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Lenovo Announces New Commercial X1 and Think Devices

2016/01/04
boothby
CES, Geek News, News, Tech News

LAS VEGAS, NV – January 3, 2016 – Lenovo (HKSE:992) today unveiled its newly expanded and highly innovative X1 portfolio. Designed for forward thinkers, the series includes new additions such as the brilliantly adaptable ThinkPad X1 Tablet with its unique modular design; the immersive ThinkPad X1 Yoga with world’s first OLED display; and the award-winning ThinkPad X1 Carbon is even thinner and lighter, strengthening its superiority in the ultrabook market.  Furthermore, desktop users will be wowed by the stunning new ThinkCentre X1 all-in-one, the must-have design centerpiece for any office with outstanding performance to match.

Designed and Engineered for Forward Thinkers

The modular design of the ThinkPad X1 Tablet offers something no other tablet can – adding functionality through simple clip-on optional modules:

  • Need more battery? The Productivity Module increases use up to 15 hours total
  • Ready to present? The Presenter Module includes a pico projector and HDMI port
  • Creating in 3D? Add the 3D Imaging Module with its rear-facing Intel RealSense camera

The full size ThinkPad keyboard with the iconic TrackPoint has three adjustable typing angles and recreates the classic ThinkPad keystroke feel. Keyboard and tablet together weigh just 2.4 pounds for an ultra-light laptop experience. What’s more, it is the first Windows tablet with LTE Advanced support for superfast connectivity from virtually anywhere. The ThinkPad X1 Tablet also features a removable rear panel for serviceability and upgrades.

ThinkPad X1 Yoga is incredibly thin at just 0.66 inches and light at only 2.8 pounds. It is also the world’s first convertible featuring an optional Samsung OLED display that reproduces beautifully rich colors and deeper blacks. With a patented Lift and Lock keyboard that retracts keys in tablet mode, X1 Yoga also features an active pen that is perfect for highlighting and writing notes directly on webpages using the Microsoft Edge browser. The pen is also housed & charged inside the system so it won’t get lost.

ThinkPad X1 Carbon continues to stand out as the world’s lightest 14-inch business ultrabook. One of the most refined and elegant notebooks available today, the X1 Carbon is thinner, lighter and more powerful than ever.   Focused on customer-centric design improvements, we listened to customer feedback and made a number of improvements, including more display options, increased memory and storage capacity, improved connectivity and made the X1 Carbon lighter at just 2.6 pounds.

Customers expect Lenovo to keep pushing the boundaries and the ThinkPad X1 series doesn’t disappoint. With a unique combination of performance, connectivity and security focused features available in all three products, the new ThinkPad X1 family is designed and engineered for forward thinkers:

  • Up to 1TB high-density, low-power Samsung M.2 NVMe SSD storage offers speeds up to five times that of standard SATA SSD
  • Ultra-fast enterprise class connectivity with the Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ X7 LTE modem with 4G LTE Advanced Carrier Aggregation support for up to 300 Mbps download speeds
  • Fast and secure WiGig wireless docking for a cable-free desk environment
  • Touch Fingerprint reader and Trusted Platform Module (TPM) security chip for peace of mind
  • Built tough to withstand the rigors of mobile working by passing more than two hundred Lenovo stress tests

The ThinkPad X1 family also includes a number of accessories specifically designed to match and enhance the overall user experience:

  • ThinkPad X1 Wireless Touch Mouse is a thin and light dual mode mouse optimized for travel. Flip it over to use the integrated touchpad presenter for easy navigation through slides.
  • The ThinkPad X1 In-Ear Headphones have been optimized by Dolby for the X1 series and engineered with dual drivers to improve phone calls, music and movies.
  • The X1 Sleeve, with its soft-touch interior and easy-to-open magnetic flap, is the perfect transport companion for your X1 Carbon or X1 Yoga.
  • The ThinkPad 65W Micro Adapter is 58 percent smaller and 50 percent lighter than a standard power adapter and is the ideal lightweight travel mate for the ThinkPad X1 Carbon and X1 Yoga.

The Desk Space of Tomorrow

The ThinkCentre X1 AIO offers a superlative design within an ultra-thin 11mm frame giving one of the world’s thinnest desktops. The premium anti-glare display offers a bright picture from any angle on its 23.8-inch screen and despite the incredibly thin chassis, the ThinkCentre X1 is built tough. Designed to withstand dust build up, a common cause of hardware failure with desktop PCs, the all-in-one has been tested for eight hours in a dust chamber, replicating ten years in an office environment.

