VR-Zone Technology News | Stuff for the Geeks! Issue #7

February 28th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone

VR-Zone.com | Stuff for the Geeks!
VR-Zone | Stuff for the Geeks is a bi-weekly publication
covering the latest gadgets and stuff for the geeks.
Motion-sensing PC entertainment on big screen TV
WAVI Xtion integrates motion-sensing technology from
ASUS unveils WAVI Xtion PrimeSense® with the exclusive ASUS Xtion Portal user
motion-sensing PC experience interface to bring consumers closer to technology through
intuitive interaction with applications. Connections to both
at CeBIT 2011 PCs and TVs via wireless HDMI (WHDI technology) deliver
Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/asus-unveils-wavi-xtion-motion- smooth transfers of high definition content such as movies,
sensing-pc-experience-at-cebit-2011/11389.html games and photos in 5GHz with a range of up to 25 meters.
February 28th, 2011
Software products available on launch include MayaFit
Cardio Lite, a motion-sensing fitness training game and
BeatBooster™, a multiplayer racing adventure game where
users maneuver jet aircraft with their body movements.
Enjoying PC games on the living room big screen TV is
possible; the proprietary Xtion engine supports the remapping
of keyboard controls into motion gestures for a variety of
We're sure you've heard of Microsoft's Kinect for Xbox 360, a popular third party games.
'controller-free gaming and entertainment experience'. Well,
Speaking on cooperation with ASUS when developing WAVI
here's something quite similar. Meet the ASUS WAVI Xtion,
Xtion motion-sensing technology, PrimeSense CEO Inon
the world's first motion-sensing experience package for the
Beracha said, "our collaboration with ASUS in providing a
PC!
3D sensing solution for WAVI Xtion proves to the industry
Here's something similar to Microsoft's Kinect. Meet the ASUS that natural interaction technology is the ideal fit for living
WAVI Xtion (pronounced 'way-vee action'), the world's first rooms, and that intuitive, gesture-based control will be
motion-sensing experience package for the PC! The WAVI the go-to route for operating all devices. We believe that
Xtion comprises of two components - the WAVI wireless PrimeSensesolutions like the user interface used on ASUS’
media streaming device and the Xtion motion sensor. It WAVI Xtion represent the future of the way people interact
streams high definition media wirelessly from a PC located with consumer electronics, and help break down barriersof use
in one room to a TV in another, while infrared gesture-based to allow people to sync with the electronic world around them."
multimedia playback, games and applications introduce the
first ever officially-supported motion-sensing PC interface.
Online store offers diverse choice
WAVI Xtion enables a wide selection of multimedia content
and entertainment applications, working seamlessly with the
ASUS @vibe online store* to deliver music, games and apps,
all through the cloud.

Xtion Pro developer kit
Developers interested in creating gesture-based PC
entertainment content can make use of the ASUS Xtion PRO
developer pack, the world’s first professional PC motion-
sensing toolset. It opens up new opportunities for cost and
time-efficient development of various applications, including
games of every genre. ASUS plans to launch the Xtion Pro

1


Developer Challenge in March, with attractive prizes and The ASUS tradition of combining performance and aesthetics
publishing deals for winning developers. Selected apps will be across all its notebooks continues. New ASUS K Series
placed on the ASUS @vibe online store*. notebooks combine the multitasking power of 2nd generation
Intel® Core™ processors with NVIDIA® GeForce™ graphics
to deliver spectacular computing, and are offered in 14", 15.6",
*ASUS @vibe integration expected early Q3 2011. 17.3" and 18.4" screen sizes. Models are available in a variety
of colors including classic brown and silver, passion red, party
gold, urban green, chill blue, seduction pink and simplicity
white. These use unique textured aluminum covers that are
ASUS to showcase latest both stylish and durable. The K Series also includes new
innovations at CeBIT 2011 AMD® Brazos™ processors, with powerful graphics for better
gaming and multimedia. All new K Series notebooks feature
Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/asus-to-showcase-latest-innovations- exclusive ASUS IceCool technology to keep palm rests cool for
at-cebit-2011/11390.html increased comfort during the longest sessions.
February 28th, 2011
As a mainstay in the gaming community, ASUS continues
to develop and widen its product portfolio to serve gaming
enthusiasts. An entire line of gaming products including
notebooks, motherboards, graphics cards, 3D monitors and a
Echoing the CeBIT 2011 theme of 'Work and Life in the Cloud',
noise cancelling headset will be well-received by the gaming
ASUS will showcase four different tablet computers including
public.
the Eee Slate EP121 and Eee Pad MeMO, along with the latest
motion-sensing technology called WAVI Xtion, the all-new
AMD Brazos-packing K series notebooks and a wide range of CeBIT 2011 Information
gaming products designed for a superior gaming experience.
ASUS plans an extensive showing during CeBIT 2011, taking
place March 1-5 in Hannover, Germany. The ASUS booth can
be found at Hall 17, stand J06. Members of the media may
contact local ASUS representatives to arrange for interviews
and private product demonstrations.
Further details on ASUS at CeBIT 2011 may be accessed from:
http://cebit2011.asus.com

Singapore (February 28, 2011) - ASUS today kicked off Source: ASUS Press Release
CeBIT 2011 with a booth media tour where journalists from
around the world were given the opportunity to explore and
experience the latest ASUS innovations prior to the official
opening of the event.
The Daily VR-Zone News
Echoing the CeBIT theme of 'Work and Life in the Cloud',
ASUS will showcase four different tablet computers at CeBIT Summary - 28 Feb 2011
2011, along with the latest motion-sensing technology called Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/the-daily-vr-zone-news-summary--28-
WAVI Xtion (pronounced 'way-vee action'), the all-new K feb-2011/11388.html
series notebook and a wide range of gaming products designed February 28th, 2011
for a superior gaming experience.
ASUS will address various consumer needs with its range of
tablet PCs. These include the 12-inch Eee Slate EP121, the 7-
inch Eee Pad MeMO (mee-mo), the Eee Pad Slider with a
sliding keyboard and the Eee Pad Transformer which comes
with the option of a full size docking keyboard that also serves In today's news roundup: AMD plans to showcase its Bulldozer
as an extended battery pack. microprocessors at the upcoming CeBIT trade show; MSI's
P67A-GD65 motherboard gets reviewed; Google's Chrome
As the industry's leading innovator, ASUS will also showcase
browser is slowing starting to wrest control away from
the first motion-sensing technology for PCs - WAVI Xtion. It
standalone software typically installed on a PC; A new version
is a PC peripheral that allows consumers to access content on
of Prime 95 has been released for hardware enthusiasts and
their PCs wirelessly with simple gestures in front of their TV
overclockers to download and play around with, and Sony is
sets. The preloaded Xtion Portal interface provides intuitive
starting to make more of Square's classic PS1 games available
access to PC content as well as allows users to browse ASUS
on its PlayStation Network
@vibe for the latest multimedia content.
Hardware News:
The Future of Computer Enclosures @ Benchmark Reviews

