IT News Head Lines (TweakTown) 3/1/2015

Report: 5 billion Google Android apps are vulnerable to cyberattack
More than five billion downloaded Google Android apps could be targeted by hackers, according to cybersecurity experts. Most forms of malware (96 percent) are focused on compromising Android, according to data from the FireEye cybersecurity firm.

Android is open source and allows more developers to contribute to the OS, but that also gives hackers a great opportunity to create sophisticated malware. Malware targeting Android drastically increased from 240,000 samples in 2013 up to 390,000 unique samples last year - and the problem seems to be accelerating.

"You can get all the code and then you can insert additional instructions and make it look and feel like the original app and no way for a consumer to tell the difference when they download it," said Jason Steer, director of technology strategy at FireEye, in a statement given to CNBC.

Finding methods to steal personal data and financial information is popular among cybercriminals, researchers noted.


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Mobile payment market is up for grabs among companies pushing services
The development and adoption stage of mobile payments is still relatively new, and it's anyone's game for companies putting effort into the market, according to a new Harris Poll.

At least four in five smartphone owners in the US are familiar with some type of mobile payment offering - and one in three have embraced a solution. Apple Pay has driven interest, nurturing a booming ecosystem being utilized by banks, retailers, and a growing number of iPhone owners.

"Consumers are clearly ready for mobile payments," said Kathryn Koegel, chief of insights and communications at Steampunkt Collaborative, in a statement published by USA Today. "People are using their phones to conduct research, get discounts and deals, compare prices, find elusive items and navigate around stores. We are only a short step away from completing that circle by finishing the actual transaction with a mobile wallet."


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Dropping phablet prices putting pressure on smaller-sized smartphones
Phablet sales are outperforming sales of smaller smartphones, as phablets with a screen size of 5.5 inches captured 12.8 percent of mobile electronics sales during Q4 2014, according to GfK. Phablet sales are booming in Europe, the Middle East and in Asia, with modest sales growth in Latin America and Africa.

Consumers are embracing phablets so they are able to more comfortably watch online videos, movies, and play mobile games. In the emerging market, dropping phablet prices have helped consumers change their mobile preference, so they won't need to have a smartphone and tablet.

"This means emerging markets will have a crucial role to play in their rise, and we expect to see sales increase in Africa and Latin American in 2015 and beyond," said Arndt Polifke, global director of telecoms at GFK, in a statement published by ZDNet.


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Secret Service plans to test drone flights in Washington, D.C
Earlier in the week, the US Secret Service said it will conduct drone exercises near the White House and throughout the Washington, D.C. area. The tests are expected over the next few weeks, but times, dates and locations for the exercises weren't made available.

Ironically, it's a decision that comes weeks after a drunk federal employee crashed his drone on White House property. Although it was ultimately a harmless incident, it revealed a potential threat with more drones taking to the skies.

The Secret Service didn't offer very many details and only offered this statement:

"The United States Secret Service, in conjunction with other inter-agency partners, will conduct a series of exercises involving unmanned aircraft systems, in the coming days and weeks.

Because these exercises will be conducted within the normally flight restricted areas in the Washington D.C. area, they have been carefully planned and will be tightly controlled. In preparation for these exercises the Secret Service has coordinated with all appropriate federal, state and local agencies."


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Tim Cook: Apple Watch could replace car keys for newer vehicles
Apple CEO Tim Cook hopes to see the Apple Watch become integrated into the daily lifestyles of iPhone owners, including even replacing car keys and large fobs. Cook didn't offer additional details while speaking with The Telegraph in a recent interview.

Apple Pay, the leading mobile payments service, will also be utilized to support the Apple Watch - and Cook promised that Apple won't track consumer payments, product purchases, or where they are shopping.

The wearables market was already growing, but the expected April launch of the Apple Watch will help accelerate interest. Cook said the Apple Watch's battery life will last an entire day, and will charge faster than an iPhone - still a shorter time than other smartwatches, though Apple believes consumers will recharge in a similar fashion as daily smartphone recharging.


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Cyberattacks top threat to United States, intelligence agencies say
Cyberattacks from foreign states and rogue hacker groups have become the top threat to the United States, according to US intelligence experts. Director of National Intelligence, James Clapper, is especially concerned of potential attacks from Russia, China, Iran and North Korea - saying low-to-moderate level cyberattacks pose a long-term threat against critical infrastructure.

In addition to cyberespionage from foreign governments, there is rising concern of hacker groups able to infiltrate government agencies and companies - sometimes with support from foreign governments - with the goal of interrupting business operations, stealing money, and compromising employee and customer personal data.

Unfortunately, the US government has focused more on its cyber surveillance programs while largely neglecting cybersecurity. Even though it's effective to have offensive weapons, the United States has a lot more to lose than other countries if a major data breach occurs - and there is growing focus on being able to identify and defend against attacks.


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Lenovo promises to be more transparent about pre-installed software
Lenovo was busted preloading the Superfish adware software on consumer notebooks, and its customers were clearly not happy. Following its Superfish headache, Lenovo wants to become "the leader in providing cleaner, safer PCs" to its customers.

The company continues trying to repair its public relations nightmare, recently promising a reduction in preloaded applications. In the future, pre-loaded software will include Microsoft Windows, security software, Lenovo applications and programs that must be installed so built-in hardware can function - but Lenovo will list what is installed.

Cybersecurity experts and US government officials said customers should remove Superfish because it leaves users vulnerable to SSL spoofing techniques that can compromise security. Lenovo will also offer a free six-month subscription for the McAfee LiveSafe service, with additional information expected in the next week.

The Superfish adware wasn't installed on ThinkPads, desktops, tablets, smartphones or enterprise server and storage products, the company confirmed.


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Report: AR and VR devices will surge, 3M units in 2015 to 55M in 2020
Augmented and virtual reality devices will drastically increase in popularity, rising from 3 million units in 2015 up to 55 million in 2020, according to ABI Research. Head-mounted displays (HMDs) will lead the way, but mobile-reliant devices will see early success, with tethered solutions needing a bit more time to mature.

"There is a lot of excitement and hype focused on getting consumers to try out virtual reality, including the LG G3 shipping with an HMD in some markets, and Mattel's View-Master AR toy," said Michael Inouye, senior analyst at ABI Research. "These early experiences will be like any new toy-novel for a while and then fall off in use, with new content potentially driving periodic re-engagement."

It's unknown if gaming and movies will help drive VR, even though hardware developments are being made. Meanwhile with AR, which is increasingly popular in the enterprise, consumers find a lack of apps difficult to help embrace the technology - and ABI Research thinks it may be a matter of time:

"For true breakthrough products to be embraced, technology, usability, and content must meet at the critical time. For AR & VR, the inflection isn't likely to occur until 2016."


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Google AI expert believes humans safe from AI dangers for a long time
Demis Hassabis is an artificial intelligence expert and founder of the now Google-owned DeepMind Technologies - so he has a unique insight into AI research.

Hassabis and his team have developed a custom algorithm giving AI the ability to learn in a similar fashion to humans - a groundbreaking notion that will give some people greater fear of AI one day taking over. Even so, Hassabis believes it will be quite some time before humans have to worry about their own wellbeing due to AI:

"We're many, many decades away from anything, any kind of technology that we need to worry about," said Hassabis, speaking during a recent news conference. "But it's good to start the conversation now and be aware of as with any new powerful technology it can be used for good or bad."

