HP announces its new PCs will use AMD's Radeon R9 380 video cards
AMD is expected to launch its next-gen Radeon R9 390X next month, with rumors of an announcement at E3 2015, but HP has now come out and admitted that it will be using the future next-gen VGA cards in their upcoming gaming PCs.
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Japan's age gap expanding, with robots seen as possible aid
For better or worse, the robotics revolution is underway, and it's continuing to happen regardless of some concerns expressed by humans. In Japan, a leading robotics research nation, engineers hope that robots can play a role in helping close the workforce gap due to an aging population.
The Huis Ten Bosch theme park located in Nagasaki will feature a hotel that has more than 90 percent of hotel services conducted by robots alone. There are no easy answers for Japan, which has an aging population that is only getting older, so adopting robots could prove to be an effective way to ease pressure on the workforce.
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Ubisoft could unveil Watch Dogs 2 at E3 2015 in June
With E3 2015 right around the corner, we're hearing about some exciting games set to be unveiled, such as a next-gen Battletoads. But the news of a sequel to Watch Dogs being in development, this could capture quite the attention from gamers.
The Ubisoft CEO continued: "We knew it would be polarising. Some people loved the characters and some didn't. It was difficult to please everybody with that character. Now, having seen the reaction, we know what we will do next to improve that. I can't say [if Aiden will return as the lead character in Watch Dogs 2] because I don't know actually. We'll see".
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The last details on Project Cars released ahead of its launch on May 7
After years of development and heartbreaking delays lately, Project Cars is set for release on May 7. Slightly Mad Studios and Bandai Namco have released the launch trailer for Project Cars, which you can watch below.
- The largest track roster of any recent racing game with 110+ unique locations
- A wide variety of motorsports including GT, Touring, Le Mans Prototypes, Karts, and modern Open Wheel and 80+ cars available at launch
- Dynamic weather, pit stops, and pit strategy creation
- Dynamic time of day and endurance races including the Le Mans 24H
- World-class graphics running at 60 fps with up to 45 drivers onscreen
- Next-gen physics running at 600 fps and deep telemetry & tuning features
- Competitive multiplayer for up to 16 players and the ability to create public, private and friend-based lobbies with 'Join In Progress'
- Asynchronous Time Trial with downloadable ghosts
- Regularly-scheduled community events
- Social connectivity with photo and replay modes powered by The Driver Network
- Support for 30+ wheels, community apps, and virtual reality via Oculus Rift and Project Morpheus
- Continual updates and further content after launch
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Apple expected to relaunch its music streaming service at WWDC in June
It looks like Apple could be in some trouble, with the Department of Justice looking into their business practices as the launch of Apple's upcoming music streaming service.
This is Apple's tactic: attacking their competition from behind the scenes, in a move drastic enough to involve the Department of Justice. This means Apple is very scared of Spotify, and so it should be. The Verge reports: "Getting the music labels to kill the freemium tiers from Spotify and others could put Apple in prime position to grab a large swath of new users when it launches its own streaming service, which is widely expected to feature a considerable amount of exclusive content. "All the way up to Tim Cook, these guys are cutthroat," one music industry source said".
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Quake developer says modders should be compensated for their efforts
John Romero, Doom and Quake game designer at id Software in the 1990s, believes modders should be allowed to receive payment for their efforts. The recent discussion has come back to life following news that Valve included, and then removed Steam paid mods - gamers seem more inclined to be able to donate to modders, but don't want to be forced to pay.
Romero's team came up with an idea that was later abandoned leading up to the original Quake launch: "In 1995, while we were making Quake, we had the idea to start a company called id Net. This company would be the portal that players would connect to and play other mod maker's creations. It was to be a curated site, levels and mods chosen by us at id, and if we put your content on our network we would pay you an amount equal to the traffic that your content drove to the site."
This is a debate that will continue to generate strong emotions for modders, gamers, and video game studios.
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Mushkin teams up with Ubisoft to expand REACTOR SSD lineup
Mushkin has expanded its REACTOR series of solid-state drives, pushing storage capacities to include 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB capacities. Gamers and PC enthusiasts will be able to purchase the new drives starting on Monday, May 11.
"To celebrate the expansion of our very popular REACTOR SSD starting May 1, 2015, gaming fans can enter our Ghost Recon Phantoms Sweepstakes for a chance to win a custom built Mushkin Extreme Gaming PC and much more," said Nicolas Villalobos, director of global market at Mushkin. The contest also includes products from EVGA, BitFenix, Razer, DXRacer, and SiliconMotion - click here to enter.
Also worth nothing, PC enthusiasts purchasing select Mushkin products from Newegg can receive a Ghost Recon Phantoms game code with their purchase.
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NASA tests shape-changing wing to help cut down on fuel costs
NASA is working with the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and FlexSys to test a new morphing wing technology that uses a seamless flexible edge. The Adaptive Compliant Trailing Edge (ACTE) provides major improvements when compared to conventional flaps that are used on aircraft today.
The NASA Langley Research Center will now study flight tests to help create designs used for large transport aircraft.
Once finalized, the custom wing could help drastically cut fuel costs, decrease aircraft noise during takeoffs and landings, and reduce airframe weight. The ACTE technology can be retrofitted for current airplane wings, or installed on new airframes, NASA noted.
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Woz: Humans made machines 'too important,' at our own peril
Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak is concerned about the future of humans and artificial trying to co-exist, believing the future could be "very bad for people." During a recent speech in Massachusetts, Wozniak spoke about how computers might not be the best thing for humans - even though he helped start one of the biggest computer companies in the world.
Woz also spoke out about the reliance on computers to help try to educate students, though that can't be effective if class sizes are too big. "A lot of our schools slow students down. We put computers in schools and the kids don't come out thinking any better."
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Nintendo issues apology regarding shortage of Amiibo products
Nintendo has publicly apologized for its continued struggle to keep Amiibos, little plastic figurines based on popular Nintendo characters, in adequate supply for gamers. For gamers trying to find their favorite Amiibo, some will admittedly be easier to find than others in the foreseeable future.
The gaming company wasn't as proactive as needed when updating gaming fans, and said it will work to resolve those problems. A chaotic labor dispute also led to major delays along west coast shipping ports, which also added to supply problems for Nintendo.
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Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin helping push the limits of space tourism
Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin, a space venture company, successfully test launched its New Shepard spacecraft last week. The New Shepard reached 307,000 feet, powered by a 110,000-lbf thrust liquid hydrogen, liquid oxygen BE-3 engine. The boundary between Earth and space is 62-miles above the Earth's surface, so the New Shepard maximum altitude of 58 miles was close to the limit.
The space capsule demonstration was successful, but the reusable rocket booster was unfortunately not recovered. Bezos said his company is working on an improved hydraulic system, and hopefully the next launch will not lose pressure during its descent.
