gadgets, geeks, technology, internet, social media

March 10th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone

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VR-Zone.com | Stuff for the Geeks!VR-Zone | Stuff for the Geeks is a bi-weekly publicationcovering the latest gadgets and stuff for the geeks.

The Daily VR-Zone NewsSummary - 10 Mar 2011Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/the-daily-vr-zone-news-summary--10-

mar-2011/11556.html

March 10th, 2011

In today's news roundup: Advances made to MRAMtechnology might see it rivaling performance of DRAMand SRAM soon; Sparkle's Calibre X580 graphics card getsreviewed; Microsoft's Patch Tuesday does little to secureInternet Explorer from a known security hole; HP drops abombshell on Microsoft by announcing its plans to preloadits desktop PCs with Palm's webOS; A new patch to Catherineunlocks access to a 'Super Easy mode', and Sony seems to havescored a victory against hackers by issuing a new firmware thatis reportedly capable of blocking the master key hack

Hardware News:

MRAM chip connection manages high speed data storageDescription: Scientists have managed to significantly speedup the data transfer of Magnetic Random Access Memories(MRAM), meaning that the spintronics based memory couldsoon rival DRAM and SRAM.

Antec Kuhler H2O 620 Liquid CPU Cooler Review @Hi TechLegionDescription: The Antec Kuhler H2O 620 CPU Cooler is oneof the newest offerings in self contained liquid CPU coolingwith zero maintenance. The technologies of the Antec KuhlerH2O 620 would have been available only in the highest pricedenthusiast coolers a short time ago, but Antec is now deliveringthem in an affordable, easy to install and maintain unit. TheKuhler H2O 620 offers all of the benefits of liquid cooling,including lowered CPU and component temperatures withoutthe complications typically associated with liquid cooling.

Thermaltake Level 10 GT Modular Case @ BenchmarkReviewsDescription: Thermaltake set the computer case world onits ear in 2009, when it introduced the amazing Level 10

computer case. Designed in collaboration with BMW, the Level10's unique design, with separate compartments hung fromthe side of a central "spine", was unlike anything anyone hadever seen before. But so was its price, at $800.00. The highprice kept it out of retail stores and also kept sales low. TheLevel 10 GT attempts to incorporate some of the features andstyle of the original Level 10 at a lower price that's still at thehigh end of the mainstream case market. Benchmark Reviewstakes a look at this latest salvo in the "case wars."

Noctua NH-C14 CPU Cooler Review @ TweaknewsDescription: Noctua's NH-C14 is a huge cooler, bothin physical size and performance. The build quality isexcellent and the mounting solutions are very robust andeasily installed. I particularly like the fan clip design andimplementation. With two included fans, a feature richaccessory package including LNA and ULNA fan speedreducers, a screwdriver and an enameled metal case badge, theNH-C14 would seem to be a dream product for the enthusiast/overclockers among us.

AMD Radeon HD 6990 Review: Sumptuous Dual-GPU PowerDescription: The high-end Radeon HD 6970 and HD 6950 alsoarrived late last year, while the dual-GPU version of AMD's lastgeneration graphics series code-named Antilles was expectedto arrive shortly after. Coincidentally (or not) both AMD andNvidia took a few months longer than expected to show itshardcore dual-GPU graphics cards, with the former makingthe first move to finally unveil the Radeon HD 6990.

ASUS EAH6870 1GB Radeon HD6870 Thermal ImageAnalysis @ Bigbruin.comDescription: The PCB behind the Radeon HD6870's GPU didget to over 72C, and it washed over a large area of the cardwith temperatures exceeding 60C. These numbers themselvesaren't of much concern, but it does imply that the actual GPUis even higher. An aftermarket cooler may not be necessary,but it should lower those readings by a fair amount.

Fractal Design Define XL Computer Case @ TweakPC.de(German)Description: (Machine translation) Fractal Design is wellknown for midi-tower computer cases. The Define XL is thefirst big-tower. We took a look.

Sparkle Calibre X580 Video Card Review @ MadshrimpsDescription: The Calibre X580 graphics card offers impressiveperformance in most games and synthetic benchmarks, comeswith a beefy but very efficient (and silent enough) air coolingsolution from Arctic Cooling and if that wasn't enough, it

March 10th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone

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is overclocked from the factory (810MHz GPU/ 2016MHzmemory)!

Consumer Electronics and Software News:

Video: Hands-On With An Engineering Prototype 64GBiPhoneDescription: The backstory isn’t exactly detailed, but somehowM.I.C. Gadget got their hands on what seems to be anunreleased 64GB iPhone. All they’re stating is that the phoneis not for sale and it was “definitely leaked from Foxconn’sfactory in Shenzhen.” True? We don’t know, but it at leastseems like the real deal.

Microsoft Patch Tuesday leaves Internet Explorer vulnerableDescription: The firm’s Patch Tuesday neglected to include thepatch for Exploit-CVE2011-0096, meaning that users will beforced to wait until next month to acquire full protection.

Planar's SA2311W 23" 3D monitor now shipping for $600Description: The SA2311W is a 23" 3D (active-shutter)monitor that features 120hz refresh rate, Full-HD, 2msresponse time and VGA/dual-link-DVI/HDMI inputs. If youwant 3D, you'll need to get Nvidia's 3D Vision system.

iDisplay for Android @ TestFreaksDescription: I love having more than one monitor, once you trymore than one you can never really go back. Monitors thoughcan be expensive and you have to think do you really need orhave the space for another monitor on your desk? What aboutusing what you already have readily available, something likeyour phone...

Firefox 4 Moves Out of Beta, New Downloads Available NowDescription: The last beta version, Firefox 4 Beta 10, wasreleased just six weeks ago. Current Firefox 4 beta users willbe automatically upgraded to the RC version of the browser,and RC users will be automatically updated to the final releaseof Firefox 4 when it is available.

Apple Opening Temporary iPad 2 Store to Handle SXSWDemandDescription: South by Southwest (SXSW) starts on FridayMarch 11, and the iPad 2 goes on sale on the same day. Applehas two stores in Austin, where SXSW is held, but when you’rehosting thousands of gadget-hungry geeks, two stores is notenough. That’s why Apple is opening a temporary store (viaThe Statesman) that will exist for only two weeks, beginningMarch 11.

HP's shot across Microsoft's bow: webOS to ship on all HP PCsDescription: HP CEO Leo Apotheker has said that next year, allPCs sold by Hewlett-Packard will include webOS, the mobileoperating system acquired by HP when it bought Palm lastyear. The operating system will ship alongside, not instead of,Microsoft's Windows.

Gaming News:

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II -- Retribution ReviewDescription: Even the biggest fans of the original Warhammer40,000: Dawn of War II will admit it: The game was toohard. Bosses were unforgiving to the point of frustration, andthe punishment for dying or missing an objective remindedone of the auto-da-fe. Thankfully, the designers at RelicEntertainment have heard the pleas of all us sinners, and haveloosened up their latest standalone expansion, Warhammer

40,000: Dawn of War II -- Retribution. This time around, yourunits are more survivable, the odds are fairer, and those gnarlybosses go down just a bit easier

Catherine patch makes game easierDescription: According to Atlus' official Catherine homepage(translated by Siliconera), the PlayStation 3 patch is live andwill make gamer's lives easier with a new difficulty mode calledSuper Easy mode.

Report: Firmware 3.60 Re-secures PS3Description: The PS3's latest firmware does more than bringcloud saves to Sony's console, if reports are to be believed; italso re-secures the PS3 against the hacks that have blighted itin recent months.

Kingston introduces HyperXT1 Black triple-channelmemory kitsSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/kingston-introduces-hyperx-t1-black-

triple-channel-memory-kits/11558.html

March 10th, 2011

Kingston has announced the HyperX T1 Black triple-channelmemory kits, which are designed to meet the performancerequirements of the new Intel Core i7-990X ProcessorExtreme Edition and Intel X58 Express-based motherboards.Furthermore, the black heatsinks complements black-themedmotherboards, such as the ASUS Rampage III and GIGABYTEG1-Killer series. The HyperX T1 Black will be available in kits(of three or six modules) up to 24GB.

