News for August 3rd 2010

Kristofer Brozio | August 3, 2010 | Uncategorized | No Comments

Hello All! I think I’m finally getting over being sick, still have sniffles and a slight cough but at least I’m up and about and eating again! I hate being sick, it’s not fun at all..

Anyway, I’m working on a few reviews for you, but for now check out the news from around the world..

Storage Related:

OCIA.net has posted their review of the OCZ 60GB Agility 2 SATA II Solid State Drive.

"One of the leading pioneers bringing SSD technology to the mainstream marketplace has been OCZ, and the item we have for review today is their Agility 2 drive based on the SandForce 1200 controller. The SandForce-based Agility 2 replaces the previous generation Indilinx-controlled Agility that Rutledge reviewed last year. Based on specifications, the Agility 2 is very similar to OCZ’s Vertex 2, like the 50Gb model that Shawn had a look at last month. OCZ offers these models in a wide variety of sizes, ranging from 40/50/100/200/400Gb on the standard drives to 60/90/120/180/240/480Gb on their Extended Capacity versions."

Direct Link: http://www.ocia.net/reviews/oczagility2/page1.shtml

Corsair Survivor GTR 32GB Review on Technic3D

Link: http://www.technic3d.com/article-1118,1-corsair-survivor-gtr-32gb.htm

Translation Link: http://translate.google.de/translate?u=http%3a%2F%2fwww.technic3d.com%2Farticle-1118%2C1-corsair-survivor-gtr-32gb.htm&sl=de&tl=en&hl=&ie=UTF-8
Quote: "The Corsair Survivor GTR 32GB USB-Stick arrived Technic3D. Technic3D will see the Corsair Survivor GTR against the Flash Voyager GT USB-Stick and more. You can see the Speed in the following Review."

Patriot Inferno 100GB SSD Review
Summary: “A solid state drive (SSD) is the greatest single upgrade you can perform on a modern computer.” At least that’s what we’ve been told at one time or another. SSDs have come a very long way since their first release. They’re more reliable, larger and most importantly, their cost-per-gigabyte has come down. Today, we’ll see if that modern day adage is true as we examine Patriot’s high performance Inferno SSD.
Link: http://www.overclockers.com/patriot-inferno-100gb-ssd-review/?utm_source=pr

OCZ Vertex 2 SSD Review.
Quote: The OCZ Vertex was one of the first mega-performing SSDs. Does the Vertex 2 continue the lineage?
Link: http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/storage/ocz_vertex_2_ssd_review/1

OCZ Agility 2 60GB Solid State Drive Review @ ThinkComputers.org

Review URL: http://www.thinkcomputers.org/ocz-agility-2-60gb-solid-state-drive-review/

Quote: “Today we have another SandForce-based solid state drive one the testing block. These new SandForce drives have been flooding the market lately and are bringing incredible speeds with them. Today we will be looking at the 60GB Agility 2 from OCZ; we actually took a look at the original Agility back in October. This 60GB version is part of the extended series which reduces the over provisioning of flash on the drive for more storage capacity. The 60GB size is perfect for anyone looking to get into a solid state drive without dropping a ton of money. Let’s take a look…"

: Crucial RealSSD C300 128GB 6Gbps Solid State Drive
Link: http://www.bigbruin.com/content/realssd128gb_1
Quote: In this review we will be taking a closer look at the Crucial RealSSD C300 128GB solid state drive, which in addition to a 355MB/s maximum read speed, also offers a 140MB/s maximum write speed. The way that Crucial is able to offer such a high speed product is by being one of the few drive manufacturers to take advantage of SATA 6Gbps technology.

SIIG 4-port SuperSpeed USB 3.0 Hub.

It is sad, but the fact still remains that no matter how new your system, you are going to have at most TWO SuperSpeed USB ports. This may sound like a lot right now, but as more and more USB 3.0 devices come on the market, you soon are going to feel the pinch. To help alleviate this issue, powered external USB hubs are coming back into vogue, such as the SIIG SuperSpeed 4-Port USB 3.0 hub. Are there any negative effects to using a USB 3.0 hub? Let’s find out!

http://www.everythingusb.com/siig-4-port-superspeed-usb-3.0-hub-19650.html

LiteON iHAS524 24x DVD writer with Label flash Review @ XtremeComputing

Quote: "Today I’ll be reviewing one of LiteON’s latest Optical Disc Drives – the iHAS524 – The 24 x internal DVD/CD writer, which also supports LabelTag. LabelTag is a LiteON owned innovation which allows you to “Tag” any CD/DVD – not just specifically certified ones."

