HotHardware Forums

Windows 7 Beats Vista By 234% In First Week Sales

News — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:34:56 GMT

We wouldn't expect Microsoft to say anything other than positive things about Windows 7, but it's another thing when an independent company comes out an confirms that Windows 7 really is off to a good start. But one has to wonder--are sales of Win7 doing well because people can't wait to rid themselves of Vista? Or are sales of Win7 doing well because of Win7's own merits?

Whatever the case, Microsoft's newest operating system is off to a fantastic start, with sales of the system up 234% (during its first week on the market) compared to Vista during its first week. Regardless of your opinion on things, that's a large percentage, particularly during a time period where people are pinching pennies and are more likely than ever to remain on their current OS for the time being.

"Microsoft's program of early low-cost pre-sales, high visibility marketing, and aggressive deals helped make the Windows 7 software launch successful," said NPD vice president of analysis Stephen Baker. "In a slow environment for packaged software Windows 7 brought a large number of customers into the software aisles," he said.

Microsoft's Head of Windows Experience, Julie Larson-Green says the OS development train isn't just stopping here obviously. Larson-Green notes: "Emerging trends, such as gesture-controlled interfaces, like that found on Microsoft’s prototype Project Natal gaming system, are also of particular interest. “There are things we’re learning about that weren’t there at the start of Windows 7.” (credit: Telegraph.co.uk)

Julie Larson-Green - Microsoft Corporate VP, Windows Experience
Photo, credit: Microsoft

Of course sales weren't the only thing going up in Redmond. Revenue from Win7 also surpassed Vista by 83% out of the gate, and the OS also gave a nice bump to sales of new PCs. Were you one of those who snagged Win7 early? Are you pleased with the upgrade?

No Way! Advertising On Google's Home Page?

News — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:47:49 GMT

It's the third day in a row that Google has celebrated the upcoming 40th anniversary of Sesame Street with a different Google Doodle, but that's not what drew our attention to their home page. Google has always said it wants to keep their home page sparse, yet today, there was a rarity: an ad.

It's not as though Google has never put an ad on their home page (think back to Chrome, and the T-Mobile G1), and of course, this is Motorola Droid launch day, and there's nothing like highlighting your well advertised and much-hyped product, is there?

Granted, it's really Motorola's and Verizon's product, but still ...

At any rate, there's a hard limit of no more than 28 words on Google's home page, and this one weighs in at 27 words, so ad or no ad, it's OK by Google's standards.

Motorola's DROID, Tested and Burned In

News — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 06:34:39 GMT

Verizon's DROID from Motorola finally goes on sale today & offers many things the iPhone just can't, like taking pictures in low light settings, a hardware keyboard, running simultaneous applications, a 5-megapixel camera, interchangeable batteries, and open development for the platform. The features are there but are they enough to convince users to switch?

We take a deep-dive look at Motorola's HOT new DROID smartphone:
http://hothardware.com/Articles/Motorola-DROID-Review/

Dell's Adamo XPS Gets Real: $1799 For The World's Thinnest Notebook

News — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:50:47 GMT

Dell sure has been teasing this machine long enough, and finally we're able to stop wondering and start digesting. What we have here today is the planet's thinnest laptop. Granted, that record seems to be broken and re-set about every other month now, but honestly, we'll be shocked if someone makes a notebook thinner than this before Santa comes climbing down the chimney.

The Adamo XPS is a unique, strange and niche device. It's not for gamers, it's not for cheap-skates and it's not for power-users. So, who is it for? Good question, but we're guessing it's just those willing to pay a significant premium for a stylish machine that'll do basic tasks on the go. If you think your computer should be a fashion accessory, you'll probably think that this should be your next computer.

Measuring just 0.4mm thin, the Adamo XPS ships with 4GB of DDR3-800 memory, a 1.4GHz Core 2 Duo CPU, 128GB solid state drive, and a 13.4" display. It also ships with Windows 7, and a new capacitive latching device enables you to simply swipe your finger over the unit to open the LCD. Finally, there's a replaceable battery, full-size keyboard, 802.11n Wi-Fi, two USB 2.0 ports and Ethernet (via dongle). Sadly, this gorgeous machine starts at $1,799, so you better be ready to feel the burn in the wallet if you'd like to take one home.

DELL ANNOUNCES ADAMO XPS, A DAZZLING GIFT IDEA FORSTYLE-MINDED THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

World’s Thinnest Laptop is 0.4-inch thin

Adamo XPS Reinforces Dell’s Commitmentto Craftsmanship and Design

Advanced Head-Turning Design OffersFull Feature Set for On-The-Go Computing

ROUND ROCK, Texas, Nov 5, 2009 … Last spring Dell setthe computing industry abuzz with the introduction of its Adamo brand, andalong with it the world’s thinnest laptop PC. Today, the world meets a newchampion of thin: The Dell™ Adamo XPS™, measuring 9.99mm or just four-tenths ofan inch. Both laptops set new standards for craftsmanship, design andengineering excellence.
Adamo XPS is a stunning laptop whose design provides aunique experience. With the swipe of a finger, the keyboard appears from underthe display as the system is open. The feature set challenged engineers tobuild the latest technology into a compact space, including:

4GB* DDR3 800 memory;

IntelCore 2 Duo (1.4Ghz) ultra-low voltage processor;

Thin 128GB SSD for faster, cooler, quieterand more durable storage than traditional hard drives;

A13.4-inch high-definition display.

The attention to detail is apparent in the black, jewelrybox-like packaging that is as striking as the laptop itself. A tug on a clothloop reveals the Adamo XPS and assorted accessories that accompany the system.The Adamo XPS was recently recognized as the hottestWindows 7 product by leading technology analyst Rob Enderle with DigitalTrends.
Adamo, derived from the Latin word meaning “to fall in love,”is a flagship in a line of products created to disrupt the personal computingspace with the combination of new design aesthetics, personalization choicesand sought-after technologies.
The Adamo by Dellbrand was launched last March with the first Adamolaptop, which combined high-performance technologies in a finely-machinedaluminum case only .65-inch thick.
The pencil-thin Adamo XPS weighs just over 3 pounds** andmeasures 13.39 x 10.71 inches. Dell expects to begin taking orders and shippingthe Adamo XPS with Microsoft® Windows® 7 pre-installed in time forthe holidays. The Adamo XPS is priced starting at $1799. More informationis available at www.adamobydell.com .
The News:

Adamo XPS is the thinnest laptop PC ever,at about 0.4-inch thin.

When opened, the body of the Adamo XPS israised so the keyboard is angled to enhance cooling.

Capacitive latching device – one fingerswipe opens the latch.

Built-in location awareness to provide realtime local maps to show people where they are.

Replaceable battery, with optionalhigher-capacity battery available.

Full size keyboard with aluminum keycaps;touchpad with gestures.

Built-in 802.11n wireless.

High Definition (720p) 13.4-inch WLEDdisplay.

I/O: display port, 2xUSB 2.0, audio,Ethernet (via included dongle).