2


Description: I can remember the lead-sleds that rolled with Therefore the manufacturer wants to convince with a good mix
a curb weight similar to moving vans, and it reminds me of price, performance and features.
of modern-day desktop computer cases. Originally, giant- In Win Dragon Rider full tower case review at Examiner
sized computer cases painted in beige were once the de facto Description: The In Win Dragon Rider is a massive, well-
standard for system builders wanting to construct their own designed black beauty that is easy to work with and provides
IBM clone personal computer from separate components. I ample elbow room and expansion space for demanding
believed this horrible trend would phase itself out around enthusiasts. Sock Monkey not included.
the turn of the century, but when Y2K came and went and
there was still significant demand for large full-tower cases I AMD to Showcase Bulldozer Microprocessors at CeBIT Trade-
knew something was wrong. The more things change in this Show.
industry, the more they seem to remain the same. Now more Description: At the forthcoming CeBIT trade-show in
than ten years later, we're still building our PCs with the same Hannover, Germany, Advanced Micro Devices plans to
heft as an Oldsmobile Toronado. demonstrate and announce its new microprocessors that will
succeed the company's Phenom II central processing units
Antec LanBoy Air Case Review @Hi Tech Legion (CPUs). Based on the program of CeBIT show, the company
Description: The Antec LanBoy Air is unlike any mid-tower will show off the desktop versions of code-named Bulldozer
case ever seen before. Nearly all the parts of the Antec chips.
LanBoy Air can be re-arranged to fit the user’s needs. The
Antec LanBoy Air mid-tower case has perforated panels for Consumer Electronics and Software News:
maximum airflow, utilizing positive air pressure to push all Burning Chrome
the hot air out while keeping dust away from your system Description: Little by little, iteration by iteration, the Chrome
components. The LanBoy Air Case uses the new revolutionary browser is quietly morphing into a full-fledged multitasking
Antec AirMounts™ HDD mounting system to reduce drive operating system in its own right. Oh, sure, technically it’s
vibration and noise. Users can install up to 15 fans inside the actually running on another OS, but you increasingly never
Antec LanBoy Air and even has room on top for mounting a need to launch anything else. View and edit documents in
water cooling radiator. The Antec LanBoy Air is simply the Google Docs, watch and listen to HTML5 video and audio,
most flexible and customizable mid-tower case ever built. communicate via Gmail and its Google Voice plugin, use
OCZ ZX Series 850w Power Supply Review @ OCIA Google Docs as a file system – and the line between “Chrome
Description: Like many other manufacturers at CES 2011, OCZ OS” and “Chrome on any other OS” suddenly grows very fine.
had a collection of their most recent hardware on display, Prime95 26.5.5 Released @ NGOHQ.com
including solid state drives, memory and power supplies. It's Description: Prime95 has become extremely popular among
one of the latter that we have for review today, the ZX Series PC enthusiasts and overclockers as a stability testing utility.
850W. The ZX replaces the Z Series as OCZ's Maximum It includes a "Torture Test" mode designed specifically for
Performance line of power supplies, and is available in 850W, testing PC subsystems for errors in order to help ensure the
1000W and 1250W capacities. These models all feature 80Plus correct operation of Prime95 on that system, which effectively
Gold efficiency levels, multi-GPU support and OCZ's exclusive stress-tests a PC.
five year PowerSwap Warranty
TRENDnet TEW-687GA 450Mbps Wireless N Gaming
Turn an HP SFF Computer Into a Great HTPC @ Computing Adapter Review @ Madshrimps
on Demand Description: The new Wireless 450Mbps TEW-687GA from
Description: Face it, most of us like the idea of having an HTPC TRENDnet is not USB anymore like the previously released
(Home Theater PC) hooked up to our TV. The flexibility we products, but offers a Gigabit network interface between
get with an HTPC over just a DVD player or a gaming console itself and the computer we are connecting the adapter to;
is enough alone to justify the cost. I have built a bunch of this way, we don't have to install drivers anymore and is
these for people and until recently, I have never used pre- compatible with any platform (we can even configure it
built systems. There are many advantages to building a custom through the Playstation3 Internet Browser). We will perform
machine for your theater, but the biggest disadvantage is the some data transfer speeds to see if it is really better in terms
cost. Lately, I have been using Small Form Factor (SFF) HP's of performance.
and believe it or not... they make great HTPC's.
RAZER Ferox Mobile Gaming & Music Speakers Review @
Kingston SSDNow V100 128GB SSD Review @ Legit Reviews Madshrimps
Description: Kingston's SSDNow series of solid state drives Description: The new Ferox portable speakers from Razer are
have done very well in the marketplace due to their range of ideal for both normal users that want to get a better sound out
value to performance oriented drives which cover the needs of their laptop or gamers that are mostly on the go. The sound
of just about any user. Available since the end of 2010, the that these speakers deliver is clear even at high volumes, but
V100 products land in the middle of the SSDNow lineup with they lack a good bass reproduction. The internal rechargeable
excellent performance without needing a second mortgage to batteries allow them to be used for about 12 hours and they can
finance the purchase. Read on to see how it stacks up against be also used while recharging.
the competition.
Logitech F540 Wireless PS3/XBOX360 Headset Review @
MSI P67A-GD65 Review @ ocaholic Madshrimps
Description: With the P67A-GD65, MSI shows a motherboard
which defines the entry point into their high-end classe.
3


Description: With a battery life of up to 10 hours the F540 VR-Zone can as first publication reveal that Microsoft has
guarantees a delivery of high quality sound to your ears discontinued its range of SideWinder gaming products, for a
throughout the longest and darkest of nights. In the unlikely second time. The first time was back in 2003, although the
event that you should run out of juice at some point, the F540 company re-launched its gaming brand in 2007 after some co-
allows you to simply recharge it through the use of an usb cable operation with Razer, although this time around it's not likely
while you carry on with your killing spree. Overall the F540 is a that we'll see a return of the SideWinder brand.
well built quality product that does come with a €120-140 price
tag, but surely is worth every penny. If you are one of those
people who benefits from using a wireless headset on a daily VR-Zone can as first publication reveal that Microsoft has
basis, the Logitech F540 sure is worth your consideration. discontinued its range of SideWinder gaming products, for a
second time. The first time was back in 2003, although the
Patriot PBO Core Media Player Review at Overclockers Online company re-launched its gaming brand in 2007 after some co-
Description: Patriot relaunched the Patriot Box Office as operation with Razer, although this time around it's not likely
the PBO Core with an improved user interface and added that we'll see a return of the SideWinder brand.
functionality. The new GUI lives up to the relaunch and is
easy to use and with a long list of file compatibility makes This time around it's not because of poor sales, but rather too
it a great device for your digital media playback for even the much competition from companies such as Razer, SteelSeries
technologically challenged members of your family and to a degree also Logitech and just about every other
company out there making PC gaming accessories. Microsoft
ESET Update Brings Mass False Positive Alerts @ has also failed to keep up with the market a little bit and not
NGOHQ.com getting enough new products out in a timely manner.
Description: It seems that another antivirus software has gone
mad. This time it's the reputable ESET aka NOD32 and Smart
Security. In the past few days, users have been complaining
of massive amount of false positive alerts with ESET and the
latest virus definition update. It looks like ESET is flagging
plenty of legitimate 3rd party software as Win32/OpenCandy
adware. Even yours truly has encountered the same issue –
especially with installation programs
Gaming News:
Bulletstorm GPU & CPU Performance In-depth
Description: As usual our focus with this performance review
will be on how Bulletstorm will run on your PC. After
struggling with the game's configuration settings, we were able
to run all the necessary tests using a large array of GPUs as well
as a number of different processors.
Vagrant Story re-told on PlayStation Network tomorrow
Description: Xenogears last week ... Vagrant Story
tomorrow ... and Parasite Eve soon. It seems the gears are
finally in motion to bring all of Square's beloved "PSone
Classics" to the PlayStation Network. (Still, North America
has a long way to go before reaching Japan's lofty 600-game The entire SideWinder range only ended up with a handful of
benchmark.) products in the end with four mice and two keyboards being
launched over three years, hardly an impressive track record
Big in Japan Feb. 14-20: Marvel vs. Capcom 3, Catherine
for a company the size of Microsoft. In fact, the latest mouse
Description: PS3 and Xbox 360 editions of crossover fighting
addition, the SideWinder X8 has already been pulled from
game storm Japanese sales charts, but adulterous Atlus RPG
Microsoft's hardware website and no more units are being
tops the list, more than doubling next best-selling title.
produced to our knowledge.
Time will tell if Microsoft decides to buy out one of its smaller
Microsoft set to discontinue competitors and use their brand instead, something that we
its SideWinder products wouldn't be surprised to see happening. It's really a shame that
Microsoft didn't decide to stick with it, as the company has
Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/microsoft-set-to-discontinue-its-
come up with some innovative ideas like the swappable keypad
sidewinder-products/11395.html
on the X6 and the magnetic cable attachment on the X8, but
February 28th, 2011
it seems like this is the end of the line for Microsoft's gaming
products, at least for now.

4


The MeMic is said to be bundled with Asus' 7-inch Eee Pad
Asus MeMic for the Eee Pad MeMO when it arrives sometime in June this year and we'd
MeMO revealed expect it to launch at Computex, since this is Asus home show.
Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/asus-memic-for-the-eee-pad-memo- It's not clear if the MeMic will be bundled with all models of
revealed/11393.html the MeMO, nor has Asus said if it'll sell the MeMic on its own
February 28th, 2011 or if it'll be possible to use it with other Android devices, but
we're sure more details will trickle out this week at CeBIT.

Aircraft passengers treated to
one of the best views of the
With tablets being all the rage these days, one of the biggest Discovery shuttle launch
problems is not connectivity, but rather making voice calls. Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/aircraft-passengers-treated-to-one-of-
No-one wants to hold a 7-inch+tablet to the side of their face, the-best-views-of-the-discovery-shuttle-launch/11387.html
as it simply just makes you look stupid. Asus has come up with February 28th, 2011
what looks like a very reasonable solution to the problem with
its MeMic which is a Bluetooth “handset” that connects to its
Eee Pad MeMO tablet and handles voice calls.

With tablets being all the rage these days, one of the biggest
During a flight from Orlando, lucky passengers on a jet had one
problems is not connectivity, but rather making voice calls.
of the best views of the Discovery's launch. Watch the video.
No-one wants to hold a 7-inch+tablet to the side of their face,
as it simply just makes you look stupid. Asus has come up with
what looks like a very reasonable solution to the problem with Lucky jet passengers were asked to look to their right by their
its MeMic which is a Bluetooth “handset” that connects to its pilot and there it was, the Discovery space shuttle. This is a
Eee Pad MeMO tablet and handles voice calls. view they will never forget.
The MeMic is about the size of a traditional candy bar phone, The Discovery's launch is one of the last three shuttle launches
albeit without a keypad and with a translucent display, much by NASA. NASA does not have a replacement for the shuttle
like the Sony Ericsson Xperia Pureness. The display is for program, for at least the next 10 years.
caller ID information and most likely also for things like
navigating contact lists etc, although it's not quite clear how
it all works at the moment, as the units on display at CeBIT
didn't actually work.

Huawei asks for US
governement to Investigate it
Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/huawei-asks-for-us-governement-to-
investigate-it/11386.html
February 28th, 2011

The world's second largest supplier of communications
The MeMic can also work like a more traditional Bluetooth infrastructure, Huawei, has had enough of being accused of
headset if you attach a wired headset to it, as it has a 3.5mm being linked to Chinese intelligence services. It has just issued
jack in the bottom. It's charged via a micro USB port and an open letter asking the US Government to vet its operations.
there's a little hole for a lanyard at the bottom so you can hang Read On.
it around your neck if you so wish. On the front it has a call and
end call/power button, a back button and what appears to be With an ex-member of the Chinese military as president,
a four-way navigation pad with a select button in the middle. it is no wonder why Huawei, the world's second-largest
In addition to handling calls, the MeMic will also allow you communications infrastructure supplier has been accused
to stream music over Bluetooth and control media playback of espionage. Especially after it suffered several business
functionality of the tablet. setbacks this year, most of which can be attributed to the
accusation of espionage by the US government.

5


Huawei has since issued an open letter, asking for the US
government to vet its operations and prove that it is not some ECS Computer secures
sort of a trojan horse for the Chinese government. distribution rights for Dell and
In its letter, Huawei quoted two presidents, Obama and
Lincoln. It also reiterated that it is a fully commercial
Lexmark products
Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/ecs-computer-secures-distribution-
company, not enjoying any additional financial incentives
rights-for-dell-and-lexmark-products/11379.html
from the Chinese governement compared to other companies,
February 28th, 2011
and most importantly, Huawei is a company owned by it's
employees.

Apple's iPad 2 to come in
white? In today's local news, ECS has announced that it has signed
Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/apple-s-ipad-2-to-come-in- an agreement with both Dell and Lexmark which will allow it
white-/11380.html to serve as a distribution partner for a wide range of products
February 28th, 2011 from the aforementioned companies. Read on to find out
more.

Forget about the white iPhone 4, the upcoming next-
generation iPad 2 available in white too? I mean, the thought
of it isn't as appealing as the iPhone, right?

