VR-Zone Technology News | Stuff for the Geeks! Issue #2

February 15th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone

VR-Zone.com | Stuff for the Geeks!
Xigmatek's forthcoming Achilles Plus SD1484 CPU cooler, and
The Daily VR-Zone News I tested it to compares its performance to a variety of air and
Summary - 15 Feb 2011 water coolers.
February 15th, 2011 ASUS Sabertooth P67 Review @ ocaholic
Description: With the Sabertooth P67, ASUS has an Intel-
P67 based motherboard in its portfolio that comes with some
interesting features. Therefore very suspicious is the so called
thermal shield. This plastic cover should allow an optimized
airflow over the boards core components.
HIS HD 6970 Review - XSReviews
In today's news roundup: HIS's Radeon HD 6970 graphics Description: Each generation of graphics cards is made up of
card gets reviewed; Seagate officially announces the shipment the kind of GPUs that most people buy, the mid-range and they
of its one millionth self-encrypting hard drive; Apple CEO have the budget ones which quite a lot of others buy. Then you
Steve Jobs gets a virtual boot to the face courtesy of LG; Steve have the monsters, dual chip and single. Today we look at the
Ballmer talks about Internet Explorer 9 and multitasking for latter one from HIS, the HD 6970. A giant card with expected
Windows Phone 7, and Kohime Musou, the popular Japanese impressive performance; though you know this is going to pull
visual novel which features a genderbent version of the Three a lot of power. Let's see how much.
Kingdoms, is getting an arcade fighter adaptation.
Seagate Ships One Millionth Self-Encrypting Hard Drive.
Hardware News: Description: Seagate Technologies, the company that ships
AXLE GeForce GT 430 1GB Video Card Review @ Legit most enterprise-class hard disk drives (SEDs), on Monday
Reviews said that shipments of its self-encrypting drives (SEDs) have
Description: Legit Reviews has the NVIDIA GeForce GT 430 exceeded one millions of units. The company intends to greatly
Classic Edition video card from AXLE 3D up for review today. expand its lineup of SEDs as it believed that the demand for
Equipped with 96 CUDA cores on the GF108 'Fermi' GPU such drives will grow fast.
along with 1GB of GDDR3 memory, the GT 430 is geared Consumer Electronics and Software News:
toward lower end gaming and the home theater markets. Read
on to see what we find on the AXLE GeForce GT 430 and to Watch Steve Jobs Get Kicked In The Face By The LG Optimus
see how it performs in games lie Mafia 2 and Batman: Arkham Pad
Asylum! Description: Nevermind the man is recovering from cancer,
LG just kicked Steve Jobs’ in the face. Really. Well, virtually at
Enermax Hoplite Review @ Vortez least. But it still counts!
Description: Enermax are world renowned for their presence
within the PSU and cooling departments and are regarded as Mad Catz CoD: Modern Warfare 2 Elite USB Gaming
a household name, but would you be shocked to hear that Keyboard Review @ Bigbruin.com
Enermax also produce computer cases? Admittedly they have Description: Mad Catz may not be the best known name in
only a very small selection to choose from, but in the last 2 the electronics accessory business, but odds are that you may
years Enermax have branched off into the computer case genre have used one of their products before. They manufacture
which will certainly surprised quite a few. These cases have everything from fully licensed console controllers, to Rock
been directed toward entry level users, so fundamentally the Band and Guitar Hero branded instruments. For this review,
hardware enthusiast will be ignorant of their existence. But Geeks.com has sent over the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
this year, things are about to change. Elite USB gaming keyboard.

Asus Xonar DG Headphone Amp Sound Card Review @ Sony announces pricing for the EX720 3D TVs, ready for pre-
Tweaknews order
Description: Asus' Xonar line continues its impressive lineup Description: Sony's Bravia EX720 3D TVs are now priced
with the Xonar DG, proving to be an exceptional value at $30. and can be pre-ordered. The 32" (KDL32EX720) will
It does a good job providing richer, fuller sound over speakers, cost $949, the 40" (KDL40EX720) will cost $1399, the
but the built-in headphone amp is where this card really excels. 46" (KDL46EX720) will cost $1699, the55" (KDL55EX720)
will cost $2299 and the 60" (KDL60EX720) will cost $3299.
Xigmatek Achilles Plus SD1484 Heatsink @ Benchmark The TVs will ship soon (in February, except the 60" that will
Reviews ship in April).
Description: One of the benefits of testing computer hardware
is that you occasionally get to look at new kit before it's SonyEricsson's LiveView finally lands in the US - for $82
introduced to the market. In my time at Benchmark Reviews, Description: SonyEricsson's LiveView is finally shipping in the
I've been fortunate enough to be able to review some cases US - for $82 (it's been available in the UK for quite some
and CPUs before they were generally available (or in some time now). The Liveview is an Android accessory with a small
cases, before they were even announced). Recently Benchmark (1.3") PMOLED display and can communicate via Android 2.x
Reviews was given the oppotunity to evaluate a prototype of devices. You can control music, get notifications about phone

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calls, updates from applications (twitter, facebook) and more.
The idea is that you can wear it like a watch:
Why Apple Will Not Release a Cloud-Based iPhone Nano This
Year
Description: I like the idea of an iPhone nano. One with a small
screen with the same resolution of an iPhone 3GS, powered by
an A4 processor. I'd buy one. But a cloud-based iPhone doesn't
make any sense. Not right now.
IE9, multitasking goes head to head with Windows Phone 7
Description: Steve Ballmer takes to the stage at the Hotel
Somethingorother here at Mobile World Congress. We don't
even attempt to make it and sit on the floor at the MWC booth
- watching on with increasing leg cramp as the shy and retiring
If you are looking to get a laptop or netbook, you
salesman of Redmond tells us, mostly, what we already knew.
may be confused by the sheer number of models
Gaming News: available on the market, not to mention, for different
Koihime Musou Gets Arcade Fighter market segments - ultraportable for the frequent travellers,
Description: Heard of Koihime Musou? Girls using popular multimedia powerhouse for those who enjoy watching high
names from Chinese history, welding huge blades and definition movies, and even gaming workhorse for the
weapons ? Well, Koihime Musou is getting a fighter game for hardcore gamers.
the arcades. Aside from these, some computer manufacturers have
Bizarre Creations Closing This Week also collaborated with fashion designers and even car
Description: Bizarre Creations is closing its doors for good this manufacturers to come up with a product for the niche
Friday after Activision failed to find a buyer for the studio and premium market. For example, HP has worked with
responsible for a string of highly regarded games. world-renowned fashion designer Vivienne Tam on a special
Vivienne Tam edition laptop, while Acer has produced the
New Assassin's Creed in the works Ferrari laptops with the car maker. And ASUS has their line of
Description: Ubisoft confirms it is readying another entry in Lamborghini notebook PCs too.
its award-winning action adventure series; more details due in
May. The ASUS Lamborghini VX6 is the latest addition to the
premium line of mobile computers, and that is mainly because
of the "charging bull" logo on the netbook.
ASUS Lamborghini VX6 Here's a sneak peek at the hardware specifications:-
Review: Ultraportable netbook
with great performance ASUS Lamborghini VX6
February 15th, 2011 CPU 1.8GHz Intel Atom D525
dual-core
Memory Up to 4GB of DDR3 RAM
Hard disk 320GB SATA
Screen 12.1-inch
Graphics Nvidia ION 2 dedicated GPU
The ASUS Lamborghini VX6 is the latest mobile computer Display Resolution 1366x768
born from the collaboration between the Taiwanese computer Connectivity 1x VGA, 1x HDMI, 2x
maker and Italian car manufacturer. Like the sports car, it USB3.0, 1X USB 2.0, 1x
commands a premium, but boasts a luxurious design and LAN RJ-45, 2x audio
superior performance. jack(Headphone / Mic-
in), card Reader - MMC/
SD(SDXC)

