AMD Athlon II X4 620 The First Sub $100 Quad Core

Industry’s First Sub-$100 Quad-Core CPU Powers New AMD Mainstream Desktop Platforms: Multimedia Entertainment is More Affordable than Ever

Designed as the optimal balance of CPU performance and graphics excellence, this AMD platform is designed to take advantage of new Windows 7 enhancement

As part of the new desktop platform designed for mainstream consumers, AMD today announced the first ever quad-core processor for less than $100 Suggested System Builder Price (SSBP). By balancing the power of new AMD Athlon II X4 quad-core processors and the AMD 785G chipset featuring ATI Radeon HD 4200 graphics, AMD delivers smooth HD visuals and the foundation for a great Windows 7 experience.

When matched against similarly priced competitive processors, the AMD Athlon II X4 620 processor delivers superior multitasking performance allowing mainstream users to do more in less time, for less money. The AMD Mainstream Desktop Platform leverages AMD software to help enhance the overall experience. ATI Stream technology, for example, enables hardware acceleration that can speed HD video conversion-time so content can be ready faster for use on-the-go.

Combining the efficiency of 45nm processors and this platform’s built-in power management technologies for a cool and quiet PC, an AMD Athlon II processor-based platform can serve-up an amazing Blu-ray movie experience using less energy than a standard 75 watt light bulb. This platform also can improve business users’ experience as part of AMD Business Class technology. With this second generation commercial platform, AMD industry partners can offer a variety of form factors with superior value, exceptional energy efficiency, advanced visual productivity. This platform also has support for essential manageability, security and virtualization features that today’s businesses demand.

“Our goal is to deliver a great computing experience and maximize value for our customers,” said John Cook, vice president of marketing, global PC business, HP. “The new AMD quad-core processors offer the right balance between excellent performance and price, and allow HP to continue to be a best-in-class provider of consumer technology.”

“Designed with customer needs in mind, Windows 7 simplifies and improves the computing experience,” said Mike Ybarra, general manager of Windows Product Management at Microsoft Corp. “The introduction of the new AMD Mainstream Desktop Platform coupled with Windows 7, allows end users to enjoy their digital entertainment with a faster, higher performing experience at an attractive price point.”

My thoughts:

AMD might have hit a home run with the mainstream market here. A low powered, low cost chip that overclocks well should fit the bill for many pc enthusiasts out there. This chip would run cool and quiet and provide more than enough power to run a high end HTPC or even a low end gaming rig.

At less than $100 if this little chip lives up to the early benchmarks and testing we should see them flying off the shelves. They've tested in line with Intel's Q8200 and Q8400 but with a savings of anywhere from $50-80. Match that savings with a very affordable 785G based motherboard and you've got yourself a very nice everyday PC.

AMD Athlon II X4 620 Reviews:

• HotHardware - AMD Athlon II X4 Debut: Enter The $99 Quad-Core
• Tweak Town - AMD Athlon II X4 620 Processor Review - Quad-Core for Mainstream
• TechSpot- AMD Athlon II X4 620 Processor Review
• AnandTech - AMD Athlon II X4 620 & 630: The First $99 Quad Core CPU
• OverclockersClub - AMD Athlon II X4 620 Quad Core Processor Review
• LegitReviews - AMD Athlon II X4 620 and Athlon II X4 630 Processor Review
• Guru3d - AMD Athlon II X4 620 review

Source: AMD Press Release

Comcast Wants To Put TV Shows On Your Cell Phone

Comcast Corp, one of the nations leading cable companies, said Wednesday it plans to offer subscribers the option to watch their favorite TV shows on mobile devices through its new wireless Internet service.

Back in June the company announced the roll out of their new Highspeed2go platform. At that time Comcast announced plans to offer not just internet but bundled service such as phone and television products.

The new 4G wireless high-speed data service features two plans. The first plans is the $49.99/mo Fast Pack Metro service includes Comcast’s 12 Mbps home Internet service, a free WiFi router for mobility and extended coverage in the home, and 4G service that will provide up to 4 Mbps download speed when customers are on the go. Or for an additional $20 per month, consumers can upgrade to the Fast Pack Nationwide service that includes the same services plus nationwide 3G mobile network access.

Additional plan features include:

• Comcast High-Speed 2go Metro service uses a 4G-only data card giving customers the fastest wireless service within the 4G metro coverage area. The Metro device operates only in a 4G service footprint.
• Comcast High-Speed 2go Nationwide service delivers the fastest metro 4G service plus coast-to-coast access on Sprint’s national 3G network. The Nationwide device automatically switches between available 4G and

LG Announces A New Android Based Phone The LG-GW620

First Android Device Signals LG's Two-tier Smartphone Strategy

LG Electronics (LG), a global leader and technology innovator in mobile communications, reinforced its aggressive strategy in smartphones by announcing the first Android mobile device which will give LG a broader and more dominant position in this expanding market.

The announcement of LG’s first Android-powered smartphones comes only a week after the world’s third largest mobile phone company announced that it would be introducing three new Windows Mobile smartphones in the next few weeks. These developments underscore LG’s commitment to offering greater consumer choice in the expanding smartphone category.

The new LG-GW620 features a 3-inch full touchscreen and slide out QWERTY keypad to meet the growing needs of consumers who rely on their mobile phones for more than just making calls. The LG-GW620 benefits from an operating system that was created from the ground up to take advantage of the many mobile applications and services developed by search leader Google.

In anticipation of strong demand for smartphones that support social networking functions right out-of-the-box, the LG-GW620 also lives up to LG’s consumer-friendly design philosophy by making the smartphone experience more accessible for typical users. At the same time, LG’s messaging phones have traditionally been very popular with young professionals who demand a full QWERTY keypad for a fast mobile computing experience. The LG-GW620 manages to meet the needs of both types of users simultaneously.

“The LG-GW620 will appeal to first-time smartphone customers by offering a new and different kind of user experience,” said Dr. Skott Ahn, President and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “Our objective is to provide a wide selection of smartphones to satisfy the diverse preferences of today’s consumers. This Android phone is just one of many smartphone models we plan to introduce worldwide in the years ahead.”

In addition to the Android model, LG announced in early September that it will be introducing a minimum of 13 new smartphones over the next 16 months that utilize Microsoft’s Windows Mobile. The newest release, version 6.5, was announced just last week.

The LG-GW620 will be available in the fourth quarter of this year in select European markets.
Yeah unfortunately there is no word on the new phones making it to America anytime soon.

Source: LG Press Release

DeLorme Releases Street Atlas USA 2010 with Dynamic On-the-Go Routing Wizard

DeLorme Releases Street Atlas USA 2010 with Dynamic On-the-Go Routing Wizard

Full-featured Mapping, Routing, and GPS Navigation Software Includes over 300,000 Road Updates; Supports Netbooks and Windows 7.

DeLorme, the innovation leader in mapping and GPS technology, today announced the release of its Street Atlas USA 2010 software for travel planning, road routing, and GPS navigation.

The Street Atlas USA 2010 line includes the standard version and also Street Atlas USA 2010 PLUS, for businesses and advanced users.

New in this latest release is the E-Z Nav Wizard, a dynamic searching and routing feature that dramatically simplifies on-the-go travel planning when used in conjunction with a DeLorme Earthmate GPS receiver.

Also included are more than 300,000 new and revised roads, and updated places of interest.

In addition, the PLUS version’s 120 million residential and business phone numbers for the U.S. and Canada include new and revised listings. Beyond data updates, Street Atlas USA 2010 supports netbooks and is among the early software titles that run on the new Windows 7 operating system.

Even with all the freely available online map sources, DeLorme is still enjoying robust sales of both titles. “Our customers prefer a full-featured mapping software product that is not dependent on Internet connections,” said Caleb Mason, DeLorme Vice President. “That’s especially important for people who spend a great deal of time in their vehicles for either recreation or business.”

