[H]ardNews 11th Edition

Spyware Removal Tutorial:

If you are still not up to snuff on Spyware, what it is and how you got it…this adware/spyware tutorial might be just what you need.

Most computers connected to the internet will in fact be infected with some form of spyware, with users being blissfully unaware. There are some forms of adware that will actually cost user dearly.

From Linux To Windows:

We have heard of companies migrating from Windows to Linux but what about companies that switched from Linux to Windows? All right…quit laughing, it can happen. The article outlines examples of companies that have switched and why.

Problems with application incompatibilities, poor performance, escalating support costs and an immature Linux ecosystem lead the list of complaints executives at two companies that have completed the switch from Linux back to Windows cited recently.

Stinky Feet Tech?

Nanotechnology that can cure stinky feet? I’m not kidding. I am not trying to imply anything about you guys, I am just saying this as a...well...you know...as a public service announcement.

Researchers believe nanotechnology could someday help build tiny supercomputers or solve many of the world's energy problems. More immediately, a company in Pennsylvania hopes to use nanoparticles to create less-stinky socks.

[H]ardNews 10th Edition

DOOM 3 Performance Analyst Update:

Most of you will remember a recent article we linked in which 3DCenter concluded that ATi hardware had inherent problems running DOOM 3, basically blaming it on ATi’s architecture. It seems that 3DCenter has now updated the original article recanting their initial statements in light of what they feel is new evidence. Make sure you head over and read the full update to get the complete picture of what 3DCenter is now saying. Here is a small clip from the lengthy update:

Still the differences in performance per clock can't be fully explained with just that. Nvidia seems to have used optimizations in their drivers, similar to those which already helped to win Q3A benches for quite a long time now. The driver does intercept and replace CPU demanding calls with less demanding ones. Special optimizations probably favor both, the Q3A and Doom 3 engine. In addition, Nvidia could have shown off quite some creativity in terms of replacing shaders. The company seems to have found a solution that allows for replacement of shaders without affecting image quality.

High End GPU Availability Editorial:

Gamers Depot does a little editorializing today as they wonder out loud “Where have all the good cards gone?” Gamers Depot talks to a handful of industry experts to find out just what the deal is on supply of high end cards.

Since the late-spring release of ATI’s and NVIDIA’s high-end graphic cards, we’ve received quite a bit of questions from our readers asking where they can buy them at. It seems as if both have been hard to come by.

[H]ardNews 9th Edition

AOpen EZ18-120 SFF:

While most people are interested in the latest P4 or Athlon64 based small form factor PCs, the folks at Hexus have the first nForce2 SFF review we have seen in awhile. The AOpen EZ18-120 small form factor PC is built around the socket A making it a decent candidate for a low budget back-up box or a LAN box. People looking for a high end SFF will want to look elsewhere.

AOpen's EZ18-120 SFF system certainly looks the part, right from the shiny finish, multitude of ports, and minimalist design. It's designed to appeal to a broad a church as possible.

$18k Prize To Hackers?

A small British firm is offering $18,000 to hackers that can break into their product. The rules say you can use the money for anything you wish…even bail money if you want (not that winning a big hacker contest would get you watched by the FBI or something).

Avecho has offered $18,056 (10,000 pounds) to anyone who can sneak a virus past its GlassWall product, and it has even opened up the challenge to its developers.

[H]ardNews 8th Edition - Press Releases

Intel: The Technology Within:

Intel Corporation began a worldwide advertising campaign today to promote the Intel® Centrino™ mobile technology brand and its benefits as the essential technology ingredient for mobile wireless computing. The campaign consists of television, print, online and outdoor elements as well as promotions, including product placements on popular TV programming.

XGI Announces Volari Series:

XGI Technology Inc, an innovative graphics chipsets supplier, today announced their Volari™ Graphics board series; a full line of graphic boards powered by the award winning Volari™ graphics processors to satisfy the full range of high-end, main stream, and entry level markets.

XP Starter Edition In Russia:

Microsoft has tailored Windows XP Starter Edition for first-time computer users. The software will be available in the Thai, Malaysian, Indonesian and Russian languages. A supplemental CD includes local-language instructional videos for first-time PC users. To further aid those users, a redesigned Help system, called My Support, includes a detailed Getting Started guide. The software also features country-specific images and screensavers with familiar landscapes, flags, and designs.

[H]ardNews 3rd Edition

Lucas Hacked Your Xbox?