AI research and development is accelerating, so the idea that AI could pose a threat to humans will remain a discussed topic.


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Social media being used to help identify Islamic extremism
US investigators are monitoring a resident in Michigan suspected of using social media to recruit - and inspire - Islamic extremism. Ahmad Musa Jibril, encouraging followers to "spread Islam by the sword," is a Palestinian-American living in Dearborn, Michigan. He is on probation after being released in 2012 for an insurance fraud conviction.

A federal judge restricted Jibril's Internet usage in 2014, but his following on social media has continued to grow. Investigators are searching through his Twitter followers and those who have "liked" his Facebook page, looking for digital fingerprints into possible extremist activity.

"There is nothing to suggest he has changed his views," said Peter Neumann, a British researcher, in a statement published by CBS News. "He has toned them down because he realizes that if he doesn't tone them down they will come after him."

The use of social media has been an effective recruiting tool for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), luring gullible teenage girls - and potential foot soldiers - to abandon their homes and head to Iraq or Syria. ISIS fighters post journal entries, images and video, propaganda, and other information to personal Twitter accounts, offering real-time insight into their chaos.


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Barnes & Noble is keeping the NOOK Media digital business, for now
Bookstore chain Barnes & Noble won't separate its retail business from its NOOK Digital Business, though said the company's college business will be spun off. It was previously believed the NOOK and college book store businesses would become a single entity independent of the retail operation.

"Retail and the NOOK Digital Business will be able to leverage a more integrated technology infrastructure for improved efficiency and to better serve digital customers," said Michael Huseby, CEO of Barnes & Noble. B&N invested more resources into its NOOK reader and e-book library, but has fought for profitability.

B&N has faced increased pressure from online businesses, and is looking for ways to improve retail and online sales. The company still has 649 retail stores, but needs new methods to keep up with Amazon, while also adapting as more consumers read content on mobile devices.


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NPD: Mobile gaming grew 20 percent in 2014, creating opportunities
Mobile gaming is big business for companies in the United States, with the market growing more than 20 percent in 2014 alone, according to The NPD Group. The expanding popularity of mobile gaming is creating a lucrative opportunity for game downloads, apps, and free-to-play services - with smartphones, tablets, and other mobile electronics becoming more prevalent.

"Mobile is the third largest gaming category in the U.S., and grew in excess of 20 percent over the past year," said David McQuillan, president of global games at The NPD Group. "We believe that information that allows gaming companies to fully capitalize on this explosive growth is paramount..."

The news comes as The NPD Group announced its expanding the Checkout Tracking SM service so it is able to monitor in-app and full-game mobile purchases, providing better insight into consumer buying behavior.


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Intel to reclassify Atom processors with Atom x3, Atom x5 and Atom x7
Intel will soon be launching its new Atom processors, the "Braswell" based chips later this year, but before that happens we're going to see a new classification of its current mobile chips. This will help consumers have a better understanding of the power inside of the Atom processor.

Later this year Intel will be offering three different types of Atom processors, naming them like their Core processors with Atom x3, Atom x5 and Atom x7. Currently, Intel offers the Core i3, Core i5 and Core i7 processors. The Atom x7 for example, will feature more cores, better graphics engines and higher clock speeds than its Atom x3 processor.

At the bottom end of the scale we'll soon have the Atom range of processors, in the middle we'll have the Core M processors for "PC-level performance in tablet-thin designs" and the usual Core range of processors for everything else.


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LG's unveils Watch Urbane LTE, lets you make calls from your wrist
Ahead of Mobile World Congress, LG has just unveiled the LTE-capable version of its Watch Urbane. Watch Urbane LTE will be better detailed during MWC 2015 by LG next week.

The new LTE-capable smartwatch is just a great-looking wrist-mounted cell phone, with the ability to make voice calls without the need of a smartphone. Not only that, but the Watch Urbane LTE is also capable of translating foreign speech, take voice calls, share your GPS location, track your fitness, and monitor your heart rate and atmospheric pressure. Also, just in case, there's an SOS button that lets you place an emergency call to your contacts.

LG has also baked in NFC capabilities that allows for NFC-based payments to be made, something that is exclusive to the Watch Urbane LTE right now. The new LG Watch Urbane LTE features a 700mAh internal battery, up from the 410mAh in the non-LTE versions. As for the OS, it runs LG's proprietary wearable platform, and not Android Wear like competing smartwatches.


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Corporate leaders are aware of IoT, but aren't really prepared for it
More than 40 percent of organizations anticipate the Internet of Things (IoT) will lead to significant changes in the next three years, but that doesn't mean senior business leaders are prepared. Less than 25 percent of companies have chosen an executive to lead IoT, according to Gartner - a troubling sign if businesses are going to begin relying on IoT services.

There seem to be enough problems related to cybersecurity in the enterprise, and IoT may only further complicate things. Security protocols are difficult enough to follow, but with connected technologies growing, companies must be proactive.

For companies interested in adopting IoT rapidly, a high-level business executive leader must be chosen to drive IoT initiatives. In addition, the entire organization must be educated regarding IoT adoption - including potential opportunities and pitfalls. Analysts also recommend planning sooner rather than later, especially if IoT solutions will be utilized quickly.


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HIS Multi-View x2 HDOCK1 USB 3.0 Dual Display Docking Station Review

Introduction

Docking stations are extremely handy tools when you're looking to use a notebook as your main system, however, they're not always needed. This means HIS had a problem to solve - how do you entice consumers to purchase your product that isn't necessary?

The answer, it seems, is by jam-packing it with a plethora of different ports and features. In this review, I'll go over the form and functionality of the HIS Multi-View x2 USB dual display docking station, alongside explaining some practical-use applications that it you may want to consider.

Without any further hesitation, let's check it out!

Specifications

As similarly seen with its smaller-sibling, the HIS Multi-View portable USB docking station, this product connects to your preferred system by the means of a single USB 3.0 cable, alongside being provided with a wall adaptor in order to help power the beast.

As for display options, you're met with HDMI and DVI offerings, which enable you to push a 2048x1152 resolution image to a maximum of six monitors, as according to the packaging (with the help of adaptors). However, general use will see you utilize a maximum of three - the laptop itself, a DVI connected panel and a HDMI connected screen.

What HIS has done to help set this product apart from others is include a large range of USB port options. This means there are four USB 2.0 ports located on the rear, alongside two USB 3.0 ports on the front of the device. One of these USB 3.0 ports is also claimed to contain a fast charge feature, meaning that any external device can take full use of a 1.5A output - three times faster than a your general PC USB port, rated at 0.5A.

This docking station also includes a sound and microphone jack, alongside a single gigabit Ethernet connection port.

The box claims that this product can be connected to your computer through either USB 3.0 or 2.0, but I would assume you will experience some quality-of-use issues when connecting it through a USB 2.0 port, due to the data transfer speeds being much slower.

Working with any Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 system - Apple Mac users are not left out, with further support included for Mac OS 10.9. The whole unit comes in at 1.7 pounds with all accessories included and measures a small 18.2 x 7.2 x 3.2cm.

