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OCZ to show off Trion 100 SSD series for consumers during Computex
Computex 2015: OCZ Storage Solutions plans to leverage Computex to show off its Trion 100 solid-state drive series, utilizing Triple-Level Cell (TLC) NAND flash. The company says its Trion 100SSDs allow entry-level users to utilize SSDs in their mobile and desktop systems - as the cost of SSD drives continues to drop.
The drives feature 550MB/s of bandwidth with up to 91,000 random read IOPS, powered by the Toshiba Alishan SSD controller and premium A19 TLC flash memory.
"Computex is the ideal venue for us to unveil our upcoming TLC NAND-based Trion 100 SSDs," said Alex Mei, GM of the Client Business at OCZ Storage Solutions. "By leveraging controller and TLC NAND technology from Toshiba, we are pleased to be able to bring to market the exciting new Trion 100 SSD Series which will offer end-users an optimal mix of performance, features, and value, making it easier than ever for value-conscious consumers to leverage the benefits of a high quality yet affordable SSD that delivers improved desktop and mobile computing experiences."
Continue reading: OCZ to show off Trion 100 SSD series for consumers during Computex (full post)
AP: IRS believes tax data thieves came from Russia
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has confirmed more than 100,000 American taxpayer records were compromised in a recent data theft. The breaches took place thousands of times from February to mid-May, and the "Get Transcript" service was the one reportedly vulnerable.
Information taken included tax returns and other data stored on the IRS website, with more than 200,000 reported attempts made to access the agency.
"We're confident these are not amateurs, these are actually organized crime syndicates that not only we but everyone in the financial industry are dealing with," said John Koskinen, IRS Commissioner, during a recent conference call.
Continue reading: AP: IRS believes tax data thieves came from Russia (full post)
Google makes Android 6.0 'M' official, arrives in Q3 2015
Google I/O 2015: Google has kicked off its Google I/O 2015 conference, where the Mountain View-based giant has just unveiled Android 6.0 'M'. The new operating system won't be big on features, as the company has said that "the central theme of M is improving the core user experience".
Google will be using improvements that OEMs have been using in their custom builds of Android directly into Android 6.0, with six things that Google is baking into Android M. First, we have App Permissions getting overhauled. It will be similar to how the iPhone does it, with a smaller set of permissions for your device, where apps will not only ask you permission when you use the feature, instead of when you very first install the application.
The company has also allowed developers to bake Chrome into apps now, which is something Google referred to as "Chrome custom tabs". This allows Chrome inside of Chrome, or Chrome inside of an app. This Chrome-in-a-Chrome also supports saved passwords, autofill and all of the rest of Chrome's features.
Continue reading: Google makes Android 6.0 'M' official, arrives in Q3 2015 (full post)
Leaked shots show NVIDIA launching GeForce GTX 980 Ti at Computex 2015
We've been hearing whispers of NVIDIA launching its GeForce GTX 980 Ti, but according to WCCFTech, the company will be launching their new video card on June 2 at Computex 2015.
The event itself will be livestreamed over Twitch, as you can see from the image above. But what should we expect from the GTX 980 Ti itself? Well, it's based off of the GM200 core, the same core that powered the GeForce GTX Titan X, but we'll see 6GB of VRAM instead of the 12GB that the Titan X featured. But, this will include a drop in price from the $999 pricing of the Titan X.
The GeForce GTX 980 Ti will feature a 384-bit memory bus, up from the 256-bit bus offered on the GTX 980 which will provide the new GM200-based card with 336GB/sec memory bandwidth. The Core Clock will be at 1GHz, while the Boost Clock will reportedly be set at 1076MHz. We should expect to see an 8-pin + 6-pin PCIe configuration, with three DisplayPort, one HDMI 2.0 and one DVI port on the back.
Continue reading: Leaked shots show NVIDIA launching GeForce GTX 980 Ti at Computex 2015 (full post)
Gamers interested in virtual reality should be ready to spend
The Oculus Rift is expected to bring virtual reality to the mainstream, but consumers must be ready to open their wallets and spend. The headset will be available for around $300, but gamers - and anyone looking to test the VR world - needs to spend an estimated $1,500 to be ready.
"We are looking at an all-in price, if you have to go out and actually need to buy a new computer and you're going to buy the Rift... at most you should be in that $,1500 range," said Brendan Iribe, CEO of Oculus, while speaking during the recent Code tech conference.
It would seem unlikely that gamers interested in VR would be scared away of investing in the headset, but the overall consumer market may be willing to sit back and wait. To help promote the Oculus Rift, the company hopes to see the estimated $1,500 price tag eventually drop to $1,000, but understands that it will take some time.
