Valve releases 'End of the Line' update for Team Fortress 2
Valve has just updated Team Fortress 2 with the new End of the Line update, something that has a new special event that runs through until January 5.
This End of the Line update is inspired by a community film titled "End of the Line" which you can catch above.
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Metro Redux arrives on Linux, also supports Steam Play
4A Games has released both the Linux and SteamOS versions of its Metro 2033 Redux and Metro: Last Light Redux games, with both versions featuring Steam Play support. This means that if you've already bought them, the Linux and SteamOS versions are automatically added to your Steam Library.
Linux gamers will receive all of the graphical bells and whistles that the Windows version supports, something that includes SSAA, Motion Blur, NVIDIA's PhsyX technology, and more. 4A Games will be releasing an Open GL 4.0 version of the game that will be released for the Mac later this month. What will you need to run the game on Linux? Here are the minimum and recommended requirements:
Minimum:
- OS: 64-bit Ubuntu 12.04 or 14.04 or Steam OS
- Processor: Intel Core i5 2.7 GHz (or equivalent AMD)
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 460 / AMD 5850 with 2GB VRAM
- Open GL: OpenGL 4
- Hard Drive: 10 GB available space
- OS: 64-bit Ubuntu 12.04 or 14.04 or Steam OS
- Processor: Intel Core i7 2.5 GHz (or equivalent AMD)
- Memory: 8 GB RAM
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 680 / AMD 7870 with 2GB VRAM+
- Open GL: OpenGL 4
- Hard Drive: 10 GB available space
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'Lamborghini' smartphone will set you back $6000 with a leather finish
As it gets closer to Christmas, some people might be finding it hard to find their loved one that perfect Christmas present. Well, that's what we're here for, to report to you about the new 88 Tauri smartphone from Torino Lamborghini.
What's inside of the 88 Tauri? We have a 5-inch 1080p display, a 2.3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of flash storage, and more. It's not going to break speed records in your hands, but it'll look damn good in them.
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SPE attorneys want media to destroy received materials from breach
Sony Pictures Entertainment is still trying to recover from a nasty data breach, and now the company's attorneys are taking aim at the media. Hackers have released eight rounds of data, much of it embarrassing, as SPE's attorneys want journalists and bloggers to stop publicizing leaked data.
The Supreme Court previously found a radio not liable for broadcasting an illegally recorded conversation, as the station was a third-party and didn't participate in actively making the audio recording. It would seem unlikely the SPE can make any legal demands of journalists for posting the data - and outlets will continue to air SPE's dirty laundry in public.
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Taxi drivers in France threaten to block Paris roads because of Uber
The roads leading into France's capital city may be in jeopardy this Monday, as Parisian taxi drivers are vowing to block major highways to protest the rise of Uber's ride-sharing service application - adding to yet another countries Taxi demographic unhappy with the company's offering.
UberPOP has a claimed 160,000 French users, with people being able to use their personal cars to transport passengers around at low rates. Taxi drivers are fed up with the recent rise in popularity of these services, bidding to the French commercial court to make a new law ot ensure Uber drivers have a harder time soliciting businesses. However, last Friday this law could not be enforced "until the government had published full details of the restrictions", as according to Business Insider.
Fed up with the lack of action, the president of French Taxi's, Ibrahima Sylla, claims that this action is "the straw that breaks the camel's back," with his business set to suffer due to the rise of Uber. Sylla's company is one of many that are set to join the early morning Monday protest, urging taxi drivers to meet at the northern Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport and the southern Orly airport at 05:00 am local time, then slowly travelling toward to city in a bid to block the roads.
Sylla further claimed that "this is a fight against Uber. We're fed up. Allowing UberPOP means leaving 57,000 French taxis high and dry, and thus 57,000 families. And that is out of the question."
Do you think this is a fair protest, or should these taxi companies accept the fact that they're being beaten by newer technology? We're interested to see your thoughts - is this a case of new-age business' forming globally and taking over, or do the taxi companies have every right to be upset?
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ShopAndroid are offering $5 Samsung Galaxy S5 cases for today only
If you're looking for a little extra protection, Shop Android are offering Samsung Galaxy S5 Amzer Pudding TPU cases for $5 - this deal is only available for today, closing in around 9 hours (at the time of this articles publication).
There is a warning issued however, claiming that "as enticing as the Samsung Galaxy S5 Pudding Case is, it is not edible." Unfortunate there's no $5 desserts to be purchased here, rather a sleek-looking smooth case.
You'll still have access to your camera, speakers and connection ports - alongside but the buttons receiving raised platforms for use.
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Destiny players are being banned by Bungie for using modded consoles
Bungie issued a release this week, stating that "something else that deserves mention is that the BanHammer has been a-swingin'. A review of the bans applied over the last week shows that all of the affected accounts had logged into Destiny on a modified console at some point", asking their customers to "play nice! And use the boxes that your favorite retailer 'gave' you."
There have been multiple recorded cases online of in-game cheats being used through the utilization of modded consoles and it seems like Bungie have had enough. If you're running a custom previous, or next gen console, you might want to steer clear of this game.
If you're really desperate however, Destiny runs on Xbox 360 and PS3 - so if loading times and lower graphical options don't phase you, this will be your cheapest alternative to copping a ban.
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Aiimbo hype builds - Rosalina aiimbo now exclusive to Target
"Tap amiibo figures to the Wii U GamePad controller to interact with compatible games-no portal required!" reads the official website constructed by Nintendo.
