IT News Head Lines (TweakTown) 6/24/2015

Overclockers UK announces new series of mean-sounding gaming PCs
With names like Karambit, Tanto, Katana, Scythe, Sabre, Rapier, Dagger, Scimitar and Machete, Overclockers UK's new custom-made PCs sure do pack a punch.

With the cheapest model listed at $475, there are plenty of options to chose from ranging from simple air-cooled setups to complete custom-looped water cooling beasts. Assembled and overclocked on site by Overclocker UK's system builders, each PC comes with a 3-year warranty and labor-free upgrades.

Complete with Windows 7, 8.1 or 10, the Blade Line of gaming desktops is a continuation of Overclockers UK's Atomic and special edition Project CARS models.

Read More ...

---

Chroma is everywhere with Razer's Tartarus Gaming Keypad
If you're looking for something to add to your complete gamer collection or mobile laptop gaming station, Razer has just announced its new Chroma version of the Tartarus Gaming Keypad - set to provide users with extra functionality and frags in their favorite games.

Complete with 25 programmable keys and a Chroma 16.8 million color lighting setup, there's the addition of an 8-way directional thumb-pad and ergonomic wrist-rest to round out the whole package.

Personalized lighting, macros and more can all be set up through Razer's Synapse.


Read More ...

---

Europol trying to combat Islamic State social media recruiting efforts
Europol wants to combat the Islamic State online, trying to keep track of almost 50,000 Twitter accounts with suspected ties to the terrorist organization. The United States seems to doubt its own ability to fight IS online, and the group continues to recruit new fighters and young women into its ranks in Iraq and Syria.

If all goes according to plan, the new efforts would be able to shutdown Twitter accounts within two hours of creation - and is designed to be an "effective way of combating the problem," said Rob Wainright, director of Europol, in a statement to BBC.

However, trying to identify and track all social media accounts with suspected IS ties is not feasible. "We will have to combine what we see online, with our own intelligence and that is shared with us by European police services, so we can be a bit more targeted and identify who the key user accounts are... and concentrate on closing them down."

There seem to be no easy answers in the global fight against IS, both on the battlefield and on the Internet.


Read More ...

---

Project Cars 2 announced, will be bigger and better than the first
Slightly Mad Studios has officially announced a sequel to Project Cars is entering development, with Project Cars 2 to follow its predecessor in being crowdfunded. Project Cars 2 will hit the Xbox One, PS4, PC and Steam OS. You can check out all the details, and fund Project Cars 2 right here.

Project Cars 2 will be much bigger and better than the original, with 50 unique locations, 200+ courses, dynamic time of day and weather, 40+ different vehicle classes and a cooperative career. Slightly Mad Studios teases: "Building upon the huge success of Project CARS being one of the highest-rated and fastest-selling racing games of this generation, Project CARS 2 continues to expand, innovate, and dominate with:"

• THE LARGEST TRACK ROSTER EVER - 50 unique locations and 200+ courses including 'loose surface racing' on dirt, gravel, mud, and snow. All will have dynamic time of day and weather allowing you to play anytime, anywhere
• THE WIDEST VARIETY OF MOTORSPORTS with 8 different disciplines now including Rallycross, Hillclimbs, and Touge. 200+ cars from over 40 different vehicle classes including never-before-seen Concepts and Banned Race Cars
• CO-OP CAREER - Play as the Teammate Driver, Spotter, Driver Swap, or Co-Pilot. More choices, more opportunities, more strategy, greater risks and greater rewards
• SEAMLESSLY CONNECTED - Socialize and compete via Online Track Days, have players from around the world take the place of AI-controlled drivers in your solo play, and get news updates on the Driver Network around you
• PRO ESPORTS RACING - Skill & Behavioural-based matchmaking, create your own Online Racing Seasons, and Live Broadcast and Spectator functionality
• YOUR HOME FOR RACING - Your own personal, customisable Test Track to tune and test your cars. Invite others to showcase your passion for racing and learn race craft and engineering with the Project CARS Academy

Read More ...

---

EUROCOM adds another beast laptop to the market, the P5 Pro Extreme
Complete with an Intel Core i7-4790K or i7-5775C desktop processor, an upgradable NVIDIA Quadro of GTX 900 series graphics chip, 32GB of RAM and with capacity for up to 5.2TB of total storage, Eurocom has come out of the blocks swinging once again with this amazing piece of technology.

There's also the option throw in an AMD Radeon R9-M290X if that is what you're more interested in. Set to power the highest available models 15.6-inch 4K QFHD screen, it will certainly look amazing either way.

With two M.2. SSD slots on hand to solve all of your storage needs, PCIe SSDs are further supported for optimal performance. If you're interested in more information, head to the official announcement here.


