IT-Code-News: IT News Head Lines (TweakTown) 9/23/2013

Sunday, September 22, 2013

IT News Head Lines (TweakTown) 9/23/2013

TweakTown

LinkedIn sued by users who claimed they were hacked by the company
There has been a complaint filed in a San Jose federal court, with a group of people alleging that LinkedIn hacked into their e-mail accounts and took their contact lists so that LinkedIn could send spam-like e-mails.

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The suit claims that "Linkedln is able to download these addresses without requesting the password for the external email accounts or obtaining users' consent." The complaint argues that this is hacking, since "the users' email accounts and downloading of all email addresses associated with that users' account is done without clearly notifying the user or obtaining his or her consent."
Once the e-mail account is hacked, endorsement e-mails follow. The document goes on to explain: "These endorsement emails contain the name and likeness of those existing users from whom Linkedln surreptitiously obtained the list of email addresses." We don't know how LinkedIn is hacking into these accounts, but the suit has claimed that LinkedIn "pretends" to be its users in order to download contact lists "if a LinkedIn user leaves an external email account open."

Tim Cook says that tablet sales will pass PC sales by 2015
Bloomberg Businessweek enjoyed an interview with Apple CEO Tim Cook last week, where Cook reiterated that he believes the tablet market will overpass the PC market within 2 years.

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Cook said: "We're 24 months away from that" which isn't too far away at all. Cook also said that most of this growth in the tablet market in coming from PC makers who are making low-cost Android devices as a 'defensive maneuver.' Cook also used the time to talk smack about Android tablets, which is something he has done on more than one occasion.
Cook said: "I think if I bought [an Android tablet] and used it, and I thought that was a tablet experience, I'm not sure I would ever buy another tablet. The responsiveness isn't there. The basic touch is really off. The app experience is a stretched-out smartphone kind of experience. It's not an optimized experience."

Apple still needs Samsung to manufacture the A7 in the iPhone 5S
Rocking an iPhone 5S and think you're 'sticking it to Samsung' when you use it? Think again. The South Korean giant, and main competitor to Apple, is the company who is making the A7 processor inside each and every iPhone 5S.

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Chipworks says that it found design and manufacturing processes on the A7 chip that match up with Samsung-built chips such as the Samsung Exynos Application processor that is baked into the Galaxy S4 smartphone. Samsung will also reportedly supply Apple with components for its upcoming second generation iPad mini tablet.
So while they may be competitors, they still require each other to make money. Apple wouldn't have as many iPhone 5S units if it weren't for Samsung, and Samsung wouldn't be racking in billions manufacturing hardware for Apple.

Twitter IPO could raise $1 billion, might happen quite soon
We should expect Twitter to go public in the next couple of months, but according to a report on Reuters, the social networking site might push its IPO before Thanksgiving.

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One source has told Reuters that Twitter could raise over $1 billion in its IPO, and while it may sound like a lot, it is less than 1% of Facebook's record-breaking IPO which smashed through $105 billion. We don't know what Twitter will do when it goes public, but we should expect the biggest Twitter apps to go under the knife and come out looking just a little different. Let's just hope this doesn't happen to Twitter, like it did Facebook.

NVIDIA unleashes its GeForce 327.23 WHQL drivers
NVIDIA has finally unleashed its GeForce 327.23 WHQL drivers, breaking out of the previous 326.80 beta drivers from last month. The new drivers include the usual performance increases, but there's more in store with these new drivers from NVIDIA.

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We have performance increases of up to 19% in a few games since the previous R319 drivers, new SLI profiles, official Windows 8.1 support, TXAA support for OpenGL, and full support for tiled 4K 60Hz displays such as ASUS' beautiful PQ321Q. You can grab NVIDIA's GeForce 327.23 WHQL driver right here.

BlackBerry could be saved... by its co-founder and former co-CEO
BlackBerry is drowning, and has been for a while, but diving out of the consumer market because of a $1 billion loss on a single smartphone is a big move. What can help the Canadian phone maker now?

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Well, co-founder of BlackBerry, Mike Lazaridis, who stepped down from his co-CEO role in 2012, has reportedly approached more than one private equity firm about putting in a bid for BlackBerry. This all comes from a report on The New York Times, who says that talks are simply preliminary right now. Lazaridis might not make an offer, but it would definitely put a big spin on the situation.
Big industry players like Huawei and Lenovo have reportedly been linked to business talks, but nothing is confirmed right now. We'll have more as it happens.

Hack the fingerprint scanner on the iPhone 5S for $15,000 cash reward
There are already security holes within iOS 7, that allow someone to quite easily access your photos, e-mails, and much more. But now one man has made it his mission to hack the iPhone 5S Touch ID.

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The fingerprint scanner built into the iPhone 5S by
the NSA
Apple is now the target of hacking, with IsTouchIDHackedYet.com the start of this. Nick DePetrillo is raising money through cash and Bitcoins, with $16,000 raised already. Alcohol and other random prizes have been handed over from over 60 different pledges.

All of the donations will be given to the first who can "successfully [lift] a print off the iPhone 5s screen, [reproduce] it and [unlock] the phone in < 5 tries." Video confirmation will be necessary, with every step of the process needing to be recorded for legitimacy.

Valve's Steam Box teased in a new website, what can we expect?
I really think that Valve can seriously take on the next-gen consoles from both Sony and Microsoft, where it could even come out on top with some of the best gaming experiences we've ever had.

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Now the Washington-based game developer has teased its new Steam Box console on a new website, with a teaser image above. There's a countdown ticker that is counting down to 1PM EDT on September 23. We don't know what will be announced, but Valve says it will unveil something exciting - we should expect the Steam Box, in perfect timing, before the PS4 and Xbox One are released.

Oppo set to become Cyanogen's first hardware partner with the N1
We reported earlier in the week about the Cyanogen Inc announcement, with a new smartphone coming with the help of Oppo. Oppo will be manufacturing Cyanogen Inc's smartphone, which will be the Oppo N1 smartphone.

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We don't know what to expect, apart from the video tease above that gets us ready for "OPPO + CyanogenMod = ?" which is the Oppo N1 smartphone. The original teases show off a gorgeous smartphone, which Oppo says has "a beautiful large screen." We should expect some seriously slick things from the N1, as it is going to be unveiled at Oppo's Beijing event on September 23.

