| Amped Wireless Launches a Touch Screen Wireless-AC Router Posted: 01 Jan 2015 09:00 AM PST  Yes, even routers now have touchscreens
Amped Wireless is beginning to integrate touch functionality into its home networking devices. We saw it first with the TAP-EX, a high-power Wi-Fi range extender with a built-in touchscreen, and now there's the TAP-R2, an AC750 Wi-Fi router with touch display. This isn't the first router with a touchscreen we've seen, though Amped Wireless is billing it as the industry's first high power touch screen Wi-Fi router. Even with the "high power" qualifier, Securifi might have something to say about that claim. Securifi's Almond is an 802.11n Wi-Fi router with touchscreen display, which can be found for around $90 street, and the Almond+ kicks things up into Wireless-AC territory (AC1750), though it's not yet available to purchase. So, make of that what you will. In any event, Amped Wireless' TAP-R2 is supposedly designed to deliver three times the Wi-Fi coverage of other routers. To do that, Amped Wireless armed the RAP-R2 with half a dozen high power amplifiers and two high gain antennas (external and internal) to deliver up to 800mW of Wi-Fi output power. Combined with a touchscreen for easy setup, Amped Wireless believes it has a winner on its hands. "Many consumers are settling for a poor performing and outdated Wi-Fi network simply because they don't want to hassle with the process of updating it," stated Lacey Limbrick, Brand/Marketing Manager at Amped Wireless. "We hope to change the Wi-Fi experience with our TAP-R2. Consumers can now bring next gen AC Wi-Fi speeds into their home, with less dead spots than ever before, all from a nice little device that's easy on the eyes, and they'll be able to get all of this accomplished and up and running in minutes. The touch screen setup is really that simple." The TAP-R2 is available to pre-order now for $160 and is expected to ship on February 11, 2015. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| NZXT Adds a Splash of Color to Budget Friendly S340 Chassis Posted: 01 Jan 2015 08:35 AM PST  New year, new color options
NZXT last fall launched its S340 mid-tower ATX chassis, an entry-level case intended to bring a premium quality design without emptying your bank account (it's listed on Newegg for $70 plus $8 shipping). Now as we embark on a new year, NZXT is offering new color options for its S340 case -- "Gloss Blue" and "Gloss Red," both of which are accents to the matte black paneling. The case itself is made from cold-rolled steel and is purportedly durable. Be warned, however, that there are no optical bays, so installing your OS of choice requires doing so through a USB thumb drive or an external optical drive. NZXT relocated the hard drives to a lower position in the S340 to free up some space in the middle and make it easier to build inside of. It also includes grommet-less cable management with over 20 zip-tie locations, plus a bit of space behind the motherboard tray. Cooling is handled with support for up to three 140mm or 120mm fans. In addition, the Source 340 supports NZXT's Kraken X61 liquid cooler in the front, and/or its X31 liquid cooler in the rear. NZXT's S340 Color Edition is now available to pre-order with an estimated ship date of January 14, 2015. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| FBI Bulletin States Sony Hackers are Targeting Media Outlets Posted: 01 Jan 2015 08:08 AM PST  Guardians of Peace hacking organization has unfinished business
The hacking organization that took credit for infiltrating Sony Pictures Entertainment and stealing 10TB worth of data has also threatened at least one news media organization, according to an FBI bulletin that's making the rounds in cyberspace. Known as the Guardians of Peace, or GOP, the group of hackers proved a major headache for Sony, who's antics appear to have been motivated by The Interview, a comedy involving an assassination attempt against North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. The bulletin, which is dated December 24, 2014 and is labeled as unclassified, said the threat against the unnamed news organization by the GOP "may extend to other such organizations in the near future." It was first picked up the The Intercept and has since been posted online (PDF). In the bulletin, the FBI refers to Sony as "USPER1" and the unnamed "news media organization" as "USPER2," adding that the GOP posted Pastebin messages that specifically taunted the FBI and USPER2 for the quality of their investigations and implied an additional threat. According to the bulletin, no specific consequence was mentioned in the post. News outlet Fox News said it was able to confirm with the FBI that the bulletin is real, however it's being stressed that it doesn't mean there's any specific evidence of a threat to a news organization. "As part of our ongoing public-private partnerships, the FBI and DHS routinely share information with the private sector and law enforcement community," the official said. "The FBI and DHS are not aware of any specific credible information indicating a threat to entertainment or news organizations, however, out of an abundance of caution, we will continue to disseminate relevant information observed during the course of our investigations." The FBI in December blamed North Korea for the cyberattack against Sony, which may have been aided by an insider. North Korea maintains it had nothing to do with the incident. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
