ASUS' PQ321Q 31.5-inch 4K monitor goes up for pre-order
Something I loved at Computex this year was ASUS' 31.5-inch 4K monitor, the PQ321Q. We even thought it was so good that we gave it our 'Best of Computex 2013' award for best gadget. It is priced at $3,499 but features the pixel-crushing 3840x2160 resolution, blowing most displays out of the water for screen real estate.
The ASUS PQ321Q is 35mm thick at its deepest point, not counting the stand, which ASUS say is the thinnest wallmountable 4K display on the market. We have a 176-degree viewing angle, 10-bit color depth, 350 cd/m2 brightness rating, 8ms GTG response time and built-in speakers. DisplayPort and HDMI are on the PQ321Q for connectivity.
The PQ321Q should ship on July 16, and is available for pre-order through Amazon, Newegg and Tiger Direct.
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The Walking Dead: 400 Days arrives this week on Windows, PSN, Mac, XBLA and iOS
Telltale Games have announced the availability of The Walking Dead: 400 Days, the latest addition to the smash hit game. It hits PC, Mac, XBLA and North America's PSN this week. Next week, it'll arrive on iOS and Europe's PSN. If you're after some dates, we have them below:
- Tuesday, 2nd July - PlayStation Network (North America)
- Wednesday, 3rd July - PC/Mac (Steam, Telltale Games Store)
- Friday, 5th July - Xbox Live (Worldwide)
- Wednesday, 10th July - PlayStation Network (Europe)
- Thursday, 11th July - iOS (Worldwide)
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Android leads the European market with 70%, leaves Apple with just 17.8%
Google have a huge lead over Apple in the European market, where Android takes a huge 70.4% of the mobile OS market. This leaves Apple with just 17.8% and Windows with 6.8%, these numbers are thanks to the latest OS barometer figures from Kantar Worldpanel ComTech.
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Facebook brings stickers to the web
Facebook first brought its stickers to its mobile applications back in April. Those same stickers will soon be available to web users. Stickers are larger pre-made images that are similar to the simple smiley but can be animated and are quite a bit larger. Stickers are just another way for Facebook to ensure that users don't head to alternative messaging platforms.
In related news, TechCrunch is reporting that the person behind the whole sticker idea has left Facebook. Sophie Xie has only been with Facebook from 2012, but it appears that she will be moving on to bigger and better things. She originally conceived the idea during one of Facebook's famous hackathons. Her team will have to carry on without her.
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Google Maps adds new and updated 3D imagery for 50 US cities
Google has added new and updated 3D imagery for 50 cities in the United States. Google has promised to bring 3D buildings to the majority of large United States cities, and today's update appears to be a great step towards that goal. Today's update brought new or updated imagery for 50 US cities. New additions include Las Cruces, NM and Bend, OR, while San Francisco, CA and others received updates.
Anniston, AL; Auburn, AL; Barstow, CA; Bastrop, TX; Bend, OR; Birmingham, AL; Boulder City, NV; Buffalo Core, NY; Cape Girardeau, MO; Casper, WY; Cheyenne, WY; Chicago, IL; Chico, CA; College Station, OH; Delano, CA; Desert Hot Springs, CA; Dubuque, IA; Edmonton, NY; Enid, OK; Farmington, NM; Grand Forks, ND; Grand Junction, CO; Great Falls, MT; Hanford, CA; Healdsburg, CA; Helendale, CA; Hot Springs, AR; Idaho Falls, ID; Kelso, WA; Killeen, TX; Las Cruces, NM; Lawton, OK; Leeds, OK; Madera, CA; Malibu, CA; Merced, CA; Modesto, CA; Ocala, FL; Odessa, TX; Ojai, CA; Picture Rocks, AZ; Pittsburgh, PA; Prescott, AZ; Rapid City, SD; Redding, CA; Riverside, CA; San Angelo, TX; San Francisco, CA; St George, UT; Texarkana, TX; Twentynine Palms, CA; Victoria, TX; Winnipeg, TX; Yuba City, CA.Microsoft is also working on adding 3D imagery to its Bing mapping service. Microsoft has previously offered 3D imaging in its mapping service. Bing is looking to launch the 3D imagery in around 100 cities. The 3D imagery will be newly captured for the latest 3D offering, It's not clear whether or not Microsoft's 100 launch cities will be US only or an international launch.
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Ubisoft hacked, recommends you change your password
Ubisoft has announced that one of their sites was hacked and allowed unauthorized access to user account data. Ubisoft has not revealed the number of affected users, though it potentially could be the entire Ubisoft customer base as most of Ubisoft's games require a user account to play. The company has recommended that users change their passwords and passwords on any site that makes use of the same password.
During this process, we learned that data were illegally accessed from our account database, including user names, email addresses and encrypted passwords. No personal payment information is stored with Ubisoft, meaning your debit/credit card information was safe from this intrusion.The hackers will have to decrypt the passwords before they are useful, though this shouldn't take too long. Ubisoft stresses that the hackers did not obtain any payment data as it is not stored by the gaming studio. We're hoping to find out just how many of Ubisoft's customers were affected by the hacking, but we're not sure Ubisoft will be forthcoming with that data.
