IT-Code-News: IT News Head Lines (TweakTown) 02/06/2013

Saturday, June 1, 2013

IT News Head Lines (TweakTown) 02/06/2013

TweakTown

Pictures of the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active show the device in black this time with AT&T branding
Pictures of the still unannounced Samsung Galaxy S4 Active have surfaced online. This time, however, the device has surfaced in black and with AT&T branding, suggesting that the device will be making its way to AT&T in the United States. Take a look for yourself:

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Actual specifications aren't known, but the rumors suggest that it will make use of a 1.9GHz quad-core Snapdragon 600 and 2GB of RAM. The display is reportedly a 1080p panel. The rear-facing camera is rumored to be 8MP. The Active is rumored to be dust and water resistant, making it a great "life companion" for those who lead an adventurous lifestyle.
We still fully expect to see this device unveiled at Samsung's June 20 event in London. We'll have full coverage of the event, so you'll be able to read about all of the new devices right here on TweakTown.

Kim Dotcom wins another court battle, gets access to seized property from 2012 raid
Kim Dotcom has won another legal battle in regards to the raid on his mansion back in January 2012. New Zealand's High Court ruled that the warrants used during the raid were illegal. This is good news for Dotcom as it means the police must return all non-relevant assets to Dotcom.

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Police will also be required to provide copies of all evidence they've used in the prosecution of Dotcom, which means Dotcom should get access to all evidence collected during the raid. The High Court also demanded US officials destroy any copies of information that contained data irrelevant to the case.
Dotcom isn't completely in the clear as of yet. He still faces a hearing in August that will determine if he will be extradited to the US. If extradited, he will face charges of piracy for his part in Megaupload.

DirecTV has reportedly bid $1 billion for Hulu
Next-day TV streaming provider Hulu has been seeking a buyer. Reports of several interested companies have popped up over the past week or two and now DirectTV has reportedly offered $1 billion for the company. DirecTV would be competing with Yahoo, Time Warner Cable, and possibly others for the company.

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Bloomberg reports that there are at least two other unknown companies that have offered at least $1 billion for Hulu. Hulu's board of directors are reportedly entertaining at least seven buyout offers. They plan to narrow their focus to three of four offers in a few weeks.
DirectTV's stock has fallen 3 percent to $61.19 on the news.

LinkedIn the latest web company to add two-step verification
LinkedIn is the latest web property to join the growing crowd of companies that have implemented a version of two-step authentication. Two-step--or two-factor--authentication make accounts more secure by requiring more than just a password. Users often have to have access to their cell phone to log in on an unrecognized account.

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In LinkedIn's case, users will be required to input a code sent via SMS to log in on an unrecognized device. LinkedIn director Vicente Silveira notes, "Most Internet accounts that become compromised are illegitimately accessed from a new or unknown computer. When enabled, two-step verification makes it more difficult for unauthorized users to access your account, requiring them to have both your password and access to your mobile phone."
Twitter and Apple both recently added two-step verification. For Twitter, it might have been too little, too late as they had already suffered from a number of high-profile hackings, including one of the AP's account that led to a rapid drop in the Dow Jones from a fake tweet.

Microsoft tries to boost Surface RT sales by offering free keyboard cover with purchase
Now is a great time to get a deal on the Surface RT with keyboard cover. Microsoft, clearly in an attempt to boost sales, is offering a free keyboard cover with purchase of a new Surface RT tablet. The promotion starts today and runs for an undetermined amount of time. Microsoft did note that it is a limited time offer, but didn't specify how limited.

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This represents a fairly good deal. The Touch Cover normally sets you back $100 with a purchase, or $119 by itself. The Type Cover sets purchasers back $129.
Sales of the Surface RT tablet have been less than ideal for Microsoft. Bloomberg reported back in March that Microsoft had only sold around 1.5 million Surface tablets, with around one million of those believed to be the Surface RT. That number is around half of what Microsoft was expecting.

Google forced to hand over personal user data to FBI by judge
A judge has ruled that Google must comply with the FBI's national security letters that request user data without a warrant. US District Judge Susan Illston, located in San Francisco, has ruled that Google must comply with the requests, despite their protests that they are illegal.

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The FBI has sent out 192,499 NSL demands between 2003 and 2006, 97 percent of which include a mandatory gag order. Google hasn't completely lost, with the judge noting that Google only argued broad issues, not specific issues to the 19 NSLs received. She has withheld a ruling on two of the letters pending more information from the government.
Illston has previously struck down some of the powers granted by NSLs, but some feel it wasn't enough. The EFF is currently involved in a separate lawsuit on behalf of an ISP. Illston notes she does not want to interfere with that lawsuit.

Hulu Plus updates living room experience even while seeking a buyer
Hulu has updated the living room experience for their Plus service. This update comes during a time when rumors of potential buyout suitors continue to pop up. The new update brings with it a new look, search, controls, and a new kids section, which could partially be in response to Netflix losing its Viacom content.

