General Gaming Article |
- TSMC's 28nm Chip Production Skyrocketed Last Quarter, Will Only Get Better
- Skype Responds to Claims of Increased Involvement with Law Enforcement
- Nvidia Jumps On The Miracast Wireless Display Standard Bandwagon With A Focus On Mobile Gaming
- Facebook Stock Slides Following Second Quarter Financial Report
- In wake of Inane Speculation, Swedish E-tailer Clarifies Its 'High' Microsoft Surface Pricing
- This week's hottest reviews on TechRadar
- Lian Li to Launch Silent PC-B12 Computer Case for $169
- Microsoft Admits Surface Tablet is Risky Business
- Nvidia GTX 660 Ti Detailed, Launch Date Leaked to the Web
| TSMC's 28nm Chip Production Skyrocketed Last Quarter, Will Only Get Better Posted: 27 Jul 2012 10:43 AM PDT
Xbit Labs listened to TSMC's conference call and dug through the company's financial data, then reported that the fab's 28nm output jumped by a whopping 70 percent last quarter. That's admirable, but still not anywhere near as much 28nm production as TSMC's customers are looking for. Fortunately, TSMC execs ensured investors that the company expects its 28nm shipments to double in the upcoming quarter en route to picking up steam and fully meeting OEM demand in the first quarter of 2013. Image credit: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd. |
| Skype Responds to Claims of Increased Involvement with Law Enforcement Posted: 27 Jul 2012 10:26 AM PDT
"It has been suggested that Skype made changes in its architecture at the behest of Microsoft in order to provide law enforcement with greater access to our users' communications," Gillett wrote. "False." Nor, Gillett claims, did Skype change its policy for cooperating with government information requests, stop encrypting Skype communications, or start recording users' audio and video calls. (Given the nature of the service, it isn't even technically possible for Skype to record calls.) Skype's supernode changes were simply to improve service performance and were set in motion long before Microsoft bought the company, Gillett explains. As far as the Washington Post's claim that the update allows Skype to provide IM details to law enforcement, Gillett says the following: In order to provide for the delivery and synchronization of instant messages across multiple devices, and in order to manage the delivery of messages between clients situated behind some firewalls which prevent direct connections between clients, some messages are stored temporarily on our (Skype/Microsoft) servers for immediate or later delivery to a user. Skype has employees whose sole purpose is handling legal requests for information, however, and Gillett stresses that the temporary IM data stored on Skype's servers will only be given to authorities if Skype finds the request to be both "legally required and technically feasible." Skype's privacy policy has always stated as such -- and it's right in line with that of pretty much every service provider around the world. The message from Skype seems exceptionally clear-cut and straightforward, especially in a world of PR speak and corporate communications that are full of words, but really say nothing. Do Gillett's comments comfort your Skype communication worries? |
| Nvidia Jumps On The Miracast Wireless Display Standard Bandwagon With A Focus On Mobile Gaming Posted: 27 Jul 2012 10:09 AM PDT Move over, AirPlay, and keep your closed ecosystem and pricey adapters to yourself, Wi-Di; there's a new streaming display solution coming to town. The Wi-Fi Alliance plans on finalizing the Miracast wireless display standard in the next few months, enabling cord-and dongle-free streaming to monitors and TVs, and a big new partner just announced it was onboard: Nvidia. Even better, Big Green's bringing the Tegra 3 processor along for the ride, which could help to quickly spur adoption of the standard. Miracast operates similarly to Wi-Fi Direct, allowing Miracast-compatible devices to connect directly and bypass the need to piggyback on a working Wi-Fi network. Several companies have hopped onboard the Miracast train, but Nvidia's positioning its Tegra 3 tablets and smartphones as a unique offering thanks to the mobile processor's excellent CPU/GPU combo chops. At the heart of every Tegra chip is a high-performance CPU and GPU, which means you can use Tegra to play amazing games on the big screen. We're not just talking about flinging Angry Birds but racing a super-charged jet ski in the game Riptide THD and playing heart-pounding first-person shooter games like Shadowgun THD. You can even take mobile gaming to the next level by pairing a Tegra device with a console controller for the ultimate wireless display experience. Nvidia's also striving to keep Tegra's Miracast solution low-latency. Latency woes have plagued Intel's Wi-Di. Tablet on the table, Shadowgun on the big screen and controller in hand, with no wires or adapters anywhere to be found? Sounds like a good time to us. Nvidia has a whitepaper outlining the basic principles behind its Miracast support, but the details are scarce; the company promises to release more info when the Miracast standard becomes ratified as an official spec. |
| Facebook Stock Slides Following Second Quarter Financial Report Posted: 27 Jul 2012 08:25 AM PDT
Facebook, which debuted at $38 per share when it went public, is down to just over $23. This is despite the fact that Facebook's revenue grew 32 percent in Q2, according to a report in The Washington Post. Facebook's revenue was higher than expected, but the devil is in the details. Profits weren't all that great, and Facebook's membership hasn't grown as quickly as investors would like, which is worrisome in terms of long-term growth potential. Investors were also concerned that revenue growth has slowed overall, at least compared to a few quarters ago when revenue more than doubled, the LA Times reports. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook
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| In wake of Inane Speculation, Swedish E-tailer Clarifies Its 'High' Microsoft Surface Pricing Posted: 27 Jul 2012 07:57 AM PDT
A couple of days back, WPCentral spotted product listings for all four Surface SKUs on Swedish shopping site Webhallen. With the cheapest Surface tablet, the 32GB Windows RT model, listed for as high as 6990 SEK (around $1,000), it soon became a hot talking point and some people even went as far as writing obituaries for the Microsoft-branded slate. But turns out Webhallen was merely trying to cash in on the buzz surrounding the Surface by using a very common sales technique: that of deliberately listing a much-awaited product at a much higher price than what it is actually expected to sell for. Obviously, this is done as pre-orderers are unlikely to back out of their purchase commitments in case the actual retail price turns out to be lower than the original listing price. "Our customers are very interested in pre-ordering these products, so we have set a high preliminary pricing for the lineup so that they may be able to pre-order them," the Swedish e-tailer told Techie Buzz. "Just to clarify, we have not recieved [sic] any pricing from Microsoft regarding MRSP or purchasing net cost, and any people who have booked the Surface at this high price will of course have their order adjusted before any product is shipped. So we're not going to overcharge anyone for being an early adopter." |
| This week's hottest reviews on TechRadar Posted: 27 Jul 2012 07:29 AM PDT This week has been TV-tastic with a whole range of brilliant TVs at different sizes making their way through the TechRadar office. We've also been putting OX X 10.8 Mountain Lion through its paces. Although it's not much of a step up from the Wildfire S and Explorer, the HTC Desire C is a well rounded budget handset which offers more than enough at its price point, even if it is a little under powered compared to some of its rivals. So it's better than the handsets it's come in to replace… but not by much. The intuitive interface, attractive design and competitive price tag means the Desire C certainly has the opportunity to do well at the low end of the market – especially against the likes of the Samsung Galaxy Y and LG Optimus L3. But for those who need a little more bang for their buck, you might want to see what the Ascend G300 or BlackBerry Curve 9320 have to offer. Packed with extra features it may be, but smart apps, web browsing and cute designs can be bought for less cash; buying the Panasonic TX-P50GT50 is all about a serious quest for picture quality prowess. And, boy, does this 50-inch plasma TV deliver. It's a class-leading plasma TV at an affordable price and it's impossible to think of a better screen on which to watch both 2D and 3D Blu-ray. Standard definition sources are coped with unusually well, too, and while the image isn't as immediately bright as an LCD/LED TV, a picture this good shouldn't be difficult to live with in any setting. However, the user interface is a little drab, and we're sad to see no 3D specs in the box but a picture completely lacking in motion blur and with awesome black levels makes this a reference-level television. OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion review If there's one feature that makes it worth upgrading your Mac to Mountain Lion, it's Notification Center. At £13.99, Mountain Lion is a real bargain for that alone, though the true cost might be higher if you have to upgrade from Leopard, or upgrade any of your applications to make them compatible. The rearrangement of Notes and Reminders into their own apps is very welcome if you also use an iOS device, and the swathe of other minor tweaks around the system are positive as a whole. Apple needs to rethink iCloud document libraries before we're willing to start putting work online though. Using iCloud to store documents is entirely optional, and it can be supplanted with alternatives such as Google Drive and Dropbox, which offer a more flexible file system. Although judged purely on picture quality the PS60E6500 isn't in quite the same league as Panasonic's high-end plasmas, it's a closer run thing than we'd imagined. As smart as any TV out there, the PS60E6500 excels with 3D. We're talking smooth, depth-filled images that are comfortable to watch, though 2D action is none too shabby either. It's great to see both Freesat HD and Freevew HD tuners inside, too, with HD channels playing a star role against standard definition channels that somehow look watchable on a 60-inch screen. One of Samsung's best-looking TVs both inside and out, the Samsung UE40ES7000's Freesat & Freeview HD tuners grace a versatile and innovation-packed effort. Voice control impresses, as does a Smart Touch remote and clever smartphone app. The Smart Hub can feel busy, but there's plenty on this high-end TV to wow – not least its contrast-rich, detailed pictures, solid upscaling and immersive 3D images. Choosing an HD-ready TV over a Full HD version is risky if you plan to watch Blu-rays, but this 32-inch television from Panasonic's low-resolution panel proves capable at hiding the video nasties emanating from the soft, low resolution, low bit-rate standard definition channels that still make up the majority of most people's TV viewing. There is some endemic motion blur on the Panasonic TX-L32X5 and it's a shame the Freeview HD electronic programme guide lacks a live TV thumbnail, but overall this is a reasonably good value attempt at a living room telly. Camcorders GoPro HD Hero2: Outdoor Edition review Cameras Canon PowerShot SX260 HS review Desktops Flash drives Kingston HyperX 64GB DataTraveler 3.0 review Hard drives ioSafe Rugged Portable Hard Drive review Kingston HyperX 3K 120GB review Headphones Headsets Corsair Vengeance 2000 Wireless review Sennheiser 323D 3D G4ME review Laptops Mice Mobile phones HTC Droid Incredible 4G LTE (Verizon) review Samsung Conquer 4G (Sprint) review Motherboards Asus RoG Maximus V Formula review Phone accessories Processors Storage Intel 330 series SSD 60GB review Tablets Televisions |
