Want to see a live action Street Fighter series, fund its Kickstarter
If you're a fan of Street Fighter and have a spare dollars to see a web series of it made, you might want to open your wallet to a Kickstarter page on it. Joey Ansah, is behind it, where he is the director, writer and creative guru behind Street Fighter: Legacy and along with Christopher Howard, they need $950,000 to get a prequel series they're calling Street Fighter: Assassin's Fist off the ground.
Street Fighter: Legacy was produced and released on YouTube around three years ago, mostly as a proof of concept to show that a live action version of Street Fighter would look great, if it were done right. The video saw eight million views, with a 98.7% approval rating.
Ansah has said that Assassin's Fist has been in development for around three years, with the team purchasing the option from Capcom last year with plans to fund the film through independent investment. If the Kickstarter isn't successful, the team could lose the funding they've already received, pushing production back into 2014.
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Google Babel for Gmail screenshots leaked out
Images have popped up onto the Internet of the purported Google Babel for Gmail, with Techradar getting their hands on a bunch of screen captures of the web interface for the upcoming Google unified messaging application, Babel.
It looks like a rehash of Google Chat for Gmail, with a better looking interface for the sign-in, as well as new features within the program itself. It looks like we could expect some photo sharing abilities with Babel, a mandatory Google+ login, and a feature to start a Google+ hangout directly from the chat.
This could be a total fake right now, so don't put much faith into this right now.
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Tumblr for Android gets updated, overhauled interface included
If you're a Tumblr fan, and an Android user, you'll be glad to know there's an updated app available on the Google Play Store. The latest app overhauls the user interface, with the scrolling lists and static squares now a thing of the past.
The user interface is now gorgeous, and deserves your eyeballs' attention. Not only has Tumblr for Android received a fresh dab of paint, but there are some very slick animations, too. Pull to refresh is here, as well as tap a button to post and you'll see things bouncing and popping around, making the Tumblr for Android experience a better looking experience.
Grab Tumblr for Android from the Google Play Store,
here.
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Navy successfully destroys drone with laser weapon set to debut in 2014
The Navy has successfully completed a test of its upcoming laser weapon system that is set to debut in 2014. The laser system successfully shot down a drone. We have embedded video of the test below for your viewing pleasure:
Previous experiences with laser technology haven't been so successful. Part of the issue is that high-power lasers are large, require massive amounts energy, and large amounts of cooling. There have been some experimental laser weapon systems mounted in airplanes and on ships.
All I can think about is how cool lasers are. Pew, pew! Pew, pew!
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California court rules it's illegal to check maps while driving
A California court has ruled that it's illegal for drivers to check mapping applications on a smartphone while driving. This does not preclude drivers from using navigation systems that are built in to a car. This ruling comes after a driver argued he was using a phone for directions rather than texting or talking.
According to vehicle code 23123, drivers are not allowed to use a smartphone while driving. The ruling states:
This case requires us to determine whether using a wireless phone solely for its map application function while driving violates Vehicle Codesection 23123. We hold that it does.
Our review of the statute's plain language leads us to conclude that the primary evil sought to be avoided is the distraction the driver faces when using his or her hands to operate the phone. That distraction would be present whether the wireless telephone was being used as a telephone, a GPS navigator, a clock or a device for sending and receiving text messages and emails.
Drivers are still able to use in car navigation systems. Drivers are also able to use voice controlled systems, so this means iPhone users can use Siri to get directions.
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EVGA sets 22K record score in 3DMark Fire Strike, three other scores
EVGA and "k|ngp|n" have set new world records in 3DMark Fire Strike. The four records have been achieved using a single EVGA TITAN GPU and a pair of TITAN's in SLI. The four records were set in the 3DMark Fire Strike and 3DMark Fire Strike Extreme benchmark with both single and dual-GPU setups.
- #1 3DMark Fire Strike (SLI) = 22,054
- #1 3DMark Fire Strike Extreme (SLI) = 11,559
- #1 3DMark Fire Strike (Single Card) = 14,600
- #1 3DMark Fire Strike Extreme (Single Card) = 7,308
EVGA also made use of an upcoming EVGA X79 Dark motherboard. k|ngp|n also made use of their Precision X 4.0 tool for overclocking the GPUs. You can see EVGA's records in the
Futuremark 3DMark Hall of Fame.
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News Corp threatens to take FOX network to subscription only if Aereo prevails in lawsuit
News Corp, owner of the FOX network, has threatened to start charging for the network (i.e. take it to cable-only) if Aereo prevails in its current lawsuit. News Corp, along with numerous different TV networks, sued Aereo over their renting of Internet-connected TV antennas.
The networks allege that this is an unlawful rebroadcasting of their content. The courts, however, ruled that it was legal because Aereo uses one antenna per viewer. News Corp's COO Chase Carey has threatened to move FOX to a subscription model if Aereo wins in court:
We need to be able to be fairly compensated for our content. This is not an ideal path we look to pursue, but we can't sit idly by and let an entity steal our signal. We will move to a subscription model if that's our only recourse.
Virginia Lam, a spokeswoman for Aereo, e-mailed the following statement:
It's disappointing to hear that Fox believes that consumers should not be permitted to use an antenna to access free-to-air broadcast television.
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AppGratis pulled from AppStore over push notification abuse
The free app per day app, AppGratis, was pulled from the App Store yesterday. Many assumed that AppGratis was pulled from the App Store because of Apple's new 2.25 clause regarding apps that promote other apps in a similar manner to Apple's own store.
2.25 Apps that display Apps other than your own for purchase or promotion in a manner similar to or confusing with the App Store will be rejected.
