Happy St Patrick’s Day.. don’t party too much! It’s time for the news from our friends around the world…

Storage Related:

G.SKILL PIS Series 4GB Kit 2000MHz (F3-16000CL6D-4GBPIS).
G.SKILL has been making affordable memory DIMM’s since 1989 and if you’ve built a computer within the past 2-3 years, you more than likely know exactly who G.SKILL is. It’s hard to look passed G.SKILL’s value line of memory especially if you’re on a budget, but what about the hardcore enthusiast? With their PI Series line of memory, G.SKILL has been known to offer high frequency compatible memory at decent pricing. This DDR3, 2000MHz, 4GB dual channel kit we received from G.SKILL is no exception. With 6-9-6-24 2N timings and 2000MHz of frequency to play with, we were very eager to see what this PI Series kit was capable of.
http://www.bjorn3d.com/read.php?cID=1806

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JMicron JMF612 Solid State Drive @ Benchmark Reviews

DESCRIPTION: Western Digital depends on the JMicron JMF612 Solid State Drive controller inside their WD SiliconEdge-Blue SSD to produce 250Mbps reads and 170Mbps write transfers. JMicron has also secured their JMF612 processor in the A-DATA S596, the upcoming Corsair Reactor SSD series, and the yet-to-ever-release Active Media Predator-X7. While the SSD industry grows daily, only a few select manufacturers offer popularly-accepted Flash NAND SSD controllers. In this article, Benchmark Reviews evaluates the JMicron JMF612 Solid State Drive processor.

ARTICLE URL: http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=481&Itemid=60

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Seagate BlackArmor PS110 500GB USB 3.0 Portable Drive
Link: http://www.bigbruin.com/content/seagateps110_1
Quote:  The BlackArmor PS110 500GB drive is Seagate’s first entry into the new world of USB 3.0 hard drives. And considering that it may be the typical consumers first USB 3.0 product, they have put together a great bundle to make the transition as easy as possible. You get not only the 500GB drive, but everything else you might need to use this with a laptop computer.

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LITE-ON iHOS104-08 Blu-Ray Drive @ TechwareLabs

Quote: Just a couple of years ago, 1080p TVs were a thing of miracles and if you were to mention that you had a Blu-Ray drive, you would be considered a sort of miniature deity. Now everyone and their brother had an HDTV. Let’s check out what Lite-On has that can get the best high-def out of your HTPC, without breaking the bank.
LINK: http://www.techwarelabs.com/lite-on-ihos104/

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Kingston & Mushkin: High-speed DDR3 memory kits @ InsideHW
Kingston’s HyperX is the fastest DDR3 memory kit we’ve met so far and we have to disregard its price and honour it with an “Editor’s Choice” award, while Mushkin kits are still very good choice.
Article link:http://www.insidehw.com/Reviews/Memory/Kingston-and-Mushkin-High-speed-DDR3-memory-kits.html

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Crucial 8GB Kit DDR3-1333/PC3-10600 CT2KIT51264BA1339 Memory Review
Link:http://www.ocinside.de/html/results/crucial_8gb_pc3_10600.html

These new Crucial 4GB UDIMM DDR3 modules were announced recently and each module has 4GB per module instead of the so far usual 2GB per module.
This capacity makes an enormously high memory upgrade possible for current High-End systems, because with e.g. 4x 4 GB modules it is possible to reach gigantic 16GB DDR3 RAM. This is fantastic for developer of 3D animations and graphic designer, but also for all other power users with a 64 bit operating system.

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Audio / Video:

Arctic Cooling E361-WM Earphones Review
Link: http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/948
Summary:The cooler makers try their hand on the audio market with an earphone (with integrated microphone) for the iPhone, smartphones and PCs. Let’s see how they fared.

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Ankit Stay True Headphones and the link to the review is:
http://www.topreviewshop.com/ankit_stay_true_headphones
"Ankit aims to bridge the gap between earphone and accessory without losing focus of the main purpose of the former – sound. Could their line of in-ear earphones really appeal to both the hipster and the audiophile? Let’s find out."

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Arctic Cooling Arctic Sound E352 Earphones @ PCShopTalk
Quote:
"Arctic Cooling have diversified a lot their product types. Now we get to see from them game consoles, portable game consoles or even audio devices. In the next article I’m going to take a look upon their Arctic Sound E352 earphones model for a more in-depth presentation."
Link: http://www.pcshoptalk.com/content.php?282-Arctic-Cooling-Arctic-Sound-E352-Earphones

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SanDisk slotRadio Player
Quote: Never heard of slotRadio? It is an initiative by SanDisk to capitalize on the DRM encumbered music market. For a one time fee, you get lots of music that is playable on certain devices that can play slotRadio media. We at ASE Labs thought that the market moved on from proprietary forms of media. Still, we’ll see if it has some worth to it.
Link: http://www.aselabs.com/articles.php?id=5628

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Arctic Sound E361-BM Earbuds @ Techgage
Link: http://techgage.com/article/quick-gage_arctic_sound_e361-bm_earbuds/
Quote: It’s not uncommon for a company which focuses on one thing to branch out into another, but I am not sure many people would have predicted a company such as Arctic Cooling would begin producing audio equipment. Fortunately though, the company has obviously done its research, as the audio quality is very good (with great bass!).

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Sennheiser HD800

Link:http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Sennheiser/HD800
Sennheiser’s latest and greatest headphones are put to the test. The HD800s created quite a fuzz when released, not only were they one of the most expensive headphones launched last year, they were also the most anticipated ones. In this review we put them to the test and see if there can be a reason to spend $1800 on headphones.

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SteelSeries Siberia v2 headset and mobile device adapter review
"At last, let’s take a proper look at the headset itself, which comprises of a pair of headphones complete with a design that automatically adjusts to comfortably fit the size of your head thanks to the flexible black band you can see above the headphones themselves, something which really works rather well, only proving to be very slightly uncomfortable after a long period of use.  SteelSeries also provides an two metre extension cable with support for both line-out and microphone jacks, giving you a three metre cable length to play with in total – A joy to behold compared to the excruciatingly short cables offered by many headphones."
http://www.elitebastards.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1332&catid=13&Itemid=27

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Arctic Cooling E352 Earphones
QUOTE: "Since the last pair I looked at things have not changed a whole lot. Output power stays the same, as does impendence, cable length and connection type. However, we do see a change to the frequency`s response with a lower, or as I like to call it, more accurate rating of 18Hz – 22KHz.
The most notable change here is of course the wooden chassis used instead of the aluminum one. However, I cannot see any specific information regarding the choice to use wood other than ‘warm sound definition by exquisite wooden chassis’. So, clearly Arctic Sound thought they were onto a winner, but equally did not want to give too much away."
For more information, please visit – http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/3186/arctic_cooling_e352_earphones/index.html

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Mobile Related / Laptop / Desktop:

Acer AspireRevo Review
"There’s something to be said about a "desktop PC" small enough to fit in a drawer, yet brawny enough to power a whole entertainment system. Acer’s AspireRevo R3610 nettop PC fits just that role. Hovering around $400 certainly doesn’t hurt its cause, either, except the price may be too good to be true if you’re looking to make this your primary PC."
Link to the review:http://www.digitaltrends.com/product-reviews/desktop-computer-reviews/compact-computer-reviews/acer-aspirerevo-review/

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Overclockers UK Titan Goliath Core i7 Full Gamer System Review @ Verdis Reviews

Starting at £854.99, the OverclockersUK Titan Goliath features an array of customisation with numerous different graphics cards, hard drives & SSDs, cases and operating systems to be added for a performance boost. Described as the “pinnacle of performance”, the Goliath certainly looks good on paper but how will it compete against rivalling systems? Let’s take a look…”

URL:http://verdisreviews.com/reviews/overclockers-uk-titan-goliath-core-i7-full-gamer-system-review/

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OtterBox iPhone 3G / 3GS Impact Series Case @ PCShopTalk
"On the market there are tens if not hundreds of case types for the Iphone 3G/3GS. Most of them are made to enhance the phone design, but do not offer full case protection. OtterBox has designed a case that looks stylish, but also offers full phone protection. Let’s look further upon this review for a more in-depth presentation. "
Link: http://www.pcshoptalk.com/content.php?281-OtterBox-iPhone-3G-3GS-Impact-Series-Case

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Coolink Lapchilla Laptop Cooler Review @ Tech-Reviews.co.uk

Briefing: Today we have the Coolink LapChilla Laptop Cooler. Coolink has created a cooler which allows you to change the adjustment for your particular use with a multi-angle design.

Link: http://tech-reviews.co.uk/reviews/coolink-lapchilla-laptop-cooler/

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Evercool FIT NB-FT1 Notebook Cooler Review
"Since 1992 Evercool Thermal Co Ltd have been specializing in producing thermal solutions for the computer and telecomms industries. They have an extensive product range. Today we look at the Evercool FIT notebook cooler."
LINK: http://www.vortez.co.uk/review.php?id=143

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Lenovo ThinkPad Edge 13" Notebook Review
http://www.techspot.com/review/254-lenovo-thinkpad-edge/
The ThinkPad Edge notebook that we’ll be looking at today is part of an all-new series from Lenovo announced early this year at CES. The ThinkPad Edge blends some of the things we liked on the IdeaPad with the power and legacy of ThinkPads. Aimed at style- and budget-conscious business users, this system features some firsts from Lenovo, like a new keyboard layout and a low entry price for ThinkPads at just $579.

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Assorted Stuffs:

Interesting News: Facebook’s Warning to Avoid Using Bogus Apps

If you have deliberating on using any applications which allow you to see who is viewing your profile then you might want to think twice.

http://www.gaj-it.com/16661/facebook-warning-avoid-using-apps-allowing-you-to-see-who-is-viewing-your-profile/

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‘Dubai Twestival March 25′
The first Twestival of 2010 takes place March 25 at the Intercontinental,Dubai.
The Full Article can be viewed at http://tech.tbreak.com/2010/03/dubai-twestival-march-25/

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A Guide To Going Green for Saint Patrick’s Day

The legend of Saint Patrick says that he was responsible for banishing snakes from Ireland. He was also known as a patron saint of Ireland, but the holiday named in his honor is probably better known for its never-ending flow of green beer, hooligans and shenanigans. Before you hit up the bar for some festive ale, perhaps you should consider taking on some green habits as part of your St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. Here are a few green tips to help keep the environment happy.

Direct Link:http://www.futurelooks.com/a-guide-to-going-green-for-saint-patricks-day/

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Home Theater PC Building – A HotHardware How-To
http://hothardware.com/Articles/Home-Theater-PC-Building–A-HotHardware-HowTo/

Building a Home Theater PC is often times a much better option for enabling your entertainment center for various forms of digital media playback capability.  Rather than stepping up to additional discrete components, like a stand-alone Blu-ray, DVD or CD player, why not infuse your living room entertainment center with real intelligence and multimedia muscle and build an HTPC (Home Theater PC)? 

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Interesting New: Augmented Reality App for Auto Trader

So how does it all work?  If you see a car which catches your fancy when you are out, then all you would need to do is take the picture of the car, crop the image and leave just the number plate and the app will use the iPhone’s GPS and 3G connections to search for similar models for sale near you.

http://www.gaj-it.com/16573/iphone-ipod-touch-app-auto-traders-augmented-reality-app-for-second-hand-car-hunting/

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Integrated Systems Europe 2010 Tradeshow

We visited Integrated Systems Europe 2010 this year, the show for professional Audio Video and electronic systems integrations, located in Amsterdam RAI.
http://www.madshrimps.be/gotoartik.php?articID=990

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Techgage’s 5th Birthday Contest – Win a Gaming PC! @ Techgage
Link: http://techgage.com/article/techgages_5th_birthday_contest/
Quote: Techgage has just turned five, so what better reason to celebrate? To help kill two birds with one stone, we’re looking to YOU for input on what we’re doing right, and what you want to see more of (or improve). As a thanks for taking our site survey, you’ll be entered to have a chance at winning our custom-built gaming PC, valued at $4,200!

