dBLogic Headphones

Quote:
“Today we will look at dBLogic’s first headphone release. Strangely dBLogic have not assigned a model name or number to this product so it is simply known as the dBLogic Headphone. dBLogic was kind enough to send us a pre release model of the dBLogic Headphones so there was no packaging with this sample. Supposedly it will be packaged with a carrying case. ”

Thumbnail Image : http://i.testfreaks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/dBLogic02_thumb.jpg

Main site link: http://www.testfreaks.com

7″ Sylvania SDVD8732 Widescreen Portable DVD Player w/Additional LCD Screen

Quote:
“Today for review I’ve got another product from our friends over at Geeks.com, this is one though that I was kind of excited about getting, sort of. I was more excited about getting it to stop arguments in my home, my kids fight all the time over things and anything to can stop that would be very nice. The product is a portable DVD player from Sylvania, model number SDVD8732, but it has one unique difference, it includes two 7” LCD screens so you can play the same movie on both screens. It includes straps to mount to car headrests so you can use it while traveling and it has a five hour battery. ”

Thumbnail Image : http://i.testfreaks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/dualdvd1_thumb.jpg

Main site link: http://www.testfreaks.com

Asus puts Super Alloy in graphics card

Press release:
Based on the new Barts GPU technology from AMD, the ASUS HD6870 DirectCU graphics card (EAH6870 DC/2DI2S/1GD5) ships with new and exclusive ASUS Super Alloy Power technology, which blends various metals and elements using an exclusive ASUS formula, resulting in a 15% performance increase, 2.5 times longer product lifespan and 35°C cooler operation. Alongside Super Alloy Power, proprietary ASUS Voltage Tweak overclocking technology delivers 50% faster clock speeds at up to 1372MHz. The new card also incorporates exclusive DirectCU copper heatpipes that speed up heat dissipation through direct contact with the GPU.

Product Highlights

The self-designed ASUS HD6870 DirectCU joins the ASUS lineup of Barts-based graphics cards with a safe and stable pre-set factory overclock of the core to 915MHz, which is 10MHz above reference. The design also features 1120 stream processors and 1GB of GDDR5 video memory. This new graphics card enables truly smooth PC gaming at the highest detail settings and resolutions of 1920 x 1200 and above. It is a genuine hardcore model with DirectCU cooling that uses flattened copper heat pipes in direct contact with the GPU for cooler performance compared to generic designs, making it a must-buy for performance-tuning enthusiasts.

The ASUS HD6870 DirectCU debuts Super Alloy Power technology, a revolutionary ASUS innovation based on a new alloy blended using an exclusive ASUS formula. This alloy is highly-magnetic, heat-resistant and anti-corrosive to reduce power loss, enhance durability and achieve cooler operation. Super Alloy Power technology represents a milestone of ASUS research and development innovation, going beyond just finding the right metals. It also signifies a major accomplishment in overcoming the challenges of producing technology that can operate under extreme pressure and temperatures. ASUS Super Alloy Power is implemented on key components, including Super Alloy Chokes, Super Alloy Capacitors, Super Alloy MOS and the Super Hybrid Engine. These allow users to get the most out of their hardware with a 15% performance boost*, 2.5 times longer lifespan* and 35°C cooler operation*.

Unlike traditional chokes, Super Alloy Chokes run 35°C cooler and eliminate buzzing noise under load.
Super Alloy Capacitors increase the card’s lifespan to 150,000 hours, which is 2.5 times longer* than traditional capacitors.
Super Alloy Capacitors and MOS increase the card’s maximum voltage threshold by 30%.
Super Hybrid Engine technology acts as an intelligent power consumption optimizer, switching between high intensity and low intensity power profiles in real time for a 15% performance boost*.

Exclusive ASUS Voltage Tweak technology makes the most of the increased tolerances of the ASUS HD6870 DirectCU. This overclocking interface makes it easy for users to increase voltages to the GPU core, video memory and board to raise card speeds by 50%* to 1372MHz — a major advantage much sought after by hardcore gamers.

Du to offer 3D movies

Press release:
Beginning 25 December, du’s Video on Demand service will have a new addition – “StreetDance 3D”, the U.K.’s top grossing dance movie – a 3D first for the Middle East. This new offering – which falls on the first anniversary of the launch of du’s innovative VoD service in December 2009 – is a result of a deal du has completed with the UK’s multi-screen content aggregator On Demand Group, a subsidiary of SeaChange International (Nasdaq: SEAC).