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May the Fourth Be with you with the Star Wars Gamer Bundle
- Star Wars: The Force Unleashed: Ultimate Sith Edition, an adventure-packed walk on the dark side.
- Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, a top-rated role-playing experience.
- Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy, an intense first- and third-person game that allows you to create and train your own Jedi.
- Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast, the critic favorite that puts the fate of the galaxy in your hands.
Valued at $50, you can get all four games for $12.50 at TweakTown Deals. May the fourth be with you!
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The race is on for the No. 3 mobile OS position behind Android, iOS
Google Android and Apple iOS control the majority of the mobile operating system market, but there is an intensifying fight for the No. 3 position. Consumers and businesses are expected to embrace wearables, connected vehicles, smart products, and the Internet of Things (IoT) on a larger scale in the next 10 years.
Companies must work on creating an OS that is appealing in developing markets, paying close attention to Southeast Asia, India and China - and can heavily modify Android to their own needs, but must be prepared to invest a large amount of capital to make the effort successful.
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Valve taking requests from developers to ban disruptive gamers
Valve has worked diligently to improve VAC so it's able to identify and remove cheaters, but trying to get rid of annoying and disruptive players is extremely difficult. However, Valve has given game studios the ability to identify and permanently ban players, including those found to be cheating.
Game developers must still inform Valve when they spot a disruptive player, but the developer is "solely responsible for the decision" - with Valve enforcing a game ban as needed. Banned players will have to speak directly with the developer if any problems arise, and Valve can remove a developer's ability to enforce their own systems.
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Microsoft announces Sydney, Australia for its new flagship store
Microsoft is continuing its retail takeover with Microsoft Stores throughout the United States, but the Redmond-based OS giant has just announced that its 'first Microsoft flagship store outside of North America' will be at Westfield Sydney, in Australia.
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The Last of Us: Left Behind Available as a Standalone Download May 12
The team at Naughty Dog is excited to let you know that Left Behind, the critically acclaimed and award-winning single-player chapter to The Last of Us, will be available as a standalone download via the PlayStation Store. The Last of Us: Left Behind standalone will be available on both PS3 and PS4 on May 12 for only $9.99. We will be dropping the price of the Left Behind Add-on on PS3 to the same price on that day as well.
If you haven't had a chance yet to check out The Last of Us, this is a nicely priced gateway to checking out the world and characters so many people (and critics loved). While part of the story of Left Behind takes place during the main narrative arc of The Last of Us, I think some of the best and most touching moments of any game in recent memory occur during the prequel segments, as we follow Ellie and Riley as they sneak out of boarding school to visit an abandoned mall, getting one final chance to enjoy their friendship before Riley leaves to join the Fireflies.
You can get more immersed into the story of Ellie and Riley in The Last of Us: American Dreams comic book, published by Dark Horse, co-written by Faith Erin Hicks and The Last of Us Creative Director Neil Druckmann, with interior art by Faith Erin Hicks. I highly, highly recommend it.
We realize that most of Naughty Dog fans and readers of the PlayStation.Blog will have probably already played The Last of Us and maybe even the Left Behind Add-on chapter - if you enjoyed the games, be sure to tell your friends that haven't played of this great introduction to The Last of Us. We've also included a two hour trial of the Factions Multiplayer mode. The Left Behind standalone game will have built-in upgrade paths through the in-game store to both the full Factions experience and/or the full game for The Last of Us.
Below are the details on the upgrade possibilities on both PS3 and PS4 after you already own the Left Behind standalone game.
PS4
Full Factions Multiplayer- $9.99
Full digital single-player game with Treacherous Territories Map Pack (if you already own the full Factions Multiplayer) - $29.99
Full digital single-player game, Factions Multiplayer Mode, and the Treacherous Territories Map Pack bundle - $39.99
PS3
Full Factions Multiplayer - $9.99
Full digital single-player game with Treacherous Territories Map Pack (if you already own the full Factions Multiplayer) - $19.99
Full digital single-player game, Factions Multiplayer Mode, and the Treacherous Territories Map Pack bundle - $29.99
We hope to see all you new fans of The Last of Us on May 12!
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Mortal Kombat X Launches Jason Voorhees Bundle
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment today announced that the Mortal Kombat X Jason Voorhees Bundle will be available for early download to Kombat Pack owners starting tomorrow. The Jason Voorhees Bundle includes playable character and Friday the 13th icon, Jason Voorhees and the Horror Pack, comprising of three horror-themed skins including Vampiress Mileena, Kraken Reptile and Pharaoh Ermac. Those who do not own the Kombat Pack can purchase the Jason Voorhees Bundle beginning Tuesday, May 12 at the PlayStation Store, Xbox Marketplace and Steam for £6.49. Jason Voorhees and the Horror Pack will also be sold separately for £3.99 and £3.29 respectively.
*** This video/trailer may only be displayed if it is behind an age-gate that: (1) is age-neutral (i.e., requires the user to input their date of birth or select it from a drop-down bar); (2) employs reasonable technical measures to keep underage users from re-entering their age after initially being denied access. Failure to implement these requirements may jeopardize your ability to obtain material of this nature from us in the future.
Mortal Kombat X, the latest entry in the legendary fighting game franchise from NetherRealm Studios, is available now for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft and Steam on Windows PC. The Horror Pack is a part of the Mortal Kombat X Kombat Pack, providing fans with Mortal Kombat X downloadable content (DLC) for £24.99.
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MSI Launches 8 New Socket FM2+ Motherboards for AMD "Godavari" APU
MSI, world leading in motherboard design, is pleased to announce the launch of 8 new AMD FM2+/FM2 socket based motherboards supporting the latest AMD Godavari APU. These new models are available in ATX, micro-ATX, and mini-ATX form factors and are backwards compatible with FM2 processors (Kaveri, Richland, Trinity, 6000 and 5000 series). MSI has packed these models with a rich blend of features and technologies, such as onboard LAN, PCI Express 3.0 x16, SATA 6Gb/s, USB 3.0 and multiple display support, offering the most stable and most cost-effective solution available.
MSI's new A88X, A78 and A68H based motherboards are available in different form factors and offer a great choice in connectivity with a RAID controller, onboard LAN, PCI Express 3.0 x16, SATA and up to 10 USB ports.
When combined with today's processors such as Godavari and Kaveri APUs, featuring advanced integrated graphics, MSI's new A88X, A78 and A68H based motherboards support AMD Eyefinity. All these features come at a very attractive price point, making the new MSI A88X, A78 and A68H based motherboards the most comprehensive and most cost-effective solution available.
MSI uses award-winning Military Class 4 components, composed of high quality components such as Solid CAPs and Dark Chokes, which ensure your PC runs stable under extreme conditions. These key components have all passed testing to military standards, ensuring reliable performance in the harshest environments.
