technology | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net KitGuru.net - Tech News | Hardware News | Hardware Reviews | IOS | Mobile | Gaming | Graphics Cards Fri, 23 Feb 2024 11:35:22 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://www.kitguru.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cropped-KITGURU-Light-Background-SQUARE2-32x32.png technology | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net 32 32 We are hiring – Technical Review Writer applications open! https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/announcements/matthew-wilson/we-are-hiring-technical-review-writer-applications-open/ https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/announcements/matthew-wilson/we-are-hiring-technical-review-writer-applications-open/#respond Fri, 23 Feb 2024 11:08:20 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=649077 We reviewed a lot of products through 2023 and we're setting our sights on doing even more in 2024. We are looking for someone new to join the team and to create written reviews, primarily focused on the more technical side of hardware...

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We reviewed a lot of products through 2023 and we're setting our sights on doing even more in 2024. We are looking for someone new to join the team and to create written reviews, primarily focused on the more technical side of hardware.

Any experience in this sector is beneficial, however, we are open to all applicants who can give a sample of written work so we can assess abilities. This person must have high technical ability and knowledge.

KitGuru is a great company to work with, we are all tech enthusiasts who enjoy gaming, so we all have very similar interests. Behind the scenes it is very close knit environment and many of our team have been with us for more than a decade.

To be considered for this position you need:

  • Skillset to write well in English.
  • The ability to meet tight deadlines.
  • Strong communication skills.
  • A high level of technical knowledge.
  • This is a freelance position.

The successful applicant must be based in the United Kingdom. If you are interested and feel you can meet the criteria above and want to work in this fast moving and exciting sector then please send your CV along with any samples of your work to our Editor in Chief, Allan Campbell – allan(at)kitguru.net. We would like to see samples of your work, but please note we are looking for applicants who can produce written articles in the in-depth KitGuru style, so your submissions should reflect that. This applicant does not need to create video content.

KitGuru says: We look forward to receiving your application. 

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EU reportedly no longer pursuing five-year ban on facial recognition tech https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/eu-reportedly-no-longer-pursuing-five-year-ban-on-facial-recognition-tech/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/eu-reportedly-no-longer-pursuing-five-year-ban-on-facial-recognition-tech/#respond Tue, 11 Feb 2020 17:27:39 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=451210 Just a few weeks ago, we began hearing that the European Union was considering a several year ban on public use of facial recognition technology in order to buy some time to figure out the legal side of things. Since then, some changes have been made, with new reports indicating that the EU will instead …

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Just a few weeks ago, we began hearing that the European Union was considering a several year ban on public use of facial recognition technology in order to buy some time to figure out the legal side of things. Since then, some changes have been made, with new reports indicating that the EU will instead leave decisions on facial recognition tech to individual member states, rather than making blanket rules. 

Previous concerns from the EU included the accuracy of the technology and the ability to breach privacy laws by implementing it. Now according to a report from The Financial Times, the European Commission will move away from a temporary ban and instead encourage member states to put their own rules in place.

The FT (via engadget) has a source that says the initial draft caused a rift between civil rights activists and security experts. It is clear why this may be the case, as while facial recognition technology may enable better tracking for law enforcement, it also potentially breaches the privacy rights of everyday citizens.

For now, the proposed 3-5 year ban on facial recognition tech is being shelved, but no final rulings have been made just yet so we should hear more updates in the weeks ahead.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Facial recognition technology is a sensitive subject and particularly divisive. How do you all feel about the idea of this technology being rolled out publicly? 

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Technology Makes Remote Working Feasible and Scalable https://www.kitguru.net/professional/professional-featured/larry-alton/technology-makes-remote-working-feasible-and-scalable/ https://www.kitguru.net/professional/professional-featured/larry-alton/technology-makes-remote-working-feasible-and-scalable/#respond Mon, 04 Dec 2017 07:46:07 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=356605 Some people love it, while others prefer the structure of an office, but one thing is clear: remote working is gaining steam and there’s nothing holding it back. In fact, the presence of new technologies has allowed remote working to soar to unanticipated levels. The State of Remote Working According to a report released this …

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Some people love it, while others prefer the structure of an office, but one thing is clear: remote working is gaining steam and there’s nothing holding it back. In fact, the presence of new technologies has allowed remote working to soar to unanticipated levels.

The State of Remote Working

According to a report released this summer by Global Workplace Analytics and FlexJobs, the number of telecommuters (or remote workers) in the workforce has increased 115 percent over the past decade. This equates to 3.9 million workers, or approximately 3 percent of the entire U.S. workforce.

“Remote working has become more prevalent, specifically in the mortgage and real estate industry, human resources and recruiting, and accounting and finance. Each industry saw remote job listings grow more than 20% last year,” Kathryn Vasel writes for CNN Money. “Employers in the Northeast, particularly in New England and Mid-Atlantic regions, are the most likely to offer flexible workplace options, the report found.”

