Sunbeamtech USB 3.0 HDDPAL docking station Review
Bluetooth 20 Aug 2010

Ever since NEC USB 3.0 becomes the defacto chipset for USB 3.0 support, USB 3.0 enclosures are beginning to flood the market as a replacement for the aging USB 2.0 and an alternative to eSATA.

While enclosure is still a hard plastic with electronics that connect your USB port to SATA HDD, it would be quite troublesome to change HDD or SSD as and when you like it.

The plug-n-play ready, high speed USB3.0 HDDPAL provides the user with flexibility, portability and performance. The unit supports both 2.5” and 3.5” SATA drives up to 2TB in size. The docking station is hot-swappable and comes with two high performance interface, USB3.0 with a maximum transfer rate of 5Gbps, so it can be moved from computer to computer with ease for all your backup needs.

The package consists of the unit, USB 3.0 cable, 12V/2A DC adapter and a user manual.

Below is a video showing what is inside the package.

We have seen the ASRock X58 Extreme with USB 3.0 support. ASRock up it’s ante by introducing yet another high end board, the ASRock X58 Extreme6. The most important changes to this board is that it now supports 6 USB 3.0 ports, 6 SATA 6Gbps ports. it also supports 6 core CPU. That is why it is known as Extreme 6!

Below are the specs:

ASRock DuraCap (2.5 x longer life time), 100% Japan-made
high-quality Conductive Polymer Capacitors
- Six-Core CPU Ready
- Supports Triple Channel DDR3 2000(OC)
- Supports ATITM Quad CrossFireXTM,3-Way CrossFireXTM and
CrossFireXTM
- Supports NVIDIA® Quad SLITM,3-Way SLITM and SLITM
- 2 x Front USB 3.0 ports, 4 x Rear USB 3.0 ports, 6 x SATA3 6.0
Gb/s connectors, 2 x IEEE1394 ports
- Dr. Debug, Smart Swith Design: Power/Reset/Clear CMOS
Switch with LED
- Supports ASRock Instant Boot, Instant Flash, OC Tuner, IES,
OC DNA, Good Night LED, Multi-Speed Fan Control, AIWI,
APP Charger
- Combo Cooler Option (C.C.O.)
- 7.1 CH HD Audio with Content Protection (Realtek ALC892
Audio Codec), THX TruStudio PROTM and Premium Blu-ray
audio support
- Free Software : CyberLink DVD Suite – OEM and Trial
- Free Bundle: 1 x Front USB 3.0 Panel, 1 x ASRock SLI_Bridge_
2S Card, 1 x ASRock 3-Way SLI-2S2S Bridge Card
- ErP / EuP 2.0 Ready

OCZ Vertex 2 E 60GB OCZSSD2-2VTXE60G Review
bluetooth 15 Aug 2010

HDD used to be the bottleneck for performance. This has been partially solved with higher SATA interface speed. As HDD goes speedier, it is still unable to saturate the interface.  SSD came and slowly take over as the preferred choice as storage media as it is speedy and could take advantage of the higher speed SATA II interface. As not all SSD are made equal, some SSD gives amazing read speeds but bad write speeds. OCZ Vertex II 60GB, the extended version inherits the original version with a bigger capacity and push the limits in both sequential and random read/write. As spec, it is able to do a max read and write up to 285MB/s and 275MB/s respectively. 4K random write (aligned) should be able to attain 50,000 IOPS. by virtue of the SandForce controller.

Built with SATA 3Gb/s, the Vertex 2 Series easily integrates into today’s mobile and desktop platforms and features TRIM support to optimize performance over the drive’s lifespan as the ultimate Windows 7 notebook or desktop upgrade.

The OCZ Vertex II 60GB comes with a metal bracketl 2.5” to 3.5” adapter so you can stick the SSD into a standard hard drive bay. Below is a video showing the package and the SSD.

Specifications

Max Read: up to 285MB/s
Max Write: up to 275MB/s
Sustained Write: up to 250MB/s
4k Random Write (Aligned): 50,000 IOPS
Seek Time: 0.1 MS
Power Consumption: Idle: 0.5Watts Active: 2Watt
Performance Optimization: TRIM (requires OS support)

Local distributor CDL Trading and Gigabyte Technology of Taiwan held a gathering of power users at a Thai restaurant in town. Rockson Chiang was here in town to give us a view of the technologies available on the Gigabyte mainboards.

The event started at 7.20pm with crowds streaming in from all parts of Singapore. To my surprise, some of the attendees are probably Secondary school kids. Of course, the older ones would be close to 50 yrs old. It simply shows that Gigabyte boards are well accepted by all age groups.

Much of the presentation was on the current technologies like USB 3.0 super charge of iPhone, iPad and stability design using ferrite chokes etc. The most interesting demonstration was the demonstration of Cloud OC where he uses a iPad (or any phone with wifi). The wifi device is connected to the AP. With the device (ipad or phone), you can access the IP address of your machine and overclock the system remotely over the WiFi network.

The video presentations are on the 2nd page.

Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 mini Pro Review
Bluetooth 3 Aug 2010 

Android android everywhere. From 3.2″ to 3.8″ and 4.0″ capactive screens. Although this is the norm for most handsets, there isn’t something that is compact in the hands. The Xperia X10 mini pro , just like the Xperia X10 mini seems to fit into this special class for users with small hands and do not require the full screen functionality. Measuring only 2.55″, it comes with a 16,777,216 colour TFT,  240 x 320 pixels (QVGA) scratch resistant screen. 

Designed along the lines of the Xperia X10 mini, the Xperia X10 mini pro comes with Android 1.6 preloaded and is upgradable to 2.1 later this year. The thickness is compromised because of the small compact keypad which slides out. 

Although it is small, it has some good stuff built into it. Firstly is the customised User interface which hides you from the usual android screen. With the smaller screen, Sony Ericsson chose to use a 4 cornered UI to instantly access the applications available.  The TimeScape application also allows you to view Facebook™ status updates, friend’s photo,   inbox messages and friend requests, tweets, replies and direct messages from   people you follow on Twitter™. Incoming text and picture messages and missed calls can be seen within one screen based on timeline. 

As a multimdeia device, it has a 5 megapixel AF camera with geo tagging. There is also video recording, photo video light, FM radio etc. You can also add more applications from the Android market. 

Below is an unboxing video of the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 mini pro package. 

