ASRock jumps the gun, launches Z68 boards early

It looks like ASRock has had itchy fingers and has launched its Z68 boards a little bit on the early side, as all three of its Z68 boards are now listed on its website alongside a dedicated portal for the boards. Weve already covered the boards in pretty good detail, but we missed a couple of things worth pointing out.

For starters, ASRock is making a big deal out of the PLX PEX8608 PCI Express switch on the Z68 Extreme4, although were not quite sure what the fuss is about. As the Z68 Extreme4 has a third x16 slot (x4 electrically) the PLX switch has make do with a single PCI Express lane from the chipset which is then split between the two x1 PCI Express slots, the Gigabit Ethernet controller and the PCI bridge chip. ASRock claims that this is better than solutions where things are disabled when you add a card in the third x16 slot and that might very well be the case, but were not sure wed be willing to trade down the performance of everything else on the motherboard for it.

In all fairness this is more of a flaw from Intels side, as the company simply hasnt created a platform that provides enough PCI Express bandwidth, a re-occurring problem when it comes to Intels mass-market platforms. The other three PCI Express lanes from the chipset are in this case taken up by two USB 3.0 host controllers and one SATA 6Gbps controller. Its not an ideal situation for anyone intending to use any kind of PCI Express x1 or PCI expansion cards as well as all three PCI Express x16 slots, as 500MB/s isnt all that much bandwidth to go around once you start dividing it up between three different things, if not more.

For some very odd reason, ASRock has decided to bundle a 3.5mm audio cable with the Z68 Extreme4 as well, although seemingly neither of the other two boards get one in the box. At least all three boards will be supplied with Lucid Logixs Virtu graphics switching software which should be a boon to some. Also supplied is a copy of CyberLinks MediaEspresso 6.5, but sadly this is only a trial version which is limited to 30-days or 50 conversions to H.264.

For those of you interested in getting an idea of what these boards cost, we can help out with that as well. All three boards are already listed for sale in the UK with the Z68 Extreme4 listed for £145 (S$293), the Z68 Pro3 for £135 (S$273) and the Z68 Pro3-M for £125 (S$252). Were fairly certain that these arent the final board prices, as the difference between the models; especially the Z68 Extreme4 is simply just too small.

Source: ASRock

ASUS showcases Eee product range

Visitors to CeBIT this year were treated to a comprehensive look at how every facet of their lives can be enriched by ASUS’ holistic suite of easy-to-use Eee solutions. From High Definition entertainment, video calling and gaming to massive file sharing and all-in-one computing, ASUS had each area covered with an incredibly innovative Eee product.

Eee Stick: An Innovative Plug-and-Play Wireless Controller for Instant Gaming Fun
The Eee Stick, which translates hand motions into onscreen movements, offers complete freedom of movement when gaming. Its three modes—motion, pointing and tilt—make it suitable for virtually any type of game. A Game Manager allows users to access games quickly, as well as adjust the controller’s settings to suit their personal playstyles. The Eee Stick can also enhance the user’s PC experience by serving as a 3D mouse.

EeeNAS PC: The All-In-One Solution for Centralized File Storage and Sharing
A two Terabyte (2TB) Network-Attached Storage (NAS) solution mated to a PC, the EeeNAS PC is the perfect platform for storing, backing up and sharing multimedia and data. Designed for 24/7 operation, it boasts low power consumption figures, an Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS), and a near-silent noise level of just 28dB. In addition, it is equipped with a convenient 3.5-inch touchscreen control panel, a front slot loading DVD writer and multi-server capabilities.

Eee Box PC B206: The World’s Smallest HD-capable Desktop PC
The Eee Box PC B206 is a space-saving PCand home entertainment solution that allows users to enjoy hardware-accelerated High Definition content via its HDMI output. Its unique designmakes it possible to be mounted on LCD TVs and monitors to save space. It consumes just 15 watts of power, operates at a near-silent 26dB, and boasts Wi-Fi 802.11n connectivity for high speed Internet browsing.

Eee Videophone: The World’s First Skype Certified™ PC-Free Videophone
The Eee Videophone is dedicated to unlimited video calling over the Internet in just three easy steps. Boasting a large 7-inch display and a built-in webcam, speaker and microphone, the Wi-Fi-capable videophone lets users make unlimited face-to-face video calls to their loved ones without the need for a computer. Its simple-to-use, icon-based interface and intuitive button layout take the complexity out of Internet calling—making it a perfect all-in-one videoconferencing solution that can be placed just about anywhere.

