News and Links for Wednesday March 17th 2010 –St Patrick’s Day

Happy St Patrick’s Day Everyone! I hope everyone doesn’t drink too much green beer today, puking regular beer is bad, but green beer?! Yuck, way worse…

Anyway, we’ve got a bunch of assorted news articles and product reviews from around the world for you today..

No much really special going on though, just the regular stuffs, product reviews, nothing really that interesting was released this week. There is a couple contests going on though buried in there, so you could win something and we all like free stuff right?

Quick Links:

MusicSkins Custom Wii Skin Review @ Wii Digest

Overclock3D have just published a new article titled: Enermax MODU87+ 700w PSU Review

Cooler Master CM 690 II Advanced Computer Case Review @ Tweaknews

GIGABYTE GA-890GPA-UD3H (AMD 890GX) Motherboard

ASUS P7P55D-E Pro Intel P55 LGA 1156 Motherboard Review @ ThinkComputers.org

Microsoft Sidewinder X4 @ LanOC Reviews

ASUS Maximus III Extreme Motherboard Review

Coolink SWiF2 Series Cooling Fan Roundup Review @ BayReviews.com

iXBT Labs Review: AMD 890GX Chipset Overview

Mionix Naos 5000 Mouse Review @ Hardware Secrets

Thermaltake SpinQ @ techPowerUp

NZXT Premium Cables Review @ OCIA.net

Gigabyte X58A-UD3R Ultra Durable Motherboard Review @ Ninjalane

ProlimaTech Armageddon CPU Cooler Review @ Benchmark Reviews

OCZ ModXStream Pro 600 Watt Review @ Tech-Reviews.co.uk

Best CPU Cooler Heatsink Performance @ Benchmark Reviews

Thermaltake Element Q ITX Chassis

Cooler Master Excalibur @ LanOC Reviews

Overclock3D have just published a new article titled: MSI P55 GD85 Review

Antec Two Hundred Mid Tower Chassis

Forza Motorsport 3 @ Barry’s Review Blog

MSI R5770 HAWK @ Bjorn3D

be quiet! Pure Power 430W

Coolink Corator DS Gapless Direct Touch CPU Cooler Review @ Legit Reviews

Overclock3D have just published a new article titled: XFX Radeon HD 5670 1GB Review

Not Yet Another Core i7 980X Review – Overclocking With LN2 @ Madshrimps

Antec CP-850 850W Power Supply Review @ ThinkComputers.org

HIS Radeon HD 5770 1GB Video Card

Storage Related:

G.SKILL PIS Series 4GB Kit 2000MHz (F3-16000CL6D-4GBPIS).
G.SKILL has been making affordable memory DIMM’s since 1989 and if you’ve built a computer within the past 2-3 years, you more than likely know exactly who G.SKILL is. It’s hard to look passed G.SKILL’s value line of memory especially if you’re on a budget, but what about the hardcore enthusiast? With their PI Series line of memory, G.SKILL has been known to offer high frequency compatible memory at decent pricing. This DDR3, 2000MHz, 4GB dual channel kit we received from G.SKILL is no exception. With 6-9-6-24 2N timings and 2000MHz of frequency to play with, we were very eager to see what this PI Series kit was capable of.
http://www.bjorn3d.com/read.php?cID=1806

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JMicron JMF612 Solid State Drive @ Benchmark Reviews

DESCRIPTION: Western Digital depends on the JMicron JMF612 Solid State Drive controller inside their WD SiliconEdge-Blue SSD to produce 250Mbps reads and 170Mbps write transfers. JMicron has also secured their JMF612 processor in the A-DATA S596, the upcoming Corsair Reactor SSD series, and the yet-to-ever-release Active Media Predator-X7. While the SSD industry grows daily, only a few select manufacturers offer popularly-accepted Flash NAND SSD controllers. In this article, Benchmark Reviews evaluates the JMicron JMF612 Solid State Drive processor.

