OCZ Technology Launches New Enterprise-Class Intrepid 3000 Series Delivering Its Fastest and Largest Capacity SATA III SSDs to Date

Superior Sustained I/O Operations and Latency Consistency Positions the Intrepid 3000 Series in a Class by Itself
SAN JOSE, CA - December 12, 2013 - OCZ Technology Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:OCZ), a leading provider of high-performance solid-state drives (SSDs) for computing devices and systems, today introduced its next-generation Intrepid 3000 Series of enterprise-class SATA III-based SSDs delivering the industry's best sustained performance and consistent I/O responses. As the series supports storage capacities up to 800GB, Intrepid 3 represents OCZ's highest performing and largest capacity enterprise SATA SSDs to date. Leveraging the Everest 2 Platform, a combination of the Marvell 88SS9187 controller with OCZ's proprietary firmware, the new series features advanced flash management and endurance capabilities that extend NAND flash life and enhance drive reliability, all supported by a 5-year warranty.
‘Incredibly fast' best describes the new Intrepid 3000 Series. In a steady state condition by which the drive is writing, erasing and re-writing data repeatedly over the full capacity of the drive, the performance for both large block sequential operations, as well as small block random operations, is unrivaled. This includes 520 MB/s for sequential reads (128K blocks), 470 MB/s for sequential writes (128K blocks), 91,000 input/output operations per second (IOPS) for random reads (4K blocks) and 40,000 IOPS for random writes (4K blocks). In comparison to OCZ's previous SATA III enterprise drives, the Intrepid 3000 Series delivers five times faster sustained performance for 4K write operations and two times faster sustained performance for 4K read operations.
The proprietary Intrepid 3000 Series firmware is optimized to achieve consistent I/O responses and continues to perform at top speed regardless of whether data is in a compressed or uncompressed format. In this scenario, OCZ's new advanced flash management efficiently manages all of the housekeeping routines such as garbage collection, enabling the SSD to keep up with incoming read and write requests.
"Our new Intrepid 3000 Series leverages in-house firmware with an impressive enterprise feature-set to enable customers with unprecedented performance, data management, endurance and reliability, and cost flexibility resulting in an optimal storage environment," said Daryl Lang, SVP of Product Management for OCZ Technology. "Delivering exceptional SSD responsiveness in even the most demanding and compute-intensive applications, the Intrepid 3000 Series achieves unsurpassed performance under any workload, regardless of data type and I/O pattern for the complete spectrum of applications including online archiving, media streaming and web browsing OLTP, VDI, email and analytics."

NVIDIA GeForce Experience 1.8: Introducing Adjustable Optimal Playable Settings & Significant ShadowPlay Updates

Since its release this January, GeForce Experience has optimized millions of gamers' systems, giving them optimal game settings, the latest drivers and profiles, access to SHIELD game streaming, and with the release of GeForce Experience 1.7 last month, the ability to automatically capture gameplay footage with a minimal performance impact through the integrated ShadowPlay application.

Today, we are releasing GeForce Experience 1.8, which includes game-changing Optimal Playable Setting functionality, and a number of ShadowPlay updates that make the innovative, critically-lauded gameplay recorder even better at capturing your favorite action-packed moments.

Introducing Adjustable Optimal Playable Settings

The core of GeForce Experience is its Optimal Playable Settings function, which recommends ideal combinations of settings customized for each system, giving gamers the perfect balance between image quality and performance.

At launch, GeForce Experience offered an easy one-click solution to often-complicated game configuration. It was a major innovation for gamers unsure of what to change to improve performance and fidelity, and for gamers intimidated by dozens of acronym-laced settings. For them, consoles were more appealing - a simple plug and play solution. With GeForce Experience, we brought those gamers back into a world of high-definition, super-high fidelity gaming. Over time, it was clear from user feedback that while all loved the idea of GeForce Experience, some preferred to have a super-smooth 60 frames per second experience, while others preferred 30 frames per second with superior image quality.

Today, with the release of GeForce Experience 1.8, users can now open a new in-app panel that enables customization of our one-click Optimal Playable Settings. Resolutions up to 3840x2160 can be applied, Fullscreen, Windowed and Borderless Windowed modes can be selected, and optimal settings altered with the movement of a slider, enabling users to choose between default Optimal settings and those that favor image quality over performance, or vice versa.

By default, we recommend a Screen Resolution, Fullscreen experience, one that gives you at least 40 frames per second during a game's most demanding moments. With GeForce Experience 1.8, if you prefer 60 frames per second drag the adjustable slider to the left; if you're happy with 30 frames per second drag it to the right to increase image quality. Changes to the Optimal recommendations are instantly reflected in the user interface, showing you the combination of settings you'll use in-game, and if you prefer to play in a window, the option can be quickly selected via the dropdown.

To determine system configurations for Optimal Playable Settings we read the make and model of your CPU and GPU. To read your clock speeds would require an invasive system scan that we do not perform (the GeForce Experience FAQ details our data collection policy), meaning we're unable to account for overclocking, which can make a system considerably faster. With the introduction of Adjustable Optimal Settings, you can now manually adjust recommendations to account for overclocks, by dragging the slider to the right to increase image quality.

Similarly, if you Downsample from a higher resolution, the Downsample resolution can now be manually applied, and the recommendations will instantly update based on your system configuration. As above, you can further tweak the recommendations to account for overclocks and performance preferences.

The introduction of Adjustable Optimal Settings dramatically improves the functionality of GeForce Experience, making it an invaluable tool for overclockers and those who prefer more eye candy or more performance than our default Optimal Playable Settings provided in the past. For 4K gamers and power users who Downsample, the new Adjustable Optimal Settings function is particularly beneficial, given the demands 4K Gaming places on any system.

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WD® debuts world's first SSD+HDD dual drive

Innovative 2.5-inch Drive Pairs 120 GB SSD with 1 TB Hard Drive to Deliver Maximum Performance, Data Control in Ultimate Upgrade for Notebook, AIO, Single-Drive Bay Systems

WD®, a Western Digital (NASDAQ: WDC) company and storage industry leader, today announced the release of the WD Black2TM dual drive, a unique storage innovation that fuses a 2.5-inch 120 GB solid state drive (SSD) with a 1 TB hard disk drive (HDD) to offer a powerful dual drive solution. Perfect for consumers and service providers looking to upgrade notebooks, small form factor desktops, and single-slot and all-in-one (AIO) systems with both SSD level performance and HDD capacity, the WD Black2dual drive connects through a single cable and fits into a conventional 9.5 mm slot. 

"Our customers told us they like our Solid State Hybrid Drive technology, but our tech savvy users asked for more control of where they store their data," said Matt Rutledge, senior vice president of WD's Storage Technology business unit. "The WD Black2 dual drives empower our customers to enjoy SSD performance and access high capacity storage in a no-compromise package. The WD Black2 dual drive is a direct result of our interaction with our customer base through WD Labs initiatives. WD devised its beta labs program to provide an exclusive testing arena for key customers and technology influencers of existing and emerging WD storage products."

