The larger model, the Gigabyte U2442, has a 14-inch 1600 x 900 display and a 2.5GHz Core i5-3210M processor paired with up to 16GB of memory. There’s NVIDIA GeForce GT 640M 2GB graphics, and a choice of either 128GB mSATA, a duo of 128GB mSATA and up to 1TB HDD, or a single 256GB SSD. Ports include USB 2.0, USB 3.0, HDMI and VGA, ethernet, and an SD card reader, plus there’s WiFi b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.0.

Finally, the Gigabyte P2742G is the company’s new gaming monster, with a 17.3-inch Full HD display, 2.4GHz Intel Core i7-3630QM processor, up to 24GB of DDR3 memory spread over three slots, and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660M 2GB graphics. It can be fitted with either a 750GB hybrid HDD (with 8GB of flash caching memory) or a 128GB SSD/1TB HDD duo.

A Blu-ray drive, ethernet port, WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, and an 8-cell 5200mAh battery round out the key specs in what’s a 3.2kg machine. No word on pricing or availability for any of the three.

There’s also VGA and HDMI, a microphone input and headphones socket, a microSD card reader, and a SIM slot for the optional 3.5G WWAN. WiFi b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.0 are standard. Up front is a 1.3-megapixel camera, with a 5-megapixel camera on the back. Gigabyte will also offer a keyboard dock for easier text input.

As for the Gigabyte S1082, that runs a 1.1GHz Celeron dualcore 847 with up to 8GB of DDR3 memory and Intel HD Graphics. There’s an optional docking station with an integrated DVD burner, while storage is courtesy of either up to a 500GB HDD or up to a 256GB SSD.

Ports include USB 2.0, VGA, HDMI, gigabit ethernet, audio in/out, SD card reader, and a SIM card slot for the optional 3.5G WWAN. As with the larger model, WiFi b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.0 are standard. No word on pricing or availability at this stage.

The U2142 is an 11.6-inch convertible ultrabook that runs Windows 8 or Windows 8 Professional. It has a multitouch screen and uses third-generation Intel Core processors. Another new ultrabook in Gigabytes Windows 8 line is the U2442 weighing in at 1.57 kilograms and having a 14-inch display. The machine uses the latest Intel Core processors and has Nvidia GeForce GT 650 M or GT 640 M discrete graphics card.

The Gigabyte P2542G is a 15.6-inch gaming notebook with integrated Blu-ray drive. The machine uses an Intel Core i7-3610QM processor and has Nvidia GeForce GTX 660 M graphics. The display supports full HD resolution, and the Blu-ray drive will also burn media.

The final product in the Windows 8 line is the 17-inch P2742G gaming notebook using a quad core third-generation Core i7 processor and Nvidia GeForce GTX 660 M graphics with 2 GB of GDDR5 RAM. The notebook has dual storage bays supporting up to 2 TB and RAID 0 technology. The machine also has a Blu-ray Combo drive, Bluetooth 4.0, and USB 3.0. Gigabyte offered no details on pricing or availability for any of its new Windows 8 computers.

There’s also 4GB of DDR3 memory, Intel HD Graphics 4000 and a 128GB SSD. Connectivity includes one USB 3.0 and one USB 2.0, Mini DisplayPort, a combo audio in/out port and a microSD card slot, and there’s WiFi b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.0.

A 1.3-megapixel camera is onboard, along with a “glass-fiber” trackpad and a 95-percent full-sized keyboard. Gigabyte also claims to have worked some magic with the speaker system, for audio performance that belies the X11′s diminutive dimensions.

The hinge is aluminum and the rest is finished in either “woven diamond” or “black diamond” depending on whether you want to show off the carbon-fiber or not. Expect it to hit shelves next month.

Inside, the X11 packs Intel’s latest Ivy Bridge series processor with 4GB of DDR3 RAM, Mobile Intel HM77 Express chipset, Intel HD Graphics 4000, and a 128GB SSD. It has a USB 2.0 port as well as a USB 3.0 port along with a mini DisplayPort and microSD slot. It also supports WiFi and Bluetooth 4.0.

