VR-Zone Technology News | Stuff for the Geeks! Issue #3

February 17th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone

VR-Zone.com | Stuff for the Geeks!
The thermal design power (TDP) for the GeForce GTX 550 Ti
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti to is no more than 110W. As the TDP rating remains virtually the
launch on March 15 same as the GeForce GTS 450's 106W, the new card will retain
February 17th, 2011 the same sunflower cooler as the latter.
Currently, the GeForce GTX 550 Ti is expected to launch
March 15, 2011. Pricing is not available yet, but we estimate it
to be around the US$200 mark.

The upcoming NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti, based on the new
GF116 chipset is expected to launch on March 15. Although the
GF116 is a mainstream chipset, NVIDIA has chosen to name its Intel's LGA-1155 cross
new card the GTX 550 Ti, and not the GTS 550. Performance is
estimated to be up to 35% faster than the current AMD Radeon
platform compatibility
HD 5770, which also means the new card will tread into the confirmed
GeForce GTX 460 family's territory. More juicy details inside. February 17th, 2011

There have been some rumours about Intel's cross platform
compatibility for the LGA-1155 and VR-Zone can now confirm
that the current Sand Bridge platform will be compatible
with the upcoming Ivy Bridge platform. That said, it's not
guaranteed that you’ll be able to pop an Ivy Bridge processor
into a P67/H67 motherboard without having to think twice
about it.

It is interesting to note that NVIDIA's upcoming card will
be called the GeForce GTX 550 Ti, and not the GTS 550
even though it will be based on a new mainstream GF116
chipset. Like its bigger siblings, the GF110 and GF114, the
GF116 will undergo a similar transistor-level rework for better
performance-per-watt.
By carrying a 'GTX' tag, we should expect the new card's
performance to be considerably faster than its GF106-based
predecessor. According to leaked material, the new GeForce
GTX 550 Ti will be (up to) about 35% faster than the AMD
Radeon HD 5770 in DirectX 11, and about 20% faster in There have been some rumours about Intel's cross platform
DirectX 10; it becomes apparent that the GeForce GTX 550 Ti compatibility for the LGA-1155 and VR-Zone can now confirm
will perform nearly as fast as the GeForce GTX 460 family. that the current Sandy Bridge platform will be compatible
Like the GF106, the GF116 will come with one 64-bit memory with the upcoming Ivy Bridge platform. That said, it's not
controller (out of three) disabled to form a 128-bit memory guaranteed that you'll be able to pop an Ivy Bridge processor
bus. The PCB will have a total of 12 pads, but only eight will be into a P67/H67 motherboard without having to think twice
populated to provide 1024MB of GDDR5 memory. about it.
Physically, the GeForce GTX 550 Ti retains a similar printed It's not going to be any issues putting a Sandy Bridge based
circuit board (PCB) design to the GeForce GTS 450. The processor into a Panther Point chipset motherboard, as the
reference board is expected to have a 3-phase voltage new platform is most definitely backwards compatible with
regulation module (VRM) for the core and a single-phase for older CPUs. However, older motherboards and newer CPUs
the memory. have always been a bit of an issue, although one it seems
Intel is doing its best to solve this time around. However,
There will be two dual-link DVI-I ports and one mini HDMI
there is a but and this but comes down to the simple point
port for display output.

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that Intel isn't releasing its cross compatibility guidelines until
sometime later this quarter.

This potentially means that current board designs won't be Intel plans to launch their new 510 series codenamed Elm
compatible with Ivy Bridge processors. Considering that there Crest on 1st March and it will be Intel's first 6Gb/s SSD
tends to be power related design issues between various targeted at PC Enthusiasts, gamers and workstation users. The
CPU generations, current motherboards might not have been 2.5" 9.5mm drive is available in two capacities: 120GB and
designed with Ivy Bridge in mind. Of course, this is something 250GB. The 510 series features :
we don't currently know and we'll be putting the question
forward to the motherboard manufacturers and see what they The 120GB version will cost about $280 while the 250GB
have to say on the matter. version will cost about $580. One etailer in UK has even listed
out the price of the 120GB version at £227 (~$366) and 250GB
The good news in all of this is that if you're happy with your version at £475 (~$767).
motherboard for your Sandy Bridge processor, you should
be able to upgrade to Ivy Bridge without incurring the cost
for a new motherboard. Of course Panther Point will bring The Daily VR-Zone News
with it some additional advantages over P67/H67 such as
native USB 3.0 support and of course support for three Summary - 17 Feb 2011
simultaneous display interfaces, but those might not be major February 17th, 2011
upgrade points for everyone considering the cost of a high-end
motherboard.

Intel 510 Series SATA3 SSD
Launch on 1st March In today's news roundup: Review of GlacialTech Alaska
February 17th, 2011
Multiple Platform CPU Cooler; Preview of OCZ Vertex 3
Pro SandForce SF-2582 200GB SSD; Leaked Dell Roadmap
Shows Tablet, Smartphone Schedule ; Inception App: Easier
to Understand Than the Movie (Review); Chewbacca Coming
to Star Wars: The Clone Wars...and more
Hardware News:
Intel plans to launch their new 510 series codenamed Description: This extremely tall heatsink weighs in at 740
Elm Crest on 1st March and it will be Intel's first 6Gb/s SSD grams and occupies a lot of space; 130mm (w) x 101mm (l)
targeted at PC Enthusiasts, gamers and workstation users. The x 156mm (h). The design allows the Alaska to be used on
2.5" 9.5mm drive is available in two capacities: 120GB and Intel LGA775, 1156, 1366, AMD AM2, and AM3 platforms and
250GB. The 510 series features ...... GlacialTech swears that it is easy to install.
Description: With the Spawn, Cooler Master shows quite a
simple gaming mouse where they focussed on the essentials.
Compared to for example their Sentinel gaming mouse the
applied less buttons and also simplified the software.
Description: Thermaltake makes dozens of CPU coolers—
there are thirteen separate models for Socket 1366 alone, of
which the Jing is the most expensive at an MSRP of $69.99.
Thermaltake bills the Jing as having "Optimized performance
cooling and ultra-silent design".

