News for March 22nd 2010

Kristofer Brozio | March 22, 2010 | Uncategorized | No Comments

Hello guys, I’m back with another edition of the news for you. We’ve got tons of interesting stuff from sites all over the world, so read on to see what’s going on…

Storage Related:

OCZ Vertex Turbo 120GB SSD @ Techgage
Link: http://techgage.com/article/ocz_vertex_turbo_120gb/
Quote: Making the decision to upgrade to an SSD isn’t difficult, but finding the "perfect" SSD is a different story thanks to the sheer amount of choice out there; sometimes even from the same vendor! Fortunately, OCZ’s Vertex Turbo delivers a great blend of performance and GB per dollar, making it well worth consideration.

ADATA S596 128GB SSD Review & Benchmarks

The ability to plug in the drive into any USB port is a definite plus and in a pinch this drive can easily transport files across two different computers. This drive is available online for $299.99, making it an affordable SSD drive that can also double as an external drive. The dual functionality and decent performance gives this product a Hot Product award as most other drives do not have dual functionality or cost more than this drive on Newegg.

Review Link: http://www.motherboards.org/reviews/hardware/2031_1.html

Crucial Ballistix Tracer 6GB DDR3-1600 Memory Kit
Link: http://www.bigbruin.com/content/crucial1600_1
Quote: The Ballistix Tracer 6GB DDR3-1600 memory kit gives you everything you would expect both from an enthusiast grade memory kit, as well as from a Crucial brand product. You have a set of stylish, LED-illuminated modules programmed with a 1600MHz XMP profile that are backed by Crucial’s limited lifetime warranty and a 30-day money-back compatibility guarantee.

OCZ Agility Series 60 GB SSD @ LanOC Reviews
DESCRIPTION: With SSD’s becoming more and more affordable they are slowly starting to reach the hands of eager enthusiasts and gamers. In fact, we are just now starting to see a few pop up in rigs at our own LAN parties. One of the biggest brands in this market is OCZ and they have a variety of models including the reasonably priced Agility series. One of which we will be looking at today.

ARTICLE URL: http://lanoc.org/review/hardware/storage/2796-ocz-agility-series-60-gb-ssd

Seagate Barracuda XT 2TB SATA 6G HD Review:
http://hothardware.com/Articles/Seagate-Barracuda-XT-2TB-SATA-6G-HD-Review

One of the more interesting hard drives to hit the scene recently is the Seagate Barracuda XT. Its 2TB capacity, 64MB of cache, and 7200 RPM spindle speed will automatically piqué the interest of many enthusiasts. But couple those features with the drive’s support for SATA 6G and the story gets all the more interesting…

Plextor PX-128M1S 128GB SSD
URL: http://www.bcchardware.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8383&Itemid=40
Quote:Plextor has been well known over the years for the high-quality optical drives. They’ve also ventured into video capture and storage over the years, but the PX-128M1S is their first SSD. While they once again focus on quality and drive integrity without performance degradation, I can’t help but think they should have used a higher performance controller to keep up with the competition. . .

Patriot Gamer-Series DDR3-1600 Memory Kit @ Benchmark Reviews

DESCRIPTION: Overclocking is getting easier than ever, and more and more users are finding that they want to try their hand at what used to be an art reserved for hardcore computer enthusiasts. In this article Benchmark Reviews tests the Patriot Gamer Series 4GB PC3-12800 DDR3-1600 dual-channel system memory kit, SKU PGS34G1600ELKA. Patriot designed this DDR3 kit to work with BEMPs (Black Edition Memory Profiles) that have been uploaded for use with the AMD Overdrive program in order to make overclocking even easier for the average enthusiast. This Patriot Gamer Series DDR3 RAM is designed to work in tandem with AMD Black Edition processors, but can be overclocked quite effectively in nearly any DDR3 compatible system. Priced at $130, the Patriot Gamer Series PC3-12800 DDR3-1600 kit represents a great opportunity for PC hardware enthusiasts to upgrade to low latency, high-performance memory at a very affordable price.

ARTICLE URL: http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=479&Itemid=67

Seagate Barracuda ES.2 750GB Hard Drive at Modders-Inc
Summary: The Seagate Barracuda ES series drives are available in either 250GB, 500GB, 750GB, or 1TB storage sizes and come in either SAS (Serial Attached SCSI) 3Gb/s or SATA (Serial ATA) 3Gb/s interfaces.
Articles URL:http://www.modders-inc.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story&reid=309

Audio / Video:

Trust SoundForce USB Powered Portable Speakers Reviewed @ DragonSteelMods

Link: http://www.dragonsteelmods.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15924&Itemid=1

Today I’ve got a quick review for you of a product that I could only describe as horrible. Our friends over at GearZap have sent me over a pair of portable speakers for review and I’m guessing they’re regretting it now. These speakers are USB powered and meant to be used with your laptop or netbook and they sound terrible, just full of static and crackling sounds. With one of my netbooks when I plug them in my netbook turns off! It’s not the netbook, I’ve used other portable speakers and many other devices with it with no issues, it’s the speakers themselves that have a problem somewhere. So read on if you want to, but you don’t have to as it’s not even worth the read!

Steelseries Sibera V2 Headset @ Rbmods

English link: http://www.rbmods.com/content/20498/steelseries-sibera-v2-headset.aspx
Swedish link: http://www.rbmods.se/content/14252/steelseries-sibera-v2-headset.aspx
Quote: Steelseries sent us their Siberia headset Version 2. Quite some time ago we looked at their first version which ended up being one of the most comfortable headsets I have tested in my life. Will this V2 live up to the previous ones, and have they fixed some of the flaws that the reviewers have pointed out?

Able Planet True Fidelity NC300B Active Noise Canceling Headphones Review @ Tweaknews
Article Url: http://www.tweaknews.net/reviews/able_planet_true_fidelity_nc300b_sound_canceling_headphones_review/
Article Snippet:"Able Planet as a company has really piqued my interest, too. They are committed to providing headphones for people with all levels of hearing. The Linx Audio technology aids in this by enhancing high frequency sounds where clarity is often lost in the early stages of hearing loss."

MEGATech Reviews – Arctic Cooling’s ArcticSound E361-BM and E351-WM Stereo Headsets

In case you haven’t noticed, the headphones that come pre-bundled with your iPod, cellphone or any other music player leave a lot to be desired. Thankfully, there are many different options out there for premium earphones and you don’t have to break the bank to get into this market. A couple of less expensive options come from Arctic Sound, an off-shoot from Arctic Cooling of Switzerland.

Direct Link:http://www.megatechnews.com/megatech-reviews-%E2%80%93-arctic-coolings-arcticsound-e361-bm-and-e351-wm-stereo-headsets/

Samsung LN46B550 46inch LCD TV Review at CCE Reviews
Link: http://www.ccereviews.com/reviews/samsung-ln46b550-46inch-lcd-tv/
Quote: In a few weeks we’ll be seeing Samsung’s 2010 lineup hit the retail market. That means now is the perfect time to take advantage of sales and clearance markdowns. The 46B550 is maybe a little older and does not have all the bells and whistles associated with the Series 6 or 7 models but it’s still a great buy for the right person. You will still have a full 1080p picture with exceptional quality and features that require little tweaking outside the box. If you primarily watch cable broadcasts or only enjoy the occasional video game or action packed movie, then the 46B550 could be perfect for you.

Edifier S2000 Speaker Review on Technic3D

Link: http://www.technic3d.com/article-1017,1-edifier-s2000-musikliebhaber,-aufgepasst.htm

Translation Link: http://translate.google.de/translate?u=http%3a%2F%2fwww.technic3d.com%2Farticle-1017%2c1-edifier-s2000-musikliebhaber%2C-aufgepasst.htm&sl=de&tl=en&hl=&ie=UTF-8
Quote: "The Edifier S2000 2.0 Speaker System arrived Technic3D. By Phill Jones A ‘flagship’ professional home audio system with crossover designed by Phil Jones. Digital optical and coaxial inputs supporting 24bit / 96kHz HDCD. SPDIF coupled with PCM DA/DAC PCM processing for digital sources. A wireless remote control with servo-motor driven volume, bass and treble controls make the S2000 and audio experience?

Mobile / Netbooks / Laptops:

Go Naked: leave the laptop at home! @ TechwareLabs

Quote: If you travel and feel the need to take your desktop with you we have wonderful news. Go naked. . . digitally speaking and leave your desktop behind. We discuss an easy, free, option for keeping your settings and preferences and applications with you while on the go.
LINK: http://www.techwarelabs.com/go-naked-leave-the-laptop-at-home/

Nokia N97 Mobile Phone Review @ BayReviews.com

Review Link : http://www.bayreviews.com/electronics/3367-nokia-n97-mobile-phone
Quote : "The Nokia N97 mobile phone is a compact phone with a slide out full QWERTY keyboard and a huge 3.5" touch screen with tilt. I would mostly use this as a personal phone to get all my emails, surf the web, take pictures and videos and of course store them in the huge 32 GB storage space. So I tested it for about two weeks and these are my results."

‘Call of Duty Zombies for iPhone’
Call of Duty: World at War: Zombies is a first person shooter for iPhone and iPod touch in which you shoot and kill Nazi zombies.
The Full Article can be viewed at http://tech.tbreak.com/2010/03/call-of-duty-zombies-for-iphone/

Samsung N220 10-Inch INTEL ATOM N450 “PineTrail” Netbook Review

Despite what the folks in Cupertino may lead you to believe, the netbook form factor will continue to survive in the face of these new-fangled Internet tablets. The technology continues to advance in this realm, introducing us to higher-end finishes and improved horsepower. Just as the Intel Atom N280 provided some good performance upgrades over the N270, the “Pine Trail” Atom N450 is supposed to be pretty hot stuff too.