There isn't much word from the public as to which aiimbo will be more popular than the other, but generally in retail once one part of a product line starts becoming exclusive, everyone wants a hand in on the project.
Following this news, Nintendo has confirmed that some figures may not make it back to the market after the initial shipment has been sold out, stating "other [less popular] figures likely will not return to the market once they have sold through their initial shipment."
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iOS users care more about security, privacy than Android users
Google Android might have a significantly higher market share than Android iOS, but it appears iOS users take security and privacy a bit more seriously, according to iDrive. iOS users are more likely to keep data backed up, with 33 percent more photos and 20 percent more videos backed up when compared to Android users. Furthermore, iOS users also are 25 percent more likely to keep data secure with encryption.
Both companies are taking mobile security seriously, but must now relay its importance down to users - especially with smartphone theft and cloud security remaining significant concerns.
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The smartphone and tablet markets are quiet ahead of CES 2015
CES 2015 is less than one month away, and many tech companies are gearing up for yet another hectic show from Las Vegas. However, the smartphone and tablet markets are surprisingly quiet as consumers and manufacturers prepare for a barrage of product announcements and public launches.
It would appear some manufacturers preparing mobile products will wait until Mobile World Congress (MWC), a show dedicated specifically towards mobile products. This allows them to have more time to prepare products, while also ensuring their products won't be overwhelmed by every other consumer product highlighted in the Nevada desert.
Don't worry, there will be plenty of different mobile devices shown off during CES 2015 next month, as the products remain extremely popular.
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PlayStation Plus gave away more than $1,300 per subscriber in 2014
PlayStation Plus subscribers pay $50 per year, but Sony gave away more than $1,300 in games per subscriber in 2014, according to a report compiled by Push Square. The PS Plus service has 7.9 million subscribers, Sony said during its last earnings call two months ago.
Sony already is increasing its cloud computing capabilities, preparing to help usher gamers towards cloud-based gaming - and subscription services will be an important piece to the puzzle. The Japanese electronics company greatly relies on its PlayStation business, as the company continues to face financial pressure.
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Sony warned before hack that its networks were vulnerable to attack
Before Sony Pictures Entertainment was compromised in a significant cyberattack that crippled its computer systems and led to large amounts of data stolen, the company was warned of lapses in cybersecurity. SPE's firewall and at least 100 other devices were being monitored by the studio's in-house team instead of Sony's corporate security team, according to an audit done by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).
Hollywood studios and other major corporations have the opportunity to learn from SPE's significant data breach, at Sony's expense.
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Report: Windows 10 will include Xbox app, Cortana integration
The Microsoft Windows 10 leaked consumer build (9901) indicates users will be able to enjoy an Xbox app, giving them access to friends list, Store, activity feeds, achievements, and additional features. Microsoft previously promised increased gaming integration into the Windows 10 OS, and this early build shows what the company has in mind.
Microsoft will continue to promote its Windows 10 OS, as consumers and business users never truly jumped onboard the Windows 8/8.1 bandwagon.
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Edward Snowden's lawyer wants US officials charged over CIA torture
The CIA misled the White House, Justice Department, Congress and the US people in its effort to conduct intelligence gathering operations by using torture, according to the Senate intelligence committee. Wolfgang Kaleck, Edward Snowden's attorney and director of the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR), wants Europe to target the "architects" of organized torture operations spearheaded by the CIA.
Kaleck also defended a German national, Khaled El Masri, who was wrongly seized by the CIA in 2004 - and wants the German government to begin requesting extradition requests to the United States, which will clearly be denied. El Masri was taken in Macedonia, shipped to Afghanistan, and tortured for five months. After the CIA figured out they seized the wrong person, they flew him to Albania and just left him on the side of the road.
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Companies hiring hackers to test Internet of Things security efforts
The Internet of Things (IoT) is expected to explode in popularity in coming years, but trying to keep a growing number of connected devices secure from cybercriminals remains a major effort. To help get a step ahead of malicious criminals, companies are embracing white hat hackers specialized in finding and exploiting potential security loopholes - and then sharing details with the company.
Connected devices are increasing to vehicles, our homes and apartments, medical devices, and virtually everywhere else - but keeping consumers and users secure is a major effort.
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Interested in eSports? Here's a guide to start your viewership journey
Getting started with eSports viewing
It's been a commonly asked question by friends of mine throughout the last four or so years - "I want to get into eSports spectating, where do I go", or "I'd like to follow eSports, but I have no idea how". What I'm going to list for you below is a simple FAQ on following some of the largest PC eSports titles, alongside providing you with some websites to help scratch that competitive gaming itch.
If you want to start off with some of the biggest and you're not exactly sure where to begin, here are a few for you in no particular order:
- Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
- StarCraft II
- Dota2
- League of Legends
There are millions of dollars in prize money, sponsorships and endorsements already flowing throughout these respective gaming scenes, and if you want to start off with the biggest, most loved and most respected titles - we've provided them for you.
The next step in following eSports is to figure out exactly how you're going to watch these tournaments as they take place. Twitch.tv is one of the most commonly used streaming platforms, with most major tournaments being broadcasted on here. Alongside Twitch, there are other platforms including YouTube's streaming service and Azubu.tv.
A streaming service is the best way to keep in touch with the action as it happens - it will allow you to watch the games live, hear professional grade commentary and pick up some tips and tricks along the way. However, how are you to know when the events are going to take place? How will you know the tournament structures, timing, teams competing and rules involved? This is where news sites come in handy.