2


Description: Our engineering sample showed up plain and un-
branded but obviously the production models will not whip IBM's Super computer,
this way. Available in capacities of 100GB, 200GB and 300GB Watson, wins Jeopardy
with MSRP’s of $525, $775 and $1350 respectively, expect to February 17th, 2011
see the Vertex 3 Pro drives available soon.
Description: This memories works with 2133 MHz and
9-10-9-24-1T at 1.65 Volt. So we’ve found a very interesting
kit for our Sandy bridge system, that supports memories up to
2300 mhz. But what about the performance?
IBM's Super computer, Watson beat its human competitors
Description: ASUS P8P67 is one of the cheaper motherboards in the gameshow, Jeopardy. This clearly represents
from ASUS, just around 1200-1300 Danish Kroner. But it still advancements in enabling computers to interpret information
have a lot of interesting features and functions, like USB 3.0 in human context. Are humans in jeopardy? Read On.
and EFI BIOS
Consumer Electronics and Software News::
Description: Dell's roadmaps for tablets and smartphones
have apparently been leaked, and the listings show devices
running on yet-to-be-released Google Android and Microsoft
software.
Description: Warner recently released the official movie App
for Inception. While there have been other Apps based on
the movie released by the movie studio, this is more of an
interactive application comaparible to a Blu-Ray in terms of
extras.
Description: One thing that some people like to do is add
TV watching functionality. If you don't want to do it with a
PCI card of some kind, Compro are offering a USB friendly For some time, it seems that the humans would be able to beat
solution. Enter the Videomate U680F complete with remote Watson as it stumbled on topics such as politics and current
and 1080i support. affairs. Also, the humans, Rutter and Jennings (Not John
Connor, in case you're wondering) had a working strategy
Description: The A90 looks like a photo frame without the of pressing the buzzer first while they figured out questions
photo. The acrylic case is all black with the Mivizu company which involved matching the name of an Actor/Director to the
name printed in white across the bottom. The bezel is pretty person's movie titles. Alas, Watson bounced back in the later
thin and feels a little flimsy under the hand without an iPad stages to win once again.
installed.
While Watson is able to beat us in terms of answering such
Description: Verizon said the iPhone broke its record for the questions, it is far from being self-aware like Skynet. Instead,
most phones sold in a 24-hour period, there's been a marketing IBM intended it to be a super-powered question and answer
blitzkrieg, and analysts have praised the launch as a sort of machine. To construct Watson, IBM used 200 million pages
second coming of Christ. of content stored on 4 terabytes of disk space (Watson does
Gaming News: not have Internet access), as much as 16TB of memory, about
2,800 processor cores and approximately 6 million logic rules
Description: Another iconic part of Star Wars history is being
to determine the best answers. Watson took up 10 server
brought into The Clone Wars, with the introduction of a certain
racks, each with 10 IBM Power 750 servers and two large
beloved wookie. The New York Times has revealed that none
refrigeration units all of which was housed in its own room
other than Chewbacca will make his debut on the series, in
on IBM's Yorktown Heights campus. At the moment, while
a two-parter that will end Season 3. The storyline will find
Watson is able to 'read' text files through a speaker, it can only
Chewbacca teaming with Ahsoka Tano, Anakin Skywalker's
receive questions via text files.
padawan.
Watson's applications are aplenty, as it represents the ability
Description: Historically, the Marvel vs. Capcom series has
to create computers which are able to interpret information
been viewed as a light-hearted enterprise, an upbeat crossover
in a human context. Having a huge library of information
to entertain the Westerners. Certainly this was true of the first
is one thing, being able to search for the right information
arcade release, a game intended to introduce Capcom's poster
automatically based on a question phrased in a human context
boys and girls to comic book fans, and not much else.
is far more complex.

3


Open-source Chromium OS
spotted running on ARM
platform
February 17th, 2011

According to Chinese gadget website Newpad, the OS in
A long time ago, we wrote a short story about how Google question is being run off an SDHC card, while the platform
might plan to bring its web-only operating system known as which Chromium OS is running off on is known as the
Chrome OS to not only notebooks, but desktops and even Pandaboard. Apparently, the Pandaboard is utilizes Texas
tablet PCs. However, it seems like the open-source developer Instruments' OMAP4 ARM Cortex-A9 system-on-a-chip, and
community might have already one-upped Google on the is said to support Adobe's Flash platform.
tablet front, for Chromium OS (the open-source branch of
Of course, with a working proof-of-concept that Chromium
Chrome) has just been spotted running off an ARM-powered
OS can run reasonably well on both the x86 and ARM
system in this year's Mobile World Congress.
architectures, it should only be a matter of time before we
In all honesty, it seems rather clear that such a thing was eventually see the real Google Chrome OS making its grand
essentially waiting to happen, and it was only a matter of time entry into the tablet market. And when that happens...well,
before someone would attempt to pull it off. After all, with let's say the competition in the mobile OS segment is about to
articles such as this and this, just about anybody would have get a lot more heated.
easily come to the conclusion that the search giant is keen on
Full video of the short exhibit, coming up right about...now.
putting its web-based operating system known as Chrome OS
on just about any computing device which utilizes an Internet Unprintable Content (Video, Flash, etc.)
connection.
However, as it has always been the case, the open-source
community is always at least one step ahead of Google, and this Windows hit by zero-day
fact was made especially evident in this year's Mobile World
Congress global exhibition. Apparently, the open-source arm vulnerability, XP and Windows
of Chrome OS, otherwise known as Chromium OS, has been
spotted running off an ARM-powered system in a certain
Server 2003 affected
February 17th, 2011
exhibit over at the MWC.

Seems like Microsoft had gotten a little too confident about
the security of its ageing Windows operating systems and fell
asleep at the wheel after the success that was Windows 7.
Apparently, the software giant had forgotten that there are
large numbers of people who still rely on older versions of its
Windows operating system for their daily computing needs,
for a new zero-day exploit against pre-Vista operating systems
have been discovered by a security firm known as VUPEN
Security.

4


Android Ice Cream combines
both Gingerbread and
Honeycomb; scheduled to
launch within six months
February 17th, 2011

Security vulnerabilities are an unavoidable fact of computing At the Mobile World Congress, Google said that the next
life today, regardless on the type of operating system you are Android mobile operating system, codenamed "Ice Cream" or
on. After all, there is only so much an OS's developers (or "Ice Cream Sandwich", will be launched within the next six
volunteers) can do to safeguard the system from potential months.
attempts by hackers to gain access and wreck havoc in another
person's PC: there are bound to be holes which the maintainers
might have unintentionally overlooked.
Needless to say, this situation makes for a very common
scenario for people on Microsoft's Windows operating system.
After all, pre-Vista versions of the Windows operating system
were often derided by security experts as having security holes
big enough for the metaphorical bus to drive through, and it
seems that the past has come back to haunt Microsoft in the
form of a new zero-day exploit which targets...yes, you guessed
it, Windows XP. More specifically, Windows XP Service Pack
3, along with Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2.
Details of the vulnerability are as follows:

At this year's Mobile World Congress, Google chief executive
officer Eric Schmidt said that the new version of Android
will be launched within six months. The naming convention
will follow their rules, whereby the starting letter is "I" (after
Honeycomb). The upcoming Android mobile operating system
will also combine the features of both Android 2.3 Gingerbread
and Android 3.0 Honeycomb.
From various sources, the next Android version could be the
rumored Ice Cream, or Ice Cream Sandwich. Android 2.3
As can be seen from the screenshot above, Microsoft has yet Gingerbread is incorporated on smartphones, while Android
to release a patch that fixes the hole, so the only way users 3.0 Honeycomb is preinstalled on tablet devices. The new
can protect themselves from the exploit will be to filter both Android software is said to be capable of running on both
UDP and TCP ports 138, 139 and 445. And considering that smartphones and tablets.
Microsoft just had its Patch Tuesday done last week, suffice to
say having an exploit discovered so soon after a security update
is going to have to be a bit of an embarrassment. MagicWand magically
That being said, we'd rather see this news in a more positive 'stitches' your Apple Magic
light: after all, would this not be the perfect excuse to upgrade
that Windows XP-powered PC of yours to Windows 7? Trackpad and Wireless
Keyboard into a single input
device
February 17th, 2011

5


Now that Apple has both a wirelesss keyboard and a
Magic Trackpad which both feature near identical design
philosophies, it should be only natural that users would
attempt to pair both devices together as a single piece of
hardware for maximum aesthetic appeal. And while Twelve
South's new MagicWand accessory does not exactly make use
of magic to blend both devices together into one, the result is
surprisingly sleek, for the lack of a better word. Hit up the link
for more information.

