A bi-monthly technology issue for the geeks and gadget lovers.

1. February 12th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone
VR-Zone.com | Stuff for the Geeks!
ASUS GeForce ENGTX560 Ti DirectCU II Video Card Review
AMD plans aggressive @ Legit Reviews
transition to next-gen CPUs/ Description: The ASUS ENGTX560 Ti DirectXU II Top edition
video card proved itself to be faster than the NVIDIA GeForce
APUs GTX560 Ti reference design in our testing, but that was
February 12th, 2011 expected since it operates at a 900MHz versus the standard
823MHz clock speeds. We also found that it ran cooler at full
load and was able to overclock better than the reference design
thanks to the voltage adjustment feature (VoltageTweak) in
the SmartDoctor utility. Being able to reach 1GHz on the
GeForce GTX 560 when overclocking was nice...
CSR announces CSR8600 wireless consumer audio platform
Xbitlabs reports that AMD is planning to produce 100% of Description: Wireless chip firm CSR has announced the
its desktop processors at 32nm (or 40nm in case of Ontario/ CSR8600 wireless consumer audio platform, which it claims
Zacate) as early as Q2 2012, completely eliminating the current will offer superior high-fidelity audio quality for integrated
45nm+ Athlon/Phenom CPUs. After several delays, 2011 is system-on-chip devices.
surely the turning point for AMD. With Ontatio/Zacate APUs
already released, next in line is the Llano APU and the next- Zalman N-Series Sandforce SSD Tests @ Benchmark Reviews
gen Bulldozer architecture as implemented in Zambezi CPUs. Description: Zalman is best known for their very quiet coolers,
stylish computer cases, and power supply units. Now they're
By Q2 2012, 20% desktop products will be based on the AM3+ adding high-speed storage devices to their product stack,
platform with Bulldozer CPUs, 10% on the FT1 platform with begining with a SandForce-driven Zalman N-Series SSD. The
Brazos APUs, and finally, a vast 70% on the FM1 platform, Zalman N-Series solid state drive is capable of 50,000 IOPS,
which accommodates the mainstream Llano APUs. Llano and with read bandwidth topping 280 MB/s while maximum write
Bulldozer will be fabbed at 32nm SOI, while Brazos remains speeds reach up to 270 MB/s. In this article, Benchmark
at 40nm Bulk. Reviews demonstrates that 4K IOPS performance is more
AMD is also rumoured to simplify branding with the next-gen important than speed for high-power computer users tests,
products. Ontario and Zacate are already branded as C-series and tests the 128GB Zalman SSD0128N1 SSD against some of
and E-series respectively, with Llano expected to be A-series the most popular storage devices available.
and Bulldozer (Zambezi) FX-series. Complicated branding MSI Big Bang Marshal P67 - Layout and Design @ ocaholic
such as "Phenom II X6" is likely to be dropped with the new Description: With the Big Bang Marshal, MSI presents its
generation of AMD products. It is clear that AMD is extremely absolute high-end motherboard for Intels latest Sandy Bridge
confident and ambitious about its upcoming products. processors. Therefore it comes for example with a truly
By contrast, Intel's largest selling (by volume) product sophisticated power design as well as eight PCI-Express x16
continues to be Pentium branded CPUs, manufactured at slots and numerous other features.
45nm/65nm, and in general, Intel takes several years to GIGABYTE HD6970 2GB Review @ Vortez
transition to a new generation of CPUs. Description: Back in December, AMD released their much
awaited Cayman based HD69XX series of cards. It represented
The Daily VR-Zone News a transition to a revised architecture that was more catered
towards compute performance with new features such
Summary - 11 Feb 2011 as Morphological Anti-Aliasing and enhanced tessellation
February 12th, 2011 performance to meet the requirements of newer DX10/11
titles. For the most part, the HD6970 was a success despite its
specifications appearing subtly different to the highly popular
but ageing HD5870...
AMD May Axe Microprocessor Brand-Names
Description: Advanced Micro Devices may can specific brand-
names of its microprocessors in order to emphasize its
In today's daily news roundup: - MSI presents its absolute corporate AMD Vision trademark and attract attention to its
high-end motherboard, the Big Bang Marshal P67, for Intel's corporate brand. As a result of the move, Athlon, Phenom and
latest Sandy Bridge platform; - CSR announces CSR8600 Sempron will vanish into oblivion.
wireless consumer audio platform for embedded platforms;
Enermax presents two new high-end cases
- Rumour has it that the successor to the iPhone 4 will be
Description: In January, Enermax introduced its new flagship
smaller than its predecessor by at least a third, and - Halo
midi tower for gamers, Hoplite. However this is just the
Reach appears to be receiving a follow-up add-on bundle to
beginning of the new generation of Enermax cases, which will
the previously released 'Noble' map pack.
be presented on CeBIT in Hannover for the first time.
Hardware News:
1

2. February 12th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone
Consumer Electronics and Software News:
Thermaltake Updates
LG G-Slate, Roll Out! Video Shows What Honeycomb Will Do
With iOS Toughpower Grand Series
Description: With all the talk of Playbooks and TouchPads
these days, it’s sad that poor old LG hasn’t had much traction
PSUs
February 12th, 2011
with their 10-inch G-Slate aka The Optimus Pad.
ChoiiX Power Fort 5.5whrs Review - XSReviews
Description: With the ever expanding use of smartphones and
other clever little electronic gadgets, one problem the world
is starting to come to terms with is that there is just never
enough power to go around. Lugging around chargers can be a
Thermaltake has announced the Toughpower Grand 850W,
real pain, especially if you need a different one for each device.
1050W and 1200W models, expanding its best-selling
However, Coolermaster have produced what a few others have
Toughpower Grand series of high-performance PSUs.
done, a backup power supply. However, this isn't its first
iteration, this new version of the Power Fort comes with a
simple USB interface hoping to standardise backup charging.
Let's see if it's as effective without the myriad of charge heads.
Brows furrowed on Apple universal phone charger stance
Description: The universal mobile phone charger that was
agreed in Europe is nearing completion, with a sample
already in production, but Apple could be an obstacle to its
deployment.
Could the Next iPhone Really Be A Third Smaller Than iPhone
4?
Description: According to Bloomberg, the next iPhone is going
to be two-thirds the size of the already (very) petite iPhone 4.
That's crazy small. But will it happen?
Thermaltake has announced the Toughpower Grand 850W,
Tablets of 2011: What to Look For 1050W and 1200W models, expanding its best-selling
Description: We've compiled a comparative table with what Toughpower Grand series of high-performance PSUs.
we consider are the hottest tablets either currently available
or announced so far. Rivals such as Motorola and LG are
coming on strong with the first Android "Honeycomb" tablets,
while Research In Motion is launching the PlayBook using
a completely reworked operating system based on QNX
Neutrino. HP will start to see the fruits of its Palm acquisition
when it launches the TouchPad, the first webOS-based tablet,
this summer.
Installing Linux on a Netbook from a USB Thumbdrive @
Computing on Demand
Description: In my household, netbooks fly around like curse
words. I have had more Acer's come through my home office
than I would like and for some reason, they either come with
Windows XP or Windows 7 Starter; both are worthless in my
opinion. So when my friend asked me help him install Ubuntu
on his Aspire One, I obliged. Remember, netbooks do not come
equipped with CDROM/DVD drives and unless you have an
external drive or converter, your only option is to use USB.
Gaming News:
Halo: Reach 'Defiant Map Pack' unveiled?
Description: Low resolution images of follow-up to the Noble
Map Pack surface; new add-on bundle will reportedly include
three new multiplayer environments.
Duke Nukem Forever Video Preview
Description: After 14 years, Duke Nukem Forever is finally
coming out. We've played the first-person shooter. So, come
get some.
2