Apple has confirmed that AppGratis was pushed out of the App Store because it violates clause 2.25. Apple added that it also violates clause 5.6 that prevents using Push Notifications for advertising and promotions:
5.6 Apps cannot use Push Notifications to send advertising, promotions, or direct marketing of any kind.
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T-Mobile confirmed to be getting HTC One on April 19
Along with AT&T and Sprint, T-Mobile has been confirmed to be getting the HTC One on April 19. This news comes courtesy of Best Buy who posted the HTC One online for $249 with contract or $699.99 without. T-Mobile will also offer up the HTC One for $99 without a contract, but you'll need to make monthly payments.
HTC has been downgraded to a second-tier company, resulting in component supply shortages and delays in the launch of the HTC One device. These delays have resulted in the HTC One being released near the same time as the Samsung Galaxy S IV and the rumored release of the iPhone 5S.
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Intel debuts next-gen Thunderbolt capable of 20Gbps throughput, 4K video
Engadget is at NAB in Las Vegas, Nevada checking out the latest technology from Intel. Intel debuted an upgraded Thunderbolt technology capable of 20 Gbps in both directions. This is double that of the previous Thunderbolt iteration, which was only capable of 10 Gbps.
Intel stated that they currently have around 200 licensees and added that more Thunderbolt devices should be coming in the upcoming months. Intel also added that thinner Thunderbolt cables are in the works. The upcoming controller is code-named Redwood Ridge and Intel added that it will be built into some of Intel's upcoming Haswell processors.
Falcon Ridge, the next-gen Thunderbolt technology, will enable 4K video file transfer and display. This will be in addition to being capable of 20 Gbps transfer. The technology will be backwards compatible with previous cables and connectors.
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ReportTT: Microsoft to use AMD chips in next-gen Xbox
Microsoft is said to be using an AMD processor in its upcoming Xbox 720, according to a Bloomberg report. News of the upcoming product has boosted AMD's stock by over 13 percent, or up $0.30, to $2.59. Meanwhile, Competitor NVIDIA's stock fell a quarter of a percent to $12.43.
AMD is already confirmed to be powering the next-gen PlayStation 4 from Sony, so it will be a major win if AMD is inside the Xbox 720. Microsoft's logic in switching to AMD could include lowering production price and trying to entice more developers to produce games for the platform. By adapting a PC architecture, both are achieved.
Neither AMD nor Microsoft would comment on the report. Microsoft is said to be aiming for a May or June unveiling, possibly at E3. Other sources have pegged May 21 as the day that Microsoft will unveil the Xbox 720.
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ConfirmedTT: Austin, TX getting Google Fiber, roll out date unknown at this time
It has been confirmed that Austin, Texas will be getting the elusive Google Fiber. Austin, TX will be just the second city to get access to Google's super-fast 1Gbps fiber internet connection and TV service. Kansas City, Kansas and Missouri is the other city to have access to Google's fiber ISP.
Gig.U congratulates Google and the City of Austin for their initiative to bring a world-leading network to one of the world's great research university communities. This effort will pay enormous dividends for the country, as it will help develop the human capital America needs to lead a global economy that increasingly creates value with big data and big bandwidth. The Austin project, as well as the recent response to the North Carolina Next Generation Network project demonstrates that university communities are increasingly recognized as attractive partners for next generation network deployments because of the innovative spirit and demand profiles of their residents. We look forward to watching and learning from the exciting growth and innovation to come from the Google Fiber projects, and accelerating such efforts in Gig.U communities throughout the country.
It's probably not enough to draw most people to move to Austin, but it could certainly help the start-up scene. Austin, Texas is already home to the South by Southwest conference and start-ups wouldn't have to travel if they were already based in Austin.
Details are still slim, but we will collect them as they come in. We should know more tomorrow when Google and the City of Austin make their joint press conference.
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Electronic Arts in running for prestigious 'Worst Company in America' title
The Consumerist, a website dedicated to customers fighting back against companies, hosts a yearly competition to pick the worst company in America. The tournament is ran much like the March Madness basketball tournament with two companies being placed head-to-head and voted on for worst company in America.
64 companies started and we're down to the final two: Electronic Arts and Bank of America. Interestingly, this is the same way the tournament ended last year. EA garnered 64 percent of the popular last year and could end up winning the Golden Poo award again this year.
We've covered the failed SimCity launch in detail, so if you feel EA deserves the title "Worst Company in America," you can head over to the
Consumerist's website and cast a ballot up until 9p.m. PT tonight.
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Red Epic Dragon 6K sensor updates start tomorrow, will set you back $8,500
Red, the make of high-end cinematographic cameras, will begin upgrading Epic-M and Epic-X cameras tomorrow to the new Dragon Sensor for the low price of $8,500. The upgrade will usher the already amazing cameras into the 6K era and will re-define the meaning of high definition.
The new sensor features 6K resolution with 120 frames per second possible at 5K, and features 15 stops of dynamic range. In an interesting turn of events, Red will let owners as well as the public watch the upgrade process live at their booth at NAB.
Red Epic camera owners who wait until Thursday to purchase the upgrade will have to pay $9,500. Those looking to purchase a new Epic-M with the Dragon Sensor pre-installed will be able to pre-order the camera tomorrow for $29,000. For smaller film makers who ordered the more budget friendly Scarlet, they will be able to upgrade to the Dragon Sensor in the near future. Scarlet Dragon pricing is forthcoming and we will keep you updated when more information is released.
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Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes Wii U release date announced
Lego Batman is one of the biggest hits on the Wii console ranking right up there with the Lego Star Wars titles. Fans of the game have already seen the sequel arrive on the Wii and Nintendo DS, but Wii U owners have been left wondering when they will get a taste of Gotham City love.
Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes will blast onto the scene for Wii U on the 21st of May, which is just over a month from now. The date has not been confirmed through Nintendo, but it is listed on both Amazon and GameStop's website as going on sale that day.
