vr-zone | stuff for the geeks (february 13th issue)

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February 12th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone 1 VR-Zone.com | Stuff for the Geeks! AMD plans aggressive transition to next-gen CPUs/ APUs February 12th, 2011 Xbitlabs reports that AMD is planning to produce 100% of its desktop processors at 32nm (or 40nm in case of Ontario/ Zacate) as early as Q2 2012, completely eliminating the current 45nm+ Athlon/Phenom CPUs. After several delays, 2011 is surely the turning point for AMD. With Ontatio/Zacate APUs already released, next in line is the Llano APU and the next- gen Bulldozer architecture as implemented in Zambezi CPUs. By Q2 2012, 20% desktop products will be based on the AM3+ platform with Bulldozer CPUs, 10% on the FT1 platform with Brazos APUs, and finally, a vast 70% on the FM1 platform, which accommodates the mainstream Llano APUs. Llano and Bulldozer will be fabbed at 32nm SOI, while Brazos remains at 40nm Bulk. AMD is also rumoured to simplify branding with the next-gen products. Ontario and Zacate are already branded as C-series and E-series respectively, with Llano expected to be A-series and Bulldozer (Zambezi) FX-series. Complicated branding such as "Phenom II X6" is likely to be dropped with the new generation of AMD products. It is clear that AMD is extremely confident and ambitious about its upcoming products. By contrast, Intel's largest selling (by volume) product continues to be Pentium branded CPUs, manufactured at 45nm/65nm, and in general, Intel takes several years to transition to a new generation of CPUs. The Daily VR-Zone News Summary - 11 Feb 2011 February 12th, 2011 In today's daily news roundup: - MSI presents its absolute high-end motherboard, the Big Bang Marshal P67, for Intel's latest Sandy Bridge platform; - CSR announces CSR8600 wireless consumer audio platform for embedded platforms; - Rumour has it that the successor to the iPhone 4 will be smaller than its predecessor by at least a third, and - Halo Reach appears to be receiving a follow-up add-on bundle to the previously released 'Noble' map pack. Hardware News: ASUS GeForce ENGTX560 Ti DirectCU II Video Card Review @ Legit Reviews Description: The ASUS ENGTX560 Ti DirectXU II Top edition video card proved itself to be faster than the NVIDIA GeForce GTX560 Ti reference design in our testing, but that was expected since it operates at a 900MHz versus the standard 823MHz clock speeds. We also found that it ran cooler at full load and was able to overclock better than the reference design thanks to the voltage adjustment feature (VoltageTweak) in the SmartDoctor utility. Being able to reach 1GHz on the GeForce GTX 560 when overclocking was nice... CSR announces CSR8600 wireless consumer audio platform Description: Wireless chip firm CSR has announced the CSR8600 wireless consumer audio platform, which it claims will offer superior high-fidelity audio quality for integrated system-on-chip devices. Zalman N-Series Sandforce SSD Tests @ Benchmark Reviews Description: Zalman is best known for their very quiet coolers, stylish computer cases, and power supply units. Now they're adding high-speed storage devices to their product stack, begining with a SandForce-driven Zalman N-Series SSD. The Zalman N-Series solid state drive is capable of 50,000 IOPS, with read bandwidth topping 280 MB/s while maximum write speeds reach up to 270 MB/s. In this article, Benchmark Reviews demonstrates that 4K IOPS performance is more important than speed for high-power computer users tests, and tests the 128GB Zalman SSD0128N1 SSD against some of the most popular storage devices available. MSI Big Bang Marshal P67 - Layout and Design @ ocaholic Description: With the Big Bang Marshal, MSI presents its absolute high-end motherboard for Intels latest Sandy Bridge processors. Therefore it comes for example with a truly sophisticated power design as well as eight PCI-Express x16 slots and numerous other features. GIGABYTE HD6970 2GB Review @ Vortez Description: Back in December, AMD released their much awaited Cayman based HD69XX series of cards. It represented a transition to a revised architecture that was more catered towards compute performance with new features such as Morphological Anti-Aliasing and enhanced tessellation performance to meet the requirements of newer DX10/11 titles. For the most part, the HD6970 was a success despite its specifications appearing subtly different to the highly popular but ageing HD5870... AMD May Axe Microprocessor Brand-Names Description: Advanced Micro Devices may can specific brand- names of its microprocessors in order to emphasize its corporate AMD Vision trademark and attract attention to its corporate brand. As a result of the move, Athlon, Phenom and Sempron will vanish into oblivion. Enermax presents two new high-end cases Description: In January, Enermax introduced its new flagship midi tower for gamers, Hoplite. However this is just the beginning of the new generation of Enermax cases, which will be presented on CeBIT in Hannover for the first time.

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A bi-monthly technology issue for the geeks and gadget lovers.

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  • 1. February 12th, 2011Published by: VR-ZoneVR-Zone.com | Stuff for the Geeks!ASUS GeForce ENGTX560 Ti DirectCU II Video Card ReviewAMD plans aggressive@ Legit Reviewstransition to next-gen CPUs/Description: The ASUS ENGTX560 Ti DirectXU II Top editionvideo card proved itself to be faster than the NVIDIA GeForceAPUsGTX560 Ti reference design in our testing, but that wasFebruary 12th, 2011 expected since it operates at a 900MHz versus the standard823MHz clock speeds. We also found that it ran cooler at fullload and was able to overclock better than the reference designthanks to the voltage adjustment feature (VoltageTweak) inthe SmartDoctor utility. Being able to reach 1GHz on theGeForce GTX 560 when overclocking was nice...CSR announces CSR8600 wireless consumer audio platformXbitlabs reports that AMD is planning to produce 100% ofDescription: Wireless chip firm CSR has announced theits desktop processors at 32nm (or 40nm in case of Ontario/ CSR8600 wireless consumer audio platform, which it claimsZacate) as early as Q2 2012, completely eliminating the current will offer superior high-fidelity audio quality for integrated45nm+ Athlon/Phenom CPUs. After several delays, 2011 is system-on-chip devices.surely the turning point for AMD. With Ontatio/Zacate APUsalready released, next in line is the Llano APU and the next- Zalman N-Series Sandforce SSD Tests @ Benchmark Reviewsgen Bulldozer architecture as implemented in Zambezi CPUs.Description: Zalman is best known for their very quiet coolers,stylish computer cases, and power supply units. Now theyreBy Q2 2012, 20% desktop products will be based on the AM3+adding high-speed storage devices to their product stack,platform with Bulldozer CPUs, 10% on the FT1 platform withbegining with a SandForce-driven Zalman N-Series SSD. TheBrazos APUs, and finally, a vast 70% on the FM1 platform, Zalman N-Series solid state drive is capable of 50,000 IOPS,which accommodates the mainstream Llano APUs. Llano and with read bandwidth topping 280 MB/s while maximum writeBulldozer will be fabbed at 32nm SOI, while Brazos remainsspeeds reach up to 270 MB/s. In this article, Benchmarkat 40nm Bulk. Reviews demonstrates that 4K IOPS performance is moreAMD is also rumoured to simplify branding with the next-gen important than speed for high-power computer users tests,products. Ontario and Zacate are already branded as C-seriesand tests the 128GB Zalman SSD0128N1 SSD against some ofand E-series respectively, with Llano expected to be A-series the most popular storage devices available.and Bulldozer (Zambezi) FX-series. Complicated branding MSI Big Bang Marshal P67 - Layout and Design @ ocaholicsuch as "Phenom II X6" is likely to be dropped with the new Description: With the Big Bang Marshal, MSI presents itsgeneration of AMD products. It is clear that AMD is extremely absolute high-end motherboard for Intels latest Sandy Bridgeconfident and ambitious about its upcoming products.processors. Therefore it comes for example with a trulyBy contrast, Intels largest selling (by volume) productsophisticated power design as well as eight PCI-Express x16continues to be Pentium branded CPUs, manufactured at slots and numerous other features.45nm/65nm, and in general, Intel takes several years to GIGABYTE HD6970 2GB Review @ Vorteztransition to a new generation of CPUs. Description: Back in December, AMD released their muchawaited Cayman based HD69XX series of cards. It representedThe Daily VR-Zone Newsa transition to a revised architecture that was more cateredtowards compute performance with new features suchSummary - 11 Feb 2011 as Morphological Anti-Aliasing and enhanced tessellationFebruary 12th, 2011 performance to meet the requirements of newer DX10/11titles. For the most part, the HD6970 was a success despite itsspecifications appearing subtly different to the highly popularbut ageing HD5870...AMD May Axe Microprocessor Brand-NamesDescription: Advanced Micro Devices may can specific brand-names of its microprocessors in order to emphasize itsIn todays daily news roundup: - MSI presents its absolutecorporate AMD Vision trademark and attract attention to itshigh-end motherboard, the Big Bang Marshal P67, for Intels corporate brand. As a result of the move, Athlon, Phenom andlatest Sandy Bridge platform; - CSR announces CSR8600 Sempron will vanish into oblivion.wireless consumer audio platform for embedded platforms;Enermax presents two new high-end cases- Rumour has it that the successor to the iPhone 4 will beDescription: In January, Enermax introduced its new flagshipsmaller than its predecessor by at least a third, and - Halomidi tower for gamers, Hoplite. However this is just theReach appears to be receiving a follow-up add-on bundle tobeginning of the new generation of Enermax cases, which willthe previously released Noble map pack.be presented on CeBIT in Hannover for the first time.Hardware News:1