Hsinchu, Taiwan - Kingston Technology Company, Inc.,the independent world leader in memory products, todayannounced the release of HyperX T1 Black DDR3 triple-channel memory kits. The new memory kits are designed tomeet the performance requirements of the new Intel Corei7-990X Processor Extreme Edition and Intel X58 Express-based motherboards, and are available in kits of three or sixmodules and in capacities up to 24GB.

"Our new HyperX T1 Black triple-channel kits give enthusiaststhe opportunity to combine performance and to style into their

March 10th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone

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PC build," said Ann Bai, DRAM Memory Sales Director, APACRegion, Kingston. "These high-capacity kits are ideal for theX58 products on the market, especially the new GIGABYTEG1-Killer gaming motherboards."

"GIGABYTE is excited about the launch of Kingston's newBlack T1 HyperX memory as it comes so soon after theGIGABYTE G1-Killer gaming motherboard announcement,"commented Tim Handley, Deputy Director of MotherboardMarketing at GIGABYTE. "With their similar color schemesand target market, we are looking forward to seeing PC gamerspair their new Black T1 memory with GIGABYTE G1-Killergaming motherboards."

Kingston is shipping three HyperX T1 Black 1600MHz DDR3triple channel kits in 24GB, 12GB and 6GB configurations.HyperX T1 Black is available through Kingston's channel ofauthorized distributors, resellers, and retailers.

Kingston HyperX memory is backed by a lifetime warranty andfree technical support.

Source: Kingston Press Release

Apple releases iOS 4.3 updateSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/apple-releases-ios-4.3-

update/11557.html

March 10th, 2011

Apple today has push their iOS 4.3 for all users runningon later iOS device hardwares. First mentioned last week atApple's iPad special media event, you can now update your iOSdevice to iOS 4.3 through iTunes.

Apple has just released iOS 4.3 to the public, just a days aheadof the originally scheduled Friday launch. This new release

brings a number of improvements to the iOS experience,most notably, Safari speed performance, personal hotspot foriPhone 4 and customizing the iPad's side switch to serve aseither a mute or screen orientation lock toggle.

This update contains new features and improvements,including the following:

* Personal Hotspot

- Share iPhone 4 cellular data with up to 5 devices(combination of up to 3 Wi-Fi, 3 Bluetooth, and 1 USB)

* iTunes Home Sharing

- Play music, movies, and TV shows from a sharediTunes library on a Mac or PC (requires iTunes 10.2)

* New AirPlay features

- Play videos from the Photos app including theCamera Roll album, iTunes previews, enabled third-party apps and websites on Apple TV

- Play slideshows from Photos on Apple TV usingtransitions available on Apple TV

* Faster Safari performance with Apple NitroJavaScript engine

* HD video out using the Apple Digital AV Adapter

- View 720p HD videos from Videos app, iPod app,Photos, YouTube, Safari, Keynote, and enabled third-party apps on an HDMI display

* Ping features

- Push notifications for comments and follow requests

- Post and Like songs directly from the Now Playingscreen

- Parental controls

* New Settings

- Messages setting for number of times to repeat analert

- iPad side switch setting to lock screen rotation ormute audio notifications and sound effects

March 10th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone

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* Single tap conference call dialing with a pause tosend a passcode

* Bug fixes

You can get your copy of iOS 4.3 through iTunes now.

Acer announces its Web SurfStation smart displaySource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/acer-announces-its-web-surf-station-

smart-display/11555.html

March 10th, 2011

Want a computer screen that’s more than just a screen? Thenmaybe the Acer DX241H is what you’ve been waiting for, asbeyond being a 24-inch full HD 1920x1080 resolution displaywith D-sub and HDMI input, it can do a lot more. Acer callsit the Web Surf Station and it’s pretty much a smart display,something that there has been a lot of talk about in the past,but something that’s hasn’t really materialised, until now.

Want a computer screen that’s more than just a screen? Thenmaybe the Acer DX241H is what you’ve been waiting for, asbeyond being a 24-inch full HD 1920x1080 resolution displaywith D-sub and HDMI input, it can do a lot more. Acer callsit the Web Surf Station and it’s pretty much a smart display,something that there has been a lot of talk about in the past,but something that’s hasn’t really materialised, until now.

Although Acer hasn’t revealed what hardware is inside theWeb Surf Station, it’s running Acer’s proprietary clear.fisoftware which allows playback of various multimedia formats(no specifics were given). It will play back media from memorycards, USB storage devices and even the web. A lot of detailshave been left out of the press release, but apparently theWeb Surf Station features both wired and wireless networkconnectivity and it has a built in web browser based onGoogle’s Chrome browser.

It’s also possible to upload media from external storage devicesto Picasa and Flickr and the Web Surf Station also featuresDLNA support for media streaming. It’s also supplied with aremote control for easy navigation with a slide-out keyboardthat makes it easy to access webpages. It’s currently on sale inEurope for €299 (S$525) which isn’t exactly cheap for a 24-inch display, but it might be a suitable solution for someonethat only needs basic internet access rather than a full-oncomputer, or in lieu of buying a second computer for mediaplayback and web access.

Lenovo and Intel launch theClassmate+ PCSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/lenovo-and-intel-launch-the-

classmate-pc/11554.html

March 10th, 2011

Intel has been moving from partner to partner with its variousiterations of the Classmate PC and now the company havesigned up Lenovo as its partner for the latest model, theClassmate+ PC. It's still a very basic machine without a lotof bells and whistles, but as it's intended as an educationalcomputer for schools, this isn't exactly expected.

Intel has been moving from partner to partner with its variousiterations of the Classmate PC and now the company havesigned up Lenovo as its partner for the latest model, theClassmate+ PC. It's still a very basic machine without a lotof bells and whistles, but as it's intended as an educationalcomputer for schools, this isn't exactly expected.

At least Lenovo has managed to come up with a more attractivedesign for the Classmate+ PC than seen in the previousgenerations, if somewhat industrial in terms of looks. Thecarry handle is still firmly in place at the back of the Classmate+ PC and it's of course still powered by one of Intel's Atomprocessors, in this case a single core 1.6GHz Atom N455 whichis paired with Intel's NM10 chipset.

It will also come with up to 2GB of RAM, a standard netbookstyle 10.1-inch LCD screen, an option of either an 8 or 16GB

March 10th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone

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SSD or a 160 or 250GB hard drive. Other features include802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, 10/100Mbit Ethernet, a 1.3Megapixelwebcam, three USB 2.0 ports, a memory card reader, a D-subconnector and a pair of audio jacks.

Lenovo will supply three different battery packs for theClassmate+ PC, a standard 3-cell unit which is said to deliver3-3.5h battery life depending on whether it's configured witha hard drive or SSD, a 4400mAh 6-cell pack good for between7-7.5h and finally a 5200mAh high density 6-cell battery packgood for up to 8.5-9h of usage. The Classmate+ PC will onlybe available to qualified education and government customersthrough Lenovo or its channel partners.

IT SHOW 2011 - BabesSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/it-show-2011--babes/11552.html

March 10th, 2011

A picture speaks a thousand words therefore in this article, wewill let the pictures do the talking. Get ready...the show babesof IT Show 2011.

<3 <3

lovely

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the lovely show babes from Casio booth

Trend Micro babes are pretty too !

Sony is hot and sexy

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i like her smile ^_^ her friend joins in

<3

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lovely babe from A.C. Ryan ^^

Did you manage to 'capture' any booth babes in IT Show 2011on your camera ? Share with us your photos and we will beadding it to our booth babe article along with ours.

Credits will be given, based on your forum nickname.

IT SHOW 2011 CoverageSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/it-show-2011-coverage/11543.html

March 10th, 2011

IT Show 2011 Singapore is upon us, and needless to say thereare going to be lots of IT-related offers awaiting the bargainhunters who have waited months for this day. As usual, VR-Zone headed down to the exhibition grounds at Suntec CityExhibition and Convention Centre to bring you the coverageof the event. *STILL BEING UPDATED!*

The M1 booth can be located on level 2 Ballroom Foyer.