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Hulu has updated the experience on Samsung TVs and Blu-ray players, Roku set-top boxes, and--coming soon--Nintendo's Wii. Navigation, controls, search, and artwork have all been improved. Hulu has also introduced theme-based suggestions, including "Movies for Memorial Day" or "Time-Traveling Heroes."
Hulu has also added a new kid-friendly section that provides commercial-free children's programming. These updates should roll out to Samsung and Roku devices within 48 hours.

Dutch court rules Galaxy Tab does not need to be banned, Apple generally displeased
Apple has lost a legal battle in the Netherlands that alleged Samsung's Galaxy Tab infringed upon the look and feel of the iPad. Since they lost, they were unable to obtain the product ban that they were seeking. The Supreme Court of Netherlands ruled that the Galaxy Tab did not infringe on the design of the iPad.

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With Apple continuing to lose legal battles around the world, it brings to question why they were awarded such a huge amount last August in their landmark lawsuit against Samsung. Apple needs to innovate again to take back the lead and title of most valuable company in the world. Until then, litigation will do little for their stock price.

Twitter updates profile to allow inline editing and drag-and-drop photo uploads
Twitter has updated their website with new profile editing features. The new features include inline profile editing and drag-and-drop photo uploads, making customization of your profile that much easier. You can now easily update your profile information and drag-and-drop that new header picture you've been dying to use.

Twitter is likely hoping users will put more information onto Twitter so they can more easily target users with ads. It will also help to entrench users with the service and increase engagement because user profiles should be more personalized because it's so easy to do. Watch the video above or check out Twitter's updated "Editing your profile" help section.

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Microsoft 'U-turn' sees Start button returning to Windows 8
Microsoft has confirmed a Start button is returning to the desktop mode's taskbar of its Windows 8 operating system. The lack of the facility - which had been in every previous version since Windows 95 - has been one of the most controversial aspects of the software. The new version will not offer all the functionality previously associated with the feature. Instead it will bring users to the recently-introduced "Metro" interface.

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"We've improved the way you navigate to Start with the mouse by changing the Start 'tip' to be the familiar Windows logo," the company said in a blog post. "The new tip appears anytime you move the mouse to the bottom left corner of the screen, and is always visible on the taskbar when on the desktop." On current versions of Windows 8, the Start tip would only appear when users hovered their cursor over the lower-left corner of their screen. In the 8.1 update, the area will be more visible. A left-click on the tip will bring up a tile-based Start Screen--formerly known as the Metro interface--designed for touch-screen users. A right-click will display a small menu of other options such as Event Viewer, Device Manager and Disk Management. Another change will allow users to boot their computers directly into desktop mode, meaning they can avoid ever using the Start Screen if they wish.
Many users had complained that ditching the traditional Start Menu and introducing the Start Screen had made the system less straight-forward to use, meaning businesses which adopted it would need to retrain staff. Microsoft had been stung by claims that the expected reintroduction of a Start button would mark a major U-turn. An article in the Financial Times described the move as one of the "most prominent admissions of failure for a new mass-market consumer product since Coca-Cola's New Coke fiasco nearly 30 years ago", making reference to the soft drinks company's decision to ditch a new recipe after overwhelming customer dissatisfaction. Microsoft later issued a statement saying it was "unfortunate" the Financial Times did not represent the "good response to date on Windows 8."

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A preview download of Windows 8.1 will be released to the public in June, and a final version before the end of the year. Both will be free of charge to existing users. Chris Green, principal technology analyst for the Davies Murphy Group, told the BBC he did not think the change would be enough to silence the critics. "What they're proposing to do is a bit of a fudge. It's the bare minimum to say they've addressed people's complaints while not having to really backtrack on anything." Green added that Microsoft faced a challenge in being able to innovative with Windows while also keeping its vast user base comfortable. "When new operating systems come along, same with major applications, everything moves around. People hate it because they have to re-learn from scratch."
The update includes more changes, things like added customization options with more choice over colors and backgrounds on the Start Screen. There is also an improved search function that covers web content as well as apps, files, and settings on the PC. Another major addition is the new version of the firm's web browser, Internet Explorer 11, which Microsoft said would offer improved tools for developers.

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RumorTT: HTC T6 will feature 5.9-inch 1080p display, 2.3GHz Snapdragon 800
HTC could be looking to take on Samsung in the phablet market, if rumors of a new T6 device prove to be true. Rumors suggest that HTC is working on a new device, known as the T6, that features a massive 5.9-inch 1080p display. This rumor comes courtesy @evleaks, who often leaks pictures of devices before their launch.

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The device is said to share similar looks with HTC's current flagship device. But the specifications are improved from the current device. Its said to be powered by a 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 chipset coupled with 2GB of RAM. It is said to make use of an OIS UltraPixel camera. A 3,300mAh battery keeps the device running.
The rumor also suggests that the T6 will feature a dedicated stylus and biometric fingerprint scanner on the rear. As with all rumors, take this with a grain of salt.