2-in-1

Designed for enthusiasts, creative professionals, gamers and PC builders, the WD Black2 dual drive provides improved overall drive capacity, performance, and reliability, while offering the flexibility to choose how and where their data is stored. Utilising the benefits of both flash and magnetic disks, WD Black2 dual drives offload data usage from the SSD to the HDD, which increases endurance and life of the SSD. Users maintain greater data control, which can eliminate the need and expense of cloud-based storage.

WD Black2 is free of caching algorithms and benefits from SATA 6 Gb/second interface speed. It is neatly packaged in a standard 9.5 mm, 2.5-inch form factor with legacy SATA connector, making the WD Black2 dual drive compatible with popular PC operating systems ranging from Windows XP to Windows 8.1.

SAPPHIRE releases Performance Boost for R9 290 - BIOS Flash gives greater headroom for enthusiasts

SAPPHIRE Technology has just announced that it is releasing a performance enhancing BIOS for the recently introduced SAPPHIRE R9 290 graphics card.

Based on the latest GCN (Graphics Core Next) architecture from AMD, the new SAPPHIRE R9 290 introduced enthusiast level performance and some exciting new features at a more affordable price point than the flagship R9 290X model.

Many enthusiasts and gamers like to tune the performance of their systems, and SAPPHIRE has always provided tools for this to be achieved safely. For many current models, the SAPPHIRE TriXX software, free to download from the company's website, offers the ability to adjust clocks and fan speeds to optimise operation of the graphics card for different applications and save different profiles.

In the case of the new SAPPHIRE R9 290, it is recognised that performance is capped by the system when the GPU temperature reaches its operating maximum. Therefore, by providing better cooling, maximum performance levels can be raised. As all the current products are shipping with the standard blower style cooler, this can only be achieved by increasing the fan speed to increase airflow in the cooler, with the trade-off that fan and air flow noise will also be increased.

After internal testing under various operating conditions, SAPPHIRE is now releasing a BIOS specifically for the currently available R9 290 which operates with a different fan profile, and a maximum fan speed of 47%. The company believes this offers the user the best compromise for enhanced performance, noise and reliability. The new BIOS and Flash tool are available free to download from the company's website.

Always looking to provide the user with the best solutions, SAPPHIRE will be introducing new models in the R9 290 family over the coming weeks based on the company's own designs and with innovative and enhanced cooling solutions.

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- Cloud-based set-up and file management with ReadyCLOUD.
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Photographs, video clips, songs, web sites, text messages… the types of data that enrich our lives can seem endless. With ReadyNAS you finally have an easy way to centralize, access and share your digital world. Way more than just simple storage for all your stuff, every ReadyNAS features unprecedented protection of your files, the ability to manage stored data from any webenabled device and a library of add-ons that allow you to do more with your storage than you ever thought possible Every networked attached storage (NAS) device from NETGEAR runs on the revolutionary ReadyNAS operating system.

Designed with ease-of-use in mind, new devices are discovered automatically through the cloud and feature a sleek, modern interface. Also, stored data is protected not only with automatic RAID configuration, but this ReadyNAS is the first to offer home users the continuous data protection of unlimited snapshots along with real-time anti-virus and native encryption. In addition to the confidence of knowing data is secure from virtually any threat, ReadyNAS features remote access innovations, seamless cloud-based file synchronization (ReadyDROP) and the ability to backup data from your Mac anywhere in the world when using Apple Time Machine.®

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Linksys Re-Enters the Small and Medium Business Marketplace with the launch of New Unmanaged Switches and VPN Routers

Rushden, UK - November 19, 2013 - Linksys announced it has re-entered the Small and Medium Business (SMB) marketplace with the launch of seven new unmanaged switches (three with PoE) and two new VPN Routers.  Linksys sold SMB infrastructure products for 20 years and has been a leading provider of switches and routers.  The Linksys SMB brand was dissolved a few years ago, but now is back under Belkin International to offer a portfolio of business networking and security products that will target SMB businesses and resellers.

"It's with our commitment to honour the Linksys heritage by entering back into the SMB space to target SMB businesses and resellers with solutions that are purpose-built for SMB environments," said Mohammad Meraj Hoda, Vice President Linksys International Markets.  "Our competitive advantage is our solid 20+ experience in the SMB space and we understand customers, resellers and partners want quality products with high performance while servicing them to help grow their business.  Our line-up of switches and VPN routers is the first in a series of high performance business networking and security solutions to come from Linksys."

D-Link DAP-3310 brings wireless connectivity and Power-over-Ethernet to outdoor areas

Exterior Access Point marries Wireless N connectivity with PoE Pass-Through

London, Tuesday 19th November, 2013 - D-Link has unveiled the Wireless N PoE Outdoor Access Point with PoE Pass-Through (DAP-3310), the ideal solution for expanding the coverage and signal strength of any wireless network while providing the flexibility of Power-over-Ethernet (PoE).

Rated as an IPX6 device, the Wireless N PoE Outdoor Access Point with PoE Pass-Through can handle heavy splashing and rain. While multiple operating modes, network management tools and security features give network administrators a wide range of choices for deploying the device.

Delivering wireless access speeds of up 300Mbps, the Wireless N PoE Outdoor Access Point with PoE Pass-Through uses a built-in 10 dBi sector high-gain antenna, ensuring that wireless coverage will include even hard to reach locations. It also excels in connecting separate networks that cannot be joined physically and can act in a number of configurations. It can be deployed as a standard access point (AP), wireless distribution system (WDS), WDS with AP, repeater, wireless client, WISP client router and WISP repeater.

Rather than having separate networks with several access points, the Wireless N PoE Outdoor Access Point with PoE Pass-Through enables administrators to deploy one single AP to support more than one application, such as public Internet access and internal network control, in order to increase flexibility and keep costs down. This device also supports 802.1Q VLAN Tagging and provides WLAN partitioning, a useful function for deployments such as wireless hot spots. With station-to-station partitioning enabled, security is enhanced, as wireless users cannot see each other, and the possibility for data theft is greatly reduced.

"Whether it's the outdoor area of a coffee shop, a side entrance to a building or to wirelessly connect two buildings on a campus, this device is perfect for any situation that requires outdoor connectivity and an additional peripheral such as a security camera, card reader or IP phone," said Andrew Mulholland, Head of Business Solutions, D-Link UK&I.

"Built to withstand harsh environments, the Wireless N PoE Outdoor Access Point with PoE Pass-Through is powered by PoE which allows for convenient installation. Furthermore, PoE Pass-Through means users can connect and power additional PoE devices, such as IP cameras, without needing additional cabling or power points."

Network security is assured with support for data encryption and WPA/WPA2 security functions. In addition, it provides MAC Address Filtering to control user access and the Disable SSID Broadcast function to limit outsiders' access to the internal network. Similarly, network administrators have multiple options for managing the DAP-3310 including web access and advanced network management features.

The Wireless N PoE Outdoor Access Point with PoE Pass-Through (DAP-3310) will be available in December 2013.

Lenovo Introduces Rugged ThinkPad Chromebook for Schools

London, UK - November 19, 2013: Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) today announced the ThinkPad X131e Chromebook -- a fast booting, highly customisable laptop PC built with rugged features for the daily rigors of primary and secondary education. The ThinkPad X131e Chromebook simplifies software and security management for school administrators and provides students and teachers with quick access to thousands of apps, education resources and storage.  