Family demographics are one factor in the shift. Middle-class families are going from having one parent working a full-time job and another staying at home with kids, to two working parents (with one or both telecommuting from home).

You can also point to changing attitudes of employers as a factor in the rise of remote working. More employers are comfortable offering remote working job positions to new hires and many are doing it in the upper levels of their companies. Whereas work-from-home positions once had a stigma of being low-level, many of today’s most successful professionals don’t work in a traditional office. In fact, the report shows that the average yearly income for telecommuters is $4,000 more than non-telecommuters.

Technology Leading the Way

While family demographics and changing employer attitudes certainly have a role in the rise of remote working, it would be foolish to attribute all of this growth to these factors. Technology is arguably the most integral factor in this shift.

Historically, the biggest strike against the feasibility of remote working has been the lack of options. Employers want accountability and connectivity, while employees need the ability to actually perform at the same level outside of the office as they can on company property. Over the past decade, technology has addressed these needs in very practical ways. Here are just a few of the advances making remote work feasible and scalable:

  • Remote IT support. For many companies, remote working was held back because they feared the lack of IT control. Today, software like Dameware Remote Support allow for internet proxy connections that enable remote support of employee devices. This eliminates the traditionally cumbersome process of dealing with remote IT support.
  • Enhanced collaboration tools. Remote communication is also made much easier with the help of advanced collaboration tools. Slack is one of the top tools. It allows teams to streamline workflows regardless of where people are located.
  • Location and time tracking. One of the biggest issues employers struggle with is trusting employees to get their work done. With tools like Time Doctor, this is no longer an issue. With features like time tracking, screen monitoring, and app usage monitoring, accountability is no longer optional.

This is just a small sample and three practical examples of what sort of technology exists on the market. There are hundreds of other tools in dozens of other categories that are simultaneously being leveraged by companies and their employees to make remote working practical.

Looking Towards the Future

It makes a huge difference when you have the right technology in place to smooth over what have traditionally been points of friction. As we continue to move forward, look for additional technology to make remote working even more feasible, scalable, and popular.

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The Oculus Rift can do roomscale, but watch your head https://www.kitguru.net/components/vr/jon-martindale/the-oculus-rift-can-do-roomscale-but-watch-your-head/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/vr/jon-martindale/the-oculus-rift-can-do-roomscale-but-watch-your-head/#respond Tue, 29 Mar 2016 11:22:23 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=288220 One of the big selling points of HTC's Vive virtual reality headset, is that it can “do roomscale.” That means users can get up and walk around in the real world, while ensconced in virtual reality. It turns out though that the Oculus Rift can do that pretty well too, you just need to be …

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One of the big selling points of HTC's Vive virtual reality headset, is that it can “do roomscale.” That means users can get up and walk around in the real world, while ensconced in virtual reality. It turns out though that the Oculus Rift can do that pretty well too, you just need to be a bit more careful not to bump your head.

Because the Vive has targeted roomscale experiences from the get go, it pushed to develop a built in camera within the headset and what's called the chaperone system. This manifests as a translucent grid around the edge of your playspace and offers a great visual aid to prevent you bumping into anything.

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_HlXzELHgo']

In comparison, the Rift doesn't have that, which means there is some danger of bumping into things, as the guys at UploadVR found during their CV1 testing.

However they did find that the field of view and tracking range of the Oculus Rift's Constellation camera was surprisingly good, offering a near room-scale experience from the get go. With a second sensor placed somewhere behind the player, it's not hard to imagine the Rift offering a comparably expansive space to play in as the Vive.

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyNKR_-uKfs']

Jump to 1:20 if you want to see the problem with a lack of Chaperone

You just might want some form of real world indicator that you're getting close to the edge of it, as smashing your brand new headset into a wall as you try and look around a non-existent corner, would be a real shame.

KitGuru Says: There are some issues with cable length, but it's great to see that the Rift does offer similar freedom to the Vive. Hopefully Oculus can come up with its own version of the chaperone system too.

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Mark Zuckerberg wants to make his life easier with a home A.I. https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/jon-martindale/mark-zuckerberg-wants-to-make-his-life-easier-with-a-home-a-i/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/jon-martindale/mark-zuckerberg-wants-to-make-his-life-easier-with-a-home-a-i/#respond Mon, 04 Jan 2016 09:19:45 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=279456 Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg often starts the year off with a particular challenge, one that is publicly announced near the start of it. While previously the founder has pledged to read more books or meet more people, in 2016 he wants to turn his attention to artificial intelligence, leveraging his expertise and assets to develop …

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Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg often starts the year off with a particular challenge, one that is publicly announced near the start of it. While previously the founder has pledged to read more books or meet more people, in 2016 he wants to turn his attention to artificial intelligence, leveraging his expertise and assets to develop a robotic assistant to help run his home and office.

