Friday 30 August 2013

NVIDIA Teams Up With Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment on Batman: Arkham Origins

Gamers Who Purchase a Qualifying GPU to Receive Free PC Edition of the Game

SANTA CLARA, Calif.-Aug. 30, 2013 - NVIDIA today announced it is working with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and WB Games Montréal to make BatmanTM: Arkham Origins, the next installment in the blockbuster Batman: Arkham videogame franchise, a technically advanced and intensely realistic chapter in the award-winning saga for PC players.

Gamers who purchase a qualifying GPU(1) from a participating partner will receive a free PC edition of Batman: Arkham Origins, which will be released worldwide on Oct. 25, 2013.

Developed by WB Games Montréal, Batman: Arkham Origins features an expanded Gotham City and introduces an original prequel storyline set several years before the events of Batman: Arkham Asylum and Batman: Arkham City. Taking place before the rise of Gotham City's most dangerous criminals, the game showcases a young Batman as he faces a defining moment of his early career and sets his path to becoming the Dark Knight.

Batman has immense power, strength and speed-the same attributes that make a GeForce GTX GPU the ultimate weapon to take on Gotham's dark underworld. The NVIDIA Developer Technology Team has been working closely with WB Games Montréal to incorporate an array of cutting-edge NVIDIA gaming technologies including DirectX tessellation, NVIDIA TXAATM antialiasing, soft shadows and various NVIDIA PhysX® engine environmental effects, such as cloth, steam and snow. Combined, these technologies bring the intricately detailed worlds of Gotham to life.

"The Batman: Arkham games are visually stunning and it's great that we are able to continue building upon the amazing graphics with Batman: Arkham Origins," said Samantha Ryan, Senior Vice President, Production and Development, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. "With NVIDIA's continued support, we are able to deliver an incredibly immersive gameplay experience." 

NVIDIA will be unveiling a sneak peek of Batman: Arkham Origins at PAX Prime in Seattle, during the NVIDIA stage presentation at the Paramount Theater on Monday, Sept. 2 at 10 a.m. PT. Entry is free.

Additionally, any PAX attendees that purchase a qualified bundle from the special kiosk at the NVIDIA booth on the show floor will receive for free a limited edition Batman lithograph - one of only 1,000 being produced.

Thursday 29 August 2013

Acer Aspire V3-571-53236G50Makk (15.6") LED Laptop Intel Core i5 2.60GHz, 6GB, 500GB, W8: SPECIAL PRICE: £470.26


Acer Aspire V3-571-53236G50Makk (15.6") LED Laptop Intel Core i5 2.60GHz, 6GB, 500GB, W8: SPECIAL PRICE: £470.26

Acer's Aspire Series offers a diverse range of notebooks with the performance, graphics and communication tools to maximize your digital entertainment, complete your daily tasks, and keep you in touch with friends and family, whether you're at home or on the go. 


Friday 23 August 2013

Bamboo™ Paper 2.0 – the advanced Digital Notebook

Bamboo Paper has been updated for the iPad® in a major redesign which works intuitively with the Wacom Intuos Creative Stylus 

23rd August 2013 - Already a successful app in its first version, receiving more than five million downloads, Bamboo Paper 2.0 has evolved significantly. Originally an app focused on note taking, it now offers a broad range of writing and drawing tools, such as a watercolour brush and pencil, that enable users to create particularly individual digital notebooks.

Bamboo Paper 2.0 still remains in its unrivalled, uncluttered, clean design but offers much more versatility through three additional new notebook styles that differ in paper types and covers. This way, different demands and use cases find their specific expressions. A ‘Writer' notebook, for instance, may be used for note-taking or creative writing, whereas an ‘Artist' notebook could be used for more elaborate sketching and drawing.

The app now features an improved, near perfect palm-rejection, eliminating almost all accidental marks while sketching or drawing. Combined with the Intuos Creative Stylus, the new digital stylus from Wacom, Bamboo Paper 2.0 provides an even more natural and intuitive drawing experience. The Creative Stylus offers 2,048 levels of pressure sensitivity and comes close to a natural pen-on-paper feeling.

Thursday 22 August 2013

New Lenovo Workstation Built for High-End Performance on a Budget

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC - August 21, 2013: Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) today announced the ThinkStation E32, an entry-level workstation ideal for professionals working in computer-aided design, product development and architecture. The ThinkStation E32 is available with Intel Xeon® E3 and 4th generation Intel Core i7 and Core i5 processors so applications run fast and reliably, as well as enhanced memory and graphics capabilities to provide users more choices for superior performance and productivity. On select models, the E32 also comes with a 60 day free trial1 of Autodesk® AutoCAD LT® 2014 drafting software, which helps design professionals create precise 2D CAD drawings that can be easily edited and shared.