New E-Z Nav Route Wizard

Street Atlas USA titles have long provided the proprietary DeLorme GPS Radar feature for locating and routing to upcoming restaurants, lodgings, gas stations, travel services, and attractions while navigating with an Earthmate receiver.

The new E-Z Nav route wizard significantly streamlines the process. Users choose from among common travel categories and drill down to select the location they want from an easy-to-read icon-based menu system.

For example, when searching for restaurants, users click on Food & Restaurants, which takes them to a screen with 20 different choices (e.g. barbecue, Italian, Greek, steak houses); upon selection of a category, the next screen offers nearby choices within that category sorted by distance from your GPS location. When the desired restaurant is selected, the user can see its location on the map, and create a route to follow.

In addition to Food & Restaurants, the E-Z Nav search options include Auto & Travel (gas stations, rest areas, accommodations, airports, 12 categories in all), Shopping & Recreation (entertainment, historic sites, shopping malls, retailers by specialty, nine categories in all), and Emergency & Community (hospitals, emergency services, religious institutions, schools & libraries, eight categories in all); there are two other options; for Address or Location, the user fills in the desired location (a street address or known location, e.g. stadium, theater); for My Locations, the user searches among his or her pre-established address book listings, waypoints, or recently-visited locations.

Up-to-date Detail, Netbook Support

Both Street Atlas USA 2010 titles include extensive street and road updates; this includes new construction, street and road extensions, and road name changes mandated by Emergency 9-1-1 implementation.

In addition, both titles offer support for the new generation of compact netbook PCs. This is in keeping with DeLorme’s longstanding support of new hardware platforms as they arise, including personal digital assistants (PDAs), touchscreen phones, and ultra-mobile PCs. Street Atlas USA 2010 can be downloaded to netbooks without optical drives from leading online reseller download sites.

Updated Places of Interest

Added places of interest includeAmtrak stations, subway/metro stops in numerous cities, and major college stadiums, and ATMs have been elevated to the Major POIs category. In addition, users can now import files from the POI Factory website (POI-Factory.com).

Full-Featured Mapping Software

Since it was first introduced nearly two decades ago, Street Atlas USA has been at the forefront of mapping software innovation, with numerous first-to-market advances including automatic routing with automatic back-on-track, voice-guided navigation, integrated aerial imagery, mosaic and large-format printing, MapShare for sending maps and routes to others, and much more.

Widely Available

DeLorme Street Atlas USA 2010 titles, as well as the Earthmate LT-40 laptop GPS (which includes Street Atlas USA 2010), can be found at major electronics resellers (both their retail store and online sites), as well as top Websites. They can also be purchased at www.delorme.com, or by calling DeLorme at 800-561-5105.

Source: DeLorme Press Release

SAPPHIRE Expands Their PSU Line-up Adds New Pure PSUs

SAPPHIRE Launches PURE PSU range for PC Enthusiasts

Leading graphics supplier, SAPPHIRE Technology is now introducing a broader range of PC power supplies aimed at providing the very best specification of PSU for the PC builder, gamer and PC enthusiast at affordable prices.

Users of high end computers with expensive CPUs and using the latest motherboards and graphics solutions, including multiple GPU cards or multi-card setups, need a well designed PSU with well regulated outputs to ensure stable and reliable operation. Some power supplies with daisy chained outputs or multiple outputs from the same rail cannot offer the stability of supply to be sure of avoiding potentially expensive failure or the occurrence of frustrating PSU-related computer problems that are difficult to diagnose.

SAPPHIRE’s new power supply range carries the established PURE brand of its motherboard series, and offers a choice of power ratings. Top of the range is the PURE 1250W, designed for the real ‘power user’ and rated at 80Plus Bronze level. Next is the PURE 1050W, which delivers enough power for most multi-card users and has 80Plus Silver certification. These two products are the real enthusiast products with power in hand for even the most advanced rigs.

Another new introduction, demonstrating SAPPHIRE’s recognition that value for money is critical in today’s economic climate is the PURE 950W. Delivering over one Kilowatt of peak power, and with certification to the 80Plus Silver level, the SAPPHIRE PURE 950W is positioned at a price level to compete with supplies that have much lower specifications.

For the mainstream user, SAPPHIRE’s award winning 625W workstation PSU now joins the new introductions as the PURE 625W. This unit is conservatively rated at 625Watts and is also 80Plus certified. It is more than capable of powering a typical PC or graphics workstation even with multiple graphics cards.

SAPPHIRE PURE PSUs are future proofed with a modular cable system which includes the new ATX V2.3 12-pin connector block scheme supporting not just current but also future CPU and graphics requirements. Current PCI-Express graphics are supported by two cables with two 6+2 Pin (8 Pin) connectors each, not daisy chained but split chained. This makes for less cable clutter than having four cables each with one connector, but is superior to daisy chained solutions and allows, for example, two dual graphics cards easily to be connected. Barbed connectors reduce the risk of accidental disconnection.

Amongst the many features of the SAPPHIRE PURE PSU design is the use of aluminium capacitors to ensure power stability and reliability. SAPPHIRE PURE PSUs support Active PFC which improves the power factor up to 0.99, has greatly reduced AC harmonic distortion and saves energy. A specially designed 12 cm air intake reduces noise and maximizes heat dissipation, allowing optimal cooling to be achieved with the quiet, white LED lit, 13.5cm ball-bearing fan with speed control (450 – 2000 RPM). SAPPHIRE PURE PSUs are conservatively rated and, unlike competing products, will deliver full power over the unusually wide operating temperature range of 0-50 degrees Centigrade.

All SAPPHIRE PURE PSU’s are fully tested and certified to be compliant with CE, CB, UL, CCC, FCC, TUV, and RoHs standards. They are designed for global operation, working automatically from line voltages from 100-240V AC. They feature extensive safety protection, including protection against Over Loading, Current and Voltage Protection, Under Voltage Protection and Over Temperature Protection as well as Short Circuit Protection. They are also EMC safety certificated which means full-scale electromagnetic filtering protects the system against radiation interference.

For further details please visit www.sapphiretech.com

Source: SAPPHIRE

Apple Fails To Wow At "Rock and Roll" Event

So we all know Apple made their big "Rock ‘n’ Roll" announcement and by now I'm sure you all know what that announcement contained. (if not see below) Well that was very nice and all but where was the WOW we were all expecting.

I mean don't get me wrong I love price drops, updates and new features on old products but Apple’s announcement disappointed a lot of people on many levels.

Now we know that that in itself doesn’t matter much as it is Apple and they pretty much can do no wrong at this point. That and well you can bet the bank that they'll have something else hiding up their sleeve that they'll WOW us with over the next six months. In the mean time I want to know why this particular announcement was so dull and boring.

If you are going to put on a "Rock and Roll" event it should be loud, obnoxious and in your face just like rock-n-roll was meant to be. You need to hit the crowd with something dramatic, something that carries some weight, something like the rumored Apple tablet, a new Apple TV, a new iMac, a cheaper MacBook something with flair.

This announcement contained no "Rock and Roll" flair or style, it was more smooth jazz or easy listening than it was rock-n-roll.

I will digress, for now at least. I know Apple FanBoys out there loved the announcement and loved the event even if it contained very little meat and a lot of filler.


Apple's Big Announcements

Apple has posted a QuickTime stream of the event on its website. You can watch it on-demand as an MPEG-4 and catch all the details for yourself.

Apple Premieres iTunes 9

Apple today introduced iTunes 9, the latest version of the world’s most popular software application to purchase, manage and play media, packed with innovative features such as iTunes LP, Home Sharing and Genius Mixes, as well as a redesigned store and improved syncing. iTunes 9 makes it easier than ever to discover, purchase and enjoy your music, movies, TV shows, and apps for iPhone and iPod touch from Apple’s revolutionary App Store.

