TEAM Group TR1151 USB 3.0 42-in-1 USB 3.0 Card Reader Review

QUOTE: “The P67 chipset continues to be very present on the market; it shows by the fact that we looked at the Maximus IV Extreme from ASUS just the other week, and if you head on over to Newegg, there’s a load of P67 based motherboards not only listed, but also in stock. Today we’re looking at another P67 based board and this one comes from ASRock. The particular board we’re looking at today falls into the new Fatal1ty series from ASRock which has so far seen the Fatal1ty P67 Professional. Today we’re looking at the Fatal1ty P67 Performance, a board that comes in cheaper than the original Professional version.

While I didn’t review the original Fatal1ty P67 Professional, I have had the pleasure of using it as it was the board in our TweakTown Commander PC Benchmarked article we did in April. It was a board that not only looked great, but offered some great performance. Today we’ll see if the cheaper “Performance” model can stand out.”

For more information, please visit – http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/4169/team_group_tr1151_usb_3_0_42_in_1_usb_3_0_card_reader_review/index.html

Lowepro LP34711-0AM Black Ridge 10 Camera Case

Quote: We rarely review something we have bought ourselves, in the last 5 years I think we have gone through maybe 3 products, but once in awhile you find products that might be cheap or expensive but they all got something special. Today we are taking a look at a compact little camera case from Lowepro which retails for 4,99$. So you might wonder what can a little inexpensive case give me? Lets find out!

Link: http://rbmods.com/lowepro-lp34711-0am-black-ridge-10-camera-case/

Noctua Ultra Silent 140mm NF-P14 FLX Fan

“Noctua, a corporate collaboration with nearly ten years of
experience, has become the very definition of high performance, silent
cooling hardware. With innovative features that many cooling
manufacturers have yet to even consider, such as notched blades to
reduce turbulence, self-stabilizing oil-pressure bearings, and their
torque-pulse reducing SCD, Noctua is a true force to be reckoned with.
Recently, however, Noctua has developed a new, previously unthinkable
product – that of the NF-P14 FLX. If you can increasing the diameter
of the propeller, while simultaneously reducing RPM, you should be
able to produce a similar amount of air flow, while keeping the fan
nearly silent. Noctua took that idea and ran; the NF-P14 FLX is one of
the only fully contained fan units that allows you to effectively
install a 140mm fan into a 120mm mount. Let’s see if the tech is worth
the ‘Noctua tax’.”

Noctua Ultra Silent 140mm NF-P14 FLX Fan @ reviewstash

http://reviewstash.com/viewtopic.php?id=1763

GoNabit acquisition great news for UAE’s E-commerce industry

The UAE E-commerce industry has certainly come of age. What was nearly a barren space two years ago is now flooded with exciting new start-ups all keen on cashing in on E-commerce. And there are a number of things that make E-commerce exciting for startups in this part of the world. Firstly, there’s the low set-up costs compared to brick and mortar ventures. It would cost you about ten times as much to open a shop in a major mall in Dubai. Let’s not forget the fact that there are plenty of great Open Source software out on the web that can help you set up an online service for free or at very little cost. Second, there are lesser regulations on the online world compared to traditional commerce. There’s a lot less paperwork involved into setting up an online store and you’re less prone to regular inspection from the authorities if you’re business is entirely online. Third, online penetration in the UAE and the Middle East as a whole is on the rise. Broadband connections are fairly common and a fair amount of people now have a data plan on their mobiles. Finally, the fact that there’s a limited amount of companies offering E-commerce services to the Middle East means that there’s plenty of users online hungry for better online services.

Two years ago when I met GoNabit’s founder Dan Stuart, he was working with UAE’s top recruitment site Bayt.com as Chief Possibility Officer. We were in the process of taking Tbreak commercial at the time and Dan was helping us find a way to better monetize our business. Dan mentioned at the time that he was working on an E-commerce venture. He didn’t say what it was but I could tell it was something exciting. As it turns out it was GoNabit and barely two years since its launch, the site has achieved major success and has been acquired by Living Social, one of GroupOn’s largest competitors.

This is certainly exciting news, not just for Dan but the entire E-commerce industry in the region. It’s a sign that not only is there a viable E-commerce industry in the region but its big enough that global players are starting to take notice. This will probably mean that the tens of emerging GroupOn clones that have emerged lately will probably turn into hundreds as more people try to follow GoNabit’s success. But that’s just good news for consumers who will get better deals.