2. February 12th, 2011 Published by: VR-ZoneConsumer Electronics and Software News: Thermaltake UpdatesLG G-Slate, Roll Out! Video Shows What Honeycomb Will DoWith iOS Toughpower Grand SeriesDescription: With all the talk of Playbooks and TouchPadsthese days, its sad that poor old LG hasnt had much traction PSUs February 12th, 2011with their 10-inch G-Slate aka The Optimus Pad.ChoiiX Power Fort 5.5whrs Review - XSReviewsDescription: With the ever expanding use of smartphones andother clever little electronic gadgets, one problem the worldis starting to come to terms with is that there is just neverenough power to go around. Lugging around chargers can be a Thermaltake has announced the Toughpower Grand 850W,real pain, especially if you need a different one for each device. 1050W and 1200W models, expanding its best-sellingHowever, Coolermaster have produced what a few others have Toughpower Grand series of high-performance PSUs.done, a backup power supply. However, this isnt its firstiteration, this new version of the Power Fort comes with asimple USB interface hoping to standardise backup charging.Lets see if its as effective without the myriad of charge heads.Brows furrowed on Apple universal phone charger stanceDescription: The universal mobile phone charger that wasagreed in Europe is nearing completion, with a samplealready in production, but Apple could be an obstacle to itsdeployment.Could the Next iPhone Really Be A Third Smaller Than iPhone4?Description: According to Bloomberg, the next iPhone is goingto be two-thirds the size of the already (very) petite iPhone 4.Thats crazy small. But will it happen? Thermaltake has announced the Toughpower Grand 850W,Tablets of 2011: What to Look For1050W and 1200W models, expanding its best-sellingDescription: Weve compiled a comparative table with whatToughpower Grand series of high-performance PSUs.we consider are the hottest tablets either currently availableor announced so far. Rivals such as Motorola and LG arecoming on strong with the first Android "Honeycomb" tablets,while Research In Motion is launching the PlayBook usinga completely reworked operating system based on QNXNeutrino. HP will start to see the fruits of its Palm acquisitionwhen it launches the TouchPad, the first webOS-based tablet,this summer.Installing Linux on a Netbook from a USB Thumbdrive @Computing on DemandDescription: In my household, netbooks fly around like cursewords. I have had more Acers come through my home officethan I would like and for some reason, they either come withWindows XP or Windows 7 Starter; both are worthless in myopinion. So when my friend asked me help him install Ubuntuon his Aspire One, I obliged. Remember, netbooks do not comeequipped with CDROM/DVD drives and unless you have anexternal drive or converter, your only option is to use USB.Gaming News:Halo: Reach Defiant Map Pack unveiled?Description: Low resolution images of follow-up to the NobleMap Pack surface; new add-on bundle will reportedly includethree new multiplayer environments.Duke Nukem Forever Video PreviewDescription: After 14 years, Duke Nukem Forever is finallycoming out. Weve played the first-person shooter. So, comeget some. 2 3. February 12th, 2011Published by: VR-ZoneBuffalo, leading provider of innovative network solutions andstorage devices for the home and business, is preparing torelease the DVSM-PC58U2V, its latest external DVD writer inJapan.These 80Plus Gold rated PSUs boast modular sleeved cables,a 3oz PCB (reduces heat & power loss) design, solid Japanesecapacitors, active PFC function, double-forward switchingcircuitry, multiple circuitry protection (e.g. Over Current, OverPower, Over Voltage, Under Voltage, Over Temperature &Short-Circuit protection), and a MTBF of 120,000 hours.The Toughpower Grand 850W/ 1050W/ 1200W PSUs arecooled by a dual ball-bearing 140mm flower-shape fan (withFanDelayCool Technology) and are covered by a seven yearwarranty. Pricing and availability has not been announced yetso stay tuned for more updates.News via [Techpowerup]Buffalo Readies New ExternalDVD WriterFebruary 12th, 2011Measuring 145 x 19 x 153mm and weighing 340g, the compactwriter is available in black, white or silver colors. It has twoUSB cables (1 for data & 1 for power) and supports write speedsof up to "8x for DVD-R/+R and DVD+RW, 6x for DVD-R/+R DL and DVD-RW, 5x for DVD-RAM, and 24x for CD-R/Buffalo, leading provider of innovative network solutions and RW". The DVSM-PC58U2V, bundled with Power2Go 7 andstorage devices for the home and business, is preparing toInstantBurn 5, is expected to ship in mid-February at a MSRPrelease the DVSM-PC58U2V, its latest external DVD writer in of US$77 in Japan.Japan.News via [Techconnect]3 4. February 12th, 2011 Published by: VR-ZoneScythe Introduces GourikiLine of PSUsFebruary 12th, 2011Scythe has launched its Gouriki 3 series of PSUs, designedfor both gamers and mainstream users. Available in 500W,600W and 700W capacities (modular and non-modular), the80Plus bronze certified PSUs feature sleeved cables, two 12Vrails, various circuitry protection (OCP, OVP, OPP, SCP, UVPFor cooling, a controlled 140 mm fan from the proven Scythe& OTP), and is cooled by a 140mm Slip Stream fan. All Gouriki Slip Stream series is used. In addition, users have the option to3 PSUs are covered by a three year limited warranty.connect two case fans directly to the power supply. These fansSCYTHE PRESS RELEASEare then individually controlled by an integrated, intelligentfan controller according to the load and the temperature of theJapanese cooling specialist Scythe announces the availability PSU. A sufficient level of security is assured due to the varietyof the new Gouriki 3 power supply series. These power suppliesof protection circuits. Furthermore, three-year warranty isare now available with an output of 500 W, 600 W and 700 Wgranted by Scythe on the new Gouriki 3 series.both as a plug-in version with cable management for comfort,as well as a standard version with sleeved mesh cables.The Gouriki 3 power supplies meet the 80Plus Bronzecertification and reaches an efficiency of 82 to 89% at20/50/100% load. As usual for Scythe, all components aredesigned for long life in accordance with Japanese standards.In addition, the Gouriki 3 series was equipped with animproved dual 12V rail, which ensures stable and interference-free operation. The 45 to 55 cm long cable strands of the plug-in, as well as the standard version are completely encased indurable, black mesh tube.Scythe Gouriki 3 power supply series is now available for thefollowing MSRP: 4 5. February 12th, 2011Published by: VR-Zonesingle core and the D700 dual core. Intel itself will have fourGouriki 3 500 W Plug-in: 72,00 EUR (excluding VAT) different motherboard models at launch, all of course usingthe mini-ITX form factor. All three boards will also supportDDR3 memory, although we dont know if well see supportfor anything faster than DDR3 800MHz modules as per theGouriki 3 600 W Plug-in: 79,00 EUR (excluding VAT) current Atom processors.The big question is if Intel has done enough when it comes toimproving the overall performance of its new Atom processorsthat we presume are part of Intels upcoming Cedar TrailGouriki 3 700 W Plug-in: 92,00 EUR (excluding VAT) family of Atom processors. Intel did state that its expectingCedar Trail to offer twice the performance of Pine Trail and atthe same time double the graphics performance of the currentGMA 3150 graphics solution. We shouldnt have to wait tooGouriki 3 500 W: 65,00 EUR (excluding VAT) long to see how well the new Atom processors perform, as Intelcould potentially unveil the platform as early as IDF Beijingwhich is scheduled for April 12-13, although so far its not clearwhat Intel will be showing.Gouriki 3 600 W: 72,00 EUR (excluding VAT)ViewSonic to launch dual-SIMGouriki 3 700 W: 85,00 EUR (excluding VAT) smartphone and new tablet atFor more information, visit product pages of Gouriki 3 andMWCGouriki 3 Plug-in.February 12th, 2011Intel is preparing to launchnew desktop Atom processorsnext quarterFebruary 12th, 2011 ViewSonic is getting ready to show off a pair of new devices atthe Mobile World Congress in Barcelona next week and VR-Zone will at the show to get some hands on time with thenew devices. First up is the V350 which is a dual-SIM Androidsmartphone and secondly we have the ViewPad 10Pro whichis a dual boot Android 2.2 and Windows 7 Professional tablet.Intels Atom platform recently got some very seriouscompetition from not only AMD with its Brazos APU platform, ViewSonic is getting ready to show off a pair of new devices atbut it looks like VIAs new dual core Nano processor will givethe Mobile World Congress in Barcelona next week and VR-Intel a run of its money as well. However, according to a Zone will at the show to get some hands on time with themotherboard roadmap that VR-Zone has gotten its hands on, new devices. First up is the V350 which is a dual-SIM Androidits clear that Intel isnt sitting around idly and waiting to lose smartphone and secondly we have the ViewPad 10Pro whichmarket share, as the company has at least two new desktop is a dual boot Android 2.2 and Windows 7 Professional tablet.Atom processors planned for launch sometime during the nextThe V350 looks somewhat similar to LGs Optimus One P500quarter.in terms of design, although it seems to shun physical buttonsin favour of touch sensitive ones. Beyond the dual SIM cardIntels Atom platform recently got some very seriousslots the V350 packs a 3.5-inch 480x320 resolution capacitivecompetition from not only AMD with its Brazos APU platform, touch screen, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1, A-GPS, a 5Megapixel rearbut it looks like VIAs new dual core Nano processor will givecamera, a micro SD card slot and Android 2.2. The rest of theIntel a run of its money as well. However, according to a specs will be revealed next week at the MWC, although wemotherboard roadmap that VR-Zone has gotten its hands on, expect this to be a fairly affordable model, especially as theresits clear that Intel isnt sitting around idly and waiting to lose no indication of it having any kind of 3G connectivity.market share, as the company has at least two new desktopAtom processors planned for launch sometime during the nextquarter.We dont have a lot of specifics to go on here though, butwhat we do know is that there will be a D600 and a D700series of Atom processors and presumably the D600 will be5 6. February 12th, 2011Published by: VR-ZoneToday, Samsung has introduced three new Android mobilephones, namely the GALAXY Ace, GALAXY Fit and GALAXYmini. (above picture from left to right).Samsung GALAXY AceThe GALAXY Ace has a minimal yet sophisticated lookThe ViewPad 10Pro has as the name suggests a 10-inch displayand sports a 3.5-inch HVGA display which makes gaming,and it sports a resolution of 1024x600. The screen features videos and photos viewing more enjoyable. The GALAXYcapacitive multitouch and LED backlight. Itll be powered byAce also features Social Hub which allow users toIntels Oak Trail platform, but once again the full specs wont access information across their social networking services,be unveiled until the show. However, the ViewPad 10Pro does instant messaging and email accounts. Equipped with afeature a built in 3G modem, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and its 800MHz processor, the Android Froyo 2.2 Froyo smartphoneexpected to have a battery life of at least six hours according also lets users experience smooth web browsing and seamlessto the press release. It will as we mentioned earlier dualmultitasking.booth Android 2.2 and Windows 7 Professional and it offersfull Flash 10.1 support as well as a custom UI developed byViewSonic.Samsung GALAXY FitThe Samsung GALAXY Fit claims to be the perfect devicefor working adults. It has an integrated email system andOffice Viewer function that lets users do their work while onthe move. The GALAXY Fit also features a 5-megapixel cameraand built-in FM radio.Samsung GALAXY miniViewSonic will also be showing off its ViewPad 10s 3G at theThe GALAXY mini appeals to young users who want ashow which is simply a 3G enabled version of its ViewPadcompact phone with an ergonomic design for easy mobility10s that the company launched at CES back in January. Welland comfort. It also features an integrated phonebook withhave more details of all the new devices from ViewSonic earlydirect SNS and IM links, making it even easier for users to staynext week, so stay tuned for the full details from the MWC inconnected with their friends all the time.Barcelona.Samsung GALAXY Ace,All three phones offer more than 100,000 apps from bothGALAXY Fit and GALAXY minithe Android Market and Samsung Apps and also feature thearrive in Singapore SWYPE messaging interface, making communicating on-the-go easier and faster than before.February 12th, 2011The GALAXY Ace will be on sale from 12 February 2011 at therecommended retail price of S$498. The GALAXY mini will beSamsung has announced three new Android smartphones,available from 19 February 2011 at S$298 and the GALAXY Fitthe GALAXY Ace, Galaxy Fit and