TechConnect Magazine

Techconnect Review Round-up 4/7/09

CPU & Motherboard

- AMD Phenom II X2 550 Black Edition @ ITreviewed

Storage

- Promise SmartStor NS4600 @ X-bit labs
- OCZ Throttle eSATA Flash Drive 32GB @ TrustedReviews

Enclosures & PSUs

- BFG Tech EX Series 1000 Watt Power Supply @ OCIA

Other

- Roccat Taito Gaming Mouse Pad @ OC3D
- HP OfficeJet 6000 @ TrustedReviews
- USB 2.0 VGA / DVI / HDMI multi-display Adapter @ Dragon Steel Mods

Bad news Twitter - the polls show people just aren't interested in charges

Since the rumours of charges coming to Twitter set hold, people have (ironically) been tweeting strongly about their newly enlightened opinions of the infamous service.

Over one third of businesses have said that they would not pay for Twitter if it began charging, according to an online poll. Some 40 percent of followers are stating that the site should remain free to everyone as it always has, and 11 percent have pointed out that the site can purely make its money through advertising.

Sadly for Twitter, only 7 percent of followers in the poll have said that they would pay to monitor their name over Twitter, and 36 percent of those polled do not use Twitter and would not use Twitter as a marketing tool.

The commotion began with Twitter's co-founder saying in an interview with Bloomberg last week that the firm was planning to charge businesses to verify their accounts, in an attempt to reduce the increasing incidents of intensive cyber squatting on the site.

It is likely that Twitter will simply brush this off, with big named vendors such as Dell who will likely want to jump on the bandwagon in an effort to secure their brand... in a world that is evermore mad about "Tweeting".

SmartFTP 3.0 Build 1034.0 update

SmartFTP allows you to transfer files across the Internet. It features an Explorer-like, customizable interface and supports drag-and-drop functions. Multiple FTP connections can be opened at the same time, and you can copy files from one remote host to another (FXP). Remote-host directory information is cached for future viewing, and FTP URLs are supported. Other features include a Favorites list; the ability to resume broken downloads; a global history; background transfers; proxy support; a passive transfer mode; and the ability to perform recursive downloads, uploads, and deletes.

Changes include:
- Fix: RMDA reply was not checked.
- Converted remaining dialogs to XAML
- Fix: Dynamically calculating input field width in toolbars
- Fix: Windows 7: Drag&Drop from favorites to Multi Upload Destination view

Website: Smart FTP
Download: Smart FTP 3.0

United States broadband upgrades questioned by telecom giants

The United States government are aiming to spend a phenomenal $4 billion to provide broadband internet access to those areas that haven't been served such a service - however, major communications industry heads have raised flags toward the legality of such a plan.

The U.S telecoms giant US-Telecom has said out right that they are looking through the requirements that Obama has laid out toward loans for both non and for profit organisations affected, and that it feels that the new legislation may go above and beyond... the law itself.

"We are concerned that some of the new mandates seem to go well beyond current laws and FCC rules," USTelecom President Walter McCormick said. McCormick basically outlined that the new rules may lead to an uncertainty and a delay toward the revival of the U.S. economy - not the right time to stir such ideas some might say.

The money put aside for telecommunications comes as part of a total $7.2 billion that the government are spending on setting up high-speed Internet facilities - a figure that was tucked under a whopping $787 billion package designed to "Stimulate" the United States' economy.

Windows 7 RTM set for July 13th release

Windows 7 RTM (Release to Manufacturing) has been confirmed today as set for release on July 13th, according to sources within Microsoft that prefer to stay anonymous.

The betas and release candidates have come and gone, and Microsoft have now finally reached their final hurdle on the road to Windows 7's general public release. The date, July 13, coincides with the kickoff of the Worldwide Partner Conference that is taking place in New Orleans.

Just remember that RTM is not quite a public version of the product yet - but in a nutshell this is the final build of the product that is to hit our stores in October. Major issues will be weeded out by Manufacturer's over the next few months, and the software will be configured to OEM tastes.

On that same note, MSDN subscribers get your cursors at the ready, as you will receive the RTM with the rest of Microsoft's manufacturing partners.

Kerchoonz's K-box turns surfaces into speakers

Kerchoonz, a music-focused social network, introduces a new interesting little device named the K-box. The K-Box allows you to listen to music without having to use external speakers, it just turns the surface you put it on, into audio output device.