The 7.5mm ultra-slim ThinkVision X1 is the world’s first monitor to receive the TUV Eye-Comfort certification. Featuring a 27-inch UltraHD edge-to-edge anti-glare display, the ThinkVision X1 includes rich connectivity options such as a USB type C port, providing the perfect complement to the ThinkPad X1 Tablet.

Quote:

“Lenovo’s customer-centric engineering focus enables us to design and build products where end-user needs come first. The new X1 family demonstrates our relentless pursuit of innovation that elevates the products above the norm.” said Johnson Jia, senior vice president, Personal Computing Group, Lenovo. “Optimizing our products with unique features and for greater performance, better cloud access and class-leading security and durability will help customers use technology as their secret weapon.”

Pricing and Availability

  • ThinkPad X1 Tablet will be available starting February from $899.
  • The Productivity Module will be available starting February from $149
  • The Projector Module will be available starting May from $279
  • The 3D Imaging Module will be available starting May from $149
  • ThinkPad X1 Yoga will be available starting January from $1449. OLED models will be available starting April. Prices will be quoted nearer the time.
  • ThinkPad X1 Carbon will be available starting February from $1299
  • ThinkPad X1 Wireless Touch Mouse will be available starting end of January for $69.99
  • ThinkPad X1 In-Ear Headphones will be available starting January for $69.99
  • ThinkPad X1 Sleeve will be available starting February for $50
  • ThinkPad 65W Micro Power Adapter will be available later in 2016 from $80.
  • ThinkCentre X1 AIO will be available starting March from $1029
  • ThinkVision X1 will be available starting March from $799.

http://www.lenovo.com/think

Tt eSports Shock 3D 7.1 USB Gaming Headset Review

2016/01/02
boothby
Geek News, News, Reviews, Tech Review

Tt eSports is Thermaltake’s gaming peripherals brand, with entries into most of the mainstream peripherals categories. In the headphones category, Tt eSports has almost 40 different models – ranging from entry level to professional in quality and price point. The Shock 3D 7.1 is one of their mid-range headsets, featuring 7.1 channel virtual surround sound and USB connectivity.

Setting up the Shock 3D 7.1 gaming headset is very easy. Simply install the headset’s configuration software and plug it into an available USB port. From the software suite, you can select and tweak the sound coming from the headset until your heart’s content. The ear cups of the Shock 3D 7.1 are made from a fake leather material and, unfortunately, did cause my ears to sweat after about a half hour into a gaming session – so take note of that. Aside from the sweat induction, the ear cups are very comfortable, and they exert just the right amount of pressure to keep them on without causing headaches or other adverse effects. Included in the package is a nice carrying sack which is always a welcome addition.

One big, noteworthy feature I love is that Tt eSports has chosen to utilize a braided audio cable with the Shock 3D 7.1 – something that was all the rage for a while but seems to be slowly falling out of favor with peripheral makers. I love braided cables as they have a much lower chance of tangling up while gaming.

tt-esports-shock-3d-2

In terms of audio quality and virtual 3D sound performance, I had no issues with the Shock 3D 7.1. The audio was of good quality for PC gaming and the virtual surround sound was surprisingly realistic. I have never been a big fan of virtual surround sound – but I didn’t mind the Shock 3D 7.1’s take on the technology.

I got the chance to take on a large array of games while wearing the Shock 3D 7.1, including the Metal Gear Solid V, Fallout 4, Firewatch, and more. At a price point of $79.99, the Shock 3D 7.1 gave everything it had to perform well. Now, that being said, it is not a perfect headset. While it performs very well, the headset has an inexpensive quality about it. I don’t know if it is the gimmicky angles of the headset’s design or the quality of the plastic parts, but it’s there. My final caveat would be if you have a discrete sound card installed, you may want to go with a headset connecting directly to that card via 3.5mm jacks or dedicated inputs.

Despite this, the price point of the Tt eSports Shock 3D 7.1 gaming headset coupled with its above average performance make this well worth its $80 dollar price point. The Tt eSports Shock 3D 7.1 is available now.

Product Page

[easyreview title=”Tt eSports Shock 3D 7.1 USB Gaming Headset Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”4″ ]

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BFG BELTminus Review

2015/12/23
boothby
Action Sports, Airsoft News, Airsoft Reviews, Articles, Geek News, News, Reviews

BELTminus is an extremely lightweight and thoroughly modernized version of the classic M-1956 Load-Carrying Equipment. The belt kit concept moves your gear onto your waist for improved cooling and more efficient weight bearing. BELTminus™’ MOLLEminus™ technology is fully MOLLE compatible and removes unnecessary weight and complexity while improving durability. In usage, the BELTminus is a sort of hybrid between a more traditional chest rig and a battle belt. You can definitely mount pouches around its body – both ammo and utility, but it is thin to safely mount a pistol holster.

