VR-Zone Tech News for the Geeks Jul 2011 Issue 2

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July 13th, 2011 The drive can also be password protected and support 256- bit encryption. Sony also provides backup software for PCs. For some reason Sony is supplying the drive formatted in NTFS, but provides a piece of software that re-formats it in FAT32 (we're not sure why this is needed, since this is a standard Windows feature) so that it can be used with Sony's camcorders and the PS3. Not exactly what we'd call an ideal solution. The HD-PG5U is only available in 500GB as the drive is a 2.5- inch model. Sony will offer it in a choice of either black or white. No word on pricing and apparently for the time being it's exclusive to the UK, France and Germany. MSI set to launch more affordable Z68A-G45 motherboard shortly Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/msi-set-to-launch-more-affordable- z68a-g45-motherboard-shortly/12941.html July 13th, 2011 So far MSI has only really launched five Z68 boards, although two has already been revised with PCI Express 3.0 support for Intel's Ivy Bridge processors that should launch sometime in the first half of next year. We've managed to get hold of a couple of pictures of a more affordable ATX size board that MSI is set to launch shortly, namely the Z68A-G45, the model below the currently available Z68A-GD55. below the currently available Z68A-GD55. We can actually see the Z68A-G45 becoming a popular model from MSI, as although it might not be quite as feature rich Published by: VR-Zone as some of its more expensive counterparts; it's overall a pretty decent board. Compared to the Z68A-GD55, the Z68A- G45 is missing DrMOS (Driver MOSFETs) and the tantalum capacitors used in the VRM on the Z68A-GD55. MSI has also cut the phase count from 10 to six, but this should still prove to be sufficient even for overclockers. Other changes include removal of the power, reset and OC Genie buttons, no angled SATA connectors and no metering points for the Voltages. Again, nothing that most people couldn't live without. The chipset heatsink is also somewhat smaller which is a slight concern, but we can't imagine that MSI has made it so small that there would be heat problems. What you do get is a pair of x16 PCI Express slots that operate in dual x8 mode, three x1 PCI Express slots and two PCI slots. There are pin headers for eight front USB 2.0 ports as well as two USB 3.0 ports. Around the back things haven't changed at all from the more expensive model, so we're looking at a PS/2 port,fourUSB2.0ports,twoUSB3.0ports,aGigabitEthernet port, 7.1-channel audio with optical and coaxial S/PDIF out and an HDMI, D-Sub and DVI port. So far MSI has only really launched five Z68 boards, although two has already been revised with PCI Express 3.0 support for Intel's Ivy Bridge processors that should launch sometime in the first half of next year. We've managed to get hold of a couple of pictures of a more affordable ATX size board that MSI is set to launch shortly, namely the Z68A-G45, the model Judging by pre-order pricing in Europe the Z68A-G45 should retail for around €130 (S$223), whereas the Z68A-GD55 is retailingforaround€150(S$257).Asmallpricedifference,but 9

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July 13th, 2011 then again, none of the really important features are missing, so we weren't expecting a huge price difference in the first place. Be Quiet Dark Rock Pro C1 CPU cooler review Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/be-quiet-dark-rock-pro-c1-cpu-cooler- review/12925.html July 13th, 2011 Today we bring you yet another review of a product from Be Quiet, who perhaps is the most well known German manufacturer of PC-related products. A few weeks ago we had alookattheirDarkRockAdvancedC1,averyhighqualityCPU cooler; today we are going to test and review its monstrous brother, the Dark Rock Pro C1 CPU cooler. Introduction Today we bring you yet another review of a product from Be Quiet, who perhaps is the most well known German manufacturer of PC-related products. A few weeks ago we had a look at their Dark Rock Advanced C1 ,averyhighqualityCPU cooler; today we are going to test and review its monstrous brother, the Dark Rock Pro C1 CPU cooler. Manufacturer features and specifications • For gaming, multimedia and CAD systems even at maximum processing power. • Suitable for overclocking operation. • Extremely efficient up to more than 220 watt. • Maximum cooling efficiency, Delta T 9.2 @ 100 watt. • Quiet operation with 1× Silent Wings PWM fan, 12.0– 25.9 dB(A). • High-quality materials with dark nickel surfaces. Thermal resistance @ CPU Power disposal (Rth @ P) Overall dimensions without mounting material (L x W x 0,092 133 x 150 x 166 H) (mm) Total weight CPU Wattage Range (W) Socket compatibility Backplate Mounting 1550 220 LGA 775 / 1155 / 1156 / 1366, AM2 / AM2+ / AM3 / 754 / 939 / 940 Yes Published by: VR-Zone Push pin mounting Fan model, number SilentWings PWM , 2 Anti vibration fan fixing Rubber string Stainless steel clip and Yes contact ring Overall noise level (dB(A)) @ 12,0 / 19,8 / 25,9 900/1250/100% (rpm) Fin dimensions (L x W) , thickness (mm) Number of fins Fin material Base material 133 x 47 x 0,4 44 Aluminium Copper CPU contact surface Heatpipe number, Diameter (mm) Surface treatment Fan dimensions (mm) Speed @ 100% PWM (rpm) Air flow @ 100% (CFM; m3/ h) Air pressure (mm H2O) Bearing type Rated voltage (V) Input current (A) Input power (W) PWM Controller Connector Cable length (mm) Cable sleeve Livetime L10 @ 25 °C (hours) CNC machined 7; 6 Nickel plated 120 1700 57,2; 93,3 2,1 FDB 12,0 0,2 2,4 Yes 4-pin Molex 250 Yes 300.000 Logitech Launches New Wireless Touch Keyboard K400 Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/logitech-launches-new-wireless-touch- keyboard-k400/12937.html July 13th, 2011 It was only last week that Logitech announced the G400 Optical Gaming Mouse and today, the peripheral maker has launchedtheWirelessTouchKeyboardK400designedtooffer greater connectivity and convenience for users. Read on. 10

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July 13th, 2011 Logitech has introduced their latest Wireless Touch Keyboard K400, which gives users wireless control of their computer or laptop-connected TV conveniently. With a wireless range of up to 10m, the Logitech Wireless Touch Keyboard K400 offers easy control of a laptop on its own or when it’s connected to a TV from the comfort of your couch. The Logitech Wireless Touch Keyboard K400 is designed specifically for people who connect their laptops to a TV to enjoy their favourite multimedia content on a larger screen. A built-in 3.5-inch touchpad makes vertical and horizontal scrolling intuitive and eliminates the need for a separate mouse. The Logitech Wireless Touch Keyboard K400 is easy to setup – just plug the tiny Logitech Unifying receiver into a USB port and it’s ready to use. The Logitech Wireless Touch Keyboard K400 can even add five more compatible devices to the same receiver. Users can also enjoy lean-back wireless control for up to a year without the hassle of changing batteries. The Logitech Wireless Touch Keyboard K400 is compact without compromising on comfort, and stands vertically when not in use for easy storage. Pricing and Availability The Logitech Wireless Touch Keyboard K400 is available now for a suggested retail price of S$59. AMD launches Radeon HD 6990M Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/amd-launches-radeon- hd-6990m/12935.html 11 Published by: VR-Zone July 13th, 2011 NVIDIA recently released "Fastest Notebook GPU Ever" - the GeForceGTX580M-lessthantwoweeksago.Consideringthe topAMDGPUatthetime-RadeonHD6970M-featuredacut downBartscorewithaconservativepriceandTDP(compared toNVIDIAcompetition),asprucedupRadeonHD6990Mwas always on the cards. AMD is releasing the Radeon HD 6990M, claimingthe"World'sFastestMobileGPU"titleawayfromthe barely 2-week old GTX 580M. There are no major surprises with the Radeon HD 6990M. It features a full Barts core with 1120 SP and 56 TMU enabled (as opposed to 960 SP for the HD 6970M). The clock speed is up to 715 MHz as well. The memory bandwidth continues to be the same. However, the HD 6990M feature 2GB GDDR5, doubling up on the HD 6970M. AMD's internal benchmarks show the Radeon HD 6990M performing 10% faster than the GTX 580M. Of course, these internal benchmarks are often cherry picked, and we will have to wait for independent reviews to confirm AMD's "World's Fastest Notebook GPU" claim. This is a direct reprise for the HD 6870 vs. GTX 560 Ti battle in the desktop arena. Like the desktop battle, the AMD product is based on a much smaller diewithmuchlesserpowerconsumption.Crucially,itisworth noting that the HD 6990M is clocked closer to the HD 6870 than the GTX 580M is to the GTX 560 Ti - so all indications suggest HD 6990M will indeed suprass the GTX 580M, likely with a lower pricing. The HD 6990M will soon be found in high-end laptops by OEMs such as Alienware, Clevo and Eurocom. Some uber enthusiast laptops may also offer 2x HD 6990M in CrossFire. HP organizes new team to focus on webOS; and to pioneer Ultrabooks Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/hp-organizes-new-team-to-focus-on- webos-and-to-pioneer-ultrabooks/12921.html July 13th, 2011 HP has appointed a new executive to lead the development of its webOS software which it acquired from Palm, and to push and broaden the software usage. On top of that, the company also aims to pioneer Ultrabook-concept notebook PCs before the rest of its competitors.

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July 13th, 2011 According to reports, HP has appointed Palm’s former CEO Jon Rubinstein to take charge of product development and innovation for the Personal Systems Group, which consists of PCs, tablets and smartphones, and senior vice president Stephen DeWitt who will be responsible for developing and promoting the webOS software. HP has started shipping their long-awaitedTouchPadtabletdevicesintheU.S.lastweekand the company is counting on producing new products based on the recently acquired webOS operating system from Palm to stand out from the competition. The company is also looking to attract developers to program applications for the webOS platform and to expand on its use. On top of that, HP is also looking to be the pioneer to launch Intel's Ultrabook-concept notebook PCs, and ahead of ASUS UX21 Ultrabook that is scheduled to launch in September. The company is also expected to launch Ultrabooks based on Intel Ultra-thin Core i7-2677M (1.8GHz) and i7-2637M (1.7GHz) dual-core processors. The ASUS UX21 Ultrabooks are expected to be available in 11.6- and 13-inch displays. Verbatim launches ultra-small Store 'n' Stay USB flash drives Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/verbatim-launches-ultra-small-store-n- stay-usb-flash-drives/12934.html July 13th, 2011 In today's day and age where the need for ready access to data on the move via portable storage devices is something most people cannot afford to go without, it would make sense that such devices will need to be able to offer more in terms of storage capacity and user confort. And leave it to Verbatim to solvebothneedsinasinglesolutionthatisitsultra-smallStore 'n' Stay USB flash drives, which are designed to be installed once on a PC and then 'forgotten', so to speak. Most of us will probably have difficulty imagining a world where portable, high-capacity storage devices such as USB 12 Published by: VR-Zone flash disks did not exist, but it does not change the fact that most of these USB flash disks have a little problem in the usability department ; they are not small enough to the point where users can simply hook up their storage devices to their notebooks and leave it there without the need to remove them at all, even when packing up or moving around. And this is the kind of need Verbatim is clearly aiming to fulfill with the introductionofitsnewVerbatimStore'n'Stayultra-smallUSB flash disks. Said to be no larger than a dime, or approximately the size of a typical nano receiver used by wireless mice, Verbatim claims that the "low-profile, snag-free design makes it the optimal USB flash drive choice for laptop users who want the ability to transfer, store and share their favorite files on impulse", a feat which is achieved by it being "meant to be left in the USB port for always-ready storage". Indeed, with a physical footprint this small, one can simply just pack their notebook without having to worry about the device getting caught on the zipper of their notebook's sleeves or carrying bags. Unfortunately for those looking for blazing data transfer speeds in the Store 'n' Stay flash drives, Verbatim has reportedlyconfirmedthatthedeviceswillbemakinguseofthe USB 2.0 interface, so high-seed data transfers with the Store 'n' Stay is definitely out of the question. However, if it is of any consolation, the drives will be available in fairly large storage capacities of 4GB (US$19.99), 8GB (US$29.99) and 16GB (US $59.99), which should be more than enough space for most users to store all their important data with. Easydy unveils E88 tablet device for China Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/easydy-unveils-e88-tablet-device-for- china/12933.html

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July 13th, 2011 July 13th, 2011 You know what they say about Chinese OEMs and their devices: if there is a product out there that does well on the market, it will only be a matter of time before some enterprising Chinese OEMs produce a similar device based off itslikeness,butwithvastlydifferenthardwareandcapabilities to boot. And this is exactly what Easydy has done with its E88 tablet device, which bears more than a passing semblance to a certain tablet we all know so well. How would you like to own an 'iPad 2' at the unbelievably low price of US$98? Well, that is exactly what a Chinese OEM known as Easydy is offering its domestic Chinese market, and its product comes in the form of the E88 tablet, which, as we have already pointed out previously, bears more than just a passing semblance to the real deal that has been released to critical acclaim by Apple. According to a report posted by M.I.C Digi, the Easydy E88 may resemble Apple's iPad 2 tablet device, but that is where thesimilarityends.Thisisbecause,unliketheARMprocessors used to power most of the tablets that are currently available for sale on the market today. Easydy has opted to furnish its E88 tablet with a VIA 8650 processor that is clocked at 800MHz. And we all know what an x86-based processor means; technically, users with sufficient computer know-how can replace the bundled Android 2.2 operating system with a working copy of Windows into the E88. Published by: VR-Zone In addition to the use of an x86-based processor, the E88 will also feature 256MB of memory, 4GB of storage, (expandable via microSD cards) and a 9.7-inch resistive touchscreen capable of a native resolution of 800 x 600. Last but definitely not least, M.I.C Digi claims that the E88 will come with built- in support for 3G and will weigh 479g. Haier upgrades HaiPad tablet device, still available only in China Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/haier-upgrades-haipad-tablet-device- still-available-only-in-china/12932.html July 13th, 2011 IthasbeensometimesincewetalkedaboutChineseproducts, but that does not mean that the consumer electronics scene in China has been mellowing out somewhat. On the contrary, it seems to be just as lively as it always has been, and the best proofofthatfactishasgottobeHaier'srecentproductlaunch, where it officially unveiled its upgraded Haipad tablet device for the Chinese domestic market. Haier may not be all that well-known in other parts of the world, but it seems that the company is well-regarded as one of the trusted household brands over in China, and it shows. Apparently, the company's earlier Haipad tablet has done well enough in the Chinese domestic market for it to jusfity the release of an upgraded veraion of the tablet that comes with some notable improvements over its predecessor. 13

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July 13th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone been released for sale recently now sport the newer and more advanced Honeycomb. That being said, little about the tablet's hardware specifications has been made public, although Shanzhai.com claims that the upgraded Haipad will sport a seven-inch touchscreen, dual cameras, built-in support for 3G, and utilizes a Samsung processor clocked at 1GHz. In addition, Shanzhai.com also claims that consumers will have five color choices to choose from for the Haipad, and that the company has launched its own app store to provide "more than 15,000 apps to Chinese consumers", although it did not mention whether the Haipad will support the official Android Market. No information about pricing has been revealed by Haier yet, although the report claims that the Haipad is expected to be released for sale in China only by August this year. Samsung leaks upcoming Nexus smartphone with Ice Cream Sandwich Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/samsung-leaks-upcoming-nexus- smartphone-with-ice-cream-sandwich/12931.html July 13th, 2011 thatGoogleisreportedlybringingtotheAndroidecosystemin time. Apparently, the Korean electronics giant has essentially leaked just about every important aspect of an upcoming Nexus-brandedsmartphone,rightdowntotheOSversionand its availability. Way to go, Samsung. Remember the news we posted some time back about how the next Nexus-branded smartphone will be named the Nexus 14 Prime,andthatGooglewillbesupposedlyabandoningits"one Nexus phone only" approach in favor of allowing a variety of OEMs to produce their own Nexus-branded smartphones as long as it conforms to a specific set of requirements? Well, thankstoSamsunganditsRomanianTwitteraccount,wehave got further information about that aforementioned Nexus- branded smartphone, right down to the operating system that it will be bundled with, and its expected availability on the market. According to a report published by Shanzhai.com, the upgraded Haipad tablet, which was launched yesterday in China,sportsanewoperatingsystemintheformof"aDianXin version of Android"... and version 2.2 at that. This puts the Haipad in a bit of a disadvantage, as most tablets that have In case you are wondering what the tweet means, Samsung is claiming that the upcoming Nexus phone is likely to make its way onto the market for sale come end 2011, and that it will be pre-loaded with version 4.0 of the Android operating system,whichisotherwiseknownbyitsmouth-wateringname of Ice Cream Sandwich. Of course, the fact that machine translations are not exactly the most reliable solutions to overcome the language barrier means that the possibility of a misunderstanding due to inaccurate translations is a distinct possibility. However, it is also the closest one can get to actually having an official word from Samsung about the availability of its upcoming Nexus-branded smartphone. No information about the upcoming Nexus-branded smartphone's hardware has been revealed yet, though. However, if you are keen to find out what the rumour mill claims is the most possible hardware combination for the Nexus 3, you can head over to our previous story to do so. Google to add image stabilization to video calls on Google Talk? Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/google-to-add-image-stabilization-to- video-calls-on-google-talk-/12930.html July 13th, 2011 Seems like the good folks over at Samsung were just not able to keep a secret in their excitement over the major changes There is nothing more nauseating than viewing a short video clip that looked as though it was filmed by someone who has a severe case of Parkinson's disease, and this is even more so when one is communicating through others via video chat on a mobile computing device such as a smartphone or tablet device. And leave it to Google to attempt a solution to the

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July 13th, 2011 problem by reportedly planning to include image stabilization technology into future versions of Google Talk. Video calls are a great way to keep in touch with friends and family members; unfortunately, the experience can all-too- easily be ruined by either party failing to have a steady grip on the device that is currently being used to make the video call, which results in what is supposed to be a heartwarming conversation quickly becoming a nauseating experience. Fortunately, it appears that Google is taking steps to ensure that video calls made via its Google Talk service do not suffer such undesirable outcomes, for word has it that the search giant is planning to implement some form of images stabilization technology into future versions of its online telephony service. Details about the new image stabilization technology are scarce, but what we do know from various online reports is that the technology will be developed by a company known as SRI International, which some people may remember as the party that was responsible for designing the computer mouse that virtually every single PC user simply cannot live without today. SRI International claims that its technology will be able to benefit users who frequently make use of video calls in two ways, namely in terms of user comfort and the device's video processing algorithms: By stabilizing the video, SRI's software compensates for scene motion and allows the video compression algorithm to improve image quality by using fewer bits to encode the video. There is increased mobile device efficiency when an image is stabilized before compression, and there is less work for a device's video compression engine to perform. Sounds interesting? Well, hang on to your horses for now: while there is no denying that the inclusion of such a feature will be greatly welcomed by many users engage in video calls while on the move, it seems that not all Android- powered devices will be blessed with support for SRI's image stabilizationtechnology.atleastduringtheinitialrollout.This is because word has it that the feature will only be available to tablets running off version 3.0 or later of the Android operatingsystem,althoughitseemsthatmanyarehopefulthat Google will eventually find a way to have the feature trickle downstream to older versions of Android. Published by: VR-Zone Pantech releases Vega N5 smartphone for sale in Korea Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/pantech-releases-vega-n5-smartphone- for-sale-in-korea/12929.html July 13th, 2011 When it comes to fanciful gadgets such as smartphones and tablets, it goes without saying that Singapore is always one of the last to get its share of the fun (if ever), and the latest announcement from Pantech only seems to confirm that fact. Apparently, the Vega N5 super-powered smartphone that was announced back in May has finally been released for sale in Korea, and it seems that it will only be available for purchase in that particular country. Do you remember a certain story we published a long time ago about what was allegedly an Android-powered superphone from Pantech that was known as the Vega X and was touted to bethefastestsmartphonetoexistonthemarket?Well,scratch that; Pantech has just outdid itself with the introduction of an even more powerful smartphone that is seemingly capable of leaving the Vega X in the dust of its wake, and it is called the Vega N5. According to various online reports, the Pantech Vega N5 is powered by Qualcomm's MSM8660 processor which is clocked at a whopping speed of 1.5GHz, while its memory is provided by 1GB of DDR2 RAM, in addition to its internal storage capacity of 16GB. And if that is not enough to satisfy those who simply have to be on the bleeding edge of smartphone technology, the reports also claim that the Pantech Vega N5 will come bundled with version 2.3.3 of the Android operating system and will feature a five-inch display which is capable of a native resolution of 800 x 480, similar to what Dell currently offers in its Dell Streak 5 tablet/ smartphone hybrid device. Unfortunately, this is where we have the classic "good news bad news" situation going, and the bad news is that most of the reports have indicated that there is virtually no chance of 15

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July 13th, 2011 a global launch, for the Vega N5 is currently only targeted at itsdomesticKoreanmarket.Noinformationaboutpricinghas been revealed yet, although some reports are claiming that the VegaN5willbesoldfortheequivalentof550euros(approxUS $767). And no, the lady is not included as part of the package. 1Gbit/s 802.11ac Wi-Fi demoed by NTT Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/1gbits-802.11ac-wi-fi-demoed-by- ntt/12928.html July 13th, 2011 Japanese NTT has demoed a prototype setup using the next generation 802.11ac standard which should bring us 1Gbit/ s Wi-Fi. The demo was shown last week at an event called Wireless Technology Park in Yokohama City in Japan. Japanese NTT has demoed a prototype setup using the next generation 802.11ac standard which should bring us 1Gbit/ s Wi-Fi. The demo was shown last week at an event called Wireless Technology Park in Yokohama City in Japan. In as much as the technology itself is rather impressive speed wise, there seems to be quite a few hurdles that still need to be overcome before this technology has a chance to win over consumers and business alike. The good news is that it seems to be sufficient with three antennas on the receiving end, but the transmitter at this stage is using no less than sixantennas. Published by: VR-Zone We're also moving to wider and wider data channels and the 802.11ac standard will move from the 40MHz per channel of 802.11n to 80MHz per channel. The 802.11ac standard is said to be ratified by 2013, so luckily there's still some time to work out the kinks. Faster Wi-Fi sounds like a great thing, but it almostseemslikethere'saneedtocomeupwithabetterwayof sendingtheradiosignals,aswecan'tseealotofroutermakers goingdowntheroute(nopunintended)ofaddingsixantennas to their devices. Is the Air Bearing Heat Exchanger the future of CPU cooling? Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/is-the-air-bearing-heat-exchanger-the- future-of-cpu-cooling-/12927.html July 13th, 2011 An outfit called Sandia National Laboratories has developed something called an "Air Bearing Heat Exchanger" or as they like to call it, the Sandia Cooler and it's said to change the way we cool our CPUs. The name is a lot fancier than the technology itself, but it does have some merits compared to a regular heatsink/fan cooler. An outfit called Sandia National Laboratories has developed something called an "Air Bearing Heat Exchanger" or as they like to call it, the Sandia Cooler and it's said to change the way we cool our CPUs. The name is a lot fancier than the technology itself, but it does have some merits compared to a regular heatsink/fan cooler. What makes the Sandia Cooler so special is the fact that the cooling fins themselves are actually moving and this is said to remove the "thermal bottleneck" of current CPU coolers. This is done by placing a brushless DC motor in the centre of the heatsink, a spot that's usually where the motor of the fan is located. If802.11acisgoingtobedevelopedthisway,thenitmeansthat Wi-Fi as we know it is going to turn asynchronous, something we have a feeling quite a few users aren't going to be too keen on. On top of that, speeds at Gigabit level are currently only being achieved to a single receiver, whereas in a three user scenario the speed was dropped to an effective throughput of 120Mbit/speruser.Thisisstillbetterthanthecurrent802.11n standard, but far from ideal in a multi-user environment, something that Wi-Fi almost always is. 16

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July 13th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone Apparently the design also prevents the cooler from being "fouled" by dust, i.e. it's not meant to collect dust, unlike your average CPU cooler which tends to need a good clean every few months. It's also meant to be more energy efficient than current air coolers, although considering fan coolers are using similar kinds of DC motors, we don't quite get this point. The technologyiscurrentlybeingofferedforlicensinganditseems like we'll have to wait and see if there are any takers or not. It sounds a little bit too good to be true, but we'll wait with interest to see where this goes. The cooler has a stationary base plate and there's a 0.001-inch (0.0254mm) gap between the base plat and the rotating fins. Nowwecanseethisbecomingahugeprecisionmanufacturing issue, as a gap that small is going to be hard to produce. However, this design is meant to alleviate what is claimed to be a layer of "dead air" that "clings to the cooling fins". So far the cooler has only been created in a proof-of-concept prototype, but it's said to offer several times the cooling performance of a regular CPU cooler. The top part of the heatsinkissaidtorotateataspeedof"afewthousandrpm"but no specifics were given. The fin structure has been designed to be aerodynamic which in turn is said to make it extremely quietduringoperation.Ontopofthat,finalproductioncoolers aresaidtobeupto10timessmallerthancurrent"state-of-the- art" CPU coolers, whatever that refers to. 17

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Published by: VR-Zone July 15th, 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. Intel might yet get Sandy Bridge-E out this year Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/intel-might-yet-get-sandy-bridge-e- out-this-year/12991.html July 15th, 2011 A couple of weeks ago we reported that Intel's upcoming SandyBridge-EprocessorandWaimeaBayplatformhadbeen delayed until January 2012. New information has reached us that suggest that Intel is trying very hard to get the new platform out this year, although this means that the company will axe a lot of platform features. A couple of weeks ago we reported that Intel's upcoming SandyBridge-EprocessorandWaimeaBayplatformhadbeen delayed until January 2012. New information has reached us that suggest that Intel is trying very hard to get the new platform out this year, although this means that the company will axe a lot of platform features. Judging by the information we've seen, Intel is having several issues with the new platform, ranging from storage, to PCI Express and apparently even CPU revisions. It's pretty much bad news all around. But let's take a step back and look at things with a view from Intel's Xeon roadmap. The picture below is from a partner presentation and although it's been seen before, we're going to leave that partner un-named as we don't want to get them in any trouble. As you can see, it details four different chipset SKUs for Patsburg,- A, -B, -D and -T. The X79 chipset is known as Patsburg-X and was meant to be similar in terms of features to the Patsburg-D SKU. As you can see, there are a few feature differences between the various SKUs with Patsburg-A only featuring four additional SATA 6Gbps ports via the SCU and Patsburg-B gains SAS 6Gbps support. However, where things get interesting is Patsburg-D, the performance option, as this gains not only an additional four SATA/SAS 6Gbps via the SCU, but also a PCI Express 3.0 uplink to the CPU. Patsburg-T just gains an extra RAID level, but is otherwise identical to Patsburg-D. So why are we mentioning all of this? Well, because as we mentioned, Patsburg-X or X79 if you like, was meant to come with the same features as Patsburg-D, more or less, albeitwithsomeadditionalconsumertweaks.However,dueto whatever issues Intel is having, the company has now decided to downgrade the feature set and we're now looking at a chipset that is similar to Patsburg-B instead. This means no PCI Express 3.0 storage uplink to the CPU and the loss of four SATA/SAS 6Gbps ports. Even for the most performance demanding users this isn't likely to be a huge issue though, butit'sstilldisappointing,especiallyafterhavingseensomany boards on display at Computex with 14 SATA ports on them. On a more positive note, Intel is apparently looking into some kind of solution that will add the storage uplink and the missing SATA/SAS 6Gbps ports after launch, but it's not likely that this is a feature that can be added via a software/ BIOS patch simply because the PCI Express 3.0 interface wouldn't be present on the motherboard. Presumably it'd mean a second revision of the X79 chipset, but this is purely speculation on our side. Sandy Bridge-E was also meant to be Intel's first native PCI Express 3.0 enabled CPU, but alas once again Intel has run into a snag. Due to lack of hardware to test PCI Express 3.0 compliance with, Intel has decided not to include PCI Express 3.0 at launch and once again we're looking at some kind of solution to add this after the platform has launched. Once again this is an issue that is unlikely to have any impact whatsoever; simply because there are no PCI Express 3.0 add- on cards available. That said, the LGA-2011 platform is meant to last until at least the second half of 2013, so this is a feature that will future proof it. On top of all the chipset issues, Intel also seems to have run into a snag with the CPUs, as the C-0 stepping is meant to start shipping to its partners for qualification testing within the next two to four weeks. Intel is apparently waiting for revision C-1 until it feels confident with Sandy Bridge-E. The good news is that despite all of this, Intel's board design guidelines have proven to be reliable enough so that Intel's board partners won't have to do any board re-designs despite all of the changes that have taken place. Well, that is of course 1

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July 15th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone not taking into account things like empty space for missing SATA/SAS ports. We'renotoutofthewoodsyet,butwemightactuallygettosee a Sandy Bridge-E launch this time of Christmas, although it really depends on how quickly Intel can solve all of the issues. Thenagain,itmightbebettertoholdoffandwaitandseewhat Intel will do with regards to the missing feature than take the plunge early on and miss out on the full platform. Corsair Force GT 120GB SSD drive review Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/corsair-force-gt-120gb-ssd-drive- review/12990.html Corsair has always been one of the biggest players in the computer memory market, consequently it was only natural forthemtojointhesolidstatedisksegmentofthemarketsince SSD’s are essentially made of flash memory chips. Today we arehavingalookatthefastestSSDCorsaircurrentlyproduces, the Force GT 120GB drive which boasts incredible speeds of up to 555MB/s sequential read and 515MB/s sequential write. We are going to examine the drive’s synthetic and real world performance in this review. • Maximum Non-Operative Altitude: 12,192 m (up to 40,000 ft.) Unformatted Capacity Read Performance (max) Write Performance (max) 120 GB 555 MB/s 515 MB/s Random Write 4k (max) Form Factor Interface Type Onboard cache Operating Temperature Storage Temperature Operating Humidity 85k IOPS (4k aligned) 2.5” SATA 3 6Gb/s NA 0C to +70C -20C to +85C 10% to 90% RH (0° to +40° C) Storage Humidity 5% to 90% RH (-10° to +60° C) Maximum Operating Altitude 3,048 m (up to 10,000 ft.) Maximum Non-Operating 12,192 m (up to 40,000 ft.) Altitude July 15th, 2011 ASUS Eee Pad Shipments Hit 400,000 units a Month Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/asus-eee-pad-shipments-hit-400-000- units-a-month/12989.html July 15th, 2011 ASUS had already shipped 400,000 units of Eee Pad Transformer for the month and this is expected to increase for the second half of the year. Corsair has always been one of the biggest players in the computer memory market, consequently it was only natural forthemtojointhesolidstatedisksegmentofthemarketsince SSD’s are essentially made of flash memory chips. Today we arehavingalookatthefastestSSDCorsaircurrentlyproduces, the Force GT 120GB drive which boasts incredible speeds of up to 555MB/s sequential read and 515MB/s sequential write. We are going to examine the drive’s synthetic and real world performance in this review. Manufacturer features and specifications • Interface: SATA 3 6Gb/s • Operating temperature: 0° C to +70° C • Storage temperature: -20° C to +85° C • Operating Humidity: 10% to 90% RH (0° to +40° C) • MaximumOperatingAltitude:3,048m(upto10,000ft.) The sleek tablet is gaining popularity quickly. ASUS had alreadyshipped400,000unitsoftheEeePadTransformerfor the month and it is expected to increase further. ASUS had set a goal of shipping two million sets in 2011 and it seems that it will meet the target effortlessly. Sources also indicated that 2

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July 15th, 2011 ASUS had requested a monthly target of 400,000 to 500,000 units from its touch panel suppliers. More Specifications Revealed for AMD Bulldozer Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/more-specifications-revealed-for-amd- AMD will be offering seven models for its Bulldozer FX series as shown in the table above. Three of the models will be the eight-core variants, two six-core variants and two quad core processors. The top of the range eight-core model, FX-8150 will feature a base CPU frequency of 3.6GHz (4.2GHz on Turbo), 8MB L2 Cache, 8MB L3 Cache and a rated TDP of 125W.AlowerTDPof95Wisavailableforthelowerendeight- core model (FX-8120) which has a base CPU frequency of 3.1GHz(4GHzonTurbo).Thetwohighendmodelsforthesix- core and quad core variants are still not detailed. Right now, we can only look forward to October for further details. Guy builds a Batmobile with a real turbine, jazzes it up with an iPad Published by: VR-Zone Nowthisisnotreallyagadget-relatedpieceofnewsperse,but it is still something that is interesting enough to warrant some mentiononourfrontpage.Apparently,ahardcoreBatmanfan was able to go about building his own Batmobile with a real honest-to-goodness turbine engine,but the best partis that he was also able to jazz up the build by throwing in an iPad for its avionics. Wait, say what? bulldozer/12988.html July 15th, 2011 AMD Bulldozer will set to appear sometime in October this year. The delay is caused by the inability for some of the processors to reach the required clockspeed. More details inside. Do you fancy having your own Batmobile to drive on the roads? Well, the unfortunate truth is that Bruce Wayne's superpowered car may not be the kind of vehicle one can simply purchase off a car dealer, so most fans have taken to building their own version of the Batmobile, each with varying results. However, it seems that this particular fan- made Batmobile built by a Casey Putsch has to take the cake where realism is concerned, and for good reason. According to a report published by DVICE, Putsch based his build off Tim Burton's1989 Batman Batmobile, but unlike most fan-made versions of the Caped Crusader's iconic vehicle, Putsch was somehow able to cram in an actual turbine jet engine that was reportedly sourced from an old U.S. Navy drone helicopter, and is capable of utilizing either jet fuel, kerosene or diesel to provide its power. However, Putsch has also attempted to keep his Batmobile up to date by installing an iPad (3G capable version) that is responsible for providing both the Batmobile's avionics and GPS-assisted navigational systems. And if you are wondering, yes, Putsch's Batmobile is apparently considered to be street-legal, with DVICE claiming that the "two-seater Batmobile is...capable of 365 horsepower, or about the same as a Dodge Viper". Now wouldn't you love to take this little monster out on the roads for a little joyride? Jawbone's new wristband helps to tune "Up" your health Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/jawbone-s-new-wristband-helps-to- tune-up-your-health/12986.html July 15th, 2011 Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/guy-builds-a-batmobile-with-a-real- turbine-jazzes-it-up-with-an-ipad/12987.html July 15th, 2011 Accessory maker Jawbone has developed a new wristband called "Up" to encourage health and wellness. Not only does 3