Galaxy Mini, in Singapore.Pricing and availability inside.6 7. February 12th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zonefrom March 2011 at S$398. All prices are for mobile phoneswithout contract and are inclusive of GST.Dell Singapore shows Streak 7tablet and Venue smartphoneNokia and Microsoft EntersFebruary 12th, 2011Strategic Partnership withWindows Phone and MobileExperience.February 12th, 2011Dell Singapore held a media lunch today and at the table, thecompany shows two products that were previously showcasedat CES 2011 in Las Vegas last month - Dell Streak 7 Androidtablet and Venue Android smartphone. Yes, they are comingto Singapore.Nokia calls it the third ecosystem as the company forms astrategic partnership with Microsoft, bringing the strengths ofboth companies together. More after the jumpIt was quite a surprise when Dell brought the Android-basedDell Streak 7 to the table, and the product is the standard USretail version with T-Mobile being the exclusive carrier.Nokia calls it the third ecosystem as the company forms astrategic partnership with Microsoft, bringing the strengths ofboth companies together.With the strategic partnership, Wiindows Phone, Bing, Xbox,Office and the Nokia experience will be packaged together inthis new ecosystem.From the back of the box, you can see the list of features ofthe Dell Streak 7 which include 4G capability, supports mobilevideo chat and 16GB built-in memory with expandable SD cardslot.Watch the video by Stephen Elop and Steve Ballmer, CEO ofNokia and Microsoft respectively 7 8. February 12th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone to entice mobile road warriors and fast enough for speed demons? At some point or another, we have all attempted copying huge amounts of files to external USB 2.0 storage devices either to bring them around or simply for backup. These file transfers were lengthy and you could probably make yourself a cuppa while waiting. For the past year, SuperSpeed USB (or USB 3.0), has been steadily making its way into the mainstream segment. Many mid-range systems and almost all high-end systems come with USB 3.0 ports, and even laptops are starting to have at least one. With more than ten times the bandwidth of USB 2.0, capable USB 3.0 devices are significantly faster than USBThe Dell Streak 7 is as big as the Samsung Galaxy Tab, and even 2.0 ones. With the USB 3.0 adoption rate increasing, manyat 7-inch, it is still a nice size to hold and use. Unfortunately, manufacturers are starting to offer a large variety of USB 3.0it will not support voice+data but is data only, as according flash drives which typically provide about 100MB/sec transferto the maker. This is because the company does not foresee rates.users holding the Streak 7 up like how you would with a mobilephone to do phone calls. Kingston, a long-time player in the flash and memory industry, has gone a step further by introducing the HyperXWhile a hands-free headset is provided, it will only be used for MAX 3.0 series of external USB 3.0 drives. The HyperX MAXvideo chat and Dell says it is likely the model for Singapore will 3.0 is designed for those who want a storage deivce the fastestbe using a third-party app for video chat. The specifications of transfer rates, yet have considerably large capacities. Letsthe Dell Streak coming to Singapore will be the same as the US have a quick look at its specifications first.version, supporting 4G connectivity. However, it still dependson the local telco as to when 4G will be ready. Kingston HyperX MAX 3.0 Features and Specifications Performance: USB-IF SuperSpeed-Certified Standardized: complies with USB 3.0 specificationstandards, compatible with USB 2.0 Sequential Speed: Read - up to 195MB/sec, Write - up to160MB/sec Shock-resistant: built with Flash components so nomoving parts Portable: aluminum design is sleek, stylish and rugged Silent: runs silently with no moving parts Easy: plug & play with no driver required; utilizes USBOn the right are the SD and SIM card slots. while on thebus power with no additional bus power requiredopposite side are the built-in speakers and 3.5mm audiojack. The top holds the camera shutter button and volume Guarantee: 3-year warrantycontrol (which is also the camera zoom). Capacities: 64GB, 128GB and 256GB Dimensions: 73.49 x 118.6 x 12mmKingston HyperX MAX 3.0 Vibration Operating: 20G peak, 10-2000Hz, (20min /64GB External SuperSpeedaxis) x 3 axisUSB Drive Review Vibration Non-operating: 20G peak, 10-2000Hz, (12cycle / axis) x 3 axis, x 20minFebruary 12th, 2011 Operating Shock: 1500G Operating Temperature: 0 - 60C Storage Temperature: -20 - 85C Power Consumption: 4.5WWith rated speeds of up to 195MB/sec read and 160MB/sec Dual LED: blue (USB 3.0), green (USB 2.0)write, the Kingston HyperX MAX 3.0 is one of the fastest 2.5"external USB 3.0 storage devices around. Is it hardy enough 8 9. February 12th, 2011 Published by: VR-ZoneIn this review, we will be taking a look at the Kingston HyperXThe HyperX MAX 3.0 feels well-built thanks to its aluminiumMAX 3.0 64GB version. The HyperX MAX 3.0 comes packagedexterior. The underside of the drive is plain; there is only ain a compact box with Kingstons trademark blue color. There product label and four rubber feet to prevent the enclosureis a small window, allowing you to have a peek at the drivefrom being scratched and keep the drive sturdy when placedcontained inside. The drives rated speeds are also indicatedon a flat surface.along the bottom edge of the box. NEC launches new multimedia ultra short throw projectors in Singapore February 12th, 2011 NEC Display Solution has announced their new lineup of multimedia ultra short throw projectors in Singapore, theInside the package, you would find only the HyperX MAX 3.0 new U Series with the 3000-lumen U300X and 3100-lumendrive and a USB 3.0 cable. Neither is there any driver to install, U310W.nor bundled software in a CD. NEC Asia Pacific today unveiled its new U Series 3000- lumen U300X and 3100-lumen U310W. These ultra short throw projectors can be mounted to the wall above the screen, making them ideal for education environments using interactive or standard whiteboards. The 3D-ready U300X and U310W are built with DLP and DLP Link technologies from Texas Instruments. The projectors offer XGA and WXGA resolutions respectively with brightness level of up to 3100 lumens. Connectivity includes HDMI and dual computer inputs and variable audio out to connect the projector to an external speaker.There is a blue LED indicator beside the USB 3.0 connector The U Series models also incorporate eco-friendly featureswhich lights up whether there is drive activity. that lengthen the life of the projector, saving money and energy in the process. In ECO Mode, the lamp life can be extended up to 3000 hours while the power consumption is lowered. 9 10. February 12th, 2011Published by: VR-ZoneThe U300X and U310W projectors include the following The researchers claim that their chip can be further improvedfeatures:to 100 times more efficient than current electronics, and requiring only 0.0017m2 per transistor.- Throw ratio of 0.377:1 (U300X) and 0.3:1 (U310W)- Brightness of 3000 lumens (U300X) and 3100 lumensScythe Unleashes Mine 2 CPU(U310W) Cooler- Contrast ratio of 2000:1 February 12th, 2011- Lamp life up to 3000 hours (in ECO Mode)- 3D capability- HDMI connectivity and dual computer inputs Scythe Co., Ltd, has revived the discontinued Mine CPU- Integrated RJ45 connection cooler with the release of its high-performance Mine 2 CPU Cooler (SCMN-2000). Measuring 130 x 143 x 160mm and- Virtual Remote (DDC/CI)weighing 1,150g, the cooler boasts eight copper heatpipes, dual aluminum heatsink towers, a F.M.S.B.3 (Flip Mount Super- Remote diagnostics Back-plate 3) System, and supports up to three fans. Japanese cooling specialist Scythe hereby officially announces- Closed captioning enables users to display text informationthe launch the new high-end CPU Cooler Mine 2. The Minefor the hearing impaired 2 CPU Cooler is based on a twin cooler Layout. Eight copper heatpipes transport heat to two generously dimensioned- Automatic vertical keystone correction cooling blocks. By placing the fan in between the 2 heatsink towers, intake as well as exhale airflows are optimized to- Auto Power Onprovide high performance. Furthermore, the lower part of the installed fan is designed to cool the devices around the CPU- 20 seconds quick start and immediate off with no cooling socket, such as voltage regulators and RAM. The structure ofperiod requiredthe heat sink makes it possible to use a total of up to three fans by purchasing separately sold fan clips. In this manner,- 10-watt built-in speaker the air flow and thus the cooling capacity of the Mine 2 will be significantly increased by using the push / pull principle.Worlds First ProgrammableNanoprocessorFebruary 12th, 2011The nanoprocessor was assembled from nanometre-scalecomponents by a team of US researchers. Made up often-nanometre-thick germanium wires, each 960m tilecontaining 496 programmable transistors is capable ofperforming basic arithmetic and logical functions. Althoughsuch capabilities pale in comparison to current processors, itis a worlds first for nanoprocessors.There has been difficulties in assembling nanoscale structuresas materials exhibit variations in their properties as weprogress from the microscale to nanoscale. While theseprocessors could be used in applications such as tinyembedded system and biomedical devices, they still have to beimproved to compete effectively with conventional electronics.Each nanotransistor occupies 1.9m2 - more than twentytimes the 0.09m2 area required by logic gates in current32nm CMOS chips.In comparison to the Intel Sandy Bridge which was launchedlast month, Intel fits each of its 995 million transistorsinto a 0.217m2 area, with a total area of 216mm2 (squareBy default, the Mine 2 will be delivered with a centrally placed,millimetres).adjustable 140 mm Slip Stream PWM & VR fan. Although the 10 11. February 12th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zonefan supports the PWM feature, the user can manually adjustthe PWM bandwidth between 470 to 1,370 rpm and 740 to1,900 rpm. Despite the changed bandwidth, the fan is stillcontrolled by the PWM signal from the motherboard, allowingan individual but also dynamic fan control. Alternatively it ispossible to disable the PWM function. Instead the fan can becontrolled manually in a range of 500 to 1,700 rpm. This givesevery user the option to optimize the Mine 2 CPU cooler forperformance or low noise according to own preferences.Scythe Mine 2 will be available worldwide from early February2011 for 50.50 (excl. VAT).The Daily VR-Zone NewsSummary - 10 Feb 2011February 12th, 2011For safe and stable attachment to the motherboard, the newF.M.S.B.3 (Super Flip Mount Backplate 3) mounting systemis used. Due to the improved design of the backplate, Mine 2CPU is compatible with all current sockets, including the newLGA1155.In todays daily news roundup: - MSI Unveils the N580GTXHydroGens all-copper waterblock design, - Gigabytes GTX460 SOC (Super Overclock) graphics card gets reviewed forits overclocking potential, - Amazon announces its Kindle e-reader app for HP Touchpad, - Heads start rolling as Activisionacts on its decision to put the Guitar Heroes franchise onthe executioners block, and - LG wants Sonys PlayStation 3console banned in USA for alleged patent infringements.Hardware News:Antec Khler H2O 620 Water Cooling System @ BenchmarkReviewsDescription: All-in-one CPU water coolers have becomepopular and even mainstream, and for good reason: theyremuch