This might sound like a stereotype, but it is generally accepted
among many people that Mac users typically tend to value
desktop workspace cleanliness much more than the typical
PC user. After all, with a machine as sleek and aesthetically
pleasing as a Mac and its accompanying hardware, it is
only understandable that Mac users will want their entire
workspace to be as visually appealing as the machine which
sits on the desk located there.
And since Apple has demonstrated its desire that its computers
and hardware be as integrated as possible in order to maintain
its 'sleek and elegant' image, it might probably be of little
surprise that Apple users are starting to find themselves Looks nice, doesn't it? Well, it goes without saying that the
adopting Apple's philosophies to their daily computing MagicWand is designed to work only with the Apple Wireless
habbits. At least, it appears to be so with the new MagicWand Keyboard and Apple Magic Trackpad, , both of which are not
accessory released by Twelve South. known to play very nice with non-OS X operating systems, so
this is a classic case of 'only Mac users need apply'. But if that
is not an issue, the MagicWand is available from Twleve South
at the price of US$29.99.

All jailbreak PS3 gamers face
PSN ban...for life
February 17th, 2011
The idea behind the MagicWand is simple. According to
Twelve South, the MagicWand is " a cool little accessory
that connects Apple’s Magic Trackpad to your Apple Wireless
Keyboard, creating the sleek, one-piece input device you’ve
been imagining". Simply put, the MagicWand is a simple
but elegant-looking bar which allows users to position both
the Apple Wireless Keyboard and Apple Magic Trackpad
side-by-side to create the impression that the resulting PlayStation 3 owners be warned. If you jailbreak your
outcome resembles an all-in-one keyboard with Apple's Magic PS3 game console, you may find that you can't access the
Trackpad integrated into it. Needless to say, this results in a PlayStation Network (PSN) nor Qriocity movie-streaming
slightly cleaner desktop workspace, as shown in the images service. Ever.
below.

6


Motorola may have been teasing us with details about their
upcoming Xoom tablet for quite some time already, but
as all teases go, the company has remained steadfast in
refusing to disclose the key detail everybody is waiting for:
the size of its pricetag. Fortunately, it appears that the
secrecy surrounding that piece to the puzzle has finally been
broken thanks to an official announcement from the American
telecommunications company. Read on to find out more.

Sony Computer Entertainment has posted on its PlayStation
blog that if a PS3 owner has used ways to circumvent the copy
protection of the game console, and when detected, the user
will be banned from the PlayStation Network and the Qriocity
movie-streaming service permanently.
The official statement:
When it comes to teasing consumers and partners with new
Notice: Unauthorized circumvention devices for the products, OEMs often love to employ a certain tactic. They
PlayStation 3 system have been recently released by will release just about every single bit of information that
hackers. These devices permit the use of unauthorized most consumers will not be interested in knowing, while
or pirated software. Use of such devices or software intentionally holding back key details such as a release date or
violates the terms of the “System Software License more importantly, the suggested retail price of the product in
Agreement for the PlayStation 3 System” and the an attempt to drum up some hype over an unreleased product.
“Terms of Services and User Agreement” for the
Needless to say, that strategy is often successful in achieving
PlayStation Network/Qriocity and its Community
its intended purpose. And since most people tend to abide by
Code of Conduct provisions. Violation of the System
a popular saying that one should not attempt to fix or change
Software Licence Agreement for the PlayStation 3
anything that is not broken, it should come as no surprise
System invalidates the consumer guarantee for that
that Motorola also attempted the same strategy with its Xoom
system. In addition, copying or playing pirated
tablet. After almost a month after Motorola confirmed the
software is a violation of International Copyright
existence of its Xoom tablet, American telecommunications
Laws. Consumers using circumvention devices or
company has finally announced what appears to be the
running unauthorized or pirated software will have
finalized price tags for both the full and WiFi-only versions of
access to the PlayStation Network and access to
its Xoom tablet. Cue dramatic cash register 'cha-ching' sound
Qriocity services through PlayStation 3 system
in...just about now.
terminated permanently.
To avoid this, consumers must immediately cease
use and remove all circumvention devices and delete
all unauthorized or pirated software from their
PlayStation 3 systems.
Earlier, Sony has filed a lawsuit against Geohot when he
showed a demo of running homebrew applications on the PS3,
based on the security exploit by the fail0verflow team. The
court has ruled that the hacker must turn over his computers
and hard drives, and stop publishing about rooting the PS3 due
to violation of US copyright law. The case is still ongoing.

Motorola confirms prices for
According to a report by Reuters, Motorola claims that the
upcoming Xoom tablet Xoom will be headed over to Verizon Wireless first, where it
February 17th, 2011 will be attached with a pricetag of US$799 for users who do
not wish to purchase the tablet with a data plan from the US
carrier. The WiFi-only version has a slightly thinner pricetag
of US$600.

7


Both numbers were confirmed to be the official prices of the
Xoom tablets by Motorola CEO Sanjay Jha, who claimed that
the company had selected the aforementioned price points to
compete against the likes of Apple in the tablet space.
"Competing with Apple, you have to deliver premium
products," he said.
And premium products typically tend to come bundled with
equally premium pricetags, don't they?

Windows Phone 7 Connector:
Now Available for OS X
February 17th, 2011 Similar to how indispensable iTunes is for iOS-powered
devices, one can think of Windows Phone 7 Connector as the
'iTunes' of Windows Phone 7. According to Microsoft, the
application is designed to allow for the syncing of media files
such as images, videos and audio clips to OS X's iTunes or
iPhoto libraries, as well as simplify the process of flashing a
Windows Phone 7 handset's firmware for firmware updates.
What are the odds that a loyal Mac user would actually think
of using a smartphone that comes with Windows Phone 7
preloaded on it and not iOS? Well, apparently Microsoft thinks
that the number is high enough: after all, why else would the
software giant's Windows Phone 7 Connector software app for
Windows Phone 7 have found its way over to the Mac App
Store?
Well, that took Microsoft long enough. Almost four months
Unfortunately, it seems that the luxury of syncing one's
ago, we lauded Microsoft on how quick it was in attempting
Windows Phone 7-powered handset through the Windows
to take measures that would make it easy for the average
Phone 7 Connector software application is not extended to
consumer to migrate from their existing smartphones over to
every single OS X user. This is due to the fact that the app has
its new Windows Phone 7 mobile operating system. Indeed,
a rather stringent software requirement, and that is to restrict
Microsoft did not waste any time back then: barely two
the use of this app to users of at least version 10.6.6 of the OS X
weeks after the operating system was launched, the software
operating system. Simply put, non Snow Leopard users need
giant surprised everybody by producing a pre-release version
not apply. Bummer.
of Windows Phone 7 Connector which allowed owners of
Windows Phone 7 smartphones to sync their handsets on the
Mac operating system. 3 New Dual Core Sandy Bridge
However, as all people know, pre-release software is never
stable, and as a result there was bound to be more than a
CPUs on Feb 20th
February 17th, 2011
few rough edges with the beta version of Windows Phone 7
Connector for Mac. That being said, it appears that Mac users
who happen to own Windows Phone 7-powered handsets will
have something to look forward to today, because a quick
look at the Mac App Store reveals that the finalized version
of Windows Phone 7 Connector has finally gone live and is
available for download at the Mac App Store. 3 new dual core Sandy Bridge CPUs will hit the retail market
on February 20th and they are Core i3-2120, Core i3-2100 and
Core i3-2100T. Intel Core i3-2120 clocked at 3.3GHz featuring
3MB L3 cach/LGA-1155 package is going for US$138 (1Ku
Tray Units). Intel Core i3-2100 clocked at 3.1GHz featuring
3MB L3 cach/LGA-1155 package is going for US$117 (1Ku Tray
Units). A lower power version of the Core i3-2100 known as
the i3-2100T clocked at 2.5GHz with 35W TDP is going for US
$124 (1Ku Tray Units).
3 new dual core Sandy Bridge CPUs will hit the retail market
on February 20th and they are Core i3-2120, Core i3-2100 and
Core i3-2100T. Intel Core i3-2120 clocked at 3.3GHz featuring
3MB L3 cach/LGA-1155 package is going for US$138 (1Ku

