Twitter for Android Updated with Improved Ice Cream Sandwich Support

Twitter has just updated its Android client with improved scrolling and network performance, as well as lots of bug fixes.

The application's user interface has been polished and a new feature called Swipe shortcut allows users to tweet in their home timeline to reply, retweet, favorite or share it. 

In addition, the new feature provides users with the possibility to view the Twitter user's profile without the need to leave their timeline.

The latest update also includes a certain confirmation dialog for “Find friends” notification, which makes it easier for users to find their friends when they wish to upload their contacts' email addresses and phone numbers.

Other changes of the update includes: improved support for Ice Cream Sandwich devices, security improvements and support for two more languages (Filipino and Simplified Chinese).

Twitter is now available as a free download in the Android Market and it should be fully compatible with all devices running Android 2.1 and up.

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BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) 6.1.0.70 Now Available for Download

Shortly after Research In Motion announced the major BlackBerry PlayBook 2.0 operating system update, as well as the latest version of BlacBerry Bridge, the Canadian company refreshed its BlackBerry Messenger as well.

RIM has yet to unveil an official changelog for the update, but rumor has it that current version 6.1.0.70 brings smoother BlackBerry Bridge integration.

The folks at MobileSyrup also claim that BBM now allows users to open locations in BlackBerry Maps and that the Group Updates section is now showing a red star.

Other changes and bug fixes may have been included as well, but until RIM releases an official changelog for this update we can only speculate.

BlackBerry Messenger 6.1.0.70 is now available as a free download in the BlackBerry App World and is fully compatible with all devices running OS 4.5.0 or higher.

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LG Optimus 3D Cube Now Official

South Korean mobile phone maker LG Electronics appears set to assault the smartphone market this year, and has launched a new device for that. 

During the past week, the company unveiled no less than six new smartphones, the new LG Optimus 3D Cube included. 

The new mobile phone comes to the market as the successor of last year’s LG Optimus 3D, and comes with a series of enhancements into the mix. 

For example, while being capable of recording videos in 3D, the new device will also offer editing capabilities for these clips. Not to mention that LG packed it with a 3D mapping application right from the start. 

LG has made the new smartphone official for the Korean market, but it might announce expanded availability for it as soon as next week, during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. 

Before that, however, the handset vendor did offer info on the phone’s hardware specifications, unveiling the fact that it will hit shelves with a large 4.3-inch IPS display on the front, capable of offering increased brightness and sharpness. 

The new LG Optimus 3D Cube is powered by a dual-core 1.2GHz application processor (said to be a Texas Instruments), and features an outer design similar to the one Optimus 3D boasts. 

Running under Google’s Android 2.3 Gingerbread operating system (it might get a taste of the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich platform in the near future), the handset also sports a custom user interface, the same as the original device did. 

The new mobile phone also measures 126.8 x 67.4 x 9.6 mm and packs NFC capabilities inside, the same as the latest flavor of Optimus LTE, dubbed Tag, does. 

Additionally, the handset vendor announced that the new device would arrive with support for the LG Tag system, through which users will be able to group specific settings and attach them to an NFC-activated label. To change the way the phone looks and feels, users will simply have to place the device near the said card.

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Panasonic ELUGA Gets Detailed: 4.3-inch Display, 1GHz Dual-Core CPU and NFC Support

Japanese company Panasonic announced yesterday plans to enter European smartphone market. The first Panasonic handset to be released in Europe this year is the ELUGA.

Unveiled at the Panasonic Convention 2012, the Android smartphone comes with all the traits that Japanese handset makers include onto their devices. In this regard, it is important to highlight the waterproof and dustproof body of the ELUGA.

Panasonic ELUGA has been approved with an IP57 certificate, which is no small feat. The phone was tested by being immersed into water at a depth of up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes.

In addition, the smartphone comes with some kind of “Eco Mode,” which helps users save energy and get a longer battery life. 

Basically, as soon as the battery's power reaches certain amounts, the smartphone will automatically turn off certain features and change some settings.

Design-wise, Panasonic ELUGA is a masterpiece. The smartphone measures 123 x 62 x 7.8mm and weighs only 103g (battery included). It comes with a large 4.3-inch qHD capacitive touchscreen display that supports 960 x 540 pixels resolution.

