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- Intel Launches Sleek Single-Slot Arc Pro A60 Workstation Graphics Card
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- Maxon Redshift With AMD Radeon GPU Rendering Support Now Available
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OCZ Releases DDR3-1800 Modules
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No need to do a double-take here, and yes, OCZ -did- just release DDR2-1600 modules two days ago. In an attempt to take the top spot in the enthusiast market, which they have, they have just announced a blazing-fast DDR2-1800 kit, with 8-8-8 timings with a 1.9v voltage requirement… the same as the sticks released the other day. As usual, pricing is not yet known, but they are not going to come cheap.
Sunnyvale, Calif—July 19, 2007-OCZ Technology Group, the worldwide leader in innovative, ultra-high performance and high reliability memory, today unveiled the next step to achieving maximum performance on the latest PC platforms with the launch of the World’s first production PC3-14400 DDR3 modules. These OCZ kits are meant to set industry performance standards as well as accelerate the development of next-generation enthusiast platforms.
Source: OCZ Press Release
GnuCash 2.2.0 Released, Now Available For Windows
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Keeping track of finances can sometimes prove to be a huge pain, but there are many commercial programs available to aide in your trek to keep track of everything. Of course, there are free alternatives as well, and that’s where GnuCash comes in. It might not offer as many features as Quicken or Microsoft Money, but it’s certainly feature-packed, given the price. Up until now, it’s been available on Unix systems only, but the latest 2.2.0 version finally brings a binary to Windows. If you are a *nix user, you might also want to give KMyMoney a try, which I’ve been pleased with in the past.
The GnuCash development team proudly announces GnuCash 2.2.0, the new stable release of the GnuCash Open Source Accounting Software. With this new release series, GnuCash is available on Microsoft Windows for the first time, and it also runs on GNU/Linux, *BSD, Solaris and Mac OSX.
Source: GNOME Desktop
Prince’s Free CD a Huge Success
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We posted last month that the artist formally available in record stores, Prince, was planning to release his latest album in a UK newspaper. Well, that has come and gone and the result was outstanding. Over 2.8 million copies of the newspaper were sold that day, 600,000 more than the same day the previous month. The music companies are not amused, but I find it hilarious, frankly. I am not a fan of Prince, but this had to be done by someone.
The Mail reported sales of at least 2.8 million papers last Sunday, compared to the June’s Sunday average of 2.276 million, according to figures obtained by the Guardian. Mail on Sunday managing director Steve Miron pegged the cost of the promotion at £1.25 million, including a £250,000 payment to Prince for the rights to the album.
Source: Ars Technica
NVIDIA GeForce 8: Linux vs. Windows
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When it comes to Linux and NVIDIA, both seem to go together like peas and carrots. Until the 8×00 series was released, however. As Michael at Phoronix has discovered, the 8-series is where NVIDIA is seriously lacking. Compared to Windows, Linux is held back significantly, whereas older cards/driver versions would keep Linux performance on par with Windows. We can only hope that NVIDIA will sort this out soon, but no doubt their focus has been on Vista lately.
After being tipped off that there may be some serious performance regressions with the GeForce 8 series on alternative operating systems, we explored this issue further and after confirming this problem exists in the latest Linux display driver, we have conducted some Windows XP and Linux benchmarks to explore this issue further.
Source: Phoronix
CoolIT Releases MTEC Control Center
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CoolIT as a company haven’t been around that long, but you wouldn’t know it by looking at the impact they’ve already have in the cooling market, especially towards enthusiasts. Earlier this month, they released their MTEC Control Center, which allows the user to control both their CPU and GPU coolers, via software installed in Windows. You first need to install the small module inside your PC appropriately, install the software, and then control your cooling power and fan speeds. If only this had existed before…
Calgary, Alberta – July 6th, 2007 – CoolIT Systems, known for its high-performance MTEC liquid cooling systems, introduces the MTEC Control Center giving PC enthusiasts complete control over their CPU and GPU coolers for the first time, ever. The Control Center module consists of a USB connected control board that allows full software interaction to control the cooling power and fan speeds of multiple MTEC Coolers including the award-winning Freezone and Eliminator. The MTEC Control Center will also be compatible with CoolIT’s future liquid cooling devices.
Source: CoolIT Press Release
Democracy Player Becomes Miro
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The popular ‘do-everything’ cross-platform video player, Democracy Player, has finally been released as Miro. A news post on the website notes that Miro’s Public Preview 1 has been released, more appropriately known as 0.9.8. They urge that this is the most stable version to date, which means 1.0 is right around the corner. You can hit up their site and download the Mac OS X or Windows version, but at the time of writing, I could not download the Linux version due to the file missing from the server. Doh.
We have a new name (Miro) and a new logo designed by Jon Hicks (who did the Firefox logo). Our new website has been updated throughout with better, more focused, and more up to date info. Our forums are totally new and way better. The channel guide has move to miroguide.com and has a whole new look (it’s still designed to be used primarily inside the app).
Source: Miro Blog
Intel’s Penryn Xeon Prices Revealed
We posted on Monday that DailyTech had stumbled-upon a leaked roadmap from Intel, revealing upcoming Penryn-based Xeons. Well, they’ve now come across the pricing for all of the chips, and they are intriguing to say the least.
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The E5450 for $851 (in quantities of 1,000) is looking like a great offering. It offers an ultra-fast quad-core 3.0GHz clock speed, 12MB L2 cache, 1333FSB and a mild 80W TDP. What’s not to like? As far as ‘budget’ goes, you can score a quad-core E5410, 2.33GHz, for $256. Though server CPU’s, it would not be surprising to see enthusiasts scrambling to acquire a few models once available, since the Xeon line-up will be the first to take advantage of Penryn.
Source: DailyTech
EA Sports Scores Major Goal, Moore Or Less
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Once in a while, there will be an announcement that will truly come as a surprise. This one, is one of those. EA Sports has announced that they have snatched up Microsoft’s Peter Moore, who in the past, has been the primary Xbox 360 advocate. Apparently he is not as passionate about the console as once thought, but who could say no to a $1.5 million signing bonus and perks up to the wazoo?
The announcement comes less than one week after Moore hosted Microsoft’s E3 press briefing. It also comes just under two weeks after he announced the extension of the Xbox 360’s manufacturer’s warranty to three years. Prompted by rising reports of hardware defects that Moore had previously downplayed, the move will cost Microsoft as much as $1.15 billion last quarter alone.
Source: GameSpot
The Fifth Element Blu-Ray Re-Release Reviewed
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When Sony Pictures threw The Fifth Element in their Blu-ray line-up last summer, fans were pissed. While audio quality was on par with the other releases, the video quality in no way showed off BRs potential. So without surprise, complaints were all over the internet.
In what could be considered a display of great customer service, Sony has re-released the movie and has a program setup where owners of the older version can swap with the re-release. But are the upgrades worth it? According to Peter at High-Def Digest, the answer is a whole-hearted ‘yes’.
This upgrade truly earns the title. Sure, the supplements still disappoint (and drag down the overall grade), but the video is leaps and bounds better, and the studio has even added on a Dolby TrueHD track. Combine that with a free disc exchange program, and one must give Sony props for getting it right this time.
Source: High-Def Digest
Gran Turismo 5 Trailer Released
E3 2007 has come and gone, but news of games displayed there is still in full swing. IGN unveiled a new Gran Turismo 5 trailer (though it might be available elsewhere) which showcases what the game has to offer so far, and it’s enough to get any racing fan pumped. The entire trailer takes place on the gorgeous Suzuka Circuit in Japan. The graphics appear sharper and more refined than what we have seen in Forza, so we can only hope the final version of the game delivers what we see here. Of most interest, I think, is the TVR Tuscan that you can see below. It has color changing paint, and simply looks incredible.
After playing Forza a fair bit in recent weeks, I immediately noticed some cars that GT5 has that it doesn’t, such as the Audi R8, BMW Z4 M Roadster and Alfa Romeo Spider. There’s a concept car as well, exclusive to the game, called the GT-R. In the end, the trailer does a great job of reassuring the fact that the game is going to be hard to wait for…
Source: IGN PS3
Valve Welcomes THQ to Steam
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If there was any doubt about Valve’s Steam platform when it first launched, I am pretty sure that it’s all gone now. In the past year, they’ve signed up many different publishers, including EIDOS and Capcom. New to the list: THQ. Currently, Company of Heroes, Titan Quest and Full Spectrum Warrior are available, with a 10% discount if you buy before July 24. Stalker, Supreme Commander and Warhammer 40,000 are all on the way.
The question is, who’s next to join the Steam fray?
Steam welcomes an all-star line-up of THQ titles from some of the most prestigious development studios in the gaming industry, including THQ’s Relic Entertainment, Gas Powered Games, and Pandemic.
OCZ Releases DDR3-1600 Enthusiast Modules
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It seems like just yesterday OCZ released their DDR3-1333 kit, but now we have a blazing-fast DDR3-1600 kit on our hands. Interestingly, there are two different kits of the same speed available. One has tighter timings, 7-6-6, while the other has 7-7-7. Both kits require 1.9v for stable operation, a full 0.4v above JEDEC standard. Price is currently not known, but as with most ultra-high-end parts, they will not come cheap.
Sunnyvale, Calif.—July 17, 2007—OCZ Technology Group, Inc., a worldwide leader in innovative, ultra-high performance and high reliability memory, today announces two new 1600MHz parts including the world’s first enhanced bandwidth high speed DDR3. The newest additions to the OCZ DDR3 family offer enthusiasts performance they can really sink their teeth into and feature blazing fast speeds of 1600MHz and the incredibly fast latencies of 7-7-7 and 7-6-6 on ASUS motherboards.
Source: OCZ Press Release
Norton Ghost 12 Worth the Cash
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Norton has had a bad rap for their software over the past few years, especially towards those who know computers well, and in turn know how poor of quality their software could be. Norton Internet Security immediately comes to mind, which I personally find to be one of the most ridiculous pieces of commercial software on the market.
But, I digress. What about their ongoing Ghost series, which just hit it’s 12th version? The Inquirer took a hard look at it and were left quite impressed, awarding it an 8 out of 10. If you are a Windows user looking for a solid backup and recovery offering, check out the review. As you would expect, it’s one of the few applications completely compatible with Vista.
Ghost 10 didn’t impress us, more so now we see 12 in comparison. There’s a feature, which should have been in every version so far, just hammering our point home. It’s the ability to create a customised recovery-disc based on the hardware in the computer and its working drivers. Saving all that F6 pressing and selecting optional drivers for use with the bog-standard boot disc supplied. This disc is to be used when the system won’t boot into windows and the back-up image is accessible.
Source: The Inquirer
Madden NFL 2008 To Introduce Real ‘Achievement Ring’
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The past few years have been good to video games, but bad for gamers wallets. Very rarely are games released and that be the end of it. No, you have expansion packs, downloadable content or strategy guides… all of what will add to the ~$60 you’ve already paid for the game. Well, here’s a new one for you.
EA is going to introduce a feature in the upcoming version of Madden that will allow you to purchase a real-life mock-up Super Bowl rings. There are different models of the ring available, for different skill levels (aka how much you’ve accomplished in the game). If you want to purchase a ring to prove your Madden 08 skills, it will only set you back FIVE HUNDRED dollars. There’s no doubt that a ring to prove such accomplishments would really help you score with the ladies.
Progress further through the game and you can order a fancier ring. Which, unlike a real Super Bowl ring, which is earned, is showcasing only your ability at an electronic football game (and propensity for wasting up to $495 of real money).
Source: Kotaku
Ten Reasons To Pick Up a DSLR
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So you are an aspiring photographer with a sub-$200 camera and are pondering a move to DSLR territory. It’s not a bad idea… at all. Nowadays, it’s not even that expensive to get set up. If you are willing to part with $1,000, you can equip yourself with some sweet equipment. In fact, we will be publishing a review later this week of Nikon’s D40x, which is quite impressive considering the price point.