Pricing & Availability

We found the HDOCK1 listed on Amazon for $108.12 at the time of writing. This makes it a pretty good deal for what you get from the device.

What's in the box?

Complete with the unit itself, the power pack, a driver and manual mini-disk, a quick-start guide and a USB 3.0 cable, all of the products are packed in nicely - meaning there should be no concern when ordering this unit online.

The power adaptor comes with various quick-switched prongs (suitable for a variety of countries), and the USB 3.0 cable is of adequate length, in order for you to place the unit where is most optimal.

Make sure you read the quick-start paper guide before installing your product otherwise problems may occur later - taking special note of the part that says "DO NOT connect the docking to a computer before installing the provided driver."

PRICING: You can find the HIS Multi-View x2 USB Docking Station (HDOCK1) 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 HIS Multi-View x2 USB Docking Station (HDOCK1) retails for $108.12 at Amazon.
... Read the rest in your browser!



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Fractal Design Announces Venturi Series Fans
The Venturi Series of fans delivers high quality design and construction bringing forth a leading performance fan series with built-in rubber vibration dampening corners coupled with top quality electronics and materials. Venturi fans are ideal for high pressure or high airflow usage scenarios featuring detailed engineered elements that contribute to a low-noise yet a maximum performing solid fan.

The Venturi High Flow Series fans, HF-12 and HF-14, are optimized for low-restriction airflow environments, making them an excellent choice for computer case fans, or other low-restriction usage scenarios. Designed with a variety of performance-increasing and noise-reducing features, these fans can move an amazing amount of air compared to other fans at the same, minimal noise level.

The HF-14 comes with two sets of solid vibration-dampening rubber corners: one for standard 140mm fan hole spacing (125mm) and one compatible with the standard 120mm hole spacing (105 mm). The Venturi High Flow Series fans are ideal for those looking for a perfect balance between high performance and low noise built from sturdy, high quality materials.

Venturi High Flow Key Features

• Featuring true FDB-bearings, providing silent operation coupled with a long lifespan
• Equipped with a counter-balancing magnet in the hub that reduces the axial tension on the bearing, further protecting the longevity of the bearing
• Dense, sturdy construction, made from high-grade glass fiber reinforced thermoplastic polymer with fan geometry that is optimized for a good balance between static pressure and maximum airflow, resulting in good performance in all usage scenarios
• Aerodynamically shaped thin stator struts (including wire strut), mimicking the design commonly found on airplane wings, delivering correct angles allowing for air to easily pass through reducing noise and unwanted turbulence.
• Stator struts are angled perpendicular to the blades, helping to reduce noise commonly emitted when the blades pass the struts. In effect, minimal noise that may be emitted will be constant and therefore almost inaudible to the ear.
• Strategically placed notches near the fan hub on the trailing edge of the blades, further reducing and diffusing humming noise produced when the blades pass the stator struts
• Includes a "trip wire" on the rear side of the blades, near the leading edge. The trip wire technology, also commonly found in airplane wing designs, introduces a micro-turbulent layer that helps to combat the elements that negatively affect performance. The presence of the trip wire overall provides a more efficient and quiet fan environment.
• Delivers high precision due to high grade materials used, permitting the distance between the blades and frame to be as small as 1.2mm, contributing to a higher performance fan
• Featuring a powerful motor to maintain a reliable speed
• Comes with a low-speed adapter, for reducing the speed without the use of a fan controller
• Includes vibration-dampening corners, from solid high-quality synthetic rubber on the fans
• 140mm fans come with an additional set of vibration-dampening corners are included that lends compatibility with 120mm fan mounts (105mm screw spacing). This enables the use of 140mm fans on many CPU coolers.
• Screws pass through the rubber only, not through plastic, therefore eliminating the chance of noise derived from rattling when in use
• Available in 120mm and 140mm fan sizes

For more information, visit this page.

Venturi High Pressure PWM Fans

The Venturi High Pressure Series PWM fans, HP-12 and HP-14, are optimized for high-restriction airflow scenarios, making them an excellent choice for usage on large heat sinks, on radiators, or in other highly restrictive scenarios.

Designed with a variety of performance-increasing and noise-reducing features, these fans can move an amazing amount of air through restricted environments compared to other fans at the same, minimal noise level.

The HP-14 comes with two sets of solid vibration-dampening rubber corners: one for standard 140mm fan hole spacing (125mm) and one compatible with the standard 120mm hole spacing (105mm). The Venturi High Pressure Series PWM fans are ideal for those looking for a perfect balance between high performance and low noise built from sturdy, high quality materials.

Venturi High Pressure PWM Key Features

• Featuring true FDB-bearings, providing silent operation coupled with a long lifespan
• Equipped with a counter-pull magnet, that reduces the axial tension on the bearing
• Optimized fan geometry as a high pressure fan, delivering high performance results in high restriction usage scenarios, such as in use with large heat sinks or water cooling radiators.
• Dense, sturdy construction, made from high-grade glass fiber reinforced thermoplastic polymer
• Featuring PWM control with a very wide speed range, starting at only 400RPM (400 +/- 100 RPM), ideal for CPU heat sinks or radiators, where the motherboard can control the fan speed based on the CPU temperature.
• Aerodynamically shaped thin stator struts (including wire strut), mimicking the design commonly found on airplane wings, delivering correct angles allowing for air to easily pass through reducing noise and unwanted turbulence.
• Stator struts are angled perpendicular to the blades, helping to reduce noise commonly emitted when the blades pass the struts. In effect, minimal noise that may be emitted will be constant and therefore almost inaudible to the ear.
• Strategically placed notches near the fan hub on the trailing edge of the blades, further reducing and diffusing humming noise produced when the blades pass the stator struts
• Includes a "trip wire" on the rear side of the blades, near the leading edge. The trip wire technology, also commonly found in airplane wing designs, introduces a micro-turbulent layer that helps to combat the elements that negatively affect performance. The presence of the trip wire overall provides a more efficient and quiet fan environment.
• Delivers high precision due to high grade materials used, permitting the distance between the blades and frame to be as small as 1.2mm, contributing to a higher performance fan
• Featuring a powerful motor to maintain a reliable speed
• Comes with a 1->2 PWM signal splitter wire, for connecting additional fans to a single PWM header on your motherboard or PWM fan controller
• Including vibration-dampening corners, from solid high-quality synthetic rubber on the fans
• 140mm fans come with an additional set of vibration-dampening corners are included that lends compatibility with 120mm fan mounts (105mm screw spacing). This enables the use of 140mm fans on many CPU coolers.
• Screws pass through the rubber only, not through plastic, therefore eliminating the chance of noise derived from rattling when in use
• Available in 120mm and 140mm fan sizes

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BitFenix Announces AEGIS Micro-ATX Chassis
Announcing the AEGIS micro-ATX chassis from BitFenix. AEGIS features a beautiful rounded shield-inspired front with the same ICON logo display featured on Pandora, and a sporty fresh design all around. It comes in black, white and 3 vibrant colors (red, blue, yellow) and supports an impressive amount of fans and radiators: up to 8 120mm fans or 5 140mm fans, dual 280 radiators and even a dual 360 build is possible with slim rads.