Military Class Essentials
The core of Military Class 4 is based on the essential elements which increase your stability in the most extreme conditions. Humidity- and high temperature protection ensure system stability in any environment, no matter what. The new structure of the PCB limits EMI emission. On top of that, all connectors have ESD protection to prevent short-circuiting.
The MSI A68H series motherboards are equipped with many exclusive technologies, including the one-second overclocking tool OC Genie 4, the easy to use Click BIOS 4 and the Command Center software that combines features such as monitoring, tuning and controlling of your hardware. The unprecedented level of flexibility and control offered in MSI's unique hard- and software design puts you in the driver's seat of your motherboards configuration.
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Vantiv: Payments Industry Moves to Speed Chip Card Acceptance
Vantiv, Inc., a leading provider of payment processing services and related technology solutions for merchants and financial institutions of all sizes, played an integral role in creating the U.S. EMV VAR Qualification Program. The program combines a chip education component with an accreditation program to streamline and simplify the testing and certification process for Value Added Resellers (VARs) and Independent Software Vendors (ISVs).
Through a coordinated, industry-wide effort with Payments Security Task Force, PCI Security Standards Council and the EMV Migration Forum, VARs and ISVs will be better equipped to integrate chip cards into small and mid-sized merchants' point-of-sales solutions in advance of the liability shifts scheduled to go into effect by major U.S. payment networks in October 2015.
The optional U.S. EMV VAR Qualification Program consists of three key components:
- An educational curriculum that provides a clear explanation of how to implement chip in the U.S. electronic payments marketplace
- A list of service providers independently accredited by the major payment networks to provide chip consulting and expertise
- A pre-qualification process run by the accredited service providers to help VARs and ISVs begin the implementation and testing process before they work with acquirers to achieve final certification
VARs and ISVs that work with Vantiv have the ability to pre-qualify their payment solution for each of the major payment networks with an accredited service provider. The outcome will be a streamlined go-to-market process for the thousands of solutions that will be introduced as the U.S. migrates to EMV.
To learn more about the educational efforts, visit http://www.emv-connection.com/chip-education-for-vars-isvs-and-merchants/. To begin the pre-qualification process, visit https://www.pcisecuritystandards.org/
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Marvell Unveils Industry-Leading ZigBee Wireless Microcontroller SoC to Advance Smart Home and IoT Innovations
Marvell - a worldwide leader in providing complete silicon solutions from mobile communications to storage, Internet of Things (IoT), cloud infrastructure, digital entertainment, in-home content delivery and Kinoma software enabling the "Smart Life and Smart Lifestyle" - today announced its next-generation industry-leading 88MZ300 802.15.4/ZigBee wireless microcontroller system-on-chip (SoC), the newest member of Marvell's wireless microcontroller family of Internet of Things solutions. The high-performance, low-power, cost-effective SoC offers superior radio frequency (RF) performance that more than doubles the transmission range and reduces power consumption by 50 percent over Marvell's previous generation 88MZ100 SoC, while maintaining the least amount of external components due to the high integration in silicon. Together with its support for open standards, including the upcoming ZigBee 3.0 and Thread protocols, the 88MZ300 SoC, along with a ZigBee to Wi-Fi bridge reference design and an ecosystem of hardware manufacturers and system integration partners, it enables original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to rapidly bring new, innovative IoT applications to market. The 88MZ300 SoC is sampling now.
"Marvell continues to demonstrate innovation in home automation, connected lighting and IoT with its 88MZ300 ZigBee wireless microcontroller which leads 802.15.4 technology in both performance and cost," said Philip Poulidis, Vice President and General Manager, Mobile and Internet of Things Business Units at Marvell. "Along with Kinoma and Marvell's recently announced Smart Home Cloud Center, the 88MZ300 delivers a total solution for home automation and IoT markets. We look forward to the range of exciting new product opportunities that will be possible with the deployment of the 88MZ300."
Building upon Marvell's successful 88MZ100 ZigBee wireless microcontroller, the 88MZ300 includes execute in place (XIP) that allows code execution directly from flash memory, reducing system cost while enabling scalable memory architecture for large code applications and future software upgrades. This benefits OEMs who are designing with the evolving protocol standards. It delivers ultra-low power consumption with 8.5 milliampere (mA) receiving (RX) current and 1microampere (uA) standby current, works with an ultra-wide range of power supplies from 1.8 to 3.6 volts (V), allowing for a small form factor battery while providing extended battery life. Moreover, it offers industry-best co-existence performance with 2.4Ghz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth (BT), significantly improves data link quality with reduced message loss and in turn enhances user experience. The 88MZ300 based IoT solution not only offers industry proven robust network stacks based on open standards, it also offers turnkey hardware designs that are compatible with Marvell's Smart Home Cloud Center platform and Kinoma software.
Key features include:
- 120dBm link-budget with 13dBm integrated PA and -107dBm receiving sensitivity
- Best-in-class Wi-Fi coexistence performance with 56dBc Wi-Fi ACI
- 26mA transmitting current at 13dBm, 8.5mA receiving current and 1uA standby with memory retention
- On-chip 512kB Flash and 164.5kB SRAM
- QFN-32 package measures at 5mm by 5mm
- Connected lighting
- Smart appliances
- Sensors
- Home/building automation
- Retailer electronic shelf labels (ESL)
- Remote controllers
- Industrial controls
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InvenSense Announces Fourth Quarter And Fiscal Year 2015 Results
InvenSense, Inc. the leading provider of intelligent sensor system on chip (SoC) for Motion and Sound, today announced results for its fourth quarter and fiscal year ended March 29, 2015.
Net revenue for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015 was $99.3 million, down 14 percent from $115.9 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2015, and up 68 percent from $59.0 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014.
Gross margin determined in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) was 43 percent for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015, consistent with the third quarter of fiscal 2015. GAAP gross margin for fourth quarter of fiscal 2015 included stock-based compensation and related payroll taxes, and amortization of acquisition intangibles. Excluding these items, non-GAAP gross margin was 46 percent for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015, consistent with the third quarter of fiscal 2015.
GAAP net income for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015 was $0.4 million, or zero cents per diluted share. By comparison, GAAP net income was $10.2 million, or 11 cents per diluted share for the third quarter of fiscal 2015. GAAP net income for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015 included stock-based compensation and related payroll taxes, accreting interest expense on convertible notes, amortization of acquisition intangibles, business acquisition costs, certain legal expenses and the income tax effect of non-GAAP adjustments. Excluding these items, non-GAAP net income for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015 was $11.4 million, or 12 cents per diluted share, compared with $19.3 million, or 21 cents per diluted share, for the third quarter of fiscal 2015.