Clearly he's been watching a few comic book movies, as Zuckerberg referenced Jarvis, from Iron Man in his announcement, though having an A.I. that can project holograms, control multiple robotic suits at once and eventually take down a superior AI system made with half-magic, seems like more of a pipe dream.

deusex

If you get win a competition to go to Zuckerberg's home, turn it down. Source: Universal

In reality what Zuckerberg wants to build, is a “simple AI,” to run his home and aid him at work. It will take on simple tasks like letting friends and family into the home without assistance, understanding voice commands to control lights, music and other media, or give a heads up if his child is doing something he should check on.

While he may utilise some of the engineering and financial backing of Facebook and his other various corporate entities, Zuckerberg did clarify that this was more of a personal challenge than one that would require the creation of a new company or team of individuals. This would just be a fun home project for the man, like a hobby.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: There are already systems that can understand voice commands and analyse footage, though they often require sending information to cloud processing facilities. Given Zuckerberg's flip-flop feelings about privacy, it will be interesting to see whether he is happy to broadcast data from his home across networks that the NSA and others may be snooping through.

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Here’s what you need for a modern day protest https://www.kitguru.net/channel/jon-martindale/heres-what-you-need-for-a-modern-day-protest/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/jon-martindale/heres-what-you-need-for-a-modern-day-protest/#comments Mon, 14 Dec 2015 11:05:41 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=278109 As much as many cheered on Arab Spring protests in Africa and the Middle East over the past few years, it was obvious even in less developed countries that the technological disparity between protesters and governments is widening. So what can modern day protesters do to keep themselves safe from harm and surveillance when marching? …

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As much as many cheered on Arab Spring protests in Africa and the Middle East over the past few years, it was obvious even in less developed countries that the technological disparity between protesters and governments is widening. So what can modern day protesters do to keep themselves safe from harm and surveillance when marching? Two NYU designers have a checklist that you should tick off before heading to one.

They are Pedro Oliveira and Xuedi Chen, part of the NYU Interactive Telecommunications Program. They believe that with the introduction of drone enforcement with non-lethal pepper spray and other weapons, the use of long range X-Ray equipment, increased facial detection technology and electronics tracking equipment, protesters need to better equip themselves in order to level the playing field.

With that in mind, the pair announced what they call, the Backslash Kit (via Ars), which offers protesters a number of options to counter brutality, surveillance and to better coordinate themselves to make their cause more secure.

The first item on the kit's list, is the Bandana. Looking like part urban camouflage, part QR code, the piece of cloth has a two fold purpose. Its patterning and placement help disrupt facial recognition technology, but based on the way it is folded, the pattern can also embed messages which foreign journalists and other organisations can pick up on and decode.

protest

Next up are some slightly more technological products. The wearable panic button will make all nearby devices flash if pressed. That way protesters can let others know if they are being funnelled into areas without camera coverage, where arrests or beatings could take place without oversight.

The off-grid router allows for a quickly established offline network for local communication, should mobile reception or data traffic be shut down. When used in conjunction with the panic buttons too, a map of local protesters can be created. When used with the Personal Blackbox drive, images and video can be uploaded locally to a private cloud, allowing for upload online – without metadata – from a central location.

These gadgets should be combined with a jammer though, the designers say, as without it, law enforcement can gather data on smartphones and other electronics and use it to track down protesters weeks and months after the fact. There's also the possibility of remote killswitches which could shut down user electronics mid-protest, killing connectivity.

While less technologically impressive than the other gadgets here, a standard can of spray paint with some QR code stencils could let protesters know certain information about certain areas, without it being as obvious as a hand-made sign. It's also more durable too.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: This all sounds pretty smart, but we're sure that's not all the kit you'd want to take on a protest. What other gear, electronic or other wise would you show up with?

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Swallowable fitness trackers could replace wrist wearables https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/jon-martindale/swallowable-fitness-trackers-could-replace-wrist-wearables/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/jon-martindale/swallowable-fitness-trackers-could-replace-wrist-wearables/#comments Fri, 20 Nov 2015 10:47:38 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=275903 As morbid as it sounds, one of the biggest issues with the current generation of wearable tracks is that there is a lot of skin in the way of their readings. Detecting a heart beat requires you wear the device somewhere that a pulse can be found and tracking breathing means being placed much closer to …

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As morbid as it sounds, one of the biggest issues with the current generation of wearable tracks is that there is a lot of skin in the way of their readings. Detecting a heart beat requires you wear the device somewhere that a pulse can be found and tracking breathing means being placed much closer to the wearer's chest. But what if we could just swallow a tracker instead? That's what one group of researchers has been trialling and it works quite well.

trackerpill

Admittedly it's worked quite well on pigs only, and sedated ones at that, but this is an interesting development nonetheless. The fitness trackers that the researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are able to accurately track heart and respiratory rates from inside a live pig, delivering useful data as they pass through the body over one to two days.