“3D movie is a great new addition to our bouquet of offerings and depending on positive customer feedback we will introduce more such exciting titles. We are the first to introduce this to our customers and we hope they will enjoy this new technology, which enables them to watch movies in this advanced new format,” said Farid Faraidooni, Chief Commercial Officer, du.

“Clearly the global video industry is excited about the potential for 3D and our many content clients are among them,” said Tony Kelly, CEO of On Demand Group. “In this very short period since du’s Video on Demand launch – not less than a year – our work with this customer clearly demonstrates the drive to service innovation and thorough attention On Demand Group brings to Video on Demand and pay-television operators. This 3D first sets du apart from the competitors yet again.”

du’s Video on Demand service, launched in 2009, has become the fastest-growing and most successful Video on Demand service in the Middle East, and is managed in partnership with the London-based On Demand Group, the leading content aggregator for Video on Demand and three-screen video. In addition to sourcing and processing 3D content, On Demand Group will fully support the movie debut and drive its uptake through a range of on-screen promotions and in-market promotional services.

Premiering 25th December: StreetDance 3D
“StreetDance 3D” follows a street dance crew in Inner City London, forced to work with a group of ballet dancers in return for the use of rehearsal space. The two groups bond while they train together for the U.K. Championships. Starring Charlotte Rampling and Nichola Burley, the movie features exclusive performances from Diversity, Flawless and George Sampson. Directed by Max Giwa and Dania Pasquini, the film was released in RealD 3D, XpanD 3D, and Dolby 3D.

du’s video on Demand service
Video on Demand allows customers to browse through a catalogue of movies including Arabic cinema, Hollywood smash-hit blockbusters, Bollywood movies and some of the most beloved classic movies ever to grace the silver screen, simply through the du TV remote control, under the categories – ‘New additions’, ‘Top Titles’, ‘Special Offers’ and ‘All Time Classics’, subscribers will easily be able to find exactly which movie they are looking for, and even watch a trailer of that movie before purchasing it for viewing at their leisure. New movie titles will be added to the catalogue each month, with thousands of titles to be made available to du VoD subscribers.

Key features:
- Availability of favourite movie from a broad selection of Arabic, Hollywood and Bollywood movies, at the click of a button
- Unlimited viewing in the 48-hour rental period
- Full control of viewing experience by pausing, rewinding and fast-forwarding action like a DVD
- One monthly bill for services and subscriptions

Asus launches new 6900 series graphics cards

Press release:
New ASUS HD6970 and HD6950 graphics cards field the latest graphics cores from AMD, dubbed “Cayman”. These are super-powered GPUs custom-made to enable DirectX® 11 and Windows® 7-optimized gaming in resolutions above 1920 x 1200 with all advanced features turned on in-game and with impressive frame rates. Offering an irresistible combination of design and performance to power users and PC gaming enthusiasts, ASUS improves on the reference design with factory overclocking out of the box for superior performance. The new cards further use exclusive ASUS overvolting interface Voltage Tweak for 50%* faster clock speeds. ASUS has also implemented more heat-efficient materials in construction, contributing to better cooling and therefore enhanced output tolerances.

Product highlights

The ASUS HD6970 “Cayman XT” gets its core set to 890MHz and video memory to a massive 5.5GHz at the factory, while the ASUS HD6950 “Cayman PRO” arrives factory-overclocked to 810MHz on the core and 5GHz on the video memory. Tested and verified stable, these overclocks give users all the benefits of faster performance — such as extra frames per second and no slow-down even during intense action sequences in games — while never compromising product reliability and longevity.

ASUS exclusive and popular overvolting interface Voltage Tweak is incorporated in both the HD6970 and HD6950. Gamers and hardcore tuners can boost clocks by 50%* with proper cooling support. This is a phenomenal increase, and one that is sure to come in handy for competitive overclockers and those truly dedicated to pixel-perfect PC gaming.

Going beyond the reference design, ASUS has once again swapped the stock plastic shroud for an all-aluminum cover that’s far more heat efficient. This creates better cooling on both the HD6970 and HD6950, dissipating surface heat more evenly and rapidly than the reference design. Less heat immediately translates into greater stability, better performance, longer product lifespan and increased overclocking potential.

