Time for the news, then over the weekend I’ve got another game review for you, a PC game this time.. for right now I need top lie down as I’m sick..

Storage Related:

Crucial RealSSD C300 256GB @ TechwareLabs

Quote: Slow secondary storage has been the biggest persistent gripe about PC gaming for quite a while now. While CPUs, RAM, graphics cards and system busses have all been improving at a steady rate; hard drives have stayed more or less stagnant for the past decade. Enter the solid state drive. At its most basic level, a SSD has the same basic structure as a USB flash drive: a bunch of NAND flash memory chips, a controller to tie them together, and an interface that talks to the outside world. Where a SSD pulls ahead is, naturally enough, in the performance of those three components. Today we’ll be looking at the RealSSD C300 256GB SSD from Crucial. Taking advantage of the still-uncommon SATA 6.0 GBps interface, this drive promises to deliver blisteringly fast performance.
LINK: http://www.techwarelabs.com/crucial-realssd-c300-256gb/

==

Western Digital WD TV Live Plus Review
"When a $150 box that could fit in your back pocket now does much of what a hulking $1,200 home theater PC used to do – without making so much of a whisper – it should come as little surprise that set-top boxes for digital media have taken off. Western Digital’s WD TV Live Plus brings full 1080p resolution to the table, plus compatibility with Netflix, Pandora, and the ability to stream files over a home network, along with advanced extras like DVD menu support and Windows 7 "Play To" capability."
Link to the review: http://www.digitaltrends.com/media-streamer-reviews/western-digital-wd-tv-live-plus-review/

==

Patriot Inferno 100 GB SSD

Link: http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Patriot/Inferno_100_GB

Brief: Patriot’s 100 GB Inferno SSD drive uses the Sandforce SF-1222 controller which is the company’s latest and has found its way into many SSDs from major manufacturers on the market. Patriot is offering a unique five year warranty with their drive that uses a massive 28 GB overprovisioning to keep performance high at all times.

==

Moneaul Crystal Pen Drive Review @ XSReviews

Review Link: http://www.xsreviews.co.uk/reviews/drives/moneaul-crystal-pen-drive/
Quote: "One thing that has pleased many a hardware nerd in the past few years is that geek culture has received a bit more recognition in main steam society; it’s no longer hugely uncool to be a bit more technologically inclined. Because of this, there’s certain nerdy fashions that are beginning to cross over; one of these is the pen drive round the neck. However finding one that appeals to women was always going to be a bit harder to do, however Moneaul Swarovksi have a solution: crystal."

==

OCZ Technology RevoDrive 120GB PCIe Solid State Drive
QUOTE: "Mimicry is the highest form of flattery and when done to reduce cost and make a product similar more available to the masses, there isn’t anything wrong with it. To call the OCZ Technology RevoDrive a true PCIe drive like the io-Drive is a bit of a stretch. The RevoDrive takes the PCIe signal and routes it through a Silicon Image RAID controller. From the RAID controller the data is passed through to two onboard PCB SSDs. This should reduce latency from the RAID controller to the drives since it eliminates the SATA cables. In reality there really isn’t much difference between buying two 60GB Vertex 2 60GB drives with a RAID controller and the RevoDrive when it comes to performance, but OCZ didn’t really design the RevoDrive to flatter the Fusion-io or accomplish performance outside of the realm of the above scenario.
OCZ’s main goal of the RevoDrive was targeted at another set of numbers that are just as important to end users, cost numbers. By using just one PCB for the Silicon Image RAID controller and dual SandForce SSDs, OCZ was able to keep the cost lower than if each of these components was purchased separately. Add in the elimination of additional documentation, packaging, cables and such, OCZ was able to really get the cost down on this one making it not only accessible to the consumer market, but in some cases the best option for desktop users looking to get the absolute most out of their Dollar, Euro or Peso."

==

OCZ RevoDrive 120GB PCI-Express SSD Review @ Legit Reviews
Article URL: http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1370/1/

"OCZ has been on the cutting edge of SSDs since they hit the consumer market and are on the pioneer trail once again with their most affordable PCI-Express based SSD yet – the RevoDrive. As implied, this isn’t their first PCI-E drive but it is the first that carries a price tag that rivals that of the more traditional SATA port based SSDs. At an MSRP of $349 for the 120GB version (part number OCZSSDPX-1RVD0120), they aren’t what you would consider inexpensive for storage devices in general, but considering the performance, hardware onboard and pricing of similar capacity SSDs, the price point is rather impressive. The RevoDrive features a pair of Sandforce SF-1200 controllers in a RAID 0 configuration – all on one card. Think of it like the NVIDIA SLI and ATI Crossfire cards with dual GPU’s on one card. You get all the benefits of a traditional RAID 0 configuration without the hassle and expense of multiple drives and add-in RAID controller cards. We’ve seen the performance of just one Sandforce based drive begin to hit the SATA II bandwidth ceiling, and moving to a higher bandwidth interface will really allow the RevoDrive to stretch its legs…"

==

RunCore Pro-V 200GB SSD @ LanOC Reviews
DESCRIPTION: When you first visit RunCore’s website, you’ll have to chose what sort of consumer you are: professional or ‘prosumer’. For those unfamiliar with the latter, it’s a hybrid word to describe a ‘professional consumer’, or if you will, an enthusiast. Today we look at a solid-state drive, a piece of hardware any PC enthusiast drools over, provided by RunCore, a China-based manufactuer focused on the production of high-end solid-state storage options.

ARTICLE URL: http://lanoc.org/review/hardware/storage/3906-runcore-pro-v-200gb-ssd

==

OCZ Revo 120GB PCI Express SSD Performance Preview @ Techgage
Link: http://techgage.com/article/ocz_revo_120gb_pci_express_ssd_performance_preview/
Quote: SSD’s are not considered to be "affordable" by many, and that’s especially true when talking about PCI Express versions. But, that’s soon to change, with the launch of OCZ’s Revo – a drive that barely charges a premium over current high-end SSD’s. While we iron out the details for our full review, we offer you this quick performance preview.

==

Audio / Video:

Samsung NX10 Mini-DSLR Compact Camera
URL: http://www.bcchardware.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=8891&Itemid=40
Quote:Sporting an APS-C sized sensor in an ultra thin body, this camera attempts to play with the entry level SLRs while at the same time catering to the higher sales volumes of the point and shoot crowd. This particular market segment is becoming increasingly crowed as amateur photographers seek to leave the confines of their tiny sensors in hopes of better photos at higher ISOs. Panasonic, Olympus, Sony, and now Samsung have chosen this demographic to wage war in.

==

Creative Sound Blaster ARENA Surround Headset Review on Technic3D

Link: http://www.technic3d.com/article-1114,1-creative-sound-blaster-arena-surround.htm

Translation Link: http://translate.google.de/translate?u=http%3a%2F%2fwww.technic3d.com%2Farticle-1114%2C1-creative-sound-blaster-arena-surround.htm&sl=de&tl=en&hl=&ie=UTF-8
Quote: "The Creative Sound Blaster ARENA Surround  Headset arrived Technic3D. The Sound Blaster Arena USB Gaming Headset from Creative Labs brings a fully immersive gaming audio experience to any computer. Thanks to Sound Blaster X-Fi technology with EAX support integrated into the headset, you’ll get 3D positional surround sound experience regardless of the computer you’re using. And with a comfortable design and detachable noise-canceling microphone, you’ll be ready to dominate all-night gaming sessions? We will check this and more in the following Review."

==

Samsung UN55C6500 55 Inch LED TV Review @ Tweaknews
Article Url: http://www.tweaknews.net/reviews/samsung_un55c6500_led_tv/
Article Snippet:
"With this being the second LED TV I have tested from Samsung, nothing much has changed with regards to pros and cons of thin panel LED technology. The picture quality and colors are second to none and the 1.1inch overall thickness is nothing less than astonishing."

==

OCIA.net has posted their review of the Geeks.com Mini USB 2.0 LED Projector. 

"Today, we have for review a Geeks.com Mini USB 2.0 LED Projector. This mini-projector is aptly named: it literally fits in the palm of your hand. With a built-in speaker and various input options, it seems like the perfect gadget for showing slideshows or movies in the absence of a TV or suitable monitor. Also, because it’s so small, it should be ideal for quick and easy setup."

Direct Link:  http://www.ocia.net/reviews/miniprojector/page1.shtml

==

Mobile Related:

Choiix Comforter Lapdesk @ Pro-Clockers

Review link: http://pro-clockers.com/mousepads/1554-choiix-comforter-lapdesk.html

There are many of us that love to sit back on the couch with our laptop on our laps browsing the wonderful world of the internet which would include the pages of Pro-Clockers.  And there are some of us that likes to set back late at night with a pillow propped up against the headboard of the bed adding the finishing touches of a review before heading to bed. Both of these situations are common and simply placing the laptop on your legs is not too bad.

==

Motorola H17txt with MotoSpeak Bluetooth Headset @ MobilityDigest

Today for review I have a bluetooth headset from Motorola called the H17txt, odd name yes, but it’s much  more than just a headset. This specific headset features MotoSpeak or the ability for you to listen to text messages and emails sent to you in the headset. While you’re driving or whatever you’re doing, when you get a message it will be read to you right through the headset. It works with either Android or Blackberry phones, and since I don’t have a BlackBerry I’m using my Android phone, specifically the Motorola Cliq XT. The software is very configurable with many options, but the downside is that to get full functionality you’ll need to get the full version which will cost you $13.95. I found the ‘lite’ version to be more than adequate though for my uses. Anyway, read on to learn more about the H17txt and MotoSpeak…

Link: http://mobilitydigest.com/review-motorola-h17txt-with-motospeak-bluetooth-headset/

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The Inexpensive yet Stylish Toshiba Satellite T235

The Toshiba Satellite T235 is here, and for the price being asked this laptop looks very impressive indeed.  The Satellite T235 is a Pentium or AMD powered machine, and while it may not be the fastest laptop on the block, its long battery life and great design make it a steal at just under $600.

Link: http://www.geekwithlaptop.com/the-inexpensive-yet-stylish-toshiba-satellite-t235

==

IDAPT I3 Universal Desktop Charger Review @ ThinkComputers.org

Review URL: http://www.thinkcomputers.org/idapt-i3-universal-desktop-charger-review/

Quote: “If you are anything like me you have quite a few gadgets lying around, most with their own chargers. This means you have a bunch of different cords to plug in, which takes up most of your power strip and just makes a mess of wires and connectors. While there is nothing we can do about all of the chargers that come with these devices there is something you can do about the mess. This is where the IDAPT I3 Universal Desktop charger comes in. It is a simple device that has 1 power connection and allows you to charge up to 3 devices at the same time! Let’s take a look…"

==

Assorted Stuffs:

Joby Gorillatorch Flare Review

Quote: I love little gadgets, and I have a fondness for flashlights for some reason.. I got the Gorillatorch for review a while ago and I’ve found it to be one of the most useful products I’ve ever got for review. Joby has introduced another Gorillatorch though called the Gorillatorch Flare, that is similar to the original but offers a brighter beam with three levels of brightness and a strobe. In addition to the standard white light though included is a red light, that’s kind of where the name flare comes from. The red light can be solid or strobe only. The Gorillatorch Flare has legs that are flexible to wrap around anything but it also has magnetic feet so it sticks to many surfaces giving it the ability to get light exactly where you need it.

Link: http://www.dragonsteelmods.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16670&Itemid=1

==

iXBT Labs Review: AMD 2010 Processor Series in Tests, Part 1
Excerpt:
"Today we shall try to answer the following question. What’s better: a triple-core CPU with 512KB L2 per core or a dual-core CPU with 1024KB L2 per core? On the one hand, the former has an additional core. On the other hand, each core of the latter has twice as much cache available. This isn’t as obvious as it may seem."
Article: http://ixbtlabs.com/articles3/cpu/amd-cpu-series-2010-part1-p1.html

==

AMD Ups The Workstation Ante With A New FirePro Driver @ Phoronix
Direct Link: http://www.phoronix.com/vr.php?view=15158
Summary: "Whether you are an owner of an ATI FirePro V3800 that retails for just over $100 USD, the proud owner of an ATI FirePro V8800 that goes for over $1,300 USD, or any of the FirePro products in-between, you will want to update your graphics driver when AMD  puts out their next stable software update. Back in March AMD put out an amazing FirePro Linux driver that increased the performance of their workstation graphics cards already on the market (and the other Evergreen-based workstation cards that entered the market soon after) by an astonishing amount. Our independent tests of this proprietary Linux driver update found that the performance in some workstation applications had increased by up to 59% by simply installing this updated driver while other OpenGL tests had just improved rather modestly with 20%+ gains. AMD though is preparing to release another driver update for Microsoft Windows and Linux that ups their workstation graphics performance even more! We have run some tests of this new beta driver against their older driver with both their low-end and ultra-high-end FirePro products and have found the improvements again to be astonishing."

==

Gaming:

StarCraft 2 (PC) Review @ Kitguru Gaming

The Last Airbender- Wii @ BonaFideReviews

StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty GPU & CPU Performance

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11 (Wii) Review @ TweakPC

Rosewill RK-800G Gaming Keyboard Review @ BURNED iN

ASUS CineVibe Rumble Feedback USB Gaming Headset @ Vortez.co.uk

StarCraft II – Wings of Liberty (PC) Review @ GamingHeaven.com

Quick Links:

Powercolor HD5770 Vortex 1GB Review @ KitGuru

ATI Catalyst 10.7 Windows 7 Driver Analysis

MSI GTX 460 cyclone 768MB @ PureOverclock

Intel Core i5-655K Processor BX80616I5655K @ Benchmark Reviews

OCZ StealthXStream 2 600 W Power Supply Review @ Hardware Secrets

All Mobile Celeron Models @ Hardware Secrets

Sharkoon Silent Eagle SE 120mm & 80mm Fans Review @ HardwareLogic

NZXT Phantom Case @ TechwareLabs

Spire TherMax Eclipse II Cooler Review @ KitGuru

PC Power & Cooling 950 Mk II Power Supply @ Bjorn3D

Best CPU Cooler Performance Q2-2010 @ Benchmark Reviews

Noctua NH-C12P SE14 Review at Overclockers Online

Sparkle Nvidia GeForce GTX 470 With Custom Cooler Video Card Review @ Madshrimps

Funky Kit Review: Lian-Li Pitstop T60 Test Bench

Rosewill Super Slim 2.4GHz Wireless Touchpad Keyboard Review @ Legit Reviews

  It’s time for the news once again… so read the news and check back over the weekend for more reviews of games and gadgets!

Storage Related:

Vizo Luxon Super SD and Traveler3 Hard Drive Enclosure Review on Technic3D

Link: http://www.technic3d.com/article-1095,1-vizo-luxon-super-sd-und-traveler3-im-test.htm

Translation: http://translate.google.de/translate?u=http%3a%2F%2fwww.technic3d.com%2Farticle-1095%2C1-vizo-luxon-super-sd-und-traveler3-im-test.htm&sl=de&tl=en&hl=&ie=UTF-8
Quote: "The Vizo Luxon Super SD and Traveler3 External Hard Drive Enclosure arrived Technic3D. We will check the Luxon and Traveler3 with connectivity Speed USB 2.0 vs. USB 3.0 and eSATA vs. USB 3.0 and more in the following Review."

==

OCZ Vertex 2 Extended SSD Review
Teaser: OCZ offers, like G.Skill, a new SSD with SandForce-Controller and higher capacity. We took a look at the 120 GByte model with 50K
IOPS 4K Random Write Performance.
Link: http://www.tweakpc.de/hardware/tests/ssd/ocz_vertex_2_extended/s01.php

==

Synology Diskstation DS210+ 2-Bay NAS Review @ Tweaknews
Article Url: http://www.tweaknews.net/reviews/synology_diskstation_ds210+/
Article Snippet:"I already knew that Synology made quality home NAS units, and now I can say they make good business grade NAS units as well. Fast performance is a must for a NAS in an office environment, and the DS210+ did not disappoint."

==

OWC Mercury Extreme Pro 120GB Solid State Drive.  

Article URL: http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum/hardware-canucks-reviews/34028-owc-mercury-extreme-pro-120gb-solid-state-drive-review.html

Quote: Having cut their teeth with the Apple crowd, OWC isn’t a company that is well known to most PC users.  However, with the Mercury Extreme Pro series of SandForce-based SSDs, they’re trying to break into the enthusiast PC market in a big way.  In this review we look at the 120GB version to see if it measures up to the competition

==

QNAP TS-559 Pro Turbo NAS Review at CCE Reviews
Link: http://www.ccereviews.com/reviews/qnap-ts-559-pro-turbo-nas/
Quote: If the last many pages haven’t said it enough, the TS-559 Pro is fast, and to date the fastest NAS unit we’ve looked at. I don’t mean to be all Forest Gump ‘. and that’s all I have to say about that’, but there really is no disputing the ‘the fastest NAS unit we’ve looked at’- so far. And believe me, we’ve seen quite a number of network attached storage units

==

G.Skill Phoenix Pro 120 SSD Review
Teaser: With the G.Skill Phoenix Pro the G.Skill presents the newest SSD with SandForce-Controller and a higher capacity. And the Phoenix Pro is offering 0K IOPS 4K Random Write Performance.
Link: http://www.tweakpc.de/hardware/tests/ssd/gskill_phoenix_pro/s01.php

==

SilverStone HDDBoost Review @ BURNED iN
LINK: http://www.burnedin.com/review/silverstone-hddboost-review

QUOTE: "System builders are at a crossroads of sorts when it comes time to choose a storage solution. Do you go for balls-to-the-wall performance and slap your wallet silly by investing in a high performance solid state drive (SSD), or are you better off picking up a high capacity, yet slower performing hard drive for a fraction of the cost? There isn’t a clear cut answer, but thanks to SilverStone, there might be an alternative. What if you could have both performance and capacity, and not have to spend a fortune to get them?

==

OCZ Agility 2 SandForce-based 60GB Solid State Drive @ Pro-Clockers

Review link: http://pro-clockers.com/storage/1550-ocz-agility-2-sandforce-based-60gb-solid-state-drive.html

Then there is many of us that aren’t content with what we have and need to buy something to make us appreciate that rig sitting underneath the desk. There is currently no better upgrade, again in our opinion, than going with a new Solid State Drive (SSD). The technology behind solid state drives has come a long way, no longer do we have to worry about stuttering data transfers or slow read and write speeds. Especially when we have companies like OCZ  releasing SSD based on newer controllers or providing an updated firmware.

Today we will be taking a hard long look at one of OCZ’s newest solid state drives based on the Sandforce 1200 controller. The Sandforce controller has lately been getting its fair share of reviews and good press due to it’s impressive read and write numbers. According to Sandforce, both of which can be as high as 260MB/s! The new OCZ Agility 2 60GB model advertises even better read and write of 285MB/s and 275MB/s, respectively. With the asking price of about $170, performance and cost is fast becoming affordable.

==

Crucial C300 256GB SSD
Many of the new performance units feature the SandForce controller however the model are looking at today from Crucial features a Marvell 88SS9174 BJP2 controller – thanks to an exclusive partnership between the companies.

Read the review over here: http://www.kitguru.net/components/ssd-drives/zardon/crucial-realssd-c300-256gb-review/

==

OCZ Agility2 60GB SSD review
Review URL:
http://www.cdrinfo.com/Sections/Reviews/Specific.aspx?ArticleId=28126
"..The SandForce-1200 controller seems to have a great potential offering solid sequential throughput and very fast random access times across a range of transfer sizes. You may experience reading and writing speeds that reach the 250MB/sec. The SF-1200 also showed a great performance when the SSD handled random writes with larger transfer sizes, and this was proved in our IOMeter workloads that contained a mix of read and write operations… "

==

Mobile Related:

Choiix Power Fort Portable Battery Pack
Teaser: Choiix, a Cooler Master daughter, presents the Power Fort Portable Battery Pack. It is a USB Backup Accu to charge every product that can be charged via USB – for all intents and purposes.
Link: http://www.tweakpc.de/hardware/tests/netzteile/choiix_power_fort/s01.php

==

MEGATech Reviews – Devotec Solar Sound 2 Bluetooth Stereo Speaker

Do you remember the first Devotec Solar Sound from late last year? As it turns out, Devotec already has a follow-up to that product, attempting to improve on the Bluetooth speaker in just about every way. It still serves the same fundamental purpose, receiving a stereo Bluetooth signal from your music phone, but the new Devotec Solar Sound 2 does appear to be better than its predecessor. Let’s find out if it really is!

Direct Link:http://www.megatechnews.com/megatech-reviews-devotec-solar-sound-2-bluetooth-stereo-speaker/

==

Choiix Power Fort Portable Charger review @ APH Networks

* Description: More and more people are becoming reliant of many different technological devices in everyday life. Some people may include businessmen, who run around with their Blackberries and HTCs all day. Others may be cell phone enthusiasts with their Nokias, Samsungs, Motorolas, or LGs and over 200 applications on their phones (Okay maybe not THAT many, but you get the idea). And of course, those Apple fanboys have their iPhones, iPads, and iPods, boasting over 225,000 available applications at the App Store at press time. But imagine this: What would you do if you were one of the many that came across a battery-dead cell phone in the middle of the road? Well, Choiix, by Cooler Master, has a trick up its sleeves to bring your electronics back to life in just about anywhere. Under the name of Power Fort (No, it’s not Power Fart, I know what the 8-year-old inside of you is thinking haha), arrives to the delight and joy of many electronics users. This portable device is not only useful to many people, but is also the consumer’s best partner in the battlefield of technological devices. Its 2700 mAh Li-Po battery is sufficiently large to change many devices over. It also has an auxiliary flashlight just in case. Its slim and stylish design won’t make it a chore to carry out the door in the morning. Simply put, this little bugger proves to be surprisingly useful, from somewhere as close as a walk to your friend’s house, to somewhere as far as going to camp with no power outlets. Read on to find out more about this life saver!

* Link: http://aphnetworks.com/reviews/choiix_power_fort

==

Choiix Power Fort Portable Battery Pack Review @ ThinkComputers.org

Review URL: http://www.thinkcomputers.org/choiix-power-fort-portable-battery-pack-review/

Quote: “Sometimes when you’re on the go, electric outlets are either impossible to find or rarely available. Moreover, it’s dreadfully inconvenient to have to plug in when you could be moving, all because your power-hungry smartphone has a battery that lasts what seems like minutes. Enter mobile power packs, such as the Choiix Power Fort battery pack. It’s a small black box which has two purposes: charge your small electronics and double as a flashlight. ThinkComputers has the review."

==

Motorola Droid X Cell Phone Review
Link: http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Motorola-Droid-X-Cell-Phone-Review/1051
Summary: Review of the Motorola Droid X with Verizon service, the latest smart phone from Motorola based on Google’s Android operating system.

==

Audio / Video:

Quick Review: Samsung BD-C6500 Blu-ray Player
QUOTE: "The Samsung BD-C6500 Blu-ray player is the midrange model in their product line, offering built-in wireless support, but no 3D playback. In a market crowded with set-top players, console systems and even HTPCs, how does the C6500 compare? – The C6500 also supports a wired Ethernet connection or Wi-Fi over 802.11g/n. 802.11g-based routers work just fine, but N-based routers are a bit faster in establishing a connection. Typing out any kind of complicated wireless passcode can be a pain using the remote, but you only have to do it once until you reset the player.
In our modern world, media comes in all kinds of different formats. There’s DVD, Xvid, Blu-ray, MKV, WMV, iTunes, Netflix and so on. It’s not like the VHS days, where you basically watched your entertainment on that format and that’s all there was. Anything capable of playing digital media in 2010 (and beyond) needs to support a wide variety of formats. This is where the C6500 does an admirable job. Plugging in a 1 TB external hard drive (using the NTFS file system), I was able to play a remarkable number of different file formats with ease, including the ubiquitous Xvid and MKV formats."

http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/3415/quick_review_samsung_bd_c6500_blu_ray_player/index.html

==

Hauppauge HD-PVR.
SNIP:For years, I have been trying to find a HD recorder that can not only record any Cable/Satellite show, but also one that would allow me to record my dad’s old VCR movies onto the computer so that we can optimize them to today’s standards. I am always on the lookout to try new things, to review the unique or unusual devices that can or will make our lives a whole lot easier.The Hauppauge HD-PVR is such a device that can make our daily movie/show watching lives a lot easier.
http://www.bjorn3d.com/read.php?cID=1881

==

Accell UltraAV DisplayPort to DVI Multi-Monitor Adapter Review @ ThinkComputers.org

Review URL: http://www.thinkcomputers.org/accell-ultraav-displayport-to-dvi-multi-monitor-adapter-review/

Quote: “I’m a multi-display guy and I have been for a long time. It is very hard for me to work with just one display. I really like to have my work on one screen and other things like instant messenger, iTunes, and Twitter on the other screen. This is pretty easy to do when you have a desktop system, but what about a laptop. Many people are moving away from desktops and going to a laptop as their main system. I would love to do the same, but I cannot work on a small laptop screen. Well Accell has just the thing for me the UltraAV DisplayPort to DVI Multi-Monitor adapter. This little device will allow you to enjoy multiple monitors from a single DisplayPort output, let’s take a look…"

==

Rode Podcaster Microphone @ GeekInvaders.com

DESCRIPTION: “The name Rode means quality to me. That is what you get with the Rode Podcaster Microphone! This is not a cheap USB microphone you find at the big-retail stores. This is a pure 100% broadcast, pro audio microphone. If you’re looking for the best of the best to make your podcast, broadcast or studio sound like a pro, Then look no further then the Rode Podcaster Microphone.”
ARTICLE URL: http://www.geekinvaders.com/?p=1907

==

Sony PiiQ Marqii Review
"The trend of merging high style and high tech continues to be outrageously popular and it seems like electronics mega giant Sony thinks it is about time they got a piece of the action. With the new PiiQ series of headphone products, Sony offers their take on stylish headgear. The new line offers everything from tiny earbuds to full sized headphones and in some absolutely outrageous colors and designs. Here, we review Sony’s Marqii headphone, the top of the new PiiQ line, to see how they stack up against the likes of Monster Beats, SkullCandy and Phiaton."
Link to the review: http://www.digitaltrends.com/headphone-reviews/sony-piiq-marqii-review/

==

AirLink101 SkyIPCam777W
Quote: " Most people don’t think about securing their homes or small businesses with the added piece of mind of a camera system. It could be due to the cost and time consuming setup of a full DVR solution. The SkyIPCam777W changes all that with an all-in-one package that is easy to setup and just works. It could be the IP camera solution for the masses. "
Link: http://www.aselabs.com/articles.php?id=9955

==

Assorted Stuffs:

Which Is Faster: Debian Linux or FreeBSD? @ Phoronix
Direct Link: http://www.phoronix.com/vr.php?view=15137
Summary: "Back in January, we published the first benchmarks of Debian GNU/kFreeBSD: the spin of Debian that replaces the Linux kernel with the FreeBSD kernel while retaining most of the same GNU user-land and it uses the GNU C library. With those original tests comparing Debian GNU/Linux to Debian GNU/kFreeBSD, the Linux version ended up winning in 18 of the 27 tests. However, over the past six months, the Debian GNU/kFreeBSD port has matured and it’s also moved to using the FreeBSD 7.3 kernel by default (compared to 7.2 back in January) and the FreeBSD 8.0 kernel is also emerging as a viable option that can be obtained using Debian’s package management system. Today we have updated test numbers looking at the performance of Debian with the FreeBSD kernel using two different notebooks where we ran the latest Debian GNU/kFreeBSD packages with both the FreeBSD 7.3 and 8.0 kernels, Debian GNU/Linux with the Linux 2.6.32 kernel, and then finally we tested the pure FreeBSD 7.3 and FreeBSD 8.0 operating systems."

==

InsideHW.com has compared two powerline AV network starter kits: D-link DHP-307AV & Devolo dLAN 200 AVplus. Here is a quote from this review:
“The short definition of a computer network could be put this way – the magical term that will be understood by most people as a bunch of unknown terms related to settings and a mystical image of an incomprehensible forest of cables. This wasn’t that far from the truth until recently, but the definition has changed along with new solutions appearing on the market, especially by the rise in wireless popularity. Another solution which shatters this prejudice, to a greater or lesser extent of success, is networking using the already existing electrical installations. This time around, we’ve taken up DHP-307AV, D-Link’s Powerline AV Network Starter Kit, as well as Devolo’s dLan 200 AVplus Starter Kit, for testing purposes…”
Summary:
The most realistic judgement of this solution could be as follows – as much as this sort of network solution seems attractive and neat, this is hardly a desirable one for business applications.
Article link: http://www.insidehw.com/Reviews/Peripherals/Powerline-AV-Kits-Using-Electricity-Installations-for-Networking.html

==

Gaming:

Crackdown 2 (X360) Review @ GamingHeaven.com

Steel Series 7H Headset @ LanOC Reviews

Interview with Mafia 2 developer: PC gaming will never die

Logitech G110 Gaming Keyboard Review @ ASE Labs

Review: Blacklight: Tango Down

DLC Review: Worms 2: Armageddon – Battle Pack

Review: Deadliest Warrior

Quick Links:

Cogage Arrow CPU Cooler Review @ Hardware Secrets

ASUS GeForce ENGTX460 TOP 768MB Video Card Review @ Legit Reviews

Sparkle GTS 250 Graphics Card @ TechwareLabs

iXBT Labs Review: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 465, GTX 470 Graphics Cards

Coolink Corator DS Heatsink Review @ Ninjalane

ASUS Rampage III Gene (X58 Express) Motherboard

News: Intel’s Xeon 5600 processors reviewed at TR

Cooler Master HAF X Full-Tower Enclosure Review

ProlimaTech Super Mega Heatsink CPU Cooler @ Benchmark Reviews

OCZ Fatal1ty 750w Power Supply Review @ OCIA.net

EVGA GTX 480 Hydro Copper FTW Review @ HotHardware.com

BIOSTAR X58 TPower Motherboard

Cooler Master Elite 430 Black Chassis

Corsair AX1200 1200W PSU Review on Technic3D

In-Win Dragon Slayer mATX Case Review

ASUS Crosshair IV Formula 890FX Chipset Motherboard Review @ Legit Reviews

M-Edge Guardian Kindle Case @ TechwareLabs

Cooler Master USP 100 @ LanOC Reviews

iXBT Labs Review: Foxconn H55MX-S Motherboard

Antec DF-85 Dark Fleet Full-Tower Case @ Benchmark Reviews

In-Win Dragon Slayer @ LanOC Reviews

It’s time for the news once again.. enjoy!

TweakTown:

Alice In Wonderland Blu-ray Movie Review

LaCie Rugged USB 3.0 500GB External HDD

MSI GX740 17-inch Gaming Notebook

Galaxy GeForce GTX 460 Super OC 1GB Video Card

Creative Labs’ Pure Music On-The-Go Launch Coverage Down Under

Quick Review: Sony KDL-40EX700 LCD TV

Patriot Sector 5 PC3-20000 (2500MHz) 4GB Kit

RBMods:

Joby Gorillatorch Original

CoolIT ECO A.L.C. CPU Cooler:

Technocel T360 Bluetooth Headset:

Jays Q-Jays Earphones:

Thermaltake SpinQ VT CPU Cooler:

GMC H-80 Case:

Thermaltake V3 Black Edition:

Benchmark Reviews:

ProlimaTech Super Mega Heatsink Preview

Cooler Master HAF-X Computer Case

Gigabyte H55N-USB3 HTPC Motherboard

OCZ Vertex 2 Extended SSD Test

Zalman ZM-NC2500 PLUS Notebook Cooler

NVIDIA GeForce GTX-460 768MB Video Card

NVIDIA GeForce GTX-460 1GB Video Card

OCIA News:

MSI 890FXA-GD70 AM3 Motherboard

Choiix Comforter Lapdesk

OCZ Vertex 2 50GB Solid State Drive

Noctua NH-U9B SE2 Heatsink

Thermaltake Armor A90 Steel Midtower Gaming Case

SilverStone HDDBOOST

Cooler Master NotePal ErgoStand

Legit Reviews:

EVGA GeForce GTX 460 768MB SC SLI Video Card Review

SilverStone Precision Series PS05 Mid-Tower PC Case Review

ASUS U30Jc Intel Core i3 350M Laptop Review

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 768MB and 1GB Video Card Reviews

ASUS ARES 4GB Limited Edition Video Card Review

PNY GeForce GTX 465 XLR8 Video Card Review

Cooler Master V6GT CPU Cooler Review

Tech Report:

TR reader’s iPad melts charger cord, nearly combusts

The sweet sound of Koss’ PortaPro headphones

We’re giving away 20 digital copies of Just Cause 2

Zotac’s Zbox HD-ID11 barebones nettop

Nvidia’s GeForce GTX 460 graphics processor

TR’s Summer 2010 system guide

Kit Guru:

If Mars II rocks up in August at £1,250 will it be the first GTX490 to market?

How Computer Power Supplies Work

NZXT Beta Evo Case

Urbano Premium Leather Macbook Sleeve

Powercolor HD5870 PCS+

Thermaltake Armor A60 Chassis

HIS – Peter Yeung: Director Of Marketing

XSReviews

Ozone Ultimate Gamer Pack Competition

Xigmatek Midgard White Knight Review

Speedlink Repute Review

Nexus Disk Twin HDD Cooler Review

Silverstone SST PS05 Review

iPazzPort Review

CoolIT ECO A.L.C. Review

ThinkComputers.org

ASRock Core 100HT Nettop Review

ASUS P6X58D-E Intel X58 Express Motherboard

Aerocool PGS Vs-9 Mid Tower Case

Antec Dark Fleet DF-85 Full Tower Case

Cooler Master V6 GT CPU Cooler

OCZ Vertex 2 120GB Solid State Drive

Crucial RealSSD C300 256GB SATA 6Gbps Solid State Drive

Overclock3D

Prolimatech Samuel 17

Asus Mars II – DUAL GTX480 GPU

nVidia GeForce GTX 460 768MB GDDR5 Review

ASUS VW266H Monitor

ASUS Ares

Scythe Yasya

ASUS Rampage III Gene

HotHardware:

iPhone 4 vs. HTC Incredible: Smartphone Showdown:

HTC Droid Incredible Video Review:

NVIDIA Sheds Light On Lack Of PhysX CPU Optimizations:

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 Debut: ZOTAC, EVGA:

NVIDIA 3D Vision Surround is Here:

Apple iPhone 4 Review With Video:

HTC Touch Pro2 Review:

LanOC Reviews

Sapphire HD5550 OC @ LanOC Reviews

Verizon Palm Pre & Pixi Plus @ LanOC Reviews

Gigabyte Ghost M8000Xtreme @ LanOC Reviews

Sapphire HD5670 Ultimate 1GB @ LanOC Reviews

LANOC Breaks Down the Engie Update

Gaming on the Go: Laptop vs LAN Rig @ LanOC Reviews

Razer Gear Rack @ LanOC Reviews

Madshrimps

TRENDnet TEW-691GR 450Mbps Wireless N Gigabit Router Review

Brando Bond Spy Sport Watch With Camera/Mic/4Gb USB Review

NETGEAR WNDA3100 RANGEMAX DUAL BAND Wireless N Adapter Review

ASRock P55 Deluxe3 S1156 Motherboard Review

Asus G51J Core i7-720QM GTX 260M Notebook Review

SteelSeries WoW and AION Limited Edition Mouse Pads Review

ASUS Crosshair IV Formula AM3 AMD 890FX Motherboard Review

Techgage

Corsair Nova Series V128 128GB SSD

Gigabyte 890FXA-UD5

Free Alternatives to Adobe Reader for Viewing PDF’

NZXT Sentry LXE Touch-Screen Fan Controller

AMD’s HD 5550 & 5570 – Now Equipped with GDDR5 Goodness

Corsair Survivor GTR 32GB Flash Drive

Taking a Tour of Kingston’s Hsinchu Factory

Ok that’s enough for today…

  It’s Sunday, a new week has begun! Later today I’ll be posting a review, so check back for that, for now though read the news..

Storage Related:

Title: G.Skill Phoenix Pro SSD 60GB Review on Technic3D

Link: http://www.technic3d.com/article-1101,1-g.skill-phoenix-pro-ssd-60gb.htm

Quote: "The G.Skill Phoenix Pro SSD 60GB with SandForce SF-1200 controller arrived Technic3D. New available in 60GB, 120GB and 240GB configurations. Results in extreme performance with up to 285MB/s sequential read and 275MB/s sequential write speeds? We will check this against other SSDs from Intel, Corsair and Western Digital in Windows 7."

==

QNAP TS-859 Pro

Link: http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/QNAP/TS-859_Pro

Brief: The Turbo Station or TS-859 Pro from QNAP is the largest such unit in their NAS line-up, able to take in eight hard drives. Its comes with an Intel Atom CPU and 1 GB memory within the compact chassis, offering much more than just acting as a network accessible storage device.

==

Everything USB is pleased to announced our latest review on Asus U3S6 SATA 6 & USB 3.0 Card.

Not everyone can justify the cost and hassle associated with upgrading their motherboard to get USB 3.0; however many are ready and willing to invest the couple moments and few dollars it takes to plug in a frugally priced PCI-E USB 3.0 card and upgrade their system. One such option for consumers is the Asus U3S6, which boasts not only two USB 3.0 ports but also ups the ante with a pair of SATA 6GB/s ports. Is its reasonable asking price and potential power a combination worthy of your time? Let’s find out!

http://www.everythingusb.com/asus-u3s6-usb-3.0-sata-3-pci-express-18307.html

==

Corsair Force F120 SSD @ PureOverclock

Review URL:  http://www.pureoverclock.com/article1017.html

“The new SandForce drives offer killer performance, even leaving the Indilinx drives in the dust. Normally such performance boosts come with a stiff premium, but in the case of the Corsair Force F120, that’s simply not happening. We have a drive here that is crazy fast and a pretty darn good deal when you look at the competition; frankly, it’s a standout.”

==

Fractal Design Array

Link:http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Fractal_Design/Array

Brief:The Fractal Design Array manages to swallow a whole six 3.5 inch drives and a single 2.5 inch one without the usual dimensions of a mid or full tower case. This makes the ITX chassis a great DIY NAS or server chassis. We dive into the Array to see how they manage to stuff so much hardware into a chassis of this size.

==

Thecus N2200 Review – Your ideal home NAS?

Network attached RAID 0-1 and JBOD, iTunes server, photo server, media server (uPnP), USB/IP webcam support, ftp/bt/eMule support, hotswap and autorebuild functions, all that you can get in one solution which is easy to use and requires only a minimum of knowledge to set up properly. The Thecus N2200 also comes at a very respectable price, could it be the ideal home NAS? We find out for you, read along.
http://www.madshrimps.be/gotoartik.php?articID=987

==

LiteOn iHES208 Blu-Ray Combo Drive Review @ Vortez.co.uk
DESCRIPTION:
"At VH this is an area that we have only recently begun delving into and our 2nd review today is occupied by another LiteOn drive. This time it’s the turn of the iHES208 – an internal drive with X8 Blu Ray functionality as well as offering a ‘combo’ DVD-RW and CD-RW. Whilst we appreciate that DVD media is still holding the crown of popularity, Blu Ray is slowly gathering attention. Part of the fact that DVD remains the default media choice is due to Blu Ray devices still costing a premium. Just like most new technological advancements, the cost to start with is always going to be high. SSD’s are a great example of that. But there is good news, Blu Ray devices are beginning to drop in price as the market embraces such technology which is great news for consumers."
LINK: http://www.vortez.co.uk/review.php?id=185

==

OCIA.net has posted their review of the Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex 500GB Portable Hard Drive. 

"USB 2.0 is most popular due to wide compatibility but transfer speeds are slow in today’s standard. Other options like FireWire, eSATA and the recently introduced USB 3.0 offer much more bandwidth but of course many computers don’t support these various interfaces. Until now, the tradeoff has been speed versus compatibility. But with Seagate’s new FreeAgent GoFlex portable hard drive, you can get the best of both worlds. The GoFlex drive ships with a standard USB 2.0 interface but what makes this drive unique is the ability to remove the interface and replace it with a complete different interface."

Direct Link:  http://www.ocia.net/reviews/freeagentgoflex/page1.shtml

==

OCZ Technology 50GB Vertex 2 Solid State Drive
Link: http://www.bigbruin.com/content/oczvertex2_1
Quote:  Even though this was our first test of an SSD featuring a SandForce controller, our expectations were high given the buzz seen elsewhere on the web. OCZ Technology’s 50GB Vertex 2 solid state drive featuring an optimized SandForce SF-1200 controller did not let us down, with testing presenting results close to the impressive published specifications.

==

Are SSDs worth the extra scratch versus hard drives? Which one is the best value? Our scatter plots have returned to tackle the SSD value proposition.
http://techreport.com/articles.x/19162

==

G.Skill Phoenix Pro SandForce SSD Test @ Benchmark Reviews

DESCRIPTION: Solid State Drive storage devices have become the hot ticket for high-performance computer enthusiasts. Impartial towards either PC, Linux, or Apple platforms, SSDs have the power to transform slow computers into blazing-fast speed machines. The SandForce SF-1200 has quickly become the de facto SSD controller for companies seeking recognition, and for good reason. The G.Skill Phoenix Pro embraces the SF-1222TA3-SBH processor to produce up to 50,000 IOPS with only 7% over-provisioning to generate maximum performance with optimal capacity. In this article, Benchmark Reviews tests the 60GB G.Skill Phoenix Pro SSD FM-25S2S-60GBP2 against some of the fastest storage solutions on the market.

ARTICLE URL: http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=551

==

Title: Kingston SNV425-S2 128GB Desktop

Link: http://www.chw.net/2010/07/kingston-snv425-s2-128gb-desktop/

Bottomline: The best SSD in performance, silence, reliability, innovative and guaranty  of the V Series of Kingston Technology

==

Thermaltake BlacX Duet
Quote: " A few years ago, Thermaltake released the BlacX. It was one of the first (if not the first) hard drive docking stations for sale. Thermaltake was the company to really push the product to market. Now, Thermaltake is upping the ante by supporting two drives at once. "
Link: http://www.aselabs.com/articles.php?id=8652

==

Hitachi Deskstar 7K1000.C 1TB SATA2 HDS721010CLA332 HDD Review
Link: http://www.ocinside.de/html/results/hitachi_hds721010cla332_hdd.html

This review is not about an SSD, but about the current Hitachi Deskstar 7K1000.C 1TB HDD with a very good cost-performance ratio.
Sure, many PC or Mac owners save already their money for a fast Solid State Drive, however the price difference between HDD and SSD with the same capacity is so enormously high, that most SSD buyers will need an additional hard disk drive for their PC or Mac.
Let us have a closer look at the results of the Hitachi Deskstar 7K1000.C 1TB SATA2 drive with 7200 rpm and 32 MB cache and let us compare them with some benchmark programs.

==

Buffalo Drive Station Combo 4 Hard Drive Enclosure Review on Technic3D

Link: http://www.technic3d.com/article-1096,1-buffalo-drive-station-combo-4.htm

Translation: http://translate.google.de/translate?u=http%3a%2F%2fwww.technic3d.com%2Farticle-1096%2C1-buffalo-drive-station-combo-4.htm&sl=de&tl=en&hl=&ie=UTF-8
Quote: "The Buffalo Drive Station Combo 4 External Hard Drive Enclosure arrived Technic3D. The DriveStation Combo4 comes with a choice of interfaces types – eSATA, FireWire 800, FireWire 400 and USB 2.0. All connectivity Speed see you in the following Review."

Audio / Video:

InsideHW.com has compared 6 underwater cameras.

Summary: If you’re into diving, you’ve probably always had the desire to capture the beautiful underwater landscapes and their vibrant fauna in form of photography.
Article link: http://www.insidehw.com/Reviews/Digital-cameras/A-Diving-Mate-Waterproof-Cameras-to-Bring-on-Your-Vacation.html

==

Toshiba 55UX600 Review
"While folks are chomping at the bit for 3D HDTVs-or so the industry would have you believe-Internet-connected sets are real and arriving at a rapid clip. Everyone has them including Samsung, Sony, Panasonic, LG, Sharp and now Toshiba. The net-connected UX600 lets you access YouTube videos, download VUDU movies, check out photos on Flickr, listen to Internet radio, access news streams and lots more. Competing models offer similar features. Along with dancing soldiers on YouTube you can also check out traditional HDTV programs and Blu-ray movies to round out your entertainment buffet. Let’s see if the 55UX600 satisfied our appetites."
Link to the review: http://www.digitaltrends.com/tv-reviews/toshiba-55ux600-review/

==

ASUS Cine5 5-Channel Speaker Review @ ThinkComputers.org

Review URL: http://www.thinkcomputers.org/asus-cine5-5-channel-speaker-review/

Quote: “There are many different computer speaker systems out there, ranging from a 2.1 to a 5.1 setup. That makes it hard to choose what is best for your individual needs. As a gamer, finding a decent surround setup with easy controls is pretty difficult and one that doesn’t take up your whole desk or room is even harder. Problem solved! SoundBar setups is a new style of speakers, in which all of the speakers are built into a bar format that can be easily mounted or placed on stands or desks. In this review let’s see if the ASUS Cine5 is going to be your next speaker purchase."

==

SoundGraph FingerVU 706 Auxiliary Touch Screen Review

FingerVU series from SoundGraph are auxiliary monitors with touch screen capabilities and we can work on them independently from the main monitor, when the FingerUI included application is used. Through FingerUI, the user can play music, video, watch photo slideshows or access widgets as World Weather, World Time, Memo or even an Internet browser.
http://www.madshrimps.be/gotoartik.php?articID=1038

==

Mobile Related:

Monster iCarPlay Portable 300 FM Transmitter

Monster is known for their premium quality products, along with their premium price tags of course. It comes as a surprise then, that their iCarPlay 300 FM Transmitter for the iPhone & iPod is such a sub-par product.
Link: http://tbreak.com/tech/2010/07/monster-icarplay-portable-300-fm-transmitter/

==

OCIA.net has posted their review of the Cooler Master NotePal U2 Notebook Stand. 

"The NotePal U2 comes equipped with a pair of 80mm low profile fans measuring only 10mm thick. They also have a grill on the intake side to prevent injury from the fan blades. The unique advantage this unit has over many competitors is the ability to move the fans to a more advantageous position like under an inlet vent or where a hot hard drive sits. Worth considering is that many notebook manufacturers pay little to the cooling of the hard drive which can significantly shorten its lifespan. The ability to cool this area of the notebook could increase its life."

Direct Link:  http://www.ocia.net/reviews/cmnotepalu2/page1.shtml

==

Logitech HD C510 Webcam:
English link:  http://www.rbmods.com/content/24785/hd-c510-features.aspx
Swedish link:  http://www.rbmods.se/content/14812/c510hdspecifikationer.aspx
Quote:  Logitech has released their new HD webcams with the Logitech Vid webcam software so you can make HD calls to each other. Today we are going to try out the new C510 model that they sent us, we are going to see what type of picture quality we can expect and also what it actually requires of our computers.