The small tracking-pills use a micro-microphone to detect heart rate and respiratory rhythms through acoustics, which is possible throughout the entire digestive system (as per the Guardian).

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zq8cfLv84Q']

This has a number of applications beyond just being convenient though. Patients with skin diseases or burn victims would likely be far more comfortable with a tracker that could be swallowed, than hooking them up to a number of skin-mounted sensors. Further development of the wireless transmission of these devices is still required, though researchers are now developing a human-friendly version for further testing too.

If made safe, one day we could be using a variety of different swallowable sensors, trackers and delivery methods. Imagine a tracker that sits in your gut and dispenses antibiotics when an infection is detected, or one that could alert you that you may require serious medical attention before a potentially fatal incident.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Perhaps a device like this could even detect blood sugar levels one day, allowing for a much simpler day to day tracking for diabetics. 

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Tobii eye-tracking tech is making its way in to more devices https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/tobii-eye-tracking-tech-is-making-its-way-in-to-more-devices/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/tobii-eye-tracking-tech-is-making-its-way-in-to-more-devices/#respond Thu, 15 Oct 2015 19:14:47 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=271931 Eye-tracking company, Tobii announced today that its software and hardware is at the point where it is ready to be implemented with consumer devices, like laptops, or possibly even virtual reality or augmented reality products in the future. Tobii has been well-known in this space for quite some time and has spent the last couple …

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Eye-tracking company, Tobii announced today that its software and hardware is at the point where it is ready to be implemented with consumer devices, like laptops, or possibly even virtual reality or augmented reality products in the future. Tobii has been well-known in this space for quite some time and has spent the last couple of years refining its technology.

In the past, Tobii has licensed out its technology to third-party companies, like Ubisoft. At one point, one of the Assassin's Creed games allowed you to pause by moving your gaze away from the screen, using Tobii's eye tracking technology.

TobiiPro_X2_Eye_Tracker_3_1

Tobii Tech, the arm of the company dedicated to consumer devices, is now gearing up to try and get its eye tracking technology in to more devices over the next year. Device makers can already apply to receive the reference design information to prepare upcoming products for this technology.

We don't know exactly how people will decide to use this eye tracking technology just yet, or how useful it will be. Perhaps laptop makers could use it to see when you're looking away from the screen and automatically lower brightness levels to save on power. We may even see webcams begin to implement the technology, which means desktop users could then take advantage of eye tracking features in games.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Tobii has been around for quite some time, I've even reported on the technology before. It is nice to finally see that it has matured to a point that it is ready for consumer devices. Though we have yet to see exactly how useful it could be. 

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Xbox One secures an Emmy for TV enhhancement https://www.kitguru.net/channel/jon-martindale/xbox-one-secures-an-emmy-for-tv-enhhancement/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/jon-martindale/xbox-one-secures-an-emmy-for-tv-enhhancement/#respond Wed, 14 Jan 2015 09:30:26 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=230433 Microsoft has managed to score an Emmy for the Xbox One at the 66th Annual Technology and Engineering awards, presented to it at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas as part of CES. It won in the category for Television Enhancement Devices, beating out contemporary consoles and set top box makers like Apple and Roku, …

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Microsoft has managed to score an Emmy for the Xbox One at the 66th Annual Technology and Engineering awards, presented to it at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas as part of CES. It won in the category for Television Enhancement Devices, beating out contemporary consoles and set top box makers like Apple and Roku, thanks to the console's abilities to improve TV watching and media streaming.

“This year’s ceremony featured some especially great news for Xbox One,” said Microsoft in a blog post. “[It] will receive an Emmy Award for Television Enhancement Devices, thanks to the Xbox One’s industry-leading television-on-demand and media center capabilities. Microsoft is in good company with the likes of fellow award recipients Apple, Roku, Sony, and TiVo – and we’re proud to be awarded this honour by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.”

EMMY

The award show itself took place during CES and was hosted by long time Jeopardy host, Alex Trebek and tech writer David Pogue. As well as giving out awards in various tech categories, such as “personalised recommendation engines for video discovery,” and “in-camera electronic compensation for lateral chromatic aberrations in external lenses,” the National Academy of television Arts and Sciences also honoured Kazuo Hirai, current president and CEO of Sony with a lifetime achievement award.

“The National Academy’s Engineering Achievement Committee is pleased to honor Kazuo Hirai for his leadership, innovation and vision in helping to set the standards for technological excellence in our industry,” said committee Chairman, Robert P. Seidel.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Hey, good for Microsoft, though arguably Hirai's honouring was a little more impressive. 

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ADATA launches 3,100MHz memory for very serious users https://www.kitguru.net/components/memory/jules/adata-launches-3100mhz-memory-for-very-serious-users/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/memory/jules/adata-launches-3100mhz-memory-for-very-serious-users/#comments Fri, 02 Aug 2013 16:09:06 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=145724 While most of the PC using population is content snoozing around with 1600MHz memory, ADATA has just moved the goal posts a little bit higher. KitGuru pulls out a stop watch to investigate. How much is anything worth?  It's an interesting question and one that permeates every aspect of life and society. Passion can cloud …

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While most of the PC using population is content snoozing around with 1600MHz memory, ADATA has just moved the goal posts a little bit higher. KitGuru pulls out a stop watch to investigate.