Apple Introduces New iPod nano With Built-in Video Camera

The new iPod nano adds a video camera, mic and speaker to the world’s most popular music player, allowing you to shoot video wherever you are, view it on your iPod nano and use your computer to easily transfer your videos to YouTube. The new iPod nano—available today in an 8GB model for $149 and a 16GB model for $179—features an ultra-thin and sleek design with a larger 2.2-inch color display and gorgeous polished aluminum and glass enclosure in nine brilliant colors.

Apple Introduces New iPod touch Lineup

The new iPod touch, starting at just $199, gives you a great iPod, a great pocket computer, a great game player and access to Apple’s revolutionary App Store with over 75,000 applications. iPod touch features Apple’s revolutionary Multi-Touch user interface, a gorgeous 3.5-inch widescreen glass display, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and a built-in accelerometer and speaker in an amazingly thin metal design that slips easily into your pocket.

Apple’s iPod shuffle Now Starts at Just $59

The iPod shuffle, the world’s smallest music player and the first music player to talk to you, is available now, starting at just $59, in five great colors. iPod shuffle’s intuitive controls are conveniently located on the headphone cord, letting you navigate and enjoy music without even looking. Filed under: iPod+iTunes. Read more: apple.com/ipodshuffle

Wi-Fi Alliance Reveals New Logo and Announces First Wi-Fi Certified 802.11n Draft 2.0 Products

Following reports that the IEEE is expected to approve the 802.11n wireless LAN standard the Wi-Fi Alliance has announced they will be releasing a new logo certifying products that meet or exceed their testing standards. The organization has also announced the approval of the first of several new products and testing suites that fulfill the "Wi-Fi CERTIFIED" interoperability test bed program.

Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 802.11n draft 2.0 products sporting an eye-catching new logo will soon reach store shelves, as the Wi-Fi Alliance certification program nears its late June launch. The Alliance today unveiled a re-designed consumer logo for Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 802.11n Draft 2.0 products, and announced the products and reference designs that will comprise its test bed for interoperability certification.

With the potential to deliver up to five times the throughput and up to twice the range of previous-generation Wi-Fi gear, products based on the new 802.11n draft 2.0 standard can do more than ever before. Consumers will soon be able to take advantage of whole-home coverage and content-rich applications such as streaming high-definition video, online gaming with multiple users on a single network, and speedy file transfer of photos, music, and more. Enterprise users will be able leverage 802.11n products to increase network capacity and improve robustness.

Wi-Fi certification will ease the purchase process by delivering 802.11n draft 2.0 products that have been tested for industry-wide interoperability, the very latest security protection, and backward compatibility with previous generations of Wi-Fi gear.

"We are proud of the achievement of our member companies in developing this breakthrough certification program," said Wi-Fi Alliance managing director Frank Hanzlik. "This milestone means that consumers and business users alike can feel confident that the 802.11n products they buy will deliver the user experience they require."

"With the arrival of Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 802.11n draft 2.0 products, we end the practice of uncertain claims of Wi-Fi draft compliance by independent vendors," said Ken Dulaney, vice president and distinguished analyst in Gartner Research. "Consumers can now purchase products with improved performance and be assured of interoperability. Prospective buyers should understand that the Wi-Fi Alliance will provide future certification for the eventual 802.11n final specification and assess their own timeframe for a movement to 802.11n."

"Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 802.11n is a game-changing milestone for Wi-Fi technology that enables the truly networked home," added Hanzlik. "With the advancements of 802.11n, Wi-Fi is the very best technology to connect computing, communication and entertainment devices. It can enable the entire family to access exciting content throughout the home, while further extending the key productivity advantages of Wi-Fi in the business setting."

Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 802.11n technology holds wide consumer appeal and will propel users to use next-generation applications more frequently. Recent research from Wi-Fi Alliance and Kelton Research indicates that 78% of US Wi-Fi users are interested in upgrading their Wi-Fi systems in order to gain improved range and/or throughput. Moreover, nearly 70% of the Wi-Fi users polled indicated that a faster Wi-Fi connection would prompt them to use multimedia applications such as video and gaming more frequently.

The following companies supply the products used in the interoperability test bed, and have the first devices to become Wi-Fi CERTIFIED:

• Atheros XSPAN with SST Draft 2.0 802.11n Dual-Concurrent 2.4/5GHz Router with Atheros AR7100 Series Wireless Network Processor
• Atheros XSPAN with SST Draft 2.0 802.11n Dual-Band 2.4/5GHz Card Bus
• Broadcom Intensi-Fi 802.11n Router: BCM94705GMP
• Broadcom Intensi-Fi 802.11n Card: BCM94321MC123
• Cisco Access Point
• Intel® Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN
• Marvell TopDog WLAN solutions (Station Card)
• Marvell TopDog WLAN solutions (Access Point)
• Ralink MIMObility RT2800PD Chipset featuring the RT2860 802.11n 2T3R MAC/BBP and the RT2850 802.11n Dual Band RFIC
• Ralink MIMObility RT2800PD Access Point

• In addition, WildPackets OmniPeek Workgroup Pro is included as a test bed software tool.

A white paper for consumers and retailers entitled "Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 802.11n draft 2.0: Taking Wi-Fi to the Next Level," as well as a product search tool for Wi-Fi CERTIFIED products, is available online at www.wi-fi.org.

About the Wi-Fi Alliance
The Wi-Fi Alliance is a global, non-profit industry association of more than 300 member companies devoted to promoting the growth of wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs). With the aim of enhancing the user experience for mobile wireless devices, the Wi-Fi Alliance's testing and certification programs ensure the interoperability of WLAN products based on the IEEE 802.11 specification. Since the introduction of the Wi-Fi Alliance's certification program in March 2000, more than 3,400 products have been designated as Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™, encouraging the expanded use of Wi-Fi products and services across the consumer and enterprise markets.

Source: Wi-Fi Alliance: Press Release

Western Digital Releases Smaller, Smarter and More Secure Ultra-Portable My Passport Essential Drives

WD Unveils Smaller, Smarter and More Secure Ultra-Portable My Passport Essential Drives With New WD SmartWare Software

Pocket-Size Drives with WD SmartWare and Hardware Encryption Keep Consumers' Digital Lives Secure in One

Western Digital, the world's leader in external storage solutions, today introduced its smaller, smarter and more secure My Passport Essential and My Passport for Mac ultra-portable external hard drives featuring WD's new WD SmartWare software and equipped with hardware-based encryption. The new My Passport drives are more than 20 percent smaller than the previous generation My Passport.

The new portable drives with WD SmartWare software visually present consumers' data in a control center, providing them peace of mind that their precious photos, videos and files are securely protected. Available now at select retailers and the WD online store (shopwd.com), the new My Passport Essential and My Passport for Mac drives are offered in capacities ranging from 320 GB to 1 TB and come in a range of colors including Pacific Blue, Real Red, Cool Silver and Midnight Black.

According to research firm Parks Associates, the average U.S. broadband household currently has over 120 gigabytes (GB) of digital media and files, which is expected to grow to over 1 terabyte (TB) of data by 2013. And while 70 percent of consumers back up their content, the majority of these people are using manual, cumbersome methods such as copying and pasting to multiple CDs and DVDs, and less than 18 percent use software that automatically and continuously backs up their content.

When the My Passport Essential drive is plugged in for the first time, the simple and intuitive first backup process launches automatically. The real-time visual interface of WD SmartWare software gives users a reassuring view of their backup as it happens. After the first backup, users' files are backed up automatically every time they change or add a file.

My Passport Essential and My Passport for Mac drives also feature user-selected password protection combined with military-grade 256-bit hardware encryption, which scrambles files before they are stored. Typically found only on much more expensive drive systems, the encryption acts as a virtual padlock to keep users' data secure.

"The smaller and sleeker design of WD's redesigned My Passport drives, combined with the intuitive visual backup experience of WD SmartWare software, makes this drive a smart and secure, travel-friendly storage choice," said Dale Pistilli, vice president of marketing for WD's branded products group. "These ultra-portable drives are a stylish and spacious storage solution for consumers to confidently backup, store and carry their entire digital lives."