3. February 12th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone
Buffalo, leading provider of innovative network solutions and
storage devices for the home and business, is preparing to
release the DVSM-PC58U2V, its latest external DVD writer in
Japan.
These 80Plus Gold rated PSUs boast modular sleeved cables,
a 3oz PCB (reduces heat & power loss) design, solid Japanese
capacitors, active PFC function, double-forward switching
circuitry, multiple circuitry protection (e.g. Over Current, Over
Power, Over Voltage, Under Voltage, Over Temperature &
Short-Circuit protection), and a MTBF of 120,000 hours.
The Toughpower Grand 850W/ 1050W/ 1200W PSUs are
cooled by a dual ball-bearing 140mm flower-shape fan (with
FanDelayCool Technology) and are covered by a seven year
warranty. Pricing and availability has not been announced yet
so stay tuned for more updates.
News via [Techpowerup]
Buffalo Readies New External
DVD Writer
February 12th, 2011
Measuring 145 x 19 x 153mm and weighing 340g, the compact
writer is available in black, white or silver colors. It has two
USB cables (1 for data & 1 for power) and supports write speeds
of up to "8x for DVD-R/+R and DVD+RW, 6x for DVD-R/
+R DL and DVD-RW, 5x for DVD-RAM, and 24x for CD-R/
Buffalo, leading provider of innovative network solutions and RW". The DVSM-PC58U2V, bundled with Power2Go 7 and
storage devices for the home and business, is preparing to InstantBurn 5, is expected to ship in mid-February at a MSRP
release the DVSM-PC58U2V, its latest external DVD writer in of US$77 in Japan.
Japan.
News via [Techconnect]
3

4. February 12th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone
Scythe Introduces Gouriki
Line of PSUs
February 12th, 2011
Scythe has launched its Gouriki 3 series of PSUs, designed
for both gamers and mainstream users. Available in 500W,
600W and 700W capacities (modular and non-modular), the
80Plus bronze certified PSUs feature sleeved cables, two 12V
rails, various circuitry protection (OCP, OVP, OPP, SCP, UVP For cooling, a controlled 140 mm fan from the proven Scythe
& OTP), and is cooled by a 140mm Slip Stream fan. All Gouriki Slip Stream series is used. In addition, users have the option to
3 PSUs are covered by a three year limited warranty. connect two case fans directly to the power supply. These fans
SCYTHE PRESS RELEASE are then individually controlled by an integrated, intelligent
fan controller according to the load and the temperature of the
Japanese cooling specialist Scythe announces the availability PSU. A sufficient level of security is assured due to the variety
of the new Gouriki 3 power supply series. These power supplies of protection circuits. Furthermore, three-year warranty is
are now available with an output of 500 W, 600 W and 700 W granted by Scythe on the new Gouriki 3 series.
both as a plug-in version with cable management for comfort,
as well as a standard version with sleeved mesh cables.
The Gouriki 3 power supplies meet the 80Plus Bronze
certification and reaches an efficiency of 82 to 89% at
20/50/100% load. As usual for Scythe, all components are
designed for long life in accordance with Japanese standards.
In addition, the Gouriki 3 series was equipped with an
improved dual 12V rail, which ensures stable and interference-
free operation. The 45 to 55 cm long cable strands of the plug-
in, as well as the standard version are completely encased in
durable, black mesh tube.
Scythe Gouriki 3 power supply series is now available for the
following MSRP:
4

5. February 12th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone
single core and the D700 dual core. Intel itself will have four
•Gouriki 3 500 W Plug-in: 72,00 EUR (excluding VAT) different motherboard models at launch, all of course using
the mini-ITX form factor. All three boards will also support
DDR3 memory, although we don't know if we'll see support
for anything faster than DDR3 800MHz modules as per the
•Gouriki 3 600 W Plug-in: 79,00 EUR (excluding VAT) current Atom processors.
The big question is if Intel has done enough when it comes to
improving the overall performance of its new Atom processors
that we presume are part of Intel's upcoming Cedar Trail
•Gouriki 3 700 W Plug-in: 92,00 EUR (excluding VAT) family of Atom processors. Intel did state that it's expecting
Cedar Trail to offer twice the performance of Pine Trail and at
the same time double the graphics performance of the current
GMA 3150 graphics solution. We shouldn't have to wait too
•Gouriki 3 500 W: 65,00 EUR (excluding VAT) long to see how well the new Atom processors perform, as Intel
could potentially unveil the platform as early as IDF Beijing
which is scheduled for April 12-13, although so far it's not clear
what Intel will be showing.
•Gouriki 3 600 W: 72,00 EUR (excluding VAT)
ViewSonic to launch dual-SIM
•Gouriki 3 700 W: 85,00 EUR (excluding VAT) smartphone and new tablet at
For more information, visit product pages of Gouriki 3 and MWC
Gouriki 3 Plug-in. February 12th, 2011
Intel is preparing to launch
new desktop Atom processors
next quarter
February 12th, 2011 ViewSonic is getting ready to show off a pair of new devices at
the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona next week and VR-
Zone will at the show to get some hands on time with the
new devices. First up is the V350 which is a dual-SIM Android
smartphone and secondly we have the ViewPad 10Pro which
is a dual boot Android 2.2 and Windows 7 Professional tablet.
Intel's Atom platform recently got some very serious
competition from not only AMD with its Brazos APU platform, ViewSonic is getting ready to show off a pair of new devices at
but it looks like VIA's new dual core Nano processor will give the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona next week and VR-
Intel a run of its money as well. However, according to a Zone will at the show to get some hands on time with the
motherboard roadmap that VR-Zone has gotten its hands on, new devices. First up is the V350 which is a dual-SIM Android
it's clear that Intel isn't sitting around idly and waiting to lose smartphone and secondly we have the ViewPad 10Pro which
market share, as the company has at least two new desktop is a dual boot Android 2.2 and Windows 7 Professional tablet.
Atom processors planned for launch sometime during the next
The V350 looks somewhat similar to LG's Optimus One P500
quarter.
in terms of design, although it seems to shun physical buttons
in favour of touch sensitive ones. Beyond the dual SIM card
Intel's Atom platform recently got some very serious slots the V350 packs a 3.5-inch 480x320 resolution capacitive
competition from not only AMD with its Brazos APU platform, touch screen, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1, A-GPS, a 5Megapixel rear
but it looks like VIA's new dual core Nano processor will give camera, a micro SD card slot and Android 2.2. The rest of the
Intel a run of its money as well. However, according to a specs will be revealed next week at the MWC, although we
motherboard roadmap that VR-Zone has gotten its hands on, expect this to be a fairly affordable model, especially as there's
it's clear that Intel isn't sitting around idly and waiting to lose no indication of it having any kind of 3G connectivity.
market share, as the company has at least two new desktop
Atom processors planned for launch sometime during the next
quarter.
We don't have a lot of specifics to go on here though, but
what we do know is that there will be a D600 and a D700
series of Atom processors and presumably the D600 will be
5