How much is anything worth?  It's an interesting question and one that permeates every aspect of life and society.

Passion can cloud judgement and so can greed. If you are passionate about overclocking and/or greedy for the highest numbers possible in every respect, then memory that comes with 3,100MHz written on the packet is going to represent desire in its own right.

Then there's the business argument for performance. So if you have a machine that's a little quicker, then maybe more work can be done in the same period of time – and you can make the financial argument for buying the fastest thing around. This argument for PC hardware is a little like buying 99 octane fuel for your car because it is more efficient. It might be true, but secondary behind the fact that ‘faster is just cooler'.

Rich people who are crazy about cars might buy a Bugatti. If the rumours about ADATA's XPG V2 pricing are true, then we know what memory Bugatti owners will be buying
Rich people who are crazy about cars might buy a Bugatti. If the rumours about ADATA's XPG V2 pricing are true, then we know what memory Bugatti owners will be buying

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And so we come to ADATA's new launch: XPG V2 3,100MHz DDR3 memory in dual 4GB stick kits.

So what about the actual product features?

  • Support for Intel XMP (Extreme Memory Profiles) version 1.3
  • Support for dual channel mode
  • RoHS compliant
  • Complies with JEDEC standards
  • Uses high-quality, 8-layer printed circuit boards and aluminium heat sink, effectively reducing the memory module temperature
  • Adopts Thermal Conductive Technology (TCT) thermal technology for heat dispersal
  • Supports Intel Core processors and the latest fourth-generation Z87 platform

According to ADATA, overclocking enthusiasts who want the very best performance available – with complete stability and JEDEC compliance – should find that this memory is totally compatible with Intel’s 4th Generation Core processors and Z87 Platform.

ADATA-XPG-V2-3100-PC28400-KitGuru-Tech-Spec

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So what's the secret behind this ADATA XPG V2 3,100MHz technology?

Well it seems that V2 is the result of special cooperation between ADATA and Asrock. Interesting.

When clocked to its fastest certified speed, bandwidth on these modules is 24,800MB a second, which could be interesting for professional users who put 24×7 strain on workstations running products like After Effects.

Stores like Overclockers have 4x4GB Kingston Beast 2400MHz kits around the £139 mark. One step up from there would be the 8GB Corsair Dominator Platinum 2,800MHz kits available at £199. How much will ADATA be charging for the 3,100MHz kits?

Click for big pic
Click for big pic

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KitGuru says: If this 8GB kit comes in higher than £300, then its target market will be very narrow indeed. Then again, Bugatti  does not design Veyrons based on mass-market-appeal.

Comment below, in the KitGuru forums or join more than 100,000 fellow KitGuru lovers over on Facebook.

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Cloud server hardware providers rub their hands https://www.kitguru.net/professional/server/jules/cloud-server-hardware-providers-rub-their-hands/ https://www.kitguru.net/professional/server/jules/cloud-server-hardware-providers-rub-their-hands/#respond Tue, 09 Jul 2013 07:24:05 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=140655 For each generation of good idea, there needs to be a seed: An injection of high-profile capital that energises the market and fires the imagination. With The Cloud, that investment could well be from Microsoft. KitGuru pulls out the trusty old abacus. People have been talking about the cloud for a very long time. The …

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For each generation of good idea, there needs to be a seed: An injection of high-profile capital that energises the market and fires the imagination. With The Cloud, that investment could well be from Microsoft. KitGuru pulls out the trusty old abacus.

People have been talking about the cloud for a very long time.

The fundamental principal is about the same as the original mainframe/dumb terminal scenario that was so popular in the 1950s.

In the intervening 50 years, we have been inundated with a ton of advertising and marketing messages that the ‘old style, monolithic, centralised data centre is not the way to do'.

Now, it appears, we were wrong.

You can expect millions more dollars trying to push our thinking back the other way.

So what is the project that is expected to kick start a mini-boom in Cloud interest?

Microsoft's decision to earmark $1 billion for a Cloud to provide functionality for the XBox ONE.

The initial investment in physical data centres etc will be close to $700 million – with an additional amount for up-keep, service, support and upgrades in the near future.

The underlying technology has been field tested by customers of Microsoft  Windows Azure – so you can be guaranteed that it will be fully compliant with the US government's requirement for ‘pants around the ankles – sure you can access any personal details or messages you like in real time'.

Can't simply count the power draw at the wall at home - these beasties draw BIG at the generator
Can't simply count the power draw at the wall at home – these beasties draw BIG at the generator

KitGuru says: In Ireland alone, the Microsoft Azure centre has penciled in more than 22 mega watts of power. And that's just one centre. Apparently, The XBox ONE will need these centres across the globe. This Cloud thingy better come with its own lightning generator.