Eee Top PC ET1602: An All-in-one Touch PC for Use Anywhere at Home
The Eee Top PC ET1602 is an all-in-one touch-enabled computer that comes with a comprehensive suite of touch-optimized applications spanning productivity, entertainment and communications—enabling users to do virtually anything, easily. Although housed in a compact LCD monitor form factor, the Eee Top PC ET1602 offers a rich complement of features, such as Wi-Fi 802.11n connectivity for speedy and reliable Internet access, built-in high fidelity speakers for crystal clear audio and an integrated 1.3 megapixel web camera and microphone array for convenient web conferencing. It also features ASUS Tranquiller Technology that ensures that the system stays cool while operating at an extremely quiet 26dB.

Source: ASUS

AMD Unveils New Consumer Products In Singapore, Under Vision Brand

Tomo Kamiya, Regional Vice President of AMD, South Asia, was present at the event.

"What we want to make sure is when a customer has a purpose to buy a PC, it will be easy for them. When they purchase one with an AMD platform, we want to give them the best visual experience they can find. You won't see a single processor or RAM details; you will see Vision, Vision Premium, Vision Ultimate and Vision Black" says Kamiya.

Some of the laptops showcased at the AMD event, including a Toshiba with AMD Triple Core processor. Other models include Fujitsu Lifebook LH520, ThinkPad x100eand ASUS N61da.

AMD will also have a booth at the PC Show tomorrow and you can expect to see PC makers selling the laptops and desktops with AMD Vision. Check it out if you're there.

ASUS P552w Glide Enabled PDA Phone

ASUS today launched the ASUS P552w PDA phone which features Glide – aninnovative touch-responsive user interface that makes navigating and performingtasks on a mobile phone more intuitive and interactive than ever before.Equipped with a 624MHz processor and a host of market-leading features such as3.5G HSDPA connectivity, GPS and seamless Google integration*, the ASUS P552wPDA phone is a perfect fit for the rising tide of young, tech-savvyprofessionals who appreciate a good-looking mobile companion that packs a wealthof fun features and yet is no slouch when it comes to work.

Glide to a New Mobile Experience
Underpinning the ASUS P552w’s revolutionary touch-responsive user interface isits cutting-edge Gester technology that enables users to perform a variety ofnavigational actions – such as selecting, zooming, scrolling and flipping –easily through simple flicks of their fingers. Incorporated into Glide are alsoapplications that enable users to access a wide range of functions such aslooking up the latest news, checking the weather forecast, viewing photoslideshows and listening to music within a few finger taps. These applications,dubbed Multi-Home, Anytime Launcher, EziPhoto, and EziMusic, give the expression"the world at your fingertips" a whole new meaning.

Unprecedented Processing Power, Speed and Connectivity
The ASUS P552w boasts one of the most powerful CPUs (624MHz) on the markettoday. Apart from posting exceptional Vsbenchmark scores, the ASUS P552w’sreal-world results are equally tangible – applications and games run noticeablyfaster and video frame rates are markedly smoother. The ASUS P552w also features3.5G HSDPA (3.6Mbps) connectivity for the fastest Internet browsing, filesharing and TV program-streaming experience possible. Furthermore, it offersBluetooth, WLAN 802.11b/g, GPS, USB and other connectivity standards to enableeasy data transfers to and from other devices.

Deep Google Integration
The ASUS P552w features Google Maps* which not only facilitates navigation, butis capable of furnishing users with information on points of interest. The ASUSP552w’s navigation capabilities are further bolstered by a feature known as ASUSSMS Location Link. With this exclusive feature, users at two different locationscan locate each other easily by sending each other SMS messages. Clicking on theURLs which are automatically embedded in the sent messages will link the phonesup to Google Maps, which will then provide the users with clear directions onhow to get to each other’s positions. The ASUS P552w also features a convenientGoogle Search Bar on the Today screen that makes it easier to perform onlinequeries.

EziPhoto, EziMusic and Other Applications
The ASUS P552w comes preinstalled with applications that allow users to get aneasy handle on entertainment. The most exciting of these are EziPhoto andEziMusic. EziPhoto enables users to flip through their photo collection withtheir fingertips, akin to how they would with a real album. It also has aCalendar option which organizes and displays the thumbnails of photos users havetaken according to the dates in which they were snapped, allowing them to relivethose moments in chronological order at a single glance. EziMusic offers aninteractive interface – complete with exciting animations – for users to playand manage their music, performing each task with colorful aplomb. The ASUSP552w also houses applications that enable easy access to web content like RSSnewsfeeds, YouTube movies and photos on Flickr, ensuring that users have a fullcomplement of entertainment options to choose from while out of the house oroffice.

