General Gaming Article

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• Best Laptop Backpack
• Newegg Daily Deals: Keyboards Galore, Come Walk the Plank!
• Corsair Touts Dominator Platinum DDR4 3400MHz RAM for Gigabyte's X99-SOC Champion Motherboard
• Microsoft Surface Pro 3 Goes on Sale as Surface Pro 4 Rumors Heat Up
• Biostar Announces Hi-Fi B85Z5 Motherboard
• Acer Revo One RL85 Goes on Sale in Europe Next Month
• Mozilla Moves Quickly to Plug Firefox Holes Disclosed at Pwn2Own
• Report: PC Makers Will Have Power to Lock Out Other OSes from Windows 10 PCs

Best Laptop Backpack Posted: 23 Mar 2015 01:36 PM PDT We hunt for the best laptop backpack Let's face it, laptops can be really expensive, especially the high-end gaming notebooks we recommend. They can also be heavy and a chore to carry around. And yet, to get your money's worth out of these portable PCs, you'll have to lug them around with you all the time. But finding the right bag—one that protects your computer while being comfortable to wear—is no easy feat. And it's not too much to ask that it be somewhat visually appealing, if not downright attractive. You've spent your hard-earned money buying a kick-ass laptop and you deserve an equally kick-ass backpack to put it in. So, to help you with your baggage, we searched for the best laptop backpacks that we could find and rounded up seven worthy contenders. Everki Beacon Large but in charge Trying to find an AAA-quality backpack that can also fit a large 17-inch gaming notebook can be like looking for a needle in a haystack, but Everki's Beacon is up for the challenge. Its laptop compartment had no problem fitting our monstrous 17-inch Asus ROG G750. This backpack is quite roomy, measuring 20.8x16.9x6.3 inches, and it's a little on the heavy side at 3.5 pounds, making it more of a travel pack than something you would carry around every day. But because of this bulk, the Beacon offers a lot of protection with its mesh padding, while providing plenty of compartment space, too. In addition to the laptop slot, there's an even roomier main compartment, which has a zipper for folders, four 3x5-inch pockets, and even a soft-shell bag inside designed to house consoles. In short, there's plenty of space for whatever you need. Outside of the main compartment is a 3x11-inch easy-access pouch, which is optimal for sunglasses. It also has two small hip compartments on either side of the bag; the left one has a little hole for ear buds, and you can loop the cord through the left strap to get a tangle-free listening experience. The dashes of orange give the black bag a nice "pop." The build quality is impressive, including plenty of rubber padding at the bottom of the bag in case you accidentally drop the pack. The Beacon also comes with a water-resistant tarp that you can use to wrap the bag in case of rain. While the Beacon isn't light, its pillow-soft straps are extremely comfortable, and it features a stretchy chest strap that takes the pressure off your shoulders. In addition, it has two sturdy handles: one on top of the backpack and another on the back. Considering you can get all of this for $100, it's one hell of a deal. Everki Beacon $100, www.everki.com Ful Dean The budget backpack While expensive backpacks are often nice, we realize that not everyone can afford them, especially if you've spent all your dough on a sweet gaming laptop. However, this doesn't mean you have to resort to tossing your super-nice notebook in your kid's old cheapo Jansport, which offers little-to-no protection for your gear. If you don't have a large notebook, don't need a ton of bells and whistles, and if you're on a budget, Ful's $70 Dean backpack may be what you're looking for. If you don't have a large notebook, don't need a ton of bells and whistles, and if you're on a budget, Ful's $70 Dean backpack may be what you're looking for. While Ful says the Dean can fit some 17-inch notebooks, it's really geared more toward 15-inch and smaller machines. The laptop compartment comfortably fit our fat 14-inch Alienware 14 notebook, but while there's plenty of padding on the back, we would have liked a little more at the base of the pack, in case you set it down too abruptly. Its main compartment is quite basic, simply offering a 6x8-inch mesh zipper to stow pens and small notepads. On the face of the pack are three smaller, triangular-shaped pockets that zigzag across each other. These diagonal lines and zippers were meant to create an interesting aesthetic, but they look odd and aren't terribly practical—how many items do you know have (or want) that are triangularly shaped? The pack also has hip compartments on both sides, with one designed for a water bottle. The only other pocket is the 2x4-inch zipper on the right shoulder strap that is ideal for something small, like car keys. The Dean gets the job done, but is mostly no-frills. Speaking of straps, there's a chest harness attached, which is greatly appreciated, but the straps in general tended to be a little wider than we would have preferred, and tended to flare out at the sides. We did like the handle atop the pack, however, which feels quite sturdy. Overall, the pack isn't bad, but for a few dollars more, we recommend going with the SwissGear bag in this roundup. Ful Dean $70, www.ful.com SwissGear SA1908 Scansmart The simple pack Long known for its Swiss army knives, SwissGear has recently been making waves in the backpack scene. But unlike the tool that seems to have everything, the SwissGear SA1908 ScanSmart backpack opts for simplicity. There are no fancy hip harnesses, nor are there a million pockets. One interesting quirk it does have, as its clunky name might suggest, is a "ScanSmart" pocket. This means its laptop compartment has a see-through mesh window, which is supposed to expedite TSA bag checks. From our experience, however, the TSA always wants laptops removed from their bags anyway, so your airport mileage may vary. If that feature doesn't quite cut it, however, there is another zipper above the ScanSmart pocket that splits completely open like a flat clamshell. This clamshell compartment should be able to fit most 17-inch laptops; unfortunately, it was not able to swallow our beefy Asus ROG G750. There are bottle pockets on either side of the pack. The main compartment has a dangling pouch for your phone, and it also has a convenient small hole for your ear buds to slip through. This pouch fit our relatively large 5-inch Nexus 5, so it should be able to fit the majority of phones out there. Rounding out the compartments is a small, plain 7.5x10-inch zip. Another neat, if minor, feature is the little loop on the left strap that you can use to carry your sunglasses. In terms of padding, there's not an exorbitant amount, but it should protect your laptop in most cases. There is a fair amount on the back, however, and it is quite comfortable to wear. There's even some space between the back padding along the spine, which gives your back a little room to breathe. SwissGear SA1908 ScanSmart $73, www.wengerna.com Asus ROG Nomad Built for gamers In conjunction with its massive 17-inch ROG gaming notebooks, Asus has designed the ROG Nomad backpack to be "built for gamers," or so they claim. While that might sound like marketing hyperbole, the pack lives up to the claim. Everything about the Nomad has been meticulously designed for portable-PC enthusiasts. Its large 20x13.7x7.2-inch size will fit pretty much any 17-inch gaming notebook you throw at it, but what really gears it toward laptop enthusiasts is the dizzying array of specialized compartments. There's the large main compartment that has designated spots for headphones, camera, keyboard, and power brick. The slightly smaller pocket above the main compartment contains a slit for 3x5-inch index cards, slots for pens to slip into, and there's even a little HDD carrying case can be taken out. It really has all the trappings that