The X11 sports a 11.6-inch LED backlit display with a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels and has a 1.3-megapixel embedded webcam. It also features a chiclet keyboard with a buttonless trackpad. The X11 is expected to launch sometime in July and priced ranging from $999 to $1,299. It will ship with Windows 7 Home Premium or Professional on board.

Additionally, Gigabyte announced two 14-inch notebooks with model numbers U2422 and U2440, both featuring Intel’s latest Ivy Bridge processors and THX audio technology. The U2422 sports NVIDIA’s GeForce GT 650M or 640M discrete graphics, while the U2440 sports NVIDIA’s GeForce 630M graphics. The U2422 is priced from $999 to $1,299 and the U2440 is priced at $699. Both will be available in June.

[via DailyTech]

Naturally, Gigabyte’s own Z77X-UD3H mainboard was used in the record-setting run. The overclocking geek who was able to set the crazy, higher than 7 GHz milestone goes by the name HiCookie. To reach the insane clock speed the overclocker did have to resort to using liquid nitrogen to keep the processor cool. The same person also broke the current highest memory speed record for the Ivy Bridge platform.

HiCookie was able to reach 3280 MHz with all four memory slots populated on the Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD5H mainboard. The RAM used to set the record is G.Skill Trident X DDR3-2800. Gigabyte says that the two records were achieved thanks in part to its engineering prowess and memory tuning capabilities.

Gigabyte has split the air ducting for the CPU and GPU, giving the P2542G twin air vents and dual heat-sinks that, the company reckons, will keep things comfortably chilly even after a heavy gaming session. Still, we’d probably not leave it on our laps while hammering through levels.

Storage is courtesy of either a 7,200rpm hard-drive or an SSD, while connectivity includes two USB 3.0 ports along with HDMI, though you also get a regular VGA output too. Obviously there’s the usual webcam, microphone and the like, studded around the display.

Pricing and availability is unconfirmed at present, though Gigabyte tells us the P2542G is likely to hit the US in late Q2 2012.

The U2442N is the bruiser of the two, with a choice of Core i5 or i7 standard voltage processors for those looking to do serious work with their ultrabook. The U2442V, meanwhile, uses ULV (ultra-low voltage) versions of the Intel chips, for improved battery life, though Gigabyte isn’t saying exactly how long either machine will last on a single charge.

Storage is either SSD or up to 750GB HDD, while connectivity includes dual-antenna WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, USB 3.0 and – optionally – a Thunderbolt port. The keyboard is backlit for easier low-light typing, and the notebooks measure between 18.5 and 20.5mm thick and weigh under 1.49kg.

No word on when, exactly, the new Gigabyte ultrabooks will go on sale, nor how much they’ll cost. We’ll update when we know more from the company itself. Update: Gigabyte tells us that pricing hasn’t been finalized, but the new ultrabooks should arrive in the US in Q2 2012.

The Gigabyte GSmart G1355 is expected to run Android 2.3 Gingerbread and offers moderate specs. It sports a 4.3-inch WVGA display with an 800MHz Qualcomm porcessor, 512MB of RAM, and 1GB of ROM. It offers WiFi, GPS, 3.5mm headset jack, and a 5-megapixel rear-facing autofocus camera with LED flash. It also has a microSD card slot, expandable up to 32GB.

The device overall looks sleek, measuring in at about 11.5mm thick and weighing about 170g. It’s expected to launch sometime later this month, which means it will likely make a showing at MWC. Pricing information has not been revealed yet.

[via GSMArena]

Other connectivity on the slate includes WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, HDMI and VGA, and Gigabyte has designed a matching USB keyboard and carry-case. An optical trackpad can be found in the bezel, along with a 1.3-megapixel webcam. The dock also has a number of extra ports.

As for the Gigabyte T1006M, it’s a return to the convertible netbook days with a 10.1-inch capacitive multitouch display running at 1366 x 768. Connectivity includes USB 3.0, just as with the slate, and there’s integrated 3.5G WWAN. Gigabyte is making some boasts about the lengthy battery life from the 6-cell battery, though there’s no actual numbers to be found.