==

LapWorks Recliner iPad/eReader Accessory @ TechwareLabs

Quote: If you are one of the growing population of iPad (Over 3 Million since April 3, 2010) users then you have probably bought or are looking for an iPad case. The next most useful accessory for the iPad is a stand. Likewise eReader users quickly realize the need for an eReader stand making consumption of ebooks much easier. Hands free you can now accomplish multitasking and use of your eReader or iPad at the same time. Today we will take a look at the LapWorks Recliner, a device aimed at improving and easing your use of an iPad or eReader.
LINK: http://www.techwarelabs.com/lapworks-recliner-ipad-ereader/

==

Android 2.2 Review: A Deep, Delicious Dive Into Froyo:
http://hothardware.com/Reviews/Android-22-Review-A-Deep-Delicious-Dive-Into-Froyo/

Android 2.2 was introduced at Google’s I/O conference in San Francisco this past May. It promised to add a number of much-wanted changes and additions to the mobile OS, and even a few things that Apple’s iOS does not offer. We’ve recently acquired the final gold build of Android 2.2, or "Froyo," on our in-house Nexus One, and we’ll be detailing the changes and performance tweaks in the pages ahead. Join us as we take a deep dive into the world of Android 2.2, Google’s latest and greatest mobile OS…

==

Cooler Master Choiix Comforter – Review
Article Clip: Like to be comfortable? Who doesn’t! I personally have a hard time with my notebook. Typing papers or just simply using it could be a pain. I usually end up working on the table or something straight. We all know that the best place to use a notebook is on the couch or a really comfy chair. The problem comes with notebooks overheating or becoming extremely hot and there is a risk of getting burned of course. There are plenty of gadgets out there which are designed to work with you while you are on the couch and we are privileged to review today a newest member of Cooler Master, Choiix Comforter.
Article Link: http://umlan.com/reviews/miscellaneous/m19.html

==

Assorted Stuffs:

Geeks.com Prize-A-Day Giveaway Sweepstakes
15 – $100 Geeks virtual gift certificates
Grand Prize: $500 Geeks virtual gift certificate

==

Title: Ozone Ultimate Gamer Pack Competition @ XSReviews

Review Link: http://forums.xsreviews.co.uk/showthread.php?tid=7205
Quote: "Today we have a new competition for you hardware fans, the Ultimate Gamer Pack from Ozone thanks to our partners at Powerdrive-Computers.com.
We’re giving away some great peripherals that will without doubt improve your gaming experience. One lucky winner chosen at random will be sent free of charge:
    * Ozone Radon 3K
    * Ozone Attack Headset
    * Ozone Exposure Mat"

==

LanOC Reviews Summer Case Mod Contest

With prizes from ATI/AMD, Cooler Master, Crucial, Gigabyte, and Steel Series we are hoping to attract some of the most creative modders to show off their builds on our forums. We will be accepting entry’s until August 1^st and will start voting from August 3^rd until the 10^th.

You can find more details on our rules and how to enter HERE. Even if you are not interested in entering you should visit the forums and check out and discus everyone’s entry’s. To those on the fence, take a look at the prize listing below, it should be enough to get you excited. You don’t have to have any experience to put together an entry, all you have to do is put a little effort into it.

==

Can Cisco and HP Compete with Apple’s iPad?
"The fun part about talking about products that aren’t out yet is that you can paint them the way you think they should be or paint them the way you’d like them to be if you are a fan of the current winning offering. I’m going to pick choice number 3 though and paint them the way I think they will be and see how they might do against the current generation iPad. We’ll first outline the devices based on what we know so far and speculate what we think they might be able to do."
Link to the talk back: http://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/can-cisco-and-hp-compete-with-apples-ipad/

==

NETGEAR RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N Gigabit Router WNDR3700 Review

The WNDR3700 Wireless N router from NETGEAR packs up a lot of power, has a very customizable graphical interface and can be connected to an external USB storage device like HDD/Flash Drive/SSD, turning it instantly into a NAS solution.
http://www.madshrimps.be/gotoartik.php?articID=1044

==

New Forums Giveaway! @ ThinkComputers.org

Contest URL: http://www.thinkcomputers.org/our-new-forums-giveaway/

Quote: “We announced our new Forums last week and when we did we told you we would be having a giveaway. We really want people to join the forums and be active and we will be rewarding members that contribute to the ThinkComputers community. Our good friends at Antec were nice enough to provide 3 great prizes for us to give away to new forum members. Those prizes include the brand new Dark Fleet DF-85 Full Tower Case, the Dark Fleet DF-35 Mid Tower Case and the TruePower New TP-750 Blue 750W power supply. Read on for all of the details on how you can win these awesome prizes!

==

Actiontec Ethernet over Coax MoCA Network Adapter Review @ MissingRemote.com

DESCRIPTION: Have you ever been in that situation where wifi just doesn’t cut it, forcing you to try other network solutions such as Ethernet over power line and wanted tear your hair out in frustration? Whether you have a HTPC, a network media tank, or a video game console system you’ve been to that point where you just wish you could run an Ethernet cable, however due to constraints in your living situation you just can’t hard wire that Ethernet cable like you want to. Today we look at the Actiontec Ethernet over Coax MoCA network adapter and run it through the paces to see if this adapter is just the answer to all your hard wired woes.

ARTICLE URL: http://www.missingremote.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4901&Itemid=1

==

Gaming:

Ninety Nine Nights 2 review (Xbox 360) Review @ KitGuru

SteelSeries 7G Gaming Keyboard Review @ KitGuru

Razer Kabuto @ LanOC Reviews

SteelSeries 7H – Stereo-Gamer-Headset Review

DLC Review: Toy Soldiers: The Kaiser’s Battle

Indie Review: Old School Racer

Quick Links:

Pump station comparison @ Hardwareoverclock.com

Asus P6X58D-E @ Bjoprn3D

Overclocking the GIGABYTE GA-X58A-UD9 + Core i7-980X with LN2 by Deanzo

Sapphire Radeon 5550 Ultimate GDDR5 @ PureOverclock

ASUS EAH 5750 Formula Video Card at Modders-Inc

Zalman VF3000A VGA Cooler Review @ Hardware Secrets

Chenboro ES34169 mITX Sever Chassis @ TechwareLabs

Prolimatech Armageddon @ Bjorn3D

MSI Big Bang XPOWER Intel X58 motherboard review @ KitGuru

OC3D: Nexus VCT-9000 Silent Cooler Review

Futurelooks H55 Micro ATX Shoot Out – ASUS P7H55D-M EVO vs GIGABYTE GA-H55M-USB3 vs MSI H55M-ED55

Antec DF-35 Dark Fleet Computer Case @ Benchmark Reviews

Asus ARES Dual Radeon HD 5870 4GB Review @ HotHardware.com

Sapphire ATI Radeon 5670 Ultimate HD 1gig Video Card @ GeekInvaders.com

Amacrox Free Earth 88PLUS 600 W Power Supply Review @ Hardware Secrets

MS-Tech SM-X35 Mouse Review on Technic3D

Biostar TA890GXB HD Micro-ATX Motherboard Review @ Legit Reviews

Antec Sonata Proto Case @ TechwareLabs

Cooler Master V6GT CPU Cooler @ Benchmark Reviews

Joby Gorillatorch Review at CCE Reviews

Hello, Hello! it’s time for the news from around the world!

Storage Related:

Article Name: Super Talent USB 3.0 Express Drive Flash Drive Review @ Tweaknews
Article Url: http://www.tweaknews.net/reviews/super_talent_usb_3_express_drive/
Article Snippet: "Try as I might, there’s really nothing negative to say about Super Talent’s USB 3.0 Express Drive . It’s the same convenient, portable USB flash storage that we’ve all become accustomed to, but with the added benefit of performing up to ten times faster thanks to SuperSpeed compatibility."

==

Crucial PC2-5300 2Gb SODIMM.

" If you want to upgrade the memory of your netbook, do it now with these 2Gb SODIMM memory modules from Crucial. They’re affordable, compatible with most netbooks and comes with life time warranty. Trust me, your experience when using your netbook with 2Gb of ram installed, will never be the same."
Read the rest of the review here … http://www.funkykit.com/reviews/635-review-crucial-pc2-5300-2gb-sodimm.html

==

Crucial RealSSD C300 64GB review
Review URL: http://www.cdrinfo.com/Sections/Reviews/Specific.aspx?ArticleId=28008
"..As we previously mentioned the 64GB drive is not offering a blazing writing performance. But if you need a quality SSD boot drive and aren’t planning on writing huge amounts of data to it on a regular basis, the Crucial RealSSD C300 64GB is recommended… "

==

AIC MiniBOD-T082 8-Bay 2.5-inch JBOD Enclosure
QUOTE: "Many things come to mind when we think about portable storage; USB pen drives, USB external drives and maybe even some eSATA solid state hybrid drives if you have a taste for the exotic. None of these are going to cut it when other people’s money is on the line, because they should all be considered temporary storage. Valuable data should always remain in a redundant state, be that a NAS server or multiple copies kept on different devices.
Over the years we have covered devices that were designed with a broad range of users and a few that focus on specific users. The AIC MiniBOD is of the latter category and focuses on users looking for uncompromised performance when dealing with valuable data and making that data available on the go in other locations. I could come up with several scenarios where the AIC MiniBOD would be a perfect fit for professionals, but instead of just coming up with one I will share a time in my life when the MiniBOD would have been very useful."

==

Crucial Ballistix 1600mhz & MOD Review.
Quote: Today we take a look at the latest in the long Ballistix range of RAM from Crucial.
Link: http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/memory/crucial_ballistix_1600mhz_mod_review/1

==

OCZ Enyo 128GB USB 3.0 Portable SSD @ Techgage

Link: http://techgage.com/article/ocz_enyo_128gb_usb_30_portable_ssd/

Quote: "Fast". It’s a word that can be explained in a billion different ways, but one of my favorites is to talk about the potential of OCZ’s Enyo SSD. As a portable drive, it delivers mind-blowing performance, at up to 200MB/s for both the read and write, and as an added perk, it’s small, stylish, and priced surprisingly well.

==

Audio / Video:

: Lensbaby Composer & Fisheye Optics
URL: http://www.bcchardware.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=8804&Itemid=40
Quote:

Most babies are cute, but I’m not sure that such a statement could be applied to the Lensbaby. It’s a rather odd looking affair that takes certain visual cues from a universal joint. Don’t be alarmed though, its appearance is integral to its operation. As stated before, adjusting the focal point on a flat plain is the Lensbaby’s primary effect.  To accomplish this one simply rotates the front part of the lens in a certain direction. As the front of the lens moves, so does the focal point. . .

==

Creative Labs ZEN X-Fi Style Portable Media Player Review

Whenever you start a discussion about MP3 players, you have to address the elephant in the room. Yes, we all know that the Apple iPod dominates this space, but that does not mean that we should ignore all the other options. Before you head out and blindly buy another iPod, maybe you should take a moment to look at the Creative ZEN X-Fi Style 8GB to see if it might work better for you. It’s meant to be an inexpensive, compact alternative to something like the iPod nano. Let’s check it out!

Direct Link: http://www.futurelooks.com/creative-labs-zen-x-fi-style-portable-media-player-review/

==

Mobile Related:

Review of Two iPhone 4 Silicone Cases

Today I will be looking at two silicone OEM cases from USBFever – the Rubberized Silicone Case for iPhone 4 and the Ultra Slim Silicone Case for iPhone 4. These two cases are not meant for high fashion or to protect from severe impact but to keep the iPhone safe from scratches, dust and bumps. Both are similar in style and fit the iPhone 4 nicely.

Link: http://www.dragonsteelmods.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16577&Itemid=1

==

Macro Lens for iPod, iPhone and Cell Phone Review

Up on the review block today I’ve got a little macro lens from USBFever.com that can be used with anything that has a small lens like an MP3 player, phone or even your netbook or laptop and the hand held style video cameras. It’s an interesting little gadget, and it does work well to help focus on the macro level. Read on to learn more..

Link: http://www.dragonsteelmods.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16582&Itemid=1

==

Apple iPod nano 5th Generation 8GB Review @ MobilityDigest

Link: http://mobilitydigest.com/apple-ipod-nano-5th-generation-8gb-review/

Quote: "Today for review Geeks.com has sent me over the Apple iPod nano 5th Generation. This new nano comes complete with a larger screen, video camera and a few other differences to the software when compared to the previous nano 4th. The one I got from Geeks is a refurb or used unit but it looks like new. "

==

Speck Products AftPack Backpack Laptop Bag

Today for review I’ve got a big bag from Speck called the AftPack BackPack, plain and simple it’s a laptop bag for up to a 17” laptop. The AftPack has got a ton of pockets and little compartments, more than enough space for you take a whole lot of stuff with you. The pack features a lot of padding, not only for you laptop but for your back as well, the back panel is padded and the straps themselves are very thick with padding.  For the price it’s not a bad bag at all, it’s well made and had a lot of room for everything you need, so read on to see a lot of pictures and learn a bit more about the AftPack from Speck.

Link: http://igadgetlife.com/reviews/review-of-speck-products-aftpack-backpack-laptop-bag/

==

ASUS U30Jc 13.3-inch Notebook
QUOTE: "I’m never sure why some of the notebooks that perform the best aren’t exactly good looking. Some of the good performances tend to be chunky notebooks that are not as easy on the eyes as some of the thinner machines with less power.
Today I am checking out the sexy little ASUS U30Jc notebook. The little machine is clad in shiny aluminum and has a very thin profile. That shiny aluminum and thin profile means that the machine looks very good and ASUS has put some nice hardware inside the attractive machine as well."

==

LapWorks iPad Recliner Review @ Virtual-Hideout

Review link: http://www.virtual-hideout.net/reviews/LapWorks_iPad_Recliner/index.shtml

Quote: “We all knew that when the Apple iPad was announced, there was going to be tons of accessories come down the line, just as was the story with the iPod and iPhone. With the iPad being touted as not only a productivity and multimedia consumption device, but also an e-reader, we could assume that accessories that prop, slant or otherwise hold your device at a certain angle would be forthcoming. Today I have for you one such device; the LapWorks iPad Recliner ($34.95). This is an adjustable stand capable of holding your iPad (or other similarly shaped device) at different angles for your reading pleasure.”

==

Assorted Stuffs:

Geeks.com Prize-A-Day Giveaway Sweepstakes
15 – $100 Geeks virtual gift certificates
Grand Prize: $500 Geeks virtual gift certificate

==

Microsoft SharePoint 2010

URL: http://www.businesscomputingworld.co.uk/review-microsoft-sharepoint-2010/

Snippet: “As well as addressing the many shortcomings of the ageing 2007 product, SharePoint 2010 equips the platform well to cope with new technologies and the ever changing IT landscape. Alternatives may have started to overtake it, but the new release more than restores the balance in Microsoft’s favour. For new customers and those looking to develop or enhance existing applications it’s a natural choice, although those happy with what they’ve got might want to postpone upgrading until they have a real need for the new features. Either way, SharePoint 2010 makes even more sense than ever and should be one of the first platforms considered for any Web collaboration project.”

==

HIS Mega Competition – Win a MESH EyeDefinition PC

Working with HIS and MESH, KitGuru is offering readers the chance to enter a competition and win a powerful gaming PC, complete with 3 HD screens. Entries must be received before 26th August 2010.

Enter the competition over here: http://www.kitguru.net/site-news/competitions/faith/his-mega-competition-win-a-mesh-eyedefinition-pc/

==

Article Tip – PS3 Slim http://www.gaj-it.com/20540/ps3-slim-in-white-release-date-in-japan-expected-for-july-29th-2010/

==

Repairing a Broken GRUB 2 Boot-Loader on Ubuntu @ Techgage
Link: http://techgage.com/news/repairing_a_broken_grub_2_boot-loader_on_ubuntu/
Quote: There’s no question that GRUB 2 brought on numerous improvements over earlier versions, but it also introduced a small downside… a relative overhaul to how things are done. There are no more menu.1st (or similar) files that keep a simple configuration, nor are all of the commands the exact same at the command-line. You might have been an expert with GRUB 0.x, but you’ll still face a small learning-curve with GRUB 2.

==

Dell 6-Core Studio XPS 7100 Review:
http://hothardware.com/Reviews/Dell-Studio-XPS-7100-Review/

Dell recently sent us one of their new Studio XPS 7100 desktops built around AMD’s recently launched Phenom II X6 1055T processor. AMD’s hexa-core chips don’t pack the same punch as Intel’s six-core architecture, but the upshot is you’ll save a king’s bounty by riding into the sunset with AMD, and in this case, with Dell as well. The configuration we’re looking at runs $1,450 (currently on sale for $1,150), with lesser spec’d six-core rigs starting out at $699. To put that into perspective, Intel’s sole six-core offering — the Core i7 980X — commands about a grand just for the processor alone…

==

CoolIT ECO C240 ALC contest at DV Hardware

DV Hardware teams up with CoolIT Systems to give away the ECO C240 A.L.C. liquid cooling system to one lucky overclocker! Participating in the contest is quick and easy, we don’t require you to post a gazillion posts on our message board, all you have to do is send an e-mail to our contest address.

http://www.dvhardware.net/article43835.html

==

Quick Links:

DAS Keyboard Professional Review

Asus ENGTX465 (GTX-465) Voltage Tweak Edition @ Bjorn3D

Overclock3D have just published a new article titled: HIS Radeon HD 5550 1GB GDDR3 Review

Zotac GeForce GTX 465 Video Card Review @ t-break

ASRock X58 Extreme 3 Motherboard

AMD Athlon-II X4-640 Processor @ Benchmark Reviews

SilverStone PS05 Midtower Case Review @ OCIA.net

Razer Orochi portable gaming mouse @ LanOC Reviews

Evercool Transformer 4 CPU Cooler Review @ BayReviews.com

Cooler Master HAF-X @ PureOverclock

Intel i5 655k Review

CrackDown 2 (Xbox 360) Review

AMD Athlon II X3 445 3.1GHz Triple Core Processor Review @ Legit Reviews

Sapphire HD 5850 Toxic 2GB Graphic Card Review on Technic3D

Corsair HX850W Power Supply Review at Overclockers Online

ASUS GeForce GTX 465: A Step Down @ InsideHW

Gigabyte GeForce GTX 470 OC Edition Review @ Hardware Canucks

MSI N465GTX Twin Frozr II Review @ Vortez.co.uk

HIS Radeon HD 5550 GDDR5 @ techPowerUp

Axle Geforce GT 220 Videocard Review @ Tweaknews

Logitech G9x Laser Gaming Mouse @ Benchmark Reviews

Axle Radeon HD 5450 @ Rbmods

Nexus Edge @ PureOverclock

Cooler Master Elite 430 Black Mid Tower Case Review @ ThinkComputers.org

It’s Friday, and it’s a holiday weekend here.. long weekend actually everything will be closed Monday.. oh well, here’s the news..

Storage Related:

Rosewill RX358 3.5" USB 3.0 Enclosure

Link: http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Rosewill/RX358

Brief: Rosewill is jumping on the USB 3.0 bandwagon with full force, offing not only enclosures but also host cards. We take their RX358 3.5 inch enclosure for a ride using their RC-505 USB 3.0 controller – a combination that manages to impress.

==

Intel X25-V SSD: Just Fit for a System Disk @ InsideHW

Summary: To sum up, it turned out that this Intel SSD’s price is placed exactly where it belongs.
Article link: http://www.insidehw.com/Reviews/Storage/Intel-X25-V-SSD-Just-Fit-for-a-System-Disk.html

==

Buffalo Microstation 128GB SSD KitGuru review

Today we are going to be looking at the Buffalo 128GB Microstation SSD drive which is based around a JMicron JMF612 controller, has a 64MB DRAM cache and offers speeds up to 240 MB/s read and 155 MB/s write.

Read the review over here: http://www.kitguru.net/components/ssd-drives/zardon/buffalo-microstation-128gb-internal-ssd-review/

==

Patriot Valkyrie NAS Review
Review URL:
http://www.cdrinfo.com/Sections/Reviews/Specific.aspx?ArticleId=27993
"…If Patriot decide to correct Valkyrie’s few rough edges, it’ll be hard to resist the $130 price tag. If you are looking for a device that will stream high – quality multimedia content through your network at lightning speeds, then you ‘d better look to other solutions. However, if you’re looking for an affordable centralized data storage solution for your home, the Patriot Valkyrie NAS is a great choice…"

==

Overclock3D have just published a new article titled: Corsair Dominator GT 1600MHz AM3 Review.
Quote: Are you Phenom II users looking for some extra special RAM? Perhaps these might do it for you…
Link: http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/memory/corsair_dominator_gt_1600mhz_am3_review/1

==

Synology DS210+ Network Attached Storage @ TechwareLabs

Quote: Do you remember the ONE big thing you wanted every year? You saw commercials about it and told your friends about all of its features, and how you were going to use it. I just got mine, the Synology Disk Station 210+, and I’m not the only one, Synology is so excited about it, it’s the first item on their homepage. Find out why we are so excited about the DS210+ and why you should be too.
LINK: http://www.techwarelabs.com/synology-ds210-network-attached-storage/

==

AC Ryan PlayOn!HD 1TB Review  @ XSReviews

Review Link: http://www.xsreviews.co.uk/reviews/other-products/acryan-playonhd-1tb/
Quote: "We previously reviewed the media hub AC Ryan PlayOn!HD Mini and were rather impressed with it. However, that was only a baby compared to what we’re looking at today. It’s price may not be much higher, but on paper the 1TB non-mini version seems to come packing a nice few extras. Lets see how it compares to its smaller brother and whether it’s worth the extra investment cost. "

==

Corsair Reactor R60 SSD Test @ Benchmark Reviews

DESCRIPTION: Corsair is known for their high end memory products, many of which cater solely to the enthusiast and overclocking crowds. The Corsair Reactor SSD CSSD-R60GB2-BRKT is an Entry Level Solid State Drive claiming to offer good performance for a decent price. Corsair used the JMicron JMF612 in the Reactor series which JMicron claims is the answer to the stuttering the original JMF601 and JMF602 controllers have. In this article, Benchmark reviews is going to to see if the Corsair Reactor R60 can keep up with the other SSD’s on the market.

ARTICLE URL: http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=555

==

StarTech USB 3.0 Bundle – HDD Dock & PCIe Expansion Card Review @ HardwareHeaven.com
"StarTech were founded in 1985 and since then they have been providing a wide range of IT and A/V products to a diverse range of customers from education to industrial and beyond. They claim that their products offer uncompromising quality and workmanship with sales backed by free, live pre and post purchase support. For those who prefer email support StarTech offer guaranteed responses within 2 hours."

http://www.hardwareheaven.com/reviews/993/pg1/startech-usb-30-bundle-hdd-dock-pcie-expansion-review-introduction.html

==

Seagate Momentus XT @ LanOC Reviews
DESCRIPTION: When you hear the word Hybrid you may have images of Prius’s or maybe even the south park episode where they called all Hybrid owners fart sniffers. You may be surprised to find out that you can get hybrids in the computer industry, specifically in storage. With SSD’s gaining popularity it’s not a surprise that manufactures are looking at ways to bring SSD performance with a normal hard drives capacity and price. Today I have the chance to take a closer look at the Momentus XT from Seagate. This is a 2.5inch laptop drive with 4 gigs of SLC NAND (solid state flash) attached to the PCB to give you just that.
ARTICLE URL: http://lanoc.org/review/hardware/storage/3713-seagate-momentus-xt

==

MIMOBOT Darth Vader Unmasked @ LanOC Reviews
DESCRIPTION: The market for flash or USB thumb drives has grown from the days when they were all about function with little or no aesthetics. Recently that has changed; you can now find every shape and design, even things you wouldn’t want to see. A few years ago Mimoco, Inc. introduced a series of designer flash drives called Mimobots. Flash forward to today; they still make Mimobots and are on their 5th series and going strong. Today we are looking at the Mimobot version of Darth Vader.
ARTICLE URL: http://lanoc.org/review/hardware/storage/3321-mimobot-darth-vader-unmasked

==

Western Digital SiliconEdge Blue 128gb @ LanOC Reviews
DESCRIPTION: The SSD market has grown in leaps and bounds over the past few years. It has given new names a chance to make a name for themselves. Strangely enough, the biggest names in the storage industry Western Digital and Seagate have been slow to the market, letting the technology mature before jumping in. With the purchase of SiliconSystems, Western Digital finally jumped in. Today we are looking at their SiliconEdge Blue, their first entry in the personal SSD market. To celebrate we will showcase this milestone in a custom case from Cooler Master and Smooth Creations.
ARTICLE URL: http://lanoc.org/review/hardware/storage/3503-western-digital-siliconedge-blue-128gb

==

MaxForce P55 Javelin @ LanOC Reviews
DESCRIPTION: Based out of Michigan, MaxForce PC has been creating custom rigs tailored suited to customer requests since 2007. To further suit customer needs, they will even track down a part not listed on their site to install in your system. Max contacted us a while back to see if we were interested in reviewing one of his enthusiast gaming build’s, the Javelin P55. Since it was right down our alley and had a perfect LAN situation to test it out in, we took the oppourtunity.
ARTICLE URL: http://lanoc.org/review/hardware/other/3328-maxforce-p55-javelin

==

Plextor PXB940SA @ LanOC Reviews
DESCRIPTION: With hard drive capacities continuing to grow and the popularity of Blu-Ray movies also growing the demand for Blu-Ray players and burners will continue to rise therefore driving the price down. Today I have the chance to take a look at the first Blu-Ray burner to come into LanOC Reviews, the PX940SA from Plextor. With a 12x Blu-Ray burn speed it should be quick, but will it be fast?
ARTICLE URL: http://lanoc.org/review/hardware/pc-hardware/3104-plextor-pxb940sa

==

Lite-On iHOS104 Blu-Ray Drive @ LanOC Reviews
DESCRIPTION: When the PlayStation 3 first launched it was not only marketed as a game console but also a Blu-Ray Disc player which at the time may have justified its higher price when compared to its competitor consoles. But what once seemed like a a great value  when compared to other Blu-Ray players which couldn’t play video games may not seem so great now. Lite-On introduced an affordable Blu-Ray option to the PC, a gaming platform as old as the industry itself. For less than the price of a new retail PS3 title, you can now add Blu-Ray capabilities to your PC with the iHOS104. Today Lite-On has sent us one to test.
ARTICLE URL: http://lanoc.org/review/hardware/pc-hardware/3101-lite-on-ihos104-blu-ray-drive

==

Sunbeamtech Air Box USB 3.0 External HDD Enclosure Review

It took a while for the external enclosure manufacturers to catch up with the motherboard makers. USB 3.0 however was introduced a while ago. Sadly at CeBIT 2010, we saw mainly prototypes, meaning they were not production ready. Sunbeamtech was the first specialist to send us a full blown USB3.0 3.5inch external enclosure branded under the Airbox name. External data backup via USB has always been painfully slow, surely compared to the more expensive Firewire and eSATA solutions. Will this USB3.0 external solution be able to close the gap ? Let us see if we can stuff it with precious data at blistering speeds.
http://www.madshrimps.be/gotoartik.php?articID=1042

==

Audio / Video:

IOGEAR Wireless HD Kit GWAV8141K Review
"At CES 2008, we got out first promises of wireless HD technology. At CES 2009 and again in 2010, more wireless HD prototypes were shown, but it was clear that the pieces were still in the concept phase and not likely to be hitting store shelves any time soon. Today, the technology itself still needs finessing; many require a line of sight between the transmitter and receiver and most use some sort of compression that adversely affects video quality. We were beginning to think that wireless HD would never come around."
Link to the review:http://www.digitaltrends.com/networking-and-wi-fi-reviews/iogear-wireless-hd-kit-gwav8141k-review/

==

Title: Sungale Kula TV (IPTV)
URL: http://www.bcchardware.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=8787&Itemid=40
Quote:Now the idea behind the Kula TV is great, everyone would love to tell the old cable company to take a hike and replace them with a free alternative such as the Kula TV. Unfortunately in our testing the Kula TV fell a bit short in our opinion and we were left feeling a little disappointed with this product. I thought that the features that the Kula TV includes were great in theory, however the implementation of some of the features (local media player for example) needs a little more work. . .

==

ASUS Xonar DX2 Sound Card Review @ ThinkComputers.org

Review URL: http://www.thinkcomputers.org/asus-xonar-dx2-sound-card-review/

Quote: “ASUS Decided to start making sound cards since the soundcard market was being dominated by creative and their X-FI line. With the new ASUS line of PCI-E soundcards, it makes it a good market for ASUS to start to dominate in, since there is little competition. With the ASUS D2X is being marketed as a Home Theater sound card along with its gaming flavor. In this review of the ASUS D2X we will put it to the test with gaming to Home Theater use."

==

Sonos ZonePlayer S5 Multi-Room Music System Review
Link: http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Sonos-ZonePlayer-S5-Multi-Room-Music-System-Review/1038
Summary:Review of the Sonos ZonePlayer S5 multi-room digital music system, which allows you to stream music store in your computer or from the Internet throughout your home or office.

==

Eagle Tech ET-AR508LR-BK 2.1 Speaker System
URL: http://computingondemand.com/eagle-tech-et-ar508lr-bk-2-1-speaker-system
There is a new category of computer user out there that I am discovering.  I have been well aware of the uber geek that accepts nothing more than maxing out their credit cards on the top of the line peripherals and equipment, and I have been versed in the practices of the novice as well.

==

Mobile etc:

Sync Blocker USB to Dock connector cable for iPhone / iPod / iPad Reviewed

Today for review I’ve got a little product called the Sync Blocker. It’s a cable that resembles the one that came with you Apple product, like the iPod nano 5^th that I’m testing it with but it features a selector switch on it so you can select either charging only or syncing function. The cable also features spring loaded locks on the connection end so it will stay very securely attached to your product. The idea is that we don’t always want to sync our products, I know I don’t, most time I just plug in to charge and with this cable you can do only what you want.

Link: http://www.dragonsteelmods.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16571&Itemid=1

==

Review of JogJacket for iPod nano iPod 5th Gen @ Bona Fide Reviews

Link: http://www.bonafidereviews.com/review-of-jogjacket-for-ipod-nano-ipod-5th-gen/
Quote:
"Today for review I’ve got a case for the iPod nano 5th gen, but it’s much more than a case it’s actually three things in one. The first is an armband for jogging or exercising, the next is a lanyard for pretty much  the same thing and the third part is the case itself that can be used with or without the above two parts. So if you exercise or plan to start you might want to check out this little combo package… "

==

Super Compact USB Car Charger for iPad Review

Link: http://www.dragonsteelmods.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16560&Itemid=1

So how does one charge their iPad if they are on the go? Today we will look at the Super Compact USB Car Charger for iPad from USB Fever which provides one such solution. This tiny device features a high powered USB port to provide charging power from within your vehicle. Since this connector feeds more juice than the standard iPod/iPhone charger, it is not recommended to use it for those devices unless you want to possibly blow them out.

==

Review of Two iPod nano 5th Gen Cases @ iGadget Life

Link: http://igadgetlife.com/reviews/review-of-two-ipod-nano-5th-gen-cases/
Quote:
" Today for review I’ve got two inexpensive cases for the Apple iPod nano 5th generation from USBFever.com . These two cases are very different, one is rubber and the other is plastic and aluminum combined. Both of the cases are very nice, I like them, and they’re only $9.99 each, which I think is worth considering the cost of the nano itself. For $10 you can protect the case and have some piece of mind that something bad might not happen to your nice expensive MP3 player. So read on to learn more about them… "

==

Alienware M17x Laptop Review @ HardwareHeaven.com
"In June 2009 Alienware/Dell launched the M17x, their first co-developed machine. On launch day we provided a world-exclusive preview of the new machine and today it is time to take a more in-depth look at the features and performance of the latest version of the M17x which contains Intel Core i7 technology."

http://www.hardwareheaven.com/reviews/994/pg1/alienware-m17x-laptop-review-introduction.html

==

Artwizz Notebook AluStand @ Phoronix
Direct Link: http://www.phoronix.com/vr.php?view=15099
Summary: "Not often do we look at computer accessories at Phoronix, but every once in a while some product looks interesting for whatever reason and we decide to try it out. With this review, we are looking at the AluStand from Artwizz. Artwizz is a company that is based in Berlin and was founded in just 2004 as a manufacturer of iPod and iPhone accessories, but since then they have branched out into developing other innovative products primarily designed for Apple devices, but other notebook computers too."

==

Motorola Droid X Review
"Three months ago, Motorola’s Droid X would have been a landmark phone. But this is July 2010, not March, and the Droid X (while a wildly impressive package of bleeding-edge capabilities) is just the latest in a continuing series of similarly-equipped superphones, following the Sprint HTC EVO 4G, the Apple iPhone 4 and the Galaxy S series of phones unveiled earlier this week. We don’t mean to cynically demean the Droid X – it will easily be the best Android phone from Verizon when it goes on sale July 15, at least until the Galaxy S Fascinate becomes available sometime in late summer or early fall."
Link to the review:http://www.digitaltrends.com/cell-phone-reviews/motorola-droid-x-review/

==

Choiix Comforter Lapdesk
Review  Link : http://www.bayreviews.com/accessories/8155-choiix-comforter-lapdesk
Quote : "A laptop cooler is a must have nowadays, to insure a prolonged laptop life. I usually use a portable USB laptop cooler, but sometimes get tired of adjusting it to the right angle and making sure the USB cable doesn’t get tangled in anything. I just want to sit down, get comfortable and use my laptop without having to make many adjustments. "

==

Antec Notebook Cooler To Go @ LanOC Reviews
DESCRIPTION: The notebook cooling market has lately been flooded with makes and models, each attempting to tackle the heat issue that often comes with portable computers, especially in those used for gaming. Antec recently released their latest addition, the Notebook Cooler To Go, which is designed as you may have guess to be portable. Having reviewed similar products in the past, that portability is often acquired through the sacrifice of performance. Given Antec’s reputation for effciency, I was anxious to see how the Cooler To Go stacked up against not only it’s similar-sized competition but also the bulkier models that are often required for higher cooling rates.
ARTICLE URL: http://lanoc.org/review/hardware/laptop/3067-antec-notebook-cooler-to-go

==

Assorted Stuffs:

Ozone Ultimate Gamer Pack Competition  @ XSReviews

Review Link: http://forums.xsreviews.co.uk/showthread.php?tid=7205
Quote: "Today we have a new competition for you hardware fans, the Ultimate Gamer Pack from Ozone thanks to our partners at Powerdrive-Computers.com.

==

High-Tech Hotels
"You step into your hotel room and the lights turn on automatically, the radio plays your favorite song, and your phone starts to chime with a helpful text message greeting. Sound like science fiction? At these amazingly high-tech hotels, you can live in the lap of luxury – laptop optional."
Link to the article:http://www.digitaltrends.com/lifestyle/high-tech-hotels/

==

Verizon iPhone: What We Know
"Will Verizon ever get the iPhone? There may be some light at the end of the tunnel for iPhone fans who are frustrated with AT&T, or Verizon customers who would prefer the Apple handset over the Android competitors. Most recently, a report by Bloomberg News Service indicated that Apple may start offering the iPhone to Verizon starting in January of 2011."
Link to the article: http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/verizon-iphone-what-we-know/

==

Anatomy of Computer Fans
Link: http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Anatomy-of-Computer-Fans/1039
Summary:Let’s make an in-depth trip inside computer fans and explore one of the most misunderstood components, the bearing.

==

Quick Links:

Foxconn Inferno Katana GTI Review

AXLE RADEON HD 5450 512MB GDDR3 Video Card Review @ Madshrimps

Athlon II X4 640 vs. Core i3 530 CPU Review @ Hardware Secrets

ASUS P7H55D-M EVO (Intel H55 Express) Motherboard

Intel Core i7 875K @ Hardwareoverclock.com

Scythe Musashi VGA Cooler Review @ Hardware Secrets

AXLE Radeon HD 5670 Video Card Review @ Legit Reviews

AMD Series 8 Mainboard Roundup with Asus, Foxconn and Sapphire on Technic3D

Razer Abyssus Mirror Special Edition @ Vortez.co.uk

be quiet! Dark Power Pro P8 900-1200W review @planet3dnow.de

XClio Blackhawk Color Full Tower Chassis

Futurelooks News Flash – Thermaltake Frio CPU Cooler Review

ASRock Core-100HT Intel i3-330M HTPC @ Benchmark Reviews

Choiix Power Fort Advanced @ LanOC Reviews

Lian Li T1 Spider Testbench – Mini-ITX Case with Black Widow Design

In Win Dragon Slayer M-ATX Case Review @ HardwareLook.com

PowerColor HD5670 PCS+ Graphic Card Review on Technic3D

BIOSTAR X58 TPower Motherboard Review

Gigabyte X58A-UD3R: USB 3.0, SATA 6G @ HotHardware.com

EVGA GTX 400 Series High-Flow Exhaust Bracket Review @ Legit Reviews

Creative Zen X-Fi Style 8GB MP3 and Video Player

StarCraft II – Blog: Part Three @ GamingHeaven.net

Thrustmaster Ferrari F430 Gamepad

AMD Phenom II X6 1055T 2.80 GHz @ techPowerUp

Roccat Pyra Mouse @ Rbmods

PlayClaw – Has FRAPS’ Killer Arrived? @ Techgage

GIGABYTE 870A-UD3 AM3 Motherboard Review @ Hardware Canucks

Shuttle SG41J1 Plus @ LanOC Reviews

iXBT Labs Review: Gigabyte GA-770TA-UD3 Motherboard

ASUS EAH5850 TOP DirectCU TOP/2DIS/1GD5 Review

MSI 890FXA-GD70 Motherboard @ Bjorn3D

PowerColor HD5870 PCS+ @ LanOC Reviews

Cooler Master V6GT @ LanOC Reviews

Lian Li T7 Mini ITX Test Bench @ LanOC Reviews

Microcool Banchetto 101 @ LanOC Reviews

Cooler Master Silent PRO Gold1200w @ LanOC Reviews

Logitech Flight System G940 @ LanOC Reviews

Playseats FlightSeat @ LanOC Reviews

Cooler Master 430 Elite @ LanOC Reviews

Thermaltake SpinQ VT @ LanOC Reviews

VIZO Red Cold Cathodes @ LanOC Reviews

Cooler Master Storm Scourt Case Review @ BURNED iN

In-Win Griffin Black Mid Tower PC Case Review @ Legit Reviews

GlacialLight PalmSiren Dynamo 2 Multifunctional Flashlight Review @ Madshrimps

Happy Sunday.. it’s time for the news! 

Storage Related:

Thecus N4200 NAS with batterie Review
Teaser: Thecus presents a NAS of a special kind. In addition to high performance and safety it offers even a built-in power backup with Li-ion battery.
Link: http://www.tweakpc.de/hardware/tests/nas/thecus_n4200/s01.php

==

Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex 500GB Ultra Portable Drive
Link: http://www.bigbruin.com/content/seagategoflex_1
Quote:  With their new FreeAgent GoFlex ultra portable drive, Seagate now delivers the same high quality, dependable storage devices, but with the flexibility of not only interfaces, but of OS platforms. The newest generation brings both Mac and PC compatibility and the flexibility of not only USB, but Firewire800, and eSATA interfaces; all on the same ultra-portable platform.

==

Mushkin Callisto 120GB SSD Review.
Quote: Mushkin enter the SSD arena with their Callisto lineup of MLC based drives.
Link: http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/storage/mushkin_callisto_120gb_ssd_review/1

==

Crucial Ballistix Finned DDR3-1600 with M.O.D. Temperature Sensing
URL: http://www.bcchardware.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=8755&Itemid=40
Quote:This kit features 2x 2GB sticks that have 8-8-8-24 2T timings at 1.65v and while that doesn’t appear to be all that exciting, the new finned Ballistix modules from Crucial throw an interesting twist into the bag by including software-capable temperature monitoring on their modules.  We’ll take a look at the memory, the software and see how well they stack up in a couple of light benchmarks. . .

==

The first SandForce-based SSDs only squeezed 100GB of storage capacity from 128GB worth of flash. Corsair’s Force F120 kicks that capacity up to 120GB, but not without consequences.
http://techreport.com/articles.x/19079

==

OCIA.net has posted their review of the Crucial 128GB C300 RealSSD SATA 6Gb/s Solid State Drive.  Below is a direct quote from the review.

"As NAND Flash technology has continued to develop and Solid State Drive manufacturers push the envelope of controller speed, we have seen performance figures that approach, and even bump against, the threshold of SATA 3Gb/s bandwidth limitations. Thus the need for a new standard, SATA 6Gb/s, is making its way into design specifications of new hardware. However to date there has been only one solid state srive manufacturer to bring a SATA 6Gb/s product to market, Crucial with their C300 RealSSD series. Join me as I take a closer look at the Crucial 128Gb C300 RealSSD SATA 6Gb/s drive."

Direct Link:  http://www.ocia.net/reviews/128c300/page1.shtml

==

SunbeamTech Airbox USB 3.0 Enclosure Review @ BayReviews.com

Review  Link : http://www.bayreviews.com/computers/7890-sunbeamtech-airbox-usb30
Quote : "Hard drive enclosures are now beginning to adopt the USB 3.0 interface which is supposed to blow USB 2.0 and any other interface out of the water. Today we are testing the Sunbeam Tech Airbox USB 3.0 Enclosure to see how much faster it really is."

==

Choosing a Solid State Drive
Summary: "By now, you have heard all about Solid State Drives: They are one of the most beneficial upgrades for your computer, and those who upgrade to an SSD will almost never be able to go back. So, let’s say you are convinced; you know the size you need and you’ve decided you’ll get one. Wallet in hand, you are ready to buy one, but you realize there are a lot of them. Which is the best one? Which is the best SSD in a given size class?"
Link: http://www.overclockers.com/choosing-solid-state-drive/

==

Corsair Padlock 2 USB Drive with hardware encoding
Teaser: USB Drives are ten a penny. But not if it comes to security. Corsair closes the gap with the Padlock 2 with hardware encryption.
Link: http://www.tweakpc.de/hardware/tests/usb-stick/corsair_padlock_2/s01.php

==

Audio / Video:

ASUS VH232H 23-inch 1080p LCD Monitor Review @ ThinkComputers.org

Review URL: http://www.thinkcomputers.org/asus-vh232h-23-inch-1080p-lcd-monitor-review/

Quote: “The ASUS vh232h is a 23″ LCD display with a 5ms response time, 20,000:1 contrast ratio, and a full 1080p 1920×1080 resolution. Add in HDMI connectivity and built-in speakers, this wall-mountable display is candidate for some serious gaming, movie-watching, or, well, Farmville-ing (if you’re of that persuasion). ThinkComputers has the review.

==

V-Moda Crossfade LP Review
"V-Moda, if you’re not familiar with them, is a Hollywood, CA based company that is in the business of merging style, fashion and sound technology into super-hip products they think we will be proud to wear. Sound familiar? It should because the "street-style" approach to making headphones has caught on in a big way. Do a quick search on "stylish headphones" and you’re likely to see a lot of new names replacing industry heavyweights like Sennheiser, Grado and Audio-Technica. A generation of iPod listeners has moved passed the honeymoon period with their portable players. Now that just about everyone has an iPod or music phone, they demand accessories that are as much about making a style statement as they are about making sound. Here, we review the Crossfade LP headphones that V-Moda dubs "audio art". We test them to see how they hold up to the audio portion of that designation."
Link to the review: http://www.digitaltrends.com/headphone-reviews/v-moda-crossfade-lp-review/

==

Mobile:

Fujitsu Lifebook MH330 Netbook.

"Fujitsu has really stepped up their game by introducing the Lifebook MH330. It may not be most powerful netbook around, but’s definitely one the thinniest and lightweight models available on the market. Price, features and a 3-year warranty makes this a winner."

Read the rest of the article here … http://www.funkykit.com/category-table/202-fujitsu-lifebook-mh330-netbook.html

==

Samsung N210 Netbook Review at CCE Reviews
Link: http://www.ccereviews.com/reviews/samsung-n210-netbook/
Quote: The N210 netbook which retails in the mid $200 range is everything one would expect in a netbook: lots of battery, durable build quality and despite its size, highly usable thanks to its excellent keyboard.

==

Choiix PowerFort Advance Portable Charger @ Pro-Clockers

Review link: http://pro-clockers.com/powersupplies/1513-choiix-powerfort-advance-portable-charger.html

I am sure that many of you are in the same boat or even worse. Have too many electronic devices and have to carry power adapter for each. Well, Choiix a division of Coolermaster has released the Power Fort Standard and the PowerFort Advance. Each provides up to ten hours of additional portable power and can be recharged several hundred times. The only difference is the Advance model comes with foreign travel adapters and a DC plug in the packaging.

==

‘Fujitsu Lifebook S710 Notebook Review’
The Lifebook S710 is like taking the engine of a Ferrari and sticking it on a Tida.
The Full Article can be viewed at http://tech.tbreak.com/2010/06/fujitsu-lifebook-s710-notebook-review/

==

Assorted Stuffs:

D-Link DGS-2208 8-Port 10/100/1000 Desktop Switch Review

Link:http://www.dragonsteelmods.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16541&Itemid=1

Today for review I’ve got the D-Link DGS-2208 8-Port 10/100/1000 Desktop Switch and I’ve found that it fits my needs perfectly. The DGS-2208 is a no frills, truly plug-and-play solution to expanding your network and best of all it’s green, or at least it claims to be. With this switch you won’t find all sorts of fancy options or even access to it from your network, you just plug it in and it does it’s thing automatically, couldn’t be easier really.. So read on to learn more about an inexpensive but yet decent switch to quickly and easily expand your network.

==

How To Destroy Your PC in 5 Easy Steps @ BURNED iN
URL: http://www.burnedin.com/guide/how-destroy-your-pc-5-easy-steps
QUOTE: "The Internet is littered with tips and tricks on how to keep your rig safe from certain calamities, so with all the information that’s out there, why then are PC repair shops busier than ever fixing busted systems? Maybe the answer lies in how the information is presented. We don’t claim to be experts in psychology, but just from our own personal observations, it would seem that people are contrary by nature. Telling a child not to touch an object is a surefire way of making sure it will soon have their fingerprints all over it, and in that same vein, perhaps instructing PC users how to avoid falling prey to common computing pitfalls has the exact opposite effect we’re shooting for.

==

Is PowerTop Still Useful For Extending Your Battery Life? @ Phoronix
Direct Link: http://www.phoronix.com/vr.php?view=15072
Summary: "Three years ago Intel had released PowerTop, an open-source utility for Linux that would analyze how well your laptop was conserving power and would allow users to easily tune their system for maximum battery life via simple power optimizations. By simply running this utility, some users were able to significantly extend their battery life. However, is this utility still useful and needed with a modern Linux desktop? The most recent release of PowerTop (v1.11) was a year and a half ago, so we are seeing how well PowerTop is still able to reduce the power consumption of Intel notebooks/netbooks running Linux."

==

‘Pilot recreates your hand-writing on the Computer’
Write by hand on your computer!
The Full Article can be viewed at http://tech.tbreak.com/2010/06/pilot-recreates-your-hand-writing-on-the-computer/

==

At long last, AMD has brought the Cypress GPU that powers its Radeon 5800 series to FireStream cards geared towards high-performance GPU computing applications.  Keep reading for the goods on AMD’s answer to Nvidia’s Fermi-powered Tesla products.
http://techreport.com/discussions.x/19141

==

After telegraphing its intentions from quite some time, AMD followed through today with the official unveiling of the Opteron 4100 series of processors. The introduction of these new Opterons marks a bit of a departure from AMD’s usual strategy in server- and workstation-class processors, for several reasons.
http://techreport.com/articles.x/19138

==

On our third day in Taiwan earlier this month, we left the hustle and bustle of the Computex show floor and hopped on a bus to Hsinchu, about 60 miles from the island-nation’s capital. Hsinchu’s Science and Industrial Park plays host to a Kingston factory where memory and flash products are assembled–and we got to enjoy a guided tour.
http://techreport.com/articles.x/19104

==

Goodbye Mac Mini, Hello Shuttle X350 / XS35
URL: http://computingondemand.com/goodbye-mac-mini-hello-shuttle-x350-xs35
Ok, so my days of wandering through Microcenter’s Apple area pondering whether to buy a NEW Mac Mini are over.  It was a short lived dream… or nightmare; I haven’t figured that out yet.  Apple almost had me until Shuttle announced its XS35 at Computex this year.

==

Interview with David Sun From Kingston Technology @ Legit Reviews
Article URL: http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1345/1/

Earlier this month during while we were in Taiwan covering Computex 2010 we had an opportunity to visit with the cofounder and Chairman of Kingston, David Sun. During the candid discussion he gave us some of his insight into the evolution of the desktop PC, laptops, and mobile devices. We also got a chance to hear how he and John Tu started the company and the idea that created a company with over revenues that have exceeded $4 billion a year.