ARTICLE URL: http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=481&Itemid=60

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Seagate BlackArmor PS110 500GB USB 3.0 Portable Drive
Link: http://www.bigbruin.com/content/seagateps110_1
Quote:  The BlackArmor PS110 500GB drive is Seagate’s first entry into the new world of USB 3.0 hard drives. And considering that it may be the typical consumers first USB 3.0 product, they have put together a great bundle to make the transition as easy as possible. You get not only the 500GB drive, but everything else you might need to use this with a laptop computer.

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LITE-ON iHOS104-08 Blu-Ray Drive @ TechwareLabs

Quote: Just a couple of years ago, 1080p TVs were a thing of miracles and if you were to mention that you had a Blu-Ray drive, you would be considered a sort of miniature deity. Now everyone and their brother had an HDTV. Let’s check out what Lite-On has that can get the best high-def out of your HTPC, without breaking the bank.
LINK: http://www.techwarelabs.com/lite-on-ihos104/

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Kingston & Mushkin: High-speed DDR3 memory kits @ InsideHW
Kingston’s HyperX is the fastest DDR3 memory kit we’ve met so far and we have to disregard its price and honour it with an “Editor’s Choice” award, while Mushkin kits are still very good choice.
Article link:http://www.insidehw.com/Reviews/Memory/Kingston-and-Mushkin-High-speed-DDR3-memory-kits.html

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Crucial 8GB Kit DDR3-1333/PC3-10600 CT2KIT51264BA1339 Memory Review
Link:http://www.ocinside.de/html/results/crucial_8gb_pc3_10600.html

These new Crucial 4GB UDIMM DDR3 modules were announced recently and each module has 4GB per module instead of the so far usual 2GB per module.
This capacity makes an enormously high memory upgrade possible for current High-End systems, because with e.g. 4x 4 GB modules it is possible to reach gigantic 16GB DDR3 RAM. This is fantastic for developer of 3D animations and graphic designer, but also for all other power users with a 64 bit operating system.

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Audio / Video:

Arctic Cooling E361-WM Earphones Review
Link: http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/948
Summary:The cooler makers try their hand on the audio market with an earphone (with integrated microphone) for the iPhone, smartphones and PCs. Let’s see how they fared.

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Ankit Stay True Headphones and the link to the review is:
http://www.topreviewshop.com/ankit_stay_true_headphones
“Ankit aims to bridge the gap between earphone and accessory without losing focus of the main purpose of the former – sound. Could their line of in-ear earphones really appeal to both the hipster and the audiophile? Let’s find out.”

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Arctic Cooling Arctic Sound E352 Earphones @ PCShopTalk
Quote:
“Arctic Cooling have diversified a lot their product types. Now we get to see from them game consoles, portable game consoles or even audio devices. In the next article I’m going to take a look upon their Arctic Sound E352 earphones model for a more in-depth presentation.”
Link: http://www.pcshoptalk.com/content.php?282-Arctic-Cooling-Arctic-Sound-E352-Earphones

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SanDisk slotRadio Player
Quote: Never heard of slotRadio? It is an initiative by SanDisk to capitalize on the DRM encumbered music market. For a one time fee, you get lots of music that is playable on certain devices that can play slotRadio media. We at ASE Labs thought that the market moved on from proprietary forms of media. Still, we’ll see if it has some worth to it.
Link: http://www.aselabs.com/articles.php?id=5628

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Arctic Sound E361-BM Earbuds @ Techgage
Link: http://techgage.com/article/quick-gage_arctic_sound_e361-bm_earbuds/
Quote: It’s not uncommon for a company which focuses on one thing to branch out into another, but I am not sure many people would have predicted a company such as Arctic Cooling would begin producing audio equipment. Fortunately though, the company has obviously done its research, as the audio quality is very good (with great bass!).

