Roughly a month ago we brought you an early preview of the OCZ Vertex 2 Pro SSD. This uber-fast product was supposed to be part of a new series of drives based on controllers from start-up SandForce. However, as we recently learned OCZ decided to scrap the Vertex 2 Pro altogether due to the high cost of its SF-1500 controller, and instead shift focus to the originally announced Vertex 2 and Vertex 2 EX.

The first is their mainstream product using the SandForce SF-1200 controller with MLC flash, while the Vertex 2 EX is aimed at enterprise customers and will feature the SF-1500 controller with SLC flash — expect the pricing of this one to be simply frightening.

OCZ had hoped that SandForce would lower the pricing of their chips before the Vertex 2 Pro launch, so it would have a middle ground for businesses and enthusiasts, combining an enterprise-grade controller with MLC memory. Obviously this never happened, and this is exactly where the Vertex LE we are reviewing today comes in.

Initially it was said OCZ was using an early batch of SF-1500 controllers that they received at a discount rate from SandForce, but now they are claiming the Vertex LE SSDs carries a hybrid model that is neither a 1200 nor a 1500. According to their description, it’s not an SF-1500 because it doesn’t have the extra SMART data, the extra ECC, or any of the enterprise SF-1500 features. In other words, it has the feature set of the 1200 but the performance of the 1500, which is why we can expect it to perform similarly to the Vertex 2 Pro. It may as well be the case, they simply disabled these features on the firmware, but don’t want to tell you about it.

Regardless of those details, this limited edition Vertex will be sold in limited quantities, 5,000 units in total to be precise. OCZ is asking $399 for the 100GB model and $799 for the 200GB model. This is only slightly more than the current Vertex drives, which given the expected performance boost sounds like a very nice deal indeed.

The problem with SandForce-based drives at this point is that their reliability is largely unproven, whereas the original Indilinx Barefoot Vertex is now a tried and true product that consumers can purchase with a great deal of confidence.

Nonetheless, OCZ is prepared to take care of its customers with a 3 year warranty to protect against failure. They’ve reportedly put some drives aside as replacements for any defective products. Additionally, if your Vertex LE drive dies in a year or two, OCZ claims they will replace it with a product of equal or superior performance. Chances are that in a few years doing so will not be difficult, but the idea of losing data due to failure sounds like a bigger concern than getting a drive replacement.

With limited units available, OCZ expects these drives to sell out quickly. As of this writing there appears to be no problem getting either model, though retailers seem to have both units selling for quite a premium, $430 for the 100GB drive and a staggering $900 for the 200GB part.

Source:i4u.com

Naturally, once Intel released their slightly more value-oriented P55 lineup of motherboards, manufacturers were quick to jump on the bandwagon. In short order the market saw motherboards which spanned nearly every price category from $130 mATX value boards to $300 bruisers; there was something to fit everyone’s budget. During this flurry of announcements, we previewed the Maximus III Formula which (at the time) was one of the most expensive P55 boards prior to the introduction of the EVGA P55 Classified. Now things are being taken to the next level as ASUS is set to release their exclusive Maximus III Extreme.

With the Maximus III Extreme ASUS is looking to build upon the lessons they learned from feedback received throughout the BIOS and board development of the Formula edition and add new features and capabilities. This is a tall order considering the competition already has some impressive sharks circling in the guise of Gigabyte’s UD6 and forthcoming UD7 boards along with MSI’s Big Bang products and of course EVGA’s Classified series. Nonetheless, ASUS is not only offering a laundry list of features here but rather a board and BIOS which promises to take Lynnfield and Clarkdale chips to unheard of speeds…when in the hands of the right people.

In this preview we will be taking an in-depth look at the Maximus III Extreme’s features since our review is still some time off. Basically, ASUS has several interesting and unique features here and we believe some of them are forward-looking enough that they should be put under the microscope.

While a $300+ P55 board may seem counter intuitive for a platform that Intel envisioned as retailing for less than an X58-based one, there are many out there who are more than happy to pay the price premium for the looks and features of these boards provide.

If you’re looking for something a little different to keep your iPad in, I have just the thing. It’s the CaseCrown Faux Suede Zip Sleeve. On the outside it is soft as suede and very stylish. Perfect slim protection for the Apple iPad Wifi / 3G Model 12GB, 32GB, and the 64GB.

The CaseCrown Faux Suede Zip Sleeve is made from premium faux suede that is very nice and aesthetically pleasing. The interior is lined with synthetic material that is scratch free. The inner lining gives your iPad the perfect perfection it needs.

The Faux Suede Zip Sleeve has easy access zipper for quick and convenient access to you iPad. It also features an additional external pocket for accessories and storage. The great thing about this Sleeve is that it comes in great colors and I am big on colors. Red, pink, grey, black and brown are your color choices. At this price you can get colors to coordinate with your outfits.

CaseCrown Faux Suede Zip Sleeve is available on Amazon for $12.21.

Source:i4u.com

For the last couple of years, Dell’s foray into the small-form-factor desktop market was its successful mini-tower (with the emphasis on “mini“) Studio Hybrid. But with Dell’s latest small-form-factor entry, the Inspiron Zino HD, out goes the vertical mini-tower and in comes the horizontal square–7.8-inches wide by 7.8-inches deep to be exact, and a mere 3.4-inches tall. Like the Studio Hybrid (which Dell still sells), the Inspiron Zino HD (a.k.a. the Inspiron 400) is a solid little machine, with decent mainstream performance, and geared towards budget-minded consumers. Similar to how you could change the Studio Hybrid’s looks by swapping out different-colored sleeves, the Inspiron Zino HD can switch personality with the snap of new color or pattern lid. Of course, other than the default “Piano Black” lid, you’ll have to pay extra for any of the Inspiron Zino HD’s other color ($15 each) or pattern ($30) lids. And with a starting price of $249, the Inspiron Zino HD can give any number of nettop PCs a run for their money.