Review Link: http://www.xtremecomputing.co.uk/review.php?id=528

iStar BPU-2535v2 HDD-SSD 2.5" to 3.5" Adapter.

"The product we have for review today, the BPU-2535v2, allows you to install up to two 2½" SATA hard drives or solid state drives into an external 3½" drive bay. The drive slots are hot-swappable and feature key locks to prevent someone from walking off with your drives. With the growing popularity of SSDs and their frequent use in desktop machines, which are not traditionally setup for 2½" drive mounting, adapters like the BPU-2535 are needed to provide a solid method of installation. The fact that this iStar unit can fit not just one but two 2½" drives into one 3½" bay will be sure to please those enthusiasts who are using dual SSDs in a RAID configuration."

Direct Link: http://www.ocia.net/reviews/istar2535v2/page1.shtml

OCZ Agility 2 SSD @ TechwareLabs

Quote: Solid state drives not only offer an enormous reliability advantage over traditional hard disk drives, they offer great performance increases as well. Most people operate under the assumption it takes great money to get great performance. The Agility 2 claims to be the exception. Let’s see if the Agility 2 has the moves to keep up with its boasts.
LINK: http://www.techwarelabs.com/ocz-agility-2/

Mobile etc:

Choiix Boom Boom @ LanOC Reviews
DESCRIPTION: How many times have you tried watching a Youtube video on your laptop/netbook and have not been able to hear the audio? The itty-bitty speakers they put in most of them are about worthless. Sure, plugging in any old set of speakers will give you better sound, but do you want to lug those things around with you to the coffee shop? You might as well be "that guy" who brings the whole office and sets up shop there. Wouldn’t you rather have one that slips into a side pocket of your bag and doesn’t weight a ton? The Choiix Boom Boom may have a funny funny name, but it could just be the answer to your sonic woes.

ARTICLE URL: http://lanoc.org/review/hardware/sound/3965-choiix-boom-boom

Battle of the Carriers and their Phones @ ThinkComputers.org

Review URL: http://www.thinkcomputers.org/battle-of-the-carriers-and-their-phones/

Quote: “The big 4. In the US these companies represent the cellular provider nearly for 300 million people, at least the ones who have cell phones worth talking about. Each company has boat loads of phones to choose from but with each provider one phone sits alone at the top. Today, we are going to go over the Big 4’s big 4. Some of these phones have been around for awhile but still reign supreme with their respective companies. We’ll give you a brief overview of the phones; the good, the bad, and certainly the ugly but ultimately it’s your call."

iPhone 4 vs. Samsung Galaxy S (Captivate) vs. Evo 4G
"The summer of the smartphone is upon us. With the arrival of a new messiah phone from Cupertino (Apple iPhone 4, $200 on AT&T), the very first 4G phone in the U.S. (HTC Evo 4G, $200 on Sprint), and the fastest Android device on the market (Samsung Captivate, $200 on AT&T), smartphone buyers have never faced a better slate of options – or a more confusing one."
Link to the article: http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/iphone-4-vs-samsung-galaxy-svs-evo-4g/

Motorola Droid X: The Next Generation of Does:
http://hothardware.com/Reviews/Motorola-Droid-X-The-Next-Generation-of-Does/

The original Motorola Droid was a huge hit, both for Motorola as well as for Verizon Wireless. In the time since the DROID was launched in November, Verizon Wireless has also added the HTC Droid Incredible to its lineup of popular Android handsets. Now, Motorola and Verizon Wireless have teamed up again to offer "The Next Generation of Does" in the form of the Motorola Droid X.

