General Gaming Article |
- Steam Hardware Already Sold Out?
- Microsoft Boasts a Better Lens Design for Oculus Rift
- Newegg Daily Deals: Optical Quantum 25GB BD-R 50 Pack, WD Red 6TB NAS HDD, and More!
- Coil Whine and Pump Noise Noted on Early Production AMD R9 Fury X Cards
- Warner Releases PC Patch for Batman: Arkham Knight, "Significant" Work Remains
- Supreme Court Refuses Google's Appeal in Oracle Software Dispute
- Microsoft Fleshes Out Surface Pro 3 Lineup with a New Core i7 Model
- And Here's Another PC Stick With Intel Inside
- Windows 10 Unlikely to Boost Notebook Sales, Panel Makers Say
- Malwarebytes Declares Amnesty for Pirates, Offers Them Free Licenses
- How To: A Guide to BIOS Settings
- Intel’s Braswell NUC Now up For Pre-order
- Samsung Done Blocking Windows Update, Says Fix on Its Way
| Steam Hardware Already Sold Out? Posted: 29 Jun 2015 03:08 PM PDT Rumor says that Valve already sold out of Controllers and Steam LinksEarlier this month, Valve Software introduced an "early bird" program that offered purchase of Steam Machine hardware due to be released on October 16. The catch was that customers needed to pre-order the hardware as soon as possible, as the number of units would be limited. Rumor has it that as of June 29, all Steam Controllers and Steam Link units are sold out. The Alienware and Syber Steam Machines are presumably sold out as well. While that sounds incredibly positive, there is no reliable information regarding the number of units that were in the company's stockpile, or how many Steam Machines were actually sold during such a small window. We reached out to Valve to clarify the news but as of this posting, the company has not responded. Currently, only Alienware and Syber are still taking pre-orders. The Alienware model, sold through GameStop, has a starting price of $449 and four set configurations; there are three Syber Steam Machines with a starting price of $499. All machines listed here are bundled with Valve's new Steam Controller. Right now, customers can still pre-order all hardware, but the devices won't be delivered until November 10, 2015. An extra Steam Controller will set you back $50 and the Steam Link also costs $50. The Steam Link device is essentially a receiver that discovers PCs running Steam on the network and will stream games from that specific PC. Want both devices? That will cost you $100. Steam Machines were originally slated to launch last year, but because there was a delay in the development of the Controller, OEMs began to launch their machines without the Steam Machine branding and Controller. Now with the Controller at hand, these OEMs are finally launching their Steam Machine solutions on November 10. Will the Steam Machine initiative steal living room space away from the console giants? That's the intention, but with game launches like Batman: Arkham Knight, consumers may be hesitant about dumping money into as new machine with games that could cause similar launch headaches. That said, Valve may have sold out of Controllers and Steam Link set-top-boxes, but sales of actual Steam Machines? Maybe. What's hard to believe is that the wait for Steam Machines is almost over. We've heard about this initiative for what seems like forever… remember Steam Boxes? And now, beginning in November, there will be 14 base models with several variants in tow. With that said, customers who pre-ordered their hardware before now will likely get their purchases in October. Everyone else who pre-orders now and in the near future will see their hardware arrive in November. Happy shopping! |
| Microsoft Boasts a Better Lens Design for Oculus Rift Posted: 29 Jun 2015 02:49 PM PDT Last week, a number of CAD files and documents were released indicating that Microsoft Research has fabricated a better lens than what's used on the latest Oculus Rift model. The README file reports that with the new lens, the field-of-view is admittedly smaller than the "stock" Rift lens but the image is crisper than Oculus VR's solution. "The lens was automatically designed by the LensFactory program developed at Microsoft Research," the company reports. "The optical quality is significantly better than the lenses that come with the Oculus. The lens uses off the shelf lens elements from Edmund Optics." According to Microsoft Research, in order for enthusiasts to make the lens, they will need to 3D print the housing using one of the provided files. Microsoft Research said it printed its own casing by using an Object Eden 260 with Vero Black material that was cranked up to the highest resolution. The company has not tested other 3D printer solutions. "You may have issues with hobbyist FDM printers because the thin crush ribs that hold the lens elements in place may not print properly," the README file states.