cheaper than traditional liquid cooling systems, andoffer a combination of good performance and generally lownoise that makes them attractive alternatives to higher-endair coolers. The first generation of these coolers were virtuallyclones, with manufacturers doing little other than labelingAseteks design, but were starting to see some innovation inthe area, and Antecs Khler H20 620 steps into the marketwith its own unique take on the concept...Verbatim announces their VELVE color-tunable OLED panels,now available11 12. February 12th, 2011Published by: VR-ZoneDescription: Verbatim (a subsidiary of Mitsubishi) announcedEurocom All-in-One enterprise wide desktop solution: thetheir new color-tunabe and dimmable 14x14cm OLED lighting EUROCOM Uno 2.0panels called VELVE (these are made together by MitsubishiDescription: Eurocom Corporation, a leader in Desktopand Pioneer). Verbatim says that the panels are already Replacement technology has taken the next logical step inavailable - which makes the VELVE the worlds first color-the evolution of the computer system with their releasetunable OLED lighting panels. of a 74 Watts ultimate desktop replacement, the fullyupgradeable All-in-One PC EUROCOM Uno 2.0. The newGigabyte GTX460 Super Overclock Review @ ocaholicsystem is designed to accelerate transition from energy-Description: With the Gigabyte GTX 460 SOC (Superwasteful desktop PCs to energy efficient and eco-friendlyOverclock) we have a graphics card in our testlab which doesntcomputers...belong to the latest models but it still is quite an interestingproduct. The fact that this card comes with a highly efficientHPs WebOS Bounty: Touchpad Tablet, Pre 3 and Veercooler and a huge overclocking potential makes it particularlySmartphonesinteresting Description: HPs webOS devices are finally here: TheTouchpad tabletan sleek affair with iPad-competitive specsNZXT Sentry LXE Touch-Screen Fan-Controller Review onas well as the bigger, badder Pre 3, and a teeny, Pixi-esqueTechnic3D (German)slider called the Veer...Description: (Machine translation) The NZXT Sentry LXEFan-Controller arrived Technic3D. Touch screen LCDSmartfish Whirl Mini Laser Mouse w/ Anti-Gravity Comfortdisplays, temperatures in C/F, RPMs and many more can you Pivot @ TestFreakssee in the following Review.Description: Today for review Ive got the Smartfish WhirlMini Laser Mouse that is unlike any other mouse out there.SilverStone RAVEN RV02-E Case Review at OverclockersThe Whirl features a laser sensor so it tracks very well on mostOnlineany surface. What makes the Whirl different is the design ofDescription: When it comes down to looking for a highit. The Whirl features what Smartfish calls ErgoMotion, theend case with ample cooling and expansion options, themouse sits up on sort of a pedestal and the mouse itself pivotsSilverStone RAVEN RV02-E is one route to definitelyall different ways supposedly making it more comfortable andconsider. The case looks seemingly simple from the outside butergonomic. Its certainly a unique mousing experience...its a work of art inside and out. The 90 rotated motherboardwith three 180mm Air Penetrator brings cooling performance3D LED TV & Blu-ray Player: The Three-Dimensional LG @Ive never seen in a case before. InsideHWDescription: Three-dimensional video content, althoughMSI Unveils the N580GTX HydroGens All Coppercurrently only available in the tiniest proportions, seems toWaterblock Designhave become a trend that pushes the video industry forward.Description: MSI, the leading international motherboard andOwing to it, tens of new Blu-ray player models with 3Dgraphics card maker, unveiled today the all new N580GTXcapabilities have been released, and thats set off the 3D TVHydroGen equipped with MSIs proprietary HydroGen allreceiver industry as well. Read on to find out what LG has comecopper waterblock and NVIDIA Geforce GTX 580s top ofup with to competethe line graphics core. The HydroGen waterblock is MSIsindustry-leading graphics card cooling solution featuring All-Amazon Announces Kindle App for HP TouchpadCopper construction and Micro-Channel technology for faster Description: Amazon has announced that it plans to launchwater flow and enhanced GPU cooling.a free Kindle app designed specifically for HPs forthcoming,webOS-based TouchPad, which was unveiled at a press eventGainward GeForce GTX 560 Ti Phantom 2 Graphics CardWednesday.ReviewDescription: oday we have the GTX 560 Ti Phantom 2 on our Gaming News:test bench and will be putting it up against a selection of cards LG Wants PS3 Banned In USAin a similar price bracket to see how it compares in real world Description: In a bold move by LG Electronics, the companygaming, media and GPU computing tasks.has filed two complaints through the International TradeConsumer Electronics and Software News: Commission (ITC) against Sony Electronics over a number ofpatent infringements.Mionix Propus 380 Review @ VortezDescription: The most underrated component in any gamingGuitar Hero No More, 500 Workers Laid Offconfiguration has to be the beloved mouse pad. Some would Description: It is done and it is over Guitar Hero is no more.even claim its presence isnt a necessity. But in essence,Activision Blizzard announced in a recent press conferencecombining a gaming mouse with a decent gaming pad willthat they are disbanding Guitar Hero and plans to layoff aboutbe complimentary. Its a fair point that if you were to spend 500 workers. Development of a new series planned for thisbetween 30-70 on a gaming mouse to enhance your esportsyear has been scrapped as well.endeavours then you really ought to invest in a quality gamingDragon Age II Choose Your Class Trailersurface to compliment the setup. Afterall its the sensor that Description: The warrior, the mage, or the rogue? Thosewill be doing all the hard work, it surely behoves the avid gamer are your three choices of class in BioWares upcoming RPGto choose carefully...sequel, Dragon Age II, and in the latest trailer, the developermakes a case for choosing all three. Whether hes wielding 12 13. February 12th, 2011Published by: VR-Zonea broadsword, staff, or knives, Hawke can do some seriousdevices with the introduction of the Avastar 88W8797 dualdamage. See what each particular class offers in terms of attack band Wi-Fi system on a chip.style. Mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets have only fairly recently gotten support for 802.11n Wi-Fi, but its theThe Hole in the Sunslower 150Mbit version rather than the full speed 300Mbit version. As of today, this is no longer the case, as Marvell hasFebruary 12th, 2011 announced its first MIMO 802.11n Wi-Fi solution for mobile devices with the introduction of the Avastar 88W8797 dual band Wi-Fi system on a chip. However, the features dont stop here as the 88W8797 its also equipped with transmit beamforming technology which allows for extended range at improved signal quality comparedOur Sun is leaking plasma which is ejected into the far-ends to your average 802.11n 2x2 MIMO solutions and it alsoof our solar system. Studying such phenomenon allows us to supports both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands unlike mostlearn more about the Universe we live in. Read on. competing solutions. It also sports the Bluetooth 4.0 low- energy standard which offers a longer range, lower power usage and quicker set-up time, but lower bit rate compared to Bluetooth 2.1 class 2 devices. Finally it also incorporates an FM receiver and transmitter to round things off, making it a pretty comprehensive solution for mobile devices. Although the 88W8797 was designed for mobile devices, Marvell is keen to point out that its suitable for a wide range of other Wi-Fi enabled devices that can take advantage of the extra performance on offer such as digital video players, notebooks, set-top boxes and digital TVs. Thanks to being a single chip solution the 88W8797 should be easy to integrate even into small devices and hopefully itll prove to be cost effective as well. Marvell will be demoing the Avastar 88W8797 at the MWC in Barcelona next week and well be onThe Japanese solar mission, Hinode is equipped withlocation to take a closer look.instruments which make it particularly adept at observingmulti-million degree solar plasma. The solar atmosphere isknown as corona, and it is hotter than the solar surface. TheCPU and GPU Coolers Testingpicture above is taken such that only the relatively hottercorona is seen and the cooler plasma is represented by the Methodologyblack patches. February 12th, 2011The two large black patches seen in the photo are knownas corona holes- regions of cooler plasma. These regionsrepresent open magnetic field lines where solar plasma is sentinto the fast solar wind and from then on, reaches the far endsof our solar system.Solar missions such as the Hinode, monitor the Sun, especially At VR-Zone.com, we continuously strive to provide you withthe corona holes closely. The ejection of plasma into spacethe highest quality and most accurate product reviews. Youhails the start of the space weather chain. Space weathercan certainly test a cooler by installing it on a CPU or a GPU,prediction is critical to scientific studies, enabling us to yet this is not a very professional method for various reasons.understand and discover the origins of high energy particles The differences between the processors, the rather inaccurateand electromagnetic fields.motherboard readings and the instability of the thermal load are but a few. Furthermore, nobody can guarantee that the same hardware will be compatible or even available to testMarvell launches first mobilea large number of coolers on it in order to get comparableMIMO Wi-Fi solutionresults. Therefore, we decided to create a thermal benchingFebruary 12th, 2011station which can be used to test any form of cooler and achieve an exact thermal load. We took this a step further and designed it so that it can also control its input power both manually andMobile devices such as smartphones and tablets have only automatically while taking thermal and acoustics readings atfairly recently gotten support for 802.11n Wi-Fi, but its the the same time.slower 150Mbit version rather than the full speed 300MbitThe thermal core of our testing station is a quite simpleversion. As of today, this is no longer the case, as Marvell has pure copper block at the size of a CPU core. The base of theannounced its first MIMO 802.11n Wi-Fi solution for mobile 13 14. February 12th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zonecopper block has been machined to house two Watlow Firerodcartridges inside its body, rated able to generate 150W at 240V Active Media Launches Flipinput voltage each. A small PT100 sensor is installed insideUSB Flash Drivea hole at the highest possible point of the copper core, only February 12th, 2011half a mm lower than the top of the copper block. The head ofthe sensor is at exactly the top center point of the copper core,where an actual CPU / GPU core would be.Active Media Products, manufacturer of SSDs, DOMS, andinnovative USB drives, has unveiled the capless Flip USB flashdrive. Measuring 46 x 13 x 8mm, the tiny device has a USB 2.0interface, NAND flash memory chip, and comes in 4GB and8GB capacities. Available in fire orange or white colors, theFlip can be purchased directly from Amazon at MSRPs of US$12 (4GB) and US$20 (8GB).ACTIVE MEDIA PRODUCTS PRESS RELEASEFremont, California - February 7, 2011- Active MediaProducts, a leading manufacturer of SSDs, DOMs and USBdrives, today announced the new FLIP pivot USB 2.0 flashdrive, an ultra-slim pivot style drive. "The FLIP drive isCopper core