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July 15th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone Jawbone has recently unveiled Up, wristband with hardware and software system that can track your lifestyle - eating, sleeping and movements - and give a reading on your general health. About the size of the popular Livestrong strap, Up containssensorsthatcanintuitivelytrackyouractivities,while a smartphone app collects the data on a regular basis and get feedback with regards to improving workouts, eat habits and sleep patterns. However, note that Jawbone’s Up is not a sickness-prevention accessory, but a lifestyle gadget designed to encourage wellness. According to the company, Up is designed to be trendy and as a slip-in-on-and-forget wristband. The product is said to ship later this year for iOS and Android devices, though no pricing details has been announced yet. Adobe rolls out Flash Player 11 Beta, boasts native support for 64-bit browsers Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/adobe-rolls-out-flash-player-11-beta- boasts-native-support-for-64-bit-browsers/12985.html July 15th, 2011 Haveyoubeenmoaningandgroaningaboutthedismalstateof support Adobe's Flash Player plugin has for 64-bit browsers? Well, if your answer to that question is a yes, today will definitely be a very good day for you and your favourite web browser, for Adobe has announced the availability of the first beta of its Flash Player 11 plugin, which now boasts...yes, native support for 64-bit browsers. And no, we are not making this up at all. it looks fashionable, but Up also incorporates hardware and software system, as well as sensors to monitor your lifestyle. 64-bit computing may have reached mainstream status today, but it does not change the fact that Adobe is notorious among users for its insistence of supplying only the 32-bit version of its Flash Player plugin. Needless to say, the world's heavy reliance on Flash for the delivery of rich digital content such as online games and videos means that users of pure 64-bit operating systems are often prevented from enjoying such content,duetothelackofaproper64-bitversionoftheplugin for such users. However, just as we have always said that good things come to those who wait, users of pure 64-bit operating systems will undoubtedly be pleased with the latest news from Adobe, as the company has just released a beta of their updated Flash 11 plugin on Adobe Labs. And the biggest draw of this preview release? Why, the inclusion of a native 64-bit plugin whichisreportedlycompatiblewithmost64-bitwebbrowsers currently in use today. We tested the x64 build of the Flash Player 11 Beta on a 64- bit build of the Firefox web browser, where it worked perfectly fine. At the very least, YouTube videos were completely playable, and the browser was able to recognize the plugin without any additional fiddling around. 4

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July 15th, 2011 More importantly, we were quite glad to find out that Adobe hasfixedacertainflawinthe64-bitversionoftheFlashPlayer 11 plugin which prevented Ookla's speed test from loading on the older, experimental versions of the plugin. The Flash Player 11 Beta plugin can be downloaded off the Adobe Labs site in both 32-bit and 64-bit flavors. Published by: VR-Zone Apple iPhone 5 to launch before 4 October? Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/apple-iphone-5-to-launch-before-4- october-/12983.html July 15th, 2011 Everyone is eagerly waiting to see when the upcoming Apple iPhone 5 will be launched, with rumors suggesting the launch to be in September. And from recent news sources, it seems that the long-awaited phone could be scheduled for a launch before 4 October. Read on. FormerApplemarketingchief,JohnMartellaro,hasexpressed that Apple isn't all keeping quiet about their new products, but the company has carefully and purposely plan of releasing certain relevant information to the media as part of their marketing effort. This time, the rumor comes from the American telco AT&T. According to a leaked memo, the company will be making some adjustments on the mobile insurance of the Apple iPhone and other devices from 17 July till 4 October. Previously, it was US$9 and now it will be adjustedbetweenUS$4.99toUS$6.99(andprobablyincrease of monthly prices). The question is, why should anyone be concerned as to AT&T choosing this period to adjust their mobile insurance? If you recalled, this period overlaps that of the rumored launch month (which is September), and it would seem logical that theiPhone5wouldbelaunchedbeforethe4Octoberdeadline. Haipad M9 tablet gets upgraded with newer processor and better touchscreen Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/haipad-m9-tablet-gets-upgraded-with- newer-processor-and-better-touchscreen/12984.html 5

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July 15th, 2011 July 15th, 2011 Remember the short story we ran a few days back of Haier launching a new version of its Haipad tablet that reportedly utilized a 1GHz Samsung processor? Well, it turns out that the aforementioned tablet was not the only product which Haier has in store for the Chinese domestic market, for word has it that the company has rolled out yet another upgraded version ofitsHaipadlineoftabletsforsaleinChina,anditcomesinthe form of a slight specifications bump for its existing M9 tablet. onboard flash storage and a 4400mAh battery pack which is supposedly capable of lasting up to six hours on a single charge. 3G and GPS is not supported, although it is suugested that the functionality will make its way into future versions of the M9. That being said, with this being China we are talking about, it should be of little surprise that the M9 sports a very affordable price of 900 Yuan, or approximately US$140. Published by: VR-Zone RIM's media hub to be called the BlackBerry Cyclone? Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/rim-s-media-hub-to-be-called-the- blackberry-cyclone-/12982.html July 15th, 2011 LookslikeHaierisonarollthisweek.Inadditiontolaunching a new, upgraded version of a yet-unnamed Haipad tablet which we talked about recently, it seems that the company has got yet another product which has been given an upgrade of sorts, and it comes in the form of a slight specifications bump for its M9 tablet. Seems like just about every single OEM out there wants to come up with a product of sorts that could compete with Apple's array of consumer electronic devices, and Research In Motion(RIM)isnoexception.Apparently,wordhasitthatthe Canadian telecommunication and wireless device company is extremelykeenondeliveringaproductthatiscapableofgoing head to head with the Cupertino's Apple TV, and that it will be known as the...BlackBerry Cyclone. Yep, you heard that right. Quite some time back, rumours were abound that Research In Motion (RIM) was planning diversify into other markets, and that the first product which the company was most likely to introduce as a result of this diversification is that of a media player which would supposedly compete against the AppleTV.Asitturnsout,therumoursmayhavebeentrueafter all,forasiteknownasNerdberryhasclaimedtohavegottenin contact with a source who has confirmed the existence of the product, being privy to the company's plans. According to a report published by M.I.C Digi, the main upgrade to the M9 comes in the form of a 7-inch capacitive touchscreen which is reportedly capable of supporting quintuple multi-touch technology, as opposed to the older M9 which came bundled with a touchscreen display that was only capable of dual-touch technology. In theory, the use of a quintuple touchscreen will allow users to make use of a greater variety of gestures in navigating through the Android operating system that is preloaded on the M9. In addition, M.I.C Digi has also claimed that the upgraded M9 will utilize a Renesas chip that reportedly features a dual- core EV2 processor clocked at 533MHz and is based off the A9 microarchitecture, along with a PowerVR SGX530 GPU. Lastly, the upgraded M9 tablet will come bundled with 4GB of According to Nerdberry, RIM's upcoming media hub, which is reportedly known by its internal codename as the "BlackBerry Cyclone", will come bundled with support for video output via HDMI and online connectivity via WiFi, while the preloaded OS will support direct access to YouTube and Netflix. In addition, Nerdberry is claiming that the BlackBerry Cyclone will also allow users to access and connect to a variety of media devices that are also visible on one's home network, 6

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July 15th, 2011 ostensiblytoallowforthestreamingofmediacontentfromthe aforementioned devices via the WiFi network. That being said, little else about the BlackBerry Cyclone's capabilities, let alone its hardware specifications, has been made public yet, but it will be very interesting to see how RIM intends to hold its own in the digital entertainment scene, considering how the company is essentially starting from scratch in its latest endeavor. Indeed, Electronista is claiming that RIM's lack of a central repository for digital content such as Apple's iTunes, coupled with its BlackBerry devices lacking support for functionality similar to that of AirPlay, makes it difficult to ascertain if RIM will be able to survive in this particularmarket.Well,wewillhavetowaitandsee,won'twe? Sanyo Home outs world's first Android-based Smart Home robot, calls it Mirai SANZO Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/sanyo-home-outs-world-s-first- android-based-smart-home-robot-calls-it-mirai-sanzo/12981.html July 15th, 2011 We have heard of the Android operating system being used to power all kinds of appliances that it was never designed for, such as TV set-top boxes, GPS navigators and even actual PCs. But putting Android into a robot has probably got to be a world's first, and this is exactly what Sanyo Home has done with the introduction of the Mirai SANZO, a dome- shaped Smart Home robot which is designed to help out with minimizing one's energy consumption at home. Think that Android is already everywhere around you, from smartphones to tablets, and even set-top boxes and low-cost PCs? Well, leave it to the Japanese to outdo themselves once again by managing to cram the Android operating system into yet another appliance that it was never meant to be used on, while achieving yet another world's first in the process. Apparently, Sanyo Home has just announced the availability ofwhatitcallsa"SmartHomerobot"whichisdesignedtohelp home users minimize their energy consumption, and yes, you guessedit;itispoweredbythesameAndroidoperatingsystem that we are currently seeing on our smartphones and tablets. According to Sanyo Home, the Smart Home robot, which is known as the Mirai SANZO, is meant to be sold as "part of an integrated smart home that Sanyo markets to 'families of the future' in Japan" and is supposed to be hooked up onto a home's local network. Once that is done, the users will be able 7 Published by: VR-Zone tomakeuseoftheMiraiSANZOtoremotelyaccessandcontrol various appliances that have been installed in their home. Apparently,thisincludesautomaticallyfillingthebathtubwith water of the right temperature, turn the air conditioner on (or off),orevensendingalertstoone'scellphoneintheeventofan emergencysuchasthefirealarmgoingoff.Oh,andsomewhere along the line, it can also be used as a central control hub that takes command over all of the aforementioned appliances and help users monitor their electricity consumption. Sounds interesting? Well, the bad news is that the Mirai SANZO does not appear to be intended for sale anywhere outsideofitsdomesticmarket,butwhatwedoknowisthatthe Japanese can expect to see the product pop up for sale on the retail shelves starting from today onwards. More importantly, no pricing for the Mirai Sanzo Smart Home robot has been revealed, and that Sanyo Home is apparently keeping a very tight lid on the specifics of the robot, such as the OS version currently in use, and whether it has an unlockable bootloader or not. Oh well, at least Sanyo did not attempt to fashion the Mirai SANZO off the Android mascot's likeness. HP studies China's online social networking habits, turns up interesting results Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/hp-studies-china-s-online-social- networking-habits-turns-up-interesting-results/12975.html July 15th, 2011 So you thought that everybody in the world uses online social networking tools for the same thing? Well, you could not have been further from the truth. Apparently, HP has, in its interest to find out just how the Chinese make use of online social media in their daily computing habbits, has conducted a study into the subject, and has managed to come up with some...interesting results in the process. Online social networking tools may be great platforms for people to get themselves up to date with information and happenings that are taking place all over the world. After all, there is no greater source of information than an online social networking service which is constantly being updated with both shared and user-generated content to produce what is potentially an endless stream of information that is active 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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July 15th, 2011 That being said, you must have at some point of time thought that the majority of people who are actively involved in such online social networking services are your average users who share the same computing habits as you, right? Well, HP has carried out a study on the trends that are currently taking placeinChina'smicro-bloggingscene,andhasturnedupsome interesting findings that aptly demonstrate just how different Chinese social media users are as opposed to their Western counterparts. Finding #1: Trending topics in the Chinese micro-blogging scene typically consist of non-news content According to the study, the team has found out that most of the influential authors on China's popular micro-blogging platform, Sina WeiBo, who are responsible for the majority of "retweets" that are made tend to focus on non-news topics such as "follower-contributed jokes, movie trivia, quizzes and stories". This implies that the Chinese see the micro- bloggingsceneasarecreationalplatformwhichpromotesuser interactionintheformofcontributinguser-generatedcontent, and not as one which should be used for the dissemination of news or events that are taking place globally. Finding #2: Most authors of trending topics in the Chinese micro-blogging scene utilize non-verified accounts Like Twitter, Sina WeiBo employs the use of two different online account types to differentiate between its gigantic user base, namely the Regular (or non-verified) and the Verified user accounts. Any user which registers an account with Sina WenBo's micro-blogging service will be issued a regular account, while the Verified accounts are typically issued to "a well known public figure or organization in China". Published by: VR-Zone And if the first finding made by HP is of any indication, it should be of little surprise that most of the top authors of trending topics on Sina WeiBo are average Joes who make use of the regular, non-verified accounts given to the majority of Sina's users. In fact, HP has even drawn up a table detailing the profiles of the top 20 authors of trending topics on Sina WeiBo, where it reveals that as many as 16 such authors are actually on non-verified accounts. Needless to say, this is in stark contrast to how things work in Twittersville, where the top spots are "dominated by popular news sources such as CNN, the New York Times and ESPN". Finding #3: Chinese micro-bloggers are more likely to "retweet" content The Chinese usually tend to "retweet" online content a lot more frequently as opposed to their Western counterparts, and the numbers shown in the couple of tables shown above tellthewholestory.Infact,HPclaimsthatthesix-digitretweet ratio which the top 20 authors in Sina Weibo are enjoying are "several orders of magnitude greater than the retreets for the trending topics on Twitter", where most of the top authors in the latter were only able to post double-digit and single-digit retweet ratios. Inaddition,HPhassuggestedthatthehugeretweetratiosthat it has managed to obtain from its studies are an indication of how the Chinese are more likely to consolidate their 8

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July 15th, 2011 contributions within a small number of topics currently availble on Sina Weibo, and that it is this practice which contributes to a topic's "trending status". Finding #4: Chinese micro-bloggers make heavy use of digital media files to convey their messages While Twitter and Sina Weibo share one similarity in that both micro-blogging platforms only allow users to post text Potential leaked image of Sony's NEX-7 appear online Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/potential-leaked-image-of-sony-s- nex-7-appear-online/12980.html We've already seen a leaked picture of Sony's upcoming Alpha models and now a picture that's said to be of a pre-production model of Sony's upcoming NEX-7 has made an appearance. If this turns out to be the real deal, then Sony has changed its strategy quite a lot as this model is addressing a very different crowd than the current NEX models. We've already seen a leaked picture of Sony's upcoming Alpha models and now a picture that's said to be of a pre-production model of Sony's upcoming NEX-7 has made an appearance. If this turns out to be the real deal, then Sony has changed its strategy quite a lot as this model is addressing a very different crowd than the current NEX models. Published by: VR-Zone For starters it's clear from the picture that the NEX-7 has an electronic viewfinder, something many advanced users saw as a missing feature of the current NEX models. It also has a standardSonyhot-shoe,unlikethespecialconnectorfoundon the current models. On top of that, it's said to have a built- in pop-up flash, yet another missing feature on the current models. messages that are no longer than 140 characters in length, the latter boasts an key difference in that it also supports the use of embedded digital content, namely images and video clips. According to HP, it is this unique feature of Sina Weibo which allows Chinese micro-bloggers to express themselves in a greater variety of ways, and the Chinese are clearly making fulluseofthisfeaturetogettheirmessageacross.Indeed,HP's findings reveal that a huge percentage of messages that are posted on Sina Weibo are embedded with such digital media content, and the table below confirms that claim. The controls have also changed a bit with a few additional buttonsandwhatappearstobeapairofcontroldials,although it's not quite clear as to what they do from the picture. The camera is rumoured to have a 24 Megapixel sensor and the EVF is suggested to be the same rumoured 3 million dot EVT used in the new Alpha models. One other thing that makes the NEX-7 different from the current NEX model is its expected price tag of US$1,200 (S$1,460), body only. The NEX-7 is expected to be announced sometime in August. July 15th, 2011 Zotac planning return to ATX motherboard market, with a bang Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/zotac-planning-return-to-atx- motherboard-market-with-a-bang/12979.html July 15th, 2011 It's been a while since Zotac launched an ATX motherboard, in fact Zotac's last ATX form factor motherboard was based on Intel's X58 chipset back in 2009 and it's not exactly what we'd call an impressive motherboard in terms of features and layout. Fastforward to now and pictures of an upcoming Z68 9

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July 15th, 2011 from Zotac has made its way online and it looks like nothing you've ever seen from Zotac, in fact, it doesn't quite look like anything we've seen before. It's been a while since Zotac launched an ATX motherboard, in fact Zotac's last ATX form factor motherboard was based on Intel's X58 chipset back in 2009 and it's not exactly what we'd call an impressive motherboard in terms of features and layout. Fastforward to now and pictures of an upcoming Z68 from Zotac has made its way online and it looks like nothing you've ever seen from Zotac, in fact, it doesn't quite look like anything we've seen before. The board in question is the ZT-Z68 Crown Edition-U1DU3 (note that the source is a Chinese website and that the Google translation of ??? might be wrong) and we're going to have to wait for the official announcement to find out what the actual retailnamewillbe.Thematterofafactisthatyouhaven'tseen a feature packed board until you've seen this motherboard, as there'sbarelyanyemptyspaceontheEATXPCB,despitebeing slightly wider than regular ATX boards. For starters the board has a massive 24+3-phase VRM design featuring DrMOS, tantalum capacitors and a decoupling capacitor.Overthetopspringstomind,especiallyconsidering that Intel's Sandy Bridge CPUs are "somewhat" limited when it comes to overclocking thanks to little to no adjustment of the BCLK. Express slots. From here on in things are starting to get really complicated. The reason for a missing slot on the board is because Zotac has repurposed the PCI Express lane for use with a mini PCI Express slot into which a half-length 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi card has been fitted. Yes, that's correct, Zotac has decided to kit out this massive board with a built in Wi-Fi card. 10 Published by: VR-Zone There are a total of eight SATA ports at the front of the board, two of which are via a third party controller. However, there's also an mSATA slot on the board just behind the SATA ports, but an interesting thing here is that it can also double up as a full-length mini PCI Express slot. From what we can tell, it's sharing the same SATA controller as the eSATA port. Oddly enough Zotac has also included an IDE port on the board. Next we have a VLI VL800 USB 3.0 host controller with two pin-headers for a total of four front ports. There are also headers for six USB 2.0 ports and a serial port. Other little titbits include power and rest buttons as well as a POST80 debug LED, three Voltage metering points and what looks like three BIOS chips. Disappointingly though, we only spotted a mere three fan headers on the board, of which one is for the CPU cooler. That just isn't good enough on a board of this calibre. Moving on the board sports an nf200 chip which gives the board 3-way SLI support and Zotac has kindly drawn lines on the PCB to indicate which slots are used in 2-way and 3-way configurations. There are a total of four x16 PCI Express slots, although one of them would only work with a single slot card and the bottom slot would be limited to a single slot card as well in a regular 7-slot chassis. There's also a single x1 PCI Express slot and a PCI slot. An extra Molex connector has also been fitted to the board to provide extra power to the PCI Moving to the rear of the board we find a PS/2 port, four USB 2.0 ports, two USB 3.0 ports (presumably from a VLI VL810 host controller), an eSATA port, a Gigabit Ethernet port, 7.1-channel audio with optical S/PDIF out and DVI, HDMI a DisplayPort connectors. There are also two antenna connectors here for the on-board Wi-Fi.

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July 15th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone We can only imagine how expensive this board will be when it launches, or rather if it launches. We fully understand that motherboard manufacturers like to produce halo products, but this board is so far over the top that we frankly just don't get it. We've seen a lot of crazy concept boards over the years, butmostofthemhavenevermadeittomarketandinaway,we hope this one doesn't make it either, at least not in its current design. Spire releases Epoxi rev.2 Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/spire-releases-epoxi-rev.2/12976.html July 15th, 2011 Nine months after the release of Epoxi full tower casing, Spire is set to introduce Epoxi rev.2. More details inside. The Spire Epoxi rev.2 features six 120mm blue led fans, 0.8mm thick steel, aluminium front panel, tool-free thumb screw side panels, five 5.25-inch and six 3.5-inch drive bays. The casing also has well placed holes which allow good management of cables and two holes drilled specially for watercooling pipes. Measuring at 595 x 215 x 580mm (L x W x H) and weighing at 11.25kg, the Spire Epoxi rev.2 will be retailing for US$139.95 (S$170). See more specifications at Spire website . 11

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July 15th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone Sparkle has added six new models to its Calibre series of premium graphics cards. Its new flagship model, the Calibre X580 Captain, supports "2 divided images spanning across 4 displays" and has voltage measurement points for overclockers. Besides this, there are overclocked versions of the GTX 560 Ti, GTX 560 and GTX 550 Ti. Even the lowly GT 520 gets a (pointless) upgrade to 2GB of memory. More pictures and specifications after the break. The first addition to Sparkle's Calibre lineup is the X580 Captain, which was on display at Computex. It has three Mini DisplayPort and two Dual Link DVI outputs, which according to Sparkle allow for "1 single image on 3 displays simultaneously and 2 divided images spanning across 4 displays at once". This description seems to imply that the X580 Captain does notsupportatruequad-displaysetup,andthatthetwodisplay outputs from the GPU are each spanned across two monitors Eyefinity-styleinstead.Themaximumsupportedresolutionin this mode was not stated. Other features of the X580 Captain include a rear backplate to prevent PCB warping, deluxe hybrid capacitors and voltage measurements points for GPU and memory voltages. Cooling- wise, the X580 Captain appears to be using a reference heatsink. 12 Mach Xtreme Technology releases 2.5" SATA-3 MX-DS FUSION Series SSD Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/mach-xtreme-technology-releases-2.5- sata-3-mx-ds-fusion-series-ssd/12978.html July 15th, 2011 Mach Xtreme Technology releases 2.5" SATA-3 MX-DS FUSION Series SSD for budget conscious enthusiast?s. The new Sandforce powered drives offer speeds of up to 540MB/s read and 510MB/s write at a very attractive price point. The press release also mentions that "this (MX-DS Fusion) series supports DuraClass™ and DuraWrite™ technologies. DuraClass™ technology provides best-in-class endurance, performance, and low power. DuraWrite™ technology optimizes writes to the flash memory over conventional controllers increasing the overall endurance and reliability of the complete SSD. Highly intelligent block management and wear leveling also extends the overall endurance." Sparkle Updates Calibre Series with 6 New Models, Quad-Display GTX 580 Included Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/sparkle-updates-calibre-series-with-6- new-models-quad-display-gtx-580-included/12959.html July 15th, 2011 Above and top: The Sparkle X580 Captain The other new models are the Calibre X560Ti DF, Calibre X560 DF and Calibre X550Ti DF. The factory overclocks on these are quite impressive, and the heatsinks are among the better looking ones out there in our humble opinion. Above: The Sparkle Calibre X560Ti DF/X560 DF

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July 15th, 2011 Above: The Sparkle Calibre X550 Ti DF EventhelowlyGT520getsafancyblackheatsink.There'salso a2GBversionoftheGT520,dubbedtheX520King.Theword pointless comes to mind. Captain DF X580 X560Ti X560 DF X550 Ti DF X520 King X520 GPU GTX 580 GTX 560 Ti GTX 560 GTX 550 Ti GT 520 GT 520 Core Clock (MHz) 822 950 930 1000 900 900 Memory 2016 2301 2244 2400 - Clock (MHz) Memory 3GB/1.5GB 1GB 1GB 1GB 2GB Size Memory 384-bit 256-bit 256-bit 192-bit 64-bit Interface - 1GB 64-bit CUDA Cores 13 512 384 336 192 48 48 Published by: VR-Zone Win HD Media Players and Coolers by downloading our VRForums app! (Android and iOS) Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/win-hd-media-players-and-coolers-by- downloading-our-vrforums-app--android-and-ios-/12965.html July 15th, 2011 VR-Zone is giving away numerous product prizes including ACRyan's PlayOn HD2 Full HD Media Players and CoolerMaster/Thermalright Cooling products! Simply download our VRForums mobile app, post a screenshot with your username in this facebook post, and win! Contest is on till this Sunday (17th July 2011) and winners will be notified by Facebook Private Message. Above: The Sparkle Calibre X520/X520 King We've summarised the specifications of the new cards in the table below:

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July 15th, 2011 Nokia invests US$127 million to market their Windows Phone 7 Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/nokia-invests-us-127-million-to- market-their-windows-phone-7/12973.html July 15th, 2011 Finnish phone manufacturer Nokia has announced that it will be investing US$127 million (or 80 million UK pounds) in promotional activities and advertising for its upcoming Windows Phone 7 devices that are slated to launch in Q4 this year. Read on. (or US$127 million) to market their Windows Phone 7. Nokia CEO Stephen Elop has expressed that the company has invested in professional advertising agencies to create a 6-month campaign that will commence in October. Nokia has recently unveiled a campaign for its QWERTY range of smartphones. Twitter for Android: Now with push notifications Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/twitter-for-android-now-with-push- notifications/12971.html July 15th, 2011 If you are the proud owner of an Android-powered smartphone who cannot afford to pass a single day without getting your daily fix of Twitter on your mobile phone, today willdefinitelybeaverygooddaytohittheAndroidMarketand updatethatTwitterappcurrentlyresidinginyoursmartphone 14 Published by: VR-Zone to the latest version. This is because Twitter has just released an updated version of its Android client that reportedly brings a certain feature which most Android users have been waiting for quite some time already. Do you have Twitter installed on your Android-powered smartphone? Well, if you do, today will be a good day to visit the Android Market for some downloading, as Twitter has updated its official app to include a few new features that now brings the Android version to a level where it has seemingly achieved feature-parity with its iOS counterpart. WiththecollaborationofNokiaandMicrosoft,withthephone maker going the Windows Phone 7 way, everyone is awaiting for the highly anticipated Windows Phone 7 device that is scheduled to launch in October this year. According to online sources, Nokia has especially invested 80 million UK pounds According to the description posted by Twitter on the Android Market, the updated version will allow Android owners to receieve push notifications much like how their iPhone counterparts have been able to do so for quite some time already, and that users can choose if they want to limit the notifications to merely mentions and direct messages, or expand it to everyone. In addition, Twitter claims that the updated client now boasts support for multiple accounts and comes with updated widgets, ostensibly to give the app a "newer" look and feel. Last but definitely not least, Twitter is specifying a minimum requirement of handsets being loaded with at least version 2.1 of the Android operating system, although Electronista is claiming that users who are already on Froyo or newer can expect to enjoy full integration of the app into the operating system upon installation. Buffalo unveils new BHR-4GRV router for Japan Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/buffalo-unveils-new-bhr-4grv-router- for-japan/12969.html

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July 15th, 2011 July 15th, 2011 Buffalo has announced the availability of its new Buffalo BHR-4GRV router for the Japanese market, which boasts built-insupportforvirtualprivatenetwork(VPN)connectivity via the use of the Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP), along with various other features. Read on to find out more. Fancy owning a router which claims to come with built-in support for enabling connections to virtual private networks or VPNs? Well, Buffalo has just announced their solution for users who find themselves dealing with such needs, and it comes in the form of its new BHR-4GRV router, which is reportedly capable of doing just that, and then some. According to Buffalo, the new BHR-4GRV router's built-in support for VPN will allow users to connect to VPN networks via the PPTP protocol, and that it is compatible with a variety of mobile devices, such as Apple's iPad and iPhones. In addition,BuffalohasalsoclaimedthattheBHR-4GRVsportsa singleUSBportwhichuserscanutilizeforhookingupexternal storage devices to, or for use in sharing a printer across the network. Last but definitely not least, the BHR-4GRV will sport four Ethernet ports, one of which will support gigabit Ethernet connections at speeds of up to 1000Mbps, and is expected to retail in Japan come early August at the suggested retail price of 6,300 yen, or approximately US$80. Amazon to release its own tablet in October? Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/amazon-to-release-its-own-tablet-in- october-/12968.html July 15th, 2011 15 Published by: VR-Zone We all know that Amazon has been attempting to compete against Apple in just about everything that is related to digital content, such as e-books, digital music, and even mobile applications. However, it seems that Amazon is all ready to take the fight up to the next level, for word has it that the multinational electronic commerce company is planning to strike at Apple in the market where the latter is at its strongest by intending to introduce a new tablet to compete against the likes of the bestselling iPad. With just about every major computer OEM in the world having already released, or are planning to release, some form of a tablet device in order to carve out a share of the lucrativetabletpiefortheirown,itwouldseemthatthemarket for such devices has already reached saturation point, and that there is little chance for any newcomer unless it has something extremely compelling to deliver consumers, right? Apparently, Amazon does not seem to think so, for word has it that the US-based multinational electronic commerce company is planning to introduce its own tablet device, which will reportedly be positioned as a rival to Apple's iPad. Few details about Amazon's upcoming tablet device has been revealed, although most of the anonymous sources that have been cited by various online publications are claiming that the company plans to outsource both the design and production of the new tablet to an Asian ODM, which ZDNet claims is thatofQuantaComputers.ZDNetalsogoesontoclaimthatits sources have indicated that the tablet will be utilizing version 3.1 of the Android operating system, and that it will feature a nine-inch display. This has also been corroborated by the Wall Street Journal. ZDNet has also added that the new tablet, which will reportedly make use of the Kindle branding, is not expected to boast a great deal of onboard flash storage, as the company will reportedly want to encourage its users to utilize its cloud services and video rentals. However, ZDNet is also claiming that Amazon intends to position the device as one which is friendly for business and enterprises, as word has it that the company is currently meeting up with major Independent Software Vendors or ISVs to convince them to develop front- ends for enterprise and business software. In addition, both ZDNet and the Wall Street Journal are claiming that Amazon plans to attract consumers by putting an extremely competitive pricetag on it, with the Wall Street Journal citing an analyst who claims that it is entirely possible for Amazon to sell the tablet at a loss in the hopes of earning the money back via the sale of its digital content. Last but definitely not least, it seems that Amazon is planning to ship no less than 1,000,000 to 1,200,000 units of its new tablet in the third quarter of this year, if the table compiled by Digitimes is of any indication.

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July 15th, 2011 PayPal announces NFC Android-to-Android payments Online payment gateway Paypal has announced a peer-to- peer payment feature for Android users using Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, Payments can be sent or receivedbyenteringtransactiondetailsandtappingthephone against another phone. payment.Accordingtosources,thetransactionworksthrough aPayPalwidgetwhichuserscanusetosendorrequestmoney. Published by: VR-Zone The user needs to enter the transaction details and tap his or her phone against another phone that also has the same app installed.Thephoneswillbuzztogetherandrecipientcanthen choose to accept the transaction by keying in the PIN number. The PayPal new mobile payment service is currently slated to work only in the U.S. and with the Samsung Nexus S from Sprint and T-Mobile. However, the company said that it will also expand to other Android phones with NFC functionality in the near future. Singbox SV-606 portable media player/speaker now available in Korea Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/singbox-sv-606-portable-media- playerspeaker-now-available-in-korea/12966.html July 15th, 2011 Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/paypal-announces-nfc-android-to- android-payments/12967.html July 15th, 2011 Howwouldliketoownaportablemediaplayerthatcandouble up as a mini speaker system while on the move? Well, that is exactly what Singbox is offering Korean consumers with its new SV-606 portable media player / speaker hybrid device, which is reportedly capable of performing the aforementioned task, and then some. Read on to find out more. Withsmartphonesfastreplacingportablemediaplayersasthe device of choice for listening to one's favorite music while on the move, it would make sense that manufacturers of such devices need to find a way to keep up with the trends in order to ensure that they do not lose their entire market to smartphone OEMs. And apparently, Singbox thinks that one way to revolutionize the portable media player will be to give itbothacosmeticoverhaulanditsownbuilt-inspeaker,ascan be seen in their new SV-606 device. Near Field Communication (NFC) technology may have been incorporated into many smartphones these days such as the SamsungNexusSandSonyEricssonXperiaArc,butithasnot taken off due to the varying competing standards and existing technologies, as well as the lack of usage such as contactless mobile payments. However, online payment gateway Paypal looks to be taking a step to push the mobile payment with their recent announcement of NFC Android phone-to-phone Resembling more of a glorified pepper shaker than a typical portablemediaplayer,thenewSV-606isreportedlycapableof 16

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July 15th, 2011 playing back MP3 and WMA files, although users will have to load up their favorite songs into microSD cards first due to the fact that the SV-606 does not come with any built-in memory, thusrelyingexclusivelyontheuseoftheaforementionedcards for its storage needs. That being said, the real draw of the SV-606 has got to be its built-in 2W mono speaker, which potentially allows users to blast their music away to their hearts' content without having to deal with the cumbersome earphones, although Singbox has confirmed that the SV-606 will still come bundled with the traditional 3.5mm audio jack to cater to users who would prefer to use the device as a typical portable media player. Lastly, the company also claims that the SV-606 also features an FM tuner and measure 85mm high and 35mm wide, while its built-in battery is capable of lasting up to 13 hours on a single charge. No pricing for the SV-606 has been released at this point of time. Europe to get the Meizu M9 soon? Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/europe-to-get-the-meizu-m9- soon-/12964.html July 15th, 2011 Remember Meizu's M9 smartphone? You know, the one that seemingly resembles an iPhone but brings along with it its own share of originality in the form of a customized UI for its Android-based operating system and its own uniquetweaks to the hardware's design? Well, it turns out that Europe might have no problem with giving the phone the official green light to be sold on its shores, if a recent report is of any indication. It is often said that China is only place where manufacturers can produce knockoffs of popular consumer electronic devices without getting into trouble in the form of lawsuits and Cease and Desist orders, right? Well, not if Meizu and its M9 smartphone, which is reportedly extremely popular in China, has got anything to say about it. Published by: VR-Zone Apparently, word has it that Meizu, the makers of the popular M-series of smartphones that bear more than just a passing semblance to the likes of Apple's iPhones, has been given the go-ahead to sell its M9 smartphone legally in Europe, and has even received the much-needed CE certificate to prove its legality on European soil. According to a report published by Shanzai.com, the M9 was able to clear the tests and meet all the requirements that the EU has imposed in order for such devices to be given the right to be imported and legally sold in Europe. The report also cited CiPhone , a leading French gadget blog, which claims to have confirmed the validity of the CE certificatefortheMeizuM9,andthatthecompanyhasalready performedatranslationofitsuserinterfaceinordertomakeit more EU-friendly. This ties in with our earlier story published inDecemberlastyear,wherewepointedoutthatthecompany had successfully pushed out an English version of the M9's UI. Last but definitely not least, Shanzai.com is also claiming that Meizu intends to release a new, updated firmware for the M9 which will allow it to "improve the display of European special characters by fixing the ID3 tag issues and enabling users to remove factory default apps". Unfortunately, no mention about the M9's suggested retail pricefortheEUwasmadeineitherreport,butweareguessing that Meizu will probably attempt to make it as affordable as possible for the average Joe. Still, it will be interesting to seehowApplewillreacttothis,consideringthattheCupertino giant had previously filed a lawsuit against the company over the latter's products' similarities to the iPhone. Pentax announces limited edition 645D "Japan" medium format DSLR Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/pentax-announces-limited- edition-645d-japan-medium-format-dslr/12963.html July 15th, 2011 Everybody knows that medium-format DSLRs are one of the most expensive gadgets to own today, but if you are going to 17