*Google Maps is only available for the following countries: Russia, France,Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark,UK, Taiwan, and China.
** Talk and standby time are dependent on the network environment and on phoneusage.

Availability: Mid Oct 2008
RRP: TBA

Apple to unveil iOS 6 at WWDC

Apple is to announce new hardware and software at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) this week, with iOS 6 top of the agenda.

“We have a great WWDC planned this year and can’t wait to share the latest news about iOS and OS X Mountain Lion with developers,” said Philip Schiller, SVP of Worldwide Marketing at Apple. “The iOS platform has created an entirely new industry with fantastic opportunities for developers across the country and around the world.”Activities at the event will include technical sessions with Apple engineers, hands-on labs for providing code-level assistance, meet and greet with fellow developers, the Apple Design Awards, and, of course, the various announcements from the top dogs at Apple.Tim Cook, who took over as CEO from the late Steve Jobs last year, will show off some of the new lineup starting at 10:00am PST (6:00pm GMT), and well be sure to fill you in on all the details.Apple is expected to unveil a series of new Mac computers, with faster processing power.The star of the show will undoubtedly be iOS 6, though the features of the updated operating system have yet to be revealed. A new version typically accompanies a new hardware product and it is widely believed that iOS 6 will launch with the iPhone 5 in Autumn. However, it is not expected that Apple will announce the latter at WWDC.The event will also feature showcases of OS X Mountain Lion for the Mac, which will go on sale in Summer. This updated version is intended to beat Microsofts Windows 8 to the punch by implementing tablet and smartphone-inspired features and usability. More details, like a release date and price, are expected today.

Android Gingerbread 2.3.6 coming to your Samsung Galaxy S II

Samsung has unleashed a new firmware for its ever-popular Galaxy S II super-phone, merely a week after the version 2.3.5 update for its predecessor, the Samsung Galaxy S.The new patch addresses some issues including a tendency for lockscreen freezes, minor bugs and security loopholes, as well as upgrades such as a new camera interaction layout, increased HSPA transfer speed, a faster boot-up sequence and a string of other performance improvements.The update wasinitially reported from Mexico and it should be served through Samsung KIES,the companys proprietarybundled software to interface the phone with the computer. It is believed that the unlocked version of the phone will receive its upgrades first, while carrier-bounded handsets would require approval before receiving the patch.Well, hopefullythe updatewould reach Singaporeans by Decemeber or early next year. Fellow owners can check their update status via the "settings" menu on their phones in hopes of receiving the good news.

Source: YouMobile, IntoMobile

Apple and Samsung reach no settlement in court ordered talk

Apple and Samsung have failed to settle patent disputes after two days of court-ordered talks.

Apples Tim Cook -Photo: Robert Galbraith

In a court ordered and presumably awkward meeting, Apple CEO Tim Cook and Samsung CEO Choi Gee-sung met to try and resolve their patent disputes out of court for two days. It has not been publicly revealed what solutions were presented by either party at this meeting, although Samsung president J.K. Shin has recently suggested cross-licensing patents.

Apple has a big beef with Samsung, due to claimed patent infringement. Apple has constantly blamed Samsung for producing products with uncanny similarities to Apples iPhone and iPad. In its court war, Apple has successfully banned specific Samsung products around the world. They will be trying to ban the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 in the U.S next.

Samsungs Choi Gee-sung -(AP Photo/CTK, Samuel Kubani)

The Korea Times reveals that the two-day negotiations failed to produce any settlement. Apple holds its position that Samsung copied the appearance of the iPhone and iPad, while Samsung insists that Apple pay royalties for using its wireless transmission technology. Since there has been no settlement, Apple and Samsung will be going back to court starting on June 30th. After that, no further settlement talks can be held unless prompted by the companies themselves.

Apple and Samsung have been going at each other’s throats for a long time, but Apple has been the one to generally come out on top. This might not be surprising if Samsung were a comparative nobody, like Proview, but Samsung is the worlds-largest IT producer, so maybe it is a little bit surprising that the Korean company has failed to win any of its infringement claims against Apple.

But then again, maybe thats because Samsung actually is a copycat. It isnt simply black rectangular phones which give many Samsung devices an uncanny resemblance to the iPhone, but incredibly similar interfaces as well. Apple has specifically attacked Samsungs Galaxy smartphone, contrasting it with the iPhone in a filing.

But, on that point, the Samsung Galaxy is doing very well, and isnt going anywhere. It isnt any wonder that Apple stubbornly persists in their court battles.

Source: SlashGear