Qualcomm joins the Wireless Power Consortium, but why?
A collective of companies who support the Qi wireless charging standard joined forces to become the Wireless Power Consortium, but industry heavyweight Qualcomm stayed out of it until now.

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Qualcomm has become a member of the Wireless Power Consortium, which includes over 170 companies who are behind the standard. Considering Qualcomm is a founding member of the WPC's competing wireless charging standard, Alliance for Wireless Power - or A4WP - which has just 60 members. Qualcomm is knee-deep in A4WP, so it's an interesting move to say the least.
Could Qualcomm be wanting to bring the two groups together? Qi seems the bigger of the two, with companies like HTC, Samsung, LG, Nokia, Sony and now Qualcomm all on board. We should see what Qualcomm were up to joining the WPC in the next couple of months.

Gaikai will stream PS3 games to the PS4 in 2014
We've been wondering what Sony would do after it purchased premium cloud-based service Gaikai, but now we know: Sony will stream PS3 games to the PlayStation 4 starting next year. This will go around the issue that the PS4 is an x86-based device, compared to the custom chips inside of the PS3.

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We shouldn't expect full compatibility and the entire PS3 library, but the Japanese company has said that Gaikai would compliment its next-gen console nicely, affording for interactive functions like Remote Play and more. The news comes directly from Sony Worldwide Studios president, Shuhei Yoshida, when he spoke at the Tokyo Game Show earlier this week in Japan.
Yoshida stated that Gaikai will begin offering the streaming of certain PS3 games to the PS4 starting next year in the US. Yoshida also confirmed that Sony plans to continuously build up the PS3 library for the PS4, where it'll first build a core library, constantly adding titles to it.

Android 4.4 KitKat teases new status bar with gray icons
Apple may have launched its iOS 7 platform, but it is receiving mixed responses if my Facebook news feed has anything to do with it. Well, on the other side of the field we have Google with its Android 4.4 KitKat OS which is set to hit Android devices in the near future.

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The latest tease, in the shot above, shows off a new status bar with gray icons versus the current blue. I dig it, as it is more visible on the screen than blue is. We are to expect Android 4.4 KitKat to have a refreshed UI, which is something I'm quite excited to see. What to expect? We don't know just yet, but I expect we'll see much more in the coming weeks, where I hope we'll see the Nexus 5 unveiled with Android 4.4 KitKat on board.

BlackBerry to leave the consumer market, will fire 4,500 employees
BlackBerry is about to cut 4,500 staff from its books, which represents the 40% layoff numbers we heard a couple of days ago now. But the news gets worse: BlackBerry is leaving the consumer market.

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This is something we've been expecting here at TweakTown, but the news is quite sudden. This all comes from the failure that is the BlackBerry Z10 smartphone, which has cost the Canadian phone maker $1 billion in losses in the last quarter alone. BlackBerry says it will take a "primarily non-cash, pre-tax charge against inventory and supply commitments in the second quarter of approximately $930 million to $960 million" due to the Z10.
In the second quarter of this year, BlackBerry shipped only 3.7 million smartphones, most of which were running BlackBerry 7, not the company's BB10 OS that ships on the Z10. BlackBerry didn't reveal how many BB10-based devices it sold in the quarter, which should give us a hint in where those numbers must lie.
The company will now focus on what it calls the "prosumer" and enterprise-focused devices, removing itself from the explosive David vs. Goliath battle that is Apple and Google, and Samsung. BlackBerry will trim its offerings down to just four devices, two in the high-end and two in the low-end of the market. The new Z30 smartphone will be one of its high-end devices, while the Z10 will be "re-tiered" and pushed as an entry-level smartphone with massive price cuts to take place in the coming weeks.
BlackBerry CEO, Thorsten Heins has said that the changes are "difficult, but necessary... Going forward, we plan to refocus our offering on our end-to-end solution of hardware, software and services for enterprises and the productive, professional end-user."
So there we have it, we called it quite long ago, but BlackBerry is now finished with the consumer market. To be brutally honest, I'm surprised this didn't happen much sooner, but at least BlackBerry hasn't completely crashed and burned... yet.

Qualcomm confirms Lumia 1520, features 20MP cam and Snapdragon 800
Today, Qualcomm posted a tweet on its Twitter account that seemingly confirmed the existence of Nokia's rumored upcoming phablet, the Lumia 1520. The tweet also mentioned that the phone will feature a 20-megapixel rear camera and that it will feature Qualcomm's flagship Snapdragon 800 processor.

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The Lumia 1520 is rumored to feature a 6-inch full HD screen, 2GB of RAM, and a 20-megapixel PureView camera. The phablet is said to feature an S-Pen-like stylus, and will run a purpose-built version of Microsoft Office OneNote. Nokia was expected to release the 1520 this month, but the event was pushed back until October 22 for unknown reasons.

Corsair unveils Obsidian 750D enthusiast grade PC chassis
Today, Corsair announced the launch of the newest addition to their world-famous Obsidian line of enthusiast grade PC cases. The all new Obsidian 750D will fill the gap between the high-end Obsidian 800D and the mid-range Obsidian 650D.

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Corsair says that the new 750D retains the full-tower design and features enough room for those who prize storage space while still retaining enough room for today's high-end, longer graphics cards. The company says that even when packed full of hard drives and video cards, there is enough room for a custom-built water cooling setup to be installed.

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The case weighs in at 9.5kg and has a footprint of 235x560x546mm and supports XL-ATX, EATX, HPTX, and ATX form-factor motherboards. Like all other Obsidian series cases, the 750D features a brushed aluminum front panel with an overall sleek black exterior finish. For those looking for a minimalist style and a full side panel window, this is the case for you.

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Corsair says that the Obsidian 750D really stands out when it comes to its cooling ability as it features room for two 120mm intake fans up front while still having enough room for a 240mm radiator. A single 140mm exhaust fan can be placed at the rear, while two 140mm fans or three 120mm fans can be placed in the top. Additionally, a 360mm radiator can be placed in the top as well. Corsair says that the Obsidian 750D will be available for purchase soon at a price point of $249.99.

