VR-Zone Tech News for the Geeks Nov 2011 Issue 4

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November 21st, 2011 Brotheralsoclaimstobethefirstprintingcompanytolauncha 3DmobileAugmentedRealityapplicationforiPhone,iPadand Android users (Android version will be launched at the end of 2012). Users can explore the key features of each model in 3D animation on their mobile devices.The new series will come with two options of ink cartridges – a standard-yield or high- yield cartridge to meet different consumer printing needs. To reduce printing costs, consumers can choose to use the high- yield ink cartridges which can deliver up to 600 pages of black and 600 pages of colour prints. Samsung will be offering promotions on a wide range of electronics catering to everyone, ranging from laptops to mobile phones. Check out some of the really good deals at the SITEX Show 2011. Samsung MV800 Published by: VR-Zone just by holding down the shutter button and previewing the entire scene. It comes with 3D HDTV support for output on big screens. This year’s SITEX promotion will also feature three Limited Edition Celebrity Skin designs (AudioHouse exclusive) to spice things up this Christmas. Retail Price: S$499 SITEX PROMOTION: TBA Samsung Series 9, 900X3A, 13.3" Notebook Pricing Brother DCP-J725DW - S$238 Brother MFC-J430W - S$198 Brother MFC-J625DW - S$258 Brother MFC-J825DW - S$318 The Brother colour inkjet multifunction centres come with 3- year carry-in warranty. Samsung SITEX Special Promotions Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/samsung-sitex-special- promotions/13997.html November 21st, 2011 The Samsung Series 9 sports a very durable and stylish Duralumin chassis housing a 13.3-inch screen. Weighing in at 1.31 kg, it carries some really powerful hardware including Intel Core i7 or i5 Processor options and a choice of 128 or 256GBsolidstatedrive,acombinationwhichimparts atwelve second boot up speed, some 60% faster than traditional PC with hard disk drive. The subnotebook will run for 6.5 hours, thanks to its Lithium-Polymer battery. Retail Price: S$2,488 SITEX PROMOTION: TBA Samsung Galaxy Note TheSamsungMultiViewMV800isthefirstpremiumcompact cameramodeltofeaturea3-inchWideFlip-outTouchDisplay which gives flexibility to framing a shot, and processed by its 16.1-megapixel sensor through the 26mm 5x optical zoom wide angle lens. An innovative Panorama function enables easy photography of a large group of people or wide scenery 23

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November 21st, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone interface that allows for a variety of creativity to happen, including sketching and photo editing. Exclusive Galaxy Note apps such as S Memo and S Planner take advantage of the S pen’s abilities and large screen. Everything is powered by a 1.4GHz dual-core processor and HSPA+ mobile connection to keep things fast and smooth. Retail Price: S$998 (16GB, without line contract) SITEX PROMOTION: TBA Samsung WB750 The Samsung WB750 boasts the latest 12.5-megapixel Back Side Illuminated (BSI) CMOS sensor developed in-house for consistentprofessionalimages,anda24mm18xOpticalZoom wide angle lens, the furthest of its class. This combination results in clear photographic reproductions free of noise and distortion,eveninlow-lightconditions,whileashootingspeed of 10 frames per second ensures that you will not miss a shot. The WB750 also accommodates full High Definition video capture. 24 Retail Price: TBC SITEX PROMOTION: TBA SITEX Show 2011 Booth information Samsung TV and BD Players - 5B20, 5F30, 5C30 Samsung Cameras - 5G10, 5C30 Samsung Laptops and Monitors - 6D20 First Looks: ASRock X79 Extreme4 Motherboard Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/first-looks-asrock-x79-extreme4- motherboard/13985.html November 21st, 2011 The all new Galaxy Note flaunts its 5.3-inch screen as the first and largest High Definition Super Active-Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode (AMOLED) display ever. Coupled with theSPen,anewlydesignedadvancepen-inputtechnology,the Galaxy Note introduces a new user-experience with a precise As the dust settles from the slightly underwhelming Sandy Bridge-E launch earlier this week, we take a look at another X79 motherboard - ASRock's X79 Extreme4. With 3-way SLi/ Crossfire support, 9 onboard SATA ports and a Broadcom Gigabit NIC, this black and gold themed board has more high end features at its entry level price point than most of the competition. The Box (Front and Back View)

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November 21st, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone USB 3.0 ports provided by ASMedia ASM1042, 6 USB 2.0 ports,GigabitEthernetfromararelyseenBroadcomBCM7781 controller, 1 Firewire Port from VIA VT6315N, 1 eSATA port serviced by ASMedia ASM1061 and Audio by yet another 7.1 channel capable Realtek ALC898 codec. ASRock X79 Extreme4 - ATX Form Factor, 4 DDR3 DIMM slots, 3 PCI-E 3.0 x16 slots (16+16+8 electrically), 2 PCI-E x1 slots and 2 regular PCI slots. Sony Tablet S Review: A sleek, smooth and speedy tablet Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/sony-tablet-s-review-a-sleek-smooth- and-speedy-tablet/13993.html November 21st, 2011 I/O Panel (from left): PS/2 ports, Clear CMOS Button, 2 The tablet market is definitely heating up, as we see more companies hopping onto the bandwagon and producing their tablet devices based on Google Android platform. Sony Electronics Asia Pacific has recently launched their new Sony Tablet S, and we managed to get one in for this review. 25

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November 21st, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone not be such a bad thing after all. Some say the company took its time to study the tablet’s predecessors to ensure the Sony brand of gadgets remain intact, while at the same time delivering the high-powered efficiency and multi-platform function that today’s tablet devices strive to offer not just the gadget gurus, but to the everyday consumer. Tablets, in essence, have undoubtedly changed the world of computing altogether, combining high functionality with mobile intuition. The real question at hand is, “Who does it best?”.Thereis,ofcourse,thereigningleaderwhofirstcreated and introduced the tablet and its wizardry to the world - ever since Apple shook the world with the first iPad in April 2010, every other player wanted a market share - a piece of the action, a finger in the deep-dish pie of consumer technology. We managed to get the Sony Tablet S in for this review, so here's the specifications: Hardware Features - TruBlack 1280 x 800 9.4-inch screen - Nvidia Tegra 2 mobile processor - 1GB RAM, up to 32GB storage - Google Android 3.2 Honeycomb - Camera : Front – 0.3 Megapixel Rear – 5.0 Megapixel - Bluetooth version 2.1 + - Wi-Fi : IEEE802.11b/g/n - Full-size SD Card slot - Internal, Monaural microphone - Internal, Stereo speakers - Universal IR remote/transmitter - Battery Type : Li-Ion 5000mAh + Battery Life when browsing web with Wi-Fi- 6.2 hours + Battery charge time- 5.0 hours - Dimensions: 241.3 x 174.5 x 20.8mm - Weight: 586g HP SITEX Special Promotion Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/hp-sitex-special-promotion/13995.html November 21st, 2011 What Sony is renowned for - technology packaged in squeaky clean lines and eye-pleasing aesthetic details; and the Japanese firm reaffirms this in their latest Sony Tablet S. Sony is finally catching up to the tablet market, and it may HP will be having a special promotion on selected items just for SITEX Show. Check them out at Booth 6B01, and read on to see what they have to offer. HP ENVY 110 e-All-in-One Printer The HP ENVY 110 lets you experience great convenience and quality output, all in a sleek and minimalist package. Lab-quality photos are produced under the command of a high-resolution integrated touch display, while its low- noise acoustic keeps the printer working silently. It allows connection via HP AirPrint to task documents to it wirelessly from the iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch, or through mobile devicesthatcommanditfromanywhereintheworldusingthe HP ePrint technology. Enjoy daily scheduled prints on news feed such as Yahoo! Daily Digest and business information from Manager Tools, served to you in a stylish way. SITEX SPECIAL PROMOTION: TBA HP Photosmart 7510 e-All-in-One 26

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Published by: VR-Zone November 21st, 2011 This family-oriented printer copies and scans with its large colour touchscreen which accomodates gesturing, allowing unattended operation with its automatic document feeder and duplexer. It also shares the same convenient HP ePrint, HP Auto Wireless Connect, and AirPrint technology with the ENVY 110 , which makes this printer so easy to task from anywhere on a wide array of devices. The HP Photosmart 7510 comes with a range of memory card slots for easy accesstovariousstoragedevicesfordirectprinting.Scheduled printing makes your daily routine of news reading easy by automatically producing feeds from apps of your favorite websites. SITEX SPECIAL PROMOTION: TBA HP Officejet Pro 8500A Plus e-All-in-One Printer Receive professional quality colour output from the Officejet Pro 8500A at half the price per page of laser printers. High capacity ink cartridges ensure great savings, producing fade and water resistant prints. Powered by the HP ePrint, it allows you to send emails of your documents to print, from your mobile device. The Officejet also empowers small businesses by being able to access Google Docs and Box.net directly to assign files for printing, while HP Direct Digital Filing enables versatile document management capabilities for scanning directly to network folders. 27 SITEX SPECIAL PROMOTION: TBA HP LaserJet Pro 100 Color MFP M175nw The LaserJet Pro 100 is HP’s smallest colour laser multifunction printer (MFP) that offers professional quality colour documents with automatic copy optimization, while making a single document out of double sided copies easily. HP ImageREt 2400, original HP cartridges and HP ColorSphere toner technology give a great combination to produce outstanding colour. HP ePrint caters to your mobile printing needs, and connectivity to wireless networks or Ethernet ports allow for tasking by multiple devices. The LaserJet Pro 100 performs all these while saving up to 50% power, further boosting its cost-effectiveness. SITEX SPECIAL PROMOTION: TBA Panasonic Singapore announces DMC-GX1 interchangeable lens system camera Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/panasonic-singapore-announces-dmc- gx1-interchangeable-lens-system-camera/13990.html November 21st, 2011 Panasonic Singapore has announced their new interchangeable lens system camera, the DMC-GX1, of the LUMIX G Micro System range. The GX1 features a 16- megapixel Live MOS sensor and boasts to capture clear and sharp images, even under low-lighting situations.

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November 21st, 2011 Panasonic has announced a new addition to its range of interchangeable lens system cameras from the LUMIX G Micro System range - the DMC-GX1. The DMC-GX1 sports a 16-megapixel Live MOS sensor and Venus Engine that can capture clear and sharp image with superb details and excellent colors, even in low-light settings. Comes with a Precision Contrast AF (Auto Focus) system that has a 0.09 second Light Speed AF, it can capture fast moving subjects easily with consecutive shooting at 4.2 frames per second. The GX1 also includes a newly added focus mode, AFF (AF Flexible) that locks on the subject when the shutter button is half-pressed, and the focus will reset if the subject moves again, to achieve better results. The camera has a hot shoe at the top that lets you attach an optional tilt-shift Live View Finder (DMW-LVF2), and neat layout of control buttons and the mode dial, turn-and-press dial and dedicated function buttons. It also comes with Level Gaugethatletsthecameradetectthehorizontal/verticalangle of view with its internal level working with the acceleration sensor. Photos shot in portrait mode will be automatically displayed vertically. The GX1 can also do video recording in 1920x1080 full high definition with stereo sound in AVCHD format. On top of that, users can also enhance their photos with creative filters such as: Expressive, Retro, High Key, Sepia, High Dynamic, Miniature Effect and newly added Low Key and Toy Effect mode. Wi-Fi Direct to play nice with DLNA Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/wi-fi-direct-to-play-nice-with- dlna/13992.html November 21st, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone it easier to connect DLNA enabled Wi-Fi devices for media streaming. Currently Wi-Fi Direct can be somewhat convoluted to use depending on your devices, but hopefully this will help simplify things when it comes to media streaming. The Wi-Fi Alliance has announced new interoperability guidelines for Wi-Fi Direct and DLNA which should make it easier to connect DLNA enabled Wi-Fi devices for media streaming. Currently Wi-Fi Direct can be somewhat convoluted to use depending on your devices, but hopefully this will help simplify things when it comes to media streaming. Wi-Fi Direct has as yet to take off as a standard, but we're starting to see more and more devices that support it. The neat thing with Wi-Fi direct is that two Wi-Fi devices can communicate directly with each other without the need of an access point or a router. With some DLNA support thrown intothemixitshouldbecomesimplertostreammediadirectly from your smartphone or notebook onto any DLNA enabled set top box, media player Hi-Fi or TV with built-in Wi-Fi. In theory it should also mean better quality video, at least in larger places where the distance between the router and the DLNA devices may sometimes be quite long and as such you end up with reduced bandwidth speeds. Wi-Fi Direct would circumvent this problem and as only one device needs to support Wi-Fi Direct, this seems like a pretty good alternative to cables and other more complex wireless video streaming options. That said, Wi-Fi isn't exactly built for streaming Blu- ray quality video, even though it is possible up to a certain bandwidth and by not sharing the wireless connection with other devices, this might very well be the way forward, at least if cost is a concern. As to which devices will support DLNA over Wi-Fi Direct, well, we'll just have to wait and see, but as we mentioned, any current Wi-Fi and DLNA enabled playback device should be able to connect with a suitable Wi-Fi Direct host. For laptops we'd suggest you check for a driver update, as your notebook might already support Wi-Fi Direct. For smartphones the Motorola Droid 3 and the Sony Ericsson Xperia Active are apparently supporting both standards and we'd expect other Xperiamodelstodothesame,butwe'dsuggestyoucheckwith your device maker to see if it'll work. RAMBUS, Silicon Valley's Patent Troll Looses Anti-trust Lawsuit and 60% of its Market Value Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/rambus-silicon-valley-s-patent-troll- looses-anti-trust-lawsuit-and-60-of-its-market-value/13986.html November 21st, 2011 The Wi-Fi Alliance has announced new interoperability guidelines for Wi-Fi Direct and DLNA which should make 28

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November 21st, 2011 As we all know, Rambus Inc. is more known for their litigation practices than their products. However, those litigiouspracticestendtotiethevalueofthecompanywiththe legal department rather than the engineering and sales ones. When you lose "the big one", markets will certainly punish you. We have seen that with Intel in the days of Bruce Sewell running the show (currently at Apple, running all those lawsuits we write about), and we have certainly witnessed it today. San Francisco jury rejected the Rambus antitrust lawsuit against Micron Technology and Hynix Semiconductor. By ruling 9-3 in favor of the defendants, the court ruled that the sued companies did not form a pact to block Rambus from entering the DRAM market. Rambus RDRAM had its 15 minutes of famewhen Intel briefly used it with the Pentium III and 820 chipset, as well as with the single Pentium 4 chipset. If you recall, the decision to use RDRAM backfired spectacularly with the infamous "Caminogate" scandal that saw Intel losing over a billion dollars in a product recall. Caminogate also erased 70 billion dollars of Intel's market value during one hot summer day in 2000. Today, Rambus XDR memory is mostly found in PlayStation consoles... and that's about it. At the end of the day, it is Hynix and Micron who ultimately decide what type of memory will they manufacture, not the other way around. Sandy Bridge Xeons: Dual Socket 2011 designs coming in 2012 Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/sandy-bridge-xeons-dual-socket-2011- designs-coming-in-2012/13989.html Published by: VR-Zone November 21st, 2011 The long awaited Xeon E5 family, where the full potential of Socket 2011 is realised, is now expected only some weeks after the Chinese New Year. Creating a feature-loaded 8-core die aimed at a very wide range of performance and power options was a challenge, even in Intel's highly tuned 32nm process. As their desktop brethren are being unveiled this week, here we update you with the situation on the dual socket front. When the first specs rumours of Socket 2011 CPUs appeared well over a year ago, they left everyone in the industry in awe: here you had THE ULTIMATE 32 nm process CPU. A total of 8 capable Sandy Bridge generation cores, coupled with a generous 20 MB cache are fed by four channels of DDR3 memory and two QPI channels completely free for inter-CPU communication - since 40 PCIe v3 lanes plus DMI2 directly attached on-chip take care of the general purpose I/O. Wow! Now, you may say, so what - Westmere-EX Xeon E7 parts pack 10 cores and 30 MB cache, 4 memory and 4 QPI links together in that same process for over half a year now in shipping systems. However, that CPU design is tuned for specific power and frequency band, and one specific usage in MP servers, full stop. On the other hand, the E5 design has to cover everything from low-power blades to 4-socket servers to ultrafastworkstationswithTDPofmorethan150Wpersocket and, yes, their high-end desktop brethren under the Core i7 moniker. And, Sandy Bridge core takes a little bit more logic space than the Westmere one. Rambus claimed that Hynix and Micron damaged the company to the tune of four billion dollars and expected that the jury would increase that by the factor of three or four. However, nine members of the jury voted against and the case is dismissed, prompting a quick reaction on Wall Street. RMBS stock lost 60% of its market value and now Rambus Inc. is worth less than one billion U.S. dollars. 781.82 million dollars, to be more precise. We will monitor this situation closely. Anyway,Intelalsodidn'thavethatmuchcompetitivepressure in the X86 space to really feel rush to get the new generation outofthedoortillnow,howevertheproductisdoneandneeds tobebroughttothemarket.So,what'sthesituationrightnow, and what Intel could do further to improve the vast potential that Socket 2011 brings along? Let's see what the sources say: 29

