IT-Code-News: IT News Head Lines (TweakTown) 09/01/2014

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

IT News Head Lines (TweakTown) 09/01/2014

TweakTown

Lenovo enhances its already great X1 Carbon laptop
CES 2014 - We all know Lenovo has some of the best notebooks on the market, but it has just refreshed its X1 Carbon notebook at the Consumer Electronics Show 2014 that is currently cranking along in Las Vegas.

lenovo_enhances_its_already_great_x1_carbon_laptop

The refreshed Thinkpad X1 Carbon offers a carbon fiber-constructed chassis, which weighs in at 2.8 pounds. Something unique that Lenovo has done with its X1 Carbon is provide an Adaptive Keyboard, which the company claims "dynamically adjusts based on the software or application being used to highlight the most relevant keys". The 14-inch display is of the anti-glare variety, with Lenovo offering up a 1600x900 or 2560x1440 resolution.
Lenovo has provided a rapid-charge technology, which will provide 80% of the total charge in under an hour, on top of a nine-hour battery. The pricing on the Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon isn't bad, starting at $1,299. The refreshed X1 Carbon will be available starting at the end of the month.

Intel renamesMcAfee, rebranding unit named after troubled founder
The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2014 typically brings about joy for consumers and most companies, but Intel confirmed it would rename the McAfee Security brand. John McAfee, founder of the company that he later sold, now has a name of infamy bringing forth rather negative name recognition. Beyond John McAfee's wild personal issues, including a global search, wild spending and obscure blog posts, Intel is clearly interested in just moving forward.

intel_renamesmcafee_rebranding_unit_named_after_troubled_founder

It was just two years ago that Intel said there were no plans to change the McAfee name, but Intel wants to alter the company's public perception. In addition to a name change, product packaging and marketing will also reportedly be revamped.
During the Intel keynote, Intel CEO Brian Krzanich said his company will provide mobile security to smartphones, tablets, wearable electronics, and other mobile devices. Intel will release additional details related to the company's free mobile software for smartphone and tablet owners later this year.

Huawei discusses Tecal ES3000 PCIe SSD
Storage Visions 2014 - Huawei's Mohammed Moshref discusses the Tecal ES3000 PCIe SSD and the flexible architecture that allows for easy customization.

Huawei's IC knowledge comes from years in the networking market, and they have expanded to providing flash-based products with tremendous density points up to 2.4TB in a FHHL form factor. The experience shines through in the impressive specifications and great latency performance of their Tecal ES3000.

huawei_discusses_tecal_es3000_pcie_ssd

OCZ Vertex 460 Pictured - Barefoot 3 M10 and Toshiba 19nm Toggle
The first product born from the marriage of OCZ Technology and Toshiba was displayed today at the OCZ suite. Soon, OCZ will ship Vertex 460, in 120GB, 240GB and 480GB. The new drive will deliver up to 550MB/s sequential reads, up to 95,000 4KB IOPS and uses Toshiba Type C 19nm Toggle flash.

ocz_vertex_460_pictured_barefoot_3_m10_and_toshiba_19nm_toggle

No need to beat around the bush with stock pics, we have ours in hand.

ocz_vertex_460_pictured_barefoot_3_m10_and_toshiba_19nm_toggle

We can't talk about the performance outside of what OCZ displayed at the suite so the image above tells you exactly what we know right now and exactly what we can say at this point. The cool thing is this, the Vertex 460 is faster than Vertex 450. What we hope to see is a price that is lower than the Vertex 450 and in stock at etailers.

Vizio's 50-inch 4K TV will cost $1,000
CES 2014 - Vizio teases its new P-Series of 4K-capable TVs yesterday, but we didn't know the pricing on these new Ultra HD TVs, until now. Vizio will be pricing its 50-inch 4K P-Series TV at just $1,000.

