General Gaming Article

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• 15 Father's Day Geek Gifts
• Newegg Daily Deals: Protect Your Gear!
• NZXT Kraken X40 Review
• Microsoft: Xbox One Available in November for $499
• Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5 Leaves Beta, Now Available for $149
• Awesome Google Doodle Celebrates Maurice Sendak’s 85th Birthday
• Barnes & Noble Offers Deep Discounts on Nook HD and HD+ for Father's Day

15 Father's Day Geek Gifts Posted: 10 Jun 2013 03:14 PM PDT Tech gifts for dad Now that Mother's Day is in the rear view mirror, it's time to switch gears and focus on what to give dad for Father's Day to show your appreciation for what he had to put up with all those years, especially if you had a knack for getting into trouble. Maybe as a teen you swiped the keys to his prized Mustang for a night out on the town, only to take a curve too fast and render his pride and joy a hunk of expensive junk. If that sounds at all familiar, getting him a tie or new pair of loafers won't pay off the penance you owe. Even if you steered clear of sticky situations while growing up, you can probably think of plenty of reasons to prize your pops with a cool gift on Father's Day. Perhaps he taught you to toss a baseball or bought you your first computer. The point is, while you have your reasons for rewarding your dad on his day of special recognition, do you have any gift ideas? Put your worries to rest if you don't, because we do. In fact, we have 15 of them, but you'll have to click fast. Father's Day is right around the corner, so let's get started!

Newegg Daily Deals: Protect Your Gear! Posted: 10 Jun 2013 03:09 PM PDT Top Deal: Barring a full-on battery backup with built-in surge suppression, a surge suppressor is the next best bet for protecting your A/V gear. If you're in the market for one, today's top deal is for a Tripplite 8 Outlet Ultimate Protection Home Theater A/V Surge Suppressor for $35 with free shipping (normally $130 - use coupon code: EMCXPXN25). It has eight AC outlets, Ethernet RJ45 surge protection, and three sets of surge-protected Type F gold HD 2.2GHz coaxial connectors. Other Deals: AMD Athlon X4 750K Trinity 3.4GHz Socket FM2 100W Quad-Core Desktop Processor - Black Edition for $75 with free shipping (normally $85 - use coupon code:[EMCXPXN47]) Seagate Backup Plus 500GB USB 3.0 Black Portable Hard Drive STBU500100 for $50 with free shipping (normally $110 - use coupon code:[EMCXPXN64]) Toshiba 2TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive for $80 with free shipping (normally $110 - use coupon code:[EMCXPXN62]) Crucial Ballistix 8GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory for $50 with free shipping (normally $70 - use coupon code:[EMCXPXN69])