HTC EVO 4G Andriod SmartPhone @ Benchmark Reviews

DESCRIPTION: Many companies are clamoring to compete with AT&T’s Apple iPhone 4. Verizon has the Blackberry, and Sprint’s answer is the HTC EVO 4G Smartphone which uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. Can Sprints’ EVO compete to win customers over from the Blackberry and iPhone market? Benchmark Reviews will take a look at how things compare and see if this could be the phone for you… especially if you are a Sprint mobile customer and are looking to upgrade.

ARTICLE URL: http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=530&Itemid=58

Can’t We All Just Get Along? A Guide to Mobile Apps for All Smartphone Platforms

The smartphone market is as competitive as ever and the enthusiasts representing each camp are at each other’s throats. But you know what? We’re not so different since we all love our gadgets, smartphones, and apps. But all too often, we find ourselves focusing on our differences rather than our similarities. As it turns out, many mobile apps are available across most of the popular smartphone platforms. Whether you’re rocking a Droid, BlackBerry or an iPhone, we can find some common ground.

Direct Link: http://www.futurelooks.com/cant-we-all-just-get-along-a-guide-to-mobile-apps-for-all-smartphone-platforms/

Choiix Power Fort Power Backup
Review Link : http://www.bayreviews.com/accessories/9154-choiix-powerfort
Quote : "Today’s digital on the go society has left us with a menagerie of battery operated devices that need recharging. We are left hunting in airports or school classrooms like zombies for outlets to satisfy our hunger for more power. Now with the Choiix Power Fort 10Whrs Rechargeable Power Backup Battery Pack from Cooler Master, we finally have instant access to a quick boost to keep those precious Apple iPhones and MP3 players fully charged while traveling."

Audio / Video:

Zune HD Review

Today for review I’m taking a look at the Zune HD, specifically the 16gb version. This new Zune HD has many new features over the original Zune, specifically of course the touch screen. The other Zunes were navigated with directional pad and buttons, that’s gone now in favor of full multitouch navigation through the screen. This new Zune offers HD radio, and Internet browsing and sync as well over wireless connection. I’ve tossed a few things on my Zune HD already like many games and apps, along with videos and music and spent some time with it so read on to learn more about it…

http://www.dragonsteelmods.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16688&Itemid=1

Eagle Tech ET-AR508LR-BK Stereo Speaker.
SNIP: I found myself spending more time in front of my computer. Not only that I use computer for work and play games, I found myself watching TV shows via Hulu and YouTube and movies. One thing for certain is that whenever I sit in front my computer, I always have the speaker on playing some sort of sound: music, movies, or games.
For my main system, I have a Creative 6.1 speaker set that I have had for quite a long time. For movie buffs and hardcore gamers, having a multi-channel audio setup is critical to enjoy the best experience but for those with limited space to setup a multi-channel audio, a good stereo speaker can often offer a good enjoyment despite lack of extra channels. This is why that you will see a stereo speaker selling at $200 while a crappy 5.1 audio setup can be purchased as low as $50.
http://www.bjorn3d.com/read.php?cID=1905

Quick Review: Choiix Boom Boom Slim Travel Speaker
QUOTE: "As we have discussed in previous articles, the long fought battle between form and function is waging on in a world beginning to be dominated by sleek and stylish portables.
And so, as the months pass us by the continued production of these ‘nano’ speakers, well, continues; thick and fast to be accurate. Today the particular slim line speaker we are discussing is the Choiix Boom Boom Travel Speaker. Choiix is a subsidiary of Cooler Master to provide some perspective, as this seems to be an all new company."

Logitech Z520 Desktop Computer Speakers review @ APH Networks

* Description: Most of the time, as general consumers, we like to think that the lower the price, the more attractive a product is. In the speaker world, things tend to be a different. As audiophiles, we often like to think that the higher the price, the more attractive the product is. Case in point: When Logitech asked me if I was interested in reviewing their Z520 speaker system, I had my share of doubt. While Logitech has consistently produced reasonably good quality speakers for the price — even for a sound-picky person like myself — in the past few years, it is hard to believe how good can a 2.0 set could possibly be. Don’t get me wrong; I am not the type that thinks the more speakers, the better — but a missing subwoofer is a missing subwoofer. And then I looked at the price. Carrying a MSRP of $130 and purchasable at retail stores for just a tick under $100 at press time, suddenly the set became much more attractive to me! Yeah, they are pretty expensive for a pair of desktop computer speakers, and this is exactly the reason why I want to see why it commands this price. To fuel my curiosity in conjunction with plugging you some data to make an informed purchase decision, let’s unbox a brand new Logitech Z520 and plug it into the brilliant Auzentech X-Fi HomeTheater HD for some subjective listening tests. Read on to see what I have found!

