SingTel and Nokia launch the new Nokia N8 smartphone in Singapore

SingTel and Nokia launch the new Nokia N8 smartphone in Singapore

Singapore 28 Oct 2010 – Singapore Telecommunications Ltd (SingTel), Asia’s leading communications group and Nokia, a world leader in mobile communications, today announced that SingTel will be the first operator to offer the highly-anticipated Nokia N8 to its customers starting from 5 Nov 2010 for a period of 4 weeks. The handset will also be available in Nokia Stores and Nokia appointed retail outlets from the same date. As the first smartphone in the world to be powered by the new Symbian^3 operating system, the Nokia N8 is the ultimate multimedia entertainment phone.

Big Screen Bonanza - Entertainment Centre in your pocket

The Nokia N8 is a great portable entertainment centre that offers a cinema-grade audio and visual experience. With its built-in HDMI interface, it allows users to play music, videos and images through HDMI-compatible televisions and home theatre systems, with full Dolby Digital Plus surround sound. To bring the best out of the Nokia N8's multimedia capabilities and to offer customers the best in live sports on the go, SingTel will offer customers one month’s free subscription to its ESPN Mobile TV service. Customers can also enjoy the latest chart hits with SingTel’s award-winning AMPed music service. As an added bonus, customers will receive a free pair of tickets to watch American pop sensation, David Archuleta, in his Singapore showcase on 14 Nov 2010.

Be a David La Chapelle or Steven Spielberg

Right out of the box, the new Nokia N8 sheds your inhibitions about being a photographer because its easy-to-use features allow you to effortlessly capture and edit still images. With its 12-megapixel Carl Zeiss Tessar optics camera, Xenon flash and the largest image sensor of any mobile device, it captures superb, pin-sharp images every time. The Nokia N8 provides the creative freedom to capture and edit HD quality video on the go, and view content on its large 3.5-inch AMOLED screen. Users can quickly share their photos and videos online in a few easy steps.

Games galore

The Nokia N8 is packed with the latest and most popular games to ensure that there’s never a dull moment. Favourites such as Angry Birds and Need for Speed Shift HD will keep avid gamers entertained for hours. Games come to life with every swipe, pinch and tap on the Nokia N8’s super-responsive touchscreen.

Price Plans

SingTel will introduce new N’tertainment 3G Flexi price plans for the Nokia N8. These plans include free local incoming calls and bundled data usage, as well as free AMPed and MobileTV service.

Customers who are interested in the Nokia N8 can currently pre-order the handset at www.singtel.com/n8

N’tertainment 3G Flexi Lite Plan
N’tertainment 3G FlexiPlanN’tertainment 3G Flexi Plus Plan
Monthly Subscription
S$39S$56S$95 FREE INCOMING CALLS
FREE Local Outgoing Calls
100 min
200 min
500 min
FREE Local Data Usage
12GB (Capped at S$30 a month for unlimited usage)
FREE Mobile TV
FREE 24 Months MobileTV Basic Pack Viewing(Includes Bloomberg TV, Channel 8, Channel NewsAsia, Dragon TV, ETTV Asia)FREE Singtel AMPed
Unlimited song downloads with no data charges from SingTel AMPed Music Store FREE ESPN Mobile TV
Free for one month

Nokia N8 Product Specifications

Stylish form carved out of a single block of scratch-resistant anodized aluminiumSleek design measuring 113.5 x 59.12 x 12.9 mm (L x W x H) and weighing only 135 gramsSharp and dazzling 3.5” AMOLED capacitive touchscreen (640 x 360 pixels) that allows high definition picture quality and intuitive and responsive navigationBuilt-in Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n) for faster web browsing and extended data coverage, positioning, as well as support for Wi-Fi calling via UMA where available12 MP camera with Carl Zeiss optics, variable zoom, autofocus, Xenon flash and video recording in HD 720pSymbian^3 OS, offering users a powerful and intuitive platform with several enhancements including support for gestures such as multi-touch, flick scrolling and pinch-zoom, multiple, personalizable homescreens, a faster and more responsive user interface, greater memory management for a faster multi-tasking experience.Built-in global Ovi Maps for walk-and-drive navigation in over 70 countries worldwide with built in premium guides from Lonely Planet and Via Michelin for tips on travel, restaurants, weather, and hotelsPositioning with GPS, A-GPS, WLAN and Cell-IDMedia player for videos, pictures and music (music plays up to 50 hours)Nokia PC suite for both PCs and Macs to enable synching data such as contacts and calendar appointments between a computer and the smartphoneUSB On-the-Go and Micro-USB 2.0 high speed for file transfers and chargingNokia AV connector 3.5 mm for audio input/output and TV out
16GB mass memory + micro SD card slot, 135MB internal memory, support up to 32GB memory cards. RAM256/ROM512Access to Nokia Ovi Store, featuring a broad and growing catalog of mobile applications developed specifically for Nokia smartphones. Categories include entertainment, games, IM and social networking, news, weather, productivity and more.Premium and easy-to-access phone features, background noise suppression technology and high quality speakerphoneBluetooth (3.0) with support for Secure Simple Pairing, hands-free headsets, stereo headsets, car kits and other Bluetooth peripheralsSupport for Nokia Ovi MailSupport for 3G networks around the worldNon-removable, rechargeable 1200mAh BL-4D battery (with 1 year warranty) that provides approximately 12.5 hours of talk time and 16 days of standby time in GSM mode

