Tech News From Around The Web

Microsoft Passes One Million Mark With Zune

Microsoft shipped its one millionth Zune MP3 player after nine months on the market according to Robbie Bach, president of Microsoft's Entertainment and Devices Division. The company had originally expected to top the one million mark in June, but the company achieved the feat a month early.

Competition is fierce and Microsoft realizes this. One million Zunes in nine months is not too bad, but Apple sells more than that in a single month. Will Zune catch up? It would be an incredible feat, to say the least. It's unlikely, but who knows what else Microsoft has up their sleeves?

Source: Daily Tech

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Sharp Readies Smallest Blue Laser For Next-Gen Optical Formats

Sharp -- the company behind the world's largest LCD panel -- just introduced the world's smallest blue laser for next current generation optical players. Right, as in Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD formats -- your choice OEMs. Measuring just 3.3-mm in diameter, the GH04020A4G semiconductor will be available in ¥12,000 ($99) sample quantities starting June 13th before ramping up for mass production later in July.

With a $99 price tag for the laser alone, the end result is sure to be pricey. Blue lasers are well known for being difficult to produce, so it might be a while before we see a price drop.

Source: Engadget

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SabayonLinux Website Gets Makeover

Our friend Fabio at SabayonLinux let us know that their website has just undergone an intense makeover, and I must say, it looks fantastic. Dark colors, clean fonts, simple navigation... it's right up my alley. I particularly enjoy this quote:

Get rid of Microsoft Windows. Install the Sabayon Linux Operating System and unleash the full potential of your Computer. Sabayon Linux features the most advanced Industry Open Source technologies: no hassles.

This is the truth. We've reviewed SL many times in the past and have always been left impressed. It's a distro I always first recommend when someone is looking to step into the Linux world. With this site redesign, the SL team certainly shows no signs of slowing down!

Source: SabayonLinux

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Newbies Guide To Grub Editing

So you've just installed your second, or third, or ninth Linux distribution and it either didn't recognize all your installs or you chose to skip that phase of the install. Of course you'd like to be able to boot all of these installs. Editing the grub.conf (or menu.lst) is an easy peasy procedure once you have an elementary understanding of the basic components.

If you are a Linux user and don't understand the basic principles of Grub, then you are missing out on knowledge that will prove useful in the future. Most likely at a time when you least expect it and could really use it. This how-to explains everything to get you kick started.

Source: Tux Machines

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Indiana Lays the Smackdown On Speeders

Starting July 1, the Indiana DOT can lower speed limits without previous any study in highway work zones. Then, they can send five-0 to the scene to make sure Joe Q. Driver isn't trying anything funny, even if there aren't any workers present. The first time Joe's foot slips after he passes the 45 mph sign, it's $300. The second infraction is $500. And if that doesn't cure his wayward ways, then his gracious donation of $1,000 will gladly be accepted by the good state of Indiana. Oh yeah, and if he fights it and loses it's another $70.

Snap! This in a state where speeding likely happens often thanks to Indy's racing heritage. With fines like these, people may just be extra careful when behind the wheel. $5,000 fine for honking at someone in front of you? Go to Indiana if you want one.

Source: Autoblog

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Hoya Acquires Pentax

Yet another billion dollar acquisition. This one has been in "progress" for months though, so it didn't exactly come as a surprise.

In a saga which (publicly) began in December last year and has seen Pentax fighting Hoya's approaches on various fronts including the resignation of their president Fumio Urano last month and talk of selling its headquarters in Tokyo looks to be finally coming to an end. According to numerous reports Pentax's board of directors has today approved the deal and the merger will go ahead next month.

What this means for Pentax is unknown, but the next few months might prove interesting. It's doubtful the acquisition will affect their camera line-up, at least right now.

Source: DP Review

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Firefox 3.0 Passes Major Milestone

Mozilla has met a major milestone in its march to Firefox 3.0, developers said yesterday, by adding another chunk of the new Places feature to the alpha set for release late next week. Places -- a complete revamp of the bookmarks and history functions of the browser -- was at one point slated to debut in Firefox 2.0, but was yanked a year ago in the run up to that version's October 2006 release. Instead, it will debut in Firefox 3.0.

I admit that I am not familiar with "Places", but a revamp of the bookmarks will be welcomed. I know I am not alone in that thinking.

Source: Linux World

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Top 3DFX Glides Best Games

The Glide API was created by 3dfx and optimized the overall gaming experience when used in conjunction with the Voodoo hardware. Having a specialized API was both the highlight and the downfall for 3dfx. For the few short years that Glide reigned supreme, there were several games released that implemented this proprietary API. Today we will take a trip down memory lane and remember some of the best games ever that used Glide...

Trip down memory lane indeed. Quake II, Interstate '76, Tomb Raider II and Need for Speed II are my personal favorites on the list. Some good ones are missing though, such as Rollcage, Descent and SiN.

Source: OCIA

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Tech Roundup for May 28

Motherboards & Processors
• ASUS P5K Deluxe WiFi - Hexus
• ECS NF650iSLIT-A - Phoronix

Displays & Video Cards
• Catalyst 7.4 Vista OpenGL Performance Analysis - NGOHQ
• EVGA 8800 Ultra Superclocked - XS Reviews
• Jetway HD 2900 XT - Technic3D
• Jetway X1650XT and Sparkle 7600GT - Burnout PC
• MSI NX8600GTS-T2D256E HD OC - Madbox PC

Memory & Storage
• Corsair Flash Voyager GT 2/4GB - Madbox PC
• Mushkin 4GB HP2-6400 - Virtual-Hideout
• Super Talent T1000UX2G5 DDR2 - DV Hardware
• Synology DS207 - techPowerUp!

Peripherals & Power Supplies
• HEC Win Power 550W PSU - Hard-h2o
• Logitech QuickCam Ultra Vision SE Webcam - Benchmark Reviews
• Microsoft Reclusa - XYZ Computing
• Plantronics Pulsar 260 Bluetooth Headset - Legit Reviews
• Zalman ZM500-HP - XS Reviews

Cooling
• 3RSYSTEM iCEAGE CPU Cooler - Think Computers
• ASUS Arctic Square CPU Cooler - Virtual-Hideout
• Noctua NF-S12 120mm and NF-R8 80mm Silent Case Fans - Tweak News
• Noctua NF-S12 120mm Fan - Hardware Canucks
• XSPC RS360 UV blue Radiator - Xtreme Computing

Cases, Enclosures & Complete Systems
• Antec Nine Hundred Gaming Chassis - HotHardware
• Lian-Li PC-A08 Classical Series Case - Hardware Logic
• Ultra Products Gladiator Mid-Tower Case - Modders-Inc

Competitions, Software & Etcetera
• BeleniX v0.6 LiveCD - Phoronix

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