Direct Link:http://www.futurelooks.com/samsung-n220-10-inch-intel-atom-n450-pinetrail-netbook-review/

ASUS Eee PC 1008P Karim Rashid Collection: A Stylish Netbook @ InsideHW
ASUS Eee PC 1008P Karim Rashid netbook isn’t about the price, just like pieces of clothing made by top-class designers aren’t.
Article link:http://www.insidehw.com/Reviews/Notebooks/ASUS-Eee-PC-1008P-Karim-Rashid-Collection-A-Stylish-Netbook.html

Review of MSI Wind12 U230 Netbook @ TestFreaks

Today for review I’ve got the MSI Wind12 U230 netbook, it’s called a netbook but it really isn’t it could really be considered an ultra-portable notebook as it does have an AMD Athlon Neo X2 CPU in it, along with ATI HD 3200 Graphics. It’s much more powerful than the netbooks we’ve become accustomed to, but the price is a little bit more than other netbooks, but not as much as you might expect. In my time with the Wind12 I’ve come to like it quite a bit, it has a nice large keyboard that’s makes typing easy and enjoyable. The dual core CPU does allow you to do many things at once without the system slowing down, as far as graphics, it does do HD content and it has an HDMI port as well, but don’t expect to be playing games on high settings. So continue on to learn more about it and see how it compares to three Atom based netbooks I’ve got on hand.

Link: http://www.testfreaks.com/blog/review/review-of-msi-wind12-u230-netbook/

Assorted Stuffs:

‘Backup online accounts with Backupify’
Backupify.com is a backup service with a twist. It can help you back up a long list of online accounts, including Twitter, Gmail, Picasa, Facebook, Google Docs, Delicious, WordPress and more. Backups goes straight into Backupify’s system so you don’t have to download anything to your computer, a blessing in the Middle East where at least our home Internet connections can be slow and unreliable.
The Full Article can be viewed athttp://tech.tbreak.com/2010/03/backup-online-accounts-with-backupify/

Epson WorkForce 610 All-in-One Printer Review
Link: http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/950
Review of the Epson WorkForce 610 All-in-One, which incorporates printer, fax, scanner and copier functions and features Wi-Fi connectivity and memory card reader.

Top 10 Things to do with a New Computer @ TechwareLabs

Quote: Take the pain out of that new off-the-shelf desktop or laptop setup by using these applications and utilities to clean up your new PC and make it even better from the very start.
LINK: http://www.techwarelabs.com/top-10-things-to-do-with-a-new-computer/

Customize Your Windows 7 Start Menu Button
http://www.techspot.com/guides/260-customize-windows-7-start-menu-button/

Windows users have been customizing their desktops in a variety of ways for years. Whether by downloading themes and backgrounds, or using third party applications to change more obscure settings like the default logon screen, many people seem intent on personalizing every aspect of their operating system to something that fits their individual taste. And what better to alter than an icon that’s always visible?

Psychology of Technology: How Social Media Can Ruin Lives

Teaser: We all know the power of the Internet for good. It offers a wealth of information, connects people who are miles and cultures apart, and allows news to be disseminated instantly. But I recently learned of a young man whose reputation, and perhaps his life, has been devastated because of information, later proved to be erroneous, that was circulated through email and social media. His story illustrates the dark side of information in the 21st century and confirms our need to ensure that, in our real-time, instant-access world, the information that is spread through cyberspace is both timely and accurate.

Click here: http://bit.ly/ciIGin

Canon PIXMA MX870 Office All-In-One Printer @ TestFreaks

Today for review I’ve got another printer, it’s an all-in-one that is one of the best I’ve ever had the chance to review, it’s just chock full of features that anyone can appreciate. The printer is the Canon Pixma MX870 and it has features like dual paper trays, double sided printing, quiet scanning and printing along with very near studio quality picture prints. The MX870 also does regular printing very well, even on the low setting the quality is outstanding of the printed pages. You can hook the MX870 up via USB, ethernet or even wireless so you’ve got a few options there in terms of connectivity. So read on…

http://www.testfreaks.com/blog/review/review-of-canon-pixma-mx870-office-all-in-one-printer/

Four Types of Hate Reviewers (And Why We Love Them) @ TestFreaks

People tend to love their products, and they have opinions about their purchases. Here at Test Freaks we value the reader’s input, and have found that the reader’s reviews are invaluable in giving other readers a great insight on products they are researching.

http://www.testfreaks.com/blog/information/types-hate-reviewers-love/