Razer introduces new 17-inch gaming beast known as the Blade Pro
Razer took to the stage today in San Fransisco to unveil two new gaming systems, the first of which is their new Blade Pro. The Blade Pro is "designed for work and play" and Razer is placing a bit of emphasis on billing these machines for the working professional, specifically graphics designers and the like.

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The Blade Pro weighs in at 6.5 pounds, which Razer claims makes it the most portable 17-inch gaming laptop in its class. It's powered by a still-unannounced 47W TDP Intel Haswell chip, which is the most powerful CPU ever fitted into a Razer system. It's 10 watts higher in TDP than the previous Razer Blade.
It's graphics are provided by NVIDIA's new GTX 765M GPU, which we covered earlier today. Between the GPU and CPU, the Blade Pro is packing quite a bit of power--and heat--into its chassis. The system comes with 8GB of 1600MHz DDR3L RAM and a 128GB SSD, which can be upgraded to 256GB or 512GB. The Blade Pro goes on sale June 3 and starts at $2,299.

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Also at today's event, Razer introduced a 14-inch Blade notebook. This features a 14-inch LED-backlit HD+ display and is also powered by Intel's upcoming Haswell CPU and NVIDIA's new GTX 765M. 8GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD complement the system just as they do in the big brother discussed above. It too, will be available for pre-order June 3 and starts at just $1,799.

Corsair sponsors Computex OC Main Event
Corsair is sponsoring the Computex OC Main Event in conjunction with Intel. Top overclockers from around the world will be competing to see who can overclock the new Haswell CPUs and next-gen Corsair memory to the max. Prizes will include $20,000 in cash and the event will be broadcast live.

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Thi La, Senior VP and GM of Memory and Enthusiast Component Products at Corsair:

We are excited to be hosting the premier overclocking event of Computex 2013 with our friends at Intel. Together we'll be unleashing the world's top overclockers for the first time on the latest Intel processors and our new line of Corsair memory. With the sheer level of overclocking talent and the capabilities of the new hardware, I anticipate seeing groundbreaking levels of performance.

The event can be watched live at Corsair's website on June 3 from 13:00-18:00 GMT+8. Overclockers competing for the top prize include well-known favorites, including 8-Pack, Andre, Coldest, Coolice, Der8auer, Dinos22, Elmor, Hazzan, HiCookie, Lin222, lucky_n00b, Mad222, Nick Shih, Pt1t, Slamms, Smoke, Splave, tor_za, ZoLKoRn, and Zzolio.

Crysis 3: The Lost Island multiplayer DLC coming June 4
Crysis 3 is getting its first DLC pack in the form of The Lost Island, a new multiplayer DLC pack that brings four new maps, two new gameplay modes, and an unspecified number of new weapons. The DLC will be available for the PLayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC on June 4 for just $14.99, or 1,200 Microsoft Points, if you use Xbox.

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Crytek CEO Cevat Yerli:

The gameplay in the Crysis series has always been deeply connected to the unique environments in which the action takes place. By transporting players out of the Liberty Dome and into the Lost Island setting, we're not only returning to Crysis' spiritual roots, but also introducing fresh ways to play that provide Crysis 3 fans with genuinely game-changing new tactical options, game modes and weapons.

Details are still a bit slim, but we should find out more on June 4 when the DLC actually launches. It's worth noting that this multiplayer DLC actually has a story line to it. A mysterious alien presence has been detected on the island and you're there to destroy it. This story line likely ties in with the two new game modes.

Apple releases new iPod touch sans iSight, discontinues fourth-gen model
Apple has discontinued their fourth-generation iPod touch model. The company has replaced the aging device with a new 16GB iPod touch that is available for just $229. The new iPod touch comes without an iSight camera, which seemingly is a big omission. The device is also available in fewer colors than the new fifth-gen models.

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It features the larger Retina display currently used on the fifth-gen iPod touch. It's powered by a dual-core A5 processor and comes with just 16GB of internal storage. It's only available in black and silver. It's price is $30 higher than the older generation iPod touch and likely comes as Apple prepares to launch iOS 7 at WWDC next month.
We still feel that the lack of an iSight camera--or any rear-facing camera for that matter--is a big deal and a deal breaker.

LeakedTT: Are these the specs for the Samsung Galaxy Active and Zoom?
Specifications for the rumored Samsung Galaxy Active and Zoom, two Galaxy S4 variants, have leaked out online. These models are widely expected to be announced at Samsung's London event scheduled for June 20. Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S4 Mini earlier today, which was another device expected to be unveiled next month.

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The Galaxy S4 Active is said to feature a 5-inch Super AMOLED Full HD display, as would be expected. It's said to be powere dby a quad-core Snapdragon 600 processor and Adreno 320 GPU. RAM comes in at 2GB and internal storage measures up to 16GB, plus whatever you slide in the micro-SD slot.
The Galaxy S4 Zoom, meanwhile, will focus on its camera abilities. It's said to pack a massive 16MP rear-facing camera with a 10x optical zoom, hence the zoom name. It's said to feature a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED display with just a 960x540 resolution, which matches the Galaxy S4 Mini. The Zoom is reportedly powered by a dual-core 1.6GHz processor.

