Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Razer Making Custom-Designed Peripherals for World of Tanks

Razer Making Custom-Designed Peripherals for World of Tanks
Company releases mouse and mouse mat combo stylized with design elements from Wargaming’s tank MMO action game
 
March 25, 2014:
 
CARLSBAD, Calif. — Razer™, the world leader in entertainment devices and software, in partnership with Wargaming, the leading free-to-play MMO developer and publisher, today announced a new line-up of gaming peripherals for World of Tanks, featuring a customized Razer DeathAdder mouse and a World of Tanks Razer Goliathus mouse mat.
 
“We’re hyped to be officially supporting one of the fastest-growing titles in all of eSports in time for the World of Tanks Grand Finals in Warsaw,” says Min-Liang Tan, Razer co-founder, CEO and creative director. “Wargaming is one of the most prestigious game developers, and releasing these custom-made peripherals for the event is a huge boon for millions of World of Tanks players all over the world.”

The custom-designed Razer mouse will feature the well-known DeathAdder ergonomic design, replete with an aggressively orange illuminated World of Tanks logo. Virtual tank commanders will be able to pair the premium gaming device with a World of Tanks Razer Goliathus mouse mat, designed to provide the required surface for steady aim.
 
The first 20,000 units of both products include in-game bonus codes for World of Tanks, featuring the exclusive Pz. Kpfw. IV Hydraulic Tank, only available to World of Tanks Razer DeathAdder users.
 
“Razer has the same attitude toward perfection that we strive for at Wargaming,” says Victor Kislyi, Wargaming CEO. “We aim to create the most realistic and engaging gaming experience, and Razer builds cutting-edge gaming devices for that purpose. When we decided to create dedicated peripherals for World of Tanks, we knew that Razer would be the perfect partner. We couldn’t be happier with the outcome.”

Razer also sponsors Odem Mortis and SIMP Gaming. The two tank squads coming to the Wargaming.net League Grand Finals prove time and again that success on the field of battle requires skill and the perfect gear for every situation.
About the World of Tanks Razer DeathAdder
The Razer DeathAdder was originally released in 2006 and is still the world’s best-selling gaming mouse to-date, used by countless eSports athletes on the circuit as their de facto gaming mouse. The new World of Tanks Razer DeathAdder packs the familiar power and performance, dressed in an exclusive, battle-ready design.
Price: USD79.99 / €79.99
Availability:
Razerzone.com — Pre-order Now
Worldwide — April 2014
Product features:
  • 6400dpi 4G optical sensor
  • Ergonomic right-handed design with textured rubber side grips
  • Five independently programmable Hyperesponse buttons
  • Razer Synapse 2.0 enabled
  • 1000 Hz Ultrapolling
  • On-the-fly sensitivity adjustment
  • Always-on mode
  • 200 in. per sec. and 50 G of acceleration
  • Zero-acoustic Ultraslick mouse feet
  • Gold-plated USB connector
  • Seven-foot, lightweight, braided fiber cable
  • Approximate size: 5.00 in. / 127 mm (length) x 2.76 in. / 70 mm (width) x 1.73 in. / 44 mm (height)
  • Approximate weight : 0.23 lbs. / 105 g
  • First 20,000 units include exclusive in-game code for Pz. Kpfw. IV Hydraulic Tank and garage slot
For more information about the World of Tanks Razer DeathAdder, please visit: http://www.razerzone.com/licensed-and-team-peripherals/world-of-tanks-razer-deathadder  
Images:
About the World of Tanks Razer Goliathus mouse mat
Engineered to exceed the exacting demands of the world’s top professional gamers, the World of Tanks Razer Goliathus is now better and stronger with an anti-fraying stitched frame for extended durability. Retaining its slick speed-enhancing surface that blends high acceleration with razor-sharp responsiveness and unyielding control, the competition-grade Razer Goliathus perfectly balances glide and resistance suitable for all play styles and mouse sensitivity setups.
Price: USD19.99 / €19.99
Availability:
Razerzone.com — Available Now
Worldwide — April 2014
Product features:
  • Slick cloth weave for unbridled speed and effortless control
  • Anti-fraying stitched frame extends mat durability
  • Pixel-precise targeting and tracking
  • Exclusive World of Tanks design
  • Rubber base for a secure grip on smooth surfaces
  • Medium size: 13.98 in. / 355 mm (length) x 10 in. / 254 mm (width) x 0.12 in. / 3 mm (height)
  • First 20,000 units include exclusive in-game code for 500 Gold and 3 Days Premium AccessFor more information about the World of Tanks Razer Goliathus, please visit: http://www.razerzone.com/licensed-and-team-peripherals/world-of-tanks-razer-goliathus-speed-edition
Images:
Transparent Background

