Maingear Catches Eyes With Striking mX-L 15" Multimedia Notebook
Maingear has been keeping its game up in the gaming laptop arena, and there's no clearer evidence of that than this machine. The mX-L 15 multimedia notebook is one of the sexier machines we've seen to emerge in quite awhile, and continued unveilings like this could really put the company on a different playing field. It lacks the marketing and clout of a Dell or HP, but it's becoming all the more popular in the underground, and we all know that the underground is where the good stuff starts.This rig can be ordered
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Super Talent Announces Encrypted USB 3.0 Flash Drive
Super Talent introduced a new USB 3.0 SuperCrypt drive that offers AES hardware encryption and high performance. The new drive is available in capacities of 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, 128GB and 256GB and supports USB 3.0 speeds of up to 240MB/s. For encryption, Super Talent offers two options, both of which include the STT encryption utility for password control. The SuperCrypt drive offers 128-bit ECB encryption, while the SuperCrypt Pro features 256-bit XTS encryption. The USB 3.0 SuperCrypt drive will be available
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Panasonic Intros Rugged 12.1" Toughbook C1 Tablet PC
Finding rugged cameras isn't all that hard, and honestly, finding any sort of rugged "accessory" doesn't take too much effort. When it comes to notebooks, however, your options are limited. For better or worse, Panasonic has had the rugged laptop market on lock-down the past few years, as their Toughbook lineup is generally seen as the go-to product line if you need a portable machine that can take a beating (and keep on computing).With tablets becoming all the rage once more, it's no surprise to see Panasonic
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AVADirect Starts Shipping High Octaine i7 SLI Gaming Notebook
Talk about an obscene amount of power. AVADirect has begun selling what it claims is the world's most powerful i7 SLI gaming notebook -- the Clevo X8100 -- and after taking a peek at the spec sheet, we won't argue. Every bit the desktop replacement, only the chassis qualifies this one as a notebook, even if the hardware under the hood screams otherwise. Here's what you get:Screen: 18.4†Full HD (1920x1080) TFT LED LCD Processor: Intel® Core™ i7 720QM / 820QM / 920XM Socket G1 processors supportVideo
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Nokia Introduces New Line Of Affordable Smartphones
Nokia unveiled a new line of smartphones on Tuesday. The new Cseries line focuses on social networking and sharing. As the first smartphone in the Cseries lineup, the C5 comes with an affordable price tag of 135 Euros ($183) before taxes and subsidies. The C5 provides direct access to favorite contacts directly from the handset's home screen. Additionally, Nokia has made it easy to access social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace from the phone. Nokia Messaging provides access to instant messaging
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Kingston Introduces World's Fastest Low Voltage Performance Memory
These "world's fastest" claims seem to be flying in at a record pace these days, but even though companies are holding their crowns for shorter periods of time, that's not stopping Kingston from bragging while they can. Today, the company is introducing the world's first, fastest low-voltage and ultra low-voltage memory for performance machines.The new product fits into the company's LoVo (low voltage) HyperX range, offering ultra-low voltage memory running at 1.25 volts at 1600MHz. The flagship product, running
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TiVo Gets With The (Web) Program: Premiere DVR Debuts
The TiVo. Everyone knows the name, and everyone knows the purpose, but for whatever reason, the name that's associated with "DVR" isn't in too many homes. Many consumers simply opt to grab the DVR that is offered to them by their cable or satellite provider, mostly because it's cheaper on a month-to-month basis, and it's also a lot easier to get setup. A dedicated TiVo box is a separate purchase, and it still requires a monthly fee even after you pay the up-front price of the box itself. TiVo still has legions
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WD SiliconEdge Blue 256GB SSD Review
Solid State Storage products are obviously setting the computing market on fire as of late. There is little question that the writing is on the wall. Like the vacuum tube transistors of yesterday, spinning hard drives are bound to go the way of the Dodo bird. It's only a matter of time; not if, but when. However, the "when" in reality will likely not come for years yet of course. In the Data Center, where ridiculously cheap bulk storage is critical, there is just no substitution
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Free Ride Ends For Users Of Windows 7 RC
If you're still running Windows 7 Release Candidate, you've likely begun to experience bi-hourly shutdowns. Microsoft released the RC in May as a final public test before the RTM build in July. While the RC version has been free to use without restrictions since its release, Microsoft has made it clear that it planned to discontinue the free ride starting March 1. Users who have ignored the regular pop-up warnings that let you know of the RC's expiration will now experience a shutdown every two hours. The shutdowns
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Microsoft Warns Windows XP Users To Avoid F1 Key In Internet Explorer
2010 has not been kind to Microsoft's security team. In under a month's time, we've seen Microsoft address a bug that was supposed to fix an ancient exploit but instead caused more headaches, all while having to encourage consumers not to be duped by a fake security site parading around as something useful. As if those software savvy folks up in Washington didn't have enough on their plates, the company has today issued yet another startling advisory, and this is easily one of the more bizarre ones that we've
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NVIDIA Optimus: The Video Card Is Optional
We've already covered the launch of NVIDIA's power-saving Optimus technology and associated Next-Generation Ion platforms for Atom today (including the ZBox from Zotac), but there's a nifty video over at nTersect (NVIDIA's company blog) that's worth a watch if you want to see just how "Off" your video card is when a system uses Optimus technology. NVIDIA describes it thusly: Why? Because with Optimus when the GPU is not needed it is completely powered off automatically and seamlessly WHILE the rest of the system
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SteelSeries Introduces Mechanical 6Gv2 Gaming Keyboard
If you follow us around here, you'll know that we love mechanical key switch keyboards. These kinds of keyboards are extremely rare compared to the more conventional boards, and they're generally better built and able to withstand more key presses of the life of the device. Most people don't type enough or care enough about their typing experience to scout out one of these, but if you are, SteelSeries has a new board with your name on it. The company's newest gaming keyboard is modeled after the SteelSeries
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Million Dollar Atom: Intel Offers AppUp Incentives
Intel announced its AppUp application store at Mobile World Conference last month and the company is pushing out an incentive package aimed at luring developers into netbook-centric programming. The new program—the Million Dollar Development Fund—is currently made up of three separate elements: Fast Track 2010, Dollars for Downloads 2010, and the Intel Atom Developer Challenge. Fast Track and Dollars for Downloads are relatively simple payment programs. For Fast Track, the developers of the top 250 qualifying
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Zotac Announces New Next-Generation Ion ZBox
Zotac gave details on the next system in its line of mini-PCs today, the HD-ID11. Externally, the HD-ID11 is nearly identical to the HD-ND01 we reviewed last year, but the manufacturer has made a number of small upgrades to add a few of the features we had on our wishlist for the original MAG. There have also been a few subtractions; we'll have to wait for a hands on review to determine how the new system's balance compares to the original. First, the hardware. The new ZBox is built around an Atom D510 SoC and
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Apple Sues HTC For Patent Infringement: Who Is Next?