Operating system: Windows7 64-bit edition.
Quote:
“Our engineers and designers are breaking new ground andthrowing away the old rules with the introduction of Adamo XPS,” said AlexGruzen, senior vice president of Dell consumer products. “We think the AdamoXPS will inspire an emotional connection with anyone who sees it.”
Links:
www.dell.com
www.adamobydell.com
www.dell.com/home/laptops
www.Flickr.com/photos/dellphotos
*Shared Memory (SDRAM) - (under 4GB) - Significant systemmemory may be allocated to support graphics, depending on system memory sizeand other factors.
**Weights vary depending on configuration andmanufacturing variability.

Olympus Expands Micro Four Thirds Lineup With The New E-P2

News — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:48:06 GMT

Less than six months after the launch of its first PEN E-P1 Micro Four Thirds camera, Olympus is introducing the E-P2. Calling the new PEN "the world’s smallest 12.3-megapixel interchangeable lens system with In-body Image Stabilization," Olympus says the camera blends the image quality of a DSLR with High Definition video capabilities, stereo Linear PCM audio recording, and In-Camera Creativity controls.

Key specifications of the E-P2 include a 12.3-megapixel image sensor, in-body image stabilization, fast Imager Autofocus, 3-inch full color HyperCrystal LCD, Olympus Dust Reduction System, and the TruePic V Image Processor. The image sensor in the E-P2 is the same one used in the E-30 and E-620 DSLRs.

In comparison to its predecessor, the E-P2 adds an accessory port for a new high resolution electronic viewfinder or an optional external microphone adapter, two new Art filters, and a stainless-steel all-black body. The E-P2 also received a newly-developed Continuous Autofocus (C-AF) Tracking System and a new i-Enhance color boosting function.

The included detachable VF-2 Electronic View Finder (EVF) provides 1.15x magnification and a 100% field of view. To help minimize image ghosting on fast-moving subjects, the viewfinder refreshes quickly. For your convenience, the VF-2 can rotate up to 90 degrees, allowing you to look down into the viewfinder. This is especially useful when shooting subjects from challenging angles. The optional EMA-1 external microphone connector will accept the optional Olympus ME-51S stereo microphone as well as other microphones.

When capturing movies, the E-P2 now supports full manual shutter and aperture control. After connecting the camera to an HDTV via HDMI, you'll be able to control the camera's playback functions using the TV Remote.

Accessories for the E-P2 include the previously released 14-42mm and 17mm Micro Four Thirds lenses as well as a MMF-1 Four Thirds System Lens Adapter which makes the E-P2 compatible with all Four Thirds System lenses. Using the MF-2 OM Lens Adapter, you'll be able to attach Olympus OM film-based lenses to the E-P2 as well. Finally, an optional FL-14 flash unit is available.

Olympus also announced two new Micro Four Thirds System lenses today that will be available in the first half of 2010. The new super wide-angle zoom M. ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 9-18mm f4.0-5.6 lens (18-36mm equivalent) and high-power wide to telephoto zoom M. ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 14-150mm f4.0-5.6 lens (28-300mm equivalent) are designed for use with the Olympus PEN E-P1 as well as the E-P2.

The Olympus E-P2 will be available in December and will come with the VF-2 electronic viewfinder and either the 17mm f2.8 Zuiko Digital pancake lens or the 14-42mm f3.5/5.6 Zuiko Digital Zoom Lens for a suggested retail price of $1,099.99. Olympus plans to sell the E-P2 alongside the original E-P1.

HotHardware and TechVi Video Podcast No. 2

News — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:13:58 GMT

We just finished up our second podcast with the folks at TechVi. In this installments we talk about our recent performance tests on USB 3.0 and SATA 6G drives, Dave breaks down a "consumer level" $800 SSD with massive performance, plus two new notebooks running Intel’s CULV processors and a deep look at the Moto Droid.

Show Notes:
0:20 — USB 3.0 Performance Preview
1:30 — FusionIO PCI Express SSD
4:05 — CULV Notebooks
5:15 — Motorola Droid

NVIDIA Reports Financial Results for 3Q Fiscal Year 2010

News — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:34:47 GMT

NVIDIA Reports Financial Results for Third Quarter Fiscal Year 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Revenue up 16 percent quarter-on-quarter to $903.2 million
GAAP net income of $107.6 million, or $0.19 cents per diluted share
GAAP gross margin of 43.4 percent; non-GAAP gross margin of 41.0 percent
Cash flow from operating activities of $141.3 million; free cash flow of $124.7 million

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Nov. 5, 2009 - NVIDIA Corp. (Nasdaq: NVDA) today reported revenue of $903.2 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2010 ended Oct. 25, 2009, up 16 percent from the previous quarter and up slightly from $897.7 million reported in the same period a year earlier.

On a GAAP basis, the company recorded net income of $107.6 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, compared with net income of $61.7 million, or $0.11 per diluted share a year ago. Third quarter GAAP results included a benefit to operating income of $25.1 million related to insurance reimbursements received during the quarter. On a non-GAAP basis – excluding the insurance reimbursements and stock-based compensation, as well as their associated tax impact ? net income was $110.3 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, compared with $111.4 million, or $0.20 per diluted share, a year earlier.

"We continued to make progress in the third quarter with healthy market demand across the board," said Jen-Hsun Huang, president and chief executive officer, NVIDIA. "Revenue was up from a year ago, with improvement in each of our PC, professional solutions and consumer businesses. It’s great to see us shipping orders with our Tegra mobile-computing solution, and growing enthusiasm for our Tesla platform for parallel computing in the server and cloud-computing markets."

Gross margin, on a GAAP basis, increased to 43.4 percent from 20.2 percent in the previous quarter and 41.0 percent a year earlier. On a non-GAAP basis, gross margin was 41.0 percent, up 4.7 points from the 36.3 percent reported in the previous quarter but slightly off from 41.9 percent a year earlier.

GAAP net loss for the nine months ended Oct. 25, 2009 was $199.1 million, or $0.36 per share, compared to a net income of $117.6 million, or $0.20 per diluted share for the nine months ended Oct. 26, 2008. Non-GAAP net income for the nine months ended Oct. 25, 2009, which excludes a $93.9 million net charge related to the weak die/packaging material set that was used in certain versions of our previous generation chips, a non-recurring charge of $140.2 million in connection with a cash tender offer to purchase employee stock options, stock-based compensation charges, and their associated tax impact, was $101.4 million, or $0.18 per diluted share, compared to a net income of $397.7 million, or $0.68 per diluted share for the nine months ended Oct. 26, 2008.

Outlook
The outlook for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010 is as follows:

Revenue is expected to be up slightly, approximately 2 percent, from the third quarter.
GAAP gross margin is expected to be in the range of 40 to 42 percent.
GAAP operating expenses are expected to be approximately $305 million.

Third Quarter Fiscal 2010 and Recent Highlights:

First major Tegra devices shipped: Microsoft’s Zune HD and the Samsung M1.
Held first ever GPU Technology Conference, which was 50% oversubscribed, with 1,500 attendees from 40 countries. More than 200 technical sessions were conducted, and presentations were made by 60 emerging companies that utilize the graphics processing unit (GPU).
Introduced the next generation CUDA GPU architecture, codenamed "Fermi." The Fermi architecture is the foundation for the world’s first computational GPUs, delivering breakthroughs in both graphics and parallel computing.
Oak Ridge National Laboratory announced plans to use Fermi to build a new supercomputer, which is designed to be the world’s fastest.
Launched the industry’s first development environment for massively parallel computing. The tool, code-named "Nexus", is integrated into Microsoft Visual Studio, so that developers will be able to use Visual Studio and C++ to write applications that leverage Fermi GPUs.
Launched NVIDIA RealityServer, a powerful combination of GPUs and software that streams interactive, photorealistic 3D applications to any web connected PC, laptop, netbook or smart phone.
Adobe’s new Flash Player 10.1 will be accelerated by GeForce®, NVIDIA ION and Tegra products, helping to bring uncompromised browsing of rich Web content to netbooks, smartphones and smartbooks.

