| Patriot Reveals the Fuel iON for Wirelessy Charging Smartphones Posted: 02 Jun 2014 08:21 PM PDT  Magnets will charge your smartphone
Patriot Memory has unveiled its wireless charger the Fuel iON. The computer memory and mobile accessories manufacturer is looking to reinvent how mobile devices are charged wirelessly with the Fuel iON and will offer multiple charging bases, phone cases, and car chargers. The Fuel iON kit, that includes a case and charging base, will be available for Apple's iPhone 5/5s and Samsung's Galaxy S4 smartphones. The device uses magnets to recharge itself without needing to plug the device in or out with a wire. Instead, the case will securely dock to the accompanying charging base via the magnet power transfer pad that will charge up a user's phone just as fast as a corded connection. Both Apple and Samsung phone kits will retail for $79.99. With the Fuel iON phone case there are some accessories. The Fuel iON charging pad will allow users to just lay their smartphone down on top of the pad to charge it and there is the Fuel iON car charger as well. The charging pad will retail for $29.99 and the car charger for $49.99. The entire Fuel iON line will be available to purchase July 2014. |
| Top 7 Apple Successes and Failures Posted: 02 Jun 2014 03:45 PM PDT 
Sweet and sour apples Following our Microsoft and Google successes and failures stories, we've heard some of you clamoring for an Apple Successes and Failures list. Since it also happens to be Apple's big WWDC week, we decided now would be a good time to oblige and reflect on Apple's history. Yes, we're the biggest PC fanboys around, but we can't deny that Apple has had some financially successful computing devices. Plus, it's also fun to take a look back at some of the company's biggest blunders. Here's a list of seven successes and failures Apple's had over the last few decades. Is there a company that you would like us to analyze next? Let us know in the comments below! Follow Chris on Google+ or Twitter |
| Asus Takes Home Wi-Fi to Next Level, Introduces Six Stream RT-AC3200 Router Posted: 02 Jun 2014 09:45 AM PDT  This is the fastest rated consumer Wi-Fi router yet
Router makers aren't messing around these days. Taking full advantage of the 802.11ac spec, which incidentally is still in draft form, Asus today announced the RT-AC3200 wireless router. Asus is billing the RT-AC3200 as the world's fastest Wi-Fi router, and as far as we're privy to, that's an accurate claim. Of course, like all other high-speed routers, Asus is taking liberties with nomenclature to describe the speed. The RT-AC3200 model number describes a combined data rate of up to 3200 megabits per second (Mbps). That's if you combine the maximum bandwidth available on both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz channels, though you can't actually do that in the real world for a super connection. Disclaimer aside, the RT-AC3200 still boasts an impressive spec sheet. It's capable of up to 600Mbps in 802.11n mode thanks to TurboQAM, a marketing term Broadcom came up with to describe the use of 256-QAM (quadrature amplitude modulation), and up to a whopping 2600Mbps in 802.11ac mode (5G band 1 and 5G band 4), which is twice the maximum throughput of the company's RT-AC68U. This is a six stream router with half a dozen external antennas. It also features Beamforming support, a single USB 2.0 port, a single USB 3.0 port, and of course four GbE LAN ports. No word yet on when the RT-AC3200 will be available or for how much. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Dell Dishes Out Inspiron 2-in-1 Devices, Venue 7 and 8 Android Tablets, and More at Computex Posted: 02 Jun 2014 09:13 AM PDT  Dell comes to Computex packing a bevy of product announcements
Michael Dell is now in full control of the company he founded (along with the investment groups that backed him), and while he was quick to take the world's third largest PC maker private, that doesn't mean there will be any shortage of public announcements. Just the opposite, Dell today announced no less than eight products spanning four different categories at Computex, including a pair of Android tablets. Dell's updated Venue 7 (HD) and 8 (Full HD) tablets kick things up a notch with brighter displays, superior viewing angles, audio technology from Waves MAXXAudio Pro, faster internals powered by Intel's Atom Z3460 (Venue 7) and Z3480 (Venue 8) "Merrifield" processors, and Android 4.4 KitKat, all wrapped in a thinner and lighter profile. Moving down the list, Dell also rolled out a pair of 2-in-1 devices, the Inspiron 11 3000 Series and Inspiron 13 7000 Series. The 3000 is available with up to an Intel Pentium quad-core processor, while the 7000 boasts 4th generation Intel Core processor options. The latter is is also bigger with a 13.3-inch display (up to Full HD). For those interested in an all-in-one (AIO), Dell unveiled the Inspiron 20 3000 Series. The Inspiron 20 3000 features a 19.5-inch HD display, up to an Intel Pentium quad-core processor, built-in subwoofer, and a lightweight design that makes it easy to move the system from room to room. 