The 3 tool-free storage cages are modular and can be moved around or taken out all together, in which case there is still a hidden 2.5" slot behind the PSU and a "show off" 2.5" slot next to the mainboard tray. Besides some nice dust filters on the top, front and bottom, it comes with a built in fan controller, a stylish PSU cover, a rubber padded pump bracket and last but not least a neat Reservoir bracket, that let users attach a reservoir or pump/res combo to a 240 or 360 radiator.

Bitfenix ICON Logo Display

AEGIS features an even larger 2.8" ICON color Display than Pandora Simple Plug n Play USB cable and Drag and Drop app to customize the Case Logo Open Source - ready for custom apps and scripts.

MATX Performance

Up to 8 120mm Fans or 5 140mm fans - there is no air standing still in this case! And thanks to Magnetic and clip-on dust filters all around, dust bunnies are banned for life.

Watercooling Ready

AEGIS supports a 360+240 loop or a dual 280 radiator combo. Pumps and reservoirs can be installed on the case bottom, or our bundled brackets which enable them to hang from the case top or front, or be secured directly to a 240 or 360 radiator.

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VisionTek Introduces DriveXpander 2.5-inch Drive Expansion Slot Adapter
VisionTek Products LLC, (VisionTek) http://www.visiontek.com, a leading manufacturer of award-winning, high-performance upgrades and accessories for PCs and Macs, today announced the new VisionTek DriveXpander 2.5" drive expansion slot adapter. Designed to fit any full-sized PCI or PCIe expansion slot, the DriveXpander enables data transfer speeds up to 600MB/s from bare drives with nearly any Windows based PC desktop or OS X based 2006-2012 Mac Pro.

The DriveXpander increases the functionality of a PC or Mac Pro by:

• adding additional storage capacity up to 2TB when internal bays are filled or are not accessible.
• offering quick and easy bare drive status verification.
• providing individual drive access from a storage array with minimal or no system down time.
• enabling removable storage to be added to the rear of a system - especially handy for HTPCs - where it is less noticeable or accessible to unauthorized users.

Add A New Drive in Three Easy Steps

The DriveXpander eliminates the need for an external enclosure or power adapter for truly tool-free and screw-less drive use. After an easy, two minute installation, users can read and write a 2.5" SATA I/II/III hard drive or solid state drive sized 7mm to 9.5mm by simply:

• opening the drive access lever on the DriveXpander,
• gently inserting a drive until resistance is felt,
• and closing the DriveXpander's drive access lever to fully insert and connect drive.

Custom Adapter Assures Perfect Fit with Any Expansion Slot

Unlike other hot-swap drive adapter designs that only work with PCI slots, the DriveXpander includes a custom PCIe slot stability adapter for a snug, secure fit on either expansion slot type.

Patented Design Assures Trouble-Free Use

The DriveXpander features a patented non-scratch SATA (NSS) connector that makes a direct connection with a drive's connector leads so users can install and eject a drive over 50,000 times with confidence. A perforated backplate and open cage design also ensures trouble-free drive use by providing effective passive drive cooling.

Lockable Access Panel Prevents Drive Theft

To prevent unauthorized removal of an installed drive, the DriveXpander features a special shaped key lock to provide peace-of-mind long-term drive installation.

Pricing & Availability

The $19.99 MSRP DriveXpander includes all data and power cables required for Plug and Play operation and is available immediately directly from VisionTek, select e-tailers such as Amazon, Tiger Direct, and Dell; and national distributors such as Ingram Micro and D&H.


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Charter Communications Says Net Neutrality Will Slow Broadband Growth and Mean Higher Fees
Charter Communications, Inc. today released the following statement regarding the FCC's adoption of open Internet rules.

"Charter supports net neutrality because our subscribers expect nothing less than a free and open Internet. This means that Charter does not block, slow down or prioritize Internet traffic. However, the rules adopted today will add fees to customer bills, create regulatory uncertainty and lead to years of litigation that, together, will slow the progress and development of faster broadband for our subscribers. Rather than operate within this outdated and overly broad regulatory regime, Charter looks forward to working with Congress to pass a new open Internet law that protects consumers, provides certainty for investors and freedom for innovators."


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MSI Announces the AP16 Flex All-in-one Desktop
MSI is excited to announce the release of an all-new All-in-One PC, suitable for both commercial industries and home entertainment usage: the MSI AP16 Flex. The MSI AP16 Flex is world's first convertible 10-point touch controlled All-in-One PC that can be used in a stand mode, hanging mode or flat mode. The AP16 Flex's unique rotating kickstand can be flipped back 90 degrees to act as an upright stand for use as an All-in-One PC or attached to wall or cabinet for use as a large multimedia device. It comes with a 15.6" LED backlit display and inherited the stylish design of MSI's Professional Series of All-in-One PCs, with a black border and hair-line surface treatment.

The AP16 Flex may be 15.6" inch in size, but is equipped with desktop hardware, making it a portable but also a high performance PC. Based on a 10W Quad Core Processor by Intel, this All-in-One PC delivers decent computing power while saving energy at the same time. On top of that, the AP16 Flex is fan-less, which creates a silent working environment. General availability is expected by late February 2015.

The most versatile All-in-One PC

The MSI AP16 Flex subverts the traditional All-in-One PC into a 3 in 1 mode: standing, hanging and flat mode. The MSI AP16 Flex's display can be flipped 90 degrees and combined with its auto-rotating functionality the AIO PC can be used in many different environments in numerous ways. The AP16 Flex brings a new level of commercial and home PC entertainment experience.

Supreme power saver

Thanks to its fanless design, LED backlit display and the implementation of an efficient but capable 10W Intel J1900 desktop Quad Core Processor combined with the support for Intel Ready Mode, the AP16 Flex is an excellent choice for those who care about silent working environments and power efficiency.

10-Point touch control

The AP16 Flex features both USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 ports, of which one is supporting Super Charger technology, to charge mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones in a short timeframe. Featured with a 10-point touch display, the AP16 Flex meets the needs of commercial markets requiring easy navigation and fast commands for touch applications and multi-media software.

MSI Star Voice Control (optional)

MSI's optional voice controlling software 'Star' - with which the user can wake the PC, open email & browser, listen to music or turn the PC into sleep mode - will make the MSI AP16 Flex a suitable device for any place at home.

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Linux gadget with six displays - pixel art idea returns in a new shape
A new Vancouver based start-up team has launched its first product called Cuberox on a crowdfunding source Kickstarter on Tuesday, February 24, 2015.

A team of three young entrepreneurs, Ilia Lisunov, Viacheslav Kim and Dmitriy Popov, which has developed a prototype of a cube-shaped six-screen waterproof linux-powered computer, brings users a completely new method of interaction with technology.

"We've created a simple, easy-to-use device loaded with features that users will find applicable in their everyday use," said Dmitriy Popov, CMO of Cuberox. "A user can play games on the cube with friends over network, race a pixel-car or send messages."

Cuberox is small enough to be able to fit in users' hand, yet it is a multi-purpose device capable of tracking time, checking weather, monitoring stocks, displaying a recipe for the kitchen, translating words, showing tweets and Facebook updates and running many other apps. It can be controlled by physical manipulations such as rotation, snaps, swings and shakes. The team is also working on Cuberia - an app store for Cuberox, where users will be able to access and download hundreds of applications from every category or scope of interest.