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WIN with Noctua – NF-P14 FLX and NT-H1
DESCRIPTION:
"There’s just one week left until our Noctua competition closes. Be sure to get your entry in to be in with a chance of winning a Noctua NF-P14 FLX and NT-H1. For details follow the link."
LINK: http://www.vortez.co.uk/contentteller/content_page/win_with_noctua_nf_p14_flx_and_nt_h1.html

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Megacon 2010 Coverage @ TechwareLabs

Quote: From costumes and celebrities to models, magic and more the MegaCon 2010 show has it all. We walked down the hall of the Orlando Convention Center and through the doors and might as well have stepped into another galaxy. Our journey through MegaCon lasted a short four hours and we only managed to see a small part of the events and happenings going on. The walls were lined with memorabilia and every gizmo and gadget from your favorite show, comic, and film. Check out our huge gallery of pictures from the event where people dressed as their favorite characters.
LINK: http://www.techwarelabs.com/megacon-2010-coverage/

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Quick Links:

MusicSkins Custom Wii Skin Review @ Wii Digest

Overclock3D have just published a new article titled: Enermax MODU87+ 700w PSU Review

Cooler Master CM 690 II Advanced Computer Case Review @ Tweaknews

GIGABYTE GA-890GPA-UD3H (AMD 890GX) Motherboard

ASUS P7P55D-E Pro Intel P55 LGA 1156 Motherboard Review @ ThinkComputers.org

Microsoft Sidewinder X4 @ LanOC Reviews

ASUS Maximus III Extreme Motherboard Review

Coolink SWiF2 Series Cooling Fan Roundup Review @ BayReviews.com

iXBT Labs Review: AMD 890GX Chipset Overview

Mionix Naos 5000 Mouse Review @ Hardware Secrets

Thermaltake SpinQ @ techPowerUp

NZXT Premium Cables Review @ OCIA.net

Gigabyte X58A-UD3R Ultra Durable Motherboard Review @ Ninjalane

ProlimaTech Armageddon CPU Cooler Review @ Benchmark Reviews

OCZ ModXStream Pro 600 Watt Review @ Tech-Reviews.co.uk

Best CPU Cooler Heatsink Performance @ Benchmark Reviews

Thermaltake Element Q ITX Chassis

Cooler Master Excalibur @ LanOC Reviews

Overclock3D have just published a new article titled: MSI P55 GD85 Review

Antec Two Hundred Mid Tower Chassis

Forza Motorsport 3 @ Barry’s Review Blog

MSI R5770 HAWK @ Bjorn3D

be quiet! Pure Power 430W

Coolink Corator DS Gapless Direct Touch CPU Cooler Review @ Legit Reviews

Overclock3D have just published a new article titled: XFX Radeon HD 5670 1GB Review

Not Yet Another Core i7 980X Review – Overclocking With LN2 @ Madshrimps

Antec CP-850 850W Power Supply Review @ ThinkComputers.org

HIS Radeon HD 5770 1GB Video Card

Related posts:

1. News and Links for Tuesday March 9th 2010
2. News and Links for Saturday March 13th 2010
3. News and Links for March 4th 2010

A Little Something Extra

According to Panda Research, a brand new HTC Magic Android phone from Vodaphone had something a little extra to offer potential Windows users. The phone’s included memory card was infected with the Mariposa Botnet (more information ), and once it was connected to a Windows machine and mounted with autorun on, it would spread itself to any machine that was not running a virus protection.

Now, just consider the ramifications of this combination. You could have a brand new Windows 7 machine and a brand new Android phone, and as soon as you put the two together you would be infected. Is there nowhere safe? Logic should dictate that this would be safe… but in this case it’s not true.

Not Quite New

As far as it can be determined, the Android phone in question was actually not 100% new but rather a unit that had been under some prior use. The phone itself was clean, but the memory card was a cesspool of nasty things.  In this case resetting the phone itself was not sufficient, and it was not policy to wipe memory cards. Yet it was coming from a very legitimate source, Vodofone itself.

Tragic, yes, but this is a real train wreck of problems. On top of the obviously infected memory card, another problem is with the  Autorun functionality that is shipped from the factory in an active state. While it could be argued that it is handy for CD/DVD installations, having the same functionality for any USB drive is asking for trouble. And, as it was with the infected Android phone, trouble has answered.

Changes To Be Made

Microsoft is more than aware of the problem, and they are making changes to the Autorun functionality in not only Windows 7 but also for Windows Xp and Vista as well. This is a good move for the software giant, obviously.

But what does it mean to the end user? Well, there is one thing that all Windows users should take away from this – having a good virus protection is a requirement for the world’s most popular operating system. In fact, it could be argued that the architecture is not complete without one.  Windows 7 suffers from a lot of the same “loopholes” as older versions of windows does, and they will be exploited – the potential payout for the bad guys are just too great.

One may ask exactly why a problem this big – Autorun on in the first place -could even make it into the release candidate of the latest and greatest from Redmond. The answer could be argued from a lot of angles, and I dare say they all could be correct in at least one aspect or another.

The Ugly Truth

The real truth in this is a simple fact – any holdover loopholes from previous versions of Windows will no doubt be exposed as new hardware comes on the scene. As things are bent and twisted to work with new technology it will  open the cracks and allow the less scrupulous to take advantage of the new openings.

And as for the original question – can a tampered with Android cell phone infect your Windows PC? The answer is a resounding yes, like it or not.

Related posts:

1. Acer Expands Popular Line of Aspire One Netbooks to Include Unique Dual-Boot Option with Android and Windows XP Operating Systems
2. Microsoft to Deliver New Generation of Windows Phones on Oct. 6
3. Hands-on with the Google G1 Android Phone

-Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile)¹ , the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the U.S.², today announced the availability of the Samsung Sunburst™, a full touch screen phone with a range of customizable widgets and the Samsung Strive™, a stylish vertical slider with a full QWERTY keyboard. Both devices will be available beginning March 21 at AT&T stores nationwide.

Samsung Sunburst

The Sunburst is a 3.0” full touchscreen device that keeps users connected with style. With a sleek, futuristic black and chrome design, the Sunburst’s resistive touchscreen uses widgets to provides users with one-touch access to their favorite features, applications and social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace. Advanced messaging features such as text and instant messaging and Mobile E-mail give users the ability to stay constantly connected.

Additional key features of the Sunburst include:

• Virtual full keyboard for easy typing
• Full browser experience with Single Zoom
• Smart Unlock for easy access to applications
• 2.0 Megapixel Camera/ Camcorder
• SMS and MMS Messaging
• Mobile E-mail
• AT&T SocialNet
• AT&T Mobile Music
• AT&T Navigator
• Bluetooth v2.0+ EDR
• Dimensions: 2.08" x 4.33" x .51"
• Weight: 3.08 ounces

Samsung Strive

The Samsung Strive is a vertical slider, following the lines of the Samsung Propel™ family of messaging devices, available in two color options – black/silver and purple/charcoal. With a full, slide-out QWERTY keyboard, users have access to group messaging with conversations, which allows users to send threaded text messages with video, pictures and view multiple conversations at a time.

The Strive is the first device from AT&T to offer three new mobile services the company announced today: a new group messaging service, AT&T Mobile Share and AT&T Address Book. The services offer functionality typically found in smartphones to a wider range of powerful yet affordable devices designed for the mass-market.

Additional key features and specifications of the Strive include:

• Mobile Email
• SMS, MMS, Video Messaging and Instant Messaging
• 2.0 Megapixel Camera/ Camcorder
• AT&T Mobile Music
• AT&T Address Book
• AT&T Navigator
• Bluetooth v2.0+ EDR
• AT&T Video Share and Mobile Video
• Dimensions: 4.2” x 2.3” x 0.57”
• Weight: 3.99 ounces

Pricing and Availability

The Samsung Sunburst is available for $39.99 after a two-year agreement and mail-in-rebate. (Pay $89.99 and receive $50 AT&T Promotion Card with a two year service agreement.) The Samsung Strive is available for $19.99 for a limited time, as part of AT&T’s current 50%-off quick messaging phones promotion. (Pay $69.99 and receive a $50 AT&T Promotion Card with a two-year service agreement.) Both devices will be available March 21 through select AT&T retail locations or at www.wireless.att.com.

1. Samsung Mobile is proud to provide ENERGY STAR-qualified power adapters with its mobile phones and accessories. ENERGY STAR qualified products use less energy, save money, and help protect the environment. Products that have earned the ENERGY STAR meet strict energy-efficiency guidelines set by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the US Department of Energy.

2. Number one mobile phone provider in the U.S. claim for Samsung Mobile based upon reported shipment data, according to Strategy Analytics Q1-Q4 2009 and Q3 and Q4 2008 U.S. Market Share Handset Shipments Reports.

About Samsung Telecommunications America

Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC, a Dallas-based subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., researches, develops and markets wireless handsets and telecommunications products throughout North America. For more information, please visit www.samsungwireless.com.

About Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2008 consolidated sales of US$96 billion. Employing approximately 164,600 people in 179 offices across 61 countries, the company consists of two business units: Digital Media & Communications and Device Solutions. Recognized as one of the fastest growing global brands, Samsung Electronics is a leading producer of digital TVs, memory chips, mobile phones and TFT-LCDs. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.

Related posts:

1. Verizon Wireless Announces the Availability of the Samsung Omnia II
2. T-Mobile USA Launches the Samsung Behold II on November 18
3. Cricket Introduces Samsung Stunt

Good Morning, we can start the day with some news..

Quick Links:

PowerColor HD 5750 Go Green @ techPowerUp

Altitude – PC @ LanOC Reviews

NZXT Panzerbox @ LanOC Reviews

InWin Diva MITX Case @ TechwareLabs

Overclock3D have just published a new article titled: Mionix NAOS 5000 Review

Antec P183 Advanced Mid Tower Case Review @ ThinkComputers.org

SteelSeries Xai Laser Mouse

Lian Li PC-T1R Spider @ techPowerUp

Sapphire Radeon HD 5770 1GB Review  @ XSReviews

CoolerMaster GX Series 750 Watt ATX Power Supply Review

Thermaltake SpinQ VT CPU Cooler Review @ Legit Reviews

CeBIT 2010 Coverage with more than 100 pictures on 11 pages

Enermax MODU 87+ 600W PSU Review on Technic3D

NZXT Hades @ techPowerUp

ASUS HD 5870 Matrix 2GB & ASUS HD 5870 "V2" Sneak Peek @ Hardware Canucks

iXBT Labs Review: AMD Athlon II X2 215 Processor

Zalman CNPS10X Performa CPU Cooler Review @ ThinkComputers.org

Overclock3D have just published a new article titled: Win a Dell XPS Laptop with OC3D and Dell Outlet.

Overclock3D have just published a new article titled: Mionix KEID 20 Review

Razer Imperator Gaming Mouse @ TechwareLabs

COGAGE TRUE Spirit LGA1366 Heatsink Review

iXBT Labs Review: MSI 770-C35 Motherboard

akasa NeroS heatpipe CPU cooler Review @ XtremeComputing

Jetway NC96 NC96-510-LF @ Phoronix

MSI HD 5870 Lightning @ techPowerUp

ASUS Crosshair IV Formula AM3 890FX Motherboard Sneak Peak @ Hardware Canucks

Razer Imperator Gaming Mouse and Vespula Mouse Mat Video Review

AZZA Helios 910R Case Review

Radeon HD5830 DirectX-11 Gaming Performance @ Benchmark Reviews

CoolerMaster 690 II Advanced vs. CoolerMaster 690 @ Ninjalane

Asus Maximus 3 Extreme @ Bjorn3D

Enhancing Your Dual Boot System @ TechwareLabs

Cooler Master HAF 932 AMD Edition Full Tower Case Review @ Legit Reviews

Silverstone Fortress FT02 90 Degree Motherboard Case at Modders-Inc

Logitech Wireless Keyboard K350 Review on Technic3D

Zaward Golf Fan II Review @ Tech-Reviews.co.uk

Prolimatech MK-13 VGA cooler

Noctua NF-P14 FLX 140mm Fan @ Rbmods

iXBT Labs Review: 59 CPU Roundup

Axle GeForce G210 512MB Review at Overclockers Online

Intel H55/H57 Round-up: Full coverage for Core i3 and i5 @ InsideHW

Facebook launches payments between friends service

Storage Related:

Imation M-Class 128GB SSD
Quote: With SSDs becoming more popular and with newer operating systems finally offering native support, it is only natural that more and more companies would be stepping into the ring with products. Today, HardwareLogic has the Imation M-Class 128GB SSD for review, and is one of Imation’s many entries into the SSD market.
Link: http://www.hardwarelogic.com/articles.php?id=5629

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Title: Ineo Technologies I-NA314Ue – Review
Article Clip: Being a computer enthusiast, i often use accessories to get my work done. I have a lot of files which i keep on about 20 hard drives and sometimes it takes me a while to find the right hard drive with the right files. There are few accessories on the market which will let you to plug your hard drive in and browse the files with in. Those accessories are very much valuable in the geek world. Today we are going to take a look at one of these accessories, I-NA314Ue by Ineo Technologies.
Article Link: http://umlan.com/reviews/hardware/h113.html

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Everything USB is pleased to announce our in-depth review on Seagate BlackArmor PS 110 Portable USB 3.0 Hard Drive review.
Storage is critical in today’s technologically advanced home and business. Some would say more storage is better, others would say performance is king, but what would you say if you could have both performance, capacity and portability in one simple and attractive kit at a generous price? Today we’ll review Seagate BlackArmor PS 110 – the world’s first truly portable USB 3.0 hard drive – over the fastest consumer storage interface available.
http://www.everythingusb.com/seagate-blackarmor-ps-110-usb-3.0-performance-kit-18298.html

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G.Skill PC3-18400 (2300MHz) PI Series 4GB Kit
QUOTE: "When I think of memory companies that want nothing but speed, only a few really come to mind and one of them would have to be G.Skill. While so many companies these days produce high end memory, we only really see a few leading the pack and when I say that I mean we see the same few companies ahead of everyone with most other companies playing catch up when it comes to speed.
While most companies are sitting around the PC3-17600 mark these days, G.Skill as always has kicked it up a notch with a PC3-19200 kit and a PC3-18400 one which we have on hand today. Like most high performance memory kits at the moment, the modules are aimed at P55 platforms due to them coming in dual-channel packets."
For more information, please visit – http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/3175/g_skill_pc3_18400_2300mhz_pi_series_4gb_kit/index.html

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Kingston SSDNow V+ Series 128GB Solid State Drive
Link: http://www.bigbruin.com/content/kingstonvplus_1
Quote:  The Performance Upgrade Kit is a great way to purchase the Kingston SSDNow V+ Series 128GB SSD. Not only do you get the drive, but you get an external enclosure, mounting rails, and additional cables to allow you to connect your new SSD to just about any system. You might not need all of these extras, but for the difference in price you might as well get the bundle.