Read More ...

---

CS:GO sells big in Steam Summer Sales, followed by The Witcher 2
Taking a look at the Steam Spy summary of Steam's recent Summer Sales thanks to Games On Net, you'll come to notice that Valve's Counter Strike: Global Offensive sold up big this time around - netting 606,696 sales, marking a 4.46% increase in owners, $4.5 million in revenue and selling at a discount of 50%.

Bringing up second place was the Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Enhanced Edition, selling through 394,961 copies, marking a 12% increase in total players at an 85% discounted price of $2.99.

A special mention goes out to Deeponia. Being listed as the most heavily discounted game in the whole sale, this indie adventure game by Daedalic Entertainment was listed at a massive 95% off price of 99 cents and saw just shy of 70,000 total sales.


Read More ...

---

Samsung announces AMD FreeSync support with two UHD monitors
The U24E590D and U28E590D models are Samsung's first foray into pairing UHD with AMD FreeSync technology, pushing these products with HDMI 2.0 support, 60Hz refresh rates and UHD 3840x2160 resolution.

With the panels measuring 24" and 28" respectively, Samsung has bundled its Game Mode technology within, claiming to offer rapidly changing colors and brightness, enabling gamers to see clearly no mater how dull the lighting may be - possible similar to BenQ's Black Equalizer technology.

Set for release on the 26th of July, the 24" U24E590D will debut at $399.99 with the 28" U28E590D at $599.99.

Read More ...

---

MSI has released its Premium GAMING SLI Bridge with 4K in mind
With 4K gaming starting to gain traction, MSI has released its new premium LED-laden GAMING SLI Bridge, complete with support for 2-way SLI on NVIDIA GTX 900 series video cards.

This metal shrouded bridge brandishes the MSI GAMING logo and looks like it will suit most red and black color scheme case layouts, marketed as best for use with MSI's own GAMING series of NVIDIA GTX 900 video cards.

Unfortunately, there was no announcement in the press release of 3-way or 4-way SLI bridges just yet, hopefully we'll have an update for you soon on upcoming products and the pricing of this handy tool.


Read More ...

---

North Korea blacklists Instagram, denying access to residents
The small number of Instagram users in North Korea reportedly can no longer access the website, after the service has been blacklisted. The government blamed the site for sharing harmful content - and mobile users connected to Koryolink cannot upload, share or view images.

"Warning! You can't connect to this website because it's in blacklist site," reads an English prompt when a Koryolink subscriber tries to access the social networking site. Company officials reported they haven't been updated by new policy changes - and no official government statements have been released.

Users trying to access Instagram via traditional Internet connection also are blocked from accessing Instagram. North Korea heavily restricts Internet and mobile access inside of the country for its citizens, though foreign visitors can use mobile 3G connections.

Earlier in the month, North Korea vowed to launch a crackdown on uncensored mobile Internet access.


Read More ...

---

Apple bows to Taylor Swift, will pay artists during Apple Music trial
Well, it didn't take long before Apple bowed to public pressure from Taylor Swift regarding Apple Music and its free three-month trial period. The company also heard complaints from additional artists, and it was a decision made to help win over musicians to support the music service launching at the end of June.

"Apple will make sure that artists are paid," said Eddy Cue, SVP at Apple, in a Tweet. "Apple Music will pay artists for streaming even during customers' free trial period. We hear you @taylorswift13 and indie artists. Love, Apple."

Swift, after announcing she would pull her music from Apple Music in defense of the indie artists, celebrated Apple's announcement:

I am elated and relieved. Thank you for your words of support today. They listened to us.

- Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) June 22, 2015

Swift pulled her music from Spotify, and it had nothing to do with indie artists. This seems to just be the latest round of fighting as artists try to resist against streaming music - Swift has significant leverage, as she is one of the most popular artists in the world.


Read More ...

---

Bethesda: Fallout 4 on consoles: 1080p/30fps, no PC restraints for PC
When Fallout 4 hits the market later this year, Microsoft Xbox One and Sony PlayStation 4 gamers can expect to play it at 1080p and 30 fps, according to Bethesda. There was initial confusion - and a bit of panic - when it sounded like PC gamers would also have to endure restrictions, but that has been clarified by Bethesda.

The game studio also noted that gameplay on the PC will not be limited:

Fallout 4 is 1080p & 30fps on Xbox One and PS4. Resolution and FPS are not limited in any way on the PC.

- Bethesda Softworks (@Bethblog) June 22, 2015

Bethesda has a huge following of PC gamers, and hasn't restricted resolution or FPS for its PC gamers before, so this should be relatively comforting news.




Read More ...