==

EVGA UV Plus+ UV-19 USB Display Hub @ Benchmark Reviews

DESCRIPTION: Computer desktop real estate is something that you can never have too much of.  Adding multiple monitors to your system is one of the easiest ways to add precious pixels to your desktop.  EVGA is no stranger to the realm of display technologies, and their new product, the UV Plus UV-19 (Model: 100-U2-UV19-TR) aims to make that easier on everyone using DisplayLink technology.  Benchmark Reviews is going to take a look at this external USB Display extender and see what it can offer.  EVGA boasts such features as USB 2.0 convenience, DVI connection, Small design, and Low-power consumption, just to name a few.  Will the UV Plus+ UV-19 live up the EVGA name?  Stay tuned to the the rest of the article on Benchmark Reviews to find out.

ARTICLE URL: http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=542

==

Gaming:

Super Mario Galaxy 2 Wii Review

Speedlink Pro USB Joystick + 99 best of C64 Classix @ Rbmods

Transformers: The War For Cybertron (PC) Review @ KitGuru gaming

Snoopy Flying Ace @ Xbox360Digest

Urban Space Squirrels @ Xbox360Digest

Alpha Protocol @ Xbox360Digest

Ozone Ultimate Gamer Pack Competition  @ XSReviews

Need For Speed Shift iPad review @ KitGuru gaming

Quick Links:

Axle HD 5450 LP 512MB Review at Overclockers Online

Intel Core i5-661 and H55-Chipset Benchmark-Comparison

Axle Radeon HD 5670 1024 MB @ techPowerUp

Moonwalker Blu-ray Movie Review

Sapphire HD5670 Ultimate Edition Review @ KitGuru

Thermaltake Contac 29 Cooler review @ KitGuru.net

Danger Den DD-GTX470 GPU Water Block

Cooler Master Silent Pro Gold 1200W Power Supply Review @ ThinkComputers.org

MSI GeForce GTX 465 Twin Frozr II Video Card

Sapphire Radeon 5670 Ultimate @ PureOverclock

MSI GeForce GTX 465 Twin Frozr II @ techPowerUp

Cooler Master eXtreme Power Plus 600 W Power Supply Review @ Hardware Secrets

ASUS P7F7-E WS SuperComputer (3450 Express) Motherboard

Maxcube Amoris 6010 Case Review on Technic3D

NZXT Tempest EVO Case Review @ BURNED iN

Noctua NH-C12P SE14

Danger Den Water Cooling @ LanOC Reviews

Asus ENGT240 @ Bjorn3D

Antec Fusion Remote Black Review @ HardwareLogic

It looks like it’s time for the news once again eh?!  I’ve got my review of the new Kingston Blue DDR3 ram coming up, so look for that one..

Quick Links:

Arctic MX-4 Thermal Compound Review

Thrustmaster Ferrari Wireless Gamepad 430 Scuderia Limited Edition Review

NZXT Vulcan Gaming mATX chassis @ Bona Fide Reviews

ROCCAT Pyra Wireless Gaming Mouse Review @ HardwareHeaven.com

GIGABYTE 870A-UD3 Motherboard Review

Noctua NH-U9B SE2 review

ASUS Crosshair IV Formula Motherboard Review

BeQuiet! SilentWings USC und Pure Fan Series Review on Technic3D

XFX HD5870 2 GB Eyefinity6 with 6 monitors – the ultimate gaming experience? @ Bjorn3D

OC3D: Corsair AX 1200w ATX PSU Review

ASUS ROG Rampage III Extreme (X58 Express) Motherboard

NZXT Vulcan @ techPowerUp

Blur – Twisted Metal Meets Need for Speed? @ Techgage

CoolIT ECO A.L.C. 120 @ PureOverclock

ASUS P7P55D-E Pro Motherboard @ Benchmark Reviews

SilverStone Grandia GD05 Black HTPC Case Review @ Legit Reviews

Enermax REVOLUTION85+ 920 W Power Supply Review @ Hardware Secrets

Thermaltake ARMOR A90 Case Review

Zotac GTX 480 AMP! Graphics Card review @ KitGuru.net

StarCraft II – Blog: Part Two @ GamingHeaven.net

Prolimatech Samuel 17 Low Profile CPU Cooler

Neuigkeiten auf DeXgo | Poppstar SE20

Ozone Exposure Review @ XSReviews

470GTX Video Card Water Block Mayhem @ Bjorn3D

Microsoft SideWinder X3 Gaming Mouse Review @ Tweaknews

Lian Li PC-T60 PitStop ATX Tech Station @ Benchmark Reviews

Thermaltake FRIO Overclocking CPU Cooler @ Techgage

Storage Related:

7-Way SSD Round-Up: Sandforce vs. JMicron:
http://hothardware.com/reviews/5Way-SSD-RoundUp-Sandforce-vs-JMicron/

Shortly after publishing a recent 5-way SSD round-up, a number of the manufacturers that employ Sandforce controllers in their products released updated drives that offered more usable capacity to end users. The first wave of SF-1200 based drives to hit the scene had about 22% of their flash memory over-provisioned for cache purposes, wear-leveling, and other proprietary Sandforce functions. 100GB drives like the OCZ Vertex 2 and Corsair Force F100, for example, actually featured 128GB of flash memory on-board. The second wave of drives to arrive, however, have about 6.25% of their flash memory over-provisioned, and as such, they offer more usable capacity to end users.

==

Crucial Ballistix DDR3 1600 4GB Kit @ TechwareLabs

Quote: The most commonly quoted solution to speeding up a computer is to add additional ram, fortunately Crucial has come out with a speedy 4GB Ballistix kit weighing in at DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800).
LINK: http://www.techwarelabs.com/crucial-ballistix-ddr3-1600-4gb-kit/

==

G.Skill Phoenix 100GB Solid State Drive Review @ Hardware Canucks

Quote: At this point, SSDs sporting SandForce controllers seem to be a dime a dozen.  This hasn’t stopped G.Skill from releasing their own SF-1200 based drive but they have also modified the design in order to improve performance while keeping its price below that of the competition.  Could this be the perfect SSD for enthusiasts looking for maximum value?

Article URL: http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum/hardware-canucks-reviews/32698-g-skill-phoenix-100gb-solid-state-drive-review.html

==

Raidsonic IB-NAS6210 :
English link:  http://www.rbmods.com/content/23819/introduction–specifications.aspx
Swedish link:  http://www.rbmods.se/content/14748/ib-nas6210specifikationer.aspx
Quote:   We’ve reviewed quite a few raidsonic products over the past few years. Today we will take a look at their newest NAS-device IB-NAS6210 which has a gigabit ethernet interface and can act as a mediaserver. Let’s take a closer look and see how it performs against other NAS-devices we’ve reviewed in the past.

==

Audio / Video:

Quick Review: AOC iF23 23-inch LCD Monitor
QUOTE: "AOC for a long time has been associated with budget displays; not so much budget in the sense of poor quality, but budget in the sense that they’re cheaper than their competitors. It’s been a few years since I’ve looked at an AOC monitor; let’s just say that 4:3 was still the in screen ratio at that time. So let’s have a look at what AOC are doing these days.
At first glance I have to say that the iF23 is a beautiful looking monitor. Not to sound harsh towards AOC, but it’s a lot nicer looking than I thought it would be. The iF23 comes in at 23" as you might’ve already guessed. It sports a 1920 x 1080 16:9 resolution via an IPS panel. We’ve also got a 100,000:1 Contrast Ratio (Typical), 6ms response time and 250 cd/m2 brightness ratio."

==

AC Ryan PlayOn!HD Review @ XSReviews

Review Link: http://www.xsreviews.co.uk/reviews/other-products/ac-ryan-playonhd-media-player/
Quote: "HTPCs and media centres are growing in popularity as our houses become far more linked in terms of media. However, these systems can still be too expensive for some, or too big, too complicated; what’s a guy to do? One option it seems is to get yourself a network media player. Today we’re reviewing one such device, the AC Ryan Playon!HD."

==

Kodak Zi8 Pocket HD Video Camera Review @ ThinkComputers.org

Review URL: http://www.thinkcomputers.org/kodak-zi8-pocket-hd-video-camera-review/

Quote: “High Definition (HD) video is all the rage right now. I don’t think you can find a new digital camera these days does not record video in HD. With video being easier to capture and all of the video sharing sites out there pocket video cameras are really popular right now. They are small devices to make it really easy to record video and most record in HD. Today we will be looking at one such device, the Zi8 from Kodak. It features 1080p 16:9 video capture, an SD/SDHC card slot, and an external microphone jack to record stereo sound. Geeks.com was nice enough to send the Kodak Zi8 Pocket HD Video Camera over, they are a great place to find cheap camcorders."

==

Creative Sound Blaster Wireless Music System  Review on Technic3D

Link: http://www.technic3d.com/article-1094,1-creative-sound-blaster-wireless-music-system.htm

Translation Link: http://translate.google.de/translate?u=http%3a%2F%2fwww.technic3d.com%2Farticle-1094%2C1-creative-sound-blaster-wireless-music-system.htm&sl=de&tl=en&hl=&ie=UTF-8
Quote: "The Creative Sound Blaster Wireless Music System  arrived Technic3D. The wireless transmitter upgrades your PC to a wireless sound system. Simply plug it into a USB port, and stream music wirelessly to your powered speakers or home stereo system via the Sound Blaster Wireless Receiver – no cables or network configuration required. Enjoy your music anywhere in your home by adding Sound Blaster Wireless speakers and headphones? We will check this with the Headphones and Gigaworks T20W Speakers.

==

Samsung NX10 Hybrid Camera Review @ ModSynergy.com

Quote: "Over the past three years, I’ve reviewed two camcorders (2007, 2008) and two Samsung digital cameras (2009, 2010).  There were some good and some not so good releases from Samsung, but the WB550 was where things started to drastically improve from previous years.  And that is the essence of becoming the best, by improving with each release of a similar product.

Today I review Samsung’s brand new NX series offering dubbed the NX10.  The NX10 is a unique product because of where it slots in the camera classes.  This unique product is a fusion of digital camera and DSLR technology and in the end combines the best of both worlds.  It also records in HD (720p) video too!.  We’ll see whether or not things have been improved at Samsung in regards to picture quality, video quality, general usability and whether a mixture of digital camera and DSLR technology can create a great end result."

Link: http://www.modsynergy.com/review221.html

==

Mobile Related:

RightWay RW 200 3.5" Touchscreen GPS Review @ MobilityDigest

Link: http://mobilitydigest.com/rightway-rw-200-3-5-touchscreen-gps-review/

Quote: "Today for review I’ve got another Portable GPS navigation device for review from our friends  over at Geeks.com. This one though is one that I never heard of, it’s a brand called RightWay and it’s the model RW 200 which features a 3.5” touch screen and a ton of other features. I’ve looked a a few GPS units in my time reviewing, but this one is the first that I’ve seen that can play movies, but it can also read ebooks, view photos and play music, it’s like a portable media player with GPS functionality and I like it. It’s not perfect though, but it works fairly well for everything it needs. This thing is though full of features, so this review is a bit long with lots of pictures.. Read on.."

==

iPhone 4 vs. Droid X
"The comparisons began before the phone even arrived. With Motorola setting a press conference date the day before the long-awaited iPhone 4 launch date, the stage was set for a battle royale, and Motorola delivered with a surprisingly fit challenger that came out swinging. Now that both contenders have weighed in, it’s only natural to run the stats side-by-side to see which phone prevails. After getting in a few hard-hitting jabs at Apple’s soft spots with the original Droid, does Motorola have what it takes to return to the ring and knock out the spunky new kid? Before you call your bookie, check out the numbers."
Link to the article: http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/mobile/devices/mobile/iphone-4-vs-droid-x/

==

Lenovo IdeaPad S10: A Miniature Tablet @ InsideHW

Summary:You may end up with the impression that we’ve had many remarks to this small Lenovo Ideapad. That may be true, but Ideapad S10-3t proved to be one of those devices that you like despite its flaws.
Article link:http://www.insidehw.com/Reviews/Notebooks/Lenovo-IdeaPad-S10-A-Miniature-Tablet.html

==

Assorted Stuffs:

What Internet Browser is Fastest for Windows in 2010? @ Legit Reviews
Article URL: http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1347/1/

Quote: "Using a resolution of 1366×768 and no other applications open, we fired up the Peacemaker benchmark to see which was the fastest internet browser. After the dust settled Google’s Chrome 6.0 was clearly in the lead and was nearly nine times faster than the slowest web browser, Microsoft’s Internet Explorer 7.0. Mozilla fans should be happy to see that Firefox 3.6.4 scored higher than Microsoft’s Internet Explorer 9.0 Preview 3 and the ‘unknown unknown’ result in the chart above is actually Firefox 3.7 Alpha 6. It looks like Firefox 3.7 will bring some significant performance improvements, but had lower script performance than Safari 5.0. Google Chrome and Opera dominated the top of the performance list by claiming the top four spots in the chart.  "

==

OC3D Week In Words.
Quote: Like a rampant teenager we are always looking for new things to try, so this is the pilot run of a brand new video blog feature.
Link: http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/audio/oc3d_week_in_words/1

==

How to install Windows 7 from a USB Drive – the easy way

One of the best ways around this is to install Windows 7 from a USB drive, which can cut the install time down to around 15 minutes (from 30-40 via DVD) if you use a fast drive. I am constantly being asked to explain to friends and colleagues the best way to do this as many of the guides online are too complex, or require third party software which doesn’t always work. With this KitGuru guide all you need to ensure is that your motherboard supports USB booting … which is pretty much a common feature now.

Read the article over here: http://www.kitguru.net/software/zardon/how-to-install-windows-7-from-a-usb-drive-easy-no-tools-required/

==

COMPUTEX 2010 Flashback – Touring the GETAC, GIGA-TMS, and Champtek Headquarters in Taiwan

After our journeys were complete at COMPUTEX Taipei 2010, we had a couple days to do the tourist thing before we embarked on our next adventure. This time around, we hopped on the tour bus and made our away around to three Taiwanese electronics companies: GETAC, who makes rugged computers, GIGA-TMS, who work on RFID technology, and Champtek, who also create products based on RFID technology. On these tours, we were able to go behind the scenes and see where these gadgets and other technology tidbits are designed and made.

Direct Link: http://www.futurelooks.com/computex-2010-flashback-touring-the-getac-giga-tms-and-champtek-headquarters-in-taiwan/

==

Windows 7 Service Pack 1 Beta (Exclusive)

Quote: "Service Pack 1 for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 includes previously released updates and delivers a number of powerful new features for Windows Server 2008 R2 for virtualization and Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI). New techniques in memory management with the addition of Dynamic Memory functionality, as well as the ability to deliver full-fidelity graphic experiences in remote and virtualized environments with RemoteFX, enable organizations to realize the greatest possible potential from their infrastructure. Build number is: 7601.16562.100603-1800 (aka beta 1)."
Download Link: http://www.ngohq.com/news/18086-windows-7-service-pack-1-beta-exclusive.html

==

A Five-Way Linux Distribution Comparison In 2010 @ Phoronix
Direct Link: http://www.phoronix.com/vr.php?view=15072
Summary: "With many Linux distributions receiving major updates in recent weeks and months we have carried out a five-way Linux distribution comparison of openSUSE, Ubuntu, Fedora, PCLinuxOS, and Arch Linux. We have quite a number of tests comparing the 32-bit performance of these popular Linux distributions on older PC hardware."

==

Hello World! Right now it’s time for the news, but later this week I’ll have a case review for you, along with another monitor and a media player and maybe even a game review as well… For now though just check out the news..

Storage Related:

Crucial C300 SATA 6Gb/s SSD Review.
Quote: We all know that SSDs are blazingly fast. What would you get if you took an SSD and added SATA 6Gb/s support? Let’s find out.
Link: http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/storage/crucial_c300_sata_6gb_s_ssd_review/1

==

‘Western Digital My Passport Studio 640GB Review’
A good looking and speedy external drive made for your Mac.
The Full Article can be viewed at http://tech.tbreak.com/2010/06/western-digital-my-passport-studio-640gb-review/

==

Memonex Race R310 16GB USB Drive @ iGadgetLife

Today for review I’ve got the Race R310 16gb USB drive from a company called Memonex, I never heard of them, but they emailed me and asked me to review their products, being curious I said sure. The drive itself is aluminum and plastic so it’s well well, but I found that it performs very well, above the specs that Memonex even cited for it. It’s probably one of the fastest drives out there today, at least faster than those I’ve compared it to anyway, and they’re form companies like Sandisk, Verbatim and PNY. So read on to check out a fast little USB drive

http://igadgetlife.com/reviews/review-of-memonex-race-r310-16gb-usb-drive/

==

iStar BPU-2535V2 Dual 2.5 to 3.5-inch Enclosure Review @ [OC]ModShop

Some computer enthusiasts have toyed with the idea of using laptop hard drives in their desktop PC. Because of their lower noise and heat, they are perfect for small builds, home theater PCs (HTPCs), or any other computer appliance where silence is golden. I’ve even known people who set up 2.5" hard drives in a RAID array so they perform faster than a traditional hard drive, yet are practically silent. You may even have just a buttload of laptop hard drives laying around and want to get some use out of them.
Regardless of your reasons, placing a 2.5-inch hard drive into a desktop PC requires some special mounting hardware and interface adapters What if there was some hard drive enclosure that allowed you to not only easily use laptop drives in your rig, but allowed for hot-swapping as well? Well iStar USA has you covered with their BPU-2535V2 2.5-inch to 3.5-inch hard drive enclosure.

Review URL ::
http://www.ocmodshop.com/ocmodshop.aspx?a=1762

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Hard-Drive Roundup June 2010 @ HardwareHeaven.com
"Todays review includes SandForce, Indilinx and Toshiba based SSDs mixed in with the Seagate 6GB/s and VelociRaptor mechanical models then just for good measure a high spec 2.5" mechanical drive is added to ensure we have a complete picture of the real world performance available at each market segment."

http://www.hardwareheaven.com/reviews/989/pg1/hard-drive-roundup-june-2010-introduction.html

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SandForce SF-1200 SSD Firmware Comparison @ Benchmark Reviews

DESCRIPTION: Very recently Benchmark Reviews has tested several Solid State Drive products based on the SandForce SF-1222 controller. The specifications for each product were each very similar, if not identical. Throughout all of our benchmark SSD tests the results were also very close, and nothing seemed to stand out until we concentrated in one particular area. The differences were made evident as we experimented with a new benchmark setting for upcoming SSD reviews. Consider these factors when you shop for and compare SandForce-based SSDs, just exactly as it required back when Indilinx firmware updates were changing the landscape.

ARTICLE URL: http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=531

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Patriot Inferno SandForce SSD Kit @ Benchmark Reviews

DESCRIPTION: SandForce-based SSDs are getting tremendous attention from the industry, and for very good reason. Benchmark Reviews has tested several products based on the SF-1222 controller, and every one of them have demonstrated exceptional operational performance and speed. With so many storage solutions coming to market that are based on the same design, price and warranty determine the best product. Based on the SandForce SF-1200 processor, the Patriot Inferno SSD uses special selected NAND flash component to deliver the best performance possible. In this article Benchmark Reviews tested the 100GB Patriot Inferno SSD, model PI100GS25SSDR, against some of the fastest storage solutions on the market.

ARTICLE URL: http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=509&Itemid=60

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SilverStone DS221 External 2.5-inch HDD Dual Bay RAID Enclosure Review @ ThinkComputers.org

Review URL: http://www.thinkcomputers.org/silverstone-ds221-external-2-5-inch-hdd-dual-bay-raid-enclosure-review/

Quote: “External storage is still very important to a lot of people. Especially people who use external storage for transferring files between 2 different computers or people use it for a work machine and a home machine. 2.5-inch hard drives have been overlooked for a while now, but since solid state drives use that form factor SilverStone has released the DS221 which is a dual bay 2.5-inch external hard drive enclosure that supports RAID. Let’s take a look…"

==

Verbatim SmarkDisk Crossfire 1TB USB External Hard Drive Review @ ThinkComputers.org

Review URL: http://www.thinkcomputers.org/verbatim-smarkdisk-crossfire-1tb-usb-external-hard-drive-review/

Quote: “External hard drives are still used quite often, I actually have 4 external hard drives hooked up to my main machine right now. External hard drives are very popular because they are easy to install (just plug them in) and make it so you can transfer files between 2 machines with ease. Today we will be taking a look at a 1TB drive from Verbatim. This USB drive would be a perfect addition to anyone’s desktop system and can even be used with a laptop. Let’s take a look!

==

OCZ Solid 2 Series 60GB Solid State Drive Review @ ThinkComputers.org

Review URL: http://www.thinkcomputers.org/ocz-solid-2-series-60gb-solid-state-drive-review/

Quote: “Recently Indilinx, the makers of the ever-famous Barefoot solid state drive controller have released a new controller called the Barefoot ECO. This new controller allows drive manufacturers to use 32nm Intel NAND flash instead of the typical 40nm NAND flash we are used to seeing on previous solid state drives. These smaller flash chips have a smaller production cost, which will bring down the cost of the drives. Today we will be taking a look at the Solid 2 Series 60GB drive from OCZ, which is based on this new controller. This drive is also under $200 so let’s take a look!"

==

SSDs are becoming cheaper to purchase. Case in point: Intel’s X25-V 40GB, which is currently selling for $115. Can this value offering hang with the rest of the solid-state crowd either on its own or in a two-drive RAID 0 array? Let’s find out
http://techreport.com/articles.x/18875

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SandForce showdown: Corsair’s Force F200 and OCZ’s Agility 2 and Vertex 2 SSDs

A solid-state drive’s controller chip largely determines its destiny. SandForce’s SF-1200 is the latest controller to hit the market, and we’ve taken it for a spin in Corsair’s Force F200 and OCZ’s Agility 2 and Vertex 2 SSDs. Keep reading to see if all the hype is deserved.
http://techreport.com/articles.x/18864

==

Audio / Video:

Grace Digital Eco Extreme Rugged All Terrain Speaker Case @ iGadgetLife

Our MP3 players and phones are rather expensive and most all have a great big flaw, they’re rather fragile. If you’re the outdoorsy type then this fragility doesn’t exactly work with your lifestyle, you’ll need some heavy duty protection for your electronics and what I have for review today might work well for you and your rugged lifestyle. Today for review I have the Grace Digital Eco Extreme Rugged All terrain Speaker Case. This case is big, but it’s rugged and waterproof, it even includes a pressure relief valve if you’re hiking up in the mountains in high altitudes. Inside the case you’ll find a single audio cable along with a battery compartment and a padded section for your phone or MP3 player to sit comfortably in. On the outside is the the speaker and combination power and volume knob along with lots of rubber padding around the slides of the case, a metal carabineer, and a couple heavy duty locking clamps to secure the case closed and keeps out the elements. So read on to learn more about the Eco Extreme from Grace Digital.

http://igadgetlife.com/reviews/review-of-grace-digital-eco-extreme-rugged-all-terrain-speaker-case/

==

Everything USB is pleased to announced our latest review on ION Tape Express USB Cassette Archiver.

USB turntables have been fairly popular with boomers clamoring to get their vinyl gold transferred to digital MP3, but the lowly cassette tape has not been shown nearly as much love. The cassette tape may not have the same audiophile reputation that does the venerable LP record, but converting your vast collection of old tapes can still be a very time consuming task. The ION Tape Express promises to allow you to "Rediscover your cassette tapes as MP3’s." But the real question on everyone’s mind should be just how easy it is to do that. Well, my old Kenny G collection is ready to be loved again so it’s time to find out.

http://www.everythingusb.com/ion-tape-express-usb-cassette-archiver-19275.html

==

Ozone Strato USB Headset @ LanOC Reviews
DESCRIPTION: Today I have the chance to take a look at the Strato Headset from Ozone. We had the chance to take a look at their Smog during mouse week and their ground level mouse pads soon after. They obviously have a strong focus on gaming. I hope that focus carries over to the Strato headset; I plan on putting it to the test in a few to many sessions of Modern Warfare 2.
ARTICLE URL: http://lanoc.org/review/hardware/sound/3453-ozone-strato-usb-headset

==

Kodak EasyShare M341:
English link:  http://www.rbmods.com/content/23862/kodak-easyshare-m341-introduction.aspx
Swedish link:  http://www.rbmods.se/content/14728/kodak-easyshare-m341-introduction.aspx
Quote:  Digital cameras have become the norm for almost all home consumers. While most of us do not have $2500 to drop on a Cannon EOS 5D DSLR, we can afford something better than the cameras built into our phones. Geeks offers cheap digital cameras so, today we are reviewing the Kodak M341

==

Apple iPod Nano 8GB (5th Generation) Review @ ThinkComputers.org

Review URL: http://www.thinkcomputers.org/apple-ipod-nano-8gb-review/

Quote: “Apple’s iPod is the most popular MP3 player out there, if someone I know has an MP3 player it’s an iPod. I don’t think I’ve even seen an MP3 player lately that isn’t an iPod. The last time we reviewed an iPod at was the iPod Nano (3rd Generation). Today we have its successor the iPod Nano (5th Generation). This new iPod Nano was announced back in September and has a few features that previous iPod’s just didn’t have including a video camera, microphone, FM radio and a speaker. Let’s take a look and see what this new iPod is all about."

==

Mobile Related:

OS 4 Walkthrough on an iPhone 3GS
We take a look at iOS 4 on an iPhone 3GS and show you some of its new features.
The Full Article can be viewed at http://tech.tbreak.com/2010/06/ios-4-walkthrough-on-an-iphone-3gs/

==

‘Acer Mini D250′
Do you want both performance and style on the go? If so, then the stunning 10.1" Aspire One D250 is right for you. Beneath its handsome exterior, this netbook delivers 8 hours1, 2of battery-powered connectivity via wireless and optional 3G. Its advanced features and easy "carry-ability" make the Aspire One D250 perfect for go-everywhere daily [...]
The Full Article can be viewed at http://tech.tbreak.com/laptop/acer-mini-d250/

==

Choiix Comforter Lapdesk Review @ ThinkComputers.org

Review URL: http://www.thinkcomputers.org/choiix-comforter-lapdesk-review/

Quote: “You can find notebook stands out there but they are mainly made for use at a desk. If you are like me you use your laptop all over your house, in the kitchen, on the couch and even in bed. Sometimes I wish I had something to put my laptop on in these situations. Well look no further it’s here, the Choiix Comforter Lapdesk. Its unique design allows you to use it on any table or desk, while you are relaxing on the couch and even when you are lying in bed. Let’s take a look at the Comforter Lapdesk and see if it is perfect for you!"

==

Speck AftPack Notebook Backpack Review @ ThinkComputers.org

Review URL: http://www.thinkcomputers.org/speck-aftpack-notebook-backpack-review/

Quote: “We have already looked at 2 bags from Speck, the CorePack Fly and the PortPack. Today we will be looking at a 3rd bag from them, the AftPack. While the CorePack Fly was a messenger bag and the PortPack was a shoulder bag the AftPack is a backpack. Backpacks are great for people who want to protect their laptop, but also need to the room to carry large text books and other larger items. Read on as we check out the AftPack from Speck."

==

Hiyatek HY-CF-6322 Foldable Notebook Cooler Review @ ThinkComputers.org

Review URL: http://www.thinkcomputers.org/hiyatek-hy-cf-6322-foldable-notebook-cooler-review/

Quote: “Hiyatek is a company many people may not have heard of. Based out of Taipei, they specialize in mainly PC accessories like storage devices, USB hubs, card readers, and notebook coolers. Some of their products are actually really unique and cool. Today we will be looking at their HY-CF-6322 Notebook Cooler. This notebook cooler is actually really interesting because it is foldable, but will it do a good job cooling your laptop? Read on to find out!"

==

Speck PortPack Notebook Shoulder Bag Review @ ThinkComputers.org

Review URL: http://www.thinkcomputers.org/speck-portpack-notebook-shoulder-bag-review/

Quote: “When most people think of laptop bags they think of the typical messenger bags, probably because that is usually all they sell in stores like Best Buy. Even though messenger bags are probably the most popular type of laptop bag, many companies make shoulder bags. Ever since I started reviewing laptop bags I’ve really come to appreciate shoulder bags because they are perfect for going to coffee shops and other places where you really don’t need a huge bag to carry a lot of gear. Today we will be taking a look at a really cool shoulder bag from Speck, the PortPack."

==

Assorted Stuffs:

Now that we know what kind of graphics hardware is running the 3DS, we can begin to set our expectations on how it will compare to current handheld gaming devices. This chart compares the 3DS technical specifications to the PSP, iPhone 3GS, and original DS. How does it compare?

http://www.hardcoreware.net/nintendo-3ds-specs-comparison/

==

The Hottest Booth Babes of E3 2010 @ Legit Reviews

Many of our readers have been giving very positive feedback on our coverage of this years Electronic Entertainment Expo and today we conclude it with booth babes! To keep up with the demand of our readers, we would not be giving proper coverage without showing what many would consider the best part, the booth babes! Look on to check out the hottest booth babes that we could locate on the show floor!
Article URL: http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1344/1/

==

Futurelooks fires out the last of the E3 2010 stuff…

E3 2010 – Sports Games and Accessories Across Platforms

Sports fans of all types had something to see at this year’s E3 Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles. While other people were gawking at the Nintendo 3DS or Gears of War 3, the hoop stars weren’t disappointed either. Here are some of the notable sports games featured at the show.

Direct Link:http://www.futurelooks.com/e3-2010-sports-games-and-accessories-across-platforms/

E3 2010 – New to Nintendo Wii, DS and 3DS

I’ll admit that I’ve always been somewhat of a Nintendo fanboy. I grew up playing Contra and Gun Smoke on the original NES, graduating to Street Fighter II on the SNES, Mario 64 on the N64, all the way up to Wii Sports Resort on the Wii. That’s why I just had to visit the Nintendo booth at E3 2010.

Direct Link:http://www.futurelooks.com/e3-2010-new-to-nintendo-wii-ds-and-3ds/

==

Title: Is AMD’s New 2D Acceleration Architecture Still Slow? @ Phoronix
Direct Link: http://www.phoronix.com/vr.php?view=15040
Summary: "Earlier this week AMD released the Catalyst 10.6 driver that on the Linux side of the table had finally made use by default of their new 2D acceleration architecture, offered official support for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.5, and formalized their OpenGL 3.3/4.0 support. Since the release of the Catalyst 10.6 Linux driver, we have been running a new set of tests on their new ATI 2D acceleration architecture, but the results are not what you may expect when compared to the open-source ATI Linux driver."

==

SmartSwipe Review at CCE Reviews
Link: http://www.ccereviews.com/reviews/smartswipe/
Quote: The SmartSwipe is incredibly simple to use and it works with all major credit cards (AMEX, VISA, MasterCard, Discovery and JBC). While it should work on all secure check out pages I’m sure there will be the odd one where it’s not supported. Those are the exceptional shady ones I would avoid. Overall, I’m extremely happy with the SmartSwipe and would be happy to recommend it to anyone who has been hesitant to buy online because they had to manually input their credit card information.

==

Hands-On: Microsoft Kinect a Major Let Down
"First there were Atari’s paddles. Then D-pads, analog sticks, and rumble packs. While most innovations in controller design have incrementally boosted the number of buttons, triggers and other inputs crammed into a two-handed brick, Microsoft’s Kinect promises to do away with them forever."
Link to the talk back:
http://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/hands-on-microsoft-kinect-a-major-let-down/

==

Sportsman 440/465 Video Eyewear @ TechwareLabs

Quote: Ever since you were a kid, you’ve wanted a pair of glasses with a hidden camera. Most attempts to do this have resulted in ugly, impractical glasses that have a cord you have to run down your body, to a device that records everything. Sportsman’s Eyewear, a relatively new company based out of Waynesboro , Virginia, took that idea and tried to perfect it. Join Dan as TechwareLabs takes these glasses for a test drive – literally.
LINK: http://www.techwarelabs.com/sportsman-440465-video-eyewear/

=

Radioactive PC Plasma Mainstream Gaming System Review @ ThinkComputers.org

Review URL: http://www.thinkcomputers.org/radioactive-pc-plasma-mainstream-gaming-system-review/

Quote: “We all know someone that loves computer games, but knows nothing about computers. They want a really fast system, but have no clue how to build one. This is where custom PC builders come in. The thing with many of them is that they are extremely overpriced and they really don’t treat the customer right. Recently we were contacted by Radioactive PC. They are relatively new company that was founded in 2003. They offered is one of their desktops to review and of course we accepted. The system they sent us is their Plasma Mainstream system. Let’s take this system for a test drive and see if it makes it through all of our tests!"

==

How to Flash (Update) Your Motherboard’s System BIOS @ ThinkComputers.org

Article URL: http://www.thinkcomputers.org/how-to-flash-your-motherboards-system-bios/

Quote: “Recently Bob did an article on finding out the model of your motherboard. Since you usually find out the version of your board’s BIOS at the same time, I thought that an article on updating, or flashing, your BIOS would be a good idea. There were numerous articles on the subject back when I first got into building, and all of them involved a 3.5” floppy drive. Today, nearly all motherboards have multiple options for flashing the BIOS, and normally a floppy isn’t required."

==

Where have all the good touchpads gone?

In his latest blog post, TR’s Cyril Kowaliski laments the poor quality of touchpads on modern laptops. Once a fan of the IBM TrackPoint, Cyril was seduced by the huge glass touchpads of Apple’s aluminum MacBooks, and he wonders why PC makers have chosen to emulate the outside appearance of those machines but not their ergonomics.
http://techreport.com/discussions.x/19063

==

Quick Links:

Coolermaster HAF X Full Tower @ Pro-Clockers

Thermaltake Armor A90 PC Case Review

ATI Catalyst 10.6 Windows 7 Driver Analysis

Zaward Vapor 120 CPU Cooler @ PureOverclock

Green Day: Rock Band Review @ KitGuru Gaming

No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggles Wii Review

Gainward GTX470 Golden Sample GOOD reviewed in Metku.net

Medal of Honor – Beta-Preview

PowerColor PCS+ Radeon HD5550 Review  @ XtremeComputing

Zalman Booth @ Computex 2010 @ Bjorn3D

Overclockers.com – Gigabyte Radeon HD 5870 SOC (Super Overclock) Review

ThermalTake Frio @ GeekInvaders.com

E3 Expo 2010: Day 2 Coverage @ Legit Reviews

Gamer Grub @ LanOC Reviews

Noctua NH-D14 CPU Cooler Video Review @ Tech Lobby

In Win Ironclad – Big Tower Case

ASUS P6X58D-E Motherboard Review @ Vortez.co.uk

EVGA Taiwan Office Visit @ Ninjalane

Cooler Master Silent Pro Gold 600W PSU Review on Technic3D

Nouvel article : NZXT Vulcan

Thermaltake Armor A90 Mid-Tower Case

LC Power, Silverstone & Cooler Master PSUs: Clash of the Titans @ InsideHW

iXBT Labs Review: ASUS M4A89GTD Pro/USB3 Motherboard

Razer Megasoma Review  @ XSReviews

Thermaltake Armor A90 Mid Tower Chassis

ASUS P6X58D-E Xtreme Design Motherboard @ Benchmark Reviews

PowerColor PCS+ Radeon HD5550 Video Card @ Benchmark Reviews

ASUS Radeon EAH5870 V2 Video Card @ Benchmark Reviews

Mionix Naos 5000 USB Gaming Laser Mouse @ Benchmark Reviews

AMD Athlon-II X2-260 Regor Processor @ Benchmark Reviews

Biostar TA890GXB-HD mATX AMD Motherboard @ Benchmark Reviews

Antec ISK 310-150 Mini-ITX Desktop Case @ Benchmark Reviews

AMD Athlon-II X3-445 AM3 Processor @ Benchmark Reviews

G.Skill ECO 4GB DDR3-1333 Memory Kit @ Benchmark Reviews

ASUS RT-N16 Wireless-N Gigabit Router @ Benchmark Reviews

SteelSeries 4HD Gaming Surface Mouse Pad @ Benchmark Reviews

CoolIT ECO A.L.C. CPU Cooler @ Benchmark Reviews

PowerColor PCS+ AX5870 Video Card @ Benchmark Reviews

SteelSeries Kinzu Optical Gaming Mouse @ Benchmark Reviews

Thermaltake Armor A90 Case Review @ ThinkComputers.org

NVIDIA BIOS Editor (NiBiTor) v5.6 Software Released… @ mvkTech

Bigfoot Networks Killer 2100 Gaming Network Card Review @ ThinkComputers.org

Zalman Z7 Plus Mid Tower Case Review @ ThinkComputers.org

Microcool Banchetto 101 Case Review @ ThinkComputers.org

News: Eyefinity to the sixth degree

Steelseries Kinzu Review  @ XSReviews

PC Power & Cooling Silencer Mk II 750 W Power Supply Review @ Hardware Secrets

Happy Tuesday to you! Here’s the news, and coming up I’ve got the NZXT Vulcan for review and a nice little set of speakers from Arctic Cooling.. for now check out the news..

Storage Related:

‘My Passport Studio’
My Passport Studio ultra-portable hard drive with customizable e-label  is the high performance drive packed with features for Mac users on the  go.
The Full Article can be viewed at http://tech.tbreak.me/storage/my-passport-studio/

==

OCZ Vertex 2E 60GB 2.5" SSD review
"The secret of these high theoretical numbers is, of course, hidden away within the drive itself – More specifically, within the drive’s controller.  OCZ’s Vertex 2 series of drives all boast SandForce’s SF-1200 controller at its heart, a controller which has made waves on account of its impressive performance.  This is achieved via a number of methods – On the one hand, SandForce’s "DuraWrite" technology looks to optimise the read-write cycle thrust upon MLC flash cells with compression algorithms while also employing hardware encryption of data written to the drive (albeit with a blank password on devices such as this one).  This compression is, according to SandForce, highly effective at reducing the number of writes to a drive, compressing large application installs by over 50% according to their figures – Although this isn’t reducing the amount of data stored on the drive, it does mean that the drive controller has to write data less frequently to the SSD’s flash memory,
increasing both performance and the drive’s longevity."
http://www.elitebastards.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1626&catid=37&Itemid=27

==

Walton Chaintech APOGEE AstroDrive 16GB USB Flash Drive Review

Walton Chaintech, a company which manufactures lots of products like SSDs, Memory Modules, Memory Cards and Graphics Cards, does also produce Flash Drives. The AstroDrive 266X I have received for review is the smallest in the series, maroon colored. The flash drive has very good performances right out of the box, but Walton Chaintech also included a special utility on the drive to boost the performance even more.
http://www.madshrimps.be/gotoartik.php?articID=1005

==

Synology DS710+ 2 bay Nas Server

With all the reviews on KitGuru in the last month there is a good possibility you have already bought a new system, perhaps even one for media entertainment.

If so, the review today will be of particular interest as we will be looking at a 2 bay NAS system from Synology. NAS systems are a huge benefit for a home enthusiast user as they offer vast storage which can be accessed from any computer on your network.

Read the review over here: http://www.kitguru.net/networking/nas/zardon/synology-ds710-2-bay-nas-server/

==

Corsair Force and Reactor 120GB SSD Review on Technic3D

Link: http://www.technic3d.com/news-5183-corsair-force-120gb-ssd-und-reactor-120gb-ssd-im-test.htm

Translation Link: http://translate.google.de/translate?u=http%3a%2F%2fwww.technic3d.com%2Fnews-5183-corsair-force-120gb-ssd-und-reactor-120gb-ssd-im-test.htm&sl=de&tl=en&hl=&ie=UTF-8
Quote: "The Corsair Force and Reactor 120GB SSDs with SandForce SF-1200 and  JMicron-JMF612 controllers arrived Technic3D. New available in 120GB and 240GB configurations. Results in extreme performance with up to 285MB/s sequential read and 275MB/s sequential write speeds? We will check this against other SSDs from Intel and Western Digital in Windows 7."

==

‘Buffalo DriveStation HD-HXU3 USB 3.0 Review’
If you’re looking for an insanely fast external drive, then you’ve gotten it.
The Full Article can be viewed at http://tech.tbreak.com/2010/06/buffalo-drivestation-hd-hxu3-usb-3-0-review/

==

Kingston HyperX 1600/1866 1.25/1.35v DDR3.
If you are a system builder looking for the absolute lowest power consuming PC then RAM may be something thats overlooked. Extremely low voltage RAM like the kit of HyperX we have here today can really help bring down power usage. This can be a great building block for an extremely low power PC. This also future proofs your components in a way since Intel has stated that the next generation of CPU’s will use even lower voltage DDR3 than what is common today. However we will be using this RAM on an AMD based system which does not require the RAM to run at 1.65 volts or lower. This may be the case in a lot of computers since AMD makes some of the most power efficient CPU’s currently available.
http://www.bjorn3d.com/read.php?cID=1841

==

Kingston LoVo 1866 Memory Review.
Quote: With more people interested in green hardware, Kingston have thrown their hat into the ring.
Link: http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/memory/kingston_lovo_1866_memory_review/1

==

Corsair Force Series F100 100GB Solid State Drive Review @ ThinkComputers.org

Review URL: http://www.thinkcomputers.org/corsair-force-series-f100-100gb-solid-state-drive-review/

Quote: “At CES every solid state drive manufacturer we met with was raving about the SandForce controller, the new controller that is going to bring blazing speeds to solid state drives and bring current solid state drives in the budget category with these new drives being in the enthusiast category. The controller from SandForce is the SF-1200 which is a small step down from the enterprise SF-1500 controller. Corsair has designed a new line of solid state drives around this controller called the Force Series, which is available in 100GB and 200GB versions. Today we will be looking at the 100GB version whi ch boasts very impressive very impressive read and write speeds at 285MB/s and 275MB/s respectively. Let’s check it out!"

==

Apacer Handy Steno AH522 USB Flash Drive Review

The AH522 USB 2.0 USB flash drive from Apacer is made from high quality materials, including zinc alloy and electro-polished components. AH522 drives offer up to 16 GB of storage and high read/write performances.
http://www.madshrimps.be/gotoartik.php?articID=1029

==

Audio / Video:

TweakTown’s 2010 Mid Year Audio Roundup
QUOTE: "It’s almost hard to believe that nearly a whole year has passed us by since my mid year roundup for 2009. However, we must believe, because it means that much has been taking place in our great big wide world and to no lesser extent in the much-fabled world of audio. Which brings me to 2010; this has been a time of catch up I suppose for the multimedia audio industry.
As our love and demand of all things portable, silver and not entirely necessary (in a life and death sense) grows to unspeakable levels, the market for docks and headphones of innumerable different iterations come to fruition, as has been the tale to date in 2010."
==

Eagle Arion ET-AR506-BK – Review
Article Clip: Every one is trying to cut back on the expenses now a days. So on the budget shopping is becoming an art. When it comes to the audio systems picking the right one could be a difficult task as well. Just about a year ago Eagle Tech USA has released Arion ET-AR504LR-BK 2.1 Soundstage. You can find our review of this system right here. The system was a success as it has great value for the low price. Today Eagle Tech USA has released a new version Arion, ET-AR506-BK 2.1 Soundstage.
Article Link: http://umlan.com/reviews/hardware/h127.html

==

Mobile etc:

Lenovo T410s

URL: http://www.businesscomputingworld.co.uk/review-lenovo-t410s/

Snippet: “Many companies look for brand as much as for features when selecting their laptops. They want a brand―and a laptop design―that says ‘We are a no-nonsense organisation which chooses only the best for our staff. We buy the right tools for the job and they enable us to work well for you. Lenovo plays to this market well and its laptops are often well specified with a no-nonsense physical design. At the higher end of the Lenovo range, laptops such as the T410s are equipped with go-faster features and management utilities. But that doesn’t stop the T410s having an innovation or two up its sleeve, too.”

==

ZaReason Verix Notebook @ Phoronix
Direct Link: http://www.phoronix.com/vr.php?view=15012
Summary: "One year ago we reviewed the ZaReason Ion Breeze computer that was built around NVIDIA’s ION platform with an Intel Atom CPU, but today we are looking at our first ZaReason notebook and it boasts some very high-end hardware. The Verix 1656 is one of ZaReason’s highest-end notebooks and its powered by a quad-core Intel Core i7 CPU (with Hyper Threading to make for eight logical cores in this mobile computer), a NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250M GPU, and a 15.4-inch 1680×1050 display. The ZaReason Verix 1656 also has a very nice brushed-aluminum exterior."

==

MSI Wind U230-040US 12.1-inch Netbook
QUOTE: "AMD for a long time said that it would cede the netbook market to Intel and simply offered no parts that were appropriate for netbook use to compare against the Intel Atom parts. That has changed over the last several months with AMD now offering up its own line of CPUs aimed at netbooks and ultraportables called the Athlon Neo X2.
Today I have the MSI Wind U230-040US on my test bench and at first glance, the machine looks great. The screen is larger than you typically see with an Intel-based netbook and the keyboard is large as well. The real question is if the AMD hardware has what it takes to compete against the Atom line that dominates the market today."

==

Griffin Elan Passport & Sleeve for iPad Review @ Virtual-Hideout

Review link: http://www.virtual-hideout.net/reviews/Griffin_Elan_for_iPad/index.shtml

Quote: “Honestly both the Griffin Elan Passport for iPad and Elan Sleeve for iPad are excellent cases for your iPad. They will both protect and look great while doing it. The materials seem very durable and the craftsmanship is high quality. With the design exception of the power/sleep button being covered on the Elan Passport, both models have been flawless to work with. I can easily recommend both products. As a word to the savvy shopper out there, never pay MSRP as it is usually way too high, just as in this case. The MSRP for the Elan Passport for iPad is $49.99 from the Griffin site, however you can find it on Amazon.com for less than $30. Also the Elan Sleeve is also $49.99 from the Griffin site and just $28 on Amazon.com. Finding great deals online on Griffin products is something I’ve found consistently and I commend them on allowing it to happen that way. So many companies today price their products right out of the market. Griffin is smarter than that."

==

Cirago BTA3210 USB Bluetooth Adapter Review

http://www.dragonsteelmods.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16430&Itemid=1

Today I’ll be taking a quick look at the BTA-3210 Micro USB Bluetooth Adapter from Cirago. It is a very simple dongle that can give Bluetooth capability to laptops or computers without built-in Bluetooth functions. There isn’t a heck of a lot one can say about a device this straightforward, but let’s take a look at how well it functions and what it looks like.

Assorted Stuffs:

Computex 2010 Showgirl Gallery @ Ninjalane
URL: http://www.ninjalane.com/articles/events/computex2k10-babes
Quote: The amazing thing about events like Computex is that there are actually two shows. The first is the computer stuff we are there to see, while the other has to do with the Computex Showgirls. In some ways the Showgirls are more popular than the products they are there to support.

==

Installed Memory vs RAM Usable by Windows @ Benchmark Reviews

DESCRIPTION: Most PC users are familiar with the 4GB system memory limitation of 32-bit Windows Operating Systems, which is why 64-bit computing has become the standard for computer enthusiasts. Occasionally though, a computer system will not report the correct amount of RAM installed. In this article, our 64-bit Windows 7 test system had 6.00 GB of installed memory but indicates only 4.00 GB usable RAM available. While some may dismiss this as a case of defective RAM, you might be surprised by the culprit. Benchmark Reviews troubleshoots Installed Memory vs RAM Usable by Windows.

ARTICLE URL: http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=541

==

VIA M’Serv S2100 Mini Home Server Review @ Tweaknews
Article Url: http://www.tweaknews.net/reviews/via_m_serv_s2100_server/
Article Snippet:
"Its tiny size makes it an easy addition to any home or small office and it packs an impressive amount of power for backup, storage, and other basic server functions. Add some RAM, hard drives, and an operating system, and you’ll have a server that is customizable for your environment without spending an excessive amount of cash."

==

NZXT Summer Give Away at Bigbruin.com
Link:  http://www.bigbruin.com/item_26492
Quote:  Summer is just around the corner, accompanied by Independence Day in the USA and Canada Day in Canada, so let’s give away some prizes to celebrate! NZXT is teaming up with Bigbruin.com to sponsor another great give away! Up for grabs are three items from the NZXT line up; a Tempest EVO case, an Avatar gaming mouse, and a Sentry 2 fan controller.