Web camera 1.3-megapixel
Battery +10.95V 5200mAh 56Wh
OS Windows 7 Home Premium
32-bit
Dimensions 297 x 204 x 28.7mm
Weight 1.5kg

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HTC Flyer: HTC's First 7-inch App Store Subscriptions
Tablet recurring your way soon
February 15th, 2011 February 15th, 2011

This year's tablet wars just got more interesting. HTC has
finally joined the crowd with the HTC Flyer, a 7-inch Android Apple has just unveiled its brand-new App Store subscription
tablet that comes with a battery-powered stylus. Read on to service which offers recurring billing through the subscribers'
find out more. iTunes Store account. This new feature will be stapled to all
publishers of content-based apps such as newspapers and
magazines, as seen in the debut of News Corp.'s The Daily app.
Expected to debut as one of the key features in iOS 4.3, the new
digital billing service will be similar to In-App Purchases, as
currently used in most apps in the App Store.
Subscriptions purchased from within the App Store
will be sold using the same App Store billing
system that has been used to buy billions of apps
and In-App Purchases. Publishers set the price and
length of subscription (weekly, monthly, bi-monthly,
quarterly, bi-yearly or yearly). Then with one-click,
customers pick the length of subscription and are
automatically charged based on their chosen length of
The new tablet has been launched at the company’s press commitment (weekly, monthly, etc.). Customers can
conference during Mobile World Congress 2011 in Barcelona. review and manage all of their subscriptions from
their personal account page, including canceling the
The device sports a uni-body white plastic design with a automatic renewal of a subscription. Apple processes
resolution of 1024 x 600 and is powered by a 1.5GHz single- all payments, keeping the same 30 percent share that
core Qualcomm chip to run Android 2.4 Gingerbread plus a it does today for other In-App Purchases.
new version of HTC Sence, which is optimized for tablets.
With regards to whether content may also be offered outside
of this new billing mechanism, Apple CEO points out that
publishers are free to offer content outside of the app. But if
so, the same or better offer has to be given to subscribers of
the app.
"Our philosophy is simple - when Apple brings a
new subscriber to the app, Apple earns a 30 percent
share; when the publisher brings an existing or new
subscriber to the app, the publisher keeps 100 percent
and Apple earns nothing," said Steve Jobs, Apple's
CEO. "All we require is that, if a publisher is making
a subscription offer outside of the app, the same (or
better) offer be made inside the app, so that customers
can easily subscribe with one-click right in the app.
What makes HTC Flyer stands out against the competitors? We believe that this innovative subscription service
It's the stylus. The stylus automatically connects to the device will provide publishers with a brand new opportunity
enabling control over writing or drawing on a new app called to expand digital access to their content onto the
Notes rather than being needed for navigation. iPad, iPod touch and iPhone, delighting both new and
All good things always come to an end, HTC says that the existing subscribers."
Flyer is not going to be cheap to justify the beautiful looking Besides providing customers an easy way to keep track of
hardware, the stylus and the free case. their subsription and ease of activation and billing, Apple
is pushing this new App Store Subscriptions as 30% of the
content providers' revnue will go to Apple.
But for the ease of potential customers and the vast
distribution power of the App Store, I'm sure many content

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providers will submit to Apple's demand in exchange for a “The partnership with Kingston offers customers more choice
potential 160 million iOS users around the globe. when it comes to hardware. Several device types managed by
the same system are in strong demand and we are happy to
now be able to service even more customers,” says Anders
Kjellander CSO at BlockMaster.

Kingston Introduces First “Kingston’s relationship with security software leader
BlockMaster enhances our ability to offer enterprise
Secure USB Flash Drive customers the most robust and versatile centrally managed
February 15th, 2011 secure USB solution available on the market,” says John
Terpening, secure USB business manager at Kingston.

The DTVPM secure USB drive is the first SafeConsoleReady
Device released from Kingston. The full SafeConsoleReady
Kingston Digital, Inc. announced it has joined with technology program from BlockMaster will also be presented
BlockMaster to deliver the SafeConsole Ready DataTraveler at the RSA conference.
Vault — Privacy Managed (DTVPM) USB flash drives.
Measuring 77.9 x 22.2 x 12.05mm, the compact aluminum
drives have hardware-based 256-bit Advanced Encryption The SafeConsoleReady brand and program will ensure
Standard (AES) protection, water-proof, and are managed that BlockMaster partner products work efficiently with
centrally by the BlockMaster SafeConsole drive management SafeConsole management tools and are able to offer customers
system. The DTVPM support data transfer speeds up to 24Mb/ all the security and management benefits of SafeConsole.
s (read) and 10Mb/s (write) via a USB 2.0 interface and are
available in 2Gb, 4Gb, 8Gb, 16Gb and 32Gb capacities.
KINGSTON PRESS RELEASE
Cubitek Readies HTPX-Tank
PC Enclosure
The first product to be released from the partnership between February 15th, 2011
Kingston Digital, Inc., and BlockMaster is presented today at
the opening of the annual RSA conference in San Francisco.
The SafeConsole Ready hardware-encrypted secure USB
drive DataTraveler Vault — Privacy Managed (DTVPM) from
Kingston is mandatory managed by the central management
server SafeConsole from BlockMaster.

Kingston, the independent world leader in memory products,
is making the secure USB flash drive hardware highly
available in its strong distribution channels globally. The
high quality DTVPM device is mandatory managed by the
leading SafeConsole management server from BlockMaster.
The solution will let enterprise customers avoid data loss and
get them on the fast track to more productive use of secure Taipei-based Cubitek Co. Ltd has taken the wraps off the
USB flash drives. HTPX-Tank, their latest addition to its soon-to-be released
Tank series PC chassis. Measuring 230 x 600 x 610mm,
the aluminum full-tower is designed to support all "HTPX
(EVGA Classified SR-2), E-ATX, ATX, micro ATX, and mini-
ITX motherboards".