The phone is equipped with a dual-core Texas Instruments OMEP 4430 processor clocked at 1 GHz and packs 8GB of internal memory and 1GB of RAM. 

According to Panasonic, the smartphone will be powered by Android 2.3.5 Gingerbread, but an Ice Cream Sandwich upgrade will be deployed sometime in spring.

On the back, Panasonic ELUGA boasts an 8-megapixel camera with autofocus, image stabilizer, and HD video recording.

In the connectivity front, the smartphone offers NFC (Near Field Communications) support, HSPA+ and HSUPA, W-Fi and Bluetooth support, as well as DLNA and microUSB.

Panasonic ELUGA's 1150 mAh battery might be the phone's soft spot, though the manufacturer rates it at 300 hours for standby time or 4 hours of talk time.

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New Language Preferences Section in Windows 8’s Control Panel

Windows 8 will arrive with support for more languages than before, and will also provide users with the option to easily install more languages if they want too. 

Additionally, they will enjoy a new Language preferences section in Control Panel, so as to manage the display languages in Windows 8.

Previously, languages were made available either via the Windows Update, or through the Microsoft Download Center. The Language preferences in Control Panel will bring some changes in this area, Ian Hamilton, program manager on Microsoft’s Windows International team, explains. 

“The reasons for separating the languages into two groups and their separated distribution channels made no sense to our customers. This classification of languages only made sense to our internal teams,” he notes. 

“We will no longer ask customers to understand these nuances. Looking at the end-to-end experience, it made sense to build an entirely new experience around the acquisition of new languages.”

In Windows 8, the main view of Language preferences offers info on the languages that are enabled on the system. 

“You can see that [in the first screenshot below], English (United States) display language is installed and enabled. The keyboard layout is also US. Language preferences is the one place to go to add or change display languages, input language, and other functionality,” Ian Hamilton explains. 

Adding another language in Windows 8 can be done via the “Add a language” link there. Just find and select the language you would like to install, in order to have it added to your language list. It will be downloaded and installed only if you chose so. 

The Options section listed in the preferences section will enable users to set the new language as a display language. Moreover, they will be able to download and install a language pack if one is available. As soon as the new language is set as primary, Windows will immediately switch to it. 

“If you are currently using Windows Vista or Windows 7 Ultimate, you probably see 34 or 35 languages as optional updates in your Windows Update UI,” Ian Hamilton states. 

“These won’t show up there anymore in Windows 8. Instead, we’ve consolidated the languages in one place for you: Language preferences in Control Panel. Language preferences will be a clean, unified control for all Windows display languages moving forward.”

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Nokia Lumia 800 in a MACH 5 Wind Tunnel Test

Lumia 800, Nokia’s first Windows Phone device is a tough little guy. We already saw it enduring scratch and drop tests, but it can do much more than that, it seems. 

Nokia has tested it to the full, and even put it inside a MACH 5 wind tunnel to see if it could withstand the test. And it did. 

As you can see in the video embedded above, the Nokia Lumia 800 smartphone continues to work even after being subjected to the extreme pressures in MACH 5 wind tunnel. 

MACH 5 is classed as 'hypersonic,' though Nokia Lumia 800 might not be able to deliver such fast speeds when it comes to browsing the Internet or downloading files. 

Of course, it still has a lot to offer, and can certainly outperform many of its rivals, as other Windows Phone devices already managed to.

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Huawei 10'' Tablet Running Android 4.0 Spotted Ahead of MWC 2012 Launch

We have already reported on the Huawei's upcoming devices, including the fact that the Chinese company plans to launch a 10-inch tablet.

The more powerful successor of the MediaPad, the 10-inch tablet features a stylish design, as the slate's entire case is made of metal. The folks at hi-tech.mail had the chance to play with the tablet, which is expected to be officially introduced on February 26.

If you thought that Huawei's cheap devices were not meant to be attractive than the mysterious 10-inch tablet will definitely change your mind. The design is more refined and shows that the Chinese company really put some work into it.

Details on the tablet's specs sheet are a bit scarce at the moment, but the people at hi-tech.mail have confirmed that the slate runs Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. 

It will be equipped with a Qualcomm chipset, microSD card slot, 3G support, as well as an impressive 8-megapixel rear camera.