Unlike 'traditional' media, news sites in the competitive gaming realm generally only cover one (sometimes two or three) different games total - this allows them to keep up to date with the latest information and continue pumping out reports quickly and efficiently. These websites, you will notice, tend to go into more detail than many traditional media outlets, providing multiple quotes, user opinions and in-game statistics to back up their claims - especially when some of the scenes most famous writers like Tomi "Lurppis" Kovanen are concerned.
On the next page, I will list some of the world's most popular websites, alongside what their majorly supported game titles include and their main target audience location.
... Read the rest in your browser!
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Far Cry 4 PlayStation 4 Game Review
In Far Cry 4, you return to Kyrat as an ex-pat who immigrated to the United States with their mother when they were a child. Kyrat is a fictional city in the Himalayas and where the majority of the game takes place. It is also a dictatorship, ruled by one Pagan Min, a dictator on the level of Vaas from the former game, but one that is prepared to go even further. The story in Far Cry 4 is by no means throwaway, and in fact, many times will keep you forging ahead in the campaign, looking to find out what happens next - especially with the decisions you can make along the way to impact the game world.
On the main campaign side, you join a freedom fighter force known as the Golden Path who have been for a period of time attempting to end the reign of Min and restore peace and democracy to the land of the main characters birth. Throughout this campaign, some tough decisions need to be made as to how to advance the story and which main character of the Golden Path you wish to follow. This really mixes up the game, sends the story in different ways, and in many ways every player could have a slightly unique story. It also significantly enhances the replay value of the game, although to be honest, the game is not lacking without it.
When it comes down to it, the actual gameplay, the game shines. Picking up where Far Cry 3 left off, the game is of course primarily a first person shooter. However, it is changes such as being able to ride on the back of an elephant that really make this game a stunning success. You also need to craft items to improve your weaponry and abilities. Instead of just purchasing more inventory space, for example, you need to craft a wallet. To do this, you need to hunt specific animals and skin them. It adds another dimension to the game and a challenging one at that. Most of the animals can be ferocious when attacked and getting their skins is not so easy.
In terms of the environment the game is set in, it is stunning. This is a game that clearly is using the power of the current generation system. You can stand on the top of a cliff just admiring the mountains in the distance and the draw distance is also significant. One thing we noticed is that the game really never misses a beat. Despite huge explosions on screen, large draw distances and tons of action, the frame rate remained rock solid for us throughout. At least we did not notice any major frame rate issues, despite the epic nature of the game. Voice acting was also impressive, especially of the evil protagonist, and the propaganda style radio came across as authentic.
Far Cry 4 is a stunning game that builds upon its predecessor well. It may follow the same path of the main character having to slowly build up a force and take out an evil dictator, but despite it being almost the same structure, it works. The additions made including the new animals and location really do mix it up, however, it must be said that if Ubisoft is to return to the Far Cry universe for a fifth time, doing this over again is not going to be enough. That said, Far Cry 4 is one of the must-play games of 2014.
PRICING: You can find Far Cry 4 - PlayStation 4 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: Far Cry 4 - PlayStation 4 retails for $48.92 at Amazon.
Canada: Far Cry 4 - PlayStation 4 retails for CDN$69.95 at Amazon Canada.
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Popular 'GIF-ITI' Artist, INSA, Designs New Limited Edition Logitech UE BOOM
Today Ultimate Ears announced the Graffiti Fetish Edition UE BOOM, expanding its limited edition lineup of multi award-winning UE BOOM speakers to now include five artist editions. Designed by INSA, one of the United Kingdom's most celebrated graffiti artists, this collaboration celebrates the fusion of two art forms, music and graffiti gifs.
"UE BOOM is one of the most innovative speakers out there, and it's cool to combine my art with a device that brings even more creativity to the world," said INSA. "This collaboration is also a new way of putting my art out there. The fact that I am adding my design to the shape and texture of the UE BOOM - something I take with me and use in my everyday life, whether it's on a scaffolding when I'm painting a wall or at the studio - made this an exciting project for me."
Introduced in 2013, UE BOOM has won four prestigious design awards, and is continuously evolving with industry-defining features, such as alarm functionality, custom tuning and two-speaker pairing - the Double Up feature - delivered through software updates. Built to withstand the rigors of life, UE BOOM has a cylindrical shape that blasts bold 360-degree sound, and it features a water- and stain-resistant acoustic skin and up to 15 hours of battery life.
"UE BOOM gives us a new take on the longstanding tradition of enjoying music, much like INSA gives us a new spin on street art with his 'GIF-ITI,'" said Rory Dooley, general manager of Ultimate Ears. "By coming together as two innovators in art, we're able to make something more visually appealing and beautiful sounding than ever before. It's an exciting collaboration."
Pricing and Availability
The Graffiti Fetish Edition UE BOOM is expected to be available in the U.S. and in select countries in Europe beginning in December 2014 for a suggested retail price of $199.99. For more information, please visit http://www.ultimateears.com or http://www.makemusicsocial.com. To find out more about INSA, please visit http://www.insaland.com/.
About INSA
INSA is an internationally renowned artist based in London, UK. His output includes diverse media from installations to products. His work has exhibited at galleries and museums around the world including the Tate Britain, London. He has worked with major brands including Nike, Kangol, Evisu, Ketel One, Warsteiner & more.
You can see more of INSA's work on the official website and Tumblr or follow on Twitter and Instagram.