designed in fire orange and white racing colors, giving it aunique look, and the drive is extremely small and ultra-slim,making it a highly portable storage device," stated ActiveIn order to make our testing station compatible with everyMedia Products VP of Sales, Jerry Thomson.cooler ever made we went with a very simple design usinginterchangeable PCBs. Creating custom PCBs by drilling exactholes at specific points is very easy, therefore by being able toeasily install different PCBs and adjust their height comparedto the top of the copper core we gained the ability to emulateany CPU core precisely and install any cooler despite itsdesign, size, shape, weight and / or retention mechanism. Bybeing able to use any custom PCB and any size copper core, weensured the usability of our testing station indefinitely.The pivot style lid protects the drive when not in use - andyoull never have to worry about losing the lid because itconveniently flips open, giving instant access to your data.Pack 4GB or 8GB of data securely onto the FLIP drive. It isdesigned to fit easily on a keychain or in a pocket or clippedto a backpack. Load up to 2000 MP3 songs or up to 2400six megapixel photos onto your FLIP drive to take with youanywhere.CPU test PCB14 15. February 12th, 2011 Published by: VR-ZoneJust weeks ago, hacker GeoHotz released the code to jailbreakSonys PlayStation 3 console, online.Since the leak, Sony has been working hard to contain thespread of the code, and in what seemed like a victorious endto the episode, had successfully been awarded a temporaryrestraining order against GeoHotz himself.This new FLIP drive is available today through Amazon, at This prevented the hacker from distributing the code online,approximately $12 for the 4GB model and $20 for the 8GB.and also sent out a stern warning to potential hackers.The FLIP drive is available in fire orange or white.Just today though, a spokesperson for Sony was spotted re-Tweeting the code on his Twitter page.About Active Media Products Kevin Butler, a fictional spokesperson for Sony, re-Tweetedthe code from user evixa, an added his own quibble, sayingBased in the heart of Silicon Valley, Active Media Products LLC "Lemme guess... you sank my battleship?"is dedicated to developing creative new media products that Just when it seemed that everything was coming to an end, thisimprove performance and enhance the users experience. Ouris yet another embarrassing smack in the face for Sony.focus on innovative product development enables us to bringnew technology to market a step ahead of the competition.AMP is a leader in small form factor SSDs and manufacturesthe Wink and the endangered species line of USB drives.Apple files patents forFictional spokesperson fortouchscreen OLED technologySony accidentally retweetscurrently in use onPS3 hack code smartphonesFebruary 12th, 2011February 12th, 2011It is well known that OLED technology is superior to bothconventional LCD and even the recent Super LCD technologycurrently in use on every single single device that has a screen.When news came out that Sonys PlayStation 3 game consoleNeedless to say, Apple has also got its eye on this particularwas hacked into by hacker GeoHotz, it sent everyone includingtechnology as well, and clearly intends to integrate with itsSony, into a frenzy. Whilst Sony has been successful inline of touch-based electronic devices. But it appears thatstopping the spread of the code thus far, it was convenientlythe Cupertino giant might have plans to use this technologybroadcasted to the world again - this time via Twitter.against the competition: why else would the company beingfiling patents over touchscreen OLED technology whichappear to be currently in use?For a company that always claims to be on the bleeding edgeof technology, Apples line of consumer electronics products,especially its iPod, iPhone and iPads, have consistently been15 16. February 12th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zonemissing out on a certain display technology which is currently consideration the fact that Apple has had no prior experiencein use by some of its competitors. Yep, we are talking about in working with OLED displays, it would make sense that it isthat expensive display technology known as OLED, which not possible for them to come up with an entirely new methodsupposedly offers much faster response times and betterof implementing such displays so suddenly.power efficiency as opposed to conventional LCD panels.And needless to say, broad patents make for great offensiveNeedless to say, it is hardly surprising that Apple wouldweapons in patent lawsuits, as it almost grantees thatattempt to discover ways in which it can integrate OLEDcompetitors would find themselves running afoul of Applestechnology into its products and one-up the competition whilepatented methods. But we can only wait and see if things willin the process of doing so. And as it turns out, Apple is indeed really turned out as speculated.keen, or have at least expressed an interest in doing so. ButSource and images: Patently Appleas most people would have already known by now, wheneverApple is interested in any technological-related advances, italmost always means one thing. Fancy a look a some new Sony shows off newpatent applications? translucent DSLR that consumers will never own February 12th, 2011 DSLRs are well known for being available in any colour the user wants them to be, as long as it is black. And once again, leave it to Sony to break the mould by exhibiting a new camera over at the CP+ Camera and Photo Imaging Show that sports a one-of-a-kind translucent plastic body. The only problem? This camera will never see the light of day in an actual photographers hands.A quick look at the patent applications reveal that Appleprobably has an intention to implement OLED technology intoa future release of consumer electronic devices. Indeed, thefirst diagram features a rather technical illustration of howIf there is one universal feature about DSLRs which appliesan OLED panel might be able to fit into a device that makesto most manufacturers in the market, it has to be the factuse of touchscreen technology, along with the possibility of that most of the cameras available in the market that fallimplementing the touchscreen-enabled OLED displays onunder that category typically come with only one availabledevices such as mobile phones, media players and even acolour: black. Of course, that is not necessarily a bad thing:notebook. Also included in the second filling are descriptions after all, professionalism plays a huge part in the selection ofregarding layouts for touch sensors, signal routing, other photography gear, and needless to say totting around candy-details. coloured DSLRs to a professional photoshoot does not do ones professional image much help at all.Still, as informative as this may be, it fails to change the factthat Apple is probably one of the last entrants into the OLEDStill, there are times where life needs to be a little moregame. More importantly, it appears that Apple might make colourful that just dealing with things in black and white, anduse of these patents to attack competitors, simply because it would appear that Sonys latest camera which debuted in thethey cover extremely broad methods of implementing OLEDCP+ Camera and Photo Imaging Show held in Japan might justdisplay technology in a wide variety of devices. If one takes into support that fact. Indeed, gracing Sonys exhibit was nothing16 17. February 12th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zonelesser than a new translucent Sony Alpha DSLR, complete withcome with...zero new consumer-centric features. What a waythe companys proprietary translucent mirror technology.to be a wet blanket, Microsoft.Looks rather nice, doesnt it? Apparently, a website knownas PetaPixel claims that this transparent Alpha DSLR spottedin the show is actually the body for the Japanese electronicsgiants upcoming Sony Alpha A77 DSLR. Outfitted withthe same translucent mirror technology as mentioned inthe previous paragraph, the A77 is expected to replace thecompanys current A700 DSLR, and will feature various newfeatures such as 1080p video recording and a high-resolutionWell, Microsoft surely took its time with this one. After all,APS-C sensor. Which sounds suspiciously like a certain high-it has been at least an entire month ever since we broughtresolution APS-C sensor we talked about quite some time ago.news of an alleged leak of an RTM release of SP1 build forWindows 7, only for the Redmond giant to step in and cautionOf course, with the A77 being an upcoming model, it shouldoverenthusiastic users against downloading a service pack thatbe expected that Sony is not about to let the cat out of the bagwas never meant to be used. And on top of that, Microsoftby revealing too much information about it. And it seems to beapparently started work on SP1 for Windows 7 as far back asworking: apparently, no one has the faintest idea as to whenMarch last year, which makes it one of the longer developmentthe A77 will be released, and how much Sony intends to selltimes Windows have spent on a Service Pack.it for.Needless to say, users from all over the world are anticipatingThat being said, we can at least say that we have positivethe day Microsoft makes the inevitable announcement of wheninformation about a certain fact. The translucent body youService Pack 1 for Windows 7 will be released, and what newsee up there? Well, its not for sale. Yep, you heard that right.features they can look forward to. And this is where we haveWhat, you mean you were actually hoping that Sony wouldthe classic good news bad news situation playing out oncethink of selling its prototype device? Sorry to spoil your hopes,again.dude.The good news is that the wait is officially over: Microsoft hasSource and image: PetaPixeljust announced in a blog post that it has signed off an SP1 buildfor RTM today. As usual, TechNet and MSDN subscribersWindows 7 SP1 finally markedwill get first dibs on the update: these users will be able todownload it from their respective portals on February 16, whilefor RTM, home users need notnormal Windows users have to wait until February 22 to getapply their copy via Windows Update.February 12th, 2011 Unfortunately, this is also where the bad news part comes in.With SP1 for Windows 7 being under development for almostan entire year, chances are that some users would be expectingMicrosoft to awe with tons of new features, like what happenedfor XP and Vista. But this is not the case for Windows 7, forMicrosoft has confirmed that SP1 will come with no new user-centric features.As always, one can always count on Microsoft to kill off anyAccording to a blog post made by Microsofts Windowsinterest in what has to be one of the more highly-anticipated Server and Cloud division Senior Technical Product Manager,software releases for the year. After generating a huge deal of Michael Kleef, the update will sport two new featureshype over what would eventually be the first Service Pack everintended for Windows Server 2008 R2: Dynamic Memory andfor its popular Windows 7 operating system thanks a couple of RemoteFX. The former can be considered as an enhancementsupposed leaks, the software giant has apparently thought thatto Windows Servers Hyper-V feature: it allows Hyper-Vit would be a nice touch to announce that SP1 for Windows will17 18. February 12th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zoneusers to "increase virtual machine density with existing consumer is never the smartest kid on the block, since theirresources...without sacrificing performance