NVIDIA debuts new 700M series, offers up great gaming performance from laptops
NVIDIA is pushing ahead full-steam with its 700-series of graphics cards. Last week, NVIDIA launched the GTX 780. Earlier today, NVIDA launched the GTX 770. Now, the green graphics card maker has debuted its new line of mobile 700-series GPUs. The range is powered by Kepler from bottom to top and brings great performance to mobile platforms.

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The new GTX 780M is the world's fastest mobile GPU. It rocks 1536 CUDA cores clocked at 823MHz. It can be paired with as much as 4GB of RAM, providing quite the gaming experience. The RAM and core are connected via a 256-bit interface. NVIDIA is also launching a new GTX 760M, 765M, and 770M.
NVIDIA says these new mobile chips are at least 30 percent faster than their last-generation counterparts. The 770M rocks just 960 CUDA cores connected to up to 3GB of RAM through a 192-bit memory interface. The 760M and 765M both use 768 CUDA cores, but the 765M is clocked almost 200MHz faster. The full details are below:

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Google will continue producing Nexus hardware, says Android head
According to Google's Sundar Pichai, Google has no plans of stopping production of Nexus hardware. Google intends to continue "pushing hardware" in addition to the stock Android experience that is delivered by Nexus devices. Google will also continue partnering with companies to offer a stock Android experience.

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"The idea with Nexus is to push on hardware as well, so that will continue," Pichai said. The last Nexus hardware that was released by Google was the Nexus 4, Nexus 7, and Nexus 10, all of which were announced and released last year. This year, Google has announced two partner device versions--the Galaxy S4 and HTC One--that both use stock Android.
Pichai didn't say when we could expect the new Nexus hardware, but we doubt it will be much longer. Maybe a white Nexus 4 with upgraded hardware?

Palit announces GeForce GTX 770 JetStream 2GB with triple fan cooler
This morning, Palit released its version of the GeForce GTX 770 and unlike other GPU manufacturers, Palit chose to toss away the reference design cooler and add their own JetStream cooler into the mix. The result is said to be a 10 percent gain in overclockability as well as some snazzy good looks!

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The Palit GeForce GTX 770 JetStream 2GB ships with a 10 percent higher core clock, which Palit says equates to 10 percent higher gaming performance. Like other video cards in Palit's JetStream line, the GTX 770 comes equipped with the company's signature JetStream 80mm,90mm,80mm triple fan bank that cools the GPU by 15 Celsius lower, and is 9dB quieter than the reference design.

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Palit attributes these performance gains to several upgraded features on the GTX770 JetStream 2GB. These include:

Copper Based Heatsink - Efficiently dissipate the heat from GPU and make 20 percent cooler
8 Phase PWM - Stabilize the voltage level the improve overclocking ability.
MasterMode - GPU Overvoltage and Memory Overvoltage to increase extra 5+ percent performance.

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NVIDIA launches GeForce GTX 770, a $399 graphics crunching monster
Yesterday we saw a leak on the GeForce GTX 770 that claimed a memory clock of 7GHz and a price tag of $400, and this morning I can confirm that rumor was true. NVIDIA has just announced the GeForce GTX 770 and it appears that all the rumors are true.

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The GeForce GTX 770 does run the same chip as the GTX 680 and does have the higher 7GHz memory clock. NVIDIA says that it is about five percent faster than the 680 overall but retains the 1,536 cuda cores. The rumors also were correct on the cooling hardware. The GTX 770 features the same style cooler as seen on the GTX 780 and GTX TITAN.
NVIDIA says the GTX 770 will retail for $399 for a 2GB model. It is available now at all major retailers. Our own Shawn Baker has had his hands on the GTX 770 for a while now and his review can be found here. What do you think about the new GeForce GTX 770? Personally, at the $400 price tag, I want three!

HTC One Google Edition confirmed, seen on stage at D11 conference
In "shut up and take my money already" news, HTC has confirmed that a Google edition of its flagship HTC One does exist and will be available for purchase on June 26. This morning at the D11 conference, Google's Sundar Pichai revealed the stock Android 4.2.2 running device.

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Unlike Samsung who called their stock Android S4 the "Google Edition", HTC is giving the One a subtitle of "Nexus user experience" version. The phone will retail for $599 at T-Mobile and AT&T in the US and will support LTE data on both networks. It will retain all of the features of the original HTC One, but will feature 32GB of storage.
Now time for my rant. While I absolutely love manufactures releasing their flagship smartphones in a stock Android flavor, I simply hate the fact that they lock them down to specific networks. If you are going to sell a phone running stock Android that features an unlocked bootloader, then for God's sake unlock the phone to all carriers as well. There are some of us who are committed to other networks (Sprint) who would love a stock Android HTC One or Galaxy S4.