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November 21st, 2011 First,InteldidhaveissueswithboththeCPUandthePatsburg chipset, the virtualisation engine and SAS port ones being the most widely publicised around the Net. With the C-2 CPU stepping to be out around year end, and the 'good enough' chipset version out there, the mid-February rollout looks on schedule now. The greater issue to solve is the device's power. Yes, all these coresandcachesandI/Ochannelsofallkindsdodemandalot of juice, leading to one of the reasons why only 6 out of 8 cores are enabled on the desktop version, for instance. On the high end proper Xeon E5, the high end workstation version might start at only reach just above 3 GHz, even with a very generous 150W TDP headroom, when using all 8 cores and 20 MB L3 cache. Within the standard 95W TDP bracket, most of these CPUarenotexpectedtorunabove2.5GHzintheinitialround, compared to nearly 3 GHz for the Westmere ones. Of course, each of the new cores is faster per-clock than the older ones, and the memory & I/O improvements more than make up for the clock speed loss. But, frequency still matters, and there will be expectations of improvements here soon. Enter the D-stepping sometime in Q2 next year, the one that always brings the good news on the performance front - remember both Nehalem and Westmere in the recent past. Now,ifthecombinationofdeviceandprocesstuneupsforthat steppinggivesus,say,anextra10%power-performancegains, we could see a few good things emerging. First, the high end workstation part would, likely at 3.3 GHz, finally match the clockfrequencyofitsWestmerepredecessorwhileprovidinga thirdmorecorecount,whilethesamewouldthenalsoapplyto the desktop, finally enabling a true 8-core Core i7, very likely priced at a huge premium. Second, the generic bread-and-butter 95W server parts would comeclosertothe2.8GHzorso,becomingmoreattractiveasa Nehalem replacement of the similar clocked 4-core processor platforms from 3 years ago. The frequency does matter in marketspeak here, as it is much easier to do a sale then, rather than trying to replace 2.93 GHz processors with 2.5 GHz ones, no matter how much better. So, the D-stepping of the CPU, together with the final revision of Patsburg chipset and, hopefully, the resolve of the PCIe v3 compatibilitydoubts,wouldmarkthematuringoftheultimate 2011highendX86workstationandserverplatform.Nextthen would come the Ivy Bridge-EP generation of the Xeon E5, likely a year later in early 2013 - although, personally, I would like to see them at the end of 2012 rather. According to our sources, Ivy Bridge-EP generation will basically cram more cores, 10 of them, and 25 MB of L3 cache, keeping the same 2.5 MB L3 per core proportion, yet likely faster DDR3 memory speeds too, beyond DDR3-1866. Now, knowing the target markets and certain taper-offs of performance returns, I would have hoped for an 8-core die with32MBL3cacheinstead,offeringbettercachehitratesfor 30 Published by: VR-Zone the demanding AVX vector codes and computing apps. Now, of course, the balance has to be struck, and Intel has many markets to address with this die too. One thing is certain - if the 22 nm tri-gate process brings on its promises, you will likely have a powerful 10-core desktop and workstation parts running at well, well above 3 GHz, all in the same Socket 2011 as what the upcoming Core i7 and Xeon E5 processors bring over this and next quarter. Qualcomm unveils new Snapdragon processors Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/qualcomm-unveils-new-snapdragon- processors/13988.html November 21st, 2011 We've already written about some of Qualcomm's upcoming products and now the company has officially announced at leastsomeofthoseproducts.Thecompanyisreadyingarange of Snapdragon S4 and S1 processors for next year with the S4 models being based on its new Krait CPU core. VR-Zone has collected some specifications of the newly announced models alongside details of some not yet announced models to give you a better idea of what Qualcomm is working on. We've already written about some of Qualcomm's upcoming products and now the company has officially announced at leastsomeofthoseproducts.Thecompanyisreadyingarange of Snapdragon S4 and S1 processors for next year with the S4 models being based on its new Krait CPU core. VR-Zone has collected some specifications of the newly announced models alongside details of some not yet announced models to give you a better idea of what Qualcomm is working on. The new S4 models the Qualcomm unveiled are the MSM8660A,MSM8260A,MSM8630,MSM8230,MSM8627, MSM8227, APQ8060A and APQ8030 with the new entry and budget S1 models being the MSM7225A, MSM7625A, MSM7227A and MSM7627A. We've already covered the MSM8660A and the MSM8260A in quite some detail already which you can read here , as well as some other high-end solutions from Qualcomm. As for the other models, well, Qualcommdidn'texactlyprovidealotofdetail,sowe'lltryand fill in the blanks. Let's start with the MSM8630 and MSM8230, a pair of very similar chips to the already announced MSM8930. These are all 28nm parts with the MSM8630 being a CDMA chip with support for 21Mbps HSPA+ as well as EV-DO whereas the MSM8230 supports DC-HSPA+ and TD-SCDMA of which the latter is for the Chinese market. All three models are clocked at 1.2GHz, sports a pair of cores, 1MB L2 cache and supports single channel LPDDR2 memory at speeds of up to 533MHz. Other features include support for 1080p video recording at 30fps and 3D stills at up to 12Megapixels. The GPU core will be the Adreno 305 and we can expect to see these SoC's towards the second half of 2012. We should also point out that

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November 21st, 2011 Qualcomm classifies these models as mid-range by the time they launch. Moving down a tier we or two we find the MSM7225A at the bottom which is a 800MHz part at the most based on a 45nm Cortex A5 core paired up with 256KB of L2 cache and an Adreno 200 GPU. It supports 200MHz LPDDR memory, HSUPA connectivity and is limited to HVGA displays. This is a direct replacement for the MSM7225 which is based on the older ARM11 architecture. It sibling for the EV-DO market is the MSM7625A which offers identical spec bar the EV-DO connectivity. Stepping up one tier we find the MSM7227A the replacement for the very popular MSM7227 and once again we're finding a 45nm ARM Cortex A5 core here although this time with clock speeds of up to 1GHz. There's also support for slightly higher resolutions here with FWVGA (854x480) support. Again there's an EV-DO sibling called the MSM7625A which onceagainsportsnearidenticalspec.AlltheCortexA5models should be available to Qualcomm's partners forthwith. This brings us to the MSM8227 which appears to the first Snapdragon based entry budget model from Qualcomm. This is an interesting part in as much as it's signalling a move away from single core processors even in fairly affordable devices as it sports a 28nm dual core 1GHz Krait based processor with 512MB L2 cache. It supports 400MHz LPDDR2 memory, 21Mbps HSPA+, TD-SCDMA, 720p video recording and it sportsanAdreno305GPU.ItsEV-DOsiblingistheMSM8267 which once again carries near identical specs. These two models aren't set to appear until the second half of next year. The APQ models, otherwise known as the modem-less models are fairly similar in terms of spec with the higher-end APQ8060AbeingadirectreplacementfortheAPQ8060.Here we're looking at yet another dual core 28nm Krait based chip with clock speeds of between 1.5 and 1.7GHz paired up with 1MB L2 cache. This model supports 500MHz LPDDR2 memory, 1080p video recording but sadly sports the current Adreno 225 GPU. That said, this model should be available as of right now to Qualcomm's partners, so the older GPU is excused. The more affordable option here is the APQ8030 which is also a 28nm dual core Krait part although this time around with a 1GHz core speed and we don't know the actual cache on this model but we'd guess it's 512KB. Otherwise we're looking at supportfor533MHzLPDDR2memory,1080pvideorecording and an Adreno 305 GPU. This models as with so many of the other chips announced isn't expected until the second half of next year. We can also give you an insight on a few models that Qualcomm didn't announce that falls in the lower-end of the market. By 2013 Qualcomm is planning on releasing the MSM8226 which will replace the MSM7225A and this will be Qualcomm's first dual core 28nm Cortex A5 implementation. We're looking at clock speeds of 1GHz, 512KB L2 cache, support for 533MHz LPDDR2, 21Mbps HSPA+, TD-SCDMA, 720p video recording and an Adreno 305 GPU. It's EV-DO sibling is the MSM8626. Moving up one tier we find the MSM8928 which is fairly similar to the MSM8227 as both are 28nm dual core Krait 31 Published by: VR-Zone based processors clocked at 1GHz, but theMSM8928 gets support for 800MHz LPDDR3, LTE category 3, DC-HSPA+, TD-SCDMA and 1080p video recording. The GPU is also the slightly faster Adreno 310. Finally we have another APQ model, namely the APQ8074 which is a mainstream quad core Krait based chip with clock speeds of between 2-2.5GHz. It supports dual channel LPDDR3, 2MB L2 cache, dual 1080p video streams at 60fps for 3D video and finally an Adreno 330 GPU. All three models should arrive sometime in 2013. We should also note that it appears the Qualcomm thinks the featurephonemarketisdead,asthecompanyisonlyplanning a single new part for next year as far as we can tell. We're not surprised though, as the only really valid change here would really be to do a die shrink if anything, as it's not as if the featurephonemarkingismovingforwardinleapsandbounds.

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Published by: VR-Zone November 24th, 2011 VR-Zone.com | Stuff for the Geeks! VR-Zone | Stuff for the Geeks is a bi-weekly publication covering the latest gadgets and stuff for the geeks. Exceleram Lowers The Bar With 8GB DDR3 Module Pricing Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/exceleram-lowers-the-bar-with-8gb- ddr3-module-pricing/14056.html November 24th, 2011 German memory maker Exceleram set a new standard for pricing of 8GB DDR3 memory modules. It is offering a new "no-frills" module for as low as US $49.99 a piece, and we're talking MSRP here. German memory maker Exceleram set a new standard for pricing of 8GB DDR3 memory modules. It is offering a new "no-frills" module for as low as US $49.99 a piece, and we're talking MSRP here. Called the Exceleram E30200A (pictured above), the module offers8GBofdensityatDDR3-1333MHz(PC3-10700)speeds, with CAS latency of 9T, needing a module voltage of 1.5 volts. It looks pretty lean, with no heatspreaders or fancy PCB color. The price of US $49.99 per module Exceleram is asking for, is particularly interesting, because most 8GB DDR3 modules start at nearly double that price. So, setting up 16 GB of total memory using two of these modules will be significantly cheaper,atjustanotchunder100bucks.Youcanmaxoutyour Sandy Bridge rig's capacity (32 GB) at under $199. Sure, one can't expect this module to provide too much of headroom to tweak its performnce, but even for a DDR3-1333 stable 8GB module at its price, the Exceleram E30200A has done enough to get everyone's attention. Now if only Exceleram works on its availability a bit, and braces itself for the flood of orders that's coming its way! PROLiNK SITEX 2011 Promotions Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/prolink-sitex-2011- promotions/14055.html November 24th, 2011 If you feel the need for a mobile router or a network security camera, you are in luck. PROLiNK is having promotions at the SITEX SHOW 2011. Visit them at booth 6E40 to check out their special offers. PROLiNK WNR1011 4G Wireless-N Mobile Router The PROLiNK WNR1011 is a portable router powered by Lithium-ion battery that can last for up to six hours of use. Its wide array of connectivity support includes 3G and 4G mobile data networks via USB connection, cable and xDSL modem platforms, and Wide Area Network protocols. With its data speed of up to 150mbps, it can serve 20 WiFi users, and can even be used as a power bank for recharging small mobile devices via USB. Regular Price: S$109 SITEX Show Price: S$89 PROLiNK Wireless IP Camera PIC1005WN 1

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November 24th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone Microsoft SITEX 2011 Special Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/microsoft-sitex-2011- special/14054.html November 24th, 2011 Show 2011. They can be located at booth 5F01, and do check The Xbox 360 250GB with Kinect holiday bundle brings a completely new gaming experience with its body motion sensors, making it a perfect addition to entertain the whole family for this coming holiday. The bundle includes additional wireless controllers, a free game, and three months of Xbox LIVE Gold membership. Usual Price: S$860 SITEX Special: S$649(Free game “Child Of Eden”, Sure-Win Instant Jackpot) Microsoft Touch Mouse This camera is fully plug-and-play, and sheds any need for complicated router settings. It accommodates to automatic dayandnightmodeswiththeuseofa10mrangeinfraredLED and its Intelligent ICR Night Mode Control. The PROLiNK PIC1005WN allows remote monitoring via 3G mobile devices, and also supports recording via NAS and Micro SD card, withoptionsforscheduledactivationormotiondetection.The system can accept up to 36 cameras and serve 20 viewers simultaneously. Regular Price: S$259 SITEX Show Price: S$209 The Microsoft Touch Mouse has a multitouch platform that allows users to perform click, scroll and swipe actions to interact with their computer. The inclusion of natural gesture- oriented inputs alongside the successful interface of a mouse certainly ensure intuitive and seamless navigation of the system.TogetherwithBlueTracktechnology,youcancarrythe abilities of the Touch Mouse on any surface. Usual Price: S$99 SITEX Special: Additional Free limited edition pouch, Sure- Win Instant Jackpot Microsoft has various attractive promotions at the SITEX Microsoft Arc Keyboard out the wide array of products they have on offer. Microsoft Xbox 360 250GB With Kinect Holiday Bundle The Arc Keyboard features a similar design to the best-selling Arc Mouse. It leverages on curve forms for better ergonomics and irresistible looks. Its lightweight built contributes to 2

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November 24th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone This Arc Touch mouse comes with BlueTrack technology and works better than other optical solutions. Its touch sensor scrolling-strip will outlast any conventional scroll wheels, and its innovative arc form can be flattened to allow easy storage. Usual Price: S$89 SITEX Special: S$79 (Free Limited Edition Pouch, Sure-Win Instant Jackpot) PRADA renews collaboration with LG; teaser image of PRADA phone by LG 3.0 released the convenience of family-sharing while surfing the Internet together on a big screen. A wireless connection range of up to nine meters ensures that you won’t have problems in even the largest of living rooms. Usual Price: S$89 SITEX Special: S$65(Sure-Win Instant Jackpot) Microsoft Arc Touch Mouse PRADA and LG collaboration started in 2006 and the companies introduced two premium mobile phones in 2007 and 2008 that focus on key elements, including software, user interfacedowntoitsdesignandpackaging.ThePRADAphone by LG 1.0 claims to be the world’s first touchscreen mobile phone, while the 2.0 provided innovative mobile experience through its unique watch with Link technology, which offers easy access to caller ID, SMS text messages, call history, call block and two-way alarm notification. Today, the two companies are renewing their exclusive mobile phone partnership and that LG will be PRADA’s exclusive mobile phone partner. PRADA and LG will also develop the third PRADA phone by LG 3.0 which is scheduled for launch early next year 2012. According to online sources, the PRADA phone by LG 3.0 (or LG Prada K2) could sport a 4.3- inch TFT touchscreen display with NOVA display technology that offers over 1000 nits brightness. It is likely to be powered by a dual-core processor, supports HSPA+ connectivity, and features an 8-megapixel rear camera with LED flash that is also capable of 1080p full high definition video recording. And while the actual product photo is not available, a teaser picture has been released. Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/prada-renews-collaboration-with-lg- teaser-image-of-prada-phone-by-lg-3.0-released/14053.html November 24th, 2011 Today, PRADA and LG have announced the renewal of their exclusive mobile phone collaboration at a signing ceremony in Seoul, Korea. Both companies will develop the PRADA phone by LG 3.0 which is scheduled for launch early next year 2012. Apparently,ateaserimageofthenewphonehasbeenreleased. Sony SITEX 2011 Special Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/sony-sitex-2011-special/14052.html 3

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November 24th, 2011 November 24th, 2011 Sony has some exciting offers at the SITEX Show 2011 which The Sony Tablet S delivers the perfect combination of hardware for you to experience seamless networking and content streaming. The tablet utilizes Nvidia Tegra 2 mobile processor with Android Honeycomb 3.2 operating system for fast and smooth response. It also features Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) support which allows you to control The Sony VAIO C Series brightens up your life with a premium design in slew of vivid colours to choose from, all Published by: VR-Zone of which are based on a new light-emitting material. It offers ample performance for everyday use with its Intel Core i7 or i5 processor options, 500GB hard disk drive and a high resolution 14-inch screen. Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX7 covers a large range of electronics from tablets to televisions. If you are shopping for Christmas gifts, you may want to visit them at booth 4B10 and 5B10. Sony Tablet S The Cyber-shot DSC-WX7 is beautifully styled, compact and very easy to use. You can experience superb performance with high detail levels on your images and panoramic shots, thanks to its 16.2-megapixel Exmor R CMOS sensor and the 25mm wide angle Carl Zeiss Vario-Tesser lens. The DSC-WX7 completes the package with Advanced Video Coding High Definition movie recording and a 2.8-inch Clear Photo LCD Plus display. Sony BRAVIA HX925 Series DLNA compliant home entertainment systems and stream content to them. Its 9.4-inch LED-backlit In-Plane Switching screen and TruBlack technology greatly reduce glare and reflections. These are all packed into the asymmetric "Folding Design" that makes the tablet feel lighter than it should and allows you to hold the tablet comfortably. Sony VAIO C Series Notebook Sony’s new BRAVIA KDL-HX925 features the MotionFlow XR 800 with precise backlight control that synchronizes with the liquid crystal movements, creating clear and sharp moving images. The integrated IEEE 802.11n wireless connectivity draws content from the Internet, providing limitless enjoyment. The BRAVIA HX925’s Monolithic design concept encases this suite of technologies in one minimalistic and graceful form that will suit any living space. 4

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November 24th, 2011 ASUS SITEX Special Promotions Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/asus-sitex-special- promotions/14045.html November 24th, 2011 You will be pleased to know that ASUS have some promotions available at the upcoming SITEX 2011 Show, which include gaming, portable computing and home entertainmentsolutions.Visitthematbooth5B40tocheckout these great offers. ASUS ROG Tytan SITEX Special: TBA ASUS O!Play Mini Plus Published by: VR-Zone The O!Play Mini Plus delivers a variety of content from online entertainment portals such as YouTube, Acetrax and Dailymotion. It also streams from Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) compliant devices, empowering older home entertainment systems. The O!Play Mini Plus allows you to experience your favorite movies in full High Definition (HD) 1080presolutionwithgorgeousdetailsonyourTV.Itsupports Dolby TrueHD and fully reproduces Blu-ray sound with 100% lossless high quality sound processing. Usual Price: S$199 SITEX Special: TBA ASUS N43SL Jay Chou Edition ASUS’ new top-of-the-line gaming rig features a one-touch overclocking system which gives the option of three different modes and makes the most of its Intel Core i7 2600K processor. Its Nvidia GeForce GTX560Ti graphics card with 1GB DDR5 memory immerses gamers into the virtual environment by supporting more than three displays in 3D mode. Other key specifications include 8GB DDR3 memory, hard disk drive capacity of two terabytes, built-in IEEE 802.11n wireless adapter, six USB 2.0 ports and two USB 3.0 ports. Usual Price: S$2,999 The ASUS N43SL is co-designed by famous celebrity Jay Chou and is positioned as an irresistible addition to celebrity collectibles for his fans. It has an impressive performance to match its image, powered by Intel Core i5-2410M processor and Nvidia GeForce GT540M graphics card with 2GB DDR3 memory. The ASUS N43SL utilizes Nvidia Optimus Technology which automatically switches between its dedicated and integrated graphics card to conserve power when performance is not needed. It comes preloaded with music albums and decked out in beautiful touches of details, all works of the artiste himself. This is a sure combination to please many. Usual Price: S$1,498 5