It is very simple; you only need a solid surface, and just connect your laptop, MP3 player, cell phone or portable gaming device, to the K-box with its 3.5mm audio jack, then the surface will become your speakers, with a very good bass quality.

This innovative device uses a technology known as Gel Audio Technology that changes surfaces into speakers. It has the size of a Smartphone and recharges via USB. A single charge will be good for 20 hours of music playback. It is available now and costs $74.50.

Link:Kerchoonz

Will the new iPod Touch feature a camera?

We’ve heard rumours about the new iPod Touch featuring a camera, but this time it looks like these rumours could be confirmed. On line store Uxsigh, lists a silicone skin case for the “iPod touch 3G”, that comes with a large cut-out on the top left corner, the place where the new iPod Touch will have its rumoured camera.

We hope this isn’t just a trick from the Uxsigh site in order to gain more visitors. Either way we have plenty of time until September, the month that usually Apple launches, to find out if this rumour comes true. We hope it does.

Link:Uxsigh

Techconnect Review Round-up 3/7/09

CPU & Motherboard

- ASRock X58 Extreme @ AnandTech
- ASUS Maximus II GENE P45 mATX Motherboard @ Hardware Canucks
- Intel DX58SO @ X-bit labs

Memory

- Corsair Dominator GT PC3-16000 6GB Memory Kit @ TweakTown

Storage

- A look at SSD performance in Windows Vista @ The Tech Report
- Patriot Torqx 128GB SSD @ bit-tech

Graphics cards

- Asus ENGTX275 @ Neoseeker
- ASUS EAH 4770 Formula Series @ Overclockers Club

Enclosures & PSUs

- GMC G-50 Case @ DriverHeaven
- Thermaltake Element G Case @ Hardware Secrets
- Cooler Master Storm Scout Gaming Case @ Tech-Reviews
- OCZ Fatal1ty 550W Modular PSU @ CPU3D

Displays

- Toshiba 32AV555 @ TechRadar

Cooling and modding

- Koolance CPU-LN2 Liquid Nitrogen Evaporator @ Legit Reviews
- Thermaltake ISGC-400 CPU Cooler @ HiTech Legion
- Coolit Domino A.L.C. DM-1000 CPU Cooler @ OC3D
- Zalman CNPS10X Extreme CPU Cooler @ TweakTown
- NZXT Cryo S laptop cooler @ Bjorn3d

PCs

- ASUS U20A laptop @ Hexus
- Acer Aspire 5735-584G25Mn, HP Compaq Presario CQ60-313SA, Hi-Grade Notino D8000, Medion Akoya P8610 and Samsung R522 @ TechRadar

Photo and video cameras

- Pentax K-7 @ TechRadar
- Fujifilm FinePix Z30 @ TrustedReviews

Sound

- Eagle Arion ET-AR402IR-BK 2.1 iDock Speakers with Subwoofer @ Test Freaks
- Win Teufel Speakers and Headphones @ TrustedReviews

Other

- EVGA Killer Xeno Pro @ AnandTech
- Roccat Tusko laptop bag @ Rbmods
- Nokia N97 and LG GC900 Viewty Smart @ TrustedReviews

Elonex and Borders team up for new eBook reader

Elonex, a discount computer manufacturer, and, Borders, a leading bookstore, are teaming up once again to launch a new eBook e-reader.

This slim (9mm-thin) comes with book chain borders and offers 100 promotional downloads from Border's eBook Download Store. It features a 6-inch E-Ink screen and an SD card slot with 4GB card, enough for storing 8, ooo book downloads. It looks very good but will have to face a great competition as it is only a matter of time for the Kindle to come across Europe.

It is available from Borders at a suggested price of £189.95.

Link:Elonex

A-Data presents the C903 flash drive

A-Data is wrapping up the week with an announcement, that of a new Classic series flash drives, the C903. Seen below, the new drive has an asymmetric glossy metallic casing, with a swivel design for easy access to the USB connector, comes in red and blue, will be available in capacities of up to 32GB.

Those who'll purchase the C903 will be able to download for free the UFDtoGO software which enables users to read email messages, contact friends (and foes), do internet research, access personal account information, and more, without leaving any trace in the PC; and a 60-day trial of Norton Internet Security 2009. Unfortunately A-Data hasn't said anything about the new drives' pricing.