ASUS Xtreme Design Contest!

News — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 00:09:52 GMT

Show the world your Xtreme Design!

Update 11/5/09 - Contest Extended!!

ASUS has joined forces with Antec, Intel , G.Skill, Nvidia, Razer, Samsung and HOTHARDWARE to empower YOUR Xtreme ideas! Tell us what you would do if ASUS put “Xtreme Design Technology” In your hands!

Tell US:

How would you build your "Xtreme" System if you won the sponsored hardware.
What is your "Xtreme Design" system's goal.
How ASUS' "Xtreme Design" motherboard features help your system and daily life.
Anything else that convinces us to pick your idea from the participating forums below.

This contest has 3 Stages:

Stage I:
1. Tell us what you would do with “Xtreme Design Technology!” How can ASUS’ Xtreme Design features work for you? (Psst! Do your homework here: http://promos.asus.com/US/p55/index.htm )

2. Log-in to a designated participating forum.* Post your system project goals, anticipated challenges, diagrams, and sketches. Convince us you are capable of building your Xtreme Design! (Post your submitted link in ASUS's facebook event page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=315017200108&index=1)

3. Win freaking awesome hardware including an ASUS Xtreme Design P7P55D Premium motherboard, Intel Core i7 processor, Nvidia Graphics, Samsung SSD, Razer Lycosa Keyboard™ and Razer DeathAdder™ Mouse, Antec power supply, and G.Skill Memory! ASUS will select up to twenty (20) innovative proposals that show off Xtreme Design in a real working scenario. Winners will be announced for “Stage I” on http://Facebook.com/ASUSOfficialPage Nov. 13th 2009.

Stage II:
1. Twenty (20) “Stage I” winners will receive and build their concept on their sponsored hardware. Winners will show off their experience for 30 days. Share pictures and videos! Talk about your build! Document your process! Post screen-shots and tell us how you feel about "Xtreme Design". Convince us that your design is show-worthy!

An ASUS P7P55D Premium motherboard and the following sponsored products will be sent to winners. Feel free to design/use your own case, thermal soultion, additioanl GPU , additional storage, additional memory to enhance your Xtreme Deisgn

2. Five (5) engaging posters will be selected for special brand-spanking new hardware upgrades Dec. 14th.

OUR SPONSORS AND PRIZES!!

Intel has sponsored (20) Core i7 CPUs

The new Intel Core i7 Processor: Ultimate smart performance. This new processor features Intel Turbo Boost Technology and Intel Hyper-Threading Technology, which together activate full processing power exactly where and when you need it.

Antec has sponsored (20) Quattro 850 Watt PSU

Antec's TruePower Quattro is more compact than most competing power supplies of the same wattage, yet ideally suited for handling the most demanding system specs.

G.Skill has sponsored (20) TDS series Memory kits

The G.Skill DDR 2133 CL9 4GB TDS "Trident Series memory is especially suited for overclockers, and comes equipped with the turbulence cooling fan.

Nvidia has sponsored (20) ASUS GTX260 GPUs

Configure your PC with the Power of 3 and build your new Xtreme Design PC with the three essential pieces to get an experience to match your style.

Nvidia GPU + Intel Core i5/i7 + ASUS P55 Motherboard = The power of 3!

Razer has sponsored (20) Lycosa keyboards and Deathadder mice

Execute complex combat maneuvers with swift dexterity. Launch your assaults timed to perfection. Annihilate your enemies and reign supreme on the battlefield. You now have the tactical advantage on every terrain, and your enemies' fates are in your hands.

Samsung has sponsored (20) 128GB SSD drives

An extremely efficient SSD for PCs applications, Samsung's SSD features world-class sequential read and write performance.

Thanks to all of our Sponsors and GOOD LUCK!! SHOW US WHAT YOU'VE GOT!!

Terms and Conditions

Klipsch Offers Wireless Version Of ProMedia 2.1 Speakers

News — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:02:19 GMT

If you've been around audio for awhile, you definitely know Klipsch. It's a mainstay in the industry, particularly the home A/V market and the PC audio market. Awhile back, the company introduced a set of computer speakers that would change the way people viewed PC speakers: the ProMedia 2.1. It led companies like Logitech to develop killer 5.1 systems in a box for PCs, something that was rarely or never done beforehand.

Now, Klipsch is unveiling the wireless version of its ProMedia 2.1 system. Just like the originals, the wireless set is totally THX-certified. The different here is the USB nature, which allows users to plug a transceiver into their USB port and then continue sending signal even if they relocate. Granted, this is mostly useful for laptop owners, as the satellites themselves are still tethered to the subwoofer (which is tethered to an AC outlet), but it's definitely beneficial for some.

The ProMedia 2.1 Wireless is available exclusively at klipsch.com and only to U.S. consumers for $199, while the wired set can also be secured at Best Buy for $149.99.

Klipsch Puts Wireless Spin on Popular ProMedia 2.1 Computer Speakers
New twist on award-winning system conveniently brings better sound to laptop and notebook users

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (November 4, 2009) Today more and morepeople use laptops and notebooks to listen to music, watch movies andplay games. And surprisingly enough, many of them will accept theircomputer's poor sound performance just to stay mobile. But now theydon't have to thanks to the wireless technology Klipsch has added toits ProMedia 2.1 computer speakers.

The original ProMedia 2.1 system was introduced in 2000, and overthe years it has become one of the highest praised, best-sellingproducts Klipsch has ever produced. But given the increase in laptopand notebook usage, company officials decided to put a fresh spin onthe classic setup by introducing a wireless version.

The new ProMedia 2.1 Wireless looks and sounds like theTHX-certified original, only the Klipsch logos are silver instead ofcopper. "The ProMedia is still the defacto 2.1 standard for computerspeakers. It's been known to put some home stereo systems to shame, andwe want to keep it that way with or without wires," said Don Inmon,Klipsch director of product development for personal audio.

The real difference between the two designs lies within a USBwireless transmitter that plugs into the computer's USB port. "Only afew simple steps are required to get the ProMedia Wireless up andrunning. Just plug, play and enjoy the full sonic impact of your music,movies and games without being tied down," said Inmon. "No router orinstallation software is needed."

Inmon, however, notes the misconception that many consumers haveabout wireless audio. Often times, when people see the words "wireless"and "speakers" together, they assume the entire sound system is wireand cable free. However, no such speaker system exists unless it runsoff of batteries. "Speakers need a power source to drive them and thatsource needs to connect to electricity," he says.

With the ProMedia 2.1 Wireless, the subwoofer is the power source.This heavy-hitter plugs into a wall outlet and then the two speakersconnect to it via wires. Wireless, in the case of the ProMedia, meansno wires attach to the computer. This allows users to move theirlaptops freely around the room without ever losing their 2.1 sound. TheProMedia and computer wirelessly connect via the USB wirelesstransmitter.