Specifications
Xperia™ X10 mini and X10 mini pro  

Camera 

• 5 megapixel camera
• Auto focus
• Geo tagging
• Photo and video light
• Sony Ericsson Album application
• Video recording

Music 

• Bluetooth™ stereo (A2DP)
• Music player
• PlayNow™
• TrackID™

Web 

• Bookmarks
• Pan and zoom
• WebKit web browser

Communication 

• Sony Ericsson Timescape™ with…
• Facebook™ status updates, friend’s photo,   inbox messages and friend requests
• tweets, replies and direct messages from   people you follow on Twitter™
• incoming text and picture messages
• missed calls

Messaging 

• Email
• Instant messaging
• Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync®
• Picture messaging (MMS)
• Predictive text input
• Text messaging (SMS)

Design 

• Auto rotate
• Full slide out keyboard (X10 mini pro only)
• Picture wallpaper
• Touchscreen

Entertainment 

• Infinite button
• Quadrapop game
• Sony Ericsson FM radio
• Video player
• Video streaming

Organiser 

• Calendar
• Flight mode
• Phone book with dialer
• Sony Ericsson Home with widget
• Tasks

Location-based services 

• A-GPS
• Google Maps™
• Wisepilot™ turn-by-turn navigation* (free trial version)

Connectivity 

• 3.5 mm audio jack
• Bluetooth™ technology
• Micro USB connector
• NeoReader® barcode scanning app
• Sony Ericsson Sync
• USB mass storage support
• USB support
• Wi-Fi™

Google™ Services 

• Android Market™
• Gmail™
• Google Maps™ with Street View
• Google Search Widget
• Google Talk™
• Google Voice Search™**
• YouTube™
• ** The Google Voice Search service is not available in all markets

Screen 

• 16,777,216 colour TFT touchscreen
• 2.55 inches
• 240 x 320 pixels (QVGA)
• Scratch-resistant

Accessories 

• In-Box:
• Sony Ericsson Xperia™ X10 mini/ Xperia™ X10 mini pro with battery
• Micro USB cable for charging, synchronisation and file transfer
• Stereo portable handsfree
• 2GB microSD™ memory card
• User documentation

• Optional:
• Portable Stereo Speakers MS450
• Hi-Fi Headset with Remote MH810

• Xperia™ X10 mini:

• Size: 83 x 50 x 16 mm
• Weight: 88 grams

• Phone memory: Up to 128MB

• Memory card support: SanDisk microSD™, up to 16 GB
• Memory card included: 2GB

• Operating system: Google™ Android 1.6
• Processor: 600 MHz Qualcomm MSM7227

• Talk time GSM/GPRS: Up to 4 hours
• Standby time: GSM/GPRS: Up to 285hrs

• Talk time UMTS: Up to 3.5 hours
• Standby time: UMTS: Up to 360 hrs

• Xperia™ X10 mini pro:

• Size: 90 x 52 x 17 mm
• Weight: 120 grams

• Phone memory: Up to 128MB

• Memory card support: SanDisk microSD™, up to 16 GB
• Memory card included: 2GB

• Operating system: Google™ Android 1.6
• Processor: 600 MHz Qualcomm MSM7227

• Talk time GSM/GPRS: Up to 4 hours
• Standby time: GSM/GPRS: Up to 285hrs

• Talk time UMTS: Up to 3.5 hours
• Standby time: UMTS: Up to 360 hrs

Availability and versions  

• Networks

• UMTS HSPA 900/2100
• GSM GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900

• UMTS HSPA 850/1900/2100
• GSM GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900

• Available in selected markets in Q2 2010

Colour 

• Xperia™ X10 mini:
• Black
• Pearl White
• Lime
• Pink
• Red
• Silver
• Xperia™ X10 mini pro:
• Black
• Red

All 3 telcos in Singapore will be offering the iPhone 3GS 8GB, iPhone 4 16GB and iPhone 4 32GB on 30th Jul 2010.

All 3 telcos plans are quite similar, they come with 12GB bundled data or unlimited (depending on plans). Free locals minutes ranges from 100mins,300mins,700min or unlimited talk time. M1′s price for the iPhone 4 retails for S$480 and S$620. As for the iPhone 3GS 8GB , M1 also offers the Take 3 plan.

Although M1 doesn’t offer free video streaming, it offers a slightly cheaper plan compared to the two other telcos.

It may not have free tv programmes but it has free calls to 3 M1 friends which definitely saves you a lot of money if your friend is also a M1 subscriber.

M1 price plans

Starhub Plans

Starhub plans are a bit more expensive. The cheapest 3G SmartSurf 100 is priced at S$38 compared to S$36. The number of minute, SMS, bundled data  is the same as M1 value plan. The Smartsurf 700 plan is priced the same but the Unlimited plan is S$205,  more than what M1 offers at S$198. (you get the iphone 4 16GB for free). The iPhone 4 16GB is at S$500 while 32GB is at S$630, S$10 and S$20 more expensive that the M1 plans.

As Starhub comes with Free TV mobile viewing, the extra $2 allows you to get entertained on the move with its selected tv channels. On the other hand, with more mobile users viewing mobile tv, it will also mean slower HSPA+ access.

Singtel plans

Singtel’s pricing for the phones are identical to Starhub’s. The iFlexi lite and value has a higher subscription per month but the  iFlexi Plan is slightly cheaper than M1′s and Starhub’s. The iFlexi Premium only has a 30GB data compared to unlimited on both M1 and Starhub.

For Iphone plans on Singtel. Users are offered SingTel AMPed to Enjoy unlimited music downloads on your PC and mobile at no data charge with SingTel AMPed. You can create and share your very own playlists, get pre-album releases, receive invites to exclusive showcases and more.

It also has MobileTV of selected channels from its suite of pay tv channels (no detail information about it).

Conclusion

Out of the three telcos, M1 and Singtel has the cheapest handset pricing for it’s S$36-S$39 and S$56-S$58 plans. In terms of contract, you will pay slightly more for Starhub and Singtel but they offer unlimited music for Singtel Amped while both Starhub and Singtel offers some pay tv channels for entertainment.

As we have mentioned before, carriers that has streaming tv using HSPA+ tends to slow down the network especially during peak hours. So far M1 seems to have the fastest network as it is not choked down with video streams. This might change when they become a IPTV operator in the future.

So plain vanilla users who wants the best price plan and speed, I personally feel that M1 is the better choice of the 3. For best entertainment, Starhub would be the choice if you want to watch tv on the go with the best pay tv channels on your small screen. If you want free music, Singtel will be your choice.

A summary of the best telcos offers can be seen here

http://en.ocworkbench.com/mobile-news/comparison-chart-of-price-plans-of-iphone-4-by-m1-singtel-and-starhub/

ASUS ENGTX460 TOP Graphics Card Review
Bluetooth 20 Jul 2010  

ASUS ENGTX460 graphics cards enter service as the newest addition to NVIDIA’s GeForce 400 Series. ASUS is proud to deliver technology that goes further than base reference requirements with exclusives such as DirectCU thermal design, Voltage Tweak overvolting and endurance features GPU Guard, EMI Shield and Fuse Protection.  

The graphics card based on the Fermi architecture uses the GF104 GPU and is clocked at 700MHz for GPU CLK. The Shader clock is at 1400MHz and memory at 3680MHz.  