This story is just now breaking, with developments still filtering in. Rather than introducing new MacBook Pro refreshes or doing something else that Apple typically does on Tuesday mornings, the Cupertino-based company unleashed a bombshell on HTC and the entire smartphone sector just hours ago. Apple just filed a lawsuit against HTC, which is the same company responsible for creating the HD2, Droid Eris and the Google-branded Nexus One. In other words, this is no minor deal. Apple and HTC are two of the biggest
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Researcher Claims Conclusive Proof Of Aggressive Behavior - Video Game Link
A new analysis of 130 total studies covering more than 130,000 gamers from elementary school age to college age conducted in the U.S.A., Europe and Japan reasserts the influence of violent video games on aggression in children. Dr. Craig Anderson's conclusions appeared in Psychological Bulletin, a journal of the American Psychological Association on Monday.Dr. Anderson is a psychologist at Iowa State University. After reviewing the findings of past studies, Anderson said:"Playing those types of games increased
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Corsair Debuts Air Series A50 And A70 CPU Coolers
CeBIT is just starting to heat up in Germany, but Corsair has a mind to keep things on ice. Aside from launching a new USB 2.0 thumb drive, the accessory maker has also introduced the Corsair Cooling Air Series A70 and A50 CPU coolers, with the former designed for those "looking to squeeze every last megahertz of performance out of their high-end Intel and AMD processors, without sacrificing low noise levels." The A50 line, on the other hand, is more for those who have yet to really jump on the overclocking
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WD SiliconEdge Blue 256GB SSD Review
Solid State Storage products are obviously setting the computing market on fire as of late. There is little question that the writing is on the wall. Like the vacuum tube transistors of yesterday, spinning hard drives are bound to go the way of the Dodo bird. It's only a matter of time; not if, but when. However, the "when" in reality will likely not come for years yet of course. In the Data Center, where ridiculously cheap bulk storage is critical, there is just no substitution
Read More ...
Corsair Debuts Air Series A50 And A70 CPU Coolers
CeBIT is just starting to heat up in Germany, but Corsair has a mind to keep things on ice. Aside from launching a new USB 2.0 thumb drive, the accessory maker has also introduced the Corsair Cooling Air Series A70 and A50 CPU coolers, with the former designed for those "looking to squeeze every last megahertz of performance out of their high-end Intel and AMD processors, without sacrificing low noise levels." The A50 line, on the other hand, is more for those who have yet to really jump on the overclocking bandwagon, or as Corsair puts it, it's designed for "PC builders and hobbyists who want to upgrade from the stock Intel and AMD coolers."
The Air Series A70 utilizes four direct-contact 8mm copper heat pipes, integrated into a highly-polished aluminum base placed directly on the CPU for maximum heat dissipation. Two dual-speed 120mm fans, arranged in a “Push-Pull†configuration, are attached to the all-aluminum cooling fin assembly with noise- and vibration-reducing rubber mounts. The result is superior cooling performance with minimal fan noise.The Corsair Cooling Air Series A50 employs a compact design with three 8mm heat pipes integrated into a base placed in direct contact with the CPU. The A50 uses a single 120mm cooling fan with rubber mounts to reduce noise and vibration, and you'll be glad to know that both the Air Series A70 and Air Series A50 are compatible with all current CPU socket designs, including Intel LGA775, LGA1156, and LGA1366, and AMD Socket AM2 and Socket AM3.
Unfortunately, pricing and release details have yet to be made public.
Corsairآ® Launches Air Series A70 and A50 High-Performance CPU Coolers
- New heat pipe CPU coolers join the award-winning Hydro Series H50 -
Hannover, Germany. March 2, 2010 — Corsair, a worldwide leader in high-performance computer and flash memory products, announces the Corsair Cooling™ Air Series A70 and A50 high-performance CPU coolers, the newest additions to Corsair’s award-winning range of cooling solutions.
The Corsair Cooling Air Series A70 has been designed to offer exceptional cooling performance for enthusiasts who demand state-of-the-art CPU temperature management. The Air Series A70 is a great choice for enthusiasts looking to squeeze every last megahertz of performance out of their high-end Intelآ® and AMDâ„¢ processors, without sacrificing low noise levels.
The Corsair Cooling Air Series A50 is ideal for PC builders and hobbyists who want to upgrade from the stock Intel and AMD coolers. The Air Series A50 delivers significantly lower CPU temperatures than stock coolers, resulting in a cooler, quieter, and more reliable PC, with increased overclocking headroom.
“The Corsair Cooling Hydro Series H50 brought a new level of performance, design, expertise, and ease of installation to the CPU cooling market.آ Our all–new Air Series was designed with the same goals in mind.†said Jim Carlton, VP of Marketing for Corsair.آ “The Air Series A50 and A70 expand our CPU cooling line with class-leading performance that satisfies not only extreme performance enthusiasts, but anyone who understands that improved CPU cooling provides additional performance and stability, as well as enhanced protection from the damage heat can cause to their CPU.â€
The Air Series A70 utilizes four direct-contact 8mm copper heat pipes, integrated into a highly-polished aluminum base placed directly on the CPU for maximum heat dissipation. Two dual-speed 120mm fans, arranged in a “Push-Pull†configuration, are attached to the all-aluminum cooling fin assembly with noise- and vibration-reducing rubber mounts. The result is superior cooling performance with minimal fan noise.