As a result, we are recommending you to change your password by clicking this link.
Out of an abundance of caution, we also recommend that you change your password on any other Web site or service where you use the same or a similar password.
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Yahoo acquires Qwiki for a rumored $50 million
Yahoo has been on an acquisition binge as of late. The latest company that Yahoo has acquired is the start-up Qwiki. Qwiki is an app that takes a user's pictures, music, and videos and turns them into short videos, hence the name Qwiki. The purchase price has not been disclosed, though it's rumored to have been around $50 million.
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ReportTT: Motorola to run Moto X ad tomorrow, says its the 'first smartphone you can design yourself'
Things have just gotten interesting on the smartphone front. In a leaked ad due to run tomorrow in several major newspapers, Motorola claims that the new Moto X is the "first smartphone you can design yourself." This clearly doesn't detail just what they mean, but the ad also plays up the smartphone's "Made in America" tag.
With Motorola starting to run ads, it's pretty likely we'll start to see and hear more about the Moto X. I would expect the device to possibly launch around the same time as the next iPhone, making it available for the holiday shopping season.
I know I'm extremely excited. Just how excited are you?
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Edward Snowden asylum: list of countries approached and their responses
According to a statement from WikiLeaks, the US whistleblower Edward Snowden has applied for asylum in a total of 21 countries. Snowden, who has been charged under espionage laws in the US after leaking top-secret documents on US surveillance programs, has been trapped in Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport since 23 June after flying in from Hong Kong. He has yet to receive a positive response to his applications for asylum. Some countries have yet to respond but a number have already rejected his request.
No. Interior minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner said Snowden would have to submit his request for asylum while on Austrian soil. But she added that he would not be deported if he arrived in Austria because "there is no international arrest warrant".
Bolivia
No response.
Brazil
No response.
China
No response.
Cuba
No response.
Ecuador
No. President Rafael Correa said he is not considering Snowden's asylum request. In an interview with the Guardian, Correa said Snowden would have to reach Ecuadorean territory before the country would consider any asylum request. The US has cancelled Snowden's passport, and Correa said his government would not give Snowden an authorised travel document to extract himself from Moscow airport. "The right of asylum request is one thing, but helping someone travel from one country to another - Ecuador has never done this. "
Finland
No. Finnish foreign ministry spokeswoman Tytti Pylkkö said Finnish law required Snowden to be in the country for him to apply.
France
No response. President François Hollande has called for a common EU stance on the NSA snooping.
Germany
No response.
Iceland
No response.
India
No. Syed Akbaruddin, a spokesman for India's foreign ministry, said on Twitter:
"Following careful examination we have concluded that we see no reason to accede to the Snowden request"
Italy
No response.
Ireland
No. A spokesman for the department of justice said that under Irish law an asylum application can only be accepted from a person who has landed in or is within the state.
The Netherlands
No response.
Nicaragua
No response.
Norway
No. The Norwegian deputy justice secretary, Paal Loenseth, told state broadcaster NRK: "Applying for asylum should be done on Norwegian soil. According to normal procedures ... his demand will be denied."
Poland
No. Foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski wrote on his Twitter account. "I will not give a positive recommendation."
Russia
No. Snowden withdrew request after Vladimir Putin's statement making clear that he would be welcome only if he stopped "his work aimed at bringing harm" to the United States.
Spain
No. Foreign minister José GarcÃa-Margallo told reporters in the Spanish parliament: "For it [the application] to be legally admissible, it has to be made by a person who is in Spain."
Switzerland
No response.
Venezuela
Possible. On a visit to Moscow, president Nicolás Maduro said he would consider an asylum request and said the whistleblower "deserves the world's protection. We think this young person has done something very important for humanity, has done a favour to humanity, has spoken great truths to deconstruct a world ... that is controlled by an imperialist American elite," he said. But asked whether he would take Snowden back to Venezuela with him, Maduro answered wryly: "What we're taking with us are multiple agreements that we're signing with Russia, including oil and gas."
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SanDisk acquires SMART Storage Systems
SanDisk continues their string of SSD-related acquisitions today with the purchase of SMART Storage Systems for $307 Million. This purchase comes after there was tremendous speculation that SanDisk was looking to acquire OCZ over the last several months. SMART Storage Systems, a wholly-owned subsidiary of SMART Worldwide Holdings, is a leading provider of current and next-generation enterprise solid state drive (SSD) products and technology.
"We are delighted that a global technology innovator and manufacturer of the caliber of SanDisk supports our belief in SMART Storage's team and portfolio of next-generation enterprise SSDs," said Iain MacKenzie, President and CEO of SMART Worldwide Holdings.
"SMART Storage is excited about the opportunity to achieve greater scale, leveraging combined R&D efforts across a broader product set," said John Scaramuzzo, President of SMART Storage Systems. "We believe this is a strategic combination that will provide attractive benefits for our customers and our talented employees."