LeakedTT: Unannounced Intel DC S3500 pops up on Newegg
A new unannounced Intel SSD has popped up online at Newegg. The DC S3700, reviewed here, has been a wildly successful SSD from Intel, and the new DC S3500 seems to be its apparent successor. The new DC3500 SSD has lower random write performance than the previous generation DC S3700 from Intel but a lower price as well.

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Another notable aspect of the SSD is that it is coming in 1.8-inch form factor, though it would be logical that it will also have a 2.5-inch version. A big change is the switch to 20nm HET MLC NAND, which is an enterprise-class high-endurance NAND. The previous generation DC S3700 SSD has 25nm HET MLC NAND. This indicates that this is likely to be a value alternative to the DC S3700.

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There is also a warranty period of five years noted on the SSD, and endurance of 450TB for the life of the drive.

Pirate3D smashes through their funding goal on Kickstarter in under 10 minutes
I have been following Pirate3D for quite a while now and have watched their 3D printer, the Buccaneer, evolve into something refined and elegant. This is something most other 3D printers miss the mark on because they put a lot of time into function over form.

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The guys over at Pirate3D put just as much thought into their aesthetics as they did the functional side of things and the result is something of beauty. The Buccaneer is an additive deposition 3D printer meaning that it uses melted plastic filament to build the object layer by layer. This is the same way the RepRaps, Makerbots, PrintrBots, and Lulzbots handle their printing as well.

The Buccaneer uses 1.75mmm PLA filament which means there are dozens of colors available for about $40 per 1kg spool. "Current 3D printers have a very unfinished feel to them. By improving the aesthetics of a 3D printer as well as making the device more user friendly, we felt this could bridge the gap to mass adoption of 3D printing. Along with that, we want to also keep final price affordable so it would make economical sense to purchase a Buccaneer," the company said.

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At the moment, early Kickstarters can secure a Buccanner for just $297 but that supply is running out very fast and will soon bump up to the next tier at $397. For anyone looking to get started in 3D printing, this is about the cheapest route at the moment and will allow you to be up and printing in minutes. Head over to Source #1 to check out their Kickstarter campaign!

SpeedUp to unveil super slim SpeedUp Pad, thinnest, lightest Android tablet of its class
This morning, SpeedUp announced that it will be unveiling a new 7.85-inch class Android tablet at Computex next week. Dubbed the SpeedUp Pad, the new Android tablet boasts a thickness of just 7.9mm and weighs just a mere 300 grams.

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The SpeedUp Pad features Android 4.2.1 Jelly Bean, a 1024x768 7.85-inch IPS display, and a 1.2GHz Snapdragon processor. 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage round out the important internal specs. The tablet supports 3G HSPA 7.2Mbps and EVDO Rev A. A 5MP rear-facing camera and 2MP front-facing camera are present. A 4000mAh battery keeps things powered up.
Rahmad Widjaya Sakti, Vice President Product and Marketing at SpeedUp Technology said that "Speedup Pad is a statement of beauty in technology. Every detail is designed with extreme precision. With a 7.85 inch, the thinnest, lightest tablet with SpeedUp Studio, SpeedUp Pad will be highly competitive in the market, bringing a brand new experience to consumers, app developers and distributors as like."
The SpeedUp Pad will retail at an MSRP of $249 and will launch in August in various markets including Indonesia, Spain, Belgium, Germany, Dubai, Sri Lanka, India, USA, Timor-Leste, and Hong Kong.

Liberty Reserve arrests "...are causing 'pain' to criminals"
The takedown of the Liberty Reserve digital cash exchange has caused "pain" to criminals who used the facility, according to a leading security expert. Brian Krebs said he had seen comments on crime-linked restricted access forums suggesting many had suffered "steep losses".

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US prosecutors have published an indictment against the site's staff on Tuesday. It says they deliberately helped users "distribute, store and launder the proceeds of their illegal activity". Costa Rica-based Liberty Reserve had essentially functioned as a "black market bank", which had "allegedly processed 55 million separate financial transactions, and laundered a staggering $6bn [Â£4bn] in criminal proceeds", said Preet Bharara, Attorney for the Southern District of New York, at a press conference. He added that about $25m had been seized following the arrest of Liberty Reserve's founder Arthur Budovsky in Madrid, Spain.
Police have raided businesses and homes linked to Liberty Reserve in Costa Rica. Four others have also been arrested and at least a further two men are being sought. In addition, computer servers used by the firm in Costa Rica and Switzerland are being examined. According to the indictment, Liberty Reserve was estimated to have had "more than one million users worldwide", a fifth of whom were in the US. However, since the site is accused of failing to verify its members' identities, it is unknown how many accounts were registered to identical individuals.

