Monday, September 17, 2012

GIGABYTE Packs Wireless Display Tech into Mini-ITX Boards


GIGABYTE recently announced two new Mini-ITX motherboards. The GIGABYTE Z77N-WIFI and GIGABYTE H77N-WIFI feature a number of great features including Intel Wireless Display 2.0, two HDMI ports, and two Gigabit LAN ports. They also feature GIGABYTE’s Ultra Durable 4 technology that ensures humidity protection, electrostatic protection, and high temperature protection. Both boards support Intel’s 3rd Generation Core processors, as well as 2nd Generation Core processors.
Intel Wireless Display 2.0 (WiDi) is a wireless technology developed by Intel to wirelessly share content from your PC. The technology supports display resolutions of up to 1080p, as well as HDCP 2.0 and 5.1 surround sound. With this technology enabled, users can broadcast HD content to HDTVs or monitors that are in another room, without the need for messy cables.
Intel's WiDi technology can be deployed in a variety of ways. Here's just one example.


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Panasonic Releases Two Premium Technics Pro DJ Headphones


Technics RP-DH1250 Pro DJ Headphones
Image credit: Panasonic

Panasonic unveiled two Technics Pro DJ headphones recently, the RP-DJ1205 and RP-DH1250, in commemoration of the SL-1200's 40th anniversary. The SL-1200 direct drive turntable was originally released in October 1972 as an improvement over the SL-1100. Having said that, let's take a quick peek at the two Pro DJ headsets.
Priced at US$229.99, the RP-DJ1205 is fitted with a versatile swing-arm system plus a reversible housing for single-side music monitoring. The grey and silver clad headphones is also equipped with a padded and sweat-resistant headband, plus a coiled-cord, an L-type stereo plug adapter, and a collapsible design for easy storage. Frequency response falls between the 5Hz to 30kHz range, with a power handling capacity of 1,500mW. 
The slightly more expensive RP-DH1250 is tagged at US$269.99. Armed with 50mm drivers, this closed-back model offers slightly more sonic oomph with its 3,500mW capacity, although it possesses the same frequency range as the DJ1205. Other than that, the DH1250 shares similar attributes to its DJ1205 sibling, such as swiveling joints for single-side monitoring and a foldable design. The DH1250 is similarly issued with a coiled cord and a 24K gold-plated stereo plug .
Observably, an amplifier is required to drive the DH1250 given its 50-ohm impedance, while the slightly more compact DJ1205 carries a regular 32-ohm rating.
Pre-orders for both Technics Pro DJ headsets are already available at Panasonic.com's online store, although they'll only hit retail shelves next month.

For the full press release, please click on the link below.
Source: PR Newswire

LG Officially Launches the Quad-Core Optimus G, Hitting “Key” Global Markets in October (Update)


Image source: The Verge

Update: LG released a second press release today, stating that the device will go on sale next week in South Korea, following which it will 'hit “key” global markets sometime in October'.
The first quad-core LTE smartphone powered by Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon S4 Pro APQ8064 processor is finally here - the LG Optimus G. It will arrive in Korea next month, followed by global markets including an October or November launch in Japan. Here's a list of its specs: 
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro APQ8064 1.5GHz processor 
  • 2GB RAM
  • 4.7-inch True HD IPS+ display with a resolution of 1280 x 768 pixels 
  • Google Android 4.0 
  • 13-megapixel rear camera 
  • 131.9 x 68.9 x 8.45mm
  • 145g
  • 2100mAh
LG published a press release yesterday on some of the technological advancements and innovations that are going to be featured on the Optimus G. To find out more, click here.
Sources: LG, NTT DOCOMO (1) (2) via The VergeEngadgetPhandroid
Read on for the full press release.

SEOUL, August, 28, 2012 – LG Electronics (LG) revealed its newest premium mobile device with the announcement of the Optimus G, a high-end smartphone that offers powerful performance, an elegant and sleek design, and an innovative user experience. As the first LTE device featuring Qualcomm’s Snapdragon S4 Pro Quad-Core processor, Optimus G will set the foundation for every future premium smartphone from LG.