==

Linux: Infected by Complacency
URL: http://computingondemand.com/linux-infected-by-complacency
On my daily rounds, I pick up all kinds of good lil’ tidbits for article ideas.  Most of them are relating to Windows flaws or Anti Mac articles, but none of them really cut the mustard.  However, today I am going to pound my fist against the wall at those of US that thought we had less to worry about.  Yeah, we are Linux advocates, and we overlook security sometimes. Today I was introduced to a statement by UnrealIRCd detailing a trojan packaged with their IRCd (Internet Relay Chat deamon) for Linux.  This obviously represents one FATAL flaw with the Linux faithful; the blind trust we have for the most of the Linux community and the lack of attention we pay to what we are installing or downloading.  This time, it leads us to a backdoor that grants an evildoer the ability to run ANY command with the user’s privileges running the daemon.

==

Samsung ML-2525W Laser Printer Review
Link: http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Samsung-ML-2525W-Laser-Printer-Review/1025
Summary: Review of the Samsung ML-2525W monochrome laser printer, which comes with wireless networking capability.

==

StarCraft II – Blog: Part One @ GamingHeaven.net
"I was recently lucky enough to be given an opportunity to take part in the StarCraft 2 beta, thanks to the good folks here at Heaven Media and I’d like to share my thoughts with you on how the game is shaping up so far. First though I have a few confessions to make…"

http://www.gamingheaven.net/gamingreviews.php?reviewid=903

==

Quick Links:

RV02 Case Review

In-Win Ironclad ATX Full Tower PC Case Review @ Legit Reviews

Aerocool QX-2000 and CyborgX review @planet3dnow.de

iXBT Labs Review: Gigabyte GA-890GPA-UD3H Motherboard

The Best $500 NVIDIA PhysX Setup

Microsoft’s Kinect for Xbox 360 – The Future of Gaming is Here

Cooler Master Silent Pro GOLD 1200W @ PureOverclock

Noctua NH-U9B SE2 @ techPowerUp

JSCO Gamer Mouse Review  @ XSReviews

ASUS Maximus III Gene Motherboard @ Hardware Secrets

Jetway JNC84-LF M-ITX Motherboard @ TechwareLabs

Corsair 700D / 800D Cases Reviewed

Zotac GeForce GTX 470 Video Card Review @ Legit Reviews

ASUS Rampage III Extreme: The Strongest X58 Category @ InsideHW

Lian Li Armorsuit PC-P50WB Aluminum Gaming Case Review @ Tweaknews

Sapphire RADEON HD 5550 Ultimate VGA Review

NZXT Vulcan @ PureOverclock

ROCCAT Apuri Active USB Hub with Mouse Bungee Review

Scythe USB Triple Foot Switch Review on Technic3D

Coolermaster Silent Pro Gold 1200 Power Supply @ Pro-Clockers

Steelseries Kinzu Review  @ XSReviews

Happy Wednesday to you all! It’s time for the news from around the world!

Storage Related:

IN-WIN AMMO USB Hard Drive Enclosure @ TechwareLabs

Quote: There are a lot of hard drive enclosures out there. No, really! Go punch "USB HDD enclosure" into Google or NewEgg some time, you’ll be buried in them. This makes it rather hard for any one enclosure to have much success. Generally, the only way to stand out is to make it a funny shape, or offer some unusual feature. IN-WIN have decided to do both with the AMMO 2.5" HDD enclosure, shaping it like the magazine of an AR-15 and offering hardware-based encryption with RFID token-based access. Is this combination enough to make it worth your while? Let’s find out.
LINK: http://www.techwarelabs.com/in-win-ammo-usb-hard-drive-enclosure/

==

Super Talent SuperCrypt 32GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive @ Techgage

Link: http://techgage.com/article/super_talent_supercrypt_32gb_usb_30_flash_drive/

Quote: With USB 3.0 storage devices popping up all over, now is a good time to consider making the move to one, whether it be an enclosure or flash drive. To kick off what will be the first of many USB 3.0 device reviews, we’re taking a look at Super Talent’s SuperCrypt thumb drive, which promises both huge speeds and huge data protection.

==

Hardware Canucks is pleased to present our review of the new OCZ Vertex 2 100GB Solid State Drive.

Article URL: http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum/hardware-canucks-reviews/32504-ocz-vertex-2-100gb-solid-state-drive-review.html

Quote: Sandforce-based SSDs are being released onto the market from literally every company but according to OCZ, their new Vertex 2 drives are a cut above the rest.  Decked out with a custom firmware that supposedly unlocks additional performance, there are high expectations for the newest addition to the Vertex family.

==

OCZ Enyo USB 3.0 Portable SSD @ PureOverclock

Review URL:  http://www.pureoverclock.com/article996.html

“The OCZ Enyo is a portable SSD with a USB 3.0 interface that displays some blistering speed results. So it retains the best qualities of each technology, and housed in a small and sleek form. Frankly, this drive is beautifully sleek. Need top speed in a portable and external format? Then the OCZ Enyo might be just the thing to satisfy. So how fast is it? Oh, it’s plenty fast alright. Let’s find out.”

==

Vantec NexStar CX SuperSpeed Edition HDD Enclosure @ Pro-Clockers

Review link: http://pro-clockers.com/enclosures/1466-vantec-nexstar-cx-superspeed-edition-hdd-enclosure.html

One of the leaders today in HDD enclosure is Vantec. Producing enclosures for laptop drive and desktop, Vantec can be seen everywhere. Vantec was nice enough to recently send over their new NexStar CX model. Unlike the NexStar 3 we reviewed a few months ago, the CX has a simpler look. But it still offers the reliability and quality but not the shiny exterior of the NexStar 3. But one thing they do share is performance based on the new SuperSpeed technology.

==

Kingston HyperX 8GB (2×4GB)

So, if you have just upgraded to a 64bit OS and want to take advantage of a higher memory configuration for enhanced multitasking performance then todays review product will surely appeal to you. Kingston have recently released a new 8GB HyperX memory kit which comprises two 4GB modules.

This is a perfect dual channel partner for either Intel 1156 systems or the latest AMD platforms. Buying this particular kit means that if you need even more memory down the line then you are only using two slots in your system and you don’t need to start from scratch.

Read the article over here: http://www.kitguru.net/components/memory/zardon/kingston-hyperx-8gb-kit-1600mhz-khx1600c9d3k28gx/

==

Audio / Video:

Eartips Shootout – Shure, Comply and Sony Go Head-to-Head 

"We put three of the most popular aftermarket eartips – Shure Olives, Comply Foam T200/Tx400 and Sony Hybrids – up against each other in this 3-way shootout."

==

Creative World of Warcraft Wireless Headset Review

Are you a World of Warcraft die hard fan? Want a nice looking, extremely comfortable wireless headset that has a lot of customizable options, including the choice to set one of multiple lights for the exterior and special designed lenses with Alliance/Horde design? Did I forget to mention very good sound quality? Then this piece of hardware might be designed just for you!
http://www.madshrimps.be/gotoartik.php?articID=1036

==

Mobile Etc:

‘Win Brushed Aluminum Stealth Pad for iPad Wifi/3G’

Thanks to YouGearStore, we are giving away one Stealth Pad for your iPad.

The Full Article can be viewed at http://tech.tbreak.com/2010/06/win-brushed-aluminum-stealth-pad-for-ipad-wifi3g/

==

Gateway NV59C09u 15.6-inch Core i3 Notebook
QUOTE: "One of the more common types of notebook computers that people shop for are the multimedia variety. These machines can be used as your typical PC for work and play, but have features that are aimed at the user who enjoys watching online video and movies on the notebook frequently.
Today I am looking at the Gateway NV59C09u notebook. At first glance, the 15.6-inch screen might make the machine look more like your typical all around notebook. However, Gateway has put a HD capable GPU and a Blu-ray player inside the Gateway NV59C09u to attract the multimedia user who likes to watch movies, too. Read on for all of the details on the Gateway NV59C09u notebook."

==

Apple’s iPhone 4 – Should You Get One? @ ThinkComputers.org

Article URL: http://www.thinkcomputers.org/apples-iphone-4-should-you-get-one/

Quote: “Yesterday at WWDC10 Steve Jobs announced the iPhone 4. Apple claims this is the biggest leap forward since the original iPhone was released in 2007. The iPhone 4 features an all new design, Apple A4 processor, Retina display, 5-megapixel camera, and much more. Current iPhone users are probably wondering should I get the new iPhone 4? Well read on as we go over the new iPhone 4 and tell you if you should get one or not.

==

Apple iPhone 3G S Bullet Retractable Car Charger Review at CCE Reviews
Link: http://www.ccereviews.com/reviews/apple-iphone-3g-s-bullet-retractable-car-charger/
Quote: Priced to move at $14.95, the Bullet offers an awesome accessory for those customers who ask for more than just the run of the mill cell phone charger.

==

Toshiba Tecra A11-S3540 Review:
http://hothardware.com/Articles/Toshiba-Tecra-A11S3540-Review/

Toshiba’s Tecra Series of laptops have traditionally been marketed as high-performance business machines, designed to be capable of handling demanding tasks. Earlier this year, Toshiba announced the latest Tecra A11. The new Tecra A11 is thinner and lighter than its predecessor and features a 10-key numeric keypad. We had top-of-the-line Tecra A11-S3540 in house for testing. This model is powered by an Intel Core i7-620M processor and has NVIDIA NVS 2100M graphics…

==

Editorial: Why you should like the Apple iPad
QUOTE: "Let’s be honest here. At over 2.2 Million iPads sold worldwide, you don’t have to convince a whole lot of people what’s so great about the iPad. Apple seems to be doing a good enough job with that as it is. As one of those 2.2 Million, though, I’m the proud owner of a 64GB 3G + WiFi iPad.
Did I need it? – No, but honestly, most the stuff I buy I don’t need, so it’s hardly a reason not to buy one. So, why did I buy one? Well, to be honest, I’ve never used a phone as much as my iPhone and I don’t make a whole lot of calls on it. Most of my conversations with people these days are done over MSN."

==

Edifier if350 for iPhone ans iPod Review on Technic3D

Link: http://www.technic3d.com/article-1074,1-edifier-if350.htm

Translation Link: http://translate.google.de/translate?u=http%3a%2F%2fwww.technic3d.com%2Farticle-1074%2C1-edifier-if350.htm&sl=de&tl=en&hl=&ie=UTF-8

Quote: "The Edifier if350 OnTheGo System arrived Technic3D. Combining design, functionality and portability, the Edifier ‘On The Go’  iF350 is the ideal musical companion for all occasions, whether at home, in the office or simply ‘On The Go’? we will check this with the Apple iPhone and iPod.

==

Pantech Pursuit

Today for review I’ve got the new Pantech Pursuit for AT&T, this is a rather special phone in that it’s the first touch screen phone from Pantech and I have to say that I’m impressed with it overall. My first impression was that it actually reminded me of the Kin One, it’s shaped just like it, about the same size and it’s a slider, bit it’s totally different and unique. The interface actually reminds me of Android, but it’s not, but it works very similar to it in some respects like that it slides back and forth and you can add shortcuts and icons to the separate screens. Anyway, let’s continue on…

http://www.testfreaks.com/blog/review/review-of-pantech-pursuit/

==

Verizon Wireless LG Ally

Today for review I’ve got another phone for you, this time one for the Verizon network, it’s the LG Ally, an Android based phone that they’re calling a superphone. The Ally is running the newer version of Android, and for the most part it seems similar to other versions, but it does seem much snappier and quicker, but it could be the hardware in the phone that helps that along. I’ve enjoyed my time with this phone, it has a nice sized full QWERTY keyboard, yes it’s slider, but the buttons are nice to type on for whatever you’re doing be texting or sending an email. I’m surprised with the battery life, it’s very good, my experience with Android based phones and battery life hasn’t been a good one, but the LG Ally can last a couple days without recharging it. The Ally also features a decent 3.2Mp camera that even has a macro mode, so read on to learn more about a fairly decent phone from Verizon and LG…

http://www.testfreaks.com/blog/review/review-of-verizon-wireless-lg-ally/

==

Assorted Stuffs:

KitGuru speaks with EVGA

EVGA: Right now, NVIDIA’s TWIMTBP team is helping thousands of developers create TRUE DX11 content. DX11 that has been done right. The benefits of that development work will be seen more and more clearly over the coming months. I think KitGuru’s readers will be pleasantly surprised!

Read the interview over here: http://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/zardon/interview-with-evgas-miodrag-relic/

==

A List of Common Default Router IP Addresses
http://www.techspot.com/guides/287-default-router-ip-addresses/
Here’s the scenario: you are trying to fix a relative’s network issues and you need to access their router’s browser interface. We’ve all been there, fruitlessly pecking in combinations of 192.168.x.x. Unless you have every default router address tattooed on your forearm, you’ll eventually encounter one that stumps you.

==

SkyMall’s Most Bizarre Products – Part 2
Link: http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/blog/SkyMalls-Most-Bizarre-Products-Part-2/178
"Continuing my "The Best of SkyMall" selection:"

==

Addlogix Lan-Guard LG-2000 All-in-One Internet Security Gateway

Today for review I’ve got a product that will allow you to quickly and easily add another line of defense to your network against attacks, it’s called the Lan-Guard and it’s from Addlogix. It’s a small box with two ethernet ports on it, one for input and one for output that goes between your modem and router, once installed it protects your network from web based attacks, viruses, spyware and most any other type of attack. The price of the Lan-Guard also includes three years of updates for definition and firmware updates etc. It’s very simple to install for the most part. it will work on any network, but you might need to make some adjustments. in my time with it I found it seems to work, but I ran into an issue or two with it.. so Read on..

http://www.testfreaks.com/blog/review/review-of-addlogix-lan-guard-lg-2000-all-in-one-internet-security-gateway/

==

Computex Coverage:

Computex 2010: ADATA’s New PSU Series & High Performance Flash Products @ Hardware Canucks

Computex 2010: Patriot’s USB 3.0 Push, Rugged Flash Drives & SSDs @ Hardware Canucks

Computex 2010 Tablet PC Round-up @ HotHardware.com

Computex 2010: Booth Babes @ Legit Reviews

Power Colors Shows Radeon HD 5970 Eyefinity 12 (12?):
http://hothardware.com/News/Computex-2010-PowerColors-HD-5970-Eyefinity-12-Edition-and-HD-5770-Evolution-with-Lucid-Hydra/
Jess From OCZ Shows Us The Revo Drive, Fusion-io Finally Has a Bootable Competitor?
http://hothardware.com/News/Computex-2010-OCZs-Revo-Drive–Affordable-PCIe-SSD-Performance/
Mini ITX Galore from Zotac:
http://hothardware.com/News/Computex-2010-Zotac-Displays-New-ITX-Motherboards-ZBOX-Models/

The Booth Babes of Computex 2010 @ Techgage

COMPUTEX 2010 – Compro and Thecus Offer IP Cameras, NAS, and NVR Solutions

PowerColor Shows Off Custom Video Cards At Computex 2010 @ Legit Reviews

MSI squeezes CULV Core i5 into a 13" X-Slim notebook that’s less than an inch thick.
http://techreport.com/discussions.x/19036
Enermax and Seasonic show new PSUs with 80 Plus Gold certification.
http://techreport.com/discussions.x/19035
Intel reportedly delays USB 3.0 chipset integration until 2012.
http://techreport.com/discussions.x/19032
Bigfoot and TUL create graphics/networking hybrid that combines Killer NIC, Radeon 5000-series GPU.
http://techreport.com/discussions.x/19031
Biostar and MSI show Sandy Bridge motherboards based on future Intel 6-series chipsets.
http://techreport.com/discussions.x/19030

Bjorn3D @ Computex 2010: Kingston Announces USB 3.0 HyperX SSD and 64GB SDXC Memory Card.

GIGABYTE Technology Seminar at Computex 2010: Performance and Flexibility

Silverstone Raven 03 – featuring VORTEX fans @ Computex

ECS Computex 2010 Booth Coverage – Intel P67 Motherboards @ Legit Reviews

Futurelooks News Flash – COMPUTEX 2010 – Gadget Hunting on the Trade Show Floor

MSI, Inwin, Gigabyte and OCZ – KitGuru @ Computex Day 3

Futurelooks News Flash – COMPUTEX 2010 – Keynote Summaries from AMD, Asus, Hanwang, and BenQ

Futurelooks News Flash – COMPUTEX 2010 – Asus Notebooks, Netbooks, and Tablets

Quick Links:

Cooltek CoolForce 2 HTPC CPU Cooler Review on Technic3D

Guitar Hero iPhone review @ Kitguru gaming

Thermaltake Armor A90 Black Mid Tower PC Case Review @ Legit Reviews

Sapphire HD5770 Vapor X Edition 1GB review @ KitGuru

Enermax Pro87+ 600W @ Bjorn3D

Conceptronic Grab’n'GO Media Store (CH3MNAS)

Coolink CoratorDS CPU cooler Review @ XtremeComputing

Sapphire HD5550 Ultimate 1Gb @ LanOC Reviews

Thermaltake Element V Full Tower Case

OCZ Fatal1ty 750 W Power Supply Review @ Hardware Secrets

Fussball Manager 2010: WM-Addon Review

XtremeGear HP1216B @ LanOC Reviews

Enermax Modu82+ II 525W Power Supply Review @ HardwareHeaven.com

Performance PSU Group Test @ Vortez.co.uk

Cooler Master Vortex Plus CPU Cooler Review @ BayReviews.com

Antec Sonata Proto Review at Overclockers Online

NZXT Hades Computer Case Review @ Tweaknews

Hey, Hey.. it’s time for the news, and later this week my Canon printer review will be live..

Storage Related:

RunCore Pro V 100GB SandForce SF-1200 Solid State Drive
QUOTE: "RunCore makes several SSD products, from PCIe SSDs made for a specific netbook model, to desktop / notebook 2.5” form factor drives like the new Pro V. At the time of writing the Pro V wasn’t listed on RunCore’s website, but the Kylin II enterprise was listed on a RunCore enterprise site that I found off the beaten path.
We will look at the internal hardware on the next page in detail, but for the most part this is a Team SandForce drive that uses the standard SF-1222 chip and pairs it with the same Intel flash we have seen in all but one SF-1200 drive to date. Testing will reveal any performance enhancements built into the RunCore firmware and we will discuss that later as well."

==

Hitachi 500Gb Portable Drive External USB 2.0 HDD Review

Hitachi has a nice looking product line-up of external 2.5 inch drives, we take a look at their 500Gb Portable Drive which comes with a fancy Carbon Fibre finish. Is it up to the task of backing up our vital data? Let us find out
http://www.madshrimps.be/gotoartik.php?articID=1008

==

OWC Mercury Extreme Pro-RE SSD @ Benchmark Reviews

DESCRIPTION: SSDs are both PC and Mac friendly, which is great news since Apple Computers have made significant progress taking up market share over the past decade. Although Mac computers can be expensive, Other World Computing offers hardware upgrades at prices that compete with the PC market. One such product, the OWC Mercury Extreme Pro-RE, is one of the most affordable SandForce-based SSD’s available. SandForce-based SSDs are getting tremendous attention from the industry, and products based on the SF-1222 controller have demonstrated exceptional operational performance and speed. In this article Benchmark Reviews tests the 100GB OWC Mercury Extreme Pro-RE, model SSDMXRE100, against some of the fastest storage solutions on the market.

ARTICLE URL: http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=536

==

OCZ Vertex 2 100GB @ Techgage

Link: http://techgage.com/article/ocz_vertex_2_100gb/

Quote: Are you interested in equipping yourself with one of the fastest SSD’s on the planet? If so, then OCZ’s Vertex 2 is the one you want to keep an eye on. Thanks to its tweaked SandForce SF-1200 controller, the Vertex 2 is the fastest SSD we’ve ever tested, dominating almost every single one of our tests.

==

Seagate’s Momentus XT swaps the Windows-only shackles of previous hybrid drives for a scheme dubbed Adaptive Memory. Can it successfully marry 500GB of mechanical storage with 4GB of flash?
http://techreport.com/articles.x/18989

==

Mobile / Notebooks etc:

HTC Droid Incredible Review:
http://hothardware.com/articles/HTC-Droid-Incredible-Review/

The Android operating system has enjoyed a tremendous boom in popularity since the Motorola DROID was released. Since then, many additional Android-powered phones have come to market. One of the latest new Android phones is the Droid Incredible by HTC.

==

AsusTek unveil all singing all dancing tablet pc

Taiwan based AsusTek Computer Inc, the same company that thrust the humble netbook upon us back in 2007, have just unveiled a tablet computer that they say will go on sale in the first quarter of next year.

==

‘Toshiba Satellite T130 Notebook’
Interested in a think and light laptop thats not a netbook?
The Full Article can be viewed at http://tbreak.com/tech/2010/06/toshiba-satellite-t130-notebook/

==

The $2.50 Laptop Stand @ ThinkComputers.org

Review URL: http://www.thinkcomputers.org/the-2-50-laptop-stand/

Quote: “I had been looking for a nice laptop stand for a while, something that could be modified easily when I stumbled across a laptop stand at IKEA, the Swedish Household Superstore. The quality of the stand took me by surprise, and IKEA was selling them for a mere $2.50. Unable to pass up a deal like this, I bought several of them. I passed them along to some of my friends who owned laptops and kept a couple for myself. That’s when I got the idea to start modifying the ones I had into laptop coolers."

==

Cooler Master NotePal ErgoStand – Review
Article Clip: When laptop coolers first came out the only purpose of the unit was cooling. There werent really any designs to make life easier or more comphortable. No one even thought of these things untill the first unit was designed to offer adjustable heights. We all want the best out of the item we are about to purchase. When it comes to notebook coolers I know I want the ease of use, compfort and cooling for my notebook. Today we are going to take a look at the new generation of notebook coolers, NotePal ErgoStand by Cooler Master.
Article Link: http://umlan.com/reviews/hardware/h125.html

==

Samsung R580 Notebook @ PureOverclock

Review URL:  http://www.pureoverclock.com/article992.html

“Packing an Intel Core i5 processor, discrete graphics card, and some gorgeous styling, the Samsung R580 is positioned as an all-around notebook with a respectable price tag. But is Samsung’s jump into this tough industry segment successful? Let’s have a look at the Samsung R580 and see how this notebook fares.”

==

Samsung R780 17.3" HD+ LED (Intel Core i5-430) Notebook Review @ Modsynergy.com

Quote: "As a recent graduate from Seneca College’s Computer Networking and Technical Support program, I could not help it reflect at how I even graduated without a notebook. Every time I attended class, I would see a majority of students with a notebook. Whether it be a MAC or PC made no difference, (although in a computer program, you see mostly PC’s), but I guess I’m an old school learner as I believe the paper and pen to be the most effective way to study. Judging at how those students were either surfing the internet, chatting online, or playing video games, that would have just distracted me.

Link: http://www.modsynergy.com/review220.html

==

HTC EVO 4G Review
"The Apple iPhone jolted the collective cellphone world three years ago, bursting consumer expectations of what a cellphone could and should be able to do. While the HTC EVO 4G, available on Sprint isn’t quite the breakthrough the iPhone was, it does represent the future of cellphones. Just as the iPhone made multi-touch touchscreens, accelerometers, proximity sensors and visual voicemail de rigueur for advanced cellphones, EVO’s 4G connectivity, front-facing camera for video chatting, HD camcorder, and especially its multiuser mobile hotspot capabilities, are all features future high-end cellphones will emulate. But don’t expect imitations any time soon; Sprint is currently the only network with 4G coverage."
Link to the review: http://www.digitaltrends.com/cell-phone-reviews/htc-evo-4g-review/

==

Assorted Stuffs:

Blu-ray Importing: June 2010 Buying Guide
QUOTE: "Since the last time we last took a look at the ‘Guide to Buying Blu-rays from Overseas’ in May, the Australian dollar has taken a hammering; caused by concerns from the European market and the mining resource tax. Despite this, some competitive overseas pricing coupled with Amazon’s newly lowered international shipping fees and some must-have overseas titles still make importation a viable option.
So let’s jump into the latest instalment of this epic series for 2010, covering some of the later titles released only to import, but safe from the horrors of region coding. This month is almost entirely Steven Spielberg month, with not one, not two, but three titles released."

==

Nvidia GeForce GTX 480/470 vs. ATI Radeon HD 5870/5850: Comparison Revisited
http://www.techspot.com/review/283-geforce-gtx-400-vs-radeon-hd-5800/
Although the Nvidia GeForce 400 series has been out for about 2 months now, it’d seem the jury is still out on whether or not the series is a success. Some will tell you the GeForce GTX 480 is a power-hungry expensive GPU that failed to deliver, while others claim it lived up to the expectations as the world’s fastest single GPU graphics card and that power consumption figures are for sissies.

==

How to Build Your Own Watercooling Heatcore @ [OC]ModShop

One such viable alterative that is readily available and easily modified is a heatercore. While there are many different models that can be modified to work in a watercooling system, one that has gained quite a following is the Chevrolet Chevette heatercore. More specifically, the heatercore for the 1986 Chevette, Fedco part number 2-161 or GDI part number 399069, which is approximately 6-1/8" x 6-3/8" x 2". The factory tubes are 3/4" and 5/8" which require some modification to work with 1/2" ID tubing used in a watercooling system but this modification is not that complicated and well worth it considering that most auto parts stores have this heatercore for around $22. Additionally, the tools needed for the modifications are fairly inexpensive and they are likely ones that most already have on hand.

Review URL ::  http://www.ocmodshop.com/ocmodshop.aspx?a=228

==

Making window management in OSx even better

Exposé – the hallmark of why using the OSX desktop is usually thought to be miles ahead of the one in Windows. The truth of the matter however, is that with Windows 7, Microsoft managed to one-up Apple with some nifty tricks of its own. Sure, switching between open windows is still more practical in OSX, using exposé, whereas you need to alt+tab in Windows. But what about managing those windows? Resizing them, moving them around, stacking them and the like? Here, OSX is sorely lacking!

Read the review over here: http://www.kitguru.net/apple/pete/making-window-management-in-osx-even-better/

==

HP Officejet Pro 8000 Printer Review
Link: http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/HP-Officejet-Pro-8000-Printer-Review/1012
Summary: Review of Officejet Pro 8000, an ink jet printer that comes with standard and wireless networking capability and that HP promises to be more economical than laser printers.

==

Quick Links:

Scythe Kaze Master Pro 5.25 Fan Controller @ Pro-Clockers

KeySonic KSK-6001 UELX Gaming-Keyboard Review on Technic3D

Ozone Oxid Review  @ XSReviews

IN WIN Android Mid Tower Chassis

Intel Core i5-655K Clarkdale and Core i7-875K Lynnfield Processors Reviewed

GMC Bulldozer R4 – Computer Case Review?! @ ModReactor

Coolink Corator DS CPU Cooler Review @ Hardware Canucks

Thermaltake Element-Q mITX HTPC Case @ Benchmark Reviews

How to Etch a Printed Circuit Board Board @ [OC]ModShop

OCZ ModXStream Pro 500W Power Supply Review at Overclockers Online

Armor Series A90 Mid-Tower Case @ High Tech Reviews

Foxconn A88GM Deluxe Motherboard Review @ Hardware Secrets

Alpenföhn Föhn 120 Wing Boost Fan Review @ Vortez.co.uk

Thermalright AXP-140 Heatpipe CPU Cooler Review @ Bigbruin.com

Antec EarthWatts 750W Power Supply Review @ ThinkComputers.org

Cooler Master 430 Elite Black Case Review- Tech Arkade

NZXT Premium Extension Cables @ Bjorn3D

Silverstone Strider Plus 850W Power Supply Review @ HardwareHeaven.com

Happy Sunday! It’s time once again for the news:

Storage Related:

Patriot Sector5 DDR3 2000Mhz 4 GB kit Review @ XtremeComputing

Quote: "Today I will be looking at a product from a very well known hardware manufacturer in their field. The company is Patriot and the product I will be looking at is, of course, pc memory and is from their Sector 5 range of performance memory, 4GB of DDR3 2000Mhz."

Review Link: http://www.xtremecomputing.co.uk/review.php?id=520

==

Corsair Survivor GTR 32GB Flash Drive Review @ Vortez.co.uk
DESCRIPTION: "Corsair are a major force in the memory marketplace. They also produce various air and watercooling components as well as a series of very highly reviewed power supplies. Today we’re lucky enough to be taking a look at one of their latest memory products the Survivor GTR tough flash drive."
LINK: http://www.vortez.co.uk/review.php?id=171

==

Sandforce SSD Firmware Version Confusion @ Legit Reviews
Article URL: http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1312/1/

I have been asked that question numerous times in recent weeks and to be honest it’s a great question. Rumors are going around that OCZ Technologies has a special firmware revision that uncaps random 4K write performance on their Vertex 2 series. Other companies like Corsair offer Sandforce SF-1200 series controllers in their Force series and we didn’t see the performance cap, but we did with Mushkin’s Callisto series. To be honest the firmware situation with Sandforce drives is confusing so we went straight to Sandforce to try to get some answers. If you like SSDs then you should find this to be an interesting read!

==

OCIA.net has posted their review of the Western Digital SiliconEdge Blue 64GB Solid State Drive. 

"We have looked at quite a few budget and mainstream solid state drives over the past year or so from the likes of OCZ Technology, Patriot Memory and Transcend. At first glance this may seem a bit odd to the casual observer when you consider that none of these companies are known for producing traditional mass storage drives. But as we know, SSDs are comprised of physical memory chips which is exactly what all of these companies specialize in. Even so, it just seemed unnatural to discuss this new storage medium without the presence of storage giants like Western Digital and Seagate. Just over two months ago, however, Western Digital silenced my concerns and introduced their first consumer-grade solid state drive, the SiliconEdge Blue in capacities of 64GB, 128GB and 256GB. Today we will be taking a look at the 64GB model and see how it compares to other similarly-priced products."

Direct Link:  http://www.ocia.net/reviews/wdsiliconedge64/page1.shtml

==

ioSafe Solo Disaster Proof External Hard Drive Review
Link: http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/ioSafe-Solo-Disaster-Proof-External-Hard-Drive-Review/1011
Summary:We literally set this fire- and water-resistant external hard drive on fire. Will it survive? Check it out!

==

Kingston HyperX 4GB 1600MHz DDR3 Memory Kit
Link: http://www.bigbruin.com/content/hyperx16004gb_1
Quote:  In this review we will actually be taking a look at two Kingston products. The primary focus will be on a 4GB dual channel DDR3 kit from Kingston’s flagship HyperX series of desktop memory – part number KHX1600C8D3K2/4GX. The other item is Kingston’s HyperX KHX-FAN cooler, a rather simple accessory intend to keep your overclocked memory modules running cool.

==

Wintec Industries SolidGO 60GB 2.5" Silver Series SSD w/Mini USB 2.0 Review @ Modsynergy.com

Quote: "Eight months ago I was given my first opportunity to review a Solid State Drive from Wintec Industries.  They were kind enough to allow me to review the laptop-oriented 24GB SolidGO ExpressCard SSD, which I reviewed and found to be very impressive for something so small in size.  Not only was it fast because of its SSD technology, it also was flexible including a USB2.0 port for easy access.

Link: http://www.modsynergy.com/review219.html

==

Verbatim 2.5" eSATA/USB 2.0 Combo: The Choice is Yours @ InsideHW

Summary:Large capacity, high-quality aluminium casing, dual interface – all these features result in final price of 115€.
Article link:http://www.insidehw.com/Reviews/Storage/Verbatim-25-eSATA-USB-20-Combo-The-Choice-is-Yours.html

==

Data Robotics Drobo S Review
http://hothardware.com/Articles/Data-Robotics-Drobo-S-Review/

One of Data Robotics’ newer devices is the Drobo S, which is a five-bay DAS device, with eSATA, FireWire 800, and USB 2.0 ports.  Journey on for our full, detailed coverage and performance analysis…

==

Audio / Video:

Title: Eagle Arion 2.1 Soundstage Speakers with Dual Subwoofer (ET-AR506-BK 2.1)  Review at CCE Reviews
Link: http://www.ccereviews.com/reviews/eagle-arion-2-1-soundstage-speakers-with-d
ual-subwoofer/

Quote: Once again I am impressed by speakers from Eagle Tech. The ET-AR506-BK 2.1 Soundstage Speakers with Dual Subwoofers might be a mouthful but the speakers offer exceptional sound at a great price. The volume control with a headphone jack makes it ideal for desk use and the black with orange highlights make it an attractive package.

==

Wicked Audio Earbuds – Wicked Empire – Knight Review  @ DragonSteelMods
Review Link: http://www.dragonsteelmods.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16367&Itemid=1
Review Snipit:
"Up on the review block today I’ve got a set of earbus, but not just any, these are from Wicked Audio. They’ve sent me one of their new line called Wicked Empire which come in different styles, I received the Knight version which has a silver cross on each earbud. These retail for about $30, and I wasn’t expecting much in terms of sound quality, but they truly surprised me, they sound very good, they offer a nice balanced, clear sound for much less than you’d expect them to cost. "

==

FaceVsion TouchCam-N1 HD 720p WebCam @ Benchmark Reviews

DESCRIPTION: Online video chat is rapidly becoming a standard form of communication. Corporations frequently hold webinars as the most cost efficient form of long-distance communication. Every platform, from in-browser chat programs like Gmail’s to the well-known Skype, is supporting video chat. Webcams are slowly turning into required accessories like keyboard and mice. However, most webcams are cheap and produce horrible image quality. Realizing this many companies have started offering HD webcams. Benchmark Reviews checks out FaceVsion’s new TouchCam-N1 HD VideoCam to see if its 720p video support can offer a new refreshing experience with video chat.

ARTICLE URL: http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=527&Itemid=73

==

Griffin TuneBuds Mobile for iPhone Review @ Virtual-Hideout

Review link: http://www.virtual-hideout.net/reviews/Griffin_TuneBuds_iPhone/index.shtml

Quote: “Today I have for review another accessory for the iPhone. However this one will work with many mobile and portable devices like the iPod. The Griffin TuneBuds Mobile headphones are tailored for the Apple iPhone, but not exclusive to it. These were designed to be an in-ear upgraded design over the standard earbuds that come with the iPhone. A standard 3.5mm headphone plug will allow this to work with many devices but the special controls on the wire will allow full control with the iPod and even iPhone.”

==

Logitech SqueezeBox Radio @ GeekInvaders.com

DESCRIPTION: “The Squeezebox Radio is the smallest all-in-one music streamer we have come across. It’s one of the best looking too, with Logitech having the ditched the Boom’s partly matte finish for a more classy all over deep gloss. Physically, the Radio bears a strong family resemblance to the Boom, albeit one with the right hand speaker hacked off and with rounded corners.”
ARTICLE URL: http://www.geekinvaders.com/?p=1814

==

Dell UltraSharp U2410 Monitor

We asked Dell to send us what they thought was their finest screen in the sub £500 zone and they kindly obliged. Today we are looking at a more expensive model – the £450 UltraSharp U2410 which has moved away from the PVA panel design of the other higher end models in this range to adopt IPS standards.

Read the review over here: http://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/monitors/zardon/dell-ultrasharp-u2410-monitor-review-a00/

==

Canon VIXIA HF S21 HD Camcorder

A little bit ago I took a look at a Canon camcorder, it was a fairly basic model but it produced decent results. Today for review I’ve got the flagship HD camcorder in the Canon lineup of consumer level products called the HF S21. This camera features a nice large lens with 10X optical zoom, along with 64gigs onboard memory with the ability to add not one, but two SD cards to expand the memory even more. This camera is one that might be in the consumer class, but it’s one that is certainly a prosumer level camera. The cost is a bit high, it’s a bit over $1000, but it’s truly worth every penny if you want the highest possible quality video and still pictures you can get from a consumer level product.

http://www.testfreaks.com/blog/review/review-of-canon-vixia-hf-s21-hd-camcorder/

==

Mobile / Notebooks Etc:

Entire PowerMat Products Reviewed @ [OC]ModShop

So when I got the opportunity to review the awesome new charging appliances put out by Powermat, I jumped on it. The idea of charging something wirelessly is right up my alley, being the child of Tesla�s thought that I am. So I told the guys over at Powermat to load me up, and I’ll give them a show in return.
http://www.ocmodshop.com/ocmodshop.aspx?a=1756

==

Asus U30Jc-A1 Review
"Choosing a laptop is rife with compromises. Small and portable, or big and powerful? Cheap and chintzy, or spendy and sleek? Anemic battery miser, or brutal battery devourer? Asus promises the middle ground on all of the above with the U30Jc. It’s one of the first notebooks from Asus to use Nvidia’s Optimus technology for automatically switching between integrated Intel graphics to save battery and discrete Nvidia graphics for power. Neither too big or too cramped, too expensive or too flimsy, too powerful or too weak, Asus has carved out what may be one of the most practical and least objectionable laptops to come through our doors, and a great value to boot."
Link to the review:http://www.digitaltrends.com/laptop-reviews/asus-u30jc-a1-review/

==

MEGATech Reviews – Antec’s Designer Notebook Cooler

Last month, I wrote a piece on how to build the perfect notebook cooler for Futurelooks. Unfortunately, it seems like the product designers at Antec’s California studio didn’t have an opportunity to read it before they produced the Antec Notebook Cooler Designer. Though their latest laptop cooling stand certainly boasts a few desirable features, it falls short in other areas. Let’s have a look at what it has to offer and how it stacks up against other suitable alternatives.

Direct Link:http://www.megatechnews.com/megatech-reviews-antecs-designer-notebook-cooler/

==

Hacking the Mio C220 GPS into a Media Player @ [OC]ModShop

So after fiddling around with it for a couple hours and figuring out how to put my own coordinate-oriented Points of Interest in there, I discovered that this was pretty much all the damned thing did. It did the job of a GPS, and did it well, but that was all it did. Not good enough for me. I am the keeper of the multi-tool, and I know from experience that if an electronic does its job well, it can probably do others just as well.

Review URL ::
http://www.ocmodshop.com/ocmodshop.aspx?a=1755

==

MeeGo Netbook Performance: It’s Beating Ubuntu & Co @ Phoronix
Direct Link: http://www.phoronix.com/vr.php?view=14975
Summary: "The last time we ran a performance comparison of different Linux distributions on netbooks was in late November when benchmarking Chromium OS, Moblin, Fedora, openSUSE, and Ubuntu Netbook Remix. The results were interesting, but now we have a new set of Linux distributions out there, so we have carried out a new comparison. In particular, we are looking closely at how the MeeGo distribution — which marries Intel’s Moblin and Nokia’s Maemo projects — is performing now that it has reached version 1.0. Also in the testing mix are Ubuntu Netbook Remix 10.04 LTS, Moblin 2.1, and Fedora 13."

==

ASRock ION 330HT-BD 1080P Blu-Ray HTPC System Review @ Legit Reviews
Article URL: http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1314/1/

   "Packed with some impressive technology, the ION 330HT-BD could be just the HTPC you’ve been looking for. At its heart, it has an Intel Atom 330 1.6GHz CPU. The Atom 330 is a dual core, hyper threaded CPU. While it isn’t a monster performer, it has very low power use and is right at home for use in an HTPC. The other important part of an HTPC is the graphics processor. As the name suggests this an NVIDIA ION chip, which means it capable of DX10 graphics, and full 1080p hardware accelerated video playback. Priced at $509.99 + $6.99 shipping , this is a good solution for someone not familiar with putting a system together but looking to get into a HTPC…"

==

Nightly Roundup Of WP7 Apps

Man these things are everywhere!:) Got a few for you tonight. I’m starting with my favorite. It’s called PriceCheck and was written for Imagine Cup 2010.

http://windowsphone.mobilitydigest.com/nightly-roundup-of-wp7-apps/

==

The Android Achilles Heel

The Android Operating system is quickly becoming a very popular platform of choice for smartphones… with literally millions flocking to devices built upon it. In fact, research firm Gartner has predicted that 75 million Android phones will be sold in 2012, making it the second most popular mobile OS in the world.

http://www.testfreaks.com/blog/information/android-achilles-heel/

==

Review of KIN Two

A couple weeks ago I took a look at the Kin One from Verizon Wireless, today I have the Kin Two which is sort of the same phone, but just a lot bigger. The larger size of the Kin two makes it a much easier phone to use, both with the touch screen and the keyboard, and since it’s larger it accommodates a higher capacity battery and there’s even a better camera as well. So let’s just jump right in..

http://www.testfreaks.com/blog/review/review-of-kin-two/

==

Joby Gorillapod Magnetic

Up for review today I have what I think is a must-have accessory for any level of photographer, the Joby Gorillapod Magnetic. It’s very much like the original Gorillapod, with the exception of the Magnetic part, the feet on this new version of the Gorillapod are magnetic giving it the ability to stick to any metallic surface. It of course has the same flexible legs of the original Gorillapod and it’s touch and well made, a worthy successor to the original for sure.

http://igadgetlife.com/reviews/review-of-joby-gorillapod-magnetic/

==

Assorted Stuffs:

Part by Part: Get to Know Your Graphics Card @ InsideHW

Summary: We hope that you’ve got a far better knowledge of what a graphics card consists of after reading this article.
Article link: http://www.insidehw.com/Reviews/Graphics-cards/Part-by-Part-Get-to-Know-Your-Graphics-Card.html

==

NVIDIA breaks up with Hardware Secrets
Link: http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/blog/174
Here is a snippet:"From time to time some manufacturer breaks the relationship they have with us. Usually this happens because we stand firm defending unbiased reviews and refuse to take down negative reviews and give the manufacturer the privilege of reading a review before it is posted."

==

CyberPower and ThinkComputers System Giveaway! @ ThinkComputers.org

Review URL: http://www.thinkcomputers.org/cyberpower-and-thinkcomputers-system-giveaway/

Quote: “That’s right we are giving a full system away! Our friends at CyberPower PC were nice enough to provide us with a complete system to give away to one lucky ThinkComputers reader. If you didn’t know CyberPower is a great place to get a custom made PC. They have systems starting at under $500! So anyone can afford a system from them! We took a look at their Gamer Xtreme 2000 Core i5 Gaming System not that long ago. The system they will be providing for us to give away features the new Intel “K” LGA 1156 unlocked processor which will be released June 1st, an Intel Solid State Driv e and ASUS’s P7P55D-E Pro motherboard. Read on to see the full specs of the system we are giving away and find out how you can win it!"

==

Gaming Related:

Alan Wake Xbox 360 Review
QUOTE: "Despite being announced in 2005, Alan Wake has remained one of the most wanted games and this is a credit to the quality Remedy produced with the first two Max Payne games. Originally an open world game, Alan Wake changed to be a more narrative driven, linear game during development and is better for it. The wait was definitely worth it as Alan Wake comes out of the shadows to become one of the best Xbox 360 games ever made.

==

Razer Imperator Gaming Mouse Review
Teaser: Razer offers a new gaming mouse. The Imperator is a high-end-modell, which should be better than the Mamba. We took a look.
Link: http://www.tweakpc.de/hardware/tests/maus/razer_imperator/s01.php

==

Intel Core Coverage:

Intel has unlocked a pair of affordable CPUs, making overclocking dead simple.  Join us as we welcome the K series to the 4GHz+ club.
http://techreport.com/articles.x/18988/

==

Intel’s Core i5-655K & i7-875K Unlocked Processors @ Techgage

Link: http://techgage.com/article/intels_core_i5-655k_i7-875k_unlocked_processors/

==

Intel Core i7 875K: worth the wait as we hit 4.8

Read the article over here: http://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/faith/intel-core-i7-875k-worth-the-wait-as-we-hit-4-8/

==

Intel Core i7-875K and i5-655K Processor Review

Review Link: http://www.motherboards.org/reviews/hardware/2068_1.html

==

Intel Core i7-875K 2.93GHz Unlocked Quad-Core Processor Reviews @ Legit Reviews
Article URL: http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1313/1/

==

Intel Core i7-875K (Socket 1156) Unlocked CPU
==

Intel Core i7-875K and i5-655K Unlocked Processors:
http://hothardware.com/articles/Intel-Core-i7875K-and-i5655K-Unlocked-Processors/

==

Hardware Canucks is pleased to present our review of the new Intel Core i5-655K & Core i7-875K Unlocked Processors.

==

Intel Core i7-875K & Core i5-655K Processors Review @ HardwareHeaven.com

http://www.hardwareheaven.com/reviews/979/pg1/intel-core-i7-875k-and-core-i5-655k-processors-introduction.html

==

Intel Core i7 875K & i5-655K CPU’s

Read the review over here: http://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/zardon/intel-core-i7-875k-and-i5-655k-processors-review/

==

Quick Links:

ASUS RADEON 5870 Matrix 2GB Review

Asrock X58 Extreme 3 Motherboard @ Rbmods

Thermaltake Frío Overclocking CPU Cooler Review @ Legit Reviews

Galaxy and Palit GeForce GTX 470s in SLI Overclocked

Update for Nvidia Removes Hybrid PhysX Blockage

GMC H-80 @ techPowerUp

NZXT Vulcan Crafted Series Enthusiast m-ATX Case

Thermaltake V3 Black Edition PC Case Review

Thermaltake Element V Big-Tower Review on Technic3D

AMD Athlon II – 610e X4 CPU @ TechwareLabs

Asus Crosshair 4 Extreme,Rampage Gene III Preview at Asus NL HQ @ Madshrimps

OC3D: MSI 890GXM-G65 Review

Nexus VCT-9000 @ PureOverclock

Cooler Master HAF-X Full Tower Case Video Review @ Hardware Canucks

Arctic Cooling Fusion 550RF PSU Review @ BayReviews.com

Thermaltake V3 Black Edition Case Review @ Hardware Secrets

GeForce 257.15 Beta: Video shows PhysX with ATI cards

Gigabyte Odin Plus 700 W Power Supply Review @ Hardware Secrets

iXBT Labs Review: Zotac GeForce GTX 470 1280MB Graphics Card

Lian-Li Armorsuit PC-P50R Dragon Case @ Benchmark Reviews

Hello and Happy Thursday to you.. I just got a Nextar GPS and a Canon printer for review… so look for those soon, but for now check out the news:

Storage Related:

Icy Dock MB990SP-B DUAL 2.5” TO 3.5” HDD Adapter Review @ Tweaknews
Article Url: http://www.tweaknews.net/reviews/icy_dock_MB990SP-B_review/
Article Snippet:
"For those taking the plunge on a new SSD, it’s worth it to take a look at this product from Icy Dock. It’s one of the simplest methods out there to fit a 2.5” drive into a 3.5” drive bay. There are no pass-thru connectors to worry about, and installation takes literally just a few seconds."

==

HighPoint RocketRAID 640 SATA 6Gb/s 4-Port PCI-E 2.0 Controller
QUOTE: "Enthusiasts on a budget now have another option for SATA 6G RAID and it comes to us from HighPoint Technology. Most of us old timers remember HighPoint from the early ABIT days when their UltraATA 66 controller was all of the rage and set us down the path of onboard RAID coming standard on high end motherboards. Back then a high-end motherboard only set you back around 200 USD and thankfully for us the HighPoint RocketRAID 640 costs even less than that.

==

OCIA.net has posted their review of the Vantec NexStar 3 SuperSpeed 2.5-inch USB 3.0 Enclosure. 

"Shawn just recently finished up the review of the Vantec NexStar 3 SuperSpeed 3.5-inch USB 3.0 Enclosure, and today I have the exact same product but in a 2.5-inch frame. This enclosure is sized for smaller notebook drives and designed for fast storage on the go. With up to 4800Mb/s theoretical transfer rate, USB 3.0 should be perfect for a solid state drive even, and whereas the 3.5-inch enclosure doesn’t quite fit an SSD correctly, this 2.5-inch version will. Not to mention how much easier it will be to carry around. Immediately we can tell from the pictures that the 2.5-inch version looks nearly identical to its bigger brother, with the same mirror finish and chrome trim, gloss black color and blue LED lighting. The aluminum frame is of course smaller to accommodate the notebook drives, but other than that it’s hard to tell the two apart."

