Opera Software announced they've launched a beta version of Opera Mini 5 for the Android platform:
Opera Mini, with more than 50 million users worldwide, enables Web browsing on almost any handset by compressing data by up to 90 percent before sending content to the phone, resulting in significantly improved page loading and speed. With a simple, easy-to-use interface, Opera Mini offers a desktop-like Web browsing experience on a mobile phone, with favorite features such as Speed Dial, tabbed browsing, password manager and bookmarks. With Opera Mini optimized for Android, more people will be able to get a PC-like browsing experience on their mobile handsets.
“Android users should not have to compromise when it comes to surfing the Web on their phones. Opera Mini will give Android users a fast and cost-efficient access to their favorite Web sites and services,” said Dag Olav Norem, Vice President of Products, Opera Software.
Download Opera Mini directly to your Android phone. To download, simply visit m.opera.com/next with the Android browser or search for Opera Mini 5 in the Android Market. For more information, visit http://www.opera.com/mini/next/.
Tony Sahin, Chief Engineer at Xigmatek speaks with HardwareHeaven about all things XIGMATEK. You can read the interview over here.
HH: What is your favourite Xigmatek product in the current range? Why is it your favourite?
Tony: I have to choose two, UTGARD and THOR’S HAMMER. They look gorgeous when installed and the performance is awesome but also the features you have on UTGARD are fantastic. Aspects such as TOOL FREE DESIGN, LED FANS, HDD TRAY’S for 2,5” (SSD’S) and 3,5” are great. Also, the MESH SIDE PANEL means you can add up 3 more fans with sizes of 120mm, 140mm and even 200mm. THOR’S HAMMER is just a damn nice designed cooler which supports a PUSH / PULL fan configuration. It supports all sockets that are on the market and also has a very shiny black nickel design. DESIGN MEETS PERFORMANCE – our philosophy!
A couple of weeks ago we published some USB 3.0 performance results based on an engineering board from MSI. In that early test we where not impressed at all by it's USB 3.0 performance and we suspected a hardware bug.
The final production sample of MSI's Star USB controller just arrived though, and that certainly makes the difference. Therefore we test USB 3.0 with the USB 3.0 ready N002 SSD, this device is able to deliver up to very fast 200 MB/s and 170 MB/s sequential read/write performance.
Will it perform good enough over USB 3.0 ? Read more at Guru3D.
Engadget reports Ubuntu has been ported to the HTC Touch Pro2 handset:
We've seen Android running on seemingly every WinMo handset ever created and more recently Ubuntu has been receiving the mobile treatment. Last month it was on an Xperia X1, now an HTC Touch Pro2 is getting a taste. A modder who goes by the handle sebbo90 is the one responsible for this, running basically the same technique as used earlier on the X1. It looks quite easy: just download a 200MB zip, extract it to your phone, then run an exe within.
Major game companies don't hesitate to charge an arm and a leg for new releases, with most launching around $60 these days. As much as you enjoy lining up outside the local GameStop at 3AM to embrace the latest shooter, parting with 60 big ones hurts a little inside. It doesn't help that many developers rub salt in the wound by lacing titles with DRM mechanisms -- but let's not go there.
Alternatively, there are tons of free games online, but very few are worth playing (yeah, we're looking at you Obama Alien Defense). What you may not be aware of however, is the wealth of older commercial titles freely available, just waiting to be discovered.
Dozens of old school favorites like Doom and GTA can be had at no cost. We've compiled a brief list of popular titles from yesteryear that you can download absolutely free of charge -- and that's something to appreciate in an age of hidden fees and fine print. Read more at TechSpot.
The CeBIT 2010 in Hanover, Germany was this year a little bit smaller, but it has not lost its appeal.
Because the CeBIT is like in past years one of the most important computer fair with a lot of new and innovative products in dozens of exhibition halls.
On the following 11 pages of the CeBIT 2010 report you will see over 100 pictures with the main focus on PC hardware.
This ocinside.de CeBIT 2010 report contains some new mobile products, 3D products, motherboards, mediaplayer, enclosures, cooler, PSUs, SSDs and memory modules.
