Tuesday, 22 May 2012
Chimera 1.8 Update: OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion Support
Wicked Lasers Spyder III Krypton 1 Watt Green Laser Review
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
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.Full details over here.
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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.
Raspberry Pi delivers its $35 Linux computer - More news at DV Hardware
Lucid Virtu MVP enhances switchable graphics and more
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
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
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 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
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
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.Source: ARS Technica
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.
ARM version of Windows 8 to lack manageability features - More news at DV Hardware
NVIDIA: Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro performance claims are wrong
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.Full details over here.
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.
NVIDIA: Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro performance claims are wrong - More news at DV Hardware
Qualcomm: Microsoft providing Snapdragon-based test PCs to developers
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.Earlier today NVIDIA informed the press that Microsoft is handing out Tegra 3 based test PCs to developers.
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.
Qualcomm: Microsoft providing Snapdragon-based test PCs to developers - More news at DV Hardware
Koolance CPU-370S series waterblock released for Intel and AMD
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
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
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� 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, 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