Western Digital Caviar RAID Edition Drives

WD has begun shipping the WD Caviar RAID Edition (RE) drives, a family of three 3.5-inch, 7,200-RPM drives ranging in capacity from 120GB to 260GB. The drives are specifically designed to challenge competitors like the Maxtor MaxLine drives, which are rated for non-I/O-intensive low-duty cycles. By contrast, the WD Caviar RE drives are rated at 1 million hours mean time before failure (MTBF), running nonstop. WD set out to minimize recovery time with a technique called time-limited error recovery, which takes into account the ability of modern drives to do self-diagnostics and repair or exclude damaged sectors. Using the WD technology, a drive will typically drop off the RAID array for about 30 seconds to adjust its sectors; the maximum time is about five minutes. The three-platter design will offer lower power metrics than its five-platter competitors. The drive consumes 8.2 watts reading and writing, 11.5 watts seeking data, and 16.2 watts spinning up. Acoustic power will range between 28 and 33 dB, depending on the function.

Sony New amp; Faster Memory Stick PRO-HG

SanDisk® Corporation (NASDAQ:SNDK - News) and Sony Corporation todayannounced the development of the "Memory Stick PRO-HG" format expanded from the"Memory Stick PRO" format.

The continuing increase in the capacity of IC recording media has broadened itsusage as a practical way to store high-resolution digital photos, music andvideo content (from the Internet or TV programs) on portable devices that aredesigned to handle digital entertainment content. The demand for real-timerecording and transfer of multiple gigabytes of data using IC recording media isexpected to increase rapidly, due to the growing popularity of high resolutionvideo and digital still image applications.

"Memory Stick PRO-HG" media offers high performance to meet the stringentdemands of end users. This new media format uses an enhanced, 8-bit parallelinterface in addition to a conventional serial and 4-bit parallel interface. Theinterface clock frequency also increases to 60MHz from 40MHz. This means thatmaximum data transfer speed increases up to 480Mbps, or 60MB/s (theoreticalvalue), three times as fast as that of "Memory Stick PRO" media. The minimumwrite speed at 8-bit parallel transfer is 120 Mbps, or 15MB/s(1). Theseenhancements allow large data amounts of up to several gigabytes to be quicklytransferred, as well as the real-time recording of high-resolution video andstill images.

Since "Memory Stick PRO-HG" is an extended format of the "Memory Stick PRO"format, "Memory Stick PRO-HG" compliant host devices support the conventional"Memory Stick PRO" media as well as "Memory Stick PRO-HG" media. In addition,the "Memory Stick PRO-HG" media can be used conventional "Memory Stick PRO"compliant host devices as well as "Memory Stick PRO-HG" compliant hostdevices.(2)

Licensing for the development of "Memory Stick PRO-HG" compliant host devices isscheduled to commence in January 2007.

"Sony and SanDisk share the common goal of providing exciting new digital audioand video applications to consumers," said Eli Harari, Chairman and CEO ofSanDisk Corporation. "This is the driving force that is behind our relentlessefforts to leverage our expertise and extensive intellectual property in flashmemory cards to develop the Memory Stick PRO-HG. I am proud of the closecooperation we have with Sony over the years and look forward to seeing theexciting new products that Memory Stick PRO-HG media enable."

Akira Kubota, president of Core Component Business Unit, Sony Corporation said"Sony has successfully collaborated with SanDisk Corporation in promoting theMemory Stick formats. Significant milestones have been the Memory Stick PROformat in 2003 and the Memory Stick Micro in 2005. I am delighted by today'sjoint announcement of the Memory Stick PRO-HG format. This new IC recordingmedia allows the speedy sharing of high definition video and digital stillcamera data between products." Through the introduction of this new format,Memory Stick will greatly expand its entertainment applications.

Since the September 1998 market introduction of Memory Stick, cumulativeshipments of media have achieved 200 million units as of September 2006(3). TheMemory Stick PRO-HG Duo media will be made available in 2007.

Major Specifications of Memory Stick PRO-HG

Dimensions Duo size (31 x 20 x 1.6) mm
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Connector Pin 14-pin
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Capacity 32GB(a) (format maximum)(4)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Max. Data Transfer Rate 480 Mbps (theoretical)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Min. Write Speed 120 Mbps(1) (As of 8-bit parallel transfer)
40 Mbps(1) (As of 4-bit parallel transfer)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating Voltage 2.7 to 3.6 V
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Interface 8-bit / 4-bit parallel I/F and Serial I/F
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Max. Clock frequency 60MHz(5)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright Protection Technology MagicGate
----------------------------------------------------------------------

The Gift From Hell...

....As.....

Hellas....

Hipro-Tech.com

For those not in the know, Hipro is one of the most famous electronic guru overclocker from Greece :).