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cooling tubes, cut-outs on the motherboard tray for cable
management, and a top-side I/O panel with two USB 3.0, one
eSATA and audio ports. The HTPX-Tank is equipped with four
spinners (x1 front 230mm, x2 top 140mm, & x1 rear 140mm
fan) and is expected to hit store shelves come end March.
News via [Techconnect]

Qualcomm wants
smartphones to be more
powerful than your PC
February 15th, 2011

Would you believe that the smartphone you are currently
holding how might actually have the raw processing power to
completely outclass that full-fledged notebook or desktop PC
of yours? Well, Qualcomm seems to think so. And with a new
System-on-a-chip that features both a quad-core processor
and GPU with clock speeds high enough to rival today's mid-
range PCs, it seems that the day of reckoning for the traditional
PC is close at hand. Or is it?
A quad-core processor coupled with a GPU that features 4
video processing cores sounds like the kind of hardware one
expects to find in a mid-range desktop PC or high-end laptop,
right? Well, don't be surprised, but consumers can expect to
see such top-end hardware making its way to devices as small
as smartphones by as early as 2012.
And when that happens, you can be sure that Qualcomm
will have a major part to play in churning out hardware that
delivers near PC-like performance in a smartphone. That is
because the American wireless telecommunication company
has just unveiled its latest Snapdragon System-on-a-chip
(SoC) which features the same specifications that we have
listed in the paragraph above.
According to an article posted by Tom's Hardware, the new
Snapdragon SoCs were announced by Qualcomm at this year's
Mobile World Conference and is expected to be available
in three different configurations, namely the MSM8930,
MSM8960 and APQ8064. All three configurations will feature
the new Krait processor core which reportedly features a
completely new microarchitecture, an updated Adreno GPU
and will come with the circuitry needed to perform various
connectivity-related functions such as WiFi, GPRS, Bluetooth,
FM and near-field communications (NFC).
However, it goes without saying that the star attraction of
the trio is the APQ8064 Snapdragon SoC. With four Krait
processing cores featuring clock speeds of up to 2.5GHz per
core and a quad-core Adreno 320 GPU, Qualcomm claims that
the APQ8064 is capable of performance at levels up to 150%
greater than the current-generation ARM processor cores,
while still consuming 65% lesser energy than the latter. On
top of that, the new quad-core Adreno GPU is reportedly
powerful enough to output full HD media content onto an
external display and deliver graphics performance similar to
It has room for ten PCIe expansion cards, five optical devices,
what is found in today's video game consoles.
nine hard drives (housed in trays with anti-vibration rubber
rings), and features four rear pre-drilled holes for water-

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With smartphones like these, who needs PCs anymore?

Rumour: Dell to buy AMD? RIM announces 4G PlayBook
February 15th, 2011
for LTE and HSPA+ networks,
and BlackBerry Travel App
February 15th, 2011
There is no denying that AMD is currently facing yet another
rough patch, but it appears that the situation over at the
Sunnyvale chip company might be a lot worse than what the
company is willing to let on. Apparently, the recent string of
departures from AMD's senior executive board has sparked off
rumours that the higher-ups are planning to put the company At Mobile World Congress 2011 in Barcelona, Research in
up for sale, and well...the logo up there says it all. But what are Motion has announced two models 4G PlayBook models
the chances of such an acquisition actually taking place? that support LTE and HSPA+ networks. On top of that, the
company has also announced a new BlackBerry Travel App
that lets you plan, book, manage and share travel activities
easily.

It is no secret that things have not been going AMD's way
of late, in spite what the company would attempt to have
most people believe. Granted, the world's second largest global
supplier of x86 chips may have been making the headlines
about various new product launches and plans for the past
few weeks, but just as attention-grabbing as its product press
releases were the sudden departures of two of its company's
senior executive board, namely CEO Dirk Meyer and COO
Robert Rivet. Research In Motion (RIM) has announced two additional
BlackBerry 4G PlayBook tablets in the second half this year,
And with AMD offering little information to shareholders and
which feature support for LTE and HSPA+ high speed wireless
the media as to why two members of its executive board would
networks.
walk out on the company at such short notice, needless to say
the AMD rumour mill is once again open for business. Except RIM's BlackBerry 4G PlayBook tablets aims to deliver
that this time, it seems the personnel running the rumour mill professional, user-friendly experiences that redefine the
have come to only one possible conclusion: AMD's board is possibilities of mobile computing. The tablets offer great
preparing to put the company up for sale, and Dell appears to performance with real-time multitasking and symmetrical
have been identified as the party most likely to take up AMD multiprocessing, high-fidelity web browsing with support for
on its offer should it ever come to pass. Adobe Flash, advanced security features and out-of-the-box
enterprise support.
According to Bloomberg News, the possibility of AMD
getting put up for sale is "far-fetched" but entirely plausible, In addition to the Wi-Fi and 4G connectivity referenced above,
considering that the Sunnyvale company is currently running each tablet can also support Bluetooth tethering, Mobile
its day-to-day operations without any managerial directions. hotspots and BlackBerry Bridging.
In addition, AMD's established portfolio is deemed to be
"highly desirable from the standpoint of several potential
strategic acquirers based on multiple capabilities, including Intel introduces new
both its x86 capabilities and its graphics processor expertise". XMM platform for mobile
Needless to say, being able to be in control of its own processor
and GPU supply has got to be an extremely appealing option
communications devices
February 15th, 2011
for any computer OEM to consider, especially if it means
being able to restrict the supply for AMD Radeon GPUs
from competitors in order give itself an unfair competitive
advantage. But until we actually get concrete information that
AMD is indeed making plans to put itself up for sale, we have
no choice but to call Internet FUD on this one for the time
being.

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Wait just a second...Intel? A leading provider hardware baseband processor X-GOLD 706" and SMARTi 4G RF
solutions for mobile communications handsets? That has transceiver. Intel claims that the tightly-integrated chipset is
got to be a joke, right? As odd as it might sound, that suitable for "integration in LTE-enabled portable devices such
is about as true as it can get: thanks to its acquisition of as mobile handsets, data cards/dongles and other embedded
Infineon Technologies, Intel is now officially one of the leading solutions" when used in conjunction with its "3GPP Release 8
providers of baseband processors in the industry. And as proof triple mode protocol stack".
that the chip giant is intent on making its presence in the The X-GOLD 706 baseband processor, manufactured
mobile segment felt, the company has just announced the in 40nm process technology, is based on the proven
launch of its new XMM 7060 compact multimode platform. 2G/3G X-GOLD 626 with an integrated low power
About time too! *image shown above is purely for illustrative LTE L1 subsystem. Therefore smart phones and
purposes and is not indicative of the actual product tablets based on the XMM 6260 2G/3G platform
using the X-GOLD 626 can be easily migrated to
LTE ensuring the customers a high degree of reuse
of their hardware and software investment. The
new baseband processor is accompanied with the
SMARTi4G, incorporating optimized building blocks
of the leading-edge 2G/3G SMARTi UE2 and SMARTi
LU RF transceiver -- the world’s first commercially
available LTE transceiver. The 65nm CMOS RF
transceiver employs a proven digital architecture
that significantly reduces the number of external RF
components such as power amplifiers and filters,
and, hence, reduces board space, BOM and power
consumption.
With MeeGo as good as a'NoGo' now that Nokia has pulled The XMM 7060 slim modem platform fits in less
out of the alliance with Intel, it would seem that the chip than 700mm² PCB (Printed Circuit Board) area
giant's plans for introducing an x86-powered smartphone is including all necessary system components for quad
essentially dead on arrival. After all, it has been proven time band LTE, penta band 3G and quad band EDGE
and again that the x86 platform is just not suitable for use in applications. It supports LTE category 3 (CAT-3)
highly mobile devices such as smartphones, especially when throughputs (100Mbps/50Mbps download/upload
Intel's most low-power, energy efficient x86 Atom processors respectively) and is compliant to LTE Release 8
pale in comparison to ARM's offerings, which are unmatched standard supporting FDD and TDD mode for all
as far as low-power performance is concerned. bandwidth up to 20MHz. In addition Inter-RAT
handover features with 3G and 2G systems are
However, it appears that Intel might just be shifting its
naturally included.
smartphone strategy a little now that it is seems that its
processors will never see the light of day in an actual retail Unfortunately, users hoping to purchase a smartphone that
smartphone. Instead of attempting to compete head on with features the Intel XMM 7060 compact multimode platform
ARM, the chip giant is apparently focusing on baseband will probably have a great deal of waiting in store for them.
processors which mobile phones make use of to communicate This is because Intel has confirmed that the first platform
with the wireless telephone network, having just announced samples will only be made available in Q3 2011, while mass
its new compact multimode platform, the XMM 7060. shipments are only expected to commence in the second half
of 2012.