Comment below, in the KitGuru forums or join us online over at Facebook.

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Computex: Plextor SSD goes from Fast to Furious https://www.kitguru.net/components/ssd-drives/peter/plextor-ssd-goes-from-fast-to-furious/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/ssd-drives/peter/plextor-ssd-goes-from-fast-to-furious/#respond Wed, 05 Jun 2013 05:45:32 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=137313 Plextor has always been about quality and durability when it comes to storage. In the past it was always about media readers for disks and CDs, but over the last several years they have expanded to SSD's, under the ‘PLDS' (Philips & Lite-On Digital Solutions) umbrella. That's all good, but that's history. Plextor is pushing …

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Plextor has always been about quality and durability when it comes to storage. In the past it was always about media readers for disks and CDs, but over the last several years they have expanded to SSD's, under the ‘PLDS' (Philips & Lite-On Digital Solutions) umbrella. That's all good, but that's history. Plextor is pushing forward. KitGuru pulls on a pair of in-line skates and hitches a ride.

Having global brands like Philips as your big brother can't do anyone any harm. Not that Plextor is lightweight by any means. They grew hand-in-hand with Sony, making devices that could read CD's when no other device could even recognise that the same CD was in the drive.
Plextor-Stand-Computex-2013-KitGuru1

They have embraced the Marvell 88SS9187 chips, combined with TLC (Triple-level cell) NAND-based flash memory and enhanced them with rock solid firmware ensuring read/write speeds of up to 540/470 MB/s and random read write of 100,000/88,000 IOPS.

While Plextor is not the only SSD to use the Marvell chipsets and TLC-NAND, they do compliment them with a solid plus in firmware if you want a good SSD investment.
Plextor-Lady-KitGuru-Computex1

Plextor-SSD-Durability-KitGuru1

KitGuru says: Well received by technology sites and customers across Europe over the past 12 months of so, it now seems that Plextor has its eye on more of a leadership position going forward. With a solid R&D push, this should be interesting – we recommend you watch this space.

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Intel presents its Future Showcase for KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/announcements/mikey/intel-presents-its-future-showcase-for-kitguru/ https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/announcements/mikey/intel-presents-its-future-showcase-for-kitguru/#respond Thu, 25 Apr 2013 18:39:54 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=133052 If you ask people in the tech industry about Intel, the the most likely responses will centre on its ability to create a phenomenal volume of fast, powerful processors. That's true, but it's also like saying that BP or Esso create and sell petrol. Sure, that's what they make, but not what they enable. Today, …

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If you ask people in the tech industry about Intel, the the most likely responses will centre on its ability to create a phenomenal volume of fast, powerful processors.

That's true, but it's also like saying that BP or Esso create and sell petrol. Sure, that's what they make, but not what they enable. Today, in London's West End, Intel took control of some White Space and laid out its future vision for KitGuru. Nice.

They say that the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step and that tomorrow is the undiscovered country.

We took a few of those earlier today – this is what we saw.

Intel-Future-Showcase-London-KitGuru

With a little help from London Underground, a cool little place called the White Space and a heap of Intel experts, KitGuru was given a glimpse of what that country would look like.

Markus Weingartner, Intel's uber-PR-guru for Europe, the Middle East and Africa was on hand to guide us through a range of cool innovations.

“Intel is best known for processors, but this showcase allows us to share with you some of the cool applications that Intel will be helping to bring to market”, said Markus.

He pointed out that some technologies, like the tiny 4×4 HD systems were already in full production – while intelligent headlights for cars were a few years off.

Here's an initial flavour of the technologies on show, we'll be going in-depth shortly:-
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Intel had several areas on show, each one closer to production than the next
Intel had several areas on show, each one closer to production than the next

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When computer companies used to talk about saving, they meant data - not the environment
When computer companies used to talk about saving, they meant data – not the environment

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Young lady takes a test drive in the car of the future - one that adjusts your headlights according to the weather - rain, fog etc
Young lady takes a test drive in the car of the future – one that adjusts your headlights according to the weather – rain, fog etc. Naturally, she is also concerned about space for the handbag.

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KitGuru says: It is really cool that Intel took the time to share its vision of the future. Processors are not made in a vacuum – they are created for markets, for consumers and for possibilities. And that's why we loves the tech.

Comment below, in the KitGuru forums or join us online at Facebook.

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85000 Facebook users begin dating mystery women https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/faith/85000-facebook-users-begin-dating-mystery-women/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/faith/85000-facebook-users-begin-dating-mystery-women/#respond Thu, 14 Feb 2013 08:22:33 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=125216 Genius reporter David Lee, over at the BBC, has uncovered a dating mystery. As KitGuru goes into ‘Roses are Red, Violets are Blue – We can Rhyme and so can You' melt down, we also try and bring you some of the facts. It seems that an organisation called ‘Cloud Girlfriend' can provide lonely souls …

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Genius reporter David Lee, over at the BBC, has uncovered a dating mystery. As KitGuru goes into ‘Roses are Red, Violets are Blue – We can Rhyme and so can You' melt down, we also try and bring you some of the facts.

