Chimera 1.8 Update: OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion Support

type="html">Today MacMan updated Chimera to version 1.8. For Mac OS X developers, OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion support has been added. This version will be included in the next MultiBeast release.Chimera v1.8.0 Changes:Added OS X Mountain Lion boot support, based on cparm's patch.Added support for additional ATI video cards.Added additional default ATI video card configurations.Fixed

Wicked Lasers Spyder III Krypton 1 Watt Green Laser Review

Introduction

If you drive a Volvo, care about crash safety ratings, never turn traction control off or wear safety glasses when working in the garage, this article isn't for you. Go make sure your Microsoft Smart Screen Filter is on and browse somewhere else today. I'm not saying this to be mean, but if you continue reading, you will be offended one way or another. (Ed. Note - oh, here we go!)

With major news outlets like CNN, The Wall Street Journal, The Discovery Channel, Esquire and Maxim Magazines covering stories of death rays, personal light sabers and every far flung story they could, Wicked Lasers had finally broken through the barrier between niche market and retail success with the Spyder III Arctic (which we reviewed), the world's first 1 watt hand held laser. The SIII Arctic really brought Wicked Lasers into the mainstream and with that success came a few failures. Many new customers who purchased the SIII Arctic had to wait several months to take delivery and there were claims of fraud and scams rampant all over the place. The issues were so far out of control I want to tackle them first in this article.

For those who kept their order in and patiently waited for their Arctic found that the device wasn't a cheap plastic toy. The build quality on the Arctic Series isn't anything like what you find in grocery store lasers, nor is its output power. If you took your Arctic and smacked someone over the head with it, you could kill them and not damage the laser housing in any way. The build quality of these Spyder III units is amazing. Wicked Lasers learned firsthand about inventory management and those issues have now been tackled. Orders are now shipping very quickly and delivery times are very reasonable.

That firsthand experience is going to come in handy this year because Wicked Lasers has a new, even brighter model that is the must have laser for 2012. According to Wicked Lasers, green light appears to the human eye 2,000% brighter than blue light. That means you can use a less powerful green laser and still get the same effects we observed with the Arctic model last year. On the other side, you can still get the 1 watt version like we are testing today and take the laser experience to a whole new level.

Try around 85 miles (137 kilometers) to be exact.

... Read the rest in your browser!

Raspberry Pi delivers its $35 Linux computer

ARS Technica reports the Raspberry Pi foundation has introduced its $35 Linux computer, but got overwhelmed by heavy demand. The product is about the size of a deck of playing cards, it has a 700MHz ARM11 processor and 256MB RAM memory. Demonstrations of the system showed it's capable of running impressive graphics demos and decoding HD video.

The Raspberry Pi foundation attempted to launch its $35 Linux computer on Tuesday evening, but the organization's retail partners couldn't cope with the massive demand. Two British electronic component distributors that intended to sell the product were unable to do so--their websites went down, succumbing to the stampede of eager enthusiasts who sought to purchase the hotly-anticipated system.

...

The Raspberry Pi foundation originally began developing the computer with the aim of producing a low-cost system that could be used to teach computer programming to young students. The project has attracted a much larger audience, however, and has gained a tremendous following among Linux users and embedded systems enthusiasts who want to use it for purposes ranging from wearable computing experiments to multimedia set-top box.

Full details over here.

Raspberry Pi delivers its $35 Linux computer - More news at DV Hardware

Lucid Virtu MVP enhances switchable graphics and more

Gigabyte's Tech Daily explains the exciting new features of Lucid Virtu MVP, a graphics virtualization technology that will be included in the company's 7 series motherboards. With Virtu MVP, users will be able to control whether the system has to use the processor's integrated graphics (to save power) or a discrete graphics card, on a per-application level. Additionally, the Virtu MVP technology also delivers Virtual Vsync and HyperFormance. Full details over here.

The other new feature that we�re looking forward to offering you guys is what Lucid refers to as HyperFormance, a feature which claims to substantially improve overall 3D gaming responsiveness. By responsiveness we mean how well the game actually responds to your mouse and keyboard, a key factor that contributes greatly to a better overall gaming experience.

Without getting too technical, Lucid Hyperformance basically examines each piece of data as it passes through the graphics pipeline with the aim of eliminating redundant rendering tasks. This allows for shorter rendering cycles which, in turn translates into better overall responsiveness for you the gamer. We have toyed around with Hyperformance here in our labs, and we�ve been impressed at how the game just feels faster. If you were running at 100FPS, enabling Hyperformance will most likely give you even higher FPS. Not only does the FPS show marked improvement, but so too does the feel and responsiveness of the game.