The wireless range of the ProMedia spans approximately 30 feet in asingle room. The system is perfect for dorm rooms, offices, bedroomsand family rooms really wherever people use their laptops and notebooksthe most. ProMedia 2.1 Wireless owners with a Wi-Fi connection and aniPhone or iPod Touch can use Apple's Remote Application to controltheir iTunes from anywhere in the house covered by Wi-Fi.

Technical Information:
The two-way ProMedia speakers are driven by exclusive MicroTractrixHorns that cleanly and accurately handle the high frequencies, creatinga precise image and soundstage. Each speaker employs a 3-inchfiber-composite cone driver for smooth mid-bass reproduction. Apreamplifier control pod, which features separate main volume andsubwoofer level controls, a headphone jack and the miniplug input, islocated on one of the speakers. Each speaker comes with aself-supporting pedestal, but Klipsch also sells adjustable WB-1 wallbrackets through its online store for $21.99 a pair.

The high-output, low distortion subwoofer is a bass-reflex typewith a flared, tuned front port and 6.5-inch side-firing driver. The200-watt amplifier housed inside the subwoofer enclosure ensures thatthe ProMedia 2.1 Wireless can deliver superior sound over conventionalmultimedia systems.

Pricing and Availability:
Priced at $199, the ProMedia 2.1 Wireless is available exclusively at klipsch.com and only to U.S. consumers. The original ProMedia, which retails for $149.99, is available at Best Buy and klipsch.com.

About Klipsch
Founded in 1946 by Paul W. Klipsch, one of America's mostcelebrated audio pioneers, Klipsch has long been a high-end name inspeaker design. Today, the brand continues its success as a leadingglobal manufacturer of premium sound solutions for home, personal andcommercial use. From massive professional cinema speakers to tinyheadphones, Klipsch remains committed to delivering the most powerful,detailed and emotional sound experiences. Family owned and operated,chairman Fred Klipsch and vice chairman Judy Klipsch set the vision andstrategy for the brand as well as the entire Klipsch Group, Inc.organization. For more information, visit klipsch.com.

ASUS Unveils first TUF Series Motherboard

News — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:12:12 GMT

ASUS Unveils first TUF Series Motherboard

-- SABERTOOTH 55i Offers Exceptional Utility, Stability, and Durability --

Fremont, CA; September 30, 2009 - ASUS today unveils the first in its newly-developed “TUF” (The Ultimate Force) Series motherboards, the SABERTOOTH 55i - meeting power users’ heavy computing demands and operating under the harshest conditions. TUF Series motherboards undergo more stringent testing than what most motherboards currently undertake. Solidly constructed and equipped with resilient components that pass demanding military-style testing, the TUF Series triumphs over intense operating conditions to deliver robust performance. The debut SABERTOOTH 55i model, designed around a "Marine Cool" concept, incorporates the Intel P55 chipset and “tough” features for an especially solid and stable computing platform.

Ultimate Heatsink Cooling with Unique CeraM!X Microfin Coating
The ASUS SABERTOOTH 55i, equipped with new CeraM!X heat sinks, cools active components exceptionally well even under intense operating conditions. Replacing traditional anti-oxidant compounds with advanced ceramics-based composition—commonly used in the aerospace industry for heat insulation—the SABERTOOTH 55i dissipates heat rapidly using microfin surface texture. This rough surface offers an expanded area for heat induction into the surrounding air. As a result, more heat is drawn away from the active system—allowing previously unattainable levels of stability.

Direct Memory Cooling with CoolMem! Fan Frame
Optimal memory operation relies on good cooling. The SABERTOOTH 55i CoolMem! Fan Frame encloses most standard 40mm or 50mm fans. Passing air directly over the memory modules, users can significantly stabilize memory operation.

Resilient Performance from Military-certified Capacitors and MOSFETs
The SABERTOOTH 55i incorporates only high-grade, rigorously-tested components. These excel in performance even under the most demanding conditions. All capacitors undergo thermal shock tests, ensuring continuous, stable operation during rapid temperature changes in the 60°C range. The SABERTOOTH 55i’s capacitors and VRM MOSFETs are certified for military-level use through stringent testing.

Optimal Power with E.S.P.
The SABERTOOTH 55i delivers E.S.P. (Efficient Switching Power) to the CPU, memory, PCI-e x16 expansions slots and IC. This results in cooler, more reliable operation. E.S.P. converts power at 90% efficiency compared to conventional linear designs that are 60% efficient.

Built for tough performance, the SABERTOOTH 55i—and ASUS TUF Series—incorporate breakthroughs in heatsink composition and high-grade, military-tested components to enable the most solid and stable DIY systems around ever created. The SABERTOOTH 55i is available now at authorized ASUS resellers with an MSRP of $219 USD.

P7P55 WS SuperComputer Specifications:

Model	SABERTOOTH 55i
CPU	LGA1156 socket for Intel® Core™ i7/Core™ i5 Processors
Chipset	Intel® P55 Express Supports Intel® Turbo Boost Technology
Memory	4 x DIMM, max. 16GB, DDR3 2000/1800/1600/1333/1066MHz, non-ECC, unbuffered memory Dual channel memory architecture Supports Intel® Extreme Memory Profile (XMP)
Expansion slots	2 x PCI Express 2.0 x16 slots (single at x16 or dual at x8/x8 mode)
	3 x PCI Express 2.0 x1 (2.5GT/s)
	2 x PCI
Multi-GPU	Supports NVIDIA® Quad-GPU SLI™ Technology and ATI® Quad-GPU CrossFireX™ Technology
Storage	Intel® P55 Express Chipset - 6 x SATA 3.0 Gb/s ports (black) - Intel Matrix Storage Technology supports RAID 0, 1, 5 and 10 JMicron® JMB363 SATA & PATA controller: - 1 x Ultra DMA 133/100/66 for up to 2 PATA devices - 1 x External SATA 3Gb/s port (SATA On-the-Go) JMicron® JMB322 (DriveXpert Technology) : - 2 x SATA 3.0 Gb/s ports (orange and white ) - Supports EZ Backup and SuperSpeed functions
LAN	Realtek® 8112L PCIe Gigabit LAN controller featuring AI NET2
Audio	VIA® VT2020 10-channel High Definition Audio CODEC - Absolute Pitch BD192/24 featuring ENVY HD - DTS Surround Sensation UltraPC - Supports Jack-Detection, Multi-streaming, Front Panel Jack-retasking - Optical S/PDIF out port at back I/O - ASUS Noise Filter
USB / IEEE1394a	14 x USB 2.0 ports (6 ports at mid-board, 8 ports at back panel) VIA® 6308P controller supports 2 x IEEE 1394a ports (one at mid-board; one at back panel)
TUF Exclusive Features	Power Design 12-phase CPU Power, 2-phase Memory Power, 2-phase VTT_CPU Power, Efficient Switching Power Design for 3VSB/1.8V/1.05V, TUF Capacitors and MOSFETs (certified military-standard) Thermal Solution CeraM!X Heatsink Coating Tech, CoolMem! Fan Frame, T.Probe Technology, ASUS Fan Xpert, Guardian feature MemOK!, DriveXpert, ESD Guards, EMI Eliminator
Form Factor	ATX Form Factor, 12 inches x 9.6 inches ( 30.5cm x 24.4cm )

Paramount & Kingston To Deliver Movies Via Flash Memory

News — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:53:26 GMT

Thanks to a new partnership between Kingston and Paramount Digital Entertainment (PDE), a division of Paramount Pictures, you'll have another option for purchasing your favorite movies: flash memory. Instead of buying a traditional DVD or Blu-ray Disc, the two companies are hoping you'll like their new offer to purchase movies on Kingston USB drives and SD cards. Full-length motion picture feature films will be available to consumers as part of a bundle package and for sale.