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Asus TS Mini Home Server Review @ Tweaknews
Article Url: http://www.tweaknews.net/reviews/asus_ts_mini_home_server_review/
Article Snippet:
"Today I’m going to take the Asus TS Mini home server for a test run and see how it performs when integrated into a typical home network. Since this is a product designed for the home market, it should be easy to setup and maintain, operate quietly, and be small enough to not be in the way of other electronic equipment."

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A-DATA PC3-17600 (2200MHz) Gaming Series 4GB Kit
QUOTE: "There doesn’t seem to be a single memory company standing still at the moment; every week we’re getting a press release from someone that they’ve released a new high speed kit. PC3-16000 seems so last year all of a sudden as PC3-17600 has become the number high end users want.
Today we’ll be looking at an A-DATA kit which is part of the Gaming series. While we haven’t seen anything from the Gaming series before, hopefully the modules follow the same winning formula that we’ve seen on previous kits of A-DATA memory."
For more information, please visit – http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/3181/a_data_pc3_17600_2200mhz_gaming_series_4gb_kit/index.html

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Axus FiT RAID 500 Storage Device Review @ ThinkComputers.org

Review URL: http://www.thinkcomputers.org/axus-fit-raid-500-storage-device-review/

Quote: “I myself have not played around with a RAID setup as I’ve never had more than 1 of the same hard drive kicking around to try it out. I have seen RAID in action and some of my buddies love to have RAID setups, but I’ve never really looked into it until now. When asked what I wanted to look at next in terms of product reviews, I wanted to look at a storage system with redundant capabilities. In my head I thought some sort of RAID system. Bob got back to me and asked if I wanted to look at a RAID enclosure made by a company called Axus. I got to choose between a 3-disk setup and a 5-disk setu p, naturally I choose the 5-disk setup known as the FiT 500."

==

Tsunami Ultimate II 3500 Review  @ XSReviews

Review Link: http://www.xsreviews.co.uk/reviews/cases/tsunami-ultimate-ii-3500/
Quote: "While we’re reviewed some pretty expensive and feature heavy hard drive enclosures and NAS drives in recent weeks here at XSR, not everyone wants something so complicated and all encompassing. What of those that want something that’s far more plug and play, far more simple and most importantly far cheaper. For those perhaps the Tsunami-Tech Ultimate II 3500 is what you’re after. Let’s find out."

Mobile Related:

BELKIN Iphone 3G/3GS Leather Folio Case @ PCShopTalk
Quote:
"For the Iphone 3G and 3GS there are a lot of cases on the market, from different materials; not all of them offer complete protection: for example, some of the cases do not cover the main Iphone button which can become damaged after a while because of dust accumulation. In this review I will take a look upon the Belkin Iphone 3G/3GS Leather Folio case made from leather, which offers complete protection to your phone and looks extremely well when it is closed."
Link: http://www.pcshoptalk.com/content.php?280-BELKIN-Iphone-3G-3GS-Leather-Folio-Case

==

X2 Snowboarding –iPhone Game Review

Even though the Winter Olympics are over you can still become a virtual Shaun White with today reviewed  iPhone game – X2 Snowboarding. This digital snowboarding game comes from X2 games and combines impressive game play with graphics are on par with those found on PSP games.

Link: http://www.mobilitydigest.com/x2-snowboarding-iphone-game-review/

==

Lenovo ThinkPad T410 Review:
http://hothardware.com/Articles/Lenovo-ThinkPad-T410-Review/

Lenovo proved at the Consumer Electronics Show in January that it wasn’t messing around when it comes to latest generation of notebook technologies. The company has a vast array of options, from tiny to huge, and they span the gamut from casual road warriors to hardcore business users. There’s also a machine or two in there for the gaming and multimedia crowd, though you probably wouldn’t guess that the ThinkPad T410 was in that category at first glance. This machine, along with the T410s, T510 and W510, received notable upgrades just last month, with Intel’s latest Core i5 and Core i7 processors hopping on board to give the classically tough and plain ThinkPad line a much-needed breath of life.

The T410 that we’re reviewing today is a ThinkPad through and through. From top to bottom, side to side, there’s no mistaking that this is a member of the iconic ThinkPad family…

==

Top 10 Essential (And Not So Essential) Car Gadgets

If there are two things that we guys really like, it’s cars and gadgets. And when you combine the two and give us gadgets for our cars, well, that’s Heaven on four wheels.

Link: http://www.thebachelorguy.com/top-10-essential-and-not-so-essential-car-gadgets.html

==

Review: Destinator 9 for iPhone

The iPhone version of the application brings a rich, featured filled GPS client complete with real time traffic updates, on-board maps, voice guided directions, extended POIs and more.

link: http://www.geardiary.com/2010/03/12/review-destinator-9-for-iphone/

==

This Week’s Best iPhone Apps

In this week’s bipolar app roundup: Foursquare, squared! Slow ISPs, tattled on! Videos, easily streamed! Street Fighter fans’ high standards, met! Twitter apps, set free! Your entire life, documented! Your every plan, shared! And more…

link: http://gizmodo.com/5492332/this-weeks-best-iphone-apps

==

Audio / Video:

QNAP NMP-1000 NETWORK MEDIA PLAYER REVIEW @ APH NETWORKS

Description: When I started to plan the upcoming review schedule for APH Networks early last month, the influx of new network media players onto the market really caught my attention. Providing more digital media integration
with your living room audio/video equipment than ever before, long gone are the days when we were restricted to watching certain videos on our computers only, or swapping a bunch of CDs every time you wanted to listen to those songs on the big system. Last month, we reviewed the Patriot Box Office network media player, which delivered excellent media compatibility for a very low price of admission, but failed to provide the kind of experience users would come to expect for a home entertainment device. Inevitably, there are compromises due to its cost. At the same time, I also began testing QNAP’s NMP-1000 network media player. QNAP is known for making absolutely brilliant network appliances in both performance and reliability, such as the QNAP TS-439 Pro network attached storage system we examined back in September last year. But here’s the thing: The QNAP NMP-1000 retails for $400 at press time — effectively four times the price of products such as Asus’ O!Play and the Patriot Box Office as aforementioned. It is probably no surprise that you are wondering at this point what makes the NMP-1000 so much more expensive than other products that carry out pretty much the same tasks. And you know what? I was asking the same question before I got my hands on these products as well, haha. Is the QNAP NMP-1000 truly the ultimate, no compromise, fully featured high performance network appliance with multimedia features for the home user to justify its price tag, or will it fail to hold its own against the competition? To answer all these questions and address everything else in a detailed and thorough manner, well, let me present to you this week’s review!

* Link: http://aphnetworks.com/reviews/qnap_nmp_1000

==

Plantronics Gamecom 777 Surround Sound Gaming Headset Review on Technic3D

Link: http://www.technic3d.com/article-1044,1-plantronics-gamecom-777-surround-sound-fuer-gamerohren.htm

Translation Link: http://translate.google.de/translate?u=http%3a%2F%2fwww.technic3d.com%2Farticle-1044%2C1-plantronics-gamecom-777-surround-sound-fuer-gamerohren.htm&sl=de&tl=en&hl=&ie=UTF-8

Quote: "The Plantronics Gamecom 777 Surround Sound Gaming Headset arrived Technic3D. With full 5.1 Dolby surround sound capabilities, the GameCom 777 Stereo Headset will let you hear your opponents before you actually see them, so you can fire off crisp, clear orders during your next line of attack? The GameCom 777’s 5.1 Dolby technology gives you the surround sound effects of a five-speaker setup by using digital signal processing that electronically simulates five speakers in a virtual room. This and more see you in the following Rewiew."

==

Title: Patriot Box Office Media Player
URL: http://www.bcchardware.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8335&Itemid=40
Quote:

I must admit that I am kind of spoiled. My primary media box is a full PC running XBMC and so I have come to have high expectations from my media device. I don’t think I am alone though in my expectations. However the Box Office does definitely have price in its favor, and if you can overlook some of its UI shortcomings you will get an inexpensive device that is well built, quiet as a mouse (even after playing 1080P video), power friendly and very small. . .

==

Arctic Sound E361 Earphones and the link to the review is:
http://www.topreviewshop.com/arctic_sound_e361_earphones
"The Arctic Sound E361 earphones are advertised to work equally well with mobile phones, digital music players and computers. Let’s find out if these Swiss earphones live up to the reputation Arctic Cooling has earned in other markets."

==

Arctic Cooling E361-BM Earphone
Review  Link : http://www.bayreviews.com/electronics/2445-arctic-cooling-e361bm-earphone
Quote : "I recently had a chance to check out these head phones by Arctic Cooling and I have to say, they are awesome. If you like bass, this is a must have. It also has outside noise cancellation so you can enjoy your music even more."

==

Assorted Stuffs:

‘So did you order an iPad yet?’
Yesterday Apple started accepting pre-orders for the iPad to be delivered in the US on April 3. Did you pre-order an iPad yesterday? If so, which one did you go for?
The Full Article can be viewed at http://tech.tbreak.com/2010/03/so-did-you-order-an-ipad-yet/

==

Gaj-it Weekly Round Up of Gadget News and Reviews

1. iPad UK Launch Date: April 2010 – But How Can You Buy the iPad Earlier in the UK?

2. Street Fighter 4 iPhone/iPod Touch App Released & Available to Buy!

3. YouTube Switches On Mobile Advertising

==

WIN the perfect formula – ASUS Crosshair III Formula Motherboard
DESCRIPTION:
"It’s competition time again. We have teamed up with ASUS UK to give one lucky reader the chance of winning an ASUS Crosshair III Formula Motherboard worth over £150."
LINK: http://www.vortez.co.uk/contentteller/content_page/win_the_perfect_formula_asus_crosshair_iii_formula_motherboard.html

==

A List of PC Game Classics Available Free of Charge
http://www.techspot.com/guides/258-free-pc-game-classics-list/
Major game companies don’t hesitate to charge an arm and a leg for new releases, with most launching around $60 these days. As much as you enjoy lining up outside the local GameStop at 3AM to embrace the latest shooter, parting with 60 big ones hurts a little inside. It doesn’t help that many developers rub salt in the wound by lacing titles with DRM mechanisms — but let’s not go there.
Alternatively, there are tons of free games online, but very few are worth playing (yeah, we’re looking at you Obama Alien Defense). What you may not be aware of however, is the wealth of older commercial titles freely available, just waiting to be discovered.
Dozens of old school favorites like Doom and GTA can be had at no cost. We’ve compiled a brief list of popular titles from yesteryear that you can download absolutely free of charge — and that’s something to appreciate in an age of hidden fees and fine print.

==

Proluma Deluxe Triple LCD Stand
QUOTE: "Since the release of Eyefinity, we’ve seen a larger push for multi screen setups. Sure, the technology has been around for years and years; I was using a dual 17" CRT setup back in the day myself which was always fun. But what ATI have done is make the technology a bit more mainstream. Sure, Matrox did it a few years ago with the TripleHead2Go, but they don’t have the same weight as a company like ATI.
Eyefinity has brought with it a more mainstream push for multi screen setups. What we’re seeing is companies working on getting bezels thinner and other ways to make the technology simply better. Something that was lacking was high quality monitor stands for three-monitor setups. Having a look around eBay we found some cheap ones that promised support for 24" monitors, but didn’t actually support them. You can find a few floating around the U.S. market, but they’re extremely expensive and it doesn’t help people in other parts of the world."
For more information, please visit – http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/3176/proluma_deluxe_triple_lcd_stand/index.html

==

, ‘Kaspersky Internet Security 2010 Review’
Top notch features at a reasonable price.
The Full Article can be viewed at
http://tbreak.com/tech/2010/03/kaspersky-internet-security-2010-review/

==

DIY Guides: Exploring CPU Performance in Windows Vista vs. Win 7

"Stuck with an older PC that runs slow in Vista? Upgrading to Windows 7 might breath new life into that PC and extend its useful life. In this DIY Guide PCSTATS is going to compare the performance of a handful of AMD and Intel processors running under Windows Vista to Windows 7, with an eye towards answering this question; "Will upgrading to Windows 7 breath new life into older PC hardware previously sluggish under Windows Vista?"