Best-of-Best Technologies

To offer the best smartphone to consumers, LG gathered industry-leading partners and technologies to develop the Optimus G. In collaboration with Qualcomm, LG developed the Optimus G with the goal to be the first LTE smartphone with the Snapdragon S4 Pro CPU. LG also joined hands with vertically-integrated sister companies LG Chem, LG Display and LG Innotek for the ultimate battery capacity, viewing and user experience.

Next Generation Quad-Core with LTE

The Optimus G will be the first commercial and global smartphone to offer the Snapdragon S4 Pro (APQ8064) processor with a Quad-Core Krait CPU, LTE supported capabilities, and the newest generation Adreno 320 GPU. The Snapdragon S4 Pro runs at 1.5GHz and features Asynchronous Symmetric Multiprocessing (aSMP), which enables each core to power up and down independently, for maximum performance with better battery life. Furthermore, the Adreno 320 is over three times faster than the Adreno 225 found in previous Snapdragon processors for an enhanced gaming experience with faster frame rates, smoother play and support for higher HD resolution displays.

Cutting-edge Display and Outstanding Battery Efficiency

With help from LG Display, the Optimus G sports a beautiful 4.7-inch WXGA True HD IPS+ Display with 320ppi high pixel density (1280x768 pixels) and Stripe RGB IPS Panel with 15:9 aspect ratio. LG Display pushed the boundaries of its technology to offer True HD IPS+ Display, which is sharper and crisper with color accuracy of sRGB 100 percent to show natural and life-like images.
Moreover, the Optimus G will be the first smartphone to be equipped with LG Innotek and LG Display’s newly developed G2 Touch Hybrid Display for touchscreen panels (TSP). The G2 Touch Hybrid Display is thinner than current TSPs and offers the slimmest panel display with no diffused reflection for clearer and sharper visibility, even outdoors. Thanks to the new technology, the thickness of the screen panel has been reduced and the screen itself is much stronger to withstand damage from impact.
Lastly, LG Chem developed a high-density 2,100mAh battery that provides more power capacity and prolonged charging cycles. The new battery technology extended the battery lifespan to 800 cycles at 80 percent charging capabilities, much greater than the lifespan of 500 cycles in regular phone batteries.

Enhanced UX for Productivity and Entertainment

Whether users need functionality or fun in their daily lives, the Optimus G has it all, including a high-resolution 13.0MP camera and unique and differentiated user experience (UX) features, such as:
  • Live Zooming allows zooming in and out while viewing a video;
  • Dual Screen Dual Play, not only allows mirroring between the smartphone and a TV, it also has the ability to display different content on each screen. For example, a slide presentation can be displayed on the TV while the Optimus G shows the accompanying speaking notes;
  • QMemo, first seen in the Optimus Vu:, allows users to write, draw, or jot a memo directly on the captured screen with their finger for sharing instantly with others as an attachment or a URL;
  • Time Catch Shot allows users to select and save the best shot among the images taken just before the shutter button is depressed;
  • Cheese Shutter takes a photo when a voice command is spoken.
The added UX features are anticipated to provide instant and intuitive productivity to complete tasks beyond simple multitasking.

Innovative and Modern Look

LG maintained its differentiated design philosophy with the Optimus G. The Optimus G is encased in an eye-catching slim body epitomizing timeless beauty that perfectly demonstrates LG’s design philosophy. Premium glass is utilzied on the back cover with a polarized glass pattern that offers a clean, modern look. The G2 Touch Hybrid Display contributed significantly to the design of the Optimus G as it reduced the thickness of the device enabling Optimus G to fit more comfortably in the hand. And the jet black front display flows smoothly into the body for a seamless look with no gaps.
NTT DOCOMO will be the first to unveil a Japanese edition of the Optimus G. The global version of the device will be launched in Korea in September, followed by other markets worldwide.