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July 15th, 2011 spend good money on such a camera, why not get yourself a limited edition model while you are at it? And if that thought has crossed your mind, perhaps you'd like to consider what Pentax has currently got up its sleeves for fans of medium- format DSLRs; a limited edition "Japan" variant of its 645D camera, which will soon be made available for pre-ordering. It is common knowledge that DSLRs are not cheap, and that more sophisticated DSLRs with medium-format sensors are definitely going to cost consumers and professionals alike an arm and a leg. However, if you have already made up your mind to break the piggy bank over a medium-format DSLR, why not make your most expensive acquisition more meaningful by springing for a limited edition model? Well, if that thought has crossed your mind, we've got some good news for you; Pentax has just announced its plans to release a limited edition variant of its 645D medium format DSLR, which it calls the 645D "Japan". Published by: VR-Zone Cooler Master's Cosmos II appear in candid pictures Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/cooler-master-s-cosmos-ii-appear-in- candid-pictures/12962.html July 15th, 2011 Although we did get a brief look at Cooler Master's upcoming Cosmos II back at Computex, we weren't allowed to take any new picture of the new monster case, but a few, slightly blurry pictures have now made their way online. From what we can tell a few things have been tweaked since we last saw the case and it shouldn't be far from hitting retail now. Although we did get a brief look at Cooler Master's upcoming Cosmos II back at Computex, we weren't allowed to take any new picture of the new monster case, but a few, slightly blurry pictures have now made their way online. From what we can tell a few things have been tweaked since we last saw the case and it shouldn't be far from hitting retail now. According to the official press release, the Pentax 645D "Japan" will sport the same features in the standard 645D medium format DSLR that was released for sale some time in March last year. This means that the 645D "Japan" will utilize the same CCD sensor which boasts the capability to capture still images at the astronomical resolution of 40 megapixels, and will gain access to the same PRIME II imaging engine, DR IIdustremovalmechanismanddualSD/SDHCmemorycard slots that are already present in the original 645D. However, it being a limited edition of the original 645D means that the 645D "Japan" also comes bundled with certain bells and whistles that are not available in the former. For one, the 645D "Japan"'s body has been given a bit of a cosmetic overhaul in the form of a red, lacquer-finished body designed to give the camera an"elegant, exquisite appearance", and will be delivered to customers in a "specially designed paulownia- wood packaging". In addition, the camera will also feature a gold-plated Pentax logo, a specially-designed mount cap, a white backlit-illuminated LCD screen, a DS-80 Centre-Spot- Mattefocusingscreenandmoreimportantly,accesstothenew v1.11 firmware which is not available on the standard models. No information about pricing has been revealed by Pentax, althoughthecompanyclaimsthatitintendstostarttakingpre- orders for the 645D "Japan" from July 20 till September 20. 18

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July 15th, 2011 So what are we looking at here? Well, a humongous XL-ATX chassiswith10+1rearexpansionslots.Aroundthefrontthings are actually rather basic for such a large case with "only" three 5.25-inch drive bays and two 3.5-inch drive bays, all fitted behind a sliding front cover. That said, internally there's space forupto11drivessplitintothreeseparatedrivecompartments thatcanholdfive,threeandthreedrivesrespectively.Allofthe internaldrivebayshavetraysthatcanaccommodateeither3.5 or 2.5-inch drives. For a Cooler Master chassis the Cosmos II is rather unusual due to the split level design with the PSU and six of the hard drives in a separate compartment at the bottom. There's a fan bracket here that can be kitted out with two 120mm to help cool the hard drives. The space for the PSU is padded with vibration absorbing foam and there is of course plenty of cable routing holes, all fitted with rubber grommets. Published by: VR-Zone The top of the chassis is home to four USB 2.0 ports, two USB 3.0ports,aneSATAportandapairofaudiojacks.There'salso a sliding cover for the touch sensitive controls and it seems like Cooler Master has included some kind of fan controller. Another interesting feature is the hinged side panel that pops off the hinge, this makes it much easier to open and close what is a rather large chassis. We'll hopefully be able to bring you more details and more importantly a launch date and a price of this beast in the near future. Hynix and Toshiba team up to develop MRAM Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/hynix-and-toshiba-team-up-to- develop-mram/12961.html July 15th, 2011 The major computer memory technology today is SDRAM in various shapes or forms, but there have been talks about various solutions set to replace the aging memory type with faster and more power efficient options with vastly improved performance. Well, Hynix and Toshiba has announced that the two are teaming up to develop Spin-Transfer Torque Magnetoresistance Random Access Memory or simply put, MRAM. 19

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July 15th, 2011 The major computer memory technology today is SDRAM in various shapes or forms, but there have been talks about various solutions set to replace the aging memory type with faster and more power efficient options with vastly improved performance. Well, Hynix and Toshiba has announced that the two are teaming up to develop Spin-Transfer Torque Magnetoresistance Random Access Memory or simply put, MRAM. The two companies aren't just going to develop the new memory type, but they're also going to cooperate in manufacturing it to. This should in theory help the two companies not only save money, but hopefully also reduce the research time and get products to market quicker. That said, we're still quite some time away from final products. The two companiesarealsoextendingtheircrosslicensingandproduct supply agreements with regards to current products. If successfully developed, MRAM has several benefits over Details of several new motherboards with support for PCI Express 3.0 from ASRock have turned up, including specs of a couple of upcoming models. The most exciting model is the feature packed Z68 Extreme7 which has been given quite a makeover since Computex, not in terms of features, but in terms of looks. Details of several new motherboards with support for PCI Express 3.0 from ASRock have turned up, including specs of a couple of upcoming models. The most exciting model is the feature packed Z68 Extreme7 which has been given quite a makeover since Computex, not in terms of features, but in terms of looks. Although four new models have shown up, only two are actually new, as all four models have the Gen3 moniker tacked on the end. The two boards that don't appear to have changed much is the P67 Extrem4 Gen3 which has been given an overhaul with regards to the choice of colours and of course 20 Published by: VR-Zone PCI Express 3.0 switches for the x16 PCI Express slots has otherwise not changed at all from what we can tell. The same goes for the Z68 Extreme4 Gen3, which got the same treatment as the P67 Extreme4 Gen3. TheZ68Etreme3Gen3isabrandnewmodelthoughthatslots in between the Z68 Pro3 and the Z68 Extreme4. Unlike the previous two models, this one has been given a set of new chipset heatsinks as well which look rather quite stylish. It's quite hard to see any details from the tiny picture though, but thespecsgiveusanideaofwhat'sonoffer.Theboardhasapair of x16 PCI Express slots that operate in dual x8 mode when both are in use, two x1 PCI Express slots and two PCI slots. Around the back the board has what we think is four USB 2.0 ports,twoUSB3.0ports,aneSATAport,GigabitEthernet,7.1- channel audio and a D-Sub, HDMI and DVI port. The board also features power, reset and clear CMOS buttons, but for everything else we're going to have to wait until it launches. SDRAM. For starters it's non-volatile, in other words it can act like flash memory which means that a computer will really be able to go down in proper standby mode in the future without the risk of losing data in case of a power loss. It's also more power efficient while still offering higher performance than SDRAM. Don't expect MRAM to replace flash memory any time soon though, as that's not the target market. That said, it might very well end up in some storage solutions as a high- performance cache for SSDs and hard drives, as long as the cost per GB isn't too high. ASRock's PCI Express 3.0 motherboards unveiled Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/asrock-s-pci-express-3.0- motherboards-unveiled/12960.html July 15th, 2011 Finally we have ASRock's new flagship board, the Z68 Extreme7 Gen3 and although there was a version on display at Computex, the revised version doesn't look anything like it. ASRock has gone for a design that has ended up somewhere between Gigabyte's UD7 and Asus' ROG series of boards, although there are a few things that could've been better in our opinion. The new heatsinks and gold capacitors look very modern and high-tech though, even though they are unlikely to offer any extra benefits over more regular looking components. The slot-layout is far from ideal and ASRock has kitted out the board with an nForce 200 chip which enables 3-way SLI and according to the spec sheet the top slot is the only x16 PCI Express 3.0 slot, whereas the other four x16 slots are stuck at PCI Express 2.0. There's also a single PCI Express x1 and a single PCI slot on the board. A very strange setup, but at least it's something unique to this board.

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July 15th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone ASRock has gone feature crazy on the Z68 Extreme7 with no less than four additional SATA 6Gbps ports, an eSATA controller, three USB 3.0 host controllers and a pair of Gigabit Ethernet controllers. Due to lack of PCI Express lanes from the chipset, ASRock has as such had to add a PLX bridge chip to handle all the peripheral controllers. The board also has headers for eight USB 2.0 ports, two USB 3.0 ports and a FireWire port. Around the back, unless ASRock has changed things around since Computex, there are two USB 2.0 ports, four USB 3.0 ports, two Ethernet ports, a FireWire port, an eSATA port, 7.1- channel audio with optical S/PDIF and a full set of display connectivity options which consist of a DisplayPort, HDMI, DVI and D-Sub connectors. Finally we have power, reset and clearCMOSbuttonsalongsideaPOST80debugLED.Thereal question is how much this board will cost, as we expect this to bethemostexpensivemotherboardASRockhaseverlaunched to date. 21

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Published by: VR-Zone July 19th, 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. Intel mulling PCI Express x2 interface Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/intel-mulling-pci-express-x2- interface/13030.html July 19th, 2011 Here's an interesting thing we came across earlier today, Intel is considering getting a new PCI Express interface implemented, namely a two lane solution. Why? Well, simply because PCI Express x1 doesn't offer enough bandwidth for a lot of bandwidth hungry devices, but PCI Express x4 is too wide for many peripheral chips, especially considering Intel's chipset limitations. Here's an interesting thing we came across earlier today, Intel is considering getting a new PCI Express interface implemented, namely a two lane solution. Why? Well, simply because PCI Express x1 doesn't offer enough bandwidth for a lot of bandwidth hungry devices, but PCI Express x4 is too wide for many peripheral chips, especially considering Intel's chipset limitations. Many devices PCI Express peripheral chipsets such as SATA controllers and USB 3.0 host controllers really requires more than one lane of PCI Express bandwidth, as each lane in a PCI Express 2.0/2.1 system is "limited" to a theoretical maximum transfer speed of 5GT/s (Giga Transfers) or about 500MB/s, not taking into account overheads. PCI Express alleviates some of these problems by lowering the overhead and increasing the bandwidth per lane to 8GT/s or close to a real throughput of 1GB/s, but it's not that simple. The problem is that Intel's upcoming Sugar Bay platform (Ivy Bridge + Panther Point) will only offer PCI Express 3.0 on the 16 lanes from the CPU, while the chipset will continue to offer eight lanes of PCI Express 2.0 bandwidth. In all fairness to Intel, the company has integrated USB 3.0 support in the chipset, but we're still only getting two SATA 6Gbps ports. Even so, the motherboard makers are going to want to slap on a few extra chips on their high-end boards, as has always been the case. This doesn't quite solve the problem though, as even though we might see wider PCI Express lanes, the peripheral chip makers need to re-design their chips to support the extra 1 bandwidth. Depending on the complexity and the design of the chip in question this might be a very simple task, or a very complex one. That said, for certain peripheral chips this is likely to make a lot of sense and we'd expect to see at least some implementations using this, well, that is if Intel actually goes ahead with its plan. There's one other hurdle, the PCI-SIG which controls the PCI Express standard and as far as we're aware, there's currently no support for a x2 PCI Express interface. That doesn't meant that things couldn't change and it shouldn't be a very time consuming thing to do, as it's really just an addendum to the spec for a two lane interface. And if you were thinking that going x4 would make just as much sense, well, yes and no, as each PCI Express lane makes for a more complex IC and adding too many lanes would also increase the size of the chip. It's never as easy as you'd hope it would be, but hopefully Intel will also start to add more lanes to its future chipset and provide a wider bus between the CPU and chipset. ECS Motherboards now equipped with Solid Capacitors Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/ecs-motherboards-now-equipped-with- solid-capacitors/13027.html July 19th, 2011 Elitegroup Computer Systems (ECS), well-known for its motherboard products, has announced that all their motherboards will be using solid capacitors around the CPU region.

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July 19th, 2011 ECS stated that the CPU consumes the most power during heavy computation, therefore the CPU power regulation area requires much more durable components. Thus, ECS opted AMD is preparing to release a A8-3870 APU in Q4 2011, featuring an unlocked multiplier for easy overclocking. The A8-3870 will not directly replace the A8-3850, but co-exist with the A8-3850. The GPU part will remain unchanged - HD 6550D - and TDP will remain constant at 100W. AMD is preparing to release a A8-3870 APU in Q4 2011, featuring an unlocked multiplier for easy overclocking. The A8-3870 will not directly replace the A8-3850, but co-exist with the A8-3850. The GPU part will remain unchanged - HD 6550D - and TDP will remain constant at 100W. In addition to the unlocked multiplier, A8-3870 is expected to feature a boost in CPU clock speed compared to the A8-3850. DonanimHaber expects the A8-3870 to be clocked at 3.1 GHz, but this could change. Published by: VR-Zone Let's hope that by the time A8-3870 releases in Q4 2011, there will be easy GPU overclocking available for the Llano APUs as well. Western Digital introduces new My Book Studio external hard disk Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/western-digital-introduces-new-my- book-studio-external-hard-disk/13026.html July 19th, 2011 The new Western Digital My Book Studio external hard disk may look like the Apple Mac aesthetics (as it is designed for Mac machines), though it also boasts a huge 3TB capacity, fast transfer speeds and automated backup features that makes data backup extremely easy. the option of using solid capacitors instead of traditional electrolytic capacitors in areas around the CPU for all their motherboards. Solid capacitors typically operate at 10% lower temperature, offer 1000 times more electrical conductivity, havebetterreliabilityandlongerlifespan.ECSalsoguarantees that they are using authentic solid capacitors unlike some manufacturers which use traditional electrolytic capacitors but cover them up with a solid capacitor shell. AMD preparing A8-3870 with Unlocked Multiplier Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/amd-preparing-a8-3870-with- unlocked-multiplier/13028.html July 19th, 2011 The newest generation of Western Digital My Book Studio external hard drives are designed for use with Mac computers and Apple Time Machine. Available with a 3TB capacity, the external hard disk features a brushed aluminum casing to match the appearance of a Mac computer, which also serves to keep the drive cool. It also eliminates the need for an internal fan to reduce drive noise and extend the life of the drive. The My Book Studio external hard drives can also be reformatted for PCs. TheMyBookStudioexternalharddriveoffersvariousfeatures includingfastFireWire800/400andUSB2.0interfaces,user- controlled automatic backup softwareand drive management, password protection and hardware encryption. Shipping in capacities of 1TB, 2TB and 3TB, the My Book Studio drive includes the WD Caviar Green series of internal hard drives with WD GreenPower Technology. Pricing and Availability WD’s My Book Studio is available at select retailers and is distributed by Achieva Technology and SiS Technology in 2

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July 19th, 2011 Singapore. Retail price for My Book Studio with 1TB is S$179; 2TB is S$229; and 3TB is S$299. AMD Llano A8-3850 Overclocked to 4.9GHz Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/amd-llano-a8-3850-overclocked- to-4.9ghz/13022.html July 19th, 2011 One of the shops in Japan, Overclock Works, did a demonstration for overclockers using extreme cooling on AMD Llano A8-3850 CPU with GIGABYTE GA-A75-UD4H motherboard and achieved a CPU frequency of 4.9GHz. Read on. The overclocking was done with AMD Llano A8-3850 processor which was rated at 2.9GHz and a GIGABYTE GA- A75-UD4H motherboard. The core voltage was raised to 1.792V (seen from the CPU-Z screenshot above) resulting in a 169.2MHz base clock and a multiplier of 29. The CPU overclocked at this settings (169.2MHz x 29 = 4.906GHz) was 3 Published by: VR-Zone abletobootintoWindowsoperatingsystem,butwasnotstable enough to run a proper Super PI 32M benchmark. TheAMDLlanoA8-3850hadtobedownclockedfrom4.9GHz to 4.761GHz before a Super PI 32M result could be generated (shown above). The demonstrator then moved on to carry out similar overclocking for the A6-3650 processor, but faced some problems after removing the nitrogen pot. The GIGABYTE GA-A75-UD4H motherboard was unable to work properly and had to be changed with an ASUS F1-A75-V PRO motherboard instead. However, difficulties were reported during the overclocking with the ASUS motherboard and could only achieve a 4.186GHz (base clock of 161MHz) for the A6-3650 processor with a core voltage of 1.428V. Kouziro launches two new 10- inch tablets in Japan Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/kouziro-launches-two-new-10-inch- tablets-in-japan/13025.html July 19th, 2011 Kouziro, a Japanese computer OEM known for its Build-To- Order line of desktop PCs, has announced the availability of two new 10-inch tablets for its domestic Japanese market, which both feature and external keyboard and a choice between Microsoft's Windows 7 and Google's Android operating systems. Read on to find out more about the new tablets from Kouziro... Offering a decent tablet to users is never an easy task for most OEMs. On one hand, most people will demand an Android- poweredtabletthatcomeswithalltheaddedbellsandwhistles they expect to find on such a device, while more productivity- oriented users will want their tablets to be pre-loaded with Windows 7 on the grounds that it plays nice with one's existing infrastructure and is compatible with all of the major Windows-based applications that are heavily used today.

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July 19th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone According to a report published by Japanese website ITmedia, the FT102-series of tablets will consist of two variants, with each variant running a different operating system. The first variant, which is known as the FT102-16, will be preloaded with version 2.2 of the Android operating system (aka Froyo), and will be powered by Intel's Atom N455 processor clocked at 1.66GHz. In addition, the FT102-16 will also feature 1GB of DDR3 memory, a 16GB SSD for storage purposes, a 10- inch capacitive touchscreen display that is capable of a native resolution of 1024 x 600, a battery pack which is reportedly capable of up to 3.5 hours of uptime on a single charge, and support for WiFi connectivity via the 802.11b/g/n standard. Oh, and it apparently will not come bundled with the Android Market., as ITmedia claims that Kouziro intends to position the FT102-16 as a corporate device. On the other hand, the other FT102 variant, the FT102-32, will sport slightly superior hardware in the form of having 2GB of DDR3 memory and a 32GB SSD for storage purposes, although ITmedia has confirmed that the FT102-32 will feature a display and the processor identical to the ones used in the FT102-16. Also, unlike the FT102-16, the FT102-32 will bepreloadedwithWindows7insteadoftheAndroidoperating system. Last but definitely not least, ITmedia claims that both tablets will come bundled with a wireless keyboard that connects via the use of a nano receiver, and will feature analogue RGB output connectors for use in displaying the contents on the tablets' screen onto an external display. That being said, what is an OEM like Kouziro to do in order to ensure that it can cater to both markets at once? The answerissimple:producetwosimilartablets,witheachdevice running off a different operating system. And this is exactly what Kouziro has done with its new FT102 series of tablets. The Kouziro FT102 series of tablets are expected to be made availableforsaleinJapancomelateJulyatthesuggestedretail prices of 30,000 yen and 50,000 yen (approx US$380 and US $633) for the FT102-16 and FT102-32 respectively. Gingerbread update for Optimus 3D to feature 2D- to-3D conversion for apps Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/gingerbread-update-for-optimus-3d-to- feature-2d-to-3d-conversion-for-apps/13024.html July 19th, 2011 Everybody knows that LG's 3D-capable smartphone, the Optimus3D,sportsaninterestingabilitywhichallowsusersto convert 2D images and videos into 3D on the fly with the help of some software. However, it seems that the Korean company is keen to take that functionality one step further to provide a more complete 3D experience for end-users, and it comes in theformof2D-to-3Dconversionsupportfordownloadedapps aswell.Andthebestpartofitisthatuserswillnothavetowait too long to enjoy this additional support. Read on to find out more. Do you remember LG's Optimus 3D smartphone? You know, the one which boasts a glasses-free 3D display, along with the interesting ability to convert images and video files from 2D to 3D with the help of some sophisticated software algorithm? Well, if you happen to be the proud owner of an Optimus 3D handset, we have got some good news; you will soon be able to apply that same 2D-to-3D conversion ability to your downloaded apps in a few months time. 4

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July 19th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone fat green pigs is sure to hold some form of appeal for most casual smartphone users. That being said, it would seem that the updated 2D-to-3D conversion engine does have its own share of drawbacks and limitations. For one, The Inquirer is claiming that the feature will only work with applications and games that have been developed using the popular OpenGL application programming interface, so this means that it is possible for some apps to be incompatible with the 2D-to-3D converter. In addition, it is claimed that the 3D app conversion feature will only work in landscape mode, and that "any applications or games that use only portrait mode won't be suitable for conversion". Oh well. Samsung unveils world's first zero-client monitor powered by UPOE technology Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/samsung-unveils-world-s-first-zero- client-monitor-powered-by-upoe-technology/13023.html July 19th, 2011 Would you like to own a monitor that is reportedly capable of powering itself over an Ethernet line? Well, it seems that suchamonitordoesexist,albeitonlyforusebyenterprisesand business, and it comes in the form of Samsung's new NC220 monitor, which is touted to be capable of playing a role in helping businesses to conserve energy and reduce cost and complexity. Read on to find out more... 5 Monitors are power-guzzling devices which need their own dedicated connection to the power socket at all times, right? Well, not in Samsung's dictionary they aren't: apparently, the Korean electronics giant has taken power consumption on its monitors to a new low by unveiling its new NC220 monitors, which comes with built-in support for Cisco's Universal Power OverEthernet(UPOE)technologywhichallowsthemtopower themselves from nothing more than a single Ethernet cable. Wait, say what? According to a report published by Ubergizmo, the upcoming Gingerbread update, which is slated to be made available for download come October this year, will update the 2D- to-3D conversion engine to grant users the ability to apply the 3D effect to apps, and for those who are wondering about the practicality of this enhanced feature, let's just say that catapulting an angry red bird into a structure populated with According to the official press release issued by Samsung, the new NC220 monitors, in addition to their capability to draw both power and data over a single Ethernet cable, will also feature the Korean electronics giant's proprietary LED BLU technology, which is reportedly capable of delivering "bright and clear pictures on an ultra-slim, eco-friendly design:. a feat which Samsung claims is capable of significantly lower energy consumption when compared with conventional CCFL (cold cathode fluorescent lamp) monitors. That being said, the biggest draw of the NC220 monitor is still the inclusion of support for Cisco's VPOE technology, which, unlike most conventional Power Over Ethernet solutions, allows devices to draw up to 60W of power over an Ethernet connection, as opposed to the 30W restriction which the latter suffers from. This suggests that Samsung's new monitor could haveapowerconsumptionratingwhichliesbetween30Wand 60W, although this really is speculation on our part. The press release also claims that the NC220's ability to draw both data and power from a single Ethernet cable allows businesses and enterprises to "leverage the power and speed of the company’s centralized server, while reducing energy costs and creating a more beautiful, less cluttered environment". NoinformationaboutpricingoravailabilityhasfortheNC220 has been released at this point of time, so do check back for updates. Toshiba Singapore Unveils 14- inch USB Mobile LCD Monitor Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/toshiba-singapore-unveils-14-inch-usb- mobile-lcd-monitor/13021.html

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July 19th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone Toshiba Computer Systems Division (CSD), a division of Toshiba Singapore, has announced the availability of their new 14-inch USB-powered Mobile LCD Monitor, designed foruserswhowantanadditionalscreentotheirlaptopatwork, school, home or anywhere one is at. It sports a 14-inch widescreen display with a resolution of 1,366x768 pixels, and comes equipped with the same LCD panel as a notebook PC for crisp images. The Toshiba 14-inch USBMobileMonitorweighsamere1.27kg,andmeasuresthan an inch thick, and which makes it easy to fit in most laptop bags.Themonitor’spowerandvideoarebothtransferredviaa single USB connection to the notebook PC using video over USB technology from DisplayLink, thus eliminating the need to carry bulky AC adapter or video cable. The Toshiba Mobile LCD Monitor comes bundled with a protective black vinyl carrying case, which can also folds into an adjustable stand for to set various viewing levels of yourpreference.Thecasealsohousesthemonitor’sUSBcable. While the monitor can be used without a power adaptor, an optional AC adapter (PA3743E-1AC3) allows users to turn up the brightness to 220 nits (cd/m2). The Toshiba 14-inch USB Mobile LCD Monitor is now available in shops at Sim Lim Square and Funan DigitaLife Mall at S$259 (inclusive of GST). July 19th, 2011 Need an additional display to your notebook PC? You can consider getting this new Toshiba 14-inch USB Mobile LCD Monitor. The widescreen LCD monitor weighs just 1.27kg and measures about an inch thick and is available in stores now. Baidu releases own web browser, looks a lot like a certain competitor Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/baidu-releases-own-web-browser- looks-a-lot-like-a-certain-competitor/13020.html July 19th, 2011 Just when you though China's penchant for providing its own domestic alternatives to various popular products and online servicescouldnotgetanymoreinteresting,outcomesBaiduto further consolidate its position as the country's version of Google, and the latest piece of news seems to confirm that claim. Apparently, it seems that Baidu has decided that it cannot be China's "Google" if it does not have its own web browser, a flaw which the company has moved to remedy with the release of its own beta browser that looks a lot a certain competitor's offering... Are you adventurous enough to try out a beta web browser, especially if it is a product that is offered by a Chinese company? Well, if your answer to that question is "yes", then we are wagering that you might want to give a certain browser fromthelikesofChinesesearchgiantBaidualittlespin,forthe company has just released version 1.2 of its own web browser for download, which reportedly claims to grant users access to "its own collection of 30,000" apps that can quickly connect users to online games, videos and other tools". 6

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July 19th, 2011 According to the information posted on Baidu's download page, the browser is touted to be designed with the goal of being simple and reliable to use, and offers what it calls a Secure Browsing mode to protect users from being infected by malware. In addition, the browser also boasts access to an app repository which consists of no less than 30,000 apps such as music players, cooking recipes and even comic book readers. However, as PCWorld points out, the apps that Baidu has put up for users to make use of in the browser do not follow the traditional "downloadable apps" metaphor; rather, they act as frontends for online programs which are reportedly hosted by the search giant itself. In other words, the act of "downloading" an app from Baidu's "Treasure House" (yes, that is what Baidu's app repository is called) is nothing more than adding a bookmark to the browser so that users can easilly call up the app from their web browser. In addition, PCWorld claims that the URL bar in Baidu's web browser also doubles up as a search bar and a command launcher. Sounds interesting? Well, you can always download Baidu's beta browser from http://liulanqi.baidu.com/ if you think you are adventurous enough to play around with the apps and services the Chinese search giant has to offer. Of course, with this being pre-release software, the same disclaimer about the browser potentially borking up your system applies (and even more so this time), so be sure to have your backups done. Mozilla To Bring Multi- Threading Support To Firefox? Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/mozilla-to-bring-multi-threading- support-to-firefox-/13019.html July 19th, 2011 There is no denying that Firefox is one of the more popular browsers to exist today, but with the likes of competitors such as Google's Chrome and Apple's Safari snapping away at its heels, it should be of little surprise that Mozilla is keen to offer consumers a more compelling web browsing experience in order to maintain user satisfaction. And apparently, the next Published by: VR-Zone major goal for the developers over at Mozilla will be to bring multi-threaded support to the web browser. Now this should be interesting. Do you find yourself sometimes wishing that the good developers over at Mozilla would finally be able to deliver a web browser that is not only light on resources, but also fast enoughtoputitselfonaparwithsomeofthemoreestablished players in the web browser market, such as Google's Chrome and Apple's Safari? Well, the good news is that Mozilla has definitely got plans to unveil such a browser, as news has surfaced that the browser vendor is now aiming to bake in some form of multi-threaded support into a future version of Firefox. Why is this so? Well, if you will remember, Mozilla first announced a couple of weeks ago that it has discovered how the act of running garbage collection more frequently on Firefox was reportedly capable of reducing the browser's memory bloat by as much as up to 80%. In fact, this discovery was significant enough for Mozilla to justify pushing the feature into the latest Aurora build for Firefox. However, it turns out that the increased frequency of running the browser's garbage collector also serves as a double-edged sword, as Mozilla is claiming in its recent blog post that the cost of garbage collection is expected to go up as the heap size of the process increases. This essentially means that the browser's garbage collector has got more work to do, and the consequence is that it is expected to cause pauses in the browser's user interface. And that is precisely what Mozilla is trying its best to avoid in order to ensure that it can continue to deliver a proper web browser experience for the consumer, althoughthebiggestobstacleliesinthefactthatthedocument object model, which is also known as the DOM, is single- threaded in nature. And Mozilla's solution? Well, the browser vendor is claiming that the best way to deal with the issue "is to have each DOM assigned to its own processor, and the easiest way to do that is to have a few processes that can each be assigned to their own CPU".However,asTheInquirerhasclearlypointedout,thisis not an actual example of building in multi-threading support into the web browser, although it concedes that it is capable of producing similar results. Indeed, Mozilla has also confirmed initsblogpostthatitslong-termgoalwillbetodeliveramulti- threaded DOM, although it also claims that the act of doing so is " far enough away and risky enough where we know that there will be lots of value in building a multi-process browser for quite a while". So, it seems that a multi-threaded version of Firefox is still on the cards, except that Mozilla has got no plans to throw its hand on the table anytime soon, especially when the browser 7

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July 19th, 2011 vendor clearly sees the value of going with the multi-process routeforthetimebeing.However,beitmulti-processormulti- threaded, it does not change the fact that users can expect to see some improvements to the Firefox web browser, at least in the form of lower resource consumption. Nikon my Picturetown iPhone App now available for users in Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/nikon-my-picturetown-iphone-app- now-available-for-users-in-singapore-hong-kong-and-australia/13018.html July 19th, 2011 Nikon Asia has announced the availability of their my Picturetown iPhone App for users in Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia. You can download the app to your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad and create your album, view your photos and even upload or take a photo. Nikon Asia has recently announced that their proprietary my Picturetown application is now available for users in Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia. My Picturetown is Nikon’s online photo storage and sharing service that was launched in Asia in 2008 and according to the company, it is currently used by more than a million users globally across Japan, Europe and USA. The app is free to download from the Apple iTunes App store, and users can access their my Picturetown accounts from their iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad (with iOS 3.1 or later). The my Picturetown App allows users to make use of all the photo sharing functions with great flexibility and mobility evenwhileon-the-go,aslongasyouhave3GorWi-FiInternet connectivity. Users can create their photo albums easily from their iPhones by uploading photos from the phone and sharingthealbumwithjustoneclick.Thisalsohelpstoreduce Published by: VR-Zone the need to send multiple MMSes or emails with multiple attachments to their intended recipients. My Picturetown users can also perform various basic operations including moving photos and rotating photo display. Main Features of my Picturetown for iPhone Album Viewing Access all your photos and albums on my Picturetown with your mobile device. You can also view albums shared by your friends too. Album Creation You can create and edit albums. Organising the photos taken with your iPhone into albums is also very easy. Uploading You can upload photos from your phone and also add photos to existing albums, or create and save entirely new albums. Downloading You can select the resolution of the photo and download it to your iPhone. Camera Functions You can start the iPhone camera without exiting the application and the photos taken can be uploaded instantly. Sign up from the app If you didn't create any my Picturetown account yet, you can sign up from the application itself. The Nikon my Picturetown app can be downloaded from the iTunes App store: http://itunes.apple.com/app/my- picturetown/id299293367?mt=8 To learn more about my Picturetown app, please visit: HK - http://info.mypicturetown.com/geninfo/en_HK/ iphoneApplication.html SG - http://info.mypicturetown.com/geninfo/en_SG/ iphoneApplication.html AU - http://info.mypicturetown.com/geninfo/en_AU/ iphoneApplication.html Types of accounts : Free (no charge, up to 2-GB storage) Gold (membership fee charged, up to 200-GB storage in units of 20 GB each) Acer announces new Aspire 5755 multimedia notebook in UK Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/acer-announces-new-aspire-5755- multimedia-notebook-in-uk/13017.html July 19th, 2011 Doyouenjoyplayingwithmultimedianotebooks?Well,ifyour answertothatquestionisaresounding"yes",Acerhasgotjust the device for you, and it comes in the form of a new notebook 8

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July 19th, 2011 knownastheAspire5755,whichboastssomedecenthardware and specifications to boot. Oh, and it comes equipped with a certain wireless technology from Intel which will probably attractneatfreakswhocannotstomachtheideaofdealingwith cables. Read on to find out more. Notebooks are supposed to be used only for work and casual entertainment, right? Well, not in today's context they aren't; apparently, the notebook today is expected to be an extremely versatile tool capable of some serious entertainment such as mid-range gaming and the playing back of full HD movies without any signs of slowdown or lagginess. And leave it to Acer to provide consumers with yet another choice in the multimedia notebook department with the announcement of its new Aspire 5755, which is apparently designed to According to a report published by Tech Digest, the Acer Aspire 5755 multimedia notebook is powered by Intel's Sandy Bridge platform (as most would expect from notebooks that are released recently), and that Acer is reportedly offering a variety of processors for consumers to choose from in order to suit their personal needs and budget, with the top-end configuration utilizing the i7-2820QM processor. In addition, the notebook's graphics crunching capabilities will be provided by NVIDIA's Optimus-capable GeForce 540M graphics card, which is definitely powerful enough to handle just about anything a user would throw at it (except for graphics-intensive games, of course). Backing up the notebook's processing power is 8GB of DDR3 memory and up to 1TB of storage capacity, so suffice to say users should not expect to run out of space on the Aspire 5755 anytime soon, even after transferring their entire collectionofgamesandmoviesintothenotebook.Thedisplay, unfortunately, will probably be a bit of a deal breaker, as Tech Digest has reported that the 15-inch screen is only capable of resolutions of up to 1366x768. However, if you are the sort of user who often hooks up his or her notebook to a huge television set to enhance your multimedia experience, you will find that there is something extrawhichtheAspire5755iscapableofoffering,anditcomes in the form of built-in support for Intel's Wireless Display or WiDitechnology,whichallowsuserstostreamcontentdirectly from the notebook to an external display without the need to deal with those cumbersome wires. Of course, if WiDi is not 9 Published by: VR-Zone your thing, there is always the trusty HDMI-out and Acer's own clear.fi to fall back on. No mention about the Aspire 5755's global availability (if at all) has been made, although Tech Digest is claiming that the notebook will be retailing in the UK at the starting price of £899 or approximately US$1,440. HTC to buy back 20 million of its own shares Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/htc-to-buy-back-20-million-of-its-own- shares/13016.html July 19th, 2011 cater to the needs of "multimedia lovers looking to get their entertainment fix on the go". Amid a patent infringement ruling in favour of Apple by the ITC, HTC's share price has taken a tumble and the company is looking at buying back a not insignificant 20 million shares. HTC is expected to give half of the shares to employees while the other half will be cancelled. Amid a patent infringement ruling in favour of Apple by the ITC, HTC's share price has taken a tumble and the company is looking at buying back a not insignificant 20 million shares. HTC is expected to give half of the shares to employees while the other half will be cancelled. HTC's shares have dropped to a six month low of NT$870 (S $36/US$30) and the company is now springing into action to prevent a further drop in the share price. More than half of HTC's outstanding shares are owned by foreign investors and with a lot of negative feedback from various investment companies the share price has suffered. However, the patent infringement dispute with Apple isn't the only reason why HTC's shares have been falling even though it's the most recent contributor, as overall HTC's share price has dropped by 20 percent since the 6 th of July. HTC is of course appealing the ruling and even before that happens; the ITC still has to review the ruling by the judge and come to the same conclusion as the judge. Worst case, Apple could demand a ban on HTC's devices into the US, although it's more likely that the two companies will settle outside court before it gets to this. Also remember that these kinds of things tend to take a lot of time and an importbanishighlyunlikely.ThescarythoughtisthatifApple would come out victorious, it would put precedence in Apple's favour against other Android handset makers who could also potentially be banned from selling their devices in the US. We have a feeling that a small company known as Google will interfere before it gets to this stage though, but it's a scary thought nonetheless.