or scalability"job mostly comprises sitting around and making unreasonable demands from OEMs and hardware developers under theRemoteFX, on the other hand, appears to be the more pretext of spurring innovation. And with dual-core processorsappealing feature. In his blog post, Kleef claims RemoteFXs starting to find their way into smartphones thanks togrants Windows Remote Desktop and Virtual Desktop consumer demands, it seems that Broadcom is not about toInfrastructure clients the ability to leverage a servers GPU to let itself fall behind. Indeed, the company has just announcedprovide hardware acceleration for applications which make its own dual-core System on a Chip which is specially targetedextensive use of OpenGL and Direct3D. This makes it very for high performance smartphones.useful in certain business environments, where thin clientscan easily be used to run applications which have minimumIn an announcement posted on its product page, Broadcomhardware requirements way above what the remote client claims that the new BCM28150 smartphone processor is ansystem can offer."advanced 1080p Multimedia Smartphone System on a chip (SoC)" which features a dual-core processor based off the ARMAnd if you are thinking of attempting to make use of RemoteFX Cortex A9 architecture. The processor cores reportedly utilizesto play that copy of Crysis sitting on your desktop PC on Broadcoms proprietary Merlyn app processor and VideoCoreyour netbook via Remote Desktop while on the move...well, IV mobile graphics to provide fast and seamless hardware-you might want to stop thinking about it right now, because acceleration of 1080p video content and 3D games at theRemoteFX can only be used over LAN. Ouch. smartphones native resolution. And since a smartphone SoC is mostly useless if it does supportBroadcom launches newcommonly-used wireless communication protocols, it shouldSoC for smartphones, boastsprobably be of no surprise that Broadcom has taken steps to ensure that its SoC plays nice with existing standards.1080p video playback Accordind to the company, the BCM28150 features built-inFebruary 12th, 2011support for EDGE, WCDMA, 4G HSPA+ and HSDPA, and is intended to be used with the Android operating system, although Broadcom has claimed that the SoC will also work with other open mobile operating systems. Last but not least, Broadcom has confirmed that the complete BCM28150 smartphone platform (currently codenamedDo you remember the days where totting a smartphoneBroadstone) will include the following hardware: the 40nmthat boasted Qualcomms Snapdragon platform and single-BCM28150 HSPA+ system-on-a-chip (SoC) smartphonecore Scorpion processor was an instant passport to large processor, the BCM2091 radio frequency (RF) IC, theamounts of geek credentials? Well, it appears that the daysBCM59056 advanced power management unit (PMU) withof single-core processors on smartphone are all but gone,charger and audio support and Broadcoms Wi-Fi, Bluetooth,and Broadcom apparently seems to think so. After all, whyFM, A-GPS and NFC connectivity technologies.else would the company launch a new dual-core System on aTechnical specifications are as listed below:Chip for specially designed for high-performance smartphonecomputing?Barely as 18 months ago, single-core computing on a mobileInternet device such as smartphones were considered as theonly viable method that provided users with just the right mixof power and energy drain.. After all, one must remember thatsmartphones were originally intended to be used as businesstools and not as fashion statements or mobile entertainmentdevices.Fast forward to the present, and today the smartphonehas moved from being a mobile business tool to amobile entertainment device for consumers, thanks to theintroduction of the iPhone. Needless to say, the average18 19. February 12th, 2011Published by: VR-Zonethe U270 and X370 come with user-friendly hardware andMSI unveils X-Slim X370, Wind software, including the MSI S-Bar that lets you control majorU270 and CR650 with AMDs OS and hardware hot keys as well as MSIs own applicationsoftware with a simple click of the mouse. No pricing detailsnew generation dual coreavailable yet.E-350 processorFebruary 12th, 2011 RunCore launchesExpressCard SSD and USB 3.0host card in oneFebruary 12th, 2011MSI have launched their new powerful performance notebook Notebooks have limited upgradability at best and if yourecomputers which include the 15.6-inch CR650, the 12-inchlucky to own one with an ExpressCard slot, then you will knowWind U270, and the 13.4-inch X-Slim X370. All three how frustrating it is to have to swap between two differentnotebook PCs are equipped with AMD latest generation dual cards. Especially if one of them happens to be a storagecore E-350 processor and AMD Radeon HD 6310 discreteupgrade. Chinese SSD maker RunCore has come to the rescuegraphics that supports DirectX 11, and long battery life. with a product that should appeal to notebook PC users, atleast as long as the price is right; the ExpressCard 34 SSD withThe MSI CR650 (above picture) features Turbo Battery+ a built-in USB 3.0 host controller.shortcut that lets you control digital multimedia with yourmouse; SRS PC Sound that can reproduce sound faithfully The card is called the RunCore Pro IV ExpressCard SSD andwhen you listen to your favorite songs or watching videos;it contains a 64GB SSD that connects to your notebook via theand Cinema Pro technology that claims to offer similar audioExpressCard interface. It also hass a USB 3.0 host controllerexperience of live performances, films and recording studios. which allows you to connect USB 3.0 devices to your notebookwhich means that youll be able to take advantage of fast,external storage devices. Add to the fact that RunCore hasimplemented a USB 3.0 host feature that lets you connect thePro IV to a desktop PC with USB 3.0 connectivity (or USB 2.0for that matter) to copy data at high speed.The Wind U270 sports a 12-inch 16:9 wide display, weighsa portable 1.3kg, and is less than an inch thick. it featuresMSIs proprietary ECO power-saving design which allows thebattery to last twice as long as conventional notebooks. It isalso sheathed in color film print which not only looks stylish,but protects against smudging and wear.The SSD part may not be all that impressive compared to thelatest generation of SSDs and it actually compares more torecent USB 3.0 flash drives with a read speed of 110MB/s anda write speed of 80MB/s. But it is still not too bad consideringhow unique this product is on the market. Sadly, RunCoredidnt announce a launch date or any kind of pricing, but wedexpect the Pro IV to sell in excess of US$200 considering it isThe 13-inch MSI X-Slim X370 not only looks good, but it is also a 64GB SSD and a USB 3.0 host controller in one.super slim, yet comfortable to use. It weighs about 1.4kg andboasts powerful multimedia and processing capabilities. Both 19 20. February 12th, 2011Published by: VR-ZoneSpecifications:HP unveils TouchPad tablet- Qualcomm Snapdragon dual-CPU APQ8060 1.2-GHzand two smartphones, Veer processorand Pre3- 9.7-inch diagonal XGA capacitive, multitouch screen(1024x768)February 12th, 2011- 16 GB or 32 GB of internal storage- HP webOSHP has announced their new TouchPad webOS tablet device - Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/nwhich boasts to introduce fun and mobile productivity. Thecompany has also introduced two new smartphones- Veer and - A-GPS (3G only)Pre3 - which also run webOS.- Bluetooth wireless technology 2.1+EDR with A2DP stereoBluetooth support- 3.5mm headset/headphone/microphone jack- Internal stereo speakers and Beats Audio- Front-facing 1.3-megapixel webcam- Light sensor, accelerometer, compass (magnetometer) andgyroscope- Rechargeable 6,300mAh batteryHP has unveiled their first webOS slate, the HP TouchPad.- Micro-USB connectorIt features a 9.7-inch capacitive multitouch display, virtualkeyboard, instant-on access, support for Adobe Flash Player- Built-in HP Touchstone technology for easy charging (HP10.1 beta in the browser and access to thousands ofTouchstone for TouchPad sold separately) and HP touch-webOS applications. Designed for entertainment and mobileto-share to share web addresses between TouchPad andproductivity, the TouchPad boasts to offer unified experiencecompatible webOS phonesacross various devices.You can answer calls or view your Short Message Service - Dimensions: 190 x 242 x 13.7 mm(SMS) messages from the slate, or use the exclusive touch-to-share feature to share web URLs from your webOS phone- Weight: approximately 740gto the TouchPad. With HP Synergy, simply sign in to yourFacebook, Google, Microsoft Exchange, LinkedIn and Yahoo!accounts and your contacts, calendar and email automaticallyThe Daily VR-Zone Newspopulate on the slate.Summary - 9 Feb 2011Amazon.com has also announced that it will launch a freeFebruary 12th, 2011Kindle app for HP webOS tailored for TouchPad that will giveuser access to more than 810,000 titles from Amazons KindleStore. You can also buy and sell on Amazon.com, do internetbanking, buy movie ticketsor check the latest news.Other features include 1.3-megapixel front-facing webcam, 16or 32GB internal storage, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n and Bluetoothwireless connectivity and A-GPS. The TouchPad also comesIn todays news roundup: - Review of Kingston HyperX Specialwith built-in HP Touchstone technology for easy charging, Edition Sandy Bridge 1600MHz CL9 - Review of Sunbeamtechand is compatible with the HP Touchstone for TouchPad (sold Twister 120 CPU Cooler - Nokia drops MeeGo phone beforeseparately). You can charge in either portrait or landscape launch - HPs Palm set to unveil tablet - Video Game Review:mode, even without removing the TouchPad case (sold Dungeons, and more..separately).Hardware News:AvailabilityDescription: Kingstons KHX1600C9D3X2K2/4GX is a kitHP TouchPad is scheduled to be available this summer. Pricing of two 256M x 64-bit 2GB (2048MB) DDR3-1600MHz CL9and availability will be announced at a later date. SDRAM (Synchronous DRAM) memory modules, based onsixteen 128M x 8-bit DDR3 FBGA components per module. 