General Gaming Article

General Gaming Article

Budget-Priced Intel 330 SSD Details Leaked Online, Expected This Month

Posted: 03 Apr 2012 11:36 AM PDT

Sure, the prices of mechanical hard disk drives are going to stay above preflood levels. That sucks, but not all the news on the storage front is as bleak, or as expensive: a number of e-tailers have accidentally leaked details about a new, low cost line of Intel SSDs that are due to hit the streets very, very soon.

The incriminating bits have since been washed from the Web, but Engadget and The Register managed to snag details about the Intel 330 SSD line before they disappeared. Apparently, they'll rock 6Gbps SATA 3.0 transfer speeds and sequential read/write at 500MBps/450MBps, respectively, while being built around the 25nm NAND found in Intel 320 SSDs.

That's nice, but what about pricing and availability? Amazon UK's listing said the parts would be available on Friday, April 13 -- oooh, spooky! -- while U.S. retailer SabrePC offered up Stateside price points: $90 for 60GB, $150 for 120GB, and $235 for 180GB. That's not quite the mythical $1/GB point, but it's not too far off. Keep your fingers crossed that the details stay firm between now and the launch day.

IDC: HDD Output To Reach Preflood Levels, But Prices Will Stay At A Postflood Premium

Posted: 03 Apr 2012 10:55 AM PDT

Good news for all you mechanical drive freaks out there: the beleaguered and washed-out hard disk drive industry is on track to pull its head back above water in the second half of the year. Yay! Bad news for all you mechanical drive freaks out there: even though HDD output will fully catch up to previous levels, HDD prices are still going to stay above the "dirt cheap" range they were at before the Thailand floods.

The news comes courtesy of IDC, who says that "HDD vendors are taking advantage of this opportunity to reset prices and recover some of the excessive price erosion that began in 2009." Don't speak business-ease? Basically, HDD manufacturers will be taking a cue from the gas companies and keeping prices at a high level now that they know people will pay the premium. Hopefully they nudge down a bit from where they're at now, though. (We'd like to send our kids to college someday.)

John Rydning, IDC's hard drive guru, claims that the higher price points will let HDD manufacturers pump R&D cash into newfangled HDD technology, but the possibility of a more power-efficient hard disk two years down the line probably won't help to quell the hurt your wallet feels when you're trying to fill a NAS box today.

To be fair, though, HDDs were getting ridiculously cheap before the floods. What are your thoughts about the "reset HDD prices"? Is it a fair move, price gouging, or something in between?

EVGA Rolls Out Killer New Global Warranty Policy

Posted: 03 Apr 2012 10:34 AM PDT

If you were ogling that nifty-looking, waterblock-sporting EVGA GTX 680 Hydro Copper graphics card we highlighted yesterday but couldn't quite justify laying out the dough, maybe today's news will kick you off the proverbial fence: EVGA has unveiled an awesome new "Global Warranty Policy." Basically, anyone can return any covered EVGA graphics card from anywhere in the world going forward, regardless of whether or not they're the original owner.

Under the new Global Warranty, most new EVGA cards bought after July 1 of last year will be covered by a three year warranty based on manufacturing date. (Some recertified a 1 year warranty cards are excluded.) Since the warranty is based on the product's serial number, you won't have to worry about rushing to register your product or keeping a death grip on the original receipt. It also has another awesome benefit. From the press release:

The warranty is fully transferable. This means that if an end user transfers ownership of an EVGA product to another end user whether via a private sale, or via a second hand online site or auction site, the remainder of the warranty period also transfers to the new owner.

Now, some other graphics cards manufacturers also use a serial number-based warranty, but many won't honor the warranty if the card is bought from another country or moved overseas. EVGA is putting itself above that nonsense: "An EVGA product is covered under warranty, no matter where you live. If you purchase a product in another country, you will be served by your local warranty center."

EVGA promises new goodies for people who continue who register their new cards within 30 days, and five and 10 year extended warranties will also be available, but applicable only to original owners with registered cards.

All in all, this is an awesome move by EVGA. Hopefully other manufacturers hop on the bandwagon and begin standing behind their products without requiring buyers to file forms in triplicate! Check out all the nitty gritty details over at the EVGA website.

Battle For Megaupload Data Rages On

Posted: 03 Apr 2012 10:08 AM PDT

The Carpathia hosting company has already sunk over half a million bucks into keeping the user data stored on Megaupload's 25,000 servers, and that tally's rising by another $9k a day. Now, the company's looking to offset that cost by either: (A) selling 25 petabytes of data back to Megaupload; (B) get the court to help foot the maintenance bill; or (C) receive court protection from civil claims if it has to wipe the data to stop the bleeding. Unfortunately for Megaupload users on the up-and-up, the government and MPAA are blowing a raspberry at all three options.