Each of the sides of Cuberox can run a stand-alone application or be used together with the rest of the screens for a full six-side pixel experience. "That is why we chose pixels," said Ilia Lisunov, Co-Founder and CEO of Cuberox. "When we were designing the Cuberox, we wanted it to retain the spirit of old school, which lived in all those cool games created 30 years ago, but playing which sounds interesting until this day."

Cuberox, which is hundred percent dust and waterproof, also boasts a wireless station, which further extends functionality of the device. The station has embedded speakers and a multi-color smart back light, which can be used by applications to notify users of upcoming events.

The team is launching the product on Kickstarter to raise funds that will help support the next phase of Cuberox idea.

"We've created a prototype of the product and we need our supporters to back the project on Kickstarter so that we could bring the product to its ultimate development and production," said Viacheslav Kim, CTO of Cuberox.

The project is available on Kickstarter for 33 days and has a funding goal of $150,000.

More information on the product can be found online at http://www.cuberox.com and on Kickstarter at http://kck.st/1A3fJwz

Additional materials:

Kickstarter: http://kck.st/1A3fJwz

Press Kit: http://goo.gl/g89Wyj


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Toshiba Areal Density Breakthrough Means 3TB 2.5-inch Notebook Hard Drives Possible
Toshiba Corporation has achieved an areal density of one terabit per square inch (1Tbit/ in2) within a 2.5-inch client hard disk drive (HDD). This newest disk drive innovation delivers 3TB capacity using a 750GB per platter in a 15mm 2.5-inch HDD and increases areal density over Toshiba's prior generation of client HDDs by 40 percent. Toshiba is dedicated to developing new technologies to increase storage performance and capacities in consumer electronics. Toshiba's high areal density HDDs will be available in new products shipping later this year.

For more information on Toshiba's line of industry-leading SSDs, HDDs and SSHDs, visit http://www.toshibastorage.com. To connect with Toshiba Storage, visit the corporate blog at http://storage.toshiba.com/corporateblog/ and follow @ToshibaStorage on Twitter.


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ASUS Announces Best, Fastest and Most Comprehensive USB 3.1 Solutions
ASUS today announced the world's fastest and first complete line-up of SuperSpeed+ USB 3.1 solutions, including range-wide motherboards with built-in USB 3.1 and two ASUS USB 3.1 Cards. The latter are the new PCI Express (PCIe) expansion card with either dual Type-A sockets or reversible Type-C, that fits quickly and easily to bring breakneck speeds to existing PCs.

ASUS motherboards with built-in USB 3.1 and ASUS USB 3.1 Card deliver next-generation 10Gbit/s data transfer speeds that are up to twice (2X) as fast as USB 3.0. All USB 3.1 Type-A models are fully backwardly compatible with previous USB standards. The new products will begin shipping from the middle of February 2015. The new solutions benefit from exclusive ASUS USB 3.1 Boost technology to push real-world data-transfer speeds faster than ever before, with testing by ASUS engineers achieving sequential read/write speeds of up to 854.6 / 863.9 MB/s - much faster than competing USB 3.1 products.

Joe Hsieh, ASUS Corporate Vice President and General Manager, Motherboard and Desktop System Business Unit, said: "As the world's number-one motherboard brand, we lead by providing the very latest technology for ASUS customers to enjoy. We worked closely with ASMedia Technology Inc to maximize USB 3.1 performance on both ASUS motherboards and our USB 3.1 Card products, ensuring that ASUS customers enjoy the very fastest data transfers from the new standard - and before anyone else!"

ASUS motherboards with dual 10Gbit/s USB 3.1 sockets and 2X-faster performance

Twelve ASUS motherboards have dual Type-A USB 3.1 ports built in for instant 10Gbit/s connectivity. Products with two USB 3.1 sockets onboard are signified with a '/USB 3.1' suffix and include X99-Pro/USB 3.1, X99-A/USB 3.1 (Transfer Express), X99-A/USB 3.1, X99-E WS/USB 3.1, Z97-Deluxe/USB 3.1, Z97-Pro (Wi-Fi ac)/USB 3.1, Z97-A/USB 3.1, Z97-E/USB 3.1, Z97-K/USB 3.1, Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1/USB 3.1, B85M-G Plus/USB 3.1 and B85-Plus/USB 3.1.

Easy-fit ASUS USB 3.1 Card with dual Type-A ports or reversible Type-C

ASUS USB 3.1 Card is the world's first USB 3.1 expansion card that fits swiftly into any PCIe x4, x8 or x16 slot to accelerate existing PCs to deliver lightning-speed transfers of up to 10Gbit/s. Available in two models, with either dual Type-A sockets or reversible Type-C, the new PCIe card is compatible immediately with all ASUS X99 and Z97 chipset-based motherboards and will be compatible soon with more ASUS motherboards, to be enabled by a simple BIOS and driver update.

USB 3.1 Type-A Card (Dual) is also included with two new motherboard bundles with a '/U3.1' suffix - Rampage V Extreme/U3.1 and X99-Deluxe/U3.1 - preconfigured and ready to go. Both USB 3.1 Type-A (Dual) and Type-C Card (Single) are available to purchase individually.

Exclusive ASUS USB 3.1 Boost for fastest-ever USB 3.1 data transfers

All ASUS USB 3.1 solutions include ASUS USB 3.1 Boost utility for the very fastest USB 3.1 data transfers. This ASUS-exclusive technology automatically pushes USB 3.1 performance even further, with sustained sequential read/write speeds of up to speeds of up to 854.6/863.9MB/s - figures achieved by ASUS engineers in our own labs.

For a list of motherboard BIOS updates that enable USB 3.1 add-on card support, visit this page.


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Tesoro Launches Gungnir Black Optical Gaming Mouse
Tesoro Technology USA Inc., a manufacturer of high-tech gaming products, announces the Gungnir Black optical gaming mouse with customizable RGB illumination. The Gungnir Black is named for the spear Odin used in Norse mythology. It is said that the Gungnir is so well balanced that it can strike any target regardless of the skills or strength of the wielder. Much like the mythological Gungnir, the Gungnir Black with a 3500 DPI optical sensor ensures smooth and controlled movements when targeting opponents in the heat of battle.

The Tesoro Gungnir Black has full color programmable LED illumination and fully independent and programmable buttons. 64Kb of onboard memory allows users to set up to 35 macro keys and 1600 recordable actions. In the included software, gamers can adjust the DPI, polling rate up to 1000Hz, and the illumination color.

The Gungnir Black comes with Omron Switch technology, which allows for tactile feedback and durability. Smooth Teflon feet ensure maximum precision and movement during game play. The ergonomic design and rubberized coating on both sides give maximum comfort and grip. Added touches like the gaming grade engine chipset, gold-plated USB interface, and braided durable cable make the Gungnir Black optical gaming mouse set to raise the limit in your gaming arsenal.

New Tesoro User Interface (UI)

The Gungnir Black utilizes Tesoro's new UI which has been redesigned to be more user-friendly. Gamers can easily adjust the DPI, record macros, set profiles, and change the illumination color. This new UI will soon be rolled out to the entire current Tesoro product line.