6. February 12th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone
Today, Samsung has introduced three new Android mobile
phones, namely the GALAXY Ace, GALAXY Fit and GALAXY
mini. (above picture from left to right).
Samsung GALAXY Ace
The GALAXY Ace has a minimal yet sophisticated look
The ViewPad 10Pro has as the name suggests a 10-inch display and sports a 3.5-inch HVGA display which makes gaming,
and it sports a resolution of 1024x600. The screen features videos and photos viewing more enjoyable. The GALAXY
capacitive multitouch and LED backlight. It'll be powered by Ace also features Social Hub which allow users to
Intel's Oak Trail platform, but once again the full specs won't access information across their social networking services,
be unveiled until the show. However, the ViewPad 10Pro does instant messaging and email accounts. Equipped with a
feature a built in 3G modem, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and it's 800MHz processor, the Android Froyo 2.2 Froyo smartphone
expected to have a battery life of at least six hours according also lets users experience smooth web browsing and seamless
to the press release. It will as we mentioned earlier dual multitasking.
booth Android 2.2 and Windows 7 Professional and it offers
full Flash 10.1 support as well as a custom UI developed by
ViewSonic.
Samsung GALAXY Fit
The Samsung GALAXY Fit claims to be the perfect device
for working adults. It has an integrated email system and
‘Office Viewer’ function that lets users do their work while on
the move. The GALAXY Fit also features a 5-megapixel camera
and built-in FM radio.
Samsung GALAXY mini
ViewSonic will also be showing off its ViewPad 10s 3G at the
The GALAXY mini appeals to young users who want a
show which is simply a 3G enabled version of its ViewPad
compact phone with an ergonomic design for easy mobility
10s that the company launched at CES back in January. We'll
and comfort. It also features an integrated phonebook with
have more details of all the new devices from ViewSonic early
direct SNS and IM links, making it even easier for users to stay
next week, so stay tuned for the full details from the MWC in
connected with their friends all the time.
Barcelona.
Samsung GALAXY Ace,
All three phones offer more than 100,000 apps from both
GALAXY Fit and GALAXY mini the Android Market and Samsung Apps and also feature the
arrive in Singapore SWYPE messaging interface, making communicating on-the-
go easier and faster than before.
February 12th, 2011
The GALAXY Ace will be on sale from 12 February 2011 at the
recommended retail price of S$498. The GALAXY mini will be
Samsung has announced three new Android smartphones, available from 19 February 2011 at S$298 and the GALAXY Fit
the GALAXY Ace, Galaxy Fit and Galaxy Mini, in Singapore.
Pricing and availability inside.
6

7. February 12th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone
from March 2011 at S$398. All prices are for mobile phones
without contract and are inclusive of GST. Dell Singapore shows Streak 7
tablet and Venue smartphone
Nokia and Microsoft Enters February 12th, 2011
Strategic Partnership with
Windows Phone and Mobile
Experience.
February 12th, 2011
Dell Singapore held a media lunch today and at the table, the
company shows two products that were previously showcased
at CES 2011 in Las Vegas last month - Dell Streak 7 Android
tablet and Venue Android smartphone. Yes, they are coming
to Singapore.
Nokia calls it the third ecosystem as the company forms a
strategic partnership with Microsoft, bringing the strengths of
both companies together. More after the jump
It was quite a surprise when Dell brought the Android-based
Dell Streak 7 to the table, and the product is the standard US
retail version with T-Mobile being the exclusive carrier.
Nokia calls it the third ecosystem as the company forms a
strategic partnership with Microsoft, bringing the strengths of
both companies together.
With the strategic partnership, Wiindows Phone, Bing, Xbox,
Office and the Nokia experience will be packaged together in
this new ecosystem.
From the back of the box, you can see the list of features of
the Dell Streak 7 which include 4G capability, supports mobile
video chat and 16GB built-in memory with expandable SD card
slot.
Watch the video by Stephen Elop and Steve Ballmer, CEO of
Nokia and Microsoft respectively
7

8. February 12th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone
to entice mobile road warriors and fast enough for speed
demons?
At some point or another, we have all attempted copying huge
amounts of files to external USB 2.0 storage devices either to
bring them around or simply for backup. These file transfers
were lengthy and you could probably make yourself a cuppa
while waiting.
For the past year, SuperSpeed USB (or USB 3.0), has been
steadily making its way into the mainstream segment. Many
mid-range systems and almost all high-end systems come with
USB 3.0 ports, and even laptops are starting to have at least
one. With more than ten times the bandwidth of USB 2.0,
capable USB 3.0 devices are significantly faster than USB
The Dell Streak 7 is as big as the Samsung Galaxy Tab, and even
2.0 ones. With the USB 3.0 adoption rate increasing, many
at 7-inch, it is still a nice size to hold and use. Unfortunately,
manufacturers are starting to offer a large variety of USB 3.0
it will not support voice+data but is data only, as according
flash drives which typically provide about 100MB/sec transfer
to the maker. This is because the company does not foresee
rates.
users holding the Streak 7 up like how you would with a mobile
phone to do phone calls. Kingston, a long-time player in the flash and memory
industry, has gone a step further by introducing the HyperX
While a hands-free headset is provided, it will only be used for
MAX 3.0 series of external USB 3.0 drives. The HyperX MAX
video chat and Dell says it is likely the model for Singapore will
3.0 is designed for those who want a storage deivce the fastest
be using a third-party app for video chat. The specifications of
transfer rates, yet have considerably large capacities. Let's
the Dell Streak coming to Singapore will be the same as the US
have a quick look at its specifications first.
version, supporting 4G connectivity. However, it still depends
on the local telco as to when 4G will be ready.
Kingston HyperX MAX 3.0 Features and Specifications
• Performance: USB-IF SuperSpeed-Certified
• Standardized: complies with USB 3.0 specification
standards, compatible with USB 2.0
• Sequential Speed: Read - up to 195MB/sec, Write - up to
160MB/sec
• Shock-resistant: built with Flash components so no
moving parts
• Portable: aluminum design is sleek, stylish and rugged
• Silent: runs silently with no moving parts
• Easy: plug & play with no driver required; utilizes USB
On the right are the SD and SIM card slots. while on the
bus power with no additional bus power required
opposite side are the built-in speakers and 3.5mm audio
jack. The top holds the camera shutter button and volume • Guarantee: 3-year warranty
control (which is also the camera zoom). • Capacities: 64GB, 128GB and 256GB
• Dimensions: 73.49 x 118.6 x 12mm
Kingston HyperX MAX 3.0 • Vibration Operating: 20G peak, 10-2000Hz, (20min /
64GB External SuperSpeed axis) x 3 axis
USB Drive Review • Vibration Non-operating: 20G peak, 10-2000Hz, (12
cycle / axis) x 3 axis, x 20min
February 12th, 2011
• Operating Shock: 1500G
• Operating Temperature: 0 - 60°C
• Storage Temperature: -20 - 85°C
• Power Consumption: 4.5W
With rated speeds of up to 195MB/sec read and 160MB/sec • Dual LED: blue (USB 3.0), green (USB 2.0)
write, the Kingston HyperX MAX 3.0 is one of the fastest 2.5"
external USB 3.0 storage devices around. Is it hardy enough
8

