Legit Reviews News History
Monday Reviews from Around the Web
Corsair has released their new Corsair 2GB XMS PC4000 Platinum memory, and Techgage.com has a lot to say about it (mostly good!). Find this and other reviews at the Legit Forums!
Corsairs back, and they have delivered the fastest memory we have ever tested! Clocked at DDR500 speeds and 3-4-4-8 timings, it's quite fast on it's own. Add on the large amount of overclocking headroom, and these modules have serious potential.
Posted by | Mon, Oct 31, 2005 - 01:42 PM
Web banking to get security upgrade
Finally, a good solution to the ever-growing problem of identity theft and unauthorized transactions. Banks are seeking to implement technology and software that not only logs your username and password (which is the main form of security now), but they can also log and identify items like IP address, what machine and location you're performing the transaction from, and even down to your personal connection speed. These tools will prove to be crucial to privacy protection and hopefully a large obstacle to "phishers" and trojan programs.
If you do banking over the Internet, generally the drill is pretty simple: You enter your user name and password, and away you go. But behind the scenes, the bank can do a lot to check you out: Are you at your home computer, or at one with an Internet address that, strangely, is registered overseas? Are you logging on at an unusual time of day, or from a super-fast connection when normally you have dial-up? This kind of analysis is one example of the layers that bank Web sites will be adding by the end of 2006 to meet new demands from federal regulators for "two-factor" authentication. That essentially means checking something more than just user name and password to verify a customer's identity. "Phishers" and other Internet fraud artists have become adept at stealing passwords, mainly through "social engineering." Preying on people's propensity to believe something seemingly authoritative, criminals send authentic-looking e-mails that send unsuspecting people to an authentic-looking Web site where they give away their data.
Posted by | Mon, Oct 31, 2005 - 09:31 AM
Supreme Court rejects Microsoft patent case
Microsoft was rejected today by the Supreme Court concerning the issue that certain components of Internet Explorer- components that the University of California and Eolas Technology, Inc. claimed they had patents for- infringed on a patent for such. If the school and tech firm gets their way, they may be able to take Microsoft to the cleaners, though a $521 million lawsuit was reversed against the software giant earlier this year.
The U.S. Supreme Court Monday refused to consider an appeal by Microsoft Corp in a case involving claims by a privately held California software firm and the University of California that Microsoft infringed their patents with its Internet Explorer browser. Without comment, the high court rejected an appeal by Microsoft that it said involved more than 64 percent of the $521 million patent infringement ruling against the software giant. (MSNBC is a Microsoft - NBC joint venture.) Microsoft sought review of an appeals court ruling that allows the privately held firm Eolas Technologies Inc. and the University of California to seek royalties based on the foreign manufacture and sale of an infringing software-related product. At issue is a ruling in March by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, which reversed an earlier $521 million verdict against Microsoft. Even though Microsoft essentially won on appeal in reversing the verdict, the company still appealed to the Supreme Court on another aspect of the ruling that leaves it open to damages when the case goes back for further proceedings.
Posted by | Mon, Oct 31, 2005 - 09:20 AM
The Internet and the future of TV
Today there are ways of getting cable TV programming to our PC's by way of an All-in-Wonder card or similar TV tuner card, but what if cable programming started to appear online, fully accessible through your broadband connection to the Internet, and on your TV rather than just on your PC monitor? It's not all that far off, but don't expect traditional cable TV to disappear, not by a long shot.
Instead of subscribing to a service from a cable, satellite or phone company that might offer you hundreds of channels you'll never watch, you would be able to select what you want and watch it on your own schedule. That day might not be so far away. Slowly but surely, content that's broadcast over cable networks and through satellite providers is being distributed through the public Internet. In terms of the technology, all the elements are falling into place to deliver high-quality video from the Net directly to viewers in their living rooms. Software has been developed to ensure the quality of video distributed over the Net. And companies such as Microsoft and Cisco Systems' Linksys home division are developing products that enable Internet video to be viewed on TV sets instead of only on PC screens.