The reconciliation between GAAP and non-GAAP financial results for all referenced periods is provided in a table immediately following the Unaudited GAAP Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations below.
Fiscal Year 2015 Results
Net revenue for the fiscal year 2015 was $372.0 million, up $119.5 million, or 47% from $252.5 million for the fiscal year 2014.
GAAP net loss for the fiscal year 2015 was $1.1 million, compared with net income of $6.1 million for the fiscal year 2014. On a non-GAAP basis, net income for the fiscal year 2015 was $42.7 million, or $0.46 per diluted share. This compares with non-GAAP net income of $52.3 million, or $0.58 per diluted share for the fiscal year 2014.
GAAP diluted net loss per share for the fiscal year 2015 as one cent, compared with diluted net income per share of seven cents for the fiscal year 2014.
Management Qualitative Comments
"Fiscal 2015 was a significant year for InvenSense," said Behrooz Abdi, president and CEO. "We achieved the highest revenue in company history, driven by strong market share gains and several high-volume customer wins. We also brought to market a record number of new products across our motion sensor, software and microphone portfolio intended to open up incremental revenue growth opportunities over the coming quarters. Our success in mobile in fiscal 2015 laid important groundwork for our continued achievement in the coming year, while the advancement of our platform strategy provides us with multiple entry points into verticals beyond mobile where our technology can provide significant value in the years to come."
Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2015 Earnings Conference Call
A conference call will be held today at 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time to discuss the quarter results and management's current business outlook. To listen to the conference call, please dial (866) 202-3048 ten minutes prior to the start of the call, using the passcode 76139380. International callers, please dial (617) 213-8843. A taped replay will be made available approximately two hours after the conclusion of the call and will remain available for two days. To access the replay, please dial (888) 286-8010 and enter passcode 99966713. International callers please dial (617) 801-6888. The conference call will be available via a live webcast on the investor relations section of InvenSense`s web site at http://www.invensense.com/ir. An archived webcast replay will be available on the web site for three months.
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Mushkin Announces REACTOR Series Expansion with UBISOFT's Ghost Recon Phantoms
Mushkin Enhanced MFG, an industry leading designer and manufacturer of high performance and mission critical computer products, announced today its expansion of its popular REACTOR series SSD, on May 11th, 2015 enthusiast will now be able to purchase the REACTOR Series in 256GB, 512GB and 1TB capacities, perfect for professionals and tech enthusiasts who want the best possible computing experience.
"At Mushkin we have always focused on not only helping enthusiasts push the limits of their PCs, but we've taken it to the next level, by providing quality solutions that deliver levels of performance that have earned Mushkin its place as one of the top SSD manufacturers," said Brian Flood, Director of Product Management at Mushkin Enhanced MFG.
Mushkin's REACTOR series SSDs feature Silicon Motions SM2246EN controller that maximizes PC performance for increased reliability. With data transfer speeds that reach up to 560MB/s read and 460MB/s write, with random 4K performance of up to 74K/76K read/write IOPS, the REACTOR 1TB SSD is an ideal tool for gamers, professionals, and consumers in need of high capacity storage solutions.
For more information on Mushkin's REACTOR series SSD modules, please visit: Link
For more information on where to purchase REACTOR series SSDs, please visit: Link
For more information on Mushkin's Ghost Recon Phantoms Sweepstakes, please visit: Link
*Game codes are equal to $30 (Retail Value)worth of game upgrades and are a while supplies last promotion. Codes only available at select e-tailers and retailers worldwide. Check with your e-tailer/retailer for more information.
**NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN THIS SWEEPSTAKES. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. ODDS OF WINNING WILL DEPEND ON THE TOTAL NUMBER OF ENTRIES RECEIVED. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. ONLINE ENTRY ONLY AND INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED. AFFIDAVIT OF ELIGIBILITY / RELEASE OF LIABILITY / PRIZE ACCEPTANCE FORM MAY BE REQUIRED.
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Habey Launches MITX-6770 Mini-ITX Motherboard
HABEY USA, a leading manufacturer of embedded computer products, today announces MITX-6770, the latest embedded board powered by the Intel J1900 Quad Core 2.42 GHz Celeron Processor. This thin Mini-ITX board is designed to meet the increasing demand for variety of network connectivity, higher network performance, flexible storage options and improved security of the Internet of things (IoT). The board has dual Intel Gigabit Ethernet ports build-in with Power over Ethernet (PoE) option, on-board Trusted Platform Module (TPM) security feature and support of two mSATA slots for storage redundancy.
Key Advantages:
- Dual Intel Intel I210/I211 Gigabit Etherenet Ports
- Build-in Ethernet port pin-header ready for POE (Power over Ethernet) module
- Dual mSATA SSD suppport with easy jumper selection
- Build-in Infineon Trusted Platform Module and 8-bit GPIO
- Realtek ALC892 high-performance 7.1-channel HD Audio
- LVDS/HDMI/DP/eDP add-on interface card options
- Low power, fanless passively cooling
- Retail price starting at: $159
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HP Announces the Next Wave of 2015 Back to School PCs
HP today announced a new family of all-in-one desktop and tower PCs designed to fit beautifully in the home for back to school. The new desktop lineup offers customers power and flexibility to scale for next-level productivity and entertainment.
Specifically, HP announced:
- The HP Pavilion All-in-One PCs offer customers power in a sleek design with a pedestal floating display to make it a focal point in the home.
- The HP Pavilion Tower brings a splash of color to traditionally black tower designs with a wide range of configuration options.
- The HP ENVY Tower gives content creators premium power in a brushed metal chassis featuring a signature vertical design now spanning the new tower portfolio.
- The HP ENVY Phoenix Tower gives gamers speed and power with discrete graphics options for performance to take down the competition.
- The HP Spectre Studio Display presents customers with a cinematic experience with advanced Ultra High Definition (UDH) 4k resolution.
For customers who want a desktop PC as a focal point in the home to create, share and be entertained, the HP Pavilion All-in-One PCs merge design with functionality offering the right features for immersive and powerful experiences.
The HP Pavilion All-in-One PCs are thin and look beautiful from every angle with an edge-to-edge full high-definition (HD) flush glass display. White iridescent color with a white dot pattern on the back allows the HP Pavilion All-in-One PC to fit in any kitchen, living room or home office.
The HP Pavilion All-in-One PCs have HDMI Out for customers to connect to a second display for multi-tasking or TV for maximum entertainment. HP Pavilion All-in-One PCs come with and two USB 3.0 ports and a 3-in-1 media card reader located on the display chin for easy access. On the back, four USB 2.0 ports are placed with the HDMI and LAN for easy routing of cables to keep the workspace clean and organized.