No word on pricing or availability at this stage.

This Gigabyte Booktop T1132N has an 11.6-inch 1366 x 768 pixel capacitive touch display with discreet graphics, and will just be lovely for when you switch over to Windows 8 and all of its touch-ready goodness. You’ll be able to plug in up to 8GB of DDR3 memory, you’ve got HDMI, D-Sub, Ethernet, and audio ports, and a 2.5-inch hard drive bay. You’ve got one single USB 2.0 port and a set of four speakers, two of them bass woofers, and you’ve got the option of hooking this whole rig up with 3G connectivity. Of course you’ve also got the option of a 802.11b/g/n WiFi connection as well.

The dock station has a built-in DVD burner and you can plug the whole mother in to your own HD monitor at your own discretion. You’ve also got a few other ports on the desktop dock including HDMI. Play some gigantic games with your integrated Intel HD Graphics 3000 and NVIDIA® GeForce® GT520M 1GB GPU.

The price has not yet been revealed, but you can bet it won’t just be a few hundred bucks. This look like something you’d be willing to use on a daily basis? Anyone have a need for a machine that acts as several different kinds of PC? What about loading Linux?

[via Gigabyte]

It has a 320GB HDD, GMA 3150 graphics, 802.11b/g/n WiFi and Bluetooth 3.0. The tablet has an option for 3.5G wireless broadband connectivity as well. Power comes from a 4,000 mAh battery good for about four hours of use per charge and an optional extended battery brings the run time to an extra three hours. We also mentioned at the time that there is an optional docking station with an optical drive, stereo speakers, and a keyboard.

We noted that the price for the tablet was surfacing online at $625. If you are in the US and like the idea of the tablet, it is now officially up for pre-order for $649 to $679. The estimated ship time is July 1 and July 6 at ExcaliberPC and Dynamism respectively. Those prices are right in line with what we saw back in May when the tablet first surfaced.

[via Netbooknews]

Biggest news today is likely the ASUS Padfone, the company’s teased and leaked hybrid tablet/smartphone consisting of a 4.3-inch Android handset that can dock into a special 10.1-inch tablet shell. ASUS is talking up the Padfone’s seamless transition between the two, with your currently-open app automatically rescaling to suit the change in display. There’s also plenty of crossover of the hardware: the phone’s 5-megapixel main camera is used as the tablet’s main camera when docked, and memory and 3G connectivity are shared too. Check out all the official details and our hands-on video roundup for more.

The Padfone isn’t the only ASUS slate today. We’ve seen the Eee Pad MeMO before, all the way back at CES 2011 in fact, but today it’s relaunched with a 3D makeover. The ASUS Eee Pad MeMO 3D has a 7-inch glasses-free 3D display along with a Flyer-like active stylus and a companion MeMIC Bluetooth headset and remote. ViewSonic too has opted for 7-inches, with the new ViewPad 7x promising to be at the affordable end of the Honeycomb scale, while its 10Pro sibling muddies the waters somewhat with a less convincing Windows 7/Android 2.2 Froyo dual-boot on Intel Oak Trail silicon.

Gigabyte has perhaps sensibly stuck with a single OS with its new S1080 tablet, though whether that OS being Windows 7 will win it many favors remains to be seen. MSI, too, has split things down the middle, with the new WindPad 110W opting for Windows and the WindPad 100A picking an unspecified version of Android instead.

It’s not all tablets, mind. ASUS has an alluring ultraportable, the Eee PC X101, with a 10.1-inch display and a choice of Windows 7 or MeeGo. With pricing expected to kick off at $199, it may not match the MacBook Air for style, build quality or specs, but you could outfit the whole family for the same price as a single Apple machine.

If you want something a little different, Gigabyte has its new Booktop M2432 notebook complete with a useful desktop docking station, while the LG P220 does away with fancy docks and instead focuses on being angularly gorgeous. The ASUS UX21 can’t quite match it on looks – though of course beauty is in the eye of the beholder – but certainly isn’t lacking in functionality.