"We are proud of what SMART Storage has accomplished since our investment in 2011, and it has been a privilege to partner with them," said Ken Hao, a Managing Partner of Silver Lake, and Ajay Shah, Founding Managing Partner of Silver Lake Sumeru. "We are honored to assist in accelerating the growth of SMART Storage's differentiated enterprise SSD technology and to help build the long-term, strategic value of the business. We are pleased that SanDisk shares our confidence in SMART Storage, and this transaction marks an exciting moment for both companies and a successful exit for Silver Lake."
The transaction is expected to be completed during August 2013, subject to customary regulatory and other approvals. Prior to the closing, SanDisk and SMART Storage will operate as separate businesses and will continue to work with their existing partners.
After closing this transaction, the remaining businesses of SMART Worldwide Holdings, including SMART Modular Technologies, will continue to operate as today. No changes are expected to impact any customers, suppliers or employees of the remaining businesses.
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Snowden accuses Obama of deceit over extradition
Edward Snowden has accused Barack Obama of deception for promising in public to avoid diplomatic "wheeling and dealing" over his extradition, while privately pressuring countries to refuse his requests for asylum. Snowden, the surveillance whistleblower who is thought to be trapped in the legal limbo of a transit zone at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport, used his first public comments since fleeing Hong Kong to attack the US for revoking his passport. He also accused his country of bullying nations that might grant him asylum.
Snowden's increasingly desperate predicament became further apparent on Monday night with the leak of a letter he had written to Ecuador praising its "bravery" and expressing "deep respect and sincere thanks" for considering his request for political asylum. But the change in mood in Quito, already apparent at the end of last week, was underlined by an interview Rafael Correa, the president, gave to the Guardian on Monday in which he insisted Ecuador will now not help Snowden leave Moscow and never intended to facilitate his attempted flight to South America. Correa blamed earlier signs of encouragement on a misunderstanding by its London embassy. "That we are responsible for getting him to Ecuador? It's not logical. The country that has to give him a safe conduct document is Russia," Correa said at the presidential palace in Quito. Correa said his government did not intentionally help Snowden travel from Hong Kong to Moscow with a temporary travel pass. "It was a mistake on our part."
Moscow confirmed earlier on Monday that Snowden had applied for political asylum in Russia. The LA Times said Snowden had made similar applications to a total of 15 countries. The former NSA contractor struck a defiant tone on Monday night. "In the end, the Obama administration is not afraid of whistleblowers like me, Bradley Manning or Thomas Drake," he said. "We are stateless, imprisoned or powerless. No, the Obama administration is afraid of you. It is afraid of an informed, angry public demanding the constitutional government it was promised - and it should be. I am unbowed in my convictions and impressed at the efforts taken by so many."
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Edward Snowden withdraws Russian asylum request
Edward Snowden has withdrawn his request for political asylum from Russia, the Kremlin said on Tuesday, further adding to the uncertainty over the US whistleblower's future. A spokesman for Russian president Vladimir Putin said Snowden withdrew the request after Putin's statement making clear that he would be welcome only if he stopped "his work aimed at bringing harm" to the United States. "Snowden really asked to remain in Russia," Dmitry Peskov, the spokesman, said. "Learning yesterday of Russia's position...he abandoned his intentions and his request to get the possibility to stay in Russia."
Speaking to Reuters in Moscow on Tuesday on the second day of a two-day visit, Nicolas Maduro, the Venezuelan president, said Snowden "deserves the world's protection". He said Venezuela had not yet received an asylum request from Snowden. Asked whether he would take Snowden back to Venezuela with him, Maduro answered wryly: "What we're taking with us are multiple agreements that we're signing with Russia, including oil and gas." But he added his support for the US whistleblower: "Edward Snowden is a 29-year-old young, brave man who didn't kill anyone, didn't give any reason for the start of war," Russian news agencies cited Maduro as saying.
At least two countries where Snowden requested asylum have said they will not cooperate. Radoslaw Sikorski, the Polish foreign minister, said that Snowden's request did "not meet the requirements for a formal application for asylum. Even if it did, I will not give a positive recommendation." Finland said on Tuesday that it could not accept his application as Finnish law required him to be in the country. Finnish foreign ministry spokeswoman Tytti Pylkko said that Snowden had sent his request by fax to Finland's embassy in Moscow.
According to WikiLeaks, Snowden has requested asylum from Austria, Bolivia, Brazil, China, Cuba, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, India, Italy, Ireland, the Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Poland, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, Venezuela.
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Rafael Correa not considering Snowden asylum, now says that helping him was a 'mistake'
Ecuador's president Rafael Correa said Snowden 'must be on Ecuadorean territory' to make an asylum request. Ecuador is not considering Edward Snowden's asylum request and never intended to facilitate his flight from Hong Kong, president Rafael Correa said as the whistleblower made a personal plea to Quito for his case to be heard.
