VR-Zone Tech News for the Geeks Jul 2011 Issue

June 30th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone

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VR-Zone.com | Stuff for the Geeks!VR-Zone | Stuff for the Geeks is a bi-weekly publicationcovering the latest gadgets and stuff for the geeks.

Sandy Bridge-E delayed untilJanuary 2012Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/sandy-bridge-e-delayed-until-

january-2012/12816.html

June 30th, 2011

Wow, what's going on at Intel? It seems like the companyhas decided to delay its entire consumer desktop roadmap,as we've now heard from a very reliable source that Intel haspushed back the Sandy Bridge-E launch from Q4 this year toJanuary 2012.

Wow, what's going on at Intel? It seems like the companyhas decided to delay its entire consumer desktop roadmap,as we've now heard from a very reliable source that Intel haspushed back the Sandy Bridge-E launch from Q4 this year toJanuary 2012.

We have a feeling that Intel is doing an AMD and what wemean by that is that Intel is focusing on its server CPU businessinstead of on consumers. AMD delayed its consumer Bulldozerlaunch in favour of its Opteron CPUs and it's possible thatthis is part of what made Intel change its strategy. The SandyBridge-E CPUs are based on the same core as Intel's upcomingLGA-2011 and LGA-1356 Xeon processors and these are bigchips which mean fewer chips per wafer. As such it's entirelyplausible that Intel is trying to stock up on chips for its Xeonplatforms, but this is only speculation from our side at thispoint in time.

As the Sandy Bridge-E CPUs are set to replace Intel's agingLGA-1366 Core i platform it looks like the enthusiast end of themarket is going to have to wait another quarter before they canget their hands on the new platform. This is going to disappointquite a few people out there, but this is still a very tiny marketfor Intel and it's unlikely that it will affect Intel's profits much,if at all. Hopefully there won't be any further delays, althoughit's also entirely possible that this is a calculated move by Intel,as the company launched a new LGA-1366 CPU only this week,but it's believed to be the last of a dying breed.

Too Hot to Handle: Sonyissues BIOS update for535,000 VAIO notebooks atrisk of overheatingSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/too-hot-to-handle-sony-issues-bios-

update-for-535-000-vaio-notebooks-at-risk-of-overheating/12815.html

June 30th, 2011

Sony has just issued an urgent BIOS update for certain F andC series VAIO notebooks. The affected models were sold in thefirst half of 2010 and are at risk of overheating due to a faultythermal management system. According to Sony, the BIOSupdate should fix the issue. More than half a million unitsworldwide are affected, of which 120,000 are in SoutheastAsia.

More than half a million VAIO notebooks are at risk ofoverheating due to a faulty thermal management system,according to Sony. A product recall was previously issued butSony now says that a BIOS update will fix the problem. Theaffected parts have serial numbers starting with VPCF11 orVPCCW2 and were sold in the first half of 2010.

535,000 notebooks are affected worldwide, about half ofwhich are in the US. Of the remainder, 103,000 are in Europe,120,000 are in Southeast Asia and 52,000 are in Japan.The number of overheating cases reported so far is said tobe between 30 and 40. No injuries have occured, but thenotebooks can get hot enough to warp the plastic casing andcause burns.

To check if your Sony notebook is affected, refer to Sony'ssupport website. Sony advises owners of affected notebooks tocease all usage until the fix has been applied.


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This is hardly the first notebook recall in recent years, thoughrecalls are more often due to notebook batteries. In 2008, Sonyrecalled 73,000 VAIO notebooks due to a similar overheatingissue. Sony was forced to recall over 4 million notebookbatteries back in 2006 after a notebook battery exploded inJapan.

Skype announces updatedclient for Android, bringsvideo calling to supportedsmartphonesSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/skype-announces-updated-client-for-

android-brings-video-calling-to-supported-smartphones/12809.html

June 30th, 2011

For the longest time, users of Android smartphones couldonly watch in envy while their iOS-totting friends werehappily utilizing Skype's services to initiate video calls amongtheir fellow iOS users, but it seems that things are about tochange for the better very soon. This is because Skype justannounced the availability of an updated client which it hasconfirmed will be bringing that missing feature to the Androidplatform. Android users, let the video calls begin.

Skype may have been present on mobile platforms for a longtime, but the unfortunate truth is that the Android versionof Skype still has some way to go before it can be proclaimedto have finally achieved feature-parity with the one that iscurrently available for Apple's iOS. This is especially true,considering how Skype for Android still lacks support forvideo calls, a feature that was made available for iOS 4 in lateDecember last year.

However, just as good things always comes to those who wait,it would seem that today is the day Android users can finallyhave something to phone home about, for Skype has justannounced the availability of an updated version of its Androidclient, which is designed to bring that missing feature to whatis currently recognized as "the fastest growing mobile OS".

According to the official press release, Skype for Android 2.0will allow users of Android-powered smartphones to "makeand receieve free 1-1 video calls over Skype between theirAndroid phone", as well as with other Skype contacts whoare making use of the service on other platforms. In addtion,the client will work with both WiFi and 3G data connections,although Skype recommends the use of a "strong WiFiconnection" for best results.

Users will also notice that the user interface for Skype's newclient has been given an overhaul, as shown in the imagebelow. According to Skype, this was done to ensure that userscan easily gain direct access to all of the key functions that areavailable in the client.

Of course, in addition to video calls, users can also continueto make use of Skype's services as a means to make calls tolandlines and mobiles, as well as send SMS’s to their friendsand family members under Skype's existing rates.

That being said, you might want to hold your horses first.VR-Zone was given the opportunity to interview Skype'sMark Douglas, who confirmed that support for video calls iscurrently limitted to only four devices in the initial rollout,and they are HTC's Desire S, Sony Ericsson's Xperia neoand Xperia pro and Google's Nexus S, although Skype hasconfirmed that more devices will be added to its compatibilitylist in time.

However, there is no way to get the feature working onunsupported phones, as Douglas has confirmed that the


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app is closed-ended. This means that devices which fulfillthe minium requirements (Android 2.3 + meets the OS'svideo requirements) but are not on the compatibility list willbe locked out from making video calls via Skype on theirsmartphone, although they will still have access to all the otherservices.

Also, those of you who are hoping for a greater degree ofintegration of Skype into Android will probably be disapointedto know that the company has got no plans to do so, but thatis only because the developers are limitted to what Googleallows them to do via the SDK. And last but defintiely notleast, no, group video conferencing is not available on thisnew release, although Douglas did suggest that such a featuremight eventually make its way into future versions of itsmobile Skype client once smartphones gain access to muchmore powerful and capable hardware.

Gigabyte GA-Z68XP-UD3-iSSDPreviewSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/gigabyte-ga-z68xp-ud3-issd-

preview/12810.html

June 30th, 2011

Intel specifically designed the 20GB SSD 311 to be used asa cache drive with Z68's Smart Response Technology. NowGigabyte has taken the mSATA version of the SSD 311 andbundled it onto a full-fledged Z68 motherboard, hoping to saveyou the hassle of purchasing the SSD separately. We haven'thad the chance to test out this unique motherboard yet, butlook inside for a quick tour.

Above: Gigabyte's trademark blue colour scheme.

Above: 8 USB 2.0 ports, 2 USB 3.0 ports and a single HDMIdisplay output.

Above: The power delivery system uses DrMOS (Driver+MOSFET)

Above: An additional two USB 3.0 ports are accessiblevia header. A Marvell 88SE9172 controller provides twoadditional SATA 6 Gbps ports (grey).


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Above: The two x16 slots can be used in a x8/x8 configurationfor SLI/CrossFire. Gigabyte has used the Realtek ALC889audio codec and RTL8111E ethernet controller.

Above: The key selling point of this motherboard - an onboardIntel SSD 311 20GB solid state drive.

Stay tuned for our full review of the Gigabyte GA-Z68XP-UD3-iSSD!

Behind The Scenes: TheMaking of the Jay Chou ASUSN43 NotebookSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/behind-the-scenes-the-making-of-the-

jay-chou-asus-n43-notebook/12808.html

June 30th, 2011

Today, VR-Zone barged into a secret ASUS design facilitywhere Jay Chou has been spending some of his time to designand develop the N43 notebook. We are shown with some of hisworks that are eventually incorporated into the final design ofthe notebook. Let us walk you through the workplace of JayChou now.

Today, VR-Zone barged into a secret ASUS design facilitywhere Jay Chou has been spending some of his time to designand develop the N43 notebook. The ASUS designers revealedthat Jay Chou spend some of his nights in this facility overthe last 6 months entering only by the back door to avoid anyunwanted attention. His visits to ASUS are even kept a secretfrom most of the ASUS employees. We are shown with some ofhis works that are eventually incorporated into the final designof the notebook. Let us walk you through the workplace of JayChou now :


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This is the place where Jay Chou sat down with ASUSdesigners to ponder over the design, colors and features thathe wish to see in the notebook. This is also the place he drewthe J letter in calligraphy.

These are the J letter calligraphy drawn by Jay Chou and one ofthem is picked by the ASUS designer as the signature J foundon the N43 notebooks.

The ASUS designers eventually picked this one and a fewothers to mix and match to form the perfect J

The signature J letter is found on the box and notebook


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Jay Chou and the ASUS designers have drawn this togetherand is eventually imprinted onto the notebook cover

Jay Chou has written on some Post It notes specificallywanting a hot pink color notebook and exceptional soundquality.

Initially, he wanted a really bright pink but through numerousrevisions, the color is eventually toned down to the one you areseeing now.

That's all for the walk through of his workplace in the ASUSDesign facility.

Olympus officially announcesthree new Micro Four ThirdscamerasSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/olympus-officially-announces-three-

new-micro-four-thirds-cameras/12807.html

June 30th, 2011

While Panasonic may have claimed an early head start in thisrace with the recent launch of the GF3, it is clear that Olympusis not about to let itself get outdone anytime soon, for thecompany has just announced three new Micro Four Thirdssystem cameras that look set to give Panasonic's GF3 a run forits money. VR-Zone brings you the coverage.

Not so long ago, Panasonic and Olympus made headlineswhen they jointly announced the creation of the Micro FourThirds system. The new standard was initially met withvarying degrees of skepticism. Some pundits claimed that theconcept was superfluous because the use of large lenses wouldnegate any size-related advantages that Micro Four Thirds wasfounded upon.

Fast forward to 2011, and what was once considered a'superfluous' standard has quickly matured into one of themost popular segments in the digital camera market due to itsability to capture excellent stills in a compact-sized body. Asevidence of this success, Olympus saw it fit to announce notone, but three new Micro Four Thirds cameras today that atthe National Geographic Store in VivoCity, Singapore.


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The latest additions to the Micro Four Thirds stable are theE-P3, Olympus's flagship model, and the smaller E-PL3 andE-PM1. Hirobumi Imano (above), Olympus Imaging Corp.'sgeneral manager for the design centre, was given the taskof officially unveiling the new devices to the world. Imanodescribed how the new cameras reflect the design principleswhich have been a focal point of the company's PEN cameraseven since their conception:

"A camera should not be a toy.. the Olympus PEN is a productthat is designed to deliver the happiness of photography allover the world without two main obstacles - difficulty in usage,and price. PEN exludes a sense of class and refinement, and itsfeature set is always expanding. And today, we will introducethe E-P2's sucessor, which sports the same design but is acompletely different camera in its own regard, along with twoadditional products", he said in Japanese.

Toshiyuki Terada (above), senior manager of Olympus' SLRdivision, then described some of the new features of the new E-P3, E-PL3 and E-PM1. In a nutshell, the new E-P3 will featurea faster autofocus algorithm, an extremely sensitive sensorcapable of ISO 12800, TruePic VI technology and a capacitiveOLED touchscreen.

The E-PL3 will boast a tilting widescreen LCD displayand support for high-speed continous shooting, while the

smaller E-PM1 will get Live Guide, which allows users tocontrol the camera's background defocusing.

Terada also announced the availability of two new large-aperture prime lenses for its entire Micro Four Thirds cameralineup, the 12mm, F2.0 "Snap Lens" and the 45mm, F1.8portrait lens.


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Lamptron to Release Slider-based Fan ControllerSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/lamptron-to-release-slider-based-fan-

controller/12804.html

June 30th, 2011

Lamptron, a China-based manufacturer of computer moddingaccessories, has announced the FC9 fan controller. TheFC9 uses sliders to control up to four fans and includescustomizable LED lighting. See inside for more pictures.

Lamptron is doing away with knobs on its latest fan controller.The FC9 uses sliders instead to control the fan speed,supporting up to four fans. Each channel can deliver up to 50Wof power (or just over 4A), which is more than enough for highperformance fans. The dimensions of the FC9 are 148.5 x 42.5x 75mm, which means it will fit into a 5.25" bay.

The FC9 will be available in silver or black, with both modelsincluding customizable LED lighting. The FC9 supposedlyrequires a 600W+ power supply for optimal operation,but unless you really use that many high-powered fans itdoesn't really make sense. Pricing for the FC9 has not beenannounced.

The Daily VR-Zone NewsSummary - 29 June 2011Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/the-daily-vr-zone-news-summary--29-

june-2011/12798.html

June 30th, 2011

In today's news roundup: Nanya is claiming that the contractprices for DRAM could decline even further due to issues such

as weak PC end-user demand and consequent inventory build-up at OEMs, and that prices may continue to fall in July;AMD's next-generation Opteron microprocessors which arebased off the Bulldozer microarchitecture will reportedly boasta new feature where by users can tweak the chip's maximumTDP, thus allowing them to strike a balance between powerconsumption and performance; Netvolution has launched itsvery own Avenue App Store for Microsoft's desktop Windowsoperating system, in which users can browse through appsby popularity and category, and be informed about featuredand new apps; Eurocom Corporation has announced itssupport for the high-performance Killer Wireless-N 1102 high-performance wireless network adapter as another availablewireless card option in its premium notebook solutions;Blizzard announced the availability of a new 'Starter edition' ofthe popular World of WarCraft game, in which gamers will beallowed to play for free until their character reaches level 20,after which their levels will remain capped until the full versionis purchased, and PSP owners can expect to see more actionfrom Lord "The Most Badass Freakin Overlord In the Cosmos"Zetta, for Nippon Ichi has confirmed that it will be portingthe PS2 title, Makai Kingdom, over to Sony's handheld gamingconsole, and is expected to be released for sale on September22.

Hardware news

Sentey Burton Full-Tower Computer Case @ BenchmarkReviewsDescription: The Sentey Burton GS-6500 is a full towerenclosure developed for enthusiasts who desire highperformance and a sexy exterior. This case flaunts its multipleLED fans, and LED buttons, turning heads in the process. TheBurton, is one of several models belonging to the ExtremeDivision line of computer cases, and it is available in 3flavors; The GS-6500 in glossy black, the GS-6500B with bluehighlights and grills, and the GS-6500R with red highlightsand grills. It's pretty easy to glance at the exterior of this caseand be charmed into submission...

DRAM contract prices may decline further, says NanyaDescription: Weak PC end-user demand and consequentinventory build-up at OEMs have put pressure on contractprices for DRAM, Nanya Technology has pointed out. Pricesmay continue to fall in July as OEM clients slow down theirpace of orders, Nanya said.

TEAM Group TR1151 USB 3.0 42-in-1 USB 3.0 Card ReaderReviewDescription: USB 3.0, the big brother of the USB 2.0 busstandard which was introduced way back in 2000, is now hereand in force after quickly gaining momentum in the marketafter both ASUS and GIGABYTE launched boards at CES 2010with USB 3.0 chips onboard. As a quick recap, USB 3.0 claimsto offer a ten times improvement over USB 2.0, which has amaximum bandwidth of 480Mbit/s or 60MB/s. USB 3.0 hasa maximum bandwidth of 5Gbit/s or 625MB/s. While we arenot sure if you would actually know someone who has achievedspeeds this high, the potential is there as the products thatmake up USB 3.0 such as chips and devices ramp up in termsof performance.

Liteon iHES212 12x Internal Blu Ray Review - XSReviews


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Description: Blu Ray might just be a stop gap before true HDstreaming, but for now it’s one of the easier ways to get holdof high definition movies and other media; especially since it’sbecoming more affordable. While they used to cost hundredsof pounds, now you can get yourself an internal one like the onewe’re reviewing today for around £60. This one is the LiteoniHES212 12x Internal, let’s give it a look.

OCZ RevoDrive 3 X2 480GB PCIe SSD Review @ LegitReviewsDescription: OCZ gave everyone a hint of things to come atComputex 2011 with a sneak peak of the third generationof the RevoDrive. We've been impressed with our previousencounters with this SSD line and this time is no different aswe give the RevoDrive 3 X2 480GB PCI-E SSD a test drive. Isit fast? Well, how does 1500MB/s reads grab you? Oh yeah,there's TRIM support too!

Adesto to sample CBRAMDescription: Adesto Technologies Corp. of Sunnyvale inCalifornia is sampling a completely new type of RAM calledCBRAM. The CB stands for Conductive Bridging and the RAMdiffers from traditional DRAM in several important aspects.First of all CBRAM is non-volatile and secondly it scales welldown to at least 12nm, where it is very difficult to manufacturetraditional DRAM – to put it mildly.

AMD's Next-Generation Opteron "Bulldozer" Chips to FeatureAdjustable TDP.Description: Advanced Micro Devices' next-generationOpteron microprocessors based on Bulldozer micro-architecture will support capability to adjust maximumthermal design power (TDP). The technology will allowcustomers to regulate TDPs in order to balance powerconsumption and performance of data centers.

Consumer Electronics and Software News

Cooler Master NotePal Infinite EVO Notebook Cooler ReviewDescription: Even as far as fans go, I really thought I had seenit all. 80mm fan, 120mm fans, all the way up to a single 20mmfan; I have tested them all as far as standard fans go. If Iremember correctly, I even tested a cooler with a rather large"squirrel cage" style fan that was the size of a hamster wheel.I also recall that that fan idea didn't work out too well andoffered very little in the way of actual cooling to the laptop. Thistime around Cooler Master uses a blower style fan, or rathera pair of them, to do the cooling in the notebook cooler wereceived for testing.

With SkypeKit, Skype wants to be everywhereDescription: Skype opened up its development platform to allcomers Tuesday, but it still has a disconnect between revenuegeneration and its platform efforts. Like many companiestrying to build a dominant position in the technologyecosystem, Skype is navigating the path between dollars anddevs.

Windows Gets an App Store of Its Own: AvenueDescription: Windows users, don’t you wish there was avendor-agnostic, one-stop shop for downloadable software?Something with easily browsable categories, ratings, reviewsand simple purchase options? Several companies are tryingto make an Apple App Store-like software shop for Windows.Yesterday we noted the launch of Pokki, a store that puts

mobile-style applets on the PC desktop. Avenue is a userfriendly, lightning fast and immediately available option forfully functioning Windows apps.

Custom Firmware Alternatives For Your Wireless RouterDescription: For most users a good wireless router is the onethat you set up in a few easy steps and forget about it as longas it gets you online. But beyond the stock features that camewith your router, there are many things that the hardware youbought might be capable of. Luckily for you, people have beenworking on ways to get the fancy stuff running on your average$60-$100 device. After a relatively simple upgrade to a freethird-party firmware, you'll be able boost your wireless signal,prioritize what programs get your precious bandwidth, anddo lots of other stuff usually reserved for pro-grade wirelessrouters.

Nvidia gets excited about Alienware notebooksDescription: And it's all thanks to its own GTX 580M GPU,the company says. You can buy the Alienware M18x notebooknow if you're richer than the sense you have. There's an optionto have two of the GPUs under the hood if it takes yourfancy. Machines that feature the GTX 580M, says Nvidia,are among the fastest DirectX 11 machines you'll find onthe market. It claims the GPUs offer up to six times thetessellation performance of "any other notebook GPU" alongwith a performance increase of 20 percent compared to the lastlot.

The World's fastest Notebooks now support the World's fastestWireless Card!Description: Eurocom Corporation, a leading developer oflong lifespan, fully upgradable notebooks, high performancemobile workstations, All-in-One desktops and mobile serversis announcing support for the Killer Wireless-N 1102 high-performance wireless network adapter as another availablewireless card option in Eurocom systems. The addition ofthe Killer Wireless-N 1102 adapter by Bigfoot Networks givesEurocom customers an ultra high-performance wireless cardfor their custom built notebook.

The HP TouchPad Will Come With Its Own Facebook TabletApp (Leaked Pics)Description: The world has been waiting for an officialFacebook tablet app, and waiting, and waiting. But that appmay not appear on the iPad first (although Facebook isworking on an iPad app for sure). Instead, Facebook’s firsttablet app will appear on the HP TouchPad, which comes outthis Friday and runs the WebOS it bought with Palm. This appwas not built by Facebook but by HP, much like how RIM builtthe Facebook app for the Blackberry Playbook using Facebookplatform

Gaming news

World of WarCraft is free until Level 20Description: Sick of the 14-day trial in World of Warcraft ?There is a change for the better. Calling it the Starter edition,Blizzard will be making World of WarCraft free-to-play untilyour character reaches level 20 and their levels will remaincapped until you purchase the full version.

Makai Kingdom conquering PSP in Japan this SeptemberDescription: Fans of Nippon Ichi strategy RPGs like theDisgaea series can definitely look forward to more of their


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favorite titles re-released for the PSP. The PS2 title MakaiKingdom: Chronicles of the Sacred Tome (known as PhantomKingdom in Japan) will be out for Sony's portable system inJapan on September 22.

OnLive Talking to Sony and Microsoft About StreamingGamesDescription: The service offered by OnLive is quite intriguing,as it allows you to play games on any number of platforms. Ahigh-end game plays just as well on the OnLive MicroConsolewhich hooks up to your TV as it does on your PC or laptop,regardless of the specifications of either computer. At E3,the company even demonstrated the ability to stream gameson an iPad; figuring out a way to handle the controls on atouchscreen aside, it's impressive. Two places OnLive wouldn'tmind also being available on are Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.It might seem like a stretch, but it's in the process of speakingto both companies about possible support.

Internet Explorer 10 PlatformPreview 2 now available fordownloadSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/internet-explorer-10-platform-

preview-2-now-available-for-download/12803.html

June 30th, 2011

Well, it seems that Microsoft sure is not about to take itstime with its browser development schedule, especially if thislatest piece of news is of any indication. In just less than 80days, the Redmond giant has pushed out yet another PlatformPreview for its upcoming Internet Explorer 10 web browser fordevelopers to test and experiment with. And based on whatwe have seen, it appears that one thing is clear: Microsoft isdeeply committed to enhancing a user's online experience withits web browser.

If you would remember, we heaped praise on Microsoft ina story written two months ago when news broke out thatthe Redmond giant had already commenced work on the nextversion of its Internet Explorer web browser, and had evenreleased a working Platform Preview of Internet Explorer 10for developers to get their hands wet, in spite of the fact thatInternet Explorer 9 was barely even a month old at that time.Even though the Platform Preview had little to show in terms

of new features, it was definitely a good sign for users, as itmeans that Microsoft is definitely taking steps to ensure thatInternet Explorer remains as up-to-date as possible with thelatest web standards.

Fast forward to the present, and it seems that Microsoft is notabout let up development on Internet Explorer 10 any timesoon, for a quick visit to the Internet Explorer Test Drive HomePage reveals that the second Platform Preview for its upcomingweb browser has already been made available for download.Yep, all this in less than 80 days after the first Platform Previewwas launched. Way to go, Microsoft.

However, unlike the first Platform Preview which hadextremely little to show off to developers, Platform Preview2 is actually loaded with a ton (figuratively speaking) ofnew features which are bound to be of great interest toweb developers, especially if they have already committedthemselves to the new HTML5 standard. According to ablog post made by Dean Hachamovitch, who serves as thecorporate vice president in charge of the Internet Explorerteam, these new features come in the form of support for awide variety of web technologies, such as Positioned Floats,HTML5 drag-drop and the HTML5 File Reader API, amongmany others. Most importantly, though, has got to be the factthat HTML5 forms are now supported as well, although webdevelopers were quick to note that Microsoft's decision to notinclude support for the text-shadow attribute was a majordisappointment.


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A demonstration of Positioned Floats support in IE10Platform Preview 2...

...and HTML5 forms.

In addition to the various new features, Microsoft claimsthat the Internet Explorer 10 Platform Preview 2 applicationalso boasts enhancements in a variety of areas such as webapplication performance and security.

Interested? Well, the usual disclaimer about pre-releasesoftware definitely applies, even if the application comesdirect from a company that is as established and reputableas Microsoft. Considering that Platform Previews were nevermeant to be serve as full-fledged web browsers, it goes withoutsaying that this particular release, like the one before it, shouldnot be used as one. However, if you just want to have somefun in playing around with the various new features mentionedabove, the second Platform Preview for Internet Explorer 10can be downloaded off the Internet Explorer Test Drive homepage here.

Corsair HX1050 1050W PSUreviewSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/corsair-hx1050-1050w-psu-

review/12801.html

June 30th, 2011

It appears as if Corsair has been releasing more high-end power supplies than RAM modules during the past fewmonths. It was only a few weeks ago that we reviewed thecurrently most powerful power supply Corsair offers, theAX1200, and the exceptional TX850 V2. Today we are goingto examine and review a unit in between those two, theirProfessional Series HX1050 modular power supply.

It appears as if Corsair has been releasing more high-endpower supplies than RAM modules during the past fewmonths. It was only a few weeks ago that we reviewed thecurrently most powerful power supply Corsair offers, theAX1200, and the exceptional TX850 V2. Today we are goingto examine and review a unit in between those two, theirProfessional Series HX1050 modular power supply.

Manufacturer’s features and specifications


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• Guaranteed to sustain its full rated wattage at an ambienttemperature of 50°C

• Up to 88% energy-efficiency under real-world loadconditions

• Single +12V rail design providing up to 87.5A

• Multi-GPU ready

• Active Power Factor Correction (PFC) with PF value of0.99

• Supports ATX12V 2.2 and EPS12V 2.91 standards.Backwards compatible with ATX12V 2.01

• Auto switching circuitry for universal AC input from90-264V

• Over Current/Voltage/Power Protection, Under VoltageProtection and Short Circuit Protection providecomplete component safety

• Dimensions: 150mm(W) x 86mm(H) x 180mm(L)

• MTBF: 100,000 hours

• Safety Approvals: UL, CUL, CE, CB, FCC Class B, TÜV,CCC, C-tick

CMPSU-1050HXACINPUT

100-240V~13A-7.5A50/60Hz

DCOUTPUT

+5V +3.3V +12V -12V +5Vsb

MAXCURRENT

30A 30A 87.5A 0.8A 3.5A

MAXCOMBINEDWATTAGE

180W 1050W 9.6W 17.5W

TOTALPOWER:1050W@ 50°Cambienttemperature

HP mulling WebOS licensingSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/hp-mulling-webos-

licensing/12802.html

June 30th, 2011

The inevitable looks like it's about to happen, HP hasstarted talks with various potential partners to see if anyone's

interested in licensing its WebOS for handheld devices.Apparently a number of companies are interested, althoughthis generally doesn't mean anything until a license agreementhas been signed.

The inevitable looks like it's about to happen, HP hasstarted talks with various potential partners to see if anyone'sinterested in licensing its WebOS for handheld devices.Apparently a number of companies are interested, althoughthis generally doesn't mean anything until a license agreementhas been signed.

According to Bloomberg, WebOS is being considered as achoice to Google's Android OS and Microsoft's WindowsPhone 7, something that almost has to happen if HP wantsthe platform to survive. It's a dog eat dog world in the mobiledevice OS market with Apple and Google dominating it at themoment. WebOS is somewhere at the bottom of the peckingorder having been a proprietary solution owned by Palmbefore HP bought the company and although it has a lot ofunique features and several benefits over its competitors, itlacks market share.

Samsung is rumoured to be one of the companies interested,but considering the company is already involved in just aboutevery single mobile OS platform, bar iOS, at least directly,this isn't entirely surprising. The question is who else willjump on board, as HP needs all the device partners it canget to grown the ecosystem for its WebOS, especially as itslacking in developer support for apps. The way the markethas developed, this has become a key part of any mobile OS,as if you can't offer the apps your customers want, they'll goelsewhere.

HP is also expected to be putting its WebOS on its desktop andnotebook computers, but as a virtualised environment ratherthan as a dual boot solution. The reason behind this move is sothat users could access their mobile device apps even on theirdesktop, something that could prove to be a small win for HP.That said, if it remains exclusive to HP PC's, it's not likely togo down well with WebOS users, as very few consumers tendto like to get tied in with a single brand for all their products,notwithstanding Apple users.

Olympus set to launch newm4/3 cameras later todaySource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/olympus-set-to-launch-new-m43-

cameras-later-today/12800.html

June 30th, 2011

If you're looking at getting a new mirrorless camera then youmight want to hold off a little bit, as later today Olympus isset to unveil no less than three new micro 4/3 cameras, ofwhich pictures of two models have already leaked. Full specsof one model has also made an appearance on the web ahead


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of the launch and one of the headline features of Olympus' newmodels is superfast auto-focusing.

If you're looking at getting a new mirrorless camera then youmight want to hold off a little bit, as later today Olympus isset to unveil no less than three new micro 4/3 cameras, ofwhich pictures of two models have already leaked. Full specsof one model has also made an appearance on the web aheadof the launch and one of the headline features of Olympus' newmodels is superfast auto-focusing.

The three new models are the PEN E-P3, E-PL3 and E-PM1,all based around the m4/3 lens and sensor system. So far, fulldetails of the E-P3 has tipped up, alongside with a couple ofpictures of the E-PM1. As far as the E-PL3 is concerned, itseems like we might have to wait until the official launch latertoday.

The E-P3 is Olympus new high-end m4/3 mirrorless modeland it features what Olympus calls Instant AF. This almostsounds too good to be true, but Olympus has created a sensorfor its new cameras with 35 focus points that are spread acrossmost of the sensor surface and it features what is believed tobe infra-red sensors to further improve the AF speed. Olympusclaims that this camera has the fastest AF of any camera withinterchangeable lenses which says something about how goodit should be.

Further improvements over the E-P2 – a camera which sharesa very similar body and design with the E-P3 – include anOLED touch screen which is expected to feature a higherresolution compared to Olympus current m4/3 cameras.Despite having a touch screen, Olympus has included a regularmode dial as well as two customizable scroll wheels for moreadvanced users.

The E-P3 is also Olympus first m4/3 camera to offer 1080video recording, albeit only interlaced video at 60fps. Itrecords video in the AVCHD or MJPEG formats and it can alsoshoot in 720p. A few new lenses are also expected and to getthe most out of the new, superfast AF you need to team thecamera up with the new lenses.

As far as the E-PM1 is concerned, we're looking at a tiny m4/3camera, albeit apparently not as small as Panasonic's GF3 andit's meant to share its design, but not size with the E-PL3. Asfar as specifications are concerned, we'll have to wait for theofficial word from Olympus, but the good news is that we'll beat the launch event in Taipei to bring you the full details ofthese new cameras and lenses.

MSI's CX480 notebookfeatures top mounted batteryindicatorSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/msi-s-cx480-notebook-features-top-

mounted-battery-indicator/12796.html

June 30th, 2011

So far we've already seen quite a few notebook models fromMSI this year, but the company is continually updating its lineup and the new CX480 follows the CX640 in terms of overalldesign, but it has a few features of its own. MSI has reallystarted to get the fact that design matters and beyond havingmanaged to put together something that looks attractive, thecompany will also offer the CX480 in multiple colours and wehave some exclusive pictures of the blue model.

So far we've already seen quite a few notebook models fromMSI this year, but the company is continually updating its lineup and the new CX480 follows the CX640 in terms of overalldesign, but it has a few features of its own. MSI has reallystarted to get the fact that design matters and beyond havingmanaged to put together something that looks attractive, thecompany will also offer the CX480 in multiple colours and wehave some exclusive pictures of the blue model.


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The CX480 is by all intents and purposes a fairly average 14-inch notebook with a 1366x768 resolution screen, a choice ofan Intel Core i3-2310M or Core i5-2410M processor and itshould support up to 8GB of 1333MHz DDR3 memory. Thatsaid, MSI has kitted it out with a GeForce GT 520M graphicscard with 1GB of dedicated DDR3 graphics memory and in asmuch as this is Nvidia's most basic 500-series mobile GPU, itshould still prove to be a smidgen faster than Intel's HD 3000graphics.

Add to that various storage options, an optical drive, 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0, Gigabit Ethernet, two USB 2.0 ports,a USB 3.0 port, HDMI, D-sub, a pair of audio jacks, a memorycard reader and a webcam and you got a somewhat better thanaverage notebook. However, MSI has added at least one niftyfeature, a battery charge indicator located next to the powerbutton. This consists of four green LEDs which will switch offin order and once you hit 10 percent battery life the last LEDwill start flashing.

The standard 6-cell 4,400mAh battery is said to be good forup to 8.5h of usage and a one hour charge replenishes 80percent of the battery power. The screen has an ambient lightsensor and it adjusts the screen backlight automatically basedon ambient light and there are 16 brightness levels. At 2.2kgthe CX480 is somewhat on the chunky side, but still a fairlystandard 14-incher. It will be available in black, white and blueas per our pictures. No word on pricing as yet, but we'd expectit to be slightly cheaper than the CX640 which would put it inthe very affordable category.

Rumour: NVIDIA's next-gen Kepler taped out, AMDSouthern Islands in SeptemberSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/rumour-nvidia-s-next-gen-kepler-

taped-out-amd-southern-islands-in-september/12799.html

June 30th, 2011

After an eternity at 40nm, thanks to 32nm cancelation and28nm delays, the GPU industry is finally transitioning toTSMC's long, long awaited 28nm HKMG process. Fudzillareports that NVIDIA's next-gen GPU, based on the Keplerarchitecture, has already been taped out. On the AMD sideof things, we have heard reports of Southern Islands tape-outdating all the way back to March 2011. AMD's Southern IslandsGPUs could release as early as September, with NVIDIA'sKepler releasing earliest in Q4 2011; more likely Q1 2012.

At this early stage, there is still very little known about thenext generation. While AMD has recently presented it's futureGPU architecture at AMD Fusion Developer Summit, the HD


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7000 generation is expected to be a tweaked version of theVLIW-4 architecture currently used only in HD 6900 series.Of course, it is possible that the one line of the HD 7000 series- perhaps HD 7900 - will feature the new AMD's Graphics CoreNext architecture, following a similar architecture split as seenin the HD 6000 series. Other rumours also suggest AMD willbe splitting GPU lines between TSMC and Globalfoundries.While optimistic rumours peg Southern Islands' release dateat mid-Q3, SemiAccurate suggests that September is a morelikely release date for the first HD 7000 GPUs. The bottleneck,as usual, is TSMC, and it remains to be seen when they can fab28nm wafers, and in what quantity?

Incredibly, the first 40nm GPU, the HD 4770, was releasedover 2 years back. Pegged back at 40nm, both NVIDIA andAMD have only offered incremental performance upgrades forthe Geforce 500 and HD 6000 generations. The GPU industry,in general, desperately needs an efficient 28nm process - overto TSMC.

Samsung to launch Korea'sfirst Android-based SmartHome Phone on JulySource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/samsung-to-launch-korea-s-first-

android-based-smart-home-phone-on-july/12797.html

June 30th, 2011

Considering how Google's Android operating system wasoriginally designed to be an OS which is meant to beused exclusively by smartphones, it would be expectedthat Samsung's idea of introducing a line of portable mediaplayers that are powered by Android would raise more thanjust a few eyebrows. However, leave it to Samsung to put aunique spin on its latest Galaxy Media Player by launchingit as a VoIP device that is capable of making phone calls viathe power of the Internet. Now that has got to be some rathercreative thinking on the Korean electronic giant's part.

Now that a smartphone is capable of fulfilling just about everysingle task under the sun that consumers could possibly askfor, would you pay good money to purchase an Android-powered device which is designed to serve as a portable mediaplayer, much like the approach Apple has taken with its iPhoneand iPod Touch product lines? Well, it seems that Samsungbelieves that there is still a large enough market out there forsuch devices to justify the release of yet another addition to itsGalaxy line of portable media players.

However, in what has got to be rather interesting twist to thestory; Samsung will not be selling the its new Galaxy player asthe portable media player that it is supposed to be, but as amobile phone which is capable of making actual phone calls.Wait, say what?

Well, according to the official press release from Samsung,the upcoming portable media player, which is also known asthe Galaxy 070, will be able to function as a mobile phone ofsorts due to the use of VoIP to achieve this feat. In fact, tofurther convey the message that the Galaxy 070 is capable offunctioning as a mobile phone (albeit without a SIM card),Samsung has announced that it has teamed up with LG U+ forthe Galaxy 070's official launch on the first of July this year,where the device will reportedly be marketed as Korea's firstever Smart Home Phone to be based off the Android operatingsystem.

Further sweetening the deal are the hardware specificationsof the Galaxy 070: Samsung has confirmed that the devicewill boast a four-inch Super Clear LCD screen, a rear-facingcamera capable of capturing still images at a maximumresolution of three megapixels, a T-DMP module, WiFi andBluetooth wireless connectivity, 8GB of memory and supportfor additional storage via the use of microSD cards.

Customers who purchase the Samsung Galaxy 070 SmartHome Phone from LG U+ will be charged the same tarrifsthat are currently has in place for existing "Internet Phones".However, the company has also added that it will be enhancingthe functionality of the device by allowing consumers toaccess the all-important Android Market on the Galaxy 070,a decision which will definitely appeal to users consideringhow important a role apps play in the popularity of a mobileplatform.

No information about the Galaxy 070's pricing has beenrevealed by either company.

ASUS and Jay Chou jointlyannounce special edition Nseries notebook PCSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/asus-and-jay-chou-jointly-announce-

special-edition-n-series-notebook-pc/12795.html


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June 30th, 2011

Today, ASUS and renowned Taiwanese musician, singer-songwriter and actor Jay Chou have jointly announcedthe new special edition N-series notebook PC. The 14-inch notebook PC features the latest second generationIntel processor, SonicMaster audio technology (from thecollaboration with Bang & Olufsen ICEpower), and uniquedesigns from Chou. VR-Zone brings you the coverage.Updates : Check out Behind The Scenes: The Making of JayChou N43 Notebook

The event kickstarted with a symphony comprised ofASUS laptops, conducted by ASUS chairman Jonney Shih andTaiwanese celebrity Jay Chou playing the piano. And later,both unveiled the Jay Chou special edition N-series notebookPC.

No, it isn't exactly a celebrity endorsement; Chou was the chiefdesigner who has worked with the ASUS design centre onthe laptop. Shih said that the company's vision is to producemore of such distinct products which are incomparable and

he is happy to have Chou as the designer for the specialedition N-series. To conceptualize the design, it boils downto how the combination of the consumers sixth senses andASUS' advanced technologies, and bring out the incomparableexperience to the users. According to Chou, he had used"incomparable" as the theme for one of his concerts and thatthe design of the special edition N-series is very much like eastmeets west.

Shih also presented Chou with an honored employee passwhich means the celebrity is officially working for thecompany.

Here are some pictures of models with the ASUS specialedition N-series laptop:-


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LG releases new Cinema 3DTV monitor for sale in SouthKoreaSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/lg-releases-new-cinema-3d-tv-monitor-

for-sale-in-south-korea/12779.html

June 30th, 2011

Wouldn't it be nice if you could have a 3D-capable televisionset that is so small and compact, it could also double up foruse as a PC monitor? If your answer to that question is aresounding "yes", well, we got some good news for you, andit comes in the form of LG Electronics' new MX235D Cinema3D TV monitor, which is reportedly capable of fulfilling theaforementioned need, and then some.

Now that 3D technology is fast becoming mainstream, it ishardly surprising to see manufacturers start rolling out new3D-capable television sets and monitors as though there is notomorrow. Unfortunately, consumers who are on the lookoutfor a one-size-fits-all 3D-capable device will probably find

themselves disappointed, as most 3D-capable television setsare definitely too big to be used as PC monitors withoutcausing some serious neck issues on the user's part, and 3D-capable monitors typically lack support for certain A/V jackswhich are widely used by many digital appliances today.

However, it seems that users who are finding themselvescaught in the aforementioned situation now have a potentialsolution to their needs, and it comes in the form of LG's newMX235D Cinema 3D TV monitor, which was just released forretail in South Korea yesterday.

According to the official press release posted by LGElectronics, the MX235D boasts an ultra-thin bezel whichmeasures16.8mm and is fitted with 3D conversion chips whichallow for on-the-fly conversion of digital content from 2D to3D without the need to pass the device through additionalsoftware needed for doing so. In addition, LG has claimed thatthe MX235D utilizes passive 3D technology; this allows usersto do away with the heavy and cumbersome battery-operatedactive shutter 3D glasses which have been said to have theside effect of potentially inducing dizziness among users. Addthat to the fact that the MX235D's 23-inch display size is smallenough to be able to double up as a PC monitor, and you havea rather decent one-size-fits-all, 3D-capable device which canshuttle between the roles of both a HDTV and a HD monitoreffortlessly.

Last but definitely not least, LG has also confirmed thatthe MX235D television set will come equipped with variousstandard features such as a pair of 5W speakers, a USB portfor playing back content via external storage devices, and


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built-in support for MP3 playback. This means that users whoare planning to utilize the MX235D as a monitor due to itssize can potentially make use of the device's media playbackcapabilities to enjoy their digital media content without evenhaving to turn on the PC to do so.

No mention about global availability for the device has beenmade by LG, although you may be interested to know that theMX235D is currently available for sale in South Korea at theprice of 479,000 won (approx US$445).

Microsoft officially launchesOffice 365 for businessesSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/microsoft-officially-launches-

office-365-for-businesses/12786.html

June 30th, 2011

Remember the little story we ran a few months back about howMicrosoft was attempting to make life easier for businesses bypitching the then beta version of its cloud-based productivitysuite, Office 365, as a solution to allow business consumersthe luxury of not having to worry about maintaining theirown IT infrastructure? Well, the good news is that users canfinally start migrating away from the beta, for Microsoft hasjust officially launched the finalized version of Office 365 todayin a media event held at Swissotel The Stamford. Hit up thelink for the coverage of today's event...

For those who would remember, VR-Zone ran a story a coupleof months ago which talked about Microsoft's unveiling ofthe then beta version of its cloud-based productivity solutionfor businesses. Known as Office 365, the idea was thatMicrosoft's new offering, which combines the functionalityof Microsoft office, Microsoft SharePoint Online, MicrosoftExchange Online and Microsoft Lync Online together intoa single, tightly-integrated cloud offering will help businessusers to enhance their productivity by ensuring that theirdata will remain accessible at all times, online collaborationwill be as seamless as possible, and that the IT department canspend more time dealing with user-specific issues.

That sounded great and all, save for one little problem: therewas no mention as to when the finalized version of Office 365will be released for public use. Fortunately, the last piece ofthe puzzle has fallen into place, for Microsoft has officiallyannounced the availability of Office 365 in a press event held atSwissotel The Stamford, where it will be offered to businesses

at a modest subscription fee of US$6 a month per user. Andspeaking at the event's opening address today was productivityguru Michael A. Podolinsky, who described in great detail theimportance of the cloud and Microsoft's Office 365 in helpingbusinesses transform themselves and achieving even greaterproductivity.

"Because of the connectivity aspect of the cloud... 60% of theIT focus this year is going to be about it. And with almost three-quarters of the people and companies involved in it, this is atipping point which we will not go back from," he said, whileadding that adoption of Office 365 is expected to be seamlessdue to the fact that most consumers are already familiar withthe way Microsoft Office works.

Podolinsky also described how businesses do not have toworry about compatibility or security issues on Office 365, asMicrosoft will ensure that the software on its servers alwaysremain up to date, and that systems administrators will alwayshave full control over their data in the cloud to ensure thatcompany files or information do not get removed or destroyedwithout the proper authorization.

Up next was Microsoft's Chief Operating Officer for AsiaPacific, Andy Pickup, who talked about what users can expectfrom Office 365 now that the finalized version of the service isalready available for subscription.


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"This is the first time Microsoft has offered a premiereproductivity suite in a cloud-based service format. Customerswill be able to choose between a rich client that is downloadedon one's device and used in that way, or to opt for a cost-effective, affordable and predictable service fee that allowsthem to access Office through the power of the Internet," hesaid.

In addition, Pickup also described other benefits users canexpect to derive from utilizing its Office 365 solution, such asthe assurance of having 99.9% server uptime and a "rich andpowerful experience" that stems from the seamless integrationamong various Microsoft services, along with ready access tothe service regardless of location via an Internet connection.All of this, he said, can be had for a subscription fee that costsless "than a cup of cappuccino".

"Our heads are up in the cloud, but our feet are very firmly hereon the ground," he quipped.

That being said, we should point out that Microsoft has gota total of seven different price plans for users who are keento sign up for Office 365. The one which Pickup described ascosting only US$6 a month is targeted at small businesses andindividuals, and offers 25GB of email, along with access toOffice Web Apps, SharePoint and the Lync enterprise instantmessaging client. Larger enterprises will have up to six price


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plans to choose from, four of which cost between US$10to US$27 per user per month, while the other two for kiosk workersare priced at US$4 and US$10 per person. Of course, the morecostly plans will come with added features such unlimitedExchange storage, the full desktop Office suite, Lync voicecapabilities and Office Professional Plus.

Alternatively, there is also the free 30-day trial which canbe obtained from the Microsoft's product page if you feelthe need to give Office 365 a test spin before deciding tocommit yourself to a full-time subscription for the service. Lastbut definitely not least, more information about the variouscomponents which make up the complete package that isOffice 365 can also be obtained there.

Google releases tool toconvert SWF files into HTML5-compatible contentSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/google-releases-tool-to-convert-swf-

files-into-html5-compatible-content/12791.html

June 30th, 2011

When you've got certain OEMs making sure that theirbestselling products are designed not to play nice with thecurrent online standard known as Flash, what is a sociallyresponsible corporation to do to ensure that users will stillbe able to enjoy much of the web's beauty? Simple: releasea tool which converts the offending code into nice HTML5-compatible instructions. Which is exactly what Google's newSwiffy tool is all about. Read on to find out more about Swiffy...

Pundits may claim that Flash is well on its way to becomingirrelevent soon while pointing to the introduction of the newHTML5 standard as the basis for their convictions, but thetruth of the matter is that, despite its capabilities and potential,it will still take some time before the world is ready to migrateto a web that is powered purely by HTML5. Until then, there islittle to be gained from turning one's back on well-establishedstandards which are widely used in the dissemination of onlinecontent today, such as Adobe's Flash platform.

However, if for some reason you have chosen to drop Flashcompletely in your daily web-browsing needs, fret not. Googlehas, in its typical "Don't be evil" fashion, released a tool whichallows users to convert SWF files into viewable content writtenin HTML5 code so that they can continue to enjoy their onlineexperience without having to feel left out over their decisionto do so.

This tool, which is known as Swiffy, has been described byGoogle as one that as originally built by an intern by the nameof Pieter Senster as a means to explore how the companycould find a way to get Flash animations working on deviceswhich do not support the standard. Apparently, Google was soimpressed by Senster's efforts that the company decided to notonly hire him as a full-time staff, but also assembled a teamto commence work on the project, which resulted in the birthof the Swiffy tool that is now currently available for use as aGoogle Labs feature.

For those who are wondering how Swiffy works, here's how itis done as described by Google's Marcel Gorden, who is alsothe product manager for the tool:

Swiffy uses a compact JSON representation of theanimation, which is rendered using SVG and a bitof HTML5 and CSS3. ActionScript 2.0 is also presentin the JSON object, and is interpreted in JavaScriptin the browser. This representation makes the Swiffyanimations almost as compact as the original SWFfiles.

That being said, we should probably point out that Swiffy doesnot play very nice with Internet Explorer, as the tool insiststhat only a WebKit-based browser will be capable of displayingthe results of the conversion accurately. Still, the introductionof such a tool will definitely be good news for users who want toview Flash animations on devices that do not support Adobe'sFlash platform.

Be Quiet Dark Rock AdvancedC1 CPU cooler reviewSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/be-quiet-dark-rock-advanced-c1-cpu-

cooler-review/12792.html

June 30th, 2011

During the past few months we brought you the reviewsof several power supply units from Be-Quiet, a Germanmanufacturer. The company produces more than just powersupplies though, offering a wide range of cooling products aswell. Today we have yet another product from Be-Quiet to test


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and review but it is no power supply this time; it is the DarkRock Advanced C1, a high performance CPU cooler.

During the past few months we brought you the reviewsof several power supply units from Be-Quiet, a Germanmanufacturer. The company produces more than just powersupplies though, offering a wide range of cooling products aswell. Today we have yet another product from Be-Quiet to testand review but it is no power supply this time; it is the DarkRock Advanced C1, a high performance CPU cooler.

Manufacturer features and specifications

• For gaming, multimedia and CAD systems even atmaximum processing power.

• Suitable for overclocking operation.

• Extremely efficient up to more than 180 watt.

• Maximum cooling efficiency, Delta T 10.9 @ 100 watt.

• Quiet operation with 1× Silent Wings PWM fan, 6.6–18.8dB(A).

• High-quality materials with dark nickel surfaces.

Thermal resistance@ CPU Power

disposal (Rth @ P)0,109

Overall dimensionswithout mounting

material (L x W x H) (mm)122 x 95 x 167

Total weight 1100grCPU Wattage Range (W) 180

Socket compatibilityLGA 775 / 1155 / 1156 /

1366, AM2 / AM2+ /AM3 / 754 / 939 / 940

Backplate Mounting YesPush pin mountingFan model, number SilentWings PWM , 1

Anti vibration fan fixingRubber string Yes

Stainless steel clipand contact ring

Overall noise level (dB(A))@ 900/1250/100% (rpm)

6,6 / 14,4 / 18,8

Fin dimensions (L xW) , thickness (mm)

122 x 72 x 0,4

Number of fins 44Fin material Aluminium

Base material CopperCPU contact surface CNC machinedHeatpipe number,

Diameter (mm)6; 6

Surface treatment Nickel plated

Fan dimensions (mm) 120Speed @ 100% PWM (rpm) 1500

Air flow @ 100%(CFM; m3/h)

50,5; 85,8

Air pressure (mm H2O) 1,63Bearing type FDB

Rated voltage (V) 12Input current (A) 0,09Input power (W) 1,09PWM Controller Yes

Connector 4-pin MolexCable length (mm) 200

Cable sleeve YesLivetime L10 @ 25 °C (hours) 300.000

Angry Birds finally smashesinto Windows Phone 7Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/angry-birds-finally-smashes-into-

windows-phone-7/12790.html

June 30th, 2011

Microsoft may have left a less-than-favourable impressionon Rovio Mobile by using the Angry Birds logo in anadvertisement to tout that theWindows Phone 7 will have aton of cool apps well before the latter has yet to even committo such a port (if at all), but the latest turn of events seemsto suggest that the game's developers have since decided tolet bygones be bygones. After all, that can be the only reasonAngry Birds is now available for download on Windows Phone7, no?

It is common knowledge that in the smartphone space, havinga top-notch operating system is no longer enough to win thehearts of consumers over to a company's side. Rather, the onefactor which can potentially make or break a mobile operatingsystem today lies in the size of its app repository, and suffice tosay consumers are not going to be interested in a new platformif it cannot offer the same popular apps that are currentlyavailable on competing operating systems.

While it is clear to all that Microsoft has got its work cutout for it in terms of being able to deliver a well-populatedapp repository that is capable of attracting consumers to itsWindows Phone 7 platform, consumers will undoubtedly begratified to know that the world's most popular casual gamefor smartphones, Angry Birds, is finally available for downloadon their WP7-powered devices.


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The Windows Phone 7 port of Angry Birds is identicalto the ones that have already been released for both iOSand Android, so suffice to say Windows Phone 7 users arenot going to be getting any extra love from Rovio in the formof additional platform-exclusive content. However, we'd daresay that owners of Windows Phone 7-powered handsets willprobably be more than satisfied to finally have their chancein experiencing just how addictive the act of flinging somefurious avians onto huge green pigs can be. Of course, do makesure that you keep your bird-flinging acts out of sight from theboss; we don't want to be held responsible for any unhappyexchanges between you and your superiors about how theoffice is supposed to be a place for working, and not gaming.

Oh, and one more thing, the Windows Phone 7 version ofAngry Birds is not a free download. Rather, you will have tofork out US$2.99 for the right to engage in some avian-bovinecarnage from the luxury from your smartphone. But hey, that'sa small price to pay for what the game is really worth, right?

ASUS MATRIX GTX 580Platinum ReviewSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/asus-matrix-gtx-580-platinum-

review/12682.html

June 30th, 2011

Remember the ASUS MATRIX GTX 580 Platinum fromComputex? That behemoth of a card has landed, and it'spacked full of features targeted at hardcore overclockers. Joinus as we journey into the MATRIX and push it to the limits...

ASUS' MATRIX brand has been around for quite some timenow. Memorable models from yesteryear which have garneredmany accolades include the 9800GT MATRIX, 9600GTMATRIX and MATRIX GTX 285.

The latest addition to the family, the MATRIX GTX 580, isapparently inspired by exotic sports cars and even Formula 1racing cars. Aesthetics aside, ASUS has lined up a whole slewof features. These include a DirectCU II cooler, 19-phase SuperAlloy Power, a specially-designed GPU Tweak utility, TweakItbuttons and ProBeIt voltage measurement points.

The MATRIX GTX 580's box is even larger than mostmotherboard boxes out there. This is really unnecessary in ouropinion since there's so much empty space inside.

Asus N43SL Gets Jay ChouEndorsement (Live Coverage)Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/asus-n43sl-gets-jay-chou-

endorsement-live-coverage-/12789.html

June 30th, 2011

Asus is launching a certain N-series laptop with Jay Chouendorsement in W Hotel. Our correspondents who are now inTaipei is uncovering what secrets there might be with this JayChou endorsement. Hop on to find out more. *Update* Checkout more videos inside as well as our official coverage here.Also check out Behind the Scenes : Making of Jay Chou N43notebook


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Asus, together with Jay Chou has launched the N43SL laptopin W Hotel, Taipei today. The N43SL, which is a special editionis endorsed by Jay comes with four of his albums and 3MTV videos albums bundled in this N43SL special editionnotebook. The company has additionally worked with Bangand Olufsen for its ICEpower Sonicmaster speakers to bringawesome sound to the notebook PC.

ASUS N43SL Jay Chou Edition powered by Intel Corei5-2410M 2.3GHz processor, NVIDIA GeForce GT 540Mgraphics, 4GB memory and 500GB 7200rpm hard drivewill be available in two colors; Gold and Peach. This 14"2.4kg model will first be on sale in Taiwan tomorrowfor NT36000 (USD 1250). For Singapore market, it will beon sale from the first week of July for S$1298. However, thismodel is not expected to be sold in US and Europe market.

"Design inspiration has always been part of Asus DNA andwe are honored to appoint a talented singer and songwriterlike Jay Chou to infuse new elements of design in our N serieslaptop", said Jonney Shih, Asus chairman. At the event, Jayperformed on the piano with Jonney Shih as the conductor ona stage with Asus notebooks.

Model with N43SL


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another model with the Jay Chou notebook

lovely pose

Jay Chou and his staff pass

Check out more videos next page as well as our officialcoverage here. Also check out Behind the Scenes : Making ofJay Chou N43 notebook

AOC To Roll Out USB-PoweredLCDSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/aoc-to-roll-out-usb-powered-

lcd/12787.html

June 30th, 2011

AOC is going to push out their USB-Powered LCD which wasshowcased at the CEA Line Show in New York last week.

AOC e2251Fwu USB-powered LCD monitor will feature 16:91920 x 1080 resolution, 1000:1 contrast ratio, 200 cd/m2brightness and a 5ms response time. It is likely to retail inAugust. However the price is still unknown at the moment.

Facebook Hires 'GeoHot'Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/facebook-hires-geohot-/12784.html


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June 30th, 2011

Facebook has reportedly hired well-known hacker GeorgeHotz, a.k.a. GeoHot. He became famous after jailbreaking theiPhone in 2008 and hacking the Playstation 3 last year, forwhich he was sued by Sony. But, like several hackers-turned-insiders in recent years, it seems GeoHot has also decided togo legit after all.

George Hotz, better known by his handle GeoHot, has beenworking for social networking giant Facebook since May.GeoHot is best known for jailbreaking the Playstation 3 lastyear and then being sued by Sony. In April, he entered intoa settlement with Sony under which he agreed never to hackSony's products ever again.

GeoHot distanced himself from the subsequent 'revenge'hacking of Sony by Anonymous, even saying on his blog that"hacking into someone elses server and stealing databases ofuser info is not cool". It seems that he decided to go legitjust like several hackers in recent years. Facebook has notyet revealed his exact job scope, though one can easily guesswhat it entails. Facebook has been known to regurlarly holdnight sessions called "hackathons" during which engineers areencouraged to write new code.

ASRock Brings PCIe 3.0 ToFatal1ty Z68Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/asrock-brings-pcie-3.0-to-fatal1ty-

z68/12783.html

June 30th, 2011

ASRock will be the first to push out motherboards with PCIe3.0 standard. The ASRock Fatal1ty Z68 Professional Gen3 isequipped with two PCIe 3.0 x16 slots allowing NVIDIA QuadSLI and AMD CrossFireX. More details inside.

The Fatal1ty brand motherboard is marketed as a highend premium product. Combining the Fatal1ty with PCIe3.0 configuration, you will get the ASRock Fatal1ty Z68Professional Gen3 motherboard. It comes with two PCIe 3.0


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x16 slots and one PCIe 2.0 x16 slot which are capable ofNVIDIA SLI and AMD CrossFireX. The PCIe 3.0 is a nextgeneration standard for PCI Express which has twice thebandwidth compared to PCIe 2.0. Other features include theintegrated PLX PEX8608 chip which enables multiple PCIedevices to run at the proper speed simultaneously and theFatal1ty Mouse Port which has a wide range polling rate from125Hz to 1000Hz.

See more specifications at the ASRock Website.



June 30th, 2011

In today's news roundup: NVIDIA has announced theavailability of its new mobile GeForce GPU, the GT580M,which the company claims is the fastest mobile GPU evermade; AMD's first processor to sport its "Zosma" core, thePhenom II 960T, has been spotted for sale in Japan in spiteof the fact that the chip was originally launched as an OEM-only model and as such was extremely difficult to find offthe retail shelves; Sony has unveiled the latest addition to itsVAIO Z series of notebooks, which weighs a mere 1.2 kg ,measures16.65 mm thin, sports a 13.1-inch screen capableof a 1600 x 900 resolution and boasts a full-voltage IntelCore i5 or i7 CPU along with a solid state drive; LaCie hasunveiled the latest additions to its LaCie Porsche Design lineof portable hard disks, which come in the form of the P9220(mobile) and P9230 (desktop) and boast the use of a premiumscratch-resistant casing; Sony claims its recent security woeswere caused by fact that hackers took offense to the waythe company attempted to protect its video game content,and Rumour has it that Odin Sphere, which is a jRPG game, will getting a HD port and that the game will most likely bedownloadable off either the PlayStation Network or Xbox Live.

Hardware news

Patriot Gauntlet USB 3.0 Hard Drive Enclosure @ Review theTechDescription: Up for review today I’ve got an external hard driveenclosure from patriot Memory called the Gauntlet. This harddrive enclosure is essentially a solid piece of aluminum thatwill not only protect the drive inside, but will help to keep itcool as well. The Gauntlet features a USB 3.0 connection forfast read and writes, but it also has a backup button on it toallow you to instantly backup your data to the external drive.

News From NVIDIA: The World's Fastest Notebook GPU,The GeForce GTX 580M, Is Available Now & Has BeenBenchmarkedDescription: Following the successful launch of the GTX 560Mlast month, NVIDIA is now introducing the GeForce GTX

580M, the world's fastest notebook GPU. Supporting DirectX11, PhysX and 3D Vision, the 580M notebooks can happilydeal with whatever is thrown their way, as our benchmarkingarticle shows.

Patriot Wildfire 120GB Solid State Drive ReviewDescription: Little Jimmy is now here and Team SandForcecan start the game. This game is played on websites, e-tail andretail outlets all over the country. For me, SSDball is moreexciting than any sport I watch on TV because I've got frontrow seats on the first base line. All of the action happens rightin front of me and this season is going to be exciting.

AMD's Zosma core spotted in JapanDescription: AMD's first processor to sport its "Zosma" core,has gone on sale in the Land of the Rising Sun. The PhenomII 960T, was introduced in the third quarter of 2010, a fewmonths after the launch of 6-core Phenom IIs. However it wasonly launched as an OEM model and it was jolly hard to findone anywhere.

DDR4 Memory Now Projected to Debut in 2014, But Ramp UpRapidly.Description: It took over three years for DDR3 dynamicrandom access memory (DRAM) to take off and becomedominating type of memory and it looks like it will remainon the market till at least 2015 as the debut of DDR4 isnow delayed till 2014 and even with rapid ramp of the lattershipments will crossover only sometimes in 2015 (more likelylater).

Engineering sample Zambezi overclocked to 4636 MHz(Russian)Description: (Machine translation) Frequency characteristicsof processor performance in the Zambezi Socket AM3 + stillcovered with a secret , known only authentically about theirability to automatically accelerate by up to 1 GHz . Thesituation is exacerbated by rumors that it was unsatisfactoryfrequency potential processors Zambezi current revisioncaused the delay of their appearance on the market. In suchconditions it is difficult to determine how representativein terms of frequency potential appearing on the Webscreenshots engineering samples of processor performanceSocket AM3 +.

AMD's Llano A8-3850 to cost US $135Description: We managed to get our hands on what appearsto be an official price for the upcoming quad-core desktopLlano part that should hit retail/e-tail just a day before theIndependance Day, or simply, Sunday 3rd of July.

Consumer Electronics and Software news

Apple starts selling a Thunderbolt cable, RAID systems to useit withDescription: Admittedly there aren’t many peripherals thatuse Thunderbolt, or many Macs that have Thunderbolt ports,but as Apple gears up for a whole slew of new Thunderbolt-enabled computers, a bunch of new peripherals are also inthe pipeline. And in order to tap that opportunity, Appleintroduced a new Thunderbolt cable today, available in theonline store for $49.

Sony takes wraps off new ‘ultra-mobile’ VAIO Z Series withPower Media Dock


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Description: Sony has taken the wraps off its new VAIO ZSeries at a press event in Europe. Weighing in at 1.2 kg(2.64 lb) and measuring 16.65 mm (0.65 in) thin, the “ultra-mobile” notebook PC sports a 13.1-inch, 1600 x 900 pixel,anti-reflective display and packs a full-voltage Intel Core i5 ori7 CPU along with solid state drive. Designed for users whodon’t want to choose between desktop power and notebookportability, the VAIO Z Series also comes with a Power MediaDock that connects to the notebook via a “Light Peak” opticalcable to add quad monitor support, an optical drive, extraconnectivity options and AMD Radeon HD graphics.

Maingear Titan 17 Notebook ReviewDescription: Our evaluation system consists of an Intel Corei7-990X Extreme Edition processor, a hexa-core desktop CPUoperating at 3.46 GHz. Other notable hardware includesa 17.3” LED-backlit display running at 1920 x 1080, twoNvidia GeForce GTX 485M graphics cards, 6GB of KingstonDDR3-1333 memory, a 120GB Intel 510 solid state drive, a750GB Western Digital 7200 RPM hard drive, a Blu-ray opticaldrive, Bigfoot Killer Wireless-N Ultimate network adapter andintegrated Bluetooth technology, all running under Windows7 Home Premium 64-bit.

PCTV Nanotech T2 Review @ XSReviews.co.ukDescription: PCs are no longer the domain of purist businessand gamer types, they have a myriad of functions and comein a variety of fifferent shapes and sizes. Today I’m reviewinga product that brings TV watching to your laptop, netbook ordesktop via a simple USB plugin. Let’s see if its as good assimilar products we’ve reviewed in the past.

LaCie Shows Off New Porsche USB 3.0 HDDsDescription: USB 3.0 offers faster data transfers so it seemsfitting that LaCie enlisted the help of a company like Porscheto design its new USB 3.0 hard drives. Building on an eight-year-old relationship with Porsche Design, the company todaycelebrated the addition of the P9220 (mobile) and P9230(desktop) HDDs to its P9000 line of electronics.

Opera lands its Swordfish browserDescription: Plucky web browser firm Opera has releasedversion 11.50 of its software, and warned the opposition that itis about to make a big splash on the web.

Gaming news

Sony says it was only hacked because it tried to protect itscontentDescription: Embattled entertainment firm Sony claims it wasonly hacked because it tried to protect its video game content.Sony CEO Howard Stringer, who faces calls for his resignationover the hacking incidents, spoke at a shareholders' meetingwhere he tried to explain why Sony was the main victim of therecent spate of hacker attacks.

Odin Sphere To Get High Definition Port ?Description: Treat this as a rumor but if sources are correct,one of the nice RPGs from Japan will getting a HD port. OdinSphere, originally from PS2 is made by Atlus and launchedback in 2007. There is not much information as of now butbased on the source, the game is likely a download on eitherPlayStation Network or Xbox Live.

Dungeons and Dragons: Daggerdale lands on PC

Description: Atari has announced that Dungeons & Dragons:Daggerdale is now available for the PC. We didn't really likethe hack-and-slash title, calling it "a terrible use of Wizardsof the Coast's timeless license" (ouch), but hey, maybe you'rea huge completist and absolutely must play through anythingand everything having to do Forgotten Realms. If that's thecase, you can pick up the game for $14.99 at a fine e-tailer nearyou.

NVIDIA Launches GeForceGTX 580M GPUSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/nvidia-launches-geforce-gtx-580m-

gpu/12782.html

June 30th, 2011

One month after the introduction of the GeForce GTX 560M,NVIDIA now launches the new king, GTX 580M. It evenshowcases some of the benchmarks done in GTX 580M SLI.More details inside.

A new king in the NVIDIA mobile graphics arena has beenannounced. Benchmarks such as StarCraft II, Call of Duty:Black Ops and Far Cry 2 have shown great differences (up to30FPS) between the GTX 580M and GTX 560M.


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When compared to the previous generation, the GeForce GTX580M easily beats the GTX 480M in all the benchmarks.

Even after the enabling of 3D Vision, the GeForce GTX 580Mis still able to produce more than 30FPS in all the benchmarksat 1920 x 1080 resolution.

If a single GTX 580M isn't good enough for you, check out theperformance of GTX 580M in SLI. FPS are increased by anaverage of 85% with the enabling of SLI.

GeForceGTX580M

GeForceGTX

570M

GeForceGTX

560M

GeForceGT 555M

CUDACores

384 336 192 Up to 144

ProcessorClock

1240MHz 1150MHz 1550MHz Up to1506MHz

MemoryClock

1500MHz 1500MHz 1250MHz Up to1569MHz

MemoryInterface

Width

256-bit 192-bit Up to192-bit

Up to192-bit

ProductLink

Expect manufacturers to pack the GeForce GTX 580M GPUinto their gaming laptops. Manufacturers such as Alienwarehas already equipped their M18x and M17x laptops with GTX580M and offering SLI option while manufacturer Clevo hasincluded 3D Vision as well.

For more details on the benchmarks, please visit the NVIDIAwebsite.

Sony launches sub 1.2kg VAIOZSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/sony-launches-sub-1.2kg-vaio-

z/12780.html

June 30th, 2011

There's no doubt that there's a certain love/hate relationshipfor many with the Sony VAIO Z series of notebooks, the hatemostly coming from the fact that the Z series is so expensivethat most of us can only dream of owning one. However' thecompany's latest incarnation of the Z series have taken things


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to a whole different level, as Sony has managed to come upwith a machine that weighs less than most netbooks, yet packsthe power of a high-end notebook.