Apple Received Two Million Pre-Orders for iPhone 5 in First 24 Hours


Image source: Apple

Despite its "disappointing" specs, the Apple iPhone 5 managed to garner two million pre-orders in just 24 hours. This easily overshadows the previous record of one million held by its predecessor, the iPhone 4S.
Due to overwhelming demand, Apple announced that many of the pre-orders on 14th September are scheduled to be delivered in October although the majority of pre-orders are still on track to be delivered on 21st September.
“iPhone 5 pre-orders have shattered the previous record held by iPhone 4S and the customer response to iPhone 5 has been phenomenal,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing.
The iPhone 5 also proved to be a hot seller in Singapore as the Apple Online Store ran out of stocks less than an hour after it went live. The black iPhone 5 seemed to be the more popular choice as it ran out of stocks faster.
StarHub has closed its register of interest for the phone. Customers who have successfully registered will be notified when the phone is available. SingTel extended its registration of interest till the end of today (11.59 pm) due to popular demand. M1 will close its registration of interest on Thursday, 20th September at 5 pm. 
This is nothing new to Apple as its products are highly sought after by consumers. Earlier this year, pre-orders for its third generation iPad sold out due to "off the charts" demand. It was claimed that one million units were sold on the first day. 

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Two or Three New iPods to Launch Alongside iPhone 5 on 12th Sept?



Source: Macotakara

While the upcoming iPhone 5 will most certainly make its presence known on the 12th of September, its tablet companion, the iPad Mini, is said to be launching at a later date in October instead. 9to5Mac, however, believes that the iPhone will not be the only device making its mark on the 12th and will be sharing the stage with "a string of new iPods" that includes at least two updated iPod versions and possibly a third. We don't have much to go on for both iPod nano and shuffle but the tech blog has made some interesting conjectures that are worth taking a look:
9to5Mac - "All these new lines will come in multiple colors, one of the lines will come in two size capacities, and the other two lines will come in a single storage capacity. With the current iPod nanos and iPod shuffles both available in multiple colors (and with the nano currently available in two capacities and the shuffle in one), we think it is likely that new iPod nanos and iPod shuffles are launching next week. However, it is possible that there is a third line as well (that, too, comes in multiple colors). With the iPod touch currently available in two colors and three capacities (black/white, 8GB, 32GB, 64GB), we don’t believe the iPod touch is the third line that comes in multiple colors."
Previously, Japanese blog Macotakara has reported that the next-gen iPod touch be featuring a 4-inch display instead of a 3.5-inch one, just like the iPhone 5. The device will also take a leaf out of the popular iPhone 4S as its"internals"will be based on it. However, the exterior case will include a "buffed aluminum" rear shell instead, rather than the glass back of the iPhone 4S or the mirrored stainless steel of the current iPod touch.
Source: 9to5Mac

IE10 Users on Windows 8 May Be at Risk from IE's Embedded Flash Security Flaws


According to a report from ZDNet, Internet Explorer 10 users in Windows 8 may be at risk due security vulnerabilities in the browser's embedded Flash player. Microsoft has not release software patches for these security flaws as the company has yet to officially launch its new Windows 8 operating system.
Just last month in August, Adobe released a number of security updates for its Flash Player. According to the company's security bulletin, these software patches will "...address the vulnerabilities that could cause a crash and potentially allow an attacker to take control of the affected system.". The bulletin went further to label Microsoft's Windows operating system with a Priority Rating of 1as the operating system has a high risk of being compromised if the flaws are left unattended.
Due to the tight coupling of Flash player with IE10, Windows 8 users are unable to install updated versions of Adobe Flash Player themselves anymore. They would have to wait for IE10 update packages that contain updates from Adobe. According to ZDNet who spoke to Microsoft about this security issue, the former's response was that upon general availability of Windows 8, which is on 26 October this year, the security update will be released through Windows Update.
The main gripe about this situation is Microsoft's lethargic response to this critical security update. Though the current user base of Windows 8 is not large, the Redmond software company should exercise due diligence in timely updates as part of its strategy to keep users of its software safe and secure. As a workaround, current users of Windows 8 can avoid Internet Explorer 10 and use Chrome as their default browser. Incidentally, Google's Chrome also has its own embedded Flash player; however,  unlike IE10 in Windows 8, Google implemented Adobe's patches to the browser on August 21 and subsequently disseminated to Chrome users.
As a note to readers, Windows 8 RTM and Windows 8 Enterprise Evaluation can be obtained from the following channels; MSDN and TechNet.
(Source: ZDNetGoogle, Microsoft (1), (2))

LG's 84-inch Ultra-High Definition TV Slated to Arrive in Singapore Next Month


Image credit: LG Electronics.