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November 24th, 2011 ASUS Eee Pad Transformer (3G) The ASUS Eee Pad Transformer is one of the best tablets availableonthemarket.Itisabletoconnecttoakeyboarddock accessory and function much like a notebook, which makes heavy word processing possible for this tablet. With up to eight hours of battery life when connected to the dock, the ASUSTransformercanholditsownforaprofessional'stypical work day. Its 10.1-inch WXGA 1280 by 800 screen and Nvidia Tegra 2 Dual Core ARM Cortex A9 processor forms a powerful combination for quick and responsive operation. The Eee Pad Transformer also utilizes Android Honeycomb 3.2 interface, and will be upgradable to Android Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0 in the not-so-distant future. Usual Price: S$949 Intel's Cedar Trail mobile Atom pushed back, again Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/intel-s-cedar-trail-mobile-atom- pushed-back-again/14051.html November 24th, 2011 It's surprising how much trouble Intel seems to have with its Atom graphics driversfor themobile Cedar Trail AtomN2600 and N2800 processors, as the company has been forced to push back the launch a second time. If you were hoping for a new Cedar Trail powered netbook for Christmas, we're sorry to disappoint, but it's not going to happen. It's surprising how much trouble Intel seems to have with its Atom graphics driversfor themobile Cedar Trail AtomN2600 and N2800 processors, as the company has been forced to push back the launch a second time. If you were hoping for a new Cedar Trail powered netbook for Christmas, we're sorry to disappoint, but it's not going to happen. Published by: VR-Zone As we've already reported , Intel is having some issues with the graphics driver and has dropped both 64-bit support and DirectX 10 support. Even so, the company doesn't seem to have much luck passing Microsoft's WHQL certification and thismeansthatIntelanditspartnerscan'tlaunchproducts,as they won't have a final Microsoft approved driver. This means that Intel has now pushed back the launch date to theveryendofDecemberwithitspartnersnotbeingallowedto start selling products until mid-January next year. That said, the netbook market isn't what it used to be, but at least the Atom N2600 and N2800 is the best Atom processors so far, at least on paper. Intel may not be able to compete with AMD on performance in this market segment, but at least Intel finally has a platform that will do what most consumers is expecting even an entry level notebook to do. ST Ericsson's NovaThor U8500 shown off running Ice Cream Sandwich Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/st-ericsson-s-novathor-u8500-shown- off-running-ice-cream-sandwich/14050.html November 24th, 2011 Despite its expertise in the radio components that goes into smartphones, ST Ericsson hasn't had any real wins when it comes to its ARM processors that go hand in hand with its baseband components. That looks set to change soon as apparently Sony Ericsson is planning on building at least one handset based on the NovaThor U8500 and the good news is that ST Ericsson has already got Android 4.0 or Ice Cream Sandwich if you prefer, up and running on its platform. Despite its expertise in the radio components that goes into smartphones, ST Ericsson hasn't had any real wins when it comes to its ARM processors that go hand in hand with its baseband components. That looks set to change soon as apparently Sony Ericsson is planning on building at least one handset based on the NovaThor U8500 and the good news is that ST Ericsson has already got Android 4.0 or Ice Cream Sandwich if you prefer, up and running on its platform. The NovaThor U8500 consists of the DB8500 dual core ARM Cortex-A9SoCwithMali-400MPgraphicsandabuiltinHSPA modem, as well as a few peripheral chips like the AB8500 which handles things like audio, USB, power and the SIM card. Sadly we don't know what clock speeds to expect, but we'reguessingaroundthe1GHzmark,asitsbiggerbrotherthe A9500 is clocked at 1.2GHz. AccordingtotheXperiablog,theNovaThorU8500isdestined for a new handset from Sony Ericsson currently codenamed Nypon (rosehip in Swedish) or LT22i which should be is best described as an entry-level high-end model by the time it launches if the leaked specs prove to be right. The handset is said to have a qHD (960x540 pixels) resolution display and of course the ST Ericsson NovaThor U8500 SoC. This would 6

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November 24th, 2011 makeitthefirstAndroidhandsetfromSonyEricssonthatisn't based on a Qualcomm chip. Co-incidentally, ST Ericsson happened to post no less than four videos of its development platform running Android 4.0 ontheNovaThorU8500pairedwith512MBofRAM.Itshould bepointedoutthatnotalotofoptimizationwasdonehereand SonyEricssonislikelytobetweakingtheOSanyhow.Takethis as a proof of concept that the software and hardware works togetherandasasignofthingstocome.Ifnothingelseit'salso bringing further proof that dual core is the way forward in the smartphone market space. We'll have to wait until next year to see what actually comes out of Sony Ericsson, which by then will have lost the Ericsson part of its name. Higher resolution Ultrabook displays expected next year Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/higher-resolution-ultrabook-displays- expected-next-year/14049.html November 24th, 2011 Talk about a backwards world, back in the days of 4:3 screens there was rarely a problem to get a higher resolution upgrade option on notebooks, but in the age of 16:9 widescreen displays,anythingbelow15.6-inchesisstuckat1366x768with a few exceptions. Now it looks like the Ultrabooks will be pushing up resolutions of smaller screens, but the reasoning behind it doesn't really make sense. Talk about a backwards world, back in the days of 4:3 screens there was rarely a problem to get a higher resolution upgrade option on notebooks, but in the age of 16:9 widescreen displays,anythingbelow15.6-inchesisstuckat1366x768with a few exceptions. Now it looks like the Ultrabooks will be pushing up resolutions of smaller screens, but the reasoning behind it doesn't really make sense. Digitimes is reporting that Acer and Asus are working with Taiwanese panel makers AU Optronics and Chimei Innolux to have them create 1920x1080 screens for next year's Ultrabooks.Thisinitselfisn'tabadthing,asmodernoperating systems offers good enough font scaling for this to be a non-issue for those concerned that everything on the screens will be unreadable at this resolution. In fact, Asus' 13.3-nch Zenbook UX31 already took a step in the right direction with a 1600x900 resolution panel. However, the argument for higher resolution screens is not because users wants or need it, but rather because Apple is rumoured to be moving its next gen iPad to a 2048x1536 screen. That is still an unconfirmed rumour though and it would be funny if Apple settles for something less. That said, if this can motivate notebook makers to offer higher resolution screens, then we'll have to send a thank you card to Apple, as it's time that the industry moves forward when it comes to screen resolution, as more pixels is generally a good thing and it doesn't have to automatically mean that things 7 Published by: VR-Zone are harder to read, something Apple's iPhone should already have proven alongside with several other high-resolution smartphones.Thatsaid,itlookslikewe’llhavetowaitforthose retina quality panels a while longer still… Lenovo launches Atom D2500 powered Ideacentre Q180 Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/lenovo-launches-atom-d2500- powered-ideacentre-q180/14048.html November 24th, 2011 It's nearly two months since Intel made its new desktop Atom processors available and we haven't seen much in terms of support from PC makers or motherboard partners, well, that was until now, as Lenovo is first out with its Ideacentre Q180. It's built around the lower-end Atom D2500, but it has a few interesting tricks up its sleeve. It's nearly two months since Intel made its new desktop Atom processors available and we haven't seen much in terms of support from PC makers or motherboard partners, well, that was until now, as Lenovo is first out with its Ideacentre Q180. It's built around the lower-end Atom D2500, but it has a few interesting tricks up its sleeve. As you may know, the Atom D2500 is a 1.86GHz dual core chip with 1MB of L2 cache and integrated graphics running at 400MHz. However, Lenovo decided to go down an interesting path here and kit outs its Ideacentre QQ180 with an AMD Radeon HD 6450A GPU with 512MB of graphics memory. We're not entirely sure what the A in the GPU model name standsfor,butthisisAMD'sentrylevelGPU.Evenso,itshould be a few times better than the PowerVR based GPU inside the Atom processor.

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November 24th, 2011 The rest of the system is fairly average with support for up to 4GB of DDR3 memory, up to 750GB of hard drive space, although Lenovo is also listing a 128GB SSD option, USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 connectivity, a built in card reader, 7.1-channel audio (over optical S/PDIF) and an HDMI port. You also get 802.11n Wi-Fi which is always nice and for those that rather use wired Ethernet, there's the Gigabit kind on offer. The entire system measures a mere 155x192x22mm (WxHxD) which makes it one of the slimmest PC's out there. In fact, it Published by: VR-Zone November 24th, 2011 Memory maker Team Group rolled out a revised version of the X101, a mid-range USB 3.0 flash drive. The X101 was first launched in May 2010, but back then despite its lower transfer rates, it was deemed a high-end offering. The new, redesigned X101 is available in capacities of 32 GB and 64 GB. It offers transfer rates of up to 120 MB/s (read) and up to 70 MB/s (write),whichmakesisroughlyasfastasa7,200RPMinternal hard drive, only a lot more responsive due to much lower access times. Memory maker Team Group rolled out a revised version of the X101, a mid-range USB 3.0 flash drive. The X101 was first launched in May 2010, but back then despite its lower transfer rates, it was deemed a high-end offering. The new X101 is available in capacities of 32 GB and 64 GB. It offers transfer rates of up to 120 MB/s (read) and up to 70 MB/s (write), which makes is roughly as fast as a 7,200 RPM internal hard drive, only a lot more responsive due to much lower access times. remindsofasystemthatViewSoniclaunchedbackintheAtom 330daysandevenmoresoconsideringthatLenovoisoffering an external optical drive – DVD or Blu-ray available – that attaches to the system. A vertical stand appears to be part of the package and you also get a keyboard and a mouse. The new X101 doesn't fare badly in the design department, either. Measuring 72.07 x 19.11 x 8.53 mm, the X101 sports a typical capped form-factor, with a satin-purple aluminum- alloy body. Its body lacks activity/power LEDs, but there's provision for attaching a lanyard. The X101 doesn't come with any notable bundled software, but the manufacturer mentions that it supports a power-saving mode. As with most USB 3.0 flash drives, the X101 is backwards-compatible with USB 2.0. In the US the Ideacentre Q180 starts at an affordable US$369 (S$485), although for some reason the customization page on Lenovo's website seems to suggest you get an Atom D2700 (2.13GHz) for that kind of money. The base model comes with a 500GB hard drive and 2GB of RAM, whereas US$429 will get you 4GB of RAM and a DVD drive on top of the base spec. Team Group Intros X101 Mid- Range USB 3.0 Flash Drive Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/team-group-intros-x101-mid-range- usb-3.0-flash-drive/14047.html 8

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November 24th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone SITEX 2011 Price Lists, Brochures & Flyers now available @ http://vr-zone.com/ sitex/pricelists Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/sitex-2011-price-lists-brochures-- flyers-now-available--http-vr-zone.comsitexpricelists/14046.html November 24th, 2011 Heading to Singapore EXPO tomorrow for the IT show? Don't leave home without doing price research first! SITEX 2011 Pricelists are now available at http://vr-zone.com/sitex/ pricelists. Logitech introduces Webcam C170 and Webcam C110 for easy video calls Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/logitech-introduces-webcam-c170-and- webcam-c110-for-easy-video-calls/14044.html 9 November 24th, 2011 Logitech has announced the Webcam C170 and C110 that are easy to install and use, and feature one-touch upload to socialnetworkingandsharingsiteslikeFacebook,Twitterand YouTube. Both incorporate Logitech Fluid Crystal technology that provides smooth video, sharp pictures with rich colours and clear audio. Backed by a lifetime warranty, the X101 is rated by its manufacturer to hold data up to 10 years. Unfortunately we don't have a price at hand. Designed with a sleek universal clip to easily fit any laptop or desktop computer, the new Logitech webcams C170 and C110 make it easy to get connected online. Both feature built- in automatic noise-reduction that helps minimize background noise, as well as Logitech Fluid Crystal technology for smooth and sharp video and images. The webcams offer high-quality video call with a frame rate of up to 30 per second and allows you to video capture at 1024 x768 (XVGA) resolution. Logitech Webcam C170 The Logitech Webcam C170 is designed to minimize choppinessandbackgroundnoisewithimprovedperformance in low light situations to deliver a clear connection whatever you are. The webcam also snaps software-enhanced, 5- megapixel pictures and offers a quicker way to keep in touch when you don’t have time for a video call. The Logitech Webcam C170 is available in Singapore now for a suggested retail price of S$29. Logitech Webcam C110 The Logitech Webcam C110 is easy to operate and is capable of capturing basic but high-quality video, as well as clear 1.3- megapixel photos. It is expected to be available in Singapore in mid-December and has a suggested retail price of S$23. Philips SITEX 2011 Promotions Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/philips-sitex-2011- promotions/14043.html November 24th, 2011

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November 24th, 2011 Philips is having some great promotions for the upcoming SITEX Show 2011. This is good news for those of you who want to upgrade your home entertainment systems to enjoy 3D cinematic experience. Offers are available with Harvey Norman at booth 5H12. Philips 55/46/40PFL6606H/12 LED Television Philips PFL6606’s Clear Sound technology and the Ambi- wOOx sound enhancements. The Smart TV features include Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) support, Net TV, and USB support for peripherals such as mouse and keyboard. These contribute to a seamless online lifestyle that allows you to receive more content without the need for a PC. Usual Price: S$3,599 (55-inch), S$1,999 (46-inch), S$1,399 (40-inch) Philips HTS5131 SoundBar Home Theater With this Philips HTS5131, you can experience wide surround sound and realistic cinematic experience with four woofers and two tweeters. The system is equipped with Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD which produce high fidelity audio outputs Published by: VR-Zone through the rated 400W (RMS) system, while the curved SoundBar design gives wider sound dispersion across your room.Youcanenjoyyourmovieswithoutworryingaboutdust build-upinthespeakersasitsspecialmeshdesignprotectsthe drivers. The Philips HTS5131 plays Blu-ray discs, DVDs, VCDs and CDs, as well as content from USB devices. You can enjoy all these in one single stylish package without cluttering your room with multiple speakers. Usual Price: S$699 Philips HTS9140 SoundBar Home Theater The Philips PFL6606H with its Pixel Plus High Definition (HD) gives unparalleled detail and clarity, and its 400 Hz Perfect Motion Rate (PMR) provides superb sharpness for even the most dynamic movements on screen. You can experience authentic and clear audio representations with the The Philips HTS9140 utilizes Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD for high fidelity audio representations. You can also enjoy the ultimate audio experience with Ambisound technology that produces virtual surround sound similar to a full 5.1 surround sound speaker array. The high quality brushed aluminum coupled a slim and premium design will enhance your living spaceaestheticsandpresentitselfasaconversationpiece.This home theater system also plays full HD 3D Blu-ray DVD for a truly immersive movie experience. It comes installed with Philips Net TV with Wi-Fi connectivity for online services on your TV and DLNA Network Link to enjoy music and videos from your PC. Usual Price: S$1,399 AMD's 28nm Brazos successor to be manufactured at TSMC Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/amd-s-28nm-brazos-successor-to-be- manufactured-at-tsmc/14042.html November 24th, 2011 With the Krishna/Wichita APUs now canceled, ExtremeTech has shed some light into AMD's strategy. The Deccan platform APUswereindeedplannedforfabricationatGlobalFoundries, unlike Brazos which is manufactured by TSMC. Anticipating problems with the move to gate-first with GlobalFoundries, 10

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November 24th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone AMD canceled the Krishna and Wichita APUs and the entire Deccan platform. The short term solution is Brazos 2.0 - nothing but a minor tweak of Brazos. Long term, AMD is planning to move back to TSMC for its power efficient APUs. With the Krishna/Wichita APUs now canceled , ExtremeTech has shed some light into AMD's strategy. The Deccan platform APUswereindeedplannedforfabricationatGlobalFoundries, unlike Brazos which is manufactured by TSMC. Anticipating problems with the move to gate-first with GlobalFoundries, AMD canceled the Krishna and Wichita APUs and the entire Deccan platform. The short term solution is Brazos 2.0 - nothing but a minor tweak of Brazos. Long term, AMD is planning to move back to TSMC for its power efficient APUs. Brazos 2.0 will have to hold fort till a direct 28nm shrink of Brazos is now expected some time in 2012 - well after the release of Intel's 32nm Atom and 28nm ARM SoCs. The true successor to Brazos 2.0 - presumably an enhanced version of Krishna and Wichita featuring upto 4 cores, if not Kabini/Samara - is at least 18 months away, according to ExtremeTech. In the mainstream APU segment, the successor to Trinity - Kaveri - is scheduled for 2013 on GloFo's 28nm. Report: AMD Radeon HD 7000M to launch in December Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/report-amd-radeon-hd-7000m-to- launch-in-december/14041.html November 24th, 2011 The long rumoured AMD London series is finally set to make its debut as the Radeon HD 7000M series product for notebooks in December, following NVIDIA's GeForce 600M launch. While an exact release date or architecture information is missing, Computerbase.de has listed a number of SKUs, covering entry-level HD 7430M all the way to high- end HD 7900M. The long rumoured AMD London series is finally set to make its debut as the Radeon HD 7000M series product for notebooks in December, following NVIDIA's GeForce 600M launch. While an exact release date or architecture information is missing, Computerbase.de has listed a number of SKUs, covering entry-level HD 7430M all the way to high- end HD 7900M. Codename Branding Clock Memory Memory clocks Wimbledon HD 7900M 700-750 256-bit TBD XT 2-4GB GDDR5 Wimbledon HD 7900M 650-700 256- TBD Pro bit 2GB GDDR5 Codename Branding Heathrow HD 7800M XT Clock 650-750 Memory 128- bit 2GB GDDR5 Memory clocks TBD Pro Heathrow HD 7800M 550-650 128- bit 2GB GDDR5 TBD Chelsea XT HD 7700M 600-700 128- bit 2GB GDDR5 Chelsea Pro HD 7700M 450-550 128- bit 2GB GDDR5 Thames XT HD 7690M 600 128-bit 1GB GDDR5 Thames XT HD 7670M 600 128-bit 1GB DDR3 Thames HD 7590M 600 128-bit 1GB Pro GDDR5 TBD TBD 800 900 800 Thames Pro HD 7570M 600 128-bit 1GB DDR3 900 Thames LP HD 7650M 450 128-bit 1GB GDDR5 Thames LP HD 7630M 450 128-bit 1GB DDR3 Thames LP HD 7550M 450 64-bit 1GB GDDR5 Thames LP HD 7530M 450 64-bit 1GB DDR3 Thames LE HD 7610M 450 128-bit 1GB DDR3 Thames LE HD 7510M 450 64-bit 1GB DDR3 800 900 800 800 800 800 Seymour HD 7490M 800 64-bit 1GB 800 XTX DDR3 Seymour HD 7470M 800 64-bit 900 XTX DDR3 Seymour HD 7470M 740 64-bit 800 XT GDDR5 Seymour HD 7450M 750 64-bit 900 XT DDR3 Seymour HD 7450M 600 64-bit 900 Pro DDR3 Seymour HD 7430M 600 64-bit 900 Pro DDR3 With the onslaught of APUs/Procesor Graphics, many expected the entry-level discrete GPU to die with 40nm. That is partially true - while AMD will continue to offer entry-level discrete GPUs for notebooks, they will be nothing buy souped up rebrands of the HD 6400M series, covering the HD 7400M series. The entire mainstream will be covered by the Thames GPU, covering HD 7500M and HD 7600M series. There are some significant inconsistencies with the branding reported by Computerbase, however, e.g. Thames LE clocked at 450 MHz with DDR3 featuring a higher branding (HD 7610M) than 11