Samsung launches GALAXY S
WiFi 4.0 smart player
February 15th, 2011

The Samsung GALAXY S II was unveiled at Mobile World
Congress, and today, the Korean manufacturer has announced
the GALAXY S Wi-Fi 4.0 smart player designed to offer music,
*image for illustrative purposes only. Actual product is smartphone-like innovation and app experiences.
expected to differ significantly
According to a press released issued by the chip giant, the
XMM 7060 consists of two key components; the "multimode

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Intel To Increase X25-E SSD
Pricing Next Month
February 15th, 2011

Yes, you heard right. Intel is going to increase not cut the
prices of their X25-E SSDs. A check on our price comparison
Samsung today announced the GALAXY S WiFi 4.0 smart engine revealed that X25-E 32GB is now selling for about
player, the latest addition to its Android-powered GALAXY $380 and the 64GB version is going for $720. With effective
product portfolio. It features a 4-inch Super Clear LCD display from March 6th, the price of the 32GB X25-E will increase by
and claims to offer rich smartphone-like experiences without $85 and the price of 64GB X25-E will increase by $170. This
the expense of operator contracts. The smart player also offers is probably due to the SLC flash price increase. Anyway, if you
video communications via VoIP services and rich video and are thinking of getting one now, grab it before the price goes
music entertainment with multi-codec support to keep you up.
constantly entertained. Yes, you heard right. Intel is going to increase not cut the prices
VoIP and a world of applications of their X25-E SSDs. A check on our price comparison engine
The Samsung GALAXY S WiFi 4.0 smart player comes with revealed that X25-E 32GB is now selling for about $380 and
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n and runs Android 2.2 (Froyo) operating the 64GB version is going for $720. With effective from March
system. It gives users access to millions of apps, multimedia 6th, the price of the 32GB X25-E will increase by $85 and the
content and mobile services. With VoIP support via Skype, you price of 64GB X25-E will increase by $170. This is probably
can make video calls over Wi-Fi as well as free calls among due to the SLC flash price increase. Anyway, if you are thinking
Skype users. You can also access to social networking services of getting one now, grab it before the price goes up.
like Twitter or Facebook, and with support for the Qik video
service, you can capture and share videos with friends and
family. With access to over 230,000 apps available on the Intel updates LGA1366 Core i7
Android Market, the Samsung GALAXY S WiFi 4.0 is fully 900 pricing
customizable. It is equipped with integrated GPS that benefits February 15th, 2011
users from Google’s turn-by-turn map services and directory
applications.
High definition video and images
The Samsung GALAXY S WiFi 4.0 supports DivX HD, allowing
high-definition video playback on the large, high-quality
SuperClear LCD. It also supports for various codec standards
Following the release of its new flagship, Core i7 990X, Intel
including MPEG4, H264, DivX, XviD, WMV codecs ensures
has updated pricing for Core i7 900 CPUs. The new line-up is
you can enjoy huge catalogues of content from all over the web.
as follows: Core i7 990X - $999 Core i7 980X - ~$950 Core i7
Audio excellence 970 - $583 Core i7 960 - $294
The Samsung GALAXY S WiFi 4.0 is designed to deliver
the best audio and video experience. Incorporating Samsung
SoundAlive technology, it offers deeper bass and greater tone
articulation and lets you listen to your favorite tracks with its
built-in stereo speaker.
The Samsung GALAXY S WiFi 4.0 will be available during the
first half in global markets starting from the UK.

To accommodate the Core i7 990X, the 980X must drop in
price. However, this price drop hasn't really shown in e-tail,
yet, but the price is expected to stabilize at around $900-$950.
It is the Core i7 970 which undergoes a massive cut from
$880 to $583, making Intel six-core CPUs that much more
affordable. (relatively)

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The 3.2 GHz Core i7 960, which is a quad-core CPU, drops
from $583 to a much more affordable $294. Of course, it is no Microsoft Kinect:
match for the similarly priced Core i7 2600, except you can't Now available on
really get a motherboard to use it with.
The 990X and these price updates are likely to be the last
Android...somewhat
February 15th, 2011
hurrah for the extremely successful Nehalem generation,
with the Sandy Bridge E processors incoming, replacing the
LGA1366 platform with LGA2011.

Below is the bulk pricing not retail price, just to serve as a
reference. If there is one truth about the world of hardware, it is the
fact that hackers are always on top, especially when it comes
to using devices in ways that they were never intended for.
Processors Specs Old Price New Price % Change And this latest hack seems to confirm that little fact of life.
Model That being said, does anyone fancy playing around on an
Android tablet with hand gestures, courtesy of Microsoft's
Core 3.46GHz, - $990 -
Kinect motion-based controller?
i7-990X 6C/12T,
Extreme 12M Cache,
Edition LGA1366
Core 3.33GHz, $990 $990 -
i7-980X 6C/12T,
Extreme 12M Cache,
Edition LGA1366
Core i7-975 3.33GHz, $990 $990 -
4C/8T,
8M Cache,
LGA1366
Core i7-970 3.2GHz, $845 $555 (34%)
6C/12T, Picture this situation: you are relaxing on a couch after a hard
12M Cache, day's work, and that expensive, fututistic tablet powered by
LGA1366 Google's Android mobile operating system is connected to
Core 3.4GHz, $305 $305 - the home theatre system, churning out your favourite music
i7-2600K 4C/8T, files. And with a wave of your hand, the tablet automatically
8M Cache, interpretes the gesture and switches over to another track, thus
LGA1155 saving you the effort of having to get up and walk over to the
Core 3.4GHz, $285 $285 - device to do so.
i7-2600 4C/8T, Sounds futuristic? Perhaps, but don't be surprised if such
8M Cache, features could find their way to Android-powered tablets in
LGA1155 a matter of years, especially when hacker inguinity knows no
Core 3.2GHz, $555 $285 (49%) bounds. Apparently, one such enterprising hacker known as
i7-960 4C/8T, HirotakaSter has managed to craft out a method which allows
8M Cache, the Android operating system to interface with Microsoft's
LGA1366 very own Kinect motion controller. What makes this act
Core i7-950 3.06GHz, $285 $285 - significant though, is the fact that this is reportedly the world's
4C/8T, first successful attempt to get the Kinect in a semi-working
8M Cache, state on the mobile OS.
LGA1366
Core i7-930 2.80GHz, $285 $285 -
4C/8T,
8M Cache,
LGA1366

