IT-Code-News: IT News Head Lines (TweakTown) 7/31/2013

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

IT News Head Lines (TweakTown) 7/31/2013

TweakTown

Android 4.3 on Nexus devices now include TRIM support
If you own a Nexus device, and more specifically, the first-generation Nexus 7, you really should update to Android 4.3. It is being reported that Android 4.3 supports TRIM.

android_4_3_on_nexus_devices_now_include_trim_support

TRIM will talk to the storage on your device, letting it know when blocks are sitting there unused and are ready for garbage collection. This needs to happen, and when it does, it stops your device from eventually running slower and slower. If TRIM doesn't do its job, then when you "delete" a file on your device, it really isn't deleted, but the space is instead marked as being available to be cleared later when the system needs it.
Android 4.3 only came out last week, and includes TRIM support for all Nexus devices. So if you're one of the tens of millions running a Samsung Galaxy-branded smartphone, you're out of luck, this time.

RumorTT: Samsung working on 12.2-inch high-end tablet
Samsung have countless devices within their Galaxy umbrella of products, but it looks like that is set to expand by a couple of devices. @evleaks is back yet again with some information he claims points to Samsung preparing two new slates.

rumortt_samsung_working_on_12_2_inch_high_end_tablet

The first, is a 10-inch tablet that would feature the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 SoC, and the second, is a 12.2-inch slate that features the Exynos 5 Octa chipset and S Pen support. So, in other words, a Galaxy Note 12, maybe. Both devices are set to arrive with the mouth watering 2560x1600 resolution, which should be quite stunning.

Sony and Panasonic go for next-gen optical storage which holds 300GB
Sony and Panasonic are finally coming to their senses, announcing a new basic agreement with the goal of jointly developing a next-generation standard for professional-use optical discs.

sony_and_panasonic_go_for_next_gen_optical_storage_which_holds_300gb

Their objective? Expand their archive business for long-term digital data storage. Sony and Panasonic are hoping to improve their development efficiency based on the technologies that each company excels in, with their targets aimed on a 300GB optical disc by 2015. Both of the Japanese companies will continue to hold discussions regarding the specifications and other details regarding this new standard.
It's not known if the new standard will continue with Blu-ray or not, but I think we're going to see a move from this standard after all of these years.

The 'Cheese Box' update for Cut the Rope adds 25 new levels
If you're a Cut the Rope addict, you might want to prepare yourselves for the "Cheese Box" update, which will add 25 more levels to the physics-based puzzle game.

the_cheese_box_update_for_cut_the_rope_adds_25_new_levels

The 25 new levels will feature cheese-filled backgrounds, if you're into that kind of thing. Since Cut the Rope launched in 2010, it has had 15 updates, with the latest Cheese Box update seeing you use mice to catch and carry food. The trailer above should give you a good idea of what to expect.

Gamers add $1 million to DotA 2's 'The International' prize pool
The world's largest DotA 2 championship tournament, The International, kicks off on Friday with group stage play and has quite the prize pool: over $2.7 million.

the_international_dota_2_s_tournament_adds_1_million_to_prize_pool

An extra $1 million has been added thanks to the sales of virtual items within DotA 2 by fellow gamers, so the prize pool could increase in the coming days. The DotA 2 Interaction Compendium has been on sale for nearly three months now, and allows gamers to make predictions for the tournament, as well as create fantasy teams within DotA 2.
Each sale is worth $10, with $2.50 of each sale going toward the tournament's prize pool, which has now passed $2.7 million. Valve have helped out here, with stretch-goal incentives that have seen six of the seven teams claiming thus far. The latest provides Compendium owners a new immortal item, as well as the other five perks unlocked up until now.
First prize in The International is at least $1 million, second receives $250,000 and third, $150,000. Not too bad at all if you ask me.

Saints Row IV has been refused classification in Australia
Australia has only just adopted a new R18+ classification for games, and at the first strike, they slam the ban hammer down on one game already: Saints Row IV.

saints_row_iv_has_been_refused_classification_in_australia

The Classification Board "unanimously determined that Saints Row IV is classified Refused Classification." In the full words of the Classification Board: "In the Review Board's opinion, Saints Row IV could not be accommodated within the R 18+ classification as drug use related to incentives and rewards is not permitted."

saints_row_iv_has_been_refused_classification_in_australia

The original case saw Saints Row IV being put under the microscope because of its "alien anal probe" weapon, which the Board considered too close to sexual assault. Deep Silver are submitting a "safe" version of Saints Row IV, with Deep Silver stating they were "reworking some of the code to create a version of the game for this territory by removing the content which could cause offence."

Microsoft files DMCA Takedown with Google against itself
Last week during a team effort to combat piracy, a company working in conjunction with Microsoft filed a DMCA takedown request with Google which included 6 URLs from Microsoft itself. Yes, that means Microsoft filed a DMC takedown notice against itself on the grounds of copyright infringement. The links were generated by automated software and show how flawed the system truly is.

microsoft_files_dmca_takedown_with_google_against_itself

The software used to automate the process often hurts many more innocent webmasters than it does copyright infringers, and false triggers like this are far less rare than anyone would ever expect. In the past, Microsoft has accidentally filed DMC takedown request that targeted the US Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Health and Human Services, the National Institutes of Health, TechCrunch, Wikipedia, BBC News, Bing, Google, and so many others that I could write all night and never get to the end of the list.

microsoft_files_dmca_takedown_with_google_against_itself

The takedown requests are becoming so frequent that in the past Google might have received 225,000 DMCA takedown request per week, but just over a year later they are receiving between 3.5 and 4.5 million requests every week. Google can not simply read every request and check for validity and as a result, the first half of 2013 saw Google erase 100 million links from their search engine all because an automated copyright crawler thought they might be infringing on someone's copyright. That number is double the amount of links Google removed in all of 2012 and several times more than in 2011.

Cubitek unveils new silent mini-ITX aluminum chassis
Today, Cubitek Co. announced a new solid aluminum, silent mini-ITX chassis that was designed around a minimalist theme. Dubbed the Cubitek Mini Center, this super small form-factor chassis features passive cooling which allows a footprint so small that it can be tucked away into any niche you may need to fill.

cubitek_unveils_new_silent_mini_itx_aluminum_chassis

Cubitek says that "the Cubitek Mini Center has an advanced passive cooling design and strategically placed ventilation further aided by the heat dissipating aluminum construction.This translates to silent performance when connected to the TV or sitting on the desk in the office. The brushed aluminum exterior on the front and sides of the Mini Center give this Mini-ITX chassis a minimalistic, elegant feel. The front and sides are not interrupted by anything such as button, lights or ventilation as to add a classical style to whatever room the Mini Center is in. "
With a footprint of just 7.8-inches x 9.8-inches x 7.8-inches, the Mini Center has room for two 2.5-inch SSDs or one 3.5-inch HDD and up to two VGA cards each up to 180mm in length. CPU coolers 85mm and shorter will fit inside as well as a full sized ATX PSU. USB 3.0 and HD Audio ports are available up front as well.