There's no doubt that there's a certain love/hate relationshipfor many with the Sony VAIO Z series of notebooks, the hatemostly coming from the fact that the Z series is so expensivethat most of us can only dream of owning one. However' thecompany's latest incarnation of the Z series have taken thingsto a whole different level, as Sony has managed to come upwith a machine that weighs less than most netbooks, yet packsthe power of a high-end notebook.

From what we saw at the launch event, the new VAIO Z is aseriously impressive machine, although with a few minor irksthat we don't quite get. But let's start with some of the goodpoints, first of all the weight is nothing short of impressiveas you're looking at a notebook with a 13.1-inch screen anda 35W mobile CPU that weighs in at a smidgen under 1.2kg,somewhat dependent on the configuration. That makes mostnetbooks look obese and even more so when you realise thatthe VAIO Z is a mere 16.65mm thick.

On the not so great side the new VAIO Z has a very thickscreen bezel which makes it larger than it could've been. Thatsaid, with a 1920x1080 screen resolution (or 1600x900 issome markets) we're sort of willing to live with the bezel. Partof the reason for the bigger bezel, at least at the top is the1.3Megapixel webcam which Sony has kitted out with one ofits Exmor sensors and it's said to be offering better details inlow-light situations. There's also a lot of corresponding spaceon both sides of the keyboard, but on the upside there's alsoa rather large wrist rest and a reasonable size touch pad. Thetouch pad is buttonless, but features a fingerprint reader. Thekeyboard is backlit which is also a nice addition.

In terms of ports and connectivity there's plenty on offer,although once again we're curious about the reason behindsome of the options on offer. For starters, Sony is sticking toits dual card readers, in this case located around the front, onefor Memory Stick and one for SD cards, all the latest variationsare of course supported. On the left hand side you'll only find asingle port and it's a D-sub connector, which we think is a veryquestionable inclusion on a notebook like this. On the righthand side we have a USB 3.0 port (more on this shortly), aUSB 2.0 port with charge support, an HDMI port, an Ethernetport with a special fold-out connector and finally a 3.5mm


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headphone jack, but strangely enough this doesn't seem tooffer headset support like on some competitor's models.

July 4th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone

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Fusion Power: AMD A8-3850APU TestedSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/fusion-power-amd-a8-3850-apu-

tested/12581.html

July 4th, 2011

AMD has been touting its Accelerated Processing Units as thenext big thing. Combining a quad-core CPU and a RadeonHD GPU into a single chip, these purportedly offer a superiorblend of CPU and graphics performance to Intel's offerings.Join VR-Zone as we put AMD's very first A-series APU to thetest.

AMD's acquisition of ATI back in 2006 was its first steptowards integrating CPUs and GPUs. Since then AMD hasbeen sounding the Fusion horn at regular intervals. At thestart of this year we finally got the first APU, the low-powerE-350 which was aimed at nettops and netbooks. The nextlogical step was to bring the APU to mainstream desktops andnotebooks, the outcome of which is none other than Llano.

The CPU portion of Llano consists of four tweaked Stars cores.There is no L3 cache, but AMD increased the L2 cache size to1MB per core instead. Add some other minor improvementsand you squeeze 6% more performance out of what is, frankly,an ageing microarchitecture that dates all the way back to2003. Performance should be very similar to a Athlon II x4 ofsimilar clockspeed.

A-Series APU Comparison

A8-3850 A8-3800 A6-3650 A6-3600CPU Cores 4CPU Clock 2.9GHz 2.4GHz 2.6GHz 2.1GHzTurbo Core No 2.7GHz No 2.4GHzL2 Cache 4MB

(1MB/core)GPU HD 6550D HD 6530DTDP 100W 65W 100W 65WPrice US$135 ??? US$115 ???AMD has four A-series APUs lined up, but only the A8-3850and A6-3650 are currently priced and available. Both modelsare rated for 100W TDP and do not support Turbo Core. TheA8-3850's CPU is clocked at a rather modest 2.9GHz, whichis not surprising since there is also an onboard GPU to takeinto account. Turbo Core will only be used on the A8-3800 andA6-3600 to maximize single-threaded performance while stillkeeping within a 65W TDP.

Desktop Llano supports dual-channel memory at up toDDR3-1866 speed. This is significantly faster than SandyBridge's (official) DDR3-1333 support, and for good reason,as you'll see shortly. The A8 and A6 series will also bedifferentiated via integrated GPU performance. We'll take alook at that on the next page, but, first, some pictures of thereal deal:


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Llano uses a brand new CPU socket - the 905-pin Socket FM1.The gap in the center is faintly reminiscient of Socket 754from days of yore. The good news is, heatsinks compatible withSocket AM2/AM3 will also work with FM1.

AMD preparing Brazos-Tplatform for Windows 8 tabletsSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/amd-preparing-brazos-t-platform-for-

windows-8-tablets/12849.html

July 4th, 2011

DonanimHaber has uncovered AMD's next evolution to therecently released Z-series APUs, the Hondo APU on the

Brazos-T platform. The first Z-APU, Z-01, is basically a poweroptimized C-50, bringing down TDP to 6W. However, Z-01 stillused the Hudson M1 FCH, designed primarily for notebooks/nettops. AMD's focus for the Brazos-T platform is a FCHmore suitable for tablets, cutting down redundant features andsaving power.

The Hondo APU is largely similar to the Desna Z-01 APU- 2 Bobcat cores at 1.0 GHz and a Radeon HD 6250 GPU.However, Hondo does away with a PCIe interface - redundantfor tablets as they don't feature discrete GPUs. Also, the VGAinterface is removed, to leave 2 digital video outs in form ofDP, eDP or HDMI. In addition to further tweaks, the result isa reduction in TDP from 5.9W to 4.5W for the APU.

However, it is the new Hudson M2T FCH which undergoesmost changes compared to the Hudson M1 used with Z-01APU. The package dimensions are reduced to 19x19mm, asingle 3 GB/s SATA port is featured and USB 2.0 controllersis cut down to 8. As with the APU, PCIe has been excisedcompletely, and there are no legacy USB1 controllers. Anaddition is a Secure Digital IO for improved WiFi. The resultis a major cut in power consumption for what AMD calls "apppower" - or typical power consumptions while running typicaltablet apps. The "app power" for the entire Brazos-T platformis an impressive 2W only, which is half that of Desna+HudsonM1. Of course, the TDP will be higher.

The Brazos-T platform is set to be in production by Q22012, well in time for the Windows 8 release - which isoptimized for tablets as well. In 2013, AMD will transition toSamara, and surely 28nm, offering further reduction in powerconsumption and next gen graphics. It is important to notethat Windows 8 will run on ARM systems as well, so AMD'sprimary competition will be ARM. Intel is not standing stilleither, with Atom-based Medfield SoCs due to release in Q12012.

Samsung partners SingTelto provide more content forSmart TV consumersSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/samsung-partners-singtel-to-provide-

more-content-for-smart-tv-consumers/12847.html


3

July 4th, 2011

Samsung has recently announced that it is the first in theindustry to launch SingTel video applications and their SmartTV will also provide more content with 3D Video-On-Demand("VOD") service. Read on for the details.

Samsung Electronics announced that it will be providing morecontent for Smart TV consumers via its two newly developedSingTel Applications and Samsung 3D VOD service from 1 July2011. The Korean company has partnered SingTel to developtwo Smart TV applications – SingTel Video Store and SingTelVideo Search.

SingTel Video Search allows consumers to access the desiredweb video content in standard definition, high definition and3D content that can be found through an online catalogue.Apart from movies, consumers also get a wide variety ofcontent ranging from entertainment to news and can easilysearch for videos across multiple video sites. The 3D videosearch engine will also bring true-to-life content right to theuser’s living room.

SingTel Video Store is an online video store with Asian andother international content. It is the first such store on the newrange of internet TVs with the option to watch directly on yourTV, without the use of a set-top box. Users can preview theclips with thumbnails, descriptions and watch movie trailersof upcoming movies or stream movies.

In addition, owners of Samsung Smart TVs will be ableto access the 3D VOD contentat no additional cost bydownloading the ‘Explore 3D’ application available onSamsung Apps from 1 July 2011. A total of 20 3D clips will bemade available.

As part of Samsung’s collaboration with Dreamworks, theservice will feature exclusive 3D movie trailers from How totrain your Dragon, Shrek: The Final Chapter and the latestKungfu Panda 2 as well as music videos from popular Koreanbands - Girls Generation, Super Junior, and BoA. Thereare also eight 45-minute documentaries produced for IMAXtheatres. Samsung expects to increase the number of clipsavailable on demand to 100 by end 2011.

A Visit To ASUS HeadquartersIn TaipeiSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/a-visit-to-asus-headquarters-in-

taipei/12834.html

July 4th, 2011

While VR-Zone was in Taipei for the official product launch ofJay Chou edition ASUS N-series laptop, we also got the chanceto visit ASUS headquarters and check out some of the newproducts which are going to be launched soon. Read on.

Cecilia Huang, marketing director of ASUS, gave the media adeeper insight of the company and what it does.

"ASUS is a global technology leader in the digital era and wefocus on the mastery of technological innovation and designperfection. And in ASUS, we are in search of the incredible.We have over 11,000 employees worldwide, with over 3,000are in R&D, 77 support centres and 50 branch offices globally.Last year, we reached US$10.1 billion revenue and we targetUS$12 billion this year," Huang said.

The notebooks, Eee PC netbooks and desktops (includingEeeTop and EeeBox PCs) account for 74.7 percent of ASUS'global revenue, while components like motherboards and LCDdisplays make up 24.2 percent; the remaining 1.1 percent comefrom other product categories.


4

Henry Lin, engineer of ASUS Golden Ear Team, was alsopresent to talk about the company's proprietary SonicMastertechnology and let the media listen to the difference inaudio quality from ASUS laptop's speakers compared toconventional ones.

Michelle Hsiao, designer for ASUS, talked about working withthe Taiwanese celebrity Jay Chou on the special edition N-series laptop. Hsiao said that Chou began working with theASUS design team earlier this year for a period of six months.The first production unit came out in April but because ofcolor selections and corrections, the final approved versionwas out only in June. Here's a look inside the work room whichis laid with the various design revisions.

Sony VPL-HW30ES hometheatre 3D projector lands inSingaporeSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/sony-vpl-hw30es-home-theatre-3d-

projector-lands-in-singapore/12845.html

July 4th, 2011

Sony has recently announced its latest 3D home theatreprojector VPL-HW30ES. Incorporating the company'sproprietary Dynamic Lamp Control Technology, itboasts amazing brightness levels for users to experience 3D"cinema-style" movies in their own living room.


5

Sony has announced the VPL-HW30ES 3D home theatreprojector that incorporates Sony’s latest lamp technology,Dynamic Lamp Control system. Movie fans can now enjoy anunrivalled 3D cinematic experience with stunning 3D imagesthat are three times brighter than Sony’s first 3D home theatreprojector, the VPL-VW90ES which was launched in AsiaPacific last year.

Sony’s latest Dynamic Lamp Control Technology significantlyboosts the brightness levels entering the shutters of the3D glasses, maximising the picture’s impact and the lamp’sefficiency. The opening and closing of the shutters on the3D glasses are intelligently synchronised to ensure that eacheye receives the accurate image, thus reducing crosstalk to aminimum. In order to achieve an optimal viewing experiencethat feels natural on the eye, the Full high definition 3DVPL-HW30ES home theatre projector is equipped with Sony’sHigh Frame Rate SXRD Panel (1920x1080), for exceptionallysharper, dot-free images.

The new VPL-HW30ES delivers contrast ratio of 70,000:1and brightness of 1,300 lumens. In addition, “3D crosstalk”is further reduced to a minimal thanks to the 240Hz SXRDpanel drive system and the unique Dynamic Lamp ControlTechnology. The automatic Advanced Iris Control featureenhances the contrast levels in accordance with the scene bymaximising black and white levels without diminishing peakbrightness. Sony’s new Motionflow technology allows the VPL-HW30ES to display twice as many images per second. Thisalgorithm, unique to Sony, reproduces dramatically sharperand smoother movements and reduces the image motion blurfor a crisper image.

The VPL-HW30ES is capable of taking 2D and simulating 3Dimages, bringing new life to classic movies from the past andallowing a wide variety of content, such as live sports, to beenjoyed. Sony’s innovative Independent 2D/3D Picture Modeon the VPL-HW30ES allows you to select separate parametersfor 2D and 3D content and to change each setting individuallyto optimise each picture image settings whether watching in2D or 3D.

The VPL-HW30ES also runs very quietly with an advancedair discharge system for a highly efficient cooling system,suppressing noise level to a mere 22dB without interruptingthe viewer’s immersion during the movie-going experience.

The VPL-HW30ES is compatible with Sony’s new activeshutter glasses, the TDG-PJ1, which are 18 grams lighterthan the previous model (59g compared to 77g). TheTDG-PJ1, charged in 30 minutes provides 30 hours ofcontinuous watching. In conjunction with the new glasses,Sony has announced a new transmitter, the TMR-PJ1, whichsynchronises 3D content effortlessly to generate a high-qualitynatural 3D effect.

The VPL-HW30ES will be available across Asia Pacific in July2011 at the SRP of USD$$3,999 (without 3D glasses andtransmitter). The TDG-PJ1 and TMR-PJ1 are sold separately.

Key features highlight:

- Dynamic Lamp Control Technology significantly boostsbrightness levels- Full high definition 3D

- High Frame Rate SXRD Panel (1920x1080) for exceptionallysharper, dot-free images

- 240Hz SXRD panel drive for minimised cross talk

- High Contrast ratio of 70,000:1

- Dazzling brightness of 1,300 lumens

- Motionflow technology for sharper and smoother images forless motion blur

- Independent 2D/3D Picture Mode

- Automatic Advanced Iris Control feature enhances thecontrast levels

New Iriver P8 portable mediaplayer shows up for sale inRussiaSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/new-iriver-p8-portable-media-player-

shows-up-for-sale-in-russia/12842.html

July 4th, 2011

Iriver may have been rather quiet down here in this part ofthe world, but that does not mean that the company has beenletting its line of portable media players remain stagnant aswell. Apparently, a new portable media player known as theIriver P8 which sports quite a few interesting features has beenspotted for sale in Russia.

When was the last time you heard of a new productannouncement from Iriver? Say, maybe five months ago, withthe introduction of the U100 back then? Well, it seems thatthe Korean consumer electronics manufacturer is back onceagain with yet another new portable media player to competein the market, and it comes in the form of the white Iriver P8,as shown below:

According to the official hardware specifications available onIriver's product page, the P8 portable media player sports afive inch touchscreen which is capable of a native resolutionof 800 x 480, along with a battery which is reportedly capable


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of providing the P8 with up to nine hours of continuous videoplayback or approximately 40 hours of audio playback on asingle charge. In addition, Iriver claims that the P8 boasts asufficiently powerful processor which is capable of handling1080p video playback, support for external displays via HDMI,and well as built-in compatibility with a wide range of mediaformats such as MP3, WMA, OGG, APE, FLAC, WAV, AVI,XviD, WMV, MKV, JPG, BMP, PNG, GIF and TXT.

No information the P8's pricing and availability has been madepublic yet, so do check back for updates.

NEC introduces PA seriesprojectors for corporateconference rooms and largeclassroomsSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/nec-introduces-pa-series-projectors-

for-corporate-conference-rooms-and-large-classrooms/12844.html

July 4th, 2011

NEC has introduced the PA series projectors - PA600X,PA550W and PA500U - designed for business professionals.The projectors boast brightness of up to 6000 lumens, and arestackable with up to four projectors to be stacked verticallyor horizontally to provide 24,000 lumens. The NEC PA seriesprojectors are available now.

NEC Asia Pacific has announced its latest PA series projectors -PA600X, PA550W and PA500U. The new series of advancedprofessional projectors is designed for corporate conferencerooms and large classrooms that require an installationprojector. An abundance of new features have been included inthe PA series that improve its quality over its preceding modelsin the NP Installation series.

The center lens design of these three new models is anadvancement that makes retrofitting existing installationseasier and more cost effective. The new chassis also providesenhanced connectivity with HDMI and DisplayPort inputs.Premiering in NEC’s projector lineup is Crestron Roomview,which allows users to directly connect their projector tothe managed network for monitoring and control. With abrightness level ranging from 5000 to 6000 lumens and an

offering of three different native resolutions, the PA Seriesis a complement to any large room requiring demanding AVsupport. The virtually maintenance-free projectors, with up to4000 hours of lamp and filter life, lower users’ total cost ofownership and lengthen the projectors’ lifecycle.

Additionally, these three new models offer stacking capability,which allows up to four projectors to bestacked verticallyor horizontally to boost the image brightness up to 24,000lumens. This feature is an asset to larger-sized screensand environments with additional ambient light. WithIntegrated Device Technology HQV, a high-performancevideo processing and scaling system, users can present withsuperior image quality using the technology’s pixel-based,motion-adaptive de-interlacing to remove undesirable motionartifacts. Additionally, selectable ECO Mode technologyextends each projector’slamp life, while eco-consciousfeatures like quick start (3 to 4 seconds), autopower on anddirect power-off further advance the projector’s lifetime.

Specifications:

- Up to 6000 lumens inXGA, WXGA and WUXGA nativeresolutions- Lamp life up to 4000hours with ECO Mode

- Connectivity includes HDMI with HDCP, DisplayPort, dualcomputer and 5BNC

- Stacking capability (up to 4 projectors)

- HQV processing

- Windows Network Projector Function directly connectsto networked projectors without the need for additionalproprietary software

- Windows RemoteDesktop Function allows the control of theprojector with a keyboard and mouse through the USB input

- Windows NetworkDrive and Media Connection functionsdisplay multimedia files (.jpeg, .bmp,.png, .mpeg2 or .wmv9)

- Complete line offive bayonet-style lenses

- Image Express Lite enables wired/wireless transmissionof an image to the projector without theneed for externalcomponents

- Image Express 2.0 enables image transmission in real timeover the network to a single projectoror multiple projectorssimultaneously

- 3D Reform squares the image by adjusting horizontally,vertically or diagonally when the projector is placed at an off-set angle

- Keystone correction helps display the image properly whenthe projector is set up at an angle tothe screen

- Geometric correction allows the projector to display square-looking images on cylindrical, spherical or cornered screens


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- Horizontal andvertical lens shift

- Edge Blending technology creates panoramic images withmultiple projectors

- DICOM Simulation

- Cabinet control lock

- Password protection

- Email notificationsto inform the system administrator whenthe projector’s lamp approachesthe end of its useful life

The PA600X, PA550W and PA500U projectors ship with a 2-year limited warranty and will is available now at an estimatedretail price as per below:-

PA600X Projector with standard lens - S$6,299PA550W Projector with standard lens - S$6,299PA500U Projector with standard lens - S$7,799

Apple hacked by AntiSec?Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/apple-hacked-by-antisec-/12841.html

July 4th, 2011

With all the hoo-ha that is currently taking place in cyberspaceover the recent spate of webpages and servers belongingto major companies and corporations getting attacked byhackers, it would really be of little surprise that some instantly-recognizable names will eventually find their way as entrieson the hackers' hit list. And the next big victim of an allegedhacker attack is seemingly that of Apple, which has reportedlyhad one of its servers compromised and administrator datastolen. Or did it?

Now that news about how big-name companies andcorporations have been getting their share of the limelight bybeing the unfortunate victims of a hacking spree has spreadaround the Internet like wildfire, it should hardly be surprisingthat most people will be waiting to see which is the nextunlucky company to find its servers getting compromised byyet another hacker group, and how much damage the lattercould inflict on the company in the process. And as it turns

out, we did not have to wait very long: a report posted by TheWall Street Journal claims that Apple is now the latest victimof such an attack, and that the damage consists of a number ofroot and administrator accounts being stolen.

According to the report, a group of computer hackers callingthemselves AntiSec (supposedly the shorthand for Anti-Security) has claimed responsibility for the alleged attack onApple, while adding that they were able to make off withthe passwords of as many as 26 root and administrativeaccounts. Apparently, AntiSec was able to gain access toApple's information by making use of a security flaw found inthe software used by many companies to power their servers,although no mention was made about the software's name.

That being said, while certain sites are dismissing the claimsmade by AntiSec due to the lack of evidence available toverify that the attack was indeed successful, it seems thatAntiSec might not have been boasting after all, for technologywebsite ZDNet has seemingly managed to obtain a list ofwhat apparently contains the passwords to the compromisedaccounts, as shown below:


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Apple has yet to make an official statement about the attack,so any information as to whether the hackers were able to walkaway with personal data belonging to consumers remains tobe seen.

Yahoo! launches new Yahoo!Clues search serviceSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/yahoo-launches-new-yahoo-clues-

search-service/12840.html

July 4th, 2011

How does the idea of being able to "instantly discover what’spopular to a select group of searchers – by age or gender –over the past day, week or even over the past year", or to have"controls at your fingertips that let you slice and dice Yahoo!searchers by criteria such as gender, age group and regionalinterest, or gain deep insights from comparing search terms"sound like? Well, those are the kind of needs which Yahoo!appears to be extremely keen on solving with the launch of itsnew Yahoo! Clues online search service. Read on to find outmore about Yahoo! Clues...

Most online search engines are fully capable of deliveringbroad but relevant results for any search string at the click of asingle mouse button, but there will always be trend-watcherswho would like to have the ability to narrow down their searchresults in order to have abtter idea of just what is currentlypopular among users of differing age groups, genders, or evenregions? And these are the kind of users Yahoo! is clearlyaiming to please with the introduction of its new Yahoo! Cluesservice, which the company claims is reportedly capable ofoffering "fun and engaging ways to explore what users aresearching for on Yahoo!while offering a 'behind the scenes'look into popular search trends".

According to the company, the latest version of Yahoo!Clues now sport various new features, chief of which is theintroduction of "Top Trends, which is Yahoo! claims allowsfor "endless exploration of the most popular search terms onYahoo! Search". The company goes on to explain how users canmake use of filter selections to "choose a combination of timerange, gender, age group and geographic location, and evensearch term category" to have Top Trends deliver the resultsthey are seeking, as shown in the example below.


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In addition to "Top Trends" Yahoo! has also announced theavailability of a variety of other enhancements that has beenadded to Yahoo! Clues, with some examples being:

• New site design – Clues now includes a home pagewith navigation to the Top Trends and Trend Analysisfeatures.

• More data – History from one month to over 12 months,and covering over three times as many search terms asthe previous release.

• Global coverage – All English-language searches globallyare available.

• New map – Trend Analysis includes a brand new mapthat puts the data at the center of the experience withbeautiful neat map visualizations.

That being said, Yahoo! Clues is still currently in beta, althoughadventurous users can give the service a spin over at http://clues.yahoo.com/

Nokia announces developercompetition for Series 40Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/nokia-announces-developer-

competition-for-series-40/12839.html

July 4th, 2011

Considering how a large app repository is vital to any mobilephone platform's survival today, what is an established mobilephone company like Nokia to do now that it needs to finda way to encourage developers to produce applications forits software platform? Simple: organize a competition andput some fascinating prices up for grabs in order to gain theattention of its user base. Which is exactly what Nokia is

doing right now with the “Create for Millions” consumer anddeveloper competition that is currently taking place for itsSeries 40 platform.

Does Nokia's Series 40 mobile phone platform sound familiarto you? Well, for those of you who may not be aware, that isthe name of the software platform that is currently used by theFinnish mobile phone giant to power its mid-end smartphoneand luxury Vertu product lineup, and has the honour of beingrecognized as the world's most widely used mobile phoneplatform. However, it is clear that Nokia wants to furtherenhance the Series 40's appeal in the form of providing userswith more applications to choose from, and it is attemptingto do so by organising a competition for both developers andconsumers to submit their ideas for consideration.

Known as Create for Millions, the developer and consumercompetition allows developers the opportunity to offertheir Java and web-based apps to "millions of consumersworldwide" while still being able to win cash and prizes whichare valued at EUR 1,000,000. Consumers, on the other hand,can make use of this opportunity to "submit their ideas forthe applications they'd like to see on Nokia Series 40 mobilephones", with Nokia claiming that authors of winning entrieswill be able to visit the Nokia World event that is slated to beheld later this year, where they can see their ideas "come to lifein person" and "meet the developers who created them".

Nokia has stated that the applications which are to besubmitted for consideration should fall within one of the fourcategories, namely:

• In the Know - News and locally relevant informationapps

• Fun & Games - Games and entertainment apps

• Emotional Closeness - Social networking apps

• Access to Knowledge - Life improvement apps, forexample education or health

In addition, Nokia has confirmed that it will be offering a totalof 10 cash prizes for each category, and that a top price of EUR50,000 awaits the best contribution. In addition, submittersof top apps in each category will "win a variety of non-cashprizes such as user experience reviews and app marketingassistance", while "special prizes will be awarded to apps that


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showcase the best touch feature in an app, the best location-aware app and the best overall Series 40 web app".

If that has gotten the developer in you interested, moreinformation about the Create For Millions developer andconsumer competition for Nokia's Series 40 mobile platformcan be found here.

ASUS unveils ProArt SeriesPA238Q monitor for graphicsprofessionalsSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/asus-unveils-proart-series-pa238q-

monitor-for-graphics-professionals/12838.html

July 4th, 2011

The 23-inch ASUS ProArt series PA238Q monitor claimsto deliver superb graphics performance that are ideal forprofessional applications. With QuickFit Virtual Scale, it candisplay images and documents in their true size on the screen.

The ASUS PA238Q is designed to meet the needs of graphicdesigners and other professionals. The 23-inch IPS-paneledPA238Q is the latest addition to the ProArt Series of displays,LED-backlit model with native 1920x1080 resolution. Itreproduces 100% of the sRGB color space, with everyindividual monitor precision calibrated at the factory to ensureunmatched color accuracy. The PA238Q ships with ASUS-exclusive QuickFit Virtual Scale software to display photos anddocuments in their true size on screen. In terms of ergonomics,a fully adjustable and sturdy stand complements a wide I/Orange, which includes HDMI, Display Port, DVI-D, D-sub, andmultiple USB ports.

Meticulous factory calibration

IPS technology allows for 178-degree viewing angles, preventcolor loss and wash even from extreme vertical and horizontalviewing directions. The internal firmware of the PA238Quses a 10-bit lookup table for RGB coloration, going beyond

the standard 8-bit table used inconventional monitors. Thisresults in smoother and more accurate color gradation andreproduction. The 50,000,000:1 contrast ratio generates truedark/light distinction and spectacular image quality.

Productivity-boosting features

ASUS bundles exclusive QuickFit Virtual Scale functionalitywith the PA238Q, powering true-sized displays of photosand documents on the screen. It also supports alignment,centimeter and inch-based grids for added flexibility. Userscan activate QuickFit via a simple hotkey at any time.This goes along picture-in-picture and picture-by-pictureviewing for easier multitasking. Additionally, thePA238Q’sstand integrates fully-adjustable height, tilt, swivel, andpivot,making for easier work and enjoyment. The four conveniently-located USB ports on the PA238Q (two on the side, two on theback) afford easy access to a wide range of storage devices andfile formats, helping users display content instantly.

Extensive input/output options

As a fully-featured high-end monitor, the PA238Q offers acomplete portand connector array. HDMI makes it effortlessto insert the PA238Q into anymodern multimedia and contentsharing setup, while the inclusion of Display Port, DVI-D, andD-sub maintains connectivity options with a wide range ofdevices so consumers can use the monitor as a single displayformultiple sources.

Razer BlackWidow,BlackWidow Ultimate andAnansi: now available for MacSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/razer-blackwidow-blackwidow-

ultimate-and-anansi-now-available-for-mac/12837.html

July 4th, 2011

Think that Windows is the only operating system that canmake the best use out of sophisticated gaming keyboards,such as Razer's BlackWidow and Anansi? Well, think again:the American computer peripherals manufacturer has justannounced the availability of both the aforementioned gamingkeyboards in the standard Mac keyboard layout which it clsimsare capable of "offering the same competitive edge for Macgamers as their PC brethren".

Keyboards are all the same, regardless of the OS that theyare connected to, right? Well, tell that to the large numbersof Mac fans out there, many of whom will gladly start afierce debate about seemingly unlimited advantages the Mackeyboard layout has over its Windows counterpart. And if youhappen to be a Mac gamer, this latest bit of news will mostprobably make your day, for Razer has announced that it willbe bringing its BlackWidow, BlackWidow Ultimate and Anansigaming keyboards over to users of the world's second mostpopular operating system, Mac OS X, complete with supportfor the standard Mac key layout.


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Razer BlackWidow: Mac Edition

The Razer BlackWidow: Mac Edition’s sports the use ofmechanical switches which, according to the company,"provides a distinctive tactile feedback that simulates theexperience and precision of performing a mouse click", thus"giving gamers an entirely new keyboard feel". In addition,Razer claims that the BlackWidow: Mac Edition also boastsan "ultra robust construction, fully programmable keys, 5additional macro keys, and on-the-fly macro recording",features which reportedly "make the BlackWidow: MacEdition a fully equipped and revolutionary gaming keyboard".

The Razer BlackWidow: Mac Edition gaming keyboard iscurrently available for sale globally at the price of US$79.99.

Razer BlackWidow Ultimate: Mac Edition

The quintessential "big brother" to the Razer BlackWidow,the BlackWidow Ultimate: Mac Edition boasts a couple ofadded features not found on the BlackWidow, such as havingindividual backlit, illuminated keys, as well as the availabilityof media and USB passthrough jacks.

The Razer BlackWidow Ultimate: Mac Edition gamingkeyboard is currently available for sale globally at the price ofUS$129.99.

Razer Anansi: Mac Edition

Said to be designed with the MMO gamer in mind, theRazer Anansi: Mac Edition gaming keyboard allows gamers to"execute seven times more commands instantly compared to astandard keyboard" thanks to the seven thumb modifier keyslocated below the space bar. In addition, the Razer Anasi: MacEdition gaming keyboard boasts over 100 programmable keysand five additional gaming keys that allow gamers to "furtherexpand their repertoire of boss-killing abilities and macros,providing total control with convenient and instantaneouscommand executions".

The Razer Anansi: Mac Edition gaming keyboard is currentlyavailable for sale globally at the price of US$99.99.

SingTel offers 100 moretickets to Lady GagashowcaseSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/singtel-offers-100-more-tickets-to-

lady-gaga-showcase/12836.html

July 4th, 2011

Telecommunication operator SingTel has announced that itwill be offering 100 more tickets to Lady Gaga showcase thatis happening on 7 July this week. Well, if you want to stand achance to win the tickets, just dress up in Lady Gaga-inspiredcostumes, come over to SingTel Comcentre fountain courtyardtoday at 4.30pm. Read on for the details.


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Singapore Telecommunications Limited (SingTel) hasannounced that it is offering an additional 100 tickets toLady Gaga’s showcase available to her fans. To stand achance to win a ticket, fans are invited to dress-up in LadyGaga-inspired costumes and gather at the SingTel Comcentrefountain courtyard at 4:30pm on 4 July. They will then beasked to sing and dance along to a selection of Lady Gaga’slatest hits. Tickets will be awarded to the most creative fanswith the most interesting performances.

AMPed customers can also stand a chance to win one of100 showcase tickets simply by downloading Lady Gaga’ssongs from AMPed. There are also 10 exclusive meet-and-greet passes up for grabs to allow fans to rub shoulderswith the world’s reigning queen of pop. Winners will beselected through a lucky draw whereby customers who havedownloaded more songs will have a higher chance of winning.

Fans can win VIP showcase tickets and backstage passesfor themselves and up to nine friends through the‘Gagafy Yourself’ competition on SingTel’s Facebook page(www.facebook.com/singtel). As part of the VIP experience,they will also enjoy a ride to the showcase in a chauffeur-drivenluxury stretch limousine. The prize will be awarded for themost creative submission.

As an added bonus, fans can watch Lady Gaga’s showcase frommid-July on mio TV on-demand channels and on SingTel’sMobileTV video streaming service. The SingTel AMPed ‘BornThis Way’ Lady Gaga showcase will be held on 7 July 8pm.

Be Quiet Dark Power Pro P9550W PSU reviewSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/be-quiet-dark-power-pro-p9-550w-

psu-review/12833.html

July 4th, 2011

Be-Quiet is a company based in Germany which for the pastfew years has been creating computer related products forenthusiasts. The company has a long list of products but theirprimary focus lies on high quality and silent power supply

units. During the past few weeks we have reviewed two unitsfrom their Straight Power series, the E8 CM 680W modularPSU and the mainstream E8 400W PSU. Today we are goingto have a thorough look at the weakest power supply of Be-Quiet’s best series, the Dark Power Pro P9 550W power supply.

Be-Quiet is a company based in Germany which for the pastfew years has been creating computer related products forenthusiasts. The company has a long list of products but theirprimary focus lies on high quality and silent power supplyunits. During the past few weeks we have reviewed two unitsfrom their Straight Power series, the E8 CM 680W modularPSU and the mainstream E8 400W PSU. Today we are goingto have a thorough look at the weakest power supply of Be-Quiet’s best series, the Dark Power Pro P9 550W power supply.


• For high-res gaming, professional graphics

• For stable high-end multi-GPU applications

• 12V multi-single rail operation, overclocking

• Cable management

• Extremely quiet running

• Top efficiency (80 PLUS Gold)

Continuous power (W) 550Peak power 500 ms (W) 650Form factor ATX 12V ATX12V Version 2.3Form factor EPS 12V EPS12V Version 2.92Modular cable management YESSpecial technology LLC, DC/DCVoltage (Vac) 100 - 240Frequency (Hz) 50 - 60Input current (A) 8 - 4PFC, active YESPF Power factor at 100% load 0.99Compliant to Intel C6 mode YESPower consumption instandby (W)

< 0,3

Average life time (h / 25°C) 100.000Operating temperature (°C) 0 - 40

The Daily VR-Zone NewsSummary - 1 July 2011Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/the-daily-vr-zone-news-summary--1-

july-2011/12828.html

July 4th, 2011


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In today's news roundup: OverClocked Inside has announcedthe availability of a new interactive tool on its website whichallows users to determine whether their favourite CPU coolerswill fit with their motherboard of choice "by moving thedesired CPU heatsink fan combination virtually on the selectedmotherboard"; Hynix has found itself back it court onceagain, this time over a patent infringement lawsuit filedby Cascades Computer Innovation LLC, which has accusedformer of infringing on its DRAM patents in a range ofproducts, including the Hynix DDR3 range, without askingfor licensing permission; Google has updated the Googlesearch experience for BlackBerry 6.0 WebKit enabled devicesby adding a number of enhanced search features integratedthroughout the homepage and search result pages, makingsearching faster and easier on www.google.com, especiallyon touch-enabled Blackberry devices; Adobe is attempting tocourt dissatisfied users of Final Cut Pro X and Avid MediaComposer announcing its plans to offer a such consumers a50 percent discount on either Premiere Pro CS5.5 or CS5.5Production Premium; Word has it that several subscribersof the popular Star Wars Galaxies online game have takenaction against Sony Online Entertainment by filed a class-action lawsuit against the company in a bid to prevent it fromshutting down the game, and The King of Fighters XIII will beheading for consoles on October 27 this year at a price for 7,140yen in Japan (asia ver to be confirmed) but fans can expectsome interesting surprises and add-ons to the console port.

Hardware news

MSI Big Bang Marshal (Intel P67 Express) MotherboardReviewDescription: MSI has had an interesting couple of years.During CES 2010 we saw them show off their new line of BigBang motherboards with Lucid Logix's Hydra chips on them.Unfortunately we saw this demo stutter through 3DMarkVantage. They were able to recover from that and managedto put out a few good boards with this package in them. Wetook a look at a couple of them here on TweakTown (and willprobably look at more to come). Then this year at CES, weheard from one source at MSI that they were planning on usingthe Hydra as more of a bridge chip for adding extra PCIe 2.0lanes on their high end boards to enable tri and quad SLI aswell as Crossfire. So, the question is, where does Hydra fit intothe Big Band series now?

Fit for fan - does the cooler fit on the motherboard ?Description: n the year 2001 ocinside.de already followedthe question, which CPU cooler can be used for whichmotherboard. With this interactive fit for fan guide onecan find out exactly this with a few clicks, by moving thedesired CPU heatsink fan combination virtually on the selectedmotherboard. The interactive fit for fan guide is a completenew development, which already contains some AMD SocketAM3/AM3+, Socket AM2/AM2+, Socket 939, Socket 754 andalso older Socket A motherboards and some HSFs for eachSocket. Additionally one can visit a review and check thecurrent price of each cooler or motherboard directly after theselection.

Kingston HyperX H2O 4GB 2133MHz DDR3 Memory KitReview @ Legit Reviews

Description: Sick looks and integrated water cooling top offthis special H2O edition from Kingston with their HyperX 4GB2133MHz kit. Legit Reviews pushes the Kingston HyperX H2O2133Mhz memory kit in our Sandy Bridge test bench to see ifthere is any more juice that can be squeezed out of it and wewill show you how this DDR3 memory kit stacks up to somerun of the mill 1600MHz memory.

NZXT Havik 140 CPU Cooler Review @ VortezDescription: The Havik 140 is a completely new and freshdesign to come out of NZXT’s lab. As the name instigates,it is designed to take advantage of better performing butquieter operating 140mm fans. Thermalright and Noctua havebeen the first to introduce such concepts and given the risingpopularity of 140mm fans into the mainstream, it wasn’t longtill consumers were going to see these on CPU coolers. Perhapsthe closest competitor to the NZXT is the Thermalright Archonwhich also comes with its own 140mm fan. The Havik lookslike a very traditional heatsink on initial impressions. Itboasts six 6mm heat pipes, uses an aluminium and copperconstruction, has a densely packed laminar fin array anddimensions comparable to other towers such as the VenomousX. As such, we expect performance to be comparable. Thehighlight is of course the inclusion of two uniquely shaped140mm fans, a first for tower coolers. The overall package fromNZXT is a complete one but can NZXT compete outside of theircomfort zone?

Gigabyte Z68X-UD7-B3 - Layout and Design @ ocaholicDescription: With the Z68X-UD7-B3 Gigabyte presents itflagship model which supports Intels latest Sandy BridgeCPUs. This board also comes with the new color scheme whichreally is very nice to look at. Furthermore there is the longfeature list which comes with every motherboard that is basedon Intels latest Z68 chipset.

Hynix sued in DRAM patent rowDescription: resh from its legal fight with patent troll Rambus,the semiconductor outfit has found itself on the receiving endof a suit filed by Cascades Computer Innovation LLC (CCI).The Korean technology company has fingered Hynix as usingits DRAM patents in a range of products, including the HynixDDR3 range, without asking for licensing permission. Thepatent in question is number 6,366,130, titled the "High SpeedLow Power Data Transfer Scheme", which CCI claims Hynixhas been "contributorily infringing".

AMD A8-3850 Lynx APU Processor @ Benchmark ReviewsDescription: When AMD merged with ATI in 2006, theyimmediately began working on combining discrete levelgraphics onto the die with an x86 CPU, thus forming anAccelerated Processing Unit (APU). In 2009, AMD expandedon that effort by launching VISION with the intent of shapingthe performance of a PC to fit the needs of the user. Five yearsafter the merger, AMD's design has come to fruition in desktopform. In this article, Benchmark Reviews is taking a look at theAMD A-Series A8-3850 APU.


Improved Google Search for BlackBerry 6.0 devicesDescription: Today we’ve updated the Google searchexperience for BlackBerry 6.0 WebKit enabled devices. We’veadded a number of enhanced search features integrated


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throughout the homepage and search result pages, makingsearching faster and easier on www.google.com, especially ontouch-enabled Blackberry devices.

What WebOS Means To HP, Linux, And YouDescription: In John’s review of the new HP TouchPad, heclaimed that “WebOS is the real star of this show. The OS offerstrue multi-tasking and uses a system of “cards” and “stacks” todisplay active applications.” I think it’s worthwhile to remindeveryone that WebOS is built atop the Linux kernel, andthat has several interesting ramifications. HP has continuedPalm’s dedication to user experience, and WebOS should makeit abundantly clear that “Linux” need not be synonymouswith “complex and arcane”. But there’s a lot more than justsuperficial window dressing to consider.

Creative ZiiO Multimedia Android Tablet Review onTechnic3D (German)Description: (Machine translation) The Creative ZiiOMultimedia Android Tablet arrived Technic3D. Enjoyexceptional wireless audio playback for all your music, movies,and games with the ZiiO 7-Inch Wireless EntertainmentTablet from Creative. The compact touch-screen tablet notonly offers convenient mobile computing, but it also letsyou stream lossless audio to Bluetooth-compatible wirelessspeaker systems or headphones. It features a vivid 7-inch colordisplay as well as an HDMI-out for enjoying movies on a big-screen HDTV...

Steelseries 6Gv2 Mechanical Review @ XSReviews.co.ukDescription: Have to say, I’m a big fan of the mechanicalkeyboard. My personal gaming setup has a Steelseries 7G andI use a Zowie Celeritas while working. With that in mind, youcan understand why I was looking forward to this review. Onceagain I get to spend an afternoon playing some games andtyping away on another mechanical keyboard, the cut downversion of my own 7G, the 6Gv2.

Razer Hydra unboxing & first impressionsDescription: The Razer Hydra combines the features ofa gamepad and motion controller into two ergonomicallyshaped controllers vaguely similar to the Wii’s Motioncontroller and Nunchuck combo. Each Hydra controller issimilar to a large, more ergonomic Wii ‘Nunchuk’ with athumbstick and a total of eight available buttons: 5 buttonsaround the base of thumbstick, as well as 1 bumper, 1 trigger,and the thumbstick itself (which can be pressed).

Adobe starts 'switcher' campaign to lure Final Cut Pro usersDescription: Adobe leapt on Final Cut Pro X frustrationsFriday with a new switcher promo. Anyone with a copy of FinalCut Pro or even Avid Media Composer can get a 50 percentdiscount on either Premiere Pro CS5.5 or CS5.5 ProductionPremium. The software house gave a knowing tweak to Applethat chastised it for dropping imports of the old version andtraditional imports from tape.

Gaming news

Star Wars Galaxies Players File Suit Against SonyDescription: VentureBeat reports that several SWGsubscribers have written in claiming that they actually fileda class-action lawsuit against SOE to prevent the companyfrom shutting down the game. The lawsuit also centers on SOEswinging it's Ban-Hammer in the forums, and how one player

was labeled as the protest "ring leader" and threatened with apermanent ban from all SOE games. Even more, SOE allegedlythreatened to sue this specific "ring leader" for trying to cause"unlawful harm to the company."

The King of Fighters XIII gets release date for consoles, addsBilly KaneDescription: The King of Fighters XIII will be heading forconsoles on October 27 this year at a price for 7,140 yen inJapan (asia ver to be confirmed) but fans can expect someinteresting surprises and add-ons to the console port. For astart, SNK Playmore has confirmed Billy Kane as a playablecharacter in the console ver. This has been a wait for many fansworldwide, KOF XIII will be available for PS3 and Xbox 360on the same day.

Call of Duty convention deploys Sept. 2-3Description: Activision is aiming to build the Call of Dutycommunity in a big way. The publisher last month announcedCall of Duty Elite, a new service for fans of the military first-person shooter series with a wealth of social networking bellsand whistles. Today, Activision followed that up with theintroduction of Call of Duty XP 2011, a convention it dubbed a"celebration" for the game's community.

Andino Texas & PowerPlusseries iPhone 4 and iPad 2cases ReviewSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/andino-texas--powerplus-series-

iphone-4-and-ipad-2-cases-review/12752.html

July 4th, 2011

With everyone around you owning a brilliant piece of Apple'stechnology, one of the few ways you can differentiate andpersonalise your gadget(s) is with all sorts of individualisticcases and sleeves. If you are looking for something that isrugged yet looks good with whatever you are wearing, readon and check out what Andino has to offer. Besides denimcases, we will also take a look at an external battery case forthe iPhone 4 that is also made by Andino.


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One of the decision that most iPhone and iPad users haveto make after getting their cherished device is what kind ofcase to pick. Not only does the case serve its primary task ofprotecting your gadget, it also allows you to personalise andstylise your beloved iPhone or iPad. While there are literallytons of different designs, materials and functions out there inthe wild, this is probably the first mass-marketed iOS devicecases that comes in denim. This should strike a cord withmany, as jeans go along with almost anything right?

Based in Singapore, Andino has come out with a line of denimcases and has thoughtfully included a crystal screen protectorwith all their cases, including the external battery case as well.With three different shades of denim available throughouttheir Texas line of cases, today we have a hands-on feel withtheir cases and see how it fits with our iPhone 4 and iPad 2.

Samsung gives its Series 9notebooks some Sandy BridgeloveSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/samsung-gives-its-series-9-notebooks-

some-sandy-bridge-love/12831.html

July 4th, 2011

Samsung's ultra-thin 11.6-inch Series 9 notebooks have finallybeen upgraded to Intel's ULV Sandy Bridge CPUs, while thelarger 13.3-inch version was given a spec bump or a pricereduction. That said, neither model is exactly what we'd callcheap, but you do get a very sleek and stylish looking notebookfor your money.

Samsung's ultra-thin 11.6-inch Series 9 notebooks have finallybeen upgraded to Intel's ULV Sandy Bridge CPUs, while thelarger 13.3-inch version was given a spec bump or a pricereduction. That said, neither model is exactly what we'd call

cheap, but you do get a very sleek and stylish looking notebookfor your money.

The first generation 11.6-inch Series 9 notebooks fromSamsung featured a previous generation Intel Core i3-380UMprocessor clocked at 1.33GHz, whereas the new models areactually getting a slightly slower processor in the shape ofthe Sandy Bridge based Core i3-2357M which is clocked at1.3GHz. Both CPU's sports 3MB of L3 cache, two cores andfour threads, but the Core i3-2357M has 1W lower TDP, Intel'smuch improved HD 3000 graphics (350/950MHz clock instandard/turbo modes) with support for Intel Quick Syncvideo and a few other features and finally it also supports AVX.

The base model retains the pathetic 2GB of RAM and 64GBSSD, although the price has come down from US$1,199, toUS$1,049 for the base spec. Luckily Samsung has come to itssenses and offers an upgraded model with 4GB of RAM anda 128GB SSD for US$1,249 which is a price we'd be happy topay for a usable notebook compared to the base version. Bothversion will be available in the US from August.

The 13.3-inch models have gone through a lessertransformation with the CPU being upgraded from a Corei5-2537M at 1.4GHz to a Core i5-2467M at 1.6GHz. The turbofrequency for the new model is still capped at 2.3GHz, butits graphics core will go all the way to 1,150MHz, comparedto 950MHz for the older version. Samsung has also addeda Core i7 option with the 2617M CPU which has a slightlylower base clock than the Core i5-2467M, as the Core i7-2617Mstarts out at 1.4GHz, but it'll turbo up to 2.6GHz. It also hasan additional 1MB of L3 cache, but surprisingly it has thesame graphics clock as the Core i5-2537M. It's worth pointingout that the Core i5-2467M lacks support for Intel VT-d andTrusted Execution Technology, something the Core i7-2617Moffers.

The MSRP for the first generation model was US$1,649 andSamsung is no offering its base model as a much moreaffordable US$1,349 which includes the Core i5-2467M CPU,4GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD. At US$1,649 you're looking atan upgrade to a 256GB SSD and finally US$2,049 gets you theCore i7-2617M model with 6GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. Allthree models have already gone on sale in the US.

UEFI coming to TI's OMAPSoCs courtesy of InsydeSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/uefi-coming-to-ti-s-omap-socs-

courtesy-of-insyde/12830.html

July 4th, 2011

With ARM processors being part of the Windows 8 eco systemthere are going to be some changes needed to how ARMsystems work and as you may know, there's no BIOS to befound on a smartphone or tablet. Well, this is about to changeas Insyde has announced that it will be offering a version ofits UEFI for Texas Instruments OMAP processors which isapparently a requirement to make ARM processors play nicewith Windows 8.


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With ARM processors being part of the Windows 8 eco systemthere are going to be some changes needed to how ARMsystems work and as you may know, there's no BIOS to befound on a smartphone or tablet. Well, this is about to changeas Insyde has announced that it will be offering a version ofits UEFI for Texas Instruments OMAP processors which isapparently a requirement to make ARM processors play nicewith Windows 8.

Not a lot of details are known, but Insyde is working hardto make sure its InsydeH2O UEFI works with TI's OMAPplatform ahead of the launch of Windows 8. There's noword on other ARM solutions being supported, but we'd besurprised of TI was the only company working with UEFImakers to get ready for Windows 8.

Luckily there's still plenty of time to get everything working,but the two companies are obviously eager to get things upand running as quickly as possible, as for them Windows 8 isa big step in a new direction. We wouldn't expect to see theamount of options as you would inside a UEFI for an x86 basedmachine, although as this is mostly intended for laptop usage,think laptop BIOS/UEFI and you'll get an idea of the optionsyou'll have, i.e. not that many. That said, a few options areneeded to make Windows happy and it's also suggesting thatit might be possible to install other operating systems on theseupcoming ARM based products.

Ricoh splashes out 10 billionYen on PentaxSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/ricoh-splashes-out-10-billion-yen-on-

pentax/12829.html

July 4th, 2011

Remember Ricoh, the company behind the crazy GXRinterchangeable sensor camera and who's known for its GRDigital series of high-end point and shoots? Well, they alsohappen to make printers and copy machines, but that's besidethe point, as the company has decided to further its camerabusiness unit by purchasing Pentax from Hoya.

Remember Ricoh, the company behind the crazy GXRinterchangeable sensor camera and who's known for its GRDigital series of high-end point and shoots? Well, they alsohappen to make printers and copy machines, but that's besidethe point, as the company has decided to further its camerabusiness unit by purchasing Pentax from Hoya.

It's actually quite an interesting move, as Ricoh is one of thesmallest digital camera makers out there today, although thecompany has focused on making fairly niche market cameraswith somewhat unusual features.

Pentax on the other hand was merged with Hoya – a Japaneseoptical company- back in 2008. Hoya is known for its highquality photographic filters, but when Hoya merged withPentax it wasn't its camera business that Hoya was after, but

rather its expertise in medical products, such as endoscopesand various other things.

As such, Hoya is now selling off the Pentax camera businessunit, something that was expected to happen much sooner.Apparently Ricoh is also getting Pentax binocular and securitycamera related business units as part of the deal. Judgingby the press release Ricoh will also take over Pentaxmanufacturing plant in Vietnam.

Interestingly the press release mentions that part of thereason why Ricoh bought Pentax is because the company isinterested in a small and lightweight interchangeable lenscamera system, but we can't see Ricoh splashing out therumoured 10 billion Yen (about US$124 million) for Pentax'sQ-system which was announced recently.

We'll simply have to wait and see how things develop, buthopefully we'll see a stronger product portfolio from Ricoh/Pentax on the DSLR side, as for as much as Pentax has someexcellent lenses and some very durable high-end DSLR's, thecompany has always been a little bit behind the competitionwhen it comes to features.

Samsung Galaxy S II's slightly-underpowered sibling appears,calls itself the Galaxy ZSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/samsung-galaxy-s-ii-s-slightly-

underpowered-sibling-appears-calls-itself-the-galaxy-z/12826.html

July 4th, 2011

If desktop and notebook OEMs are able to install hardware ofdiffering performance levels into the same notebook and sellthem for different prices to cater to a variety of consumer needsand desires, it would make sense that is was only a matterof time before smartphone OEMs start adopting this practiceas well. And it seems that Samsung is all ready to start doingso with the introduction of the Galaxy Z, which, accordingto reports, is a slightly underpowered version of its currentGalaxy S II smartphone. Read on to find out more...

Apparently, there were rumors floating about that Samsungwas planning to release a slightly "downgraded" versionof its current Galaxy S II smartphone, but nothing beatshaving official information from the likes of either the Koreanelectronics giant or its partners to confirm or disprove therumor. And as it stands, the rumor is currently looking veryconfirmed at this point of time, considering how details of aGalaxy Z smartphone have surfaced on Swedish telco ThreeSweden's product page:


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The writeup provided by Three Sweden in its product pagedescribes the Samsung Galaxy Z smartphone as a "littlebrother" of sorts to the established Galaxy S II, a statementwhich is backed up by the device's hardware specifications.Apparently, the Galaxy Z will utilize a 4.2-inch Super ClearLCD screen capable of WVGA resolutions, while a yet-unknown 1GHz dual-core processor (rumored to be NVIDIA'sTegra 2 System-on-a-Chip) provides the smartphone with theraw power it needs to perform most general-purpose tasks.

In addition, Three Sweden has confirmed that the GalaxyZ will be running off version 2.3 of the Android operatingsystem (aka Gingerbread) and will come with support fora variety standard features such as Wi-Fi, GPS and an FMradio tuner. Last but definitely not least, the Galaxy Z willalso sport 5MP camera which is capable of a 4x digital zoomand HD video recording support, while the device's 8GBinternal memory can be expanded via the use of microSD cardswith capacities of up to 32GB.

Unfortunately, the Galaxy Z does not appear to be available forsale anywhere outside of Sweden at this point of time, whereit is priced at 3995 Kr or approximately US$633.

Corsair Unleashes Its ForceSeries GT SSDSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/corsair-unleashes-its-force-series-gt-

ssd/12821.html

July 4th, 2011


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Corsair has shipped its Force Series GT SSD, which utilizes theSandForce controller and features a chassis which is colouredwith its trademark fiery red theme. More details inside.

Corsair's Force Series GT SSD is targeted at hardwareenthusiasts who will appreaciate the performance it has tooffer. Using the new SandForce SF-2280 SSD processor andONFI synchronous flash memory, the Force Series GT is ableto deliver read speeds of 555MB/s, write speeds of 525MB/s and up to 85,000 random write IOPS. Although the ForceSeries GT SSD is a SATA 3 model, it will still be backwardcompatible with SATA 2 ports, allowing more options forconsumers. The Corsair Force Series GT SSD will be availablein July with a suggested retail price of US$149 for the 60GBand US$279 for the 120GB model. Pricing for the 240GBmodel is still unavailable.

Facebook to launch something"awesome" next week,speculations aboundSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/facebook-to-launch-something-

awesome-next-week-speculations-abound/12824.html

July 4th, 2011

Facebook lovers, hang on to the edge of your seats nextweek. This is because the world's most popular onlinesocial networking service has announced its plans to launchsomething big and "awesome" during that period, and that itwill most possibly be centered around the "mobile or tabletarena". And no, we are not making this up: that is exactly whatFacebook's CEO Mark Zuckerberg told reporters in his visit tothe company's Seattle office a couple of days ago. That beingsaid, does anyone want to hazard a guess as to what this big,"awesome" launch could possibly be about?

Faceook users, hang on tight to the edges of your seats.Apparently, something very big and "awesome" from the

world's most popular online social networking is slated tobe heading our way some time next week, and that thisnew feature, which has been developed in Facebook's Seattleoffice, will reportedly be centered around the "mobile or tabletarena".

That was what Facebook's very own CEO, Mark Zuckerberg,told reporters during a visit to the aforementioned office acouple of days ago, on Wednesday. The Seattle office is widelyrecognized as the one which drives most of the company’smobile efforts, and has been known to have played a "centralrole in the development of Facebook’s unified mobile site,which was unveiled at the end of March 2011".

And just as most would have expected, news of thecompany's announcement have spread throughout cyberspacelike wildfire, and speculation as to what kind of "awesome"service Facebook intends to launch next week runs rampant.However, most pundits are claiming that an official Facebookapp for the iPad, along with a possible photo-sharing appfor the iPhone, are the most likely candidates for nextweek's mystery launch, and for good reason. After all, MarkZuckerberg himself has been rumoured to be taking a personalinterest in delivering a tablet-optimized app for the iPad,which has been "allegedly in developement for almost a year",and leaked images of what is widely believed to be those forthe aforementioned photo-sharing app for the iPhone has beenreleased by TechCrunch recently, as shown below:


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That being said, it is also possible that Facebook might havesomething completely different up its sleeves in store for usersnext week. Indeed, ZDNet is speculating that Facebook mightjust be preparing to launch its very own App Store competitor,which is currently codenamed Project Spartan. Unlike mosttraditional application repositories on the market, ProjectSpartan is unique in the sense that it is written in HTML5and is designed to be accessible by most web browsers. Intheory, this means Facebook might have a very good chance ofbeating Apple at its own game in the App Store department,as it grants users instant access to what is potentially a hugeexternal repository of apps without the need to jailbreak theiriOS-powered devices.

Of course, this is nothing but speculation, so we'd suggest thatyou take in the aforementioned information with a pinch ofsalt. Still, one thing is certain: the world is going to have a veryexciting week ahead of it.

Jabra Stone2 wirelessBluetooth headset: nowavailable in whiteSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/jabra-stone2-wireless-bluetooth-

headset-now-available-in-white/12823.html

July 4th, 2011

Do you remember Jabra's Stone2 wireless Bluetooth headset?You know, the one that is small enough to fit nicely intothe palm of one's hand, and yet is capable of boasting anexceptional battery life of up to 10 full hours of wirelesstalktime? Well, leave it to Jabra to crank the Stone2'sdesirability up a notch by announcing the availability of a new"cool white" variant of its wireless Bluetooth headset which itclaims is designed to appeal to style-conscious consumers.

Three months ago, VR-Zone was invited to attend a hands-on seesion with Jabra's then new wireless Bluetooth devices,where we were informed that one of the products that wasavailable on display, the Jabra Stone2, may be considered fora cosmetic upgrade in the form of a new colour choice in thelater part of the year, and that the new colour would be eitherwhite or red. As it turns out, Jabra did indeed deliver on itspromise, for the company has just announced the availabilityof a new variant of the Stone2 wireless Bluetooth headset thatnow sports a bright, "cool white" body instead of the matteblack finish that has been the only available color option uptill now.

As the "cool white" version is essentially nothing more thanthe same Stone2 with a different colour, it has all thespecifications and capabilities as its matte black predecessorpossesses. This includes its extremely small physical footprint,compatibility with virtually all Bluetooth-enabled devices,the same 10-hour battery life, as well as support for voice-activated commands, voice-enabled apps and voice guidance.And yes, it also features the same A2DP technology whichis reportedly capable of allowing users to "enjoy listening tomusic streaming wirelessly from an A2DP-enabled phone withgreater clarity and at easy, healthy volume levels".

That being said, if you have been holding off that purchasingthe Stone2 over the lack of colour choices available, thereshould be little reason to do so anymore, now that Jabra hasrefreshed the Stone2 product line with the aforementioned"cool white" version. And just so you know, the white Stone2 is already available for sale at the price of S$198.


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Canonical releases UbuntuOne Files app for AndroidSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/canonical-releases-ubuntu-one-files-

app-for-android/12822.html

July 4th, 2011

With so many cloud storage providers to choose from today,you'd think that there is hardly any more space for competitorsto try their luck in this crowded market, right? Well, Canonicalapparently does not think so, for the company has just madeavailable its Ubuntu One cloud storage solution to Androidusers, which can can accessed via the Ubuntu One Files appthat is now available for download on the Android Market.Read on to find out more about Canonical's Ubuntu One cloudservice for Android...

Mention the name "Ubuntu" to most people and chancesare you will be greeted with blank stares as though youhad just spoken some kind of Martian word that nobodyrecognizes. That, or get drawn into a long ideological debateabout just how important a role Ubuntu is playing the theLinux community by making desktop Linux distributionsmuch friendlier for end-users to play around with.

That being said, there is a lot more to Ubuntu than justthe desktop Linux distribution that bears its, and one of theservices its founding company, Canonical, have released inrecent years is that of Ubuntu One, which is a cloud storageservice that allows users to store their data online for easyarchival and accessibility. And it is this very service whichCanonical has just made available to Android users via itsUbuntu One Files application, which is now downloadable offthe Android Market at no cost:

Of course, you might probably scratching your head andwondering about Ubuntu One's capabilities, considering howthere are countless other cloud storage providers which are

seemingly offering more of the same thing. Well, according toa blog post made on the official Ubuntu One blog at Canonical,Ubuntu One Files will allow users to "automatically back upphotographs taken from an Android phone’s camera directlyto their Ubuntu One personal cloud", thus ensuring that userscan rest assured that they have a completely up-to-date photolibrary in their Ubuntu One cloud at all times. In addition, theblog post claimed that users can perform file sharing directlythrough the Ubuntu One Files app by simply tapping andholding on the file to instantly post it straight to Facebook,Twitter, or their personal blog.

Of course, with Ubuntu One being a cloud service, it also comeswith the standard features users have come to expect fromone, such as the ability to let subsccribers store their data intoCanonical's servers and access them freely as long as they havea working connection to the Internet. And as an added bonus,Canonical has confirmed in an interview with The Inquirerthat it will never rummage through its subscribers' personaldata, preferring instead to give them benefit of the doubt thatthey do not have any illegal or copyrighted content in theirstorage accounts.

"We do not monitor what people store in their personal clouds.Each person that signs up to Ubuntu One must agree to thelegally binding terms and conditions, which clearly outline ouracceptable use and conduct policy...Ubuntu One services allowusers to store data on Canonical's servers, but this data cannot be in breach of any applicable law and or any individual'sdata protection or privacy rights," said Cristian Parrino, vicepresident of online services at Canonical.

Sounds good? Well, it gets better: Ubuntu One is free to use,and all you need is to sign up for an account and you get access


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to 2GB of storage to get started off with. And in the event youneed additional space, well, Canonical is already ready to offerthem to you at varying subscription rates.

ASUS Crosshair V FormulaReviewSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/asus-crosshair-v-formula-

review/12668.html

July 4th, 2011

Each time AMD or Intel releases a enthusiast chipset, youcan be sure that ASUS will be ready with a Republic ofGamers motherboard. This time round, it's the 990FX and themotherboard waiting for us is none other than the CrosshairV Formula.

And the answer is, well, nothing much at all. 990FX willuse a faster HyperTransport 3.1 link when paired withBulldozer, although with older processors it will revert toHyperTransport 3.0 speeds. Otherwise the number of PCIelanes remains the same, and the chip is still manufactured onTSMC's 65nm process.

The good news is that AM3 motherboards only need aBIOS update to support AM3+ processors, subject of courseto the board's ability to handle Bulldozer's maximum TDP(125W) and the manufacturer's willingness to provide saidupdate. ASUS, Gigabyte and MSI have already announced themodels which will be receiving an update to work with AM3+processors, while ECS' website says that they are currentlyworking on it. AMD does not officially support or endorse this,however.

The SB950 is essentially a renamed SB850. SB850 was aheadof its time with SATA 6Gbps support, unfortunately SB950doesn't continue that trend and there's no USB 3.0 support.SB950 continues to integrate PCI and PATA support, whichsaves motherboard makers the cost of PCIe-to-PCI bridgechips.

Now that we're done with that, let's have a look at the CrosshairV Formula's specifications. At first glance it looks very similarto its predecessor, the Crosshair IV Formula, with a nearly-identical expansion slot layout. Notable changes include adoubling of maximum memory to 32GB, an increase in thenumber of USB 3.0 ports, and the eviction of FireWire.

Asus appears intent on using in-house solutions as much aspossible - JMicron and Renesas have been dumped in favour ofAsmedia's SATA 6Gbps and USB 3.0 controllers respectively.In our Z68 motherboard review we found the ASM1042 to beas good as other USB 3.0 controllers, but we've yet to see howthe ASM1061 performs compared to the more popular Marvell88SE9128. We're also happy to see an Intel 82583V controlleron the networking front, as these usually have the lowest CPUutilization.

You might also remember the Crosshair IV Extreme, the bigbrother (literally) to the Crosshair IV Formula and a truehardcore overclocker's motherboard. So far there's been noword of a Crosshair V Extreme, but then there's probably noreal need for one given the similarities we've already described.Turn the page for a closer inspection of the motherboard.

Crosshair VFormula

Crosshair IVFormula

CPU Support AMD AM3+FX™/Phenom™II/Athlon™ II/Sempron™ 100Series ProcessorsSupports AM3+ 32nm CPU

Supports CPU up to8 cores

Supports CPU up to140 W

AMD Cool 'n'Quiet™ Technology

AMD SocketAM3 ;Phenom™II /Athlon™II /Sempron™ 100Series ProcessorsAMD 140W CPUSupport

AMD Cool 'n'Quiet™ Technology

Supports 45nmCPU

Chipset AMD 990FX/SB950

AMD 890FX/SB850

System Bus HyperTransport 3.1 Up to 5200 MT/s ;HyperTransport™3.0

Memory 4 x DIMM, Max.32GB, DDR32133(O.C.)/2000(O.C.)/1800(O.C.)/1600/1333/1066Hz ECC, Non-ECC, Un-bufferedMemoryDual ChannelMemoryArchitecture

4 x DIMM, Max.16 GB, DDR32000(O.C.)/1800(O.C.)/1600(O.C.)/1333/1066ECC,Non-ECC,Un-buffered MemoryDual Channelmemoryarchitecture

Multi-GPUSupport

Supports NVIDIA®3-Way SLI™Technology

Support ATICrossFire™XTechnologygraphics cards


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Supports AMD 3-Way CrossFireX™Technology

Expansion Slots 3 x PCIe 2.0 x16(dual x16 or x16,x8, x8)1 x PCIe 2.0 x16 (x4mode)

1 x PCIe 2.0 x1

1 x PCI

3 x PCIe 2.0 x16(dual @ x16, triple@x16 x8 x8)1 x PCIe 2.0 x4

2 x PCI 2.2

Storage AMD SB950controller : 6 x SATA 6Gb/sport(s), red

Support Raid 0, 1,5, 10

ASMedia®ASM1061controller : 1 x SATA 6Gb/sport(s), red

1 x eSATA 6Gb/sport(s), red

SB850 Chipset6 xSATA 6.0 Gb/s ports SupportRAID 0,1,5,10

JMicron® JMB363PATA and SATAcontroller1 xSATA 3Gb/s port(Black)

1 xExternal powerSATA 3Gb/s porton rear (SATA On-the-Go)

LAN Intel®, 1 x GigabitLAN Controller

Marvell 88E8059Gigabit LANcontroller

Audio SupremeFX X-Fi 2built-in 8-ChannelHigh DefinitionAudio CODEC- Supports Jack-detection, Multi-streaming, FrontPanel Jack-retasking

Audio Feature :- X-Fi® XtremeFidelity™

- EAX®Advanced™ HD5.0

- THX® TruStudioPRO™

- CreativeALchemy

- Blu-ray audiolayer ContentProtection

SupremeFX X-Fibuilt-in 8-ChannelHigh DefinitionAudio CODEC- EAX®Advanced™ HD 4.0

- X-Fi CMSS®-3D

- X-Fi Crystalizer™

- Creative ALchemy

- Supports Blu-rayaudio layer contentprotection

- Supports 1 OpticalS/PDIF out port atback I/O

- Supports 1 x S/PDIF out header

- Supports Jack-detection, Multi-streaming, FrontPanel Jack-retasking

- Optical S/PDIFout port(s) at backpanel

USB ASMedia® USB3.0 controller :6 x USB 3.0 port(s)(4 at back panel,blue, 2 at mid-board)

AMD SB950controller :12 x USB 2.0port(s) (8 at backpanel, black+white,4 at mid-board)

NEC® USB 3.0controller- 2 x USB 3.0/2.0ports (at back I/O)

AMD SB850chipset- 12 x USB 2.0 ports(5 ports at mid-board, 7 ports atback I/O, 1 port atback I/O is also forROG connect)

FireWire 2 x 1394a port(s) (1port at back I/O, 1port onboard)

ASUS UniqueFeatures

ROG Connect :- RC Diagram

- RC Remote

- RC Poster

- GPU TweakIt

Extreme EngineDigi+ :- 8 + 2 phase powerdesign

UEFI BIOSfeatures :- ROG BIOS Print

- GPU.DIMM Post

GameFirstiROGExtreme TweakerOverclockingProtection :- COP EX(ComponentOverheatProtection - EX)

- Voltiminder LED

- ASUS C.P.R.(CPUParameter Recall)

ROG ConnectGameFirst

Extreme Tweaker

Power Design:- 8+2 phase CPUpower design

CPU Level Up

MemOK!

iROG

LoadlineCalibration

Intelligentoverclocking tools:- ASUS TurboV Evo

- O.C Profile

OverclockingProtection:- COP EX(ComponentOverheatProtection - EX)

- Voltiminder LED

- ASUS C.P.R.(CPUParameter Recall)

OverclockingFeatures

ASUS TPU :- CPU Level UP

Core UnlockerASUS ExclusiveFeatures :

Turbo UnlockerTurbo Key II

Core Unlocker

ASUS Q-Connector


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- MemOK!