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BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 Arrives with New Video Chat Capabilities

The BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 that started to arrive on RIM’s first tablet PC out there brought along a nice set of new features and enhancements. 

Among them, we can count a series of video chat capabilities that will certainly make PlayBook users rejoice. 

There is a new interface for users to take advantage of, along with contact integration and optimizations for the larger screen of the PlayBook. 

“Simply put, Video Chat on the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet allows you to make and take video calls with your friends, family, and colleagues who also have a BlackBerry PlayBook tablet,” Vivek Gupta, RIM product manager, explains. 

“(Note: Both users of the Video Chat feature must be connected to the Internet for a chat to be enabled.) With just one click, you’ll be able to have virtual face-to-face conversations using the HD video cameras and stunning high-resolution screen on the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet.”

The Video Chat user interface resembles the one available for the new email, calendar and contact apps and should deliver a new feel to all users. 

In the new PlayBook 2.0 OS, those who will use Video Chat will also be able to take advantage of the multitasking capabilities of the device so as to view pictures, write notes, browse the web and do more. 

Moreover, there is a Presenter Mode included into the mix, offering the possibility to project a video chat on a larger screen for better viewing. If in a conference room, users will also be able to share slides and spreadsheets without disrupting the video chat.

“One of the key differentiating features of the new Video Chat for the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet is that it now automatically discovers which of your contacts are Video Chat “capable” and displays their “availability” to Video Chat – no guesses and disappointments,” Vivek Gupta continues.

Users will be able to view, edit, and create new contacts for Video Chat straight from the Contacts application, as well as from the updated Video Chat software. They will also be able to make a video call straight from the Contacts application when viewing the contact’s information details.

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Ubuntu for Android Officially Announced

Canonical and Mark Shuttleworth proudly announced a few minutes ago a new product, called Ubuntu for Android and designed to bring the popular Ubuntu operating system to Android mobile devices. 

Ubuntu for Android is not really an operating system for Android devices, it is intended to be installed on the mobile device alongside its Android OS while it's docked.

Designed only for mobile phones with dual-core ARM CPUs, Ubuntu for Android runs on top of the Android kernel, like Motorola's Ubuntu-based WebTop environment.

Ubuntu for Android offers a complete desktop environment with popular apps like Chromium web browser, VLC media player, Thunderbird e-mail client, Google's Calendar and Docs, Ubuntu's music player and photo viewer, Android dialer or the popular Gwibber social networking software.

"This isn’t the “Ubuntu Phone”. The phone experience here is pure Android. This announcement is playing to a different story, which is the convergence of multiple different form factors into one most-personal device."

"Naturally, the most personal device is the phone, so we want to get all of these different personalities – phone, tablet and desktop – into the phone. When you need a desktop, you connect up to a screen and a keyboard. When you need a tablet, you dock to some very elegant glass." - said Mark Shuttleworth.

The phone's connectivity (3G or 4G networks) can also be access by Ubuntu for Android.

Learn more about Ubuntu for Android on the official website.

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How to Update BlackBerry PlayBook to OS 2.0

Today, Research In Motion started to deliver a new OS flavor to the owners of its BlackBerry PlayBook tablet PC, namely OS 2.0. 

The new OS version will be delivered to users over the air, and they will receive a notification as soon as the software is available for them. 

Owners of a BlackBerry PlayBook tablet will be able either to download the new OS flavor immediately, or to postpone the process. 

If they choose to download the update, they should know that the PlayBook will have to be rebooted for the new software to be installed. The device will prompt them when the restart is needed.

Those who plan on upgrading their tablets should make sure they saved any files they were working on. Performing a backup of all data on the device is a great idea as well. 

They should also make sure that the battery inside the device is fully loaded or that the PlayBook is plugged in, so that it would have enough juice to get through the installation process. 

Users who have just purchased the device will be presented with the option to install the new OS version during the initial setup process.

Provided that the said notification did not emerge on the PlayBook, users will also be able to perform a manual search for it. 

For that, they will need to touch the Gear icon in the upper right corner, select Software Updates, and then hit Check for Updates. If the update is available, users will have the option to start the Download immediately. 

After the installation of PlayBook OS 2.0 has finished, the new customizable home screen will appear, with a new icon dock that can hold up to six apps and games. 

