OCZ tease 3.8GB/sec SSDs in RAID 0 at Computex 2014
Computex 2014 - Just when we thought the 1.8GB/sec transfer speeds with a PCIe-based G.Skill SSD was fast, OCZ has to e-mail me notifying me of its RevoDrive 350 PCIe SSDs in RAID 0 at Computex 2014 - pushing an incredible, bandwidth-crushing 3.8GB/sec!
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Healthcare industry working on stronger cybersecurity standards
The medical industry is under increasing threat of cyberattacks, with hackers compromising patient records that can be sold on the black market. Medical identity theft amounted to 43 percent of identity theft cases, according to research released earlier this year, as security experts warn of sophisticated attacks.
Experiant urges the following practices: don't use the same password for multiple accounts; passwords should not be dictionary words; install antivirus security software; scan all drives for viruses or malware; never email personal information; and be careful not to click on links or download attachments from unknown/suspicious contacts.
To help better protect themselves, there are five other basic steps healthcare providers should consider: encrypt all sensitive data, educate employees, invest in cyber insurance, research cyber insurance before purchasing, and always be proactive in evaluating the cyber insurance policy.
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Nintendo says virtual reality technology isn't quite there yet
The video game industry has great potential to push virtual reality even further, but Nintendo isn't in a big rush to force anything on its customers. As game developers also research VR internally, it's only a matter of time before Nintendo will have to take the surging technology seriously.
It's not surprising to hear Nintendo is using a wait and see approach towards virtual reality - an expensive technology still in its infancy - while Sony and Microsoft test VR solutions. Ironically, the creator of Mario, Zelda and Donkey Kong, Shigeru Miyamoto, tested the Oculus Rift headset during the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) game conference.
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Former Microsoft employee in jail for 3 months over leaking Windows 8
A former Microsoft employee is facing three months in jail and a whopping $100 fine after stealing trade secrets and leaking Windows 8 builds to a French blogger. Alex Kibkalo faced a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, but reached a deal with federal prosecutors for a massively reduced sentence.
But, because that data was on Microsoft's own servers, it was within its legal rights to do so. Of course, privacy advocates went nuts - and rightly so - because the company has previously slammed Google for doing the exact thing. Since then, Microsoft has revised its privacy policy, promising that it would never search user content again, even when its own intellectual property is at stake.
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Mass Effect 3 teased at 8K, a huge 7680x4320 - will melt your PC
We've already entered the world of 8K gaming thanks to Crysis being hacked to run at the insanely high resolution, but now someone has taken a screenshot of Mass Effect 3 running at 8K, or 7680x4320.
A full gallery of Mass Effect 3 run at 8K can be viewed right here.
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Square Enix teases Project Flare, a world 17x larger than Skyrim
E3 2014 - Most gamers think the world of Skyrim is absolutely huge, but behind closed doors at E3 2014, Square Enix was showing off something much, much bigger, with what they're calling "Project Flare".
Square Enix said that the full world map shown off was 32 kilometers by 32 kilometers - a mind-blowing 17x the size of Skyrim. Better yet, none of this was being streamed into the computer, it was being fully rendered, in full detail, across the entire gigantic game world - this included over 600,000 trees, hundreds of packs of creatures, hills, mountains, and much more.
Something that is equally as impressive, is that Project Flare was created by scratch with two programmers and one artist, in just six months. Square Enix's Director of Business Development, Jacob Navok, said: "Games now use smoke and mirrors to provide the illusion of a living world. With Project Flare, we can provide an actual living world". While this is true, Navok has said that Project Flare will allow for each and every player to be on the same server, rather than split across multiple servers like existing MMOs.
The company wants to license out Project Flare to other developers and partners, with the company meeting with said developers and publishers - trying to license Project Flare to third parties. Square Enix wants to see its exciting new technology used with other studios, seeing it pushed to create new types of gameplay.
Internally, the company wants to use it on its own games, withi Square's Japan HQ eyeing off the new tech - this is where Tetsuji Iwasaki works, who is responsible for the server architecture for Final Fantasy 11. All of this talk about Project Flare, now I need to see it in action.
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GeForce GTX 800 series GPUs to be cheaper, faster than 700 series
It is pretty obvious that the new GeForce GTX 880 will be faster than the GeForce GTX 780, but what is interesting, is that it will be both cheaper, and more power efficient - something nobody can complain about.
If NVIDIA do release the Maxwell-based GeForce GTX 880 on the cheap, faster than what we have with the GTX 780, or even the GTX 780 Ti, at around 200W power consumption, it would really put the pressure on AMD. This only ends up being great for consumers, though.
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AT&T suffers breach, data accessed to unlock smartphones
Telephone giant AT&T confirmed subscriber personal information was accessed in a data breach that took place sometime from April 9 to 21. AT&T reported the incident in a California regulatory filing, confirming three employees working with a partner vendor accessed the information. It is believed they were trying to unlock devices for re-sale, and accessed Social Security numbers and birth dates along the way.
"Employees of one of our service providers violated our strict privacy and security guidelines by accessing your account without authorization," AT&T warned customers in a letter. "AT&T believes the employees accessed your account as part of an effort to request codes from AT&T that are used to unlock AT&T mobile phones in the secondary mobile phone market."
