August 17th, 2010 by admin
Apart from just being fun, upgrading is absolutely necessary if you’re looking to build a killer gaming rig. Desktop computers generally come with weaker video cards optimized for checking e-mail and web browsing, and not much else. If you want to play Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty and hope to see every last drop when you blast some Zergs, you’re going to need a better video card. Luckily, you can now get the EVGA GeForce 9800 GT 512 MB card for only $199.99 from Newegg.
Considering that it used to take $200 to $300 to get a card of this caliber, the discount seems well worth the wait. Even better, Newegg supports it with a full two-year warranty for $16.99. User reviews have already stated that it can run Starcraft II and Team Fortress 2 on full graphics settings with just a single card. However, it can be linked together with another card for even more amazing performance. The GeForce 9800 GT is also suited for playing Blu-ray discs, even when hooked up to an HDTV. Read the rest of this entry »
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August 17th, 2010 by admin
AT&T and Verizon Wireless recently announced a deal with Discover Financial Services that will give smartphones credit card capabilities. This includes being able to purchase products in stores using a phone instead of a plastic card. Global bank Barclays would manage the accounts, while Discover would be in charge of processing payments.
While it may seem like science fiction, there have already been previous trials of the technology across the world, with working systems in Japan, Turkey, and the U.K., and American tests by Nokia and Cingular. Previously, Visa and MasterCard had been the go-to credit card companies for these mobile experiments. This is no surprise, as MasterCard alone was responsible for 82% of credit-card spending in 2009. The fact that AT&T and Verizon didn’t go to them could be because Visa and Mastercard have their own chickens in the basket already. Visa has an iPhone App that lets people store payment information for several accounts, and MasterCard has its PayPass service, which works via stickers on the back of the phone. Read the rest of this entry »
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August 17th, 2010 by admin
On July 27, RIM (Research in Motion) sent e-mails to leading technology sites, including CNET, informing them of an upcoming Blackberry event in New York the next week. On August 3, the secrecy was peeled away, ever so slightly, to reveal the newest Blackberry model: the Torch 9800.
For months, bloggers and reviewers have suspected that the new Blackberry would be the first to use the new Blackberry 6 operating system. At the event, their suspicions were confirmed. The main focus of the new software is competing with the iPhone and Android OS in web navigation. Blackberry 6 is also expected to work better with touch devices, trackpads, and QWERTY keyboards. Read the rest of this entry »
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August 17th, 2010 by admin
The big push in 3DTV has been to figure out how to achieve 3D effects without glasses. In June, Nintendo brought forward its own two cents on the subject: the new Nintendo 3DS, which can produce a stereoscopic 3D effect without requiring glasses. There’s a slider at the top where players can vary the level of the 3D effect to the point of eliminating it completely. People upgrading to the system will be able to play all DS and DSi games, and there will also be a slot for an SD memory card. There’s no firm release date set, but it’s expected before April 2011.
Some Japanese developers have already gotten their hands on software development kits for the system, most notably Nintendo stalwart The Pokemon Company. In February, one unnamed source has said that the 3DS will have a “tilt” function similar to the iPhone. The system also has a Slide Pad analog input for the first time, an accelerometer, and a gyroscope currently confirmed. Nintendo also has deals with Warner Bros., Disney, and Dreamworks to bring 3D movies to the system. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in 3D Technology, Video Games | Comments Off
August 17th, 2010 by admin
There’s good news on the horizon for environmentally-concerned garbage truck drivers (and anybody else who drives a large, heavy-duty vehicle). A new technology will allow garbage trucks to store energy via hydraulics rather than batteries, saving up to 30% of fuel. Even better, the system is significantly cheaper than hybrid battery technology. The science is referred to as hydraulic launch assist, and consists of two main components: a pump motor and an accumulator tank. The accumulator stores energy by compressing nitrogen gas using the pump during deceleration. When the driver accelerates, the energy in the compressed gas is released to drive the car.
The system is being tested in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with four new garbage trucks. The U.S. DOE Clean Cities Program offered funding to the city. Clean Cities has been operating since 1993 to help local governments reduce their use of petroleum in transportation. The EPA National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory, which developed the technology, is marketing it with the help of Eaton, a global power management company. Read the rest of this entry »
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