Throughout the course of a typical school day, students' laptops are often subject to extreme wear and tear. To help school-proof them, the ThinkPad X131e has rugged features including a rubber bumper around the top cover and stronger corners to protect the system in the case of an accidental drop. The hinges and hinge brackets are also strengthened to last more than 50,000 open and close cycles.

"The ThinkPad X131e has proven to be very successful in education environments," said Vincent Fauquenot, VP Products and Channels Lenovo EMEA. "With the rugged features we added to the X131e, we've seen reduced failure rates in the field. This is a huge benefit to schools and students. We're pleased to be able to offer this hardened ThinkPad Chromebook as a great computer for schools."

Latest Tools for Today's Digital Learning Environment

Lenovo's ThinkPad X131e Chromebook, provides students, educators, and IT administrators with an intuitive, easy-to-manage, and rugged laptop for all their computing needs right out of the box. Using Google Apps for Education along with thousands of web apps in the Chrome Web Store, students can easily create documents, edit spreadsheets, view multimedia videos, create slide show presentations and view PDF files.

Students can use the low-light webcam to communicate with students in other schools across the world or just across town. They can also easily connect via WiFi and Chrome's fast start up gets students online instantly. With HDMI and VGA ports, students can present their reports to the class with a projector or big screen TV.

The 11.6-inch X131e laptop features an Intel® processor, a 1366x768 HD LED anti-glare screen, and three USB ports. At less than 1.8 Kg1 and battery life for the entire school day, students can easily carry the laptop between classes without the need to recharge.

Recognizing that one laptop doesn't fit all, especially when it comes to schools, the ThinkPad X131e offers a number of customization options including custom colors, asset tagging services to help keep track of devices left on the school bus or in the classroom, and school logo etching to make every device unique to each educational institution2.

"Chromebooks are widely used today in primary and secondary schools, and they make an ideal one-to-one device because they're more cost effective, easier to manage and maintain than traditional laptops or tablets," said Caesar Sengupta, director of product management, Chrome OS, Google. "Lenovo has a great reputation in schools for making durable and reliable laptops, so we're excited to partner with them to introduce the ThinkPad X131e Chromebook."

GIGABYTE Launches Radeon™ R9 270 Overclock Edition Graphics Card

WINDFORCE 2x cooling design plus 28nm GCN Architecture - The best choice for HD gaming experience

Taipei, Taiwan, 15th Nov 2013 - GIGABYTE, the leading manufacturer of motherboards and graphics cards, is pleased to announce RadeonTM R9 270 Overclock Edition Graphics Card (GV-R927OC-2GD). Starts from the dark blue PCB to the WINDFORCE 2X cooler, GV-R927OC-2GD is an overall custom designed graphics card. Built in 1024 GCN stream processor, 2 GB high-speed GDDR5 memory and 256-bit memory interface, GV-R927OC-2GD is also well overclocked to 975 MHz (boost clock). Equipped with two 100mm inclined fan and an S-type pure copper heat pipe, GIGABYTE WINDFORCE 2X cooling system guarantees the powerful airflow and heat dissipation capability to keep the graphics card extremely cool, quite and provide the best performance.

WINDFORCE 2X cooling system, not just cool but quiet!

GV-R927OC-2GD features WINDFORCE 2X cooling system with parallel-inclined fin design, two 100mm inclined fans and S-type pure copper heat pipes. The combination of anti-turbulence inclined fans and pure copper heat pipe helps to reduce excessive heat and minimizes the flow of turbulence between fans. It can efficiently enlarge the air channel on the graphics card vents and creates a more effective airflow system in chassis. 

Unlimited OC Experience with OC GURU II

By using GIGABYTE exclusive OC GURU II, gamers can monitor and adjust all important settings such as GPU clock, memory clock, fan speed, voltage, power target and online support. With the upgrade and easy-to-control user interface, GIGABYTE OC GURU II becomes the best mate while using GV-R927OC-2GD.

APP Acceleration technology

With advanced video features like color correction, image sharpening and noise removal, AMD App Acceleration sets the bar for beautiful movies. And when it's time to multi-task, the optimized GCN Architecture is more than ready to make quick work of everyday applications.

TRENDnet® Ships High Performance Wireless PoE Access Point

Newbury, UK. - November 14, 2013 - TRENDnet, a best-in-class wired and wireless networking hardware brand, today announces the availability of the N600 Dual Band PoE Access Point, model TEW-753DAP - a feature rich business class PoE access point, with proven concurrent dual band 300 Mbps Wireless N technology.

The off white, low profile, smoke detector shaped TEW-753DAP blends into most environments, offering the ability to turn off flashing LEDs to further reduce product visibility. A variety of installation scenarios are supported with Access Point, WDS Access Point, WDS Bridge, and Repeater modes.

Save installation time and costs with Power over Ethernet (PoE). Manage two 300 megabit per second Wireless N bands - a 2.4 gigahertz band and a less congested 5 gigahertz band. A Gigabit Ethernet connection to the network maintains high performance wireless connections.

Advanced features include: IPv6 support; a handy integrated AP scan feature; the ability to create up to 16 SSIDs; eight system logs for network troubleshooting; Spanning Tree and SNMP support; and traffic shaping by allocating bandwidth to specific SSIDs.

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Corsair Announces CS Series Modular PC Power Supplies

Corsair's New CS Series Modular PSUs Deliver 80 PLUS Gold Efficiency on a Bronze Budget 

Fremont, California - November 7, 2013 - Corsair®, the most awarded PC power supply brand in the world1, today announced the new line of CS Series Modular power supplies (PSUs) in 450, 550, 650 and 750 watt models. Designed to be exceptionally energy efficient and simple to install, the new CS Series are the most affordable 80 PLUS® Gold certified PSUs in Corsair's line of high-performance PC components.

The CS Series Modular PSUs are designed to deliver stable, continuous power with 80 PLUS Gold certified power efficiency  to minimize energy waste and lower electrical bills. The new PSUs are cooled with a 120mm sleeve bearing fan that runs at low speeds during  typical loads, keeping the PSU nearly silent during everyday tasks. The CS Series meet the latest ATX power specifications and are compatible with the latest AMD and Intel® processors, with full support for the low-power modes of the latest 4th Generation Intel Core® processors.

The CS Series PSUs feature a semi-modular cable system with the core motherboard power cables (24 pin and 8 pin EPS12V) permanently attached and include modular flat cables that can be attached for powering other devices such as graphics cards, SSDs, hard drives, and fans. The modular design enables users to add just the cables required for their PC, which combined with the black flat cables, creates PCs with reduced cable clutter, a cleaner look, and better airflow.

"The CS Series Modular PSUs deliver 80 Plus Gold efficiency and Corsair quality at Bronze level prices," said Aaron Neal, Corsair's global product manager of PSUs. "They are perfect for users that want reliable, energy efficient power for their PCs at a price that won't break their budget."