There is also a new icon panel included into the mix, offering users the option to create multiple panels and folders so that they can keep applications better organized. 

We should also note that the update will not arrive on all devices immediately. RIM will roll-out the new software in stages, so expect it to hit your tablet PC in the coming days/weeks.

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Samsung Galaxy S III Coming to South Africa in Q3 2012

Although everyone expected Samsung to launch its third-generation Galaxy S Android-powered smartphone at the end of this month, the Korean company took a surprising decision and stated that the Galaxy S III will have its own launch event in the first half of the year.

Rumor has it that Samsung is not content with the big gap between European and North American launch of the smartphone, so it decided to announce it a bit later this year. 

This means that the Galaxy S III will probably see a global roll-out soon after the official announcement.

In this regard, Samsung announced it will held a press event on March 15 in Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg,), where the company plans to reveal its 2012 lineup of handsets. 

There's a chance that Samsung Galaxy S III will be officially introduced during this event, but we will probably know more soon after Mobile World Congress 2012 trade fair closes.

Even though the phone has yet to be announced it appears that carriers around the world are already confirming they will offer the Galaxy S III at some point during this year.

MyBroadband reports that South-African major carrier MTN has just confirmed it will offer the Samsung Galaxy S III as an alternative to Samsung Galaxy Nexus, which the carrier refused to add to its portfolio.

According to MTN, the Galaxy S III has already been ranged, but the phone needs to follow as certain procedure, such as testing, pricing and advertising. Only after this process will be complete the Galaxy S III will hit shelves at MTN.

Other South-African carrier hope to be able to offer the Galaxy S III as well. Virgin Mobile estimates it will be able to carry the smartphone from Q3 2012, while Cell C are more optimistic and predict they will start offering the Galaxy S III from July.

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Windows 8 Comes with Deep SkyDrive Integration

SkyDrive will come to the upcoming Windows 8 client with increased integration across the platform, Microsoft has officially confirmed. 

The Redmond-based software giant already confirmed that there would be a Metro style SkyDrive application included in the upcoming operating system, but there’s more to it. 

The company also plans integrating the service across other applications, through the use of charms and contracts.

Basically, SkyDrive will become available as a file picker, which means that users will be able to open and saves files on SkyDrive regardless the application they are into. 

Moreover, applications will be able to offer the option to save files straight on SkyDrive, though this will depend on what developers will integrate in their applications. When using apps like document editors, the option to save back to SkyDrive in any folder will also be available. 

This functionality will enable users to easily open files on SkyDrive and save them back to the cloud service as if they were on the local hard disk. 

“This will work with any app that supports open and save for documents and photos, and will be the first time anything like this has been possible without any setup or configuration,” Mike Torres and Omar Shahine, group program managers for SkyDrive, explain in a recent blog post. 

“All you need to do is register your email address on a PC that’s running Windows 8 and then, whenever you save files on SkyDrive, every Windows 8 device you use will provide seamless access to those files.”

Applications that offer support for opening and saving documents and photos will be able to offer this functionality for SkyDrive documents as well, without any additional work.

Moreover, Microsoft will make SkyDrive available via the Share charm, which means that users will be able to easily send docs or photos via the Mail app on Windows 8.

“With one tap, you will be able to choose to share files through SkyDrive instead of sending them as attachments, which means you won’t have multiple copies of your files, each with their own set of changes,” the said blog post continues. 

“And of course, you won’t be limited to the small number of attachments and total file size of most email services since the files are stored in your SkyDrive.”

The best part of this functionality is that all Metro style applications that have been designed to open and save files will have this SkyDrive integration included for free, Mike Torres and Omar Shahine conclude.

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OS X Mountain Lion Features: Notes App

You might not think much of the iOS Notes application, but wait 'till you see it in OS X Mountain Lion. It syncs up with iCloud and allows you to keep all your notes handy at all times, not to mention that you can mess around with the fonts and the colors any way you like, and you can even add photos to the mix.

Rivaling solutions like Evernote (though still a long way from achieving their success), Apple’s iOS-native Notes application is now available on OS X.

Described by the Mac makers as “a feature for your thoughts,” Notes in OS X Mountain Lion is designed to make note taking not only easy, but downright fun!