About Ultimate Ears
Ultimate Ears, a brand of Logitech, revolutionized the way artists perform music on stage with the creation of its custom fit professional earphones in 1995. Today, more touring artists use Ultimate Ears than any other brand, and UE makes critically acclaimed earphones and speakers that are redefining the way people experience the music they love. Ultimate Ears is the leading supplier of custom fitted earphones for professional musicians and an emerging provider of premium speakers and earphones for the consumer market. For more information, please visit http://www.ultimateears.com.
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SteelSeries launch Stratus XL Wireless gaming controller
SteelSeries, the global gaming peripherals leader, today announced the Stratus XL, the first full-sized console-style gaming controller designed for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch, is available now. With the Stratus and Stratus XL gamers will have a console-style experience and choice of controller that they desire.
"We are excited for the advancements that Apple has brought to mobile gaming and we are doubling down our bet on its future with the introduction of the Stratus XL for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch," said Ehtisham Rabbani, SteelSeries CEO.
For gamers who are looking for that full-sized controller experience on their iPhone or iPad, the Stratus XL operates with hundreds of compatible titles including the new FIFA 15 Ultimate Team as well as Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Limbo, Transworld Endless Skater, Crimsonland HD, Wayward Souls, Minecraft, Oceanhorn and more.
The SteelSeries Stratus XL is available now at the Apple Online Store and at Apple stores for $69.99.
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Alps Electric Launches the World's Smallest Automotive 4G LTE Communication Module Powered by Marvells ARMADA Mobile Solution
Marvell - a worldwide leader in providing complete silicon solutions from mobile communications to storage, Internet of Things (IoT), cloud infrastructure, digital entertainment and in-home content delivery and Kinoma® software enabling the "Smart Life and Smart Lifestyle," today announced that Alps Electric Co., Ltd. has launched the world's smallest automotive 4G LTE high-speed data communication module, the UMDZ series, with dimensions of 28.90 × 29.80 × 4.22 mm.
Powered by Marvell's ARMADA® Mobile PXA1801 multi-mode 4G LTE modem, the Alps Electric UMDZ Series module supports 2G, 3G and 4G LTE communication protocols and worldwide deployment including Europe, North America, China and Japan. The ARMADA Mobile PXA1801 supports Category 4 data rates, achieving throughputs of up to 150 megabits-per-second (Mbps) on the downlink and 50Mbps on the uplink. The modem's flexible and efficient architecture allows fast implementation of reliable, secure and cost-effective data communication devices for automotive, smart meters, machine-to-machine, digital signage and other emerging applications. Combined with Marvell's PXA1801 4G LTE modem, the Alps' UMDZ communication module also features Marvell's PMIC components and 88RF858 RF transceiver.
"We are very pleased to partner with Marvell a leading global semiconductor company to launch the world's smallest automotive 4G LTE module. Marvell's innovative mobile platform is a very mature and complete solution that enabled us to develop such a premium, high performing module," said Hideo Izumi, Senior Manager of Wireless Connectivity Engineering Department M6 of Alps Electric. "We look forward to continuing our collaboration with the Marvell team."
Automotive manufacturers are increasingly seeking technology that links high-speed data communication in vehicles to the outside world. By utilizing Alps Electric's advanced communication module, automotive manufacturers can perform key functions of in-vehicle navigation systems including map updates, destination and traffic information, as well as offer high-speed data for in-vehicle entertainment, cloud and big data services, eCall, and general Internet access.
Key features of the UMDZ Series LTE Module include:
- Dimensions of 28.90 × 29.80 × 4.22 mm make it the world's smallest automotive LTE module
- Built-in multimode support for LTE (4G), as well as 2G and 3G
- Worldwide deployment including Europe, North America, China and Japan
- Module-level certification for different regions
- Supports Release 9 LTE FDD/ TDD with MIMO, R8 WB-CDMA, and GSM/GPRS/EDGE
- Fully integrated platform solution validated via extensive IOT, PTCRB, GCF field testing and carrier certification
- Multi-band LTE, Multi-band WB-CDMA, Quad-band EDGE/GSM with DigRF3G/4 support
- Supports multi-radio platform capability, 3G/WLAN/BT coexistence enables support for IMS, VoIP and other advanced carrier devices
- ARM and DSP cores including a Marvell-designed ARM auxiliary core with packet processing accelerators
- L1 Instruction and Data Cache
- L2 Cache
- ITCM and DTCM
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Marvell Announces DRAM-less NVMe SSD Controller
Marvell, a worldwide leader in providing complete silicon solutions from mobile communications to storage, Internet of Things (IoT), cloud infrastructure, digital entertainment and in-home content delivery and Kinoma software enabling the "Smart Life and Smart Lifestyle," today announced the world's first DRAM-less NVMe (Non-Volatile Memory Express) solid state drive (SSD) controller for mass market mobile computing solutions with industry-leading NANDEdge low-density parity check (LDPC) technology supporting triple-level cell (TLC) and 3D NAND. Marvell's 88NV1140 and 88NV1120 enable small form factor SSD solutions with unparalleled performance for integration into low-z-height tablets, Chrome devices and the upcoming wave of new 2-in-1 hybrid/detachable mobile PC platforms.
The small form factor of Marvell's 88NV1140 and 88NV1120 at just 8x8mm per package allows SSD drives as small as M.2 2230 (30 mm in length). In addition, the new, leading-edge controllers can enable the development of an NVMe BGA or SATA BGA SSD running on embedded SRAM through multiple-chip-package (MCP) integration with NAND. Utilizing 28 nm low-power CMOS process node technology, the 88NV1140 and 88NV1120 controllers are best-in-class in active power while supporting all low power modes (L1.2 for PCIe and DevSlp for SATA devices). Both new solutions share Marvell's third-generation NANDEdge error-correction technology, as with the previously announced 88SS1093 PCIe Gen3x4 NVMe and 88SS1074 SATA SSD controllers.