So how much will this do-it-yourself Oculus Rift lens project cost? Probably around $200 per eye. Microsoft Research insists that DIY builders will need to buy lens elements that have a visible light anti-reflection coating. If you purchase the lens without the coating, the image contrast will be "noticeably worse." The Oculus Rift is slated to arrive in Q1 2016. The virtual reality HMD will require a beefy PC with at least an Intel Core i5-4950 processor or equivalent and a Nvidia GeForce GTX 970 GPU or equivalent. Users will also need 8 GB of RAM and two USB 3.0 ports. Check out the image below, which shows how much clearer Microsoft Research's lens can render a virtual room! |
| Newegg Daily Deals: Optical Quantum 25GB BD-R 50 Pack, WD Red 6TB NAS HDD, and More! Posted: 29 Jun 2015 01:09 PM PDT Top Deal: See that thing your PC over there? Yes, the part that's occupying the optical drive bay. That's your Blu-ray burner! In today's cloud-centric environment, you can be forgiven for forgetting you had such a contraption, but now that you know it's there, how about feeding it? We have just thing -- it's today's top deal for a 50 Pack of Optical Quantum 25GB 6X BD-R Media for $18 with free shipping (normally $33 - use coupon code: [EMCATNT59]). That works out to less than two cents per gigabyte! Other Deals: Corsair Carbide Series Red LED Black ATX Mid Tower Gaming Computer Case for $45 with free shipping (normally $50 - use coupon code: [EMCATNT34]; additional $10 Mail-in rebate) Corsair Vengeance Pro 16GB (2x8GB) DDR3 2400 (PC3 19200) Desktop Memory for $100 with free shipping (normally $105 - use coupon code: [EMCATNT28]) WD Red 6TB IntelliPower 3.5-inch NAS Hard Drive for $245 with free shipping (normally $250 - use coupon code: [ESCATNT25]) Linksys EA6200 Dual Band AC900 Smart Wi-Fi Router for $40 with free shipping (normally $49 - use coupon code: [EMCATNT47]) |
| Coil Whine and Pump Noise Noted on Early Production AMD R9 Fury X Cards Posted: 29 Jun 2015 12:51 PM PDT Noisy GPUs Without buying a bundle package consisting of a CPU, motherboard, and graphics card, you're not likely to find an AMD Radeon R9 Fury X graphics card in stock -- it's sold out at most places. That's probably for the best anyway, as some have reported hearing coil whine and pump noise. WCCFTech said it's received reports from multiple users claiming to hear coil whine and pump noises, which are present even when the Fury X is idle. One user sent a video of the noise. These are really two different issues (though they relate to the same part). Coil whine involves non-moving parts and it usually occurs when that part is under a lot of stress. If it's working hard, it will begin to vibrate, causing the high-pitch noise that you hear. It's said the coil whine is coming from the all-in-one pump bundled with Fury X cards. These are built by Cooler Master and contain a Nidec fan. It's a little weird that some users are reporting the phenomenon during idle scenarios, and it could mean that lower quality components are at play. The user who sent in the above video claims the issue is with a retail card, not a pre-production model (review sample), though it's not clear if the other complaints are also representative of finalized hardware. Either way, AMD's Antal Tungler confirmed the issue to WCCFTech saying that the problem is present in early production units, but that a fix has been applied by Cooler Master. Future Fury X cards shouldn't suffer from noise issues. |
| Warner Releases PC Patch for Batman: Arkham Knight, "Significant" Work Remains Posted: 29 Jun 2015 11:54 AM PDT Fixing a broken bat Having gone up against Gotham's most ruthless thugs, who knew that mere bugs would ultimately present the biggest challenge for Batman? There were so many performance crippling issues in the PC version of Batman: Arkham Knight that publisher Warner Bros. made the call to pull the title from Steam until developer Rocksteady can stomp them all out (or at least most of them). When will that be? Your guess is as good as ours. As of this weekend, the first of what will probably be several patches was released. Here are the things it addresses:
The above are just some of the many issues users reported having in Arkham Knight, and unfortunately for fans of the franchise, the work that remains is "significant," Warner Bros. says. At the same time, Rocksteady is leading a team of developers and partners tasked with fixing the PC experience, and even though there's a fair amount of work left before the game will back on Steam, "good progress" is being made. If you're wondering what exactly Rocksteady and its team of bug killers are working on, here you go:
Pretty much everything, in other words. While we don't know how long it will take to fix the game for Windows PCs, Steam currently says the title "will be available on SteamOS, Linux, and Mac in Fall of 2015." |
| Supreme Court Refuses Google's Appeal in Oracle Software Dispute Posted: 29 Jun 2015 11:15 AM PDT A big blow for GoogleThe ongoing dispute between Google and Oracle over Android and whether or not the mobile operating system infringes on copyrights of the Java platform will not be solved by the U.S. Supreme Court. Google tried going the Supreme Court route after an appeals court ruled in Oracle's favor, but was turned down, The Wall Street Journal reports. This case dates back to 2010 when Oracle completed the acquisition of Sun Microsystems for around $7.6 billion. That transferred ownership of Java over to Oracle, and since Google used a modified version of Java to build Android, Oracle feels it's owed licensing fees and damages. Google's defense was that application programming languages (APIs) aren't eligible for copyright protection, thereby giving the company the right to use Java's APIs at no cost. A San Francisco federal judge sided with Google in 2012, but the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit overturned the ruling last year and declared that Java APIs were subject to copyright protection "until either the Supreme Court or Congress tells us otherwise." So why isn't the Supreme Court's refusal to hear Google's case the end of the story? Even though Oracle won the case on appeal, the court left the door open for Google by not coming to a decision on Google's defense that Oracle's copyright falls under fair use. With the Supreme Court refusing to hear Google's case, the company will turn its attention to a lower court, which will decide on the fair use defense. There's a lot at stake here, both for Google and the software industry as a whole. Oracle is seeking more than $1 billion in damages and presumably an ongoing license fee. In addition, the case's outcome will set a precedent for whether or not APIs can be copyrighted. |
| Microsoft Fleshes Out Surface Pro 3 Lineup with a New Core i7 Model Posted: 29 Jun 2015 11:13 AM PDT Storage or processing power?The addition of a new Core i7 Surface Pro 3 model will have users asking themselves which they value more, local storage or raw computing power. That may not seem obvious when comparing the base clockspeed of two identically priced models, which we'll clarify in a moment. First, a look at Microsoft's new entry. Microsoft's newest addition to the Surface Pro 3 family features a Core i7-4650U processor, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB solid state drive for $1,299. It's priced the same as the SKU with a Core i5-4300U processor, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB SSD. Essentially users are left to choose between a lower end CPU with twice as much local storage, or a higher end CPU with half as much storage. Where things get interesting is when comparing the two CPUs, as the Core i5 part sports a faster base clockspeed. This is how they compare:
For CPU intensive tasks, the higher boost clockspeed is going to benefit the Core i7 part. It also benefits from having more cache to store and read data from, and a superior graphics architecture. So in other words, don't put much stock in the base clockspeed, which favors the Core i5 part by 200MHz. The real decision comes down to local storage. With so many cloud storage options, you might find that a 128GB SSD is sufficient. It's also worth reminding that the Surface Pro 3 has a microSD card slot, and of course a full size USB 3.0 port, both of which can add local storage to the fray. That said, if you're the type who installs a lot of programs, the 256GB model becomes the better buy. Alternately, you can have the best of both worlds (Core i7 CPU, 256GB SSD) for $1,549, or bump to a 512GB SSD for $1,949. In any event, you can shop the new Surface Pro 3 and existing models at the Microsoft Store. |
| And Here's Another PC Stick With Intel Inside Posted: 29 Jun 2015 07:49 AM PDT Last Thursday, we wrote a news story about Archos launching a PC stick with Windows 10 late next month. Now another PC stick device has emerged from Japan's Mouse Computer, the MS-NH1, packing Windows 8.1 Pro, 64 GB of internal storage, and a steep price of $322. There's also a cheaper version with 32 GB of space, Windows 8.1 with Bing, and a price tag of $160. The specifications show that the MS-NH1 consists of a quad-core Intel Atom Z3735F SoC, 2 GB of RAM, a full-size USB 2.0 port, a microSD card reader for expanded storage, Wireless N, and Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity. The device also has an HDMI connector that plugs into any monitor or HDTV that supports HDMI input. Does this setup