It seems that an organisation called ‘Cloud Girlfriend' can provide lonely souls with the ‘change in relationship status' that they so badly need and want during this difficult time of year.

In times gone by, when we all went out-and-about a lot more, sad folks might have considered hiring a woman for a romantic meal. Ideally, the escort would be someone who might (just about) be ‘natural' enough to fool passers by into thinking ‘Wow, he's lucky to have her' etc.

The ‘complete win' would be if the artificial couple were spotted by a friend – and word spread that ‘He is doing really well'.

We have gone with a male hirer and female hiree – but it could work the other way around.

Enter the 21st century and the aspiring online world of entrepreneurship that is Facebook.

Cloud Girlfriend allows you to pick your ideal date from a list of possibilities – and then give them the dream-selection of attributes that would make any of your friends jealous.

The intrepid reporter signed up for the service and got his dream date. Status updates were followed by a slew of congratulations and surprise, in equal measure.  It also seems that he didn't need to lie too much about how they met etc, because his friends began filling in the gaps.

It's easy to get fooled online. Be careful out there.

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Facebook is reported as stating that ‘As long as the financial transactions happen elsewhere, there is little they can do to prevent people hooking up, changing status and writing messages'.

Sounds a lot like what Facebook was invented for.

One of the ladies offering this kind of service is also a pro-class singer. She will drop a tune onto your timeline to add realism. Like this.

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rATGwQlAN6c']

KitGuru says: With professional services starting from as little as $5 (£3.50), it's easy to see how people who need a little ego boost might be encouraged to take the plunge and pick up a date. It's fast, convenient and guarantees the result you're after – buzz around you and your timeline. In our experience, turning up at a nightclub with 2 or 3 gorgeous ladies almost certainly improves your chances – so maybe this is simply ‘Next-Gen: Fake it until you make it' and it could have a (genuinely) positive outcome – but please be wary of scam artists!

Comment below or in the KitGuru forums.

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Sony stops selling MiniDisc https://www.kitguru.net/components/harrison/sony-stops-selling-minidisc/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/harrison/sony-stops-selling-minidisc/#comments Mon, 04 Feb 2013 08:38:17 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=123988 What started as a solid plastic item being passed to Captain Kirk around 1966, evolved into a real product by 1992. Today, just about 20 years on, the future is dead and another ‘amazing technology' gets consigned to the trashpile of history. KitGuru casts an eye back over yet another attempt by Sony to standardise …

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What started as a solid plastic item being passed to Captain Kirk around 1966, evolved into a real product by 1992. Today, just about 20 years on, the future is dead and another ‘amazing technology' gets consigned to the trashpile of history. KitGuru casts an eye back over yet another attempt by Sony to standardise the world in its own image.

With a name like ‘Magneto-Optical‘, you expect an X-Man to come flying out of the box to deliver you a 21st-Century media experience. In real life, it means you use a magnet to write data and a laser to read it back. Which isi all well and good, but the X-Men version would have sold more.

By the end of the 80s, Sony was ready to attack markets with DAT (Digital Audio Tape), but the powerful Japanese economy meant that a product destined to be affordable for all, ended up in the ‘$1,000 luxury good' zone. They needed a different solution and came up with MiniDisc.

As with video tape before it, Sony kicked off the MiniDisc era with a fundamental flaw: At 60 minutes long, the initial launch meant media that was not able to hold a complete track list for many. While larger formats were introduced later, it was too late and the multimedia revolution of the early 90s saw the price of CD players, writers and media tumbling so fast that a second format like MiniDisc had no chance of standing in the way of CD.

In no time at all, the CD industry was shipping tens of billions of units a year and would not come under threat until wireless and mobile phone technologies began to link the world together in the way we know today. MiniDisc sales were also impacted by falls in the price of memory – which allowed for MP3 players etc to arrive in the market in a big way.

In its 20 year lifespan, there's probably only one area in which the MiniDisc.

Around 2003, more record company execs were probably asked to sit and listen to this ‘amazing new track from a star of the future' on MiniDisc than at any time before or after. MiniDisc provided a way for small bands to store crisp, digital versions of their new songs. But it wouldn't last.

Born in 1992 and ended in 2013: The end of the MiniDisc era is here

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KitGuru says: Even now, the memory companies are worried about what will happen next. With the internet getting faster and faster – across more and more locations – alongside the enormous increase in storage capacity on phones etc, why do any of us need to carry a separate physical device for music or other digital data?  RIP MiniDisc and its small contribution to electronics history.