Computex isn’t just about finished systems, there’s plenty of chipset, GPU and component news to be had too. NVIDIA got the ball rolling overnight with a drool-worthy demo of its quad-core Kal-El sequel to Tegra 2, followed by the new GeForce GTX 560M, but there are more esoteric offerings like the CUPP Computing PunkThis, which packs an entire ARM-based computer into your laptop’s HDD bay. Samsung is also offering its Exynios processor – as found inside such luminaries as the Galaxy S II – to developers as part of the Linaro Origen board.

You can track all of our show coverage this week by using the Computex 2011 tag.

The processor has Turbo Boost 2.0 for extra power when needed and the 14-inch screen is LED backlit and has a resolution of 1366 x 768. The graphics inside the machine is an integrated HD 3000 GPU supporting HD video. The machine also has USB 3.0 port, THX TruStudio Pro and a lot of other features. The notebook is 27.6mm thick and weighs 1.81kg. The keyboard is a chiclet design and the machine has a multi-touch trackpad.

One of the coolest features of this notebook is the included docking station. Inside the docking station is an NVIDIA GT 440 GPU with 1GB of DDR5 RAM. It can connected to up to two external monitors. The docking station also has six USB ports, HDMI out, D-Sub, DVI, and other ports that you find on a desktop computer. The M2432 notebook has a slim optical drive inside a FlexiBay that can be swapped for an extended battery when run time is more important than the optical drive. Pricing and availability are unknown.

The specs are generally in line with a decent netbook, so you get a 320GB hard-drive, GMA 3150 graphics with a VGA output and WiFi b/g/n, along with Bluetooth 3.0. There’s a front-facing 1.3-megapixel webcam along with a USB 3.0 port for high-speed connectivity, a USB 2.0 port, gigabit ethernet and an audio socket, along with an SD card reader.

3.5G WWAN is an option, and the whole thing measures 270 x 173 x 14.94 mm. Gigabyte has added dedicated hotkeys for scrolling and handwriting recognition, along with an optical mouse with buttons built into the bezel for two-handed navigation. Battery life from the regular 4,000 mAh pack is expected to be around 4hs, with another 3hrs if you slap on the 100g extended battery.

Meanwhile there’s an optional docking station, which adds an optical drive, stereo speakers and a keyboard. No official word from Gigabyte at this stage on pricing, but we’re already seeing the S1080 pop up online to order for around $625.

Press Release:

GIGABYTE Launches an Exciting New Slate PC

Introducing the GIGABYTE S1080

GIGABYTE recommends Windows® 7.

Taipei, Taiwan – January 4, 2011. GIGABYTE, a longtime leader in computer technology and innovation, today announced an exciting new 10.1-inch slate PC, the S1080. The S1080 features a Windows® 7 operating system and is powered by an Intel® Atom™ N550 dual core processor.

“The S1080 is designed to be the ultimate mobile device to fit the demanding needs of consumers who need a high-performing multitasking slate that offers the full productivity of a PC,” said Stephen Lee, Sales Director at GIGABYTE Notebooks. “With the S1080, users now have constant access to all their business needs including email, internet and other important applications.”

Weighing under 0.90kg (1.98lb), the S1080 is both sleek and light, making it the premier choice in mobile computing. With a massive 320GB of built-in storage, users can add all their important applications and files without worrying about whether there is enough space. The large hard drive also makes it the perfect device to load custom business and enterprise applications. The S1080 also comes with USB 3.0, which provides incredibly fast transfer speeds making it very useful for a mobile device.

Featuring a striking 10.1” multi-touch backlight TFT-LCD 1024×600 display, the S1080 produces bright and clear images. With its stunning display, the slate can be used as a captivating tool during business meetings and presentations. The S1080 also comes equipped with a built-in VGA port, which allows users to hook up an external monitor or projector whenever a larger display is needed.

For onscreen navigation, the S1080 features the best of both worlds to maximize effectiveness. The 10.1” capacitive multi-touch display featuring the Windows 7 on-screen keyboard and handwriting recognition software makes navigating the display by fingertips both fun and a breeze. Or, for a more traditional PC approach, users can navigate the display using the navigator button and left and right mouse buttons to easily move the cursor around the screen to conveniently access applications and edit documents.