There are people saying that the new Star Wars bonus DVD updates your Xbox without asking, effectively hosing people with modded Xbox consoles. Normally I wouldn’t put a whole lot of stock in what I "heard on the net" but I have four Xbox consoles in my house and I can’t even get the Star Wars DVDs to play on them so it does make me wonder. You can also see that there are three update files on the disc as well (default.xbe, dashupdate.xbe and update.xbe). Hmmm.

The 'StarWars Trilogy DVD' (video/movie DVD) has an 'Extra Special Features Disc'. If you try to launch this on your Xbox it will automatically update your dashboard ... NO confirmation will be asked

NVIDIA .Net Drivers?

While we are talking about internet rumors, I thought I’d point out this InqWell article that says NVIDIA is making .Net drivers too. This is one of those rumors that will eventually come true since all video card drivers will eventually need to switch to the .Net platform, The InqWell is just saying it will be happening sooner than later.

We don’t have any indication when this Nvidia driver is going to be introduced but it should not be that long.

[H]ardNews 7th Edition

DNF Physics Engine:

While most of you laugh at Duke Nukem Forever news and updates, this DNF press release is different. It looks like 3DRealms has licensed Meqon’s physics SDK for Duke Nukem Forever..that isn’t what makes this press release different though. What makes this press release cool is the physics demos, movies and screensavers you can download from Meqon. Definitely worth checking out.

[H]ardNews 6th Edition

ABIT AG8:

The fellas at the Tech Report have posted a review of the ABIT AG8 LGA775 motherboard. The AG8 is a good board for overclockers and overall the board received high marks in the review. You can see our review here for comparison.

If you're looking for an affordable, overclockable, and very tweakable platform for an LGA775 processor, the AG8 is an excellent choice.

Shuttle SB81P SFF:

The LGA775 powered Shuttle SB81P small form factor PC is on the review bench at Lost Circuits today. The design and aesthetics of the SB81P received high marks but the review did have some issues with thermal design. Check it out.

To be quite frank, we are left at the end of this review with at least marginally mixed feelings. That is, in terms of innovation, design, quality of build, features and performance (in no particular order), the SB81P deserves top grades.

MSI K8T Neo2-FIR:

If you are upgrading to the other side of the isle, the K8T800 Pro powered MSI K8T Neo2-FIR might be the board you are looking for.

Based on what we've observed today, MSI put together a very nice package for those of you looking into building a loaded Athlon 64 system. Despite not being on par with with their NVIDIA solution, there are a number of advantages the K8T Neo2-FIR has over its Athlon 64 cousin.

CPU Pipelining Pt. II:

Ars Technica has part two of their CPU pipelining article posted today that is a must read. If you didn’t catch out link to part one last week, I highly suggest you check it out. Very good stuff here.

Part I of the present series covered the basics of pipelining, and concluded with a preliminary discussion of how pipelining increases application performance. Specifically, pipelining increases the rate at which instructions are completed, with the result that a program's overall execution time is lowered.

[H]ardNews 5th Edition

[H]ardForum [H]appenings:

Today’s installment of [H]ardForum [H]appenings has some very cool stuff like this 200GB Seagate HD for $69.99. Pretty damn impressive deal. For those of you that don't do rebates or ribbon cables, you can get the SATA version for $106 (no rebates). For all of you case modders out there, Project Blu has been updated with the addition of two 600cfm blowers. Damn thing looks like a 747. If deals on hard drives and case modding ain’t your thing, how about a show off your video card thread? There are tons of really cool pics to look through even if you don’t post your own. Finally, there is a lot of wheeling and dealing going on in the For Sale & Trade Forums. If you have something to sell or you are looking to buy, this is the place to do it. I’ll see you in there!

[H]ardNews 4th Edition

MSI K7N2 Delta2 Platinum:

Even though Athlon64 motherboards seem to be grabbing all the headlines, there are still plenty of people upgrading to nForce2 powered motherboards like this MSI K7N2 Delta2 Platinum reviewed by Mad Shrimps. These also make great boards for back-up / LAN boxes too.

The latest nVidia chipset for the Athlon XP makes a great platform for any budget minded gamer or hardware enthusiast. MSI’s implementation gives you a motherboard with a good layout and with the integration of their CoreCell chip offers the end user quite some tweaking possibilities.

ATi Teams With Gigabyte:

DigiTimes is reporting that ATi is teaming up with Gigabyte to offer ATi RX330 based motherboards in China.