9


Notice that we said 'semi-working state' in the previous
paragraph? Well, that's because the Kinect hack on Android
is still pretty much in a work-in-progress state: at the time of
writing, the Android-powered tablet may be able to recognize
the device, but it is still incapable of translating typical Kinect Hardware enthusiasts rejoice. The Intel's flagship six-core
gestures into workable commands yet. Indeed, all it can do desktop CPU, the Core i7 990X Extreme Edition, is available
right now is to transfer the Kinect's video grab onto the tablet's for purchase online. However, don't expect the price to be
screen and interprete user distance information, as shown in affordable though; it retails around US$1,050 with shipping.
the short clip below. According to online sources, the 990X Extreme Edition
comes unlocked and has a 12MB L3 cache. Built on 32nm
Unprintable Content (Video, Flash, etc.) manufacturing process, the CPU is clocked at 3.46GHz
(3.6GHz Turbo Boost) and has 130W TDP. While Intel has not
However, the fact that HirotakaSter was able to get the made official announcement about the launch of the chip, we
Android operating system to even recognize the Kinect motion expect the news to be out fairly soon. For the smart buyers, it
sensor means that at least half the battle is already won. In seems like the 980X may be the better buy, though it is only
fact, the only thing left for the hacker and modding community $50 lesser than the 990X. Of course, that price tag could drop
to do is to analyze the calls made by the Kinect controller to in time.
the Android OS and attempt to craft out a working API that is
capable of bringing most of Kinect's functionality over to the
Android platform. And when that happens...well, let's just say Pac'n Twit: putting the
that the idea of contactless PC interaction is bound to receive
a major boost. (Pac)Man into the tweet
February 15th, 2011
Unfortunately, in order to do so, the community will need
access to the hack written by HirotakaSter, and this is
where there is an immediate obstacle to clear. Apparently,
HirotakaSter has yet to pony up the source code he has written
for Android hack, but it appears that the hacker community When the Japanese say that they are born with the 'gaming
might not have to wait much longer for it. After all, sharing is DNA' infused into them right at birth, chances are that they are
a key aspect of the hacker culture, no? probably not kidding at all. After all, what other explanation
can there be for a Japan-only app for twitter client that seems
Intel unveils Core i7 990X to be more PacMan than Twitter? Now, if only that app actually
allowed you to play a full copy of PacMac...
Extreme Edition processor It is not often that we talk about specific apps for a mobile
February 15th, 2011 platform, and for good reason. Regardless of the platform an
app is designed for, one can definitely be sure that clones
of it will start appearing on the App Store or Market within
24 hours or lesser. And when that happens, any novelty
or uniqueness which the original app once boasted of is
immediately reduced to nothing more than 'meh' status.
That being said, that does not stop us from combing the
Intel has unveiled their new flagship six-core processor for the Internet for interesting mobile apps that we feel ought to be
desktop, the Coire i7 990X Extreme Edition. While no official given a little more publicity, simply because they look unique
announcement has been made, the new CPU is expected to enough to warrant a second glance. And once again, one can
retail approximately at US$1,050. always leave it to the Japanese to churn out some of the most
out-of-this-world apps, like this custom Twitter client below.

10


while giving us complete control over environmental and / or
power load aspects, all while taking readings and recordings
through laboratory interfaces and high accuracy instruments.
In order to create a real-world environment for our testing, we
decided to modify and use a common SECC steel tower case
for housing the power supplies during our testing. We installed
three Watlow Firerods inside the case, rated at 500W power
each, the output of which is being controlled by a common AC
rheostat. The stock rheostat and its axle have been replaced
Apparently, the Japanese were not kidding when they boasted with a multi-turn precision rheostat for accuracy, driven by
that they were born with gaming genes infused into their DNA, a DC motor with a modified speed control circuit which is
and this custom Twitter client is probably the best proof of controlled by our CompuLAB interface and custom software.
that. After all, where else in the world can one find a Twitter In layman's terms, we only have to enter our desired ambient
client that has been (very) heavily skinned to resemble the temperature in our software and it automatically adjusts the
stage of our favourite yellow dot-munching circle, complete power of the Firerods to match it throughout our testing.
with the authentic PacMan fonts that most of us grew up with?

That being said, here comes some bad news. Apparently, us Main PT100 sensor and a 500W Firerod installed
folks over in South East Asia will have no chance to download
the Pac'n Twit Twitter client for our iOS-powered devices,
simply because the app is currently exclusive to Japanese
iPhone users only. But then again, considering that it does not
actually allow users to play a game of PacMan while twitting to
buddies while on the go , perhaps it is not that great of a loss
after all.

Power Supply Unit Testing
Methodology
February 15th, 2011

Rheostat control

At VR-Zone.com, we continuously strive to provide you The Daily VR-Zone News
with the highest quality and most accurate product reviews.
Thoroughly and accurately testing a power supply is a
Summary - 14 Feb 2011
February 15th, 2011
complicated matter, not only because the testing has to be
done in a controlled environment and with full control over
the power load but also because laboratory grade instruments
have to be used for taking readings. In order to achieve that,
we designed a specialized testing station for computer power
supplies, emulating real world conditions as closely as possible