seem familiar? It's basically what the Archos PC Stick offers: the same Intel Atom Z3735F SoC, 2 GB of RAM, Wireless N, and Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity. Even more, both PC sticks mirror the Intel ComputeStick hardware set, save for the protective casing. The 64 GB Mouse Computer model comes in white unless you're opting for the 32 GB model, which ships in black. The Mouse Computer MS-NH1 is shorter than a pencil and doesn't take up the large amounts of space that desktops require. That means customers can use this device in the living room, in the bedroom, and even in a hotel room on business trips. Simply unplug the device from the HDMI port and slip it into your pocket. Do you really need a PC Stick? Based on the hardware, it would be good for browsing the internet, checking email, streaming video, and listening to music. The USB 2.0 is perfect for connecting a mouse or a keyboard and possibly even a tablet or smartphone that can be used as keyboards. The 64 GB model with Windows 8.1 Pro seems ideal for the professional, while the cheaper 32 GB model should be ideal for the average consumer. |
| Windows 10 Unlikely to Boost Notebook Sales, Panel Makers Say Posted: 29 Jun 2015 05:32 AM PDT The operating system is set to arrive on July 29It is probably the last thing that Microsoft wants to see so close to the release of Windows 10, but skepticism is what one usually gets whenever the subject of the upcoming OS's impact on device sales is broached. So much so that even Intel — a company for long tied at the hip with Microsoft — has clearly said it sees little hope of Windows 10 reviving PC sales in a big way. Now it's the turn of a bunch of notebook panel makers Taiwanese site Digitimes talked to. According to the site, these panel makers are currently grappling with weak panel pricing owing to high reserves and low demand. They are trying to combat this "though utilization and production adjustments" and not waiting for Windows 10's arrival, which they feel won't do much to boost notebook sales in any case — at least in the short term. Interestingly, the site notes that this wasn't always the case as these companies were initially hopeful of a Windows 10-led sales revival. |
| Malwarebytes Declares Amnesty for Pirates, Offers Them Free Licenses Posted: 29 Jun 2015 03:47 AM PDT Those with invalid or problematic licenses can get a replacement key for freeHelmed by 25-year-old Marcin Kleczynski, who founded the company in 2008 while still a college freshman, San Jose-based Malwarebytes has quickly emerged as one of the most popular purveyors of anti-malware solutions. Its flagship malware-fighting tool is available both as a free download limited to only on-demand scans and as a $25/year three-PC package offering real-time protection. Sounds like a fairly uncomplicated product strategy, right? Only until you consider the millions running so-called "cracked" copies of the software and the amnesty that the company is now offering these pirates. Turns out the company is giving away free replacement keys to any Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Premium user whose existing key has been found to have a problem. The Malwarebytes Amnesty program's FAQ page describes it as being aimed at those "inconvenienced by piracy or abuse." All such users need to do is to tell the company how they came to possess their existing key when confronted by a popup saying there's an issue with their license key. Those who say they are unsure where they got it from or that they downloaded it from the Internet will get a 12-month license. As for those who say they purchased it, they will get a free lifetime license. It's no surprise, then, that some paying customers are feeling short-changed. This is what one such customer had to say on the Malwarebytes forum: "This is insane. MB [Malwarebytes], if you are handing out free lifetime licenses to pirates, then I would like my money back as well." And this is what Kleczynski said in response: "When I started Malwarebytes, I absolutely had no idea how successful we would be today. I am extremely grateful for all of the support from everyone and how fast we've grown. That being said, I picked a very insecure license key algorithm and as such, generating a pirated key was, and is, very simple." The problem is the algorithm that he chose as a callow youth has been used to churn out millions of keys, and Kleczynski says it has resulted in an absolute mess. With there being every possibility that pirated keys may clash with legitimate ones, the company is moving to an entirely new licensing regime. "The first stage of this program is to collect data from our users. What keys are still alive, and who are they used by. If you are a true pirate, the furthest you will get is a year's worth of Malwarebytes. I wish we could handle each of the keys manually and determine if they are legitimate, but there are tens of millions of them and so we've automated the process a bit to cut them down. After that cut down, which is when a user selects an option, we will be going through the uses manually." |