MSRP and Availability

The Tesoro Gungnir Black will be available in North America in March for the suggested retail price of $29.

For more information, visit the product page.


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Intel Revives the Atom Brand with New Branding Levels
In order to help people understand the level of processor performance and make an informed purchase decision based on their needs, Intel Atom processors will now be offered in three distinct brand levels in a good/better/best construct - the Intel Atom x3, x5 and x7 processors. This change will start with the next generation of processors. Intel Atom x3 processor provides basic, but genuine Intel-level tablet, phablet and smartphone performance.

Intel Atom x5 processor has more capabilities and features for people who want an even better experience, and the flagship Intel Atom x7 processor provides the highest level of performance and capabilities for the Intel Atom family. The Intel Atom processor is designed to provide the best battery life with great performance for tablets, phablets, smartphones and other mobile devices. This infographic lists Intel's consumer brand portfolio for consumer devices including the Intel Core processor, Intel Core M processor, Intel Atom processor, Intel Pentium processor and Intel Celeron processor.


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Thermaltake Announces Riing 12 and 14 LED Radiator Fan Series
Thermaltake, an industry leader in computer chassis, thermal solutions, and power supply units, introduces the new Riing 12 and 14 LED Radiator Fan Series, patented LED ring radiator fan fitted to enhance static pressure that produces impressive cooling performance with an optimized fan blade design. Hydraulic bearings for silent operation guarantee ultra-low noise. In addition, an anti-vibration mounting system strengthens the stability during operation.

The patented LED Ring maintains color and brightness uniformity, available in four colors: blue, red, white, and green to add style to the chassis, allowing users to not only build up an aesthetically superior liquid cooling system but also incorporate externally-modular upgrades for their chassis. The new Thermaltake Riing 12 and 14 LED Radiator Fan Series will soon be available on Newegg around the end of February.

Thermal Image Test

Compared to the standard case fan, the combination of three Riing 12 radiator fan and RL360 radiator (Outlet and inlet water temp. are 49 degrees Celsius and 44.5 degrees Celsius in respective) decreases around 2 degrees Celsius by delivering 40% better cooling performance.

Concentrated Compression Blade

Custom designed for high-static pressure requirements of demanding applications such as radiators, the Concentrated Compression Blade (CCB) is engineered to focus the inner weaker circle of air outwards, allowing the outer section to pressurize and compress the air.

Wind Blocker Frame

The wind blocker frame is designed to work with the Concentrated Compression Blade's (CCB) pressure mechanism by directing airflow towards the middle section of the blade, thereby creating a compression effect and blocking any pressure from escaping. This reduces the blade's noise and vibration, creating a perfect balance between power and sound.

Hydraulic Bearing with Low-Noise Design

The hydraulic bearing self-lubricates with a high quality, friction-reducing substance which lowers operating noise and improves efficiency. The seal cap prevents leakage of the lubricant, and improves the lifespan of the unit. The LNC (Low-Noise Cable) can reduce the noise level around 21% to 24%.

Anti-vibration Mounting System

In-mold injection anti-vibration rubber pads provide hassle-free usage for 80% protection coverage, including all four corners.

Four Colors of the Patented LED Versions Available

Riing 12 and 14 LED Radiator Fan Series is available with different LED versions (red, blue, green, and white), adding cooling aesthetics to the chassis.

For more information, visit the product pages of Riing 12 LED Blue, Riing 12 LED Red, Riing 12 LED White, Riing 14 LED Blue, Riing 14 LED Red, Riing 14 LED Green, Riing 14 LED White.


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LUXA2 Thermaltake Mobile Launches the New TX-P2 Wireless Charging Power Bank
Thermaltake Mobile - LUXA2, a market leader in power, audio and holder solutions, is pleased to announce the arrival of a new addition to their wireless power charging family: TX-P2 10,000mAh Wireless Charging Power Bank. The TX-P2 is a powerful new wireless charging power bank designed for even the most demanding of power users.

The TX-P2 10,000mAh Wireless Charging Power Bank packs double the capacity of the highly successful TX-P1, and cramps enough juice to charge your iPhone 6 / 6 Plus and Samsung S5 several times over without compromising portability. The TX-P2 works with all Qi compatible devices and possesses a lightning fast 5V2.1A USB output port for wired charging. It is not only compatible with smartphone devices, but also tablet devices such as the iPad Air 2, iPad mini 3 and any other compatible device that requires a more demanding power solution.

Besides featuring powerful internal mechanics, the TX-P2 loses none of its charm. The black on black matte finish provides a heightened sense of sophistication and elegance to an everyday necessity. The TX-P2 comes packed with functionality, extreme value, and incredible style.

Key Features of the TX-P2 10,000mAh Wireless Charging Power Bank at a Glance:

• Grade A 10,000mAh lithium-polymer battery cell
• Dual function charging pad and power bank
• 5V2.1A USB output port charges both smartphone and tablet devices
• Supports simultaneous wired and wireless charging
• Easy power on/off with 6 LED power charging indicators
• Includes band of portability for secure wireless charging on the move

TX-P2 10,000mAh Wireless Charging Power Bank suggested price: USD 79.99

More information on the TX-P2 10,000mAh Wireless Charging Power Bank is available

online: http://www.luxa2.com/product.aspx?s=142


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Samsung Introduces Industry's First 128GIGABYTE UFS for Smartphones
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., the world leader in advanced memory technology, announced today that it is now mass producing the industry's first 128-gigabyte (GB) ultra-fast embedded memory based on the much-anticipated Universal Flash Storage (UFS) 2.0 standard for next-generation flagship smartphones. The new embedded memory's UFS 2.0 interface is the most advanced JEDEC-compliant, next-generation flash memory storage specification in the world.

"With our mass production of ultra-fast UFS memory of the industry's highest capacity, we are making a significant contribution to enable a more advanced mobile experience for consumers," said Jee-ho Baek, Senior Vice President of Memory Marketing, Samsung Electronics. "In the future, we will increase the proportion of high-capacity memory solutions, in leading the continued growth of the premium memory market."

UFS memory utilizes "Command Queue," a technology that accelerates the speed of command execution in SSDs through a serial interface, significantly increasing data processing speeds compared to the 8-bit parallel-interface-based eMMC standard. As a result, Samsung UFS memory conducts 19,000 input/output operations per second (IOPS) for random reading, which is 2.7 times faster than the most common embedded memory for high-end smartphones today, the eMMC 5.0. It also delivers a sequential read and write performance boost up to SSD levels, in addition to a 50 percent decrease in energy consumption. In addition, the random read speed is 12 times faster than that of a typical high-speed memory card (which runs at 1,500 IOPS), and is expected to greatly improve system performance.

In the future, Samsung anticipates that UFS will support high-end mobile market needs, while eMMC solutions remain viable for the mid-market, value segments.

For random writing of data to storage, the blazingly fast UFS embedded memory operates at 14,000 IOPS and is 28 times as fast as a conventional external memory card, making it capable of supporting seamless Ultra HD video playback and smooth multitasking functions at the same time, enabling a much improved mobile experience.