8


Tray Units). Intel Core i3-2100 clocked at 3.1GHz featuring based media streaming service to iOS devices, it seems that the
3MB L3 cach/LGA-1155 package is going for US$117 (1Ku Tray Cupertino giant has more things planned up their sleeves.
Units). A lower power version of the Core i3-2100 known as
the i3-2100T clocked at 2.5GHz with 35W TDP is going for US
$124 (1Ku Tray Units). It is interesting to note that there will
be another 7 LGA1155 processors in the pipeline for launch
on May 22nd. They are Core i5-2130, Core i3-2105, Pentium
G850/G840/G620, Core i5-2405S and Pentium 620T.

GeForce GTX 590 and GTX 550
Ti Surfaced in Beta Drivers
February 17th, 2011

Accoding to a source familar with the matter, Apple is going
to include social and location-based services on top of the
speculated "digital locker" streaming system as reported by
The Wall Street Journal.
We spotted two very interesting entries in the latest 266.7x
beta drivers which imply the launch of the GeForce GTX Among the many services Apple is working on include:
590 and GeForce GTX 550 Ti cards are nearing. GeForce GTX - A live video-streaming service like Ustream
590 is a dual GF110 GPU solution with 3GB GDDR5 memory - A location-based check-in system like Gowalla or
while GTX 550 Ti is based on GF116-400, comes with 1GB Foursquare
GDDR5 memory.
- A geo-tagging system codenamed "Tokens" that
tags real-world locations, like Facebook Places on
steroids.
All the above services will be accessed through the revamped
MobileMe and it will be constantly updated with user's
latest activities from their iOS devices; from music to videos,
locations to photos.
"The concept is that you would have you own website
that's dynamic, all based on what you are doing at
that moment," said our source. "Apple thinks of it as
having a webserver in your pocket... everything will
be dynamically updated to MobileMe."

We spotted two very interesting entries in the latest 266.7x Looking deeper into the geo-tagging system, "Tokens" would
beta drivers which imply the launch of the GeForce GTX 590 allow other MobileMe users to tag reviews, photos and other
and GeForce GTX 550 Ti cards are nearing. GeForce GTX interesting information visitng those locations using the iOS
590 is a dual GF110 GPU solution with 3GB GDDR5 memory devices' built-in GPS.
while GTX 550 Ti is based on GF116-400, comes with 1GB In a nutshell, it seems like Apple is trying to create an all-
GDDR5 memory. Sporting a dual slot solution, the GTX 550 in-one social solution for all iOS devices user. The all-new
Ti reference design looks very much like its GTX 560 Ti revamped MobileMe is expected to be launched for free in the
counterpart with Dual DL DVI-I and a mHDMI port. summer, alongside with the upcoming iPhone 5.

What is Apple planning for iPhone 5 to look like this?
MobileMe? February 17th, 2011

February 17th, 2011

With rumours of the next iPhone to include a 4-inch display
While the Wall Street Journal has previously reported that floating up recently and other reports of the iPhone 5 without
Apple is planning to revamp its MobileMe to include a cloud- the home button, how exactly will the next-generation iPhone
look like?

9


Recently, there have been many hints and rumours that Apple
is going to update its MacBook Pro line, since it has been
almost a year ago when they were updated. Today we added
another to the list from AppleInsider. Sources close to Apple
reported that the new MacBook Pros will be shipped out
around the first week of March.
A person familiar with the matter said the Mac
While there are rumours of 4-inch screen components to be
maker currently anticipates an introduction of the
featured in the next-generation iPhone, many are expecting
new models within about two weeks time, which
the same hardware parts to be reused in the next iPhone from
would represent a delay of just a couple of weeks from
the iPhone 4. So how would they look like if those two factors
when the company initially hoped to usher the new
are combined? Well, above is a mock-up of how the iPhone 5
models onto the market.
may look like with a 4-inch screen while preserving its current
hardware and size. But other than Sandy Bridge, Apple is also reportedly adding
some new features to the MacBook Pro family.
To be honest, I think it looks a little weird with the screen
extending out to the edge of the phone, don't you think?
The Daily VR-Zone News
Summary - 16 Feb 2011
February 17th, 2011

In today's news roundup: Nanya claims that contract prices
for DDR3 memory is set to increase this month; AMD's
Fusion platform gets reviewed in the form of Asus's E35M1-
M Pro motherboard Nokia claims that the decision to go with
But how about the iPhone 5 without the home button? Windows Phone is key to ensuring the company's relevancy
It is possible to function the iPhone without the home button, in today's highly competitive mobile market, Samsung is
as demonstrated in iOS beta with multi-touch gestures on the reportedly turning to laser technology in a bid to lower
iPad, and future iPhones might really be home-(button)-less. production costs of their OLED displays, and Mega Biotech
& Electronics has confirmed that it will be hosting a Hatsune
Do you think Apple is going to surprise us with such radical Miku: PROJECT DIVA tournament at this year's Taipei Game
change in the upcoming iPhone? Show which is due to take place this weekend.
Hardware News:
MacBook Pros available in ECS P67H2-A Black Extreme Motherboard Performance
early March? Review @ Legit Reviews
February 17th, 2011
Description: ECS is trying to improve the image of their
products by releasing high end "Black Extreme" series
motherboards. The latest in the "Black Extreme" series is
P67H2-A Black Extreme. Based around the Intel P67 series
chipset code named "Sandy Bridge", the ECS P67H2-A
There are reports that the new MacBook Pros, which are due
Black Extreme supports the latest Intel second generation
for refreshment, had already undergone production and that
Core series processors. Over the past month we have
volume shipment will begin as soon as the start of March.
taken an in depth look at the new Intel Core Processors,
Mobile Processors, and motherboards from a couple different
vendors . Our focus today is going to be on the performance
and feature of the ECS P67H2-A Black Extreme...
Crucial Ballistix 4GB DDR3-1866 BL2KIT25664FN1869
Review at Overclockers Online