As published by Engadget moments earlier, LG announced that its 84-inch 4K TV will go on sale in the States next month.
Local fans who've been waiting for this massive display will be happy to note that it's slated to reach Singapore during the first week of October as well. This is confirmed by an LG spokesperson, although the South Korean firm is still in the midst of sorting out the TV's local pricing. Judging by its U.S. tag of US$19,999, we are expecting the 84LM9600 to be priced around the S$20K ballpark as well. 
The Ultra-High Definition display is currently on sale in South Korea, and it will carry LG's passive FPR (Film Patterned Retarder) 3D tech, or more popularly known as Cinema 3D. With a native resolution of 3,840 by 2,160 pixels, the 84-inch LM9600 possesses an equivalent of four times the resolution of a conventional Full-HD TV. Since LG's FPR practically halves the resolution for 3D pictures to each eye, users will still be able to enjoy 1080p images on the left and right eye given the 84LM9600's 4K resolution.
Like its smaller 55-inch LM9600 sibling, the 84-inch model will also offer similar perks, such as LG's point-and-click Magic Remote, WiDi (a peer-to-peer wireless display feature), and of course, the attractive Home Dashboard platform found on all of LG's Smart TVs. With a general lack of 4K content at present, LG's "Resolution Upscaler Plus" and its up-converting feature will be indispensable on the giant UHDTV screen. 
We surmise the 84LM9600's BLU (Backlight Unit) will probably be the same as the current 55-inch model, which uses LG's ALEF technology to provide benefits of direct backlighting with local dimming without sacrificing the TV's slim profile.
Source: Engadget 

Micron and SanDisk Shares Jump after OCZ Warns of NAND Shortage


Shares of memory chipmakers Micron and SanDisk jumped 5% to 8% just yesterday after SSD-maker OCZ revised its forecast for its second quarter earnings and warned of impending memory chip shortages.
Shares of Micron jumped 5.97% to $6.55 while SanDisk surged 8.0% to $43.85.
In reaction to surging sales of Apple products earlier this year, memory chip makers ramped up production leading to a glut of memory chips, which then led to decreased prices. As a result, chip makers are making adjustments to production to stabilize prices. In particular, Toshiba has announced in July that it would be slashing production by 30%.
In a note to clients, Citi analyst Glen Yeung mentioned that production reductions made by Toshiba and others in the industry have yet to be fully felt. One could therefore expect prices of NAND storage products to  rise slightly in the coming months ahead.
Source: Mercury News

Apple Prepares Pandora Competitor?


People in the know have told the Wall Street Journal that Apple may be cooking up something new. Taking note of the success of internet radio and music streaming sites such as Pandora and Spotify, they might be looking to grab a slice of the pie and enter the market with their own product.
While Pandora has posted impressive revenue growth number since the start, the company has yet to turn a profit which is to be expected. Costs in the form of royalty and licensing are sure to be high in the music business. However, the company with the world's largest market cap could probably negotiate a better deal for themselves, which could spell trouble for other competitors.
Pandora and Spotify are only available in the USA and Europe. If Apple can bring their music streaming service to Asia like they did with the iTunes store, they could get a head start on the rest. As the service has not been confirmed we do not expect any big announcements related to it at the upcoming 12th September 2012 Apple event.

Amazon Unveils New Kindle Fire Tablets


Amazon today announced its latest Kindle Fire offerings, which are set to give the Google Nexus 7 and Apple iPads a run of their money. The new devices are the Kindle Fire (2012), Kindle Fire HD 7-inch, Kindle Fire HD 8.9-inch and Kindle Fire HD 8.9-inch (LTE).

Amazon Kindle Fire (2012)

Amazon claims that the new Kindle Fire offers 40% faster performance due to its upgraded processor (TI OMAP 4430 dual-core 1.2GHz) and 1GB RAM (double that of the original). It also boasts a longer battery life as the device has been optimized for better power management. On paper, it can provide up to 9 hours of reading, web surfing, video and music playback. You can pre-order the Amazon Kindle Fire at US$159 and it will start shipping on 14th September.

