Athlon 64 3400+ DTR On Sale

Athlon 64 3400+ Desktop Replacement (DTR) is out selling atAkiba Japan now for approximately US$ 420, about $ 120 more than a Athlon 64 3200+DTR out selling last week. The Athlon 64 3400+ DTR has an OPN of AMA3400BEX5APand has the same specs as the desktop Athlon 64 3400+ with 2.2Ghz clock, 1MB L2cache and 1.5V operating voltage. It has no heatspreader and the substrate isbrown in colour instead of the usual green.

Apple files patent for technology to identify and lock out authorized users from future portable dev

Sometime in the future, your iPhone or iPad may no longer be that easily passed on from one user to another, especially if Apple has its way in the patent office. After all, it has filed a patent application which will apparently allow the device to restrict its usage based on certain criteria.

According to the application, if the iPhone, iPad or any other Apple mobile device fails to find a match in either of the variables listed out in the previous paragraph, the current user can then be recognized as an unauthorized user. When this happens, the device can then be set up to perform various tasks, such as informing the owner that it has been tampered with, such as sending a text message, an email or a voice call to another trusted user. Alternatively, the device can also be configured to take more drastic actions, such as actually informing the relevant law enforcement agencies about the theft, thus facilitating justice and a quick retrieval of the stolen item.

In addition to just visual and audio recognition, the application also claims that the technology can be used to detect the presence of unauthorized users through various behavioural patterns. Not surprisingly, “hacking, jailbreaking, unlocking and SIM cad removal” were listed down in the patent application.

Of course, how Apple intends to implement this 'new technology' remains to be seen. For one, the specifically listed behaviours comes across as being created purely to prevent a user from modding his device or transferring ownership of it to another party, actions which Apple has been actively trying to clamp down on for either business-related concerns or security issues.

However, Apple might face some issues with its decision to include 'SIM card removal' as part of the uncharacteristic behavior it has listed out. At least, in our local context, swapping out SIM cards is a fairly common practise in a country such as Singapore, where teenagers can sometimes be found exchanging each other's phones for a few days to try out each other's mobile phones. And having to deal with a locked or disabled device will probably be the last thing such users will want to contend with.

That being said, such features will no doubt be very valuable to enterprise customers, who require that kind of added security on any portable device carried. But considering that Apple's mobile devices have yet to make any significant headway into the enterprise market, these feature will probably end up causing more frustrations for the consumers. But we will have to wait and see.

Source: AppleInsider

AOpen Ryou Series Art PC

For a long time, high technology products had nothing to do with art, culture, or traditional handicraft. In recent years, however, some 3C brands have been trying to combine their designs and concepts with fashion brands or to create their own luxury brand. Examples are Vertu mobile phones and Acer Ferrari notebook PC. These products combine high quality materials with special design to make them very special and expensive products, but they lackan important thing – a soul.

These extravagant products are outstanding in terms of material and design - some of them are even handmade. You need to wait at least one month after you placed an order forthe Vertu phone, but Vertu phones are still mass-produced. There will always be someone who will own the same Vertu phone as yours; the only differenceisthe serial number. And this is not good enough for some collectors - they needa more unique products with an artistic touch and soul.

Every human hasdifferent characteristic and unique features; therefore, unique productswouldpossess unique features as well. Artists havetheir way to animate none-living things;Leonardo da Vinci gave life to Mona Lisa using his painting skills and Michelangelodi Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni crafted the famous sculpture David out of a stone. A real masterpiece must be given a soul by a great artist with outstanding handicraft skills.

To perfectly fusion technology and art, Universal Roaming Inc. and AOpen Inc. proudly present the Ryou series Art PC. Every Art PC is handmade by a Japanese master and sports unique features. Your Art PC is just like you – the one and only.

Source: AOpen

ASUS sued over quot;Transformer Prime quot; trademark infringement

The new ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime Android tablet was showcased at the AsiaD: All Things Digital event in Hong Kong, andhas garneredgreat popularity from the name it bears, but this has apparently also brought along some troubles. Toy manufacturer Hasbrohas sued ASUS for the use of the name which they had trademarked, and stated that they will defend their brand. While the two companies and their productsmay be targeting different market, Hasbro does have a series of video games and accessories for PC and Xbox 360 game console which are under the name “Transformer”, thereby providing the toy company with adequate relevancy to be concerned that consumers may be misled into thinking Hasbro had endorsed the ASUS product. As for now, Hasbro is requesting for an injunction against ASUS, and a 21 day period for them to respond.

Source: Into Mobile

AMD Safe Boot Technology

AMD is now developing a Safe Boot technology with mainboard and chipset manufactures to enhance the compatibility. The technology is to add a unified register code such that the system can boot up without appropriate Microcode. With that Microcode, the processor’s voltage and clock are set to a minimum only. Users still have to update the BIOS under the DOS mode. Manufacturers will enclose a bootable OS in the driver disk so that one may update the BIOS much easier. However, AMD has no release schedule for Safe Boot technology yet.

ASUS X79 OC Challenge!

First Prize:ASUS Rampage IV Extreme with Battlefield 3 Full Game

Second Prize:ASUS Sabertooth X79

Lucky Draw Prize:ASUS P9X79

ASUS and VR-Zone will be having another online competition before the year ends.ASUS X79 OC Challenge is already on-going and will end on 8 January 2012. Participants are required to make a submission each week.The ASUS X79 OC Challenge is divided into 4 weeks.

1st week: 12th December 2011 - 18th December 20112nd week: 19th December 2011 - 25th December 20113rd week: 26th December 2011 - 1st January 20124th week: 2nd January 2012 - 8th January 2012

Points are awarded at the end of each week! The deadline for the 1st weeks submission is 18th December 2011, 2359H. Be sure to make a submission before the deadline to be eligible for the Lucky Draw!

For more details, please refer to the forum thread:ASUS X79 OC Challenge