Cooler Master announces CM 690 III, a refined successor to the 690 II
Today, Cooler Master announced the successor to its hugely popular CM 690 series of cases. The CM 690 III brings to life the third generation of one of the company's most popular PC chassis legacies. The 690 III retains the series' iconic sleek curved mesh styling, while the overall exterior takes design cues from its predecessors as well.

The interior is where you really begin noticing the major differences. Most notably is that the new 2.5-inch HDD cage designed for those with extreme SSD setups. Cooler Master says that with this new design, users can now fit up to ten SSDs inside or seven SSDs and three 3.5-inch HDDs. The SSD cage has the capacity to fit up to five 2.5-inch drives, while the HDD cage can handle an additional three 3.5-inch HDDs or three 2.5-inch SSDs. An additional two SSDs can be placed in built-in brackets behind the motherboard.

The mid-tower case also features support for graphics cards up to 423mm in length (with the removal of the SSD cage) and it supports CPU coolers up to 171mm tall. Cooler Master has also updated the ODD trays to feature a new tool-less system dubbed EZ-Tray. The 690 III can also support liquid cooling solutions with room for two simultaneous 240mm radiators in the top of the case as well as in the front. An additional 120mm radiator could also be installed in the rear. For those who prefer fans to handle the system cooling duties, the case is capable of supporting a total of nine fans with three of them being as large as 200mm. The CM 690 III will be available later this month and no pricing information was disclosed.

15 new screenshots from GTA V surface, shows off more in-game scenes
At the moment, it appears that the entire gaming world is waiting on Grand Theft Auto V to release, and if everything stays on schedule, the game will be in consumer's hands just 50 days from now on September 17. We have seen the action from the trailer, we have seen the official screenshots, and today we are getting a glimpse at 15 more official gameplay images.

15_new_screenshots_from_gta_v_surface_shows_off_more_in_game_scenes

Interestingly enough, we see that the game is still promoting its fictional 80's band Love Fist which we first saw make an appearance in GTA Vice City and then in San Andreas. We also see that the main characters are still able to base jump from tall structures and that running from the cops on ATVs looks to still be as fun as it ever was. We also get a glimpse at some new military style helicopters that are most likely user controllable as well! RockStar, if you are listening, please port this game to PC, I do not want to have to buy a console just to play one game.

15_new_screenshots_from_gta_v_surface_shows_off_more_in_game_scenes

15_new_screenshots_from_gta_v_surface_shows_off_more_in_game_scenes

15_new_screenshots_from_gta_v_surface_shows_off_more_in_game_scenes

15_new_screenshots_from_gta_v_surface_shows_off_more_in_game_scenes

15_new_screenshots_from_gta_v_surface_shows_off_more_in_game_scenes

15_new_screenshots_from_gta_v_surface_shows_off_more_in_game_scenes

15_new_screenshots_from_gta_v_surface_shows_off_more_in_game_scenes

15_new_screenshots_from_gta_v_surface_shows_off_more_in_game_scenes

15_new_screenshots_from_gta_v_surface_shows_off_more_in_game_scenes

15_new_screenshots_from_gta_v_surface_shows_off_more_in_game_scenes

15_new_screenshots_from_gta_v_surface_shows_off_more_in_game_scenes

15_new_screenshots_from_gta_v_surface_shows_off_more_in_game_scenes

15_new_screenshots_from_gta_v_surface_shows_off_more_in_game_scenes

15_new_screenshots_from_gta_v_surface_shows_off_more_in_game_scenes

ASUS will launch new smartphones in US in 2014
In an interview with All Things D, ASUS Chairman Jonney Shih said that his company will be launching its smartphones in the US in 2014. Shih said that his company has been busy talking with carriers and building the relationships that will be necessary for the company to succeed in the US smartphone market.

asus_will_launch_new_smartphones_in_us_in_2014

"For the phone, frankly speaking, we are still the latecomers," Shih said in an interview after Google's Nexus 7 launch last week. "We are making progress. I think next year is more reasonable." This news could mean that ASUS could be bringing the hybrid 7-inch Fonepad to the US along with its companion, the Padfone. Both devices combine to transform into a true phone / tablet mashup and is actually where we get the term "phablet" from.
This would fall inline with the company's Transformer Book Trio, which combines Android and Windows 8 into a tablet, laptop, and desktop all-in-one device. Shih closed out the interview by saying, "I think we are going to have something even more revolutionary for this series."

The Old Reader to follow Google Reader to the grave
When Google first announced plans to shut down its popular Google Reader service, the web was set ablaze with millions of users scrambling to find a new RSS reader to call home. Amidst all of the hustle and bustle, three big names arose out of the noise and offered up awesome solutions to this new found problem.

the_old_reader_to_follow_google_reader_to_the_grave

Digg announced that it would begin building an RSS reader, while RSS reader veteran Feedly welcomed Google refugees with open arms. Finally, The Old Reader started to get major attention as it kept things simple and truly felt like the old Google Reader we were all about to lose. Unfortunately, it appears that the developers behind The Old Reader were flooded by the massive influx of users and as a result, were overwhelmed by the issues that come along with running a project used by millions of people daily.
Today, the developers behind The Old Reader announced that they will be closing all public access to the site in two weeks and will only be allowing a select number of users access to the private site. Currently, new user registration has been disabled and the site is not accepting any more new user accounts at all. Current users have two weeks to export their feed's OPML file that can be used to migrate to another service. I have posted the full release from the developers below.

Since we launched first public version almost a year ago up until March 2013 we have been working on The Old Reader in "normal" mode. In March things became "nightmare", but we kept working hard and got things done. First, we were out of evenings, then out of weekends and holidays, and then The Old Reader was the only thing left besides our jobs. Last week difficulty level was changed to "hell" in every possible aspect we could imagine, we have been sleep deprived for 10 days and this impacts us way too much. We have to look back.
The truth is, during last 5 months we have had no work life balance at all. The "life" variable was out of equation: you can limit hours, make up rules on time management, but this isn't going to work if you're running a project for hundreds of thousands of people. Let me tell you why: it tears us to bits if something is not working right, and we are doing everything we can to fix that. We can't ignore an error message, a broken RAID array, or unanswered email. I personally spent my own first wedding anniversary fixing the migration last Sunday. Talk about "laid back" attitude now. And I won't even start describing enormous sentimental attachment to The Old Reader that we have.
We would really like to switch the difficulty level back to "normal". Not to be dreaded of a vacation. Do something else besides The Old Reader. Stop neglecting ourselves. Think of other projects. Get less distant from families and loved ones. The last part it's the worst: when you are with your family, you can't fall out of dialogues, nodding, smiling and responding something irrelevant while thinking of refactoring the backend, checking Graphite dashboard, glancing onto a Skype chat and replying on Twitter. You really need to be there, you need to be completely involved. We want to have this experience again.