* Link: http://aphnetworks.com/reviews/logitech_z520

MusicSkins Zune HD Skin Review and Discount Code

Yesterday I posted my review of the Zune HD so I figured today would be a good day for a Zune skin review. This review though is more for you the reader though as MusicSkins wanted me to share a 20% off code with you. They asked me to pick a skin to do a brief review of so I can show you the product, and then give you to discount code so you can go grab your own. So read on to see the one I picked and to learn more about the discount code…

http://www.dragonsteelmods.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16690&Itemid=1

Cooler Master Choiix BoomBoom Portable Speaker
Quote: " Are there times that you are listening to your MP3 player and think that it would be great to not use headphones? Cooler Master may have the solution for you. The Choiix BoomBoom is a slim and portable speaker for use on the go. Taking power from any standard USB port, the BoomBoom can offer better audio than you’re currently using on the road. "
Link: http://www.aselabs.com/articles.php?id=11417

Assorted Stuffs:

Workstation Benchmarks: Windows 7 vs. Ubuntu Linux @ Phoronix
Direct Link: http://www.phoronix.com/vr.php?view=15171
Summary: "As I alluded to recently, the second round of Windows 7 vs. Linux benchmarks — with the first round consisting of Is Windows 7 Actually Faster Than Ubuntu 10.04 and Mac OS X vs. Windows 7 vs. Ubuntu benchmarks — are currently being done atop a Lenovo ThinkPad W510 notebook that is quite popular with business professionals. With the high-end ThinkPad W510 boasting a dual quad-core Intel Core i7 CPU with Hyper-Threading plus a NVIDIA Quadro FX 880M graphics processor, we began this second round of cross-platform benchmarks by running a set of workstation tests. In this article we are mainly looking at the workstation graphics (via SPECViewPerf) performance along with some CPU/disk tests."

ARCTIC Breeze Pro & ARCTIC Breeze Mobile USB Fans review @ APH Networks

* Description: It has been a while since we have done our last Lounge article; the last one being our 2009 Christmas Review Special of the Philips X-treme Power +80 high performance automotive halogen bulbs. Fast forward two more seasons, and we hit arguably the most exciting of them all — well, at least for students everywhere anyway. From the warm summer weather, vacations, and lots of cool treats, it is hard to argue that there is a better time for this Lounge writeup. This is especially since what we have in store today is most fitting for the warm summer weather. Today, we will be taking a look at both the ARCTIC Breeze Pro and the ARCTIC Breeze Mobile. Arctic Cooling has been long known for their extensive line of computer hardware cooling products. Recently, they have expanded their product line with products such as video game consoles, keyboards, and even audio products, such as the Arctic Cooling Arctic Sound E352 we have reviewed a several months back. When I heard of the Breeze, one of their latest products, I was thinking some form of CPU heatsink/fan, or even possibly a GPU cooler. To say I was wrong would have been an understatement — as the Breeze line of products is actually a series of USB fans for both desktop and mobile application. Without further delay, let’s plunge into the rest of the details!

* Link: http://aphnetworks.com/lounge/arctic_breeze_pro_arctic_breeze_moblie

An In-Depth Look at openSUSE 11.3 @ Techgage
Link: http://techgage.com/article/an_in-depth_look_at_opensuse_113/
Quote: Since it’s been quite a while since I last took openSUSE for a spin, I couldn’t resist downloading the 11.3 release that came out in mid-July. To see how the distro fares today, I installed it onto my home PC and used it for just over a week. So, read on for an in-depth look at what’s new and notable, and also for my experiences.

Contest Time! Rbmods teams up with Warcraftmovies.com:
Link: http://www.rbmods.com/content/25641/contest-time-rbmods-teams-up-with-warcraftmoviescom.aspx
Quote: We are giving away World of Warcraft related accessories from Steelseries, all you have to do is answer two questions.