For power and performance, customers have the choice of fourth generation Intel Celeron processors, Intel Core i3 through i7 processors,(2) next generation AMD A10 and A8 processors or AMD next generation mainstream A4 through A8 processors. While integrate graphics are standard, customers have the option to choose AMD Radeon R7 A330 or A360 discrete graphics for video editing or gaming. With up to 3TB of storage options, customers have the space to store all of their precious family photos and videos, movies and music.
For immersive experiences to enjoy movies or for families to gather around to share videos and photos, the 21.5-, 23- and 27-inch diagonal IPS full HD displays have a new adjustable hinge on the pedestal floating display to bring it closer to eye level for a comfortable viewing experience. The HP Pavilion All-in-One PCs feature B&O Play audio to give customers bold, crisp and accurate sound through its dual speakers.
HP Pavilion Tower Gets Makeover with New Colorful Designs
For the customer looking for the latest in power to replace their older tower without compromise, the HP Pavilion Tower offers flexible configuration choices for everyday productivity and entertainment.
Taking cues from HP's colorful notebooks, the HP Pavilion Tower offers a distinctive new look with a vertical orientated design coming in Blizzard White, Natural Silver, Nobel Blue and Sunset Red. The HP Pavilion Tower supports fourth generation Intel Celeron processors, Intel Core i3 through i7 processors and next generation AMD A-Series A4 through A10 processors. Customers have graphics options from integrated graphics up to NVIDIA GTX 745 for better performance. For storing videos and photos the HP Pavilion Tower PC offers customers a selection to choose up to 3TB hard disk drive (HDD).
With dual-display support, the HP Pavilion Tower includes at least two USB 2.0 ports, up to four USB 3.0 ports, HDMI, DVI (Intel), VGA (AMD) and 7-in-1 media card reader. The new vertical design allows customers to easily access ports placed in the front of device. The HP Pavilion Tower includes B&O Play Audio Control for customers to customize their listening experience for movies, music and voice.
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The Kave XTD 5.1 Analog Makes its Mark on May
ROCCAT Studios, Germany's game peripheral powerhouse adds a member to the Kave family with the ROCCAT Kave XTD 5.1 Analog, set to hit online stores and retailers this April.
René Korte, CEO and founder of ROCCAT Studios effuses about the Kave XTD 5.1 Analog, "Not only is this headset a technically on-point peripheral in function, but the build is amazing. Looking at it, you'd never guess it was twenty five percent lighter than the original Kave. That's an ultra-light build packed with features, and so easy to wear during long gaming sessions due to a bevy of comfort options. To us, quality is innovation, be it something nobody has ever thought of, to making something that everyone has seen feel like a new experience. That's the Kave XTD 5.1 Analog. That's ROCCAT philosophy in practice."
Links:
ROCCAT Kave XTD 5.1 Analog website
ROCCAT Homepage
ROCCAT on Facebook
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CALL OF DUTY: ADVANCED WARFARE ASCENDANCE AVAILABLE NOW ON PLAYSTATION AND PC
Ascendance , the second epic DLC pack for Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare is live on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3 and PC. Ascendance features four new action-packed maps, the formidable OHM weapon (a 2-in-1 directed energy light machine gun/shotgun), the OHM Werewolf custom variant and Infection, the highly-anticipated next entry in Exo Zombies. In addition, the DLC pack also includes the all-new Exo Grapple ability playlist, which delivers a faster way to reach strategic vantage points, and also doubles as a brutal secondary weapon to take down the competition.
- Perplex: Get vertical in Sydney as you fight to dominate this five-story modular apartment complex. Take the high ground or blast through the close-quarters interior in this small to medium sized map. Adapt your strategy mid-match when construction drones shift apartment modules, creating new routes and cover positions.
- Site 244: A spacecraft has crash landed, spilling its mysterious cargo under the shadow of Mt. Rushmore, USA. This medium to large three-lane map allows for any style of gameplay, focusing combat through the space ship's fuselage and around the debris-littered landscape. Use the map-based scorestreak to crack open an alien spore and instantly enhance your perks and exo abilities.
- Climate : Fight your way through a futuristic man-made utopia in this lush, climate-controlled enclosure. In this small to medium sized circular map, land and water routes channel frenetic combat around the central island structure. Watch your step when the river water changes from an asset into a deadly bubbling obstacle.
- Chop Shop : Think fast as you make your way through the black market exoskeleton industrial complex and engage in fast-paced shootouts in this medium sized, symmetrical map. Activate the map-based scorestreak to take control of an Advanced Repulsion Turret that radiates a deadly microwave EMP to help lock down key areas.
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare Ascendance is also included in the Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare Season Pass*, where fans can get all four epic DLC Packs planned for the year. The Ascendance DLC Pack also includes the OHM 2-in-1 directed energy light machine gun/shotgun and the OHM Werewolf custom variant.
*Downloadable content in the Season Pass may be sold separately. If you purchase the DLC Season Pass, do not also purchase these standalone DLC Map Packs, as you will be charged for them. DLC Season Pass and DLC Map Packs may not be available on all platforms or in all territories. Pricing and release dates may vary by platform. Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare game required; sold separately.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements: Information in this press release that involves Activision Publishing's expectations, plans, intentions or strategies regarding the future, are forward-looking statements that are not facts and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause Activision Publishing's actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements set forth in this release include unanticipated product delays and other factors identified in the risk factors sections of Activision Blizzard's most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. The forward-looking statements in this release are based upon information available to Activision Publishing and Activision Blizzard as of the date of this release, and neither Activision Publishing nor Activision Blizzard assumes any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements believed to be true when made may ultimately prove to be incorrect. These statements are not guarantees of the future performance of Activision Publishing or Activision Blizzard and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond its control and may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations.
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ESL Mortal Kombat X launch event establishes title as a force in fighting game esports
ESL kicked off the Mortal Kombat X Worldwide Competitive program with the incredibly successful Fatal 8 invitational, presented by Xbox. The four hour event totaled over 200,000 hours watched and a peak concurrent viewership (CCU) of 85,449 as ESL, the world's largest esports company, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and NetherRealm Studios concluded their search for Mortal Kombat X's first champion.
The ESL Burbank studios were at maximum capacity as the fighting game community rallied around the newly released game's esports success. Official viewing parties in London and Paris also thrived as the fighting game experts fought to prove themselves in the newly-released game. The weekend saw #Fatal8 trending on Twitter in the United States as social media exploded with support for the game and tournament: over 2.2 million social media impressions were made with more than one million people reached over Facebook.
"The fighting game community is one that we were eager to welcome into the ESL ecosystem. But we knew we had to do it right," said Joshua Gray, Creative Producer at ESL and Fatal 8 host. "A lot of time went into perfecting the event's build up - from the personalized invitations to the trailers that really did tease. We put ourselves under a lot of pressure, having built up so many expectations. All of us here at ESL are extremely happy with how the event went, and with the reaction from the community. Fatal 8 was just the beginning: our ESL Pro League for Mortal Kombat X kicks off May 3rd across our three regions and promises to be spectacular."