9. February 12th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone
In this review, we will be taking a look at the Kingston HyperX The HyperX MAX 3.0 feels well-built thanks to its aluminium
MAX 3.0 64GB version. The HyperX MAX 3.0 comes packaged exterior. The underside of the drive is plain; there is only a
in a compact box with Kingston's trademark blue color. There product label and four rubber feet to prevent the enclosure
is a small window, allowing you to have a peek at the drive from being scratched and keep the drive sturdy when placed
contained inside. The drive's rated speeds are also indicated on a flat surface.
along the bottom edge of the box.
NEC launches new multimedia
ultra short throw projectors in
Singapore
February 12th, 2011
NEC Display Solution has announced their new lineup of
multimedia ultra short throw projectors in Singapore, the
Inside the package, you would find only the HyperX MAX 3.0 new U Series with the 3000-lumen U300X and 3100-lumen
drive and a USB 3.0 cable. Neither is there any driver to install, U310W.
nor bundled software in a CD.
NEC Asia Pacific today unveiled its new U Series 3000-
lumen U300X and 3100-lumen U310W. These ultra short
throw projectors can be mounted to the wall above the
screen, making them ideal for education environments using
interactive or standard whiteboards.
The 3D-ready U300X and U310W are built with DLP and DLP
Link technologies from Texas Instruments. The projectors
offer XGA and WXGA resolutions respectively with brightness
level of up to 3100 lumens. Connectivity includes HDMI and
dual computer inputs and variable audio out to connect the
projector to an external speaker.
There is a blue LED indicator beside the USB 3.0 connector The U Series models also incorporate eco-friendly features
which lights up whether there is drive activity. that lengthen the life of the projector, saving money and energy
in the process. In ECO Mode, the lamp life can be extended up
to 3000 hours while the power consumption is lowered.
9

10. February 12th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone
The U300X and U310W projectors include the following The researchers claim that their chip can be further improved
features: to 100 times more efficient than current electronics, and
requiring only 0.0017μm2 per transistor.
- Throw ratio of 0.377:1 (U300X) and 0.3:1 (U310W)
- Brightness of 3000 lumens (U300X) and 3100 lumens Scythe Unleashes Mine 2 CPU
(U310W)
Cooler
- Contrast ratio of 2000:1 February 12th, 2011
- Lamp life up to 3000 hours (in ECO Mode)
- 3D capability
- HDMI connectivity and dual computer inputs
Scythe Co., Ltd, has revived the discontinued Mine CPU
- Integrated RJ45 connection cooler with the release of its high-performance Mine 2 CPU
Cooler (SCMN-2000). Measuring 130 x 143 x 160mm and
- Virtual Remote (DDC/CI) weighing 1,150g, the cooler boasts eight copper heatpipes, dual
aluminum heatsink towers, a F.M.S.B.3 (Flip Mount Super
- Remote diagnostics Back-plate 3) System, and supports up to three fans.
Japanese cooling specialist Scythe hereby officially announces
- Closed captioning enables users to display text information the launch the new high-end CPU Cooler Mine 2. The Mine
for the hearing impaired 2 CPU Cooler is based on a twin cooler Layout. Eight copper
heatpipes transport heat to two generously dimensioned
- Automatic vertical keystone correction cooling blocks. By placing the fan in between the 2 heatsink
towers, intake as well as exhale airflows are optimized to
- Auto Power On provide high performance. Furthermore, the lower part of the
installed fan is designed to cool the devices around the CPU
- 20 seconds quick start and immediate off with no cooling socket, such as voltage regulators and RAM. The structure of
period required the heat sink makes it possible to use a total of up to three
fans by purchasing separately sold fan clips. In this manner,
- 10-watt built-in speaker the air flow and thus the cooling capacity of the Mine 2 will be
significantly increased by using the push / pull principle.
World's First Programmable
Nanoprocessor
February 12th, 2011
The nanoprocessor was assembled from nanometre-scale
components by a team of US researchers. Made up of
ten-nanometre-thick germanium wires, each 960µm² tile
containing 496 programmable transistors is capable of
performing basic arithmetic and logical functions. Although
such capabilities pale in comparison to current processors, it
is a world's first for nanoprocessors.
There has been difficulties in assembling nanoscale structures
as materials exhibit variations in their properties as we
progress from the microscale to nanoscale. While these
processors could be used in applications such as tiny
embedded system and biomedical devices, they still have to be
improved to compete effectively with conventional electronics.
Each nanotransistor occupies 1.9μm2 - more than twenty
times the 0.09μm2 area required by logic gates in current
32nm CMOS chips.
In comparison to the Intel Sandy Bridge which was launched
last month, Intel fits each of its 995 million transistors
into a 0.217μm2 area, with a total area of 216mm2 (square By default, the Mine 2 will be delivered with a centrally placed,
millimetres). adjustable 140 mm Slip Stream PWM & VR fan. Although the
10

11. February 12th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone
fan supports the PWM feature, the user can manually adjust
the PWM bandwidth between 470 to 1,370 rpm and 740 to
1,900 rpm. Despite the changed bandwidth, the fan is still
controlled by the PWM signal from the motherboard, allowing
an individual but also dynamic fan control. Alternatively it is
possible to disable the PWM function. Instead the fan can be
controlled manually in a range of 500 to 1,700 rpm. This gives
every user the option to optimize the Mine 2 CPU cooler for
performance or low noise according to own preferences.
Scythe Mine 2 will be available worldwide from early February
2011 for €50.50 (excl. VAT).
The Daily VR-Zone News
Summary - 10 Feb 2011
February 12th, 2011
For safe and stable attachment to the motherboard, the new
F.M.S.B.3 (Super Flip Mount Backplate 3) mounting system
is used. Due to the improved design of the backplate, Mine 2
CPU is compatible with all current sockets, including the new
LGA1155. In today's daily news roundup: - MSI Unveils the N580GTX
HydroGen's all-copper waterblock design, - Gigabyte's GTX
460 SOC (Super Overclock) graphics card gets reviewed for
its overclocking potential, - Amazon announces its Kindle e-
reader app for HP Touchpad, - Heads start rolling as Activision
acts on its decision to put the Guitar Heroes franchise on
the executioner's block, and - LG wants Sony's PlayStation 3
console banned in USA for alleged patent infringements.
Hardware News:
Antec Kühler H2O 620 Water Cooling System @ Benchmark
Reviews
Description: All-in-one CPU water coolers have become
popular and even mainstream, and for good reason: they're
much cheaper than traditional liquid cooling systems, and
offer a combination of good performance and generally low
noise that makes them attractive alternatives to higher-end
air coolers. The first generation of these coolers were virtually
clones, with manufacturers doing little other than labeling
Asetek's design, but we're starting to see some innovation in
the area, and Antec's Kühler H20 620 steps into the market
with its own unique take on the concept...
Verbatim announces their VELVE color-tunable OLED panels,
now available
11