Routing pouch straps through the MOLLE compatible webbing on the BELTminus is pretty easy due to the lack of restrictive material on the backside of the belt. The biggest issue I had while using the Blue Force Gear BELTminus system was that, sometimes when performing specific maneuvers, gear housed on the belt can dig into your body as there is no supporting backpiece.

The BELTminus comes in several sizes for the most exact fit as possible allowing for the best gear loadout and the maximum weight savings.  For best sizing, choose the closest size below to your actual waist size.  Note: this may be different than your pants size.

  • XS: 31” – 41” waist
  • S: 34” – 44” waist
  • M: 37” – 47” waist
  • L: 40” – 50” waist
  • XL: 43” – 53” waist

Aside from this occasional issue, the BELTminus system is very comfortable. The version of the system we got to review featured the heavier duty shoulder pads which allow for more weight to be comfortably carried. There is a lower profile version available sans the shoulder pads. This version would work well underneath the wearer’s clothing as a concealed option.

Overall, Blue Force Gear has continues its line-up of rock solid products with the BELTminus system. The product retails for $120 with the low profile shoulder straps and $160 for the version with heavy duty pads. It is available now.

Official Product Page

[easyreview title=”BFG BELTminus Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”4″ ]

Product Images

World of Tanks Holiday Tank Mode 2015

2015/12/22
boothby
Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Xbox 360 News, Xbox One News

December 22, 2015 – Wargaming today announced the new holiday themed combat mode for World of Tanks on Xbox One and Xbox 360 will arrive December 24. The original and festive Toy Tank Mode immerses tankers in a miniature toy-scattered wonderland, putting them in command of a glossy, remote control tank, and will be available to all Xbox players through December 27.

A change of scenery from standard tank warfare, Toy Tank Mode offers a more playful way to battle against your friends in a custom holiday garage, where miniaturized toy tanks navigate around a battlefield of presents. Traversing through toy-made ramps, blocks and gifts, tankers will enjoy an experience like no other, where every aspect of the game including crew voices has been scaled down for lighthearted tank encounters.

The Tier IX, “Toy Tank” is modelled from the French Tier V BDR G1 B and outfitted with a spring-loaded turret that fires suction cup dart rounds that comically attach to enemy tanks with each successful hit. In a rambunctious fight for victory, these carefully crafted toy tanks drive straight from the workshop to the console with special holiday emblems available only during this event.

For more information about Toy Tank Mode and World of Tanks on Xbox, please visit:

3DMark Holiday Beta Adds VR Experience

2015/12/21
boothby
Geek News, News, Windows PC News

December 21, 2015 – Join the Holiday Beta and experience an interactive preview of VRMark, our upcoming virtual reality benchmark. In this exclusive preview, you can move freely within one of VRMark’s test environments. Get up close to four classic 3DMark scenes in VR with Oculus Rift and HTC Vive. But don’t worry if you don’t have a headset. The VRMark Preview works with your monitor too. The VRMark preview is for entertainment only. It does not produce a score.

3DMark grows bigger every year with new tests. Since launch, we’ve added Fire Strike Ultra, Sky Diver, and the API Overhead feature test. With more tests coming soon, we’ve created a new UI for 2016 that’s faster, more flexible and more intuitive. The new Home screen shows the recommended benchmark for your system. No more guessing which benchmark is right for your PC. You can install and run other tests from the Benchmarks screen.

We’ve also rebuilt the internals of the 3DMark app. You can now download, install and update benchmarks independently. This makes the initial download much smaller. And it means you can choose to install only the tests you need. Say goodbye to massive downloads with every update.
Available now from Steam
The 3DMark Holiday Beta is open to everyone who owns 3DMark on Steam. If you have the standalone Advanced Edition, and you don’t want to wait for the update in 2016, our Steam FAQ explains how to add your 3DMark key to Steam.
To join the beta, follow the steps in this community post on Steam:

Total Annihilation is Now Available on Steam

2015/12/18
boothby
Geek News, News, Screenshots / Photos, Windows PC News

December 18, 2015 — Wargaming has announced Total Annihilation, the groundbreaking sci-fi real-time strategy game, has gone live on Steam for just $4.99.

Initially published in 1997, under the guidance of lead designer Chris Taylor, Total Annihilation was the first game to feature 3D units and terrain over an engaging and challenging mission-packed solo campaign. If you never had the chance to experience this classic, which has racked up more than 50 awards around the world, now is the chance to put your wits to the test in true RTS fashion.