11


In today's news roundup: OCZ's RevoDrive X2 PCIe SSD, can be a good contender against the competition, including the
Jetway's Mini-ITX NC98-525E-LF motherboard, Lian Li's highly acclaimed GeForce GTX 460.
aluminium PC-V2120 chassis and ASUS's P7P55D Premium ASUS P7P55D Premium Intel P55 Express Motherboard
Intel P55 Express motherboard get reviewed, Antennagate Review
returns with a vengeance on Apple's new CDMA-band iPhone Description: While much of Intel's world has been thrown
4 smartphones, Skype for iPhone has been updated to support into a tizzy by the Q1'2011 Intel P67/H67 chipset recall (initial
the H.264 codec for video calls, Nokia confirms its new B2 stepping only), we thought it timely to look in on Intel
relationship with Microsoft and Windows Phone 7, effectively P55 motherboards from ASUS that offer some of the bells
leaving Intel and its x86 platform in the lurch with MeeGo, and and whistles of Intel P67 platforms, with none of the bad
the popular Final Fantasy musical known as Distant Worlds recall aftertaste. The ASUS P7P55D-E Pro is one such board
has been confirmed to be making a comeback this year. to consider, this review is going to focus on its nearly identical
Hardware News: twin, the P7P55D Premium. We'll touch on TurboV Evo,
Hybrid Phase, ExpressGate, MemOK, EPU, Fan Xpert and
Alpenföhn Föhn 140 Wing Boost Fan Review @ Vortez
Stack Cool 3+...
Description: Rather unsurprisingly the fan itself looks very
similar to the Föhn 120 from last year. Its dimensions are of D-Link Boxee Box DSM-380 (German)
course greater than the 120 and there are two sets of mount Description: (Machine translation) The D-Link Boxee Box
holes to accommodate both 120mm and 140mm fan mount (DSM-380) with Intel Atom CE4100 arrived Technic3D. The
holes. The 4pin PWM cable is covered by a rubberised braid Boxee Box by D-Link brings all the stuff you normally watch on
which should offer a good deal of protection during install and a computer to your TV; movies and TV programmes streamed
usage. from the Internet, 400 different apps that let you access
content from most popular websites, and a full web browser.
Jetway Mini-ITX NC98-525E-LF Motherboard MultiMedia
The Boxee Box will also help you rediscover your own media
Review @ Madshrimps
collection by automatically identifying all the files on a hard
Description: Jetway is well know for their Mini-ITX
drive or home network and then building a stunning visual
motherboards. Based on the Intel Atom is this a perfect base
media library for you. Technic3D will check the Features in the
for a small energy saving and environmental friendly HTPC
following Review...
or Home server system. Jetway provided us a D525 CPU and
GT218 gpu motherboard and we will take it through a series of Corsair Vengeance 8GB Dual Channel DDR3 Memory Kit
multimedia tests. Already served well in a previous review for (CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9) Review at Overclockers Online
Home Server we will only focus on the HTPC part. Description: The Corsair Vengeance is priced at the lower end
of the market attracting educated buyers to pick a brand they
Lian Li PC-V2120 Review @ ocaholic
know they can trust. Corsair doesn’t blindside them with an
Description: Lian Li is well known for their high qualitiy
inferior product, instead they have themselves a great gem
aluminium comptuer cases but despite this the PC-V2120 is
here. Corsair Vengeance 8GB PC3-12800 CAS 9 Vengeance
something special. It almost doesn't matter to which other
let’s you run all of those memory intensive programs where a
case you compare this one to the PC-V2120 has almost no
2X2GB kit wouldn’t cut it.
competition. Therefore we're really curious what's awaiting
with this excellent looking case. Consumer Electronics and Software News:
OCZ RevoDrive X2 PCIe Solid State Drive Review @ OCIA.net HP's ENVY 17 3D laptop now shipping for $2499
Description: The RevoDrive X2 is essentially an original Description: HP's Envy 17 3D laptop is now shipping for
RevoDrive with a daughter card piggybacked on top. This $2,499. This laptop has a 17.3" Full-HD active-shutter
daughter card adds two additional SandForce controllers 3D "ultra brightview" LCD display powered by AMD's 3D
and room for more memory chips, bringing the total technology. Features include a Core i7-920XM CPU, 8GB
controller count to four. A RAID0 configuration manages the memory, 1TB H/D, Blu-ray drive and Windows 7. It comes
four controllers and memory chips, resulting in what OCZ bundled with one pair of active-shutter 3D glasses.
proclaims is a blazing fast PCIe SSD solution. We were pretty Speck PixelSleeve 13” Laptop and Netbook Case Review @
impressed with the original RevoDrive and can only wonder if TestFreaks
the follow-up product is equally as impressive. Description: Speck loves the term ‘Pixel’. I have reviewed
ASUS ENGTX560 Ti DCII TOP Video Card @ Benchmark numerous Pixel dubbed items, mostly for the iPhone and iPad.
Reviews Today we will look at a laptop carrying sleeve case designed
Description: Benchmark Reviews tests the ASUS ENGTX560 for up to 13” laptops called the PixelSleeve. It can fit most
Ti DCII TOP. DCII means this card now comes with an 13” machines including the newest Apple MacBook Air 13”
improved version of the Direct CU cooler, now with 2 fans revision.
and adding dissipation area. They also tag this product as TOP Sony Ericsson LiveView Micro Display Review @
because it sports a 900MHz GPU core instead of the 822MHz DragonSteelMods
from the reference design and 1050MHz instead of 1000MHz Description: Our phones have become indispensible, they’re a
from stock. Aside from that, ASUS also bundles their very huge part of our lives, they go with us everywhere, and they’ve
own overclocking/monitoring software to modify frequency become much more than just phones. Sony has decided to
and voltage values and add some extra performance for free. ! make them even more useful with the addition of a second
Let's have a look at the ASUS ENGTX560 Ti and check if it screen called the LiveView that works with most any Android

12


phone. The LiveView is a 1.3” Color OLED screen that has a ton
of uses like checking your email, reading text messages, and Quick hands on with OCosmos
checking Twitter and Facebook updates. The LiveView can be OCS1 and a look at future
clipped most anywhere or worn as a watch. It can allow you
to control your phone from a distance with the many plug- devices
ins available for it like controlling your media player or even February 15th, 2011
dialing your phone. It’s a very unique and rather useful little
device.
Google Explains, Apologizes For, CR-48 Spam
Description: Early this morning people who have received a
Google CR-48 notebook, and people who’ve requested one, OCosmos is not one of the most well-known manufacturers
got hit with 100 or more emails from a newly created Google of hand held devices, but the company is trying its luck with
Group. Google sent out an email this evening apologizing what is a rather unique offering with its OCS 1 which is a 5-inch
for the emails and explaining what happened. Google was Windows 7 tablet PC, although we'd say it reminds us more
planning on launching the group next week for all users of an MID than a tablet, but with the current tablet fad, why
who have been selected to be in the program. But someone use a defunct term to describe your device? The OCS 1 isn't set
discovered it early and posted to it. to launch for a couple of months as yet, but that didn't stop
the company from previewing a couple of mockups of future
Skype for iPhone Update
devices at its booth as well.
Description: Skype today announced that its Skype for iPhone
app now supports H.264, one of the most commonly used
formats for the recording, compression, and distribution of OCosmos is not one of the most well-known manufacturers
high definition video. This small, but significant step now of hand held devices, but the company is trying its luck with
enables Skype for iPhone users to make video calls to the full what is a rather unique offering with its OCS 1 which is a 5-inch
range of Skype devices, including TVs from Panasonic and Windows 7 tablet PC, although we'd say it reminds us more
Samsung. of an MID than a tablet, but with the current tablet fad, why
With Nokia Dating Microsoft, Intel Was Just Stood Up use a defunct term to describe your device? The OCS 1 isn't set
Description: Now that Nokia has chosen to dance with to launch for a couple of months as yet, but that didn't stop
Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7, where does that leave Intel the company from previewing a couple of mockups of future
at the mobile prom? Without a date, that’s where. MeeGo devices at its booth as well.
for Intel has gone been relegated to experimental status and Windows 7 gives away the fact that we're looking at an x86
without a software platform, Intel has few mobile prospects. powered device here and OCosmos has gone for a 1.5GHz Intel
iPhone 4 Antennagate Returns, Still a Non-Story Oak Trail based CPU and it's paired with one to two GB of
Description: Antennagate is back in the news thanks to the DDR2 and a 32 or 64GB SSD drive. The 5-inch screen features
Verizon iPhone 4. The Inquirer has an article about it, decrying capacitive multi-touch and has a resolution of 1024x600
Apple’s willful negligence with the sub-title “Can’t keep a faulty pixels. Other features include 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
design down.” Let’s put this faulty notion to bed, shall we? 3.0, GPS, a micro SD card slot, supposedly HDMI output
(judging by the labels on the prototypes), USB 2.0 connectivity
Gaming News:
and optional 3G/UMTS. The OCS 1 sports a rear 3.1Megapixel
Distant Worlds Final Fantasy Concert Begins April camera as well as a front facing 1.3Megapixel camera and it
Description: Final Fantasy fans from US, UK and Australia will does of course have integrated speakers and a microphone and
be having it lucky as Distant Worlds Final Fantasy concert will headphone jack.
be held in these countries, beginning on 1st April in New York.
Here is a full schedule
Ar Tonelico Qoga English Trailer Unveiled, Has Japanese
Dubs Option
Description: NIS America unveiled the English trailer of Ar
Tonelico Qoga, slated for a release stateside on 15th March
2011, the game will include a Japanese vocal option for the
folks who loves the vocals of Japanese seiyuu.
Microsoft Announces Defiant Map Pack DLC
Description: Scheduled for this March, the Defiant Map Pack
features three new maps set on, above, and below the besieged
planet Reach, and represents the first DL... However, what sets the OCS 1 apart from the competition is
OCosmos unique OMOS key interface which are the eight-
way cursor buttons located on each side of the screen. These
can be set up to work as either a mouse replacement or
even a keyboard replacement by mapping keys to each of the
directional movements of the cursor keys. We're not sure how

