General Gaming Article

General Gaming Article


Dell, Samsung and Lenovo Confirmed as Windows RT OEM Partners

Posted: 13 Aug 2012 08:04 PM PDT

We already know that the Windows RT version of  Microsoft's Surface tablet will make its retail debut on  October 26, the same day as Windows 8's global release, but surprisingly not a lot is known about  third-party devices running the ARM-friendly flavor of Windows at this stage, with the Asus Tablet 600 being about the only confirmed third-party Windows RT device as of now. Now, Microsoft is requesting just a bit more patience from those currently holding their breath, as other vendors are expected to unveil their Windows RT offerings very soon.

Confirming ARM-based Windows RT PCs from Dell, Lenovo, and Samsung in a blog post on the Building Windows 8 blog, Microsoft said that details about these upcoming tablets would be trickling out into the open before the launch of Windows 8 in late October. This is in line with a recent rumor which claimed that the Windows RT tablet market would initially be restricted to only a handful of top-tier PC vendors.

The recent unveiling of the Surface may not have gone down too well with PC vendors, who are understandably none too pleased at the prospect of having to partner and compete with Microsoft at the same time, but the Redmond-based technology behemoth describes its engineering collaboration with PC vendors on these Windows RT devices as being "strong."

"Windows RT represents a significant re-imagining of not only Windows, but Windows PCs and how we partner together to engineer them," wrote Mike Angiulo, vice president of the Ecosystem and Planning team at Microsoft, in a blog post Monday. "The deep engineering collaborations from the Silicon and component manufacturers through to our PC partners and Windows engineering team have provided a compelling suite of exciting new Windows PCs that deliver on the promise of fast and fluid, always on and always connected, thin and light, and all-day battery life. We are looking forward to the exciting announcements ahead from Dell, Lenovo, and Samsung."

Image Credit: Microsoft

April 2012: 73 Amazing Websites You Need to Visit

Posted: 13 Aug 2012 03:41 PM PDT

 

In the PDF archive of the April 2012 issue you can find:

  • 73 Amazing Websites
  • Intel Core i7-3820
  • LGA2011 Coolers
  • Head to Head: Ultrabook vs. Tablet 
  • Build a Rig with three HD 7970s in CrossFireX
  • How to Mount SkyDrive as a Network Drive on Your PC
  • And Reviews of the Latest Hardware

Click the cover image on the right to download the PDF archive today!

March 2012: 11 Hardware Hacks

Posted: 13 Aug 2012 03:20 PM PDT

March 2012 cover

In the PDF archive of the March 2012 issue you can find:

  • 11 Hardware Hacks
  • Maximum PC's Annual Gaming Awards
  • Radeon HD 7970 Reviewed
  • Build an $830 PC
  • How to Set Up a RAMDisk
  • The Facts about Phase-Change Memory
  • And Much More

Click the cover image on the right to download the PDF archive today! 

February 2012: Ultrabooks. Are They Tablet Killers?

Posted: 13 Aug 2012 02:18 PM PDT

february 2012 coverIn the PDF archive of the February 2012 issue you can find:

  • Ultrabooks: Are They Tablet Killers?
  • Get Smart about Smart TV
  • The Return of PC Gaming
  • EVGA GeForce GTX Classified Reviewed
  • How To Get Free Ebooks from Your Local Library
  • Build an Octo-Core Rig on a Budget
  • And Much More

Click the cover image on the right to download the PDF archive today! 

Scientists Develop Full Color Printing Technique Capable of 100,000 Dots Per Inch

Posted: 13 Aug 2012 10:16 AM PDT

A team of researchers in Singapore have come up with a full color printing method capable of producing the world's highest quality photos with a resolution of up to 100,000 dots per inch (DPI). The astounding achievement, as outlined in Nature Nanotechnology, could be used for making microimages for security purposes, stenography, nanoscale optical filters, and high-density spectrally encoded optical data storage.

To put this into perspective, a run-of-the-mill inkjet printer tops out at 10,000 DPI. The level of detail capable at 100,000 DPI is staggering and considered the most advanced photo technique to date.

"The resolution of printed colour images very much depends on the size and spacing between individual 'nanodots' of color," explained Dr Karthik Kumar, one of the key researchers involved, according to PetriDishNews.com. "The closer the dots are together and because of their small size, the higher the resolution of the image. With the ability to accurately position these extremely small color dots, we were able to demonstrate the highest theoretical print colour resolution of 100,000 DPI."

Researchers say they were inspired by stained glass made from mixing metal fragments. The nanoparticles from the metal fragments scatter light that passes through to give the stained glass its color palette.

You can read all the geeky details in a this highly technical abstract.

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Sennheiser Sets Sights on PC Gamers with New Audio Headsets

Posted: 13 Aug 2012 09:43 AM PDT

Sennheiser needs no introduction in the audio space, so we'll skip right to the chase and share the fact that Sennheiser has just added a pair of headsets to its PC gaming line. The new models include the PC 323D with 7.1 "super-realistic" surround sound, and the PC 310, the latter of which is a more subdued headset aimed at entry-level gamers, with a price tag to boot ($60).

The PC 310 is built with soft, open-acoustic ear cups with plush padding, dualFol diaphragms with neodymium magnets, and an adjustable noise-cancelling microphone. If you tend to gyrate when you game, or are prone to fits of rage, Sennheiser says the the PC 310's "re-engineered cable can survive the daily abuse of tough matches and rolling chairs."

On the higher end of the audio scale, Sennheiser's $160 PC D323 also features an open air acoustic design, but ups the ante with 7.1 channel surround virtualization via the Dolby Pro Logic IIx USB processor, Both headsets are shipping now.