By developing single code for NANDEdge, SSD firmware developers are able to rapidly leverage one code to the other for the most advanced error-correcting technology for data integrity, endurance and reliability. In addition, Marvell's NANDEdge LDPC technology can support 15/16nm TLC and 3D NAND, resulting in low enabling cost of TLC and 3D NAND. The NVMe design has passed in-house SSD validation and third-party operating system and platform compatibility testing.
Key features of Marvell's new 88NV1140 and 88NV1120 include:
- 88NV1140: AHCI and NVMe support over PCIe Gen3x1
o Low power management (L1.2) design
- 88NV1120: SATA 6Gb/s support
- 88NV1140 and 88NV1120 both share:
o Embedded SRAM with hardware accelerators to optimize IOPS performance
o ONFI3 and Toggle2 NAND support
o NANDEdge error-correction: 15nm TLC and 3D NAND support using LDPC technology to boost endurance and reliability
o BGA SSD and M.2/2.5 slim form factor support with thermal optimization and small package size
o 28 nm low power CMOS process
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Samsung Announces SSD 850 EVO Series Featuring 3-bit V-NAND
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., the world leader in advanced memory technology, today launched the 850 EVO, the latest addition to its branded solid state drive (SSD) line-up. Based on Samsung's 3-bit 3D Vertical NAND (V-NAND) technology, the 850 EVO SSD provides a significant boost in performance and endurance as compared to its predecessor, making it ideal for use in mainstream PCs. With the slogan of "a new caliber of performance & endurance," the new drive will be globally launched in a total of 53 countries in the United States, Europe and Asian markets later this month.
While the Samsung 850 PRO SSD that launched in July uses 2-bit 3D V-NAND for professional use in high-end client PCs and small- and medium-sized enterprise servers, the 850 EVO is built with 3-bit 3D V-NAND technology. This makes it more suitable for general consumer use in devices such as notebook and gaming PCs. With the introduction of the 850 EVO, Samsung launches the next iteration of its consumer SSD product line-up with new V-NAND-based SSDs.
The Samsung 850 EVO series comes in 1TB, 500GB, 250GB and 120GB capacity options, and boasts sequential read speeds of up to 540 megabytes per second (MB/s) and write speeds of up to 520 MB/s. With Samsung's TurboWrite technology, the 1TB version of the 850 EVO offers random write speeds of up to 90K IOPS, which enables fast storage of high volume data and multi-tasking operations. Additionally, the drive features outstanding reliability with 80GB data writes per day for five years in the 500GB and 1TB models.
Next year, Samsung plans to introduce an extended line-up of the 850 EVO in mSATA and M.2 form factors, based on 3-bit V-NAND technology. Samsung also expects that the 850 EVO will drive the expansion of the high-density SSD market, while satisfying the increasing market need for SSDs over 500GB in storage capacity.
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SP/ Silicon Power Wins Great Recognition from Golden Pin Design Award 2014
Taipei, Taiwan - December 12th, 2014 -SP/ Silicon Power, the world's leading provider of memory storage solutions, today is proud to announce that SP has won great recognition from the prestigious Golden Pin Design Award 2014 for the two exceptional products－Armor A60 portable hard drive and Thunder T11 external solid state drive. This year, SP has got great achievement in setting the remarkable award records including iF Product Design Award 2014, reddot Design Award 2014, COMPUTEX d&i awards 2014 and GOOD DESIGN AWARD 2014. With the honor of Golden Pin Design Award, SP once again proved its great success in product development and further strengthened its dominant status in the memory storage solutions industry. For SP, there is no end for perfection, and it is why SP can keep amazing the judges every year and winning over customers all over the world.
Golden Pin Design Award, founded in 1981, is organized by The Industry Development Bureau, MOEA (Ministry of Economic Affairs) and has become the longest-running and reputable design award in Taiwan. With the jury joined by international professionals and strict evaluation system, Golden Pin Design Award is well-known for its integrity and credibility. Intending to encourage more creative product designs in Chinese-speaking market, Golden Pin Design Award has successfully offered a perfect stage for designers and companies to present their brilliant works. This year, Golden Pin Design Award opened its door to non-Taiwanese participants and attracted more than 1,900 entries from Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, Macao, Singapore and Malaysia. Among such great numbers of outstanding designers, SP still won two awards for its distinguished products, Armor A60 portable hard drive and Thunder T11 external solid state drive, to show its preeminent product designs that incorporate three crucial elements－fashion designs, excellent functions and high quality.
Armor A60 Portable Hard Drive
Thunder T11 External Solid State Drive
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ASUSTOR Announces All NAS Devices are Upgrading to ADM 2.3
ASUSTOR Inc., a leading innovator and provider of network storage solutions, has announced that it is releasing the ASUSTOR Data Master (ADM) 2.3 operating system for all of its NAS devices (6, 3 and 2 Series). All ASUSTOR NAS users will be able to upgrade online to ADM 2.3, in order to enjoy a newly redesigned user interface along with brand new applications for both multimedia and business use.