"The ThinkStation E32 is built for the design and engineering community and is an ideal workstation for running AutoCAD LT," said Sheila Parker Tolle, senior director of ecommerce and small business marketing at Autodesk. "Having a trial of AutoCAD LT factory installed and ready to go for 60 days on the Lenovo ThinkStation E32 makes it easy for customers to start their AutoCAD LT evaluation, and gives them the powerful, responsive computing power they need to create complex designs quickly and effectively."

Top-Shelf Performance on a PC Budget

Available as a tower or small form factor (SFF), the ThinkStation E32 features Intel's® Xeon® E3 1200 v3 product family - delivering powerful performance, reliability and support for specialized modeling and product design at an entry-level budget. The performance and value also make the E32 a great option for the medical-imaging, media and entertainment and financial services industries, where users work with basic models and streaming data sets.

In addition to the Autodesk AutoCAD LT trial, the ThinkStation E32 is equipped with Microsoft's Windows 8 Pro and is certified to run many key applications from professional independent software vendors (ISV), including Adobe, PTC, SolidWorks and Siemens PLM. ISV certification protects user investment by ensuring a tried and tested solution with full application support from the software vendor. Users also benefit from the workstation's Error Correcting Code (ECC) memory to drastically reduce the possibility of memory-related errors and critical data loss. Its 1600 MHz DDR3 Memory DIMMs capability seamlessly provide users with application responsiveness and the dependability needed to start and finish a project without missing a beat.

"Modeling and design work can be extremely time intensive. Many design revisions and iterations take place, with data running in the background, to get to a final product," says Rob Herman, director of Product and Vertical Marketing, ThinkStation business unit, Lenovo. "The ThinkStation E32 is a design workhorse, giving users workstation level performance and effortless productivity on a PC-sized budget."

Both ThinkStation E32 models offer professional graphics capabilities with the option of NVIDIA's latest Quadro graphics cards (up to K4000 in the tower and K600 in the SFF) as well as Intel P4600 HD graphics. In addition, the E32 easily supports users' large memory needs with up to 32 GB in both models and sports six USB 3.0 ports which provide 10x faster transfer rates over USB 2.0 for increased productivity and usability.

Corsair Announces Force Series LS SSD Line

Corsair Brings Cost-Effective Solid-State Storage to Notebook and Desktop PCs

FREMONT, California - August 22, 2013 - Corsair®, a worldwide designer of high-performance components to the PC hardware market, today announced the release of the Force Series® LS solid-state drive (SSD) line. Available in 240GB, 120GB, and 60GB capacities, Force Series LS SSDs provide consumers a cost-effective way to upgrade their notebook or desktop PCs to faster, more reliable solid-state storage.

The 7mm-high Force Series LS SSDs can be installed into most desktop or notebook PC with a standard 2.5" or 3.5" drive bay (3.5" bays require optional adapter). The drives feature SATA 3 6GB/s support for optimal performance with the latest systems, and are backward compatible with SATA revision 1.0 and 2.0 for maximum compatibility. A copy of the powerful Corsair SSD Toolbox software utility is included as  a free  download.

Force Series LS SSDs feature a Phison 6Gb/s SSD controller with Toshiba NAND which delivers high speed file transfer speeds of up to 555MB/s read and 535MB/s write, up to 10 times faster than standard hard drives. The new drives support TRIM, garbage collection, and S.M.A.R.T commands and include built-in an advanced dynamic and static wear-leveling algorithm to extend the lifespan of the drive flash memory.

Corsair offers a comprehensive  line of SSDs, with a wide  selection of controllers, uniquely positioning Corsair to offer the latest, fastest technology. Corsair backs up this performance with warranties that, on average, are the longest of any major SSD manufacturer.

Wednesday 14 August 2013

WD® Founds New Storage Association To Promote The Critical Role Of Magnetic Storage Technologies

WD®, a Western Digital® (NASDAQ: WDC) company, has announced that it has founded the Storage Products Association (SPA) with other hard drive companies to promote the merits and value of rotating magnetic storage technologies, as well as to make consumers and professionals aware of how critical hard disk drives (HDDs) and solid-state hybrid drives (SSHDs) are to their digital lives.

SPA members include HGST, Seagate, Toshiba and WD. The organisation helps storage manufacturers and users understand and support current and future storage needs, including the key role of hard disk drives (HDDs) and solid state hybrid drives, in an effective storage mix for all consumer and business environments. SPA will provide education to its customers, partners, members and users of HDDs and SSHDs. SPA will also participate in industry and user events, and will publish materials about end users' storage needs and effective usage of a mix of storage technologies.