On top of cool overclocking capabilities, ASUS ENGTX460 graphics cards are optimized for native performance in Windows 7, delivering mind-blowing graphics to showcase DirectX11 done right, plus full 3D Vision Surround, PhysX and CUDA support.
Cooling Better with Copper — DirectCU  

Exclusively on the ASUS-designed ENGTX460 DirectCU cards, users make the most of DirectCU copper cooling. This technique places hefty copper heatpipes, custom flattened and brought into direct contact with the GPU core for improved heat transference. This adds to the already installed heatsink and fan assembly to provide 20 percent* better cooling than reference, and means ASUS ENGTX460 DirectCU cards can deliver more performance and have a higher tolerance for overclocking. They also outlast the basic reference design thanks to exclusive added feature GPU Guard, which combines with the excellent cooling of ASUS ENGTX460 cards to double printed circuit board reinforcement against cracking, delivering spectacular reliability and longevity.  

Driving Performance to the Max – Voltage Tweak  

Thanks to their better cooling, ENGTX460 cards enable extreme overclocking. This offers opportunities for enthusiasts and anyone intent on more hardcore applications to tap their full, powerful potential. ASUS ENGTX460 cards arrive bundled with overclocking and over volting utility Voltage Tweak, allowing adjustment of voltages to the GPU, video memory and board circuitry. This can boost the core and memory clocks significantly for up to 50 percent* faster overall performance compared to reference.
Pushing Boundaries Further with TOP selected GPUs  

ASUS ENGTX460 DirectCU TOP/2DI/1GD5 and ENGTX460 DirectCU TOP/2DI/768MD5 graphics cards carry over the celebrated ASUS TOP approach to graphics cards with select GPUs overclocked for triumphant gaming and benchmarking. Specially singled out from the rest, TOP cards have unbeatable overclocking potential for unparalleled performance.
Built for Superlative Gaming Thrills  

Dedicated gamers need look no further than the extreme prowess of the new ASUS ENGTX460’s graphics engine. These cards open up new horizons of excitement with native DirectX11 executed flawlessly in 2560 x 1600 and beyond. Finally, true high definition gaming comes to life in vivid detail, with the added advantage of 3D Vision Surround three dimensional immersion.  

The all-new ASUS ENGTX460 DirectCU TOP/2DI/1GD5, ENGTX460 DirectCU/2DI/1GD5, ENGTX460 DirectCU TOP/2DI/768MD5 and ENGTX460/2DI/768MD5 deliver a full spectrum of features, better performance and true Windows 7 optimization. They are the latest in an exciting line of 400 series graphics cards, extending their reach to new audiences.  

Video Review of the LG GD880 Mini Feature Phone
Bluetooth  11 Jul 2010

Looking for a small size feature phone? THe LG GD880 will fit the bill. The first sight of it reminds me of the minis from various manufacturers, all trying to outbid one another to make it more compact and handy.

Finished in polished black with silver lining, this phone looks very unique just like the LG BL40 which is longer in size. It has icons and widgets similar to those you commonly see on Android phones.

The GD880 uses a 3.2″ TFT capacitive touchscreen, 16M Colors of Size 480 x 854 pixels and is powered by the ARM11 processor which is used in the original iPhone 3G.

Although the GD880 Mini is not a smartphone, it has some neat features that address the social media users.  You have  3 page customisable desktop (with widgets, shortucts, icons). They are widgets available for download for real time Facebook and Twitter updates on the 3 page desktop. When the desktop gets too messy, you can just shake the phone and it will help you arrange them in an orderly fashion.

The phone has a 10.6mm Slim 3.2″ Multi-touch LCD. It has  built-in Phantom Browser (Support Flash-lite v3.1). It supports Wi-Fi, HSDPA 7.2Mbps & GPS and comes with a 5MP Camera with Auto Focus & Face Detection (no flash). The GD880 also supports 2 finger pinch and zoom for pictures and in the browser to manify the text. There is a FM Radio built in.

LG GD880 is the first to implement the LG Air Sync. LG Air Sync allows you to synchronize your mobile with the computer without USB. A simple right click can select, resize, and crop from a PC or a website, and send directly to your LG Mini. You could also retrieve important information, like contact list, schedule and memo from your LG Air Sync account.

Below is a video showing the contents of the package.

Display

Main Display Type

TFT capacitive touchscreen, 16M Colors

Main Display Size

480 x 854 pixels, 3.2 inches

Sensor

S-Class Touch UI, Multi-touch input method, Accelerometer sensor for UI auto-rotate, Proximity sensor for auto turn-off

Screen

Scratch-resistant surface

Sound

Alert types

Vibration; Downloadable polyphonic, MP3 ringtones

Speakerphone

Yes, 3.5 mm audio jack, Dolby Mobile sound enhancement

Memory

Phonebook

1000 entries, Photocall

Call records

Yes

Internal

60MB

Card slot

microSD (TransFlash), up to 32GB

Data

GPRS

Class 10

HSCSD

Yes

EDGE

Class 10

3G

HSDPA, 7.2 Mbps, HSUPA 2.0 Mbps

WLAN

Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g

Bluetooth

V2.1 with A2DP

USB

Yes

Camera

Primary

5 MP, 2576×1928 pixels, autofocus

Features

Geo-Tagging , face detection, Manual Focus, Smile Shot, Beauty Shot, Art Shot, Frame Shot, Panorama, Stitch Shot, Animation Shot

Video

Yes, WVGA@30fps

Secondary

Videocall camera

Features

Messaging

SMS (threaded view), MMS, Email

Browser

LG Phantom Browser, WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML

Radio

FM radio

GPS

Yes, with A-GPS support; Google maps

Java

Yes, MIDP 2.0

Software

MP3/AAC/AAC+/WMA player, DivX/XviD/MP4 player, Organizer, Document viewer (DOC, XLS, PPT, PDF), Voice memo

Next Page

“Today’s social networks provide an essential forum for friendship with more than 400 million users* – many of whom are young adults – actively sharing their lives with their friends through Facebook,” said Jack Tong, Vice President, HTC Asia Pacific. “HTC Wildfire makes the HTC Sense experience available to young mobile users for the first time. It brings all your communications into one place, whether it’s through Facebook, Twitter, text messages, images or email, ensuring that you are never far away from the conversation and always close to your friends.”

HTC Wildfire helps you stay connected with those who are most important to you through HTC Sense, a user experience focused on putting people at the centre by making phones work in a more simple and natural way. You won’t miss out on the fun as HTC’s Friend Stream application seamlessly gathers and displays content from social networks like Facebook, Twitter, and Flickr into one organised stream of updates. HTC Wildfire enables you to stay up to date with your friends’ posts, comments, alerts and photos, wherever you are.

In addition, each contact viewed in HTC Wildfire’s address book includes a thread of recent communications with that person, including when you last spoke, recent text messages and emails, and social network updates. When your friend calls, HTC Caller ID displays their Facebook profile photo and latest social network update, as well as a reminder if their birthday is fast approaching.

