IT-Code-News: IT News Head Lines (TweakTown) 10/24/2013

Nokia unveils new Camera App, brings RAW imaging to Lumia 1520 & 1020
During todays Nokia World event in Abu Dhabi, the company unveiled a new Camera app for its Lumia smartphones. The new app basically unifies the existing Pro and Smart camera apps found on existing models and introduces three new modes. Smart Mode is designed to shoot a sequence of images, and then will allow the user to select the best shot and easily remove unwanted objects by using segments of the other photos.

The Reframe and Zoom modes also make a reappearance, allowing customers to once again easily control the zoom and framing of shots taken after the fact. Nokia also announced that it will be bringing RAW image support to its flagship Lumia 1520 and 1020 devices. This will allow photogs to capture 41-megapixel and 21-megapixel images in their natural uncompressed form. Users beware though as RAW files are significantly larger than their jpg counterparts, so storage space will fill up much faster than usual.

Three new models make their way into Nokia's Asha line
Today Nokia unveiled what is most likely the last Asha phones to bear its name. A total of three devices were launched including the new Asha 500, Asha 502, and Asha 503 all of which feature bright colors housed under a glassy polycarbonate case. The new Asha phones are a cross between a feature phone and a smartphone with apps for social networking and email.

The all new Asha 500 features a 2.8-inch screen and a 2-megapixel camera, with the 502 and 503 models boasting a larger 3-inch screen and 5-megapixel shooter. The flagship is of course the 503 model which features 3G connectivity, and a Gorilla Glass screen, while the other two only pack WLAN and quad-band edge connectivity. All three models feature dual SIM capabilities and boat a charge time of 1 month. The phones will retail for $69, $89, and $99 respectively in Africa, Asia, APAC, Europe and the Middle East.

Nokia's Lumia 1320 is a mid-range phablet with a 6-inch screen
Nokia announced today the launch of its second 6-inch phablet, the Lumia 1320. The new device is a mid-range version of the Lumia 1520 with lower specifications and lesser hardware. Featuring a 6-inch, 720p display, and a dual-core processor, the 1320 is not the powerhouse that we thought "Project Batman" might be.

Image capture is handled by a 5-megapixel camera with a front facing shooter of unknown quality. The Lumia 1320 is available in red, yellow, white and black and will launch in Asia and Europe during the first quarter of 2014 at a US equivalent of $399 off contract. Honestly there is not much to get excited about other than the fact that this phablet runs the latest version of Windows Phone, and will receive all the software features of its larger brother the Lumia 1520.

Nokia unveils the Lumia 1520, a 6-inch phablet with a 20MP camera
For more than two months now, we have been hearing rumors and watching leaks appear on a 6-inch phablet from Nokia, and today the company finally put an end to it all by releasing the Nokia Lumia 1520. The device features a 6-inch, 1080p screen that is made out of Gorilla Glass 2 for added impact and scratch resistance.

The Lumia 1520 is every bit of what a high-end phablet should be as well and features hardware that is powerful enough to do anything shy of hardcore 3D gaming. Inside the Lumia 1520 is a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor clocked in at 2.2GHz with 2GB of RAM backing it up. A 20-megapixel PureView camera is present on the back and features a BSI f/2.4 Zeiss lens with optical image stabilization.
The new Phablet runs the latest version of Windows Phone 8 and features the recently released GDR3 update installed from the factory. The phones outer shell is constructed of recycled polycarbonate and is available in a vivid yello, red, black and white. Nokia has managed to up the microphone count to four and now offers stereo audio recording for a truly immersive video experience. The phablet houses 32GB of internal storage and can be upgraded to 64 via the included microSD slot.
A 3,400mAh battery is present which should keep the device powered up all day and the 1520 supports Qi wireless charging if the adapter plate is installed, something Nokia will release at a later date. Nokia says that the estimated MSRP for the Lumia 1520 will be around $749 before taxes and subsidies and will begin arriving on retail shelves later this quarter.