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Krebs:

Short-term it will cause quite a bit of pain. If you're running a cybercrime operation and you lose half or three-quarters of your capital that can hurt and put a dent in your overall ability to perpetuate your business or whatever you are doing. The medium to long-term impact is going to hinge largely on what law enforcement is able to glean from the data it has taken from Liberty Reserve. It may lead them to be able to identify people who are ringleaders in cybercriminal activity. That said, it's very likely that information is heavily encrypted, and [based on the experience of other cases] the government is going to need the co-operation of the people they've arrested.

MyDigitalSSD BP4 240GB mSATA Review

Introduction

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We've already published reports of MyDigitalSSD's 2.5" Bullet Proof 4 (BP4) in the 2.5" size and found it to be the least power-hungry SSD on the market. MyDigitalSSD also has a new mSATA version that uses the same Phison S8 controller and new firmware that increases the drive's overprovisioning. In our testing, the new firmware came with more than just a significant performance increase from the BP3 - also increased battery life.
MyDigitalSSD set new battery life standards with the BP4 and at this time they are equal to the early SandForce B02 stepping products that we've tested in the lab. In a month we'll be at Computex Taipei 2013 and B02 should be all over the place in new products, but until then, MyDigitalSSD's BP4 is the battery life king... and they might even have the crown after Computex, too. The main difference for those buying today, the BP4 is available now and has been on sale at Amazon for over a month already.
MDSSD's BP4 uses the same controller found in the BP3, the Phison S8. As we've mentioned before, most SSD's are just simply FPGA chips and the programming / firmware is more important than the actual silicon, most of the time. Holding that statement true today, the Phison S8 in the BP4 is programmed for increased overprovisioning - that's why the marketing capacity is now 240GB. The data performance is also faster on the BP4. Random data is quicker due to new programming, and sequential performance is faster thanks to new Toshiba 19nm Toggle Type B flash.
The mSATA market is really starting to heat up and several notebooks / ultrabooks cut the red ribbon in around a month's time. In order to meet low pricing demands by customers, many of the OEMs have turned to older, slower designs that cost less than new exciting products. Soon to market low-cost ultrabooks with small cache SSD's paired with HDD's will require an upgrade to full flash based mSATA drives to make your ultrabook perform like your desktop with an SSD in it now. With the slots present, dropping in a large SSD is still the best bang for the buck upgrade most users can do, without diving under the notebook skin too deep.
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WORLD EXCLUSIVE - Toshiba PX02SM Series 12Gb/s Enterprise SSD Review

Introduction

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Toshiba's launch of the PX02SM series of eSSDs also brings about the unveiling of 12Gb/s SAS connectivity for storage devices. Through a lucky set of circumstances, and an undisclosed 12Gb/s adapter on loan from an R&D department, we happen to have an 800GB PX02SMF080 on hand and the necessary equipment to give us a peek into the coming world of 12Gb/s SSD's. The dual-port 12Gb/s SSD features sequential read/write speeds of 900/400 MB/s respectively, and random read/write IOPS of 120,000/30,000.
Last week Toshiba announced full availability of the PX02SMx eSSD (enterprise SSD's) for European markets. Understandably, this caught us by surprise as there are currently no 12Gb/s RAID adapters or HBA's on the market. Our early samples of the PX02SMx series have been languishing in the enterprise storage lab for nearly a month, while we awaited the key component for testing a 12Gb/s SSD: a 12Gb/s adapter. All 12Gb/s adapters from the normal vendors are under NDA or currently only sampling to OEMs. Luckily, we had already set plans in motion to gain access to the necessary equipment for testing.
The launch of 12Gb/s SAS brings a doubling of bandwidth that on the surface seems to be the most compelling feature. PCIe 3.0 and SAS 12Gb/s seem to be the perfect match, but in reality, the insatiable speed provided by 12Gb/s SAS already outstrips the available bandwidth of PCIe 3.0.
12Gb/s also brings other enhancements and changes to the SAS storage fabric that will allow for an expansion of the SAS ecosystem. SAS has long been an interface just begging to be let out of the box, and with the inclusion of new connectivity features, SAS is finally able to expand beyond its current limitations. We will cover some of these improvements on the following pages.
The major players with NAND foundries are all now rapidly expanding their presence in the enterprise realm with a variety of tiered solutions that appeal to different environments. The Toshiba PX02SMF080 series of eSSDs is the leading edge of a full frontal assault from Toshiba into the enterprise SSD battleground.
The PX02SM aims for Tier 0 applications with a dual-port 12Gb/s SAS interface and is Toshiba's first eSSD to feature 24nm eMLC (enterprise Multi Level Cell) NAND. The entry and mid-level PX02AM series also features 24nm eMLC NAND, but utilizes a SATA connection. The low-cost PX03AN series rounds out the offerings by leveraging standard 19nm MLC NAND and a SATA connection for entry-level and read-centric applications. All three SSD's support cryptographic-erase functionality in addition to AES 256-bit self-encryption.
The SED versions of the PX02SM series, the PX02SMQ/U, also offer Trusted Computing Group (TCG) enterprise protocol self-encryption. These features are important in today's computing environment where, according to Symantec, the average loss of an enterprise data breach is $5.5 million.
The PX02SM flagship product we are evaluating today features a Toshiba/Marvell controller in conjunction with 24nm eMLC and comes in capacities of 200GB, 400GB, 800GB and 1,600GB with a slim 7mm Z-height. The PX02SM series also features longevity that scales with capacity, with up to 29.2PB of write endurance for the 1,600GB model, which translates to roughly 10 DWPD (Drive Writes Per Day). This endurance promise is backed by a five year warranty.
The PX02SM also utilizes Toshiba's proprietary Quadruple Swing-By Code (QSBC) to protect from read errors, an integral component of a layered ECC approach for improved error correction capabilities. The addition of power loss protection defends data from power loss events.
The Px02SMF080 is designed to support mission critical enterprise applications that demand performance, endurance and frugal power consumption. Toshiba has extensive history and experience with flash memory; they actually invented NAND flash over 25 years ago in 1987. Leveraging these decades of experience brings forth a serious contender to the enterprise SSD market.
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NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770 2GB Video Card Review