Thanks to a new app sharing widget, HTC Wildfire enables you to recommend an application by email, text message or over social networks. Your friends will receive a link allowing them to find the application on the Android Market with a single click and download it to their phone.

Jack Tong continued, “We understand that people need a better way to navigate their way through the tens of thousands of applications that are currently available on the Android Market. In fact, our own independent research found that consumers are not only hungry for the latest and most popular applications that their friends are using, they want an easier way to find and download them. For the first time ever, you can recommend the newest and coolest apps to a friend or group of friends with HTC Wildfire. With so many applications to choose from, there’s a world of content to discover and pass along to your friends.”

HTC’s latest advanced smartphone is great for viewing and sharing photos on Flickr and for surfing the internet thanks to its 3.2-inch capacitive touch screen. A five-megapixel camera with auto focus and LED flash allows you to capture special moments, while a 3.5mm audio jack and micro SD card slot mean you are never without your favourite songs.

Pricing & Availability
The new HTC Wildfire will be available from 10 July 2010 at all authorized resellers in three colours, Phantom Black, Flamenco Red and Pure White at a suggested retail price of $498+.

Also check out the launch event party at this link.

Specifications

Camera

• 5 megapixel color camera
• Auto focus and flash
• Geotagging

Sensors

• G-Sensor
• Digital compass
• Proximity sensor
• Ambient light sensor

Special Features

• HTC Caller ID that shows the caller’s Facebook status and a birthday reminder
• App Sharing that lets you recommend apps straight from your phone
• Full Flash support on the web browser
• In-built, dimmable flashlight
• Ringer that automatically lowers the ring volume when you lift up the phone or mutes when you flip the phone face down

Storage

ROM: 512 MB
RAM: 384 MB
Expansion slot:

• microSD™ memory card (SD 2.0 compatible)
• Supports up to 32 GB

Internet³

• 3G:
  Up to 7.2 Mbps download speed
  Up to 384 kbps upload speed
• GPRS: Up to 114 kbps downloading
• EDGE: Up to 560 kbps downloading
• Wi-Fi®: IEEE 802.11 b/g

Bluetooth

• Bluetooth® 2.1 with Enhanced Data Rate
• A2DP for wireless stereo headsets
• FTP and OPP (object push) for file transfer
• Other supported profiles: AVRCP, GAP, GOEP, HFP, HSP, PBAP, SPP, Service Discovery Application Profile

Multimedia

• Gallery application for viewing photos and videos
• Music
• FM Radio
• Audio supported formats:
  Playback: .aac, .amr, .ogg, .m4a, .mid, .mp3, .wav, .wma (Windows Media Audio 9)
  Recording: .amr
• Video supported formats:
  Playback: .3gp, .3g2, .mp4, .wmv
  (Windows Media Video 9)
  Recording: .3gp

Location

• Internal GPS antenna
• Google Maps
• HTC Footprints™

Recommended Windows System Requirements⁴

• Windows® 7, Windows Vista®, or Windows XP
• HTC Sync Suite

Kingston SSDNOW V Series 64GB Notebook Upgrade Kit SNV425-S2BN/64GB Review
bluetooth 29 Jun 2010       

For notebooks, SSDNow drives are a perfect replacement for hard drives resulting in faster, more reliable performance. Making this change will improve a notebook’s efficiency in a wide range of tasks, from booting up to running the most demanding operating systems and applications.       

SSDNow uses a standard SATA interface but, unlike a regular HDD, SSD is very rugged and built with no moving parts, making it ideal for users who push the limits of their notebooks. Other benefits include reduced power usage, less noise and less heat generation.       

Comes with an USB enclosure, you can simply plug it in, clone your existing < 64GB partition using the Acronis Disk image software provided. Once that is done, you are able to boot up from the SSD as your primary OS drive. Alternatively, you can hook it using USB as an external drive.       

On the next page, we take a look at the packaging followed by benchmark tests.       

Features       

• Performance — enhances productivity; makes users more efficient
• Innovative — 2.5″ form factor; uses NAND flash memory components
• Silent — Runs silent and cool with no moving mechanical parts
• Reliable — less likely to fail than a standard hard drive
• Shock Resistant — No moving mechanical parts so the SSD handles rougher conditions
• Supports TRIM — ensures maximum performance on compatible Operating Systems ²
• Supports S.M.A.R.T. — Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology
• Guaranteed — 3 year legendary Kingston warranty, 24/7 tech support

Specifications       

• Capacity¹ — 30 GB, 64 GB, 128 GB
• Storage Temperatures — -40° C to 85° C
• Operating temperatures — 0° C to 70° C
• Vibration Operating — 2.17 G Peak (7–800Hz)
• Vibration Non-Operation — 20 G Peak (20–2000Hz)
• Sequential Speed ³ —
  30 GB – up to 180 MB/sec. read, 50 MB/sec write
  64 GB – up to 200MB/sec. read; 110MB/sec. write
  128 GB – up to 200MB/sec. read; 160MB/sec. write
• PCMARK® Vantage Advanced HDD Suite Score ⁴ —
  30 GB – 18,900
  64 GB – 21,317
  128 GB – 20,177
• Power Specs —
  Active: 1.7 – 5.2 W (TYP)
  Sleep: 0.05 – 0.7 W (TYP)
• Life expectancy — 1 million hours mean time before failure, 64 GB/128 GB
  500,000 hours mean time before failure, 30 GB

Things to note when buying a parallel imported iPhone 4

As iPhone has just launched in various countries across the globe. There are variations of the iPhone 4. If you intend to buy one from overseas, the first thing is that you would like an unlock phone. With an unlocked phone, you can use SIM card from any telco in the world.

So, paralle imported goods comes from a few countries, namely the USA, Japan, UK. So far, USA and Japan are SIM LOCK to their telcos. So, you can’t just use any SIM card locally and assume that it will work. Parallel importers would probably want to tell you that it can be ‘hacked’ using tools available online. Well, it may or may not work as claimed.

Thus, the safest bet is to get a set that is unlocked from network. So far, the UK versions are unlocked as their regulators do not allowed locked phones. UK version of the phones can be easily identified as they come with 3 pin charger plug used in UK, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia. The US and Japan ones comes with 2 pin power plugs.

Of course some parallel importers might just swap out the 2 pin and replace it with a 3 pin after reading this article

The second point to note when purchasing a parallel imported set is it’s screen. There have been reports of yellowish spots. This will really be the ultimate eye sight test. It will also depend on your luck as the initial boot up screen is black and you might not be able to notice it until you use it after a while with other coloured background.

The third point to note is the IMEI number. Please make sure the handset IMEI and the one on the box are exactly the same.

The fourth thing to note is the microSIM card. Local telcos in Singapore already has microSIM card ready. You might need to ask the telcos to port your number to a microSIM card so that you can use it on your iphone 4. Alternatively, if you want, you can take the risk of cutting it to the microSIM form factor. There is also a company selling an adaptor that fits microSIM for standard SIM slot just in case you want to use the microSIM on your other phone.