M1 also started to offer Internet TV services. With the '1box',users can stream media, surf, shop and socialize all at thecomfort of their couch.

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The 1box available for rent from M1 with a minimum of 6months subscription.

M1 is bundling thier mobile broadband plans with Androidtablets.

M1 Broadband Offers

FiberBroadband

25Mbps 50Mbps100Mbps150Mbps200Mbps 1Gbps

MonthlySubscriptions

$39 $49 $59 $79 $99 $399

UploadSpeedsUp To

25Mbps 50Mbps 50Mbps 75Mbps100Mbps500Mbps

March 10th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone

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HomeBroadband

5Mbps 8Mbps 10Mbps 15Mbps 30Mbps100Mbps

MonthlySubscriptions

$25.20 $36.40 $40.60 $42.90 $53.90 $76.70

UploadSpeedsUp To

512kbps 1Mbps 1Mbps 2Mbps 4Mbps 10Mbps

MobileBroadband

1Mbps 2Mbps 4Mbps 7.2Mbps 21Mbps

MonthlySubscription

$13.45 $23.23 $30.82 $41.58 $59.40

DataBundle

Unlimited

Renesas Electronics DebutsNew USB 3.0 ControllersSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/renesas-electronics-debuts-new-

usb-3.0-controllers/11551.html

March 10th, 2011

Renesas Electronics (formerly NEC Electronics), the world'slargest manufacturers of semiconductor systems for mobilephones and automotive applications, has unveiled theµPD720201 and µPD720202 - two new USB 3.0 xHCI hostcontrollers for PCs and electronic devices. They are Renesas'sthird generation USB 3.0 controllers and are expected todeliver faster speed (40 percent faster than existing hostcontroller products) and consumes less power (better powerefficiency). Renesas Electronics' µPD720201 (four ports) andµPD720202 (two ports) are available now at a cost of US$20and US$10 respectively.

RENESAS ELECTRONICS PRESS RELEASE

Renesas Electronics Corporation, a premier provider ofadvanced semiconductor solutions, today announced theavailability of its two new SuperSpeed Universal Serial Bus(USB 3.0) xHCI host controllers (part number, µPD720201and µPD720202) for electronic devices such as PCs and digitalTVs that feature faster effective data transfer speeds andreduced power consumption in low power mode.

The µPD720201 and µPD720202 devices make it easier forsystem designers to build electronic devices combining high-speed data transfer, compact size, and extended battery life.In addition, Renesas Electronics device drivers for MicrosoftWindows with a proven track record, and device driverswith Linux support, are available for the µPD720201 andµPD720202 host controllers at no cost.

USB has achieved widespread adoption worldwide as aninterface standard for connecting peripheral devices such asmouses and external hard disks to PCs and other digitalelectronic products. In recent years, the increasing data size ofvideo content and emergence of recording media with largercapacities have boosted demand for high-speed interfaces. Asa result, USB 3.0, which boosts tenfold the earlier transferspeed of 480 megabits per second (Mbps), has appeared.

USB 3.0 has been widely adopted into an increasing numberof PCs and peripheral devices such as external hard disks andUSB flash memory drives. With the recent emergence of solidstate drive (SSD) products offering faster read and write accessthan conventional hard disks and chipsets supporting the PCIExpress Generation 2 high-speed internal bus for PCs, thegroundwork is in place to enable the high-speed performancepotential of USB 3.0 to be used to its fullest. Against thisbackground, there is strong market demand for host controllerproducts offering faster effective data transfer speeds withperipheral devices, reduced standby power consumption forbetter battery life in mobile devices such as tablet PCs andnetbooks, and compact package size to enable the use ofsmaller printed wiring boards.

The new host controllers add a new four-port product tothe Renesas Electronics USB 3.0 product lineup and delivereven faster transfer speeds, better power efficiency, and morecompact size than the company's previous versions of USB 3.0host controllers.

Key features of the new µPD720201 and µPD720202 USB 3.0host controllers:

(1) Industry-leading high data transfer speed

Improvements to the data transfer processing circuit providean increase in the effective data write speed of more than40 percent from Renesas Electronics' existing host controllerproducts for peripheral devices such as USB 3.0 hard disks.This, combined with excellent read performance, results in anindustry-leading high data transfer speed.

(2) Industry-leading low power consumption

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In addition to a technology implemented on existing productsthat reduces power consumption when the peripheral deviceis in the unconnected state, circuit improvements have beenmade to effectively suppress current leakage when in low-power mode. This has reduced power consumption in low-power mode to 4.5 milliwatt (mW), a reduction of 90 percentcompared with Renesas Electronics' existing products. Thisresults in power consumption among the lowest in theindustry, reduced standby power usage in laptop PCs andother mobile devices, and extended battery life.

(3) Compact QFN package and firmware download functionfor smaller mounting area

The µPD720201 and the µPD720202 devices are equippedin an 8 millimeter (mm) square Quad Flat Non Lead (QFN)package and a 7 mm square QFN package, respectively, whichare reductions in package size of approximately 50 percentfrom Renesas Electronics' existing products.

In addition, the company's existing host controllers usefirmware stored in external serial flash ROM. The µPD720201and µPD720202 devices now have a function that makesuse of improvements to the PCI Express interface to allowdownloading of firmware from the system software, such asthe basic input/output system (BIOS). The ability to downloadthe firmware from the system software eliminates the needfor external serial flash ROM. This reduces the number ofcomponents required for incorporating a USB 3.0 functionand enables a smaller mounting area.

“In addition to contributing to faster data transferprocessing in PCs and digital consumer electronics, RenesasElectronics' µPD720201 and µPD720202 host controllershelp extend battery life by dramatically reducing the powerconsumption,”said Yukihiko Matsuda, Associate GeneralManager, Industry & Network Business Division, RenesasElectronics Corporation. “As a core member of the USB-IF, wewill continue to provide robust lineups of USB 3.0 products toaccelerate the adoption of USB 3.0 in compact mobile devices.”

Refer to the separate sheet for the specifications of theµPD720201 and µPD720202.USB 3.0 host controllers.

Renesas Electronics will exhibit and demonstrate theµPD720201 and µPD720202 devices at the SuperSpeed USBDevelopers Conference in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on March9 and 10, 2011.

Leadership in USBAs a member of the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) since1996, Renesas Electronics (formerly NEC Electronics) hasplayed a leading role both in defining USB standards and indeveloping USB technology. In April 2000, the company (then

NEC Electronics) launched the µPD720100 device, the world'sfirst USB 2.0-compliant host controller chip and an extensivelineup of other USB devices, and has earned a reputation fordelivering dedicated customer service and high quality.

In May 2009, Renesas Electronics (then NEC Electronics)introduced the industry's first USB 3.0 xHCI host controllerand, only after four months of its release, the company becamethe world's first to earn the "Certified SuperSpeed USB (USB3.0)" certification from the USB-IF, and also started massproduction of the µPD720200 host controller. In the followingyear, the company released its second USB 3.0 xHCI hostcontroller (µPD720200A) and passed the compliance andcertification testing in only two months.

Renesas Electronics is the world's largest producer of USB3.0 host controllers and provides complete USB 3.0 solutions,which include device drivers for Windows XP, Vista andWindows 7. Renesas Electronics also licenses both host anddevice-side USB 3.0 IP and offers USB host and device sidebuilding blocks within its custom ASIC libraries for companieswishing to design and market their own USB 3.0 integratedcircuits.

AvailabilitySamples of Renesas Electronics' µPD720201 with fourdownstream ports and µPD720202 with two downstreamports are available now, priced at $20 and $10, respectively.Mass production is scheduled to begin in September 2011 witha combined production volume of 2,000,000 units per month.(Pricing and availability are subject to change without notice.

