ExtremeTech

ET deals: $205 discount on the Alienware X51 with GTX 660 graphics

Danny Shain — Fri, 24 May 2013 21:00:53 +0000

It’s hard to beat a gaming desktop — compact or otherwise — in terms of pure power and expandability. Space is vital for adding/replacing components and dissipating heat, allowing you to use and upgrade your powerful hardware for years to come. One of the most stylish and powerful gaming desktops out there is Dell’s Alienware…

Augmented reality startup hires Steve Mann, world starts paying attention

Graham Templeton — Fri, 24 May 2013 18:30:40 +0000

Steve Mann is sometimes referred to as the "father of wearable computing." He's been involved in the field of computational photography for as long as the field has existed, and his famous skull-grafted Digital Eye device has earned him the (disputed) title of the world's first cyborg.

Intel: Haswell will draw 50% less power than Ivy Bridge

Sebastian Anthony — Fri, 24 May 2013 17:38:13 +0000

Presumably in response to a glut of AMD-related news, Intel has preempted its formal Haswell unveil to announce that its chips will draw "50% less power" than Ivy Bridge on "active" workloads, such as playing a game or watching a movie. This is a dramatic turnaround, considering the latest leaks and rumors had suggested that Haswell was struggling to reach its TDP targets.

Verizon Wireless’ strategy to improve LTE: Small cells

Neal Gompa — Fri, 24 May 2013 16:15:50 +0000

Last year, Verizon acquired a large chunk of AWS licenses throughout the country from the cable companies. At the time, Verizon merely stated that they would be used to enhance the LTE network. Now, Verizon has announced its strategy, and it involves small cells.

Is the Xbox One always online?

Sebastian Anthony — Fri, 24 May 2013 15:07:48 +0000

Is the Xbox One always online, or not? You'd think it would be easy question to answer, but for some reason Microsoft continues to be very coy about the matter. A month ago, at the peak of the always-online controversy, a leaked Microsoft memo said the console would not require an always-on internet connection. Recently, following the Xbox One unveil, Microsoft reiterated that the console wouldn't be always online -- but that the console will not work if it isn't connected to the internet.

How will spacecraft navigate between the stars? Intergalactic pulsar-based GPS

Sebastian Anthony — Fri, 24 May 2013 13:03:11 +0000

At the next nebula, take a right. Here's a good one for you: When we eventually launch a spacecraft that's capable of exploring the Milky Way, how will we navigate between the stars? According to some German researchers at the Max Planck Institute, we'll use intergalactic pulsar-based GPS.

The third prong of AMD’s new mobile assault: Lower power Richland APUs

Joel Hruska — Fri, 24 May 2013 12:30:53 +0000

AMD's Kabini and Temash have drawn the lion's share of attention today, but they aren't the only new parts rolling out of Sunnyvale. AMD's new low-power APUs are shipping today as well, with bumped up clock speeds and improved features.

The first quantum entanglement of photons through space and time

Sebastian Anthony — Fri, 24 May 2013 11:30:43 +0000

Ready for a mind-bending news story that will forever change your perception of life? Quantum physicists in Israel have successfully entangled two photons that don't exist at the same time. They create one photon and measure its polarization, destroying it -- they then create another photon, and though it never coexisted with the first, it always has the exact opposite polarization, proving they're entangled.

How do the Xbox One and PS4 controllers stack up?

Grant Brunner — Thu, 23 May 2013 19:21:01 +0000

Now that both Sony and Microsoft have had big coming out events for the next-gen consoles, the public finally has a real understanding of what we'll be holding for the next few years. Neither controller is extraordinarily different from the current generation, but they both have refined and tweaked core features to offer what is hopefully a better gaming experience. So, how do they stack up?

Xbox One: Hardware and software specs detailed and analyzed

Sebastian Anthony — Thu, 23 May 2013 17:10:12 +0000

Yesterday, Microsoft unveiled the Xbox One. Putting aside the insanity of the console's name (Xbox 1 -> Xbox 360 -> Xbox One), we now have a fairly good idea of the software and hardware inside the Xbox One. In true console-maker style, Microsoft hasn't told us everything, and is certainly being very coy about some parts of the new console, but we know enough that we can infer a lot of the missing details. For a true breakdown of the Xbox One's software and hardware, we'll obviously have to wait until the console has been released and reverse engineered by enterprising hackers and crackers.