Gaming site Joystiq has also confirmed through GameStop that this date is indeed the official launch date for Lego Batman 2 for the Wii U.
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LeakedTT: Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF6 in white appears ahead of tomorrow's launch
Images have surfaced of Panasonic's upcoming Lumix DMC-GF6 MFT camera. The camera which is set to be released tomorrow appeared in white trim, and looking quite nice.
Along with the image, info has also been leaked about the camera's specifications. Packed into the small hosing is a 16-megapixel image sensor, an all-new "Venus" image engine, low light Auto Focus system and WiFi. The camera is capable of burst of up to 4.2 frames per second, and can shoot 1080p video at 60 FPS.
Other notable features include Near Field Communication, an ISO range up to 25,600, and will come with a 14-42mm kit lens. The GF6 is expected to retail at $680 and every indication is pointing to the official launch happening tomorrow morning.
Do Mirror-less Four-Thirds cameras appeal to you? Personally I still prefer a big bodied DSLR, but that is just the photographer in me speaking.
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OopsTT: Taiwan news media erroneously reports on the death of the Queen of England
This morning a Taiwan news station reported that the Queen of England, Queen Elizabeth, had passed away. However, we are happy to report that the Queen is alive and well. The report headline said (as pictured below):
"Queen of England passes away, and we will miss her." It appears that the passing of Margret Thatcher, the former Prime Minister of England, was confused with the Queen.
Margret Thatcher served England as prime minister from 1979 until 1990, and holds the title as England's longest serving politician, and nicknamed the "Iron Lady" because of her uncompromising politics and leadership style. As prime minister, she implemented conservative policies that have come to be known as Thatcherism.
While we at TweakTown are sad to hear of Baroness Thatcher's passing, we are happy to report that the Queen is doing just fine. In general I hold all media sources to the highest standards and as a journalist myself, I fact check everything I post before hitting that submit button.
What has Taiwan news media been smoking this morning?
UPDATE: To be clear, there was some confusion to the translation of the headline. Some are stating the Chinese wording translates to "Queen" and others "Prime Minister". The fact remain for sure that the image used is of the Queen of England, and not Margret Thatcher.
UPDATE #2: As you can see below, more pictures are being posted to Facebook.
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Apple gets to keep iPad Mini trademark, must add fine print
Apple has been trying to trademark the iPad Mini name since the product's inception, but up until now the US Patent and Trade office has been denying the request. This morning 9to5mac is reporting that the USPTO has agreed to grant the request on one condition.
If Apple would like to trademark the iPad Mini name, they must add fine-print to the application stating that Apple is not claiming exclusive rights to the term "Mini." This could be the turning point for the US PTO in how it reviews trademark applications. We're hoping that this move by the Patent office is an attempt to punish Apple for what it sees as a useless application.
In a statement the US PTO said:
"The document also holds firm on the requirement that Apple add a disclaimer to its application noting that it only seeks to protect the term "mini" when used as part of the "iPad mini" name. The disclaimer would allow other companies to use the "mini" term in their own product names."
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Futuremark unveils mobile hardware channel powered by 3DMark
A benchmarking standard for mobile devices has long been needed and
Futuremark recognized this need. This morning Futuremark released its Mobile Hardware Channel that list the top 100 mobile devices by performance.
Unsurprisingly the top listed phone is the Samsung Galaxy S4 that posted a default score of 10,819 with extreme numbers reaching 6,725. It is followed up by the Sharp Aquos Phone Zeta, Pantech Vega R3 and the Fujitsu Arrows A 201F. The HTC One rounds out the top five with a default score of 10,389 and an extreme score of 6,310.
The worst performing device on the list is the Barnes and Noble Nook HD+ with a default score of just 3,539. Also low on the list is the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 LTE, Nexus 7 and the Acer Iconia Tab A211.
If you would like to see where your device stands, you can download the official 3DMark app for your OS by visiting the app store.
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LeakedTT: Check out Facebook Home ahead of Friday's launch with these leaked APKs
Facebook Home, the new launcher for Android by the social networking giant, releases this Friday, and
will officially be available for the HTC One, HTC One X/X+, Samsung Galaxy SIII, Samsung Galaxy S4, Samsung Galaxy Note II and the new HTC First.
This morning MoDoCo.com has published a set of three APK files that appear to be the components that make up a pre-release beta of Facebook Home. The only requirements for installing the beta is that the device has a maximum resolution of 1280x768, as well as the ability to completely remove or uninstall the existing Facebook app.
I was able to install all three apps to my aging Motorola Photon 4G, but all I got upon launch was a black screen. Home does not appear to actually reconfigure the home screen, but it remaps the home button to the Facebook Home wall. Pressing the back button allowed me to return to my normal Android home screen, and I was then able to delete the APKs through the normal app removal method.
If you are able to get the leaked Facebook Home APKs working on your phone (at your own risk), please leave us a comment, so we can compile a running list of which phones are Facebook Home compatible. A photo / screen shot of it running would be cool, too! You can download (at your own risk) the APKs from the Mega links found in Source #2, #3 and #4 below.
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ComiXology will make good on its promise to offer free digital editions of first issue comic books
Last month I reported that digital comic book startup
comiXology would be offering the entire Marvel first edition catalog for free to users of its app. Unfortunately that is where the good news began and ended.
Just minutes after going live, the site was inundated with overwhelming traffic and their servers began to melt down. The site was unreachable for several days even after the download links were taken down. This lead to the CEO sending a mass email to members stating that they would get their free downloads, but for the time being, the company had to upgrade the network.
I was one of those subscribers, I tried to download several comics and failed to do so every time. This morning I received an email from comiXology that said they will begin delivering on their promise of free first editions beginning this Thursday. It appears that the process will be rolled out to members in phases and will only be accessible via a custom link that will be emailed to you.