Lucid Virtu MVP enhances switchable graphics and more - More news at DV Hardware

Broadcom 802.11ac WiFi to be out by mid-2012

NetworkWorld reports networking products with Broadcom's 802.11ac WiFi chipset are set to hit the market by Summer:

Broadcom executives at MWC confirmed today that the chipmaker is "beyond the sampling phase and even in a preproduction phase," according to Michael Hurlston, the company's senior vice president for wireless LAN, for its two-stream and three-stream 11ac chips. 11ac like 11n uses multiple data streams paired with multiple sending and receiving antennas to achieve high data throughput.

Hurlston said he expects finished OEM products, almost certainly access points, routers and the like, to be on sale from Broadcom's customers by mid-2012. Although the chipmaker hasn't announced design wins, Hurlston pointed out that the 11ac roadmap announced last month at CES was publicly endorsed by 14 equipment vendors and network providers.

Broadcom 802.11ac WiFi to be out by mid-2012 - More news at DV Hardware

Project Phenix: transfer of protected HD movies across multiple devices

X-bit Labs reports some content providers and storage makers are cooperating on Project Phenix, a new initiative that aims to enable you to seamlessly transfer DRM-protected HD movies across different devices:

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, SanDisk and Western Digital have revealed project "Phenix, an initiative that will give consumers an easier and faster way to organize, store and move their high definition digital movies and TV shows across multiple devices. In addition to local storage, the content will also be backed up via the UltraViolet industry standard as well as other cloud-based services.

The project is being developed by the newly formed Secure Content Storage Association (SCSA), which will create and license solutions that secure high definition and other premium copyright-protected content on local and portable hard drives, flash memory products such as USB flash drives, SD cards and solid state disk drives (SSDs). Once content is downloaded to a hard drive or NAND flash storage device, it could then be accessed, online or offline, on any SCSA-enabled device such as a connected TV, laptop, Blu-ray player, tablet, mobile phone or game console. The optimized content will be made easily available for purchase via digital download, digital files bundled with physical media, kiosks in retail stores, or other means of secure digital delivery.

Project Phenix: transfer of protected HD movies across multiple devices - More news at DV Hardware

NVIDIA: Tegra 3 in Windows 8 developer systems

NVIDIA confirmed that Microsoft is using the Tegra 3 SoC in Windows 8 test PCs that are distributed to software developers and device manufacturers:

NVIDIA confirmed today that it is working with Microsoft on a program to distribute Windows 8 test PCs to software developers and device manufacturers powered by the Tegra(R)3 quad-core mobile processor with 4-Plus-1(TM) architecture.

This seeding program enables these parties to create a rich ecosystem of apps and devices for Windows 8 on ARM-based processors.

"NVIDIA has a long record of supporting software developers working on the cutting edge of innovation," said Tony Tamasi, senior vice president of content and technology at NVIDIA. "We're furthering this tradition by helping to realize the extraordinary potential of Windows on ARM processors, like Tegra 3."

"Microsoft is excited to partner with NVIDIA to bring developers leading edge Windows on ARM test PCs to support the creation of compelling Metro style app and device experiences for Windows 8," said Aidan Marcuss, Senior Director of Business Planning, Microsoft.

NVIDIA: Tegra 3 in Windows 8 developer systems - More news at DV Hardware

Windows 8 Consumer Preview hits the web

Microsoft has released the public beta version of Windows 8, you can download it at http://preview.windows.com. The Consumer Preview is offered in English, German, French, Japanese and Chinese, and is available in a 32-bit and 64-bit edition.

Windows 8 Consumer Preview features a functional Windows Store and includes Internet Explorer 10 Platform Preview 5.

Microsoft Corp. today announced the availability of the Windows 8 Consumer Preview � the next milestone of the Windows operating system. This latest preview will be made available for download starting today at http://preview.windows.com. The Windows 8 Consumer Preview offers a more robust experience for testing the world�s most popular operating system and is available to the widest range of people yet following the initial release of the Windows 8 Developer Preview late last year. The Developer Preview received more than 3 million downloads.

�With Windows 8, we reimagined the different ways people interact with their PC and how to make everything feel like a natural extension of the device, whether using a Windows 8 tablet, laptop or all-in-one,� said Steven Sinofsky, president of the Windows and Windows Live Division at Microsoft. �The Windows 8 Consumer Preview brings a no-compromises approach to using your PC.�

At a Windows 8 Consumer Preview event in Barcelona that was attended by partners from Europe and around the world, the company shared some key new updates in the Windows 8 Consumer Preview:

Broad range of product changes and improvements. Since the Developer Preview in September, designed to preview the programming platform, Windows 8 has progressed across every dimension. From completing the user experience for touch, keyboard and mouse to refining the development platform, the Consumer Preview improves performance, quality and reliability across all subsystems. With the added features, it represents a more complete view of the capabilities of Windows 8.