Canonical to release Ubuntu Touch 1.0 on October 17
Today, Canonical announced that it will release the first public version of Ubuntu Touch for download on October 17. "We are exactly one month away from the release of Saucy Salamander," wrote Canonical's quality assurance community coordinator on the company's blog.

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If you're bummed out about the Ubuntu Edge not getting funded, there is still hope that their is light at the end of the tunnel. Canonical says that Version 1.0 of Ubuntu Touch will be compatible with Google's Galaxy Nexus, Nexus 4, and Nexus 10 devices. I have one friend in particular who I am sure this news will excite greatly as he was quite distraught when the Ubuntu Edge was not funded.

Cooler Master unveils new VS series power supplies
Today, Cooler Master launched a new "highly efficient and powerful" line of power supplies that have been given the VS series moniker. Cooler Master says that the VS series of PSUs are constructed using a unique 3-D circuit design that minimizes unnecessary cabling resulting in a much cleaner signal.

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Additionally, with the removal of excess cabling, more open space has been created to allow better airflow to core components, which results in a much more efficient power supply. The VS series features a single powerful rail platform design that offers superior load-balancing and better compatibility with today's high-end graphics cards.

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High-grade Japanese capacitors are present as well to help alleviate power fluctuations while extending the power supply's life and preventing excessive wear on system components. The VS series is available in 550W, 650W, and 750W versions, but no pricing or availability was given at the time of this writing.

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Walker HD launches today
Pretty much anyone who grew up during the late '80s, '90s, and early 2000s has a deep nostalgic connection to Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda franchise. Many of us spent countless hours fighting every obstacle that was thrown at us just to rescue Princess Zelda. Today, Nintendo released The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Walker HD.
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The launch comes alongside a special edition Wii U that features styling in the Zelda theme. The bundle also includes a digital copy of Hyrule Historia. Nintendo has coincided this launch with a $50 price drop on the Wii U for the US region.

Forza 5 team merges real-world with game footage via FilmSpeed
The Forza 5 team has taken a unique approach to marketing their upcoming realistic racing game that is exclusive to the Xbox One. The team partnered up with famous supercar maker McLaren and stunt car driver Tanner Foust to produce what they are calling "FilmSpeed.

FilmSpeed is a short film shot in the zoetrope format and features more than 680 aluminum panels that feature frame by frame scenes from the highly anticipated Forza Motorsport 5 video game that will launch with the Xbox One this November.

The aluminum panels were spaced several inches apart and filmed via a rooftop-mounted camera on a McLaren 12C supercar driven by Tanner Foust at speeds up to 120 mph. The result is nothing short of amazing and is one of the most original and creative marketing plans I have ever seen. I have watched the video several times now and after writing this article I think I'm going to watch it again.

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GTA V sets new record in sales - $1 billion in just three days
Earlier this week, I reported that Grand Theft Auto V had become the fastest selling game of all time, and was well on its way to reaching $1 billion faster than any other game by weeks. Today, Take-Two Interactive announced that in just three days' time, GTA V has surpassed the $1 billion in sales milestone.

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"We believe this marks the fastest that any entertainment property, including video games and feature films, has reached this significant milestone," the company said in a statement.
"Grand Theft Auto is a cultural phenomenon and Rockstar Games continues to redefine what can be achieved in interactive entertainment," said Strauss Zelnick, Chairman and CEO of Take-Two. "We are incredibly proud of the extraordinary critical and commercial response to Grand Theft Auto V."
The only other video game to ever come close to this new record was Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, which netted $1 billion over the course of 15 days. Unfortunately, Take-Two Interactive did not disclose just how many copies have already sold, but they did say that the $1 billion mark has been passed.

Valve is planning three big announcements next week
Next week is going to be big for Valve as the company plans to make "three big announcements" that are said to be centered on bringing Steam into the living room and onto your TV. Of course, these announcements will most likely pertain to Valve's long rumored Steam Box gaming console.

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While there no promises that we will see an actual Steam Box on display, the chance of hardware making an appearance is very likely. We all know that Valve CEO Gabe Newell is a genius in his own right, and the idea of Valve launching its Steam Box console just ahead of the release of next-gen consoles could prove to be very lucrative.
When you think about it, would you rather purchase a next-gen console for several hundred dollars and still have to buy games, or would you rather purchase a Steam Box for which you already have dozens of games to play? If the Steam Box is released next week, you can expect the console gaming world to be turned upside down.

ROCCAT expands Kone XTD gaming mouse compatibility to Mac devices
ROCCAT has just announced that its award-winning Kone XTD laser gaming mouse is now compatible with Apple's Mac devices. This announcement means that Mac gamers worldwide can now enjoy the advanced precision, premium components, and unique lighting effects that ROCCAT offers in the Kone XTD.

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"We are thrilled to unleash the Kone XTD to the millions of Mac gaming enthusiasts worldwide," says René Korte, ROCCAT Founder and CEO. "The number of Mac gamers continues to grow, and the release of the Mac driver for the Kone XTD is just our first step towards more widespread support for the operating system's user base."
ROCCAT says that the 8,200 DPI Pro-Aim R3 laser sensor in the Kone XTD makes it the best gaming mouse now available on the Mac platform. The Kone XTD also features Easy-Shift technology that allows users to set to functions for each mouse button and the scroll wheel, giving gamers the power to pack a massive amount of control into a quickly deployable set up.

Apple releases iPhone 5S and 5C for online and in-store purchases
Today, Apple released its newly unveiled iPhone 5S and 5C to the public for in-store and online purchases. Unfortunately, those who waited in line for weeks to get their hands on the new "gold" iPhone will most likely be disappointed as the champagne colored phone appears to be in very short supply.

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So how does the pricing breakdown? The iPhone 5S will cost $199 on a two-year contract across all the major carriers for the 16 GB model. $299 and $399 will land you the 32GB and 64GB versions, respectively. For those of you looking to buy off contract for an unlocked version, expect to be set back by $649, $749 and $849 for the 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB models.

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The iPhone 5C is not much cheaper with the 16GB version costing $99 from AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon, while the 32GB model runs $199. It appears that the 5C is only being offered in a contract free form at T-Mobile which will cost you $549. Alternatively, a SIM-free unlocked model that requires a GSM-compatible SIM card will set consumers back $649 each.