WD My Passport Essential hard drives are designed for Windows-based PCs while WD My Passport for Mac drives are formatted for Mac computers and are compatible with Apple TimeMachine, Apple's integrated backup solution. WD SmartWare works on Windows PCs and Mac computers and offers a seamlessly integrated option for Mac users who want an alternative to TimeMachine or Mac OS 10.4 users who don't have TimeMachine compatibility.

Price and Availability

The new My Passport Essential drives are offered in capacities of 320 GB, 500 GB and 640 GB; My Passport Essential SE drives are offered in capacities of 750 GB and 1 TB. My Passport for Mac drives are available with 320 GB and 500 GB. My Passport Essential and My Passport for Mac drives are available now at select retailers and online at www.shopwd.com. MSRP ranges from $109.99 to $249.99 USD depending on model.

WD SmartWare Software

WD SmartWare software features:

• Visual backup displays that show content in categories and shows the
  progress of backup;
• Automatic, continuous data backup will instantly make a second copy
  whenever you add or change a file;
• Retrieve valuable data to its original location whether it's lost
  data or the file has been overwritten; and,
• Customizable data backup that allows user to set drive security, run
  diagnostics, manage the power settings, and more from the WD SmartWare
  control center.

My Passport Essential

The new WD My Passport Essential, My Passport Essential SE and My Passport for Mac drives with WD SmartWare software feature:

• Smaller, sleeker design offered in a range of colors including Pacific
  Blue, Real Red, Cool Silver and Midnight Black;
• 256-bit hardware encryption for peace of mind knowing that data is
  protected from unauthorized access;
• USB 2.0 interface that powers(1) the drive directly from the USB port on
  user's computer, no separate power supply is needed;
• Planet-friendly packaging derived from recycled materials to minimize
  waste;
• Ready to plug-and-play with Windows PCs
• 2-year limited warranty.

The My Passport for Mac drives are plug-and-play ready for Mac computer users and compatible with Apple TimeMachine.

Source: Western Digital

AMD Demonstrates Eyefinity Multi-display Technology

You might think your dual or even triple monitor setup is the best thing since, well flat panel monitors came out but you need to think again. AMD this week unveiled the next leap forward in multi-monitor setups, Eyefinity.

ATI Eyefinity is powered by one AMD graphics card and will run up to 6 displays at up to 12 times 1080p high-definition resolution. To put that into perspective Full HD resolution is considered 1080p or 1920x1080 = ~2.1 megapixels. One ATI Radeon graphics card with ATI Eyefinity technology supports 2560x1600x6 = ~24.6 megapixels for 12 x full HD resolution.

To show the power of the new technology representatives from AMD configured a group of six, 30" Dell 3008WFP panels as a single display, in a 3 x 2 arrangement, with a resolution of 7680 x 3200. Powering the displays was a SINGLE graphics card, with a SINGLE GPU, gone are the days of needing multiple cards to run more than two displays.

In the video demonstration below you can see ATI Eyefinity driving Tom Clancy’s Hawks in a fully a immersive, panoramic gaming experience at an amazing 5760x2400 resolution spanning six monitors employing the single cards Display Port 1.1 interfaces.



At a media event aboard the USS Hornet in Alameda, CA, AMD demonstrated 24 monitors hooked up to a single PC, driven by four Eyefinitiy-based cards. The four GPUs--each driving six 24-inch Dell LCD monitors--powered a 3D flight simulator across all 24 screens. Talk about some wow factor!!!



Eyefinity will be available when AMD/ATI's new upcoming DirectX 11-based ATI Radeon graphics cards are released. AMD also failed to announce specific price-points, but did state that Eyefinity-based graphics will make it into desktops and notebooks "at very affordable prices".

Sprint Offers New $70 Unlimited Everything Plan

Sprint today announced a new calling plan featuring unlimited mobile-to-mobile calling to any network, text messages, 3G data, and MMS all this is wrapped into Sprint's Everything Data $69.99/mo.

For current Sprint subscribers you'll recognize this as the former “Simply Unlimited” plan, the major difference being the unlimited mobile-to-mobile voice. The old plan offered a mere 450 minutes. Customers who already have an “Everything Data” plan will be automatically upgraded.

The new $69.99 plan includes:

• 450 anytime minutes to be used for land-line calls or other calls not cover by the any mobile calling
  
• Any Mobile, Anytime: Unlimited domestic calls from the Sprint network to and from ANY U.S. mobile phone regardless of carrier. Any network, any time.
• Unlimited data: Web surfing, email, BlackBerry Internet Services (BIS), GPS Navigation, Music Premier, TV Premier, NFL Mobile Live, NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile^SM
• Unlimited Direct Connect: Direct Connect and Group Connect (for capable phones)
• Unlimited messaging: Text, pictures and video
• Talk: Night calling and weekends starting at 7 p.m., nationwide long distance and no roaming charges

For $89.99 you can double your anytime minutes and still include all of the above features.

From Sprint's Press Release

Sprint today launched another wireless industry innovation. Sprint is stepping past the idea of calling circles to provide Any Mobile, Anytime – a new feature of Sprint Everything Data plans. With the new Any Mobile, Anytime, Sprint customers get unlimited mobile-to-mobile calling from the Sprint Network to ANY wireless phone on any U.S. wireless carrier network at any time.

“Simply Everything and Ready Now were Sprint innovations to make wireless simpler and more worry-free for our customers,” said Dan Hesse, Sprint’s CEO. “We don’t think our customers want to have to keep track of or only talk to friends, colleagues or family members who make the same choices they do. Any Mobile, Anytime provides unprecedented simplicity and value, so much that many more customers can now consider cutting the cord altogether.”

Any Mobile, Anytime makes it easy for individuals and families to cut the cord and save money

Starting at just $69.99*, Everything Data plans offer the best value in wireless, with the new Any Mobile, Anytime voice feature on top of all the unlimited messaging and data features customers want for one low price. Everything Data plans include unlimited text, picture and video messaging, and unlimited data services, such as e-mail, Web browsing, social networking, GPS navigation, Sprint TV, streaming music, exclusive NFL Mobile Live and NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile applications.

Wireless-centric families will find Everything Data Family plans with Any Mobile, Anytime especially beneficial. For example, at $42.50* per person, a family of four can get unlimited wireless for each family member. That means unlimited messaging and data, and now unlimited calling, to any of the more than 250 million wireless customers in the United States at any time, for each member of the family.

Recognizing that we are increasingly becoming a wireless world, Sprint is extending this offer to deliver what customers want: wireless freedom, for both voice and data. By offering unlimited calling to the people customers call most often – other wireless users – cutting the cord becomes a viable choice for more people. And it will open the door to wireless data and messaging for some people who have been concerned about the cost of these capabilities.

“The new Any Mobile, Anytime feature should be attractive to the middle market of customers, especially families with multiple lines,” said Roger Entner, senior vice president, Research and Insights, Nielsen Telecom Practice. “These are people who are likely to be cutting the cord and regularly calling other cord cutters. This is much bigger than a calling circle. Sprint is removing barriers so that customers don’t have to worry about which wireless network the people they’re calling might use – and they don’t have to worry about any data constraints either.”

Sprint delivers unlimited value to new and existing customers

Customers switching from other carriers can break the artificial barriers of their previous carrier’s restrictive calling circles and experience the freedom of unlimited mobile-to-any-mobile calling just by signing up for one of the Everything Data or Everything Data Family plans.

Existing Sprint customers who currently subscribe to an Everything Data or Everything Data Family plan will automatically receive – at no extra charge – the added value of Any Mobile, Anytime starting on the first day of the their next bill cycle, with no effort required on their part. And because of the Sprint Right Plan Promise, existing customers who are on a different plan can take advantage of Any Mobile, Anytime by switching to an Everything Data plan without being required to renew or extend their existing service agreement.