20 21. February 12th, 2011Published by: VR-ZoneEach module kit supports Intel XMP (Extreme Memoryconsoles, without losing any of the irreverence that originallyProfiles).made it a hit. With solo, and multiplayer (online and off)options, its a fun title to stick in when youre not grinding awayDescription: The TWISTER 120 incorporates our newest ISO-in Fallout or fragging people in Black Ops.Turbo Technology for increased cooling. The dual 120mmMFDB fan spins in opposite direction which allows for moreDescription: Publisher Kalypso and developer Realmformconcentrated airflow, combined with the three 8mm heatStudios have introduced Dungeons, which on first blush lookspipes and large fin area, the TWISTER 120 offers one of the like a spiritual successor to the famed series. You play abest cooling capabilities in its class. Dungeon Lord who builds deathtrap dungeons to spread hisinfluence on the land above, and must protect his dungeonDescription: Xigmateks Aegir CPU cooler does indeed bringheart from invaders, all while trying to keep the denizensa lot to the party. With excellent cooling performance and ahappy.robust, yet easily installed mounting solution, this cooler ranksat the top of its class. White LEDs in the fan frame add a bit ofvisual interest to the smoky, PWM fan and will fit nicely intomany color schemes for the enthusiast thet cares about thisEnermax readies NAXN Seriessort of thing.PSUsFebruary 12th, 2011Description: ADATA started to introduce speedy USB 3.0 flashdrives to the market, one of them being the Superior SeriesS102 16GB model. These products have different read/writespeeds depending on the capacity and thanks to their veryhigh read speed performances we can use them successfully forbooting Live USB Linux distributions or for transferring theWindows 7/Vista install kits, to speed up the OS installation.Enermax is preparing to release its NAXN line-up of PSUs,Description: With the launch of the GTX 570 series, somedesigned for both gamers and enthusiasts. Available inmanufacturers including Gainward also came up wit their modular (NAXN 82+) and non-modular (NAXN 80+) models,overclocked GTX 570 models and Golden Sample that provide they feature Heat and Air Guard functions, multiple protectionan increase of performance of almost 2.5 to 9.3%circuitry (OCP, OVP, AC UVP, DC UVP, OPP, OTP, SCP andConsumer Electronics and Software News: SIP), active PFC, and are cooled by a silent 120mm (135mmfan for NAXN 82+) fan.Description: Nokia has stopped developing its firstsmartphone using the MeeGo operating system, two industrysources close to the company said.Description: Ever hear of Coloud? I didnt until one of theirsets of headphones appeared on my doorstep for review. Theirnew line is called Colors and theyre aptly named as you canget them in many different colors.Description: The Vatican put its foot down Wednesday overthe idea of "confessing" by iPhone, after news that US users cannow download an application for the Apple gadget that helpsthe faithful gain absolution.Description: HP has plenty riding on the event, which willshowcase the webOS mobile operating system -- the mostNAXN 80+valuable asset the company acquired when it bought handheldpioneer Palm last summer for $1.2 billion. HP plans to roll outwebOS in a number of products across its portfolio. Enermax is preparing to release its NAXN line-up of PSUs,designed for both gamers and enthusiasts. Available inDescription:Korean manufacturer LG Electronics hasmodular (NAXN 82+) and non-modular (NAXN 80+) models,filed lawsuits over alleged patent infringements in Sonysthey feature Heat and Air Guard functions, multiple protectionPlaystation 3 console and Bravia TVs.circuitry (OCP, OVP, AC UVP, DC UVP, OPP, OTP, SCP & SIP),Description: It seems in this day and age everybody wants a active PFC, and are cooled by a silent 120mm (135mm fan forpiece of the PC peripherals market. This time Corsair, famous NAXN 82+) fan.for manufacturing PC hardware, released its own lineup ofhigh-end speakers and headsets. Packing in many popularfeatures, the Corsair HS1NA USB Gaming Headset comes with7.1 virtual surround sound and massive 50mm drivers.Gaming News:Description: You Dont Know Jack returns in a packagethat finally brings the game onto the current generation of21 22. February 12th, 2011 Published by: VR-ZoneNAXN 82+ The Flexi-Drive Accelerate Duo features a special controller,The 80PLUS certified NAXN 80+ PSUs have two 12V rails and supporting data transfer speeds up to 110MB/s (read) andare available in 350W, 450W, 500W and 600W capacities. The 70MB/s (write) via its USB 3.0 interface. They can be found82PLUS certified NAXN 82+ come in 750W / 850W models in store shelves around EU at MSRPs of 69.90 (32GB) andwith two/ four 12V rails respectively. 124.90 (64GB).Sharkoon Releases Flexi-DriveThermaltake Ships Level 10Accelerate Duo Flash DrivesGTFebruary 12th, 2011 February 12th, 2011Sharkoon has announced the Flexi-Drive Accelerate Duo Thermaltake, well-known amongst enthusiasts for its highseries of affordable USB 3.0 flash drives, aimed at mainstream performance thermal solutions and PC cases, has unveiled theusers. Measuring 72 x 19 x 8mm and weighing about 16g, these long awaited Level 10 GT, successor to the best-selling Levelultra-portable aluminum flash drives are available in 32GB 10 Super-Gaming Modular Tower Chassis.and 64GB variants. Thermaltake, well-known amongst enthusiasts for its highSharkoon has announced the Flexi-Drive Accelerate Duo performance thermal solutions and PC cases, has unveiled theseries of affordable USB 3.0 flash drives, aimed at mainstream long awaited Level 10 GT, successor to the best-selling Levelusers. Measuring 72 x 19 x 8mm and weighing about 16g, these 10 Super-Gaming Modular Tower Chassis.ultra-portable aluminum flash drives are available in 32GBand 64GB variants.22 23. February 12th, 2011 Published by: VR-ZoneIt supports all microATX, ATX, Extended ATX motherboardsand has room for four optical devices, six HDDs / SSDs, andeight PCIe expansion cards. The massive Level 10 GT is cooledby four ColorShift / Turbo fans (x1 top 200mm, x1 front200mm, x1 side 200mm and x1 rear 140mm exhaust fan) andhas three rear pre-drilled holes for water-cooling tubes. It isnow available through major retailers and e-tailers at a MSRPof US$279.99.PhotoFast announces high-Measuring 584 x 282 x 590mm and weighing 12.7kg, the allperformance USB 3.0 cardblack full tower boasts a myriad of features: an improved cable readermanagement system, convertible top-vent 240mm water-February 12th, 2011cooling design, hinged side-panel door, five hot-swappablehard drive bays, multiple USB 2.0 / 3.0 / eSATA connectors,and a built-in fan controller.Card readers dont tend to be all that exciting these days,mostly because they all do the same job and perform about thesame. Not so with the new CR-8600 from PhotoFast which isone of the first multi-format USB 3.0 card readers to hit themarket. It offers three to four times the performance of the bestUSB 3.0 card readers with current generation memory cardsand will potentially offer even better performance with fastermemory cards.Card readers dont tend to be all that exciting these days,mostly because they all do the same job and perform about thesame. Not so with the new CR-8600 from PhotoFast which isone of the first multi-format USB 3.0 card readers to hit themarket. It offers three to four times the performance of the bestUSB 3.0 card readers with current generation memory cardsand will potentially offer even better performance with fastermemory cards.23 24. February 12th, 2011Published by: VR-Zone Wireless networking has become a ubiquitous technology these days that few of us would want to live without, but the 802.11 Wi-Fi standard isnt without flaws. Most of the problems tend to be related to either range or speed and the latter is looking set to get a big boost by the end of 2012 when the 802.11ac standard is expected to launch with a draft moniker tacked onto its name, much like the 802.11n draft standard that we lived with for so long. The 802.11ac standard will bring with it Gigabit speeds, but unlike the current 802.11b/g/n standards it will not operate on the 2.4GHz band. Instead, 802.11ac will be using a frequency close to 6GHz (802.11a and some 802.11n solution operates at 5GHz today) which means that there might be yet another round of complaints from various countries around the world that are already using that frequency range for other transmissions. The 0.1 draft standard of 802.11ac is expected to be approved by the end of February according to the IEEEE 802.11 task group that are working on ratifying the standard, but we wontThe CR-8600 supports all standard memory card formatssee any retail devices until the end of 2012 by which time wesuch as CompactFlash, SD, SDHC, SDXC, Memory Stick, HS should see interoperable devices in the market. According toMemory Stick, Memory Stick XC and the various mini and some research done by In-Stat and quoted by CNET we canmicro formats of the SD and Memory Stick cards. So far expect no less than a billion 802.11ac devices by 2015, althoughPhotoFast has tested it with a range of the latest generationwed take this with a pinch of salt as the 802.11n has as yet toof memory cards and have reached read speeds of 96.75MB/sreplace the aging 802.11g standard in most places outside theand write speeds of 67.73MB/s using a CompactFlash UDMAhome.7 card, read speeds of 84MB/s and write speeds of 48.24MB/ One of the major advantages 802.11ac should bring with its using an SDXC USH-I card and finally read speeds of is sufficient bandwidth for streaming HD video around the43.18MB/s and write speeds of 43MB/s using a Memory Stick home, something the 2.4GHz 802.11n standard isnt quitePro-HG card. up to task to do. There are of course 5GHz implementationsJudging by these numbers its pretty clear that a USB 3.0 card of the 802.11n standard that does a great job of streamingreader makes sense for those using the latest generation ofeven multiple 1080p HD streams such as the solutions frommemory cards with their digital cameras and camcorders asQuantenna, but these are still fairly rare. By having a singlethe same UDMA 7 CompactFlash card only mustered 34MB/universal standard, we should see a quicker uptake of thiss read and 33MB/s write performance using a USB 2.0 card technology which in turn should mean more devices that willreader. The CR-8600 should hit retail sometime in March with use it.worldwide availability and a retail price of around US$30. On the downside, the USB Wi-Fi dongle might be dead, at least unless the hardware makers adopts the USB 3.0 interface which is yet another standard that has as yet to gain universal approval. Although this is really only going to be an issue on older devices, but as the 802.11ac standard is expected to beGigabit speed 802.11ac built into both notebooks and other mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones, its really just a matter of time beforestandard should launch by enditll gain enough traction in the market. Initially its likely thatof 2012hardware will carry a price premium over 802.11n solutions, but this is all par for the course when moving to somethingFebruary 12th, 2011 faster and better in the IT industry.Wireless networking has become a ubiquitous technologythese days that few of us would want to live without, butthe 802.11 Wi-Fi standard isnt without flaws. Most of theproblems tend to be related to either range or speed and thelatter is looking set to get a big boost by the end of 2012when the 802.11ac standard is expected to launch with a draftmoniker tacked onto its name, much like the 802.11n draftstandard that we lived with for so long.24 25. February 12th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone 1,000,000 : 1(definitely not static) and a fast response timeNVIDIA HDMI 3D: now coming of 2ms. However, the real draw of the GN245HQ still lies in itsto an Acer monitor near you3D capabilities, and needless to say Acer has clearly pulled outFebruary 12th, 2011all the stops in this aspect. According to the Taiwanese OEM, the GN245HQ is the worlds first monitor to feature built- in support for NVIDIAs stereoscopic technology over HDMI, along with the more conventional method of transmitting 3D content over dual-link DVI. And since the GN245HQ has the ability to receive and display stereoscopic 3D content via HDMI-in, it should come as littlePlaying games on the PC is definitely one of the moresurprise that the monitor is theoretically capable of supportingenjoyable ways to pass the time, thanks to the wide varietya variety of video input device such as digital TV set-topof PC-only titles and the introduction of extremely powerful boxes, Blu-ray disc players and even video game consoles.hardware specially dsigned for such purposes. That being However, chances are these features will be all but useless tosaid, if something is worth doing, then it is definitely worth the average Joe at this point of time, especially if one takesoverdoing as well, and gaming is no exception. And what better into account that most countries