13


well this will actually work in praxis, but it's an interesting
approach at solving the keyboard problem. OCosmos is still Roccat Unleashes Kulo
waiting for the final graphics drives to become available but Gaming Headset
the company claims that you'll be able to play a wide selection February 15th, 2011
of games on the OCS 1. On top of that, OCosmos has developed
its own UI on top of Windows 7 which makes the OCS 1 easier
to use which quick access to most programs through an icon
driven launcher.

Roccat, a German-based manufacturer of numerous gaming
peripherals and accessories, has expanded its diversified
product portfolio from performance gaming mice to stereo
headsets with the addition of Kulo.

Also on display was the OCS 9 tablet which features the same
hardware as the OCS 1, but has a larger 9-inch screen with
1024x768 resolution. OCosmos is working on a couple of
accessories for the OCS 9, of which one is a carry case with a
built in battery pack and the other being a small wireless touch
screen keyboard that also doubles up as a track pad and game
controller.
Roccat, a German-based manufacturer of numerous gaming
peripherals and accessories, has expanded its diversified
product portfolio from performance gaming mice to stereo
headsets with the addition of Kulo.

Also on display was a mockup of the next generation OCS
1 which features a detachable tablet part leaving the cursor
controls attached to a rear plate allowing for a somewhat more
pocket friendly device when on the road. As much as we like
the concept behind OCosmos' products, we can't say we're
sold on the overall platform, but OCosmos recon that people
want a truly portable Windows device. They wouldn't go into
details about the battery life, but the standard battery pack
is a 4,000mAh unit which isn't terrible as long as the CPU is
frugal enough. The final question is how much the OCS 1 will
cost when it arrives in a couple of months' time, but we have a
feeling it won't be entirely cheap.

14


Thermaltake, leading DIY thermal solutions brand, launch
their newest and up to date most powerful CPU cooler, the Frio
OCK. Continuing the legacy of the award winning original Frio
cooler, the Frio OCK is yet once again setting new standards in
the industry. With a whooping heat dissipation capacity of 240
W this powerful cooler is clearly leading the pack. Targeting
particularly power users and ambitioned overlcockers, the
Frio OCK comes with six 6 mm high-efficiency heatpipes that
effectively transport heat from the base into two separate
cooling towers. By adopting this dual-tower design the gap
between both towers increases airflow and ventilation created
by the dual fans.

Frio OCK's design approach captures and embodies currently
Weighing just 178g, the lightweight gaming headset is prevailing computer game elements, in particular the shape
optimised for gaming, music and voice chat. It boasts 40mm and color scheme is resembling a firm and powerful bunker
drivers with neodymium magnets (for great stereo audio as inspired by the popular PC game StarCraft II. In doing so,
output), Mylar membranes (for comfort), padded ear-cups Thermaltake is trying to bring virtual game visuals into every-
(for noise isolation), two 3.5mm jacks, a slim in-line remote day life, resembling a manifestation of the fictional within the
control, and a foldable noice-filtering microphone. The Kulo is real.
expected to start shipping in April at a cost of €59.99.

Thermaltake Unveils Frio OCK The dual-fan module is not only unique by its looks,
CPU Cooler but furthermore offers several practical usage advantages.
February 15th, 2011 Both fans are designed to work in tandem as a push-pull-
combination where one fan pushes cold air over the tower fins,
while the other fan on the opposite site pulls out hot air and
then exhausts it through the cases back side. A convenient
single fan speed control knob adjusts both fans in parallel to
guarantee optimized airflow and maximize cooling efficiency.
The 130 mm high pressure OC fans can be tuned between
1200 RPM for normal operation and up to 2100 RPM in OC
Thermaltake has announced the Frio OCK (OverClocker
mode and under mission critical circumstances when in 24/7
Kings) CPU cooler, targeting hardcore overclockers.
operation.
Measuring 143 x 136.8 x 158.4mm and weighing 1,093g, the
dual tower cooler features a copper base, 0.4mm aluminum
fins, six U-Shaped 6mm copper heat-pipes, and is cooled by
two speed-adjustable 130mm fans that run at speeds of up to
As usual with top-notch Thermaltake products, particular
2,100RPM at 48dBA. The Frio OCK CPU cooler, compatible
attention is paid to ease-of-use, convenience and an overall
with all Intel LGA 775/ 1155/ 1156/ 1366 and AMD AM2(+)/
satisfying user experience. Therefore the Frio OCK supplies a
AM3 processors, is expected to hit store shelves soon.
universal installation kit which is meant to keep users future
THERMALTAKE PRESS RELEASE ready for current CPU sockets, including the recently launched
Sandy Bridge 1156 sockets. It probably has never been easier
to become a true Overclocking King in your own right.

15


For more information about the Frio OCK go to:

http://www.thermaltake.com/product_info.aspx?
PARENT_CID=C_00001645&id=C_00001646&name=Fr
%c3%adoOCK&ov=&ovid=n&parent_cp

Introducing the Samsung
GALAXY S II; world's slimmest
smartphone
February 15th, 2011

In addition to the GALAXY Tab 10.1 Android Honeycomb
tablet, Samsung has also unveiled the GALAXY S II, which
claims to be the world's slimmest smartphone.