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Rockstar Games promises GTA V on PC will be something truly next-gen
We now know that Grand Theft Auto V is coming to next-gen consoles and PCs, but what will the limitless technology in PCs be capable of playing GTA V at? Well, Rockstar has outlined some of the improvements to GTA V on PC on a blog post about the game.
Rockstar has teased GTA V on Steam, where it also promises that the PC version of the massively popular game will be "packed with layers of new detail" that will also include "all new content and gameplay created and released since the launch of Grand Theft Auto Online including new Jobs, an arsenal of new weapons, scores of new vehicles, new properties and player customizations". PC gamers will also be excited to hear that they will receive an exclusive video editor designed for "advanced movie making".
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Oculus VR founder says 30FPS gaming 'is a failure'
E3 2014 - Palmer Luckey, the founder of Oculus VR, has had some absolutely beautiful words to say about the world of 30FPS gaming - which seems to be the center of the console world, even with the next-gen consoles in the Xbox One and PS4.
It's great to see Luckey taking a huge stab here - but that quote is just glorious. 30FPS gaming does suck, and we're not sitting here laughing at everyone who doesn't have the hardware to run it, but once you do - 60FPS (or higher) and even more, 120FPS+ is where it is at. With the right panel, and a game that can truly handle 120FPS+, it is glorious.
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Consumers are willing to pay $100 premium for the 5.5-inch iPhone 6
Apple iPhone owners already pay a steep price to have an iPhone, but according to Raymond James analyst Tavis McCourt, consumers are willing to pay an even higher premium when it comes to the iPhone 6.
McCourt continued: "data seems to suggest meaningful demand for a larger screen, which should logically mean the iPhone 6-cycle will be strong for upgrade sales, which combined with modest contribution from wearables should cause a modest acceleration in revenue growth in fiscal 2015". With the iPhone 5S still selling for $600+, the new 4.7-inch iPhone 6 would have to debut at the same price of around $600-$700, meaning that the 5.5-inch version would be hitting the $800 mark - if Apple doesn't debut the new iPhone models at a cheaper price. Are you willing to pay that much for the new, bigger iPhone?
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Sony begins teasing the specs of its VR headset, Project Morpheus
The VR space is definitely heating up, with Oculus VR wanting to get its Rift headset into as many consumers' hands as possible - but what about Sony's PS4-exclusive VR headset, Project Morpheus?
The increased FOV also doesn't help, as there are more things to render because of the higher field of view - so Sony is going to run into a few problems here. Anton Mikhailov, an Engineer from the Magic Lab in PlayStation's R&D group has said: "It is a tricky balance between all of these things. "Essentially, for a given resolution, let's take 1080p. It's a good sweet spot for developers: 1080p/60, it's a target they understand. If you go with 1080p/60, FOV over 100°, the pixel density starts to be quite low. So it starts to be hard to read text, stuff like that. So I feel for 1080p, [FOV of] 90°, 100° is a good sweet spot. If the screen res goes up, you can start to have higher FOVs. So I think there is a balancing game there. We're trying to make the most balanced system we can".
This means that Sony, and game developers, are going to have to make some trade-offs when it comes to the level of detail within a game that works on Project Morpheus. Mikhailov continued: "Frame rate and latency should have really high priority, much more so than � now when you make a game, you can sort of say, 'Oh, I'm going to choose to do a 30fps game because it's more cinematic,' or whatever, or, 'I'm going to cram more graphics into it. In VR, it's not really a choice. You have to go at least 60, preferably higher. It's kind of a new bar. There are new rules you should obey as a developer. Frame rate and latency are really, really important. [...] There is definitely a graphical limit that you can't go lower than".
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YouTube app now features 480p, 1080p streaming options at last
Google has finally baked in 480p and 1080p streaming options into the latest version of its YouTube app. In order to get the supported resolutions, you'll need to update your YouTube app, of course.
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Breaking Bad actor is turning on Xbox One's across the world
Jesse Pinkman is waking your Xbox One up! Don't believe me? It's true, I swear. Microsoft have taken in Aaron Paul, who played Pinkman in AMC's hit show Breaking Bad, in its new Xbox One commercials.
Now gamers are wondering why Paul's other filmed voice commands aren't working, and whether this is some next-gen advertising campaign to have the Xbox One turn on from the advert. Whatever it is, it's working, b*tch.
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Google Maps has passed the 1 billion installation milestone
Google Maps is a widely used application, with the navigation app now passing 1 billion installations on devices across the world. It's a little easier for Google to get there, as Maps is pre-installed on quite a number of Android-powered devices.
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Iraq tries to block social media, hoping to block rebel communications
The Iraqi Ministry of Communications recently issued an order to block access to social media websites and YouTube, in an effort to clamp down on communications by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). The crackdown also targeted journalists and bloggers, with political tensions rising in Iraq, local media indicated.
ISIS has growing control of towns and cities located in northern and western Iraq, including the second biggest city in the country, Mosul. The situation has grown so dire that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki released a statement saying civilians will be armed - and local rebel groups also are recruiting new members to fight.