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November 24th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone Asus' Eee Pad Transformer Prime goes up on pre-order Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/asus-eee-pad-transformer-prime-goes- up-on-pre-order/14039.html November 24th, 2011 Ifyou'reeagertogetyourhandsonAsus'newTegra3powered Eee Pad Transformer Prime tablet and live somewhere in North America, then we have good news for you, it's now availableforpre-order.Asushasn'tconfirmedanactuallaunch date as yet, but we'd expect the Transformer Prime to arrive in time for the holidays. Ifyou'reeagertogetyourhandsonAsus'newTegra3powered Eee Pad Transformer Prime tablet and live somewhere in North America, then we have good news for you, it's now availableforpre-order.Asushasn'tconfirmedanactuallaunch date as yet, but we'd expect the Transformer Prime to arrive in time for the holidays. The Transformer Prime will be available in one of two colours that Asus calls amethyst grey and champagne gold, although the grey one still looks purple to us in the pictures. You also havethechoiceof32or64GBofinternaleMMCflashmemory. Whichever model you pick you'll get a Tegra 3 SoC which Asus has as yet to reveal the clock speed for, 1GB of DDR2 memory, a 10.1-inch IPS+ screen with 1280x800 resolution, a battery good for up to 12h of usage and there's of course the optional Thames Pro clocked at 600 MHz (HD 7590M) with GDDR5 so we must take this preliminary information with a grain of salt. Curiously, the Thames line-up is so choc-a-bloc it leaves no room for Trinity APUs. Moving up the chain, we have the Chelsea GPU, to be branded HD 7700M, followed by the high-end Heathrow, HD 7800M and the entusiast Wimbledown, featuring a 256-bit memory interface, the HD 7900M series. Except Seymour, all the other HD 7000M GPUs are expected to be 28nm fabbed. However, details such as the architecture used remain unknown. Following a similar timeline to the GeForce 600M series, a launch in December means notebooks based on the HD 7000M series (and GeForce 600M) will be expected to hit retailinQ12012withsomedesignwinssurelyexhibitedatCES 2012. Price wise you're looking at US$499.99 for the 32GB models and US$599.99 for the 64GB models, slightly more than the originalEeePadTransformer,butnotamassivepricehike.No word on pricing for the keyboard dock as yet. Asus US has put up a special tablet site which contains links to the pre-order partners which you'll find at the bottom of this article. As far as the OS is concerned, the Transformer Prime will ship with Android 3.2, but Asus is already promising that it'll be upgradeable to 4.0. In fact, Nvidia has already posted a video on YouTube showing off an early build of Android 4.0 running on the Transformer Prim as a demo showing off its Tegra 3 chip. This suggests that the wait for the upgrade shouldn't be too long, which is good news for those that are planning on getting a Transformer Prime. Next generation Ultrabooks expected to be on display at CES Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/next-generation-ultrabooks-expected- to-be-on-display-at-ces/14038.html November 24th, 2011 On the subject of Ultrabooks, it looks like Intel's partners are getting ready to show off the first Ivy Bridge based models at CES which takes places on the 10th to the 13th of January next year. It also looks like some of the so far missing major notebookplayerswilllaunchtheirfirstUltrabooksaroundthat time as well. keyboard dock which adds another 6h of battery life. On the subject of Ultrabooks, it looks like Intel's partners are getting ready to show off the first Ivy Bridge based models at CES which takes places on the 10 th to the 13 th of January next year. It also looks like some of the so far missing major notebookplayerswilllaunchtheirfirstUltrabooksaroundthat time as well. 12

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November 24th, 2011 Digitimes is reporting that there should be some 30 to 50 Ultrabooks on display at CES, although this sounds like a very highnumberconsideringthatsofarthereareonlyahandfulof modelsthatcanreallybeconsideredUltrabooksinthemarket. What will be interesting to see is what HP, Samsung and Dell has to bring to the table, as technically Samsung doesn't have anUltrabookasyetevenifitsSeries9notebooksareveryclose, with HP and Dell being rumoured to be working on their own versions of an Ultrabook. Most of the next generation Ultrabooks are expected to sport SSDs, not only to keep the weight down and improve the overall responsiveness of the systems, but also in part due to the short supply of hard drives at the moment. This is the single most exciting feature of Ultrabooks, as although the CPU performance is most likely good enough for most consumers, the battery life of the models launched so far has been disappointing, especially when compared to Apple's MacBook Air. Digitimes goes on to report that Intel is expecting Ultrabooks to take up to 40 percent of the total notebook market for next year, a figure that sounds way too high in our opinion, although some more sober figures of 20-30 percent have been suggested by “market watchers” and Acer's president Jim Wongisapparentlyhopingfor25-30percentofthecompanies notebook to be Ultrabooks. Acer is going to have to try a lot harderthanitsfirstincarnationtoreachthisgoal,astheAspire S3 is anything but a product that we'd aspire to buy if we were in the market for an Ultrabook. Intel is planning docking solution for next year's Ultrabooks using Thunderbolt Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/intel-is-planning-docking-solution-for- next-year-s-ultrabooks-using-thunderbolt/14037.html November 24th, 2011 According to information that has reached VR-Zone, Intel has big plans when it comes to Ultrabooks and the first major stepforwardfromthefairlyunimpressivemachineswe'veseen so far is the addition of support for docking stations. This being Intel doing things the Intel way the company will rely on its Thunderbolt technology as well as an additional dock connector, at least if the company can sell its plans to the notebook manufacturers. According to information that has reached VR-Zone, Intel has big plans when it comes to Ultrabooks and the first major stepforwardfromthefairlyunimpressivemachineswe'veseen so far is the addition of support for docking stations. This being Intel doing things the Intel way the company will rely on its Thunderbolt technology as well as an additional dock Published by: VR-Zone connector, at least if the company can sell its plans to the notebook manufacturers. The current crop of Ultrabooks are in our opinion fairly uninspiring with most models targeting poorly educated consumers. Not only do they offer worse performance than youraveragenotebook,butonaveragethebatterylifeisasbad asorworsethanasimilarnotebookwitha35WCPU.Sure,you get a slim and lightweight notebook, but that's really it and it's not as if most Ultrabooks are cheap at that. Withitsmovetowardsdockingsolutionswehaveafeelingthat Intel is eyeing the corporate market space where performance quite often is second to many other features that are required. We're somewhat disappointed with Intel's approach here though as the company had a chance to standardize things, but instead chose not to. There's nothing worse than having to buy custom made accessories, especially notebook docking solutions or port replicators, as most of them are almost guaranteed to not work with your next notebook as then technology has progressed too far. In simple terms, Intel is suggesting that the notebook makers should fit a rather large dock connector plus a mini DisplayPort connector side by side to make it easy to attach a dock or a port replicator via either a cable or a side mounted latch mechanism of some kind. It doesn't exactly look like a user friendly connector and considering that Intel expects to run several different interfaces down the same cable, it looks like a serious design problem waiting to happen. DuetoIntel'sowninflexibletechnology,theonboardEthernet controller has to have direct access to the Ethernet port on the dock as otherwise technologies such as Intel's vPro and Microsoft's Connected Standby won't work. Then you have to deliver power through the same cable to power the notebook through the dock and let's not forget the Thunderbolt data. Intel is even suggesting that notebook makers can pipe things like audio and just about anything else they want through the 13

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November 24th, 2011 dockconnectortosavecost,althoughthisisapparentlynotthe ideal solution. of the dock by a fair margin. This solution is meant to be the quickest and simplest way to create a Thunderbolt dock according to Intel as it uses a certified port for Thunderbolt. However, the company isn't dismissing the idea of custom dock connectors, sort of what we've already seen from Sony, although optical connectivity doesn't seem to be part of Intel's suggested route to achieve this. This kind of solution would require certification to make suretheThunderboltsignallingremainswithinspec,soit'snot the most likely solution. So what about USB 3.0 docks? Well, it really seems like Intel has given USB 3.0 the thumbs down, as at least according to the details we've seen, Intel is calling USB 3.0 a poor option for docking stations when it comes to adding features such as displayinterfacesandfortunnellingcertainprotocolsthrough it. Considering the already much wider update of USB 3.0, we can't but wonder what Intel was thinking, but then again, the companyismostlikelytryingtosellitsexpensiveThunderbolt chipsratherthanhavingthirdpartieshaveasliceoftheaction. It's fair to say that USB 3.0 has some limitations compared to Thunderbolt, but it's likely to be a much more affordable route to go down and we can see this being the far more popular option for docking stations as not only will you be able to buy 14 Published by: VR-Zone third party solutions of which some are already in the market, but we'd expect the cost difference to make up for just about all of the benefits that a Thunderbolt dock can offer. AMD Saves Apple's Bacon in the HTC's Patent Complaint Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/amd-saves-apple-s-bacon-in-the-htc-s- patent-complaint/14035.html November 24th, 2011 In the dispute between HTC Corporation and Apple Inc., the US International Trade Commission (US ITC) ruled in the favor of Apple, which is a reversal of the original decision. It turns out that Apple received a secret helper in the form of Advanced Micro Devices. As Thunderbolt is a combination of PCI Express signalling and DisplayPort, Intel has some suggestions as to what kind of ports the dock should feature, but this is pretty much opentothenotebookmanufacturer.Somesuggestionsinclude a mini DisplayPort connector, HDMI via DP++, a D-sub connector via USB, a built in USB controller that will connect to USB ports and audio, eSATA via a PCI Express based SATA controller and just about anything else you can think of that needs PCI Express connectivity. Intel is also suggestion that daisy chaining Thunderbolt devices onto the dock could be a possibility, but this does a we know depend on which Thunderboltchipisbeingusedandwilllikelyincreasethecost Back in May 2010, S3 Graphics Inc. filed a complaint against Apple for infringing on four patents in relation to the graphics operation. On July 1, 2011 ITC announced a verdict ruling in favor of S3 Graphics as HTC purchased S3 Graphics from VIA. On November 21, 2011 - the favorable verdict was overruled and the case was dismissed . What happened? It turns out that the reversal did not happen thanks to vested interests of the U.S. companies who often use ITC for sales pressure, or by Apple's legal strength. As you might know, Apple employed a lot of refugees from Advanced Micro Devices and exactly those refugees reversed the ITC decision. According to the verdict, on September 15, 2011 Advanced Micro Devices and its subsidiaries ATI Technologies ULC and ATI Technologies SRL entered the case as non-parties. AMD claimed they own the patents in question and that the company refuses to "assert them in this investigation." Subsequently, on September 19th Apple filed its own motion to "terminate the case based on AMD's patent ownership claims." Finally, Commission denied AMD and Apple requests to publicly disclose the details of the patents in question - so

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November 24th, 2011 that the public would not find out what patents were used to attack S3 Graphics IP portfolio. If you are wondering what "thanks" Apple gave AMD for this neat intervention and a save from an injunction order for all Apple devices, the answer is - cancelation of AMD Llano powered MacBook and losing the contracts for next- generation MacBook Air/Pro/iMac, which are all going to be powered by NVIDIA Quadro. With friends like these, who needs enemies? If you thought this was over and HTC lost, there is another twist to the story. Last week, ITC accepted another investigation against Apple in regards to S3 Graphics and additional four patents. All in all, legal wheel keeps on spinning. Fujitsu SITEX Special Promotion Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/fujitsu-sitex-special- promotion/14034.html November 24th, 2011 If you are looking for a improved mobile computing experience, you have found it with Fujitsu. They will be featuring promotions at the upcoming SITEX 2011 Show, at booth 6B10. The Lifebook SH771 is an ultra-light business-oriented laptop weighing just 1.22kg when configured with a weight saver and solid state drive. Its ultra-thin profile of just 23.2mm contributes to its mobility, which is suitable for travelling professionals. The laptop features a fingerprint sensor for security, and is equipped with USB 3.0 to provide one of the fastest hardware interfacing speed. The Lifebook SH771 also comes with a hot-swappable modular drive bay which can be replaced with batteries or different types of optical drives to accommodate to your needs. 15 Published by: VR-Zone SITEX Show pricing: TBA Fujitsu LIFEBOOK LH531 This laptop features Anytime USB Charge capability which allowsotherdevicestoconnectandrechargeevenifthelaptop isturnedoff.ItoffersenhancedvisualswiththeNvidiaGeforce 410M graphics card, while the Nvidia Optimus Technology automatically switches to an integrated graphics card when performance is not a priority, thus prolonging battery life. Users can enjoy up to six and a half hours of battery life through its battery saving technology. SITEX Show pricing: TBA Fujitsu LIFEBOOK BH531 Fujitsu LIFEBOOK SH771 The BH531 LifeBook shares similar hardware with the LH531, but comes with a compact 13.3-inch screen instead. It is affordable and yet powerful, which positions it as a very cost- efficient solution. This laptop is a suitable choice for students which greatly require the biggest bang-for-bucks. SITEX Show pricing: TBA

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November 24th, 2011 Research in Motion announces BlackBerry Bold 9790 and Curve 9380 Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/research-in-motion-announces- blackberry-bold-9790-and-curve-9380/14033.html Research in Motion has added two new smartphones to their portfolio, the Bold 9790 (left pic) and Curve 9380, both are based on the latest BlackBerry 7 operating system. The smartphones claim to offer users fast performance, brilliant touch displays and compact designs altogether. The BlackBerry Bold 9790 and BlackBerry Curve 9380 have recently been announced that are based on the BlackBerry 7 operating system. The smartphones sport slim and stylish designs with enhanced communications, multimedia, productivity and social connectivity features. The Bold 9790 is powerful and compact and offers fast performance with high resolution touchscreen and tactile keyboard. The BlackBerry Curve 9380 boasts to be the company's first BlackBerry Curve smartphone with a large touch display, and offers powerful social experiences and ease-of-use in a compact form factor. Pricing and availability for Singapore have yet to be released at press time. BlackBerry Bold 9790 specifications Size (L x W x D) - 110mm x 60mm x 11.4mm Display - 2.45" touch screen 480 x 360 pixel resolution at 246ppi Software - BlackBerry 7 OS Memory - 8GB onboard, expandable up to 40GB via microSD card 16 Published by: VR-Zone BatteryLife-GSMTalkTime:TBD;GSMStandbyTime:TBD; UMTS Talk Time: TBD; UMTS Standby Time: TBD; Audio Playback: TBD; Video Playback: TBD Camera - 5-megapixel camera, flash, continuous auto focus, face detection, image stabilization, scene modes, 2x digital zoom, VGA video recording (640 x 480), November 24th, 2011 GPS - Assisted, standalone and simultaneous GPS Wi-Fi - 2.4 GHz b/g/n, 5 GHz a/n Network UMTS: 2100/1900/850/800 MHz (Bands 1,2,5/6); 2100/1700/900 MHz (Bands 1,4,8); GSM: 1900/1800/900/850 MHz Data: HSDPA (7.2 Mbps); HSUPA (5.76 Mbps) BlackBerry Curve 9380 specifications Size (L x W x D) - 109mm x 60mm x 11.2mm Display-3.2”HVGA+touchscreen480X360pixelresolution at 188ppi Software - BlackBerry 7 OS Battery Life - GSM Talk Time: up to 5.5 hours; GSM Standby Time: up to 15 days; UMTS Talk Time: up to 5.8 hours; UMTS Standby Time: up to 15 days; Audio Playback: up to 30 hours; Video Playback: up to 5.5 hours Memory - 512 MB on-board memory, expandable up to 32 GB via microSD card NFC - Operating Frequency: 13.56 MHz; Operating Modes: reader/writer; card emulation Augmented Reality - Powered by Accelerometer and Magnetometer Camera - 5-megapixel camera with flash, image stabilization, 4x digital zoom, scene modes, VGA video recording (640 X 480) GPS - Integrated GPS with A-GPS Wi-Fi - 2.4 GHz – 802.11 b/g/n enabled Network - Quad-Band: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz; GSM/ GPRS networks; Tri-Band UMTS networks: Variant A: (800/850)/1900/2100 MHz; UMTS networks Variant B: 900/1700/2100 MHz UMTS networks Genius Rolls Out Battery-Free Wireless Mouse Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/genius-rolls-out-battery-free-wireless- mouse/14032.html

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November 24th, 2011 November 24th, 2011 Finally,freedomfromwires,andbulkywirelessmice.Ifthere's one thing repulsive about wireless mice, it's probably the pair of AA or AAA size batteries running in them. Some higher-end mice use a lighter lithium ion battery, but that considerably steps up costs. Genius worked its way around the weight and price issues with a light capacitor taking the place of a battery. Measuring 110x 73 x 35 mm, this right-hand oriented wireless mouse uses 2.4 GHz wireless band for communicating with its compact USB reciever. A proprietary technology prevents radio interference. It uses a 1,600 DPI optical sensor, which can be tuned down to 800 DPI to conserve power and reduce sensitivity. Apart from its three main buttons, there are four more buttons, and a 2-way scroll wheel. The top side of the mouse is rubberized to enhance grip. TomTom SITEX 2011 Specials Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/tomtom-sitex-2011- specials/14031.html Published by: VR-Zone November 24th, 2011 TomTom will be showcasing the recently launched TomTom Via and Go series at the upcoming SITEX Show 2011, which feature added convenience and better functionality. Be sure to check them out and make your driving experience a safer one. TomTom GO This capacitor needs charging every week, but it gets charged in 3 minutes flat. Genius implemented the capacitor-powered wireless mouse design in the DX Eco. Finally,freedomfromwires,andbulkywirelessmice.Ifthere's one thing repulsive about wireless mice, it's probably the pair of AA or AAA size batteries running in them. Some higher- end mice use a lighter lithium ion battery, but even that isn't light enough. Genius worked its way around the weight issue with a light capacitor taking the place of a battery. This capacitor needs charging every week, but it gets charged in 3 minutes flat. Genius implemented the capacitor-powered wireless mouse design in the DX Eco. It weighs just 95 grams. The new TomTom GO series includes the TomTom GO 2050 and TomTom GO 2050 World, both of which feature a large 5-inch Fluid Touch screen that allows users to pinch-and- zoom maps quickly or navigate the interface with the their finger. Equipped with an in-built speaker, the device provides outstanding audio output delivering crisp and clear voice instructions. The TomTom Go starts your journey quickly with the unique Easy Click magnetic mount which makes docking and undocking a simple one-hand operation. The TomTom GO 2050 World allows seamless navigation across 66 countries with maps of the entire South-East Asia, as well as Australia, Canada, Europe, New Zealand, South Africa and North America. TomTom Via The TomTom Via range features the best of TomTom’s navigation heritage which includes the latest maps, pre- installed safety cameras, IQ Routes and also voice control for Via 260 and 280 models. The TomTom Via range delivers a brand new software package with a user-friendly interface coupled with Bluetooth hands free calling. The TomTom Via 220 and Via 260 come with a 4.3-inch touch screen, while the TomTom Via 280 displays with its 5-inch touch screen. Retail Prices: TomTom Via 220 - S$199 TomTom Via 260 - S$239 TomTom Via 280 - S$279 TomTom GO 2050 - S$399 17