a nerd would need from a backpack. Hell, there's even a smartphone zipper built into the right shoulder strap, though it won't fit any phone larger than 4 inches. There's no Asus branding on the pack itself. The shoulder straps are also quite comfortable. And they're aided by not only a chest strap, but a waist strap to distribute weight across your entire torso, adding stability to the comfort. In addition, it offers plenty of protection for your gear as well, with plenty of rubber padding at the base of the backpack in case you drop it. And the entire thing is made out of ballistic nylon, chosen for its water-resistant protection. Aesthetically, the pack definitely tries to entice gamers. There's a "gladiator helmet" design on the pack, which is supposed to look cool, but it's a little too garish for us. Another gripe we had is that one of the buttons fell off, although it's merely an aesthetic blemish. Regardless, this is still one hell of a pack. Asus ROG Nomad $170, www.lenovo.com Timbuk2 Uptown The hipster bag Let's face it, most gaming laptop backpacks are nerdy-looking. But while there's absolutely nothing wrong with that, if you want to lug your laptop in something more trendy, the Timbuk2's Uptown Laptop bag's contrasting grey meshes will make sure you fit in with the hipster crowd (skinny jeans not included). The Uptown's biggest drawback is that it lacks padding. In terms of features, it has the bare essentials. While the pack looks fairly small compared to the others featured here, it actually measures 19.7x11.8x8.7 inches. And while its clamshell laptop compartment, which splits completely open for situations like TSA bag checks, doesn't fit giant notebooks, its large main compartment fit our massive 17-inch Asus ROG gaming laptop—much to our surprise. Timbuk2's simple design inluces a smaller secondary compartment with two 3x5-inch index card mesh zips and a relatively small 5x10-inch velcro pocket. Above the main compartment is a smaller 13x8-inch zipper, which has pockets for pens and other small items. Above that is a vertical quick-access slit where you can store small notepads. Other than the bottle holder on the left hip, there really isn't too much else to this bag, aside from a bottle opener on the right strap, which you and your friends will appreciate when it's called for. In terms of comfort, there isn't an exorbitant amount of padding, but it still feels good, partially thanks to a chest strap, which we liked. We would have preferred more padding for the laptop compartment, however, as the Uptown is one of the least protective packs here. Another gripe that we had is that its top handle is not comfortable or easy to use; it's just flat nylon webbing. Timbuk2 Uptown Laptop TSA-Friendly Backpack $119, www.timbuk2.com Urban Xplorer The European Even though Urban Xplorer's HalfPack RT was actually designed in California, we still call it the "European backpack" around the office. There's just something about the odd belt loops, bright burnt-orange (it also comes in black) day-pack-like body, and weird, detachable U-shaped shoulder straps that screams "This is what you carry to go yodeling in the Alps." It's clearly trying to cater to the "sophisticated businessman who also has an adventurous side," but there's just something awkward about it. While the pack certainly isn't for everyone, it does have its nice qualities. There's plenty of cotton/polyester padding everywhere, and bag is covered with a nylon ballistic fabric that is designed to be weatherproof and stain resistant. Another perk is that it has a sweet, sexy brown leather handle. Even though the pack features two belt-style bands to keep it closed, they're more a novelty, as the flap of the pack can also be opened via two quick-release buckles. When you lift the flap, you'll find two index card–sized velcro pockets, and a larger 9x12-inch zipper compartment designed to hold pens, glasses, and other stationery. You can take off the shoulder straps to turn it into a messenger bag. Arguably, the HalfPack RT's biggest problem is that despite it being the heaviest pack in the roundup at whopping 4.5 pounds, it's not very spacious—its main compartment was barely able to house our 14-inch alienware notebook. The pack's actual laptop compartment could barely fit our svelte 13.3-inch Acer S7 Ultra-book. Also, accessing the main compartment is cumbersome, even with the quick-release buckles, because you have to lift its flap vertically to reach your arm into the bag. When you add in the fact that it's $200, the Urban Xplorer is simply a tough sell. Urban Xplorer HalfPack RT $200, www.xplorerbrand.com Ogio Renegade The macho bag If we had to crown the manliest bag in this roundup, it would have to go to Ogio's Renegade RSS 17. Hell, even the name "Renegade" implies that it's pretty badass, and thankfully, it lives up to its moniker. The Renegade isn't the biggest pack in the roundup but it's still pretty large, measuring 19.5x14x8 inches. It's quite rugged and offers plenty of protection with its rigid frame and copious amount of padding. There's also a nice padded soft-touch neoprene grab handle at the top, and its 600D polyester material feels high quality across the board. It's very comfy, to boot, and has a chest strap in case you need to lug around heavy gear. Unfortunately, this backpack won't be able to carry the heaviest of laptops—even though it's advertised to fit 17-inch notebooks, it couldn't fit our thin 17-inch iBuypower Battalion, let alone our beefy 17-inch Asus ROG G750. Regardless, you'll find that the bag has a ton of pockets to play around with, which include a hard-shell sunglass cubby, a spacious main compartment, a tablet compartment, and another smaller pocket with designated slots for mouse, wallet, and pens. In addition, there are two pairs of pockets on the side of the pack and a phone-sized zip behind the Ogio logo. There's also a small zipper on the left shoulder strap, though measuring 1.5x4.5 inches, it's much too small for even keys. The Renegade is rugged and has tons of pockets. In terms of aesthetics, it's predominantly black with some silver and red accents, giving it a tough appearance. At $135 street, Ogio is pricing the Renegade in the premium tier, but this bag well deserves inclusion in that class. Ogio Renegade RSS 17 $135, www.ogio.com Conclusion If you've combed through all the reviews here, you might have noticed that there is a positive correlation between the largeness of a pack and its score. It's not that we think that bigger is necessarily better, but the larger packs here just happened to get a little more TLC from their manufacturers. This isn't to say that the smaller bags in this roundup are worthless. Really, there's something here for every kind of laptop user: from small to large, from cheap to luxurious, they all have their strengths. Still, if you asked us to design the ultimate laptop backpack for enthusiasts, we would definitely love to be able to combine different elements from all the packs reviewed here. The super pack would have the hip stylings of the Timbuk2 Uptown with all the specialized compartments of the Asus Rog Nomad. We would definitely want to toss in the durability of the Ogio Renegade, with, of course, the same amazing value that the Everki Beacon boasts. That would definitely be the quintessential laptop backpack. Until then, however, we're still confident that you'll find something in this roundup that packs the punch you've been looking for. Specifications Everki Beacon Ful Dean SwissGear SA1908 ScanSmart Asus ROG Nomad Timbuk2 Uptown Urban Xplorer HalfPack RT Ogio Renegade RSS 17 Size H x W x D (inches) 20.8 x 16.9 x 6.3 18 x 11 x 5 18 x 13 x 9 20 x 13.7 x 7.2 19.7 x 11.8 x 8.7 17 x 13.4 x 7 19.5 x 14 x 8 Weight (pounds) 3.5 2.5 2.6 3.6 2 4.5 4 Fits 17-inch notebook Yes Some Some Yes Yes No Some Chest strap Yes Yes No Yes Yes No Yes Street price $100 $70 $73 $170 $119 $200 $135