The official email stated:
Since you asked for updates about the Marvel #1 promotion, we wanted to let you know that we have been working hard to make things right, and now...*drumroll please*...you are among the first to know how to get your hands on them. Because you already have a comiXology account, no further action is needed at this time, and you'll be the first in line.
On Thursday, April 11th, we will begin sending out invites with your personalized link to access over 700 FREE Marvel #1 issues, so be on the lookout for your email! Please add noreply@comixology.com to your address book so things don't get caught in your junk mail. Once you receive your Marvel #1 invite, you will have 48 hours to choose your FREE Marvel #1 issues! You can only access this page by using your comiXology username and password.
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RumorTT: Next-gen Xbox to be unveiled at Microsoft event next month
It looks like the next-generation Xbox could be unveiled next month, with The Verge reporting that Microsoft are hosting an event next month for such a thing. Paul Thurrott has said that Microsoft has an event planned for May 21, with The Verge confirming this, saying "
as we understand this date is accurate".
The Verge's sources have said that the event will be at a small venue, which will concentrate on the first details of the next-generation Xbox. There's not much else to report on right now, but you should pull that pencil out of your bag, and jot down that May 21 date - I'll be waiting with some seriously powerful enthusiasm.
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Crucial's 960GB M500 SSD spotted on e-tailer website
If you're after a gigantic SSD, Crucial's upcoming M500 in 960GB might do the trick. The mammoth-sized SSD was teased a couple of months ago at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, but it looks like the drive is about ready to drop.
Upgradeable.com.au has it for sale, at AU$875. This is much more than Crucial teased at CES, where they promised the "
First terabyte-class drive available for under $600" But, we're also talking about an Australian retailer, so we have 10% for GST bringing the price down to under $800, and AU retailers nearly always charge more than US retailers - so $600-$650 in the US isn't much of a stretch.
What does Crucial's M500 SSD in 960GB provide? Well, you'll see some sustained sequential read/write performance of 500MB/sec and 400MB/sec, respectively. 4KB random read/writes are both up to 80,000 IOPS. The controller doing all of the work inside the Crucial M500 is the Marvel 88SS9187 controller with "Micron Custom Firmware."
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AMD: There won't be a DirectX 12 but the company will integrate "other technologies" into their GPUs
We've seen leaps and bounds in graphics over the years, helped by each iteration of DirectX. But, after games started being made for, and optimized for consoles, the push of graphics started to sink.
It has gotten to the point where AMD's vice president of global channel sales, Roy Taylor, stated during an interview with
German publication Heise.de, that AMD don't believe we'll see a DirectX 12 API. We won't be seeing DirectX 12 with Windows 8, or Windows Blue either.
Taylor was responding to a question about next-generation GPUs and technologies that they can be built around, where Taylor replied they'd normally build them around new DirectX versions to help the next-generation GPU architectures, but there won't be a DirectX 12, which means AMD's next-gen GPUs will integrate other technologies.
I'd love to know what "other technologies" means, but in the meantime we'll enjoy the fact that Taylor also hinted that Battlefield 4 could be part of AMD's next "Never Settle" bundle.
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Hulu sale talk persists, they receive $500 million bid from former News Corp president
Reuters is jumping out of the gate, with fresh news that former News Corp president, Peter Chernin, who now runs The Chernin Group, has made a $500 million bid to buy Hulu.
We heard that Hulu jammed a 'For Sale' sign into their front garden a few weeks ago, but this news is now much more official.
The Chernin Group owns stakes in Pandora Media Inc and the related production company Chernin Entertainment, who has produced films and TV shows such as New Girl, Terra Nova and Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Hulu is currently jointly owned by News Corp and Walt Disney Co. Peter Chernin actually had some word in building Hulu back in 2007 when he sat on the website's board.
Reuters has reported that the owners of Hulu "
reached out to potential buyers in March [of 2013] after initially contemplating a deal in which one [News Corp. or Disney] would buy out the other. It is not clear whether that transaction is still being contemplated."
Back in 2012, Providence Equity Partners invested $200 million in The Chernin Group, shortly after selling their 10% stake in Hulu for a nice $200 million. This has put Hulu's evaluation at $2 billion, and considering the service has three million paying customers, and a reported $700 million in revenue for last year, that half-billion-dollar bid might be a little bit below the belt.
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BioShock Infinite Benchmarked with AMD EyeFinity at 5760x1080
Introduction
Our fourth adventure in EyeFinity testing is with Irrational Games' BioShock Infinite. As a big fan of the original BioShock, and their spiritual predecessor System Shock, I was ecstatic to hear about BioShock Infinite. The game has been optimized well on PC, with multi-monitor support built directly into the game.
Also included within the game is a built-in benchmark, which is quite amazing to use. This is something all games should have, so shame on you developers for not following in Irrational Games' direction. First off we'll actually show you the benchmarking system Irrational Games have opted for, which is an old school command prompt tool.
You can choose from a multitude of settings - from Ultra down to Very Low, custom resolutions, your aspect ratio and more.
[imgsbs]01[/imgsbs] [imgsbs]02[/imgsbs]
[imgsbs]03[/imgsbs] [imgsbs]04[/imgsbs]
Let's get into it shall we? For your information, I'm running:
- Intel Core i7 3770K @ 4.8GHz
- Corsair H100 Hydro Cooler
- Corsair Force Series GT 240GB SSD
- ASRock Z77 Extreme 9 motherboard
- Sapphire AMD Radeon HD 7970 Dual-X OC Edition (x2)
- Lian Li PC-T60 Pitstop
- Corsair Dominator Platinum - 16GB kit of 2133MHz DDR3 RAM
- Windows 7 Ultimate Edition x64
- AMD Catalyst 13.2 beta 7 drivers
I'd like to extend a big thank you to Sapphire, Corsair and ASRock for supplying the parts for this machine, I couldn't write this article or any future articles without this hardware!
It's a seriously nice machine, and really powers through what I do each day. I've got the CPU clocked up to remove any potential CPU-based bottlenecks, the RAM is at stock speeds and everything else is at out-of-the-box settings.
Benchmark Results
What we've done with BioShock Infinite is run it at two different graphic presets. The first of which is the Ultra preset with Diffusion Depth of Field - this is a little more stressful on the GPU. We've run the same Ultra preset, but without the DDoF and then both of these tests with CrossFire. These tests were then run once more, but with two more monitors hooked up for some EyeFinity action - and then once more with CrossFire with EyeFinity.
In between, we offer a look at overclocking - where we run all of the above benchmarks and presets with our GPUs overclocked. You'll see below, our results:
As you can see, a single Radeon HD 7970 provides stellar performance in BioShock Infinite at 1080p. We are seeing 95 FPS with the Ultra preset on a soft overclock. Enabling Diffusion Depth of Field knocks this down to 73 FPS, which is still above the fluidity of 60 FPS. Even at stock clocks, we're seeing 84 FPS and 64 FPS for Ultra and Ultra w/DDoF.
The single card doesn't do too well with EyeFinity at 5760x1080, where we see the overclocked HD 7970 pushing out just 37 FPS at Ultra on our overclock, and just 27 FPS with DDoF enabled. At stock settings, the performance isn't too much worse, dropping down to 32 FPS and 24 FPS for Ultra and Ultras w/DDoF enabled.
Overclocking your GPU seems to provide BioShock Infinite with some decent gains, where we see around 10% across the board in each scenario (with and without DDoF and single monitor/EyeFinity). Let's move onto some CrossFire results.
CrossFire really helps with BioShock Infinite, providing nearly double the frame rate over the single HD 7970. With two overclocked Radeon HD 7970s, we're seeing 151 FPS at 1080p, which is amazing. Enabling DDoF knocks this down to 126 FPS, but we're still over that magic 120 FPS number. EyeFinity with the overclocked HD 7970s in CrossFire is great, where we see 68 FPS with the Ultra preset and 52 FPS with the DDoF enabled.
The stock HD 7970s in CrossFire are still great, giving us a little under 10% the performance of the overclocked HD 7970s. 60 FPS can still be enjoyed at 5760x1080 at Ultra detail on CrossFire HD 7970s.
Overall, CrossFire provides some great performance improvements - especially for those who want to enjoy the most eye candy at 120 FPS on their 120Hz-capable monitors, like myself. If you wanted to have 120 FPS at 5760x1080, you would need to start thinking of four-way CrossFire, which is much more expensive.
60 FPS at 5760x1080 with two HD 7970s is still good in my book, and 151 FPS at 1080p is a great achievement. Now if I only had time to play the game!
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Top 10 TweakTown Content from the past week [08 April 2013]
Here are our top 10 articles, reviews and guides from the past week!
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Intel 335 Series 180GB SSD Review
Introduction
Over the last three months we back tracked and covered 128GB class SSDs after all but dismissing their existence for nearly a year. After installing Windows 8 on a SuperSSpeed S301 SLC 120GB SSD, I think it was a mistake. Windows 8, like every version of Windows before it, takes more space than its predecessor used. As we're shown in the past, SSDs slow in a linier fashion to the amount of data on the flash. Knocking out half the storage capacity with your OS and Office isn't a good way to start out with your new SSD, because it also means nearly half of your performance goes with it.
The 180GB capacity size isn't rare, but not every company builds products in this capacity size. For the most part, when you see a 180GB product, 90GB as well, a LSI SandForce controller is involved. That's exactly what Intel used on the 335 Series, but unlike previous Intel SSDs, the 335 uses new Intel 20nm NAND flash.
This is our second look at the 335 Series. We tested the 240GB model when the series first hit the market and found its performance was better than the 330 Series and really liked the notebook battery life.
Let's take a look at the 180GB part now.
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NZXT Kraken X60 280mm AIO CPU Cooler Review
Introduction
Not that long ago now we took a look at the Kraken series and more specifically the X40. What we saw then is that the Kraken series of AIO coolers, while being a bit loud, now shares top honors amongst AIO coolers with the Swiftech H220. Considering the radiator is a bit smaller when we discuss surface area with the Kraken X40 compared to the H220, and that the H220 used two fans to obtain that level of efficiency, there is a lot going for the Kraken coolers. I know we could even improve on the X40 results by adding a pair of fans by at least a couple of degrees, and that takes results right on into the custom kit temperatures. I think the day has finally arrived where a closed loop AIO can really start to take on custom water kits, and with most of the old issues well in the past, there is no reason to shy away from these systems to cool your processor.
As with any AIO that has been released outside of the "big two" companies making all of them, they come in some sort of pairs. Since we looked at the single 140mm radiator, a thin version, there are two routes to take to offer a more efficient version. The first way is to thicken the single 140mm radiator to give you double the surface area of the fins, but with a thicker radiator come issues with finding a fan really capable of getting all the way through with anything left in the tank. This is why they come with a pair of fans in most cases, because with one fan, they don't get the air flow they need. The other way to go is to offer a double radiator, or in the case of NZXT, they offer a 280mm by 140mm radiator in this new release.
With what I have seen from the X40, the Kraken series is already in the top of the game, and with the new larger radiator, I can only think that the Kraken X60 we are looking at today is going to kick some ass and take names as it climbs higher up the chart. To be honest, I am not expecting this unit to go right to the top, but I know the larger design has to be worth a few degrees over the X40, and that is promising enough to make me excited to try it.
Hang tight as I work my way through all the aspects and features that this new X60 has to offer as we then get to the meat and potatoes of the results and see just where the Kraken X60 stands.