The Corsair Cooling Air Series A50 employs a compact design with three 8mm heat pipes integrated into a base placed in direct contact with the CPU. The A50 uses a single 120mm cooling fan with rubber mounts to reduce noise and vibration.
Both the Air Series A70 and Air Series A50 are compatible with all current CPU socket designs, including Intel LGA775, LGA1156, and LGA1366, and AMD Socket AM2 and Socket AM3.
The Air Series A70 and A50 are supplied with a Two Year limited warranty, and are backed up by Corsair’s legendary customer service and technical support.
For more information on Corsair Cooling Air Series A70 and A50 CPU coolers, please visit: www.corsair.com/products/casescooling_home.aspx.
About Corsair
Founded in 1994, Corsair specializes in premium, high-performance peripherals and components for personal computers. Corsair’s award-winning products are the delight of the world’s most demanding hardware enthusiasts. For more information, visit corsair.com.
Copyrightآ© 2010 Corsair. All rights reserved. All company and/or product names may be trade names, trademarks, and/or registered trademarks of the respective owners with which they are associated. Features, pricing, availability, and specifications are subject to change without notice.
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Million Dollar Atom: Intel Offers AppUp Incentives
Intel announced its AppUp application store at Mobile World Conference last month and the company is pushing out an incentive package aimed at luring developers into netbook-centric programming. The new program—the Million Dollar Development Fund—is currently made up of three separate elements: Fast Track 2010, Dollars for Downloads 2010, and the Intel Atom Developer Challenge.
Fast Track and Dollars for Downloads are relatively simple payment programs. For Fast Track, the developers of the top 250 qualifying Atom apps will be paid $500 each, while Dollars for Downloads is a funds matching program in which Intel agrees to pay developers matching revenue (no word on how matching revenue is paid for free apps). The Intel Atom Developer Challenged is a little more nuanced but it's basically the same concept—Intel wants to see developers cranking on Atom apps, and it's giving away free netbooks, components, and other swag to anyone who can demonstrate a talent for building diminutive netbook-friendly apps.
Build a highly-successful netbook app, and you'll be able to afford one of the three things in this photo. Hint:آ It's not the netbook or the woman.
Intel's AppUp has a long way to go before it's on a level with the likes of Google or Apple, but it seems a touch early to be claiming that Intel is attempting to compensate for a lack of developer interest by giving away funds. It's true that AppUp is targeting a much more diffuse product base and potential user interests than Apple or Google, but it's not even been a month since the company announced the AppUp beta. It'll take a bit more than 30 days to evaluate whether or not developers and end-users are interested in what Intel's app store has to offer.
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Forum traffic
Man, the traffic on the forums has really picked up. I find myself spending more time filtering through the posts for spam and junk then I do enjoying the posts anymore. It's good to see the activity up though and so many new people here. Kudos for everyone playing nicely. Thats one of the things that first got me hooked to HH and I am glad to see it stay that way still today. I still think it would be awesome to have like a HH convention one day where we can all meet face to face.
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Panasonic Intros Rugged 12.1" Toughbook C1 Tablet PC
Finding rugged cameras isn't all that hard, and honestly, finding any sort of rugged "accessory" doesn't take too much effort. When it comes to notebooks, however, your options are limited. For better or worse, Panasonic has had the rugged laptop market on lock-down the past few years, as their Toughbook lineup is generally seen as the go-to product line if you need a portable machine that can take a beating (and keep on computing).With tablets becoming all the rage once more, it's no surprise to see Panasonic venture their Toughbook line into that sector, and now we have the Toughbook C1 Tablet PC to consider if the iPad just feels too fragile. It's hailed as the world's lightest 12.1" convertible Tablet PC, offering 10 hours of battery life a Core i5-520M processor, an optional Gobi2000 mobile broadband chip and a weight of just 3.2lbs. Put simply, this one offers "desktop-class performance in a lightweight, convertible tablet form factor." It's the best of both worlds, and it can survive drops and jostling that would seriously hamper other notebooks.
It also features a shock-mounted, flex-connect 250GB hard drive with a quick-release feature that allows for enhanced data protection, and it's the first convertible to employ a unique triple hinge design – one set of hinges for opening and closing the screen and another hinge for rotating the screen to tablet mode. In testing, the Toughbook C1 successfully survived drops of 12†from any angle for the unit itself and from 30†for the shock-mounted, flex-connect hard drive. Additionally, the Toughbook C1 survived a 30†(just over the typical height of a desk or table) drop to the base of the unit while operating, and the spill-resistant keyboard is there to prevent damage if you tip over that morning cup of coffee while trying to reach for that morning breakfast bar.
The $2499 price tag is far higher than most tablets out, but most tablets out don't have a Core i5 underneath and a chassis that can survive jungle-like torture.