Introduction

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Last week we saw NVIDIA launch a new high-end single GPU video card in the form of the GeForce GTX 780 3GB. While not designed to replace its highest end offering, the GTX TITAN 6GB, the $350 cheaper model does an excellent job of offering performance that's quite similar to what is the fastest single GPU video card on the market at the moment.
If the out of the box performance, though, wasn't enough, we then overclocked the model and found that with a core clock of over 1000MHz, the GTX 780 3GB did an excellent job closing the gap with the GTX TITAN, offering performance at times that was very similar to the $999 model.
Today sees the first phase of the new GTX 700 series completed with the release of the second model, the GTX 770 2GB. As the name would suggest, this model comes in below the GTX 780 3GB, much in the same way we saw a GTX 680 and GTX 670 in the last generation. General habit would tell that we'd see a GTX 760 and GTX 750 in time, but mid-range GTX 700 replacements aren't something we've heard of to date.
Let's dig in now and check out the new GTX 770 over the next pages!
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Razer Introduces the Blade Pro-Designed For Work and For Play
SAN FRANCISCO - May 30, 2013 - Razer, the world leader in high-performance gaming hardware, software and systems, today announced the Blade Pro, the latest evolution of its award-winning 17-inch gaming laptop. Powered by a future 4th gen Intel Core processor, next generation NVIDIA GeForce GTX 765M graphics and groundbreaking storage performance, the new Blade Pro is faster and more powerful than ever before.

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"With the Razer Blade Pro, we've designed a gaming laptop for work and for play-appealing to on-the-go hardcore gamers, game developers, creative artists and aspiring video professionals," says Min-Liang Tan, Razer co-founder, CEO and creative director. "The Razer Blade Pro can flawlessly run the most popular creative software applications, and is powerful enough to run the most graphically intensive games on the market today."

Razer's designers and engineers refined every inner component to increase performance, while staying true to portability. At 0.88 inches thin and weighing 6.5 pounds, the Blade Pro is the most portable 17-inch gaming laptop in its class. Every detail is sleek, slim and light, all the way down to the compact power supply, making the Blade Pro the best choice for gaming performance and creative work on-the-go.

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The Blade Pro, the third iteration of Razer's ground-breaking, ultra-portable laptop, features a 47-watt Intel chip, 10 watts more than the last 17-inch Razer Blade and the most powerful CPU ever fitted into a Razer system for increased professional performance. The latest NVIDIA GeForce GTX 765M GPU is also included. All of this is packed into the thinnest and lightest form factor in the 17-inch laptop class. The Blade Pro comes with Dolby Home Theatre v4, featuring immersive audio quality that is custom-tuned to each Razer laptop to deliver a cinematic sound experience. All of this is topped-off with gaming-grade peripherals built right in, such as Razer Synapse 2.0, a fully programmable anti-ghosting keyboard with adjustable backlight and an ultra-sensitive track pad.

"Innovation is happening across the PC industry, and what Razer has done with the Blade Pro is groundbreaking," says Navin Shenoy, vice president and general manager of Intel's Mobile Client Platforms. "Utilizing a future 4th gen Intel Core processor, the Razer Blade Pro delivers top-class gaming and professional performance in a very portable form factor."
"The Razer Blade Pro packs extreme performance in an ultra-portable form factor," says Rene Haas, vice president and general manager of notebook GPUs at NVIDIA. "Thanks in part to the performance-per-watt efficiency of the new NVIDIA GeForce GTX GPUs, the new Razer Blade Pro is incredibly thin for a 17-inch gaming laptop."

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At the heart of the Blade Pro is a full-HD 17-inch LED display linked in combination with the Switchblade User Interface (SBUI), allowing users to take advantage of tools and creative possibilities at their fingertips. Driven by 10 dynamic adaptive tactile keys, a revolutionary LCD track pad and professional-grade and game apps, users can work harder and play harder. Razer's SBUI now includes several new, professional-grade apps and a wide array of new tools available at no charge, including programs like Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Premiere Pro, Maya, GIMP and more.