Sentey Burton Full-Tower Computer Case

The Sentey Burton GS-6500 is a full tower enclosure developed for enthusiasts who desire high performance and a sexy exterior. This case flaunts its multiple LED fans, and LED buttons, turning heads in the process. The Burton, is one of several models belonging to the Extreme Division line of computer cases, and it is available in 3 flavors; The GS-6500 in glossy black, the GS-6500B with blue highlights and grills, and the GS-6500R with red highlights and grills. It’s pretty easy to glance at the exterior of this case and be charmed into submission. As your jaw drops, your guard is let down, but don’t worry, Benchmark Reviews presents an in-depth look at the all black GS-6500 case, from its highly glossy exterior to the bright blue glowing interior. This computer case shines visually, with a stunning array of fan LEDs, as well as a beautiful array of LEDs on the top console, but ultimately, the true purpose here is to determine if this cas! e is more than just visual appeal. Does the Sentey Burton GS-6500 attain the level of excellence that the computer enthusiast expects?

ARTICLE URL: http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=783&Itemid=61

OnLive partners with Juniper Networks for data centers

Press release:
Juniper Networks and OnLive, Inc., the pioneer of on-demand, instant-play video games and applications, today announced they are entering into a strategic partnership under which Juniper will be the exclusive networking provider for OnLive’s network infrastructure. Additionally, the two companies plan to jointly develop cloud-based services for the enterprise that will deliver a media-rich, interactive experience to mobile, desktop and presentation devices — instantly, simply and securely from any location.

Powered by Juniper Networks, OnLive would provide consumers and enterprise customers with unmatched performance, security, reliability and true flexibility across both physical and virtual environments. Using OnLive’s instant response video compression technology and Juniper Networks Junos Pulse client, the experience of remotely-accessed desktops and applications —whether on a PC, Mac, iPad, Android tablet or OnLive-enabled TV or monitor—would be indistinguishable from a local one.

By moving computing functions to the network, OnLive is defining the next generation of cloud computing. OnLive’s cloud-based video compression technology has revolutionized the way video games are played, both in the home and on mobile devices, as a user’s computer or device becomes nothing more than a means for display and input. By applying this same technology to the enterprise, even media-rich content and bandwidth-intensive applications can be delivered instantly, simply and securely to mobile desktops and devices via the cloud. With an end-to-end infrastructure powered by Juniper Networks, OnLive’s new network would not only change the way OnLive’s entertainment applications are created, delivered and consumed, but enable the security and robustness required for enterprise applications.

“OnLive’s cloud gaming technology places unprecedented demands on network infrastructure, and Juniper is the only network provider that is able to meet these requirements.” said Steve Perlman, president and CEO of OnLive. “Juniper’s state-of-the-art performance and security also makes them the ideal partner as OnLive extends the same no-compromise cloud hosting technology to enterprise applications, leapfrogging the entire desktop virtualization industry. A remote desktop experience would be the same as a local desktop experience on any connected device, regardless of the application or content, so users could enjoy all the benefits of desktop virtualization without any of the hassles.”

“Online gaming is among the most intensive applications in the world where users expect precision and immediate response. It requires a powerful and highly reliable network that doesn’t compromise user experience,” said Kevin Johnson, CEO of Juniper Networks. “OnLive and Juniper share a commitment to delivering innovative, ground-breaking technologies, and we are excited to partner together to push the boundaries of cloud computing and redefine how rich interactive media are delivered.”

Today, OnLive already has an integrated network with Juniper Networks EX Series Ethernet Switches, MX Series 3D Universal Edge Routers and SRX Series Services Gateways that ensure consistency, high performance, reliability and security at scale. To meet the growing demands of its cloud-based infrastructure, OnLive will also deploy:

• Juniper Networks QFabric Solution – As OnLive’s exclusive data center fabric provider, Juniper will provide OnLive with a superior approach to building and securing its virtualized data centers in California, Texas and Virginia, and enable exponential improvements in data center speed, scale and efficiency.

• Junos Pulse – A simple-to-use, comprehensive solution comprised of secure remote access for mobile devices, mobile device security, and comprehensive device policy enforcement and management, Junos Pulse would enable users of all mobile devices, including smartphones, tablets, laptops and netbooks, to securely access OnLive cloud-based applications.