When you’re finished jotting down whatever’s on your mind, you can add a photo, or other types of attachments, save it, email it, send it via Messages, pin it to your desktop, or have it automatically sucked up to the iCloud.

Which means you also have that note on your iPhone and / or iPad, anywhere you go. It will look exactly the same and you’ll be able to edit it on the go, if you want.

“You can add, delete, and flip through your notes or do a quick search,” Apple explains.

“Use the Share button to send your notes to friends or colleagues with Mail or Messages. Pin important notes to your desktop so they’re easy to get to. And take them with you everywhere. Notes works with iCloud, so when you create or edit a note on your Mac, it automatically updates on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.”

You don’t have to be a savvy user to take advantage of Notes in OS X Mountain Lion. You can use it for everyday tasks, even reminders (though, there’s an app for that too in OS X 10.8).

Pinning notes to your OS X desktop (Image credits: Apple)

And when you’re not certain of a word you just spelled, right click it and see the array of options you get from the integration with OS X - like the Dictionary.

Apple plans to roll out OS X Mountain Lion late this summer. Click through the related posts below for more coverage on Apple’s newest and most impressive cat yet, and stay tuned for more feature highlights in the coming days.

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Lenovo IdeaPad U300 Ultrabooks Turns Out to Be Very Expensive

Lenovo has officially started accepting orders for the IdeaPad U300e, the ultrabook revealed back at CES 2012, but it will have a hard time gathering buyers.

With a price of $959, which translates into 725 Euro, no great crown is going to flock towards it all that fast.

It doesn't help that previous rumors suggested that the starting tag would be of $799 / 604 Euro.

Sure, the product measures 13.3 inches and has an Intel Core i5-2467 CPU, plus 4GB RAM and a hybrid drive (32 GB NAND SSD and 500 GB HDD), but one can only wonder if this, and the thin form factor, is enough to make it a worthwhile purchase.

We suppose there is a certain fashion appeal to the 0.7-inch thickness (17.78 mm), but still.

Go here to see what else the item has to offer before you make any commitments.

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Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Gets CyanogenMod 9 Android 4.0

The Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet from Samsung can now work under the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system, thanks to the CyanogenMod team.

What the coders did was develop an Android 4.0 mod, which they named CyanogenMod 9.

Unfortunately, the mod is buggy. Very buggy. Extremely buggy in fact, and the team put no effort into hiding it.

Then again, this is a pre-alpha build, which means that bugs will be running around like hyperactive maniacs by default.

One thing that doesn't work is the camera, since Samsung hasn't released the firmware for it. This goes for all other Galaxy Tab 10.1 custom ROMs too.

Seasoned modders that know what they are doing, as well as people who don't mind the risk of totally screwing up their product, should go here to try and make heads or tails of the installation instructions.

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There’s a New MacBook Air Model Coming, Taiwanese Sources Say

Apple is reportedly gearing up to launch a new MacBook Air model, boosting Quanta's revenues in the process, according to a new report from Asia.

Taiwanese trade publication DigiTimes reports that "Apple [is] set to launch a new MacBook Air model [and] Quanta's revenues are expected to grow further in the future.”

Quanta Computer shipped 3.8 million notebooks in January, according to the industry report, and expects its shipment volume to drop 10-15% sequentially to 11.8-12.5 million units in the first quarter of 2012.

Apple's MacBook Air lineup is expected to adopt Intel's next-generation of processors dubbed “Ivy Bridge.” The Cupertino, California giant not only plans to upgrade the laptops, it also reportedly plans to include a 15-inch version of the ultra-thin notebook.

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Here’s Microsoft’s Office for iPad

Microsoft’s iOS development team in charge with porting Office to the iPad is apparently done with the project and, according to one report, they’re prepping the binary for submission to the App Store.

The Daily cites unnamed sources as saying that “that the app will soon be submitted to Apple for approval.”

They even allegedly scored a hands-on with a working prototype of Office for iPad and found that the app’s user interface is similar to one used by the OneNote app, with a few sprinkles of Metro here and there.

“Word, Excel and PowerPoint files can be created and edited locally and online,” the paper confirms. There’s a bit of uncertainty regarding support for other Office apps.

Unfortunately for Android users, the mobile version of Microsoft Office is iPad-only for now. If everything goes as planned, Office for Mac should hit the App Store in a week or two.