NZXT Kraken X40 Review Posted: 10 Jun 2013 03:01 PM PDT A crackin' cool-and-quiet cooler The Kraken X40 breaks the current trend of closed-loop water coolers rocking 12cm fans by upping its fan size to 14cm fan, which NZXT promises delivers more heat dissipation and better cooling without subjecting users to deafening fan noise. It's a lofty promise, but having tested it, we can tell you that this Kraken's bite lives up to its bark. The X40 offers unrivaled cooling performance on quiet mode. The X40 is based on Asetek's fourth-generation all-in-one closed-loop design, which features a copper cold plate that has been improved with denser micro-fins and a new center channel to increase coolant flow. A single NZXT FX-140 PWM fan is included, and the cooler supports an optional second fan for a push-pull config. It's compatible with all modern CPU sockets, with the exception of LGA775, but faces a larger compatibility obstacle in that it requires a case with a 14cm fan, such as NZXT's own Phantom 410. The X40 also sports extra-long 16-inch rubber tubing compared to most other closed-loop systems that use tubes measuring around 12 inches. Accompanying the larger fan is a wider radiator that offers 36 percent more surface area than smaller 12cm rads. Like Corsair's H80i that we reviewed last month, the X40 has an LED on top of the pump that you customize to either remain a solid color or to change color depending on temperature, which is slick. We also appreciate that the software to control it comes bundled on disc, whereas Corsair's software requires a download. The software is easy to use and allows you to adjust fan speeds, but not pump speeds like Corsair's equivalent. While it features only two presets, "silent" (1,000rpm) and "extreme" (1,700rpm), as opposed to the half-dozen with Corsair's software, you can still manually set the fans to run at fixed RPMs and save custom profiles.Installing the X40 was relatively easy. With our LGA2011 backplate preinstalled, we began by inserting four screws through the retention ring that allows the water block to be mounted to the CPU socket. The X40 features a similar retention ring to Thermaltake's Water2.0 Pro, which snaps onto the water block with a retention clip. This mounting process isn't as straightforward as the H80i's simple magnetic mounting bracket, but the X40's manual features excellent illustrations that simplify the installation process. Mounting the radiator and fan to the chassis just required tightening four screws through the back of the case. The last step was to connect the CPU fan and USB cables to the mobo headers, and unlike the H80i, all the cables come pre-attached to the water block, and the pump doesn't require additional power (Molex or SATA), making the installation less of a hassle. In testing, the Kraken X40 was impressive, and we were pleasantly surprised to find that the preset silent mode not only lived up to its name, but cooled extremely well, hitting just 67 C under load. This was enough to whoop our Hyper 212 zero-point air cooler in performance mode by 7 C, and it also bested the 12cm Seidon 120M water cooler running on full blast by 1 C. With the X40's fan cranked to maximum, it gave Corsair's H80i a run for its money even though we had it running in push-pull mode with two fans, which was quite impressive. While the X40's fan can be mistaken for a small leaf blower at full speed, it fortunately doesn't need to operate at its highest speed to cool well. While the X40 isn't cheap at 100 bones, it's no costlier than its peers and it outperforms them, making this cooler easy to recommend. If you have a case that supports a 14cm fan, you should definitely release the Kraken! $100, www.nzxt.com