On whether Correa would like to meet him, the president said: "Not particularly. He's a very complicated person. Strictly speaking, Mr Snowden spied for some time." The comments contrasted with expressions of gratitude the 30-year-old fugitive issued hours later, before Correa's views had been published. "I must express my deep respect for your principles and sincere thanks for your government's action in considering my request for political asylum," Snowden said, according to a letter written in Spanish and obtained by the Press Association news agency, based in London. "There are few world leaders who would risk standing for the human rights of an individual against the most powerful government on earth, and the bravery of Ecuador and its people is an example to the world." Snowden compared the silence of governments afraid of US retaliation with Ecuador's help in his flight to Moscow on 22 June. A temporary Ecuadorean travel document substituted for his cancelled US passport. "The decisive action of your consul in London, Fidel Narvaez, guaranteed my rights would be protected upon departing Hong Kong - I could never have risked travel without that. Now, as a result, and through the continued support of your government, I remain free and able to publish information that serves the public interest."
In his Guardian interview, Correa said his government had not, and would not, give Snowden an authorized travel document to extract himself from Moscow airport. "The right of asylum request is one thing but helping someone travel from one country to another - Ecuador has never done this." He said that the temporary travel document issued by his London consul on 22 June--and publicly disowned five days later--was a blunder. "It was a mistake on our part. Look, this crisis hit us in a very vulnerable moment. Our foreign minister was touring Asia. Our deputy foreign minister was in the Czech Republic. Our US ambassador was in Italy."
Correa's comments provide further confirmation Ecuador is unlikely to help Snowden escape his current limbo. His passport has been revoked and countries around the world are under pressure not to let him continue his journey. Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected U.S. calls to expel Snowden to the United States and says Snowden should choose a destination and leave the Moscow airport as soon as possible. A presidential spokesman said the issue was not on Putin's agenda and suggested it was being handled by Russia's domestic intelligence agency. The asylum request has helped Correa boost his profile within the region and could help him take on the mantle of late Venezuelan socialist leader Hugo Chavez, who for more than a decade was Latin America's loudest critic of Washington. "This may be the largest espionage case in this history of humanity," Correa said.
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange--granted asylum last year in Ecuador's London embassy--has not lost the country's support despite apparently contributing to confusion over a travel document Ecuador's government issued to Snowden, Correa said. "In these crises when there is need to respond with urgency, it's also possible to make mistakes. But Mr. Assange continues to enjoy our support, respect and appreciation," he said. Ecuador's London consulate issued Snowden an unauthorized safe-passage document, potentially as a result of communication with Assange, Correa said on Saturday. Assange had said that Snowden received refugee papers from the Ecuadorean government to secure safe passage as he fled Hong Kong for Russia, which Correa's government had originally denied. Correa's critics have in recent days accused him of letting Assange take charge of crucial foreign policy matters.
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Battlefield 3 leads July's PlayStation Plus list of free games
PlayStation Plus members are getting a good deal this month with the July list of free games available to Plus members. Sony Computer Entertainment announced through the PlayStation Blog that beginning on July 2, DICE and EA's first-person shooter, Battlefield 3, will join PS Plus' instant game collection.
- Battlefield 3 (PS3)
- Metal Slug XX (PSP, Compatible on PS Vita)
- Jet Set Radio (PS3)
- Dokuro (PS Vita)
- Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee HD (PS3)
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Kickstarter-funded Leisure Suit Larry Reloaded hits retail later this month
The amount of hours I poured into this game as a youngster was ridiculous, and with the Steam version hitting last month, the retail copy will reach store shelves later this month.
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Firefox OS-powered smartphone debuts in Spain for $90
Say hello to the first Firefox OS-powered smartphone, the ZTE Open. ZTE's Open goes on sale in Spain today on the Telefonica Movistar network and will cost 69 euros ($90 or so).
We should expect more Firefox OS-based smartphones in the near future, but it'll be a while before they start throwing punches with the big boys over at Apple, Samsung and Google.
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Microsoft snuggles up with resellers in order to push more Surface Pro tablets
Microsoft have announced that they're teaming up with resellers in their Microsoft Devices Program, which will see certain third-party resellers have the Surface available for purchase by commercial customers such as schools, business and universities.
Microsoft also took the time to confirm that they're releasing a 256GB edition of the Surface Pro tablet, which will be made available in the US. It will sell for $1,199.99 with availability set at between 4-6 days.
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Apple to build a solar farm to power their Nevada-based data center as well as the surrounding community
Apple will be working with NV Energy, a Nevada-based utility company, where they'll build a solar array together. The new solar array will be built next to Apple's Reno, Nevada-based data center, and will power the data center once it's complete, as well as the surrounding community. Apple said in a statement:
All of Apple's data centers use 100 percent renewable energy, and we are on track to meet that goal in our new Reno data center using the latest in high-efficiency concentrating solar panels. This project will not only supply renewable energy for our data center but also provide clean energy to the local power grid, through a first-of-its-kind partnership with NV Energy. When completed, the 137 acre solar array will generate approximately 43.5 million kilowatt hours of clean energy, equivalent to taking 6,400 passenger vehicles off the road per year.The new facility will create around 1,000 jobs in and around Washoe Country, as well as "result in, over a 10-year period, a total of $24.1 million in direct and indirect revenues in Nevada" according to a survey by Applied Economics for the State of Nevada. Apple's goal is to eventually have all of their facilities powered by 100% renewable energy, and at this rate, they'll get there in no time.