The ASUS HD6970 and HD6950 come with innovative features from AMD, including Eyefinity, HD3D and EyeSpeed technologies.
- AMD Eyefinity technology comes standard on both models, enabling the connection of up to six** displays to a single graphics card. This results in huge viewing real estate, offering an ideal platform for immersive gaming and expanded productivity.
- AMD HD3D technology creates new exciting possibilities with 3D visuals in PC games, movies, video content and even photos. The power of these new cards means the 3D effect renders in sharp detail and with no lag.
- AMD EyeSpeed accelerates video playback for a more enjoyable high definition experience. Content from Blu-ray to online videos runs unhampered in full resolution and detail.

Let’s Save Wikipedia

When I heard about the Wikipedia project years ago, I confess that I was skeptical. How on earth could a project where millions of users contribute and are free to edit anything they want ever work? Why wouldn’t someone just edit every article and put “l33t h@x0r” all over the place? What on earth is stopping this site from becoming one big resource for all kinds of male enhancement drugs promotions and inheritance scams?

However, Wikipedia has turned into what I would consider the single greatest achievement of mankind. Never in the history of mankind have we had one epic encyclopedia where people from different countries have been able to contribute their knowledge freely to one source. The wealth of knowledge available on Wikipedia is beyond extraordinary and is a testament to what we as a people can accomplish when we collaborate.

The academic uses of Wikipedia alone make it indispensible as a website. Face it, if you’re between 15 to 21 years of age, you probably get most of your homework or research data from Wikipedia.

The beauty of Wikipedia is the amount of knowledge available on the site and the fact that Jimmy Wales, the founder of Wikipedia has kept it advertising-free for all these years. Jimmy Wales says on the site, “Commerce is fine. Advertising is not evil. But it doesn’t belong here. Not in Wikipedia. Wikipedia is something special. It is like a library or a public park. It is like a temple for the mind. It is a place we can all go to think, to learn, to share our knowledge with others. It is a unique human project, the first of its kind in history. It is a humanitarian project to bring a free encyclopedia to every single person on the planet.”

However, it takes money to keep a site like Wikipedia running. The amount of servers required to cope up with the amount of traffic it gets easily runs into millions of dollars. Wales is hoping that if each of the 400 million users who use the website on a regular basis donate $1 to keep the site alive, they should be in business for a long time.

So, if Wikipedia has helped you to graduate high school or University, or if you’re feeling gregarious enough to help support a project that benefits mankind, I ask that you go donate a dollar (or more) to Wikipedia.

LG Optimus One P503 Mobile Phone Review

Simplicity works and LG’s Optimus One proves that very well. From the minimal design to the subtle changes in software, LG has struck gold with its best selling Android based Optimus One Smartphone. I received a review sample from LG a few days back and it quickly became my favorite low-cost Android device.

The Optimus has a very plain Jane design with the four standard Android keys as hardware buttons at the bottom, the center two of which are unnecessarily grouped together. On the right side you have the volume keys while the top has the power/lock key as well as the 3.5mm audio port. At the bottom of the device is the USB connector. A metallic strip runs around the device appearing thicker at the bottom than on the top and that is about as much of a design element that you’re going to get out of the LG Optimus One.

Build quality on the LG Optimus One is decent but not exceptional. The back cover creaks when you firmly grip the phone. I do like the finish of the back cover which is slightly rubbery making the phone a lot more secure in your hand than, say, the iPhone 4 which feels like it will slip out even at your slightest distraction. One thing missing on the unit is a notification LED which I personally think should be present on all mobile phones

Internally the LG Optimus One is powered by a 600Mhz CPU. It supports 7.2 Mb/s HSDPA and UMTS for high speed data access along with 802.11b/g WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1 and A-GPS. For expansion, a MicroSD slot is present pre-installed with a 2GB card.

On the software side, LG has done a decent job of customizing the Optimus One for the region. First and foremost, Arabic support is built-in which is a blessing for users in the region as Android does not support Arabic by default and many manufacturers ship units without Arabic support. To select typing in Arabic, make sure you chose LG keyboard as the method of entry which has Arabic as one of the languages.

Other than Arabic, LG also adds the Slide ME market store- a replacement for the Android Market which is still not officially available in the UAE. Although Slide ME offers a fraction of the applications that the Android Market offers, at least it allows your phone to be legally smart in the UAE.

Gitex Shopper 2010 saw sales of AED 175 million

Press release:
GITEX Shopper has cemented its position as the region’s biggest and the best consumer electronics retail platform with power retailers and world class brands reporting stronger than ever sales at the 2010 event. Across the board, exhibitors sold millions of dirhams worth of white goods, games, home entertainment systems and lifestyle gadgets, with laptops, smart phones, LCD TVs and digital cameras among the best performing categories.