| Lian Li to Launch Silent PC-B12 Computer Case for $169 Posted: 27 Jul 2012 07:21 AM PDT
The case itself is a mid-tower chassis that measures 210mm (W) by 472mm (H) by 498mm (D) and weighs 6.4kg. It's made of black aluminum and can support up to three 3.5-inch hard drives (with a hotswap option), a single 2.5-inch SSD, and up to eight expansion cards. Compatibility wise, the PC-B12 supports graphics cards up to 360mm in length, PSUs up to 240mm, and CPU coolers that stand up to 160mm. Cooling duties are handled by a pair of 140mm fans up front and a 120mm fan in the rear, all three of which are included. There are no other optional fan mounts. Lian Li neglected to mention when the PC-B12 will ship, though did say it will retail for $169. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook
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| Microsoft Admits Surface Tablet is Risky Business Posted: 27 Jul 2012 06:47 AM PDT
"In addition, our Surface devices will compete with products made by our OEM partners, which may affect their commitment to our platform," Microsoft stated as one of its Risk Factors. The entry appears on page 14 of the greater than 100-page document and was first spotted by The New York Times Bits blog, which notes this is the first time Microsoft has fessed up to the obvious as it gets ready to bite the hands that feed it. Regardless, Microsoft is forging ahead with its Surface strategy, and will for the first time be competing with OEMs in what could be a major market segment. On the flip side, there's been chatter that Microsoft is employing a one-and-out strategy, whereby Surface will be the one-and-only tablet Microsoft makes. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook
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| Nvidia GTX 660 Ti Detailed, Launch Date Leaked to the Web Posted: 27 Jul 2012 05:48 AM PDT
Other specs Sweclockers.com revealed include:
Those specs are nearly identical to the GTX 670, save for the TDP, which is 20W lower on the GTX 660 Ti. Memory bandwidth is also lower as a result of the narrowed bus width, which drops from 192.2GB/s (GTX 670) to 144.19GB/s (GTX 660 Ti). According to Sweclockers.com, the reference model doesn't introduce any design deviations. The GTX 660 Ti is a two slot card with a pair of DVI ports, HDMI output, and a DisplayPort. It's powered by two 6-pin PCI-E connectors. No word yet on price, though the release date is said to be August 16, 2012. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook
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The industry-wide move to the 28nm manufacturing process has been slowed by the 28nm manufacturing struggles suffered by TSMC and other for-hire chip fabricators. Poor 28nm yields have adversely affected product availability for several of TSMC's partners, to the point that Nvidia and Qualcomm were rumored to be threatening to take their business elsewhere. Those dark days may be (mostly) behind, however, as TSMC's 28nm production skyrocketed in the second quarter.
Ever since Skype updated its network to transfer the supernodes that power the service away from a P2P system and onto secure, Skype-run data servers, rumors have run rampant that the update occurred solely to make Skype more amicable to government wiretapping requests. Yesterday, 
Confidence in Mark Zuckerberg's ability to navigate his social networking ship through rough financial waters is beginning to waver. Investors reacted negatively to Facebook's second quarter financial report, sending shares of the social network down almost 15 percent in after market trading, after it had already dipped 8 percent during regular trading hours on Thursday.
Will Microsoft's Surface tablet really start at over $1,000? That is the question that has been on everyone's mind ever since a listing for the upcoming Microsoft-branded tablet surfaced on Swedish site 
Luxury case designer Lian Li 
Microsoft can no longer stick its head in the sand and claim ignorance to the fact that its Surface tablet could, and probably will, incite anger among its OEM partners who aren't keen on the idea of competing with the company in the tablet space. That luxury went out the window when Microsoft filed a Form 10-K with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, admitting in black and white print what's been obvious since the get-go.
It seemed like a foregone conclusion that Nvidia's GeForce GTX 660 Ti would be based on the GPU maker's 28nm Kepler architecture, and lest there was any lingering doubt, a Swedish overclocking site got its hands on a spec sheet that seemingly confirms as much. If the information is correct, the GTX 660 Ti is essentially a GTX 670 card with a narrower memory bus (192-bit versus 256-bit).| You are subscribed to email updates from Maximum PC - All Articles To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
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