Sapphire HD 7870 Review
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CM Storm Trigger Keyboard Review
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Crytek Reneges on Used Games Comment
Remember the other day when Crytek's director of creative development said next-gen consoles that could block used games is "awesome"? Well now the director is reneging his previous comments to hopefully avoid further backlash. Rasmus Hoejengard has said his opinions do not reflect those of Crytek at large and "was not intended to be taken seriously." This sounds like disaster control mode to smooth things over so soon after the reveal of Crysis 3, and hopefully Hoejengard avoids further complications, serious or not. Used game sales are a hot topic right now, especially in light of the rumors that Sony and Microsoft will block used games in the next-gen systems. Some developers are against used games so it would make sense for the next consoles to block them, but I imagine Sony and Microsoft would risk alienating retailers, other developers, and gamers if the technology is included.
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Reducing LED Droop by Changing Crystal Orientation
Many people have high hopes for LEDs being a replacement for traditional incandescent light bulbs. This is because the power applied to LEDs is almost completely put to generating light, while the power for light bulbs goes to both light and waste heat. Unfortunately, LEDs droop in efficiency at the high currents needed for lighting homes. Researchers in California and Japan though appear to have found a solution and are reporting their results at the Optical Society of America’s Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics (CLEO).
The exact reason for the efficiency droop is still debated but this did not deter the researchers from working on one theory. The semiconductors in LEDs are constructed by sandwiching together flat layers and it is possible that this orientation creates electric fields that inhibit the emission of light. The researchers tilted the crystal structure of the semiconducting layer to disrupt the electric fields. This resulted in LEDs with some of the lowest measured efficiency droops recorded.
Another benefit to this change in structure is a reduced size to the LED. This could lead to reduced manufacturing costs for the LEDs, which is important because the substrate used for these LEDs is fairly expensive. Researchers at the University of California, Santa Barbara are working on ways to bulk produce the substrate, which should help reduce costs.
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Blizzard Announces Fees for Diablo 3 Auction House
Blizzard has finally announced the fees that will be associated with the in-game auction house in the upcoming RPG Diablo 3. Items such as armor, weapons, and accessories will be charged a flat fee of $1 per transaction while items such as gems and gold will net Blizzard 15% of the transaction, but only if they are sold through the real money auction house. A 15% fee will also be applied to all items in the gold only auction house, a move that may help to stem in-game inflation. If you want to transfer the money to a service such as Paypal, that will add on another 15%, in addition to any Paypal fees. Money used from the account to purchase other Blizzard items will not be subject to this tax. Each auction will only be open for 48 hours, and will carry a maximum sale price of $250.
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Hackers Behind Mac Flashback Made Thousands Per Day
According to Symantec, the group behind the Mac Flashback malware was making roughly $10,000 per day through the use of the botnet created by the malware. The botnet had spread to nearly 700,000 computers at its peak, and those computers were generating revenue for those in control of the system. The Mac Flashback exploit was loaded into Chrome, Firefox, and Safari and targeted searches done through Google. The malware allowed the search to be hijacked and redirected to a different page, depriving Google of the ad revenue and instead putting it into the pockets of the hackers. Symantec also noted that Apple had a particularly slow response time in fixing the exploit, waiting nearly two months after the fix had been issued by Oracle to release it to users.
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One Material, Many Nanolaser Colors
Since they were first made, lasers have been growing in use and capability. They have also been growing smaller, from large gas-based devices that fill an optical table down to semiconductor diodes inside of optical drives and laser pointers. Making different colored lasers and making them smaller is very difficult though because only certain materials will produce a certain light. Now researchers at Brown University have discovered a material that can be grown to produce any visible color.
The material is used to create quantum dots, designer nanocrystals, of different sizes. The size of the dots determines what color light they produce, with 4.2 nm creating red light, 3.2 nm corresponding to green light, and 2.5 nm produces blue light. Varying the production time of the nanocrystals controls the size the dots grow to.
The solution the quantum dots are made in is similar in viscosity to nail polish, and the researchers spread it onto a piece of glass. The solution evaporates to leave the dots in a highly ordered pattern on the glass, which is then sandwiched between two mirrors. This creates a Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser (VCSEL) that uses as much as 1000 times less power than similar lasers.
The researchers believe this can be used to make advanced displays with relatively little cost. This is because it is the same process to make the different color pixels. Also a multitude of shapes can be made into displays with this technology, because the quantum dots just need to be painted onto the surface and then the mirrors placed around them.
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Bethesda Teases Dawnguard - First DLC for Skyrim
The folks over at Bethesda have finally revealed some information on the new The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim DLC. An image has appeared on the Bethesda Blog introducing Dawnguard, the first DLC for Skyrim. There is not a whole lot else posted with the image other than saying it will arrive for the Xbox 360 this summer and more information will be revealed at E3. If you recall, Bethesda previously said the first two DLC for Skyrim will be Xbox 360-exclusive for a month each, so if Dawnguard arrives in the middle of June then PC and PS3 gamers should expect it in the middle of July. As for the image, well, you can check it out below to see the Nord's glowing red eyes. Dawnguard could be a return of the Mythic Dawn from The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, especially since the town of Dawnstar has a questline about the cult. E3 2012 occurs June 5th through the 7th, so we have just about a month remaining for some concrete information.
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Integrated Circuit Produces Entangled Photon Pairs
Quantum computers represent the ultimate future of computers and come in many flavors. All quantum computers rely on using quantum particles, but the specific particle used can vary from ions to photons. Researchers at the University of Toronto have made a very big step in bringing optical quantum computers not only to reality but to the public.