These are just some pointers to note before making your purchase from shops. Do post your comments and suggestions if any.

Samsung Galaxy S Video Review
22 Jun 2010

Android phones are making waves in the mobile market, moving ahead and invading market share. Although Samsung had experiences with Android phones, namely the Galaxy i7500, then the Spica i5700, the general response was lukewarm. Most of the phones from all brands were trying to mimic the success of the Apple iPhone but failed miserably because of the screen and the usability.

Samsung announced it’s 3rd Android phone earlier this year and has gone on sale in Singapore under the Singtel exclusive arrangement. So what does Samsung Galaxy S has that makes it stand out from the rest.

The first thing to note is the 1GHz CPU Speed (S5PC111), 4″ AMOLED Screen on the Galaxy S. It supports up to 16 million colours. The screen is rather bright and has a high contrast ratio thus bringing out the vivid colours. Place side by side with an iPhone, you would notice that the phone is extremely slim.

The phone comes preinstalled with Android 2.1 and has a 5 mega pixel camera built in. It has a 3.5mm jack, microUSB for charging the battery. It runs on the GSM Quad-band handset, UMTS tri-band global 3G network.

Samsung customised the Android phone with some additional features, for example, it comes with Daily Briefing on Samsung GALAXY S allows you to transform your phone into your personal secretary by organizing and updating you on news, stock performance, weather and your schedule for the day. There is also the Social Hub - Phonebook seamlessly integrates all of your SNS, IM (Palringo), email, and calendar accounts, so you no longer need to spend time checking separate sites. Samsung GALAXY S lets you easily keep in touch with your loved ones. With Samsung GALAXY S’s integrated messaging, you can automatically sync and manage the history for all your SNS and IM accounts.

For the office worker, there is  ThinkFree office allows you to access documents saved online via your Samsung GALAXY S. You can add an image, amend text, then save straight away. Text entry is further enhanced with Swype - With the ‘Text at Hyperspeed’ by Swype Technology you can type your text 1.5 times faster than standard texting. And the ‘Write & Go’ feature allows you to select a pre-written text and choose to send it later by SNS, SMS, MMS, email, calendar or memo!

In addition the Samsung Galaxy S comes with Layar reality Browser, Wireless tethering and AllShare (via DLNA), in which you can wirelessly connect and share videos, photos, music and more between your phone, TV and PC.

On the next page, we will take a look at the features and see if

Specifications & features of the handset:
1. GSM Quad-band handset, UMTS tri-band global 3G
2. 4.0 inchs Super AMOLED capacitive display screen
3. 5 mp built in camera, music player [MP3, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, FLAC, WMA, WAV, AMR, OGG, MIDI
4. Android 2.1
5. Micro USB
6. Internet , Wi-Fi, A-GPS, Email [IMAP/POP3/SMTP/Microsoft Exchange ]
7. Video Playback [MPEG4, H.263, H.264, DivX, XviD, WMV, AVI, 3GP, Flash Video
8. 16384 MB internal memory [expandable with microSD/microSDHC card]
9. 3.5 mm headphones connector

Review of Kingston LoVo HyperX modules KHX1600C9D3LK2/4GX modules
Bluetooth 20 Jun 2010

Green Green Green. Everything goes Green with lower power consumption. We see that from desktop pcs to notebooks to power supplies. Kingston, being an innovative memory maker also has the new LoVo – Low voltage memory modules for the Green cause.

With a lower voltage, Kingston HyperX LoVo modules generates less heat and reduced power consumption of the overall system.

They come in various configurations and XMP settings. The lowest voltage is 1.25v on the KHX1333C9D3UK2/4GX while the KHX1600C9D3LK2/4GX and KHX18000C9D3LK2/4GX runs at 1.25V/1.35V depending on the XMP profile used.

In the following pages, we will take a look at the Kingston HyperX KHX1600C9D3LK2/4GX LoVo which is run at CAS 9-9-9-27-1T at 1.35v in comparison with our older high end HyperX (tri pair, we used a pair of KHX16000D3UKT1K3/6GX at 1.65v)

Below is a chart showing the specifications of the ram modules.

Kingston HyperX DDR3 ‘LoVo’ Ultra-Low & Low Voltage Kit Specification
Kingston Part Number	Description	† Latency Timings	Voltage
KHX1333C9D3UK2/4GX	4GB 1333MHz Kit of 2 for XMP – ultra low voltage	9-9-9-27	1.25V	(Datasheet)
KHX1600C9D3LK2/4GX	4GB 1600MHz Kit of 2 for XMP – Profile 1 – low voltage 4GB 1333MHz Kit of 2 for XMP – Profile 2 – ultra low voltage	9-9-9-27	1.35V 1.25V	(Datasheet)
KHX1800C9D3LK2/4GX	4GB 1600MHz Kit of 2 for XMP – Profile 1 – low voltage 4GB 1800MHz Kit of 2 for XMP – Profile 2 – low voltage	9-9-9-27	1.35V 1.35V	(Datasheet)

Today, Sony Ericsson hold a Global Press event at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore. The launch is held in conjunction with CommunicAsia 2010.

Rumours started to fly last week and most of our predictions were spot on. Sony Ericsson today announce three new phones. THey are they Xperia X8, a slightly bigger brother of the Xperia X10 Mini based on Android (but still runs ANdroid 1.6 right now).

Update : Sony Ericsson just confirmed that the Xperia X8 is ready to launch on Android 2.1 in selected markets. Due to operator testing in various markets where they may not be ready to go ahead with 2.1, the X8 will be launched on Android 1.6. But in these cases, an upgrade to 2.1 will be made available shortly after purchase.

The 2nd phone is the Sony Ericsson Yendo, a touch screen walkman phone. Although it spots the 4 corner UI just like the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 mini, it is based on ODM design and it is not not powered by Android.

The 3rd phone featured today is the GreenHeart phone, the Cedar. It is an affordable phone with 3G HSDPA. In the next few pages, we will take a look at the phones in more details starting with the Xperia X8.

At the event, Sony Ericsson Xperia X10, X10 mini and X10mini pro will receive software upgrades from Q3 in selected markets. The software will be upgrade to Android 2.1.

In addition, HD video recording will be added to the upgrade of Xperia X10 in Q3. A further uprade to the Xperia X10 in Q4 will make it possible to connect wirelessly to and display content on your TV and enhance. Timescape and mediascape applications will also be enhanced.

At CommunicAsia 2010,  the Korean manufacturer has prepared the Wave 2 and Wave 2 Pro, two bada based Smartphones, as well as three Android phones with the Galaxy Beam, Galaxy 3 and Galaxy 5, and two Windows Mobile 6.5 based phone with the Omnia Pro 4 and Omnia Pro 5.

