Radeon HD 7970 Overclocked to 1.3GHz Using Only Air Cooling

After being overclocked to 1.7GHz using liquid nitrogen at the beginning of this year, AMD’s Radeon HD 7970 graphics card has now reached a just as impressive 1.3GHz core frequency using only air cooling. This feat was recently achieved by a Chinese enthusiast during a local overclocking contest, which took place earlier this week, reports Hardcore Hardware. In order to reach this high frequency, the graphics card, which was provided by HIS, was stripped of its regular cooler and paired together with the Deep Cool Dracula VGA heatsink. The GPU voltage was also increased, which allowed the card to be clocked at an impressive 1.319MHz, while the memory was pushed to 1,822MHz (equivalent to 7,288MHz).  Using these settings, the card was...

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AMD Radeon HD 7800 Pitcairn GPUs to Arrive in March – Report

In the first part of March, AMD is expected to expand its lineup of Radeon HD 7000 graphics cards based on the Graphics Core Next (GCN) architecture with a couple of new GPUs known by the code name of Pitcairn. The two cores will stand at the heart of the Radeon HD 7870 and HD 7850 video cards, which DigiTimes says will be introduced in the first half of March. While no information regarding the specs of these two GPUs was provided by the source, some previous leaks have suggested that AMD’s Radeon HD 7800 models will come equipped with 2GB of GDDR5 video memory buffer. In the more powerful HD 7870, this will be accompanied by the Pitcairn XT GPU which includes 1408 streaming processors, 88 texture units and 24 ROP units that will all be...

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Japan’s First Two V-High Multimedia Devices with Android Launching in March/April

Japan, probably the most technologically advanced country in the world, continues to amaze tech-savvy and alike with new gadgets that can easily make any geek drool.  It appears that major carrier NTT Docomo is readying Japan’s first two devices for V-High multimedia broadcasting services. Both devices are powered by Android platforms, though there are no details on which version of Google’s operating system they will run at launch. The two Android-based mobile devices, the “docomo NEXT series AQUOS PHONE SH-06D” smartphone and the “docomo Tablet MEDIAS TAB N-06D,” will available for purchase in Japan sometime in March and April, respectively. There’s no word on the pricing options yet, but there’s no chance that either of these two...

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Dota 2 Has LAN and Mod Support, Valve Confirms

Valve has just revealed that its upcoming Dota 2 game will have support for user-generated mods, as well as for multiplayer over the local area network (LAN). The original Dota (Defense of the Ancients) title burst onto the scene many years ago and, since then, has spawned its own genre called Multiplayer Online Battle Arena.  After lots of titles that tried to refine the original formula were launched, including the pretty popular League of Legends, Valve is now trying to build a full-fledged sequel to the original game. Dota 2 is set to bring a lot of improvements over its predecessor, with new heroes, enhanced gameplay and better graphics, as expected from a game that’s being released by Valve. Even if the title has been in a closed...

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Motorola ATRIX Android 2.3.6 Update Rolls Out Now

The latest software update v4.5.141 for Motorola ATRIX leaked online several days ago, along with an unofficial changelog. Today, the US-based handset maker announces that a new update is available for its Android-based smartphone. It is exactly the same update that we reported last week, but the changelog is a bit larger, which means it contains more changes that were not highlighted in the unofficial version. According to Motorola, software update v4.5.141 is being pushed OTA (over the air) starting today, so ATRIX owners who want to update to the latest version of Android should connect to a reliable Wi-Fi network and have their phone’s battery charged for at least 50%. On the other hand, those who already rooted their Motorola ATRIX...

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Intel Atom Roadmap Provides Price Guidelines for Smartphones and Netbooks

Intel makes processors that many companies use in their products, but what it also does is propose, sometimes even impose, design conditions and price guidelines. A recent report from Fudzilla states that, when it set up its roadmap for the next Atom series of central processing units, Intel also provided pricing guidelines for its product partners. That is to say, it created a goal, of sorts, that device makers will have to try and meet, if not immediately then at least eventually. According to the rumor, Intel wants Atom-powered smartphones to hover around the $199 mark, or 153.01 Euro. Meanwhile, netbooks that use next-generation units from this line are supposed to cost around $299, a sum which translates into 230 Euro. Alas, in absence...