Comment below or in the KitGuru forums.

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BMW gets in electric bed with Toyota https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/jules/bmw-gets-in-electric-bed-with-toyota/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/jules/bmw-gets-in-electric-bed-with-toyota/#respond Thu, 28 Jun 2012 07:38:43 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=97416 Walking along the streets of Belfast, you are constantly reminded that this is where Back To The Future's super electric DeLorean car was assembled. While no one is expecting time travel any time soon, we're definitely moving into a world of electric dreams. BMW had dreams of its own, which it has now dumped in …

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Walking along the streets of Belfast, you are constantly reminded that this is where Back To The Future's super electric DeLorean car was assembled. While no one is expecting time travel any time soon, we're definitely moving into a world of electric dreams. BMW had dreams of its own, which it has now dumped in favour of some Japanese flavour. KitGuru recharges its AAs and goes for a drive down ‘shape of he future' lane.

Electricity can be annoying stuff. It's absolutely everywhere and so are the means to produce it. But getting the amount you need, when you need it and in the form you need it, takes a little planning. But like being on a boat in the ocean and looking for drinking water.

BMW's approach to the energy-source of tomorrow, had been to create engines that unleash the power of hydrogen being combusted. You know, the stuff that NASA's made of – but without the 3 stage rocket boosters. Unfortunately, the German geniuses seem to have hit a dead end – at least for now.

It's next venture was to pony up with French partnership, Peugeot-Citroen to create a major new force in European car production. But this seems to have gone tits-up.

At 6:30 on Friday morning, Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda will be treated by BMW's CEO Norbert Reithofer at the German car giant's headquarters in Munich.

On the table will be a draft agreement on how BMW and Toyota can work together to develop Toyota's Lithium-ion battery technology. In return, Toyota will begin to receive a huge volume of BMW diesel engines, starting in 2014.

Does that leave Peugeot-Citroen licking its wounds and sulking? Not at all. The saucy French minx has already began claiming in bed with GM for a lick of its formidable battery technology.

With uncanny timing, Scientists in Paris have announced that they hae succeeded in creating a Nickel-Iron battery that can charge and discharge enormous amounts of electricity in seconds. Industry experts are already predicting that future electric cars may come in two distinct flavours: Economic, with a simple ‘drive' battery and Performance, with a second Nickel-Iron battery for monster acceleration.

An ultra-fast version of the nickel-iron battery that's capable of charging and discharging in seconds.

KitGuru says: For most people on the planet, cars represent their biggest technology spend. Moving to emission-free fuel will be a big help, but how will these new strategic, global partnerships affect our buying choices in the future?

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KitGuru Gaming – Weekly Round Up https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/raymond-daily/kitguru-gaming-weekly-round-up-17/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/raymond-daily/kitguru-gaming-weekly-round-up-17/#respond Tue, 10 Apr 2012 06:45:51 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=86644 For those tech readers who don’t always get time to check out our game related content at Kitguru gaming – here is a round up of content published in the last week. “GameStop's Challenge – Maintaining Investors and Consumers in an Increasingly Digital World” As Steam, social online gaming, and other digital game download options …

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For those tech readers who don’t always get time to check out our game related content at Kitguru gaming – here is a round up of content published in the last week.

“GameStop's Challenge – Maintaining Investors and Consumers in an Increasingly Digital World”

As Steam, social online gaming, and other digital game download options have increased in popularity, investors are left with a pessimistic view of the future of game stores, including the game store giant GameStop.

gsios 300x169 GameStop’s Challenge – Maintaining Investors and Consumers in an Increasingly Digital World

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“The Present and Future of Gaming for Race and Gender”

Kotaku’s personal appeal article echoes many of my own fears about the present and future of gaming in regard to race and gender. Although the proud father who authored the article is genuinely excited for his young daughter to experience video games, he is nonetheless concerned about absence of positive Black protagonists and the “exoticized and fetishized” existence of female gamers.

sazh final fantasy xiii ii 300x240 The Present and Future of Gaming for Race and Gender

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“The Next Gen PlayStation is Coming Next Year!”

For quite some time, gamers have speculated about next gen consoles and rumors have been flying. Nerds rejoice – finally, news about the upcoming PlayStation is here!

psnlogoamazonattack 1 300x168 The Next Gen PlayStation is Coming Next Year!

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“How Far is Too Far? – Lawsuit Okayed for NFL Player Likeness”

For some time now, a dispute has been debated over the likeness of NFL players in Madden NFL. What will be the outcome of this lawsuit?

hillis madden 240x300 How Far is Too Far? – Lawsuit Okayed for NFL Player Likeness

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“Sex Offenders in New York Banned from Online Gaming”

Gamers regularly interact with strangers online, creating a portal for sexual predators to reach kids via Xboxes and PlayStations. Strides are being made to close these channels to registered sex offenders.

nxefriends 300x168 Sex Offenders in New York Banned from Online Gaming

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