The bigger screens will cost an additional $400 for every size bigger, until it reaches $2,600 for the 70-inch beast. Considering House of Cards' season season is being streamed by Netflix in 4K, it might be high time that you acquire that Ultra HD TV now, hey?

vizio_s_50_inch_4k_tv_will_cost_1_000

Oculus VR unveils its new 'Crystal Cove' prototype headset
CES 2014 - Oculus VR has just unveiled its new Oculus Rift prototype, which has been codenamed 'Crystal Cove'. The new virtual reality headset features positional tracking, and a brand new AMOLED-based display.

oculus_vr_unveils_its_new_crystal_cove_prototype_headset

The new Crystal Cove prototype features positional tracking, where it uses multiple LEDs and an IR tracking camera which works out the position of the headset, in 3D space. One of the major downsides to the current two prototypes (the 720p and 1080p models - both of which I've used) is that there is motion sickness for some people, but this new positional tracking addition should help those who get sick, not feel nauseous.
The positional tracking will also push some new features into games, such as leaning around corners, or over cover to shoot enemies. But the biggest addition here is the new AMOLED display, which is a low-latency panel, versus the LCD-based tech which had motion blur galore. With the new headset, you should be able to turn your head in a game or demo now, without the blurring associated with the previous development kits.
We should hopefully have some hands-on time with the new Oculus Rift 'Crystal Cove' headset in the near future.

Samsung speaks about 3D V-NAND and TLC NAND in the datacenter
Storage Visions 2014 - Samsung's Ryan Smith, the manager of SSD manufacturing, stopped by the booth to speak about their latest SSD and NAND developments.

Ryan's projections of 2TB SSDs used in the datacenter falls in track with recent SSD releases and roadmaps we have observed from the major SSD manufacturers. Ryan also speaks about Samsung's deployment of 3D V-NAND into the datacenter, and their current use of TLC products as well.

samsung_speaks_about_3d_v_nand_and_tlc_nand_in_the_datacenter

World Exclusive- Marvell 88SS9293 Altaplus PCIe 2.0 x4 SSD Controller
CES 2014 Just days ago we tested the ASRock Fatal1ty 990FX Killer with a PCIe 2.0 x2 m.2 socket. In that preview article we used a SanDisk A110 PCIe based m.2 drive but that's old news now. Just moments ago we sat down with Marvell and tested a new controller called Altaplus. This controller, model number 88SS9293 can use four PCI Express lanes.

world_exclusive_marvell_88ss9293_altaplus_pcie_2_0_x4_ssd_controller

There are other PCIe 4-lane controllers coming and we've seen read benchmarks but the new Marvell 4-lane controller is able to read and write data at a high speed already.

world_exclusive_marvell_88ss9293_altaplus_pcie_2_0_x4_ssd_controller

In the test Marvell ran, the drive achieved a 128KB sequential read speed of 1445 MB/s. In the same sequential test the drive wrote at 1051 MB/s. We didn't test 4KB random performance but it won't be long before we have a working sample in our hands. When it comes to general availability, Marvell tells us to check back in at Computex for an update. We can say this, the drive looks very strong right now.

Phanteks launches Enthoo Primo White Edition, with clean finish
Hardware maker Phanteks showed off a new color of one of its recent flagship products, the Enthoo Primo White Edition gaming PC chassis. The White Edition features touches of black on the largely white case, along with white LED lighting provides a unique look that many PC owners now expect. Proprietary mounting brackets make removing and installing new hardware easier, while cables are hidden from view with a reservoir bracket. There is major cooling potential for gaming and overclocking with the Enthoo Primo White Edition, with water cooling support and a PSU thermally isolated from the rest of the case.

phanteks_launches_enthoo_primo_white_edition_with_clean_finish

The Phanteks Enthoo Primo White Edition will be released in February and have a $249.99 MSRP.
As hardware speeds continue to increase, many PC users are finding the need for a specific type of case, depending on room size, portability, cooling options, and other factors.