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November 24th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone TomTom GO 2050 World - S$479 Nokia N9 Review: Nokia's first (and perhaps last) MeeGo device Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/nokia-n9-review-nokia-s-first-and- perhaps-last-meego-device/14011.html November 24th, 2011 IntelandNokiahavejointlyannouncedtheMeeGoplatformat MobileWorldCongressin2010,butitwasnotuntillastmonth that we see the first (and perhaps last) MeeGo device from the Finnishmanufacturer.ButhowgoodistheNokiaN9.Findout inside this review. smartphones with Windows 7.All that said, the Nokia N9 is a heck of smartphone. Here's a quick look at its hardware specifications. Nokia N9 CPU Memory Screen Display Resolution Storage Camera Connectivity Talk time Battery Platform Dimensions Weight 1GHz ARM Cortex-A8 1GB SDRAM 3.9-inch Super AMOLED 480x854(FWVGA) 16GB interal; up to 64GB (black only) 8-megapixel auto-focus Carl Zeiss w/ 2x LED flash NFC, USB, Bluetooth, Micro USB, Nokia AV 3.5mm, Bluetooth 2.1 +EDR, USB 2.0 High-Speed, Bluetooth Stereo Audio Up to 11 hours (2G), 7 hours (3G) 1450 mAh Li-Ion battery MeeGo (Linux) 116.4 x 61.2 x 12.1 mm 135g Dell SITEX Promotion Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/dell-sitex-promotion/14030.html November 24th, 2011 Thinking of upgrading your computing experience with a new laptop?Dellhassomegoodnewsforyouwiththeirpromotions at this SITEX Show 2011, and it is bound to please gamers and style-concious users alike. Dell Alienware M14x Operating on Meego, a joint project between Nokia and Intel in 2010, the Nokia N9 is full of praises from early critics for its sleek design and hardy built, as well as its intelligent interface and stunning graphics. However, like a lustfully teenage boy withhiseyeonanother,NokiahascutMeegooff withtheCEO, Stephen Elop, saying in an interview with Finnish newspaper, Helsingin Sanomat that even if the N9 is a hit, there will be no returning to Meego. Nokia Singapore has promised that software updates, care and services will be supported till 2015 (in fact it has just released an update recently with Swype keyboard and Twitter photo upload support among other tweaks). But in today’s world of marketable apps, there might be a shortage of developers willing to program for an operating system with limited user base. Nokia, instead is concentrating on its relationship with Microsoft and hopes to launch its foray into the world of The Alienware M14x is designed specifically for hardcore gamers seeking for a mobile High Definition (HD) gaming experience with a balance between performance and mobility. Weighing less than 3kg, it features second generation Intel 18

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November 24th, 2011 Core i5 or i7 processor options and NVIDIA GeForce GT 555M with up to 3GB of graphics memory. The 14-inch WLED HD display with a selection between 1366 by 768 or 1600 by 900 resolutionoptionscompletesM14xastheweaponofchoicefor any gamers who want the edge over their competition. Usual Price: Starting from S$2,299 Under the hood, the second generation Intel Core i3 to i7 processor options ensures that it runs as snappy as it is sexy. Your laptop becomes an entertainment power house with SRS Premium Audio and High Definition Video performance at your command. Usual Price: Starting from S$899 SITEX Promotion: TBA Dell S2330MX 23-inch Ultra-slim Monitor The S2330MX Ultra-slim monitor exudes elegance and grace to your viewing experience. With its full HD 1920 by 1080 resolution and 16:9 aspect ratio, the S2330MX monitor produces sharp and clear cinematic-quality pictures, amazing Published by: VR-Zone details and vibrant colours with deeper black and brighter white.TheEnergyStarandEPEATSilvercompliantmonitoris designed to be environmental-friendly by using halogen-free laminates in its circuit boards, while its LED panel is free of arsenic and mercury. Price: TBA SITEX Promotion: TBA Dell XPS 15z Dell Inspiron R Stylish and trendy people will love the Inspiron R, which has both brain and beauty. Dell makes it easy for anyone to go online and choose the perfect top lid that will best express their individuality. Just snap it on to customize your laptop. Less mass more appeal. The XPS 15z certainly seems so with its 0.97-inch thickness, placing it as one of the thinnest 15- inch screen sized laptops around. Looks do not compromise performance, however, as it sports second generation Intel Core i5 and i7 processor options and a 15.6-inch screen with full High Definition 1080p display. Equipped with the NVidia GeForce GT 525M graphics card with 1GB or 2GB memory options, the XPS 15z will also satisfy gamers as well. Together with its slot load DVD reader, the XPS 15z presents a stylish and formidable all-round workhorse for power users. Price: TBA Unlocking the Sandy Bridge Xeon: The 2012 super high end platform Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/unlocking-the-sandy-bridge-xeon- the-2012-super-high-end-platform/14028.html November 24th, 2011 Xeon E5 is a little late, but still expected to be the dominant high end workstation platform for 2012. What about the enthusiasts wanting to push these lovely 8-core dual-socket CPUs to the limits? We have the answers. Before EVGA showed off their famous W555 SR2 board some 20 months ago, there was little hope to unlock the vast overclocking potential of the dual-socket Westmere EP 6 core 19

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November 24th, 2011 Xeon 5600 chips, the close cousins of the Core i7 980X and later 990X high end desktop processors. Even though these workstation & server chips pass very tough screening and, by nature, should handle overclocking on everyday basis even better, there was no such board to support it, and Intel didn’t unlock the multipliers either. Anyway,theflexibleBCLKontheTylersburgplatformenabled EVGA to create the ultimate board that allowed them to reach near 6 GHz on 12 cores with LN2 in 2010, and of course, also enabled production 4 – 4.5 GHz 12 core Xeons with huge amounts of 6-channel DDR-1600+ memory, including ultra low latency desktop kits besides the usual high capacity server kits. This would be the base of ultimate quad- GPU gaming machines, but also engineering workstation, specialized HPC visualization cluster kits, and, guess what… rapid high frequency trading machines for the machination masters of Wall Street and such places. Why? Well, for an ubergamer, having the fastest machine around may lead to the ego boost from highest FPS or whatever. But, to an engineer rushing to complete and invoice a job, finishing the whole calculation 20% faster as the system is brought from 3.33 GHz DDR3-1333 to 4.3 GHz DDR3-2000+ means winning the job, and getting the money more and/or earlier. And, for a nasty competitive bunch of high frequency stock exchange traders, a lower latency machine with higher throughput too, means beating the competitors for million dollar trades every minute. Even if the machine dies within 3 months, who cares? It’d have made its money hundreds of times over – and these guys pay top dollar for top SKUs, then extra for reliable OC, no questions asked. Just ask SGI, how they used this board. Now we come to the upcoming, 8 core, feature-rich, power hungry Xeon E5. The TDP issues we mentioned before did have a role to play in the somewhat lower initial frequencies that this part will have compared to the Westmere EP, as well as limiting its brand new desktop twin, the Core i7 3960X to just 6 cores at start. Those 8 cores, 20 MB L3 cache and 4 DDR3-1600 memory channels, combined with dual 8 GT/s QPI channels and 40 PCIe v3 8 GT/s channels – notice how QPI and PCIe now get kinda in sync – really push the 32 nm process to the limit without even any OC to consider. After all, according to our OEM sources at IDF, just confirmed in Taiwan, the highest speed initial part in the E5-2600 series, aimedatdualsocketworkstationsandHPC,isexpectedtoonly top 3.1 GHz before Turbo, yet it asks for a 150W TDP. That is of course, still by far the fastest X86 part to be in the market at the time, but what if we want more? Published by: VR-Zone Well, the rumours say that, encouraged by the unexpected success of the Westmere Xeon 5600 in the OC space, Intel is quite ready to go ahead with unlocked versions of the high end Xeon E5 too. After all, the users of the upcoming EVGA SR- X dual Socket 2011 mainboard, or its likely competitors from Gigabyte or Asus, wouldn’t mind even 250W TDP per socket to get to well above 4 GHz with dual 8-core Xeon E5, backed by 8 memory channels. Such a board, based on the current experiences with the Core i7-3960X and its cooling, could easily run a say 4.5 GHz dual 8-core setup, with 8 channels total of DDR3-2133 memory – although low latency DDR3-1600 CL6 should be just enough as well. With near half teraflop of peak FP double precision power if using AVX coding, and well over 100 GB/s main memory bandwidth, the monster desktop could feed up to 8 GPUs easily over its 80 PCIe v3 lanes. For those who can’t afford the big dualie, but still want more thanjust6coresofthe3960X,welllookforwardsomeofsingle socket 8-core Xeon E5 Socket 2011 parts – they are expected to work in the current X79 desktop boards too! Of course, you have to pay more than the usual $999 limit Intel puts on its high end desktop SKUs then. Look here for more info as the things move forward. HTC said to focus on quad core devices in 2012 Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/htc-said-to-focus-on-quad-core- devices-in-2012/14027.html November 24th, 2011 Bynowit'sprettyobviousthat2012willbetheyearofthequad core mobile devices, be it smartphones or tablets, although most appear to be running Android so far, but we'd expect a fair few tablets to be part of the Windows 8 crowd later next year. Rumours are now suggesting that HTC is going to stick quad core chips in all of its high-end devices with one of the first being its rumoured Quattro tablet. 20

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November 24th, 2011 Bynowit'sprettyobviousthat2012willbetheyearofthequad core mobile devices, be it smartphones or tablets, although most appear to be running Android so far, but we'd expect a fair few tablets to be part of the Windows 8 crowd later next year. Rumours are now suggesting that HTC is going to stick quad core chips in all of its high-end devices with one of the first being its rumoured Quattro tablet. We're not quite sure how much of this is true, as Digitimes has at least some information that we know is wrong, as the “leaked” Zeta phone from HTC was simply a mock-up and not a device that will ever go into production and as such the specificationsthatwentalongwithitareobviouslynotthereal deal. Thatsaid,theQuattrotabletorwhateveritsretailnamewillbe should at least be arriving in Q1 next year unless HTC changes itsmind.ThetabletshouldbepoweredbyNvidia'sTegra3chip and this falls in line with what we've heard. It's also said to featureBeatsaudio,somethingthatshouldbecomeastandard feature on high-end devices from HTC, as well as support for HTC Scribe and HTC's cloud storage service powered by Dropbox. The Edge should be HTC's first quad core smartphone, it too powered by Nvidia's Tegra 3 chip, although we're not sure if the specs are reliable again, as there are far too many rumours going around when it comes to this handset. We should hopefully see the actual device line-up from HTC and the Mobile World Congress in February which should help to clarify things. HTC has been more or less forced to use Nvidia's chips in its first quad core devices as Qualcomm isn't ready to provideHTCwiththeamountofquadcoreprocessorsthatthe company demands and judging by the Qualcomm roadmaps that we've posted about here before, its first quad core part with be an APQ rather than an MSM model which means it won't have integrated baseband support. This would be fine for a tablet, but not so much for a smartphone. Even so, going down the Nvidia route has the same limitations, so the only issue here is that Qualcomm isn't ready to supply large quantities of chips as yet. That said, the APQ8064 should be quite a powerful chip and we'd expect it to be used in many of the Windows 8 tablets, least not thanks to its support for both SATA and PCI Express. Samsung going quad-core with the Exynos 4412 Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/samsung-going-quad-core-with-the- exynos-4412/14026.html November 24th, 2011 Some very early details of Samsung's next generation Exynos SoC has made an appearance online and it suggests that the upcoming Exynos 4412 is a quad core processor. It will still be an ARM Cortex-A9 based chip, but it's said to sport improved graphics and higher clock speeds. Published by: VR-Zone Some very early details of Samsung's next generation Exynos SoC has made an appearance online and it suggests that the upcoming Exynos 4412 is a quad core processor. It will still be an ARM Cortex-A9 based chip, but it's said to sport improved graphics and higher clock speeds. The details appeared on a Kernel Git page which is a Linux kernel archive and consist of files that add kernel support for the Exynos 4412 quad core SoC. Several files mentions the fact that the Exynos 4412 is a quad core ARM Cortex-A9 chip and mostofitappearstobesuppliedbyaSamsungemployeesome six weeks ago. Clock speeds of the new chip are expected to be around 1.5GHz. Apparently the Exynos 4412 shares most of its features with the dual core Exynos 4212 and both chips are expected to be 32nm HKMG parts. It's also believed that the Exynos 4412 willfeatureupdatedgraphicsintheshapeofARM'sMali-604T GPU core with up to eight "cores", although at this point in time this is purely speculation and it's very possible that we might see a PowerVR based graphics core here, since as we know, Samsung has licenced both companies graphics technology. We'll just have to wait and see what Samsung comes up with, but it's clear that 2012 is going to be the year of quad core ARM processors. Cheaper tablets coming next year? Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/cheaper-tablets-coming-next- year-/14025.html November 24th, 2011 It looks like there has been some over production of tablets, more specifically Android powered tablets which just aren't selling, well, at least not unless we're talking about Amazon's Kindle Fire or Barnes & Noble's new Nook. This has led to excess inventory levels of most other Android tablets, somethingthatisn'texpectedtochangemuchovertheholiday season either. It looks like there has been some over production of tablets, more specifically Android powered tablets which just aren't selling, well, at least not unless we're talking about Amazon's Kindle Fire or Barnes & Noble's new Nook. This has led to excess inventory levels of most other Android tablets, somethingthatisn'texpectedtochangemuchovertheholiday season either. According to Digitimes, there are somewhere between 3-4 million tablets sitting in warehouses and on store shelves if estimations by IDC are proven to be correct. That's a lot of unsold tablets, although this is among all of the tablet makers which makes it a more reasonable share per company. Still, it goes to show that tablets aren't going down all that well with 21

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November 24th, 2011 consumers at their current price points, something that isn't entirely unexpected when consumers are already spending money on smartphones and notebooks. As such it looks like we can expect a price drop on many of the current tablets come next year as the companies are trying to clear out their inventories for either Android 4.0 tablets with better, faster and shinier hardware, or as Digitimes seems to think, Windows 8 tablets which it claims some PC vendors have decided to already start designing ahead of Microsoft's launch of its new OS that will apparently arrive sometime in Q3 next year. Lack of Android updates leads to unsecure handsets according to report Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/lack-of-android-updates-leads-to- unsecure-handsets-according-to-report/14024.html November 24th, 2011 A company called Bit9 that creates server side security software has had a play with some of the more commonly available Android phones in the market and has found that the manufacturers lack of updates for its older handsets are leading to unsecure devices. The company has compiled a list that it calls the "Dirty Dozen" which consists of what the company considers the worst offers that have reached significant market penetration. A company called Bit9 that creates server side security software has had a play with some of the more commonly available Android phones in the market and has found that the manufacturers lack of updates for its older handsets are leading to unsecure devices. The company has compiled a list that it calls the "Dirty Dozen" which consists of what the company considers the worst offers that have reached significant market penetration. We'dsaythatthisreportshouldbetakenwithagrainofsaltor maybe even a teaspoon or two depending on how you use your phone, but the company is suggesting that any Android phone running a version of Android older than 2.3.3 is vulnerable to variousthreats.Therearesomeinterestingstatisticstotakeon board here though, such as the fact that the 12 phones picked make up close to 33 percent of the market share of Android phonescurrentlyinuse,althoughthisdataonlyseemstoapply to the US market. The top three offenders are the Samsung Galaxy Mini, the HTC Desire and the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 and you can check out the other nine models in the chart below. Apparently Android holds 52 percent of the US handset market of smartphones and of that 52 percent 56 percent are running a version of Android older than 2.3.3. Many Published by: VR-Zone of these handsets are considered end-of-life by the handset manufacturers and as such, they're not bothering putting any more resources into the models that they've already sold and moveawayfrom.Evenso,mostoftheAndroidhandsetmakers have a lag time of six months or more before they deliver updates to their handsets and according to Bit9, Samsung is the worst when it comes to providing timely updates. Another problem mentioned is the fact that many new handsets ship with an already out dated version of Android, something that far too many consumers have experienced and been disappointed by. That said, even Apple's iPhone gets a mention and has ended up on a 13 th place in the list as Apple's older devices that aren't eligibleforsoftwareupdatessufferasimilarfatetooldAndroid devices. What the report doesn't state is what kind of threats there are, although it talks loosely about things like hackers being able to access to information on smartphones such as business email, rather than suggesting that there's a wide range of viruses that might be picked up by your smartphone. Bit9 doesn't give any clear solutions to the problem at hand either, but is suggestion that Google should be more involved when it comes to enforcing updates for its OS that would be able to bypass the device makers and the network service providers. They're also suggesting that large companies limit access to apps or provide a secure app store which only has certified apps in it. Another approach is to put more pressure on the device makers to get more timely releases of updates 22

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November 24th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone to the OS out to all of their devices and we have to say that this one sounds like the best option to us, as it's a win-win situation for everyone except possibly the device makers who would be forced to hire more software developers. Head over to the source for the full report. 23