Customers who sign up for these plans are included in Sprint Premier, our industry-leading loyalty program. The Premier program provides to customers great benefits, such as early upgrades, anniversary rewards, rate plan checkups and “first to know” information about the latest at Sprint.

In addition to cost savings and rewards, the Sprint Everything Data and Everything Data Family plans include the additional value of:

• The Sprint Now Network, which provides what you want right when you want it on America’s most dependable 3G network.**
• An award-winning lineup of cool and innovative phones, including the Palm Pre, Blackberry Tour and, coming soon, the HTC Hero.
• Ready Now, a unique “in store” experience that helps customers set up their device and educate them on all the device can do,

And now:

• Any Mobile, Anytime, which gives unlimited calling from the Sprint Network to ANY wireless phone on any U.S. wireless carrier network at any time.

For more information about Any Mobile, Anytime, visit www.sprint.com/anymobileanytime.

Twitter Updates Their TOS

Twitter today announced a new terms of service. Twitter founder Biz Stone says the new upgrade to the TOS "more appropriately reflect the nature of Twitter and convey key issues such as ownership. For example, your tweets belong to you, not to Twitter."

Ownership over posts as well as shared materials have been a key topic of debate amongst users of other social networking sites like Facebook. In those cases the sites have claimed ownership of material, including pictures and have used such materials in ways users have thought were inappropriate. In this case Twitter does have similar wording however they expressly add that you retain your rights to any content you submit, post or display on or through the services.

Here are a few highlights from the updated page which can be viewed here.

Advertising—In the Terms, we leave the door open for advertising. We'd like to keep our options open as we've said before.

Ownership—Twitter is allowed to "use, copy, reproduce, process, adapt, modify, publish, transmit, display and distribute" your tweets because that's what we do. However, they are your tweets and they belong to you.

APIs—The apps that have grown around the Twitter platform are flourishing and adding value to the ecosystem. You authorize us to make content available via our APIs. We're also working on guidelines for use of the API.

SPAM—Abusive behavior and spam is also outlined in these terms according to the rules we've been operating under for some time.

AMD Tries To Simplify The PC Buying Experience With AMD Vision

Consumers Gain Clarity in the PC Buying Experience with VISION Technology from AMD

AMD simplifies PC buying experience with easy-to-understand consumer usage scenarios: See, Share, Create

AMD today announced a new way to help consumers select the PC that best meets their needs. Working with retailers and PC manufactures, VISION Technology from AMD breaks the model in how PC benefits are communicated. Rather than the traditional model, which focuses on the technical specifications of individual hardware components, VISION communicates the value of the whole system and demonstrates the combined processing power of both the CPU and GPU to deliver a superior visual experience to mainstream PC users. It emphasizes how an AMD-based PC is optimized for video, digital media and content creation activities. VISION guides the industry past the era of CPU-centric marketing and describes the PC capabilities in terms of what can be enjoyed on the system – see, share, create. This helps consumers to make better informed buying decisions.



“Today’s consumer cares about what they can do with their PC, not what’s inside,” said Nigel Dessau, CMO of AMD. “They want a rich HD and entertainment experience on their PC, delivered by the combined technology of AMD CPUs and GPUs, without having to understand what gigahertz and gigabytes mean. VISION technology from AMD reflects the maturation of marketing in the PC processing industry and communicates the technology in a more meaningful way.”

Notebook PCs with VISION Technology from AMD are expected to be widely available on retail shelves and online during the holiday buying season timed to the release of the Windows 7 operating system from Microsoft®. Complementing VISION, Windows 7 supports DirectX 10, Direct X10.1, and Direct X11 for richer 3D detail on games and other media apps, and a Unified Video Decoder to free up the CPU so that users can have a superior visual and more responsive computing experience while converting video for use on hand held devices. This last activity is greatly simplified and much more rapid with the new Drag and Drop feature of Windows 7.

“We are excited for the upcoming launch of Windows 7, when our OEM partners will introduce some exciting new PCs that match our mutual customer’s needs and feedback,” said Mike Ybarra, general manager of Windows Product Management at Microsoft Corp. “Coupled with VISION Technology from AMD, customers can feel confident that the PC they purchase will deliver a rich, tailored PC experience.”
AMD’s 2009 notebook platforms, also announced today, serve as the first proof points for VISION Technology. Mainstream OEM notebooks offered with VISION have next-generation HD graphics technology for rich, vivid HD and Blu-ray video playback, life-like 3D games, brilliant, clear photos, and multi-tasking power for editing photos, music and videos.

For consumers seeking rich PC experiences in a very thin and stylish notebook, innovative ultrathin OEM notebooks with VISION are designed to deliver highly responsive, balanced performance and a superior visual experience at accessible price points. VISION technology contains three levels of increasingly rich PC system capabilities: VISION Basic, VISION Premium, and VISION Ultimate to reflect the different usage patterns of PC consumers: from digital consumption to content creation.

These notebook platforms bring visually-rich experiences to consumers through features such as:

• UP to one billion colors for crystal-clear photos and videos
• DirectX 10.1 for smooth, lifelike games
• 7.1 audio for pulse-pounding music
• Blu-ray support for the latest movies

“We focus our attention on R&D and marketing communications to users that identify themselves with state-of-the-art and innovative products that can simplify life through technology,” said Gianpiero Morbello, Marketing and Branding Corporate Vice President of Acer, Inc. “VISION Technology from AMD represents an innovative PC usage and we are always ready to offer a superior visual experience to our customers for advanced HD video entertainment.”

In the first quarter of 2010, AMD plans to introduce a fourth level, VISION Black, to enable the highest end capabilities sought by enthusiasts, primarily on desktop PCs. Descriptions of the types of activities available at each level will be available in-store and online, so that buyers can align their needs and make the right choice for their preferred experience.

Completing the VISION Technology from AMD announcement, AMD launches the new Fusion Media Explorer software utility and the Fusion Utility for Mobility.

Fusion Media Explorer showcases VISION Technology from AMD with:

• A 3D interface for managing your media,
• Shortcuts for uploading and sharing photos on Facebook and Flickr,
• An Auto DJ for queuing up music files, and much more.

Fusion Utility for Mobility is a software utility that turns off background processes to enable longer battery life while on the go. Both applications are available for download here.
Read more at:

• A new way to buy PCs
• Learn more about VISION
• Second Generation AMD Ultrathin Platform
• 2009 AMD Mainstream Notebook Platforms

Source: AMD

Ars Launches New "Premier" Subscription Service

Popular tech site Ars Technica has launched a new paid subscription service titled Ars Premier 2.0. The new service will offer access to subscriber-only content, including news, analysis, interviews, and in-depth technical articles.

Ars promises that every month there will be exclusive content for Premier users, and you'll also get early peeks at select blockbuster features and technical articles. The new $50/yr subscription will also feature banner-free browsing, membership in the Ars Editorial Roundtable, subscriber-only access to full-text RSS feeds of Ars Technica news as well as members only access to several of Ars Technica's forums.

According to the official announcement and the Ars Premier 2.0 homepage subscribers will also receive members only promotions and discounts. So far there is no word on the promotions, however discounts will be offered from various Ars Technica partners and advertisers.

My thoughts:

I'm not a strong supporter of paid subscriptions to tech/news sites and I doubt I ever will be. As a blogger I fully understand the need for sites to generate revenue but a large site like Ars that receives millions of visitors a month shouldn't need to charge their loyal fans. If you are truly offering a great deal of "exclusive" content or great promo's then possibly. However from what I see what they are offering is hardly anything that would draw me into a subscription.

That said, when reading some of the comments on the forums it appears as though many of the Ars loyalists disagree with me. I spotted two threads in particular (thread one and thread two) both of which show strong support for the new service.

One comment, from user bwappo, really stood out to me. He wrote, "I subscribed on principle, as I would have paid $50 to Ars just as a thank-you for the information I get out of here in a year, ads and all."