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July 19th, 2011 SATA revision 3.1 released by the SATA-IO Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/sata-revision-3.1-released-by-the-sata- io/13015.html July 19th, 2011 SATA 6Gbps is all but ubiquitous, but that doesn't stop the SATA-IO to add new features to the standard and revision 3.1 of the SATA spec adds support for a wide range of new features, of which very few are performance related. New features include support for USM, mSATA, several new power management features, improved Trim command support and a few new hardware control features. SATA 6Gbps is all but ubiquitous, but that doesn't stop the SATA-IO to add new features to the standard and revision 3.1 of the SATA spec adds support for a wide range of new features, of which very few are performance related. New features include support for USM, mSATA, several new power management features, improved Trim command support and a few new hardware control features. USM stands for Universal Storage Module and it's an addition to the SATA spec that Seagate has been pushing for. In a nutshell it's an external 2.5-inch or less likely a 3.5-inch hard drive fitted in an enclosure that easily slots into a wide range of devices such as TVs, consoles, set-top boxes, computers, docking stations, stereo systems, media players and just about anything else that would benefit from having a hard drive in it. It's meant to be a consumer friendly solution, as the only accessible part of the drive is the rear SATA data and power connectors. In reality USM is pretty much a hard drive dock for hard for consumers, as the whole thing is a bit less intimidating with all the "techy" parts hidden away inside a plastic box. So far the industry uptake isn't exactly huge with of course Seagate backing it, plus a couple of case makers and some companies we'veneverheardofbefore.InawaywedohopethatUSMwill take off, as it should allow for consumers to get the full speed advantage of plugging in a SATA hard drive into their device, ratherthanhavingtorelyonslowUSB2.0harddrives,atleast until USB 3.0 takes over. By now you're probably familiar with mSATA, it's a tiny connectorthatlookslikeminiPCIExpresscardconnectorand the two are physically identical. The new addition to revision 3.1 of the SATA spec allows for better auto detection which means that the mSATA slot can be shared with a standard SATA port, as the SATA port would be disabled automatically if an mSATA SSD was installed. In terms of new power saving features we're looking at Zero- PowerOpticalDiscDrivewhichasthenamesuggestallowsthe optical drive to power down completely and as such eliminate any power drawn by it. Another power related feature is Required Link Power Management which adds additional power management features to the SATA spec. Published by: VR-Zone A new feature for SSDs is Queued Trim Command which allows the SSD to execute Trim commands without having an impact on the normal operation of the SSD, so in other words theSSDcanhandledatabeingwrittenorreadatthesametime as it's dealing with garbage collection. Finally the SATA-IO has added some new hardware control features which enabled host identification of "device capabilities" which is said to allow for more effective use of SATA devices by the host. In as much as all this is good news, we're wondering how far theSATA-IOhasgottenonthenextmajorrevisionoftheSATA spec, since as crazy as it is, the SATA 6Gbps specification is already reaching its limits. Get a pair of fast SSDs in RAID and you could at least in theory max out the SATA 6Gbps bus. It's not likely that we'll see a new SATA standard for the next couple of years though, which isn't great news and it's possible we'll see a lot of custom solutions akin to what OCZ is working on until then. Intel demos "cloud-in-a-box" server solution Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/intel-demos-cloud-in-a-box-server- solution/13014.html July 19th, 2011 Intel is currently touring around the world promoting cloud computing and its rather unusual "cloud-in-a-box" demo systemwhichcanfitintoasuitcaseandthisisinfacthowIntel is taking the server with them. The "cloud-in-a-box" server actually consists of a pair of compact servers with a pair of Xeon CPUs in each server, although it's apparently not a retail product. Intel is currently touring around the world promoting cloud computing and its rather unusual "cloud-in-a-box" demo systemwhichcanfitintoasuitcaseandthisisinfacthowIntel is taking the server with them. The "cloud-in-a-box" server actually consists of a pair of compact servers with a pair of Xeon CPUs in each server, although it's apparently not a retail product. In as much as the "cloud-in-a-box" server is a fun demo (fun for a server demo at least), it also demonstrates how compact and powerful servers have become. Each of the Xeon CPUs features eight cores and 16 threads for a total of 32 threads across the two comparatively compact servers. In fact, Intel wentasfarassuggestingthatoneserverlikethiscouldreplace an entire rack of older servers. Intel was keen on pointing out thatonlytwopercentofthecostofadatacentreisspentonthe servers, while a massive 80 percent is spent on the building, electricity and cooling. Apparently this is a subject Intel is going to talk more about in a few weeks' time, but that was as much as the company was willing to reveal for now. 10

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July 19th, 2011 Intelmadesomeinterestingargumentsforcloudcomputingas well, as you'd expect them to do, as they are after all investing heavilyintocloudcomputing.By2015Intelexpectstheretobe One interesting example that Intel highlighted was that per about every 600 smartphones, one server is needed, but this number drops drastically when we're talking tablets, as each server can only support 122 tablets in comparison. We're talkingaboutcontentdeliveryhereandIntelclaimsthattablet users are accessing "richer media" content than smartphone users. Published by: VR-Zone Intel is expect its data centre processor growth to double between last year and 2015 with cloud computing accounting for some 20 percent share, up from 10 percent last year. The interestingthinghereisthatmostothersegmentsareexpected to shrink percentage wise with the only exception being the networking segment. over 1 Billion people on the internet and an insane 15 Billion connected devices that are shuffling an astounding 1 Zetabyte of data around. That's only four years from now not exactly what you'd call the distant future. Intel's cloud vision for 2015 isfocusingonsecurelyshareddatabetweenpublicandprivate clouds, client aware services and automated cloud servers. Of course an Intel presentation wouldn't be an Intel presentation without some talk about manufacturing processes and Intel is quite boldly claiming that its competitors are falling further and further behind as they've stagnated on a 40-45nm technology while Intel is ready to start producing 22nm silicon later this year using its Tri- Gate technology. Considering how much money Intel is re- investing into manufacturing this is hardly surprising, but the competition is also likely to move forward a generation and a half shortly when a lot of the other foundries are moving to 28nm. Even so, Intel does have a technological lead over its competitors and it'll be interesting to see how Intel leverages that. Report: Sandy Bridge-E to be branded Core i7 3000 Series Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/report-sandy-bridge-e-to-be-branded- core-i7-3000-series/13013.html 11

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12 July 19th, 2011 July 19th, 2011 We had previously covered the 3 CPUs Sandy Bridge E will release with. Now DonanimHaber is reporting that the brandingforthesethreeCPUs.ThethreeCPUswillbebranded Corei7ExtremeEdition3960X,Corei73930andCorei73820 respectively.TheSandyBridgeECPUswillbecompatiblewith the upcoming X79 chipset, which will finally replace Intel's last enthusiast chipset, X58, released way back in 2008 and serving the Core i7 900 Series. The new flagship will be Core i7 3960X Extreme Edition. A 6- core / 12-thread CPU, clocked at 3.3 GHz with Turbo upto 3.9 GHz, with 15MB L3 cache, as reported previously. The price is expected to be in the $999 range. The i7 3960X will feature an unlocked multiplier. Core i7 3930 will be another 6-core / 12-thread SKU, clocked at 3.2 GHz with Turbo upto 3.8 GHz. Unlike the 3960X, the 3930 will feature 12MB L3 cache. The most affordable Sandy Bridge-E will be the Core i7 3820, a 4-core / 8-thread CPU cllocked at 3.6 GHz with Turbo up to 3.9 GHz. It is expected to cost roughly the same as the Core i7 2600K, but it features an locked multiplier and requires a more expensive X79 motherboard. The Core i7 3820 will surely be a popular choice for gamers. All 3 CPUs will feature a 130W TDP. There are no surprises with the specifications, as they are identical to our reports back in May. Interestingly, Intel could also have branded it under the Core i7 2000 series, since currently it only goes up to 2600. However, Intel has chosen the 3000 nomenclature, and it is nowlikelyIvyBridgeCPUswillbebrandedCorei3/i5/i73000 Series as well. Intel is currently having problems with the platform , having delayed it to earliest end-2011. ENERMAX introduces ETS-T40 Series CPU Coolers Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/enermax-introduces-ets-t40-series- cpu-coolers/13012.html July 19th, 2011 ENERMAX introduces the ETS-T40 series CPU coolers which includeitsveryownLEDfans.AdownflowvariantCPUcooler will soon be available as well. Published by: VR-Zone Above: ETS-T40-VD CPU Cooler Above: ETS-T40-TA CPU Cooler Above: ETS-T40-TB CPU Cooler ENERMAX introduces the ETS-T40 series CPU coolers which includeENERMAXtwisterbearingfans.ETS-T40seriescome in three models each having different types of fan. The ETS- T40-VD and ETS-T40-TA are equipped with LED fans while ETS-T40-TB is mounted with a non-LED fan. ETS-T40 VD TA TB Fan Type (120mm) Fan Speed Air Flow Noise VEGAS DUO (Red and Blue LED) 800 - 1800RPM 33.26 - 75.98CFM 16 - 26dBA T.B APOLLISH (Blue LED) 800 - 1800RPM 33.26 - 75.98CFM 16 - 21dBA T.B SILENCE (non LED) 800 - 1800RPM 37.57 - 86.70CFM 10 - 21dBA

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Published by: VR-Zone July 19th, 2011 Socket Intel LGA 775/1155/1156/1366, AMD AM2/ AM2+/AM3/ AM3+/FM1 Heat Pipe 4 x 6mm Copper Heat Pipes Material Aluminium Fins Overall Dimension 139(L) x 93(W) x 160(H)mm Weight 610g The ENERMAX ETS-T40-VD, ETS-T40-TA, ETS-T40-TB will be retailing for US$49.99 (S$61), US$49.99 (S$61) and US $39.99 (S$49) respectively. More images of Samsung's upcoming 4G slider for Verizon show up online Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/more-images-of-samsung-s- upcoming-4g-slider-for-verizon-show-up-online/13010.html July 19th, 2011 Sprint may have its epic Samsung smartphone which goes by the name of the Epic 4G, but it certainly seems that the telco was not epic enough to score the device as an exclusive product, for word has it that Verizon is well on its way to launching its own Samsung slider smartphone that bears more than just a passing semblence to the Epic 4G. And apparently,Verizon'sversionofSamsing'syet-unnamedslider smartphone will sport a few features that is not present on the original Epic 4G. Read on to find out more. Do you remember Sprint's Epic 4G smartphone? You know, that epic smartphone which was released in the US way back inSeptemberlastyearandboastsaSuperAMOLEDcapacitive touchscreenandwaspreloadedwithversion2.1oftheAndroid operatingsystem?Well,itseemsthatSprint'sepicsmartphone willnowhavetotakeabackseatwhereepic-nessisconcerned, for images of what appears to be a successor to the Epic 4G hasshoweduponline,andthatitwillbedesignedtoworkwith Verizon's network. According to the report published by AndroidCentral, the yet- unnamed smartphone, while bearing a near-identical design to that of the Epic 4G, comes with a few tweaks and extra features that were not present in the latter. For one, the unnamed smartphone's keyboard has had the placement of its "Shift" and "Fn" keys switched, while an additional shortcut button to allow quick access to the device's web browser has been added. On top of that, Android Central has pointed out that the superfluous dedicated emoticon button is now no more, having been moved as a secondary input for the smartphone's spacebar. Inadditiontotheaforementioneddifferences,AndroidCentral is claiming that the unnamed Samsung slider phone will come preloaded with version 2.3.4 of the Android operating system, as opposed to the Epic 4G's 2.1, and is supposedly capable of connecting to a 4G LTE network. Last but definitely not least, it would seem that Samsung's unnamed smartphone will also newer and better hardware thantheaforementionedEpic4G:AndroidCentralhasclaimed through a tipster that the unnamed device could potentially sport a Super AMOLED Plus display which is reportedly capable of "packing in more subpixels than a mere Super AMOLED screen", and that it boasts up to 2GB of internal flash memory. And if that was not enough, AndroidCentral is also claiming that the smartphone boasts performance levels 13

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July 19th, 2011 superior to that of the Fascinate, and sports both front and rear-facing cameras. Of course, don't expect this powerhouse of a smartphone to ever make its way down to our shores in some other form or variant any time soon (if at all), especially if the fact that the Epic4G,whichisalsoknownastheGalaxySProinotherparts of the world, has yet to find itself on our local retail shelves, is of any indication. Enjoy your favorite songs on the new Genius SP-i500 iPhone speaker dock Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/enjoy-your-favorite-songs-on-the-new- genius-sp-i500-iphone-speaker-dock/13008.html July 19th, 2011 The Genius SP-i500 iPhone speaker dock not only plays your favorite songs, but it also charges the phone battery when your phone is docked. It also supports iPod music players and youcandownloadtheMusicalAlarmapptosetupyouralarm. your iPhone. The dock can charge your iPhone or iPod while itplaysyourfavoritesongsfromthe1.5-inchhighqualityaudio driver with a total output of 2 watts. It also has a line-in jack to support other device input. On top of that, Genius also includes a Musical Alarm app that you can download to your iPhoneforusertosetupone'sownalarmschedule;theSP-i500 also has a snooze key which you can combine with the apps. 14 Published by: VR-Zone New images of ZTE's WP7- powered smartphone now available Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/new-images-of-zte-s-wp7-powered- smartphone-now-available/13009.html July 19th, 2011 ZTE may not be all that well-known in certain parts of the world, but there is no denying that the company is one of the larger players when it comes to producing mobile phones for the Chinese market. And from the looks of it, it seems that one such ZTE-branded smartphone that will eventually make its way over to China is powered by none other than Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 operating system, with a few extra changes made to ensure that it plays nice with the local populace there. Windows Phone 7 may be an excellent operating system for smartphones, but the fact that Microsoft has done little to market devices running off its operating system, along with its very late entry into the market, means that it has to compete againstthelikesofpowerhousessuchasiOSandAndroidfora sliceofthesmartphonepie.Which,asweallknow,isdefinitely no easy task. However, it seems that Microsoft might have a chance in China, for it is known that ZTE is planning to release a smartphone that will be powered by the "Mango" version of the Windows Phone 7 operating system. And to top if off, new images of that alleged smartphone have reportedly been released online by none other than ZTE's very own Dr. Luo Zhongsheng, who is said to be the company's head of smartphone development. Featuring a stylish black finish, the Genius SP-i500 iPhone speaker dock claims to be perfect for playing music from According to a report published by Wpcentral.com, the yet- unnamed smartphone will feature some cosmetic tweaks on the OS front, such as the use of custom wallpapers on the Start screen, as well as Chinese localization, as shown in the image below.

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July 19th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone will lack Twitter support, ostensibly due to the Chinese's government's decision to ban the use of the popular microblogging platform in its territories. However, Chinese users will probably have nothing to lose, as the report also claims that in place of the missing feature is a preloaded app for Sina Weibo, a very popular domestic microblogging platform that is reportedly like a hybrid of Facebook and Twitter combined. No other details about ZTE's upcoming smartphone has been revealed at this point, so do check back for updates. Samsung launches five new eco-friendly mono laser printers for Korea Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/samsung-launches-five-new-eco- friendly-mono-laser-printers-for-korea/13007.html July 19th, 2011 Remember the short story we published last week about Samsung releasing a bunch of new laser printers for sale in its domestic Korean market? Well, it turns out that the Korean electronics giant has got even more of such devices up its sleeves for its customers, and it comes in the form of five new monochrome laser printers, two of which boast multifunction capabilities. And yes, Samsung has confirmed that all five printers are economically-friendly models with the capability to reduce one's energy consumption. Remember the little story we published exactly seven days ago about Samsung launching four new monochrome laser printers for personal and home office use? Well, it seems that the Korean electronics giant has more devices of such a nature up its sleeves, for the company has announced five new environmentally-friendly monochrome laser printers today. However, unlike the more consumer-oriented products that were launched last week, this batch of monochrome laser printers are designed for use mainly by small and medium businesses (SMBs). That being said, Wpcentral.com claims that the copy of Windows Phone 7 that comes bundled with ZTE's smartphone According to Samsung, the standalone models, which are also known as the ML-2951D, ML-2950ND and ML-2955DW, will boast prints speed of up to 28ppm and sport a 533MHz processor. The printers are also capable of achieving a maximum print resolution of 1200 x 1200, while the built- in paper tray is reportedly big enough to accommodate up to 250 sheets of paper. Samsung has also claimed that the aforementioned eco-friendly characteristics of its printers will come in the form of a low noise output of 50dBa and lower toner consumption, while sporting what it calls an "Eco Simulator" which reportedly allows users to see the cost of their prints based on the amount of energy, toner and paper consumed. In addition, the printers will come bundled with support for Mobile Print, which allows users to send print commands to the printer from their smartphones and tablets. The other two models that were announced by Samsung today are the multifunction-capable SCX-4728FW and SCX-4728FD, which boast the added ability to provide scanning and fax support. Considering how there was little mention about both the SCX-4728FW and SCX-4728FD's specifications, we'd hazard a guess that they are largely identical to those of the aforementioned standalone models. Nodetailsaboutproductavailabilityandpricingwererevealed by Samsung in its announcement. iOS hack brings multi-user support to Apple's iPad Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/ios-hack-brings-multi-user-support-to- apple-s-ipad/13005.html July 19th, 2011 Everyone knows that the iPad is a fantastic consumer electronic device for users to create and consumer digital content on, but the fact that it is designed to be used only by a single user makes it difficult (and potentially costly) for an entire family to share content without mixing up each other's 15

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July 19th, 2011 personalfilesandinformation.Thatisallsettochangethough, for word has it that a Brazillian hacker has somehow managed tobakesupportformultipleuseraccountsintotheiPad,much like how one would set up a family PC with such accounts for each member. Picturethisscenario:youarebusyplayingAngryBirdsonyour iPad,andyourparentsrequesttoborrowthedeviceforawhile so that they can use it to check their work emails since the home PC is busted up due to dead hardware. No problem; you terminate the game, log out of the iPad and create a new user account for your parents' work use. And once they are done, you log back to your own user account on the iPad to continue your game, while those work emails stay safe in your parents' own user account which no one can access without the correct password. of the hack is that it is capable of segregating application data and system preferences between the various user accounts. This potentially allows users to share their iPad much like the way one would share a family PC, with each user's account being given its own seperate profile which will not overlap or interfere with those set up by other users, and the short video below tells it all: Unprintable Content (Video, Flash, etc.) Soundsgreat?Well,here'salittlecaveat;apparently,iUserwill only be made available on Cydia, which means that only users of jailbroken iPads can engage in some multi-user goodness when it is officially released. However, if you are daring enough to fool around with code, you might be pleased to knowthatthehackerhasreleasedapre-releaseversioniUser's Published by: VR-Zone LG introduces Optimus Pro and Optimus Net Android Gingerbread smartphones Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/lg-introduces-optimus-pro-and- optimus-net-android-gingerbread-smartphones/13004.html July 19th, 2011 LG Korea has unveiled their Optimus Pro (LG-C660) and Optimus Net (LG-P690) smartphones, which are running on Google's latest Android 2.3 Gingerbread mobile operating system. The Optimus Pro has both QWERTY keyboard and touchscreen display, while the Optimus Net is full touchscreen. Sounds impossible? Well, not anymore, apparently, a Brazillian hacker has managed to craft an iOS hack that is reportedly capable of performing the aforementioned task. The hack, which is dubed as the iUser, allows iPad users to create multiple user accounts on their device, but the real crux LG Korea has introduced two new additions to the Optimus smartphones portfolio - the LG Optimus Pro (LG-C660) and the LG Optimus Net (LG-P690) running on the latest Android 2.3 platform which claims to offer enhanced multimedia support, power management and gaming support. LG Optimus Pro – Simple Social Networking with Both QWERTY and Touch The LG Optimus Pro claims to be the company's first smartphone with a portrait QWERTY keyboard for fast and accurate typing, and it also offers a 2.8-inch touchscreen display for quick navigation. The phone also comes with dedicated hotkeys for instant access to email and scheduler. The LG Optimus Pro will be available in white, titan, as well as black. source code for public download. LG Optimus Net – The Next Generation of Social Communication Featuring LG Social+, the Optimus Net places all the popular social networking portals in one convenient widget which you can access easily from the homescreen. Users can multitask between updating their status on Facebook and Twitter while 16

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July 19th, 2011 reading their friends’ social media feeds on the same screen. Thewidgetalsoprovidesone-clickphotosharingwithmultiple social media accounts. The Optimus Net sports a 3.2-inch HVGA (320x480) display while the LG SmartShare function allows easy sharing of content with other DLNA devices. According to the company, specifications for the Optimus Net will vary from market to market. Depending on the carrier, some of the phones in Europe will be Near Field Communication (NFC) capable for mobile payments. The NorthAmericanversionwillincludeaQWERTYkeyboardand in Brazil, China, Asia and the CIS region, the Optimus Net will be dual SIM-compatible. The phone will be available in white, as well as black. Both the Optimus Pro and Optimus Net boast the largest 1500mAh battery in their class and an 800 MHz CPU, ensuring longer, better performance. Both smartphones will be available starting this summer, rolling out in 30 markets beginning in Europe. Microsoft scores first place in malware blocking test with Internet Explorer 9 Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/microsoft-scores-first-place-in- malware-blocking-test-with-internet-explorer-9/13003.html July 19th, 2011 Speak of Internet Explorer to most computer-savvy people and chances are you will be given icy glares and a profound lecture of how Microsoft always fails to make a good browser that is capable of safeguarding a user from nasty malware circulatingthedepthsofcyberspace,right?Well,notanymore; apparently,arecentstudyconductedbyNSSLabshaveshown thatInternetExplorer9andInternetExplorer8clinchedboth first and second spots respectively where browser security is concerned. And no, we are not making this up. Published by: VR-Zone importantly, insecurity as the main reasons for doing so. And whilethefirsttwoclaimsmayhavesomedegreeoftruthtoit,it would seem that Microsoft has largely cleared up its act on the security front, especially if the latest study by NSS Labs is of any indication. Apparently, in an independent test, NSS Labs found that both Internet Explorer 9 and Internet Explorer 8 came through as clear winners in actively blocking malware fromenteringauser'sPC,beatingthelikesofChrome,Firefox, Safari and Opera by a huge margin. According to the report published by NSS Labs, Internet Explorer9,withitsdual-prongedapproachofactivelyfiltering out malware via a combination of URL and application-based reputation scans, produced the best results by far. NSS Labs claims that Microsoft's URL filtering system was capable of nabbing as much as 92% of live threats, while the added protection offered by Application Reputation bumped the filter's success rate up to a perfect 100%, thus easily earning it the top spot in the test. And if that was not good enough, NSS Labs has also discovered that the older Internet Explorer 8 web browser did reasonably well in the test too, being able to stop as much as 90% of live threats from reaching a user. In contrast, Safari 5, Chrome 10 and Firefox 4 were all tied for the third spot, with each browser reporting a significantly lower protection rate of only 13%; however, NSS Labs claims that this is due to all three browsers utilizing Google's Safe Browser system. Opera, on the other hand, was last with only a 5% block rate, a score which NSS Labs attributes to the browser's use of an AVG-based protection system, although the test credits Opera for making a significant improvement in security, as the previous version of the Opera web browser reportedly scored a 0 in an older test. Last but definitely not least, NSS Labs claims that Internet Explorer9alsoholdsthetopspotintheamountoftimeneeded to block websites that are known to host malware, although this is brought about by the browser's implementation of Application Reputation scanning, a feature which is not found in any of the other browsers used in the test. When it comes to web browsers, most people tend to avoid Microsoft's Internet Explorer like the plague, often citing various "issues" such as its slow performance, non-conformance to popular online standards and more 17

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July 19th, 2011 With results as definitive as this, it is going to be very difficult for the "Internet Explorer is not secure" claim to hold any more water in today's context. So, if you are running a recent version of Windows on your computer and are looking for a good and secure web browser to safeguard your online web experience...well, let's just say that a trip down to Microsoft's download pages is in good order. The full report can be downloaded off NSS Labs' website here. Sony announces wall- mountable Hi-Fi system for the iPhone Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/sony-announces-wall-mountable-hi-fi- system-for-the-iphone/13002.html pleasing, wall-mountable hi-fi" . To say that our professional and social lives are slowly but surely starting to revolve our smartphones may sound a bit like an overstatement, but there is no denying that there is sometruthinsuchaclaim,consideringhowaddictedweareto our smartphones for access to email, along with Facebook and Twitterupdateswhileonthemove.Andsincewearealreadyso reliantonoursmartphonesforworkandplay,Sonyapparently thought that it would be a good idea to enhance the "play" part of the equation with the introduction of its new, wall- mountable iPhone Hi-Fi system, the CMT-CX5BiP. According to the official press release issued by Sony Europe, the CMT-CX5BiP is a Hi-Fi system designed to allow users the luxury of "getting superior sound quality in a sleek, aesthetically pleasing, wall-mountable hi-fi" without making it stand out from one's home decor like a sore thumb, and it shows. Sony claims that the Hi-Fi system will consist of three units (main unit and two speakers), "which can be grouped for efficiency and aesthetic purposes or separated depending upon the stylistic preferences". 18 Published by: VR-Zone The wall-mountable part, according to Sony, will come in the formof"keyholesonthebackpanel"thatisreportedlycapable of giving users the "freedom to either mount the system on the wall, or display via shelf set-up". In addition, the CMT- CX5BiP will feature Sony's Dynamic Sound Generator X-tra technology, which "delivers a clear, crisp sound that can be enjoyed via a number of audio inputs". Last but definitely not least, the CMT-CX5BiP will come bundled with built-in support for a variety of audio input sources such as media players, CD and even FM tuners through USB or a 3.5mm audio-in jack, as well as by connecting one’s iPod or iPhone onto the dock. Unfortunately, Sony Europe has not announced any details pertainingtopricingfortheCMT-CX5BiPwall-mountableHi- Fisystem,althoughithasrevealedthattheproductisexpected to be released for sale in the UK come August 2011. July 19th, 2011 Apple releases iOS 4.3.4 Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/apple-releases-ios-4.3.4/13000.html July 19th, 2011 Most people will not deny that the iPhone is every bit a fashion statement as much as it is a smartphone, and it seems that Sony is not about to go against such popular opinion, especially if its latest Hi-Fi system that was recently announced in Europe is of any indication. Apparently, the Japanese electronics giant is claiming that the new wall- mountable Hi-Fi system for the iPhone, which is otherwise known as the CMT-CX5, is designed to allow users the luxury of "getting superior sound quality in a sleek, aesthetically Apple'siOS4.3.4issimplyaminorsecurityupdatewhichfixes a vulnerability associated with software's PDF viewing. The vulnerability is reported to allow hackers to gain full control of Apple's device hence users are encouraged to download the new iOS 4.3.4, unless of course, you are using applications such as Jailbreakme. GScreen's dual-screen Laptop Finally Available Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/gscreen-s-dual-screen-laptop-finally- available/12999.html July 19th, 2011 GScreen first introduced the SpaceBook laptop in 2009 which sports two pieces of 15.4-inch screen. However, the product was delayed as they decided to go for two pieces of 17.3-inch screens. Read on.

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July 19th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone Plans to push them out in May 2010 did not surface. Finally, consumers can now preorder them at their website. Unfortunately, other than the dual 17.3-inch screens, rest of the specifications did not impress. The SpaceBook comes in two models. The high-end version consists of a dual 17.3-inch 1920 x 1080 LED backlit screens, Intel i7-740QM 1.73GHz processor, 8GB of memory, 500GB of hard disk space, Nvidia GeForce GTS 250M graphics card and a DVD drive. The low- end model will feature Intel i5-560M processor and 4GB of memory instead. The SpaceBook 17 i7 8G is retailing for US $2,795(S$3,408)whiletheSpaceBook17i54GisgoingforUS $2,395 S$2,920). AREA introduces Micron2 USB Microscope Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/area-introduces-micron2-usb- microscope/12998.html July 19th, 2011 AREA releases the USB powered microscope which will make a very interesting product. The Micron2 has an optical magnification of 20x and electronic magnification of 200x, allowing users to view the finer points of his/her hair as shown above. It also enables user to capture up to 2.6- megapixel image and video recording at 640 x 480 resolution. 19

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Published by: VR-Zone 20 July 19th, 2011 The AREA Micron2 USB microscope weighs about 60g and comeswithadedicatedtripod,softwareCDandmanual.Ithas a total warranty period of 6 months and is already retailing in Japan for 4980 Yen (S$77). See more specifications at AREA website . COMEX 2011 Show Dates, Venue, Lucky Draw and Floor Plans! Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/comex-2011-show-dates-venue-lucky- draw-and-floor-plans-/12997.html July 19th, 2011 It's never too early to prepare your budgets! This year's iteration of COMEX will feature over 830 exhibitors and a record of 345,000 square feet of exhibition grounds at the Suntec Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Centre, 1st to 4th September 2011. Read more for oursneakpreviewoftheshow,includingdetailsofawhopping S$20,000 lucky draw and exclusive floor plans reveal to start strategic planning for your COMEX 2011 assault today! Dates: 1st - 4th September 2011 (Thursday to Sunday) Venue: Suntec Singapore - Levels 1, 2, 3, 4 & 6 Lucky Draw: For every $100 spent during the show, you will get a chance to win 1st Prize: S$ 20,000 Cash 2nd Prize: S$ 3,000 Cash 3rd Prize: S$ 2,000 Cash 4th Prize: S$ 1,000 cash 5th Prize: S$ 900 cash 6th Prize: S$ 800 cash 7th Prize: S$ 700 cash 8th Prize: S$ 600 cash 9th Prize: S$ 500 cash 10th Prize: S$ 400 cash 11th Prize: S$ 300 cash 12th Prize: S$ 200 cash The COMEX 2011 Show Lucky Draw Results will be published in the New Paper on 12th September 2011. Floor Plans: 4th Floor 6th Floor Notable Exhibitors: Acer Computer (Singapore) Pte Ltd Altec Lansing Apple Asus Technology Pte Ltd Audio-Technica (S.E.A) Pte Ltd Belkin Brother International Singapore Pte Ltd Canon Singapore Pte Ltd Casio Singapore Pte Ltd Compaq Singapore Creative Technology Ltd D-link International Pte Ltd Dell Singapore Pte Ltd Epson Singapore Pte Ltd

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July 19th, 2011 Fuji Xerox Printers Pte Ltd Fujitsu PC - AsiaPac Distribution Pte Ltd Hewlett Packard Singapore (Sales) Pte Ltd Imation Infocus Systems Asia Pte Ltd Kingston Lenovo Singapore Pte Ltd Lexmark LG Electronics (Singapore) Pte Ltd Logitech Microsoft Singapore Pte Ltd M1 Ltd Netgear Nikon Singapore Pte Ltd Nokia Olympus Imaging Singapore Pte Ltd Philips Samsung Asia Pte Ltd Sandisk Seagate Technology International Pte Ltd Sennheiser Symantec Singapore Pte Ltd Targus Toshiba (Singapore) Pte Ltd Trend Micro Published by: VR-Zone Western Digital (S.E.Asia) Pte Ltd and many more! VR-Zone'scoverageoftheshowwillbeat http://vr-zone.com/ comex . It's never too early for you to start planning! Asus Xtion Pro Live launching soon Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/asus-xtion-pro-live-launching- soon/12996.html July 19th, 2011 If you head over to the Asus website you'll notice that the company is currently running a competition where you can vote for the best software developed by a wide range of competitors for its Xtion Pro motion sensor (similar to Kinect for Xbox 360). However, the Xtion Pro is a very basic device, especially compared to Kinect, but it seems like Asus is getting ready to launch a more advanced model shortly, the Xtion Pro Live. If you head over to the Asus website you'll notice that the company is currently running a competition where you can vote for the best software developed by a wide range of competitors for its Xtion Pro motion sensor (similar to Kinect for Xbox 360). However, the Xtion Pro is a very basic device, especially compared to Kinect, but it seems like Asus is getting ready to launch a more advanced model shortly, the Xtion Pro Live. There are a couple of major differences between the Xtion Pro and the Xtion Pro Live. Although the Xtion Pro works just fine as a motion sensor it only has IR and depth of view sensors whiletheXtionProLivegainsawebcam,muchlikeMicrosoft's Kinect. The webcam is hardly going to blow your mind, as justlikeKinect,ittopsoutat640x480resolution.Surprisingly Asushasmanagedtokeepthesizeoftheunitthesame,despite the additional sensor. Singnet Pte Ltd SonicGear Sony Singapore (S) Pte Ltd Sony Ericsson Starhub Ltd Another addition to the Xtion Pro Live is a pair of microphones, which could be handy for voice commands or web cam usage, one again following in the footsteps of Kinect. Asus is also opening up an app store for the Xtion where developers are going to be allowed to offer their goods for sale. It's somewhat amusing that Asus is claiming a world first and exclusive still, especially as a Kinect unit offers exactly 21

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July 19th, 2011 the same features, well, not quite as the Kinect unit has auto tilting, a feature that Asus doesn't seem to have implemented. We managed to find some pricing as well and this is where things aren't looking so good for Asus, as according to AsusworldItaly,we'relookingataretailpriceof€175(S$300) which compares badly against buying a standalone Kinect unit for €95 (S$165). Even the Xtion Pro is quite a lot more expensive at €155 (S$270), so unless you specifically want to use the software from Asus' app store, a Kinect unit will set you back a fair bit less and it'll work with an Xbox 360 as well. We're not sure when the Xtion Pro Live will be available, but considering pricing is already out; we shouldn't have to wait too long. Apple to release iPhone 5 or 4S? Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/apple-to-release-iphone-5- or-4s-/12995.html July 19th, 2011 Rumours are coming in regarding the launch of Apple's next generation iPhone. Most of the sources seem to agree on the timing for the release to be 3rd quarter of this year. More details inside. As the date draws nearer to 3rd quarter (which is rumoured to be the period for the launch of Apple's next generation iPhone), reports are coming in saying it will not be the release of iPhone 5 but iPhone 4S. iPhone 5 is reported to be encountering heat issues with the implementation of the A5 processor. iPad 2 which are using the A5 processor faces no suchproblemsprobablyduetoitsbiggersurfaceareaallowing 22 Published by: VR-Zone a better dissipitation of heat. iPhone 5 will probably be using theA6processorinstead.iPhone4Sisrumouredtobereleased first to allow time for the issue to be resolved and will be equipped with a less powerful A5 processor in order to avoid overheating. Silverstone introduces Temjin TJ08-E Casing Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/silverstone-introduces-temjin-tj08-e- casing/12994.html July 19th, 2011 Five years since the first official launch of TJ08, Silverstone now introduces the Temjin TJ08-E mATX chassis. More details inside.