12. February 12th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone
Description: Verbatim (a subsidiary of Mitsubishi) announced Eurocom All-in-One enterprise wide desktop solution: the
their new color-tunabe and dimmable 14x14cm OLED lighting EUROCOM Uno 2.0
panels called VELVE (these are made together by Mitsubishi Description: Eurocom Corporation, a leader in Desktop
and Pioneer). Verbatim says that the panels are already Replacement technology has taken the next logical step in
available - which makes the VELVE the world's first color- the evolution of the computer system with their release
tunable OLED lighting panels. of a 74 Watts ultimate desktop replacement, the fully
upgradeable All-in-One PC EUROCOM Uno 2.0. The new
Gigabyte GTX460 Super Overclock Review @ ocaholic
system is designed to accelerate transition from energy-
Description: With the Gigabyte GTX 460 SOC (Super
wasteful desktop PCs to energy efficient and eco-friendly
Overclock) we have a graphics card in our testlab which doesn't
computers...
belong to the latest models but it still is quite an interesting
product. The fact that this card comes with a highly efficient HP's WebOS Bounty: Touchpad Tablet, Pre 3 and Veer
cooler and a huge overclocking potential makes it particularly Smartphones
interesting Description: HP's webOS devices are finally here: The
Touchpad tablet—an sleek affair with iPad-competitive specs
NZXT Sentry LXE Touch-Screen Fan-Controller Review on
—as well as the bigger, badder Pre 3, and a teeny, Pixi-esque
Technic3D (German)
slider called the Veer...
Description: (Machine translation) The NZXT Sentry LXE
Fan-Controller arrived Technic3D. Touch screen LCD Smartfish Whirl Mini Laser Mouse w/ Anti-Gravity Comfort
displays, temperatures in C/F, RPMs and many more can you Pivot @ TestFreaks
see in the following Review. Description: Today for review I’ve got the Smartfish Whirl
Mini Laser Mouse that is unlike any other mouse out there.
SilverStone RAVEN RV02-E Case Review at Overclockers
The Whirl features a laser sensor so it tracks very well on most
Online
any surface. What makes the Whirl different is the design of
Description: When it comes down to looking for a high
it. The Whirl features what Smartfish calls ErgoMotion, the
end case with ample cooling and expansion options, the
mouse sits up on sort of a pedestal and the mouse itself pivots
SilverStone RAVEN RV02-E is one route to definitely
all different ways supposedly making it more comfortable and
consider. The case looks seemingly simple from the outside but
ergonomic. It’s certainly a unique mousing experience...
it’s a work of art inside and out. The 90° rotated motherboard
with three 180mm Air Penetrator brings cooling performance 3D LED TV & Blu-ray Player: The Three-Dimensional LG @
I’ve never seen in a case before. InsideHW
Description: Three-dimensional video content, although
MSI Unveils the N580GTX HydroGen's All Copper
currently only available in the tiniest proportions, seems to
Waterblock Design
have become a trend that pushes the video industry forward.
Description: MSI, the leading international motherboard and
Owing to it, tens of new Blu-ray player models with 3D
graphics card maker, unveiled today the all new N580GTX
capabilities have been released, and that’s set off the 3D TV
HydroGen equipped with MSI's proprietary HydroGen all
receiver industry as well. Read on to find out what LG has come
copper waterblock and NVIDIA Geforce GTX 580's top of
up with to compete…
the line graphics core. The HydroGen waterblock is MSI's
industry-leading graphics card cooling solution featuring All- Amazon Announces Kindle App for HP Touchpad
Copper construction and Micro-Channel technology for faster Description: Amazon has announced that it plans to launch
water flow and enhanced GPU cooling. a free Kindle app designed specifically for HP’s forthcoming,
webOS-based TouchPad, which was unveiled at a press event
Gainward GeForce GTX 560 Ti Phantom 2 Graphics Card
Wednesday.
Review
Description: oday we have the GTX 560 Ti Phantom 2 on our Gaming News:
test bench and will be putting it up against a selection of cards LG Wants PS3 Banned In USA
in a similar price bracket to see how it compares in real world Description: In a bold move by LG Electronics, the company
gaming, media and GPU computing tasks. has filed two complaints through the International Trade
Consumer Electronics and Software News: Commission (ITC) against Sony Electronics over a number of
patent infringements.
Mionix Propus 380 Review @ Vortez
Description: The most underrated component in any gaming Guitar Hero No More, 500 Workers Laid Off
configuration has to be the beloved mouse pad. Some would Description: It is done and it is over – Guitar Hero is no more.
even claim its presence isn't a necessity. But in essence, Activision Blizzard announced in a recent press conference
combining a gaming mouse with a decent gaming pad will that they are disbanding Guitar Hero and plans to layoff about
be complimentary. It's a fair point that if you were to spend 500 workers. Development of a new series planned for this
between £30-70 on a gaming mouse to enhance your esports year has been scrapped as well.
endeavours then you really ought to invest in a quality gaming Dragon Age II Choose Your Class Trailer
surface to compliment the setup. Afterall its the sensor that Description: The warrior, the mage, or the rogue? Those
will be doing all the hard work, it surely behoves the avid gamer are your three choices of class in BioWare's upcoming RPG
to choose carefully... sequel, Dragon Age II, and in the latest trailer, the developer
makes a case for choosing all three. Whether he's wielding
12

13. February 12th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone
a broadsword, staff, or knives, Hawke can do some serious devices with the introduction of the Avastar 88W8797 dual
damage. See what each particular class offers in terms of attack band Wi-Fi system on a chip.
style. Mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets have only
fairly recently gotten support for 802.11n Wi-Fi, but it’s the
The Hole in the Sun slower 150Mbit version rather than the full speed 300Mbit
version. As of today, this is no longer the case, as Marvell has
February 12th, 2011
announced its first MIMO 802.11n Wi-Fi solution for mobile
devices with the introduction of the Avastar 88W8797 dual
band Wi-Fi system on a chip.
However, the features don’t stop here as the 88W8797 it’s
also equipped with transmit beamforming technology which
allows for extended range at improved signal quality compared
Our Sun is leaking plasma which is ejected into the far-ends to your average 802.11n 2x2 MIMO solutions and it also
of our solar system. Studying such phenomenon allows us to supports both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands unlike most
learn more about the Universe we live in. Read on. competing solutions. It also sports the Bluetooth 4.0 low-
energy standard which offers a longer range, lower power
usage and quicker set-up time, but lower bit rate compared to
Bluetooth 2.1 class 2 devices. Finally it also incorporates an FM
receiver and transmitter to round things off, making it a pretty
comprehensive solution for mobile devices.
Although the 88W8797 was designed for mobile devices,
Marvell is keen to point out that it’s suitable for a wide
range of other Wi-Fi enabled devices that can take advantage
of the extra performance on offer such as digital video
players, notebooks, set-top boxes and digital TVs. Thanks to
being a single chip solution the 88W8797 should be easy to
integrate even into small devices and hopefully it’ll prove to
be cost effective as well. Marvell will be demoing the Avastar
88W8797 at the MWC in Barcelona next week and we’ll be on
The Japanese solar mission, Hinode is equipped with location to take a closer look.
instruments which make it particularly adept at observing
multi-million degree solar plasma. The solar atmosphere is
known as corona, and it is hotter than the solar surface. The CPU and GPU Coolers Testing
picture above is taken such that only the relatively hotter
corona is seen and the cooler plasma is represented by the Methodology
black patches. February 12th, 2011
The two large black patches seen in the photo are known
as corona holes- regions of cooler plasma. These regions
represent open magnetic field lines where solar plasma is sent
into the fast solar wind and from then on, reaches the far ends
of our solar system.
Solar missions such as the Hinode, monitor the Sun, especially At VR-Zone.com, we continuously strive to provide you with
the corona holes closely. The ejection of plasma into space the highest quality and most accurate product reviews. You
hails the start of the space weather chain. Space weather can certainly test a cooler by installing it on a CPU or a GPU,
prediction is critical to scientific studies, enabling us to yet this is not a very professional method for various reasons.
understand and discover the origins of high energy particles The differences between the processors, the rather inaccurate
and electromagnetic fields. motherboard readings and the instability of the thermal load
are but a few. Furthermore, nobody can guarantee that the
same hardware will be compatible or even available to test
Marvell launches first mobile a large number of coolers on it in order to get comparable
MIMO Wi-Fi solution results. Therefore, we decided to create a thermal benching
February 12th, 2011 station which can be used to test any form of cooler and achieve
an exact thermal load. We took this a step further and designed
it so that it can also control its input power both manually and
Mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets have only automatically while taking thermal and acoustics readings at
fairly recently gotten support for 802.11n Wi-Fi, but it’s the the same time.
slower 150Mbit version rather than the full speed 300Mbit The thermal core of our testing station is a quite simple
version. As of today, this is no longer the case, as Marvell has pure copper block at the size of a CPU core. The base of the
announced its first MIMO 802.11n Wi-Fi solution for mobile
13