---

US Navy interested in artificial intelligence for warfighting, support
It looks like the United States military wants to find ways to adopt forms of artificial intelligence and robotics. It won't just be for non-combat support operations, as the Navy wants to evaluate possible warfighting scenarios - and is reportedly looking for feedback from advisers.

The Navy is currently looking for realistic methods to deploy artificial intelligence and robotics into its operational support procedures. It seems highly likely future wars will heavily rely on robots and drones as a way to augment human military personnel.

A recent memo acknowledged the private sector is researching AI and robotics to see how private sector advancements can be used to further naval applications.

"When I see this memo, what I see is a demand signal from the very top to more heavily leverage what ONR (the Office of Naval Research) is already doing," said Lawrence Schuette, director of research at the ONR, in a statement to USNI News.


Read More ...

---

Gaming world seems to like virtual reality, but we need the content
There is no question that virtual reality headsets could drastically change the gaming world - but if the Oculus Rift, Project Morpheus, and other products want instant success, there must be appealing content to win us over.

"You're in a store and you're looking at a display, and here's all the head-mounted displays and then it costs $200 or $300," said Tony Christopher, CEO of Landmark Entertainment Group, in a statement published by NPR. "Why would you ever buy it when you don't know why you're buying it? You wouldn't."

I've tested the Oculus Rift DK1 and DK2 in a number of different games, and the potential is clearly there. Playing a game like Skyrim, and walking through the towns - or engaging a bandit with a melee character - is spectacular. I've played a few racing games and flight simulators using DK1, and there is just so much potential here.

However, we need to see a migration from working tech demos to finished products that consumers can actually use. With VR expected to hit the consumer market by the end of 2015, and future product launches throughout 2016, software developers need to get things moving.


Read More ...

---

Activision discusses news that Call of Duty is now 'home' with Sony
Microsoft wasn't shocked when Activision announced Sony would become the new 'home' of Call of Duty, giving PlayStation 4 gamers the chance to receive all content first.

Not surprisingly, Activision wants to make sure its games have a good playing experience, regardless if a gamer is using a PC, Microsoft Xbox One or PS4 - however, now is the time to partner with Sony, as the company has "a lot of momentum" with the PS4.

"Maybe Sony's the one that made an interesting switch? The thing behind it, it was the right partnership at the right time, for the right reasons, for all parties involved," said Eric Hirshberg, CEO of Activision, in a statement to GamesBeat. "I'd rather not talk about the inside baseball stuff. Both platforms matter to us. We want to create great experiences on both platforms. We're going to do that. No matter where you play Call of Duty or Destiny or any of our games, we'll deliver the best possible experience on each platform as we always have. In the case of Call of Duty, everyone gets all the content as well."

Hirshberg noted that Call of Duty has enjoyed a great run when it was home on the Xbox, and catered to many Call of Duty gamers who've only played on the Xbox platform.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 will launch on November 6 for the PS4, Xbox One and PC. Activision will also release Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of the game.


Read More ...

---

Treyarch actually made #AI in Black Ops 3 too good, had to limit it
Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 will feature extremely developed artificial intelligence, so gamers will get to enjoy a more unique playing experience.

Ideally, AI is able to pose a challenge to gamers, and be a bit more dynamic - but the studio had to be careful not to make the AI too difficult to overcome:

"The enemies make a reasonable, intelligent choice at all times," said Jason Blundell, Black Ops 3 campaign director at Treyarch, in the latest issue of Edge magazine. "One soldier may have an SMG, but his mentality could be 'I want to keep my distance,' 'I want to protect this point' or 'I need to flank.' The problem was reining that system in so the AI agents weren't too good."

Call of Duty: Black Ops III is scheduled to launch on November 6 on the PC, Sony PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Microsoft Xbox 360 and Xbox One.


Read More ...

---

Linksys AC1200 Amplify RE6700 Wi-Fi Range Extender Review

Wireless range extenders are solutions that enable us to extend our wireless networks to new lengths. With that said, we have seen a number of extenders come through, but none to this date have used such a unique design as the latest from Linksys.

The Linksys RE6700 is a dual-band range extender featuring 300 Mbps peak operation on the 2.4GHz band and 866 Mbps on the 5GHz. Additional features include SpotFinder technology which aides during setup in finding the best possible location for users to extend their network. Wi-Fi Audio is something we have seen in the past on many other solutions and that too has been included on the latest from Linksys. Marketing information from Linksys says the RE6700 is capable of extending you wireless coverage by up to 10,000 sq. ft. and can work with any router.

MSRP of the Linksys RE6700 is listed at $119.99 with a one-year warranty.

Packaging for the RE6700 includes an image and marketing information on the front.

Scope of delivery is rather simple with just the extender and reading materials.

The front of the extender houses a secondary power receptacle, along with a LED along the bottom for status.