OCZ Announces New Vector 150 Solid State Drive Series Delivering Industry-Leading Sustained Performance and Endurance

Next Generation SATA III-Based SSD Leverages In-House Barefoot 3 Controller in a 19nm NAND Flash Design for Enthusiast and Workstation Applications

SAN JOSE, CA - November 7, 2013 - OCZ Technology Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:OCZ), a leading provider of high-performance solid state drives (SSDs) for computing devices and systems, today announced its new Vector 150 SATA III SSD Series that utilizes the latest cutting-edge 19 nanometer (nm) NAND flash process geometry and an in-house controller design that shatters barriers by delivering OCZ's highest performing SATA III solid state drive series to date.  At the forefront of Vector 150 innovation is OCZ's proprietary Barefoot 3 controller which was designed completely in-house by the Company's hardware and firmware teams to enable full design control over the product roadmap while delivering high performance flash-based storage, enhanced endurance, and a host of differentiated features for laptop, desktop and workstation applications.

Building off the success of the original Vector SSD Series, the Vector 150 SSD Series implements industry-leading performance by delivering consistent, sustained speeds over time regardless of whether the data is in compressed or uncompressed formats. It provides superior speeds across all capacities to dramatically accelerate gaming, content creation, and multimedia applications, supporting read bandwidth of up to 550 MB/s, write bandwidth of up to 530 MB/s, 4K random read speed of up to 100,000 input/output operations per second (IOPS), 4K random write speed up to 95,000 IOPS and sustained 4K random write performance of 26,000 IOPS.

"Our Barefoot 3 architecture continues to leverage leading-edge controller technologies to deliver our highest performing SSDs to date enabling computing users with faster file transfers and boot-ups, as well as a quicker, more responsive overall storage experience," said Ralph Schmitt, CEO for OCZ Technology.  "With workstation class endurance, advanced data integrity and supported by a 5-year warranty, Vector 150 users can feel confident that their SSD will deliver ultimate performance even in the most demanding client computing environments."

Engineered to provide superior endurance, Vector 150 SSDs are rated to deliver 50GB of host writes per day for a 5-year warranty term, promoting peace of mind that this series will outpace even the most demanding client computing environments over an extended lifetime. OCZ's powerful Barefoot 3 controller features an advanced suite of flash management tools that can analyze and dynamically adapt to increasing NAND vulnerabilities as flash cells wear and is designed to overcome limitations associated with MLC NAND flash memory and heighten data integrity over the long term.

The Vector 150 SSD Series is available in 120GB, 240GB, and 480GB capacities with ultra-slim 7mm alloy housing to support today's thin form factor notebooks. Vector 150 SSDs are also bundled with a 3.5-inch desktop adapter bracket and Acronis® True ImageTM cloning software to enable quick and easy data transfer from legacy hard disk drives to high performance SSD storage. For more information on the new Vector 150 SATA III-based SSD.

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ASUS Republic of Gamers Launches Rampage IV Black Edition Motherboard

X79-based board supports Intel LGA 2011 Core i7 (Ivy Bridge-E) processors, eight DRAM and quad-GPUs to maximize gaming and overclocking possibilities 

Taipei, Taiwan (31st October, 2013) - ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced Rampage IV Black Edition, an E-ATX gaming motherboard designed to unleash the full power of Intel® LGA 2011 CoreTM i7 (Ivy Bridge-E) processors.

Based on the Intel X79 Express chipset, Rampage IV Black Edition boasts loads of the best ROG technologies and the latest innovations to improve gaming and maximize overclocking possibilities - all served up in an attention-grabbing black design that's complemented by gorgeous silver and red highlights.

Rampage IV Black Edition has eight DIMM sockets for up to 64GB of DRAM (DDR3 2800MHz+, overclocked), supports up to 4-way graphics card (multi-GPU) setups, includes Extreme Engine DIGI+ III voltage-regulator module (VRM) for ultra-stable power delivery and benefits from SupremeFX Black, for audio that's as great as a high-end dedicated sound card. Bundled with a free copy of Assassin's Creed® IV: Black FlagTM, it is a truly formidable package.

To watch Rampage IV Black Edition in action, view the product video at http://bit.ly/Rampage4BE.

ROG assembled the best to break the limits

Rampage IV Black Edition has been modeled to delight overclockers. The motherboard is bundled with OC Panel, a real-time system-monitoring and tuning console that's great for gamers and a huge advantage for overclockers. It can be mounted internally for everyday monitoring of temperatures, base clock and fan speeds with one-click CPU Level Up for an instant speed boost, or used externally for hardcore tweaking to monitor and control multiple parameters via on-machine buttons in real-time. Extreme overclocking has never been easier.

Rampage IV Black Edition has plenty of room for multi-GPU setups, with support for both 4-way NVIDIA® SLITM and AMD CrossFireXTM - so gamers can also unleash the full power of the latest graphics technologies.

To break the limits, ROG engineers combined thoughtful design with superior quality components. Rampage IV Black Edition's Extreme Engine DIGI+ III voltage-regulator module (VRM) provides highly precise and stable power delivery by employing NexFET MOSFETs, 60A (amp) chokes and high-endurance Japanese-made 10K black metallic capacitors. As well, the motherboard's awesome black-themed heat-sink is exclusively cleverly integrated with the MOSFET area and extends to the input/output (I/O) cover for even better cooling and stability.

With such masterful design, it is no surprise that Rampage IV Black Edition has already broken many world records. It currently holds world-beating scores in 3DMark11 Entry (E39244), 3DMark11 Performance (P41531), 3DMark11 Extreme (X22531), 3DMark Fire Strike (34246) and 3DMark Vantage (P96500). As well as setting new top scores in these exacting benchmark tests, Rampage IV Black Edition has also claimed numerous other world records on X79 platform, overclocking an i7-4820k processor to 6943MHz and G.Skill quad-channel DDR3 kit to 4072MHz. It has also generated the highest base clock (BCLK) yet for the X79 platform - an astonishing 197.16MHz - and pushed the Intel Extreme Tuning Utility all the way up to 1924 marks.

Built for the most demanding games and gamers

Rampage IV Black Edition is packed with features that will delight the hardest of hardcore gamers. Built-in SupremeFX Black technology provides sound quality that's on a par with high-end dedicated sound cards. Premium components such as ELNA® audio capacitors and German-made WIMA® film capacitors deliver impeccable performance, while high-fidelity op-amps (operational amplifiers) and a Cirrus Logic® CS4398 DAC (digital/analog converter) deliver lossless audio and a brilliant 120dB SNR (signal-to-noise ratio). A Hi-Fi-quality Texas Instruments® TPA6120A2 600ohm headphone amplifier boosts every sound detail for personal listening, too. Exclusive EMI (electromagnetic interference) isolation technology and a newly-upgraded NEC/TOKIN UC2 audio relay protects electrical circuits from overload and reduces ‘pops' enabling Rampage IV Black Edition to deliver warm, clear and natural audio.

ROG's Sonic Radar on-screen overlay provides fans of first-person shooter (FPS) games with an ear to the ground, as it displays the precise direction and origin of in-game sounds such as gunshots, footsteps and call-outs - giving ROG gamers a foot-up when trying to pinpoint the enemy.

Ultra-fast Intel Gigabit Ethernet with ROG's GameFirst II utility optimizes network traffic to keep latency to minimum and reduce all-important ‘ping' times, while the ROG RAMDisk utility allows up to 80% of a computer's available RAM to be dedicated as a high-speed virtual drive - lending a strong performance boost to the many modern games that regularly read or write data during play.

Stunning style to the core

Rampage IV Black Edition is undoubtedly stunning to behold - and the sensational black styling runs deeper than surface beauty. The new motherboard includes a UEFI BIOS that displays a friendly graphical interface styled with the gorgeous new black theme.

As well as looking fantastic, Rampage IV Black Edition's new UEFI BIOS is brilliantly easy to use with tons of powerful tuning options and the ability to set up overclocking profiles. Built in to the UEFI BIOS is Secure Erase, a feature that lets users quickly restore SSDs to a factory-fresh condition for the best possible performance.

Lenovo Unveils Its First Multimode Yoga Tablet

Debuts three innovative modes and up to 18 hours of battery life

MILAN, ITALY - October 29, 2013: Multimode computing leader Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) today debuted its first multimode Yoga Tablet at a livestream launch event with Ashton Kutcher, the company's newest product engineer. Known for pioneering innovative multimode devices like the Yoga convertible laptop, Lenovo now brings people a new way to get the most out of their tablet experience.

The game-changing Yoga Tablet features three unique modes, giving consumers a better way to use a tablet. With hold, tilt and stand modes, the tablet adapts to the way people use it instead of forcing people to adapt to the technology. Additionally the Yoga Tablet has an amazing up to 18 hours of battery life1 to truly fit users' ultra mobile lifestyles.

"Watching and discovering that people frequently use tablets in three main ways allowed us to break the mold on the current ‘sea of sameness' designs, giving them a better way to read, browse, watch and interact with content," said Liu Jun, senior vice president and president, Lenovo Business Group, Lenovo. "As consumers' continue to demand innovative multimode designs we're thrilled to have Ashton Kutcher on board with us to help further develop the immersive and complementary hardware and rich content experience."

Yoga Tablet: Three Modes And Longer Battery Life Give Tablets A Better Way

One size does not fit all, especially when it comes to tablets. Lenovo designers and engineers identified three challenges tablet users face: fatigue when holding and using the tablet; no self-supporting mechanism when laid on a flat surface; and an inadequate viewing angle when set on a table. These scenarios inspired Lenovo to break the mold on the "sea of sameness" design and to create Yoga Tablet's unique modes.

With its exclusive cylindrical handle, hold mode is designed to fit an individual's hand, so the Yoga Tablet is easier to hold and offers more control over the device whereas other tablets require two hands. Hold mode makes reading, checking social media and browsing the web easy and parallels how people hold magazines when reading.

To convert the Yoga Tablet into stand mode, simply rotate the side cylinder 90° so that the tablet stand deploys, allowing the tablet to stand by itself on a desk or table. Users can change the viewing angle to fit what's comfortable for them from 110° to 135°. Stand mode makes it easy for users to comfortably watch movies, place video calls and interact with the ten-finger touchscreen without having to rely on add-on accessories.

Users can lay the Yoga Tablet down in tilt mode to type directly on the tablet, play games and just surf the Internet with a better viewing angle. To further enhance the rich content and multimode tablet experience, users can enable the tablet's auto-detection software that automatically brings up frequently used apps inhold and stand modes.

The Yoga Tablet's multimode design not only provides a better usability experience, it offers dramatically longer battery life of up to 18 hours1, which is significantly more than the amount of typical tablets. Its cylindrical handle packs in powerful, dual batteries and unlike most tablets, it uses batteries typically found in laptops. The Yoga Tablet can even charge other devices such as smartphones via its USB on-the-go2. The 10 inch and 8 inch models run on MT8125 for Wi-Fi models and MT8389 Quad Core processors for 3G models with 16 or 32 GB capacity and feature Android 4.2. Also equipped with Dolby® audio, Yoga Tablet's front-facing speakers create a powerful surround sound experience through the device speakers and with headphones. 

Extremely mobile, both models are featherweights weighing in at 605 grams for the 10-in model and 400 grams for the 8-in model. They feature high definition 1280 x 800 displays, a 5 MP auto focus rear camera plus an additional front camera, a micro SD expansion slot, allowing up to 64 GB of total storage, Wi-Fi and optional 3G in select countries and a micro USB connection and Dolby DS1 for rich audio. Lenovo offers an optional Bluetooth keyboard for the 10-in model that functions as a cover and even wakes up the tablet when it's removed and puts the tablet to sleep when it's attached.  Users can also opt for a WD100 dongle in select countries to stream video content from the tablet wirelessly to a TV. Lenovo also offers a portfolio of services solutions for the Yoga Tablet including warranty extensions, upgrades and premium technical support.

TRENDnet® Launches AC600 Wireless USB Adapter

Newbury, UK. - Oct. 24, 2013 - TRENDnet, a best-in-class wired and wireless networking hardware brand, today announces the availability of the AC600 Dual Band Wireless USB Adapter, model TEW-804UB - which upgrades a Windows® or Mac® computer to Wireless AC.

TRENDnet's compact TEW-804UB connects to a high performance Wireless AC network at up to 433 Megabits per second (Mbps) or to a common Wireless N network at 150 Mbps. An intuitive installation process takes less than five minutes and the adapter is powered by the computer's USB port. A convenient utility stores multiple network settings and prioritizes network connections. A Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS), connects the adapter to a wireless network at the touch of its button, when connecting to a WPS compliant device.

GIGABYTE Releases Radeon(TM) R9 290X Graphics Card

Experience the new power of HD gaming enjoyment with the world's fastest graphics card!

Taipei, Taiwan, 24th Oct 2013 - GIGABYTE, a leading manufacturer of motherboards and graphics cards, is pleased to introduce the latest Radeon R9 290X graphics card (GV-R929XD5-4GD-B). Engineered to be among the world's most advanced graphics cards, RadeonTM R9 290X GPUs feature award-winning GCN Architecture for unrivalled performance and efficiency. Packed with groundbreaking features like AMD PowerTune technology and AMD CrossFireTM technology, gamers should never settle for anything less. GV-R929XD5-4GD-B is equipped with 28nm GCN architecture graphics processor, 4GB GDDR5 memory and 512-bit memory interface, and also exclusively supports GIGABYTE OC GURU II software. GV-R929XD5-4GD-B is primed to enable astonishing performance and breathtaking image quality, making it a top choice for gamers who expect the best.

OC GURU II, liberates the overclocking limitation

GV-R929XD5-4GD-B provides gamers an unlimited experience by using GIGABYTE OC GURU II to adjust maximum core voltage and synchronize the GPU temperature and power consumption. These main features deliver an extremely performance to make gamers enjoy the amazing gaming experience.

AMD Eyefinity Technology

AMD Eyefinity technology is here to deliver the unfair advantage you deserve. With new modes and features, like gaming across five displays, AMD HD3D technology and universal bezel compensation, the world's best multi-display gaming technology just got better.

GCN Architecture

Engineered as the world's most advanced graphics, the GCN Architecture is the industry's first 28nm GPU design. Built from the ground up to enable more than unprecedented gaming performance, Graphics Core Next is also the world leader in GPU compute performance.

App Acceleration

With advanced video features like color correction, image sharpening, video stabilization and noise removal, AMD App Acceleration sets the bar for beautiful movies. And when it's time to multi-task, the optimized GCN Architecture is more than ready to make quick work of everyday applications like Adobe CS6 and Corel WinZip.

4K Ultra resolution gaming

Leave HD in the dust by gaming on displays much, much larger. Whether using a 4k monitor or combining multiple HD monitors, you'll get an expansive experience that's truly out of sight.

NETGEAR launches new Prosafe Gigabit smart switch specifically for SMBs

GS516TP is the first switch specifically for SMBs that is both powered by PoE and able to pass PoE power to connected devices

Bracknell, UK - October 21, 2013 - NETGEAR®, Inc. (NASDAQGM: NTGR) (www.netgear.co.uk), a global networking company that delivers innovative products to consumers, businesses and service providers, announced immediate availability of the new ProSAFE® 16-port Gigabit PoE Smart Switch (GS516TP) with PD (PoE Powered Devices) capability for small and medium businesses (SMBs), educational institutions, hospitals, government agencies, and other networks supporting fewer than 500 users (www.netgear.com/smart-switches). The GS516TP offers network managers an affordable switching solution combined with advanced features and flexible powering options. PoE and PD capability on the same device - an industry first for the SMB market - enables the GS516TP to make network switch deployment truly free from AC power outlets, providing maximum flexibility for network build-up, modifications and re-layout.

NETGEAR offers a comprehensive portfolio of PoE switches and is the industry's leading provider of both Unmanaged and Smart Switches. The GS516TP is part of the NETGEAR family of second-generation Gigabit PoE/PoE+ Smart Switches, which offers powerful L2 and L2+ features, better PoE functions, and enhanced performance and usability. This new family is purposely designed for converged networks where voice, video, and data are carried on a single network platform, and is optimised to provide network efficiency, operational cost savings, and ease of management.

The GS516TP is a 16-port Gigabit Smart Switch with PoE and PD features, designed for small and medium-sized networks. It offers simultaneously operational PoE and PD capability. It comes with two PD ports that receive PoE power from any PoE source. At the same time, through its eight PoE ports, it can also deliver power to other connected devices such as WiFi access points, IP phones and IP cameras - the first switch specifically designed for SMBs to come to market with this capability.

"The GS516TP is the most cost-effective solution for converged networks requiring maximum flexibility in deployment options, especially where a power outlet is not conveniently available," said Maggie Wu, senior product line manager for NETGEAR Switching Products. "We are confident that SMB network managers will be delighted with the value and deployment flexibility offered by the GS516TP, which also comes with a comprehensive list of advanced features at a price that is attractive to cost-conscious businesses."

NVIDIA Introduces G-SYNC Technology for Gaming Monitors; Tears, Stutters, Lag Become Artifacts of the Past

Game Developers, Display Makers, System Builders Express Broad Support

MONTREAL - Oct. 18, 2013 - Solving the decades-old problem of onscreen tearing, stuttering and lag, NVIDIA today unveiled NVIDIA G-SYNCTM technology which, for the first time, enables perfect synchronisation between the GPU and the display.

The result is consistently smooth frame rates and ultrafast response not possible with previous display technologies.

Several years in the making, G-SYNCTM technology synchronises the monitor's refresh rate to the GPU's render rate, so images display the moment they are rendered. Scenes appear instantly. Objects are sharper. Game play is smoother.

"Our commitment to create a pure gaming experience led us to G-SYNC," said Jeff Fisher, senior vice president of the GeForce business unit at NVIDIA. "This revolutionary technology eliminates artifacts that have long stood between gamers and the game. Once you play on a G-SYNC monitor, you'll never want to go back."

Since their earliest days, displays have had fixed refresh rates - typically 60 times a second (hertz). But, due to the dynamic nature of video games, GPUs render frames at varying rates. As the GPU seeks to synchronise with the monitor, persistent tearing occurs. Turning on V-SYNC (or Vertical-SYNC) eliminates tearing but causes increased lag and stutter as the GPU and monitor refresh at different rates.

G-SYNC eliminates this tradeoff. It perfectly syncs the monitor to the GPU, regardless of frame rate, leading to uncompromised PC gaming experiences.

Lenovo Unveils New ThinkServers for Demanding Virtualization and Cloud Deployments

Next-gen ThinkServer Rack Servers Offer Higher Performance, Expanded Storage and I/O with Advanced Power Management

BARCELONA, Spain - October 16, 2013: Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) today announced at the global conference for virtualization and cloud computing VMworld 2013 two new performance-optimized rack servers, the ThinkServer RD540 and ThinkServer RD640. Armed with the latest Intel® Xeon E5 processors, these highly efficient and flexible servers are designed for easy integration into existing IT infrastructures that handle demanding virtualization, cloud and compute-intensive workloads.

Lenovo's ThinkServer RD540 and RD640 are an ideal choice for educational institutions seeking affordable options that pack a punch. The RD540 and RD640 provide the performance, security and reliability needed to support large university workloads and operations. When optionally equipped with Stoneware's webNetwork software, school administrators, students and staff can access data, applications and services from a multitude of devices and platforms using just a browser. With low price points, built-in redundancy, high reliability components and sophisticated cooling technology, the RD540 and RD640 deliver outstanding value for higher education.

With high-performance hardware RAID for data protection, web-enabled remote management and a powerful, easy-to-use management tool suite all offered as standard equipment, the budget-friendly RD540 and RD640 provide uncompromising performance ideal for scale-out data analytics, virtualized business workloads, and compute intensive applications.

The ThinkServer RD540 and RD640 rack servers come equipped with up to 320GB memory and the latest Intel® Xeon E5-2600 v2 processors, which offer impressive compute power-per-watt -- up to 24 cores -- delivering 27 percent faster performance than the previous generation award winning RD servers. Both of these servers feature balanced design, flexible configurations and expansive I/O to handle demanding deployments.  Powerful new network adapter, storage controller and sophisticated RAID choices increase scalability, reliability and input/output (I/O) capacity to handle growing requirements for large and compute intensive scale-out applications.  RAID options from LSI® include the ThinkServer RAID 710 adapter with 1GB write-back cache and available LSI® MegaRAID CacheCade Pro 2.0 and Fastpath for outstanding reliability and IOPs performance.

Available in either 1U (RD540) or 2U (RD640) configurations with included tool-less rail kits for easy installation, both of these new ThinkServers are based on open standards and management protocols and  fit seamlessly into any hybrid network environment. Innovative Lenovo Smart Grid power management technology uses Intel Node Manager® to scale power management to the data center level, simultaneously managing as many as 1,000 server nodes.  Smart Grid can be used at each level of the data center hierarchy-rack, row, room or group-to provide IT policy-based, power management that increases server utilization while significantly lowering energy consumption and operating costs.

The Lenovo ThinkServer® RD540 server supports flexible configurations including 16TB hard disk capacity and new I/O expansion choices to handle business analytics, web server or virtualized workloads.   The RD540 delivers highly efficient performance with 80PLUS Gold power supplies and low volt memory choices. 

ThinkServer RD640 features enormous I/O expansion with an additional PCIe slot and 32TB storage capacity for the most demanding cloud, compute or virtualization deployments.  The RD640 is ideal for business process or decision support deployments that demand rich performance, flexible system configurations and an optimized mix of storage and memory.

New Jabra Motion Bluetooth headset means business

Using the latest motion sensor technology, the Jabra Motion provides maximum mobility and the most superior user experience to the mobile worker, whether on the road, in the office or at home.