Nielsen's TV ratings will soon include the use of digital devices
Starting next year, the leading American television ratings company, Nielsen, will finally step into the digital age where they will count people watching TV on smart devices.

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Nielsen will use a special set-top box that plugs into the televisions of its 10,000 volunteers across the United States, which will monitor what those 10,000 Americans watch. Until September 2014, Nielsen's count doesn't include anyone using digital devices to watch TV, this includes services such as Hulu.
Nielsen's Senior VP of Global Audience Measurement, Eric Solomon has said: "Networks are starving for a number they can publish that really represents their audience not just on TV but across all platforms. I think it will start changing the narrative that 'people are not watching TV shows.' It's that they're watching on different platforms."

Google unveils Calico, 'a new company focused on health'
Calico is a new project from Google, and a mysterious, but wonderful project from the Mountain View-based giant. Google explains Calico as "a new company focused on health and well-being, in particular the challenge of aging and associated diseases."

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No one knows what Calico will be doing exactly, but it's interesting to note that Calico's CEO, Art Levinson, is a chairman over at Apple - Google's main competitor. Apple's CEO, Tim Cook, has had a say in Google's press release, where he said: "For too many of our friends and family, life has been cut short or the quality of their life is too often lacking."
Cook praised Google's choice in Levinson, who is also the chairman and former CEO of biotech company Genentech, as well as the director of its parent company, Hoffman-Le Roche. Google's CEO, Larry Page, took to his Google+ page where he said: "OK ... so you're probably thinking wow! That's a lot different from what Google does today. But as we explained in our first letter to shareholders, there's tremendous potential for technology more generally to improve people's lives."

R.I.P.D. (2013) Cinema Review

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Having previously mined and in some cases, re-mined the collection of well-known graphic novel properties, Hollywood has dug a little deeper, offering up potentially lucrative, yet little known graphic novels such as Ant-Man and Black Panther and now this; Dark Horse's 2003 novel series R.I.P.D.. Unfortunately, R.I.P.D. is less Watchmen and more Green Lantern (which coincidentally also starred Ryan Reynolds). That is; a bit crap.

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Boston cop Nick Walker (Ryan Reynolds), in cahoots with his partner Bobby Hayes (Kevin Bacon), make a misguided decision to retain valuable evidence from a crime scene, but fearing being ratted out by Walker, Hayes murders his partner under the cover of a raid. Summoned to the Rest In Peace Division, an afterlife crime fighting force, who recruit deceased lawmen in exchange for a delay in their likely unfavorable judgment day, Walker is forcibly teamed with 18th Century U.S. Marshall Roy Pulsipher (Jeff Bridges) to stave off the threat of evil forces returning to wreak havoc on Earth. And not a moment too soon, considering the significant and imminent threat that is rallying to overthrow the world of the living.

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R.I.P.D. attempts to channel both Men in Black and Ghostbusters, but despite the best intentions, fails to honor the memories of either. Director Robert Schwentke is certainly no first time director, having previously helmed Flightplan and Red before this, but the scope of such a huge CG infused film is seemingly out of his scope. Particular note must be made to the film's dreadful visual effects, which were no doubt exacerbated by the mid-production bankruptcy of Rhythm and Hues who handled a significant portion of the film. Suspension of disbelief is hard to engender when more convincing digital characters can be willed to life on my PlayStation 3.

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Ryan Reynolds plays his typically likeable jock character, and it's hard to fault him for deficiencies in the film's script, but admittedly Jeff Bridge's wild-west lawman really rubbed me up the wrong way. Maybe it's because it was so damn hard to make out what he was saying, or the anachronism of his character, but I really disliked it. And when the leading character is so unlikeable, well... it can only go downhill from there.
Kevin Bacon is wasted in such a dire role, of which it's hard to not feel slight pity as to the slighting he's received from Hollywood for a many of such burgeoning talent. The standout award goes to Mary Louise-Parker for her role as R.I.P.D. matriarch Procter, with her commanding, yet light portrayal, which lends much needed gravitas.

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On one hand, I feel I've perhaps been hard on R.I.P.D., and admittedly it's certainly a little better than I anticipated after diabolical overseas reports, but when a competitor with a fraction of the films production budget can deliver a significantly improved visual effects experience, it's hard to be lenient. R.I.P.D. itself is perhaps the film's worst enemy; unable to make good of the promise of the film's trailer, and God help anyone that gets off side of the world's comic book fans.

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QNAP NAS HD Station - The Next-Generation Media Player Overview

Introduction

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If you would have told me a year ago that I would be watching my collection of movies and television shows straight from my QNAP appliance, without the need for a standalone media player, I would have told you to get lost. The fact is, I never dreamed QNAP would take the plunge and offer such amazing features to the average consumer - I mean, we are the little guys, right?
In February of this year, QNAP announced the availability of the x69L and Pro NAS appliances. With these they also launched the greatest feature to come to the NAS platform in quite some time, HD Station. HD Station allows for those that have purchased an x69L or Pro NAS appliance to enjoy their music, photo and video collections right on the HDTV in the living room via the HDMI output on the NAS.
As HD Station has grown, QNAP has added the additional functionality of full web browser with Chrome, the ability to access the NAS administration desktop via MyNAS and even the ability to watch streaming video via the built in YouTube app.
Today we take a close look at QNAP's HD Station and what it's all about.

HD Station Installation and Setup

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The installation procedure for HD Station and its many applications starts by heading over to the tab set aside just for it. Here you will find the web browser in the form of Google Chrome, along with MyNAS, YouTube and the star of the show, XBMC. For those of you that don't know, XBMC started out on the first generation Xbox console. Xbox Media Center or XBMC has enjoyed great success over the years, with a number of standalone media players being developed using their software. In addition to their success, XBMC almost has a cult type following with many developers making new programs for the platform each and every day.

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Now that you have taken care of the HD Station installation, feel free to plug in a HDMI cable to back of your NAS and fire up your HDTV. This is where everything comes together, above you can see we have many options to choose from. If you feel like browsing the web and reading some of the great articles here at TweakTown, fire up chrome in a pinch or need to change settings on your NAS, but don't want to run to your PC? Head on over to MyNAS where you will get the full administration panel at your fingertips. Additionally, if you have the need to view what's trending on YouTube, there's an app for that too. Of course, the meat of the pie lies in XBMC and where the full HD Station experience comes together.