Sony PlayStation 4 global demand outpaces Microsoft Xbox 360 sales
The Sony PlayStation 4 game console has reportedly racked up more than 4.2 million units sold worldwide since launch time in mid-to-late November to most major markets. Early last month, Sony said it sold 2.1 million units worldwide, with the company clearly having a successful 2013 Christmas shopping season.

sony_playstation_4_global_demand_outpaces_microsoft_xbox_360_sales

"The momentum of the PS4 system keeps getting stronger, and we couldn't be more thrilled gamers worldwide are enjoying the incredibly immersive gaming experiences along with deep social capabilities and entertainment provided by our network," said Andrew House, Sony Computer Entertainment President and CEO, in a statement. "After a remarkable launch, we look forward to bringing even more exciting content and continuing to explore the power of the PS4 system by adding new features and services, including PlayStation Now, in 2014."
Meanwhile, the Xbox One reportedly sold 3 million units to close out 2013, as Microsoft is reportedly proud of the console's early success. Xbox One should outsell the PS4 in the United States, while the Japanese company is able to cater better to international gamers. More gamers want to use a single device in the living room, so the ability to support streaming content, social media, and more robust software is common.

EVGA introduces its first gaming mouse, carbon fiber TORQ X10
EVGA introduced the TORQ X10 gaming mouse during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2014, featuring a custom laser mouse with a carbon fiber surface, adjustable frame, 512KB memory, weight control system, and 9 programmable buttons. TORQ X10 provides up to 8200 DPI and includes modified drivers that provide button setting assignments.

evga_introduces_its_first_gaming_mouse_carbon_fiber_torq_x10

EVGA hasn't publicly confirmed a release date or pricing on its inaugural gaming mouse.
This is the company's first gaming mouse, but known among gamers and PC enthusiasts, this is a move that could work out for EVGA. The only downside is the sheer number of gaming-specific companies that are producing innovative gaming mice, keyboards, and other peripherals that EVGA has less working knowledge of.

Razer introduces Project Christine, unique modular gaming design
Gaming company Razer unveiled a rather surprising modular desktop computer concept, dubbed Project Christine, making it extremely easy for PC owners to build and customize a gaming machine. The modular design makes it possible to easily swap CPUs, GPUs, memory and storage drives inside the machine - and each individual module is sealed and is supports the PCI-Express architecture. The touchscreen LED display makes it easier to view and control hardware and software configurations in a fast, convenient manner.

razer_introduces_project_christine_unique_modular_gaming_design

"Project Christine is a new concept design that will revolutionize the way users view the traditional PC. This is the first gaming system that is able to keep pace with technology and could allow consumers to never buy another PC, or gaming system, again," said Min-Liang Tan, Razer co-founder and CEO, in a statement. "We have a history of bringing incredibly innovative concept systems to market and it's fair to say that Project Christine is a very exciting new prospect for future development."
Razer hasn't publicly disclosed a release date or pricing for Project Christine, though should set the bar fairly high for competitors.

Google Android to top 1 billion in 2014, as industry recovers
Global shipment of PCs, tablets, ultramobile devices and mobile phones will top 2.5 billion units shipped by the end of 2014, according to research firm Gartner. Smartphones will be the driving sales leader, but ultramobiles such as tablets, hybrid and ultrabooks will drastically increase an estimated 54 percent growth.

google_android_to_top_1_billion_in_2014_as_industry_recovers

"The device market continues to evolve, with buyers deciding which combination of devices is required to meet their wants and needs," said Ranjit Atwal, Gartner research director, in a statement. "Meanwhile users continue to move away from the traditional PC (notebooks and desk-based) as it becomes more of a shared content creation tool, while the greater flexibility of tablets, hybrids and lighter notebooks address users' increasingly different demands."
Although Apple iOS and Mac OS remain extremely popular, Google Android-powered devices will lead the pack with 1 billion units shipped. Android will have 25.6 percent year-over-year growth, compared to 29 percent for Apple and 10 percent for Microsoft Windows.

Casio rolls out multi-sport STB-1000, with Bluetooth connectivity
Longtime watch maker Casio announced a new sports watch using Bluetooth 4.0 technology so owners can check personal fitness data wirelessly - and control a smartphone's music player directly from the watch. The STB-1000 includes Apple iPhone compatibility, Bluetooth 4.0, and third-party iOS fitness apps, such as Wahoo Fitness and Abvio Runmeter.

casio_rolls_out_multi_sport_stb_1000_with_bluetooth_connectivity

"This is an ideal sports watch for countless recreational runners who exercise with their iPhones," said Shigenori Itoh, Casio America CEO, in a statement. "In addition to the compatibility with several apps, it has a battery life up to two years and a versatile, water-proof design that makes it easy to use and wear before, during and after any workout."
The watch will run for around two years with a single battery, and doesn't require frequent recharging like many sport watch and GPS units.