Posted by | Mon, Oct 31, 2005 - 09:10 AM
PSC: DDR2 bandwagon won?t arrive until 2Q 2006
Powerchip Semiconductor Corp. (PSC) has admitted to overcoming the current demand for DDR2 module, and says that DDR2 will not become commonplace until the second quarter of next year. Of course, this means share buyback, which is currently going on with Winbond, PSC, and ProMOS.
Even after adjusting its DRAM output toward more DDR production, Powerchip Semiconductor Corporation (PSC) has admitted that its DDR2 output is still outpacing demand and DDR2 will only rise to become the mainstream memory after the first quarter of 2006, according to company vice president and spokesman Eric Tang. Tang indicated that only about one-fourth of global desktop and notebook PCs currently adopt DDR2. Global DDR2 output, however, accounts for about 40% of global memory output, which means oversupply for memory makers, he noted. Tang stated that no significant improvement in DDR2 sales should be seen in the near future amid tight Intel chipset supply. DDR2 should only rise to the mainstream late in the second quarter of 2006 when DDR2 supported chipset supply from Intel becomes smoother.
Posted by | Mon, Oct 31, 2005 - 08:58 AM
Blue Gene/L tops its own supercomputer record
IBM, which is internationally known for its business machines and large-scale servers and supercomputers, revealed Thursday in conjunction with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, the newest version of Blue Gene/L. This massive supercomputer broke its own record for calculations (which was 138.6 Tflops, or trillion calculations per second) to over double of the original record: 280.6 teraflops. This should significantly help with protein research and also help the military with nuclear blast simulations. Now this is power! (thanks goes to kenc for his contribution on this one)
The 65,536-processor machine can sustain 280.6 trillion calculations per second, called 280.6 teraflops, IBM said Thursday. That's the top end of the range IBM forecast and more than twice the previous Blue Gene/L record of 136.8 teraflops, set when only half the machine was installed. In addition, the lab unveiled a lesser known but also powerful machine with a speed up to 100 teraflops. The ASC Purple is built from more conventional IBM server products. Together, ASC Purple and Blue Gene/L cost $290 million. Both will be used for nuclear weapons simulations and other computationally demanding tasks. Broadly speaking, both machines use a similar approach: A powerful network connects huge numbers of processors. But there are differences. ASC Purple's 12,544 Power5 processors are individually more powerful than the specialized Power chip variants used in Blue Gene/L. And, each ASC Purple processor has access to more memory so that more complicated simulations can run. However, Blue Gene/L consumes less power, and instead of using a massive, complex central switch to connect processors, it uses a collection of five separate networks.
Posted by | Fri, Oct 28, 2005 - 08:44 PM
ECS Adds Intel Pentium M Support with the Launch of I9S SIMA Card
ECS contiues to step up into the mainsteream. i've actually been very impressed with ECS since the release of their KN1 Extreme Series boards.
...Taking full advantage of the SiS 649 chipset and supports 2GB of DDR400 (PC3200) memory, the new I9S SIMA card is a PCI-Express based add-on card for the PF88 Extreme Hybrid motherboard. The motherboard natively supports Intel LGA775 based processors. With the proprietary SIMA add-on card, users now have the option to run socket 479 based Pentium M processors on the desktop. Unlike the desktop based Pentium 4 platform, Pentium M processors utilize less power, dissipates less heat during operation and less noise as a result of less cooling required, thus making it an ideal platform for home theater PCs (HTPC) and media servers. In addition, Intel Pentium M based systems delivers accelerated performance in applications like games. Designed with the budget enthusiasts in mind who demand hardware flexibility without compromising performance, the new I9S SIMA card realizes technological innovation into real life applications......
Posted by | Fri, Oct 28, 2005 - 04:42 PM
Friday Reviews from Around the Web
The TechZone reviews the PowerColor X800 GT Xtreme Edition. Find this and other reviews at the Legit Forums!
Power for the X800 GT Xtreme is provided by ATI's R480 chipset running at 500MHz. This is 25MHz faster than the standard X800 GT. The Xtreme achieves this higher core speed with a better cooling solution. The normal X800 GT use 256 Meg of 2ns GDDR3 memory running at 980MHz. The Xtreme version use 1.6ns memory running at 1050MHz. All together, it adds up to a faster video card for just a few dollars more.
Posted by | Fri, Oct 28, 2005 - 01:24 PM
Vodafone to sell phones like Coke
Remember the news article posted earlier this week, entitled Vending Machines Sell IPods to Go? Well, a cellular phone company, Vodaphone, is providing select pay-as-you-go products by way of vending machines in the UK. Seems quite convenient, and the phones and SIM cards will be quite secure in the machine as it has the capability to send alerts out when the machine is being tampered with, or if stock is low.
Each QuickPhone kiosk will offer a choice of three phones for sale, for between 30 pounds and 60 pounds ($53.47 and $106.95), as well as SIM (subscriber identity module) card-only packs for 5 pounds ($8.91). The first two phone-spouting machines will be put up in Vodafone stores in Manchester, the company told Silicon.com. If all goes well, the operator will look to expand the scheme to other locations, potentially including airports, ferry terminals and shopping centers. Through a 3G or GPRS connection, the phone vending machines will be able to report stock levels and provide alerts, if they have been tampered with.
Posted by | Fri, Oct 28, 2005 - 09:49 AM
Selling green buildings with people power
Technology: meet Environment, Environment: Technology. According to studies that have been conducted, buildings that are built for efficiency (with water-saving technologies, air quality improvement systems, etc) have shown to increase office productivity at only a slightly higher cost than it is to build a normal office building. It's buildings like these that are good for decreasing overhead and essentially making employees more productive, and good for overall employee health as well.
In studies, so-called green or high-performance buildings have shown to have positive effects on people, compared to traditional buildings, all while saving money on energy, according to experts who spoke on a panel at the Clean Tech Venture Forum conference on Wednesday. Green buildings incorporate technologies, materials and designs to improve such things as air quality and lighting for inhabitants. They also use so-called clean technologies, such as computer operated climate control systems, to cut down on the energy and natural resources required to operate the physical structure. Better health of building occupants, among other benefits, is prompting more designers from all industries and government agencies to construct green buildings, panel members said. Sixty percent of U.S. property owners involved in construction used energy-efficient designs in the past year, according to construction consulting firm PinnacleOne.
Posted by | Fri, Oct 28, 2005 - 09:40 AM
Internet use is up, but so are concerns
Home Internet access has jumped significantly since the late 90's, to triple the users since 1997. However, with that comes increasing risks of identity theft, but that also goes to say, however, that these people have become more aware and smarter about usage and their personal information. In my opinion, I would love to see the entire American population have some sort of home Internet access, as it has become almost a necessity today.
Computer and Internet use is up, but so are concerns about identity theft and other online dangers. Fifty-five percent of American households had access to the Internet at home in 2003, more than triple the percentage in 1997, according to a report released Thursday by the Census Bureau. Internet usage increased with education, income and the presence of school-age children at home, the report found. It was lowest among adults who have not graduated from high school. School-age children are most likely to use home computers to play games or do school work. Adults are most likely to use home computers for e-mail, to search for information about products and services, and to read news, weather and sports information. The report is based on data from the bureau's October 2003 Current Population Survey, the country's primary source of labor statistics. It is the bureau's latest information on computer and Internet use, though it is two years old and experts say Americans' computer habits are quickly evolving.
Posted by | Fri, Oct 28, 2005 - 09:27 AM
Yamaha and Fujifilm tout LabelFlash to Taiwanese ODD makers
Yamaha and Fujifilm are trying to create a little competition with Hewlett-Packard apparently. They are trying to convince major optical drive manufacturers to sign on with the alternative to LightScribe, a technology developed by HP to create surface labels on DVD's: LabelFlash.
Yamaha Corporation and Fujifilm are trying to convince leading makers of optical disc drives (ODDs) to adopt LabelFlash, an alternative disc labeling technology to the Hewlett-Packard (HP) developed LightScribe, according to local ODD industry sources. A few leading ODD makers in Taiwan, including Lite-On IT and BenQ, have adopted LightScribe, but LightScribe-enabled DVD burners have not sold well because of expensive LightScribe DVD discs, the sources pointed out.
Posted by | Fri, Oct 28, 2005 - 09:18 AM
Yahoo Spotted Doubling the Price Online Music Subscriptions
Yahoo Inc. is doubling the price of its online music subscription service for portable MP3 players, ending a short-lived promotion that sought to lure consumers from Apple Computer Inc.'s market-leading iTunes store. We all knew the prices couldn't last, so this really is not a big shocker.
Effective November 1, Yahoo will charge about $120 annually for access via download to more than 1 million songs that can then be transferred to portable players. The Internet powerhouse has been charging just under $60 annually -- a price most industry observers predicted wouldn't last when Yahoo entered the market in early May. Subscribing to the service on a monthly basis will cost $11.99, up from $6.99 under the initial pricing plan. That's closer to but still below services from Napster Inc. and RealNetworks Inc., which each charge just under $15 per month.
Posted by | Fri, Oct 28, 2005 - 07:52 AM
Artist Shows The Gamers Behind The Avatars
Photo journalist Robbie Cooper has been traveling around China and Korea trying to catch the elusive gamer on film. Some of the photos captured the fascinating and largely unseen world of workers in China and Korea who earn their keep by looking after people's characters in games while they are at work, or asleep. Oh the great job of gold farming!
Millions around the world play, meet up, battle, buy and sell in online games and virtual worlds, such as Second Life and World of Warcraft. But to many, these virtual goings-on can be a total mystery. Armed with his lens, photo journalist Robbie Cooper has been facing up to gamers, revealing their intricate lives and identities to the rest of the world.
Posted by | Fri, Oct 28, 2005 - 07:42 AM
iPod nano prices cut to stimulate sales in Taiwan
The sales volume of MP3 players in the Taiwan market have nosedived following booming sales from September to early this month, according to Taiwanese retail channels, adding that even the immensely popular iPod nano is overstocked. After these price cuts they are now below where they are priced here in the states!
To stimulate sales, retail outlets have cut the price of the 2GB iPod nano from the recommended retail price of NT$6,900 (US$205) to NT$6,100 (US$181) and that of the 4GB model from NT$8,600 (US$255) to NT$8,000 (US$238), the channels pointed out. Apple Computer Taiwan, however, declined to release sales figures about the iPod nano and referred interested parties to the results of market surveys conducted by IDC and GfK Marketing Services.
Posted by | Fri, Oct 28, 2005 - 07:07 AM
Thursday Reviews from Around the Web
Today, [H]ardOCP asked the question, "NVIDIA SLI - Ready for Mainstream?" Find out what they have to say about NVIDIA SLI and find other reviews from around the web by visiting the Legit Forums!
There is something about owning an SLI setup that just gets your testosterone flowing. Undoubtedly, SLI was brought back with the hardcore enthusiast in mind. Yes, there have been system builders selling it as well, but we all know that the mass market in this niche has been me and you, the computer hardware enthusiast crowd. With ForceWare v81.85's release, NVIDIA's SLI is now all grown up.
Posted by | Thu, Oct 27, 2005 - 07:26 PM
Sweden convicts first online movie file-sharer
A Swedish court made the first conviction for using an online file-sharing network this week in Sweden. Twenty eight-year-old Andreas Bawer was found guilty of breaching copyright by distributing a Swedish movie online and fined 16,000 kronor or US$2,000 for the crime. It is weird seeing Sweden coming down on file sharing after years of not dealing with it.
In the past, Sweden has been criticised for being lax on online piracy and introduced a new law in July. This case relates to 2004, before the new law banning the downloading of copyrighted material came into effect. Prior to the law, an estimated 900,000 Swedes regularly downloaded movies, games and music. The Swedish Anti-piracy Agency, which represents the entertainment industry, hailed the verdict as a big step forward. "This sends a very strong signal to file-sharers," said Henrik Ponten, legal council at the group. "Now we have taken the first step toward a functioning copyright law."
Posted by | Thu, Oct 27, 2005 - 12:42 AM
Margins Drive Maxtor Stock Shares Lower
Weak gross margins pushed hard-drive maker Maxtor (MXO) into a disappointing third quarter, despite a 10% increase in unit sales. Shares of Maxtor were trading down $0.05 cents or -1.36% to $3.64 at the closing bell as a result of the news. Maxtor shares have dropped nearly a full dollar in October.
And the end of the company's hard times is not yet in sight. Maxtor is late to market with new, high-capacity drives and instead of the expected fourth-quarter profit, Maxtor forecast a substantial loss. The Milpitas, Calif.-based company on Wednesday said it lost $17 million, or 7 cents a share, compared with a loss of $95 million, or 38 cents a share, in the same quarter of 2004. Revenue was off slightly to $926.5 million vs. $927.2 million last year.
Posted by | Thu, Oct 27, 2005 - 12:36 AM
Google leaks classified ad service
Google Inc. has unintentionally provided a sneak peek at what appears to be a looming expansion into classified advertising -- a free service that might antagonize some of the Internet search engine's biggest customers, including online auctioneer eBay Inc. I am glad that Google is stepping up to the plate and taking on nearly every online niche that has the ability to make money. With all the money raised from their IPO it has put Google into a position to dominate if the right cards are played.
Screen shots of the experimental service, dubbed "Google Base," appeared on several Web sites Tuesday shortly after the legions of people who dissect the online search engine leader's every move discovered a link to a page inviting people to list things like a used car for sale, a party planning service and current events. Google confirmed the development of the service a few hours after taking down the link. "We are testing new ways for content owners to easily send their content to Google," the Mountain View, California-based company said in a statement. "We're continually exploring new opportunities to expand our offerings, but we don't have anything to announce at this time."
Posted by | Thu, Oct 27, 2005 - 12:29 AM
HDTV arrives in Europe
Good news for European television viewers: HD is now in your neck of the woods. ProSiebenSat. 1 launched HD today, with the premiere broadcast being on Sunday. Now, they can get a taste of what their TV has been missing for a long time.
ProSiebenSat.1 launched high-definition television in Germany on Wednesday, becoming Europe's first major broadcaster to transmit using the high-resolution format that is considered TV's future. The free-to-air broadcaster plans to show selected programs in HDTV on its two main channels, ProSieben and Sat.1, starting with the Hollywood blockbuster "Minority Report" starring Tom Cruise on Sunday. Other European broadcasters including BSkyB (BSY.L: Quote, Profile, Research) in Britain, CanalSat (CNLP.PA: Quote, Profile, Research) in France and Sky Italia (NWS.N: Quote, Profile, Research) in Italy have all promised HDTV by next June in time for the soccer World Cup, which will be used as a showcase for the format. ProSieben Chief Executive Guillaume de Posch told Reuters that the company would invest about 3 million euros a year in HDTV programming and transmission. "It will take us three to five years to make it profitable," de Posch said on the sidelines of the official launch at the annual Medientage media event in Munich. Though only relatively small numbers of HDTV-ready sets have been bought in western Europe so far, 14 million households in the region are expected to own one by 2008, analysts at research firm Euroconsult forecast.
Posted by | Wed, Oct 26, 2005 - 09:40 AM