ECS Computers (Asia) Pte Ltd, a wholly-owned Singapore
subsidiary of ECS Holdings Limited, has just signed two
agreements which will see it gain Authorised Distributor status
for two major brands in the IT industry: Dell and Lexmark.
According to statements made by the respective
representatives of both companies, ECS was chosen to serve
as an Authorised Distributor due to the latter sporting an
extremely "wide network across the region". Apparently, it was
For those who are following close to months and months of this asset which made ECS well-suited to cater to the growing
iPad 2 rumours would know that the upcoming tablet from needs of the local IT community.
Apple would feature front and rear cameras, thinner design
and an improved (but not Retina) display. With just about a “We appointed ECS due to their strong and long-term
few days away from Apple's iPad media event, this new (and commitment to the imaging solutions and services industry,”
rather interesting) rumour pops up from nowhere. said Richard Tan, Country Sales Manager, Singapore and
Offshore, Lexmark International (Singapore) Pte Ltd. “With
Originating from Shenzhen, China, this front bezel in white ECS’ extensive network of resellers specialising in both
does include a hole for a front-facing camera. But what really commercial and consumer accounts across the region, and its
surprised us is the colour. Apple originally announced the representation of complementary products with our imaging
white iPhone 4 alongside with the black iPhone 4, but till this solutions, we are confident that this new relationship will be
date have yet to deliever their flagship phone in white. a success. ECS will play an important role in helping Lexmark
But on a personal note, I feel that having the iPad 2 in white bring our entire range of products to their extensive partners,
just looks a tad weird. propelling our market share in the imaging solutions and
services space in Singapore.”
In white or not, we'll find out soon on this Thursday morning
at Apple's iPad media event. Dell also had similar praise for ECS, claiming that the
partnership will prove to be beneficial for Dell in attempting
to provide customers with immediate benefits, such as faster
delivery time and better, more professional support services.

6


"We are extremely excited about the business opportunities February 28th, 2011
that this new partnership brings," said Varinderjit Singh,
Managing Director, Dell Singapore and Malaysia. "Our
collective expertise and extensive marketing and sales
support, coupled with ECS's wide network across the region,
will make it easier for us to provide value add and cater to the Apple was the first to get it, and the rest of the PC industry
unique demands of our customers." is expected to start mass adoption of the technology as soon
as most OEMs successfully iron out any outstanding issues
pertaining to the new standard. But it would seem that PCs
BlackBerry Torch 9800, now are not the only devices which would play nice with Light Peak
available in red and white (aka Thunderbolt): rumour has it that Nikon's future DSLR
might see the first such implementation of the new interface
Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/blackberry-torch-9800-now-available-
in-red-and-white/11376.html
on a camera.
February 28th, 2011

Black has always been the standard color for BlackBerry
mobile devices (well, it is Black-Berry, duh). But there are
occasions whereby Research in Motion (RIM), the company
who manufactures BlackBerry, come up with other colors like A new superfast interface that is capable of transferring data
the white BlackBerry Bold 9700. Today, RIM has announced at speeds of up to 10 Gbps sounds like the most practical
a red and white version for their BlackBerry Torch 9800. innovation for the digital worker of today, and for good reason.
After all, if one takes into account the ever-growing file sizes
of digital content today, it would make sense that a PC and
its communication infrastructure needs to be well equipped
in order to ensure that even the largest file sizes will not be
an obstacle to ensuring that the content gets sent to the other
party in time.
However, will a standalone device that has never been
designed to accept and process data from external storage
devices require the use of the very same interface that has
been designed for use on a PC? Well, rumour has it that Nikon
apparently thinks so: apparently, word has been floating
around the depths of cyberspace that the Japanese camera
manufacturer plans to stuff in a Light Peak (or Thunderbolt)
The BlackBerry Torch 9800 claims to be the world’s first port into a future professional-grade DSLR, which is said to be
smartphone to offer a BlackBerry keyboard with a full touch the D4.
screen experience. And good news to those who don't exactly
enjoy the black phone: it is now available in two new vibrant
colours - red and white. Customers in Singapore will have
more color choices to suit their personality and preference.
The BlackBerry Torch features a large touchscreen display,
optical trackpad, backlit slide-out BlackBerry keyboard and 5-
megapixel camera with continuous auto focus that supports
video recording. It also supports high-speed 3G (UMTS/
HSDPA) networks and comes with built-in GPS for location-
based applications and geo-tagging.

Rumor: Nikon D4 to get Light
Peak/Thunderbolt?
Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/rumor-nikon-d4-to-get-light-
peakthunderbolt-/11371.html

7


With most of the tablets on the market still making use of the
popular ARM Cortex A8 processor microarchitecture, it would
seem like the A8 is safe from being rendered obsolete for at
least another year. However, this does not mean that all OEMs
are content with using the same technology as the competition:
a Chinese OEM has just upped its game with a new tablet that
sports the more recent ARM Cortex A9 processor.
If there is one thing that most tablet PCs on the market
today have in common, it would have to be the humble ARM
processor or System-on-a-Chip (SoC) which provides all the
processing power needed for such a device to function. Despite
how OEMs may claim to have their own SoC which works best
on their tablet, it does not change the fact that most of these
SoCs still feature processor cores based of ARM's Cortex A8
specifications.
However, it would seem that a humble Chinese OEM by the
name of Heiner might have gained an early advantage in the
battle to feature the most recent hardware in a mobile device.
According to reports, Heiner is set to release a new tablet, the
HaiPad M703, which will feature a CPU based off what ARM
Quite unsurprisingly, many members of the online community calls its current highest-performance processor series for the
have expressed varying levels of scepticism about the ARMv7 architecture: the ARM Cortex A9.
likelihood of a DSLR being able to implement the new
Thunderbolt interface successfully. For one, most users
seldom transfer their images out from a digital camera through
the use of a cabled connection: rather, the camera's storage
medium (usually an SDHC or CF card) is extracted from the
device and then connected to a PC via a card reader.
As such, users who want to make the most out of the
Thunderbolt interface in a camera will have to get used to
connecting their cameras directly to the PC instead of going
through the card reader route. This also potentially opens the
door to potential compatibility issues, as any device connected
to a PC needs to have an appropriate driver installed in order
to communicate with the computer. Without this driver, users The seven-inch HaiPad M703's ARM Cortex A9 processing
will have to fall back to the card reader method, which greatly core is clocked at 800MHz and will be provided by AMLogic.
reduces the usefulness of having a superfast interface built into In theory, this spec bump should see the M703 claiming
a camera. top spot as the faster ever tablet produced by Heiner.
Furthermore, various reports claim that the M703 will be
However, do take note that this is nothing more than a rumour
available in two versions: one will feature resistive touchscreen
making its way around the Internet; as such, whether such a
technology, while the other will sport capacitive touchscreens
feature will eventually make its way into a Nikon DSLR is really
instead.
anyone's guess. Until the actual specifications for Nikon's D4
have been set in stone, we'd advice that readers take this Of course, a powerful processor is not the only thing
information with nothing less than a truckload's worth of salt. consumers will look out for when it comes to selecting a
tablet, and it would seem that Heiner understands this as well.
Complementing the M703's AMLogic 8726-M processor are a
Chinese OEM releases new dedicated Mali-400 GPU, 512MB of memory , 8GB of built-in
tablet with ARM Cortex A9 Flash storage, at least one full-sized USB port and support for
HDMI-out.
processor
Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/chinese-oem-releases-new-tablet-with-
arm-cortex-a9-processor/11370.html
February 28th, 2011