Windows Store with new apps. The Windows 8 Consumer Preview marks the beta opening of the Windows Store, which is filled with a variety of new Metro style apps from both third-party developers and Microsoft. During the Consumer Preview, these apps are available to try and experience at no cost to users. The Windows Store will offer personalized recommendations, and Windows 8 gives users the ability to take their apps and settings with them across multiple PCs, making it easy to discover and try new apps while offering developers the greatest opportunity of any platform.

Connecting to the cloud across Windows-based PCs and Windows Phone. The Windows 8 Consumer Preview offers seamless integration with the content people care about across their devices. An optional additional sign-on with a Microsoft account provides access to a host of features, including the ability to roam all settings, use cloud storage, communicate with email, calendar and contacts, and connect to a broad range of services. Your connection to the cloud works across your Windows-based PCs and your Windows Phones.

Internet Explorer 10 Platform Preview 5. The best way to experience the Web on Windows is with Internet Explorer 10. The browser has been re-imagined to create a new experience designed specifically for Windows 8 devices. It provides an edge-to-edge user interface that is all about less browser and more Web. Fast and fluid, Internet Explorer is hardware-accelerated to enable Web performance.

Preview of new hardware capabilities. At the event, Microsoft also showcased Windows 8 running on a wide range of new x86- and ARM-based reference hardware. This hardware will be available to select developers for trial and testing as previously announced.

The Windows 8 Consumer Preview will be available worldwide for download in English, French, German, Japanese and simplified Chinese languages. More information about Windows 8 and how to download the Consumer Preview is available at http://preview.windows.com or http://windowsteamblog.com.

Windows 8 Consumer Preview hits the web - More news at DV Hardware

ARM version of Windows 8 to lack manageability features

Microsoft announced today that Windows 8 for ARM will not include some of the business manageability features that are available in the x86 editions of Windows. ARM devices will not support Active Directory domains, nor be accessible remotely via the Microsoft System Center environment. Microsoft explains that for businesses, Windows on ARM is intended for unmanaged environments. This may make the platform a little less attractive to large enterprises.

Touting the long battery life of ARM-based devices, the guide tempers expectations: "Although the ARM-based version of Windows does not include the same manageability features that are in 32-bit and 64-bit versions, businesses can use these power-saving devices in unmanaged environments." That means ARM devices won't be able to be added to Active Directory domains and have their user access managed by system administrators, or be remotely managed through Microsoft's System Center environment.

The 32- and 64-bit versions of Windows 8 for x86 systems will integrate into existing management systems, according to Microsoft, allowing administrators to continue to use the same tools for system configuration, security management, and other tasks. And as an alternative for organizations requiring more secure access from mobile users, Microsoft outlined a "Windows to Go" version of the operating system that can use a USB drive to boot a PC from an approved corporate Windows 8 image, allowing the user to connect to the enterprise network remotely from an untrusted system without giving the locally installed operating system access to the network.

Source: ARS Technica

ARM version of Windows 8 to lack manageability features - More news at DV Hardware

NVIDIA: Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro performance claims are wrong

The Inquirer reports NVIDIA attacked Qualcomm over claims that the dual-core Snapdragon S4 Pro beats NVIDIA's quad-core Tegra 3 SoC. Seems like the start of a good old fashioned mud fight, this time not in the discrete graphics card market but in the mobile chip market.

Yesterday Qualcomm's Rob Chandok, SVP of Software Strategy and president of the firm's Innovation Center told journalists at a roundtable that its Snapdragon S4 MSM8960 system-on-chip (SoC) and its newly announced dual-core Snapdragon S4 Pro beat Nvidia's five-core Tegra 3 chip in just about every benchmark under the sun. Now Nvidia has fired back, saying that the figures bandied about by Qualcomm are incorrect based on reviews on the web.

Chandok did not mention Nvidia's Tegra 3 by name in his presentation, instead using phrases such as "quad-core 1.3-1.4GHz chip", which anyone with access to a search engine can work out is a reference to Nvidia's Tegra 3 chip. Nvidia clearly thought Chandok's comments were aimed at its burgeoning Tegra 3 chip and fired back claiming the results simply do not correlate with independent reviews.

Full details over here.

NVIDIA: Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro performance claims are wrong - More news at DV Hardware

Qualcomm: Microsoft providing Snapdragon-based test PCs to developers

Qualcomm sends out word that Microsoft is providing developers with Snapdragon-based Windows on ARM test systems.

Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM) today announced that its Snapdragon� processor will be joining Microsoft Corp.'s Windows on ARM developer seeding program. Qualcomm is working with Microsoft to provide test PCs to select developers in order to test and optimize apps for forthcoming Snapdragon-powered Windows on ARM PCs and tablets. This invitation-only program will combine a pre-release version of Windows on ARM with next-generation, high performance Snapdragon S4 test PCs. These test PCs are not representative of commercial form factors or the final Windows on ARM experience; they are designed to give developers early access to building and testing Windows Metro style apps on Qualcomm's latest technology.

The Windows on ARM developer seeding program will help ensure that Windows Metro style apps available in the Windows Store work great on all Windows 8-based PCs, including those with Qualcomm's ARM-compliant Snapdragon processors.

"Microsoft's development tools and the Qualcomm Snapdragon test PCs will enable developers to build and test Metro style apps for Windows on ARM PCs," said Stefan Kinnestrand, director of business planning, Windows Division, Microsoft. "Based on Qualcomm's Snapdragon processor, these systems will equip developers to create Metro style apps and offer a rich set of hardware peripherals that plug in and help enable seamless user experiences on the Windows on ARM platform."

Qualcomm, with Microsoft, is among those leading the shift to anytime, anywhere connectivity. The Snapdragon mobile processor will offer a combination of processing performance, rich multimedia, GPS, high-performance graphics, wireless connectivity and power efficiency with Windows on ARM.

"Qualcomm is committed to the Windows on ARM ecosystem and knows that enabling developers is a crucial factor for its success," said Luis Pineda, senior vice president of product management, computing and consumer products at Qualcomm. "We are now providing Snapdragon S4 test PCs with built-in 4G LTE, activated in some regions, to software application developers."

Qualcomm's participation in the Windows on ARM developer seeding program provides select developers with the latest generation Snapdragon S4 test PCs running a pre-release version of Windows on ARM. These test PCs contain Qualcomm's Snapdragon S4 MSM8960 processor with second-generation high performance, power efficient CPU, hardware accelerated Adreno� graphics, full multimedia, GPS, sensors, and peripherals that will enable development and test of next-generation Windows Metro style apps for the coming wave of Windows on ARM PCs.

Earlier today NVIDIA informed the press that Microsoft is handing out Tegra 3 based test PCs to developers.

Qualcomm: Microsoft providing Snapdragon-based test PCs to developers - More news at DV Hardware

Koolance CPU-370S series waterblock released for Intel and AMD

TPU noticed Koolance has finished two new waterblocks; the CPU-370SA for AMD processors and the CPU-370SI for Intel CPUs. The blocks are available on the company's website for $59.99 and $64.99, respectively.

Both models are lower priced versions of the CPU-370 block and feature a nickel-plated copper microfin cold plate (0.25 mm fins, 0.30 mm channels), an o-ring sealed impingement plate, a solid acetal top, and standard G 1/4 BSP threading.

Koolance CPU-370S series waterblock released for Intel and AMD - More news at DV Hardware

ThermalTake preannounces CeBIT 2012 lineup

ThermalTake send out word about the new products it will showcase at CeBIT 2012, you can find more details at the company's CeBIT event page.

Visitors to the Thermaltake stand (Hall 17, E60) at the CeBIT 2012 from 6 to 10 March 2012 in Hannover Germany will witness the first heartbeat of a new compact generation of the gaming mouse - Level 10 M Mouse, which is the collaboration between Thermaltake Group and BMW Group subsidiary DesignworksUSA continues from the previous success LEVEL 10 chassis in 2009.

Being the industry pioneer brand in PC DIY solutions, professional gaming products and unique and functional Apple accessories, Thermaltake Group with its three subsidiary brands - Thermaltake, Tt eSPORTS and LUXA2 will be presenting a visionary outlook on future technical developments and the latest and most exciting products for the year 2012 at the one of the biggest and the most international event in the digital industry!

Further information about Thermaltake Technology at CeBIT 2012 is available online: http://globalevent.thermaltake.com/cEBIT2012/

The Level 10 M Mouse
Design Collaboration by Thermaltake and BMW Group DesignworksUSA

Since 2009, Thermaltake ventured into a completely new PC chassis with the revolutionary concept of the Level 10 high-end gaming tower chassis. Now Thermaltake will once again present a masterpiece that might have come from another planet: the Level 10 M Mouse will be celebrating its premiere at the CeBIT2012 !

In 2009 Thermaltake, the leader and innovator of pro-gaming computer chassis, for the first time partnered with the wholly owned BMW Group subsidiary. The studio had been tasked with the design concept of the Level 10 high end gaming tower. The result was a chassis which triggered off a lot of praise from the IT and pro-gaming world and many awards for its sheer revolutionary approach to computer housing. Now the collaboration continues with the expansion of the Level 10 experience to a range of gaming peripherals for Thermaltake�s e-sports division - Tt eSPORTS.

