| Elsword Raises Level Cap; Launches Two New Areas Posted: 19 Jul 2012 04:36 PM PDT Kill3rCombo has released a brand new update for its manga-inspired brawler Elsword, which raises the level cap to 56, and releases two new levels. Players will defend the city of Hamel from shadow demons, while searching for the power of Nasod. The Ancient Waterway and The Heart of the Ancient Waterway are the two new areas, designed to challenge players with new bosses. The newest playable character, Chung, also receives a brand new costume: the El Officer costume. Players who play at least an hour a day have a chance to win various prizes, including an Elsword-themed iPad, Amazon gift cards, and in-game items.  Elsword Gameplay Screenshot Source: Elsword Unveils Jaw-Dropping New Levels and Increased Level Cap IRVINE, Calif. – July 19, 2012 – This week, players of the manga–inspired massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) Elsword will be able to dive deeper into the once pristine seaside kingdom of Hamel, as Kill3rCombo debuts two new levels, increases the level cap to 56 and offers highly-prized gear, including the El Officer costume for the newest playable character, Chung. Not only does the new content give players a chance to further unravel the mysteries of a brand new continent, but the coveted Chung El Officer costume was released specifically due to popular demand. Players will venture deep into the heart of Hamel in search of the power of ancient Nasod, while defending the city from invading shadow demons. In the Ancient Waterway, gamers will come face-to-face with Taranvash, a monstrous hound who guarded Hamel before being driven mad by the invading forces. In the Heart of the Ancient Waterway, fearless heroes must evade fiendish traps at the mechanized core of Hamel's waterworks before taking on Victor, a giant demonic wrestler with a penchant for body slamming. In addition to the new content, players making Elrios their home away from home will have an added incentive to do so in July. By playing at least an hour of Elsword each day, players have the chance to win numerous prizes, including a new Elsword-themed iPad as well as Amazon gift cards and in-game prizes. To learn more visit: http://www.elswordonline.com/everyday-elsword/. In Elsword, gamers can choose from six specialized and customizable characters as they explore an immersive world and battle rivals to complete dynamic quests. As players progress through the game, they can evolve their fighting styles by upgrading to new job classes, learn deadly new abilities and master combo attacks. With intuitive and straightforward controls, Elsword offers players of all skill levels the chance to experience the thrill of victory in combat, either on solo missions or cooperatively in a party of up to four players. For those who welcome a challenge, Elsword also delivers action-packed PvP combat.
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| Rusty Hearts reveals new information about Reborn expansion Posted: 19 Jul 2012 04:28 PM PDT Perfect World Entertainment has revealed more information about the release of Rusty Hearts: Reborn, set to launch on July 24. Many changes are in store for the game. New weapons for each character will be available, giving a whole new focus for each of them. All players will have access to a brand new avatar — Edgar Grosvenor — for free. A PvP ladder system will be introduced, granting rewards each week to the top players. A new starting experience is being added, to help new players, and give veterans some new scenery when they start a new character. New pets will be launched that will assist players in their dungeoneering. Players who form full groups will have access to hidden dungeons and bosses. A master/apprentice system will be implemented as well, making it easier for new players to learn from seasoned veterans. Finally, a new training dungeon will be added to practice combos and skill interactions. Perfect World Entertainment also publishes Perfect World International and Forsaken World.  Rusty Hearts Gameplay Screenshot Source: Rusty Hearts: Reborn – New screens and details As the July 24, 2012 launch date for Rusty Hearts: Reborn, the first major expansion for Perfect World Entertainment's free-to-play MMO brawler draws near, the Rusty Hearts team is excited to share more details and new screens for a closer look at the largest update the game has seen since it first launched. “We're absolutely pumped about the upcoming expansion,” said Senior Product Manager Mark Hill. “In many ways, Rusty Hearts: Reborn represents a true rebirth for the brawler with a brand new starting area, a dramatic shift from the game’s gothic and dark aesthetic to a introduce bright, outdoor areas, and of course, a brand new Weapon Focus for each character. Whether you’re a new or veteran player, there’s never been a better time to jointhe Rusty Hearts community!” Rusty Hearts: Reborn major features:
New Job Focus: Wield new weapons and learn new skills for each character.
Free Avatar: All players will have access to special character Edgar Grosvenor for free.
PvP Ladder: Compete to climb the ladder and earn rewards each week.
New Starting World Hub: A brand new forest area for new players and veterans starting a new character.
