Rockstar has seen critical acclaim and great success from its Grand Theft Auto franchise. At the same time, gamers and critics have loved the game, it has had its share of heat in the form of controversy around the games violent and sexual content.
Despite the good and bad publicity, GTA IV proved to be a very popular game when it launched on the PS3 and Xbox 360. Shortly after launch, Rockstar announced that the Xbox 360 version would also get exclusive download content. Today Rockstar announced that GTA IV is now available on the PC.
Many ardent PC gamers have been waiting for the game to come to the PC. Rockstar says the PC version has new features, including multiplayer modes with 32 players per map. The console version multiplayer maps stop at 16 players. PC gamers also get video capture and editing capability and higher resolution graphics along with a custom radio station that allows uploading of personal music library to listen to in game.
Take 2 Games
Written by Shane McGlaun on December 3rd, 2008 with comments disabled.
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Any PC extremist would appreciate a great designed case with tool-less construction, good cooling capabilities while capable to operate in whisper quiet mode at load. NZXT has released the follow-up on highly appraised Zero series with such features. The new Zero 2 is a full tower PC case with extremely durable and sturdy chassis constructed from a 1mm steel. Like its presuccessor, the sequel features silent and massive cooling system that can be customized for up to total of 10 fans.
The NZXT Zero 2 measures 210.5 x 532 x 536mm and weighs 22.44 pounds. It features five 5.25″ drive bays, two 3.5″ drive bays and six HDD bays: a total of 13 bays with tool-less design for raid-fanatics. The unit ships with 3x 120mm fans and has room for optional 4×120mms and 3×80mm fans. The use of multiple oversize-fans allows the unit to circulate air flow at lower RPM; it reduces system noise yet increases air circulation. Accessible ports are made conveniently to integrate with motherboard such as top-mounted USB, audio and e-SATA ports.
Available now, NZXT Zero 2 has a retail price of $99.99. For more information on the NZXT Zero2, visit here.
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Written by Daniel Lim on December 2nd, 2008 with comments disabled.
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The makers of the gOS Linux system, Good OS, have now announced their Cloud operating system, which will provide super fast access to web-based applications and services such as Yahoo, Google and Windows Live without having to wait for your computer to boot up.
The Cloud system was demonstrated at the Netbook World Summit on a Gigabyte touchscreen netbook today. We learned that the Cloud system will start to be included along with Windows XP as a part of PC builder’s tablets starting as soon as next year. So, you would use Cloud for basic computing and switch to XP for the programs that require more processor power.
Cloud relies on a web browser and Linux kernel for access to applications in just seconds. There isn’t a wait for the system to boot. But it’s not just emails and websites that can be read using this system. In fact, MP3s and Flash videos are supported by Cloud. More information about the Good OS Cloud operating system will be released at CES 2009.
[via Webware at CNET]
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Written by Brenda Stokes on December 1st, 2008 with comments disabled.
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Uh-oh. A lot of gamers are going to be unhappy about this. It seems Grand Theft Auto IV for the PC will be outfitted with DRM, specifically SecuROM, which recently made news just a bit ago when it was discovered it was included in the Spore title.
While companies have a right to protect their property from piracy, oftentimes these DRM measures cut into a buyer’s activities, restricting what they can and can’t do with a piece of software they bought.
This version of SecuROM won’t be quite as harsh as those initially included with Spore, which limited your installations to three times. Instead, in Grand Theft Auto IV, you will need to register your copy when installing it and the disc itself will need to be in the drive in order for you to play it. You can install it any number of times you’d like besides that. And though DRM is annoying, this is at least not as annoying.
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Written by Brenda Stokes on December 1st, 2008 with comments disabled.
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It seems that the Asus Eee Top has a new competitor. A Japanese manufacturer today introduced their new Atom-powered nettop in the form of the Kourziro KZRX1002. This mini-computer also features a 1GB of RAM, 250GB of HDD, DVD Super Multi Drive and a 19-inch LCD. Measuring 103mm x 288mm x 338mm, the Kourziro KZRX1002 retails for around 400 Euro. [Frontier]
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Written by Johan on December 1st, 2008 with comments disabled.
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When first announced back in September, the Sony VAIO LV-series was described as a High-Definition PC/TV. That blurring of distinctions between computer and entertainment gives a good idea of how the company envisages their all-in-one slotting into your lifestyle; a relatively rare HMDI input, allowing external sources to use the LV as a 1080p-capable display, helps single the system out even further. Are TV tuners, Blu-ray and Dolby Digital surround sound enough to let the VAIO LV replace your current HDTV?
The specs set the LV off to a good start, with up to a 3.16GHz Intel Core Duo E8500 processor, 4GB of RAM and 1TB of 7,200rpm SATA storage available. Graphics are courtesy of up to an NVIDIA GeForce 9300M GS video card with 256MB of memory, and all but the base model has a Blu-ray drive, with the top-end LV supporting both Blu-ray playback and burning. Crowing glory, however, is the 24-inch widescreen XBRITE-HiColor display, running at 1920 x 1200 full 1080p High-Definition.