If you are still unsure whether a DSLR is for you, then you might want to check out the top ten list at Canonites. The list applies to everyone, not just Canon zealots. Reasons include less noise, no shutter lag, viewfinder, ergonomics and more.
I urge you not to buy that Canon EOS 30D or Nikon D80 or [insert other DSLR model here] if you plan to leave it on full automatic mode. DSLRs are expensive light-capturing tools that can help you create some amazing images, but only if you have the time and patience to learn what you are doing and be creative.
Source: Canonites
Kingston Releases High-Density Security Thumb Drives
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Memory giant Kingston has unveiled two new high-density thumb drives, the DataTraveler 100 and DataTraveler II Plus. As the name states, you are able to bring your data with you, but you probably already knew that. The DT 100 comes in a huge 8GB size and includes synchronization software which also allows you to password-protect your important porn and excel spreadsheets. Price is a little higher than the competition, $116 for the 8GB stick. But can you really put a price on security?
The DataTraveler II Plus (shown after the jump) arrives in a single 8GB flavor ($154) and comes bundled with Migo’s data synchronization software, which enables the suits to have password-protected access to up-to-date Outlook folders and quarterly reports.
Source: Engadget
Install Missing Codecs with CodecInstaller
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Ahh. If there were ever an appropriate name for an application, it would be this one. CodecInstaller allows you to peruse a list of available Codecs to install, should you need them. If you are not sure what codec a video you have requires, the same program can also analyze the video and tell you. If you have a robust video player, you probably already have the codecs you need, but if not, CodecInstaller will help you out.
Freeware app CodecInstaller searches your computer for commonly used codecs and displays which codecs you have installed and which codecs you need. CodecInstaller can even download and install missing codecs. Additionally, you can point CodecInstaller at a specific file and CodecInstaller will tell you exactly which codecs you need to play the file.
Source: LifeHacker
Top Ten Worst Web App Names
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Not all websites can have a great name like Techgage, so they need to take whatever is left. Sometimes, the results are humorous. Other times, they can make you shake your head. Read/WriteWeb takes a look at the top ten worst web app names, including Faritiilzer (which looks like Fartilizer at first glance), Profilactic, LicketyShip, iStalkr and more.
Some web 2.0 names have been compared to Star Wars characters and there’s even a Web 2.0 Name Generator, in case you need inspiration. The R/WW authors had a pow-wow on Basecamp and we’ve come up with a (fun) list of the worst 10 names in Web 2.0. But you’re bound to disagree with some of them, or we’ve missed some obvious ones, so please jump into the comments to add others.
Source: Read/WriteWeb
45nm Xeon’s Specs Leaked
The guys at DailyTech have received leaked specifications for Intel’s upcoming 45nm Xeon processors, based on the Penryn microarchitecture. The entire line-up looks impressive, although there are no huge gains in overall frequency. The top-end Quad-Core chip, X5460, clocks in at 3.16GHz and has a 120W TDP. That by itself already beats the QX6850, which we posted a review for earlier today.
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Of most interest, I think, is the E5450 is clocked at 3.00GHz, 1333FSB, 12MB L2 cache, with an 80W TDP. Very cool specs there, especially when compared to current offerings. The E5260, their highest-clocked dual-core Xeon, has a frequency of 3.33GHz, alongside an unchanged 65W TDP, but with more cache, at 6MB. Will desktop Penryn have similar clocks? Only time will tell, but it wouldn’t be unlikely to see very close line-ups, with the Extreme parts clocking as high as 3.5GHz.
Source: DailyTech
Pirillo Upgrading to XP?
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Vista has now been out for close to six months, and tech geek Chris Pirillo posted a 51 minute video to explain something simple: He’s moving back to XP. This is one thing I can really agree with, as I can barely use the OS for an hour without having some application crash or halt, or some other blatant bug. XP for me, as well.
While Vista is a better operating system than XP, Pirillo says, it’s still plagued with issues that get in his way every day, like not having the right drivers for his printer. Right now it looks like about 7% of Lifehacker readers are using Windows Vista: any regrets about the upgrade? Let us know in the comments.
Source: LifeHacker
Intel Releases New 1333FSB Line-Up and X7800 Mobile CPU
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Intel today announced the launch of their latest high-end processor, the Quad-Core QX6850. The CPU clocks in at 3.0GHz, a mere 70MHz above the previous top-end QX6800. Is it drool-worthy? Oh yes. It’s hard to benchmark a processor like this and not have a wide grin. We took a hard look at the new CPU, which you can read here.
Next up for Intel is their Penryn CPU’s, which are based on a 45nm process and brings a slew of new features to the table. Also announced today is the first ‘Extreme’ processor to hit a notebook, the 2.6GHz X7800. It sells to retails for $831 in quantities of 1,000, so it’s not going to be a cheap offering. On the bright side though, it has an unlocked core and can take care of your overclocking obsession, even while on the road.
Source: LifeHacker
Windows Home Server 1.0 Code Goes RTM
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Ars Technica is reporting that Microsoft’s Home Server has been released to manufacturing, after many months of beta testing. Home Server is based on Windows Vista, but is suited better for small home servers, as the name suggests. Easy file storage and backup schemes are what will sell the OS, including the relatively easy setup. We took a look at the beta earlier this year, where you can learn more. The retail version should be available within two months, which will coincide with a 120-day evaluation copy as well.
Charlie Kindel, GM of Windows Home Server, shared part of the toast he gave to the WHS Team on the project’s blog where the announcement was first made: “A community of highly enthusiastic customers rose around us. We made them part of the development process and rewarded them and they amplified our efforts,” he said. “Congratulations and thanks for helping ship the coolest version of Windows ever: Windows Home Server.”
Source: Ars Technica
Life As a Game Tester
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Growing up, most dream of testing games for a living, but as it turns out, it’s one of the most boring jobs in the world. Karla from the Seattle Weekly went ‘undercover’ to get hired by a game testing firm, and relays everything she’s learned. I can assuredly admit that I am glad I never pursued that career.
“A lot of people just don’t show up for their shifts,” admits Volt’s Theuret, who says that this shortage of consistent workers is why the Bullpen, designed to fill empty shifts on the fly, exists at all. It helps identify those who really want to get ahead—like Theuret, who says he signed up on the Bullpen sheet almost daily for a year before being promoted to a full-time position as a lead.
Source: Seattle Weekly
Geometry Wars Galaxies Controls Awful
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When the Xbox 360 was first released, it seemed that most people were playing Geometry Wars instead of the full-blown releases. I admit, I was addicted to it for a few days myself. However, according to Joystiq, it doesn’t seem that the development crew were able to pull it off again on the Wii. One thing is for sure, to fully enjoy this game, you need a perfect controller. I tried out the PC release recently with the mouse… and I don’t recommend it at all. Hopefully ‘Galaxies’ will end up making it’s way to other consoles in the future.
Movement is done with then nunchuk’s joystick, and the direction of your fire is determined by where you point on screen and is shown via a thin red line shooting out of your ship. Given the sheer necessity to be accurate in more difficult phases, having to deal with Wii remote’s imprecise pointing proves detrimental.
Source: Joystiq
Immobilizers To Be Made Mandatory In Canada
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Autoblog is reporting that as of September of this year, new vehicles in Canada will have to be outfitted with anti-theft immobilizers, to be mandated by Transport Canada. The device will arm as soon as the ignition is switched off, to prevent anyone from starting it back up again without the original keys. As soon as the car is turned off and key removed, it cuts the starter, ignition and fuel. Personally, I think this is a good idea.. anything that will decrease the amount of car theft is a good thing. Why it has to be mandated by a government agency is beyond me though.
As of September 1st, all new cars, vans, light trucks and SUVs sold in Canada will have to be fitted with anti-theft electronic immobilizers as mandated by Transport Canada. Most carmakers have announced plans to equip their 2008 model vehicles in Canada with immobilizers as standard equipment, and the move has been widely applauded by Insurance Bureau of Canada as it will undoubtedly reduce vehicle thefts.
Source: Autoblog