Maximizer for your DDR1/DDR2 Memory. Put it simple: MemoryVoltage Booster!

Your Memory's new room-mate, this will go into the DIMM Slot beside your Memory:

Bare-backed PCB:

A 3.5" Monitor panel to fit into your Floppy Drive Bay:

Much thanks to the friend who shipped it over. I'm going toread through the manual next to learn more about this gift from Hellas.

Razer Debuts Sphex, The World's Thinnest Mousing Surface

Carlsbad, Calif. –May 27th, 2009 – Razer™, the world’s leading manufacturer of high-end precision gaming and lifestyle peripherals, today announced the release of the Razer Sphex™, the first Gaming Grade Desktop Skin with a distinctive ultrathin form factor.

“The Razer Sphex is a gaming surface that doesn’t compromise tracking ability or durability even with its slim figure,” says Robert “Razerguy” Krakoff, President of Razer. “We wanted to offer gamers a simpler and less expensive gaming-grade mouse mat alternative, while retaining extreme precision and a smooth consistent glide comparable to traditional gaming mouse mats.”

About the Razer Sphex™

The Razer Sphex is currently the world’s thinnest gaming-grade mousing surface which boasts of an ultrathin profile. It is specifically engineered to perform at the highest precision for both Optical and Laser mice. Made of high-grade durable material, the Razer Sphex allows gamers to wipe or wash the product repeatedly without compromising its quality or tracking performance. The Razer Sphex can adhere and detach from any desk surface without any extra effort making it fully reusable.

Razer Sphex™ Features

Adhesive bottom to stick to any surface
Midsized mouse mat suited for most gaming environments at 320mm by 230mm
Extra thin to avoid any restrictions to your gaming experience
Excellent tracking quality for both Laser and Optical mice

COST: US: $14.99, Europe €14.99
AVAILABILITY: Worldwide

Xeon MP Server on Optical Interconnects in July

Beginning in July, a startup plans to ship a server using optical interconnects to improve the overall system performance. The Lightfleet "Beacon" server will connect multiple Intel Xeon processors using an array of mirrors, that will beam data using light, a system that Lightfleet calls "Corowave." The company demonstrated a 16-node server in 2006 as a proof of concept. In its initial implementation, Beacon will have 32 simultaneous transmitters operating at 2.5 Gbit/second each. As you add nodes to a Corowave technology-based system, system latency remains flat while overall system bandwidth increases linearly. This is a feature that is unique to Lightfleet's technology. Specifically, the technology is being touted as one that's especially applicable to parallel computing technology, although the company has not provided benchmarks to prove its superiority.

Soldam, the PC case manufacturer is bankrupt

The Japanese PC Case maker Soldam, well-known for is ALU based case branded with the name "Windy" is now bankrupt and stop manufacturing, selling of shipping any kind of product they were used to carry.... This is very sad news to the premium chasis aficionados since Soldam was among the best case manufacturer in Japan. Their casings have always been top-notch!

Sony Introduces New PIIQ Headphones

Groove in Style with New PIIQTM Headphones by Sony

For the edgy and expressive, the PIIQTM series offers bold and innovative design combined with Sony’s superior sound quality

(Singapore, 21st September 2010) – Sony Singapore today introduces the new PIIQTM[pronounced ‘peek’] headphone series, featuring five distinctive headphones and in-earheadphones that make a bold and unique fashion statement.Drawing inspiration from artists, skaters and urban street culture, PIIQ headphones are meticulously designedwith great attention to style, and combined with Sony’s sound performance and comfort.

Bold urban design, solid audio performance

PIIQ offers a look that is starkly different from typical, monotone headphones. Theunconventional design and styling of the new PIIQ headphones are influenced by the bold andactive lifestyles of today’s youth with its bright, neon colour combinations. Users will also noticecertain design features that are reminiscent of items in urban street culture – from the use ofcomfortable cushioning material similar to that of knee guards, to uniquely shaped ear buds thatlook like gas masks. However, the PIIQ series does not scrimp on audio quality. Dependingon one’s music preferences, the five headphones offer Sony technologies that deliver crystalclear sounds as well as solid treble and bass performance.The PIIQ series comes in five different variations to suit different audio and style preferences:

MDR-PQ1

Inspired by snowboard boot binders, the pink MDR-PQ1 features two velcro-linedadjustment tabs with a lock-down mechanism that ensure the headphones givea comfortable fit. For those who like to groove to strong beats, the MDR-PQ1 isequipped with 40mm driver units for deep, powerful bass tones. The MDR-PQ1 isalso well padded in its headband and ear cups to offer a superior “cush feel” andeliminate any sense of discomfort from long time wear. In addition, the flat cord issecured by an elastic loop to avoid tangling.

MDR-PQ2

The MDR-PQ2 features a more organic design with flushed edges, and is available in three colour combinations. The 30mm driver units are made of Neodymium magnets, one of the strongest permanent magnets in the world, delivering crystal clear and powerful sound. Like the MDR-PQ1, the MDR-PQ2 is ergonomically designed as well with its well-padded headband and ear cups.