The Mini will launch in black, pearl white, lime, pink, red and silver. The Mini Pro will only be available in black and red. The Pro sports a sliding QWERTY keyboard. Both phones run on Android 1.6 and pack 600 MHz processors. They have 3G, EDGE, WiFi, Bluetooth, and 2GB microSD cards. They have 2.5” QVGA touchscreen displays and will launch in Q2.

Source:i4u.com

SanDisk today introduced the new SanDisk iNAND Embedded Flash Drives (EFD) with support for the e.MMC 4.4 specification.
Based on 3-bit-per-cell (X3) NAND flash technology, the drives offer up to 64GB of capacity in a single device, and can be used for boot, system code and mass storage functions.

SanDisk iNAND EFDs are specifically designed for these advanced smartphones and provide high capacity and reliable storage in a power-efficient package with a small footprint.

SanDisk iNAND devices based on X3 technology fully comply with the e.MMC 4.4 specification and range in capacities from 4GB to 64GB.

Source:i4u.com

LiMo Foundation, a global consortium of companies from throughout the mobile industry, today announced new LiMo compliant handsets from manufacturers ELSE, NEC, and Panasonic Mobile Communications. These models bring the number of LiMo devices announced to date to fifty.

The LiMo Foundation is still around and is not backing down to the Android platform just yet as it seems.

Among the new LiMo devices announced today are three models from NEC for NTT DOCOMO:

• docomo STYLE series N-01B: A slim, elegant handset designed cooperatively with design house STNY is perfect for a fashion-conscious lifestyle. This N-01B is available in an array of colors, with decorative illumination patterns, and is highly customizable. The device also hosts a broad array of features, including an 8.1MP camera.
• docomo PRIME series N-02B: This fully featured handset includes a 12.2MP camera that is ready in seconds and capable of quick shooting. The N-02B offers automatic scene identification for optimum photo quality, backed by high-speed connectivity for rapid image uploading.
• docomo STYLE series N-03B: Waterproofed with water-pattern coating for enduring elegance, the N-03B is both rugged and stylish. With an integrated pedometer, a 3.2” WVGA screen, and an 8.1 MP camera with activate ECO mode, this handset is a durable choice for active lifestyles.

Also within the extended line up of LiMo devices are three models from Panasonic for NTT DOCOMO:

• docomo PRIME series P-01B: A VIERA® phone with an integrated high-speed auto-focus camera and keypad that converts into a touchpad, the P-01B is a full-feature mobile phone for users who want maximum enjoyment of the latest multimedia technologies, including audio, video, games, and other entertainment.
• docomo STYLE series P-02B: A glamorous but cute swing/slider phone with a touchscreen-operated camera, the P-02B delivers high-fashion style in a variety of colors.
• docomo SMART series P-03B: A smartly designed slim handset with one of the longest battery lives amongst FOMA models, the P-03B is aimed at busy people who want to live productively and enhance the management of their professional and private lives.

Also announced today as a LiMo device is the ELSE INTUITION handset (photo) from ELSE Ltd., which provides a fresh and highly innovative user experience paradigm and advanced functionality while maintaining exceptional ease and simplicity of use.

Source:i4u.com

Samsung today announced the launch of the Samsung Wave (Model: S8500) at the Mobile World Congress 2010. This is the first mobile handset to be released on Samsung’s new, open mobile platform, Samsung bada, and the cornerstone of the company’s commitment to provide a smartphone for every lifestyle.

The Samsung Wave S8500 offers a Super AMOLED 3.3-inch display, a Social Hub to bring you closer to your contacts and connections, and TouchWiz 3.0 for an intuitive and hugely customizable user interface.

The S8500 1Ghz CPU ensures swift, smooth application experiences and multi-tasking, making the device an always-on mobile multimedia companion.
Other feature highlights of the S8500 include HD video (720p), Bluetooth 3.0 and WiFi 802.11n standard.
The biggest highlight is probably the new OLED screen. The S8500 is featuring the world’s first Super AMOLED display; delivering an unrivalled screen experience on a smartphone. The Super AMOLED offers much brighter, clearer, and less reflective AMOLED OnCell display, featuring a high resolution WVGA (800×480 pixels) screen with mDNIe (mobile Digital Natural Image engine) technology. DNIe technology is proven display technology which incorporated to Samsung’s LCD TV and LED TV lineups.
With a free viewing angle and super fast response, the Samsung Wave display provides superb image quality for viewing both videos and photos.

Source:i4u.com

Besides the Samsung Wave, the Samsung I8520 is shining in Samsung’s new smartphone lineup.
The Samsung I8520 Android 2.1 phone also features the new Super AMOLED screen with 3.7-inch size and 800×480[x resolution. Samsung integrated a DLP projector in the I8520 and is able to keep the size down to a small 123×59.8×14.9mm.

Other features of the Samsung I8520 include HSDPA, 8MP camera, 2nd camera, long list of audio supported formats, FM Radio, A-GPS, Wifi b/g/n, DLNA, Bleutooth and 4GB internal memory.

There is no pricing and release information available for the I8520. It is expected to arrive in Summer 2010.

Source:i4u.com