The side of the adapter houses each of the extenders antennas. On the housing, you will find the WPS and reset buttons.

Initial setup of the RE6700 is quite simple, after plugging into the unit, you will be greeted by several screens before the one above is presented. This is the SpotFinder setup allowing you to see whether your extender placement is allowing you the full extension of your network.

A few menus after the previous, you will land here where your range extender is setup and ready to go.

Testing for the RE6700 was done with a 2013 MacBook Pro approximately fifty feet away from the base router, the range extender as seen in previous images was placed at an optimal position to extend our network the furthest. In the image above, we are looking at the performance data from the 2.4GHz network. The first section is our base station router where we have a rate just over 200 Mbps, but with a pretty low signal rate. The RE6700 cuts in about half way through the chart and while our rate drops to 150 Mbps, we gained a good amount of signal quality.

Next, we have the same base configuration, but now switching over to the 5GHz network. The first part is our base station router and as you can see once we are out a good distance our data rate is very near 0 and the same for quality. After switching over to the RE6700, our data rate jumped to 200 Mbps with quality and signal rate moving up significantly.

The RE6700 is the first range extender I have seen that includes a great many of features, along with its standard capabilities as a wireless device. This solution along with its range extending abilities to still use the receptacle along with being a Wi-Fi audio receiver where you can plug in any 3.5mm jack right into the device.

Build quality of the Linksys RE6700 is superb, we found no issues when using the unit with full rotation of the antennas and plastics that fit well and look good at the same time.

Performance of the extender was quite good, and while we could have hoped for more performance, at the distance we tested, the RE6700 results are more than acceptable. With help from SpotFinder, we were able to place our extender in a solid location that enabled us to extend our wireless network to places we previously struggled to get any sort of reception. Peak 2.4GHz results were around 150 Mbps, while 5GHz touched near 200 Mbps again nearly 25 feet away.

... Read the rest in your browser!



Read More ...

---

Introducing the CliqueFieMini, Minimalist Chic Design and Ultra-portable
CliqueFie, makers of the game changing and stylish selfie stick is proud to announce its ultra-portable member of the selfie stick clan, the CliqueFieMini. CliqueFie That's a mini CliqueFie (if you look close enough). Bad jokes aside CliqueFieMini is a serious product. Seriously awesome. The CliqueFieMini is everything you want in a selfie stick but packed into small, portable, and stylish.

When not in use the CliqueFieMini measures surprisingly small at 9 inches long (23cm) and weighing only 5oz (138g) which is roughly the size of an iphone. However when the CliqueFieMini is in "selfie mode" it can go as far as 30 inches (72cm), which is literally 2 and a half feet, so you can be sure that everyone can get into the shot. Also to make sure that your pictures stay "intact" the phone mount that is on the CliqueFieMini features 40 Newtons of locking force.

The CliqueFieMini is currently available in six colors - white, black, blue, yellow, green and pink

CliqueFie expects a full product release as early as June of 2015 and right now you can get two for the price of one. That's right it's buy one get one free! Simply order one CliqueFieMini and we will send you the second CliqueFieMini of the same color at no additional charge!

The MSRP of the CliqueFieMini is $24.99 USD

See the CliqueFieMini in action here: https://vimeo.com/127918693

Learn more and pre-order at: http://www.cliquefie.com


Read More ...

---

Overclockers UK Announces the Blade Line of Gaming Desktops
Overclockers UK, NewcastleUnder-Lyme, one of the UKs largest gaming PC system builders took a step back to review their current line-up of gaming systems and are revamping the ranges into an easy to understand category system, following on from the Atomic and the special edition Project CARS PCs, Overclockers UK are proud to announce their main gaming range, the Blade range.

The systems have been tailored to the current markets needs but will still feature a wide selection of options to allow the customer to optimise the system for their own requirements. Introducing the nine high performance gaming PCs into the Blade range: The Titan Karambit, Tanto, Katana, Scythe, Sabre, Rapier, Dagger, Scimitar and the Machete.

Starting from £419.99 the range of systems are suitable for all gamers, from casual to professionals. The PCs are assembled, configured, overclocked and tested by overclockers UK's experienced and professional system builders, supporting it with a standard 3 year warranty and labour-free upgrade service for total peace of mind.

The Blade range is fully Windows 10 ready, with Windows 7 and 8.1 users able to take advantage of Microsoft's free upgrade offer.

Packed with high-end hardware, with configurable options and an extensive range of cases to choose from, options for adding secondary hard drives, SSDs, video cards and also custom colour lighting for those who want a PC themed to how they want it.

These are ideal for those who want an out of the box solution, or for those who want to make further changes to make the system their own.