| How To: A Guide to BIOS Settings Posted: 29 Jun 2015 12:00 AM PDT What are the common BIOS settings, and what do they really signify and actually do for you?If you've ever spent time tweaking your system, chances are you've played around in the motherboard's BIOS settings. You sift through the options, only to find a massive laundry list of settings you can tweak, with many of them these days defaulted to "Auto." Chances are, you won't ever have to touch these settings. But if you're looking to expand your knowledge on what these settings do and when you should tweak them, this guide's for you! A note about manufacturers and how they organize optionsNot every manufacturer organizes these settings in the same manner. Fortunately, the organization a company uses is usually the same regardless of the platform. Below is where these options lay for four popular manufacturers from their recent BIOS settings organization: ASUS: AI Tweaker: CPU and memory options ASRock: OC Tweaker: CPU and memory options Gigabyte: M.I.T. : CPU, memory, system health, and fan-speed options MSI: OC: CPU and memory options CPU OptionsBCLK/Base Clock: This is the main system clock for the processor. If the motherboard supports changing this option, it provides is a universal way to overclock the processor, even if you don't have a processor that was marketed for it, such as Intel's non-K processors. However, since this affects everything on the processor, including memory controller and integrated GPU, you normally can't tweak this value very high before stability issues start. CPU Ratio: This allows you to change the frequency multiplier of the processor. Normally, this only affects the cores themselves, and not the other parts of the processor, such as the memory controller or integrated GPU. Changing this value is the easiest way to overclock. However, this is only supported on the following processors: Intel's K or X suffix processors (e.g., i5-2500K, i7-4690K, i7-5960X) Spread Spectrum: As the name suggests, this option is used to spread the electromagnetic interference (EMI) coming off the processor across a broader range of frequencies. This doesn't reduce the total amount of EMI, but it helps prevent all of it from being concentrated on the frequency of interest, namely the processor's clock frequency. This should normally be left on, although if you're doing some serious overclocking, it may help with stability to turn it off. CPU Voltage: This is useful if you're overclocking, as higher clock speeds require higher voltages. However, approach this setting gingerly. Even a relatively small change (about 15 percent) can fry the CPU. And note that frying doesn't have to show any signs of physical damage to the part. Host Clock/PCIe Clock: As the name suggests, this is used for adjusting the processor's on-board PCI Express controller frequency. While it might be tempting to tweak this, thinking it could help with graphics, it won't actually do much for the graphics card. It's best to leave this alone unless you've been touching BLCK, run into stability issues, and have run out of other options to tweak. Intel SpeedStep/AMD Cool'N'Quiet: Both options will adjust the clock frequency of the processor to lower frequencies if it's not doing much and bump it back up to normal if it becomes busy. If you prefer to have your processor running at full speed all the time, disable this. C-State Options: The C states (denoted by C# State) are processor power levels. These are useful to turn off when attempting extreme overclocking to keep the processor from switching power states. x86 Virtualization: If your processor supports it, this will help virtual machines perform at near native level. On Intel machines, it may be called VT-x, while AMD machines it may be called AMD-V. On older machines, it'll be called "Vanderpool." Memory OptionsMemory Frequency: Sets the operating frequency of the memory. However, unlike BCLK on the processor, you can't chose an arbitrary frequency. Instead, you're left with options based on the BCLK multiplied by the memory's frequency multiplier. If you're left with strange frequencies after adjusting BCLK, it's best to pick the fastest one that isn't faster than the memory's rated spec. For best results though, leave this on auto. Big list of timing valuesHigher-end motherboards will allow you to directly adjust the timing