Newegg Daily Deals: Keyboards Galore, Come Walk the Plank! Posted: 23 Mar 2015 01:01 PM PDT Top Deal: Think of all the things you use your fingers for -- to point and laugh at people, pick up lost wallets, pick your nose, flipping off bad drivers, and so much more! Those fleshy digits are important, so why not take care of them? They deserve better than a cheap-o keyboard with mushy key action, and if you're into games, check out today's top deal for a Razer Orbweaver Elite Mechanical PC Gaming Keypad for $100 with free shipping (normally $110 - use coupon code: [MOPORBWVR]). It sports 30 programmable keys, an 8-way thumbpad, full mechanical key switches with 50g actuation force, adjustable hand/thumb/palm, and looks neat to boot! Other Deals: Razer Naga MMO Gaming Mouse for $63 with free shipping (normally $70 - use coupon code: [0319AGGPM42]) Razer DeathStalker Essential Gaming Keyboard for $45 with free shipping (normally $50 - use coupon code: [0319AGGPM31]) Razer BlackWidow Ultimate Stealth Edition Elite Mechanical Gaming Keyboard for $95 with free shipping (normally $100 - use coupon code: [0319AGGPM30]) Corsair K95 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard with White LED for $125 with free shipping (normally $140 - use coupon code: [0319AGGPM34])