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Above we have fired up Chrome, and of course headed over to TweakTown.com. Now you may wonder how you get around in a browser, without a mouse and keyboard. It's simple really, with the release of HD Station, QNAP deployed keyboard and mouse support. Additionally, QNAP has their very own app called Qremote that we will touch on later in the article.

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The MyNAS application allows the full administration menu right on your TV, and with keyboard and mouse support, it operates the same as it does on your PC.

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As I stated above, the YouTube app allows you to search through popular categories such as music, gaming and sports, but also features a trending section, so you can see the latest "hot" videos on YouTube.
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Additionally, each application in the HD Station menu has its own configuration.

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The display tab allows you to configure the HDMI output to fit your HDTV's resolution.

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The preferences tab has the audio output configuration, along with language and remote control selection.
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Transcend Ultimate 64GB SDXC Memory Card Review

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As HD video recording becomes increasingly popular, the need for high density storage follows. For this reason, we have seen many manufacturers start to increase the capacity of their SD and Compact Flash cards to accommodate this demand. One of these companies is Transcend, which has sent over one of its latest top tier offerings in the Ultimate line-up.
Today I will be going over the 64GB Ultimate SDXC memory card from Transcend. This card carries both a Class 10 and UHS-I speed rating, with marketing specifications of 90 MB/s read. Additionally, as with all Transcend memory products, you will find yourself with a free copy of RecoveRX, along with the SDXC card backed by a lifetime warranty.

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The Transcend Ultimate was delivered to us in its retail form, which you can see in its entirety above the review text. Here we found the card inside plastic packaging.

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Looking at the card, we first notice the capacity at 64GB printed on the card in bold font. Above this, we find the Class 10 and UHS I logos, and of course the SDXC and 600x as well.

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The bottom or back of the card shows the nine pin connection, which is standard for the SD format.
To test SD cards we utilize the same benchmarks we use for Flash Drives. These include CrystalDiskMark, ATTO and DiskBench. The card reader utilized in these test is the SanDisk ImageMate AIO. We have also included Price/Performance to aide in your purchase decision. All prices are updated for each review and come from reputable retailers listed on the manufacturers "Where to Buy" list.

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Our first look over the card shows its storage capacity of 59.8GB formatted in the exFAT file system.

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In ATTO, the Transcend was able to exceed marketing specifications coming in at 96 MB/s read and 63 MB/s write.

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Following up our ATTO testing, we move on to CDM, where we find similar results from the Ultimate SDXC. Here we find sequential result at 95 MB/s read and 64 MB/s write, while large block random reads come in at 89 MB/s and writes at 22 MB/s.

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In our chart above, we find the Transcend did quite well with both AVCHD and RAW formats at 58 MB/s and 56 MB/s respectively. This effectively puts the Transcend Ultimate right with the 64GB microSDXC from SanDisk.

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Offering ample performance is one way to get the average consumer to purchase your products, the other is pricing it competitively. Here you will find the Transcend Ultimate at the top of the list by quite a margin, thanks to the card's performance and excellent pricing at 0.78 cents per GB.
The Transcend Ultimate 64GB SDXC is a testament to the right mix of performance, capacity and market research. With this, Transcend has come out of the gates offering Full HD capable storage at a price point that makes this 64GB SDXC the fastest memory card on the market at this capacity and price point.
Performance of the Ultimate SDXC was quite compelling. For instance, in both ATTO and CDM, we reached 95 MB/s read, followed by 65 MB/s write, while DiskBench had the card on par with comparable products like the 64GB SanDisk Extreme Pro.
At the time of writing, the Transcend Ultimate 64GB SDXC is priced at $59.99 and backed by a lifetime warranty. Comparable products make this SDXC from Transcend a real treat coming in at half the price ($59.99) of the much more expensive SanDisk Extreme Pro 64GB SDXC ($129.99), and that makes it one to put on the short list.

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Mach Xtreme Technology LX USB 3.0 Flash Drive Review

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In April of this year, we had the pleasure of testing the ES flash drive from MX-Technology, a drive that was built on the SLC NAND flash platform, offering tremendous durability, and the price reflected this. Fast forward to the present and we now have the LX, a drive that aims to offer the best in terms of performance, at a price point that fits the average consumer's budget.
This new MX-LX is currently available in capacities ranging from the standard 8GB, 16GB and 32GB flavours with additional models ranging from 64GB to 256GB. Marketing specifications for the 64GB model we have in house call for 190 MB/s read, followed by 85 MB/s write. All capacities maintain compatibility with current Windows operating systems and come with a two-year warranty.

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The LX follows a lot of the design queues we saw with the ES back in April. The simple metal exterior carries a bit of durability and a flashy blue paint job.

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The backside of the drive has the MX-Technology website painted in grey.

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As did the ES, the LX uses a capped design helping the drive retain its small footprint.

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The USB port, colored blue appropriately noting its gen three compatibility.

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Internally, the LX uses two NAND packages both 32GB for a dual channel configuration. The NAND flash used here is 8K Synchronous MLC from Intel. The controller used is the Innostor IS903.
One of the lesser-known features of running Microsoft's new operating system Windows 8 is the native capability of USB Attached SCSI or UASP. In benchmarking flash drives, we utilize ATTO Disk Benchmark followed by DiskBench and our custom set of real-world data, and is by far the most important comparison when looking for a flash drive for everyday use.
Recently we have added our very own Price/Performance charts to aid your purchase decision, for these charts we take the average sequential performance over five runs and divide it by the price per GB. All pricing information is updated before a new drive is added and is taken from certified channel retailers such as Newegg or Amazon. Additionally, we have added the Macintosh based benchmark Disk Speed Test by Black Magic Design, which is run on OS X 10.8.4.

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The MX-LX is factory formatted with the NTFS file system. The usable capacity after formatting is 61.6GB.

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In ATTO, we were able to exceed marketing specifications slightly at 212 MB/s read and 96 MB/s write.