Total Annihilation’s solo campaign plunges the player into a familiar yet futuristic galaxy ruled by a central body of humans and AI called the Core. The Core’s technological and economic triumphs have allowed humanity to colonize most of the Milky Way and enjoy peace and prosperity. However, the balance has been upset by a technological breakthrough allowing human consciousness to be transferred to machine, granting immortality via a process called “patterning.” Following a mandate imposed on humanity by the Core, requiring everyone to undergo patterning as a public health measure, a rebel band rises from the far corners of the galaxy, ready to fight a shadowy present for a brighter future.

Begin your battle today, via Steam:

Players can also buy the Total Annihilation: Commander Pack from GoG. Included in this version are Total Annihilation and both its expansion packs—The Core Contingency and Battle Tactics—a 65-page manual, soundtrack, and map editor.

The Banner Saga Console Launch Date Revealed

2015/12/17
boothby
Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, Xbox One News

tbs-01

AUSTIN, TX – December 16, 2015 – Stoic, an independent game development company and Versus Evil, one of the leading independent video game publishers, today announced that the epic Viking RPG strategy game The Banner Saga is coming to the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and to the Xbox One via the ID@Xbox self-publishing program on Tuesday, January 12th, 2016.

The Banner Saga, which launched to much critical acclaim on both PC and mobile devices has received several awards and nominations, including winner of the 2014 Geekie Awards for “Best Video Game”, winner of 2014 Game Developers Choice: “Best Debut” award, finalist placement for “Excellence in Visual Arts” category at theIndependent Game Festival, 3 BAFTA Award Nominations, and winner of Pocket Gamer’s 2015 Best Adventure/RPG Game and Best Android Game of the Year.

“We have been working on porting Banner Saga to consoles for some time” said John Watson, founder and technical director at Stoic. “Porting the game certainly presented technical challenges that we needed to overcome, and gave us an opportunity to redesign the user experience for console controllers. We have managed to merge the story and gameplay from Banner Saga with a refined controller interface to make it a very enjoyable console gaming experience.”

The Banner Saga is a single player driven Viking saga, where a player’s choice in travel, conversation and combat determines the outcome of their own personal story as well as the survival of an entire civilization. The game also features stunning 2D animation and art, a unique tactical combat system and a cast of unforgettable characters, all of which drive this epic journey forward. Players will enjoy a beautiful and haunting original score by Grammy nominated, two-time BAFTA winning composer Austin Wintory conducting The Dallas Winds orchestra, as well as a powerhouse trio of acclaimed YouTube sensations: Peter Hollens, Malukah and Taylor Davis.

“Launching the Banner Saga on next gen consoles is a huge step forward for Stoic and the brand” said Steve Escalante, general manager of Versus Evil. “With this latest achievement, the Stoic team is able to work on more platforms and reach more customers with its games and technology.  This is not a small thing to consider for such a small team.  Looking ahead at what this could mean for Banner Saga 2 gets really exciting.”

Localized in French, German, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Italian languages, The Banner Saga was one of the earlier funding successes on Kickstarter, which originally launched in partnership with independent games publisher Versus Evil.

To learn more about The Banner Saga visit: http://stoicstudio.com/

To learn more about Versus Evil visit: http://www.vsevil.net

World of Tanks Update 9.13 Launched with Trailer

2015/12/16
boothby
Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

December 16, 2015 — Wargaming is proud to announce the new Czechoslovakian Tech Tree for World of Tanks is ready to carve out a name for itself in Update 9.13. This line rolls out to battle with light and medium vehicles, giving tankers new weapons in their ever-growing arsenal to outwit and outhit their opponents.

Sitting proud at the top end of the Tech Tree are the Tier 9 and 10 Škoda TVP tanks. Boasting excellent accuracy, when combined with their range and stabilization, these powerful vehicles create a perfect recipe for destruction.  Also joining the fight is the Tier 7 Konštrukta T-34/100, an upgraded version of the Soviet T-34 with an improved armament that will be very familiar to experienced players.

“With a rich and interesting tank-building history, World of Tanks could not pass up the opportunity to include these dynamic Czechoslovakian tanks into the game,” said Sergey Laptenok, Publishing Product Director, World of Tanks. “These vehicles, with a number of great features like maneuverability and autoloading guns, create an experience that players don’t want to miss out on.”

Also in Update 9.13 is the Czechoslovakian-inspired map “Pilsen”, which is set to be featured in Random and Rampage battles. This map was based on the actual Škoda tank factory in Pilsen that birthed a number of legendary vehicles. A first for World of Tanks, players will prowl around close-quarters environments within enclosed buildings.

For more information on Update 9.13 and World of Tanks, visit the official website: