Content and news by Rob Williams

NVIDIA is set to launch its upcoming G80 GeForce 8800GTX and 8800GTS graphics cards next week, however, DailyTech has managed to obtain a GeForce 8800GTX board to run a couple quick benchmarks on. The GeForce 8800GTX used for testing is equipped with 768MB of GDDR3 video memory on a 384-bit memory bus as previously reported. Core and memory clocks are set at 575 MHz and 900 MHz respectively.

From these first few benchmarks, the differences between the G80 GTX and ATIs X1950XTX are huge. Of course the G80 requires more power, but not -that- much, despite requiring two PCI-E connectors.

The former boss of Computer Associates has been sentenced to 12 years and fined $8m (£4.2m) for his role in a giant fraud at the US software giant. Sanjay Kumar had pleaded guilty to charges including conspiracy, securities fraud and obstruction of justice back in April. As part of a $2.2bn accounting scandal he had falsely reported software licence revenues and lied to investors.

Here is a harsh lesson for any CEOs out there who manage large companies ;-)

Judge Paz Aldecoa of No. 3 Penal Court ruled that under Spanish law a person who downloads music for personal use can not be punished or branded a criminal. He called it “a practised behaviour where the aim is not to gain wealth but to obtain private copies”.

I am liking this judges mindset, and wish more shared it. Now to see if this spreads into any other Countries. I am sure the RIAA are seriously cringing over this one!

The closure of Lik-Sang for many of is is the end of an era, having relied upon their services for many years. Getting lovely packages containing games either way earlier than their eventual western release, or games that will never ever make there way over here. It all makes Sony look very much like an evil destroyer of fun, with thunderous tones of “THOU SHALT NOT PLAY” echoing from the heavens above.

If you like to import games but don’t know where to turn, then you will definitely want to check out this article which goes into the pros and cons of two popular Asia import sites.

I’m very pleased to let you know you this morning that the Windows division has revised the retail license terms for Windows Vista in a significant way. “You may uninstall the software and install it on another device for your use. You may not do so to share this license between devices.”

For enthusiasts and hardware reviewers, this is a huge deal. This gives us the ability to install our copy of Vista on any computer we own, as long as it’s one at a time. So, if someone swaps out for a new motherboard, they can rightfully reinstall the OS. It’s about time Microsoft has taken a fresh look at this problem. Now for some bad… this website has taken a good look at the EULA for Vista, and noticed a few interesting points.

Forgent Networks has settled its lawsuit concerning the so-called JPEG patents for $8 million, a fraction of what the company initially sought. The company, an intellectual property firm that licenses communications technology and software for business meetings, announced on Wednesday that it has reached a settlement with all of the remaining claims in the cases involving U.S. patent number 4,698,672.

Finally, this ridiculous case is over! This is only one pin down for Forgent though, as they are now actively suing cable companies over a patent for technology inside video recorders. I am in the process of patenting the act of sneezing. So you may not want to cook with pepper for a while.

Diebold Inc. insisted that cable network HBO cancel a documentary that questions the integrity of its voting machines, calling the program inaccurate and unfair. The program, “Hacking Democracy,” is scheduled to debut Thursday, , five days before the 2006 U.S. midterm elections. The film claims that Diebold voting machines aren’t tamper-proof and can be manipulated to change voting results.

It’s no surprise that the person wanting the docu to be cancelled, is the president of the company who makes the voting machines. HBO stands by their documentary though, and have full intentions to show it. This is one time when I wish I had HBO…

Now, who saw this one coming? Microsoft and Novell will be collaborating with each other, and the results are going to be pleasing for those looking for better Windows integration on their SUSE box. Here is a quote from yesterdays letter from Ron Hovsepian, the CEO of Novell: “Specifically, customers will now be able to run virtualized SUSE Linux Enterprise on Windows or Windows on SUSE Linux Enterprise.”

That about spells it out. But is it all good? There is a lot of speculation as to how much this will actually help Novell or Linux in general. Microsoft is obviously not one to jump at the opportunity to help a competitor, so what exactly are we going to see from this? As always, things are going to get very interesting. You can read the full press release regarding this on Microsofts site. You can also see a quick article about the potential side effects to this agreement here.