Continue reading: Gamers interested in virtual reality should be ready to spend (full post)
1 in 5 experts feel artificial intelligence could pose a threat
Will artificial intelligence pose a threat to mankind? Around 18 percent of AI experts feel there could be an 'existential threat' to mankind, a new report from Oxford University indicates. Oxford University researchers interviewed 500 AI experts and half of those surveyed appear optimistic, saying AI should be "good" or "extremely good" for humans.
AI will match human ability between 2040 and 2075, with an eventual transition to "super intelligence" within the next century.
... this creation could, in turn, create yet higher intelligence, which could, in turn, create yet higher intelligence, and so on... so we might generate a growth well beyond human ability and perhaps even an accelerating rate of growth: an 'intelligence explosion,'" according to the paper.
Continue reading: 1 in 5 experts feel artificial intelligence could pose a threat (full post)
ADATA to show off new USB Type-C and Apple products at Computex 2015
But wait, there's more! ADATA has also announced a series of USB Type-C ready and Apple related products for promotion at the yearly COMPUTEX trade show in Taipei, Taiwan. in a recently issued press release.
Featuring products such as the UE710 Lighting OTG flash drive, an external HD710A Apple HDD, card readers for iPad and iPhones plus a battery pack for the iPhone 6, ADATA really has the Mac market in its sights.
As for USB Type-C, there will be a bunch of flash drives on offer and cables to promote convenience of sharing. There will also be the HD720 waterproof, dust proof and shock-resistant external hard drives on offer.
Continue reading: ADATA to show off new USB Type-C and Apple products at Computex 2015 (full post)
Slightly Mad Studios says that Project Cars 'loves' DirectX 12
Now that Project Cars is out, gamers across the world have been pushing their systems and consoles to the limits playing one of the best looking games ever made. But it could soon get better.
According to Slightly Mad Studios boss, Ian Bell, the team has been working on the Xbox One version of the game to optimize its performance, as it has been suffering from stuttering problems. Bell added that Project Cars "loves" DirectX 12, and that the DX12-powered version of Project Cars will run "extremely well" on the Xbox One.
Bell said: "With DX12 the Xbox will perform extremely well for us. With the upcoming imminent patches it's already much better. We'll need to do some work of course but the way our engine is structured lends itself to the main benefits of DX12. We never said we'd run 30 cars at night in the rain at 60. We said the game runs at 60FPS, which it does. So Gran Turismo, but it drops to 20's under heavy action in the wet at night".
Continue reading: Slightly Mad Studios says that Project Cars 'loves' DirectX 12 (full post)
Internet playboy celebrity called out - Dan Bilzerian shares morals
Some images in this article are Not Safe For Work (NSFW): Did you ever think you would see the day in which Dan Bilzerian would 'call out' another social media playboy on their antics? Well it has just happened.
Described as coming to riches thanks to the tobacco industry, Instagram 'playboy' Travers Beynon is known for posting photos of extravagant parties, bikini-clad (or less) women and plenty of other controversial pictures thrown into the mix.
In his latest spree, he is seen 'walking' two women by holding onto their bra straps - the image was soon deleted but a follow up stated "50 Shades of Grey' is a nursery thyme... I'm more like a '1000 Shades of Black."
Continue reading: Internet playboy celebrity called out - Dan Bilzerian shares morals (full post)
Colorful is aiming to become second largest GPU vendor
Most people would think that ASUS or MSI would lead the pack as the largest GPU vendor, but it's actually Palit Microsystems (who also owns Gainward). Well, Colorful wants to compete at a much higher level, so the company is set to increase its shipments to over 500,000 per month this year, reports DigiTimes.
Colorful is also amping up its motherboard business, so it won't just be the GPU business that will scale going into the future. DigiTimes reports that the overall demand for video card sales has dropped, but the demand in China is still quite strong. GPU shipments for China are sitting at a very healthy 16-17 million units for 2015, with China accounting for a huge 50% of the total global GPU shipments.
The Chinese market is dominated by Colorful, Galaxy and ZOTAC with Colorful set to ship 500,000 units per month for 2015. Galaxy is hoping to ship somewhere between 400,000 and 500,000 units per month, with projected sales of 5 million for Colorful and Galaxy. ZOTAC is expected to ship 3 million units this year, with ASUS shipping around 5 million across the year. GIGABYTE will be shipping around 3.6 million units while MSI will be pushing out around 2.9 million units for 2015.
Continue reading: Colorful is aiming to become second largest GPU vendor (full post)
Upcoming 'Mad Max' game gets new story trailer
Despite being in production for years, the upcoming tie-in game to 'Mad Max: Fury Road' missed the theatrical release window for the film and is not slated to hit PS4, Xbox One and PC in September to co-incide with the Blu-ray release. But with the film getting rave reviews, Avalanche Studios are keen to keep the game in the consciousness of gamers and have now released an explosive new storyline trailer.