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Sony Xperia S UI Unveiled in Promo Video as “UXP NXT”

Sony Xperia S has yet hit shelves, but details on the phone's new user interface were a bit scarce until recently. It appears that a new promo video shows some of the highlights of the new UI, which is dubbed “UXP NXT.”

However, given the fact that this promo appears to have been shot in Japan, where the phone will be available as Sony Xperia NX, the name of the UI may be changed for the European version of the smartphone.

The video spotted by the folks over at XperiaBlog shows the widgets, music player, home screens, virtual keyboard, FM radio, as well as new lock screen. Unlike the old Timescape UI, the new user interface seems more smoothly designed and more stylish.

It's unclear if Sony plans to update at least some of its Xperia 2011 smartphone with the new UI, but owners can hope for it.

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BlackBerry Bridge 2.0.0.25 Now Available for Download

Canadian mobile phone maker Research In Motion has just made available for download a new flavor of their BlackBerry Bridge application for the BlackBerry smartphones. 

Through this application, users can easily pair their BlackBerry smartphones with a BlackBerry Playbook so that they can enjoy an expanded set of features on both devices. 

Through BlackBerry Bridge, the BlackBerry smartphones can be used as a remote keyboard for the BlackBerry PlayBook. Users can also use the phone to control the tablet PC. 

Moreover, the app enables them to easily browse the Internet on the tablet PC using the BlackBerry smartphone’s network connection (as long as the wireless carrier allows it). 

At the same time, the BlackBerry Bridge application provides users with access to email, calendar, contacts, memopad, tasks and BBM straight on the largest screen of the tablet PC. 

The release notes for the new flavor of the application include:

• Use your smartphone’s keyboard, trackpad and touchscreen to remotely control your Playbook tablet
• Open attachments, files and Browser URLs directly on your PlayBook tablet from your BlackBerry smartphone’s menu
• Copy/Paste from anywhere in BlackBerry Bridge PlayBook apps
• Use Device Properties menu to turn on and off BlackBerry Bridge email, calendar, and address book accounts
• Improved stability with multiple pairing and connectivity bug fixes
• Various UX improvements

On the application’s page in the BlackBerry App World, RIM notes that the Bridge Remote Control feature requires BlackBerry Tablet OS v2.0 to be installed on the tablet PC.

The new 2.0 platform version was long rumored to be on its way to devices starting today, and the fact that RIM already updated the BlackBerry Bridge to support it shows that the release is indeed close. 

The latest flavor of Bridge comes with support for all BlackBerry devices running under Smartphone OS 5.0.0 or higher. The app is available for free and weighs in at 3235 KB.

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Nokia Lumia 610 Reportedly Benchmarked with Tango

Nokia is getting ready for the release of a new set of Windows Phones, meant to provide more users with access to Microsoft’s mobile operating system.

One of these was long rumored to be the Nokia Lumia 610, a handset that appears to have just emerged in the WPBench application. 

The handset was spotted there running under Windows Phone 7.5 build 8757, which is supposedly the upcoming Tango OS, since it is clearly different from build 8107 currently loaded on devices out there. 

Provided that the info is accurate – it has been recently proved that WPBench data can be altered, WMPoweruser notes – it means that both Nokia Lumia 610 and the new Windows Phone flavor are near. 

Some of the latest rumors on the matter suggested that we might see Nokia launching new devices as soon as next week during the Mobile World Congress, so keep an eye on this space for more on this.

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Oldies But Goldies: P5AD2-E Premium, P5AD2-E Deluxe, and P5AD2-E

Here's one more post bringing you drivers for the old boards we've mentioned before. This time it's Asus's turn, with no less than three boards from the 2005 "era".

Back then, the Socket LGA775 ruled supreme, and the boards were powered by the Intel 4 CPUs. Users had 4 slots for the dual-channel DDR2 533 memory modules, and Asus was already bundling the boards with a lot of software designed to allow easy and safe overclocking.

A heap of USB  2.0 ports were available (usually 8) and these boards also sported FireWire (400Mbps) connectors. The 8-channel audio chips came from CMedia and coaxial/ S/PDIF outs were stock features.