So where is this all headed? It appears that the developers would like to sell The Old Reader to anyone interested in buying them out. In a final statement they said, "If anyone is interested in acquiring The Old Reader and making it better, we are very open and accepting proposals at hello@theoldreader.com." So while Digg still continues to work out the kinks and business model of the Digg Reader, I am left with suggesting you import your feed into Feedly (Source #3). All of the staff here at TweakTown utilize Feedly on a daily basis and I can not say enough good things about it. It truly is the perfect RSS reader in my opinion.

Starbucks adds wireless charging stations to stores in Silicon Valley
Starbucks has began upgrading its Silicon Valley stores to include wireless charging tables that allow a patron's wireless device to get a boost of energy while their owners get their much needed recharge as well. The company says that 10 of its stores located in Silicon Valley are getting tables that are outfitted with high-tech Duracell Powermat equipment.

starbucks_adds_wireless_charging_stations_stores_in_silicon_valley

"More and more customers are using Starbucks as their home base, and they are looking to recharge in a number of ways," said Adam Brotman, chief digital officer, Starbucks Coffee Company, in a statement to the press. "We have seen positive customer response to wireless charging through our tests in Boston and are pleased to now extend this experience for our customers in the Silicon Valley area."
Unfortunately, not all wireless charging platforms are compatible with the tables as there are at least three different wireless charging standards out at the moment. The company says that the tables are compatible with those that adhere to the Power Matters Alliance (PMA) standards which have been adopted by Google, BlackBerry, HTC, LG, Samsung, ZTE, and a few other brands.

Buffalo announces TeraStation 3000 Series NAS
Today, Buffalo Technology unveiled the TeraStation 3000 Series of high performance NAS and iSCSI unified storage devices. Buffalo says that the TeraStation 3000 is a "feature-rich solution for small offices and professional users." The device consists of two different configurations including a stand alone unit as well as a 1U rack mount version. Both feature capacities from 4TB all the way to 16TB and are configured using high-performance RAID-based network storage. Processing is handled via a dual-core ARM processor and 1GB of RAM to keep transfers running smooth.

"The perpetual growth and evolution of storage and backup needs in the SMB market presents network administrators with the continual challenge of effective data management," said Matt Dargis, chief operating officer at Buffalo Technology (USA), Inc. "This challenge translates into a call on vendors to provide reliable, cost-effective solutions that address ever-changing file serving and capacity requirements. Buffalo is answering this need with our recently launched TeraStation 5000 Series, and now the TeraStation 3000 Series. We designed the TeraStation 3000 to deliver simplified management, optimized resource utilization and true disaster recovery protection at entry-level price points."
The TeraStation 3000 Series provides reliable unified storage with simultaneous NAS and iSCSI target functionality and is loaded with business class features such as:

Dual gigabit Ethernet ports for redundancy, load balancing or link aggregation
Scheduled or real-time share level replication
Device failover support
RAID 0/1/5/6/10/JBOD
Active Directory support
Disk quota support
Hot-swap/hot spare
USB accessory support (with two USB 3.0 ports and two USB 2.0 ports)

The TeraStation 3000 Series is backed by a limited three-year warranty and each model will retail at the following price points.

The two-drive pedestal TeraStation 3400 is available now at an MSRP of $599.99 for the 4 TB (TS3400D0404), $749.99 for the 8 TB (TS3400D0804), $1,099.99 for the 12 TB (TS3400D1204) and $1,599.99 for the 16 TB (TS3400D1604).
The two-drive 1U TeraStation 3400r Rackmount is available now at an MSRP of $1,399.99 for the 4 TB (TS3400R0404), $1,549.99 for the 8 TB (TS3400R0804), $1,899.99 for the 12 TB (TS3400R1204) and $2,399.99 for the 16 TB (TS3400R1604).

Team Meat troll a scammer in epic hour long phone call about movie
I seriously hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it appears that there will not be a movie made around the vastly popular game Super Meat Boy... at least not from one
director
scammer. Last week, Team Meat, the guys behind Super Meat Boy, published an hour long conference call in which a "director" was wanting to discuss working up a script for Super Meat Boy the movie. The guys caught on pretty quick that the guy was a scammer and they played along over the course the next hour and hilarity ensued.

team_meat_troll_a_scammer_in_an_epic_hour_long_phone_call_about_movie

During the conversation, Team Meat noticed that the so-called director had not even played the game as he had no clue on any aspect of Super Meat Boy. He asked them to hire him for 2 months so he could generate a "Blueprint" for the storyline at the cost of just $4,000. He then said that if everything went well, they would have to front $12k in "buddy money" for script production and if everyone was in agreement, then he would refund the $16k total that Team Meat had invested. The catch was, however, that if the director was not happy at any point, he could just take the $12k and call the whole project quits.

The video, embedded above and hosted on YouTube, is definitely worth a listen, if not for the lulz, then for the insight into how some of the true con artists in America attempt to scam possible victims. At one point, the scammer asks for sales figures and the guys reply that they are waiting on Microsoft to pay them $7 million in owed sales, and that Super Meat Boy's sales on a "small-time platform known as Steam" were eclipsed by sales on Direct to Drive. Team Meat held it together for the entire trolling session, and I must bow down to their expertise as trolling masters.

Phil Fish, the developer of Fez calls it quits, says no Fez 2
It was just over a month ago that Phil Fish announced Fez 2 at E3, but this morning it appears that the sequel to the popular indie game Fez will never be. This morning, Fish announced that Fez 2 has been canceled and he is leaving the industry for good. In a statement, Phil Fish wrote: "Fez II is cancelled, I take the money and I run. This is as much as I can stomach. This isn't the result of one thing, but the end of a long bloody campaign. You win."

phil_fish_the_developer_of_fez_calls_it_quits_says_no_fez_2

Fish was quite the outspoken indie developer and stirred the pot quite a bit on occasion. He was featured in the popular documentary Indie Game: The Movie in which the cameras followed his triumphs and struggles with delays, massive bugs, and legal battles over Fez. Fish took massive criticism over Fez throughout the development process and the remarks continued even after the game was released and had become a huge hit. Apparently these comments, the pressure of topping Fez 1, and the stress that comes with being the sole developer on a massive game were just too much for Fish to take.