London, UK, 15th October 2013 - Jabra, the world's leading manufacturer of wireless audio solutions, today announces their new state-of-the-art Bluetooth headset, the Jabra Motion. Designed to suit the rapidly growing group of mobile workers, the Jabra Motion provides a solution for multi-tasking at the office, in the car or at home using smart phones, tablets or laptops with "presence everywhere" apps and Unified Communication (UC) solutions.

According to a recent forecast from IDC*, the mobile worker population is set to increase to 1.3 billion in 2015, accounting for 37.2% of the workforce. This indicates that workers everywhere are leaving 9-to-5 days in the office behind and working remotely, traveling and collaborating via the cloud. Much of this increase is driven by the popularity of laptops, smartphones, and tablets.

The intuitiveness of the Jabra Motion allows mobile workers to concentrate on the job at hand, not having to give second thought to the surroundings when picking up a call. With a combination of motion sensors and intelligent microphones, the Jabra Motion automatically adapts to the sound environment and adjusts to ensure optimal and clear sound throughout a conversation, whether in a noisy office or on the road.

The headset registers any movement instantly. When a user picks up the headset the call is answered simultaneously, and when they start walking the speaker volume is automatically adjusted. Additionally it will also go into sleep mode when placed on a flat surface. Providing superior audio capabilities, the Jabra Motion also features HD voice, Noise Blackout 3.0 and Wind Noise Reduction technology.

The Jabra Motion boasts a ‘behind-the-ear' circular shape, mimicking the back of the ears' semi-circle outline. The height of the speaker house is adjustable and three sizes of ear gels provide optimal comfort.  The folding boom makes it easy for users to carry it in a pocket without breaking the boom arm, which can be used to take and end calls with a simple flip.

The Jabra Motion will keep users up to speed and in touch, anytime and everywhere. It intuitively follows the wearer's every move with a range of 100m. Also using the latest Near Field Communication (NFC) technology for fast pairing, the user can simply tap the headset with their NFC enabled device to connect.

The Jabra Motion joins a portfolio of UC hands-free audio solutions, which are all optimised and certified for Microsoft Lync. Jabra has a continued collaboration with Microsoft and Gold Certified Partner status since 2007 when the first headset was launched for Microsoft Office Communicator.

QNAP Launches TS-x70 Tower Series Turbo NAS with Scale-up Solutions to Meet Data Growth Demands

Taipei, Taiwan, October 11, 2013 - QNAP® Systems, Inc. today announced the release of the business-class TS-x70 series Turbo NAS. Available in 4, 6 and 8-bay tower models; the TS-x70 series with scale-up support is the perfect solution for the growing data needs of modern business environments.

Businesses are constantly seeking extra storage space to keep up with the demands of today's IT environments. The TS-x70 series' high-scalability design supports online capacity expansion by connecting multiple QNAP RAID expansion enclosures (REXP-1200U-RP / REXP-1600U-RP) to expand total storage to 100TB raw capacity. With this flexibility, businesses can expand their storage as needed and have more control over their storage deployment.

Powered by a Dual-Core Intel® 2.6 GHz Processor and 2GB DDR3 RAM with the availability of four Gigabit LAN ports, the TS-x70 offers business users an ultra high-performance NAS solution for day-to-day operations. Jason Hsu, product manager of QNAP, states "QNAP's internal testing shows that the reading speed is up to 450MB/s and writing speed up to 423MB/s in typical Windows environments in network trunking mode." In addition, the TS-x70 series supports 10GbE high-speed networking making it an ideal solution for applications such as real-time HD video editing and data center environments.

Even with this high scalability and performance, administrating the TS-x70 series is effortless with QNAP's QTS 4.0 operating system. With an intuitive user interface, IT administrators can easily find desired functions, monitor system information and run multiple tasks simultaneously. In addition, the QTS 4.0 offers a full range of applications for business use, including file management, sharing, backup, multimedia applications and more.

The TS-x70 series is a proven storage unit for server virtualization via iSCSI/IP-SAN deployment, and is compatible with a range of solutions including VMware® vSphereTM, Citrix® XenServerTM, Microsoft® Hyper-VTM and Windows Server 2012. The support of VMware VAAI, QNAP vSphere Client plug-in further enhances the efficiency of operations & management in virtualization applications.

The TS-x70 series also provides businesses with flexible backup solutions. Windows and Mac users can use the QNAP NetBak Replicator and Apple Time Machine respectively to easily back up their data. The series also supports disaster recovery solutions including Real-time Remote Replication (RTRR) for real-time or scheduled data replication backup to cloud storage including Amazon® S3, ElephantDrive®, Symform® , Dropbox®, and Google® Drive and third-party backup software such as Veeam® Backup & Replication and Acronis® True Image.

Users can also increase the functionalities of the TS-x70 series with QNAP's built-in App Center that provides various install-on-demand apps developed by QNAP and third-party developers. Including backup/sync, business tools, content management, communications, download, entertainment and more; QNAP's development platform also allows developers to create various applications, adding even more value to the TS-x70 series and providing near-unlimited functionality for users.

iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c Arriving in More Countries on Friday, October 25

Apple today announced iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c will be available in Italy, Russia, Spain, and more than 25 other countries beginning Friday, October 25. The iPhones are also coming to more than a dozen additional countries, including India and Mexico, on November 1.

Acer C720 Chromebook Launches with Sleek Design, Speed and Security

Customers will enjoy fast, responsive performance and up to 8.5 hours of long battery life with new Intel processor based on Haswell micro-architecture
30 percent thinner, lighter design paired with anti-glare display that reduces reflection for a better visual experience
Less than 7-second boot time gets customers quickly learning, creating and connecting
Simple to use, great for sharing between family members and students

BIOGGIO, Switzerland, (Oct. 10, 2013) - Acer today debuts its new Acer C720 Chromebook that features a processor based on the Haswell micro-architecture for faster performance and up to 8.5 hours of battery life.(1)

This third-generation Chromebook has a design that is 30 percent thinner than its predecessor. It's also lighter and for the first time, it features an anti-glare display, making it ideal for families and students who want a Chromebook that can be enjoyed in a range of settings, even outdoors in sunlight.

"The Acer C720 is a significant step forward for our highly-acclaimed Acer Chromebook line, as it delivers speedy performance, quick boot times, a matte anti-glare display and a slimmer design that is portable enough for anywhere use," said John Miedema, director product marketing, Acer Europe.  "These key advances allow families and students to continue collaborating, learning and playing in exciting ways, all while staying secure since Chrome OS includes multiple layers of protection from online threats." 

The new Acer C720 Chromebook builds on the popular Acer C710 Chromebook, which was lauded for its performance and integration of Google's Chrome operating system at a ground-breaking affordable price.  It meets the needs of students, families, anyone on a budget, and the growing number of customers who enjoy the Google ecosystem for school, work and entertainment.