10


Description: Out of the box the Ballistix BL2KIT25664FN1869 Nokia CEO: Why We’re More Relevant Than Ever
kit offers great performance that should satisfy just about Description: Facing a chorus of disapproval over its Microsoft
anyone. If this isn’t enough these Ballistix sticks offer a decent deal, Nokia tried to switch focus today — by vowing to deliver
overclock while keeping the stock timings. Crucial has also Internet service to three billion new customers.
put thermal sensors in these sticks so that you can monitor ASUS N73: One Step Closer to Perfection @ InsideHW
the temperatures with their Ballistix MOD Utility should you Description: ASUS has definitely decided to change their
really want to push the limits. image as fast as possible and catch up with the more popular
OvisLink AirLive X.USB 11a/b/g/n 300Mbps Dual Band USB brands in terms of notebook computers. Several years back,
Adapter Review @ Madshrimps their mobile department was all but disregarded, but things
Description: The AirLive X.USB Dual Band USB Adapter from changed over time, and their notebook profits have risen on
OvisLink is an interesting looking product, with two external a quarterly basis. The fact that they have given notebook PCs
antennas, to provide more coverage compared to most USB their full attention led them from churning out average models
adapters on the market, that feature internal antennas. to certain series being prestigious even when compared to
their competitors.
Asus E35M1-M Pro Review: A Look at AMD's Fusion Platform
Description: The Asus E35M1-M Pro motherboard we are Telekom Austria Group Launches An International Data
testing today is an implementation of the AMD Fusion/Brazos Roaming Tariff
platform that packs a dual-core AMD Zacate 18W processor Description: he Telekom Austria Group is taking a major
(formally known as the E-350 APU), DirectX 11 graphics step towards the Global Village with the launch of a new
support along with USB 3.0 and SATA 6Gb/s, making for a international data roaming tariff, “abroadband”. The new
relatively inexpensive bundle at $140. product will allow customers to surf the net with their laptops,
netbooks, tablets or smartphones in more than 50 countries
VisionTek Killer HD5770 Combo Card @ Benchmark Reviews
around the world at a standard price of 59 cents per MB,
Description: The VisionTek Killer HD5770 Combo Video
regardless of their mobile provider. From now on, both leisure
Card combines a Bigfoot Networks Killer E2100 NIC and a
and business travelers will benefit from high-speed mobile
Radeon HD5770 GPU to offer a complete gaming solution that
Internet access with downloading rates of up to 7.2 Mbps along
undercuts the price of buying both seperately, also combining
with guaranteed cost security, saving up to 80% compared to
the network controller with the video card takes more work of
conventional roaming tariffs.
your CPU's shoulders allowing it to be better utilized in other
areas of your games. I'm sure you are thinking that the HD5770 Samsung to start using laser to make AMOLEDs - that will
is probably not the most powerful GPU out there and that make them cheaper and with a higher resolution
VisionTek could have maybe used something with a bit more Description: It turns out that Samsung is not content with the
grunt but this combination of technologies takes the original Super AMOLED Plus displays - and are already working on the
VisionTek HD5770 from 7.5 inches long to 10 inches long, so next-gen AMOLEDs. These will use a laser deposition method
it makes sense for obvious reasons. Benchmark Reviews aims (LITI) - which will enable Samsung to make cheaper OLEDs
to provide you with an unbiased review of the VisionTek Killer that will have a much higher resolution (over 300ppi). It's also
HD5770 and report back our findings, keeping you informed an important step towards OLED TVs commercialization:
on the latest technologies available on the market today. Razer Ferox Review @ Vortez
Gelid Icy Vision Rev 2 Graphics Card Cooler Review @ Description: Today we will be taking a look at one of their
Tweaknews latest products to hit the market. A portable audio solution for
Description: Gelid has started their aftermarket cooling legacy mobile gaming and music lovers. The Ferox speakers claim to
with a strong step by releasing the Icy Vision Rev. 2. The cooler provide great overall audio and a powerful bass. For such a
has certainly passed the performance tests and proven it's a small set of speakers it will be interesting to see if the Ferox
contender. Gelid's design is adaptable, versatile, and backed live up to their reputation for being "tiny but mighty".
up with very competitive results. Eurocom High Performance Business Class Notebooks are
Intel Unleashes Core i7-990X, Slashes Pricing on Other High- now available in Germany
End Chips Description: Eurocom, (www.eurocom.com) the world’s
Description: Intel Corp. on Monday began to officially sell its leading developer of highly personalized, high-performance
new Core i7-990X six-core chip designed for those, who have notebook PCs, continues their global expansion with entry
no limits in terms of performance or price in mind. The new into the German market. As of this month Eurocom
processor is currently the world's highest-performing central Mobile Workstations and Mobile Servers are available in
processing unit (CPU) for desktops and ultra-high end desktop Germany. The company will sell their products via local
replacement notebooks. hardware dealers and directly to consumers via their
website www.eurocom.com . This strategic step will improve
DRAM contract prices set to rise in February, says Nanya
Eurocom's position on the global market as a provider of high-
Description: Contract prices for DRAM chips are expected
end mobile computing solutions.
to increase by at least 5% in February 2011, starting to gain
momentum, according to Nanya Technology. The company Gaming News:
had previously predicted that DRAM prices would start Mega Biotech to hold Project DIVA tournament
recovering as early as the first quarter. Description: The upcoming Gran Turismo 5 Asia tournament
Consumer Electronics and Software News:: will not be the only highlight of the Taipei Game Show

11


2011 at the Taipei World Trade Center this weekend. Mega output. It also comes with 5-megapixel auto-focus camera,
Biotech & Electronics, the Taiwanese company responsible Bluetooth 2.1, 802.11 b/g/n wireless and GPS / A-GPS
for distributing rhythm arcade game Hatsune Miku: Project functionality
DIVA Arcade in Asia, will be hosting the first-ever newcomer ViewPad 10Pro - 1st Intel Oak Trail processor with dual OS
tournament in the show. The ViewPad 10Pro is a 10-inch commercial tablet PC with
Lego Pirates of the Caribbean: Tackling Tortuga dual boot functionality, offering switch capability between
Description: When we went to visit Traveller's Tales for the Windows 7 for business use and Google Android 2.2 for
first showing of LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean last month, personal and social entertainment. The tablet is one of the
we were shown a level we weren't allowed to tell you about: first on the market to incorporate Intel Oak Trail processor.
Tortuga, the pirate port from Curse of the Black Pearl. It was a It has a 1024x600 LED backlit capacitive multi-touch panel,
bigger, less scripted environment to play in than the opening is fully compatible with 3G, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and boasts
level, giving us a bit more room to stretch our game-evaluation approximately six hours of battery life.
legs.

ASUS showcases seamless
ViewSonic launches V350, mobility concept at MWC 2011
world's first dual-SIM Android February 17th, 2011

Froyo smartphone
February 17th, 2011

Taiwanese company ASUS also has an appearance at the
Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. Aside from the
location-based service (LBS) smartphone, Eee Pad MeMO,
Viewsonic has announced the V350 that claims to be the Eee Pad Transformer and Eee Pad Slider devices, ASUS has
world's first dual-SIM Android 2.2 (Froyo) smartphone at also unveiled their cloud-based services, which formed the
Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. a . at mobile World "seamless mobility" concept.
Congress.