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Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (GT-P3113) Gets FCC Approval

It only took Samsung a few days after the official launch of Galaxy Tab 2 to receive FCC (Federal Communications Commission) approval. Although the tablet is expected to arrive in the UK in March, it won’t come as a surprise if the Galaxy Tab 2 hits shelves in the United States around the same timeframe. The folks over at Engadget, who spotted the slate at FCC, also noticed that the illustration of Galaxy Tab 2 strongly resembled the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus. However, it appears that the model number has been replaced to show that this is in fact the Galaxy Tab 2, also known as GT-P3113. It is also worth mentioning that the tablet has been approved along with a Broadcom radio with Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n and Bluetooth 3.0 support. Samsung Galaxy Tab...

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Watch a Video Preview of OS X "Mountain Lion"

Care to see how innovations from iPad inspire new features for the Mac? Look no further, as Apple has posted a four-minute-long video that details everything from Messages and Game Center to AirPlay Mirroring and Gatekeeper - all brand new stuff in Mountain Lion, the next major version of OS X launching this summer. If you want to find out what’s coming this summer with OS X Mountain Lion but don’t wish to read through the lengthy documentation on Apple’s web site (though it’s a fabulous read, may we say), the company offers this short video (also embedded below) that takes you through all the major enhancements in the new operating system. Features like Messages, Reminders, Notification Center, Twitter, and more - are all explained in typical Apple fashion with cool graphics and real-life...

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HTC One XL with Android 4.0 Possibly Coming to MWC 2012

HTC has big plans for this year’s Mobile World Congress trade fair. Word is that the Taiwanese handset maker is reshaping its lineup of Android phones and will be revealing a new series of smartphones. We already learned from reliable enough sources that HTC will come up with at least three new smartphones, HTC One S, One X and One V. All three will be powered by Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system. However, the folks over at Pocket-lint claim that HTC might announce a fourth device in the One series, the HTC One XL. There are no details on the device’s specs, but it won’t come as a surprise if this one were a tablet and not a smartphone. For the time being, only the name of the device has been confirmed by sources close to the...

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HTC One V Tipped for MWC 2012, Has Beats by Dr.Dre Audio

Shortly after details on the first two HTC devices expected to be announced at the Mobile World Congress 2012 emerged online, new info has just surfaced on another Android smartphone, which might be announced at the end of the month, in Barcelona. The folks over at Pocket-lint claim, citing reliable sources, that HTC plans to launch additional handsets, aside from the already leaked HTC One X and One S. One of the lower-end handset that will be part of HTC’s “One” lineup is simply dubbed HTC One V. This one will be among the cheapest in the series, as the handset maker will be targeting the mid-range market. More importantly, HTC One V is allegedly packed with Beats Audio hardware and software, making it the perfect choice for customers...

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Tegra 3-Based Smartphones to Start Shipping in Q1 2012

This year’s Mobile World Congress, set to kick off on February 27th in Barcelona, Spain, is expected to bring to the spotlight the first smartphones in the world to pack quad-core application processors.  Rumors on what these devices would include in terms of hardware have already emerged. Official confirmation on their specs is pending.  One thing that is certain, however, is that such handsets will make an appearance at the event. Nvidia has already sent out invitations to the launch, promising great devices powered by its Tegra 3 quad-core application processor.  What remains to be seen, of course, is when these devices will start emerging on shelves, and what price tags they will feature.  Apparently, we might not...

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ACTA: Netherlands and Bulgaria Take a Step Back

The list of European countries that delay the ratification of the controversial Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) has two new additions: Bulgaria and Netherlands.  According to The Guardian, in Bulgaria the massive protests are showing their first results, the country’s economy minister, Traicho Traikov, revealing that the agreement encourages Internet surveillance too much and barricades the freedom to download media content.  The minister said that he would propose that the signing procedure is stopped, at least until the other members of the European Union come to an agreement regarding ACTA. “Bulgarian society is not ready to accept mechanisms which raise suspicions of violation of the freedom of expression and freedom...

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Google Might Launch Android 5.0 Jelly Bean in Q2 2012

It’s only a few months since Google announced its latest Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system and the search giant is already thinking to launch the next version of its mobile platform which is known as “Jelly Bean.” According to Digitimes, Google is trying to stave off competition by releasing Android 5.0, an operating system fully optimized for tablet PCs. Due to the fact that Android 4.0 did not have the success Google expected, the company has decided to speed up development of Android 5.0 Jelly Bean, in order to come out as early as Q2 2012. Another reason that compels Google to come out with something new within the next few months is the fact that Microsoft is expected to launch Windows 8 this summer. If Google wants...