Corsair Touts Dominator Platinum DDR4 3400MHz RAM for Gigabyte's X99-SOC Champion Motherboard Posted: 23 Mar 2015 11:49 AM PDT Two speed demons team up Are you planning to build a system around Gigabyte's X99-XOC Champion motherboard? If so, Corsair say its new Dominator Platinum DDR4 3400MHz memory kits are performance tuned to run at that frequency and beyond using air cooling when paired with that specific Gigabyte motherboard. It's a bit of a marketing play, as there shouldn't be anything stopping the same kit from working on other X99-chipset boards that require DDR4 RAM, though you may very well achieve higher overclocks when pairing the two together. "Our Gigabyte X99-SOC Champion is engineered with highly optimized trace paths between the processor and DIMM sockets to enable incredible memory clock speeds," said Colin Brix, Director of Marketing of Gigabyte's Motherboard Business Unit. "We worked with Corsair to tune an exceptional edition of Dominator Platinum DDR4 that can help overclockers push the X99-SOC Champion to reach unprecedented memory speeds." Corsair COO Thi La says each Dominator Platinum 3400MHz DDR3 module is built with hand-picked ICs that are then tuned to play nice with the X99-SOC Champion board. At the stock frequency, timings run at 16-18-18-36. Orange colored anodized heat spreaders that match the color scheme of the Gigabyte board keep the chips cool, and you can monitor temps using Corsair Link. They also feature user-swappable colored light pipes for customizable downwash lighting, Corsair says. Professional overclocker Hicookie used the Dominator Platinum RAM and Gigabyte mobo combo to set a world record for DDR4 memory frequency at 4,365.6MHz. Of course, that was using liquid nitrogen. Swallow your swig of coffee before checking out the MSRP, your monitor will thank you in a moment. Ready? It's $1,000 for a 16GB kit. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Microsoft Surface Pro 3 Goes on Sale as Surface Pro 4 Rumors Heat Up Posted: 23 Mar 2015 08:16 AM PDT Save up to $150 on Surface Pro 3 Microsoft has been wheeling and dealing its Surface Pro 3 tablets at reduced prices recently, and you have to wonder why the company doesn't just go ahead and permanently lower the cost. Regardless, Surface Pro 3 tablets are again on sale with savings of up to $150 off retail. The timing of the sale comes as reports of the Surface Pro 4 being an iPad Pro killer start to emerge. First let's talk about the Surface 3 Pro pricing. The entry level model is the only one that isn't being offered up at a discount -- it's still priced at $799 for a Core i3 4020Y processor and 64GB of storage. Here's how the rest shake out: Surface Pro 3 w/ Core i5 4300U (1.9GHz to 2.9GHz) and 128GB SSD: $899, down from $999 (save $100) Surface Pro 3 w/ Core i5 4300U (1.9GHz to 2.9GHz) and 256GB SSD: $1,149, down from $1,299 (save $150) Surface Pro 3 w/ Core i7 4650U (1.7GHz to 3.3GHz) and 256GB SSD: $1,399, down from $1,549 (save $150) Surface Pro 3 2/ Core i7 4650U (1.7Ghz to 3.3GHz ) and 512GB SSD: $1,799, down from $1,949 (save $150) Microsoft is also offering a free sleeve valued at $40 with the purchase of a Surface Pro 3. There are 14 different designs to choose from. And for an additional $130, you can add a Surface Pro Type Cover. You'll find the Surface Pro 3 deals at the Microsoft Store. Surface Pro 4 Rumor As to the Surface Pro 4, The Fuse Joplin claims there are multiple rumors suggesting the tablet will launch in July. Citing the various rumors, TFJ says there will be two versions -- one with a 1.1GHz dual-core processor and one with a 2.4GHz CPU, both of which are mobile Intel chips. There are also rumors saying the two versions will feature different sized displays, one with a 12-inch panel and the other with a 14-inch display. Interestingly, both are said to run at 2160x1440, so the screen real estate will effectively be the same, assuming the information is accurate. It's said the Surface Pro 4 will have a better webcam than the 480p one found on the new Macbook. Other untold features will supposedly also give the Surface Pro 4 a leg up against the rumored iPad Pro. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Biostar Announces Hi-Fi B85Z5 Motherboard Posted: 23 Mar 2015 05:53 AM PDT A sound board for budget buyers Is it time to start taking Biostar seriously in power user circles? We'll need to spend some more hands on time with the company's products to answer that question, but in the meantime, Biostar continues to release intriguing motherboards aimed at select groups, such as gamers, overclockers, Bitcoin miners, and even those worried about lightning strikes. Biostar's newest motherboard, the Hi-Fi B85Z5, is for budget buyers who want high-quality onboard audio. Those two things haven't alwasy gone together, and while I personally still prefer a dedicated soundcard, today's onboard audio is world's apart from where it was several years ago. As for the Hi-Fi B85Z5, it's the first to embed "Double Hi-Fi" integrated amp circuitry. According to Biostar, that allows users to enjoy the same high quality sound whether the output is set to the front or rear of the PC. It also supports Blu-ray audio and features 30uF gold plated audio connectors, a noise-blocking multi-layer PCB design to isolate analog audio signals from digital sources, and a 110dB SNR. Moving on, the board uses 100 percent solid capacitors and offers "Super LAN" surge protection, which boils down to an integrated chip that strengthens electrical stablity and prevents damages from lightning strikes and electrical surges. It's a socket LGA 1150 board with support for up to 32GB of DDR3-1600 memory, two PCI-E x16 slots (one 3.0, one 2.0), two PCI-E x1 2.0 slots, two standard PCI slots, four SATA 6Gbps connectors, two SATA 3Gbps connectors, GbE LAN, two USB 3.0 ports, four USB 2.0 ports, and various display outputs (HDMI, DVI, and VGA). The Hi-Fi B85Z5 goes for $89 MSRP. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Acer Revo One RL85 Goes on Sale in Europe Next Month Posted: 23 Mar 2015 04:20 AM PDT A tiny PC with big home entertainment ambitions The Revo One RL85 mini PC that Acer first showcased at this year's Consumer Electronics Show in Vegas is about to hit store shelves, albeit only in Europe. The RL85, as is apparent from its understated yet elegant design, has been crafted to seamlessly fit into any contemporary living space, of which it requires only about one liter. More importantly, the 6-by-4-by-4-inch PC appears to be no slouch in the specs and the value-for-money departments either. The RL85, in its most basic £239 (around $355) form, has a 1.4GHz  Intel Celeron 2957u processor, 2GB of RAM (up to 8GB), 1TB HDD (up to 6TB), Wi-Fi 802.11 /a/b/g/n, Bluetooth,  Ethernet, two USB 2.0 ports, two USB 3.0 ports, HDMI-C, mini DisplayPort and 3.5mm audio input. The company says its super easy to access the PC's innards, with a pen being more than sufficient to open the latch on its back.  The Celeron variant is the one that will be going on sale early next month, with multiple other models with Haswell and Broadwell Core i processors following later. According to reports, the  Core i-based SKUs will be available in either black or white and cost somewhere between £299 (around $445) and £399 (around $595). Follow Pulkit on Google+

