| Top 14 News Stories of 2014 Posted: 29 Dec 2014 09:45 AM PST  Looking back at another wild year in the tech sector
Two years ago, the world was supposed to end, based on the Mayan calendar. And last year, we heard about the death of the PC ad nauseam. Of course, neither of those things happened, setting up yet another event-filled 12 months of technology news that ran the gamut from a major security flaw affecting nearly every website on the Internet, to Blizzard announcing its first new PC game franchise in 17 years, plus a whole lot more. We're more anxious than ever to see what's in store for 2015, both internally (we have a new Editor-in-Chief, say hello to Tuan Nguyen!) and of course externally, with a new Windows OS release on the horizon. Prices of solid-state drives continue to fall, graphics cards are getting faster and offering more bang for your buck, virtual reality is closer than ever to being a mainstream thing, and Intel and AMD keep piling on more CPU cores for that inevitable day when software developers finally take full advantage of multi-core processing. It's going to be an exciting year indeed! However, we're getting ahead of ourselves. Before we cross over into 2015, let's take a moment to look back and give 2014 a proper goodbye. To do that, we've put together a gallery highlighting 14 of the more interesting tech stories of the past year. It's a trip back in time, if you will, so grab a bottle of grog, sit back, and let's toast another fun year together before we embark on a new one! |
| Newegg Daily Deals: Arctic MX-2 Thermal Compound, Asus GeForce GTX 750 Ti, and More! Posted: 29 Dec 2014 09:24 AM PST  
Top Deal: You wouldn't know it by looking at your processor, but that seemingly flat surface is a landmine of pits and nooks and crannies. Sure, they're microscopic, but they also wreak havoc on dissipating heat from the integrated heat spreader (IHS) to your cooler of choice, be it liquid or air. Hence why thermal compound and thermal tape exist -- they fill in all those microscopic imperfections so that there's more surface area to make contact with your cooler. Your choice of compound can make a difference, and one of the good ones happens to be today's top deal -- it's for Arctic's MX-2 Carbon-Based Thermal Compound for $5 with free shipping (normally $8 - use coupon code: [EMCWHHD38]). It's a non-conductive goop, so if things get a bit messy, you won't have to worry about a short. Other Deals: Corsair Carbide 500R Black ATX Mid Tower Computer Case for $100 with free shipping (normally $110 - use coupon code: [EMCWHHD32]; additional $20 Mail-in rebate) Asus GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Video Card for $140 with free shipping (normally $150 - use coupon code: [EMCWHHD29]) Corsair HX850 850W Modular Power Supply for $130 with free shipping (normally $140 - use coupon code: [EMCWHHD22]; additional $30 Mail-in rebate) Corsair Hydro H105 Extreme Performance 240mm Liquid CPU Cooler for $100 with free shipping (normally $115 - use coupon code: [EMCWHHD37]) |
| Sony Grosses $15 Million from Online Weekend Debut of 'The Interview' Posted: 29 Dec 2014 09:03 AM PST  The movie North Korea supposedly didn't want you to see
Despite the efforts of hackers who were apparently ticked off with Sony Pictures Entertainment over The Interview, a far-fetched comedy in which the CIA enlists the help of TV personalities played by Seth Rogan and James Francos to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, millions of Americans watched the movie since its Christmas Eve debut. More precisely, The Interview grossed $15 million in total consumer spending after just four days of being released online, Sony said in a release. "Through Saturday, December 27, including all of its online distribution platforms, The Interview has been rented or purchased online more than 2 million times," Sony said. "In addition to the strong turnout for its limited theatrical release over the holiday weekend, after only four days, The Interview already ranks as Sony Pictures' No. 1 online film of all time." Sony released The Interview on Christmas Eve to rent and purchase in HD on Google Play, YouTube Movies, Microsoft's Xbox Video, and through www.seetheinterview.com. It costs $5.99 to rent and $14.99 to buy. Prior to the film's release, Sony Pictures Entertainment suffered a massive cyberattack in which more than 10TB of data was stolen. Hackers made off with social security numbers of actors, internal emails, movie scripts, and more. After initially failing to find a link to North Korea, the FBI a short while later concluded that Kim Jong-un's regime was in fact responsible for the cyberattack. North Korea has denied involvement, and there are several security researchers who question the FBI's evidence. Wherever the attack originated, some have speculated that the culprits had assistance from people on the inside, given how easily the hackers were able to infiltrate Sony's network and move around. The hackers sent a message to Sony prior to The Interview's release threatening 9/11-like violence if the movie played in theaters. This prompted several cinema chains to pull the film. Sony followed suit by initially cancelling the movie's Christmas Day debut before deciding on a limited theatrical run and online release. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Asus Injects Discrete Audio into Your Laptop with Xonar U3 Plus Dongle Posted: 29 Dec 2014 08:32 AM PST  Discrete audio for the mobile road warrior