- AI Charger+

ASUS QuietThermal Solution :- ASUS Fan Xpert

ASUS EZ DIY :- ASUS Q-Shield

- ASUS O.C. Profile

- ASUS EZ Flash 2

- ASUS MyLogo 3

ASUS Q-Design :- ASUS Q-LED(CPU, DRAM, VGA,Boot Device LED)

- ASUS Q-Connector

ASUS Q-Shield

ASUS Q-Fan 2

ASUS EZ Flash 2

ASUS CrashFreeBIOS 3

ASUS MyLogo 3

Back Panel I/OPorts

1 x PS/2 keyboard/mouse comboport(s)1 x eSATA 6Gb/s

1 x LAN (RJ45)port(s)

4 x USB 3.0

8 x USB 2.0(white port can beswitched to ROGConnect)

1 x Optical S/PDIFout

6 x Audio jack(s)

1 x Clear CMOSbutton(s)

1 x External SATA1 x S/PDIF Out(Optical)

1 x IEEE 1394a

1 x LAN(RJ45) port

8 -Channel AudioI/O

1 x PS/2 Keyboardport(purple)

2 x USB 3.0/2.0ports

7 x USB 2.0/1.1ports (1 port is alsofor ROG Connect)

1 x ROG ConnectOn/Off switch

1 x Clr CMOSswitch

Internal I/OConnectors

1 x USB 3.0connector(s)support(s)additional 2 USB3.0 port(s)2 x USB 2.0connector(s)support(s)additional 4 USB2.0 port(s)

3 x USB 2.0connectorssupports additional5 USB 2.0 ports6 x SATA 6Gb/sconnectors (Red)

1 x SATA 3Gb/sconnectors (Black)

7 x SATA 6Gb/sconnector(s)

2 x CPU Fanconnector(s)

3 x Chassis Fanconnector(s)

3 x Optional Fanconnector(s)

1 x S/PDIF outheader(s)

1 x 24-pin EATXPower connector(s)

1 x 8-pin ATX 12VPower connector(s)

1 x 4-pin ATX 12VPower connector(s)

1 x Front panelaudio connector(s)(AAFP)

1 x System panel(s)

8 x ProbeItMeasurementPoints

3 x Thermal sensorconnector(s)

1 x En/Dis-able ClrCMOS header(s)

1 x EZ Plugconnector(s) (4-pin Molex powerconnector)

1 x Power-onbutton(s)

1 x Reset button(s)

1 x CPU Level Upbutton(s)

1 x ROG Connectswitch(es)

1 x Go Button(s)

8 x Fan connectors:1 x CPU / 1 x PWR /3 x Chassis / 3 xOptional

7 x ProbeItmeasurementpoints

3 x Thermal sensorconnectors

1 x IEEE1394aconnector

1 x SPDIF_outconnector

1 x 24-pin ATXpower connector

1 x 8-pin ATX 12Vpower connector

1 x En/Dis-able ClrCMOS switch

1 x Core unlockerswitch

1 x Turbo key IIswitch

1 x Power on switch

1 x Reset switch

1 x OC StationHeader

1 x Go Button

System panelconnector

Accessories User's manualI/O Shield

User's manual1 x I/O Shield


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6 x SATA 6Gb/scable(s)

1 x 3-Way SLIbridge(s)

1 x SLI bridge(s)

1 x CrossFirecable(s)

1 x Q-connector(s)(2 in 1)

1 x ROG Connectcable(s)

1 x Cable tiespack(s)

1 x ROG themelabel(s)

1 x 12 in 1 ROGCable Label(s)

1 x ROG ConnectCable

1 x 2-in-1 ASUS Q-Connector Kit

1 x 2-in-1 SATA6.0Gb/s Cables

2 x 2-in-1 SATA3.0Gb/s SignalCables

1 x 2-port USB2.0 +ESATA Module

1 x Crossfire Cable

1 x Cable Ties Pack

1 x ROG ThemeLabel

1 x 12-in-1 ROGCable Label

BIOS 32Mb Flash ROM,UEFI BIOS, PnP,DMI2.0, WfM2.0,SM BIOS 2.5,ACPI2.0a, Multi-Language BIOS

16 Mb Flash ROMAMI BIOS, PnP,DMI2.0, WfM2.0,SM BIOS 2.4,ACPI2.0a Multi-Language BIOS

Manageability WOL by PME,WOR by PME, PXE

WOL by PME,WORby PME,PXE

Support Disc DriversSound Blaster® X-Fi 2 Utility

Kaspersky® Anti-Virus

DAEMON ToolsPro Standard

ROG CPU-Z

ASUS Utilities

Support DVD:- Drivers andapplications

* ASUS PC Probe II

* ASUS Update

* ASUS AI Suite

* Sound Blaster X-Fi Utility

* Kaspersky® Anti-Virus 1-year license

Form Factor ATX Form Factor12 inch x 9.6 inch( 30.5 cm x 24.4cm )

ATX Form Factor12 inch x 9.6 inch( 30.5 cm x24.5cm )

Razer Introduces Transformer3 Themed PeripheralsSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/razer-introduces-transformer-3-

themed-peripherals/12812.html

July 4th, 2011

Razer, manufacturer of gaming mice, keyboards and otherrelated accessories, has released a series of Transformer 3-themed peripherals. Razer has lined up a gaming mouse,mousepad and laptop sleeve case to help you in your fragadventures just in case you haven't had enough 3D explosionsat the latest Transformers movie.

In their latest movie tie-up, Razer has introduced a series ofTransformer 3 themed periperals which includes the DeathAdder mouse, Vespula mousepad and a collector's editionLaptop Sleeve Case. The mouse and laptop case are availablein four vibrant colors. Red and yellow represent the goodTransformers a.k.a. Optimus Prime and Bumblebee. If youprefer the evil side, silver and purple represent Megatron andShockwave respectively.

The Transformer 3 themed Vespula mousepad is dual-sided,letting you choose between the SPEED surface for increasedslide or CONTROL surface for increased precision. TheCollector's Edition Laptop Sleeve Case features a hard yetflexible plastic shell for protection and shock absorption.


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The Transformer 3 themed Death Adder mouse, Vespulamousepad and Laptop Sleeve Case will retail at US$70, US$45and US$50 respectively.

Visit the Razer Website for more information.

Still no release date forGingerbread update on HTC'sDesireSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/still-no-release-date-for-gingerbread-

update-on-htc-s-desire/12820.html

July 4th, 2011

Just when you thought all is nice and well with HTC andthe world now that the company has confirmed that it willindeed be updating its Desire smartphone with version 2.3 ofthe Android operating system (aka Gingerbread), out comesMurphy with his ominous Law, and it seems that not evena company like HTC can run away from it. And the result?Well, Gingerbread will still come to the Desire, but at a future,unspecified date.

Sixteen days ago, HTC made headlines when it first announcedthat its Desire smartphone, which was released for retail lastyear, would not be getting Gingerbread due to it lacking theamount of memory needed to faciliate such an update, only toreverse its stand two days later by claiming that the companywill trim the ROM down to a more manageable size by cuttingsome apps out of the release. Needless to say, HTC's suddenabout turn resulted in smiles and joy from its consumer base.

However, it seems that HTC is having some trouble withmaking up its mind on when it will be ready to release itsGingerbread update for the Desire. Apparently, the Taiwanesesmartphone OEM 's original plan, as claimed in its Facebook

posting, was that users could expect to receieve informationabout the rollout timeframe for the update "early thisweek". That is fine and all, except that we are fast approachingthe week's end, and HTC has done little more than releaseanother announcement claiming that the Gingerbread ROMfor the Desire is currently undergoing tests, and that an updateon availability will be made in due time.

Not surprisingly, HTC's latest announcement is not sittingwell with many Desire owners who were expecting toreceieve a proper roadmap or schedule of how the Taiwanesesmartphone OEM is progressing with the update, and whenthe ROM could be expected to make its way into theirhandsets. Indeed, a quick look at some of the commentsleft behind by some Desire owners have revealed that HTC'scustomers are starting to lose patience with the company,and that some have already taken the plunge by ditchingtheir Desires for a more up-to-date smartphone, or going thecustom ROM route.

That being said, we have to admit that HTC's customers dohave a point. After all, it was HTC which put the ball in its courtwhen it announced its plans to release a rollout timeframefor its Gingerbread update early this week, an act which ithad failed to fulfill in spectacular fashion. Still, if it is ofany consolation, HTC's new announcement does confirm thatthe Gingerbread update for its Desire smartphones is real,and that it will eventually be released to Desire owners fordownload. All that is missing now is the "when" part of theequation. Which, unfortunately for HTC, is the part whichconsumers are really only interested in.

Samsung to release 32GBmicroSD Card (Class 10)Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/samsung-to-release-32gb-microsd-

card-class-10-/12811.html


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July 4th, 2011

Samsung's latest class 10 microSD card is said to use 32Gb 3-bit NAND flash memory chips and a 3-bit NAND controller.It will deliver up to 24MB/s in read speeds and 12MB/s inwrite speeds. This will be more than double the write speed ofa standard class 4 card. Samsung is also planning to release a64GB class 10 microSD card in 2012.

Cloned Sony Walkman W250audio player shows up inChinaSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/cloned-sony-walkman-w250-audio-

player-shows-up-in-china/12819.html

July 4th, 2011

If what they say about imitation being the sincerest form offlattery is true, it would seem that SONY should be flatteredabout the latest news that is currently going on in China.Apparently, an enterprising OEM over there have decided thatSONY's W-Series portable audio player had a design that wasso unique, it just could not resist the urge to produce a near-perfect knockoff of the original.

It has been quite some time since we posted any news aboutthe seemingly lucrative cloning business that China is knownfor, but rest assured that the scene there is anything abutquiet. In fact, it seems that enterprising OEMs over at Chinahave decided move beyond their typical lineup of mobilephones, notebook PCs and tablets by roping in other consumerelectronic devices to their list of potential candidates forcloning, and the most recent device to get the "friendly"treatment from China appears to be none other than Sony'svery own W250 Walkman portable audio player:

According to an article published by MicDigi, the knockoffaudio player boasts specifications that are similar to itslegitimate counterpart, such as having heart-shaped earbudscrafted out of soft rubber and 2GB of storage space. Thatbeing said, the site neglected to mention whether the knockofffeatures the same high-quality, water-resistant body that ispresent on the actual Sony W-250 Walkman portable audioplayer, although we suspect that it does not. In addition, themaximum battery uptime on both devices appear to be vastlydifferent; while Sony claims that its W-250 is capable of upto 11 hours of audio playback on a single charge, MicDigi'sreport suggests that the knockoff is only capable of achievinga maximum uptime of approximately two to three hours.

However, as it has always been the case with such knockoffdevices, there is one aspect of the this cloned portable audioplayer which everybody will have to concede is far superiorto the original W-250, and that is the size of its price tag.While Sony is charging no less than US$60 for the right toown one of its sports-hardened W-250 portable audio players,this particular clone from China can be purchased at the priceof...wait for it...US$4.60. And no, we are not making this up.



July 4th, 2011

In today's news roundup: AMD may have been strugglingto come up with a product that could hold its own againstthe might of Intel's Sandy Bridge since this year started,but some analysts are claiming that the company's Llanoplatform could be exactly what it needs to regain some marketshare; Engineers at IBM Research have reportedly discovereda way to store data in phase change memory technologyfor longer periods, a discovery which could potentially pave


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the way for lower cost solid state chips that are faster andmore reliable than today's multi-level cell flash memory chips;Facebook has announced two new features for its CommentsBox plugin, which lets third party websites embed Facebookcomments: Chronological Sort, and Boost Comment; Applehas reportedly set up an FAQ to help veteran Final CutPro users make the transistion to Final Cut Pro X, and haseven started issuing refunds to dissatisfied customers; ShandaGames International and Eyedentity Games have announcedthe availability of the popular DragonNest MMORPG for theSouth East Asia region, while confirming that the free-to-play game's localization will be carried out in Singapore, andBungie has finally lifted the lid on Bungie Aerospace, whichis a project that is designed to support small independentdevelopers by helping them to launch mobile and social games.

Hardware news

Patriot Wildfire 120GB Solid State Drive RAID ReportDescription: Currently sitting at the top of the storagesubsystem throne is the SandForce SF-2281 controller whenpaired with Toshiba Toggle flash. Patriot, the innovative,awesome, totally groovy company that they are, decided tosend us two of their Wildfire solid state drives using thismagical combination that allow us to achieve blissful RAID0 speeds on an inexpensive native SATA III motherboard. Sohow blissful you ask? How does over 1000MB/s sound?

Larkooler KU3-241 WaterCooling Kit Review @XtremeComputingDescription: Today I will be reviewing the Larkooler KU3-241‘Extreme Performance G1/4" Liquid Cooling Kit’. I have neverheard of GBU or Larkooler before, so we are in uncharteredwaters with this new water cooling kit. I have dabbledwith water-cooling before, primarily working with Swiftechcomponents, so I know what to expect from the big names –let’s see how this new contender fares.

What Makes the Thunderbolt Cable Lightning FastDescription: It’s the chips. And we’re not talking about theLay’s variety. We received good word from one of our friends,Ars Technica’s own Chris Foresman, that the $50 Thunderboltcable may be an active cable. He postulated that the cable mayactually have chips containing firmware in it, making it moreexpensive to produce than your garden-variety HDMI cable —thus justifying the hefty price tag.

Icy Dock MB982SPR-2S Review @ VortezDescription: Today we'll be looking at their dual 2.5" to 3.5"SATA drive convertor the snappily titled MB982SPR-2S. Atiny enclosure that not only accommodates dual 2.5" SDD/HDD but also packs an integrated hardware raid controllerthat allows striping, mirroring and combined storage. Furtherto that the enclosure offers full compatibility with both PC andMAC systems making it a very flexible prospect indeed.

Kingston Triple-Channel KHX2000C9AD3W1K3/6GXReview @ ocaholicDescription: The Kingston H2O series belong to the mostpowerful modules which the memory giant actually has in itsportfolio. As soon as you take a closer look at the specificationsyou'll see that they are very serious. According to Kingstonthese DIMMs need only 1.5 Volt to operate at 2133 MHz with9-11-9-27 timings.

ASUS F1A75-M Pro AMD APU Motherboard Review @ LegitReviewsDescription: Where the ASUS F1A75-M Pro truly excelledtoday was the performance of the integrated graphics. Everyone of our graphics tests that we compared the Intel HDGraphics 3000 to the AMD A8-3850 with AMD Radeon HD6550D there was a clear and decisive winner. For our recap ofthe graphics performance let's start with Total War: Shogun 2in DirectX 9 mode. The ASUS F1A75-M Pro was able to pullout an average that was 143.4% faster than the Intel system ata resolution of 1280x1024...

AMD Expected to Regain Market ShareDescription: Analysts today said that AMD got slaughtered byIntel in the first quarter of the year, but Forbes believes thatLlano will help the company to regain market share.

IBM Announces Phase Change Memory BreakthroughDescription: Engineers at IBM Research in Zurich,Switzerland claim they've come up with a breakthrough inphase change memory (PCM) technology that, for the firsttime, would allow it to store data for longer periods, potentiallypaving the way for lower cost solid state chips that are fasterand more reliable than today's multi-level cell (MLC) flashmemory chips. The trick is in figuring out a solution to aproblem called "drift."


8-inch PMP with glasses-free 3D priced at US$179Description: Despite the facts that there isn't muchappropriate 3D content, and the viewing angles required forthe 3D effect are limited (as was described in our Nintendo3DS review) the list of glasses-free 3D gadgets increases. TheHTC EVO 3D smartphone was the latest addition, but certainlywon't be the last. Perhaps not many readers have heard ofthe Chinese manufacturer Gadmei, although there is at leastone reason to become acquainted with it. The company hasreleased its P83 portable media player (PMP), which is capableof displaying 3D videos and images that are viewable withoutglasses, and is certainly one of the most inexpensive devices ofits kind offered so far.

Facebook Expands Sorting Options on Comments Box PluginDescription: Facebook has announced two new features forits Comments Box plugin, which lets third party websitesembed Facebook comments: Chronological Sort, and BoostComment.

BenQ's DV-S11 projector camcorder is now shipping for $229Description: BenQ's DV-S11 is now shipping in the US for$229. The DV S11 is a full-HD (1080P) camcorder with a pico-projector. It's got a 5mp camera and a large (3.5" 230K pixels)LCD. It stores images to an SD card, and includes an HDMIout port. We don't have any technical information about theprojector itself, though.

Apple Issues FAQ, Refunds for Final Cut Pro X UsersDescription: There has been a ton of complaints regardingFinal Cut Pro X. Long time users of the editing software werenot happy with the update to the software. Apple had dubbedthe changes 'jaw dropping' and, while jaws were dropping, itwasn't because users were happy with the changes. Costing$299 via the Mac App Store, the update includes some majorchanges and is basically a complete rewrite. However, Apple


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also ditched some features available with previous versions,raising questions about whether or not it was possible to openand edit projects produced with older versions of the software.

Samsung announces 32GB microSD card capable of 12MBpswrite speedsDescription: Go shopping online for a microSDHC card andyou'll find that while manufacturers don't hide the speedspecs, they're not exactly crowing about 'em either. Make nomistake, though: Samsung is mighty proud of its new 32GBnumber, which boasts a class 10 speed rating and read / writerates of 24MBps and 12MBps -- ideal numbers for those ofyou who plan on making good use of your phone's 1080pcamera. If you're a storage buff, you know that class 10 is thehighest speed category for SD cards at the moment, and thatit sits above classes 4 and 6 -- the tiers covering many othermicroSDHCs on the market. No word just yet on pricing, butwe think it's safe to say you'll be dishing out a premium.

SearchLion makes use of the empty space on the side of yourdisplayDescription: If you’ve got a large monitor and wish you couldmake use of it more efficiently when you’re browsing searchresults you now can; thanks to the folks at SearchLion. Thecompany has officially launched SearchLion: a search enginethat’s touted as the world’s first search browser. Confused yet?Don’t be.

Gaming news

Dragon Nest SEA announced, localizing in SingaporeDescription: Shanda Games International (SDGi), togetherwith Eyedentity Games unveiled one of the top massive onlineaction role playing games in Singapore. Titled Dragon NestSEA, the companies held an official signing ceremony atHard Rock Hotel, Resort World Sentosa with Thomas Lim,director of interactive media, games and publishing, MediaDevelopment Authority (MDA) as the witness.

Limbo coming to Steam and PSN, Playdead handling the portsDescription: Yesterday we reported that Limbo may be PSN-bound, if a Korean Game Ratings Board listing sought by SonyComputer Entertainment Korea is any indication. We reachedout to developer Playdead for comment and CEO and co-founder Dino Patti got back to us today confirming the news.

Bungie's Aerospace RevealedDescription: Bungie has finally lifted the lid on BungieAerospace, a project it has been keeping under wraps for sometime. No new game here; Aerospace is a service designed tosupport small independent developers. The idea is to help theteams launch mobile and social games.

Intel Discontinues X25-ESSDs, Prepares For 710 SeriesSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/intel-discontinues-x25-e-ssds-

prepares-for-710-series/12814.html

July 4th, 2011

Intel has informed their customers that their good old X25-E SSDs will be discontinued from 11th of July 2011 citingreasons such as short supply of 50nm SLC NAND flash andeven greater demand for them. Of course, the main reason isthat the X25-E has to make way for the arrival of Intel 710series (Lyndonville, 25nm MLC HEDT) in mid August. Manyonline retailers have already ran out of stock and most likelynot re-stocking again but you still can find some here and here

Intel has informed their customers that their good old X25-E SSDs will be discontinued from 11th of July 2011 citingreasons such as short supply of 50nm SLC NAND flash andeven greater demand for them. Of course, the main reason isthat the X25-E has to make way for the arrival of Intel 710series (Lyndonville, 25nm MLC HEDT) in mid August. Manyonline retailers have already ran out of stock and most likelynot re-stocking again but you still can find some here and here

4.7-inch HTC Eternity leaks,runs Windows Phone 7 MangoSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/4.7-inch-htc-eternity-leaks-runs-

windows-phone-7-mango/12818.html

July 4th, 2011

If you're looking for a Windows Phone 7 handset that's almostthe size of a tablet then HTC has you covered. Look no furtherthan the freshly leaked HTC Eternity, sporting a 4.7-inchscreen and a 1.5GHz CPU. Well, actually, you might just wantto hold off, as even though it seems great at first, you want todig a little bit deeper into the specifications before you makea purchasing decision.


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If you're looking for a Windows Phone 7 handset that's almostthe size of a tablet then HTC has you covered. Look no furtherthan the freshly leaked HTC Eternity, sporting a 4.7-inchscreen and a 1.5GHz CPU. Well, actually, you might just wantto hold off, as even though it seems great at first, you want todig a little bit deeper into the specifications before you makea purchasing decision.

If the leaked details prove to be the final spec, then the Eternityisn't exactly going to last an eternity, as it has a last-gen singlecore Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon SoC at its core, albeitat the fastest speed we've seen this chip running at withoutbeing overclocked. Furthermore the 4.7-inch SLCD screen isonly sporting WVGA or 800x480 resolution, which is hardlythat impressive today with plenty of qHD (960x540) devicesin the market.

On a more positive note, HTC has finally figured out thatits customers want plenty of built in storage space and theEternity packs 16GB of eMMC memory. The 512MB of RAMshould be sufficient as well, although it's not quite as good assome of HTC's other devices. It also has an 8Megapixel camerawith auto focusing and a pair of LED lights that is capable ofshooting 720p video. There's also a front facing camera forvideo calls.

Other features include 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, DLNA support,Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, aGPS, a digital compass, an FM radio,dual microphones and SRS surround sound. At nearly131x71x10mm this is a chunky phone and even more so whenyou take into consideration that it weighs in at 170g. This is aWDCMDA/HSPA handset and it supports HSDPA speeds ofup to 14.4Mbit/s and HSUPA speeds of up to 5.76Mbit/s.

Part of the reason for the aging hardware is actually the OS,as Windows Phone 7 only runs on fairly limited hardwareat the moment and until Microsoft decides to offer supportfor something better, we're going to be stuck with fairly oldSnapdragon processors from Qualcomm. The same goes forthe screen resolution, as for now the OS doesn't support qHDdisplays. That said, HTC has done its best to offer a highlyspecced handset based on the software limitations. There wasno mention at the source of when the HTC Eternity wouldlaunch or how much it'll cost.

Source: HTCInside

Apple's Thunderbolt cable tornasunder, didn't contain magicSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/apple-s-thunderbolt-cable-torn-

asunder-didn-t-contain-magic/12817.html

July 4th, 2011

What can we say, we adore iFixit and its teardowns of allthings, well, electronic. However, we were a little bit surprisedthat they decided to tear open a cable, as we wouldn't havethought there was much to a cable. How wrong we were, as itseems like Apple's Thunderbolt cables are quite special afterall, although there was no trace of magic or unicorns.

What can we say, we adore iFixit and its teardowns of allthings, well, electronic. However, we were a little bit surprisedthat they decided to tear open a cable, as we wouldn't havethought there was much to a cable. How wrong we were, as itseems like Apple's Thunderbolt cables are quite special afterall, although there was no trace of magic or unicorns.

At US$49.99 a pop, Thunderbolt cables aren't cheap and you'dbe forgiven for thinking it's just a mini DisplayPort cable, asthat's what we thought at first. It turns out that things are alittle bit more complicated than that, as 10Gbit/s bi-directionaldata transfers over a handful of copper wires isn't done aseasily as you'd think. In fact, Apple's Thunderbolt cables areactive cables stuffed full of little chips.

As such the Thunderbolt cables contain among other thingsa pair of Gennum GN2033 active-cable transceivers, one ineach end. These transceivers have been designed to copehand the high data speeds over what the company call “thin-gauge” cables, although the actual wires insdie the cables areextremely thin. The transceivers are there to maintain low-latency and prevent transmission errors.

One potential downside here – beyond cost – is that thecable length is hampered and Gennum mentions 2-5 metersas the limitation. That said, as you can (hopefully) daisy-chainThunderbolt devices, this shouldn't be an issue for most usersof the interface. Now we just have to wait and see what thevarious Thunderbolt devices will cost and of course see if


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anyone comes up with a clever adaptor to interface them withSony's new VAIO Z.


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Sapphire's Pure Platinum Z68almost hereSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/sapphire-s-pure-platinum-z68-almost-

here/12926.html

July 11th, 2011

We didn't get a chance to see Sapphire's Z68 board atComputex, but the board has appeared on the companywebsite as well as being listed by a few online retailers. Themotherboard is called the Pure Platinum Z68 and as alwayswith Sapphire boards it brings an interesting mix of featuresto the table.

We didn't get a chance to see Sapphire's Z68 board atComputex, but the board has appeared on the companywebsite as well as being listed by a few online retailers. Themotherboard is called the Pure Platinum Z68 and as alwayswith Sapphire boards it brings an interesting mix of featuresto the table.

Sapphire has managed to position the Pure Platinum Z68at a price point similar to Gigabyte's Z68X-UD3H and Asus'P8Z68-V, two boards that are offering fairly similar features,although Sapphire has managed to create something of afusion of the two competitor's boards. That said, Sapphire stillneed to do some work on its board layouts if the company wantto be really competitive.

The slot layout leaves something to be desired for one, asSapphire has gone for three x16 PCI Express slots in a dualx8 and a single x4 config. This in itself isn't a bad thing, butconsidering that the remaining three slots on the board areall PCI slots, it's not ideal. That said, Sapphire has at leastdesigned a board that won't disable any peripheral interfacesbecause there are too many PCI Express bus devices on theboard, something that is common on many other boards.

We like the fact that Sapphire is sticking with Marvell Ethernetcontrollers, although do note that drivers for no Windowsoperating systems might be a bit tricky. The board also has apair of additional SATA 6Gbps SATA ports, also courtesy ofMarvell, on top of the two provided by the chipset alongsidethe four SATA 3Gbps ports. Sadly the board is missing a frontUSB 3.0 pin-header, although it has a total of four for up toeight USB 2.0 ports. Other little additions include a Molexconnector for extra power to the PCI Express slots, a powerand reset button, a BIOS selection switch and a POST80 debugLED display.


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The PWM design is rather unusual, as Sapphire hasreplaced a fair few of the capacitors on the board with aproadlizer, something usually only found on really high-end motherboards and graphics cards. Sapphire has gonefor an 8+2 PWM design and the company continues to useits unusual chokes with small heatsinks on top. The PWMis cooled by one larger and one smaller heatsink, althoughSapphire seems to have decided against using a heatpipe toconnect the two together.

Around the back there's a PS/2 port, four USB 2.0 ports, twoUSB 3.0 ports (via an ASMedia host controller), a GigabitEthernet port, 7.1-channel audio with optical S/PDIF out, aBluetooth 2.1 dongle and a DisplayPort, HDMI, D-Sub andDVI connector. Missing is an eSATA port, although for mostusers an internal port should prove to be more useful.

We found the board listed for pre-order in Europe for about€139 (S$239) which is sadly about €10 (S$17) or so more thanthe similar models from Asus and Gigabyte. In as much as wewant to like Sapphire's new boards, there are always a coupleof things that puts us off them, especially compared to what'son offer from the more established board makers. The higherpricing also makes it difficult, but at the end of the day, we'regoing to have to see how the board performs before we drawany final conclusions.

Gingerbread update for HTCDesire to arrive by end JulySource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/gingerbread-update-for-htc-desire-to-

arrive-by-end-july/12920.html

July 11th, 2011

We have always said that good things come to those whowait, and it seems that this saying applies to owners of HTC'sDesire smartphone who are anxiously awaiting news of theeventual Gingerbread release for their handsets will probablyhave much to look forward to this month, for HTC has finallyconfirmed that the upgrade is a go, and that it could be readyfor download by as early as end July.

Do you remember the short story we ran some time back abouthow HTC was taken to task by consumers for reportedly failingto deliver an appropriate rtelease schedule for its Gingerbreadupgrade for the Desire smartphone? Well, it would seem thatthe Taiwanese smartphone OEM has taken its customers'concern seriously, for in just 11 days after we published thatstory, HTC has released yet another announcement claimingthat the Gingerbread upgrade for the Desire is well on track,and that users can expect to receive the update soon.

According to a posting that was made on its Facebook page, theinternal tests which HTC carries out for firmware updates hasreportedly gone so well that the company apparently thinks itsuitable to push the OS upgrade downstream to consumers bythe end of this month. And lest you think we are making thisup, we have reproduced the actual announcement posted onFacebook here for you to view in the form of a screenshot:


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That being said, Desire owners, if you have been toyingwith the idea over selling your smartphone due to fears thatGingerbread will not arrive in time to pull your device backfrom the obsolescence curve, well, you can ditch that idea nowthat HTC has given its assurance to start rolling out the updateby the end of this month.

Google tests out CosmicPanda for YouTubeSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/google-tests-out-cosmic-panda-for-

youtube/12918.html

July 11th, 2011

Do the words "Cosmic Panda" mean anything to you? Well,that is apparently the name for a new user theme Google hasintroduced for its YouTube online video streaming service,which reportedly claims to be capable of providing users with"a new experience for watching videos and playlists" amongmany other advantages which the old YouTube layout is notable to achieve. So what is so special about this new interface,and how does it look like? Hit up the link to find out more afterthe break...

With the sequel to Kung Fu Panda having been aired incinemas all over the world just recently, you might be temptedto think that Cosmic Panda has got to be the code namefor a yet-unannounced sequel to the Kung Fu Panda seriesof animated movies. Unfortunately, as much as we'd hateto disappoint you, Cosmic Panda is not a third release toPixar's bestselling animated flim; rather, it is the name ofa new YouTube interface which is reportedly capable ofproviding users with "a new experience for watching videosand playlists".

Choosing to activate Cosmic Panda results in YouTubeditching the typical white background for one of a dark greyhue. However, this only applies to certain pages; for the mostpart, the main homepage still retains much of the familiarlayout most users have come to know and love.

The most significant change users can expect to see under theCosmic Panda layout will be that of the video playback page,which has been given a completely new look, as shown in thescreenshot below:


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Interested? Well, you can always give Cosmic Panda a spinover at this link if you are game enough to play around witha new user interface. Of course, with Cosmic Panda currentlybeing nothing more than an experiment of sorts, chancesare that you may run into certain show-stopping bugs orregressions, so do make sure you report those to Google via theFeedback tab that is prominently displayed in YouTube shouldyou decide to play round with Cosmic Panda.

Alice: Madness Returns PCGame ReviewSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/alice-madness-returns-pc-game-

review/12916.html

July 11th, 2011

Alice: Madness Returns is the sequel to the popular 2000Windows and Mac game, American McGee's Alice. And thistime, Alice is still haunted by her past memories and shetumbles into the rabbit hole and returns to Wonderland thatneeds to be saved. So is this game as good, or even better thanits predecessor? Read on.

Back in 2000, American McGee's Alice was a cult classicgame that re-invented a children's story. It sets Alice in anot-so-wonderful Wonderland, and gave players a twistedand warped perspective of an innocent child's tale. To carrythe gritty plot forward, Alice was driven mentally insane byhaunting memories of a fire that consumed her childhoodhome and family. This year, they return to continue her

psychotic issues with Alice: Madness Returns. After 11 longyears, Alice is still tormented by the same memories andplunges back into a Wonderland that needs to be saved onceagain. Whether or not that has anything to do with her mentalstate of mind, we'll leave that to you to experience yourself -Yes, we are holding back the spoilers. This second renditionsuccessfully welds twisted imaginations, radical ideas andfluid combat together with a solid platform-styled experience.Sad to say, it isn't without some shortcomings.

The game stays rooted as a platformer so you'll be jumping offledges, landing carefully moving platforms and bouncing offmushrooms. To help you traverse through trickier levels, Aliceis able to do double-jumps, air glides, and mid-air dashes. Tokeep things fresh, environmental gimmicks like steam ventskeep Alice afloat to reach up to specific areas. There are alsohidden pig snouts that you'll have to shoot for secret areas ifyou wish to fully complete the game. Whenever you feel lost,Alice's shrunken form (which is toggled by hitting the left-ctrl button) helps her see hints and clues otherwise hidden inher normal form. These clues are purple in colour and I amgoing to assume that they were markings denoted by the eerieCheshire Cat. Speaking of that cat, he appears occasionally tosuggest subtle hints to help in your adventures in Wonderland.

Alice's acrobatic finesse doesn't just help her traverseWonderland. You will have to apply these skills in combat aswell. The ability to dash and jump helps her dodge enemyattacks and pull herself out of danger when she is beingsurrounded. The game seems to pace the amount of enemiesthrown at you by beginning with a small handful of foes,and eventually throwing everything in the sink at you asyou progress. You will be up against some of the weirdestconcoctions of enemies that include spider-like teapots, slugs,three-headed goop things, humanoid ants and more.

Tools to dispatch your assailants come in a variety of weapons.Some examples are the Vorpal Blade (which is in reality ahuge kitchen knife), a Pepper Grinder, and a "Rabbit Bomb".Each weapon is effective for specific monsters and you willfind yourself switching them up on the fly. Thankfully, combatis fluid and once you have mastered the timing of dodgingattacks, you will find yourself feeling like an expert combatant.This is, of course, much more sensational if you managedto strike down every enemy without taking any hits. Sadly,we also found the Focus mode to function like a double-edged sword during combat. While it allows you to targetenemies, the camera would change angle and sometimes


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prevents you from seeing what's going on behind you. Enemiesin Wonderland LOVE to sneak up from behind.

Mozilla moves Firefox 6 toBeta channel, version 7 and 8now in the worksSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/mozilla-moves-firefox-6-to-beta-

channel-version-7-and-8-now-in-the-works/12917.html

July 11th, 2011

Are you a fan of Google's quick-release schedule for its Chromeweb browser? Well, if you are, the latest piece of newsconcerning Mozilla and its FireFox web browser will probablyappeal to you as well. Apparently, in less than a month afterFirefox 5 has been launched, the browser vendor has alreadymade the move to "promote" version six of its web browser tothe Beta channel. And based on what we are seeing from therelease schedules, it does not seem to be long before Firefox 7and Firefox 8 will be finally upon us. Read on to find out more.

Are you game to test out a web browser that has just recentlybeen moved up from "Alpha" to "Beta" status? Well, if youranswer to that question is a resounding "Yes", Mozilla willprobably be glad to have a tester like you, for the browservendor has in a recent announced revealed that the nextversion of its Firefox web browser, Firefox 6, is now availablefor public download via the Beta channel, where it will stay forthe next 36 days until it gets bumped up to the Release channelon August 16.

According to the release notes that have been published forthe Beta version of Firefox 6, the new browser is expectedto provide users with more control over their privacy, andit comes in the form of what Mozilla dubs the new DataManagement Window. Apparently, a report posted by TheH claims that keying the string "about:permissions" into theaddress bar of Firefox 6 will bring up a list of options tofine tune the kind of data Firefox will allow online content toaccess, as shown in our example below:

The H also claims that other user-centric enhancements thatmanaged to make their way into the Beta release of Firefox 6include a new Plugin Check tool which "automatically verifiesthe compatibility of installed plugins" such as Adobe's FlashPlayer, a trimmed-down startup time and support for version 7of the WebSocket protocol. More importantly, the Beta releaseof Firefox 6 is reportedly enhanced with better support forHTML5, DOM level 3 and newer networking technologies,among many other developer-centric improvements that arewell documented in Firefox 6's developer pages.

That being said, the fact that Mozilla has moved Firefox 6up from the Alpha channel to its Beta channel means thatsomething else needs to occupy the vaccant spot left behindby it in the Alpha channel. And this honour falls to what willeventually be known as Firefox 7, which has already beenmoved to the Aurora channel and is expected to take its placein the Beta channel come August 16, where Firefox 6 will bepushed out for its official release.

Last but definitely not least, those who prefer to live onthe bleeding edge of technology can also check out Mozilla's


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Nightly channel, which is where channel Firefox 8 currentlyresides in.

Of course, since we are talking about pre-release software, thesame warnings about Mozilla's browsers potentially borkingup your system badly is a possibility, so make sure you gotyour backups done and more importantly, resist the urge toload these browsers on production machines unless you wantto give your office's IT department a royal nightmare.

Purported AMD BulldozerBenchmarks LeakedSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/purported-amd-bulldozer-benchmarks-

leaked/12914.html

July 11th, 2011

DonanimHaber have run an AMD FX engineering samplethrough a battery of tests. The engineering sample is said tobe a B1 stepping chip clocked at 3.2 GHz. The Turbo Core 2.0can up the clock speed up to 3.6 GHz with all cores active, or awhopping 4.2 GHz with only 50% (i.e. 4 cores) active. Needlessto say, these are likely not the final shipping clock speeds.

The sample features 2MB L2 cache per module, for a totalof 8MB and 8MB L3 cache shared between all modules (andcores). The motherboard used was a Gigabye 990FXA-UD5, ahigh end 990 FX motherboard. The GPU paired is a GeForceGTX 580. We have compiled a table of the benchmarks asreported by DonanimHaber.

Benchmark Score3DMark11 P6265Fritz Chess 29.58, 14197 kn/secPCMark 7 3045

Cinebench R10 24434X264 45.39 fps (P2), 136.29 (P1)

In addition, it took 19.5 seconds to complete SuperPi 1M,which is much slower than Intel competition. However, inreal world benchmarks, the story is rather different. In X264Pass 1 the Bulldozer sample (henceforth mentioned as simply"BD") results a whopping 136.29 fps. To put this in perspective,Intel's fastest CPUs can only manage ~100 fps. However, it is

always Pass 2 that is the real test. BD completes with 45.39fps. The typical speed for a Core i7 2600K is ~36 fps, whileIntel's 12-thread goliaths complete in the ~47 fps range. BD isclearly far superior to the 8-thread Sandy Bridge, while nearlycatching up to the Gulftown champions.

Even more impressive is the 3D Mark 11. While this scoredepends from platform to platform, when coupled with a GTX580, the previous 3D Mark 11 champ Core i7 2600K strugglesto achieve the P6000 mark, typically. BD easily sails by withP6265. In Fritz Chess, BD overpowers Core i7 2600K yetagain, with a score of 14197 kn/sec. However, it falls short ofGulftown CPUs, which are typically in the 17000-18000 range.Finaly, in Cinebench R10, BD returns a score of 24434. Withthis score, it slots right in between Core i7 2600K and Core i7990X.

The results are consistent, for the most part. In multi-threadedapplications, BD significantly outperforms Core i7 2600K, andalmost catches up with 6-core Gulftown. In less muti-threadedapplications, like 3D Mark 11 or X264 Pass 1, thanks to anincredible 1 GHz Turbo Core, BD overtakes Gulftown CPUs. Inall situations, BD ended up well ahead of Core i7 2600K. Inevery situation, BD was massively faster than Phenom II X61100T - more than 50% in many cases.

Of course, these benchmarks and comparisons should be takenwith a grain of salt - especially it being an engineering sample.If previous rumours of stock clocks up to 3.8 GHz and a pricetag of only $320 are true, AMD could have a real winner ontheir hands. Even with the engineering sample's clock of 3.2GHz, a $320 is a bargain for a CPU of this power, wiping floorswith the mighty and similarly priced Core i7 2600K. Havingbeen delayed, FX-Series CPUs are now expected to release fordesktops in the late August / early September timeline, withmore information expected in the coming weeks.

HTC to start unlocking devicesvia firmware updates thisAugustSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/htc-to-start-unlocking-devices-via-

firmware-updates-this-august/12915.html

July 11th, 2011

Remember how HTC made headlines not too long ago whenthe Taiwanese smartphone OEM claimed that it will eventuallysell its smartphones without locking down the bootloader?Turns out that users need not have to worry about olderdevices not getting some unlockable love fron HTC, for thecompany has announced that it will be issuing a firmwareupdate to unlock the bootloader on some of its devices comethis August. Read on to find out more.

OEMs may lock down the bootloaders on their smartphonesover perfectly valid security concerns, but it does not changethe fact that such actions seldom, if ever sit well with tinkers


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and the hacker community, and for good reason. After all,it inteferes with the ability to install custom ROMs that canpotentially provide a much greater experience than what thestock OEM ROM is capable of delivering.

However, owners of HTC-branded smartphones can probablybreathe a sigh of relief about not having to deal with thisissue of locked bootloaders much longer, as the Tawanesesmartphone OEM has recently announced on its Facebookpage that it is on track to deliver a firmware update comeAugust that will unlock the bootloader on certain HTCsmartphones.

According to the information posted by HTC, the HTCSensation will be the first device to have its bootloaderunlocked via the firmware update that is slated to bereleased sometime in August this year, while the carrier-lockedversions of the same device for T-Mobile and the HTC EVO 3Dare expected to follow along shortly. In addition, the companyhas confirmed its plans to roll out the software update to otherdevice, although it chose to remain silent about which modelswould be eligible for the firmware update.

We’re thrilled to announce today that softwareupdates to support bootloader unlocking will beginrolling out in August for the global HTC Sensation,followed by the HTC Sensation 4G on T-Mobile USAand the HTC EVO 3D on Sprint. We’re in the testingphase for the unlocking capability now, and we expectit to be fully operational by early September fordevices that have received the software updates. We'llcontinue rolling out the unlocking capability over timeto other devices as part of maintenance releases andnew shipments.

Still, it does not change the fact that this piece of newswill undoubtedly be well-received by many owners of HTChandsets who have been clamoring for unlocked bootloadersbut have yet to so via third-party means over fears of potentialbricking and voiding of warranty. Now all that HTC needs to dois to release a list of handset models will eventually be blessedwith the bootloader unlocking firmware and all be nice andwell.

MSI Master OverclockingArena 2011 Asia Pacific Final -Wrapping UpSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/msi-master-overclocking-arena-2011-

asia-pacific-final--wrapping-up/12905.html

July 11th, 2011

All good things must come to an end. We thus bring you thelast part of our special report on the MSI Master OverclockingArena 2011 Asia Pacific Final.

The beginning of the second day at the MSI MasterOverclocking Arena 2011 Asia Pacific Final started with a paneldiscussion involving principally MSI's marketing, as well asResearch & Development (R&D) teams. Moderated by TimMarshall, overclockers were able to talk directly with MSIstaff on possible improvements that could be made to MSI'sgrowing range of enthusiast-oriented products.


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"T_M" looks unaware of all those "Lucky_n00b" assaultscoming up.

"Lucky_n00b" looking ready to take over the world (or thediscussion at least).


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"Just one more question, Tim."

"DFORDOG" converses with "TOPPC" on improving powerdelivery.

"Deanzo" decided to give "T_M" a long lecture on how to useMSI Afterburner's profile settings:

OCAU journalist "dirtyd" realises that his patience hasreached its half-life.

Planex introduces collectableWiFi dongles based off popularJapanese pop culture iconsSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/planex-introduces-collectable-wifi-

dongles-based-off-popular-japanese-pop-culture-icons/12912.html

July 11th, 2011

WiFi dongles are supposed to be used as tools for gettingonline via a wireless connection and not for putting them upas exhibits, right? Well, tell that to Planex; the company hasjust introduced a new line of collectable WiFi dongles basedoff popular Japanese anime characters, some of which arecute enough to probably make anybody reconsider actuallyconnecting them to a PC at all. Read on to find out more...

Speak of USB WiFi dongles to most people and chances arethey will tell you all about how generic and uninspiring suchdevices tend to look, and for good reason. After all, USB WiFidongles are designed to be nothing more than tools that allowusers to connect to the Internet via a wireless connection andare not meant to draw attention to themselves. However, leaveit to Japanese company PLANEX Communications to breakthe mould with the introduction of its new GW-USPetit line ofUSB WiFi dongles, which are sure to change the way you lookthat these tools forever.


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While they may sport different designs, the hardware behindthe collectible WiFi dongles are identical; hidden beneaththe surface is a wireless chipset which supports the 802.11n specifications and is capable of data transfer speeds of upto 150mbps. In addition, PLANEX has confirmed that thedevice is compatible with both Windows and Mac OS X, soyou should not have to worry about any form of hardware ordriver incompatibilities when using the WiFi dongles on youroperating system of choice.

Last but definitely not least, PLANEX has revealed that thedongles are based off four very popular Japanese pop cultureicons, namely One Piece, Rilakkuma, Hello Kitty and moreinterestingly, Evangelion (in the form of Rei Ayanami andAsuka Langley Soryu), and that they will all cost 3,150 yen(appox US$39) apiece, regardless of design.

Samsung Nexus S goes tospace, on NASA's final spaceshuttleSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/samsung-nexus-s-goes-to-space-on-

nasa-s-final-space-shuttle/12913.html

July 11th, 2011

The second official Google Phone, also known as the Nexus Smanufactured by Samsung, has gone into space and accordingto the Korean manufacturer, the smartphone is onboard ofNASA's final space shuttle as part of research for use byastronauts.

Samsung and Google have jointly announced that the NexusS is aboard NASA’s final space shuttle. The Nexus S fromGoogle is part of research that will equip small, free-flying satellites called Synchronized Position Hold, Engage,Reorient, Experimental Satellites (SPHERES) used by theastronauts to provide a broader range of capabilities andgive better communication between land and sky. Nexus Sclaims to be the first commercial smartphone certified byNASA to fly on the space shuttle and to be cleared for use onthe International Space Station. The experiment will use thesmartphone-enhanced SPHERES as remotely operated robotsto conduct interior survey and inspections of the station, tocapture mobile camera images and video, and to study howrobots can support future human exploration.

Source: Korea Newswire

Motorola XT531 Domino+ touchscreen Androidsmartphone to launch inAugustSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/motorola-xt531-domino-touchscreen-

android-smartphone-to-launch-in-august/12911.html

July 11th, 2011

A new Motorola XT531 (also known as Domino+) is scheduledto launch in August. The Android touchscreen smartphoneis reportedly to have a 3.5-inch display that supports HVGAresolution. Read on for details.


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has done well this year with their new Atrix smartphoneand Xoom tablet devices and recently, the company hasquietly announced a new smartphone, known as Domino+(model: XT531). The Motorola Domino+ XT531 comes in blackor white flavors with glossy piano finish and sports a 3.5-inch HVGA display, 5-megapixel camera with LED flash andpowered by 800MHz Qualcomm MSM7227 processor. It willalso run Android 2.3 Gingerbread and according to sources,the Domino+ XT531 will retail at 2198 yuan (or approximatelyUS$340).

Samsung releases upgradedmono laser printers, slaps onnew colours on them in theprocessSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/samsung-releases-upgraded-mono-

laser-printers-slaps-on-new-colours-on-them-in-the-process/12910.html

July 11th, 2011

Think that desktop PCs, notebooks, tablets and smartphonesare the only devices which OEMs are willing to bless withhardware upgrades in order to ensure that they are capable ofmeeting consumers' ever-changing demands? Apparently, asfar as Samsung is concerned, printers are also fair game forsuch upgrades, and leave it to the Korean electronics giant todo exactly that for its mono laser printers in the form of fournew souped-up models.

Upgrading the hardware of devices such as desktop PCs,notebooks, tablets and smartphones are acts which OEMscommonly engage in, as it allows them to deliver a faster andmore up-to-date version of an existing product which is moresuited to meeting the every-growing list of demands madeby consumers. And as far as Samsung is concerned, it wouldseem that printers are also fair game for such upgrades, forthe Korean electronics giant has just announced the launch of

four upgraded mono laser printers which it claims are "idealfor personal, home office and small office users".

According to the official press release, three of the four modelswill be based of Samsung's existing ML-1660 monochromelaser printer, and will bear the model names ML-1673,ML-1674 and ML-1678. Feature and performance-wise, theyare essentially identical to the older ML-1660 monochromelaser printer in that the ML-1673, ML-1674 and ML-1678 willall share the same body and maximum printing speedof 16PPM, although Samsung claims that the newer modelswill give consumers the options to choose between threedifferent colours to suit their working environment; blue(ML-1673), ivory (ML-1674) and pink (ML-1678). In addition,Samsung clams that the ML-1673, ML-1674 and ML-1678 willfeature print resolutions of up to 1200 x 1200 and a faster300MHz processor (versus the ML-1660's 1200 x 600dpiresolution and 150MHz processor)

On the other hand, the fourth model is an upgraded versionof the ML-2525 and will be marketed as the ML-2540K. Whilelittle about the ML-2540K's hardware specifications has beenannounced, Samsung has confirmed that the ML-2540K willfeature a faster print speed at 24PPM and consume up to 23%lesser energy than its predecessor. In addition, Samsung isclaiming that the new printer models are capable of enhancethe daily user experience thanks to the integration of its one-touch print screen function onto the printer, which allows foreasy printing on the contents that are currently displayed ona user's monitor.

No mention about global availability for the upgraded printershas been revealed by Samsung yet, although the company hasclaimed that the ML-167x series of printers will be selling inKorea at the price of 104,000 won (approx US$98), while theML-2540K will cost users 159,000 won (approx US$150)

M1 customers stand to wintickets to Faye Wong concertSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/m1-customers-stand-to-win-tickets-to-

faye-wong-concert/12908.html


12

July 11th, 2011

Chinese singer and song-writer Faye Wong will be performingin Singapore on 29 October and if you are an M1 customer, younot only have priority booking but you also stand a chance towin a pair of tickets to the concert. More details inside.

SingTel may have their Lady Gaga showcase (which happenedlast week), but rival telco operator M1 also has something intheir sleeves. Well, if you are a fan of popular Chinese singerFaye Wong, and also an existing M1 customer, you're in fora treat. M1 customers stand a chance to win a pair of ticketsto Faye Wong's concert which is happening at the SingaporeIndoor Stadium on 29 October. All you need to do is simplyredeem 50 SunPerks Points for a chance to win in the luckydraw. The ticket is priced at S$446 and there are altogether400 pairs of tickets available for grabs.

From the official news release, the M1 presents Faye Wong2011 Concert Tour SunPerks points redemption promotionwill commence from 9am on 11 July and conclude at midnightof 10 August 2011. Results will be announced on 25 August2011. For more details, visit www.m1.com.sg/faye

On top of that, according to SISTIC website, the official FayeWong concert tee-shirt will also be given to the first 80 M1customers, though whether that applies to the winners for thepair of tickets, it wasn't stated on the website.

Mini DisplayPort to HDMIcables said to breach HDMIspecSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/mini-displayport-to-hdmi-cables-said-

to-breach-hdmi-spec/12907.html

July 11th, 2011

Here's one of these stories that makes you wonder howsilly things can get. The organization behind the HDMIspecification, HDMI.org has gone out and said that miniDisplayPort to HDMI cables are breaching the HDMI spec andas such they're not to be sold.

Here's one of these stories that makes you wonder howsilly things can get. The organization behind the HDMIspecification, HDMI.org has gone out and said that miniDisplayPort to HDMI cables are breaching the HDMI spec andas such they're not to be sold.

Yes, you did read that correct, as apparently the HDMIspecifications states that all HDMI cables has to have a maleHDMI connector in both ends. Talk about being overprotectiveover a standard that is already raking in millions in royaltypayments that every cable and device makers has to pony upto the HDMI.org.

The cables in question aren't that widely in use so far, as themini DisplayPort connector was only widely used on Apple'sMacBook range of computers last year after having become apart of the DisplayPort standard in late 2009. The problem isthat the DisplayPort interface doesn't use LVDS signalling likeHDMI and DVI, so an active or passive adapter is needed andthis is built into the cables that are now being pulled from themarket.

HDMI.org's solution to the problem is also ridiculous, asthey're telling consumers to go out and buy a dongle with anadapter built into from mini DisplayPort to female HDMI port,as these types of adapters are approved. We really can't seewhat kind of different it would make, except for the fact thatit's an additional cost and hassle for consumers. Apparentlythe HDMI.org has recognized the fact that consumers want asingle cable, but their only response right now is to say thatsuch a cable can't be produced under the current licensingsystem, a pretty weak response in our opinion.


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MSI announces the X460notebook seriesSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/msi-announces-the-x460-notebook-

series/12906.html

July 11th, 2011

We got an early look at MSI's new X460 series of notebooksback at Computex, but now the company has officially unveiledits new models. We've gotten our hands on the first officialpictures of the X460 beyond the tiny ones supplied with thepress release and we have to say that this looks like yet anotherinteresting notebook from MSI.

We got an early look at MSI's new X460 series of notebooksback at Computex, but now the company has officially unveiledits new models. We've gotten our hands on the first officialpictures of the X460 beyond the tiny ones supplied with thepress release and we have to say that this looks like yet anotherinteresting notebook from MSI.

MSI's latest addition to its X-series of slim and lightnotebooks consists of the X460 and X460D. The X460 relieson integrated graphics while the X460D sports an nVidiaGeForce GT540M. However, the X460 is available with a Corei7-2630QM CPU, while both models will otherwise feature theCore i5-2410M.

Common features include a standard notebook resolution1366x768 14-inch display – although MSI claims up to 170degree viewing angles from the screen – up to 8GB of DDR3memory, up to 750GB of storage and a built in optical drive.In terms of connectivity both models feature HDMI, D-sub,two USB 3.0, a single USB 2.0, 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth3.0+HS and Gigabit Ethernet. There's of course also a memorycard reader and an HD (720p) capable webcam.

MSI claims up to 8h battery life, but this is in low power modeand we really expected more from the 65Wh battery pack.The X460 weighs in at 1.98kg while the X460DX is a smidgenheavier at an even 2kg. Not exactly what we'd call light and at22.3mm thick, it doesn't quite fit in the thin category by today'sstandards either. That said, it's not bad for a 14-inch notebookwith a built in optical drive. No word on a swappable driveoption as per what we were told at Computex, but hopefullythis will arrive later.


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MSI Master OverclockingArena 2011 Asia Pacific Final -Results, Winners, & The RoadTo BothSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/msi-master-overclocking-arena-2011-

asia-pacific-final--results-winners--the-road-to-both/12903.html

July 11th, 2011

We take a look at the MSI Master Overclocking Arena 2011Asia Pacific Final results and whatever else which led to that.

By 6.00 pm, one hour away from the end of the competition,two of the empty 100-odd litre tanks have already been clearedout of the battle grounds. Relative to the Super PI round, thesecond leg of the competition - 3DMark 11 - is heavy thermalload indeed. More tanks were carted away as organisers laidout the prizes at the front:

Stress takes on a physical form.

The two components of the contestants' score are split 60/40:Like leaded non-eutectic solder. The first component - SuperPI 32M - requires contestants to fix their processor core speedmultiplier at 50 or less so as to account for the large variabilityseen in the average spread of Sandy Bridge-type desktopprocessors. The second component, which weighs more onthe score is none other than Futuremark 3DMark 11. MSIsubmarines anyone?

Compiled results brought to you by OVERCLOCKING-TV.

Many teams that were leading during the Super PI round werefound to be slipping down the slippery rungs of the resultsladder as issues piled up under the frost. Taiwan and Malaysia,both of which took the lead for Super PI 32M were found inthe middle of the scoreboard as contestants launched into 3D.Australia climbed quickly with their strong 3DMark 11 resultsto join others at the top.

The highest 3DMark 11 scores were generated by China.However, due to wallpaper non-compliance, the results wereeventually voided. Team Katana simply spent the last minutesdefeating themselves - a great way to redeem the Super PImishap they incurred earlier on.

Then it was time for more dancing:

Guess the number of FFB-type blowers required to achievesuch floppy hairstyles.

MSI Master OverclockingArena 2011 Asia Pacific Final -Booting Up The ArenaSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/msi-master-overclocking-arena-2011-

asia-pacific-final--booting-up-the-arena/12902.html


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July 11th, 2011

We missed out on the customary details just to pump out ourTen Page Special. Time to roll back the clock, so we get to seemore of the beginning!

To kick off the event, MSI arranged some saucy young thingson stage. That might be the rage these days.

Capturing saucy young things on your camera phone however,is something that has never stopped raging.

Jason Lee, Marketing Director of MSI talks about MOA andproffers "thank yous" to all:

Jason Lee, Marketing Director of MSI.

Present to grace the event was Hinajana July, Director ofPT. Alfa Arha Andhaya. Alfa Arha Andhaya distributes MSIproducts in Indonesia.

Hinajana July, Director of PT. Alfa Arha Andhaya

Special guest, Dr. Engkos Koswara N. M. Sc/ Advisor ICT(Information Communication Technology & Transportation)was invited to give his speech as well.

Dr. Engkos Koswara N. M. Sc/ Advisor ICT (InformationCommunication Technology & Transportation).


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Sony introduces new MicroVault P series flash drives; upto 64GBSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/sony-introduces-new-micro-vault-p-

series-flash-drives-up-to-64gb/12904.html

July 11th, 2011

Sony called their USB flash drive, Micro Vault and recently,the company has announced their new Micro Vault P series inSingapore with capacities of from 4GB to 64GB. The P seriesclaim to be more sleek and compact which allows users to carrywith them conveniently.

Sony Electronics Asia Pacific has recently introduced their newnew high capacity Micro Vault P Series flash drives for usersto store and share their songs, photos and videos easier.

With storage capacities of up to 64GB, the Micro Vault P Seriesfeatures a small, stylish and easy-to carry design that givesusers all the space they need wherever they go. Available inblack or white, the Micro Vault P series has a slim profile, anda strap hole makes attaching to a key chain or mobile phone asnap. A 360-degree LED at the tip lets users know when datais being written, and when it is safe to remove. Sony has alsoincluded its popular Click feature that let users reveal the USBconnector without adding length to the body and protect itwhen not in use.

Software for the Micro Vault P series includes File Rescueand x – Pict Story. File rescue provides recovery of importantdata that might have been deleted by mistake, while x – PictStory allows the creation of an automated photo presentationusing the files stored on the Micro Vault. Featuring storagecapacities in 4GB, 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB, the new MicroVault P Series will be available in Asia Pacific from mid-July2011. Pricing details not available at press time.

Chill Innovation KB-1BTBluetooth Micro KeyboardreviewSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/chill-innovation-kb-1bt-bluetooth-

micro-keyboard-review/12900.html

July 11th, 2011

Chill Innovation is a company founded back in 1996 andoriginating from Denmark, focusing mostly on high qualitypower supplies and silent cooling solutions. Today howeverwe are not going to review either a power supply or acooling solution; Chill Innovation’s latest product is a versatilebluetooth micro-keyboard for multimedia applications, theKB-1BT.

Introduction

Chill Innovation is a company founded back in 1996 andoriginating from Denmark, focusing mostly on high qualitypower supplies and silent cooling solutions. Today howeverwe are not going to review either a power supply or acooling solution; Chill Innovation’s latest product is a versatilebluetooth micro-keyboard for multimedia applications, theKB-1BT.


• Compact & Ultra-Slim design!

• Multiple Platform Support!

• Great for both business & pleasure!

• Everything you need - in one device!

• USB Nano Bluetooth Dongle included!

• 71 keys with Backlighting

• Multimedia & function keys


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• LED Flashlight or Laser Pointer built-in depending onmodel

• Touchpad

o Dimensions: 31 x 31 mm

o Resolution: 400 DPI

o Supports 'point and click'

o 90 degree rotation key (horizontal and vertical use)

o Sensitivity/speed toggle key

• Dimensions and weight

o Keyboard: 155mm x 61mm x 12mm

o Net weight: 102g (including dongle)

o Packaging: 103 x 192 x 53 mm

o Gross weight: 380g

• Connection

o Bluetooth ® 2.0 Wireless Technology

o Point-to-point technology pre-configuredkeyboard (Does not work as Hub)

o Up to 10 meter range

• Power and battery

o 30 days (battery standby time)

o Full-charge: approx. 4 hours

o Fast-charge: approx. 10 minutes for one day's use

o Battery: 850 mAH Lithium Polymer

o Power consumption (without backlight): <12mA

o Standby consumption: <1.3mA

• Approvals

o CE

o FCC

o RoHS

• Compatibility:*

o Windows XP / Vista / 7, Mac & Linux-based PCs,Notebooks & Tablets.

o Apple iPad / iPad2

o Apple iPhone & iPod Touch with OS 4.0

o Windows Mobile 6.1 and 6.5

o Nokia Symbian

o Google Android

o Sony Playstation 3

o All other devices with built-in support for BluetoothHID keyboards.

MSI Master OverclockingArena 2011 Asia Pacific Final -Ten Page SpecialSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/msi-master-overclocking-arena-2011-

asia-pacific-final--ten-page-special/12899.html

July 11th, 2011

This ten-page special is dedicated to the blood, sweat, tearsand spent liquid nitrogen that went into the MSI MasterOverclocking Arena 2011 Asia Pacific Final here in Jakarta,Indonesia. Overclocking, hurray!

Evaporating liquid nitrogen in a humid equatorial countrylike Indonesia is a spectacular sight. The gargle and spit ofliquid nitrogen stirring vehemently in an evaporator is the verysign of life in a healthy benchmarking setup. The coordinationnecessary for sub-zero overclocking is difficult to fathom forthose who have never attempted so. For the rest - such as theparticipants of the MSI Master Overclocking Arena 2011 AsiaPacific Final - it is likely an irreplaceable addiction.

PaulC fills it up.


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Their silicon is might be sub-zero, but "Lam" from the HongKong team is under-20.

The Ice Kachang maker.Better than watching fireworks.

Way cooler too.




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July 11th, 2011

In today's news roundup: The Intel Core i3-2120 is avery capable processor that felt just as fast and responsiveon the desktop as the higher-end Core i5-2600K processor;Kingston's DataTraveler Ultimate G2 64GB USB 3.0 FlashDrive features read/write data transfer speeds well exceedingthe 150MB/s barrier; Apple's rumored next iPad could havea higher-resolution screen; According to a few lines of newlydiscovered code, is Facebook coming up with their musicservice? ; The Medic and Assault classes will be merged inBattlefield 3's multiplayer mode, and Developer Playdeadconfirmed the release of Limbo for PlayStation 3 in the U.S.on July 19.

Hardware news

Description: The Intel Core i3-2120 is a very capable processorfor the $149.68 price tag that online retailers are asking for it.It was able to do everything we asked it to during testing andthe test system felt just as fast and responsive on the desktopas the higher-end Core i5-2600K processor. It was only whenwe got deep into the benchmarking that we were able to findthe strengths and weaknesses of the Core i3-2120

Description: With Read/Write data transfer speeds wellexceeding the 150MB/s barrier the latest DataTravelerUltimate G2 64 USB 3.0 flash drive by Kingston is withoutdoubt the fastest USB flash drive to pass from our test benchto date.

Description: The Razer Hydra PC motion controller deliverssilky-smooth, responsive motion control, but its overallperformance is highly dependent upon which (and what types)of games you play—and your own willingness to put up withthe learning curve it imposes.

Description: With the Z68X-UD7-B3 Gigabyte presents itflagship model which supports Intels latest Sandy BridgeCPUs. This board also comes with the new color scheme whichreally is very nice to look at. Furthermore there is the longfeature list which comes with every motherboard that is basedon Intels latest Z68 chipset.

Description: Today we're going to be looking at our first A75chipset motherboard in the form of the ASUS F1A75-V Pro. Ofcourse, we've already done a big preview on this board thatcovered everything on the board and the BIOS; because ofthat we'll be getting straight into the test system, talk aboutoverclocking and get into the performance side of things.

Description: The Genesis is very unique in its design; it iscomposed of two radiators, one upright and the other designedas a down-draft heatsink to cool memory modules, MOSFETsand the motherboard Northbridge. This makes the Genesisa very versatile cooler and a promising one at that as itcombines the sheer cooling potential of a regular heatsink andthe motherboard cooling capability of down-draft coolers suchas the Noctua NH-C14.

Consumer Electronics and Software news

Description: Google said its new unveiled socialcommunication service, Google+, will likely be made availableto its business customers by the end of the year. Thus far, thesystem is not geared for enterprise use yet.

Description: Apple's rumored next iPad could have a higher-resolution screen capable of being used for high-end videoediting and photography, analysts say.

Description: The one iPhone/two iPhone fifth-gen rumor millcontinues to grind, and after yesterday’s supposedly definitiveclaims that Apple was readying a single iPhone 5 for launch inSeptember this year, rather than a two model lineup includingan iPhone 4S, now there’s more intel suggesting otherwise.

Description: After 32 raids across Italy (and one inSwitzerland), 15 alleged members of Anonymous have beenarrested. The detainees, aged between 15 and 28 with fiveunder 18, have been accused of performing denial of serviceattacks on Italian Web sites belonging to the government, andon both state and private broadcasters.

Description: A long-anticipated music streaming,downloading, and sharing service could be on the very nearhorizon for Facebook users, as a few lines of newly discoveredcode found by blogger Jeff Rose suggest.

Description: While the HTC ThunderBolt remains withoutits crucial update to Gingerbread, it appears that Verizon isprepping to get Android 2.3 out to another phone in the verynear future as documentation has appeared today indicatingthat the Droid Incredible 2 Gingerbread update is imminent.

Gaming news

Description: Electronic Arts and studio Criterion Games willrelease a new, downloadable Burnout game this fall for thePlayStation Network and Xbox Live. Burnout Crash! will focuson the franchise's Crash mode, where players rack up pointsby slamming into vehicles and triggering explosions.

Description: Developer Playdead confirmed the release ofLimbo for PlayStation 3 in the U.S. on July 19. It hits Europe aday later on July 20. A price has not been revealed. Limbo willhit Steam worldwide on August 2. A Japan release date has notbeen decided yet.

Description: DICE has revealed that the Medic and Assaultclasses will be merged in Battlefield 3's multiplayer mode, andit's eradicating the dedicated doctor and handing lifesavingduties to the Assault men.

Mach Xtreme Joins theSandForce Party; MX-DSTURBO SSDs IncomingSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/mach-xtreme-joins-the-sandforce-

party-mx-ds-turbo-ssds-incoming/12895.html

July 11th, 2011


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Mach Xtreme has become the latest entrant to the SandForceSF-2000 party with their MX-DS Turbo series of solid statedrives. Specifications look similar to those of SandForce-baseddrives from other manufacturers, and a three-year warrantyis also par for the course. The MX-DS Turbo series will beavailable in capacities ranging from a modest 120GB to a mind(and wallet) blowing 480GB.

Mach Xtreme has announced their first Sandforce SF-2000-based solid state drives. The MX-DS TURBO series of SSDsis optimized for use with SATA 6Gbps, and will be availablein 120GB, 240GB and 480GB capacities as well as the lesscommon 180GB size. The drives are backed by three-yearwarranties.

The MX-DS TURBO joins the growing ranks of SF-2000-based SSDs. Pricing has not been stated but, given the amountof competition out there, can be expected to be aggressive.