About World of Tanks
World of Tanks is the first and only team-based, massively multiplayer online action game dedicated to armored warfare. Throw yourself into the epic tank battles of World War II with other steel cowboys all over the world. Your arsenal includes over 300 armored vehicles from United States, Germany, the Soviet Union, France, Great Britain, Japan and China, carefully detailed with historical accuracy.
Join World of Tanks:
About Wargaming
Wargaming is an award-winning online game developer and publisher and one of the leaders in the free-to-play MMO market. Founded as a privately held company in 1998, Wargaming has shipped more than 15 titles. Currently, Wargaming is focused on its team-based MMO war series dedicated to the mid-20th century warfare that will include the armored World of Tanks, the flight combat World of Warplanes, and the naval World of Warships. The three intertwined titles will form a common gaming universe integrated within the portal www.wargaming.net.
Official website:


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Saturday, March 22, 2014

CineGrey 5D, Now Available in the Sable Frame to the Consumer Retail Channel!


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Monday, March 17, 2014

Install Bay 100 Amp 1440 Watts Max Output Power Supply Review

Electronics are always getting better. Often times it seems it is out of the old and in with the new. The same is true with car audio. Newer features, better designs, is usually what is found on newer models. It tends to be difficult to find a use for old 12 volt gear. But with a simple 12 volt power supply, it would be easy to resurrect some old car stereo gear. Enter the Install Bay IBPS100 100 Amp 1440 Watts Max Output Power Supply.

Features and specs:

  • + 100 Amp Power Supply
  • + 1440 Watts Max Output
  • + DC Output Voltage 13.2/13.6/14.4V
  • + Typical Efficiency >93%
  • + 13 AMPS Max AC Current @ 108VAC
  • + Input Range 105-135 VAC 60 HZ.
  • + Built-in 4 stage Smart Charger
  • + Deck mount converter
  • + UL- CUL approved
  • + Quiet fan cooling
  • + Overtemp protection
  • + Reverse polarity protection
  • + (PFC) Power Factor Correction: A More Efficient & Cleaner Power Supply
  • + 11 LBS/5 KG
  • + Width: 7.2" / 183 MM
  • + Height: 3.5" / 89 MM
  • + Depth: 10.5" / 267 MM
The Install Bay IBPS100 is the largest of their power supplies, which came in 35, 55, 75, and 100 AMP versions. The power supply had great heft, and appeared to be a solid one. Build quality and fit and finish were very good.  It reminded me of a large computer power supply. It also had a simple layout. All of the connections, as well as far 40 amp fuses were on one end. On the other end was the power cord that plugs into the wall, and the fan.  It was a simple, efficient, easy to use design.


Connecting the Install Bay IBPS100 was very easy. There was a single power, single ground, both of which can accept up to a 4 gauge wire. And with a 100 amp capacity, it can handle multiple amps. Just use the position and negative connections, and plug it in the wall. Whether you are just using a deck and powering some speakers off of the deck, or you are also using multiple amps, it's 100 Amp capacity will handle a lot!

The Install Bay power supple also performed in spades. Deck, stereo amp, and sub amp were sufficiently powered. It's 100 amp capacity provided a lot of headroom. Most won't need that much capacity, but I thought the able capacity was very welcoming. The current supplied allowed the amp to play at their best.

I could not be happier with the performance of the Install Bay IBPS 100 Amp power supply. Install Bay makes excellent car installation products. And using it can really bring 12 volt car audio gear to life. You can find it online for under $350, which is a good value.  Based on it's design, features, quality and performance the Install Bay IBPS 100 Amp 1440 Watts Max Output Power Supply has earned our Editor's Choice Award. For more info and complete specs, check out their website at www.shurikenonline.com.