Dell enters beta testing of new thumb drive sized Android PC
A recent report by PC World is suggesting that Dell has recently started beta testing thumb drive sized Android mini PCs that could give Google's recent Chromecast a run for its money. Dubbed project Ophelia, the device is said to be similarly sized to the Chromecast but would feature much more functionality as it will run a full version of Android instead of a slimmed down version of Chrome OS like the Chromecast does.

dell_enters_beta_testing_stage_of_new_thumb_drive_sized_android_pc

Project Ophelia features the same style direct HDMI connectivity that Chromecast does and is said to feature a full version of the Google Play Store that would allow users to download the full complement of apps, games, movies, and books that other Android devices use. It will feature both Bluetooth 4.0 and and Wi-Fi, so wireless keyboards, mice, and the various Android-to-Android Wi-Fi-based remote apps that are growing so popular should work well.
Sources say that project Ophelia should retail for around $100, but for now, only beta testers are getting there hands on Ophelia, and we don't expect a release until sometime during the next fiscal quarter which could be as late as October. While the $100 price tag is a bit on the high-end in my opinion, this little device could spell big trouble for companies like Pivos, producer of the Xios DS Android-based set-top box that is one of the leading sellers for Android HTPCs.

Top 10 TweakTown News Stories from the past week [29 July 2013]
Here are our top 10 news posts from the past week!

RumorTT: Nokia said to be prepping Bluetooth 4.0 "Treasure Tag"
The rumor mill is fired up and already pushing out fresh rumors this Monday morning. Today, the Verge is reporting that Nokia is in the process of mass producing a new Bluetooth 4.0 device that will pair with its Lumia line of Windows Phones. Dubbed the Treasure Tag, the device uses a combination of Bluetooth and Near Field Communication (NFC) to help you find things when they are lost.

rumortt_nokia_said_to_be_prepping_bluetooth_4_0_treasure_tag

The "Treasure Tag" is basically a small little tile that would let you track items using a purpose-built application. When the item you have tagged is lost, you can use the app to locate the item via a map which makes use of Nokia's LiveSight augmented reality view. This means that if you have lost your keys and you had a Treasure Tag attached, you could open up the app and view the keys' exact location on a mini map.
The process works in reverse, too. If you lose your phone, you will be able to push a button on the Treasure Chest and the app on your phone will activate an audible alert that will help you pinpoint the exact location of your missing device. It appears that the Treasure Tag is designed to be "always on" and will last about 6 months on its internal battery, but no mention has been made about battery replacement or rechargeability. The Treasure Tag is said to launch in the coming weeks after Nokia rolls out its Amber Update that will give Lumia devices Bluetooth 4.0 support.

Chromecast rooted, full details on the operating system revealed
While TV networks aren't happy with Google's new $35 wonder device, Chromecast, it looks like there's some special herbs and spices inside of the little, cheap, and very capable device.

chromecast_rooted_full_details_on_the_operating_system_revealed

Chromecast has been rooted by the GTV Hacker crew, who discovered the Chromecast runs a mix of both Android and Chrome. Google has said that Chromecast runs ChromeOS, but when the Chromecast is powered up it says "Chrome", but the GTV Hacker crew say otherwise.
Once the Chromecast is rooted, the GTV Hacker crew say what you see is closer to Android and Google TV than it is to Chrome. At the moment there's no way to run apps on Chromecast, but the crew didn't dismiss the idea of putting an Android port on Chromecast. You might want to get in quick, because Chromecast sold out online within 36 hours, and the Mountain View-based giant have already pulled their three-month Netflix promotion because of "overwhelming demand".

Cover-based shooter made with Oculus Rift and Razer Hydra
Oculus Rift developer forum user Teddy0K has made a first-person, cover-based shooter using Oculus' Rift VR headset in conjunction with Razer's Hydra motion controller.

Teddy0K shows us in the video (above) that the Hydra wand is attached to the gamer's chest, while the Hydra joystick is placed in your hands and used as your weapon, as well as controlling your forward and backwards movement within the game. The motion-controlled rig allows gamers to perform in-game actions such as ducking behind cover and blind firing over it.
What we see, is an updated version of Teddy0K's HydraDeck Demo. Teddy wrote on the developer forum: "The position tracking adds a tonne to the immersion of being in a virtual world. Please be careful when playing this demo, lots of people try to support themselves on the crates when they try to stand up or when leaning up against a column, but find there is nothing there!"

cover_based_shooter_made_with_oculus_rift_and_razer_hydra

I seriously can't wait to get my hands on Oculus Rift, that last little bit that Teddy wrote has me wanting to try it, and now.

Senior Apple VP leaves his team, is now working on 'special projects'
It looks like Apple's Senior Vice President, Bob Mansfield, has left his post and is now working on "special projects" where he reports directly to Apple CEO Tim Cook.

senior_apple_vp_leaves_his_team_is_now_working_on_special_projects

Mansfield did semi-retire last year, but returned two months into his retirement. He eventually led a new division within Apple that worked on semiconductor and wireless hardware. What could Mansfield be working no now? The New York Times recently wrote that he was "engrossed" with wearable technologies, so we might see his products in the coming years.
I'm sure that with Google Glass and other wearable tech, Apple doesn't want to be left behind.

Amazon creates 5,000 new full-time jobs across the US
It wasn't long ago that we were reporting that US-based e-tailer Amazon reached record highs on their share prices, and not long after that we reported about Amazon tripling their employees to over 97,000 in the last three years.

amazon_creates_5_000_new_full_time_jobs_across_the_us

Now the company has announced they've created 5,000 new full-time jobs in its US fulfillment network in order to meet increased customer demand. Amazon are quite generous, too, with their median pay in their fulfillment centers around 30% higher than employees in traditional retail stores. This isn't even counting the fact that Amazon offer stock grants to full-time staff, which add an average of 9% to base pay each year.
Dave Clark, Vice President of Worldwide Operations and Customer Service at Amazon said: "We're hiring more than 5,000 people to join our team and help us continue to innovate and serve our customers. We're focused on sustained innovation across Amazon and want to help our employees succeed-whether at Amazon or elsewhere-so we offer programs like Career Choice, where we'll pay for up to 95% of eligible employees' tuition regardless of whether the skills they learn are relevant to a career at Amazon."
Fulfillment network jobs are available in the following cities:

Breinigsville, Pa.