ViewSonic has showcased V350 which claims to be the ASUS has showcased products and technologies that form part
world’s first Dual-SIM Android Froyo smartphone at Mobile of its "seamless mobility" concept at this year’s Mobile World
World Congressthis week. The V350 sports a 3.5-inch HVGA Congress in Barcelona. Users get to experience ASUS mobile
capacitive touchscreen display, runs Android 2.2 Froyo products including the Eee Pad MeMO, Eee Pad Transformer,
operating system, has active dual-SIM slots that enable the Eee Pad Slider and location-based service (LBS) smartphones,
use of two network services at the same time. This feature and learn more about ASUS’ cloud-based services.
allows travelers to carry one phone while still be able to take
Seamless Mobility
advantage of different pricing plans and network offers for
The ASUS Seamless Mobility concept ensures users have
voice and data in various countries. Other features include
complete access to their data wherever they are. This
5-megapixel auto-focus camera, micro-SD expansion, Wi-Fi,
ranges from using a smartphone to email, working on their
Bluetooth 2.1 and assisted GPS navigation.
notebook in the office or watching videos at home on the tablet
ViewPad 4 with Android Gingerbread OS computer.
Viewsonic has also introduced the ViewPad 4 that offers
Cloud Devices for Every Need
both phone and tablet functionality.The 4.1-inch WVGA
ASUS has unveiled a wide range of notebook PCs at CES 2011
touch capacitive device is equipped with a Qualcomm MSM
in Las Vegas last month, the Eee PC netbooks, smartphones
8255 1GHz processor and offers high definition 720p video
and new range of tablet computers.
recording, playback, upload, and mini-HDMI 720p display
12


The Eee Pad Slider, Eee Pad Transformer, Eee Pad MeMO and a chance to see the ViewPad 10Pro, as ViewSonic had some
Eee Slate EP121 are available with three screen sizes, and a problems with the demo unit when we visited their booth.
choice of either Google Android or Windows 7 Home Premium The ViewPad 10s is a Tegra 250 based 10-inch tablet with
operating systems. 512MB of DDR2 memory and a mere 512Mb of Flash memory
The Eee Pad and Eee Slate tablets claim to deliver full that is currently running Android 2.2. The display has a native
multimedia experience with high definition (HD) video, resolution of 1024x600 and ViewSonic is offering a model with
broad connectivity options and the widest range of media Wi-Fi only and one with Wi-Fi and HSPA connectivity. The
compatibility with standards like Adobe Flash. Capacitive specs aren't that convincing though, as you only get 802.11b/
touchscreens are standard throughout, as is stylus input and g Wi-Fi and ViewSonic has only fitted a 1.3Megapixel camera.
support for external HDMI displays. Other features include Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, a micro SD card
slot, an HDMI port, a USB 2.0 port and a 3.5mm headphone
Location-Aware Smartphone Services
jack. It's not the tablet we'd buy, but we'd expect it to be fairly
The ASUS ‘seamless mobility’ concept extends to pocket-size
affordable when it launches.
devices too, and there are a number of ASUS smartphones
at MWC. Powered by Google Android, the models all include
location-aware services that help users connect with the wider
world when they’re on the move with intuitive bespoke user
interfaces.
Smart Cloud Storage for Every Device
ASUS will also demonstrate its range of cloud-based services at
MWC. This includes ASUS Webstorage that offers automatic
data backup, easy access to personal data from any location
and instant file sharing. Webstorage adds to the portability
and flexibility of user data, freeing consumers from the
constraints of physical hard drives, while providing robust
privacy and security measures.
ASUS Webstorage makes massive amounts of online storage
available, which can then be accessed from any internet- The ViewPad 4 on the other hand is an interesting device, least
connected device — smartphone, notebook, netbook, tablets not by ViewSonic's definition of what a tablet is. The ViewPad
such as the ASUS Eee Pad range and even a desktop PC. 4 has a 4.1-inch screen and is as such considered a tablet by
ViewSonic, while anything 4-inches or below is a smartphone.
Entertainment is also part of ASUS’ cloud-based service line- Terminology apart, the ViewPad 4 sports a 1GHz Qualcomm
up - the @VIBE portal offers a huge range of online multimedia MSM8255 SoC, tri-band HSPA with download speeds of up
and educational content, or the MEar music streaming service. to 14.4Mbit, quad band GSM, 512MB of RAM, 2GB of Flash
memory, 800x480 pixel screen resolution, a rear 5Megapixel
Hands on with ViewSonic's camera and a front facing VGA camera, 802.11b/g Wi-Fi,
aGPS, a micro HDMI and USB port and a 3.5mm headset jack.
new Android devices It should ship with Android 2.4 when it launches and if the
February 17th, 2011 price point is right we can see this being another big seller for
ViewSonic.

After its success with the ViewPad 7, ViewSonic is continuing
to expand its lineup of tablets and at the Mobile World
Congress we got to spend a few minutes with ViewSonic's latest
additions, the ViewPad 4 and ViewPad 10s as well as its new
dual-SIM 3G Android handset, the V350. Sadly we didn't get
a chance to see the ViewPad 10Pro, as ViewSonic had some
problems with the demo unit when we visited their booth.

Finally the V350 is more of a budget handset with a 3.5-inch
After its success with the ViewPad 7, ViewSonic is continuing
480x320 resolution display, a 600MHz processor, Android
to expand its lineup of tablets and at the Mobile World
2.2 and of course Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. What sets the V350
Congress we got to spend a few minutes with ViewSonic's latest
apart from every other Android handset in the market is that
additions, the ViewPad 4 and ViewPad 10s as well as its new
it has a pair of SIM card slots, both supporting HSPA and both
dual-SIM 3G Android handset, the V350. Sadly we didn't get
running at the same time. As such you can make and answer
calls from two numbers without having to power cycle or
13


something similarly frustrating to access the second SIM card.
It's also a very light handsets for its size at 125g and although
we don't know the price of the V350, we're expecting this to
be a fairly budget friendly handset judging by the hardware
features, despite the addition of support for a second SIM card.

Intel wouldn't say too much about its upcoming 32nm
Medfield Atom processor, although the company is currently
sampling processors to its partners which is suggesting that
we should see the first devices within the next six months or
so. What is clear is that Intel is very serious about getting into
the mobile phone market space, one way or another and its
announcement that it's now officially supporting Android is a
Intel talks 32nm Atom and clear indication of this. It's not as if Intel has that many other

Android, demoes MeeGo tablet
options to be fair, despite the fact that Intel is still pushing
MeeGo quite heavily.
February 17th, 2011

Intel didn't have a ton of new things to show at the
Mobile World Congress beyond its new XMM platform for
smartphones and tablets, but one thing the company is
communicating very clearly at the show is that Intel will have
Atom powered phones in the market later this year. These will
be based on Intel's upcoming 32nm Medfield Atom processor
which the company claimed will offer at least the same kind
of standby power as the competition, presumably referring To that effect, the company was demoing a MeeGo tablet from
to ARM based products here. Intel also showed off a MeeGo EXOPC running a pane based UI, although we can't say that
tablet based on the Oak Trail Atom processor, although the we're sold on this approach after a quick play with the tablet.
company will also actively support Android on both tablets and That said, MeeGo is quite flexible when it comes to UI's and
smartphones. this is just one of many options and an attempt at doing
something different. Some of the functionality worked quite
well, but not the concept as a whole. The navigation experience
Intel didn't have a ton of new things to show at the was kind of peculiar as well, not helped by the fact that the
Mobile World Congress beyond its new XMM platform for home/back button was an optical sensor at the top left hand
smartphones and tablets, but one thing the company is side of the screen. This wasn't a very intuitive way of navigating
communicating very clearly at the show is that Intel will have compared to every other touch screen based OS/UI we've used
Atom powered phones in the market later this year. These will in the past and took a little time to figure out.
be based on Intel's upcoming 32nm Medfield Atom processor
which the company claimed will offer at least the same kind
of standby power as the competition, presumably referring
to ARM based products here. Intel also showed off a MeeGo
tablet based on the Oak Trail Atom processor, although the
company will also actively support Android on both tablets and
smartphones.