"ADM 2.3 was extremely well received upon its launch with our AS70 series devices," said Steve Huang, Product Manager at ASUSTOR. "We are now very excited to release ADM 2.3 for all of our NAS products. Along with the powerful new business functionality in ADM 2.3, we are also releasing beta versions of LooksGood and AiVideo, extending the multimedia capabilities of ASUSTOR NAS and allowing our users to create customized cloud storage with limitless possibilities."
New Functions in ADM 2.3
- Refreshed and modernized user interface featuring enhanced browsing smoothness and speed
- New sign in page featuring customizable styles for the creation of a unique NAS experience
- Support for TFTP server
- Support for proxy server connections
- ACL advanced permissions management provides added convenience for IT professionals
- Smart sleep mode allows the hard disks to automatically enter into hibernation when idle for a specified period of time allowing for effective power saving
- SMB 2.0 support increases Windows networking performance by 30%-50%
LooksGood is a powerful Web-based multimedia player application that features two major functions: Media Explorer and TV Recordings. Media Explorer provides a folder browsing mode which allows users to view all the photos and videos stored on their NAS and gives them the ability to play them online. The TV Recordings function allows users to use supported USB digital TV dongles to directly receive DVB-T/ DTMB digital TV signals for high definition streaming and recording. Additionally, LooksGood provides a 7 day TV program guide, manual and repeat recording settings along with the ability to start recordings earlier or later for flexible scheduling. LooksGood can also be combined with the AiVideo mobile app that lets users take their digital TV and videos on the go. No matter if it is high definition 1080p streaming videos or favorite TV shows, users will have complete access in the palm of their hands. LooksGood and AiVideo also both feature fast and intuitive user interfaces, with recorded programs neatly organized as thumbnails making them easy to find and access.
- Built-in Media Explorer and TV Recordings functions
- Supports viewing of jpg, jpeg, bmp, png, gif, tif image files and video playback
- View all TV dongle information at a glance
- Provides a 7 day TV listings guide with 1-click recording
- Intuitive scheduled recordings including repeat and manual recording functions
- Search for recorded programs via Recently Added, Recently Watched and Favorite categories
- Supported external subtitle file formats: srt, ass, srt
- AS-302T and AS-304T models support real-time transcoding
- AiVideo is available first for Android devices, giving users access to all videos on their NAS in the palm of their hand.
Features a concise interface and complete functionality that provides enterprise users with a comprehensive and cost-effective mail server.
- Each ADM Account can Become an Independent Email Account
- Provides IMAP and POP3 Mail Protocols
- Email activity monitor
- Backup mechanism protects critical emails
- Built-in antivirus mechanism
- Spam filter
- Sender authentication protects against inappropriate usage
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Finalwire Introduces AIDA64 v5.00 benchmarking software
FinalWire Ltd. today announced the immediate availability of AIDA64 Extreme 5.00 software, a streamlined diagnostic and benchmarking tool for home users; the immediate availability of AIDA64 Engineer 5.00 software, a professional diagnostic and benchmarking solution for corporate IT technicians and engineers; the immediate availability of AIDA64 Business 5.00 software, an essential network management solution for small and medium scale enterprises; and the immediate availability of AIDA64 Network Audit 5.00 software, a dedicated network audit toolset to collect and manage corporate network inventories.
DOWNLOAD: AIDA64 Extreme v5.00 Installer | ZIP Package
New features & improvements
- RemoteSensor smartphone and tablet LCD integration
- Logitech Arx Control smartphone and tablet LCD integration
- System certificates information
- Support for Gravitech, LCD Smartie Hardware, Leo Bodnar LCD devices
- Microsoft Windows 10 Technical Preview Build 9888 support
- Improved support for Intel "Skylake" CPU
- Preliminary support for Intel "Braswell" SoC
- Aquaero and Aquaduct sensor devices support
- Improved support for Crucial SSDs
- Microsoft Windows 10 Technical Preview and Windows Server 2015 Technical Preview support
- Microsoft Windows 8.1 Update 1 and Windows Server 2012 R2 Update 1 support
- OpenCL GPGPU Benchmark Suite
- AMD Mantle graphics accelerator diagnostics
- Multi-threaded memory stress test with SSE, SSE2, AVX, AVX2, FMA, BMI and BMI2 acceleration
- Optimized 64-bit benchmarks for AMD "Kaveri", "Bald Eagle", "Mullins", "Beema" APUs
- Optimized 64-bit benchmarks for Intel Atom C2000 "Avoton" and "Rangeley" SoC
- Optimized 64-bit benchmarks for Intel "Bay Trail" desktop, mobile and tablet SoC
- Full support for the upcoming Intel "Haswell Refresh" platform with Intel "Wildcat Point" PCH
- Support for 47 new LCD and VFD devices
- Improved support for Intel "Broadwell" CPU
- Preliminary support for AMD "Carrizo" and "Toronto" APUs
- Preliminary support for Intel Quark X1000 "Clanton" SoC
- Preliminary support for Intel "Skylake", "Cherry Trail", "Denverton" CPUs
- Improved support for Intel "Haswell-E" CPU and DDR4 memory modules
- Support for DDR4 XMP 2.0 memory profiles
- Intel H97 and Z97 chipset based motherboards support
- LGA2011-v3 motherboards support
- Socket AM1 motherboards support
- SMTP SSL support
- Improved handling of XSL files
- Revamped Direct3D Compute Shader devices enumeration
- CUDA 6.5, OpenGL 4.5, OpenGL ES 3.1 support
- Improved support for OpenCL 2.0
- Support for VirtualBox v4.3 and VMware Workstation v10
- AData SP610, AData SP910, A-Data SP920, Corsair Force LX, Corsair Neutron, Corsair Neutron GTX, Crucial M550, Intel 730, OCZ Arc 100, OCZ Vector 150, OCZ Vertex 460, Plextor M6M, Plextor M6S, Samsung 845DC Evo, Samsung 850 Pro, Samsung XP941, SanDisk Extreme Pro, SanDisk X300s, Seagate 600 SSD support
- GPU details for AMD Radeon R5, R7, R9 Series
- GPU details for nVIDIA GeForce 700, 800, 900 Series
All AIDA64 v5.00 editions are globally available today.