Officially announced at E3 2013, the 'Mad Max' game was originally intended to hit Windows, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One platforms but now, the previous generation console versions have been abandoned.
'Mad Max' will be available in September.
Continue reading: Upcoming 'Mad Max' game gets new story trailer (full post)
Former CIA director says United States faces threat of cyberterrorism
Barry Royden, the CIA's former Director of Counterintelligence, thinks cyberterrorism poses a significant threat to the United States. Royden retired more than 10 years ago after 40 years working at the CIA, and has watched the international landscape continually change drastically.
Unfortunately, the United States has been slow to try to respond to cyberattacks - and the country's infrastructure is more vulnerable from outside attack. Rogue hacker groups, foreign state actors, and small hacker groups could pose significant problems when they find vulnerabilities to critical infrastructure.
"The trouble is, it's extremely difficult, in fact, it's impossible - everyone is connected to everyone, and as long as you're connected you're vulnerable," said Royden while speaking to Business Insider. "And there are firewalls, but every firewall is potentially defeatable, so it's a nightmare in my mind. You have to think that other governments have the capability to bring down the main computer systems in this country, power grids, hospitals or banking systems - things that could cause great economic upheaval and paralyze the country."
Continue reading: Former CIA director says United States faces threat of cyberterrorism (full post)
Build Your Own Arduino Projects with This Complete Starter Kit
If you've ever been interested in building your own "Internet of Things" projects, this deal on the ARDX Arduino Starter Kit and three courses is the best way to do it-even if you have absolutely no previous experience. Get it for $75.99 (85% off) at TweakTown Deals.
The bundle has everything a beginner needs to get started and create some seriously impressive projects. First off, you'll get the ARDX Arduino Starter Kit, a toolkit containing the Arduino Uno microcontroller board and all the parts you need to create 13 different circuits. There's no soldering or electronics background required, and it's the perfect introduction to using Arduino to control lights, buzzers, and more.
You'll also get three courses totaling over 25 hours of training-the 'Your Guide to the Internet of Things' course, the 'Make a Remote-Controlled Car' course, and the 'Make Your Own Environment Monitor System' course. You learn the basics of programming for microcontrollers and get an introduction to the different types of sensors before using your kit and the course material to build a remote-control car as well as an environment monitoring system that can measure and log conditions like temperature and humidity. You'll have lifetime access to these courses, so you can work at your own pace and refer back to them whenever you need.
Continue reading: Build Your Own Arduino Projects with This Complete Starter Kit (full post)
Apple rumored to have 10nm processors being tested over at TSMC
The race of smaller nodes is quite exciting, with Apple reporting tapping TSMC for its future 10nm processors. We could expect TSMC to handle all of Apple's future A10 processors, which should hit production towards the end of the year.
TSMC will reportedly test out at 10nm pilot line within its 12 factories located in Hsinchu, with the company already starting a semiconductor intellectual property program, where it will partner up with other clients as we get deeper into 2015. With Samsung announcing 10nm production for 2016, the South Korean giant might be falling behind its competitors.
Sources of UDN have stated that the factory locations of TSMC that are working on 10nm are incredibly important to the Taiwanese manufacturer if it wants to secure a super client like Apple. If TSMC can indeed get its 10nm node production up to scratch in time, Samsung might lose out in its future contracts to Apple for the A10 processor.
Continue reading: Apple rumored to have 10nm processors being tested over at TSMC (full post)
Wii U can't handle Project Cars at 720p 30FPS, waiting for Nintendo NX
Slightly Mad Studios is slightly mad when it comes to the Wii U version of Project Cars, as the Wii U is struggling to hit 30FPS at only 720p. This has caused the studio to wait for the announcement of Nintendo's next-gen console, but Nintendo won't be revealing the NX console until 2016.
Ian Bell, boss of Slightly Mad Studios has said that he wants to see the Nintendo NX console announced at E3, but with the studio only able to achieve 23FPS on the Wii U, the next-gen Nintendo console is really needed if Nintendo gamers want to see Project Cars. Bell said: "I can't say too much but we're awaiting E3 with baited breath. Don't read wrongly into that... OK I'll come clean. At the moment we're running at about 23FPS on the WiiU. We're awaiting/hoping for more of a hardware announcement at E3...".
Bell continued: "Honestly, unless we really cut the looks back I think we're looking to Nintendo's next console. 720p yes. I suppose if they don't announce something at E3 or soon after we will have a go at it. We could reach a fairly solid 30FPS but it might take a hell of a lot of work. On the other hand, about halfway through us finishing, Nintendo might announce a new console (I have zero knowledge on this BTW but I've heard 'rumours'). Our work might just be the best thing that ever hit that new console in the driving sim genre. So we're playing a waiting game at the moment and yes, economics do come in to it".