I support everyone of my favorite tech sites and yes Ars is amongst my favorites. However as I said I don't see a reason for me as a loyal reader to be giving them money to show appreciation. Allen Stern over at CenterNetworks think it might be a good move for the site and notes that larger blogs are trying different options to increase revenue for their respective companies. Techcrunch and VentureBeat runs conferences, Readwriteweb sells reports, Gigaom sells a pro subscription and runs conferences, and Mashable holds events. Revenue diversification is nearly always a good thing — especially as online advertising continues to struggle.

Personally I hope that its not a growing trend. For now you might need a subscription for a few "exclusive" features but down the road it might end up being a paid subscripton for many of the features we currently enjoy free of charge.

XFX Officially Joins The PSU Market With The XFX 850W Black Edition

Popular high end PC component manufactures XFX now adds “power” to its lineup with the introduction of the XFX 850W Black Edition Power Supply Unit (PSU).

Initially spotted back in May at COMPUTEX 2009, XFX's first power supply, the 850W Black Edition unit has now officially made its debut. The new PSU featuring XFX's traditional black and green design is a pimped out gamer-oriented modular unit providing 850W of continuous power, has support for the latest ATX12V and EPS12V standards, is 80Plus Silver certified (up to 88% efficiency), boasts a single 12V rail (70A), and is cooled by a 135mm fan.



“The new XFX 850W PSU is a logical progression to the XFX line of graphics cards and motherboards,” explains Eddie Memon, vice president, marketing, XFX. “XFX is known worldwide for its dedication to the gaming community, and adding a superior power supply that targets the unique needs of gamers enables us to further reinforce that relationship.”

“Most important,” Memon adds. “XFX is known for its style as well as its performance. Our engineers were tasked with creating a best-in-breed PSU that also exudes a whole new level of cool. The sleek case and XFX green glow are quintessential XFX. XFX has always delivered the ultimate in gaming performance,” Memon concludes. “With the XFX 850W Black Edition PSU, we deliver the ultimate in gaming power in the ultimate PSU package.”

Benefits

• Specifically designd to support multiple, high-end graphic adapters
• Single, high-power +12V rail eliminates the problems associated with multiple +12V power distribution
• Industrial grade components insure high reliability and long life
• High efficiency not only helps protect the environment but also allows the XFX 850W PSU to run cool and quiet
• Combining both fixed and modular cables delivers superior performance and flexibility

Key Features

• 850W of continuous power at 50°C
• Tight voltage regulation (±3%)
• High efficiency operation up to 90% (80 Plus Silver)
• Single, high power +12V rail (up to 70A/840W)
• DC to DC voltage Regulator modules for +3.3V and +5V
• High quality Japanese brand capacitors (105°C)
• Solid polymer caps provide enhanced reliability and stability
• Quiet 135mm ball bearing fan provides superior cooling
• Supports multiple high-end graphic adapters (NVIDIA SLI & ATI CrossFire Ready)
• Supports the latest ATX12V and EPS12V standards
• Active PFC with Universal AC input
• Detachable modular cables
• Energy Star 4.0 and RoHS compliant
• 5-Year Limited Warranty, subject to registration

XFX 850w Black Edition Reviews:

• DriverHeaven - XFX Black Edition 850W Power Supply
• Hardware Canucks - HWC Exclusive: XFX Black Edition 850W Power Supply Preview
• Hexus - XFX launches 850W Black Edition PSU

New High Performance Xtreem G1 and Xtreem R-Type SDDs From Team Group

Team Group Inc., a manufacturer of computer products and consumer electronics, has announced two new high performance SSDs (Solid State Drives), the Xtreem-G1 SSD and the Xtreem SSD R-Type with built in Raid-0

The rapid advances in computer processing technology has seen CPU and memory speeds outstrip that of conventional mechanical hard disks. This is why it is increasingly being replaced by newer Solid State Disk (SSD) technology. To meet the overclocking needs of high-level enthusiasts, Team Group Inc. has once again leveraged its extensive technical expertise to launch the all-new Xtreem SSD series. First in the series are the Xtreem G1 and Xtreem R-type. In addition to being quiet, light, energy-saving and shock resistant, the Xtreem G1 and R-type pushes SSD read speeds to a breath-taking 260MB/sec and write speeds to a respectable 180Mb/sec. Compared to thick, heavy conventional 7200RPM HDDs with a read speed of just 80MB/sec and write speed of just 60MB/sec, Team's Xtreem SSD is a Ferrari that easily pushes the edges of the speed envelope.

Latest DRAM Cache Technology for Xtreem SSD G1
The Xtreem SSD G1 solid-state disk supports the latest DRAM Cache technology and uses 64MB of SDRAM Flash Memory to cache and sort the most frequently used data and digital files. This speeds up file access and allows even the most complicated instructions to be completed in an instant. With the SATA II interface, read speeds can reach up to 260MB/sec and write speeds up to 180MB/sec. This is ten times that of conventional HDDs and more than twice as fast as other SSD products now on the market, making every mouse click as responsive as the opening of the toolbar.

Fast and Stable RAID 0 technology with Xtreem SSD R-Type
The Xtreem SSD R-Type solid-state disk has a built-in RAID chip that delivers a massive boost to access speed and stability using “Redundant Array of Independent Disks” technology. With average read speeds of between 220MB/sec ~ 240MB/sec and write speeds of around 150MB/sec ~ 170MB/sec, it's like a cat among pigeons compared to all retail SSD specifications now available. For high-end business notebook users, it offers a perfect way to enhance every presentation.

Apart from fast transfer rates, the Xtreem SSD series also comes equipped with the standard Wear leveling and ECC features to make SSD the technology of choice for the next-generation of IT products. Three capacities are currently available for the Xtreem series: 60GB, 120GB and 250GB. For more information, please visit the Team Group website at www.teamgroup.com.tw

Specification I: Xtreem SSD G1：

Item	Specification
Model	Xtreem-G1 SSD(S25AG1)
Interface	SATA II 22 Pin
Capacity	60GB、120GB、250GB
Transfer speed	60GB： Read:210MB/S Max* Write:145MB/S Max* 120GB/ 250GB： Read:260MB/S Max* Write:180MB/S Max* *Note: Speed may vary due to host hardware, software and usage
Power source	DC + 5.0V ±5%
Power consumption	Operation:2.75W Max*
Feature	64MB Cache
Dimensions	100.2 × 69.85 × 9.5mm
Operating environment	Temp：0℃ ~ +70℃
Relative Humidity	5%~95%
Vibration test	15G
Impact test	1000G
MTBF	2,500,000 Hours
Read/Write life	3,000,000 Hours
Warranty	2 years

※Specification II: Xtreem SSD R-type：

Item	Specification
Model	Xtreem-R (S25AR1)
Interface	SATA II 22 Pin
Capacity	60GB、120GB、250GB
Transfer speed	SATAII (By MLC) Read: Up to 220~240MB/Sec * Write: Up to 150~170MB/Sec * *Note: Speed may vary due to host hardware, software and usage
Power source	DC + 5.0V ±5%
Power consumption	Operation:3.5W Max*
Feature	Inbuilt RAID0
Dimensions	100.2 × 69.85 × 9.5mm
Operating environment	Temp：0℃ ~ +70℃
Relative Humidity	5%~95%
Vibration test	15G
Impact test	1000G
MTBF	2,500,000 Hours
Read/Write life	3,000,000 Hours
Warranty	2 years

.

AT&T Adds Unlimited "A-List" Calling To Some Plans

AT&T Customers Enjoy Unlimited Calling to Their A-List

AT&T today introduced a new feature allowing users with qualified calling plans to make unlimited calls to and from five “VIP” domestic phone numbers at no additional cost.