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Published by: VR-Zone November 29th, 2011 VR-Zone.com | Stuff for the Geeks! VR-Zone | Stuff for the Geeks is a bi-weekly publication covering the latest gadgets and stuff for the geeks. Report: AMD Radeon HD 7000 presentation on December 5th Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/report-amd-radeon-hd-7000- presentation-on-december-5th/14091.html November 29th, 2011 AMD is reportedly preparing a media event next Monday, December 5th, to present their next-gen 28nm GPUs - to be branded Radeon HD 7000 series. While this is not going to be a release day, more information about the much anticipated HD 7000 is expected to finally be presented to the media. AMD is reportedly preparing a media event next Monday, December 5th, to present their next-gen 28nm GPUs - to be branded Radeon HD 7000 series. While this is not going to be a release day, more information about the much anticipated HD 7000 is expected to finally be presented to the media. The event is being held at London - curiously also the codename for the Radeon HD 7000M notebook - rumoured to be announced in December. Surely, that is not a co- incidence, and we could see the Radeon HD 7000M series being announced on December 5th, with notebooks featuring HD7000MGPUsshippinginQ12012.Ofcourse,itisstandard proceduretoannouncemobileGPUswellbeforenotebookshit the market. As for the desktop market, several reports and sources suggest the first HD 7000 GPUs will release around CES 2012 time, i.e. second week of January. Till then, we can look forward to some concrete information following the December 5th London event. PCI Express 4.0 announced, twice the bandwidth of 3.0 We haven't even reached a stage where you can buy a single PCIExpress3.0add-incard,yetthePCI-SIGisn'trestingonits laurels as the company has just announced version 4.0 of the PCI Express specification. As you might expect PCI Express 4.0 is bringing twice the bandwidth compared to PCI Express 3.0, but it's not going to arrive any time soon. We haven't even reached a stage where you can buy a single PCIExpress3.0add-incard,yetthePCI-SIGisn'trestingonits laurels as the company has just announced version 4.0 of the PCI Express specification. As you might expect PCI Express 4.0 is bringing twice the bandwidth compared to PCI Express 3.0, but it's not going to arrive any time soon. With only Intel's recently announced Sandy Bridge-E processors and X79 based motherboards having the potential of offering PCI Express 3.0 support, that is if Intel ever condones it officially, we're currently at a stage where PCI Express 3.0 doesn't matter all that much. That said,come next year we should see a wider availability of PCI Express 3.0. With twice the bandwidth of PCI Express 2.0, a standard that is hardly being utilized to the max, one has to wonder what we can look forward to that will use up the bandwidth of PCI Express 4.0. With some 16GT/s (that's gigatransfers) we're looking at a lot of bandwidth here and the good news is that the PCI-SIG is expecting this to be feasible with little to no changes to the physical PCI Express 3.0 board and slot layout, much in the same way as the move from PCI Express 2.0 to 3.0. That said, the PCI-SIG isn't expecting to have the finer details of PCI Express 4.0 done until sometime in 2014 or 2015 and by then, there might be something that needs all that extra bandwidth. Keeping with the good news, PCI Express 4.0 is expected to be fully backwards compatible, cost no more to make than current PCI Express implementations and we might be seeing some more power efficient implementations developed by the time the standard is finalized. The future of peripherals, in a glass pane Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/the-future-of-peripherals-in-a-glass- pane/14085.html November 29th, 2011 Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/pci-express-4.0-announced-twice-the- bandwidth-of-3.0/14090.html November 29th, 2011 Writers and movie-makers have gotten us to dream about this for years: a sexy transparent glass panel which we can type 1

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November 29th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone A sci-fi-esque keyboard or trackpad made solely out of a pane of glass may be coming to you soon. Engineer, inventor and entrepreneur Jason Giddings brings this technology to reality with his Kickstarter project titled Multi-Touch Keyboard and Mouse. Using the existing technology called Frustrated Total Internal Reflection (FTIR), light from mounted LEDs on one edge of the keyboard panel will bounce internally in a zig-zag path againstthetwolargesurfacesoftheglassatitsreststate.When typing begins, contact is made between the glass panel and the finger, breaking the internal reflection and thus directing the light downwards into a camera. This is then processed to determine which keys are ‘pressed’. Similar mechanism is deployed to register gestures as well. This project can be seen as part of a step towards further minimizing the appearance and presence of hardware from a mobile device, which is a different level from making thinner smartphones. This brings us closer to many concept renders depictingthedaywhenhandsetsandcomputermayappearno more than just be a pane of glass. or doodle around to interact with a computer system. This is not too far away from us, now that a Kickstarter project is underway to bring this to fruition. Visit the Kickstarter website to see how you can contribute to materializing this amazing concept. 'Sleek' to be the name of Samsung's new superphone? Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/-sleek-to-be-the-name-of-samsung-s- new-superphone-/14084.html November 29th, 2011 The Korean electronics giant Samsung is on the move again. With their latest GALAXY Nexus in line for release just a few weeks from now, the company has filed yet another trademarkapplicationforthename“SamsungGALAXYSleek” with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The range of goods and service which comes under the trademark apparently includes smartphones and tablet devices. While the selected family of device is not surprising, it also seems to indicate that Samsung is taking good measures not to reveal anything about the intended device that will bear that name.TheGALAXYseriesisreputedforhighqualityproducts with refined aesthetic in a complete package, thus the use of the word ‘sleek’ feels like it may be another milestone product. Nonetheless, only time will tell as we wait for the 2

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November 29th, 2011 next big thing from Samsung. Meanwhile,we can all enjoy the upcoming GALAXY Nexus which boasts to be the first phone with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Droid 4 carries latest specs in QWERTY flavour Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/droid-4-carries-latest-specs-in-qwerty- flavour/14075.html November 29th, 2011 The Motorola Droid 4 has been churning the rumour mill recently, but now some tangible numbers and more pictures have emerged. The most powerful QWERTY phone to date is nigh. it may be released on 8 December by Verizon. While the fast release cycle surprises many people, given that the Motorola Razr was just unleashed, it still makes delighting news for people who must have a physical keyboard on a smartphone. Published by: VR-Zone be a tool that accomodates to the removal of the back piece, suggesting that batteries may be replaceble. While there is no indication of which Android version it will run, the supposed launch from Verizon alongside the Galaxy Nexus may imply that it will come with the new Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. But, right now, its anybody's guess. Toyota Fun-Vii concept car with customizable exterior display Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/toyota-fun-vii-concept-car-with- customizable-exterior-display/14083.html November 29th, 2011 The impending arrival of Motorola's Droid 4 becomes more and more apparent as new images surface along with a tip that What's better than a car that has a stylish and futuristic design? How about one whereby the entire exterior is an external display? Japanese car maker Toyota has recently unveiled their Fun-Vii concept car whose exterior is also an external display. The D4 will be powered by a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 4-inch touch screen, a full five row illuminated QWERTY keyboard, front camera, a 8-megapixel shooter at the rear side, and topped off with support for 4G Long Term Evolution Network. It looks very similar to the newly released Razr, sans the well-marketed Kevlar rear cover, which is not surprising at all. Unlike the Razr, however, there seems to 3

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November 29th, 2011 ToyotahasrecentlyshowcasedtheirFun-Viiconceptcaratthe Tokyo Motor Show at Tokyo Big Sight in Koto Ward, whose exterior can be used as external display, and the interior can also be adjusted to fit the driver's mood. According to the company's executives, the design was influenced by modern smartphones whereby the handheld can be personalized, from the skin, home page etc. The three-seater concept car's external display can be adjusted to modify the car's color, while the interior of the Fun-Vii can be configured and with adjustable colors and tints for various portions of the car. But when powered off, the exterior is jet black (as above pic). Being a concept car, there is no word as to whether the Toyota Fun-Vii will ever be produced. Even more Ivy Bridge details leak Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/even-more-ivy-bridge-details- leak/14082.html November 29th, 2011 By now you've most likely already ready the Ivy Bridge line- up details via Russia, although now more details have come to light via China. A lot of details were missing in the initial leak and we can now fill in the blanks, especially with regards to the graphics and how the upcoming Ivy Bridge processor fit into Intel's echo system compared to the current Sandy Bridge processors. By now you've most likely already ready the Ivy Bridge line- up details via Russia , although now more details have come to light via China. A lot of details were missing in the initial leak and we can now fill in the blanks, especially with regards to the graphics and how the upcoming Ivy Bridge processor fit into Intel's echo system compared to the current Sandy Bridge processors. Startingwiththegraphics,wehavetwographicsoptionsinthe desktopparts,IntelHDGraphics4000andIntelHDGraphics 2500. The main difference here beyond clock speeds is that we're expecting the execution units to be at least 1/3 greater in the HD 4000 parts compared to the HD 2500 parts, unless Intel has changed something last minute. The Core i7-3770K, Core i7-3770, Core i7-3770S, Core i7-3770T, Core i5-3570K as well as the oddly named Core i5-3475S will be the only ones with HD 4000 graphics, the rest get to make do with HD 2500 graphics. Published by: VR-Zone the SKU. For most, this is likely to have little to no difference. Do keep in mind that the max dynamic clock speed may never be achieved, especially if you're overclocking the CPU, as the CPU and GPU are sharing the same max TDP, so good cooling is key here. Intel still appears to be removing features like hardware virtualization on its K-models for whatever reason, as well as support for it trusted execution technology. It's funny how we end up paying more for less when it comes to Intel's high-end, overclockable CPUs. As for the product positioning, well, the Core i7-3770K are placedbelowtheupcomingCorei7-3820SandyBridge-ECPU and it will be very interesting to see how the two compare in real world situations, especially with a mere 100MHz base clock speed difference between the two. Oddly enough the Core i7-3770 is clocked 100MHz slower than its K suffix counterpart this time around, something that wasn't the case with the current Sandy Bridge processors and something that isn't the case for the Core i5-3570's. We were quite surprised by the fact that Intel placed the Core i5-3570, 3550 and 3450 (the 3470 wasn't in the product positioninglist)aheadofthecurrentCorei5-2500K,especially as the Core i5-3450 is 200MHz slower and Ivy Bridge wasn't expect to bring that much extra performance when it comes to the CPU core itself. Once again, it'll be interesting to see how things play out when it comes to real world performance, as this is where it counts. The original post on Chinese website Corescn.com requires you to log in, so instead we've included a link to German Computerbasewhohassomeadditionaldetailsonthesubject. Do take this with a pinch of salt, as although it does look legit and lines up nicely with the details from Overclockers.ru, there's a chance that things will still change before the launch. The base clock speed for all Ivy Bridge desktop processors will start at 650MHz, although we'll see a max dynamic clock speed of anything between 1050 and 1150MHz depending on 4

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November 29th, 2011 Kinect 2 rumoured to be able to read your lips Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/kinect-2-rumoured-to-be-able-to-read- your-lips/14081.html November 29th, 2011 Microsoft's Kinect for the Xbox 360 has without a doubt been a huge success for the company and it looks as if Microsoft is working on a new, much more advanced version of Kinect to gowithitsnextgenconsolewhichisexpectedtobeannounced sometime next year. Sadly the rumour mill doesn't offer a lot of details, but we're apparently looking at something quite a bit more advanced than the current Kinect. a huge success for the company and it looks as if Microsoft is working on a new, much more advanced version of Kinect to gowithitsnextgenconsolewhichisexpectedtobeannounced sometime next year. Sadly the rumour mill doesn't offer a lot of details, but we're apparently looking at something quite a bit more advanced than the current Kinect. Eurogamer has scored some exclusive information suggestion that the next generation of Kinect will offer a much higher resolution camera which won't be hard as the current Kinect model has a resolution of a mere 320x240 pixels, something that is apparently to do with the data limitation that Microsoft put on the USB interface as to not interfere too much with the performance of other attached USB devices. As such Kinect is only allowed 15-16MB/s of the total available bandwidth, a restriction the next generation hardware won't suffer from. In fact, it's meant to have a camera capable of reading your lips, for improved voice and motion recognition. If we were to hazard a guess here, we might see USB 3.0 support in the next gen console from Microsoft, as this would remove all the potential bottlenecks for quite some time. The quoted source also seems to suggest something similar "It can be cabled straight through on any number of technologies that just take phenomenally high res data straight to the main processor and straight to the main RAM and ask, what do you want to do with it?" Thisisalsosuggestingthatwe'llseealotmoreRAMinthenext gen console from Microsoft and hopefully some of this will be dedicatedtoprovidingenoughspacetostorehigherresolution textures, a problem that both Microsoft's and Sony's current consoles are suffering from compared to modern graphics cardsinaPC.Ifyou'reanXboxfollower,thenitseemslikeyou have a lot to look forward to next year, although none of this is expected to make an appearance until E3 in June. 5 Published by: VR-Zone Is Apple working on a 15-inch MacBook Air? Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/is-apple-working-on-a-15-inch- macbook-air-/14080.html November 29th, 2011 According to recent rumours, Apple will not only offer Ivy Bridgepowered11.6and13.3-inchversionsofitsMacBookAir come the new year, but the company is apparently planning a 15-inch model as well. The question is if the market demand is there, as at least traditionally, Apple's larger notebooks have been quite powerful machines and a slimmed down version won't be able to compete in terms of performance. Microsoft's Kinect for the Xbox 360 has without a doubt been According to recent rumours, Apple will not only offer Ivy Bridgepowered11.6and13.3-inchversionsofitsMacBookAir come the new year, but the company is apparently planning a 15-inch model as well. The question is if the market demand is there, as at least traditionally, Apple's larger notebooks have been quite powerful machines and a slimmed down version won't be able to compete in terms of performance. The details are slim as always when it comes to this type of rumour, but Digitimes appears to be fairly certain that Apple will be offering a 15-inch SKU and it's said to be offered as a competitor to the yet-to-launch large screen Ultrabooks. That said, we might just end up with a slimmed-down version of the MacBook Pro, as the details are anything but clear and are coming from the supply chain that doesn't always have the full picture. Interestinglypilotproductionofthe11.6and13.3-inchmodels has apparently already started which means that Intel is more or less ready with its ULV models of Ivy Bridge, something we'll bring you more details on shortly. As for the 15-inch version, well, it's not in pilot production, but it's expected to get to that stage shortly and we'll just have to wait and see if it'll be a new Air or a slimmed down Pro. Gigabyte updates its Booktops with the T1132, gives you a chance to win one Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/gigabyte-updates-its-booktops-with- the-t1132-gives-you-a-chance-to-win-one/14079.html November 29th, 2011

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November 29th, 2011 With Intel's ULV processors mostly ending up in Ultrabooks these days, it's refreshing to see something a bit different and Gigabyte has overahauled its Booktop series of convertible notebooks with a shiny new Sandy Bridge ULV CPU. The original Booktop, the T1125 was looking a bit tired specification wise by now, so this refresh is welcome. With Intel's ULV processors mostly ending up in Ultrabooks these days, it's refreshing to see something a bit different and Gigabyte has overahauled its Booktop series of convertible notebooks with a shiny new Sandy Bridge ULV CPU. The original Booktop, the T1125 was looking a bit tired specification wise by now, so this refresh is welcome. The CPU of choice in this case is the Core i5-2467M which arrived all the way back in June, so in other words it has taken Gigabyte a while to get this 1.6GHz chip (with Turbo to 2.3GHz) into its Booktop. The new model is called the T1132 and the specific SKU with the Core i5 chip carries the N suffix and is currently the only new model, although we'd expectmoreSKUstofollow.FinallyGigabytehasalsoincluded Bluetooth 3.0 + HS, although this is a standard that has as yet to really take off. Published by: VR-Zone Other new features include a chipset update to the HM65 chipset and slightly better graphics with a move to an Nvidia GeForce GT520M which should offer a small performance boost over the GeForce 410M found in the T1125. It should be mentioned that the T1132 supports switchable graphics for when you're running on battery. The rest remains close to the same , with a 1366x768 resolution 11.6-inch display with capacitive multi-touch, up to 8GB of DDR3 memory, a choice of hard drive options from 320 to 750GB, a USB 3.0 port, an eSATA/USB combo port (eSATAp), an HDMI port, a D-sub connector,amemorycardreader,apairofaudiojacks,Gigabit Ethernet,802.11b/g/nWi-Fiandaspareslotfora3GminiPCI Express card. Let's not forget the optional docking station as well that also houses the optical drive. The pricing for the T1132 hasn't been announced as yet and we double checked with Gigabyte who informed us that we should expect a retail price close to that of the T1125, in other words somewhere in the region of US$1300 (S$1690). That said, Gigabyte is currently giving one away, as well as a few other prizes as long as you're willing to give them your first born fillinasurveywhichyoucanfindontheir Facebook page . Xebec Tech htpc keyboard review Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/xebec-tech-htpc-keyboard- review/14078.html November 29th, 2011 Xebec Tech is a newly founded company which originates from the UK and today has offices in the UK, China and Taiwan. The company currently focuses mostly on high end peripherals. A few weeks ago we had a look on their itouchpad diamond keyboard, a versatile product designed to mimic a laptop-sized keyboard and touchpad. Today we are going to havealookatadifferentpieceofequipmentwhichXebecTech baptizedsimply“htpc”,amultifunctionalcontrollerformedia center PCs, gaming consoles and other devices. XebecTechisanewlyfoundedcompanywhichoriginatesfrom theUKandtodayhasofficesintheUK,ChinaandTaiwan.The company currently focuses mostly on high end peripherals. A few weeks ago we had a look on their itouchpad diamond keyboard ,aversatileproductdesignedtomimicalaptop-sized keyboard and touchpad. Today we are going to have a look at a different piece of equipment which Xebec Tech baptized simply “htpc”, a multi functional controller for media center PCs, gaming consoles and other devices. • 10-15mwirelessrangeduetoa2.4GHznanoreceiver 6

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November 29th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone • • • • • 2.4GHz nano receiver fits into USB port of your computer Plug n Play installation- a specific driver is not required Power saving On/off switch 73keys-13hotkeys(including11mediahotkeys)and 11 further enhanced function keys 11 media hotkeys are: www, e-mail, back, forward, previous track, next track, play/pause, stop, volume up, • • • • • • volume down and mute 11 further enhanced function keys activated via the "fn" key. 6 MCE hot keys: My music, my video, my picture, my TV, my radio and DVD Gestures on the touchpad include 2 finger scrolling Built in and ergonomically placed rear positioned left and right click buttons Weight: 170g Dimensions: 163 x 121 x 28 mm Kingston Buying Up Large Volumes of Elpida, Toshiba DRAM Chips Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/kingston-buying-up-large-volumes-of- elpida-toshiba-dram-chips/14077.html November 29th, 2011 The DDR3 memory industry is suffering with indigestion. Quite literally. Upstream component manufacturers, as well as vendors have jointly overproduced, and hence we're seeing unreal memory prices. DRAM chip vendors Elpida and Toshiba are two of those companies suffering with inventory digestion problem, and they could be the worst hit, given that they're both Japanese, and are part of an environment with lower room for cost-cutting (since labor costs, as well as product quality factor in higher). Kingston Technology has a pill. The DDR3 memory industry is suffering with indigestion. Quite literally. Upstream component manufacturers, as well as vendors have jointly overproduced, and hence we're seeing unreal memory prices. DRAM chip vendors Elpida and Toshiba are two of those companies suffering with inventory digestion problem, and they could be the worst hit, given that they're both Japanese, and are part of an environment with lower room for cost-cutting (since labor costs, as well as product quality factor in higher). Taiwan's Kingston Technology has a pill. According to a DigiTimes report, Kingston is buying large volumes of DRAM chips from Elpida and Toshiba, in an effort to help the two digest inventories by the end of financial year 2011. This has been a disaster year for memory chip manufacturers. They have overproduced, and coupled with lower PC sales, it has rendered many manufacturers cash- strapped and looking for funding to survive. In the retail and channelmarkets,wearegettingtoseesomeunrealprices,with 8 GB DDR3 modules going for as low as US $49.99, and 2x 4 GB dual-channel DDR3 memory kits well within reach of the masses. The move to buy up large stocks of chips from Elpida and Toshiba has a few implications to PC enthusiasts, because chips made by the two go into making high-end DDR3 modules. It could give Kingston a chance to come up with high-performing DDR3 modules at attractive price points, and help raise the brand up the ranks of others that PC enthusiasts look out for. Korea's Hynix Semiconductor is also amongKingston'sDRAMchipsuppliers,anditisreportedthat Kingston could also buy stocks of DRAM chips from it. Simply put, this is the best time to buy memory. Planning to gift your special someone something fluffy or shiny this Christmas? Try a memory upgrade instead! Preliminary Desktop Ivy Bridge Line-up leaked Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/preliminary-desktop-ivy-bridge-line- up-leaked/14076.html November 29th, 2011 A preliminary line-up of Ivy Bridge SKUs has leaked at Chinese forums CoreSCN featuring quad-core Ivy Bridge CPUs,coveringtheCorei5andCorei7branding.Aspreviously rumoured, the focus for Ivy Bridge is clearly power efficiency and graphics, rather than CPU performance. A preliminary line-up of Ivy Bridge SKUs at Chinese forums CoreSCN. The table consists of quad-core Ivy Bridge CPUs, covering the Core i5 and Core i7 branding. As previously rumoured, the focus for Ivy Bridge is clearly power efficiency and graphics, rather than performance. 7