14. February 12th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone
copper block has been machined to house two Watlow Firerod
cartridges inside its body, rated able to generate 150W at 240V Active Media Launches Flip
input voltage each. A small PT100 sensor is installed inside USB Flash Drive
a hole at the highest possible point of the copper core, only February 12th, 2011
half a mm lower than the top of the copper block. The head of
the sensor is at exactly the top center point of the copper core,
where an actual CPU / GPU core would be.
Active Media Products, manufacturer of SSDs, DOMS, and
innovative USB drives, has unveiled the capless Flip USB flash
drive. Measuring 46 x 13 x 8mm, the tiny device has a USB 2.0
interface, NAND flash memory chip, and comes in 4GB and
8GB capacities. Available in fire orange or white colors, the
Flip can be purchased directly from Amazon at MSRPs of US
$12 (4GB) and US$20 (8GB).
ACTIVE MEDIA PRODUCTS PRESS RELEASE
Fremont, California - February 7, 2011- Active Media
Products, a leading manufacturer of SSDs, DOMs and USB
drives, today announced the new FLIP pivot USB 2.0 flash
drive, an ultra-slim pivot style drive. "The FLIP drive is
Copper core designed in fire orange and white racing colors, giving it a
unique look, and the drive is extremely small and ultra-slim,
making it a highly portable storage device," stated Active
In order to make our testing station compatible with every Media Products VP of Sales, Jerry Thomson.
cooler ever made we went with a very simple design using
interchangeable PCBs. Creating custom PCBs by drilling exact
holes at specific points is very easy, therefore by being able to
easily install different PCBs and adjust their height compared
to the top of the copper core we gained the ability to emulate
any CPU core precisely and install any cooler despite its
design, size, shape, weight and / or retention mechanism. By
being able to use any custom PCB and any size copper core, we
ensured the usability of our testing station indefinitely.
The pivot style lid protects the drive when not in use - and
you'll never have to worry about losing the lid because it
conveniently flips open, giving instant access to your data.
Pack 4GB or 8GB of data securely onto the FLIP drive. It is
designed to fit easily on a keychain or in a pocket or clipped
to a backpack. Load up to 2000 MP3 songs or up to 2400
six megapixel photos onto your FLIP drive to take with you
anywhere.
CPU test PCB
14

15. February 12th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone
Just weeks ago, hacker GeoHotz released the code to jailbreak
Sony's PlayStation 3 console, online.
Since the leak, Sony has been working hard to contain the
spread of the code, and in what seemed like a victorious end
to the episode, had successfully been awarded a temporary
restraining order against GeoHotz himself.
This new FLIP drive is available today through Amazon, at This prevented the hacker from distributing the code online,
approximately $12 for the 4GB model and $20 for the 8GB. and also sent out a stern warning to potential hackers.
The FLIP drive is available in fire orange or white. Just today though, a spokesperson for Sony was spotted re-
Tweeting the code on his Twitter page.
About Active Media Products Kevin Butler, a fictional spokesperson for Sony, re-Tweeted
the code from user 'evixa', an added his own quibble, saying
Based in the heart of Silicon Valley, Active Media Products LLC "Lemme guess... you sank my battleship?"
is dedicated to developing creative new media products that Just when it seemed that everything was coming to an end, this
improve performance and enhance the user's experience. Our is yet another embarrassing smack in the face for Sony.
focus on innovative product development enables us to bring
new technology to market a step ahead of the competition.
AMP is a leader in small form factor SSDs and manufactures
the Wink and the endangered species line of USB drives.
Apple files patents for
Fictional spokesperson for touchscreen OLED technology
Sony accidentally retweets currently in use on
PS3 hack code smartphones
February 12th, 2011
February 12th, 2011
It is well known that OLED technology is superior to both
conventional LCD and even the recent Super LCD technology
currently in use on every single single device that has a screen.
When news came out that Sony's PlayStation 3 game console
Needless to say, Apple has also got its eye on this particular
was hacked into by hacker GeoHotz, it sent everyone including
technology as well, and clearly intends to integrate with its
Sony, into a frenzy. Whilst Sony has been successful in
line of touch-based electronic devices. But it appears that
stopping the spread of the code thus far, it was conveniently
the Cupertino giant might have plans to use this technology
broadcasted to the world again - this time via Twitter.
against the competition: why else would the company being
filing patents over touchscreen OLED technology which
appear to be currently in use?
For a company that always claims to be on the bleeding edge
of technology, Apple's line of consumer electronics products,
especially its iPod, iPhone and iPads, have consistently been
15