Introduced earlier this year, the Galaxy Beam is nice phone capable to display video / Photo on a wall, with a 50’’ maximum screen size. It also comes with an 8 Megapixel camera, 3.7 inch Super AMOLED WVGA display, but also with an HD Video Mode, and the support for DivX files.

Regarding the two other Android phones, they are more Youth oriented device with a design close to the well-known Corby phones.

For our Samsung Wave 2 (S5250) and Wave 2 Pro (S5330), they succeed to the Wave introduced earlier this year and launched one month ago. These newest smartphones are also based on the bada platform. The Korean Manufacturer introduces them as the perfect tool for “a highly social lifestyle” with a bunch of wealth of gaming, social networking, e-book, health and lifestyle application.

Both should be available from August in Russia and the Southeast Asia region.

The OMNIA Family targets young business professionals, with Windows Mobile 6.5 based smartphones, the Omnia Pro 4 (B7350), Omnia Pro 5 (B6520).

Lastly, the Galaxy S (I9000) is also displayed at the CommunicAsia 2010. This new device features a bright 4 inch Super AMOLED screend, with a 1GHz processor, Android OS. It also comes with Samsung’s super-fast TouchWiz 3.0 user-interface (UI), and is already available in Singapore. Samsung announced they will soon expand it to the global market

IN the next few pages, we will give you a first hand glimpse of the phone and it’s specifications.

Nokia Connection 2010: Your Life. Connected. Featuring new devices and
solutions including the regional debut of the Nokia N8  -  Create, Connect and
Entertain 
 

 SINGAPORE,  June 14, 2010  –  At its 10th Nokia Connection event held in Singapore today, Nokia
demonstrated its commitment to deliver new and compelling experiences on its latest range of devices
and solutions, allowing people to create, connect and be entertained like never before.  Nokia announced two new devices, the Nokia X5 and the Nokia X6 8GB, and showcased the Nokia N8 for the first time in the region to more than 150 media, trade and analysts.
 
In a keynote presentation at the opening ceremony, Jo Harlow, Senior Vice President, Smartphones, said, “At Nokia, we aim to satisfy a broad range of customers around the world. MeeGo is our platform for high-end mobile computers.   In mobile phones, we will continue to bring affordable access to mobile communications and services to hundreds of millions of people, connecting them to the Internet for the first time on a Nokia, powered by Series 40.”
 
“With Symbian we are bringing smartphone functionality to the mass market quickly and more affordably.   The beauty is that we can reach many different audiences with this scalable, open source platform.  It is allowing us to truly “democratize smartphones”.  The new Symbian^3 will deliver a very robust feature set  and consumer experience.  The Nokia N8 is our first smartphone based on the Symbian^3 software, and we believe it is a great device for people who want to create amazing content, connect to their favourite social networks and be entertained with the latest on demand Web TV programmes and Ovi Store apps,” added Harlow.
 
Chris Carr, Vice President, Sales in the Southeast Asia Pacific region, commented, “We are living in an era of unprecedented change, and the mobile industry is overhauling itself for the future  –  one that revolves around the internet, content and services as well as constant connectivity.  It is this that is driving the need to deliver greater value and relevance to consumers.   By combining Ovi services with our wide portfolio of devices, we are increasingly offering greater consumer value than our competitors by having the world’s best maps and free global navigation, a great music player with access to millions of songs and an integrated messaging service for social networking and business connectivity.”
 
“Whether it’s  in Australia, Singapore, or in an emerging economy like Bangladesh, our commitment is to bring real value and relevance in all of the markets where Nokia is present.  This remains the goal and the promise of the Nokia brand – to connect people in newer and better ways,” added Carr.
 
Nokia X5 – the social jukebox on the move
Nokia unveiled the new Nokia X5, its latest full QWERTY music device which makes messaging, social networking and listening to your favourite music fun and easy when on the move.  The unique, square slider design makes it a perfect device for teens who enjoy Facebook, chatting, games, music and staying in touch with their peers in unlimited ways.
 

Favorite contacts, emails and social networking sites can be accessed directly from the home screen which makes sending messages and status updates a breeze.  Thousands of games and other social  networking, entertainment and personalization apps can be downloaded from Ovi Store.   On top of that, the Nokia X5 has a great music player with excellent sound quality and loud speakers, offering easy access to the device’s music collection with space for up to 1000 tracks with a 2GB in-box memory card, expandable up to 32GB.  In select markets, the Nokia X5 will include Nokia’s Comes With Music, the unlimited music download service with access to millions of tracks.  With the fun “Surprise Me” feature, you can spin the phone when playing music to jump to a random track. Available in a variety of cool colors, the Nokia X5 is expected to begin shipping during the third quarter of 2010 with an estimated
retail price of EUR 165 before taxes and subsidies.
 
Nokia X6 8GB – the social entertainment experience
Nokia also announced today the Nokia X6 8GB which complements the popular Nokia X6 family. The
Nokia X6 8GB offers a full-blown entertainment experience for people who enjoy music, social
networking, chat and games while on the go. The device provides easy access to thousands of games
and apps in Ovi Store, as well as Ovi Maps with free lifetime navigation and location sharing.
 

In select markets, the Nokia X6 8GB will include Nokia’s Comes With Music service, the unlimited music
download service with access to millions of tracks.  The Nokia X6 8GB also allows the capturing of great
pictures and videos with its 5 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics and dual LED flash.  It is expected
to start shipping during the third quarter of 2010 with an estimated retail price of EUR 225 before taxes
and subsidies.
 
Nokia N8 for a compelling home entertainment experience 
Showcased for the first time to media, trade and analysts in this region,  Nokia’s latest smartphone,
Nokia N8, offers the ability to create compelling content, connect to social networks and enjoy on-
demand Web TV programs and Ovi Store apps, intuitively connecting users to the people, places and
services that matter most.
 

With a 12 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics and Xenon flash, the Nokia N8 offers the ability to
record HD-quality videos and edit them with an intuitive built-in editing suite.  People can enjoy HD
quality video with Dolby Digital Plus surround sound by plugging the device into  their home theatre
system.  People can also update their status, share location and photos, and view live feeds from
Facebook and Twitter in a single application directly on the home screen.
 
The Nokia N8 enables access to Web TV services that deliver programmes, news and entertainment
from channels like CNN, E! Entertainment, Paramount and National Geographic.  In addition to these
international content, Nokia has collaborated with local content providers to bring Web TV content to
consumers in Singapore and Malaysia when the Nokia N8 hits the stores. The local Web  TV content
programmes include Channel NewsAsia, Makansutra, 8TV and TV3 as well as Virtual Malaysia. 
 