The S1080 is the perfect mobile device to stay connected while on the go. The slate comes with wireless 802.11b/g/n and Bluetooth 3.0®, which makes it incredibly easy to access email and the internet whenever the slate is in range of wifi or a mobile hotspot. The built-in 1.3mp webcam is also an excellent feature to give users convenient mobile videoconferencing options.

There’s also WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth and up to 1GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. Gigabyte is particularly proud of the display, which is of course higher-resolution than you’d find on an iPad, and there are twin cameras too, 5-megapixels on the back and 1.3-megapixels up-front for video calls.

According to Gigabyte, the GN-TB100 is expected to ship in July 2011, with a few more aesthetic tweaks in-between now and then. Hopefully that will also extend to updating the OS; the prototypes are running Android 2.2 Froyo, rather than the Honeycomb we’d expect to see.

[via Android Community]

There’s also a pair of DDR3 DIMM memory slots, two SATA 6Gbps ports, two SATA 3Gbps ports and a single PCI-E x16 slot. Ports include a bevy of regular USB 2.0, digital audio outputs, ethernet and VGA, along with the usual board headers. No word on pricing or availability at this stage, but this could be the basis of a particularly capable HTPC.

[via Expreview]

The company has officially announced their brand new G1-Killer Series of gaming motherboards, including the G1.Sniper, G1.Assassin, and G1.Guerilla. Each of the gaming motherboards will be based on the Intel X58 chipset, as well as include the Killer E2100 network solutions. The company says that the latter technology makes the new gaming motherboards the fastest ever created for online gaming.

The system is designed to prioritize traffic within any particular game, while still managing to deliver remarkable control to how your network handles the bandwidth coming in and out. The price for the new gaming motherboards hasn’t been announced yet, nor has the release schedule.

Press Release

Las Vegas, USA – January 5, 2011 – GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY Co., Ltd, a leading manufacturer of motherboards, graphics cards and other computing hardware solutions, today at a press event at CES announced their latest line of dedicated gaming motherboards designated the G1-Killer series, consisting of the G1.Assassin, G1.Sniper and G1.Guerrilla. Based on the Intel® X58 chipset and featuring several state-of-the-art onboard solutions from industry heavy hitters including Creative and Bigfoot Networks, as well as quite a few new and exclusive GIGABYTE features, the GIGABYTE G1-Killer series motherboards are equipped to let gamers unleash total mass gaming destruction.

“GIGABYTE is thrilled to be able to introduce the world’s first motherboard series designed solely for elite gamers,” commented Henry Kao, Senior Vice President of Research and Development at GIGABYTE. “The G1-Killer series features the industry’s most advanced hardware and software solutions from Creative and Bigfoot Networks onboard as well as the top-notch quality and durability users have come to expect from GIGABYTE. So, lock and load gamers, the GIGABYTE G1-Killer series motherboards deliver a gaming experience unlike any other.”

“Intel is very excited to see continued innovation on the Intel® X58 Chipset platform, and congratulates GIGABYTE on their latest high-performance G1-Killer gaming motherboard series”, said Steve R. Peterson, Director of desktop chipset and strategic marketing at Intel Corporation. “These new motherboards, paired with Intel® Core™ i7 Processors Extreme Edition, deliver incredible speed and responsiveness to serious hardcore gamers.”

“Sound Blaster audio technology is a class above any of the integrated chipsets currently on the market, and it’s clear that the PC industry concurs with this,” said Steve Erickson, Vice President and General Manager for Audio and Video at Creative. “When it comes to onboard audio solutions, we’re seeing more and more major motherboard manufacturers like GIGABYTE selecting Sound Blaster technology as their audio enhancement technology of choice, because of the far superior high-definition audio quality it furnishes.”