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July 19th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone soon at around US$100 (S$121). See more specifications of the Temjin TJ08-E at the Silverstone website . Thermaltake launches Level 10 GT LCS Chassis Thermaltake Level 10 chassis had surprised us all with the uniquedesignandfeatures.TheLevel10seriesexpandedfrom then on to include a GT version and GT snow edition. Now, we have the Level 10 GT LCS model to look out for. Thermaltake continues to expand its Level 10 series casing by launching a Level 10 GT LCS case which includes a watercooling system for the CPU. The watercooling system consists of a copper CPU waterblock, 330cc reservoir, P500 pump and a 240mm motorsports radiator with 2 x 120mm fans. The casing is pre-installed with addtional 2 x 200mm and 1 x 140mm fans for better ventilation and features a color shift system allowing users to change the color and speed of the fans. Don't worry, the first image shown above is not distorted. The Temjin TJ08-E mATX tower chassis is supposed to look stocky. Compared to the TJ08, TJ08-E does look much better overall probably due to the fully painted interior. The front panel looks much neater as well. TJ-08-E features a 180mm Silverstone Air Penetrator fan, removable motherboard tray, dust filter, holes for cable management, space for 4 x 3.5" hard disks and 2 x 5.25" devices. Weighing at 5.3kg and measuring 210 x 374 x 385mm (W x H x D), the TJ08-E is the solution for users who are looking to save space and yet still wishes to have a powerful build. The TJ08-E is reported to be retailing ASRock Fatal1ty 990FX Professional launches Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/asrock-fatal1ty-990fx-professional- launches/12992.html July 19th, 2011 Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/thermaltake-launches-level-10-gt-lcs- chassis/12993.html July 19th, 2011 We'renotsurehowmuchtheFatal1tybrandingisreallyadding to ASRock's brand image, but at least the Fatal1ty series of motherboards stand out from the company's other products. The latest addition is the Fatal1ty 990FX Professional and as the name gives away, this board is based on the AMD 990FX chipset for AMD's FX-series of, ah yes, that's right, the new CPUs haven't launched yet, but anyhow, onwards to the motherboard. We'renotsurehowmuchtheFatal1tybrandingisreallyadding to ASRock's brand image, but at least the Fatal1ty series of motherboards stand out from the company's other products. The latest addition is the Fatal1ty 990FX Professional and as the name gives away, this board is based on the AMD 990FX chipset for AMD's FX-series of, ah yes, that's right, the 23

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July 19th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone our opinion. The SB950 southbridge offers a set of six SATA 6Gbps ports and ASRock has decided that this is more than enough, something of a shortcoming on a high-end board like this in our mind. There are no less than three Etron USB 3.0 host controllers though; two are connected to pin-headers for four front USB 3.0 ports while the third controller connects to the rear ports. Other additions include a pin-header for a FireWire port and a serial port, as well as two pin-headers for an additional four USB 2.0 ports, power and reset buttons and a POST80 debut LED. new CPUs haven't launched yet, but anyhow, onwards to the motherboard. As with all of ASRock's other Fatal1ty branded boards, this one too sports the black and red colour scheme. Nothing much stands out at first glance, possibly because of the colour scheme that hides much of what's going on. It's still surprising how much better AMD's chipsets are compared to what Intel offers for the general consumer market, even though the 990FX is a high-end chipset. The Fatal1ty 990FX Professional board sports two full x16 PCI Express slots as well as another one with four lanes worth of bandwidth and of course a pair of x1 PCI Express slots and two PCI slots. Around the back there are two PS/2 ports, five USB 2.0 ports, one "Fatal1ty mouse port", two USB 3.0 ports, a FireWire port, two eSATA ports, a pair of Gigabit Ethernet ports, 7.1- channel audio with optical and coaxial S/PDIF out and a clear CMOS button. ASRock has used a pair of Broadcom Ethernet controllersandtheeSATAportsareviaaMarvellSATA6Gbps controller. ThatstillleavesatotalofsixPCIExpresslanesforperipherals, although ASRock hasn't gone for the ideal mix of extras in The VRM is a 12+2 phase design and it's said to be using a Digital PWM. One thing we'd like to point out is the three fan headersbytheCPUsocketwhichisgreatforanyoneintending to use watercooling, as sometimes there just aren't enough fan headers conveniently located. There are an additional three fan headers as well, although these aren't quite as ideally located. One thing that struck us as odd is the location for the front panel pins, as they're located below the bottom x16 slot and a bit awkward to get to. Overall this is a pretty decent board, but the main question is how much it'll retail for and when there'll be a new FX-series CPU to go in that socket… 24

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Published by: VR-Zone July 22nd, 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. More upcoming Intel CPUs priced, Pentium and Core i this time Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/more-upcoming-intel-cpus-priced- pentium-and-core-i-this-time/13063.html July 22nd, 2011 Intel is going to be a busy company between now and the end of September, as beyond the entry level CPUs that we revealed the pricing of yesterday, Intel has a total of eight new desktop Pentiums and Core i processors launching. Three of the new models are low-power 35W models, with the remaining models being standard desktop parts. remaining models being standard desktop parts. Let'sstartwiththeTmodelswhichinIntellanguagemeanthat they're intended for small form factor systems and have a TDP of35W.FirstupwehaveanewbudgetmodelatamereUS$47, the Pentium G530T which is a dual core 2GHz part with 2MB L3 cache. This is followed by the pricier US$70 G630T which has a faster clock speed at 2.3GHz and 3MB of L3 cache. The third and final new model in the T-series is the Core i3-2120T which is a US$127 part clocked at 2.6GHz, 3MB of L3 cache andHyperThreadingsupport.Sadlywedon'thavethespecfor the graphics core clock for any of these models. Movingontothefull-fatCPUswestartwiththePentiumG630 which has the same US$64 pricing as the current G620, but it's 100MHz faster at 2.7GHz and that's the only difference between the two as the G630 retains the same graphics clock. The final Pentium model is the G860 which is also a simple speed bump to an even 3GHz and it'll be priced at US$86, the same price point as the current G850. That said the G850 will receive a price cut in October to US$75, putting it at the same price point as the G840. 1 That brings us to the Core i models which consist of three new models. The first and maybe most interesting model is theUS$134Corei3-2125,Intel'ssecondCorei3withHD3000 series graphics. The Core i3-2125 is clocked at 3.3GHz, that's 200MHz faster than the current Core i3-2105 (priced at US $134 as well), although the graphics clock remains the same. This is followed by the Core i3-2130 which is a 3.4GHz model which comes in at US$138 and it's a 100MHz speed bump of the Core i3-2120, although once again we're looking at a price adjustmentinOctoberwhichwillbringthismodeldowntoUS $117. The final new CPU is the Core i5-2320 which is yet another model that's 100MHz than its predecessor, the Core i5-2310. It even comes in at the same US$177 price point and there are no additional changes here either. Intel may yet have some surprises in store for us, but if the company does, then it's not in the roadmaps we've seen. Intel Core i7 3960X vs Core i7 990X Benchmarks Leaked Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/intel-core-i7-3960x-vs-core-i7-990x- benchmarks-leaked/13062.html July 22nd, 2011 Intel is going to be a busy company between now and the end of September, as beyond the entry level CPUs that we revealed the pricing of yesterday , Intel has a total of eight new desktop Pentiums and Core i processors launching. Three of the new models are low-power 35W models, with the DonanimHaber has leaked internal benchmarks of Intel's next-genSandyBridgeEflagship,revealedtobebrandedCore i7 3960X earlier this week, put to the test against current flagship Core i7 990X. Both are 6 Core / 12 Thread CPUs fabricated at 32nm. While the i7 3960X actually features a slighty lower clock speed, 0.16 GHz less than the i7 990X, it is based on the improved Sandy Bridge architecture, and boasts of 15MB L3 cache - 3MB more than the 990X. The X79 chipset also supports 4 memory channels - 1 more than X58. Finally, Core i7 3960X features a more aggressive Turbo, clocking all the way up to 3.9 GHz. Since these are internal benchmarks conducted by Intel, the leaked slides are quick to point out benchmarks influenced by memory bandwidth and AVX instructions (new to the Sandy Bridge architecture). In SPECint_rate the i7 3960X takes a 35% lead over the i7 990X, and a 65% advantage in SPECfp_rate. In Sandra 2011, the i7 3960X nearly doubles i7 990X's performance in Multimedia and Memory Bandwidth tests, once again thanks to 4 memory channels and AVX.

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July 22nd, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone will see greater improvements for the Core i7 3960X. Sandy Bridge-E, alongwith Core i7 3960X, 3930K and the quad-core 3820 are expected to release in late 2011 at the earliest, about one quarter after AMD's FX-Series. Panasonic announces new LUMIX FZ47 superzoom camera Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/panasonic-announces-new-lumix-fz47- superzoom-camera/13060.html July 22nd, 2011 Superzoom bridge cameras which allow a user to excercise full manualcontrolovertheirphoto-takingarebeingsqueezedout on both ends of the digital camera market by cheap entry- level DSLRs, high-end compact cameras and and new breed of mirrorless cameras which boast interchangeable lenses, right? Well, not if Panasonic has got anything to say about it; apparently, the market for such superzoom bridge cameras is still good enough for the Japanese electronics company to justify releasing a new model for this particular segment, and it comes in the form of its new LUMIX FZ47. Superzoom bridge cameras. Who needs them, when you got entry-level DSLRs that are capable of capturing still images at significantly better image quality, or even the new breed of mirrorless cameras which sport interchangeable lenses and still feature the same large image sensor that one would typically find in a DSLR? Well, it seems that there is still 2 sufficient demand left in the market for such devices for Panasonic to justify the releasing of yet another camera for this particular segment, and it comes in the form of the new LUMIX FZ47. In more relevant real world benchmarks, the picture is less rosy, though not unexpected. In Cinebench 11.5, POV-Ray 3.7 and ProShow Gold 4.5, the Core i7 3960X leads the i7 990X by 12%-15%. The 3DMark 11 is "estimated" at 36%. Judging bythesebenchmarks,inmostmulti-threadedapplications,we would expect the Core i7 3960X to be about 15% faster than the Core i7 990X. Of course, non-multithreaded applications, applications sensitive to AVX, memory bandwidth and cache According to the official press release that was issued yesterday, the new LUMIX FZ47 superzoom bridge camera will sport a LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT lens that is reportedly capable of achieving an optical zoom range of 24x that reaches from 25mm to 600mm in 35mm-equivalent terms. Panasonic has also confirmed that the lens has been treated with its proprietary "Nano Surface Coating technology to help minimize light reflection that causes ghosting and flare". In addition to its decent zoom range, the FZ47 will also boast support for 1080i video recording in the AVCHD format, with Panasonic claiming that the camera's optical zoom mechanism has been specially optimized for use in shooting videos, as it now features technology which allows for low- noise autofocus and zooming while capturing movies. And if that was not enough, the FZ47 also boasts the ability to allow users to capture still images at a resolution of 3.5 megapixels in the midst of filiming a video, as well as the addition of a new Creative Video mode, which allows users to manually set the shutter speed and aperture when recorming videos, a feature which is not present on most digital cameras on the market today. Last but defintiely not least, Panasonic has confirmed that the new LUMIX FZ47 will be powered by both a 1/2.33" "Hi- Speed CCD sensor" that is capable of capturing still images at resolutions of up to 12.1-megapixel, and the Venus Engine FHD processor, which is reportedly capable of delivering superb image quality in both photo and video recording, while also powering the Intelligent Resolution technology to perform the optimum signal processing. In addition, the processor is also capable of allowing the camera to take "high- resolution consecutive shots at 3.7 fps in 12.1-megapixel full- resolution and maximum 10 fps at 3-megapixel recording". No news of the FZ47's global availability has been announced by Panasonic yet, but the company claims that the camera

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July 22nd, 2011 should be available for sale in the U.S come August this year at the price of US$399.99. BlackBerry PlayBook wins FIPS certification needed for U.S government deployment Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/blackberry-playbook-wins-fips- certification-needed-for-u.s-government-deployment/13059.html Think that Research In Motion (RIM) is swiftly losing ground to the likes of Apple's iOS and Google's Android, especially where government deployment is concerned? Well, think again; apparently, RIM's BlackBerry PlayBook, coupled with all the security features that people have come to associate with the company's BlackBerry operating system, has just scored a win in the form of securing the FIPS 140-2 certificationneededforacompanytopitchadeviceasonethat Published by: VR-Zone the PlayBook meets their computing policy requirements for protecting sensitive information.” Sony A77 camera body finally revealed? Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/sony-a77-camera-body-finally- revealed-/13058.html July 22nd, 2011 July 22nd, 2011 You might have seen some leaked blurrycam photographs of what was supposedly the design for Sony's upcoming A77 DSLR some time back last month, but the latest news that the rumour mill has been churning out seem to suggest that images of the real deal has finally managed to find its way out onto the Internet for everybody to view. And apparently, the general consensus is that Sony's upcoming A77 is going to be one huge camera, if the newly leaked images are of any indication. is suitable for deployment by the U.S federal government. Research In Motion has announced that its recently-launched multimediatabletdevice,theBlackBerryPlayBook,hasscored a major boost in the form of securing the FIPS 140-2 certification for the device. According to the company, the BlackBerry PlayBook is the first tablet to score such a certification in the U.S; this makes it the only such device which can be pitched as one that is suitable for deployment by the U.S Federal Government at this point of time. Remember those blurrycam pictures of a certain Sony camera that were circulating the Internet some time back? You know, the ones which were claimed to be those of Sony's upcoming A77 DSLR that will supposedly feature a translucent mirror that can potentially allow users to focus while shooting a video? Well, the good news is that more images of that aforementioned camera has been leaked onto the Internet once again, and that these images are reportedly the real deal this time, as claimed by SonyAlphaRumors. “RIM is pleased to announce that the BlackBerry PlayBook is the first tablet approved under FIPS for use within the U.S. federal government,” said Scott Totzke, Senior Vice President, BlackBerry Security at Research In Motion. “This certification demonstrates our continued commitment to meeting the needs of security-conscious organizations and enables the U.S. federal government to buy with confidence knowing that 3

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July 22nd, 2011 Unfortunately, it seems that serious photographers who desire more information about the upcoming A77 DSLR will have to make do with these images for now, as no official announcement pertaining to the camera's specifications have been released at this point of time. However, most reports are claiming that the A77 will feature an articulating LCD screen and a translucent mirror box, while the sensor will be reportedly boast a resolution of 24 megapixels and is capable Published by: VR-Zone PALIT GTX 560 OC and 2GB Review Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/palit-gtx-560-oc-and-2gb- review/13006.html July 22nd, 2011 NVIDIA's GTX 560 has been released for quite sometime and we had already done reviews on two different manufacturers of the card. Today, we get our hands on two more versions of the GTX 560, PALIT's GTX 560 OC Edition and PALIT's GTX 560 2GB version. Dozens of manufacturers released interesting variants of the GTX 560 ever since NVIDIA officially launched it. (Do refer to our previous article for more information regarding Nvidia GeForce GTX 560.) PALIT has three models for the GTX 560 graphics card and we get to have our hands on two of them, PALITGTX560OCEditionandPALITGTX5602GBversion. As you can see from the table, the PALIT's GTX 560 cards use a shorter length PCB (printed circuit board). The PALIT GTX 560 OC Edition offers a slight overclock in the memory frequency from 2004MHz to 2010MHz while the PALIT GTX 560 2GB features 2GB of memory at default frequencies. Leaked image of Nikon's upcoming mirrorless camera sensor shows up online Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/leaked-image-of-nikon-s-upcoming- mirrorless-camera-sensor-shows-up-online/13057.html July 22nd, 2011 of supporting a very wide range of ISO speeds. Oh, and it apparently shoots 1080p AVCHD videos as well. When it comes to mirrorless cameras which boast the ability to allow for interchangeable lenses, the sensor of choice for 4

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July 22nd, 2011 manufacturers is usually one which conforms to either than of anAPS-CorasmallerFourThirdsformfactor,right?Well,not for Nikon it it not; apparently a leaked image of what appears to be the sensor of an upcoming Nikon-branded mirrorless interchangeable lens camera has surfaced onto the Internet, but surely starting to make their entry into this particular segment in order to claim a share of the market for itself. Andwhilethereisstillnoword(saveforsomerumours)onthe kind of specifications Nikon's first mirrorless interchangeable lenscameraisexpectedtohave,itseemsthataleakedimageof what is supposedly a prototype of such a camera has surfaced online to shed some light on what users can expect from the sensorinthecompany'supcomingmirrorlessinterchangeable Details are scarce, but if the leaked image of the camera's sensor is of any indication, it would seem that Nikon might decide to ditch the traditional APS-C and Four Thirds sensor used in such mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras in favor of a proprietary form factor which is reportedly said to feature a crop factor of 2.6X. This will mean that Nikon's sensor will be somewhat smaller than the Four Thirds sensor used by Panasonic and Olympus, which might not appeal to certain consumers. Published by: VR-Zone However,ifitisofanyconsolation,Nikon'sproprietarysensor is still orders of magnitude larger than the 1.2/3-inch sensor thatPentaxisusingforitsnewQ-seriesofmirrorlesscameras, so we do not think that image quality is expected to take too significant a hit. Lastly, it has been claimed that this mirrorless prototype from Nikon reportedly goes by the name of "X810". OS X Lion scores over a million downloads in first day Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/os-x-lion-scores-over-a-million- downloads-in-first-day/13056.html July 22nd, 2011 Withmirrorlesscamerasboastinglargesensorsandtheability to support interchangeable lenses now being one of the most popularsegmentsinthedigitalcameramarkettoday,itshould beoflittlesurprisethatmajorplayerssuchasNikonareslowly We all know that Apple is extremely popular with consumers when it comes to mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets and portable media players, but have you ever wondered if the same could be said for its Mac OS X operating system for its line of desktop and notebook computers? Apparently, more than a million people seem to think so, if the latest news from Apple is of any indication. lens camera, as shown in the image below. Are you a Mac user? Well, if you are, this latest piece of news from Apple will probably be just the kind of information you need to brighten up your Friday and reinforce the perception that the Cupertino giant is well on its way to making major inroads into a market that was (and still is) dominated by Microsoft. Apparently, the latest version of the Mac OS X operating system, which is also known as Lion, has scored over a million digital downloads on the first day of its release, and that fact has clearly had Apple excited enough to issue an official announcement to boast about the successful adoption of what it calls is its "most advanced desktop operating system". According to Engadget, this figure means a lot to Apple, and for good reason. After all, one million registered copies of an operating system being sold on the first day of its release is 5

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July 22nd, 2011 indeed a huge achievement, considering how Apple has never been able to boast of such numbers for any other OS X release in its history. “Lion is off to a great start, user reviews and industry reaction have been fantastic,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “Lion is a huge step forward, it’s not only packed with innovative features but it’s incredibly easy for users to update their Macs to the best OS we’ve ever made.” Samsung Galaxy S II Review: A star to behold Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/samsung-galaxy-s-ii-review-a-star-to- behold/13011.html July 22nd, 2011 When the Samsung Galaxy S Android smartphone was launched last year, it impressed many users with its large and brilliant Super AMOLED display, slim form factor and good featuresandperformance.Andayearlater,thecompanycame up with the Galaxy S II. Will the Galaxy S II live up to our expectations? Read on. When the Samsung Galaxy S was unveiled last year, it was undoubtedly one of the best Android smartphones on the market with its sleek and slim body, powerful 1GHz processor (atthattime),andbrightSuperAMOLEDdisplay.Whilethere were some flaws about the flagship phone such as the lack of built-in camera LED flash and a user interface that resembles the Apple product, the Galaxy S managed to impressed the world when the company reported over 10 million unit sales of the smartphone. The Korean maker has recently launched the Galaxy S II and many held high expectations of the successor to the popular Galaxy S. When we hands on the new smartphone at the 6 Published by: VR-Zone Samsung Regional Forum in March this year, the phone looks promising with its 1.2GHz dual-core processor, new Super AMOLED Plus 4-inch screen and even slimmer than its older sibling. Samsung Galaxy S II specifications:- CPU Memory Screen Display Resolution Storage Camera Connectivity Talk time Standby time Battery Platform Dimensions Weight Samsung Galaxy S II 1.2GHz Dual Core ROM: 1GB ; 2GB for apps 4.27-inch Super AMOLED Plus 480x800 (WVGA) 16GB flash + microSD card slot 8 MP w/LED flash + 2 MP front-facing 3.5mm audio, micro-USB, TV-out 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0 Up to 18 hours (2G), 9 hours (3G) Up to 710 hours (2G), 620 hours (3G) 3.7V 1650mAh Google Android 2.3.3 (Gingerbread) 125.3 x 66.1 x 8.49 mm 116g Intel to launch a wide range of new budget CPUs between now and September Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/intel-to-launch-a-wide-range-of-new- budget-cpus-between-now-and-september/13055.html July 22nd, 2011 We can look forward to several new budget CPUs from Intel over the next few months with the recently launched single core mobile Celeron 787 being the first of a raft of new mobile and desktop CPUs. We've already covered the specs on most of the models in past news, but we now have some pricing to share with you. We can look forward to several new budget CPUs from Intel over the next few months with the recently launched single core mobile Celeron 787 being the first of a raft of new mobile and desktop CPUs. We've already covered the specs on most

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July 22nd, 2011 of the models in past news, but we now have some pricing to share with you. As we suggested back in May , the new desktop Celerons are indeed priced below the Pentium G620 (US$64), as the single core1.6GHzCeleronG440ispricedatamereUS$37makingit by far the cheapest Sandy Bridge derived CPU to date. Moving up we have the dual core 2.4GHz Celeron G530 at US$42 and the slightly faster 2.5GHz G540 at US$52, a pretty big price gap for an extra US$10. We can also expect a pair of new desktop Atom processors, although we have a feeling that Intel will be holding on to them until IDF. Here we have the dual core D2500 which is a 1.86GHz with 1MB of cache at US$42, whereas its faster 2.13GHz sibling the D2700 gets Hyper Threading support and apricetagofUS$52.BothmodelswillofcoursehavePowerVR graphics as we reported in early May and the desktop Atom's should have the graphics core clocked at 640MHz. On the mobile side we also have another three Celeron models with the most basic one being the single core 1.6GHz Celeron B710atUS$70whichlaunchedthisweek,followedbythedual core 1.5GHz Celeron B800 which slots in below the current 1.6GHz Celeron B810 at the same US$86 price point. Finally we have the 1.9GHz Celeron B840 which will also cost US$86. All three models have a base graphics clock of 650MHz, but the graphics will automatically overclock up to 1GHz. There is of course a pair of new mobile Atom processors as well and the lower-end model is the N2600 at 1.6GHz with a 400MHz graphics core, a 3.5W TDP and support for DDR3-800MHz memory and a US$42 price tag. The faster model is the N2800 at 1.86GHz and it should have the same 640MHz graphics clock as the desktop counterparts which brings the TDP up to 6.5W and it will also support faster DDR3-1067MHzmemory,allforUS$47.Bothmodelssupport Hyper Threading and come with 1MB of cache. It's interesting to note that Intel has reduced the pricing of its new mobile Atom CPUs quite heavily; in fact comparing list prices makes the new models seem like a bargain as Intel doesn't have a single mobile Atom CPU today that comes near the new models in terms of cost. So not only can we look forward to vastly improved graphics, but also much more affordable dual core netbooks in the future, that is if anyone will still want a netbook by Christmas this year. The desktop models aren't quite as competitive in terms of price, but at least we're looking at a significant performance bump while still paying less, that can't be bad. These are of course not the onlyprocessorsIntelareplanningtolaunchinthenearfuture, but we'll leave the new mid-range models for another day. Pioneer Slim AV Micro System X-SMC1 lets enthusiasts enjoy portable music and video easily Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/pioneer-slim-av-micro-system-x-smc1- lets-enthusiasts-enjoy-portable-music-and-video-easily/13052.html 7 Published by: VR-Zone July 22nd, 2011 Pioneer has unveiled their latest Slim AV Micro System X-SMC1, a "Made for iPod and iPhone" certified speaker system that is designed with increased functionality and flexibility to satisfy both the audio and video enthusiasts. The X-SMC1 supports CD and DVD playback, features bulit-in FM radio and USB connectivity, as well as alarm clock functions. Pioneer Electronics AsiaCentre has announced the Slim AV Micro System X-SMC1, a versatile and convenient system that claims to offer a multitude of media playback options. The sleek Pioneer X-SMC1 comes packed with features including iPod and iPhone compatibility, CD/DVD playback, integrated FM radio, USB connectivity as well as clock and alarm functions. The X-SMC1 can charge an iPod or iPhone via the push open dock while the music is playing. On top of that, the Slim AV Micro System can play video content from a compatible iPod or iPhone on a TV screen. It can function as a DVD player equipped with HDMI port and 1080-pixels upscaler for an immersive movie experience. The free Pioneer Air Jam application, which can be downloadedfromtheAppleAppStore,allowsiPodandiPhone users to discover new songs on other users’ iPod touch or iPhone. Through Bluetooth connection, users can then stream music from up to four iPod touch and iPhone devices. The Air Jam can also transmit metadata such as song title, artist, and album name by referring to Air Jam’s playback history. Price and Availability The X-SMC1 will be available in silver (X-SM1-S) at a suggested retail price of S$399 at Pioneer authorized retail outlets from August 2011. NVIDIA Tesla Success Stories Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/nvidia-tesla-success- stories/13053.html

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July 22nd, 2011 July 22nd, 2011 Based on the CUDA™ architecture codenamed “Fermi”, the Tesla™ M-class GPU Computing Modules are the world’s fastest parallel computing processors for high performance computing (HPC). Tesla GPU’s high performance makes them ideal for seismic processing, biochemistry simulations, weather and climate modeling, signal processing, computational finance, CAE, CFD, and data analystics. The Tesla 20-series GPU computing processors are the first to deliver greater than 10X the double precision horsepower of a quad-core x86 CPU and the first GPUs to deliver ECC memory. Based on the Fermi architecture, these GPUs feature up to 665 gigaflops of double precision performance, 1 teraflops of single precision performance, ECC memoryerrorprotection,andL1andL2caches.Herearesome success stories of the NVIDIA Tesla to share. Challenge The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s (UIUC) Nanoscale Molecular Dynamics (NAMD) and Visual Molecular Dynamics (VMD) are powerful and widely used tools for simulating and visualizing biomolecular processes. Simulatingcomplexmolecularsystemsistimeconsumingand requires large, sophisticated clusters of computers. “cionize” ion placement tool to an NVIDIA GPU computing solution. The goal was to accelerate the computationally intensive kernels for calculating the interaction of biological molecules and ions. In doing so, UIUC researchers achieved speedups on ion simulations over 100 times that of an 18-CPU cluster (based on total CPU time vs total GPU time). With a three-GPU workstation, a similar calculation for time- averaged electrostatics in the VMD tool reaches 705 gigaflops of realized performance. This remarkable performance allows any bioscience researcher to have the equivalent of a computing cluster on their workstation. Impact With GPU computing, these molecular simulations are no longer restricted to clusters in server rooms. By running the 8 Published by: VR-Zone simulations on workstations in individual labs and desktops, projects are no longer competing with one another for scarce computing resources and the researchers are getting the results when they need them, as opposed to when they can be scheduled. Furthermore, with GPUs in large-scale server clusters, new classes of problems can be addressed for which the necessary computing power was only a dream a year ago. The combination of NAMD and NVIDIA computing solutions is a marriage of cuttingedge research and software development, aimed at harnessing the nation’s fastest supercomputers to decipher the tiniest components of living cells. These new computing tools are quickening the pace of drug discovery and other vital research in unraveling biological processes. For more information, visit: http://www.ks.uiuc.edu/ For more information about NVIDIA GPU computing solutions, visit www.nvidia.com/tesla Apple's new version of Safari for Windows fixes several vulnerabilities Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/apple-s-new-version-of-safari-for- windows-fixes-several-vulnerabilities/13051.html July 22nd, 2011 Solution To boost performance, the UIUC researchers ported the Do you use Apple's Safari as your web browser of choice on your copy of Windows? Well, if you do, you might want to fire up Apple's Software Update tool, or head down directly to the Safari download page on Apple's website and get yourself a copy of the latest version of the Safari web browser for Windows, for word has it that the updated web browser comes with fixes for a variety of security flaws that could potentially allow other people to excecute various attacks on your PC.

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July 22nd, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone home page on Apple's web site and download for yourself a copy of the latest version of the Safari web browser that is currently available for Windows, which is that of Safari 5.1. engine. Furthermore, Apple has reportedly claimed that the vulnerabilities could potentially result in "drive-by download attacks, full system compromise, denial-of-service conditions of cross-site scripting attacks" if left unfixed on a Windows- powered PC. We will not go into too much detail about the vulnerabilities that Apple is planning to patch with the release of Safari 5.1, although ZDNet has claimed in its own report that many of the flaws that were present in the previous release of Safari could result in arbitrary code execution on a compromised PC. The report also goes on to list several aspects of the Safari web browser which has been flagged as being some of the more serious vulnerabilities, which runs the gamut from the browser's ColourSync profile to its CoreFoundation framework and XML library, among many others. Last but definitely not least, ZDNet has also claimed that the new Safari 5.1 web browser will fix a vulnerability in the open- source WebKit rendering engine which that "expose users to denial-service conditions or arbitrary code execution". So, if 9 you are still on an older version of Safari, it would seem that a much-needed upgrade to your web browser is in order. Sony introduces BDV-3985WH 5.1 3D Blu-ray Home Theatre System Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/sony-introduces-bdv-3985wh-5.1-3d- blu-ray-home-theatre-system/13049.html July 22nd, 2011 Are you currently using Apple's Safari as your web browser of choice in your Windows-powered PC? If so, you might want to startfiringuptheAppleSoftwareUpdatetoolthatmayalready be present on your system, or head down directly to the Safari If you are looking to get a new home theatre system, you might want to check out Sony's latest offering. The Sony BDV-3985WH 5.1 3D Blu-ray Home Theatre System features a stylish design and claims to offer superb entertainment in the comfort of your own home. And why, you may ask. Well, word has it that the new version of Safari has been designed to fix certain security vulnerabilities that were present in the both the older version of the web browser and its open-source WebKit rendering Sony has introduced their latest BDV-3985WH 5.1 3D Blu- ray Home Theatre System which offers immersive experience with sleek and attractive aesthetic stylings. You can enjoy your favorite movies in 3D, while its Surround Sound mode provides great audio from the Full-tallboy system. The BDV-3985H is designed for users who want high-quality entertainment in the comfort of their homes. It also comes with a wide variety of music and video contents which are made available right out-of-the-box, and with more than 15 channels of BRAVIA Internet Videos, and much more with the built-in web browser. The BDV-3985H also features a newly developed Omni-Direction sound mode, wider directional speakers and Digital Cinema Auto Calibration (D.C.A.C) for superb audio experience.

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July 22nd, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone Remember what we said about 3D displays being well on their way to becoming the next mainstream display of choice for the average consumer? Well it seems that 3D technology's slow but gradual invasion into consumer-grade electronic devices has just been given a huge boost recently, especially if Hitachi's announcement of its success in the creation of a 4.5-inch display that is reportedly capable of high-definition resolutions is of any indication. With all the signs pointing towards what seems to be a slow but steady push by various OEMs and manufacturers to make 3D displays the new mainstream in digital entertainment, it should be of little surprise that what was once considered a "novel" technology is starting to make inroads into the consumer electronic devices which we make use of on an everyday basis. And apparently, it seems that Hitachi is all set to "Inspire the Next", at least where 3D technology is concerned, and the latest announcement of its new 3D display is probably the best proof of that. According to Hitachi, the new 3D display makes use of a certain "liquid crystal lens system", which is also known as the lenticular lens approach, to produce its 3D effects. This is different from the technology used by Hitachi's older 3D mobile display, which utilizes the "parallax barrier method". Hitachi claims that the new approach is capable of bringing about improved display quality.. In addition, Hitachi has also claimed that its new 4.5-inch, glasses-free 3D display will be capable of displaying digital content at a high-definition resolution of 1280 x 720, and that it will also boast a brightness of 400cd/m2 in 2D mode, and up to 470cd/m2 when set to 3D mode, as show in the specifications list below. 10 Hitachi announces new high- resolution, glasses-free 3D IPS LCD screen for mobile devices Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/hitachi-announces-new-high- resolution-glasses-free-3d-ips-lcd-screen-for-mobile-devices/13050.html July 22nd, 2011 Hitachihasnotannouncedanymajorplansforitsnewdisplay, although the company has claimed that it expects to see the display being used in a variety of mobile devices such as mobile phones, portable television sets and handheld gaming consoles. Western Digital releases standard-height, 1TB Scorpio Blue hard disk for notebooks Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/western-digital-releases-standard- height-1tb-scorpio-blue-hard-disk-for-notebooks/13048.html July 22nd, 2011 Have you ever tried to upgrade your notebook's storage capacity by splurging onthe latest 2.5-inch 1TB hard diskback then, only to realize that the upgrade was doomed to fail from the get-go simply because it was too thick to fit into the tight confines of your mobile PC? Well, we've got good news for you: a 1TB notebook hard disk that conforms to the 9.5mm thickness required by most mainstream notebooks has just been released, and it comes in the form of Western Digital's new Scorpio Blue hard disk. Sure, 1TB hard disks in the 2.5-inch form factor may have existed for a while now, but it does not change the fact that such high-capacityhard disks came with a single design flaw, which is that it was designed for notebooks which had the real estate needed to support hard disks that boasts heights greaterthanthestandard9.5mmthatisfoundonmostmobile hard disks designed to be used by mainstream notebooks. However, the good news is that this is about to change very soon, for Western Digital has just announced the availability of a new standard-height 2.5-inch hard disk which sports the samehulking1TBthatjustabouteverynotebookuserhasbeen lusting for all this while.