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November 29th, 2011 Table credit: Overclockers.ru At first glance, the product segmentation is very similar to Sandy Bridge - quad-core with HT and 2MB L3 cache disabled as Core i5, the fully enabled chip as Core i7. What is notable is that the Core i5 brand has been extended to feature a greater range of clocks, and presumably a wider price range. As with Sandy Bridge, K suffix indicates unlocked multiplier, S power efficient,andTlowpower.Themostnotablechangeisthemax TDP for all Ivy Bridge products is down to 77W, from 95W - whichhasbeenthestandardforthissegmentforseveralyears. The Core i5 brand covers Core i5 3330 to Core i5 3570K, clocking from 3 GHz to 3.4 GHz for the 77W parts. The 33xx CPUs feature limited turbo of 2 bins compared to the 34xx and 35xx brands, which feature 4 bins - like Sandy Bridge. It is worth noticing that the clock speed of the Core i5 3570K is only100MHzhigherthanCorei52500K.Thistrendiscarried onto the Core i7 3770K, which tops out at 3.5 GHz - exactly the same as Core i7 2700K. It is clear that CPU performance will be essentially similar to equivalent Sandy Bridge products - albeit the performance delivered at a lower power floor, with superior graphics performance. In addition to lowering TDP acrosstheboard,Intelarguablyalsohastoprotectitshigh-end Sandy Bridge-E series. A 95W Ivy Bridge would clearly outrun Sandy Bridge-E in all tasks that utilize 4 cores or less. In line with the focus on power efficiency, Ivy Bridge also feature impressive power efficient S and T options. The S suffixedCPUshavea65WTDPandaren'tfarofftheirstandard 77W counterparts. They also offer the same turbo, which means single-threaded performance is essentially the same. The T suffixed CPUs operate under only 45W, with the top Core i7 3770T clocking up to 2.5 GHz and 3.7 GHz with turbo. Core i5 2390T, the only dual-core Core i5 part in the Sandy Bridge line-up, will be replaced by a similar dual-core Ivy Bridge CPU - Core i5 3470T, clocked at 2.9 GHz with a 35W TDP. These Core i5 and Core i7 Ivy Bridge products are expected to release in April 2012, with dual-core Core i3 CPUs expected later in Q2 2012. The power efficiency improvements will bring forward more significant improvements in the notebook market with configurable TDPs - particularly for ultrabooks. In the desktop arena, Sandy Bridge owners will find limited incentive to upgrade to Ivy Bridge. 8 Published by: VR-Zone AMD Radeon Memory Goes Beyond Enthusiasts Memory, Brings OverDrive Support Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/amd-radeon-memory-goes-beyond- enthusiasts-memory-brings-overdrive-support/14072.html November 29th, 2011 In early August, AMD introduced Radeon-branded memory modules in selected markets. When we spoke with AMD, we were told that the company is "trialing the market" and is "running a test in Japan". The results of that test were obviously successful, since the company is coming with the whole product line. WhileAMDisinthenewsforallthewrongreasonssuchasthe Bulldozerlaunchanda12%layoff,AMDismakinganentrance into the completely new market: memory . AMD partnered with Patriot Memory to bring this type of products to the global market, while VisionTek is selected to be the North American retail partner. AMD will offer three lines of system memory, all in 2GB, 4GB and 8GB capacities: "EntertainmentEdition","PerformanceEdition"and"Radeon Edition". The line is fairly standard - DDR3-1333, DDR3-1600 and DDR3-1866. DDR3L is making an appearance inside the "Performance Edition" with modules operating at 1.35V, while "Radeon Edition" operates at 1.5-1.65V at 1866MHz and supports overclocking via AMD Overdrive software.

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November 29th, 2011 While Patriot is the manufacturer of memory modules, those modules feature AMD branded memory chips and the company did not disclose who the manufacturer of those memory chips is. System DIMM memory is not the only thing AMD silently launched. The company also launched its own brand of graphics memory , and it won't be long before we see a vendor from Mainland China pairing an NVIDIA GPU with AMD GDDR3 or GDDR5 memory. Android Gingerbread 2.3.6 coming to your Samsung Galaxy S II Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/android-gingerbread-2.3.6-coming-to- your-samsung-galaxy-s-ii/14074.html November 29th, 2011 Samsung has unleashed a new firmware for its ever-popular Galaxy S II super-phone, merely a week after the version 2.3.5 update for its predecessor, the Samsung Galaxy S.The 9 Published by: VR-Zone new patch addresses some issues including a tendency for lockscreen freezes, minor bugs and security loopholes, as well asupgradessuchasanewcamerainteractionlayout,increased HSPA transfer speed, a faster boot-up sequence and a string of other performance improvements. The update was initially reported from Mexico and it should be served through Samsung KIES, the company's proprietary bundled software to interface the phone with the computer. It is believed that the unlocked version of the phone will receive its upgrades first, while carrier-bounded handsets would require approval before receiving the patch. Well, hopefully the update would reach Singaporeans by Decemeber or early next year. Fellow owners can check their update status via the "settings" menu on their phones in hopes of receiving the good news. Canon PowerShot S100 slated for 8 December release Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/canon-powershot-s100-slated-for-8- december-release/14073.html November 29th, 2011 The Canon PowerShot S100 was showcased at Canon Singapore's event in September, and the company has said that the successor to the popular PowerShot S95 would be launched in early November. Unfortunately, we have not seen the compact digital camera in stores yet. According to online sources, the PowerShot S100 is slated for 8 December release instead. The new Google Android 2.3.6 updates for the Samsung Galaxy S II is on the horizon. Read on to find out how much better this super-phone can become. The Canon PowerShot S100 was originally scheduled to be available in early November, but now, it looks like the successor to the popular PowerShot S95 is now slated for early December release; the official release date has been determinedtobeon8December.Availableinsilverandblack, the PowerShot S100 features a high-sensitive 12.1-Megapixel 1/1.7-type CMOS image sensor, enhanced HS system and new DIGIC5imageprocessor,wideanglezoomlensandnewbuilt- in GPS to record location information to the picture's EXIF data. The estimated retail price is approximately ¥55,000 (or US$708).

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November 29th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone Win a Apple iPad 2! - Signup and attend tomorrow's Next Generation Computing Experience Forum 2011 Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/win-a-apple-ipad-2--signup- and-attend-tomorrow-s-next-generation-computing-experience- forum-2011/14070.html November 29th, 2011 Together with the AMD 16-core Interlagos server platform launch, VR Media (parent company of VR-Zone) is co- organising a technical forum together with A-STAR A*CRC on the next generation high performance computing... tomorrow.Thiseventissuitableforacademics,scientists,high performance computing enthusiasts and IT decision makers. Signupnowandattendtheeventtomorrowforachancetowin a Apple iPad 2! In the first of a series of our technical events with A*CRC, we focus on the technology updates in the high performance computing field, including the architecture of large machines used in supercomputing. The new processors, system designs and interconnects integrating thousands of small modules into large combinations are one area. The other one is heterogeneous computing, where combining CPUs, GPUs and otheracceleratorstogethercreatesnewchallengesinsoftware, especially parallel programming, to squeeze the most out of the underlying hardware potential. Top speakers from A*CRC, AMD, HP will be on hand to unveil new strategies, platforms and products, and your favourite VR-Zone team will be there to cover. The event is held at Biopolis, Matrix Building, Exploration theatre, from 9 am to 4 pm. Signup and attend for a chance to win a Apple iPad 2! 10

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November 29th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone Report: Gigabyte X79 Plug- Fest OC Event @ KL, Malaysia Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/report-gigabyte-x79-plug-fest-oc- event--kl-malaysia/14069.html November 29th, 2011 Last weekend, tech media outlets like VR-Zone and other ASEAN-based overclockers were invited to attend the Gigabyte X79 Plug-Fest OC event which was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Besides introducing their latest range of Gigabyte X79 motherboards for the new Socket 2011 chips, Liquid Nitrogen was provided for those in attendance to push the limits of the latest Intel Sandy Bridge-E processors at sub- zero temperatures. Gigabyte X79 Plug-Fest - Various tech journalists and expert overclockers from Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and Philippines Gigabyte Taiwan Product Development Manager, Mr. Hunter Lee giving a product briefing before the overclocking session. To qualify for the lucky draw, you must signup and attend the event through the whole proceedings (9am to 3pm). This technical event is suitable for academics, scientists, high performance computing enthusiasts and IT decision makers. Signup Link: http://ngcef2011.eventbrite.com/ Gigabyte's X79 motherboard lineup catered to the different types of users For their X79 boards, Gigabyte have finally opted to switch to a fully digital VRM implementation for more precise power control and regulation which should help component stability during overclocking. 11

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November 29th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone One exclusive feature on the higher end Gigabyte X79 boards is the inclusion of a "Bluetooth 4.0 + Wifi" PCIe x1 expansion card for faster syncing with your new fangled handheld devices. Also making its debut on Gigabyte X79 boards is their "Patent Pending" UEFI Bios to give end users a more modern and verbose interface to tune and adjust traditional BIOS options. Gigabyte also showed off their mobile apps which will we should see in the Apple iOS App store soon. 12

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November 29th, 2011 Enermax Platimax 850W PSU Review Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/enermax-platimax-850w-psu- review/14068.html November 29th, 2011 Eversincethehomecomputermarketbegantogrow,Enermax has always been one of the top power supply manufacturers in every enthusiast’s list. The company is one of the oldest in the fieldandhasbeensupplyinghighperformancepowersupplies to demanding users for 20 years. A company with such a reputation always has one line of top performance products for the most demanding of users. In this review we are going to test and review the Enermax Platimax 850W power supply, a product promising unequaled performance and bearing an 80Plus Platinum certification. Eversincethehomecomputermarketbegantogrow,Enermax has always been one of the top power supply manufacturers in every enthusiast’s list. The company is one of the oldest in the fieldandhasbeensupplyinghighperformancepowersupplies to demanding users for 20 years. A company with such a reputation always has one line of top performance products for the most demanding of users. In this review we are going to test and review the Enermax Platimax 850W power supply, a product promising unequaled performance and bearing an 80Plus Platinum certification. Manufacturer’s features and specifications · 89PLUS ready! - World’s leading modular cable PSU series with 89-94% efficiency @ 20-100% load. Compliant with 80PLUS® PLATINUM efficiency requirement. · ErP Lot 6 ready! - Help system to meet ErP Lot 6 2010 (<1W at standby mode) with high efficiency +5Vsb circuitry. 13 120W 6W 15W 850W Published by: VR-Zone · C6 & Hybrid ready! - Maximum compatibility with C6 & hybrid states of current and future CPU & GPU generations by ZERO LOAD design. · DXXI ready! - 100% 6+2P (8P) PCI-E connector to support new generation DXXI graphic cards. · Futureready!-12Pmodulardesignforpossiblyupcoming new CPU and GPU 10P and/or 12P connectors. · SERVER ready! - SSI PSDG support for latest Intel® Core™ Extreme/i7/i5/i3, Xeon™ and AMD® Opteron™ and SLI® or CrossFireX™ and downward compatible with EPS12V v2.92, v2.8. · Worldready!-100-240VACinwithautomaticadjustment and active PFC for global usage. · 24/7 @ 50°C ready! - Non-Stop industrial class performance at 50°C ambient. · EMCready!-Full-scaleelectromagneticfilteringprotects your system against radiation interferences. · CordGuard-FixingtheACcordtightlytoavoidaccidental shutdowns of your PC. · HeatGuard - Keeping PSU fan running for 30-60 seconds after shut down to dissipate the remaining system heat and prolonging system lifetime. · SafeGuard-Industry-leadingmultipleprotectioncircuitry of OCP, OVP, DC UVP, OPP, OTP, SCP & SIP. · SpeedGuard - Advanced fuzzy logic fan speed control for optimal cooling and minimum noise. (Patented) . · Twister fan inside! - 13.9cm Twister-bearing fan with low noise and long lifetime. (100,000 hours MTBF, Patented) · 100% 105? Japanese electrolytic capacitors - Highest components standards for maximum durability and stability. · Dynamic Hybrid Transformer Topology - Technological breakthrough topology using a staged dynamic transformer array for extremely high efficiency with the most durable and stable output at any load. AC 100-240VAC, Input 50-60Hz, Voltage Active PFC AC 11 - Input 5A Current DC Rated3.3V 5V 12V112V212V312V412V512V6-12V 5Vsb output 0-24A0-24A0-30A0-30A0-30A0-30A0-30A0-30A0-0.5A 0-3A Combined1344W(112A) TotalPower PeakPower 935W

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November 29th, 2011 Report: NVIDIA 28nm Desktop GPU Roadmap Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/report-nvidia-28nm-desktop-gpu- roadmap/14067.html November 29th, 2011 Japanesewebsite4Gamerhasrevealedadetailedroadmapfor NVIDIA's upcoming 28nm Kepler GPU line-up for desktops. As previously rumoured, the Kepler roll out will indeed be First to release will be GK107, a budget mainstream GPU. There's unlikely to be a Kepler based entry-level GPU. GK107 features 128-bit memory, and is first expected in notebooks, the desktop release being sometime in Q2 2012. Unlike the otherGKchips(whichsupportPCIExpressgen3),GK107only features PCI-Express 2. GK106willbethemainstreamperformancepart,replacingthe GeForceGTX560,featuring256-bitmemory.Accordingtothe roadmap, it is expected to release in late Q2 2012, not long after the GK107 release. In 2012, NVIDIA is expected to embrace AMD's sweet-spot strategy, with no massive die. Instead, the top single GPU part will be GK104, featuring 384-bit 1.5 GB GDDR5 memory. GK104 is said to push out 2 TFLOPS, 30% higher than GTX 580. However, despite the smaller die, 4Gamer claims it consumes over 250W power. GK104 will release bang in the middle of 2012, perhaps during Computex time. Following right after GK104 will be GK110 - a dual GK104 flagship, thus completing NVIDIA's line-up for most of 2012 - remarkably similar to AMD's sweet spot strategy. However, not for long, as late in 2012 / early 2013, NVIDIA plans to return back to a massive die with GK112, featuring 512-bit memory. DetailsaboutKeplerremainsketchy,andsuchreportsmustbe consideredaspreliminaryestimates,atbest.Meanwhile,AMD is rumoured to be preparing Southern Islands / HD 7000 for a Q1 2012 release, well before high performance Kepler GPUs reportedly hit the desktop market. 14 Published by: VR-Zone Kingston states the obvious, lower NAND price will lead to cheaper SSDs Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/kingston-states-the-obvious-lower- nand-price-will-lead-to-cheaper-ssds/14066.html November 29th, 2011 bottom-to-top, starting with the mainstream GK107 chip in Q2 2012 to the high-end GK110/2 parts later in the year. All Kepler GPUs are manufacted at TSMC's 28nm, use GDDR5 memory and feature DirectX 11.1 support, ready for Windows 8. Sometimes technology companies really states the obvious andKingstonhasnowgoneonrecordtosaythatitexpectsSSD drive adoption to take off significantly towards the second half of next year. The reason why you ask? Well, by then NAND flash is expected to have come down in cost to about US$1 per 1GB, in other words, SSDs will be cheaper than they are now which will lead to a bigger consumer uptake. Sometimes technology companies really states the obvious andKingstonhasnowgoneonrecordtosaythatitexpectsSSD drive adoption to take off significantly towards the second half of next year. The reason why you ask? Well, by then NAND flash is expected to have come down in cost to about US$1 per 1GB, in other words, SSDs will be cheaper than they are now which will lead to a bigger consumer uptake. Maybe we're being a little bit harsh here, but it doesn't take a genius to figure this out. Nathan Su, Kingston's flash memory sale director is the person in question that's been talking to Digitimes about the future of Kingston's SSD products and the fact that the company is expecting a large uptake of SSDs nextyear.Thecurrentharddrivesituationwiththefloodingin Thailand was also mentioned, but by the second half of 2012 we're hoping that problem will have been solved. One of the reasons for the lower cost NAND flash is a move to sub 20nm manufacturing processes which are expected to happen next year. What isn't mentioned though is that some manufacturers are switching to TLC NAND flash and combined with the sub 20nm manufacturing process this will leadtoshorterNANDflashlife.Evenso,it'sexpectedthatTLC NAND flash should last about 5 years or so, even with fairly large amounts of data being written to it on a daily basis. No detailsofupcomingSSDproductswererevealed,butKingston isapparentlyfocusingonentry-levelproductsaswellasitmid- range products for next year, hopefully products that will be better than its current entry-level which aren't exactly cost competitive as we mentioned a little while ago.