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Malicious World Cup apps serve as 'SMS Stealer' on Android devices
Cybercriminals are using the 2014 World Cup as a perfect platform to compromise users, with security specialists warning of malicious apps. There are almost 400 apps, all targeting Google Android-powered smartphones, becoming extremely popular in third-party app stores.
The SMS Stealer is the most troublesome World Cup malicious app, because of "the capacity of criminals to colonize Android devices, not just for premium messaging abuse, but for other malicious purposes," according to a statement from Trend Micro, in a statement sent to SC Magazine.
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U.S. federal government to auction off millions in Silk Road bitcoins
Do you want some bitcoins and have a minimum of $200,000 for a deposit? If so, prepare for the U.S. federal government's auction of bitcoins that once belonged to the defunct Silk Road black market website.
The feds also seized another 144,336 bitcoins that belonged to Silk Road head Ross William Ulbricht, however, he is contesting their forfeiture. Interestingly, Ulbricht's attorney argues that bitcoin isn't real currency, and says charges should be dismissed and the cryptocurrency should be returned.
There is concern from bitcoin supporters that an auction of the current lot, along with a future auction of Ulbricht's personal stash, could greatly devalue the surging cryptocurrency. However, the Bitcoin Foundation's Gavin Andresen, said it will help push bitcoin even further mainstream: "The fact that they're going to liquidate them instead of destroy them gives bitcoin some legitimacy. They see them as something of value."
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U.S. Android users average 138 minutes per day on smartphones
Google Android smartphone owners in the United States averaged 138 minutes of use per day in May 2014, a 20 percent increase from December 2013, according to the Strategy Analytics' AppOptix platform. The study was based on more than one million application sessions used by 1500 Android smartphone users, with Facebook, YouTube and Messaging apps capturing 50 percent of the total time alone.
"The three big categories are social, communication, and browsing - together they account for nearly a third of the time spent," said Bonny Joy, Consumer Telemetry Platform chief, said in a press statement. "Our analysis on the top 25 apps across each of the categories shows games and lifestyle segments are among the most vulnerable in maintaining mindshares as they are quick to come and disappear from our rankings."
Smartphones and tablets continue to cannibalize the PC industry, as users become more familiar with using mobile technologies.
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United States indicts 'Guccifer' hacker, extradition not promised
The United States Justice Department indicted Marcel Lazar Lehel, a Romanian hacker known as "Guccifer," accused of stealing personal information and posting it online. In a Romanian court last week, the hacker was sentenced to four years in prison for his activities, and it's unknown if the U.S. will try to extradite him after release.
Guccifer was responsible for hacking George W. Bush's email account, posting personal self-portraits the former president created. He also released email correspondence of former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and European Parliament member Corina Cretu, trying to hide an affair.
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Apple warns some iPhone adapters in Europe pose a safety risk
Apple is working iPhone users in Europe that some of the USB adapters could pose a safety risk. Apple has found that some of its USB adapters that shipped bundled with iPhones and were sold separately could overheat leading to a safety risk. The adapters shipped in Europe with the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, and iPhone 4S.
Apple will replace the potentially defective adapters free to affected users. Those near an Apple retail store can get replacements there. Apple is also offering refunds for users who paid for these adapters.
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Facebook Messenger adds new video sharing feature
Facebook has been working on its messenger app a lot over the last few months in an effort to better compete with other offerings on the market. The messenger app has gained the ability to allow the user to quickly and easily share video messages with other users.
Users can also tap the thumbs up button on the video rather than responding with text. Not long ago Facebook accidentally published a new app called Slingshot that will compete directly with Snapchat. That app was quickly pulled off the market.
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NASA scores sharp images of near-Earth Asteroid using radar
NASA has fired up a pair of giant radar telescopes to take some of the sharpest views of a near-Earth asteroid ever taken. The image you see here was taken on June 8, 2014 as a large asteroid called 2014 HQ124 slipped past the planet. The large asteroid has a length of 1200 feet.
Scientists working on the imaging were able to take 21 radar images over a four and a half hour time span. The asteroid rotated a few degrees per frame. That rotation suggests that the total rotation period is less than 24 hours. The closest approach to Earth by this asteroid was 776,000 miles.
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Experiments in the US suggest massive underground water reservoirs
Recently some experiments were conducted in America that have given the first direct evidence that there are massive reservoirs of water under the surface of the Earth. These giant water reservoirs are hundreds of miles under the surface of the Earth and are said to hold water three times the amount of water in all the planet's oceans.
"I think we are finally seeing evidence for a whole-Earth water cycle, which may help explain the vast amount of liquid water on the surface of our habitable planet. Scientists have been looking for this missing deep water for decades," says Steve Jacobsen. The water is believed to reside between 250 miles and 450 miles below the surface of the planet in the "transition zone." Scientists believe the water is trapped in a mineral called ringwoodite that acts like a sponge.
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Feedly web and mobile apps taken offline by DDoS attack, again
Fans of RSS reader Feedly have had a bad week with their favorite reader. Earlier this week the app was taken offline by a massive DDoS and admins behind the service were eventually able to get it back online. Feedly has again been taken offline by a second DDoS attack this week. The first attack came on Wednesday and left users unable to connect to their feeds.
Feedly's Josh Catone says that user data is safe during the attack and subscribers don't need to worry. Hackers behind the attack on Wednesday reportedly demanded money from Feedly to stop the attack. No money was paid.