14


see some very interesting projects being submitted. The voting
will be open to the public and will commence on the 16th of
May, so for those that want to compete, the projects have to be
finished by the 15th of May. The winners will be announced on
the 31st of May which happens to be the first day of Computex
this year.
There will be a first prize, two second prize and three third
prize winners in each of the categories and there's also a bonus
category where Cooler Master will award a special prize to
what they think is the project that had the best effort put into
it. Prize sponsors include AMD, EVGA, Gigabyte, Kingston,
Patriot, PowerColor, THQ, Zotac and of course Cooler Master
themselves.
Intel also mentioned that it was disappointed with the fact that Some of the things you can win include SSD drives, Radeon
Nokia has decided to more or less drop its support for MeeGo HD 6900 series graphics cards, motherboards, memory, a
before the OS has even had a chance to show what it can do. We bunch of different products from Cooler Master including a
can sort of understand Intel's sentiment, especially as Nokia case of your choice, a 1200W PSU, coolers, portable chargers,
didn't give Intel a lot of head warning and it was a very key mice and in the case of THQ, it's soon to launch and much
partner in the project. We have a feeling that MeeGo will have anticipated Homefront. Sounds like a competition worth
too small of a market share in the smartphone market to ever entering to us if you're skilled with power tools and knows how
really make it, although as a tablet OS it might still have a fair to make a case mod that really stands out.
chance.

Facebook Launches Facebook
Places in Singapore
February 17th, 2011

Cooler Master kicks off case Facebook today announced the launch of Facebook Places
in Singapore. Already available in some countries, Facebook
mod competition Places allows you to “check-in” and share with your friends
February 17th, 2011 where you are and who you’re with, find friends who are
nearby and discover new places your friends like – all in real
time.

If you want a chance to win a part of prizes worth an estimated
US$15,000 and see yourself as the greatest case modder on
this planet, then you want to check out Cooler Master's 2011
case mod competition. The registration opened today and it's
open to anyone over the age of 18 worldwide. There are two
categories to compete in this year and three prize categories,
so even if you're not a professional case modder, there's a good Ever felt the need to keep tabs on where your real-life friends
chance of winning a prize. on Facebook are currently at so that you might be able to know
if they happen to be in the very same location you are currently
at? If you do, an announcement made by the world's most
If you want a chance to win a part of prizes worth an estimated
popular online social networking service would probably be
US$15,000 and see yourself as the greatest case modder on
the news that is guaranteed to put a smile on your face.
this planet, then you want to check out Cooler Master's 2011
case mod competition. The registration opened today and it's Apparently, Facebook has just announced the launch of
open to anyone over the age of 18 worldwide. There are two Facebook Places in Singapore. For those who are unaware,
categories to compete in this year and three prize categories, Facebook Places is a service which allows users to “check-in”
so even if you're not a professional case modder, there's a good and share your location with friends in real time.
chance of winning a prize.
The two competition categories consist of either modifying a
tower case or building your own case mod from scratch. This
makes for a very open competition and we should hopefully

15


specifications. And this especially applies if one happens to
want said consumer electronics devices to look almost like the
real deal sold globally by established OEMs, but at a mere
fraction of the latter's asking price.
That being said, not every single consumer electronic device
in China has to be a clone: apparently, there are original
Facebook Places is available to users in Singapore with
products which bear little to no resemblance to the popular
mobile access to the Facebook application for iPhone,
products sold by established OEMs globally. And Phecda's
Android, Blackberry, HP webOS, and Windows Phone 7, or
latest product: an ultrathin 13.3-inch notebook powered by
to touch.facebook.com. When you use Places, you'll be able
NVIDIA's ION2 platform, is living proof that there is still some
to see if any of your friends are currently checked in nearby
degree of originality left in the Middle Kingdom.
and connect with them easily. You can also check into nearby
Places to tell your friends where you are, tag your friends in
the Places you visit together, and view comments your friends
have made about the Places you visit.
How to use Facebook Places?

1. Go to the “Places” icon within the Facebook mobile
applications or touch.facebook.com, then tap the “Check
In” button, which will pull up a list of places near you.
2. Choose the place that matches where you are. If there
isn’t one already in the list, users can search for it or
create a new one.
3. Tap the “Check in” button to share that you are at the
place. Users can also add comments and tag friends. Currently codenamed the P13, Phecda's ultrathin notebook
looks anything but generic. Apparently, Phecda has pulled
With Places, users are in control of what they share and with
out all the stops by opting to furnish the P13 with premium
whom they share. They choose whether or not to share their
aluminium for its exterior instead of cheap, generic plastic.
location when they check in at a place, and only friends can see
Unfortunately, the hardware used in the P13 is anything but
when they do, unless users choose to set their privacy setting
premium: instead of the CULV processor typically found in
otherwise. When users check in, they can tag friends who are
such thin-and-light notebooks, Phecda apparently decided
with them but only if their settings allow it. When they are
that the dual-core Intel Atom D525 processor would provide
tagged, they are always notified.
sufficient computing horsepower for most of today's basic
tasks.
Fortunately, it seems that the weak processor was the only
Chinese notebook gets a compromise Phecda has made in order to produce an ultrathin
notebook which does not magically shrinks one's wallet after
diet with ultrathin form purchase. At least, the P13's screen is capable of a respectable
factor, ION2 and even thinner 1366 x 768 resolution and comes with a myriad of I/O and
connectivity options such as a 5-in-1 card reader and three
pricetag USB 2.0 ports, along with both a VGA and HDMI-out port for
February 17th, 2011 external display purposes.

China might be a great country for shopping if one desires
to load up on cheap consumer electronic devices which bear
more than a passing resemblance to existing products but at
a fraction of the latter's selling price. However, that does not
mean that the world's largest clone producer does not have
its own set of original bang-for-buck devices for the domestic
market, and the release of a new ultrathin notebook from
Phecda should be proof of that.
It is probably common knowledge by now, but it stands that
China is still the best place to buy cheap consumer electronic
devices such as notebooks and tablets with decent hardware

16


Certainly, such bold words bring about much controversy
as fanboys of both DSLR and compact cameras argue the
pros and cons of their beloved camera. Fast forward to 2011,
Panasonic has launched the improvised Lumix DMC-GF2, the
successor to the GF1.
Our review model (DMC-GF2C) came with a 14mm f/2.5
pancake lens and sports a white exterior and packed in a rather
humble looking box. Compared with the GF1, the new GF2
is approximately 19% smaller in size and approximately 7%
lighter.
The GF2's interface has been redesigned to compliment the
touchscreen technology included in the camera. The popup
flash unit has been redesigned, it pops forward rather than
That being said, there seems to be one major flaw with
popping up, an improvement to reduce vignetting. Of course,
Phecda's ultrathin P13 notebook, and it lies in the fact that
the most noticable change is the removal of the physical model
the bundled 2200mAh lithion-ion battery is reportedly only
dial in the camera and includes a dedicated Intelligent Auto
capable of sustaining up to two hours of usage on a single
(iA) button.
charge. But if that does not sound like a serious enough flaw
to affect your mobile productivity, the P13 can be had for only Technical specifications have been bumped up in the GF2
a mere US$365 (approx S$467), though you will have to get a and noticable changes include the highest ISO that has been
Chinese friend to purchase one for you: they are exclusive to bumped up to 6400, built-n stereo microphones, support of
China only. Dang. 1080i video recording and the removal of remote shooting
function.
Source and images: M.I.C Digi

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2
Review
February 17th, 2011

The micro four-thirds camera has come a long way, bringing
the performance and quality that is almost on-par with of an
entry-level Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) camera while A closer look and you will realise some of the trademark logos
boasting the lightweight of a compact camera. With the new on the box - Dolby, SDXC, AVCHD. It seems like we have a
GF2 from Panasonic evolving to a slimmer and new re- gem in our hands and we cant wait to unbox it and unravel out
designed interface, how does it fare ? Read on... the awesomeness it is going to bring.