URL:  http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=2507

==

Core i7 Six Core CPU Coverage:

Overclock3D have just published a new article titled: Intel 980x Gulftown.

Quote: Intels Gulftown is the tock to the i7 tick. Have we got unlimited power within our grasp?
Link: http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/cpu_mainboard/intel_980x_gulftown/1

==

PC Games Hardware has reviewed the Core i7-980X, Intel’s first 6-core Gulftown. We ran benchmarks in applications and games to check the performance of the new processor. Furthermore we took a look at the overclocking capabilities as well as the new Boxed Cooler.

http://www.pcgameshardware.com/aid,699873/Core-i7-980X-aka-Core-i9-Review-of-the-six-core-Gulftown/Reviews/

==

Intel I7-980X Gulftown Six Core Processor Review @ Tweaknews
Article Url: http://www.tweaknews.net/reviews/intel_i7-980x_gulftown_processor_review/
Article Snippet:
"The Intel I7-980x being reviewed today is one of those products coming onto the market that you know know is more of a 32nm victory lap rather than a product that is trying to leap-frog the competition. With nothing in sight that could even touch the Nehalem in terms of performance, the Gulftown adds to an impressive performance market lead that will not be superceded by anyone but themselves for some time to come."

==

Intel Core i7 980X 6 Core Gulftown CPU Review

Without a doubt, the Core i7-980X is a fast CPU, the fastest out of the box CPU available. The 980X has a retail price of $999, meaning it will replace the 975X in Intel’s lineup. In terms of applications that will take advantage of the 6 cores, there are many game manufacturers working on optimization for multiple cores and with the support for DirectX 11 multithreaded rendering speeding up performance in games that support it, the Core i7-980X CPU to the next level, allowing for higher level of detail and more animations in games that support multi-threading. . The new CPU cooler allows the retail purchaser to overclock the CPU more than the traditional Intel cooler that doesn’t provide much leeway due to thermal margins.

Review Link: http://www.motherboards.org/reviews/motherboards/2024_15.html

==

Intel’s new Gulftown Six Core CPU meets LN2 Extreme Cooling
QUOTE: "I’ve been chomping at the bit to have an opportunity to torture this latest offering. With whispers of massive headroom for overclocking, more tolerance for extreme cooling and performance to die for, it’s enough to get any tech-head excited.
For this article we will be torturing this latest offering from Intel over a variety of multi-threaded applications at pre-determined speeds as well as seeing how much further we can push the cooling before we start hitting cold bugs (most Bloomfields stopped operating around -90 to -100 degrees celcius)."
For more information, please visit – http://www.tweaktown.com/articles/3178/intel_s_new_gulftown_six_core_cpu_meets_ln2_extreme_cooling/index.html

==

Intel’s Core i7-980X Extreme Edition – Ready for Sick Scores? @ Techgage
Link: http://techgage.com/article/intels_core_i7-980x_extreme_edition_-_ready_for_sick_scores/
Quote: It’s official. We’re now entering the six-core realm, thanks to Intel’s Gulftown. The first model, Core i7-980X, is more than capable of delivering the sick scores that our title suggests, and along with it, we can begin to see some major benefits of the 32nm process. To sweeten the deal further, Intel even includes an effective new CPU cooler.

==

Intel Core i7-980X 32nm LGA-1366 Six Core CPU
QUOTE: "In the current market our CPUs are multi-core. It is almost unheard of to have a CPU with a single core, unless you are buying a netbook or a very low-end system. Starting at the mainstream level the dual core is king. You find them in all shapes and sizes. Moving up, AMD has their tri cores. From there both AMD and Intel have quads and finally Intel has the quad with Hyper Threading; the 8 thread monster called the Core i7.
Well, Intel is looking to add a new level at the very top. This is a 6 core, 12 thread behemoth called Gulftown. Once it hits the retail channels it will be the Core i7-980X. But Gulftown is more than just 6 cores on a CPU die. Intel has moved to 32nm and also stuffed in some new instructions (including AES encryption)."
For more information, please visit – http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/3177/intel_core_i7_980x_32nm_lga_1366_six_core_cpu/index.html

==

Intel Core i7-980X Extreme 6-Core Processor:
http://hothardware.com/articles/Intel-Core-i7980X-Extreme-6Core-Processor/

The new Core i7-980X Extreme is an interesting animal, however, that requires much explanation. Although its branding implies that it may be just a simple speed-bump over the previous flagship Core i7-975 Extreme, the 980X is actually a totally different beast. Come on by and take a look…

==

Intel Core i7 980X Extreme 6 Core Gulftown Desktop CPU Video Review

Well Intel Has done it again folks and they now bring to the table the first Six-Core CPU to the desktop market. The Core i7-980X is codenamed Gulftown and replaces the Core i7-975X CPU in Intel’s lineup as their top of the line CPU. Gulftown is their first 6-core consumer CPU to hit the market. This also marks the separation from the mainstream i7 CPUs as the new CPU requires the X58 chipset and won’t work on the LGA-1156 CPU Socket found on the P55/H55/H57 etc chipsets. This CPU is also an Extreme Edition CPU, meaning that it is unlocked and can be overclocked higher by changing the multiplier as well as the BCLK upwards. This CPU will become publicaly available in a few weekes from the release of this review. Want to see the fastest CPU available? Check out the review.

Review Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggDpMHB4bI4

==

Today Intel launched a new CPU based on their newest 32nm process technology codenamed "Gulftown". It is an "Extreme" CPU both in name and price – weighing in at 3.33 GHz (base, Turbo hits up to 3.60 GHz) with six individual cores (and thanks to HyperThreading that means twelve threads) and 12MB of shared L3 cache, the Core i7 980X Extreme Edition will set you back a bit over $1000 when it hits e-store e-shelves this week.

We put it to the test against the identically clocked (and nearly identically priced) Core i7 975 Extreme, and a handful of other $500+ processors to see how it competes in today’s applications (we threw in a Phenom II for good measure, too).

So how does this beast perform today? Read on to find out!

http://www.hardcoreware.net/intel-core-i7-980x-extreme-six-core-cpu-review/

==

TITLE: Intel Core i7-980X Gulftown Processor Review @ Benchmark Reviews

DESCRIPTION: Intel offers something for everyone, as their extensive product line can prove. The chipmaker produces desktop, notebook, server, and personal digital appliance CPUs, Ethernet and WiFi network processors, and countless co-processor units. Keep this in mind as Benchmark Reviews presents the Intel Core i7-980X processor, a six-core Westmere 32nm CPU. Codenamed Gulftown, this 3.33GHz Extreme Edition processor features an unlocked clock speed multiplier with twelve computing threads and a 12MB cache. Built for the Intel X58-Express enthusiast platform, Benchmark Reviews tests the BX80613I7980X retail part in gaming, computing, and overclocking performance.

ARTICLE URL: http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=475&Itemid=63

==

Hardware Canucks is pleased to present our review of the new Intel Core i7-980X Gulftown Six-Core 32nm processor.

Article URL: http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum/hardware-canucks-reviews/29632-intel-core-i7-980x-gulftown-six-core-32nm-processor-review.html

Quote: It has been a long time coming.  Intel’s six core processors have been talked about since the Nehalem architecture was first introduced and with the Core i7 980X, Gulftown has finally seen the light of day.  Naturally, this new processor is expensive but with six physical cores and 12 threads, can it perform up to everyone’s expectations?

==

Intel i7 980x (Extreme).
SNIP:
With the Intel Core i7 980x in hand benchmarks have been humming along. Strictly business gaming sessions (that’s our story), photo editing, and general computing have been eye popping. Some things have been flying by so fast that we had to re-check them just to make sure they actually happened.
With six cores (32nm) and 12 threads pushing the Westmere processors, 1.17 billion transistors sitting on a 248mm square die data isn’t the only thing pumping along. Once in a great while you get your hands on a game changing product that sets your blood pumping and the mind careening wildly along possibility paths previously unexplored. The Intel Core i7 980x is one of those products.
When the Core i7 965x hit the bench it was a thrilling day even for seasoned reviewers. At that time it meant upgrading your motherboard to LGA 1366, upgrading to (then) expensive DDR3 triple channel RAM, and purchasing a top end i7 965 that ran (at release) $1200. The thought of sitting on a cutting edge i7 965 was a daunting proposal. The i7 980x is an LGA 1366 drop in upgrade. If you’re sitting on a LGA 1366 platform already, simply flash to the latest BIOS, pop out the old processor and drop in the i7 980x and you will be running the top desktop processor on the planet.
In the short time we’ve had the Core i7 980x we’ve been flooded with benchmarks and fielding a lot of inquiries. We couldn’t comment on the i7 980x because of Non-Disclosure Agreements but one question we get asked almost daily is: ‘What’s the fastest desktop computer on the planet?’ All we could do under those conditions was point to the test bench and say with certainty, ‘That one.’
http://www.bjorn3d.com/read.php?cID=1801

==

Intel’s dominance with the Nehalem Core i7s has been nearly complete, and yet a replacement will soon arrive in the form of Gulftown, a 32-nm, six-core monster with 12MB of cache.  How good is it?  Should it replace your Pentium 4?  Your Core 2 Quad Q6600?  We investigate.
http://techreport.com/articles.x/18581

==

Intel Core i7-980XE Gulftown 6-Core 32nm Processor Review

Today’s processor technology is the result of years of innovative thinking put to action. For instance, Intel’s microprocessor architecture has proven that we’ve taken the first steps into an era where computers are capable of doing far more than just calculating a few spread sheets or playing video games.

There is a lot more unlocked potential from Intel and if you love your Quad-Core i7, then you’re going to love this! How about a 6-core Intel Core i7-980XE Gulftown 32nm Processor? That’s right! We’ve got Hexa-Core!

Direct Link: http://www.futurelooks.com/intel-core-i7-980xe-gulftown-6-core-32nm-processor-review/

==

Article Title: Intel Core i7-980X Processor Extreme Edition Review @ Legit Reviews
Article URL: http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1245/1/

Quote: "The Intel Core i7-980X Desktop Processor Extreme Edition was found to exceed our exceed our initial expectations, which says a ton. Having six physical processing cores created an amazing user experience when running multi-threaded applications. The enormous growth of HD media content in the home is driving the demand for computer systems that have the horse power to deliver an enjoyable user experience for the consumer. If you have ever tried to create a Blu-ray movie or just tried to transcode some HD movies you know how much time it takes to work on a project and that can be frustrating for those that do it often. With the new Intel Core i7-980X Processor you can improve productivity, save power and the best part is that it can be a drop-in replacement for those with existing socket LGA1366 motherboard. Anybody that runs multi-thread applications is sure to appreciate a six-core processor…"

=

Related posts:

1. News and Links for Wednesday March 17th 2010 – St Patrick’s Day
2. News and Links for 1/4/2010
3. News and Links for March 4th 2010

Ok I want one…

Source R&D announced today the availability of the Warpia Easy Dock, which will allow users to wirelessly connect their notebook/netbook/Macbook to any traditional desktop setting.  With the Easy Dock’s straightforward plug-and-play interface, consumers can have both the convenience and portability of a laptop, as well as the comfort of a desktop computer.  Easier on the eyes, ears and hands, users will no longer have to squint at a miniature screen, deal with a below average sound quality, or fumble with a tiny keyboard.

Based on wireless technology from Wisair, a leading provider of single-chip based Wireless USB solutions, the Easy Dock consists of a USB dongle that connects to your laptop and a receiver that connects to your monitor, mouse, keyboard, and speakers.  Your laptop will instantly recognize the dongle and begin submitting a wireless signal to the receiver, transmitting the image with a resolution of up to1400×1050 to your monitor’s screen.

“Perfect for professionals working from home, students on-the-go, or families with both MacBook and PC laptops, the Easy Dock gives customers ultimate portability and comfort,” says Marc Levaggi, VP of Marketing for Source R&D.  “They can take their compact notebook to business meetings, while still having the option to do more intensive work at home with a full-size keyboard and monitor.  It’s also a great solution for those who want to play media on high quality speakers.”