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July 22nd, 2011 According to the press release issued by Western Digital, the new hard disk, which has been designed specially for mainstream notebooks, "utilizes 500 GB-per-platter areal density and is now available in the highest capacity for 2.5- inch hard drives in the industry-standard 9.5 mm, two-platter (2-disk) form factor". That being said, the new hard disk also sports the Scorpio Blue branding, which means that users can expecttoreceiveastandard-performanceharddiskthatboasts a platter speed of 5400rpm, as well as access to the wide range of features that many have come to associate the Scorpio Blue line of hard disks with, such as 8MB of cache, low power consumption,shocktoleranceandheadpacking,amongmany others. Unfortunately, Western Digital has not provided any information as to when the new 1TB, standard-height mobile hard disk will be available for sale globally. However, if it is of any consolation, the hard disk is reportedly already on the retail shleves in the US right now at the recommended retail price of US$139. Samsung releases new Ultra- speed Class10 SDHC cards Remember the news we posted some time back about Samsung planning to release a slew of new Class10 SDHC cards for consumers, except that no official release date was given for the launch? Well, it seemed that the Published by: VR-Zone According to the press release issued by Samsung, the new SD cards will be available in two different versions, namely the Plus and the Essential. The Plus line of SDHC cards will be available in both 8GB and 16GB variants, while the Essential will reportedly sport a wider variety of capacities ranging from 4GB to 32GB. Regardless of the version, both the Plus and the Essential line of ultra-speed SDHC cards will be capable of read/write speeds of up to 24Mbps. No mention about global availability has been made by Samsung, although the company has revealed that the Plus line of SDHC cards will be retailing in Korea for the price of 19,000 won and 36,000 won for the 8GB and 16GB variants respectively, while the Essential lineup will be priced at between 10,000 wonand 28,000 won forthe 4GB, 8GB and 16GB variants. Last but definitely not least, the 32GB variant of the Essential will retail for 76,000 won. Lenovo launches IdeaPad K1, IdeaPad P1 and ThinkPad Tablets Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/lenovo-launches-ideapad-k1-ideapad- p1-and-thinkpad-tablets/13045.html July 22nd, 2011 Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/samsung-releases-new-ultra-speed- class10-sdhc-cards/13047.html July 22nd, 2011 Lenovo has recently announced the launch of their new tablet devices which come in the form of the IdeaPad K1, IdeaPad P1andThinkPadTablet.TheIdeaPadK1andThinkPadTablet are powered by Google Android 3.1 Honeycomb operating system, while the IdeaPad P1 runs Microsoft Windows 7. Korean electronics giant has gone ahead and released the aforementioned cards quietly into the market, for word has it that these ultra-speed SDHC cards are now already available. Remember the news we posted about a month back, where we spoke about Samsung reportedly planning to launch a new line of Class10, ultra-speed SDHC cards for use in a variety of devices? Well, it seems that consumers can finally stop waiting and guessing as to when they can get their hands on the aforementioned cards, as the company has recently issued a statement claiming that its new storage cards have already been released for sale onto retail shelves. Lenovo IdeaPad K1 11

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July 22nd, 2011 Lenovo has announced the launch of their first tablet devices - the IdeaPad K1 (or LePad K1 in China) designed for consumers, ThinkPad tablet for the business professionals, and the Windows-based IdeaPad P1 for homes and offices. Both the new IdeaPad K1 and ThinkPad tablet run Google Android 3.1 Honeycomb and the K1 claims to be the first Android tablet device to incorporate Netflix video streaming. The10.1-inch 32GBIdeaPad K1 is powered by anNvidia Tegra 2dual-coreprocessorandpreloadedwithover40applications including SocialTouch. It is scheduled to be available in selected retail stores in USA from 20 July, early August in China and Q3 worldwide. The 16GB Wi-Fi version of the ThinkPad Tablet can be preordered in USA from 2 August or through online via Lenovo website, will be available in China by end August, and worldwide in Q3. The IdeaPad P1 is schedule to ship worldwide in Q4. Lenovo IdeaPad K1 Tablet The IdeaPad K1 weighs less than 0.74 kg and features integrated Bluetooth and 802.11 Wi-Fi connectivity, 1280x800 high definition (HD) display and mini HDMI interface to output 1080p full HD videos to TV or monitor. It is also preloaded with more than 40 apps including Netflix, Amazon, Adobe, Electronic Arts, Rovio, Zinio and Dataviz, as well as popular applications including Need for Speed ?? Shift, Angry Birds and Kindle e-book reader. With Flash 10.3, you can enjoy watching online videos and also purchase or rentmoviesviadigitalrightsmanagement(DRM).Lenovohas included their unique Social Touch app for users to access their friends and social networking sites all in one place. Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet The ThinkPad Tablet combines the superior media and entertainment features of the IdeaPad K1 with ThinkPad's renowned security and reliability. It has a precision pressure pen, USB connector, SD card slot and HDMI port for video output. Weighing approximately 0.75kg, the ThinkPad Tablet sports a 10.1-inch WXGA (1280x800) IPS touchscreen display and is preloaded with DataViz's Documents to Go for opening Microsoft Office documents. 12 Published by: VR-Zone Lenovo IdeaPad P1 Running Microsoft Windows 7 operating system, the 10.1- inch IdeaPad P1 is powered by 1.5GHz Intel processor and is designed to handle office documents or for users to browse and edit photos easily. The IdeaPad P1 supports Flash and with Microsoft Security Essentials, it offers superb protection against malware and viruses. The Lenovo tablet measure 14.5mm thick and weighs about 0.9kg which makes it good enough for use in home, office or on-the-move. Pantech announces new MIRACH IS11PT smartphone for Japan Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/pantech-announces-new-mirach- is11pt-smartphone-for-japan/13046.html July 22nd, 2011 The IdeaPad K1 also comes with 2-megapixel front and 5- megapixel rear cameras. Smartphones may be the mobile phones of choice for most people today, but it does not change the fact that most mobile phones are known for being fragile electronic devices that are not meant to be exposed to elemental hazzards such as dust and water, right? Well, leave it to Pantech to deliver a smartphone that is reportedly designed to be both dustproof and waterproof, and it comes in the form of its new MIRACH IS11PT smartphone. Having to throw away a perfectly good smartphone because of dust or water damage is definitely something most people will actively avoid having to go through, but it does not change the fact that smartphones, for all their merits, are still extremely susceptibletoenvironmentalhazardssuchasdustandliquids, as is the case with just about every single electronic device out there.However,ifitisawaterproofanddustproofsmartphone which you are looking for to meet your daily mobile needs, Pantech might have just the solution you need, and it comes in the form of its new MIRACH IS11PT mobile phone.

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July 22nd, 2011 According to various online reports, the MIRACH 1S11PT is an Android-powered smartphone that is reportedly designed to be both waterproof and dustproof at the same time, which means that the smartphone has a much higher chance of enjoying a longer service life under the hands of its owners,regardlessoftheenvironmentalconditionsausermay subject it to. Backing up the smartphone's processing power is reportedly a second-generation Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8655 system-on-a-chip which boasts a 1GHz CPU core, while its display is provided by a 3.7 inch WVGA screen which is capable of a 480 x 800 resolution. In addition, it is claimed that the MIRACH IS11PT will make use of a 1320mAh battery pack which is reportedly capable of an uptime of up to 180 hours on standby, or 250 minutes of talktime,andthatthedevicewillbepreloadedwithversion2.3 of the Android operating system. Furthermore, a report from ITmedia has claimed that the MIRACH IS11PT also sports a "Simple Mode" user interface, which reportedly 'fixes' the Android home screen onto a single page, while providing shortcuts and icons to a variety of functions from that single screen, thus apparently making it easier for newbies to navigate their way through the Android operating system. No information about pricing for the MIRACH IS11PT has beenrevealedatthispointoftime,althoughitwouldseemthat the smartphone is slated to be released for sale in Japan come late September this year. 13 Published by: VR-Zone JABRA announces SPEAK410 USB speakerphone for instant Skype conferencing-on-the-go Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/jabra-announces-speak410-usb- speakerphone-for-instant-skype-conferencing-on-the-go/13044.html July 22nd, 2011 Are you a heavy Skype user? Well, if you are, Jabra might have just the thing you need to help facilitate the setting up of an instant, hands-free VoIP call for all your mobile Internet telephony needs, and it comes in the form of its new Skype-certified SPEAK410 USB speakerphone. Which, the company claims, is designed to allow users the luxury of making "instant Skype conference calls or virtual meetings anywhere, anytime", and then some. Are you a road warrior whose job involves a large chunk of computing time while on the move, of which making online phone calls to clients takes up a significant portion of that computing time? Well, if that sounds a lot like what you do on a regular basis, you might just be interested in what JABRA has got to offer, for the company has just announced the availability of its new SPEAK410 USB speakerphone, which is designed to grant mobile professionals the ability to engage in instant,hands-free"Skypeconferencecallsorvirtualmeetings anywhere, anytime".

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July 22nd, 2011 According to the press released that was issued by JABRA, the SPEAK410 is a "small, portable, and a powerful must-have device with High Definition Voice" that has been rigorously tested and certified by Skype. In fact, all users have to do is to simply "plug the integrated USB cable to your laptop or PC" that is connected to a broadband network "at home, office or anywhere wirelessly" and they will be ready to "easily set up 1-on-1 or small group conference calls over Skype or any VoIP client to talk with co-workers, family or friends". In addition, JABRA has claimed that the audiophiles will not have to worry about dealing with "unproductive VoIP calls affected by echo and clarity issues", as the SPEAK410’s support for HD Voice sound is capable of ensuring that one's online conversation will remain extremely clear at all times. Furthermore, the device's built-in echo-cancellation technology will further enhance the user experience by finessing one's enunciation, thus allow users to hear the different tones without distortions. For those who are wondering about the SPEAK410's technical specifications, we have attached the device's spec sheet here for you to take a look at: 14 Published by: VR-Zone Sounds good? Well, we have got even better news for you, especially if you are itching to get your hands on one: JABRA has confirmed that the SPEAK410 USB speakerphone is already available for sale at the recommended retail price for S$218 and can be purchased at Challenger, EpiCentre, NuBox stores and other authorized resellers in Singapore. Exclusive hands on pictures of ASRock's new Gen3 motherboards Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/exclusive-hands-on-pictures-of-asrock- s-new-gen3-motherboards/13043.html July 22nd, 2011 Last week details of ASRock's new PCI Express 3.0 motherboards appeared on the web and today we bring you exclusive hands on pictures of the Z68 Extreme3 and Z68 Extreme7. ASRock will be using the new styling for all of its upcoming motherboards, so expect a lot more black and gold in the future, the only exception being the Fatal1ty boards of course. Last week details of ASRock's new PCI Express 3.0 motherboards appeared on the web and today we bring you exclusive hands on pictures of the Z68 Extreme3 and Z68 Extreme7. ASRock will be using the new styling for all of its upcoming motherboards, so expect a lot more black and gold in the future, the only exception being the Fatal1ty boards of course. Neither board holds any real secrets beyond the specs that were posted last week, but this is the first high-resolution, detailed picture of the Z68 Extreme3. A couple of things with missed with regards to the rear I/O of the Z68 Extrem3 includes a PS/2 port and optical S/PDIF out. The board also sports a POST80 debug LED which is an unusual feature for a boardthisfardowninthepeckingorder.TheZ68Extreme3 is in our opinion looking like the Z68 board to get from ASRock if you're looking for something that won't be horrendously expensive, yet offering a well-balanced feature set.

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July 22nd, 2011 Moving on we have the Z68 Extreme7 and we're still quite flabbergasted that ASRock has made a board like this. All of the heatsinks are screwed on and the attention to detail is very high. Some interesting things that we thought we should point out is that ASRock is using two SATA 6Gbps controllers from ASMedia for this board, but more interestingly it also has a pair of Broadcom Ethernet controllers. A peculiar addition we alsonoticedisapin-headerforaPS/2port,althoughnoactual port is supplied as far as we're aware. Published by: VR-Zone As it happens, a UK online retailer has listed a price for the Z68 Extreme7 and as we mentioned last week, it's going to be expensive. The board is listed at £250 (S$490) which makes it one of the most expensive Z68 boards out there pretty much only beaten by Asus' Maximus IV Extreme-Z so far. We'd like to pick up on something here, namely PCI Express 3.0. According to ASRock, any current 6-series motherboard should at least in theory work with PCI Express 3.0, but as soonasyouinvolvelaneswitchesyourunintoproblemsunless theswitchesarePCIExpress3.0compliant.SandyBridgedoes not have hidden support for PCI Express 3.0 and you won't be seeing any performance advantage until Ivy Bridge comes out, or at least this is not something that ASRock has seen in their testing. We've put a few more pictures of the boards on the next page, alongside with a few pictures of the Fatal1ty Z68 Professional Gen3. Do note that the boards we looked at were pre- production boards and the heatsink finish isn't that of final products.ASRockisalsorunningacompetitionatthemoment whereyoucanwinoneofitsnewGen3boards,soifyou'rekeen on getting one, head over to the competition website . Apple MacBook Air and Mac mini refreshed, MacBook (White Plastic) dropped Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/apple-macbook-air-and-mac-mini- refreshed-macbook-white-plastic-dropped/13042.html July 22nd, 2011 15

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July 22nd, 2011 Hot on the heels of the Mac OSX 10.7 Lion release on the App Store, the Cuppertino based fruit themed manufacturer haveupdatedtheirMacBookAirultraportableandMacminito (finally) feature the latest Core i5/i7 Sandy Bridge processors fromIntel,Thunderbolt(akaLightPeak)I/Oportsandbattery sappingbacklightedkeyboards.Eagle-eyedApplecultistshave also noticed the disappearance of the (Plastic) MacBook. Hot on the heels of the Mac OSX 10.7 Lion release on the App Store, the Cuppertino based fruit themed manufacturer haveupdatedtheirMacBookAirultraportableandMacminito (finally) feature the latest Core i5/i7 Sandy Bridge processors fromIntel,Thunderbolt(akaLightPeak)I/Oportsandbattery sappingbacklightedkeyboards.Eagle-eyedApplecultistshave also noticed the disappearance of the (Plastic) MacBook. Just in time for the back to school period, the new refreshed MacBook Air starts at S$1288 (1.6ghz dual core i5, 2GB memory, 64GB SSD) and can be speced up to a (dual core) 1.8ghz i7, 4GB Memory and 256GB of flash storage. The 11- inch has a 1366x768 screen and is rated up to 5 hours of battery life, while the 13-inch SKU has a 1440x900 panel and is leaning closer to a more productive 7 hours of battery life. We suspect the positioning and attractive pricing of these new aluminium surfboards have made the old and unfashionable plastic MacBook decadent. Meanwhile, the Mac mini starts at S$788 (2.3ghz dual core i5, 2GB memory, 500GB 7200rpm) but can be configured to Published by: VR-Zone Another new item on the store is a S$1348 27-inch Thunderbolt display. This 2560x1440 IPS LED panel is a daisy chain warrior with a HD camera for FaceTime, 49 watt speakers, 3 USB 2.0 ports (still no USB 3.0), a (increasingly less used) FireWire 800 port, a Gigabit Ethernet port (a must have for serious MacBook Air users) and another Thunderbolt port for new fangled expansion options. UK to get ZTE's Skate smartphone in September Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/uk-to-get-zte-s-skate-smartphone-in- september/13039.html July 22nd, 2011 a more interesting 2ghz Quad Core i7 and Dual 500GB Hard Drives (both only on the server variant), solid state drives and discreet AMD Radeon 6630M graphics. Yep, you are reading this right. Apparently, after having experienced the taste of success in the UK with the sale of its ZTE Blade smartphone that is being sold under the Orange San Francisco name, ZTE is now planning to compete against the major Android smartphone manufacturers by selling its newSkatesmartphoneunderitsveryownbrandthistime.And fromthelooksofit,theChinesecompanymightjusthavewhat it needs to hold its own in an extremely competitive market. Remember the news we posted some time back about Meizu reportedly securing the rights it needs to sell its M9 smartphone in Europe? Well, it turns out that Meizu is not going to be the only Chinese smartphone OEM to have made inroads into the European smartphone market, for a recent report made by Shanzai.com has revealed that ZTE is also going to start selling a new smartphone under its own 16

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July 22nd, 2011 branding in Europe this September, and that it comes in the form of the ZTE Skate. According to the report published by Shanzai.com, the Skate will not be the Chinese company's first smartphone to make its way into Europe for sale this year. Apparently, prior to the introduction of the Skate, ZTE was already selling its Blade smartphone in the UK, where it was known as the Orange San Francisco.Thatbeingsaid,littlehasbeenrevealedaboutZTE's new Skate smartphone, although Shanzai.com claims that the device will be ZTE's first product to be designed for the "mid- tier bracket", and that it will feature a 4.3-inch touchscreen, while its processing power will be supplied by a yet-unnamed 800MHzCPU.Inaddition,theZTESkatewillreportedlycome bundled with version 2.3 of the Android operating system and sport a 5 Megapixel camera. Lastbutdefinitelynotleast,thereportalsoclaimsthattheZTE Skateisexpectedtobeavailableforsaleonretailshelvesinthe UKcome19Septemberthisyear,andthatthesmartphonewill reportedly cost a mere 249 euros, or approximately US$351. Corsair releases 2400MHz Dominator GT Rams Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/corsair-releases-2400mhz-dominator- gt-rams/13041.html July 22nd, 2011 Corsair releases the 2 x 4GB Dominator GT rams which run at a rated frequency of 2400MHz and timings of 9-11-9-27. This 8GB Dominator GT memory kit will have limited quantities. More details inside. Published by: VR-Zone The Corsair 8GB Dominator GT Limited Edition memory kit (CMT8GX3M2A2133C9) consists of two sticks of ram, each having a memory capacity of 4GB which are rated to run at a frequency of 2400MHz with timings 9-11-9-27 and a rated voltage of 1.65V. At voltage of 1.5V, the Dominator GT can achieveafrequencyof2133MHzwithtimings9-11-9-27.Other features include Corsair's DHX+ technology and AirFlow 2 GTL cooling fan which allow better cooling for the Dominator GT rams. Corsair 8GB Dominator GT memory kit will be retailing for US$499 (S$606) which can be purchased directly from Corsair website. See more specifications at Corsair website . Coolermaster joins the competition with the CM Storm Sirus Headset Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/coolermaster-joins-the-competition- with-the-cm-storm-sirus-headset/13040.html 17

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July 22nd, 2011 July 22nd, 2011 This summer it seems that every manufacturer wants us to have a high quality gaming headset. Coolermaster joins the competition with the release of their first gaming headset, the CM Storm Sirus. Besides being a feature-packed 5.1 surround sound headset, the CM Storm Sirus also won... This summer it seems that every manufacturer wants us to have a high quality gaming headset. Coolermaster joins the competition with the release of their first gaming headset, the CM Storm Sirus. Besides being a feature-packed 5.1 surround sound headset, the CM Storm Sirus also won the Red Dot DesignAward2011andComputexDesign&InnovationAward 2011, both praising its aesthetics. TheCoolermasterCMStormSirusheadsetshouldbeavailable in mid-August at an MSRP price of 119.99€ (about 170$ USD/ 207$ SGD). ASUS Launches ROG Vulcan ANC Pro Gaming Headset Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/asus-launches-rog-vulcan-anc-pro- gaming-headset/13038.html July 22nd, 2011 Gamers can now have full focus and concentration in their gameswiththislatestASUSRepublicofGamers(ROG)Vulcan ANC gaming headset. It claims to be the world's first gaming headset with active-noise-cancelling technology which can filter up to 85% of noise. Published by: VR-Zone ASUS has announced the launch of their new Republic Of Gamers (ROG) Vulcan ANC which claims to be the world's first active-noise-cancelling pro gaming headset designed to immerse users into games with no distractions. Created from the needs of competitive professional gamers who want to remainfocusedduringcompetitions,theROGteamforgedthe Vulcan ANC with both performance and comfort in mind. The Vulcan ANC features 85% active noise cancellation to filter out sounds like low frequency computer fan noise and 30dB passive noise cancellation to reduce a wide range of ambient noises, including background voices. Long lasting comfort with lightweight, ergonomic design The Vulcan ANC sports a lightweight design, weighing just 320g which is lighter than other headsets of similar size. Soft memory foam encased in breathable Japanese protein leather ensures user comfort even after long hours of gaming. It is also portable with a foldable design that easily fits into a durable touring case to take between competitions or LAN parties. Crystal clear audio with 40mm drivers and noise-filtering microphone The gaming headset is built with a large 40mm headphone driversforcrispaudio.TheVulcanANChasbeenoptimizedfor a wide sound stage such that audio is balanced with both deep bass and brilliant mids and highs. A stylish blade-shaped detachable boom microphone has built-in noise filtering technology so teammates hear clear conversations during games instead of ambient noise. Specifications Driver Dimension Impedance Frequency Response ANC (noise-cancelling) Diameter 40mm 32 ohms 10~20k Hz Maximum > 15 dB ; Performance PNC (noise-isolation) Performance Battery Life Product Dimension Weight Effective Bandwidth > 600Hz Maximum > 30 dB Up to 40 hours (with one AAA battery) 8.1"H x 7.7"W 325g 18

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July 22nd, 2011 Exclusive Preview of ASUS ET2410 series All-in-one PC Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/exclusive-preview-of-asus-et2410- The ASUS ET2410 All-in-one PC comes in a huge brown box, with the words "Inspiring", "Innovation", "Persistent" and "Perfection" written on the front and rear. Note that the unit is fairly heavy at approximately 11kg. Published by: VR-Zone This is how the All-in-one PC after we took it out of the box. It features a large 23.6-inch touchscreen display, and for audio enjoyment, the ET2410 incorporates the company's proprietarySonicMasteraudiotechnologyandDTSSurround Sensation UltraPC. series-all-in-one-pc/13036.html July 22nd, 2011 The ASUS ET2410 All-in-one PC was showcased at the Computex Show 2011 in Taipei last month, and today, the maker sent us the new PC which is scheduled to be launch in September.WeatVR-Zonemanagetogetanexclusivepreview of the ASUS ET2410 All-in-one PC. The sticker label on the top right corner of the ASUS shows that the PC has SonicMaster audio technology, 23.6-inch LED touchscreen display, supports full high definition (HD) 1080p resolution, HDMI input and output and USB3.0 connectors. The bottom right holds the display mode button, audio controls, display setting controls, hard disk activity LED and also a shiny power button. 19

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July 22nd, 2011 Sharp unveils new 3D AQUOS smartphone for Japan Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/sharp-unveils-new-3d-aquos- smartphone-for-japan/13037.html July 22nd, 2011 Sharp has announced the availability of its new 3D AQUOS smartphone, the 009SH, for Japan via its domestic telecommunications operator SoftBank. The new device, which sports up to four different colours for consumers to choosefrom,andahigh-resolution3Ddisplay,willbepowered by the Android operating system and boasts support for a variety of features. Think that the mere act of owning a smartphone is enough to win you bragging rights for being able to keep with the times where mobile technology is concerned? Well, not anymore; with 3D technology fast making its way into the lives of everyday consumers, it would seem that 3D capable smartphones are set to be the next big thing where mobile phones are concerned. And from the looks of it, Sharp has clearly got no intention of sitting out on this trend, especially if the recent announcement of its new 3D AQUOS smartphone for Japan is of any indication. Little information about the new 009SH smartphone, which is also known as the AQUOS PHONE THE PREMIUM, has beenrevealedbySharpinitsofficialannouncement.However, Sharp has confirmed that the 009SH will sport a four- inch, glasses-free 3D-capable display that is capable of QHD resolutions (960 x 540), and that it will come preloaded with various "3D-rich apps" which will allow users to enjoy their videos and games in full 3D glory. In addition, Sharp has also claimed that the 009SH will be powered by version 2.3 of the Android operating system, and that the phone will sport the company's own proprietary TapFlowUI as the user interface of choice, along with a eight- megapixel rear camera. Last but definitely not least, the announcement also claims that the 009SH will feature built- in support for Japan's 'mobile wallet" and is compatible with Published by: VR-Zone the company's line of AQUOS-branded television and audio- visual products. No details about the 009SH's pricing has been revealed by Sharp yet, although the company has confirmed that the smartphone will be available for sale though carrier SoftBank come mid-August this year. Google Search: now shipping with malware detection Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/google-search-now-shipping-with- malware-detection/13035.html July 22nd, 2011 Wouldn't it be nice if users could be given real-time notifications as to whether their PC's have been infected by malware by simply having websites and search engines passively monitor for unconventional strains of network traffic? Well, the good news is that such a feature is now available on Google's search engine, where users whose PCs have been detected by the search giant to be sending out suspicious online traffic will be issued a notification message informing them as such. DoyoumakeuseofGoogle'sonlineservicesforyoursearching needs while on the Internet? If you do, you might be lucky enough to come across a certain prominent notification at the top of your Google Search results informing you that your PC might have been infected with malware. And if you do find yourself seeing such notifications every time you access Google's online search service, you might want to take heed of the warning and subject your computer to a proper malware scan,asthisnotificationisGoogle'slatestmovetohelpprotect users from the threat of malware via the monitoring of online traffic. According to a post that was made on the official Google blog, the decision to add this new feature to Google Search came aboutafterthecompanydetectedwhatitdescribesas"unusual search traffic while performing routine maintenance on one of our data centers". Apparently, after some investigations with security engineers, it was determined that the computers which were responsible for generating this unusual search traffic were in fact "infected with a particular strain of malware". Because of this, the search giant has updated its onlineserviceservicetoseekouttracesofsuchunconventional network traffic being generated by a user's PC, and promptly notify users when such activity is detected. That being said, it would seem that Google has conveniently neglected to address certain possible concerns in its blog post. For one, the search giant has not revealed any information about the particular strain of malware that it is claiming to 20

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July 22nd, 2011 target with its new detection scheme; this means that users will have no idea as to what kind of malware they should be looking out for, and whether their malware scanners will have a database that is recent enough to detect the offending malware. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, is that with most Windows users being conditioned to ignore warnings generated by scam websites about a potential malware infection, just how effective Google's own legitimate warnings willbeisreallyupfordebate,althoughElectronistaisclaiming thatthesearchgiantmightbehopingthatitsembeddingofthe notification directly into Google Search should be sufficient proof of its legitimacy for most users. Kaleidescape unveils M700 Disc Vault for movie junkies Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/kaleidescape-unveils-m700-disc-vault- for-movie-junkies/13034.html July 22nd, 2011 If you have amassed a significant collection of boxed movie VCDs, DVDs and Blu-ray discs over the years and are now thinking of a way to clear out those disc racks and shelves without actuallyhaving to junk those precious movies of yours down the trash, you might just be interested with the new product Kaleidescape has to offer for such people. Known as the M700 Disc Vault, this gigantic contraption boasts the capability to house up to 320 discs for easy storage and viewing, along with certain other features. Do you find yourselves in the possession of so many boxed moviesthatthereisapressingneedforasolutionwhichallows you to dump all those space-consuming boxes while still being able to keep those discs in a device which allows for easy playback, storage and organization all at once? Well, the good news is that such a device does exist, and it comes in the form of Kaleidescape's new M700 Disc Vault, which claims to be capable of fulfilling all the aforementioned needs and then some. Published by: VR-Zone According to a report published by Ubergizmo, the M700 Disc Vault boasts a storage capacity of up to 320 discs "for easy keeping as well as watching", although its main draw probably stems from the fact that the contraption sports what is apparerently a sophisticated organization system to keep all of user's discs organized within the machine. In fact, this system is reportedly advanced enough to allow users to search for, locate and eject a paricular disc from within the onscreen menu, a feat which essentially eliminates any need for manual organization of one's movile collection. Inaddition,UbergizmohasclaimedinitsreportthattheM700 is capable of enhancing a user's movie playback experience by boasting quicker loading times and the ability to skip past those annoying copyright warnings and advertisements that usually make it into just about every boxed movie copy. This is due to the fact that the device "also copies the contents of the discs into the system", and that users can expect it to play nice withjustaboutanyopticaldiscformatsuchas"CDs,DVDsand Blu-ray discs". However, the report also points out that, due to licensing issues, users will need to keep their Blu-ray disc present in the system "in order to play the digital content". Soundsinteresting?Well,thisisthepartwherethe"badnews" part of the equation comes in, for it seems that users will defintelyhavetobreakthepiggybankiftheyintendtogettheir hands on this device, for the M700 has been reported to cost as astronimical US$5,995. Rumor: Microsoft to give up on Windows brand? Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/rumor-microsoft-to-give-up-on- windows-brand-/13032.html July 22nd, 2011 When one talks about Windows on the PC, everyone knows it as the operating system from software giant Microsoft. Windows have been around for more than 25 years, and yet 21

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July 22nd, 2011 it seems that Microsoft is rumored to be giving up on the Windows brand. company is intending to give up on the Windows brand. According to newsinabox.net, Andy Lees, chief of Windows Phone division in Microsoft, said that the company plans to build a single system for computers, smartphones, tablets and TVs and that the new system is likely to be a common operating system that will work on all the devices. There were also other sources that cited Microsoft giving up the Windows brand for the new platform instead and that may come sooner than expected. If the rumors are true, this may mean that Windows 8 will not materialize, or perhaps it would come as a different name. And of course, no more Windows Phone 7 too. Apple posts updated version of Google+ app onto iTunes App Store Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/apple-posts-updated-version-of- google-app-onto-itunes-app-store/13033.html July 22nd, 2011 Everybody makes mistakes from time to time, and it seems that even a huge company such as Apple is no exception to the rule as well. Apparently, in what has got to be a very rare slip- up from the Cuptertino giant, Apple has somehow managed to publish the buggy and unstable test version of the Google + social networking app onto the iTunes App Store instead of the stable version that Google had originally submitted. Have you downloaded Google's Google+ social networking app onto your iPhone yet? If so, you might want to head down to the iTunes App Store one more time to confirm if the copy of the app you have installed on your iPhone is the 22 Published by: VR-Zone correct version, especially if your current copy does not seem to work as advertised. This is due to the fact that Apple has somehow managed to publish the test version of Google+ onto the iTunes App Store instead of the stable version, which lacks the stability and functionality that the finalized build sports. According to a Google+ posting made by Google+ Mobile's lead product manager Punit Soni, the search giant was alerted to the issue and has since pushed out an updated version of the app which reportedly fixes all the issues that users have beencomplainingaboutinthetestversionoftheGoogle+app. Thisupdatedappsportstheversionnumber1.0.1.1809,soyou should be able to tell if your downloaded copy of the Google + app is that of the test version by simply comparing those version numbers. Windows, in the technology world, is synonymous as Microsoft's popular operating system with the latest versions being Windows 7 for the personal computers, home and business, and also Windows Phone 7 for the smartphones. The operating system has been around for over 25 years and the brand is like a household name to the technology geeks. However, there were rumors citing that the Last but definitely not least, Soni has also confirmed that the Google+ app is currently incompatible with iOS 5, although he did mention that Google is working to implement iPad compatibility into the app, and that such a feature would reportedly be "coming soon". RIM will not discontinue WiFi- only version of PlayBook Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/rim-will-not-discontinue-wifi-only- version-of-playbook/13031.html July 22nd, 2011 When Research In Motion (RIM) revealed in its earnings call that it was only able to ship 500,000 PlayBooks for its fiscal first quarter, rumours about the company probably having plans to discontinue the WiFi-only version of its new tablet in favor of focusing its efforts on the upcoming 4G versions and its other products started circulating on the Internet. And apparently, the rumours had built up enough traction for RIM to justify issuing an official response of sorts.

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July 22nd, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone Remember Research In Motion's BlackBerry PlayBook tablet? Youknow,thetabletthatwereviewedrecently,whichRIMwas reportedly only able to sell a disappointing 500,000 units of? Well, it seems that news of the company's inability to report a more impressive sales figure for its new tablet device has resulted in the rumour mill churning out claims that RIM might just wind up cancelling the WiFi-only version of the PlayBook in order to focus its resources on the upcoming 4G versions, along with its other products. And apparently, the rumours have managed to build up enough traction for RIM to justify issuing an official response of sorts, for the company has claimed in a Tweet addressed to Boy Genius Report (BGR) that RIM has got totally no plans to embark on such a course of action. In fact, the tweet from RIM alsodismissedtherumourasnothingmorethan"purefiction" that nobody should buy into, and the screenshot below tells it all: With such official confirmation froom RIM, it would seem that things are looking good for users who have gotten, or are planning to get a WiFi-only version of the PlayBook soon, as they will not have to worry about their beloved tablet being given the pink slip from RIM any time soon. 23

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wordisthatthelaunchwilltakeplaceonthe19 ofSeptember Published by: VR-Zone July 26th, 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. Bulldozer launch expected to be 19th of September, additional specs out Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/bulldozer-launch-expected-to-be-19th- of-september-additional-specs-out/13105.html July 26th, 2011 AMD's journey to bring Bulldozer to market has taken a lot longer than everyone hoped for, including AMD itself, but the wordisthatthelaunchwilltakeplaceonthe19thofSeptember now. AMD will only have four new Bulldozer CPUs at launch, all carrying the FX brand, although the initial four models should be followed by another four in early 2011. AMD's journey to bring Bulldozer to market has taken a lot longer than everyone hoped for, including AMD itself, but the th now. AMD will only have four new Bulldozer CPUs at launch, all carrying the FX brand, although the initial four models should be followed by another four in early 2011. At launch we can expect two 8-core models, a 6-core and a 4-core model, namely the FX-8150, FX8100, FX-6100 and FX-4100, at least if the latest reports are accurate. The FX-8150 is said to have a base clock of 3.6GHz for all eight cores, but it can turbo to 4.2GHz when only some cores are in use. The FX-8100 has a base clock of 2.8GHz and can turbo to 3.7GHz, with the FX-6100 coming it at 3.3GHz with a turbo clockof3.9GHzandfinallytheFX-4100issaidtobeclockedat 3.6GHz with an unimpressive turbo clock of 3.8GHz. All four CPUshave1MBofL2cachepercoreand8MBofsharedcache. The upcoming 2012 models are said to be the FX-8170, FX-8120,FX-6120andFX-4120.Theclockspeedsaren'tsetin stone as yet, but the FX-8170 is expected to have a base clock of 3.9GHz with a turbo clock of 4.5GHz, the FX-8120 starts at 3.1GHz and turbo's to 4GHz, the FX-6120 goes from 3.6GHz to 4.2GHz and finally the FX-4120 from 3.9GHz to 4.1GHz. All models are unlocked Black Edition CPUs with native support for DDR3 1866MHz memory and a 95W TDP, although the FX-8150 and FX-8170 are expected to have a 125W TDP. We're still nearly two months away from the launchandwecanonlyhopethattherewillbesomeearlyleaks in terms of benchmark figures. In as much as we're sure that AMD has managed to create a competent range of multi-core CPUs with its new FX models, the big question that remains is how they'll stack up against Intel's Sandy Bridge processors. ThesadthingforAMDisthatmorecoresdoesn'tautomatically make for a better CPU, especially as we're still waiting for applications that can take advantage of all the cores in a modern CPU. Hopefully Windows 8 will help bring better support for the additional cores, but we're not going to hold ourbreath,asMicrosofthasyettoprovethattheyacknowledge consumer CPUs with more than a pair of cores. Corsair Force 3 120GB SSD drive review Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/corsair-force-3-120gb-ssd-drive- review/13104.html July 26th, 2011 Corsair started off as one of the biggest manufacturers of computerRAMmodulesbutnowadaystheyarealsorenowned for their power supplies, cooling solutions and SSD drives. Not two weeks ago we reviewed the fastest SSD they currently produce, a Force GT series drive. Today we are having a look at the Force 3 SSD, a drive using the same controller as the premium Force GT SSD. We are going to examine the drive’s synthetic and real world performance in this review. Corsair started off as one of the biggest manufacturers of computerRAMmodulesbutnowadaystheyarealsorenowned for their power supplies, cooling solutions and SSD drives. Not two weeks ago we reviewed the fastest SSD they currently produce, a Force GT series drive. Today we are having a look at the Force 3 SSD, a drive using the same controller as the premium Force GT SSD. We are going to examine the drive’s synthetic and real world performance in this review. Manufacturer features and specifications • Interface: SATA 3 6Gb/s • Storage technology: Asynchronous NAND • Operating temperature: 0° C to +70° C 1

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Published by: VR-Zone July 26th, 2011 • Storage temperature: -20° C to +85° C • Operating Humidity: 10% to 90% RH (0° to +40° C) • MaximumOperatingAltitude:3,048m(upto10,000ft.) • Maximum Non-Operative Altitude: 12,192 m (up to 40,000 ft.) Unformatted Capacity Read Performance (max) 120 GB 550 MB/s Write Performance (max) Random Write 4k (max) Form Factor Interface Type Onboard cache Operating Temperature Storage Temperature Operating Humidity Storage Humidity 510 MB/s 85,000 IOPS (4k aligned) 2.5” SATA 3 6Gb/s NA 0C to +70C -20C to +85C 10% to 90% RH (0° to +40° C) 5% to 90% RH (-10° to +60° C) Maximum Operating Altitude 3,048 m (up to 10,000 ft.) Maximum Non-Operating 12,192 m (up to 40,000 ft.) Altitude MSI's upcoming A75A-GD55 motherboard pictured Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/msi-s-upcoming-a75a-gd55- motherboard-pictured/13103.html July 26th, 2011 So far MSI has only officially unveiled a pair of AMD A75 motherboards, the A75A-G35 and the A75MA-G55, but the company should have at least another four models coming. VR-Zonehasmanagedtogetholdofsomeexclusivepicturesof theupcomingA75A-GD55modelwhichwillbeMSI'shigh-end A75 motherboard and possibly also the most expensive model in the line-up. So far MSI has only officially unveiled a pair of AMD A75 motherboards, the A75A-G35 and the A75MA-G55, but the company should have at least another four models coming. VR-Zonehasmanagedtogetholdofsomeexclusivepicturesof theupcomingA75A-GD55modelwhichwillbeMSI'shigh-end A75 motherboard and possibly also the most expensive model in the line-up. 2 Wedon'tquiteunderstandwhatMSIhasdoneherethough,as theA75A-GD55isverysimilartotheA75A-GD35,althoughthe PCB is a lot wider while remaining nearly void of components past the memory slots. In fact, at first glance the only obvious difference between the two models is that the A75A-GD55 has gained two memory slots for a total of four. The power connector and Voltage regulation for the memory has been moved further out on the PCB alongside with a pin header and a fan header, but there's really nothing much else here and it seems like the extra PCB was simply added to allow for the screw holes. MSI has changed the chokes for its SFC branded ones over the regular chokes found on the A75A-GD35 and there's a larger heatsink on the MOSFETs. The slot layout remains the same with a two x16 PCI Express slots of which the lower one has four lanes of bandwidth at its disposal, three x1 PCI Express slotsandtwoPCIslots.TheinternalUSB3.0pin-headerisstill in the same awkward position and MSI decided to keep the jumper blocks for switching between DVI and HDMI output, which is really disappointing and a feature we wouldn't expect to see on a board this far up in MSI's product range.