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November 29th, 2011 Is the Atom N2100 Intel's single core off-roadmap Cedar Trail-M? Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/is-the-atom-n2100-intel-s-single-core- off-roadmap-cedar-trail-m-/14065.html Details of yet another unannounced Atom N2x00 series processorhavemadeanappearanceonlinecourtesyofvarious online retailers and Samsung, who will be fitting the new CPU in some of its upcoming netbooks. Currently no detailed specs are known, but according to information VR-Zone has seen, Intel is working on an off-roadmap single core Atom processors currently only known as the Cedar Trail-M which we have a feeling will be known as the Atom N2100. Details of yet another unannounced Atom N2x00 series processorhavemadeanappearanceonlinecourtesyofvarious online retailers and Samsung, who will be fitting the new CPU in some of its upcoming netbooks. Currently no detailed specs are known, but according to information VR-Zone has seen, Intel is working on an off-roadmap single core Atom processors currently only known as the Cedar Trail-M which we have a feeling will be known as the Atom N2100. It's not the first time Intel has created an off-roadmap CPU, the Atom N280 was the first such Atom processor to our knowledge and the company has a habit of creating various SKUs that it didn't originally plan on due to high demand from its partners. In this case we're looking at a cost sensitive option, as odd as it might seem with Intel already having reduced the pricing of the Cedarview and Cedar Trail processor by a pretty fair amount compared to the previous generation of Atom processors. As this is a single core CPU we'd expect half the cache, i.e. 512KB compared to the dual core models. Apart from that we're not sure about any specifics, but if history is anything to go by, we'd expect the single core model to have higher clock speeds than the dual core models or it'll be at least as fast as the N2800 at 1.86GHz. What we do know is that Samsung is planning an upgrade of its N102S netbook with the CPU set to replace the Atom N435 currently found in the N102S which is a fairly unimpressive 1.33GHz model. The potential here is thattheAtomN2100willactuallybeaslowerclockedpart,but we don't really see a reason for this, but it really comes down to how Intel is trying to sell these chips. UK pricing for the Samsung N102S with the N2100, 1GB of RAM and a 320GB hard drive is £240 (S$489) including VAT, not exactly super cheap for what is a rehashed model. In related news, Samsung is apparently getting ready to dump its range of netbooks after Q1 next year and focus on ultraportablenotebooksinsteadwithscreensizesbetween11.6 and 12-inches. This would also help explain why Samsung is Published by: VR-Zone just rehashing old netbook models with new hardware in the case of the N102S. "Siri, start the car." Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/-siri-start-the-car.-/14064.html November 29th, 2011 November 29th, 2011 Apple's iPhone 4S Siri has more tricks up her virtual sleeve than one expects. Now she can start your car for you, and even open the boot compartment. Read on to find out how it is done. Apple iPhone 4S' Siri represents an advancement of voice activated functionality with a human touch. With a bit of tweaking, however, it can do more than just reschedule your meetingsandsendtext.Arecentvideofootagerevealsthatitis possible to request Siri to process basic automobile functions suchasunlockingthecar,startingtheengine,andopeningthe trunk after some major modification on the iPhone 4S. A short quotation from the developer’s blog follows: “The “Siri Proxy” plugin I wrote handles interaction with a PHP script that runs on my web server. The PHP script, which I developed months ago for personal use, allows me to send commands to my car which has a Viper SmartStart module installed … Current commands accepted are: “Vehicle Arm”, “VehicleDisarm”,“VehicleStart”,“VehicleStop”,“VehiclePop Trunk”, and “Vehicle Panic”.” Evidence such as this simply shows that the remarkable envisioned potentials of Siri are already within reach, and it is merely a choice for Apple to officially implement them. However, those who are familiar with the ways of the Cupertino company may expect the typical reaction of closing the security gap that allows for such modifications instead. For those who need to see to believe, here’s the video: VR-Zone Christmas Gift Guide - Notebook PCs Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/vr-zone-christmas-gift-guide-- notebook-pcs/13983.html November 29th, 2011 With Christmas about a month away, many of us would be shoppingforpresentsforourlovedones.Soforthetechnology geeks, we hope this feature could give some ideas on what you may have in mind. This three-part VR-Zone Christmas 15

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November 29th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone Ifyouarelookingforapowerfulandportablegamingmachine, check out this latest brainchild from ASUS's Republic of Gamers (ROG) series. Powered by second generation Intel Core i7-2670QM processor (2.2GHz) with 8GB DDR3 memory, NVIDIA GeForce GTX560M discrete graphics with 3GB GDDR5 VRAM and 1TB hybrid hard disk, the ASUS ROG G74Sx offers users immersive gaming as well as multimedia entertainment experience. ItsexteriordesignisinspiredbyUSNavy’sSeaShadowstealth ship and modern day aircraft carriers, and the gaming laptop comes with a 5-degree incline keyboard for better ergonomic angle, and comfortable rubber-like palm rests for long hours of usage. The ASUS ROG G74Sx sports a 17-inch full high definition (1920x1080) 16:9 display and Blu-ray writer to play your Blu-ray movies or backup your data on Blu-ray writeable discs. Price: S$3,298 Where to buy - AAAs Com Solution, IT Harvest, Microware, Newstead Technologies, @notebook.com, MC2, Digital Asia, Microware, South Asia, Matrix IT Gallery, Netpro, Best Denki, Challenger, Courts, Harvey Norman, Carrefour, Gain City ASUS ZENBOOK UX31 Gift Guide starts with the notebook PCs this week, followed by tablets devices and mobile phones in subsequent weeks. ASUS ROG G74Sx The ZENBOOK UX31 is one of the latest Ultrabooks from ASUS that features an ultra-slim form factor - measuring 2.8mm at the thinnest point ; with silver exterior panel and unique concentric circle design that gives a stylish appeal. It offers an instant-on feature that can resume the system in approximately two seconds, and also standby times of up to two weeks. The ZENBOOK UX31 is equipped with the latest Intel second generation Core processors (optimized for mobile use), SSD storage, Bluetooth V4.0 and USB 3.0. The Ultrabook also utilizes ASUS’ patented Super Hybrid Engine II technology that can conserve battery life intelligently, and ASUS SonicMaster technology to provide superb audio experience. Price: S$1,498 (w/GST) for Intel Core i5-2557M processor with 4GB DDR3 memory and 128GB SSD; S$1,998 (w/GST) for Intel Core i7-2667M with 4GB DDR3 memory and 256GB SSD Where to buy - AAAs Com Solution, IT Harvest, Microware, Newstead Technologies, @notebook.com, MC2, Digital Asia, Microware, South Asia, Matrix IT Gallery, Netpro, Best Denki, Challenger, Courts, Harvey Norman, Carrefour, Gain City Next Generation Computing Experience Forum comes to Singapore Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/next-generation-computing- experience-forum-comes-to-singapore/14063.html November 29th, 2011 Together with the AMD 16-core Interlagos server platform launch, VR Media (parent company of VR-Zone) is co- organising a technical forum together with A-STAR A*CRC on the next generation high performance computing this coming Tuesday, as well as an enthusiast dinner gathering focused on the new product offerings. Here are the highlights... 16

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November 29th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone In the first of a series of our technical events with A*CRC, we focus on the technology updates in the high performance computing field, including the architecture of large machines used in supercomputing. The new processors, system designs and interconnects integrating thousands of small modules into large combinations are one area. The other one is heterogeneous computing, where combining CPUs, GPUs and otheracceleratorstogethercreatesnewchallengesinsoftware, especially parallel programming, to squeeze the most out of the underlying hardware potential. Top speakers from A*CRC, AMD, HP will be on hand to unveil new strategies, platforms and products, and your favourite VR-Zone team will be there to cover. The event is held at Biopolis, Matrix Building, Exploration theatre, from 9 am to 4 pm. Sony PlayStation 4 inbound amidst difficulties Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/sony-playstation-4-inbound-amidst- difficulties/14062.html November 29th, 2011 A Playstation 3 successor is on the horizons, but not after PS3 has served every last bit of its lifespan. Financial troubles haveplaguedSonyrecently,butwillitcripplethemandrepeat the late release against Microsoft Xbox yet again? Sony has made the statement that they will unleash the PlayStation 4 (PS4) as close to their competitors’ releases as possible, adding that it would be “undesirable” for PS4 to be too far behind. This is reference to a one-year difference between the Sony PS3 and the Microsoft Xbox. Impending pressure comes from both Microsoft and Nintendo as the 17

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November 29th, 2011 new Xbox is hinted to launch in late 2013, based on reports from insiders of the gaming industries, and the Wii U is slated for 2012. Despite the awareness that is displayed by the electronics giant, squeezing every bit of sales from the PS3 is still their priority. Jim Ryan, president and CEO Of Sony Computer EntertainmentEurope,says:“IfyoulookatPlayStation2,now in excess of 150m units installed globally, a huge majority of that was done at price points of £120 or lower. We've only just hit £199 in the UK (with PS3), so clearly there's a considerable untapped part of the market there." Sony’s questionable finances recently may impede their work on the PS4 as resources such as the research and development department might become limited. Nonetheless, advancements towards PS4 are already underway as a report suggests that a first-party Sony studio has stopped their involvements with PS3 to move on to developing graphics technology for the upcoming console. Nokia announces upcoming updates to improve battery life of Nokia Lumia 800 Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/nokia-announces-upcoming-updates- to-improve-battery-life-of-nokia-lumia-800/14060.html November 29th, 2011 Nokia has bet on their new Windows Phone Lumia 800 and Lumia 710 to keep the company alive. And it seems that the Lumia 800 has faced some complaints when it was launched inUKrecently-thephone'spoorbatterylife.Well,theFinnish The new Nokia Lumia 800 Windows phone was launched in UK a few days ago and boasts to bring a new exciting experience to users; their advertising campaign's tagline is "The Amazing Everyday". Most users did experience an "amazing" experience, though that is the need to charge the phone every now and then. To be fair, every smartphones are limited by the battery technology, though the Nokia Lumia 800 has a slightly more serious case. One user in the Nokia support forum states that his usage isn't very high, but the 18 Published by: VR-Zone batterydrainedveryfast,andisnowat47%whenheonlyused it for just an hour. The Finnish company has announced that it is planning for two updates which will improve the Nokia Lumia 800′s power experience, though that would come only in January next year. This is the official reply from company in the Nokia Support Discussion:- " We understand that some people have expressed concerns about battery life on the Nokia Lumia 800. Early investigations show that most people are enjoying the full Nokia Lumia experience without any problems and we have not been able to identify a single root cause that would lead to erratic battery behavior at this stage. A software update in early December will make some improvements to power efficiency, while a second update in early January introduces high voltage charging, increasing the Nokia Lumia 800’s battery power from 1300mAh to 1450mAh. These are scheduled improvements and will enhance the overall experience, but are not designed to address any issues that may be occurring with individual products. We recommend that anyone who has concerns contact local Nokia care representatives at their earliest convenience ." Samsung collaborates with Singapore celebrities to create limited edition body stickers for Samsung MultiView MV800 Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/samsung-collaborates-with-singapore- celebrities-to-create-limited-edition-body-stickers-for-samsung-multiview- mv800/14059.html November 29th, 2011 company has announced that updates will be released for improve the Nokia Lumia 800's battery life. The recently launched Samsung MultiView MV800 claims to be the first premium compact model to feature a 3.0-inch wide flip-out touch display. But if you don't like the three colors offered - black, red and white - there are some limited edition body stickers you can put on your MV800. And they are designed by local celebrities. This Christmas, Samsung Singapore has announced that it has worked with local celebrities to present three limited edition body stickers for their Samsung MultiView MV800. Consumers can choose one of the three body stickers presented in a Christmas gift pack which contains two batteries, 8GB memory card and a premium leather case. A perfect gift for your loved one this Christmas to capture memories with the Samsung MultiView MV800. The 16.1-megapixels Samsung MultiView MV800 features a 3.0-inch wide flip-out touch Display that allows user to take angled shots over large crowd to capture a concert or performance, and even self-portrait easily. The camera also

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November 29th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone PROFILE Soh Ee Shaun, a contemporary artist and illustrator in Singapore, is hugely influenced by '50s to '60s modernist art and pop culture. His designs, colorful and playful, are set against endless geometric, biomorphic forms. INSPIRATION Designed to tempt you to smile for pictures. PROFILE Jack & Rai are musicians and song-writers in Singapore. With their easy-going and engaging personalities, they have made guest appearances on TV and radio. They still continue to perform regularly at gigs. INSPIRATION Continue to spread more love and music. HAPPINESS comes with 26mm wide-angle lens with 5x optical zoom lens that can capture superb pictures. The Samsung MultiView MV800 in limited edition body stickers is available from 24 November in White at S$499 at Harvey Norman (Millenia Walk and Funan), Courts (Big Box, Jurong Point and Orchard) as well as Audio House while stocks last. POP PROFILE Dawn Yeoh is a sweet princess who loves all things pink and cute. Her debut breakout role was in the MediaCorp drama series, Shining Star. INSPIRATION Stay sweet and positive by viewing life in different colors. How Games Challenge Hollywood: Call of Duty, Battlefield earned more money than Twilight Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/how-games-challenge-hollywood-call- of-duty-battlefield-earned-more-money-than-twilight/14058.html November 29th, 2011 ROMANCE Several years ago, Microsoft's Halo was the first game to reach the100millionUSdollarsaleontheopeningweekend.Today, the video games are challenging and beating blockbuster movies on their opening days. Case in point - Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part I. While there is a difference in how the movie industry counts their revenue compared to the video games industry, we can draw some interesting comparisons. Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part I is the second most watched movie launch of 2011, earning 291 million dollars in the first weekend globally out of which 139.5 million came from USA. This is the fifth-best opening in the USA of all times, and 10th on a global scale. Best opening of all times was recorded by Batman: The Dark Knight with 483 million on the opening weekend out of which 158 million came out of US. Yet, these majestic openings pale in comparison to popular video games. While the mainstream media was drooling over Twilight, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 shipped 10 million units for the launch and sold seven million units during the first weekend sale - earning more than 775 million US dollars. 19

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November 29th, 2011 Battlefield 3 sold five million copies on the first weekend of sales,and10millioncopiesinjust10days,earning300million dollars on the opening weekend and over 610 million dollars in those first 10 days. The mind-numbing numbers don't stop. Bethesda Softworks announcedthatTheElderScrollsV:Skyrimsoldin3.5million copies on the opening weekend, and that 7.5 million units were shipped in the first week of sales. Those 3.5 million units brought home 210 million dollars, while the overall launch revenueisworthjustabitbelowhalfabilliondollars($460M). Bear in mind that Bethesda increased the launch volume by 50%, as Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas shipped in five million copies each. Next year, we expect to see Bethesda shipping 10 million units at launch and becoming the heavy lifter as Activision and EA. In terms of media exposure versus revenue , video games are the business to be - no hundred-million dollar marketing commitment is needed, and yet the sales exceed the most anticipated movie titles of the year. It is just a matter of time before gaming related companies start publishing revenue figures in a business way with dollar figures, instead of mentioning "millions of units". Activision Blizzard, EA and ZeniMax Media (owner of Bethesda) are all laughing their way to the bank, especially when the marketing budgets for The Dark Knight or Twilight are compared to Call of Duty Battlefield or The Elder Scrolls Series. Did we mention World of Warcraft franchise is the first video game franchise to pass the four billion dollar mark and is bound to pass the five billion dollar mark by the end of this year?Notbadforatitlewhichisavailableononlyoneplatform and that's the PC. Intel Sandy Bridge-E Core i7-3960X Review: High End CPU roundup Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/intel-sandy-bridge-e-core-i7-3960x- review-high-end-cpu-roundup/14040.html November 29th, 2011 20 Published by: VR-Zone WiththeannouncementofthenewCorei7-3960XbyIntel,the current performance throne holder (i7-990X) was replaced, not surprisingly, by yet another Intel CPU. We took some time to compile a detailed comparison of all major current top desktop X86 CPUs by both Intel and AMD, to show you the realperformancegainswhenmovingfromtheoldtothebrand new. Introduction We often compare cutting-edge new CPUs to their brethren from the previous generation. After that, we rarely go back to the old models, simply because it doesn’t have too much of a practical value, but also because the new models are better than the old ones as a rule. Furthermore, as far as CPUs are concerned, we often talk about various abstract subjects such as bottlenecks – a term we often encounter when testing the strongest graphics cards, for instance. It’s occurred to us recently that we often don’t compare the old and new in a sufficient number of tests, perhaps because of our desire to dive into the new technology as much as possible, which may leave out some of the much needed objectivity. This might cause some confusion amongst PC users and a wrongful logic when assembling a new PC or upgrading the old one. Are new CPU generations really all that better than the old ones? Do they bring all the marketed increases in performance, or are those just percentagesoccurringinparticularprogramsunderparticular conditions? Ultimately, is it all about presenting you what you want to see rather than what it is? During conversations with reputed hardware manufacturers, for instance, we’ve encountered the general attitude that Sandy Bridge CPUs are around 30% faster than Nehalem/ Westmere-based ones. Many articles on the net confirm the same allegations. However, as time went by, we’ve established that this sort of prejudice is just wrong in many ways, as the situations where that percentage is reached come in a very limited number. In regard with that situation, this review is meanttogiveanoverlookofthestrongestCPUsmadebyAMD and Intel so far. Test Setup For the needs of this test, we obtained highest end CPU's for each generation, both from AMD and Intel. Intel was represented with Westmere Core i7 CPU (Core i7 990x) and Sandy Bridge - Core i7 2700K and Core i7 3960x. AMD was represented with their strongest CPUs: AMD FX-8150 (Bulldozer) and AMD Phenom II X6 1100T (Thuban).

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November 29th, 2011 After obtaining a total of five CPUs (three from Intel and two from AMD), we had to decide on the motherboards to be used. The negative aspect of Intel’s policy to change the socket with each new CPU generation came to full effect yet again – three motherboardsandthreeOSinstallationswererequiredjustfor their part of the test. Inordertodothetestweobtainedfollowingmotherboardsfor Intel processors: ASUS Rampage IV Extreme (X79 chipset), ASUS Sabertooth X58 (X58 chipset) and ASUS P8P67 WS Revolution (P67 chipset). AMD only required a single 990FX motherboard for both CPU's- ASUS Crosshair V Formula (990FX chipset). These five systems were tested in two scenarios. The first entailed the CPU set to its default clock, while the second one was with all CPUs set to exactly 4.5 GHz, thereby measuring clock-for-clock performance. The only exception to this was Phenom II X6 1100T, which had a lower OC margin, so it had to be excluded from the second round. In order to make testing more realistic, we overclocked through changing the multiplier exclusively, while the FSB remained locked at its default value. Furthermore, the RAM clock was constantly at 1600 MHz with 9-9-9-24 1T latencies. All these precautions isolated the CPU as much as possible. The chipset factor is something you just can’t avoid in this sort of test, but we’re fairly certain that its impact on overall CPU performance is irrelevant. As the number of RAM channels has a lot to do with the architecture of each CPU, we used the best available settings each time, ranging from dual- to quad-channel memory, the latter being used by Sandy Bridge E models. 21 Published by: VR-Zone For all the test for round up we used Kingston HyperX 1600 CL9 4 x 4GB kit, and just for special, latency test we used KingstonHyperXT12133CL94x2GBkit.Havinginmindboth performance and capacity two Kingston HyperX 240GB SSD were used. Trusty and more then capable, PSU Cooler Master UCP 900W was used to power up all these monsters. We used two different cooling solutions; primarily it was Cooler Master V10 for all the sockets beside socket LGA 2011. For that one we used Intel liquid cooling solution (RTS 2011LC) that came together with Core i7 3960x CPU. Only logical choice for VGA was ASUS GTX580 as a most powerful single GPU graphic card. Tests were split into two categories: typical benchmarks of the CPU, memory and system in general on one hand, and various gamesontheother.Allinall,over300testsweredoneintotal, and there was a lot to deduce as well.