Revisting support the HD4000 graphics core on Ubuntu

Subject: General Tech | June 3, 2013 - 02:51 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: sandy bridge, Ivy Bridge, linux, ubuntu 13.04

The news might be heavily slanted towards Haswell right now but for Linux users improvements to Sandy Bridge and Ivy Bridge GPU drivers are still a major focus.  As there have been updates to the drivers as well as to Ubuntu, Phoronix felt it was time to revisit the performance metrics of the graphics on a Core i3 3217U.  While they did see improvements when you compare it to previous driver versions it seems that there is still some work to do as the performance still lags behind the Win7 driver.

"After yesterday's Intel Sandy Bridge and Ivy Bridge Linux graphics comparison using the very latest Intel Linux graphics driver, here are new benchmarks using the latest Windows and Linux Intel OpenGL graphics driver. Facing competition this morning is Microsoft Windows 7 Pro x64 and Ubuntu 13.04 with its updated open-source stack."

Here is some more Tech News from around the web:

Tech Talk

• Microsoft offers free keyboard covers for Surface RT @ The Register
• Benchmarking USB transfer speeds @ Hack a Day
• El Reg drills into Office365: Mass email migration @ The Register
• iPhones are vulnerable to a charger security attack @ The Inquirer
• BlackBerry stepping up purchases of parts and components, say Taiwan makers @ DigiTimes
• Microsoft's Xbox One Launch Event Replay @ NGOHQ
• Xbox One vs PlayStation 4: Upcoming Consoles Compared @ TechReviewSource
• LG may not cooperate with Google on Nexus 5 @ DigiTimes
• Computex 2013 Previen: An AMD comeback, Windows 8.1 and More Tablets @ Hardware Canucks

Dell Inspiron 14z Core i7 Ultrabook @ $750

Subject: General Tech | June 3, 2013 - 01:24 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: deals

Todays deal is a true Ultrabook, with an SSD for fast boot and resume and a price tag under $1000.  While you might feel a bit cramped with only 32GB of SSD there is a 500GB HDD for you to keep your files and programs on.  As well the i7-3517U has decent inbuilt graphics but with HD 7570 backing it up you can also expect decent gaming performance.

Top Deal:
14" Dell Inspiron 14z Core i7 Ultrabook w/8GB RAM, 1GB Radeon HD 7570M & 500GB Hard Drive + 32GB SSD for $749.99 with free shipping (normally $1,188.99) http://www.logicbuy.com/deals/dell-inspiron-14z-ultrabook/41593.aspx

Additional deals:

• HP Dual Hinge Notebook Stand & USB 2.0 Port Replicator Bundle for $79.98 with free shipping (normally $149.98 - use coupon code LOGICBUY20 ).
• 3TB Western Digital Red 3.5" SATA 6Gbps Internal Hard Drive (WD30EFRX) for $139.95 with free shipping (normally $169.95).
• Dell XPS 8500 Core i7-3770 3.4GHz Quad-Core Desktop w/8GB RAM, 1TB Hard Drive & Radeon HD 7570 for $649.99 with free shipping (normally $874.99).
• Dell Precision T3600 Xeon E5 3GHz Quad-core Tower Workstation w/8GB RAM & 23" UltraSharp Monitor for $1,049.99 with free shipping (normally $1,471.42).
• 10.1" Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 16GB Android 4.1 Tablet (Refurbished) for $239.99 with free shipping (normally $269.99).
• Herman Miller Semi-annual Sale: 15% off Aeron Chair - starting $534.65 with free shipping (normally $679).

Computex 2013: ASUS Keynote -- Transformer Pad Infinity, FonePad Note, MEMO Pad HD7, VivoPC, Router RT-AC68U, Transformer Book Trio

Subject: General Tech, Networking, Systems, Mobile, Shows and Expos | June 3, 2013 - 04:20 AM | Scott Michaud
Tagged: computex, asus

ASUS wants to kick off Computex with a barrage of product announcements. Seriously, there were 6 products announced in the span of 20 minutes with no two product from the same category. Devices range from tablets and convertibles to routers and mice.