values of RAM; the list of these values is long. But the most important ones are: CAS Latency These are the four numbers you see in memory timings on product specifications. If you're overclocking your memory, adjusting those four values will usually help push the overclocking further. The other options you'll find are beyond the scope of this article. DRAM Voltage: This is mostly useful if you're trying to overclock your RAM speed beyond its normal specification. This value should be handled gently, as going over even a small amount (about 15 percent or more) can fry the RAM. And frying can happen without apparent physical damage. Storage OptionsSATA Mode: The SATA protocol allows for three modes: IDE: This is a backward-compatibility feature. It's only necessary if the operating system doesn't support SATA. Yes, you can install something like Windows 98 on a SATA drive with this mode on! RAID: This sets up the SATA ports for the motherboard's on-board RAID. Otherwise, it acts like AHCI. Hard Disk S.M.A.R.T.: This enables S.M.A.R.T. features on drives that support it. Chipset/Peripherals OptionsGraphics Adapter and Integrated GPU (IGPU) settings: These options are normally for changing which primary graphics adapter you're using, what PCI Express mode you want to use, and how much memory should be allocated to the IGPU. Regarding choosing a primary graphics adapter: If the computer can't use the one selected, it'll attempt to use the other. Onboard peripherals: These options include the integrated audio and Ethernet adapter. Unless your operating system has conflicts with the integrated peripherals, you don't need to disable them when installing other hardware that serves their purpose. For example, if you're installing a sound card, you don't need to disable the onboard audio. Legacy USB Support: This allows environments that do not normally support USB to use USB devices, such as older OSes and utilities that run on boot (like memtest86). Unless you're having USB compatibility issues at the OS, do not disable this. Intel- and AMD-specific featuresIntel Rapid Start: A way to resume from hibernate very quickly. AMD Dual Graphics: If you have an APU and an AMD GPU, this will allow a hybrid CrossFire option that allows the use of both GPUs to work in tandem, rather than be separate entities. Power (ACPI) OptionsS-State configuration: S-States are system level power states. The most common ones people use are: S1: Power on suspend. The CPU stops executing instructions, but both it and RAM remain on. If a device says it can be powered off, it will be. Peripheral Power On: You can configure the computer to power on or wake from S3 sleep from one of these peripherals: PS/2 keyboard State after Power Loss: If the computer has a loss of power, the computer can do the following once power is restored: Last state: If the computer was off, the computer will remain off. If it was on, it'll power back on. Note that some motherboard manufacturers may put this in another location (ASRock for instance, puts this in Chipset Configuration). System Health/MonitoringFan Speed Settings: These will tweak the speed of the fan. The labels on the settings correspond to the header name on the motherboard. For example, if you have header names FAN_1, FAN_2, and FAN_3, these should correspond to Fan 1, Fan 2, and Fan 3 in the BIOS respectively. Typical speed settings include letting the system adjust the fan speed based on noise/performance profile or setting it to a flat value. More advanced features may let you create a customized speed to temperature curve. Temperature Alarm Settings: Some BIOSes allow you to set warnings or actions to take when the CPU or chipset reaches a certain temperature. If an alarm is set, the PC speaker will beep. Other drastic measures will simply shut down the computer. This option may be simplified to just acting on the chipset temperature, as processors have gotten really good at preventing catastrophic overheating. Case Open Feature/Reset: Some motherboards have a header that you can use to attach a sensor to detect if the case has been opened. This option is useless without that sensor. Boot and SecurityFast/Ultra Fast Booting: This will minimize POST times. For most modern BIOSes, "Fast" means it won't enumerate USB drives, so you can't boot from them. "Ultra Fast" requires Windows 8 or later, and allows skipping the routine POST startup entirely. However, this means you cannot access the BIOS menu from boot until you either reset the settings or from Windows 8 itself. Num Lock on Boot: Sets whether Num Lock should be on or off on boot. If you have a laptop with Num Lock but not the numeric keypad, you'll want to make sure this is left off if there's an option. Otherwise, the