Through this strategic partnership, Juniper Networks is entering into an agreement with OnLive to jointly collaborate on creating additional value-added services and feature-rich applications using Junos Pulse. As OnLive looks beyond gaming and expands into new markets and platforms, such as enterprise systems, Juniper Networks will provide OnLive with a new network that will transform the economics and experience of networking for its customers.

The OnLive Game Service delivers users the latest high-performance, top-tier games instantly to almost any device, eliminating the need for expensive local consoles or high-end PCs. In addition to availability on almost all PCs and Macs, through partnerships with VIZIO, HTC and others, OnLive expects to be available by the end of 2011 on 25 million Internet TVs, 50 million Blu-ray players and 25 million tablets in the US and the UK. In 2012, OnLive expects to be available on most devices that support video streaming services such as Netflix, making console-class gaming as accessible as movies are today. Juniper’s network infrastructure will enable OnLive to scale to this degree of ubiquity while maintaining the absolutely no-compromise performance that video games demand.

Rumor: Microsoft to unveil next Xbox at E3 2012

When Nintendo announced the WiiU (or Project Cafe initially), everyone and their grandmother proclaimed the device as the first in-line for the next-generation of console race. However, it was soon let out the bag that the system won’t be more powerful than the PS3 or the Xbox 360, and since visual muscle is where it counts (screw innovation with the controller, right?), the place to be the first one to produce a new console is still up for grabs. And if today’s rumor is to be believed, it might just be Microsoft.

A source, “with knowledge of Microsoft’s plans”, reported to BGR that the software giant is all set to reveal the new Xbox at E3 next year. The source is not aware of the launch plans, or about the consoles features, but said that the console was in development since 2006.

A reveal date of next year suggests that the console could be out in 2013, which falls in-line with much of the rumors and speculations pertaining to the console.

Intel series 510 120GB & 250GB SSD Review

Solid State Drives or SSDs for short are slowly becoming the preferred choice of PC performance enthusiasts with their faster access times and quiet operation. Previously, Western Digital’s Raptor series held that top spot with its 10,000rpm drives, but with companies like OCZ, Crucial and Intel releasing faster and cheaper SSDs into the market, the traditional hard disk drive may soon become a thing of the past.

Today we look at Intel’s new 510 series of SSDs, offering 120GB and 250GB versions  with SATA3 (6 Gb/s) compatibility. We will pit them against two hard drives and see how much one can expect to lose in terms of load times and overall speed.

Study: Users spend more time on mobile apps than on the Internet

A new study has found that smartphone users have ditched the Internet (well, somewhat) for mobile apps to tide their entertainment boat.

The research, conducted by Furry, gathered information from more than 85,000 applications and noted that in June 2011, the avg. smartphone Joe spent about 81 mins using mobile applications and only 74 mins using the web. That’s around a 91% jump year-over-year, where in June 2010, the same Joe spent 43 mins using mobile apps and 64 mins surfing the web. The mobile app-effect had started to show in December where the numbers slowly started favoring mobile apps with 66 mins and 70 mins for the Internet.

Furry also found that mobile Joes spend 47% of their playing games, 32% on browsing social network, 9% reading the news, and 7% using other entertainment apps. Of the little time they spend on the Internet, 14 mins of the 74 mins are whiled away on Facebook (but of course!).

Google lists reasons why its Google Apps is better than Office 365

Microsoft is all set to head into the fiercely competed online productivity suite market with the release of Office 365 today. Taking the opportunity, Google, whose Google Apps suite Microsoft will be competing against, has listed approx 365 reasons (not really) why its online suite is better than the one provided by the Redmondians.

In his blog post, Google Apps project manager Shan Shina said that, for one, Apps allows “work with multiple people in the same document”, and that users do not have to worry over compatibility as it is “Designed to work well on any device, on any operating system.” Shina also called out on Microsoft’s pricing tiers for its web-based solution which has 11 different plans, three editions and two tiers, whereas Google Apps has just one at $5/month with “no commitment”.

Shina also claimed superiority over his product, saying that Microsoft Office 365 is largely a desktop-born product, whereas Google Apps was made for the web.

“You can’t just take legacy, desktop software, move some of it to a data center and call it “cloud.” Apps was born for the web and we’ve been serving hundreds of millions of users for years,” he said.

Microsoft will be launching its Office 365 suite later today at a press event in New York City.

« Previous Page — Next Page »