16. February 12th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone
missing out on a certain display technology which is currently consideration the fact that Apple has had no prior experience
in use by some of its competitors. Yep, we are talking about in working with OLED displays, it would make sense that it is
that expensive display technology known as OLED, which not possible for them to come up with an entirely new method
supposedly offers much faster response times and better of implementing such displays so suddenly.
power efficiency as opposed to conventional LCD panels. And needless to say, broad patents make for great offensive
Needless to say, it is hardly surprising that Apple would weapons in patent lawsuits, as it almost grantees that
attempt to discover ways in which it can integrate OLED competitors would find themselves running afoul of Apple's
technology into its products and one-up the competition while 'patented methods'. But we can only wait and see if things will
in the process of doing so. And as it turns out, Apple is indeed really turned out as speculated.
keen, or have at least expressed an interest in doing so. But Source and images: Patently Apple
as most people would have already known by now, whenever
Apple is interested in any technological-related advances, it
almost always means one thing. Fancy a look a some new Sony shows off new
patent applications?
translucent DSLR that
consumers will never own
February 12th, 2011
DSLRs are well known for being available in any colour the
user wants them to be, as long as it is black. And once again,
leave it to Sony to break the mould by exhibiting a new
camera over at the CP+ Camera and Photo Imaging Show
that sports a one-of-a-kind translucent plastic body. The only
problem? This camera will never see the light of day in an
actual photographer's hands.
A quick look at the patent applications reveal that Apple
probably has an intention to implement OLED technology into
a future release of consumer electronic devices. Indeed, the
first diagram features a rather technical illustration of how If there is one universal feature about DSLRs which applies
an OLED panel might be able to fit into a device that makes to most manufacturers in the market, it has to be the fact
use of touchscreen technology, along with the possibility of that most of the cameras available in the market that fall
implementing the touchscreen-enabled OLED displays on under that category typically come with only one available
devices such as mobile phones, media players and even a colour: black. Of course, that is not necessarily a bad thing:
notebook. Also included in the second filling are descriptions after all, professionalism plays a huge part in the selection of
regarding layouts for touch sensors, signal routing, other photography gear, and needless to say totting around candy-
details. coloured DSLRs to a professional photoshoot does not do one's
professional image much help at all.
Still, as informative as this may be, it fails to change the fact
that Apple is probably one of the last entrants into the OLED Still, there are times where life needs to be a little more
game. More importantly, it appears that Apple might make colourful that just dealing with things in black and white, and
use of these patents to attack competitors, simply because it would appear that Sony's latest camera which debuted in the
they cover extremely broad methods of implementing OLED CP+ Camera and Photo Imaging Show held in Japan might just
display technology in a wide variety of devices. If one takes into support that fact. Indeed, gracing Sony's exhibit was nothing
16

17. February 12th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone
lesser than a new translucent Sony Alpha DSLR, complete with come with...zero new consumer-centric features. What a way
the company's proprietary translucent mirror technology. to be a wet blanket, Microsoft.
Looks rather nice, doesn't it? Apparently, a website known
as PetaPixel claims that this transparent Alpha DSLR spotted
in the show is actually the body for the Japanese electronics
giant's upcoming Sony Alpha A77 DSLR. Outfitted with
the same translucent mirror technology as mentioned in
the previous paragraph, the A77 is expected to replace the
company's current A700 DSLR, and will feature various new
features such as 1080p video recording and a high-resolution Well, Microsoft surely took its time with this one. After all,
APS-C sensor. Which sounds suspiciously like a certain high- it has been at least an entire month ever since we brought
resolution APS-C sensor we talked about quite some time ago. news of an alleged leak of an RTM release of SP1 build for
Windows 7, only for the Redmond giant to step in and caution
Of course, with the A77 being an upcoming model, it should
overenthusiastic users against downloading a service pack that
be expected that Sony is not about to let the cat out of the bag
was never meant to be used. And on top of that, Microsoft
by revealing too much information about it. And it seems to be
apparently started work on SP1 for Windows 7 as far back as
working: apparently, no one has the faintest idea as to when
March last year, which makes it one of the longer development
the A77 will be released, and how much Sony intends to sell
times Windows have spent on a Service Pack.
it for.
Needless to say, users from all over the world are anticipating
That being said, we can at least say that we have positive
the day Microsoft makes the inevitable announcement of when
information about a certain fact. The translucent body you
Service Pack 1 for Windows 7 will be released, and what new
see up there? Well, it's not for sale. Yep, you heard that right.
features they can look forward to. And this is where we have
What, you mean you were actually hoping that Sony would
the classic 'good news bad news' situation playing out once
think of selling its prototype device? Sorry to spoil your hopes,
again.
dude.
The good news is that the wait is officially over: Microsoft has
Source and image: PetaPixel
just announced in a blog post that it has signed off an SP1 build
for RTM today. As usual, TechNet and MSDN subscribers
Windows 7 SP1 finally marked will get first dibs on the update: these users will be able to
download it from their respective portals on February 16, while
for RTM, home users need not 'normal' Windows users have to wait until February 22 to get
apply their copy via Windows Update.
February 12th, 2011 Unfortunately, this is also where the 'bad news' part comes in.
With SP1 for Windows 7 being under development for almost
an entire year, chances are that some users would be expecting
Microsoft to awe with tons of new features, like what happened
for XP and Vista. But this is not the case for Windows 7, for
Microsoft has confirmed that SP1 will come with no new user-
centric features.
As always, one can always count on Microsoft to kill off any According to a blog post made by Microsoft's Windows
interest in what has to be one of the more highly-anticipated Server and Cloud division Senior Technical Product Manager,
software releases for the year. After generating a huge deal of Michael Kleef, the update will sport two new features
hype over what would eventually be the first Service Pack ever intended for Windows Server 2008 R2: Dynamic Memory and
for its popular Windows 7 operating system thanks a couple of RemoteFX. The former can be considered as an enhancement
supposed leaks, the software giant has apparently thought that to Windows Server's Hyper-V feature: it allows Hyper-V
it would be a nice touch to announce that SP1 for Windows will
17

18. February 12th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone
users to "increase virtual machine density with existing consumer is never the smartest kid on the block, since their
resources...without sacrificing performance or scalability" job mostly comprises sitting around and making unreasonable
demands from OEMs and hardware developers under the
RemoteFX, on the other hand, appears to be the more
pretext of spurring innovation. And with dual-core processors
appealing feature. In his blog post, Kleef claims RemoteFX's
starting to find their way into smartphones thanks to
grants Windows Remote Desktop and Virtual Desktop
'consumer demands', it seems that Broadcom is not about to
Infrastructure clients the ability to leverage a server's GPU to
let itself fall behind. Indeed, the company has just announced
provide hardware acceleration for applications which make
its own dual-core System on a Chip which is specially targeted
extensive use of OpenGL and Direct3D. This makes it very
for high performance smartphones.
useful in certain business environments, where thin clients
can easily be used to run applications which have minimum In an announcement posted on its product page, Broadcom
hardware requirements way above what the remote client claims that the new BCM28150 smartphone processor is an
system can offer. "advanced 1080p Multimedia Smartphone System on a chip
(SoC)" which features a dual-core processor based off the ARM
And if you are thinking of attempting to make use of RemoteFX
Cortex A9 architecture. The processor cores reportedly utilizes
to play that copy of Crysis sitting on your desktop PC on
Broadcom's proprietary Merlyn app processor and VideoCore
your netbook via Remote Desktop while on the move...well,
IV mobile graphics to provide fast and seamless hardware-
you might want to stop thinking about it right now, because
acceleration of 1080p video content and 3D games at the
RemoteFX can only be used over LAN. Ouch.
smartphone's native resolution.
And since a smartphone SoC is mostly useless if it does support
Broadcom launches new commonly-used wireless communication protocols, it should
SoC for smartphones, boasts probably be of no surprise that Broadcom has taken steps
to ensure that its SoC plays nice with existing standards.
1080p video playback Accordind to the company, the BCM28150 features built-in
February 12th, 2011 support for EDGE, WCDMA, 4G HSPA+ and HSDPA, and
is intended to be used with the Android operating system,
although Broadcom has claimed that the SoC will also work
with other open mobile operating systems.
Last but not least, Broadcom has confirmed that the complete
BCM28150 smartphone platform (currently codenamed
Do you remember the days where totting a smartphone Broadstone) will include the following hardware: the 40nm
that boasted Qualcomm's Snapdragon platform and single- BCM28150 HSPA+ system-on-a-chip (SoC) smartphone
core Scorpion processor was an instant passport to large processor, the BCM2091 radio frequency (RF) IC, the
amounts of geek credentials? Well, it appears that the days BCM59056 advanced power management unit (PMU) with
of single-core processors on smartphone are all but gone, charger and audio support and Broadcom's Wi-Fi, Bluetooth,
and Broadcom apparently seems to think so. After all, why FM, A-GPS and NFC connectivity technologies.
else would the company launch a new dual-core System on a Technical specifications are as listed below:
Chip for specially designed for high-performance smartphone
computing?
Barely as 18 months ago, single-core computing on a mobile
Internet device such as smartphones were considered as the
only viable method that provided users with just the right mix
of power and energy drain.. After all, one must remember that
smartphones were originally intended to be used as business
tools and not as fashion statements or mobile entertainment
devices.
Fast forward to the present, and today the smartphone
has moved from being a mobile business tool to a
mobile entertainment device for consumers, thanks to the
introduction of the iPhone. Needless to say, the average
18