Complex optical tools are needed for optical quantum computers because pairs of photons have to be entangled. These tools are large and require specialized lab equipment such as optical tables that dampen vibrations from the environment. What the researchers created is an integrated circuit with the ability to create entangled photons. This will minimize the effect of vibrations and brings the size down to something that could be found in a home.
Another important factor of this design is its ability to connect to other components needed for an optical quantum computer. Eventually we may find all of the optical equipment needed for such a computer built into a single chip. While such an achievement is still in the future, it is considerably closer to the present than it was.
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Grim Dawn Closer to Kickstarter Goal - 17 Days Remaining to Reach It
The Kickstarter page for Grim Dawn keeps rolling along, with the team a little shy of $230,000. Crate Entertainment has set a goal of $280,000, and with 17 days remaining, you will have time to support the game. The reward tiers for supporting have been expanded, so now there are even more options depending on how much you can donate. At first there was a co-op reward tier for the smallest donation, but Crate has added co-op tiers for the Digital Collector's Bundle and Digital Deluxe Edition (plus an Early Access Edition for $35 and higher). The co-op for the Collector's Bundle starts at $64, where you receive everything in the bundle plus an extra copy of Grim Dawn. The Digital Deluxe co-op starts at $98 and also includes an extra copy. This way you can still get the reward tier you want and give an extra copy to a friend or family member.
On Reddit today, Crate Entertainment developer Arthur Bruno is hosting a Q&A session where everyone is welcome to ask him whatever they want. Bruno goes by the name Medierra on the Grim Dawn forums (and Reddit), and this is a great opportunity to find out more information on the game, development in general, or anything else you may want to ask. If nothing else, reading all the responses should give you a good idea on what to expect when Grim Dawn launches. There is still time to visit the Kickstarter and donate, so get out there and support the independent studios!
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Sunlight to Treat and Prevent Heart Attacks
With high-fat foods and a general lack of exercise, more and more people are likely to suffer a heart attack in the United States. Of course keeping a better diet and even a moderate amount of exercise can keep us healthy, but if a heart attack still occurs, what can be done to minimize damage? According to researchers at the University of Colorado, Denver, the patient can be exposed to sunlight, or other intense light sources, to keep the damage as minimal as possible.
What does sunlight have to do with heart attacks? Nothing directly, but with a trip through the circadian rhythm, it has a lot to do with the heart. The circadian rhythm is a link between the body and time of day. Certain processes occur only when the sun is out and others only at night. The researchers discovered that one of the proteins activated by sunlight, called Period 2, is crucial to minimizing the damage of a heart attack. During the attack, the heart stops receiving oxygen, which it normally uses for fuel. To survive, the heart transfers over to using glucose for fuel, and the faster this happens, the less damage there will be. Period 2 is needed for this change to happen and so because sunlight activates the protein, it can save the heart, and the patient, during a heart attack.
The next steps in this research will be to better understand the link between light and heart metabolism, as well as determining how light may be best used to treat patients. For example, how much light is needed and can light from bulbs work in place of sunlight.
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Watch the Diablo III 'Evil is Back' TV Spot
For some people the calendar has already switched to May while others still have some of April remaining, but either way you look at it, we are nearly to the day. The day, of course, refers to May 15th and the launch of Diablo III. I know many people are looking forward to get back into the franchise's universe or continue the adventure from the beta. Blizzard has launched the Diablo III "Evil is Back" TV spot, and while it clocks in around 30 seconds, it should be more than enough to get you salivating. Blizzard knows how to create cinematics for its games and this TV spot is no exception. We get just enough of a glimpse of Diablo himself before the video ends, but I am sure we will see plenty more in the game proper. So, when May 15th rolls around, how many of you are going to call in sick?
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Thermaltake Announces TriP Series Power Accessories
Thermaltake has announced a new series of devices aimed at people that are constantly on the move, the TriP Series. The TriP Series features a USB AC charger, USB car charger, and portable power packs. The AC charger can handle two devices at once, features over current protection, and has US/UK/EU/AU plugs included. The car charger can also handle two devices, has a built-in fuse, and an LED power indicator. Power packs are available in 2600mAh and 5200mAh capacities in a lightweight, compact form factor.
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Major Enhancement to Microbial Fuel Cells
While some look to the winds and Sun for power, others are looking a bit closer to Earth as they try to use waste material for power. Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs) use bacteria to break down the biodegradable elements of waste water while generating electricity from the chemical reactions. These devices do not necessarily generate much power, but the cleaner water they produce is definitely useful. Now researchers at the University of Colorado, Denver have found a new energy harvesting process for MFCs that increase their energy output 70 times and their efficiency 21 times.
This new harvesting system actively extracts electrons from the bacteria. This is important because previously a major difficulty with MFCs was directly using what power they produce. Not only may this system allow devices to directly get power from the MFCs but increase the power output so much it is at useable levels.
The ability to generate power from waste water can prove invaluable across the planet. Here, in the United States, large-scale MFCs can be used to offset the power requirements of waste treatment plants, but in other areas it could provide the clean, fresh water needed for survival.
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Mozilla Leaves Firefox 3.6 Behind for Good
There comes a time in the life of every piece of software where it simply must be retired in favor of newer versions. Such is the case with Firefox 3.6, as Mozilla has announced the venerable browser will be retired and anyone still using it will be auto-upgraded to version 12. Official support for Firefox 3.5 ended on April 24th while security updates stopped in January. Mozilla will upgrade any remaining 3.6 users in early May, although the company did not say exactly when. Still, you can always upgrade early to avoid any sudden shock. For those who like to be on the up and up, Mozilla announced the beta for Firefox 13 is now available, which brings with it a new home page, Google's SPDY protocol, and various other features. This is some good news with the bad, but really, people had to upgrade from Firefox 3.6 at some point.
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