AMD FX-8350 Piledriver expected by mid-Q3

Generic News 1994 Published by Hilbert Hagedoorn 0

AMD's FX-8350 "Piledriver" based processor is anticipated to hit the market around August of this year. he firm has already shown us just what Piledriver is capable of through the release of its new Trinity APU line-up, which has generally been capable of offering improved performance at a lower power consumption, despite remaining on a 32nm production node.

The Zambezi range will remain socket AM3+ compatible, with the head of the pack expected to be the FX-8350, which will feature eight cores with a 4 x 2MB L2 and 8MB L3 cache configuration. As it's likely to feature a 125 watt TDP, we expect the FX-8350 to be clocked 10 per cent faster than its FX-8150 predecessor and, with tweaks to the Piledriver design offering around a six per cent performance boost over Bulldozer at the same clock, according to early benchmarks of Trinity, the FX-8350 may just have enough *umph* to successfully break AMD out of its performance slump.


» Read full story

ASUS EeeBox EB1030 Nettop

Generic News 1994 Published by Hilbert Hagedoorn 0

ASUS released a 1 liter (volume equivalent) sized nettop, the EeeBox EB1030, powered by Intel Atom "Cedar Trail" platform. It measures just 219 x 172.5 x 29 mm, weighing 690 g. Under the hood is an Atom D2550 dual-core processor, clocked at 1.86 GHz, backed by 1 GB of DDR3 memory, and 320 GB storage. Upgrade options include up to 4 GB of memory, and 500 GB HDD or 32 GB SSD.

  • 1 Liter-Sized compact PC to free your space
  • Brand new design

» Read full story

Antec Availability of High Current Pro Platinum 1000W PSU

Generic News 1994 Published by Hilbert Hagedoorn 0

Antec, Inc., the global leader in high-performance computer components, announces the High Current Pro 1000 Platinum power supply, the first kilowatt-class PSU offered by Antec certified for 80 PLUS Platinum efficiency.

Delivering a minimum of 1000 watts of Continuous Power, the HCP-1000 raises the bar for PSUs by offering enthusiasts and overclockers full modularity, maximum efficiency and future-proof compatibility.
  

The HCP-1000


» Read full story

Christie Mirage HD14K-M DLP Projector

Generic News 1994 Published by Hilbert Hagedoorn 0

Christie is proud to introduce their latest DLP projector, the Mirage HD14K-M. Designed for large venues and conference rooms, this 3D-ready, dual-lamp projector delivers 1920 x 1080 Full HD resolution, 12000 ANSI lumens brightness, 2500:1 contrast ratio and provides up to 1,500 hours of lamp life (ECO Mode). The Mirage HD14K-M will start shipping this month for unannounced price yet. [Christie]


» Read full story

Battlefield 3 Premium sells over 800K since launch

Generic News 1994 Published by Hilbert Hagedoorn 0

While many scoffed at Battlefield 3's late-arriving competitor to Call of Duty Elite, it seems to have worked quite splendidly for the publisher. More than 800,000 players have signed up for Premium in its first two weeks of availability, EA Games' Patrick Soderlund revealed.

Although Premium less a "service" like Elite and more of a DLC Season Pass, the $50 asking price does include a lot of content. Namely, Premium includes access to over $75 worth of content, making it a "value" for hardcore fans of the series.


Speaking to USA Today, Soderlund said that "we are very pleased with the performance so far." When asked if this strategy is something EA will pursue with future games, he said: "We're actually only two weeks into it, so it's a little early to tell how this is going to pay off. It certainly it looks very promising right now."

Call of Duty Elite currently has over two million paying subscribers, a number which took about six months to reach.


» Read full story

Shuttle Barebone XS35V3 Mini PC

Generic News 1994 Published by Hilbert Hagedoorn 0

he Shuttle Barebone XS35V3 is powered by a dual core Intel Atom processor D2700 (Codename: Cedarview) with an integrated Intel GMA 3650 graphics and an Intel NM10 Express chipset. The mini PC supports up to 4GB of RAM, an optical DVD or Blu-ray slim-line drive, and six USB ports. The Shuttle Barebone XS35V3 is compatible with the Microsoft Windows 7 operating system. Additional features include a fanless external power supply, an anti-theft protection, a multi-card reader and the fanless technology that makes the computer more durable and stable. [Shuttle]


» Read full story

Sharkoon Drakonia gaming laser mouse

Generic News 1994 Published by Hilbert Hagedoorn 0

Somebody has been watching Game of Thrones and got an idea.