Samsung's new UFS embedded memory comes in 128GB, 64GB and 32GB versions, which are twice the capacity of its eMMC line-up, making it today's optimal memory storage solution for high-end mobile devices.

In an attempt to provide more design flexibility to global customers, Samsung's UFS embedded memory package, a new ePoP (embedded package on package) solution, can be stacked directly on top of a logic chip, taking approximately 50 percent less space.

Over the next several years, Samsung will continue to set the pace for memory solutions that combine truly high-performance with high capacity.


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Logitech G Extends Relationship with Top eSports Teams
Logitech, a leading innovator of gaming peripherals, today announced that two top North American professional gaming organizations have decided to exclusively use Logitech G hardware for the next year. In addition to providing early feedback and design input on products before they go to market, Cloud9 (C9) and Team SoloMid (TSM) will continue to exclusively use a mix of Logitech G hardware peripherals during tournament gameplay including headsets, mice, keyboards and mouse pads whenever they play.

"eSports continues to grow in popularity and play a critical role in PC gaming," said Ujesh Desai, general manager of the Logitech gaming business. "We're privileged to be able to work with some of the best pro gamers in the world. By teaming up with them we can take their feedback and develop the best gaming gear on the planet." Cloud9's teams include 45 players for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO), Dota 2, Halo, Hearthstone, Heroes of the Storm, League of Legends (LoL), Smite and Super Smash Bros. Melee. Last year's LoL team finished first place in the League Championship Series (LCS) Spring 2014.

"We are thrilled to be re-signing with Logitech G," said Jack Etienne, owner, Cloud9. "They have been instrumental in our success and growth by supporting us with boot camps to keeping us equipped with the best gaming peripherals - Logitech G has given us the edge we need to win."

Comprised of 13 players, TSM is the world's most popular League of Legends team and recently-formed Hearthstone and CS:GO teams. TSM had an exceptional 2014 season, finishing in the top 10 during the LoL World Finals and took first place in the LCS Summer 2014. The team is expected to continue their dominance this season.

"I'm extremely proud to be re-signing with Logitech G as they've played a critical role in our success last season," said Andy Dinh, owner, Team SoloMid. "Not only do they provide us with the best equipment to compete with, they supported us every step of the way in 2014. I'm especially excited to continue working with them because they believe in our goals and want to help us achieve them."

To learn more about the eSports teams that Logitech sponsors, and to follow the players as they compete in CS:GO, Dota 2, Halo, Hearthstone, Heroes of the Storm, League of Legends, Super Smash Bros. Melee and other eSports tournaments, please visit http://www.Facebook.com/logitechgaming and follow @LogitechG.


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Notification under Chapter 9, Section 10 of the Finnish Securities Market Act: holdings of Dodge & Cox in Nokia Corporation exceeded 5%
According to information received by Nokia Corporation, the holdings of Dodge & Cox in Nokia have exceeded 5% of the total number of shares and voting rights of Nokia.

On February 25, 2015, the holdings of Dodge and Cox in Nokia, comprising of both ordinary shares and ADRs, amounted to a total of 184 510 814 shares, corresponding to approximately 5.02% of the total number of shares and voting rights of Nokia.

Dodge and Cox is addressed at 555 California Street, 40th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94104, USA.


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JEDEC Announces Publication of e.MMC Standard Update v5.1
JEDEC Solid State Technology Association, the global leader in standards development for the microelectronics industry, today announced the publication of JESD84-B51: Embedded MultiMediaCard (e.MMC), Electrical Standard (5.1). e.MMC v5.1 defines new features and updates for this embedded mass-storage flash memory that is widely used in smartphones and other mobile devices. Intended to facilitate an enhanced end-user experience, the new version of e.MMC offers command queueing for the first time, and also defines important security updates. JESD84-B51 is available for free download from the JEDEC website.

The new revision of the standard defines e.MMC Command Queueing, which supports the optimized execution of commands within the device, versus the single thread protocol defined in prior versions of the standard. Command Queueing will enable the device to analyze commands before executing them, thereby maximizing effectiveness of the e.MMC memory storage. This will result in a positive effect on random read performance and read latency, thereby improving the end-user experience.

Secure Write Protection & Enhanced Strobe Mode

In response to requests from industry users for enhanced security, e.MMC Secure Write Protection defines a new security protocol that ensures only a trusted entity will be capable of protecting or unprotecting the device. Enhanced Strobe Mode for HS400 improves upon the HS400 mode interface speed increase that was first defined in e.MMC version 5.0, by facilitating faster synchronization between the host and the device. As a result, designers and engineers will be able to simplify the design and integration phases and, moreover, initialize systems more rapidly and with greater ease. Devices employing this aspect of e.MMC version 5.1 will improve storage access latencies, meaning faster access to data for end users.

"Consumer expectations for the performance and reliability of mobile devices continue to rise," said Mian Quddus, Chairman of the JEDEC Board of Directors. "JEDEC is committed to supporting the industry's efforts to meet and exceed those expectations, as evidenced by its continued work on the e.MMC standard: a low-cost, high-performance memory solution."

Other features added to e.MMC in version 5.1 include:

• Extension to 8KB of RPMB (Replay Protected Memory Block) access data length for throughput improvements
• Cache Enhancement Barrier
• Cache Flushing Report
• Background Operation Control
• Editorial clarifications

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BIOSTAR Promotes Family of Gaming Hardware with Gaming Motherboard and VGA Combo
BIOSTAR is promoting the gaming motherboard, the Gaming Z97X along with the VGA cards that are powered by NVIDIA's GeForce GTX750Ti chipset as a compelling gaming hardware combo set. The motherboard comes with the new Gaming Commander Box accessory as well as cutting-edge features like USB 3.1 on-board and innovative durability enhancements. This gaming family of hardware from BIOSTAR gives you a gaming combination comprised of the best motherboard and value priced GPU for a superlative gaming experience.

BIOSTAR's GeForce GTX750Ti series of cards brings the visual horsepower needed for high-end gaming. With 2GB GDDR5, on a full size PCB with a unique dual fan cooling design, this card in combination with the Gaming Z97X motherboard is all you need. It has Dual DVI/miniHDMI output support and supports NVIDIA PuroVideo HD Technology as well as DirectX 11. It also supports NVIDIA PhyX and CUDA Technology. You will need a motherboard that has a PCI Express 3.0 x 16 bus interfaces to stick this card in. For that BIOSTAR has the Gaming Z97X.

The basis for this super combo is of course, the motherboard. BIOSTAR's Gaming Z97X mainboard ushers in the first complete gaming motherboard designed by BIOSTAR. This is something new from BIOSTAR, because it's not just a regular gaming motherboard that satisfies a typical gamers' needs by just merely offering top of the line hardware, rather it is designed from the ground up to be cool looking and high performing. Let's talk about what makes the BIOSTAR Gaming Z97X so special.

The Gaming Z97X comes with key features such as USB 3.1, three PCI Express 3.0x16 slots, PCIe M.2 support, Dual GbE LAN and BIOSTAR exclusive Hi-Fi 3D Audio technology. Two on-board HDMI supports 4K / 2K HD resolutions. There is also the introduction of the SATA Express Connector which supports both SATA and PCIe storage solutions giving maximum data transfer speed of up to 10Gb/s.