Compared to other laptop docks on the market, Easy Dock stands out for its wireless quality; adding capability without contributing to cable clutter.  Priced affordably at $149.99, the Easy Dock and works with Windows 7, Vista, XP, Mac OS X Leopard, and Snow Leopard.  For more information, please visit http://warpia.com/Product_Guide-Easy_Dock.pdf.

About Source R&D:
Source R&D, Inc., maker of the Warpia Wireless USB Adapter, is one of the world’s premier technology providers. Specializing in emerging technologies and innovations, Source R&D serves as a vital link in the technology value chain by creating sales and profitability opportunities for OEMS, ODMs, vendors and resellers through unique marketing programs, logistics services, backend support, financial services and product aggregation and distribution. For additional details, visit Source R&D web site at http://www.sourcerandd.com or the Warpia website at www.Warpia.com.

About Wisair:
Wisair is a fabless semiconductor company providing Ultra Wideband (UWB) and Certified Wireless USB solutions based on its CMOS single chip. Recognized for their superior coverage, and throughput, Wisair’s solutions offer the best combination of performance, price, and power consumption for Wireless USB. For more information, visit www.wisair.com.

Related posts:

1. Source R&D’s new Warpia Wireless USB Audio/Video Adapter Offers the Ultimate PC to TV Wireless Experience
2. be.ez Debuts LE rush Notebook Bag Collection
3. Verizon Wireless Announces the Availability of the Samsung Omnia II

Since this is two reviews in one I’m going to do it a little bit different than other review, I’ll look at the specs and the cards separately then get into the testing of both.

First up is the Unitek:

UNITEK 2 Port USB 3.0 ExpressCard/34mm

Price: US$47.00

Features:
-NEC UPD720200 chipset
-Compliant with ExpressCard Standard Release 1.0
-Compliant with USB 3.0 Super-Speed (5Gbps), USB 2.0 Hi-Speed (480Mbps), USB 1.1 Low-Speed (1.5Mbps)
-Compliant with xHCI Specification Revision 0.95
-ExpressCard/34 form factor module
-Max. 900mA per Port
-Bus Interface Express Card
-Support Window 7 (32-bit and 64bit) / Vista / XP
-Dimension: 113 x 42 x 14mm (approx.)
-Weight: 31g

Package Contents:
-UNITEK 2 Port USB 3.0 ExpressCard/34mm
-CD Driver

The card comes in a plastic clam shell style package and comes with a mini-CD-Rom with drivers on it. The side has a hole for an alternate power source, but they don’t provide one for you. The back end is where you’ll find the blue colored USB 3.0 connections. Not much else to say really, it looks like most other expresscards..

-

Next up is the no-name or generic card:

ExpressCard USB 3.0 2-Ports Hub

Price: US$39.00

Features:
-Compliant with ExpressCard/34mm Standard
-USB 3.0 SuperSpeed
-USB 3.0 2-Ports Hub
-Compliant with USB 1.0, USB 1.1, USB 2.0 and USB 3.0
-Support Window 7 / Vista / XP
-Dimension: 116 x 40 x 14mm (approx.)
-Weight: 32g

Package Contents:
-ExpressCard USB 3.0 2-Ports Hub
-USB Power Cable
-CD Driver

The first thing you’ll notice is that this card is actually $8 cheaper than the Unitek branded card, but it comes with a power cable…

The card comes in a generic box, inside you’ll find a plastic box with the card, USB power cable and driver mini-cd. The side of the card does have the hole for power like the Unitek card and on the back you’ll find the blue USB 3.0 ports.

-

Now let’s get into the testing here:

Installation, Testing:

Here’s the two cards together:

Now for testing I’m comparing the cards to each other and to the regular USB 2.0 interface on my netbook. It’s just an Atom Based 10.1″ netbook, but it does have a 34mm Expresscard slot which is nice…

The Unitek card does have a green LED on the top to let you know it’s powered on, and the other card has an LED inside of it that you can’t see unless you look inside the USB ports. Installation was very simple, I just plugged them in and installed the drivers.

For my testing I used a Unitek USB 3.0 hard drive dock actually with a 750GB Western Digital Caviar Black hard drive. You’ll find the reasoning behind this shortly…

Since the dock uses an external power source I didn’t need the additional power cable.

I used ATTo Disk Benchmark for testing.

We’ve pretty much tripled the read speed when going to USB 3.0 and more than tripled the write speeds. Not bad at all. They are some very nice speeds truly.

You might be wondering about using a portable hard drive instead of a dock as I did, well so was I.

…and it doesn’t work on either card. I have two USB 3.0 hard drive enclosures that have 2.5″ drives in them and neither one would power on. They seem to get power but the drives wouldn’t spin up at all.

I used the extra power cable with the generic expresscard and the indicator lit up on my drive but it would just click and not spin up. Using the Unitek card though the indicator wouldn’t even turn on, but the drive clicked so there was some power getting there.

So if you want to use an external hard drive you’ll need to use one that has it’s own power supply as even with the extra power it wouldn’t work.

This could work fine for doing backups etc as many people use 3.5″ enclosures with power supplies for their backups, but if you’re using a 2.5″ style you’ll need to figure something else out because obviously this isn’t going to work.

-

Conclusion:

These cards work but not as I expected them to, for my netbooks I use either a USB drive or a 2.5″ portable hard drive for backups and transfers.

So yes on one hand this is a quick and easy way to add USB 3.0 functionality to your portable computer, but as you saw there are limitations to its actual usability.

Looking at the actual cards, I don’t see any reason to buy the more expensive Unitek brand card, the performance is the same and you don’t get the power cable with it. ( not that it mattered much though..)

-

Pros:

+Simple t0 install and use

+Much faster than USB 3.0

-

Cons:

-Limited functionality

-

Disclosure: This product was given to iGadgetLife for review by the company for review purposes only, and is not considered by us as payment for the review, we do not, and never will, accept payment from companies to review their products.

Related posts:

1. NetSecure SmartSwipe Review
2. Be.ez LA robe Netbook 10.2 Sleeve Review
3. Genius Easypen i405 Graphics Tablet Review

It’s that time again for news from all of our friends.. Lots of stuff in here, including a lot of CeBit 2010 coverage..

Storage Related:

Thecus N7700 Pro 7 Drive NAS Server
QUOTE: "Thecus has their own history of Tick Tock behavior with their NAS servers. In April 2009 we reviewed the Thecus N7700 and found it to be an exciting product that was a step above the more consumer focused N5200 Pro while also being worthy of our highest award, the TweakTown Editors Choice. Since that time we reviewed the QNAP TS-809 Pro TurboNAS and found it to be able to transfer data faster with its faster processor (Core 2 Duo compared to the N7700’s Celeron M) and more memory.
Thecus’ answer to the flagship QNAP unit is now here, the N8800 Pro and N7700 Pro. The new Pro model of the 7700 features a Core 2 Duo processor and 4GB of memory. All of that pales in comparison to what came next. For the first time ever a product in this price category has an option to use a 10GbE data connection."
For more information, please visit – http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/3174/thecus_n7700_pro_7_drive_nas_server/index.html

==

Kingston SSDNow V-Series 30GB Solid State Boot Drive Review @ ThinkComputers.org

Review URL: http://www.thinkcomputers.org/kingston-ssdnow-v-series-30gb-solid-state-boot-drive-review/

Quote: “Upgrading from a normal hard drive to a solid state drive can be quite expensive and for most people it really does not make that much sense. Solid state capacities are getting larger, but that just brings the price of the drives up even higher. Kingston wants to help people out who want to take advantage of the blazing speeds of solid state drives, but don’t want to break the bank. They have just released the SSDNow V-Series 30GB solid state boot drive. This drive will retail at around $100 and will allow you to load your operating system and applications on it for fast load times, and then you can just put all of your media on a normal SATA drive. This is a great upgrade option for people looking to get a solid state drive, but might not have that much extra money for one."

==

WD SiliconEdge-Blue Solid State Drive @ Benchmark Reviews

DESCRIPTION: Western Digital has been the leading name in consumer storage technology since the early 1970’s. Just in time for their 40th anniversary, the WD SiliconEdge-Blue Solid State Drive debuts as the first consumer SSD they’ve ever offered. Based on the JMicron JMF612 SATA-3Gbps SSD processor, the SiliconEdge-Blue promises 250/170Mbps read and write transfers with 5000-4KB IOPS. In this article Benchmark Reviews tests the WD SiliconEdge-Blue SSD, 256GB model SSC-D0256SC-2100, against a myriad of high-performance solid-state enthusiast storage devices.

ARTICLE URL: http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=478

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Kingston SSDNow V Series 30GB Boot Drive
Quote: Why would Kingston be coming out with a 30GB SSD boot drive if they already have a 40GB for sale? Without providing TRIM or garbage collection, Kingston scrapped the product and wanted to produce something the community was asking for. The 30GB boot drive was born with a new controller and slightly better specs.
Link: http://www.hardwarelogic.com/articles.php?id=6441

==

Corsair Dominator GT PC3-12800 DDR3 Dual Channel Kit Review
DESCRIPTION:
"There are two things you should take into consideration when choosing what memory to upgrade to – the first is overall speed which is sometimes called data rate. Such as the kit we are going to look at today – 1600MHz. The faster this is the larger the bandwidth and thus better overall performance. The second is latency, which is often overlooked by consumers. You may well have fast rated memory modules but if the latency timings are high bandwidth could experience issues. Today we take a look at Corsair’s Dominator GT series, a DDR3 dual channel kit designed specifically for the AMD platform. This kit has some pretty tight timings and is reasonably rated and since Corsair are one of the main players in the high performance memory marketplace it will be interesting to see how these modules perform a little later on."
LINK: http://www.vortez.co.uk/review.php?id=142

==

A-DATA N002 USB 3.0 and SATA II 128GB SSD Review

The interesting thing about the A-DATA N002 drive is it is one of the first USB 3.0 devices on the market, as well as a SATA drive. This opens possibilities for the end-user of using the N002 as an external USB 3.0 OR SATA to move files from one computer to another fast. The drive showed excellent performance across the spectrum of benchmarks that we use on both the USB and SATA interface, actually scoring higher than some of the other SSD drives we have tested. These are a good indication of sustained read and write performance across a wide variety of programs. A-DATA has taken the concept of the SSD drive and driven it with a new feature that allows it to be used on motherboards with USB 3.0 ports or an expansion card that adds it to the motherboard and does it well. The A-DATA N002 is not available online as of yet but gets a Hot Product award due to its excellent feature set and high performance. Look for it to sell in the $299.00 to $349.00 US price range.

Review Link: http://www.motherboards.org/reviews/hardware/2023_1.html

==

Kingston 128GB V Series Notebook Upgrade Kit Review

Kingston thought of everything when it comes to designing an SSD drive for the notebook market at large. The drive has adequate performance, but it is primary designed to slide into the enclosure and work as an external drive hooked up through the USB interface which allows up to 480Mb/s of bandwidth between the two devices. The SATA 2 interface is not necessary as the bundle includes an enclosure to work with notebook PCs that have limited expansion bays and may not fit an SSD drive internally .At the end of the day, the Kingston Notebook Replacement drive is a SSD drive with all of the positives you could want and is available online for under $300 making it a good fit for those wanting a SSD drive without paying the high price of some others on the market that may offer higher performance but cost more. The Kingston 128GB Notebook Upgrade Kit is available at most e-tailors and many PC DYI centers.

Review Link: http://www.motherboards.org/reviews/hardware/2022_1.html

==

LaCie Network Space 2 Review
"Of all the tech appliances you might want to prominently display, a mundane network attached storage device probably falls about 78th on most people s lists, right after VoIP desk phones and before network switches. LaCie s Network Space 2 may change that. The attractive 1TB NAS sports an exterior design as clean and intuitive as the software that runs it. As we found out, it s also just as basic as its shape but entry-level consumers might not mind the lack of high-end features or Formula One performance."
Link to the review:http://www.digitaltrends.com/product-reviews/networking-and-wi-fi-reviews/media-streamers-reviews/lacie-network-space-2-review/

==

Audio/ Video:

Samsung PN58B650 58 Inch Plasma TV Review @ Tweaknews
Article Url: http://www.tweaknews.net/reviews/samsung_pn58b650_58_inch_plasma_tv_review/

Article Snippet:"The Samsung PN58B650 is one of those products that can be a little confusing to sum up in a couple paragraphs. For one, this TV is quite a bit cheaper than the higher end 850 series model, but other than the dimensions, it has a better overall visual viewing experience."