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Noctua Introduces NH-U12S and NH-U14S Single Tower CPU Coolers
Noctua today presented the latest models of its award-winning NH-U series of quiet single tower CPU coolers: Whereas the NH-U12S comes equipped with the renowned NF-F12 120 mm fan and succeeds the highly popular NH-U12P SE2, the NH-U14S is the series' first 140 mm model and uses the new NF-A15 140 mm fan. Both models feature a new, slim design that ensures easy RAM access and maximum compatibility with tall memory modules.
"The original NH-U12 and NH-U9 were the first Noctua products we brought to the market and the NH-U series has been a cornerstone of our success ever since", explains Mag. Roland Mossig (Noctua CEO). "Representing the next generation of this venerable legacy, the new NH-U12S and NH-U14S are the result of almost 10 years of continuous development and optimisation. Both models mark a significant improvement in performance, convenience and compatibility."
Due to its fine-tuned design and the class-leading NF-F12 120mm FocusedFlow fan, the NH-U12S further improves the renowned quiet cooling performance of the NH-U12P SE2. The NH-U14S features a large, six heatpipe design and comes equipped with the NF-A15 140 mm fan. This allows it to best the quiet cooling performance of all other U-series coolers, making it Noctua's most efficient single tower cooler to date.
Both the NH-U12S' NF-F12 and the NH-U14S' NF-A15 fan support PWM for convenient automatic speed control through the mainboard. In addition, the maximum fan speed can be reduced from 1500 to 1200 rpm using the supplied Low-Noise Adaptor for even quieter operation.
The NH-U12S and NH-U14S feature a new, slim layout that has been conceived to provide maximum RAM compatibility: With a fin depth of only 45 mm, the NH-U12S will not overhang the RAM slots even with two fans installed. This gives the user full access to the memory modules on all current CPU sockets and guarantees 100% compatibility with tall heatspreaders or optional memory fans. The NH-U14S features a 52 mm slim design tailor-made for LGA2011 and does not overhang the RAM slots on this platform.
Topped off with the trusted, pro-grade SecuFirm2 multi-socket mounting system, Noctua's proven NT-H1 thermal compound and full 6 years manufacturer's warranty, the NH-U12S and NH-U14S are complete premium quality solutions that combine superb performance, high compatibility and quiet operation.
Pricing and availability
The NH-U12S and NH-U14S will be available shortly at suggested retail prices of EUR 59.90 / USD 64.90 (NH-U12S) and EUR 69.90 / USD 74.90 (NH-U14S).
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NETGEAR Debuts the R6250 802.11ac WiFi Router
NETGEAR, Inc., a global networking company that delivers innovative products to consumers, businesses and service providers, is expanding its market-leading family of next-generation 802.11ac wireless products with the R6250 Smart WiFi Router. The industry's newest router to support the upcoming 802.11ac wireless standard, the R6250 is designed for customers who want the best possible 802.11ac WiFi performance but don't feel the need to have the fastest 802.11n WiFi performance in the 2.4 Ghz band.
The router includes Gigabit Ethernet ports and a USB 3.0 port so that you can make the most of the outstanding performance it delivers with 802.11ac WiFi. The NETGEAR R6250 is ideal for HD streaming to multiple devices, including the latest smartphones with 802.11ac, such as the Samsung Galaxy S4 and the HTC One.
With a powerful dual-core 800 MHz engine to enable combined WiFi connections at Gigabit speeds up to 1600 Mbps (300 Mbps @ 2.4 Ghz 802.11n + 1300 Mbps @ 5 Ghz 802.11ac), the R6250 Smart WiFi Router offers optimal wireless coverage for large homes. It also has a new SuperSpeed USB 3.0 port, capable of transferring data from your hard drive up to 10 times faster than a USB 2.0 interface. These features make the R6250 ideal for enabling your increasingly connected digital lifestyle. The R6250 is particularly useful as the network hub for families with eight or more WiFi devices, and works especially well with dual-band WiFi devices such as the Apple iPad and iPhone 5.
"At NETGEAR, we recognize that your home network today has become increasingly complex and must support multiple diverse Internet-enabled devices - smartphones, tablets, computers, game consoles and more - with an ever-expanding library of digital content," said Sandeep Harpalani , NETGEAR Director of Product Marketing for Core Networking.
He added, "802.11ac is the wireless standard you need for your network to cope with the growing demands you're placing on it for smoother HD video streaming and low-latency online gaming. The R6250, our newest addition to the 802.11ac WiFi router lineup, will help your network achieve the high performance you expect to support your increasingly digital lifestyle and premium WiFi devices - now, and for years to come."
The upcoming 802.11ac wireless standard (www.netgear.com/80211ac) is the world's fastest WiFi, providing Gigabit WiFi speeds so you can download web content faster and synchronize large video or music files more quickly. The increased speed of 802.11ac technology is ideal for mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets by providing three times the performance for a similar amount of battery consumption of devices using the current 802.11n WiFi standard. As a result, many companies, such as Samsung and HTC, are now releasing smartphones with 802.11ac WiFi, with additional 802.11ac-enabled smartphones, tablets and TVs from other leading manufacturers anticipated to debut in the coming year.