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July 26th, 2011 TherearI/OalsoremainsunchangedwithapairofPS/2ports, four USB 2.0 ports, two USB 3.0 ports, a Gigabit Ethernet port, 7.1-channel analogue audio jacks and a D-Sub, DVI and HDMI port. Wecan't but to feel that MSI could've done better, but at least the good news is that the price difference between the A75A-GD55 and the A75A-GD35 is very small as we found a couple of European online retailers listing the A75A-GD55 for around €80 (S$140) whereas the A75A-GD35 is listed for around €75 (S$131) and while the A75A-GD55 is a better choice in terms of future upgradeability of the memory, it has little else to offer to its advantage. SanDisk launches affordable consumer SSD series Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/sandisk-launches-affordable- consumer-ssd-series/13102.html July 26th, 2011 SanDisk has finally entered the consumer SSD market after havingmadeawiderangeofOEMsolutionsforthepastcouple ofyearsinvariousformfactors.ItsnewUltrabrandedrangeof SSDs are unlikely to break any speed records, but then again, they're not likely to break the bank either. SanDisk has finally entered the consumer SSD market after havingmadeawiderangeofOEMsolutionsforthepastcouple ofyearsinvariousformfactors.ItsnewUltrabrandedrangeof SSDs are unlikely to break any speed records, but then again, they're not likely to break the bank either. What we're looking at is a "last gen" drive with SATA 3Gbps interface and a maximum sequential read speed of 280MB/s and a write speed of 270MB/s. This is hardly earth shattering performance figures any more, but it should still be good enough for plenty of notebooks out there, especially compared to hard drive performance. Published by: VR-Zone SanDisk offers a three year warranty on the Ultra series SSDs and claim that the 60GB model can handle at least 40TB of data written to it over its lifespan, with the 120GB model capable of handling 80TB and the 240GB model 120TB. What isn't clear is what the actual life span of the Ultra SSDs is rated at, but we'd presume it's longer than the warranty period. The MSRP is US$129.99 for the 60GB model, US$219.99 for the 120GB model and US$449.99 for the 240GB model, but SanDisk itself is listing the 120GB model for US$215 and the 240GB model for US$450, but a quick searched revealed that the 120GB model is available for as little as US$179.99 online which makes it one of the cheapest 120GB SSDs out there. IDT announces its HyperGear VRM controller Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/idt-announces-its-hypergear-vrm- controller/13101.html July 26th, 2011 We've already seen a wide range of various power saving VRM controllers, least not from Intersil on Gigabyte motherboards, as well as various custom solutions like Asus' EPU and now IDT has announced a solution it calls HyperGear that not only promises to save power, but also to boost the system performance. IDT doesn't many any wild claims in terms of power savings, but it's the first solution of this kind that we've heard of that also claims to boost the CPU performance. 3

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July 26th, 2011 We've already seen a wide range of various power saving VRM controllers, least not from Intersil on Gigabyte motherboards, as well as various custom solutions like Asus' EPU and now IDT has announced a solution it calls HyperGear that not only promises to save power, but also to boost the system performance. IDT doesn't many any wild claims in terms of power savings, but it's the first solution of this kind that we've heard of that also claims to boost the CPU performance. IDT claims that its HyperGear technology can improve power efficiency by over 10 percent which is still a fairly reasonable number, especially compared to some claims we've seen in the past. However, this is only part of what the new solution offer; as it can also boost the CPU performance by automatically adjust the CPU frequency depending on CPU usage. IDT attributes this to "an innovative HyperGear algorithm" built into the power management ICs that can tell when processor intensive applications are running. Accordingtothepressrelease,HyperGearcantapintovarious system buses and as such it can adjust the core Voltage and clock frequency of the CPU with the added bonus of not needing any additional components. When the CPU is idle HyperGear will clock down the CPU to reduce power draw, much like competing solutions. HyperGear is compatible with the "industry standard" VR12 specification and IDT claims that it's easy to integrate its solution on current and future platform. There isn't too much information to go on in the press release and there doesn't appear to be a product page as yet on IDT's website for its HyperGear products. We'll see if there are any takers among the consumer motherboard makers, as most seem to be happy with their current solutions, although we can see the benefit for less technical users to get an extra performance boost and power saving beyond AMD and Intel's standard power saving and overclocking features that are built into the CPUs. That said, it's also a matter of how well HyperGear manages the CPU frequencyandwecanseesomepowerusersnotbeingtookeen on a solution like this. 4 Published by: VR-Zone HP launches webOS TouchPad tablet device in Singapore Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/hp-launches-webos-touchpad-tablet- device-in-singapore/13100.html July 26th, 2011 When HP acquired Palm earlier this year, it was a matter of timewewouldseewebOSdevicescomingtomarket.Andeven though the company has launched the TouchPad tablet and smartphones in US, Canada and some countries in Europe, there had not been any news whether the webOS devices will come to Singapore. Well, the wait is over. This evening, HP announces the launch the webOS TouchPad in Singapore. The HP TouchPad comes in 16GB and 32GB flavours, and going into the device information page shows that the tablet is running webOS 3.0.2 and user is required to register a HP webOS account for the TouchPad. The TouchPad sports a 9.7-inch flush capacitive multi-touch display, supports Adobe Flash, has virtual keyboard and access to thousands of webOS applications.

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July 26th, 2011 In landscape orientation, the volume controls are at the top, while on the right is the power button and the 3.5mm audio port to connect to your headphones or earphones. HP is also selling the Beats Solo headphones for use with the TouchPad. On the right of the display is the back button to bring you back to the main home screen, while the right edge holds the microUSB connector. The TouchPad also features HP Synergy that lets you sync your contacts, emails, messages, photos automaticallyfromupto16sourcessuchasFacebook,Google, Yahoo!, Skype and Microsoft Exchange. The tablet is also capable of multi-task and you can easily close the application by flicking your finger at the application upward. TheHPTouchPadwillbeavailablefromretailers,resellersand direct from HP ( www.hp.com.sg/touchpaddeals ) at S$699 for the 16GB and S$799 for the 32GB models. According to HP, for the month of August, there will be a special promotion in 5 Published by: VR-Zone conjunction with National Day - the TouchPad with 16GB will come with a HP TouchPad Case, while the 32GB will come with the TouchPad Case and Wireless Keyboard. Preorders will start on 27 July, while the HP TouchPad will be availabile in Singapore from 12 August. TheHPTouchstoneChargingDockwillbesellingatS$109.90; the HP TouchPad Wireless Keyboard - S$79.90; the HP TouchPad Case has a price tag of S$49.90; the TouchPad International power adapter is selling at S$39.90; and the Beats Solo headphones is retailing at S$420. Serena Yong, general manager for HP Personal Systems Group, Singapore says that the HP TouchPad is a highly anticipated and first webOS tablet device that will mark the beginning of how HP is going to scale webOS across their devices. Silverstone Releases Hard Drive Pad SD01 Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/silverstone-releases-hard-drive-pad- sd01/13099.html July 26th, 2011 Silverstone has released the hard drive pad SD01, which is stackable and compatible with SATA or SAS hard drives at up to 6Gbps speed.

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July 26th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone Logitech Launches Keyboard for Apple iPad in Taiwan/ Singapore Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/logitech-launches-keyboard-for-apple- ipad-in-taiwansingapore/13092.html July 26th, 2011 Apple iPad and iPad 2 users in Taiwan will be glad to know that peripheral maker Logitech has recently launched two of its keyboard products, the Tablet Keyboard and Keyboard Case. *Update* Logitech has just updated us regarding the launch of the Logitech Tablet Keyboard and Logitech Keyboard Case in Singapore as well. The hard drive pad, also known as the Stackable Drive series SD01, supports both 2.5" and 3.5" SATA/SAS hard drives. The maximum data transfer speed via either interface (SAS uses SAS dual-lane interface, SATA uses eSATA interface) is 6Gbps. The SD01 can support drives of greater than 2TB capacity and runs on a 12V power cable (4-pin molex cable is provided). Silverstone SD01 comes in black, weighs about 180g and measures at 195 x 121.5 x 31.5mm. It is currently retailing in Amazon atUS$36.50 (S$44). See more specifications at the Silverstone website . 6

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July 26th, 2011 Logitech has recently launched the Tablet Keyboard and Keyboard Case for the Apple iPad tablet devices in Taiwan. The Logitech Tablet Keyboard is compatible with Apple iPad and iPad 2, features a low profile keyboard with Bluetooth connectivity of up to 9ms and media controls that allow users to control the volume, playback or pause the media. The Logitech Tablet Keyboard also comes with a carrying case for protectionandcanserveasastandfortheiPad.Ontopofthat, users can also place their iPad device in either landscape or portraitmodeonthestand.FourAAAbatteriesareincludedto power the wireless keyboard. Above: Logitech Tablet Keyboard The Logitech Keyboard Case is only compatible with Apple iPad 2 devices and the case by ZAGG not only functions as a protective case but also as a stand and keyboard for the tablet. Similar to the Logitech Tablet Keyboard, iPad 2 can be placed in both portrait and landscape modes. However, this wireless Bluetooth keyboard do not require any AAA batteries as a USB cable is provided to charge the internal batteries. Other features include soft padding for the internal corners of the keyboard to help cushion impact and an aircraft-grade aluminium material used for the case. 7 Published by: VR-Zone Above: Logitech Keyboard Case The Logitech Tablet Keyboard is retailing forTWD 1990 (S $83) while the Logitech Keyboard Case is selling for TWD 2990 (S$125). *Update* We just received confirmation that Logitech will also be launching the above two products in Singapore. The Logitech Tablet Keyboard and Logitech Keyboard Case are available at S$95 and S$139 respectively. Keyboards for Android devices are expected to be out in the near future. See more specifications at Logitech website: Logitech Tablet Keyboard , Logitech Keyboard Case Microsoft unveils Comfort Curve Keyboard 3000 and Wireless Desktop 2000 Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/microsoft-unveils-comfort-curve- keyboard-3000-and-wireless-desktop-2000/13098.html July 26th, 2011 Today, Microsoft Hardware in SIngapore has unveiled the Comfort Curve Keyboard 3000 and Wireless Desktop 2000 that promise to offer a high level of comfort and performance, all at affordable prices. Both the Comfort Curve keyboard and Wireless Desktop are available in July.

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July 26th, 2011 The new Microsoft Comfort Curve Keyboard 3000 features an ergonomist-approved contour shape and a slim, glossy design, which looks aesthetically pleasing and feels just right. The company also claims that the Comfort Curve Keyboard 3000 is the most affordable ergonomic keyboard for users. The keyboard offers recognizable key size and placement on a natural, organic arc for superior comfort, while minimizing typing effort. And the media keys also offer quick access to music, videos and the calculator with the touch of a finger. Key features of the Comfort Curve Keyboard 3000 - Ergonomist-approved contour layout creates an organic arc to encourage natural wrist posture. - Contour key bed has keys that are all the same size and in a familiar place. - Slim and glossy design makes a modern statement while minimizing clutter on your desktop. - Wired technology allows reliable connectivity without worrying about batteries. - Media keys give people one-touch access to popular media functions, such as play, pause and volume. set bundles in the Comfort Mouse 3000 with BlueTrack technology and ambidextrous design. The Wireless Desktop 2000 claims to be Microsoft’s first keyboard to feature Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) 128-Bit Encryption - the same technology trusted by the U.S. government to secure their wireless connections. The security technology also protects all information for work and home by eliminating the transfer of code through the air with every keystroke. The keyboard is paired with the Wireless Mouse 2000 that features the acclaimed BlueTrack sensor for a working range of up to 9m, enhanced side grips and an ambidextrous design that suits either hand. A new pillow-textured palm rest on the keyboard also adds additional comfort to the users. Key Features of the Wireless Desktop 2000 - AES 128-bit encryption technology helps protect personal and business information by encrypting your keystrokes. Published by: VR-Zone - Pillow-textured palm rest allows comfortable support while you type. - Taskbar Favorites for Windows 7 lets people easily access open programs by mapping to the location of applications on the Windows Taskbar. - BlueTrack Technology works on virtually any surface in your home, office or anywhere in between. - Comfortable, ambidextrous design offers rubber side grips and full-size comfort for use in either hand. - Snap-in transceiver offers the portability of a notebook mouse with the comfort of a full-size mouse. The Wireless Desktop 2000 is now available for a suggested retail price of S$56. Dell Streak 10 Pro may be launching this week in China Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/dell-streak-10-pro-may-be-launching- this-week-in-china/13097.html July 26th, 2011 - Three-year limited hardware warranty The Microsoft Comfort Curve Keyboard 3000 is available in July at S$27. The keyboard is also available in a desktop set, the Comfort Curve Desktop 3000 for S$35. The desktop Dell Streak 10 Pro was reported to be launched in summer and it looks like that day is near. An unamed source has told VR-Zone that the new, highly anticipated 10-inch Android tablet is expected to launch this week in the People's Republic of China. An unnanmed source has told VR-Zone that the 10-inch Dell Android tablet (which is reported to be known as the Dell Streak 10 Pro) will soon be launched in the People's Republic of China and it will be the first in the world, ahead of USA (surprisingly). According to Dell, the launch was said to happen in summer, and from our reliable source, it looks like the tablet is expected to launch this week, just days before the August month. We are guessing the launch would most likely happen this Friday, 29 July and the exact location would be in Beijing, the capital of China (rather than Shanghai). Like most product launches, the Dell Streak 10 Pro may be available in the next few weeks after its official launch, and obviously that would only be in China and not the rest of the world. The Dell Streak 10 Pro is confirmed to run Google's latest Android 3.1 mobile operating system and from online 8

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July 26th, 2011 sources, the tablet will feature a display resolution of 1280x800, two cameras with one of them a 5-megapixel, an SD memory card slot, and 1080p high definition (HD) video playbackcapabilities.EveniftheDellStreak10Proislaunched thisweek,itwillprobablytakelongertoreachourshoreshere. We can only guess that could be in Q4 (or earlier) this year rather than next year. Europe to start selling budget Andy Pad tablet soon Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/europe-to-start-selling-budget-andy- pad-tablet-soon/13096.html July 26th, 2011 Have you heard of a tablet known as the Andy Pad? Well, it is reportedly an entry-level tablet computing device which is aimed at users who do not have any desire to break the piggy bank just to satisfy their mobile computing needs. And apparently, thhis entry-level tablet will soon start making its way onto retail shelves in Europe for sale, where it is expected to be sport an extremely competitive price tag. Competitively priced tablets sporting entry-level specifications may be popular among users who are finding themselves limited by their spending power, but the act of choosing such a tablet that actually fits one's needs is usually much harder than what many make it out to be. However, if you are already the midst of looking for a such a tablet boasts the right mix of price and specifications, you might just want to take a look at the new Andy Pad line of tablets which will reportedly be released for sale in Europe soon. Published by: VR-Zone That being said, the specifications for both the Andy Pad and the Andy Pad Pro are anything but identical. While little informationaboutthehardwareusedtopowerthetabletshave been released, we do know that the Andy Pad will feature 8GB of internal flash storage, while the 10-inch display will reportedly make use of resistive touchscreen technology and boasts a relatively low native resolution of 800 x 480 pixels only. In contrast, the Andy Pad Pro boasts 16GB of internal storage, while the touschreen display will sport a higher resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels, as well as the addition of both front and rear cameras, along with Bluetooth connectivity. Last but definitely not least, both the Andy Pad and the Andy Pad Pro will come bundled with version 2.3 of the Android operating system, a 1.2GHz A8-based processor, a "powerful 3D GPU", as well as support for WiFi connectivity and 1080p HDMI-output. AccordingtoareportpublishedbyTheAndroidAuthority,the new Andy Pad tablets are available in two variants, namely the Andy Pad and Andy Pad Pro. It would seem that both the Andy Pad and the Andy Pad Pro are struck from the same mould, as The Android Authority has claimed that the tablets are essentially indistinguishable from each other. New image of HTC's Bliss smartphone for ladies surface online Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/new-image-of-htc-s-bliss-smartphone- for-ladies-surface-online/13095.html 9

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July 26th, 2011 July 26th, 2011 Remember the news we posted some time back about HTC reportedly planning to release a smartphone that has been specially designed to appeal to ladies? Well, it turns out that such a phone will indeed be making its way out onto retail shelves eventually, for a leaked Blurrycam image which claims to be the first ever photograph of the actual device has started making its way around the depths of cyberspace. Remember the short story we posted a couple of months back about HTC reportedly planning to release a new Android- powered smartphone that would supposedly be designed exclusively for the ladies, and that it would most likely be known as the HTC Bliss? As it turns out, the source for our original story was right on the money with its claim, for it seesm that there will indeed be a HTC Bliss smartphone for the market in time. And there is no better way to confirm the existance of such a smartphone than to have what appears to be a leaked blurrycam image of the device circulating online, as shown below. Mozilla plans to release its own mobile OS, calls it Boot To Gecko Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/mozilla-plans-to-release-its-own- mobile-os-calls-it-boot-to-gecko/13094.html Published by: VR-Zone July 26th, 2011 When it comes to toying around with operating systems that are specially designed for use with mobile computing devices and gadgets such as smartphones and tablets, the only players out there on the market are Apple's iOS, Google's Android, Research In Motion's BlackBerry OS, HP's webOS and Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 and Windows 7 operating systems, right? Well, not anymore; Mozilla, yes, Mozilla, has just announced its plans to introduce its own mobile OS into the fray. And the name of Mozilla's mobile OS project? Boot To Gecko, or B2G. Ask just about anybody on the street to name you some popular mobile operating systems that are currently in use and chances are you will get lots of answers about OSes such as iOS, Android, and BlackBerry OS, while some might even bring up more niche solutions such as HP's webOS and Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 and Windows 7 operating systems.However,itseemsthatthemobileOSmarketisabout to be shaken up with the introduction of what appears to be a new competitor, for Mozilla has just announced its plans to introduce its idea of a mobile operating system into the fray. And the name of Mozilla's mobile OS project? Boot To Gecko, or B2G. That being said, the questions that are forming in your mind right now will probably be something along the lines of "What intheworldisBootToGecko",or"WhyisMozillaevenmaking an OS for mobile systems". Well, according to Mozilla's wiki page for the Boot To Gecko or B2G project, the project was started out of a need to "make open web technologies a better basisforfutureapplicationsonmobileanddesktopalike",and to "displace proprietary, single-vendor stacks for application development". According to the report posted by PocketNow, the Bliss "is set to see a Verizon release", although it has offered no additional details as to when this release may take place. However, what we do know is that the Bliss will come bundled with a number of colour-matched accessories, and that apparently includes the unique "companion cube" strap attachment which automatically lights up when the Bliss receives, or engages in a phone call. At this point, B2G is still nothing more than a novel concept thathasyettobeworkedoutcompletelyonpaper,sosufficeto say Mozilla will definitely need at least a year or two's worth of planning and development efforts before anything concrete is readytobereleasedtothepublicfortestingandmodifications. However, what we do know is that Mozilla will not be seeking to reinvent the wheel with its new operating system, especially if the project's discussion logs on Google Groups are of any indication. 10

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July 26th, 2011 Apparently,thelogshavesuggestedthatitislikelyMozillawill be seeking to borrow heavily from Android's low level code, although the developers have made it known that they intend to use "as little of Android as possible". This is because the developers are only interested in the benefits Android could provideintheformofitshardwareabstractionlayeranddriver support, as explained by one particular developer: We intend to use as little of Android as possible, in fact. Really, we want to use the kernel + drivers, plus libc and ancillary stuff. It's not likely that we'll use the Android Java-wrapped graphics APIs, for example. It's nice to start from something that's known to boot and have access to all the devices we want to expose. Maybe that's not the right direction, though, so if someone wants to explore another direction that'd be just fine. While there is no denying that Mozilla's developers will definitely have their work cut out for them, it is interesting to see whether a completely open solution such as the one Mozilla is proposing will be capable of displacing the likes of single-vendor solutions currently being offered by Apple and Google. However, in what appears to be a mild stab at Google, Mozilla has also promised that all the source code for B2G will be released "in real-time", as opposed to the search giant's approachofwithholdingcodeuntilitdeemsitsuitableforsuch purposes, like what it has done with Honeycomb. Cisco Linksys introduces SE1500, SE2500, SE2800 switches and AE1000 wireless-N USB adapter Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/cisco-linksys-introduces-se1500- se2500-se2800-switches-and-ae1000-wireless-n-usb-adapter/13093.html July 26th, 2011 Cisco Linksys has announced their new range of switches - 5-Port SE1500 Fast Ethernet switch, SE2500 5-Port Gigabit Ethernet Switch and SE2800 8-Port Gigabit Ethernet Switch - and AE1000 high performance wireless-N USB adapter for home office and entertainment use. Cisco has launched their new high performance and easy to setup Linksys switches designed for home office and entertainment. The new switches let you connect easily to wired devices including PCs, printers, games consoles, and Internet TVs, and offer a full range of options for speed and Published by: VR-Zone ease of use. The new range of Linksys switches are plug- and-play, eliminating the need for configuration, and come with Quality of Service (QoS) auto-sensing ports and power- saving features. The power-saving modes include auto power- down to disable unused ports, sleep mode when all ports are inactive and smart power for short cable runs. Linksys SE1500 5-Port Fast Ethernet Switch - Connect up to five computers, printers, storage devices, gaming consoles and other wired devices - Plug-and-play – no configuration required - Get wired connection speed up to 100 Mbps - QoS traffic prioritisation technology – auto sensing ports automatically optimise speed for each connected device - Auto power-down features are designed to disable unused ports, sleep mode when all ports are inactive and smart power for short cable runs Linksys SE2500 5-Port Gigabit Ethernet Switch and SE2800 8-Port Gigabit Ethernet Switch - Connect up to five or eight computers, printers, storage devices, gaming consoles and other wired devices - Plug-and-play – no configuration required - Gigabit power – up to 1000 Mbps, 10 times faster than standard Ethernet – perfect for quick file and media sharing between Gigabit devices - QoS traffic prioritisation technology – auto sensing ports automatically optimise speed for each connected device - Auto power-down features are designed to disable unused ports, sleep mode when all ports are inactive and smart power for short cable runs In addition to the new Linksys switches, Cisco has also announced their Wireless-N High-Performance USB Adapter which enables users to update their laptops and desktops to the latest wireless-N technology. Linksys AE1000 High-Performance Wireless-N USB Adapter 11

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July 26th, 2011 - Provide Wireless-N capability to Windows desktop computers and laptops - Selectable dual-band wireless-N - connect to either a 2.4GHz or 5GHz wireless network - Include USB extension cable and adapter base for improved wireless connectivity - ideal for hard-to-reach USB ports - Help avoid wireless freeloaders and Internet threats using customisable security settings, including WPA/WPA2 Personal and WPA/WPA2 Enterprise Pricing and Availability The Linksys switches and wireless-N USB adapter are commercially available at the Challenger Superstore, Harvey Norman, Best Denki, Courts, South Asia Computer, PK Computer, Inforcom Technologies, Fuwell, A Genuine Technology, Cybermind Computer House, Cyberactive Technology and Bizgram. Linksys SE1500 5-Port Fast Ethernet Switch - S$39 Linksys SE2500 5-Port Gigabit Ethernet Switch - S$69 Linksys SE2800 8-Port Gigabit Ethernet Switch - S$99 Linksys AE1000 High-Performance Wireless-N USB Adapter - S$59 KDDI shows off working prototype of upgraded REGZA Phone IS11T smartphone Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/kddi-shows-off-working-prototype-of- upgraded-regza-phone-is11t-smartphone/13091.html July 26th, 2011 REGZA Phone IS11T smartphone, which is an Android- powered mobile phone with a sliding QWERTY keyboard and is reportedly desgined to cater to "heavy users of social networking services and email, especially those who frequently text with Twitter and Facebook". Would you like to own an Android-powered smartphone which utilizes a sliding QWERTY keyboard is reportedly designed to cater to heavy users of online social networking services such as Facebook and Twitter while on the move? If so, Toshiba has got just the solution for you, and it comes in the form of a working prototype of an upgraded version of its 12 Published by: VR-Zone REGZA Phone IS11T Android smartphone that was launched last month. According to a report published by Akihabara News, the upgraded REGZA Phone IS11T Android smartphone, when completed, will be preloaded with version 2.3.4 of the Android operating system and will feature a newer version of Qualcomm's Snapdragon system-on-a-chip that sports a CPU clocked at 1.4GHz, along with a four-inch WVGA display. The phone is also expected to come bundled with a variety of standard features such as an eight-megapixel camera, an infrared sensor, wireless connectivity via WiFi and Bluetooth, as well as a battery pack which boasts an uptime of up to 260 hours on standby on a single charge, or 300 minutes of talktime. In addition to the hardware specifications, Toshiba has claimed that the phone can be set in such a way that an application,suchasFacebook,Twitter,orevenanemailclient, is immediately activated upon sliding out the smartphone's QWERTY keyboard. And if that is not enough, the phone reportedly supports some form of multi-display multitasking, where the screen can be divided into different portions to run multiple applications simultaneously. As the upgraded REGZA Phone IS11T Android-powered smartphone is still currently under development, no information about pricing has been released at this point of time, although Akihabara News has claimed that the phone is expected to be hit retail in Japan come September this year. RIM to unveil a new BlackBerry phone today? Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/rim-to-unveil-a-new-blackberry- phone-today-/13090.html July 26th, 2011 KDDI has unveiled a working prototype of its upgraded Well, it seems that the good folks over at Research In Motion has got something interesting lined up for the world today. And apparently, the excitement over at RIM is so great that the company cannot resist teasing its fans with a cryptic hint of they can expect to see unveiled in the later part of the day. Whichbringsusbacktothequestion:whatcouldRIMpossibly have up its sleeves that can be described as "shiny, new, and social all over"? Could it be...? Now this has got to be interesting. Apparently, Research In Motion has posted an update on its Facebook page claiming that they have plans to introduce what appears to be a new product in the later part of the day. However, just like any good company out there, RIM is delibretely holding back information about this alleged new product, prefering instead to tease its fans with a cryptic hint of what apparently best describes its new release: "Shiny, new and social all over".

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July 26th, 2011 Of course, with a hint as broad as this, guessing the right answer is definitely not going to be easy, although Engadget has speculated that RIM might be planning to release a BlackBerry Torch 2, or even a Bold Touch, which has been touted to be a "phone of many flavors". Then again, it is also entirely possible that RIM might end up announcing some other unheard-of product that will apparently be optimized for use with popular online social networking services, considering how the company did mention that the new product will be 'social' in nature. That being said, Engadget has also claimed that it would be great if BlackBerry's new product is "not just another phone with a Facebook button", a sentiment which we cannot help but share as well. Western Digital VelociRaptor gets refreshed with SATA 6Gbps and 32MB Cache Published by: VR-Zone WesternDigitalrefreshedthe150GBand300GBVelociRaptor modelswithsupportforSATA6Gbpsand32MBofcache.This addition makes up a total of six VelociRaptor models which areavailableinSATA6Gbpsinterfaceandeightmodelshaving 32MB cache (refer to table below for more information). The 150GB VelociRaptor model is reported to be retailing for €120 (S$208) while the 300GB version is going for €144 (S$250). See more specifications from the Western Digital website . Hardware hack can potentially cause Mac batteries to explode Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/hardware-hack-can-potentially-cause- mac-batteries-to-explode/13088.html July 26th, 2011 Does the idea of a hacker being able to gain access to your Macbook's battery and cause it to spontaneously combust at the flick of a button sound frightening? Well, the bad news is that such a hack actually does exist, and it is none other than security researcher Charlie Miller who discovered the existence of such a vulnerability which could potentially allow hackers to exploit and completely destroy a Macbook's battery on a hardware level by exploiting the aforementioned vulnerability. Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/western-digital-velociraptor-gets- refreshed-with-sata-6gbps-and-32mb-cache/13089.html July 26th, 2011 Previously, only the 450GB and 600GB VelociRaptor models featured SATA 6Gbps support and 32MB of cache. Now, the 150GB and 300GB variants will also be available with the above features too. Dealing with exploding batteries on notebooks can be a rather frightening affair, no? Well, if the thought of having a notebook battery pack suddenly go up in clouds of flames right before your face sounds like the thing which will give you nightmares for countless nights on end, this latest piece of news is definitely not going to be for the weak-hearted. Apparently,asecurityresearcherbythenameofCharlieMiller has discovered a hardware vulnerability in Apple's notebook batteries which could potentially allow hackers to remotely gain access to the batteries and rig it to catch fire without any warning. Sounds ridiculous? Well, not exactly, especially if Miller's explanation of how the hack works is of any indication. Apparently, the problem lies in the fact that modern laptops 13

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14 July 26th, 2011 utilizewhatareknownas"smartbatteries",whichmakeuseof controller chips to monitor its status and issue commands on when it should stop charging and turn itself off, among many other tasks. And unfortunately for Macbook owners, Apple "ships these chips with their passwords set to the default", an oversight which Miller claims can be exploited to allow an attacker to gain access to the Macbook on a hardware level. Once inside, the attackers can potentially do enough damage to "ruin the computer at will", such as sabotaging the cells in suchawaythattheyexplode,orbyleavingmalwareonthechip "to infect the computer over and over again". However, it seems that there is some light at the end of the tunnel. While a report by Maximum PC has revealed that Miller still plans to demonstrate the hack at the upcoming Black Hat Security conference to highlight the issue, it also claims that Miller has got every intention to patch this issue by releasing a software tool known as Caulkgun to "change the firmware password on the chips to a random string of numbers". Many thanks to bianco for this one. Resident Evil 6 Announcement Date Leaked Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/resident-evil-6-announcement-date- leaked/13087.html July 26th, 2011 Resident Evil 5, first released in 2009, lacked the fear factor that was found in Resident Evil 4. The next installment, Resident Evil 6, is expected to meet the expectations of fans with more horror elements and is set to be announced during The image above was posted in HellDescent forum taken by user "akiraodasan". It is reported that the above slide was shown during one of the Capcom press conference at San Diego Comic-con and more details of the game will be released during the upcoming TGS (Tokyo Game Show) on 15 September this year. Published by: VR-Zone Fans will also be delighted to know that Resident 6 is rumoured to be a complete overhaul and will feature more horror elements instead of the action-packed Resident Evil 5. Club 3D CSP-S600 600W PSU review Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/club-3d-csp-s600-600w-psu- review/13086.html July 26th, 2011 Club 3D is a renowned graphics card manufacturer well known among enthusiasts, who recently diversified towards the power supply market. A few weeks ago we had a look on one of their most powerful power supplies, the CSP- X1000CB, which is aimed towards hardcore enthusiasts and professionals with powerful systems. Today we are going to test and review the CSP-S600 power supply, a significantly simpler product aiming towards the mainstream market. Club 3D is a renowned graphics card manufacturer well known among enthusiasts, who recently diversified towards the power supply market. A few weeks ago we had a look on one of their most powerful power supplies, the CSP- X1000CB, which is aimed towards hardcore enthusiasts and professionals with powerful systems. Today we are going to test and review the CSP-S600 power supply, a significantly simpler product aiming towards the mainstream market. Manufacturer features and specifications the upcoming TGS (Tokyo Game Show). Model Product Name: CSP-S600 Product Series: Single VGA Configurations Item Code: CSP-S600CB EAN Code: 8717249408697 Technical Information Type: ATX Form Factor 12V V2.3 PFC: Active PFC (0.99) Input Voltage: 100-240V (Auto Range) Input FrequencyRange: 50 ~ 60Hz Fan: Ultra-silent 120mm temperature controlled fan Power Good Signal: 100 ~ 500ms Hold Up Time: > 17ms

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July 26th, 2011 Efficiency (Load): 85% Dimensions (W / D / H): Standard ATX 150 x 140 x 86 (mm) Operation Temperature: 0-40°C (nominal Input Voltage) Safety: CE 80-PLUS Certification: 80PLUS Bronze Protection: OCP (Over Current Protection), UVP (Under Voltage Protection), OVP (Over Voltage Protection), SCP (Short Circuit Protection), OPP (Over Power Protection) Input Characteristics Voltage: 110V - 240V Frequency: 50 - 60Hz Input Current: 10A Output Characteristics +3.3V: 24A / 150W +5V: 24A / 150W +12V1: 22A / 432W +12V2: 22A / 432W -12V2: 0.5A / 6W -5VSB: 3.0A / 12.5W Total Max. Output 600W ?? Total Combined Wattage +3.3V: 150W +5V: 150W +12V1: 581.5W +12V2: 581.5W +12V3: 581.5W -12V2: 18.5W -5VSB: 18.5W Cable Ioom (mm) 20+4P Main: 550 ATX/EPS 4+4P: 550+150 PCI-E 6+2P: 550 SATA: 550+150 PATA+FLOPPY: 550+150 Modular Cable Management No 15 Published by: VR-Zone Native Cable 20 + 4 pin: 1x PCI Express 6+2 pin: 2x ATX12V/EPS12V 4 +4 pin: 1x Floppy: 1x Peripheral: 5x SATA: 6x ASRock launches Z68 mini-ITX board Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/asrock-launches-z68-mini-itx- board/13085.html July 26th, 2011 If you've been waiting for an affordable Z68 mini-ITX motherboard, then your wait should be over, as ASRock has launched its Z68M-ITX/HT motherboard which should prove to be one of the more wallet friendly mini-ITX Z68 boards out there. That said, it's hardly a crowded market space at the momentwithZotachavingtheonlyothertwomodelscurrently available. If you've been waiting for an affordable Z68 mini-ITX motherboard, then your wait should be over, as ASRock has launched its Z68M-ITX/HT motherboard which should prove to be one of the more wallet friendly mini-ITX Z68 boards out there. That said, it's hardly a crowded market space at the momentwithZotachavingtheonlyothertwomodelscurrently available.