Amazon Kindle Fire HD 7-inch 

The Amazon Kindle Fire HD 7-inch sports a higher resolution display (1280 x 800 pixels) and a newer processor (TI OMAP 4460 1.2GHz). The 7-inch display has reduced screen glare as it has a new laminated touch sensor with no air gap.Similar to the Google Nexus 7 and ASUS tablets, the Kindle Fire HD uses In-Plane-Switching (IPS) technology for improved color reproduction.
The Kindle Fire HD is reportedly the first tablet with dual-band, dual-antenna Wi-Fi for 40% faster downloads and streaming compared to the Apple iPad (2012). It also features exclusive Dolby audio and dual-driver stereo speakers for virtual surround sound.
It measures 193 x 137 x 10.3mm and weighs 395g, which makes it fairly portable compared to the other 7-inch tablets. Its battery life is rated up to 11 hours of reading, web surfing and multimedia consumption.
It is available in two storage capacities: 16 and 32GB with no memory card slot. You can pre-order the Amazon Kindle Fire HD 7-inch for US$199 (16GB) and US$249 (32GB). Shipments will begin on 14thSeptember.

Amazon Kindle Fire HD 8.9-inch / LTE

Amazon introduces a new 8.9-inch form factor instead of the 10-inch variant which was rumored. The 8.9-inch display boasts a higher resolution at 1920 x 1200 pixels, which translates to a pixel density of 254ppi. In comparison, the Google Nexus 7 has a pixel density of 216ppi. 
The Kindle Fire HD 8.9-inch runs on a newer and faster TI OMAP 4470 dual-core 1.5GHz processor, which Amazon claims to have 40% more memory bandwidth than the NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad-core processors.
Due to its larger form factor, the Kindle Fire HD 8.9-inch weighs 567g, a weight category that is dominated by 10-inch tablets. Fortunately, it maintains a sleek profile of 8.8mm.
There is also a LTE variant with a custom-designed 4G wireless modem that supports 10 bands; when you are in a place with no 4G LTE network, the device will fall back on the fastest available network.
The Amazon Kindle Fire HD 8.9-inch is priced at US$299 (16GB) and US$369 (32GB). Shipment will begin on 20th November. The LTE variant is selling for US$499 (32GB) and US$599 (64GB). Shipment is expectedto ship on the same day as its non-LTE variant.
Sources: Amazon (1) (2) (3) (4) via Android Central

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Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon and T-430u Launched


Earlier today, Lenovo invited members of the media to celebrate the 20th Anniversary for the ThinkPad series as well as to launch the new X1 Carbon and T430u Ultrabooks.
Khoo Hung Chuan (center) with models holding the newly launched ThinkPad X1 Carbon and ThinkPad T430u Ultrabooks

During this event, Khoo Hung Chuan, Country General Manager for Lenovo Malaysia, was present to highlight some of the notable accomplishments their ThinkPad has achieved since its conception 20 years ago, like the Butterfly Keyboard on the ThinkPad 701c and the 750c, which was the first laptop to leave planet Earth.
“Very few brands are fortunate enough to become an industry icon with loyal fans who are passionate about each generation of ThinkPad products. The ThinkPad brand has stood the test of time with features like its black bento box shape, the red trackpoint and unmatched reliability,” commented Khoo.
The roll cage that protects selected ThinkPad models

Launched in 2000, this marks the beginning of the ThinkPad T-Series

In conjunction with the celebration, Lenovo also decided to launch two new portable computing devices that will mark the ThinkPad’s debut in the Ultrabook platform. The first of which was the X1 Carbon, which is hailed as the lightest professional Ultrabook out there in the market. The X1 Carbon comes housed in an incredibly stylish carbon fiber chassis which effectively lowers the weight of the entire device to a mere 1.36kg.
Powered by the 3rd Generation Intel Core processors, these Ultrabooks also offer business users features like Intel’s vPro technology for corporate level security and manageability. In addition to this, there are a ton of accessories that will complement the X1 Carbon, including a new USB 3.0 dock and even extended warranties to protect against accidental damage.
The ThinkPad T430u, on the other hand, also comes with the latest 3rd Generation Intel Core processors but it also packs in NVIDIA’s GeForce graphics card for those who desire more performance out of their Ultrabooks. Slightly thicker than the X1 Carbon, the T430u compensates by offering a storage capacity of up to a massive 1TB for heavy duty users.
The ThinkPad Carbon starts at a RRP of RM5,399, while the ThinkPad T430u will be priced starting at RM3,799.
For more Lenovo news updates, please click here.

iPhone Camera Slow to Open? Here’s How to Fix That


If iPhone Camera Slow to Open, Fix it By Clearing your Camera Roll Photos
When you’re stuck staring at the grey lens shutter graphic for 5 to 10 seconds before you can even take a picture, you’ve likely already missed the shot you were hoping to get. Obviously the quickest way to access the iPhone camera is using the lock screen cameraswipe instead of manually launching the Camera app, but what if both methods take a long time to open?
If you constantly find yourself looking at the lens shutter graphic and waiting forever for the slow camera to load, all you need to do to speed up Cameras launch is delete all the iPhone photos.
How you clear out the pictures is up to you, though it’s fastest if you connect the iPhone to a computer and delete them from there rather than deleting them in iOS itself. Also, if you establish a USB connection you can easily transfer all the pictures to the computerbefore ditching them all, which is certainly worthwhile if you have pictures you care about.
By clearing out the Camera Roll, you’ll dramatically speed up the launch time of the Camera app. Why does this work? Maybe because it’s not loading thumbnails or having to calculate the number of pictures stored on the device, who knows, but it seems the more images you have stored in Camera Roll the slower the Camera app takes to load. This is a problem that is felt much worse on the gradually aging hardware of iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4, so trim back on the stored images and get your speed back. 
OS X Daily                                                                       SOURCE=

Epson Shares the V.I.P. Experience


From L-R: Danny Lee, General Manager, Sales & Marketing Division, Epson Malaysia; Koichi Endo, Managing Director, Epson Southeast Asia; and Yasuhiro Kasai, Country Manager, Epson Malaysia officiating the event.

Epson yesterday held an event that served to celebrate its 70th anniversary and introduce a number of the latest Epson products to the Malaysian market. Called the Epson V.I.P. (Visual Imaging and Printing) Experience Day, the event saw the attendance of some of the top people from Epson including Koichi Endo, Managing Director, Epson Southeast Asia; Yasuhiro Kasai, Country Manager, Epson Malaysia; and Danny Lee, General Manager, Sales & Marketing Division, Epson Malaysia.
At the event, a number of new Epson products were unveiled, including the Epson L-series of printers, the EB-1700 and EB-Z8000/10000 projector series, professional photo printers, and receipt / label printers.
The Epson L110 and L210 are two new printers that sport a new ink tank system that makes ink refilling much easier. They are also able to print up to six images per minute, which is twice as fast as the models they replace. There is also the L300 and L350, which are printers designed for SMB users, with print speeds of up to nine images per minute.
Pictured here are the new Epson L-series of printers.

As for projectors, the EB-1776W features the world's first real-time automatic keystone correction. This allows the projector to automatically realign its image when placed at different locations. Also unveiled at the event were the EB-Z800/10000 ultra bright projectors, which have luminance ratings of up to 10,000 lumens.
The Epson EB-Z10000 is a powerful projector with a luminance rating of up to 10,000 lumens.

In terms of professional photo printers, Epson showcased the SureColor SC-S30670 signage printer and SureLab D3000 digital photo dry lab. The SureColor SC-S30670 is the first signage printer to incorporate Epson’s Micro Piezo Thin Film Piezo print head, allowing it to deliver 72- nozzles per color. The SureLab SL-D3000, on the other hand, is Epson’s first-ever photo dry lab system. It features a six-color ink set and offers a print resolution of up to 1440 x 1440 dpi. Both these products make use of Epson’s new Ultra Chrome D6 ink that provide a wide color gamut for the best color printouts.
Last but not least, Epson also introduced the TM-88V-I receipt printer, which is equipped with an XML processor. Thanks to this, this printer can work with mobile devices for wireless printing, providing a more flexible payment system for businesses.
For more news on Epson, please click here.