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Our real-world testing had the LX right in the middle of the pack, with the same performance show through each set of data.

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Price/Performance landed the LX right where MX-Technology was aiming, a direct shot in my book.

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For those of you wishing to purchase this drive for use on a Mac, a simple format to the journaled file system allowed us to test the drive. Here you can see the drive was able to touch 198 MB/s read and close to 82 MB/s write.
I must say that MX-Technology has done quite a job designing the LX. In keeping the same overall concept as the ES and swapping out the SLC NAND for the cost effective MLC, they were able to create a drive that offers plenty of performance at a price that simply cannot be beat. If we glance over our Price/Performance charts, you will quickly see this, and note that it beats out the SanDisk Extreme as well, thanks to its solid 78 cents per GB price point.
Performance of the MX-LX was quite exceptional. We were able to touch 212 MB/s read, which is no small feat even in the USB 3.0 age, a feat that takes the right combination of NAND configuration and controller and has been done quite well in the LX.
Pricing of the drive at the time of writing is set at $49.99 for the 64GB capacity in house today. However, at this point, availability is limited to Europe, but we should start seeing these drives in the United States soon.

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Rosewill RSV-L4000 Rackmount Server Case Review

Introduction

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Just days ago, we looked at the $199 Rosewill RSV-L4411, one of four 4u rackmount cases offered by Rosewill. The RSV-L4411 is Rosewill's flagship model with 12 drive sleds, but the same base case design and construction is used throughout the entire RSV Series.
The entry-level rackmount cases from Rosewill are the two RSV-x4000 models, RSV-R4000, a short depth case, and RSV-L4000, the deep depth case that we are looking at today. The RSV-L4000 is nearly identical to the L4411 we just reviewed other than the three drive cages that Rosewill sells individually for $49.99 each.
The L4000 ships with drive sleds, but they are internal, non-hot swap type and three 5.25" bays for optical disks or an aftermarket drive cage.

Specifications, Availability and Pricing

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Designed for motherboards up to E-ATX standards, the RSV-L4000 provides plenty of room for large dual socket motherboards and the dual 120mm cooling fans provide adequate cooling for PCIe devices. The case has seven PCIe slots for RAID controllers and network adapters.
The inner drive cages provide enough room for eight 3.5" drives and the three 5.25" drive bays allow for additional components. Two USB 2.0 ports flank the front side of the case next to the power and reset ports. The RSV-L4000 doesn't ship with a robust accessory package, but Rosewill fills each fan opening from the factory.
At $89.99, the RSV-L4000 is a very low cost unit with a build quality that exceeds expectations. We've seen several rackmount cases and never ran across a 1mm thick steel case for this price.
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Killzone: Mercenary PlayStation Vita Review

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When it comes to systems that have failed to live up to their potential, the PlayStation Vita currently has to be the number one. Released by Sony with much fanfare and claims that it would allow console quality gaming on the road, the Vita really hasn't had that game which blew everything out of the water, but with Killzone, that has potentially changed. This was Sony's poster franchise for the PS3 including a controversial E3 presentation, but all these years later, can the handheld revive what is really a franchise that lives in the shadows of many other large first person shooters?
You play as Arran, a mercenary for hire on a routine mission to evacuate a captured ambassador, when things predictably go awry. You come across a young boy who turns out to be the difference between winning the war and losing the war. As you would expect, the story focuses on the struggle to keep control of the boy, and to stop him from falling into enemy hands.

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The gameplay featured within Killzone: Mercenary is very much the same as the console. Whereas in the past offshoots of the series have taken a different tact such as having a tactical view instead of from the first person, Mercenary is played from the first person, like its console big brothers, and to be honest, if you saw this running on a television, you would think it's a PS3 game - the quality is that good.
For the most part, the objective remains to shoot a lot of enemies and get to the other end of the level, although the touchscreen has allowed the developers to mix up the gameplay somewhat. Unfortunately this often results in frustrating game mechanics that leave you wondering if the additions enhance or detract from the game. One such mini game is the firewall hacking system. This is done via the touchscreen by matching up polygonal shapes to that which is displayed. The main problem with this mini game is that it's not well explained within the game, and there isn't a single mention of it within the game's electronic manual.
There are also other problems which come from the gameplay that could have been avoided. It seemed that on almost every mission, we were asked to defend a position, whilst an area was hacked or a character hid, as we defended them. This becomes tedious and the generic nature of some of the missions will leave you turning off the Vita and coming back later - especially if you are not playing this on the move, and are instead playing at home, for example.
However, looking past some of the problems with the missions themselves, the game is a technical marvel. We finally have a game that shows the true power of the PS Vita system, and the claims of console level gaming on the move by Sony has finally been found to be true. The control system also works perfectly - whilst we have seen first person shooters attempted on systems without dual sticks, there is no doubt that the dual sticks are what makes this game as good as it can be, in terms of control.

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The only real issue we have with the controls is that the developers seem to have shoehorned in touchscreen controls and also controls which use the back pad of the Vita. The back pad is used to zoom in and out with a sniper rifle, whilst the touchscreen is used for hacking games, setting bombs and pulling levers. It just seems tacked on, and whilst the controls work well for the most part, there potentially could have been more imaginative ways to use the touchscreen.
Another disappointment comes from the actual core gameplay and missions. The checkpoint system within the game just doesn't lend itself to a portable game. Many times we lost around ten minutes of mission progress because the checkpoint system is built more for a home console game than a portable, and many times we found ourselves just turning off the Vita at that point and coming back later. This is one of the main flaws we found with the game. This is a console game that has been put on a handheld system, which at times does not take into account the fact that it's portable. There are many things which happen that would be acceptable in a home version, but on a portable game, are incredibly frustrating.