When the first micro four thirds camera from Panasonic came Here is what you get in the retail box of Lumix DMC-GF2,
out in 2008, it was a mixed bag of reactions with its bulkiness
of a professional camera and uncertainity of a new technology • DMC-GF2 camera
back then. Through the years of constant research, Panasonic
• Battery charging cradle and power cable
launched the Lumix DMC-GF1 in 2009 with a slimmer design
similar to a compact camera and promising quality. • Battery (DMW-BLD10E / 7.2V / 1010mAh)

17


• Startup guide, software CDs [Full HD] 1,920 x 1,080, 60i
(sensor output is 30p) (FSH:
• A/V cable, USB cable
17 Mbps, FH: 13 Mbps)
• Neck strap [HD] 1,280 x 720, 60p
(sensor output is 30p) (SH: 17
And a loook at the technical specifications of the camera Mbps, H: 13 Mbps)
--
Type Digital interchangeable lens [Full HD] 1,920 x 1,080, 50i
system camera (sensor output is 25p) (FSH:
Recording Media SD Memory Card, SDHC 17 Mbps, FH: 13 Mbps)
Memory Card, SDXC Memory [HD] 1,280 x 720, 50p
Card (sensor output is 25p) (SH: 17
Image Sensor Size 17.3 x 13.0 mm (in 4:3 aspect Mbps, H: 13 Mbps)
ratio) Focus Type Contrast AF system
Lens Mount Micro Four Thirds mount Focus Mode AFS / AFC / MF
Image Sensor Type Live MOS Sensor AF Mode Face detection / AF
Total / Effective Pixels 13.06 Megapixels / 12.01 Tracking / 23-area-focusing /
pixels 1-area-focusing
Color Filter Primary color filter Touch (1-area-focusing
Dust Reduction Supersonic wave filter in Face detection / AF
Tracking / Multi-area-
Recording Formats JPG, MPO (3D recording),
focusing / 1-area-focusing)
AVCHD, Quicktime JPEG
AF Detective Range EV 0 - 18 (ISO 100)
Image Quality RAW, RAW+Fine, RAW
+Standard, Fine, Standard AF Assist Lamp EV 0 - 18 (ISO 100)
MPO+Fine, MPO+Standard AF Lock Set the Fn button in custom
(When attaching 3D lens in menu to AF lock
Micro Four Thirds System Others Quick AF, Continuous
standard) AF (during motion image
Color Space sRGB, Adobe RGB recording), AF+MF, Touch
File Size (pixels) [4:3] 4,000 x 3,000 (L), 2,816 shutter, Touch MF Assist
x 2,112 (M), 2,048 x 1,536 Light Metering Quick AF, Continuous
(S), 1,600 x 1,200 (When AF (during motion image
attaching 3D lens in Micro recording), AF+MF, Touch
Four Thirds System standard) shutter, Touch MF Assist
[3:2] 4,000 x 2,672 (L), 2,816 Light Metering Mode Intelligent Multiple / Center
x 1,880 (M), 2,048 x 1,360 Weighted / Spot
(S), 1,600 x 1,064 (When Metering Range EV 0 - 18 (F2.0 lens, ISO 100)
attaching 3D lens in Micro Exposure Mode Program AE / Aperture
Four Thirds System standard) Priority AE / Shutter Priority
AE / Manual
[16:9] 4,000 x 2,248 (L), ISO Sensitivity Auto / Intelligent ISO / 100 /
2,816 x 1,584 (M), 1,920 x 200 / 400 / 800 / 1600 /
1,080 (S), 1,600 x 904 (When 3200 / 6400
attaching 3D lens in Micro
Exposure 1/3 EV Step, ±3 EV
Four Thirds System standard)
AE Lock Set the Fn button in custom
[1:1] 2,992 x 2,992 (L), 2,112 menu to AE lock
x 2,112 (M), 1,504 x 1,504 White Balance Auto / Daylight / Cloudy /
(S), 1,440 x 1,440 (When Shade / Halogen / Flash /
attaching 3D lens in Micro White Set 1, 2 / Color
Four Thirds System standard) temperature setting
-- Shutter Speed Still Image: 1/4,000 - 60
Shutter Timer 10 sec, 3 images / 2 sec / 10
[4:3] VGA: 640 x 480, 30 sec
fps / QVGA: 320 x 240, 30 fps
Scene Mode Still Image - Portrait /
[16:9] WVGA: 848 x 480, 30
Soft Skin / Scenery /
fps
Architecture / Sports /
Peripheral Defocus / Flower /
[HD] 1,280 x 720, 30 fps
18


Food / Objects / Night 112.8 x 67.8 x 32.8 mm / 4.44
Portrait / Night Scenery / x 2.67 x 1.29 in (excluding
Illuminations / Baby 1, 2 / protrusions)
Pet / Party / Sunset
Movie - Portrait / Soft Skin /
Scenery / Architecture /
Sports / Flower / Food /
Sony Ericsson announces
Objects / Low-light / Party / Xperia neo and Xperia pro
Android smartphones
Sunset
(Activated by selecting February 17th, 2011
Still Image SCN mode then
pressing Movie Button. Still
Image SCN modes without
corresponding Movie SCN
mode is recorded in mode
suitable for the recording Aside from the Xperia Play (or formerly known as PlayStation
situation.) phone), Sony Ericsson has also announced the Xperia neo
Burst Shoot H: 3.2 frames/sec, M: 2.5 and Xperia pro Android smartphones. Read on for more
frames/sec (with Live View), information.
L: 2 frames/sec (with Live
View)
Flash TTL Built-in-Flash, GN6
equivalent (ISO100 · m),
Built-in Pop-up
--
Modes: Auto, Auto / Red-eye
Reduction, Forced On, Forced
On / Red-eye Reduction, Slow
Sync., Slow Sync. / Red-eye
Reduction, Forced Off
--
Sony Ericsson has announced the Xperia neo and Xperia pro
Sync Speed: Less than 1/160 that promise exceptional multimedia experience on the latest
second Gingerbread Android platform.
LCD Monitor 3.0 inch; 460,000 dots pixel
Live View Digital Zoom - 2x, 4x
The Xperia pro features a slide-out keyboard with smart
Others: Guide Lines (3
functions for fast messaging experience. Sony Ericsson Xperia
patterns)
pro has also introduced a subtle but fast Type & Send
Real-time Histogram functionality eliminating the need to open a dedicated app
Interfaces USB, HDMI, AV/Out for each type of message, and Smart Keyboard for predictive
Battery ID-Security Li-ion Battery messaging when the user slides out the keyboard.
Pack (7.2V, 1,010mAh)
(Included)
Battery Charger The Xperia pro is designed as the ideal business
Dimensions Approx. 475 g / 16.75 oz (SD phone for business professionals with functions including
Memory Card, Battery, H- syncing email, calendar and contacts in a secure way and pre-
FS014042 lens included) loaded Office Suite Pro for users to view and edit office
Approx. 365 g / 12.87 oz (SD documents directly on the phone.
Memory Card, Battery, H-
H014 lens included)

Approx. 265 g / 9.35 oz (Body The Sony Ericsson Xperia neo sports a stunning design and is
onl ergonomically designed to fit perfectly in the user’s hand.

--

19

VR-Zone Technology News | Stuff for the Geeks! Issue #3

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