Actually, the government is fine with wiping the data, but doesn't feel as though it owes Carpathia liability immunity if it chooses to do so. U.S. Attorney Neil MacBride told the court that the government withheld its claims to the data way back in January, and Carpathia voluntarily chose to continue hosting the Megaupload servers, CNET reports. The government's trial against Megaupload has nothing to do with civil matters related to the data or payment arrangements between Carpathia and Megaupload, MacBride says. He asked the court to deny the requests for either compensation or immunity.

Meanwhile, the MPAA weighed in on selling the data back to Megaupload, Digital Trends reports. The group also filed documents with the court to try and prevent the sale:

A sale or transfer of the servers to Megaupload (or any of the defendants) would raise a significant risk that Megaupload will simply ship the servers, hard drives or other equipment — and all of the infringing content they contain — to a foreign jurisdiction and relaunch the infringing Megaupload service, which would result in untold further infringements of the MPAA members' copyrighted works. If so, the renewed criminal enterprise might be beyond any effective legal remedy.

All hope is not completely lost, however: MSNBC reports that the EFF is helping Kyle Goodwin, the man behind the OhioSportsNet high school sports site, try to recover his completely legal files from the servers. The duo filed documents asking the courts for their return.

So what do you think: will lawful users ever get their files back? Were your files bit by the Megaupload seizure bug? Go on and share with the group!

E.T. Would Approve of Canon's New EOS 60Da DSLR Camera for Astronomy Enthusiasts

Posted: 03 Apr 2012 07:43 AM PDT

Canon's new EOS 60Da DSLR camera is the long-awaited successor to the EOS 20Da and just the thing for photographers who prefer to stare at space than at flowers and other earthly objects. According to Canon, the freshly minted 60Da is optimized for astrophotograhy and is ideally suited for astronomers and hobbyists who want to snap photos of the night sky.

If you're into to such things, you'll be happy to know it has a modified infrared filter and a low-noise sensor with heightened hydrogen-alpha sensitivity. Sounds fancy, but the takeaway from all that lingo is that the 60Da is able to capture photographs of "red hydrogen emission" nebulae and other cosmic phenomena, Canon says.

"The EOS 60Da is a testament to the constant desire to meet the needs of every customer, including those in specialized fields," said Yuichi Ishizuka, executive vice president and general manager, Imaging Technologies & Communications Group, Canon U.S.A., "This new camera enables an accurate depiction of a part of our solar system which is hard to achieve with conventional cameras but should be enjoyed and celebrated."

The EOS 60Da wields an 18-megapixel CMOS sensor, which is a giant improvement over the 20Da's 8.2MP sensor. It also has an improved 3-inch Clear View LCD screen, flip-out Vari-angle display, increased ISO speeds up to 6400 (expandable to 12800), nine-point autofocus system, full manual controls, and RAW, JPEG, and RAW+JPEC image recording capabilities.

Stargazers will be able to get their hands on the 60Da later this month for $1,499 through select authorized dealers.

Image Credit: Canon

Less Than 3 Percent of Android Device Owners Have Unwrapped Ice Cream Sandwich

Posted: 03 Apr 2012 07:15 AM PDT

Summer is fast approaching, and if you're an Android fan, what better treat is there to celebrate the change in season than a delicious Ice Cream Sandwich? Certainly not Gingerbread, yet going by the numbers, that's what the large majority of Android users are chomping on. According to Google's updated Platform Versions website, only 2.9 percent of Android devices are rocking Android 4.0 or later (4.0.2 and 4.0.3).

Nearly two thirds -- 63.7 percent -- are still stuck with one of the Gingerbread builds, followed by almost a quarter -- 23.1 percent -- floating by with Froyo (Android 2.2). As we go back through the builds, the penetration rate drops rapidly with 6 percent of Android devices running Eclair (Android 2.1), and just 1 percent running either Donut (Android 1.6) or Cupcake (Android 1.5). Honeycomb (Android 3.0, 3.1, and 3.2) accounts for 3.3 percent of devices.

This is perhaps the biggest challenge that comes from wielding an open source operating system like Android. It's that dirty F-word that keeps getting thrown around: Fragmentation.

It's worth noting, as Electronista did, that most iOS device owners are now running iOS 5.1, the latest version of Apple's mobile operating system, and have been ever since a few weeks after launching. It's not that Apple devices are better, but it is a closed platform with just one major device in each category (iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad), so it's far easier to roll out updates to more users in a timely manner.

It's an apples and androids comparison, of course, but nevertheless, it doesn't change the fact that Android updates are typically slow to roll out en masse. On a positive note, ICS seems to finally be picking up some steam. The current 2.9 penetration rate is almost double the 1.6 percent rate from one month ago. By the time summer rolls around, we expect many more Android users will be enjoying ICS, and wondering when they'll be able to get their hands on Jellybean.