The company started off with the new Transformer Pad Infinity. This updates their line of separable hybrid laptop/tablets with NVIDIA Tegra 4.

Raw specifications:

• NVIDIA Tegra 4 SoC
• 2560x1600 10.1-inch display
• USB 3.0, Bluetooth, 4K out via HDMI
• 6MP (I think, could be 16MP) rear, 1.2 MP front cameras

Up next was the FonePad Note. A page from Samsung's playbook, both in name and in functionality, the FonePad is a 6" phone with a stylus pen. Coming off our recent Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 story, this device will also be powered by an Intel Atom Z2560 SoC. These could be the start of many high-profile design wins for Intel.

Raw specifications:

• Intel Atom Z2560 SoC
• 2GB RAM
• 6" 1080p SuperIPS+ display, thin border
• 8MP rear, 1.2MP front cameras
• Front-facing stereo speakers
• Stylus Pen

And then we get the MEMO Pad HD7. This 7-inch 1280x800 HD tablet is designed to be cheap. It will be available for $149 in 16GB capacity for America, and a smaller $129 8GB version for emerging markets.

Raw specifications:

• ARM Cortex A7 quad-core SoC
• 7-inch 1280x800 HD IPS display (10-point multitouch)
• 5MP rear, 1.2MP front cameras
• Bluetooth, GPS, stereo speakers
• (starting at?) 16GB ($149) USA, 8GB ($129) emerging markets

We briefly leave mobile devices to head towards a desktop computer. The VivoPC is designed to be easily upgraded, "Just lift the lid and replace the harddrive and memory". This is being positioned as a home theater PC running Windows 8. We currently have no further specifications.

Raw Specifications:

• 802.11ac
• It's got a lid?

And of course, with the discussion of an 802.11ac device we clearly need to move on to routers. The ASUS Router RT-AC68U, while a slight bit literal of a name, is supposedly the first dual-band 802.11ac Router. I am not exactly sure what the second band would be, but I am only the messenger. Regardless, this router is apparently capable of performance up to 1.9 Gigabits per second.

And then we cannot have all of these HTPC devices without an input method, can we? Enter the ASUS VivoMouse. This device allows you to more comfortably control your PC from your couch, as far as I can tell.

Last, but with a bang, ASUS announced the Transformer Book Trio. As you can guess, the Trio name comes from its three form factors being wrapped up into a single product: it's a notebook, a tablet, and a desktop PC. Do not worry, I will not make an iPhone announcement keynote joke; that one has already been well overplayed.

The trick is that the Trio is actually two fully functional computers with one running Android and the other Window 8. Both devices are powered by an x86 Intel-based processor, however: the main PC runs a Core i7-4500U processor and the tablet runs an Atom Z2580.

A main selling feature is that, when base is separated from screen, both devices are simultaneously useable. If you attach the base to an external monitor it will function like a desktop PC.

Raw specifications:

• Intel Core i7-4500U (base), Intel Atom Z2580 (tablet)
• Full HD multitouch IPS display
• Windows 8 (base), Android Jelly Bean (screen)
• 1TB HDD (base), 64GB flash (screen)
• Fully compatible with Google Play and Windows Stores

Well, that's it. We will probably have a bit more analysis coming up soon. But, for now, I need to get off of Taipei time.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 10.1: Intel inside an Android?

Subject: General Tech, Graphics Cards, Processors, Mobile | June 3, 2013 - 03:00 AM | Scott Michaud
Tagged: Intel, atom, Clover Trail+, SoC, Samsung, Galaxy Tab 3 10.1

While Reuters is being a bit cagey with their source, if true: Intel may have nabbed just about the highest profile Android tablet design win possible. The, still currently unannounced, Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 is expected to embed Intel's Clover Trail+ System on a Chip (SoC). Samsung would not be the largest contract available in the tablet market, their previous tablets ship millions of units each; they are a good OEM vendor to have.

Source: BGR India

Samsung is also known for releasing multiple versions of the same device for various regions and partners. The Galaxy Tab 10.1 and Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 did not have a variety of models with differing CPUs like, for instance, the Galaxy S4 phone did; the original "10.1" contained an NVIDIA Tegra 2 and the later "2 10.1" embed a TI OMAP 4430 SoC. It is entirely possible that Intel won every Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 tablet ever, but it is also entirely possible that they did not.

Boy Genius Report India (BGR India, video above) also claims more specific hardware based on a pair of listings at GLBenchmark. The product is registered under the name Santos10: GT-P5200 being the 3G version, and GT-P5210 being the Wi-Fi version.

These specifications are:

• Intel Atom Z2560 800-933 MHz dual-core SoC (4 threads, 1600 MHz Turbo)
• PowerVR SGX 544MP GPU (OpenGL ES 2.0)
• 1280x800 display
• Android 4.2.2

I am not entirely sure what Intel has to offer with Clover Trail+ besides, I would guess, reliable fabrication. Raw graphics performance is still about half of Apple's A6X GPU although, if the leaked resolution is true, it has substantially less pixels to push without being attached to an external display.

Maybe Intel made it too cheap to refuse?

Computex 2013: ASRock Teams Up With BMW To Create New SFF M8 Chassis

Subject: General Tech | June 3, 2013 - 01:28 AM | Tim Verry
Tagged: SFF, m8, Lan Box, computex 2013, case, bmw, asrock

New PC cases seem to be popular at Computex this year, and ASRock may have just blown away the small form factor competition with its compact BMW Group-designed “M8” chassis.

The new “M8” case was designed by a BMW Group consultancy firm called DesignworksUSA. They have created a compact metal case that will be right at home at a LAN party or on many enthusiasts' desks. The case is a large square with cut-off corners and indented side panels. It is designed to show off the PC internals with a large octagonal side window, and can be stood upright or laid out horizontally. Carrying handles are integrated into the corners as well, making it easier to carry to LAN parties. The front of the case includes the “A-Command” button which is basically a large home theater-style volume control dial with an integrated OLED screen. The dial can adjust audio volume and fan speeds while the OLED display reports on system temperature, time,  and usage (presumably HDD or CPU activity indicators).

The case has a rather clean and sharp look that shows a bare metal side and a glossy black front panel. The BMW Group has added red accents to the front panel and side windows. In an interesting twist, according to the press release, the side panels are magnetic which enables easy access to the internals.

The small form factor (SFF) M8 case will be used by ASRock to create a custom gaming PC. The internal specifications have not yet been announced, however.

This is definitely a unique design that is likely to be popular among the enthusiast and gamer crowd. You can find more photos of the M8 case on the BMW Group website.

What do you think of this BMW-inspired PC chassis?

Computex 2013: ASUS Hosting Computex Livestream Tonight

Subject: General Tech | June 2, 2013 - 11:55 PM | Tim Verry
Tagged: livestream, gaming, computex 2013, asus

ASUS will be kicking off Computex 2013 with a livestream where the company will likely announce new products. The theme for the event is "We transform". The press conference will be held at 38 Songren Road Xinyi District, Taipei, 101 Taiwan, but for those not in attendance the livestream is in approximately 3 hours and allow enthusaists and press to cover the event from afar.

If you are a 'night owl,' insomniac, or just plain excited about new ASUS gear feel free to tune into the livestream at this link (or via the embedded stream below the break) and discuss any announcements in the comments below!

The livestream and press conference starts at 3:00am ET (3:00pm local Computex time).

I am expecting to see some new motherboards, graphics cards, and PCs from ASUS to complement the launch of Intel and NVIDIA's new CPU and GPU components. Perhaps we will finally see the launch of the rumored RAIDR PCI-E SSDs. It should make for a good show, so tune in if you can!

While you are waiting for the live stream to start, feel fee to check out Morry's review of the ASUS ROG Maximus VI Extreme Motherboard, a new Z87 motherboard!

Zotac Announces Factory Overclocked GTX 770 Cards, AMP! Edition Is Fastest So Far

Subject: General Tech | June 1, 2013 - 10:50 PM | Tim Verry
Tagged: zotac, gtx 770, gk-104, gaming

Not to be left out, GPU partner Zotac has announced its own set of graphics cards based on NVIDIA's GK-104 GTX 770 GPU called the GTX 770 and GTX 770 AMP! Edition. Both cards come with Zotac's custom dual fan cooler and have some impressive factory overclocks. In fact, the GTX 770 AMP! Edition is the fastest factory clocked GTX 770 so far, and is the only card to feature overclocked memory.

The Zotac Geforce GTX 770 features a GPU base clock of 1059 MHz and a GPU boost clock of 1098 MHz. It will be available with either 2GB or 4GB of GDDR5 memory. In either memory configuration, Zotac is keeping the GDDR5 at the stock clockspeed of 7010 MHz.

Meanwhile, the GTX 770 AMP! Edition has GPU clockspeeds of 1150 MHz base and an impressive 1202 MHz boost. However, the GTX 770 AMP! does not only feature an overclocked GPU, but overclocked memory at 7200 MHz.

The chart below compares the two Zotac graphics cards.

Both of the Zotac graphics cards also come with a Splinter Cell game bundle that includes three (digital download) games:

• Splinter Cell: Double Agent
• Splinter Cell: Conviction
• Splinter Cell: Blacklist (will be release later this summer)

As far as pricing and availability, the GTX 770 (ZT-70301-10P) is on sale now at Newegg for $400, but the 4GB GTX 770 and GTX 770 AMP! have not yet been released by the looks of it, and Zotac has not announced official pricing or ship dates yet. More information can be found here. The AMP! Edition has some impressive factory overclocks, and the benchmarks should be interesting.

EVGA GTX 770 and GTX 770 Superclocked Graphics Cards Will Use New ACX HSF

Subject: General Tech | June 1, 2013 - 08:58 PM | Tim Verry
Tagged: gtx 770, evga, acx

Now that NVIDIA's GTX 770 reference graphics card is official, the various partners have begun unleashing their own spins on the hardware. Unlike the TITAN, NVIDIA is allowing custom PCBs and coolers, making the selection of GTX 770 cards much more diverse and unique.

In fact, EVGA has a slew of GTX 770-based graphics cards planned for 2014. Out of the gate, there will be two graphics cards available to consumers: The GTX 770 and the GTX 770 Superclocked. Both cards will come equipped with the company's new ACX cooler. In addition, the GTX 770 FTW, GTX 770 4GB, GTX 770 FTW 4GB, and the GTX 770 Classified 4GB cards will also come with the ACX cooler and will be available later this year. Details on those last four cards are still unknown, but EVGA has provided specifications on the first two, which will be available soon.

The EVGA GTX 770 w/ ACX

The EVGA GTX 770 w/ ACX is a GK-104 “Kepler” GPU clocked at 1046 MHz base and 1085 MHz boost. The card also features 2GB of GDDR5 memory clocked at 7010 MHz.

EVGA is also introducing a Superclocked edition of the GTX 770 that will use the new ACX cooler. This GTX 770 ACX Superclocked has factory overclocked speeds of 1111 MHz base and 1163 MHz boost. The 2GB of GDDR5 memory remains at the reference clockspeed of 7010 MHz.

Both of these cards use EVGA's new ACX cooler which uses a new heatsink design paired with two fans (dual ball bearing) and a back-plate that is reportedly lighter, quieter, and cooler-running than the reference cooler.

The EVGA GTX 770 4GB Classified GPU with ACX cooler. It is listed on the site, but not available yet.

The EVGA GTX 770 ACX and GTX 770 Superclocked ACX will be available soon for an as-yet-unannounced price. The Superclocked edition has some impressive factory overclock numbers, though it will likely come at a premium. The other interesting takeaway from the EVGA announcement is the confirmation of 4GB GTX 770 cards coming in the future. More information can be found on the EVGA product page.