Sharkoon introduces the Drakonia gaming laser mouse, a new 29.99EUR mouse with a dragon design, 5000 dpi resolution, 11 programmable keys, onboard memory and weight tuning system. Additionally, the firm also offers the Drakonia DarkGlider gaming mousepad for 9.99EUR.
Sharkoon is expanding their gaming product line with an extravagant looking laser mouse: The Sharkoon Drakonia Gaming Laser Mouse suitably matches its name with its bright green dragon scales and illuminating tribal dragon logo. The ergonomic design and rubberized sides ensure that the associated dragon rider has a comfortable and secure ride during long and turbulent missions.

The fire of the Drakonia burns from within: The AVAGO-ADNS-9500 laser sensor delivers to up 5,000 DPI resolution, 11,750 FPS frame rate, 30 G acceleration and 150 IPS speed. The set DPI rate is always in view of the gamer through the use of four colored LEDs. Low-sense gamers who frequently allow their dragons to be lifted in the air are supported by the Drakonia by its low lift-off distance of up to five millimeters.

The Sharkoon Drakonia can be tamed with its 11 function keys including the 4-way scroll wheel, which with the enclosed software to include the macro-manager can be fully programmable. Software and on-board memory provide numerous configuration options which can be stored in five user profiles. Individual players can also adjust the weight of the mouse: The Weight Tuning System consists of six 5 gram weights. The 180 cm long connection cable has been reinforced by Sharkoon with a textile cover, gold laminate coats the USB plug. A set of replacement sliders is included within packaging.

As a suitable playing surface, Sharkoon also introduces a durable textile mouse pad with the Drakonia design motif. The 355 x 255 x 2.5 mm large pad has a nano-coated playing surface with a nonslip "rubber base" and double stitching around the edges to prevent fraying. Alternatively, a "DarkGlider" mouse pad versions is available with a matching design of Sharkoon's similarly named high-end gamer mouse.

Price
Sharkoon Drakonia Gaming Laser Mouse: MSRP 29.99 euros
Sharkoon Drakonia / DarkGlider Gaming Mouse Mat: MSRP 9.99 euros


» Read full story

Cooler Master Silent Pro M2 PSUs

Generic News 1994 Published by Hilbert Hagedoorn 0

Cooler Master releases its Silent Pro M2 which is a line of power supplies that focus on low noise. The SPM2 620W, SPM2 720W and SPM2 1500W PSUs should be available in retail stores for $119.99, $139.99, and $399.99, respectively.

Cooler Master, an industry leading chassis, thermal solution, peripheral, and accessory manufacturer, is proud to announce the successor to the popular Silent Pro M, the Silent Pro M2 Series. Improvements have been made to each aspect of the Silent Pro M2 power supply to ensure that it meets the broad needs of both mainstream and enthusiast users alike.

Built for quality and performance, the Silent Pro M2 Series utilizes a single powerful 12V rail that boasts a significant increase in available amperage per power supply model over its predecessors. This increased power extends to 70A with Dual 12V rails on the 1500W model. A new 3.3v DC-to-DC board increases overall energy efficiency. Utilizing newer high quality capacitors results in vastly improved hold up times of >17ms on the 1500W model.

With this, Silent Pro M2 Series can handle peak loads better than ever before by delivering power with minimal interruptions. Its new specifications include RoHS and ERP 2010 Certification for a more eco-friendly design and power efficiency. The 135mm fan has been improved by making use of a durable Hydraulic Dynamic Bearing. This increases overall fan lifespan and reduces noise. Through these numerous upgrades, Silent Pro M2 Series can handle the increasing loads of today


» Read full story

Google Nexus 7 tablet now official

Generic News 1994 Published by Hilbert Hagedoorn 0

Lots of Google news today, Google officially announced the Nexus 7 tablet at the company's I/O 2012 conference. This 7-inch tablet is the first device to feature Android 4.1 "Jelly Bean", it's manufactured by ASUS and features NVIDIA's Tegra 3 quad-core SoC. The IPS-based LCD display offers a 1280 x 800 pixel resolution, there's a 1.2MP front camera, NFC, WiFi, Bluetooth, micro-USB connectivity, and a battery life of up to eight hours for "active use" (nine hours for video playback).

The Nexus 7 weighs 0.75lbs (340g) and is just 0.41" thick. You can pre-order the tablet at Google, it's available with 8GB and 16GB of flash memory for $199 and $249, respectively. Both models come with $25 of Google Play store credit, a free film (Transformers: Dark of the Moon), and some other free content.




» Read full story

Android 4.1 Jelly Bean presented at Google I/O 2012

Generic News 1994 Published by Hilbert Hagedoorn 0

Google officially introduced Android 4.1 "Jelly Bean" at the Google I/O 2012 conference. This new mobile operating system will be published by mid-July for the Galaxy Nexus, Nexus S and Xoom smartphones. One of its biggest new features is Project Butter, an effort to improve Android's performance and response time. Also new is a tweaked home screen, an improved camera app, an updated notification system, and enhanced search functions.

The whole system hums along at 60fps now, and while the difference of a few milliseconds might sound like small potatoes, it becomes glaringly apparent the moment you run Jelly Bean next to an ICS device. Animations are smoother and quicker. The CPU immediately ramps up the moment a touch is detected to ensure speedy response.

The home screen has also been tweaked, adding some nice features like dynamically resizing widgets, so you no longer have to place it, resize it then move it to where you want if there isn't enough room. If there is room, but your app icons are merely in the way, the widget will automatically push them to the side. And, in a nice, slick touch, apps and widgets can be removed by flicking them off the screen. Another extremely welcome touch is the addition of offline voice input. Now you can tap the microphone and dictate a message even with the phone in airplane mode.


» Read full story

Google Nexus Q lets you stream media from the cloud

Generic News 1994 Published by Hilbert Hagedoorn 0

Google revealed the Nexus Q at I/O 2012, an upcoming ball-shaped device that will enable you to stream media from the cloud to your living room. The device is controlled via an Android based device and doubles as an amplifier, you can plug external speakers in as the device features a 25W amp. At the conference, Google stressed the hackability of the Nexus Q and said it can run 3rd party apps.

The Nexus Q features a TI OMAP 4460 processor, 1GB RAM, 16GB flash memory, dual-band WiFi, Ethernet, Bluetooth, and NFC. Interestingly, the device is made in the US, by an unnamed firm in the Midwest. Google will start shipping the Nexus Q by mid-July for $299.

Nexus Q streams your favorite entertainment directly from the cloud to your living room. Just use the Google Play and YouTube apps on your Android phone or tablet to surf an ocean of music, TV, movies and music, and Nexus Q will play it all on the biggest speakers and screen in the house. There are no downloads, no syncing, no running out of space. Just the stuff you love -- at home and out loud.





» Read full story

Zalman 1250W 80Plus Platinum PSU

Generic News 1994 Published by Hilbert Hagedoorn 0

Zalman has introduced the ZM1250, a new 80Plus Platinum power supply with a large 140mm silent fan and modular cabling.
It features such things as a large 140mm quiet fan, modular cabling with a large number of molex and SATA plugs. It's also compliant with ATX v2.3, SSI-EPS v2.93, and ErP Lot6 2010. The ZM1250 uses a dual rail design, 45W & 65W, with the 65W rail powering the eight 6+2 pin PCIe power connectors, two of which are fixed and six are modular. The 45W rail powers the 24 pin ATX motherboard connector and the CPU/EPS connectors, which are not modular.


» Read full story

Google simulates artificial brain

Generic News 1994 Published by Hilbert Hagedoorn 0

Several years ago Google researchers began constructing an articial brain consisting of 16,000 processor cores. The simulation was exposed to 10 million randomly selected YouTube video thumbnails over the course of three days and after being presented with a list of 20,000 different items, the artificial brain began to recognize photos of cats using a "deep learning algorithm", despite is was never fed information on distinguishing features that might help identify one. Google fellow Jeff Dean explains the simulation basically invented the concept of a cat. Full details at Wired.

Picking up on the most commonly occurring images featured on YouTube, the system achieved 81.7 percent accuracy in detecting human faces, 76.7 percent accuracy when identifying human body parts and 74.8 percent accuracy when identifying cats.



» Read full story

Google Nexus 7 $199 tablet details leak

Generic News 1994 Published by Hilbert Hagedoorn 0

Details about Google's rumored Nexus 7 tablet have been published over at Gizmodo Australia. According to the site, this 7" tablet will offer a 1280 x 800 pixel IPS screen, a NVIDIA Tegra 3 1.3GHz quad-core processor, 1GB RAM, a 1.2MP front camera, and up to nine hours of battery life.

The base model will offer 8GB of storage for $199 while the 16GB model is expected to go for $249.
The leaked document also says that the device will be the first to run Jelly Bean, the new version of Android. Details are scarce on Jelly Bean, but the slides tell us that Google will handle operating system updates from now on, which could address the fragmentation problem. We aren


» Read full story

Google leaks Android 4.1 Jelly Bean debut

Generic News 1994 Published by Hilbert Hagedoorn 0

Google accidentally revealed the existence of Android 4.1 "Jelly Bean" on its Google Play store. According to the Google Play product listing for the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, the next version of Android will be Jelly Bean. Droid-Life managed to catch the mistake and capture a screenshot before the description was corrected.

For a short time Thursday, shoppers could add the unlocked Galaxy Nexus to their shopping cart on the Google Play store and see the description during the checkout process. The short text blurb described the Galaxy Nexus as "the first phone with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean" before the information was quickly removed.

The mistake raises expectations that Android 4.1 may be launched at next week's Google I/O conference.

Click the screenshot:


» Read full story