Microsoft: Xbox One Available in November for $499 Posted: 10 Jun 2013 11:48 AM PDT Microsoft makes a splash at E3. As expected, Microsoft will make its upcoming Xbox One console available to purchase in time for the holiday shopping season. The console won't come cheap, however, as the Blu-ray equipped gaming device will command $499 when it ships in 21 countries this November, Microsoft revealed on the eve of the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3).  Setting the stage for a showdown with Sony and its competing PlayStation 4 console, Microsoft's pre-E3 event was mostly about showing off exclusive launch titles. Too pricey for your blood? Don't worry if you have plans to stick with the Xbox 360 for the foreseeable future, Microsoft promises it hasn't forgotten about its current generation console. In fact, it even debuted a slimmer, sleeker version of the 360 today that's been updated with the look and feel of the Xbox One. Games will still release to the 360, including World of Tanks, which features 15-on-15 team warfare. On the topic of Xbox Live Gold, members will now receive two free game downloads per month. This begins right away with Halo 3 and Assassin's Creed 2. Also, Gold members will carry over to the Xbox One, with anyone in your home being able to access "most" Gold member benefits at no additional cost, Microsoft said. Moving on to the Xbox One exclusives, Microsoft brought several studio heads on stage to show off their upcoming games. "Microsoft Studios is committed to making Xbox One the best place to play games, with more titles in development and more exclusives coming than at any time in the history of Xbox," said Phil Spencer, corporate vice president, Microsoft Studios. "With amazing games such as 'Forza Motorsport 5,' 'Ryse: Son of Rome,' 'Dead Rising 3,' 'Halo Xbox One,' 'Kinect Sports Rivals,' 'Project Spark' and 'Quantum Break,' Xbox will continue to lead the industry with the biggest exclusives, new IP and blockbuster franchises that will delight gamers for the next decade and beyond." Several of the games looked promising, such as Dead Rising 3 with its endless hordes of zombies. It features open-world gameplay, SmartGlass and Kinect integration, and hundreds of weapons that can be combined, such as taping a flashlight to a pistol for fighting in the dark. Another neat thing Microsoft showcased is the integration of Twitch into Xbox One. With Game DVR and Upload Studio 3, gamers can capture their epic moments, edit them, and then share their videos with friends. Using Twich, a single voice command starts the live broadcasting. Forza Motorsport 5, launching in November alongside the Xbox One, is another title that holds a lot of promise. It will lean heavily on the cloud, not only for polygons and other graphics goodies, but for a specialized AI. Your "drivatar," as it's called, will learn how you like to drive as you play the game. It knows when you like to break, how fast to take corners, and much more. With that information, your drivatar will compete with other racers while you're away at school or work, and you'll get credit for how it performs. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5 Leaves Beta, Now Available for $149 Posted: 10 Jun 2013 09:30 AM PDT Lightroom 5 sheds it beta digs. Adobe today announced the immediate availability of its Photoshop Lightroom 5 software for Windows and Mac OS. The photo editing software is being offered both as a standalone product and as part of Adobe's Creative Cloud, a $50 per month streaming subscription package that includes continually updated versions of various Adobe software, including Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, and more. "Lightroom was originally conceived through the requests of Adobe customers, and this feedback continues to drive each new iteration," said Winston Hendrickson, vice president of products, Creative Media Solutions, Adobe. "As the digital photography landscape advances and evolves, Lightroom is the best solution for photographers and passionate hobbyists who want to get the most out of their digital images." Adobe added new editing tools to Lightroom 5, such as an Advanced Healing Brush to fix irregularly shaped imperfections like dust spots, splotches, and other nuisances. There's also an Upright tool that analyzes each image and automatically straighten objects such as buildings and level horizons. Creative Cloud members have immediate access to Photoshop Lightroom 5. For those wanting to purchase it as a standalone application, it's available at Adobe.com and participating retailers for $149 outright or $79 for upgrades. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Awesome Google Doodle Celebrates Maurice Sendak’s 85th Birthday Posted: 10 Jun 2013 09:00 AM PDT Google goes "Wild" with latest doodle. Maurice Sendak, author of "Where the Wild Things Are" and other popular children's books, would have turned 85 years old today if he was still alive. Sadly, he suffered a stroke just over a month before his birthday in 2012 and passed away at 83 years old, but he left behind a literary legacy that has already stood the test of time. Google chose to honor the children's author with one of its neatest doodles to date. The animated doodle begins with Max running through his bedroom to Where the Wild Things Are, but instead of sailing home, the scene transitions to the city lights of "In the Night Kitchen" and ending with a birthday celebration from "Bumble-Ardy" among a gathering of Sendak's characters. It's a rather neat journey through Sendak's illustrations and a fitting tribute to the late American illustrator and author. It's also just one of many Google doodles through the years, all of which are conveniently archived if you ever want to check them out. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Barnes & Noble Offers Deep Discounts on Nook HD and HD+ for Father's Day Posted: 10 Jun 2013 07:32 AM PDT Save up to $120! Barnes & Noble is pushing hard to make its Nook HD (7 inches) and Nook HD+ (8.9 inches) tablets the go-to gift item for Father's Day by rolling out its deepest discounts to date. That's saying something, considering you could have saved anywhere from $50 to $90 on a Nook HD/HD+ for Mother's Day. This time around the discounts run as deep as $120, provided you make a purchase between now and June 16, 2013. "he best gift for Father's Day is now even better thanks to this special limited-time offer for our award-winning 7- and 9-inch tablets," said Jamie Iannone, president of Nook Media. "Nook HD and Nook HD+ are not only beautifully designed, lightweight devices with stunning displays, they now offer customers the most reading and entertainment content we've ever offered, at the best prices ever." Take a look at the discounted prices: Nook HD 8GB: $129 (down from $199) Nook HD 16GB: $149 (down from $229) Nook HD+ 16GB: $149 (down from $269) Nook HD+ 32GB: $179 (down from $299) Just as with the Mother's Day promotion, B&N is selling both the Nook HD 16GB and Nook HD+ 16GB for the same price (in other words, that's not a typo). All of these represent pretty decent values, and with the money saved, you could pick up a Nook to Android (N2A) card that allows you to dual-boot into a clean version of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

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