Today, Samsung unveiled the GALAXY S II (Model: GT-
I9100), a beautifully thin (8.49mm) and lightweight, dual-
core smartphone that boasts amazing viewing experience and
impressive performance.
Running on Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), the GALAXY S II
offers users Samsung’s new content and entertainment hubs

16


for instant access to music, games, e-reading and social
networking services. Android UI: now in
Powerful Performance stereoscopic 3D, thanks to
Incorporating a dual-core application processor and advanced
wireless network (HSPA+ 21) connectivity, the Samsung
Rightware
February 15th, 2011
GALAXY S II boasts the speed and power for superior mobile
performance. The processor can deliver compelling features
including fast web browsing, multi-tasking, supreme graphics
quality and responsive 3D user interface on the large screen.
With super-fast HSPA+ connectivity, the GALAXY S II offers
rapid mobile download speeds.
It is a well known fact that in order for a device to stand
The Samsung GALAXY S II is equipped with an 8-megapixel a chance of doing well in the market, both its underlying
camera and can record videos in full high definition 1080p. hardware and software must be a perfect match for each other.
With Samsung’s patented AllShare technology, users can Similarly, that concept can also be applied to smartphones.
capture, create and then share their experiences hassle-free. After all, of what use is a 3D-capable smartphone if it does not
A Next Level of Viewing Experience have a 3D-capable UI for the user to take advantage of?
The Samsung GALAXY S II also sports the new crystal-
clear Super AMOLED Plus screen that introduces the best
in quality in color gamut, contrast ratio and edge sharpness.
With a wider viewing angle and increased visibility in outdoor,
the Samsung GALAXY S II provides a more vibrant viewing
experience and is more energy-efficient compared to other
mobile devices.
A New World of Entertainment and Smarter Interaction
Samsung GALAXY S II offers various integrated mobile
applications, called Samsung Hubs, designed to fit every
element of your life.
Smartphones. We all love them, don't we? After all, no other
- Social Hub Premium: Communication history, Instant
device on the market today offers users the luxury of being able
Messaging status, and updates from social networking sites
to experience the 'full web' from the luxury of a highly portable
are all readily available. Users can access all types of messages
device such as a mobile phone while on the move. And as we all
(push e-mail, text, VM and SNS) and respond directly without
know, the Internet is just that indispensable to our lives today,
resorting to individual applications.
especially when searching for Facebook and Twitter updates
- Readers Hub: Carry an enormous library of books, magazines about how your best friend's friend's neighbour's son's pet
and newspapers on-the-go. Samsung Readers Hub offers dog just celebrated its first birthday while on the bus makes
over 2.2 million books and novels, 2,000 global and local for more important information than that email from the
newspapers in 49 languages and 2,300 popular magazines in supervisor screaming down your neck over a missed deadline.
22 languages.
Of course, it goes without saying that any device which is
- Game Hub: Featuring a 3-axis gyroscopic sensor, the marked for consumer usage will often find itself getting its guts
Samsung GALAXY S II lets you try games for free, or download routinely upgraded every few months so that trend followers
premium titles from partners like Gameloft. can justify breaking their piggy banks for new products with
- Music Hub: Access over 12 million tracks from 7digital. 'upgraded hardware and features'. And with OEMs keen to
Discover what's hot from top charts, search for favorite hop on the 3D bandwagon, it should come as no surprise that
music, get recommendations on albums, enjoy previews and smartphones featuring stereoscopic 3D displays are starting to
download them directly to Samsung GALAXY S II. make their entrance in the market. But why stop at 3D displays
when you can have a fully functional 3D interface to go along
For added connectivity, WiFi Direct allows consumers to with the package?
connect to wireless-enabled PCs and printers without the
need for wireless access points. The GALAXY S II is able to
incorporate Near Field Communication (NFC) technology to
support emerging mobile payment service and other services
with mobile operators.

17


more than 132 million units worldwide this year, amd over 50
tablets expected to support Flash Player in 2011.
Adobe is also showcasing their latest Flash Player 10.2 along
with additional performance advancements. The new release
includes support for innovative new features including Stage
Video, which delivers much improved video performance
through optimizing hardware acceleration on mobile devices,
desktops and TVs. Tests show up to 80 percent CPU savings
when playing back 1080p video on Windows and Mac OS.
Stage Video support for mobile devices will also be available
on Android 3.0 “Honeycomb” and BlackBerry Tablet OS.

Apparently, it seems that a company known as Rightware has Arctic Debuts Freezer 13 Pro
managed to produce an actual 3D user interface for the mobile
Android operating system used in the majority of smartphones
CPU Cooler
February 15th, 2011
and tablets today. According to an article by Ubergizmo,
Rightware's 3D stereoscopic user interface or Spectrum UI is
based of the compan's own Kanzi UI, which is "a platform for
displaying complex 3D UIs on mobile devices".
And since attempting to describe a 3D user interface with
words alone does not do the product any justice, we have
included a short video which demonstrates the capabilities and Arctic Cooling has unveiled the Freezer 13 Pro CPU cooler,
visual appeal of the Spectrum UI. promising improved performance over its predecessor, the
Looks great, doesn't it? Freezer 13 that was launched in October 2010.

Adobe showcases better Flash
performance on mobile phones
February 15th, 2011

At the Mobile World Congress, Adobe showcased performance
advancements with their Flash Player 10.2 and the company
has expressed high expectations on the mobile adoption of Arctic Cooling has unveiled the Freezer 13 Pro CPU cooler,
Flash Player and AIR. promising improved performance over its predecessor, the
Freezer 13 released in October 2010.

Adobe has announced that more than 20 million smartphones
were shipped or upgraded with Flash Player 10.1 software on
over 35 certified devices in the first six months following the
launch. The company expects Flash Player to be supported on

18


Measuring 134 x 96 x 159mm and weighing 902g, the massive It is compatible with all Intel LGA 775/ 1155/ 1156/ 1366 and
cooler has four U-shaped 8mm copper heat-pipes, fourty- AMD S754/ S939/ AM2(+)/ AM3 processors and comes with
seven 0.5mm-thick aluminum fins, a copper base, and is pre-applied MX-4 thermal grease. The Freezer 13 Pro, covered
cooled by two fluid dynamic bearing fans - a PWM 120mm by a 6-year warranty, is available through authorized resellers
and 50mm model that operates at 300 ~ 1250RPM and 700 ~ and e-tailers at a MSRP of US$54.90/ €39.90 (without VAT).
2700RPM respectively.

MPEG LA declares war on
VP8, calls for submission
of patents essential to its
implementation
February 15th, 2011

Remember how Apple's Steve Jobs claimed that the MPEG
LA was already in the process of forming a patent pool to
'go after' Google's free VP8 codec when the latter was first
released? Well, it seems like the MPEG LA has finally drawn
first blood by calling for the submission of patents that it
deems essential to the implementation of the VP8 codec used
in Google's WebM online video format.
The cold war between Google and the MPEG LA over the
legitimacy of the VP8 video codec currently used in YouTube
and a handful of browsers may have dragged on long enough,
but it remains clear that the MPEG LA is not about to tolerate
any form of action that might see itself losing control of what
has to be one of the world's widely used video codecs today,
especially when royalties are concerned.
And just as we have expected, the firm that specializes in the
licensing of patent pools relating to audio-visual technology
has decided that the time has finally come to take action.
In an announcement posted on its website, MPEG LA has
officially declared a patent war on VP8, claiming that the firm
is actively socializing the aid of parties which believe that
they have in their possession any patents which would be
essential to the implementation of the royalty-free codec. The
patents in question would then be submitted to the MPEG LA
for evaluation, and submissions which are deemed relevant
enough will be included for use in the firm's offensive against

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VR-Zone Technology News | Stuff for the Geeks! Issue #2

VR-Zone Technology News | Stuff for the Geeks! Issue #2

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VR-Zone Technology News | Stuff for the Geeks! Issue #2