Panasonic Toughbookآ® C1: Select Features and Specifications
- Genuine Windows 7آ® (with XP downgrade option)
- Intelآ® Coreâ„¢ i5-520M vProâ„¢ Processor (2.4 GHz with Turbo Boost up to 2.93 GHz)
- 250GB shock-mounted flex-connect hard drive with quick-release
- 2GB RAM (DDR3-800), expandable to 6GB
- Choice of two 12.1†WXGA (1280 x 800) displays with LED backlighting
- Multi-touch + digitizer screen allowing input via finger, gestures and electronic stylus pen
- Gloved multi-touch screen allowing input via finger and gestures (available Fall 2010)
- Anti-glare screen treatment
- 6 backlit tablet buttons (5 user-definable)
- Hot-swappable twin battery design
- 5 hour battery life (with one battery); 10 hour battery life (with two batteries)
- 3.2 lbs (with one battery); 3.7 lbs (with two batteries)
- Optional webcam
- Built-in dual array microphone
- Business-rugged
- 30†operating drop (to base only)
- 26 sides 12†drop (non-operating)
- 225 lb pressurized vibration
- Magnesium alloy case
- Spill-resistant keyboard (protects against 6 ounces spills)
- Triple hinge design with screen rotation lock
- â€کHand-free’ ergonomic strap and dome hand support
- Embedded Connectivity
- Optional integrated WWAN / Gobi2000â„¢ mobile broadband (EV-DO and HSPA)
- Intelآ® Centrinoآ® Advanced-N 6200 802.11a/b/g/n
- Bluetoothآ® v2.1 + EDR (class 2)
- Optional Integrated Security Features:
- Fingerprint reader
- SmartCard reader
- 11.8†(H) x 8.9†(W) x 1.2â€-1.7†(D)
- Optional desktop dock with DVD multi-drive and dual monitor support
- Optional 4-bay battery charger
Pricing and Availability
The Panasonic Toughbookآ® C1 will be available worldwide starting June 2010. In the United States, the Toughbook C1 is expected to be available at an estimated street price of $2499 from authorized Panasonic resellers and distributors.
The Toughbook C1 includes a standard three-year limited warranty.
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AVADirect Starts Shipping High Octaine i7 SLI Gaming Notebook
Talk about an obscene amount of power. AVADirect has begun selling what it claims is the world's most powerful i7 SLI gaming notebookآ -- the Clevo X8100 -- and after taking a peek at the spec sheet, we won't argue. Every bit the desktop replacement, only the chassis qualifies this one as a notebook, even if the hardware under the hood screams otherwise. Here's what you get:- Screen: 18.4†Full HD (1920x1080) TFT LED LCDProcessor: Intelآ® Coreâ„¢ i7 720QM / 820QM / 920XM Socket G1 processors support
- Video Card: NVIDIAآ® GTX 285M 1GB single or 2GB Dual VGA / SLI configuration
- Memory: up to 8 GB 1066/1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM Memory Supported
- Hard Drive: Support up to 3 Hard Disk Drives with integrated SATA Raid 0,1 Controller
- Video Ports: 1x HDMI, 1x DVI Port, 1x VGA Port for external Monitors
- Data Ports: 3x USB 2.0 Ports, 1x IEEE 1394a Port, 1x eSATA Port, 1 RJ-45 LAN (Gigabit LAN)
- Media Ports: 1x Headphone Jack, 1x Microphone Jack, 1x Line-in Jack, 1x S/P DIF output Jack, 1 CIR for TV remote controller, 1x CATV input Jack function for TV Tuner
- Expansion: 1x Express Card 34/54 Slot, 7-in-1 Card Reader (MMC/RSMMC/SD/Mini SD/MS/MS Pro/MS Duo), 2x MiniCard Slots for WLAN Module and TV Tuner
- Communication: Built-in 10/100/1000MB Base-TX Ethernet LAN, Intelآ® Wi-Fi Link 5300AGN 802.11a/b/g/n wireless LAN, Bluetoothâ„¢ V2.1 module
- Other Features: Built-in 2.0M Digital Video Camera, Multi color luminous front vent, rear vent, and top cover logo, 5 Built-in Speakers
- Dimension: 17.25†(w) x 11.75†(d) x 1.7†(h) 12.50 lbs with Battery Pack
- Starting Price: $2493.85
That's a lot of hardware to be packing into an 18.4-inch frame, not the least of which are the dual-GPUs. AVADirect claims you'll notice up to a 90 percent increase in framerates when compared to those oh-so-modest single-GPU notebooks.
"If you recall, June of 2009 we began to sell the Clevo M980NU. It was a Core 2 Duo based notebook with GTX 280's in SLI. It was a very exciting time for us as a boutique builder, because nobody out there had that type of product on the market. Now, we have the same chassis used by Clevo and a mobile Core i7 processor. Not only will this reduce bottleneck within the notebook, but increase performance up to 50%. Given the nature of it's size and power I can easily suggest the Clevo X8100 notebook for a desktop replacement. There is nothing like raw, mobile gaming power at the tip of your fingers." says Misha Troshin, CMO and co-owner of AVADirect.Pretty bold claims, and we'll be putting all of them to the test. That's right, keep your eyes peeled for a full-on review right here on HotHardware later this month.
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SteelSeries Introduces Mechanical 6Gv2 Gaming Keyboard
If you follow us around here, you'll know that we love mechanical key switch keyboards. These kinds of keyboards are extremely rare compared to the more conventional boards, and they're generally better built and able to withstand more key presses of the life of the device. Most people don't type enough or care enough about their typing experience to scout out one of these, but if you are, SteelSeries has a new board with your name on it.The company's newest gaming keyboard is modeled after the SteelSeries 7G, and the new 6Gv2 has been designed with 18-karat gold-plated mechanical switches for gamers who care deeply about the quality of their input devices. The company promises to offer quicker reaction times and advanced key combinations for more Actions Per Minute and a lifetime more than 10 times that of conventional keyboards.
As with the 7G, this keyboard also utilizes a powerful buffer-system created specifically for gaming, supporting as many simultaneous key presses as there are keys on the keyboard. This type of "anti-ghosting" was also found on Microsoft's most recent keyboard, and it enables gamers to mash a whole pile of keys at the same time without having any "duds." It'll also utilize the company's Media Controls (for quick access to volume, mute and other audio controls), but you won't find two USB ports or audio in/out ports like you will in the 7G.
The SteelSeries 6Gv2 keyboard retails for EUR 79.99 and will be available in Q2 2010.