New Pets and System: Introducing pets that will fight, heal, and buff players as they battle through dungeons.
Hidden Dungeons and Bosses for Parties: Rewards offer players who form full parties with access to new enemies and dungeons.
Master-Apprentice System: New system encourages veteran players to help new players learn the game, offering rewards to both.
Training Dungeon: Practice new skills, set your combos, and perfect your fighting style to raise your dungeon Style Points score through the roof. The best part: Rusty Hearts is 100% free!
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| Sevencore Announces Closed Beta Posted: 19 Jul 2012 04:18 PM PDT Registration for the Sevencore closed beta test is now available on gPotato’s website. Set in a vibrant, mysterious world, Sevencore focuses on its mounted combat system. Raise your companion or mount from an egg, and watch them learn various skills to assist you in combat. Choose from one of three classes: Warrior, Magician, and Gunner. Large guild versus guild battles will dominate the landscape, and to the victor go the spoils of controlling tax rates, item prices, and more, for all players who enter your region. The closed beta will be rewarding participants with a variety of items, such as an exclusive cloak or a wolf mount. gPotato also publishes AIKA Online and Allods Online.  Sevencore Gameplay Screenshot Source: Sevencore Announces Closed Beta Train Custom Battle Mounts and Seize Control of an Entire Region Sunnyvale, Calif. – July 19, 2011 Registration is now open for the closed beta of the upcoming fantasy MMORPG Sevencore! The highly anticipated closed beta test (CBT) will begin August 9th, inviting players to test the uniquely diverse mounted combat system, treacherous PvP Occupation War, and other exciting features for eleven electrifying days. Sign up now on the newly redesigned official website! Sevencore delves into a vibrant world of ancient mysteries and vast landscapes with an assortment of unique mounts to raise and fight with. Monsters from the wild can be obtained and raised from eggs, becoming powerful fighting companions and skilled mounts. They gain a variety of unique combat skills which allow them to fight beside their masters or ride directly into the fight with their rider aboard in Sevencore's singular mounted combat system. Charge into daily Occupation Wars, guild vs guild battles that determine leadership for entire world regions, and win the power to control tax rates, item prices, and more for all players who enter your region. To win these rights, guilds will have to utilize the various skills of Sevencore's three powerful character classes – Warrior, Magician, and Gunner – to climb their way to the top and hold their seat against opposing guilds. Joining the beta instantly gives players the chance to win rewards like the Sevencore CBT Cloak or a specially designed Wolf Mount. This fearsome Wolf can summon additional wolves to fight with him and increase his allies' attack power by 90% with a fearsome howl. Sevencore's in-depth character customization, powerful mounts, and cut-throat politics will come alive August 9th! Sign up for the closed beta now at the official website.
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| Vindictus launches Kai Posted: 19 Jul 2012 03:57 PM PDT Nexon has released a new character to Vindictus today — the mercenary archer Kai. This allows teams to have ranged attack support to take down the hordes of monsters. Kai features both close range and long distance skills alike, such as Ricochet Shot and Arrow Storm. A wide variety of customization options are also available in the shop. Players who create a new Kai character from now until July 23 will receive a support box containing a powerful weapon, seven day passes for inner armor and hair, and five customizations. Nexon also publishes Mabinogi and Maple Story. Vindictus “Kai” Trailer Source: Nexon's Vindictus adds new mercenary, Kai Kai brings high-powered archer skills to the visceral world of Vindictus Nexon America has released new content into its high-intensity, real-physics based MMORPG, Vindictus. The new content features the mercenary Kai, who brings ranged weapons and skills to the game. The Kai character comes armed with a high-powered bow, allowing teams to have ranged attack support while taking down the hordes of fierce monsters inhabiting Vindictus' dungeons. Kai has versitile archer skills that allow attacks up close as well as at a distance. Skills include the Ricochet Shot that defies physics as it