Meet the Three New Motorola Android Smartphones for the Razr Lineup


Motorola along with its parent company Google are adding three new Android smartphones to the Razr lineup. These are the handy 4.3" Motorola Razr M, the power-packed Motorola Razr Maxx HD, and the sleek 4.7" Motorola Razr HD. (As seen on the image below.)
(Image Source: AppleInsider)

The Motorola Razr M has an AMOLED edge-to-edge display and will be available in the US under two-year contract with Verizon at a price of US$ 99.99 after a US$ 50 mail-in rebate. It will be compatible with Verizon's 4G LTE network. It is planned to be launched at some Asia Pacific countries but which countries are still unidentified.
Though it sports a 4.7" display, the Motorola Razr HD is known to be the most compact smartphone on its league. It is power-efficient that provides the battery to last 10 hours when watching movies or 6 hours when surfing the web.The Razr HD will be launched in the US before the holidays under the brand name Droid Razr HD by Motorola. Afterwards, it will also be released in Asia Pacific, Europe, North America and Latin America.
The Motorola Razr Maxx HD will have almost the same features as the Razr HD but with greater battery life. This droid is expected to last 13 hours on straight movie viewing or 8 hours web browsing. 
With this revelation from Motorola, would this be enough to match Apple's impending announcement of iPhone 5 on the 12th? That we'll have to see.
Source: AppleInsider 

HWM Goes Showtime This September 2012!



It's showtime on HWM's September 2012 issue! Four premium 3D Smart TVs go head-to-head in a decisive Multi-Test, followed by the HWM Team's comprehensive home entertainment system buying guide. But that's not all! For those who want to enjoy more out there in the great outdoors rather than in the cozy indoors, we also have a shootout of the best rugged and waterproof digital cameras available today.
Whether you're a fan of taking it easy in the cozy indoors or looking for adventure in the great outdoors, the HWM Team surely has you covered, giving you the Power to Decide.

Sony Puts Price Tag on the Ginormous 84-Inch 4K Bravia KD-84X900


(Image Source: Engadget)

The Sony 84-Inch 4K Bravia KD-84X900 is coming soon and pre-orders in the US for this contingent TV king has already started. Priced at a whopping US$ 25,000, this ginormous television is big in size as it is in price. Some of its key features include: 
· 84-inch, 4K LCD Panel
· Dynamic edge lit, LED backlighting
· Three-chip, 4K X-Reality Pro picture engine
   o 4K upscaling
· 10 Unit Live Speaker System
· Passive Full HD 3D Capable
· Network connectivity, including the full Sony Entertainment Network suite of services
However, the wait is until November for the Sony 84-Inch 4K Bravia KD-84X900 before it arrives to many homes. As of now, the waiting time can be used to save up to pay off for this monster TV.
Source: Engadget

Photoshop on iOS Gets Updates, Include Retina Display and Photo Stream Support


Adobe recently released updates for the Photoshop Touch, the Photoshop version for iOS and Android. The update includes support for new devices that has retina display capability such as the third-generation iPad. Another feature included in the update is the app's integration with Apple's Photo Stream that will allow users to extract images directly from the cloud. Though the latest Photoshop Touch is for both iOS and Android, iOS users seem to have more benefit with this one compared with Android users.
(Image Source: Adobe)

The updated Photoshop Touch has new UI features like adding functionality to work with images as large as 12MP. Two new effects were also added, namely Colorize and Shred.
Adobe has recently announced that Photoshop and Lightroom will also have retina display support for MacBook. It also plans to upgrade Dreamweaver, Edge Animate, Illustrator, Photoshop Touch, Prelude, Adobe Premiere Pro and SpeedGrade to have HiDPI support.
Source: AppleInsider

Inno3D GT 620 and Zotac GT 630 Synergy Edition - NVIDIA Entry-level Graphics Resurgence