ASUS Announces New PCs With Intel Haswell Processors

Subject: General Tech | June 1, 2013 - 03:55 PM | Tim Verry
Tagged: tower, Intel, haswell, desktop, asus, all in one

ASUS recently launched three new PCs that are powered by Intel's new “Haswell” fourth generation Core processors. Specifically, ASUS will be launching a new desktop called the M51 as well as two all-in-one PCs: the ET2702 and ET2301.

Details on the new computers are still unknown, but ASUS has provided some basic specifications that users will able to build off off with a bit of customization during ordering. All three PCs will use Intel's latest Haswell processors and can be outfitted with discrete graphics cards from AMD or NVIDIA. ASUS is also including its SonicMaster audio technology in each computer.

The M51 desktop is fitted into a tower-style chassis. In addition to the Haswell CPU and AMD/NV add-in cards, the desktop PC features a removable UPS, an externally-accessible SATA hot swap drive bay, wireless charging for Qi devices, USB ports with Ai Charger II technology (for charging tablets faster than the standard USB power output), and automatic fan speed control.

The ET2301 is an all-in-one PC with a 23” display. The display allows up to 5-point multi-touch as is a 23” IPS 1080p display with 178-degree viewing angles. The PC also comes with three free years of 32GB Asus cloud storage and an optional subwoofer.

Alternatively, the ET2702 is a larger 27” all-in-one PC. It features a 27” IPS display with 10-point multi-touch and a resolution of 2560 x 1440. This AIO can be configured with Thunderbolt ports and a subwoofter (optional).

Beyond that details on the pricing and configuration options is still unknown. Stay tuned to PC Perspective for more Haswell PC news.

You can find the full press release after the break.

Antec fully supports Haswell

Subject: General Tech, Cases and Cooling | May 31, 2013 - 05:27 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: antec, haswell, PSU

Antec released two lists today covering the compatibility of both their PSUs and their notebook chargers.  If you are worried that your current hardware will not support the new low power states implemented in Haswell check through the list and if your product is listed you are good to go.  If not you can treat these as shopping lists for your next PSU or notebook adapter.

PSUs

Notebook Adapters

Dell U3014 30" UltraSharp 2560 x 1600 @ $1250

Subject: General Tech | May 31, 2013 - 03:01 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: deals

Continuing this weeks theme of monitor deals is the Dell U3014 30" IPS display, an updated version of their long running Ultrasharp 30" series.  The specs remain similar to the old U3011 with new connectivity options, a 4-port USB 3.0 hub, DisplayPort 1.2 and mini-DisplayPort 1.2 along with legacy connections.  With a $250 instant rebate now is a good time to jump on this deal if you were planning on moving your display up to the big leagues.

Dell U3014 30" UltraSharp 2560 x 1600 LED-backlit IPS LCD Monitor
Dell Home is offering flagship 30" UltraSharp - the U3014 (successor to the existing U3011 model) for $1,249.99 with FREE shipping. Backed by 3-Year Advanced Exchange Service and Premium Panel Guarantee. Use $250 instant savings to get final price.

Computex 2013: ASUS PQ321 is a 31.5" 4K monitor

Subject: General Tech, Displays, Shows and Expos | May 31, 2013 - 02:12 AM | Scott Michaud
Tagged: PQ321, computex, asus, 4k

Computex, the second largest expo for computer hardware, is less than a week away but its influence tends to bleed over a little bit. And, since we know our readers love 4K displays, we thought we might pass along a leak we found for a new ASUS monitor.

Image source, ASUS via TechPowerUP

And yes, that is a 32"

The Asus PQ321 is both a relatively easy-to-remember model number and a 31.5" computer monitor with 4K2K resolution. Connect it to your computer with DisplayPort or, for at least some US models, dual HDMI to have the same resolution as IMAX Digital as well as have a legitimate reason to pick up multiple GeForce Titan graphics cards.