"Driven by continued, rapid expansion of digital content production, demand for storage is expected to grow in the mid-30s per cent range annually through 2020," said Tim Leyden, WD president. "While, in that timeframe, a mix of technologies will be deployed to appropriately serve customers, about 75 per cent of the capacity is still expected to be rotating magnetic storage devices. Every user of smart phones, tablets and personal computers today depends on the value and reliability of HDDs or SSHDs to secure their precious data, whether the storage is in their device or in the cloud. SPA will help consumers and businesses appreciate the value of their growing content storage needs and the remarkable rotating magnetic technologies that save and protect that content."

SPA made its debut at the Flash Memory Summit, yesterday at the Santa Clara Convention Center. A SPA member companies participated in a panel titled, "Solid State Hybrid Drives Help Meet Today's Storage Requirements" to discuss the role of hard disk drives and solid state hybrid drives. John Rydning, IDC research vice president for hard disk drives, moderated the panel.

Tuesday 13 August 2013

New USB 3.0 Drive Adapter from StarTech makes it Easy to Connect a Hard Drive without Installing in a computer or need to dock

Versatile USB 3.0 to SATA/IDE drive adapter saves time by providing users fast access to bare drive contents without having to dock the drive or install in an enclosure or computer chassis. The adapter offers a SuperSpeed USB 3.0 host connection for 2.5" or 3.5" SATA or IDE drives, helping to eliminate data transfer bottlenecks 

Northampton, UK - August 13, 2013 - StarTech, a leading manufacturer of hard-to-find connectivity parts, has announced the release of a new USB 3.0 to SATA/IDE Drive Adapter (USB3SSATAIDE), which enables users to connect a 2.5" or 3.5" hard drive or SSD to a computer, externally through SuperSpeed USB. The adapter, which supports the full data transfer speeds of SuperSpeed USB 3.0, is backward compatible with USB 2.0, and provides users with a time-saving workaround that eliminates the need to use a drive docking station or install the drive in an enclosure or computer chassis.

The USB 3.0 drive adapter is compatible with both SATA and IDE drive types, which makes it a more convenient alternative than similar adapters which support only SATA or only IDE.

"This adapter is a must-have for anyone who needs to test or access a variety of types and sizes of hard drives or solid state drives" said Juliet Wei, Senior Product Manager for StarTech.com's Hard Drive Accessories product line. "Because the adapter supports both IDE and SATA, as well as both 2.5" and 3.5" drives, so system builders and technicians only have to have a single, portable adapter on-hand for USB access to the most common drives".

View the StarTech range at Okobe.co.uk

Friday 9 August 2013

TRENDnet® Releases Compact Outdoor Bullet IP Camera

TORRANCE, Calif. - August 7, 2013 - TRENDnet, a best-in-class wired and wireless networking hardware brand, today announces the availability of the Outdoor Megapixel PoE Day / Night Internet Camera, model TV-IP302PI, which provides powerful HD 720P night vision in complete darkness for distances up to 15 meters (50 feet).

This camera is outdoor ready with an IP66 weather rated housing. The compact aluminum bullet enclosure, a mere 4 inches long (10 cm), comes with an adjustable sun visor. No need to install this camera near a power source, power and data are received through a single network cable using Power over Ethernet (PoE) technology.

Bottom and back mounting points and an adjustable mounting bracket provide installation flexibility. Other hardware features include: an optional power port (for non-PoE installations); I/O ports to network to an alarm system; audio in / out ports for a third party microphone and speakers; and an analog video out port to connect directly to a television.

Record HD 720P megapixel video (1280 x 720) at 30 frames per second (fps) in the space saving H.264 compression format. Additional camera features include a multi-language interface, motion detection windows, privacy masks, camera usage logs, date-and-time overlays, email alerts, scheduled recording sessions, and Samba client support. Manage up to 32 TRENDnet cameras with the included complimentary camera management software. View this camera on your mobile device with TRENDnet's free mobile app.

Wednesday 7 August 2013

PNY® completes its professional SSD range with the sleek and durable PNY Prevail 5K

BORDEAUX, France - 7th August, 2013 - PNY Technologies, a leading manufacturer and supplier of memory, imaging and graphics solutions, today introduces the sleek and durable SSD Prevail 5K, the latest in PNY's new line designed for the high-performance, enterprise market. Like its predecessors, PNY's SSD Prevail 5K delivers a solid combination of performance, price and endurance.

The PNY SSD Prevail 5K, is equipped with high performance features such as eMLC NAND memory modules. This drive is designed for use in a professional environment such as CAD/CAM workstations or video editing, RAID server storage or cloud computing.

Immediate benefits for workstations

Professionals, such as engineers or designers, have the highest demands for reliability and performance when they use the most complex applications. Whereas other conventional HDDs display standard read/write speeds, the PNY SSD Prevail 5K displays faster, more powerful read/write speeds.