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The game is also challenging, even on the lowest difficulty. The AI isn't the smartest, but there is a lot of them and they generally have powerful weapons. You will find yourself using the melee option (which is deadly, so much so it's almost a cheat) more often than not, due to lack of ammunition. To assist with this, the game places weapons merchants around the game that allow you to reload your weapons or buy new ones for the battle. This is somewhere you will visit a few times because Killzone: Mercenary continues the franchise tradition of only allowing you to carry two weapons at a time.
The environments in which the missions take place are that of which you traditionally see in Killzone. Run down urban areas, caves and huge enemy structures are the name of the game and one issue which wasn't present on the home versions rears its ugly head here. There are times where the game becomes really dark with not much lighting, and in sunlight it can be hard to see the screen. This became such an issue that we found ourselves adjusting the brightness setting, which of course can impact the system's battery life.
From a graphical perspective, as said before, this game is a technical marvel. There are some stunning visual effects that you tend to only see on home consoles, such as reflective surfaces, and overall the game is beautiful. What's most amazing is that the game runs constantly without nary a sign of frame rate drops. This is a game that could easily be mistaken for a PS3 game and that is a credit to the graphics team on this title. The sound effects are also impressive with voice acting present and a strong cinematic soundtrack.

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Killzone: Mercenary has a strong multiplayer suite as well, although it will take you a bit of time to get into it. Before playing, you currently need to download a patch, which is over 1GB and for a portable game, this is just a tad silly. Aside from that, the multiplayer options and varied and the component is strong. We imagine this is a game you would want to play over Wi-Fi instead of via 3G, due to the low latency required for good gameplay. There is the typical modes you would expect like death match, but also a mission based option with five levels that run in succession. The result of each mission sends the story into a different path with the winner being determined after the five maps are completed.
Killzone: Mercenary is a game that in many ways proves why the PS Vita exists. Up until now, we haven't really had a game that delivered on Sony's promise of console level gaming on the road. The game is stunning, to say the least, and whilst there are some problems with the design and some of the missions can become repetitive alongside the multiplayer, it's still a very strong package. If you have a Vita system already, this is a must buy game, and may just be enough with the recent Vita price drop to entice some more gamers into its ecosystem.

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BIOSTAR Introduces the Hi-Fi A88W 3D FM2+ Motherboard
BIOSTAR has released the "Hi-Fi A88W 3D" motherboard based on the new AMD FM2+ socket design that supports the Kaveri series of APUs. This is a revision of current FM2 APUs, both FM2+ & FM2 APUs can work on any FM2+ motherboard including "A88X", "A78" and "A55" chipsets; but FM2+ APUs cannot work on FM2 motherboards. This new AMD CPU socket FM2+ motherboard will retain backwards compatibility with previous generation AMD Socket FM2 APUs.

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The "Hi-Fi A88W 3D", featuring BIOSTAR exclusive technologies "Puro Hi-Fi" audio technology and the "6+ Experience". The "6+ Experience" includes Audio+, Video+, Speed+, Protection+, Durability+ and DIY+.

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Audio+ Features - The audio features from BIOSTAR are extensive. As we've been working on high end audio components, the Hi-Fi A88W 3D continues this tradition with audio features like "3D Audio", "True Blu-Ray Audio", "3D Hi-Fi Amp" and "Smart Ear 3D".
Video+ Features - With AMD's Radeon Graphics and support of Microsoft's DirectX 11.1, the Hi-Fi A88W 3D delivers 3D powered graphics with ease. There is support for full HDMI 3D 1080P and a Dual-Link DVI port for resolutions up to 2560x1600. AMD Eyefinity technology also supports multiple monitors as well.
Speed+ Features - The Hi-Fi A88W 3D supports PCI-E 3.0 technology. This is 2 times the bandwidth of PCI-E 2.0 and allows for up to 1 GB/s of bandwidth per lane per direction. The Smart SpeedLAN, which is a free software application that monitors and manages network behavior. The Smart SpeedLAN can feature automatic management options that use adaptive networking intelligence to ensure that you are getting the best online experience all time. The Charger Booster is the fastest and most efficient charger solution for Apple devices; users are able to charge their iPAD, iPhone up to 42% faster.
Protection+ Features - BIOSTAR wants to make things a bit safer when dealing with sensitive electronic components. As such, the Hi-Fi A88W 3D adapts USB Over current Protection. This is an onboard dedicated power fuse to prevent electrical USB port failure. This ESD protection (Electrostatic Discharge) prevents the USB Port from over-current. In addition, throughout strategic places on the board there are OVER-Current Protection, OVER-Voltage Protection, and OVER-Heat Protection safeguards. These are special circuit designs to detect overvoltage conditions and heat to preventing voltage surges from spreading in real time.
Durability+ Features - There are several design features that work towards providing a more durable motherboard on which to build a system. Low RdsOn P-Pak MOS is a low resistance design that can significantly reduce the current in energy loss. It has a low operating temperature, small size, and excellent thermal conductivity. The Hi-Fi A88W 3D also uses a moisture-proof PCB. Computers are often used in humid areas (such as coastal climates). The PCB will oxidize if it can easily absorb moisture. Then ionic migration or CAF (Conductive Anodic Filaments) will be generated. Moisture-proof PCBs meet high density and high reliability requirements for moisture proofing.
DIY+ Features - For users who love to build his own PC, BIOSTAR fully supports various innovative ways such as UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) BIOS interface, a modern and easy-to-use graphical user interface. The UEFI comes with a colorful easy-understand icons leading users directly into the setup layer. BIO-Remote 2 gives users a better Home Theater environment. Users who own either Android or Apple products are able to access and control the PC remotely. This allows a smart device to become an intelligent and functional remote controller. In addition, the BIO-Remote2 feature also includes both the function of a mouse pad and a power point presentation controller.

GIGABYTE Also Releases the 17.3" P27K Gaming Laptop
GIGABYTE Technology, a leading brand in the IT industry, released a powerful 17.3-inch P27K gaming laptop to provide gaming mobility at homes around the world. With a FHD 1080p display the 17.3 display provides ample screen space perfect for gaming and entertainment. Featuring a 4th gen Intel Core i7 processor and a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 765M GDDR5 2GB graphics, the P27K is geared to deliver on processing power and graphics. Storing games, videos and stuff is a cinch with storage options of 2 large 1TB HDDs and an additional 256GB mSATA SSD for lighting speed. The automotive design of the P27K banks on the look good, feel good factor and is available in 2 colors, automotive orange or moonless black.