Middletown, Del.

Chattanooga, Tenn.

Murfreesboro, Tenn.

Charleston, S.C.

Patterson, Calif.

Chester, Va.

Phoenix, Ariz.

Coppell, Texas

San Antonio, Texas

Haslet, Texas

San Bernardino, Calif.

Hebron, Ky.

Spartanburg, S.C.

Indianapolis, Ind.

Tracy, Calif.

Jeffersonville, Ind.

LG unveil two new 21:9 'ultra-widescreen' displays
It looks like LG has some faith in the 21:9 "ultra-widescreen" display market, as the South Korean company have just unveiled two new displays. Both displays are 29-inch ultra-widescreen, with the model numbers of 29EA73-P, and 29EB73-P.

lg_unveil_two_new_21_9_ultra_widescreen_displays

lg_unveil_two_new_21_9_ultra_widescreen_displays

Both 29-inch screens feature a native 2560x1080 resolution, dual-link DVI, DisplayPort, two HDMI ports (one of which is MHL-capable). Both displays feature USB 3.0, 7W speakers and audio out. The difference between the displays is in design, and dimensions. Full details below:
29EA73-P

Size: 699.7 x 387.0 x 197.2mm, 5.9kg (Including a stand)
Maximum resolution: 2560 x 1080 dot
Display colors: About 16.7 million colors
Input terminal: DVI-D(Dual-Link), HDMI x 2(MHL x 1), Display Port, USB hub (Up x 1/DownUSB3.0 x 2, USB2.0 x 1), Audio input

29EB73-P

Size: 699.7 x 395.3 x 225.0mm, 6.9kg (Including a stand)
Maximum resolution: 2560 x 1080 dot
Display colors: About 16.7 million colors
Input terminal: DVI-D(Dual-Link), HDMI x 2(MHL x 1), Display Port, USB hub (Up x 1/DownUSB3.0 x 2, USB2.0 x 1), Audio input

Google exec: Android partners need to improve their tablets
Google's Vice President of Android Product Management, Hugo Barra, had some interesting things to talk about with The Verge in his latest interview. He said that he isn't happy with the state of manufacturers and their Android-based tablets.

google_exec_android_partners_need_to_improve_their_tablets

He continued: "I really do think that the Android ecosystem hasn't yet put its best foot forward, when it comes to tablets." Because Android is open source, it has allowed manufacturers to sell sub-$100 tablets that don't really do Android justice. I think the issue is that manufacturers slap their own UI interfaces on top of Android, something I really dislike. Especially Samsung - who coincidentally are the most successful manufacturer of Android-based devices.
But considering Google's just-announced and barely available refreshed Nexus 7 is just $229, it's hard to buy anything else anywhere near that price from any competing Android maker. Even the iOS-based iPad mini is $100 more, and includes the ageing iOS 6 on-board.

CM Storm Havoc Professional Gaming Laser Mouse Review

Introduction

cm_storm_havoc_professional_gaming_laser_mouse_review

Cooler Master, more specifically the CM Storm line of gaming peripherals, have been on a steady march to supremacy and domination of the market with what seems like one or two new products being released every couple of months. It really seems like every month I am either looking at one of the various mechanical keyboard offerings that seem to do very well in sales for Cooler Master, otherwise I am looking at one of their various mice, mouse pads or some other form of accessories. Today is no different, but this month I have two products from them, one a keyboard that we will be looking at very soon, and this new laser gaming mouse I am discussing in this review.
Previous mice we have seen like the Sentinel Advanced II was almost like a trial run. While offering some really nice features and the use of a high-end laser sensor, there were lower grade switches used on the inside that were a carry-over from the previous Sentinel design (ZHIJ switches), and is something CM Storm has since moved away from. Then we had a look at the Recon. This wan an Avago Optical sensor based mouse, again with a great feel, and it worked very well, but it was here that I first saw the introduction of the Omron switches that most gamers hunt for in a mouse, as they are the preferred switch type to have inside the mouse.
With this latest submission, we get the best of both worlds. You are given a high-end laser sensor for tracking, but you are also given Omron switches in the mouse. So, not only should the wide range of DPI suit any user, it should have some longevity as well.
Today we are going to be looking at the next evolution from CM Storm with the Havoc. This mouse has it all as far as what most users' desire. You are getting the most versatile laser sensor, Omron switches, a rubberized coating, LEDs, onboard memory, Macros, and the list goes on. After a couple of weeks toying around, gaming, photo editing and general usage, it is now time that I deliver my verdict on the CM Storm Havoc and you the reader will know by the end of this if Cooler Master and the CM Storm line is as on point with their mice as they have been with their keyboards as of late.
... Read the rest in your browser!

TP-Link WDR4300 N750 Wireless Dual Band Gigabit Router Review

Introduction

TP-Link aren't a brand that most people think of when they are after high-quality networking gear, but the company have been making some truly stellar products of late, at prices that the big boys just can't compete with.
TP-Link is a Chinese company that has been around for 17 years and now has over 14,000 employees across the world. So, if you've never heard of TP-Link, it's definitely a big company. I received their TL-WDR4300 Wireless Dual Band gigabit router to test, and while I'm not a networking professional, I'm going to come at it from a consumer point of view.

tp_link_wdr4300_n750_wireless_dual_band_gigabit_router_review

We'll do some testing on the Gigabit Ethernet ports, the Wi-Fi, and a quick skim through how to set it up, too.

Specifications, Pricing and Availability

First, we'll tackle the huge list of specifications that TP-Link have crammed into the TL-WDR4300.

tp_link_wdr4300_n750_wireless_dual_band_gigabit_router_review

tp_link_wdr4300_n750_wireless_dual_band_gigabit_router_review

The router has four Gigabit Ethernet ports, and two USB 2.0 ports for some simple sharing of printers, or files between systems over the Wi-Fi network. But, wireless is where it's at for the TL-WDR4300. It supports Dual Band Wi-Fi, meaning 2.4GHz and 5GHz. With the 5GHz band, we have the ability to crank up to 450Mbps and the 2.4GHz can ramp up to 300Mbps.
There's three detachable antennas, which are quite good quality, and big, too. We have the usual wireless security with 64/128-bit WEP, WPA/WPA 2 and WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK.
There's a gigantic list of software features, so if you're after something specific, you'll be able to find that in the specifications above.

tp_link_wdr4300_n750_wireless_dual_band_gigabit_router_review

As for pricing, TP-Link has the router very competitively priced - and by very competitive, I mean dirt cheap. Newegg is listing it for just $78.99 at the time of writing, which I find nearly unbelievable for the amount of bells and whistles the TL-WDR4300 throws at you.

tp_link_wdr4300_n750_wireless_dual_band_gigabit_router_review

We'll finish off with the looks on the WDR4300, which are stunning. It's a fingerprint magnet, sure, but it looks great.
... Read the rest in your browser!