The Daily VR-Zone News Summary - 11 Mar 2011

Hardware News:

Kingston HyperX T1 8GB (4 x 2GB) 2133MHz DDR3 Memory Kit Review @ Bigbruin.com
Description: The Kingston HyperX T1 8GB (4 x 2GB) 2133MHz DDR3 memory kit is definitely worth considering by those looking for a high speed, high capacity kit to take their system to the next level. An XMP profile at 2133MHz makes the whole process extremely simple, and anyone with a compatible motherboard should be up and running in no time.

Exceleram EP3001A 3 x 2 GB DDR3-1333 MHz CL9 review at Tweak.dk
Description: The EP3001A modules have a speed of DDR3-1333 MHz with CL9 timings, and a tRAS-value of 24. The CRT-timing can be adjusted to 1T, which gives you extra performance. Exceleram have chosen to spare the heatsinks, to minimize the price. The overclocking potential is big, and by loosening the timings, it is possible to hit speeds over DDR3-2000 MHz. We compare the modules in various benchmark tests against kits from both Exceleram and Kingston.

Sapphire Radeon HD 6870 FleX Video Card Review @ Rage3D.com
Description: Sapphires Radeon HD 6870 FleX edition integrates an active DisplayPort adapter onto the PCB to allow three non-DisplayPort monitors for Eyefinity gaming - while retaining the two mini-DP outputs of the reference design. We check out single and crossfire HD 6870 performance in 1080HD and Eyefinity 3 resolutions.

Thermaltake Jing CPU Cooler Review @Hi Tech Legion
Description: The Thermaltake Jing CPU Cooler is Thermaltakes newest addition into the silent operation market. The Jing is positioned to offer high performance cooling with a noise level of only 16dBA. There are 41 0.5mm large aluminum fins and 5 6mm heat-pipes. The fins, base, and heat-pipes are nickel plated for better heat transmission. The Jing comes with 2 custom made fans for push/pull configuration.

Xigmatek Loki CPU Cooler Review @ Tweaknews
Description: Xigmateks Loki is a terrific little cooler that packs a lot of performance into a compact package thats easily installed and should fit on just about any board and in most cases. Widely available online for as little as $25 US, Loki is also very reasonable and represents an excellent value.

Computing on Demand: Nexus Real Silent CPU Cooler - FLC-3000 R2
Description: Many of todays users seem to look towards a peaceful experience in front of the keyboard instead of the days when we thought having a computer that sounded like a hovercraft was cool. A few companies have made a name for themselves by offering peripherals and devices that marry performance with peace and quiet. Nexus thinks they have the proper balance with their new FLC-3000 (R2).

Antec Sonata IV Computer Case @ Benchmark Reviews
Description: Antec has been making computer enclosures for as long as I can remember. When I think of popular computer chassis, one case from Antec almost always comes to mind: their Sonata line of cases. Antec has provided Benchmark Reviews the opportunity to review their latest iteration of their Sonata line, the Sonata IV. The Sonata IV is marketed as being a Quiet Mid Tower case. It aims to bring the Sonata line of cases up to date with such features as a front USB 3.0 port, a spot for a 2.5" SSD drive, and silicon grommets to reduce hard drive vibration. Also included with the Sonata IV is a 620 watt power supply. Can the Sonata IV live up to its predecessors and the Antec name? Read the full review to find out...

Antec Six Hundred Review - XSReviews
Description: When it comes to building a killer rig, there are many important components you have to consider, the case being a big one. You want a case that looks great, is quiet and keeps all of your hardware nice and cool. With this in mind today we look at the Antec Six Hundred.

Corsair Hydro series H60 Watercooling kit Review @ Madshrimps
Description: I was surprised that Corsair launched another complete liquid cooling model, the H60. The H50 being perfect for tiny spaces and moderate cooling demands. The H70 was able to cope with our overclocked Gulftown setup, crushing the H50s performance. Its beefier radiator and dual fan setup was a big step forward for higher cooling demands. Corsairs new H60 is the first new release of its new partnership with the CoolIT company.

BitFenix Shinobi Review @ Vortez
Description: As tradition would have it, we are here again with the first review of a new case from BitFenix, named Shinobi. Shinobi is a mid-tower case that differs from its bigger brothers the Survivor and Colossus cases by bringing a touch of sleekness and elegance to the table. Available in two variants - window version (being reviewed today) and none-window version this case features 2 pre-installed fans, tool-less mechanisms throughout and of solid steel construction.

Lamptron Fan-Atic 5-Channel Fan Controller Review @ Legit Reviews
Description: The Lamptron Fan-Atic 5-channel fan controller controls 60W per each channel with 3 different voltage output - 12VDC, 5VDC, and Off, which correspond to Full RPM, Low RPM, and Off setting on the fans connected to the controller. So you get full speed cooling capacity or low speed quietness at a flip of the switch. Read on to see how this fan controller performs when we put it to the test!