Direct Link:  http://www.ocia.net/reviews/vantec2usb3/page1.shtml

==

SUNBEAMTECH Airbox USB 3.0 External Hard Drive Enclosure Review @ Legit Reveiws
Article URL: http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1308/1/

"The SUNBEAMTECH Airbox USB3.0 3.5" External Enclosure performs head and shoulders over the previous generation of USB2 enclosures! I suppose that is to be expected since USB3.0 offers ten times the bandwidth of USB2. USB2 was limited to 480Mb/s and USB3.0 offers a massive 5Gb/s, so the performance gains we saw here today are nothing short of expected. I will admit though, knowing the speed that USB3.0 offers I was still pleasantly surprised. I was surprised as to how well the SUNBEAMTECH Airbox USB3.0 3.5" External Enclosure performed when compared to the same drive being attached via the SATA port on the test system…"

==

OCZ Vertex 2 100GB SSD.
The OCZ Vertex 2 utilizes the new SandForce SF-1200 controller. We’ve been waiting on a drive with the SandForce controller for a while and when OCZ approached us about taking a look at it we were eager to get it into the lab to take a look. There are other SandForce controller drives out there but this one uses a proprietary Firmware that allows it up to 50k IOPS making it in a class by itself. OCZ has been testing the SandForce SF-1200 and SF-1500 controllers for months internally and during CES they made the formal announcement that OCZ would be bringing out the Vertex 2 series of SSDs using these two new controllers. The SF-1500 is used in the OCZ Vertex Limited edition and the SF-1200 is used in the Vertex 2 lineup. The SF-1200 has performance close to the SF-1500 at a fraction of the cost so we can’t wait to get it on the bench and drive it until it screams.
http://www.bjorn3d.com/read.php?cID=1865

==

Super Talent’s USB 3.0 RAIDDrive stripes dual internal SSDs to offer 32GB of SuperSpeed connectivity in a lightweight and easily pocketable package. We run one through its paces to see what’s what.
http://techreport.com/articles.x/18974

==

5-Way SSD Round-Up: Sandforce vs. JMicron:
http://hothardware.com/Articles/5Way-SSD-RoundUp-Sandforce-vs-JMicron/

Despite the rapid pace of advancement in the solid state storage market, innovation doesn’t seem to be slowing. With that in mind, we’ve pulled together a quintet of the newest drives to hit the market, based on recently released controller designs from SandForce and long-time player JMicron, the SF1200 and JM612, respectively. We’ve got drives from OCZ, OWC, Corsair, and Patriot Memory on tap…

==

Samsung Station STORY USB 3.0 Hard Drive 2TB.

Wait! I know what you’re thinking from the photo, that this is yet another 3.5" hard drive fitted in some boxy enclosure. Well, to that extent you’d be right, but what of the bundled real-time backup system, low drive acoustics and trouble-free SuperSpeed USB 3.0 connection? Do I have you attention now? Good. Walk with me in my in-depth review as I explore everything the Samsung STORY Station 3.0 external hard drive has to offer, after the jump.

http://www.everythingusb.com/samsung-story-station-3.0-external-hard-drive-19065.html

==

Icy Dock SATA/USB EZ-DOCK MB881US-1S-1

Link:http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Icy_Dock/EZ-DOCK

Brief:
The ICY DOCK EZ-DOCK combines the functionality of a traditional hard drive dock with the flexibility of transporting it anywhere with ease. We take it for a test drive to see if it manages to add speed into the mix or leave us eying one of those boring black docks instead.

==

OCZ Enyo USB 3.0 Portable Solid State Drive. 

"While at CES earlier this year we stopped by OCZ Technology’s suite for a look at what they had planned for the coming year. The focus of their display was the emerging solid state drive market with several new and updated lines on display. While there we were also shown a prototype of their upcoming USB 3.0 portable solid state drive which was nameless at the time. Preliminary read / write speeds looked promising and the drive itself was encased in a sleek brushed aluminum enclosure. That prototype would eventually be called Enyo and we have one of the first production samples for review here today."

Direct Link:  http://www.ocia.net/reviews/oczenyo128/page1.shtml

==

Seagate Momentus-XT Solid State Hybrid Drive @ Benchmark Reviews

DESCRIPTION: The Hard Disk Drive (HDD) has enjoyed a long service life in the computer industry, and only recently has the Solid State Drive (SSD) threatened to replace it. While the HDD offers higher capacity at a better price, SSDs offer tremendous speeds and operational performance. Finally, Seagate has achieved the optimal blend of each, and presents the Solid State-Hybrid Hard Drive. Seagate’s Momentus-XT hybrid uses a 7200-RPM hard drive fused with 4GB SLC NAND flash to deliver SSD speeds and HDD storage capacity. Seagate’s Adaptive Memory technology uses an algorithm to monitor user data access transactions, which caches qualified data onto the SSD. In this article, Benchmark Reviews tests the Seagate Momentus-XT Solid State Hybrid Drive against several of the fastest notebook storage devices available.

ARTICLE URL: http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=525

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Audio / Video:

Quick Review: Dell UltraSharp U2711 27" LCD Monitor
QUOTE: "Dell has become a dominant force in the monitor market for the simple reason being that they offer sensational displays at competitive prices. Looking at the paperwork, the U2711 has everything you want from a monitor, with the highlight being massive desktop real estate thanks to the 2560 x 1440 resolution on the IPS Panel. Other niceties include 80:000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio, 350 cd/m2, 6ms response time and 1.07 billion colour support.

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Samsung recently introduced a new “premium” LED display into the market, a beauty of a thing called the SyncMaster PX2370. The LED-backlight display features Premium Touch of Color (ToC) design and is just 18mm thick. The display sports 1920×1080p resolution at 16:9 aspect ratio (a move from the 16:10 norm), plethora proprietary “magic” features, 5,000,000:1 Mega contrast ratio, 1000:1 static contrast ratio, and 2ms response time.
Full Article: http://tech.tbreak.com/2010/05/samsung-syncmaster-lcd-px2370-review/

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HIS Multi View II Adapter Review at CCE Reviews
Link: http://www.ccereviews.com/reviews/his-multi-view-ii-adapter/

Quote: There really aren’t any downsides to the Multi View II unless you consider that you won’t be running any games through it but that isn’t the focus of the Multi View II. There are a multitude of gadgets in existence and most of them serve no meaningful purpose, but the Multi View II is not one of them. Thanks to this device laptop users now easily have the same luxury of multiple monitor setups that desktop users have had for quite some time.

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Eagle Tech Arion ET-AR506-BK.
Desktop speakers do not often get much attention in the computer world. This is partially due to the fact that audio technology advancement is not changing as fast as other computer hardware. Also, audio quality is a very subjective matter. So there is no standard way to evaluate the sound quality.
Computer audio has come a long way. We no longer need a dedicated sound card to be able to enjoy music while working on the computer. The onboard audio chip that is bundled with all motherboards are all decent enough that for casual listeners. While there are dedicated sound cards available, such as Creative X-FI and Asus Xonar, that are meant to improve the gaming experience, for most people the onboard audio provides enough sound quality that there is no need to spend extra money on a sound card.
http://www.bjorn3d.com/read.php?cID=1855

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Mobile / Portable Etc:

EyePhone promises eye-tracking smartphones

If the main problem you’ve had with your smartphone is the fact that you have to use your fingers to control it, rejoice: the era of eye-tracking control systems is officially here, courtesy of EyePhone.

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ITShootOut.com have just released a review of the latest incarnation of the Sony Vaio Z, more specifically of the European version called Sony Vaio Z11Z9E/B. Adding 1920×1080 Full HD display, quad SSDs in RAID 0, a Core i7 processor and 6GB of DDR3 RAM it represents a desktop-replacement class of performance completely new to the ultra-portable form factor.

Direct link: http://itshootout.com/r-344/sony-vaio-z-z11z9eb-laptop-review/

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Cooler Master Notebook Cooling Pad Group Test @ Vortez.co.uk
"Today we will be looking at one product area where Cooler Master have produced a wide range of devices each with a slightly different take on its job – Notebook Coolers. We have been sent eight different Notebook Coolers to put through their paces, 6 from the Cooler Master brand itself, and another 2 from Choiix."
LINK:http://www.vortez.co.uk/review.php?id=170

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Choiix PowerFort portable battery pack review
"Meanwhile, the PowerFort itself takes between three and four hours to recharge completely, with Choiix estimating that even after 500 charges of the unit’s lithium-polymer battery should still retain between 85 and 90% of its full capacity.  The PCB to which the battery is attached within the PowerFort contains protection against short circuits, over-charging devices, temperature and current problems, whilt protecting the battery from the every-day issues of charging and discharging devices via the PowerFort.  In short, it should keep your devices safe from harm as well as protecting its own well-being for the lifespan of the product."
http://www.elitebastards.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1591&catid=40&Itemid=27

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‘Sony VAIO Z117 Notebook Review’
Its a beauty as well as a beast- you wont find a better performing notebook with such portability.
The Full Article can be viewed at http://tech.tbreak.com/2010/05/sony-vaio-z117-notebook-review/

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Luxa2 H1-Touch Cell phone holder:
English link:  http://www.rbmods.com/content/22809/h1-touchspecifications.aspx
Swedish link:  http://www.rbmods.se/content/14615/luxa2-h1touch-mobil-hllare.aspx
Quote:  With all these fancy cellphones  on the market you want to make sure to protect them when they lay on the table, some might even want to show them off. Luxa2 has released a very exclusive looking cellphone holder that is supposed to hold everything from a Iphone  to smaller Nokia phones, lets have a closer look and see how good this gadget really is.

==

Assorted Stuffs:

Das Professional S Keyboard @ LanOC Reviews
DESCRIPTION: No sleep and no quiet make Adam do something something.. As I sit here typing this review with our managing editor sitting here next to me I can already see that it won’t be long before Adam loses his mind, smashing high end hardware components all over the place. The reason his distress is due to the lovely Das Keyboard Professional S that I am reviewing today. We have visited their line of keyboards once before, today we are trying out the keyboard with letters on the keycaps. At least this time I can see the letters before Adam goes crazy.

ARTICLE URL: http://lanoc.org/review/hardware/input-devices/3330-das-professional-s-keyboard

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Futurelooks Gets Primed and Ready for COMPUTEX Taipei 2010

The Futurelooks team is packing up its bags and heading off to the exotic land of Taiwan. Yup, we’re hopping on a plane and making our way over to COMPUTEX Taipei 2010. It’ll certainly be a little different from our trips to Las Vegas for the Consumer Electronics Show, but what can we expect from the techie side of things? We oftentimes see the inklings of new products and new technology at COMPUTEX before they even appear at CES the following year! Let’s go on a brief preview of the show.

Direct Link:http://www.futurelooks.com/futurelooks-gets-primed-and-ready-for-computex-taipei-2010/

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Save the Day (and Windows) Using an Ubuntu Flash Drive
http://www.techspot.com/guides/282-troubleshoot-windows-using-ubuntu-flash-drive/
The latest version of Ubuntu has been out for nearly a month now and if you’re anything like us the peaceably-named operating system is now sitting untouched after you gave it a quick go for a week or so. Ubuntu 10.04 may not have convinced you to send Microsoft packing, but don’t scrap your bootable USB drive just yet, it may come in handy the next time Windows goes haywire.

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Trendnet TEW-655BR3G 150Mbps 3G Router
URL: http://www.bcchardware.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=8646&Itemid=40
Quote:Not only is this router handy when plugged into a wall it is also very handy when unplugged thanks to the 1700mAh NP-120 battery that comes included.  This will give you up to 4 hours of usage with minimal activity as well as over 2 hours of full load usage. . .

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SmartSwipe Credit Card Reader
http://www.topreviewshop.com/smartswipe_card_reader
"We’ve taken a look at a few security related products in the past – such as the Ironkey – but never a gadget with the sole purpose of protecting credit card information while shopping online. SmartSwipe is a product with exactly that goal."

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TRENDnet High Speed PC and Mac Share Cable (TU2-PMLINK) Review

TRENDnet have developed a device which makes data transfer between 2 PCs, a PC and a Mac or 2 Macs very easy. We simply have to connect the cable to both computers, start the included file manager application and that’s about it! Let’s look a bit more in-depth at this data transfer cable, in the following review.
http://www.madshrimps.be/gotoartik.php?articID=1023

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Credit Card Theft: Don’t Blame the Internet
Link: http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/blog/173
"Even though banks and credit card companies report huge losses due to all sorts of fraud, the credit-card system in the U.S. still has huge  flaws, and some would cost absolutely nothing to fix."

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Gaming Related:

BLUR (Xbox 360)

There has been much hype surrounding the latest and supposedly greatest racing game from Bizarre Creations, entitled BLUR.

Read the review over here: http://games.kitguru.net/xbox-360/zardon/blur-xbox-360/

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Konnet PowerV DUO Induction Charger for Wii

Today for review I’ve got a brand new product from Konnet that uses Induction technology to charge your Wii remotes. Induction technology in short is no cables involved, it essentially charges wirelessly and that’s something I think anyone can appreciate. The product is called the PowerV Duo, but besides the fact that it uses induction charging it also included two extra USB ports to charge your Nintendo DS or any other gadget with a USB cable. I’ll be honest I like this product a lot, so read on to learn more about what I think is one of the best accessories for your Wii..

http://www.bonafidereviews.com/review-of-konnet-powerv-duo-induction-charger-for-wii/

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Review: Red Dead Redemption

If you grew up idolizing Sergio Leone’s spaghetti westerns, look no further.  Rockstar continues its legacy of excellence with another enthralling classic.  Red Dead Redemption, dare I say it, is better than their former masterpiece, GTA IV.  Once again, Rockstar manages to weave together an intricate tale involving a number of memorable characters set across a breath taking virtual landscape.

http://www.xbox360digest.com/2010/05/26/review-red-dead-redemption/

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Quick Links:

Silver Power SP-SS750M 750w Review

AMD Athlon II X3 415e CPU @ TechwareLabs

Asus Matrix 5870 Platinum (MATRIX 5870 P/2DIS/2GD5) @ Bjorn3D

Gigabyte Radeon HD5750 Silent Cell Video Card Review @ Ninjalane

Zaward 140mm ZG2-140A Golf Fan GII Review

ASUS Matrix 5870 Platinum @ PureOverclock

Gigabyte GV-R587SO-1GD Radeon HD 5870 Videocard Review  @ PCSTATS.com

ZOTAC GeForce GTX 480 Amp! Edition

Futurelooks Previews the Cooler Master HAF X Computer Chassis

Zotac GTX 480 Review @ KitGuru.net

MSI Radeon 5870 Four-Way Turbo Charged with LN2 By Deanzo

ASUS P6X58D-E: Intel X58 board with SATA 6 and USB 3.0 @ InsideHW

ASUS Crosshair IV Formula AMD-890FX Motherboard @ Benchmark Reviews

Scythe Mini Kaze 50mm Fans Review @ Madshrimps

ASUS M4A89GTD PRO/USB3 vs. Gigabyte 890GPA-UD3H @ TweakPC.de

Cooler Master HAF X Case Review @ Ninjalane

Cooler Master HAF X @ LanOC Reviews

Cooler Master HAF X Black Gaming Case Review @ Legit Reviews

XSPC RX360 Radiator @ PureOverclock

It’s Friday and I’ve got tons of news for you..   Today or tomorrow I’ll post my review of the new Kingston LoVo DDR3 ram, and then we have some more stuff coming as well..

Storage Related:

OCZ Vertex 2 100GB @ PureOverclock

Review URL:  http://www.pureoverclock.com/article983.html

“OCZ has an extensive SSD lineup that’s impressed us in the past. Today we look at the SandForce-based OCZ Vertex 2, in what appears to be a promising successor to the popular Vertex. But how fast is it? Oh, it’s fast alright. Looks like there’s a new king on the dragstrip.”

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Samsung SATA Blu-ray Player/DVD Burner Combo Drive @ Barry’s Review Blog

Review Link:http://tinyurl.com/23l7ltl

Quote:Sometimes reviews are born out of necessity rather than requirements or desire. After years of reliable service, my old DVD burner in my gaming rig (which I am, ironically about to rebuild) finally gave up the ghost. So it was time for a more up-to-date replacement. Which brings us to the subject of my latest review—the Samsung SATA Blu-ray Player/DVD Burner Combo Drive.

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iStarUSA BPU-2535V2 2 x 2.5" SATA Hot-Swap Drive Cage Review

Today for review I’ve got a drive cage from iStarUSA called the BPU-2535V2 that holds two 2.5” SATA hard drives, in the space of a single 3.5” bay. Each bay of the cage locks individually, and you can use either one or both or just swap drives as needed. I swap a lot of drives in and out of my computer for testing and I found this to be a very useful product to have in my computer. So read on to learn more..

Links: http://www.dragonsteelmods.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16278&Itemid=1

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Crucial RealSSD C300 128GB Solid State Drive
QUOTE: "Last week Crucial released a firmware update that fixed the issues with TRIM and even though Crucial spent many hours testing the software, a compatibility issue popped up with some popular enthusiast motherboards and the firmware update tool, so the new update was pulled from Crucial’s website. With V2 firmware now out of reach for consumers, Crucial is working feverously to get a new update tool ready. At anytime the firmware and new update tool will be released and it appears that Crucial is going to be able to escape heavy criticism from both the tech media and consumers. We will cover this topic more in our next installment of The State of Solid State coming just after Computex.

==

G.Skill DDR3-1600 CL7 6GB PI Series DDR3 Memory Kit Review @ Legit Reviews
Article URL: http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1302/1/

"A few weeks back we took a look at G.Skill’s ECO series of DDR3 memory. The kit we reviewed, the G.Skill DDR3-1600C7 ECO Series, were binned for low voltage operation while running high frequencies and tight timings. Today’s kit are the DDR3-1600C7 Pi Series with part number F3-12800CL7T-6GBPI and are part of the PI Series. Counter to the ECO series, the PI Series is marketed towards the other end of the spectrum with performance in mind…"

==

Unitek USB 3.0 TO SATA ADAPTER Review

Today for review I’ve got an SATA to USB 3.0 adapter from Unitek, it was provided by USBFever.com for our review today. This adapter is like others that utilize USB 2.0 on the market, but this one of course uses the USB 3.0 specification and connection. It’s simple to use, it works and works well… Read on…

Link: http://www.dragonsteelmods.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16290&Itemid=1

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Crucial Ballistix 4GB Kit DDR3-1600 CL8 BL2KIT25664BN1608 Memory Review
Link: http://www.ocinside.de/html/results/crucial_ballistix_4gb_pc3_12800.html

After the recently tested DDR3 Triple Channel memory kit without heatspreader, a new ocinside.de review of a Dual Channel kit with heatsink and higher clock rates is now published.
The Crucial Ballistix PC3-12800 CL8 4GB DDR3 RAM kit contains two 2GB modules, which just needs a little voltage increasement to operate at DDR3-1600 CL8.
In the current review we will see, how far the memory modules can be overclocked and how the kit performs against other memory modules.

==

Intel X25-V 40GB Value Performance SATA Solid-State Drive Review

While SSDs are still a fairly new technology, it has certainly come a long way in the last couple of years. The choices in SSDs are increasing and the prices are also decreasing making it possible to own one without a second mortgage. Though SSDs are getting cheaper, they still aren’t cheap, with larger ones still hitting some heavy figures. But even a smaller drive can make your system faster and INTEL has responded with the introduction of their 40GB Value Performance X25-V SATA Solid-State Drive (SSD).

Direct Link: http://www.futurelooks.com/intel-x25-v-40gb-value-performance-sata-solid-state-drive-review/

==

ASUS O!Play Air HDP-R3 Media Player @ PureOverclock

Review URL:  http://www.pureoverclock.com/article982.html

“The O!Play Air HDP-R3 HD media player enables users to access all their digital content from various sources for the most convenient multimedia entertainment experience. The O!Play Air HDP-R3 streams a wide variety of audio, photo, and high-definition video formats from PCs, NAS, card readers and other USB or eSATA-connected devices.”

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Rosewill USB 3.0 Add-on Card and External Enclosure.
SNIP:USB 3.0, aka SuperSpeed USB, is poised to take over the current USB 2.0 and becomes the de facto standard in the computer peripheral connection. With the theoretical transfer speed 10 times of the speed of the USB 2.0, it is not hard to see why manufacturers are excited with the USB 3.0. The good news is that USB 3.0 is backward compatible with USB 2.0 so your existing peripherals such as printer, digital camera and flash drives will still work. Of course, your devices will still only operate at USB 2.0 speed.
http://www.bjorn3d.com/read.php?cID=1850

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Asus SBC-06D1S-U External Bluray drive:
English link:  http://www.rbmods.com/content/22683/asus-sbc06d1su-external-bluray-drive.aspx
Swedish link:   http://www.rbmods.se/content/14585/asus-sbc06d1su-extern-bluray-drive.aspx
Quote:  Bluray has started taking over the market since late 2009 and more and more Bluray products have entered the market. Asus has kept up with the demand and released an external Bluray player/writer for computers. We are going to test this new model out and see what we can get out of it both noise and quality wise.

==

Corsair Flash Survivor GTR 32GB USB Flash Drive Review at CCE Reviews
Link:http://www.ccereviews.com/reviews/corsair-flash-survivor-gtr-32gb-usb-flash-drive/
Quote: There is no denying that Corsair has made some significant improvements to the Survivor  family. The latest GTR spanks the competition in speed and still manages to provide water resistance to a very durable enclosure.

==

Audio / Video:

Everything USB is pleased to announced our latest review on Creative Sound Blaster Arena Surround Gaming Headset.

Surround sound is a tricky business when it comes to USB headsets. With a siren’s call that promises unadulterated sound and 7.1 performance without the need to dish out for an expensive sound card, these headsets can are often sought after by budget and laptop gamers alike, only to be plagued with in-game compatibility problems. Will Creative’s Sound Blaster Arena Surround be the sub-$100 white knight to free us from our stereo confines? Read my in-depth review of this virtual 7.1 gaming headset to find out.

http://www.everythingusb.com/creative-sound-blaster-arena-gaming-headset-19034.html

==

Epson PowerLite Presenter Projector/DVD Player Combo Review
Link: http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Epson-PowerLite-Presenter-Projector-DVD-Player-Combo-Review/1002
Summary: Review of the Epson PowerLite Presenter, a 2500-lumen, 1280×800 video projector that comes with a build-in DVD player.
==

Hercules XPS 2.1 40 Slim Speakers Review

Up on the review block today I’ve got a rather inexpensive set of speakers from Hercules called the XPS 2.1 40 Slim. The name comes from the fact that they’re 2.1 of course, 2 speakers and a sub woofer, but also because the satellite speakers are thin and they should fit on most any desk or any other place where space is limited. The cost is about $40, and for that price they are well worth it I think, the sound is very good especially considering the price. Included is an in-line remote for volume control, but it also has a headphone jack on it and an input jack as well so you can hook up an MP3 player  or whatever and use the speakers for sound from that device. So read on to learn more..

Link: http://www.dragonsteelmods.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16277&Itemid=1

==

‘Intel Showcases Wireless Display at DCC’
Throw 1080p Full HD display wirelessly to any device from your Intel based Notebook
The Full Article can be viewed at http://tech.tbreak.com/2010/05/intel-showcases-wireless-dis/

==

OCIA.net has posted their review of the Ozone Gaming Oxid Headset. 

"Less than two months ago I had the opportunity to check out the Strato 5.1 Surround Sound Headphones from Ozone Gaming. If you happened to read that review, you already know that the Strato performed pretty well in every aspect except perhaps the most important: comfort. The Strato headphones use on-ear ear cups which put pressure on the pinna (outer ear) that causes discomfort even after moderate use. After our review, Ozone agreed to send over a different gaming headset for evaluation, the Ozone Oxid. The Oxid are a bit different than the Strato in multiple categories but perhaps the most important is the ear cup design as these use over-the-ear cups. If the Oxid is indeed more comfortable than the Strato and scores high in some of the same areas the Strato did, this could prove to be a quality headset. Read on as we put them to the test."

Direct Link:  http://www.ocia.net/reviews/ozoneoxid/page1.shtml

==

Sleek Audio SA1 Earphones
http://www.topreviewshop.com/sleek_audio_sa1_earphones
Here is a snippet that can be used for the review:
"Sleek Audio has packed a number of features into the SA1 that you normally don’t find on sub-$100 earphones. The first is the tunable acoustics "VQ" system, the second is a Siam rosewood finish for the housings and the third is the seamless Kleer wireless integration. How does the first sub-$100 offering from Sleek Audio compare in the crowded earphones market?"

==

Arctic Cooling E361-WM In-Ear Phone Review

Arctic Cooling is known for their highly efficient and affordable CPU and VGA heat sinks, but now this cooling giant is introducing a new product on the audio segment, the in-ear ARCTIC SOUND E361 headphones. Let us turn on the music and find out if these will chill my ears.
http://www.madshrimps.be/gotoartik.php?articID=985

==

Mobile / Notebooks etc:

Marware Eco-Vue for iPad Review @ Virtual-Hideout

Review link: http://www.virtual-hideout.net/reviews/Marware_Eco-Vue_iPad/index.shtml

Quote: “Today I have for review the new Eco-Vue case from Marware for the Apple iPad. It’s a leather folio style case designed for maximum protection. The exploding success of the Apple iPad is driving accessory manufacturers to hurry up and get their products on the market. Many of them are rushed and poorly designed. The folio style case is one of the most popular designs on the market with not two being the exact same. It seems they are as unique as fingerprints. Will the Marware Eco-Vue rise above the endless masses of subpar products? Read on to find out.”

==

Speck ShieldView for iPod Touch/iPhone Review

The exposed faces of the iPhone and iPod Touch are ripe for scratches and smudges. There are numerous screen films to protect these devices and today we will look at the offering from Speck. As a reviewer I have looked at several Speck products  and found them to make quality Apple related accessories. Today’s review item keeps this tradition going.

Link:http://www.dragonsteelmods.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16306&Itemid=1

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Paradigm SHIFT: MainGear’s Unique Gaming Rig:
http://hothardware.com/articles/Paradigm-SHIFT-MainGears-Unique-Enclosure-GTX-480-SLI-Powerhouse-Reviewed/

Fortunately, MainGear is. While they’ve not been around as long as Alienware or Falcon-Northwest, the company has six solid years of experience in building custom PCs. MainGear recently sent us a high-end system built around its unique SHIFT chassis. When it designed the Shift, Maingear took a standard ATX configuration and literally turned it 90′. Add a hybrid aluminum/steel frame, custom detailing, and a cable mount system that turns what might’ve been a ghettoish kludge into a gorgeous surface, and you’ve got the Shift. It’s a unique blend of style and practicality that manages to improve system

==

Antec Notebook Cooler Designer Review @ ThinkComputers.org

Review URL: http://www.thinkcomputers.org/antec-notebook-cooler-designer-review/

Quote: “Antec is a company I usually don’t associate with cooling products, when I think of Antec I think of quality cases and power supplies. This year at CES Antec showed us a lot of new cases, but they were very excited about a new notebook cooler that they had developed. The Notebook Cooler Designer is a notebook cooler made for laptops up to 15-inches and features a 110mm fan that blows at a quiet 800RPM. The notebook cooler also has a very stylish design hence the name designer. Let’s take a look and see if the Notebook Cooler Designer is perfect for your laptop."

==

Samsung NB30 Netbook Review at CCE Reviews
Link: http://www.ccereviews.com/reviews/samsung-nb30-netbook/

Quote: So, here we are at the end. Is the NB30 a decent netbook? Well, yes. Is it a pretty damn good netbook? Yes as well. As far as netbooks go, the NB30 is exactly as I would expect: Intel Atom, 10″ screen, light, small, and it’s packing some serious battery life. What separated the Samsung NB30 from being just another netbook is the protective finish, free fall sensor and semi- water resistance which as I said before, just make a lot of sense. Samsung also gets big points for the keyboard and screen.

==

HTC HD Mini

URL: http://www.businesscomputingworld.co.uk/review-htc-hd-mini/

Snippet: “As a component of an enterprise IT structure, HTC’s HD mini should slot in easily with the suite of existing devices. Its small size may appeal to those who don’t like the idea of carrying a large smartphone. However, the trade-off of a small screen needs to be considered carefully. Stubby fingers and poor eyesight are two reasons it may not be practical. And with Windows Phone 7 due to launch before the end of the year, businesses may consider it prudent to wait and see what that has to offer.”

==

Zotac ZBox HD-ID11 and Next Gen ION:
http://hothardware.com/articles/Zotac-ZBox-HDID11-and-Next-Gen-ION/

Today we’re going to be looking at a product that incorporates not only Intel’s new generation of dual-core Atom D510 processor but also NVIDIA’s latest Ion graphics core into what could very well be a capable machine for a myriad of small form-factor computing requirements, including possibly taking residence in your living room entertainment center.  The Zotac Zbox is here.  It’s a little over 7 inches square and a little over 1.5-inches thick but don’t let its diminutive size fool you…

==

This latest Eee PC defies convention, with AMD guts and no operating system in the box. Is it the perfect ultraportable for Linux geeks, or does it fall short?
http://techreport.com/articles.x/18883

==

Asus EeeBox EB1501 Review
"Like the netbook, the nettop PC has a cute look to it that makes it easy to envision sitting anywhere from sitting on a desk to next to an HDTV. Asus, the manufacturer that inadvertently started the netbook craze, is betting that there is some longer-term viability to these diminutive PCs. The Asus Eee Box 1501 is one of the few nettops that doubles as a DVD player, but it’s the way it handles all other video that makes it a bit of a conflicted device."
Link to the review: http://www.digitaltrends.com/desktop-computer-reviews/asus-eeebox-eb1501-review/

==

Cooler Master Notepal ErgoStand Review
Summary: Laptops have become a necessity even for overclockers and benchers – to tabulate results, record live benching video or even chat with buddies on the forums while taking your CPU to the max. For me, it has become a way of life. Mobility was a necessity during school and having a notebook computer allows for complete flexibility. Despite that, my laptop remained powered on resting on my desk almost exclusively. While a hard, flat surface is preferable to a bed, lap or carpeted floor, it is by no means the ideal environment for a notebook, especially when it’s on 24/7.
SOURCE: http://www.overclockers.com/cooler-master-notepal-ergostand/

==

Assorted Stuffs:

Stuart Hughes’ Solid Gold iPad

If you’re in to ostentatious displays of wealth – and aren’t burdened by anything as old-fashioned as taste or common sense – or simply don’t think that Apple’s iPad is quite expensive enough, check out the gold-plated and diamond-encrusted edition from Stuart Hughes.

==

Channel Expo 2010 @ Vortez.co.uk
DESCRIPTION:
"The Channel Expo is an annual event targeted primarily at IT resellers, retailers and system builders. This year, it was being held at the National Hall, Olympia in London lasting two days, the 12-13th May. The Expo is host to over 100 companies ranging from hardware manufacturers to software and security providers, as well as vendors and distributors hoping to get the attention of the public. Of course, here at Vortez we are more interested in the hardware manufacturers and this year’s show didn’t disappoint."
LINK: http://www.vortez.co.uk/review.php?id=167

==

NZXT Johnny Hue Interview  @ XSReviews

Review Link: http://www.xsreviews.co.uk/editorial/hardware/NZXT-Johnny-Hue-Interview/
Quote: "NZXT are known as one of the most creative case design firms in the world, but nobody really knows how the designing process works. Fortunately for those wondering about this, today XSR has sat down with co-founder and one of the case designers at NZXT, Johnny Hue, to ask him what is involved with the case designing process and how he got into this field."

==

How to Optimize Windows 7 on Your Netbook @ InsideHW

http://www.insidehw.com/Reviews/Notebooks/How-to-Optimize-Windows-7-on-Your-Netbook.html

“Bridging the gap between tiny and not too functional smartphones and sizeable notebook computers, netbooks have suddenly turned interesting to those that needed full multimedia capabilities of a PC in a smaller packaging. It’s been nearly three years since the first netbooks appeared, with 60 million being sold since. Modest hardware, the need for the best autonomy possible and a lower price of the final product all cried for the familiar (and cheap) Windows XP. Although it’s more than capable to satisfy the needs of users, the ten-year-old XP is, nevertheless, an ugly detail on the screens of modern netbooks. Microsoft became aware of that, and decided to offer netbook users a special version of Windows 7, optimized for their PCs…”

==

A Look at Valve’s Mac Steam Client @ Techgage
Link: http://techgage.com/article/a_look_at_valves_mac_steam_client/
Quote: With the release of Valve’s Steam client for the Mac last week, Apple gamers all over found themselves with renewed hope that their gaming lives were about to get a lot better. We’ve been using the client since launch and have lots to say about it, so join us in figuring out if Valve’s latest release has lived up to all the hype.

==

Quick Links:

Intel Core i7-980X Review – Benchmarks vs. AMD Phenom II X6 1090T

Sapphire Radeon HD 5870 2GB Vapor- X Video Card

Asus EAH5870 (Asus 5870v2) Voltage Tweak @ Bjorn3D

Inno3D GTX 480 iChill Review: Water-Cooled Fermi

Red Dead Redemption (X360 & PS3) Review @ KitGuru

Sapphire Radeon HD 5870 Vapor-X 2GB @ Techgage

NZXT Premium Cables Review

OC3D: Corsair H50 Review

CoolIT ECO A.L.C. Review

Zotac NM10-DTX Motherboard

AMD Phenom II X6 1090T 3.20 GHz @ techPowerUp

Sapphire Radeon HD 5670 1GB Review @ KitGuru

Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus CPU Cooler Review on Technic3D

Microcool Banchetto 101 Open Air Modular Chassis Review @ Legit Reviews

In Win Ironclad Case @ TechwareLabs

Intel DBX-B CPU Cooler Review @ Hardware Secrets

Antec CP-1000 Power Supply Review @ HardwareLook.com

Asrock P55 Extreme 1156 Motherboard @ Pro-Clockers

AMD 6 Core 1090T CPU Overclocked with LN2 and Benchmarked @ Madshrimps

Galaxy GeForce GTX 470 GC Overclocking

ATI Catalyst 10.4 Driver Performance Review @ Vortez.co.uk

Four-way Gaming Mouse Roundup: G9X, XAI, Abyssus and SideWinder X8

Thermalright T-Rad2 GTX & VRM R3 Video Card Heatsink Review @ Ninjalane

Gigabyte HD5870 Super Over Clock @ Benchmark Reviews

Diamond Multimedia HD5770 @ LanOC Reviews

Corsair Obsidian 700D Full Tower Case Video Review @ Hardware Canucks

Thermaltake Toughpower XT 775W Modular Power Supply Review @ ThinkComputers.org

AquaComputer AquagratiX 5870 GPU Water Block @ PureOverclock

GMC H-80 – Silent Gaming Case TweakPC.de

GIGABYTE Radeon HD 5870 1GB Super Overclock Video Card Overclocked Higher

Noctua NH-C12P SE14 @ techPowerUp

Metronic Zapbox T2 Freeview HD Review @ XSReviews

AMD Athlon II X4 960T OEM CPU Review

Alan Wake (X360) Review @ GamingHeaven.net

Thermaltake Armor A90 Case Review @ Hardware Secrets

NZXT Premium Cables at Modders-Inc

Cooler Master GX750 -750W PSU Preview @ XtremeComputing

It’s looks like it’s time for the news…

Storage Related::

Seagate BlackArmor WS 110 – Review
Article Clip: Here we are yet to take a look at another business grade storage solution. Its not tough to come up with a usable storage for a project but it is important to keep all of your work files in one place. Having a small NAS or DAS near by would be a perfect solution. Either way you are looking to spend at least 400$ for a storage system. If you are looking for smaller solutions, this unit might be just right for you. Today we are going to be taking a look at Seagate’s BlackArmor WS 110. BlackArmor WS 110 is a business grade storage solution for your every day needs. Some of the work environment where you may find this device is in Marketing and IT departments.
Article Link: http://umlan.com/reviews/hardware/h123.html

==

G.Skill Phoenix 100 GB SSD with SandForce SF-1200 Controller Review
Teaser:
Phoenix is the name of the newest SSD from G.Skill. It is equipped with the SandForce SF-1200 controller, a very high performance and an attractive price. Let’s take a look at it and the benchmarks.
Link: http://www.tweakpc.de/hardware/tests/ssd/gskill_phoenix/s01.php

==

OCZ Vertex 2 100GB SandForce SF-1200 SSD Review
Article URL: http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1299/1/

OCZ designed the Vertex 2 solid-state drive to surpass the competition when it comes to performance by using the SandForce SF-1200 series controller and the best firmware revisions possible. With native TRIM support and featuring 285MB/s read speeds with 275MB/s write speeds you can say that OCZ is off to a good start. Read on to see how the Vertex 2 performs against nine other drives!

==

Crucial Ballistix PC3-12800 (1600MHz) 6GB Kit
QUOTE: "Today we’ll be looking at a conservative PC3-12800 or 1600MHz DDR kit. Maybe we’ll get a surprise when it comes to testing the kit. Before we get that far, though, let’s have a look at the package and the modules themselves.
As always, we have the need; the need for speed. When it came to overclocking the kit honestly went a lot better than I thought it would. At first I thought I would leave the CPU at the default BCLK and adjust the memory divider so that the memory went to 2000MHz. No dice, though! A 400MHz DDR overclock was probably a bit too hopeful."
==

‘Kingston SSDNow V+ 128GB SSD Review’
Feel like giving your PC a speedy experience? This Kingston will do just that
The Full Article can be viewed at http://tech.tbreak.com/2010/05/kingston-ssdnow-v-128gb-ssd-review/

==

NZXT IU01 Internal USB Expansion HUB Device @ TechwareLabs

Quote: Will gives us a quick look at the NZXT IU01 Internal USB Expansion Device, a USB hub for people who hate USB hubs. Consisting of nothing more than a single printed circuit board and a pair of cables, it turns one of the USB headers on your motherboard into four, providing three headers and two internal USB ports.
LINK: http://www.techwarelabs.com/nzxt-iu01/

==

Icy Box Hard Drive Docking Stations Review.
Quote: We take a look at a pair of Icy Box docking stations and compare E-SATA to USB3
Link: http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/storage/icy_box_hard_drive_docking_stations_review/1

==

Patriot Zephyr 128GB Solid State Drive
QUOTE: "The more solid state drives grow in popularity, the larger the need to make them affordable. As it sits now, companies are choosing between two paths to achieve low priced drives. The first has been to extend the lifecycle for current products on the market, either leaving the existing model numbers in tact or releasing a new product SKU based on existing technology. A good example of this is the Corsair Nova, a slightly revised Indilinx Barefoot controlled drive that is very close to the original Performance Series offered by Corsair last year.
The second way to achieve a low cost product is to introduce an entirely new product SKU and use older technology that is for the most part, obsolete. This also has a documented parity and can be found in the Kingston SSDNow V Series, second generation drive. The second generation V Series uses a JMicron controller once thought to have served its purpose on the market even though it was released last June at Computex. The drive performs much slower at real world tasks than the Indilinx Barefoot, but Kingston has priced the drive so low that would be purchasers with the understanding of You Get What You Pay For know that you are paying little for little performance. At 259 USD the Kingston SSDNow V Series has a much lower cost than the Corsair Nova that is currently selling for 330 USD."

==

Patriot Torqx 128GB SSD @ Pro-Clockers

Review link: http://pro-clockers.com/storage/1397-patriot-torqx-128gb-ssd.html

A special gift today on our bench is the Patriot Torqx. The Torqx from the looks of it should be one of the SSD component that you would drool over. Equipped a MLC Indilinx controller with 64mb of cache we just can’t wait to get to the testing phase. The advertised number should be enough for us to say it is a winner. But what is a review with the testing phase.

==

: Kingston HyperX KHX11000D3K2/4G Dual Channel DDR3 Memory Video Review @ eTeknix.com

Link: http://www.eteknix.com/reviews/memory/kingston-hyperx-khx11000d3k24g-dual-channel-ddr3-memory-video-review/

Quote: Today we are looking at the Kingston HyperX KHX11000D3K2/4G Dual Channel DDR3 Memory.

==

Everything USB is pleased to announced our latest review on Corsair Flash Voyager GTR Flash Drive.

Flash drive capacities are growing larger and larger at 32GB and beyond, but with write speeds limited to around 17MB/s or less, you could be spending quite some time in order to fill a drive to capacity. Though this may not matter if you’re only looking to move a few Excel files, if you need to move high resolution photos or HD video from place to place, you could be in for a world of hurt. Enter Corsair’s Flash Voyager GTR series, billed as the fastest flash drives we’ll likely ever see before USB 3.0 becomes the norm. With advertised write speeds of 28MB/s or greater, could these new drives actually put an end to all of the silent profanities? Can we hold Corsair to their numbers? Will my pocketbook spontaneously burst into flames? Discover the answers to these and more, after the jump.

http://www.everythingusb.com/corsair-flash-voyager-gtr-flash-drive-18963.html

==

Audio / Video::

Phiaton PS 210 Review
"We’ve enjoyed reviewing Phiaton’s personal audio products in the past. They have a dedication to style and comfort that we think most headphone wearers really appreciate. So when the PS210 in-ear headphones came across our desk, we looked forward to the opportunity to give them a good test drive. At $79.00, the Phiaton PS210 "half in-ear" headphones enter an arena thick with competitors promising to offer great in-ear sound for less than $100.00. In our review, we thoroughly test the PS210 to see how they stack up."
Link to the review: http://www.digitaltrends.com/mp3-player-reviews/phiaton-ps-210-review//

==

Dell P2210H DisplayPort Monitor @ Phoronix
Direct Link: http://www.phoronix.com/vr.php?view=14930
Summary: "If you’ve been looking for a DisplayPort-capable monitor to connect to your new graphics card whether it be a FirePro V8800 or one of the new ATI Radeon HD 5000 series graphics cards that are capable of using Eyefinity to drive many displays via this newest display connection standard, the Dell Professional P2210H monitor is worth considering. The 22-inch LCD display retails for around $200 USD and offers DisplayPort connectivity along with DVI and VGA."

==

Zalman ZM-M215W 3D Monitor

Link: http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zalman/ZM-M215W

Brief: The ZM-M215W is the part of the newest line-up of 3D monitors by Zalman. Instead of plucking down hundreds of dollars on NVIDIA shutter glasses and being bound to NVIDIA GPUs, you can pluck down hundreds over a normal 2D monitor of the similar size, but be free from the shackles, allowed to use any GPU of your choice. Is that still worth it? We put on the glasses and take a really close look.

=

Sony Alpha NEX-5 Review
"Sony hinted at this camera in February and we couldn’t wait to use it. What is "it"? A small, lightweight camera with the large imaging sensors found in DSLRs as well as interchangeable lens capability. Not only that, the new Sony NEX-5 shoots AVCHD 1080i video without the focusing hassles of bulkier DSLRs, has a 7 fps burst mode and will even take 3D-ready Sweep Panorama images. How cool is that? We didn’t really know until we took it out of the box and started shooting."
Link to the review: http://www.digitaltrends.com/digital-camera-reviews/sony-alpha-nex-5-review/

==

Mobile, Notebooks etc::

Arctic Cooling ARCTIC C2 4-Port USB Charger @ Vortez.co.uk
DESCRIPTION:
"USB-powered devices have become an integral part of any technology enthusiast. From media players to mobile phones, many of today’s portable devices can be recharged through a USB connection. Most manufacturers
include an AC-to-USB adapter to charge their devices directly from a power outlet whereas others simply include the required USB cable. Unfortunately, in most cases, the given adapter has a single USB port. What happens if you have multiple devices that need to be charged at the same time? A possible problem ensues: you might run out of power outsets or, even, USB ports! Another dilemma might arise: when you’re on the travel, would you carry multiple adapters with you or would that defeat the idea of travelling light?
LINK: http://www.vortez.co.uk/review.php?id=163

==

Elite Bastards Mobile Update: First Edition
"“Smart phones,” or those diminutive computers you (may) have in your pocket right now that also happens to handle your phone calls, are an undeniable  fad as of late. Focus is changing  in the computing world toward catering conventional media and products to mobile form factors and mobile-friendly designs in fevered attempts by corporate giants like Intel, Apple, Microsoft, Google, and many others to tap into the profit boon emanating from this trend."
http://www.elitebastards.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1547&catid=16&Itemid=29

==

Arctic Cooling C1 Mobile Solar Charger
URL: http://www.bcchardware.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8597&Itemid=40
Quote:The Arctic Cooling Mobile USB Charger with Solar Panel and 4440mWh Lithium-Ion battery is a very nice device to have around. If you travel or just going to the river for the day you don’t have to worry about your cell-phone or mp3 player dying. All you have to do is plug up the Arctic Cooling Solar Panel Charger and your good to go in about 2 hours with or without sunlight – thanks to the Lithium-Ion battery. . .

==

Microsoft Kin One Review
"As we all know, "different" does not necessarily equal "better." Yes, the operating system Microsoft has concocted for its ballyhooed Kin One ($49.99 with rebate and two-year contract) and Kin Two ($99.99 with rebate and two-year contract) phones, made by Sharp for Verizon, is way beyond different. Whatever the OS is called – and Microsoft hasn’t called it anything (it has design elements we’ve seen in demos of Windows Phone 7), it’s a whole new cell OS gestalt, with little that is recognizable from Apple’s iPhone, Google’s Android OS, or even Windows Mobile, thank goodness. But does different mean it is better than any of these previous OSs?"
Link to the review:http://www.digitaltrends.com/cell-phone-reviews/microsoft-kin-one-review/

==

Snapfon ez ONE Cell Phone Review
Link: http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/996
Summary: Tired of cell phones with thousands of functions and complicated to use? Snapfon ez ONE promises to be "just a phone", with big keys, talking keypad, an SOS button and more. Check it out.

==

Intel Wireless Display on the Toshiba Satellite E205 Notebook @ Legit Reviews
Article URL: http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1296/1/

Today, we look at Intel’s solution for users to share the content of their laptop with their home theater. Using a Netgear Push2TV adapter and the latest Core i5 processor for mobile computing we see just how easy Intel’s Wireless Display is to use. Is it time to toss out your old laptop for some 21-Century functionality? Read on!

==

New Asus NX90 Laptop – Pure flash

Asus have just released their new mega NX90JQ laptop over in Taipei. The machine not only brings a new meaning to the word ‘bling’ but it features Bang and Olufsen ICEPOWER speakers which surround the LCD screen. Finished in aluminum the Asus 18.4 inch machine is quite an eye catcher.

Read the news over here: On KitGuru

==

Joby Gorillamobile Flexible Tripod Review at CCER
Link: http://www.ccereviews.com/reviews/joby-gorillamobile-flexible-tripod/
Quote: The opportunities to use the Gorillamobile are endless. The rubberized feet leave no prints behind and with the compact and lightweight design there’s no reason why it can’t come with you on your travels. The days of having to ask a stranger to take a photo for you or carrying a large bulky tripod around are over.

==

Lenovo ThinkPad Edge 15-inch Notebook Review @ ThinkComputers.org

Review URL: http://www.thinkcomputers.org/lenovo-thinkpad-edge-15-inch-notebook-review/

Quote: “A few months ago we took a look at Lenovo’s ThinkPad Edge 13-inch notebook and we absolutely loved it. It was a great blend of consumer and business features not to mention it looked great. The 13-inch form factor is perfect for some people, but many people want a larger laptop with more power and of course a larger screen to work with. Knowing this Lenovo has released 2 more models to its ThinkPad Edge series, a 14-inch and a 15-inch. Both models feature the new Intel Core i3 processor, DDR3 memory, HD graphics and of course all of the extra features you would expect from a ThinkPad. Today we w ill be taking a look at the 15-inch model."