==

EOS wireless loudspeaker system @ TechwareLabs

Quote: More and more great music is being transmitted to you via the web, break out of your browser and together with the EOS loudspeaker system you can fill your house with sound.
LINK: http://www.techwarelabs.com/eos-wireless-loudspeaker-system/

==

, ‘Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP8 ‘
An ultra-compact camera that delivers great performance.
http://tbreak.com/tech/2010/03/panasonic-lumix-dmc-fp8/

==

Arctic Cooling E361-WM Headphones:
English link: http://www.rbmods.com/content/19847/introduction.aspx
Swedish link: http://www.rbmods.se/content/14141/test–sammanfattning.aspx
Quote:  Arctic Cooling is well known of their coolers. Their newest product isn’t a cooler, but headphones. We will take a look at their E361-WM headphones which are built to be portable gaming headphones. How will they perform against similarly priced Koss and Sennheiser headphones? Let’s have a look!

==

ARCTIC COOLING Arctic Sound E352 Earphones Review
DESCRIPTION:
"It’s always interesting to see companies venture in other areas other than those that they have been specialising for awhile. Take ARCTIC COOLING for example. For years, this Swiss company has become synonymous with quality cooling devices, such as fans, CPU and VGA coolers, and computer cases. Recently, ARCTIC COOLING has expanded in various domains including game consoles, audio devices and, even, rechargeable batteries!
LINK:http://www.vortez.co.uk/review.php?id=126

==

Laptops/Netbooks Etc:

MSI Wind Box Intel Atom 330 NetTops @ Phoronix
Direct Link: http://www.phoronix.com/vr.php?view=14648
Summary: "Through Phoromatic you can easily build a benchmarking test farm with minimal effort and combined with Phoromatic Tracker you can monitor the performance of a given software or hardware component over the course of time. We used our own tools to launch a Linux kernel tracker that monitors the performance of the very latest Linux kernel code on a daily basis at kernel-tracker.phoromatic.com. We are also announcing another new, important public tracker coming soon, but first off, we needed a few more low-powered Intel Atom systems. We ended up purchasing two MSI Wind Box NetTops (the 6667BB-003US and 6667BB-004US) that are both based around an Intel Atom 330 dual-core processor within a very low-profile enclosure. The MSI 6667BB-003US utilizes Intel GMA 950 graphics while the 6667BB-004US boasts an ATI Radeon HD 4330 graphics processor. Here is our Linux look at these two Intel nettop computers."

==

ASUS EAH 5850 TOP DirectCU

Link:http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ASUS/EAH_5850_TOP_DirectCu

Brief:
ASUS has released what seems to be one of the best custom designed HD 5850s. The card which supports DirectX 11 and Eyefinity is extremely quiet, offers better price/performance than the AMD reference design, comes with an overclock out of the box and supports voltage control via SmartDoctor.

==

ViewSonic ViewBook Pro VNB131S 13.3-inch Notebook
QUOTE: "ViewSonic is most known for its range of TVs, PC displays and digital picture frames. The company has been making all sorts of computer displays for years now and has just started branching out into the notebook arena. Interestingly, the ViewSonic ViewBook Pro at first glance doesn’t look like a freshman offering.
In fact, if you look at the ViewSonic ViewBook Pro too quickly, you might actually mistake the thing for an Apple MacBook Pro. The minimalist design, silver on black colors and elegant looks of the machine certainly appeal to the same senses that draw many to the MacBook line."
For more information, please visit – http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/3171/viewsonic_viewbook_pro_vnb131s_13_3_inch_notebook/index.html

==

Toshiba Satellite E205-S1904 Laptop Review:
http://hothardware.com/Articles/Toshiba-Satellite-E205S1904-Laptop-Review/

If you could design your own laptop in an effort to have the perfect balance of performance, price, size, weight, and features, what would you include and what could you live without? As part of its Blue Label program, Best Buy asked that question of its customers–accepting as much feedback as its customers could give and then channeling that information back to the laptop manufacturers it partners with. The ensuing results of this feedback now manifest themselves in the three current Best Buy Blue Label exclusive laptop offerings: the Dell Studio s15Z-2249CPN, Sony Vaio VPCS11FM/S, and Toshiba Satellite E205-S1904.

==

Everki Camber Laptop/Netbook Bag @ TechwareLabs

Quote: Looking for a carrying case for your netbook? Take a close look at EVERKI has to offer with their Camber 7” – 13” case. Sure, there are endless companies on the market today to choose from, but not too many have carrying bags for netbooks. The Camber from EVERKI is one that really stood out among others while attending CES 2010. Let’s take a closer look at the Camber to see why were excited to review it for you.
LINK: http://www.techwarelabs.com/everki-camber/

==

Dell Inspiron Zino HD Desktop Review:
http://hothardware.com/Articles/Dell-Inspiron-Zino-Desktop-Review/

For the last couple of years, Dell’s foray into the small-form-factor desktop market was its successful mini-tower (with the emphasis on "mini") Studio Hybrid. But with Dell’s latest small-form-factor entry, the Inspiron Zino HD, out goes the vertical mini-tower and in comes the horizontal square–7.8-inches wide by 7.8-inches deep to be exact, and a mere 3.4-inches tall. Like the Studio Hybrid (which Dell still sells), the Inspiron Zino HD (a.k.a. the Inspiron 400) is a solid little machine, with decent mainstream performance, and geared towards budget-minded consumers. Similar to how you could change the Studio Hybrid’s looks by swapping out different-colored sleeves, the Inspiron Zino HD can switch personality with the snap of new color or pattern lid. Of course, other than the default "Piano Black" lid, you’ll have to pay extra for any of the Inspiron Zino HD’s other color ($15 each) or pattern ($30) lids. And with a starting price of $249, the Inspiron Zino HD can give any number of nettop PCs a run for their money…

==

‘HP dv6-1390ev Notebook review’
Good performance- but its big and heavy with a lower-than-average battery life.
The Full Article can be viewed at
http://tech.tbreak.com/2010/03/hp-dv6-1390ev-notebook-review/

==

Asus G73J: The Ultimate Gaming Notebook @ InsideHW

The G73J is the ultimate gaming machine, with no performance bottlenecks whatsoever.
Article link: http://www.insidehw.com/Reviews/Notebooks/Asus-G73J-The-ultimate-gaming-notebook.html

==

‘Alienware M11x Notebook Review’
Its a hallmark moment for the Alienware family with the arrival of their new baby.
The Full Article can be viewed at
http://tech.tbreak.com/2010/03/alienware-m11x-notebook-review/

==

Everki Beacon Laptop/Notebook Backpack @ TechwareLabs

Quote: Everki sends us the largest bag in their lineup, the Beacon backpack. Join Will as he sees if this backpack is up to the "road warrior" lifestyle.
LINK: http://www.techwarelabs.com/everki-beacon-backpack/

==

Assorted Stuffs:

March Giveaway Contest – Win a free XO Skin for your cell phone or MP3 player!
http://www.topreviewshop.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&p=1707
"The giveaway contest starts on March 5th and ends on March 21st.  We’ll be giving away 3 XO Skins for cell phones or MP3 players. In addition to skins for popular phones such as the iPhone, Nexus One, Blackberry Curve, Storm, Pearl and others, XO also offers a wide range of choices with skins for other cell phones and MP3 players."

==

WinX DVD Ripper Platinum v5.9 Giveaway
Contest Entry Details URL : http://www.bayreviews.com/blog/1-general/3382-winx-dvd-ripper-platinum-giveaway
Quote : "You likes free stuff… right? Of course you do! So we are holding our very first contest. That’s right, we are giving away 10 licenses for WinX DVD Ripper Platinum v5.9. "WinX DVD Ripper Platinum can rip the content of DVDs to all popular video formats such as AVI, MOV, FLV, WMV, MPEG, MP4, 3GP, etc. What’s more, it also owns the ability of ripping different DVDs (including encrypted DVDs) to Sony PSP, Apple iPhone, iPod, iTouch, Apple TV, Zune, Mobile phone, etc." You can get more information about it here. We would like to thank our friends at Digiarty Software who were nice enough to give us 10 licenses to giveaway."

==

Brother HL-3070CW LED Printer Review at CCE Reviews
Link: http://www.ccereviews.com/reviews/brother-hl-3070cw-led-printer/
Quote: The HL-3070CW delivers a very high quality black and white or color print perfect for the small office or at home. The overall print speed of 17ppm is fast enough for regular use without breaking the bank. I would have really liked to see the printer bundled with automatic duplex printing. However, the HL-3070CW does feature wireless print capability allowing you to store this printer anywhere there is a power outlet.

==

A Deep Dive Into Thecus NAS Software
QUOTE: "Testing NAS servers is a complicated and time consuming task. For the most part modern NAS products are computers in their own right with some using Intel Core2 Duo processors with 4GB of RAM. When writing a NAS review it is easy to focus on the hardware and capabilities, but often the software, applications and setup functionality take a back seat even though these functions are in many cases just as important as the hardware used.
To help ease the strain on both the reader and the writer, today we are going to cover the latest firmware / software release from Thecus. In a couple of days we will also publish a similar article covering the QNAP firmware / software since these are the two companies that send us a sample every other month and also have such extensive software. We plan to keep these available as living documents with updates published throughout the coming years."
For more information, please visit – http://www.tweaktown.com/articles/3168/a_deep_dive_into_thecus_nas_software/index.html

==

Batterygate II: Exposing Fakes @ MobilityDigest

In my war against crappy cell phone batteries I’ve been dying to dig into the whole Chinese bathtub battery world as doing so could yield more effective and actionable information to use to shake things up and blow off lids than just fighting on the eBay feedback front would offer. But that’s a dark place you may not find on Google (or Pamela) to get access to and information about, one thing I’m hoping HTC can give me if they take my little email seriously. I want them to help me help them help me help you patronize the right people, you dig? That could take a while so I want to hand some of this off to you in case you ever buy a battery on eBay, either a counterfeit OEM, a crappy battery or a crappy counterfeit battery, as one of you might be able, with the right footwork, to crack their Great Wall of Cell Phone Accessory Secrecy. By they I mean China obviously. And Hong Kong and Singapore too at least have some peripheral involvement but we’re dealing with, primarily and as usual, China.

http://www.mobilitydigest.com/batterygate-ii-exposing-fakes/

==

CeBit 2010 Coverage:

CeBIT 2010 – CoolIT Vantage A.L.C @ Vortez.co.uk

CeBIT 2010 Coverage @ Madshrimps

CeBIT 2010 – CoolIT Omni A.L.C @ Vortez.co.uk

CeBIT 2010 – ASUS HD5970 ARES Preview @ Vortez.co.uk

CeBIT 2010 – Does Cooler Master have the X-Factor? The all new HAF X @ Vortez.co.uk

CeBIT 2010 – SteelSeries give an exclusive first look at the new 7H headset @ Vortez.co.uk

CeBIT 2010 – Thermaltake Armor A90, FRIO and a TOP SECRET preview @ Vortez.co.uk

Coverage from BCCHardware:

Day 4 – Patriot @ CeBIT 2010
Day 4 – Arctic Cooling @ CeBIT 2010
Day 4 – Loop @ CeBIT 2010

Day 3 – Silverstone @ CeBIT 2010
Day 3 – Spire @ CeBIT 2010
Day 3 – Scythe @ CeBIT 2010

Day 2 – Enermax @ CeBIT 2010
Day 2 – MSI @ CeBIT 2010

Quick Links:

NZXT LEXA S Crafted Series PC Case Review @DragonSteelMods

THERMALTAKE SILENT 1156 CPU HEATSINK @ APH NETWORKS

Noctua NH-D14 and C12P-SE14 Review  @ XSReviews

DimasTech Bench Table V2.5 @ techPowerUp

Thermaltake Contac 29 Direct Touch CPU Cooler Review @ Legit Reviews

Battlefield Bad Company 2 (PC) Game Review on Technic3D.

Halo Legends HD Movie Review

The Informant Blu-Ray Review @ Ascully.com

SilverStone TJ07 Case Review

SteelSeries 9HD Pro Gaming Surface

Sapphire Radeon HD 5830 Video Card in CrossFire

Hardware Canucks is pleased to present our NVIDIA GeForce GT 240 Roundup featuring cards from EVGA, Gigabyte, MSI & Sparkle.