Nokia launches new Lumia 2520, a 10-inch Windows RT Tablet
For over a year now, we have heard rumors and seen little tidbits of information leaked about a Nokia-branded 10-inch tablet that would run a form of Windows. At this mornings Nokia World conference, the company formally unveiled the all new Lumia 2520, a 10-inch tablet that runs Windows RT.

The new Lumia 2520 is quite the Windows slate too, featuring a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 CPU clocked at 2.2GHz and 2GB of RAM to keep everything nice and fast. LTE connectivity is present and the 10-inch screen is built out of Gorilla Glass 2 to provide ample scratch and impact resistance. The screen features a brightness of 650nit and is capable of illuminating the screen enough to read through Flipboard in the brightest of sunlight.
The Lumia 2520 host a 6.5-megapixel rear camera that features a Zeiss lens, while front imaging is handled by a 2-megapixel unit. Unfortunately, Nokia seriously dropped the ball when it comes to battery capacity, and only managed to pack in a 800mAh battery. This was done on purpose in my opinion to sell the Nokia Power Keyboard accessory which is said to "Greatly improve battery life" on the 2520. Ideal pricing must have also not been much of a concern for the Tablet as Nokia somehow managed to come to the conclusion that $499 was the sweet spot that consumers would like. Plan to tack on an additional $149 for the power keyboard if you like battery life.

New Battlefield 4 trailer reveals more of the single player mode
DICE has just released a new trailer for the highly anticipated Battlefield 4 which is set to launch one week from today on October 29th. The new trailer reveals more of the single player mode and alludes to some deep personal conflicts from NPCs within the game. The trailer takes place on the USS Valkyrie, an aircraft carrier which has been abandoned in the Pacific after the destruction of the US Naval Command.

Your objective is to fight on land and sea to save the ship from enemies who wish to take it over. The mission eventually lands you in Shanghai, China, where you begin to second guess a new Chinese-American member of the squad. In what can only be taken as a direct shot at the upcoming Call of Duty: Ghost game, the trailer prominently features a scene where a soldier punches a dog directly in the face. The hardcore Battlefield fan inside of me had a quick chuckle at that one.

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Download Apple's OS X Mavericks for free starting today
It seems like operating systems have been the talk of the techworld over the last month or so. First Steam announced its all new Linux-based Steam OS that is focused on gaming. Then Microsoft released an updated version of Windows 8 that is said to fix most of the issues users had with the previous version. Not to be left out, Apple has just released the latest version of its desktop operating system as well.

OS X Mavericks was launched today during Apples fall launch event. Unlike the recent offering from Microsoft however, Apple has decided to give away OS X Mavericks at the "revolutionary" price of FREE! OS X Mavericks was first introduced at Apple's developers conference back in June, and promised a new way the system handles memory. Mavericks can now adjust system memory allocation based on the task at hand, which means more memory for graphic or processor intensive task, and less when the system is at idle or low resource usage periods.
OS X Mavericks also includes a new version of the iBook app that lets photos and graphics "pop out" of the textbook being read. Additionally, OS X Mavericks includes the new iCloud Keychain app that lets users sync payment information across all Apple devices for quick and easy online purchasing. What do you think about the new OS X Mavericks? Let us know in the comments below.

Apple launches new MacBook Pro models, pricing starts at just $1299
Today at its big unveiling event, Apple debuted its updated models of the famed MacBook Pro laptop line. The biggest change is that now all MacBook Pro models will feature "Retina-quality" displays and that the aluminum uni-body devices now feature Intel's Haswell Processors.