8


However, it would appear that Heiner decided to cut a few
corners over the choice of OS to be bundled into the M703.
Instead of hopping onto Honeycomb bandwagon like what
many tablet OEMs are currently doing, the M703 will come
bundled with Froyo instead. Not that it is a huge loss though, So, Nintendo's long-awaited handheld video game console, the
since Froyo does feature built-in support for Flash 10.1, along 3DS, has finally been released for sale in its domestic market.
with various utilities such as USB tethering and WiFi hotspot. That is perfectly fine with us: after all, Nintendo and its 3DS
Still, the real draw about the HaiPad M703 has to be its price. are both products of the Japanese economy, and it would make
Apparently, Heiner is intending to sell the devices for the sense that Nintendo would want to use the domestic market as
(very) low price of US$160, or US$180 if consumers prefer a gauge of its device's popularity before making concrete sales
to go for the capacitive version. Unfortunately, it also appears targets for the console's eventual international launch.
that the M703 is not intended to be sold anywhere outside That being the case, what would the the reception of the
of China's domestic market. Well, China always gets the best Japanese gaming public towards Nintendo's first forray onto
toys, right? the whole 3D bandwagon? Well, if sales numbers mean
anything, the answer would probably go along the lines of
'awesome', for the lack of a more appropriate expression.
Nintendo 3DS sold out in This is because the Nihon Keizai Shimbun (aka Nikkei) has
Japan on first day of retail confirmed that every single last unit of the first shipment of
Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/nintendo-3ds-sold-out-in-japan-on-
400,000 3DS consoles designated for the domestic market has
first-day-of-retail/11369.html
been completely sold out on the same day the console was
February 28th, 2011
released for retail.
But that is not all. When one takes into consideration that
Nintendo plans to ship 1.5 million 3DS consoles for the
domestic market by 31 March, it would make sense that the
company will want to ensure that its production line and
resellers remain well stocked up with inventory. Apparently,
it has already taken action by ordering another shipment
Just how popular is Nintendo's new handheld video game of the new 3D-capable console this morning which, in all
console, the 3DS? Well, it would seem that any fears of the likelihood, is probably being wiped clean off the shelves as this
console maker's potentially failing in their attempt to venture article is being posted. Ouch. Oh well, there is always the next
into 3D gaming would be busted, at least for the time being. shipment...and the next...and the next...right?
After all, how else can one explain the complete sell-out of all
400,000 available units in the company's domestic market?
Sony PSP price drops to US
$130
Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/sony-psp-price-drops-to-
us-130/11374.html
February 28th, 2011

Sony has announced the drop of price of their Sony PlayStation
Portable (PSP) handheld game console. It was retailing at

9


US$169.99, and now, the price tag has been revised to an
attractive US$129.99.

Tablets are making their way to the market en masse, and
Whenever a new product is going to be available on retail, the
based on what we have seen, the current trend and demand
sure sign would be that the current ones will face a definite
for these devices are not about to slow down anytime soon.
price drop. And that is apparent to Sony handheld game
After all, it cannot be denied that these devices fill a certain
console: The Next Generation Portable (NGP) is arriving and
niche in the market, especially when they appear to be capable
a price drop has been announced for the Sony PlayStation
of offering computing performance well above that of a typical
Portable (PSP).
netbook. but without their heft and bulkiness of a dedicated
According to news reports, the company has lowered the price keyboard and touchpad.
from US$169.99 to US$129.99, which seems like a sign to
However, it would also seem that most OEMs dealing with
"clear the old stocks" in order to make room for the new
tablets have got a little problem on their hands. Due to these
NGP. However, the price drop only applies to the PSP-3000
class of devices now being marketed as consumer electronics
models, and not the PSP Go.
devices as instead of the enterprise tools they once served as,
Sony has also rolled out new discounted titles manufacturers are seemingly keen on cramming every single
including Assassin's Creed Bloodlines, LittleBigPlanet, Metal feature that could think of save for the kitchen sink, into these
Gear Solid: Peace Walker and Resistance: Retribution at US mobile devices in an attempt to making it as multi-purpose as
$19.99; Monster Hunter Freedom, Killzone: Liberation and possible to suit consumers' needs.
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII are selling at US$9.99.
But is a multi-purpose device like the Galaxy Tab and Dell
Streak really what consumers expect in a tablet? Well, at least
7-inch Creative ZiiO tablet one OEM by the name of Creative does not think so. So,
how would the company's ZiiO tablet with its 'less-is-more'
review: Because tablets approach fare in the market? We shall see.
need their own creative spin Before that, here is a quick list of the various hardware used in
the ZiiO, along with their specifications:
sometimes
Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/7-inch-creative-ziio-tablet-review- Creative 7-inch ZiiO Tablet
because-tablets-need-their-own-creative-spin-sometimes/11206.html Technical Specifications
February 28th, 2011 Bundled Operating System Customized Google Android
2.1 Update 2 with Creative Zii
apps
Processor ZiiLABS ZMS-08 HD Media-
Rich Applications Processor
Display 16.8mill color TFT Resistive
Touchscreen with resolution
So the Android tablet craze is about to hit fever pitch with the of 800 x 480
introduction of Honeycomb and Motorola's XOOM. That is Cameras Front-facing VGA camera
perfectly fine with us: after all, tablets are handy little devices Memory and Flash storage 8GB storage, expandable with
which have the potential to do a whole lot of things. And while capacity MicroSD cards of up to 32GB;
most OEMs are busy trying to work on making their tablets
Wireless Connectivity options WiFi (802.11 b/g only),
as versatile as possible, out comes Creative with its own idea
Bluetooth 2.1 EDR
of what a tablet should be used for. Or does it? We put the
Creative ZiiO tablet to the test. I/O ports and connectors HDMI-out (up to 720p only),
MiniUSB, 3.5mm stereo jack
Dimensions 207.4 x 133 x 13.7mm

10


Google investigating
unexplained erasure of all
emails in Gmail
Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/google-investigating-unexplained-
erasure-of-all-emails-in-gmail/11368.html
February 28th, 2011

Did you wake up yesterday and turn on your PC only to find Based on what we have gathered from both independent
out that every single message in your Gmail account has been reports and forum postings in Google's support boards, it
inexplicably wiped clean off the face of the virtual world? Well, would appear that the sudden data loss took place at the
it seems that there is some consolation to be had: the search early hours of 27 Feb (US time), and that it is more than just
giant has been informed of the sudden loss of data and had an isolated case of compromised accounts, as almost 0.29%
started an investigation into the issue. of all Gmail users have been affected by the data erasure.
Unfortunately, Google has not been very forthcoming about
the root cause of the issue, preferring instead to exercise its
PR muscles and assure users that the issue is currently being
looked into.

When it comes to free online email services, few can match
the functionality and usability of Google's very own free Gmail
offering, and for good reason. After all, it was the first free
Curiously, no mention about the incident was made on the
email provider to offer users access to an astronomical (back
official Gmail blog as well. However, surely one can take some
then) inbox size of 1GB, and did not require users to sign up
consolation in the fact that a Google employee has already
for a paid account in order to gain access to certain features
confirmed that the search giant will be 'looking into the issue
such as IMAP and POP3 access.
right now', right?
However, it would seem that even the best and most popular
free email service suffers from embarrassing outages from
time to time, and the latest fiasco which the search giant has
found itself caught in is anything but pleasant, especially for MSI annouces exchange
the end user. Apparently, a few users found themselves on the
short end of the stick when they signed into Gmail on Sunday procedures for P67 and H67
only to realize that every single message in their account
(including the spam and trash folders) has been inexplicably
motherboards
Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/msi-annouces-exchange-procedures-
cleaned off without warning.
for-p67-and-h67-motherboards/11361.html
Needless to say, this has triggered a huge wave of complaints February 28th, 2011
in Google's support forums:

MSI has announced it is now ready to swap faulty B2-stepping
Intel P67 and H67 motherboards with revised B3-stepping
ones. Users can either register online for an exchange and wait
for MSI's go-ahead for a swap, or wait till the end of March for
a walk-in exchange at the store the board was purchased from.
MSI is now ready to provide B3-stepping Intel P67 and H67
Express boards for replacement.

11


Apart from the packaging, the barcode on the box and
motherboard labels will also indicate if the motherboard has
According to MSI, the following is a list of motherboards in
a B3-stepping chipset. A more detailed guide is available at
South Asia that have the updated chipset:
http://event.msi.com/mb/b3/ .
P67 Express H67 Express H61 Express
models models models
Big Bang H67MA-E35 (B3) H61MU-E35 (B3) MSI 6 Series SATA SCAN Utility
Marshal (B3) If you still happen to be on a board with the older stepping,
P67A-GD80 (B3) PH67A-C43 (B3) H61M-E33/ MSI's SATA Utility will indicate which ports are in use. This
E23 (B3) will help the user determine if he / she has connected any
P67A-GD65 (B3) PH67S-C42 (B3) H61MA-P35 (B3) devices to the faulty SATA 3Gbps ports. The utility will also
P67A-GD55 (B3) H67MS-E43 (B3) H61M-P23 (B3) guide users to connect SATA devices to the unaffected SATA
6Gbps ports.
P67A-GD53 (B3) H67MS-E33 (B3)
P67A-C45 (B3) H67MA-ED55 (B3)
P67A-C43 (B3) H67MA-E45 (B3) Source: MSI Press Release
P67S-C43 (B3)

GIGABYTE shipping new B3
P67 and H67 motherboards,
Swap flow for South Asia end-users available as early as this week
Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/gigabyte-shipping-new-b3-p67-and-
h67-motherboards-available-as-early-as-this-week/11362.html
Either register online: February 28th, 2011

GIGABYTE has announced on Friday that they have begun
shipping motherboards with the new B3-stepping Intel P67
Or, if you are not able to access the Internet: and H67 Express chipsets. The products are expected to be
available as early as this week, when shipments start to clear
customs in markets around the world.

MSI will provide a one-to-one exchange for affected customers
and their motherboards once the B3-stepping boards are
available. On top of the swap, MSI will provide a free SATA3
card.
For more details, visit http://event.msi.com/mb/2011/
replace_event/sea/swap/ .

GIGABYTE has announced on Friday that they have begun
shipping motherboards with the new B3-stepping Intel P67
and H67 Express chipsets. The products are expected to be
How do I identify the motherboard chipset's version / stepping
available as early as this week, when shipments start to clear
from its outlook?
customs in markets around the world.

The updated MSI Intel P67 and H67 Express boards will have
All new motherboard, retail packaging and product name
a 'MSI B3 Stepping Ready' sticker affixed to its packaging.

12


Before chipset replacements were ready, GIGABYTE rolled
out a 6 Series SATA Check utility to help optimize SATA
performance by identifying the problem-free white SATA
6Gbps ports on B2-stepping chipsets, while advising users
not to use the affected SATA 3Gbps ports. As the new
'B3' motherboards start to ship, GIGABYTE has released an
updated 6 Series SATA Check utility that also identifies the
chipset and its stepping (either B2 or B3).

Motherboard model name as PC boots

The new 'B3' motherboards from GIGABYTE have been
redesigned and renamed so that they can easily be
distinguished from the older B2 versions through the
signature ‘B3’ at the end of the model name. For example,
the GA-P67A-UD7 has been replaced by the GA-P67A-UD7-
B3 and the GA-H67A-UD3H by GA-H67A-UD3H-B3. The new
model name is highly visible on the retail box, PCB, in the BIOS
at start up and on applications such as the GIGABYTE 6 Series
SATA Check utility and CPU-Z.

Another way to identify a B3 stepping chipset motherboard is
to look for the motherboard model name as the PC boots.

Source: GIGABYTE Press Release

Play PC games on your iPhone
and iPad now, PS3 games in
the near future
Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/play-pc-games-on-your-iphone-and-
ipad-now-ps3-games-in-the-near-future/11364.html
Also, the new B3 version 6 Series motherboard packaging
February 28th, 2011
features a large B3 Stepping logo that users will easily be able
to identify.

GIGABYTE 6 Series SATA Check Utility While you can't literally install your desired PC games onto
your iOS devices for gaming-on-the-go, there has been a way
around this: by using remote desktop connectivity to remotely
control your PC at home. Now, a developer is working on
bringing the PS3 experience to your iOS device.

13


U3E) and a USB 3.0 expansion card (ZM-PC302 U3), targeting
enthusiasts. The stylish aluminium enclosures support 2.5"
and 3.5" SATA I/ II HDDs and deliver data transfer speeds up
to 5Gbps via a USB 3.0 interface. The ZM-PC302 U3 is a dual
USB 3.0 port expansion card with PCI-e 1X interface and 4-Pin
auxiliary power support (for stability), allowing users to add
USB 3.0 functionalities to their PCs.
ZALMAN PRESS RELEASE

Software developer PandaElf has already amazed us with their
unique remote desktop application. How? Well, besides the
usual streaming of Flash content and able to access and use
your files on-the-go, their strongest suit is probably gaming.
Their app allows users to "stream" and play resource-hungry
PC games such as World of Warcraft and Starcraft 2 all through
your iOS devices. The result; unbelievably smooth and fast
framerates.
Impressive so far, but the developers caught us off-guard
with what they are working on now. The app has now been
tweaked to play PS3 games. Yes, the joy and goodness of Sony's Zalman is pleased to introduce its brand new USB3.0 External
unrivalled gaming experience right in your hands through H.D.D. enclosure series.
your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad. Mindblowing, isn't it?
New ZM-HE250 U3, ZM-HE350 U3 and ZM-HE350 U3E will
Well, it isn't as easy as it sounds as it requires a computer
make even largest files transfer possible with Ultra fast speed
and some other components on top of having a PS3. Not for
of 5Gbps.
the non-tech-savvy and the faint-hearted, but it is defintely
feasible and it just shows what is capable with the iOS SDK.
As long as Motherboard supports USB3.0, then you can
enjoy the cutting edge USB3.0 Speed with these new External
H.D.D. Enclosures. In addition, elegant design looks would
All excited? I'm sorry to say that this version of everyAir that differentiate them from existing products in the market.
allows your to play PS3 games isn't available to the public yet.
But don't worry, the developers have plans to release this in
the near future. Apart from these new models, we will also release ZM-PC302
everyAir is available now for US$4.99 on the iTunes App Store. U3 PCI-e card to sever many users without USB3.0 port on
their system. Regardless of any system you have, once it has
PCI-e 1X slot, you just install our ZM-PC302 U3 on to your
system to boost up your file transfer rate with ZM-HE250 U3/
HE350 U3/ HE350 U3E.

Zalman Launches New USB3.0
External HDD Enclosures Please go thru below to get more information on these
products.
Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/zalman-launches-new-usb3.0-external-
hdd-enclosures/11353.html
February 28th, 2011

Korean cooing specialist has unveiled its new line-up of USB
3.0 enclosures (ZM-HE250 U3, ZM-HE350 U3 & ZM-HE350
14


The "enterprise-class" Vertex 3 Pro features a SF-2500 chip
and will come in 100Gb, 200Gb, and 400Gb models. All Vertex
3 series SSDs are covered by a three-year warranty.

OCZ Technology Group, Inc., a leading provider of high-
performance solid-state drives (SSDs) for computing devices
and systems, today unveiled its next generation Vertex 3 SATA
III SSD product family, a lineup that caters to both client
and enterprise applications. Harnessing the 6Gbps speed of
the SATA III interface, the new series delivers double the
performance of the previous generation.

The Vertex 3 is the first solution to feature the new SandForce
SF-2200 SSD processor, and raises the bar in performance
with up to 550MBs read and 500 MBs write transfer rates
and up to 60,000 IOPS (4k random write). This maximized
speed significantly improves gaming, multimedia, and the
overall computing experience over traditional mechanical
hard drives, as well as other competing SSDs.

The new Vertex 3 solid state drive series builds on the success
of our previous two generations of products and delivers
exceptional performance by utilizing fast synchronous mode
2Xnm MLC NAND flash technology, said Ryan Petersen, CEO
of OCZ Technology Group. These storage solutions feature
both the highest sequential speeds available with a SATA
6GBps SSD and the highest IOPS of any current 2.5 inch
OCZ Preps Vertex 3 and SSD on the market today, allowing us to once again set
the benchmark for industry leading SSD performance and
Vertex 3 Pro SSDs reliability.
Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/ocz-preps-vertex-3-and-vertex-3-pro-
ssds/11346.html
February 28th, 2011 Also included in the new series is the enterprise-class Vertex
3 Pro which not only delivers industry-leading performance,
but is optimized to provide unparalleled reliability, security,
and endurance. Featuring the premium SF-2500 SSD SATA
III processor, Vertex 3 Pro SSDs are the ideal solution for
clients seeking enterprise-grade MLC (Multi-Level Cell) SSD
storage for their server farms and IT infrastructures. Due
OCZ Technology Group's Vertex 3 and Vertex 3 Pro SSDs are to its ability to implement MLC, Vertex 3 Pro provides an
poised to make their debut at Cebit 2011 next week. The 2.5" optimized balance of reliability and component-based cost-
SSDs, powered by SandForce's SF-2000 series controllers, savings, resulting in superior TCO (Total Cost of Ownership)
deliver data transfer speeds up to 550Mb/s (read) and 500Mb/ for enterprise clients.
s (write) and feature TRIM support, MLC NAND flash
memory, and a SATA III interface. The Vertex 3, aimed
at prosumers, is equipped with the SandForce SF-2200
processor and will be available in 120Gb and 240Gb capacities.

15


The new Vertex 3 Series will be showcased at next week's
international CeBIT tradeshow in Hanover, Germany, and Biostar unveils its H61
will begin shipping following the event through OCZ's global motherboards
channel. Vertex 3 SSDs will be available in capacities of 120GB Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/biostar-unveils-its-h61-
and 240GB, while the Pro edition comes in 100GB, 200GB, motherboards/11344.html
and 400GB models. The entire Vertex 3 line features TRIM February 28th, 2011
support to optimize performance over the drive's lifespan and
a 3 year warranty to ensure customer satisfaction.

GeForce GTX 550 Ti spotted in
EU e-tail
Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/geforce-gtx-550-ti-spotted-in-eu-e- Ahead of CeBIT, Biostar has unveiled its Intel H61 chipset
tail/11343.html based motherboard models and the company will offer three
February 28th, 2011 different SKUs of what is pretty much the same board as well
as one more advanced model. The H61 chipset is Intel's budget
solution for the second generation Core i processors and is
really intended to be paired up with the cheaper Pentium
branded CPUs which are expected to launch sometime later
this year.

Several EU e-tailers have listed PNY's take on NVIDIA's
upcoming GeForce GTX 550 Ti, well ahead of launch. There Ahead of CeBIT, Biostar has unveiled its Intel H61 chipset
are no major surprises from the details we first reported on based motherboard models and the company will offer three
the GTX 550 Ti earlier. The specifications are remarkably different SKUs of what is pretty much the same board as well
similar to the outgoing GeForce GTS 450 - 192 SP, 32 TMU, as one more advanced model. The H61 chipset is Intel's budget
16 ROP, based on GF116, a tuned GF106. The GTX 550 Ti solution for the second generation Core i processors and is
also continues to have 64-bit of the 192-bit in the GF116 chip really intended to be paired up with the cheaper Pentium
disabled, for an effective bus width of 128-bit. Where the GTX branded CPUs which are expected to launch sometime later
550 Ti largely differs from its predecessor, the GTS 450, is in this year.
clocks and pricing (and, of course, branding).
First up we have the H61ML which is the most basic, feature
The leaked listings confirm the clock speeds. The GTX 550 Ti is stripped version which uses a compact 24.4x20cm mATX
clocked at 900 MHz, 15% over the GTS 450. The 1GB GDDR5 board. Feature wise it's nothing much out of the ordinary
is clocked at 4.1 GHz, 13.6% higher than the GTS 450, for a with a single x16 PCI Express slot, two PCI slots and one x1
memory bandwidth of 65.5 GB/s. Despite the higher clocks, PCI Express slot. The board also only has two memory slots,
the power consumption is only 4W more, at 110W. The biggest but this is part for the course for the H61 chipset alongside
upset is the pricing - starting at €157 (incl VAT), and expected four SATA 3Gbps ports. Around the back you get four USB
to be $200 in the US. Of course, these are retail pricings which 2.0 ports, a PS/2 port, a D-sub connector, a DVI connector,
must be taken with a grain of salt. a 10/100Mbit Ethernet port and three audio jacks for 5.1-
Still, compared to the average GTS 450 prices of €100, the channel audio out. Finally the board has two pin headers for
GTX 550 Ti commands an excessive premium of over 50% for four USB 2.0 ports and a pin header each for a serial and
what appears to be a modest ~15% increase in core/shader and parallel port.
memory clocks. Considering the GTS 450 struggles to keep
with the Radeon HD 5770, we are unsure as to how much a
15% boost in clock speed would help in competing with much
faster products - Radeon HD 6850 or GTX 460 1GB - which
the GTX 550 Ti seems to be priced against.
Of course, we are still 2 weeks away from release, and many
things could change. The GTX 550 Ti definitely has potential
to find its own niche between the HD 5770 and the HD 6850 /
GTX 460 1 GB. However, at first glance, prices like $200 /
€160 seem very overpriced for the specifications leaked with
the early listings. Unless, NVIDIA have made major changes
to the GF116 core (over GF106) and/or the specifications and
prices leaked thus far are erroneous.
The listings can be viewed at Fudzilla.