ATI Technologies is cooperating with Gigabyte Technology in China to promote Gigabyte’s GA-8TRX330-L motherboard, which is the first motherboard to feature the ATI RX330 north bridge, said ATI chairman KY Ho in Shanghai recently.

Popeye Computers:

Researchers getting power by shining a laser on a complex spinach “sandwich”. Will spinach soon be powering laptops? Not any time soon but the technology being used is pretty cool. Thank Joe Alpert for that one.

"Eat your spinach," Mom used to say. "It will make your muscles grow, power your laptop and recharge your cell phone... " OK. So nobody's Mom said those last two things.

[H]ardNews 2nd Edition - Mods & Ends

Cooling:

Thermalright XP90 Heatpipe HSF @ Legion Hardware - Tocools S1 P4 HSF @ PCStats

Etc.:

1GB Kingston DataTraveler 2.0 @ The Tech Zone - Razer eXact Mat MousePad Review @ TwistedMods - Plextor PX-712A DVD Writer Review @ CoolTechZone - Logisys Computer LAN Bag @ ExtremeMHz

Cases & Modding:

A-Top Technology X-Blade ATX Window Case @ BigBruin - Antec SLK 3700 ATX Case @ R&BMods - Chenbro Xpider II Case @ System Cooling

[H]ardNews 1st Edition

MS Complying With EU?

Remember back when the EU fines Microsoft more that $600 million for what they called unfair business practices abroad. Well, back then, Microsoft was determined to fight this out in court. It looks like Microsoft has changed its mind and will comply with EU orders instead. Microsoft has also asked the courts to suspend the fine against them, giving them time to come into compliance. Odd turn of events, wouldn’t you say?

Microsoft's chief counsel, briefing reporters in the lead-up to a European Union court hearing this week, said Monday he remains hopeful the software giant's European antitrust case can be settled. Microsoft has challenged the European Commission's finding that the software giant abused its dominance of PC operating systems. But its top counsel said negotiations remain the preferred course.

[H]ardNews 3rd Edition

GeForce 6600 Review

What do you get when you put the GeForce 6600 into the hands of ATI-News? You get a number of very impressed Germans, that's what. ATI-News ran the GeForce 6600 through their suite of benchmarks and managed not to blow anything up. This looks to be a great card for the middle range of cards. English

NVIDIA redefines the middle class with the GeForce 6600 GT. Ever so fast the features of the upper class (400 to 550 euro) did not arrive into the clearly cheaper middle class (150 to 250 euro).

Our preview can be found here for comparison

Oracle and PeopleSoft

The saga of Oracle's hostile takeover bid of PeopleSoft is starting to get a little closer to conculsion. The European Union looks like it is getting closer to allowing Oracle to purchase PeopleSoft for the sum of $7.7 billion dollars. That's a lot of infrastructure loaded into one place, if the takeover occurs.

The expected approval, which would remove the biggest legal barrier to a deal that has been well over a year in the making, follows a decision by Judge Vaughn R. Walker of the Federal District Court in San Francisco this month to allow Oracle to go ahead with its bid, which the Justice Department opposed.

Post-Death Email

Sometimes, you just want to be able to say in death what you could never say in life. Maybe you just want to be able to say goodbye one last time to your loved ones. Then again, maybe you just want to be able to flip the bird to your boss from beyond the grave! Thanks, Joe.

But a Spanish Internet company is breaking fresh ground on the Web by offering people the chance to write one last e-mail, complete with video clip or photo attachments, and send it to loved ones, friends or even enemies after the person who wrote it is dead.

Da Vinci Team Delays Launch

Well, it looks like there is only one team left that is close to launching their space vehicle in a short period of time. The Toronto based Golden Palace.com Space Program Powered by the Da Vinci Project were forced to postpone their planned launch date of Oct. 2. That leaves Burt Rutan's team the only team set to launch their Ansari X Prize rocket within the next few months.

But in an announcement e-mailed to reporters late Thursday and confirmed Friday morning, da Vinci Project leader Brian Feeney said flight plans had been revised because the team is still working on securing parts and equipment for the launch.

205MPH on a Motorcycle

Okay, so 6GHz is fast for a computer. How about here in the physical plane. Well, it looks like someone has broken the record on The Smoking Gun concerning speeding tickets.

That's because motorcyclist Samuel Tilley, 20, was clocked Saturday afternoon going 205 mph on his Honda.

That's going to be a story to tell your kids for old Samuel. If he ever lives that long.