The NETGEAR 802.11ac Product Family
January 2013 Retail Tracking Service data from global information company The NPD Group shows NETGEAR to be the market share leader, in both units and dollars, in 802.11ac wireless routers. The new NETGEAR R6250 Smart WiFi Router joins the growing NETGEAR family of next-generation 802.11ac products:
- The R6300 WiFi Router (the industry's first 802.11ac router), that supports approximate combined WiFi speeds up to 1750 Mbps
- The new R6250 WiFi Router, that supports approximate combined WiFi speeds up to 1600 Mbps
- The R6200 WiFi Router, for approximate combined WiFi speeds up to 1200 Mbps
- The A6200 WiFi Adapter, a first-to-market 802.11ac dual band WiFi USB adapter that enables consumers to easily upgrade their existing PC or laptop to 802.11ac performance
- The D6300 WiFi Modem Router, with a built-in ADSL2+ modem for approximate combined WiFi speeds up to 1600 Mbps
- The D6200 WiFi Modem Router, with a built-in ADSL2+ modem for approximate combined WiFi speeds up to 1200 Mbps
All devices in the next-generation 802.11ac product line, including the new R6250, are backward compatible with 802.11a/b/g/n to provide optimal interoperability with legacy WiFi devices and for maintaining maximum performance on Wireless-N networks.
Here are some of the additional advanced features of the NETGEAR R6250 Smart WiFi Router that you will enjoy:
- NETGEAR genie: This free app for PCs, Macs, iOS and Android smartphones and tablets enables home users to control, monitor, repair and manage their home networks easily through a simple, elegant dashboard. NETGEAR customers can download the utility at http://www.netgear.com/genie or from the Google Play or App Store.
- NETGEAR MyMedia: The NETGEAR genie app provides the ability to find photos, video or music files anywhere on the network and play them on any DLNA media player.
- AirPrint Support: The NETGEAR genie app enables you to print to any USB or networked printer directly from an Apple iPad or Apple iPhone.
- Guest network access: The guest network prevents other people from seeing and accessing your household's computers, printers, storage devices and other home network devices.
- NETGEAR EZ Mobile Connect: This is an incredibly easy way to enable your guests' smartphones or tablets to connect to your home Wi-Fi network, simply by scanning the QR code from the genie WiFi screen without typing in security keys or SSIDs.
- NETGEAR ReadySHARE Printer: This feature makes it easy for the router to turn any existing USB printer into a fully functional networked printer that is fully compatible with Macs and PCs.
- Media Server-DLNA: The router is DLNA-ready and can stream to any DLNA-compatible device in your house, including the latest smart TVs, Blu-ray players, media players, game consoles, handheld devices, tablets and more.
- NETGEAR Live Parental Controls: This is a centralized, flexible, and reliable parental control solution for all the devices on the network, including Macs, PCs, smartphones and tablets, for a safe online environment for children and teenagers. No subscription is required.
- Automatic WiFi Security: The router comes with wireless security turned on out-of-the-box, complete with a pre-configured network name and password, protecting home WiFi networks by default.
- Easy installation: There's no CD required, so you can set up the router with smartphones, tablets, ultrabooks and even a MacBook Air.
- USB port: The R6250 Router features one USB 3.0 port, offering up to 10 times faster USB hard drive access as compared to USB 2.0. It can support a USB hard drive for storage or a printer, to wirelessly access and share within the home.
- AC Beamforming-Ready: Smart, signal-focusing technology boosts the speed, reliability, and range of your 802.11ac WiFi connections. A firmware update available in early summer will support NETGEAR Beamforming+, which recognizes the location of a wireless device on your network and directs the WiFi signal directly at the device, constantly checking and tracking moving devices such as your mobile phones and tablets. This targeted approach improves WiFi performance at long range and enhances video streaming and the online gaming experience.
Pricing and Availability
The NETGEAR R6250 WiFi Router is available now via major retailers and online at an MSRP in the U.S. of $169.99.
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G-Technology Launches Industry's Most Flexible Storage Solution
G-Technology, a leader in delivering premium storage solutions for audio/video production, photography and the creative professional market, announced today the first solutions in its new Evolution Series family - the G-DOCK ev with Thunderbolt, and the G-DRIVE ev and the G-DRIVE ev PLUS external hard drive modules with USB 3.0.
Together, they provide quick content transfers for photography, 2K and 4K digital cinema workloads with easy storage expansion, high performance and high reliability in a user configurable solution. The G-DOCK ev with Thunderbolt is the only two-bay solution with interchangeable and rugged storage modules that have the flexibility to be taken into the field and used as true standalone external drives.
Whether in the field or in the studio, the Evolution Series design allows for various storage system configurations, including JBOD, RAID 1 (redundancy), RAID 0 (performance) or used as standalone external drives modules to meet the most demanding digital content workflow and data management needs. As capacity or performance needs grow, simply expand and scale by using more high-capacity, high-performance external hard drive modules with the same docking station for quickly creating camera card backups, easily separating and organizing projects, shuttling dailies or proxies, or delivering final work to clients.
The G-DOCK ev also allows users to defer the cost of Thunderbolt across multiple hard drives. The G-DOCK ev with Thunderbolt serves as the high-performance Thunderbolt hub for quickly copying data to as many USB 3.0 G-DRIVE ev external storage modules as needed for protecting, transferring, editing and distributing content throughout the workflow.
For the Creative Pro, Time is Money
Many creative professionals manage complex workflows and multiple stakeholders. Their storage solutions must simply work - protect and move data quickly and reliably throughout the workflow as movie directors, producers and photographers are on tight deadlines and cannot recreate that shot. There is no room for error as a full day's shoot on set or on location could be worth millions of dollars- no time to waste for lost data, or slow transfers or edits. The Evolution Series docking station and interchangeable and expandable external hard drive modules help meet the changing capacity and performance requirements of today's creative professionals. Collectively, the Evolution Series helps streamline the digital content workflow, making copying, transferring, editing and distributing content more efficient, scalable and reliable.
