| AMD Shows Off Monstrous Professional Graphics Card... And Maybe The Radeon 7990 Posted: 15 Jun 2012 10:53 AM PDT Graphics professionals need big-league processing power, and AMD aims to scratch that itch with its FirePro line of GPUs. Earlier this week, the company announced the launch of the FirePro W600, the first of the line to incorporate AMD's 28nm and GCN technology. Hopefully you didn't run out and buy one immediately, because today AMD showed off that card's big brother, the dual-GPU FirePro W9000, and it's a beast. And hey, did we just see the first Radeon 7990, too? 
First, the FirePro W9000; in addition to the dual 28nm Tahiti-based GPUs, the card packs in 6GB of GDDR5 memory and six DisplayPorts. It's capable of pushing out 264.8 million pixels per second, with 4 TFLOPS of single-precision math and 1 TFLOPS double-precision. Now for the interesting part: the slide for the FirePro W9000 showed a card that looked a lot like a typical Radeon 7000 series entry, but the card that AMD CTO Mark Papermaster held during the talk was a much different sight to behold, with three fans clearly visible. Was this the long-rumored dual-GPU Radeon 7990 rather than the FirePro W9000? TechReport's Cyril Kowaliski grabbed a senior AMD rep's shoulder on the way out and asked him just what, exactly, Papermaster showed off to the crowd. The response: "A dual-GPU product that will be released later this year." Image credit: TechReport.com |
| Dropbox To Ditch Public Sharing Folders For New Accounts Posted: 15 Jun 2012 10:32 AM PDT  The MegaUpload fallout continues: while the U.S. government's case for Kim Dotcom's extradition is still slowly winding its way through the New Zealand court system, other file sharing services are scrambling to preemptively batten down the hatches to try and avoid similar sanctions and woes. Today, Dropbox got in on the CYA action by discontinuing public sharing folders for new Dropbox accounts effective July 31st.
"In April, we launched the ability to share any file or folder in your Dropbox with a simple link," the Dropbox team wrote in an announcement. "This new sharing mechanism is a more generalized, scalable way to support many of the same use cases as the Public folder." Basically, new users will still be able to share files with friends, but they'll need to generate and share a link to the specific file first, which Dropbox users can do already. If you're already a Dropbox user, fear not: your Public folder is staying safe, sound and open to all -- at least for now. |
| Microsoft, Advertisers Join Forces To Bring Motion-Sensing NUAds To Xbox Live Posted: 15 Jun 2012 10:19 AM PDT  Microsoft's Xbox Live Gold is kind of like Hulu Plus in that even though you pay a subscription fee for the service, it still dishes up a heaping of ads for your viewing displeasure. Thus far, they've mostly been unobtrusive and ignorable, but a recent announcement heralds a whole new era of advertising annoyance: Microsoft has sold its first NUAds, clips that bug you to utilize your Kinect to talk or shake your fist in response to the product plugs.
At this point, NUAds don't let you buy products directly. Can you imagine getting a bill for your kid pointing at the TV? Instead, advertisers are using them to receive instant feedback from viewers. "The first NUads format to roll out offers polling capabilities that allow advertisers to ask a multiple-choice question during the airing of a 30-second spot," Microsoft explains. A Toyota ad will ask what you want to see changed in a car, then allow you to point to or say the name of specific portions of the vehicle. A NUAd for Axe "will ask the audience if (the Axe Effect for Him and Her body spray) should be given to girls" and wait for a voice response. Unilever and Samsung have also signed up to for NUAds. What do you think of the NUAds concept? Are you leaping for the chance to physically catch the monkey and WIN BIG? |
| This week's hottest reviews on TechRadar Posted: 15 Jun 2012 08:47 AM PDT 
Woo it's the weekend! And to make it an extra special one, here's a round-up of all our favourite reviews from the past seven days. Hands on: Nintendo Wii U review The Wii U is going on sale in four or five months' time and we've been having a play with the GamePad and some of the launch titles. It's a very exciting console and we like it a lot. The GamePad fits in the hand nicely and the way some of the games integrate its internal 6.2-inch display is very clever. We particularly like ZombieU, a very violent first person zombie apocalypse game. Graphics are great and gameplay feels intuitive. We love the idea of being able to turn your TV off and stream any game straight to the GamePad, too, though the screen's resolution could do with being upped slightly to stop some of the pixilation we saw. The panorama view is excellent too, which enables you to physically move the controller around in order to control in-game views. 