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LG G3 Smartphone with SlimPort Review
Introduction
At the time of writing, it was only available in select parts of Asia, but the global launch happens next week (now as of publishing time), which is when consumers can get their hands-on one of the best Android-based smartphones in the world right now.
LG has provided the G3 with some key technologies and specifications, which have it leading the pack, even against the likes of Samsung and its Galaxy S5, or Apple with its ageing iPhone 5S smartphone. The new LG G3 smartphone is a true work of art, with current rumors suggesting that the upcoming Nexus 6 will be based off it – something I truly hope happens.
Specifications
We have a mouthful of specifications on the G3, but let's start with the star of the show: the absolutely gorgeous and eye-popping 5.5-inch 2560x1440 display. The G3 smartphone is the first smartphone in the world with a Quad HD display, and once you get the first look at it, you'll be hooked. It's truly gorgeous with beautiful deep colors and clarity that I simply haven't seen on another smartphone to date.We have Qualcomm's Snapdragon 801 SoC, providing us with a 2.5GHz quad-core processor that will more than handle anything you throw at it. There are two versions available, 16GB and 32GB, which come with varying amounts of RAM. The 16GB version of the G3 comes with 2GB of RAM, while the 32GB version comes packing 3GB of RAM. We have the 32GB version with us today.
When it comes to the camera, we have a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera with laser autofocus, optical image stabilization and dual-LED flash. Up front, we have a 2.1-megapixel selfie-shooter, which is capable of shooting 1080p at 30FPS.
We have 4G LTE capabilities, Gorilla Glass 3 protecting the front of the G3, microSD card expansion (right up to 128GB), and a removable 3,000mAh battery.
We also have SlimPort support, which utilizes the microUSB port for some great connectivity. You can plug in a SlimPort adapter and easily have your G3 hooked up to your TV for some big screen gaming, or showing off those high-res videos you just shot in great detail on the rear-facing snapper.
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Diamond USB Xtreme Sound 7.1 Channel Digital Audio Adapter Review
Diamond (while being a leading vendor of Radeon graphics solutions) carries a full portfolio of audio solutions. Whether they are PCI, PCIe, or USB, Diamond offers a solution to fit your needs. The XS71HDU we have in-house today is a compact USB solution offering True 7.1 24-bit audio. Compatibility of the unit extends to modern Windows operating systems, along with OS X, and Linux.
MSRP for the Diamond XS71HDU is set at $59.99, with a one-year warranty.
The Diamond XS71HDU is one of those devices that enables another level of sound to emit from your PC. For those of you that have been using standard motherboard audio, this device can take that sound, and clean and enhance it all while giving you an external box with a volume control. It's hard to explain, but that setup I used was running an optical cable out to the box, then running my True 5.1 speaker setup from the box. Using it this way, I felt like the sound was much clearer and the bass reproduction was quite good. Build quality of the unit was exceptional, I really liked the aesthetics of the unit, and the plastics used is indeed durable.
Performance, as I mentioned slightly above, was quite good. I enjoyed the ability to experiment with the audio settings. Of course, I am not an audiophile like some of you may be, so the ability to enhance the treble and clean up the bass was more than welcomed.
Overall, I really love the XS71HDU for the compact and stylish device it is. It is certainly one product you will continue to find on my desk.
MSRP of the Diamond XS71HDU is set at $59.99, with a one-year warranty. Current market pricing can be found below.
PRICING: You can find the DIAMOND USB XTREME SOUND 24-BIT 7.1 CHANNEL DIGITAL AUDIO ADAPTER for sale below. The prices listed are valid at the time of writing but can change at any time. Click the link to see the very latest pricing for the best deal.
United States: The DIAMOND USB XTREME SOUND 24-BIT 7.1 CHANNEL DIGITAL AUDIO ADAPTER retails for $59.99 at Amazon.
Canada: The DIAMOND USB XTREME SOUND 24-BIT 7.1 CHANNEL DIGITAL AUDIO ADAPTER retails for CDN$81.64 at Amazon Canada.
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MX Technology LX 256GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive Review
The LX series is a value-based series in the Mach Xtreme Technology portfolio. These drives offer tremendous storage capacity of up to 256GB using MLC NAND. Marketing specifications for this drive offer 220 MB/s read, and 140 MB/s write. Compatibility of the MX LX extends to modern Windows operating systems, along with OS X, and Linux.
MSRP of the Mach Xtreme Technology LX in the 256GB flavor is listed at $169.99, with a two-year warranty.
The Mach Xtreme Technology LX is the top tier solution for those wanting the best Price/Performance solution. While the entry price for the drive is slightly steep, it is certainly one you will get many years of use out of. Build quality of the drive is top notch, with the aluminium enclosure, and use of acrylic plastics.
Performance of the LX was quite ample. Here we reached 211 MB/s read, and 156 MB/s write, and over on Price/Performance we found the LX to take the top spot from its lower capacity counterpart.
MSRP of the Mach Xtreme Technology LX in the 256GB capacity is set at $169.99, with a two-year warranty. Current market pricing can be found below.
PRICING: You can find the MACH XTREME TECHNOLOGY LX 256GB for sale below. The prices listed are valid at the time of writing but can change at any time. Click the link to see the very latest pricing for the best deal.