"It is no exaggeration to say that world is going to witness the pre-invention of the gaming mouse. The purist design of the Level 10 M Mouse, that BMW Group DesignworksUSA designs concept for a news series of innovative gaming peripherals for Thermaltake. This centrepiece dazzles with its passionate eSports and reinterprets the breathtaking aesthetic design of the Thermaltake Level 10 chassis. With the Level 10 M Mouse, we are demonstrating once again that pioneering spirit is an integral part of the Thermaltake brands DNA. Thermaltake Group is right at the forefront of this surge in innovation, we feel a very particular obligation for its future!" said Mr. Kenny Lin, Chairman and CEO of the Thermaltake Group.

Glance over the exhibits at CeBIT 2012 :

Thermaltake
Thermaltake prepared to amplify enthusiasts' game time by showcasing a succession of gaming's amity from Level 10 GT Battle chassis, ARMOR REVO chassis, Level 10 GTS chassis, BigTyp Revo downfacing air cooler, Water2.0 Liquid Cooling Series, Frio Extreme cooler, Toughpower Grand Platinum Snow PSU, Toughpower XT 1275W Platinum Snow PSU, SMART Series PSU to other new cases, coolers, power supply units and accessories.

Motivate by eSports culture as well as setting the PC gaming hardware trend, Thermaltake will reveal the new battle version of Level 10 GT, the revolutionary gaming chassis ARMOR REVO and the Level 10 GTS mid-tower of pedigree, grant user a much closer gaming experience while being on their games. Further, being the specialist and the market leader in thermal solution, at CeBIT 2012 Thermaltake want to facilitate a smoother gaming experience for users, will introduce the new Hover top-down air cooler, Water 2.0 all-in-one Liquid Cooling Series, Frio Extreme supreme cooler of Frio Series, the new Toughpower Grand Series Snow Platinum power supply unit which has both "Red Dot Award" and "iF product design award" titles in place and the world's first high-end all white Toughpower XT 1275W Snow Edition power supply unit with the blessing of 80Plus Platinum. Last but not the least, SMART Series with further prospect to secure the system with the appropriate wattage.

Tt eSPORTS
Tt eSPORTS is always creatively promoting gaming products that differentiate from others, with strong motivation in fulfilling the mission of delivering the best gaming experience to the world. In CeBIT 2012, Tt eSPORTS is also preparing to launch a whole new series of gaming keyboards and mice, as well as the highlight of the year: BMW DesignworksUSA's collaboration on Level 10 M Gaming Mouse project. It is a continuation of Level 10 design concept and an extension in gaming peripherals.

The successful year of Tt eSPORTS in 2011 is now prepared to launch a series of new product line - Tt eSPORTS Chao - in 2012, with DRACCO headsets recently revealed at Taipei Game Show 2012 and attracted not only gamers' attention but also media's inquiry about DRACCO's design concept and the motivation behind this DRACCO project. Further, the COMBAT WHITE series of gaming keyboards and mice are also recently announced, with already strong support from Tt eSPORTS fans on MEKA series keyboards and BLACK mouse, the white-color version seem attract more attention who appreciate a slight different color appearance on their gaming gadgets. The year 2012 is also a milestone for Tt eSPORTS as we officially present SAPHIRA and THERON gaming mice, endorsed by the worldwide famous StarCraft2 players - Aleksey "White-Ra" Krupnyk, and Tt APOLLOS's StarCraft2 player - SoftBall. And of course, both will be displayed and introduced at CeBIT 2012 to demonstrate that Tt eSPORTS shares the same passion and value with all players around the world, by taking care of the customers' needs with cutting-edge technology, and with eSports gaming characteristic design.

LUXA2
LUXA2, premier designer and manufacturer of unique and functional Apple accessories including holders and cases, this year is proud to be launching its first ever Bluetooth product- the Bluetooth Headphones BT-X3. This headphone is perfect to be used with iPod, iPhone, Android phones and other smart mobile devices.

While the business focus is Apple product accessories, starting 2012, LUXA2 will also offer accessories for other smart phones and provide top-of-the-line products and services to owners of Droids, HTC, Samsung...etc.

Also, LUXA2 will present its newest accessory lineup at CeBIT 2012 including brand new protective cases and sleeves for iPhone 4S, iPad 2 and Macbook. Brand new iPhone 4S cases include the slim and lightweight solid color �Lille Case for iPhone 4S' and the more fun and nature inspired �Modica Case for iPhone 4S'. Both cases are very slim and light weight, they sure will add extra personality to your mobile phones! LUXA2's goal is to become the go-to resource for any individual living a mobile lifestyle.