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Sennheiser HD800

Link:http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Sennheiser/HD800
Sennheiser’s latest and greatest headphones are put to the test. The HD800s created quite a fuzz when released, not only were they one of the most expensive headphones launched last year, they were also the most anticipated ones. In this review we put them to the test and see if there can be a reason to spend $1800 on headphones.

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SteelSeries Siberia v2 headset and mobile device adapter review
“At last, let’s take a proper look at the headset itself, which comprises of a pair of headphones complete with a design that automatically adjusts to comfortably fit the size of your head thanks to the flexible black band you can see above the headphones themselves, something which really works rather well, only proving to be very slightly uncomfortable after a long period of use.  SteelSeries also provides an two metre extension cable with support for both line-out and microphone jacks, giving you a three metre cable length to play with in total – A joy to behold compared to the excruciatingly short cables offered by many headphones.”
http://www.elitebastards.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1332&catid=13&Itemid=27

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Arctic Cooling E352 Earphones
QUOTE: “Since the last pair I looked at things have not changed a whole lot. Output power stays the same, as does impendence, cable length and connection type. However, we do see a change to the frequency`s response with a lower, or as I like to call it, more accurate rating of 18Hz – 22KHz.
The most notable change here is of course the wooden chassis used instead of the aluminum one. However, I cannot see any specific information regarding the choice to use wood other than ‘warm sound definition by exquisite wooden chassis’. So, clearly Arctic Sound thought they were onto a winner, but equally did not want to give too much away.”
For more information, please visit – http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/3186/arctic_cooling_e352_earphones/index.html

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Mobile Related / Laptop / Desktop:

Acer AspireRevo Review
“There’s something to be said about a “desktop PC” small enough to fit in a drawer, yet brawny enough to power a whole entertainment system. Acer’s AspireRevo R3610 nettop PC fits just that role. Hovering around $400 certainly doesn’t hurt its cause, either, except the price may be too good to be true if you’re looking to make this your primary PC.”
Link to the review:http://www.digitaltrends.com/product-reviews/desktop-computer-reviews/compact-computer-reviews/acer-aspirerevo-review/

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Overclockers UK Titan Goliath Core i7 Full Gamer System Review @ Verdis Reviews

Starting at £854.99, the OverclockersUK Titan Goliath features an array of customisation with numerous different graphics cards, hard drives & SSDs, cases and operating systems to be added for a performance boost. Described as the “pinnacle of performance”, the Goliath certainly looks good on paper but how will it compete against rivalling systems? Let’s take a look…”

URL:http://verdisreviews.com/reviews/overclockers-uk-titan-goliath-core-i7-full-gamer-system-review/

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OtterBox iPhone 3G / 3GS Impact Series Case @ PCShopTalk
“On the market there are tens if not hundreds of case types for the Iphone 3G/3GS. Most of them are made to enhance the phone design, but do not offer full case protection. OtterBox has designed a case that looks stylish, but also offers full phone protection. Let’s look further upon this review for a more in-depth presentation. “
Link: http://www.pcshoptalk.com/content.php?281-OtterBox-iPhone-3G-3GS-Impact-Series-Case

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Coolink Lapchilla Laptop Cooler Review @ Tech-Reviews.co.uk

Briefing: Today we have the Coolink LapChilla Laptop Cooler. Coolink has created a cooler which allows you to change the adjustment for your particular use with a multi-angle design.

Link: http://tech-reviews.co.uk/reviews/coolink-lapchilla-laptop-cooler/

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Evercool FIT NB-FT1 Notebook Cooler Review
“Since 1992 Evercool Thermal Co Ltd have been specializing in producing thermal solutions for the computer and telecomms industries. They have an extensive product range. Today we look at the Evercool FIT notebook cooler.”
LINK: http://www.vortez.co.uk/review.php?id=143

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Lenovo ThinkPad Edge 13″ Notebook Review
http://www.techspot.com/review/254-lenovo-thinkpad-edge/
The ThinkPad Edge notebook that we’ll be looking at today is part of an all-new series from Lenovo announced early this year at CES. The ThinkPad Edge blends some of the things we liked on the IdeaPad with the power and legacy of ThinkPads. Aimed at style- and budget-conscious business users, this system features some firsts from Lenovo, like a new keyboard layout and a low entry price for ThinkPads at just $579.