Samsung Magician 4.2 First Look - New SSD Toolkit adds Rapid Mode

Introduction

samsung_magician_4_2_first_look_new_ssd_toolkit_adds_rapid_mode

At first I was surprised at the number of questions that came in about Samsung's new Magician software, but after remembering that Rapid Mode is tied to the software, it all made sense. We've covered Intel's SSD Toolbox and Corsair's new SSD Toolbox, but neither brought much of a reaction when we covered the software or when we didn't talk much about it in each company's SSD product reviews. Magician on the other hand is like a product of its own with the feedback we received. I think part of this reaction has to do with Magician 4.2 not available for download yet.
Samsung describes Magician as follows:

The Samsung Magician software is designed to help users easily manage the health and performance of their Samsung SSD. In addition to providing vital SSD health status information, Magician will assist users in updating firmware, measuring performance, and optimizing the configuration of a Windows operating system installation. Samsung Magician software is developed and distributed exclusively for owners of Samsung Solid Sate Drives (SSDs).

Magician 4.1 hit Samsung's website recently and included new supported languages, a new OS Optimization tab and a handful of bug fixes. For the purpose of reviewing the new Samsung 840 EVO, reviewers were granted early access to the newest version that adds support for Rapid Mode. Rapid Mode is a software technology developed by NVELO. Most know of NVELO from their Dataplex Software that many SSD manufacturers packaged with highly overprovisioned LSI SandForce SSDs for HDD cache products.

samsung_magician_4_2_first_look_new_ssd_toolkit_adds_rapid_mode

After taking a deep dive into Samsung's Magician software, we found one issue of interest that affects a small number of our readers. Magician has an issue with AMD hardware even when running Microsoft's AHCI driver. Older NVIIDA chipsets for AMD hardware are not affected, but newer AMD chipsets are not supported.
Let's walk through Magician 4.2 and see what this early sample has to offer.
... Read the rest in your browser!

Top 10 TweakTown Content from the past week [29 July 2013]
Here are our top 10 articles, reviews and guides from the past week!

iBUYPOWER Paladin Desktop Gaming PC Review

Introduction

ibuypower_paladin_desktop_gaming_pc_review

We're taking our first look at iBUYPOWER's next-gen gaming desktop. Specifically, we have the iBUYPOWER Paladin Gaming System in the lab to undergo our extensive testing and scrutinization.
The Paladin is a highly-configurable machine based upon the next-generation Haswell microarchitecture. You can select from a range of cases, components, and other configuration options.
Please note that PCMark 7 has been updated to the latest version, causing previous benchmark results to not be comparable. We have archived these results. Unfortunately, this means there are fewer systems to compare to.
Without further ado, let's dive into the meat of this review and see what the Paladin is made of.

Specifications, Configurations and Pricing

We've got a fully loaded version of the iBUYPOWER Paladin in our labs. It's equipped with Intel's latest Haswell-powered i7-4770K. It features a base speed of 3.5GHz and supports TurboBoost up to 3.9GHz. It's a quad-core part and features HyperThreading, meaning it presents eight threads to the operating system.
Cooling is provided by Corsair's H60 all-in-one liquid cooling set up. It makes use of a 120mm radiator combined with a water block and pump combo. The H60 should be more than enough to keep the i7-4770K's temperatures in check.
The 4770K is slotted into a GIGABYTE GA-Z87X-UD4H. This motherboard features support for CrossFire and SLI, making it the perfect base for a gaming PC. Three PCIe-x16 expansion slots allow for up to three video cards to be linked together using SLI or Crossfire. It features onboard USB 3.0 and SATA 3 6Gbps. The motherboard features red accents which are carried through with the RAM.
Two 8GB G.Skill DDR3 DIMMs are slotted into the motherboard's RAM slots, leaving two slots open for easy expansion to 32GB in the future. They feature red heat spreaders, helping to carry the theme of red throughout the entire system core.
Graphics are provided by an AMD Radeon HD 7990, which also features a red and black theme. The AMD Radeon 7990 is a dual-GPU video card meaning that it features two GPU cores on a single PCIe-x16 expansion card. Dual-GPU cards are usually power hungry and loud, so we'll have to keep an eye on how it performs in our different benchmarks. All of these components are housed inside an NZXT Phantom 630.
Windows 8 64-bit is the operating system pre-installed on our Corsair Neutron GTX 240GB. Users can customize the Paladin to come with various 64-bit versions of Windows 7 or Windows 8 Pro 64-bit. Storage is provided by a 7,200RPM 1TB Western Digital Blue drive.
Configuration is endless, thanks in part to the case. iBUYPOWER offers a high degree of customization. Individual components can be selected from different manufacturers for most of the major components in the system.
... Read the rest in your browser!

Sony and Panasonic to Develop Next-Generation Optical Discs
Sony Corporation ('Sony') and Panasonic Corporation ('Panasonic') today announced that they have signed a basic agreement with the objective of jointly developing a next-generation standard for professional-use optical discs, with the objective of expanding their archive business for long-term digital data storage. Both companies aim to improve their development efficiency based on the technologies held by each respective company, and will target the development of an optical disc with recording capacity of at least 300 GB by the end of 2015. Going forward, Sony and Panasonic will continue to hold discussions regarding the specifications and other items relating to the development of this new standard.

sony_and_panasonic_to_develop_next_generation_optical_discs

Optical discs have excellent properties to protect them against the environment, such as dust-resistance and water-resistance, and can also withstand changes in temperature and humidity when stored. They also allow inter-generational compatibility between different formats, ensuring that data can continue to be read even as formats evolve. This makes them a robust medium for long-term storage of content. Both companies have previously developed products based on the Blu-ray format, leveraging the strengths of optical discs. However, both Sony and Panasonic recognized that optical discs will need to accommodate much larger volumes of storage in years to come given the expected future growth in the archive market, and responded by formulating this agreement.
Sony previously commercialized a file-based optical disc archive system in September, 2012. Based on optical disc technology that Sony cultivated for its XDCAM series of professional broadcasting products, this system houses twelve optical discs within a compact cartridge as a single, high-capacity storage solution. Each disc within the cartridge holds 25 GB capacity, offering a total range of storage capacities from 300 GB to 1.5 TB.
In July this year, Panasonic launched its 'LB-DM9 series' of optical disc storage devices. This series uses a dedicated magazine of just 20.8 mm thickness to house twelve 100 GB optical discs. A maximum of 90 magazines can be stored, providing a total storage capacity of 180 TB. In addition, Panasonic adopted a newly-developed changer system together with RAID technology to offer rapid data transfer performance of up to 216 MB/s, while also ensuring high reliability by protecting data from unforeseen faults.
In recent years, there has been an increasing need for archive capabilities, not only from video production industries, such as motion pictures and broadcasting, but also from cloud data centers that handle increasingly large volumes of data following the evolution in network services. Both Sony and Panasonic have a proven track record in developing Blu-ray Disc format technologies, and by actively promoting the adoption of a new standard for next-generation high-capacity optical discs, they intend to offer solutions that preserve valuable data for future generations.

