gadgets, geeks, technology, internet, social media by VR Media Pte. Ltd.

March 21st, 2011

Published by: VR-Zone

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

The Daily VR-Zone News Summary - 21 Mar 2011 Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/the-daily-vr-zone-news-summary--21mar-2011/11668.html March 21st, 2011

In today's news roundup: Digitimes discusses the impact limited wafer availability will have on the DRAM market; Foxconn's A9DA-S motherboard gets reviewed; Motorola's Android-powered tablet, the Xoom, gets reviewed; Gizmodo reviews the iPad 2; Microsoft's Kinect motion controller gets hacked to run on the PlayStation 3, and The latest installment of the Dissidia series, Dissidia 012 Duodecim: Final Fantasy , gets compared against its predecessor Hardware news Foxconn A9DA-S Motherboard Review @ Vortez Description: To trade blows (and quite often better) a high end board like the Crosshair IV Extreme is something else. Of course there are caveats in that updated chipset drivers could have a noteworthy effect on scores but in all honesty I couldn't see the boosts being so great that the A9DA-S would get left behind. Digitimes Insight: Limited wafer availability good for DRAM industry Description: With major silicon wafer plants remaining closed following the recent earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan, there is growing concern in the memory industry whether chip companies are preparing for any possible disruption to production. Corsair Performance 3 Series 128GB SSD Review in RAID 0 @ Legit Reviews Description: Corsair jumps feet first into the 6Gbps equipped SSD race with latest installment of their Performance series drives. This time, they put a Marvell controller at the heart of their Performance 3 Series. With multiple manufacturers

using the Marvell controller and others using SandForce, how will these drives measure up? Read on to see. LG Super-Multi N2A2 2TB NAS Review Description: when LG told us they had a new 2-bay NAS that costs less than $250 with a pair of 1TB hard drives included, we sat up and took notice. As we have repeatedly discovered when dealing with NAS products, there is much more to consider than just storage capacity and price. These devices are highly dependent on the hardware and software that drives them and either can cause the product to fail. Realizing that, we're extremely eager to find out what makes the LG N2A2 tick, let's take a closer look... Noctua NH-C14 CPU Cooler Review @Hi Tech Legion Description: The Noctua NH-C14 may be the most versatile “convertible” CPU cooling solution around today. The Noctua NH-C14 has the ability to go from ultra-low profile and silent to a dual 140mm fan enthusiast cooler with just a couple of clips. Standing at only 105mm tall with a bottom mounted fan, the NH-C14 can fit into almost any case. Despite its small height, the NH-C14 still has six copper heatpipes running through a 140mm square aluminum fin array, making the absolute most of a small space. The included Low and UltraLow Noise Adapters throttle back the fan (or fans) to near dead silence while still maintaining excellent cooling. MSI 890FXA-GD65 Motherboard Review @Hi Tech Legion Description: The MSI 890FXA-GD65 motherboard is a low cost option for value-minded enthusiasts. The 890FXAGD65 is part of MSI’s gaming series of motherboards, featuring Military Class II high quality components and high overclockability. The MSI 890FXA-GD65 supports all the latest AM3 processors and has two PCIE x16 slots for AMD CrossFireX. Despite being a budget 890FX board, the MSI 890FXA-GD65 is rife with connectivity options, with eight USB 2.0 and two USB 3.0 ports at the rear and support for up to six SATA 6Gb/s devices. Deepcool Ice Blade Pro Review at Overclockers Online Description: Deepcool has hit the intended mark again. The Ice Matrix Pro triumphs above its contenders with four heat pipes, 47 aluminum fins, and a single 120mm fan. The wellconstructed base also contributes to the heat sinks exceptional performance. And who wouldn’t give an aesthetically pleasing CPU heat sink a second look? Zalman CNPS5X-SZ Heatsink Review @ Frostytech.com Description: Zalman's CNPS5X-SZ heatsink is an updated, vertical interpretation of a 2006-era heatsink Zalman released under the CNPS8000 nomenclature. Like its forefather, the

March 21st, 2011

CNPS5X-SZ fills the role of a lower profile, light weight cooler that's ideally suited to sub-95W TDP processors. It's stacked aluminum fins are connected by three 6mm diameter copper heatpipes to a small aluminum base block with a thin bit of copper covering the otherwise exposed heatpipes. Consumer Electronics and Software news Introducing Nexus S 4G for Sprint Description: Recently, we introduced Nexus S from Google, the first phone to run Android 2.3, Gingerbread. In addition to the UMTS-capable Nexus S, today we’re introducing Nexus S 4G from Google, available for Sprint. Nexus S 4G is part of the Nexus line of devices which provide a pure Google experience and run the latest and greatest Android releases and Google mobile apps. T-Mobile USA Is Not Getting the iPhone (Yet) Description: A burning question among users following AT&T’s $39 billion acquisition of T-Mobile USA was: Will TMobile start offering the iPhone? The answer is no. Thermaltake Black Gaming Mouse @ Benchmark Reviews Description: Thermaltake is best known for the variety of cases they've released, aimed at budget-conscious buyers as well as high-end hardware enthusiasts. In contrast to this, they have recently decided to expand their grip on the market by releasing a new line of gaming peripherals, dubbed Thermaltake eSports. This lineup includes a handful of gaming devices such as mice, keyboards and headsets. Thermaltake consistently pumps out quality cases, but are they able to do the same with gaming peripherals? Within this review Benchmark Reviews takes a look at the Thermaltake eSports Black laser gaming mouse (model MO-BLK002DT) and sees how this new competitor fares against the many wellestablished gaming peripherals manufacturers available. Motorola Xoom Review @ TestFreaks Description: The latest and greatest Android tablet is here, the Motorola Xoom that runs the newest version of Android called Honeycomb. The Xoom is a 10.1 inch tablet that comes with dual cameras and even a flash along with the ability to capture 720p videos and play it back over HDMI. This tablet features a dual core 1Ghz processor and 1 gig of ram and 32gig of memory. The Xoom is available right now on the Verizon wireless network for $600 on contract, and it’s well worth the cost. Epson WorkForce 840 All-in-One Printer @ TestFreaks Description: Today for review I’ve got the latest Epson printer, the WorkForce 840 that is an all-in-one style printer that does everything your home or small office might need it to do. The 840 is something for users that need a workhorse of a printer like this. The 840 features dual paper trays so it can handle a whopping 500 pages, and it has built-in double sided printing so you won’t waste paper on those less important documents, like draft or like coloring pages for your kids. The Epson WorkForce 840 is a worthy addition to the WorkForce line of printers, it certainly live up to the name. Tt eSports Shock Gaming Headset Review on Technic3D (German) Description: (Machine translation) The Tt eSports Shock Gaming Headset arrived Technic3D. -Thanks to its oversized 40mm drivers and enclosed ear cups, ultra-crisp audio quality

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with deep bass can be achieved at the same time and for almost every types of game. In-line microphone control enables users to easily mute or talk to teammates when needed-. We will check this and many more in the following Review. iPad 2 Review Description: Here's the simple truth about the iPad 2: There is nothing else like it. Maybe it won't make you feel the way it makes me feel. Maybe it won't replace your laptop. Maybe it could be even thinner and lighter and faster. But there is nothing else like it. Gaming news GameSpy Reveals Six of the 3DS' Most Exciting Upcoming Games Description: With the 3DS nearly in gamers' sweaty, trembling hands, Nintendo has graciously revealed some of what we'll eventually see on the system. Zelda, Star Fox, Animal Crossing, and -- yes, shock of shocks, a new Mario platformer -- are on their way. But beyond those obvious titles, what other games can we expect? Well, we here at the GameSpy Humor Division have been working our (possibly imaginary) sources hard, and are ready to reveal, for the first time anywhere, six of the most exciting games in development for Nintendo's new handheld. DISSIDIA 012[duodecim] F Review Description: When you first start playing Dissidia 012 Duodecim: Final Fantasy (a mouthful, that title), you might be struck by how little progress has been made since the first Dissidia fighting/role-playing hybrid was released. If you give it time, however, Duodecim reveals its unique strengths, building on the original in meaningful ways without sacrificing its cinematic energy. Xbox Kinect Running on The Playstation 3 Description: Microsoft's Xbox Kinect is hacked together to play Killzone 3 in this early tech demo of the two rival consoles working together.

Crysis 2 Launched: Quick Performance Preview Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/crysis-2-launched-quick-performancepreview/11662.html March 21st, 2011

The most anticipated game of the year has finally arrived! We do a quick performance runthrough and use the built-in timedemo facilities. Quick Observations/Notes: Still no DirectX 11 support Day 1 Patch used Uses 3-4 CPU threads hovering around 70% - doesn't scale with CPU after 3ghz

March 21st, 2011

Published by: VR-Zone

Near 100% GPU usage - scales linearly with shader clocks/ memory bandwidth. FOV options can be changed in console/launch command line (default 55 degrees) We will provide a more in depth review and include more system configurations during the next few days after the game launch on the 22nd March 2011, and hopefully include DX11 numbers when available.

Hmmm.... the way its meant to be green?!!

Samsung launches new compact digital cameras Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/samsung-launches-new-compactdigital-cameras/11666.html March 21st, 2011

Graphical Settings are now renamed to High, Very High and Extreme.

Today, Samsung Asia held a media event to announce their new digital cameras - ST700 dual LCD; WB210 and PL210 with high zoom and wide angle technology; SH100 with Wi-Fi connectivity; and the stylish ST6500.

Additional options like details and antialiasing can be specified at launch/in the drop-down console.

The WB210 boasts a 12x optical super zoom lens set in a slim 22.4mm body, to make capturing distant subjects in perfect detail easier. The new camera also includes the option of a 21mm wide angle setting, through its super wide shot mode, to get deeper shots at close range. The WB210 also includes 14-megapixel sensor for crystal clear pictures, and a large 3.5-inch touch screen with Samsung’s new Smart Touch 3.0 UI to deliver unprecedented usability. The camera delivers HD quality movie recording, as well as Face Detection technology. With Smart Filter 2.0, users can change their still images and movies with new modes including ‘Soft Focus’ for smoother looking images, ‘Half Tone Dot effect’, ‘Old Movie’ for a retro style shot and an ‘Enhanced Movie Filter’ to capture the unique feeling of a special day within your films. The WB210 will be available end of March. Pricing to be announced later.

March 21st, 2011

The ST700 features a 1.8-inch front LCD screen, the largest ever incorporated into a dual screen camera, giving more opportunities to take great self-portraits. It also features an impressive 3-inch Touch Panel featuring Samsung’s innovative Smart Touch 3.0 feature on the back of the camera, 16.1-megapixel image sensor and a 26mm 5x optical zoom lens for closing up to your subjects. The Smart Filter 2.0, which includes ‘Soft Focus’, ‘Half Tone Dot’ and ‘Cinema’, sit alongside more common features such as ‘Fish-Eye’, ‘Miniature’ and ‘Sketch’ in the ST700, giving entertaining and professional finishes at the touch of a button. The ST700 will be available end of March. Pricing to be announced later.

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The SH100 is a compact, Wi-Fi enabled camera with 14.2megapixel and 26mm Wide Angle Lens with 5X optical zoom. The Wi-Fi capability lets you upload your pictures instantly to your social networking sites such as Facebook, Picasa or Photo Bucket, or to email them to individual email addresses straight from the camera, meaning the people you care about can enjoy your experience from wherever they are. You can also use your Samsung Galaxy S smartphone or even Galaxy Tab tablet device as a remote control and viewing device for your camera. If you are shooting over a crowd at a concert, you can enable the Remote Viewfinder function, meaning that you can hold your camera high over your head while you can see a preview of the picture in real time on your phone screen. The Samsung SH100 is available at Courts, at S $399.

Futuremark Unveils PCMark 7, Windows 7 Only Benchmark Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/futuremark-unveils-pcmark-7windows-7-only-benchmark/11667.html March 21st, 2011

The ST6500 incorporates the latest angled design, with the camera’s body curved around the lens and angled at 7-degree to make for a more ergonomic fit in the hand. It comes equipped with a 16-megapixel sensor, to guarantee crisp and clear images, alongside the powerful 5x zoom lens. With a new Smart Touch 3.0 User Interface which works with a wide 3.0inch multi-purpose LCD touch screen, users can quick access the various modes and settings easily. The ST6500 can also capture boasts the latest 720p HD Movie settings with additional voice recording, along with high definition (HD) shooting and playback. It is available at all retail stores now, with a price tag of S$429.

Futuremark announced PCMark® 7 today, a new benchmark offering complete PC performance analysis for Windows 7. PCMark 7 includes 7 separate test suites combining more than 20 individual workloads covering storage, computation, image and video manipulation, web browsing and gaming. The Storage suite is ideal for testing SSDs and external hard drives in addition to the system drive. Pricing is unannounced yet and is to be available soon according to Futuremark.

March 21st, 2011

Published by: VR-Zone

• The PCMark Suite measures overall system performance and returns an official PCMark score. • The Lightweight Suite measures the capabilities of entry level systems unable to run the full PCMark suite. • The Entertainment Suite measures system performance in entertainment, media and gaming scenarios. • The Creativity Suite measures performance in typical creativity scenarios involving images and video. • The Productivity suite measures system performance scenarios using the Internet and office applications. • The Computation Suite contains workloads that isolate the computation performance of the system. HELSINKI, FINLAND – MARCH 21, 2011 – Futuremark®, the developer of the world's most popular benchmarking software, announced PCMark® 7 today, a new benchmark offering complete PC performance analysis for Windows 7. PCMark 7 includes 7 separate test suites combining more than 20 individual workloads covering storage, computation, image and video manipulation, web browsing and gaming. A release date has not been announced though the official website states that PCMark 7 is coming soon. http://www.pcmark.com/ "Hardware innovations like solid state drives (SSDs), and new form factors such as netbooks and tablets are greatly increasing the range of PC performance available to businesses and home users," said Jani Joki, Director of PC Products and Services at Futuremark. "With so much choice available, PCMark 7 is an essential and easy to use tool to test and compare PC performance accurately and reliably across a wide range of usage scenarios." PCMark 7 provides a set of 7 suites for measuring different aspects of PC performance with a high degree of accuracy. Overall system performance is measured by the PCMark Suite. The Lightweight Suite measures the capabilities of entry level systems and mobility platforms unable to run the full PCMark suite. Common use performance is measured by the Entertainment, Creativity and Productivity scenario suites. Component performance is measured by the Computation and Storage hardware suites. The Storage suite is ideal for testing SSDs and external hard drives in addition to the system drive. Platforms PC: Windows 7 DirectX 9 graphics card required for PCMark score DirectX 10 graphics card required for some additional tests DirectX 11 graphics card required for some additional tests Benchmark Suites

• The Storage Suite contains workloads that isolate the performance of the PC’s storage system. Price : Unannounced

KiWi PC aims to sell Linuxloaded PCs to senior citizens Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/kiwi-pc-aims-to-sell-linux-loaded-pcsto-senior-citizens/11665.html March 21st, 2011

What is the most user-friendly operating system in use today: Windows 7 or Mac OS X? Well, it seems that KiWi PC's answer to that question will be a resounding 'none'. Apparently, the American OEM which claims to specialize in selling senior citizen-friendly PCs believes that Ubuntu is the OS users should be looking for if one intends to get aged people started on the digital life the younger generation takes for granted today. To that end, it has even rolled out its own KiWi PC for sale that is aimed squarely at senior citizens. When it comes to building a PC meant to be used by an ageing senior citizen, it goes without saying that raw performance and power is no longer the top priority. Instead, you'd want such a PC to be as user-friendly as possible, if only just to ensure that you do not receive phone calls late into the wee hours of the day from the user asking for help over simple issues such as how to press the 'Any' key. Needless to say, the OS used in such PCs play an extremely important part in ensuring that senior citizens feel right at home with their PCs at all times. And while most people will swear by Windows 7 or Mac OS X as the ideal operating system for such users, an American OEM which specializes in making PCs for aged users believes that there exists only one OS which is suitable for senior citizen use. Enter the KiWi PC, a senior citizen-friendly nettop PC which runs of....Linux. Or more specifically, a Linux distribution known as Ubuntu.

PCMark 7 includes more than 20 individual workloads combined into 7 separate suites to give different views of system performance. 5

March 21st, 2011

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phone calls from parents asking for help in disinfecting their PCs from various Windows-specific malware. If that sounds like the kind of PC you'd want to set up for your parents, perhaps you'd want to start saving. This is because the KiWi PC is not going to be the cheapest nettop in the market with its retail price of US$499.99.

LG's passive 3D television sets to be available for sale in Korea soon According to KiWi PC, the Linux-based PC which is currently being sold under the same name as the OEM which assembled it will be pre-loaded with a customized version of Ubuntu 10.10. The website goes on to claim that the customizations made to the operating system include a certain Me Menu which provides easy access to often-visited websites and programs straight from the desktop. KiWi PC also states that the Me Menu will be completely customizable, and that the font size has been increased to make onscreen text more readable for senior citizens.

On the hardware side, the KiWi PC does not feature impressive specs, although this is understandable if one takes into consideration its nettop nature and the variety of tasks its intended user base might use it for. Powering the nettop is Intel's Atom processor clocked at 1.66GHz and 2GB of DDR3 memory, while the other essentials include a DVD-RW drive, a 250GB hard disk for storage purposes and onboard Intel GMA 3150 graphics. Internet connectivity is achieved via an Ethernet connection which is handled by the motherboard's onboard Realtek controller. Last but definitely not least, the KiWi PC comes bundled with a 19-inch monitor for complete out-of-the-box functionality, and 24/7 tech support ensures that senior citizens do not have to call up their children every few minutes just to learn how to navigate a Linux desktop.

Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/lg-s-passive-3d-television-sets-to-beavailable-for-sale-in-korea-soon/11664.html March 21st, 2011

Do you remember the news about LG announcing its new line of passive 3D television sets way back during CES this year? Well, the good news is that the aforementioned television sets are no longer just display units; LG has just announced that the company plans to release the devices for sale in its domestic Korean market soon.

Do the current batch of 3D television sets making use of active shutter 3D glasses give you a nasty case of giddiness? If so, LG's latest announcement might be just the news you need to perk up your Monday, especially if you eventually plan to get a 3D television set someday. This is because the Korean electronics giant has just announced in an official press release that its new line of passive 3D television sets that were first introduced way back in this year's CES will be made available for sale in Korea soon.

That being said, the user interface found on the customized Ubuntu 10.10 Linux distribution does not appear to be anything more than a slightly tweaked version of the Unity desktop environment. Which, for those who are unfamiliar with the Ubuntu distribution, is currently an an experimental user interface ported over from the netbook versions of the operating system. While it is debatable as to just how much user-friendlier a PC can get by ditching Windows for a Linux distribution, users will be hard pressed to deny that they can rest easy at night knowing that they will not have to deal with 6

March 21st, 2011

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According to the press release, the new LW6500 smart TVs are touted as being the solution for "the next generation" of 3D imaging as its use of passive 3D technology means that users do not have to splurge on expensive active-shutter 3D glasses. In addition, LG claims that the aforementioned glasses are responsible for various discomforts viewers commonly experience when viewing 3D images, such as vertigo and eye fatigue. Furthermore, LG claims that its new LW6500 3D TVs are capable of achieving a 180-degree viewing angle, which makes it idea as a living room television. The LW6500 line of 3D television sets will be made available for sale in Korea soon, although LG claims that early birds who purchase these TVs before the end of April will be able to enjoy "special offers" in the form of a 3D Blu-ray player and various film titles. For those who decide to pass up on the offer, the LW6500 will be available in three different display sizes: the 55-inch version will cost 4.5 million won, while the smaller 47inch and 42-inch versions will be sold at the retail price of 3 million won and 2.3 million won respectively.

HTC clone surfaces in China, looks nothing like the original Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/htc-clone-surfaces-in-china-looksnothing-like-the-original/11663.html March 21st, 2011

Clones of popular consumer electronic devices are usually available at a dime a dozen, especially when China has got anything to do about it. That being said, one common feature about cloned devices is that they often bear an uncanny semblance to the original product in terms of design, right? Well, it seems that this is not always the case, considering how this little device right here has little to no similarity to the actual device its design is allegedly based off on. Read on to find out more. We have been featuring Chinese clones of various well-known consumer electronic devices like notebooks, smartphones and tablet PCs for quite some time already, and in most cases the clone's biggest selling point is usually involves being able to mimic the original device's design and most of its functionality while retailing for only a fraction of the former's asking price. After all, no one is going to buy a clone if it is does not look similar to the real deal, or is going to cost an arm and a leg, right?

According to Chinese gadget website Shanzhaiben.com, the tablet shown in the image above does not have a name yet, although its hardware configuration appears to be somewhat decent. Apparently, the tablet will feature a seven-inch resistive touchscreen that sports a native resolution of 800 x 480 and will be preloaded with version 2.2 of the Android operating system. On the hardware side, a Marvell PX166 processor based off the ARM11 processor family is used to power the device and is clocked at 800MHz, and is complemented with 256MB of memory and 2GB NAND flash for storage purposes. The back of the tablet is kept simple with nothing more than a simple speaker grille, along with a decorative array of dots situated at the lower right corner which make up the Android mascot.

Shanzhaiben.com claims that the biggest selling point of the unnamed tablet stems from the fact that it features a builtin GPS module, a feature which is generally found only in higher-end tablet devices. This allows consumers to use the device as though it were a GPS navigational system, a fact which is further backed up by the assortment of car mounting accessories available for the unnamed tablet.

Well, it seems that the latest clone to make its way out of the factories of Shenzhen has completely done away with 'clones-are-supposed-to-look-like-the-real-deal' practice, opting instead to produce an imitation which bears little to no semblance to the original product. After all, one will be quite hard pressed to find any similarities between this device and a certain seven-inch HTC device which it is supposedly modelled after. 7

March 21st, 2011

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Apple has a new TV ad for their iPhone and it began telling the audience that if one does not have an iPhone, one cannot do and enjoy a lot of things - access the App store, download the apps, show your mobile boarding pass, pay for coffee etc. This is unlike its previous ads that focus more on the apps that are available on the App store and what they can bring to the iPhone users.

With that being said, chances are you will be just a little curious as to how much this unnamed HTC clone will be retailing for, right? Well, according to Shanzhaiben.com, the device is currently being sold to wholesalers at the low price of 825 yuan, or approximately US$130.

New Apple iPhone ads look to mock indirectly at users who do not own one Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/new-apple-iphone-ads-look-to-mockindirectly-at-users-who-do-not-own-one/11661.html March 21st, 2011

And the new ad ends with "If you don't have an iPhone, well, you don't have an iPhone" which looks to be indirectly mocking users. While the Android camp may not surpass the Apple App Store in terms of the number of apps or downloads, however, it does have a huge number of apps of 170,000 and growing. On top of that, there are Android versions of the various airlines that lets you access your flight booking and even mobile boarding pass, and with more smartphones coming up with built-in NFC technology, you can pay for your things with your smartphone. Of course, like what the ad said, if you don't have an iPhone, you don't have an iPhone. But you do have other choices available that can do the same.

NTT establishes free wireless LAN networks in areas damaged by the Great Tohoku Kanto Earthquake Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/ntt-establishes-free-wirelesslan-networks-in-areas-damaged-by-the-great-tohoku-kantoearthquake/11660.html March 21st, 2011

Apple has a new iPhone ad which shows that if you do not have an iPhone, you cannot do a lot of things. Somewhat indirectly mocking users who do not own the phone and missing out on the wonders of what the iPhone can bring. Read on. Even as Japan struggles to recover from the disastrous earthquake and tsunami that has claimed the lives of thousands of Japanese, digital information still needs to be disseminated around the wrecked places in order to facilitate everyday life. To that end, the NTT Group has announced their latest contribution to the country's disaster relief efforts: free wireless LAN networks in various areas for all to access.

March 21st, 2011

Even though natural disasters such as the recent quake that levelled much of North-Eastern Japan may have knocked out much of the region's digital infrastructure, it should be of little surprise that service providers and telecommunication operators are working to ensure that the dissemination of digital information suffers from as little impact as possible. After all, information about disaster recovery efforts and developments are vital for survivors, and anything than can facilitate such efforts will be important to ensure that the populace remains calm and do not panic. Apparently, in a bid to ensure that areas affected by the recent earthquake and tsunami do not suffer from a communications blackout, the NTT Group has announced that it is setting up free wireless LAN spots in various locations around the affected areas. To prevent people from abusing the free networks, each user will only be allowed to sign in onto the free networks for a maximum of 30 minutes, after which he or she will be disconnected from the network to ensure that other users can utilize the service. The free networks will remain operational until June 30. A complete list of the areas which will be receiving the service can be found at NTT's press release here.

Rumour: iPad 3 to debut in September this year? Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/rumour-ipad-3-to-debut-in-septemberthis-year-/11659.html March 21st, 2011

Sure, Apple's iPad 2 has just been released to widespread fanfare across the world, but it seems that the Cupertino giant is not about to stand still, especially with the competition in the tablet space is starting to heat up. Once again, leave it to the rumour mill to churn out a never-ending stream of juicy tidbits regarding Apple's upcoming products, and the latest bit of info from China seems to suggest than an iPad 3 might just make its appearance on the market by September this year. Read on to find out more.

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So Apple has just released their iPad 2, and it is getting an extremely warm reception in countries all over the world. That is to be expected though: after all, Apple does have an impressive track record for producing well-designed, droolworthy consumer electronic devices that always have a knack for fitting neatly into a user's digital lifestyle. However, it is also a given that Apple does not believe in standing still and letting the competition catch up to it in terms of innovation and design, especially when it concerns their best selling devices. To that end, the rumour mill is churning out information claiming that the Cupertino giant is not about to give its competitors any breathing room, for some sources close to Apple are claiming that an upgraded version of the iPad might be well on its way to making an entrance on the market by as early as September this year. Should this information be true, it will mean that Apple is giving itself less than six months of development time to design, test and finalize its new product. To put things in perspective, the iPad 2 was only launched an entire year after that of the first iPad; this suggests that Apple might have already had new features and designs planned for the iPad 3, but decided to release an iPad 2 as a stopgap to ensure that consumer interest in its tablet PCs remain high. This will make sense, considering that the rapid introduction of equally well-design Android-powered tablets are starting to take some attention away from Apple's iPad; indeed, Microsoft also adopted a similar approach with its Windows Mobile platform when it introduced Windows Mobile 6.5 to maintain its market presence while it focused on Windows Phone 7. In addition to the estimated release date of the iPad 3, the rumour mill is also claiming knowledge of certain new features that are most likely to make their way into the new tablet. Examples of such features include the introduction of iOS 5, which is extremely possible considering how the iPad 3 will debut after the iPhone 5's introduction, which is almost definitely going to come bundled with the aforementioned version of Apple's iOS platform. Other features that are speculated to make an appearance in the rumoured iPad 3 include a Retina Display in order to truly position the tablet as the real media consumption device Apple markets it to be, along with a built-in camera flash and HDMI-out, most of which are standard features in all of its competitors' products today. Last but definitely not least, it is said that the iPad 3 will finally feature a built-in SD card reader, a feature which has been conveniently missing in 9

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Apple's entire Mac (until recently) and existing iPad product lines. Last but not least, all the information shown above are nothing but the latest churnings produced by the rumour mill, so chances are their accuracy is anything but. Therefore, it will be wise to take in the news with nothing less than a huge truckload worth of salt.

Android Gingerbread update coming to LG Optimus One Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/android-gingerbread-update-comingto-lg-optimus-one/11658.html March 21st, 2011

Korean manufacturer LG has announced that the Android Gingerbread update will be coming to the Optimus One, and it could arrive around May. Definitely good news for Optimus One owners over here who had bought the phone since October last year.

For Android phone owners, the main concern is whether their phone is able to get future update in order to have a better user experience. And while phone manufacturers have promised updates to their various Android phones, some had failed to deliver their promises. The latest Nexus S from Google and Samsung is equipped with the new Android 2.3 Gingerbread mobile operating system. And apparently, from a recent FaceBook post, the Optimus One (LG P500) may be getting the update this May. The LG Optimus One is currently retailing at S$428 (without contract).

Sony rumoured to launch Chrome notebook and hybrid PC Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/sony-rumoured-to-launch-chromenotebook-and-hybrid-pc/11657.html March 21st, 2011

Details of what is said to be future VAIO notebooks from Sony have turned up online and if they turn out to be true, we have a couple of rather unusual and intriguing products to look forward to from Sony later this year. Apparently Sony is not only working on a Chrome notebook powered by Nvidia’s Tegra 2 SoC, but also some kind of hybrid notebook/ desktop solution which is said to feature support for Intel’s Thunderbolt interface. Details of what is said to be future VAIO notebooks from Sony have turned up online and if they turn out to be true, we have a couple of rather unusual and intriguing products to look forward to from Sony later this year. Apparently Sony is not only working on a Chrome notebook powered by Nvidia’s Tegra 2 SoC, but also some kind of hybrid notebook/ desktop solution which is said to feature support for Intel’s Thunderbolt interface. The Google Chrome OS model is interesting in more than one way, as Google’s on Cr-48 notebook is using an Intel Atom CPU, whereas apparently Sony is going for an ARM based Tegra 2 SoC from Nvidia. We’re not sure how demanding Google’s Chrome OS is, but 1GB of RAM seems a bit on the stingy side, but might very well prove to be sufficient. We doubt that this will be upgradable, although this wouldn’t be impossible, just improbable. For storage Sony has gone with 16GB of eMMC memory which is an embedded type of memory that doesn’t quite offer the performance of an embedded SSD such as the one on offer from SanDisk, mainly due to the different interface used for the Flash memory. Other features include an 11.6-inch display, Wi-Fi of some kind, a regular notebook size keyboard said to be similar to that on Google’s Cr-48 notebook and finally it’s said to feature both a GPS and Bluetooth functionality, but neither will apparently be working from day one. The notebook is said 10

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to be weighing in at around 1kg, yet offer up to 8h worth of battery life. As for the hybrid PC, well, here things get complicated. The notebook part is said to feature an Intel Core i7 CPU, an SSD and Intel’s Thunderbolt technology. This means that it’ll have a mini DisplayPort connector, although it’s also said to have an HDMI port and support for Intel’s second generation WiDi technology. It’s meant to weigh a mere 1.13kg yet offer 8h battery life, although this can be extended to 16.5h presumably via an optical battery solution of some kind. However, this is said to be only half of the system, so if that wasn’t impressive enough, Sony will be offering an add-on unit which presumably connects via Thunderbolt and is said to feature a Radeon HD 6700M series graphics card with 1GB of memory, a Blu-ray drive, a further HDMI port, a Dsub connector, Ethernet port, USB ports and presumably a mini DisplayPort connector, although oddly enough this isn’t mentioned specifically. This units weighs in at 680g although presumably it’ll be some kind of dock that you’d leave at home most of the time, hence the duplicated ports. It sure sounds like Sony will have some interesting toys coming later this year, although we’d expect the hybrid PC to be quite expensive while the Chrome OS notebook might be the cheapest notebook yet from Sony.

Intel First 25nm SSD On March 28th, Pricing Unveiled Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/intel-first-25nm-ssd-on-march-28thpricing-unveiled/11655.html March 21st, 2011

Apparently, things are going so well over at Intel that they are going to launch their 25nm MLC based 320 Series (Postville Refresh), ahead of schedule, on the 28th of March. Intel 320 series Gen3 SSD is set to replace the current X25-V and X25-M series at the same price point targeting mainstream consumers, SMBs, data centres and embedded markets. VR-Zone first revealed about the Intel 320 series earlier this month and now we are going to bring you the finalized specs and estimated retail pricing. • Up to 39,500 IOPS random 4 KB reads; up to 23,000 IOPS random 4 KB writes • Full Disk Encryption via AES 128 bit Technology

Encryption

• Enhanced power loss management • 1.2M hours MTBF • Intel® 25nm compute NAND Available in 6 capacities; 40GB, 80GB, 120GB, 160GB, 300GB and 600GB, they are estimated to be priced at $109, $189, $239, $329, $569 and $1119 respectively.

Apparently, things are going so well over at Intel that they are going to launch their 25nm MLC based 320 Series (Postville Refresh), ahead of schedule, on the 28th of March. Intel 320 series SSD is set to replace the current X25-V and X25-M series at the same price point targeting mainstream consumer, SMB, data center and embedded markets. VR-Zone first revealed about the Intel 320 series earlier this month and now we are going to bring you the finalized specs and estimated retail pricing.

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 listed in E-tail Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/nvidia-geforce-gtx-590-listed-in-etail/11653.html March 21st, 2011

Canadian e-tailer EXPC has jumped the gun and listed NVIDIA's upcoming flagship, GeForce GTX 590. The card in question is a GTX 590 and comes with a straight "Buy Now" button and complete specifications and price. As expected, the GTX 590 combines two of massive GF110 GPUs on one package. All units are enabled and the GTX 590 is essentially GTX 580 SLI with severe downclocks. The final clock is 612 MHz for the core, 3420 MHz for the 3GB GDDR5. The card features 3x DVI outputs, 1xHDMI and even 1xMiniDP - finally bringing NVIDIA's 3D Surround to a single graphics card.

Needless to say, the GTX 590 is one massive card, 11" long and 4.5" thick. That makes it slightly shorter than the HD 6990, but slightly thicker, and right on the limit for dual-slot graphics 11

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card. While TDP is not mentioned, the GTX 590 is expected to consume 375W. The price? CA$799. That is more than $100 more expensive than the HD 6990, setting up an intense fight between the two. Of course, the final pricing may vary. The GTX 590 was originally scheduled for 22nd, but is now set to release on 24th. The reason cited has been last minute driver tweaks, especially for Crysis 2 which releases around the same time. You can view the EXPC listing here.

Cubitek Announces Magic Cube Modular Chassis Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/cubitek-announces-magic-cubemodular-chassis/11652.html March 21st, 2011

Magic Cube B210 The main "box", compatible with all Micro-ATX, ATX, and EATX motherboards, has seven expansion slots, two rear holes for water-cooling tubes, and a top-side I/O panel with two USB 3.0 ports, eSATA and audio connectors. It comes with three pre-installed fans (x1 rear 120mm, x1 front 140mm, & x1 top 140mm fans) and supports both long graphic cards (up to 310mm) and tall (up to 180mm) CPU coolers.

Taipei-based Cubitek Co. Ltd has expanded its line-up of PC chassis aimed at enthusiasts with the addition of the modular Magic Cube series. Available in two models (Magic Cube B210 and Magic Cube B211), the aluminum chassis sports a anodized black coating, and boast a modular design i.e. made up of three "boxes" - one for mainboard, expansion cards, & PSU, one for 5.25" optical drives, and a third one for 3.5" SSDs/ HDDs.

Main "Box"

Magic Cube B211 Taipei-based Cubitek Co. Ltd has expanded its line-up of PC chassis aimed at enthusiasts with the addition of the modular Magic Cube series. Available in two models (Magic Cube B210 and Magic Cube B211), the aluminum chassis sports a anodized black coating, and boast a modular design i.e. made up of three "boxes" - one for mainboard, expansion cards, & PSU, one for 5.25" optical drives, and a third one for 3.5" SSDs/ HDDs.

Main "Box"

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Main "Box"

5.25" "Box"

Main "Box" - Stripped Bare

B210 3.5" "Box"

The B210 comes with a "box" that holds three HDDs (cooled by x1 80mm fan), whilst the B211 has a "box" that houses eight HDDs (equipped with x2 140mm fans). Last but not least, the 5.25" "box" has room for up to two 5.25" optical devices or 3.5" drives via a bundled adapter.

B210 3.5" "Box"

5.25" "Box"

B210 3.5" "Box" 13

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B211 3.5" "Box"

Designed for professional users, the new ASUS P6X58-E WS workstation motherboard is based on the tested-and-proven Intel X58 Express chipset. Notable features include dual Intel Gigabit LAN, an NVIDIA NF200 bridge chip, USB 3.0 and ASUS-exclusive Xtreme Phase 16+2 power delivery and EPU energy saving optimizations. The new board ships with the ASUS '24X24' pledge - 24-hour non-stop operation and 24month guaranteed market availability.

B211 3.5" "Box" Singapore (March 15, 2011) - Proving the Intel® X58 architecture's enduring potential and value, the P6X58-E WS ships with multi-GPU support for both NVIDIA® SLI™ and AMD CrossFireX™, SATA 6Gb/s and USB 3.0. It also includes built-in server-class Intel® LAN, as well as ASUSdeveloped highlights such as Xtreme Phase power delivery and EPU energy consumption optimization. The new board ships with the ASUS '24X24' pledge, meaning 24-hour nonstop operation and 24-month guaranteed market availability to reduce costs due to involuntary product replacement. Flexible multi-GPU configuration B211 3.5" "Box" The Magic Cube B210 and Magic Cube B211 are available now from www.caseking.de at MSRPs of €179.90 and€199.90 respectively. News via [Techconnect]

ASUS launches P6X58-E WS workstation motherboard Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/asus-launches-p6x58-e-wsworkstation-motherboard/11651.html

A dedicated expansion slot controller ensures increased bandwidth availability for each connected graphics card, hence the P6X58-E WS supports up to 3-way NVIDIA® SLI™, with each of the triple PCI-E channels working at full X16 speeds. For AMD CrossFireX™, the P6X58-E WS offers up to quad-GPU arrangements, with each PCI-E channel working in X16. This graphics flexibility and capacity aims to serve the needs of workstation users who require advanced graphics processing capabilities for professional ventures, including computer-aided design, graphics rendering, high definition video editing, animation, engineering and modeling.

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Chipset Memory

Power delivery Expansion slots

SATA 6Gb/s and USB 3.0 The P6X58-E WS represents the first appearance of SATA 6Gb/s and USB 3.0 data transfer standards on an Intel® X58-based workstation motherboard. USB 3.0 works up to ten times faster than USB 2.0, offering significant time savings when handling large amounts of data. SATA 6Gb/s likewise doubles the throughput of SATA 3Gb/s, expediting transfer rates and creating a more reliable and efficient work environment.

Two hardware-accelerated Intel® Gigabit LAN ports double the connection bandwidth available to users, while at the same time reducing CPU utilization. The implementation by ASUS of server-grade Intel® LAN reduces CPU load in half when compared with competing workstation motherboards by carrying out net-related calculations off the main processor. As a consequence, connections become faster and more stable, featuring reduced packet loss and lower latency. Users also benefit from an overall faster system, as greater CPU resources remain free to tackle other tasks. These accelerated Gigabit ports support dedicated server operating systems as well as VMWare® virtualization for increased functionality and efficiency on streamlined hardware.

Multi-GPU support

Gigabit LAN Storage USB

Audio Firewire Back I/O

Exclusive ASUS Features To better handle professional applications, the P6X58-E WS features ASUS Xtreme Phase power delivery components for more efficient, cleaner power, improved stability and increased reliability. Users also benefit from the inclusion of the exclusive Energy Processing Unit, or EPU, a proprietary ASUS programmable microchip that supervises energy consumption across the system to reduce power wastage. The AI Suite II application center brings together a wide range of utilities and ASUS tools, offering users greater control over system performance, capabilities and features, among them the versatile TurboV overclocking interface. Specifications CPU

1 x Socket LGA1366

DDR3 2000(OC) / 1866(OC) / 1800(OC) / 1600 (OC) / 1333 / 1066MHz, ECC / non-ECC unbuffered memory Xtreme Phase 16+2 2 x PCI-E 2.0 x16 (@x16 or x8) 2 x PCI-E 2.0 x16 (@ x8) 1 x PCI-E 2.0 x16 (@ x16)

CUDA support Dual server-class Intel® Gigabit LAN

Intel® Core™ i7 desktop processors Intel® Xeon 5500 / 5600 / 3500 / 3600 series server processors Intel® X58 Express NVIDIA® NF200 6 x DIMM, max 24GB

Form factor

1 x PCI-E x1 (@ x1) NVIDIA® 3-Way GeForce SLI™ AMD® quad CrossFireX™ Up to 4 NVIDIA® Tesla™ GPUs 2 x Intel® 82574L 2 x SATA 6.0 Gb/s 6 x SATA 3.0 Gb/s 2 x USB 3.0 (at back panel) 12 x USB 2.0 (6 ports at midboard, 6 ports at back panel) Realtek ALC889, 8-channel HD 2 x 1394a (1 port at midboard, 1 port at back panel) 1 x PS/2 KB / Mouse, 1 x IEEE1394a, 2 x Intel LAN, 1 x S/PDIF Out (optical and coaxial), 8 x USB (2 for USB 3.0 and 6 for USB 2.0), 1 x 8channel audio ATX, 12" x 9.6"

Source: ASUS Press Release

ASUS prepares new M5A motherboards, BIOS updates for AMD AM3+ CPU support Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/asus-prepares-new-m5amotherboards-bios-updates-for-amd-am3-cpu-support/11650.html

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debut while Turbo Unlocker offers real-time adjustments to enhance system performance. All utilities are designed to help the user achieve maximum performance from their systems. BIOS upgradable models:

ASUS has announced the release of the industry's first AM3+ CPU enabled motherboard solution based on the existing AMD 8-Series chipsets. Current owners of an AM3-based board can make their AMD 8-Series motherboards compatible with the latest AM3+ CPUs with a simple BIOS update from the official ASUS website.

AMD 890FX / SB850 Crosshair IV Extreme Crosshair IV Formula M4A89TD PRO / USB3 M4A89TD PRO

AMD 890GX / SB850 M4A89GTD PRO / USB3 M4A89GTD PRO

Upcoming ASUS M5A models (AM3+ socket): AMD 880G M5A88-V EVO M5A88-M EVO M5A88-M

AMD 870 M5A87

AMD 760 M5A78L M5A78L LE M5A78L-M / USB3 M5A78L-M PLUS M5A78L-M LE M5A78L-M

Note: Current BIOS updates are beta releases. Please check the ASUS support site for continual updates. Source: ASUS Press Release

Singapore (March 16, 2011) - ASUS, the worldwide leader in motherboard design and sales, today announced the release of the industry's first AM3+ CPU enabled motherboard solution based on the existing AMD 8-Series chipsets. Current owners of an AM3-based board can make their AMD 8-Series motherboards compatible with the latest AM3+ CPUs with a simple BIOS update from the official ASUS website.

Why UPS systems are rated in VAs and PSUs in Watts; Explaining Watts, VAr and VA Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/why-ups-systems-are-rated-in-vasand-psus-in-watts-explaining-watts-var-and-va/11473.html March 21st, 2011

ASUS provides options for users to be the first to enjoy AM3+ AMD's new AM3+ CPU is a complete microarchitecture redesign from previous AMD CPUs, and offers better performance over the previous generation. As such, ASUS is committed to provide continuous support for the latest technologies, and is the first to market for a product solution for user's needs. Current ASUS 890FX and 890GX series motherboards can be upgraded to enjoy the extra performance offered by future AM3+ CPUs. ASUS will also be releasing AMD 8-Series Chipset motherboards based on 880G and 870 as well as the 760G with the AM3+ socket for increased selection so users can enjoy AM3 and AM3+ CPUs.

When shopping for an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), almost everyone would have noticed that they are either rated in VA's only or in both VA's and Watt's. This is not so with the vast majority of household equipment, including the very power supply unit (PSU) of the computer itself which comes rated in Watts only. As a result, this usually leads to confusion as most people either lack the technical knowledge to understand the difference between VA and Watt units or, even worse, do not even realize that there is a difference.

Current AMD 8-Series chipset based motherboards feature award-winning overclocking utilities, along with ASUS Core Unlocker which was widely recognized by global media at its

When shopping for a UPS, almost everyone would have noticed that they are either rated in VA's only or in both VA's and Watt's. This is not so with the vast majority of household equipment, including the very power supply of the computer itself which comes rated in Watts only. As a result, 16

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this usually leads to confusion as most people either lack the technical knowledge to understand the difference between VA and Watt units or, even worse, do not even realize that there is a difference. Of course, this is something natural because such knowledge is usually limited to electricians and electrical engineers, people who are educated and work on the AC power grid. To make matters worse, not only VAs (Volt-Amperes) and Watts are different but there is even a third "form of electrical power", Volt-Ampere reactive or VArs. In this article, we will try and explain in terms comprehensible from the majority of users, who possess only basic skills and little to no knowledge on the matter, the difference between the three types of power.

Tt eSPORTS Unleashes MEKA Mechanical Keyboard Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/tt-esports-unleashes-mekamechanical-keyboard/11649.html March 21st, 2011

Tt eSPORTS has announced the MEKA Mechanical Keyboard, adding on to its line-up of peripherals aimed at gamers. Measuring 370 x 150 x 3.5mm, it has a smaller footprint compared to the original MEKA G1 Mechanical keyboard and features a 1000Hz polling rate, two USB 2.0 ports, Cherry Black mechanical switches (50 million keystrokes before failure), anti-ghosting function (up to 16 keys), and a 1.8m braided cable with gold plated USB connector. Prices and availability is unknown so stay tuned for more news. TTESPORTS PRESS RELEASE Tt eSPORTS are very excited at being able to announce the imminent release of our new and exciting MEKA Mechanical Keyboard, which was on display last week at Cebit 2011 in Hannover, Germany.

The MEKA keyboard is the first USB Mechanical Keyboard that is offering Anti-Ghosting without the use of a PS2 adapter. This gaming keyboard has been designed and manufactured using the popular Cherry Black Switch, which allow for up to 50 Million Keystrokes and by using this product an increase in APM (Actions Per Minute) is a high possibility.

Tt eSPORTS spoke to gamers around the world about what they wanted to see from the MEKA and as a result added two additional USB ports to allow plugging additional devices in to the keyboard. The MEKA has been designed to allow for the 1.8m braided cable to be positioned based on the users requirement, whether left, right or centre of the keyboard. The MEKA is a smaller design compared to the original MEKA G1 Mechanical keyboard but as Tt eSPORTS grows, it shall continue to develop a complete range of gaming peripherals to meet different gamers requirements. Tt eSPORTS aim to continue releasing a range of gaming products to allow all gamers to find their right equipment, whether a social, hardcore or professional gamer. New MEKA Keyboard Joins The Tt eSPORTS Mechanical Product Range http//www.ttesports.comproductsproduct.aspxs=19

For more information, www.ttesports.comindex.aspx

please

visit

http//

Genius Announces Traveler 6000 Mice Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/genius-announces-traveler-6000mice/11648.html March 21st, 2011

Genius has started shipping its Traveler 6000 series of wireless mice in both America and Canada. Available in two variants (Traveler 6000 & Traveler 6000 Classic), these ambidextrous mice boast a 1200 dpi optical sensor, a 2.4 GHz wirelss interface (via bundled pico receivers), three buttons (with scroll), and are powered by one AAA battery.

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Toshiba's Satellite L750 Sandy Bridge notebook leaked Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/toshiba-s-satellite-l750-sandy-bridgenotebook-leaked/11646.html March 21st, 2011

Notebooks with Intel's second generation of Core i processors are slowly starting to trickle out to retailers and today we found an unannounced model from Toshiba on sale online. The model is the Satellite L750 which appears to be a replacement model for the current Satellite L650. It's a consumer model that should end up somewhere in the middle of Toshiba's notebook range. Genius has started shipping its Traveler 6000 series of wireless mice in both America and Canada. Available in two variants (Traveler 6000 & Traveler 6000 Classic), these ambidextrous mice boast a 1200 dpi optical sensor, 2.4 GHz wirelss interface (via bundled pico receivers), three buttons (with scroll), and are powered by one AAA battery. The Traveler 6000 is available in Diamond Black, Royal Blue or Ruby Rose patterns whilst the Traveler 6000 Classic has a 'elegant top cover design'. They can be purchased from major resellers and e-tailers at a MSRP of US$14.90 and US$16.90.

News via [Techconnect]

Rumour: AMD preparing Phenom II X4 980 BE Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/rumour-amd-preparing-phenom-iix4-980-be/11647.html March 21st, 2011

Just as we thought the Phenom II X4 975 BE was the last hurrah for the Phenom II X4 series, AMD is rumoured to be preparing yet another top Phenom II X4 part - the 980 BE. As suggested by the nomenclature, the 980 BE is another minor speed bump, to 3.7 GHz. It retains the same 125W TDP and is expected to release sometime between April to August. With all the anticipation focussed towards AMD's next-gen FX and A series processors, releasing in June/July, it is commendable that AMD has been eking out these minor speed bumps at regular frequencies. The close proximity to the nextgen releases also suggest the 980 BE will release closer to April than to August. Pricing is an unknown, but is likely to end up under $200.

The L750 is a 15.6-incher with a standard 1366x768 resolution screen which is driven by a GeForce GT525M which is paired with 1GB of DDR3 memory, although we couldn't find any details of Optimus support, but it might be supported. It has a Core i5-2410M CPU which has a base clock of 2.3GHz; although we're sure other CPU models will also be available. It only comes with 2GB of RAM as standard, but again this might differ between the various markets it's sold in. The hard drive configuration on the models we found on sale included a 640GB 5,400rpm drive, but again we'd expect other options here. You do of course also get an optical drive.

Surely, the 980 BE will be the final Phenom II X4 product. However, given AMD's track record, we are not entirely read to dismiss a future 985 BE!

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has a volume of just 0.6 of a litre, but it can handle HD streaming and playback; Dell has introduced the Inspiron R Series Of Notebooks ; The world's first LTE phone, the HTC Thunderbolt, is now officially available from Verizon; HP is betting on the Cloud and WebOS , and Angry Birds developer Rovio aiming for IPO. Hardware news:

Other features include 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0 + HS, an HDMI port, two USB 2.0 ports, a USB 3.0 port, a Gigabit Ethernet port, a D-sub connector, a memory card reader and a pair of audio jacks. The webcam is a standard VGA resolution affair and Toshiba is using its own keyboard type which should fall in the “floating island” category. The touch pad is offset to one side thanks to the inclusion of a numerical keypad and looks quite small considering the size of the notebook.

Description: Now equipped with the next-generation heat sink, HyperX T1 memory kit is Kingston’s latest offering for the most exquisite overclocking memory product one could ask for. Featuring an all new heat sink construction, the HyperX T1 is capable of challenging the limits to deliver a new overclocking experience like never before. Description: The Xigmatek Aegir SD 128264 features the latest in stacked Heatpipe Direct Touch design, taking layering and heatpipe mass to a new level in cooling. Breaking down the model number of the Xigmatek Aegir SD 128264, we know that it features a 120mm fan, 2 8mm pipes and 4 6mm pipes, which is quite an impressive array. Description: The Kühler H2O 620 from Antec is another all-inone water cooler which does not need any maintenance during its lifetime, and it is recommended for people who want a very easy installation, without the hassle of building a complete water cooling loop from scratch. Description: Rosewill recently released Thor case is an XLATX tower able to support the extra large motherboards like the EVGA X58 Classified 4-way SLI, Gigabyte 890FXA-UD7 and others. This XL-ATX case enters a rank in terms of size that few other cases venture to, so let's see if it can hold up to the competition and rise above the rest.

The standard battery pack is a 6-cell unit, but sadly it's only good for about 4.5h of usage and that's with the discrete graphics switched off and the battery life will fall to about 2h when it's enabled while on battery power. The L750 weighs in at 2.6kg, it will be available in at least brown and white and Windows 7 Home Premium is the operating system of choice. The retail price is NT$32,800 in Taiwan which is about S $1409/US$1107 which seems a little bit on the expensive side, but it's worth keeping in mind that consumer electronics and computers, especially by Japanese brands, aren't all that cheap in Taiwan.

The Daily VR-Zone News Update - 18 Mar 2011 Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/the-daily-vr-zone-news-update--18mar-2011/11645.html March 21st, 2011

To round up this week's news: Review of the Kingston HyperX PC3-2133 CL9 memory modules; Foxconn NT-535

Description: With a volume of only 0.6 of a litre, the Foxconn NT-535 is a significant step forward from its predecessor with an upgrade to DDR3 memory and the inclusion of two specific chips to enable true Blu-ray standard of HD streaming and playback. Consumer Electronics and Software news:: Description: Dell has introduced the Inspiron R series, which features Intel's new and improved Sandy Bridge series of processors. These new rigs are designed for style-focused consumers, with loads of color options and an interchangeable lid option standing out. Description: Bored bloggers at a German website tried typing the expected address of Amazon's forthcoming app store, and were rewarded with a glimpse of the initial stock and pricing. Description: The Mozilla wiki page lists March 22 as the ship date; when asked if that was accurate, a Mozilla spokeswoman said the company was "trying to make that decision today." Description: The Razer Ferox portable speakers boast big sound for a pair of speakers that are barely bigger than a standard computer mouse, and they are outstanding audioenhancing companions for virtually any portable media players (iPods, iPhones, Droid phones, etc) and gaming laptops. Description: It’s becoming increasingly clear that with last year’s purchase of smartphone maker Palm and its WebOS, HP is going to develop its own cloud offering. 19

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Gaming news: Description: The company that turned a game based around misshapen birds into mobile app gold is planning on making an initial public offering in New York, according to Finnish magazine Talouselämä. Rovio recently wrapped up a round of funding where it secured $42 million in investments, all but guaranteeing that the company would make an IPO in the near future. Description: Though it's a bit pricey, the Nintendo 3DS successfully offers a glasses-less 3D experience that needs to be seen to be believed. A weaker-than-usual launch lineup and some inactivated online features dampen its launch, but the future certainly looks bright. Description: The premise behind it is that Grandma has escaped from the nursing home as she can’t stand being there anymore. Granny hops on her scooter and away she goes. The game is fast paced, and a lot of fun and certainly worth the low price.

LEPA Debuts N-Series and WSeries PSUs Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/lepa-debuts-n-series-and-w-seriespsus/11644.html March 21st, 2011

LEPA, subsidiary of Ecomaster, is preparing to release its N-Series and W-Series non-modular PSUs, targeting mainstream users and gamers. The N-Series, comprising 400W, 500W and 600W variants, feature active PFC, one 12V rail, 120mm PWM fans for cooling, and various protections circuits (Over Power, Over Voltage, Over Current, ShortCircuit, and Brown Out).

The W-Series consists 80 Plus certified 450W, 500W and 600W models, boast active PFC, one 12V rail, two 8-pin PCIe power connectors, and 120mm fans for cooling. The N-Series/ W-Series PSUs start at €34.90/ €59.90. News via [Techpowerup]

Silverstone Preps Grandia GD06 HTPC Case Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/silverstone-preps-grandia-gd06-htpccase/11643.html March 21st, 2011

Taipei based SilverStone Technology, well-known for its high performance PC cases, is preparing its Grandia GD06 HTPC Case for release.

March 21st, 2011

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iGo Launches Arctic Notebook Cooler Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/igo-launches-arctic-notebookcooler/11642.html March 21st, 2011

Measuring 324.6 x 279.4 x 35.6mm and weighing 635g, the cooler supports laptops up to 17" and features a "mobile" fan for cooling. It is available through authorised resellers and etailers at a MSRP of US$30 now. News via [Techconnect] Measuring 440 x 150 x 340mm and weighing 5.6kg, the aluminum case has one external 5.25" bay, four 3.5" drive bays, one 2.5" bay, a front aluminum door, five expansion slots, support for 11" long video cards, and a front side I/o panel with two USB 3.0 ports and audio connectors. The GD06, cooled by three 120mm fans operating at 1,200 RPM, supports all microATX, mini-DTX and mini-ITX motherboards and is expected to hit store shelves come Friday (March 18) at a MSRP of â&#x201A;Ź120.30.

Sharkoon Announces QuickStore Portable Pro HDD/ SSD Enclosures Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/sharkoon-announces-quickstoreportable-pro-hdd-ssd-enclosures/11633.html March 21st, 2011

News via [Techconnect]

March 21st, 2011

Sharkoon Technologies has expanded its line-up of external enclosures for HDD/ SSD with the addition of the QuickStore Portable Pro, supporting 9.5mm/ 12.5mm thick HDDs/SSDs. Measuring 134 x 82 x 18.5mm and weighing 80g, these tool-free enclosures are available in black or silver colors with either USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 connectors. The Sharkoon QuickStore Portable Pro can be purchased from authorised retailers and e-tailers at a MSRP â&#x201A;Ź9.99 (USB 2.0) and â&#x201A;Ź16.99 (USB 3.0).

Published by: VR-Zone

either USB2.0 or USB3.0 interfaces. The connector plug of the USB2.0 model folds out from the case frame. The QuickStore Portable Pro measures 134 x 82 x 18.5 mm (L x W x H) and weighs 80 grams. Shipping includes brief instructions plus a Tool CD with Backup software, detailed PDF instruction manual and depending on the model a USB2.0 Y-cable or a USB3.0 cable.

SHARKOON PRESS RELEASE

Product video: v=YWR1l9esUzA Sharkoon is expanding its line of external hard drive cases and presents the Pro version of its QuickStore Portable. Both models offer an elegant housing for 2.5 inch SATA hard drives and SSDs. The Pro version now allows more flexibility in the assembly height: Hard drives in both heights of 9.5mm and 12.5mm can be inserted.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?

End customers will find the Sharkoon QuickStore Portable Pro available from authorized retailers.

Price: Sharkoon QuickStore Portable Pro / Black or Silver: MSRP 9.99 euros Sharkoon QuickStore Portable Pro USB3.0 / Black or Silver: MSRP 16,99 euros For further questions, to request samples and/or photos, or other information please contact us or go to http:// www.sharkoon.com

GeForce GTX 590 Launch Delayed To March 24th With help from the accompanying compensation plate, the internal height of the case is adjustable so that both hard drive formats sit securely and vibration free. Assembly is fast and completely tool free with a few simple steps: The housing frame easily unlocks and slides open. With the option of either a black or silver brushed metal cover, the Sharkoon QuickStore Portable Pro is also visually impressive. A blue LED illuminates during operation and data transfer. Through Windows a practical Backup function is available, which can be easily installed using the included software. Sharkoon External Case for 9.5 and 12.5mm HDDs Besides the color version, users can also select the external interface: Sharkoon offers the QuickStore Portable Pro with

Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/geforce-gtx-590-launch-delayed-tomarch-24th/11640.html March 21st, 2011

VR-Zone learned that the launch of the GeForce GTX 590 is being pushed back 2 days to March 24th. It is supposed to launch together with Crysis 2, a "The Way Is Meant To Be Played" game which is still on target for March 22nd release. One possible reason is that NVIDIA is trying to get a SLI profile working for Crysis 2. Also, we have yet to hear a DX11 support for Crysis 2 either so it won't do justice to GeForce GTX 590 if that option isn't available at all. Press driver is now at version 267.71 and this card overclocks really well at this moment. 22

March 21st, 2011

Published by: VR-Zone

Users of the Creative ZiiO tablets with Android 2.2 can look forward to enjoying these enhancements: - Flexibility to install apps using either on-board memory or external storage media - Flexibility of viewing pages in both desktop and mobile formats â&#x20AC;&#x201C; which means that pages can now be seen in their original lay-out without truncation - Improved security with the addition of numeric pin or alphanumeric password options to unlock device VR-Zone learned that the launch of the GeForce GTX 590 is being pushed back 2 days to March 24th. It is supposed to launch together with Crysis 2, a "The Way Is Meant To Be Played" game which is still on target for March 22nd release. One possible reason is that NVIDIA is trying to get a SLI profile working for Crysis 2. Also, we have yet to hear a DX11 support for Crysis 2 either so it won't do justice to GeForce GTX 590 if that option isn't available at all. Press driver is now at version 267.71 and this card overclocks really well at this moment.

Creative ZiiO 7 gets Android 2.2 Froyo update

- Greater localised language support added - Text-to-Speech Engine

HTC Shooter with Android 2.3 Gingerbread and qHD screen leaked Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/htc-shooter-with-android-2.3gingerbread-and-qhd-screen-leaked/11637.html March 21st, 2011

Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/creative-ziio-7-gets-android-2.2-froyoupdate/11639.html March 21st, 2011

For those of you who own the Ziio 7 Android tablet, or have bought one at the recent IT Show, you will be pleased to know that Creative has announced the Android 2.2 Froyo update for the tablet. For free.

Creative Technology has upgraded its Creative ZiiO 7 Androidbased tablets to Android 2.2. Current Creative ZiiO 7 owners will be able to enjoy a free upgrade via support.creative.com or the ZiiO Space portal found on their tablets, beginning 25 March 2011.

First, it was the HTC 10-inch Android 3.0 tablet, then the three smartphones - HTC Ignite, HTC Prime and HTC Pyramid Z710e. And now, it looks like the company has another HTC leak this week. This time, it is a smartphone known as HTC Shooter.

Yet another leak from Taiwanese manufacturer, HTC. The third one this week, and it is about the HTC Shooter smartphone. From the above screenshot of the device information, the HTC Shooter (model: PG86100) is preinstalled with Android 2.3.2 Gingerbread, features a 1.2GHz dual core Qualcomm MSM8660 processor + Adreno 220 GPU, and a 960x540 qHD display resolution. It seems like the HTC Shooter will be carried by Sprint in the US.

In addition, the Creative ZiiO 7 with Android 2.2 will begin shipping on 18 March 2011, while the Creative ZiiO 10 is expected to ship with Android 2.2 by April 2011.

March 21st, 2011

Pentax launches Optio RS1500 digital camera, targets fashionistas

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SUPER CLEAR LCD display, 5-megapixel rear camera and 16GB memory.

Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/pentax-launches-optio-rs1500-digitalcamera-targets-fashionistas/11636.html March 21st, 2011

Pentax has launched their new Optio RS1500 digital camera designed with good quality specifications, features and fun. It also comes with 10 interchageable skins for users to easily customize the looks of their image capturing device.

Today, Samsung announced the Nexus S which claims to be the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first smartphone to feature the latest version of Googleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Android platform. Powered by Android 2.3 Gingerbread, the Nexus S offers users a seamless experience in navigating through functions, applications and the web. The Nexus S features a 4-inch SUPER CLEAR LCD screen that delivers a brighter viewing experience for enjoying games, videos and browsing the web. The Contour Display also features a curved design for a more ergonomic feel for greater user comfort. Powered by a 1GHz Samsung application processor, Nexus S produces rich 3D graphics, faster upload and download times and supports HD-like multimedia content.

Pentax looks to be going after the fashionistas with their newly launched Optio RS1500 digital camera. In the specifications department, it features a 14-megapixel sensor, 4X optical zoom lens (27.5mm to 110mm) and a 3-inch LCD screen. Althought the camera comes in the original silver or pearl white finish, the manufacturer has included 10 interchangeable skins for users to customize their RS1500. Users can choose to upload the skins they have designed to the gallery for others to enjoy and print. On top of that, users can also download the Pentax Personal Skin Designer from the Pentax website and the Adobe Air-based software allows users to create their own designs and save them as PDFs.

Samsung introduced Nexus S in Singapore Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/samsung-introduced-nexus-s-insingapore/11634.html March 21st, 2011

The wait is over: the successor to the Google Nexus One is now available in Singapore. Powered by Android 2.3, the Samsung Nexus S (or also known as Google Nexus S) features a 4-inch

Nexus S is equipped with a 5-megapixel rear facing camera and camcorder, as well as a VGA front facing camera. In addition, Nexus S features a gyroscope sensor to provide a smooth, fluid gaming experience when the user is tilting the device up or down or panning the phone to the left or right. The phone also comes with 16GB of internal memory. The Nexus S also includes popular Android features such as portable Wi-Fi hotspot, true multitasking, access to Google mobile services such as Google Search, Gmail, Google Maps, Voice Actions, Google Voice and YouTube, and access to over 100,000 apps and widgets on Android Market. The Nexus S is available from all mobile phone retailers at the recommended retail price of S$828, without contract and inclusive of GST.

The different types of UPS systems Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/the-different-types-of-upssystems/11589.html March 21st, 2011

Technology enthusiasts and experts know that the presence of an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) can be vital to the longevity of their technology equipment, especially when they 24

March 21st, 2011

are powered by unstable and / or badly maintained power grids; however most people are unaware of the advantages that owning a UPS can have. But the real frustration starts when someone begins a research on which product to buy because most people cannot understand the differences between the several different UPS types available, especially when excessive marketing hype is involved. Thus, it is very common for most users, even technology adepts, to be confused over the different UPS systems or even be unaware of their existence at all. The largest percentage of users who understand what a UPS does believe that there are only two type of UPS systems, the "on-line" and the "off-line" UPS, and / or believe that UPS products are designed only to protect computers; that is simply not true as there are at least seven different types of UPS systems and a few of them are able to power entire buildings or industrial facilities. Technology enthusiasts and experts know that the presence of a UPS can be vital to the longevity of their technology equipment, especially when they are powered by unstable and/or badly maintained power grids; however most people are unaware of the advantages that owning a UPS can have. But the real frustration starts when someone begins a research on which product to buy because most people cannot understand the differences between the several different UPS types available, especially when excessive marketing hype is involved. Thus, it is very common for most users, even technology adepts, to be confused over the different UPS systems or even be unaware of their existence at all. The largest percentage of users who understand what a UPS does believe that there are only two type of UPS systems, the "on-line" and the "off-line" UPS, and / or believe that UPS products are designed only to protect computers; that is simply not true as there are at least seven different types of UPS systems and a few of them are able to power entire buildings or industrial facilities.

What is a UPS? UPS stands for "Uninterruptible Power Supply", which is an electrical system designed to monitor and, if necessary, regulate the main (grid) power source of a load and provide emergency power to the load whenever the main power source fails, without any interruption to the load's power feed and/ or effect on the load's operation and/or performance. UPS systems are commonly used wherever power generators are ineffective. A power generator needs some time to start, ranging from some seconds to several minutes, depending on the generator's size; a UPS will provide power to the load almost instantaneously, allowing it to continue its normal operation without any interruption. For business / industrial applications, UPS systems and generators are being used side by side because the runtime of UPS systems is very limited but nevertheless is more than sufficient to power the load until the generator (or any other auxiliary power source) to come online. Because of their instantaneous reaction, UPS systems are being used to power

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any critical load. Critical computers, data centers, medical and surgical equipment, emergency lighting and military equipment are but a few examples. The technology and manufacturing advancements of the past 20 years made some of the battery-powered UPS types affordable by small businesses and most home users, therefore it is quite common to find a sub-$200 UPS protecting a small home or office PC. In this article we are going examine the five most affordable types of battery powered UPS systems, those which are affordable by home consumers and small businesses and suitable for power computer/electronics equipment.

Foxconn launches Quantum Force Rattler Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/foxconn-launches-quantum-forcerattler/11632.html March 21st, 2011

It was widely rumoured last year that Foxconn was pulling out of the consumer motherboard market, but it seems like there's still some life left in the beast. Foxconn has launched a new addition to its Quantum Force series of gaming and overclocking motherboards called the Rattler which is based on Intel's P67 chipset. The board seems to borrow heavily in terms of features from many of Foxconn's competitors, but this is part for the course so to say. It was widely rumoured last year that Foxconn was pulling out of the consumer motherboard market, but it seems like there's still some life left in the beast. Foxconn has launched a new addition to its Quantum Force series of gaming and overclocking motherboards called the Rattler which is based on Intel's P67 chipset. The board seems to borrow heavily in terms of features from many of Foxconn's competitors, but this is part for the course so to say.

The basics of the board include two x16 PCI Express slots where the second one shares bandwidth with the primary slot, three x1 PCI Express slots and a single PCI slot. The board also has four SATA 3Gbps and two SATA 6Gbps ports and oddly 25

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Published by: VR-Zone

enough an IDE connector. Pin headers for six USB 2.0 ports and a FireWire port are also present, alongside power and reset buttons, manual overclocking buttons, Voltage readout points, a POST80 debug LED and what appear to be as many as three BIOS chips.

The rear I/O is made up of six USB 2.0 ports, two USB 3.0 ports, a PS/2 port, a pair of Gigabit Ethernet ports, a FireWire port, two eSATA ports and 7.1-channel audio with optical and coaxial S/PDIF out. There's also what appears to be a clear CMOS button here. Foxconn has gone for what looks like a 12+2 PWM design which is cooled by a pair of heatsinks connected with twin heatpipes. Overall this looks like a decent enough board, but not quite good enough if Foxconn is serious about making a comeback in the high-end consumer motherboard market.