Sony Cyber-shot HX20V review If you're in the market for a travel zoom camera that delivers remarkably consistent, colourful and detail rich results, offers a solid-feel build that should withstand bouncing around in your backpack - plus you're prepared to pay a top-end price - then the Sony HX20V should come high up on your wish list. Further good news comes in the fact that we were seeing street prices of £299.99 in the UK and $350 in the US for the Sony Cyber-shot HX20V as we were putting the finishing touches to this review, which removes a healthy chunk of any barrier to purchase. Simply put, this is one of the better travel zoom cameras we've encountered to date, and, as we're due to be heading off on our own holidays soon, we're loathe to let it go. 
Acer Iconia Tab A510 review The Acer Iconia Tab A510 could be the perfect tablet for you if you're looking to score a powerful Android tablet without breaking the bank. It may cut some corners to achieve its lowly price-tag but is still a decent performer and is a great way of getting in on the Ice Cream Sandwich fun. Yes, the design is a little tired and yes, the display isn't startling, but these are two minor quibbles for what is a very impressive and attractive offering from the Taiwanese giant. If you're looking to score the best tablet in town then there are still only two viable options – the latest iPad and the Asus Transformer Prime. But the Acer Iconia Tab A510 sits just below those lofty kings, alongside the Asus Transformer Pad 300, on the 'next-best' shelf. 
Sony VAIO T13 review Sony's entry to the Ultrabook market was long overdue, and the Vaio T13 is certainly an encouraging debut. The price-point obviously means that some sacrifices have been made when it comes to hardware, and therefore performance, but the Sony Vaio T13 is a fantastic looking ultra-portable computer that is perfectly suited for somebody looking for a day-to-day media-friendly laptop. 
Alienware M17x review Despite its chunky frame and weighty anatomy, the Alienware M17x is the perfect gaming machine and also a fantastic desktop replacement, thanks to its impressive HD media features. Camcorders GoPro HD Hero2: Outdoor Edition review Camera lenses Hands on: Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM review Cameras Hands on: Canon EOS 650D review Headsets Hands on: Tritton Warhead 7.1 Wireless Headset for Xbox 360 review Laptops Hands on: Asus Zenbook Prime review Media Streaming Devices HP Wireless TV Connect review Mobile phone accessories Jabra Halo2 review Mobile phones T-Mobile Sidekick 4G review Samsung Stratosphere (Verizon) review Vodafone Smart 2 review Storage iTwin iTwin review StarTech.com USB 3.0 to SATA IDE HDD Docking Station review Televisions Panasonic TX-P50ST50 review |
| Nvidia Releases GeForce R302 Preview Drivers Specifically for Windows 8 Posted: 15 Jun 2012 07:13 AM PDT  Windows 8 Release Preview up and running? Check. Nvidia GeForce graphics card? Check. Appropriate GPU drivers for Windows 8? You can check that one off as well, assuming you're running Windows 8 with a GeForce graphics card. If so, Nvidia's new GeForce R302 preview driver is just for you. Bear in mind that it's to be used only with the Win 8 Release Preview build, so if you're rocking an earlier version, these aren't the drivers for you.
There isn't much new that Nvidia's 302.80 driver release brings to the table, and in fact there's only feature highlight in the Release Notes (PDF): "Windows 8: Updated the Nvidia Control Panel -> Set up stereoscopic 3D page to support Windows 8 implementation of stereoscopic 3D." There are, however, a handful of open issues that you should be aware of. You may notice flickering in certain instances, for example, or loss of video in Hulu. These and other issues are specific to certain setups and scenarios (see Release Notes). Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Logitech G600 Mouse Brings 20 Buttons to the MMO LAN Party Posted: 15 Jun 2012 06:55 AM PDT  Logitech is rolling out a new addition to its G-Series gaming lineup, the G600 MMO Gaming Mouse, which features a whopping 20 buttons, including 12 thumb buttons plopped into groups of six "on a meticulously designed thumb panel." There are three default profiles to choose from, two of which are best suited for MMO games and and the other for general gaming, in case you want take a break from World of Warcraft and change things up with Battlefield 3 or the like.
The thumb panel is supposed to be easy to reach so you never have to look away from where the action is, but if you do, it should be easy to spot the button you're looking for courtesy of customizable LED backlighting. As for the laser sensor, Logitech rates the resolution at 200 to 8200 dpi (you can change it on-the-fly), image processing at 11.25 megapixels per second, max acceleration at 25G, and max speed of up to 160 inches per second. Other features include a G-Shift function (assign it to a button to double the number of functions on all the others), braided USB cable, and low-friction feet. The Logitech G600 MMO Gaming Mouse will be available in July for $80. It comes in black or white. Image Credit: Logitech Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Moody's Investors Service Downgrade Nokia Debt to Junk Status Posted: 15 Jun 2012 06:31 AM PDT  Talk about kicking a fella when he's down but not yet out. Nokia has fallen on tough times, forcing the company to make some tough decisions, and while the Finnish handset maker tries to get back on its feet, Moody's Investors Service downgraded the company's debt rating from Baa3 to Ba1, otherwise known as junk status. Furthermore, Moody's said the outlook on this and other ratings (including Nokia's corporate family ratings and probability of default rating) all remain negative.