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Saturday, March 15, 2014

ASUS VivoTab Note 8 is Available for Pre-order Today

ASUS VivoTab Note 8 is Available for Pre-order Today
-- The VivoTab Note 8 is powered by the latest Intel® Atom™ Z3740 processor for a perfect
balance between multitasking performance and outstanding energy efficiency
--

Fremont, CA (March 14, 2014) - ASUS announced the VivoTab Note 8 as available for pre-order today at Amazon.com, Newegg.com, TigerDirect.com and other leading resellers. The ASUS VivoTab Note 8 is a Windows 8.1 tablet featuring a professional Wacom® digitizer stylus, making it the best pen-based tablet for productivity or creativity. Designed for professionals and students alike, the VivoTab Note 8 is bundled with Microsoft® Office Home and Student which includes Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote. The VivoTab Note 8’s light weight and the ability to use it one-handed makes it an ideal mobile productivity tool.  With slim bezels, a high-definition IPS display and an elegant design, it evokes pride of place in any business or educational environment.
Precise input with Wacom technology
Designed with ultra-slim bezels for one-handed users, the VivoTab Note 8 is ideal for highly mobile consumers. Its professional digitizer pen sits neatly in its holder along the bottom edge of the tablet so it’s always on hand when you need it. Based on premium Wacom technology, the digitizer stylus affords the best possible accuracy, speed, and responsiveness. With over 1,000 levels of pressure sensitivity, it provides an extremely natural writing or drawing experience, meaning you really can leave your sketchpad or notebook at home. The VivoTab Note 8 is all you need!

Powerful Quad-Core Processor

The VivoTab Note 8 is powered by the latest Intel® Atom™ Z3740 processor for a perfect balance of multitasking performance and outstanding energy efficiency. With up to 8 hours of battery life, the VivoTab Note 8 is capable of lasting through an entire workday. And with 2GB of memory, up to 64GB of solid-state storage, plus the ability to use up to 64GB microSD cards, you can maximize available storage space for your apps and files. Accessing your data on the move is simple too, thanks to a free year of unlimited ASUS WebStorage.
Availability & Pricing
The ASUS VivoTab Note 8 is available for pre-order today at Amazon.com, Newegg.com and TigerDirect.com with pricing starting at US$329 for the 32GB version*. The VivoTab Note 8 will be available in stores for purchase on March 23rd. Please visit http://goo.gl/uvzYOg for pre-ordering, where to buy and further product information.
* The VivoTab Note 8 is also available in 64GB version with an MSRP of $369 USD. Specifications and product availability are all subject to change without notice and may differ from country to country.
###
About ASUS
ASUS is a worldwide top-three consumer notebook vendor and maker of the world’s best-selling, most award-winning, motherboards. A leading enterprise in the new digital era, ASUS designs and manufactures products that perfectly meet the needs of today’s digital home and office, with a broad portfolio that includes motherboards, graphics cards, optical drives, displays, desktop and all-in-one PCs, notebooks, netbooks, servers, multimedia devices, wireless solutions, networking devices, tablets and smartphones. Driven by innovation and committed to quality, ASUS won 4,256 awards in 2013 and is widely credited with revolutionizing the PC industry with its Eee PC™. ASUS has more than 12,500 employees around the globe with a world-class R&D team of 3,800 engineers. Company revenue for 2012 was approximately US$14 billion. 


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Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Shuriken HPS AGM Battery SK-BT60RT and T-Spec v10 Series Power, Ground, and Speaker Wire Review

When it comes to car stereo, it is all electrical. It all starts with your vehicles electrical system. That means you want good quality wiring, and a good battery. Not all wiring and batteries are created equal. Enter the Shuriken SK-BT60RT High Power Series AGM Battery and T-Spec v10 Series Wiring.

Features and specs:
Shuriken High Power Series AGM Battery SK-BT60RT:


  • + Compact size
  • + Absorbed glass mat technology
  • + Can be mounted in any position
  • + Can be discharged and re-charged 100’s of times
  • + Reversed positive and negative terminals for different hook ups
  • - 1500 Watts
  • - 60 AMP Hours
  • - 37.5 LBS / 17 KG
  • - Width: 9” / 229 MM
  • - Height: 8” / 203 MM
  • - Depth: 5.5” / 140 MM


  • T-Spec v10 Series 8 AWG Power, Ground, and 16 AWG Speaker Wire:


  • > Meets CEA and ANSI specification for wire gauge
  • > Full virgin copper construction
  • > High strand count for maximum flexibility
  • > Ultra-flexible PVC blended jacket
  • > BC-5W2 marine compliant


  • The quality of components and construction was very good for the Shuriken HPS AGM SK-BT60RT . The external housing was the typical plastic found in other batteries. The terminals were sturdy. Fit and finish was very good. The same was also true for the T-Spec v10 power, ground, and speaker wire. The jacket for both was a very flexible plastic. Trimming part of the jacket to the wire revealed a very high quality wire. Not only was it virgin copper wire, but it was a fine high thread count as well. I was impressed.