IT SHOW 2011 Price Lists,Flyers, Brochures, PromotionsRoundupSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/it-show-2011-price-lists-flyers-

brochures-promotions-roundup/11502.html

March 10th, 2011

Check out the latest IT SHOW 2011 PriceList, Flyers, Brochures, Promotions including brands likeAcer, AC Ryan, ASUS, Blackberry, Brother, Canon, CiscoLinksys, D-Link, Epson, Fujifilm, Fuji Xerox, HP, Lenovo,Lexmark, LG, Microsoft, MSI, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic,Philips, Samsung, Seagate, Sony, Toshiba, Western Digital.

Zalman Launches CNPS11XExtreme CPU CoolerSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/zalman-launches-cnps11x-extreme-

cpu-cooler/11550.html

March 10th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone

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March 10th, 2011

Korean cooling specialist Zalman has announced its latesthigh-end CPU cooler, the CNPS11X Extreme. Measuring 132x 80 x 154mm and weighing 600g, the nickel plated coolersports two V-shaped heatsinks, five composite pipes, and isequipped with a 120mm Blue LED PWM fan that operates at1000 ~ 1950 RPM. The CNPS11X Extreme, compatible withmost Intel & AMD processors, is bundled with a tube of ZM-STG2M thermal compound and is expected to start shippingcome end April.

ZALMAN PRESS RELEASE

A new CPU Cooler lineup has just been released to bringup the Zalman to the next stage. Unlike its predecessors,CNPS11X Extreme comes with the unique V-shape heatsinkfrom any other manufacturers. With a highly optimizedthermal designed heatsink will be certainly outperformingthan any other heatsink in the market.

On top, with its stylish Black pearl plating with Blue LEDwill add more visuals for the Case modders. In addition,by Zalman’s unique Composite Heatpipe Solution, CNPS11X

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Extreme will have more than enough to cool any hottest CPUsin the market as well. (Up to 350W TDP). Included ZM-STG2will also boost up to the maximum cooling performance ofCNPS11X.

Key Features

• Powerful Cooling performance (Qmax 350W)

• V-Shaped Dual Heatsink Design for Optimal Airflow

• Composite Heatpipe (Heat Transfer Capacity RateEnhanced by 1.5times compared to ordinary Heatpipes)

• High Performance Super Thermal Grease ZM-STG2

• Compatible with Various Intel & AMD Sockets.

• Ultra Quiet 120mm Blue LED PWM Fan

• Elegant, Black-Pearl Nickel Plating

Availability End of April

IT SHOW 2011: The PreviewSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/it-show-2011-the-preview/11534.html

March 10th, 2011

Held from 10th to 13th March 2011, IT SHOW 2011 Singaporeis the largest IT, digital, mobile and consumer electronicsexhibition here in Singapore. This year, there will be more than830 exhibitors over a combined exhibition space of 350,000square feet. Join VR-Zone.com as we give you a sneak peek ofwhat you can find at the show. Take a look!

Held from 10th to 13th of March 2011, IT SHOW 2011is the largest IT, digital, mobile and consumer electronicsexhibition here in Singapore. This year, there will be more than830 exhibitors over a combined exhibition space of 350,000square feet. Join VR-Zone.com as we present a preview of theshow grounds!

Canon has set up a booth at the Galleria Foyer this year.Canon's huge redemption booth is still at the ground floor asusual, at the lobby of the Convention Centre.

Moving up to the second floor, M1 has again taken thespace outside the ballrooms. There's even a corner on theleft dedicated to the Next Generation Nationwide BroadbandNetwork (NGNBN).

M1 has shifted its counters into one of the ballrooms, possiblyto ease the human congestion along the walkway. The number

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of counters may be an indication of how large (M1 expects) thecrowd can get!

In the neighboring ballroom, we see SingTel getting all cosy inthere.

All three telcos have been at the same spots for the past we-don't-know-how-may shows. On Level 3, we have Starhub atthe foyer. The guys setting up seem to be a little behind timethough...

Starhub's counters are found inside meeting rooms.

Just beside Starhub is EpiCentre. The company also hasbooths at Level 2.

Nubox is over at the concourse.

Sony has taken up the rest of the available space at theconcourse. Cameras are located at the right corner...

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Followed by their laptops in the middle...

PlayStation demos!

And a whole range of LCD TVs on the left side.

Challenger to match IT SHOW2011 pricingsSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/challenger-to-match-it-show-2011-

pricings/11540.html

March 10th, 2011

IT SHOW 2011 - SingTelBroadband, Smartphones, andmioTVSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/it-show-2011--singtel-broadband-

smartphones-and-miotv/11538.html

March 10th, 2011

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IT SHOW 2011 - M1 Broadbandand Phone and Prepaid OffersSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/it-show-2011--m1-broadband-and-

phone-and-prepaid-offers/11537.html

March 10th, 2011

The Daily VR-Zone NewsSummary - 09 Mar 2011Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/the-daily-vr-zone-news-summary--09-

mar-2011/11535.html

March 10th, 2011

In today's news roundup: Reviews of ASUS ENGTS450DirectCU OC video card ; AMD Fusion vs Intel Atom: Clash ofthe Integrations ; AMD launches a dual-GPU, 350W monstercard; HP planning to put WebOS on every PC it ships in 20and12; Microsoft job postings hint at Xbox 360 successor; thepassion of Shift 2 unleashed .

Hardware News:

Description: The ASUS ENGTS450 DirectCU OC video cardcomes armed with a overclocked GPU running at 850MHz andslightly overclocked memory frequency of 950MHz (3.8GHzeffective). It looks good, it does the job, but you won't be ableto turn on all the fancy settings of your favorite game whileplaying at a high resolution.

Description: The Noctua NH-C14 might win the title ofNoctua’s best performing cooler, but it wasn’t meant to.What it does offer is the ability to get high-end air-coolinginto smaller cases, while not sacrificing on clearance ofmotherboard components or noise.

Description: It’s the factual state of affairs that integrationis our imminent future, reinforced every day throughannouncements and presentation of various new technologies.The lack of upgrade options is something that we seem tobe willing to renounce in order to get complete and efficientsolutions. Intel’s latest CPU series has reduced overclocking toa lower level, thus announcing the direction that new productsand technologies are about to take.

Description: Zotac's Geforce GTX 570 does prove that isa direct competitor with any reference based HD 6970 atthis given time. Through benchmarking and testing, bothvideocards won and lost during certain benchmarks..

Description: Intel really kicked the SSD world in high gearwhen they released their X-25 series of drives last year. Theirperformance was the benchmark that all other drives weremeasured against for quite some time.

Consumer Electronics and Software news:

Description: Google recently launched a new version ofChrome that includes a new password sync feature, synceddata encryption, an improved settings interface, and promises66 percent faster JavaScript speeds.

Description: HP is getting serious about WebOS integrationwith plans to have the formerly mobile operating systemextend to all of its PCs starting next year.

Description: AMD has taken the wraps off its newest high-end graphics solution, the AMD HD 6990. The new 6990 isa monster of a card—it's basically a small system all in itself,which you can cram inside your PC..

Description: The current generation of gaming consoles seemsto be enjoying a longer life cycle than usual, with peripheralslike Microsoft's Kinect and Sony's Move effectively delayingthe launch of next-gen systems by at least a few years.

Description: While it sounds miniscule next to Apple's AppStore and its more than 350,000 apps, the Windows PhoneMarketplace now offers 9,000 apps and games and is growingby an average of 100 apps a day.

Gaming news

Description: The original Shift was an intriguing andcaptivating mix of typical Need For Speed excess andconvincing handling model – a worrying juxtaposition onpaper that mostly worked in practice – but the sequel (which,you'll note, has lost its Need for Speed tag) aims at sharpeningits focus onto recreating the authentic racing experience.

Description: Coming less than a year-and-a-half after itspredecessor -- and in the wake of widespread acclaim overBioware's Mass Effect 2 -- Dragon Age 2 comes with thebaggage of expectation and apprehension that seems requisitefor all major developers, especially one that has become asprolific as the Canada-based juggernaut.