Mozilla Moves Quickly to Plug Firefox Holes Disclosed at Pwn2Own Posted: 23 Mar 2015 12:34 AM PDT Well, that was quick The recently concluded Pwn2Own contest—a lucrative hacking competition held as part of the annual CanSecWest conference—saw all four major internet browsers get their soft(ware) underbellies exposed. Three of the ten browser bugs exposed at the two-day event were in Firefox, which emerged as the second-most pwned browser at the event behind Internet Explorer. But there's one area where Mozilla has clearly left its competitors behind. Mozilla, it appears, scuttled to fix the bugs as soon as they came to light, with the rapidity ultimately helping it become the first vendor to fix vulnerabilities disclosed at the conference. Two days and as many minor updates is all it took for the open-source outfit to plug the said holes. The first point release (36.0.3) came on Friday and included a fix for a bug in "Mozilla's implementation of typed array bounds checking in JavaScript just-in-time compilation (JIT) and its management of bounds checking for heap access." The bug, which could have allowed an attacker to execute malicious code, was discovered by a hacker known only by their nom de guerre "ilxu1a." Another minor release (36.0.4) came out a day later. It fixes what was yet another critical vulnerability with the potential for arbitrary code execution. Discovered by Mariusz Mlynski, this was a flaw in the processing of SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) content navigation. This is what HP—a co-sponsor through its Zero Day Initiative (ZDI)—had to say about Mlynski's exploits:  "Mariusz Mlynski stepped up to Mozilla Firefox and knocked it out of the park through a cross-origin vulnerability followed by privilege escalation within the browser – all within .542 seconds. This allowed him to execute a logical flaw to escalate to SYSTEM in Windows and take home $30,000 USD for the Firefox bug and an additional $25,000 bonus for the privilege escalation." Follow Pulkit on Google+