Sunnyvale, CA—November 2, 2006—OCZ Technology Group, a worldwide leader in innovative, ultra-high performance and high reliability memory, today unveiled the PC2-6400 Titanium Series, the first-ever EPP-ready modules rated with a 1T command rate. Optimized for the existing nForce 590 SLI-based motherboards and impending NVIDIA platforms, the PC2-6400 Titanium EPP-Ready series delivers enthusiasts an alternative way of achieving high performance results without the need for substantial bus speeds. As the first DDR2 Titanium XTC (Xtreme Thermal Convection) product released, the innovative PC2-6400 EPP-Ready series is a premium solution for all enthusiasts, gamers, and high-end system builders.

You can read the full press release here.

NEW YORK and SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Nov. 2, 2006 – Verizon and Intel Corporation have collaborated to enable consumers to play popular PC games on their television sets through Intel Viiv technology-based PCs, making the games more enjoyable and accessible than ever before.

You can read the full press release here.

Try The Ship, a massively mysterious thriller (MMT) from Outerlight Ltd, for free this weekend via Steam, the leading online distribution platform. The Free Full Game Trial of The Ship is on now and will conclude on Sunday, November 5 at 1 pm PDT. Built with Source technology, The Ship is the critically acclaimed debut from Outerlight, a UK-based studio. Steam is the first full-featured broadband platform for the delivery and management of PC games and digital content, and has pioneered its broadband services to over 10 million customers around the world.

What are you waiting for?!

Cases & Enclosures
• Silverstone LC20 – Overclockers Online

Cooling
• Apack Zerotherm GX810 Videocard VGA Cooler – TweakNews
• Hiyatek Contractible Laptop Cooling – Think Computers
• MACS MA-7131-A Triumph Deluxe – Bjorn3D
• Phase Changing – WC 101

Memory & Storage
• Buffalo Firestix PC2-8500 – Legit Reviews
• Crucial DDR2 PC2-5300 Ltd edition 2 gig kit – Xtreme Computing

Motherboards & Processors
• Core 2 Extreme QX6700 Quad Core – GamePyre
• MSI 975X Platinum V.2 – Viper Lair

Peripherals & Power Supplies
• BlueAnt Supertooth II Bluetooth Speakphone – Blue Tomorrow
• eDimensional G-Pad Pro Gyroscopic Gamepad – Virtual-Hideout
• Exploring EAX with onboard audio – Tech Report
• iPod shuffle 2nd gen – Digital Trends
• Ultrasone PROline 650 Headphones – The Tech Lounge
• Xraypad Thunder 9 Smooth Surface Mouse Pad – DragonSteelMods

Displays & Video Cards
• ATI And NVIDIA Graphics Cards In Video Decoding Tasks – Digit-Life
• HIS X1950Pro 256MB – 3D Gameman

Complete Systems, Competitions & Etcetera
• Dell XPS 210 – BIOS Magazine

It’s not very often we are treated to an RPG on the Xbox, but Ubisoft has come along and brought a popular Japanese hit to our shores. You are the enchanter Atsuma, who unwillingly has an arm filled with magical powers. Of course, it only makes sense that it’s his destiny to save the world.

German e-tailer Technik seems to have leaked D40 images, but there’s no telling if they are ultimately real. There’s no reason to believe they are fake though, as this is a popular e-tailer overseas. The model is actually quite disappointing if the pricing stays the same (~$750USD). The body is more compact and the design as a whole is more user friendly. But, the status LCD has been completely wiped off, and it still has a 6.1MP sensor.

What has been improved is the back LCD screen though, as it’s now comparable with it’s big brother, the D80. Overall, it’s looking like the D40 will be a “compact” D-SLR for those who want it, but the lack of the LCD status screen is a huge burn. The kit lens is the same from the D50 kit, so overall I can’t see why anyone should particularly be excited about this one, unless you want a good upgrade from a standard point and shoot.

The basic edition of the game is priced at $59.99 with pre-orders requiring a $5 deposit. The game will, like Halo 2 and many subsequent high profile Xbox and Xbox 360 titles, also be available as part of a Collector’s Edition, priced at $69.99 and requiring a $10 pre-order deposit at stores. Details of the contents of the Collector’s Edition are unavailable but the Halo 2 version included a number of behind the scenes videos and artwork presentations in a collectible tin box.