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ARM Extends Hand to Globalfoundries to Produce Chips Using 20nm Node Process

Posted: 13 Aug 2012 08:49 AM PDT

Globalfoundries and ARM have inked a multi-year agreement to jointly develop optimized system-on-chip (SoC) solutions using 20-nanometer and FinFET process technologies, the two company's announced today. The new agreement is really an extension of a long-standing collaboration between these two firms, and it also includes work on graphics processors, which are becoming ever more important in the mobile space.

The two companies have been working for years tweaking ARM's Cortex A series of processors for higher performance and improved power efficiency. This new agreement extends those prior efforts as the two sides focus heavily on 20nm chips and three-dimensional FinFET transistor technology. According to ARM and Globalfoundries, the joint development will result in next generation SoC solutions reaching the market faster than would otherwise be possible.

"This early engagement promotes the rapid adoption of ARM and Globalfoundries technologies in future SoCs for several important markets," said Simon Segars, executive vice president and general manager, Processor and Physical IP Divisions at ARM. "Customers designing for mobile, tablet and computing applications will benefit extensively from the energy-efficient ARM processor and graphics processor included in this collaboration. By proactively working together to enable next-generation 20nm-LPM and FinFET process technologies, our mutual customers can be assured a range of implementation options that will enable two more generations of advanced semiconductor devices."

The technology this partnership is based on will ultimately manifest itself in next generation tablet and smartphone devices, as well as other mobile applications. It will also apply pressure to TSMC and Intel to stay on top of their respective games.

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Old School Neo Geo Console Returns as X Gold Edition, Available in December for $200

Posted: 13 Aug 2012 08:20 AM PDT

If you're old enough to remember the original Neo Geo, then you probably recall how it brought arcade level gaming into the living room. High tech and expensive, most thirty-something gamers grew up playing on less expensive Nintendo and Sega systems (or a Turbo Grafx 16 if betting on the dark horse), but if you always wished you could have owned a Neo Geo, you're going to get your chance in a few months.

Tammo, in partnership with SNK Playmore, confirmed the old school console's portable rebirth as the Neo Geo X Gold. The $200 handheld game system will go on sale in December and celebrate the console's 20th anniversary with 20 pre-installed games, including:

  • 3 Count Bout
  • League Bowling
  • Art of Fighting II
  • Magician Lord
  • Alpha Mission II
  • Metal Slug
  • Baseball Stars II
  • Mutation Nation
  • Cyber Lip
  • NAM 1975
  • Fatal Fury
  • Puzzled
  • Fatal Fury Special
  • Real Bout -- Fatal Fury Special
  • The King of Fighters '95
  • Samurai Shodown II
  • King of the Monsters
  • Super Sidekicks
  • Last Resort
  • World Heroes Perfect

"Great game consoles don't die; they're just reborn in much more affordable and convenient packages," said Tommo CEO Jonathan Wan. "The Neo Geo X Gold is a love letter to one of my favorite consoles of all time, and working with SNK Playmore to acquire the Neo Geo license, Tommo Inc. looks to provide gaming and entertainment enthusiasts with a classic arcade experience both at home and on the go."

The system will consist of a 4.3-inch LCD display, expandable game card slot, stereo speakers, and 3.5mm headphone jack. You'll also be able to use it as a home console via HDMI or RCA output.

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Samsung Refreshes Series 7 Gamer Laptop with 3D Display, Yellow Paint Job

Posted: 13 Aug 2012 07:36 AM PDT

Samsung's getting ready to reboot its flagship gaming notebook, the Series 7 Gamer, with a funky fresh yellow paint job, 3D display, and new internals built around Intel's Ivy Bridge platform. As reconstructed, the Series 7 Gamer will sport punchier graphics and faster storage that ventures into solid state drive territory, though it will still feature a 1TB hard drive for storage chores.

Specifically, Samsung's Series 7 Gamer boasts an Intel Core i7 3610QM processor clocked at up to 3.3GHz, 8GB of DDR3 memory (upgradeable to 16GB), AMD Radeon HD 7870M graphics, 128GB SSD for the OS, 1TB HDD for secondary storage, 17.3-inch SuperBright Full HD 1080p (1920x1080) LED panel with 3D support, backlit keyboard, improved cooling, and Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit all wrapped in a bright yellow chassis, according to the company's Samsung Tomorrow blog.

The Series 7 Gamer will ship in Asia on August 14th for 2.99 million Won, or about $2,650 when converted to U.S. currency. No word on when Samsung plans to ship the refreshed laptop in the U.S. and other territories, or how much it will cost stateside when (and if) it does.

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Judge Forbids Samsung Designer from Testifying in Apple Patent Trial

Posted: 13 Aug 2012 07:16 AM PDT

The soap opera style saga between Apple and Samsung has already seen more than its fair share of drama, from Samsung leaking disallowed evidence to the public to the revelation that Apple once considered its enemy a "strategic partner," offering to license key patents at a discounted rate. The latest episode in As the Patent World Turns involves U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh barring a Samsung designer from presenting testimony in the trial.

It sounds like a blatant bias on the surface, but Hyong Shin Park, the designer in question, didn't have a hand in building any of the Nexus devices taking center stage at the trial.

"The risk of undue prejudice to Apple outweighs the probative value of Ms. Park's testimony," Koh said, according to a Bloomberg report.

Park did, however, help design Samsung's F700 phone, which sports a somewhat similar design to the iPhone. According to Samsung, Park's design patents date back to December 2006, predating the iPhone. Like the iPhone, the F700 features rounded corners and a rectangular shape. Due to the timing of the F700, it's even been suggested by some in the media that it was Apple who copied Samsung, though evidence leading to that conclusion may not be completely accurate, Android Community notes.

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