Acer readying touch friendlyremote for clear-fiSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/acer-readying-touch-friendly-remote-

for-clear-fi/11536.html

March 10th, 2011

It might not look like much, but Acer's upcoming RMTP-S1Qremote is a step in the right direction as far as we're concernedwhen it comes to basic navigation of a home theatre PC. Itcan be used as both a touch pad and a basic remote control,although it's not as fancy as the model Acer offers which alsodoubles up as a touch sensitive keyboard.

It might not look like much, but Acer's upcoming RMTP-S1Qremote is a step in the right direction as far as we're concernedwhen it comes to basic navigation of a home theatre PC. Itcan be used as both a touch pad and a basic remote control,

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although it's not as fancy as the model Acer offers which alsodoubles up as a touch sensitive keyboard.

Details of the new remote leaked via the FCC and it's made bya Hong Kong company called Syuin Connector. It has a built inrechargeable battery and operates over a 2.4GHz RF link andit looks like the receiver will be built into whatever device thatthe RMTP-S1Q will be paired up with. It has a usable rangeof about 8-10 meters and it also sports a G-sensor which willauto detect which way you're holding the remote so the mousecursor will always move the correct way around.

It's compatible with Windows 7 and Acer's new clear-fimedia center software which was announced earlier thisyear at CES. In basic mode, the RMTP-S1Q is a touch pad,although it features a backlight which might be handy in darkenvironments, such as a home theatre room. It doesn't haveany physical clickable buttons though, so you'll have to livewith tapping the pad instead. However, it does feature multi-touch for scrolling which should make it a bit easier to navigatearound Windows with it.

Press the mode button and a selection of icons will light upwhich includes a menu key, a switch key, previous and nexttrack, play/pause, stop, volume up/down and quick accessbuttons for video and music playback. These all work as you'dexpect, although judging by the fact it's been designed forAcer's clear-fi software, it's unlike that it can be used withother applications. The switch key enables switching betweenvarious modes beyond audio and video playback, such asimage gallery and what not. Hopefully this will be a standardfeature on a lot of systems from Acer, as it looks like a neat littlesolution that we wouldn't mind getting thrown in as a bundledextra.

IT Show 2011 Promotions:CreativeSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/it-show-2011-promotions-

creative/11532.html

March 10th, 2011

Creative will showcase their latest ZiiO 7-inch and 10-inchAndroid tablets at this week's IT Show, among its rangeof Pure Wireless Entertainment, SoundBlaster and Live!cam products. The Creative booth will be located on Level 6,Hall 601, and the booth number is 6298 .

Creative ZiiO 10-inch Pure Wireless Entertainment tablet

The Creative ZiiO 10-inch Pure Wireless Entertainment tabletis a sleek Android-based device that claims to deliver thebest wireless audio performance to its users. With the PureAndroid Audio application, it can stream audio to speakers orheadphones with Bluetooth and apt-X capabilities.

Usual Price: S$429 (8GB)IT Show 2011 Price - S$399 (Limited to 50 sets)

Creative ZiiO 7-inch Pure Wireless Entertainment tablet

The new Creative ZiiO 7-inch Pure Wireless Entertainmenttablet is extremely compact, portable and lightweight. Like theZiiO 10-inch tablet, it also features the Pure Android Audioapplication to offer audio-enhancing options including X-Fi,apt-X and Bluetooth connectivity.

Usual Price - S$359 (8GB); S$389 (16GB)IT Show 2011 Price - S$339 (8GB) (Limited to 50 sets) ; 16GBModel comes with free leather case worth S$49 (limited to 50sets)

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Creative ZiiSound T6 2.1 wireless speaker system

The ZiiSound T6 2.1 wireless speaker system offers qualitywireless audio playback, fast and easy connections, and workswith all compatible stereo Bluetooth devices like notebooks,netbooks, the iPhone, iPad, PCs, Macs and tablet computers.Through the USB connection, this three-piece speaker systemis capable of delivering “full-bandwidth” audio from 5.1 digitalsoundtracks.

Usual Price - S$569IT Show 2011 Promotion – Free Creative T12 Wireless worthS$129 (Limited to 50 sets)

Creative ZEN Touch 2

The Creative ZEN Touch 2 is a pocket-sized wirelessentertainment device that lets users enjoy Pure Wireless Audiostreamed to their Bluetooth headphones and speakers. Userscan also access the Internet at the touch of an onscreen icon.

Usual Price - S$279 (8GB, without GPS); S$319 (16GB,without GPS) and S$299 (8GB, with GPS)IT Show 2011 Price - S$249 (8GB, without GPS) (Limited to 50sets); 16GB model without GPS comes with free adaptor worthS$29 (Limited to 50 sets)

Creative WP-300 headphones

The Creative WP-300 apt-X enabled wireless headphonesare designed for audiophiles who enjoy high quality musicfrom their favourite Bluetooth enabled mobile devices. Thelightweight headphones come with a foldable frame and ultra-comfortable ear cushions even after hours of usage.

Usual Price - S$149IT Show 2011 Price - S$99 (Limited to 50 sets)

Logitech announces Z906 5.1-channel speakersSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/logitech-announces-z906-5.1-channel-

speakers/11533.html

March 10th, 2011

If you've been on the hunt for a complete 5.1-channel speakerset that doesn't take up too much space or cost a small fortune,then you generally have a choice of Creative Labs or Logitechand the latter company has announced its latest addition inthe shape of the Z906 speakers. This time around Logitech hasfocused the set to fit better in the living room rather than beinga solution for PC audio, despite the old Z-5500's finding theirway into many living rooms.

If you've been on the hunt for a complete 5.1-channel speakerset that doesn't take up too much space or cost a small fortune,then you generally have a choice of Creative Labs or Logitechand the latter company has announced its latest addition inthe shape of the Z906 speakers. This time around Logitech hasfocused the set to fit better in the living room rather than beinga solution for PC audio, despite the old Z-5500's finding theirway into many living rooms.

The design is completely revamped and we're looking at amuch more AV friendly control unit this time around, asit's horizontal rather than vertical as was the case with theZ-5500's. Gone is the fancy LCD display, but in its placeLogitech has added a range of easy to read orange LEDswhich clearly indicates what's going on. You still get a remotecontrol, but even that has been simplified and only features apower button, an input selector, a mute button and a four waynavigation pad that also doubles up as volume controls andlevel and effect controls.

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The inputs have also changed and rather than the controlunit having the inputs, they're now located at the rear of thesubwoofer. The Z-5500's featured three analogue inputs aswell as an optical and a coaxial S/PDIF input and althoughthe Z906's keeps the three analogue inputs and the coaxial S/PIDF, it scores a second optical S/PDIF input and two RCAconnectors for stereo audio input. Logitech has also movedaway from using RCA plugs for connecting the speakers to thesubwoofer and has instead gone for traditional spring loadedclips and the same goes on the speakers. The good thing hereis that if you're not satisfied with the supplied speaker cables,you can change them to whatever you want.

The Z906 speakers are rated at the same 500W RMS poweras the Z-5500's, but the subwoofer has been down rated from187W to 165W while all of the satellite speakers are rated at67W whereas the Z-5500 satellites were rated at 61W withthe exception of the centre speaker which was rated at 69W.All of the satellite speakers are wall mountable, although itdoes appear as if Logitech supplies the actual mounts in thebox. The speakers are of course THX certified and the decoderhandles Dolby Digital and DTS encoded audio and there's alsosupport for up mixing stereo sound to surround sound.

The US MSRP of the Z906's is set at $399.99 which is aboutS$507, but we'd expect the set to cost closer to S$600 whenit arrives in Singapore. Logitech expects to be shipping thespeakers this month in the US, although it's unclear as to whenthey'll be available in other parts of the world.

BitFenix Unveils ShinobiGaming ChassisSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/bitfenix-unveils-shinobi-gaming-

chassis/11527.html

March 10th, 2011

New start up BitFenix has announced Shinobi, the latestaddition to its series of gamercentric PC enclosures. The allblack ATX chassis, encased in Bitfenix's "SofTouch™ Surface",features three too-less 5.25" optical bays/ eight 3.5" HDDbays, support for up to seven 120mm fans, and a topside I/O panel with four USB 2.0 ports and audio connectors. TheShinobi is compatible with all mini-ITX, micro ATX and ATXmotherboards and will be available in March at a MSRP of€49/ US$59 (stock) and €59/ US$69 (window).