Finally, Dell announced three new UltraSharp monitors with 27-inch, 23-inch, and 21.5-inch displays. Despite the physical size, each one offers the same Full HD resolution along with a 2MP Full HD webcam, 178 degrees (horizontal and vertical) viewing angles, and built-in echo cancellation. The Venue 7 and 8 will be available on July 1 starting at $160 and $200, respectively. Dell's Inspiron 20 3000 Series will also start shipping July 1, but starting at $350. On June 3rd, the UltraSharp monitors will debut for $450 (UZ2715H), $300 (UZ2315H), and $270 (UZ2215H), and on June 19, the Inspiron 3000 Series 2-in-1 devices will come out starting at $450. Lastly, the Inspiron 13 7000 Series 2-in-1 will see a September release -- no word yet on price. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Microsoft May Not Bring Back Start Menu Until Windows 9 Posted: 02 Jun 2014 08:40 AM PDT  Don't hold your breath waiting for the return of the Start menu
Microsoft did Windows users a solid by bringing back the Start button in Windows 8.1, but has stubbornly refused to give back the Start menu for those who want it. Last we heard, the Start Menu would indeed make a comeback, the question is when, and the answer might not be with Microsoft's upcoming Windows 8.1 Update 2 -- instead, the Start menu may not make a comeback until Windows 9. Citing a couple of sources "who've had good track records on Windows information," ZDNet claims that up until recently, Microsoft was planning to introduce a new "Mini" Start menu as part of a second update to Windows 8.1, which is scheduled to come out in August. Now it appears that won't be happening until the next major release of Windows. It was barely more than three months ago when Jacob Miller, a UI designer for Windows 8, dove into the deep end of a Reddit rage against Windows 8 to clarify Microsoft's intent with Metro. According to Miller, Metro, which he candidly described as "the antithesis of a power user," was the default option in Windows 8 because casual users don't go exploring "If we made desktop the default as it has always been, and included a nice little Start menu that felt like home, the casual users would never have migrated to their land of milk and honey," Miller explained. Miller went on to say that the casual crowd now knows about their new home, which means Microsoft can begin tailoring Windows for the rest of us. If that's the case, why is Microsoft dragging its feet in bringing back the Start menu? We don't know the answer to that, but it could have to do with whatever redesign the Redmond outfit has planned. According to ZDNet, the new Start menu won't be like the one found in previous versions of Windows. Instead, it will somehow integrate Windows 8's Metro-style Start screen concept. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Corsair's Flash Voyager GTX USB Flash Drive Gives Data Transfers Whiplash Posted: 02 Jun 2014 06:05 AM PDT  Blazing fast read and write transfers of up to 450MB/s and 350MB/s, respectively
Hide your USB 2.0 flash drive, it's suddenly about to feel inadequate. The same will probably be true of your USB 3.0 flash drive. Taking data transfers to ridiculously fast levels, Corsair today introduced its Flash Voyager GTX USB Flash Drive family, which offers both big capacities and speedy performance. We're talking up to 450MB/s read and up to 350MB/s write speeds in 128GB and 256GB flavors. According to Corsair, the Flash Voyager GTX sports solid state drive (SSD) DNA to keep the drive racing along at peak performance. USB Attached SCSI and S.M.A.R.T. monitoring are part of the package, as is TRIM support to curb degradation after extended heavy use. "With up to 256GB of storage, Flash Voyager GTX's enormous capacity options ensure that even the largest files, such as operating systems, game installs or high definition video projects, can easily fit on the drive alongside other multimedia content -- with plenty of room to spare," Corsair says. "Take your favorite games with you to a LAN party, or quickly transfer your whole movie collection for easy viewing later." 