It is only available in German language, but it is worth watching the pictures or use a translation tool to discover the latest trends.
X-bit Labs has taken a look at some new 1TB HDDs, you can check out the roundup over here.
We seem to have established a tradition of writing an article about 1-terabyte hard disk drives each ten months or so. In the first roundup, written almost two years ago, we just acquainted you with such products because that was the peak storage capacity available then and only few makers had reached it with three platters. Other manufacturers needed four or even five platters for that. About one year ago, we published another roundup in which most of the HDDs were based on three platters only, and this factor had a positive effect on their sequential speeds. And now we are ready to give you one more snapshot of the 1-terabyte sector of the HDD market.
NBC announced the development of a Battlestar Galactica MMO. The game uses the Unity Engine, which implies the game will be browser based and may be intended for the casual gamer category.
"Players will be able to choose to play as cylons or humans in a constant struggle to control the universe or just survive its perils," reads an official announcement. "A blend of tactical space combat, exploration, and mission-based gameplay will provide a diverse experience.
"The dramatic missions will define the game's overall storyline, enabling the player to delve into mysteries of the Battlestar universe. Battlestar Galactica Online will create a new standard for web games, with beautiful 3d graphics and innovative game mechanics bringing a new level of game play to browser based MMOG. Assets from the television production will be integrated into the game to deliver an even more authentic experience."
ASUS introduced the Cine5, a new compact speaker that provides 5-channel sound. You can find the specifications over here.
ASUS today announced the launch of the ASUS Cine5 PC speaker which provides accurate 5-channel surround sound in personalized spaces such as study rooms. With its all-in-one design, the Cine5 delivers realistic and dynamic surround sound to satisfy consummate gamers and personal entertainment users. To deliver exceptionally full sound from a compact form factor, ASUS drew on its expertise in high-performance audio cards during the development.
Leading Surround Technology for True Cinematic Enjoyment
The Cine5 is the first PC speaker in the world to offer leading surround sound presence with the new "EmbracingSound Theatre HD" technology. This patented technology leverages on a discrete 5-channel output to deliver full audio surround, which users can experience whenever they are directly in front of the speaker. In a First Player Shooter game, the Cine5 provides precise sound location that improves shooting accuracy and heightens gaming thrills. The Cine5 also revives 5-channel audio from any down-mixed 2-channel source—for a high-fidelity, multi-channel sound during PC gaming or movie sessions.
Space-saving Design and Convenient Home Entertainment Setup
By integrating an array of speaker drivers into a single bar, the Cine5 PC speaker helps users save space in their study rooms. Additionally, installation is simplified by eliminating the need to set up multiple satellite speakers—users just need to place the Cine5 PC speaker below the computer monitor. No positional adjustment is necessary to get the sweet spot for audio recreation.
Refined Audio Performance
Utilizing premium speaker drivers and a specially-designed bass reflex port, the Cine5 provides 15dB more bass than speakers of similar size, thus revolutionizing bass delivery in compact speakers—to add depth to games and movies. Also, its multi-driver configuration reduces individual driver load by 50%, resulting in better high-frequency responses for more brilliant sound.
Dress Up PCs with Elegance
The Cine5 PC speaker represents a modern form in PC speaker design. In a user setting, the three elements of a curved shape, black glossy finish, and its metal knob delivers a touch of elegance. It also blends in with most monitors, with its overall design featuring metal or rubber stands of different heights.
Engadget spotted some evidence that suggests Amazon is working on a robust web browser for the Kindle eReader:
Are you a software dev with a Bachelors Degree in Computer Science, familiarity with current Web standards, and experience with browser engines, Linux on embedded devices, and Java? If so, do we have the job for you. Lab126, the group at Amazon responsible for the Kindle, wants you to help "conceive, design, and bring to market" a new embedded browser on a Linux device. Might this be a sign that the company is ready to start taking web browsing on the e-reader seriously? We don't know, but it sure sparked some interesting discussion over at All Things Digital. As Peter Kafka points out, a decent browser for the thing is pretty much a no-brainer in light of the Apple iPad. On the other hand, the idea of a robust browser on the Kindle has its own complications.