United States: The MACH XTREME TECHNOLOGY LX 256GB retails for $169.99 at Amazon.
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Zalman Reserator 3 Max Dual Ultimate Liquid CPU Cooler Review
Introduction, Specifications and Pricing
When we say dual radiator AIO, people typically think of a 240mm long radiator that is usually 27mm thick; that is nothing like you are going to see today. Just when we were thinking the plumbing on the original Reserator 3 Max was almost a masterpiece of engineering, this time around Zalman has taken two of their coolers, put them base to base, and they have now plumbed the second cooler into one single loop.
A design such as this proves that there are companies out there thinking way outside of the box when it comes to AIO designs. We aren't talking going at it like Enermax and SilverStone did, but rather a whole different take on the most efficient system to cool the fluid in the loop. That isn't to say that there aren't a few small issues that will pop up along the way from such a design, but we will be covering those along with the rest of what Zalman is offering up in the new Reserator 3 Max Dual Ultimate Liquid CPU cooler.
On the technical level, the Reserator 3 Max Dual offers two radiator sections that are entirely made of copper with black Nickel plating for both oxidation and aesthetical reasons. This radiator section of the AIO is 276mm in length, 122mm in width; the 73mm thickness will make installation in mid-towers and a lot of full towers very challenging, but Zalman does have a solution to allow memory and motherboard heat sinks to clear with adjustable mounting clips. We also get a head unit made mostly of plastic, with LEDs under the cap and aluminum trim. The cold plate is made of copper as well, and these may be the only non mixed-metal loops out there. When you combine the head unit, radiator assembly, fans, 10.5 inches of tubing, and the coolant, the Reserator 3 Max Dual weighs in at 1426 grams; but keep in mind, ninety-percent of that weight is held by the chassis, and not the socket.
One thing right up front that is going to hit very hard is the pricing. We have seen some high pricing before, but most dual radiator based AIOs tend to release in the $130 to $150 U.S. dollar range. However, with this Zalman solution we are seeing pricing over the $200 mark. At this price, we could be looking into the Swiftech H220, or the Cooler Master clone, so this has to be one seriously awesome AIO, or Zalman may have just made a huge mistake. Prices can always be lowered if need be, and our testing will show us its value, but there has to be something other than just the unique design that puts this cooler at this level.
PRICING: You can find the ZALMAN RESERATOR 3 MAX DUAL for sale below. The prices listed are valid at the time of writing but can change at any time. Click the link to see the very latest pricing for the best deal.
United States: The ZALMAN RESERATOR 3 MAX DUAL retails for $219.50 at Amazon.
The time is now to get up close and personal with Zalman's new Reserator series cooler and we will try to keep pricing alone out of our mind until the end of the review. In the mean time, please continue on as we show you the "Ultimate" liquid cooler: the Reserator 3 Max Dual.
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Addonics ADM2PX4 PCIe 3.0 to M.2 SSD Adapter Review
The ADM2PX4 is a four lane PCI Express 3.0 to m.2 SSD adapter, which allows you to install 42, 60, or 80mm SSDs. With this adapter being PCIe 3.0 compliant, you can eliminate any and all bottlenecks to your storage, and if you happen to have a motherboard capable of booting from PCIe devices, you can use your m.2 SSD as your bootable operating system drive. Compatibility extends to all desktop and server computers, as the adapter needs no driver to operate.
MSRP for the Addonics ADM2PX4 is set at $18.99, with a one-year warranty.
The Addonics ADM2PX4 enjoys a great deal of build quality; all the solder points look good, while the PCB material is a good thickness. In addition to this, the ability to change the mounting point for the m.2 SSD allows this card to be a single solution for all your m.2 needs.
Performance of the card allowed our Samsung SSD to reach 1150 MB/s read, and 981 MB/s write. One feature I do like with the Addonics is the ability (with the right motherboard) to boot from the adapter and your m.2 SSD, install your operating system, and have the next generation in storage technology up and running.
MSRP of the Addonics ADM2PX4 is set at $18.99 with a one-year warranty. Current market pricing can be found below.
PRICING: You can find the ADDONICS PCIE 3.0 M.2 ADAPTER (ADM2PX4)for sale below. The prices listed are valid at the time of writing but can change at any time. Click the link to see the very latest pricing for the best deal.
United States: The ADDONICS PCIE 3.0 M.2 ADAPTER (ADM2PX4) retails for $23.38 at Amazon.
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Diamond WR600NSI Dual Band 802.11n Wireless Range Extender Review
The solution we are looking at today is one of those compact solutions. The Diamond WR600NSI is a dual band 802.11n wireless range extender. Features of the extender are 300Mbps, available on the 2.4GHz band, and the same 300Mbps on the 5GHz band. Compatibility of the WR600NSI extends to all modern operating systems with an available wireless LAN connection.
MSRP for the Diamond WR600NSI Range Extender is set at $49.99, with a one-year warranty.
The Diamond Multimedia WR600NSI is a solid compact solution that enables you to add wireless connectivity wherever you feel a slight boost in signal would be appreciated. The build quality of the extender was quite good, with durable plastics, and good amount of LEDs on the front to let you know what's going on with your extender.