The raw specifications are:

• 31.5 inch display size (16:9 aspect ratio)
• Indium Gallium Zinc Oxide (IGZO) panel, LED backlit
• 3840x2160 resolution (140ppi)
• 1.07 billion colors (10-bit RGB)
• 176 / 176 (H / V) degree viewing angle
• 350 cd/m² brightness
• 8ms (gtg) response time
• Color temperature and gamma adjustments
• I/O: DisplayPort, 2x HDMI ("optional"), RS-232C, 3.5mm audio in and out
• 2W stereo speakers
• Tilt, swivel, height adjustments; VESA mount (no landscape/portrait pivot)
• 750mm x 489mm x 256mm with stand, 13kg net weight
• Comes with DisplayPort 1.2 cable and an RS-232C conversion cable (???)

Looking at these specifications, it certainly feels like an IPS-equivalent technology with some very telltale characteristics: the relatively slow response time for seemingly no reason, the 1.07 billion colors, the very wide viewing angle, and the relatively high pixel density per inch. This prompted me to look over at the ASUS website for some tea leaf reading. It looks as though all P- or M-series monitors utilize some form of IPS technology, the M-series referring to thin-bezel options and the P-series to relatively image quality-focused products.

So as best as I can tell, the PQ321 is a 31.5" 4K IPS monitor.

ASUS is expected to display this at Computex 2013 in Taipei along with a 39" 4K monitor. No word on pricing or availability, at least not yet.

Samsung announces Galaxy S4 mini: what's different?

Subject: General Tech, Mobile | May 30, 2013 - 05:40 PM | Scott Michaud
Tagged: Samsung, Galaxy S4 mini

Because there is a cellphone SKU for everyone, both in design and in direct quantity.

The latest big release, the Galaxy S4, arrived just about a month ago with its 5-inch 1080p screen and potentially dual quad-core processors depending on where you buy it. You could wait until late June and purchased on from the Google Play store containing the full Google experience. If that does not suit you, how about a 4.3" 960x540 version? That would be the Galaxy S4 mini, or at least one of the localized versions they will invariably make for multiple carriers.

But is the only difference the screen? Of course not.

Image, Samsung via Samsung Tomorrow.

Btw, why does Samsung watermark photos on their company blog? Anyone?

One of the constants between the computational hardware of each Galaxy S4 version is the 2GB of RAM; basically everything else differs between specific subversions of the flagship phone. Not the mini! For whatever reason, the S4 mini backs off on the RAM by half a gigabyte leaving it with 1.5 GB.

One of the main selling features of the large S4 is the eight-core (quad-core A15, quad-core A7) SoC developed by Samsung. It was available in the international version, the American version instead having a quad-core processor from Qualcomm. The mini, on the other hand, will contain a slightly lower-clocked dual-core processor.

In the other features: the battery is about 27% smaller albeit with less power-hungry components; the rear camera drops from 13 megapixels to 8 megapixels, whether or not that is worse picture quality is unknown; and the internal storage is 8GB (5 user-accessible), down from the minimum 16GB of the not-mini.

So beyond the name, there does not seem to be many similarities between the regular and the mini S4. It is basically software which links the two devices. The mini has access to services such as S Translator and S Health, although there does not seem to be any discussion of other services like S Travel and OCR software.

Samsung will officially unveil it, with hands-on demos to various press members, on June 20th in London.

The return of the ergonomic keyboard, this time it is mechanical

Subject: General Tech | May 30, 2013 - 04:27 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: cherry mx brown, Truly Ergonomic, mechanical keyboard, Model 207, input

Ergonomic keyboards go in and out of style, with some adherents sticking to a particular model but for the rest of us we seem to prefer the clumsy QWERTY layout above all others.  The Model 207 from Truly Ergonomic is a mechanical keyboard, so if your fingers can find the keys you will be rewarded with the satisfaction of knowing that key did depress.  On the other hand as you can see from the picture below finding those keys will take some practice.  You can also take a look at the back of the keyboard at the review on LanOC which shows off the customization possible thanks to the inclusion of dip switches that change the function of some keys.