still lack a 3D broadcastingway to enhance ones gaming experience than to top of theinfrastructure for content producers to take advantage of,package with a 3D capable monitor from Acer for that added essentially rendering the GN245HQ useless in just aboutdegree of realism? everything except gaming. That being said, if the idea of spending good money on a 23.6-inch monitor that can only be used for gaming purposes sounds like the very thing you have in mind, wed suggest that you start fattening up that piggy bank of yours by feeding it with all that hongbao money acquired over the Lunar New Year. With its relatively fat pricetag of US$677, trust us when we say that your wallet will need all the food it can get.Gaming is probably one of the few digital entertainmentoptions which most of use find ourselves unable to give upon, and for good reason. After all, nothing can come close toMore than a million AMDreplacing the thrill and exhilaration of blasting the brains off avirtual enemys head with a double barreled shotgun at point Fusion chips shippedblank range, especially after a hard day at work or in school. February 12th, 2011That being said, taking a trip down to virtual reality townwould definitely be a lot more satisfying if one could actuallyfeel as though he or she was being placed directly into thethick of action, as opposed to merely watching animated headsbob around a computer screen. Fortunately, users who cravesuch realism no longer have to take the trouble of investingin a large (and expensive) 3D television set, because Acer has AMDs Fusion chips have been heatedly debated recently.just released its new 3D-capable GN245HQ monitor which The promise of higher performance with less heat, less powerthe company claims is particularly well suited for all forms ofconsumption and lower cost seems to have proven itself true,media consumption, gaming included.with AMD shipping over a million of these chips in less than six months of the product entering consumer markets. Promising low power consumption, low heat emissions and increased performance, AMDs Zacate and Ontario chipsAcer claims that the LED-backlit, full HD GN245HQ will based on the Fusion platform have been selling like hotcakes.sport a 23.6-inch form factor along with various features The Fusion chip is basically a core processor as well as asuch as an extremely high but meaningless contrast ratio of25 26. February 12th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zonegraphics processor combined on a single die. Also called APU,damage control after the news of the defect in its 6-seriesor Accelerated Processing Unit, these Fusion chips have been Cougar Point chipsets was made public. Needless to say, thisdelivering as promised.led to a abrupt halt on all shipments of the affected chipset. Until today, that is: the chip giant has just announced that itThe HP dm1z equipped with the first of these APU chips was intends to resume the shipment of the affected chipsets , butrecently tested and the results were astounding. The Zacate with a catch.platform for netbooks easily outperforms Intels dual-coreAtom chips, and is hot on the heels of Intel Atom + nVidia Simply put, Intel knows that it has a reputation to uphold,ION based netbooks. Furthermore, these chips consume lessand having to deal with hordes of angry consumers whosepower, and as a result develop less heat than their Intel andmachines are experiencing premature hardware failures isnVidia counterparts. definitely not going to do itself any favors for its corporate image. As such, the company has just announced in a pressCombine desirable characteristics with a low cost price, and release that the affected chipsets will only be shipped to OEMsthe answer is clear. Manufacturers are snapping up these chips who are "committed to shipping the Intel 6 Series Chipset inat an alarming rate. As of current, the only Fusion-powered PC system configurations that are not impacted by the designnetbook available locally is the Sony VAIO Y series. However, issue will be receiving these shipments".the number of Fusion-based notebooks is poised to increasesteadily in the near future, as the Intel Atom-based netbooksThis means that OEMs which want to make use of the faultybegin to phase out.chipsets for their PCs have the responsibility of ensuring that the machines are configured in such a way its boards doThe Fusion platform was announced a long time ago, but it not sport connectors interfacing the faulty Cougar Point part.was only recently that the chips were showcased and later went Examples of such implementations include making use of theon retail. With such effort and time spent on innovating, it chipsets in closed configurations such as notebooks, or in theis no wonder that the results produced from these chips are case of desktop configurations, installing a PCIe SATA card tonothing short of stellar. Such a technological advance shows provide additional SATA ports.that the future of mobile gaming need not mean large laptopswith loud fans, high heat output, and the inability to run onOnly when these conditions are met will Intel allow thebattery-powered sources for more than an hour. respective OEMs to continue receiving shipments of the 6- series Cougar Point chipsets.Intel resumes shipmentsDell showcases prototypeof faulty 6-series chipsetsWindows 7 tablet andto OEMs with one specificbusiness PCs February 12th, 2011conditionFebruary 12th, 2011 Dell has showcased their new 10-inch Windows 7-based device and business PCs at the recent companys "Dell Means Business" event in San Francisco.Remember that whole hoo-ha Intel caused among OEMs,system builders and enthusiasts last week when it found outabout the major blunder it made to the design of its 6-seriesCoguar Point chipsets? Well, it turns out that the chip gianthas decided that decided to resume shipment of the affectedchipsets to OEMs, but only if the latter fulfills a certaincondition. At the recent Dell event, Steven Lalla, vice president and general manager of Dell commercial client product group,As most would have already been aware, Intels PR personnelshowed a prototype 10-inch business tablet device that iswere having the time of their lives attempting to performrunning Windows 7 operating system. The tablet is designed26 27. February 12th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zonefor users who want mobility, security, manageability, andcost would be fairly high. The HTC Saga will sport a 4-incheasy integration with existing infrastructures. According to the screen, possibly running Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) and hascompany, the Intel-based tablet would also come in Android front and rear built-in camera.flavor though it may not be under the Streak family. No pricingIt is still not known whether the HTC Saga will have at leasthas been revealed for the Windows 7 business tablet though an 8-megapixel camera and supports LTE 4G network. FromDell said it could be available by June this year. the leaked pictures, the HTC Saga could be named HTC Desire 2 after all. We would only know when the company made the announcement at Mobile World Congress that is happening in Barcelona next week. Eleventh beta for Firefox 4 goes live, prepare for a more private Internet February 12th, 2011Other new products unveiled at the event include laptops,Playing with beta software is never the wisest of choices,desktops, workstations, and Latitude XT3 convertible tabletespecially if the developer in question has a release schedule(above picture). which is completely out of whack with what most typical end- users would expect. And if you currently happen to be testingHTC Saga pictured; Is this the out the beta builds of Mozillas browser, youd better prepare to start hitting the download managers, for the company hasHTC Desire 2?just rolled out its eleventh beta release of Firefox 4.February 12th, 2011Photos of a new HTC smartphone were leaked online, just aweek before Mobile World Congress, and it was said to be HTCSaga. Could this be the successor to the HTC Desire? Is there such a concept known as privacy when the Internet is concerned? Many might want to think that they have the right to prevent content providers from tracking visitor behavior such as browsing preferences and online habbits. After all, it does sound a little disconcerting to know that data that could potentially be used to identify oneself is easily floating around the depths of cyberspace, with determined hackers and spammers waiting to spring on the slightest opportunity to blast out spam mails about the latest in mens health supplements. Not exactly the nicest of thoughts. Naturally, the increased awareness about online privacy (or rather, the lack of it) has spurred browser developers into searching for ways that could assist in preventing an ignorant user from unknowingly giving away such information withoutHTC has done very well last year with their Q4 2010her consent. And it seems that Mozilla has finally settled onfinancial announcement of a net profit of more than US$500 what it believes is the best possible solution: to implement a Domillion. And that is mostly thanks to Googles Android mobileNot Track feature in its just-released eleventh beta of Firefox 4.platform. With recent leak of the new HTC Saga smartphone,many speculated that this could be the successor to HTCDesire, or formerly known as the HTC Desire 2.The HTC Saga looks similar to the Nexus One, except that itdoes not have the trackball below the display. However, thephone looks to be using an integrated design which means the27 28. February 12th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone *The eleventh beta of Firefox 4 can be downloaded from the Mozilla 4 Beta page here. And just to make it clear, beta software is usually anything but stable, so the usual warning of VR-Zone not being responsible for unfortunate mishaps such as exploding PCs and data mysteriosuly disappearing off hard disks applies.According to a blog posting made by one of the browsersdevelopers, the" Do Not Track feature allows users to set abrowser preference that will broadcast their desire to opt-outof third party, advertising-based tracking by transmitting aDo Not Track HTTP header with every click or page view inFirefox". When enabled, web sites will be told by Firefox via aheader that the user does not wish to be tracked online."The advantages to the header technique are that it is lesscomplex and simple to locate and use, it is more persistentthan cookie-based solutions, and it doesnt rely on usersfinding and loading lists of ad networks and advertisers towork".Of course, one might be tempted to wonder why Mozilla hadto take an entire year to realize that the Internet needed sucha feature to better safeguard user privacy. Unfortunately, itseems that users who have been waiting that long for such aprivacy feature will probably wind up being very disappointedfor now. This is due to the fact that while the feature isconfirmed to be functional on the browsers end, the samecannot be said for the millions of websites in cyberspace todaywhich neither recognize nor support the new Do Not Trackheader.And while Firefox believes that the chicken-and-egg problemcan be solved when content providers and webmasters haveno choice but to honour user preferences after receieve largeenough numbers of the header appearing in their server accesslogs, wed guard against unmerited optimism until someconcrete results finally show up. After all, do users really thinkthat content providers would sacrifice potential ad revenue tobe gained from such tracking over some moral issue aboutprivacy?28