With participating retailers at the show reporting total sales in excess of AED 175 million, plans are in place for an even bigger and better GITEX Shopper next year. The 2010 edition’s first time Home World feature will return in 2011 with more space and the event will see an advanced new Gaming Zone to capitalise on the growing gaming sector in the region.

Organised by Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), the sales extravaganza will return next year for eight days of great deals from 8 – 15 October 2011.

The keenly anticipated event attracted 166,521 visitors over eight days – drawn to the unrivalled range of new items, unbeatable prices and fabulous prizes ranging from cameras to a BMW Z4 car. Price wars between the big names guaranteed great offers and ensured that consumers walked away with some great freebies and value deals.

GITEX Shopper 2010 welcomed a host of first time exhibitors including Al Futtaim Watches, Canon, E4U, E-City, iSTYLE, Panasonic, RIM and 050 Mobile.

“This year’s GITEX Shopper was a great success for us,” said Helal Saeed Almarri, CEO, DWTC. “Year on year we have been recording more exhibitor space, more products and more value deals from some of the world’s top brands. GITEX Shopper has demonstrated that it is a not to be missed event for exhibitors and consumers alike.”

Exhibitors were equally positive about GITEX Shopper, with Ashish Panjabi, Chief Operating Officer at Jacky’s Electronics stating: “This year’s GITEX Shopper was very successful thanks to our great bundled offers, raffles of BenQ LCD TVs every 15 minutes and innovative price points. We were 15% higher in terms of sales revenue compared to last year’s event. GITEX Shopper remains an important event for us as it allows us to showcase our products to thousands of customers who may not be frequent visitors to our retail outlets, and convert them into loyal customers in the long term. It also gives us a chance to understand firsthand our customers’ needs in a short period of time.”

First time exhibitor Canon commented on the success they had at GITEX Shopper: “The Canon DSLR corner, a first for GITEX Shopper, was conceptualised with the aim of educating amateur photographers as to the benefits and creative opportunities that lie within the realm of DSLR photography. Over the eight day show, our DSLR corner was an instant hit with many photography enthusiasts as they were able to engage with Canon’s experts, providing an interactive platform to discuss and learn DSLR photography. We are very happy with the outcome and look forward to further empowering the region’s evolving photography community”, said Vineet Wadhwa, DSLR Product Manager, Canon Middle East.

Samsung to unveil Android-based music player at CES 2011

According to Samsung Hub, Samsung is all set to showcase an Android-based media player at CES this year, dubbed the Galaxy Player.

The device will feature a 4″ LCD screen @800×480, have dual cameras, 3.2MP on the back, and standard VGA on the front. It will run on Android 2.2 Froyo with TouchWiz UI slapped on it, powered by a 1GHz CPU.

Samsung won’t be the first one to attempt a Android media player. Archos had one, called Archos 32 Internet Tablet, that ran on similar, albeit slower, technologies. Recently, Creative also announced its Zen Touch 2 which runs on Android 2.1 with a 3.2″ screen. But other than these two manufacturers, so far nobody has attempted to make an Android PMP.

One of the problems faced by manufacturers is that Google isn’t so willing to give Android Market access to non-3G devices, but Samsung are claiming that are working around this issue and will be able to offer Android Market on their new music player.

We will be there at CES 2011, which starts at Jan 4, so you can bet we will have more info on this soon.

Source: Samsung Hub.

Kaspersky Endpoint Security 8 comes on for Mac

Press release:
Kaspersky Lab’s new IT security strategy is designed to help businesses achieve an enhanced and uniform level of protection right across their corporate IT networks. As part of this strategy, Kaspersky Lab has released Kaspersky Endpoint Security 8 for Mac, a solution exclusively developed to protect workstations running under Mac OS X.

Built around the latest Anti-Virus Engine 8.0, the application optimizes the use of system resources, while intelligent iSwift scanning technology increases performance and reduces system scan times to a minimum.

Apple aficionados will no doubt appreciate the product’s intuitive Mac-style interface, and Kaspersky Endpoint Security 8 for Mac’s Security Assistant feature simplifies the task of managing network protection by enabling all actions to be performed from a single window.

Most importantly for businesses, Kaspersky Endpoint Security 8 for Mac can be centrally managed via the Kaspersky Administration Kit, allowing the creation of scalable IT security systems, an essential requirement for companies with distributed IT infrastructures.

More information about Kaspersky Lab’s new and updated solutions can be found at: http://www.kaspersky.com/applications_list.

« Previous Page — Next Page »