16


Next up we have the H61MH which adds an HDMI port and
upgrades the Ethernet port to Gigabit speed. The third and
final model in this SKU is the H61MU3 with replaces two of
the USB 2.0 ports with two USB 3.0 ports connected to an
ASMedia controller.
The TH61U3+ differs by being a larger 24.4x24.4cm mATX
board and although the board has the same rear port layout
as the H61MU3, the rest of the board is quite different. This
time around we have two x16 PCI Express slots, although the
second one only has four lanes worth of bandwidth and there's
also a single x1 PCI Express slot and a PCI slot. The board still
only has two memory slots and four SATA 3Gbps ports and
there are still two headers for four USB 2.0 ports and a serial As you can see, the front bezel of the claimed iPhone 5 part
port header, but no parallel port header. This board also uses features a much larger screen as compared to today's iPhone 4.
a USB 3.0 host controller from Renesas rather than ASMedia.
China's 1st iPhone 5 photo has surfaced! From this photo it
seems that the screen size will be larger than iPhone 4. There
has been a lot of specualtion about a larger screen and maybe
this will be one of the upgrades we will see when iPhone 5 is
released this summer.
If this is indeed for the next-generation iPhone, this would
match the claims of a larger 4-inch screen as well as claims of
a "edge-to-edge" screen which results in the thinner bezel. But
it's hard to tell without the currect iPhone 4 next to this screen
part.

Patriot Launches Wildfire SSD
series
Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/patriot-launches-wildfire-ssd-
series/11342.html
February 28th, 2011

Maybe not the most exciting range of boards, but these should
allow for cheaper Sandy Bridge builds, especially once Intel
launches the cheaper processors. So now we're just waiting for
the first Z68 chipset announcements, which may or may not
happen during CeBIT. Patriot Memory, manufacturer of high performance memory
modules and flash products, has unveiled the Wildfire,
iPhone 5 to feature larger targeting enthusiasts. The 2.5" SSD is powered by SandForce's
new SF-2200 processor, supporting sequential read and write
screen and thinner bezel? speeds up to an astonishing 500Mb/s. It is available in 64Gb,
Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/iphone-5-to-feature-larger-screen-and- 128Gb and 256Gb capacities and sports a SATA III interface.
thinner-bezel-/11341.html The Patriot Wildfire, bundled with a 2.5" to 3.5" bracket, are
February 28th, 2011 expected to hit store shelves in Q2 2011.
PATRIOT PRESS RELEASE

Patriot Memory, a global pioneer in high-performance
memory, NAND flash, storage and enthusiast computer
products, today announces the new Wildfire series solid-
It seems that parts of the upcoming iPhone 5 has been leaked state drives powered by a new SandForce SSD processor.
in China. Yes, the image is the rumoured iPhone 5 screen The Patriot Wildfire series obliterates expectations of
component. storage devices and delivers enterprise-class performance to
consumer desktops and notebooks.

Storage bottlenecks are a thing of the past with the Patriot
Wildfire series SSD. The new SandForce SF-2200 SSD
processor enables the Patriot Wildfire series to shatter
17


previous performance records with up to breathtakingly-fast February 28th, 2011
500 MBs sequential read and write speeds backed by a SATA
6.0 Gbs interface.

When we talk about consumer wireless routers, we would
often think of it as yet another rectangular plastic box with
antennas on its back. ASUS, however, has done away with
this 'tradition' by coming up with a uniquely-designed piece
of hardware, the RT-N56U. The company claims the Black
Diamond is not just about its aesthetics but also its feature set
and high routing performance. VR-Zone.com puts this gem to
the test!

The Patriot Wildfire is the fastest SSD drive we have ever
released to the public, says Les Henry, Patriot Memory's Vice
President of Engineering. SandForce has done a fantastic job
engineering the SF-2200 SSD processor and combined with
our research and development, we are able to further tweak
the design and maximize performance with the processor and
our flash memory.

We are happy to see Patriot Memory is expanding their current
SandForce Driven product line with the new SandForce
SF-2200 and SF-2100 Client SSD Processors, said Kent Smith,
Sr. Director of Product Marketing of SandForce. Patriot has
won numerous awards and we anticipate they will win even
more with our latest generation 6.0 Gbs client processor.

The Patriot Wildfire series feature a standard 2.5-inch form
factor for compatibility with notebooks and select desktops.
A 2.5-inch to 3.5-inch mounting bracket is included with the
Patriot Wildfire for compatibility with standard hard drive When we talk about consumer wireless routers, we would
mounting. often think of it as yet another rectangular plastic box with
antennas on its back. ASUS, however, thought out of the box
and came up with a uniquely-designed piece of hardware.
Expect the Patriot Wildfire to ship in Q2 2011 in 64GB, 128GB
and 256GB capacities. The RT-N56U's innovative design is what separates from
its predecessors. The Black Diamond is not just about its
General details aesthetics but also its high routing performance and a whole
lot of features packed underneath its hood. In fact, ASUS
• New Patriot Wildfire series SSDs
claims that this revolutionary wireless router is the most
• 64GB, 128GB and 256GB capacities advanced in the market.
• SandForce SF-2200 SSD processor ASUS also brags about their Web User Interface the ‘EZ UI’
• SATA 6.0 Gbs interface which offers an intuitive router setup without having the need
to read manuals. Setting up the internet connection from
• Up to 500 MBs sequential read and write speeds scratch can be much of a hassle to the inexperienced.

ASUS RT-N56U Dual-Band
Gigabit Wireless Router
Review
Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/asus-rt-n56u-dual-band-gigabit-
wireless-router-review/11321.html

18

VR-Zone Technology News | Stuff for the Geeks! Issue #7

VR-Zone Technology News | Stuff for the Geeks! Issue #7

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VR-Zone Technology News | Stuff for the Geeks! Issue #7