Targeting business customers, AIDA64 Business is a comprehensive IT asset management solution, which offers hardware diagnostic, network audit, change management and remote capabilities to corporate customers. The product is available for $199.90 for up to 10 clients with 1-year maintenance; $1499 for 100 clients with 1-year maintenance and $2999 for 200 clients or more.
AIDA64 Network Audit is dedicated network inventory solution for businesses. It is available for $99.95 for up to 10 clients with 1-year maintenance; $749 for 100 clients with 1-year maintenance and $1499 for 200 clients or more.
A professional solutions for corporate IT technicians, AIDA64 Engineer is a system information, hardware diagnostic and benchmarking utility, which provides exhaustive details about both the hardware components and the installed software. It is available for $199.90 for 1 engineer with 1-year maintenance.
Based on the award-winning AIDA technology, AIDA64 Extreme is an industry-leading system information, diagnostic and benchmarking solution for PC enthusiasts, which can be purchased for $39.95 with 1-year maintenance.
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ADATA Clicks Off a Stylish New UC340 USB 3.0 Flash Drive
ADATA Technology, a leading manufacturer of high-performance DRAM memory modules and NAND Flash applications, launches a new UC340 USB flash drive. The Choice UC340 flash drive features trim geometric lines and a clean glossy finish. Carry it on a neck strap, purse, or key chain. With SuperSpeed USB 3.0 connectivity, you can transfer anywhere between 16GB to 256GB of audio, video and data files in just a few moments. Just push-to-click the colored head to extend the USB connector. Push again to retract it. Simple, stylish, practical. Click into your style with ADATA's UC340 flash drive.
Quick & Practical
The UC340 comes in sizes ranging from 16GB to 256GB, and features the USB 3.0 high-performance SuperSpeed transmission standard. With read and write speeds up to 200/120 MB/s, enjoy quick transfer speeds that reduce the time you need to move your video, audio and document files. With ADATA's Choice UC340 flash drive, you can experience an elegant balance of style and utmost practicality. Additionally, purchasers of USB flash drives are entitled to download ADATA's free "UFDtoGO" and "OStoGO" software as well as enjoy a lifetime warranty backing up great mobility and convenience.
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NVIDIA to Launch GeForce GTX 960 in January
NVIDIA is reportedly preparing to launch its mid-range GeForce GTX 960 video card some time in January, 2015; according to a SweClockers report. The card could be launched in the sidelines of the 2015 International CES. The card will be based on the company's new GM206 silicon, and it won't be a cut-down GM204. Its only specifications doing rounds are the memory bus width of 128-bit, and standard memory amount of 2 GB. Out of the box, the card could offer performance comparable to a GeForce GTX 770, with much lower power draw, and a $200-ish price.
Source: Techpowerup
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EK Introduces Water Blocks for GIGABYTE X99 Series Motherboards
EK Water Blocks, Ljubljana based premium liquid cooling gear manufacturer, is proud to introduce a new, universal hybrid water cooling kit for GIGABYTE X99 series motherboards, consisting of a MOSFET water block and a passive PCH heat sink.
The water block directly cools power regulation (VRM / MOSFETs) module while the passive aluminum heat sink cools Intel X99 southbridge (PCH) chip. Please note this water block cools exactly as much heat generating components as GIGABYTE factory cooling solution. The VRM cooler is a high flow water block that can be easily used with systems using weaker water pumps.
In order to simplify the search for suitable and compatible water block EK is adding newly released video cards and motherboards from various manufacturers to EK Cooling Configurator database and compatible hardware are being added to the list on daily basis. This hybrid water block kit is made in Slovenia, Europe and is readily available for purchase through EK Webshop and Partner Reseller Network.
EK-FB KIT GA X99 LE - 64,95€
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AMD Announces Move to Nasdaq
AMD recently announced that it is transferring its stock exchange listing to The Nasdaq Stock Market from The New York Stock Exchange, effective after market close on December 31, 2014. AMD shares are expected to begin trading as a Nasdaq-listed security on January 2, 2015 and will continue to trade under the symbol AMD. This transfer is expected to be seamless for AMD investors and shareholders.
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Razer Debuts Seiren Digital Microphone with Studio-Grade Recording Quality
Razer, a world leader in connected devices and software for gamers, today announced the Razer Seirēn (stylized as "Seirēn" and pronounced "Sigh-ren"), a plug-and-play digital microphone designed for studio-grade recording and streaming.
The Razer Seirēn features a versatile multi-pattern USB digital connection capable of four different recording pattern configurations with three custom-tuned 14 mm condenser capsules. This makes the Razer Seirēn digital microphone ideal for the needs of professional musicians, streamers and YouTubers who demand superior clarity. With plug-and-play simplicity this microphone is simple to use at the studio or at home.