“In online games, the difference between victory and defeat is measured in fractions of a second,” said Michael Howse, CEO of Bigfoot Networks. “The Killer™ E2100 is the fastest networking solution ever created for online games, with unique technology that automatically prioritizes game traffic while also delivering unparalleled control over how your PC uses network bandwidth. We are pleased to partner with GIGABYTE to deliver superior network performance on the new G1-Killer™ family of gaming motherboards featuring Killer™ E2100 technology.”

Like soldiers about to head out into the line of fire, elite gamers know that the equipment they use can mean the difference between getting the frag, or being fragged. That is why GIGABYTE has strapped some big guns onto the G1-Killer series motherboards designed to heighten gamers’ super human killer instincts and enhance their game play.

4-way CrossFireX™ and 3-way SLI™ Support*

The ability to see clearly through the fog of war can often tip the balance between the winning or losing force. That is why GIGABYTE has equipped the G1-Killer series motherboards to offer utmost graphics flexibility and upgradeability. With multiple GPU support, GIGABYTE G1-Killer motherboards deliver maximum FPS (Frames Per Second), allowing gamers to see more clearly, aim faster, and move more quickly.

Onboard Creative Soundblaster X-Fi Digital Audio Processor (20K2)
Being able to hear where your enemy is located before you see them can put you at a distinct advantage in most gaming situations. That is why GIGABYTE has rigged the G1-Killer series motherboards with the industry’s most advanced audio solutions all onboard; giving you the highest caliber audio experience. GIGABYTE G1-Killer motherboards** are the world’s only gaming motherboards to feature Creative’s top-of-the-line Soundblaster Digital Audio Processor (20K2) onboard with X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity® and EAX® Advanced HD™ 5.0 technologies, allowing you to experience sound in your gaming world exactly as you would in real life.

X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity®
X-Fi is a suite of technologies that deliver premium quality surround sound to your ears, whether it is through headphones, stereo or surround speakers and helps to restore compressed digital audio to pristine audio with stunning clarity.

EAX® Advanced HD™ 5.0
EAX® (Environmental Audio Extension) is a collection of powerful, innovative audio technologies that bring true interactive 3D audio to PC gaming and helps create more ambience within games by more accurately simulating a real-world audio environment.

Dolby® Digital Live
Enjoy audio from your PC through your home theater with Dolby® Digital Live. A real-time encoding technology, Dolby Digital Live converts any audio signal into a Dolby Digital bitstream for transport and playback through a home theater system. With it, your PC can be hooked up to your Dolby Digital-equipped audio/video receiver or digital speaker system via a single digital connection, eliminating the confusion of multiple cables and ensuring the integrity of the audio signal.

DTS™ Connect
DTS Connect is the perfect solution to enhance your entertainment experience using your home theater’s Audio/Video Receiver. DTS Connect is comprised of two DTS technologies including DTS Neo: PC™ which takes 2-channel (stereo) audio and transforms it into a full-bandwidth matrix of your speaker layout (up to 7.1 channels) and DTS Interactive™ which encodes digital audio sources into DTS Digital Surround, which can then stream out to your Audio/Video Receiver using a S/PDIF connection.

Built-in Front Audio Headphone Amplifier
Specially designed for gamers, the GIGABYTE G1-Killer series utilize a high capacity amplifier which is able to drive 150Ω loads, allowing gamers to enjoy a fuller range of dynamic sound with crisper details and less distortion when using high quality professional headphones. The amplifier also features wide band-width, low noise, high slew rate and low distortion, making it ideal for professional audio usage. In addition, GIGABYTE has equipped the G1-Killer motherboards with 4 additional amplifiers onboard for the center/sub woofer, rear speaker, side surround and line out.

Nichicon High-end Audio Capacitors
GIGABYTE G1-Killer series motherboards utilize the highest quality Nichicon MUSE ES series and MW series Bi-Polarized audio capacitors at each channel layout. These professional audio capacitors deliver the highest quality sound resolution and sound expansion to create the most realistic sound effects for professional gamers.