bounces of multiple targets; the Arrow Storm that drops a shower of arrows on groups of enemies; and the Chain Link that ties and smashes two enemies together with explosive damage. Kai also comes with a wide variety of customization options that are available in the Avatar Shop. The shop features Kai-specific costume items including hair, armor and other decorative items. To celebrate the arrival of Kai to Vindictus, Nexon is providing all players who create a Kai character from now through June 23 the "Kai Support Box." The box contains the powerful Kobold Bow, a seven-day unlimited inner armor pass, a seven-day hair pass and five "Kai's Buying" character enhancements. The new Kai content is available to download and play for free at: http://vindictus.nexon.net
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| Aeria Games Announces Tiberium Alliances Posted: 19 Jul 2012 03:45 PM PDT Aeria Games has announced the launch of Command & Conquer: Tiberium Alliances on its global network. The game will support eight different language versions: English, Polish, Turkish, Italian, French, Spanish, Russian, and Portuguese. Tiberium Alliances focuses on the strategy that the Command & Conquer series is known for, giving players the ability to control the world. Players must manage their resources and army, as well as developing their base in PvE and PvP situations. Alliances with other players will ensure a strong backing whether going on the offense, or being forced to defend. Aeria Games also publishes Battlefield Heroes and Lord of Ultima.  Command & Conquer Tiberium Alliance Gameplay Screenshot Source: Aeria Games, a leading global publisher of free-to-play online games, has launched EA's hit MMORTS, Command & Conquer: Tiberium Alliances, on Aeria's global network. Tiberium Alliances is the latest awesome release from Aeria Games' multi-game deal for EA's Play4Free game portfolio, following the highly successful launches of fan favorites such as Battlefield Heroes, Need for Speed World, and Lord of Ultima. This new installment in the popular Command & Conquer franchise is now available on the Aeria Games network in eight supported languages: English, Polish, Turkish, Italian, French, Spanish, Russian, and Portuguese. Set in the Command & Conquer Tiberium universe, Tiberium Alliances faithfully incorporates the series' tried and true real-time strategy gameplay into a convenient browser-based game. Players will fight for world domination as the commander of their own base, manage and optimize their resources, and command their armies in both PvP and PvE combat scenarios. Building alliances with other players to support and strengthen each other will be crucial to surviving and thriving. With the launch of Command & Conquer: Tiberium Alliances, Aeria Games' global audience of over 40 million players can experience the deep, strategic gameplay that has been a hallmark of the series. For more information, please visit http://commandandconquer.aeriagames.com.
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| Drakensang Online Offically Launches Posted: 19 Jul 2012 03:27 PM PDT Bigpoint has announced that Drakensang Online has ended its beta testing and has officially launched. To celebrate, there will be several in-game events for everyone to participate in. Drakensang Online boasts over nine million registered players worldwide, and its hack-and-slash gameplay has won the game numerous awards. Players choose from three different classes, and develop their characters through the talent system the game provides. Content is updated weekly to keep the game fresh and constant. Players can also craft items, collect pets, and participate in several different PvP modes. Bigpoint also publishes Battlestar Galactica Online and Pirate Storm. Drakensang Gameplay Trailer Source: Drakensang Online, the award-winning online hack-n-slash MMORPG from Bigpoint, is celebrating the end of its beta with nine million registered players! To mark the occasion, the development team is staging a number of in-game events. With the recent Atlantis update, the game world and content is now four times as big as when the action RPG first released in open beta almost a year ago. High time to check the game out (again) and give all the new features a thorough review! To show off the game's biggest content update since launch, with the new continent of Atlantis, Bigpoint has released a new trailer featuring many of the monstrous mobs that stand in the way of heroic players as they make their way to battle the new endboss Gorga.