BITFENIX PRESS RELEASE

(BitFenix Design Lab, March 7, 2011) - Today, gaminghardware maker BitFenix is pleased to announce the latestaddition to its lineup of PC chassis designed for hardcoregamers. Named Shinobi, this mid tower ATX chassis deliversimpressive cooling, excellent expansion possibilities, and abevy of DIY friendly features all wrapped up in a design thatarticulates the bold yet clean BitFenix design philosophy.

"We wanted to create a no-nonsense gaming chassis that wasnot only functional, but also exuded the killer design conceptthat BitFenix is known for. I believe that with Shinobi, gamerswill get to see what we mean first hand," says BitFenix ProductManager David Jarlestedt.

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Named after some of the most feared assassins of themodern age, Shinobi is designed to allow gamers to silentlyand efficiently dispatch their competition. Available in bothwindow and non-window versions, Shinobi can blend intovirtually any environment. Purists will appreciate the solidsteel side panel of Shinobi, while users who want to highlightthe hardware installed within will love the Shinobi Window'suniquely-crafted side panel window. Enveloping the top andfront covers is the signature BitFenix SofTouch™ SurfaceTreatment that lends a luxurious matte finish and soft feelwhile resisting fingerprints and stains.

But the spirit of a true warrior must extend beyond thesuperficial. Shinobi also brings the tools gamers require toremain a cut above their adversaries. Inside, Shinobi canaccommodate a wide variety of hardware - long graphics cardsare not a problem, and up to three 5.25" optical drives oreight 3.5" hard drives can be installed for maximum expansionpossibilities. With the included 5.25" drive bay adapter, userscan also install a 2.5" SSD drive. To keep things cool whenbattle heats up, Shinobi can also be outfitted with a bevy of fans- up to seven 120mm fans can be installed, and optionally twoof them can be upgraded to 140mm fans. Four high-speed USB2.0 ports and audio jacks come standard, allowing gamers toeffortlessly connect their gaming peripherals. No matter whatthe situation calls for, Shinobi rises to the occasion.

To get the gamer into battle as quickly as possible, Shinobi isequipped with a slew of DIY friendly features. Its easy-to-usetool-free design makes drive installation a breeze, and a largecutout on the motherboard tray enables quicker changing ofCPU coolers should the need arise. Finally, removable filteredfan intakes means quick cleanup, shortening the time it takesto charge back into the fray.

Of course, Shinobi is also built with the same quality andattention to detail of all BitFenix gaming products. Fromthe brushed gunmetal BitFenix logo, to the luxurious coatedinterior, Shinobi users can experience the BitFenix differenceboth inside and out. Shinobi Window users can also lookforward to easy-to-use tool-free drive locking mechanisms tohelp speed their installation along.

BitFenix Shinobi will be available on store shelves beginningMarch 2011 with an estimated MSRP of 49€ (incl. 19% VAT)and $59.

BitFenix Shinobi Window will be available at the same timewith an estimated MSRP of 59€ (incl. 19% VAT) and $69.

For more information on Shinobi, please visit http://www.bitfenix.com

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About BitFenix

BitFenix is the result of the collaboration of several veteransin both the technology and gaming industries. From the sameminds behind some of technology's most venerable products,BitFenix creates hardware and peripherals that grant the userthe utmost control, strength, and performance to completetheir computing tasks. Combining a deep understanding ofgaming and other high-demand computing applications withsuperior engineering and design know-how, the BitFenixTeam is dedicated to creating the go-to computing productsand peripherals for those who refuse to quit. For moreinformation, check out http://www.bitfenix.com.

Report: AMD E-Series refreshin Q3 2011Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/report-amd-e-series-refresh-in-

q3-2011/11531.html

March 10th, 2011

AMD is reportedly planning to refresh the E-Series Zacate line-up in Q3 2011, according to Xbitlabs. A slight boost in clockspeed will be complemented by introduction of AMD TurboCore and DDR3-1333 to Zacate APUs and a second dual-coreAPU. The two new APUs will be branded E-450 and E-300.E-450 geatures a minor 50 MHz boost to 1.65 GHz, while anew HD 6320 integrated GPU is featured with a clock speedof upto 600 MHz. The E-450 APU will support DDR3-1333,up from the 1066 MHz of E-350. A new dual-core E-300will bridge the gap between single core E-240 and dual coreE-350, with a clock speed of 1.30 GHz. It will feature the sameGPU component as the E-350 and E-240 - HD 6310 and willcontinue to support up to 1066 MHz. However, E-300 willfeature Turbo Core unlike the current E-240 and E-350. BothE-450 and E-300 will continue to be part of the FT1 platform,fabricated at 40nm Bulk, and feature a TDP of 18W.

In addition to the new E-300 and E-450, AMD is also planningto release a Llano E-series APU. Based on the dual-core Llanodesign, the AMD E2-3250 will feature 2 Llano CPU cores atan unknown clock speed. The GPU component of the APU willbe a Radeon HD 6370, featuring 160 SP - twice that of Zacate.E2-3250 will support 1600 MHz DDR3. While the TDP at thisinitial stage is listed at 65W, it will certainly be lower at release- otherwise it will be a regular A-series APU. The E2-3250 isexpected to offer much superior performance to the ZacateAPUs.

Motorola Atrix 4G hacked:no dock needed for WebtopexperienceSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/motorola-atrix-4g-hacked-no-dock-

needed-for-webtop-experience/11528.html

March 10th, 2011

When Motorola launched the Atrix, one of its biggest sellingpoints was the ability to connect the smartphone to theWebtop docking station and transform the device into animpromptu notebook, complete with its own custom Webtopuser interface. However, a recent hack seems to have removedthe requirement of having such a docking station to enjoy theWebtop experience. Click on the link to find out more.

The Atrix 4G may not be the newest smartphone on theblock, but it sure is the first smartphone to actually blurthe lines between a mobile telecommunications device and aportable computing machine. After all, no other smartphoneon the market features the capability to connect itself ontoa specialized docking station known as the Webtop andmiraculously transforming the device into an impromptulaptop, complete with customized user interface, keyboard andtrackpad.

However, as is the way in the open-source community, anynew feature is fair game for hacking, and it seems that theenterprising hackers have found a way to enable the Webtopexperience without having to purchase the docking station.

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Apparently, the hackers found that enabling the featurerequires little more than installing a few modified files intothe Atrix; Once that is done, users merely need to connect the'modified' Atrix to a large enough display via HDMI, pair itwith a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse and they are set to enjoythe Atrix's desktop PC-like functionalities.

Of course, these kind of modifications fall under a very largegrey area as far as legality is concerned. Needless to say wewill not be providing instructions pertaining to obtaining themodified files and installing them to your Atrix 4G. And shouldyou decide to go with the modifications any way...well, let's justsay that we cannot be held responsible for brand-new Atrix 4Gsmartphones that have found a new purpose in life as a classy-looking paperweight.

IT Show 2011 Promotions:Trend MicroSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/it-show-2011-promotions-trend-

micro/11529.html

March 10th, 2011

Security software maker Trend Micro will be at the IT Show2011, at Suntec Convention Exhibition and Convention Centre.If you are looking to get a total protection for your PC, theirbooth can be located on level 6, Hall 602, booth number 6266.

Trend Micro Titanium Internet Security

1. Advanced protection from Virus, Spyware + Malware, Anti-spam, Firewall and advanced Web Threat Protection (FirewallBooster, Spam Block)

2. Essential Data Theft Protection: protection against PersonalInformation hacks.

3. Safety for Children

Usual Price - S$39 (1 year 1 user) ; S$79 (1 year 3 user)IT Show price - TBA

Trend Micro Titanium Maximum Security

1. System Optimization (Maximum Protection + Advancedthreat protection-Suspicious, pre-emptive defence)

2. Maximum Protection from online transactions (banking,shopping)

3. 10 G back up (easy to use, access data anytime, anywhere)

Usual Price - S$109 (1 year 3 user)IT Show price - TBA

Apple 64GB iPhone 4prototype spottedSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/apple-64gb-iphone-4-prototype-

spotted/11525.html

March 10th, 2011

A prototype 64GB Apple iPhone 4 has reportedly been leakedfrom Foxconn factory in China, but don't expect to see it onretail shelves soon. It could just be a phone for test purposesand not for sale.