If you are a hardcore Halo fan, the $100 version will get you a copy with 4 discs with currently unknown extras, and a Master Chief helmet replica. How exactly this edition will differ from the Collectors Edition are unknown. Perhaps the primary difference between the $100 version is the helmet.

Microsoft officially launched the sixth generation of its flagship device software platform, today. “Windows Embedded CE 6.0” boasts kernel architecture enhancements, new software stacks targeting three high-volume device categories, enhanced development tools, and, for the first time, 100 percent availability of Windows CE’s kernel source code.

In addition to the fact that the kernel code is available, there are many new features as well that mark spark your interest if you are a mobile user.

There are now more than 100 million web sites on the Internet, which gained 3.5 million sites last month to continue the dynamic growth seen throughout 2006. In the November 2006 survey we received responses from 101,435,253 sites, up from 97.9 million sites last month.

Like Alexa, it’s difficult to see how accurate this really is. In the end though, they show that less than half of the 100 Million are actually active domains. The -actual- sites that are visited at least once a month would likely be far less than that.

Federal law enforcement officials Tuesday arrested the well-known CEO of White Plains, N.Y.-based MSP provider Compulinx on charges of stealing the identities of his employees in order to secure fraudulent loans, lines of credit and credit cards, according to an eight-count indictment unsealed by the U.S. Attorney’s office in White Plains.

Now here is a boss you could really hate. It wasn’t only him either, but a duo with his nephew. Family that steals together stays together!

Sunnyvale, CA—November 1, 2006—OCZ Technology Group, a worldwide leader in innovative, ultra-high performance and high reliability memory and components, today announced the addition of an 850W power supply to the GameXStream family. Building on the acclaimed performance and features of the OCZ NVIDIA SLI™-Ready GameXStream series, the new 850W configuration offers a more powerful solution for today’s advanced PC systems in the same compact form factor that is a necessity to many gamers and system builders.

You can read the full press release here.

Cases & Enclosures
• Antec Nine Hundred – Pro-Clockers
• Kama Connect USB Hard Drive Enclosure – GideonTech
• NZXT Adamas – Overclocker Cafe
• Spire Pininfarina – XYZ Computing
• Thermaltake Kandalf LCS – TweakNews
• Vantec NexStar 3 – Bjorn3D

Cooling
• CoolerMaster Aquagate VIVA Liquid Cooling System – OCIA
• Noctua NF-S12 120mm Fan – Overclockers Online
• Zalman ZM-CS1 Clip Support – OC Modshop

Memory & Storage
• Crucial Ballistix PC2-6400 DDR2 1GB Kit – Overclock3D
• SuperTalent PC3500 CL2 2GB – 3D Xtreme

Motherboards & Processors
• Intel Core 2 Quad – Digit Life
• Intel Core 2 Quad – Hexus
• Intel Core 2 Quad – HotHardware
• Intel Core 2 Quad – Legit Reviews
• Intel Core 2 Quad – Motherboards.org
• Intel Core 2 Quad – Neoseeker
• Intel Core 2 Quad – NordicHardware
• Intel Core 2 Quad – Tech Report
• Intel Core 2 Quad – TechSpot
• Intel Core 2 Quad – TweakTown

Peripherals & Power Supplies
• LG GSA-H10N DVD-RW – Overclockers Club
• Logitech Precision PC Gaming Headset – Digital Trends
• Seasonic S12 Energy Plus Power Supply – ModTheBox
• SteelPad QcK Heavy – Modders-Inc
• Suncore MP3 FM Modulator – A True Review
• Vizo’s “UFO” 4-port USB Hub – OC Modshop
• Zboard Fang – Red & Blackness

Displays & Video Cards
• ATI Catalyst 6.10 with Control Panel – NGOHQ
• Catalyst 6.10 Comparison – Technic3D
• nVidia High-End Graphics Cards for Second Hand Buyers – TweakTown

Complete Systems, Competitions & Etcetera
• Norton Internet Security 2007 – BIOS Magazine
• Sony A-100 – Digit-Life
• Three Cooler Master NotePal P1 Notebook Coolers Contest – 3D Gameman