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| Heroes of Newerth to offer All Heroes Free Posted: 19 Jul 2012 03:08 PM PDT S2 Games has announced that all heroes will be available for free starting Friday, July 20. In addition, players can also play any game mode at no cost. All 107 heroes will be able to be played by anyone, allowing newcomers to the game the ability to experiment and try out champions to find one that suits them. Early release champions can still be purchased up to four weeks before their release to the public. Anyone who has purchased a hero prior to July 20 will receive a refund. You will also receive a Mecha Gemini avatar for free. All Legacy players will be receiving substantially more rewards for each match played. Heroes of Newerth “All Heroes Free” Trailer Source: Heroes of Newerth to Offer All Heroes Free New Model Gives All Players Access to Entire Released Hero Pool All Heroes Free Starts Friday, July 20 Kalamazoo, MI (July 19, 2012)—Starting tomorrow, every player will have immediate access to the entire released hero pool for the award-winning Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) title Heroes of Newerth (HoN), developed and published by S2 Games. Making Heroes of Newerth a truly free-to-own game, the All Heroes Free game model will level the HoN playing field by allowing any user to own all of the heroes and play any game mode at zero cost. "We are very excited to announce All Heroes Free, which gives every player access to our ever-growing hero pool," said S2 Games co-founder and CEO Marc DeForest. "After months of internal discussions and monitoring community feedback, it's clear that All Heroes Free is the perfect next step for HoN." Prior to this new game model, players could take advantage of a weekly rotating free pool of 16 heroes with the option to purchase individual heroes with in-game or real world currency. Heroes of Newerth's new All Heroes Free model will launch on Friday, July 20th, giving players immediate access to all 107 released heroes. Early Access heroes will still be available for purchase under a four-week trial period, but with free access to the entire hero pool, players will be able to enjoy the game in its entirety without limitation. HoN is a game of options and variety, where no two games are alike, and offers an experience almost completely player driven. The All Heroes Free model makes HoN more welcoming for new players and friends of current players, as everyone gains access to any hero of their choosing. "As gamers, we all know that games are more fun to play with friends, and All Heroes Free will make it easier for players to bring their friends to the game," said Heroes of Newerth Director Pu Liu. "This new model will also level the eSports playing field, as all players will be able to build their skills and advance their strategies with any hero they choose." With the launch of All Heroes Free, any player who purchased a released hero with in-game or real world currency within fifteen days before July 20th will receive a refund. Plus, any player who has ever purchased a hero with real world currency will receive the new and exclusive Mecha Gemini avatar for free, including Legacy players. Mecha Gemini is the super robot avatar of the popular HoN hero Gemini, who will be prowling the lanes of Newerth waiting for the right moment to strike. In addition to the avatar, all Legacy players will begin earning more rewards for each match played. Added DeForest: "Legacy players are the backbone of HoN, and there's no way we would be where we are today without them. Their early commitment to the game is irreplaceable, and as HoN continues to evolve, we are always looking for new ways to show our appreciation." S2 Games is also working on rolling out a much-anticipated new game mode, with the working title "Gated Mode", which will offer new players a more controlled environment in which to learn HoN. "With All Heroes Free and the upcoming Gated Mode, we're really focusing on our new player experience and helping our current players bring their friends into the game," added Liu. "Gated Mode will allow new players to get into the game faster and easier by pairing them with a smaller group of carefully selected heroes and thereby lessening the initial burden of knowledge." Visit HeroesofNewerth.com for more details on GameHoN and the new match reward system. Join S2 Games and Heroes of Newerth on Facebook and Twitter.
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| Wargaming Announces World of Tanks Championship Tournament Posted: 19 Jul 2012 02:53 PM PDT Wargaming has announced the opening of registration for the upcoming International Ural Steel Championship 2012 for World of Tanks. Players will have a chance to win the grand prize of $77,000 by competing. The tournament will feature 16 top teams from America, Europe, Russia, China, and Southeast Asia. Six maps have been chosen for the tournament as well. The grand finals will take place in September in Moscow, Russia. Sign ups for the tournament can be found on the North American and European websites for World of Tanks. Wargaming also publishes World of Battleships and World of Warplanes.  