==

Griffin WindowSeat iPhone Windshield Mount Review @ Virtual-Hideout

Review link: http://www.virtual-hideout.net/reviews/Griffin_WindowSeat/index.shtml

Quote: “There is nothing more frustrating, or dangerous than fumbling and bumbling with a cell phone while driving. Now multiply that by ten fold when said cell phone is a multimedia powerhouse like the Apple iPhone 3GS that can do a million things and therefore has a million things to lure you into messing with it while driving. The full touchscreen of the iPhone has been considered a drawback to some for it’s difficulty using in pocket or without eyes on it to see what you’re doing. However that same full touchscreen makes this next product absolutely great with the iPhone while driving. The Griffin WindowSeat iPhone/iPod Windshield Mount is designed to hold your iPhone or iPod touch while attached to your vehicles windshield much like a GPS would mount. We’ve all seen those GPS devices mounted on cars all over the place. Now you can mount your iPhone the same way.”

==

OtterBox Defender Series Phone Case – iPhone 3G/3GS @ TechwareLabs

Quote: Otterbox is well known for making cases for your personal electronics, valuables, and more. They are known for their waterproof and crushproof cases like the 3500 Series, but have recently blown into the phone case market with the release of the Defender Series case. With the Defender for the iPhone 3G/3GS coming in under $32 we show you why this is a must have item for protecting this expensive phone. See why we gave it our Awesome Hardware Award.
LINK: http://www.techwarelabs.com/otterbox-defender-series/

==

Camangi WebStation Android Tablet PC
Link: http://www.bigbruin.com/content/webstation_1

Quote:  Tablet PCs aren’t anything new, but with the launch of the iPad the buzz is definitely strong these days. Camangi offers a tablet PC that first made its debut late in 2009, and after a bit of refinement was relaunched in the spring of 2010. This review is going to take a look at the "new and improved" Camangi WebStation 7" Android based tablet PC.

==

Assorted Stuffs::

C1E, Overclocking and power consumption of AMD Thuban:
http://www.planet3dnow.de/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=4219197#post4219197

==

NETGEAR Powerline AV 200 XAVB2001 Adapter Kit
QUOTE: "So what do you do when you want to push data out to a far corner of your house? Or you want to stream that 1080p MKV file from your new Windows Home Server? You may think “Wireless to the rescue!” – But unfortunately wireless has a wide delta for performance. You can often watch your connection speed jump up and down during the day. This makes it unreliable for HD video streams and in many cases even 802.11n cannot cut it.
Of course, running Cat 5 cable all over your house is not something you want to consider either. Well, there is an answer! This is a Powerline adapter. With a pair of these you can push Ethernet data over your home power lines. The data is encrypted over the line and decrypted at the opposite end, so security is fairly good. Plus you get a consistent 100Mbps in full duplex (meaning 100 up / 100 down for a 200Mbps rating). This is about twice what you need to get good 1080p streaming. So with that in mind, let’s dive in and look at NETGEAR’s Powerline AV 200 Adapter Kit. At $119 from Newegg.com we want to see if this is a good deal for people that can’t use wireless or want something a little more consistent for their HD video streaming."
==

Flashing Your Video Card’s (GPU) BIOS.
SNIP:Unlike motherboard’s when you have a failed flash this normally renders that motherboard dead, or bricked. Video cards we can recover if we used the wrong BIOS, if we had a power failure, to having catastrophic computer failure during the flashing process. On today’s computers, anything can happen to us during our most vulnerable time. One of these ways is somewhat unorthadoxed, this way is called ‘Blind Flashing’ or what I like to call ‘ A Wing and a Prayer Flashing’, because we have no idea if the flash took hold until we reboot the computer. What makes this type of flashing more nerve racking we do not know when to reboot the computer, because we can not see anything hence why it is called ‘Blind Flashing’.
http://www.bjorn3d.com/read.php?cID=1834

==

How To Install Windows 7 and Media Center on a HTPC @ Legit Reviews
Article URL: http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1300/1/

Everyone wants to see Windows 7 information and today Legit Reviews shows you how to install Windows 7 Ultimate on one of our personal home theater systems! We also show you basic setup of Windows Media Center and Media Browser. Follow through as we have over 25 pictures that will walk you through installation of the 32-bit version of Windows 7 Ultimate! This is a must read for anyone that is thinking of installing Windows 7.

==

Where does AMD fit in today?
QUOTE: "A few days after our review of the AMD Phenom II X6 1090T, we received a call from AMD. The call was some commentary on the actual review (okay, really it was of complaints). The first thing that was said was that we were wrong in our premise that we needed more voltage to get higher clocks on the PII X6. At the time of this writing we cannot debate this claim. AMD maintains that their silicon is mature enough that the CPU does not need extra voltage to attain higher speeds. The claim about maturity is true; the Phenom II CPU is a very mature design (bordering on old in CPU terms). It is also being made in FABs that have the lowest failure rate in the world.
Next was a complaint about the number of multi-threaded apps that we used. This one I take exception to. I mean, “Come on AMD; it is a six-core CPU. It should be able to handle multi-threaded apps. If it cannot there IS an issue”. But I will not belabor that point. Instead I will talk about the market position that AMD now finds itself in after some poor management decisions (poor decisions in both my and many other analysts’ opinions)."
==

Understanding All Voltage Configurations from the Motherboard
Link: http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/995

Summary:Confused about what each voltage configuration on the motherboard setup really means? Learn all about them in this tutorial.

==

The State of DirectX 11 – Image Quality & Performance:
http://hothardware.com/Articles/The-State-of-DirectX-11/

In terms of technology, DirectX 11 isn’t the API defining, behind-the-scenes reboot that DirectX 10 was. It’s an incremental update, much in the same way that Windows 7 is an update of Vista. At the end of the day, DirectX 11 is basically just DirectX 10 with a bunch of new features stuck on. However, we’d speculate that DirectX 11 should have a much larger impact on the end-user experience than DirectX 10 did because it brings several new features to the table that will make creating advanced graphical effects seldom seen in past games, much easier.

==

It’s Official: Valve Releasing Steam, Source Engine For Linux! @ Phoronix
Direct Link: http://www.phoronix.com/vr.php?view=14924
Summary: "Valve Corporation has today rolled out their Steam Mac OS X client to the general public and confirmed something we have been reporting for two years: the Steam content delivery platform and Source Engine are coming to Linux. This news is coming days after we discovered proof in Steam’s Mac OS X Client of Linux support and subsequently found more Linux references and even the unreleased Steam Linux client. The day has finally come and Linux gamers around the world have a reason to rejoice, as this is the biggest news for the Linux gaming community that sees very few tier-one titles."

==

Nerd Fitness: Part 1 – Getting Started Review @ XSReviews

Review Link: http://www.xsreviews.co.uk/editorial/guides/nerd-fitness-part-1–getting-started/

Quote: "The online world is a weird one, as in some respects we all revert back to stereotypes. Partly for humour, and partly because we don’t know each other very well. Typically one of them is that us nerds, geeks and gamers are all fat, lazy, out of shape messes and considering how this is contrasted with the intrinsic hotness of the girl geek, it seems a little unfair.

==

Intel set to put cooler makers out of business?

The launch of Intel’s super-over-clocking 675 and 875 processors means increased performance. Super-charging your chips will mean you need one important thing, more juice. But that juice brings its own problems. Intel solution will send ripples through the cooler industry.

Read the news over here: On KitGuru

==

Intel Chisels Core i7 875K Street Price in (tomb)stone ?

From the dark days of the Pentium 4, Intel has come a long way in its attitude toward the overclocking community. From ‘all overclocks must be stopped’ to ‘the clocks that rock’. But how much will the latest overclocking chip of the Core generation set you back?

Read the article over here: On KitGuru

==

Quick Links::

Zotac GeForce GTX-470 Fermi Video Card @ Benchmark Reviews

Logitech Wireless Mouse M505 Review on Technic3D

SilverStone Strider Plus 750w Power Supply Review @ OCIA.net

Cooler Master Vortex Plus Heatsink Review

Cooler Master CM 690 II Advanced Mid Tower Case

Razer Imperator Review  @ XSReviews

ROCCAT Kova Gaming Mouse Review @ Madshrimps

Cooler Master HAF 932 AMD Edition Case Review @ Tweaknews

Corsair Obsidian 700D review @planet3dnow.de

ASUS Crosshair IV Formula Motherboard @ TechwareLabs

Thermaltake V3 Black Edition ATX Computer Case Review

Sunbeamtech VentMax Gaming Chassis Review @ HardwareHeaven.com

XFX HD5870 Black Edition Review @ Kitguru.net

Asus GTX 480 1.5GB vs Sapphire Toxic Radeon HD 5870 2GB @ ITShootOut.com

Motorola leaks Flipout Android handset details

iPad UK Prices and Data Plans Announced by Vodafone

NVIDIA GeForce GT 240 Graphics Card Roundup @ HardwareHeaven.com

Zaward Vapor 120 CPU Cooler Review

ECS H57H-MUS @ PureOverclock

PowerColor Go! Green Radeon AX5670 @ Benchmark Reviews

In Win Ironclad Full Tower Case Review @ ThinkComputers.org

Zotac GeForce GTX-480 Fermi Video Card @ Benchmark Reviews

Sparkle Gold Series 1250W ATX Power Supply @ LanOC Reviews

Razer Naga – MMO Gaming Mouse Review @ TweakPC.de

Club 3D to the rescue! @ eTeknix.com

Sparkle GTS 250 Green Power Low Profile Video Card Review @ OCIA.net

Lost Planet 2 (X360) Review @ GamingHeaven.net

Splinter Cell: Conviction Performance In-depth

NZXT Tempest EVO @ lanOC Reviews

Happy Mother’s Day to all of you Mothers out there…   here’s the news:

Quick Links:

Sparkle Computer Corp GeForce GT240 512MB GDDR5 w/ Native HDMI Port Review  @ DragonSteelMods

Intel Core i7 980X Extreme Edition CPU @ t-break

Kingston HyperX KHX11000D3K2/4G Dual Channel DDR3 Memory Kit Unboxing Video @ eTeknix.com

Cooler Master 690 II: Inheriting The Best @ InsideHW

In Win Dragon Slayer Case Review @ Hardware Secrets

Evercool Turbo2 VGA Cooler Review @ Hardware Secrets

ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme First Look!.

Cooler Master CM 690 II Advanced Mid-Tower Case Review @ HardwareHeaven.com

Corsair Obsidian Series 700D Full Tower PC Case Review @ Legit Reviews

AMD Phenom II X2 555 BE @ Bjorn3D

ASUS Crosshair IV Extreme first look @ Elite Bastards

ASUS Crosshair IV Formula @ PureOverclock

Thermaltake Luxa2 LM200 @ techPowerUp

Thermaltake Element G ATX Mid Tower Case Review @ BayReviews.com

Welland SunBright ME-740J

Storage Related:

Gskill F3-12800Cl7T Tri channel kit:
English link: http://www.rbmods.com/content/22387/gskill-f312800cl7t-tri-channel-kit.aspx
Swedish link:  http://www.rbmods.se/content/14530/gskill-f312800cl7t-tri-channel-kit.aspx
Quote:  We are going to look at a tri channel memory kit from Gskill today which we will compare vs a high performing Mushkin and Corsair kit. We are going to see what type of speeds we can expect at stock and also what we can do when it comes to overclocking.

==

Kingwin EZ-CONNECT USI-2535
URL: http://computingondemand.com/?p=3391
As someone that is expected to fix everyone’s computer in my family, there is nothing more than “WOOT!” that can  be said about a product that makes my family obligations easier.  My family isn’t exactly the most “in touch” when it comes to computing (you will read an article / rant soon about that) and they make a bunch of dumb mistakes… most of which ends up with them contracting a I.T.D. (Internet Transmitted Disease, a.k.a. VIRUS!). That’s when the frenzy starts, the claims that the world is collapsing, the seas are rising, they can’t send email!  I must work quickly and efficiently to alleviate their ailments.  With that said, products like the USI-2535 makes my job easier.

==

Scythe KamaConnect Plus Muliti-Purpose HDD Adapter @ Pro-Clockers

Review link: http://pro-clockers.com/enclosures/1394-scythe-kamaconnect-plus-.html

The Scythe KamaConnect Plus is a multi-connect device that can be used to connect many different types of media to your PC externally. An all-in-one product that replaces a USB hub, digital card reader and HDD to USB adapter. Yes, the KamaConnect Plus is aimed at the IT tech or even the techie individual that needs a simple devices to carry around to do the job of the three named previously.

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Patriot Memory 16GB Bolt USB Flash Drive Review at CCEReviews
Link: http://www.ccereviews.com/reviews/patriot-memory-16gb-bolt-usb-flash-drive/
Quote: Compact USB Flash Drives are certainly the direction companies are heading and rightfully so, everyone wants something small that can fit in a pocket and feel like nothing. The only problem with it becomes when you lose something so small. It would be a disaster if confidential data was leaked to the competition through an unsecure flash drive. With the Patriot Memory Bolt you can be confident that once encrypted with a password the data can’t be accessed without unlocking the device. After ten brute force attacks the data is simply formatted from the drive.

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Audio / Video:

iFrogz EarPollution ThrowBax Headphones Review @ Virtual-Hideout

Review link: http://www.virtual-hideout.net/reviews/iFrogz_EarPollution_ThrowBax_Headphones/index.shtml

Quote: “Recently I was on the hunt for an affordable pair of headphones to use occasionally with my laptop. However not only did they have to be affordable, they had to sound good and look good. I really like the around the ear fit for its superior comfort and also I like the retro look with exposed frame and such, but those are hard to come by in the affordable range, until now. Upon my online research travels I fell across the ThrowBax lineup of EarPollution headphones from iFrogz. I immediately was drawn to the badass good looks and attention to detail. When I seen that they only retailed for $29.99, I was ready to try them. Then when I found them for under $20 at Amazon.com, I just had to have them. I was prepared for them to be junk, but I was delightfully surprised.”

==

Dell SP2309W Monitor – ultimate gaming on a budget?

There has never been a better time for a gamer – even the modern day mid range cards are capable of delivering some incredible frame rates at high resolutions with eye candy cranked to the hilt. If you want to get the greatest and most immersive experience from your games however you really will need a big panel. Thankfully there is a huge selection of ‘true HD’ screens from various manufacturers at tempting price points – some of the 23 and 24 inch models for instance are retailing below the £200 mark.
Dell have always been known to produce a great range of monitors and today we are going to look at a budget 23 inch TN panel called the SP2309W which delivers a staggering resolution of 2048×1152 – well in excess of standard 1080p resolution (1920×1080).

For the full article read over here: On KitGuru

==

Sony Webbie MHS-CM1 HD Camcorder @ MobilityDigest

Today for review I’ve got a product from our wonderful friends at Geeks.com.  Geeks caries a lot of cheap camcorders and today I’m looking at one, specifically one from Sony actually. Wait, I have Cheap and Sony in the same sentence there don’t I? We often don’t think of Sony products being cheap do we? Most all companies though do have cheap or entry level products and Sony is no exception, you have to have these types of products as many people can’t afford the higher end stuff, so it’s a market segment that needs to be tapped. The product is actually a decent one, it’s an entry level HD camcorder called the Sony Webbie, and it’s not bad at all. it’s takes decent videos, especially if you consider the price is just barely over $100, but what really surprised me though is the quality of the still pictures, they’ve very nice. Normally when you have a camcorder the still camera is sort of like an added function just tossed in there, but the one here is actually decent, even rivaling regular point and shoot camera. So I could keep rambling or you could just continue on to check out this neat little camera…

http://www.mobilitydigest.com/review-sony-webbie-mhs-cm1-hd-camcorder/

==

Creative World of Warcraft Headset Review @ Tweaknews
Article Url: http://www.tweaknews.net/reviews/creative_world_of_warcraft_headset/
Article Snippet:
“This headset is a worthy addition to any WoW fan’s gaming arsenal. There’s a lot going for it including excellent sound quality, a comfortable fit, and reliable wireless connectivity. It’s quite a stylish piece of equipment, too. The glowing ear cups with interchangeable Horde and Alliance lenses are fun to customize with different colors and show off to friends.”

Mobile / Notebooks etc:

Apple iPad Review

‘Apple’ – It is a name synonymous with a strong emotion response. Never has a company evoked such a dramatic reaction from the enthusiast userbase – you either love ‘em or hate ‘em, there is little room for middle ground.I have been an Apple fan since I started my career in the late 80’s because they simply revolutionised the design industry. Equally so, I am not an Apple ‘purist’ – I love building my own PC’s and modding things that in all honesty probably didn’t need modded in the first place. Apple certainly don’t always get it right, when they do however they certainly get this reviewer excited.

For the full article read over here: On KitGuru

==

IDAPT I3 Universal Desktop Charging Dock @ TechwareLabs

We review IDAPT’s I3, interchangeable charging station. with the myriad of devices the average home carries, this device could be next to invaluable.
LINK: http://www.techwarelabs.com/idapt-i3/

==

Speck ToughSkin iPhone Case Review @ ThinkComputers.org

Review URL: http://www.thinkcomputers.org/speck-toughskin-iphone-case-review/

Quote: “When it comes to iPhone cases there are only a few really rugged and tough cases out there, most of the cases you see are for looks and simple protection as most people really do not need all of the protection that a rugged case offers and do not want to deal with the extra bulk of a rugged case. I have reviewed a few cases like this and they are definitely not made for comfort or ease of use. Well Speck has sent us their ToughSkin iPhone Case that not only is rugged but is very functional too. Let’s take a look and see if Speck has actually made a rugged iPhone case that is usable!”

==

Toshiba Satellite L555D-S7930 17.3-inch Notebook
QUOTE: “Today I am looking at one of the latest notebook offerings from Toshiba. Toshiba has been offering some nice notebooks for a long time now, but it’s one of the smaller of the major computer makers. As one of the smaller firms in the industry, Toshiba tends to aim at the mainstream market with good pricing and decent performance.
That also means you don’t typically see an all out record setter from the firm and the Toshiba Satellite L555D-S7930 I have on my bench today is just such a machine. The notebook is no slouch in performance and it carries a very nice price tag. If you are in the market for an AMD based notebook with a big screen, decent performance and a good price, this notebook is certainly worth a look. Come along with me as I see what makes the Toshiba Satellite L555D-S7930 tick and find out if it’s right for you.”

==

iHome iA5 App-Enhanced Alarm Clock Review
“Setting an alarm clock should be easy. But with the cryptic controls on most bedside time keepers, it still isn’t. You’ll be punished with another 59 clicks to get the right time if you roll past the alarm time you wanted to set, be forced to reset the time every few months to keep it accurate to within a minute, and good luck if you want to take advantage of those advanced features to make separate alarms for weekdays and the weekend.”
Link to the review: http://www.digitaltrends.com/digital-living-reviews/ihome-ia5-app-enhanced-alarm-clock-review/

==

Assorted Stuffs:

Futurelooks’ Guide To Time Saving Gadgets and Ideas For Mom on Mother’s Day

What are you doing for mommy dearest this Mother’s Day? Gone is the stereotype that all mothers are “just” homemakers bound to slaving over hot stoves and cleaning up after children. Moms are so much more than that and they’re busier than ever. As a tribute to all the mommies in the audience, we here at Futurelooks would like to provide this guide for busy moms. By taking advantage of these time-saving strategies, they just may be able to find a little more “me” time and a little more time to relax.

Direct Link: http://www.futurelooks.com/futurelooks-guide-to-time-saving-gadgets-and-ideas-for-mom-on-mothers-day/

==

Getting more from your iPad with Citrix and Desktop Connect
QUOTE: “Some of the issues we have talked about with the iPad surround the lack of multitasking, the lack of Flash and no file system access. Well, all hope is not lost for iPad users. There are a couple of methods that can be used to get you a working OS on your iPad. One of these will cost about $12 while the other will cost you quite a bit more while at the same time giving you a considerable amount of performance and flexibility.
The solutions I am talking about are Citrix XenServer virtual server with XenDesktop Express (free) and one of the remote desktop clients for the iPad. So, let’s start with the easiest and cheapest method. This is simply to buy a remote desktop software; something like ”Desktop Connect”.”
==

Test-Drive Ubuntu 10.04 Using a Bootable USB Flash Drive
http://www.techspot.com/guides/274-run-ubuntu-from-a-flash-drive/
So, you’ve been hearing all this buzz about Ubuntu for a while now and you finally want to take it for a spin? While dual booting Ubuntu with Windows is fairly straightforward, it can seem like a daunting and risky endeavor for the average individual. For those folks, test-driving Ubuntu via the LiveCD is certainly an option, but it comes with a couple major disadvantages: it’s a much slower experience, and all your changes are lost once the operating system is restarted.

==

SmartSwipe Magnetic Card Reader
URL: http://www.bcchardware.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8580&Itemid=40
Quote:

The SmartSwipe does exactly what it is supposed to and it could not be any easier to use. There are however a few downsides with this product. At the moment Smart Swipe is only compatible with Internet Explorer and there is no Mac version yet. Also, the Smart Swipe is a bit expensive retailing around $80-$90 dollars U.S. If you think about though, it is well worth the price for the added security especially if you do a lot of online shopping. . .

==

Gaming Related:

Iron Man 2 (Playstation 3)

Videogames based on comic books haven’t often made much of an impact and there is predominately a very good reason why … most of them deliver a similar experience to that of pulling your teeth out with a pair of industrial strength pliers. There was one exception however which was a critical and commercial success – the excellent Batman: Arkham Asylum (and to a lesser extent X-Men Origins: Wolverine wasn’t too shabby either). Part of the problem with this category is caused by an accelerated production and release cycle required for a movie ‘tie in’ to maximise sales.

For the full article read over here: On KitGuru

==

15 in 1 Accessory Kit Review @ Wii digest

Review Link: http://wiidigest.com/2010/05/08/15-in-1-accessory-kit-review/

Review Snipit:
” Today for review I’ve got another accessory kit, but this one is not exactly just for gaming, it’s a kit that  has a little bit of everything in it.  In this kit from CTA Digital you’ll find a components cable, three different controller covers, an accessory box, replacement straps, fan filters, a clear skin for your Wii and even a cleaning cloth. There’s quite a few things in this kit, but the best part of it is the price it’s about $18, so for under $20 you can get many different and useful accessories for your Wii. So read on to see everything and learn a bit about each part…”

==

Lost Planet 2 (Xbox 360) Review

Lost Planet met mixed reviews when it was released – I was one of the gamers who thought that it was actually very good. It was not only a solid third person action game but at the time the engine really thrashed the newest graphics hardware. I have been waiting for some time to get my hands on a review copy of Lost Planet 2 and recently the X360 version landed on my lap.

For the full article read over here: On KitGuru

==

Review: After Burner Climax @ Xbox360Digest

After Burner Climax is an exhilarating, intense Arcade game, perfect for those who like to keep on trying to increase their high scores through multiple playthroughs. Those looking for long lengths of games will definitely want to avoid this though, due to its incredibly short completion time.

http://www.xbox360digest.com/2010/05/07/review-after-burner-climax/

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SteelSeries NP+ Rough Gaming Surface Mouse Pad @ Benchmark Reviews

DESCRIPTION: Most people buying mousepads expect it to be small and light, so when the SteelSeries NP+ came rolled up in a bundle at half a meter tall, it looked more like a doormat than anything. Today Benchmark Reviews analyses the SteelSeries NP+ rough surface gaming mouse pad to find out what kind of innovation was put into making this unique gigantic gaming mat.

ARTICLE URL: http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=495&Itemid=58

==

Hello, hello! Time for the news:

Storage Related:

Corsair Flash Padlock 2 Review on Technic3D: Form followed function

Link: http://www.technic3d.com/article-1048,1-kurztest-corsair-flash-padlock-2-form-followed-function.htm

Translation Link: http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3a%2F%2fwww.technic3d.com%2Farticle-1048%2C1-kurztest-corsair-flash-padlock-2-form-followed-function.htm&sl=de&tl=en&hl=&ie=UTF-8
Quote: "The Corsair Flash Padlock 2 8GB arrived Technic3D. Technic3D will see the Security Padlock 2 against the first Padlock USB-Stick. Better than the first version? You can see the DataLock security in the following Review."

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A-DATA S599 SSD RAID Report – SandForce SF-1200 x2
QUOTE: "Out of nowhere the SandForce label went from being associated with a good product that is going to cost an arm and a leg, to a great product that is not only the fastest on the market, but has a reasonable cost, too. When looking at the benchmarks we see that there really isn’t a whole lot of difference between testing with the Microsoft and Intel drivers, but it is enough to surpass Crucial’s C300 in most real world performance categories. Just like the old saying, second place is the first loser; the SF-1200 controlled products were now holding the top honors and something to get excited about.
As enthusiasts we are often compelled to take the best of the best and double them to achieve higher performance. This week through next week we will see two RAID reports, the first being with the A-DATA S599 today and next week using Crucial’s RealSSD C300. Let’s recap the A-DATA S599 specifications and then get right into the testing."

==

Patriot Zephyr 128GB JMicron Solid-State Drive Review @ Legit Reviews
Article URL: http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1290/1/

"Patriot is celebrating their 25th anniversary this year and since their 1985 inception, the California based company has grown to become a global company with a solid reputation for providing quality memory and storage products. They didn’t jump into the SSD market full force as some others have, but they have taken a more conservative approach instead. They are adding to their SSD lineup this month, releasing a value line of SSD’s carrying the moniker of Zephyr – a name with roots to Greek mythology. The Zephyr line offers capacities of 64GB and 128GB at $184 & $358, respectively, and can only be found at Amazon.com for the first few weeks of availability. There is also a 256GB version but we have not received word on pricing yet. They all carry the newer JMicron JMF612 controller…"

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StarTech USB 3.0 to SATA 2.5"/3.5" hard drive docking station review
"At first glance StarTech’s docking station almost looks more like a miniature paper shredder than its actual purpose, but a closer look allows you to clearly see just how the device operates."
http://www.elitebastards.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1518&catid=13&Itemid=27

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12GB Crucial DDR3 Memory Kit Review @ Benchmark Reviews

DESCRIPTION: It’s always better to have and not need, than to need and not have. This Golden Rule applies to computer system memory as much as the other aspects in life, and having more RAM than your PC needs can only help matters. Multimedia editors require large amounts of memory to keep their encoding tasks moving at top-speed, otherwise the PC’s much slower storage drive is called into play. Crucial offers the power-user a guaranteed boost to system performance, with their triple-channel 12GB DDR3 memory kit. The Crucial CT3KIT51264BA1339 UDIMM kit consists of three 4GB DDR3 modules rated for 1333MHz CL9-9-9-25-1 each. In this article, Benchmark Reviews tests the high-density RAM kit against memory big and small, fast and slow.

ARTICLE URL: http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=502&Itemid=67

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OCIA.net has posted their review of the Sunbeamtech USB 3.0 Airbox External Enclosure. 

"Sunbeamtech has released a new USB 3.0 version of its popular Airbox 3.5" External SATA Enclosure which we have for review today. In addition to the Airbox, Sunbeamtech also offers a 2.5"/3.5" USB 3.0 docking station and a dual-port USB 3.0 PCI-E 1x expansion card. The Airbox USB 3.0 enclosure is identical to their eSATA version with the exception of the interface. It is an aluminum body, single 3.5" drive external enclosure featuring an 8cm blue LED cooling fan and detachable stand for optional vertical orientation."

Direct Link:  http://www.ocia.net/reviews/sunair3/page1.shtml

==

Kingston HyperX LoVo 1866MHz DDR3 4GB Memory Kit Review @ Legit Reviews
Article URL: http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1284/1/

Kingston Technology recently introduced the world’s first ultra-low voltage DDR3 dual channel memory kit that operates with just 1.25 volts at 1600MHz. The new offering is part of the new Kingston ‘LoVo’ (low voltage) HyperX DDR3 High-Performance memory product line. Read on to see how the Kingston HyperX LoVo memory kit performs and see how much power it can save!

==

Kingston SSDNow V Series SNV425 128GB @ Techgage
Link: http://techgage.com/article/kingston_ssdnow_v_series_snv425_128gb/
Quote: Like so many other memory vendors on the market, Kingston offers a wide array of solid-state disks for your perusal. For the low-end segment, it has the SSDNow V series, which at current time offer the best GB/$ on the market. We’re taking a look at the latest release here, combining a recent JMicron controller with Toshiba NAND.

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QNAP TS-259 Pro Turbo NAS Server @ Benchmark Reviews

DESCRIPTION: Network storage is a concept that many people use without a second thought in corporate environments, but what about at home? Count the number of PCs in your house and tell me it wouldn’t be nice to have one central location for backups, video and music storage, and everything else. All that and much more is readily available in a Network Attached Storage server. The QNAP TS-259 Pro NAS server uses a custom Linux distro and a powerful, energy-efficient 1.66GHz Intel Atom D510 CPU with 1GB of DDR2-800 memory to eliminate any potential bottlenecks.  Dual Intel Gigabit Ethernet controllers allow failover safety and teaming, while two SATA drive bays offer single disk, JBOD, and RAID 0/1 configurations.  Benchmark Reviews examines the QNAP TS-259 Pro in detail here, and tests its performance against a wide variety of NAS servers.  We also have a pleasent surprise for Win7 users.

ARTICLE URL: http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=517&Itemid=70

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StarTech 2-port PCI Express USB 3.0 controller review
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the first thing we can see if just how diminutive this controller card is, fitting into the length you’d expect of a PCI Express 2.0 1x card perfectly, with the board supporting both PCI Express 2.0 and 1.1 while also serving to act as a half-height card when equipped with the correct mounting bracket.
http://elitebastards.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1512&catid=13&Itemid=27

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SandForce SF1200 RAID-0 SSD Performance @ Benchmark Reviews

DESCRIPTION: The SandForce SF-1222TA3-SBH processor is part of the SF-1200 SSD controller family, and through various new technology implementations SandForce has redefined performance expectations for the entire solid state storage landscape. Not only are bandwidth speeds extremely fast (nearly saturating the SATA-3GB/s interface), but operational IOPS performance reaches SLC-NAND levels. Additionally, SandForce RAISE technology provides redundant protection for single SSD computer systems, and data is automatically secured with AES-128 encryption. Benchmark Reviews has individually tested the ADATA S599, Corsair Force F100, and RunCore ProV SSDs, all which use the SandForce SF-1200 controller, but we’ve never experimented with these drives in a combined array. For this article, Benchmark Reviews tests two SandForce SF-1200 SSDs in a striped RAID-0 array to unleash absolute performance.

ARTICLE URL: http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=513

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Audio / Video:

Overclock3D have just published a new article titled: ASUS MS236H Monitor Review.
Quote: We take a look at the ASUS MS236H to see if style and function can go hand in hand.
Link: http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/gpu_displays/asus_ms236h_monitor_review/1

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Everywhere you turn the topic is tablets, whether it be the new Apple iPad or someone else’s model, so today we are going to be reviewing the WebStation tablet from Camangi. We have made our decision on the device and after you read the article we ask you to do the same thing. Enjoy…
Link: http://www.hi-techreviews.com/index.php/review-links-mainmenu-80/9980-camangi-webstation

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StarTech USB 2.0 DisplayPort KVM Switch Review @ HardwareLook.com

ARTICLE URL: http://www.hardwarelook.com/review.php?id=16

QUOTE: The introduction of newer video digital interface standards, such as DisplayPort, offer better image quality, resolutions and refresh rates over existing technologies such as DVI and VGA. The DisplayPort connection is now being implemented into the KVM (Keyboard, Video, Mouse) Switch: a simple hardware device allowing a user to control multiple computers via a single set of peripheral devices.

With a native resolution of 2560×1600 @ 60Hz, keyboard, mouse and 7.1 HD digital audio supports, the StarTech DisplayPort KVM switch with USB Hub is one such device utilising the new standard.

==

Arctic Sound E352 Review  @ XSReviews

Review Link: http://www.xsreviews.co.uk/reviews/headsets/arctic-sound-e352/
Quote: "Today we are looking at the Artic Sound E352 ear phones. Artic Sound is a subsidiary of the well-known Artic Cooling company and specifies itself in audio products, which the name already suggests. The E352 are aimed at the audiophile, offering quality sound, a good look and a nice product package and are part of a lager series of Artic Sound products, with a starting price of $42.20 for the E351-W ranging up to $69.95 for the E352-D, which I am reviewing here today."

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Altec Lansing Expressionist Ultra 2.1 Speakers @ PureOverclock

Review URL:  http://www.pureoverclock.com/article970.html

“Today we are going to take a look at the Altec Lansing Expressionist Ultra 2.1 speakers that feature a very unique aesthetic design. They certainly look sleek, but audio performance is what really makes a setup special. Do these speakers have what it takes? Let’s find out.”

==

Mobile / Notebooks etc:

HTC HD2 vs. Apple iPhone 3GS
"Back in 1981, before computers took over the world of financial number crunching, Hewlett-Packard built the 12c calculator. Even today, it’s considered one of the finest financial calculators ever built – the apex of a dying breed. In 2020, we’ll probably look at the HTC HD2 in much the same way. Windows-Mobile-based smartphones may be headed for the dumpster, but the HD2 is destined to be remembered as one of the finest ever built – and if you want to live out two more years with it, it might be the best way to do it. Here’s how the HD2 stacks up – in tech specs alone – next to its principle rival, Apple’s iPhone 3GS."
Link to the article:http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/devices/htc-hd2-vs-apple-iphone-3gs/

==

Dell Adamo XPS Laptop Review @ HardwareHeaven.com
"Dell has recently released their refreshed Adamo XPS, a machine which follows a similar design ethic to the original but aims to increase performance to ensure it is competitive in the current market. Today we have an Adamo XPS on our test bench and will see, in a selection of real world tests, what the latest high end Dell machine can do."

http://www.hardwareheaven.com/reviews.php?reviewid=970

==

‘Five Minutes with Jeff McDowell from RIM’
Find out what one of the top guys at RIM has to say about the App World, Carrier relations and what to expect from RIM in the year ahead.
The Full Article can be viewed at http://tech.tbreak.com/2010/05/five-minutes-with-jeff-mcdowell-from-rim/

==

Assorted Stuffs:

ATI Radeon HD 5870 Overclocked Round-up – Gigabyte, MSI, HIS:
http://hothardware.com/Articles/ATI-HD-5870-Overclocked-Videocard-Roundup/

Today at HotHardware we’re looking at a trio of videocards that have their sights set on the enthusiast market. Factory overclocked Radeon HD 5870 graphics cards from HIS, MSI, and Gigabyte have landed in our lab and its time for another round up. Some might glance over these products and wonder what the big deal is. Any time a new series of graphics cards are launched by ATI or NVIDIA, it is common for add in board (AIB) partners to tweak various features so that consumers have even more attractive options to choose from, beyond the original reference design. The graphics cards we have setup for testing here come with increased GPU and memory speeds, promising improved performance right out of the box. In addition, the heatsinks have been redesigned to provide improved cooling in order to handle the increased frequencies that are set for their graphics engines. Read on to find out how these speed demons perform when compared to one another, and if one of them has what it takes to be your next upgrade…

==

Livescribe Pulse Smartpen

URL: http://www.businesscomputingworld.co.uk/livescribe-pulse-smartpen/

Snippet: “When it comes to taking notes in business meetings you have several choices―each with their advantages and disadvantages. Use a laptop and provided you can type fast enough, you’ll get notes you can cut and past for easy reuse and sharing. But the laptop itself is a physical barrier to you and your clients and constant pounding of the keyboard may irritate others. Use pen and paper and you can make drawings as well as written notes, but you’ll need to scan and transcribe later to get computer-usable data to share with business partners. Record, and again you’ll need to transcribe using a speech to text solution―if you have one. The Livescribe Pulse Smartpen is an additional option. It is a pen that records both handwriting and voice. It is relatively unobtrusive in use and it uploads data to your computer. Is it the perfect solution for the time-poor businessperson?”

==

Ubuntu 10.04 Is More Power Hungry Than Windows 7 @ Phoronix
Direct Link: http://www.phoronix.com/vr.php?view=14893
Summary: "Yesterday we published our first benchmarks of Windows 7 vs. Ubuntu 10.04 that provided an initial look at the OpenGL graphics performance between these two operating systems on six different systems. Today we are continuing to compare the two operating systems as we look at the power consumption of Ubuntu and Windows on a netbook and notebook."

==

Gaming Etc:

Splinter Cell: Conviction – Sneak-Shooter Review @ TweakPC.de

Alan Wake (X360) Review @ Kitguru.net

Super Street Fighter IV – (X360/PS3) Gaming review @ KitGuru Gaming

==

Futurelooks Asks – Where Are the Women in the Video Games Industry?

It’s not a shocking revelation that the video game industry is mainly fueled by testosterone. According to a 2007 survey by Game Developer Magazine, women make up approximately 20 percent of employees. Moreover, it’s not a huge surprise that many of the top executive positions are occupied by men. However, there have been a small number of successful women who have broken through the “glass ceiling” and become valuable assets to their companies.

Direct Link: http://www.futurelooks.com/futurelooks-asks-where-are-the-women-in-the-video-games-industry/

==

Razer Naga Gaming-Mouse @ TecCentral.de

Halo: Reach, First Impressions @ Digital Trends

Splinter Cell Conviction (PC) Game Review on Technic3D.

Mionix Naos 5000 Gaming Mouse

Thrustmaster Sports Pack + NW Review

Quick Links:

All Turion Models @ Hardware Secrets

Thermaltake Contac 29 CPU Cooler Review on Technic3D

Microcool Banchetto 101 Case @ TechwareLabs

iXBT Labs Review: i3DSpeed, April 2010

Silverstone Strider Plus ST75F-P 750 Watt Power Supply @ Pro-Clockers

CoolIT ECO A.L.C. Review @ HardwareHeaven.com

Zalman CNPS10X Performa Cooler Review @ Tweaknews

Thermaltake Frio Heatsink Review @ Ninjalane

Enermax Modu87+ 500W PSU Review @ Vortez.co.uk

CaseAppeal AV8 Custom Computer Case at Modders-Inc

Sapphire Radeon 5550 Ultimate @ PureOverclock

Antec Sonata Proto Case Review @ Hardware Secrets

Super Flower AMAZON 800W PSU Review on Technic3D

GIGABYTE 890GPA-UD3H 890GX AM3 Motherboard Review @ Hardware Canucks

CoolIT Systems – ECO ALC Cooling System @ TechwareLabs

ASUS Z8PE-D12 Server Motherboard Review

Scythe Samurai ZZ CPU Cooler

Foxconn A7DA-S 3.0 Motherboard Video Review @ eTeknix.com

CoolIT Systems ECO A.L.C. CPU Cooler Review

NZXT Cases Storming In: Lexa S & Gamma @ InsideHW

Nexus RX-1.1K PSU @ Rbmods

Thermaltake Purepower 500 W Power Supply Review @ Hardware Secrets

Arctic Cooling E352 @ techPowerUp

AeroCool V12XT Touch LCD Fan Controller Review @ ThinkComputers.org

Antec P193 Advanced Super Mid Tower Review @ ThinkComputers.org

Google TV coming to a set near you soon

Cogage Arrow CPU Cooler @ Pro-Clockers

Thermaltake Frio Heatpipe CPU Cooler Review @ Bigbruin.com

Xigmatek Utgard Gaming Case Review

Diskeeper 2010 Professional Edition Review

Hey it’s that time again, time for the news from around the world, and we’ve got a lot of it for you. Later today I’ll have another review for you as well, so check back for that..

Quick Links:

Sparkle Computer Corp 80Plus 1250 Watt ATX Power Supply GW‐EPS1250DA Review @ DragonSteelMods

Asus ENGTX-470 Voltage Tweak Edition @ Bjorn3D

MSI 890GXM-G65 Socket AM3 Motherboard @ Pro-Clockers

Hacker selling Facebook accounts online

Microsoft: Windows 7 the Fastest Selling OS Ever

Noctua NH-D14 Heatsink Review @ Ninjalane

Neuigkeiten auf DeXgo | Prolimatech Armageddon ”Wind Edition”

OC3D: Be Quiet Dark Power Pro P8 1000w Review

Microcool Banchetto 101 @ techPowerUp

MSI R5670 Cyclone 1G Graphics Card Review @ OCIA.net

Corsair Hydro Series H50 CPU Cooler

HIS HD 5830 Turbo Review @ Tweaknews

Noctua NH-D14 CPU Cooler @ Techgage

Jetway JNC96FL-510-LF Mini ITX Motherboard  at Modders-Inc

Thermaltake Frio CPU Cooler Review @ ThinkComputers.org

PowerColor HD 5570 1024 MB @ techPowerUp

Cogage TRUE Spirit (Rev.2) CPU Cooler Review @ Hardware Canucks

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Storage Related:

Kingwin DockMaster USB 3.0 Hard Drive Docking Station Review @ Tweaknews

"This handy offering from Kingwin showcases one of the easiest and fastest ways to access a hard drive. Just pop the drive into the dock, attach the USB cable and power cord, and turn it on."

Article Url: http://www.tweaknews.net/reviews/kingwin_dockmaster/

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G.Skill  PIS Series DDR3-2400 4GB Dual Channel Memory Kit Review @ ThinkComputers.org

Review URL: http://www.thinkcomputers.org/g-skill-pis-series-ddr3-2400-4gb-dual-channel-memory-kit-review/

Quote: “Up to this point the fastest memory I have owned was DDR3-2000. The guys at G.Skill contacted me recently to ask if I was interested in memory even faster than that…of course I was! G.Skill is one of those companies that I knew was out there but I had never really considered their memory in the past, as most I usually purchase from the “household name” companies. But G.Skill is not a newcomer to the memory industry, having been in business building memory since 1989. Today I will be looking at G.Skill’s latest, a DDR3-2400 4GB kit with timings of 9-11-9. This memory has been e ngineered specifically for the Intel Core i7 860/870 LGA 1156 processor and P55 Express chipset. Of course the memory operates at Intel’s max VDIMM of 1.65v, and it comes with a very nice cooling fan. Read on to check out the G.Skill PIS Series DDR3-2400 memory!"

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Kingmax PC3-12800 (1600MHz) 6GB Kit
QUOTE: "Today we’re looking at another kit of memory from Kingmax; not quite as hardcore as the Hercules 2200MHz DDR kit we looked at the other week, but since we haven’t looked at anything from Kingmax in a long time it’ll be interesting to see how their Tri-Channel memory stacks up.
While it might be a Tri-Channel kit, there’s not going to be much difference in the overall way things work. We’ll be including the standard layout and all the normal benchmarks you see in our reviews. The only difference is that the kit is tested on our X58 Triple Channel ASRock testbed which holds in it the mighty i7-980X. We’ll have a closer look at the testbed in just a few pages, though. For now let’s see what Kingmax are offering here."
==

RunCore Pro-V SandForce SF1200 SSD @ Benchmark Reviews

DESCRIPTION: SandForce is the hot ticket in SSD controller technology for 2010, offering outstanding bandwidth speed and operational performance. SandForce RAISE technology provides redundant protection for single SSD computer systems, while data is automatically secured with AES-128 encryption. The SandForce SF-1200 controller has already found its way into many of the fastest SSDs available, and now RunCore utilizes the SandForce SF-1222TA3-SBH processor in their Pro-V prosumer MLC SSD series. Benchmark Reviews tests the 200GB RunCore Pro-V SSD, model RCP-V-S2520-MCN, against some of the most popular storage devices available and demonstrates that 4K IOPS performance is more important than speed.

ARTICLE URL: http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=511&Itemid=60

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G.Skill ECO 4GB DDR3 1600MHz CL7 Low Voltage Memory Kit Review @ Legit Reviews
Article URL: http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1283/1/

"G.Skill’s ECO series is quite the kit when you consider what it is able to accomplish with what it is given. DDR3-1600 with only 1.35vdimm may become commonplace in the future but for now it is a nice surprise. Our testing showed that using this memory kit reduced power usage at the wall when compared to other kits that use the standard 1.65vdimm setting. Priced at $124.99 plus $2.99 for shipping, the G.Skill ECO DDR-1600 2×2GB are priced $15 above the lowest priced 4GB DDR3 1600MHz dual-channel memory kit, but it is priced among the majority of other DDR3-1600 C7 kits…"

==

Indylab Touch USB 2.0 500GB external hard drive review
Indylab’s Touch drive is available in either white, black, pink or red and certainly looks the part, proving to be infinitely more attractive than the ugly boxes that make up many external drives on the market.  Despite these good looks, Indylab are still keen to point out the shock absorption properties of the enclosure, which is supposedly tested for shocks up to 200G as well as being specified to handle vibrations, static and radiation to reasonable levels while also deadening any noise coming from the drive within.
As the name of the product would suggest, the Touch makes the most of the touch screen fad by doing away with a simple power button or rocker switch, instead opting for a patented touch interface underneath the company logo on the drive which acts as the on/off switch for the device.
http://www.elitebastards.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1477&catid=13&Itemid=27

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Kingston SSDNow V SNV425-S2BN 128GB Solid State Drive Bundle
QUOTE: "The Kingston Notebook Bundle is part of a package that includes an external 2.5 inch form factor enclosure that connects to your system via USB 2.0. The package also comes with the USB cable needed as well as software and the most important part of the pack, a Kingston SSDNow solid state drive.
Last month we received the new Kingston SSDNow V Series 128GB Notebook Bundle and have been putting the system through its paces. This is Kingston’s second generation V Series line of products that uses a JMicron controller."

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ASUS BC-08B1ST Blu-ray @ PureOverclock

Review URL:  http://www.pureoverclock.com/article967.html

“The ASUS BC-08B1ST is a powerful and energy-saving Blu-ray ROM drive capable of reading BD media at 8X. Showcasing versatility and fast speeds with various media, this ASUS ODD sounds promising. We’ll show you just about anything and everything you ever wanted to know about ODD testing and results. We may even make an ODD convert out of you by the time you’re done this review.”

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Corsair Force F100 100GB SSD.  

Article URL: http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum/hardware-canucks-reviews/30934-corsair-force-f100-100gb-ssd-review.html

Quote: For as long as we can remember, Corsair has been near the forefront of product innovation which has directly led to them being one of the front runners in the SSD market.  They recently released their Force series SSDs which cater to the enthusiast crowd by sporting the new SandForce SF-1200 controller and tons of performance to boot.  In this review we take a look at the 100GB version of the Force series and see if it has the capability to beat some of the best drives around.

==

Audio / Video:

Zoom H4n Handy Recorder – Recording Studio in a Box
URL: http://www.bcchardware.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8542&Itemid=40
Quote:Although the Zoom H4n is much larger than most simple audio recorders, the size is still very functional.  You also have to keep in mind that this isn’t a simple audio recorder.  It’s a recording studio in a box.  It features a very basic mixer, as well as support for 4-channel audio recording. . .

==

Nikon Coolpix S8000 Review
"There were no real surprises with Nikon’s new Coolpix digicam line-up -five of the seven 2010 models take HD videos. The digicam we’re reviewing-the 14.2-megapixel S8000-captures stereo 720p HD clips at 30 fps. Yet the last time we looked, the Coolpix and its ilk are cameras, so still quality should be paramount. Let’s see how this package adds up."
Link to the review: http://www.digitaltrends.com/digital-camera-reviews/nikon-coolpix-s8000-review/

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Photography 101.
SNIP:
A lot of people believe that you have to have an enormous amount of lighting when taking pictures. Well, in all reality we really don’t need 1500 Watt bulbs. Granted, having an enormous amount of light does help out, but with today’s Digital Cameras, (DSLR specifically) we can use very little amounts of light to get picture perfect results. Sometimes, even a non-DSLR setup with proper shutter settings can give you equal or very similar results than the very light sensitive sensors new DSLR cameras come with.
Another area that really helps out in picture taking is the Post Production stage. Using a photo editing software package (e.g. Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro, etc.) can help enhance our images to their finest. Again, we do not need a 500+ USD program as a 100 USD program will still give you the results we are looking for, and with a simplified layout. Since there are so many different adjustments we can do with our DSLR camera’s, I am going to stick with the basics of lighting and using the white balance adjustment. The best way to learn your camera is to go out and start using it on anything and everything.
http://www.bjorn3d.com/read.php?cID=1828

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: 23” De-Branded HDMI Monitor @ LanOC Reviews
DESCRIPTION: What If I told you that you could pick up a 23 inch monitor today for less than 160 bucks? A lot of people including one of our staff would jump right on that. Of course, no matter what the price it won’t make any difference if it’s sporting dead pixels. That’s why today I will be taking a closer look at one of these hot deals, I’m sure you have already ordered yours so you can read about my experience with it while you wait for it to come in the mail.
ARTICLE URL: http://lanoc.org/review/hardware/other/3103-23-de-branded-hdmi-monitor

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Auzentech Bravura X-Fi 7.1 Review  @ XSReviews

Review Link: http://www.xsreviews.co.uk/reviews/audio-cards/auzentech-bravura-x-fi/
Quote: "Auzentech audio cards have been favourites among the XSR team for a good few years now not only for their great sound quality and effects but also for the broad appeal to gamers, audiophiles and home theatre lovers alike.