The new 13-inch MacBook Pro is powered by an Intel Haswell i5 processor that is clocked in at 2.4GHz and houses 4GB of RAM to keep everything nice and speedy. A 128GB PCIe-based SSD is present as well alongside 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Thunderbolt technology. The 13-inch MacBook Pro weighs in at under 3.5-pounds and is less than 3/4 of an inch thick. The 13-inch MacBook Pro will lighten consumer wallets by $1,299.
The 15-inch MacBook Pro gets a refresh as well and now runs a 2.0GHz i7 Intel Haswell processor, 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. Both feature Intel's integrated Iris Pro GPU, but an upgrade to an NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M GPU is available, which also bumps the processor up to 2.3GHz 16GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage. The 15-inch MacBook pro starts at just $1999 with the upgraded model running $2,599.

Apple introduces the all new iPad Air, weighs just 1-pound
Today Apple officially announced the next generation of the iPad. Known as the iPad Air, this new device is very similar in styling to the iPad Mini we saw unveiled this time last year. The major difference is that the iPad Air is thinner, lighter and features a much smaller bezel than previous models.

Featuring the all new 64-bit Apple A7 processor, and the M7 motion processor, the iPad Air is said to be 8-times faster than the iPad Mini and 72-times the graphics performance of its predecessors. A 5-megapixel iSight rear camera, and Facetime HD front facing camera handle the imaging duties while its high-capacity battery provides up to 10 hours of continuous use.
Apple has managed to deliver twice the Wi-Fi bandwidth thanks to a new MiMo 802.11n radio, but had curiously left out support for the new 802.11ac Wi-Fi protocol. As I mentioned earlier, the new iPad Air is much thinner and lighter than previous models, and weighs just 1-pound while measuring a mere 7.5mm thick. The iPad Air will ship in silver, white, space grey and black colors and will retail at a pricing point of $499 for the Wi-Fi version and an LTE model will run $629.

Gmail and Google Docs now feature handwriting input support
Today Google announced that two of its largest web services now support handwriting input. Thats right, both Gmail and Google Docs now let you transcribe text using input from a handwriting peripheral such as a stylus or usb-based pen. While this is useful for some, the real benefit comes when you combine this with Google Translate.

When combined with Google Translate, users who have to send an email to China or Japan can significantly speed up the writing process as users can simply handwrite the email in their own language, and let Translate handle the hard work for them. Unfortunately, anyone who has ever used Google Translate knows that it is notorious for inaccuracies so beware.

Cougar refreshes CMX Series of modular power supplies
Today Cougar released the all new versions of its CMX PC power supplies. The new PSUs feature a new design that offered multiple improvements while cutting the price throughout the line. Specifically targeted at gamers, the new 80Plus Bronze certified CMX V3 PSUs are ErP 2013 certified, and are available in 550W, 700W, 850W, and 1000W levels.

Featuring a new standby power consumption mode, the CMX line manages to only draw 0.3W when not in use which drastically reduces energy use over the life of the power supply. Cougar says that the modular cabling design allows customers to reduce clutter by only utilizing the cables they need, making for a much cleaner and airflow efficient build. Featuring a stylish black and orange color scheme, the CMX line will retail between $109 and $159.

Turn your smartphone into a PC Peripheral with ROCCAT's Power Grid
Today ROCCAT released its Power-Grid app to the public in the form of a free download for Android or iOS as the project reaches its open beta phase of development. For those unfamiliar with Power-Grid, the software consist of an app that is ran on a smartphone and pairs up with accompanying software on a host PC running Windows.

Power-Grid basically turns your smartphone into immersive, fully customizable remote control for your PC. This allows the user to take full control of his gaming experience, and adjust system settings, checking hardware specs, and even execute in-game macros ass from your smartphones touchscreen. Power-Grid can be customized by the user to display only the information relevant to them, and those users can also visit the Power-Grid website to upload and download custom made "Grids" that other players have created.

"Power-Grid opens up a whole new world of opportunities for PC gamers. Finally you are able to connect your smartphone to your gaming environment - it just feels natural and makes perfect sense. Forget about inflexible solutions like keyboards with integrated displays; create your own command center and benefit from this innovative ROCCAT technology," said Rene Korte, ROCCAT founder and CEO.