The Razer Blade Pro also features 8 GB of fast 1600 MHz DDR3L memory and now comes standard with 128 GB of total solid-stage storage, with optional 256 GB and 512 GB SSDs. With solid-state storage technology, gamers will now experience up to four-times the performance of a traditional 5400-rpm notebook hard drive.
Razer is also offering a new creative professional pricing program, allowing design students, game developers, development staff, Kickstarter partners and others to purchase Razer products, including the Blade Pro, at special prices. Selected developers and partners are now listed at http://www.razerzone.com/creativepro. Those not listed are encouraged to fill out an application on the page for a chance to be included in the program.

The Blade Pro will be available for pre-order June 3. For more information, go to http://www.razerzone.com/bladepro.
Price:
Starts at $2,299

Availability:
Razerzone.com - Pre-Order June 3
United States and Canada

Product features:

Future 4th gen Intel Core processor (formerly codename 'Haswell')

8 GB DDR3L (2 x 4 GB 1600MHz)

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 765M (2 GB GDDR5) & Intel HD4600

Windows 8 64 Bit

128 GB SSD, with optional 256/512 GB SSD (mSATA)

Qualcomm Killer NIC N1202 (802.11a/b/g/n + Bluetooth 4.0)

17.3-in. Full HD 16:9 Ratio, 1920 x 1080, with LED backlight

Stereo 2.0 speakers

3.5 mm audio microphone/headphone combo jack

HD Webcam (front-facing, 2.0 MP)

Array microphones

(3x) USB 3.0 port (SuperSpeed)

Codec supports 7.1 (via HDMI 1.4)

Dolby Home Theater v4

Razer Anti-Ghosting Keyboard (with adjustable backlight)

Razer Switchblade User Interface

Razer Synapse 2.0 Enabled

Built-in 74 Wh Rechargeable lithium ion polymer battery

Kensington Lock

16.8 in. / 427 mm (Width) x 0.88 in. / 22.4 mm (Height) x 10.9 in. / 277 mm (Depth)

6.58 lbs. / 2.98 kg

For more information about the Razer Blade Pro, please visit http://www.razerzone.com/bladepro.

World's Top Overclockers to Compete at Computex OC Main Event Sponsored by Corsair
FREMONT, California - May 30, 2013 - Corsair, a worldwide designer of high-performÂÂÂÂÂÂance components to the PC hardware market, is teaming up with Intel to host the Computex OC Main Event on June 3rd in Taipei, Taiwan. The event will bring the world's best overclockers together to compete in setting the first speed records with 4th generation Intel Core processors and Corsair's soon-to-be-announced new line of highly overclockable memory.

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Overclocking is a way of boosting the computer performance by increasing the clock frequency settings of components such as the CPU, memory, and motherboards. Popular with PC enthusiasts, overclocking has grown from being a hobby to a professional technical sport with competitions held in countries around the world.
At this year's Computex OC Main Event, elite overclockers from around the world will be vying for $20,000 USD in cash prizes. Competitors at the event will include some of the finest overclockers in the world including 8-Pack, Andre, Coldest, Coolice, Der8auer, Dinos22, Elmor, Hazzan, HiCookie, Lin222, lucky_n00b, Mad222, Nick Shih, Pt1t, Slamms, Smoke, Splave, tor_za, ZoLKoRn, and Zzolio. The live event broadcast by Overclocking-TV will be available at corsair.com/OCMainEvent on June 3rd from 13:00 - 18:00 GMT +8.
In addition to the overclocking competition, the event will feature presentations by Intel and Corsair, including a PC building master class and a demonstration of the Intel Extreme Tuning Utility. Attendees will also be among the first to see Corsair's new line of products that are designed for use with the 4th Generation Intel Core processor.
"We are excited to be hosting the premier overclocking event of Computex 2013 with our friends at Intel," said Thi La, Senior VP and GM of Memory and Enthusiast Component Products at Corsair. "Together we'll be unleashing the world's top overclockers for the first time on the latest Intel processors and our new line of Corsair memory. With the sheer level of overclocking talent and the capabilities of the new hardware, I anticipate seeing groundbreaking levels of performance."
"Our upcoming 4th Gen Intel Core processors will deliver amazing new levels of performance to the enthusiast community," said Zane Ball, Intel Vice President, Global Ecosystem Development. "We are excited to sponsor the world's top overclockers at this year's Computex OC Main Event."
Time and Location:
The Computex OC Main Event
Marquee Restaurant & Lounge
1F., No. 16-1, Sec. 5, Hsin-Yi Road
Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Monday, June 3rd, 13:00 - 18:00 GMT +8
The event is invitation-only to members of the press and industry partners. For inquiries please visit the event registration page: http://ocmainevent.eventbrite.com.
For coverage of the event visit corsair.com/OCMainEvent.

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