"When it comes to ergonomic keyboards there are only a few to pick from and, for the most part, all of those are rubber dome keyboards. Ergonomic mechanical keyboards are really limited to two different models, one being the Truly Ergonomic. Today we are going to take a look to see how it compares to everything I have tested to date. I expect an adjustment period just to its shape alone, but as a writer by trade I am very curious how it will affect me day to day. The gamer in me is just as curious on how it will perform in game as well. Let’s take a closer look."

Here is some more Tech News from around the web:

Tech Talk

• TteSports Challenger Gaming Keyboard @ eTeknix
• Logitech k310 Washable Keyboard @ NikKTech
• TteSports Knucker Plunger Gaming Keyboard @ eTeknix
• ROCCAT Hiro Mousepad Review @ OCC
• Mionix Naos 8200 Gaming mouse @ Rbmods
• Mad Catz R.A.T.M Wireless Mobile Gaming Mouse @ NikKTech
• Mad Catz M.O.U.S.9 Wireless Mouse @ NikKTech
• A4Tech Bloody Gun3 UC3 Headshot V8 Gaming Mouse Review - $40 For The Ultimate Package @ SSD Review
• Star Wars: The Old Republic Gaming Mouse Review @ Madshrimps
• Steelseries WoW MMO Gaming Mouse Legendary Edition @ eTeknix
• Roccat Kone Pure review: a mouse for delicate hands @ Hardware.info
• Logitech G700s Rechargeable Gaming Mouse @ Tweaktown
• Steelseries Sensei [RAW] Frost Blue Gaming Mouse @ FunkyKit

Ubuntu bug #1 closed with a sense of humour

Subject: General Tech | May 30, 2013 - 02:34 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: ubuntu, linux, microsoft

The first bug reported about Ubuntu has been closed, it was titled "Microsoft has a majority market share" and could be easily reproduced.

"1. Visit a local PC store
2. Attempt to buy a machine without any proprietary software"

The bug has now been updated to "Fix Released", thanks to the fact that the definition of computer has greatly increased in breadth over the past few years.  Smartphones are running predominantly non-Microsoft OSes and the availability of iOS and Android tablets have really turned the market in a new direction.  Now it is possible to pick up a computer that is good enough for casual usage which has no Microsoft software installed whatsoever.  Finding white box laptops with no installed OS is still uncommon but nowhere near as rare as it once was.  Slashdot links to his full post here.

"Mark Shuttleworth of Ubuntu fame has closed the primal bug on Launchpad, standing since 2004 and titled 'Microsoft has a majority market share,' due to the 'changing realities' of tablets, smartphones, and wearable computing."

Here is some more Tech News from around the web:

Tech Talk

• Shortcuts for Windows 8 @ TechNet
• Intel's extreme ultraviolet dream still somewhere over the rainbow @ The Register
• Stop the Microsoft, Skype wedding, screams enraged Cisco in court @ The Register
• Ruby on Rails exploit could hijack unpatched web servers @ The Inquirer
• Microsoft waxes lyrical over Windows 8.1 and its Start button @ The Inquirer

World’s Top Overclockers to Compete at Computex OC Main Event Sponsored by Corsair

Subject: General Tech | May 30, 2013 - 02:22 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: corsair, overclocking, competition, haswell

There is more than one reason to keep an eye on Corsair's Overclocking Main Event at Computex this year, not only will you be hearing about the results from the best overclockers around, these results will be from Haswell chips.  In just a few short days we will see their success at overclocking Intel's newest processor, not yet released for purchase by mere mortals.  While there will be growing pains in learning the ins and outs of the new CPU and chipset, you will get an idea how fast these new processors will go when extreme overclockers get their hands on them.

FREMONT, California — May 30, 2013 — Corsair, a worldwide designer of high-perform­­­­­­ance components to the PC hardware market, is teaming up with Intel to host the Computex OC Main Event on June 3rd in Taipei, Taiwan. The event will bring the world’s best overclockers together to compete in setting the first speed records with 4th generation Intel Core processors and Corsair’s soon-to-be-announced new line of highly overclockable memory.