While Apple has yet to announce the new iPhone (whichmay be called iPhone 5), it seems that a prototype of a64GB iPhone 4 has been spotted at a Foxconn manufacturingplant. According to a Hong Kong-based website, you wouldnotice that the phone (above picture) has its storage capacityand model number marked with "X"s.

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The prototype phone claims to be running iOS 4.1, and notthe latest version 4.3. Regardless, it is unlikely that Apple willgo mass market with a 64GB iPhone 4 as it is probably tooexpensive, and that the new iPhone 5 could be announcedsoon. The current Apple iPhone 4 comes in 16GB and 32GBconfigurations.

Gelid Showcases GX-7 CPUCoolerSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/gelid-showcases-gx-7-cpu-

cooler/11526.html

March 10th, 2011

Gelid is displaying the GX-7, its latest high-end CPU coolerat CeBIT. The tower cooler has seven copper heat-pipes, 46aluminum fins, and is equipped with two Wing 12 120mm fansoperating at speeds up to 1500 RPM.

Gelid is displaying the GX-7, its latest high-end CPU coolerat CeBIT. The tower cooler has seven copper heat-pipes, 46

aluminum fins, and is equipped with two Wing 12 120mm fansoperating at speeds up to 1500 RPM. The GX-7, compatiblewith all Intel LGA 1366/ 1156/ 1155/ 775 and AMD AM2/AM2+/ AM3 processors, is expected to ship in early April.

Microsoft wants your help tokill Internet Explorer 6Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/microsoft-wants-your-help-to-kill-

internet-explorer-6/11524.html

March 10th, 2011

Does anyone remember how big of a deal it was whenMicrosoft launched Internet Explorer 6 with Windows XPback then? Well, with the browser now in its tenth year ofservice, Microsoft is only too keen to keep people out of thatancient excuse of a web browser and push its newer, morepolished versions of Internet Explorer to consumers. Here'sthe caveat: it needs your help...sort of.

When Windows XP was first released, it brought with ita browser that many considered was fairly up-to-date andstandards-compliant for its time. Yes, Internet Explorer 6 inits heyday brought many improvements over its predecessor,such as improved support for CSS, DHTML, inline frames andintegration with its MSN Messenger. In fact, so popular wasIE6 that it was able to achieve a market share of 90% duringthe XP days.

Unfortunately, it is clear IE6 is no longer capable of meetingthe needs of today's Internet users, thanks to issues such assecurity holes and near non-existent support for modern webstandards. As a result, Microsoft has started a little campaignin the hopes of getting tech-savvy users to discourage the useof the ancient browser among their circle of friends. Internet,meet the IE6 Countdown webpage.

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Microsoft's goal is simple enough: to lower the existing marketshare od IE6 down to an almost non-existant 1%. And toachieve that, it needs the help of the Internet community tospread the message that IE6 is an antique browser that shouldnot be used anymore due to its lack of support for modernweb standards. Users who wish to join Microsoft in its noblecause can follow the instructions available on the website tohelp make the Internet a better place.

And just so you know, 4.4% of Singapore's online communitystill makes use of IE6. If you know of any friends who are stillon that relic of a web browser, let's just say that Microsoft haspresented you with your chance to do your good deed for theday. If you need a little help in getting your message acrossthe not-so-IT-savvy peers, perhaps this little comic might beof assistance.

(image is copyright of Robotjohnny.com and reproducedunder a Creative Commons license)

Disney opens first mobilephone store in Tokyo, JapanSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/disney-opens-first-mobile-phone-store-

in-tokyo-japan/11523.html

March 10th, 2011

Disney fans in Japan rejoice! The first Disney mobile phonestore has opened in the heart of Tokyo - Shinjuku - and youcan expect to find, not just phones but phone accessories andother products.

In 2006, Disney had launched Disney Mobile in the US,but unfortunately, it ceased operations at the end of 2007.Now Disney has chosen to bring the exclusive Disney Mobilephone store to Japan. The company will also run lottery drawsfor customers with a chance to win prizes including pens,notebooks, mugs and more.

Remember the Disney-themed Android smartphone news wecovered in January? Yes, it will also be sold in the store.In case you missed the news, the Disney-theme smartphoneruns Android 2.2 Froyo, has a 3.8-inch WVGA 3D glasses-free capacitive touchscreen display and 9.6-megapixel rearcamera. It also features Disney-themed calendar, clock andmessages. Customers who buy the phone will also own apersonalized "disney.ne.jp" email address.

IT Show 2011 Promotions: HPSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/it-show-2011-promotions-

hp/11465.html

March 10th, 2011

HP will be participating in this year's IT Show, and needlessto say its offerings will consist of both computing devices likedesktop and notebook PCs, as well as a wide range of imagingsolutions in the form of printers. In this post, we shall takea look at what HP has to offer in its IT SHOW 2011 lineup.HP's booth can be found at Level 4, Booth 8150, Hall 401.*UPDATED with HP's range of notebooks and desktop PCs

HP Officejet 6500A Plus eAiO Printer E710n

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The wireless HP Officejet 6500A Plus e-All-in-One E710nproduces laser-quality color documents at a low cost perpage that allows SOHO and SMB users to print high-impactmarketing materials in-house. Featuring HP ePrint, users canprint anytime, anywhere using any mobile device. The HPOfficejet 6500A Plus eAIO E710n also uses 40% less energythan comparable laser printers and has an automatic two-sided printing function which helps cut paper usage by upto 50%. The printer also has a 2.36-inch color touchscreendisplay to easily copy, fax, print, scan and access apps.

Key features:

• Achieve laser performance at a low cost per page

o Get great value, using individual, high-capacity inkcartridges designed for the office.

o Print at up to 32ppm black/31ppm color andat laser-comparable (ISO) speeds up to 10ppmblack/7ppm color.

o Print borderless documents with vivid colorgraphics and sharp text, using HP Officejet inks.

• Stay connected whether you’re in or out of the office

o With HP ePrint, you can print from anywhere,anytime by emailing to your HP Officejet 6500APlus eAIO E710n.

o Connect to your network with built-in Ethernet orto your PC with Hi-speed USB 2.0.

• Reduce your impact and protect your bottom line

o Use up to 40% less energy than comparable laserproducts, with an ENERGY STAR qualified all-in-one.

o Cut paper usage by up to 50% with the automatictwo-sided printing and PC Fax Send which enablespaperless fax sending and archiving.

Usual price: S$399

HP Photosmart Wireless e-All-in-One Printer B110a

Print lab-quality photos, everyday documents and web contenton the fly, without using a PC. HP ePrint combined withaffordable individual inks lets you easily produce impressiveprints from anywhere, anytime.

Key features and benefits:

• Print when it’s most convenient for you from across theworld or across the room. With HP ePrint, simply email aphoto or document to your printer and pick up the pageslater.

• Create impressive photo projects, and even print directlyfrom the device itself with integrated memory card slots.

• The HP TouchSmart frame allows you to print photos,scan, copy and print web content without the use of a PC.

• Boost productivity with wireless connectivity at a press ofa button, allowing you to share this all-in-one with otherWi-Fi enabled PCs from anywhere in your house.

Usual price: S$229

IT Show 2011 Promotions:SamsungSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/it-show-2011-promotions-

samsung/11522.html

March 10th, 2011

If you thought that trade fairs such as the upcoming IT Show2011 serves as nothing more than an outlet for vendors andresellers to clear existing inventory at discounted prices, youcould not be further from the truth, especially if Samsung hasgot anything to do about it. The Korean electronics giant willbe launching a wide variety of new computing and lifestyleproducts at this year's IT Show, and here are some of thedevices it has in store for bargain hunters. Samsung's booth issituated at Level 4, Booth no. 8321. *UPDATED with IT Show2011 promotional prices and bundles!