    Not all wire is created equal. Cheap wire will appear to be a certain gauge, but when you strip back the jacket, you find that the jacket is extra thick, and the actual wire is smaller.  It also will not have as high of a thread count. In the picture below you can see the cheaper fewer strand wire on the left, and the T-Spec v10 high strand count wire on the left.  As long as the thickness is the same, the wire will handle the same amount of current.  But the higher thread count does give better flexibility which can be important in the install.  It is easy to forget just how important the wiring is. It's a lot like a freeway or highway. A two lane highway cannot handle the traffic level that a four land highway can.  A thinner gauge wire can't handle the current that a thicker gauge can. So when you buy cheep wire, you don't get the same level of performance, and you sell yourself short. The installation in working with the wire can also be more difficult.  As the saying goes, you get what you pay for.

    The battery is also an important part of the equation in your electrical system. Ever wonder why you get diming headlights? The power and current that the bass is needing is not being met. The car takes power to run, and when driving at night, that includes the headlights.  When your stereo system is requiring current than is available, this is seen at night.  Bass takes more power to produce. So the headlights suffer and briefly dim during the bass beats. Some people will add a capacitor, to give instant power on tap to the subwoofer, to help with the problem.  To better help and get rid of the problem, a high performance AGM battery can be used.

    The Shuriken HPS AGM SK-BT60RT is a high performance AGM type battery. This high performance type of glass mat battery can discharge very quickly so it will perform like a large capacitor. And since it does not use acid, it is low maintenance. There is no need to add water. This also gives additional mounting options. Without having to worry about acid leaks, you can actually mount it on it's side. It works great as a primary battery under the hood, or as a 2nd or 3rd battery trunk mounted for monster stereo systems.

    Metra Electronics continues it's objective to provide quality products through it's family of brand names. That includes Shunken & T-Spec. With both the Shuriken SK-BT60RT and T-Spec v10 wire, they are designed to bring out the best of your stereo components. They will not be a weak link. The T-Spec v10 power and ground wires provides lower powered amps the current they need. And with Shuriken HPS AGM SK-BT60RT, current is discharged to the amps quickly. The common flickering headlights to the bass beats is not a problem for me. MSRP on the Shuriken SK-BT60RT is $249, with $159.95 for power/ground wire and $119.95 for the speaker wire.  Based on their design, features, quality and performance, the Shuriken HPS AGM SK-BT60RT has earned our Editor's Choice award, and the T-Spec v10 series wire has earned our Highly Recommended award. For more info and complete specs, check out their website at www.shurikenonline.com and www.tspeconline.com.






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    Tuesday, March 11, 2014

    Audience Expands Its Ultra High-End Au24 SE powerChord Lineup With Introduction of New AC Power Cords

    Audience Expands Its Ultra High-End Au24 SE powerChord Lineup With Introduction of New AC Power Cords

    San Marcos, CA, March 10, 2014 - Audience today announced the introduction of its Au24 SE MP (medium power), Au24 SE LP (low power) and Au24 SE c7 powerChord AC line cords, three different-sized, lower-cost versions of Audience's currently available 10 AWG Au24 SE powerChord.

    The MP, LP and c7 versions of the Au24 SE powerChords are designed to best suit the demands of components like preamps, CD players and D/A converters that require lesser amounts of AC power compared to larger amplifiers and other components that draw more power. Along with providing optimum performance, the new models offer significant savings over the cost of the original Au24 SE powerChord.
     
    The Au24 SE MP powerChord features 14 AWG wiring and is recommended for use with components that require up to 150 watts of AC power. The Au24 SE LP employs 16 AWG wiring and should be used with components that require up to 50 watts. The Au24 SE c7 is also 16 AWG and fits into the c7 AC connector used on some audio/video components.

    The MP, LP and c7 models all provide the same level of performance, when used as prescribed, as the standard Au24 SE, which utilizes 10 AWG wiring and is ideal for use with amplifiers and components that have high power demands. As an added benefit, these powerChords are exceptionally flexible for ease of use.

    All Au24 SE powerChords are designed to eliminate or reduce the traditional weak points of conventional power cords: more often than not, power cords will behave in a reactive manner and introduce capacitance, inductance and resistance into the electron flow, which will compromise the interface between the component and the power source.