Onboard Bigfoot Networks Killer™ E2100 Game Networking Platform
GIGABYTE is the only motherboard manufacturer to seriously address online gaming network lag issues by implementing the Bigfoot Networks Killer™ E2100 Game Networking Platform directly onboard the G1-Killer series motherboards. Utilizing a unique combination of dedicated Network Processing Unit (NPU) and exclusive Game Networking DNA™ technology, the Bigfoot Networks Killer™ E2100 Game Networking Platform was designed to give the best online gaming experience possible.

- Killer™ E2100 Dedicated NPU
Dedicated Network Processing Unit (NPU) with 1GB of dedicated DDR2 memory helps offload network traffic from the CPU, freeing it up to do other important computing tasks.

- Game Networking DNA™
Bigfoot Network’s exclusive Game Networking DNA™ software offloads gaming data directly to the NPU by bypassing the Windows Network Stack, delivering tremendous speed benefits which allow you to move quicker, shoot faster and win bigger.

- Up to 10X Faster
Whether you’re playing MMOs or first-person shooters, the Bigfoot Networks Killer™ E2100 game networking platform delivers up to 10X faster networking performance for a whole new level of online gaming performance.

- Killer™ Network Manager
Built from the ground up to give unequalled speed, intelligence and control over online game data, the Killer Network Manager shows the health and performance of the G1-Killer series motherboards, and gives gamers the controls to optimize it.

- Killer Network Manager’s Applications Tab uses Bigfoot Network’s exclusive Visual Bandwidth Control™ Technology to enable users to see how much bandwidth they’re using and what applications are using it. Bigfoot’s Advanced Game Detect™ technology will keep the current game at top priority and give it all the bandwidth it needs while users continue to download.

Front Access Control Panel
As part of its box kit, the G1.Assissin motherboard features a convenient Front Access Control Panel that allows quick and easy access to 2 USB 3.0 ports and Power eSATA. The Front Access Control Panel also features a Quick Boost button that allows gamers to instantaneously overclock their system with a single press of a button. Imagine being in the thick of battle and being able to get a super charged on-the-fly performance boost without the need for a system reboot.

SATA 3.0 (6Gbps) and USB 3.0 and 3x USB Power

When you’re behind enemy lines, intelligence data latency can get you killed. That is why GIGABYTE G1-Killer series motherboards provide ultra fast data transfer performance with onboard integration of the latest SuperSpeed USB 3.0 for up to 4 ports (2 front panel, 2 back panel), SATA Revision 3.0 (6Gbps) technologies from Marvell, and an unprecedented 3x USB power boost on all USB ports for the most power hungry USB devices.

Locked and Loaded Heatpipe Design
The GIGABYTE G1-Killer series features a brand new heatpipe that was designed to be as deadly to heat as it looks. By effectively spreading the heat from the critical areas of the motherboard such as the CPU VRM zone and quickly dissipating it, GIGABYTE G1-Killer series motherboards remain cool, even when the battle heats up.

Modeled after the common firearms issued to soldiers deployed to a warzone including pistol, rifle and ammo clip, the Locked and Loaded heatpipe design utilizes a unique fluting technology similar to a rifle barrel fluting, which allows for maximum heat dispersion.

5 Smart Fan Connectors
Further helping to eliminate heat are the 5 strategically placed Smart Fan pin headers which allow for more precise control of system and CPU fans. Equipped with their own individual thermal sensors, the Smart Fans can be easily controlled via GIGABYTE’s EasyTune™ 6 utility as well as in the BIOS.

GIGABYTE Ultra Durable™ 3
GIGABYTE Ultra Durable™ 3 design features 2 ounces of copper for both the Power and Ground layers which dramatically lowers system temperature by delivering a more efficient spreading of heat from critical areas of the motherboard such as the CPU power zone throughout the entire PCB. GIGABYTE’s Ultra Durable™ 3 also lowers the PCB impedance by 50%, which helps to reduce electrical waste and further lowers component temperatures. A 2oz Copper layer design also provides improved signal quality and lower EMI (Electromagnetic Interference), providing better system stability and allowing for greater margins for overclocking.