The new program called, AT&T's A-list premieres on Sept. 20, and will be available for customers with individual Nation plans of $59.99 or higher or FamilyTalk customers with plans of $89.99 or more. Individual plan holders can select up to five domestic phone numbers to call anytime --including landlines and wireless numbers on any network-- without using any of the minutes in their plan while Familytalk customers can select up to ten numbers which any person in the FamilyTalk plan can call as much as they want.

Adding and modifying phone numbers on A-List with Rollover is easy. Customers can use the online account management tool available at www.att.com/alist. Numbers can be changed anytime, though customers should allow 24 hours for the changes to take effect on their account. Any online changes will result in an email confirmation for security purposes. Instructions available at http://www.att.com/Common/merger/files/pdf/choice/a_list_fact_sheet.pdf .

A-List: Numbers must be entered online at MyWireless Account at att.com/wireless.com. Only standard domestic landline or wireless numbers are eligible. For additional terms see http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/legal/plan-terms.jsp

Source: AT&T Press Release

MSI Releases The Xtreme Speed Mainboard Series

World-renown mainboard and graphics card manufacturer, MSI has just released its Xtreme Speed mainboard series, providing maximum performance with the P55 chipset and support for Intel's Lynnfield Core i7 and Core i5 processors. Additionally, the Xtreme Speed mainboard series integrates three high-power features - OC Genie, SuperPipe, and DrMOS – to provide a one-of-a-kind experience. The OC Genie automatically finds the best BIOS settings to overclock your system and boosts performance with the push of a button. SuperPipe's heat-pipe is made with strictly selected materials for the most effective cooling. The DrMOS power supply's outstanding module design offers enhanced power-saving and stability. In addition, this series equips other unique features such as APS, Direct OC, and V-Kit to let users break through barriers and reach the most extreme speeds.

OC Genie: Auto OC to boost performance in 1 sec
Generally speaking, the major considerations when customers purchase mainboards are the overclocking ability and performance. However, traditional overclocking methods are too complicated for the general public to master. With over 20 years of R&D experience, MSI has released OC Genie technology to make overclocking more accessible; simply by pressing the OC Genie button, the OC Genie automatic overclocking chip detects and sets performance-optimized CPU, RAM, and chipset settings within one second, for easy performance expansion that gets the most out of every part.

SuperPipe: Advanced 8mm Copper Heat-Pipe, An Outstanding Cooling Experience
As the CPUs' thermal design power (TDP) value approaches 150W, efficient cooling technology for mainboards becomes critical as it determines the board's overclocking ability and stability. As such, MSI introduces the SuperPipe cooling design. The 8mm full copper heat-pipe is 60% thicker than traditional pipes, and is also the thickest heat-pipe in the market. According to tests, the MSI mainboards with SuperPipe run 50℃ cooler than those without, proving that MSI's SuperPipe offers the most effective chipset cooling in the market.

DrMOS: 400% faster phase switching, 90% better power efficiency
To provide customers with superior products, MSI has been equipping DrMOS since the introduction of its P45 mainboards. DrMOS technology combines a Driver IC、a Top MOSFET and a Bottom MOSFET into one chip. The shorter distance between every component provides 4 times faster phase switching speed and over 90% better power efficiency. The design not only decreases the working temperature, but also increases the stability of the power supply – especially in high frequencies. For the best stability, DrMOS is essential for professional overclockers and power users. Having become a mainboard manufacturer renown for its performance and overclocking capabilities, MSI's implementation of DrMOS into its high-end mainboards proves that DrMOS is leading the industry in power supply design!

Other unique technologies provide better performance and more convenience
The above advantages aside, the Xtreme Speed mainboard series contains many other easy-to-use features.

V-Kit
V-Check Points combines with V-Switch's V-Kit to provide power measurement pins and on/off switch. Users can measure the CPU and RAM voltages with a multimeter, while the V-Switch feature provides the maximum system voltage within a definite range in one switch. The feature can help save advanced overclockers valuable time by eliminating the need for manual circuit modification. These combined features can be indispensable during overclocking competitions.

APS (Active Phase Switching)
APS (Active Phase Switching) can dynamically detect and shift the number of PWM Phases During heavy loading, all phases will be turned on to offer maximum performance; but in light/middle loading, the unused phases will be turned off for more than 93% power saving. Combined with DrMOS power design, it can reach the best energy use efficiency!

Winki 2.0
Winki 2.0 is a free Linux-based O/S which is based on the Linux core. With an ultra-fast booting speed and a multi-language interface, the built-in Winki 2.0 provides an easy-to-use internet environment that includes the most popular functions such as internet surfing, web mail, instant messaging, picture browsing, and more. It's the most practical way to be online in the shortest time.

Direct OC
Direct OC is attractive function for ultimate overclockers - by pressing the +/- buttons, users can instantly adjust the CPU frequency on-the-fly. Its pure hardware design allows Direct OC to work in any situation without restriction, and, when coupled with OC Genie technology, offers a noticeable performance increase.

True Blu-ray Audio
Audio sampling without Blu-ray protection support downgrades sound quality to the CD 16bit/48KHz level. However, MSI's True Blu-ray Audio provides high definition, 7.1 channels of quality 24bit/192KHz audio sampling to satisfy a home theater enthusiast's needs!

Power eSATA
Power eSATA improves the traditional eSATA standard with a new power supply feature. This feature allows cuitumers to directly use low-power eSATA devices without having to plug-in an extra power cord. Similar to USB, this feature makes eSATA even more convenient without sacrificing any of its high-performance advantages.

USB Safeguard
USB Safeguard can prevent mainboards and USB devices from being damaged by short-circuit and ESD (Electro-Static Discharge) with Anti-ESD chips built-into the mainboards. Additionally, the safeguard can protect against such dangers multiple times, and greatly improves product lifespan.

Easy Button 2
Overclockers and power users often need to turn on/off or reset their PC without any chassis installed. Easy Button 2 equips power, reset and clear CMOS touch-sensitive keys directly on the mainboards, so users have immediate access to these functions immediately.

MSI's Xtreme Speed mainboards easily meet customers' demands for easy overclocking, effective cooling, and power-saving. Additionally, these boards offer a slew of practical functions putting MSI's Xtreme Speed mainboards in a class of their own.

Source: MSI Global

Palm Introduces The New Palm Pixi

Palm has introduced a smaller, cheaper handset, webOS-based handset called the "Pixi," due to arrive at Sprint in time for holidays buyers. The new handset has a smaller touch screen than the Pre, an exposed QWERTY keyboard, and a two-megapixel camera.



"With Palm webOS, we're creating a new, more intuitive smartphone experience defined by unmatched simplicity and usefulness," said Jon Rubinstein, Palm chairman and chief executive officer. "Palm Pixi brings this unique experience to a broader range of people who want enhanced messaging and social networking in a design that lets them express their personal style."

Along side the launch of the new phone Palm is introducing the Pixi Artist Series, a selection of limited-edition back covers in a range of eye-catching designs. You can find all the designs in the first Artist Series here, and you can find more details about Palm Pixi here. Neither Palm nor Sprint have commented on pricing of the new Pixi however following the latest price drop on the Palm Pre which is now available from Sprint for as low as $149.99 with contract speculation puts the new Pixi in the $99 price range.