Powered by Symbian^3, the Nokia N8 supports gestures such as flick scrolling and pinch-zoom  and
offers multiple, personalizable home screens which can be loaded with apps from Ovi Store.  It is also
Nokia’s first device to be integrated with Qt, a software development environment that simplifies the
development, making it possible to build applications once and deploy across Symbian and other
software platforms.  Enabled with free global Ovi Maps walk and drive navigation, the Nokia N8 is
expected to be available in select markets during the third quarter of 2010 with an estimated retail
price of EUR 370 before taxes and subsidies.

Driving mobile innovation with partnerships
Working closely with developers and reaching out to content providers is important for Nokia to build a
strong winning ecosystem for the millions of Nokia users who want exciting content and apps on their
mobile device.  Representatives of content providers and developers like Channel NewsAsia, Nanyang
Polytechnic and Nerd Attack were present at the Nokia Connection 2010 event to demonstrate to the
media and analysts their innovative applications developed for Ovi Store. 
 
New premium content TimeOut is now available on Ovi Maps
Nokia announced a new local premium content partner for Ovi Maps, TimeOut, a leading arts,
entertainment and nightlife listings and city guide, which will be officially available on June 17, 2010
in Singapore, Malaysia and Australia on a range of Ovi Maps-enabled devices such as the Nokia N97
mini, Nokia E72, Nokia X6, Nokia N97 and Nokia 5800.  The addition of TimeOut broadens the range of
premium content that is already available on Ovi Maps, including HungryGoWhere, Lonely Planet and
Michelin city guides.  Since the launch of the new Ovi Maps free navigation earlier this year, there have
been more than 10 million downloads of the application worldwide.

In the next few pages, we take a look at the various handsets and a video preview of the 3 handsets – X5, X6 and N8.

The annual PC SHOW 2010 will start in 2 days time. Are you ready for the best bargain at the show? Looking for price lists and updates, do check out our dedicated forum with latest flyers posted and recommended star buys updated regularly from the following brands

PC SHOW 2010 pricelist Pluto, imation, ovation, A4tech, Buffalo, Canon, Seagate, WD, Aztech, Epicentre, Lenovo, Toshiba, Fujifilm IOmega, LG, Dell, Fujitsu, ASUS, Palladine, HP, Starhub, Singtel, M1, Sony, Acer, MSI, Compaq, Auzentech, HIS, Seasonic, Zyxel

Bookmark the link today.

G.Skill is known for its ram modules in the DIY market. Today we take a look at what GEIL has to offer in the upcoming months. They include SSD and some high performance DDR3 modules.

G.Skill released its new Phoenix Pro SSD and series of ultra
high performance memory modules at Computex 2010.
 
Phoenix Pro SSD
G.Skill has shown its latest SSD solution, Phoenix Pro, based on SandForce SF-1200
controller. By partnering with SandForce , Phoenix Pro series has enhanced IOPS up to
50,000, which has a great improvement on small file read/write speed, comparing to
the previous Phoenix generation. G.Skill is glad to expand its Phoenix SSD product line
to the next level and provide extreme gamers, PC enthusiasts and power users the
perfect choice of storage solution. The Phoenix Pro SSD will be available at 60GB,
120GB and 240GB at G.Skill’s authorized distribution partners within two weeks.

 
Trident series DDR3 2500MHZ CL8 overclocking world record
breaking modules

The Trident DDR3 2500MHz CL8 2GBx2 kit is the overclockers’ best friend. Amazing
new record of 2860Mhz at CL8 Dual Chanel was attained LIVE during the Computex
Show in Taipei by renowned extreme memory overclocker Hiwa from Italy. Everyone
in the crowd was pleasantly surprised when Hiwa pushed the RAMs beyond what was
ever seen before, accomplished on the EVGA P55 FTW 200 Motherboard and Kingpin
cooling LN2 spot. To see more detail about the exciting moment, please click here.   

DDR3 2000MHz 24GB kit

 
G.Skill has successfully broken the technology bottleneck and brought 4GB module to
the world of 2000 MHz. At Computex 2010, G.Skill showed its DDR3 2000MHz CL9
24GB kit and DDR3 1800MHz CL8 24GB kit for the Intel X58 platform. G.Skill
engineering team is now ready to provide PC enthusiasts, business users, and extreme
gamers the best memory modules with the biggest capacity and high performance.  
 

Flare series  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
G.Skill DDR3 Flare series memory modules have been known as the top high-end kits
for AMD platform. G.Skill has shown a couple of Flare series memory modules with
the latest AMD890 live demo platform, including the ultra high performance
2000MHz CL7 8GB (2GBx4) kit and the new 2000MHz CL9 16GB (4GBx4) kit. The Flare
series are coming with G.Skill’s new memory cooler to provide the best stability and
performance.  

  
DDR3 2400MHz CL9 Triple channel PIS kit
 

At the beginning of 2010, G.Skill was the first one who launched 2400MHz dual
channel memory modules for the Intel P55 platform. To continuously satisfy extreme
overclockers’ thirst for breaking world record, G.Skill engineering team has brought
2400 MHz memory module to triple channel platform. This cutting edge kit will be
coming with G.Skill’s performance PI series heatsink and the new memory cooler .

In Day 2, we take a look at Albatron. This old brand has transformed itself from a mainboard maker into vga and now they even do optical touch screen solutions.

To offer better and more service to customers & end users, Albatron unveils two brand new product lines and reconstructs two existed product series.

Optical touch solutions
Touch screen is everywhere in our daily life. From mobile phone, Kiosk to digital interactive signage, we can find products or services that embedded with touch technology. Albatron Optical touch solution can be adopted to different devices that have 16:9 LCD screen larger than 18.5”.

Albatron Optical Touch Solutions provide the best reaction time, accuracy, durability; and, it takes less than 1 Watt when operation. To compare with other touch solution, Optical touch technology should be the best one for large flat panel display.

Server memory module
Quality and stability are the two basic requirements when being a professional IPC manufacturer. In order to provide better and better compatibility, Albatron decides to make server memory modules for customers. Before shipping products to customer, Albatron did every compatibility & stability test in both motherboards and modules. It means customers don’t have to worry about the system memory compatibility when building their machines. Albatron wide-range of server modules solutions from Long-DIMM, SO-DIMM to FB-DIMM and ECC registered modules.

Customized motherboards
Albatron has 10-year experience in designing motherboards, and designs specific motherboards for customers for more than 5 years. During Computex 2010, Albatron demonstrates different form factors of motherboards from ATX, microATX, Mini-ITX, 3.5” to customized size.

Customized graphics cards (VGA)
As in motherboards territory, Albatron is also experienced in designing VGA. Besides consuming product, Albatron can design VGA in different interfaces also. Just like what we see on Computex, Albatron shows PCIe x16/ PCIe x1/ AGP/ PCI product on booth. If you need something that differs from mainstream, Albatron can make it for you.

Below are screen shots of the exhibits

In Day 1, we take a look at the exhibits first at ASRock booth. They have tons of boards. One of such is an unreleased product based on a Intel P67 chipset is also on the show. Another is P55 Extreme3 which is world’s first board to support 2 front panel USB 3 ports. The focus this year is on their new HTPC the Vision 3D w/ Aiwi.