"Platforms like YouTube and Twitch are a big part of how people experience their media today, and they shape how we interact with each other," says Min-Liang Tan, Razer co-founder and CEO. "Tuned for a professional-style setup and able to be assembled and transported quickly and easily, the Razer Seirēn is a microphone designed specifically for streamers and YouTubers."
Razer is also initiating a "Razer Sponsored Streamer Program" to help aspiring content creators and streamers take their recordings to a professional level. Content creators will be divided up into 3 experience levels and are entitled to different levels of sponsorships ranging from a sponsored Razer Seirēn to a full Razer peripheral suite. Razer is committed to help budding streamers achieve higher level recordings and create immersive content.
For more information on the Razer Sponsored Streamer Program, visit this page.
The Razer Seirēn digital microphone is the company's latest audio product designed to go beyond pure gaming. Earlier this year, Razer launched the Leviathan, a gaming and music soundbar and the Adaro audio line, a series of four headphones tuned for music and designed for comfort and durability. The Adaro collection continues to be popular among EDM artists, musicians and avid music listeners ever since its acclaimed launch at the 2014 Consumer Electronics Show.
Beyond its music partners, Razer works with some of the top professional gaming YouTubers and streamers. Many of which were inspirations in the creation of the Razer Seirēn and will play roles in its future development.
Professional recording accessories such as a shock mount and pop filter are also available to pair with the Razer Seirēn digital microphone for the complete recording setup. These accessories along with the Razer Seirēn professional bundle will be available exclusively on RazerStore.
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Spire Announces Curvature Ergonomic Keyboard
Did you know that one in six computer users are suffering from some form of RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury) or Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? Mostly related to intensive use of a traditional keyboard and mouse. As part of our new ergonomic computing product line, Spire is rolling out products which will make your long hours of computing more comfortable and better for your well-being. The latest addition to our ergonomic line is the Curvature.
Main Features:
- Curved and arched, ergonomic design
- Large palm rest and support
- Natural wrist and arm positioning
- Suitable for long computing hours
- Multimedia keyboard hot keys
- High-quality membrane key switch
- SP-K4003-USB
- Codename: CURVATURE
- EAN/UPC: 6943051264035
$51.95 (Dollar, ex VAT)
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Mad Catz Ships the C.T.R.L.i and Micro C.T.R.L.i Mobile Gamepads
Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. announced today the shipping of the Mad Catz C.T.R.L.i and Micro C.T.R.L.i Mobile Gamepads, a new range of controllers designed for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. Previewed earlier in the year at Mobile World Congress, the C.T.R.L.i and Micro C.T.R.L.i are the first controllers in the Company's GameSmart mobile product range designed for iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5, iPad Air 2, iPad mini 3, iPad Air, iPad mini 2 and iPod touch (5th Generation) running iOS 8 and iOS 7.
"Thanks to technology like Metal, gaming on iPhone, iPad and iPod touch is approaching the quality traditionally seen on home consoles. The C.T.R.L.i products have been designed to capitalize on these rich gaming experiences and, whether playing on the move or when connected to the big screen, the C.T.R.L.i delivers uncompromised control," said Darren Richardson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mad Catz. "We believe our strong heritage in specialty controllers has allowed us to bring an extremely distinctive controller for iOS devices to market and we are confident that the competitive price combined with the high specification will prove enticing to gamers of all ages."
Power efficient wireless Bluetooth technology provides up to 30 hours of gameplay via 2 x AAA batteries, and gamers can choose to mount their device to their C.T.R.L.i via the travel clip (included), or remove and play untethered should they wish. Gamers can choose to install the Mad Catz C.T.R.L.i app to their iPhone, iPad or iPod touch running iOS 8 or iOS 7, allowing users to update firmware and providing input diagnostics for battery level and button and axis input. In addition, the app also displays an updated list of gamepad compatible iOS games.
The Mad Catz C.T.R.L.i app is available from the App Store.
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Fractal Design Announces Three New Kelvin Series Liquid CPU Coolers
Earlier this year, Fractal Design entered the liquid cooling market with the revel of the Kelvin Series. After final design and engineering tweaks, we are ready to present to you the precise, powerful and quality Kelvin T12, S24 and S36. The Kelvin water cooling is an open loop DIY system, a perfect option for those users looking for powerful water cooling with the benefits of a DIY system provides and the conveniences AIO systems deliver. Kelvin allows you to expand and improve the cooling for your system like the professionals.
For more information, visit the product pages of Kelvin T12, Kelvin S24, and Kelvin S36. The three are priced at US $99.99, $119.99, and $139.99, respectively, and will start selling in December, 2014.
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Shuttle Releases Energy Efficient 4K HTPC, DS81L
Shuttle Inc., leading maker of small form factor technology, today announces its low power consumption slim-PC for automotive and industrial robotics application. The DS81L features the same processing capability as DS81, including support for Intel's 4th generation Core i3/i5/i7 series, but with lower power consumption. It runs on a mere 12 Volts and consumes a maximum of 84Watts while it's older brother, DS81 runs on 19 Volts and consumes a max 90Watts. The 12V power supply and decreased energy consumption is essential for automotive and other commercial applications which require long-term operation.
Compact, the DS81L is easily integrated into a variety of commercial applications. Its slim metal chassis is VESA mountable, highly connectable, and operational in 0-50°C ambient temperatures, making the DS81L ideal for automotive, robotics, digital signage, kiosk, and vending machine applications. The device is 24/7 certified. It runs quiet and cool throughout extended use due to Shuttle's exclusive thermal technology.
For more information, visit the product page.
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