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ASUS introduced the new OC gear as the world´s first hardware based real-time overclocking device for graphics cards. The ASUS OC gear will be bundled with the ASUS EN8600GT OC GEAR/HTDP/256M which is upgraded with -1 memory modules. With such a configuration, users can expect up to 30% enhanced overclocking performance and gaming experiences. Full support for Microsoft DirectX 10 will also allow users to experience stunning and complex special effects for their applications and games.

Superb Overclocking Performance
In order to provide gamers with the best overclocking experience, the EN8600GT OC GEAR edition is equipped with -1 memory modules. The high speed capability of these super fast memory modules allow the best overclocking capabilities for memory speeds. Such a speed upgrade will help boost 3DMark06 scores from 4185 to 5493 – an astonishing 30% improvement*.

User-Friendly Interface
With an easy-to-read mirror LED display, the OC gear displays real-time graphic card information including the GPU temperature and the current FPS (Frames Per Second). In addition, the user-friendly knob allows timely adjustments by simply pressing it to switch menu options including volume, GPU clock, and fan speed to suit different game requirements. The OC gear also allows gamers to conveniently overclock, control system settings, and keep an eye on temperatures from the front of the chassis.

Ease in Installation
Installing the OC gear is not at all difficult – even for first-time PC DIYers. Simply install the OC gear to the chassis through an internal 4-pin USB connector to convey power and information to the motherboard, and that’s all that’s required – it’s that simple.

EN8600GT/HTDP/256M with Revolutionary Fansink
The ASUS EN8600GT OC GEAR also utilizes a new generation of cooling fans to effectively dissipate heat build-up. Additionally, with 25% more surface area, the heatsink provides better cooling and is able to lower temperatures by up to 14°C when compared to reference design graphic cards**.

Exclusive ASUS Innovations
The new ASUS EN8600GT OC GEAR also incorporates exclusive ASUS innovations including Splendid, Gamer OSD, VideoSecurity Online, and SmartDoctor. With all these features, enhanced visual and gaming experiences, security options are guaranteed!

Note:
*Testing Configuration:
MB: A8N32-SLI Rev 1.01
CPU: AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 Dual-4600
Resolution: 1280*1024
Memory: 1024MB(TwinMos-DDR1-512M*2)
Testing results are based on ASUS internal lab resting.
May vary on different platforms.
** The temperature test was taken under the circumstance of 40ºC

For specifications, visit the Asus web page.

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Microsoft Corp. announced the launch of Ignition, a new program that gives recording artists with new releases a unique channel to reach tens of millions of consumers, whether they are browsing music online, playing games or catching up on the latest news. For the first time, Microsoft has packaged promotional opportunities across Zune™, Xbox® and MSN® to help artists more efficiently reach consumers in all three audiences.

In a world where high-impact promotional opportunities for new music can be limited, artists look for ways to make direct connections with their audience and leave a lasting impression. Ignition maximizes exposure for artists by engaging consumers with interesting content and reaching them frequently over a monthlong period through prominent placement on Zune Marketplace, Zune.net, MSN entertainment properties and the Xbox LIVE® Marketplace. For consumers, Ignition provides a steady stream of new music through online access to exclusive content, free song and video downloads, streaming video, editorial features, and artist playlists.

“The Ignition program is designed to help artists connect with a substantial consumer audience,” said Christina Calio, director of Music Marketing for Zune. “Consumers are looking for ways to find new music, and Ignition helps connect artists with potential new fans by giving them multiple opportunities to listen to, watch or read about the artist across Microsoft’s online platforms.”