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Microsoft Warns Windows XP Users To Avoid F1 Key In Internet Explorer
2010 has not been kind to Microsoft's security team. In under a month'stime, we've seen Microsoft address a bug that was supposed to fix anancient exploit but instead caused more headaches, all while having toencourage consumers not to be duped by a fake security site paradingaround as something useful. As if those software savvy folks up inWashington didn't have enough on their plates, the company has todayissued yet another startling advisory, and this is easily one of themore bizarre ones that we've seen.Microsoft has gone public with an investigation into a "a vulnerabilityin VBScript that is exposed on supported versions ofMicrosoft Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003 through theuse of Internet Explorer." This is quite significant because a hugemajority of PCs in the world still rely on Windows XP, and manycorporate environments haven't upgraded or switched away from IE. Todate, Microsoft has yet to find evidence that this exploit could harmWindows 7, Vista or Server 2008 users.
The primary problem that we're dealing with here is "remote codeexecution," and while the company admits that they aren't aware of anyattacks that take advantage of the vulnerabilities, they're obviouslylooking to patch things up before it gets bad. Here's Microsoft's exactexplanation of the issue:
The vulnerability exists in the way that VBScript interacts withWindows Help files when using Internet Explorer. If a malicious Website displayed a specially crafted dialog box and a user pressed the F1key, arbitrary code could be executed in the security context of thecurrently logged-on user. On systems running Windows Server 2003,Internet Explorer Enhanced Security Configuration is enabled by default, which helps to mitigate against this issue.
Did you catch that? The part about the "F1" key? In a few words,Microsoft is actually advising Windows XP users who rely on IE to notuse their F1 key, which is kind of crazy when you think about it.Thankfully, not many people actually rely on the F1 key in day-to-dayuse, but just imagine the outrage if "F1" were replaced with "A." Thepublic is being told that the problem is being worked on, though thereis no time table given as to when we can expect a fix. Just push thoseF1 urges aside from awhile, and everything should be just fine.
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WD SiliconEdge Blue 256GB SSD Review
It's only natural that the major storage players are watching this market closely to align at the proper entry points.آ Let's face it, the storage model historically has been all about volume and razor thin margins.آ There's plenty of room for error with leading the curve in SSD technology, with the break-neck pace of evolution the product is going through currently.آ There's literally a new product arriving to market monthly it seems.آ And this time, the major storage players are going to be slugging it out in yet another razor-thin margin arena with the major memory manufacturers and that little company called Intel, gunning for their share of the kill. So why would good ol' Western Digital want in on this mayhem?آ Because they have to eventually; it's that simple...
WD SiliconEdge Blue 256GB SSD Review
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Researcher Claims Conclusive Proof Of Aggressive Behavior - Video Game Link
A new analysis of 130 total studies covering more than 130,000 gamers from elementary school age to college age conducted in the U.S.A., Europe and Japan reasserts the influence of violent video games on aggression in children. Dr. Craig Anderson's conclusions appeared in Psychological Bulletin, a journal of the American Psychological Association on Monday.Dr. Anderson is a psychologist at Iowa State University. After reviewing the findings of past studies, Anderson said:
"Playing those types of games increased the likelihood of later aggressive behavior, increase aggressive emotion. It also increases what you might think of as desensitization, or a lack of empathy."Anderson said the results held regardless of age gender and culture. He added that his team examined all of the relevant studies from around the world that they could find.
The conclusions are not without rebuttal, however. In an accompanying commentary, Christopher Ferguson and John Kilburn of the department of behavioral applied science and criminal justice at Texas A&M International University note flaws in Anderson's analysis, including what they say is his own selection bias. Selection bias means what it sounds like: that you choose a non-representative group of people for the study.
In a prepared statement, Michael D. Gallagher, president of the Entertainment Software Association, responded:
Numerous authorities, including the U.S. Surgeon General, the Federal Trade Commission, the Federal Communications Commission and numerous courts have thoroughly and critically examined the social science research and found that it does not establish any causal link between violent content and violent behavior.
Most recently in 2008, Drs. Cheryl K. Olson and Lawrence Kutner, co-founders and directors of the Harvard Medical School Center for Mental Health and Media, conducted a study funded by the U.S. Department of Justice on the effects of video games on young teenagers. In contrast to previous research, they studied real children and families in real situations. In their authoritative analysis, Grand Theft Childhood, they found that 'the strong link between video game violence and real world violence, and the conclusion that video games lead to social isolation and poor interpersonal skills, are drawn from bad or irrelevant research, muddleheaded thinking and unfounded, simplistic news reports.'
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NVIDIA Optimus: The Video Card Is Optional
We've already covered the launch of NVIDIA's power-saving Optimus technology and associated Next-Generation Ion platforms for Atom today (including the ZBox from Zotac), but there's a nifty video over at nTersect (NVIDIA's company blog) that's worth a watch if you want to see just how "Off" your video card is when a system uses Optimus technology. NVIDIA describes it thusly: Why? Because with Optimus when the GPU is not needed it is completely powered off automatically and seamlessly WHILE the rest of the system is up and running – the power to the PCI Express bus, the frame buffer memory, the GPU - everything. This is in contrast to switching the GPU to a low-power state or to â€کidle’, which would still draw power. You can of course prove the GPU is electrically off by using battery benchmarks and software tests. But the fun way to prove it is to physically PULL THE GPU out of the system while the system is still on and working.
In the video, the company does just that. I was excited when AHCI technology brought us hot-swappable SATA; hot-swappable video cards are another matter altogether. End-users are highly unlikely to go pulling their video cards out regardless if the notebook is on or off, but as tech demos go, this one is a doozy.
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Free Ride Ends For Users Of Windows 7 RC
If you're still running Windows 7 Release Candidate, you've likely begun to experience bi-hourly shutdowns. Microsoft released the RC in May as a final public test before the RTM build in July. While the RC version has been free to use without restrictions since its release, Microsoft has made it clear that it planned to discontinue the free ride starting March 1. Users who have ignored the regular pop-up warnings that let you know of the RC's expiration will now experience a shutdown every two hours. The shutdowns will continue through June 1, 2010. After June 1, your wallpaper will be removed and a message will appear to tell you "This copy of Windows is not genuine." In addition, you will no longer be able to get optional updates and other downloads that require genuine Windows validation.