Overclocking is a way of boosting the computer performance by increasing the clock frequency settings of components such as the CPU, memory, and motherboards. Popular with PC enthusiasts, overclocking has grown from being a hobby to a professional technical sport with competitions held in countries around the world.

At this year’s Computex OC Main Event, elite overclockers from around the world will be vying for $20,000 USD in cash prizes. Competitors at the event will include some of the finest overclockers in the world including 8-Pack, Andre, Coldest, Coolice, Der8auer, Dinos22, Elmor, Hazzan, HiCookie, Lin222, lucky_n00b, Mad222, Nick Shih, Pt1t, Slamms, Smoke, Splave, tor_za, ZoLKoRn, and Zzolio. The live event broadcast by Overclocking-TV will be available at corsair.com/OCMainEvent on June 3rd from 13:00 – 18:00 GMT +8.

In addition to the overclocking competition, the event will feature presentations by Intel and Corsair, including a PC building master class and a demonstration of the Intel Extreme Tuning Utility. Attendees will also be among the first to see Corsair’s new line of products that are designed for use with the 4th Generation Intel Core processor. “We are excited to be hosting the premier overclocking event of Computex 2013 with our friends at Intel,” said Thi La, Senior VP and GM of Memory and Enthusiast Component Products at Corsair. “Together we’ll be unleashing the world’s top overclockers for the first time on the latest Intel processors and our new line of Corsair memory. With the sheer level of overclocking talent and the capabilities of the new hardware, I anticipate seeing groundbreaking levels of performance.”

“Our upcoming 4th Gen Intel Core processors will deliver amazing new levels of performance to the enthusiast community,” said Zane Ball, Intel Vice President, Global Ecosystem Development. “We are excited to sponsor the world’s top overclockers at this year’s Computex OC Main Event.”

HP 2511x 25" 1080p LED-backlit LCD @ $200

Subject: General Tech | May 30, 2013 - 02:04 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: deals

At $200 the HP 2511x display is a little more affordable than yesterdays, but at the same time is smaller and a lower resolution.  With a 5ms response time it will provide a decent gaming experience as TN displays tend to be quicker than their IPS counterparts.  The display is incredibly thin which makes it attractive for surround setups but there is no sign of a VESA mount if you had planned on mounting your monitors.

HP 2511x 25" 1080p LED-backlit LCD Monitor
HP Home offers 25-inch HP 2511x 1080p LED-backlit LCD Monitor (XP599AA#ABA) on sale for $199.99 with free shipping. Use $100 coupon code: MT3912 to get final price.

Why get this and why you need it?
HP 2511x features 1920 x 1080 resolution, ultra-slim (1" max thickness), VGA + DVI + HDMI inputs, 5ms response time, 250nit brightness, tilt adjustment, and 3,000,000:1 (Dynamic) contrast ratio.  Also ENERGY STAR 5.0 qualified and EPEAT Silver registered.

Rising Storm gets a release date... er... time?

Subject: General Tech | May 30, 2013 - 01:33 AM | Scott Michaud
Tagged:

Does it really count as a "release date" if it is the day after you announce it?

Red Orchestra started out as a modification for Unreal Tournament 2004. From there, the team won the first Make Something Unreal where they were granted a license to use Unreal Engine commercially. They grew, as a company, to not only develop multiple titles but also publish a few.

Rising Storm is based in the World War II Pacific Theater. Four factions are playable: two American and two Japanese; each country has an army faction and a naval infantry faction. Multiplayer gameplay, note that single-player will arrive at some point beyond launch, is based on a balance of imbalances. Managing the perception of inequality is a difficult task for a developer to take, but also provides a broader experience for players; expect a storm to rise in the official forums.

Rising Storm will be available at some point in the early afternoon of May 30th, 2013 (US Eastern Timezone). The base game will be available on Steam for $19.99 USD, or $29.99 USD for the digital deluxe; for the next handful of hours, you will still be able to pre-order for a 15% discount ($16.99 and $25.49 respectively).