The mid to full-tower gaming systems are designed to play the current and latest games at mid-high resolutions at with a good high frame per second. All of these systems are available to purchase through finance, allowing you to buy now and pay in 6 or 12 months, or pay over monthly payment for 36 or 48 months.

For more details, visit this page.

Read More ...

---

Razer Tartarus Chroma Gaming Keypad Now Available for Purchase
The Razer Tartarus Chroma gaming keypad comes with 25 anti-ghosted, fully programmable keys, including an 8-way thumb-pad for complete control and manoeuvrability.

Now with Chroma customizable lighting, the latest version of this gaming keypad has access to the full spectrum of 16.8 million color options. As a gaming keypad, the Razer Tartarus Chroma provides a comfortable and efficient alternative to keyboards for PC gaming, especially real-time strategy MMOs and other key-intensive games where left- and right-hand independence is useful.

The Razer Tartarus Chroma offers infinite commands with its 25 fully programmable keys allowing users to bind all their preferred skills, macros and hotkeys for a personalized gaming experience. The precise 8-way directional thumb-pad can also act as modifier keys. The Razer Tartarus Chroma features advanced ergonomics with its adjustable wrist-rest that can be angled to maximize comfort. Now featuring Chroma lighting with 16.8 million color options, the keypad opens up a world of practically limitless personalization possibilities and preloaded lighting effects, all easily programmed through Razer Synapse.


Read More ...

---

Eurocom ships fully unlocked gaming powerhouse laptops with socket based Intel Core i7-5775C unlocked processor and high performance, upgradeable MXM 3.0b GPUs
Eurocom is shipping high performance gaming laptops with unlocked socket based Intel Core i7-5775C desktop processors and top of the line, upgradeable NVIDIA GeForce, AMD Radeon and NVIDIA Quadro MXM 3.0b graphics.

The EUROCOM P5 Pro Extreme closes the gap between laptops and high performance desktop computers by bringing home a full-fledged Intel Core i7-4790K or I7-5775C with overclocking and no compromises. The EUROCOM P5 Pro is a hig performance, desktop gaming and workstation in disguise.

The Intel Core i7-5775C is a socketed desktop processor with Intel's most advanced on-die graphics engine, Iris Pro Graphics 6200, it is compatible with the LGA 1150 interface, and they're also multiplier-unlocked, allowing users the ability of overclocking it for additional performance.

Eurocom provides an optional unlocked BIOS to allow customers to take full advantage of overclocking capabilities within unlocked Intel processors. These 14nm Intel Broadwell CPUs advance power efficiency over previous offerings by specifying 65W TDPs for unlocked quad-core models p to 95W for overclocking and maximum performance.

Memory is fully upgradeable and configurable with four SO-DIMM sockets able to support up to 32 GB of memory.

The EUROCOM P5 Pro supports both Haswell and Broadwell Processors. The EUROCOM P5 laptop offer serious CPU socket scalability and upgradeability with support for 4th and 5th generation processors in the form of Intel Core i5, i7, i7 Extreme and Xeon processors. Being fully upgradeable and configurable, customers can now come to Eurocom for a variety of Enthusiast and Professional processors.

The EUROCOM P5 Pro support a full line of professional grade NVIDIA Quadro K5100M, K3100M and K1100M graphics, along with graphics from NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M, 970M, 965M and AMD Radeon R9-M290X allowing customers to get the mobile graphics processing power they need.

The P5 Pro is prewired for 3G/4G module support, through an M.2 slot, so users can have a reliable internet connection on the go for mobile gaming or professional use.

Storage comes from an optional four drive bays, two M.2. SSD slots and 2 standard drive bays for up to 5.2 TB of RAIDable storage. PCIe Solid State drives are supported for enhanced storage performance. RAID 0,1,5 and 10 are offered for maximum performance or redundancy.

EUROCOM P5 Pro Specifications:

• Display: 15.6-inch 4K QFHD 3840-by-2160, 3K WQHD+ 2880-by-1620 or FHD IPS 1920-by-1080 pixels; 60Hz; eDP interface; LED Backlit
• Chipset: High Performance Intel Z97 Express Chipset
• Overclocking: supported with i7 4790K Processor; O/C BIOS available.
• Processor: Socket based; LGA1150; up to 90W TDP; choice of Core i7, i5, i3 and Xeon E3 series.
• VGA Technology: MXM 3.0b; NVIDIA GeForce: GTX 980M, 970M or 965M; Quadro: K5100M, K3100M or K1100M; AMD: R9 290X
• Cooling: High performance, high quality copper integrated dual 5-pipes GPU/CPU heat sink
• Memory: Four 204-pin SO-DIMM sockets; DDR3L-1600, 1866 or 2133; 1.35V; up to 32GB
• Storage: up to 4 physical drives: 2x M.2 2280 PCIe or SATA SSD and 2x HDD/SSD (9.5mm) SATA3 6Gb/s and with Intel Rapid Start Technology; Intel Smart Response Technology and RAID 0/1/5/10
• Card Reader: 6-in-1: UHS-II interface; MMC/RSMMC/SD/mini SD/SDHC/SDXC; Push-Push
• Keyboard and Touchpad: Anti-ghosting backlit keyboard with seperate numeric keypad; TouchPad with multi-gesture and scrolling; W/A/S/D Gaming key
• Ports: 4x USB 3.0 (1x powered USB port, AC/DC); 1x eSATA/USB 3.0 Combo port; 2x DP 1.2; 1x HDMI 2.0; 1x Headphone; 1x Microphone-in; 1x S/PDIF (digital); 1x Line-in; 1x RJ-45 LAN; 1x DC-in
• Audio: High Definition Audio; S/PDIF Digital Output; Built in array microphone; Built in two 2W speakers; Sound Blaster X-FI MB3; External 7.1CH output (headphone, mic, line-in and S/PDIF); ANSP 3D Sound Technology (headphone output)
• Display Support: Supports up to 4 active displays including internal LCD; up to 3840x2160 @ 60Hz
• Security: Kensington Lock and Embedded TPM 2.0
• Battery: 8cells 82Wh Li-Ion; up to 120 minutes
• Weight: 3.4kg / 7.48lbs w/ battery
• Dimensions: 386x262x35mm / 15.4x10.48x1.4-inch

Read More ...

---

Creative Unveils the ROAR 2 Portable Bluetooth Speaker
Creative Technology Ltd., today announced the launch of a brand new variant of the critically acclaimed Sound Blaster Roar portable Bluetooth wireless speaker − the smaller, lighter, sexier Sound Blaster Roar 2. The all new Sound Blaster Roar 2 portable Bluetooth wireless speaker retains the same 5 speaker drivers, electrical design, and battery life as the Classic Sound Blaster Roar − but is now 20% smaller and 10% lighter. And it is available in black or white. Encased in a stylish sleek housing that exudes the understated sophistication of a well-designed audio instrument, the smaller-lighter-sexier Sound Blaster Roar 2 continues to impress, whether it is used at the office, in a designer home, or at a party.

The Sound Blaster Roar 2 also comes with two all new features not found on the original Sound Blaster Roar:

Increased flexibility with additional placement and acoustic options: Users can choose between placing the speaker horizontally for room-filling and balanced audio, or vertically for louder and more directed audio.

Beautifully machine-finished pulsating passive bass radiators: The Sound Blaster Roar 2's passive bass radiators are unobstructed and beautifully machine-finished. They pulsate mesmerizingly − users can now not only hear the bass, but they can actually feel and see the powerful bass in action.

"The original Classic Sound Blaster Roar was an amazing feat of audio engineering. It was truly a speaker that defied the laws of acoustic engineering. We razed through countless designs and overcame seemingly impossible design obstacles. In the end we created a portable Bluetooth wireless speaker with powerful killer audio and kickass thumping bass in a size no larger than a booklet." said Mr Wong Hoo Sim, Creator of the Sound Blaster and CEO of Creative Technology Ltd.

"But that was just the beginning. With the all new Sound Blaster Roar 2, we have upped our game and taken the feat of speaker miniaturization to the next level. The main design intent of the Sound Blaster Roar 2 was to create a smaller-lighter-sexier version of the Classic Sound Blaster Roar while retaining its sonic DNA. This is even more daunting than the designing of the original Sound Blaster Roar, because by the law of physics, great audio simply requires a larger enclosure. By further pushing the envelope of high-powered portable speaker design, we have again achieved a new 'impossible'.

The Sound Blaster Roar 2 retains the same mind-blowing 5 drivers, the same electrical design, and the same battery as the Classic Roar, but is now 20% smaller. Not only smaller and lighter, we have made it sexier. By revealing the pulsating machine-finished bass radiators, your music now becomes an aurally, visually and sensually appealing experience. And by re-orienting the speaker in a vertical position, you can get a new audio profile that is louder and more directed − great for a noisy party or an outdoor environment."

Like the Classic Sound Blaster Roar, the Sound Blaster Roar 2 comes packed with a whole host of useful features:

Integrated MicroSD WMA and MP3 player

The Sound Blaster Roar 2 features an integrated MicroSD WMA and MP3 player that allows users to play audio directly from a MicroSD card, so users do not need to always commit their smartphone to play music. The player even allows users to skip music folders so that they can navigate to their songs faster without having to tediously cycle through all their individual tracks.

Speakerphone Teleconferencing

With its built-in high quality microphone providing for clear 360° voice pickup, the Sound Blaster Roar 2 is able to take calls when connected to a smartphone via Bluetooth.