Tuesday 6 August 2013

ASUSTOR NAS Receives Impressive Upgrades with ADM 2.0

All ASUSTOR NAS devices will be upgraded to ASUSTOR's ADM 2.0 NAS operating system, fully optimized user interface is easy to use with zero learning curve, newly added features include original technology such as Searchlight search engine, Mission Mode backup, FTP Explorer and more; App Central also receives updates in App Central V2, along with the launch of two new mobile apps AiMaster and AiData, effectively combining cloud storage with multimedia applications.

Taipei, Taiwan, August 6th, 2013 - ASUSTOR Inc., a leading innovator and provider of network storage solutions, has announced that all of its NAS devices will be upgrading to the ASUSTOR Data Master (ADM) 2.0 operating system. ADM was the first NAS operating system in the world to be designed around the use of Apps and features an intuitive graphical interface that provides users with a familiar experience closely resembling the simplicity enjoyed on mobile and tablet devices. ADM also features the App Central App repository which contains over 100 unique NAS Apps. Users with needs ranging from business to SOHO to home and personal will all find Apps that they can use to create a customized NAS device for themselves.

ADM 2.0 features a substantially optimized user interface that increases operational efficiency. Newly added features allow users to freely upload their own desktop wallpaper, pin frequently used Apps to the ADM menu bar and organize the order of their Apps, giving each user the ability to create their own customized desktop. Many new and original functions have also been added including the industry's first Searchlight search engine which can help users find required files in a large database, and Mission Mode backup which helps to ensure the completion of each backup job. Additional new features include FTP Explorer, the first FTP client designed for NAS use that offers an intuitive user experience similar to most file managers as well as SoundsGood Web music player and a VPN client. ADM 2.0 will also include App Central V2, the newly styled version of ASUSTOR's renowned App library platform. Furthermore, users of ASUSTOR's 3 series NAS devices will also get to enjoy the use of the new XBMC multimedia player App. 3 Series users can also use XBMC with ASUSTOR's exclusive infrared remote control to create a complete digital entertainment experience.

"We are very proud to be launching ADM 2.0, which comes loaded with unique features to meet the diverse demands of our users," said James Su, Product Manager at ASUSTOR. "ADM 2.0 features an array of exclusive ASUSTOR technology, helping users to create a secure personal cloud while redefining the capabilities of NAS. Combined with ASUSTOR's excellence in hardware design, ADM 2.0 brings users a dynamic experience that is sure to delight."

TRENDnet® Ships Next Generation AC1200 Wireless Media Bridge

TORRANCE, Calif. - August 6, 2013 - TRENDnet, a best-in-class wired and wireless networking hardware brand, today announces the availability of the AC1200 Dual Band Wireless Media Bridge, model TEW-800MB, which connects up to four devices around a TV to the Internet using a revolutionary Wireless AC network.

Only a Wireless AC router, such as TRENDnet's TEW-812DRU or TEW-811DRU, is able to deliver Wireless AC speeds of up to 867 Mbps. Once the media bridge is connected to a Wireless AC network, simply connect a smart TV, media player, gaming console, and receiver to the four Gigabit ports for instant internet access. Wireless AC easily handles multiple HD streams simultaneously. The TEW-800MB can also connect to a Wireless N network at up to 300 Mbps.

"The TEW-800MB is an extreme performance product which expands the capabilities of a Wireless AC network," said Zak Wood, director of global marketing for TRENDnet. "It brings the internet experience to your TV over the fastest wireless speeds available today."

Thursday 1 August 2013

LAPTOP OF THE DAY: Toshiba Satellite Pro C850-1HE Celeron 1000M 2GB 320GB 15.6 inch HD Intel Win 8 ONLY £255.87 at Okobe.co.uk


LAPTOP OF THE DAY:

Toshiba Satellite Pro C850-1HE Celeron 1000M 2GB 320GB 15.6 inch HD Intel Win 8 ONLY £255.87 at Okobe.co.uk



Targus Spruce EcoSmart TBB013EU Carrying Case (Backpack) for (15.6") Laptops - Black, Green ONLY £28.86 at Okobe.co.uk


Targus Spruce EcoSmart TBB013EU Carrying Case (Backpack) for 39.6 cm (15.6") Laptops - Black, Green ONLY £28.86 at Okobe.co.uk


The Spruce EcoSmart Backpack is designed to protect up to 15.6" widescreen laptops and is constructed with polyester material made from recycled plastic bottles. The case also features nickel-free hardware and recyclable plastic components. To store your essentials, the backpack features a key clip, water bottle holder, MP3 player, business card holder, pen loops and accessory compartments. Quick-access front pocket provide a convenient place to store items while on the go. The padded back panel and adjustable shoulder strap allow for a customized, comfortable fit. A colorful green interior lightens the case, making items stored inside more visible. Both sleek and sporty, the Spruce line offers a durable eco-friendly option with tasteful color accents.