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digiZoid Zo Personal Subwoofer
URL: http://www.bcchardware.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8535&Itemid=40
Quote:

The Zo doesn’t have a lot of adjustment, just one switch that has 32 different setting. The Zo has a lightscale indicator bar in middle that will change from green (lowest setting) to red (highest setting) as you go through the different setting. The same switch is also how you turn the Zo on and off. . .

==

Mobile / Netbooks / Notebooks Etc:

HTC Desire smartphone

URL: http://www.businesscomputingworld.co.uk/review-htc-desire/

Snippet: “There are plenty of other devices running the Android platform, and an increasing number which include Microsoft Exchange support. However the Desire’s large screen makes it potentially very useful for businesspeople who need access to complex data such as Web sites and PDF/Word/Excel/PowerPoint documents on the move. Its touch-sensitive keyboard benefits from the large screen too, and may be beneficial for those who need to do a lot of mobile e-mail. Our one concern is battery life, but all modern smartphones suffer in this respect and the HTC Desire is no worse than most―better than most in fact!

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SwitchEasy Colors Iphone 3G/3GS Protective Case @ PCShopTalk
Quote:
"Through the multitude of Iphone 3G/3GS cases on the market, we can find the SwitchEasy Colors case, which combines beauty with full case protection successfully. The case does not have only the job to protect the back and front part of the phone, but also the connectors against lint from pockets or humidity ( which could void our warranty if the sensors trigger and change their color)."
Link: http://www.pcshoptalk.com/content.php?292-SwitchEasy-Colors-Iphone-3G-3GS-Protective-Case

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Motorola Cliq XT Review
"During the course of this review, we’ll be discussing varying advanced aspects of the Motorola Cliq XT from T-Mobile, such its social networked music player, its Swype texting capability, its iPhone-like pinch-and-zoom photo gallery capabilities, and more. But none of these really matters. The Android-powered Cliq XT, an update of last fall’s Cliq, is aimed at a specific customer: the social networker, some whom spend most of their mobile day reporting every moment of their earthly existence (or commenting on other’s banal blow-by-blow) on Facebook, texting friends, sending pictures, and updating their blogs. For these folks, the Cliq XT’s otherwise unique collection of functions aren’t necessarily superfluous, but certainly won’t be primary purchase factors. But XT’s other social networking features may make it attractive even to casual Twitterers."
Link to the review: http://www.digitaltrends.com/cell-phone-reviews/motorola-cliq-xt-review/

==

Everything You Need To Know About 4G
http://www.techspot.com/guides/272-everything-about-4g/
While most of us are used to getting high speed Internet connections at home, the office or even the local coffee shop, once we are on the road those high speeds have to stay behind. With 4G the promise is that you can get real mobile broadband to go. In this piece we are going to tell you all about the technology and its benefits, who offers it or plans to, how much it costs, and the gear you need to enjoy the next generation of wireless broadband today.

==

ASUS TS mini Home Server Review:
http://hothardware.com/Articles/ASUS-TS-mini-Home-Server-Review/

Today, we’re going to take a look at the ASUS TS mini, a home server that’s designed to offer easy and simple file storage, automated backups, and file sharing. The ASUS TS mini offers your choice of 500GB or 2TB of storage in an energy-efficient 2-bay design. Both models also come with 500GB of online storage free for the first year.

==

iSkin Solo/FX/SE iPhone 3GS Case Review @ Virtual-Hideout

Review link: http://www.virtual-hideout.net/reviews/iSkin_Solo_FX_SE/index.shtml

Quote: “I’m back today with another product review geared towards the ever popular Apple iPhone 3G/S. I’ll be looking at the iSkin Solo cases including the Solo, the Solo FX and the Solo FX SE. As you can see above they come in a variety of colors with only the finish itself differentiating the models. The Solo is the basic model with the Solo FX adding a circular pattern to the inside and lastly the Solo FX SE adds both a circular pattern inside and out and adds a matte finish to the exterior.”

==

Pantech Link @ TestFreaks

Today for review I’ve got another phone for AT&T from Pantech called the Link. This phone is a decent phone overall truly, it’s very inexpensive, it can be had for only $10 on contract with AT&T. It features a full QWERTY keyboard along with Bluetooth 2.0 for wireless stereo so you can listen to your music on the go. It does feature an HTML browser, but the screen is a bit small, but it works in a pinch. overall the call quality is decent, and I didn’t really have any issues there. So read on to checkout the latest phone form Pantech and AT&T…

Link: http://www.testfreaks.com/blog/review/review-of-pantech-link/

Assorted Stuffs:

Psychology of Technology: N.E.I. is the New T.M.I.

Teaser: One of America’s most cherished rights is citizens’ right to privacy, as former Supreme Court Justice Harry Blackmun noted, "the right to be let alone." Passions are stirred by debates about the right to privacy and it has become a political hot potato in recent years due in part to the domestic wiretapping controversy, identity theft, and data mining on the Internet. Yet these days, a growing swath of America, mostly the young and tech savvy, are not only unconcerned about their privacy, but actively eschew that right. They seem to believe in N.E.I. (Never Enough Information) rather than the more familiar T.M.I. (Too Much Information, for those who were just rescued from a deserted island).

Click here: http://bit.ly/9Xxd3l

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Samsung CLP-770ND Color Laser Printer Review at CCE Reviews
Link: http://www.ccereviews.com/reviews/samsung-clp-770nd-color-laser-printer/
Quote: The Samsung CLP-770ND is limited to just color printing but it does it very well. The printer easily achieves the rated speed of 33ppm on black and white documents but the larger color documents cause the printer the queue and slow down to 13-14ppm, a respectable rate for full color pages.

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Linux Firewall: Overcoming Email Server Problems @ [OC]ModShop

As discussed in our article "Why Build a Linux Firewall", there are many advantages to having a custom-built firewall appliance in your home. While these Linux distributions are easy to set up and have nice User Interfaces, they still have some problems. Not every feature of Linux is exposed in the GUI, so while these firewalls are very capable they don’t allow for simple customization.
In this article we show you your options on making your network more secure, and how to preserve your online reputation with a little customization of your Linux firewall. While we use IPcop, many of these tips work on just about any firewall that uses IPtables.

Review URL ::  http://www.ocmodshop.com/ocmodshop.aspx?a=1754

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How to Turn on Automatic Logon in Windows
URL: http://computingondemand.com/?p=3151
This is a subject that can be attacked a few different ways.  There are many reasons why people want to log into Windows Automatically and the ways to do it are just as various.  For my purposes, logging into windows automatically is an absolute must for my HTPC’s.  The last thing I want to do is try to spell out my password using an IMON remote!

==

Gaming:

Indie Review: Pellmell @ Xbox360Digest

Voodoo Chief creates an enjoyable top down fast paced shooter with a large amount of carnage and a ton of enemies to shoot at.

Link: http://www.xbox360digest.com/2010/04/27/indie-review-pellmell/

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Alganon – After the Dawning Preview

Alganon is the best MMORPG that I have played to date. There are some small issues but for the most part, Alganon is on its way to become one of the best games available, especially in its genre. If you liked Diablo, played and enjoyed Neverwinter Nights, miss the old school UO interaction and customizations, then I would recommend getting Alganon. But in the time it took me to write this review I have missed valuable Alganon play time, so with that take care, have fun and maybe we will see each other in Alganon.

Link: http://www.gamepyre.com/reviews/games/pc/1168_1.html

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MEGATech Reviews – Nyko Charge Base IC Induction Charging Dock for Nintendo Wii

When you play a lot of video games or even if you only play once in a while, it can be a pain having to deal with batteries. We all enjoy having wireless controllers, but this convenience comes at a price. You could go with regular alkalines or even rechargeable NiMH batteries, but they’re not that convenient. To make matters worse for all the Nintendo Wii owners in the audience, you have to remove the silicone sleeve and the Wii Motion Plus before you can change the batteries. Thankfully, the Nyko Charge Base IC addresses all of these concerns in one affordable and convenient package. Read on to find out what we think of it in this MEGATech Review!

Direct Link: http://www.megatechnews.com/megatech-reviews-%E2%80%93-nyko-charge-base-ic-induction-charging-dock-for-nintendo-wii/

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AMD Phenom Coverage:

Futurelooks -The AMD Phenom II X6 "Thuban" 1090T 6-core Black Edition Processor Review

AMD Phenom II X6 CPU and AMD 890FX Chipset @ TweakPC.de

Phenom II X6 1090T – AMD Enters the Six-Core Arena @ Techgage

AMD Six-Core Phenom II X6 1090T & 1055T Processors Reviewed @ EXTREME Overclocking

AMD Phenom II X6 1090T @ TechwareLabs

AMD Phenom II X6 1090T Black Edition @ PureOverclock

AMD Phenom II X6 1090T & 1055T Six-Core Processors Review @ Hardware Canucks

AMD Phenom II X6 1090T and 1055T Six-Core Processor Review @ Legit Reviews

AMD Phenom II X6 "Thuban" @planet3dnow.de

News: AMD Phenom II X6 1090T and ASUS Crosshair IV Formula

Phenom II X6 1090T CPU Review @ Hardware Secrets

AMD Phenom II X6 1090T Black Edition 3.2GHz Six Core CPU

AMD Phenom II X6 1090T BE & Phenom II X6 1055T Review

AMD Phenom II X6 1090T 6-Core Processor Review @ HotHardware.com

AMD Phenom II X6 1090T and 1055T: Six cores on a budget

Phenom II X6 & 890FX, 880G, 890GX Review @ HardwareHeaven.com

AMD Phenom-II X6-1090T AM3 CPU Review @ Benchmark Reviews

OC3D: AMD 1090T Six Core Review

==

Happy Monday Folks! It’s the start of a new week, and we should have a few good reviews for you coming up.. For now check out the news from our friends:

Storage Related:

Kingston HyperX PC3-15000 (1866MHz) LoVo 4GB Kit
QUOTE: "We have to wonder, though; does Low Voltage and HyperX deserve to be in the same category? It seems a little conflicting. HyperX is all about power and Low Voltage is all about taking care of the environment and hugging trees.
Let’s hope that this isn’t just some normal kit of memory with a new colored heatsink and fancy title. Hopefully we’ll discover that the kit deserves to sit in the HyperX series and LoVo is something that we should be interested in."

==

Corsair Flash Padlock 2:
English link:  http://www.rbmods.com/content/21838/corsair-flash-padlock-2.aspx
Swedish link:  http://www.rbmods.se/content/14463/corsair-flash-padlock-2.aspx
Quote: Flash drives has hit the market hard in various sizes, but one thing that has been missing is a security flash drive. I have seen ones with thumb prints but Corsair has released the Padlock 2 which encrypts the drive and locks it with a pin code. How well does it perform?

==

Patriot Viper II DDR3 1600mhz Triple Channel Kit @ TechwareLabs

Quote: A fact that many computer users overlook is that the ram in their system plays a critical role in both the stability and performance. It is important not only to have enough ram but also that your ram is good quality and fast. Join us as we test the speed and performance of the Patriot Viper’s DDR3 1600 ram kit.
LINK: http://www.techwarelabs.com/patriot-viper-ii-ddr3-1600mhz-triple-channel-kit/

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Super Talent RAIDDrive USB-3.0 Flash Drive @ Benchmark Reviews

DESCRIPTION: SuperSpeed USB-3.0 delivers a very dramatic improvement over the older USB-2 protocol. Bandwidth speed has increased from 480 Mb/s to 5000 Mb/s, and file transfer rates as fast as 400 MB/s are now possible; making SuperSpeed USB-3.0 very competitive with the Serial-ATA interface. In this article Benchmark Reviews tests the Super Talent RAIDDrive ST3U64SRK SuperSpeed USB-3.0 flash drive, a product with up to 128GB of capacity which utilizes two SSD controllers in a RAID-0 array. The Super Talent USB-3.0 RAIDDrive is capable of 320 MB/s according to specifications, making it the fastest USB flash drive on the market.

ARTICLE URL: http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=503&Itemid=60

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Stardock USB 3.0 HDD Dock and Card Review  @ XSReviews

Review Link: http://www.xsreviews.co.uk/reviews/other-products/stardock-usb-30-dock-and-card/
Quote: "When it comes to portable storage there are two different improvements everyone is interested in hearing about: capacity and transfer speeds. One of the newest ones to hit the market is the advent of the new USB standard, USB 3.0. Today we’re looking at a Startech package that gives you not only a hard drive dock supporting the new port, but also a PCI-E card giving you a pair of USB3 ports to make sure you’re fully compatible. "

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Patriot Valkyrie Dual Bay NAS
URL: http://www.bcchardware.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8519&Itemid=40
Quote:

The Patriot Valkyrie is a nice quiet alternative to the popular DNS-323 dual-bay NAS.  They both have basically the same feature set and Patriot makes theirs unique with the backup feature that can quickly and easily backup your USB media to the box.   The Bittorrent feature seems to work well, and the iTunes server works as advertised.  All-in-all, the overall experience was very good. . .

==

OCIA.net has posted their review of the Kingwin DockMaster USB 3.0 HDD Dock. 

"Kingwin has added three USB 3.0 devices to its product roster this year, two SATA enclosures (one 2½" and one 3½") and the DockMaster SATA HDD dock we have for review today. The DM-2535U3 is a single bay drive dock that accepts either 2½" or 3½" SATA drives. It features USB 3.0 connectivity for bandwidth up to 5Gb/s and plug and play capability. Facing competition from an overabundance of USB 2.0 drive enclosures and the already super fast eSATA interface, can USB 3.0 really surpass the popularity and speed of existing devices?"

Direct Link:  http://www.ocia.net/reviews/kingdm3/page1.shtml

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Western Digital VelociRaptor 600GB HDD Review on Technic3D

Link: http://www.technic3d.com/article-1066,1-western-digital-velociraptor-600gb-vorsicht,-bissig.htm

Quote: "The Western Digital VelociRaptor 600GB HDD (VR200M) arrived Technic3D. Available in 150GB, 300GB, 450GB and 600GB configurations. We will check the new High-End SATA 6 Gb/s HDD WD6000HLHX with 32MB Cache and 10.000rpm  against the older version and SSDs in Windows 7."

==

OCZ Solid 2 Series SATA II 2.5" 60GB SSD @ TestFreaks

Today for review I’ve got another value priced SSD, this one is from OCZ, it’s called the Solid 2 and it is 60gb in capacity. I’ve put it up against a couple other value series SSDs and found that the Solid 2 performs well overall. During my testing I also found that the Solid 2 performs better than the specs indicate it should, which is good thing. So read on to learn more..

http://www.testfreaks.com/blog/review/review-of-ocz-solid-2-series-sata-ii-2-5-60gb-ssd/

==

Mobile / Notebook/ Etc:

Camangi WebStation Google Android Tablet PC @ Benchmark Reviews

DESCRIPTION: The Camangi WebStation is a compact tablet WiFi or 3G-connected PC that utilizes the Google Android Operating System. Similar to the Apple iPad, the Camangi WebStation adds all of the features an Android smartphone offers and combines them with tablet size and functionality. Weighing a mere 13 ounces, the Camangi WebStation tablet can double as an eBook reader with the installed Aldiko or Google Books applications. Internet phone calls can be made using Fring, and the 3G Wizard adds connectivity when WiFi is unavailable. In this article, Benchmark Reviews tests the Camangi WebStation Google Android Tablet PC in a combination of everyday uses to see how well it can replace other compact computer devices.

ARTICLE URL: http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=476&Itemid=66

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Lenovo Thinkpad X100e: AMD in Thinkpad @ InsideHW

Summary: The idea of being able to own a ThinkPad notebook for just 400€ seems very good indeed, but one shouldn’t rush the decision.
Article link: http://www.insidehw.com/Reviews/Notebooks/Lenovo-Thinkpad-X100e-AMD-in-Thinkpad.html

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The best thing about HTC HD2 @ t-break

A well-kept secret of the HTC HD2 is that it can operate as a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot, giving any Wi-Fi device access to the Internet through it’s 3G data connection.
The Full Article can be viewed at http://tech.tbreak.com/2010/04/the-best-thing-about-htc-hd2/

==

Overclock3D have just published a new article titled: Razer Orochi Mobile Mouse.
Quote: If you’ve got a laptop but still like to game, maybe Razer have just what you want.
Link: http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/input_devices/razer_orochi_mobile_mouse/1

==

Ricoh CX3 Review – Recommended!

We’ve just published our review of the new Ricoh CX3 – an update to the Ricoh CX2 – it features a new 10 megapixel back-lit CMOS sensor, 720p HD video mode, 16:9 aspect ratio, new Pet scene mode, Auto-Scenes, Noise reduction options (from the GR DIGITAL III), Face priority focus, and the same specifications as the CX2, such as 5fps shooting, wide angle 10.7x optical zoom lens (28mm – 300mm), 3" 920k pixel screen, image stabilisation, Dynamic Range shooting, electronic level, AF bracketing. 299

http://www.digicamreview.com/2010/04/ricoh-cx3-review-recommended.html

==

HTC Incredible vs. Apple iPhone 3GS
"We have little doubt that HTC’s Incredible is king of the Android mountain for the time being. But even if it stares down at the myTouch puttering around in the foothills and the Droid on a craggy outcropping just below, it still has to measure up against that veritable Everest in the distance: Apple’s iPhone 3GS. How does the HTC Incredible measure up? Break out the altimeter and sextant, we’re going to find out."
Link to the article:http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/devices/htc-incredible-vs-apple-iphone-3gs/

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Dell Vostro V13’s laptop

URL: http://www.businesscomputingworld.co.uk/?p=5292

Snippet: “Dell’s latest ultraportable laptop—otherwise known as the poor man’s Adamo—is a great looking machine, constructed with durable and premium materials at a decent price. Its specifications aren’t cutting edge, but it’s so much faster compared to most netbooks which use Intel’s low-cost Atom processor. The biggest criticism of the Vostro V13 is that its svelte design results in poor battery life and the inability to swap out the cell or system memory. Graphics performance isn’t too hot, either. But if you or your colleagues are mostly deskbound, need a laptop that impresses at client meetings, or want something that is small and light to carry, then the Vostro V13 could be a prudent choice.”

==

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX7 Review
"Let’s blow away the smoke-this is one of the best new digicams we’ve reviewed in a long time, well deserving its pick as an Editor’s Choice. It’s far from the perfect camera we’re always searching for but it does so many things well, it should go near the top of the list of anyone shopping for a new digicam. Why are we so juiced about the TX7? Read on and find out."
Link to the review: http://www.digitaltrends.com/digital-camera-reviews/sony-cyber-shot-dsc-tx7-review/

==

HTC Incredible @ TestFreaks

Today for review I’ve got what has to be the best phone on the market today in terms of both quality, usability and price really. The HTC Incredible from Verizon Wireless was just announced and will be available on the 29th to the public, but in my time with it I’ve truly grown to love it. Yes it’s not without faults, but the pros very much outweigh the cons of this phone. To put it simply, the HTC Incredible is the best Android based phone out there right now.

http://www.testfreaks.com/blog/review/review-of-htc-incredible/

==

Audio / Video:

Asus MS238H LCD Monitor Review:
http://hothardware.com/Articles/Asus-MS238H-LCD-Monitor-Review/

Today we’re taking a look at a monitor, the Asus MS238H, that’s part of a new trend sweeping the display market. No, we’re not talking about 3D technology. The Asus MS238H is the first desktop LCD monitor we’ve tested that features LED backlighting. This is basically the same technology found in the HDTV arena which makes displays thinner and lighter than ever before. LED back lit displays are so slim, they can be hung on walls like picture frames, eliminating the need for the heavy duty mounts that standard LCD products previously required.  Furthermore, the MS238H sports a 23" widescreen layout, 1920 x 1080 resolution, 16:9 aspect ratio, 2 ms response time, and ring shaped stand that distinguishes it from every other monitor available…

==

Asus Xonar Essence STX Sound Card Review @ Tweaknews
Article Url: http://www.tweaknews.net/reviews/asus_xonar_essence_stx/
Article Snippet:
"Asus’ Xonar Essence STX may be pricey, but for audiophiles or those with the money to spend on an excellent sound card, this is the one to get. It looks good and performs even better. It’s made with high quality components throughout, right down to the capacitors and EMI shield and this attention to detail becomes evident right from the first listen."

==

Grado GR8 Review
"The folks at Grado Labs are well educated in matters of high performance headphones. Their SR60i headphones, for example, made our Best Headphones of 2010 list and are frequently praised as the best sounding on-ear headphones you can get for under $100.00. Considering the popularity of the iPod and other portable players, one might think that offering an in-ear model would be a foregone conclusion. For whatever reason, though, Grado has quietly gone without an in-ear mode until now. With the introduction of the GR8, Grado acknowledges that the portable media player is here to stay and that a large segment of listeners demand a high quality, comfortable set of in-ears to go with their iPod. In this review, we’ll take a close look at the GR8 and see if they really are as ‘great’ as their name might imply."
Link to the review: http://www.digitaltrends.com/mp3-player-reviews/grado-gr8-review/

==

Assorted Stuffs:

Win one of three Cooler Master chassis @ Elite Bastards

Entering the competition is simple, and you can find all the details right here:
http://www.elitebastards.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1482&catid=1&Itemid=9

==

How to find out the Model of the Motherboard You Have @ ThinkComputers.org

Review URL: http://www.thinkcomputers.org/how-to-find-out-the-model-of-the-motherboard-you-have/

Quote: “Knowing who makes your motherboard and what model you have is very important. Many motherboards have new drivers and BIOS updates that fix problems with the motherboard once it has been released. To download and install these updates you need to know the exact model name and manufacturer of your motherboard. Many people who have built their own computer should already know this, but if you somehow forget or you have purchased your computer from a store this guide will easy show you where to find this information."

==

NETGEAR GS605AV 5-Port Gigabit Network Switch
QUOTE: "In almost all of our networking reviews we have talked about Quality of Service or QoS. This handy little feature allows you to adjust priority for different types of network traffic. It makes keeping a network from becoming congested, easy.
Enter the NETGEAR GS605AV; it is a 5-port GBe (Gigabit Ethernet) switch that has all the QoS done internally for you at the low price of $46.99 from NewEgg.com. All you have to do is connect your network to it in the proper fashion. To make things even simpler, they have also color coded the ports on the back so you almost can’t screw up."

==

A Futurelooks Guide to Finding the Best Alternatives to Apple Products

The boys and girls who work in Cupertino have released some wonderful gadgets  over the years. At the same time, there are far too many people out there who blindly listen to Steve and buy Apple products without considering some suitable alternatives. Just as you would probably spend a good deal of time shopping around for a new car or even a new home, it pays to do some background research before splurging on a new gadget or gizmo too. It’s your money and you probably want to make sure that it’s well spent. Let’s have a good look at some of the best alternatives to Apple products, or in some cases, the best alternatives to products that Apple “reinvented”.

Direct Link: http://www.futurelooks.com/a-futurelooks-guide-to-finding-the-best-alternatives-to-apple-products/

==

Exclusive: GIGABYTE demo On/Off Charge for Apple products
QUOTE: "Earlier today we were invited down to the GIGABYTE Technology headquarters here in Taipei where we were given an exclusive demonstration of its new "On/Off Charge" technology for the Apple iPod and other Apple products such as the iPhone and iPod.
GIGABYTE quietly launched a software driver a little while ago that allowed its motherboards to charge Apple products via USB even when your computer was turned off. Now the Taiwanese motherboard heavyweight steps things up some more with its new On/Off Charge tech."

==

Gaming Related:

Mionix Naos 5000 Mouse Review at Overclockers Online
Link: http://www.overclockersonline.net/reviews/mionix-naos-5000/
Quote: I plugged in the Naos 5000, loaded up the software, and fired up a few games. I played through all of Assassin’s Creed 2 and Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Advanced War Fighter with it, and I have to say, it never let me down once. The mouse was accurate and steady with pinpoint precision, firing off life-dependant head-shots and reflexive counter-attacks. Every dpi and macro setting proved useful as well.

==

Double Charge Station for Wii Review @ Wii digest

Today for review I’ve got an inexpensive product from CTA Digital called the Double Charge Station. What  it entails is two battery packs for your Wii Remotes and a charging base to charge them while they are in your remotes. The Charge Station retails for about $15, and that’s not bad considering how much batteries cost and how much you could save using rechargeable batteries. The charge station is compatible with the Wii MotionPlus too, so you can charge the batteries with it on, but you can’t charge with the rubber covers on the controllers. So read on to learn more about this product…

Link: http://wiidigest.com/2010/04/22/double-charge-station-for-wii-review/

==

Nvidia’s Geforce GTX 480 and 470 deliver an interesting feature for quality oriented gamers: Full screen Supersampling Anti-Aliasing under DirectX 10 and DirectX 11. Up to now this high-end image enhancement had been available under DirectX 9 with AMD’s Radeon HD 5000 series only.

http://www.pcgameshardware.com/aid,745901/Geforce-GTX-480/470-with-unmatched-image-quality-in-modern-games/Practice/

==

Splinter Cell Conviction (PC) Review @ GamingHeaven.net
"What a difference a beard makes… Seriously. The promotional material for Splinter Cell: Conviction saw pictures of a bedraggled Sam Fisher plastered everywhere just to let us know that things had changed. Its the classic movie convention – clean cut equals a by the book good guy, stubble equals either a bad guy or a good guy with a tendency to make up the rules as he goes along but the full beard is the uniform of a broken man."

http://www.gamingheaven.net/gamingreviews.php?reviewid=894

==

Brink Questions Answered by Richard Ham @ [OC]ModShop

Brink is set on the Ark, a massive artificial city floating far out in the Pacific Ocean, built as a prototype for mankind’s “perfect green future.” It’s a complex that should house around 5,000 people, but unfortunately, the ocean levels have risen, and people from all over the globe have come to Ark as refugees, overrunning the place with a population of 50,000. Resources are running out and people are scared, leaving the whole place on the brink of all-out civil war. When the game starts, you choose if you want to fight as a member of Ark Security or the civilian Resistance movement. Each side of the
conflict has their own goals and objectives, and each side thinks they’re the good guys.

Review URL ::
http://www.ocmodshop.com/ocmodshop.aspx?a=1753

==

Quick Links:

akasa Freedom Xone PC Chassis Review @ XtremeComputing

PNY GTX-470 @ Bjorn3D

OC3D: HIS HD5830 Review

ASRock X58 Extreme3 Intel X58 Motherboard Review @ ThinkComputers.org

NZXT Hades @ PureOverclock

AMD FirePro V3800 & FirePro V5800 @ Phoronix

ASUS P7P55D-E Deluxe Intel P55 LGA 1156 Motherboard Review @ OCIA.net

Gelid Solutions Wing 12PL @ LanOC Reviews

Lian-Li Silent Force 650W PSU Review @ Vortez.co.uk

Gigabyte AMD 890GX Motherboard BIOS Update Improves Power Consumption @ Legit Reviews

AeroCool V12XT Touch LCD Fan Control @ High Tech Reviews

ASUS GeForce GTX 470 ENGTX470 Graphics Card Review @ Legit Reviews

SilverStone HDDBOOST @ Phoronix

be quiet! Dark Power Pro P8 750W PSU Review on Technic3D

Lamptron Fan Controller FC5 @ techPowerUp

Asus Crosshair IV Formula AM3 Motherboard Preview @ eTeknix.com

ASRock 890GX Extreme3 AMD Socket AM3 DDR3 Motherboard Review

Cooler Master Vortex Plus CPU Cooler Review @ ThinkComputers.org

XFX 650W XXX Edition Modular Power Supply Unboxing Video @ eTeknix.com

Thermalright Venomous X Heatsink Review @ Ninjalane

PowerColor Radeon HD 5870 PCS+ @ Techgage

Sapphire Radeon HD 5970 TOXIC 4GB Video Card Overclocked

Prolimatech Armageddon @ PureOverclock

Cooler Master 690 II Advanced @ LanOC Reviews

ASRock 890GX Extreme3 Motherboard @ Hardware Secrets

eXtreme PSU Calculator Update

Foxconn FlamingBlade Socket 1366 Motherboard Video Review @ eTeknix.com

Ikonik Ra 2000 Black IC-RBDAB-C000 Full Tower Chassis

Xtreme Gear HP-1216B Five Heatpipe Copper CPU Cooler Review @ Legit Reviews

PowerColor Radeon HD 5870 PCS+ graphic card review

HIS HD 5850 iCooler V Turbo @ techPowerUp

Hybrid PhysX Mod v1.03 @ NGOHQ.com

It;’s Earth Day! Go plant a tree or something.. here’ the news:

Storage Related:

ICY DOCK MB561US-4S-1 Quad Bay External Enclosure Review @ ThinkComputers.org

Review URL: http://www.thinkcomputers.org/icy-dock-mb561us-4s-1-quad-bay-external-enclosure-review/

Quote: “Large volume external storage has also been and will remain to be popular just for the fact that many people do not have room inside their cases for extra hard drives. Also external storage allows you to easily use that storage on multiple systems with minimal effort. With the introduction of eSATA external drives can now be just as fast as internal drives so we have seen quite a few eSATA external enclosures released lately. Today we will be taking a look at the MB561US-4S-1 Quad Bay External Enclosure from ICY DOCK that features an internal port multiplier and both eSATA and USB 2.0 connections. Let’s take a look…"

==

A-DATA Nobility NH01 USB 3.0 Portable HDD Video Review
QUOTE: "When you think of A-DATA, in the past you would have only thought about memory modules and maybe some fancy looking cartoon character pen drives. These days the Taiwanese memory making company has really started to spread its wings into more than just traditional memory products. It now has a line of ultra fast performing solid state drives along with portable storage devices, one of which we are getting a look at here today.
We are today focusing our attention on the new Nobility NH01 portable hard drive. It’s a brand new product just released from A-DATA and promises some good performance since it connects to your computer via USB 3.0. SuperSpeed USB or USB 3.0 is a new connectivity standard designed to replace USB 2.0 and is able to offer up to five gigabits per second, or a massive 625MB/s."

==

Kingston 256GB DataTraveler Flash Drive @ PureOverclock

Review URL:  http://www.pureoverclock.com/article963.html

“The Kingston 256GB DataTraveler 310 USB flash drive features hardware-based encryption in a small and sleek package, offering insane storage capacity in a beautifully small and portable format. Encryption, portability, and extreme capacity don’t come cheap though. Hellno. But we don’t care. It’s like the old Ferrari quip: If you have to ask how much it costs, then you can’t afford it. Let’s take this crazy little drive for a test drive and see what extreme demands and an extreme price tag get you these days in the world of portable storage.”

==

Hardware Canucks is pleased to present our review of the new Corsair Nova V128 SSD.

Article URL: http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum/hardware-canucks-reviews/30146-corsair-nova-v128-solid-state-drive-review.html

Quote: The SSD market is currently cluttered with a massive number of companies who all seem to be peddling the same kit.  Corsair is trying to distinguish themselves from their competition by releasing the Nova series which is aimed directly at first-time SSD buyers who want a perfect combination of performance and value.  In this review we take a look at their 128GB version.

==

Corsair Force F100 SandForce SSD Test @ Benchmark Reviews

DESCRIPTION: The biggest mistake PC hardware enthusiast make with SSDs is grading them by their speed. File transfer speed is important, but only so long as the operational IOPS performance can sustain that bandwidth under load. Based on the high-performance SandForce SF-1200 SSD Processor, Corsair’s Force F100 solid state drive is in an excellent position to take the entire market. In this article, Benchmark Reviews tests the 100GB Corsair Force SSD CSSD-F100GB2 against some of the most popular storage devices available and demonstrates that 4K IOPS performance is more important than speed.

ARTICLE URL: http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=510&Itemid=60

==

Vantec NexStar3 SuperSpeed Hard Drive Enclosure @ [OC]ModShop

An external hard drive enclosure is very handy for several different types of people. Some like to have additional storage for their laptops, while others use their unit as a truly portable device for transporting files between home and work. With SuperSpeed USB you don’t have to sacrifice performance to have the convenience of a portable device.
Vantec has once again stepped in with a slick-looking external hard drive enclosure with the NexStar 3 SuperSpeed. It’s thin, shiny, and most importantly now supports the new USB 3.0 standard to unleash your hard drive’s true potential.

Review URL :: http://www.ocmodshop.com/ocmodshop.aspx?a=1752

=

TwinMOS Mobile Disk L2 32GB Flash Drive Review @ Vortez.co.uk
"The TwinMOS Mobile Disk L2 32GB is a good looking, convenient and nice performing flash drive. Depending on the release price it should be a really competitive model with plenty of capacity for the power user and good compatibility."
LINK:http://www.vortez.co.uk/review.php?id=157

==

NZXT IU01 USB Expander
Link: http://www.bigbruin.com/content/nzxtiu01_1
Quote:  The NZXT IU01 is a simple device that could greatly enhance the functionality of any computer case. While it isn’t a must have item, it should have appeal to many enthusiasts who could either use some extra power to their front panel USB ports, use a few more internal USB connectors, or would like to mount some permanently connected USB devices inside their case.

==

Western Digital SiliconEdge Blue 256GB SSD Review on Technic3D

Link: http://www.technic3d.com/article-1065,1-western-digital-siliconedge-blue-256gb-ssd-volle-fahrt-voraus.htm

Translation Link: http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3a%2F%2fwww.technic3d.com%2Farticle-1065%2C1-western-digital-siliconedge-blue-256gb-ssd-volle-fahrt-voraus.htm&sl=de&tl=en&hl=&ie=UTF-8
Quote: "The Western Digital SiliconEdge Blue 256GB SSD with JMF618 controller arrived Technic3D. Available in 64GB, 128GB and 256GB configurations. Results in mainstram performance with up to 250MB/s sequential read and 170MB/s sequential write speeds? We will check this against other SSDs from Corsair and Intel in Windows 7."

==

GSkill ECO 1600 MHz Memory.
SNIP:
JEDEC standards state that DDR3 memory has to be able to run at 1066MHz, 9-9-9-24 2T timings with only 1.55 volts. When DDR3 was first introduced a couple of years ago, it was suppoosed to use less volts then its predecessor, DDR2. DDR2 memory needed on average 1.85-2.0 volts and above to properly operate at its optimum frequency. DDR3 memory came in starting at 1.55volts, but because of the limitation of the socket 775 CPU’s (needing to use an MCP) the only true way of getting any serious performance out of DDR3 memory, people and companies alike were cranking the volts of their DDR3 memory modules past the 2.0 voltage mark, which kinda defeated the whole purpose of upgrading from DDR2 to DDR3. The required amount of voltage and the minor performance gain did not justify the added cost of this newer memory standard.
http://www.bjorn3d.com/read.php?cID=1752

==

OCZ 4GB PC3-10666 Platinum Low Voltage Dual Channel OCZ3P1333LV4GK Review at Overclockers Online
Link:http://www.overclockersonline.net/reviews/ocz-platinum-4gb-pc3-1333mhz-memory/
Quote: Sometimes second impressions can somewhat bind up the wounds that the first impressions left behind. OCZ has delivered a solid product with the Platinum series line of DDR3 modules.

==

Corsair Nova Series 128GB Solid State Drive Review @ ThinkComputers.org

Review URL: http://www.thinkcomputers.org/corsair-nova-series-128gb-solid-state-drive-review/

Quote: “The Barefoot controller from Indilinx was all the rage last year, it was on many solid state drives we reviewed including the Crucial M225 and both the OCZ Vertex and Agility. It seems this year SandForce is getting a lot of attention, but don’t forget about the Barefoot controller. Indilinx’s new Barefoot controller, called the Barefoot ECO allows drive manufactures to use the 32nm Intel NAND flash rather than the 40nm NAND we are used to seeing in other Indilinx-based drives. Because of the smaller production process of the NAND chips this brings down the cost of the drive. Today we will be taking a look at the 128GB Nova Series Solid State Drive from Corsair that is based on Barefoot ECO controller and is less expensive than other drives based on the older Barefoot controller."

==

ASUS Blu-ray Combo Internal Drive
Summary: Today we are going to be taking a look at the future.  OK, the future of the way we watch movies. Blu-ray is fast becoming the standard to watch your movies in sharp crisp images.
Articles URL: http:/ /www.modders-inc.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story&reid=312

==

Audio / Video:

Diamond USB Display Adapter Pro @ LanOC Reviews
DESCRIPTION: It wasn’t too long ago that multiple displays were considered to be a pure enthusiast sport. Nowadays, with both hardware and software becoming more multi-task friendly, even the average user can find themselves short of desktop area. If you have the luxury of built-in dual outputs on your video card, that’s great. But what if you don’t or what if you find yourself craving a third what do you do? And what about laptops, for that matter? Diamond Multimedia has developed an adapter to help in all those situations and more, and has sent us one to see for ourselves.

ARTICLE URL: http://lanoc.org/review/hardware/input-devices/3025-diamond-usb-display-adapter-pro

==

Audio Technica AT2020 USB Condenser Microphone @ Tech Lobby
Link:http://tech-lobby.com/2010/04/audio-technica-at2020-usb-condenser-microphone

Quote:
You don’t need to spend a fortune on fancy amps, equalisers or phantom power for good sound. With the AT2020 USB condenser microphone you just plug and play and you’ve got great studio quality recordings at the fraction of a cost. This is a great mic for beginners to enthusiasts. Check out the review for further info.

==

Auzentech X-Fi Bravura sound card video overview @ APH Networks

Description: APH Networks does a video overview of the Auzentech X-Fi Bravura sound card.

http://aphnetworks.com/news/2010/04/20/aph-tv-auzentech-x-fi-bravura-sound-card

==

refurbished 16GB SanDisk Sansa View
Quote:
"The Sansa View arrived safe and sound in a slightly unusual white OEM style packaging. The front label read in part an eye-crossing SanDisk E-70 Sansa View 16GB Video MP3 Player w/ Micro SD Expansion / Refurb. Opening up the box you find a USB cable, earbuds, and the Sansa view itself. Conspicuous in their absence are any drivers or user’s manual. These items are of course available online, but is it really too much to ask to at least include a CD with the drivers and an manual in .PDF format as well? I think not, but I’m just a single lonely hardware reviewer with a tiny little site, so what do I know anyway?"
Review Link: http://www.monster-hardware.com/modules.php?name=Reviews&rop=showcontent&id=150

==

Review of brite-View CinemaTube 1080p HD Media Player @ TestFreaks

I’ve taken a look at several media players here on TestFreaks and today I have another one, but unlike the previous kind I looked at. Today for review I’ve got the brite-View CinemeTube Media Player. You might recognize the name brite-View as I recently reviewed their power line networking kit, that kit was meant to work with this product I have for review today. It’s unlike other media players in that there is no storage on-board the unit itself, it is strictly a streaming media player. Yes you can attach a USB hard drive or even a thumb drive, but there is no storage inside the unit. The CinemaTube will not only stream video and audio, but you can use it to share photos and files on your network and it even has a built-in torrent client and even a program to use with Flikr for even further photo sharing. The CinemaTube features HDMI, Component and Composite outputs and an optical audio output as well. So read on to learn more..

Link: http://www.testfreaks.com/blog/review/review-of-brite-view-cinematube-1080p-hd-media-player/

==

Mobile / Notebooks Etc:

Asus’ U30Jc 13.3-inch notebook

What happens when you put a Core i3 processor, GeForce GPU, and Optimus graphics switching technology into a 13.3" laptop? Can such a system compete with the battery life of ultraportables, and is it worth the price premium?
http://techreport.com/articles.x/18778

==

Motorola Droid vs. HTC Incredible
"With the long-rumored HTC Incredible now unmasked and headed to Verizon in just days, many early reviewers claim it may be the finest Android handset to date. But how does this darling ‘droid stack up to the last Google-powered phone to that held that disputed title – Motorola’s Droid? Wonder no longer, we’ve stacked the two head to head to find out."
Link to the article:
http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/devices/motorola-droid-vs-htc-incredible/

==

Lenovo IdeaPad S10-3t Multi-Touch Tablet / Netbook Review:
http://hothardware.com/Articles/Lenovo-IdeaPad-S103t-MultiTouch-TabletNetbook-Review/

The Lenovo S10-3t ("t" is for touch) is the latest iteration of the S10 netbook, and it’s also one of the first IdeaPad machines to incorporate Intel’s newest Atom processor. The 1.83GHz Atom N470 at the heart of the S10-3t should improve performance somewhat, and the inclusion of Windows 7 Home Premium also gives a fresh face to a line that was previously saddled with Windows XP. The design here has also been stepped way up, with funky overlays splattered about and a swivel display that can pivot 180-degrees in either direction or be flipped entirely to "iPad mode." We made that last bit up, but it can definitely become a full-on tablet with just a swing and a click…

==

Motorola Droid Smartphone
Review  Link : http://www.bayreviews.com/electronics/5671-motorola-droid-smartphone
Quote : "I recently acquired the Motorola Droid smartphone from work after a co-worker left the company. You can say being in IT has it’s little perks. So since it was used, I didn’t get all the accessories that usually come in the box (AC adapter and manuals). But the old Micro USB chargers that came with my Blackberry Storm I still worked so it was all good."

==

Sony’s VAIO Z laptop and would love a link.

URL: http://www.businesscomputingworld.co.uk/?p=5200

Snippet: “When it comes to choosing a business laptop some people have it easy. In larger corporates you get what you are given, and while you might lust after whatever computer the person sitting on next to you on the train has, you know that you will have to live with what someone else has chosen for you. If you are in a smaller organisation you may get involved in the decision making process. If you work for yourself the decision is all yours to make. And if you are a top executive, well, then you might get to make your own decision too. When you are in control of the purse-strings, value for money really matters. So does paying as much as £2399 for a laptop, even one as thin, well designed and alluring as the Sony VAIO Z, have any kind of appeal at all?”

==

Review of AT&T Motorola Backflip @ TestTfeaks

Today for review I’ve got a phone from AT&T called the Motorola Backflip. This is the first Android phone from AT&T, and honestly it’s not the best example of Android out there. The Backflip is a clamshell or flip style phone, but it’s unlike any other out there, it flips backwards. The front of the phone is the screen and the back is the keyboard, the battery cover is actually inside of the phone when it’s closed. It’s a very interesting design that I’m still not sure I like very much. I do appreciate having the full keyboard, but keyboard is the back of the phone, not sure how well it will last being in your pocket or bag etc. The Backflip features the Moto Blur interface, and it works but not great. The phone is sluggish and fairly slow overall, it’s a bit underpowered to be honest, but call quality and battery life are very good. So read on to learn more about a rather unique Android phone…

Link: http://www.testfreaks.com/blog/review/review-of-att-motorola-backflip/

Assorted Stuffs:

Benchmark Buffet
Summary: Today we will take a high-level look into the world of benchmarking. More specifically, we will be looking at thirteen point scoring benchmarks listed at hwbot.org as well as the more common utilities used for overclocking and submitting scores to their system. We also touch on system information and monitoring programs.
SOURCE: http://www.overclockers.com/benchmark-buffet/

==

Your Chance At A Free Intel SSD @ Motherboards.org
Mother has a gift for you: A brand new Intel Solid State Drive.Take our new site survey and you’ll be entered into the drawing for the SSD. It only takes about 3 minutes and you’ll make Mother proud.

Take the survey here

==

More Great Tech Products That Didn’t Make It
Link: http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/blog/170
"Let’s look at more great products that didn’t survive –- and why they flopped."

==

Quick Links:

CoolIT ECO A.L.C. CPU Cooler Review @ DragonSteelMods

Sapphire HD 5450 & 5570: Premier League @ InsideHW

Logitech G500 Gaming Mouse Review @ HardwareHeaven.com

OC3D: Nexus Edge Review

Asus Rampage III Extreme Motherboard Review @ ITShootOut.com

Zalman CNPS10X Extreme Ultra Quiet CPU Cooler Review

All Core i5 Models @ Hardware Secrets

Proof In Steam’s Mac Client Of Linux Support @ Phoronix

Zalman ZM600-ST Power Supply Review @ Hardware Secrets

Sapphire Radeon HD 5870 Eyefinity6 Edition 2GB Video Card

ASRock X58 Extreme3 Motherboard Performance Review @ Legit Reviews

Coolink Corator DS CPU Cooler Review @ Hardware Secrets

Intel Core i5 661 overclocking @ Hardwareoverclock.com

iXBT Labs Review: ECS A890GXM-A Motherboard

Bioshock 2 – PC @ LanOC Reviews

GIGABYTE Radeon HD 5870 1GB GDDR5 (GV587UD-1GD) Video Card Review

Thermaltake V3 Black Edition Computer Case @ Benchmark Reviews

Swiftech Komodo 5870 GPU Water Block @ PureOverclock

Foxconn FlamingBlade Socket 1366 Motherboard Unboxing Video @ eTeknix.com

It’s Saturday and time for the news… A review will be coming soon!

Storage Related:

Verbatim SureFire 320GB FireWire 800/USB 2.0 Portable Hard Drive Review @ Modsynergy.com

Quote: "Today I will be reviewing the Verbatim SureFire series of portable hard drives that contain not only USB 2.0 but also the very fast FireWire 800 standard.  The capacity I have here today is the 320GB version.  Read on to see if the SureFire is a ‘sure-bet’ to place your hard earned money on."

Link: http://www.modsynergy.com/review218.html

==

Super Talent RAIDDrive 64GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive Review @ Legit Reviews
Article URL: http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1277/1/

"The Super Talent RAIDDrive is one of the most interesting products that we have come across in some time. It’s not every day you see a USB 3.0 Flash Drive, let alone a monster drive like this that is running a pair of SATA controllers in a RAID configuration. It’s super fast and is ideal for those that want the ultimate USB Flash drive. When using the Super Talent 64GB RAIDDrive we found insane drive performance on the benchmarks, but our real world use showed that the drive improved file transfer speeds roughly 2.5X over USB 2.0 performance. There is nothing slow about this drive as we were hitting 280MB/s write and 128MB/s read, which is amazing for any portable USB device…"

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Definitive 2TB HD Roundup: WD, Seagate, Samsung
http://hothardware.com/Articles/Definitive-2TB-Hard-Drive-Roundup/

In this roundup we take a look at a total of nine 3.5-inch, SATA, 2TB hard drives, from Samsung, Seagate, and Western Digital….

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Kingston SSDNow V Series 30GB Solid State Boot Drive
Link: http://www.bigbruin.com/content/kingstonv30_1
Quote:  We’ve taken a look at a handful of drives from Kingston’s V and V+ Series of solid state drives, and this time around we actually have the smallest capacity drive on hand. This 30GB drive is intended for use as a boot drive, meaning you load your operating system and core programs to it, and use a second drive for file storage.

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SSD Benchmark Tests: SATA IDE vs AHCI Mode @ Benchmark Reviews

DESCRIPTION: In a recent Benchmark Reviews technical article, SSD performance was tested in AHCI and IDE mode using only the HD-Tune software to produce results. It wasn’t intentional, but our test results were flawed by this single-threaded benchmark tool, and our conclusion did not properly illustrate IOPS performance. In this article, Benchmark Reviews tests the latest JMicron, Indilinx, and SandForce SSDs using a combination of tools to illustrate the true difference between SATA IDE and AHCI-mode, and demonstrates how one SATA mode is better suited than the other.