Speedy Performance and Long Battery Life


Customers can begin their online fun, research and social networking quickly with the Acer C720. It boots up in less than 7 seconds and resumes nearly instantly from sleep mode thanks to the 16GB Solid State Drive.(2)  The new Chromebook is powered by an Intel Celeron 2955U processor based on the Intel Haswell micro-architecture, so it delivers a noticeable boost in both performance and battery life. The battery keeps customers productive for up to 8.5 hours, ideal for all day productivity and fun.(1) Customers can power through web pages and docs, and will also enjoy fluid HD video and apps with the support of up to 4GB of DDR3L memory.(2) Plus, the Acer C720 quickly connects to hotspots and wireless networks via 802.11a/b/g/n WiFi.

Security for Multiple Users, Collaboration

Customers will appreciate that the Chrome OS is updated automatically, so it always has the latest features.  Multiple layers ofsecurity features including data encryption and verified boot defend the Acer C720 Chromebook against online threats, malware and viruses. This is especially useful for parents and school administrators who are responsible for protecting students. IT administrators can also manage the Chromebooks remotely for speedier app roll-outs and increased efficiency.

The Acer C720 Chromebook also keeps data safe when the device is used by multiple users, such as for collaboration in the classroom and for projects for home, school or work. Users can have separate accounts to ensure their project, Gmail and other information is kept safe if the Chromebook is lost, stolen, or lent to a friend. Storage on Google Drive protects files, documents, and photos safely in the cloud, and ensures that the most current version is always available. Customers can also access files offline, and even open and edit MS Office documents as well as Google Documents. Schools will appreciate that the Acer C720 Chromebooks have a Kensington lock to secure them to a classroom or mobile cart.

Customers can easily access their content at home or on the go-with 100 GB(2) of free storage on Google Drive for two years. (3)  By visiting the Chrome Web Store users can customize their Acer C720 Chromebook with applications for work or play.

New Thinner, Lighter Design with all the Extras

The new Acer C720 has a design that is more than 30 percent thinner than its predecessor, measuring only 19.05 mm thick. It still includes a full-sized keyboard, so customers can comfortably create and edit documents and spreadsheets.  The device weighs only 1.3 kg, so it's easy to carry in a backpack or bag. The slim and sleek size of the Acer C720 still provides room for a vibrant 11.6-inch ComfyViewTM HD  display with a 1366x768 resolution that keeps websites, images and video crisp and clear. Plus, the display has a matte, anti-glare property, enabling students and families to enjoy the Chromebook outside in sunlight for classwork, reading, playing games and more.

The Acer C720's integrated HD webcam delivers sharp and detailed images and rich colour saturation. Combined with the microphone, the Chromebook is great for video chatting as well as capturing video and photos for sharing online. Plus, the dual speaker design ensures crisp and clear stereo audio for enjoying music, video and more. The Acer C720 connects to popular consumer electronics devices such as camcorders, digital cameras and smart phones via its fast USB 3.0 port as well as a USB 2.0 port. It also has an HDMI port for pushing video and content to external displays and HDTVs. In addition, customers can access other media and files through the SD card reader that supports up to a 32GB SD card.(2)

GIGABYTE launches the P34G - Lightest 14in gaming laptop in the world

14-inch Gaming Laptop at 21mm thin with GeForce® GTX 760M Graphics

October 2013: The 14" P34G Ultrablade gaming laptop from GIGABYTE is a revolutionary machine. It is extremely thin at just 21mm and light at 1.67 kg, housing a 4th generation Intel® CoreTM i7 Quad-Core processor and a powerful NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 760M gaming level discrete graphics makes it the lightest 14-inch gaming laptop in the world. The P34G stays cool and stable even with a high end CPU and GPU in it slim body due to the unique Supra-Cool technology featuring dual heat pipes plus unique dual fans for CPU & GPU respectively by GIGABYTE. The Ultrablade gaming laptop P34G is poised to usher in a new generation of gamers looking for true mobility and entertainment without compromising on performance.

Elegant yet powerful

Designed with an ultrasmooth sandblasted aluminum matte finish, the P34G feels extremely smooth that exudes elegance and sophistication. The P34G is perfect for gamers, businesspeople or students yearning for mobility, entertainment and productivity. Packing the slim P34G with powerful NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 760M graphics and the latest 4th generation Intel® CoreTM i7 Quad-Core processor is no mean feat. Thermal cooling is of utmost importance for any laptop and this one is no exception. . The Supra-Cool cooling system efficiently eliminates heat from both the CPU and GPU, keeping your P34G cool and stable. Plus with the latest Ultra Boost technology you can enjoy unrivaled power with an impressive score of up to P16,525 on 3DMark Vantage! 

Massive Storage, Mobile Entertainment Center

The P34G supports up to a 256GB mSATA SSD and a large 1TB HDD in its incredibly slim and lightweight chassis. The AHVA FHD 1080p display panel with 72% wide color gamut makes for excellent viewing pleasure delivering 170° wide-angle view perfect for sharing the screen and comfortable viewing angles for entertainment or productivity and bringing images to life. Experience incredible sound with the Dolby Home Theater v4 Sound Quality Optimization Technology and immerse yourself in the environment whether gaming, music or movies. The P34G provides an automatic light sensing backlit keyboard that makes typing and gaming in dimly lit rooms easier and better.

That Extra Performance with GIGABYTE Innovative Technology

In addition to the hardware of the P34G, GIGABYTE innovative technology integrates and optimizes software applications providing an even better gaming experience. Gamers have a choice to overclock the GPU for that extra performance with the latest Ultra Boost technology. With Ultra Boost comes the fear of instability. Never fear with the GIGABYTE Smart Fan ready to keep your system stable and running cool. Overclocking your laptop GPU for gaming has never been so risk-free. Enjoy twice the network speed for gaming through GIGABYTE LAN Optimizer. It helps the user choose the best network package priority under different user scenario modes. Gamers understand the importance of mistyping or mis-hitting that important key while gaming. Therefore, to ensure no mishaps occur the exclusive LockWin Key function disables the Windows key ensuring gamers enjoy a seamless gaming experience without switching to desktop while gaming on the P34G.

WD® introduces new ultra-compact network storage plus servers

WD SentinelTM DS5100 and DS6100 Provide Small Businesses with an Intel-based Windows Server, Pre-populated with WD Enterprise-Class Hard Drives at an Affordable Price

WD®, a Western Digital company (NASDAQ: WDC) and world leader in digital storage solutions, today expanded its small- and medium-sized (SMB) storage solution portfolio with the introduction of the new WD SentinelTM DS5100 and WD Sentinel DS6100 (S-series) ultra-compact network storage plus servers. The WD Sentinel S-series feature high-performance Intel® Xeon® processors and are pre-installed with Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials. All WD Sentinel network storage products feature WD enterprise-class hard drives and these 4-bay WD Sentinel S-series desktop appliances offer up to 16 TB of raw storage. Additionally, unlike traditional NAS systems, the WD Sentinel S-series allow small businesses to run line-of-business applications on their network storage platform.

"WD is using enterprise-class components to build a new family of network appliances for small businesses," said Bill Evans, general manager of WD's business storage solutions group. "The WD Sentinel S-series network appliances are engineered with Intel Xeon processors, pre-populated with WD Se® datacenter 3.5-inch hard drives for rapid deployment, and feature dedicated 2.5-inch boot drives for maximum reliability. No other vendor offers a comparable network storage plus server in an equally small form factor. With a small footprint and quiet fan, an S-series appliance can be deployed anywhere."