Greenliant Introduces Industrial Grade mSATA ArmourDrive SSD
Greenliant Systems, a leader in energy-efficient, highly secure and reliable solid state storage products, has entered the removable solid state drive (SSD) market and is sampling its new mSATA ArmourDrive GLS86 product line. Based on SATA NANDrive, using Greenliant's internally developed NAND controller, mSATA ArmourDrive is designed for applications that require industrial temperature capability, high reliability and long-life data storage.

greenliant_introduces_industrial_grade_msata_armourdrive_ssd

mSATA ArmourDrive operates at extreme temperatures between -40 to +85 degrees Celsius with 1-bit-per-cell (SLC) or 2-bits-per-cell (MLC) NAND flash memory, which gives customers a dependable, industrial temperature mSATA SSD using cost-effective MLC NAND. Addressing the needs of space-constrained embedded systems, mSATA ArmourDrive measures 29.85mm x 50.80mm x 4.80mm (JEDEC MO-300).
Other benefits of GLS86 mSATA ArmourDrive include:

Efficient Wear Leveling Management: Achieves maximum SSD lifespan for critical applications
Built-in Power Interrupt Data Protection: Safeguards data by promptly detecting and recovering from sudden power failures
Configurable Security: Provides user-selectable protection zones and military-grade erase commands
SMART Command Support: Estimates remaining SSD lifespan and provides alerts to prevent costly data loss
TRIM Command Support: Improves performance by freeing up available blocks

"mSATA is growing in popularity in embedded applications and it makes sense for Greenliant to add mSATA ArmourDrive to its industrial SSD portfolio," said Michael Yang, principal analyst for Memory & Storage, iSuppli Corporation. "Leveraging its NAND controller know-how is a significant differentiator for SSD suppliers such as Greenliant."
"Building on Greenliant's expertise in embedded storage, mSATA ArmourDrive complements our NANDrive product family," said Nobu Higuchi, vice president of application engineering and product marketing, Greenliant Systems. "mSATA ArmourDrive gives customers the features and benefits of NANDrive, including technical and long-term support, in a removable, small form factor."
Availability
Greenliant is currently sampling GLS86FB 8, 16, 32 and 64 GByte industrial temperature MLC and GLS86FA 8, 16 and 32 GByte industrial grade SLC mSATA ArmourDrive products.

An Icon Redefined, Cooler Master CM 690 III
Cooler Master, a leading creator, innovator and manufacturer of desktop components and more, today announced the CM 690 III. CM 690 III arrives as the spiritual successor to the CM 690 line of cases that is adored by many around the world.

an_icon_redefined_cooler_master_cm_690_iii

an_icon_redefined_cooler_master_cm_690_iii

Seeking to retain the iconic sleek curved mesh styling on the front faÃ§ade, CM 690 III designers gave the exterior a feel that harkens back to its foundations. With the CM 690 III, Cooler Master sought to look within the chassis for its many design improvements. Chief among these changes is a completely redesigned interior. Included, is a new HDD/SSD combo cage that allows for 3.5" or 2.5" HDD or SSD deployment in every slot based on user needs. This amounts to up to 10 SSDs being supported through the HDD/SSD cages and one available SSD mount behind the motherboard tray. Should the cage not be needed, the HDD/SSD combo cage can be completely removed to open up space for other hardware. Long graphics cards up to 423mm long and tall CPU coolers up to 171mm are fully supported. Further improving upon tool-less implementations, a new EZ-tray ODD system has been implemented for quick installation.

an_icon_redefined_cooler_master_cm_690_iii

an_icon_redefined_cooler_master_cm_690_iii

Cooling Customized
Lending its inspiration to its predecessor, CM 690 III simultaneously supports two 240mm (2 x 120mm) liquid cooling radiators at the top and front for improved overall airflow. In addition, users have the option of installing a 120mm radiator in the rear. The chassis supports a total of up to 9* fans, with as many as three of them being massive 200mm fans. With these features, air and liquid cooling setups can be customized easily while almost only being limited based on need and imagination.

an_icon_redefined_cooler_master_cm_690_iii

In order to ensure that plenty of airflow reaches each of the many fan inlets, CM 690 III features full mesh coverage on the front and top with plenty of airflow access on the sides and back. Multiple dust filters are provided to minimize dust ingress.
The CM 690 III will be available by Aug, 2013. Price and availability may vary based on region. For additional information please visit the CM 690 III product page.

Buffalo Launches TeraStation 3000 Series
Buffalo Technology, a global leader in the design, development and manufacturing of wired and wireless networking and network and direct attached storage solutions, today announced the availability of the TeraStation 3000 Series of high performance NAS and iSCSI unified storage. The new TeraStation 3000 Series delivers a feature-rich solution ideal for small offices and professional users requiring cost-effective network storage to easily share and safeguard assets with the reliability of RAID data protection.

buffalo_launches_terastation_3000_series

buffalo_launches_terastation_3000_series

Comprised of two four-drive configurations, including a 1U rack mount, and capacities from 4 TB - 16 TB, the TeraStation 3000 offers high-performance RAID-based network storage, powered by a dual-core ARM processor and 1 GB of installed DDR3 RAM for high performance and efficiency. It offers complete data protection with available real-time replication and 10 licenses of NovaBACKUP Business Essentials software for Windows devices.

buffalo_launches_terastation_3000_series

buffalo_launches_terastation_3000_series

"The perpetual growth and evolution of storage and backup needs in the SMB market presents network administrators with the continual challenge of effective data management," said Matt Dargis, chief operating officer at Buffalo Technology (USA), Inc. "This challenge translates into a call on vendors to provide reliable, cost-effective solutions that address ever-changing file serving and capacity requirements. Buffalo is answering this need with our recently launched TeraStation 5000 Series, and now the TeraStation 3000 Series. We designed the TeraStation 3000 to deliver simplified management, optimized resource utilization and true disaster recovery protection at entry level price points."