Consumer Electronics and Software News:

Samsung to begin test production of 32" OLED TVs in 2H 2012, will start investing in a Gen-8 fab in 3Q 2011
Description: There are reports that Samsung plans to begin test production of 32" OLED TVs in the second half of 2012. The company will start to invest in Gen-8 OLED TV production lines in 3Q 2011. LG will be able to make 30" OLED TVs be the end of 2011, and (as we know already) plans a Gen-8 fab for 2011. Sony meanwhile seems to be focusing on professional OLED monitors, and doesnt have any active consumer OLED TV program.

Google Adds Click-to-Call to Gmail Voice Calling
Description: Google has enhanced its voice calling feature in Gmail with an ability to click on phone numbers and call them instantly instead of having to type in the number manually.

Forget Apple, the money is in Android
Description: While the Apple App store is packed full of software and has a better reach, a top developer has pointed out that he makes much more cash from writing Android code.

Google, Bing Have White Lists Of Sites Not To Be Impacted By Algo Changes
Description: Both major search engines admitted today they have white lists of sites that wont be impacted by changes to their algorithms. During the Spam Police session at SMX, Googles Matt Cutts and Bings Sasi Parthasarathy both confirmed this, the UK Register noted. "Google has admitted that it uses whitelists to manually ...

Google Brings Instant Previews to Mobile
Description: The concept of Google Instant, which could give you results before you were even done typing, was further enhanced with the presence of Instant Preview. Instant Previews allows users to click on a magnifying glass while in the search page and get previews of the first few results. Now, four months after the original release of Instant Previews, the concept is coming to mobile.

Pwn2Own day 2: iPhone, BlackBerry beaten; Chrome, Firefox no-shows
Description: On day two of the Pwn2Own competition, Apples iPhone and RIMs BlackBerry Torch 9800 were both put in the spotlight, and were both successfully compromised. Meanwhile, contestants scheduled to attack Android and Firefox failed to turn up, leaving those platforms unscathed.

Gaming News:

PS3 Ban Lifted in Netherlands
Description: The dispute between Sony and LG has taken another twist, with the ban on imported PS3s being lifted in the Netherlands.

Jurassic Park: The Game Q&A - Back from extinction
Description: We find out a few more details from Telltale Games about its upcoming dinosaur action adventure game.

Steam heading for Linux in October in closed beta

In 2003, Valve launched Steam, a software distribution, social networking and digital rights management platform, and has since grown to become one of the leading game distribution systems for the pc, containing games and related content from small and large developers alike. Steam has since been released for several platforms, including iOS and Android, Mac OS X and to a partial degree, Playstation 3. Valve is hard at work developing the platform for Linux computers as well, and on October 26, 1000 lucky users will be taking part in a closed beta test of the Linux version.

The Steam Logo

The Linux port of Steam will have full functionality and run on Ubuntu 12.04 or higher. Only experienced users are being asked to part take in the beta, and testers will initially be given Steam itself, as well as one game, Left 4 Dead, for testing. Hopes are that once the beta is over, the Linux port will make its way into public hands, and that more of Valves proprietary games will be ported to the Linux platform. It should be pointed out, that Steams games library does not automatically become compatible with the new platform, but that each game will have to be optimized to run on Linux.

Steam was originally born out of complications with updating their software. Updating Valves multiplayer game Counter-Strike for example, usually resulted in many players being unable to play for several days while updates were being carried out. In order to streamline this process, as well as implement a better anti-cheat and anti-piracy system, Valve decided to seek out a new distribution platform. Initially, they asked other companies to create such a system for them, but Valve was turned down and decided to create their own platform.

Since its release, Steam has become quite successful; a 2009 estimation of Steams market share of digital distribution for games, held it at 70% of the market share, though Valve never releases its actual sales figures.Part of its success owes to the hassle free DRM system, which links games to their respective owners Steam accounts, thus protecting developers from piracy, while avoiding unwanted DRM software and hardware checks other distribution methods employ. As of august 2012, there are over 1500 games available through Steam, as well as software development tools and custom content for the games. New features are being added regularly, including the new "Greenlight" system, which allows users to vote on which games should be added for distribution on the platform.

ZTE N9210 Anthem 4G shows up in FCC database

The above image is image that passed through the FCC on December 7th. Its where the FCC label will sit on the phone. Nothing we havent seen before but it does give some specs confirmation that we all love to see. MetroPCS has been pushing out some phones as of late and they have now got a range to suit almost everyone, unless you are an Apple fan.

With T-Mobile still planning on buying MetroPCS, it makes us wonder why they are still putting out CDMA phones as T-Mobile is a GSM company. The logistics of the whole deal are still foggy at best. It is nice to see that MetroPCS is finally breaking free of the stagnant position they held on to for such a long time. Going back to the phone, you can see the specs below. They are nice and robust but still speculation at this point, its a mid-range unit, probably priced in the $199-$250 area like most the other ZTEs are.

Qualcomm MSM8960 Snapdragon

1.5GHz dual-core

LCD (480 * 800) WVGA

Android 4.0

Wi-Fi, LTE and NFC

Source FCCvia Ameba

ZOTAC Unveils ZBOX HD-ID11

ZOTAC Internationalhas launched the ZOTAC ZBOX HD-ID11 mini-PC, targeting users constrained by space.