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July 26th, 2011 Asthisisamini-ITXboard,theZ68M-ITX/HTisfairlyfeature light with only a single x16 PCI Express slot and four SATA ports, as well as a pair of headers for two USB 2.0 ports. The motherboards/13084.html Published by: VR-Zone July 26th, 2011 One so far unseen Z68 motherboard model and one upgraded – if you can call it that – model has emerged on the MSI websitetoday,namelytheZ68A-G43(B3)andtheZ68A-GD55 (G3). This brings MSI's total Z68 board count up to seven, as three models are identical bar PCI Express 3.0 support. One so far unseen Z68 motherboard model and one upgraded – if you can call it that – model has emerged on the MSI websitetoday,namelytheZ68A-G43(B3)andtheZ68A-GD55 (G3). This brings MSI's total Z68 board count up to seven, as three models are identical bar PCI Express 3.0 support. The Z68A-GD55 (G3) is one of the models that fit into the already launched category, but it was moved into the PCI Express3.0foldtodaywiththehelpofsomenewlaneswitches. As far as we can tell, nothing else has changed on this board, so there's not very much else to say about it. real action happens around the back where we have a PS/2 port, four USB 2.0 ports, two USB 3.0 ports, an eSATA port, a Gigabit Ethernet port, 7.1-channel audio with optical S/PDIF out and a DVI, D-Sub and HDMI port. The new addition to MSI's Z68 series is the Z68A-G43, which is MSI's entry level Z68 ATX motherboard. For a model in the gaming series it's a pretty feature stripped board, even compared to the Z68A-G45 and we have a hard time seeing a lot of consumers going for the Z68A-G43 over the Z68A-G45. ASRock also supplies an infrared dongle and a Windows MCE compatible remote with the board which is a nice added extra considering that a fair few of these boards are likely to end up in HTPC type systems. You also get a copy of Lucid Logix Virtu graphics switching software in the box. No word on pricing as yet, but considering that ASRock's H67 version of this board is one of the more affordable H67 mini-ITX boards, we'd expect the Z68M-ITX/HT to end up being only slightly more expensive. MSI unveils two new Z68 motherboards Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/msi-unveils-two-new-z68- For starters the power regulation appears to be a very simple 4+1 design suggesting that overclocking isn't what this board is about. At least MSI has fitted a pair of heatsinks to the MOSFETs, albeit tiny ones, but they're at least screwed in. 16

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July 26th, 2011 Furthermore there doesn't appear to be support for a dual x8 setup,althoughtheboardhasapairofx16slots,thesecondary slot only offers four lanes. The board also has two x1 PCI Express slots and three PCI slots. Oddly enough four of the six SATA ports are angled at 90 degrees which is an improvement over the Z68A-G45. USB2.0ports,twoUSB3.0ports,aGigabitEthernetport,7.1- channel audio jacks and a DVI and D-Sub port. Price wise the Z68A-G43 is listed for around €110 in Europe (S$190) which makes it a mere €10 (S17) cheaper than Z68A-G45 and from our point of view, it's not worth the small saving. The Z68A- GD55 (G3) has as yet not been listed for sale. LG beats Sony in OLED race, announces large screen OLED TV for late 2012 Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/lg-beats-sony-in-oled-race-announces- large-screen-oled-tv-for-late-2012/13083.html July 26th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone TV late in 2012 with the new TV set to be shown at the 2012 CES show in January". In addition, LG has confirmed that the television sets will not bemassproduced;rather,thecompanyintendstorolloutonly a few tens of thousands of the devices as a way of gauging consumer reaction before making any further plans. This was confirmed by LG Display's CEo, Kwon Young-soo. "We will make no more investment in the sector judging that the OLED businss is relatively less profitable than other products in the mobile sector," he said. The TV is set to be around $3,000 in Australia, although it is not specified whether the cost is in Australian or US currency. AMD 2012 Desktop Roadmap Leaked Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/amd-2012-desktop-roadmap- leaked/13081.html July 26th, 2011 The board has pin-headers for eight USB 2.0 ports as well as a serial and parallel port, but otherwise there's very little else of notice. Around the back there is a pair of PS/2 ports, four Zol.com.cn has leaked a confidential roadmap summarizing AMD's 2012 desktop platforms. While AMD's Scorpius 2011 platform is yet to release fully, it will be succeeded by the Corona platform in 2012. This features the Komodo CPU, featuring up to 10 Piledriver CPU cores and Turbo 3.0. Unfortunately, Komodo will fit into a new CPU socket, with FM2 succeeding AM3+. Hudson D4 FCH, contains an upgraded southbridge with native USB 3.0 support. The northbridge is likely to be integrated into the CPU. Zol.com.cn has leaked a confidential roadmap summarizing AMD's 2012 desktop platforms. While AMD's Scorpius 2011 platform is yet to release fully, it will be succeeded by the Corona platform in 2012. This features the Komodo CPU, featuring up to 10 Piledriver CPU cores and Turbo 3.0. Unfortunately, Komodo will fit into a new CPU socket, with FM2 succeeding AM3+. Hudson D4 FCH, contains an upgraded southbridge with native USB 3.0 support. The northbridge is likely to be integrated into the CPU. 18monthsago,Sonyraisedexpectationsofconsumersallover the world when it announced that it had plans to introduce a large screen OLED TV. Fast forward to today, and the good news is that it seems that an OLED TV release is still on the cards, and that such a device will reportedly hit retail shelves some time in the later part of the 2012. But here's the catch: it will be LG that is rolling out the aforementioned OLED TV, and not Sony. LG has announced that it plans to start shipping large screen television sets with OLED displays some time in the later half of 2012, beating Sony in the OLED game after the latter first claimed 18 months ago that it will be the first company to release a similar product. According to a report published by technology website SmartHouse, LG's announcement was made over the weekend, where it was revealed that the Korean electronics company is planning to release "a limited range of 55" OLED 17

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July 26th, 2011 The Corona platform will be completed by next-gen AMD GPUs, rumoured to be branded Radeon HD 7000 series. IntheFusionarea,Lynx2011willbereplacedbyVirgoin2012. The Trinity APU will not feature Bulldozer cores, but Upto 4 next-gen Piledriver CPU cores and Turbo 3.0, improving Lynx's biggest weakness - CPU performance. The GPU part will continue to feature a DX11 GPU, though rumours state a VLIW-4 GPU will replace the current VLIW-5 GPU used in today's A-Series. Interestingly, Trinity will fit into an FM2 socket - same as Komodo - but the FCH will continue to be A75orA55,sameasLynx.ThecompatibilitybetweenFM1and FM2 remains to be seen. Finally, Brazos will be replaced by Deccan, featuring Wichita APUs with upto 4 Bobcat cores and a FT2 infrastructure. The A45 FCH will be replaced by a FCH codenamed Yuba. AMD's major focus with 2012 seems to be bringing parity to it's mainstream and enthusiast platforms. Currently, A- Series and FX-Series seem worlds apart, with different CPU architectures and different sockets. In 2012, both FX-Series and A-Series (their successors) will feature CPU cores based on the same architecture - Piledriver - and they will fit into the same infrastructure - FM2. Of course, 2012 is still far away, and indeed "2012" is open to interpretation, and many things can change. Plantronics unveils Calisto 800 multi-device speakerphones Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/plantronics-unveils-calisto-800-multi- device-speakerphones/13079.html July 26th, 2011 The new Plantronics speakerphones claim to provide intelligent streamline audio communication across PC-based phones, mobile phones, and even home landlines. Thehands-freeCalisto800isdesignedforofficeprofessionals andisoptimizedforMicrosoftOfficeCommunicatorandLync. Published by: VR-Zone The Plantronics Calisto 800 series claim to be the first speakerphones in its unified communications product portfolio that combine multi-device hands-free connectivity with intuitive visual call management. Optimized for use with Microsoft Office Communicator and Lync. They are designed for private and home office professionals who need multiple communication devices to collaborate effectively. The Calisto 800 series can provide premium sound and unparalleled audio quality thanks to full duplex wideband audio and advanced noise cancellation. It also offers a range of hands-free options including wireless connectivity with Bluetooth headsets or corded connectivity with 3.5mm headsets/headphones when privacy is desired. The Calisto 800 series includes the Calisto 825, which manages calls between a PC and a mobile phone and features a unique wireless microphone, PA50, that provides unparalleled speakerphone audio quality and freedom of movement. The Calisto 825 simplifies PC and mobile phone call management through its intuitive visual display and touch sensitive dial pad. Device setup is quick and easy - in less than five minutes, users are up and running and able to switch between mobile and PC calls, dial, and mute across devices at the touch of a button. In addition to the Calisto 825, the portfolio includes the Calisto 835 which can connect to mobile phones, softphones, analog landlines and includes a wireless microphone, PA50. Pricing and Availability The Calisto 825 is a two-way speakerphone for the PC and mobilephone.ItincludesthePA50wirelesslapelmicrophone, and charging base. It is retailing at S$429, inclusive of GST. The Calisto 835 is a three-way speakerphone for PC, mobile phone and analog landlines. It includes the PA50 wireless lapel microphone, and charging base and is priced at S$529, inclusive of GST. The Calisto 800 Series is available at accessories@Newstead, Challenger at Funan and Evergreen stationery store at Parkway and Excentrique Products & Marketing Services (email: sales@excentrique-pms.com or tel: 6513 3306). 18

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July 26th, 2011 HTC announces Sina Weibo phone for China Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/htc-announces-sina-weibo-phone-for- china/13080.html July 26th, 2011 Having a phone specially designed to allow for making quick updates to Facebook sounds like the kind of device any Facebook junkie would love to have, but what is an OEM like HTC to do if it wants to market its Facebook- orientedsmartphoneinChina,wherethepopularonlinesocial networking service has been blocked? Simple: repurpose the phonesothatitisnowintegratedwiththepopularSinaWeibo microblogging platform. Which is exactly what HTC has done with its remade HTC Salsa smartphone, now known as the HTC Weike. HTC's Salsa and ChaCha smartphones may be great for users who simply need crave the tight integration of Facebook directly into a smartphone's operating system, but it does not change the fact that Chinese users will not be able to benefit from the features in such phones, simply because of the Chinese government's decision to block access to Facebook from within the country. However, it seems that such an obstacle is of no hindrance to HTC, for the Taiwanese smartphone manufacturer has just announced a new social media-centric smartphone that has been specially designed to cater to the Chinese. Enter the HTC Weike smartphone, which Shanzai.com claims is essentially a HTC Salsa that has been localized for use in China and boasts tight integration with the country's popular Sina Weibo microblogging platform instead of Facebook. According to Shanzai's report, the HTC Weike will not only make use of the popular HTC Sense interface, but will also allow users to sync their Weibo account, thus allowing them to "chat with people they are following on Weibo, which then places them into contacts automatically". 19 Published by: VR-Zone Little has been revealed about the HTC Weike's hardware specifications, although Shanzai.com claims that the smartphone will feature a 3.2-inch display that is capable of a native resolution of 320x480, and that it will be running off version 2.2 of the Android operating system (which is old by today's standards). No details about the HTC Weike's availability or pricing in China have been announced at this point of time. OS X Lion users to get iCloud integration in 10.7.2 update Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/os-x-lion-users-to-get-icloud- integration-in-10.7.2-update/13078.html July 26th, 2011 Apple is only due to activate iCloud with the launch of iOS 5, but it seems that the Cupertino giant is already hard at work in ensuring that all of its products, including the recently-released OS X Lion operating system, are ready to take advantage of the new cloud service right from the get go. AndthegoodnewsisthatOSXLionusersmaynothavetowait very long to score iCloud support for their operating system, especially if the latest developer preview released by Apple is of any indication. Apple's iCloud is expected to be launched in conjunction with iOS5,butthecompanyisalreadyhardatworkinensuringthat its own OS X operating system is all set to play nice with the cloudservice.UserscanexpecttoseeiCloudsupportLionsoon in the form of an upcoming software update for the recently- launched operating system, with leaked Lion update builds confirming that claim.

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July 26th, 2011 According to a report published by AppleInsider, iCloud support for Mac OS X Lion will be rolled out in the upcoming 10.7.2update,wherebyitwillbeintegratedintoMail,Contacts and Calandars preference pane. Apparently, this will allow users to exercise some form of control in the kind of data they want synced to the cloud, as shown in the screenshot above. AppleInsider has also claimed in its report that the iCloud section in Mail, Contacts & Calandars preference panel will come with sport tools and options which users can utilize for "managing storage, backups, and purchasing additional storage", although it has pointed out that the option to purchase additional online storage space is currently "non- functional at this time", which is something to be expected from pre-release software. Interestingly, AppleInsider has revealed that the Cupertino giant has yet to release any test builds of 10.7.1, even though testing for 10.7.2 has already commenced. This has led to speculation that the company has already finished its work with 10.7.1 and is planning to push it out to end-users in the coming days (or weeks), if Apple intends to have OS X Lion updated to 10.7.2 in time for iCloud's official launch come Fall this year. Published by: VR-Zone MSI WindPad Enjoy 10 tablet shows up at the FCC Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/msi-windpad-enjoy-10-tablet-shows- up-at-the-fcc/13077.html July 26th, 2011 Most people may not know it, but MSI has been a player in the tablet space for quite some time already, except that its tablets never really managed to take off in the same way as those of its competitors. However, if you though that MSI is all ready to give up its stake in the tablet business, you could not have been further from the truth, especially if the latest news about the company's budget WindPad Enjoy 10 tablet showing up at the FCC is of any indication. When it comes to tablets, the only prominent, non-Apple products available on the market are those that are produced by the likes of big-name players such as Acer, LG, Samsung, right? Well, most may not know it, but MSI has also been competing in the market for quite some time already with its WindPad line of tablets. And while their products are not as popular as the aforementioned OEMs, it seems that there is still enough demand for entry-level and mid-range tablets on the market for the company to justify the release of newer additionstotheWindPadline,suchasthenewWindPadEnjoy 10, which has just been spotted having a date of sorts with the FCC. According to a report published by Liliputing, MSI's new WindPad Enjoy 10 is being positioned as a "budget tablet" that could potentially be sold on the market for as low as US$299, or even lesser. And if you are wondering how a 10-inch tablet can be sold for such low price...well, as they say, the devil is in the details, and the WindPad Enjoy 10's hardware specifications are anything but impressive. While the tablet does sport a 1GHz ARM Cortex A8 processor for use in its general-purpose computing needs, its 10-inch capacitive displayisonlycapableofanot-so-impressivenativeresolution of 800 x 480. This differs from MSI's earlier announcements, whereitclaimedthatthetabletwillfeaturea1.2GHzprocessor 20

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21 July 26th, 2011 and a display which is capable of native resolution of 1024 x 768. In addition, the WindPad Enjoy 10 comes bundled with only 512MB of RAM and 4GB of internal flash memory, although Liliputing claims that the preloaded Android 2.3 operating system consumes enough space to reduce the internal storage capacitytoapproximately1.2GB.Lastly,thereportalsoclaims that the MSI WindPad Enjoy 10 tablet will feature hardware- accelerated playback support for 1080p videos "in a variety of formats including MP4, Xvid, DiVX, and H.264", front and rear cameras, an SD card slot, a USB port, WiFi connectivity and a battery which is reportedly capable of up to five hours of uptime. No news of the WindPad Enjoy 10's availability has been released at this point of time. Sony announces Cyber-shot TX55 and WX30 compact digital cameras BoththeCyber-shotTX55andWX30featurea16.2-megapixel Exmor R CMOS sensor and new ‘By Pixel Super Resolution’ technologythatboostszoomrangeto10xwithoutlosingimage quality. Sony Cyber-shot TX55 Published by: VR-Zone Measuring12.2mmslim,theCyber-shotTX55claimstobethe world’s thinnest camera that can captures Full HD AVCHD video clips as well as 16.2 megapixel still images. It also shoots panoramas of 42.9-megapixel resolution, 3D Sweep Panorama and 3D Still Image to enjoy on your 3D TV. The camera’s back panel holds a 3.3-inch Xtra Fine OLED wide touchscreen which is great for showing off your photos and movies. The TX55 is the first Cyber-shot camera to include a memory card slot that supports Memory Stick Micro (M2) and microSD/SDHC. The company has also offered a choice of ultra-compact, high quality media in capacities up to 16GB - the newly introduced Mark2 Memory Stick Micro which is ideal for AVCHD video shooting and microSDHC. All cards come with free File Rescue for quick, easy recovery of deleted or damaged photos and files ( http://www.sony-asia.com/ support/download/50317 ), and x-Pict Story that simplifies creation of dazzling slideshows from your photos ( http:// www.sony-asia.com/support/download/365561 ). Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/sony-announces-cyber-shot-tx55-and- wx30-compact-digital-cameras/13073.html July 26th, 2011 If you are looking for a new compact digital cameras that can shoot high quality pictures and high definition videos, you probably want to check out the latest Cyber-shot TX55 and WX30 from Sony. The cameras boast up to 10x Clear Image ZoominmaximumresolutionandartisticPictureEffectmode. Sony Cyber-shot WX30 The sleek and super-compact Sony Cyber-shot WX30 offers a wide range of imaging options for stills, Full HD video and 3D shooting. It also claims to be the first Cyber-shot WX series model to feature 3-inch Xtra Fine LCD wide touch screen for simple fingertip operation. It is compatible with the Party- shot IPT-DS2 docking base. Party-shot pans, tilts and zooms the camera as it searches for faces in the room, automatically shooting natural, beautifully-framed photos while you enjoy yourself. The new compact and stylish Sony Cyber-shot TX55 and WX30 cameras, as well as the range of Memory Stick Micro (Mark2) and SR series MicroSD/SDHC media cards by Sony are available in Asia Pacific from September 2011. Rumour: Samsung Galaxy 3D smartphone spotted? Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/rumour-samsung-galaxy-3d- smartphone-spotted-/13076.html

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July 26th, 2011 July 26th, 2011 Now that HTC has its EVO 3D and LG has its Optimus 3D, it would make sense that a major player such as Samsung will want to make its entry into the market for 3D-capable smartphones soon in order to grab a slice of the pie for itself. And from the looks of it, users might not have to wait for long to get their hands on a 3D-capable smartphone from the likes of the Korean electronics giant, for rumour has it that a Galaxy 3D is currently under development over at Samsung's labs. Are you a fan of 3D-capable smartphones such as HTC's EVO 3D and LG's Optimus 3D smartphones? Well, if you are, we've got news for you. Apparently, rumour has it that Samsung is also planning to release its own 3D-capable smartphone some time in the future, and that it will reportedly be called the Samsung Galaxy 3D. what is believed to be the elusive Galaxy 3D smartphone, it goes without saying that the smartphone's appearance is far from being finalized, and that the final design of Samsung's alleged upcoming 3D-capable smartphone could potentially differ greatly from the mockup's design that is currently circulating on the Internet right now. However, various sources have claimed that the Galaxy 3D will most likely be preloaded with version 2.3 of the Android operating system(alsoknownasGingerbread),andthatitwillreportedly feature a 4.3-inch glasses-free 3D display, dual 8-megapixel cameras and a dual-core processor that is said to be clocked at 1.2GHz or higher. Last but definitely not least, an Android-centric blog known as Android Community is claiming that the Galaxy 3D will reportedly feature either a HDMI-out or HD TV output to allow users the ability to enjoy 3D videos on their 3D-capable television sets right out of the box. Oh, and it has also mentioned that Samsung might just release its 3D-capable 22 Published by: VR-Zone smartphone some time in Q4 this year, if only because that would be the period where HTC and LG are most likely to be actively working on their own successors to their respective 3D-capable smartphones. Well, we shall see. Apple announces hard disk replacement program for iMacs Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/apple-announces-hard-disk- replacement-program-for-imacs/13074.html July 26th, 2011 Have you purchased an iMac with a 1TB hard disk any time between May and July this year? If so, you might want to consult Apple's web site to see if you qualify for a free replacement of sorts; this is because the Cupertino giant has annoucedareplacementprogramfora"verysmallnumber"of 1TB Seagate hard disks which are currently being used in the iMacs, claiming that the aforementioned hard disks sport an issue which could cause it to "fail under certain conditions". As the picture shown above is little more than a mockup of Apple users, especially iMac owners who have bought their machines recently this year might want to take note of Apple's latest announcement. Apparently, the Cupertino giant has discovered that some of the 1TB Seagate hard disks that are currently being used in its 21.5-inch and 27-inch iMacs are currently affected by an issue which could cause it to "fail under certain conditions".

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July 26th, 2011 Apple has not disclosed any details about the alleged issue which could cause the aforementioned hard disk to fail prematurely,althoughitdidmentionthattheissueiscurrently isolated to only "a very small number" of hard disks, and only on iMacs which were sold between May and July this year. To resolve this issue, the company has announced the commencement of a "Hard Drive Replacement Program" for the aforementioned iMacs, and that it has already sent out emails to consumers who are currently in the possession of an affected machine to inform them about the program. In addition, users can also visit Apple's support page here to check if their machines are eligible for the free hard disk replacement program, although they will need to supply their iMac's serial number if they wish to perform the manual verification. Lastly, Apple has announced on its support page that the hard disk replacement program will run until July 23 next year, so there is more than enough time to back up your work before makinganappointmentwithAppletohavethefaultyharddisk replaced. Dell releases UltraSharp U2412M, costs only US$399 at launch Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/dell-releases-ultrasharp-u2412m-costs- only-us-399-at-launch/13075.html July 26th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone Back in May, we spoke of Dell releasing a couple of displays starting from Q3 this year. Generally, Dell leaves it till late in the expected quarter before their products are ready, but overthisweekend,DellhasquietlypushedthenewUltraSharp U2412M out of its factory doors, and is now up for grabs on their online stores. The bezel has been slightly re-designed, with the UltraSharp U2412M now sporting cheaper (maybe?) physical buttons as opposed to capacitive touch ones on the U2410. Specifications wise, the UltraSharp U2412M is equipped with an LED-backlit e-IPS display panel capable of 1920 x 1200 resolution and 16.7 million colors. The new monitor retains a 16:10 aspect ratio, color gamut has reverted to a standard 82% and horizontal and vertical viewing angles are both rated at 178°. Anti-glare and 3H hard coating are applied on the display's surface, meaning non-glossy screen in other words (I can hear many heaving a big sigh of relief). Dell's PowerNap software power management allows the user to enable dimming of the panel when the computer enters screen saver mode, or to put the monitor to sleep altogether. The U2412M's energy consumption figures are also readily available via the on-screen display (OSD) menu. Connectivity options include DVI-D with HDCP, DisplayPort, VGA, 4-port USB 2.0 hub and DC power output for the Dell Soundbar. And finally, the price? Just US$399, or an even more mouth- watering introductory S$439 here in Singapore. The monitor is backed with a standard 3-year warranty. It is now Q3 and over the weekend, Dell has quietly pushed the new UltraSharp U2412M 24-inch LCD monitor out of its factory doors. Full specifications after the break. 23

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July 26th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone ASUS U46SV Launches in Europe Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/asus-u46sv-launches-in- europe/13072.html July 26th, 2011 ASUS U46SV comes with an Intel Core i5-2410M 2.3GHz processor, up to 6GB of memory RAM, an Nvidia GeForce GT 540M graphics card, 500GB harddisk drive, DVD writer, card reader and a USB 3.0 port. Other features include a LED backlit 1366 x 768 display, 0.3-megapixel webcam and Windows 7 Home Premium operating system. The U46SV laptop is currently retailing for €799 ($1,387) in Europe. AMD Bulldozer 8-Core Processors to Launch in September Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/amd-bulldozer-8-core-processors-to- launch-in-september/13071.html 24

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July 26th, 2011 July 26th, 2011 AMD FX-Series 8-Core processors are reported to begin mass production in August 2011 and will launch on 19th of September 2011. This information coincides with another piece of hint gathered from AMD's video posted on YouTube ( link here ) at the 15 seconds mark (found at the bottom left of the video). However, only four of the AMD FX-Series processors (FX-8150, FX-8100, FX-6100 and FX-4100) will be launched in September. Details of the various processors Published by: VR-Zone EVGA's LGA 2011 motherboard will feature Intel's upcoming X79 chipset and Sandy Bridge-E processors. From the image, we can see a shift in the position of the buttons which include, Power, Reset and Clear CMOS. There are reports which confirm that the motherboard will be using "100% POSCAP" capacitors. EVGA will also release a dual-socket LGA 2011 motherboard in the future to replace their current dual-socket LGA 1366 motherboard, SR-2. Other features of X79 based motherboard include 8-lane PCIe 2.0 hub, 10 SATA 6Gbps ports and 14 USB 2.0 ports. Alienware M17x gaming notebook review - here comes the Alien mothership Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/alienware-m17x-gaming-notebook- review--here-comes-the-alien-mothership/13001.html July 26th, 2011 Think that you have seen everything that Dell has got to offer to the mobile gamer with our review of the Alienware M14x gamingnotebook??Well,youhaven'tseeneverythingyet.This time, we have in our labs what is probably the mothership of Dell's Alienware line of gaming notebooks, and we'd dare say that this is the monster (or Alien) that changes everything you'll ever know about what a gaming notebook should be. can be found in our previous article . The higher end models for the 125W and 95W TDP 8-Core processors (FX-8170 and FX-8120) will be released in Q1 2012. EVGA LGA 2011 Motherboard Teaser Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/evga-lga-2011-motherboard- teaser/13068.html July 26th, 2011 "Bigger is better" may not be the words an average user would want to hear from a salesman when shopping for a new notebook, especially when most OEMs have switched their focus from providing a high-performance machine to that whereaestheticappealtakesprecedenceoverquality.Afterall, the approach of merely having "just enough" power to ensure that the notebook remains versatile enough to take on a wide range of entry-level tasks has worked well for OEMs for the longest time. And users are seemingly moving to smaller, low- 25

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July 26th, 2011 powereddevicestodaydoesnotmeanthattimehasrunoutfor big notebooks with extremely powerful hardware. Enter the Alienware M17x R3 gaming notebook, which, like its smaller sibling, the M14x, is aimed at pushing the buttons of users who still believe in the value of big notebooks with big performance(andbigpricetagstomatch).Andofcourse,with the prestige of the Alienware label on the line, it is only fair thatsuchuserswillexpecttheM17xR3togivetheM14xasolid thump on the latter's proverbial head where raw performance is concerned. And does it? We shall find out in due time. Dell Alienware M17x R3 Gaming Notebook PC Specifications Processor Chipset Graphics Card Operating System Display Memory Hard Disk capacity Wireless Connectivity Battery Weight Intel Core i7 2820QM 2.3GHz (3.4GHz w/Turbo Boost, 8MB Cache) Intel Sandy Bridge HM67 Chipset 2GB AMD Radeon HD 6970M Windows 7 Ultimate (x64 version) 17.3" (43.94cm) Full HD (1920x1080) WLED LCD Panel 8GB DDR3 SDRAM (2 x 4GB SODIMM) 256GB SATA Samsung SSD Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300 a/g/n, Dell Wireless 375 Bluetooth module 9-cell Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) battery Starting at 5.3kg Thermaltake TR2 800W PSU review Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/thermaltake-tr2-800w-psu- review/13069.html July 26th, 2011 Thermaltake is a very well known company among enthusiasts.Thecompanywasfoundedin1999andstartedoff as a cooling solutions manufacturer and later diversified into many other areas. Today Thermaltake offers a vast selection of technology-related products and also replenishes their product ranges very frequently. Today we will have a look at the first Thermaltake PSU entering our labs, the highly popular TR2 800W unit. 26 Published by: VR-Zone Thermaltake is a very well known company among enthusiasts.Thecompanywasfoundedin1999andstartedoff as a cooling solutions manufacturer and later diversified into many other areas. Today Thermaltake offers a vast selection of technology-related products and also replenishes their product ranges very frequently. Today we will have a look at the first Thermaltake PSU entering our labs, the highly popular TR2 800W unit. Manufacturer’s features and specifications • ATX 12V V2.3 enables most reliable and robust power delivery. • Stable 800W continuous output (peak power 960W) @ 50 ?operating environment. • Robust and dedicated single +12V output provides superior performance under all types of system loading. • 80 PLUS Bronze Certified: with 82-88% efficiency @ 20-100% load under real world load conditions. • Double-forwardswitchingcircuitryofferslowpowerloss and high reliability. • Universal AC input 100V~240V automatically scans and detects the correct voltage. • High quality 105 ? Japanese main capacitor provide uncompromised performance and reliability. • 99% Active Power Factor Correction provides clean and reliable power to your system. • Ultra-silent operation with intelligent 12cm cooling fan speed control. • Intel & AMD CPU compliant. • Nvidia & ATI/AMD graphic card compatible. • Dimension: 150mm(W)x86mm(H)x140mm(L). • High reliability: MTBF>100,000 hours. • Builtinindustrial-gradeprotections:OverCurrent,Over Voltage, Over Power, Under Voltage and Short-Circuit protections. • Safety / EMI : UL/ CUL, VDE, CE, FCC, CB, GOST and BSMI certified. Deep Cool Ice Blade Pro Review Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/deep-cool-ice-blade-pro- review/12939.html

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July 26th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone July 26th, 2011 Tower-style heatsinks are a pretty common sight among the vast array of aftermarket cooling solutions. Today, we'll be looking at another such contender, Deep Cool's Ice Blade Pro. While hardly the most well-known manufacturer, Deep Cool has slapped a very attractive price tag on the Ice Blade Pro. Does this heatsink live up to its promise of good cooling on the Specifications Overall Dimension 125.5 X 104 X 157mm Fan Dimension Net Weight Bearing Type Rated Voltage Operating Voltage Started Voltage Rated Current Power Input FAN Speed MAX.Air Flow Noise 120 X120 X 25mm 1053g Hydro Bearing 12VDC 10.8?13.2VDC 7VDC 0.25±10%A(MAX) 3.0W 900±150~1500±10%RPM 60.29CFM 21.4~32.1dB(A) cheap? DeepCoolisaChina-basedmanufacturerofcoolingsolutions. WhileitsmainbusinessisOEMmanufacturing,DeepCoolhas also launched a fairly extensive line of cooling solutions. The productwe'relookingattodayistheIceBladePro,aprocessor heatsink. Accessories Otherthanthepartsrequiredformountingtheheatsink,Deep Cool has also bundled a small tube of thermal paste and a plastic thermal paste spreader. Weighing in at over a kilogram and standing 157 millimeters tall, the Ice Blade Pro is one of the larger heatsinks we've seen. It is composed of four copper heatpipes that directly contact the processor and an aluminium fin array. Up to two 120mm fans can be mounted on the Ice Blade Pro, though only one is included. The included 120mm fan pushes a decent volume of air and runs fairly quietly even at full speed. If that's still not silent 27

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July 26th, 2011 enoughforyou,thefanspeedcanbebroughtdownto900RPM via motherboard control or a 7V adapter (not included). The fan has four blue LEDs. Anadditionalsetoffanclipsandanti-vibrationrubberspacers is included, should you wish to mount an additional 120mm fan. The full list of bundled items is shown below: Published by: VR-Zone GIGABYTE's Portable Storage, A2 Tiny Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/gigabyte-s-portable-storage-a2- tiny/13067.html July 26th, 2011 GIGABYTEhasreleasedaninterestingstoragesolutionknown as A2 Tiny which uses a 160GB hard disk drive and USB 2.0 technology. More details inside. 28

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July 26th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone PNY launches GTX 580 XLR8 OC in Europe Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/pny-launches-gtx-580-xlr8-oc-in- europe/13066.html July 26th, 2011 The PNY GTX 580 XLR8 OC graphics card uses a reference cooler which takes up only two PCIe slots. The core frequency is overclocked to 805MHz while the memory frequency is overclocked to 4200MHz. Other features include 2 x DVI outputs, 1 x mini HDMI output, 512 CUDA cores, 1536MB of memoryandthreeyearswarranty.TheXLR8OCgraphicscard is set to retail at Europe at a hefty price of €489 S$849. GIGABYTE has released an interesting device known as the A2 Tiny which comes with a 160GB HDD and uses the USB 2.0 cable. The device has a dimension of 78 x 59 x 13mm and weighs about 80g. A2 Tiny has an anti-shock system and comes with a carrying pouch as well. Quantities will be limited for this model. 29