The Mortal Kombat X Worldwide Competitive Program continues May 3rd with the ESL Pro League for Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, which hosts weekly US$1,000 tournaments in North America and Europe, with US$1,000 PC competition in the CIS territories. Each region will host open cups on Sunday that feature a single elimination best-of-five tournament with the top sixteen advancing to battle it out on Wednesday for that week's prize money.
Mid-Season Showdowns in each region award US$2,500 in prize money to the best-performing teams, with the winning players securing themselves a spot towards the Pro League's Global Season Finals. Set to take place on July 11th in the ESL Burbank studios, the Global Season Finals will pay out at least US$50,000 in prize money. Showcasing the best sixteen players from around the world: seven players from North America, five from Europe and two from CIS territories with two spots left to be announced.
For more information please see the tournament's official website or visit http://www.eslgaming.com . New to Mortal Kombat X? Check out "Kombat Klass" on YouTube for tips and tricks on how to play the game more effectively!
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PLEX for GOOD - Nepal Earthquake Relief
On Saturday, 25 April, a massive earthquake of 7.8 magnitude struck Nepal and the surrounding region, swiftly followed by an initial aftershock measuring 6.6 and a second measured at 6.7 the next day.
These earthquakes have caused unprecedented destruction across the area, leveling homes, businesses and reducing to rubble heritage that has stood for thousands of years. With the United Nations confirming that the death toll has surpassed 6,000 people, foreign aid has begun to pour in from across the globe.
An additional 14,000 people are known to have been injured, with the events over the weekend also affecting Mount Everest, which suffered a massive avalanche after the initial earthquake that struck the mountain's base camp, killing at least fifteen climbers and stranding almost 100 more. The UN estimates that approximately 3 million people are in urgent need of aid, with 24,000 living in makeshift camps, and over 130,000 homes destroyed by the earthquakes.
A report today from the United Nations Office of the Resident Coordinator estimates that around eight million people in 39 districts have been affected in total, of which over two million live in the 11 most severely affected districts, with landslides and challenging weather continuing to slow rescue efforts.
Along with the EVE Online community, CCP have been following the devastating impact of these events, and we were extremely humbled to see support tickets start to flood in and requests begin to appear on the EVE forums and social media sites requesting that we launch a PLEX for GOOD initiative to assist those affected.
Beginning today, Friday, May 1st 2015 through to 23:59:59 on Friday May 15 2015, CCP will be accepting PLEX for GOOD donations from our players.
For each PLEX donated during this period, CCP hf. will contribute USD $15 to the Icelandic Red Cross to fund their aid efforts in Nepal.
To make your PLEX for GOOD donation:
- Contract one or more PLEX to the "CCP PLEX for GOOD" character on a 14-day item exchange contract.
- Contracts will be accepted within 24 hours of submission, though usually sooner than that.
Once again, as we say with every PLEX for GOOD drive, we cannot thank the EVE Community enough for the support, encouragement and dedication that you all show to the PLEX for GOOD program.
Previous PLEX for GOOD drives have resulted in donations totaling over $340,000 to those in need during natural disasters in Japan, Haiti, Pakistan, and the United States, with the last PLEX for GOOD drive raising an astonishing $190,890 for those affected by Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines during November 2013.
As a gesture of thanks, for each PLEX you donate CCP will give you two virtual in-game t-shirts: the Sisters of EVE Food Relief "'Humanitarian' T-shirt YC117" (one male and one female) for use in EVE to show your support for PLEX for GOOD. These t-shirts are currently being designed, and will be distributed with a later release once they are finalized. Here's a preview of what they're going to look like:
To learn more about how this program works, please check out this FAQ. You can also learn more about PLEX here.
Please note that your contribution to PLEX for GOOD is not tax-deductible. For information on the Icelandic Red Cross (Rauði Krossinn á Íslandi), please visit their website at http://www.raudikrossinn.is/ or contact them at Efstaleiti 9, 103 Reykjavík, telephone +354 570 4000, central@redcross.is .
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The 21st DLC for PAYDAY 2, "The Butcher's Western Pack" launched on Steam April 30th
Starbreeze AB, one of Sweden's leading independent game developers, today announced that the 21st DLC pack for PAYDAY 2, titled "The Butcher's Western Pack", has been launched on Steam April 30th. The DLC pack is available for purchase at $ 4.99 / € 4.99 on PC through Steam and other digital distribution channels. The DLC features:
The Butcher's Western Pack
- Introduces the Repeater rifle, Plainsrider bow and the Peacemaker pistol
- 4 new melee weapons including a Tomahawk and the Arkansas Tooth Picker knife
- Dynamite as a new type of grenade
- 4 new masks, patterns, materials and achievements
For more information about the "The Butcher's BBQ Pack", please visit: http://www.overkillsoftware.com/games/butcherswesternpack/
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COUGAR celebrates first year in Gaming Peripherals, announces exciting future
COUGAR, leading brand in the development of PC gaming hardware, celebrates now its first year in the gaming peripherals market and announces plans for the future. Before entering this market, COUGAR had already become a well-known brand in the area of quality cases, PSUs and fans.
In the last five years, COUGAR has been receiving feedback from customers that expressed a wish for an improvement in the gaming peripherals market, which had long been plagued by problems such as non-functional designs, poor quality, unusable software and more problems. In view of this, COUGAR decided to take matters into their own hands.
"We love gaming, and we've worked hard for years to provide PSUs, cases and fans suited to gamers' specific needs. We took a long, hard look at the gaming peripherals market and to be honest, with few exceptions, we didn't like what we saw. We knew it was time for us to do something about it."
Lio Huang - Director
COUGAR entered the PC Gaming Peripherals market a year ago with the arrival of the 700 series. Greeted with almost universal acclaim from both the public and expert reviewers, both 700M and 700K received prestigious professional awards due to their design. Together with the 700 series came COUGAR UIX, which due to its functionality and user friendly interface became an instant success, receiving massive appraisal. Other products followed after them, and obtained similarly positive feedback.
For its second year in the market, COUGAR plans to significantly expand its product range in an effort to offer a quality alternative to all kinds of gamers (including left handed users), including products such as headphones and water resistant gaming keyboards, and expanding existing product lines to offer even better products especially suited for competitive gaming.
After consolidating its reputation as a solid, reliable provider of high quality gaming peripherals last year, COUGAR will also expand its presence in the eSports world, sponsorship of events and gaming teams. In the first half of 2015, the elite Brazilian team INTZ, sponsored by COUGAR, has achieved significant successes and managed to become Brazil's number one LoL team. COUGAR plans to continue this support and to expand this support in this coming year.