Thermaltake‧Tt eSPORTS‧LUXA2 -The professional and enthusiastic team
Thermaltake Group is on the mission to broaden the lifestyle, gaming culture and fashion technology by creating fascinate innovations. In the year 2012, Thermaltake, Tt eSPORTS and LUXA2 will keep taking care of the customers' needs with cutting-edge technology and amazing products!

ThermalTake preannounces CeBIT 2012 lineup - More news at DV Hardware

Howto test Windows 8 as a virtual machine

Microsoft has just released the public beta version of Windows 8, so just like many other tech enthusiasts you may be excited to test the new features of the software giant's latest operating system. You could install the operating system on a secondary PC or set up a dual-boot environment on your primary rig, but considering this is 2012 there's an easier, more attractive alternative.

TechSpot explains how you can test the Windows 8 Consumer Preview as a virtual machine, you can read the guide over here.

With the launch of Windows 8's Consumer Preview, you're probably itching to spend some quality time with Microsoft's latest operating system. Although you may have already downloaded the ISO, we bet some of you haven't decided how you're going to install it.

Fortunately, running Windows 8 in a virtual machine solves all that: it won't remove your current OS, you can access it anytime you want without rebooting and it doesn't require any extra hardware. What's more, the test OS can be deleted in only a few mouse clicks.

Howto test Windows 8 as a virtual machine - More news at DV Hardware

ADATA delivers 1600MHz DDR3 CL9 8GB modules

ADATA presents new 1600MHz DDR3 modules with CL9 timings and a capacity of 8GB:

ADATA� Technology, a leading manufacturer of high-performance DRAM modules and NAND Flash application products, once again achieves a breakthrough in overclocking memory specifications with the launch of single 8GB 1600MHz CL9 and dual kit 16GB memory modules. As a market solution for 1600MHz 8GB low latency overclocking, the new modules support the latest quad-channel X79 platform, and meet the demands of enthusiasts for high density memory.

ADATA�s Product Planning Department DRAM Project Manager Alex Wu said: "In recent years, gamers and overclockers care about more than just the pursuit of extreme performance. Energy consumption has become a major consideration when purchasing electronics.� He added: "The new XPG Gaming V 2.0 1600G 8GB single and 16GB dual kit memory modules use voltage of only 1.35V, with 9-11-9-27 timing, and are compatible with the latest X79 four-channel platform. They provide gamers with the opportunity to significantly upgrade their RAM all the way to 64GB, in order to experience faster operation and performance of desktop computers."

In addition to high density, low-latency, low-voltage, and innovative heat conduction cooling technology, these modules are equipped with a unique heat sink and the industry's first high quality double copper 8-layer circuit board, which improves memory cooling and lowers power consumption. In addition, each chip is selected from original manufacturer 4Gb memory chips, and put through a rigorous screening and testing program to ensure the greatest degree of stability and durability, for more peace of mind for consumers.

ADATA Series memory modules come with a lifetime warranty1, providing the best protection and peace of mind.

ADATA delivers 1600MHz DDR3 CL9 8GB modules - More news at DV Hardware

RAIDMAX delivers RX-600AF 600W PSU

RAIDMAX introduces a new 600W 80Plus Bronze power supply; the RX-600AF. The unit has a MSRP of $59.99, it has two +12V rails with 22A each and is cooled by a large fan.

RAIDMAX, a computer chassis provider, is pleased to announce their new 600W Power Supply � RX-600AF. The RX-600AF provides reliable power to your PC while reducing electricity loss through its high efficiency design.

Energy Efficient
With certified 80 Plus Bronze efficiency, the RAIDMAX RX-600AF converts up to 85% of the input electricity into usable energy. This translates to less electrical usage and lower energy cost.

Effective Cooling
The powerful fan keeps the RX-600AF at optimal operating temperatures at regular usage. At times when you want to push your PC harder, the turbo fan controller gives the RX-600AF extra cooling ability anytime.

High-Performance Connections
RAIDMAX's newest power supply comes with numerous high quality connectors for secure connections to your hardware.

Classic Design
With its white finish and elegant white fan, the RX-600AF's simple aesthetic design is not such much eye-catching as it is eye-pleasing.

Protections
Including several safety precautions such as Short Circuit Protection (SCP), Over Voltage Protection (OVP), and Over Power Protection (OPP), the RAIDMAX RX-600AF ensures all your hardware is well powered while protecting them from power abnormalities.