Report: PC Makers Will Have Power to Lock Out Other OSes from Windows 10 PCs Posted: 22 Mar 2015 11:49 PM PDT OEMs are currently required to allows users to manually disable UEFI Secure Boot Microsoft courted controversy when it emerged, in the lead-up to Windows 8's release, that OEMs were required to enable Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI)Secure Boot by default in order to have their systems certified for use with Windows 8. Widespread fears that the security feature would have the effect of locking out other operating systems were allayed when another requirement surfaced: "A physically present user must be allowed to disable Secure Boot via firmware setup." However, the same may not be true when Windows 10 arrives later this year. That's according to the folks over at ArsTechnica, who have managed to get hold of a slide from Microsoft's WinHEC hardware conference in Shenzhen, China. In so far as certified Windows 10 systems are concerned, the slide in question (pictured below) is clear that the decision whether or not to give users the option to disable Secure Boot will rest solely with the OEMs. If true, it would be a departure from the existing policy of expressly requiring them to give users such an option. As Microsoft reminded everyone at the height of the whole Windows 8 secure boot saga, it is not some proprietary technology developed by the company to prevent other operating systems from being dual-booted alongside Windows. It is actually an UEFI (a BIOS replacement) security protocol that only allows signed, certified code and boot loaders to be run prior to the operating system itself, making the device less susceptible to rootkits and bootkits. Image Credit: ArsTechnica Follow Pulkit on Google+