G-DOCK ev with Thunderbolt
The Evolution Series G-DOCK ev with Thunderbolt is a two-bay, hot-swappable JBOD media drive system with user-configurable RAID 1 (protected) or RAID 0 (performance). Unlike other two-bay solutions that only offer bare hard drive modules that cannot be taken into the field and used as true standalone external drives, the G-DOCK ev ships with two 1TB removable and portable G-DRIVE ev external hard drive modules with USB 3.0. The G-DOCK ev provides dual Thunderbolt ports for future external storage expansion and for daisy chaining with other G-DOCK ev solutions or other Thunderbolt-based devices. Customers can purchase more 500GB or 1TB G-DRIVE ev and 1TB G-DRIVE ev PLUS external hard drive modules for ultimate flexibility and scalability, using one G-DOCK ev system. The G-DOCK ev with Thunderbolt comes in a stylish all aluminum design with a Kensington Lock slot and a three-year limited warranty. The G-DOCK ev is Mac-formatted out-of-the-box. The Thunderbolt cable is included.
G-DRIVE ev External Hard Drive Module
The Evolution Series G-DRIVE ev is a rugged USB 3.0, 2.5-inch, 7200RPM hard drive-based external storage solution with transfer rates of up to 136MB/s. Paired with an Evolution Series G-DOCK ev, or used as a standalone external hard drive, the G-DRIVE ev is flexible for use in the field or back in the studio when connected to the G-DOCK ev for quick data backups, duplication and transfers. The G-Technology G-DRIVE ev comes in a compact all aluminum enclosure, featuring USB 3.0 for plug-and-play connectivity to other computers and workstations, and a 6Gb/s SATA interface for connection to the G-DOCK ev. It is available in 1TB or 500GB capacities.
G-DRIVE ev PLUS External Hard Drive Module
The Evolution Series G-DRIVE ev PLUS external hard drive module with USB 3.0 delivers transfer rates up to 250MB/s, which can be paired with an Evolution Series G-DOCK ev, or used as a standalone external storage device. It provides the speed and flexibility demanded by today's creative professionals. The G-Technology G-DRIVE ev PLUS is a compact, 2.5-inch, 7200RPM hard drive-based external storage solution in an all aluminum enclosure, featuring USB 3.0 for plug-and-play connectivity and a 6Gb/s SATA interface for connection to the G-DOCK ev. The G-DRIVE ev PLUS comes in 1TB capacity.
"When it comes to my storage needs, reliability, speed and capacity matter most," said Vincent Laforet , a Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer, filmmaker and G-TEAM member. "I depend on my equipment to work like a pro whether I'm shooting commercials for companies like Famous Footware or photos for The New York Times. As a G-Technology G-TEAM member, I've been testing an early sample of the G-DOCK ev and G-DRIVE ev and it's clear that G-Technology understands the demands of pre-production and post-production workflows. This is definitely an evolutionary approach in delivering storage solutions that help speed up the workflow."
"Time is money when it comes to professional digital workflows. We've designed the new Evolution Series to meet the rigorous demands of the world's best content creators. The new Evolution Series makes it fast and simple to make backup or duplicate copies of digital content in a portable format for various team members involved in the post-production process," said Mike Williams , vice president and general manager, G-Technology/HGST Branded Business. "Providing a clear return on investment, the design of the G-DOCK ev with Thunderbolt also lets customers invest in a Thunderbolt-based system with the flexibility to buy multiple G-DRIVE ev or G-DRIVE ev PLUS drives for customized, project-based workflows."
The G-DOCK ev, which includes two 1TB G-DRIVE ev modules, will be available in May through G-Technology and its Premier Channel Partners for an MSRP of $749.95. Designed as a flexible and scalable ecosystem, additional 500GB or 1TB G-DRIVE ev modules can be purchased separately for a MSRP of $149.95 and $199.95, respectively. For increased performance the 1TB G-DRIVE ev PLUS modules can also be purchased separately for use with the G-DOCK ev with Thunderbolt. The G-DRIVE ev PLUS modules will be available this summer for $349.95 MSRP.
To become a member of the new G-Technology Premier Partner Program, please visit:
http://www.G-Technology.com. Targeting digital video, audio and photography-focused resellers, G-Technology's Premier Partner Program is exclusively dedicated to the creative professional storage market.
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TSMC and Cadence Strengthen Collaboration on 16 nm FinFET Process Development
Cadence Design Systems, Inc., today announced an ongoing multi-year agreement with TSMC to develop the design infrastructure for 16-nanometer FinFET technology, targeting advanced node designs for mobile, networking, servers and FPGA applications. The deep collaboration, beginning earlier in the design process than usual, will effectively address the design challenges specific to FinFETs -- from design analysis through signoff -- and will deliver the infrastructure necessary to enable ultra low-power, high-performance chips.
FinFETs help deliver the power, performance, and area (PPA) advantages that are needed to develop highly differentiated SoC designs at 16 nanometers and smaller process technologies. Unlike a planar FET, the FinFET employs a vertical fin-like structure protruding from the substrate with the gate wrapping around the sides and top of the fin, thereby producing transistors with low leakage currents and fast switching performance. This extended Cadence-TSMC collaboration will produce the design infrastructure that chip designers need for accurate electrical characteristics and parasitic models required for advanced FinFET designs for mobile and enterprise applications.
"The FinFET device requires greater accuracy, from analysis through signoff, and that is why TSMC is teaming with Cadence on this project," said Suk Lee, TSMC Senior Director, Design Infrastructure Marketing Division. "This collaboration will enable designers to use the new process technology with confidence earlier than ever before, allowing our mutual customers to meet their power, performance and time-to-market goals."
"Producing the design infrastructure necessary for these types of complex, groundbreaking processes requires close collaboration between foundries and EDA technology innovators," said Chi-Ping Hsu, senior vice president, Silicon Realization Group at Cadence. "In joining with TSMC, a leader in FinFET technology, Cadence brings unique technology innovations and expertise that will provide designers with the FinFET design capabilities they need to bring high-performance, power-efficient products to market."
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Top 10 TweakTown Press Releases from the past week [08 April 2013]
Here are our top 10 posted press releases from the past week!
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