Because the bi-hourly shutdowns will not save your work automatically, you risk losing data by continuing to use the pre-release version of Windows 7. In order to avoid the shutdowns and data loss, you'll need to reinstall the operating system that was on the machine before RC or install a fully licensed and paid-for version of Windows 7. Should you need instructions to help walk you through the installation process, Microsoft provides them here. If you're moving to a released version of Windows 7, you'll need to do a custom, or clean, install to replace the RC version.
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Sony Ericsson Tempts With Bargain-Priced 3G Naite? Cellphone
Sony Ericsson has been forced to take a long, hard look at their smartphone lineup with competition hitting from every angle, but it wasn't that long ago when the company's standard phones were their proverbial cup of tea. SE's sliders were amongst the nicest in the industry, and it's good to see the company still has what it takes in that arena.The 3G-enabled Naite? has just been unleashed for the consumer realm, being made available in an unlocked form (meaning no contract is required to use it on AT&T or T-Mobile) for $159. It's one of the company's GreenHeart phones, which means that it's comprised of 50 percent post-consumer recycled plastic housing and has a low power consumption charger (.03W in standby mode); it also eliminates the paper user-manual and provides an integrated, in-phone e-manual in its place.
Checking e-mail, updating your Facebook status and staying on route with Google Maps is no problem at all, and of course you can expect top-notch multimedia capabilities and an integrated FM radio tuner. It's no Android phone, but for $159 without a contract, it's definitely not a bad secondary to keep around.
Sony Ericsson Delivers the Unlocked Naite Phone at Entry-Level Price
What: SonyElectronics Inc. announced today the Sony Ericsson 3G-enabled Naite?(pronounced ?nigh-tay?) unlocked handset, now available at Sony Stylestores nationwide and SonyStyle.com for an affordable $159.
Thenewest addition to Sony Ericsson?s line of GreenHeart? handsets, Naitephones enable users to experience entertainment with reduced impact onthe environment.Part of the GreenHeart program, the phone is comprised of 50 percentpost-consumer recycled plastic housing and has a low power consumptioncharger (.03W in standby mode). It also eliminates the paperuser-manual and provides an integrated, in-phone e-manual in its place.
The Naite phone makes it easy to check e-mail, enjoyconversational texting and even connect with friends through itsintegrated Facebookآ® application. The 3G-enabled Naite handset offerseverything needed for a simple mobile phone experience, including:Google Maps? for Mobile and one-click Googleآ® search functionality,integrated Bluetoothآ® Stereo for wireless audio streaming and abuilt-in FM radio with song recognition technology.
آ· SIMPLIFY:Staying connected is simple thanks to the Naite phone?s suite ofcommunication features. With the Facebook application, users caninstantly post photos using the Send to Facebook upload link,easily update their Facebook status and view their friends? latestupdates. It also allows for Internet browsing and downloads with 3Gspeeds while its one-click Google functionality makes surfing the Webeffortless. Users can also post videos, photos and more directly totheir own mobile blog that comes with each Naite phone.
آ· NAVIGATE:Stay on track with Google Maps for Mobile functionality. Whether usersneed to find their current location or get directions to their nextdestination, the Naite phone will easily guide the way.
آ· LISTEN: Enjoymusic on-the-go with the built-in stereo FM radio. TrackID? technologydisplays the artist and song title while its integrated Media Go?software provides a personalized music experience by allowing users toeasily drag-and-drop their favorite MP3 tracks between any compatiblePC and the Naite phone.
Why: Sony ElectronicsInc. is the only authorized distributor of Sony Ericsson MobileCommunications (SEMC) unlocked handsets in North America for SonyEricsson. The benefits for consumers include the SEMC manufacturer?swarranty when bought through an authorized dealer, as well as fullcustomer support for the Naite phone and other Sony Ericsson unlockedhandsets.
Who: The Naite phone is for mobile phone userswho are tapped into the latest in mobile phone design and technologyand who typically purchase unlocked phones for their added features andthe flexibility to switch phones whenever the latest technology isavailable.
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Kingston Introduces World's Fastest Low Voltage Performance Memory
These "world's fastest" claims seem to be flying in at a record pace these days, but even though companies are holding their crowns for shorter periods of time, that's not stopping Kingston from bragging while they can. Today, the company is introducing the world's first, fastest low-voltage and ultra low-voltage memory for performance machines.The new product fits into the company's LoVo (low voltage) HyperX range, offering ultra-low voltage memory running at 1.25 volts at 1600MHz. The flagship product, running an ultra-low 1.25 volts at 1600MHz, is the lowest voltage to date for desktop PCs. In all, Kingston is debuting three HyperX DDR3 dual-channel products in the 'LoVo' line: the dual-profile kit, a mainstream low voltage 1600MHz, 1.35 volt kit and an ultra-low voltage 1333MHz, 1.25 volt kit.
The 4GB 1866MHz kit is selling for $203, while the 4GB 1600MHz kit is going for $158 and the 4GB 1333MHz kit for $154.
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TiVo Gets With The (Web) Program: Premiere DVR Debuts
The TiVo. Everyone knows the name, and everyone knows the purpose, but for whatever reason, the name that's associated with "DVR" isn't in too many homes. Many consumers simply opt to grab the DVR that is offered to them by their cable or satellite provider, mostly because it's cheaper on a month-to-month basis, and it's also a lot easier to get setup. A dedicated TiVo box is a separate purchase, and it still requires a monthly fee even after you pay the up-front price of the box itself. TiVo still has legions of dedicated fans who wouldn't use anything else to record their television programs, and this week the company is introducing their first new set-top box in years: the TiVo Premiere.As you might expect, the highlight of this box is its ability to go online and pull down content from the world wide web. Much like many of the Blu-ray players on the market today, this unit can stream Pandora Internet Radio, and the tweaked user interface takes a good thing and makes it even better. TiVo calls the Premiere a bunch of things: "it's your new cable box, movie box, web box, and music box; it's the one box that gives you access to everything you want to get on your television and all with one remote. It's a true one stop shop for entertainment." There's also a brand new remote being offered as an optional accessory, and the slide-out QWERTY keyboard should be awesome for those who search listings on a regular basis.