Connectivity includes gigabit Ethernet, WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth with A2DP, five USB 2.0 ports, S-Video, iLink Firewire, HMDI input, S/PDIF and headphone outputs, A/V and line/microphone
inputs. There are also dual NTSC/ATSC TV tuners, with two RF aerial inputs. Sony includes not only a low-profile wireless keyboard and mouse, but also a remote control. On the LV itself there are a small number of controls: separate PC and Display on/off buttons, HDMI source selection, volume, wireless on/off, keyboard/mouse connect and webcam angle adjust control. The webcam is mounted above the display and 1.3-megapixel resolution; it supports software face tracking and has an integrated microphone.
OS is one flavor or another of Windows Vista - Home Premium on the lower-end models, Ultimate on the higher-end - all with Media Center support. That means pausing and recording live TV, including over-the-air HD channels, and scheduled recordings, all through a lounge-friendly GUI that also gives access to music and online content. As well as that, Sony add their usual array of VAIO apps - here including the “Click to Disc Editor”, “Movie Story”, “MusicBox”, “Media plus streaming” and more - together with trials of Microsoft Office 2007 and OneCare. Happily the bloatware for which the company had become known for has been dramatically reduced.
While the LV would make a perfectly pleasing desktop PC - with 24-inches of high-resolution screen ample for just about any application you could think of - it’s true home is in front of your sofa. The integrated dual 5.5W stereo speakers do a passable job, but for best results we’d recommend hooking up a full surround system. Do that, and the LV comes into its own: the XBRITE display is a typical Sony triumph, with deep blacks, minimal motion smear and crisp, bright colors. Vista comes in for plenty of (often justified) criticism, but its Media Center functionality is straightforward and intuitive to use. The Sony remote manages to be both comprehensive but not overwhelming, and the keyboard (which feels a little plasticy) has an integrated trackpad for surfing the web from your lap.
Plug another video source, such as a PS3; into the LV’s HDMI input and instead of a Vista PC you’re now looking at a high-definition display. Copyright reasons mean Sony won’t allow you to use both the PC and the HDMI input at the same time, so you have to switch between them, but all the aspects that made the VAIO such a good PC monitor make it an equally good standalone screen. We can’t help but be disappointed by the inability to have, say, a PS3 window onscreen at the same time as a Word document, though.
Sony has obviously used some of their HDTV knowledge with the LV’s physical design. Unlike many all-in-one PCs, the power supply is integrated; go for wireless networking, stick with the integrated speakers and the cordless peripherals and you’ve got a one-cable system. A standard VESA mounting plate means suspending the LV on the wall or, even, on a poseable arm is straightforward, and with the slot-load optical drive hidden on the right-hand side you could easily mistake it for a standard TV. Overall, we’re fans both of the LV-series design and its construction: plastics and other materials used in the main unit are of high quality.
So could you - should you - replace your HDTV with the VAIO LV? A lot of it will come down to room size: 24-inches is big for a monitor, but small for an HDTV. The same display that looks impressive on your desk or, even better, mounted on the wall in your study, looks overwhelmed on a TV stand in all but the smallest of rooms. Yes, you can connect to a bigger screen, but that then leaves you with two high-definition options in close proximity, which seems a bit like overkill.
On the other hand, keeping the LV-series PC as a bedroom set - where the size might be more typical - is a tremendous waste of a very capable computer. No, the VAIO LV makes most sense in a den or games room, serving duty both as your everyday PC and, when the workday is done, the display for some impromptu gaming.
As for the price, there’s another argument. While the range starts at $1,699.99, that gets you a mere 320GB of storage and a DVD burner; the former will quickly fill if you use the Media Center functionality, while the latter doesn’t do justice to the LV’s screen. Instead, you’re looking at $1,899.99 for the 500GB model with Blu-ray player or, if you’re serious about high-def media editing, $2,799.99 for the 1TB version with Blu-ray burner. That’s a whole lot of money, and it would buy you a decent standalone PC and an HDTV certainly larger than 24-inches.
That said, we’ve still a soft spot for the Sony VAIO LV-series. It’s undoubtedly well designed, well constructed and well specified, and if space is an issue but 1080p a must then it’s well worth considering. Mainstream users will likely find they get more for their money - including more interconnecting cables - if they spread it out to separate components, but those who pick the LV are unlikely to be disappointed.
Related: Sony Vaio RT Review - Top Tier All-in-One Multimedia PC
Unboxing Sony VAIO LV
Click here to view the embedded video.
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Written by Vincent Nguyen on November 28th, 2008 with comments disabled.
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If we posted up every single store that has a Black Friday sale going on today, then we wouldn’t have time to post anything else! But one thing is for certain, Dell is offering up quite a few deals that are worth noting and acting on, if you’re interested.
These deals are only good for today on their website, but they’re worth checking out. For instance, you can get a 19-inch Dell flat panel monitor for $129, $50 off its original price. Or, you could snatch up the Inspiron Mini 9 netbook for just $299.
Other deals include a $559 Inspiron 1525 notebook, which adds up to $282 off, plus discounts on Smartparts digital photo frames, Creative Zen MP3 players and more. The best deal by far, however, is the super discount on the 42-inch Sharp HDTV. While it normally costs $1,399, you can get it today for $779.
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Written by Brenda Stokes on November 28th, 2008 with comments disabled.
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