF) series of cases for enthusiasts, the HAF XM. This case is designed to strike a price-features-quality sweetspot. Made of SECC steel and ABS plastic, the HAF XM measures 252 x 530.5 x 571 mm (WxHxD), weighing about 11 kg. While it can be categorized as an ATX full-tower, it doesn't support XL-ATX. Micro-ATX, standard ATX, and E-ATX motherboards are supported. Its storage bays include three 5.25-inch, eight 3.5-inch (including two that are hot-swap capable), up to nine 2.5-inch bays (converted from 3.5-inch bays.

Its ventilation stays in line with the design ideology behind the HAF series. It includes a large 200 mm front-intake (LED-lit), room for one 140 mm or two 120 mm fans in the front; two 200 mm fans on top (one included, one optional), room for smaller 140/120 mm fans on top; a 140 mm rear exhaust; room for a 200 mm side-panel intake (optional); and room for two 120 mm fans on the HDD cage (optional). Its I/O panel includes two USB 3.0 ports, two USB 2.0 ports, and front-panel HD audio.

Silver, Beige, and Smooth Creations Variants of Cosmos II Pictured
Early this month, Cooler Master launched its much-awaited Cosmos II case, carrying forward its iconic premium case brand into the new generation, with a new set of features that are required of cases in its segment to have. At CES, Cooler Master showed off three new variants of Cosmos II, including a premium custom design by Smooth Creations. These included a silver variant, with matte silver front, and brushed metal-like appearance on the side panel; a dark beige variant, with similar texturing; and a custom-job by Smooth Creations that features a badaxe rusty industrial paint-job, with chains replacing the four beams of the Cosmos II. Historically, Cooler Master's à la carte custom-paint cases cost in excess of $800, some over $1000. Such cases are produced in very limited quantities (go figure). The silver and beige mass-production ones, however, are expected to cost similar to the standard black one.

TUL Readies Barebones Mini PC
PowerColor's parent company, TUL, showed off its barebones Mini-PC at CES. Its main unit measures just 165 x 165 x 55 mm (LxWxH), and is available in black and white color options. Under the hood is an AMD G-Series embedded APU, backed by Hudson M1 FCH chipset. It takes in 1 DDR3-SODIMM module, up to 4 GB in size, and runs it at speeds of up to PC3-8500 (DDR3-1066 MHz). The G-Series APU provides AMD Radeon HD 6310 graphics, with DVI and HDMI display outputs. The mini PC barebone has room for one 2.5-inch SATA 6 Gb/s drive. Its front-panel offers one USB 2.0 port (USB 3.0 can be opted for), a multi-format card reader, and eSATA 6 Gb/s. Its rear panel connectivity includes 2-channel audio outputs, gigabit Ethernet, four USB ports, and display connectivity. The unit has an internal 40W PSU.

PowerColor HD 7970 Vortex VRM: A Closer Look
On Thursday, we got to see the first images of PowerColor's new Radeon HD 7970 Vortex Edition graphics card. At CES we got to take a closer look at its VRM. PowerColor carried forward the VRM design of its Radeon HD 6970 Devil 13 graphics card. At the heart of the VRM is a CHiL CHL8228 VRM controller, which allows software volt-modding using most of the popular tools out there. The card uses an 8+1+1 phase VRM. It uses High Current Power Beat chokes which offers PWM frequency range of up to 3 MHz.

Interestingly, while the HD 6970 Devil 13 itself, like the Radeon HD 7970 AMD reference board, used expensive International Rectifier DirectFETs in typical configuration, the HD 7970 Votex uses cost-effective driver-MOSFET (DrMOS) chips that appear to be made by Renesas. Cost effective doesn't necessarily mean "cheap", these chips, according to PowerColor, offer 93% efficiency with up to 1 MHz switching frequency. On the reverse side of the PCB, we can find the power stage to be complemented with SP capacitors that offer 40% lower ESR with and support higher switching frequencies.

(PR) Spire Introduces Sonex 6010 Versatile Gamer Chassis
Introducing the Sonex 6010 pc case, the Sonex 6010 is a versatile gamer chassis. This tower structure is well build and just pure cool looks. The meshed aluminum front panel allows unrestricted fresh air intake which is mandatory for today's extremely hot Micro-processors, Graphic cards and Data Drives. The spacious internal design enables flexible and neat component assembly.

Sufficient room is available for the installation of larger cpu coolers and long 330mm Graphic-cards. The Chassis is pre-applied with large rubber grommet holes to feed the external water-cooling tubes into the chassis. Two drive cages with direct cooling and pre-installed front and rear 120mm BlueStar Blue LED fans. The Sonex 6010 pc case is satisfaction for the professional user, enthusiast and gamer alike.

Now GOG.com Joins Opposition to SOPA and PIPA
The highly controversial SOPA & PIPA bills currently being rushed through Congress by Big Media are encountering ever more opposition from minor and major players alike, such as Google. Now gog.com, owned by parent company CD Projekt RED, has come out against these bills too and are one of many games companies to do so. They address the questions of "will it work?" and "will it stop piracy?" with the answers being sort-of and no.

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Monday, January 16, 2012

IT News Head Lines (techPowerUp) 16/01/2012

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