Performance was quite good as well, though as you may have seen in testing, the 2.4GHz band was the stronger of the two. With our testing we were able to move out to 40ft and maintain a respectable connection via 2.4GHz, and moving over to 5GHz, we moved out to 40ft and did maintain a connection, but the signal rate was upwards of -70dBm. Of course, that isn't a terrible thing; the 5GHz band does its best in the 15ft foot range.
MSRP of the Diamond WR600NSI is set at $49.99, with a one-year warranty. Current market pricing can be found below.
PRICING: You can find the DIAMOND DUAL BAND RANGE EXTENDER (WR600NSI) for sale below. The prices listed are valid at the time of writing but can change at any time. Click the link to see the very latest pricing for the best deal.
United States: The DIAMOND DUAL BAND RANGE EXTENDER (WR600NSI) retails for $53.49 at Amazon.
Canada: The DIAMOND DUAL BAND RANGE EXTENDER (WR600NSI) retails for CDN$67.94 at Amazon Canada.
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Das Keyboard 4 Professional Mechanical #Keyboard Review
Introduction, Specifications and Pricing
We have had the pleasure of trying out Das Keyboard when we took a look at the Model S Professional keyboard some time ago. Even then we were impressed with what Das Keyboard brought to the table. It was just a shame we had to return that keyboard, as we really thought it would spend a few years under our fingers typing out these reviews. Ever since that keyboard was sent back, there have been thoughts of someday getting back to their keyboards, and enjoying what they have to offer someone who has went from a full time gamer, into someone who now spends much less time on the WASD keys, and much more time on all the other keys.
The time has finally arrived for Das Keyboard to seek us out for our opinion on one of the two latest keyboards to hit the market. Both designs are ninety-nine percent identical, and that one percent left is a major change in appearance. The keyboard we will be looking at today is the Das Keyboard 4 Professional, which features an all black appearance, and laser etched key caps with a new font. The second version of the Das Keyboard 4 is named the "Ultimate," and this solution offers blanked out keycaps and black painting on the multimedia keys rather than the white used on the Professional.
Now that introductions are over, let's get down to the cold, hard facts of why this Das Keyboard 4 Professional should be your next choice; especially for the typists out there.
Along with laser etched keys, and bumps present on the home keys, Das also offers an instant sleep button near the multimedia keys; they say this button is to save energy, but it is a great way to hide anything "questionable" when a coworker walks in the office as well.
The second box dives a bit deeper into the features of the 4 Professional. Here they cover the 104-key layout of the keyboard (which we will be seeing in the U.S. layout), and they also mention a key addition for UK, NO, and DE layouts. They also add something called a "footbar" rather than adjustable feet in the back. This is red, magnetically attaches, and offers a SAE and Metric ruler on each edge. Das also lets us know that they extended the cable longer than most, if not all, other solutions we have seen, to over 200mm in length. The last bits here cover the physical dimensions of the keyboard, along with its weight of 2.9 pounds.
The last section explains that this keyboard supports full NKRO, but it must be turned on, otherwise it offers six-key instead. It then goes on to tell us of the anodized, textured aluminum top panel of this design that goes along well with the brushed aluminum volume knob and its red trim ring. It also says that this keyboard is firmware updateable, if updates should become available. Lastly, it covers the PC requirements to getting the Das Keyboard 4 Professional up and running on your desktop.
You will find that the cost of the Das Keyboard 4 Professional is a bit on the high side, but you do get what you pay for with a keyboard such as this. Keep in mind though, it's not all fancy with LEDs, splashes of odd angles, and odd design elements to distract from the fact that they used just enough to get by. Also keep in mind that this keyboard is more for those with typing in mind, rather than gaming and surfing the net.
Both the Ultimate and the Professional are going to be found with pricing at, or slightly above the $150 U.S. dollar mark. While there are solutions at half the price, the components used, the thought in the detail, and the overall design are something that most other keyboards just cannot offer. As we said earlier, for the office environment, you will be hard pressed to find something quite like what you are about to see (or not see in the instance of the key caps on the Ultimate version).
PRICING: You can find the DAS KEYBOARD 4 PROFESSIONAL for sale below. The prices listed are valid at the time of writing but can change at any time. Click the link to see the very latest pricing for the best deal.
United States: The DAS KEYBOARD 4 PROFESSIONAL retails for $169.00 at Amazon.
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Diamond BVU3500 DisplayLink USB 3.0 to DVI Adapter Review
Diamond Multimedia has been a partner of AMD in the GPU business for a very long time, and as such, has gathered quite a bit of knowledge. The BVU3500 is part of Diamond's external USB graphics portfolio. This adapter carries a DVI port on the opposite end of the USB 3.0 connection, and packaging, as you will see, includes a few adapters to extend the capabilities. Maximum resolution support by this adapter comes in at 2560 x 1600 along with 1920 x 1200.Compatibility of the BVU3500 extends to modern Windows operating systems and OS X 10.6+.
MSRP for the Diamond BVU3500 is set at $64.99, with a one-year warranty.
Build quality of the BVU3500 was quite surprising. In the past, I have used devices similar to these from other vendors, and it seems this Diamond product is on par with, or better than, what I found with those. As far as the adapters are concerned, the HDMI adapter that is included in the package has a rather interesting connect that can be angled away from the wall, giving you easier access to your HDMI port.