right half of the keyboard will act as the numeric keypad. Full Screen Logo: Let's you see the motherboard manufacturer's splash screen or the regular POST output. This doesn't affect boot times either way. Boot/POST beep: Leave this on, as this will aid in troubleshooting if the computer doesn't boot up. You may have to buy a PC Speaker (the little buzzer speaker) if your case or motherboard didn't come with one to take advantage of this. Boot Order: This configures which storage devices to boot from in order. This can be one of the storage drivees (HDD or SSD), optical drives (if one is installed), USB drive or "removable disk", or from the network. Old computers may even allow you to boot from a floppy drive. By default, it's best to configure this for the boot drive, then either the optical drive or USB drive. Boot/Setup Password: You can set a password that must be entered any time the computer boots or goes into the BIOS settings. Unfortunately, there are plenty of ways to circumvent this so don't rely on this keeping your computer secure. Secure Boot: Enabling Secure Boot requires the operating system you want to run to support it. This option may not be available on prebuilt computers. If it is available, do not disable this feature if the OS was already installed, as the OS will not boot. Otherwise, you can leave it disabled and install any OS, regardless if it supports Secure Boot. |
| Intel’s Braswell NUC Now up For Pre-order Posted: 28 Jun 2015 11:55 PM PDT The new 'Pinnacle Canyon' NUC kits start at $129A brace of new NUC (Next Unit of Computing) became available for pre-order from Amazon a couple of days back. These latest additions to Intel's three-year-old range of barebone PCs are the same Braswell-powered models we told you about in May: the $172 NUC5PPYH and the $129 NUC5CPYH. While the former is powered by a quad-core Intel Pentium N3700 chip with a base clock of 1.6GHz and a burst frequency of 2.4GHz, the latter packs a dual-core Celeron N3050 processor with a base clock of 1.6GHz and a burst frequency of 2.16GHz. Both models are identical in all other regards, and pack four USB 3.0 ports (including one for charging), an HDMI 1.4a port, VGA port, TOSLINK optical digital audio output, SDXC card reader, gigabit Ethernet port, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 4.0. Further, both models support a 2.5-inch SATA III SSD/HDD and a single SO-DIMM memory module. Although both SKUs were available for pre-order initially, the NUC5CPYH is now listed as "currently unavailable" on Amazon. For those unfamiliar with the Braswell line, allow us to bring you up to speed. The Braswell family includes low-cost chips based on the 14nm Airmont architecture. They are meant to replace Intel's Silvermont-based 22nm Bay Trail-D SoCS in the entry-level desktop segment, and feature a couple of key improvements over the latter in that they support more USB 3.0 ports and up to 8GB of DDR3L-1600 RAM. |
| Samsung Done Blocking Windows Update, Says Fix on Its Way Posted: 28 Jun 2015 09:59 PM PDT The patch will re-enable automatic Windows updates on its laptopsA few days back, Samsung was caught using a small executable (installed as part of its Software Update tool) to sneakily block Windows updates from being automatically downloaded and installed on some of its PCs. The discovery, as was to be expected, caused quite a stir, the initial handling of which by Samsung left a lot to be desired. But it seems the company is now done interfering with users' update preferences and issuing incoherent statements in defense of the practice. The company on Friday promised to deliver a patch to address the issue in the coming days, saying it attaches great value to security and its partnership with Microsoft. Ironically, the fix will be delivered by the same Samsung Software Update tool that is at the heart of this entire controversy. The issue came to light on Tuesday, when Microsoft MVP Patrick Barker sounded the alarm about the presence of a sneaky little file named Disable_Windowsupdate.exe in Samsung's update tool. Discovered by Barker in collaboration with a few others, the executable ensures that the option to have Windows download/install system and other updates automatically remains disabled. A Samsung customer support rep Barker talked to cited driver compatibility issues for the behavior. |
The README file continues. "The .cs and .shader files are examples of how you can correct the lens distortion so that images on the Oculus display appear undistorted when viewed through the lens," the file adds. "These files are written for the Unity game engine. If you are using a different game engine you may have to modify them."
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