Users can use the box to find content from YouTube, Netflix, Amazon Video on Demand, Blockbuster on Demand and your local programming lineup, and since Flash is supported, you'll never have to worry about not being able to watch Flash videos. There's also an on-screen meter for showing how much capacity remains, and the TiVo Premiere box has up to 45 hours of HD storage space. If that isn't enough, the Premiere XL box holds up to 150 hours of high-definition or up to 1350 hours of standard definition programming. TiVo Premiere and TiVo Premiere XL boxes will be available in retail nationwide in early April, and they are available for pre-order today for $299.99 and $499.99 respectively.
TiVo Premiere Box Specifications:
- TiVo Series4â„¢ architecture
- Supports digital cable, high-definition digital cable, antenna (ATSC)and Verizon FiOS
- Outputs: HDMI, Component video, Composite video, Optical audio, Analogaudio
- Video output modes include: 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p
- Inputs: CableCARDâ„¢ support, Cable coax, Antenna coax, Ethernet
- Ethernet connection, USB 2.0 ports (2), E-SATA support for externalstorage
- TiVo Wireless N and G Network Adapter support
- ENERGY STARآ® certified
- 320 Gigabytes
- Records up to 45 hours of HD programming or up to 400 hours ofstandard-definition
TiVo Premiere XL Box Specifications (all specs not listed are thesame as above unless noted)
- One Terabyte storage
- Records up to 150 hours of HD programming or up to 1350 hours ofstandard-definition
- Backlit, programmable, and learning remote
- THXآ®certified, ensuring optimal audio and video reproduction andenables seamless integration with other THX components
- TiVo Premiere XL box is the first HD product to feature THXآ®Optimizerâ„¢, a video calibration tool that lets users fine tune color,black levels and other settings to improve picture quality. Hailed bycritics for its ease-of-use, the exclusive THX Optimizer for TiVo PremiereXL box is found in the My Shows menu of the TiVo service. A pair of THXOptimizer Blue Glasses, designed for adjusting Color and Tint settings, isincluded with the owner's manual.
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TravelTrac iPhone App Journals Your Journeys As They Happen
Got an itch for travel? Got an even bigger itch for keeping up with the latest technologies? If so, TravelTrac's new iPhone app is tailor made for your kind, and it's likely to both make your friends envious and fulfill your wishes to better journal your journeys. Available now in the App Store, the application enables users to upload media (videos/photos) as well as geotagged locations and text describing the events in chronological order in an online travelogue.The app integrates nicely with the iPhone's features, and considering that you may not have signal everywhere you travel to, the app automatically saves (in the correct order) any inputs you make wihle searching for service and will automatically upload them once you move back into civilization. Two versions of the app are available, with TravelTrac Pro geotagging every destination, photo, and video from your iPhone and generating a custom travel micro site integrating personal Google Maps with photo slideshow and video features.
Of course, these updates can also be passed down to Facebook and Twitter, and if you're looking for the Lite version you'll have to deal with a few restrictions when it comes to uploading. Oh, and if you're a BlackBerry or Android user, expect this app to come to your favorite platform in 2010.
By integrating "offline" mode technologies TravelTrac lets theactive traveler "Drop off the Grid, but Stay on the Map" and stayconnected to friends and family from anywhere on the globe - even whencellular or wireless connections are unavailable. Once a userre-establishes a connection simply re-launch the App and all text,photos, and video content taken offline will automatically update yourcustom travelogue with chronological accuracy mapping and detailingyour travel experiences. TravelTrac will begin supporting GoogleAndroid and BlackBerry OS devices in 2010.
Userscontrol how their travel information is displayed. Post public tripsfor global outreach and promote your adventures using TravelTrac'sFacebook and Twitter integration tools. Or share your adventuresexclusively with select friends using password protected viewingoptions. Import contacts and TravelTrac sends e-mail notifications witha link to your custom travelogue whenever updates are made.
Youcan also participate in TravelTrac Forums and publically share yourexpertise and knowledge about any travel destination. TravelTrac givesthe active traveler a unique new way to participate and share theirtrips and travels online as personal, robust, multimedia entertainment.Share your own adventures as they happen using the only web supportedmultimedia travel sharing apps for iPhone.
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Cherrypal Africa Netbook: The World's "First" $99 Laptop
OLPC tried its best to come out with a $100 (or so) notebook, but afterall was said and done, it failed. Cherrypal is known for producinglow-cost wares, and now it's claiming that it has just launched theplanet's first $99 laptop. Sure, you can pick up small notebooksoverseas for less than $100, but no mainstream US-based machine has hitthe level until now.You may remember this company as responsible for producing the world's"greenest desktop computer," and today it's launching its first $99netbook. Oddly, the machine is titled "Africa," and unlike some of themodern Eee PCs, this one has a screen that's only 7". Of course, youshouldn't expect much more for $99, but hey, it's a $99 notebook!
Specifications include a 400MHz processor, 256GB of storage, 2GB ofmemory and the ability to run Linux or Windows CE operating systems.You'll notice that these specifications are weaker than somesmartphones, but if you only need to browse the web and work on theoccasional document, this just might do the trick. Whatever the case,we're glad that the pricing barrier has been lowered--now let's justget those specifications up to where they need to be and we'll be set!
"At Cherrypal, we're extremely conscious of the so-called 'digitaldivide'," said Max Seybold, the company's founder. "We're constantlylooking for ways to bridge that gap, and the Cherrypal Africa is a hugestep in the right direction. Plus, everyone who has tried it hasabsolutely loved it!"
Namedafter Cherrypal's recent community building initiative in Ghana, theAfrica packs quite a punch for its size and price point. The computerruns on a 400 MHz processor and features 256 GB RAM, 2 GB flash memoryand can run either Linux or Windows CE operating systems.