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Assorted Stuffs:

Interesting News: Facebook’s Warning to Avoid Using Bogus Apps

If you have deliberating on using any applications which allow you to see who is viewing your profile then you might want to think twice.

http://www.gaj-it.com/16661/facebook-warning-avoid-using-apps-allowing-you-to-see-who-is-viewing-your-profile/

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‘Dubai Twestival March 25’
The first Twestival of 2010 takes place March 25 at the Intercontinental,Dubai.
The Full Article can be viewed at http://tech.tbreak.com/2010/03/dubai-twestival-march-25/

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A Guide To Going Green for Saint Patrick’s Day

The legend of Saint Patrick says that he was responsible for banishing snakes from Ireland. He was also known as a patron saint of Ireland, but the holiday named in his honor is probably better known for its never-ending flow of green beer, hooligans and shenanigans. Before you hit up the bar for some festive ale, perhaps you should consider taking on some green habits as part of your St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. Here are a few green tips to help keep the environment happy.

Direct Link:http://www.futurelooks.com/a-guide-to-going-green-for-saint-patricks-day/

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Home Theater PC Building – A HotHardware How-To
http://hothardware.com/Articles/Home-Theater-PC-Building–A-HotHardware-HowTo/

Building a Home Theater PC is often times a much better option for enabling your entertainment center for various forms of digital media playback capability.  Rather than stepping up to additional discrete components, like a stand-alone Blu-ray, DVD or CD player, why not infuse your living room entertainment center with real intelligence and multimedia muscle and build an HTPC (Home Theater PC)?

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Interesting New: Augmented Reality App for Auto Trader

So how does it all work?  If you see a car which catches your fancy when you are out, then all you would need to do is take the picture of the car, crop the image and leave just the number plate and the app will use the iPhone’s GPS and 3G connections to search for similar models for sale near you.

http://www.gaj-it.com/16573/iphone-ipod-touch-app-auto-traders-augmented-reality-app-for-second-hand-car-hunting/

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Integrated Systems Europe 2010 Tradeshow

We visited Integrated Systems Europe 2010 this year, the show for professional Audio Video and electronic systems integrations, located in Amsterdam RAI.
http://www.madshrimps.be/gotoartik.php?articID=990

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Techgage’s 5th Birthday Contest – Win a Gaming PC! @ Techgage
Link: http://techgage.com/article/techgages_5th_birthday_contest/
Quote: Techgage has just turned five, so what better reason to celebrate? To help kill two birds with one stone, we’re looking to YOU for input on what we’re doing right, and what you want to see more of (or improve). As a thanks for taking our site survey, you’ll be entered to have a chance at winning our custom-built gaming PC, valued at $4,200!

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WIN with Noctua – NF-P14 FLX and NT-H1
DESCRIPTION:
“There’s just one week left until our Noctua competition closes. Be sure to get your entry in to be in with a chance of winning a Noctua NF-P14 FLX and NT-H1. For details follow the link.”
LINK: http://www.vortez.co.uk/contentteller/content_page/win_with_noctua_nf_p14_flx_and_nt_h1.html

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Megacon 2010 Coverage @ TechwareLabs

Quote: From costumes and celebrities to models, magic and more the MegaCon 2010 show has it all. We walked down the hall of the Orlando Convention Center and through the doors and might as well have stepped into another galaxy. Our journey through MegaCon lasted a short four hours and we only managed to see a small part of the events and happenings going on. The walls were lined with memorabilia and every gizmo and gadget from your favorite show, comic, and film. Check out our huge gallery of pictures from the event where people dressed as their favorite characters.
LINK: http://www.techwarelabs.com/megacon-2010-coverage/

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