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MMORPG News

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• Star Wars: The Old Republic: Balance Threads, v3.2 PTS Notes & Outfit Designer Posts
• Triad Wars: Closed Beta First Impressions
• Pillars of Eternity: First Impressions
• Star Citizen: Big Patch Adds Rental Equipment Credit System and More
• Asteroids: Outpost: Weekly Updates Feature Screens & More
• ArcheAge: Trion 'Fesses Up to Mistake, Makes Good

Star Wars: The Old Republic: Balance Threads, v3.2 PTS Notes & Outfit Designer Posts Posted: 23 Mar 2015 07:51 AM PDT Bioware has posted a series of forum threads for specific classes in Star Wars: The Old Republic. The threads are the beginning phases of class balancing throughout the game and are an effort on behalf of the development team to keep its thoughts on balance in the public eye. In addition, the PTS notes for v3.2 have been posted, as well as a short introduction to the Outfit Designer.

Triad Wars: Closed Beta First Impressions Posted: 22 Mar 2015 09:26 AM PDT Triad Wars is a F2P asynchronous MMO currently in closed beta from Square Enix and United Front Games. Taking place in the same universe as open world cult hit Sleeping Dogs, Triad Wars blends a lot of RPG elements with city management and other forms of progression to create a unique blend of genres. But is it any good? Read on for our full impressions from the Closed Beta.

Pillars of Eternity: First Impressions Posted: 22 Mar 2015 09:36 AM PDT Later this week, Pillars of Eternity launches after over 77,000 crowdfunding backers demanded it to happen. The spiritual successor to the Infinity Engine RPGs of old (Baldur's Gate, Icewind Dale, and Planescape: Torment), Obsidian's game has a lot of hype and hope riding on it. Here are our first thoughts after several hours with the review copy.

Star Citizen: Big Patch Adds Rental Equipment Credit System and More Posted: 23 Mar 2015 06:12 AM PDT Star Citizen players will need to check out the latest patch notes and the news that previous versions of the game will need to be uninstalled prior to downloading the new client version. The patch notes are huge but some items of significance include

Asteroids: Outpost: Weekly Updates Feature Screens & More Posted: 22 Mar 2015 09:16 AM PDT Though the Asteroids: Outpost Community Team calls the game "very much in the alpha state" of development, the game is looking pretty amazing according to new screenshots that are now being posted on a weekly basis. There are also plans for alpha player streams and more screens yet to come as the game works its way to release.

ArcheAge: Trion 'Fesses Up to Mistake, Makes Good Posted: 22 Mar 2015 09:08 AM PDT A post on the ArcheAge forums continues, or hopefully ends, the controversy created last week with a gift sent out to former players. "Return to ArcheAge" packages included several RNG boxes, potions and Library access scrolls. However, several random boxes also included the $100 "Secrets Pack" and the Cynafin Dolphin which gave its name to the issue now known as "Dolphingate". Players loudly decried the move. Trion has subsequently admitted the error in judgment and is making good with players.

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