TheAfrica isn't just user friendly - it's also environmentally friendly.From top to bottom, Cherrypal designs all of its computers to consumethe least amount of power possible, while using fewer parts than othermanufacturers. This saves electricity and keeps excess computerbyproducts out of landfills. The company is also aware of its owncarbon footprint and relies on wind energy to power its website.
Alongwith the launch of the Africa, Cherrypal has also redesigned the new13.3-inch widescreen Bing laptop. Priced at only $389 (includingWindows XP), the Intel N280-based (1.6 GHz operation) Bing features 1GB DDRII memory, 160 GB HDD, 1.3 MP integrated web camera and much,much more.
The CherrypalBing and Cherrypal Africa can both be purchased through the recentlylaunched Cherrypal Open Store, which features products designed byApple, Dell and others. All non-Cherrypal products featured in the OpenStore are priced at least 30 percent less than the manufacturer'ssuggested retail price, but carry Cherrypal's unconditional 30-daymoney back guarantee.
To browse all of Cherrypal's affordable green machines, visit www.cherrypal.com.
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A Secret, Powerful, and Beautiful Relationship Revealed - Intel Processors and ATI Graphics
Hello, I am a high school student who has stumbled upon a great discovery only few computer "geeks" know, and that is the beautiful combination of power when you combine Intel's etremely powerful processors with the might of ATI's graphics. Two world-wide industrys that have been butting heads for nearly 100 years; and what power they can create when they join forces...
I will explain myself in my next post, which will be somewhat long but worth every single second of reading. This forum is for people who have been wondering what it is like to join technology from the two biggest rival computer companies in the entire world: Intel and AMD. This forum should be used for just about anything related to the subject: suggestions, reports, findings, prices, places, opinions, facts, past, future, anything really.
My findings and proof that Intel-ATI setups are extremely powerful, are also in my next post. Have fun posting!
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BATCH HELP!
I'm hoping one of you guys are a BATCH expert lol
I made a batch file that asks for user imput to set 2 variables.
I have about 10 IF statements the plug in the variables to run a command.
All of the commands are identical. The only thing that changes are the if statements.
EXAMPLE
ECHO Enter variable A:
set /p Va=
ECHO Enter variable A:
set /p Vb=
IF /I %Va%==a (
dsquery computer ou=%Va%,DC=domain -name *%Vb% | dsget computer -samid - l
GOTO END)
IF /I %Va%==b (
dsquery computer ou=%Va%,DC=domain -name *%Vb% | dsget computer -samid - l
GOTO END)
IF /I %Va%==c (
dsquery computer ou=%Va%,DC=domain -name *%Vb% | dsget computer -samid - l
GOTO END)
As you see, the command is exactly the same the only thing that changes is what might be entered for Va. It works great, no problem... for the first 2 IF statements. If Va=c or greater then the command fails.
I tried nesting IF ELSE commands but it will run and close and not show me the results. I also tried the following
IF /I %Va%==a (GOTO A)
IF /I %Va%==b (GOTO B)
IF /I %Va%==c (GOTO C)
:A
command
GOTO END
:B
command
GOTO END
:C
command
GOTO END
Same exact thing happens. It's like maybe it is forgetting what the variables were? Or it just gives up after 2 if commands lol
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Apple Sues HTC For Patent Infringement: Who Is Next?
This story is just now breaking, with developments still filtering in. Rather than introducing new MacBook Pro refreshes or doing something else that Apple typically does on Tuesday mornings, the Cupertino-based company unleashed a bombshell on HTC and the entire smartphone sector just hours ago.Apple just filed a lawsuit against HTC, which is the same company responsible for creating the HD2, Droid Eris and the Google-branded Nexus One. In other words, this is no minor deal. Apple and HTC are two of the biggest faces in the smartphone world right now, and both have enormous amounts of pull in the industry. Many analysts have suggested that Apple's iPhone interface has at least been mimicked by a number of competitors, which makes this scenario all the more interesting. Why now? Why sue HTC and not someone else? Is Apple feeling threatened by HTC? Surely Apple knew about this infringement before today, so why all of the hostility now?
In a rather unusual moment, even Apple's CEO Steve Jobs stepped up to the plate to comment publicly on the matter:
"We can sit by and watch competitors steal our patented inventions, or we can do something about it. We’ve decided to do something about it,†said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “We think competition is healthy, but competitors should create their own original technology, not steal ours."
Few other details are out yet, but it's clear that the lawsuit was for HTC for infringing on 20 Apple patents related to the iPhone’s user interface, underlying architecture and hardware. Apple filed concurrently with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) and in U.S. District Court in Delaware.
We highly doubt this is the last we'll hear of this. In fact, we suspect every other smartphone/mobile OS maker out there is wondering if they're next. Lots of things look at least somewhat like the iPhone's OS, so where will the line be drawn? Only time will tell.
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Zotac Announces New Next-Generation Ion ZBox
Zotac gave details on the next system in its line of mini-PCs today, the HD-ID11. Externally, the HD-ID11 is nearly identical to the HD-ND01 we reviewed last year, but the manufacturer has made a number of small upgrades to add a few of the features we had on our wishlist for the original MAG. There have also been a few subtractions; we'll have to wait for a hands on review to determine how the new system's balance compares to the original.
First, the hardware. The new ZBox is built around an Atom D510 SoC and an NVIDIA NG-Ion GPU with a 512MB frame buffer. External connectivity is provided via six USB 2.0 ports, an eSATA port, one HDMI output, a 6-in-1 memory card reader, and a dual-link DVI output. Both wired (gigabit) and wireless (802.11/b/g/n) are also included. The only external downside is the continued lack of any sort of CD-ROM option—you'll need to plan ahead and purchase either a USB2 DVD drive or a flash drive of sufficient size in order to load the operating system.
Editor's update 3/3/10 11:15AM EST:آ Zotac just informed us that the new ZBox will sell for an MSRP of $209.99 -- a great price actually come to think of it.آ We're excited to get a unit in for testing.
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