As far as my experience goes with the BVU3500, I was unable to get this adapter to work and power my Qnix 2710LED, but I don't really count that as a negative against the product, because even Intel's onboard graphics can't power this display. In further testing, I was able to get both a Gateway FPD2185W, and a HD2200 to fire up with ease. The HD2200 connected via the HDMI adapter with ease, and the FPD2185W allowed me to test both the VGA and DVI connection - both of which had no issues up to the max of the monitors.
MSRP of the Diamond BVU3500 is set at $64.99, with a one-year warranty. Current market pricing can be found below.
PRICING: You can find the DIAMOND USB 3.0 TO DVI ADAPTER (BVU3500) for sale below. The prices listed are valid at the time of writing but can change at any time. Click the link to see the very latest pricing for the best deal.
United States: The DIAMOND USB 3.0 TO DVI ADAPTER (BVU3500) retails for $61.80 at Amazon.
Canada: The DIAMOND USB 3.0 TO DVI ADAPTER (BVU3500) retails for CDN$82.49 at Amazon Canada.
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Tesoro Lobera Supreme Full Color Mechanical Gaming Keyboard Review
Introduction, Specifications and Pricing
Without anything before this sample to open our eyes to what Tesoro was all about, we ventured over to their site. Once we were there, we looked at their lineup, and checked out their goals as a company in order to see what their overall plans and ideas are. It is good to see a company built off the sweat equity of gamers like Tesoro. This way you know the designers are taking considerations for people who actually game, and they are not some random company who thinks they know what gamers need.
We can see from their lineup that their products are all designed for gaming, and have software to go along with them so that you may customize things to fit your specific needs. For the gamers out there, you know what you demand in a keyboard –things like lighting, Macros, and remapping –yeah, they're all here.
In the brief time we got to know Tesoro via emails, they offered up one of two keyboards that are almost identical. From these two options, we received the Lobera Supreme. There is a model that carries the same Lobera naming, but it is not mechanical; it is plunger based. Also, as we said above, this is the second time we are given access to a mechanical keyboard that isn't Alps, Cherry MX, or some hybrid switch based. Instead, we now get to try out the brown Kailh mechanical switches, and see just how this Lobera Ultimate and all of its features come together. Stick around, and we are sure you will find a lot to like and appreciate about the Lobera Supreme as we move through our review and offer up our final assessment.
As we scan the rest of the information, we are given the physical dimensions, along with the weight of the Lobera, right above the system requirements. As we move over to the right side, we see the compliance for this product's build. We also see a bit about their one-year warranty against defects, and not something silly you may have done to the product. We see that the package contents are wrong, as we get a Lobera Supreme, an additional USB power cable for the hub, and the installation guide in our kit. Since the wrong board is listed, we also think the part numbers for the various switch types may very well apply to the Colada, but we do know the Lobera does offer all four switch type options as well.
Since this keyboard is newer to the scene, we did not expect to see as many locations selling these Lobera Supreme keyboards. While a few places list the keyboard right around $140 U.S. dollars, when looking at Amazon at the time of writing this review, we found the keyboard to be currently unavailable. When the Lobera Supreme becomes available at Amazon, our pricing at the bottom of the page will reflect Amazon pricing. From what we know from looking at the packaging, and from what we have seen on their site, the pricing is very comparable to others that offer similar feature sets. So, let's trudge onward and see how Tesoro puts it all together, and see what we think about it after some time with it.
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ADATA XPG 64GB SDXC UHS I U3 Memory Card Review
Today, we are fortunate enough to have in the lab the 64GB XPG SDXC card. This card, like the Premier Pro, caries the UHS I U3 specification. Marketing on this card says we should see 95 MB/s read and 85 MB/s write.
MSRP for the XPG UHS I U3 in the 64GB capacity is set at $64.99 with a lifetime warranty.
Like the Premier Pro, the ADATA XPG is a great solution for your 4K video needs. In fact, it's a step above the Premier Pro when it comes to performance. On the outside, the build quality is what I expect from a SD card. In testing, the card had no issues whatsoever, so all is good on that front.
Performance of the XPG was outstanding really, and we touched 93 MB/s read and 86 MB/s write, which I do believe are the highest numbers I have ever seen from an SD card. In fact, the only thing holding it back from the top spot in the Price/Performance chart is the price, where it's listed at just over $1/GB.
MSRP for the 64GB ADATA XPG UHS I U3 SDXC card is set at $64.99 with a lifetime warranty.
PRICING: You can find the 64GB ADATA XPG UHS I U3 SDXC card for sale below. The prices listed are valid at the time of writing but can change at any time. Click the link to see the very latest pricing for the best deal.
United States: The 64GB ADATA XPG UHS I U3 SDXC card retails for $129.99 at Amazon.
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SilverStone DS380 Eight Bay NAS Chassis Review
Introduction, Specifications and Pricing
Apart from the real hardware of your NAS build, you will also have to choose a chassis that fits your needs, and depending on the size of your chassis, you may need an SFX power supply as well.