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Android 4.0 Leaks for Galaxy Note GT-I9220

Last year, South Korean mobile phone maker Samsung promised the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich OS upgrade for some of its Galaxy devices.  The company did not offer a specific release date for the update, but handsets such as Galaxy S II and Galaxy Note are expected to receive it in the next several weeks.  Before the official update arrives, however, some users can download a leaked ICS ROM for Galaxy Note.  The software has made an appearance in China and is available for the Chinese flavor of the large Android smartphone (which features model number GT-I9220). The owners of Galaxy Note GT-N7000 are advised to steer clear of this leaked ROM, as it might damage their devices. It should also be noted that this is only an early...

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Nvidia 28nm Kepler GPUs Will Arrive in April, Says Report

The launch date of Nvidia’s next-gen 28nm Kepler GPUs has remained a mystery for quite some time now, but a recent report has come to unveil that the company’s GeForce 600-series graphics cards will be released in April this year. The article, published earlier by DigiTimes, says that in an unprecedented move, Nvidia plans to launch all of its eight Kepler graphics card models in April 2012. However, according to VR-Zone, this scenario wouldn’t make much sense for the Santa Clara-based chip maker. More likely, Nvidia’s April Kepler release will only include the GK104 GPU, which will be used for the GeForce GTX 660 series graphics cards. As we have reported earlier this week, the GK104 core will be available in two versions, dubbed GK104-400...

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Nokia Lumia 610 Already Receiving Certification

Nokia is expected to launch a new Windows Phone device later this month at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, none other than the Nokia Lumia 610 smartphone that will run under Windows Phone Tango.  The handset appears to be more than just a rumor, especially now that it started receiving the necessary certifications around the world.  The new device was spotted through a certification forum in Indonesia, where is appeared with support for GSM 900/1800 and WCDMA 2100 bands, as well as with WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity capabilities.  Running under Tango, the handset is expected to become official with 256 MB of RAM, and with a 5 megapixel photo snapper on the back.  When made available for purchase, the new device...

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Rumor: Intel Delays Ivy Bridge CPUs from April to June

For months, now, it has been known that Intel would formally launch the next-generation collection of central processing units in April this year, 2012, but this may not happen after all.  This is one rumor that probably has less truth in it than most others, and we hope for it to be so, otherwise lots of people will find that their waiting has been for naught.  According to Digitimes, the Santa Clara, California-based company has decided to delay mass availability of the chips.  While it will still ship a small number of them in April, the majority will only be given a green light at some point in June.  The motive behind this turn of events is the supply of Sandy Bridge CPU-based notebooks.  Apparently, inventories...

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Nokia Lumia 610 Photo & Specs Revealed, Runs WP Tango

Rumors on the Nokia Lumia 610 have come and gone, but nothing has been confirmed yet. Most speculations indicate that this would be the cheapest Windows Phone device available in the market, and the first to come with Microsoft’s Tango OS, the next version of WP. Shortly after the folks at Pocketnow revealed Nokia’s lineup for the Mobile World Congress 2012, the first details on Lumia 610 specs sheet have started to emerge online. Tech site Nok4Us claims they received a picture along with some of the specs of Lumia 610 from a Nokia employee who wishes to remain anonymous (obviously). This is why the following should be taken with a grain of salt, at least until more information surfaces from other sources close to the matter. Apparently,...

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J&W Rolls Out Two Cedar Trail Mini-ITX Boards with USB 3.0 Support

Motherboard makers continue to launch new mini-ITX solutions based on Intel’s Cedar Trail platform, the latest company to do so being J&W, which has just introduced two new such boards designed for HTPC use. Released into the company’s Minix line, the two J&W offerings, dubbed D2700-DC and D2500-DC, feature the same layout and specs but come configured with different processors. Just as their names imply, the D2500-DC is built around a dual-core Intel Atom D2500 CPU running at 1.86GHz, while the more powerful Minix D2700-DC comes with a 2.13GHz clocked Atom D2700, also sporting a dual-core design. No matter the CPU installed, this is cooled by a passive heatsink that covers most of the PCB space available on these mini-ITX boards. This...

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CyanogenMod 9 with Cornerstone and True Tablet Multitasking

CyanogenMod 9, the popular software that many Android users choose to replace their stock Android OS with, might soon arrive on devices with new multitasking capabilities than before.  The CyanogenMod team has learned about Cornerstone, software coming from Onskreen and which enables users to enjoy more of their Android device, provided that it sports a larger touchscreen display. Through it, users could interact with a multitude of applications at the same time, thus enjoying the true multitasking features that Android was supposed to include. “Tablets with Cornerstone enable true multi-tasking, utilizing the screen real estate to let users choose which applications are open and active at any time,” Onskreen explains.  CyanogenMod...

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