Scosche wants people to be active, using its new fitness wearable
Consumer electronics company Scosche unleashed the Rhythm Smart+, an armband fitness wearable that includes a heart rate monitor that doesn't include a typical chest strap. The device can connect to smartphones, watches, and exercise equipment within 100 feet. It can withstand rain and sweat, and allows for easy sync to view and save physical activity on a mobile device or PC. Release date and pricing was not included with the product launch.

scosche_wants_people_to_be_active_using_a_new_fitness_wearable

"Rhythm Smart+ marks a major step forward in the evolution of our line fitness trackers," said Kas Alves, Scosche Executive VP, in a press statement. "A smaller footprint, unrivaled biometric data accuracy and compatibility with the most popular health and fitness app available create a complete offering."
CES already has proven to be a great event to showcase casual fitness products, and Scosche joins several other companies in the market. The ability to accurately track steps walked, distance and calories, and then send or share the information is an excellent advancement.

Sony shrinks things down with its new Xperia Z1 Compact
CES 2014 - Sony has taken its magical shrink ray to one of its most popular smartphones, which has resulted in the birth of its new Xperia Z1 Compact, a smaller Xperia Z1.

sony_shrinks_things_down_with_its_new_xperia_z1_compact

The new Sony Xperia Z1 Compact features the same hardware as its bigger brother, but has an upgrade thrown into the mix: an IPS display is featured on the Xperia Z1 Compact. The new, smaller 4.3-inch smartphone will go on sale next month, with Android 4.3 on-board, with an Android 4.4 KitKat update being made a "few weeks" after its release.

Sony unveils its Xperia Z1S, will launch as a T-Mobile exclusive
CES 2014 - If you've been waiting for a new smartphone to be unveiled from Sony, the Japanese giant took the CES 2014 event in Las Vegas to announce its new Xperia Z1S smartphone.

sony_unveils_its_xperia_z1s_will_launch_as_a_t_mobile_exclusive

The Xperia Z1S will be an exclusive to T-Mobile in the United States, but the smartphone itself is pretty identical to the Xperia Z1 with just a few changes. The first of which is the Z1S has an IP58 water resistance rating, which means it is completely waterproof. Normally a "waterproof" smartphone is simply "water-resistant", but the Xperia Z1S is the real deal.
Filling out the hardware side of things, we have a 2.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor, 3000mAh battery, 5-inch 1920x1080-pixel "Triluminous" Sony display, a 20.7-megapixel rear-facing camera and Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. Sony Mobile US President, Ravi Nookala, has said: "As a waterproof smartphone complete with the best of Sony's technology, Xperia Z1s breaks the mold of not only what you can do with a smartphone, but where you can take it. Building on the momentum of the successful partnership for the launch of Xperia Z, T-Mobile's shared vision of delivering an uncompromised mobile experience makes them the perfect exclusive partner to bring Xperia Z1s to the U.S."

Radoslav Danilak from Skyera discusses thier latest products
Storage Visions 2014 - Radoslav Danilak stopped by the booth to discuss their skyEagle products.

With 16 x 16Gb/s fibre channel ports the skyEagle can deliver up to 5 million IOPS in a very slim form factor.

radoslav_danilak_from_skyera_discusses_thier_latest_products

Polaroid unveils its new Socialmatic camera, place it anywhere
CES 2014 - Polaroid has unveiled its latest camera creation, which is more social than ever: the Socialmatic. Polaroid's Socialmatic camera, as you may have guessed, its very social.

polaroid_unveils_its_new_socialmatic_camera_place_it_anywhere

The company had planned to launch it in Q1 of this year, but has pushed the Android-powered camera back to the fall. Polaroid's Socialmatic features a 4.5-inch touchscreen display, a rear-facing 14-megapixel camera backed up by a 2-megapixel for selfies, 4GB of flash storage which is expandable through microSD, Wi-Fi connectivity and Android.