Coolermaster USP100 Case Review @ High Tech Reviews

In Win Fanqua Mid Tower Chassis Review @ ThinkComputers.org

Gelid Solutions Tranquillo @ LanOC Reviews

Gigabyte H55M-USB3 – The Ultimate $100 H55 Board? @ Techgage

MSI H55-GD65 Gamer Series LGA1156 ATX Motherboard Review

ASUS Maximus III Formula motherboard review @ Elite Bastards

Gigabyte KM7580: Keyboard and Mouse Combo @ Bjorn3D

Battlefield: Bad Company 2 GPU Performance In-depth

iPhone 4G to Include Video Calls: Confirmed by New O2 Tariffs

Overclock3D have just published a new article titled: NZXT Panzerbox

Thermaltake Element V Chassis Review

Steelseries Xai Review  @ XSReviews

UMLan Article Release: Ineo Technologies I-NA205Ue – Review

Razer Naga und Megasoma Review on Technic3D

Newegg Releases Statement Regarding Fake Processors

Cooler Master 690 II Advanced Review at Overclockers Online

Noctua NH-D14 CPU Cooler Review @ BayReviews.com

Steel Series Siberia v2 @ LanOC Reviews

Raidmax Skyline Windowed Mid-Tower Chassis

Cooler Master V8 Heatpipe CPU Cooler Review @ Bigbruin.com

Review: Greed Corp @ Xbox360Digest

Aluratek Cinecam HD DV Camcorder- Review

Related posts:

1. News and Links for March 4th 2010
2. News and Links for Wednesday March 17th 2010 – St Patrick’s Day
3. News and Links for Saturday March 13th 2010

A new phone for you Cricket subscribers out there!

Cricket Communications, Inc., a leading provider of unlimited wireless services and subsidiary of Leap Wireless International Inc. and Samsung Telecommunications America ¹, the No.1 mobile phone provider in the U.S.², today announced the availability of the new Samsung Stunt™ (SCH-R100).

“The Samsung Stunt provides a slender, smart design and introduces BluetoothTM to our most affordable tier of devices”

A slim, sleek and stylish bar phone, the Samsung Stunt comes loaded with Mobile Web, Games & Apps, Bluetooth^TM, long battery life, speakerphone and voice commands. In addition, Crickets MyBackup, which enables subscribers to automatically protect their mobile contacts without the hassle of data cables, is available via a link in the contact list. The Samsung Stunt is a sophisticated evolution from its predecessor, the Samsung SCH-R211, and features a larger and more vibrant 128 x 160 color display and slimmer design. The Samsung Stunt measures 4.22” x 1.73” x .54” and weighs 2.61 oz.

“The Samsung Stunt provides a slender, smart design and introduces Bluetooth^TM to our most affordable tier of devices,” said Matt Stoiber, vice president and general manager of devices for Cricket. “And with its friendly user interface, it offers a sophisticated experience while remaining easy to use.”

The Samsung Stunt is now available for $99.99 at Cricket retail stores, dealers, mycricket.com and by calling 800-922-9169. For more information, please visit www.mycricket.com or www.samsungwireless.com.

About Cricket

Cricket is the pioneer of simple and affordable unlimited wireless services with no long-term commitments or credit checks required serving more than 4.7 million customers in 35 states and the District of Columbia. Cricket offers wireless voice and broadband Internet services over the latest technology, high-quality, all-digital 3G CDMA2000 1X and 1xEV-DO wireless network. Cricket’s wireless voice service plans include unlimited anytime minutes, unlimited U.S. long distance, unlimited text and picture messaging, unlimited text to Mexico, unlimited Mobile Web, unlimited directory assistance, as well as a variety of calling features and feature-rich mobile applications such as popular games, ringtones and wallpapers. Cricket Broadband provides unlimited Internet access anywhere within Cricket’s coverage areas at speeds comparable to DSL. For more information on Cricket, visit www.mycricket.com. Cricket is offered by Leap Wireless International, Inc., headquartered in San Diego, Calif. For more information on Leap, visit www.leapwireless.com.

Leap is a U.S. registered trademark and the Leap logo is a trademark of Leap. Cricket, Jump, the Cricket “K” and Flex Bucket are U.S. registered trademarks of Cricket. In addition, the following are trademarks or service marks of Cricket: Cricket By Week, Cricket Choice, Cricket Connect, Cricket Nation and Cricket PAYGo. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

About Samsung Telecommunications America

Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC, a Dallas-based subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., researches, develops and markets wireless handsets and telecommunications products throughout North America. For more information, please visit www.samsungmobileusa.com.

About Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2007 consolidated sales of US$105 billion. Employing approximately 150,000 people in 134 offices in 62 countries, the company consists of two main business units: Digital Media & Communications and Device Solutions. Recognized as one of the fastest growing global brands, Samsung Electronics is a leading producer of digital TVs, memory chips, mobile phones and TFT-LCDs. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.

¹ Samsung Mobile is proud to provide ENERGY STAR-qualified power adapters with its mobile phones and accessories. ENERGY STAR qualified products use less energy, save money, and help protect the environment. Products that have earned the ENERGY STAR meet strict energy-efficiency guidelines set by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the US Department of Energy.

² Based upon reported shipment data, according to Strategy Analytics Q1 2010 U.S. Market Share Handset Shipments Report.

Related posts:

1. Verizon Wireless Announces the Availability of the Samsung Omnia II
2. Samsung Mobile Announces the Upcoming Availability of the Samsung Strive and Samsung Sunburst for AT&T
3. T-Mobile USA Launches the Samsung Behold II on November 18

…and Friday is finally here!! Woo-Hoo! Here’s some more news:

Storage Related:

ASUS External Slim Blu-ray Disc Combo SBC-06D1S-U Review
"As reported in our News section on 15th February – ASUS have launched two new external optical drives. ASUS have very kindly provided us with the SBC-06D1S-U to review today. ASUS are a hugely successful company known for their innovative product design and industry leading quality in the world of 3C (Computers, Communications and Consumer Electronics). Let’s take a look at one of their latest external optical drives and see if it continues their excellent pedigree."
LINK: http://www.vortez.co.uk/review.php?id=122

==

Kingston HyperX PC3-17066 (2133MHz) 4GB Kit
QUOTE: "Kingston has a reputation for creating some extremely high quality memory. What this means is that we tend not to see the company jump on the speed train as quick as some other makers do. They want to know when they release a module that it’s going to run 100% across many platforms.
Due to the nature of this, what tends to happen is we see only major step-ups in speed. To give you a better idea from Kingston, we see at the top of the table the 2133MHz DDR kit we have with us today. Moving downwards and we’ve got 2000MHz which was a major release, while below that there are 1800MHz DDR, 1600MHz DDR and 1333MHz DDR modules."

==

Corsair Nova 64GB and Reactor 60GB SSD Review on Technic3D

Link: http://www.technic3d.com/article-1034,1-corsair-nova-64gb-und-reactor-60gb-ssds-im-test-klassentreffen.htm

Translation Link: http://translate.google.de/translate?u=http%3a%2F%2fwww.technic3d.com%2Farticle-1034%2C1-corsair-nova-64gb-und-reactor-60gb-ssds-im-test-klassentreffen.htm&sl=de&tl=en&hl=&ie=UTF-8

Quote: "The Corsair Nova 64GB and Reactor 60GB SSD arrived Technic3D. Available in 60GB, 64GB, 120GB and 128GB configurations. Results in extreme performance with up to 250MB/s sequential read and 130MB/s sequential write speeds? We will check this against the SSDs from OCZ and G.Skill."

==

Corsair 8GB Padlock 2 USB Flash Drive Review  @ Legit Reviews
Article URL: http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1229/1/

"The Corsair Padlock 2 USB Flash drive would make an excellent off-site backup drive for your critical data as it offers both the security and portability to make this task a breeze. Overall, the only nitpick I had was the lack of place to secure the cap when the drive is in use. If that’s the only complaint I can come up with, Corsair must be doing something right. I found the Padlock 2 to be simple to use, aesthetically pleasing and darn good at its core function of protecting data. It doesn’t hurt that the price tag is less than many other secure drives at only $55…"

==

‘TwinMOS Mobile Disk Q7 64GB USB Drive Review’
This 64GB USB drive should let you carry plenty of data with you.
http://tech.tbreak.com/2010/02/twinmos-mobile-disk-q7-64gb-usb-drive-review/

==

Verbatim InSight Portable HDD 500GB:
English link: http://www.rbmods.com/content/20033/features.aspx
Swedish link:  http://www.rbmods.se/content/14105/funktioner.aspx

Quote:  We are taking a look at an external HDD from Verbatim today, they sent us a sample of their latest 500GB HDD that is equipped with a display on the front of the eclosure to show how much space is left on the HDD. Lets see how it will perform vs other removable drives.

==

ADAT

A S596 128GB SSD Video Review & Benchmarks

ADATA is a company that is new to us, but is a well established company in the east, making their way west. Watch in this video review as I actually beat this drive on a table a few times and then run it through a gauntlet of tests. This new S596 SSD is a very fast drive and can hold its own agains’t the competition. Check out the full review and I think you will like what you see, its pretty funny to watch just for the verbage and drive beating.

Review Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yjOL6PUt9I

==

Overclock3D have just published a new article titled: Silicon Power E10 and M10 SSDs.

Quote: Today we have a look at two Solid State Drives from the Taiwanese company Silicon Power. Do they cut the mustard?
Link: http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/storage/silicon_power_e10_and_m10_ssds/1

==

Audio/Video Related:

Some Fun With A 6-Screen ATI Eyefinity Configuration:
http://hothardware.com/News/Some-Fun-With-A-6Screem-ATI-Eyefinity-Configuration/

We’re just doing a bit of testing here in the lab today, and wanted give you all a glimpse of what was on the test bench. We have already given you glimpses of AMD’s ATI Eyefinity technology running on more than three screens on a few occasions in the past, but we haven’t had the ability to do any hands-on with the technology up to this point because the Radeon HD 5870 Eyefinity 6 Edition and the requisite software wasn’t quite ready yet. Well, it’s here now. And we’ll be able to give you the full scoop very soon. For now, here’s a fun preview…

==

Roku XR Review @ ASE Labs

Link: http://www.aselabs.com/articles.php?id=5623

Quote: Most people should have heard about the ease of use that the Netflix streaming service provides. One of the major components of this ease of use would be the set top boxes that provide the service on TVs. Roku was the original and is still the best way to get streaming Netflix to your TV, right now.

==

Gunnar Optiks Wi-FIVE Digital Performance Eyewear @ Legit Reviews
Article URL: http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1224/1/

Quote: "People are spending an ever-increasing amount of time in front of computer screens as our lives become more intertwined with technology. This increase correlates to an increase in health hazards from repetitive motion injuries, neck and back problems, and eye strain. Gunnar has recognized this and has put together a diverse product line dedicated to mitigating the strain we are putting on our eyes with some of their special lens and optic technologies. They sent us over a sample pair of their Wi-FIVE digital performance eyewear from their Catalyst collection to see how effective we felt they were. For $99, if they work as advertised, they should be well worth the investment…"

==

iXBT Labs Review: i3DSpeed, February 2010
Excerpt:
"The i3DSpeed informs you about performance of popular graphics cards and the best price/performance deals in the market. In this issue we updated the test results to reflect the performance of the latest drivers (as of February 2010)."
Article: http://ixbtlabs.com/articles3/i3dspeed/0210/i0210-video-p1.html

==

Mobile Related:

Beware of Counterfeit OEM Batteries @ MobilityDigest

Link: http://www.mobilitydigest.com/beware-of-counterfeit-oem-batteries/

As you can guess these guys fib quite a bit on their numbers (the question being by how much, which is what I’ve been after) and I’ve been holding off on telling you the specifics until I had tested another handful of batteries.

==

XO Skin for iPhone 3Gs
http://www.topreviewshop.com/xo_skin_iphone_3gs
"Need protection for your iPhone 3Gs that can withstand a Dremel drilling? Take a look at the XO Skin."

==

Palm Pixi Plus Review
"What the Honda Civic is to the Accord, the Pixi Plus is to the Pre Plus. While not entirely hobbled, the Pixi flutters in the shadow of the Pre with a smaller screen, a slower processor, and a lower-resolution camera, but balances the handicaps with a lightweight, easy-to-use form factor that finds fans in nearly everyone who handles it. It will have to be the body that sells it. Even with Wi-Fi added for the Plus variant, we find it hard to recommend the stripped down Pixi when the much more capable Pre stands only $70 away."
Link to the review:http://www.digitaltrends.com/product-reviews/cell-phone-reviews/cell-phone-smart-phone-reviews/palm-pixi-plus-review/

==

Review: PDAir Leather Case for Zune HD

The horizontal pouch case has a simple design, with cushioned leather on the front and back that is held together with elastic sides. The case has white stitching, which adds  a nice accent.  The only other adornment is the PDAir logo stamped on the front of the case.

http://www.geardiary.com/2010/03/04/review-pdair-leather-case-for-zune-hd/

==

‘HTC HD2 Smartphone’
We look at what is probably the most best Windows Mobile phone you can purchase today.
The Full Article can be viewed at http://tech.tbreak.com/2010/02/htc-hd2-smartphone/

==

Evercool FIT Notebook Cooler
http://www.topreviewshop.com/evercool_fit_notebook_cooler

"There are a multitude of laptop coolers available, but today we take a look today at a unique cooling product from Evercool – the FIT Notebook Cooler.  It is compatible with just about any notebook or netbook – from 9” to 18” sizes. It’s small enough to carry with you in your laptop bag, and it is also lightweight at only 60g total weight. But how well does it actually cool your laptop? Read on for our testing results."