buffalo_launches_terastation_3000_series

The TeraStation 3000 Series provides reliable unified storage with simultaneous NAS and iSCSI target functionality and is loaded with business class features:

Dual gigabit Ethernet ports for redundancy, load balancing or link aggregation
Scheduled or real-time share level replication
Device failover support
RAID 0/1/5/6/10/JBOD
Active Directory support
Disk quota support
Hot-swap/hot spare
USB accessory support (with two USB 3.0 ports and two USB 2.0 ports)

The TeraStation 3000 Series, with its impressive array of SMB applications and cross platform support, offers comprehensive network storage and backup for a variety of professional users.
Scalable Surveillance Video Asset Management
The TeraStation 3000 Series includes the Buffalo Surveillance Video Manager, delivering advanced forensics-based video lifecycle management that helps users manage and protect video assets with ease. It includes support for up to five RTSP (Real Time Streaming Protocol) IP-based surveillance video cameras, allowing users to directly capture, manage and store camera feeds, and simultaneously view live and stored video. The Buffalo Surveillance Video Manager enables users to implement additional TeraStation devices for live video capture with maximum camera support, long-term video file retention or video file redundancy, making it one of the most cost-effective and scalable surveillance solutions available. Each TeraStation 3000 Series unit includes one camera license; additional licenses are available for purchase.
Pricing and Availability
The TeraStation 3000 Series is backed by a limited three-year warranty and includes toll-free U.S.-based technical support available 24/7.
The two-drive pedestal TeraStation 3400 is available now at an MSRP of $599.99 for the 4 TB (TS3400D0404), $749.99 for the 8 TB (TS3400D0804), $1,099.99 for the 12 TB (TS3400D1204) and $1,599.99 for the 16 TB (TS3400D1604).
The two-drive 1U TeraStation 3400r Rackmount is available now at an MSRP of $1,399.99 for the 4 TB (TS3400R0404), $1,549.99 for the 8 TB (TS3400R0804), $1,899.99 for the 12 TB (TS3400R1204) and $2,399.99 for the 16 TB (TS3400R1604).

GALAXY Launches The World Record Breaking GeForce GTX 780 HOF
Galaxy Microsystems, a leading graphics card manufacturer and innovator, announced today the GeForce GTX 780 HOF Edition-the fastest air-cooled GTX 780 on earth. GTX 780 HOF GPUs are hand picked allowing for an incredible factory boost clock of 1058Mhz. As a result, the Galaxy GTX 780 HOF is as much as 20% faster than the standard GTX 780-even faster than the GeForce GTX Titan.

galaxy_launches_the_world_record_breaking_geforce_gtx_780_hof

The HOF edition's signature white PCB gives the card a sleek design completely unlike any other card on the market. Almost every aspect of the GTX 780 PCB has been completely redesigned with a new layout and ultra-premium components. Most notable of these are the CHiL CHL8318 top-of-the-line VR11.1 compliant digital PWM and IR3550 PowIRstage DrMOS 4.0 compliant chipset, which together create a powerful 8 + 2 phase circuit with 90% efficiency capable of delivering an awe inspiring 480 amps of current to the GPU. Other additions include high quality POSCAP capacitors with 2X longer lifespan and high current Coiltronics inductors. The PCB itself is a custom white substrate with 10 layers for optimum signal routing.

galaxy_launches_the_world_record_breaking_geforce_gtx_780_hof

galaxy_launches_the_world_record_breaking_geforce_gtx_780_hof

A card with such monstrous power needs an equally impressive cooling solution, and Galaxy has delivered the greatest cooling solution they have designed to date.. The Galaxy HOF edition is the first GTX 780 to use Hybrid Vapor Chamber Heat Pipe (HVCP) cooling, a new technology with heat transfer efficiency roughly 30X higher than copper. Twin 90mm fans with special grooved blades reduce noise while increasing cooling efficiency. The housing is a combination of fire-resistant polycarbonate, anodized metal, and die-cast aluminum alloy.
The most exciting new feature of the GTX 780 HOF is Hyper Boost, a Galaxy exclusive technology that acts as a hardware supercharger enabling core clocks never before possible with software overclocking alone. Pressing the Hyper Boost button on the bracket engages special circuitry and internal optimizations, pushing clock speeds into overdrive and raising fan speed accordingly. Hyper Boost increases core clocks by up to 8% beyond GPU Boost 2.0's dynamic overclocking function and users' custom OC settings. Multiple world record 3D benchmark scores have been broken already as a result.

GALAXY Also Launches The GeForce GTX 770 HOF
Galaxy Microsystems, a leading manufacturer of high end NVIDIA graphics cards, announced today the GeForce GTX 770 HOF Edition 2GB, an engineering marvel with unrivalled speeds, brilliant custom white PCB and matching white triple fan cooler. HOF, or Hall of Fame edition cards from Galaxy have overclock optimized designs built with the highest grade components available, and their GPUs are specially selected from the best of the best for the highest factory OC possible.

galaxy_also_launches_the_geforce_gtx_770_hof

The Galaxy GTX 770 HOF has the fastest core clock of any GTX 770 in the world, but the in-house designed custom PCB is one of its most impressive attributes. The new design includes a premium digital PWM controller, 8 + 2 phase power supply for more stable current and higher overclock potential, and top grade POSCAP and MLCC capacitors for longer life under heavy load. IR DirectFET MOSFETs offer superior cooling and EMI, high quality shielded inductors maintain cleaner signal and eliminate coil whine, and voltage read points allow hardcore overclockers to monitor their card directly using a their own multimeter.

galaxy_also_launches_the_geforce_gtx_770_hof

In order to quietly and sufficiently dissipate heat, a graphics card with record breaking clock speeds needs the most effective cooling possible, and the GTX 770 HOF has exactly that. The triple fan cooler has a grand total of five nickel plated heat pipes to move heat efficiently across the massive surface area of its extended length fan sink with aluminum fins. The Galaxy Force Air Bracket with full length vent ensures as much heat as possible is exhausted from the case to help prevent recirculation and keep ambient temps cool..

Top 10 TweakTown Press Releases from the past week [29 July 2013]
Here are our top 10 posted press releases from the past week!

Available Tags:Android , Samsung , tablet , Sony , Panasonic , Gamers , Microsoft , Google , Cooler Master , ASUS , wireless , Dell , TweakTown , Nokia , Apple , his , Amazon , LG , Gaming , Router , SSD , Gaming , SSD , Cooler Master , GALAXY , GeForce , GTX , GALAXY , GeForce , GTX ,

No comments:

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)