Motherboard

Word’s First Motherboard Supports Front USB3.0 – P55 Extreme3

Unprecedentedly, ASRock will showcase the soon to be released P55 Extreme3 motherboard with its unique external Front USB3.0 panel. Exclusively bundled with ASRock Front USB3.0 Panel that comes with 2 x USB3.0 ports, P55 Extreme3 facilitates the computing operation! Along with every other component maker, ASRock will be also showing off it’s bevy of P55 motherboard beauties. The new Core i7 unlocked 875K CPU from Intel is one of the few really new products shown at Computex this year!

2 x Front USB3.0 support
World’s First Motherboard Supports 4 x USB3.0 – 890FX Deluxe3

USB3.0 interface will become the mainstream in the coming future. Extraordinarily equipped with 4 x USB3.0 ports on the I/O panel, ASRock 890FX Deluxe3 allows a more convenient computing operation environment! For users seeking for the ultimate motherboard configurations, ASRock 890FX Deluxe3 can satisfy you with a host of technologies include ATI Quad CrossFireX, 3-Way CrossFireX and CrossFireX, Cool Heatpipe Design that can dissipate heat from CPU power mosfet and northbridge rapidly and make your system running much cooler, 8 x SATA3 6.0 Gb/s connectors, 6 x SATA3 are sourced from AMD SB850, support RAID (RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 0+1 and RAID 5), the remaining 2 x SATA3 6.0 Gb/s are from Marvell. Special introduce here is ASRock unique multi-function Turbo UCC technology. Turbo UCC provides you an all-in-one solution to unlock the hidden cpu cores in the CPU, get the amazing system performance boost by auto-overclocking, and running the system in a certainly lower power consumption level as well.

4 x USB3.0 Ports

Intel Core i7 980X 6-Core CPU Live Demo – X58 Extreme3

In conjunction with ASRock CeBIT2010, ASRock will also reappear the awesome live demo by running the Intel Core i7 980X 6-Core CPU on our feature-complete motherboard – X58 Extreme3. Delivering outstanding features for power users and gaming enthusiasts including a Cool Heatpipe Fan design that makes the system cooler than ever, NVIDIA Quad SLI, ATI CrossFireX and Quad CrossFireX, 7.1 CH, VIA VT2020 Audio Codec which supports Premium Blu-ray audio as well as support for the latest USB3.0. As part of ASRock SuperSpeed USB3.0 lineup, X58 Extreme3 comes with 2 x SATA3 6Gb/s connectors, 1 x Powered eSATAIII/USB2.0 connector, 2 x USB3.0 connectors, it is the outright performance leader of its class.

ASRock AIWI Rock You Everywhere – Playing Games by Holding Your iPhone

ASRock motherboard solutions offer advanced performance for customized environments. At Computex there will be a wide selection of innovative boards in terms of Intel and AMD platform. To make differentiation from other normal motherboards, this year, ASRock is going to show you something really different! ASRock will showcase our newly launched ASRock AIWI utility running on our motherboards and HTPC systems. ASRock AIWI is the world’s first utility to turn your iPhone/iPod touch as a game joystick to control your PC games. Simply installing ASRock AIWI utility onboard and download free AIWI Lite from App store to your iPhone/iPod touch. Connecting your PC and apple devices via Bluetooth or WiFi networks, then you can start experiencing the exciting motion controlled games. ASRock AIWI motherboard will ensure you to enjoy a rich variety of gaming and be entertained by a better way. Just come to ASRock Computex at Nangang Hall, L0118 to experience how fantastic the ASRock AIWI program will be.

HTPC System

The Most Powerful 3D HTPC on the Planet – Vision 3D

ASRock Vision 3D HTPC Series is developed to match the trend of 3D entertainment. It has a powerful build-in graphic card which supports 3D game and 3D movie, allowing users to enjoy a high class entertainment experience! The soon to be released ASRock Vision 3D comes with everything essential for a HTPC platform. Featuring Intel Core architecture-based processors and NVIDIA 3D Vision Capable, GeForce 300 / 400 Series, ASRock Vision 3D can provide you an absolutely realistic 3D image display!

Still, ASRock Vision 3D has adopted lots luxury components include the stylish, high glossy aluminum housing, SuperSpeed USB3.0 support that delivers data transfer rates up to 10X faster than USB2.0, slot-in optical drive that provides a more convenient way of computing operation! For audio aspect, Vision 3D supports 7.1 CH HD audio with professional THX TruStudio PRO solution which allows user to have a rich variety of programming and be entertained by a better way! To realize modern computing mission, ASRock Vision 3D series equipped with BD Combo, 802.11n Wireless network, and even bundled with a user-friendly MCE remote controller.
As such, ASRock Vision 3D HTPC Series operates with a high resolution 3D video which allows a realistic and solid picture scene in your interactive game or movie, providing a cinematic environment in your home! At Computex there will be a modern living scenario setting with ASRock Vision 3D system in ASRock booth, we’ll demo the latest ASRock AIWI gaming program there, just quickly join ASRock Computex, and you will exactly understand why 3DTV can be so fantastic!

Your Perfect Choice for mini HTPC System – Core 100

With intention to present an affordable and functionable HTPC product to users, ASRock will also showcase the newly launched Core 100 HTPC series at Computex. This series totally comes with three models – Core 100HT-BD, Core 100HT and Core 100. By adopting the Intel Core i7 / i5 / i3 and Arrandale-based processors, Core 100 series features Intel HD Graphics that offers great FullHD 1080P performance and energy-efficient capability. Features abundant, ASRock Core 100 HTPC series is the world’s first USB3.0 onboard system on the market, and specially bundled with THX TruStudio PRO solution, ASRock Core 100 even supports the unmatched audio quality and stunning movie experience.

Based on the Intel HM55 Express chipset, Core 100 series features Dual Channel DDR3 1066 memory, 2 x SO-DIMM slots, Max. 8GB, 2.5” HDD up to 500 GB supports 2nd 2.5” HDD. Other excellent features include BD Combo, WiFi 802.11n networking as well as MCE remote controller!

Your Perfect Choice for HTPC System – ION2

HTPC wisely replaces a desktop place and thus easily PClizes any multimedia entertainments and thoughtfully save space for you! The exclusively launched ASRock ION2 HTPC series (includes ION2HT-BD, ION2HT, ION2) target users who want most out of their PCs from standard work to entertainment and extremely gaming. This series features Intel Dual Core D510 processor, Intel CH8M Chipset, NVIDIA ION2 graphics, and THX TruStudio PRO solution. In addition, ASRock ION2 HTPC series features the latest ASRock App Charger function that allows you to quickly charge many Apple devices simultaneously and provides you a much faster charging experience.

Below are pictures of the exhibits. More pictures on the following pages.