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Windows 8 has actually passed Windows Vista as the third-most used OS on the market
Net Applications' latest data has some good news for Microsoft, as Windows 8 is finally getting into its stride. It has passed Windows Vista to become the third-most used OS in the world.
Net Applications' data shows that Microsoft have enjoyed a nice uptick in selling Windows 8-based systems since May, increasing from their 4.27% figure to the current 5.1% figure. It'll be a very long time in third position, unless consumers start buying Windows 8 devices in serious numbers, but I don't see that happening anytime soon. I would be surprised to see them break 8% by the end of the year.
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Minecraft 1.6.1 'The Horse Update' has gone live
The unstoppable Minecraft has a new update available, which is known as "The Horse Update". The Horse Update pushes Minecraft up to version 1.6.1, which - you guessed it - includes horses in the game now.
The Horse Update also includes improvements, such as a conversion tool that lets you convert texture packs to resource packs, which will allow you to add sounds to different items. This update includes the usual performance and stability fixes, as well as improvements in riding mounts, respiration enhancements, extra tooltips, carpets in different colors which can be added on blocks, and like you can do stain wool you can now do stained clay.
For the builder in you, there's also hardened clay which is just as hard as stone.
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Xbox One will be capable of scanning QR codes with its Kinect sensor
The Xbox One is getting closer with every breath we take, and with each day that passes it feels like we're hearing more about the console. Today, the news has broken that the Kinect sensor has a cool ability.
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Western Digital My Passport Ultra 500GB Portable HDD Review
Included with the My Passport Ultra you will find WD SmartWare, which we first had the chance to play with when we reviewed the EDGE for Mac just last month. WD has taken it a step further with the Ultra, offering WD Security software that encrypts the drive and WD Drive Utilities that's allows you to set a sleep timer, perform diagnostic and even erase the drive. The My Passport Ultra is offered in four colors (Titanium, Red, Blue and Black) and comes with a three year warranty.
To test external storage platforms I utilize three of the most well-known and respected benchmark applications. ATTO Disk Benchmark is the first and is recognized as the industry standard for marketing specifications. The second, CDM or Crystal Disk Mark offers sequential read and write metrics, 512K random read and writes and 4K data with Queue Depths up to 32. Through DiskBench we offer real-world testing as it offers a custom data set that can be controlled by the user. For our testing I use a 10GB directory of mixed data that includes, pictures in both the RAW and JPEG file formats, AVCHD video and documents in both the XLS and DOC formats.
The My Passport Ultra is a unique drive, which sets itself apart in the saturated market of portable storage solutions by offering one of the most comprehensive sets of software I have seen.
The included WD SmartWare software offers one of the easiest solutions when it comes to data backup and restoration, which I find to be something that really enriches the environment that the end-user experiences. New additions of Drive Utilities make managing your drive even easier and WD Security allows for a simple solution to keeping your data secure and private.
Performance of the Ultra was rather impressive, enough so to top our DiskBench chart at 115MB/s. ATTO showed the drive reaching a peak of 120MB/s in both read and write, while CDM presented us with random read of 45MB/s and writes at 65MB/s.
Pricing of the Western Digital My Passport Ultra in its 500GB capacity is set at a very comforting $99.99 with availability extremely high.
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RunCore Pro IV 256GB PATA ZIF SSD Review
Now you may be wondering, as I did when I first saw this drive, what uses the ZIF form factor these days? For starters, when Apple released the first MacBook Air in 2008, the super compact design of the chassis called for storage to suit, and since then we have seen other OEMs such as HP and Dell roll netbooks out using this form factor as well. Therefore, if you own a unit such as a MacBook Air Rev A, Dell Inspiron Mini12 or even an HP Mini 1000, then this drive is for you.
RunCore has spec'd this drive at 135MB/s read and 130MB/s write. This drive also carries bad block management and static wear levelling technologies.
To test external storage platforms we utilize three of the most well-known and respected benchmark applications. ATTO Disk Benchmark is the first and is recognized as the industry standard for marketing specifications.
The second, CDM or Crystal Disk Mark offers sequential read and write metrics, 512K random read and writes and 4K data with Queue Depths up to 32.
Through Disk Bench, we offer real-world testing as it offers a custom data set that can be controlled by the user. For our testing I use a 10GB directory of mixed data that includes, pictures in both the RAW and JPEG file formats, AVCHD video and documents in both the XLS and DOC formats.
There's no doubt that the RunCore Pro IV PATA ZIF SSD caters to those of you that have and enjoy your first gen MacBook Air or any of the netbook PCs I mentioned earlier, and of course testing this drive through its USB 2.0 enclosure isn't really practical. There is a sunnier side to this though and that is, the speeds seen here are worst-case scenario, with the drive bottlenecked by USB 2.0.
Performance of the RunCore Pro IV in the configuration we have here and of course considering USB 2.0 was exceptional, and I say this because the drive maxed out USB 2.0 and of course, I have no doubts this drive will meet or even exceed marketing specifications.