Please find below the download links for these Asus motherboards:

Download drivers for Asus P5AD2-E Premium

Download drivers for Asus P5AD2-E Deluxe

Download drivers for Asus P5AD2-E

We'll diversify the manufacturers' list as we are building up a database of older gear. If you cant find drivers for your device, drop us a line and we'll try to find it, but sadly, we cant promise'we'll always succeed.

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LG Teases New Announcement for Today

South Korean mobile phone maker LG Electronics is gearing up for the unveiling of something new as soon as today. 

The company has been teasing the announcement for the past few days on its Facebook page, and it seems that it should not be too long at all before it makes the move. 

What is unclear for the time being is what the company plans on unveiling. On the said social networking site, it was teasing the letter L, which might stand for a new family of devices. 

After all, we have already heard rumors on LG planning the release of an L3 smartphone (the previously leaked E400), and it would not come as too much of a surprise if it decided to launch more of them, including L1 and L2 versions. Stay tuned for more.

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Nokia Lumia 719 Shows Up at Bluetooth SIG, Launch Is Imminent

With less than a week left until Mobile World Congress 2012 kicks off, another Nokia Lumia smartphone surfaces online.

The Lumia 719 is the latest handset leaked from Nokia's roadmap for the first half of the year, though not many details are known for the moment.

The folks over at UnwiredView have recently spotted the phone at Bluetooth SIG, along with several specs. At first glance, Lumia 719 seems to have the same features as the Lumia 710, which might indicate that this is the latter's successor.

However, there's no telling whether Lumia 719 will come up with anything new in terms of hardware or software. It won't come as a surprise if this is delivered with Windows Phone Tango on board, but with the same specs sheet as Lumia 710.

Anyway, according to Bluetooth SIG documents, Nokia Lumia 719 is a “versatile, well-designed smartphone offering users easy and seamless to make the most of every moment, every day.”

Aimed at social networking aficionados, Lumia 719 features deep social networking integration, as the phone comes pre-loaded with Facebook, Twitter, as well as People Hub for optimized communications with contacts.

The smartphone has been confirmed to sport a 5-megapixel camera on the back with HD (720p) video recording and a decent 3.7-inch ClearBlack capacitive touchscreen display.

Furthermore, Nokia Lumia 719 will be delivered with exclusive content from ESPN and Univision. It will also feature Local Scout, Bing Search and “turn by turn” navigation via Nokia Drive.

It looks like Nokia Lumia 719 won't make it to Europe. Bluetooth SIG documentation confirms that the smartphone will only be available in Asia, North America and South America.

For the time being, it's unclear if Nokia plans to announce this budget friendly Windows Phone device at the MWC 2012, especially given the fact that the smartphone won't be available in Europe.

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Leaked iPad 3 Case Confirms Gradual Taper, Thicker Body

A purported iPad 3 case photographed and leaked by a Chinese site reveals that Apple’s next tablet computer will, indeed, be thicker than the current-generation model.

It’s not common for Apple to upgrade a device as important as the iPad and actually make the newest version thicker than the one before it. Then again, cramming in all that functionality and extra battery life comes at a cost.

There’s also a limit of just how thick these tablet computers can get before they become uncomfortable to hold and use, not to mention prone to getting bent or cracked.

As these leaked photos show (via MIC Gadget), the iPad 3 is, in fact, slightly thicker than the iPad 2, a rumor that has been dished around for a while now. Needless to point out, it’s almost fully confirmed at this point.

The difference is said to be in the range of 1 to 1.5 millimeters. The reason, as we previously reported, is most likely the new backlighting mechanism required by the tablet’s new Retina display.

None of this is confirmed either, but pundits and analysts alike agree that this is the major cause for the tablet’s chubbiness.

The iPad 3 is said to house a slightly larger battery, to accommodate the more powerful processor it boasts (either an A6 or the rumored A5X). The autonomy is expected to remain at 10 hours, which is already quite convenient for most users.

MIC also points out to a larger camera hole, lending credence to rumors of Apple equipping the iPad 3 with an eight megapixel sensor.

To be noted that the photos in question don’t show an actual iPad 3, but only the tablet’s aluminum back shell. A fully assembled tablet was leaked in photos the other day.

Prior to that, a rumor site dealing with Apple matters obtained an alleged iPad 3 display and put it under the microscope to find that it was Retina-grade.

Apple is widely expected to hold a special event in early March to introduce the new iPad.

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