What's a blog?

So clearly i haven't posted on here in a while. I have been very busy and more than a bit lazy.

But lots has gone off; the Ipad has been launced, Windows Phone 7 has been launched, Playstation move, Xbox Kninect and a 3D Nintendo handheld. And a shed load of 3D tv's. I will get some reviews out on some if not all of these products in the near future, so dear readers (if any of you are left) i leave you with a sort of promise for more frequent updates. Until then Toodle-Pip

-GingerFox
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Windows 7 Phone Series

Let me start off by saying there is a lot to write about this, so i'm not going to. Instead I'm going to direct you to my favourite tech site, Engadget.

However, a small breakdown: Microsoft my favourite software giant is in the process of releasing its new windows mobile OS; Windows Mobile 7.
Which seems to be trying to integrate a lot of what Microsoft does, like its zune services and xbox live, plus a new marketplace for apps. So good stuff happening there, I believe in the corporate world its called 'synergy'

Also Microsoft seems to be taking a slightly more locked down approach, specifying minimum hardware requirements and what not, which I think is definitely a good move, it should improve the quality of phones.

And this is where I leave you to do more reading on Engadget, as they have had hands on time with the news phones and are as such better informed.

-GingerFox
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Want to know the real people behind the blog?

Its twitter time!

So i caved and joined twitter, it will be interesting at the very least.

Follow me:
http://twitter.com/Luke_UK


-Read
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-GingerFox

Apple has indeed launched a tablet, the iPad

I will update as i get them!
Is running a form of the ipod/iphone OS

• Full Capacitive multi-touch
  
• 16GB, 32GB or 64 GB
• 0.5 inches thick, 1.5 pounds
• 9.7inch IPS display
• The 1GHz Apple A4 chip.
• Bluetooth
• Wifi 802.11n
• Accelerometer
  
• Compass
• Speaker and Mic
• 10 hours batter life
• Run iphone apps unmodified!
• Has no trouble with youtube HD
• Optional 3G!

All looks very slick so far, when using iphone/ipod apps they run in a small window nativly, but can be full screened. Which looks silly on some (facebook app springs to mind) but on others pretty good, like racing games.

Has a ibook app for downloading ebooks ( ePub format), buy them straight from the ipad, has a virtual bookshelf, nice touch.

Models with 3G, they will be unlocked, in the US AT&T giving 250mb a month for $14.99 unlimited for $29.99 with no contract.
Price starting at $499 at current exchange rate that's £308 but I would imagine it being a lot more than that in the UK.
Availability 60 days for the wifi only version, 90 days for the 3G version.

-GingerFox
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Antec 900 Review

Antec 900 Review

The Antec 900 is a truly massive case.... hight wise, but length wise, its not a great deal bigger than your average PC chassis, and that's is its main flaw, instead of paying £80 odd to buy a big case, you've got a slightly taller, modified standard chassis that doesn't offer you much space in terms of neat, tidy upgrades.

For instance, I've installed my Radeon HD 5850 into it, and as a result of its relatively short length, I had to move one of the hard drives, down a notch on the cages, not a big thing, but it was hassle that anyone could do without, especially when all you'd want to do, when you've bought kit like that is just to play games and not faff around with case management. And it could of easily been a bigger issue if say all your HDD cages are full.

However, the 900's saving feature is its incredible airflow. Its 3 120mm fan and its 200mm top fan are able to shift over 160 CFM (cubic foot per minute), which if your bothered, about cool components, is fantastic, the only way to get a PC cooler than it, would be to water cool it. Saying that though, 40 degrees C under full load for a stock CPU cooler isn't anything to look down at.

Sadly though, even though this case is very well built, and it has brilliant airflow. The cable management is far from brilliant, there aren't enough holes, in the right places or any space behind the motherboard to build a tidy PC, which when one side panel is mostly window, you'll want to have it as tidy as possible.

However it does have some other nice features such as a front esata port and a sort of charging bay on top. Pluss the fans have blue LEDs in them, if you like that sort of thing.

However my final say would be that at £80 there are other cases that would be far better to buy, such as the HAF 922, which is much longer and superior cable management.

I'd recommend this case if you like the blue lights, its brilliant cooling, and its looks and don't intend on putting in a long graphics card. But if you don't mind the looks of the HAF, as there both priced in the same price range, then the HAF seems like a better case to buy.


-Sam Cooper
-GingerFox

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Sorry for the lack of posts, lots of reviews coming soon!

So basically its A level exam time, so I've been quite busy, but hopefully over this weekend we should have some reviews written up for the: HD 5770, Haff 922, Antec 900 and a plethora of other tech items!

Sit tight.

-GingerFox
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XFX 5850 Review

The new card arrived today in a weird X shaped box that will take even the best of us a good five minutes to figure out how the bloody thing opens without reading instructions, which lets face it no body does anymore.

After removing it from the box, and getting a slight workout while doing so, due to the cards horrendous size and weight, I realised that this probably wouldn't fit in my Antec 900. No worries, move half internals of the computer about and that's the size issue of it sorted. If you've got a small case I'd recommend you buy another, as this will overheat and fill up more space than a whale in a small hatchback.

So, whats the new card like? Well the current range of drivers aren't that bad, after all the new 9.12 drivers have sorted out some of the bugs of the card.

If you'd want one of these you'd have to pay £100 more than the RRP of the thing, and no one has them in, go, look on a site, I can virtually guarantee you that no one has one (at the time of writing).

So, whats the performance like of the card I hear you ask. Well on the winSAT- windows benchtest, it scores 7.7 / 7.9 on stock clocks. I'd assume you could get 7.8 7.9 overclocked but if you want to do that, then may i suggest you buy a 5970 instead, and jam a nicely sized spike into your head if all you do is play on farmville.

I've got no idea whether the card is noisy on low fan speeds because, in the 12 hours I've had the thing running the fans been running at 100%, and cooking at around 40-45 degrees C.

The card is fking quick though, running Crysis warhead comfortably at 1680x1050, with 2xAA and everything on enthusiast settings, which is good enough, because lets face it your eyesight probably isn't good enough to notice a difference when your tearing through the jungle at some ridiculous speed.

Should you buy one?

If your a gamer then yes. If not then no.

-Sam Cooper

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