Unlike desktop PCs, you can't just open up your laptop and insert an audio card for discrete audio processing. However, there are USB-based solutions, including Asus' new Xonar U3 Plus, a pocket-sized USB sound solution with a built-in 150-Ohm headphone amp, DSP (digital signal processor), and other features. According to Asus, the Xonar U3 Plus is essentially a smaller version of its existing Xonar U5 and gaming-oriented U7 Echelon Edition with Sonic Radar. Asus says its Xonar U3 Plus solution offers an extremely low latency microphone loop for real-time audio recording and a full suite of audio enhancements, including a 10-band equalizer featuring five pre-set audio modes -- Rock, Rock Pro, Ballad Pro, and Special. As for rated specs: - Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR): 100dB
- Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise : 0.005% (-110dB)
- Frequency response: 20Hz to 20kHz
- Headphone impedance: Optimized for 32~150Ω
- Interface: USB 1.1 or above bus compatible
- Sample Rate and Resolution: Up to 48KHz @ 16bit
- Connectivity: 1 x 3.5 mm jack analog out; 1 x 3.5 mm jack (Line-In/Mic-In combo); 1 x S/PDIF out (combo with analog out)
- Operating system: 1/8/7/XP(32/64bit)
- Karaoke functions: Music pitch-shifting, vocal cancellation, and microphone echo effects with stereo mix recording (Wave and Mic-in) for online Karaoke or online DJ applications
While this is probably most convenient for notebook users, you can also use it in a desktop PC, provided you have a free USB port. This isn't the only product of its kind -- there are competing solutions, including Creative's Sound Blaster X-Fi Go! Pro ($40 on Creative's website). It's a cost-friendly alternative, assuming you don't have bad experiences paying with Creative's driver releases. No word yet on when the Xonar U3 Plus will be available or for how much. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Nvidia Rumored to Release GeForce GTX 960 on January 22, 2015 Posted: 29 Dec 2014 08:09 AM PST  A new mid-range GTX 900 Series card may be imminent
We expect to see quite a few product announcements at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas next month, which runs from January 6-9. However, rumor has it one part that won't make the trip is Nvidia's GeForce GTX 960 graphics card. Instead, a Chinese-language website thinks it's privy to Nvidia's plan to launch the GeForce GTX 960 on January 22, 2015. Credit goes to Fudzilla for the heads up from Hermitage Akihabara, which says that Nvidia is still working out the exact specifications for the forthcoming mid-range graphics card. About the only details the site has, other than the proposed launch date, is that it will sport a single 6-pin power connector and cost around 25,000 yen (~US$207). Based on other information from around the web, the card will feature Nvidia's Maxwell architecture with a GM206 GPU, details of which are pretty sparse. It's expected to debut with 2GB of GDDR5 on a 128-bit bus. The card was initially rumored to release in October 2014, though it's believed that Nvidia postponed the launch because of strong sales for its GeForce GTX 980 and 970 graphics cards. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| China Cuts to the Chase, Blocks Access to Google's Gmail Service Posted: 29 Dec 2014 07:49 AM PST  The next step in China's effort to block all things Google
After several months of service disruptions, China appears to have found a way to block access to Google's Gmail service through third-party email clients. China had already been disrupting service to Gmail for the better part of six months, though users have been able to login via third-party software. As of Friday, that was no longer the case, and Internet users in China are pretty peeved about it. There are still ways around the blockade, and since this is a decision that doesn't just affect access to personal email accounts, you can bet that foreign companies that use Gmail will utilize alternative methods. One way around the block is to ensure that employees have access to VPNs (virtual private networks), which allows them get passed China's censorship controls. This latest move joins several previous efforts to shut Google out of China, as the country already blocks many of the company's services, such as Google Search, Maps, Docs, and Drive. Earlier this year, China made it difficult to access Gmail directly, though left open access from third-party apps like Apple Mail and Microsoft Outlook that use IMAP, POP, and SMTP protocols. "They shouldn't have blocked Google or Gmail; it's against the spirit of the Internet," Yuan Shengang, chief executive of Netentsec, a Beijing-based cybersecurity company, told The New York Times. China's decision will have widespread consequences that might not be immediately obvious. For example, a lecturer at Nanjing University pointed out in a blog post this is a "critical moment for many students who are currently applying for overseas universities." Since their contacts are Gmails, the inconvenience of such a blockage could prevent them from returning. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Low Memory Devices Represent Majority of Windows Phone App Downloads Posted: 29 Dec 2014 07:19 AM PST  Handy information for app developers
Microsoft recently revealed some interesting stats and trends about Windows and Windows Phone, and among them is a tidbit that Windows Phone app developers may want to pay attention to. As it turns, most Windows Phone app downloads come from so-called "low memory" devices. On Windows Phone 7.x devices, low memory refers to having 256MB or less of RAM, and 512MB or less on Windows Phone 8.x handsets. The breakdown between low memory and high memory devices accounting for downloads is 71 percent and 29 percent, respectively, according to Microsoft. Good stuff to know if you're an app developer. "With 71 percent of downloads now coming from low-memory devices, you can more than double your potential market by optimizing your app to run on low memory devices. If that's not possible, consider creating a version with lower memory requirements to offer alongside your primary apps," Microsoft suggested in a blog post. The Nokia Lumia 720 (Windows Phone 8 device) is currently the most popular phone in the low memory category for downloading apps in the Windows Phone ecosystem. If a developer wants to dig even further, Microsoft also released download data for specific categories, with Games proving the most popular, followed by Tools & Productivity. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Jaasta Wants to Sell You a Dynamic E-Ink Keyboard Posted: 29 Dec 2014 12:12 AM PST 
Keys that can adapt to different applications and languages We've already seen dynamic keyboards featuring tiny OLED or LCD screens in place of run-of-the-mill plastic keys, but a new PC peripheral outfit named Jaasta thinks that the dynamic keyboard that the world really needs is the one it is currently developing — the Jaasta Wireless E Ink Keyboard. The idea is simple and one that we have seen before: a keyboard with fully customizable dynamic keys that can adapt themselves to different applications and languages on the fly. There's an e-ink screen behind each key and the keyboard packs a 3.5-inch multi-touch touchpad. According to the company, the keyboard will be available for pre-order soon for $300. However, those of you who have lately become wary of crowdfunding campaigns that promise too much and deliver too little (if anything at all), be warned that in Jaasta's world pre-orders are the same thing as crowdfunding. Follow Pulkit on Google+ |
| Startup Turns Hundreds of Vehicles into WI-Fi Routers in Portugal Posted: 28 Dec 2014 10:18 PM PST 
Coming to U.S. cities soon The northern Portuguese port city of Porto is now home to the largest and most advanced vehicular Wi-Fi network in the world. The network, built by a startup that originated in the city itself but is now headquartered in California, consists of over 600 wireless router-toting vehicles — buses, cars and even garbage trucks — and is responsible for providing wireless internet connectivity to around 70,000 people each month, who would've otherwise had to rely on cellular data. "Our on-board units endow vehicles with multi-purpose multi-network capabilities, supporting both vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication using WiFi and cellular," reads a page on the company's site. "NetRider devices have been deployed and tested in private vehicles, taxis, buses and large trucks in rough environments. Installation is simple and convenient. In a different configuration, NetRider units operate as roadside units and wireless routers." Veniam, the company behind Porto's massive city-wide vehicular wireless network, recently raised $4.9 million in Series A funding and is keen on bringing this technology to U.S. cities. João Barros, one of the company's founders, recently told VentureBeat that it plans to begin rolling out the technology across U.S. cities by having its NetRider routers fitted onboard vehicles belonging to companies that boast large fleets across multiple cities. It plans to start with San Francisco, New York City, and Austin. Besides providing internet access, the company's NetRider devices (or the networks thereof) can help cities harvest some valuable data that can help them better manage everything from the health of roads to waste disposal. Image Credit: Veniam Follow Pulkit on Google+ |
