Monday, July 23, 2012

A50 Audio System review: Astro Gaming's latest wireless headset (mostly) pwns in 7.1

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/23/astro-gaming-a50-wireless-headset-review/

Astro Gaming A50 Wireless Headset review the results of stuffing a MixAmp 58 in an A40

Alright, so you've been successfully pwning n00bz in Battlefield and Call of Duty, but lately you've decided your rig could benefit from one of those surround sound headsets that everyone says will make you so much better at first-person shooters. You might remember Astro Gaming's latest offering from E3, the A50 Wireless Headset -- it's the company's second try at a wireless Dolby Headphone-enabled 7.1 surround sound system. Its previous attempt, the MixAmp 5.8 (sold alone and bundled with the $229 A30 / $280 A40 Wireless Audio Systems), was a solid solution for folks wanting traditional MixAmp controls and enough versatility to use with any pair of wired headphones. (What's up, audiophiles?) However, it didn't provide as seamless a setup for gaming on the couch as headsets with embedded wireless radios like Turtle Beach's X41. So, does essentially shoving the MixAmp 5.8 into an A40 make for a better living room-geared solution? Does it manage to retain that MLG-bred DNA Astro is famous for? Does it trump headsets in its range like the $270 XP500? Most importantly, should serious gamers consider dropping 300 bones for it? We'll explain it all after the break.

Continue reading A50 Audio System review: Astro Gaming's latest wireless headset (mostly) pwns in 7.1

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A50 Audio System review: Astro Gaming's latest wireless headset (mostly) pwns in 7.1 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Jul 2012 17:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted by Augustine at 7:46 PM

USB Power Delivery spec upped to 100W, aims to make proprietary power connectors obsolete

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/23/usb-100w-power-delivery-spec/

USB Power Delivery spec upped to 100W, aims to make proprietary power connectors obsoleteThe battle between Thunderbolt and USB 3.0 has only recently begun in earnest, what with mobo's finally emerging to give non-Mac computers access to the 10Gbps interface. While USB 3.0 can't match Thunderbolt in terms of data throughput, it now has the upper hand in power capabilities, as last week the 100W Power Delivery spec was approved for both USB 2.0 and 3.0. That's ten times what Thunderbolt can do, and it means that you can charge up your laptop or power most any peripheral via Universal Serial Bus. Naturally, the new specification relies on beefier cables to deliver maximum juice, but we won't have to go replacing all our old wires -- it includes a means to check attached cables and devices and set the voltage and amperage accordingly. Perfect, that means we won't have to carry around bundle of proprietary power cords when we travel, and we get peace of mind that charging via USB won't have any, ahem, unpleasant side effects.

Continue reading USB Power Delivery spec upped to 100W, aims to make proprietary power connectors obsolete

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USB Power Delivery spec upped to 100W, aims to make propriet! ary powe r connectors obsolete originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Jul 2012 18:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted by Augustine at 7:45 PM

Biostar Hi-Fi Z77X gives audiophiles 7.1-channel analog sound, overpriced cables thankfully optional

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/23/biostar-hi-fi-z77x-motherboard-gives-audiophiles-analog-sound/

Biostar HiFi Z77X motherboard gives audiophiles 71channel analog sound with amp, overpriced cables thankfully optional

There haven't been many choices in PC motherboards for audiophiles -- the 'real' kind that might see even a good dedicated sound card as slumming it. Biostar wants to fill that untapped niche with the Hi-Fi Z77X. Along with run-of-the-mill expansion for an Ivy Bridge- or Sandy Bridge-based desktop, the board's built-in 7.1-channel audio flaunts six 3.5mm analog jacks, an amp and the kind of exotic-sounding language that leads audio addicts to buy $2,000 cables they don't need. We're talking "metal-oxide film resistors" and "non-polarized electrolysis electric audio capacitors," here. Whether or not the changes have an appreciable impact on sound quality, listeners are ironically left out of S/PDIF audio, which exists only as a header on the board unless buyers spend a little more on parts. That said, if we assume the as yet unknown price isn't stereotypically high -- and that audiophiles don't mind a big, potentially noisy desktop as a home theater PC -- the Hi-Fi Z77x could be a treat for those who want to wring every nuance out of music and movie soundtracks.

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Biostar Hi-Fi Z77X gives audiophiles 7.1-channel analog sound, overpriced cables thankfully optional originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Jul 2012 19:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted by Augustine at 7:45 PM

Next-generation Xiaomi Phone rumored to house quad-core processor, 720p display

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/23/next-generation-xiaomi-phone-rumored-to-house-quad-core-processo/

Nextgeneration Xiaomi phone rumored to house quadcore processor, 720p display

Following last year's launch of its potent, price-savvy Android smartphone, Xiaomi is already purportedly crafting its even more powerful successor. Alongside a bundle of blurry cam images, leaks from within factories making the next iteration say that it'll pack a 720p screen, one of Qualcomm's quad-core processors and a dual-flash setup alongside the camera. There's still the curious absence of a front-facing camera, but this should to help ensure the phone lands with a price tag just as attractive as Xiaomi's last device. While rival manufacturer Meizu priced its latest quad-core phone at around $480, the Foxconn-based moles reckon this next-generation (likely MIUI-powered) slab could land at just over of $300. If all these rumors (and that price) have piqued your interest, you can head on the source for a handful of extra images.

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Next-generation Xiaomi Phone rumored to house quad-core processor, 720p display originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Jul 2012 07:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted by Augustine at 2:14 PM

LG's 27-inch V720 all-in-one PCs pop up on Flickr, IPS and optional Ivy Bridge in tow

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/23/lg-27-inch-all-in-one-v7200-pc/

LG allinone PCs make lurid appearance on Flickr with 27inch IPS panel and Intel Ivy Bridge

LG has unveiled the V720, a new series of all-in-one PCs, featuring 27-inch IPS HD panels and an Intel Ivy Bridge processor option. The line consists of a high-end model with Intel's 3rd generation Core i5 and an IPS 1,920 x 1,080 3D panel, and a lesser model with a 2nd generation Core i3 and the same display sans 3D. Other specs include 750GB SATA3 hybrid or standard drives, up to 8GB DDR3 RAM, USB 3.0 and NVIDA's GT640M 1GB graphics. Photos show a white and silver looker with well concealed computer guts, but don't count on being able to pick up one of the minimalist units in the US -- LG normally keeps its PC offerings exclusively in Asia.

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LG's 27-inch V720 all-in-one PCs pop up on Flickr, IPS and optional Ivy Bridge in tow originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Jul 2012 08:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted by Augustine at 2:12 PM

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