Measuring 188 x 188 x 44mm, it is built on Intel’s NM10 Express chipsetand features a 1.66 GHz dual-core Atom D510, NVIDIA ION GPU with 512MBDDR3 VRAM, one 2.5” SATA HDD/SSD slot, one DDR2 slot, onboard7.1-Channel audio, integrated WiFi 802.11n, a multi-format card readerand front side panel with one USB 2.0 port and audio connectors. It isalso equipped with Dual-link DVI and HDMI outputs, one RJ45 port, oneeSATA port and four rear USB 2.0 ports for external connectivity.Pricing and availability has not been announced yet so stay tuned formore updates.


“Software companies took a big step in the last year to enableGPU-acceleration in their applications. Users can edit movies usingSuper LoiLoScope, enhance the quality of low-quality videos usingvReveal and convert video files for use with portable media playersusing Badaboom with CUDA™ technology and our new ZOTAC ZBOX HD-ID11mini-PC using just the graphics processor,” said Carsten Berger,marketing director, ZOTAC International. “Just because the ZOTAC ZBOXHD-ID11 mini-PC is small in size doesn’t mean it can’t deliver bigsystem performance.


News via [Legitreviews]

Razer Launched Goliathus Soft Mat

Razer™, the world’s leading manufacturer of high-end precision gaming andlifestyle electronics peripherals, today launched the Razer Goliathus™, apremium grade soft mat in two versions with three sizes co-developed with globalprofessional gaming teams.

Razer Goliathus – US: $ 14.99, 19.99 & 24.99; Europe: €12.99, 17.99 & 19.99

Speed Edition: Advanced cloth weave for maximum speed and effortless control
Control Edition: Heavily textured weave for maximum mouse control

Pixel-precise targeting and tracking
Optimized for all mouse sensitivity settings and sensor types
Rubber base for a secure grip on smooth surfaces
Dimensions: Goliathus Speed / Control 270mm x 215mm x 4mm
Goliathus Speed / Control 355mm x 254mm x 4mm
Goliathus Speed / Control 444 x 355 x 4.3mm

AVAILABILTY: May 2008 – Worldwide

About the Razer Goliathus Speed Edition

Recognizing that every gamer has a different gaming style with differentprofiles, the highly adaptable Razer Goliathus Speed Edition successfully meldsthe full-scale speed, acceleration and razor-sharp responsiveness of hard matswith the precise control and comfort offered by uncoated soft pads. The RazerGoliathus Speed Edition features an improved iteration of Razer’s proven wovenfiber technology, and is available in three sizes.

About the Razer Goliathus Control Edition

The Razer Goliathus Control Edition enhances the precision and tactileresponse of gaming-grade mice without introducing excessive drag and prematuresurface degradation. Also available in three sizes, the tournament-tunedtextured weave in the Razer Goliathus Control Edition enables all mice toregister even small movements, providing unprecedented targeting and trackingaccuracy while maintaining a controlled, consistent glide.

The Razer Goliathus - co-development with pro-gaming teams and theirendorsement:

Field-validated by world championship professional gamers and teams specializingin different gaming genres, the Razer Goliathus is a legacy written with thefootprints of gamers from Amazing Gaming (Ukraine), Fnatic (Sweden), Lunatic-Hai(Korea), Team Dignitas (UK), Team EG (Canada) and Team World Elite (China) andwith Razer’s lab scientists.

“The Goliathus Control Edition is my choice for two simple reasons. It has anultra-responsive textured surface for unsurpassed mouse control, and is built towithstand the brutal frictional wear of professional eSports use. No other clothmat compares,” declared Xiaofeng “Sky” Li, Team World Elite’s Warcraft 3 player.WE.Sky is China's top professional gamer and arguably the best Human player inthe world. Inducted into the WCG Hall of Fame for becoming the first back toback Warcraft III champion in history (with his gold medals in 2005 and 2006)and coming in 2nd in 2007, Sky has accomplished everything a Warcraft 3 playercould ever wish for. He dominated the first two PGL seasons, and has earnednotable victories in events such ACON 5 and the International E-Sports Festival.In 2006, he was lauded as the best Warcraft 3 player by the world’s leadingeSports media.

“With the improved smoothness of the Razer Goliathus Speed Edition, I am ableto consistently hit those crucial shots that determine whether I win or lose,”said Jason "stryfe" Dourlaris, Team EG’s Unreal Tournament player. Boasting anaccomplished history with the Unreal Tournament (UT) franchise and a 1strunner-up placing in the Rise to Glory tournament held at the tail-end of 2007,Jason "stryfe" Dourlaris has emerged as one of the biggest names in the UT3community. He currently captains Team EG's UT3 side, and is poised to take themto the leading position once the game gains traction in the competitive circuit.

Quote from Razer’s president:

“The Razer Goliathus was developed after much field-study with our scientistsand professional gamers. The Razer Goliathus is suited for all mouse types,sensitivity setups and playing styles, and is engineered for any professionalgamer,” said Robert “Razerguy” Krakoff, president of Razer.”

Report AMD Radeon HD 7990 Specifications

AMD is preparing to release the Southern Islands / HD 7000 flagship, codenamed New Zealand, to be branded Radeon HD 7990. As expected, the 7990 will be a dual-GPU card, based on 2 x Tahiti.

In essence, HD 7990 will be 2 x HD 7970 downclocked, Crossfired and cramped into a single GPU. There will be a total of 48 CU covering 4096 SP and 256 TMU. HD 7990 will feature a total of 6GB GDDR5, 3GB per GPU. The clock speeds are down mildly from the HD 7970, settling at 850 MHz core and 5 GHz memory. Judging by these clock speeds, it is likely the HD 7990 will ship with a ~375W TDP and the same non-standard 2 x 8-pin power connectors configuration featured in HD 6990 and GTX 590.

The 7990 is expected to release in early April, following shortly after the release of GeForce GTX 680 later this week. On release, HD 7990 will take over the fastest graphics card crown, at least until NVIDIA challenges with a dual-GK104 chip, possibly GTX 690. HD 7990 will be in with a fighting chance of becoming the most expensive reference gaming/consumer graphics card at release, eclipsing GeForce 8800 Ultras $829.

Source: INPAI via TechPowerUp

NVIDIA Quadro FX 700 amp; FX 600 PCI

NVIDIA has unveiled the newest addition to its NVIDIA Quadro FX family, theNVIDIA Quadro FX 700. This professional graphics solution delivers unprecedentedprice-performance to industries that rely on graphics and computationallyintensive computer-aided design, digital content creation, and scientificvisualisation software applications. Featuring a new silent cooling system, theNVIDIA Quadro FX 700 outperforms high-end and upper midrange competitive boardson key industry-standard tests including SPECviewperf® 7.1.1 3dsmax-02, ProE-02,and Ugs-03.

NVIDIA has also introduced the NVIDIA Quadro FX 600 PCI, a professional 3Dgraphics solution that extends a user’s workspace by up to eighthigh-resolution, digital flat panels powered by one NVIDIA-based PC workstation.Armed with all NVIDIA Quadro FX features such as stereo 3D viewing, the NVIDIAQuadro FX 600 PCI powers interactive visual “roaming” of huge data sets such asdownloads of satellite imagery via a 256MB frame buffer. Ideal for drivingapplications in markets including geospatial and medical imaging, this PCIimplementation can also serve as an advanced graphics console in servers. Bothsolutions will be available in April.

Seagate announces availability of new GoFlex Ultra-portable external hard disk...in pink

We all know that portable hard disks are but one of the essential tools that any PC user needs to ensure that they can always access their data in the event that there is no Internet connection available for doing so via online means. However, the fact that most OEMs only offer a limitted variety of colours for their external hard disks does not do much to help a consumer satisfy his or her need for individuality, although it seems that Seagate is about to remedy that situation with the introduction of a new addition to its GoFlex Ultra-portable hard disk, which, unlike most of the competition, is available in a bright pink hue.

Looks aside, there is little else to distinguish the new, limited edition, pink-coloured Seagate GoFlex Ultra-portable from its normal edition counterparts, at least where performance is concerned.Stashed away under that bright pink body is a 500GB hard disk which, according to Seagate, allows for easy and fast storage, backup and access toones photos, movies and music. More importantly, Seagate claims that the device is slim enough to be slipped into any IT bag without issues, so portability is definitely not going to be a problem. Last but definitely not least, the GoFlex Ultra-portable external hard disk makes use of the superspeed USB3.0 interface which is capable of data transmission speeds of up to 5 Gbits/s, which is 10 times faster than what you can get with a typical USB 2.0 device.

If that has gotten you interested in being the proud new owner of a pink GoFlex Ultra-portable external hard disk, it can be purchased from Challenger stores at the price of S$109.

NVIDIA MCP73 Chipsets Info

MCP73 will come in no less than three flavors. The main chipset, dubbed MCP73P, is a 1333MHz front-side bus chipset. A cut down version of the same chipset, dubbed MCP73PV, will only feature a 1066MHz FSB. The third chipset is likely a derivative that does not feature integrated graphics. A low end G70 graphics core is likely the best candidate. MCP73 IGP will feature integrated HDMI and HDCP support.

Nexus Announces FLC-3000 R2 CPU Cooler

Nexus Technology, established in 2000 in Holland, has unveiled the FLC-3000 R2 CPU Cooler, successor to its popular FLC-3000 CPUcooler (released in 2008).






Measuring 128 x 105 x 119 mm and weighing 450g, the cooler boasts four30 degree angled 6mm copper heat-pipes with “Heatpipe-On-Core” (HOC)technology, a SkiveTek aluminum heatsink with three “layered” fins, andis equipped with a 92mm LED fan that runs at speeds of up to 2500 RPM at24dBa. The FLC-3000 R2, compatible with all Intel LGA 775/ 1156/ 1366and AMD AM2/ AM3 processors, is expected to start shipping at a MSRP ofUSD 40.



News via [Softpedia]

Nvidia says Xbox 360 graphics power will hit mobile devices by 2014

Nvidia aims to deliver the graphics power behind gaming consoles like Microsofts Xbox 360 to mobile devices by the year 2014, which could mark a further shift to mobile gaming.

An Nvidia slide revealed by AnandTech shows its forecast for the GPU industry, which sees relatively little change in consoles, steady growth for PCs, and sharp growth for mobile devices.The solid lines show estimated performance, which will see mobile devices matching the graphics power of the Xbox 360 next year and then surpassing it the year after. The dotted lines show trends, which suggests the power match being made in 2014, while the console market advances a little further.PCs remain on top with reasonable growth, but if the mobile industry continues its advances, which takes into account both smartphones and tablet computers, then we could see even the PC industry getting a run for its money in terms of GPUs.If Nvidias predictions are correct we will likely see more big budget games hitting mobile devices, particularly tablet computers like the iPad, the latest of which is being touted as a viable gaming machine. Were already seeing some big releases, as well as re-releases of old classics like Baldurs Gate, but the possibility of playing high-end Xbox 360 games on a mobile device means the console industry will really need to push things further if it wants to remain on top.Source: GamesIndustry

Nokia X1-00 music phone exposed

Nokia's market share has been greatly eroded by Android and iOS platform, but it seems that the Finnish company is still keeping to its schedule to launch its line of new mobile devices. Recently, Nokia has introduced the latest member of its X-series smartphones, designed to offer great music and entertainment for youths. If you remembered, the X-series is the successor to the XpressMusic brand of smartphones.

The X1-00 is a mid-range music phone, similar to the X2-00. While it supports GSM, it isn't 3G ready. From the rear view, we can see the built-in speaker, but there's no integrated camera. This means that it isn't a full-feature smartphone. The Nokia X1-00 will first be launched in India, followed by China. The price is estimated to be approximately US$50. While Nokia may be losing its edge in the higher end smartphone market, it still reigns in the mid and lower end market.

Source: imobile.com.cn

Palit Self-Designed HD 3850 Card

Palit has a self-designed Radeon HD 3850 card that has a custom cooler, 512MB ofGDDR3 memories and a native HDMI out. The cooler is silent at 31.55db comparedto 43.65db and has better thermal at 79.8oC compared to 83oCon the reference 3850 card. However, due to the cooler, the card took up two slots instead of one. The native HDMI-out eliminates a DVI-HDMI dongle.The card is clocked at 668MHz for the core and 1656MHz for the memories.

Motorola Mobility outlines Android Ice Cream Sandwich plans

Motorola Mobility has outlined extensive plans for upgrading its smartphone range to Android 4.0, otherwise known as Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS).

The company previously announced plans for ICS availability on its Droid Razr, Droid Razr Maxx, Droid 4, Droid Bionic, Droid Xyboard 8.2 and 10.1, and Xoom WiFi +3G/4G models, but Motorola has released details of plans to bring ICS to many of its other devices.The only dates revealed so far are vague estimates that primarily fall in the second and third quarters of this year, and are subject to change, while most other models are still too early in the development cycle to release an upgrade date.Motorola also outlined its upgrade development cycle, which features four stages: 1) evaluation and planning; 2) development; 3) testing; and 4) availability. Most models are still in stage one, with around a dozen in stage two. Since none are in stage three we should not expect a release anytime soon, especially considering how long the testing process could take.Google recently secured approval from the US and EU for its bid to acquire Motorola Mobility, which leaves few obstacles remaining in the way of the deal. If the acquisition closes within the next few months we could see a faster process in rolling out ICS upgrades to Motorola devices, and it is likely that todays outline of the plan going forward was made in anticipation of this.For a full list of Motorola devices receiving the ICS update, check here.

NVIDIA GeForce Go 6800 Ultra Mobile GPU

NVIDIA today introduced the GeForce Go 6800 Ultra mobile GPU. Availableimmediately, the Dell Inspiron(TM) XPS Gen2 is the first notebook with theGeForce Go 6800 Ultra mobile GPU and features unprecedented notebook gamingperformance -- achieving more than two times the performance of the previousInspiron XPS, based on industry-standard benchmarks. The NVIDIA GeForce Go 6800Ultra mobile GPU delivers 3D performance that is unmatched by any commerciallyavailable mobile GPU today. The XPS 2 also delivers superb video qualitycourtesy of NVIDIA PureVideo(TM) technology, the industry's only embedded videoprocessor for HD multimedia content.

"The GeForce Go 6800 Ultra mobile GPU was designed specifically for hard coreenthusiasts," said Rob Csongor, general manager of mobile business at NVIDIA."It takes a company like Dell to leverage the GeForce Go 6800 Ultra mobile GPUand create such a remarkable product. The GeForce Go 6 mobile GPU series is ourmost scalable mobile architecture to date, enabling NVIDIA to penetrate everymobile market segment from thin-and-light notebooks to desktop replacements. Theultimate execution of that architecture is the GeForce Go 6800 Ultra mobile GPUin the XPS 2 -- a perfect solution for any mobile user."