==

NVIDIA NextGen ION Preview @ t-break

About a year after NVIDIA released the original ION, they are back with the Next Gen touting with a tag line of "10X Performance and 10 Hours of Battery Life."
http://tech.tbreak.com/2010/03/nvidia-nextgen-ion-preview/

==

ASUS G51J 3D 15.6" Gaming Notebook @ Techgage
Link: http://techgage.com/article/asus_g51j_3d_156_gaming_notebook/
Quote: The term "3D" has been used quite a bit over the past couple of months, and as it stands today, there’s a fair bit of content available to those with capable hardware. But on the mobile side of things, support is just beginning to creep in. The first available option was from ASUS, with its G51J 3D, and we’re taking a look at it here.

==

Assorted Stuffs:

The WikiReader @ TechwareLabs

Quote: Love dedicated devices filling your pockets? Here’s a great one for you: The WikiReader. This little guy contains all of Wikipedia for all of your argument winning needs.
LINK: http://www.techwarelabs.com/wikireader/

==

PC Power Supply Protections: They Won’t Always Protect You
Link: http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/blog/167
Here is a snippet:
"PC power supplies usually come with some protections. The savvy user will always try to pick one that provides the most protections possible. But having protections available doesn’t mean that the power supply will in fact protect your equipment in case of malfunction. Let’s see why."

==

Join us this week to hear our panel debate over the Apple iPad launch, discuss our latest system guide, and provide a sneak preview of the Radeon HD 5830, among other things.
http://techreport.com/articles.x/18536

==

Techgage’s 5th Birthday Contest – Win a Gaming PC! @ Techgage
Link: http://techgage.com/article/techgages_5th_birthday_contest/
Quote: Techgage has just turned five, so what better reason to celebrate? To help kill two birds with one stone, we’re looking to YOU for input on what we’re doing right, and what you want to see more of (or improve). As a thanks for taking our site survey, you’ll be entered to have a chance at winning our custom-built gaming PC, valued at $4,200!

==

News: XPC maker Shuttle soldiers on, creates laptop ecosystem

Although its toaster-sized XPC barebones systems used to be a regular part of our review coverage, we haven’t heard the Shuttle name quite so much lately. Recently, we decided to check in with Shuttle and see what was new with this unlikely survivor of the consolidation trend in the motherboard business. Turns out Shuttle is still very much alive and kicking, and it’s working on new ways to promote its barebones systems, along with an unusual modular notebook initiative.
http://techreport.com/articles.x/18469

==

An Interview with Dow2Live.com  @ alltern8

Quote: "Most strategy gamers out there are aware of the skill level they possess. You know there are certain players worse than you, and you’re certainly well aware that there are those that destroy you with no problems at all. However beyond playing your game of choice over and over, how’s a fella’ or lady supposed to improve their gaming ability? One way is to watch replays of the pros hacking away at each other.

==

2010 s Top Business Gadgets and Technology Trends
"Good news for modern professionals the future of high-tech is here, and it s rife with opportunities to enhance communications, maximize productivity, and revolutionize the way the way that business is done on nearly every front. As previewed earlier this year at the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), a wired wonderland where the hottest gadgets and technology trends of coming months are revealed, the future truly is now. From WiFi-ready, touchscreen-equipped cars to app-enabled home theater components and Skype-compatible TVs that let you videoconference right from your living room screen, there s no end to the commercial possibilities in sight. Imagine selling software programs direct to shoppers right on their 3D HDTV, marketing copies of your latest book for download via digital eReader or filling customers orders right from a shiny new tablet PC."
Link to the feature:http://www.digitaltrends.com/gadgets/top-2010-business-gadgets-and-technology-trends/

==

Join us for this special edition of the TR Podcast in which Jordan and Scott discuss our latest CPU roundup extravaganza.
http://techreport.com/articles.x/18503

==

Gigabyte Media Event At Castle Oudaen

The Dutch media was kindly invited at the lovely city of Utrecht for a pre CeBIT presentation of Gigabyte and Intel Company. Rendez-vous took place at the castle of Oudaen. The major websites and magazines were present. Shrimps was represented by yours truly and [M] reviewer Danny Terwindt. Too bad we heard Intel canceled their presentation at last call, for till now unknown reasons. Without further ado let us quickly guide you through the presentation and show the new toys present.
http://www.madshrimps.be/gotoartik.php?articID=992

==

Four Tech Movies Every IT Pro Should See
Link: http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/blog/166
"It doesn’t matter if you are a newcomer to the IT industry or a veteran with over 30 years of expertise: there are some movies that I love and think that all people working on the computer industry should watch. They are entertaining and educative at the same time."

==

Run XP Mode in VirtualBox Instead of Virtual PC

Windows 7 only: If you’ve been itching to use the new XP Mode feature in Windows 7, but you aren’t too keen on using Virtual PC or just prefer VirtualBox, here’s how to use XP Mode in VirtualBox.

http://lifehacker.com/5485879/run-xp-mode-in-virtualbox-instead-of-virtual-pc

==

10 Star Wars Products With Force Power

http://nerdapproved.com/approved-products/10-products-that-impart-the-force/

Was “The Force” simply a figment of George Lucas’ imagination, or is it a real power that is all around us? My guess is that the real Force exists with Star Wars-themed merchandise, and it is constantly beckoning us to open up our wallets. The following 10 Star Wars products have definitely harnessed that power.

==

Hands on: Opera 10.50 makes impressive performance gains

http://arstechnica.com/software/reviews/2010/03/hands-on-opera-1050-makes-impressive-performance-gains.ars

The Opera Web browser has taken a big step forward with the release of version 10.50, a significant update that brings some nice new features and a number of radical improvements under the hood. Opera Software contends that it has taken the lead in performance, leap-frogging its competitors. We conducted benchmarking and some hands-on tests to determine if the new Opera lives up to the hype.

==

Quick Links:

NZXT Tempest @ LanOC Reviews

ASUS X58 Rampage III Extreme Motherboard Preview @ Legit Reviews

AMD’s Radeon HD 5830 graphics card @ T-Break

HIS Digital HD5570 Review @ High Tech Reviews

Gigabyte 890GPA-UD3H AMD 890GX Motherboard @ TechwareLabs

AMD’s 890GX Chipset: Low-End Price, High-End Features @ Hardware Canucks

Asus M4A89GTD Pro/USB3 Motherboard Review: AMD’s 890GX Chipset Makes Its Debut

Jetway NC94-510-LF Mini-ITX Atom Motherboard @ TechwareLabs

TITAN, Skalli – Universal CPU cooler Review @ XtremeComputing

Overclock3D have just published a new article titled: Biostar TH55XE H55

Supreme Commander 2 Details @ [OC]ModShop

Thermaltake V3 Black Edition Case Review @ ThinkComputers.org

Evercool Ever Green 40mm Fans @ PCShopTalk

ASUS M4A89GTD Pro/USB3 (AMD 890GX) Motherboard

NZXT M59 Classic Series Mid Tower Chassis

ASUS M4A89GTD PRO/USB3 Motherboard Review @ Hardware Secrets

OCZ Gladiator Max CPU Cooler Review at Overclockers Online

Star Trek Online Expansion Details @ [OC]ModShop

Noctua NF-S12B FLX Cooling Fan Review @ [OC]ModShop

A Look at AMD’s 890GX Chipset @ Techgage

AMD 890GX SB850 Chipset Debut: Phenom II X6 Ready @ HotHardware.com

Thermaltake Silent 1156 Heatsink Review @ Ninjalane

Roccat Arvo Gaming Keyboard @ Rbmods

Zalman Z7 Plus Computer Case Review @ Tweaknews

Thermaltake SpinQ VT Heatsink Review @ frostytech.com

Scythe Grand Kama Cross SCKC-2000 Heatsink Review @ Frostytech.com

Corsair Obsidian 800D @ Bjorn3D

XFX RADEON HD 5830 Video Card Review

Arctic Cooling ARCTIC F12 Pro TC Case Fan Review @ Verdis Reviews

iXBT Labs Review: Gigabyte 790XTA-UD4 Motherboard

Thermaltake Element V Full Tower Chassis

OCZ Z Series 1000 W Power Supply Review @ Hardware Secrets

AMD Phenom II X2 555 BE @ Rbmods

Gigabyte GV-567OC-1GI Radeon HD 5670 Videocard Review @ PCSTATS.com

iXBT Labs Review: AMD 785G Motherboard Roundup

Whip It Blu-Ray Review @ Ascully.com

Overclock3D have just published a new article titled: Intel 980x Gulftown

XtremeGear HP-1216B HSF Review at Overclockers Online

ASUS M4A89GTD PRO/USB3 890GX Motherboard Review @ Vortez.co.uk

Intel D510MO Mini-ITX Motherboard Review @ Bigbruin.com

Thermalright Venomous X CPU Cooler Review @ Vortez.co.uk

Athlon II X4 635: Quad-Cores Are In @ InsideHW

Thermaltake ISGC-300 CPU Cooler Review @ Tweaknews

ASUS TUF SaberTooth 55i @ Bjorn3D

Noctua NH-D14 @ Bjorn3D

AMD ATI Chips Comparison Table @ Hardware Secrets

SilverStone Fortress FT02 @ Phoronix

Enermax MODU87+ 700W Power Supply Review @ HardOCP

Related posts:

1. News and Links for Tuesday March 9th 2010
2. News and Links for Wednesday March 17th 2010 – St Patrick’s Day
3. News and Links for March 4th 2010

So it’s safe to assume that the bathroom is an essential room of the house.

The bathroom is a getaway… our one true private space.  With today’s technology, bathrooms can become an oasis – a luxury spa and your private retreat.  The bathroom has seen drastic changes since 3000 B.C.

Whether you call it a bathroom, the loo, lavatory or a water closet, check out these innovative ideas that will transform your bathroom into a sanctuary:

Kohler C3 Toilet Seat

Enjoy some quality personal time with the C3 125 Toilet seat. Soothing water is used instead of tissue. A side control operates two self-cleaning wands and warm air dryer. A deodorizer and a self-warming seat rounds out the throne fit for any king.

GROHE Grohtherm Wireless Shower Control

With the Grohtherm Wireless shower control, you can start the shower from your bedroom and by the time you get into the bathroom it will be on and perfectly adjusted to your temperature and flow choices. Now you can easily set the shower to match your mood, and you can do it all remotely.

MirrorVision

Mirror Mirror on the Wall, what is the Basketball score? Not only can you check out the score, you can watch the game! Mirrorvison by Pro Display combines a mirror with an LCD TFT panel, allowing it to pull double duty as both mirror and TV/PC screen.

Water Sensing Shower Head Light

Immerse yourself in water and light with this unique item from Think Geek. The LED show head light shines blue for cold water and red for hot. What’s more, no power connection is required, since it has an internal turbine that generates its own power. You have to agree, this is a bright addition to a luxurious bathroom.

Towel Warmer

This free standing towel stand will heat your towel for a warm, crisp shower experience. Not only that, it will also warm up bath robe, allowing you to have something nice and toasty to snuggle into after the shower.

TV Tub

Designer Karim Rashid has given us a magnificent deep tub that not only allows you to soak away your cares, it also offers entertainment via the enclosed TV at the foot of the tub.  The modern design is executed in Liquid Acrylic Resin, making it antibacterial and easy to care for.

Eago Showers Two Person  Steam Shower

Designed for two, the 3 kw steam shower house features a FM radio and built in whirlpool. The system also offers chromotherapy via an integrated color LED system to set the desired mood, from invigorating and healing to calming and tranquilizing.

Ultimate Clean Toilet

The commode has been the site of a constant battle between man and woman since its invention. But with this unique design from Yanko it converts from urinal to toilet with the push of a button. As if making peace was not enough, it also self-cleans with steam and UV lighting.

VADO Squid Shower Head

The Vado shower head may look like something from a horror movie, but its six heads allow for a nearly-infinite arrangement of water blasts to adjust as you see fit. We’ll let your imagination decide where to point the heads.

Ideal Standard New Idea Super Shower

Dubbed the Supershower, the New Idea from Ideal Standard is adorned with whirlpool jets. The jets are arranged in 8 vertical, 3 dorsal, and 2 atomizing specifically for the face. The system encompasses the therapeutic properties of the Kneipp method, givng you a relaxing and delightful shower experience.

So whether you have the budget to do a whole new bathroom or not… you can always do something to make your time in the bathroom a spa-like experience.  And remember, on the plus side, you can’t go wrong updating bathrooms regarding resale value.

Related posts:

1. High Tech Suits Help 2010 Winter Olympians Compete
2. Budget Friendly Tech Gift Ideas
3. 10 Worst Tech Product Releases