See the original press release below:

Taipei, Taiwan—July 08, 2011— Mach XtremeTechnology Inc., a worldwide leader in top perfor-mance, high reliability and user friendly designed PCcomponents, today unveiled the 2.5” SATAIII

MX-DS TURBO Series SSD. This series offers mobileand desktop users groundbreaking computing

experience and unparalleled level of read and writeperformance.

Advanced high speed SATAIII interface has beenimplemented in newer systems to remove previous

performance bottleneck. The MX-DS TURBO Series isperfect to take advantage of that higher speed

interface. This SSD series delivers performance thatmaximizes the throughput of a SATA III 6Gb/s

interface with balanced read/write speeds. Itsupports DuraClass™ and DuraWrite™ technologies.

DuraClass™ technology provides best-in-classendurance, performance and low power consump-

tion. DuraWrite™ technology optimizes writes to theash memory over conventional controllers

increasing the overall endurance and reliability of thecomplete SSD. Highly intelligent block man-

agement and wear leveling also extends the overallendurance. It maintains backwards compatibil-

ity with existing SATA II 3.0 Gb/s and SATA I 1.5 Gb/s interfaces.

The MX-MD TURBO drive delivers best-in-class readand write speeds clocking in at up to 555MB/s

read and 510MB/s write along with the stunningmaximum of 85,000 IOPS, low power consumption

(stand-by 1.6W / active up to 2.8W) and superiordurability (2.0 million MTBF) compared to previous

generation SATA 3Gb/s drives.

Available in capacities of 120GB, 180GB, 240GB and480GB, Mach Xtreme Technology MX-DS TURBO

SSDs come backed with 3 Year Warranty andoutstanding after-sales service.

MX-DS TURBO Series 2.5” SSD at A Glance:

• 2.5” SATA III MLC Solid State Drive

• Max. Read Performance up to 555MB/s (480GBup to 500MB/s)

• Max. Write Performance up to 510MB/s (480GBup to 420MB/s)

• IOPS up to 85,000

• Power consumption: idle 1.6W / active 2.8W

• MTBF: 2.0 million hours

• Capacity: 120GB (MXSSD3MDST-120G),180GB (MXSSD3MDST-180G),

• 240GB (MXSSD3MDST-240G), and 480GB(MXSSD3MDST-480G)

MSI Master OverclockingArena 2011 Asia Pacific Final -Setting Up & Some SetupsSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/msi-master-overclocking-arena-2011-

asia-pacific-final--setting-up--some-setups/12896.html


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July 11th, 2011

See the whacky setups contestants assemble for the MSIMaster Overclocking Arena 2011 Asia Pacific Final. It's finallygearing up, alright!

In the MOA battle grounds, trouble brews from the verybeginning. Even the judges' table is a showcase of gung-ho-ism.

The judges' table

The Indonesian team's lineup of stuff, ready for deployment:

"ZoLKoRn" practises his proprietary paste-spreadingtechnique:

Japan brought along a self-contained liquid-cooling kit, readyto be clamped in place for quick tests:

Amongst the first to get their systems up; the Vietnamese teamsure had a good idea of what to use the iPad for!

Dell launches Access programin Southeast AsiaSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/dell-launches-access-program-in-

southeast-asia/12897.html


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July 11th, 2011

In a world when consumerism reigns supreme, it is commonknowledge that any company that does not make a seriousattempt to connect and understand its customer base is notlikely to remain in business for long. And it seems that Dellis only too aware of the importance of engaging with keyinfluencers, for the company has taken yet another step tofurther reach out to the community with the launch of its newDell Access program in a media event today held at the ArtTrove. VR-Zone brings you the coverage.

Nowadays, it would seem that merely delivering greatproducts that are capable of meeting customers' demands is nolonger enough. Rather, today's consumers expect to be activelyengaged as influencers who have a say in how a company'sproducts should turn out, what features should be includedinto the final product, and so on. And it is clear that Dell isfully aware of the importance of engaging with the community,for the company has just announced the launch of its newDell Access program which is designed to foster an exclusivecommunity consisting of "brand advocates, influential mediapersonalities and other key influencers to form a synergistic,passionate community that matters".

Speaking at the event today was Dell's executive director forthe consumer and SMB division for South Asia and Korea,Chue Chee Wai, who explained how Dell intends to make useof the new Access program to reach out to its community.

"Dell Access is all about forging long-term relationshipswith the media, professional bloggers and key influencers.Members of Dell Access can expect to be invited to programssuch as events, showcases, private workshops and productdemonstrations," he said, while adding that such events willserve as platforms for the company to engage with like-mindedpeople, as well as exchange ideas and discuss market trends.

Unfortunately, Dell did not release any details pertaining tovarious aspects of its Access program such as the requirements(if any) to be met in order to be considered for admissioninto its exclusive inner circle yet. However, the companydid announce that Access members can expect "a string ofactivities and announcements around the region in the comingmonths", so do check back for updates.

Last but definitely not least, here are a few pictures of the lovelyladies who were present at today's media event, which alsoserved to double up as a showcase for Dell's various productssuch as its Streak and Venue mobile offerings, as well as itsAlienware, Inspiron R, Vostro and XPS notebook lineups.


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LG goes into portable gamingwith Optimus 3D and gamesfrom GameloftSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/lg-goes-into-portable-gaming-with-

optimus-3d-and-games-from-gameloft/12894.html

July 11th, 2011

LG Korea has recently announced that it is jumping on theportable gaming market with its Optimus 3D smartphone andhigh quality games developed by Gameloft. According to thecompany, the phone will come preloaded with games and userscan download free and paid games in the coming months.

LG has announced its entry into the handheld gaming marketwith the launch of the LG Optimus 3D in Korea and theintroduction of 17 Stereoscopic 3D (S-3D) games from mobilevideo game developer Gameloft.

Full versions of three Gameloft titles will come pre-installedon the new Optimus 3D smartphones with the remainingS-3D games available for download at significantly discountedprices for LG Optimus 3D owners. The three includedS-3D games are Asphalt 6: Adrenaline, N.O.V.A. -- NearOrbit Vanguard Alliance and Let’s Golf! 2. The games werespecifically chosen for the realism and immersive game playthey would provide when digitally re-mastered into S-3D.

Fourteen additional Gameloft S-3D games will be availablefor download via the 3D Games icon on the LG Optimus 3D.Titles including Assassin’s Creed: Altaïr’s Chronicles, JamesCameron’s Avatar, Ultimate Spider Man: Total Mayhem, GTRacing: Motor Academy, Shrek Kart, Modern Combat 2: BlackPegasus, Real Football 2011, Star Battalion, N.O.V.A. 2 --Near Orbit Vanguard Alliance, Dungeon Hunter 2, FishingKings, BackStab, Eternal Legacy and Shadow Guardian will beoffered to Optimus 3D owners at half price for the first threemonths. Archer Craft, an LG produced S-3D game, will also beavailable as a free download.

The LG Optimus 3D, the world’s first smartphone with fullS-3D and Tri-Dual (dual-core, dual-channel, dual-memory)architecture, was designed for maximum performance andefficiency, ideal for the high processing power required forgaming and viewing videos. The LG Optimus 3D is currentlybeing introduced in over 60 markets around the world. Thepreloaded games will be available from launch, with further


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downloadable games rolling out over the coming monthsthrough a dedicated 3D Games icon.

StarHub announcesavailability of new mobilephone which recharges itselfvia solar energySource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/starhub-announces-availability-of-new-

mobile-phone-which-recharges-itself-via-solar-energy/12893.html

July 11th, 2011

Anybody who has served, or is currently serving their NationalService will be fully aware of how much of a pain it is to huntfor a mobile phone which lacks a built-in camera unit andboasts a battery which is capable of extremely long uptimes ona single charge, especially since some camps still forbid theirservicemen from bringing in their battery chargers. And leaveit to StarHub with what is probably the best solution for suchpeople, and it comes in the form of iNO Mobile's phone knownas the SOLO which can allegedly charge itself via solar power.Wait, say what?

Choosing a proper mobile phone for National Service is nevereasy; in addition to the almost unreasonable requirement ofgetting a handset that does not sport a built-in camera module,the device also need to boast an extremely long battery life, assome military camps today still enforce the rule of not allowingservicemen to bring their mobile phone chargers with them,due to various reasons.

So what is a poor serviceman to do in the face of suchrestrictions? Well, thanks to StarHub, the answer is now aseasy as pie, and it comes in the form of a new mobile phonefrom iNO Mobile known as the SOLO, which is reportedlycapable of meeting the aforementioned restrictions, and thensome.

According to a press release issued by StarHub, the SOLOis designed to be an entry-level, affordable feature mobilephone that would appeal to military personnel and outdooradventurers, a trait which StarHub attributes to the use ofa solar charging battery in the SOLO. The company claimsthat users only have to place the rugged phone in an areawhich receieves a healthy amount of sunlight for the SOLOto recharge its lithium battery, with 24 hours being the magicnumber needed to attain a complete charge. In addition,StarHub has confirmed that the SOLO boasts an uptime of upto 200 hours when idle, or up to 200 minutes of talktime.

In order to protect itself against the unintentional hardknocks and drops that are bound to happen in militarylife, StarHub has claimed that the SOLO will feature anArmy-Green rubberise casing which protects the phone fromsuch trauma, while further securing it against other hazzardssuch as splashes and dust.. Last but definitely not least, theSOLO will come equipped with a 1.8” LED screen with 65Kcolours, a mini-torchlight for night activities and an FMradio.

Sounds interesting? Well, if you think that the SOLO will makea good mobile phone for your NS needs (or your son's NSneeds, for that matter), we have got an additional piece ofgood news as well; StarHub has confirmed that the SOLO willbe retailing at the relatively low price of S$99 with any one-year StarHub Mobile post-paid plan (exceptPowerValue 80)and can be purchased from all StarHub Shops and selectedExclusive Partners' outlets islandwide from 9 July onwards.

Lenovo launches ThinkPad X1in SingaporeSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/lenovo-launches-thinkpad-x1-in-

singapore/12891.html


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July 11th, 2011

Yesterday, Lenovo Singapore held a media event on a yacht atMarina @ Keppel Bay to launch their thinnest business laptop,the ThinkPad X1. VR-Zone brings you the coverage.

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 claims to be the company's thinnestbusiness laptop designed for the busy business professionalswho want superb computing performance and portability.Weighing from 1.72kg, the ThinkPad X1 sports a 13.3-inchsuper bright infinity screen with Corning Gorilla glass thatoffers high durability and scratch-resistance.

The laptop's keyboard has a "modernized" look and feel whichthe company claims would allow users to type 25% faster,and they are backlit that makes it easier to type even in dim-lighting situation. The power button and audio controls arelaid neatly on the right edge of the keyboard.

Despite it's slim form factor, the X1 comes with the obligatoryUSB, HDMI, eSATA+USB, LAN, Wireless connectivity switchand memory card reader. Needless to say, there is no built-inoptical drive, though Lenovo bundles an external DVD writerfor use with the laptop.

Lee Chown How, country general manager of LenovoSingapore, talks about the company's new tagline - "For ThoseWho Do." - and also Lenovo's progress.

"In Lenovo, we create the DO machines, the tools for userswho see technology as an integral part of their lives. Forthem, technology is a tool to help them achieve the goals andbe more productive. Our products are built to succeed withsubstance, tested with military specifications to achieve solidperformance in any environment. The features and servicesthat are built-in to our products also helped to drive downthe immediate and long term costs. Each of the tools that


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we incorporate into our ThinkPads and ThinkCentres arecarefully developed with purposeful intent and helped toenhance end users experience," Lee said.

Sony Ericsson launchesnew Walkman-brandedsmartphone, the W8Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/sony-ericsson-launches-new-walkman-

branded-smartphone-the-w8/12892.html

July 11th, 2011

Sony's Walkman is one of the more well-known brands whenit comes to devices dealing with audio and video playbackwhile on the move; as such, it is understandable that Japanesecompany is not about to let such an established brand fadeto oblivion. And in what seems to be the best proof of Sony'scommitment to the Walkman brand, the company has justannounced the availability of yet another Walkman-brandedsmartphone, the W8, which Sony claims combines "Walkmanfunctionality with smartphone fundamentals".

Do you still remember the original line of Walkman-brandedportable media players that were produced by Sony andhighly regarded to be some of the best such devices in thosedays? Well, the good news is that the Walkman will stilllive on in Sony's product lineup, and the latest Walkman-branded device to leave Sony's factories for sale on the markettoday is a new smartphone known as the W8, which Sonyclaims combines "Walkman functionality with smartphonefundamentals" to provide a great user experience.

Sony Ericsson claims that the W8 Walkman phone features aunique user interface similar to the one found on its Xperiamini product lineup, and that it can reportedly be user-customised for one-touch access to their most commonly usedapplications. In addition, the company has confirmed that theW8 will also come bundled with various standard featuressuch as a 3.2 megapixel camera and wireless connectivity via3G and WiFi, along with various other Walkman staples suchas a Walkman-themed UI and widgets, while the smartphone'sdisplay is provided by a three-inch capacitive touchscreencapable of HVGA resolutions, which Sony Ericsson claimsis perfect for mobile gaming, browsing the web or watchingYoutube videos.

The W8's hardware is a little less impressive though; SonyEricsson has confirmed that the W8 will feature a 600MHzprocessor and up to 128MB of built in memory, although thecompany was quick to point out that users can always expandthe phone's available storage with the use of microSD cards ofup to 16GB.

Last but definitely not least, Sony Ericsson has announcedthat the W8 will be pre-loaded with version 2.1 (Eclair) of theAndroid operating system, along with support for the AndroidMarket, although it made no mention about any possibility ofa firmware upgrade to newer versions of Android. Still, if it isof any consolation, the company has claimed that the W8 willcome with the MH 410 stereo headset as well as the MS450stereo portable speakers.

The Sony Ericsson W8 Walkman phone is currently availablefor sale in Singapore at the price of S$348 and sports a total ofthree different color schemes, namely Azure, Metallic Red andthe "iconic Walkman Orange".

Samsung releases prototypeWebCL implementation forWebKitSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/samsung-releases-prototype-webcl-

implementation-for-webkit/12890.html


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July 11th, 2011

OpenCL may be a great API for giving applications access tothe GPU for non-graphical computing in order to leverage itsraw power for achieving greater performance levels, but theprominence of web-based apps means that there is a needto grant web developers the same low-level access in orderto ensure that browser-based apps do not deliver sub-parperformance, even when running off powerful hardware. Thisis where WebCL comes in, and it seems that the new standardhas just been given a major boost in the form of Samsung'scontribution of a prototype implementation for the WebKitrendering engine.

We all know that OpenCL, along with NVIDIA's CUDA, arevital in bringing the benefits of general-purpose computingon GPUs (or GPGPU) to everyday applications in order toprovide users with higher performance levels in their dailycomputing tasks. However, the growing importance of web-based applications means that there is a need to port OpenCL'sGPGPU capabilties into a more web-friendly format in order toensure that online apps can gain access to the same low-levelhardware needed to deliver greater performance. And the goodnews is that users may not have to wait too long for GPGPUsupport to make its way down to web apps, for word has it thatSamsung has released a prototype implementation of WebCLfor use with the WebKit rendering engine.

According to a report published by Ars Technica, Samsung'sprototype implementation was used to showcase how thetechnology "can be used to increase the frame rate of ananimated N-body simulation on the Web". When put tothe test against an identical simulation which made useof conventional JavaScript to achieve the same results, theJavaScript version was capable of achieving framerates ofonly up to 5-6 fps. This is in stark contrast to the samedemo that was powered by Samsung's prototype WebCLimplementation, which scored a maximum speed of up to 114frames per second.

Unprintable Content (Video, Flash, etc.)

Samsung's prototype implemention of WebCL is reportedlyonly compatible with Apple's Safari web browser at thispoint of time, although Ars Technica has also claimed inthat the Korean electronics giant has already open-sourced itsWebCL implementation under the BSD license. Technically,this means that there is nothing to stop browser developersfrom checking out the source tree from Google Code (which iswhere the project is hosted) and collaborating to implementsome form of rudimentary support in other WebKit-basedbrowsers such as Google's Chrome.

In addition, Nokia has also developed its own implementationof WebCL which is apparently designed for use with the GeckoRuntime Enviroment, as it is currently compatble only withthe Firefox web browser. However, not all Firefox users will

be able to take advantage of Nokia's implementation any timesoon, as it only works with Firefox 4 and not the recently-released Firefox 5. This leaves Internet Explorer and Operaas the only browsers to lack any working implementations ofWebCL, although we believe that this situation will changeonce more complete specifications of WebCL are madeavailable by the Khronos Group.

Of course, neither Nokia's and Samsung's implementation willwork if you do not have OpenCL-compatible hardware.And ifyou need a good reason to upgrade your machine with someOpenCL-compatible hardware, well, here is one: apparently,Nokia is claiming that WebCL can be used for BitCoin mining,and for as much as up to US$10 a day. Yep, we are not makingthis up.

Amazon's Cloud Player servicenow available for the iPadSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/amazon-s-cloud-player-service-now-

available-for-the-ipad/12880.html

July 11th, 2011

Apple has yet to officially open its iCloud service for publicuse, but it seems that the Cupertino giant is already going tohave to deal with competition from the likes of Amazon inwinning the hearts of consumers over to its side, especiallywhere music streaming and storage services are concerned.Apparently, Amazon has moved to draw first blood by addingin partial support for iOS in its Cloud Player service, along witha few extra features thrown in for good measure. Your movenow, Apple.

When Amazon first launched its Cloud Player service forconsumers way back in March this year, critics were quickto point out that the multinational electronic commercecompany had seemingly chosen not to include support for oneof the world's fastest growing mobile platform; iOS. However,it seems that Amazon has since changed its stance over iOSsupport, and its latest announcement is probably the bestproof of that fact.


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In its press release, Amazon has confirmed the availability ofa web-based version of the Cloud Player service, which canbe accessed on an iPad via the built-in Safari web browser.And according to a report published by TUAW, Amazon hasseemingly done a decent job in ensuring that the web-basedversion of Cloud Player remains faithful to the actual desktopclient in most respects, even going as far as claiming that theweb app looks and performs just like the desktop version.

Unfortunately, it seems that the iPad is the only product inApple's iOS lineup that will be getting any love from Amazon,for no mention has been made about support for other iOS-powered devices such as the iPod Touch and the iPhone. Andeven then, the fact that the iPad can only access Cloud Playervia the web-based app will probably turn off iPad owners whoprefer to have native apps for their devices, although we'dargue that a having a web-based app is still a much betteralternative as opposed to being completely cut off from anonline service.

That being said, Amazon has also announced its plans to giveusers access to an unlimitted amount of storage to store theirmusic files, and that this privillege will be made available toboth free and paid accounts. However, this only applies tomusic bought directly off Amazon, and that there will still be alimit of 5GB for fersonal music uploads. Well, that is defintielybetter than nothing.



July 11th, 2011

In today's news roundup: Toshiba has announced the launchof a new 1.12-micrometer pixel CMOS image sensor forsmartphones, which is reportedly the industry’s smallest levelpixel size and features the use of back-side illumicationtechnology or BSI to achieve both enhanced sensitivity and

improved imaging performance; Hi Tech Legion has publisheda review of ASUS's GTX580 DirectCU II graphics card, whichboasts a combination of direct copper contact and dual-fancooling to produce up to 600% more airflow compared tothe reference NVIDIA design; Google has announced theavailability of a new "Download map area" feature in GoogleLabs which allows users to download map data for use on theirsmartphones with minimal data consumption; Rumour has itthat Microsoft's CEO Steve Ballmer will be unveiling the firstpublic beta of Windows 8 at the Consumer Electronics Showin early 2012; Konami has confirmed that it will be bringingCastlevania: Harmony of Despair over to PlayStation Networksometime this summer, and EA Games senior vice presidentPatrick Soderlund is claiming that Mirror's Edge 2 has notbeen abandoned, and that DICE is "working on something" tofollow up on the well-received free running original.

Hardware news

Project BMW MPower level 10 PC a Mod project @XtremeComputingDescription: This all started one day when I spotted thethermaltake level 10 case sitting at show, I thought wow thatlooks very unique. I had been planning for a little while to do acar themed mod and with the level 10 being designed by one ofBMW’s design houses, I thought now was a good a time as anyto actually do a BMW 3 series Mpower theme, so the conceptwas born. Now bear in mind this concept started way back lastyear.

Corsair Obsidian 650D Mid-Tower Case ReviewDescription: In many ways, the Obsidian 650D is a miniatureversion of the 800D, so we can understand why it has manyof you swooning. Though at $190 you will have a difficulttime justifying its price as it's one of the more expensive mid-towers around. Beyond this price point, the market is largelydominated by Lian-Li and we suspect most users looking tospend north of $200 on a chassis will want to spring for a full-tower model.

MSI N580GTX Lightning Review @ ocaholicDescription: With the GTX 580 Lightning, MSI has a graphicscard in its portfolio which promises to be extra class. Thereforethe card comes with a completely customized TwinFrozerIIcooler as well as a PCB that has been redesigned from bottomup. In this case you'll find numerous overclocking featurescombined with a reasonable noise level. For us this is reasonenough to be very curious about the results.

Thermaltake Chaser MK-1 Full Tower Chassis ReviewDescription: For some time now Thermaltake as well as manyother manufacturers are in an unnamed war to deliver themost feature rich chassis at rock bottom pricing. Just likeSilverStone's PS06 we recently looked at, Thermaltake istrying to give the end user a window, USB 3.0 and a hard drivedock. On top of this, you still have to present an attractive fullpackage and offer cooling above and beyond the competitionas well.

Toshiba preps super-sensitive CMOS smartphone camerasensorDescription: Toshiba has announced the launch of a new1.12-micrometer pixel CMOS image sensor. It claims that thenew sensor, designed for smartphones, offers the industry’s


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smallest level pixel size. The new sensor is also said to featureenhanced sensitivity and improved imaging performance, theresult of back-side illumination technology (BSI).

ASUS GeForce GTX 580 DirectCU II 1.5GB DirectX 11 VideoCard Review @Hi Tech LegionDescription: The ASUS GTX580 DirectCU II is equipped witha large three-slot heatsink designed for a quieter and coolerperformance. The ASUS GTX580 DirectCU II’s direct coppercontact and dual-fan cooling solution produces up to 600%more airflow compared to the reference NVIDIA design. Withtwo fans operating at lower fan speeds, the ASUS GTX580DirectCU II can cool the GPU much more efficiently and withmuch less noise than with a single blower style fan.


“Download map area” added to Labs in Google Maps forAndroidDescription: When you’re visiting an unfamiliar location,Google Maps for mobile is great for getting an idea of how closeyou are to your destination, where streets and landmarks arein relation to each other, or just for getting “un-lost.” But whatif you don’t have a data signal, or you’re abroad and don’t havea data plan? We say that if you use Google Maps for mobile,you’ll never need to carry a paper map again. The “Downloadmap area” lab in Google Maps 5.7 for Android is a step inmaking that statement true even when you’re offline.

What iPhone 5 and iPhone 6 could haveDescription: Apple’s next iPhone will be thinner and lighterwith an 8 megapixel camera, according to a report Thursday.The new article bears the hallmarks of an intentional leak, andis the surest sign yet that we’ll see new iPhone hardware inSeptember.

Apple's faith-based security fails againDescription: A German government watchdog has just workedout that the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch have 'criticalweaknesses' that could be exploited by criminals. Apple savesmoney by not having to provide virus checking software orworrying too much about security. It has marketed this cleverplan through its legions of fanboys who claim that they aresafe from hackers because they have never been hacked before.However, the Germans are particularly concerned about theiPhone, which is a little more popular and begging to beattacked.

Motorola Droid 3 Now Available From VerizonDescription: Verizon has put up Droid 3, the grandchild ofMotorola’s legendary Droid smartphone, up for sale on itswebsite. The Droid 3 sports a 1 GHz dual-core CPU, a 4-inch qHD (960 x 540 pixel) screen, an 8-megapixel cameraand a slide-out, full QWERTY keyboard. It runs Android 2.3Gingerbread and offers 16 GB of storage, as well as all theother standard bells and whistles that adorn the Androidsmartphones of today, including Bluetooth 2.1, Wi-Fi, UMTSand aGPS support.

Microsoft May Introduce the First Public Beta of Windows 8at CES 2012 - Rumours.Description: Steve Ballmer, the chief executive officer ofMicrosoft Corp., will once again kick-off the ConsumerElectronics Show in early 2012. Some web-sites are already

reporting that Microsoft will unveil the first public beta ofWindows 8 at the trade-show.

Gaming news

Castlevania: Harmony of Despair Hitting PSNDescription: Konami confirmed this morning thatCastlevania: Harmony of Despair is coming to PlayStationNetwork this summer. The game was previously releasedexclusively through Xbox Live. Included with the PSN versionis the "Beauty, Desire, Situation Dire" map pack, whichcontains the Pyramid of Ruin level as well as downloadablecharacters Julius Belmont and Yoko Belnades.

Mirror's Edge 2 'not abandoned' - ReportDescription: EA Games senior vice president PatrickSoderlund says DICE is "working on something" to follow upwell-received free running original.

High Power Direct12 BR1000W PSU reviewSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/high-power-direct12-br-1000w-psu-

review/12889.html

July 11th, 2011

Today we are having a look at one more high performanceproduct, the Direct12 BR (DP-1000BR) 1000W power supplyfrom High Power, a company which just emerged in theretail market a mere 3 years ago. High Power however is asubsidiary company of Sirfa, a reputable OEM manufacturerof power supplies for many years, founded so as to give themanufacturer direct retail channel access. The specificationsof the High Power Direct12 BR 1000W unit are at the very leastinteresting; we will find out how well it can compete againstthe stiff competition of the high performance PSU market inthis review.

Today we are having a look at one more high performanceproduct, the Direct12 BR (DP-1000BR) 1000W power supplyfrom High Power, a company which just emerged in theretail market a mere 3 years ago. High Power however is asubsidiary company of Sirfa, a reputable OEM manufacturerof power supplies for many years, founded so as to give themanufacturer direct retail channel access. The specificationsof the High Power Direct12 BR 1000W unit are at the very leastinteresting; we will find out how well it can compete againstthe stiff competition of the high performance PSU market inthis review.


• 80 PLUS BRONZE certified Offer 85% minimumefficiency at 50% load


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• Golf- Surface Fan Whisper quiet double ball-bearing (upto 800W) 13.5cm golf surface fan brings more airflowvolume with less noise than convention.

• Off- Delay Fan (Fan Stays On After System Off) It allowsPSU fan to continue running after system shut down forfew seconds approximately, it helps to exhaust residualair at the end of the heating/cooling cycle for extendingcomponent life.

• Single +12V Output Rail - Offers maximum compatibilityfor the +12V demand.

• 100% Japan- made Capacitors - Longer lifespan thanelectrolytic capacitors. (under 800W main capacitoronly)

• Reliable Japan- made Solid-state Capacitors - Enhanceyour system durability and stability even under extremeconditions. (apply to 850W and 1000W)

• Easily Detachable and Flexible Modular Cables - Useonly the cables you need. Reduce clutter from unusedconnectors and enhance the air flow inside your system.Specific color connectors and infixed socket with stickerdesign to ease installation.

• PCI-Express Power Connectors - Sufficient and stablecurrent to fully support SLI & CrossFire Systems

• Advanced Double Forward Circuit and Double-LayerPCB - It brings more reliable, high efficiency andpowerful power supply (Apply to 850W and 1000W)

• All output cables with Nylon sleeve - Cable sleeve avoidscable clutter, allows neat and easy installation for animproved airflow.

• Patented Easy Swap Connector - Quick and Easyinstallation

• EuP 2010 Lot 6 compliant

• RoHS Compliant - Made with hazardous-freecomponents RoHS is the Restriction Of the use ofcertain Hazardous Substances in electrical and electronicequipment. This has been a standard in Europe andis now becoming a standard in the world. Not onlylead, but cadium, mercury, hexavalent chromium,polybrominated biphenyl (PBB), and polybrominateddiphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants are limited aswell.

• What you see is what you get. NO Tweaks! - TrueWattage Rating is the industry's way of designating apower supply model's wattage capacity. It is based onthe total DC output wattages that a power supply cancontinuously provide.

Item Name DP-1000 BRModel Number HP-1000-G14C Rev

ADimension (W /H / D)cm

15/16/8.6cm

Fan Size 13.5cmModular Cable V

+12V Rail 1RailEfficiency 85%PFC ActivePower Good Signal 100~500msHold Up Time >17msMTBF >100,000 HoursProtection UVP/OVP/OPP/

SCP/OCP/OTPOperationTemperature

0~50 °C (NominalInput Voltage)

Safety FCC,CE.UL/c-UL,TUV,CB

Input Voltage 100-240VCurrent 13AOutput Total Watts 1000W+5V 30A+3.3V 28A+12V1 75A+12V2 +12V3 +12V4 -12V +5Vsb 3A+5V/ +3.3VCombined

180W

+12V Combined 900W

Pioneer enters the PC speakermarketSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/pioneer-enters-the-pc-speaker-

market/12888.html

July 11th, 2011

Remember Pioneer? Well, the company hasn’t been doinggreat in the past few years has pulled out of several productcategories and has of lately been focusing on its audioproducts. Now the company has decided to launch a pair of PCspeakers to try and grow its audio product range, but we’re notif the company is going to be able to break into what’s alreadya very competitive market.

Remember Pioneer? Well, the company hasn’t been doinggreat in the past few years has pulled out of several productcategories and has of lately been focusing on its audioproducts. Now the company has decided to launch a pair of PCspeakers to try and grow its audio product range, but we’re notif the company is going to be able to break into what’s alreadya very competitive market.

The two new speaker models are the S-MM301 and S-MM751RU, we’d really hoped for some more memorable


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model names, but alas that wasn’t to be. The S-MM301 is a pairof stereo USB powered speakers that are targeting the laptopmarket, but Pioneer didn’t supply a picture, so we don’t knowwhat the speakers look like. They’re said to have metal grills,triple coil drivers and built-in audio controls for volume anda mute button.

More interesting is the S-MM751RU which is a set of 2.1-channel desktop speakers. The press release talks up the bassas it features what Pioneer calls “MAXX Bass Dynamic Soundwith DSP Bass Enhancement” which is mean to improve thesound from the bass speaker. The entire system is rated at40W, 20W for the subwoofer and 10W for each of the satellites.

But what makes this set of speakers interesting is the volumecontrol, or rather the additional features built into it. Pioneerhas not only added a large volume knob and an audio lineinput, but there are also playback controls in the shape of play/pause and forward/rewind buttons. Add to that a USB portand an SD card slot which allows for playback of WMA andMP3 files from suitable storage devices without turning onyour computer and you have something a little bit different.

We’re not so keen on the design though, as not only do thespeakers look cheap in glossy black plastic, but the angulardesign isn’t very attractive. The S-MM301 has an MSRP of US$49 with the S-MM751RU coming in at US$129. Both modelsare available in the US now and are expected to be available inother markets shortly.

InFocus launches affordableDLP projector rangeSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/infocus-launches-affordable-dlp-

projector-range/12887.html

July 11th, 2011

Looking for an affordable DLP HD projector? InFocus has justannounced a range of five new models of which two are 720pcapable and the best thing of all is that they're coming in at areally good price point. In fact, InFocus are touting them as itslowest priced projectors, but this isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Looking for an affordable DLP HD projector? InFocus has justannounced a range of five new models of which two are 720pcapable and the best thing of all is that they're coming in at areally good price point. In fact, InFocus are touting them as itslowest priced projectors, but this isn't necessarily a bad thing.

The new range is called the IN100 series and consists of theIN112, IN114, IN116, IN124 and IN126. The two interestingmodels are the IN116 and IN126, as they're the models thanhave a native resolution of 1280x800. The only differencewe've managed to make out between the two is that the IN126is slightly brighter than the IN116 at 2500/3200 lumens (Eco/High) whereas the IN116 only manages 2200/2700 (Eco/High).

That said, the IN116 has a longer lamp life of 6000/5000h(Eco/High) compared to 4000/2500h (Eco/High) for theIN126. InFocus claim that the new models features a new lampdesign that lasts 50 percent longer than its previous generationof projectors and considering that projector lamps are quitecostly, this is a good thing.

The IN112 only manages 800x600 pixels, while the IN114 andIN124 offer a resolution of 1024x768. These models are moresuitable in the office than for home cinema usage. The IN116,IN124 and IN126 all feature HDMI 1.3 video input as well,something the cheaper models are missing.

Price wise these new models are very competitively priced withthe IN112 at US$339, the IN114 at US$399, the IN116 andIN124 at US$499 and finally the IN126 at US$599. InFocuswill be offering all models globally according to its website,although we have a feeling that the prices might not be thesame everywhere.

MSI's A75A-G35 motherboardnears launchSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/msi-s-a75a-g35-motherboard-nears-

launch/12886.html

July 11th, 2011

So far MSI has only announced a single socket FM1motherboard for AMD's Llano APUs, the A75MA-G55, butwe've managed to score some pictures of the final version ofMSI's upcoming A75A-G35 motherboard. It's not MSI's most


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exciting motherboard ever, but it's an entry level model so takeit for what it is.

So far MSI has only announced a single socket FM1motherboard for AMD's Llano APUs, the A75MA-G55, butwe've managed to score some pictures of the final version ofMSI's upcoming A75A-G35 motherboard. It's not MSI's mostexciting motherboard ever, but it's an entry level model so takeit for what it is.

This is so far MSI's first ATX board for AMD's FM1 APUs andas far as we know, this is its entry level ATX model. It shouldbe followed by the A75A-G45 and A75A-G55, as well as themATX A75M-P35 and A75MA-35. As such the features arefairly basic, in fact, some are outright cost savings.

The slot layout isn't too bad, if a bit unusual with a x16 PCIExpress slot at the top, three x1 PCI Express slots, a x4 PCIExpress slot and two PCI slots. The board only has two DIMMslots, but considering the target market, we don't see this astoo much of an issue.

The AMD A75 chipset provides six SATA 6Gbps ports and MSIhas fitted them all, alongside pin-headers for two front USB3.0 ports (again provided by the chipset), four USB 2.0 ports,a serial and parallel port and a couple of things we're not quitesure what the pin-headers are for, but one of them appears tobe for a TPM module.

What's not so sexy is the two jumper blocks at the rear formanual switching between the display connectors, as only twoof the three can be used at the same time. This screams low costand it's something we've only seen on Chinese motherboardsfor the past couple of years now. On the plus side MSI have

used heatsinks that are screwed on rather than relying onpush-pins.

The rear I/O consists of two PS/2 ports, four USB 2.0 ports,two USB 3.0 ports, a Gigabit Ethernet port, 7.1-channel audioand a D-sub, DVI and HDMI port. Overall there's very littleto get excited about, but it's up for pre-order in Europe for aslittle as €71.50 (S$125) which makes it the cheapest ATX sizeA75 motherboard so far.


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Dell Venue smartphonereview: the venue where styleand professionalism call homeSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/dell-venue-smartphone-review-the-

venue-where-style-and-professionalism-call-home/12924.html

July 13th, 2011

Dell is widely considered to be one of the later entrants intothe market for a slice of the lucrative smartphone pie. And thefact that its first true-blue Android-powered smartphone, theVenue (and not the Streak), has only started seeing the lightof day on the retail shelves recently is certainly not about towin the company any favors within the Android ecosystem.But could this be a classic example of "better late than never",and that Dell's new Venue might just have what it takes tohold its own against the likes of established manufacturers thathave made a name for themselves in the Android smartphonespace? VR-Zone puts it to the test.

Being a latecomer to any party is never a good decisionto make, and it seems that Dell is about to find that outfor itself the hard way now that its first Android-poweredsmartphone, the Dell Venue, has only been introduced tothe market recently when countless other manufacturershave already established themselves as major players in the

Android ecosystem. And going up against such big players isdefinitely not the easiest of tasks, even if Dell has an advantagein the form of the Android operating system being extremelypopular with consumers, which gives it an extremely largemarket to play with right from the get-go.

However, there is also the possibility that Dell could beadhering to the wise saying of "better late than never", and thatit is always better to release a well-tested and stable productthat will appeal to consumers as opposed to tacking on cuttingedge technologies that have a knack for bleeding end-users alot more than they are worth. But is that always the case? Well,we are about to find out shortly, right after these hardwarespecifications.

Dell Venue hardwarespecifications Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon

QSD8250 system-on-a-chipwith 1GHz Scorpion CPU

Memory 512MB RAM Display 4.1-inch AMOLED capacitive

touchscreen display withnative 800 x 480 resolution

Operating System Android Froyo (v2.2.2) builtover Linux kernel 2.6.32.9

Cameras 8MP rear-facing camera Storage capacity 1GB, expandable with

MicroSD cards of capacitiesup to 32GB

Frequency bands 2G: GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 /1900 3G: HSDPA 850 / 900 /1700 / 1900 / 2100

Wireless connectivity 802.11 b/g, Bluetooth +A2DP + EDR

Weight 164g

Noctua NH-C14 ReviewSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/noctua-nh-c14-review/12624.html

July 13th, 2011

In our labs today is an interesting product from the alpinenation of Austria. Noctua's NH-C14 processor heatsinkpossesses an interesting design which lets you mount the faneither above or below the fin array, promising compatibility


2

with large memory modules or narrow casings. Read on to findout how Noctua's top-flow heatsink design stacks up.

Noctua is quite well-known for their enthusiast-grade coolingsolutions. In this article we'll be reviewing the Austria-basedcompany's NH-C14 processor heatsink. The NH-C14 is a top-flow design similar to Noctua's earlier NH-C12P (which is stillon sale).

The NH-C14's key difference from the NH-C12P is its flexibilitywhen it comes to fan mounting. For users of narrow/shortcasings, the fan can be mounted below the fin array, reducingthe height of the heatsink to just 105mm. The fan can also bemounted above the fin array in the traditional configurationif you require additional clearance, for instance due to largememory heatspreaders (think Kingston's HyperX modules).And if neither of these constraints apply to you, both includedfans can be used together to provide the maximum coolingperformance.

All recent processor sockets are supported by the NH-C14.Noctua offers a whopping six-year warranty, but it's not clearif this extends to the bundled fans, without which the warrantywould be rather superfluous since those are only parts liableto fail.

We'll take a closer look at the NH-C14 on the next page.

Heatsink SpecificationsSocket compatibility Intel LGA1366, LGA1156,

LGA1155, LGA775 & AMDAM2, AM2+, AM3, AM3+,FM1 (backplate required)

Height (without fan) 105 mmWidth (without fan) 140 mmDepth (without fan) 166 mmHeight (with fan) 130 mmWidth (with fan) 140 mmDepth (with fan) 166 mmWeight (without fan) 700 gWeight (with fan) 850/1000* g

Material Copper (base and heat-pipes),aluminium (cooling fins),soldered joints & nickelplating

Fan compatibility 140x140x25mm /120x120x25mm

Scope of Delivery 2x NF-P14 premium fanLow-Noise Adaptor (L.N.A.)

Ultra-Low-Noise Adaptor(U.L.N.A.)

NT-H1 high-grade thermalcompound

SecuFirm2™ Mounting Kits

Noctua Metal Case-BadgeWarranty 6 Years

Fan specificationsModelBearingRotational Speed (+/- 10%) 1200 RPMRotational Speed with L.N.A.(+/- 10%)

900 RPM

Rotational Speed withU.L.N.A. (+/- 10%)

750 RPM

Airflow 110,3 m³/hAirflow with L.N.A. 83,7 m³/hAirflow with U.L.N.A. 71,2 m³/hAcoustical Noise 19,6 dB(A)Acoustical Noise with L.N.A. 13,2 dB(A)Acoustical Noise withU.L.N.A.

10,1 dB(A)

Input Power 1,2 WVoltage Range 12 VMTBF > 150.000 h

LG unveils world's firstglasses-free 3D monitor D2000with eye-tracking technologySource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/lg-unveils-world-s-first-glasses-

free-3d-monitor-d2000-with-eye-tracking-technology/12952.html

July 13th, 2011

LG looks to be leading in the glasses-free 3D space with theirOptimus 3D smartphone and now, the company has unveiledthe glasses-free 3D monitor which claims to be the world'sfirst. The 20-inch D2000 monitor incorporates eye-tracking


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technology (with its built-in camera) to offer superb 3D visualexperience to users.

LG today unveiled the world’s first glasses-free monitorutilizing eye-tracking technology to provide an optimal 3Dvisual experience at most viewing angle. The 20-inch D2000monitor was developed as a fully functional entertainmentdisplay capable of reproducing games, movies and imagesin all their realistic glory. The D2000's 3D effect comescourtesy of glasses-free parallax barrier 3D technology, andthe application of the world’s first eye-tracking feature to themonitor.

Existing glasses-free 3D technologies generally requireviewers to stay within a tightly restricted angle and distance toperceive the 3D images. However, the D2000 is able to offerviewers more freedom and comfort viewing. Eye tracking inthe D2000 works via a special camera sensor attached to themonitor which detects changes in the user’s eye position inreal-time. With this information, the monitor calculates theangle and position of the viewer and adjusts the displayedimage for the most optimum 3D effect. In addition to playingback existing 3D content, the D2000 has a highly refined 2D to3D conversion feature which adds a new dimension to existingmovies and game playing.

The D2000 will be available in Korea this month, andintroduced to other countries in the latter part of 2011.

LG's new QWERTYsmartphone comes in the formof Optimus ProSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/lg-s-new-qwerty-smartphone-comes-

in-the-form-of-optimus-pro/12948.html

July 13th, 2011

Korean maker LG has a great start this year with its line ofOptimus smartphones namely Optimus 2X, Optimus Blackand Optimus 3D. And recently, the company has a newupcoming phone with QWERTY keyboard and it is known asthe Optimus Pro.

LG has recently unveiled a new smartphone under theOptimus series, the Optimus Pro which claims to incorporateGoogle Android 2.3 Gingerbread and 2.8-inch QVGAtouchscreen display. While the screen is not exactly largecompared to other phones on the market, the OptimusPro has a QWERTY keyboard for convenience of typingmessages. There isn't much information about the LG OptimusPro yet, except that it has a 3-megapixel camera, 800MHzprocessor and that it is positioned to be a mid-range device.The Optimus Pro is already retailing in Italy at €179 (US$249)and should be available worldwide soon.

Google brings spam filtering toGoogle VoiceSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/google-brings-spam-filtering-to-

google-voice/12951.html

July 13th, 2011

Most people hate dealing with telemarketers, especialy whenthey always seem to know when is the right (or wrong) timeto bug people with a phone call and desperetely attempt tosell some sort of product or service which nobody wants tobuy. And while it is still not possible for most users to ridthemselves from telemarketers who make calls via a land orcell phone line, Google is attempting to help users achievethat goal online by introducing a spam filter for its GoogleVoice service, which is reportedly capable of automaticallyredirecting such calls into a dedicated spam folder. Way to go,Google.

Most people regard telemarketers as a bane oftelecommunications, and for good reason. However, it doesnot help that most telemarkers are able to carry on with their


4

jobs of harassing consumers over the phone due to their use ofunlisted numbers, which makes it difficult for advanced callerID systems to carry out any form of effective filtering to helpusers avoid such phone calls completely.

Fortunately, it seems that Google is, in its typical "do not beevil" fashion, actively taking steps to ensure that telemarketersare not about to exploit the capabilities of Internet-basedtelephony. And it is going about it by implementing what isbest described as a spam filter for Google Voice, a featurewhich the company claims is designed to automatically filterunwanted phone calls directly into a dedicated spam folder,much like how its spam filter for Gmail currently works.

According to a blog post by Google's software engineeringintern Alexander Rybak, the search giant is able to implementsuch a feature simply because it has amassed a huge databaseof "spammy numbers" which was brought about by thecontributions made by "thousands of Google Voice users whomark calls as spam everyday", as well as information that isown spam identification tools were able to pick up. And itis this massive database of blacklisted numbers that allowsGoogle to further enhance the user experience on Google Voiceby automatically directing calls made from its database ofblacklisted numbers to the spam folder where they belong, allwithout the need for any interaction on the user's part.

This feature can be enabled by navigating to the Calls tab ofGoogle Voice settings and checking the box next to GlobalSPAM filtering, as shown below:

Last but definitely not least, Rybak is claiming that the spamfilter will only get better in time, as more contributions madeby users in the form of identifying additional blacklistednumbers and correcting mislabeled spam numbers will allowGoogle to further refine the filter to ensure that users do nothave to worry about having to deal with unwanted calls onGoogle Voice.

Japan to get Lady Gaga-designed mobile printer in"early September"Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/japan-to-get-lady-gaga-designed-

mobile-printer-in-early-september-/12950.html

July 13th, 2011

Would you like to get your hands on a mobile printer that hasreportedly been designed by the pop star Lady Gaga herself?Well, if you do, your best bet will be to ask a Japanese friendto assist you in purchasing and shipping the unit over fromthe Land of the Rising Sun, as Summit Global Japan hasannounced that the aforementioned printer will be makingits way down to the Japanese market for retail come "earlySeptember".

Now that celebrity-endorsed products are fast becoming agood method for capturing the hearts of consumers, it wouldmake sense that many manufacturers are extremely keen onsigning up various big-name superstars to design some oftheir products in order to make them stand out from thecompetition. And if you happen top be a huge fan of thepop superstar known as Lady Gaga...well, let's just say thatPolaroid has got something in store for you, and it comes inthe form of the GL10 mobile printer that is currently headingover to Japan for sale come "early September".

First unveiled at CES this year, the Lady Gaga-designed GL10Instant Mobile Printer is touted as the first Polaroid brandproduct under the Grey Label line, which is a new brand thatthe singer launched for the company upon taking up the postas a creative director for Polaroid products last year. Accordingto Polaroid, the GL10 boasts various features such as the useof the 2nd generation ZINK Zero Ink Printing Technologywhich is reportedly capable of inkless printing by embeddingcolor directly into the paper, wireless print capabilities viasmartphone and a wide range of custom designed borders,among many others.

Sounds interesting? Well, you have got to be prepared to breakthe piggy bank if you want to get your hands on one of theseLady Gaga-designed GL10 mobile printers, for Summit GlobalJapan has confirmed that the printer will be selling at thesuggested retail price of 17,800 yen (approx US$224). Ouch.

WitsTech unveils new Android-powered A91 tablet device forsale in ChinaSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/witstech-unveils-new-android-

powered-a91-tablet-device-for-sale-in-china/12949.html


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July 13th, 2011

It is a common perception that most, if not all of those China-branded tablet devices that are currently making their wayonto the retail shelves in the gigantic Chinese domestic marketare nothing more than cheap toys which sport poor buildqualities and weak hardware, right? Well, leave it to WitsTechto prove such critics wrong with the introduction of its newA91 Android-powered tablet, which reportedly boasts certainimprovements over its prodecessor, especialy in the looksdepartment. Read on to find out more...

Have you heard of a company known as WitsTech? Well, theymay not have got much of a presence (if at all) in many parts ofthe world, but it seems that the company is immensely popularin its own Chinese domestic market, where it specializes inthe "manufacturing and marketing of portable multimediadevices" such as tablets. And apparently, it would seem thatdemand for WitsTech's products in China is decent enoughfor the company to justify releasing a new tablet known as theA91, which the company claims is a huge improvement overits predecessor, the A81.

According to the hardware specifications published byWitsTech on its product page, the Wits A91 tablet deviceis powered by 1GHz ARM Cortex A8-based CPU whichis reportedly provided by Texas Instruments' OMAP3730processor, while a 7-inch capacitive touchscreen capable of anative resolution of 1024 x 600 serves as the A91's display.In addition, the A91 features a decent 512MB of RAM,2GB of flash memory and a battery pack which boasts acapacitiy of 3000 mAh, although the decision to include alow-resolution 1.3-megapixel camera will probably turn somepotential customers off.

That being said, WitsTech has also confirmed that the A91will feature built-in support for Bluetooth and GPS, withoptional support for 3G. Curiously, there is no mention aboutany form of support for WiFi support on the A91, althoughwe'd figure that it is probably just an oversight on WitsTech'spart, considering how most tablets, even China-branded ones,usually come standard with WiFi capabilities. Oh, and it comesbundled with version 2.3 of the Android operating system.

Last but definitely not least, it would seem that WitsTechhas given the A91 a bit of a cosmetic overhaul in order to

differentiate it from its older A81 tablet. For example, the A91now uses three touch-sensitive buttons at the front as opposedto the physical buttons that were present in the A81, and thatthe rear housing is now removable to allow users access to theA91's battery pack.

No information pertaining to pricing and availability forWitstech's A91 tablet has been released yet, although we'dexpect it to be extremely affordable, considering how thedevice appears to be designed for sale only within the Chinesedomestic market.

Microsoft issues Criticalsecurity bulletin for WindowsBluetooth Stack vulnerabilitySource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/microsoft-issues-critical-security-

bulletin-for-windows-bluetooth-stack-vulnerability/12947.html

July 13th, 2011

Is your PC running off the Windows 7 or Windows Vistaoperating system? If your answer to that question is a "yes",you might want to start firing up the Windows Update utilityin your operating system and performing a full system updatetoday, for Microsoft has announced that it has released foursecurity bulletins for this month's Patch Tuesday, and thatone particular bulletin which has been marked as "Critical" isdesigned to patch a reported flaw in the Windows BluetoothStack found in both Windows 7 and Windows Vista.

Well, we are now into the second week of July, and we allknow what this means for most people whose PCs are runningoff the world's most popular operating system. That's right,Patch Tuesday is upon us once again, and Microsoft has


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announced that it will making use of this period to close 22known vulnerabilties for its software products by publishingfour security bulletins, three of which are designed to patch theWindows operating system.

According to the details posted by Microsoft on its securityblog, the three bulletins that will be released for the Windowsoperating system are centered around closing vulnerabilitiesfound in the Windows Bluetooth Stack, its kernel-modedrivers and in the client/server run-time subsystem. Of all thethree bulletins, the one related to the Bluetooth Stack has beenflagged as "Critical", and it is this particular security bulletinwhich the Redmond giant is urging consumers and corporateusers to give priority to.

Of course, it goes without saying that the Bluetoothvulnerability which Microsoft is aiming to patch with its latestupdate will only affect users who have furnished their PCswith Bluetooth capabilities. This means that most desktop PCusers could potentially ignore this particular security bulletinwithout the need to worry about leaving their systems openfor determined attackers to gain access into, simply becausemost desktop PCs, be it self-assembled or purchased directlyfrom an OEM, typically do not come with any built-in supportfor Bluetooth.

On the other hand, notebook users would probably dowell to take heed of Microsoft's advice and patch theiroperating systems with the aforementioned security bulletin,considering how Bluetooth wireless connectivity is a standardfeature found on virtually all mobile computers that are beingsold on the market today. And yes, it only affects Windows7 and Windows Vista, so users of Windows XP can probablyheave a sigh of relief...for now.

Razer Mouse Bungee HelpsManage Your Mouse CordSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/razer-mouse-bungee-helps-manage-

your-mouse-cord/12946.html

July 13th, 2011

Razer has launched their new Mouse Bungee accessory whichcomes with a new design to help manage the gaming mousecord from dragging against surfaces or tangling, offeringgamers the optimum gaming experience. The Razer MouseBungee is schedule to ship around end of July.

Back in '96, when Quake and rocket jumping weresynonymous with skilled gaming, there was another productthat helped gamers keep their competitive spirits revved andtheir mouse swiping optimal – the Mouse Bungee. And now 15years on, Razer has taken this well-loved old-school accessoryand given it a modern makeover to keep up with the nextgeneration of professional gamers.

Outfitted with a stable, taut arm, the Razer Mouse Bungeethreads your mouse cord through to keep it from draggingagainst surfaces or tangling. This ensures your gamingexperience isn't messed up by unnecessary cord hindrance.Anti-slip feet and a weight installed in the Razer MouseBungee?s base ensure it remains immobile no matter howaggressive your swipes. Razer's updated sleek design and pitchblack finish makes it an essential space-saver and aestheticaddition to your gaming setup.

Price: US$19.99 / EU€19.99Availability: Razerzone.com – Pre-order Now

Shipping 28 July, Worldwide – July 2011

Product features:- Anti-slip feet

- Rust-resistant taut spring arm to allow cable flex

- Head grip for mouse cord management

- Weighted base for stability

- Space-saving structure

Samsung updates GalaxyPlayer 70 with new "BlackEdition" variantSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/samsung-updates-galaxy-player-70-

with-new-black-edition-variant/12945.html

July 13th, 2011


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Well, that certaintly did not take very long: in less thana month after Samsung unveiled its new Galaxy Player 70portable media player with VoIP capabilities for use onLG's U+ telecommunications network, out comes the Koreanelectronics giant with a new version of its Galaxy Player 70 forits domestic Korean market. And guess what the new versionof this portable media player is called? Why, the SamsungGalaxy Player 70 "Black Edition", of course.

It sure seems that Samsung is on a roll with its GalaxyPlayer line of media players; in less than a month after ithas struck up a deal with LG to sell its VoIP-capable GalaxyPlayer 70 device for use as Smart Home Phones on thelatter's telecommunication networks, out comes the Koreanelectronics giant with yet another Galaxy Player-related pieceof news for its domestic market. Apparently, word has it thatSamsung has just introduced a new version of the GalaxyPlayer 70 portable media player for sale in Korea, and it comesin the form of the Galaxy Player 70 "Black Edition", whichboasts a few features that are not present in the original GalaxyPlayer 70 portable media player.

According to a report published by Akihabara News, thenew Galaxy Player 70 "Black Edition" will come preloadedwith "several new educational services for Korean students",and this service apparently includes access to up to 5,000free online courses. No detailed information about theaforementioned "educational service" was mentioned in thereport, although we'd hazard a guess that the service will mostlikely consist of links to relevant reading material, or come inthe form of e-textbooks to make it easier for Korean studentsto revise their work while on the move.

In addition, as its name suggests, the new Galaxy Player70 "Black Edition" portable media player will be availablein any colour users want it to be, as long as it is black.Lastly, Akihabara News has claimed in its report that the"Black Edition" version of the Galaxy Player 70 sportsspecifications that are identical to those that are alreadypresent in the current Galaxy Player 70; this includes theuse of a 5-inch display, a preloaded Android 2.3 Gingerbreadoperating system, a rear-facing 3.2MP camera, as well asaccess to standard wireless connectivity features such as WiFi,Bluetooth 3.0 and GPS.

No pricing for the Galaxy Player 70 "Black Edition" portablemedia player has been released by Samsung at this point oftime.

BlackBerry Bold 9900 tolaunch in US next month?Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/blackberry-bold-9900-to-launch-in-us-

next-month-/12944.html

July 13th, 2011

Remember the little story we published a month ago aboutResearch In Motion or RIM unveiling its upcoming BlackBerryBold 9900 smartphone, while conveniently choosing to keepconsumers in the dark by not providing any details aboutpricing and availability? Well, we got some good news;apparently BlackBerry fans who cannot wait to get their handson RIM's newest smartphone need not have to wait for long,for word has it that the RIM is very close to launching the Bold9900 in the US. And we all know what that means, right?

We have covered its official unveiling a month ago, andbrought you a hands on of the product itself when it wasexhibited at RIM's booth during the recent CommunicAsiatrade event, but in spite of all this publicity, it would seem thatRIM is dead set in keeping the two key details of its upcomingBlackBerry Bold 9900 smartphone, pricing and availability,a well-guarded secret. However, it seems that good thingsdo indeed happen to those who are patient, for word has itthat RIM has broken its silence over the issue of the Bold9900 availability in its annual shareholder meeting.

According to a report published by Electronista, it was RIM'sco-CEO, Mike Lazaridis, who spilled the beans about theBlackBerry Bold 9900's launch date during the meeting byclaiming that the smartphone was "very close to a launch",and that he expected the device to make its way out ontoretail shelves "over the next month". This ties in with theFCC's go-ahead for the device, which had reportedly clearedthe BlackBerry Bold 9900 for sale in the US by late August,although Electronista is suggesting that US carriers are morelikely to start selling the device only in September.


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Also revealed during the shareholder meeting was RIM'saggressive plans to push the Bold 9900 smartphone outto consumers; Electronista has reported that the companyintends to launch the smartphone with no less than "491certification programs and 191 carriers".

However, it seems that RIM is still intent on keeping atight lid over the BlackBerry Bold 9900's pricing, as noinformation about this particular detail was released duringthe company's annual shareholder meeting, so suffice to sayno one really knows just how much the Bold 9900 smartphonewill eventually cost when it hits US retail shelves sometime inlate August or early September. Of course, you can rest assuredthat we will be keeping tabs on this as well, so do check backfor updates.

Sony improves notebook Li-Ionbattery technlogySource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/sony-improves-notebook-li-ion-

battery-technlogy/12943.html

July 13th, 2011

If you're finding that your notebook battery life falls a bit shortof your expectations, then Sony has good news as the companyhas managed to improve the capacity of its Nexelion hybridLi-Ion battery cells. The original Nexelion battery cells wereintroduced back in 2005 and back then offered a good bumpin battery capacity and although it's taken six years, we're nowgetting another bump.

If you're finding that your notebook battery life falls a bit shortof your expectations, then Sony has good news as the companyhas managed to improve the capacity of its Nexelion hybridLi-Ion battery cells. The original Nexelion battery cells wereintroduced back in 2005 and back then offered a good bumpin battery capacity and although it's taken six years, we're nowgetting another bump.

The current generation of Nexcelion cells are rated at 2.2Ahper cell, but now Sony is getting ready to start shipping cellsrated at 3.5Ah. The energy density has increased from 182Whper kg to 226Wh per kg, although the new cells are slightlyheavier than the current ones at an additional 10g per cell.

The new cells can also be drained for more power than thecurrent cells, as where the current cells have a cut-off pointat 3V the new cells can go all the way down to 2V while

still delivering 3.5Ah. Another bonus is that the new Nexelioncells are less temperature sensitive and won't suffer frompremature discharging at low temperatures, something that isa problem for Li-Ion batteries.

Sony should start shipping the new battery cells shortly andthey should appear in battery packs for various notebooks andseveral other types of products like camcorders and what not.It'll be interesting to see how much difference in notebookbattery life Sony's new Nexcelion cells make and let's hopeSony has managed to improve the reliability as well, so wedon't get any more of those nasty exploding battery packs.

Sony launches USB 3.0hard drive, with homeentertainment in mindSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/sony-launches-usb-3.0-hard-drive-

with-home-entertainment-in-mind/12942.html

July 13th, 2011

Sony is breaking new ground by releasing an external harddrive for its home entertainment products. The model is calledthe HD-PG5U and it will connect to a wide range of Sonyproducts ranging from camcorders to TV's and of course thePS3.

Sony is breaking new ground by releasing an external harddrive for its home entertainment products. The model is calledthe HD-PG5U and it will connect to a wide range of Sonyproducts ranging from camcorders to TV's and of course thePS3.

The HD-PG5U will allow users to record HD TV programswhen connected to compatible Sony Bravia TV's and it willallow owners of some of its Handycam camcorders to transferfootage directly to the drive without the need of a PC.

The PS3 will be able to play back AVCHD video and photosvia an app known as "Filmy" and the drive will of course alsoconnect to any PC via either USB 3.0 or USB 2.0. Sony has pre-loaded the drive with its "Data Transfer Accelerator" softwarewhich is said to double the effective transfer rate, somethingwe'll believe when we see it.


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The drive can also be password protected and support 256-bit encryption. Sony also provides backup software for PCs.For some reason Sony is supplying the drive formatted inNTFS, but provides a piece of software that re-formats it inFAT32 (we're not sure why this is needed, since this is astandard Windows feature) so that it can be used with Sony'scamcorders and the PS3. Not exactly what we'd call an idealsolution.

The HD-PG5U is only available in 500GB as the drive is a 2.5-inch model. Sony will offer it in a choice of either black orwhite. No word on pricing and apparently for the time beingit's exclusive to the UK, France and Germany.

MSI set to launch moreaffordable Z68A-G45motherboard shortlySource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/msi-set-to-launch-more-affordable-

z68a-g45-motherboard-shortly/12941.html

July 13th, 2011

So far MSI has only really launched five Z68 boards, althoughtwo has already been revised with PCI Express 3.0 supportfor Intel's Ivy Bridge processors that should launch sometimein the first half of next year. We've managed to get hold of acouple of pictures of a more affordable ATX size board thatMSI is set to launch shortly, namely the Z68A-G45, the modelbelow the currently available Z68A-GD55.

So far MSI has only really launched five Z68 boards, althoughtwo has already been revised with PCI Express 3.0 supportfor Intel's Ivy Bridge processors that should launch sometimein the first half of next year. We've managed to get hold of acouple of pictures of a more affordable ATX size board thatMSI is set to launch shortly, namely the Z68A-G45, the modelbelow the currently available Z68A-GD55.

We can actually see the Z68A-G45 becoming a popular modelfrom MSI, as although it might not be quite as feature rich

as some of its more expensive counterparts; it's overall apretty decent board. Compared to the Z68A-GD55, the Z68A-G45 is missing DrMOS (Driver MOSFETs) and the tantalumcapacitors used in the VRM on the Z68A-GD55. MSI has alsocut the phase count from 10 to six, but this should still proveto be sufficient even for overclockers.

Other changes include removal of the power, reset and OCGenie buttons, no angled SATA connectors and no meteringpoints for the Voltages. Again, nothing that most peoplecouldn't live without. The chipset heatsink is also somewhatsmaller which is a slight concern, but we can't imagine thatMSI has made it so small that there would be heat problems.

What you do get is a pair of x16 PCI Express slots that operatein dual x8 mode, three x1 PCI Express slots and two PCI slots.There are pin headers for eight front USB 2.0 ports as well astwo USB 3.0 ports. Around the back things haven't changed atall from the more expensive model, so we're looking at a PS/2port, four USB 2.0 ports, two USB 3.0 ports, a Gigabit Ethernetport, 7.1-channel audio with optical and coaxial S/PDIF outand an HDMI, D-Sub and DVI port.

Judging by pre-order pricing in Europe the Z68A-G45 shouldretail for around €130 (S$223), whereas the Z68A-GD55 isretailing for around €150 (S$257). A small price difference, but


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then again, none of the really important features are missing,so we weren't expecting a huge price difference in the firstplace.

Be Quiet Dark Rock Pro C1CPU cooler reviewSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/be-quiet-dark-rock-pro-c1-cpu-cooler-

review/12925.html

July 13th, 2011

Today we bring you yet another review of a product fromBe Quiet, who perhaps is the most well known Germanmanufacturer of PC-related products. A few weeks ago we hada look at their Dark Rock Advanced C1, a very high quality CPUcooler; today we are going to test and review its monstrousbrother, the Dark Rock Pro C1 CPU cooler.

Introduction

Today we bring you yet another review of a product fromBe Quiet, who perhaps is the most well known Germanmanufacturer of PC-related products. A few weeks ago we hada look at their Dark Rock Advanced C1, a very high quality CPUcooler; today we are going to test and review its monstrousbrother, the Dark Rock Pro C1 CPU cooler.


• For gaming, multimedia and CAD systems even atmaximum processing power.

• Suitable for overclocking operation.

• Extremely efficient up to more than 220 watt.

• Maximum cooling efficiency, Delta T 9.2 @ 100 watt.

• Quiet operation with 1× Silent Wings PWM fan, 12.0–25.9 dB(A).

• High-quality materials with dark nickel surfaces.

Thermal resistance@ CPU Power disposal (Rth@ P)

0,092

Overall dimensions withoutmounting material (L x W xH) (mm)

133 x 150 x 166

Total weight 1550CPU Wattage Range (W) 220Socket compatibility LGA 775 / 1155 / 1156 / 1366,

AM2 / AM2+ / AM3 / 754 /939 / 940

Backplate Mounting Yes

Push pin mountingFan model, number SilentWings PWM , 2Anti vibration fan fixingRubber stringStainless steel clip andcontact ring

Yes

Overall noise level (dB(A)) @900/1250/100% (rpm)

12,0 / 19,8 / 25,9

Fin dimensions (L x W) ,thickness (mm)

133 x 47 x 0,4

Number of fins 44Fin material AluminiumBase material CopperCPU contact surface CNC machinedHeatpipe number, Diameter(mm)

7; 6

Surface treatment Nickel platedFan dimensions (mm) 120Speed @ 100% PWM (rpm) 1700Air flow @ 100% (CFM; m3/h)

57,2; 93,3

Air pressure (mm H2O) 2,1Bearing type FDBRated voltage (V) 12,0Input current (A) 0,2Input power (W) 2,4PWM Controller YesConnector 4-pin MolexCable length (mm) 250Cable sleeve YesLivetime L10 @ 25 °C (hours) 300.000

Logitech Launches NewWireless Touch KeyboardK400Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/logitech-launches-new-wireless-touch-

keyboard-k400/12937.html

July 13th, 2011

It was only last week that Logitech announced the G400Optical Gaming Mouse and today, the peripheral maker haslaunched the Wireless Touch Keyboard K400 designed to offergreater connectivity and convenience for users. Read on.


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Logitech has introduced their latest Wireless Touch KeyboardK400, which gives users wireless control of their computer orlaptop-connected TV conveniently. With a wireless range ofup to 10m, the Logitech Wireless Touch Keyboard K400 offerseasy control of a laptop on its own or when it’s connected toa TV from the comfort of your couch. The Logitech WirelessTouch Keyboard K400 is designed specifically for peoplewho connect their laptops to a TV to enjoy their favouritemultimedia content on a larger screen. A built-in 3.5-inchtouchpad makes vertical and horizontal scrolling intuitive andeliminates the need for a separate mouse.

The Logitech Wireless Touch Keyboard K400 is easy to setup– just plug the tiny Logitech Unifying receiver into a USB portand it’s ready to use. The Logitech Wireless Touch KeyboardK400 can even add five more compatible devices to the samereceiver. Users can also enjoy lean-back wireless control forup to a year without the hassle of changing batteries. TheLogitech Wireless Touch Keyboard K400 is compact withoutcompromising on comfort, and stands vertically when not inuse for easy storage.

Pricing and Availability

The Logitech Wireless Touch Keyboard K400 is available nowfor a suggested retail price of S$59.

AMD launches Radeon HD6990MSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/amd-launches-radeon-

hd-6990m/12935.html

July 13th, 2011

NVIDIA recently released "Fastest Notebook GPU Ever" - theGeForce GTX 580M - less than two weeks ago. Considering thetop AMD GPU at the time - Radeon HD 6970M - featured a cutdown Barts core with a conservative price and TDP (comparedto NVIDIA competition), a spruced up Radeon HD 6990M wasalways on the cards. AMD is releasing the Radeon HD 6990M,claiming the "World's Fastest Mobile GPU" title away from thebarely 2-week old GTX 580M.

There are no major surprises with the Radeon HD 6990M. Itfeatures a full Barts core with 1120 SP and 56 TMU enabled(as opposed to 960 SP for the HD 6970M). The clock speed isup to 715 MHz as well. The memory bandwidth continues tobe the same. However, the HD 6990M feature 2GB GDDR5,doubling up on the HD 6970M.

AMD's internal benchmarks show the Radeon HD 6990Mperforming 10% faster than the GTX 580M. Of course, theseinternal benchmarks are often cherry picked, and we will haveto wait for independent reviews to confirm AMD's "World'sFastest Notebook GPU" claim. This is a direct reprise for theHD 6870 vs. GTX 560 Ti battle in the desktop arena. Like thedesktop battle, the AMD product is based on a much smallerdie with much lesser power consumption. Crucially, it is worthnoting that the HD 6990M is clocked closer to the HD 6870than the GTX 580M is to the GTX 560 Ti - so all indicationssuggest HD 6990M will indeed suprass the GTX 580M, likelywith a lower pricing.

The HD 6990M will soon be found in high-end laptops byOEMs such as Alienware, Clevo and Eurocom. Some uberenthusiast laptops may also offer 2x HD 6990M in CrossFire.

HP organizes new team tofocus on webOS; and topioneer UltrabooksSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/hp-organizes-new-team-to-focus-on-

webos-and-to-pioneer-ultrabooks/12921.html

July 13th, 2011

HP has appointed a new executive to lead the development ofits webOS software which it acquired from Palm, and to pushand broaden the software usage. On top of that, the companyalso aims to pioneer Ultrabook-concept notebook PCs beforethe rest of its competitors.


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According to reports, HP has appointed Palm’s former CEOJon Rubinstein to take charge of product development andinnovation for the Personal Systems Group, which consistsof PCs, tablets and smartphones, and senior vice presidentStephen DeWitt who will be responsible for developing andpromoting the webOS software. HP has started shipping theirlong-awaited TouchPad tablet devices in the U.S. last week andthe company is counting on producing new products based onthe recently acquired webOS operating system from Palm tostand out from the competition. The company is also lookingto attract developers to program applications for the webOSplatform and to expand on its use.

On top of that, HP is also looking to be the pioneer to launchIntel's Ultrabook-concept notebook PCs, and ahead of ASUSUX21 Ultrabook that is scheduled to launch in September.The company is also expected to launch Ultrabooks basedon Intel Ultra-thin Core i7-2677M (1.8GHz) and i7-2637M(1.7GHz) dual-core processors. The ASUS UX21 Ultrabooksare expected to be available in 11.6- and 13-inch displays.

Verbatim launches ultra-smallStore 'n' Stay USB flash drivesSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/verbatim-launches-ultra-small-store-n-

stay-usb-flash-drives/12934.html

July 13th, 2011

In today's day and age where the need for ready access to dataon the move via portable storage devices is something mostpeople cannot afford to go without, it would make sense thatsuch devices will need to be able to offer more in terms ofstorage capacity and user confort. And leave it to Verbatim tosolve both needs in a single solution that is its ultra-small Store'n' Stay USB flash drives, which are designed to be installedonce on a PC and then 'forgotten', so to speak.

Most of us will probably have difficulty imagining a worldwhere portable, high-capacity storage devices such as USB

flash disks did not exist, but it does not change the fact thatmost of these USB flash disks have a little problem in theusability department ; they are not small enough to the pointwhere users can simply hook up their storage devices to theirnotebooks and leave it there without the need to remove themat all, even when packing up or moving around. And this isthe kind of need Verbatim is clearly aiming to fulfill with theintroduction of its new Verbatim Store 'n' Stay ultra-small USBflash disks.

Said to be no larger than a dime, or approximately the size ofa typical nano receiver used by wireless mice, Verbatim claimsthat the "low-profile, snag-free design makes it the optimalUSB flash drive choice for laptop users who want the ability totransfer, store and share their favorite files on impulse", a featwhich is achieved by it being "meant to be left in the USB portfor always-ready storage". Indeed, with a physical footprintthis small, one can simply just pack their notebook withouthaving to worry about the device getting caught on the zipperof their notebook's sleeves or carrying bags.

Unfortunately for those looking for blazing data transferspeeds in the Store 'n' Stay flash drives, Verbatim hasreportedly confirmed that the devices will be making use of theUSB 2.0 interface, so high-seed data transfers with the Store'n' Stay is definitely out of the question. However, if it is of anyconsolation, the drives will be available in fairly large storagecapacities of 4GB (US$19.99), 8GB (US$29.99) and 16GB (US$59.99), which should be more than enough space for mostusers to store all their important data with.

Easydy unveils E88 tabletdevice for ChinaSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/easydy-unveils-e88-tablet-device-for-

china/12933.html


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July 13th, 2011

You know what they say about Chinese OEMs and theirdevices: if there is a product out there that does well onthe market, it will only be a matter of time before someenterprising Chinese OEMs produce a similar device based offits likeness, but with vastly different hardware and capabilitiesto boot. And this is exactly what Easydy has done with its E88tablet device, which bears more than a passing semblance to acertain tablet we all know so well.

How would you like to own an 'iPad 2' at the unbelievablylow price of US$98? Well, that is exactly what a Chinese OEMknown as Easydy is offering its domestic Chinese market, andits product comes in the form of the E88 tablet, which, as wehave already pointed out previously, bears more than just apassing semblance to the real deal that has been released tocritical acclaim by Apple.

According to a report posted by M.I.C Digi, the Easydy E88may resemble Apple's iPad 2 tablet device, but that is wherethe similarity ends. This is because, unlike the ARM processorsused to power most of the tablets that are currently availablefor sale on the market today. Easydy has opted to furnishits E88 tablet with a VIA 8650 processor that is clockedat 800MHz. And we all know what an x86-based processormeans; technically, users with sufficient computer know-howcan replace the bundled Android 2.2 operating system with aworking copy of Windows into the E88.

In addition to the use of an x86-based processor, the E88 willalso feature 256MB of memory, 4GB of storage, (expandablevia microSD cards) and a 9.7-inch resistive touchscreencapable of a native resolution of 800 x 600. Last but definitelynot least, M.I.C Digi claims that the E88 will come with built-in support for 3G and will weigh 479g.

Haier upgrades HaiPad tabletdevice, still available only inChinaSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/haier-upgrades-haipad-tablet-device-

still-available-only-in-china/12932.html

July 13th, 2011

It has been some time since we talked about Chinese products,but that does not mean that the consumer electronics scene inChina has been mellowing out somewhat. On the contrary, itseems to be just as lively as it always has been, and the bestproof of that fact is has got to be Haier's recent product launch,where it officially unveiled its upgraded Haipad tablet devicefor the Chinese domestic market.

Haier may not be all that well-known in other parts of theworld, but it seems that the company is well-regarded as oneof the trusted household brands over in China, and it shows.Apparently, the company's earlier Haipad tablet has done wellenough in the Chinese domestic market for it to jusfity therelease of an upgraded veraion of the tablet that comes withsome notable improvements over its predecessor.


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According to a report published by Shanzhai.com, theupgraded Haipad tablet, which was launched yesterday inChina, sports a new operating system in the form of "a DianXinversion of Android"... and version 2.2 at that. This puts theHaipad in a bit of a disadvantage, as most tablets that havebeen released for sale recently now sport the newer and moreadvanced Honeycomb.

That being said, little about the tablet's hardwarespecifications has been made public, although Shanzhai.comclaims that the upgraded Haipad will sport a seven-inchtouchscreen, dual cameras, built-in support for 3G, andutilizes a Samsung processor clocked at 1GHz. In addition,Shanzhai.com also claims that consumers will have five colorchoices to choose from for the Haipad, and that the companyhas launched its own app store to provide "more than 15,000apps to Chinese consumers", although it did not mentionwhether the Haipad will support the official Android Market.

No information about pricing has been revealed by Haier yet,although the report claims that the Haipad is expected to bereleased for sale in China only by August this year.

Samsung leaks upcomingNexus smartphone with IceCream SandwichSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/samsung-leaks-upcoming-nexus-

smartphone-with-ice-cream-sandwich/12931.html

July 13th, 2011

Seems like the good folks over at Samsung were just not ableto keep a secret in their excitement over the major changesthat Google is reportedly bringing to the Android ecosystem intime. Apparently, the Korean electronics giant has essentiallyleaked just about every important aspect of an upcomingNexus-branded smartphone, right down to the OS version andits availability. Way to go, Samsung.

Remember the news we posted some time back about howthe next Nexus-branded smartphone will be named the Nexus

Prime, and that Google will be supposedly abandoning its "oneNexus phone only" approach in favor of allowing a variety ofOEMs to produce their own Nexus-branded smartphones aslong as it conforms to a specific set of requirements? Well,thanks to Samsung and its Romanian Twitter account, we havegot further information about that aforementioned Nexus-branded smartphone, right down to the operating system thatit will be bundled with, and its expected availability on themarket.

In case you are wondering what the tweet means, Samsungis claiming that the upcoming Nexus phone is likely to makeits way onto the market for sale come end 2011, and that itwill be pre-loaded with version 4.0 of the Android operatingsystem, which is otherwise known by its mouth-watering nameof Ice Cream Sandwich. Of course, the fact that machinetranslations are not exactly the most reliable solutions toovercome the language barrier means that the possibility of amisunderstanding due to inaccurate translations is a distinctpossibility. However, it is also the closest one can get toactually having an official word from Samsung about theavailability of its upcoming Nexus-branded smartphone.

No information about the upcoming Nexus-brandedsmartphone's hardware has been revealed yet, though.However, if you are keen to find out what the rumour millclaims is the most possible hardware combination for theNexus 3, you can head over to our previous story to do so.

Google to add imagestabilization to video calls onGoogle Talk?Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/google-to-add-image-stabilization-to-

video-calls-on-google-talk-/12930.html

July 13th, 2011

There is nothing more nauseating than viewing a short videoclip that looked as though it was filmed by someone who hasa severe case of Parkinson's disease, and this is even moreso when one is communicating through others via video chaton a mobile computing device such as a smartphone or tabletdevice. And leave it to Google to attempt a solution to the


15

problem by reportedly planning to include image stabilizationtechnology into future versions of Google Talk.

Video calls are a great way to keep in touch with friends andfamily members; unfortunately, the experience can all-too-easily be ruined by either party failing to have a steady gripon the device that is currently being used to make the videocall, which results in what is supposed to be a heartwarmingconversation quickly becoming a nauseating experience.

Fortunately, it appears that Google is taking steps to ensurethat video calls made via its Google Talk service do notsuffer such undesirable outcomes, for word has it that thesearch giant is planning to implement some form of imagesstabilization technology into future versions of its onlinetelephony service.

Details about the new image stabilization technology arescarce, but what we do know from various online reports isthat the technology will be developed by a company known asSRI International, which some people may remember as theparty that was responsible for designing the computer mousethat virtually every single PC user simply cannot live withouttoday. SRI International claims that its technology will be ableto benefit users who frequently make use of video calls in twoways, namely in terms of user comfort and the device's videoprocessing algorithms:

By stabilizing the video, SRI's software compensatesfor scene motion and allows the video compressionalgorithm to improve image quality by using fewerbits to encode the video. There is increased mobiledevice efficiency when an image is stabilized beforecompression, and there is less work for a device'svideo compression engine to perform.

Sounds interesting? Well, hang on to your horses for now:while there is no denying that the inclusion of such a featurewill be greatly welcomed by many users engage in videocalls while on the move, it seems that not all Android-powered devices will be blessed with support for SRI's imagestabilization technology. at least during the initial rollout. Thisis because word has it that the feature will only be availableto tablets running off version 3.0 or later of the Androidoperating system, although it seems that many are hopeful thatGoogle will eventually find a way to have the feature trickledownstream to older versions of Android.

Pantech releases Vega N5smartphone for sale in KoreaSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/pantech-releases-vega-n5-smartphone-

for-sale-in-korea/12929.html

July 13th, 2011

When it comes to fanciful gadgets such as smartphones andtablets, it goes without saying that Singapore is always oneof the last to get its share of the fun (if ever), and the latestannouncement from Pantech only seems to confirm that fact.Apparently, the Vega N5 super-powered smartphone that wasannounced back in May has finally been released for sale inKorea, and it seems that it will only be available for purchasein that particular country.

Do you remember a certain story we published a long time agoabout what was allegedly an Android-powered superphonefrom Pantech that was known as the Vega X and was touted tobe the fastest smartphone to exist on the market? Well, scratchthat; Pantech has just outdid itself with the introduction of aneven more powerful smartphone that is seemingly capable ofleaving the Vega X in the dust of its wake, and it is called theVega N5.

According to various online reports, the Pantech Vega N5is powered by Qualcomm's MSM8660 processor which isclocked at a whopping speed of 1.5GHz, while its memory isprovided by 1GB of DDR2 RAM, in addition to its internalstorage capacity of 16GB. And if that is not enough tosatisfy those who simply have to be on the bleeding edgeof smartphone technology, the reports also claim that thePantech Vega N5 will come bundled with version 2.3.3 ofthe Android operating system and will feature a five-inchdisplay which is capable of a native resolution of 800 x 480,similar to what Dell currently offers in its Dell Streak 5 tablet/smartphone hybrid device.

Unfortunately, this is where we have the classic "good newsbad news" situation going, and the bad news is that most ofthe reports have indicated that there is virtually no chance of


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a global launch, for the Vega N5 is currently only targeted atits domestic Korean market. No information about pricing hasbeen revealed yet, although some reports are claiming that theVega N5 will be sold for the equivalent of 550 euros (approx US$767). And no, the lady is not included as part of the package.

1Gbit/s 802.11ac Wi-Fi demoedby NTTSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/1gbits-802.11ac-wi-fi-demoed-by-

ntt/12928.html

July 13th, 2011

Japanese NTT has demoed a prototype setup using the nextgeneration 802.11ac standard which should bring us 1Gbit/s Wi-Fi. The demo was shown last week at an event calledWireless Technology Park in Yokohama City in Japan.

Japanese NTT has demoed a prototype setup using the nextgeneration 802.11ac standard which should bring us 1Gbit/s Wi-Fi. The demo was shown last week at an event calledWireless Technology Park in Yokohama City in Japan.

In as much as the technology itself is rather impressive speedwise, there seems to be quite a few hurdles that still need tobe overcome before this technology has a chance to win overconsumers and business alike. The good news is that it seemsto be sufficient with three antennas on the receiving end, butthe transmitter at this stage is using no less than sixantennas.

If 802.11ac is going to be developed this way, then it means thatWi-Fi as we know it is going to turn asynchronous, somethingwe have a feeling quite a few users aren't going to be too keenon. On top of that, speeds at Gigabit level are currently onlybeing achieved to a single receiver, whereas in a three userscenario the speed was dropped to an effective throughput of120Mbit/s per user. This is still better than the current 802.11nstandard, but far from ideal in a multi-user environment,something that Wi-Fi almost always is.

We're also moving to wider and wider data channels and the802.11ac standard will move from the 40MHz per channel of802.11n to 80MHz per channel. The 802.11ac standard is saidto be ratified by 2013, so luckily there's still some time to workout the kinks. Faster Wi-Fi sounds like a great thing, but italmost seems like there's a need to come up with a better way ofsending the radio signals, as we can't see a lot of router makersgoing down the route (no pun intended) of adding six antennasto their devices.

Is the Air Bearing HeatExchanger the future of CPUcooling?Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/is-the-air-bearing-heat-exchanger-the-

future-of-cpu-cooling-/12927.html

July 13th, 2011

An outfit called Sandia National Laboratories has developedsomething called an "Air Bearing Heat Exchanger" or as theylike to call it, the Sandia Cooler and it's said to change theway we cool our CPUs. The name is a lot fancier than thetechnology itself, but it does have some merits compared to aregular heatsink/fan cooler.

An outfit called Sandia National Laboratories has developedsomething called an "Air Bearing Heat Exchanger" or as theylike to call it, the Sandia Cooler and it's said to change theway we cool our CPUs. The name is a lot fancier than thetechnology itself, but it does have some merits compared to aregular heatsink/fan cooler.

What makes the Sandia Cooler so special is the fact that thecooling fins themselves are actually moving and this is said toremove the "thermal bottleneck" of current CPU coolers. Thisis done by placing a brushless DC motor in the centre of theheatsink, a spot that's usually where the motor of the fan islocated.


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The cooler has a stationary base plate and there's a 0.001-inch(0.0254mm) gap between the base plat and the rotating fins.Now we can see this becoming a huge precision manufacturingissue, as a gap that small is going to be hard to produce.However, this design is meant to alleviate what is claimed tobe a layer of "dead air" that "clings to the cooling fins".

So far the cooler has only been created in a proof-of-conceptprototype, but it's said to offer several times the coolingperformance of a regular CPU cooler. The top part of theheatsink is said to rotate at a speed of "a few thousand rpm" butno specifics were given. The fin structure has been designedto be aerodynamic which in turn is said to make it extremelyquiet during operation. On top of that, final production coolersare said to be up to 10 times smaller than current "state-of-the-art" CPU coolers, whatever that refers to.

Apparently the design also prevents the cooler from being"fouled" by dust, i.e. it's not meant to collect dust, unlike youraverage CPU cooler which tends to need a good clean everyfew months. It's also meant to be more energy efficient thancurrent air coolers, although considering fan coolers are usingsimilar kinds of DC motors, we don't quite get this point. Thetechnology is currently being offered for licensing and it seemslike we'll have to wait and see if there are any takers or not.It sounds a little bit too good to be true, but we'll wait withinterest to see where this goes.


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Intel might yet get SandyBridge-E out this yearSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/intel-might-yet-get-sandy-bridge-e-

out-this-year/12991.html

July 15th, 2011

A couple of weeks ago we reported that Intel's upcomingSandy Bridge-E processor and Waimea Bay platform had beendelayed until January 2012. New information has reachedus that suggest that Intel is trying very hard to get the newplatform out this year, although this means that the companywill axe a lot of platform features.

A couple of weeks ago we reported that Intel's upcomingSandy Bridge-E processor and Waimea Bay platform had beendelayed until January 2012. New information has reachedus that suggest that Intel is trying very hard to get the newplatform out this year, although this means that the companywill axe a lot of platform features.

Judging by the information we've seen, Intel is having severalissues with the new platform, ranging from storage, to PCIExpress and apparently even CPU revisions. It's pretty muchbad news all around. But let's take a step back and look atthings with a view from Intel's Xeon roadmap. The picturebelow is from a partner presentation and although it's beenseen before, we're going to leave that partner un-named as wedon't want to get them in any trouble. As you can see, it detailsfour different chipset SKUs for Patsburg,- A, -B, -D and -T.The X79 chipset is known as Patsburg-X and was meant to besimilar in terms of features to the Patsburg-D SKU.

As you can see, there are a few feature differences between thevarious SKUs with Patsburg-A only featuring four additionalSATA 6Gbps ports via the SCU and Patsburg-B gains SAS6Gbps support. However, where things get interesting isPatsburg-D, the performance option, as this gains not only anadditional four SATA/SAS 6Gbps via the SCU, but also a PCIExpress 3.0 uplink to the CPU. Patsburg-T just gains an extraRAID level, but is otherwise identical to Patsburg-D.

So why are we mentioning all of this? Well, because as wementioned, Patsburg-X or X79 if you like, was meant to

come with the same features as Patsburg-D, more or less,albeit with some additional consumer tweaks. However, due towhatever issues Intel is having, the company has now decidedto downgrade the feature set and we're now looking at achipset that is similar to Patsburg-B instead. This means noPCI Express 3.0 storage uplink to the CPU and the loss offour SATA/SAS 6Gbps ports. Even for the most performancedemanding users this isn't likely to be a huge issue though,but it's still disappointing, especially after having seen so manyboards on display at Computex with 14 SATA ports on them.

On a more positive note, Intel is apparently looking intosome kind of solution that will add the storage uplink andthe missing SATA/SAS 6Gbps ports after launch, but it's notlikely that this is a feature that can be added via a software/BIOS patch simply because the PCI Express 3.0 interfacewouldn't be present on the motherboard. Presumably it'dmean a second revision of the X79 chipset, but this is purelyspeculation on our side.

Sandy Bridge-E was also meant to be Intel's first native PCIExpress 3.0 enabled CPU, but alas once again Intel has runinto a snag. Due to lack of hardware to test PCI Express 3.0compliance with, Intel has decided not to include PCI Express3.0 at launch and once again we're looking at some kind ofsolution to add this after the platform has launched. Onceagain this is an issue that is unlikely to have any impactwhatsoever; simply because there are no PCI Express 3.0 add-on cards available. That said, the LGA-2011 platform is meantto last until at least the second half of 2013, so this is a featurethat will future proof it.

On top of all the chipset issues, Intel also seems to have runinto a snag with the CPUs, as the C-0 stepping is meant tostart shipping to its partners for qualification testing withinthe next two to four weeks. Intel is apparently waiting forrevision C-1 until it feels confident with Sandy Bridge-E. Thegood news is that despite all of this, Intel's board designguidelines have proven to be reliable enough so that Intel'sboard partners won't have to do any board re-designs despiteall of the changes that have taken place. Well, that is of course


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not taking into account things like empty space for missingSATA/SAS ports.

We're not out of the woods yet, but we might actually get to seea Sandy Bridge-E launch this time of Christmas, although itreally depends on how quickly Intel can solve all of the issues.Then again, it might be better to hold off and wait and see whatIntel will do with regards to the missing feature than take theplunge early on and miss out on the full platform.

Corsair Force GT 120GB SSDdrive reviewSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/corsair-force-gt-120gb-ssd-drive-

review/12990.html

July 15th, 2011

Corsair has always been one of the biggest players in thecomputer memory market, consequently it was only naturalfor them to join the solid state disk segment of the market sinceSSD’s are essentially made of flash memory chips. Today weare having a look at the fastest SSD Corsair currently produces,the Force GT 120GB drive which boasts incredible speeds ofup to 555MB/s sequential read and 515MB/s sequential write.We are going to examine the drive’s synthetic and real worldperformance in this review.

Corsair has always been one of the biggest players in thecomputer memory market, consequently it was only naturalfor them to join the solid state disk segment of the market sinceSSD’s are essentially made of flash memory chips. Today weare having a look at the fastest SSD Corsair currently produces,the Force GT 120GB drive which boasts incredible speeds ofup to 555MB/s sequential read and 515MB/s sequential write.We are going to examine the drive’s synthetic and real worldperformance in this review.


• Interface: SATA 3 6Gb/s

• Operating temperature: 0° C to +70° C

• Storage temperature: -20° C to +85° C

• Operating Humidity: 10% to 90% RH (0° to +40° C)

• Maximum Operating Altitude: 3,048 m (up to 10,000 ft.)

• Maximum Non-Operative Altitude: 12,192 m (up to40,000 ft.)

Unformatted Capacity 120 GBRead Performance (max) 555 MB/sWrite Performance (max) 515 MB/s

Random Write 4k (max) 85k IOPS (4k aligned)Form Factor 2.5”Interface Type SATA 3 6Gb/sOnboard cache NAOperating Temperature 0C to +70CStorage Temperature -20C to +85COperating Humidity 10% to 90% RH (0° to +40°

C)Storage Humidity 5% to 90% RH (-10° to +60°

C)Maximum Operating Altitude 3,048 m (up to 10,000 ft.)Maximum Non-OperatingAltitude

12,192 m (up to 40,000 ft.)

ASUS Eee Pad Shipments Hit400,000 units a MonthSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/asus-eee-pad-shipments-hit-400-000-

units-a-month/12989.html

July 15th, 2011

ASUS had already shipped 400,000 units of Eee PadTransformer for the month and this is expected to increase forthe second half of the year.

The sleek tablet is gaining popularity quickly. ASUS hadalready shipped 400,000 units of the Eee Pad Transformer forthe month and it is expected to increase further. ASUS had seta goal of shipping two million sets in 2011 and it seems thatit will meet the target effortlessly. Sources also indicated that


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ASUS had requested a monthly target of 400,000 to 500,000units from its touch panel suppliers.

More Specifications Revealedfor AMD BulldozerSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/more-specifications-revealed-for-amd-

bulldozer/12988.html

July 15th, 2011

AMD Bulldozer will set to appear sometime in October thisyear. The delay is caused by the inability for some of theprocessors to reach the required clockspeed. More detailsinside.

AMD will be offering seven models for its Bulldozer FX seriesas shown in the table above. Three of the models will be theeight-core variants, two six-core variants and two quad coreprocessors. The top of the range eight-core model, FX-8150will feature a base CPU frequency of 3.6GHz (4.2GHz onTurbo), 8MB L2 Cache, 8MB L3 Cache and a rated TDP of125W. A lower TDP of 95W is available for the lower end eight-core model (FX-8120) which has a base CPU frequency of3.1GHz (4GHz on Turbo). The two high end models for the six-core and quad core variants are still not detailed. Right now,we can only look forward to October for further details.

Guy builds a Batmobile with areal turbine, jazzes it up withan iPadSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/guy-builds-a-batmobile-with-a-real-

turbine-jazzes-it-up-with-an-ipad/12987.html

July 15th, 2011

Now this is not really a gadget-related piece of news per se, butit is still something that is interesting enough to warrant somemention on our front page. Apparently, a hardcore Batman fanwas able to go about building his own Batmobile with a realhonest-to-goodness turbine engine, but the best part is that hewas also able to jazz up the build by throwing in an iPad for itsavionics. Wait, say what?

Do you fancy having your own Batmobile to drive on theroads? Well, the unfortunate truth is that Bruce Wayne'ssuperpowered car may not be the kind of vehicle one cansimply purchase off a car dealer, so most fans have takento building their own version of the Batmobile, each withvarying results. However, it seems that this particular fan-made Batmobile built by a Casey Putsch has to take the cakewhere realism is concerned, and for good reason.

According to a report published by DVICE, Putsch based hisbuild off Tim Burton's1989 Batman Batmobile, but unlikemost fan-made versions of the Caped Crusader's iconicvehicle, Putsch was somehow able to cram in an actual turbinejet engine that was reportedly sourced from an old U.S. Navydrone helicopter, and is capable of utilizing either jet fuel,kerosene or diesel to provide its power. However, Putsch hasalso attempted to keep his Batmobile up to date by installingan iPad (3G capable version) that is responsible for providingboth the Batmobile's avionics and GPS-assisted navigationalsystems.

And if you are wondering, yes, Putsch's Batmobile isapparently considered to be street-legal, with DVICE claimingthat the "two-seater Batmobile is...capable of 365 horsepower,or about the same as a Dodge Viper". Now wouldn't you loveto take this little monster out on the roads for a little joyride?

Jawbone's new wristbandhelps to tune "Up" your healthSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/jawbone-s-new-wristband-helps-to-

tune-up-your-health/12986.html

July 15th, 2011

Accessory maker Jawbone has developed a new wristbandcalled "Up" to encourage health and wellness. Not only does


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it looks fashionable, but Up also incorporates hardware andsoftware system, as well as sensors to monitor your lifestyle.

Jawbone has recently unveiled Up, wristband with hardwareand software system that can track your lifestyle - eating,sleeping and movements - and give a reading on your generalhealth. About the size of the popular Livestrong strap, Upcontains sensors that can intuitively track your activities, whilea smartphone app collects the data on a regular basis and getfeedback with regards to improving workouts, eat habits andsleep patterns.

However, note that Jawbone’s Up is not a sickness-preventionaccessory, but a lifestyle gadget designed to encouragewellness. According to the company, Up is designed to betrendy and as a slip-in-on-and-forget wristband. The productis said to ship later this year for iOS and Android devices,though no pricing details has been announced yet.

Adobe rolls out Flash Player11 Beta, boasts native supportfor 64-bit browsersSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/adobe-rolls-out-flash-player-11-beta-

boasts-native-support-for-64-bit-browsers/12985.html

July 15th, 2011

Have you been moaning and groaning about the dismal state ofsupport Adobe's Flash Player plugin has for 64-bit browsers?Well, if your answer to that question is a yes, today willdefinitely be a very good day for you and your favourite webbrowser, for Adobe has announced the availability of the firstbeta of its Flash Player 11 plugin, which now boasts...yes,native support for 64-bit browsers. And no, we are not makingthis up at all.

64-bit computing may have reached mainstream status today,but it does not change the fact that Adobe is notorious amongusers for its insistence of supplying only the 32-bit versionof its Flash Player plugin. Needless to say, the world's heavyreliance on Flash for the delivery of rich digital content suchas online games and videos means that users of pure 64-bitoperating systems are often prevented from enjoying suchcontent, due to the lack of a proper 64-bit version of the pluginfor such users.

However, just as we have always said that good things cometo those who wait, users of pure 64-bit operating systemswill undoubtedly be pleased with the latest news from Adobe,as the company has just released a beta of their updatedFlash 11 plugin on Adobe Labs. And the biggest draw of thispreview release? Why, the inclusion of a native 64-bit pluginwhich is reportedly compatible with most 64-bit web browserscurrently in use today.

We tested the x64 build of the Flash Player 11 Beta on a 64-bit build of the Firefox web browser, where it worked perfectlyfine. At the very least, YouTube videos were completelyplayable, and the browser was able to recognize the pluginwithout any additional fiddling around.


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More importantly, we were quite glad to find out that Adobehas fixed a certain flaw in the 64-bit version of the Flash Player11 plugin which prevented Ookla's speed test from loading onthe older, experimental versions of the plugin.

The Flash Player 11 Beta plugin can be downloaded off theAdobe Labs site in both 32-bit and 64-bit flavors.

Apple iPhone 5 to launchbefore 4 October?Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/apple-iphone-5-to-launch-before-4-

october-/12983.html

July 15th, 2011

Everyone is eagerly waiting to see when the upcoming AppleiPhone 5 will be launched, with rumors suggesting the launchto be in September. And from recent news sources, it seemsthat the long-awaited phone could be scheduled for a launchbefore 4 October. Read on.

Former Apple marketing chief, John Martellaro, has expressedthat Apple isn't all keeping quiet about their new products,but the company has carefully and purposely plan of releasingcertain relevant information to the media as part of theirmarketing effort. This time, the rumor comes from theAmerican telco AT&T. According to a leaked memo, thecompany will be making some adjustments on the mobileinsurance of the Apple iPhone and other devices from 17 Julytill 4 October. Previously, it was US$9 and now it will beadjusted between US$4.99 to US$6.99 (and probably increaseof monthly prices).

The question is, why should anyone be concerned as to AT&Tchoosing this period to adjust their mobile insurance? If yourecalled, this period overlaps that of the rumored launchmonth (which is September), and it would seem logical thatthe iPhone 5 would be launched before the 4 October deadline.

Haipad M9 tablet getsupgraded with newerprocessor and bettertouchscreenSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/haipad-m9-tablet-gets-upgraded-with-

newer-processor-and-better-touchscreen/12984.html


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July 15th, 2011

Looks like Haier is on a roll this week. In addition to launchinga new, upgraded version of a yet-unnamed Haipad tabletwhich we talked about recently, it seems that the company hasgot yet another product which has been given an upgrade ofsorts, and it comes in the form of a slight specifications bumpfor its M9 tablet.

Remember the short story we ran a few days back of Haierlaunching a new version of its Haipad tablet that reportedlyutilized a 1GHz Samsung processor? Well, it turns out that theaforementioned tablet was not the only product which Haierhas in store for the Chinese domestic market, for word has itthat the company has rolled out yet another upgraded versionof its Haipad line of tablets for sale in China, and it comes in theform of a slight specifications bump for its existing M9 tablet.

According to a report published by M.I.C Digi, the mainupgrade to the M9 comes in the form of a 7-inch capacitivetouchscreen which is reportedly capable of supportingquintuple multi-touch technology, as opposed to the olderM9 which came bundled with a touchscreen display that wasonly capable of dual-touch technology. In theory, the use ofa quintuple touchscreen will allow users to make use of agreater variety of gestures in navigating through the Androidoperating system that is preloaded on the M9.

In addition, M.I.C Digi has also claimed that the upgradedM9 will utilize a Renesas chip that reportedly features a dual-core EV2 processor clocked at 533MHz and is based off theA9 microarchitecture, along with a PowerVR SGX530 GPU.Lastly, the upgraded M9 tablet will come bundled with 4GB ofonboard flash storage and a 4400mAh battery pack whichis supposedly capable of lasting up to six hours on a singlecharge. 3G and GPS is not supported, although it is suugestedthat the functionality will make its way into future versions ofthe M9.

That being said, with this being China we are talking about, itshould be of little surprise that the M9 sports a very affordableprice of 900 Yuan, or approximately US$140.

RIM's media hub to be calledthe BlackBerry Cyclone?Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/rim-s-media-hub-to-be-called-the-

blackberry-cyclone-/12982.html

July 15th, 2011

Seems like just about every single OEM out there wants tocome up with a product of sorts that could compete withApple's array of consumer electronic devices, and Research InMotion (RIM) is no exception. Apparently, word has it that theCanadian telecommunication and wireless device company isextremely keen on delivering a product that is capable of goinghead to head with the Cupertino's Apple TV, and that it will beknown as the...BlackBerry Cyclone. Yep, you heard that right.

Quite some time back, rumours were abound that ResearchIn Motion (RIM) was planning diversify into other markets,and that the first product which the company was mostlikely to introduce as a result of this diversification is that ofa media player which would supposedly compete against theApple TV. As it turns out, the rumours may have been true afterall, for a site known as Nerdberry has claimed to have gotten incontact with a source who has confirmed the existence of theproduct, being privy to the company's plans.

According to Nerdberry, RIM's upcoming media hub, which isreportedly known by its internal codename as the "BlackBerryCyclone", will come bundled with support for video output viaHDMI and online connectivity via WiFi, while the preloadedOS will support direct access to YouTube and Netflix. Inaddition, Nerdberry is claiming that the BlackBerry Cyclonewill also allow users to access and connect to a variety ofmedia devices that are also visible on one's home network,


7

ostensibly to allow for the streaming of media content from theaforementioned devices via the WiFi network.

That being said, little else about the BlackBerry Cyclone'scapabilities, let alone its hardware specifications, has beenmade public yet, but it will be very interesting to see how RIMintends to hold its own in the digital entertainment scene,considering how the company is essentially starting fromscratch in its latest endeavor. Indeed, Electronista is claimingthat RIM's lack of a central repository for digital content suchas Apple's iTunes, coupled with its BlackBerry devices lackingsupport for functionality similar to that of AirPlay, makes itdifficult to ascertain if RIM will be able to survive in thisparticular market. Well, we will have to wait and see, won't we?

Sanyo Home outs world's firstAndroid-based Smart Homerobot, calls it Mirai SANZOSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/sanyo-home-outs-world-s-first-

android-based-smart-home-robot-calls-it-mirai-sanzo/12981.html

July 15th, 2011

We have heard of the Android operating system being usedto power all kinds of appliances that it was never designedfor, such as TV set-top boxes, GPS navigators and even actualPCs. But putting Android into a robot has probably got tobe a world's first, and this is exactly what Sanyo Home hasdone with the introduction of the Mirai SANZO, a dome-shaped Smart Home robot which is designed to help out withminimizing one's energy consumption at home.

Think that Android is already everywhere around you, fromsmartphones to tablets, and even set-top boxes and low-costPCs? Well, leave it to the Japanese to outdo themselves onceagain by managing to cram the Android operating systeminto yet another appliance that it was never meant to be usedon, while achieving yet another world's first in the process.Apparently, Sanyo Home has just announced the availabilityof what it calls a "Smart Home robot" which is designed to helphome users minimize their energy consumption, and yes, youguessed it; it is powered by the same Android operating systemthat we are currently seeing on our smartphones and tablets.

According to Sanyo Home, the Smart Home robot, which isknown as the Mirai SANZO, is meant to be sold as "part ofan integrated smart home that Sanyo markets to 'families ofthe future' in Japan" and is supposed to be hooked up onto ahome's local network. Once that is done, the users will be able

to make use of the Mirai SANZO to remotely access and controlvarious appliances that have been installed in their home.Apparently, this includes automatically filling the bathtub withwater of the right temperature, turn the air conditioner on (oroff), or even sending alerts to one's cell phone in the event of anemergency such as the fire alarm going off. Oh, and somewherealong the line, it can also be used as a central control hub thattakes command over all of the aforementioned appliances andhelp users monitor their electricity consumption.

Sounds interesting? Well, the bad news is that the MiraiSANZO does not appear to be intended for sale anywhereoutside of its domestic market, but what we do know is that theJapanese can expect to see the product pop up for sale on theretail shelves starting from today onwards. More importantly,no pricing for the Mirai Sanzo Smart Home robot has beenrevealed, and that Sanyo Home is apparently keeping a verytight lid on the specifics of the robot, such as the OS versioncurrently in use, and whether it has an unlockable bootloaderor not. Oh well, at least Sanyo did not attempt to fashion theMirai SANZO off the Android mascot's likeness.

HP studies China's onlinesocial networking habits,turns up interesting resultsSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/hp-studies-china-s-online-social-

networking-habits-turns-up-interesting-results/12975.html

July 15th, 2011

So you thought that everybody in the world uses online socialnetworking tools for the same thing? Well, you could nothave been further from the truth. Apparently, HP has, in itsinterest to find out just how the Chinese make use of onlinesocial media in their daily computing habbits, has conducteda study into the subject, and has managed to come up withsome...interesting results in the process.

Online social networking tools may be great platforms forpeople to get themselves up to date with information andhappenings that are taking place all over the world. After all,there is no greater source of information than an online socialnetworking service which is constantly being updated withboth shared and user-generated content to produce what ispotentially an endless stream of information that is active 24hours a day, seven days a week.


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That being said, you must have at some point of time thoughtthat the majority of people who are actively involved in suchonline social networking services are your average users whoshare the same computing habits as you, right? Well, HP hascarried out a study on the trends that are currently takingplace in China's micro-blogging scene, and has turned up someinteresting findings that aptly demonstrate just how differentChinese social media users are as opposed to their Westerncounterparts.

Finding #1: Trending topics in the Chinese micro-bloggingscene typically consist of non-news content

According to the study, the team has found out that mostof the influential authors on China's popular micro-bloggingplatform, Sina WeiBo, who are responsible for the majorityof "retweets" that are made tend to focus on non-news topicssuch as "follower-contributed jokes, movie trivia, quizzesand stories". This implies that the Chinese see the micro-blogging scene as a recreational platform which promotes userinteraction in the form of contributing user-generated content,and not as one which should be used for the dissemination ofnews or events that are taking place globally.

Finding #2: Most authors of trending topics in the Chinesemicro-blogging scene utilize non-verified accounts

Like Twitter, Sina WeiBo employs the use of two differentonline account types to differentiate between its gigantic userbase, namely the Regular (or non-verified) and the Verifieduser accounts. Any user which registers an account withSina WenBo's micro-blogging service will be issued a regularaccount, while the Verified accounts are typically issued to "awell known public figure or organization in China".

And if the first finding made by HP is of any indication, itshould be of little surprise that most of the top authors oftrending topics on Sina WeiBo are average Joes who make useof the regular, non-verified accounts given to the majority ofSina's users. In fact, HP has even drawn up a table detailingthe profiles of the top 20 authors of trending topics on SinaWeiBo, where it reveals that as many as 16 such authors areactually on non-verified accounts.

Needless to say, this is in stark contrast to how things work inTwittersville, where the top spots are "dominated by popularnews sources such as CNN, the New York Times and ESPN".

Finding #3: Chinese micro-bloggers are more likely to"retweet" content

The Chinese usually tend to "retweet" online content a lotmore frequently as opposed to their Western counterparts,and the numbers shown in the couple of tables shown abovetell the whole story. In fact, HP claims that the six-digit retweetratio which the top 20 authors in Sina Weibo are enjoying are"several orders of magnitude greater than the retreets for thetrending topics on Twitter", where most of the top authors inthe latter were only able to post double-digit and single-digitretweet ratios.

In addition, HP has suggested that the huge retweet ratios thatit has managed to obtain from its studies are an indicationof how the Chinese are more likely to consolidate their


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contributions within a small number of topics currentlyavailble on Sina Weibo, and that it is this practice whichcontributes to a topic's "trending status".

Finding #4: Chinese micro-bloggers make heavy use of digitalmedia files to convey their messages

While Twitter and Sina Weibo share one similarity in thatboth micro-blogging platforms only allow users to post textmessages that are no longer than 140 characters in length,the latter boasts an key difference in that it also supports theuse of embedded digital content, namely images and videoclips. According to HP, it is this unique feature of Sina Weibowhich allows Chinese micro-bloggers to express themselves ina greater variety of ways, and the Chinese are clearly makingfull use of this feature to get their message across. Indeed, HP'sfindings reveal that a huge percentage of messages that areposted on Sina Weibo are embedded with such digital mediacontent, and the table below confirms that claim.

Potential leaked image ofSony's NEX-7 appear onlineSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/potential-leaked-image-of-sony-s-

nex-7-appear-online/12980.html

July 15th, 2011

We've already seen a leaked picture of Sony's upcoming Alphamodels and now a picture that's said to be of a pre-productionmodel of Sony's upcoming NEX-7 has made an appearance. Ifthis turns out to be the real deal, then Sony has changed itsstrategy quite a lot as this model is addressing a very differentcrowd than the current NEX models.

We've already seen a leaked picture of Sony's upcoming Alphamodels and now a picture that's said to be of a pre-productionmodel of Sony's upcoming NEX-7 has made an appearance. Ifthis turns out to be the real deal, then Sony has changed itsstrategy quite a lot as this model is addressing a very differentcrowd than the current NEX models.

For starters it's clear from the picture that the NEX-7 has anelectronic viewfinder, something many advanced users saw asa missing feature of the current NEX models. It also has astandard Sony hot-shoe, unlike the special connector found onthe current models. On top of that, it's said to have a built-in pop-up flash, yet another missing feature on the currentmodels.

The controls have also changed a bit with a few additionalbuttons and what appears to be a pair of control dials, althoughit's not quite clear as to what they do from the picture. Thecamera is rumoured to have a 24 Megapixel sensor and theEVF is suggested to be the same rumoured 3 million dot EVTused in the new Alpha models. One other thing that makes theNEX-7 different from the current NEX model is its expectedprice tag of US$1,200 (S$1,460), body only. The NEX-7 isexpected to be announced sometime in August.

Zotac planning return to ATXmotherboard market, with abangSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/zotac-planning-return-to-atx-

motherboard-market-with-a-bang/12979.html

July 15th, 2011

It's been a while since Zotac launched an ATX motherboard,in fact Zotac's last ATX form factor motherboard was basedon Intel's X58 chipset back in 2009 and it's not exactly whatwe'd call an impressive motherboard in terms of features andlayout. Fastforward to now and pictures of an upcoming Z68


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from Zotac has made its way online and it looks like nothingyou've ever seen from Zotac, in fact, it doesn't quite look likeanything we've seen before.

It's been a while since Zotac launched an ATX motherboard,in fact Zotac's last ATX form factor motherboard was basedon Intel's X58 chipset back in 2009 and it's not exactly whatwe'd call an impressive motherboard in terms of features andlayout. Fastforward to now and pictures of an upcoming Z68from Zotac has made its way online and it looks like nothingyou've ever seen from Zotac, in fact, it doesn't quite look likeanything we've seen before.

The board in question is the ZT-Z68 Crown Edition-U1DU3(note that the source is a Chinese website and that the Googletranslation of ??? might be wrong) and we're going to have towait for the official announcement to find out what the actualretail name will be. The matter of a fact is that you haven't seena feature packed board until you've seen this motherboard, asthere's barely any empty space on the EATX PCB, despite beingslightly wider than regular ATX boards.

For starters the board has a massive 24+3-phase VRM designfeaturing DrMOS, tantalum capacitors and a decouplingcapacitor. Over the top springs to mind, especially consideringthat Intel's Sandy Bridge CPUs are "somewhat" limited whenit comes to overclocking thanks to little to no adjustment ofthe BCLK.

Moving on the board sports an nf200 chip which gives theboard 3-way SLI support and Zotac has kindly drawn lines onthe PCB to indicate which slots are used in 2-way and 3-wayconfigurations. There are a total of four x16 PCI Express slots,although one of them would only work with a single slot cardand the bottom slot would be limited to a single slot card aswell in a regular 7-slot chassis. There's also a single x1 PCIExpress slot and a PCI slot. An extra Molex connector has alsobeen fitted to the board to provide extra power to the PCIExpress slots.

From here on in things are starting to get really complicated.The reason for a missing slot on the board is because Zotachas repurposed the PCI Express lane for use with a mini PCIExpress slot into which a half-length 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi cardhas been fitted. Yes, that's correct, Zotac has decided to kit outthis massive board with a built in Wi-Fi card.

There are a total of eight SATA ports at the front of the board,two of which are via a third party controller. However, there'salso an mSATA slot on the board just behind the SATA ports,but an interesting thing here is that it can also double up as afull-length mini PCI Express slot. From what we can tell, it'ssharing the same SATA controller as the eSATA port. Oddlyenough Zotac has also included an IDE port on the board.

Next we have a VLI VL800 USB 3.0 host controller with twopin-headers for a total of four front ports. There are alsoheaders for six USB 2.0 ports and a serial port. Other littletitbits include power and rest buttons as well as a POST80debug LED, three Voltage metering points and what looks likethree BIOS chips. Disappointingly though, we only spotted amere three fan headers on the board, of which one is for theCPU cooler. That just isn't good enough on a board of thiscalibre.

Moving to the rear of the board we find a PS/2 port, fourUSB 2.0 ports, two USB 3.0 ports (presumably from a VLIVL810 host controller), an eSATA port, a Gigabit Ethernetport, 7.1-channel audio with optical S/PDIF out and DVI,HDMI a DisplayPort connectors. There are also two antennaconnectors here for the on-board Wi-Fi.


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We can only imagine how expensive this board will be whenit launches, or rather if it launches. We fully understand thatmotherboard manufacturers like to produce halo products,but this board is so far over the top that we frankly just don'tget it. We've seen a lot of crazy concept boards over the years,but most of them have never made it to market and in a way, wehope this one doesn't make it either, at least not in its currentdesign.

Spire releases Epoxi rev.2Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/spire-releases-epoxi-rev.2/12976.html

July 15th, 2011

Nine months after the release of Epoxi full tower casing, Spireis set to introduce Epoxi rev.2. More details inside.

The Spire Epoxi rev.2 features six 120mm blue led fans,0.8mm thick steel, aluminium front panel, tool-free thumbscrew side panels, five 5.25-inch and six 3.5-inch drive bays.The casing also has well placed holes which allow goodmanagement of cables and two holes drilled specially forwatercooling pipes. Measuring at 595 x 215 x 580mm (L x Wx H) and weighing at 11.25kg, the Spire Epoxi rev.2 will beretailing for US$139.95 (S$170).

See more specifications at Spire website.


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Mach Xtreme Technologyreleases 2.5" SATA-3 MX-DSFUSION Series SSDSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/mach-xtreme-technology-releases-2.5-

sata-3-mx-ds-fusion-series-ssd/12978.html

July 15th, 2011

Mach Xtreme Technology releases 2.5" SATA-3 MX-DS FUSION Series SSD forbudget conscious enthusiast?s. The new Sandforce powered drives offer speeds of up to540MB/s read and 510MB/s write at a very attractive price point.

The press release also mentions that "this (MX-DS Fusion) series supports DuraClass™ and DuraWrite™technologies. DuraClass™ technology provides best-in-class endurance, performance, and low power.DuraWrite™ technology optimizes writes to the flash memory over conventional controllers increasingthe overall endurance and reliability of the complete SSD. Highly intelligent block management and wearleveling also extends the overall endurance."

Sparkle Updates CalibreSeries with 6 New Models,Quad-Display GTX 580IncludedSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/sparkle-updates-calibre-series-with-6-

new-models-quad-display-gtx-580-included/12959.html

July 15th, 2011

Sparkle has added six new models to its Calibre seriesof premium graphics cards. Its new flagship model, theCalibre X580 Captain, supports "2 divided images spanningacross 4 displays" and has voltage measurement points foroverclockers. Besides this, there are overclocked versions ofthe GTX 560 Ti, GTX 560 and GTX 550 Ti. Even the lowlyGT 520 gets a (pointless) upgrade to 2GB of memory. Morepictures and specifications after the break.

The first addition to Sparkle's Calibre lineup is the X580Captain, which was on display at Computex. It has threeMini DisplayPort and two Dual Link DVI outputs, whichaccording to Sparkle allow for "1 single image on 3 displayssimultaneously and 2 divided images spanning across 4displays at once".

This description seems to imply that the X580 Captain doesnot support a true quad-display setup, and that the two displayoutputs from the GPU are each spanned across two monitorsEyefinity-style instead. The maximum supported resolution inthis mode was not stated.

Other features of the X580 Captain include a rear backplateto prevent PCB warping, deluxe hybrid capacitors and voltagemeasurements points for GPU and memory voltages. Cooling-wise, the X580 Captain appears to be using a referenceheatsink.

Above and top: The Sparkle X580 Captain

The other new models are the Calibre X560Ti DF, CalibreX560 DF and Calibre X550Ti DF. The factory overclocks onthese are quite impressive, and the heatsinks are among thebetter looking ones out there in our humble opinion.

Above: The Sparkle Calibre X560Ti DF/X560 DF


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Above: The Sparkle Calibre X550 Ti DF

Even the lowly GT 520 gets a fancy black heatsink. There's alsoa 2GB version of the GT 520, dubbed the X520 King. The wordpointless comes to mind.

Above: The Sparkle Calibre X520/X520 King

We've summarised the specifications of the new cards in thetable below:

X580Captain

X560TiDF

X560DF

X550Ti DF

X520King

X520

GPU GTX580

GTX560 Ti

GTX560

GTX550 Ti

GT 520 GT 520

CoreClock(MHz)

822 950 930 1000 900 900

MemoryClock(MHz)

2016 2301 2244 2400 - -

MemorySize

3GB/1.5GB 1GB 1GB 1GB 2GB 1GB

MemoryInterface

384-bit 256-bit 256-bit 192-bit 64-bit 64-bit

CUDACores

512 384 336 192 48 48

Win HD Media Players andCoolers by downloading ourVRForums app! (Android andiOS)Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/win-hd-media-players-and-coolers-by-

downloading-our-vrforums-app--android-and-ios-/12965.html

July 15th, 2011

VR-Zone is giving away numerous product prizesincluding ACRyan's PlayOn HD2 Full HD Media Playersand CoolerMaster/Thermalright Cooling products! Simplydownload our VRForums mobile app, post a screenshot withyour username in this facebook post, and win! Contest is ontill this Sunday (17th July 2011) and winners will be notifiedby Facebook Private Message.


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Nokia invests US$127 millionto market their WindowsPhone 7Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/nokia-invests-us-127-million-to-

market-their-windows-phone-7/12973.html

July 15th, 2011

Finnish phone manufacturer Nokia has announced that itwill be investing US$127 million (or 80 million UK pounds)in promotional activities and advertising for its upcomingWindows Phone 7 devices that are slated to launch in Q4 thisyear. Read on.

With the collaboration of Nokia and Microsoft, with the phonemaker going the Windows Phone 7 way, everyone is awaitingfor the highly anticipated Windows Phone 7 device that isscheduled to launch in October this year. According to onlinesources, Nokia has especially invested 80 million UK pounds(or US$127 million) to market their Windows Phone 7.

Nokia CEO Stephen Elop has expressed that the companyhas invested in professional advertising agencies to createa 6-month campaign that will commence in October. Nokiahas recently unveiled a campaign for its QWERTY range ofsmartphones.

Twitter for Android: Now withpush notificationsSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/twitter-for-android-now-with-push-

notifications/12971.html

July 15th, 2011

If you are the proud owner of an Android-poweredsmartphone who cannot afford to pass a single day withoutgetting your daily fix of Twitter on your mobile phone, todaywill definitely be a very good day to hit the Android Market andupdate that Twitter app currently residing in your smartphone

to the latest version. This is because Twitter has just releasedan updated version of its Android client that reportedly bringsa certain feature which most Android users have been waitingfor quite some time already.

Do you have Twitter installed on your Android-poweredsmartphone? Well, if you do, today will be a good day to visitthe Android Market for some downloading, as Twitter hasupdated its official app to include a few new features that nowbrings the Android version to a level where it has seeminglyachieved feature-parity with its iOS counterpart.

According to the description posted by Twitter on the AndroidMarket, the updated version will allow Android ownersto receieve push notifications much like how their iPhonecounterparts have been able to do so for quite some timealready, and that users can choose if they want to limitthe notifications to merely mentions and direct messages, orexpand it to everyone. In addition, Twitter claims that theupdated client now boasts support for multiple accounts andcomes with updated widgets, ostensibly to give the app a"newer" look and feel.

Last but definitely not least, Twitter is specifying a minimumrequirement of handsets being loaded with at least version2.1 of the Android operating system, although Electronista isclaiming that users who are already on Froyo or newer canexpect to enjoy full integration of the app into the operatingsystem upon installation.

Buffalo unveils new BHR-4GRVrouter for JapanSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/buffalo-unveils-new-bhr-4grv-router-

for-japan/12969.html


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July 15th, 2011

Buffalo has announced the availability of its new BuffaloBHR-4GRV router for the Japanese market, which boastsbuilt-in support for virtual private network (VPN) connectivityvia the use of the Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP),along with various other features. Read on to find out more.

Fancy owning a router which claims to come with built-insupport for enabling connections to virtual private networksor VPNs? Well, Buffalo has just announced their solution forusers who find themselves dealing with such needs, and itcomes in the form of its new BHR-4GRV router, which isreportedly capable of doing just that, and then some.

According to Buffalo, the new BHR-4GRV router's built-insupport for VPN will allow users to connect to VPN networksvia the PPTP protocol, and that it is compatible with a varietyof mobile devices, such as Apple's iPad and iPhones. Inaddition, Buffalo has also claimed that the BHR-4GRV sports asingle USB port which users can utilize for hooking up externalstorage devices to, or for use in sharing a printer across thenetwork.

Last but definitely not least, the BHR-4GRV will sport fourEthernet ports, one of which will support gigabit Ethernetconnections at speeds of up to 1000Mbps, and is expected toretail in Japan come early August at the suggested retail priceof 6,300 yen, or approximately US$80.

Amazon to release its owntablet in October?Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/amazon-to-release-its-own-tablet-in-

october-/12968.html

July 15th, 2011

We all know that Amazon has been attempting to competeagainst Apple in just about everything that is related to digitalcontent, such as e-books, digital music, and even mobileapplications. However, it seems that Amazon is all ready totake the fight up to the next level, for word has it that themultinational electronic commerce company is planning tostrike at Apple in the market where the latter is at its strongestby intending to introduce a new tablet to compete against thelikes of the bestselling iPad.

With just about every major computer OEM in the worldhaving already released, or are planning to release, someform of a tablet device in order to carve out a share of thelucrative tablet pie for their own, it would seem that the marketfor such devices has already reached saturation point, andthat there is little chance for any newcomer unless it hassomething extremely compelling to deliver consumers, right?Apparently, Amazon does not seem to think so, for wordhas it that the US-based multinational electronic commercecompany is planning to introduce its own tablet device, whichwill reportedly be positioned as a rival to Apple's iPad.

Few details about Amazon's upcoming tablet device has beenrevealed, although most of the anonymous sources that havebeen cited by various online publications are claiming that thecompany plans to outsource both the design and productionof the new tablet to an Asian ODM, which ZDNet claims isthat of Quanta Computers. ZDNet also goes on to claim that itssources have indicated that the tablet will be utilizing version3.1 of the Android operating system, and that it will feature anine-inch display. This has also been corroborated by the WallStreet Journal.

ZDNet has also added that the new tablet, which willreportedly make use of the Kindle branding, is not expectedto boast a great deal of onboard flash storage, as the companywill reportedly want to encourage its users to utilize its cloudservices and video rentals. However, ZDNet is also claimingthat Amazon intends to position the device as one which isfriendly for business and enterprises, as word has it that thecompany is currently meeting up with major IndependentSoftware Vendors or ISVs to convince them to develop front-ends for enterprise and business software.

In addition, both ZDNet and the Wall Street Journal areclaiming that Amazon plans to attract consumers by puttingan extremely competitive pricetag on it, with the Wall StreetJournal citing an analyst who claims that it is entirely possiblefor Amazon to sell the tablet at a loss in the hopes of earningthe money back via the sale of its digital content.

Last but definitely not least, it seems that Amazon is planningto ship no less than 1,000,000 to 1,200,000 units of its newtablet in the third quarter of this year, if the table compiled byDigitimes is of any indication.


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PayPal announces NFCAndroid-to-Android paymentsSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/paypal-announces-nfc-android-to-

android-payments/12967.html

July 15th, 2011

Online payment gateway Paypal has announced a peer-to-peer payment feature for Android users using Near FieldCommunication (NFC) technology, Payments can be sent orreceived by entering transaction details and tapping the phoneagainst another phone.

Near Field Communication (NFC) technology may have beenincorporated into many smartphones these days such as theSamsung Nexus S and Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc, but it has nottaken off due to the varying competing standards and existingtechnologies, as well as the lack of usage such as contactlessmobile payments. However, online payment gateway Paypallooks to be taking a step to push the mobile payment withtheir recent announcement of NFC Android phone-to-phonepayment. According to sources, the transaction works througha PayPal widget which users can use to send or request money.

The user needs to enter the transaction details and tap his orher phone against another phone that also has the same appinstalled. The phones will buzz together and recipient can thenchoose to accept the transaction by keying in the PIN number.

The PayPal new mobile payment service is currently slatedto work only in the U.S. and with the Samsung NexusS from Sprint and T-Mobile. However, the company saidthat it will also expand to other Android phones with NFCfunctionality in the near future.

Singbox SV-606 portablemedia player/speaker nowavailable in KoreaSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/singbox-sv-606-portable-media-

playerspeaker-now-available-in-korea/12966.html

July 15th, 2011

How would like to own a portable media player that can doubleup as a mini speaker system while on the move? Well, thatis exactly what Singbox is offering Korean consumers with itsnew SV-606 portable media player / speaker hybrid device,which is reportedly capable of performing the aforementionedtask, and then some. Read on to find out more.

With smartphones fast replacing portable media players as thedevice of choice for listening to one's favorite music while onthe move, it would make sense that manufacturers of suchdevices need to find a way to keep up with the trends inorder to ensure that they do not lose their entire market tosmartphone OEMs. And apparently, Singbox thinks that oneway to revolutionize the portable media player will be to giveit both a cosmetic overhaul and its own built-in speaker, as canbe seen in their new SV-606 device.

Resembling more of a glorified pepper shaker than a typicalportable media player, the new SV-606 is reportedly capable of


17

playing back MP3 and WMA files, although users will have toload up their favorite songs into microSD cards first due to thefact that the SV-606 does not come with any built-in memory,thus relying exclusively on the use of the aforementioned cardsfor its storage needs.

That being said, the real draw of the SV-606 has got to be itsbuilt-in 2W mono speaker, which potentially allows users toblast their music away to their hearts' content without havingto deal with the cumbersome earphones, although Singboxhas confirmed that the SV-606 will still come bundled withthe traditional 3.5mm audio jack to cater to users who wouldprefer to use the device as a typical portable media player.Lastly, the company also claims that the SV-606 also featuresan FM tuner and measure 85mm high and 35mm wide, whileits built-in battery is capable of lasting up to 13 hours on asingle charge.

No pricing for the SV-606 has been released at this point oftime.

Europe to get the Meizu M9soon?Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/europe-to-get-the-meizu-m9-

soon-/12964.html

July 15th, 2011

Remember Meizu's M9 smartphone? You know, the one thatseemingly resembles an iPhone but brings along with it itsown share of originality in the form of a customized UI for itsAndroid-based operating system and its own unique tweaks tothe hardware's design? Well, it turns out that Europe mighthave no problem with giving the phone the official green lightto be sold on its shores, if a recent report is of any indication.

It is often said that China is only place where manufacturerscan produce knockoffs of popular consumer electronic deviceswithout getting into trouble in the form of lawsuits andCease and Desist orders, right? Well, not if Meizu and its M9smartphone, which is reportedly extremely popular in China,has got anything to say about it.

Apparently, word has it that Meizu, the makers of the popularM-series of smartphones that bear more than just a passingsemblance to the likes of Apple's iPhones, has been given thego-ahead to sell its M9 smartphone legally in Europe, and haseven received the much-needed CE certificate to prove itslegality on European soil. According to a report published byShanzai.com, the M9 was able to clear the tests and meet allthe requirements that the EU has imposed in order for suchdevices to be given the right to be imported and legally sold inEurope.

The report also cited CiPhone, a leading French gadgetblog, which claims to have confirmed the validity of the CEcertificate for the Meizu M9, and that the company has alreadyperformed a translation of its user interface in order to make itmore EU-friendly. This ties in with our earlier story publishedin December last year, where we pointed out that the companyhad successfully pushed out an English version of the M9's UI.

Last but definitely not least, Shanzai.com is also claiming thatMeizu intends to release a new, updated firmware for the M9which will allow it to "improve the display of European specialcharacters by fixing the ID3 tag issues and enabling users toremove factory default apps".

Unfortunately, no mention about the M9's suggested retailprice for the EU was made in either report, but we are guessingthat Meizu will probably attempt to make it as affordableas possible for the average Joe. Still, it will be interesting tosee how Apple will react to this, considering that the Cupertinogiant had previously filed a lawsuit against the company overthe latter's products' similarities to the iPhone.

Pentax announces limitededition 645D "Japan" mediumformat DSLRSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/pentax-announces-limited-

edition-645d-japan-medium-format-dslr/12963.html

July 15th, 2011

Everybody knows that medium-format DSLRs are one of themost expensive gadgets to own today, but if you are going to


18

spend good money on such a camera, why not get yourself alimited edition model while you are at it? And if that thoughthas crossed your mind, perhaps you'd like to consider whatPentax has currently got up its sleeves for fans of medium-format DSLRs; a limited edition "Japan" variant of its 645Dcamera, which will soon be made available for pre-ordering.

It is common knowledge that DSLRs are not cheap, and thatmore sophisticated DSLRs with medium-format sensors aredefinitely going to cost consumers and professionals alikean arm and a leg. However, if you have already made upyour mind to break the piggy bank over a medium-formatDSLR, why not make your most expensive acquisition moremeaningful by springing for a limited edition model? Well,if that thought has crossed your mind, we've got some goodnews for you; Pentax has just announced its plans to releasea limited edition variant of its 645D medium format DSLR,which it calls the 645D "Japan".

According to the official press release, the Pentax 645D"Japan" will sport the same features in the standard 645Dmedium format DSLR that was released for sale some time inMarch last year. This means that the 645D "Japan" will utilizethe same CCD sensor which boasts the capability to capturestill images at the astronomical resolution of 40 megapixels,and will gain access to the same PRIME II imaging engine, DRII dust removal mechanism and dual SD / SDHC memory cardslots that are already present in the original 645D.

However, it being a limited edition of the original 645D meansthat the 645D "Japan" also comes bundled with certain bellsand whistles that are not available in the former. For one,the 645D "Japan"'s body has been given a bit of a cosmeticoverhaul in the form of a red, lacquer-finished body designedto give the camera an"elegant, exquisite appearance", and willbe delivered to customers in a "specially designed paulownia-wood packaging". In addition, the camera will also feature agold-plated Pentax logo, a specially-designed mount cap, awhite backlit-illuminated LCD screen, a DS-80 Centre-Spot-Matte focusing screen and more importantly, access to the newv1.11 firmware which is not available on the standard models.

No information about pricing has been revealed by Pentax,although the company claims that it intends to start taking pre-orders for the 645D "Japan" from July 20 till September 20.

Cooler Master's Cosmos IIappear in candid picturesSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/cooler-master-s-cosmos-ii-appear-in-

candid-pictures/12962.html

July 15th, 2011

Although we did get a brief look at Cooler Master's upcomingCosmos II back at Computex, we weren't allowed to take anynew picture of the new monster case, but a few, slightly blurrypictures have now made their way online. From what we cantell a few things have been tweaked since we last saw the caseand it shouldn't be far from hitting retail now.

Although we did get a brief look at Cooler Master's upcomingCosmos II back at Computex, we weren't allowed to take anynew picture of the new monster case, but a few, slightly blurrypictures have now made their way online. From what we cantell a few things have been tweaked since we last saw the caseand it shouldn't be far from hitting retail now.


19

So what are we looking at here? Well, a humongous XL-ATXchassis with 10+1 rear expansion slots. Around the front thingsare actually rather basic for such a large case with "only" three5.25-inch drive bays and two 3.5-inch drive bays, all fittedbehind a sliding front cover. That said, internally there's spacefor up to 11 drives split into three separate drive compartmentsthat can hold five, three and three drives respectively. All of theinternal drive bays have trays that can accommodate either 3.5or 2.5-inch drives.

For a Cooler Master chassis the Cosmos II is rather unusualdue to the split level design with the PSU and six of the harddrives in a separate compartment at the bottom. There's a fanbracket here that can be kitted out with two 120mm to helpcool the hard drives. The space for the PSU is padded withvibration absorbing foam and there is of course plenty of cablerouting holes, all fitted with rubber grommets.

The top of the chassis is home to four USB 2.0 ports, two USB3.0 ports, an eSATA port and a pair of audio jacks. There's alsoa sliding cover for the touch sensitive controls and it seemslike Cooler Master has included some kind of fan controller.Another interesting feature is the hinged side panel that popsoff the hinge, this makes it much easier to open and close whatis a rather large chassis. We'll hopefully be able to bring youmore details and more importantly a launch date and a priceof this beast in the near future.

Hynix and Toshiba team up todevelop MRAMSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/hynix-and-toshiba-team-up-to-

develop-mram/12961.html

July 15th, 2011

The major computer memory technology today is SDRAMin various shapes or forms, but there have been talks aboutvarious solutions set to replace the aging memory type withfaster and more power efficient options with vastly improvedperformance. Well, Hynix and Toshiba has announced thatthe two are teaming up to develop Spin-Transfer TorqueMagnetoresistance Random Access Memory or simply put,MRAM.


20

The major computer memory technology today is SDRAMin various shapes or forms, but there have been talks aboutvarious solutions set to replace the aging memory type withfaster and more power efficient options with vastly improvedperformance. Well, Hynix and Toshiba has announced thatthe two are teaming up to develop Spin-Transfer TorqueMagnetoresistance Random Access Memory or simply put,MRAM.

The two companies aren't just going to develop the newmemory type, but they're also going to cooperate inmanufacturing it to. This should in theory help the twocompanies not only save money, but hopefully also reduce theresearch time and get products to market quicker. That said,we're still quite some time away from final products. The twocompanies are also extending their cross licensing and productsupply agreements with regards to current products.

If successfully developed, MRAM has several benefits overSDRAM. For starters it's non-volatile, in other words it can actlike flash memory which means that a computer will really beable to go down in proper standby mode in the future withoutthe risk of losing data in case of a power loss. It's also morepower efficient while still offering higher performance thanSDRAM. Don't expect MRAM to replace flash memory anytime soon though, as that's not the target market. That said,it might very well end up in some storage solutions as a high-performance cache for SSDs and hard drives, as long as thecost per GB isn't too high.

ASRock's PCI Express 3.0motherboards unveiledSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/asrock-s-pci-express-3.0-

motherboards-unveiled/12960.html

July 15th, 2011

Details of several new motherboards with support for PCIExpress 3.0 from ASRock have turned up, including specs ofa couple of upcoming models. The most exciting model isthe feature packed Z68 Extreme7 which has been given quitea makeover since Computex, not in terms of features, but interms of looks.

Details of several new motherboards with support for PCIExpress 3.0 from ASRock have turned up, including specs ofa couple of upcoming models. The most exciting model isthe feature packed Z68 Extreme7 which has been given quitea makeover since Computex, not in terms of features, but interms of looks.

Although four new models have shown up, only two areactually new, as all four models have the Gen3 moniker tackedon the end. The two boards that don't appear to have changedmuch is the P67 Extrem4 Gen3 which has been given anoverhaul with regards to the choice of colours and of course

PCI Express 3.0 switches for the x16 PCI Express slots hasotherwise not changed at all from what we can tell. Thesame goes for the Z68 Extreme4 Gen3, which got the sametreatment as the P67 Extreme4 Gen3.

The Z68 Etreme3 Gen3 is a brand new model though that slotsin between the Z68 Pro3 and the Z68 Extreme4. Unlike theprevious two models, this one has been given a set of newchipset heatsinks as well which look rather quite stylish. It'squite hard to see any details from the tiny picture though, butthe specs give us an idea of what's on offer. The board has a pairof x16 PCI Express slots that operate in dual x8 mode whenboth are in use, two x1 PCI Express slots and two PCI slots.Around the back the board has what we think is four USB 2.0ports, two USB 3.0 ports, an eSATA port, Gigabit Ethernet, 7.1-channel audio and a D-Sub, HDMI and DVI port. The boardalso features power, reset and clear CMOS buttons, but foreverything else we're going to have to wait until it launches.

Finally we have ASRock's new flagship board, the Z68Extreme7 Gen3 and although there was a version on displayat Computex, the revised version doesn't look anything like it.ASRock has gone for a design that has ended up somewherebetween Gigabyte's UD7 and Asus' ROG series of boards,although there are a few things that could've been betterin our opinion. The new heatsinks and gold capacitors lookvery modern and high-tech though, even though they areunlikely to offer any extra benefits over more regular lookingcomponents.

The slot-layout is far from ideal and ASRock has kitted outthe board with an nForce 200 chip which enables 3-way SLIand according to the spec sheet the top slot is the only x16 PCIExpress 3.0 slot, whereas the other four x16 slots are stuck atPCI Express 2.0. There's also a single PCI Express x1 and asingle PCI slot on the board. A very strange setup, but at leastit's something unique to this board.


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ASRock has gone feature crazy on the Z68 Extreme7 withno less than four additional SATA 6Gbps ports, an eSATAcontroller, three USB 3.0 host controllers and a pair of GigabitEthernet controllers. Due to lack of PCI Express lanes fromthe chipset, ASRock has as such had to add a PLX bridge chipto handle all the peripheral controllers. The board also hasheaders for eight USB 2.0 ports, two USB 3.0 ports and aFireWire port.

Around the back, unless ASRock has changed things aroundsince Computex, there are two USB 2.0 ports, four USB 3.0ports, two Ethernet ports, a FireWire port, an eSATA port, 7.1-channel audio with optical S/PDIF and a full set of displayconnectivity options which consist of a DisplayPort, HDMI,DVI and D-Sub connectors. Finally we have power, reset andclear CMOS buttons alongside a POST 80 debug LED. The realquestion is how much this board will cost, as we expect this tobe the most expensive motherboard ASRock has ever launchedto date.


1


Intel mulling PCI Express x2interfaceSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/intel-mulling-pci-express-x2-

interface/13030.html

July 19th, 2011

Here's an interesting thing we came across earlier today,Intel is considering getting a new PCI Express interfaceimplemented, namely a two lane solution. Why? Well, simplybecause PCI Express x1 doesn't offer enough bandwidth fora lot of bandwidth hungry devices, but PCI Express x4 is toowide for many peripheral chips, especially considering Intel'schipset limitations.

Here's an interesting thing we came across earlier today,Intel is considering getting a new PCI Express interfaceimplemented, namely a two lane solution. Why? Well, simplybecause PCI Express x1 doesn't offer enough bandwidth fora lot of bandwidth hungry devices, but PCI Express x4 is toowide for many peripheral chips, especially considering Intel'schipset limitations.

Many devices PCI Express peripheral chipsets such as SATAcontrollers and USB 3.0 host controllers really requires morethan one lane of PCI Express bandwidth, as each lane ina PCI Express 2.0/2.1 system is "limited" to a theoreticalmaximum transfer speed of 5GT/s (Giga Transfers) or about500MB/s, not taking into account overheads. PCI Expressalleviates some of these problems by lowering the overheadand increasing the bandwidth per lane to 8GT/s or close to areal throughput of 1GB/s, but it's not that simple.

The problem is that Intel's upcoming Sugar Bay platform (IvyBridge + Panther Point) will only offer PCI Express 3.0 onthe 16 lanes from the CPU, while the chipset will continue tooffer eight lanes of PCI Express 2.0 bandwidth. In all fairnessto Intel, the company has integrated USB 3.0 support in thechipset, but we're still only getting two SATA 6Gbps ports.Even so, the motherboard makers are going to want to slap ona few extra chips on their high-end boards, as has always beenthe case.

This doesn't quite solve the problem though, as even thoughwe might see wider PCI Express lanes, the peripheral chipmakers need to re-design their chips to support the extra

bandwidth. Depending on the complexity and the design ofthe chip in question this might be a very simple task, or avery complex one. That said, for certain peripheral chips thisis likely to make a lot of sense and we'd expect to see at leastsome implementations using this, well, that is if Intel actuallygoes ahead with its plan.

There's one other hurdle, the PCI-SIG which controls the PCIExpress standard and as far as we're aware, there's currentlyno support for a x2 PCI Express interface. That doesn't meantthat things couldn't change and it shouldn't be a very timeconsuming thing to do, as it's really just an addendum to thespec for a two lane interface. And if you were thinking thatgoing x4 would make just as much sense, well, yes and no,as each PCI Express lane makes for a more complex IC andadding too many lanes would also increase the size of the chip.It's never as easy as you'd hope it would be, but hopefullyIntel will also start to add more lanes to its future chipset andprovide a wider bus between the CPU and chipset.

ECS Motherboards nowequipped with SolidCapacitorsSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/ecs-motherboards-now-equipped-with-

solid-capacitors/13027.html

July 19th, 2011

Elitegroup Computer Systems (ECS), well-known for itsmotherboard products, has announced that all theirmotherboards will be using solid capacitors around the CPUregion.


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ECS stated that the CPU consumes the most power duringheavy computation, therefore the CPU power regulation arearequires much more durable components. Thus, ECS optedthe option of using solid capacitors instead of traditionalelectrolytic capacitors in areas around the CPU for all theirmotherboards. Solid capacitors typically operate at 10% lowertemperature, offer 1000 times more electrical conductivity,have better reliability and longer lifespan. ECS also guaranteesthat they are using authentic solid capacitors unlike somemanufacturers which use traditional electrolytic capacitorsbut cover them up with a solid capacitor shell.

AMD preparing A8-3870 withUnlocked MultiplierSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/amd-preparing-a8-3870-with-

unlocked-multiplier/13028.html

July 19th, 2011

AMD is preparing to release a A8-3870 APU in Q4 2011,featuring an unlocked multiplier for easy overclocking. TheA8-3870 will not directly replace the A8-3850, but co-existwith the A8-3850. The GPU part will remain unchanged - HD6550D - and TDP will remain constant at 100W.

AMD is preparing to release a A8-3870 APU in Q4 2011,featuring an unlocked multiplier for easy overclocking. TheA8-3870 will not directly replace the A8-3850, but co-existwith the A8-3850. The GPU part will remain unchanged - HD6550D - and TDP will remain constant at 100W.

In addition to the unlocked multiplier, A8-3870 is expected tofeature a boost in CPU clock speed compared to the A8-3850.DonanimHaber expects the A8-3870 to be clocked at 3.1 GHz,but this could change.

Let's hope that by the time A8-3870 releases in Q4 2011, therewill be easy GPU overclocking available for the Llano APUs aswell.

Western Digital introducesnew My Book Studio externalhard diskSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/western-digital-introduces-new-my-

book-studio-external-hard-disk/13026.html

July 19th, 2011

The new Western Digital My Book Studio external harddisk may look like the Apple Mac aesthetics (as it is designedfor Mac machines), though it also boasts a huge 3TB capacity,fast transfer speeds and automated backup features thatmakes data backup extremely easy.

The newest generation of Western Digital My Book Studioexternal hard drives are designed for use with Mac computersand Apple Time Machine. Available with a 3TB capacity,the external hard disk features a brushed aluminum casing tomatch the appearance of a Mac computer, which also serves tokeep the drive cool. It also eliminates the need for an internalfan to reduce drive noise and extend the life of the drive. TheMy Book Studio external hard drives can also be reformattedfor PCs.

The My Book Studio external hard drive offers various featuresincluding fast FireWire 800/400 and USB 2.0 interfaces, user-controlled automatic backup software and drive management,password protection and hardware encryption. Shipping incapacities of 1TB, 2TB and 3TB, the My Book Studio driveincludes the WD Caviar Green series of internal hard driveswith WD GreenPower Technology.

Pricing and AvailabilityWD’s My Book Studio is available at select retailers and isdistributed by Achieva Technology and SiS Technology in


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Singapore. Retail price for My Book Studio with 1TB is S$179;2TB is S$229; and 3TB is S$299.

AMD Llano A8-3850Overclocked to 4.9GHzSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/amd-llano-a8-3850-overclocked-

to-4.9ghz/13022.html

July 19th, 2011

One of the shops in Japan, Overclock Works, did ademonstration for overclockers using extreme cooling onAMD Llano A8-3850 CPU with GIGABYTE GA-A75-UD4Hmotherboard and achieved a CPU frequency of 4.9GHz. Readon.

The overclocking was done with AMD Llano A8-3850processor which was rated at 2.9GHz and a GIGABYTE GA-A75-UD4H motherboard. The core voltage was raised to1.792V (seen from the CPU-Z screenshot above) resultingin a 169.2MHz base clock and a multiplier of 29. The CPUoverclocked at this settings (169.2MHz x 29 = 4.906GHz) was

able to boot into Windows operating system, but was not stableenough to run a proper Super PI 32M benchmark.

The AMD Llano A8-3850 had to be downclocked from 4.9GHzto 4.761GHz before a Super PI 32M result could be generated(shown above). The demonstrator then moved on to carryout similar overclocking for the A6-3650 processor, butfaced some problems after removing the nitrogen pot. TheGIGABYTE GA-A75-UD4H motherboard was unable to workproperly and had to be changed with an ASUS F1-A75-V PROmotherboard instead. However, difficulties were reportedduring the overclocking with the ASUS motherboard andcould only achieve a 4.186GHz (base clock of 161MHz) for theA6-3650 processor with a core voltage of 1.428V.

Kouziro launches two new 10-inch tablets in JapanSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/kouziro-launches-two-new-10-inch-

tablets-in-japan/13025.html

July 19th, 2011

Kouziro, a Japanese computer OEM known for its Build-To-Order line of desktop PCs, has announced the availabilityof two new 10-inch tablets for its domestic Japanesemarket, which both feature and external keyboard and achoice between Microsoft's Windows 7 and Google's Androidoperating systems. Read on to find out more about the newtablets from Kouziro...

Offering a decent tablet to users is never an easy task for mostOEMs. On one hand, most people will demand an Android-powered tablet that comes with all the added bells and whistlesthey expect to find on such a device, while more productivity-oriented users will want their tablets to be pre-loaded withWindows 7 on the grounds that it plays nice with one'sexisting infrastructure and is compatible with all of the majorWindows-based applications that are heavily used today.


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That being said, what is an OEM like Kouziro to do in orderto ensure that it can cater to both markets at once? Theanswer is simple: produce two similar tablets, with each devicerunning off a different operating system. And this is exactlywhat Kouziro has done with its new FT102 series of tablets.

According to a report published by Japanese website ITmedia,the FT102-series of tablets will consist of two variants, witheach variant running a different operating system. The firstvariant, which is known as the FT102-16, will be preloadedwith version 2.2 of the Android operating system (aka Froyo),and will be powered by Intel's Atom N455 processor clockedat 1.66GHz. In addition, the FT102-16 will also feature 1GBof DDR3 memory, a 16GB SSD for storage purposes, a 10-inch capacitive touchscreen display that is capable of a nativeresolution of 1024 x 600, a battery pack which is reportedlycapable of up to 3.5 hours of uptime on a single charge, andsupport for WiFi connectivity via the 802.11b/g/n standard.Oh, and it apparently will not come bundled with the AndroidMarket., as ITmedia claims that Kouziro intends to positionthe FT102-16 as a corporate device.

On the other hand, the other FT102 variant, the FT102-32,will sport slightly superior hardware in the form of having2GB of DDR3 memory and a 32GB SSD for storage purposes,although ITmedia has confirmed that the FT102-32 willfeature a display and the processor identical to the ones usedin the FT102-16. Also, unlike the FT102-16, the FT102-32 willbe preloaded with Windows 7 instead of the Android operatingsystem.

Last but definitely not least, ITmedia claims that both tabletswill come bundled with a wireless keyboard that connects viathe use of a nano receiver, and will feature analogue RGBoutput connectors for use in displaying the contents on thetablets' screen onto an external display.

The Kouziro FT102 series of tablets are expected to be madeavailable for sale in Japan come late July at the suggested retailprices of 30,000 yen and 50,000 yen (approx US$380 and US$633) for the FT102-16 and FT102-32 respectively.

Gingerbread update forOptimus 3D to feature 2D-to-3D conversion for appsSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/gingerbread-update-for-optimus-3d-to-

feature-2d-to-3d-conversion-for-apps/13024.html

July 19th, 2011

Everybody knows that LG's 3D-capable smartphone, theOptimus 3D, sports an interesting ability which allows users toconvert 2D images and videos into 3D on the fly with the helpof some software. However, it seems that the Korean companyis keen to take that functionality one step further to provide amore complete 3D experience for end-users, and it comes inthe form of 2D-to-3D conversion support for downloaded appsas well. And the best part of it is that users will not have to waittoo long to enjoy this additional support. Read on to find outmore.

Do you remember LG's Optimus 3D smartphone? You know,the one which boasts a glasses-free 3D display, along with theinteresting ability to convert images and video files from 2Dto 3D with the help of some sophisticated software algorithm?Well, if you happen to be the proud owner of an Optimus3D handset, we have got some good news; you will soon beable to apply that same 2D-to-3D conversion ability to yourdownloaded apps in a few months time.


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According to a report published by Ubergizmo, the upcomingGingerbread update, which is slated to be made availablefor download come October this year, will update the 2D-to-3D conversion engine to grant users the ability to applythe 3D effect to apps, and for those who are wondering aboutthe practicality of this enhanced feature, let's just say thatcatapulting an angry red bird into a structure populated withfat green pigs is sure to hold some form of appeal for mostcasual smartphone users.

That being said, it would seem that the updated 2D-to-3Dconversion engine does have its own share of drawbacksand limitations. For one, The Inquirer is claiming that thefeature will only work with applications and games thathave been developed using the popular OpenGL applicationprogramming interface, so this means that it is possible forsome apps to be incompatible with the 2D-to-3D converter.In addition, it is claimed that the 3D app conversion featurewill only work in landscape mode, and that "any applicationsor games that use only portrait mode won't be suitable forconversion". Oh well.

Samsung unveils world's firstzero-client monitor poweredby UPOE technologySource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/samsung-unveils-world-s-first-zero-

client-monitor-powered-by-upoe-technology/13023.html

July 19th, 2011

Would you like to own a monitor that is reportedly capableof powering itself over an Ethernet line? Well, it seems thatsuch a monitor does exist, albeit only for use by enterprises andbusiness, and it comes in the form of Samsung's new NC220monitor, which is touted to be capable of playing a role inhelping businesses to conserve energy and reduce cost andcomplexity. Read on to find out more...

Monitors are power-guzzling devices which need their owndedicated connection to the power socket at all times, right?Well, not in Samsung's dictionary they aren't: apparently, theKorean electronics giant has taken power consumption on itsmonitors to a new low by unveiling its new NC220 monitors,which comes with built-in support for Cisco's Universal PowerOver Ethernet (UPOE) technology which allows them to powerthemselves from nothing more than a single Ethernet cable.Wait, say what?

According to the official press release issued by Samsung, thenew NC220 monitors, in addition to their capability to drawboth power and data over a single Ethernet cable, will alsofeature the Korean electronics giant's proprietary LED BLUtechnology, which is reportedly capable of delivering "brightand clear pictures on an ultra-slim, eco-friendly design:. a featwhich Samsung claims is capable of significantly lower energyconsumption when compared with conventional CCFL (coldcathode fluorescent lamp) monitors.

That being said, the biggest draw of the NC220 monitor is stillthe inclusion of support for Cisco's VPOE technology, which,unlike most conventional Power Over Ethernet solutions,allows devices to draw up to 60W of power over an Ethernetconnection, as opposed to the 30W restriction which the lattersuffers from. This suggests that Samsung's new monitor couldhave a power consumption rating which lies between 30W and60W, although this really is speculation on our part. The pressrelease also claims that the NC220's ability to draw both dataand power from a single Ethernet cable allows businesses andenterprises to "leverage the power and speed of the company’scentralized server, while reducing energy costs and creating amore beautiful, less cluttered environment".

No information about pricing or availability has for the NC220has been released at this point of time, so do check back forupdates.

Toshiba Singapore Unveils 14-inch USB Mobile LCD MonitorSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/toshiba-singapore-unveils-14-inch-usb-

mobile-lcd-monitor/13021.html


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July 19th, 2011

Need an additional display to your notebook PC? You canconsider getting this new Toshiba 14-inch USB Mobile LCDMonitor. The widescreen LCD monitor weighs just 1.27kgand measures about an inch thick and is available in storesnow.

Toshiba Computer Systems Division (CSD), a division ofToshiba Singapore, has announced the availability of theirnew 14-inch USB-powered Mobile LCD Monitor, designedfor users who want an additional screen to their laptop at work,school, home or anywhere one is at.

It sports a 14-inch widescreen display with a resolution of1,366x768 pixels, and comes equipped with the same LCDpanel as a notebook PC for crisp images. The Toshiba 14-inchUSB Mobile Monitor weighs a mere 1.27kg, and measures thanan inch thick, and which makes it easy to fit in most laptopbags. The monitor’s power and video are both transferred via asingle USB connection to the notebook PC using video overUSB technology from DisplayLink, thus eliminating the needto carry bulky AC adapter or video cable.

The Toshiba Mobile LCD Monitor comes bundled witha protective black vinyl carrying case, which can also foldsinto an adjustable stand for to set various viewing levels ofyour preference. The case also houses the monitor’s USB cable.While the monitor can be used without a power adaptor, anoptional AC adapter (PA3743E-1AC3) allows users to turn upthe brightness to 220 nits (cd/m2).

The Toshiba 14-inch USB Mobile LCD Monitor is nowavailable in shops at Sim Lim Square and Funan DigitaLifeMall at S$259 (inclusive of GST).

Baidu releases own webbrowser, looks a lot like acertain competitorSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/baidu-releases-own-web-browser-

looks-a-lot-like-a-certain-competitor/13020.html

July 19th, 2011

Just when you though China's penchant for providing its owndomestic alternatives to various popular products and onlineservices could not get any more interesting, out comes Baidu tofurther consolidate its position as the country's version ofGoogle, and the latest piece of news seems to confirm thatclaim. Apparently, it seems that Baidu has decided that itcannot be China's "Google" if it does not have its own webbrowser, a flaw which the company has moved to remedy withthe release of its own beta browser that looks a lot a certaincompetitor's offering...

Are you adventurous enough to try out a beta web browser,especially if it is a product that is offered by a Chinesecompany? Well, if your answer to that question is "yes", thenwe are wagering that you might want to give a certain browserfrom the likes of Chinese search giant Baidu a little spin, for thecompany has just released version 1.2 of its own web browserfor download, which reportedly claims to grant users access to"its own collection of 30,000" apps that can quickly connectusers to online games, videos and other tools".


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According to the information posted on Baidu's downloadpage, the browser is touted to be designed with the goal ofbeing simple and reliable to use, and offers what it calls aSecure Browsing mode to protect users from being infected bymalware. In addition, the browser also boasts access to an apprepository which consists of no less than 30,000 apps such asmusic players, cooking recipes and even comic book readers.

However, as PCWorld points out, the apps that Baidu hasput up for users to make use of in the browser do not followthe traditional "downloadable apps" metaphor; rather, theyact as frontends for online programs which are reportedlyhosted by the search giant itself. In other words, the act of"downloading" an app from Baidu's "Treasure House" (yes,that is what Baidu's app repository is called) is nothing morethan adding a bookmark to the browser so that users caneasilly call up the app from their web browser. In addition,PCWorld claims that the URL bar in Baidu's web browser alsodoubles up as a search bar and a command launcher.

Sounds interesting? Well, you can always download Baidu'sbeta browser from http://liulanqi.baidu.com/ if you think youare adventurous enough to play around with the apps andservices the Chinese search giant has to offer. Of course, withthis being pre-release software, the same disclaimer about thebrowser potentially borking up your system applies (and evenmore so this time), so be sure to have your backups done.

Mozilla To Bring Multi-Threading Support To Firefox?Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/mozilla-to-bring-multi-threading-

support-to-firefox-/13019.html

July 19th, 2011

There is no denying that Firefox is one of the more popularbrowsers to exist today, but with the likes of competitors suchas Google's Chrome and Apple's Safari snapping away at itsheels, it should be of little surprise that Mozilla is keen to offerconsumers a more compelling web browsing experience inorder to maintain user satisfaction. And apparently, the next

major goal for the developers over at Mozilla will be to bringmulti-threaded support to the web browser. Now this shouldbe interesting.

Do you find yourself sometimes wishing that the gooddevelopers over at Mozilla would finally be able to deliver aweb browser that is not only light on resources, but also fastenough to put itself on a par with some of the more establishedplayers in the web browser market, such as Google's Chromeand Apple's Safari? Well, the good news is that Mozilla hasdefinitely got plans to unveil such a browser, as news hassurfaced that the browser vendor is now aiming to bake insome form of multi-threaded support into a future version ofFirefox.

Why is this so? Well, if you will remember, Mozilla firstannounced a couple of weeks ago that it has discoveredhow the act of running garbage collection more frequentlyon Firefox was reportedly capable of reducing the browser'smemory bloat by as much as up to 80%. In fact, this discoverywas significant enough for Mozilla to justify pushing thefeature into the latest Aurora build for Firefox.

However, it turns out that the increased frequency of runningthe browser's garbage collector also serves as a double-edgedsword, as Mozilla is claiming in its recent blog post that thecost of garbage collection is expected to go up as the heapsize of the process increases. This essentially means that thebrowser's garbage collector has got more work to do, andthe consequence is that it is expected to cause pauses in thebrowser's user interface. And that is precisely what Mozilla istrying its best to avoid in order to ensure that it can continueto deliver a proper web browser experience for the consumer,although the biggest obstacle lies in the fact that the documentobject model, which is also known as the DOM, is single-threaded in nature.

And Mozilla's solution? Well, the browser vendor is claimingthat the best way to deal with the issue "is to have each DOMassigned to its own processor, and the easiest way to do that isto have a few processes that can each be assigned to their ownCPU". However, as The Inquirer has clearly pointed out, this isnot an actual example of building in multi-threading supportinto the web browser, although it concedes that it is capable ofproducing similar results. Indeed, Mozilla has also confirmedin its blog post that its long-term goal will be to deliver a multi-threaded DOM, although it also claims that the act of doingso is " far enough away and risky enough where we know thatthere will be lots of value in building a multi-process browserfor quite a while".

So, it seems that a multi-threaded version of Firefox is stillon the cards, except that Mozilla has got no plans to throw itshand on the table anytime soon, especially when the browser


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vendor clearly sees the value of going with the multi-processroute for the time being. However, be it multi-process or multi-threaded, it does not change the fact that users can expect tosee some improvements to the Firefox web browser, at least inthe form of lower resource consumption.

Nikon my Picturetown iPhoneApp now available for usersin Singapore, Hong Kong andAustraliaSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/nikon-my-picturetown-iphone-app-

now-available-for-users-in-singapore-hong-kong-and-australia/13018.html

July 19th, 2011

Nikon Asia has announced the availability of their myPicturetown iPhone App for users in Singapore, Hong Kongand Australia. You can download the app to your iPhone, iPodTouch or iPad and create your album, view your photos andeven upload or take a photo.

Nikon Asia has recently announced that their proprietarymy Picturetown application is now available for users inSingapore, Hong Kong and Australia. My Picturetown isNikon’s online photo storage and sharing service that waslaunched in Asia in 2008 and according to the company, it iscurrently used by more than a million users globally acrossJapan, Europe and USA. The app is free to download fromthe Apple iTunes App store, and users can access their myPicturetown accounts from their iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad(with iOS 3.1 or later).

The my Picturetown App allows users to make use of all thephoto sharing functions with great flexibility and mobilityeven while on-the-go, as long as you have 3G or Wi-Fi Internetconnectivity. Users can create their photo albums easilyfrom their iPhones by uploading photos from the phone andsharing the album with just one click. This also helps to reduce

the need to send multiple MMSes or emails with multipleattachments to their intended recipients. My Picturetownusers can also perform various basic operations includingmoving photos and rotating photo display.

Main Features of my Picturetown for iPhone

Album ViewingAccess all your photos and albums on my Picturetown withyour mobile device. You can also view albums shared by yourfriends too.

Album CreationYou can create and edit albums. Organising the photos takenwith your iPhone into albums is also very easy.

UploadingYou can upload photos from your phone and also add photosto existing albums, or create and save entirely new albums.

DownloadingYou can select the resolution of the photo and download it toyour iPhone.

Camera FunctionsYou can start the iPhone camera without exiting theapplication and the photos taken can be uploaded instantly.

Sign up from the appIf you didn't create any my Picturetown account yet, you cansign up from the application itself.

The Nikon my Picturetown app can be downloaded fromthe iTunes App store: http://itunes.apple.com/app/my-picturetown/id299293367?mt=8

To learn more about my Picturetown app, please visit:HK - http://info.mypicturetown.com/geninfo/en_HK/iphoneApplication.htmlSG - http://info.mypicturetown.com/geninfo/en_SG/iphoneApplication.htmlAU - http://info.mypicturetown.com/geninfo/en_AU/iphoneApplication.html

Types of accounts :Free (no charge, up to 2-GB storage)

Gold (membership fee charged, up to 200-GB storage in unitsof 20 GB each)

Acer announces new Aspire5755 multimedia notebook inUKSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/acer-announces-new-aspire-5755-

multimedia-notebook-in-uk/13017.html

July 19th, 2011

Do you enjoy playing with multimedia notebooks? Well, if youranswer to that question is a resounding "yes", Acer has got justthe device for you, and it comes in the form of a new notebook


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known as the Aspire 5755, which boasts some decent hardwareand specifications to boot. Oh, and it comes equipped witha certain wireless technology from Intel which will probablyattract neat freaks who cannot stomach the idea of dealing withcables. Read on to find out more.

Notebooks are supposed to be used only for work and casualentertainment, right? Well, not in today's context they aren't;apparently, the notebook today is expected to be an extremelyversatile tool capable of some serious entertainment such asmid-range gaming and the playing back of full HD movieswithout any signs of slowdown or lagginess. And leave it toAcer to provide consumers with yet another choice in themultimedia notebook department with the announcementof its new Aspire 5755, which is apparently designed tocater to the needs of "multimedia lovers looking to get theirentertainment fix on the go".

According to a report published by Tech Digest, the AcerAspire 5755 multimedia notebook is powered by Intel's SandyBridge platform (as most would expect from notebooks thatare released recently), and that Acer is reportedly offeringa variety of processors for consumers to choose from inorder to suit their personal needs and budget, with thetop-end configuration utilizing the i7-2820QM processor. Inaddition, the notebook's graphics crunching capabilities willbe provided by NVIDIA's Optimus-capable GeForce 540Mgraphics card, which is definitely powerful enough to handlejust about anything a user would throw at it (except forgraphics-intensive games, of course).

Backing up the notebook's processing power is 8GB of DDR3memory and up to 1TB of storage capacity, so suffice tosay users should not expect to run out of space on theAspire 5755 anytime soon, even after transferring their entirecollection of games and movies into the notebook. The display,unfortunately, will probably be a bit of a deal breaker, as TechDigest has reported that the 15-inch screen is only capableof resolutions of up to 1366x768.

However, if you are the sort of user who often hooks up hisor her notebook to a huge television set to enhance yourmultimedia experience, you will find that there is somethingextra which the Aspire 5755 is capable of offering, and it comesin the form of built-in support for Intel's Wireless Display orWiDi technology, which allows users to stream content directlyfrom the notebook to an external display without the need todeal with those cumbersome wires. Of course, if WiDi is not

your thing, there is always the trusty HDMI-out and Acer'sown clear.fi to fall back on.

No mention about the Aspire 5755's global availability (if atall) has been made, although Tech Digest is claiming that thenotebook will be retailing in the UK at the starting price of£899 or approximately US$1,440.

HTC to buy back 20 million ofits own sharesSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/htc-to-buy-back-20-million-of-its-own-

shares/13016.html

July 19th, 2011

Amid a patent infringement ruling in favour of Apple by theITC, HTC's share price has taken a tumble and the companyis looking at buying back a not insignificant 20 million shares.HTC is expected to give half of the shares to employees whilethe other half will be cancelled.

Amid a patent infringement ruling in favour of Apple by theITC, HTC's share price has taken a tumble and the companyis looking at buying back a not insignificant 20 million shares.HTC is expected to give half of the shares to employees whilethe other half will be cancelled.

HTC's shares have dropped to a six month low of NT$870 (S$36/US$30) and the company is now springing into actionto prevent a further drop in the share price. More than halfof HTC's outstanding shares are owned by foreign investorsand with a lot of negative feedback from various investmentcompanies the share price has suffered.

However, the patent infringement dispute with Apple isn't theonly reason why HTC's shares have been falling even thoughit's the most recent contributor, as overall HTC's share price

has dropped by 20 percent since the 6th of July. HTC is ofcourse appealing the ruling and even before that happens; theITC still has to review the ruling by the judge and come to thesame conclusion as the judge.

Worst case, Apple could demand a ban on HTC's devicesinto the US, although it's more likely that the two companieswill settle outside court before it gets to this. Also rememberthat these kinds of things tend to take a lot of time and animport ban is highly unlikely. The scary thought is that if Applewould come out victorious, it would put precedence in Apple'sfavour against other Android handset makers who could alsopotentially be banned from selling their devices in the US.We have a feeling that a small company known as Google willinterfere before it gets to this stage though, but it's a scarythought nonetheless.


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SATA revision 3.1 released bythe SATA-IOSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/sata-revision-3.1-released-by-the-sata-

io/13015.html

July 19th, 2011

SATA 6Gbps is all but ubiquitous, but that doesn't stop theSATA-IO to add new features to the standard and revision3.1 of the SATA spec adds support for a wide range of newfeatures, of which very few are performance related. Newfeatures include support for USM, mSATA, several new powermanagement features, improved Trim command support anda few new hardware control features.

SATA 6Gbps is all but ubiquitous, but that doesn't stop theSATA-IO to add new features to the standard and revision3.1 of the SATA spec adds support for a wide range of newfeatures, of which very few are performance related. Newfeatures include support for USM, mSATA, several new powermanagement features, improved Trim command support anda few new hardware control features.

USM stands for Universal Storage Module and it's an additionto the SATA spec that Seagate has been pushing for. In anutshell it's an external 2.5-inch or less likely a 3.5-inch harddrive fitted in an enclosure that easily slots into a wide rangeof devices such as TVs, consoles, set-top boxes, computers,docking stations, stereo systems, media players and just aboutanything else that would benefit from having a hard drive init. It's meant to be a consumer friendly solution, as the onlyaccessible part of the drive is the rear SATA data and powerconnectors.

In reality USM is pretty much a hard drive dock for hard forconsumers, as the whole thing is a bit less intimidating withall the "techy" parts hidden away inside a plastic box. So farthe industry uptake isn't exactly huge with of course Seagatebacking it, plus a couple of case makers and some companieswe've never heard of before. In a way we do hope that USM willtake off, as it should allow for consumers to get the full speedadvantage of plugging in a SATA hard drive into their device,rather than having to rely on slow USB 2.0 hard drives, at leastuntil USB 3.0 takes over.

By now you're probably familiar with mSATA, it's a tinyconnector that looks like mini PCI Express card connector andthe two are physically identical. The new addition to revision3.1 of the SATA spec allows for better auto detection whichmeans that the mSATA slot can be shared with a standardSATA port, as the SATA port would be disabled automaticallyif an mSATA SSD was installed.

In terms of new power saving features we're looking at Zero-Power Optical Disc Drive which as the name suggest allows theoptical drive to power down completely and as such eliminateany power drawn by it. Another power related feature isRequired Link Power Management which adds additionalpower management features to the SATA spec.

A new feature for SSDs is Queued Trim Command whichallows the SSD to execute Trim commands without having animpact on the normal operation of the SSD, so in other wordsthe SSD can handle data being written or read at the same timeas it's dealing with garbage collection.

Finally the SATA-IO has added some new hardwarecontrol features which enabled host identification of "devicecapabilities" which is said to allow for more effective use ofSATA devices by the host.

In as much as all this is good news, we're wondering how farthe SATA-IO has gotten on the next major revision of the SATAspec, since as crazy as it is, the SATA 6Gbps specification isalready reaching its limits. Get a pair of fast SSDs in RAIDand you could at least in theory max out the SATA 6Gbps bus.It's not likely that we'll see a new SATA standard for the nextcouple of years though, which isn't great news and it's possiblewe'll see a lot of custom solutions akin to what OCZ is workingon until then.

Intel demos "cloud-in-a-box"server solutionSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/intel-demos-cloud-in-a-box-server-

solution/13014.html

July 19th, 2011

Intel is currently touring around the world promoting cloudcomputing and its rather unusual "cloud-in-a-box" demosystem which can fit into a suitcase and this is in fact how Intelis taking the server with them. The "cloud-in-a-box" serveractually consists of a pair of compact servers with a pair ofXeon CPUs in each server, although it's apparently not a retailproduct.

Intel is currently touring around the world promoting cloudcomputing and its rather unusual "cloud-in-a-box" demosystem which can fit into a suitcase and this is in fact how Intelis taking the server with them. The "cloud-in-a-box" serveractually consists of a pair of compact servers with a pair ofXeon CPUs in each server, although it's apparently not a retailproduct.

In as much as the "cloud-in-a-box" server is a fun demo (funfor a server demo at least), it also demonstrates how compactand powerful servers have become. Each of the Xeon CPUsfeatures eight cores and 16 threads for a total of 32 threadsacross the two comparatively compact servers. In fact, Intelwent as far as suggesting that one server like this could replacean entire rack of older servers. Intel was keen on pointing outthat only two percent of the cost of a data centre is spent on theservers, while a massive 80 percent is spent on the building,electricity and cooling. Apparently this is a subject Intel isgoing to talk more about in a few weeks' time, but that was asmuch as the company was willing to reveal for now.


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Intel made some interesting arguments for cloud computing aswell, as you'd expect them to do, as they are after all investingheavily into cloud computing. By 2015 Intel expects there to beover 1 Billion people on the internet and an insane 15 Billionconnected devices that are shuffling an astounding 1 Zetabyteof data around. That's only four years from now not exactlywhat you'd call the distant future. Intel's cloud vision for 2015is focusing on securely shared data between public and privateclouds, client aware services and automated cloud servers.

One interesting example that Intel highlighted was that perabout every 600 smartphones, one server is needed, but thisnumber drops drastically when we're talking tablets, as eachserver can only support 122 tablets in comparison. We'retalking about content delivery here and Intel claims that tabletusers are accessing "richer media" content than smartphoneusers.

Intel is expect its data centre processor growth to doublebetween last year and 2015 with cloud computing accountingfor some 20 percent share, up from 10 percent last year. Theinteresting thing here is that most other segments are expectedto shrink percentage wise with the only exception being thenetworking segment.

Of course an Intel presentation wouldn't be an Intelpresentation without some talk about manufacturingprocesses and Intel is quite boldly claiming that itscompetitors are falling further and further behind as they'vestagnated on a 40-45nm technology while Intel is ready tostart producing 22nm silicon later this year using its Tri-Gate technology. Considering how much money Intel is re-investing into manufacturing this is hardly surprising, but thecompetition is also likely to move forward a generation and ahalf shortly when a lot of the other foundries are moving to28nm. Even so, Intel does have a technological lead over itscompetitors and it'll be interesting to see how Intel leveragesthat.

Report: Sandy Bridge-E to bebranded Core i7 3000 SeriesSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/report-sandy-bridge-e-to-be-branded-

core-i7-3000-series/13013.html


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July 19th, 2011

We had previously covered the 3 CPUs Sandy Bridge Ewill release with. Now DonanimHaber is reporting that thebranding for these three CPUs. The three CPUs will be brandedCore i7 Extreme Edition 3960X, Core i7 3930 and Core i7 3820respectively. The Sandy Bridge E CPUs will be compatible withthe upcoming X79 chipset, which will finally replace Intel'slast enthusiast chipset, X58, released way back in 2008 andserving the Core i7 900 Series.

The new flagship will be Core i7 3960X Extreme Edition. A 6-core / 12-thread CPU, clocked at 3.3 GHz with Turbo upto 3.9GHz, with 15MB L3 cache, as reported previously. The priceis expected to be in the $999 range. The i7 3960X will featurean unlocked multiplier. Core i7 3930 will be another 6-core /12-thread SKU, clocked at 3.2 GHz with Turbo upto 3.8 GHz.Unlike the 3960X, the 3930 will feature 12MB L3 cache.

The most affordable Sandy Bridge-E will be the Core i7 3820,a 4-core / 8-thread CPU cllocked at 3.6 GHz with Turbo up to3.9 GHz. It is expected to cost roughly the same as the Corei7 2600K, but it features an locked multiplier and requiresa more expensive X79 motherboard. The Core i7 3820 willsurely be a popular choice for gamers. All 3 CPUs will featurea 130W TDP. There are no surprises with the specifications, asthey are identical to our reports back in May.

Interestingly, Intel could also have branded it under theCore i7 2000 series, since currently it only goes up to 2600.However, Intel has chosen the 3000 nomenclature, and it isnow likely Ivy Bridge CPUs will be branded Core i3/i5/i7 3000Series as well.

Intel is currently having problems with the platform, havingdelayed it to earliest end-2011.

ENERMAX introduces ETS-T40Series CPU CoolersSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/enermax-introduces-ets-t40-series-

cpu-coolers/13012.html

July 19th, 2011

ENERMAX introduces the ETS-T40 series CPU coolers whichinclude its very own LED fans. A down flow variant CPU coolerwill soon be available as well.

Above: ETS-T40-VD CPU Cooler

Above: ETS-T40-TA CPU Cooler

Above: ETS-T40-TB CPU Cooler

ENERMAX introduces the ETS-T40 series CPU coolers whichinclude ENERMAX twister bearing fans. ETS-T40 series comein three models each having different types of fan. The ETS-T40-VD and ETS-T40-TA are equipped with LED fans whileETS-T40-TB is mounted with a non-LED fan.

ETS-T40 VD TA TBFan Type(120mm)

VEGAS DUO(Red and

Blue LED)

T.BAPOLLISH(Blue LED)

T.B SILENCE(non LED)

Fan Speed 800 -1800RPM

800 -1800RPM

800 -1800RPM

Air Flow 33.26 -75.98CFM

33.26 -75.98CFM

37.57 -86.70CFM

Noise 16 - 26dBA 16 - 21dBA 10 - 21dBA


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Socket Intel LGA775/1155/1156/1366,

AMD AM2/AM2+/AM3/

AM3+/FM1Heat Pipe 4 x 6mm

CopperHeat Pipes

Material AluminiumFins

OverallDimension

139(L) x93(W) x

160(H)mmWeight 610g

The ENERMAX ETS-T40-VD, ETS-T40-TA, ETS-T40-TB willbe retailing for US$49.99 (S$61), US$49.99 (S$61) and US$39.99 (S$49) respectively.

More images of Samsung'supcoming 4G slider for Verizonshow up onlineSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/more-images-of-samsung-s-

upcoming-4g-slider-for-verizon-show-up-online/13010.html

July 19th, 2011

Sprint may have its epic Samsung smartphone which goesby the name of the Epic 4G, but it certainly seems that thetelco was not epic enough to score the device as an exclusiveproduct, for word has it that Verizon is well on its way tolaunching its own Samsung slider smartphone that bearsmore than just a passing semblence to the Epic 4G. Andapparently, Verizon's version of Samsing's yet-unnamed slidersmartphone will sport a few features that is not present on theoriginal Epic 4G. Read on to find out more.

Do you remember Sprint's Epic 4G smartphone? You know,that epic smartphone which was released in the US way backin September last year and boasts a Super AMOLED capacitivetouchscreen and was preloaded with version 2.1 of the Androidoperating system? Well, it seems that Sprint's epic smartphonewill now have to take a back seat where epic-ness is concerned,for images of what appears to be a successor to the Epic 4Ghas showed up online, and that it will be designed to work withVerizon's network.

According to the report published by AndroidCentral, the yet-unnamed smartphone, while bearing a near-identical designto that of the Epic 4G, comes with a few tweaks and extrafeatures that were not present in the latter. For one, theunnamed smartphone's keyboard has had the placement of its"Shift" and "Fn" keys switched, while an additional shortcutbutton to allow quick access to the device's web browser hasbeen added. On top of that, Android Central has pointedout that the superfluous dedicated emoticon button is nowno more, having been moved as a secondary input for thesmartphone's spacebar.

In addition to the aforementioned differences, AndroidCentralis claiming that the unnamed Samsung slider phone will comepreloaded with version 2.3.4 of the Android operating system,as opposed to the Epic 4G's 2.1, and is supposedly capable ofconnecting to a 4G LTE network.

Last but definitely not least, it would seem that Samsung'sunnamed smartphone will also newer and better hardwarethan the aforementioned Epic 4G: AndroidCentral has claimedthrough a tipster that the unnamed device could potentiallysport a Super AMOLED Plus display which is reportedlycapable of "packing in more subpixels than a mere SuperAMOLED screen", and that it boasts up to 2GB of internalflash memory. And if that was not enough, AndroidCentral isalso claiming that the smartphone boasts performance levels


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superior to that of the Fascinate, and sports both front andrear-facing cameras.

Of course, don't expect this powerhouse of a smartphone toever make its way down to our shores in some other form orvariant any time soon (if at all), especially if the fact that theEpic 4G, which is also known as the Galaxy S Pro in other partsof the world, has yet to find itself on our local retail shelves, isof any indication.

Enjoy your favorite songson the new Genius SP-i500iPhone speaker dockSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/enjoy-your-favorite-songs-on-the-new-

genius-sp-i500-iphone-speaker-dock/13008.html

July 19th, 2011

The Genius SP-i500 iPhone speaker dock not only plays yourfavorite songs, but it also charges the phone battery whenyour phone is docked. It also supports iPod music players andyou can download the Musical Alarm app to set up your alarm.

Featuring a stylish black finish, the Genius SP-i500 iPhonespeaker dock claims to be perfect for playing music fromyour iPhone. The dock can charge your iPhone or iPod whileit plays your favorite songs from the 1.5-inch high quality audiodriver with a total output of 2 watts. It also has a line-injack to support other device input. On top of that, Genius alsoincludes a Musical Alarm app that you can download to youriPhone for user to setup one's own alarm schedule; the SP-i500also has a snooze key which you can combine with the apps.

New images of ZTE's WP7-powered smartphone nowavailableSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/new-images-of-zte-s-wp7-powered-

smartphone-now-available/13009.html

July 19th, 2011

ZTE may not be all that well-known in certain parts of theworld, but there is no denying that the company is one of thelarger players when it comes to producing mobile phones forthe Chinese market. And from the looks of it, it seems that onesuch ZTE-branded smartphone that will eventually make itsway over to China is powered by none other than Microsoft'sWindows Phone 7 operating system, with a few extra changesmade to ensure that it plays nice with the local populace there.

Windows Phone 7 may be an excellent operating system forsmartphones, but the fact that Microsoft has done little tomarket devices running off its operating system, along with itsvery late entry into the market, means that it has to competeagainst the likes of powerhouses such as iOS and Android for aslice of the smartphone pie. Which, as we all know, is definitelyno easy task.

However, it seems that Microsoft might have a chance inChina, for it is known that ZTE is planning to release asmartphone that will be powered by the "Mango" versionof the Windows Phone 7 operating system. And to top ifoff, new images of that alleged smartphone have reportedlybeen released online by none other than ZTE's very own Dr.Luo Zhongsheng, who is said to be the company's head ofsmartphone development.

According to a report published by Wpcentral.com, the yet-unnamed smartphone will feature some cosmetic tweaks onthe OS front, such as the use of custom wallpapers on the Startscreen, as well as Chinese localization, as shown in the imagebelow.


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That being said, Wpcentral.com claims that the copy ofWindows Phone 7 that comes bundled with ZTE's smartphonewill lack Twitter support, ostensibly due to the Chinese'sgovernment's decision to ban the use of the popularmicroblogging platform in its territories. However, Chineseusers will probably have nothing to lose, as the report alsoclaims that in place of the missing feature is a preloadedapp for Sina Weibo, a very popular domestic microbloggingplatform that is reportedly like a hybrid of Facebook andTwitter combined.

No other details about ZTE's upcoming smartphone has beenrevealed at this point, so do check back for updates.

Samsung launches five neweco-friendly mono laserprinters for KoreaSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/samsung-launches-five-new-eco-

friendly-mono-laser-printers-for-korea/13007.html

July 19th, 2011

Remember the short story we published last week aboutSamsung releasing a bunch of new laser printers for sale in itsdomestic Korean market? Well, it turns out that the Koreanelectronics giant has got even more of such devices up itssleeves for its customers, and it comes in the form of five newmonochrome laser printers, two of which boast multifunctioncapabilities. And yes, Samsung has confirmed that all fiveprinters are economically-friendly models with the capabilityto reduce one's energy consumption.

Remember the little story we published exactly seven daysago about Samsung launching four new monochrome laserprinters for personal and home office use? Well, it seemsthat the Korean electronics giant has more devices of such anature up its sleeves, for the company has announced five newenvironmentally-friendly monochrome laser printers today.However, unlike the more consumer-oriented products thatwere launched last week, this batch of monochrome laser

printers are designed for use mainly by small and mediumbusinesses (SMBs).

According to Samsung, the standalone models, which are alsoknown as the ML-2951D, ML-2950ND and ML-2955DW, willboast prints speed of up to 28ppm and sport a 533MHzprocessor. The printers are also capable of achieving amaximum print resolution of 1200 x 1200, while the built-in paper tray is reportedly big enough to accommodate upto 250 sheets of paper. Samsung has also claimed that theaforementioned eco-friendly characteristics of its printerswill come in the form of a low noise output of 50dBa andlower toner consumption, while sporting what it calls an "EcoSimulator" which reportedly allows users to see the cost oftheir prints based on the amount of energy, toner and paperconsumed. In addition, the printers will come bundled withsupport for Mobile Print, which allows users to send printcommands to the printer from their smartphones and tablets.

The other two models that were announced by Samsungtoday are the multifunction-capable SCX-4728FW andSCX-4728FD, which boast the added ability to providescanning and fax support. Considering how there was littlemention about both the SCX-4728FW and SCX-4728FD'sspecifications, we'd hazard a guess that they are largelyidentical to those of the aforementioned standalone models.

No details about product availability and pricing were revealedby Samsung in its announcement.

iOS hack brings multi-usersupport to Apple's iPadSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/ios-hack-brings-multi-user-support-to-

apple-s-ipad/13005.html

July 19th, 2011

Everyone knows that the iPad is a fantastic consumerelectronic device for users to create and consumer digitalcontent on, but the fact that it is designed to be used only bya single user makes it difficult (and potentially costly) for anentire family to share content without mixing up each other's


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personal files and information. That is all set to change though,for word has it that a Brazillian hacker has somehow managedto bake support for multiple user accounts into the iPad, muchlike how one would set up a family PC with such accounts foreach member.

Picture this scenario: you are busy playing Angry Birds on youriPad, and your parents request to borrow the device for a whileso that they can use it to check their work emails since thehome PC is busted up due to dead hardware. No problem; youterminate the game, log out of the iPad and create a new useraccount for your parents' work use. And once they are done,you log back to your own user account on the iPad to continueyour game, while those work emails stay safe in your parents'own user account which no one can access without the correctpassword.

Sounds impossible? Well, not anymore, apparently, aBrazillian hacker has managed to craft an iOS hack that isreportedly capable of performing the aforementioned task.The hack, which is dubed as the iUser, allows iPad users tocreate multiple user accounts on their device, but the real cruxof the hack is that it is capable of segregating application dataand system preferences between the various user accounts.This potentially allows users to share their iPad much like theway one would share a family PC, with each user's accountbeing given its own seperate profile which will not overlap orinterfere with those set up by other users, and the short videobelow tells it all:

Unprintable Content (Video, Flash, etc.)

Sounds great? Well, here's a little caveat; apparently, iUser willonly be made available on Cydia, which means that only usersof jailbroken iPads can engage in some multi-user goodnesswhen it is officially released. However, if you are daringenough to fool around with code, you might be pleased toknow that the hacker has released a pre-release version iUser'ssource code for public download.

LG introduces Optimus Proand Optimus Net AndroidGingerbread smartphonesSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/lg-introduces-optimus-pro-and-

optimus-net-android-gingerbread-smartphones/13004.html

July 19th, 2011

LG Korea has unveiled their Optimus Pro (LG-C660) andOptimus Net (LG-P690) smartphones, which are running onGoogle's latest Android 2.3 Gingerbread mobile operatingsystem. The Optimus Pro has both QWERTY keyboardand touchscreen display, while the Optimus Net is fulltouchscreen.

LG Korea has introduced two new additions to the Optimussmartphones portfolio - the LG Optimus Pro (LG-C660) andthe LG Optimus Net (LG-P690) running on the latest Android2.3 platform which claims to offer enhanced multimediasupport, power management and gaming support.

LG Optimus Pro – Simple Social Networking with BothQWERTY and Touch

The LG Optimus Pro claims to be the company's firstsmartphone with a portrait QWERTY keyboard for fast andaccurate typing, and it also offers a 2.8-inch touchscreendisplay for quick navigation. The phone also comes withdedicated hotkeys for instant access to email and scheduler.The LG Optimus Pro will be available in white, titan, as wellas black.

LG Optimus Net – The Next Generation of SocialCommunication

Featuring LG Social+, the Optimus Net places all the popularsocial networking portals in one convenient widget which youcan access easily from the homescreen. Users can multitaskbetween updating their status on Facebook and Twitter while


17

reading their friends’ social media feeds on the same screen.The widget also provides one-click photo sharing with multiplesocial media accounts. The Optimus Net sports a 3.2-inchHVGA (320x480) display while the LG SmartShare functionallows easy sharing of content with other DLNA devices.

According to the company, specifications for the OptimusNet will vary from market to market. Depending on thecarrier, some of the phones in Europe will be Near FieldCommunication (NFC) capable for mobile payments. TheNorth American version will include a QWERTY keyboard andin Brazil, China, Asia and the CIS region, the Optimus Net willbe dual SIM-compatible. The phone will be available in white,as well as black.

Both the Optimus Pro and Optimus Net boast the largest1500mAh battery in their class and an 800 MHz CPU,ensuring longer, better performance. Both smartphones willbe available starting this summer, rolling out in 30 marketsbeginning in Europe.

Microsoft scores first placein malware blocking test withInternet Explorer 9Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/microsoft-scores-first-place-in-

malware-blocking-test-with-internet-explorer-9/13003.html

July 19th, 2011

Speak of Internet Explorer to most computer-savvy peopleand chances are you will be given icy glares and a profoundlecture of how Microsoft always fails to make a good browserthat is capable of safeguarding a user from nasty malwarecirculating the depths of cyberspace, right? Well, not anymore;apparently, a recent study conducted by NSS Labs have shownthat Internet Explorer 9 and Internet Explorer 8 clinched bothfirst and second spots respectively where browser security isconcerned. And no, we are not making this up.

When it comes to web browsers, most people tend toavoid Microsoft's Internet Explorer like the plague, oftenciting various "issues" such as its slow performance,non-conformance to popular online standards and more

importantly, insecurity as the main reasons for doing so. Andwhile the first two claims may have some degree of truth to it, itwould seem that Microsoft has largely cleared up its act on thesecurity front, especially if the latest study by NSS Labs is ofany indication. Apparently, in an independent test, NSS Labsfound that both Internet Explorer 9 and Internet Explorer 8came through as clear winners in actively blocking malwarefrom entering a user's PC, beating the likes of Chrome, Firefox,Safari and Opera by a huge margin.

According to the report published by NSS Labs, InternetExplorer 9, with its dual-pronged approach of actively filteringout malware via a combination of URL and application-basedreputation scans, produced the best results by far. NSS Labsclaims that Microsoft's URL filtering system was capable ofnabbing as much as 92% of live threats, while the addedprotection offered by Application Reputation bumped thefilter's success rate up to a perfect 100%, thus easily earningit the top spot in the test. And if that was not good enough,NSS Labs has also discovered that the older Internet Explorer8 web browser did reasonably well in the test too, being ableto stop as much as 90% of live threats from reaching a user.

In contrast, Safari 5, Chrome 10 and Firefox 4 were all tiedfor the third spot, with each browser reporting a significantlylower protection rate of only 13%; however, NSS Labs claimsthat this is due to all three browsers utilizing Google's SafeBrowser system. Opera, on the other hand, was last with onlya 5% block rate, a score which NSS Labs attributes to thebrowser's use of an AVG-based protection system, althoughthe test credits Opera for making a significant improvementin security, as the previous version of the Opera web browserreportedly scored a 0 in an older test.

Last but definitely not least, NSS Labs claims that InternetExplorer 9 also holds the top spot in the amount of time neededto block websites that are known to host malware, althoughthis is brought about by the browser's implementation ofApplication Reputation scanning, a feature which is not foundin any of the other browsers used in the test.


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With results as definitive as this, it is going to be very difficultfor the "Internet Explorer is not secure" claim to hold anymore water in today's context. So, if you are running a recentversion of Windows on your computer and are looking for agood and secure web browser to safeguard your online webexperience...well, let's just say that a trip down to Microsoft'sdownload pages is in good order.

The full report can be downloaded off NSS Labs' website here.

Sony announces wall-mountable Hi-Fi system for theiPhoneSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/sony-announces-wall-mountable-hi-fi-

system-for-the-iphone/13002.html

July 19th, 2011

Most people will not deny that the iPhone is every bit afashion statement as much as it is a smartphone, and itseems that Sony is not about to go against such popularopinion, especially if its latest Hi-Fi system that was recentlyannounced in Europe is of any indication. Apparently, theJapanese electronics giant is claiming that the new wall-mountable Hi-Fi system for the iPhone, which is otherwiseknown as the CMT-CX5, is designed to allow users the luxuryof "getting superior sound quality in a sleek, aestheticallypleasing, wall-mountable hi-fi" .

To say that our professional and social lives are slowly butsurely starting to revolve our smartphones may sound a bitlike an overstatement, but there is no denying that there issome truth in such a claim, considering how addicted we are toour smartphones for access to email, along with Facebook andTwitter updates while on the move. And since we are already soreliant on our smartphones for work and play, Sony apparentlythought that it would be a good idea to enhance the "play"part of the equation with the introduction of its new, wall-mountable iPhone Hi-Fi system, the CMT-CX5BiP.

According to the official press release issued by Sony Europe,the CMT-CX5BiP is a Hi-Fi system designed to allow usersthe luxury of "getting superior sound quality in a sleek,aesthetically pleasing, wall-mountable hi-fi" without makingit stand out from one's home decor like a sore thumb, and itshows. Sony claims that the Hi-Fi system will consist of threeunits (main unit and two speakers), "which can be groupedfor efficiency and aesthetic purposes or separated dependingupon the stylistic preferences".

The wall-mountable part, according to Sony, will come in theform of "key holes on the back panel" that is reportedly capableof giving users the "freedom to either mount the system onthe wall, or display via shelf set-up". In addition, the CMT-CX5BiP will feature Sony's Dynamic Sound Generator X-tratechnology, which "delivers a clear, crisp sound that can beenjoyed via a number of audio inputs". Last but definitelynot least, the CMT-CX5BiP will come bundled with built-insupport for a variety of audio input sources such as mediaplayers, CD and even FM tuners through USB or a 3.5mmaudio-in jack, as well as by connecting one’s iPod or iPhoneonto the dock.

Unfortunately, Sony Europe has not announced any detailspertaining to pricing for the CMT-CX5BiP wall-mountable Hi-Fi system, although it has revealed that the product is expectedto be released for sale in the UK come August 2011.

Apple releases iOS 4.3.4Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/apple-releases-ios-4.3.4/13000.html

July 19th, 2011

Apple's iOS 4.3.4 is simply a minor security update which fixesa vulnerability associated with software's PDF viewing. Thevulnerability is reported to allow hackers to gain full controlof Apple's device hence users are encouraged to download thenew iOS 4.3.4, unless of course, you are using applicationssuch as Jailbreakme.

GScreen's dual-screen LaptopFinally AvailableSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/gscreen-s-dual-screen-laptop-finally-

available/12999.html

July 19th, 2011

GScreen first introduced the SpaceBook laptop in 2009 whichsports two pieces of 15.4-inch screen. However, the productwas delayed as they decided to go for two pieces of 17.3-inchscreens. Read on.


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Plans to push them out in May 2010 did not surface.Finally, consumers can now preorder them at their website.Unfortunately, other than the dual 17.3-inch screens, rest ofthe specifications did not impress. The SpaceBook comes intwo models. The high-end version consists of a dual 17.3-inch1920 x 1080 LED backlit screens, Intel i7-740QM 1.73GHzprocessor, 8GB of memory, 500GB of hard disk space, NvidiaGeForce GTS 250M graphics card and a DVD drive. The low-end model will feature Intel i5-560M processor and 4GB ofmemory instead. The SpaceBook 17 i7 8G is retailing for US$2,795 (S$3,408) while the SpaceBook 17 i5 4G is going for US$2,395 S$2,920).

AREA introduces Micron2 USBMicroscopeSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/area-introduces-micron2-usb-

microscope/12998.html

July 19th, 2011

AREA releases the USB powered microscope which willmake a very interesting product. The Micron2 has an opticalmagnification of 20x and electronic magnification of 200x,allowing users to view the finer points of his/her hair asshown above. It also enables user to capture up to 2.6-megapixel image and video recording at 640 x 480 resolution.


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The AREA Micron2 USB microscope weighs about 60g andcomes with a dedicated tripod, software CD and manual. It hasa total warranty period of 6 months and is already retailing inJapan for 4980 Yen (S$77).

See more specifications at AREA website.

COMEX 2011 Show Dates,Venue, Lucky Draw and FloorPlans!Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/comex-2011-show-dates-venue-lucky-

draw-and-floor-plans-/12997.html

July 19th, 2011

It's never too early to prepare your budgets! This year'siteration of COMEX will feature over 830 exhibitors anda record of 345,000 square feet of exhibition groundsat the Suntec Singapore International Convention &Exhibition Centre, 1st to 4th September 2011. Read more forour sneak preview of the show, including details of a whoppingS$20,000 lucky draw and exclusive floor plans reveal to startstrategic planning for your COMEX 2011 assault today!

Dates:

1st - 4th September 2011 (Thursday to Sunday)

Venue:

Suntec Singapore - Levels 1, 2, 3, 4 & 6

Lucky Draw:

For every $100 spent during the show, you will get a chanceto win

1st Prize: S$ 20,000 Cash2nd Prize: S$ 3,000 Cash

3rd Prize: S$ 2,000 Cash

4th Prize: S$ 1,000 cash

5th Prize: S$ 900 cash








The COMEX 2011 Show Lucky Draw Results will be publishedin the New Paper on 12th September 2011.

Floor Plans:

4th Floor

6th Floor

Notable Exhibitors:

Acer Computer (Singapore) Pte LtdAltec Lansing

Apple

Asus Technology Pte Ltd

Audio-Technica (S.E.A) Pte Ltd

Belkin

Brother International Singapore Pte Ltd

Canon Singapore Pte Ltd

Casio Singapore Pte Ltd

Compaq Singapore

Creative Technology Ltd

D-link International Pte Ltd

Dell Singapore Pte Ltd

Epson Singapore Pte Ltd


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Fuji Xerox Printers Pte Ltd

Fujitsu PC - AsiaPac Distribution Pte Ltd

Hewlett Packard Singapore (Sales) Pte Ltd

Imation

Infocus Systems Asia Pte Ltd

Kingston

Lenovo Singapore Pte Ltd

Lexmark

LG Electronics (Singapore) Pte Ltd

Logitech

Microsoft Singapore Pte Ltd

M1 Ltd

Netgear

Nikon Singapore Pte Ltd

Nokia

Olympus Imaging Singapore Pte Ltd

Philips

Samsung Asia Pte Ltd

Sandisk

Seagate Technology International Pte Ltd

Sennheiser

Singnet Pte Ltd

SonicGear

Sony Singapore (S) Pte Ltd

Sony Ericsson

Starhub Ltd

Symantec Singapore Pte Ltd

Targus

Toshiba (Singapore) Pte Ltd

Trend Micro

Western Digital (S.E.Asia) Pte Ltd

and many more!

VR-Zone's coverage of the show will be at http://vr-zone.com/comex. It's never too early for you to start planning!

Asus Xtion Pro Live launchingsoonSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/asus-xtion-pro-live-launching-

soon/12996.html

July 19th, 2011

If you head over to the Asus website you'll notice that thecompany is currently running a competition where you canvote for the best software developed by a wide range ofcompetitors for its Xtion Pro motion sensor (similar to Kinectfor Xbox 360). However, the Xtion Pro is a very basic device,especially compared to Kinect, but it seems like Asus is gettingready to launch a more advanced model shortly, the Xtion ProLive.

If you head over to the Asus website you'll notice that thecompany is currently running a competition where you canvote for the best software developed by a wide range ofcompetitors for its Xtion Pro motion sensor (similar to Kinectfor Xbox 360). However, the Xtion Pro is a very basic device,especially compared to Kinect, but it seems like Asus is gettingready to launch a more advanced model shortly, the Xtion ProLive.

There are a couple of major differences between the Xtion Proand the Xtion Pro Live. Although the Xtion Pro works just fineas a motion sensor it only has IR and depth of view sensorswhile the Xtion Pro Live gains a webcam, much like Microsoft'sKinect. The webcam is hardly going to blow your mind, asjust like Kinect, it tops out at 640x480 resolution. SurprisinglyAsus has managed to keep the size of the unit the same, despitethe additional sensor.

Another addition to the Xtion Pro Live is a pair ofmicrophones, which could be handy for voice commands orweb cam usage, one again following in the footsteps of Kinect.Asus is also opening up an app store for the Xtion wheredevelopers are going to be allowed to offer their goods forsale. It's somewhat amusing that Asus is claiming a world firstand exclusive still, especially as a Kinect unit offers exactly


22

the same features, well, not quite as the Kinect unit has autotilting, a feature that Asus doesn't seem to have implemented.

We managed to find some pricing as well and this is wherethings aren't looking so good for Asus, as according toAsusworld Italy, we're looking at a retail price of €175 (S$300)which compares badly against buying a standalone Kinectunit for €95 (S$165). Even the Xtion Pro is quite a lot moreexpensive at €155 (S$270), so unless you specifically want touse the software from Asus' app store, a Kinect unit will setyou back a fair bit less and it'll work with an Xbox 360 as well.We're not sure when the Xtion Pro Live will be available, butconsidering pricing is already out; we shouldn't have to waittoo long.

Apple to release iPhone 5 or4S?Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/apple-to-release-iphone-5-

or-4s-/12995.html

July 19th, 2011

Rumours are coming in regarding the launch of Apple's nextgeneration iPhone. Most of the sources seem to agree on thetiming for the release to be 3rd quarter of this year. Moredetails inside.

As the date draws nearer to 3rd quarter (which is rumouredto be the period for the launch of Apple's next generationiPhone), reports are coming in saying it will not be therelease of iPhone 5 but iPhone 4S. iPhone 5 is reported to beencountering heat issues with the implementation of the A5processor. iPad 2 which are using the A5 processor faces nosuch problems probably due to its bigger surface area allowing

a better dissipitation of heat. iPhone 5 will probably be usingthe A6 processor instead. iPhone 4S is rumoured to be releasedfirst to allow time for the issue to be resolved and will beequipped with a less powerful A5 processor in order to avoidoverheating.

Silverstone introduces TemjinTJ08-E CasingSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/silverstone-introduces-temjin-tj08-e-

casing/12994.html

July 19th, 2011

Five years since the first official launch of TJ08, Silverstonenow introduces the Temjin TJ08-E mATX chassis. Moredetails inside.


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Don't worry, the first image shown above is not distorted.The Temjin TJ08-E mATX tower chassis is supposed to lookstocky. Compared to the TJ08, TJ08-E does look much betteroverall probably due to the fully painted interior. The frontpanel looks much neater as well. TJ-08-E features a 180mmSilverstone Air Penetrator fan, removable motherboard tray,dust filter, holes for cable management, space for 4 x 3.5" harddisks and 2 x 5.25" devices. Weighing at 5.3kg and measuring210 x 374 x 385mm (W x H x D), the TJ08-E is the solutionfor users who are looking to save space and yet still wishes tohave a powerful build. The TJ08-E is reported to be retailingsoon at around US$100 (S$121).

See more specifications of the Temjin TJ08-E at theSilverstone website.

Thermaltake launches Level10 GT LCS ChassisSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/thermaltake-launches-level-10-gt-lcs-

chassis/12993.html

July 19th, 2011

Thermaltake Level 10 chassis had surprised us all with theunique design and features. The Level 10 series expanded fromthen on to include a GT version and GT snow edition. Now, wehave the Level 10 GT LCS model to look out for.

Thermaltake continues to expand its Level 10 series casingby launching a Level 10 GT LCS case which includes awatercooling system for the CPU. The watercooling systemconsists of a copper CPU waterblock, 330cc reservoir, P500pump and a 240mm motorsports radiator with 2 x 120mmfans. The casing is pre-installed with addtional 2 x 200mmand 1 x 140mm fans for better ventilation and features a color

shift system allowing users to change the color and speed ofthe fans.

ASRock Fatal1ty 990FXProfessional launchesSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/asrock-fatal1ty-990fx-professional-

launches/12992.html

July 19th, 2011

We're not sure how much the Fatal1ty branding is really addingto ASRock's brand image, but at least the Fatal1ty series ofmotherboards stand out from the company's other products.The latest addition is the Fatal1ty 990FX Professional andas the name gives away, this board is based on the AMD990FX chipset for AMD's FX-series of, ah yes, that's right, thenew CPUs haven't launched yet, but anyhow, onwards to themotherboard.

We're not sure how much the Fatal1ty branding is really addingto ASRock's brand image, but at least the Fatal1ty series ofmotherboards stand out from the company's other products.The latest addition is the Fatal1ty 990FX Professional andas the name gives away, this board is based on the AMD990FX chipset for AMD's FX-series of, ah yes, that's right, the


24

new CPUs haven't launched yet, but anyhow, onwards to themotherboard.

As with all of ASRock's other Fatal1ty branded boards, thisone too sports the black and red colour scheme. Nothingmuch stands out at first glance, possibly because of the colourscheme that hides much of what's going on. It's still surprisinghow much better AMD's chipsets are compared to what Inteloffers for the general consumer market, even though the990FX is a high-end chipset. The Fatal1ty 990FX Professionalboard sports two full x16 PCI Express slots as well as anotherone with four lanes worth of bandwidth and of course a pair ofx1 PCI Express slots and two PCI slots.

That still leaves a total of six PCI Express lanes for peripherals,although ASRock hasn't gone for the ideal mix of extras inour opinion. The SB950 southbridge offers a set of six SATA6Gbps ports and ASRock has decided that this is more thanenough, something of a shortcoming on a high-end board likethis in our mind. There are no less than three Etron USB 3.0host controllers though; two are connected to pin-headers forfour front USB 3.0 ports while the third controller connectsto the rear ports. Other additions include a pin-header for aFireWire port and a serial port, as well as two pin-headers foran additional four USB 2.0 ports, power and reset buttons anda POST80 debut LED.

Around the back there are two PS/2 ports, five USB 2.0 ports,one "Fatal1ty mouse port", two USB 3.0 ports, a FireWireport, two eSATA ports, a pair of Gigabit Ethernet ports, 7.1-channel audio with optical and coaxial S/PDIF out and a clearCMOS button. ASRock has used a pair of Broadcom Ethernetcontrollers and the eSATA ports are via a Marvell SATA 6Gbpscontroller.

The VRM is a 12+2 phase design and it's said to be using aDigital PWM. One thing we'd like to point out is the three fanheaders by the CPU socket which is great for anyone intendingto use watercooling, as sometimes there just aren't enough fanheaders conveniently located. There are an additional threefan headers as well, although these aren't quite as ideallylocated. One thing that struck us as odd is the location for thefront panel pins, as they're located below the bottom x16 slotand a bit awkward to get to. Overall this is a pretty decentboard, but the main question is how much it'll retail for andwhen there'll be a new FX-series CPU to go in that socket…

July 22nd, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone

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More upcoming Intel CPUspriced, Pentium and Core i thistimeSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/more-upcoming-intel-cpus-priced-

pentium-and-core-i-this-time/13063.html

July 22nd, 2011

Intel is going to be a busy company between now and theend of September, as beyond the entry level CPUs that werevealed the pricing of yesterday, Intel has a total of eightnew desktop Pentiums and Core i processors launching. Threeof the new models are low-power 35W models, with theremaining models being standard desktop parts.

Intel is going to be a busy company between now and theend of September, as beyond the entry level CPUs that werevealed the pricing of yesterday, Intel has a total of eightnew desktop Pentiums and Core i processors launching. Threeof the new models are low-power 35W models, with theremaining models being standard desktop parts.

Let's start with the T models which in Intel language mean thatthey're intended for small form factor systems and have a TDPof 35W. First up we have a new budget model at a mere US$47,the Pentium G530T which is a dual core 2GHz part with 2MBL3 cache. This is followed by the pricier US$70 G630T whichhas a faster clock speed at 2.3GHz and 3MB of L3 cache. Thethird and final new model in the T-series is the Core i3-2120Twhich is a US$127 part clocked at 2.6GHz, 3MB of L3 cacheand Hyper Threading support. Sadly we don't have the spec forthe graphics core clock for any of these models.

Moving on to the full-fat CPUs we start with the Pentium G630which has the same US$64 pricing as the current G620, butit's 100MHz faster at 2.7GHz and that's the only differencebetween the two as the G630 retains the same graphics clock.The final Pentium model is the G860 which is also a simplespeed bump to an even 3GHz and it'll be priced at US$86, thesame price point as the current G850. That said the G850 willreceive a price cut in October to US$75, putting it at the sameprice point as the G840.

That brings us to the Core i models which consist of threenew models. The first and maybe most interesting model isthe US$134 Core i3-2125, Intel's second Core i3 with HD 3000series graphics. The Core i3-2125 is clocked at 3.3GHz, that's200MHz faster than the current Core i3-2105 (priced at US$134 as well), although the graphics clock remains the same.This is followed by the Core i3-2130 which is a 3.4GHz modelwhich comes in at US$138 and it's a 100MHz speed bump ofthe Core i3-2120, although once again we're looking at a priceadjustment in October which will bring this model down to US$117.

The final new CPU is the Core i5-2320 which is yet anothermodel that's 100MHz than its predecessor, the Core i5-2310.It even comes in at the same US$177 price point and there areno additional changes here either. Intel may yet have somesurprises in store for us, but if the company does, then it's notin the roadmaps we've seen.

Intel Core i7 3960X vs Core i7990X Benchmarks LeakedSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/intel-core-i7-3960x-vs-core-i7-990x-

benchmarks-leaked/13062.html

July 22nd, 2011

DonanimHaber has leaked internal benchmarks of Intel'snext-gen Sandy Bridge E flagship, revealed to be branded Corei7 3960X earlier this week, put to the test against currentflagship Core i7 990X. Both are 6 Core / 12 Thread CPUsfabricated at 32nm. While the i7 3960X actually features aslighty lower clock speed, 0.16 GHz less than the i7 990X, it isbased on the improved Sandy Bridge architecture, and boastsof 15MB L3 cache - 3MB more than the 990X. The X79 chipsetalso supports 4 memory channels - 1 more than X58. Finally,Core i7 3960X features a more aggressive Turbo, clocking allthe way up to 3.9 GHz.

Since these are internal benchmarks conducted by Intel, theleaked slides are quick to point out benchmarks influencedby memory bandwidth and AVX instructions (new to theSandy Bridge architecture). In SPECint_rate the i7 3960Xtakes a 35% lead over the i7 990X, and a 65% advantage inSPECfp_rate. In Sandra 2011, the i7 3960X nearly doubles i7990X's performance in Multimedia and Memory Bandwidthtests, once again thanks to 4 memory channels and AVX.


2

In more relevant real world benchmarks, the picture is lessrosy, though not unexpected. In Cinebench 11.5, POV-Ray 3.7and ProShow Gold 4.5, the Core i7 3960X leads the i7 990Xby 12%-15%. The 3DMark 11 is "estimated" at 36%. Judgingby these benchmarks, in most multi-threaded applications, wewould expect the Core i7 3960X to be about 15% faster thanthe Core i7 990X. Of course, non-multithreaded applications,applications sensitive to AVX, memory bandwidth and cachewill see greater improvements for the Core i7 3960X.

Sandy Bridge-E, alongwith Core i7 3960X, 3930K and thequad-core 3820 are expected to release in late 2011 at theearliest, about one quarter after AMD's FX-Series.

Panasonic announces newLUMIX FZ47 superzoomcameraSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/panasonic-announces-new-lumix-fz47-

superzoom-camera/13060.html

July 22nd, 2011

Superzoom bridge cameras which allow a user to excercise fullmanual control over their photo-taking are being squeezed outon both ends of the digital camera market by cheap entry-level DSLRs, high-end compact cameras and and new breedof mirrorless cameras which boast interchangeable lenses,right? Well, not if Panasonic has got anything to say aboutit; apparently, the market for such superzoom bridge camerasis still good enough for the Japanese electronics company tojustify releasing a new model for this particular segment, andit comes in the form of its new LUMIX FZ47.

Superzoom bridge cameras. Who needs them, when you gotentry-level DSLRs that are capable of capturing still imagesat significantly better image quality, or even the new breedof mirrorless cameras which sport interchangeable lenses andstill feature the same large image sensor that one wouldtypically find in a DSLR? Well, it seems that there is still

sufficient demand left in the market for such devices forPanasonic to justify the releasing of yet another camera forthis particular segment, and it comes in the form of the newLUMIX FZ47.

According to the official press release that was issuedyesterday, the new LUMIX FZ47 superzoom bridge camerawill sport a LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT lens that isreportedly capable of achieving an optical zoom range of24x that reaches from 25mm to 600mm in 35mm-equivalentterms. Panasonic has also confirmed that the lens has beentreated with its proprietary "Nano Surface Coating technologyto help minimize light reflection that causes ghosting andflare".

In addition to its decent zoom range, the FZ47 will also boastsupport for 1080i video recording in the AVCHD format,with Panasonic claiming that the camera's optical zoommechanism has been specially optimized for use in shootingvideos, as it now features technology which allows for low-noise autofocus and zooming while capturing movies. And ifthat was not enough, the FZ47 also boasts the ability to allowusers to capture still images at a resolution of 3.5 megapixelsin the midst of filiming a video, as well as the addition of a newCreative Video mode, which allows users to manually set theshutter speed and aperture when recorming videos, a featurewhich is not present on most digital cameras on the markettoday.

Last but defintiely not least, Panasonic has confirmed thatthe new LUMIX FZ47 will be powered by both a 1/2.33" "Hi-Speed CCD sensor" that is capable of capturing still imagesat resolutions of up to 12.1-megapixel, and the Venus EngineFHD processor, which is reportedly capable of deliveringsuperb image quality in both photo and video recording,while also powering the Intelligent Resolution technologyto perform the optimum signal processing. In addition, theprocessor is also capable of allowing the camera to take "high-resolution consecutive shots at 3.7 fps in 12.1-megapixel full-resolution and maximum 10 fps at 3-megapixel recording".

No news of the FZ47's global availability has been announcedby Panasonic yet, but the company claims that the camera


3

should be available for sale in the U.S come August this yearat the price of US$399.99.

BlackBerry PlayBook winsFIPS certification needed forU.S government deploymentSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/blackberry-playbook-wins-fips-

certification-needed-for-u.s-government-deployment/13059.html

July 22nd, 2011

Think that Research In Motion (RIM) is swiftly losing groundto the likes of Apple's iOS and Google's Android, especiallywhere government deployment is concerned? Well, thinkagain; apparently, RIM's BlackBerry PlayBook, coupled withall the security features that people have come to associatewith the company's BlackBerry operating system, has justscored a win in the form of securing the FIPS 140-2certification needed for a company to pitch a device as one thatis suitable for deployment by the U.S federal government.

Research In Motion has announced that its recently-launchedmultimedia tablet device, the BlackBerry PlayBook, has scoreda major boost in the form of securing the FIPS 140-2certification for the device. According to the company, theBlackBerry PlayBook is the first tablet to score such acertification in the U.S; this makes it the only such devicewhich can be pitched as one that is suitable for deployment bythe U.S Federal Government at this point of time.

“RIM is pleased to announce that the BlackBerry PlayBook isthe first tablet approved under FIPS for use within the U.S.federal government,” said Scott Totzke, Senior Vice President,BlackBerry Security at Research In Motion. “This certificationdemonstrates our continued commitment to meeting theneeds of security-conscious organizations and enables theU.S. federal government to buy with confidence knowing that

the PlayBook meets their computing policy requirements forprotecting sensitive information.”

Sony A77 camera body finallyrevealed?Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/sony-a77-camera-body-finally-

revealed-/13058.html

July 22nd, 2011

You might have seen some leaked blurrycam photographs ofwhat was supposedly the design for Sony's upcoming A77DSLR some time back last month, but the latest news thatthe rumour mill has been churning out seem to suggest thatimages of the real deal has finally managed to find its wayout onto the Internet for everybody to view. And apparently,the general consensus is that Sony's upcoming A77 is goingto be one huge camera, if the newly leaked images are of anyindication.

Remember those blurrycam pictures of a certain Sony camerathat were circulating the Internet some time back? You know,the ones which were claimed to be those of Sony's upcomingA77 DSLR that will supposedly feature a translucent mirrorthat can potentially allow users to focus while shooting avideo? Well, the good news is that more images of thataforementioned camera has been leaked onto the Internetonce again, and that these images are reportedly the real dealthis time, as claimed by SonyAlphaRumors.


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Unfortunately, it seems that serious photographers whodesire more information about the upcoming A77 DSLR willhave to make do with these images for now, as no officialannouncement pertaining to the camera's specifications havebeen released at this point of time. However, most reportsare claiming that the A77 will feature an articulating LCDscreen and a translucent mirror box, while the sensor will bereportedly boast a resolution of 24 megapixels and is capableof supporting a very wide range of ISO speeds. Oh, and itapparently shoots 1080p AVCHD videos as well.

PALIT GTX 560 OC and 2GBReviewSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/palit-gtx-560-oc-and-2gb-

review/13006.html

July 22nd, 2011

NVIDIA's GTX 560 has been released for quite sometime andwe had already done reviews on two different manufacturersof the card. Today, we get our hands on two more versions ofthe GTX 560, PALIT's GTX 560 OC Edition and PALIT's GTX560 2GB version.

Dozens of manufacturers released interesting variants of theGTX 560 ever since NVIDIA officially launched it. (Do referto our previous article for more information regarding NvidiaGeForce GTX 560.) PALIT has three models for the GTX 560graphics card and we get to have our hands on two of them,PALIT GTX 560 OC Edition and PALIT GTX 560 2GB version.As you can see from the table, the PALIT's GTX 560 cardsuse a shorter length PCB (printed circuit board). The PALITGTX 560 OC Edition offers a slight overclock in the memoryfrequency from 2004MHz to 2010MHz while the PALIT GTX560 2GB features 2GB of memory at default frequencies.

Leaked image of Nikon'supcoming mirrorless camerasensor shows up onlineSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/leaked-image-of-nikon-s-upcoming-

mirrorless-camera-sensor-shows-up-online/13057.html

July 22nd, 2011

When it comes to mirrorless cameras which boast the abilityto allow for interchangeable lenses, the sensor of choice for


5

manufacturers is usually one which conforms to either than ofan APS-C or a smaller Four Thirds form factor, right? Well, notfor Nikon it it not; apparently a leaked image of what appearsto be the sensor of an upcoming Nikon-branded mirrorlessinterchangeable lens camera has surfaced onto the Internet,

With mirrorless cameras boasting large sensors and the abilityto support interchangeable lenses now being one of the mostpopular segments in the digital camera market today, it shouldbe of little surprise that major players such as Nikon are slowlybut surely starting to make their entry into this particularsegment in order to claim a share of the market for itself.

And while there is still no word (save for some rumours) on thekind of specifications Nikon's first mirrorless interchangeablelens camera is expected to have, it seems that a leaked image ofwhat is supposedly a prototype of such a camera has surfacedonline to shed some light on what users can expect from thesensor in the company's upcoming mirrorless interchangeablelens camera, as shown in the image below.

Details are scarce, but if the leaked image of the camera'ssensor is of any indication, it would seem that Nikon mightdecide to ditch the traditional APS-C and Four Thirds sensorused in such mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras in favorof a proprietary form factor which is reportedly said to featurea crop factor of 2.6X. This will mean that Nikon's sensor willbe somewhat smaller than the Four Thirds sensor used byPanasonic and Olympus, which might not appeal to certainconsumers.

However, if it is of any consolation, Nikon's proprietary sensoris still orders of magnitude larger than the 1.2/3-inch sensorthat Pentax is using for its new Q-series of mirrorless cameras,so we do not think that image quality is expected to take toosignificant a hit.

Lastly, it has been claimed that this mirrorless prototype fromNikon reportedly goes by the name of "X810".

OS X Lion scores over amillion downloads in first daySource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/os-x-lion-scores-over-a-million-

downloads-in-first-day/13056.html

July 22nd, 2011

We all know that Apple is extremely popular withconsumers when it comes to mobile devices such assmartphones, tablets and portable media players, but haveyou ever wondered if the same could be said for its MacOS X operating system for its line of desktop and notebookcomputers? Apparently, more than a million people seem tothink so, if the latest news from Apple is of any indication.

Are you a Mac user? Well, if you are, this latest piece of newsfrom Apple will probably be just the kind of information youneed to brighten up your Friday and reinforce the perceptionthat the Cupertino giant is well on its way to making majorinroads into a market that was (and still is) dominated byMicrosoft. Apparently, the latest version of the Mac OS Xoperating system, which is also known as Lion, has scoredover a million digital downloads on the first day of its release,and that fact has clearly had Apple excited enough to issue anofficial announcement to boast about the successful adoptionof what it calls is its "most advanced desktop operatingsystem".

According to Engadget, this figure means a lot to Apple, andfor good reason. After all, one million registered copies of anoperating system being sold on the first day of its release is


6

indeed a huge achievement, considering how Apple has neverbeen able to boast of such numbers for any other OS X releasein its history.

“Lion is off to a great start, user reviews and industry reactionhave been fantastic,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vicepresident of Worldwide Product Marketing. “Lion is a hugestep forward, it’s not only packed with innovative features butit’s incredibly easy for users to update their Macs to the bestOS we’ve ever made.”

Samsung Galaxy S II Review:A star to beholdSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/samsung-galaxy-s-ii-review-a-star-to-

behold/13011.html

July 22nd, 2011

When the Samsung Galaxy S Android smartphone waslaunched last year, it impressed many users with its large andbrilliant Super AMOLED display, slim form factor and goodfeatures and performance. And a year later, the company cameup with the Galaxy S II. Will the Galaxy S II live up to ourexpectations? Read on.

When the Samsung Galaxy S was unveiled last year, it wasundoubtedly one of the best Android smartphones on themarket with its sleek and slim body, powerful 1GHz processor(at that time), and bright Super AMOLED display. While therewere some flaws about the flagship phone such as the lack ofbuilt-in camera LED flash and a user interface that resemblesthe Apple product, the Galaxy S managed to impressed theworld when the company reported over 10 million unit salesof the smartphone.

The Korean maker has recently launched the Galaxy S II andmany held high expectations of the successor to the popularGalaxy S. When we hands on the new smartphone at the

Samsung Regional Forum in March this year, the phone lookspromising with its 1.2GHz dual-core processor, new SuperAMOLED Plus 4-inch screen and even slimmer than its oldersibling.

Samsung Galaxy S II specifications:-

Samsung Galaxy S IICPU 1.2GHz Dual CoreMemory ROM: 1GB ; 2GB for appsScreen 4.27-inch Super AMOLED

PlusDisplay Resolution 480x800 (WVGA)Storage 16GB flash + microSD card

slotCamera 8 MP w/LED flash + 2 MP

front-facingConnectivity 3.5mm audio, micro-USB,

TV-out 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi,

Bluetooth 3.0Talk time Up to 18 hours (2G), 9 hours

(3G) Standby time Up to 710 hours (2G), 620

hours (3G) Battery 3.7V 1650mAhPlatform Google Android 2.3.3

(Gingerbread)Dimensions 125.3 x 66.1 x 8.49 mmWeight 116g

Intel to launch a wide rangeof new budget CPUs betweennow and SeptemberSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/intel-to-launch-a-wide-range-of-new-

budget-cpus-between-now-and-september/13055.html

July 22nd, 2011

We can look forward to several new budget CPUs from Intelover the next few months with the recently launched singlecore mobile Celeron 787 being the first of a raft of new mobileand desktop CPUs. We've already covered the specs on mostof the models in past news, but we now have some pricing toshare with you.

We can look forward to several new budget CPUs from Intelover the next few months with the recently launched singlecore mobile Celeron 787 being the first of a raft of new mobileand desktop CPUs. We've already covered the specs on most


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of the models in past news, but we now have some pricing toshare with you.

As we suggested back in May, the new desktop Celerons areindeed priced below the Pentium G620 (US$64), as the singlecore 1.6GHz Celeron G440 is priced at a mere US$37 making itby far the cheapest Sandy Bridge derived CPU to date. Movingup we have the dual core 2.4GHz Celeron G530 at US$42 andthe slightly faster 2.5GHz G540 at US$52, a pretty big pricegap for an extra US$10.

We can also expect a pair of new desktop Atom processors,although we have a feeling that Intel will be holding on tothem until IDF. Here we have the dual core D2500 which isa 1.86GHz with 1MB of cache at US$42, whereas its faster2.13GHz sibling the D2700 gets Hyper Threading support anda price tag of US$52. Both models will of course have PowerVRgraphics as we reported in early May and the desktop Atom'sshould have the graphics core clocked at 640MHz.

On the mobile side we also have another three Celeron modelswith the most basic one being the single core 1.6GHz CeleronB710 at US$70 which launched this week, followed by the dualcore 1.5GHz Celeron B800 which slots in below the current1.6GHz Celeron B810 at the same US$86 price point. Finallywe have the 1.9GHz Celeron B840 which will also cost US$86.All three models have a base graphics clock of 650MHz, butthe graphics will automatically overclock up to 1GHz.

There is of course a pair of new mobile Atom processorsas well and the lower-end model is the N2600 at 1.6GHzwith a 400MHz graphics core, a 3.5W TDP and support forDDR3-800MHz memory and a US$42 price tag. The fastermodel is the N2800 at 1.86GHz and it should have the same640MHz graphics clock as the desktop counterparts whichbrings the TDP up to 6.5W and it will also support fasterDDR3-1067MHz memory, all for US$47. Both models supportHyper Threading and come with 1MB of cache.

It's interesting to note that Intel has reduced the pricing ofits new mobile Atom CPUs quite heavily; in fact comparinglist prices makes the new models seem like a bargain as Inteldoesn't have a single mobile Atom CPU today that comesnear the new models in terms of cost. So not only can welook forward to vastly improved graphics, but also much moreaffordable dual core netbooks in the future, that is if anyonewill still want a netbook by Christmas this year. The desktopmodels aren't quite as competitive in terms of price, but atleast we're looking at a significant performance bump whilestill paying less, that can't be bad. These are of course not theonly processors Intel are planning to launch in the near future,but we'll leave the new mid-range models for another day.

Pioneer Slim AV Micro SystemX-SMC1 lets enthusiasts enjoyportable music and videoeasilySource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/pioneer-slim-av-micro-system-x-smc1-

lets-enthusiasts-enjoy-portable-music-and-video-easily/13052.html

July 22nd, 2011

Pioneer has unveiled their latest Slim AV Micro SystemX-SMC1, a "Made for iPod and iPhone" certified speakersystem that is designed with increased functionality andflexibility to satisfy both the audio and video enthusiasts. TheX-SMC1 supports CD and DVD playback, features bulit-in FMradio and USB connectivity, as well as alarm clock functions.

Pioneer Electronics AsiaCentre has announced the Slim AVMicro System X-SMC1, a versatile and convenient system thatclaims to offer a multitude of media playback options. Thesleek Pioneer X-SMC1 comes packed with features includingiPod and iPhone compatibility, CD/DVD playback, integratedFM radio, USB connectivity as well as clock and alarmfunctions. The X-SMC1 can charge an iPod or iPhone via thepush open dock while the music is playing. On top of that,the Slim AV Micro System can play video content from acompatible iPod or iPhone on a TV screen. It can functionas a DVD player equipped with HDMI port and 1080-pixelsupscaler for an immersive movie experience.

The free Pioneer Air Jam application, which can bedownloaded from the Apple App Store, allows iPod and iPhoneusers to discover new songs on other users’ iPod touch oriPhone. Through Bluetooth connection, users can then streammusic from up to four iPod touch and iPhone devices. The AirJam can also transmit metadata such as song title, artist, andalbum name by referring to Air Jam’s playback history.

Price and AvailabilityThe X-SMC1 will be available in silver (X-SM1-S) at asuggested retail price of S$399 at Pioneer authorized retailoutlets from August 2011.

NVIDIA Tesla Success StoriesSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/nvidia-tesla-success-

stories/13053.html


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July 22nd, 2011

Based on the CUDA™ architecture codenamed“Fermi”, the Tesla™ M-class GPU Computing Modulesare the world’s fastest parallel computing processors forhigh performance computing (HPC). Tesla GPU’s highperformance makes them ideal for seismic processing,biochemistry simulations, weather and climate modeling,signal processing, computational finance, CAE, CFD, and dataanalystics. The Tesla 20-series GPU computing processorsare the first to deliver greater than 10X the double precisionhorsepower of a quad-core x86 CPU and the first GPUsto deliver ECC memory. Based on the Fermi architecture,these GPUs feature up to 665 gigaflops of double precisionperformance, 1 teraflops of single precision performance, ECCmemory error protection, and L1 and L2 caches. Here are somesuccess stories of the NVIDIA Tesla to share.

Challenge

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s (UIUC)Nanoscale Molecular Dynamics (NAMD) and VisualMolecular Dynamics (VMD) are powerful and widely usedtools for simulating and visualizing biomolecular processes.Simulating complex molecular systems is time consuming andrequires large, sophisticated clusters of computers.

Solution

To boost performance, the UIUC researchers ported the“cionize” ion placement tool to an NVIDIA GPU computingsolution. The goal was to accelerate the computationallyintensive kernels for calculating the interaction of biologicalmolecules and ions. In doing so, UIUC researchers achievedspeedups on ion simulations over 100 times that of an 18-CPUcluster (based on total CPU time vs total GPU time).

With a three-GPU workstation, a similar calculation for time-averaged electrostatics in the VMD tool reaches 705 gigaflopsof realized performance. This remarkable performance allowsany bioscience researcher to have the equivalent of acomputing cluster on their workstation.

Impact

With GPU computing, these molecular simulations are nolonger restricted to clusters in server rooms. By running the

simulations on workstations in individual labs and desktops,projects are no longer competing with one another for scarcecomputing resources and the researchers are getting theresults when they need them, as opposed to when they can bescheduled.

Furthermore, with GPUs in large-scale server clusters, newclasses of problems can be addressed for which the necessarycomputing power was only a dream a year ago.

The combination of NAMD and NVIDIA computing solutionsis a marriage of cuttingedge research and softwaredevelopment, aimed at harnessing the nation’s fastestsupercomputers to decipher the tiniest components of livingcells. These new computing tools are quickening the paceof drug discovery and other vital research in unravelingbiological processes.

For more information, visit: http://www.ks.uiuc.edu/

For more information about NVIDIA GPU computingsolutions, visit www.nvidia.com/tesla

Apple's new version of Safarifor Windows fixes severalvulnerabilitiesSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/apple-s-new-version-of-safari-for-

windows-fixes-several-vulnerabilities/13051.html

July 22nd, 2011

Do you use Apple's Safari as your web browser of choice onyour copy of Windows? Well, if you do, you might want tofire up Apple's Software Update tool, or head down directly tothe Safari download page on Apple's website and get yourselfa copy of the latest version of the Safari web browser forWindows, for word has it that the updated web browser comeswith fixes for a variety of security flaws that could potentiallyallow other people to excecute various attacks on your PC.


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Are you currently using Apple's Safari as your web browser ofchoice in your Windows-powered PC? If so, you might want tostart firing up the Apple Software Update tool that may alreadybe present on your system, or head down directly to the Safarihome page on Apple's web site and download for yourself acopy of the latest version of the Safari web browser that iscurrently available for Windows, which is that of Safari 5.1.

And why, you may ask. Well, word has it that the newversion of Safari has been designed to fix certain securityvulnerabilities that were present in the both the older versionof the web browser and its open-source WebKit renderingengine. Furthermore, Apple has reportedly claimed that thevulnerabilities could potentially result in "drive-by downloadattacks, full system compromise, denial-of-service conditionsof cross-site scripting attacks" if left unfixed on a Windows-powered PC.

We will not go into too much detail about the vulnerabilitiesthat Apple is planning to patch with the release of Safari 5.1,although ZDNet has claimed in its own report that many ofthe flaws that were present in the previous release of Safaricould result in arbitrary code execution on a compromisedPC. The report also goes on to list several aspects of theSafari web browser which has been flagged as being someof the more serious vulnerabilities, which runs the gamutfrom the browser's ColourSync profile to its CoreFoundationframework and XML library, among many others.

Last but definitely not least, ZDNet has also claimed that thenew Safari 5.1 web browser will fix a vulnerability in the open-source WebKit rendering engine which that "expose users todenial-service conditions or arbitrary code execution". So, if

you are still on an older version of Safari, it would seem that amuch-needed upgrade to your web browser is in order.

Sony introduces BDV-3985WH5.1 3D Blu-ray Home TheatreSystemSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/sony-introduces-bdv-3985wh-5.1-3d-

blu-ray-home-theatre-system/13049.html

July 22nd, 2011

If you are looking to get a new home theatre system,you might want to check out Sony's latest offering.The Sony BDV-3985WH 5.1 3D Blu-ray Home TheatreSystem features a stylish design and claims to offersuperb entertainment in the comfort of your own home.

Sony has introduced their latest BDV-3985WH 5.1 3D Blu-ray Home Theatre System which offers immersive experiencewith sleek and attractive aesthetic stylings. You can enjoyyour favorite movies in 3D, while its Surround Soundmode provides great audio from the Full-tallboy system.

The BDV-3985H is designed for users who want high-qualityentertainment in the comfort of their homes. It also comeswith a wide variety of music and video contents which aremade available right out-of-the-box, and with more than15 channels of BRAVIA Internet Videos, and much morewith the built-in web browser. The BDV-3985H also featuresa newly developed Omni-Direction sound mode, widerdirectional speakers and Digital Cinema Auto Calibration(D.C.A.C) for superb audio experience.


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Hitachi announces new high-resolution, glasses-free 3D IPSLCD screen for mobile devicesSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/hitachi-announces-new-high-

resolution-glasses-free-3d-ips-lcd-screen-for-mobile-devices/13050.html

July 22nd, 2011

Remember what we said about 3D displays being well on theirway to becoming the next mainstream display of choice forthe average consumer? Well it seems that 3D technology'sslow but gradual invasion into consumer-grade electronicdevices has just been given a huge boost recently, especiallyif Hitachi's announcement of its success in the creation of a4.5-inch display that is reportedly capable of high-definitionresolutions is of any indication.

With all the signs pointing towards what seems to be a slowbut steady push by various OEMs and manufacturers to make3D displays the new mainstream in digital entertainment, itshould be of little surprise that what was once considereda "novel" technology is starting to make inroads into theconsumer electronic devices which we make use of on aneveryday basis. And apparently, it seems that Hitachi is allset to "Inspire the Next", at least where 3D technology isconcerned, and the latest announcement of its new 3D displayis probably the best proof of that.

According to Hitachi, the new 3D display makes use of acertain "liquid crystal lens system", which is also known asthe lenticular lens approach, to produce its 3D effects. Thisis different from the technology used by Hitachi's older 3Dmobile display, which utilizes the "parallax barrier method".Hitachi claims that the new approach is capable of bringingabout improved display quality..

In addition, Hitachi has also claimed that its new 4.5-inch,glasses-free 3D display will be capable of displaying digitalcontent at a high-definition resolution of 1280 x 720, andthat it will also boast a brightness of 400cd/m2 in 2D mode,and up to 470cd/m2 when set to 3D mode, as show in thespecifications list below.

Hitachi has not announced any major plans for its new display,although the company has claimed that it expects to see thedisplay being used in a variety of mobile devices such asmobile phones, portable television sets and handheld gamingconsoles.

Western Digital releasesstandard-height, 1TB ScorpioBlue hard disk for notebooksSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/western-digital-releases-standard-

height-1tb-scorpio-blue-hard-disk-for-notebooks/13048.html

July 22nd, 2011

Have you ever tried to upgrade your notebook's storagecapacity by splurging on the latest 2.5-inch 1TB hard disk backthen, only to realize that the upgrade was doomed to fail fromthe get-go simply because it was too thick to fit into the tightconfines of your mobile PC? Well, we've got good news foryou: a 1TB notebook hard disk that conforms to the 9.5mmthickness required by most mainstream notebooks has justbeen released, and it comes in the form of Western Digital'snew Scorpio Blue hard disk.

Sure, 1TB hard disks in the 2.5-inch form factor may haveexisted for a while now, but it does not change the fact thatsuch high-capacityhard disks came with a single design flaw,which is that it was designed for notebooks which had thereal estate needed to support hard disks that boasts heightsgreater than the standard 9.5mm that is found on most mobilehard disks designed to be used by mainstream notebooks.However, the good news is that this is about to change verysoon, for Western Digital has just announced the availabilityof a new standard-height 2.5-inch hard disk which sports thesame hulking 1TB that just about every notebook user has beenlusting for all this while.


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According to the press release issued by Western Digital,the new hard disk, which has been designed specially formainstream notebooks, "utilizes 500 GB-per-platter arealdensity and is now available in the highest capacity for 2.5-inch hard drives in the industry-standard 9.5 mm, two-platter(2-disk) form factor". That being said, the new hard disk alsosports the Scorpio Blue branding, which means that users canexpect to receive a standard-performance hard disk that boastsa platter speed of 5400rpm, as well as access to the wide rangeof features that many have come to associate the Scorpio Blueline of hard disks with, such as 8MB of cache, low powerconsumption, shock tolerance and head packing, among manyothers.

Unfortunately, Western Digital has not provided anyinformation as to when the new 1TB, standard-height mobilehard disk will be available for sale globally. However, if it isof any consolation, the hard disk is reportedly already on theretail shleves in the US right now at the recommended retailprice of US$139.

Samsung releases new Ultra-speed Class10 SDHC cardsSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/samsung-releases-new-ultra-speed-

class10-sdhc-cards/13047.html

July 22nd, 2011

Remember the news we posted some time back aboutSamsung planning to release a slew of new Class10 SDHCcards for consumers, except that no official release datewas given for the launch? Well, it seemed that theKorean electronics giant has gone ahead and released theaforementioned cards quietly into the market, for word has itthat these ultra-speed SDHC cards are now already available.

Remember the news we posted about a month back, wherewe spoke about Samsung reportedly planning to launch a newline of Class10, ultra-speed SDHC cards for use in a varietyof devices? Well, it seems that consumers can finally stopwaiting and guessing as to when they can get their hands onthe aforementioned cards, as the company has recently issueda statement claiming that its new storage cards have alreadybeen released for sale onto retail shelves.

According to the press release issued by Samsung, the new SDcards will be available in two different versions, namely thePlus and the Essential. The Plus line of SDHC cards will beavailable in both 8GB and 16GB variants, while the Essentialwill reportedly sport a wider variety of capacities ranging from4GB to 32GB. Regardless of the version, both the Plus and theEssential line of ultra-speed SDHC cards will be capable ofread/write speeds of up to 24Mbps.

No mention about global availability has been made bySamsung, although the company has revealed that the Plusline of SDHC cards will be retailing in Korea for the priceof 19,000 won and 36,000 won for the 8GB and 16GBvariants respectively, while the Essential lineup will be pricedat between 10,000 won and 28,000 won for the 4GB, 8GB and16GB variants. Last but definitely not least, the 32GB variantof the Essential will retail for 76,000 won.

Lenovo launches IdeaPad K1,IdeaPad P1 and ThinkPadTabletsSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/lenovo-launches-ideapad-k1-ideapad-

p1-and-thinkpad-tablets/13045.html

July 22nd, 2011

Lenovo has recently announced the launch of their new tabletdevices which come in the form of the IdeaPad K1, IdeaPadP1 and ThinkPad Tablet. The IdeaPad K1 and ThinkPad Tabletare powered by Google Android 3.1 Honeycomb operatingsystem, while the IdeaPad P1 runs Microsoft Windows 7.

Lenovo IdeaPad K1


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Lenovo has announced the launch of their first tablet devices- the IdeaPad K1 (or LePad K1 in China) designed forconsumers, ThinkPad tablet for the business professionals,and the Windows-based IdeaPad P1 for homes and offices.Both the new IdeaPad K1 and ThinkPad tablet run GoogleAndroid 3.1 Honeycomb and the K1 claims to be the firstAndroid tablet device to incorporate Netflix video streaming.

The 10.1-inch 32GB IdeaPad K1 is powered by an Nvidia Tegra2 dual-core processor and preloaded with over 40 applicationsincluding SocialTouch. It is scheduled to be available inselected retail stores in USA from 20 July, early August inChina and Q3 worldwide. The 16GB Wi-Fi version of theThinkPad Tablet can be preordered in USA from 2 Augustor through online via Lenovo website, will be available inChina by end August, and worldwide in Q3. The IdeaPad P1 isschedule to ship worldwide in Q4.

Lenovo IdeaPad K1 Tablet

The IdeaPad K1 weighs less than 0.74 kg and featuresintegrated Bluetooth and 802.11 Wi-Fi connectivity,1280x800 high definition (HD) display and mini HDMIinterface to output 1080p full HD videos to TV or monitor. Itis also preloaded with more than 40 apps including Netflix,Amazon, Adobe, Electronic Arts, Rovio, Zinio and Dataviz,as well as popular applications including Need for Speed ??Shift, Angry Birds and Kindle e-book reader. With Flash 10.3,you can enjoy watching online videos and also purchase orrent movies via digital rights management (DRM). Lenovo hasincluded their unique Social Touch app for users to accesstheir friends and social networking sites all in one place.The IdeaPad K1 also comes with 2-megapixel front and 5-megapixel rear cameras.

Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet

The ThinkPad Tablet combines the superior media andentertainment features of the IdeaPad K1 with ThinkPad'srenowned security and reliability. It has a precision pressurepen, USB connector, SD card slot and HDMI port for videooutput. Weighing approximately 0.75kg, the ThinkPad Tabletsports a 10.1-inch WXGA (1280x800) IPS touchscreen displayand is preloaded with DataViz's Documents to Go for openingMicrosoft Office documents.

Lenovo IdeaPad P1

Running Microsoft Windows 7 operating system, the 10.1-inch IdeaPad P1 is powered by 1.5GHz Intel processor and isdesigned to handle office documents or for users to browseand edit photos easily. The IdeaPad P1 supports Flash andwith Microsoft Security Essentials, it offers superb protectionagainst malware and viruses. The Lenovo tablet measure14.5mm thick and weighs about 0.9kg which makes it goodenough for use in home, office or on-the-move.

Pantech announces newMIRACH IS11PT smartphonefor JapanSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/pantech-announces-new-mirach-

is11pt-smartphone-for-japan/13046.html

July 22nd, 2011

Smartphones may be the mobile phones of choice for mostpeople today, but it does not change the fact that most mobilephones are known for being fragile electronic devices thatare not meant to be exposed to elemental hazzards such asdust and water, right? Well, leave it to Pantech to deliver asmartphone that is reportedly designed to be both dustproofand waterproof, and it comes in the form of its new MIRACHIS11PT smartphone.

Having to throw away a perfectly good smartphone because ofdust or water damage is definitely something most people willactively avoid having to go through, but it does not change thefact that smartphones, for all their merits, are still extremelysusceptible to environmental hazards such as dust and liquids,as is the case with just about every single electronic device outthere. However, if it is a waterproof and dustproof smartphonewhich you are looking for to meet your daily mobile needs,Pantech might have just the solution you need, and it comes inthe form of its new MIRACH IS11PT mobile phone.


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According to various online reports, the MIRACH 1S11PT isan Android-powered smartphone that is reportedly designedto be both waterproof and dustproof at the same time,which means that the smartphone has a much higher chanceof enjoying a longer service life under the hands of itsowners, regardless of the environmental conditions a user maysubject it to. Backing up the smartphone's processing poweris reportedly a second-generation Qualcomm SnapdragonMSM8655 system-on-a-chip which boasts a 1GHz CPU core,while its display is provided by a 3.7 inch WVGA screen whichis capable of a 480 x 800 resolution.

In addition, it is claimed that the MIRACH IS11PT will makeuse of a 1320mAh battery pack which is reportedly capable ofan uptime of up to 180 hours on standby, or 250 minutes oftalktime, and that the device will be preloaded with version 2.3of the Android operating system.

Furthermore, a report from ITmedia has claimed that theMIRACH IS11PT also sports a "Simple Mode" user interface,which reportedly 'fixes' the Android home screen onto a singlepage, while providing shortcuts and icons to a variety offunctions from that single screen, thus apparently making iteasier for newbies to navigate their way through the Androidoperating system.

No information about pricing for the MIRACH IS11PT hasbeen revealed at this point of time, although it would seem thatthe smartphone is slated to be released for sale in Japan comelate September this year.

JABRA announces SPEAK410USB speakerphone for instantSkype conferencing-on-the-goSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/jabra-announces-speak410-usb-

speakerphone-for-instant-skype-conferencing-on-the-go/13044.html

July 22nd, 2011

Are you a heavy Skype user? Well, if you are, Jabra mighthave just the thing you need to help facilitate the settingup of an instant, hands-free VoIP call for all your mobileInternet telephony needs, and it comes in the form of itsnew Skype-certified SPEAK410 USB speakerphone. Which,the company claims, is designed to allow users the luxuryof making "instant Skype conference calls or virtual meetingsanywhere, anytime", and then some.

Are you a road warrior whose job involves a large chunk ofcomputing time while on the move, of which making onlinephone calls to clients takes up a significant portion of thatcomputing time? Well, if that sounds a lot like what you do ona regular basis, you might just be interested in what JABRAhas got to offer, for the company has just announced theavailability of its new SPEAK410 USB speakerphone, which isdesigned to grant mobile professionals the ability to engage ininstant, hands-free "Skype conference calls or virtual meetingsanywhere, anytime".


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According to the press released that was issued by JABRA,the SPEAK410 is a "small, portable, and a powerful must-havedevice with High Definition Voice" that has been rigorouslytested and certified by Skype. In fact, all users have to do isto simply "plug the integrated USB cable to your laptop orPC" that is connected to a broadband network "at home, officeor anywhere wirelessly" and they will be ready to "easily set up1-on-1 or small group conference calls over Skype or any VoIPclient to talk with co-workers, family or friends".

In addition, JABRA has claimed that the audiophiles willnot have to worry about dealing with "unproductive VoIPcalls affected by echo and clarity issues", as the SPEAK410’ssupport for HD Voice sound is capable of ensuring thatone's online conversation will remain extremely clear at alltimes. Furthermore, the device's built-in echo-cancellationtechnology will further enhance the user experience by finessing one's enunciation, thus allow users to hear thedifferent tones without distortions.

For those who are wondering about the SPEAK410's technicalspecifications, we have attached the device's spec sheet herefor you to take a look at:

Sounds good? Well, we have got even better news for you,especially if you are itching to get your hands on one: JABRAhas confirmed that the SPEAK410 USB speakerphone isalready available for sale at the recommended retail price forS$218 and can be purchased at Challenger, EpiCentre, NuBoxstores and other authorized resellers in Singapore.

Exclusive hands on picturesof ASRock's new Gen3motherboardsSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/exclusive-hands-on-pictures-of-asrock-

s-new-gen3-motherboards/13043.html

July 22nd, 2011

Last week details of ASRock's new PCI Express 3.0motherboards appeared on the web and today we bring youexclusive hands on pictures of the Z68 Extreme3 and Z68Extreme7. ASRock will be using the new styling for all of itsupcoming motherboards, so expect a lot more black and goldin the future, the only exception being the Fatal1ty boards ofcourse.

Last week details of ASRock's new PCI Express 3.0motherboards appeared on the web and today we bring youexclusive hands on pictures of the Z68 Extreme3 and Z68Extreme7. ASRock will be using the new styling for all of itsupcoming motherboards, so expect a lot more black and goldin the future, the only exception being the Fatal1ty boards ofcourse.

Neither board holds any real secrets beyond the specs thatwere posted last week, but this is the first high-resolution,detailed picture of the Z68 Extreme3. A couple of thingswith missed with regards to the rear I/O of the Z68 Extrem3includes a PS/2 port and optical S/PDIF out. The board alsosports a POST80 debug LED which is an unusual feature for aboard this far down in the pecking order. The Z68 Extreme3 isin our opinion looking like the Z68 board to get from ASRockif you're looking for something that won't be horrendouslyexpensive, yet offering a well-balanced feature set.


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Moving on we have the Z68 Extreme7 and we're still quiteflabbergasted that ASRock has made a board like this. All ofthe heatsinks are screwed on and the attention to detail is veryhigh. Some interesting things that we thought we should pointout is that ASRock is using two SATA 6Gbps controllers fromASMedia for this board, but more interestingly it also has apair of Broadcom Ethernet controllers. A peculiar addition wealso noticed is a pin-header for a PS/2 port, although no actualport is supplied as far as we're aware.

As it happens, a UK online retailer has listed a price for theZ68 Extreme7 and as we mentioned last week, it's going to beexpensive. The board is listed at £250 (S$490) which makes itone of the most expensive Z68 boards out there pretty muchonly beaten by Asus' Maximus IV Extreme-Z so far.

We'd like to pick up on something here, namely PCI Express3.0. According to ASRock, any current 6-series motherboardshould at least in theory work with PCI Express 3.0, but assoon as you involve lane switches you run into problems unlessthe switches are PCI Express 3.0 compliant. Sandy Bridge doesnot have hidden support for PCI Express 3.0 and you won't beseeing any performance advantage until Ivy Bridge comes out,or at least this is not something that ASRock has seen in theirtesting.

We've put a few more pictures of the boards on the next page,alongside with a few pictures of the Fatal1ty Z68 ProfessionalGen3. Do note that the boards we looked at were pre-production boards and the heatsink finish isn't that of finalproducts. ASRock is also running a competition at the momentwhere you can win one of its new Gen3 boards, so if you're keenon getting one, head over to the competition website.

Apple MacBook Air and Macmini refreshed, MacBook(White Plastic) droppedSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/apple-macbook-air-and-mac-mini-

refreshed-macbook-white-plastic-dropped/13042.html

July 22nd, 2011


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Hot on the heels of the Mac OSX 10.7 Lion release on theApp Store, the Cuppertino based fruit themed manufacturerhave updated their MacBook Air ultraportable and Mac mini to(finally) feature the latest Core i5/i7 Sandy Bridge processorsfrom Intel, Thunderbolt (aka Light Peak) I/O ports and batterysapping backlighted keyboards. Eagle-eyed Apple cultists havealso noticed the disappearance of the (Plastic) MacBook.

Hot on the heels of the Mac OSX 10.7 Lion release on theApp Store, the Cuppertino based fruit themed manufacturerhave updated their MacBook Air ultraportable and Mac mini to(finally) feature the latest Core i5/i7 Sandy Bridge processorsfrom Intel, Thunderbolt (aka Light Peak) I/O ports and batterysapping backlighted keyboards. Eagle-eyed Apple cultists havealso noticed the disappearance of the (Plastic) MacBook.

Just in time for the back to school period, the new refreshedMacBook Air starts at S$1288 (1.6ghz dual core i5, 2GBmemory, 64GB SSD) and can be speced up to a (dual core)1.8ghz i7, 4GB Memory and 256GB of flash storage. The 11-inch has a 1366x768 screen and is rated up to 5 hours ofbattery life, while the 13-inch SKU has a 1440x900 panel andis leaning closer to a more productive 7 hours of battery life.We suspect the positioning and attractive pricing of these newaluminium surfboards have made the old and unfashionableplastic MacBook decadent.

Meanwhile, the Mac mini starts at S$788 (2.3ghz dual corei5, 2GB memory, 500GB 7200rpm) but can be configured toa more interesting 2ghz Quad Core i7 and Dual 500GB HardDrives (both only on the server variant), solid state drives anddiscreet AMD Radeon 6630M graphics.

Another new item on the store is a S$1348 27-inchThunderbolt display. This 2560x1440 IPS LED panel is adaisy chain warrior with a HD camera for FaceTime, 49 wattspeakers, 3 USB 2.0 ports (still no USB 3.0), a (increasinglyless used) FireWire 800 port, a Gigabit Ethernet port (a musthave for serious MacBook Air users) and another Thunderboltport for new fangled expansion options.

UK to get ZTE's Skatesmartphone in SeptemberSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/uk-to-get-zte-s-skate-smartphone-in-

september/13039.html

July 22nd, 2011

Yep, you are reading this right. Apparently, after havingexperienced the taste of success in the UK with the sale of itsZTE Blade smartphone that is being sold under the OrangeSan Francisco name, ZTE is now planning to compete againstthe major Android smartphone manufacturers by selling itsnew Skate smartphone under its very own brand this time. Andfrom the looks of it, the Chinese company might just have whatit needs to hold its own in an extremely competitive market.

Remember the news we posted some time back aboutMeizu reportedly securing the rights it needs to sell its M9smartphone in Europe? Well, it turns out that Meizu isnot going to be the only Chinese smartphone OEM to havemade inroads into the European smartphone market, for arecent report made by Shanzai.com has revealed that ZTE isalso going to start selling a new smartphone under its own


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branding in Europe this September, and that it comes in theform of the ZTE Skate.

According to the report published by Shanzai.com, the Skatewill not be the Chinese company's first smartphone to makeits way into Europe for sale this year. Apparently, prior to theintroduction of the Skate, ZTE was already selling its Bladesmartphone in the UK, where it was known as the Orange SanFrancisco. That being said, little has been revealed about ZTE'snew Skate smartphone, although Shanzai.com claims that thedevice will be ZTE's first product to be designed for the "mid-tier bracket", and that it will feature a 4.3-inch touchscreen,while its processing power will be supplied by a yet-unnamed800MHz CPU. In addition, the ZTE Skate will reportedly comebundled with version 2.3 of the Android operating system andsport a 5 Megapixel camera.

Last but definitely not least, the report also claims that the ZTESkate is expected to be available for sale on retail shelves in theUK come 19 September this year, and that the smartphone willreportedly cost a mere 249 euros, or approximately US$351.

Corsair releases 2400MHzDominator GT RamsSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/corsair-releases-2400mhz-dominator-

gt-rams/13041.html

July 22nd, 2011

Corsair releases the 2 x 4GB Dominator GT rams which run ata rated frequency of 2400MHz and timings of 9-11-9-27. This8GB Dominator GT memory kit will have limited quantities.More details inside.

The Corsair 8GB Dominator GT Limited Edition memory kit(CMT8GX3M2A2133C9) consists of two sticks of ram, eachhaving a memory capacity of 4GB which are rated to run ata frequency of 2400MHz with timings 9-11-9-27 and a ratedvoltage of 1.65V. At voltage of 1.5V, the Dominator GT canachieve a frequency of 2133MHz with timings 9-11-9-27. Otherfeatures include Corsair's DHX+ technology and AirFlow 2GTL cooling fan which allow better cooling for the DominatorGT rams. Corsair 8GB Dominator GT memory kit will beretailing for US$499 (S$606) which can be purchased directlyfrom Corsair website.

See more specifications at Corsair website.

Coolermaster joins thecompetition with the CMStorm Sirus HeadsetSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/coolermaster-joins-the-competition-

with-the-cm-storm-sirus-headset/13040.html


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July 22nd, 2011

This summer it seems that every manufacturer wants us tohave a high quality gaming headset. Coolermaster joins thecompetition with the release of their first gaming headset, theCM Storm Sirus. Besides being a feature-packed 5.1 surroundsound headset, the CM Storm Sirus also won...

This summer it seems that every manufacturer wants us tohave a high quality gaming headset. Coolermaster joins thecompetition with the release of their first gaming headset, theCM Storm Sirus. Besides being a feature-packed 5.1 surroundsound headset, the CM Storm Sirus also won the Red DotDesign Award 2011 and Computex Design & Innovation Award2011, both praising its aesthetics.

The Coolermaster CM Storm Sirus headset should be availablein mid-August at an MSRP price of 119.99€ (about 170$ USD/207$ SGD).

ASUS Launches ROG VulcanANC Pro Gaming HeadsetSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/asus-launches-rog-vulcan-anc-pro-

gaming-headset/13038.html

July 22nd, 2011

Gamers can now have full focus and concentration in theirgames with this latest ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) VulcanANC gaming headset. It claims to be the world's first gamingheadset with active-noise-cancelling technology which canfilter up to 85% of noise.

ASUS has announced the launch of their new Republic OfGamers (ROG) Vulcan ANC which claims to be the world'sfirst active-noise-cancelling pro gaming headset designed toimmerse users into games with no distractions. Created fromthe needs of competitive professional gamers who want toremain focused during competitions, the ROG team forged theVulcan ANC with both performance and comfort in mind. TheVulcan ANC features 85% active noise cancellation to filterout sounds like low frequency computer fan noise and 30dBpassive noise cancellation to reduce a wide range of ambientnoises, including background voices.

Long lasting comfort with lightweight, ergonomic design

The Vulcan ANC sports a lightweight design, weighingjust 320g which is lighter than other headsets of similar size.Soft memory foam encased in breathable Japanese proteinleather ensures user comfort even after long hours of gaming.It is also portable with a foldable design that easily fits intoa durable touring case to take between competitions or LANparties.

Crystal clear audio with 40mm drivers and noise-filteringmicrophone

The gaming headset is built with a large 40mm headphonedrivers for crisp audio. The Vulcan ANC has been optimized fora wide sound stage such that audio is balanced with both deepbass and brilliant mids and highs. A stylish blade-shapeddetachable boom microphone has built-in noise filteringtechnology so teammates hear clear conversations duringgames instead of ambient noise.

Specifications

Driver Dimension Diameter 40mmImpedance 32 ohmsFrequency Response 10~20k HzANC (noise-cancelling)Performance

Maximum > 15 dB ;

Effective Bandwidth > 600HzPNC (noise-isolation)Performance

Maximum > 30 dB

Battery Life Up to 40 hours (with oneAAA battery)

Product Dimension 8.1"H x 7.7"WWeight 325g


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Exclusive Preview of ASUSET2410 series All-in-one PCSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/exclusive-preview-of-asus-et2410-

series-all-in-one-pc/13036.html

July 22nd, 2011

The ASUS ET2410 All-in-one PC was showcased at theComputex Show 2011 in Taipei last month, and today, themaker sent us the new PC which is scheduled to be launch inSeptember. We at VR-Zone manage to get an exclusive previewof the ASUS ET2410 All-in-one PC.

The ASUS ET2410 All-in-one PC comes in a huge brown box,with the words "Inspiring", "Innovation", "Persistent" and"Perfection" written on the front and rear. Note that the unitis fairly heavy at approximately 11kg.

This is how the All-in-one PC after we took it out of thebox. It features a large 23.6-inch touchscreen display, andfor audio enjoyment, the ET2410 incorporates the company'sproprietary Sonic Master audio technology and DTS SurroundSensation UltraPC.

The sticker label on the top right corner of the ASUS showsthat the PC has SonicMaster audio technology, 23.6-inch LEDtouchscreen display, supports full high definition (HD) 1080presolution, HDMI input and output and USB3.0 connectors.

The bottom right holds the display mode button, audiocontrols, display setting controls, hard disk activity LED andalso a shiny power button.


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Sharp unveils new 3D AQUOSsmartphone for JapanSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/sharp-unveils-new-3d-aquos-

smartphone-for-japan/13037.html

July 22nd, 2011

Sharp has announced the availability of its new 3DAQUOS smartphone, the 009SH, for Japan via its domestictelecommunications operator SoftBank. The new device,which sports up to four different colours for consumers tochoose from, and a high-resolution 3D display, will be poweredby the Android operating system and boasts support for avariety of features.

Think that the mere act of owning a smartphone is enoughto win you bragging rights for being able to keep withthe times where mobile technology is concerned? Well, notanymore; with 3D technology fast making its way into thelives of everyday consumers, it would seem that 3D capablesmartphones are set to be the next big thing where mobilephones are concerned. And from the looks of it, Sharp hasclearly got no intention of sitting out on this trend, especiallyif the recent announcement of its new 3D AQUOS smartphonefor Japan is of any indication.

Little information about the new 009SH smartphone, whichis also known as the AQUOS PHONE THE PREMIUM, hasbeen revealed by Sharp in its official announcement. However,Sharp has confirmed that the 009SH will sport a four-inch, glasses-free 3D-capable display that is capable of QHDresolutions (960 x 540), and that it will come preloaded withvarious "3D-rich apps" which will allow users to enjoy theirvideos and games in full 3D glory.

In addition, Sharp has also claimed that the 009SH will bepowered by version 2.3 of the Android operating system,and that the phone will sport the company's own proprietaryTapFlowUI as the user interface of choice, along with a eight-megapixel rear camera. Last but definitely not least, theannouncement also claims that the 009SH will feature built-in support for Japan's 'mobile wallet" and is compatible with

the company's line of AQUOS-branded television and audio-visual products.

No details about the 009SH's pricing has been revealed bySharp yet, although the company has confirmed that thesmartphone will be available for sale though carrier SoftBankcome mid-August this year.

Google Search: now shippingwith malware detectionSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/google-search-now-shipping-with-

malware-detection/13035.html

July 22nd, 2011

Wouldn't it be nice if users could be given real-timenotifications as to whether their PC's have been infectedby malware by simply having websites and search enginespassively monitor for unconventional strains of networktraffic? Well, the good news is that such a feature is nowavailable on Google's search engine, where users whose PCshave been detected by the search giant to be sending outsuspicious online traffic will be issued a notification messageinforming them as such.

Do you make use of Google's online services for your searchingneeds while on the Internet? If you do, you might be luckyenough to come across a certain prominent notification at thetop of your Google Search results informing you that yourPC might have been infected with malware. And if you dofind yourself seeing such notifications every time you accessGoogle's online search service, you might want to take heed ofthe warning and subject your computer to a proper malwarescan, as this notification is Google's latest move to help protectusers from the threat of malware via the monitoring of onlinetraffic.

According to a post that was made on the official Google blog,the decision to add this new feature to Google Search cameabout after the company detected what it describes as "unusualsearch traffic while performing routine maintenance on oneof our data centers". Apparently, after some investigationswith security engineers, it was determined that the computerswhich were responsible for generating this unusual searchtraffic were in fact "infected with a particular strain ofmalware". Because of this, the search giant has updated itsonline service service to seek out traces of such unconventionalnetwork traffic being generated by a user's PC, and promptlynotify users when such activity is detected.

That being said, it would seem that Google has convenientlyneglected to address certain possible concerns in its blog post.For one, the search giant has not revealed any informationabout the particular strain of malware that it is claiming to


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target with its new detection scheme; this means that userswill have no idea as to what kind of malware they shouldbe looking out for, and whether their malware scanners willhave a database that is recent enough to detect the offendingmalware.

Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, is that withmost Windows users being conditioned to ignore warningsgenerated by scam websites about a potential malwareinfection, just how effective Google's own legitimate warningswill be is really up for debate, although Electronista is claimingthat the search giant might be hoping that its embedding of thenotification directly into Google Search should be sufficientproof of its legitimacy for most users.

Kaleidescape unveils M700Disc Vault for movie junkiesSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/kaleidescape-unveils-m700-disc-vault-

for-movie-junkies/13034.html

July 22nd, 2011

If you have amassed a significant collection of boxed movieVCDs, DVDs and Blu-ray discs over the years and are nowthinking of a way to clear out those disc racks and shelveswithout actually having to junk those precious movies of yoursdown the trash, you might just be interested with the newproduct Kaleidescape has to offer for such people. Knownas the M700 Disc Vault, this gigantic contraption boasts thecapability to house up to 320 discs for easy storage andviewing, along with certain other features.

Do you find yourselves in the possession of so many boxedmovies that there is a pressing need for a solution which allowsyou to dump all those space-consuming boxes while still beingable to keep those discs in a device which allows for easyplayback, storage and organization all at once? Well, the goodnews is that such a device does exist, and it comes in the formof Kaleidescape's new M700 Disc Vault, which claims to becapable of fulfilling all the aforementioned needs and thensome.

According to a report published by Ubergizmo, the M700Disc Vault boasts a storage capacity of up to 320 discs "foreasy keeping as well as watching", although its main drawprobably stems from the fact that the contraption sports whatis apparerently a sophisticated organization system to keep allof user's discs organized within the machine. In fact, thissystem is reportedly advanced enough to allow users to searchfor, locate and eject a paricular disc from within the onscreenmenu, a feat which essentially eliminates any need for manualorganization of one's movile collection.

In addition, Ubergizmo has claimed in its report that the M700is capable of enhancing a user's movie playback experienceby boasting quicker loading times and the ability to skip pastthose annoying copyright warnings and advertisements thatusually make it into just about every boxed movie copy. This isdue to the fact that the device "also copies the contents of thediscs into the system", and that users can expect it to play nicewith just about any optical disc format such as "CDs, DVDs andBlu-ray discs". However, the report also points out that, dueto licensing issues, users will need to keep their Blu-ray discpresent in the system "in order to play the digital content".

Sounds interesting? Well, this is the part where the "bad news"part of the equation comes in, for it seems that users willdefintely have to break the piggy bank if they intend to get theirhands on this device, for the M700 has been reported to costas astronimical US$5,995.

Rumor: Microsoft to give up onWindows brand?Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/rumor-microsoft-to-give-up-on-

windows-brand-/13032.html

July 22nd, 2011

When one talks about Windows on the PC, everyone knows itas the operating system from software giant Microsoft.Windows have been around for more than 25 years, and yet


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it seems that Microsoft is rumored to be giving up on theWindows brand.

Windows, in the technology world, issynonymous as Microsoft's popular operating system with thelatest versions being Windows 7 for the personal computers,home and business, and also Windows Phone 7 for thesmartphones. The operating system has been around for over25 years and the brand is like a household name to thetechnology geeks. However, there were rumors citing that thecompany is intending to give up on the Windows brand.

According to newsinabox.net, Andy Lees, chief of WindowsPhone division in Microsoft, said that the company plansto build a single system for computers, smartphones, tabletsand TVs and that the new system is likely to be a commonoperating system that will work on all the devices. There werealso other sources that cited Microsoft giving up the Windowsbrand for the new platform instead and that may come soonerthan expected. If the rumors are true, this may mean thatWindows 8 will not materialize, or perhaps it would come as adifferent name. And of course, no more Windows Phone 7 too.

Apple posts updated versionof Google+ app onto iTunesApp StoreSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/apple-posts-updated-version-of-

google-app-onto-itunes-app-store/13033.html

July 22nd, 2011

Everybody makes mistakes from time to time, and it seemsthat even a huge company such as Apple is no exception to therule as well. Apparently, in what has got to be a very rare slip-up from the Cuptertino giant, Apple has somehow managedto publish the buggy and unstable test version of the Google+ social networking app onto the iTunes App Store instead ofthe stable version that Google had originally submitted.

Have you downloaded Google's Google+ social networkingapp onto your iPhone yet? If so, you might want to headdown to the iTunes App Store one more time to confirm ifthe copy of the app you have installed on your iPhone is the

correct version, especially if your current copy does not seemto work as advertised. This is due to the fact that Apple hassomehow managed to publish the test version of Google+ ontothe iTunes App Store instead of the stable version, which lacksthe stability and functionality that the finalized build sports.

According to a Google+ posting made by Google+ Mobile'slead product manager Punit Soni, the search giant was alertedto the issue and has since pushed out an updated version ofthe app which reportedly fixes all the issues that users havebeen complaining about in the test version of the Google+ app.This updated app sports the version number 1.0.1.1809, so youshould be able to tell if your downloaded copy of the Google+ app is that of the test version by simply comparing thoseversion numbers.

Last but definitely not least, Soni has also confirmed that theGoogle+ app is currently incompatible with iOS 5, althoughhe did mention that Google is working to implement iPadcompatibility into the app, and that such a feature wouldreportedly be "coming soon".

RIM will not discontinue WiFi-only version of PlayBookSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/rim-will-not-discontinue-wifi-only-

version-of-playbook/13031.html

July 22nd, 2011

When Research In Motion (RIM) revealed in its earnings callthat it was only able to ship 500,000 PlayBooks for its fiscalfirst quarter, rumours about the company probably havingplans to discontinue the WiFi-only version of its new tabletin favor of focusing its efforts on the upcoming 4G versionsand its other products started circulating on the Internet. Andapparently, the rumours had built up enough traction for RIMto justify issuing an official response of sorts.


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Remember Research In Motion's BlackBerry PlayBook tablet?You know, the tablet that we reviewed recently, which RIM wasreportedly only able to sell a disappointing 500,000 units of?Well, it seems that news of the company's inability to reporta more impressive sales figure for its new tablet device hasresulted in the rumour mill churning out claims that RIMmight just wind up cancelling the WiFi-only version of thePlayBook in order to focus its resources on the upcoming 4Gversions, along with its other products.

And apparently, the rumours have managed to build upenough traction for RIM to justify issuing an official responseof sorts, for the company has claimed in a Tweet addressed toBoy Genius Report (BGR) that RIM has got totally no plans toembark on such a course of action. In fact, the tweet from RIMalso dismissed the rumour as nothing more than "pure fiction"that nobody should buy into, and the screenshot below tells itall:

With such official confirmation froom RIM, it would seemthat things are looking good for users who have gotten, orare planning to get a WiFi-only version of the PlayBook soon,as they will not have to worry about their beloved tablet beinggiven the pink slip from RIM any time soon.


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Bulldozer launch expectedto be 19th of September,additional specs outSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/bulldozer-launch-expected-to-be-19th-

of-september-additional-specs-out/13105.html

July 26th, 2011

AMD's journey to bring Bulldozer to market has taken a lotlonger than everyone hoped for, including AMD itself, but theword is that the launch will take place on the 19th of Septembernow. AMD will only have four new Bulldozer CPUs at launch,all carrying the FX brand, although the initial four modelsshould be followed by another four in early 2011.

AMD's journey to bring Bulldozer to market has taken a lotlonger than everyone hoped for, including AMD itself, but the

word is that the launch will take place on the 19th of Septembernow. AMD will only have four new Bulldozer CPUs at launch,all carrying the FX brand, although the initial four modelsshould be followed by another four in early 2011.

At launch we can expect two 8-core models, a 6-core and a4-core model, namely the FX-8150, FX8100, FX-6100 andFX-4100, at least if the latest reports are accurate. TheFX-8150 is said to have a base clock of 3.6GHz for all eightcores, but it can turbo to 4.2GHz when only some cores are inuse. The FX-8100 has a base clock of 2.8GHz and can turboto 3.7GHz, with the FX-6100 coming it at 3.3GHz with a turboclock of 3.9GHz and finally the FX-4100 is said to be clocked at3.6GHz with an unimpressive turbo clock of 3.8GHz. All fourCPUs have 1MB of L2 cache per core and 8MB of shared cache.

The upcoming 2012 models are said to be the FX-8170,FX-8120, FX-6120 and FX-4120. The clock speeds aren't set instone as yet, but the FX-8170 is expected to have a base clockof 3.9GHz with a turbo clock of 4.5GHz, the FX-8120 starts at3.1GHz and turbo's to 4GHz, the FX-6120 goes from 3.6GHzto 4.2GHz and finally the FX-4120 from 3.9GHz to 4.1GHz.

All models are unlocked Black Edition CPUs with nativesupport for DDR3 1866MHz memory and a 95W TDP,although the FX-8150 and FX-8170 are expected to have a125W TDP. We're still nearly two months away from the

launch and we can only hope that there will be some early leaksin terms of benchmark figures. In as much as we're sure thatAMD has managed to create a competent range of multi-coreCPUs with its new FX models, the big question that remains ishow they'll stack up against Intel's Sandy Bridge processors.

The sad thing for AMD is that more cores doesn't automaticallymake for a better CPU, especially as we're still waiting forapplications that can take advantage of all the cores in amodern CPU. Hopefully Windows 8 will help bring bettersupport for the additional cores, but we're not going to holdour breath, as Microsoft has yet to prove that they acknowledgeconsumer CPUs with more than a pair of cores.

Corsair Force 3 120GB SSDdrive reviewSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/corsair-force-3-120gb-ssd-drive-

review/13104.html

July 26th, 2011

Corsair started off as one of the biggest manufacturers ofcomputer RAM modules but nowadays they are also renownedfor their power supplies, cooling solutions and SSD drives.Not two weeks ago we reviewed the fastest SSD they currentlyproduce, a Force GT series drive. Today we are having a lookat the Force 3 SSD, a drive using the same controller as thepremium Force GT SSD. We are going to examine the drive’ssynthetic and real world performance in this review.

Corsair started off as one of the biggest manufacturers ofcomputer RAM modules but nowadays they are also renownedfor their power supplies, cooling solutions and SSD drives.Not two weeks ago we reviewed the fastest SSD they currentlyproduce, a Force GT series drive. Today we are having a lookat the Force 3 SSD, a drive using the same controller as thepremium Force GT SSD. We are going to examine the drive’ssynthetic and real world performance in this review.


• Interface: SATA 3 6Gb/s

• Storage technology: Asynchronous NAND

• Operating temperature: 0° C to +70° C


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• Storage temperature: -20° C to +85° C

• Operating Humidity: 10% to 90% RH (0° to +40° C)

• Maximum Operating Altitude: 3,048 m (up to 10,000 ft.)

• Maximum Non-Operative Altitude: 12,192 m (up to40,000 ft.)

Unformatted Capacity 120 GBRead Performance (max) 550 MB/sWrite Performance (max) 510 MB/sRandom Write 4k (max) 85,000 IOPS (4k aligned)Form Factor 2.5”Interface Type SATA 3 6Gb/sOnboard cache NAOperating Temperature 0C to +70CStorage Temperature -20C to +85COperating Humidity 10% to 90% RH (0° to +40°

C)Storage Humidity 5% to 90% RH (-10° to +60°

C)Maximum Operating Altitude 3,048 m (up to 10,000 ft.)Maximum Non-OperatingAltitude

12,192 m (up to 40,000 ft.)

MSI's upcoming A75A-GD55motherboard picturedSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/msi-s-upcoming-a75a-gd55-

motherboard-pictured/13103.html

July 26th, 2011

So far MSI has only officially unveiled a pair of AMD A75motherboards, the A75A-G35 and the A75MA-G55, but thecompany should have at least another four models coming.VR-Zone has managed to get hold of some exclusive pictures ofthe upcoming A75A-GD55 model which will be MSI's high-endA75 motherboard and possibly also the most expensive modelin the line-up.

So far MSI has only officially unveiled a pair of AMD A75motherboards, the A75A-G35 and the A75MA-G55, but thecompany should have at least another four models coming.VR-Zone has managed to get hold of some exclusive pictures ofthe upcoming A75A-GD55 model which will be MSI's high-endA75 motherboard and possibly also the most expensive modelin the line-up.

We don't quite understand what MSI has done here though, asthe A75A-GD55 is very similar to the A75A-GD35, although thePCB is a lot wider while remaining nearly void of componentspast the memory slots. In fact, at first glance the only obviousdifference between the two models is that the A75A-GD55has gained two memory slots for a total of four. The powerconnector and Voltage regulation for the memory has beenmoved further out on the PCB alongside with a pin header anda fan header, but there's really nothing much else here and itseems like the extra PCB was simply added to allow for thescrew holes.

MSI has changed the chokes for its SFC branded ones over theregular chokes found on the A75A-GD35 and there's a largerheatsink on the MOSFETs. The slot layout remains the samewith a two x16 PCI Express slots of which the lower one hasfour lanes of bandwidth at its disposal, three x1 PCI Expressslots and two PCI slots. The internal USB 3.0 pin-header is stillin the same awkward position and MSI decided to keep thejumper blocks for switching between DVI and HDMI output,which is really disappointing and a feature we wouldn't expectto see on a board this far up in MSI's product range.


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The rear I/O also remains unchanged with a pair of PS/2 ports,four USB 2.0 ports, two USB 3.0 ports, a Gigabit Ethernetport, 7.1-channel analogue audio jacks and a D-Sub, DVI andHDMI port. We can't but to feel that MSI could've done better,but at least the good news is that the price difference betweenthe A75A-GD55 and the A75A-GD35 is very small as we founda couple of European online retailers listing the A75A-GD55for around €80 (S$140) whereas the A75A-GD35 is listedfor around €75 (S$131) and while the A75A-GD55 is a betterchoice in terms of future upgradeability of the memory, it haslittle else to offer to its advantage.

SanDisk launches affordableconsumer SSD seriesSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/sandisk-launches-affordable-

consumer-ssd-series/13102.html

July 26th, 2011

SanDisk has finally entered the consumer SSD market afterhaving made a wide range of OEM solutions for the past coupleof years in various form factors. Its new Ultra branded range ofSSDs are unlikely to break any speed records, but then again,they're not likely to break the bank either.

SanDisk has finally entered the consumer SSD market afterhaving made a wide range of OEM solutions for the past coupleof years in various form factors. Its new Ultra branded range ofSSDs are unlikely to break any speed records, but then again,they're not likely to break the bank either.

What we're looking at is a "last gen" drive with SATA 3Gbpsinterface and a maximum sequential read speed of 280MB/sand a write speed of 270MB/s. This is hardly earth shatteringperformance figures any more, but it should still be goodenough for plenty of notebooks out there, especially comparedto hard drive performance.

SanDisk offers a three year warranty on the Ultra series SSDsand claim that the 60GB model can handle at least 40TB ofdata written to it over its lifespan, with the 120GB modelcapable of handling 80TB and the 240GB model 120TB. Whatisn't clear is what the actual life span of the Ultra SSDs is ratedat, but we'd presume it's longer than the warranty period.

The MSRP is US$129.99 for the 60GB model, US$219.99 forthe 120GB model and US$449.99 for the 240GB model, butSanDisk itself is listing the 120GB model for US$215 and the240GB model for US$450, but a quick searched revealed thatthe 120GB model is available for as little as US$179.99 onlinewhich makes it one of the cheapest 120GB SSDs out there.

IDT announces its HyperGearVRM controllerSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/idt-announces-its-hypergear-vrm-

controller/13101.html

July 26th, 2011

We've already seen a wide range of various power saving VRMcontrollers, least not from Intersil on Gigabyte motherboards,as well as various custom solutions like Asus' EPU and nowIDT has announced a solution it calls HyperGear that notonly promises to save power, but also to boost the systemperformance. IDT doesn't many any wild claims in terms ofpower savings, but it's the first solution of this kind that we'veheard of that also claims to boost the CPU performance.


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We've already seen a wide range of various power saving VRMcontrollers, least not from Intersil on Gigabyte motherboards,as well as various custom solutions like Asus' EPU and nowIDT has announced a solution it calls HyperGear that notonly promises to save power, but also to boost the systemperformance. IDT doesn't many any wild claims in terms ofpower savings, but it's the first solution of this kind that we'veheard of that also claims to boost the CPU performance.

IDT claims that its HyperGear technology can improve powerefficiency by over 10 percent which is still a fairly reasonablenumber, especially compared to some claims we've seen in thepast. However, this is only part of what the new solution offer;as it can also boost the CPU performance by automaticallyadjust the CPU frequency depending on CPU usage. IDTattributes this to "an innovative HyperGear algorithm" builtinto the power management ICs that can tell when processorintensive applications are running.

According to the press release, HyperGear can tap into varioussystem buses and as such it can adjust the core Voltage andclock frequency of the CPU with the added bonus of notneeding any additional components. When the CPU is idleHyperGear will clock down the CPU to reduce power draw,much like competing solutions. HyperGear is compatible withthe "industry standard" VR12 specification and IDT claimsthat it's easy to integrate its solution on current and futureplatform. There isn't too much information to go on in thepress release and there doesn't appear to be a product page asyet on IDT's website for its HyperGear products.

We'll see if there are any takers among the consumermotherboard makers, as most seem to be happy with theircurrent solutions, although we can see the benefit for lesstechnical users to get an extra performance boost and powersaving beyond AMD and Intel's standard power saving andoverclocking features that are built into the CPUs. That said,it's also a matter of how well HyperGear manages the CPUfrequency and we can see some power users not being too keenon a solution like this.

HP launches webOS TouchPadtablet device in SingaporeSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/hp-launches-webos-touchpad-tablet-

device-in-singapore/13100.html

July 26th, 2011

When HP acquired Palm earlier this year, it was a matter oftime we would see webOS devices coming to market. And eventhough the company has launched the TouchPad tablet andsmartphones in US, Canada and some countries in Europe,there had not been any news whether the webOS devices willcome to Singapore. Well, the wait is over. This evening, HPannounces the launch the webOS TouchPad in Singapore.

The HP TouchPad comes in 16GB and 32GB flavours, andgoing into the device information page shows that the tabletis running webOS 3.0.2 and user is required to register aHP webOS account for the TouchPad. The TouchPad sports a9.7-inch flush capacitive multi-touch display, supports AdobeFlash, has virtual keyboard and access to thousands of webOSapplications.


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In landscape orientation, the volume controls are at the top,while on the right is the power button and the 3.5mm audioport to connect to your headphones or earphones. HP is alsoselling the Beats Solo headphones for use with the TouchPad.

On the right of the display is the back button to bring youback to the main home screen, while the right edge holds themicroUSB connector. The TouchPad also features HP Synergythat lets you sync your contacts, emails, messages, photosautomatically from up to 16 sources such as Facebook, Google,Yahoo!, Skype and Microsoft Exchange. The tablet is alsocapable of multi-task and you can easily close the applicationby flicking your finger at the application upward.

The HP TouchPad will be available from retailers, resellers anddirect from HP (www.hp.com.sg/touchpaddeals) at S$699 forthe 16GB and S$799 for the 32GB models. According to HP,for the month of August, there will be a special promotion in

conjunction with National Day - the TouchPad with 16GB willcome with a HP TouchPad Case, while the 32GB will comewith the TouchPad Case and Wireless Keyboard. Preorderswill start on 27 July, while the HP TouchPad will be availabilein Singapore from 12 August.

The HP Touchstone Charging Dock will be selling at S$109.90;the HP TouchPad Wireless Keyboard - S$79.90; the HPTouchPad Case has a price tag of S$49.90; the TouchPadInternational power adapter is selling at S$39.90; and theBeats Solo headphones is retailing at S$420.

Serena Yong, general manager for HP Personal SystemsGroup, Singapore says that the HP TouchPad is a highlyanticipated and first webOS tablet device that will mark thebeginning of how HP is going to scale webOS across theirdevices.

Silverstone Releases HardDrive Pad SD01Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/silverstone-releases-hard-drive-pad-

sd01/13099.html

July 26th, 2011

Silverstone has released the hard drive pad SD01, which isstackable and compatible with SATA or SAS hard drives at upto 6Gbps speed.


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The hard drive pad, also known as the Stackable Drive seriesSD01, supports both 2.5" and 3.5" SATA/SAS hard drives.The maximum data transfer speed via either interface (SASuses SAS dual-lane interface, SATA uses eSATA interface)is 6Gbps. The SD01 can support drives of greater than 2TBcapacity and runs on a 12V power cable (4-pin molex cableis provided). Silverstone SD01 comes in black, weighs about180g and measures at 195 x 121.5 x 31.5mm. It is currentlyretailing in Amazon atUS$36.50 (S$44).

See more specifications at the Silverstone website.

Logitech Launches Keyboardfor Apple iPad in Taiwan/SingaporeSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/logitech-launches-keyboard-for-apple-

ipad-in-taiwansingapore/13092.html

July 26th, 2011

Apple iPad and iPad 2 users in Taiwan will be glad to knowthat peripheral maker Logitech has recently launched two ofits keyboard products, the Tablet Keyboard and KeyboardCase. *Update* Logitech has just updated us regardingthe launch of the Logitech Tablet Keyboard and LogitechKeyboard Case in Singapore as well.


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Logitech has recently launched the Tablet Keyboard andKeyboard Case for the Apple iPad tablet devices in Taiwan.The Logitech Tablet Keyboard is compatible with Apple iPadand iPad 2, features a low profile keyboard with Bluetoothconnectivity of up to 9ms and media controls that allow usersto control the volume, playback or pause the media. TheLogitech Tablet Keyboard also comes with a carrying case forprotection and can serve as a stand for the iPad. On top of that,users can also place their iPad device in either landscape orportrait mode on the stand. Four AAA batteries are included topower the wireless keyboard.

Above: Logitech Tablet Keyboard

The Logitech Keyboard Case is only compatible with AppleiPad 2 devices and the case by ZAGG not only functions asa protective case but also as a stand and keyboard for thetablet. Similar to the Logitech Tablet Keyboard, iPad 2 can beplaced in both portrait and landscape modes. However, thiswireless Bluetooth keyboard do not require any AAA batteriesas a USB cable is provided to charge the internal batteries.Other features include soft padding for the internal cornersof the keyboard to help cushion impact and an aircraft-gradealuminium material used for the case.

Above: Logitech Keyboard Case

The Logitech Tablet Keyboard is retailing forTWD 1990 (S$83) while the Logitech Keyboard Case is selling for TWD2990 (S$125).

*Update* We just received confirmation that Logitech willalso be launching the above two products in Singapore. TheLogitech Tablet Keyboard and Logitech Keyboard Case areavailable at S$95 and S$139 respectively. Keyboards forAndroid devices are expected to be out in the near future.

See more specifications at Logitech website: Logitech TabletKeyboard, Logitech Keyboard Case

Microsoft unveils ComfortCurve Keyboard 3000 andWireless Desktop 2000Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/microsoft-unveils-comfort-curve-

keyboard-3000-and-wireless-desktop-2000/13098.html

July 26th, 2011

Today, Microsoft Hardware in SIngapore has unveiled theComfort Curve Keyboard 3000 and Wireless Desktop 2000that promise to offer a high level of comfort and performance,all at affordable prices. Both the Comfort Curve keyboard andWireless Desktop are available in July.


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The new Microsoft Comfort Curve Keyboard 3000 featuresan ergonomist-approved contour shape and a slim, glossydesign, which looks aesthetically pleasing and feels just right.The company also claims that the Comfort Curve Keyboard3000 is the most affordable ergonomic keyboard for users.The keyboard offers recognizable key size and placement ona natural, organic arc for superior comfort, while minimizingtyping effort. And the media keys also offer quick access tomusic, videos and the calculator with the touch of a finger.

Key features of the Comfort Curve Keyboard 3000

- Ergonomist-approved contour layout creates an organic arcto encourage natural wrist posture.- Contour key bed has keys that are all the same size and in afamiliar place.

- Slim and glossy design makes a modern statement whileminimizing clutter on your desktop.

- Wired technology allows reliable connectivity withoutworrying about batteries.

- Media keys give people one-touch access to popular mediafunctions, such as play, pause and volume.

- Three-year limited hardware warranty

The Microsoft Comfort Curve Keyboard 3000 is available inJuly at S$27. The keyboard is also available in a desktopset, the Comfort Curve Desktop 3000 for S$35. The desktopset bundles in the Comfort Mouse 3000 with BlueTracktechnology and ambidextrous design.

The Wireless Desktop 2000 claims to be Microsoft’s firstkeyboard to feature Advanced Encryption Standard (AES)128-Bit Encryption - the same technology trusted by theU.S. government to secure their wireless connections. Thesecurity technology also protects all information for workand home by eliminating the transfer of code through theair with every keystroke. The keyboard is paired with theWireless Mouse 2000 that features the acclaimed BlueTracksensor for a working range of up to 9m, enhanced sidegrips and an ambidextrous design that suits either hand.A new pillow-textured palm rest on the keyboard alsoadds additional comfort to the users.

Key Features of the Wireless Desktop 2000

- AES 128-bit encryption technology helps protect personaland business information by encrypting your keystrokes.

- Pillow-textured palm rest allows comfortable support whileyou type.

- Taskbar Favorites for Windows 7 lets people easily accessopen programs by mapping to the location of applications onthe Windows Taskbar.

- BlueTrack Technology works on virtually any surface in yourhome, office or anywhere in between.

- Comfortable, ambidextrous design offers rubber side gripsand full-size comfort for use in either hand.

- Snap-in transceiver offers the portability of a notebookmouse with the comfort of a full-size mouse.

The Wireless Desktop 2000 is now available for a suggestedretail price of S$56.

Dell Streak 10 Pro may belaunching this week in ChinaSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/dell-streak-10-pro-may-be-launching-

this-week-in-china/13097.html

July 26th, 2011

Dell Streak 10 Pro was reported to be launched in summerand it looks like that day is near. An unamed source has toldVR-Zone that the new, highly anticipated 10-inch Androidtablet is expected to launch this week in the People's Republicof China.

An unnanmed source has told VR-Zone that the 10-inchDell Android tablet (which is reported to be known as theDell Streak 10 Pro) will soon be launched in the People'sRepublic of China and it will be the first in the world, ahead ofUSA (surprisingly). According to Dell, the launch was said tohappen in summer, and from our reliable source, it looks likethe tablet is expected to launch this week, just days before theAugust month. We are guessing the launch would most likelyhappen this Friday, 29 July and the exact location would be inBeijing, the capital of China (rather than Shanghai). Like mostproduct launches, the Dell Streak 10 Pro may be available inthe next few weeks after its official launch, and obviously thatwould only be in China and not the rest of the world.

The Dell Streak 10 Pro is confirmed to run Google'slatest Android 3.1 mobile operating system and from online


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sources, the tablet will feature a display resolution of1280x800, two cameras with one of them a 5-megapixel, anSD memory card slot, and 1080p high definition (HD) videoplayback capabilities. Even if the Dell Streak 10 Pro is launchedthis week, it will probably take longer to reach our shores here.We can only guess that could be in Q4 (or earlier) this yearrather than next year.

Europe to start selling budgetAndy Pad tablet soonSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/europe-to-start-selling-budget-andy-

pad-tablet-soon/13096.html

July 26th, 2011

Have you heard of a tablet known as the Andy Pad? Well,it is reportedly an entry-level tablet computing device whichis aimed at users who do not have any desire to break thepiggy bank just to satisfy their mobile computing needs. Andapparently, thhis entry-level tablet will soon start making itsway onto retail shelves in Europe for sale, where it is expectedto be sport an extremely competitive price tag.

Competitively priced tablets sporting entry-levelspecifications may be popular among users who are findingthemselves limited by their spending power, but the act ofchoosing such a tablet that actually fits one's needs is usuallymuch harder than what many make it out to be. However, ifyou are already the midst of looking for a such a tablet boaststhe right mix of price and specifications, you might just wantto take a look at the new Andy Pad line of tablets which willreportedly be released for sale in Europe soon.

According to a report published by The Android Authority, thenew Andy Pad tablets are available in two variants, namelythe Andy Pad and Andy Pad Pro. It would seem that both theAndy Pad and the Andy Pad Pro are struck from the samemould, as The Android Authority has claimed that the tabletsare essentially indistinguishable from each other.

That being said, the specifications for both the Andy Padand the Andy Pad Pro are anything but identical. While littleinformation about the hardware used to power the tablets havebeen released, we do know that the Andy Pad will feature8GB of internal flash storage, while the 10-inch display willreportedly make use of resistive touchscreen technology andboasts a relatively low native resolution of 800 x 480 pixelsonly. In contrast, the Andy Pad Pro boasts 16GB of internalstorage, while the touschreen display will sport a higherresolution of 1024 x 600 pixels, as well as the addition of bothfront and rear cameras, along with Bluetooth connectivity.

Last but definitely not least, both the Andy Pad and the AndyPad Pro will come bundled with version 2.3 of the Androidoperating system, a 1.2GHz A8-based processor, a "powerful3D GPU", as well as support for WiFi connectivity and 1080pHDMI-output.

New image of HTC's Blisssmartphone for ladies surfaceonlineSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/new-image-of-htc-s-bliss-smartphone-

for-ladies-surface-online/13095.html


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July 26th, 2011

Remember the news we posted some time back about HTCreportedly planning to release a smartphone that has beenspecially designed to appeal to ladies? Well, it turns out thatsuch a phone will indeed be making its way out onto retailshelves eventually, for a leaked Blurrycam image which claimsto be the first ever photograph of the actual device has startedmaking its way around the depths of cyberspace.

Remember the short story we posted a couple of months backabout HTC reportedly planning to release a new Android-powered smartphone that would supposedly be designedexclusively for the ladies, and that it would most likely beknown as the HTC Bliss? As it turns out, the source for ouroriginal story was right on the money with its claim, for itseesm that there will indeed be a HTC Bliss smartphone forthe market in time. And there is no better way to confirm theexistance of such a smartphone than to have what appears tobe a leaked blurrycam image of the device circulating online,as shown below.

According to the report posted by PocketNow, the Bliss "isset to see a Verizon release", although it has offered noadditional details as to when this release may take place.However, what we do know is that the Bliss will comebundled with a number of colour-matched accessories, andthat apparently includes the unique "companion cube" strapattachment which automatically lights up when the Blissreceives, or engages in a phone call.

Mozilla plans to release itsown mobile OS, calls it BootTo GeckoSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/mozilla-plans-to-release-its-own-

mobile-os-calls-it-boot-to-gecko/13094.html

July 26th, 2011

When it comes to toying around with operating systemsthat are specially designed for use with mobile computingdevices and gadgets such as smartphones and tablets, the onlyplayers out there on the market are Apple's iOS, Google'sAndroid, Research In Motion's BlackBerry OS, HP's webOSand Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 and Windows 7 operatingsystems, right? Well, not anymore; Mozilla, yes, Mozilla, hasjust announced its plans to introduce its own mobile OS intothe fray. And the name of Mozilla's mobile OS project? BootTo Gecko, or B2G.

Ask just about anybody on the street to name you somepopular mobile operating systems that are currently in useand chances are you will get lots of answers about OSessuch as iOS, Android, and BlackBerry OS, while some mighteven bring up more niche solutions such as HP's webOSand Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 and Windows 7 operatingsystems. However, it seems that the mobile OS market is aboutto be shaken up with the introduction of what appears to bea new competitor, for Mozilla has just announced its plans tointroduce its idea of a mobile operating system into the fray.And the name of Mozilla's mobile OS project? Boot To Gecko,or B2G.

That being said, the questions that are forming in your mindright now will probably be something along the lines of "Whatin the world is Boot To Gecko", or "Why is Mozilla even makingan OS for mobile systems". Well, according to Mozilla's wikipage for the Boot To Gecko or B2G project, the project wasstarted out of a need to "make open web technologies a betterbasis for future applications on mobile and desktop alike", andto "displace proprietary, single-vendor stacks for applicationdevelopment".

At this point, B2G is still nothing more than a novel conceptthat has yet to be worked out completely on paper, so suffice tosay Mozilla will definitely need at least a year or two's worth ofplanning and development efforts before anything concrete isready to be released to the public for testing and modifications.However, what we do know is that Mozilla will not be seekingto reinvent the wheel with its new operating system, especiallyif the project's discussion logs on Google Groups are of anyindication.


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Apparently, the logs have suggested that it is likely Mozilla willbe seeking to borrow heavily from Android's low level code,although the developers have made it known that they intendto use "as little of Android as possible". This is because thedevelopers are only interested in the benefits Android couldprovide in the form of its hardware abstraction layer and driversupport, as explained by one particular developer:

We intend to use as little of Android as possible, infact. Really, we want to use the kernel + drivers, pluslibc and ancillary stuff. It's not likely that we'll use theAndroid Java-wrapped graphics APIs, for example.It's nice to start from something that's known to bootand have access to all the devices we want to expose.Maybe that's not the right direction, though, so ifsomeone wants to explore another direction that'd bejust fine.

While there is no denying that Mozilla's developers willdefinitely have their work cut out for them, it is interestingto see whether a completely open solution such as the oneMozilla is proposing will be capable of displacing the likes ofsingle-vendor solutions currently being offered by Apple andGoogle. However, in what appears to be a mild stab at Google,Mozilla has also promised that all the source code for B2Gwill be released "in real-time", as opposed to the search giant'sapproach of withholding code until it deems it suitable for suchpurposes, like what it has done with Honeycomb.

Cisco Linksys introducesSE1500, SE2500, SE2800switches and AE1000wireless-N USB adapterSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/cisco-linksys-introduces-se1500-

se2500-se2800-switches-and-ae1000-wireless-n-usb-adapter/13093.html

July 26th, 2011

Cisco Linksys has announced their new range of switches -5-Port SE1500 Fast Ethernet switch, SE2500 5-Port GigabitEthernet Switch and SE2800 8-Port Gigabit Ethernet Switch- and AE1000 high performance wireless-N USB adapter forhome office and entertainment use.

Cisco has launched their new high performance and easyto setup Linksys switches designed for home office andentertainment. The new switches let you connect easily towired devices including PCs, printers, games consoles, andInternet TVs, and offer a full range of options for speed and

ease of use. The new range of Linksys switches are plug-and-play, eliminating the need for configuration, and comewith Quality of Service (QoS) auto-sensing ports and power-saving features. The power-saving modes include auto power-down to disable unused ports, sleep mode when all ports areinactive and smart power for short cable runs.

Linksys SE1500 5-Port Fast Ethernet Switch- Connect up to five computers, printers, storage devices,gaming consoles and other wired devices

- Plug-and-play – no configuration required

- Get wired connection speed up to 100 Mbps

- QoS traffic prioritisation technology – auto sensing portsautomatically optimise speed for each connected device

- Auto power-down features are designed to disable unusedports, sleep mode when all ports are inactive and smart powerfor short cable runs

Linksys SE2500 5-Port Gigabit Ethernet Switch and SE28008-Port Gigabit Ethernet Switch- Connect up to five or eight computers, printers, storagedevices, gaming consoles and other wired devices

- Plug-and-play – no configuration required

- Gigabit power – up to 1000 Mbps, 10 times faster thanstandard Ethernet – perfect for quick file and media sharingbetween Gigabit devices

- QoS traffic prioritisation technology – auto sensing portsautomatically optimise speed for each connected device

- Auto power-down features are designed to disable unusedports, sleep mode when all ports are inactive and smart powerfor short cable runs

In addition to the new Linksys switches, Cisco has alsoannounced their Wireless-N High-Performance USB Adapterwhich enables users to update their laptops and desktops tothe latest wireless-N technology.

Linksys AE1000 High-Performance Wireless-N USB Adapter


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- Provide Wireless-N capability to Windows desktopcomputers and laptops

- Selectable dual-band wireless-N - connect to either a 2.4GHzor 5GHz wireless network

- Include USB extension cable and adapter base for improvedwireless connectivity - ideal for hard-to-reach USB ports

- Help avoid wireless freeloaders and Internet threatsusing customisable security settings, including WPA/WPA2Personal and WPA/WPA2 Enterprise


The Linksys switches and wireless-N USB adapter arecommercially available at the Challenger Superstore, HarveyNorman, Best Denki, Courts, South Asia Computer, PKComputer, Inforcom Technologies, Fuwell, A GenuineTechnology, Cybermind Computer House, CyberactiveTechnology and Bizgram.

Linksys SE1500 5-Port Fast Ethernet Switch - S$39Linksys SE2500 5-Port Gigabit Ethernet Switch - S$69Linksys SE2800 8-Port Gigabit Ethernet Switch - S$99Linksys AE1000 High-Performance Wireless-N USB Adapter- S$59

KDDI shows off workingprototype of upgraded REGZAPhone IS11T smartphoneSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/kddi-shows-off-working-prototype-of-

upgraded-regza-phone-is11t-smartphone/13091.html

July 26th, 2011

KDDI has unveiled a working prototype of its upgradedREGZA Phone IS11T smartphone, which is an Android-powered mobile phone with a sliding QWERTY keyboardand is reportedly desgined to cater to "heavy users ofsocial networking services and email, especially those whofrequently text with Twitter and Facebook".

Would you like to own an Android-powered smartphonewhich utilizes a sliding QWERTY keyboard is reportedlydesigned to cater to heavy users of online social networkingservices such as Facebook and Twitter while on the move? Ifso, Toshiba has got just the solution for you, and it comes inthe form of a working prototype of an upgraded version of its

REGZA Phone IS11T Android smartphone that was launchedlast month.

According to a report published by Akihabara News, theupgraded REGZA Phone IS11T Android smartphone, whencompleted, will be preloaded with version 2.3.4 of theAndroid operating system and will feature a newer versionof Qualcomm's Snapdragon system-on-a-chip that sports aCPU clocked at 1.4GHz, along with a four-inch WVGA display.The phone is also expected to come bundled with a varietyof standard features such as an eight-megapixel camera, aninfrared sensor, wireless connectivity via WiFi and Bluetooth,as well as a battery pack which boasts an uptime of up to260 hours on standby on a single charge, or 300 minutes oftalktime.

In addition to the hardware specifications, Toshiba hasclaimed that the phone can be set in such a way that anapplication, such as Facebook, Twitter, or even an email client,is immediately activated upon sliding out the smartphone'sQWERTY keyboard. And if that is not enough, the phonereportedly supports some form of multi-display multitasking,where the screen can be divided into different portions to runmultiple applications simultaneously.

As the upgraded REGZA Phone IS11T Android-poweredsmartphone is still currently under development, noinformation about pricing has been released at this point oftime, although Akihabara News has claimed that the phone isexpected to be hit retail in Japan come September this year.

RIM to unveil a newBlackBerry phone today?Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/rim-to-unveil-a-new-blackberry-

phone-today-/13090.html

July 26th, 2011

Well, it seems that the good folks over at Research In Motionhas got something interesting lined up for the world today.And apparently, the excitement over at RIM is so great thatthe company cannot resist teasing its fans with a cryptic hintof they can expect to see unveiled in the later part of the day.Which brings us back to the question: what could RIM possiblyhave up its sleeves that can be described as "shiny, new, andsocial all over"? Could it be...?

Now this has got to be interesting. Apparently, Research InMotion has posted an update on its Facebook page claimingthat they have plans to introduce what appears to be a newproduct in the later part of the day. However, just like anygood company out there, RIM is delibretely holding backinformation about this alleged new product, prefering insteadto tease its fans with a cryptic hint of what apparently bestdescribes its new release: "Shiny, new and social all over".


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Of course, with a hint as broad as this, guessing the rightanswer is definitely not going to be easy, although Engadgethas speculated that RIM might be planning to release aBlackBerry Torch 2, or even a Bold Touch, which has beentouted to be a "phone of many flavors". Then again, it is alsoentirely possible that RIM might end up announcing someother unheard-of product that will apparently be optimizedfor use with popular online social networking services,considering how the company did mention that the newproduct will be 'social' in nature.

That being said, Engadget has also claimed that it would begreat if BlackBerry's new product is "not just another phonewith a Facebook button", a sentiment which we cannot helpbut share as well.

Western Digital VelociRaptorgets refreshed with SATA6Gbps and 32MB CacheSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/western-digital-velociraptor-gets-

refreshed-with-sata-6gbps-and-32mb-cache/13089.html

July 26th, 2011

Previously, only the 450GB and 600GB VelociRaptor modelsfeatured SATA 6Gbps support and 32MB of cache. Now, the150GB and 300GB variants will also be available with theabove features too.

Western Digital refreshed the 150GB and 300GB VelociRaptormodels with support for SATA 6Gbps and 32MB of cache. Thisaddition makes up a total of six VelociRaptor models whichare available in SATA 6Gbps interface and eight models having32MB cache (refer to table below for more information). The150GB VelociRaptor model is reported to be retailing for €120(S$208) while the 300GB version is going for €144 (S$250).

See more specifications from the Western Digital website.

Hardware hack can potentiallycause Mac batteries toexplodeSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/hardware-hack-can-potentially-cause-

mac-batteries-to-explode/13088.html

July 26th, 2011

Does the idea of a hacker being able to gain access to yourMacbook's battery and cause it to spontaneously combustat the flick of a button sound frightening? Well, the badnews is that such a hack actually does exist, and it is noneother than security researcher Charlie Miller who discoveredthe existence of such a vulnerability which could potentiallyallow hackers to exploit and completely destroy a Macbook'sbattery on a hardware level by exploiting the aforementionedvulnerability.

Dealing with exploding batteries on notebooks can be arather frightening affair, no? Well, if the thought of havinga notebook battery pack suddenly go up in clouds of flamesright before your face sounds like the thing which will giveyou nightmares for countless nights on end, this latest pieceof news is definitely not going to be for the weak-hearted.Apparently, a security researcher by the name of Charlie Millerhas discovered a hardware vulnerability in Apple's notebookbatteries which could potentially allow hackers to remotelygain access to the batteries and rig it to catch fire without anywarning.

Sounds ridiculous? Well, not exactly, especially if Miller'sexplanation of how the hack works is of any indication.Apparently, the problem lies in the fact that modern laptops


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utilize what are known as "smart batteries", which make use ofcontroller chips to monitor its status and issue commands onwhen it should stop charging and turn itself off, among manyother tasks. And unfortunately for Macbook owners, Apple"ships these chips with their passwords set to the default",an oversight which Miller claims can be exploited to allow anattacker to gain access to the Macbook on a hardware level.Once inside, the attackers can potentially do enough damageto "ruin the computer at will", such as sabotaging the cells insuch a way that they explode, or by leaving malware on the chip"to infect the computer over and over again".

However, it seems that there is some light at the end of thetunnel. While a report by Maximum PC has revealed thatMiller still plans to demonstrate the hack at the upcomingBlack Hat Security conference to highlight the issue, it alsoclaims that Miller has got every intention to patch this issueby releasing a software tool known as Caulkgun to "changethe firmware password on the chips to a random string ofnumbers".

Many thanks to bianco for this one.

Resident Evil 6 AnnouncementDate LeakedSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/resident-evil-6-announcement-date-

leaked/13087.html

July 26th, 2011

Resident Evil 5, first released in 2009, lacked the fear factorthat was found in Resident Evil 4. The next installment,Resident Evil 6, is expected to meet the expectations of fanswith more horror elements and is set to be announced duringthe upcoming TGS (Tokyo Game Show).

The image above was posted in HellDescent forum takenby user "akiraodasan". It is reported that the above slidewas shown during one of the Capcom press conference atSan Diego Comic-con and more details of the game will bereleased during the upcoming TGS (Tokyo Game Show) on15 September this year.

Fans will also be delighted to know that Resident 6 isrumoured to be a complete overhaul and will feature morehorror elements instead of the action-packed Resident Evil 5.

Club 3D CSP-S600 600W PSUreviewSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/club-3d-csp-s600-600w-psu-

review/13086.html

July 26th, 2011

Club 3D is a renowned graphics card manufacturer wellknown among enthusiasts, who recently diversified towardsthe power supply market. A few weeks ago we had a lookon one of their most powerful power supplies, the CSP-X1000CB, which is aimed towards hardcore enthusiasts andprofessionals with powerful systems. Today we are going totest and review the CSP-S600 power supply, a significantlysimpler product aiming towards the mainstream market.

Club 3D is a renowned graphics card manufacturer wellknown among enthusiasts, who recently diversified towardsthe power supply market. A few weeks ago we had a lookon one of their most powerful power supplies, the CSP-X1000CB, which is aimed towards hardcore enthusiasts andprofessionals with powerful systems. Today we are going totest and review the CSP-S600 power supply, a significantlysimpler product aiming towards the mainstream market.


Model

Product Name: CSP-S600Product Series: Single VGA Configurations

Item Code: CSP-S600CB

EAN Code: 8717249408697

Technical Information

Type: ATX Form Factor 12V V2.3PFC: Active PFC (0.99)

Input Voltage: 100-240V (Auto Range)

Input FrequencyRange: 50 ~ 60Hz

Fan: Ultra-silent 120mm temperature controlled fan

Power Good Signal: 100 ~ 500ms

Hold Up Time: > 17ms


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Efficiency (Load): 85%

Dimensions (W / D / H): Standard ATX 150 x 140 x 86 (mm)

Operation Temperature: 0-40°C (nominal Input Voltage)

Safety: CE

80-PLUS Certification: 80PLUS Bronze

Protection: OCP (Over Current Protection), UVP (UnderVoltage Protection), OVP (Over Voltage Protection), SCP(Short Circuit Protection), OPP (Over Power Protection)

Input Characteristics

Voltage: 110V - 240VFrequency: 50 - 60Hz

Input Current: 10A

Output Characteristics

+3.3V: 24A / 150W+5V: 24A / 150W

+12V1: 22A / 432W

+12V2: 22A / 432W

-12V2: 0.5A / 6W

-5VSB: 3.0A / 12.5W

Total Max. Output

600W

?? Total Combined Wattage

+3.3V: 150W+5V: 150W

+12V1: 581.5W

+12V2: 581.5W

+12V3: 581.5W

-12V2: 18.5W

-5VSB: 18.5W

Cable Ioom (mm)

20+4P Main: 550ATX/EPS 4+4P: 550+150

PCI-E 6+2P: 550

SATA: 550+150

PATA+FLOPPY: 550+150

Modular Cable Management

No

Native Cable

20 + 4 pin: 1xPCI Express 6+2 pin: 2x

ATX12V/EPS12V 4 +4 pin: 1x

Floppy: 1x

Peripheral: 5x

SATA: 6x

ASRock launches Z68 mini-ITXboardSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/asrock-launches-z68-mini-itx-

board/13085.html

July 26th, 2011

If you've been waiting for an affordable Z68 mini-ITXmotherboard, then your wait should be over, as ASRock haslaunched its Z68M-ITX/HT motherboard which should proveto be one of the more wallet friendly mini-ITX Z68 boardsout there. That said, it's hardly a crowded market space at themoment with Zotac having the only other two models currentlyavailable.

If you've been waiting for an affordable Z68 mini-ITXmotherboard, then your wait should be over, as ASRock haslaunched its Z68M-ITX/HT motherboard which should proveto be one of the more wallet friendly mini-ITX Z68 boardsout there. That said, it's hardly a crowded market space at themoment with Zotac having the only other two models currentlyavailable.


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As this is a mini-ITX board, the Z68M-ITX/HT is fairly featurelight with only a single x16 PCI Express slot and four SATAports, as well as a pair of headers for two USB 2.0 ports. Thereal action happens around the back where we have a PS/2port, four USB 2.0 ports, two USB 3.0 ports, an eSATA port, aGigabit Ethernet port, 7.1-channel audio with optical S/PDIFout and a DVI, D-Sub and HDMI port.

ASRock also supplies an infrared dongle and a Windows MCEcompatible remote with the board which is a nice added extraconsidering that a fair few of these boards are likely to endup in HTPC type systems. You also get a copy of Lucid LogixVirtu graphics switching software in the box. No word onpricing as yet, but considering that ASRock's H67 version ofthis board is one of the more affordable H67 mini-ITX boards,we'd expect the Z68M-ITX/HT to end up being only slightlymore expensive.

MSI unveils two new Z68motherboardsSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/msi-unveils-two-new-z68-

motherboards/13084.html

July 26th, 2011

One so far unseen Z68 motherboard model and one upgraded– if you can call it that – model has emerged on the MSIwebsite today, namely the Z68A-G43 (B3) and the Z68A-GD55(G3). This brings MSI's total Z68 board count up to seven, asthree models are identical bar PCI Express 3.0 support.

One so far unseen Z68 motherboard model and one upgraded– if you can call it that – model has emerged on the MSIwebsite today, namely the Z68A-G43 (B3) and the Z68A-GD55(G3). This brings MSI's total Z68 board count up to seven, asthree models are identical bar PCI Express 3.0 support.

The Z68A-GD55 (G3) is one of the models that fit into thealready launched category, but it was moved into the PCIExpress 3.0 fold today with the help of some new lane switches.As far as we can tell, nothing else has changed on this board,so there's not very much else to say about it.

The new addition to MSI's Z68 series is the Z68A-G43, whichis MSI's entry level Z68 ATX motherboard. For a model inthe gaming series it's a pretty feature stripped board, evencompared to the Z68A-G45 and we have a hard time seeing alot of consumers going for the Z68A-G43 over the Z68A-G45.

For starters the power regulation appears to be a very simple4+1 design suggesting that overclocking isn't what this boardis about. At least MSI has fitted a pair of heatsinks to theMOSFETs, albeit tiny ones, but they're at least screwed in.


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Furthermore there doesn't appear to be support for a dual x8setup, although the board has a pair of x16 slots, the secondaryslot only offers four lanes. The board also has two x1 PCIExpress slots and three PCI slots. Oddly enough four of the sixSATA ports are angled at 90 degrees which is an improvementover the Z68A-G45.

The board has pin-headers for eight USB 2.0 ports as well asa serial and parallel port, but otherwise there's very little elseof notice. Around the back there is a pair of PS/2 ports, fourUSB 2.0 ports, two USB 3.0 ports, a Gigabit Ethernet port, 7.1-channel audio jacks and a DVI and D-Sub port. Price wise theZ68A-G43 is listed for around €110 in Europe (S$190) whichmakes it a mere €10 (S17) cheaper than Z68A-G45 and fromour point of view, it's not worth the small saving. The Z68A-GD55 (G3) has as yet not been listed for sale.

LG beats Sony in OLED race,announces large screen OLEDTV for late 2012Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/lg-beats-sony-in-oled-race-announces-

large-screen-oled-tv-for-late-2012/13083.html

July 26th, 2011

18 months ago, Sony raised expectations of consumers all overthe world when it announced that it had plans to introduce alarge screen OLED TV. Fast forward to today, and the goodnews is that it seems that an OLED TV release is still on thecards, and that such a device will reportedly hit retail shelvessome time in the later part of the 2012. But here's the catch:it will be LG that is rolling out the aforementioned OLED TV,and not Sony.

LG has announced that it plans to start shipping large screentelevision sets with OLED displays some time in the later halfof 2012, beating Sony in the OLED game after the latter firstclaimed 18 months ago that it will be the first company torelease a similar product.

According to a report published by technology websiteSmartHouse, LG's announcement was made over theweekend, where it was revealed that the Korean electronicscompany is planning to release "a limited range of 55" OLED

TV late in 2012 with the new TV set to be shown at the 2012CES show in January".

In addition, LG has confirmed that the television sets will notbe mass produced; rather, the company intends to roll out onlya few tens of thousands of the devices as a way of gaugingconsumer reaction before making any further plans. This wasconfirmed by LG Display's CEo, Kwon Young-soo.

"We will make no more investment in the sector judgingthat the OLED businss is relatively less profitable than otherproducts in the mobile sector," he said.

The TV is set to be around $3,000 in Australia, although it isnot specified whether the cost is in Australian or US currency.

AMD 2012 Desktop RoadmapLeakedSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/amd-2012-desktop-roadmap-

leaked/13081.html

July 26th, 2011

Zol.com.cn has leaked a confidential roadmap summarizingAMD's 2012 desktop platforms. While AMD's Scorpius 2011platform is yet to release fully, it will be succeeded bythe Corona platform in 2012. This features the KomodoCPU, featuring up to 10 Piledriver CPU cores and Turbo3.0. Unfortunately, Komodo will fit into a new CPU socket,with FM2 succeeding AM3+. Hudson D4 FCH, contains anupgraded southbridge with native USB 3.0 support. Thenorthbridge is likely to be integrated into the CPU.

Zol.com.cn has leaked a confidential roadmap summarizingAMD's 2012 desktop platforms. While AMD's Scorpius 2011platform is yet to release fully, it will be succeeded bythe Corona platform in 2012. This features the KomodoCPU, featuring up to 10 Piledriver CPU cores and Turbo3.0. Unfortunately, Komodo will fit into a new CPU socket,with FM2 succeeding AM3+. Hudson D4 FCH, contains anupgraded southbridge with native USB 3.0 support. Thenorthbridge is likely to be integrated into the CPU.


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The Corona platform will be completed by next-gen AMDGPUs, rumoured to be branded Radeon HD 7000 series.

In the Fusion area, Lynx 2011 will be replaced by Virgo in 2012.The Trinity APU will not feature Bulldozer cores, but Upto4 next-gen Piledriver CPU cores and Turbo 3.0, improving Lynx's biggest weakness - CPU performance. The GPU partwill continue to feature a DX11 GPU, though rumours statea VLIW-4 GPU will replace the current VLIW-5 GPU usedin today's A-Series. Interestingly, Trinity will fit into an FM2socket - same as Komodo - but the FCH will continue to beA75 or A55, same as Lynx. The compatibility between FM1 andFM2 remains to be seen.

Finally, Brazos will be replaced by Deccan, featuring WichitaAPUs with upto 4 Bobcat cores and a FT2 infrastructure. TheA45 FCH will be replaced by a FCH codenamed Yuba.

AMD's major focus with 2012 seems to be bringing parityto it's mainstream and enthusiast platforms. Currently, A-Series and FX-Series seem worlds apart, with different CPUarchitectures and different sockets. In 2012, both FX-Seriesand A-Series (their successors) will feature CPU cores basedon the same architecture - Piledriver - and they will fit into thesame infrastructure - FM2.

Of course, 2012 is still far away, and indeed "2012" is open tointerpretation, and many things can change.

Plantronics unveils Calisto 800multi-device speakerphonesSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/plantronics-unveils-calisto-800-multi-

device-speakerphones/13079.html

July 26th, 2011

The new Plantronics speakerphones claimto provide intelligent streamline audio communication acrossPC-based phones, mobile phones, and even home landlines.The hands-free Calisto 800 is designed for office professionalsand is optimized for Microsoft Office Communicator and Lync.

The Plantronics Calisto 800 series claim to be thefirst speakerphones in its unified communications productportfolio that combine multi-device hands-free connectivitywith intuitive visual call management. Optimized for use withMicrosoft Office Communicator and Lync. They are designedfor private and home office professionals who need multiplecommunication devices to collaborate effectively.

The Calisto 800 series can provide premium sound andunparalleled audio quality thanks to full duplex widebandaudio and advanced noise cancellation. It also offers arange of hands-free options including wireless connectivitywith Bluetooth headsets or corded connectivity with 3.5mmheadsets/headphones when privacy is desired. The Calisto800 series includes the Calisto 825, which manages callsbetween a PC and a mobile phone and features a uniquewireless microphone, PA50, that provides unparalleledspeakerphone audio quality and freedom of movement.

The Calisto 825 simplifies PC and mobile phone callmanagement through its intuitive visual display and touchsensitive dial pad. Device setup is quick and easy - in lessthan five minutes, users are up and running and able to switchbetween mobile and PC calls, dial, and mute across devicesat the touch of a button. In addition to the Calisto 825, theportfolio includes the Calisto 835 which can connect to mobilephones, softphones, analog landlines and includes a wirelessmicrophone, PA50.


The Calisto 825 is a two-way speakerphone for the PC andmobile phone. It includes the PA50 wireless lapel microphone,and charging base. It is retailing at S$429, inclusive of GST.

The Calisto 835 is a three-way speakerphone for PC, mobilephone and analog landlines. It includes the PA50 wirelesslapel microphone, and charging base and is priced at S$529,inclusive of GST.

The Calisto 800 Series is available at accessories@Newstead,Challenger at Funan and Evergreen stationery store atParkway and Excentrique Products & Marketing Services(email: [email protected] or tel: 6513 3306).


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HTC announces Sina Weibophone for ChinaSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/htc-announces-sina-weibo-phone-for-

china/13080.html

July 26th, 2011

Having a phone specially designed to allow for makingquick updates to Facebook sounds like the kind of deviceany Facebook junkie would love to have, but what is anOEM like HTC to do if it wants to market its Facebook-oriented smartphone in China, where the popular online socialnetworking service has been blocked? Simple: repurpose thephone so that it is now integrated with the popular Sina Weibomicroblogging platform. Which is exactly what HTC has donewith its remade HTC Salsa smartphone, now known as theHTC Weike.

HTC's Salsa and ChaCha smartphones may be great for userswho simply need crave the tight integration of Facebookdirectly into a smartphone's operating system, but it doesnot change the fact that Chinese users will not be able tobenefit from the features in such phones, simply becauseof the Chinese government's decision to block access toFacebook from within the country. However, it seems thatsuch an obstacle is of no hindrance to HTC, for theTaiwanese smartphone manufacturer has just announced anew social media-centric smartphone that has been speciallydesigned to cater to the Chinese.

Enter the HTC Weike smartphone, which Shanzai.com claimsis essentially a HTC Salsa that has been localized for use inChina and boasts tight integration with the country's popularSina Weibo microblogging platform instead of Facebook.According to Shanzai's report, the HTC Weike will not onlymake use of the popular HTC Sense interface, but will alsoallow users to sync their Weibo account, thus allowing themto "chat with people they are following on Weibo, which thenplaces them into contacts automatically".

Little has been revealed about the HTC Weike's hardwarespecifications, although Shanzai.com claims that thesmartphone will feature a 3.2-inch display that is capable of anative resolution of 320x480, and that it will be running offversion 2.2 of the Android operating system (which is old bytoday's standards).

No details about the HTC Weike's availability or pricing inChina have been announced at this point of time.

OS X Lion users to get iCloudintegration in 10.7.2 updateSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/os-x-lion-users-to-get-icloud-

integration-in-10.7.2-update/13078.html

July 26th, 2011

Apple is only due to activate iCloud with the launch of iOS5, but it seems that the Cupertino giant is already hardat work in ensuring that all of its products, including therecently-released OS X Lion operating system, are ready totake advantage of the new cloud service right from the get go.And the good news is that OS X Lion users may not have to waitvery long to score iCloud support for their operating system,especially if the latest developer preview released by Apple isof any indication.

Apple's iCloud is expected to be launched in conjunction withiOS 5, but the company is already hard at work in ensuring thatits own OS X operating system is all set to play nice with thecloud service. Users can expect to see iCloud support Lion soonin the form of an upcoming software update for the recently-launched operating system, with leaked Lion update buildsconfirming that claim.


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According to a report published by AppleInsider, iCloudsupport for Mac OS X Lion will be rolled out in the upcoming10.7.2 update, whereby it will be integrated into Mail, Contactsand Calandars preference pane. Apparently, this will allowusers to exercise some form of control in the kind of data theywant synced to the cloud, as shown in the screenshot above.

AppleInsider has also claimed in its report that the iCloudsection in Mail, Contacts & Calandars preference panel willcome with sport tools and options which users can utilizefor "managing storage, backups, and purchasing additionalstorage", although it has pointed out that the option topurchase additional online storage space is currently "non-functional at this time", which is something to be expectedfrom pre-release software.

Interestingly, AppleInsider has revealed that the Cupertinogiant has yet to release any test builds of 10.7.1, even thoughtesting for 10.7.2 has already commenced. This has led tospeculation that the company has already finished its workwith 10.7.1 and is planning to push it out to end-users in thecoming days (or weeks), if Apple intends to have OS X Lionupdated to 10.7.2 in time for iCloud's official launch come Fallthis year.

MSI WindPad Enjoy 10 tabletshows up at the FCCSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/msi-windpad-enjoy-10-tablet-shows-

up-at-the-fcc/13077.html

July 26th, 2011

Most people may not know it, but MSI has been a player in thetablet space for quite some time already, except that its tabletsnever really managed to take off in the same way as those ofits competitors. However, if you though that MSI is all readyto give up its stake in the tablet business, you could not havebeen further from the truth, especially if the latest news aboutthe company's budget WindPad Enjoy 10 tablet showing up atthe FCC is of any indication.

When it comes to tablets, the only prominent, non-Appleproducts available on the market are those that are producedby the likes of big-name players such as Acer, LG, Samsung,right? Well, most may not know it, but MSI has also beencompeting in the market for quite some time already with itsWindPad line of tablets. And while their products are not aspopular as the aforementioned OEMs, it seems that there isstill enough demand for entry-level and mid-range tablets onthe market for the company to justify the release of neweradditions to the WindPad line, such as the new WindPad Enjoy10, which has just been spotted having a date of sorts with theFCC.

According to a report published by Liliputing, MSI's newWindPad Enjoy 10 is being positioned as a "budget tablet"that could potentially be sold on the market for as low asUS$299, or even lesser. And if you are wondering how a10-inch tablet can be sold for such low price...well, as theysay, the devil is in the details, and the WindPad Enjoy 10'shardware specifications are anything but impressive. Whilethe tablet does sport a 1GHz ARM Cortex A8 processor for usein its general-purpose computing needs, its 10-inch capacitivedisplay is only capable of a not-so-impressive native resolutionof 800 x 480. This differs from MSI's earlier announcements,where it claimed that the tablet will feature a 1.2GHz processor


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and a display which is capable of native resolution of 1024 x768.

In addition, the WindPad Enjoy 10 comes bundled with only512MB of RAM and 4GB of internal flash memory, althoughLiliputing claims that the preloaded Android 2.3 operatingsystem consumes enough space to reduce the internal storagecapacity to approximately 1.2GB. Lastly, the report also claimsthat the MSI WindPad Enjoy 10 tablet will feature hardware-accelerated playback support for 1080p videos "in a varietyof formats including MP4, Xvid, DiVX, and H.264", front andrear cameras, an SD card slot, a USB port, WiFi connectivityand a battery which is reportedly capable of up to five hoursof uptime.

No news of the WindPad Enjoy 10's availability has beenreleased at this point of time.

Sony announces Cyber-shotTX55 and WX30 compactdigital camerasSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/sony-announces-cyber-shot-tx55-and-

wx30-compact-digital-cameras/13073.html

July 26th, 2011

If you are looking for a new compact digital cameras that canshoot high quality pictures and high definition videos, youprobably want to check out the latest Cyber-shot TX55 andWX30 from Sony. The cameras boast up to 10x Clear ImageZoom in maximum resolution and artistic Picture Effect mode.

Both the Cyber-shot TX55 and WX30 feature a 16.2-megapixelExmor R CMOS sensor and new ‘By Pixel Super Resolution’technology that boosts zoom range to 10x without losing imagequality.

Sony Cyber-shot TX55

Measuring 12.2mm slim, the Cyber-shot TX55 claims to be theworld’s thinnest camera that can captures Full HD AVCHDvideo clips as well as 16.2 megapixel still images. It alsoshoots panoramas of 42.9-megapixel resolution, 3D SweepPanorama and 3D Still Image to enjoy on your 3D TV. Thecamera’s back panel holds a 3.3-inch Xtra Fine OLED widetouchscreen which is great for showing off your photos andmovies.

The TX55 is the first Cyber-shot camera to include a memorycard slot that supports Memory Stick Micro (M2) andmicroSD/SDHC. The company has also offered a choice ofultra-compact, high quality media in capacities up to 16GB- the newly introduced Mark2 Memory Stick Micro whichis ideal for AVCHD video shooting and microSDHC. All cardscome with free File Rescue for quick, easy recovery of deletedor damaged photos and files (http://www.sony-asia.com/support/download/50317), and x-Pict Story that simplifiescreation of dazzling slideshows from your photos (http://www.sony-asia.com/support/download/365561).

Sony Cyber-shot WX30

The sleek and super-compact Sony Cyber-shot WX30 offers awide range of imaging options for stills, Full HD video and 3Dshooting. It also claims to be the first Cyber-shot WX seriesmodel to feature 3-inch Xtra Fine LCD wide touch screenfor simple fingertip operation. It is compatible with the Party-shot IPT-DS2 docking base. Party-shot pans, tilts and zoomsthe camera as it searches for faces in the room, automaticallyshooting natural, beautifully-framed photos while you enjoyyourself.

The new compact and stylish Sony Cyber-shot TX55 andWX30 cameras, as well as the range of Memory Stick Micro(Mark2) and SR series MicroSD/SDHC media cards by Sonyare available in Asia Pacific from September 2011.

Rumour: Samsung Galaxy 3Dsmartphone spotted?Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/rumour-samsung-galaxy-3d-

smartphone-spotted-/13076.html


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July 26th, 2011

Now that HTC has its EVO 3D and LG has its Optimus 3D,it would make sense that a major player such as Samsungwill want to make its entry into the market for 3D-capablesmartphones soon in order to grab a slice of the pie for itself.And from the looks of it, users might not have to wait for longto get their hands on a 3D-capable smartphone from the likesof the Korean electronics giant, for rumour has it that a Galaxy3D is currently under development over at Samsung's labs.

Are you a fan of 3D-capable smartphones such as HTC's EVO3D and LG's Optimus 3D smartphones? Well, if you are, we'vegot news for you. Apparently, rumour has it that Samsung isalso planning to release its own 3D-capable smartphone sometime in the future, and that it will reportedly be called theSamsung Galaxy 3D.

As the picture shown above is little more than a mockup ofwhat is believed to be the elusive Galaxy 3D smartphone,it goes without saying that the smartphone's appearanceis far from being finalized, and that the final design ofSamsung's alleged upcoming 3D-capable smartphone couldpotentially differ greatly from the mockup's design that iscurrently circulating on the Internet right now. However,various sources have claimed that the Galaxy 3D will mostlikely be preloaded with version 2.3 of the Android operatingsystem (also known as Gingerbread), and that it will reportedlyfeature a 4.3-inch glasses-free 3D display, dual 8-megapixelcameras and a dual-core processor that is said to be clocked at1.2GHz or higher.

Last but definitely not least, an Android-centric blog knownas Android Community is claiming that the Galaxy 3D willreportedly feature either a HDMI-out or HD TV output toallow users the ability to enjoy 3D videos on their 3D-capabletelevision sets right out of the box. Oh, and it has alsomentioned that Samsung might just release its 3D-capable

smartphone some time in Q4 this year, if only because thatwould be the period where HTC and LG are most likely to beactively working on their own successors to their respective3D-capable smartphones. Well, we shall see.

Apple announces hard diskreplacement program foriMacsSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/apple-announces-hard-disk-

replacement-program-for-imacs/13074.html

July 26th, 2011

Have you purchased an iMac with a 1TB hard disk any timebetween May and July this year? If so, you might wantto consult Apple's web site to see if you qualify for a freereplacement of sorts; this is because the Cupertino giant hasannouced a replacement program for a "very small number" of1TB Seagate hard disks which are currently being used in theiMacs, claiming that the aforementioned hard disks sport anissue which could cause it to "fail under certain conditions".

Apple users, especially iMac owners who have bought theirmachines recently this year might want to take note of Apple'slatest announcement. Apparently, the Cupertino giant hasdiscovered that some of the 1TB Seagate hard disks that arecurrently being used in its 21.5-inch and 27-inch iMacs arecurrently affected by an issue which could cause it to "failunder certain conditions".


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Apple has not disclosed any details about the alleged issuewhich could cause the aforementioned hard disk to failprematurely, although it did mention that the issue is currentlyisolated to only "a very small number" of hard disks, andonly on iMacs which were sold between May and July thisyear. To resolve this issue, the company has announced thecommencement of a "Hard Drive Replacement Program" forthe aforementioned iMacs, and that it has already sent outemails to consumers who are currently in the possession ofan affected machine to inform them about the program. Inaddition, users can also visit Apple's support page here tocheck if their machines are eligible for the free hard diskreplacement program, although they will need to supply theiriMac's serial number if they wish to perform the manualverification.

Lastly, Apple has announced on its support page that the harddisk replacement program will run until July 23 next year, sothere is more than enough time to back up your work beforemaking an appointment with Apple to have the faulty hard diskreplaced.

Dell releases UltraSharpU2412M, costs only US$399 atlaunchSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/dell-releases-ultrasharp-u2412m-costs-

only-us-399-at-launch/13075.html

July 26th, 2011

It is now Q3 and over the weekend, Dell has quietly pushedthe new UltraSharp U2412M 24-inch LCD monitor out of itsfactory doors. Full specifications after the break.

Back in May, we spoke of Dell releasing a couple of displaysstarting from Q3 this year. Generally, Dell leaves it till latein the expected quarter before their products are ready, butover this weekend, Dell has quietly pushed the new UltraSharpU2412M out of its factory doors, and is now up for grabs ontheir online stores.

The bezel has been slightly re-designed, with the UltraSharpU2412M now sporting cheaper (maybe?) physical buttons asopposed to capacitive touch ones on the U2410.

Specifications wise, the UltraSharp U2412M is equipped withan LED-backlit e-IPS display panel capable of 1920 x 1200resolution and 16.7 million colors. The new monitor retainsa 16:10 aspect ratio, color gamut has reverted to a standard82% and horizontal and vertical viewing angles are both ratedat 178°. Anti-glare and 3H hard coating are applied on thedisplay's surface, meaning non-glossy screen in other words (Ican hear many heaving a big sigh of relief).

Dell's PowerNap software power management allows the userto enable dimming of the panel when the computer entersscreen saver mode, or to put the monitor to sleep altogether.The U2412M's energy consumption figures are also readilyavailable via the on-screen display (OSD) menu.

Connectivity options include DVI-D with HDCP, DisplayPort,VGA, 4-port USB 2.0 hub and DC power output for the DellSoundbar.

And finally, the price? Just US$399, or an even more mouth-watering introductory S$439 here in Singapore. The monitoris backed with a standard 3-year warranty.


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ASUS U46SV Launches inEuropeSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/asus-u46sv-launches-in-

europe/13072.html

July 26th, 2011

ASUS U46SV comes with an Intel Core i5-2410M 2.3GHzprocessor, up to 6GB of memory RAM, an Nvidia GeForceGT 540M graphics card, 500GB harddisk drive, DVD writer,card reader and a USB 3.0 port. Other features include aLED backlit 1366 x 768 display, 0.3-megapixel webcam andWindows 7 Home Premium operating system. The U46SVlaptop is currently retailing for €799 ($1,387) in Europe.

AMD Bulldozer 8-CoreProcessors to Launch inSeptemberSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/amd-bulldozer-8-core-processors-to-

launch-in-september/13071.html


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July 26th, 2011

AMD FX-Series 8-Core processors are reported to beginmass production in August 2011 and will launch on 19thof September 2011. This information coincides with anotherpiece of hint gathered from AMD's video posted on YouTube(link here) at the 15 seconds mark (found at the bottomleft of the video). However, only four of the AMD FX-Seriesprocessors (FX-8150, FX-8100, FX-6100 and FX-4100) willbe launched in September. Details of the various processorscan be found in our previous article. The higher end modelsfor the 125W and 95W TDP 8-Core processors (FX-8170 andFX-8120) will be released in Q1 2012.

EVGA LGA 2011 MotherboardTeaserSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/evga-lga-2011-motherboard-

teaser/13068.html

July 26th, 2011

EVGA's LGA 2011 motherboard will feature Intel's upcomingX79 chipset and Sandy Bridge-E processors. From the image,we can see a shift in the position of the buttons which include,Power, Reset and Clear CMOS. There are reports whichconfirm that the motherboard will be using "100% POSCAP"capacitors. EVGA will also release a dual-socket LGA 2011motherboard in the future to replace their current dual-socketLGA 1366 motherboard, SR-2. Other features of X79 basedmotherboard include 8-lane PCIe 2.0 hub, 10 SATA 6Gbpsports and 14 USB 2.0 ports.

Alienware M17x gamingnotebook review - here comesthe Alien mothershipSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/alienware-m17x-gaming-notebook-

review--here-comes-the-alien-mothership/13001.html

July 26th, 2011

Think that you have seen everything that Dell has got to offerto the mobile gamer with our review of the Alienware M14xgaming notebook?? Well, you haven't seen everything yet. Thistime, we have in our labs what is probably the mothershipof Dell's Alienware line of gaming notebooks, and we'd daresay that this is the monster (or Alien) that changes everythingyou'll ever know about what a gaming notebook should be.

"Bigger is better" may not be the words an average userwould want to hear from a salesman when shopping for a newnotebook, especially when most OEMs have switched theirfocus from providing a high-performance machine to thatwhere aesthetic appeal takes precedence over quality. After all,the approach of merely having "just enough" power to ensurethat the notebook remains versatile enough to take on a widerange of entry-level tasks has worked well for OEMs for thelongest time. And users are seemingly moving to smaller, low-


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powered devices today does not mean that time has run out forbig notebooks with extremely powerful hardware.

Enter the Alienware M17x R3 gaming notebook, which, like itssmaller sibling, the M14x, is aimed at pushing the buttons ofusers who still believe in the value of big notebooks with bigperformance (and big price tags to match). And of course, withthe prestige of the Alienware label on the line, it is only fairthat such users will expect the M17x R3 to give the M14x a solidthump on the latter's proverbial head where raw performanceis concerned. And does it? We shall find out in due time.

Dell Alienware M17x R3Gaming Notebook PCSpecifications Processor Intel Core i7 2820QM

2.3GHz (3.4GHz w/TurboBoost, 8MB Cache)

Chipset Intel Sandy Bridge HM67Chipset

Graphics Card 2GB AMD Radeon HD6970M

Operating System Windows 7 Ultimate (x64version)

Display 17.3" (43.94cm) Full HD(1920x1080) WLED LCDPanel

Memory 8GB DDR3 SDRAM (2 x 4GBSODIMM)

Hard Disk capacity 256GB SATA Samsung SSD Wireless Connectivity Intel Centrino Ultimate-N

6300 a/g/n, Dell Wireless 375Bluetooth module

Battery 9-cell Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion)battery

Weight Starting at 5.3kg

Thermaltake TR2 800W PSUreviewSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/thermaltake-tr2-800w-psu-

review/13069.html

July 26th, 2011

Thermaltake is a very well known company amongenthusiasts. The company was founded in 1999 and started offas a cooling solutions manufacturer and later diversified intomany other areas. Today Thermaltake offers a vast selectionof technology-related products and also replenishes theirproduct ranges very frequently. Today we will have a lookat the first Thermaltake PSU entering our labs, the highlypopular TR2 800W unit.

Thermaltake is a very well known company amongenthusiasts. The company was founded in 1999 and started offas a cooling solutions manufacturer and later diversified intomany other areas. Today Thermaltake offers a vast selectionof technology-related products and also replenishes theirproduct ranges very frequently. Today we will have a lookat the first Thermaltake PSU entering our labs, the highlypopular TR2 800W unit.


• ATX 12V V2.3 enables most reliable and robust powerdelivery.

• Stable 800W continuous output (peak power 960W) @50 ?operating environment.

• Robust and dedicated single +12V output providessuperior performance under all types of system loading.

• 80 PLUS Bronze Certified: with 82-88% efficiency @20-100% load under real world load conditions.

• Double-forward switching circuitry offers low power lossand high reliability.

• Universal AC input 100V~240V automatically scans anddetects the correct voltage.

• High quality 105 ? Japanese main capacitor provideuncompromised performance and reliability.

• 99% Active Power Factor Correction provides clean andreliable power to your system.

• Ultra-silent operation with intelligent 12cm cooling fanspeed control.

• Intel & AMD CPU compliant.

• Nvidia & ATI/AMD graphic card compatible.

• Dimension: 150mm(W)x86mm(H)x140mm(L).

• High reliability: MTBF>100,000 hours.

• Built in industrial-grade protections: Over Current, OverVoltage, Over Power, Under Voltage and Short-Circuitprotections.

• Safety / EMI : UL/ CUL, VDE, CE, FCC, CB, GOST andBSMI certified.

Deep Cool Ice Blade ProReviewSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/deep-cool-ice-blade-pro-

review/12939.html


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July 26th, 2011

Tower-style heatsinks are a pretty common sight among thevast array of aftermarket cooling solutions. Today, we'll belooking at another such contender, Deep Cool's Ice Blade Pro.While hardly the most well-known manufacturer, Deep Coolhas slapped a very attractive price tag on the Ice Blade Pro.Does this heatsink live up to its promise of good cooling on thecheap?

Deep Cool is a China-based manufacturer of cooling solutions.While its main business is OEM manufacturing, Deep Cool hasalso launched a fairly extensive line of cooling solutions. Theproduct we're looking at today is the Ice Blade Pro, a processorheatsink.

Weighing in at over a kilogram and standing 157 millimeterstall, the Ice Blade Pro is one of the larger heatsinks we've seen.It is composed of four copper heatpipes that directly contactthe processor and an aluminium fin array. Up to two 120mmfans can be mounted on the Ice Blade Pro, though only one isincluded.

Specifications

Overall Dimension 125.5 X 104 X 157mm

Fan Dimension 120 X120 X 25mmNet Weight 1053gBearing Type Hydro BearingRated Voltage 12VDCOperating Voltage 10.8?13.2VDCStarted Voltage 7VDCRated Current 0.25±10%A(MAX)Power Input 3.0WFAN Speed 900±150~1500±10%RPMMAX.Air Flow 60.29CFMNoise 21.4~32.1dB(A)

Accessories

Other than the parts required for mounting the heatsink, DeepCool has also bundled a small tube of thermal paste and aplastic thermal paste spreader.

The included 120mm fan pushes a decent volume of air andruns fairly quietly even at full speed. If that's still not silent


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enough for you, the fan speed can be brought down to 900RPMvia motherboard control or a 7V adapter (not included). Thefan has four blue LEDs.

An additional set of fan clips and anti-vibration rubber spacersis included, should you wish to mount an additional 120mmfan.

The full list of bundled items is shown below:

GIGABYTE's Portable Storage,A2 TinySource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/gigabyte-s-portable-storage-a2-

tiny/13067.html

July 26th, 2011

GIGABYTE has released an interesting storage solution knownas A2 Tiny which uses a 160GB hard disk drive and USB 2.0technology. More details inside.


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GIGABYTE has released an interesting device known as theA2 Tiny which comes with a 160GB HDD and uses the USB2.0 cable. The device has a dimension of 78 x 59 x 13mmand weighs about 80g. A2 Tiny has an anti-shock system andcomes with a carrying pouch as well. Quantities will be limitedfor this model.

PNY launches GTX 580 XLR8OC in EuropeSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/pny-launches-gtx-580-xlr8-oc-in-

europe/13066.html

July 26th, 2011

The PNY GTX 580 XLR8 OC graphics card uses a referencecooler which takes up only two PCIe slots. The core frequencyis overclocked to 805MHz while the memory frequency isoverclocked to 4200MHz. Other features include 2 x DVIoutputs, 1 x mini HDMI output, 512 CUDA cores, 1536MB ofmemory and three years warranty. The XLR8 OC graphics cardis set to retail at Europe at a hefty price of €489 S$849.