ARTICLE URL: http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=505

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TITLE: 12GB Corsair Dominator 1600MHz DDR3 RAM @ Benchmark Reviews

DESCRIPTION: 64-Bit Operating Systems allow PCs to utilize more than 4GB of system memory, which is great news for multimedia professionals who need the extra RAM. Intel’s X58-Express platform delivers triple-channel DDR3 performance, giving PC hardware enthusiasts and power-users the opportunity to choose between 3, 6, or 12GB system memory kits. In this article, Benchmark Reviews compares 12GB DDR3 memory kits against various 6GB versions. The 12GB Corsair Dominator CMD12GX3M6A1600C8 1600MHz CL8-8-8-24 DDR3 memory kit will be at the center of our attention as we discover exactly where that extra RAM is most helpful on our six-core Intel Core i7-980X Extreme Edition ’super-computer’.

ARTICLE URL: http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=494

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Thermaltake Max 4 2.5-inch Hard Drive Rack Review @ ThinkComputers.org

Review URL: http://www.thinkcomputers.org/thermaltake-max-4-2-5-inch-hard-drive-rack-review/

Quote: “Smaller 2.5-inch hard drives have become very popular because of the introduction of solid state drives a few years ago. Since then the drives have come down in price and many people are purchasing their first solid state drive. Many cases do not have a spot to mount a 2.5-inchhard drive, although some new cases do a good amount do not. For this reason Thermaltake has come out with the Max 4 hard drive rack. It supports 2 2.5-inch SATA drives and features tool-free hard drive installation. Let’s take a look at the Max 4 and see it is perfect for your new solid state drive!"

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Kingston SSDNow V Series 30GB Boot Drive @ PureOverclock

Review URL:  http://www.pureoverclock.com/article958.html

“We’ve seen some very fast SSDs over the last while, but they remain very expensive, generally too expensive for most users. High prices are always a stumbling block to new tech adoption, and SSDs are no different. However, there may be relief on the horizon, as Kingston has released a $90 SSD that looks to be fast, in the hopes that it will finally bring solid state drives into the mainstream.”

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Seagate FreeAgent Go 500GB Drive with Paramount Movies
Link: http://www.bigbruin.com/content/seagateparamount_1
Quote:  Seagate has decided to try their hand at digital media distribution through a partnership with Paramount Pictures. Including a hit movie like 2009’s Star Trek with the purchase of a 500GB FreeAgent Go drive is pretty cool, and being able to expand your digital collection with even more movies through Seagate may appeal to some.

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Kingmax Hercules PC3-17600 (2200MHz) 4GB Kit
QUOTE: "Every time I think of Kingmax my mind instantly goes back to the days of wishing so much that I could buy PC-150 TinyBGA modules from them, but only being able to afford PC-133 Apacer modules. There was a time when Kingmax was the memory to own; when we moved to DDR2, though, they did get left a bit in the dust to new performance company Corsair with its XMS lines of overclocked memory.
Over the years we’ve seen Kingmax pull out a few stand-out performance modules, but recently they’ve been fairly quiet. With some new kits out and a new Hercules series they might just have what they need to get back into the lime light again."

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Kingwin DockMaster USB 3.0 Docking Station @ PureOverclock

Review URL:  http://www.pureoverclock.com/article957.html

“The Kingwin DockMaster USB 3.0 SATA Docking Station is an external drive enclosure that utilizes the speed of the latest technology in an extremely easy to use hot swap setup to serve all your backup and storage needs. And to show you what a massive difference that USB 3.0 makes, we’ll be using a very fast Solid State Drive to show you not only how close USB comes to SATA II, but also how USB 2.0 is left behind in the dust.”

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Intel X25-V 40GB SSD Review on Technic3D

Link: http://www.technic3d.com/article-1063,1-intel-x25-v-40gb-ssd-fuer-die-masse-zu-kleinem-preis.htm

Translation Link: http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3a%2F%2fwww.technic3d.com%2Farticle-1063%2C1-intel-x25-v-40gb-ssd-fuer-die-masse-zu-kleinem-preis.htm&sl=de&tl=en&hl=&ie=UTF-8
Quote: "The Intel X25-V 40GB SSD with PC29AS21BA controllers arrived Technic3D. Available only in 40GB configuration. Results in mainstram performance with up to 170MB/s sequential read and 35MB/s sequential write speeds? We will check this against other SSDs from Corsair, OCZ and G.Skill in Windows 7 and Vista."

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128 GB Solid State Drive Round-Up
Link: http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/971
Summary:
We compared the performance of seven different solid state drives (SSDs) on the 128 GB range based on MLC technology from Corsair, Crucial, Kingston, Intel, Mushkin, Patriot and Western Digital.

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Lite-On eHAU424 External DVD Writer Review at CCE Reviews
Link:http://www.ccereviews.com/reviews/product-type/optical-drives/lite-on-ehau424/

Quote: I really like the LiteON eHAU424. It’s very easy to use and the USB interface literally makes it plug-and-play. The read and write performances are great and exactly as advertised. The device as a whole seems solidly built, just as I’d expect from any Lite-On product. The only thing I didn’t like about the drive is that it is somewhat large and features an external power brick that you have to haul around. However, the drive’s elegant looks make up for it.

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G.Skill ECO DDR3 1600 CL7 Review
Teaser: G.Skill offers extraordinary RAM modules. Less voltage and lower temperature instead of higher clock speeds: The G.Skill ECO DDR3 1600 CL7 modules are working at 1.35V. How is the performance? Let’s take a look!
Link:http://www.tweakpc.de/hardware/tests/ram/ddr3/gskill_eco_1600_cl7/s01.php

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Title: Seagate Momentus – Review
Article Clip: There comes a time in the lap top life time when you will be looking to replace that hard drive of yours. Overtime the hard drive could wear out and you will start experiencing problems like crashing and blue screens. Let me tell you, no one wants to go trough the aggravation of recovering a lost hard drive as it is a painful and long process. It is highly recommended to change your hard drives every two to three years or at least reload your OS for a quicker response from opening and operating programs.
Article Link: http://umlan.com/reviews/hardware/h119.html

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Seagate Barracuda – Review
Article Clip: As the technologies change so does the demand for storage. With more applications comes a greater need to store information. There are many different types of media available out there for the average user but not all of them might seem to worth a buck sort of speak. The Solid State Drives are pretty pricey and USB sticks just don’t provide enough storage now a days. The biggest USB stick storage available on the market today is 128 GB stick. This goes roughly for 300$ and very expensive if you ask me.
Article Link: http://umlan.com/reviews/hardware/h120.html

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Seagate FreeAgent XTreme – Review
Article Clip: With different jobs comes different needs. I am not an professional photo enthusiast or am I video studio producer but I do know the pain when it comes to storage. We write a lot of articles and go trough a lot of video footage and images. Having them in one place is the best way to manage and manipulate. Finding the right storage for the job could be a big pain since there are hundreds of enclosures. Some offer a hard drive with in and some don’t. Today we are going to take a look at FreeAgent XTreme by Seagate.
Article Link: http://umlan.com/reviews/hardware/h121.html

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Mobile / Laptops Etc:

Incipio Leather Flip iPhone 3GS Case Review @ Virtual-Hideout

Review link: http://www.virtual-hideout.net/reviews/Incipio_Leather_Flip_3GS_Case/index.shtml

Quote: “If you were looking for that perfect brown leather flip case for your iPhone, you might want to hang on and wait until revision 2 of this unit, which I hope Incipio takes these ideas and makes it happen. At a retail price of just $29.99 too, this case could have made a huge splash in the market in my opinion. Considering some of the crappiest molded silicone junk is selling for $15-$25 as it is, this high quality leather flip from Incipio is a fantastic value for what you get. It’s too bad they missed the mark, if even by a little, which is all it takes in this incredibly competitive market segment.”

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Maha Energy MH-C9000 WizardOne Charger-Analyzer Review with IMEDION @ ModSynergy.com

Quote: "Environmental friendly products are ones that are catching on in the North American market.  It seems that the trend has shifted toward utilizing green products and being able to reduce, reuse and recycle has never been of more importance in our lifetimes until now.  We have been advised of the devastating effects of global warming by scientists and high ranking officials of government and now we’ve seen with our own eyes.  Being able to reduce, reuse and recycle has got to be implemented by lifestyle changes.  One way to achieve change is to stop using disposable products.  It seems that we’ve been a disposable society for far too long and that has come back to bite us.

Link: http://www.modsynergy.com/review217.html

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IDAPT I3 Unversal Desktop Charger
URL: http://www.bcchardware.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=8484&Itemid=40
Quote:

In the end, the IDAPT I3 is a decent device and if it came loaded up with the iPod, Zune and NDS tips, I’d find it very useful.  The option to pick four of your favorite tips is a great way to get the IDAPT configured for your personal use.  Unfortunately, there is not Zune connector available and hopefully IDAPT will make the Zune one available in the near future.  It does save a lot of cable clutter and our own Fujitsu was sharing his own personal pet peeve of having an entire power bar dedicated to charging different devices. . .

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iPad versus Netbook-Tablet Hybrid Head to Head:
http://hothardware.com/Articles/Apple-iPad-Or-A-NetbookTablet-Hybrid-Which-Makes-More-Sense/

The iPad has arrived during an interesting time. It’s a time in which many consumers are re-evaluating their computing needs, and they’re trying to decide whether a full-sized notebook, a netbook, a tablet or something in between is best for them. The iPad has definitely driven more people than would traditionally consider a tablet, to investigate the iPad’s usage model.  That said, does it really make sense to buy this device over a netbook, or better still, a netbook / tablet hybrid? We covered the ins and outs of Apple’s first tablet in our full review, but this article is intended to dig deeper and investigate whether an iPad or netbook / tablet hybrid is best suited for you. These two are the most similar of the machines currently available in terms of price, form factor and usability…

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MSI WindBox Barebones-PC Kit @ Benchmark Reviews

DESCRIPTION: Not every computer needs to have a four million hertz processor and the world’s best video card. Just like power tools, some jobs require raw power while other jobs require more finesse. When the job at hand involves video, web applications, light gaming or light office work it doesn’t make sense to use a supercomputer or even a high-performance machine. This idea has become mainstream through the recent marketing of netbooks (internet notebooks) and video sharing devices, but even those platforms do not suit all light application needs. In this article Benchmark Reviews will test a nettop (internet desktop) from MSI; Wind Box model 6667BB-004US. This barebones PC kit is like an older, more capable sibling to the netbook. But how does it measure up against other alternatives?

ARTICLE URL: http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=493&Itemid=66

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Lenovo ThinkPad X100e Ultraportable Review:
http://hothardware.com/Articles/Lenovo-ThinkPad-X100e-Ultraportable-Review/

ThinkPad loyalists may be some of the most picky in all of the notebook world, and many don’t take kindly to tweaks and overhauls of their favorite portable PCs. Lenovo was really going out on a limb with the X100e, as the 11.6" display and sub-$500 start point was obviously out of character for a ThinkPad. We know the ThinkPad Edge family has already branched out, but those machines were still of their own blood. There’s no mistaking that the X100e is yet another member of the "classic" ThinkPad line; from the blocked edges to the red trackpoint nub to the matte black finish, it really looks like a shrunken ThinkPad at first glance…

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MSI Wind12 U230 Netbook w/ AMD Athlon Neo X2 L335 CPU Review @ Legit Reviews
Article URL: http://legitreviews.com/article/1269/1/

   "Overall, the MSI Wind U230 is a great netbook with a solid construction feel that we like to see in any notebook. The adoption to 12.1" LCD screen is something we have seen evolve over the past year from the previously standard 10" screen size on netbooks. The market seems to have demanded a 12" netbook and companies like MSI have answered the call. We must also commend MSI for offering a netbook featuring the AMD Athlon Neo X2 L335 processor and the AMD ‘Congo’ platform. It definitely brought some excitement back in the netbook market as this chip is a viable competitor to the dual core Intel Atom counter-parts. We were very impressed with the U230’s dominating performance…"

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‘Toshiba Announces Tecra M11 Laptop’
The "powerhouse road warrior" will sport i3 and i5 Intel processors.
The Full Article can be viewed at http://tech.tbreak.com/2010/04/toshiba-announces-tecra-m11-laptop/

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Review of Comic Reader Mobi app for iPad

One of the apps released with the debut of the iPad was the Marvel comic book reader based on Comixology’s iPhone/iPod Touch app. Through this app readers can purchase digital comics online similar to buying music on iTunes. One drawback to this app is that you could not import digital comics from outside sources. This means folks with comic collections digitized into cbr, zip, rar and cbz formats are out of luck. Thankfully “there’s an app for that”. Comic Reader Mobi allows the transfer of digitized comics onto the iPad and make the books easily readable with an include zoom lens for magnifying print that may be too small for some people.

http://www.testfreaks.com/blog/review/review-of-comic-reader-mobi-app-for-ipad/

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Review of Things for iPad

Today I’ll be looking at the iPad app iteration of Things. This version is designed to take advantage of the iPad’s strengths such as larger screen real estate and capacitive interaction. Its user interface is very reminiscent to the OS X version. Things for iPad can be used in isolation or in conjunction with the Mac version. Personally, I think using Things with both the iPad and Mac provides the best user experience.

http://www.testfreaks.com/blog/review/review-of-things-for-ipad/

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Audio / Video:

Samsung SyncMaster XL2370 LED LCD Monitor Review @ Tweaknews
Article Url: http://www.tweaknews.net/reviews/samsung_xl2370_led_monitor_review/
Article Snippet:
"Overall, the Samsung SyncMaster XL2370 is an excellent premium 1080p monitor for the consumer wanting to pay more to get a top of the line product. The picture quality, color reproduction and contrast alone makes up for the difference in cost and after a weeks worth of use, the money will be deemed a good investment."

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Kodak EasyShare Z950 Digital Camera Review
Link: http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/976
Summary:Review of the Kodak EasyShare Z950, a 12-megapixel digital camera with Schneider-Kreuznach lens.

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ASUS Xonar DX Dolby Gaming Sound Card

Summary: Nowadays it rarely seems that anyone use anything but onboard audio. Sure the sound is good and you get some of the effects you may want, but I can tell you there is still nothing like a good add-on sound cards.

Articles URL: http://www.modders-inc.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story&reid=313

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AirLink 101 SpyIPCam747W Wireless Network Camera Review @ ThinkComputers.org

Review URL: http://www.thinkcomputers.org/airlink-101-spyipcam747w-wireless-network-camera-review/

Quote: “Personal surveillance is very important for a lot of people. Many of us own expensive things and what better way to protect them than with surveillance. So many people think that setting up surveillance can be very expensive, but with network camera it is not only inexpensive, but also very easy. Today we will be taking a look at the SpyIPCam747W which is a wireless network camera that also features pan and tilt control, motion detection, night vision, and 2-way audio transmission. Let’s take a look at the SpyIPCam747W Wireless Network camera and see if it’s perfect for your surveillan ce needs."

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‘Five minutes with Panasonic about their 3D TVs’
Panasonic tells us why Plasma is better than LCD and why you should consider their 3D TV over their competitor.
The Full Article can be viewed at http://tech.tbreak.com/2010/04/five-minutes-with-panasonic-about-their-3d-tvs/

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Samsung B2430: A Massive Monitor @ InsideHW

Summary:
The B2430 model, as well as the rest of the series, should present home users with a high-quality, affordable solution, a goal which we think is completely fulfilled, but since we still haven’t got the final retail price, we must restrain ourselves from any definitive conclusions.
Article link: http://www.insidehw.com/Reviews/Displays/Samsung-B2430-A-Massive-Monitor.html

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Gaming:

Razer Imperator Gaming Mouse:
Swedish link:  http://www.rbmods.se/content/14399/imperators-funktioner.aspx
English link:  http://www.rbmods.com/content/21787/razer-imperator-gaming-mouse.aspx
Quote: It has been quite some time since we looked at a Razer product last. Today we are taking a look at their imperator mouse with features such as a moving thumb button, and 5600DPI according to the specifications. We are going to compare this mouse vs some high end mice on the market so lets take a closer look.

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R.U.S.E. (Preview) @ GamingHeaven.net
"Wouldn’t it be great if there was a game that recreated the element of surprise at the heart of each conflict, one that would enable players to not only show the understanding of their arsenal but also genuine lateral thinking in the face of something unexpected?
That is the premise behind R.U.S.E. It may seem like a familiar rehash of things that have seen before. The World War II setting for example means that almost anyone will be familiar with the units, the setting and the factions."

http://www.gamingheaven.net/gamingreviews.php?reviewid=893

==

Assorted Stuffs:

Six Obscure Web Browsers You Might Love
http://www.techspot.com/guides/268-six-obscure-web-browser-to-love/
It used to be that Firefox, Opera and others were the "alternative" Web browsers, but in an age of forced ballot screens that’s not entirely accurate. In fact, one could say that the more experienced a user is the further and faster they run from Internet Explorer.

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ATI Radeon HD 5000 Series Blu-ray HD Audio Bitstream Guide
QUOTE: "If you have followed the home theater PC space for the past few years, you would have noticed it is getting more attention from several big name players such as Intel, NVIDIA, ATI, ASUS, Auzentech, CyberLink and several others. They are all working pretty closely together to improve not only the video experience, but also the audio experience for your movie watching enjoyment.
The good news is that last year AMD announced that its Radeon HD 5000 series of video cards would all get bitstream audio support. AMD has been working with CyberLink who make the popular movie playback software called PowerDVD to get this up and running. So, not only does the video card provide your HTPC with 3D gaming capabilities, but also a premium audio experience."

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Bootable USB Drive, Flashing Nvidia GPU BIOS, Recovering from a Bad Flash @ Bjorn3D

Some days you wake up knowing exactly what you are going to do. Some days you wake up intending one thing and end up doing another. Today was one of those days. Often we get motherboards or GPU’s with early BIOS and as testing drones on you get updates. After a while it gets old yanking the one working floppy drive we have left out and booting to it to flash BIOS on GPU’s and motherboards. Well floppy disks haven’t been the greatest quality of late and it’s better to boot to a known good USB Drive than an iffy floppy that may have been on the shelf for years.
Having had to do that today it struck me that other people might want easy access to a ‘How to make a USB drive windows 98 bootable’ for flashing their boards. Hours later here I sit with pictures in hand, bootable USB drive flashing my GPU BIOS and half wondering how I got here.
All that aside lets get started. First we are venturing into making a USB Stick bootable then we’ll do a short how to flash an Nvidia cards BIOS thing (GTX-480 in this case). That’s easiest because that’s what we needed the USB Drive bootable for.
http://www.bjorn3d.com/read.php?cID=1844

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Gadget Show Live 2010 @ XSReviews

Review Link: http://www.xsreviews.co.uk/editorial/events/gadget-show-live-2010/
Quote: "While the press morning at the Gadget Show Live 2010 was fun, the rest of the day involved a lot more people and meant the stands were all in full swing with their displays and setups raring to go. This was when we got the bulk of out pictures taken and our hands shaken, so without further a do, here’s the rest of our Gadget Show Live 2010 coverage. "

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Win a complete EVGA P55 barebones system @ Ninjalane
URL: http://forums.ninjalane.com/viewtopic.php?t=1746
Quote: One lucky winner will walk away with a great barebones system put together with parts from EVGA and Thermaltake. Contest Starts on April 9th 2010 and runs until May 9th 2010 @ 12 Noon MST. Entering is easy and the only prerequisite is that you be a member of the Ninjalane Message Forum.

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Campus Party 2010 in Spain – Day 2

Now that everybody has arrived and settled in, the event is officially open since this morning. The welcome was presented by Cristina Garmendia, Minister of Science and Innovation. The case mods are installed, the dewars filled, let’s roll….
http://www.madshrimps.be/gotoartik.php?articID=1000

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Gaj-it Weekly Round Up  

1. iPad UK Launch Date Now Announced for Saturday 29th May 2010?
2. Review: HTC Desire Vs. Google Nexus One
3. Google Includes Site Speed in Search Rankings
4. Twitter App For BlackBerry Enhances Procrastination Facilities
5. iPad Jailbreak Courtesy of Geohot and Gang!

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20 Open Source Programs To Maximize Your Windows Experience

The words “Open Source” and “Linux” go together like “Microsoft Office” and “Windows” – some things just naturally flow. However, open source programs on a Windows operating system is not as commonly thought of, even though it is more popular than you may think.

If you’re not looking at open source software to augment your Windows experience, then you could be missing out on some very capable and high quality software. To that end, we would like to present 20 of our favorite open source software choices for Windows, grouped by area of function.

http://www.testfreaks.com/blog/information/20-open-source-programs-maximize-windows-experience/

==

Quick Links:

Thermaltake Frio CPU cooler Review @ XtremeComputing

be quiet! Straight Power CM 680W

Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Blu-ray Movie Review

Thermaltake V5 Black Edition Chassis Review @ Vortez.co.uk

Coolmax CUL-750B 750 W Power Supply Review @ Hardware Secrets

MSI Radeon HD 5830 1GB Twin FrozrII Video Card

Antec CP-1000 Power Supply Review @ HardwareHeaven.com

Corsair Dominator GT 6GB DDR3 1866 CL7 Memory Review on Technic3D

GlacialPower GP-AX950AA 950w Power Supply @ Bjorn3D

Overclock3D have just published a new article titled: Intel Core i7 930 Review

Jelfin Gel-covered Mouse Review @ ThinkComputers.org

MIONIX NAOS 5000 LASER MOUSE REVIEW @ APH NETWORKS

Cooler Master Elite Power 400 W Power Supply Review @ Hardware Secrets

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 480 Overclocking with Voltage Adjustment

Heatsink Roundup April 2010 @ HardwareHeaven.com

Gigabyte Radeon HD 5670 1GB Video Card Review @ Legit Reviews

LC Power Silent Giant 460W Green Power Edition power-supply review @planet3dnow.de

Nexus VCT-9000 CPU Cooler Review @ Hardware Secrets

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 470 SLI Review @ Hardware Canucks

Sparkle GeForce 210 1GB Video Card Review @ ThinkComputers.org

iXBT Labs Review: MSI 890GXM-G65 Motherboard

ECS H57H-MUS Motherboard @ Hardware Secrets

Coolink Corator DS CPU Cooler Review @ BayReviews.com

Akasa Nero-S CPU Cooler Review on Technic3D

Lamptron FC5 Fan Controller Review @ TechArkade.com

Patriot Viper Series DDR3 6GB Triple Channel 1600MHz Memory Modules Unboxing Video @ eTeknix.com

Overclock3D have just published a new article titled: Prolimatech Megahalem Review

HIS HD 5570 Fan 1GB Review at Overclockers Online

Enermax Acrylux Wireless Keyboard @ PureOverclock

Times for some more news from our friends around the world.. Enjoy!

Storage Related:

OnTop TurboJet Whisper 4GB USB Flash Drive Review @ Legit Reviews
Article URL: http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1252/1/

"Portable flash drives come in all shapes and sizes now and there is hardly a form factor that isn’t available these days. OnTop Technologies, which was founded in 2007, offers a wide variety and asked us to have a look at their TurboJet line of flash drives. They have lines of products for both corporate and consumer customers. The particular model they sent us is a "glistening gold" Whisper 4GB drive which functions as both a flash drive and a necklace pendant. Also available in "sparkling silver" and "dark chrome"…."

==

Kingston HyperX 4GB 2400MHz CL9 DDR3 Memory Review @ Legit Reviews
Article URL: http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1274/1/

"Today I have quite the treat, Kingston’s fastest set of DDR3, their brand spanking new HyperX DDR3-2400C9. In the press release they claim it to be the fastest Intel-certified memory in the world. What this means is that Intel has certified this kit to run on their P55 platform at the rated speeds. In short this is as close to an overclocking guarantee as it gets. The Intel document with Core i7 XMP certified modules can be found here. Keep in mind that these sticks are rated to run on LGA1156 Core i7 processors like the Core i7 860 and 870.."

==

Rosewill RX358 USB 3.0 Hard Drive Enclosure @ [OC]ModShop

SuperSpeed USB (otherwise known as USB 3.0) is a new standard for PC peripheral connectivity. Although Intel has been hesitant to make this interface truly standard, more and more vendors are including the technology on their motherboards
, and you can even purchase add-on cards to upgrade your current system. The increase in data transfer naturally lends itself to increased hard drive performance, and PC equipment manufacturers are now revealing hard drive enclosures featuring USB 3.0. Rosewill has been making good PC peripherals for several years, including external hard drive enclosures. They have recently introduced their RX358 USB 3.0 hard drive enclosure, which promises the ease of USB with the data capabilities of SATA.

Review URL :: http://www.ocmodshop.com/ocmodshop.aspx?a=1751

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A-DATA Nobility N002 128GB USB 3.0 + SATA-II Portable HDD
QUOTE: "USB 3.0 is capable of transferring data faster than the SATA II interface, so for the most part we expect to see performance that is on par with SSDs running similar controllers. So far we have not had luck with this assumption, but NEC has a new driver for their USB 3.0 controller and I am told it fixes the SSD shuddering issue with USB 3.0; we shall find out today.
Previous experience aside, today’s article is all about the new N002 128GB USB 3.0 Portable SSD from A-DATA. A-DATA has been on a roll with their solid state products; just recently we reviewed their first SandForce controlled SSD, only the second we had come across with the new SF-1200 controller. The A-DATA N002 at first glance appears to be a standard SATA II Indilinx Barefoot based solid state drive. Once you get a glimpse of the side, though, you see the USB 3.0 power and data port and that is when things start to get interesting."

==

QNAP TS-439 Pro.
We have recently taken a look at the QNAP TS-809 Pro NAS. It was one of the most expensive and features packed NAS we have looked at with its 8 unit storage space, Core 2 Duo processor, and 2GB of RAM. Unfortunately, these features come with a premium pricing. Thus, not everyone is able to afford such a unit. If you are looking to have a NAS with similar features but at significantly lower cost, then the TS-439 Pro may just be the unit for you.
http://www.bjorn3d.com/read.php?cID=1815

==

2 Port PCI-e Express SuperSpeed USB 3.0 Card Adapter and USB 3.0 Extension Cable Review

Today for review our friends at USBFever have sent me over two products to take a look at. One is a USB 3.0 PCIE card adapter and the other is the compliment to the card, a USB 3.0 extension cable. You really can’t have one without the other right? So read on to learn more about these two products and see how USB 3.0 compares to USB 2.0.

==

Vantec SuperSpeed USB 3.0 Card Review @ [OC]ModShop

The Vantec SuperSpeed USB 3.0 card is definitely fast. It can supply enough bandwidth
for SATA hard drives to work at their full potential, and works much better than the chipsets on many motherboards. While testing USB flash sticks in our test labs, we have discovered that the quality of the chipset on the motherboard greatly affects the USB throughput. Even if you don’t need the extra bandwidth right now, the NEC D720200F1 chip on the SuperSpeed card provided the best performance we have seen on all of our existing USB 2.0 devices. So if you think you’re not getting the most out of your USB devices, then it’s probably your motherboard’s USB chipset and you may want to upgrade to the new technology.
I would recommend Vantec’s SuperSpeed USB 3.0 card to any PC enthusiast, but I have a few improvements for the next generation of cards:

Review URL :: http://www.ocmodshop.com/ocmodshop.aspx?a=1744

==

Corsair Force 100GB SSD Review on Technic3D

Link: http://www.technic3d.com/article-1058,1-corsair-force-100-ssd-mit-neuem-controller-zum-ssd-olymp.htm

Translation Link: http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3a%2F%2fwww.technic3d.com%2Farticle-1058%2C1-corsair-force-100-ssd-mit-neuem-controller-zum-ssd-olymp.htm&sl=de&tl=en&hl=&ie=UTF-8
Quote: "The Corsair Force 100 SSD with SandForce SF-1200 controllers arrived Technic3D. Available in 100GB and 200GB configurations. Results in extreme performance with up to 285MB/s sequential read and 275MB/s sequential write speeds? We will check this against other SSDs from OCZ and G.Skill in Windows 7 and Vista."

==

Corsair Force Series 100GB SandForce 1200 SSD Review @ Legit Reviews
Article URL: http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1267/1/

"It’s always fun to have a peek at the guts and we are more than happy to crack open the Corsair Force Series 100GB SSD so you don’t have to. Peeking inside, the Sandforce SF-1200 controller lies more or less in the middle of the PCB flanked by the Micron MLC-NAND flash chips. Notably absent is the DRAM cache which is unneeded due to Sandforce’s DuraClass technology. The cost of the controller is partially offset by the lack of dedicated DRAM which is good because Sandforce controllers are not cheap. We’ll see if the absence of this has an impact on performance but this is the reason for the 100GB capacity rather than the 128GB physically on the drive. The layout is the same as other Sandforce-based SSD’s we have seen recently but if you look closely, visible is the Corsair brand along the PCB’s edge…"

==

Crucial DDR3 1333 Value Ram Kit @ TechwareLabs

Quote: Crucial is popular for good reason, the reviews for their RAM have always been on a positive, with good reliability and overclocking ability. We will see if this is the case for their Value Ram kit as well.
LINK: http://www.techwarelabs.com/crucial-ddr3-1333/

==

Kingston HyperX 16GB 1600MHz DDR3 Quad Channel Memory Kit Review

I was recently trying to go for the “hat trick” and multitask the mess out of my uber powerful Intel Core i7 system. It usually lives up to multitasking expectations with a mere 8GB’s of RAM. But I finally asked too much of it when editing some pictures, encoding a massive 1080p video and keeping all my various MS Office and desktop apps running all at the same time. It definitely got a little bogged down and there’s only one reason for that: memory.

Direct Link:http://www.futurelooks.com/kingston-hyperx-16gb-1600mhz-ddr3-quad-channel-memory-kit-review/

==

WD VelociRaptor 600GB SATA 6Gbps Hard Drive Review @ Legit Reviews
Article URL: http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1272/1/

Quote: "The Western Digital VelociRaptor 600GB hard drive (WD6000HLHX) has been rumored for many months now and it is great to finally see the drive come to market. The drive doesn’t bring many new features other than SATA 6Gbps and the larger 32MB cache to the table, but WD has double the capacity of this 10,000 RPM drive series and did manage to boost performance as advertised. In fact we noticed more than a 15% performance increase in some benchmarks, which was great to see. It was also interesting to see how large the performance gap has come between hard drives and solid-state drives. The VelociRaptor series is an enthusiast class product and is ideal for those PC users who don’t want to jump into the SSD market right now. The new 450GB and 600GB VelociRaptors would also make for great secondary storage drives to those that have an SSD as their primary storage drive…"

==

WD VelociRaptor 600GB: Fastest. HD. Ever.:
http://hothardware.com/articles/WD-VelociRaptor-600GB-Fastest-HD-Ever/

Like the first-Gen VelociRaptor, the new 600GB variant employs a 2.5" form factor, with a 10K RPM spindle speed. This new offering, however, sports denser platters, more cache, a SATA 6Gb/s interface, and a dual-core processor; all features designed to crank performance up a notch or three. Will the new VelociRaptor hit the same speeds as an SSD? No. But it is the fastest HD we have ever tested. Read on and see for youself…

==

Ineo Technology I-NA317U+ – Review
Article Clip: Being a geek is a tough job. I often run around the place looking for things as my work area is often a messy one. The same pretty much applies with my files. Finding the right image or a video could be difficult at times if you are like me. I am looking on my table and there are about 14 hard drives on it. Some are 2.5" and some are 3.5". Finding the right folder would be a mess. Luckily there are hard drive docking stations are available for geek like me. Today we are going to be taking a look at the newest product line from Ineo Technology, I-NA317U+.
Article Link: http://umlan.com/reviews/hardware/h117.html

==

Thecus N4200 Zero-Crash with Dual Power NAS Review

Thecus has spent a long time devising their NAS servers and this shows with the design of the N4200. It supports all of the major file systems including the Mac, Windows and Linux. The unit can take up to four drives in RAID 0, 1,5,6,10 or JBOD mode. The N5200 is not inexpensive at nearly $750 USD, but is a fully functional computer in its own right with a dual core N510 CPU, and 1GB of memory. Overall Thecus has done a bang-up job with the N4200 with a Battery Backup Module and Dual DOMs to prevent data loss when a failure occurs in the hardware, software or power.

Review Link: http://www.motherboards.org/reviews/hardware/2044_1.html

==

Western Digital Velociraptor 600Gb @ LanOC Reviews
DESCRIPTION: With the SSD market growing it wasn’t a surprise when Western Digital joined the market recently with their SiliconEdge Blue SSD. Even with the prices dropping SSD’s are still out of range for most enthusiasts. The only way most people can pick them up is settling with 30 and 60 gig SSD’s, of course this leads to a balancing act trying to keep from filling up your SSD. Today Western Digital is introducing their newest version of the Velociraptor, a 600Gb (or 450Gb), 10k RPM monster than should hold anything you need without any worries.

ARTICLE URL: http://lanoc.org/review/hardware/storage/2950-western-digital-velociraptor-600gb

==

Mobile / Netbooks / Laptops Etc:

Gateway FX 6831-03 Gaming Desktop PC Review
http://www.techspot.com/review/265-gateway-fx-6831-gaming-desktop/
While many hardcore gamers and hardware enthusiasts will tell you it’s better to build your own rig, some still choose to go with a custom-built model from a recognized brand name. These often come attached to higher premiums, but also to comprehensive customer support and warranties covering the entire system, plus the peace of mind of not having to deal with any troubles that may occur while assembling it piece by piece.

==

Apple iPad Review: The Tablet Revolution Begins:
http://hothardware.com/Articles/Apple-iPad-Review-The-Tablet-Revolution-Begins/

We’ve had the opportunity to review a few tablet / netbook combinations here at HotHardware (the Eee PC T91 from Asus immediately comes to mind), but in the 10+ years of covering computing technology, there has yet to be a tablet as polarizing, alluring, and promising as iPad. We’ve got one in house and have given in a thorough evaluation. Come on by and check it out…

==

Cooler Master Choiix Air-Through Stash Notebook Cooler Review @ [OC]ModShop

There is a simple way to keep your netbook or laptop from turning your legs into a hot iron griddle. They’ve been around almost as long as laptops themselves and have proven themselves time and again: Notebook coolers. From the ultra-compact foldaway ones to the gigantic models intended for those widescreen behemoths that people are using now, notebook coolers are everywhere. And they seem to get more inventive, more practical, and uglier by the minute.
The Coolermaster Choiix Air-Through Stash we’re reviewing today meets all that criteria, except the ugly part, and even gives you room to put in up to 500GB of storage. That’s right, you can take an old 2.5� SATA/SSD HDD (up to 500GB) and put it in this bad boy for nondescript data storage. All I can say is that it’s about time someone found a use for all that extra space on notebook coolers that didn’t involve some faux fur-lined drawer that’s just big enough to fit a USB stick.

Review URL :: http://www.ocmodshop.com/ocmodshop.aspx?a=1748

==

‘The conundrum that is Android 1.6 on Xperia X10′
Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 was today introduced to the UAE market. It runs Android 1.6 at the same time as other handsets are launching with 2.1.
The Full Article can be viewed at http://tech.tbreak.com/2010/04/the-conundrum-that-is-android-1-6-on-xperia-x10/

==

‘HP Mini 210 Netbook Review’
Mixing a refresh of internals and external design, the Mini 210 is HP’s latest netbook.
The Full Article can be viewed at http://tech.tbreak.com/2010/04/hp-mini-210-netbook-review/

==

Tablets of 2010: Apple’s iPad and Other Alternatives
http://www.techspot.com/article/267-tablets-of-2010/
As you’ve undoubtedly heard, 2010 is being hailed as the year of the tablet PC (yes, again). That may come as a shock considering the fact that very few big-name tablets are currently available and forthcoming works are mostly shrouded in secrecy. Unless you follow tech news closely, you’re probably only familiar with Apple’s iPad which launched this weekend and perhaps HP’s Slate that was showcased during this year’s CES.

==

Asus 13.3" U30Jc Notebook Review:
http://hothardware.com/Articles/Asus-133-U30Jc-Notebook-Review/

Today, we’re taking a look at a new Core i3-350M powered ultraportable notebook from Asus dubbed the U30Jc.  The U30Jc combines the best in new mobile CPU technology with NVIDIA’s Optimus technology, and the result is a reasonably priced, yet extremely promising machine that will easily fit on a tray table in coach. Come on by and check it out…

==

Apple iPad 16GB WiFi Slate Computer
QUOTE: "Not too terribly long ago the internet was awash with rumors of an Apple tablet. Everyone was talking about it; what was it going to look like? What would it be like to use? We all had our theories. For the record; when we thought about it we always envisioned a large scale personal media player combined with an e-book reader.
Well, last month Steve Jobs unveiled the iPad. Despite the terribly funny (and pointless) name, the iPad came very close to what we expected it to be. It is a content delivery system that is looking to knock the current e-book readers and personal media players into a cocked hat. It is also taking a stab at some of the lower end netbook space."

==

Futurelooks’ Wish List of Features For The Perfect Notebook Cooler

As more and more people choose to embrace the mobile  lifestyle, the more they’ll realize that it’s perfectly suitable to rely on a notebook  for all of their computing needs. Even hardcore gamers, coders, graphic artists, and the like have been able to enjoy the mobile lifestyle with some very powerful portable system. With power though comes heat and heat is a very real enemy to portable electronics, especially laptops, even netbooks.

Direct Link:http://www.futurelooks.com/futurelooks-wish-list-of-features-for-the-perfect-notebook-cooler/

==

Cooler Master NotePal ErgoStand Notebook Cooler Review @ Vortez.co.uk
DESCRIPTION:
"Cooler Master announced the release of the latest addition to their extensive notebook cooling range just a few weeks ago and it is with great pleasure that we bring you the NotePal ErgoStand, a device which combines the traditionally seperate functions of a desktop notebook stand and an active cooler. Sporting a single massive 140mm fan the NotePal ErgoStand certainly looks to be well equipped to tame the hottest running notebooks. Add to that an impressive range of additional features along with Cooler Master’s renowned attention to detail and design flair, and you have the makings of a fantastic bit of kit – let’s hope it performs as well as it’s specifications suggest it should!"
LINK:http://www.vortez.co.uk/review.php?id=153

==

Verizon Wireless Casio G’zOne Brigade

Today for review I’ve got the Casio G’Zone Brigade from Verizon Wireless and I like it a lot. It’s a rugged phone that’s meant to take a beating, it’s built and tested to military specifications. This phone is made to withstand extreme temperatures, drops, water, shock, vibration, dust, altitude and even solar radiation. This is one tough phone, but it’s more than just rugged, it works well, it has decent battery life and good call quality. This a phone for people who like to work and play rough and like to take things to the extreme. If you’re looking for a phone that can work and play with you and your active lifestyle then this in the phone you want.

http://www.testfreaks.com/blog/review/review-of-verizon-wireless-casio-gzone-brigade/

==

Audio / Video:

3M MPro150 Pocket Projector @ BCW

IMAGE URL: http://www.businesscomputingworld.co.uk/wp-content/woo_custom/1213-3MMPro150.jpg

SNIPPET: “3M’s MPro15 is a cool piece of gadgetry which any tech-savvy business professional will love. It’s no bargain, but it is an easy way to manage your common business files. And because it’s cordless, there’s no need to pack a separate laptop or projector so you can travel a lot lighter. The downside is that its display size is limited to 50-inches, it’s not very bright, and its built-in speakers aren’t loud enough to wake those nodding off at the back of the room. Nevertheless, it probably is good enough to let you leave your laptop at home.”

==

Grado iGi Earphones
http://www.topreviewshop.com/grado_igi_earphones
"When it comes to headphones, Grado Labs is easily one of the most respected names in the business. How does their iGi – the first sub $100 earphone from one of the world’s most beloved audiophile brands – fare against the stiff competition? That’s what we’re here to find out today."

==

Logitech S125i Portable Speaker Dock
QUOTE: "Logitech have been around for a long time now and produce some of the most well made gadgets and speaker systems for your PC. They have also been busy producing some fantastic mouse and keyboard solutions, too. You might call Logitech the ‘all-rounder’ of all things multimedia.
Today i have one of their newer products, the small and lightweight S125i speaker dock for use with Apple’s ever growing range of portables and smart phones."

==

Assorted Stuffs:

Cooling and Enclosure Contest
Contest  Link : http://www.bayreviews.com/blog/contests/5376-cooling-and-enclosure-contest
Quote : "It is time for our second contest. Three lucky winners will be able to walk away with either a SilverStone DS221 2.5" HDD Enclosure, a set of 3 Coolink SWiF2 series cooling fans or a Titan TTC-G9TZ Notebook Cooler. This contest starts on April 10th 2010 and will end on May 10th 2010 at 5PM PST. Entering is simple…"

=-=

Windows 7 Tuning and Tipps – new features of the calculator
The calculator in Windows is often unnoticed, since it has always been a boring thing. The calculator in Windows 7 is worth a look,
because it offers  new features.
Link:http://www.tweakpc.de/tweaking/windows_7_tuning_tipps/s01.php

==

Gadget Show Live 2010 Press Morning  @ XSReviews

Review Link: http://www.xsreviews.co.uk/editorial/events/gadget-show-live-2010-press-morning/

Quote: "Before things really got started at the Gadget Show Live on the 7th, the XSR team were lucky enough to visit the Press Morning which allowed us to wander around and checkout the stands and exhibits before Joe public showed up. This gave us a great chance to scout out the show before really getting into it with some of the manufacturers and stand owners.

==

10 Things Linux Does Better Than Windows
Link: http://techgage.com/article/10_things_linux_does_better_than_windows/
Quote: There is no such thing as a "perfect" OS, but given that Microsoft’s Windows costs a pretty penny and Linux is free, it’s a little strange that the latter can do certain things far better than the former. We’re taking a look at our favorite ten, which includes the partitioner, automatic logon, troubleshooting, customization and more.

==

Touring The Chernobyl Nuclear Accident Site In 2010 @ Phoronix
Direct Link: http://www.phoronix.com/vr.php?view=14747
Summary: "I just returned to the United States after being in Ukraine the past five days over Easter weekend. The purpose of this trip was to explore the site of the Chernobyl nuclear accident and surrounding areas — Kyiv, Pripyat, the Red Forest, etc. Contrary to some initial beliefs, it was not an April Fools’ Joke. Due to the great interest in Chernobyl among those interested in science and technology whether it be due to the fascination with nuclear power or finding Chernobyl popularized by video games, documentaries, and the like, I have published my collection of these photographs of Chernobyl showing what the area looks like in 2010 — just days prior to the 24th anniversary of this catastrophic disaster — along with some of my thoughts and information collected from this journey."

==

Overclockers.com Benching Team SuperPi Competition
Summary: "The OCForums Benching Team cordially invites you to our first annual Overclockers.com SuperPi 1M and 32M competition! This competition is open to anyone who is a member of the Overclockers.com forums. Signing up is very easy!
We’re proud to announce there are prizes to give away courtesy of our sponsors!
- Corsair has provided a modular, 750W beast of a power supply, the HX750W.
- Lamptron has provided three very nice prize packs:
         o Their top-of-the-line FC-5 fan controller and an Evo-G
IMP1 illuminated mouse pad.
         o A black/blue 5v-off-12v Fan-Atic five port switch fan
controller and an Evo-G MP1 gaming mouse pad.
         o An Evo-G MP3 mouse pad and an Evo-G Mouse Anchor."
SOURCE: http://www.overclockers.com/overclockerscom-benching-team-superpi-competition/

==

Gaming Etc:

Just Cause 2 Xbox 360 Review
QUOTE: "When Just Cause was released a few years back the title showed great promise, but not much more. Riddled with bugs and not the most interesting storyline, Just Cause became yet another forgotten title in the deluge of games that was released a few years after the consoles themselves. Rico, however, is back and this time he is better than ever.
Avalanche took the criticism of the original game whilst retaining what made it fun and awesome and amped it up tenfold. Just Cause 2 is one of those games that comes out of nowhere, slaps you in the back of the head and doesn’t let up until the final credits roll. And even when they do you will still go back trying more and more crazy things and side missions to get that ever elusive one hundred percent completion. Can you tell we like this game yet? – To see why, read on."

==

Hands On and Swinging with the PlayStation Move
"Motion gaming isn’t just for kiddie titles anymore. With the PlayStation Move, Sony hopes to bring motion controls to a variety of games, including some that most players would typically send players reaching for a DualShock. Check out this sneak peak at some of the titles Sony plans to offer this fall when Move launches."
Link to the article:http://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/hands-on-and-swinging-with-the-playstation-move/

==

Microsoft – The Sidewinder X4.
"This time we take a look at Microsoft’s new Sidewinder X4 gaming keyboard. Earlier we’ve reviewed Microsoft’s Sidewinder X6 keyboard, and this one is supposed to be a bit simplified and cheaper version, with some of the X6’s features dropped. "
Article link: http://metku.net/index.html?path=reviews/microsoft-sidewinder-x4/index_eng

==

System Update Re-Enables Hard Drives on Banned Xbox 360 Consoles
Quote: "A few months ago, Microsoft had disabled hard drive functionality on banned Xbox 360 consoles and corrupted its data (profiles, savegames, achievements) through an Xbox 360 system update. Now, it seems that Microsoft has finally realized that move was both inappropriate and illegal. We have just confirmed that April’s Xbox 360 system update re-enables hard drive functionality on banned Xbox 360 consoles. However, it still does corrupt profile data (during system update), but at least now banned consoles are allowed install games to the hard drive once again."
Link: http://www.ngohq.com/news/17609-system-update-re-enables-hard-drives-on-banned-xbox-360-consoles.html

==

Quick Links:

iXBT Labs Review: ASUS P7P55D-E Premium Motherboard

Coolink Corator DS Review @ Tweaknews

EVGA P55 Classified 200 Motherboard Review @ Ninjalane

MSI HD 5830 Twin Frozr II @ techPowerUp

VidaBox SLIMv3 vCase3 Premium mATX HTPC Case Review @ Madshrimps

MIONIX NAOS 5000 LASER MOUSE REVIEW @ APH NETWORKS

Logitech G9x Laser Gaming Mouse Review @ HardwareHeaven.com

Alpenföhn EKL Matterhorn CPU Cooler Review on Technic3D

The TR Podcast Episode 62: Fermi in the flesh, new VelociRaptors, and emptying the mail bag

Overclock3D have just published a new article titled: Asus 5850 TOP Review

OCZ Z Series 850W 80+ (Gold) Modular Power Supply @ Bjorn3D

ASUS EAH5850 TOP Direct CU @ PureOverclock

Thermaltake Toughpower XT 750W Power Supply Review @ HardwareHeaven.com

HIS Radeon HD 5450 1 GB @ techPowerUp

Thermaltake Frio Overclocking Heatsink @ High Tech Reviews

NZXT Hades @ Bjorn3D.com

Thermaltake Element Q Mini-ITX Case Review @ ThinkComputers.org

iXBT Labs Review: ASRock P55 Deluxe Motherboard

NZXT Gamma @ PureOverclock

Noctua NH-D14 Heatsink @ LanOC Reviews

iXBT Labs Review: i3DSpeed, March 2010

AMD ATI FirePro V8800 Workstation Graphics Card Review @ HotHardware

ASRock H55M-LE Motherboard Review

Xigmatek Utgard @ techPowerUp

Zalman ZM-MFC1 Five Channel Fan Controller Review @ Tweaknews

Asus P6X58D-E Motherboard Review at ITShootout.com

Spire TherMax Eclipse CPU Cooler Review @ Hardware Secrets

Overclockers.com – NZXT Tempest EVO Case Review

Jetway NC96-510-LF Atom Based Motherboard @ TechwareLabs

NZXT Beta Evo Chassis Review @ OCIA.net

CoolIT Systems ECO A.L.C Review @ XtremeComputing

Sapphire Radeon HD5830 HD 5830 Game Edition Videocard Review @ Tweaknews

Mionix Keid 20 @ LanOC Reviews

CoolIT ECO A.L.C. Liquid CPU Cooler @ Techgage