COUGAR will be at COMPUTEX 2015 (Taipei, June 2nd - 6th). Find us at Booth#: J0110, Location: Floor 1, Nangang Exhibition Hall and find out more about what we have in store for next year!
For more information go to http://www.cougargaming.com
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Racing Gets Real with the BenQ XR3501 Curved LCD Gaming Monitor
How real do you want your racing? Do you want to feel the engine rattle your bones and your stomach drop as you take a banked curve at nearly 200 miles per hour? Get ready, because BenQ, a world-leading human technology and solutions provider - and professional gaming monitor pioneer - today released the ultimate high-performance curved LCD monitor designed for a more immersive racing experience: the XR3501. Created for demanding racing gamers, the XR3501straps players in the driver's seat with its 2000R curvature - the most of any LCD monitor - and extra-wide 21:9 aspect ratio.
Immerse yourself in the action
The ultimate racing game experience unfolds when you lose yourself in the action. The mundane world of your home or office fades away and you are transported to the Grand Hotel hairpin at Monaco or the pits at Talladega. XR3501's 2000R curved screen puts the roadway right on your desktop. The concave 35-inch screen wraps around your peripheral visual range, making it easier to feel the thrill of speeding through city streets or making the dirt fly in a backroad rally. But before you get too lost in your virtual race, remember there are others maneuvering for the checkered flag and winner's circle, as well. The XR3501's extra wide 21:9 aspect ratio gives you significantly more space to keep an eye on your instruments and fellow drivers.
See every detail
Lighting fast reactions don't count for much if you can't see the next turn. The XR3501 solves this with crystal clear 2560x1080 screen resolution and vibrant colors that will have you seeing every detail, from the decals on your opponents' cars to the roadside grass and leaves on the trees you speed by.
The XR3501's Color Vibrance feature allows you to easily adjust color and detail settings based on your personal preferences. Lighting changes can hide critical details. Do the other cars seem to vanish in the darkness of a tunnel? Throw some light on the problem with Black eQualizer, boosting the brightness of darker regions of the screen without blowing out the well-lit areas. Now you can see every detail without sacrificing image quality.
Feel the speed
Nothing can pull a racing gamer out of a fully immersive experience faster than jerky, stuttering visuals and animations. The XR3501 keeps the action fast and smooth with the help of its 144Hz refresh rate. The higher refresh rate eliminates blurring while lending a more natural look to everything from other vehicles to passing scenery.
The XR3501curved LCD gaming monitor is expected to retail in the second quarter of 2015.
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RAZER LAUNCHES SEIREN PRO DIGITAL MICROPHONE WITH XLR RECORDING
Razer, a world leader in connected devices and software for gamers, today announced the Razer Seirēn Pro, a digital microphone designed for streamers and YouTubers.
Additionally, the Razer Seiren Pro gives streamers the option of recording via an analog XLR or digital USB connection. The XLR cable allows the Razer Seiren Pro to be plugged directly into mixing boards and cameras. Users can chain together multiple microphones and instruments to the board with the XLR option, with increased flexibility for adjustments on-the-fly during live sessions.
"With the success of YouTube, Twitch and the likes, there is a greater demand for high-fidelity recording equipment than ever before," says Min-Liang Tan, Razer co-founder and CEO. "Our second condenser microphone, the Razer Seiren Pro, delivers what video game streamers are looking for and provides great value to YouTubers, musicians and anyone looking to capture sound clearly."
Accessories such as a shock mount and pop filter are also available to pair with the Razer Seirēn Pro digital microphone for a complete recording setup. These accessories along with the Razer Seirēn Pro professional bundle can be found exclusively on RazerStore. For more information, visit http://www.razerzone.com/gaming-audio/razer-seiren-pro.
The Razer Seiren Pro is the latest addition to Razer's collection of products designed for content streamers. The original Razer Seiren, released late last year, also features a versatile multi-pattern USB digital connection capable of four different recording configurations with three custom-tuned, 14 mm condenser capsules.
Razer works with an array of top professional gaming YouTubers and streamers. Additionally, the company is committed to developing new talent in these ranks. As part of this focus, the Razer Sponsored Streamer Program was initiated to help aspiring content creators and streamers take their recordings to a professional level. Members of the Program will be divided into three experience levels, each entitled to different level of endorsement, ranging from a Razer Seiren promo to a full Razer peripheral suite sponsorship. For more information on the Razer Sponsored Streamer Program, visit http://www.razerzone.com/sponsored-streamer.
Price:
Razer Seiren Pro digital microphone U.S. $249.99 / EU €299.99
Shock mount accessory for the Razer Seiren Pro U.S. $49.99 / EU €49.99 (RazerStore exclusive)
Pop filter accessory for the Razer Seiren Pro U.S. $49.99 / EU €49.99 (RazerStore exclusive)
Razer Seiren Pro bundle (including accessories) U.S. $299.99 / EU €349.99 (RazerStore exclusive)
Availability:
Razerzone.com - Pre-Order
Worldwide - May 2015
Product features:
- HD recording with outstanding clarity
- 4 adjustable recording patterns (Cardioid, Stereo, Omni, Bi-directional)
- Quick controls for pattern switching, headphone volume and mic gain
- Built in headphone amplifier with zero latency output
- Recording via XLR or USB connection
- High-pass filter - filters frequencies below 100 Hz
- Power required / consumption: 5V 300 mA (USB) / 48V DC (analog)
- Sample rate: 192 kHz
- Bit rate: 24 bit
- Capsules: Three 14 mm condenser capsules
- Polar patterns: Stereo, cardioid, omnidirectional, bidirectional
- Frequency response: 20 Hz - 20 kHz
- Sensitivity: 12.5 mV/Pa (1 kHz)
- Max SPL: 120 dB (THD: 0.5% 1 kHz)
- Impedance: > 16 ohms
- Power output (RMS): 130 mW (@16 ohms)
- THD: 0.009%
- Frequency response: 15 Hz - 22 kHz
- Signal-to-noise ratio: 114 dB
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ADATA Teams Up with compLexity Gaming in Exciting eSports Partnership
ADATA Technology, a leading manufacturer of high-performance DRAM modules and NAND Flash products, announces today its partnership with eSports organization compLexity Gaming. This new relationship represents the first of many great steps for ADATA as it makes inroads into the thrilling world of high-performance gaming and eSports. "Both ADATA and compLexity Gaming have long histories of being leaders in their respective industries, so this partnership makes perfect sense," said Brian Jackson, Manager of Business Development for compLexity Gaming. "When you go looking for the fastest SSDs out there, it comes as no surprise that ADATA's at the top of the list."