Integrated Voice Recorder

The Sound Blaster Roar 2 features an Integrated Voice Recorder that utilises the speaker's built-in microphone, allowing for versatile one-touch recording of all kinds of audio − calls, external voices, or streamed music − directly to an insertable MicroSD card. The feature is ideal for recording voice memos, lectures, interviews, teleconferencing sessions, and business/corporate meetings.

NFC-Enabled Bluetooth with Multipoint and HD Audio Codec Support

The speaker is able to connect wirelessly via Bluetooth, and utilises the aptX and AAC codecs for the highest quality audio and lowest possible latency. The sound booklet also features the latest Near-Field Communication (NFC) technology, allowing users to quickly and easily connect to Bluetooth devices, requiring only a simple tap from an NFC-enabled smart device to the speaker to pair and establish a connection. Users can also connect two Bluetooth devices to the Sound Blaster Roar 2 simultaneously.

Bedtime Mode

In Bedtime Mode, the Sound Blaster Roar 2 gradually reduces its volume before automatically shutting down. The feature allows users to be gently and gradually lulled to sleep, and at the same time preserves the speaker's battery by turning it off after a predetermined time, instead of leaving it switched on for the whole night. Parents of young children would also appreciate the feature − they can record themselves reading out a bedtime story, and play the recording back to their children as they are falling asleep.

USB Audio With Sound Blaster Enhancement

The Sound Blaster Roar 2 is not just a wireless speaker for smart devices. Users can connect it to their PCs or Macs via USB to enjoy clear digital audio for their desktops or laptops. Connecting the speaker via USB enables advanced PC audio processing via the downloadable software, Sound Blaster Control Panel, and full access to the SBX Pro Studio suite of technologies that intelligently enhance audio in real time.

Dual Purpose Battery

The Sound Blaster Roar 2 also features a Dual Purpose Battery. The large, built-in 6000 mAh Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery can be used to charge smartphones and tablets, beyond providing up to 8 hours** of audio playback.

SBX Pro Studio Features:

• SBX Crystalizer − Restores the "highs" and "lows" that are compromised during audio compression to create and audio experience as the original artist intended
• SBX Smart Volume − Intelligently minimises abrupt volume changes by automatically adjusting the loudness of audio playback
• SBX Dialog Plus − Intelligently enhances voices in music and movies for drastically clearer vocal range
• SBX Bass − Dramatically improves the sound experience by expanding the low frequency tones
• SBX Surround − Creates unprecedented levels of audio realism by producing virtual speakers around, above and below the listener

* Sound Blaster Roar 2 functions as an external Sound Blaster sound card when connected to a PC/Mac via USB.

Pricing and Availability

The Sound Blaster Roar 2 portable Bluetooth wireless speaker, priced at GBP199.99.


Read More ...

---

Samsung Launches First Monitors in UHD Line to Deploy AMD's FreeSync Technology
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., announced the introduction of the U24E590D and U28E590D, the first Samsung UHD monitors with AMD's FreeSync technology. These UHD monitors offer unprecedented picture quality for gaming, entertainment and multi-tasking activities.

The U24E590D and U28E590D are the first UHD Samsung monitors with AMD FreeSync capabilities. FreeSync synchronizes the monitors' refresh rates to eliminate large jumps in frame time for noticeably smoother multimedia use. The integration of AMD FreeSync is especially beneficial for gamers, who will notice an immediate increase in responsiveness and the elimination of screen tearing and shuttering.

Flawless Display and Multimedia Experience

The U24E590D and U28E590D's UHD display (3840x2160) offers users discernably sharper text, images and video content. Previously uncaptured content and a brightness level of 370cd/m2 that further enhances the visual experience with incredibly rich and vibrant colors, all on a flicker-free screen. Both monitors also use HDMI 2.0, which supports a 60 Hz frequency to view content smoothly, while the 28" has a 1ms response time.

With Samsung's Game Mode technology, the visual experience is intensified by rapid response to changing colors and brightness, which enables users to see more vivid images even in darker scenes. The U28E590D monitor also supports 1 billion unique colors which is 64 times greater than the conventional monitor.

Enhanced Productivity, Connectivity and Usability

Both monitors offer powerful multi-tasking tools; with Picture-in-Picture technology, users can watch their favorite movie in one window while working on a spreadsheet in another and the Picture-by-Picture feature allows users to connect two PCs to the same monitor. Additionally, DP and HDMI ports means that there are no limits in connectivity as two different devices can be synced to the same monitor.

The crystal-like clarity of the UHD display reduces strain on the eyes, allowing users to play and work more efficiently on their screen for extended periods of time.