Image Credit: Flickr (henofthewood)

Oracle, Google Fail to Reach Settlement in Java Patent Lawsuit

Posted: 03 Apr 2012 06:56 AM PDT

Google and Oracle sat down for a last-ditch, court-ordered settlement conference over the weekend, but their latest attempt at settling their longstanding patent dispute failed to yield any results even after six hours of parleying. With the latest settlement conference between the two companies proving just as sleeveless as those before it, their protracted patent dispute is now all set to go to trial.

"Despite their diligent efforts and those of their able counsel, the parties have reached an irreconcilable impasse in their settlement discussions with the undersigned," wrote U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul Grewal in an order Monday. "No further conferences shall be convened. The parties should instead direct their entire attention to the preparation of their trial presentations. Good luck."

The dispute, which revolves around Oracle's allegations that Google's Android operating system infringes on some of its Java-related patents, has been dragging on since August 2010. So reluctant have the two companies been to make concessions that last year a U.S. District Judge even lambasted them for being unreasonable and "asking for the moon."

But as Judge Paul Grewal remarked in his judgement, some cases just have to be tried. This is clearly one of those cases. The trial in this case is scheduled to begin on April 16, 2012.

Game Developers Diss Wii U's Graphics System, Prefer PS3 and Xbox 360

Posted: 03 Apr 2012 06:46 AM PDT

Barring any last minute surprises, Nintendo will be the first of the big three console makers to come out with a next generation living room game system. It's the Wii U, and it will ship with HD graphics support, a funky new tablet controller, and updated guts that, in theory, should have developers excited. It is, after all, a new toy to play with. So why are a handful of developers dissing the Wii U?

It's the subpar graphics, or at least that's what developers supposedly familiar with the hardware told GamesIndustry International. The developers, who wish to remain anonymous, said the Wii U is "just not as powerful" as the PS3 or Xbox 360, a pair of consoles that have been around the block for several years now.

A developer that GamesIndustry International says works at a major company stated, "There aren't as many shaders, it's not as capable." He did offer up that some things about the Wii U are better because it's a more modern design, "but overall the Wii U just can't quite keep up."

That doesn't bode well for Nintendo, though to be fair, the current Wii has sold like hotcakes despite being less powerful and feature-rich than either the PS3 and Xbox 360. It doesn't play DVDs or Blu-ray discs, it doesn't support HD resolutions, and it's online ecosystem is substandard at best. Yet, it sells, partly because of its price point.

It's possible the Wii U will debut at a tantalizing price point as well, though with a tablet controller thrown into the mix, it will be interesting to see how low Nintendo can go.

Image Credit: Nintendo

Leisure Suit Larry Creator Al Lowe Needs Your Help Rebooting Land of the Lounge Lizards

Posted: 03 Apr 2012 06:25 AM PDT

I was exposed to Leisure Suit Larry and his many sultry shenanigans before I should have been. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't fresh out of diapers clicking through adult humor I couldn't possibly understand, but as a teenager closer to 13 than 18 when I first set virtual foot in the Land of the Lounge Lizards, my parents probably would have pulled the plug on my home brewed IBM clone with an upgraded Intel 386DX processor if they knew what was going on. I'm glad they didn't.

The reason I bring this up is because somehow, someway, series creator Al Lowe and Replay Games managed to pluck the Leisure Suit Larry license from Sierra's deathgrip and are planning to create a 2012 "Reloaded" version with updated graphics and jokes. They've reassembled the original team that created the first Larry game, which means it will be nothing like the bastardized versions -- Magna Cum Laude and Box Office Bust -- that were created without Al Lowe's involvement, but only if enough funds are raised.

This is one of the newest projects on Kickstarter.com, an online funding platform for everything from indie films to, well, remakes of the original Leisure Suit Larry game. For this to happen, Al Lowe and company need to raise at least $500,000. That isn't chump change, but after just two days, they're nearly 20 percent there.

There's a cumulative reward system culminating in a $50,000 or larger pledge, and anyone who puts up that much will be flown to Las Vegas for a weekend to hang out with Al Lowe and game writer Josh Mandel (bail money not included). Rewarded pledges start at a much more pedestrian $15, which gets you a "heartfelt download link (via Steam or DRM free version)." Pledges of $100 or more receive an actual physical copy of the game, a CD of the soundtrack, softcover version of the game's art book, and a Leisure Suit Larry brand condom (still in its wrapper, thankfully), plus everything that's included in the lower pledge tiers, like access to the beta versions. Larger pledges gets your name pixelized in the game credits, or even your mug slapped onto an in-game character.

The game itself is being released for PCs and tablets and will include a modern point-and-click/touchscreen interface, fully voiced over characters, and ultra-high resolution graphics. It will also feature "more of the humor that's made Al Lowe a household name," which worries me. The Land of the Lounge Lizards probably isn't the way I remember it, but whatever, if the remake comes to fruition, I'll slick my hair back and don a polyester suit one more time. Whether or not I let my teen play the game, who's also much closer to 13 than 18, remains to be seen.

If you want to make a pledge, hit this link.
Posted by Shri Krishna

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