Continue reading: Wii U can't handle Project Cars at 720p 30FPS, waiting for Nintendo NX (full post)
Samsung intros the new Galaxy S6 edge Iron Man Limited Edition handset
Samsung has just unveiled the ultimate smartphone for Iron Man fans, with the new Galaxy S6 edge Iron Man Limited Edition smartphone looking bloody gorgeous. Check out the video detailing the new handset, below.
As you can see, this is a Galaxy S6 edge that has had no detail left untouched. The entire handset is themed in Iron Man colors: red and gold, while you also get a wireless charger in the box that sports the same look. Samsung has donned the Galaxy S6 edge Iron Man Limited Edition with a theme, which looks slick, even down to the phone dialer.
Samsung has said that the new Galaxy S6 edge Iron Man Limited Edition smartphone is "available in select countries", with no details on pricing just yet.
Continue reading: Samsung intros the new Galaxy S6 edge Iron Man Limited Edition handset (full post)
AMD Radeon R9 390X spotted without HBM, in an 8GB GDDR5 version
Something we talked about a few weeks ago now looks to be true: AMD will release two versions of its Radeon R9 390X. One of them will rock the next-gen HBM, while another will use the standard GDDR5 VRAM. WCCFTech is reporting that they noticed some juicy news on the ASUS forums, with the following units:
What we do think this means, is that AMD will release a Radeon R9 390X with 4GB of HBM, while the 8GB version will rock GDDR5. We've heard through our industry sources that HBM is experiencing seriously low yields, which will stop AMD from slapping 8GB of HBM onto the cards. This move will allow AMD to sell more R9 390X cards as they'll only be using 4GB of HBM, versus 8GB of High Bandwidth Memory.
The bigger question is: will the Radeon R9 390X be enough to compete against the GM200-powered NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 Ti? What time of performance leap are we to expect from the HBM-powered R9 390X, over the nearly two-year-old R9 290X?
Continue reading: AMD Radeon R9 390X spotted without HBM, in an 8GB GDDR5 version (full post)
Google updates Chromecast app for Android and iOS
Google has updated the Chromecast app, which makes it easier to get streaming content through to your TV or display. The Mountain View-based giant has updated both its iOS, and Android apps.
The new Android and iOS apps will provide users with a reworked hardware view that will provide each Chromecast with its own card, with a current backdrop and casting status now shown. Not only that, but you can now browse through your backdrop history, as well as quickly changing those pictures and their cycles.
If you want to update your Chromecast app, hit up the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
Continue reading: Google updates Chromecast app for Android and iOS (full post)
Want realistic 3D? Microsoft HoloLens should be able to deliver
Augmented reality is evolving into a suitable virtual environment for consumers and in the workplace, with Microsoft interested in pushing the boundaries of 3D interaction. HoloLens could allow wearers to view the actions of other people right in front of you, instead of just interacting with objects or environments.
The company currently has a custom holographic TV studio that uses around 100 cameras to track movements of humans. Captured video footage and custom software allows for an accurate creation that is much more immersive than a regular computer animation.
"There's something magical about it being real people and motion," said Steve Sullivan, who is currently involved with the HoloLens project, in a statement published by the MIT Technology Review. "If you have a HoloLens, you really feel these performances are in your world."
Continue reading: Want realistic 3D? Microsoft HoloLens should be able to deliver (full post)
G.SKILL announces two 'major extreme' OC events for Computex next week
G.SKILL has announced two "major extreme" overclocking events at Computex 2015, which takes place between June 2-6 in Taipei, Taiwan. The two events will be the OC World Cup 2015, and the OC World Record Stage 2015.
These two OC events will see 19 world-class overclockers, five motherboard vendors, and three hardware sponsors taking part in what is sure to be, a huge event. Intel and Samsung have jumped on board with G.SKILL, as well as ASRock, ASUS, EVGA, GIGABYTE and MSI. The overclockers will be using the latest X99 motherboards with the Intel Core i7-5960X processor and G.SKILL memory to try and break records.
G.SKILL has said that the six winners fro mteh OC World Cup online qualifiers, Dancop, dRweEz, Hazzan, Vivi, Lam@Capital and Xtreme Addict, will take part in a "live stage" battle for their share in a cash prize pool of $16,200. The battle begins with a three-day Live Qualifier, with the two top scoring overclockers from four benchmarks will go through to the Grand Finals on June 5. The Grand Finals Champion will walk away with a very cool $10,000.
Continue reading: G.SKILL announces two 'major extreme' OC events for Computex next week (full post)