The GeForce 600 series graphics cards of NVIDIA were released around the second quarter of this year, beginning with the GTX 680 which features the GK104 chip with the latest 28nm Kepler architecture. Without a doubt, the Kepler architecture brought in new and advanced features to GPU computing such as NVIDIA Surround (multiple monitors on a single card), GPU Boost, Adaptive Vertical Sync, and a lot more. 
Being a high-end card, however, the GTX 680 is not for everyone as it is slated to capture the gaming/enthusiast market. Still, mainstream users should not forget that NVIDIA caters to everyone with their cards. Mainstream users are sure to be delighted by the more recent release of the 600 series entry-level cards of NVIDIA, the GeForce GT 610, GT 620, and the GT 630.

 
Here is an image of NVIDIA's reference GeForce GT 630. The GT 630 is one of the entry-level GeForce 600 series cards that NVIDIA has introduced.

NVIDIA's entry-level lineup of this generation, however, does not use the latest Kepler architecture. Instead, the GT 610, GT 620, and the GT 630 are equipped with the GF108 chip which is based on the older Fermi architecture. This might come as a bit of a shock to some but rehashing of older chips has been done before and not only by NVIDIA but also by AMD. While the GT 610, GT 620, and the GT 630 is still using Fermi chips, these cards can still blow away your integrated graphics for a very low cost.
We have samples of Inno3D's GT 620 and Zotac's GT 630 Synergy Edition. Let's see how these entry-level cards perform.
SOURCE=HARDWAREZONE.COM

ASUS Presents Chill Spectrum: Show Off What You Cool Off Contest


Source: ASUS

With the arrival of the new and ROG exclusive hybrid Fusion Thermo Solution, ASUS is inviting PC cooling enthusiasts to participate in this celebration. By joining the event and uploading specs and photos on the official ROG site, contestants may win exciting prizes through community vote.
Here's the press release from ASUS:

Celebrate the arrival of the ASUS exclusive Fusion Thermo Solution and win awesome Prizes!
Manila, Philippines — The ROG exclusive hybrid Fusion Thermo Solution is here, and to celebrate its arrival, ROG invites you to take part in its assembly of the world’s most creative PC cooling enthusiasts. As a force for innovation in PC gaming and overclocking, ROG wants to reward the efforts of pioneering watercoolers the world over. So come join us; we’d love to have your participation!
What is the Fusion Thermo Solution?
As the first-ever design of its kind, the patent-pending Fusion Thermo Solution on the new Maximus V Formula blends both air cooling and water cooling setups in a single heatsink. It combines an all-copper water channel, with a fast-dissipation heatpipe inside, all wrapped in black anodized aluminum fins. Whatever your cooling style, the Fusion Thermo Solution raises your game.
Share Your Water Cooled Rig and Win!
For those with liquid cooling setups on any ROG, TUF, or ASUS motherboard, join us by uploading specs and photos for the community to see your skills – and in return you will have a chance to win some truly amazing prizes! Winners will be chosen by popularity of the community vote. The competition will run from September 03, 2012 to October 1, 2012.
For more details on the competition and to know more about the ASUS Fusion Thermo Solution, follow thelink to the Fusion Thermo Promotion page.

Alleged Next-Gen iPhone Placed Side-by-Side with iPhone 4S


Source: iResQ

Here's something fresh from the rumors of the alleged next-gen iPhone: Repair site iResq has just posted comparison shots between the upcoming iPhone 5 and the iPhone 4S. The side-by-side photos of the two suggests a thinner profile for the soon-to-be-released device made possible with a new chassis build.
According to the photos seen above, the expected iPhone 5 went from the present 3.5-inch display to a bigger 4-inch screen size. Although there has been changes in the height, the bezel, home button, and speaker proportions appear the same. The headphone jack relocation, on the other hand, remains consistent with previous reports.
Source: iResQ

The sixth-gen iPhone was said to feature an in-cell display partnered with a uni-body design (rather than the glass-sandwich design), thus making it a couple of millimeters thinner than the present iPhone 4S. Apple has sent out invitations to the press about the official announcement on September 12, 2012. "It's almost here," they said.
Source: iResQ via Apple Insider