ROCCAT's Power-Grid uses Wi-Fi to connect the smartphone to the PC, meaning that commands from the phone are executed on the PC in real-time. Information from games and software can be displayed on the smartphone too. This means that it can also be used as an effective second screen. In order to empower the full potential, ROCCAT provides a SDK for Power-Grid. "Professional developers and studios will make use of this just like ambitious amateur coders", say René Korte. "At GDC Europe this year people were amazed by the possibilities and openness of Power-Grid and its SDK. A lot of creative minds out there will do a lot of unseen things with it - and so will we."

Drobo 5D Five-Bay Direct Attached Storage Review

Introduction

The Drobo 5D is a rather unique storage solution, and for the longest time, I myself wanted to get my hands on one. The 5D is a five-bay direct attached storage appliance or DAS for short, which offers both USB 3.0 support for Mac OS X and Windows operating systems, but the real magic is found within the dual Thunderbolt ports, which at this time only work within Mac OS X.
The Drobo 5D was designed around creating a storage solution that was easy to use, offered data protection, and the performance creative professionals need and demand. The Drobo 5D does this by offering the latest in BeyondRAID technology coupled with SSD caching to increase performance. BeyondRAID is a rather unique feature that Drobo has went all in developing.
In traditional RAID arrays, when you want to change RAID levels say from 5 to 6, you would have to dump the data and reinitialize the array and move your data back. With the technology of BeyondRAID, if you need to add storage capacity, you just pull a drive and replace it with a larger one and the Drobo recognizes and adds the new capacity to the storage pool, without any user interaction. If you want additional redundancy similar to what a RAID 6 offers, it's the click of a button and the Drobo takes care of it.
The Drobo 5D has an included two-year warranty, which then can be extended to three years via DroboCare. The five-bay Drobo 5D is available is available in both 6TB and 15TB capacities with prices ranging from $1099.99 to $1699.99, and in addition to this, Drobo offers the 5D in a diskless solution for $699.99.
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SilverStone Raven 4 B-W Full-Tower Chassis Review

Introduction

If there is one thing that SilverStone is known for, it has to be the unique way that they design and develop their cases. With 12 various case series', it takes some out of the box thinking to keep the designs separated, and not end up crossing over designs from series to series. To exemplify what I am getting at, think about the cases from the Sugo, Temjin, Fortress, and even the Raven series, they are all very unique cases from SilverStone, and proof that they are yet to be out of new ideas is why we are here today.
One thing that makes the Raven series of cases special for me is that I have, in my time here at TweakTown, had the pleasure of seeing this series of cases grow from the original Raven right on up to its latest incarnation. The original design was the most aggressive and attractive design in the set, but even as the RV-02 made its way out, with a more subdued exterior design, it was vastly different. Then along came the RV-03, where it took on the personal of the RV-01, with similar exterior design to the RV-02. Slight changes were made to the exterior to set it apart in the Raven series of cases.
That brings us to why we are here today, as well look at the newest chassis to hit this series, the Raven 4. Since the RV-01 and RV-03 had the window on the left, and the RV-02 was on the right, sticking with tradition, this newest chassis offers the widow on the right. One huge change to the latest Raven is the much more aggressive exterior styling, getting back to what started the Raven series, but one other major change has been made to the interior as well; the motherboard sits inverted inside of this chassis, rather than the standard method of lying it on its side as all previous Raven cases have offered.
Along with these more obvious changes that you can see at just a glance of the SilverStone Raven 4, there are still plenty of innovations and additions to this design. For those still interested, continue on, as I have quite a bit to show off with this chassis.
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Available Tags:Nokia , Windows , Tablet , Download , Apple , MacBook , iPad , Gmail , Google , smartphone ,

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

IT News Head Lines (TweakTown) 10/24/2013

Introduction

Introduction

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