Pricing of this drive at the time of writing is a bit of a wash. While I was able to find it at several online shops, none of them are what I call reputable. I was able to find the smaller 128GB capacity at MyDigitalDiscount for $189.99, so I would say you are looking at $289.99 for this drive in the 256GB configuration.
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SteelSeries Siberia V2 Now in Heat Orange
SteelSeries, the industry leader in competitive gaming peripherals today announced the newest edition of the iconic Siberia headset, the Siberia v2 Heat Orange Edition is now available in North America. The new edition headset glows with orange LED lights on the outside of each ear cup that can be customized to exact user specifications via the SteelSeries Engine. The headset is equipped with large, premium driver units for the loudest and clearest sound while the circumaural earcups are wrapped in soft leather for comfort and increased passive noise reduction. The Siberia v2 Headset is used by competitive players from around the globe, because of the superior audio performance and SteelSeries' signature over-the-head suspension system, which provides an unmatched lightweight, comfort for long game sessions.
Awarded for its unique design and superior sound quality, the Siberia v2 Heat Orange Headset combines the classic Siberia style with illumination, control, and features including:
- HEAT ORANGE ILLUMINATION: Super-bright, orange LED lights that glow through the outer mesh grill on each earcup. The illumination offers 6 different modes and can be assigned to behavior and game specific profiles through the SteelSeries Engine, including: Active Mode (responsive pulsing to sound effects, music, and/or voice), Slow Pulse, Fast Pulse, High Bright, Low Bright and Off.
- SUPERIOR SOUND & COMFORT: It has an incredibly lightweight, over-the-head SteelSeries suspension design with an active noise-cancelling microphone and circumaural earcups that feature large, premium driver units, covered by black leather cushions for comfort and passive-noise reduction.
- NOISE-CANCELLING MICROPHONE & CONTROLS: The Siberia v2 Heat Orange features an active noise cancelling microphone system. The microphone processor reduces the "noise" and focuses on the sound that is closer to the mic, your voice. It can also retract into the left earcup when not in use. The headsets in-line volume and mute controls are found on a durable cord with a USB connector.
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Chromium-Based Opera 15 Has Arrived
With the travel season just around the corner, the Scandinavian browser-maker Opera Software today released the final version of its all-new Opera for Windows and Mac, debuting with a fresh look and completely new features.
Download
Download the completely new Opera for Windows and Mac for free. Go to Opera, click the download button, close your eyes and think about spectacular blue fjords. When Opera finishes installing, you will be ready to explore.
Do your research
Plan ahead for travel. Opera's refreshed Speed Dial gives you a smarter way to organize your favorite websites. Drag one Speed Dial entry on top of another to group them by topics, like hotel options, sightseeing ideas or whatever you wish. With a new search option, Speed Dial gets you to your top sites in a flash.
Compare
If you're not the Grand Master of Memory, keeping track of all your discoveries can be tricky when doing a lot of web research. Now, comparing articles, hotels, sights or flights is way easier with the new Stash feature. Stash allows you to collect snapshots of saved webpages in one place, which can be resized to give you a preview of each page. This gives you and your travel mates a more intuitive way of cherry-picking.
Fire up the new engine
The new Opera for Windows and Mac runs on a Chromium engine, so you can access all your websites in a blink of an eye and have a smoother experience when you get there, thanks to improved site compatibility.
Discover
Discover the world around you, from the comfort of your beach lounger. Lean back and get fed with new, inspiring content brought to you by Opera. The new Discover feature brings you top articles from the location and categories you choose, all in one place. Get inspired by local food recipes or destinations while traveling abroad, or scan the top headlines from your country.
Go off-roading
The Opera browser easily transforms into an off-road vehicle for all those who love to escape from the mainstream tourist routes. Off-Road mode, Opera's unique compression feature, enables loading webpages faster, even while on the most sluggish connection.
"The world of fascinating web content is expanding faster than space, and we've delivered a browser that helps you to truly discover it," says Lars Boilesen, Opera Software, CEO. "Get inspired by new ways of exploring web horizons, and stay tuned for some of our most beloved features, as we continue to develop the next generation of Opera."
Read more about the all-new Opera for Windows and Mac in our Reviewer's Guide.
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Toshiba Expands its Semiconductor Facility at Yokkaichi
Toshiba Corporation today announced that it will expand its state-of-art No. 5 semiconductor fabrication facility (Fab 5) at Yokkaichi Operations in Mie, Japan, to secure manufacturing space for NAND flash memories fabricated with next generation process technology and for future 3D memories. Fab 5 second phase construction will start at the end of August this year and be completed in summer next year. Decisions on equipment investment and production will reflect market trends.
In addition to securing capacity for future generations of NAND Flash memory fabricated with the company's latest process technology, Toshiba will also use Fab 5 phase 2 for production of 3D memories that are expected to find growing application in coming years. The extension will allow the company to boost competitiveness and enhance its responsiveness to technology advances and market demands.
Fab 5 phase 2 will have an automated product transportation system and quake-absorbing structure and will be designed to minimize environmental loads. Deployment of LED lighting and up-to-date energy-saving production facilities, along with full and effective use of waste heat, are expected to cut CO2 emissions by 13% compared with Fab 4.