"Today's rating action reflects our view that Nokia's far-reaching restructuring plan -- which involves drastically downsizing its infrastructure by focusing its direct marketing on fewer markets, streamlining support functions and reducing investments in certain R&D projects in order to realize additional fixed cost savings of up to EUR1.3 billion by the end of 2013 -- delineates a scale of earnings pressure and cash consumption that is larger than we had previously assumed," says Wolfgang Draack, a Moody's Senior Vice President and lead analyst for Nokia. In other words, Nokia has problems that a major restructuring effort aren't likely to solve, and may even contribute to, as far as Moody's analysis goes. Regardless of how things pan out, it's fair to say Nokia's future is very much in question. After going all-in with Microsoft's Windows Phone platform and pushing its Lumia smartphone line, Nokia yesterday announced plans to close three facilities and cut 10,000 jobs, news of which sent the investors scurrying to sell off the company's stock. Original Image Credit: Flickr (marion Doss) Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Vizio Launches All-in-One PCs, Ultrabooks Starting at $898 Posted: 15 Jun 2012 06:05 AM PDT  Back at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) earlier this year, Vizio announced its intentions of branching out into home computers, an interesting move for a company that ships more LCD HDTVs in the U.S. than anyone else. Well, Vizio made good on its promise today by officially announcing a line of all-in-one desktop models, a notebook, and a pair of thin-and-light laptops, all of which start at $898. Price is only part of the story here.
The other is the Apple styling that Vizio obviously took a cue from. Vizio's systems look like Apple products, but they're all PC (as in, Windows-based) on the inside. "PCs haven't always been made with design at the forefront. While customers want an elegant, multi-purpose device capable of executing tasks and flawlessly delivering entertainment, some PCs still look like mundane work machines," said Matt McRae, Chief Technology Officer, VIZIO. "VIZIO is passionate about innovation, design and the user experience. We listened to consumers and created a line of PCs that deliver on productivity but are also uncompromisingly clean, stylish and sophisticated." Vizio's all-in-one PCs are available with 24-inch and 27-inch Full HD 1080p displays. Both include a subwoofer for 2.1 surround sound audio with SRS Premium Sound HD, dual HDMI inputs, wireless keyboard, wireless touchpad, and IR remote. There are Core i3, i5, and i7 processor options, up to 8GB of DDR3-1600 memory, up to 1TB of hard drive space (optionally combined with a 32GB SSD), Intel HD 4000 and GeForce GT 640M LE graphics options, USB 3.0 support, eSATA, and a few other odds and ends. Next up is Vizio's 15.6-inch notebook wrapped with a durable unibody design. It too has Core i3, i5, and i7 processor options, up to 8GB of RAM, up to 1TB of hard drive space along with an optional 32GB SSD, GeForce GT 640M LE graphics, 1.3MP webcam, USB 3.0, HDMI, SD card reader, and Windows 7 Homre Premium 64-bit. Finally, Vizio launched a thin-and-light laptop line that it refers to as "the ultimate Ultrabook." These are available in 14-inch and 15.6-inch form factors instead of the more traditional 11.6-inch and 13.3-inch form factors and include the same processor options as above, 4GB of system memory, 128GB SSD, Intel HD 4000 graphics, USB 3.0, HDMI, 1.3MP webcam, and either a 1600x900 (14-inch) or 1920x1080 (15.6-inch) screen resolution. Vizio says you'll be able to find these PCs at "key retailers such as Walmart, Amazon.com, Sam's club, Costco, Target, and Microsoft Store." Image Credit: Vizio Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Report: Microsoft's June 18 Event to Center on Windows RT Devices Posted: 15 Jun 2012 05:02 AM PDT  Microsoft is gearing up to enter the ARM-based media tablet market. All its hopes rest on how well Windows RT (Windows on ARM) is received by users. At this moment, though, it's far too early to even speculate about the kind of response that awaits Windows RT-based tablets. But if a new report is to be believed, we're likely to have a good enough idea come Monday.
Microsoft is set to make a "major announcement" at a special event in Los Angeles on Monday, June 18, 2012. Though the press invitation for the event is mum on the exact nature of the announcement, an All Things D report citing sources "outside the company" claims that the Redmond-based company plans to showcase devices running Windows RT at the event. Expected to debut at the same time as Windows 8, Windows RT is an ARM-friendly version of the popular desktop operating system. It won't support legacy x86 applications, but only those apps that are developed using Windows Runtime. Recent rumors suggest Windows RT licenses will cost OEMs anywhere between $85-95, leading many to cast serious doubts over Windows RT's chances in the tablet race. |