ADATA and compLexity Gaming have already begun collaborating on many more announcements and events in the near future. ADATA has already outfitted the entire compLexity organization with award-winning XPG Series memory modules and SSDs as the team ramps up for upcoming events. Of the many upcoming games events in 2015 that ADATA and compLexity will attend are DOTA2, Hearthstone, StarCraft2, Heroes of the Storm and more! Backed by ADATA's quality and performance, gamers can feel confident in earning really high scores using ADATA XPG Series memory and SSDs.
"The relationship with compLexity represents a powerful opportunity for ADATA to build our presence in the gaming and eSports industry, which is a dynamic and growing market," said Melinda Leung, Marketing Manager of ADATA Technology (USA). "We're excited to join forces with compLexity and to bring our high-performance XPG Series memory and SSDs to gamers so that they can experience screaming fast performance and uncompromised quality. We are proud to support compLexity's team of championship-winning gamers and look forward to a lasting partnership."
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Vantiv Reports First Quarter 2015 Results
Vantiv, Inc. (NYSE: VNTV) ("Vantiv" or the "company") today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2015. Revenue increased 31% to $705.6 million in the first quarter as compared to $537.6 million in the prior year period. Net revenue increased 30% to $374.5 million in the first quarter as compared to $288.5 million in the prior year period, primarily due to strong growth in our Merchant Services segment. On a GAAP basis, net income attributable to Vantiv, Inc. was $19.0 million or $0.13 per diluted share in the first quarter as compared to $28.1 million or $0.18 per diluted share in the prior year period. Pro forma adjusted net income increased 15% to $89.4 million in the first quarter as compared to $77.6 million in the prior year period. Pro forma adjusted net income per share increased 15% to $0.45 in the first quarter as compared to $0.39 in the prior year period. (See Schedule 2 for pro forma adjusted net income and Schedule 6 for GAAP net income reconciliation to pro forma adjusted net income.)
"We delivered strong results for the first quarter of 2015," said Charles Drucker, president and chief executive officer at Vantiv. "Our results reflect the successful execution of our strategy, which is to build on our core strengths while expanding into high growth channels and verticals. By focusing on these priorities, we continue to consistently grow at above market rates and win market share."
Merchant Services
Merchant Services net revenue increased 42% to $290.7 million in the first quarter as compared to $205.3 million in the prior year period, primarily due to a 33% increase in transactions and a 6% increase in net revenue per transaction. Our prior acquisition of Mercury Payment Systems contributed 32 percentage points of net revenue growth in the first quarter. Sales and marketing expenses increased 54% to $110.2 million in the first quarter as compared to $71.8 million in the prior year period, primarily due to impacts from the Mercury acquisition.
Financial Institution Services
Financial Institution Services net revenue increased 1% to $83.8 million in the first quarter as compared to $83.2 million in the prior year period as a 5% increase in transactions was partially offset by lower net revenue per transaction. Sales and marketing expenses decreased 12% to $5.9 million in the first quarter as compared to $6.7 million in the prior year period.
Second Quarter Financial Outlook
Based on the current level of transaction trends and new business activity, net revenue for the second quarter of 2015 is expected to be $405 to $410 million, representing growth of 22% to 24% above the prior year period. Pro forma adjusted net income per share for the second quarter of 2015 is expected to be $0.53 to $0.55, an increase of 13% to 17% above the prior year period. GAAP net income per share attributable to Vantiv, Inc. is expected to be $0.23 to $0.25 for the second quarter of 2015.
Earnings Conference Call and Audio Webcast
The company will host a conference call to discuss the first quarter 2015 financial results today at 8:00 a.m. EDT. The conference call can be accessed live over the phone by dialing (888) 211-4439, or for international callers (913) 312-1381, and referencing conference code 2226766. A replay will be available approximately two hours after the call concludes and can be accessed by dialing (888) 203-1112, or for international callers (719) 457-0820, and entering replay passcode 2226766. The replay will be available through Thursday, May 14, 2015. The call will also be webcast live from the company's investor relations website at http://investors.vantiv.com. Following completion of the call, a recorded replay of the webcast will be available on the website.
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Transcend Takes the Lead to Announce 256GB JetDrive Lite Expansion Cards to Instantly Expand Storage Capacities of MacBook Laptops
Transcend Information, Inc. (Transcendhttp://www.transcend.com.tw/pr/press/images/small_r2.gif), a worldwide leader in storage and multimedia products, takes the lead to announce the launch of its 256GB JetDriveTM Lite Series of expansion cards aimed at MacBook Pro® with Retina® display and MacBook Air® users. With different models offered in up to 256GB capacities, Transcend's new JetDrive Lite cards are tailor-made to have a flush profile with each specific model while providing an easy way to increase available storage for media. With optimized compatibility, the expansion cards can now be used on a wider variety of models.
With their substantial amount of storage space, Transcend's JetDrive Lite expansion cards provide plenty of space to backup, store and carry personal documents, photos, movies and music. JetDrive Lite 130/350/360 are now offered in storage capacities up to 256GB, and JetDrive Lite 330 in 64GB and 128GB capacities. Each 256GB card, for instance, can store over 120,000 high-resolution photos, 64,000 mp3 songs, 64 hours of Full HD video, or seemingly limitless number of documents. When inserted into the SD card slot of a compatible MacBook Pro with Retina display or MacBook Air, the low-profile JetDrive Lite will not stick out like an SD card and can be left in place for on-the-go storage.
Guaranteed Performance, Full Compatibility
Manufactured with reliable, top-tier MLC NAND flash chips, JetDrive Lite expansion cards boast blazing fast read and write speeds of up to 95MB/s and 60MB/s respectively. This outstanding performance translates into reduced data transfer times regardless of file size; especially useful for photographers, video editors, and graphic artists working with extremely high-resolution images and videos. With improved compatibility, the users have now a wider range of models which fit with JetDrive Lite expansion cards.
Robust, Long-life Durability
Transcend's JetDrive Lite expansion cards are equipped with built-in ECC (error correction code), which automatically corrects potential transfer errors, and utilize a sophisticated wear-leveling algorithm for consistent long-life operation. For further peace of mind, JetDrive Lite cards are manufactured using a special COB (Chip-on-Board) technique, making them completely resistant to dust and water.
Transcend's Exclusive JetDrive Toolbox
Transcend's JetDrive Lite expansion cards come with JetDrive Toolbox a useful and free-to-download software that offers the Recovery and Power Save functions, allowing users to bring back accidentally deleted files and save power.
Pricing and Warranty
The JetDrive Lite 130/350/360 expansion cards are available in 64GB ($49), 128GB ($99) and 256GB ($199) while JetDrive Lite 330 cards are offered in 64GB ($49) and 128GB ($99) capacities. All Transcend memory cards are fully tested for compatibility and reliability, and carry Transcend's renowned Limited Lifetime Warranty.
Compatibility Table
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