19. February 12th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone
the U270 and X370 come with user-friendly hardware and
MSI unveils X-Slim X370, Wind software, including the MSI S-Bar that lets you control major
U270 and CR650 with AMD's OS and hardware hot keys as well as MSI's own application
software with a simple click of the mouse. No pricing details
new generation dual core available yet.
E-350 processor
February 12th, 2011 RunCore launches
ExpressCard SSD and USB 3.0
host card in one
February 12th, 2011
MSI have launched their new powerful performance notebook Notebooks have limited upgradability at best and if you're
computers which include the 15.6-inch CR650, the 12-inch lucky to own one with an ExpressCard slot, then you will know
Wind U270, and the 13.4-inch X-Slim X370. All three how frustrating it is to have to swap between two different
notebook PCs are equipped with AMD latest generation dual cards. Especially if one of them happens to be a storage
core E-350 processor and AMD Radeon HD 6310 discrete upgrade. Chinese SSD maker RunCore has come to the rescue
graphics that supports DirectX 11, and long battery life. with a product that should appeal to notebook PC users, at
least as long as the price is right; the ExpressCard 34 SSD with
The MSI CR650 (above picture) features Turbo Battery+ a built-in USB 3.0 host controller.
shortcut that lets you control digital multimedia with your
mouse; SRS PC Sound that can reproduce sound faithfully The card is called the RunCore Pro IV ExpressCard SSD and
when you listen to your favorite songs or watching videos; it contains a 64GB SSD that connects to your notebook via the
and Cinema Pro technology that claims to offer similar audio ExpressCard interface. It also hass a USB 3.0 host controller
experience of live performances, films and recording studios. which allows you to connect USB 3.0 devices to your notebook
which means that you'll be able to take advantage of fast,
external storage devices. Add to the fact that RunCore has
implemented a USB 3.0 host feature that lets you connect the
Pro IV to a desktop PC with USB 3.0 connectivity (or USB 2.0
for that matter) to copy data at high speed.
The Wind U270 sports a 12-inch 16:9 wide display, weighs
a portable 1.3kg, and is less than an inch thick. it features
MSI's proprietary ECO power-saving design which allows the
battery to last twice as long as conventional notebooks. It is
also sheathed in color film print which not only looks stylish,
but protects against smudging and wear.
The SSD part may not be all that impressive compared to the
latest generation of SSDs and it actually compares more to
recent USB 3.0 flash drives with a read speed of 110MB/s and
a write speed of 80MB/s. But it is still not too bad considering
how unique this product is on the market. Sadly, RunCore
didn't announce a launch date or any kind of pricing, but we'd
expect the Pro IV to sell in excess of US$200 considering it is
The 13-inch MSI X-Slim X370 not only looks good, but it is also a 64GB SSD and a USB 3.0 host controller in one.
super slim, yet comfortable to use. It weighs about 1.4kg and
boasts powerful multimedia and processing capabilities. Both
19

20. February 12th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone
Specifications:
HP unveils TouchPad tablet
- Qualcomm Snapdragon dual-CPU APQ8060 1.2-GHz
and two smartphones, Veer processor
and Pre3 - 9.7-inch diagonal XGA capacitive, multitouch screen
(1024x768)
February 12th, 2011
- 16 GB or 32 GB of internal storage
- HP webOS
HP has announced their new TouchPad webOS tablet device - Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n
which boasts to introduce fun and mobile productivity. The
company has also introduced two new smartphones- Veer and - A-GPS (3G only)
Pre3 - which also run webOS.
- Bluetooth wireless technology 2.1+EDR with A2DP stereo
Bluetooth support
- 3.5mm headset/headphone/microphone jack
- Internal stereo speakers and Beats Audio
- Front-facing 1.3-megapixel webcam
- Light sensor, accelerometer, compass (magnetometer) and
gyroscope
- Rechargeable 6,300mAh battery
HP has unveiled their first webOS slate, the HP TouchPad.
- Micro-USB connector
It features a 9.7-inch capacitive multitouch display, virtual
keyboard, instant-on access, support for Adobe Flash Player
- Built-in HP Touchstone technology for easy charging (HP
10.1 beta in the browser and access to thousands of
Touchstone for TouchPad sold separately) and HP touch-
webOS applications. Designed for entertainment and mobile
to-share to share web addresses between TouchPad and
productivity, the TouchPad boasts to offer unified experience
compatible webOS phones
across various devices.
You can answer calls or view your Short Message Service - Dimensions: 190 x 242 x 13.7 mm
(SMS) messages from the slate, or use the exclusive touch-
to-share feature to share web URLs from your webOS phone - Weight: approximately 740g
to the TouchPad. With HP Synergy, simply sign in to your
Facebook, Google, Microsoft Exchange, LinkedIn and Yahoo!
accounts and your contacts, calendar and email automatically The Daily VR-Zone News
populate on the slate.
Summary - 9 Feb 2011
Amazon.com has also announced that it will launch a free February 12th, 2011
Kindle app for HP webOS tailored for TouchPad that will give
user access to more than 810,000 titles from Amazon's Kindle
Store. You can also buy and sell on Amazon.com, do internet
banking, buy movie ticketsor check the latest news.
Other features include 1.3-megapixel front-facing webcam, 16
or 32GB internal storage, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n and Bluetooth
wireless connectivity and A-GPS. The TouchPad also comes In today's news roundup: - Review of Kingston HyperX Special
with built-in HP Touchstone technology for easy charging, Edition Sandy Bridge 1600MHz CL9 - Review of Sunbeamtech
and is compatible with the HP Touchstone for TouchPad (sold Twister 120 CPU Cooler - Nokia drops MeeGo phone before
separately). You can charge in either portrait or landscape launch - HP's Palm set to unveil tablet - Video Game Review:
mode, even without removing the TouchPad case (sold Dungeons, and more..
separately). Hardware News:
Availability Description: Kingston's KHX1600C9D3X2K2/4GX is a kit
HP TouchPad is scheduled to be available this summer. Pricing of two 256M x 64-bit 2GB (2048MB) DDR3-1600MHz CL9
and availability will be announced at a later date. SDRAM (Synchronous DRAM) memory modules, based on
sixteen 128M x 8-bit DDR3 FBGA components per module.
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