This board also heralds the launch of the BIOSTAR external Gaming Commander box. It fits in a standard 5.5" (CD-ROM) area; it is also comprised of software with voice control utility exclusively designed by BIOSTAR.

The Gaming Z97X is the first motherboard that comes with an onboard USB 3.1 connector, a new standard known as SuperSpeed +. The new standard doubles data transfer rate from 5Gbps to 10Gbps, and it's backward compatible with current USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 devices.

Most of the features we've just talked about are related to system performance, how about. The Gaming Z97X adopts BIOSTAR's exclusive Hi-Fi 3D technology and an additional amplifier, it enables high definition multidimensional sound to reach extreme high quality sound. With the Gaming Commander BOX, you can freely use either the sound chips from the motherboard or the BOX in different scenarios to get the maximum sound performance.

One thing no gamer can stand is a sudden internet disconnection; therefore, BIOSTAR prepared two LAN connectors, with the most popular Killer LAN and Intel LAN chips. With Dual LAN technology, the primary advantage is doubling bandwidth from 1G to 2G, and two high-speed gigabit networks can provide super high data transmission efficiency. Another major advantage is "Load Balancing", it allows a gamer to attach both network adapters into one single network. It will therefore support the aggregation "teaming" function by merging two connections to support multiple aggregation modes. In addition, Ethernet lightning protection circuits reduce the probability of damage from lightning or other power surge, so if one connection is disabled the other will automatically kick in.

We've covered its hardware specs, high quality sound and high speed LAN, what about product stability? BIOSTAR has it all covered. Around the CPU area, there is a 12 phase power design to prevent the CPU from overheating; BIOSTAR's exclusive super-durable ferrite chokes and solid capacitors also enhance energy efficiency and extend the motherboard's lifespan. An Anti-Surge and ESD protection provide the best protection to reduce the shocks caused by ESD as well as other damages arising from overvoltage transients thus enhancing system stability and durability.

Super durable box headers provide solid, secure and durable connections between the motherboard and peripheral cables. When running such high-end machinery sometimes such tight tolerances call for some expert debugging of overclocked or highly stressed systems. For that, there will be Super Rapid Debug 3 which gives out critical POST code information on a vivid digital LED display. This greatly helps trouble-shooting of a system.

And of course, it all looks cool and sharp with the silk black "Armor design"; there are a lot more great features such as LN2 switch, T-Overclocking utility and XMP button for easy CPU and memory overclocking, and dual HDMI ports support true 4k/2k HD video.

In short, to achieve a usable gaming rig, you really need to focus on two key pieces of hardware, the motherboard, as the basis of the system, and VGA card which powers the graphics. For both of these key items BIOSTAR has gamers covered with the Gaming Z97X motherboard and NVIDIA GTX750Ti series cards.


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SMART Modular Expands Its Lineup of DDR4 NVDIMMs With 8GB and 16GB Densities
SMART Modular Technologies, Inc., a leading designer, manufacturer and supplier of specialty memory and storage solutions, including memory modules, flash memory cards and other memory and solid state storage products, today announced the expansion of its NVDIMM product line with its new 8GB and 16GB DDR4 NVDIMMs available in a single rank, four bit configuration. SMART's full lineup of DDR4 NVDIMMs now include two configurations; a single rank eight bit configuration in 4GB and 8GB densities, and the new 8GB and 16GB options. The new NVDIMMs are targeted for server and storage applications to improve performance.

NVDIMMs transform main DRAM memory into persistent memory resulting in higher performing servers by allowing big data, transaction logs, and other latency and performance-sensitive data to be accessed at DRAM speeds without the risk of data loss. Rather than reading and writing big data or transaction logs to traditional storage media such as SATA SSDs, PCIe NVMe SSDs, or HDDs, they can be written to and read from main memory without the risk of data being lost due to any sudden power loss (SPL) event. Server performance in terms of lower latency, higher IOPS, and greater endurance all increase dramatically with the use of SMART's NVDIMMs.

SMART now supports a complete lineup of DDR4-2133 NVDIMMs ranging from 4GB to 16GB configured as 1-rank x8 and 1-rank x4. SMART's DDR4 NVDIMMs are targeted to support a wide range of industry standard and OEM server and storage platforms from Intel, Supermicro, Lenovo, HP and others. NVDIMM industry adoption is being driven by JEDEC standardization and the growth of In-Memory Computing (IMC) where entire databases need to be loaded in main memory for real-time analytics. SMART is further entrenched in supporting DDR4 NVDIMM standardization with its work in coordination with JEDEC.

Working closely with its customers over many years, SMART has developed and incorporated into its DDR4 NVDIMMs, SafeStor technology, a feature-rich, mature command and control register interface. SMART's DDR4 NVDIMMs also have an integrated DRAM and flash controller with end-to-end data integrity protection including internal CRC-32 and parity protection for FPGA SRAM. Backup power can be provided by the host system through a JEDEC-standard 12V power rail or by a tethered Backup Power Module (BMP). SMART provides several intelligent tethered BMP options including a 2.5" SSD form factor supercap module and several other hybrid solutions that are currently developed or in development.

Applications where response time is critical will greatly benefit with the added persistence that SMART's NVDIMMs provide.

SMART Modular Technologies will be showcasing its NVDIMM offerings within its DRAM product line at Embedded World 2015 Exhibition and Conference, Nuremberg Messe, Nuremberg, Germany.


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PNY Releases Ice-Cream Themed - HP x778w USB 3.0 Flash Drive
PNY Technologies, Inc., world renowned manufacturer of USB and Memory products, has brought forward a unique and fun way to store your files, images, movies and music on the go. The HP x778w USB 3.0 Flash Drive features a cute and fun way to transfer files. Lightweight and compact, this drive stores up to 64GB of your favorite documents, images, music, movies and more.

This ice-cream inspired USB flash drive is made up of durable rubber housing. The cap can be conveniently attached to the end of the drive and remains secure while the drive is in use. For added portability, the drive includes the built-in strap hole design, so that the drive can be attached to your wallet, purse or backpack. The HP x778w is a thumb-sized USB flash drive that weighs 8.1 g and measures at L 32.5mm x W 17.5mm x H 9.5mm. The unique design resembles a partially melted ice cream layered with sprinkles below it - giving you a fun way to store your files.

The HP x778w features USB 3.0, which offers fast speed transfer of files between your computer and the drive. It performs an impressive read and write capacity of up to 90/30 MB/sec (64GB). It is also fully compatible with all versions and models of laptops and desktops available in the market today.

The HP x778w is available in a variety of storage capacities, ranging from 8GB to 64GB. It is compatible with the latest versions of Windows operating systems, including Vista, Windows 7, 8 and also works with Mac OS: 10.3 and above; and comes with a 2-year warranty from the date of purchase..

Whether you own it as a personal accessory or gift it to your friends and family, the HP x778w is the ideal gadget to own.


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Available Tags:Google , Android , Apple , Lenovo , gaming , Intel , USB 3.0 , HIS , USB , MSI , Linux , Toshiba , Notebook , ASUS , Thermaltake , Wireless , Samsung , Logitech , Nokia , Hardware , DDR4 , USB 3.0 , HP ,