Power Supply Connectors:

M/B 20+4 pin x1

CPU 4+4 pin x1

PCI-E 6+2 pin x2

SATA x6

MOLEX 4 pin x4

Floppy x1

RAIDMAX delivers RX-600AF 600W PSU - More news at DV Hardware

MultiBeast Overview Video

type="html">Here's a nice video intro to MultiBeast: The Ultimate Post-Installation Utility. Produced and narrated by StingRay. 

OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion

type="html">Yesterday we were all a bit shocked by Apple's announcement of it's next operating system OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion. Everyone's super excited about it, and registered Apple Developers ($99/yr) now have full access to the OS X Mountain Lion Developer Preview 1. Initial reports are that the download and installation procedure is just as easy for Mountain Lion as it was for Lion.Our policy

Five Years with Blu-ray - Part Three

In five years, Blu-ray has certainly broken through and achieved the market penetration and consumer awareness that the format needed to survive. Had the format war with HD-DVD not been rectified and both formats hobbled on, this certainly would not have occurred. A visit to your local video shop or retailer is indicative of the strength of support that exists for the format. Retail stores simply won't invest in floor space when money is not being returned. That the Blu-ray section at my local JB Hi-Fi grows larger and larger every time I visit is evidence that the format is not going anywhere.

Despite this, there exists some media commentators and certain companies with vested interests who downplay the success of Blu-ray and insist that other technologies will soon surpass it. This is grossly exaggerated at best, and woefully misguided at worst. The truth is, Blu-ray is here for the long haul. It will continue chipping away at the market share of DVD until the lustre of the format is well and truly depleted.

Mainstream success is of course, a double edged sword. In the early days of the format, much effort was expended to woo movie buffs with extensive and cutting edge features which offered major points of difference over previous formats. Now that they've latched on, it seems studios are far more reluctant to invest in furthering the technology, and others are rarely used. Take for example some of the earlier Twentieth Century Fox titles, such as Independence Day, Master and Commander and Speed which used all manner of BD Java infused trivia games, meta data tagging and GPS tracking. Whilst none of these features are particularly missed, it is somewhat disappointing that more innovation has not taken place.

Another issue with having the bar pushed so high with spectacular video transfers, is when certain titles (especially of the catalogue variety) receive middling restorations, if any restoration at all. Universal Pictures are a frequent culprit, their transfers for recent releases such as Back To The Future and Jurassic Park were simply not up to scratch. Years ago we would have marvelled at their quality. But when films over double their age can look significantly better than these examples, then you know there are some issues. But as film restoration becomes cheaper, I would certainly hope that this trend reverses. Paramount and CBS' restoration of hundreds of hours of Star Trek: The Next Generation is hopefully the turning point for the industry, as long as it sells in sufficient quantities.

Last year's release of The Star Wars Saga on Blu-ray signalled more than any other the coming of age of the format. Despite this, there are many significant Hollywood titles which have yet to see a release. Disney plans to release their stable of animated classics over the next few years, including titles such as The Little Mermaid and Aladdin. James Cameron's Titanic, True Lies and The Abyss are all still outstanding. Some of Steven Spielbergs biggest hits including E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, Jaws The Indiana Jones Trilogy and Schindlers List are due this year, along with the remainder of unreleased James Bond titles, and that's just to name a few. Blu-ray still has a very exciting future. There will be some disappointments and upsets along the way (I guess, thats why we still need reviewers), but I've no doubt the future is very bright indeed.

When you can walk into a department store and pick up a reputable brand name Blu-ray for under $100, not only is the future of Blu-ray secure, but the writing is on the wall for the DVD format. In the same way that you cannot purchase VHS titles and it's nigh impossible to find a standalone VHS player, so too will Blu-ray replace DVD. This might take a number of years, but it will happen.

But what about a future beyond Blu-ray? 4K resolution TV's are on the horizon. There will likely be a format to supersede Blu-ray. The HVD format seems to be the most developed as of now, but experience tells us that anything can happen in the weird and wild world of movie formats. Digital downloads and streaming services will continue to chip away at demand for physical media, but the lack of current infrastructure to facilitate the downloading of high resolution media, along with the hesitance of many to embrace formats they cannot hold or touch has surprised many media pundits.

We've come a long way in just five years. Watching a Blu-ray and finally being able to marvel at the love, care and art that has gone into their craft is an extremely gratifying experience for film buffs everywhere. Long live Blu-ray.

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Next Xbox is codenamed Durango

Kotaku received word from multiple sources that "Durango" is the codename of Microsoft's next-gen Xbox.

Note this is a code-name. Like the Katana (Dreamcast), Dolphin (GameCube) and Revolution (Wii) before it, it's not the name that will appear on the finished product when you finally get your hands on one.