World of Tanks Gameplay Screenshot Source: Wargaming Announces details for the Second Annual International Ural Steel Championship 2012 held in Moscow, Russia Registration Opens today for the Premiere World of Tanks Competition and the Chance to win $77,000 MINSK (RUS) – Jul. 17, 2012 – Today, Wargaming – the award-winning game developer and publisher – announces the opening of registration for its upcoming International Ural Steel Championship 2012 for its flagship MMO action game World of Tanks. Registration begins today and will continue through July 31, 2012. "World of Tanks has become a global eSport discipline," says Victor Kislyi, Wargaming CEO. “The game is turning into a massive communication platform that merges together gaming communities of different countries and regions." Sixteen teams of the world's best World of Tanks gamers from America, Europe, Russia, China, and Southeast Asia will compete on six battle maps for their shot at the bragging rights of Ural Steel Championship 2012 winner and a prize purse of $77,000 USD. The Grand Finals will take place on September 15th – 16th at USH CSKA in Moscow, Russia. The tournament is organized by Wargaming in partnership with the Russian Cyber-sport Federation and powered by UralVagonZavod, one of the largest scientific and industrial complexes in Russia and the largest Main Battle Tank manufacturer in the world. "We’ll continue to encourage and support eSport events like Ural Steel in the future, providing attractive prizes and contributing our skills and knowledge to make these events even more exciting," states Kislyi. The first Ural Steel Championship was held last year and became a virtual battleground for more than 40,000 players from nearly 30 countries. Sign up for Ural Steel 2012 here: North America: http://worldoftanks.com/uc/tournaments/101-Ural_Steel_2012/ Europe: http://worldoftanks.eu/uc/tournaments/58-Ural_Steel_World_Tour_%28Qualifiers%29/
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| Dragon Saga Launches Dragonkin Update Posted: 19 Jul 2012 02:38 PM PDT Dragon Saga has launched its latest update, Dragonkin, today. The update is part of a massive expansion taking place throughout the year as part of the Legendary Update. The update brings new combo skills to both the Twin Fighter and Shaman classes. New combo skills are gained as the characters level up. To celebrate the launch, Dragon Saga will be launching the Sunflower Event tomorrow. Leveling up the sunflower pet from a seed to a fully grown flower will offer special items. Special achievement medals and a new gasha box are just a couple things to look out for. Dragon Saga is published by Gravity Interactive, who also publishes Maestia and Ragnarok Online. Dragon Saga “Dragonkin” Trailer DRAGON SAGA LAUNCHES DRAGONKIN UPDATE Devastating New Combo Skills Now Released Marina del Rey, California -July 19, 2012 – Gravity Interactive, a publisher of exciting massive multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs), has launched its Dragonkin Combo Skill update for the popular mystical MMORPG, Dragon Saga. This latest update is part of a massive expansion that will progress throughout the year as part of the game’s Legendary Update. To kick off the latest patch, new reward items and special events are available now! Players can visit http://playdragonsaga.com/ to test out the latest skills and join in the action. The new Dragonkin Combo Skill update brings spellbinding action into play with combo skills added to both Twin fighter and Shaman classes, and what’s more, the new combo skills are unsealed as characters level up (Lv. 1, 20, 30, 40). For an even closer look at how this legendary update is progressing, players can check out the latest video at http://youtu.be/Pqn2SCoXFWU. “It’s an exciting time for Dragon Saga as it undergoes this major expansion, and we’re excited to release this next patch, said Vince Kim, Dragon Saga Producer at Gravity Interactive. “We encourage all players to be on the lookout for all that is to come this summer from Dragon Saga.”
To celebrate the latest Combo Skill update, Dragon Saga will introduce the Sunflower Event starting tomorrow. Players can level up the special event sunflower pet from a mere seed to a full grown flower to receive special reward items! Special Achievement Medals and a Summer Festival Gift Gasha Box that includes sunflower costume pieces are some of the exciting reward items to look forward too. Join now at the Dragon Saga Portal , or follow the official Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/playdragonsaga
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| Maestia Launches Open Beta Posted: 19 Jul 2012 02:23 PM PDT Gravity Interactive has announced the open beta for their new MMORPG Maestia has offically launched. With the launch comes a higher level cap, now up to 59. Those who made it to max level in closed beta will also be able to keep their character name. In addition to the level cap increase, all classes received an improved talent tree available to them. Abilities have been streamlined into three tiers, making it much easier to figure out talent roles. Two new areas and dungeons have also been released with the raise in level cap. Open beta also marks the release of the Mercenary system. Players can mark themselves as available for hire with the system when they log off, allowing other players to hire them. Once the player logs back in, they will have received extra experience and currency. Gravity Interactive also publishes Requiem and Ragnarok Online.  Maestia Gameplay Screenshot Source: MAESTIA:RISE OF KELEDUS ROMPS INTO OPEN BETA Level Increase, Talent Tree Improvements, and Mercenary System Now Live Marina del Rey, California – July 19, 2012 – Gravity Interactive, a publisher of exciting massive multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs), launched today the start of open beta testing for their highly anticipated Maestia: Rise of Keledus. Whether choosing to be a Guardian or a Knight, players begin by marching directly to http://www.playmaestia.com/, and Registering to be part of the exciting open beta, which includes the feedback from the closed beta testers. “Maestia’s closed beta test was a huge success, and we took the lessons learned from our players and GMs, and are already hard at work on a number of changes we’re excited to unveil during the open beta test,” said Jay Choi, Chief Operating Officer at Gravity Interactive. “Much like the closed beta, we’re opting to keep this test period short