Razer unveils its fitness tracking smartwatch, the Nabu
CES 2014 - Razer has just unveiled its first foray into the fitness tracking smartwatch world at CES 2014, by introducing the Razer Nabu. Razer CEO Min-Liang Tan said: "We are calling it a cross between a smartwatch and a fitness band. It's a wearable device focused on helping you live smarter."

razer_unveils_its_fitness_tracking_smartwatch_the_nabu

Razer's Nabu is a mashup of the traditional fitness tracking band, and the latest smartwatches. Nabu features two notification screens, one that displays the usual watch face, with the opposite side displaying wellness data and smartphone notifications. Nabu tracks your steps walked, distance traveled, and it will monitor your sleeping patterns, too.

razer_unveils_its_fitness_tracking_smartwatch_the_nabu

The gaming peripheral maker suggests a battery life of around 7-10 hours, and is rain and splash proof. The Nabu is available to developers right now at a cost of $49, but this price should increase considerably when it reaches consumers.

Panasonic unveils 7" Windows 8.1 rugged tablet for the workplace
Japanese electronics manufacturer Panasonic announced a new 7" Microsoft Windows 8.1-powered tablet aimed for enterprise users going mobile. The Toughpad FZ-M1 tablet is powered by an Intel Core i5-430Y 1.6GHz CPU, 4GB RAM, and 128GB SSD - and is fanless, with a screen supporting 1280x800 resolution, Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi, 3G/4G LTE, USB 3.0, 5-megapixel rear camera - and is 18mm thin with a 540g weight. The Panasonic Toughpad FZ-M1 tablet will be available starting in February.

panasonic_unveils_7_windows_8_1_rugged_tablet_for_the_workplace

"The Toughpad FZ-M1 uses top class technology and premium manufacturing to create a powerful but still pocket size fanless 7" tablet perfectly designed for business workers in many different industrial-mobile environments," said Jan Kaempfer, Panasonic Computer Product Solutions European Marketing Head, in a press statement. "Whether it's helping provide rail passengers with ticketing and live train time information or the police force with a fast, simple and effective to use tablet while on foot or car patrol, this Toughpad is perfectly fit for purpose."
There is a high demand for enterprise-grade products - especially if the device is Windows powered and offers seamless 'bring your own device' ability - and that demand should only increase in 2014.

Intel unveils Jarvis, a speech-driven virtual assistant
CES 2014 - Intel's freshly appointed CEO, Brian Krzanich, took the stage at the chip maker's keynote at the Consumer Electronics Show 2014 in Las Vegas to unveil a slew of new smart devices.

intel_unveils_jarvis_a_speech_driven_virtual_assistant

One of which is dubbed Jarvis, which reminds me of Tony Stark's AI in Iron Man - also named Jarvis, which is a Siri-like, voice-controlled virtual assistant. Instead of cramming the virtual assistant into a smartphone or tablet, it has done so within an earpiece. Jarvis can be paired to a smartphone app, where it can then remotely interact with your device.
From Jarvis, you can get directions, look up restaurants or stores, or many of the other commands and applications that Google Now is capable of - which is a lot. Intel's Jarvis is only in the reference design stage right now, so we should expect some vast changes between now and when we can install them into our own ears.

Microsoft teases the 'next Halo journey' will begin this year
We haven't heard much at all about another Halo game, even with all of the Xbox One launches around the world, but now the software giant is letting out a tiny tease, to get gamers excited.
[img]06[/img]
The news is coming from a tweet from Rob Semsey, Xbox PR Manager, who tweeted: "Rest assured your next Halo journey WILL begin in 2014. #staycalm". It's quite the tease, but what should we expect? A new Halo game that will be featured on both the Xbox 360 and Xbox One? A true next generation Xbox One exclusive? Who knows at this point.

Samsung inks deals for 4K content with Amazon, Comcast
CES 2014 - Samsung is pushing 4K at CES 2014, where the South Korean giant has inked content deals with Amazon, Comcast and M-Go. The three companies will now offer 4K streaming to Samsung's Ultra HD TVs.

samsung_inks_deals_for_4k_content_with_amazon_comcast

Comcast will allow its Xfinity customers to launch the app through their Samsung 4K TVs, which will then stream 4K content to the set. Comcast has also said it is working with NBC Universal on securing more content. Amazon on the other hand is working with not only Samsung, but Warner Bros., Lionsgate, 20th Century Fox and Discovery to provide 4K content throughout the year.