Today, we have the fortunate opportunity to take a look at one of the latest SFF NAS chassis from SilverStone, the DS380. This chassis features SECC steel construction with a lockable front door made from aluminum. Behind the door, you will reveal eight drive bays capable of holding 3.5-inch or 2.5-inch drives in addition to the internal capability to mount four 2.5-inch drives. Furthermore, the eight hot swappable trays located on the front of the unit have the ability to utilize SATA or SAS drives due to the custom backplane, allowing for more flexibility in your NAS build.
PRICING: You can find the SilverStone DS380 for sale below. The prices listed are valid at the time of writing but can change at any time. Click the link to see the very latest pricing for the best deal.
United States: The SilverStone DS380 retails for $149.99 at Amazon.
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Microsoft Xbox E3 2014 Press Conference Wrap
Microsoft at E3 2014
To say that Microsoft has had a tough twelve months is one of the biggest understatements someone could make. It's been tough and has culminated recently with Microsoft announcing that they will be shipping an Xbox One system sans Kinect at a lower price. In many ways, this is not surprising. Last E3, I blasted Microsoft for being so arrogant and so ridiculously out of touch with the fan base that they were in real trouble. But with a new management team in place, Microsoft is somewhat using this E3 to reboot the message and maybe just maybe it's been a success. Here' is our thoughts on what was shown and initial impressions.Microsoft began the conference with a bang. In most years, Call of Duty had either been a middle of the conference game or the final epic showpiece, but this year it opened with it. Perhaps a sign of how desperate they want to show the Xbox One is the place to be. Sledgehammer has taken on the development reigns this year and it is the first game designed specifically for the new console generation and it shows. Advanced Warfare looks nothing short of stunning, especially in the facial animations that were on display. Interestingly, the actual game play component gave us a feeling of Crysis with advanced weaponry on offer and it appears that this game is set in the future as opposed to current day like the previous Modern Warfare series.
Microsoft then showed a quick trailer of Evolve, which is fast becoming one of the most anticipated games of the year and the announcement that Xbox One will see additional content before any other platform will be welcome news to fans of the green box. Interestingly though, the Xbox will have an exclusive beta for people to play, so it's clear that Microsoft is going hard on this game, and it may be a gamble that pays off based on early impressions.
They then moved to Assassins Creed Unity, the new game built for the new-gen consoles. To be honest, AC had lost me as a series. It was repetitive, generic play that did not change that much year to year, and that's a shame, because I felt AC2 was a stunning piece of gaming. Unity may bring me back into the fold though with multiplayer now being featured as co-operative assassin missions, allowing you to work together to get the target. Maybe this and the more detailed engine will be enough, but I remain on the fence for now.
One of the more interesting demos on offer was Fable Legends. It's clear that despite Molyneux no longer being involved with the game that much of what made Fable a fantastic RPG back in the day remains. Fable has been a game that has never taken itself overly serious and it is with that in mind that we saw delight with the characters focusing on themselves and their humor, rather than being shining knights. This is not about heroism, it's all about gaining coin for this mob and the demo on display was for multiplayer which looks like it will be co-operative play. What really stood out in this demo was the large wide vistas that were on display as well as the stunning graphics. There were intimations that this is an open world game and if so that will take Fable Legends to a new level.
It wouldn't be a Microsoft press conference without the presence of Master Chief and so yet again Microsoft is going back to the well to ship a halo game. Although this time around instead of just shipping one game they are shipping four in a Halo collection. Like Halo 1, 343 Studios is going back and upgrading the Halo 2 experience to the HD world and it will feature the same features that Halo 1 anniversary had, including the ability to switch between the old and new graphics with a simple button push. The multiplayer from Halo 2 is also making a return and is often discussed as the best version of the Halo multiplayer. In terms of hype, we do not have too much for this one. Shipping Halo yet again even in a collection when what we really wanted to see/hear about is Halo 5, was disappointing.
Microsoft then surprised with a trailer for a return of Phantom Dust. For those who missed it the first time around on the original Xbox Console, Phantom Dust is a game that was built at a time when Microsoft were trying to crack the Japanese video game market. This is a game where you build unique card sets and characters to take each other on. Only the trailer was shown, but even that was enough to get people excited. We didn't really play this game the first time around, but after the reaction plan to hunt it down to see what it was like back in the day.
Finally Microsoft rolled out Platinum Games to announce their new game Scalebound. Exclusive to Xbox One, only a trailer was shown, but this appeared to show a character that could take control of large dragon like creatures to take down other large creatures. This would fit very much into the Platinum Games mould, so that is for now what we guess this game is heading towards. Finally, Microsoft lifted the lid on what has become a game often rumored, but never seen. Crackdown (not 3, just Crackdown right now) is in development for a 2015 release. The trailer was not game play, but did seem to intimate that destruction will play a huge part upon its release. Original Xbox fans will be super excited to play Crackdown as long as it's not along the lines of the poorly received Crackdown 2.
It was nice to see a press conference that just focused on games, games and games. Not much about Kinect was said, which is actually very interesting. It shows just how much Microsoft appears to be walking away from that device less than twelve months after its release and we have to wonder what those developers who are working on Kinect only games must think. Still this was a very important conference for Microsoft and in many ways they met expectations. Microsoft still has much work to do, but if this conference is an indication they are back on the right track.
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