*NEW* Samsung Series 9 ultrathin notebook: 900X3A(to be launched at IT Show 2011)

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Key features:

• With a maximum thickness of 16.3 mm and an ultra lightweight of 1.31 kilograms, the 9 Series Notebook 900X3Asports a high quality screen boasting market-leading400nit brightness and 16 million colors. It also comesequipped with an Intel CoreTM i7/i5 Processor, solidstate drive and genuine Windows 7 Home Premium*.

• With Samsung’s Fast Start technology and solid statedrive (SSD), users can start the notebook in just 12seconds, which is 60% faster than PCs with a harddisk drive (HDD). Featuring a 128/256GB solid statedrive (SSD), the 900X3A provides plenty of storage andstill delivers 60% faster booting than a hard disk drive(HDD), as well as enhanced durability, with less noiseand low heat.

• Using Samsung’s innovative PowerPlus chargingtechnology and a power-efficient and advanced Lithium-Polymer battery, it has a battery lifespan that lasts up to6.5 hours.

Usual price: S$2,688IT Show 2011 price:S$2,488 + FREE Trend Micro TitantiumInternet Security + Extended 2nd Year Local Warranty +Microsoft Office Starter Preloaded

*NEW* Samsung RC410 notebook(to be launched at IT Show 2011)

Key features:

• The exceptional 300nit brightness of the RC410notebook on its 14.0” HD display provides outstandingclarity and true to life color definition to bring the latestfilms and games bursting into life. There is also an

integrated 1.3M (HD) webcam so one will be able torecord and play ultra clear, widescreen video clips.

• Packed within the RC410E’s sleek and stylish mattmetallic casing is the latest in high performancetechnology, which includes a choice of the latest IntelCoreTM i5/i3 Processor, the genuine Windows 7 HomePremium and a NVIDIA Optimus switchable graphicstechnology, which dynamically allocate resources wherethey’re needed most.

• Easy Content Share software, based on AllSharetechnology further makes it easy for users to playmultimedia content, including video, photos and music,in multiple Samsung devices, including cameras andphones.

• The RC410 comes in Silver, Red and Black and featuresan anti-reflective screen.

Usual price: S$1,199IT Show 2011 price:S$999 + FREE Trend Micro TitantiumInternet Security + Extended 2nd Year Local Warranty +Microsoft Office Starter Preloaded + Carrying Case

*NEW* Samsung RF411 notebook(it be launched at IT Show 2011)

Key features:

• The RF411 utilizes the latest 2nd generation Intel Corei7 processor, featuring vivid color and amazing imageclarity with its 14.0” HD LED SuperBright display. Itprovides 300nit brightness, while a dedicated graphicscard providing 2GB of graphics memory makes it optimalfor gaming.

• NVIDIA Optimus technology delivers great graphicsperformance for intensive activities like gaming, butalso seamlessly extends the battery life by automaticallyswitching to only using the internal Intel graphics formore basic applications.

• A 1.3M HD webcam allows the user to record clearer andsmoother images, and play videoclips in widescreen highdefinition.

• The SRS Premium Sound delivers a more natural andrealistic 3D sound for music, movies and games withits bigger acoustic chambers. The RF411 provides for anenhanced bass, crystal clear dialog and better definitioncontrol for maximum clarity at high frequency.

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Usual price: S$1,199IT Show 2011 price:S$999 + FREE Trend Micro TitantiumInternet Security + Extended 2nd Year Local Warranty +Microsoft Office Starter Preloaded + Carrying Case

IT Show 2011 Promotions:CanonSource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/it-show-2011-promotions-

canon/11521.html

March 10th, 2011

Canon has recently announced their new range of digitalimaging products such as the EOS 600D digital SLR, IXUS220 IS and PowerShot A3300 IS cameras. Do check outtheir latest products and good deals at the IT Show whichstarts tomorrow. Booth Number Level 4, Hall 401, 8101 BoothNumber Level 6, 6331

Canon EOS 600D

- 18-megapixel- High speed 9-point auto-focus

- High Definition Movie recording – 1920 x 1080 resolution

- Scene Intelligent Auto

IT Show price - TBA

Canon IXUS 220 HS

- 24mm wide angle lens- 12.1 high sensitivity CMOS sensor

- HD Movie recording – 1920 x 1080 resolution

- Six Creative Filters

IT Show price - TBA

Canon LaserShot LBP 6000

- First Print Out Time is 7.8 secs- Print speeds of 18 ipm

- Printing resolution of 2400 x 600 dpi

Normal Price - S$179IT Show Price - TBA

Canon LEGRIA FS 46 (above) and LEGRIA FS 406

- SDHC card slots with SDXC compatibility- Used with an optional 32GD card or new SDXC cards

- Bundled VideoBrowser SD software

- 27 languages supported

- 4 new languages supported (Danish, Norwegian, Finnish &Swedish)

- Electronic Image Stabilizer with Dynamic mode

- Advanced Zoom

- White LED Light for close-up shooting in low lightconditions, in color

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- 2.7” Wide Screen LCD with adjustable Back Light function(Bright/ Standard/ Dimmer)

IT Show Price - TBA

Canon LV 728- Projector

- XGA (1024 x 768 pixels)- 2200 lumens

- 2000:1 contrast ratio

Normal Price - S$1,099IT Show Price - TBA

Canon PIXMA MG 6170

- Wireless printing available- Print speeds of 12.5 ipm

- Printing resolution of 9600 x 2400 dpi

- 1 pl

Normal Price - S$399IT Show Price - TBA

Canon PIXMA MP 497

- Wireless printing available- Print speeds of 8.8 ipm

- Printing resolution of 4800 x 1200 dpi

- 2 pl

Normal Price - S$229IT Show Price - TBA

Canon PowerShot A3300 IS

- 16-megapixel- 28mm wide angle lens

- HD Movie recording – 1280 x 720 resolution

- Six Creative Filters

IT Show price - TBA

IT Show 2011 Promotions:SonySource: http://vr-zone.com/articles/it-show-2011-promotions-

sony/11400.html

March 10th, 2011

Sony will be at the IT Show 2011, which is happening from10 to 13 March at the Suntec City Convention Centre. Here are

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some of their promotions at the Show. *UPDATED with Sony'sline of digital imaging products, LCD TVs and notebooksavailable for sale at IT Show 2011

Sony Electronics Asia Pacific has announced their latest USBcharger, which boasts 4,000 mAh capacity. Sporting twoUSB ports, it allows users to power up two mobile devicessimultaneously and was designed to for mobile professionals.

The Sony USB Charger is also equipped with USBAuthentication software, allowing instant charging with mostUSB powered devices such as smart phones, mobile phones,Walkman, iPod, iPad, portable game consoles as well asupcoming models of Cybershot and Handycam with USBpower supply function.

It features a conventional AC input for fast charging andcomes with a detachable USB output module with embeddedLi-ion rechargeable battery for portable power supply. Usescan detach and carry just the USB output module when theyneed extra power on-the-go for their mobile devices.

The USB Portable Power Supply CP-A2L will be launchedduring IT Show 2011 at a suggested retail price of S$49.90inclusive of GST.

Input Source AC 100-240 VInput Module Dimension(WxHxD mm)

58 x 56 x 21.5

Weight 45gNo. of USB output ports 2Output Source Standard USB 5V 0.5A per

port for 2 portsor USB 5V 1.0A for highpower output for 1 port only

Output Module Li-ion rechargeable batterywith USB Standard Output

Output Module Dimension(WxHxD mm)

58 x 84.5 x 26.4

Weight 145gUSB Authentication YesDetachable(Input/Output)

Yes

Batteries Capacity Li-ion 4,000 mAhCharging Source ACCharging Time Approx. 5 hours

Cycle Time 500Output Time (5V/1.0Aconstant)*Varies depending on eachapplication

120 min