Palm Pixi Features

• High-speed connectivity (EVDO Rev. A)
• 2.63-inch multi-touch screen with a vibrant 18-bit color 320x400 resolution TFT display
• Gesture area, which enables simple, intuitive gestures for navigation
• Exposed QWERTY keyboard for fast messaging
• Robust messaging support (IM, SMS and MMS capabilities), including Google Talk, AIM and Yahoo! IM
• High-performance, desktop-class web browser
• Integrated GPS⁽⁸⁾
• Multimedia options, including pictures, video playback and music, and featuring a 2-megapixel fixed-focus camera with LED flash, and a standard 3.5mm headset jack
• Email, including Exchange ActiveSync (EAS) (for access to corporate Microsoft Exchange servers), as well as personal email support (Google push, Yahoo! push, POP3, IMAP)⁽⁹⁾
• Bluetooth^(R) 2.1 + EDR with A2DP stereo Bluetooth support
• 8GB of internal user storage (~7GB user available)⁽¹⁰⁾
• USB mass storage mode
• MicroUSB connector with USB 2.0 Hi-Speed
• The first handset to launch with Qualcomm's high-performance MSM7627(TM) chipset
• Proximity sensor, which automatically disables the touch screen and turns off the display whenever you put the phone up to your ear
• Light sensor, which dims the display if the ambient light is dark, such as at night or in a movie theater, to reduce power usage
• Accelerometer, which automatically orients web pages and photos to your perspective
• Ringer switch, which easily silences the device with one touch
• Removable, rechargeable 1150 mAh battery
• Dimensions: 55mm (W) x 111mm (L) x 10.85mm (D) [2.17 in. (W) x 4.37 in. (L) x 0.43 in. (D)]
• Weight: 99.5 grams (3.51 ounces)
• Sprint services, including Sprint TV(R) and Sprint Radio, Sprint Navigation, Sprint's exclusive NFL Mobile Live and NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile Live

Logitech Unveils Squeezebox Radio and Squeezebox Touch

New Logitech Squeezebox Radio, Logitech Squeezebox Touch Deliver All The Music On Your Computer, All The Music On Internet Into Your Home; Feature Streamlined Interface, Facebook App

You’re a 21st century music lover but your stereo is stuck in the 20th century. To help bring the digital world into your home, Logitech today unveiled the Logitech Squeezebox™ Radio Wi-Fi music player and the Logitech Squeezebox™ Touch Wi-Fi music player. Both Logitech Squeezebox Wi-Fi music players give people simple, intuitive access to a wide variety of music choices including free Internet radio, personal digital music files and music subscription services.

“Digital music and the Internet have radically changed how we discover, share and listen to the music we love,” said Sam Feng, product marketing director of Logitech’s Streaming Media business unit. “Now, millions of people are downloading music through iTunes® and listening to Internet radio stations and music services and our newest Logitech Squeezebox Wi-Fi music players bring it all together. Just plug one in and you can be ready to discover and enjoy music from around the world.”

Video courtesy Logitech Blog

Logitech Squeezebox Radio – Small Package, Big Sound
The Internet has changed everything, including your radio. With the Logitech Squeezebox Radio, you’ll get the simplicity of old-fashioned radio with the power of the Internet wherever you want to listen to music.



Unlike other complex Wi-Fi music systems, Squeezebox Radio sets up easily. You just plug it in, turn it on, connect to your home network and like magic, you’ve got access to a world of music – Internet radio, your personal music collection including DRM-free iTunes Plus downloads, and subscription services such as Last.fm™, Napster and Deezer. And the Squeezebox Radio’s colour screen can display album art, track and station information, visualisers and more.

With six preset buttons located on the side of display, at the touch of a button the Squeezebox Radio makes it easy to enjoy your favourite song, Internet radio station or playlist. With automatic brightness adjustment and a built-in alarm clock, the Logitech Squeezebox Radio is even ideal for your bedside table. And if you want to listen to music in private, a 3.5 mm jack lets you plug in your headphones.

At just 5.12 inches (130 mm) by 8.66 inches (220 mm) by 5.04 inches (8.5 cm), the compact design makes the Squeezebox Radio ideal for your living room, kitchen, bedroom – even your patio. While it’s a space-saver, the Squeezebox Radio still delivers clear sound with minimal distortion – no extra speakers required – thanks to the 3/4-inch high-definition, soft-dome tweeter and 3-inch high-power, long-throw woofer.

For your convenience, a rechargeable battery pack (sold separately) lets you move the Squeezebox Radio around your home without interrupting the music. The battery can power your Squeezebox Radio for up to six hours and recharges automatically when it’s plugged in.

Logitech Squeezebox Touch – Colour Touch Screen Puts Music at Your Fingertips
So you can seamlessly discover a world of music and play it through the existing stereo system you already own, the Logitech Squeezebox Touch Wi-Fi music player has a stunning 4.3-inch colour touch screen that lets you easily select and play music as well as view album art. Plus, to provide a better listening experience, the Squeezebox Touch supports sampling rates of up to 24 bits at 96 kHz, delivering rich sound with very little distortion. Simply plug in the Squeezebox Touch to your existing speakers, connect to your home network and you are ready to rock out. An included USB port and SD card slot on the back of the Squeezebox Touch also lets you access music and photos stored on flash drives and memory cards.



Streamlined Interface, Facebook App and Flickr Support
The intuitive Squeezebox interface was designed for speed and convenience. The Squeezebox Radio and Squeezebox Touch colour displays help you quickly locate your favourite radio stations, playlists or music services or add new applications that let you enhance the music listening experience.

And if you’re a Facebook fan, you can share music recommendations, as well as check out your friends’ status, recommendations, and full-colour photos right on your new Squeezebox. Photo slide shows from the popular photo-sharing site Flickr are also supported on both new Squeezebox Wi-Fi music players.

The Squeezebox Family
Both the Logitech Squeezebox Radio and Logitech Squeezebox Touch can seamlessly integrate into your existing Wi-Fi or Ethernet-based home network, as well as with the Squeezebox family of products, which includes the award-winning Logitech Squeezebox™ Boom Wi-Fi music player, Logitech Squeezebox™ Duet Wi-Fi music player, and the audiophiles’ choice, the Logitech Transporter™ Wi-Fi music player. All of the products in the Squeezebox family work together so it is easy to expand your system. Simply add additional Squeezebox Wi-Fi media players to any room you like and then you can listen to one song throughout your entire home – perfect for a party – or enjoy different music in every room.

Pricing and Availability
The Logitech Squeezebox Radio Wi-Fi music player is expected to be available in the U.S. and Europe beginning in September for a suggested retail price of $199.99 (U.S.). For a limited time, a special edition Logitech Squeezebox Radio Wi-Fi music player will be available in red at http://www.logitech.com and select retailers. The Logitech Squeezebox Touch Wi-Fi music player is expected to be available in the U.S. and Europe beginning in December for a suggested retail price of $299.99 (U.S.). The Logitech Squeezebox Radio Accessory Pack (which includes a battery pack and IR remote) is expected to be available in the U.S. and Europe beginning in November for a suggested retail price of $49.99 (U.S.). The Logitech Squeezebox Touch Wall-Mount Bracket is expected to be available in the U.S. and Europe beginning in December for a suggested retail price of $99.99 (U.S.).

Source: Logitech Press Release

PowerColor “Design and Choose the Best” Contest

PowerColor Design Contest Kicks Off Next Gen Video Cards

PowerColor “Design and Choose the Best” contest will give away more than USD$2,000 in prizes



TUL Corporation, a leading manufacturer of AMD graphics cards, announces the “Design and Choose the Best” online contest. Gamers and designers from around the globe can download design elements from the contest website and incorporate them into wallpaper, screensavers and IM chat icons. Artwork can be uploaded via the contest detail page and each category will be voted on by the public. Top vote getters from each category (3) will be some of the first to own a high end DirectX 11 next generation PowerColor graphics card!

Designers won’t be the only ones with a chance to win great prizes. Voters will have a chance to win 1 of 20 Go! Green HD4670’s. Voting will begin Sep. 21st and participates will automatically be entered into a random drawing for the video cards at the conclusion of the contest.

Ready to design and vote for the best? Visit our website for more details: www.powercolor.com/event/wallpaper

Voters have a chance to win as well. Vote for your favorite design in each category and recieve a chance to win one of 20 Go! Green HD4670's.

Phase 1. Design Submission: Sep. 1 ~ Sep. 20th Phase 2. Vote: Sep. 21st ~ Sep. 30th Phase 3. Winners Announced: Oct. 5th

Design Submission: Individuals may submit up to 3 entries in each category.

Vote: Individuals can vote for up to 3 favorite designs in each category.

Source: PowerColor Press Rlease