Digital Storm Bolt II Steam Machine packed with customizations
Boutique PC maker Digital Storm launched a small form factor hybrid PC that will dual boot Microsoft Windows and Valve's Steam OS, in a liquid cooled SFF cooling system. The GPU, storage drives, optical drive, and cooling system can be easily removed and upgraded, and provides optimal cooling in a small space.
The Digital Storm Bolt will be available later in January with a starting MSRP of $1,899 - not a surprising high price point, as Digital Storm makes high-quality products for a very niche market.

digital_storm_bolt_ii_steam_machine_packed_with_customizations

"We are not looking to compete with console pricing," said Rajeev Kuruppu, Digital Storm Director of Product Development, in a press statement. "We're taking aim at the high-end of the market, targeting consumers that demand the best possible gaming experience and who are looking for a PC capable of playing any title on their new 4K display."
Meanwhile, Steam OS is helping bring PC use to an entirely new level, as the price of computer hardware remains friendly for consumers. CES 2014 will feature a slew of different Steam OS-powered devices, with a dozen companies planning to implement the custom platform.

Thermaltake Armor A30i Speed Edition Gaming Cube Chassis Review

Introduction

thermaltake_armor_a30i_speed_edition_gaming_cube_chassis_review

As the trend has taken us to smaller and smaller chassis designs, Thermaltake (a company that needs no real introduction) has taken an older design back to the drawing board to revolutionize it and bring it up to snuff for today's buyers. It has been almost two years since the last inception of this design hit our labs. Back then, Thermaltake delivered us the A30 chassis for testing, and since then the market has moved leaps and bounds from what was incorporated into that older design.
The funny thing about this is that while we are dealing with a new color scheme, there is very little that has changed in this design since that time. It has similar aesthetics (well spot on to the older design actually), offers the same modularity and features, and it keeps the same hardware. It's almost as if they just changed the name to try to take on the market again now that SFF chassis are more of a rage than when the original A30 was released.
Today, we will be looking at the Armor A30i Speed Edition Gaming Cube from Thermaltake to see if there are in fact some changes made that at a glance aren't so apparent. We will also see if the new A30i is more worthy of your attention today than it was in the original form two years ago when it took our Editor's Choice award.
Right up front, the color is much bolder, and may hit the hearts of a lot of theme builders out there. The original black was sort of plain, and did not attract attention on the table at a LAN event, but this bright red version you are about to gaze upon will definitely stick out amongst most other cases that show up at a LAN event.
... Read the rest in your browser!

Sapphire Radeon R9 290 4GB in CrossFire Video Card Review

Just Cause 2

Version and / or Patch Used: Latest Steam Update
Timedemo or Level Used: Dark Tower
Developer Homepage: http://www.eidos.com/
Product Homepage: http://www.justcause.com/

Just Cause 2 employs the Avalanche Engine 2.0, an updated version of the engine used in Just Cause. The game is set on the other side of the world from the original Just Cause, on the fictional island of Panau in Southeast Asia. Panau has varied terrain, from desert to alpine to rainforest. Rico Rodriguez returns as the protagonist, aiming to overthrow the evil dictator Pandak "Baby" Panay, and confront his former mentor: Tom Sheldon.

sapphire_radeon_r9_290_4gb_in_crossfire_video_card_review

Just Cause 2 sees some awesome performance gains, and just some awesome performance overall. You can see that the Sapphire R9 290 4GB CrossFire setup doesn't run into any problems under Just Cause 2 at any resolution.
... Read the rest in your browser!

Available Tags:Lenovo , Intel , SSD , OCZ , Toshiba , TV , Samsung , 3D , Sony , Microsoft , Xbox , EVGA , gaming , Google , Android , Windows 8 , Panasonic , Windows , tablet , Steam , Thermaltake , Sapphire , Radeon ,

No comments:

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)