Going forward, Toshiba will expand its memory business and boost competitiveness by timely investments, leadership in advanced process technology and the development of new generation memories that answer market needs.
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Apotop Announces AP-U6 Compact USB 3.0 Flash Drive
Apotop, a provider of memory, storage, and personal cloud devices, is pleased to announce the AP-U6 USB 3.0 external storage drive is now available in North America. Thanks to its ultra-compact size and slim profile, the AP-U6 is a cost-efficient way to expand the storage capacities of MacBook Air notebooks.
Available in 32GB and 64GB models, the AP-U6 provides a significant boost to the storage capacities of MacBook Air notebooks. Plus, with its USB 3.0 speeds data can be quickly transferred between the AP-U6 and the internal drive.
Price and Availability
The Apotop AP-U6 will be available on Newegg and Amazon for the suggested retail price of $49.99. For more information, visit the product page.
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BIOSTAR Announces Hi-Fi A85W 3D Socket FM2 Motherboard
BIOSTAR, maker of embedded/IPC solutions, graphics cards, and motherboards, has introduced their latest motherboard that supports AMD's FM2 APU family (Trinity / Richland), the Hi-Fi A85W 3D. It comes with BIOSTAR's own in-house audio technology called "Hi-Fi 3D".
- Hi-Fi 3D Technology enables high definition multi-dimensional sound where it matters the most with height, width, and depth in front of the listener. It's based on the physics of reproduced sound and the basic human perception of sound. The high resolution sound reproduction goes beyond existing sound enhancements or virtualization technologies.
- Smart Ear 3D provides true reproduction of a virtual 3D space using any typical set of headphones. It delivers true 3D sound for music, movies, and games.
- Choose from six types of 3D Sound Fields; including Hi-Fi Theater, Hi-Fi Hall, Hi-Fi Game spots, Hi-Fi Studio, Hi-Fi Conference, and Hi-Fi Bistro for different applications. BIOSTAR Hi-Fi 3D technology involves the virtual placement of sound sources anywhere in 3 dimensional spaces, including behind, above or below.
- With the new generation built-in 3D amplifier, BIOSTAR Hi-Fi-3D motherboards can drive major high-end headphones with an over 100dB load and up to 600ohm impedance. It allows you enjoy a fuller range of dynamic sound with crisper details and less distortion when you are using any typical set of headphones.
- Smart ? is BIOSTAR's Hi-Fi 3D exclusive function. No matter what kind of gain your headphones are capable of, it will auto detect the appropriate gain and assign a suitable impedance range.
- Hi-Fi 3D Technology has a "pre-amp", a built-in power amplifier to boost the speaker volume. It can increase the volume level by double with high-quality HD audio output. Hi-Fi 3D Technology not only improves on the headphones performance but also enhances your speakers' sound volume.
- The Hi-V Cap is a Metalized Polypropylene Film Capacitor for each audio channel circuit. The customized audio capacitors deliver low noise, low distortion, and a wide bandwidth to achieve the highest sound resolution and sound expansion.
- BIOSTAR Hi-Fi series motherboards have a sampling rate of 192kHz/24-bit which delivers a high quality audio through an analog connection to your home theater system, multi-channel speakers or high-end headphones. Enjoy true Blu-ray grade high-definition sound that you've never experienced with a regular PC before.
- Multi Channel Calibration (MCC) can transform any room into an ideal listening environment. With (MCC), audio performance is automatically calibrated according to the dimensions of your room. Simply place the speaker and setup the microphone at your usual listening spot, position the speakers and connect them. The user can set the speaker settings easily by using the free bundled MCC software.
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ASUS Announces PQ321Q Pre-Order: The World's First Consumer 4K Monitor
ASUS, a worldwide leader in high performance large screen displays, today announced the exclusive pre-order for the highly-anticipated PQ321Q True 4K UHD monitor. Starting July 1st, US consumers will be able to pre-order the world's first consumer 4K monitor through Newegg, Amazon, or TigerDirect at an introductory MSRP of $3,499 USD. The PQ321Q True 4K UHD Monitor, a desktop display with a stunning Ultra HD 3840 x 2160 resolution, delivers a screen resolution equivalent to four Full HD displays combined. It has a 31.5-inch LED-backlit 4K Ultra HD display (140 pixels-per-inch) with a 16:9 aspect ratio, and supports 10-bit RGB 'deep color' for vibrant images with more natural transitions between hues.
The ASUS PQ321Q True 4K UHD Monitor uses cutting-edge Indium Gallium Zinc Oxide (IGZO) rather than traditional amorphous silicon for the active layer of its LCD panel. IGZO panels support much smaller transistors than amorphous silicon, enabling much smaller pixels. This allows the PQ321Q to have four times the amount of pixels compared to a 1920 x 1080 Full HD display. Despite the increase in pixels, the PQ321Q offers peace of mind by coming with a 30-day Zero Bright Dot warranty.