and intense, so we can gather feedback from our most loyal players, with the game’s official launch not far behind!” Numerous changes have occurred since the closed beta ended on June 21st. Chief among them is players are now able to reach level 59, up from 40. Though all past progress was wiped during the preparation for open beta, those who made it to max level during the closed beta retain their character name. To support these additional levels, two new sections of the game are now open, as well as two additional dungeons, both available as normal and expert mode. The open beta also unveils a vastly improved talent tree for all classes. Abilities have been streamlines into three loose tiers, making it easier for players to distinguish various talent roles. Rangers will now find bow skills in their topmost tier, while daggers will be the lowermost tier, with utility abilities sandwiched between the two. Warriors will find their tanking abilities at the top, their damage abilities on the bottom, and utility through the middle. Want to make some extra EXP and currency while logged off? Need some help on a tough quest or dungeon? Try out the Mercenary System, available now in open beta. Players can loan out their characters while offline to the mercenary system, where other players may hire them for a cost. When the player returns, they will have earned some extra experience and money, courtesy of the mercenary system! Maestia: Rise of Keledus is a fully fleshed fantasy MMORPG that is free to download and play. Follow a captivating storyline and launch head first into the eternal struggle for power and righteousness. Join fellow players in parties to challenge Instance Dungeons or band together in guilds for small and large scale faction battles. Adventure in an ever-growing world filled with quests, crafting, an advanced Mercenary system and more. Ride epic mounts determined by your class, take on massive world bosses designed to challenge a full party of players, craft the strongest weapons and armor or tame magical pets to fight at your side. All will be brought to life in a fantastical world filled with a lush art style showing both the dark and light side of a world thrown into a deep conflict that must be survived before it can be resolved.
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Here's an interesting tidbit for those Maximum PC readers who were wondering why the two biggest players in mechanical hard drives have yet to seriously jump into the SSD waters: OCZ's shares are currently spiking after insider rumors claimed that Seagate and Micron are considering buying out the company.
What's even cooler than rocking a powerful Sandy Bridge-E rig supplemented with discrete graphics? Rocking a powerful Sandy Bridge-E rig that's supplemented by discrete graphics and runs completely silent thanks to gargantuan passive coolers. Sound crazy? It is, but the PC builders at Germany's SilentMaxx are offering just that in silent system built around the company's 
Auction site eBay is rolling in riches as its online business continues to boom. Revenue for the second quarter ended June 30, 2012 spiked 23 percent year-over-year to $3.4 billion, eBay said. Second quarter income on a non-GAAP basis reached $730 million, up 16 percent compared to one year ago, while GAAP income hit $692 million. PayPal is a big reason why eBay is doing so well these days.
Nobody likes to eat crow, but what do you do when a judge in a court of law hands you plate full of it and orders you to shove it down your gullet? The answer to that question is forthcoming. Apple, which has been on a crusade to bury Samsung for allegedly copying the look and feel of its iPad and iPhone devices, was ordered by a U.K. judge to flip the script and take out ads stating Samsung is innocent.
If your junk mail folder seems smaller as of late, there's good reason for that. Computer security experts collaborated to take down Grum, the world's third largest botnet, which they say was serving up 18 percent of spam around the globe by way of 18 billion spam messages every 24 hours. A few more victories like that and it may become easier to buy fake Rolex the old fashioned by -- by seedy looking individuals wearing trench coats.
Well, it's official folks. Microsoft is shipping Windows 8 to the general public on October 26, just five days prior to Halloween and just over three years since the launch of Windows 7 on October 22, 2009. The Redmond outfit previously said Windows 8 would release to manufacturers (RTM) in August and to the general public sometime in late October, the latter of which is when customers will be able to buy new hardware with the touch-friendly OS pre-installed, or upgrade existing systems or (build new ones) using off-the-shelf (or downloadable) copies.
Here's an interesting tidbit for those Maximum PC readers who were wondering why the two biggest players in mechanical hard drives have yet to seriously jump into the SSD waters: OCZ's shares are currently spiking after insider rumors claimed that SeaGate and Micron are considering buying out the company.
What's even cooler than rocking a powerful Sandy Bridge-E rig supplemented with discrete graphics? Rocking a powerful Sandy Bridge-E rig that's supplemented by discrete graphics and runs completely silent thanks to gargantuan passive coolers. Sound crazy? It is, but the PC builders at Germany's SilentMaxx are offering just that in silent system built around the company's 
Auction site eBay is rolling in riches as its online business continues to boom. Revenue for the second quarter ended June 30, 2012 spiked 23 percent year-over-year to $3.4 billion, eBay said. Second quarter income on a non-GAAP basis reached $730 million, up 16 percent compared to one year ago, while GAAP income hit $692 million. PayPal is a big reason why eBay is doing so well these days.