The U24E590D is priced at $399.99 and will be available beginning July 26, 2015. The U28E590D is $599.99 and available now.

For more information, visit the product pages of the U28E590D and U24E590D.

Read More ...

---

MSI Launches Premium GAMING SLI Bridge
As game developers continue to push the boundaries of epic in-game graphics, the popularity of 4K gaming is also on the rise. To fully enjoy this spectacular gaming experience, hardware requirements are also pushed higher than ever. Gamers running multiple powerful video cards in SLI are enjoying ever more benefits. As the leading brand in Gaming, MSI is excited to unveil a brand new premium GAMING SLI bridge which forms the perfect link for any MSI GAMING SLI setup.

The bridge features a premium LED illuminated GAMING logo that can be controlled by the exclusive MSI Gaming App and is forged out of high quality materials. It supports 2-Way SLI for NVIDIA GTX 900 series video cards. The carefully engineered metal shroud on the SLI connectors gives the new GAMING SLI Bridge a solid look & feel while also enabling higher conductivity. Optimized for 4K+ resolutions and 144Hz+ refresh rates, the MSI GAMING SLI bridge is ready for next generation gaming.

• Size (L x W x H): 9.6 x 3.5 x 2.1 cm
• Weight: 50 g
• SLI connector spacing: 60 mm (4 slots)

Read More ...

---

BIOSTAR Releases N3150NH - A Mini-ATX Board with Embedded Value
BIOSTAR is offering the N3150NH motherboard with the on-board Intel® N3150 1.6G Quad-core processor, using a Mini-ATX form factor with a size of 17x17cm, builders are able to make creative designs for many different uses that fit into small enclosures.

The N3150NH boards comes with the Intel® Celeron N3150 1.6G Quad-core processor with turbo boost up to 2.08G already installed and it supports up to 8GB Memory for DDR3L-1600 OR 16GB Memory for DDR3L-1066. With the integrated GPU, watching HD content and playing games is no sweat. Expansion includes 1 PCI-E 2.0 slot. Indeed, the N3150NH board is ready for building all kinds of multimedia systems with its HDMI and analog VGA-out, and high definition audio with the Realtek ALC662 6 Channel HD Audio chip.

LAN networking is covered by the Realtek RTL8111H - 10/100/1000 controller and being a BIOSTAR board it has the Smart Speed LAN feature. SmartSpeedLAN is a free software application which monitors and manages your PC's network behavior. With user-friendly GUI, it allows you to select and prioritize different types of network traffic, including gaming, media streaming, communications or web surfing. You can also set any specific applications, choosing to prioritize or block accordingly. SmartSpeedLAN can feature automatic management options that use adaptive networking intelligence to ensure that you are getting the best online experience possible.

Hooking up content from hard drives or other USB devices is no problem with 2 USB 3.0 ports, 1 USB 3.0 header and 4 USB 2.0 ports.

The X.D.C (eXtreme Durable Capacitors) is quality solid capacitors to help make sure the board remains rock solid and stable. These are low ESR and high ripple conductive solid state capacitors that provide a stable power supply to the CPU. The lifespan can also be more than 6.25 times that of ordinary liquid caps.

Not only that, this board features "Moistureproof" PCB design. That means that you can setup an outside kiosk or signage and even in rural or coastal areas with high humidity the board will be robust.

The boards feature the latest BIOSTAR technologies such as BIOS Flasher and BIOS Online Update for easy updating and restoration of the BIOS, as well as BIO-Remote2 for remote control of the system via Android and Apple devices.

BIO-Remote2 Technology gives users a better Home Theater environment. Users who own either Android or Apple mobile devices are able to access and control the PC remotely. You're smart device can become an intelligent and functional remote control. Moreover, BIO-Remote2 also includes both the function of mouse pad and power point presentation modes.

The N3150NH also features the Charger Booster function. It is a high powered charging solution for Apple or Android devices such as iPad, iPhone and Android phones and tablets. Charger Booster Technology is able to boost the charging time to be more efficiency and faster once any mobile device is connected to the motherboard. With Charger Booster technology, you are able to charge your devices up to 42 % faster.

The N3150NH fully meets the requirements for systems running under the Windows 7 and Windows 8 and 8.1.

Lastly, the N3150NH features ESD (Electrostatic Discharge) protection where the board is protected from accidental electricity charges from user's touching areas of the board or when devices are connected or disconnected.

The N3150NH will have an MSRP of $69 USD. For more information please visit: http://www.biostar.com.tw/app/en/mb/introduction.php?S_ID=804

Check out BIOSTAR's latest Gaming video:

Read More ...

---

Available Tags:Overclockers , UK , gaming , Steam , Samsung , AMD , MSI , Apple , Apple , Activision , Sony , Intel ,