To ensure the ultimate visual experience, 176-degree wide viewing angles on both vertical and horizontal planes minimize onscreen color shift, while the 350cd/m² brightness rating and 8ms gray-to-gray response time ensure smooth, bright, and vibrant moving visuals. IGZO technology also gives reduced energy consumption compared to amorphous silicon and reduces bulk, maximizing your available space. At 35mm at its thickest point, the PQ321Q is not only the first True 4K UHD consumer monitor but also the thinnest available today.
Comprehensive Video Inputs for UHD Content
The ASUS PQ321Q True 4K UHD Monitor features DisplayPort and dual HDMI ports with Picture-by-Picture support. DisplayPort's Multi Stream Transport mode allows 60Hz refresh rates at 3840 x 2160 resolution using graphics cards from NVIDIA, AMD, and integrated video from 4th Generation Intel Core processors. Built-in 2W stereo speakers remove the need for additional desktop clutter and, in addition to being wall-mountable, the monitor stand offers full height, swivel, and tilt adjustments.
Specifications:
- Model: PQ321Q
- DISPLAY PANEL: 31.5" (80.1 cm), 3840x2160, IGZO WLED Backlit, 0.182mm Pixel Pitch
- DISPLAY COLORS: 1073.7 million colors /100% sRGB/80% NTSC CIE1976 / 72% NTSC CIE1931
- BRIGHTNESS: Min < 80cd/m2 Max: 350cd/m2
- CONTRAST RATIO: Native 800:1
- VIEWING ANGLE (CR ? 10): Horizontal: 176 / Vertical: 176
- RESPONSE TIME: 8ms (GTG)
- LOOK-UP TABLE: 14 bit LUT
- COLOR AND GAMMA: Standard, Vivid, and sRGB color modes. 18 levels of color temperature 3K-10K in 500K increments.
- 5 Gamma Modes: 1.8, 2.0, 2.2, 2.4, Standard
- VIDEO I/O: DisplayPort 1.2, 2x HDMI 1.4, RS-232C
- AUDIO I/O: 2W x 2 stereo, 3.5mm In, 3.5mm Out (for HDMI and DP only)
- HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT: 0 ~ 150mm / 0 - 5.9"
- PIVOT / SWIVEL / TILT: Swivel +45 to -45 / Tilt +25 to -5
- FEATURES: Picture-by-Picture, Screen/OSD Rotate, Kensington Lock
- VESA WALL MOUNT: 100mm x 100mm
- DIMENSION (WxHxD): 750 x 489 x 256 mm (with stand) / 29.5 x 19.2 x 10 inches (with stand)
- NET WEIGHT: 13Kg / 28.6lbs
- REGULATORY APPROVALS: UL/cUL, FCC, ICES, RoHS, WEEE, Windows 7 and 8 WHQL
- MAX. POWER CONSUMPTION: Operating ? 93W / Standby < 6W / Low Power < 1W
- ACCESSORIES: DisplayPort cable, Power Cord, RS-232C conversion cable, Warranty card, Cable Tie
- MSRP: $3,499 USD
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Origin PC Announces its New Online Gear Shop
ORIGIN PC celebrates the grand opening of their new online "gear shop" where you can now purchase exclusive items like ORIGIN PC branded peripherals, ORIGIN PC apparel and much more! Featuring exclusive items like an ORIGIN PC branded ASTRO A40 Audio system with incredibly crisp Dolby 7.1 surround sound, the online gear shop is the best source for customers to order their favorite ORIGIN PC branded peripherals, apparel and accessories to complement their existing ORIGIN PC systems.
To celebrate the launch of the new Gear Shop the ORIGIN PC branded Astro A40 Audio System is 10% off for one week only. For more information, please visit the ORIGIN PC Gear Shop here.
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3x Battery Life for Nexus 4 From Mugen Power
Mugen Power Batteries (http://www.mugen-power-batteries.com) the manufacturer of high-capacity batteries for handheld devices, today announces the new CC-E960 Mugen Power 4500mAh Extended Battery Case for LG Google Nexus 4 which extends the time consumers can use this popular device. The battery case is immediately available from Mugen Power Batteries with free shipping worldwide.
As well as delivering longer life, the new battery case is also exceptionally reliable. Like other Mugen batteries, the Mugen 4500mAh Extended Battery case for Google Nexus 4 has undergone vigorous QA testing to ensure the highest quality and lowest return rate. The battery is also in compliance with the CE requirements.
"Google Nexus 4 owners are often reported to complain about short battery life of the device. We worked hard on this project and managed to fit 4500mAh capacity into that new battery case. Our solution gives customers added battery life to stay connected longer without recharges and make more with the smartphone than ever before," says Nikolai Lebedovsky, CEO at Mugen Power Batteries
Pricing and Availability
Mugen Power 4500mAh Extended Battery case for Google Nexus 4 is available for US$89.50 direct from Mugen Power Batteries at http://www.mugen-power-batteries.com/mugen-power-4500mah-power-case-for-lg-nexus-4.html. Price includes free shipping worldwide and 365 days warranty.
More information on the product: http://www.mugen-power-batteries.com
Connect with Mugen Power Batteries on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MugenPowerBatteries
Follow Mugen Power on Twitter: http://twitter.com/MugenBatteries
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