Computer Hardware Reviews Daily Tech News

Verizon and Samsung today announced that the Samsung 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot is available for order today in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online for $99.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement on a 4G Mobile Broadband plan. The 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot will be available in stores on March 31.

Samsung 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot Key features:

• Share 4G LTE internet connection with up to five Wi-Fi-enabled devices at the same time
• 4G LTE – customers can expect download speeds of 5 to 12 Mbps and upload speeds of 2 to 5 Mbps in 4G Mobile Broadband coverage areas
• Backward compatible with the Verizon Wireless 3G network
• Dimensions: 2.32”(H) x 3.54”(W) x 0.45”(D)

Raptr, a popular game tracking and social platform for gamers, has released one of its most significant client updates to date. Specifically redesigned to improve performance, the latest client update slashes the CPU usage and the memory footprint by 66% on average.

“Optimizing the performance of the Raptr client has been one of the top user requests for a while and we’re excited to introduce such a massive improvement,” said Dennis Fong, CEO of Raptr. “Our goal is to constantly iterate on our service with the feedback of our six million users as a guide. These improvements pave the way for significant new features we plan to launch in the next few months.”

Corsair today announced the availability of 2000MHz versions of the award-winning Vengeance family of DDR3 memory. The new 2000MHz kits are equipped with aluminum heat spreaders anodized in Jet Black. They join the 1600MHz Vengeance DDR3 memory kits, which are available in either Jet Black or Cerulean Blue, and the 1866MHz Vengeance DDR3 kit, available in Jet Black. The new 2000MHz kits have SPD timings of 9-9-9-24 and operate at just 1.5V.

"Our new 2000MHz Vengeance memory is perfect for PC gamers and enthusiasts, as well as systems integrators who value the outstanding overclockability of the Vengeance family, and are looking for even more speed." said Thi La, Vice President of Memory Products at Corsair. "They're a great choice for anyone looking to make the most of their high-performance system."

In a continuous effort to provide a wide array of power supplies that integrate high-grade features into a value-aware package, Cooler Master’s GX Series unveils its GX450W power supply. Casual users and budget gamers alike will enjoy the quality construction and extensive features that make the GX Power Supply Series reliable, efficient, and cost-effective. The GX Series carries a MSRP of $49.99 and will be available on March 29th.

An included double-layer EMI filter, intelligent 120mm controllable fan, and an active PFC/PWM combo controller all contribute to the overall efficiency of the power supply. All of the many features found within the GX Series contribute to its 80 Plus Certification. This efficiency allows the power supply to utilize most of the power it takes in with minimal waste, saving your electric bill. It makes the GX450W a perfect addition to a home theater PC or mid-range computer setup.

Lenovo announced a couple of heavy-duty machines this morning: the ThinkStation E30 workstation and ThinkCentre M81 desktop. Both machines are powered by 2nd generation Intel Core processors that are better known as 'Sandy Bridge' CPUS. The ThinkStation E30 workstation will be available starting in May and late April for the ThinkCentre M81 desktop. Pricing for models starts at approximately $629 and $599, respectively.

Lenovo ThinkCentre M81 desktop Features:

• SATA III, optional USB 3.0
• Genuine Windows 7 Professional
• Toolless expansion
• Available as tower (25L) or small form factor (11L)
• 2nd generation Intel Core processor family
• Integrated Intel HD graphics (VGA + DP), discrete ATI Radeon HD5450 (DVI + DP) graphics
• Boot in as few as 23.43 seconds with Lenovo EE 2.0 with RapidDrive
• Up to 2TB HDD space (Tower with two 1TB drives via special bid), 160GB Flash SSD
• Up to 16GB DDR3

Lexar Media recently introduced the Crucial Ballistix Sport memory series designed to provide mainstream users, gamers, and general PC enthusiasts with a reliable, no-hassle gaming experience. The new Crucial Ballistix Sport memory supports today’s latest AMD and Intel platforms, including 2nd Generation Intel Core processor (formerly codenamed Sandy Bridge) technology. It also features a stylish new heat spreader design, along with standard timings and voltages, providing maximum memory stability and system compatibility. The Ballistix Sport line is available in both DDR2 & DDR3 standards and come back with a lifetime warranty. Memory timings range between CL9 to CL10 for DDR3 with 1.5V and CL5 to CL7 for DDR2 with 1.8V.

“Over the years, Crucial Ballistix memory has earned a reputation amongst gamers and enthusiasts as high-quality, high-performance, reliable memory,” said Jeremy Mortenson, senior product manager. “The Crucial Ballistix Sport series offers casual gamers an accessible, easy-to-use Ballistix memory product at an affordable price. This new Ballistix offering is part of our broader product strategy and a commitment to satisfy the needs of our customers.”

Netbook Navigator today announced the launch of the NAV7 Slate PC. Powered by Windows 7 and loaded with innovative best-in-class features, this cutting-edge new tablet redefines the concept of wireless PC mobility. Weighing just 1.25 lbs and equipped with a 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor, up to 2GB RAM, 1.8" Solid State hard drive with up to 64GB of storage, 2 USB ports, front-side webcam, WIFI, Bluetooth and optional embedded 3G broadband. Battery life is so-so, as the device has a swappable battery good for roughly 4 hours of use per charge. The NAV7 is now available for pre-order in limited quantities on first come, first serve basis with over 30 different configuration options starting from $649. Orders placed in March are expected to ship in May 2011.

"We are really excited about the launch of our NAV7 tablet," said Matthew Gross, CEO and Founder of Netbook Navigator. "Unlike most other tablets on the market, the NAV7 offers the ability to run multiple applications simultaneously on a single screen without any limitations whatsoever. With millions of PC applications to choose from, the possibilities are endless."

Synology America has announced the release of the RS2211RP+ Rack-Mount NAS and its companion RX1211RP. The RS2211RP+ offers affordable performance, scalability, and redundancy in a 2U configuration. The native 10-bay server pairs seamlessly with the RX1211RP, for on-the-fly expansion up to 22 drives. That makes for up to 66TB storage. The RS2211RP+ boasts write speeds of up to 166MB/s and up to 198MB/s read speeds, which is respectable for a device like this. The RS2211RP+ is scheduled to be released in mid to late April for under $3000.

"This new RackStation makes for a very affordable addition to the server room," said Doug Self, Product Marketing Manager at Synology America Corp. "The performance and scalable capacity can't be beat in this price range."