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The 17.3" gaming laptop delivers stellar performance by harnessing the power of the 4th generation Intel Core i7 4700MQ 3.4GHz Quad-Core processor and powerful NVIDIA GeForce GTX 765M discrete graphics makes for mind-blowing graphics. Enjoy unrivaled power with an impressive score exceeding P17, 000 on 3DMark Vantage! Besides, the P27K supports superior HDD RAID 0 technology and has expandable memory up to 24 GB with 3 DIMM memory slots delivering an experience that can only be described as smooth as butter.

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Incredible gaming and entertainment with 17.3" FHD display and Maximum Storage Capacity
Store your videos, music, games and stuff on the P27K with a high-speed 256GB mSATA SSD capacity and optional 2 large 1TB 2.5" HDD. Enjoy stunning visuals, and realistic gaming environment with 1080p Full HD matte anti-glare surface which reduces eye strain, along with Sound Blaster Cinema sound quality optimization technology for incredible sound and built-in Blu-ray DVD Combo Drive* for an entertainment powerhouse. The backlit keyboard will keep your mind at ease while typing or gaming in dimly lit rooms and even in the dark. All these incredible features make the P27K an amazing 17.3-inch gaming laptop perfect for a mobile station at home.
Automotive Design with Excellent Connectivity Options
The P27K has a wide array of ports and video output that support up to 3 monitors at once. The HDMI port delivers high quality HD multimedia entertainment while also supporting 3D image output. With options to connect up to three USB 3.0 devices and an additional USB 2.0 device, the possibilities are endless. For additional display output, a D-Sub or VGA is also available including a 9-in-1 card reader for the adventurous. The P27K is a stylish "must have" ultimate gaming laptop and comes in two colors - automotive orange or moonless black.

GIGABYTE Launches the P35K Ultrablade Gaming Laptop
The 15.6-inch P35K Ultrablade gaming laptop with the latest 4th Gen Intel Core i7 Processor is designed for true mobility. Just 21mm thin and weighing ~2.16 kg, housing a powerful GTX 765M (3DMark advantage score exceeding P17,800 with GIGABYTE Ultra Boost technology) gaming graphics this machine is geared for gamers and 3D designers alike. Having unlimited storage capacity with a quad-storage system that supports up to 3TB of space to store all your files and stuff the P35Kdelivers a super fast performance. Enjoy DVDs on your Ultrablade P35K with the Hot-swap ODD/HDD Slot on a 1080p FHD IPS display with wide color gamut providing the perfect wide-viewing pleasure. The P35K from GIGABYTE is its most stunning gaming laptop ever.

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The unique Supra-Cool technology for premium cooling ensures the P35K stays cool to the touch and stable. The P35K features an automatic light sensing backlit keyboard that helps typing and gaming in dimly lit rooms and dark conditions easier. Designed with an ultrasmooth sandblasted aluminum matte finish, the P35 feels extremely smooth that exudes elegance and sophistication delivering a professional laptop but geared for gaming.

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Massive Storage, Mobile Entertainment Center
Designed with massive storage system and a hot swappable storage bay, the P35K is able to support up to two 512GB mSATA SSD and two 1TB HDD* providing super fast performance of 1000MB/s and 850MB/s read/write rate for gamers with mSATA SSD super RAID 0 technology supported. The hot swappable storage bay design provides flexibility to satisfy the need for mobility, performance and/or entertainment. Experience crystal clear images with an exceptional 1080p Full HD IPS wide-angle anti-glare display perfect for viewing for long hours without eye-strain. The 1080p FHD backlit IPS display with wide color gamut enhances color and delivers sensational images, bringing images to life from any direction you look at it.
Twice the Network Speed with GIGABYTE Innovative Technology
In addition to the hardware of the P35K, GIGABYTE innovative technology integrates and optimizes software applications providing an even better gaming experience. Gamers have a choice to overclock the GPU for that extra performance with the latest Ultra Boost technology. With Ultra Boost comes the fear of instability. Never fear with the GIGABYTE Smart Fan ready to keep your system stable and running cool. Overclocking your laptop GPU for gaming has never been so risk-free. Enjoy twice the network speed for gaming through GIGABYTE LAN Optimizer. It helps the user choose the best network package priority under different user scenario modes. Gamers understand the importance of mistyping or mis-hitting that important key while gaming. Therefore, to ensure no mishaps occur the exclusive LockWin Key function disables the Windows key ensuring gamers enjoy a seamless gaming experience without switching to desktop while gaming on the P35K.

Transcend Introduces High Performance Server Memory
Transcend Information, Inc. (Transcend), a worldwide leader in storage and multimedia products, today announced the arrival of its 8 GB DDR3L-1600 Low Voltage 1.35V RDIMM memory module. Aimed at improving high performance data mining and big data analytics, the DDR3 Low Voltage RDIMM allows enterprises to address the challenges of server memory density, performance, and power consumption.

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Strong demand for data center services continues to grow as more organizations are taking advantage of the huge and highly available computing and storage resources of cloud and virtualization systems. However, the success of implementing these technologies rests on the ability to quickly load applications and easily process information.
"Server memory is the need of the hour as companies strive to better manage their virtual and cloud-based platforms, and grow their business," said Angus Wu, head of DRAM Research and Development at Transcend. "Transcend looked at the factors driving server memory demand and created a cost effective solution that helps maximize capacity and increase performance."
Designed specifically with the needs of cloud computing and virtualization in mind, Transcend's DDR3 Low Voltage RDIMMs are fully equipped to handle high volumes of information and memory-intensive applications. Transcend has added the 8 GB DDR3L-1600 Low Voltage RDIMM to its server memory lineup to assist its customers in becoming greener as well. The reduction in operating voltage from the standard 1.5V to just 1.35V reduces electrical load on the memory controller, which can lower system temperature and provide energy savings of up to 20%. Moreover, besides greater expandability options, installing a single 8 GB module can cut power consumption by a further 50% compared with using two 4 GB modules.
Transcend's DDR3 Low Voltage modules feature high capacity, clock frequency of 1600 MHz, and an onboard thermal sensor, offering support for increased memory space, higher data frequencies, and energy efficiency. With the flexibility to expand memory density, enterprises have new opportunities to enhance performance and therefore extract the highest value from big data.
Backed by a limited lifetime warranty, Transcend memory modules are recognized worldwide for their reliable high quality, outstanding performance, excellent compatibility and stable operation.

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