The Ignition program launches with the U.K. band Maxïmo Park (Warp Records/Caroline Distribution), whose current album, “Our Earthly Pleasures,” debuted at No. 2 on the U.K. charts in April and is receiving significant radio airplay for its single “Girls Who Play Guitars.” Throughout the month of June, Ignition will introduce new U.S. fans to this popular U.K. band through free and exclusive music downloads and features on Zune Marketplace and Zune.net, video downloads on Xbox LIVE Marketplace, and promotional video and music streams on MSN Video and MSN Music. Specific Maxïmo Park promotions include the following:

Zune Marketplace and Zune.net
• “Our Velocity” featured as a free download on Zune Marketplace
• “Don McPhee” offered to U.S. audiences as an exclusive track for two weeks on Zune Marketplace
• Playlist of 10 favorite tracks from Maxïmo Park lead singer Paul Smith available for download on Zune Marketplace
• Maxïmo Park’s personal commentary on “Our Earthly Pleasures,” featuring song-by-song descriptions and comments
• Maxïmo Park-specific page on Zune.net promoting the band’s current activities

Xbox LIVE Marketplace

• Promotional video download of “Our Velocity” offered at no cost to Xbox LIVE subscribers

MSN Entertainment

• Promotional video stream of “Our Velocity” on MSN Video
• Listening parties for “Our Earthly Pleasures” during the first two weeks of June on MSN Music, which will allow consumers to listen to the entire album via streaming audio for free

“We’re excited to have Maxïmo Park be the first artist taking part in Microsoft’s Ignition program,” said Priyanka Dewan, product manager at Warp Records. “When you’re a band that is attempting to move to the next level of success, opportunities like this to connect with a significant audience are important. The simultaneous promotion across Zune, MSN and Xbox is great exposure for the band.”

The launch of Ignition adds a powerful new element to existing Zune music programs such as “On the Road,” which has been providing financial and tactical support for touring artists that include CSS, LCD Soundsystem, Ladytron and MIMS, as well as “Artist of the Week,” which provides a weekly spotlight of one major artist release in Zune Marketplace.

More information on the Ignition program is available at http://www.zune.net.

So, Microsoft is darn serious about creating a serious competition for iPod and for iTunes. I am curious about the outcome of this battle, for iTunes and iPod are on the market for a long time now, and Microsoft is trying to grab a slice of a market ruled by its competitor, Apple.
Microsoft has a slight advantage though: a gaming console called Xbox and a social network created around it, called Xbox Live. This is the thing Apple does not have. So, I think we’ll see an interesting competition here.

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Rumours say that Sony is selling its new generation gaming console at a price much under the costs of production. This, and the recall of over 9 million notebook batteries, has cost Sony more than its yearly profit.

But hope is not lost for the Japanese giant: Sony expects sales growth of 5.8% and a profit of $3.7 billion by the end of March 2008.

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Industry’s only true x86 quad-core architecture paired with the ATI Radeon™ HD 2000 series to offer a phenomenal computing experience

AMD sais that the new AMD Phenom™ will be the industry’s first true, native quad-core processor. Anyway, Intel’s Core 2 Quad is not: it has two Core 2 Duo processors on the same PCB.
AMD sais:

With the true quad-core design offered by the upcoming AMD Phenom processors, cores communicate on the die rather than through a front side bus external to the processor – a bottleneck inherent in other products that are packaging two dual-core chips to form quad-core processors. AMD’s Direct Connect Architecture on-chip ensures that all four cores have optimum access to the integrated memory controller and integrated HyperTransport links, so that performance scales well with the number of cores. This design is also highlighted by a unique shared L3 cache for quicker data access and Socket AM2 and Socket AM2+ infrastructure compatibility to enable a seamless upgrade path.

AMD officials say that Phenom™ Quad-core will be available in the 2007 Christmas season.

Only 224 days till X-mas! Let’s wait and see!

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Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will eat for a lifetime. Teach a man to create an artificial shortage of fish and he will eat steak. Jay Leno

So, this is what marketing is about: creating a need and fulfilling it. You can see it everywhere: TV Shop, Internet, shops, TV ads, and so on, and so forth…

In the IT industry I seem to observ this principle being used by Intel: Bearlake chipsets are all new, improved, fast, glittering and super… but if you want a Bearlake-based configuration, you will have to use DDR3.

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