“This unique agreement enables PDE to make available its entertainment offerings on USB and SD cards,” said Alex Carloss, EVP and GM of Paramount Digital Entertainment. “As more and more movies are viewed on computers and other portable devices, having a relationship with Kingston will become increasingly important to Paramount for years to come.”

“Kingston is very excited to join forces with Paramount Digital Entertainment on this venture as they are one of the most innovative and forward thinking studios for digital distribution,” said Rick Webb, vice president, consumer markets group, Kingston. “PDE adds great value to our memory products. We look forward to working with them to bundle additional Paramount content on our full line of USB drives and Flash memory cards.”

Currently, "Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen" is available at OfficeMax stores for $29.99. The movie comes on a Kingston DataTraveler I drive.

UPS Targets iPhone Users With New App

News — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 01:11:19 GMT

A new shipping application from UPS lets you track and ship packages, locate a UPS store using GPS, and more from your iPhone or iPod Touch. The free shipping app joins other UPS-enabled solutions for Apple users. In fact, NRG Software, a UPS Ready strategic provider, recently added NRGship Mac to its shipping software lineup.

“Apple users are an innovative group of customers who appreciate the capabilities that make the most of their devices. These new solutions help them take full advantage of the world’s largest package delivery company,” said Jordan Colletta, vice president of customer technology marketing at UPS.

With the new iPhone and iPod touch application, users can access their My UPS Address Book and Preferences and create shipping labels. These labels can be e-mailed in a PDF file for printout. If you log in to the application, you'll see a history of tracked shipments that automatically refreshes when the application is opened. You can also nickname UPS tracking numbers for quick reference. For users who don’t want to log in, you can still view tracking information.

The iPhone and iPod touch shipping application is available for free from the App Store or at www.itunes.com/ups/. For more information on the application, users can visit www.ups.com/iphone.

NRGship Mac helps organizes all the details of a user’s shipments in one place. The application provides easy access to UPS online services such as UPS Tracking, UPS Rates & Service Selection, UPS Time in Transit, UPS Address Validation, and UPS Shipping. NRGship Mac is now available. Customers can try the application free for 15 days by downloading a trial demo at www.nrgsoftware.com/ups.

Celio REDFLY Becomes A BlackBerry Companion

News — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:42:49 GMT

Remember Palm's Foleo? Unless you follow consumer electronics and gizmos mighty closely, you probably don't. But for those that do, this is a dead-ringer for. You see, the Foleo was axed by Palm before it even had a chance in the market place, and considering just how popular netbooks have become, there's some that thing Palm goofed up by pulling the plug instead of re-tooling it. That said, it's pretty clear now that the Foleo would indeed have failed in this market, as Celio's REDFLY has a pretty small following (and a very similar motto).

Still, for those stuck with a REDFLY--which is basically a large screen and fuller-sized keyboard for a mobile device--this new update could be great news. For the first time, the REDFLY Mobile Companion now plays nice with BlackBerry. To be precise, it supports the BlackBerry Bold 9000, BlackBerry Curve 8900 and BlackBerry Tour 9630. The new update is available to download now free of charge for existing owners, and those looking to get one for the first time can purchase the C7 for $199 and the larger C8 for $249.

“BlackBerry is a leader in the smartphone market and has an overwhelming acceptance among business users,” said Kirt Bailey, president and CEO of Celio Corp. “We’re confident that BlackBerry smartphone customers will enjoy the convenience of using REDFLY’s larger screen and keyboard to type emails, browse the Internet, and edit documents.”
The REDFLY Mobile Companion comes in two models – the C8N and C7 – and has a large screen, full QWERTY keyboard, touchpad, up to an 8-hour battery, and USB, VGA and media ports. The REDFLY has no OS, storage or processor, but uses the BlackBerry smartphone’s computing power to give users the ability to interact with the smartphone’s familiar user interface on an 800x480 resolution display. The REDFLY is currently also compatible with more than 60 Windows Mobile devices.
At launch, the REDFLY is supporting the BlackBerry® Bold™ 9000, BlackBerry® Curve™ 8900 and BlackBerry® Tour™ 9630 smartphones. The driver for BlackBerry smartphones is offered free-of-charge for existing and new REDFLY Mobile Companion C8N and C7 owners and can be downloaded at http://m.celiocorp.com/install.

Orb For Mac Streams iTunes Content To Any Device (For Free)

News — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:58:15 GMT

You may not realize it at first glance, but this software release is probably one of the year's biggest for the Mac. We know, Snow Leopard was cool, but this is just fantastic. Orb is widely known as one of the best media streaming applications for Windows, and while an iPhone app came out last year that allowed iPhone users to watch media streamed from the PC, it seems logical to think that Mac version would be even more relevant for iPhone owners.

Finally, that is exactly what has happened. Orb for Macintosh is now on the market, and best of all, you won't even need a credit card number to buy it. The program is 100% free, and it promises "media anywhere functionality" for dedicated Mac users. Essentially, loading this on your Mac enables iTunes to stream out content to any Internet-connected device. From MIDs to netbooks to other phones, Orb will allow any content within iTunes to be viewed and enjoyed elsewhere, all for free.

Unfortunately, this program requires OS X 10.5 or 10.6, so those with older non-Intel Macs are out of luck. On-the-go access to this media requires only a browser, streaming media player, and an internet connection, so every laptop or netbook, virtually any recent generation mobile phone, and many other devices like media players, game consoles, and tablet-type computers can play content from the Mac. No other hardware, software or subscription fees are necessary. So, what are you waiting for? Get the download!

PCFlip.com Holiday Giveaway

eunoia — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:55:20 GMT

Another forum, another computer (+ many prizes) to give away:

http://www.pcflip.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=462

Samsung Mythic And Flight Phones Soar Over To AT&T

News — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:45:44 GMT

It seems like the Droid has been receiving all the attention of late, but for those looking for something a bit simpler, AT&T has two new options from Samsung Mobile. Up first, the Mythic is delivering a 3.3" full touch screen display, Samsung's own TouchWiz internet, one-touch access to features including AT&T Mobile TV and social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace, and the ability to watch CBS Mobile, CNBC, CNN Mobile, COMEDY CENTRAL, ESPN Mobile TV, FOX Mobile, FOX News, MSNBC, MTV, NBC 2Go, Nickelodeon and the movie channel Crackle right on the phone. Granted, you'll be paying $9.99 per month (down from $15) for the mobile TV service, but who knows--maybe it's worth it if you spend a lot of time on the train.

Additional key features and specifications of the Mythic include:
One-finger Touch and Finger Zoom
Full HTML Web browser
Virtual full QWERTY keyboard
3.2 megapixel camera
Advanced Messaging capabilities
AT&T Mobile E-mail
SMS and MMS
Instant Messenger

AT&T Navigator (requires a separate subscription)
AT&T Mobile Music with Napster Mobile® and eMusic^TM Mobile
Stereo Bluetooth™ technology
Dimensions: 4.49” x 2.06” x .5”
Weight: 3.8 oz

Next, there's the Samsung Flight, which is classified as a messaging device with a vertical sliding form factor that opens to reveal a full QWERTY keyboard underneath. It'll ship in red and silver with one-touch access to functions like shortcuts, favorites and messaging, including SMS and MMS, Instant Messaging and Mobile E-mail.

Additional key features of the Flight include:
Social Networking with AT&T Social Net
2.0 megapixel camera
Full HTML Web browser
AT&T Navigator compatible
AT&T Mobile Music with Napster Mobile® and eMusic^TM Mobile
AT&T Video Share
Stereo Bluetooth™ technology
Dimensions: 4.17” x 2.2” x 0.5”
Weight: 4.8 oz

Both phones are available for the taking today, with the Mythic going for $199.99 after mail-in rebate and the Flight for $99.99 after mail-in rebate.

3G-Enabled BlackBerry Curve 8530 Coming To Sprint

News — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:35:53 GMT

We're not exactly sure when it happened, but we're pretty confident that it happened. What's "it?" The fall of the BlackBerry.Remember just a year ago, it seemed like RIM had all the buzz it couldhandle. People were upgrading from normal phones to BlackBerry handsetsen masse, and the touch screen Storm seemed poised to rival evenApple's iPhone. Of course, the Storm didn't exactly do as well as thecompany would have liked, and it seems that they've been losing steamever since. In fact, when's the last time RIMupgrading the BlackBerry OS? We've seen Android hit 2.0, iPhone OS hit3.0 and Windows Mobile hit 6.5. All while BB OS lags behind.

Thatsaid, the loyal BB users are mighty loyal, and if you're looking for anew low-end device on Sprint, the BlackBerry Curve 8530 might be theone you're looking for. It's a 3G-enabled phone, and it'll be offeredon Sprint's Everything Data plans featuring Any Mobile, Anytime. It'llalso support the BlackBerry App World, and will come preloaded withseveral multimedia applications including BlackBerry Media Sync, SprintMusic Store, Sprint TV and Pandora. Of course, you'll also get accessto Facebook, MySpace and Flickr.

Sprint will release pricing and an exact ship date soon, so you'llhave plenty of time to decide between black, purple and red hues.

Toshiba Introduces New 1.8-inch SATA HDDs

News — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:28:43 GMT

Toshiba added two new 1.8-inch Serial ATA HDDs to its lineup. The MKxx33GSG series focuses on high capacity and top-end performance. It is available in 320GB, 250GB, and 160GB capacities. This hard drive uses 42% less power during seek operations than best-in-class 5,400 RPM 2.5-inch HDDs.

The MK1235GSL is a single-platter 120GB drive. Toshiba claims this drive is the most power-conservative HDD on the market. It offers a high-capacity, low 5-millimeter profile for battery-conscious ultra-mobile computers. The MK1235GSL series is currently shipping in volume production, while the MKxx33GSG is scheduled to enter mass production in early December.

Toshiba Introduces Two 1.8-Inch Hard Disk Drive Families for Both High Performance and Long Battery Life in Mobile Computing Applications

New 1.8-inch SATA HDDs Demonstrate Leadership in Capacity, Power Consumption and Areal Density

IRVINE, Calif., Nov. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Toshiba Storage Device Division (SDD), a division of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. and the industry pioneer in small form factor hard disk drives (HDDs), today announced new additions to its 1.8-inch Serial ATA HDD product line, covering the full range of mobile computing applications. The introductions include a high-performance 5,400 RPM family, offering an industry-leading 320GB(1) capacity, as well as a power-efficient, slim 4,200 RPM model with 120GB of storage for applications that require low-power consumption and an ultra-compact form factor.

Toshiba has designed these 1.8-inch HDD products to meet a variety of mobile computing needs based on specific market requirements. With high capacity and top-end performance, the MKxx33GSG series is available in 320GB, 250GB and 160GB capacities and uses 42 percent less power during seek operations than best-in-class 5,400 RPM 2.5-inch HDDs. The single-platter 120GB, MK1235GSL is the most power-conservative HDD on the market and offers a high-capacity, low 5-millimeter profile for battery-conscious ultra-mobile computers.

Significantly surpassing 2.5-inch HDDs in durability, Toshiba's 1.8-inch HDDs can tolerate up to 1,500Gs of non-operational shock and 500Gs of operational shock, which are 50 percent and 25 percent more durable than the most rugged 2.5-inch HDDs. As a result of this extreme ruggedness, 1.8-inch HDDs have been incorporated into some of the most demanding applications for shock and vibration.

"Toshiba 1.8-inch HDDs provide a compelling solution for any application that demands extreme mobility along with the ability to reliably and quietly store large amounts of user content," said Maciek Brzeski, vice president of marketing at Toshiba Storage Device Division. "As the market demands smaller devices, manufacturers can take advantage of the 1.8-inch form factor's small footprint, low power consumption, light weight, proven durability and volume manufacturability. With these benefits, Toshiba 1.8-inch HDDs have served as the foundation for a variety of innovative consumer electronics and PC products that have continued to evolve and transform the market over the years."

High-Performance Solutions for Mobile Computing

Designed for performance, the high-end SATA MKxx33GSG line provides speedy access to data with its 16MB cache buffer, 5,400 RPM rotational speed and disk transfer rates of up to 830 Mb/second. At 320GB, the highest-capacity model in the family can store up to either 90,000 digital photos, 84,000 digital music files or 260 downloaded digital videos(2) - all in a storage device about the size of a credit card.

Built on a technology platform utilizing 160GB per disk, this high-performance HDD family is ideally suited for thin-and-light mobile PCs, ruggedized mobile PCs, mini-notebooks and external add-on storage solutions.

Cost-Effective, High-Capacity Storage

The single-platter 120GB MK1235GSL offers a cost-effective solution for manufacturers looking to make the most of small form factor mobile applications. Its slim 5-millimeter and ultra-low power, 4,200 RPM design make the MK1235GSL SATA HDD an optimum choice for compact, power-efficient products, such as smartbooks, netbooks or battery-conscious mini-notebooks, as well as converged devices leveraging touch-screen technology.

Solid Track Record for Interoperability and Reliability

To ensure the highest level of interoperability with other host system components, both the MKxx33GSG and MK1235GSL HDDs have successfully completed strenuous verification testing by industry-designated SATA Interoperability Labs. As a result, these HDDs carry the certified SATA mark of compliance award issued by the Serial ATA International Organization, the industry committee governing the standards for SATA technologies and specifications.

Toshiba has a solid track record in delivering high-volume 1.8-inch HDD shipments. The company recently surpassed the 70 million unit shipment milestone and has consistently maintained the number one position in 1.8-inch HDDs, since entering the market in 2000. According to industry analyst firm IDC, Toshiba shipped more than 80 percent of 1.8-inch HDDs worldwide in the third quarter of 2009.

Availability

The MK1235GSL series is currently shipping in volume production, while the MKxx33GSG is scheduled to enter mass production in early December. For more information on Toshiba's line of industry-leading small form factor hard drives, visit www.toshibastorage.com.

Product Specifications

Apple's App Store Goes 100,000 Deep

News — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:37:34 GMT

Talk about an unstoppable force. Apple's App Store essentially revolutionized the smartphone world, and every phone since has attempted to either match its great functionality or undercut it in price. Regardless of whether you like the phone or not, you can't say the iPhone hasn't turned the mobile world on its head. Granted, most of that "turning" has stemmed from one thing: the App Store. Without loads of apps, the iPhone would be little more than yet another great option in the smartphone realm. With 'em, it has proven to be a nearly untouchable device, with sales soaring across the globe.

Today, Apple has announced that the 100,000th application was let loose. That's a huge, huge number. The Palm application store and Android Market both lag behind in a big way (we're talking tens of thousands less options), and it's clear that the momentum is all in favor of Apple. Of course, many will say that most of those apps go unused and are generally worthless. That's certainly true on some levels, but this 100,000 number is bigger than that. This proves that the best app developers will spend their time generating apps for Apple, and not for others. If a dev has an idea and has time to make an application for one single platform, which platform do you think he or she will pick? Exactly.

Kudos to Apple on the milestone, and good luck on your way to a million. Oh, and yes, we totally believe that'll happen in due time, particularly if the company stops rejecting so many apps on some silly grounds.

The Top Windows 7 Features That Vista Should Have Had

News — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:19:22 GMT

This week may be as big a week in the company's history as Microsoft has ever had. We know, that's a pretty bold statement, but there is a lot of evidence to back that up. Microsoft has been drowning in negative press and negative vibes for most of Vista's life; it has tried for years to spit-shine the image of its "Wow!-inducing" operating system, and by and large, it has failed.

Join us to see the ten greatest features of Windows 7 that should've been in Vista, and learn how those ten features will make your life that much better if you're currently pondering the upgrade.

The Top Windows 7 Features That Vista Should Have Had

LaCie's Network Space 2 Is The Sexiest NAS We've Ever Seen

News — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:55:45 GMT

If Apple is the king of design in the laptop world, LaCie is far atop the hard drive world. Without exception, this company produces the most glamorous and gorgeous HDDs we've ever seen, and it's probably the only HDD company that actually makes you think that their products are desirable. It's amazing what good design can do, right? After all, the HDDs within the enclosures are the same as any--it's the exterior that makes this firm so special.

The Network Space 2 is the latest good-looker to emerge, with a sleek black design crafted by Neil Poulton and all the promise of a NAS. It's been far too long since we've seen a NAS drive we could stand to look at for more than a few minutes, so we'd say this is arriving not a moment too soon. The drive is able to stream multimedia onto any UPnP/DLNA compliant devices like PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 or PC, and it'll also act as an iTunes server if you'd like it to. Heck, it'll even manage/download your torrents even if the connected PC is shut down.

It promises transfer rates of 65MB/sec over Ethernet, or if you'd like, you can plug it in via USB so it'll act as a standard USB external hard drive. For now, it's only available in Europe in 1TB form for an undisclosed amount, but it should start shipping in the US soon.

LaCie Network Space 2: Simplifying The Network Storage Experience

LaCie today announced the LaCie Network Space 2, design by Neil Poulton– a leading-edge Network Attached Storage (NAS) and media server. TheLaCie Network Space 2 combines the performance of a full-featured NASsolution, with a unique and customized way to manage the totalexperience.

Easy to Use
LaCie Network Space 2 was designed to be as convenient anduser-friendly as a classic USB external hard drive. With the advancedLaCie Network Assistant, you can be up and running in a few shortsteps. To help you manage your desired product preferences, the LaCieNetwork Assistant now offers new dashboard functionality. You cancustomize the dashboard with useful widgets to access network and driveinformation, administer user accounts and monitor drive capacity.

Home Entertainment
LaCie Network Space 2 makes it easy to stream photos, music and videosto computers on the local network or to any UPnP/DLNA compliant deviceslike PlayStation^®3 or Xbox^® 360. It includes iTunes^® serversoftware so Mac and PCs can see and play content from the LaCie NetworkSpace 2 directly through the iTunes interface. It also includesDownload Machine that allows multiple torrent downloads, even when yourcomputer is turned off.

High Performance and Versatility
While the LaCie Network Space 2 can perform at speeds of up to 65MB/s**over the Ethernet connection, you may choose to leverage it as anexternal USB hard drive – connecting it directly to your computer foroff-network file transfer and accessibility.

Additionally, there is a USB 2.0 host connection in the front of thedevice that allows you to connect a USB flash drive, external harddrive or digital camera, and import files automatically without theneed of a computer.

Eco Friendly
The LaCie Network Space 2 includes a built-in power management widget,which lets you control both the light on your drive, as well as yourdrive's Eco Management; placing the drive into a low power setting atscheduled time intervals or when the product is inactive. Additionally,the Network Space 2 can be awakened through its Wake-on-LANfunctionality, making it a powerful, efficient and eco-friendly mediaserver for the home.

"The LaCie Network Space 2 is a state-of-the-art solution for customerswanting to share and store media files from anywhere in the house,"said Patrick Salin, LaCie Digital Home Business Unit Manager. "LaCie'snew dashboard functionality makes it simple for users to enjoy thefeatures of network storage, and further shows our commitment toenhancing the experience of our customers."

Designed exclusively for LaCie by Neil Poulton, the compact LaCieNetwork Space 2 has a sleek, mirror-polished black finish with a blueLED strip on its underside that creates an ambient glow.

Availability
The LaCie Network Space 2 is available in a 1TB capacity in Europe andwill be available worldwide later this year. For more productinformation, visit www.lacie.com.

About Neil Poulton
Neil Poulton was born in Thurso, Scotland. A graduate in IndustrialDesign from Edinburgh University and Milan's Domus Academy, Poultonfirst came into public view in 1989 as the creator of "the ageingpens," pens made from a "living," wearing plastic that changes colorand form with use. Today, Neil Poulton designs and developsbest-selling, award-winning products for a variety of internationalclients including LaCie & Artemide. Since 1991, Poulton has livedand worked in Paris, France. www.neilpoulton.com

About LaCie
Located in the USA, Canada, Japan, Australia, Europe, Singapore andHong Kong, LaCie is the leading manufacturer of computer peripheralsfor Windows, Apple and Linux users. LaCie creates external storagesolutions and color monitors that help professionals and everydaypeople easily manage their digital lives. LaCie has differentiated itsproducts through original designs and leading-edge technology.Established in France in 1989, LaCie is listed on Euronext underFR0000054314 (LAC). For more information, visit www.lacie.com.

Verizon's "There's a Map for That" Ads Draw AT&T Lawsuit

News — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:42:05 GMT

Verizon has pulled no punches against AT&T and the iPhone of late. In addition to the "Droid Does" ad which has garnered rave reviews, they've also done the "There's a Map for That" ad which points at the lack of 3G support nationwide on AT&T. However, AT&T feels that ad is misleading, and has sued.

The "There's a Map For That" obviously mocks Apple's "There's an App For That" iPhone slogan, but really aims at noting the coverage differences between the two carriers. The ad makes its point quite graphically, and therein is AT&T's issue.

Verizon's ad puts up comparative maps showing 3G coverage for AT&T vs. Verizon. While sad enough for AT&T when taken in that context, the iPhone's carrier believes that consumers who see the ad may believe that the maps represent coverage period, not just 3G coverage.

Now, while those who pay close attention to the current version of the ad will note that the ad superimposes "Voice and data service available outside 3G coverage area" on the screen, who really pays that much attention to an ad? In fact, the first version said AT&T users were "out of touch" and was changed after an initial complaint.

Despite the change, however, AT&T, citing in the lawsuit (.PDF) a survey it ran, notes that 53% of consumers (interviewed at a mall) interpreted the ad to mean that there was no AT&T coverage at all in any of the areas of the map that were not in blue.

Realistically, the point that there is a potential for confusion is a valid one. Even given that, however, it's a sad thing to look at the AT&T map and realize just how poor its 3G coverage is. Perhaps AT&T needs to work more on expanding that coverage, and less on excuses and lawsuits.

Watch one of the ads below (there has been more than one broadcast):

Thecus Launches N8800PRO Rackmount NAS Server

News — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:01:43 GMT

Thecus Launches N8800PRO Rackmount NAS Server

Enterprise storage featuring outstanding performance and value

11/04/2009 – Businesses rely on data every day and how this data is stored is of critical importance. Data has to be accessible at all times, but it also needs to be fast enough to keep up with the speed of modern business. Today, Thecus is proud to launch its latest 2U rackmount NAS device – the N8800PRO. With outstanding performance, rock-solid stability, and complete flexibility, the N8800PRO sets a new standard in enterprise storage.

To enable businesses to access their data as quickly as possible, the N8800PRO features a multitude of performance enhancements. Powering the N8800PRO is an Intel Core 2 Duo processor coupled with a full 4GB of DDR2 800 memory for lightning-quick system response and increased concurrent connections.

All of this technology allows the N8800PRO to achieve data transfer speeds of over 300MB/s! And to ensure compatibility with future technologies, the N8800PRO even comes with an internal PCI-e slot. which enables users to install a 10Gbit PCI-e NIC for greatly increased throughput. In terms of storage, the N8800PRO comes equipped with eight 3.5” SATA hard disk bays for a maximum of 16TB of storage. System admins that require more storage can actually attach up to five different N8800PROs to it and manage them all using one master device using the stackable feature, or use the N8800PRO with iSCSI initiators. The N8800PRO even supports iSCSI thin provisioning! Expandable and flexible, the N8800PRO can grow along with your business.

Of course, data security and reliability is the other half of the equation, and the N8800PRO has your business covered. First off, users can multiple RAID modes on the same unit, including RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, and JBOD, to match the most suitable usage model. Online RAID expansion and migration have all been included, and for maximum uptime, the N8800PRO also features a Dual DOM™ design that features a secondary DOM, which automatically reprograms the primary DOM should any malfunction occur. The N8800PRO also has a redundant power supply and is compatible with UPS units to ensure that businesses can access their data at all times. The N8800PRO easily integrates into virtually any corporate network with multiple file system support (Ext3, XFS, and ZFS), multiple operating system support (Windows, Mac, and Linux), and even multiple languages. With the popularity of VMware, virtualization technology is now widely used in the IT world. Thecus is now the member of Technology Alliance Partner (TAP).

“The N8800PRO is a new level of power and flexibility in enterprise storage,” said Florence Shih, Thecus Technology General Manager. “With unbeatable performance and iron-clad reliability, businesses across the globe can deploy the N8800PRO to ensure that corporate data assets can be secured and available at all times.”

Monster Intros Flashy $300 Turbine Pro In-Ear Headphones

News — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 02:14:51 GMT

For the longest time, Monster was known for one thing and one thingonly: for producing high-quality, over-the-top, overpriced cables.These days, a lot of folks have caught on to Monster's games and arelooking elsewhere, so maybe that's why we've seen the company branchingout more into varying sectors of consumer electronics. Specifically,Monster has been cranking out headphone after headphone, with thelatest set being of the earbud variety.

In typical Monster fashion, the new Turbine Pro headphones areextremely flashy, and if you believe the press release, they'reprobably the best in-ear headphones money can buy. Described as"professional" earbuds, Monster has engineered these "to deliver thekind of reference-quality sound necessary to meet the exacting demandsof today’s music professionals and discriminating audiophilelisteners." The standout feature in the new 'buds is the 'SuperTip'eartips, which offer up noise isolation and prevent sound leakage.Speaking of tips, a trio of sizes ship with 'em, so pretty much any earcanal should be taken care of.

The new Monster Turbine Pro headphones will be available in November2009 in a pair of colors: gold with black chrome, and copper withbright chrome. Unlike most headphones, Monster is standing behind thesein a big way. They'll come with a one-time Lifetime ReplacementGuarantee – even if users break the headphones themselves. Of course,we'd expect nothing less given the monstrous $299.95 price tag, whichactually soars to $329.95 if you get the bundle that includes Monster'sControlTalk headphone cable to use with Apple's iPhone, iPod and mostother multimedia-friendly smartphones.

Super Talent Announces "World's First" USB 3.0 RAIDDrive

News — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 01:28:54 GMT

Super Talent unveiled a new SuperSpeed USB 3.0 RAIDDrive which supports transfer speeds up to ten times faster than USB 2.0 drives. The new drive will come in 32GB, 64GB and 128GB capacities and is backward compatible with USB 2.0 ports. (Of course, when plugged in to slower ports, you'll be limited in speed.) Using a separate UAS Protocol driver with a USB 3.0 port, the SuperSpeed drive can reach up to 320MB/second transfer speeds. Look for the new drives in December.

Super Talent Announces World's First USB 3.0 RAIDDrive

USB Drives Support UAS Protocol to Attain Transfer Speeds up to 320MB/sec

San Jose, California - November 4, 2009 - Super Talent Technology, a leading manufacturer of Flash storage solutions and DRAM memory modules, today announced the new SuperSpeed USB 3.0 RAIDDrive, which supports transfer speeds up to ten times faster than USB 2.0 drives. The new drive, in 32GB, 64GB and 128GB capacities, is fully backward compatible with USB 2.0 ports, but operates at slower speeds.

The USB 3.0 RAIDDrive uses patented "multiple pairs of differential serial data lines technology" for optimal NAND flash performance. "This product underscores Super Talent's continued leadership in USB drives." said Super Talent COO, C.H. Lee. "We've developed the world's first mobile USB 3.0 flash drive. It delivers phenomenal performance and it incorporates our own patented technology".

Part Number	Description
STU32GSSK	32GB SuperSpeed USB 3.0 Drive
STU64GSSK	64GB SuperSpeed USB 3.0 Drive
STU28GSSK	128GB SuperSpeed USB 3.0 Drive

Measuring 95 x 37 x13.5 mm, the SuperSpeed drive is a truly portable drive. Like most USB drives, it requires no separate cable. It plugs directly into any USB port. Although this drive will work in USB 2.0, it delivers transfer speeds up to 200MB/sec only in USB 3.0 ports. Using a separate UAS Protocol driver with a USB 3.0 port this SuperSpeed drive can reach up to 320MB/sec transfer speeds. This product will be available in December from Super Talent resellers worldwide. Interested parties can register here for USB 3.0 product availability updates.