It is the name, however, that you'll be hearing during the console's final development phase, that awkward time between it being first shown off and then actually released to the public.

Next Xbox is codenamed Durango - More news at DV Hardware

Apple axes Mac name with OS X Mountain Lion

Apple revealed the first developer preview of OS X Mountain Lion. The new operating system drops the familiar "Mac" from its name and delivers even more iOS features to the Mac platform, enabling tighter integration. It seems the Mac name will now solely be used to refer to the hardware, while OS X is used to refer to the platform's operating system.

Apple� today released a developer preview of OS X� Mountain Lion, the ninth major release of the world�s most advanced operating system, which brings popular apps and features from iPad� to the Mac� and accelerates the pace of OS X innovation. Mountain Lion introduces Messages, Notes, Reminders and Game Center to the Mac, as well as Notification Center, Share Sheets, Twitter integration and AirPlay� Mirroring. Mountain Lion is the first OS X release built with iCloud� in mind for easy setup and integration with apps. The developer preview of Mountain Lion also introduces Gatekeeper, a revolutionary security feature that helps keep you safe from malicious software by giving you complete control over what apps are installed on your Mac. The preview release of Mountain Lion is available to Mac Developer Program members starting today. Mac users will be able to upgrade to Mountain Lion from the Mac App Store� in late summer 2012.

�The Mac is on a roll, growing faster than the PC for 23 straight quarters, and with Mountain Lion things get even better,� said Philip Schiller, Apple�s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. �The developer preview of Mountain Lion comes just seven months after the incredibly successful release of Lion and sets a rapid pace of development for the world�s most advanced personal computer operating system.�

The developer preview of Mountain Lion features the all new Messages app which replaces iChat� and allows you to send unlimited messages, high-quality photos and videos directly from your Mac to another Mac or iOS device. Messages will continue to support AIM, Jabber, Yahoo! Messenger and Google Talk. Starting today Lion users can download a beta of Messages from www.apple.com, and the final version will be available with Mountain Lion. Reminders and Notes help you create and track your to-dos across all your devices. Game Center lets you personalize your Mac gaming experience, find new games and challenge friends to play live multiplayer games, whether they�re on a Mac, iPhone�, iPad or iPod touch�.

Mountain Lion presents notifications in an elegant new way, and Notification Center provides easy access to alerts from Mail, Calendar, Messages, Reminders, system updates and third party apps. System-wide Share Sheets make it easy to share links, photos and videos directly from Apple and third party apps. Twitter is integrated throughout Mountain Lion so you can sign on once and tweet directly from Safari�, Quick Look, Photo Booth�, Preview and third party apps. Mountain Lion also introduces AirPlay Mirroring, an easy way to wirelessly send a secure 720p video stream of what's on your Mac to an HDTV using Apple TV�.

More than 100 million users have iCloud accounts, and Mountain Lion makes it easier than ever to set up iCloud and access documents across your devices. Mountain Lion uses your Apple ID to automatically set up Contacts, Mail, Calendar, Messages, FaceTime� and Find My Mac. The new iCloud Documents pushes any changes to all your devices so documents are always up to date, and a new API helps developers make document-based apps work with iCloud.

Gatekeeper is a revolutionary new security feature that gives you control over which apps can be downloaded and installed on your Mac. You can choose to install apps from any source, just as you do on a Mac today, or you can use the safer default setting to install apps from the Mac App Store, along with apps from developers that have a unique Developer ID from Apple. For maximum security, you can set Gatekeeper to only allow apps from the Mac App Store to be downloaded and installed.

Mountain Lion also has features specifically designed to support Chinese users, including significant enhancements to the Chinese input method and the option to select Baidu search in Safari. Mountain Lion makes it easy to set up Contacts, Mail and Calendar with top email service providers QQ, 126 and 163. Chinese users can also upload video via Share Sheets directly to leading video websites Youku and Tudou, and system-wide support for Sina weibo makes microblogging easy.

Hundreds of new APIs give developers access to new core technologies and enhanced features within OS X. The Game Kit APIs tap into the same services as Game Center on iOS, making it possible to create multiplayer games that work across Mac, iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. A new graphics infrastructure underpins OpenGL and OpenCL and implements GLKit, first introduced in iOS 5, to make it easier to create OpenGL apps. Using Core Animation in Cocoa apps is easier than ever, and new video APIs deliver modern 64-bit replacements for low-level QuickTime APIs. Enhanced Multi-Touch� APIs give developers double-tap zoom support and access to the system-wide lookup gesture. Kernel ASLR improves security through enhanced mitigation against buffer overflow attacks.

Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices with iPad.

Apple axes Mac name with OS X Mountain Lion - More news at DV Hardware