    "Can a power cord really make that significant of a difference? Rather than looking at a power cord as the last few feet in a long line of power delivery, consider the power cord as the first few feet of your component's primary transformer winding," noted John McDonald, president of Audience. "Viewed this way, a high quality, well designed power cord is an essential part of preserving the performance of your music or audio/video system."

    Audience Au24 SE powerChords feature a high-current, low impedance, wide bandwidth design for fast response, accurate reproduction of macro and micro dynamics, articulate bass, superior imaging, exceptional harmonic integrity, lower background noise and additional benefits. Au24 SE powerChords are constructed using the highest quality materials including OHNO high-purity monocrystal copper wiring, rhodium-plated copper plugs and IEC connectors and are available in both US and European (Schuko) styles.

    Audience Au24 SE MP, Au24 SE LP and Au24 SE C7 powerChords are available now with suggested retail pricing as follows: Au24 SE MP, $1,250 @ 6 ft, +/- $75 per foot; Au24 SE LP, $1,080 @ 6 ft, +/- $50 per foot, Au24 SE c7, $799 @ 6 ft, +/- $35 per foot
    .

    # # #


    About Audience

    Audience was formed in November 1997 by John McDonald and the late Richard Smith, as a design and production company focused on building the best possible audio and video equipment. To pass the Audience test, each product must truly make a significant contribution to the reproduction of audio and/or video. Audience offers loudspeakers, electronics, cables, power conditioners, high-resolution capacitors and the Auric Illuminator optical disk resolution enhancement.

    Audience's commitment is to develop the very best products possible, and the company is committed to unexcelled customer service and product support. All Audience cables have an unconditional lifetime warranty and power conditioners have a ten-year warranty. For more information visit www.audience-av.com.
     


    Audience - 120 N. Pacific Street #K-9, San Marcos, CA 92069 - 800-565-4390
    www.audience-av.com


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    Saturday, March 1, 2014

    Announcing EVGA GeForce GTX 750 with 2GB GDDR5 Memory

    Announcing EVGA GeForce GTX 750 with 2GB GDDR5 Memory
    The Next Generation in Power –

     
    28 February 2014 – Step up to EVGA GeForce GTX gaming with the new GTX 750. Its powerful, ultra-efficient, next-gen architecture makes the GTX 750 the weapon of choice for serious gaming at an incredible value.
     
    EVGA has now expanded their GeForce GTX 750 lineup to include two new SKUs, both upgraded with 2GB of GDDR5 memory:
     
    EVGA GeForce GTX 750 2GB; and
    EVGA GeForce GTX 750 Superclocked 2GB
     
    These new GeForce GTX 750 graphics cards will be available soon.
     
    EVGA GeForce GTX 750 Features:
    ·         Bonus 2GB GDDR5 Memory on select EVGA GeForce GTX 750 cards.
    ·         NVIDIA G-SYNC Ready – the EVGA GeForce GTX 750 series have full support for NVIDIA G-SYNC Technology with included DisplayPort connector.
    ·         Copper Core Insert included on EVGA Superclocked range of 750 – lowers temperatures by 5 degrees Celsius
     
     
     
    EVGA’s recent annual awards wins for its graphics cards technology, design, and customer support:
     
    Winner of the Hardwareluxx Awards 2013 for Best Manufacturer of the Year: Graphics Cards (January 2014).
    Winner of the Hardware.Info UK Award 2013 for Best NVIDIA-based Graphics Cards Brand (December 2013).
    Winner of the PC Pro Excellence Award 2013 in the Graphics Card category (September 2013).
    Winner of the Custom PC & Bit-tech Award 2013 for Best NVIDIA Graphics Card Manufacturer (May 2013).
     
     
    About EVGA
    EVGA is the #1 NVIDIA authorised partner in channel sales throughout North America and UK. Based on the philosophy of intelligent innovation, market knowledge, and the real time operation, EVGA continues to identify the need in the market place and providing the solution to that need. By offering product differentiation, 24/7 tech support, a 90 day Step-Up programme, and other customer focused programmes, EVGA is a clear leader in all categories: etail, retail, distribution, and system integration. With headquarters in Brea, CA, EVGA’s global coverage includes EVGA GmbH in Munich, EVGA LATAM in Miami, and EVGA Hong Kong. For further information online about EVGA, visit:  http://eu.evga.com/
      


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