(Source: Corsair)
The Flash Voyager GTX will be available in July for $120 (128GB) and $200 (256GB). Each will carry a five-year warranty. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Corsair Unloads Three High End PC Cases at Computex 2014 Posted: 02 Jun 2014 06:01 AM PDT  Two mini-ITX cases and a full tower chassis
Corsair is currently in the process of blitzing Computex 2014 with a bevy of product announcements and releases. That includes its bread and butter product line -- computer cases. Corsair unveiled three new high-end cases today, including two mini-ITX enclosures -- Graphite Series 380T and Carbide Series Air 240 -- and a full tower chassis, the Graphite Series 780T. All three sport a sleek design, plenty of cooling potential, and enough space for water cooling setups and full-length graphics cards. The Carbide Series Air 240 is designed for users looking for a "stylish mini PC case" with the capability of keeping performance components cool. It's a cube-shaped enclosure that comes in black or white, has a side window, and can accommodate up to two 240mm radiators without sacrificing space for a full-size graphics card. 
Corsair's other mini-ITX case, the Graphite Series 380T, comes with an integrated carrying handle for easy transportation and mutiple color options for flair. It has rounded corners, a windowed side panel, and can hold up to four 3.5-inch/2.5-inch drives. There's also room for up to five fans or a 240mm radiator. 
For those who need something bigger, the full-tower Graphite Series 780T brings an aggressive aesthetic to the table. It also boasts a latched easy-open side window panel with a "cavernous interior" that can hold dual 360mm watercooling radiators. Other features include nine expansion slots, nine HDD bays, and a built-in three-mode fan controller. The Carbide Series Air 240 will be available in August for $90 to $100. Also debuting in August is the Graphite Series 380T, which will go for $130. Finally, the Graphite Series 780T will come out in September for $180 to $190. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Newegg Daily Deals: MSI Z97 MPower Motherboard, Intel Core i5 4670K, and More! Posted: 02 Jun 2014 06:01 AM PDT |
| HP Announces 14-inch Android Laptop Posted: 01 Jun 2014 11:31 PM PDT 
Slatebook 14 not the company's first Android laptop If you thought last year's Android-powered Slatebook X2 laptop was going to end up being a somewhat goofy experiment that HP would be too embarrassed to even acknowledge a year later, you were wrong. Believe it or not, the company, which was once the leading PC vendor in the world, has actually announced an even bigger Android-powered laptop. The Slatebook 14 is, as is probably apparent from the name, an upcoming 14-inch Android laptop from Hewlett-Packard. Another area where it stands out is in the weight department. Unlike most Android devices, the Slatebook 14 weighs as much as 3.71lbs, although, in all fairness, it is fairly light by laptop standards. The 16-mm thick Android notebook packs a full HD (1080p) display and a Tegra 4 SoC. Apart from the Google Play Store, prospective Slatebook 14 owners can also look forward to HP and Nvidia Tegra Zone apps. The $399 Slatebook 14 is slated (no pun intended) to hit the market on August 6, 2014. Follow Pulkit on Google+ |
| Google Already Inundated with Search Removal Requests in Europe Posted: 01 Jun 2014 11:22 PM PDT  Over 12,000 Europeans invoke 'right to be forgotten' on the very first day
In a May 13 ruling (pdf), the European Court Of Justice ordered Google to respect what is popularly being called every individual's "right to be forgotten", asking it to remove, when requested to do so by its users, all such search results about them that are: "inadequate, irrelevant or no longer relevant, or excessive in relation to the purposes for which they were processed." The search giant, in a bid to comply with the order, has erected a web page that Europeans can use to write in to claim their right to be forgotten. Although Google is none too pleased by the ruling, the search removal form is already a massive hit among Europeans, with the company receiving over 12,000 requests on the first day (Friday, May 30) itself. According to AFP, this figure was revealed by a Google spokesperson in Germany on Saturday. With Google saying it will "assess each individual request and attempt to balance the privacy rights of the individual with the public's right to know and distribute information," it'll be interesting to see how long it takes the company to process these requests. Follow Pulkit on Google+ |
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