Maximum CPU Power Delivery
Like the pistons and cylinders of a car engine, the design of the motherboard Voltage Regulator Module (VRM), component quality and number of power phases greatly affects motherboard performance. GIGABYTE engineers were first to realize not only the importance of using the best quality components for this critical area, but also that with more power phases, there can be more power available to your CPU. With their industry-leading power design featuring the new VRD 12 (Voltage Regulator Down) specification, Dual CPU Power and Driver MOSFETs, GIGABYTE G1-Killer motherboards deliver best-in-class system performance and power stability required for elite gaming systems.

Dual CPU Power
GIGABYTE’s proprietary Dual CPU Power Technology allows CPU VRM power phases to split evenly into 2 sets of power engines that operate in tandem. This allows 1 set of power phases to rest while the other is active as opposed to a traditional power design where all the power phases are always active. As such, GIGABYTE Dual CPU Power effectively halves the amount of work done by each set of power phases to significantly increase motherboard durability and reliability.

Driver MOSFETs
By incorporating the MOSFETs and driver IC in accordance with the Intel® Driver MOSFET specification, GIGABYTE G1-Killer series motherboards allow higher power transfer and increased efficiency at higher switching frequencies to satisfy the power requirements of modern processors. Driver MOSFETs also help to reduce VRM real estate requirements for a cleaner, less cluttered CPU zone.

GIGABYTE DualBIOS™ with 3TB+ HDD Support
GIGABYTE DualBIOS™ is a patented technology that automatically recovers BIOS data when the main BIOS has crashed or failed. Featuring 2 physical BIOS ROMs integrated onboard, GIGABYTE DualBIOS™ allows quick and seamless recovery from BIOS damage or failure due to viruses or improper BIOS updating. In addition, GIGABYTE DualBIOS™ now supports booting from hard drives that are 3TB (terabytes) or more without the need for partitioning, and effectively provides future-proofing for higher volume single drive data storage.

Other features of the board include USB 3.0, SATA 6Gbps and an HDMI interface. The board also has 3X powered USB ports that can charge the iPad faster than a normal USB port. The brains for the board is from the AMD E-350 dual-core processor combined with the Radeon 6310 GPU and HD Blu-ray playback. The board has 7.1 surround sound and a lot more.

The USB 3.0 ports are controlled by an onboard Renasas controller from NEC. The board uses Gigabyte Ultra Durable 3 tech that puts twice the amount of copper on the board as traditional designs for improved efficiency. Pricing for the board is unannounced at this time.

The Q2005 is a standard netbook form factor device so you get no fancy convertible screens here. You do get that N550 CPU that should provide decent power for the machine. The screen is a 10.1-inch unit with a resolution of 1024 x 600. The lack of HD resolution may be a deal killer for some.

Other features include 1GB of DDR3 RAM that can be upgraded to 2GB, 250GB of storage, WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0 is optional, and the machine gets a 0.3MP camera. Power can come from a 3-cell battery or an optional 6-cell unit. Gigabyte does pack a good memory card reader inside the rig. The reader is an 8-in-1 unit rather than just reading SD cards.

Via <a href="“>Liliputing

Of the two it’s the Gigabyte which seems more advanced. It allows for memory overclocking – from 1333MHz to 1800MHz – along with USB 3.0 support, multi-channel audio, VGA and DVI-I ports, and SATA connections for up to four drives; it also has a PCI Express x16 slot. The SOYO lacks the USB 3.0 support, but has six SATA ports, four USB 2.0 and HDMI/DVI/VGA outputs, along with PCI Express x16, PCI Express x1 and PCI slots

As for the E350 Zacate chip itself, that incorporates the dual 1.6GHz Bobcat cores along with a Radeon HD 6310 GPU with 80 stream processors. It also gets a UVD 3.0 engine and has an 18W TDP.

There’s also CrossFireX graphics support across the range, plus high-power USB ports for charging more juice-greedy devices like the iPad and Galaxy Tab. The H67A-UD3 also packs integrated Intel HD graphics, with VGA, DVI, HDMI and DisplayPort outputs.

The top-spec Gigabyte P67A-UD7, meanwhile, gets a full ten USB 3.0 ports (in addition to eight USB 2.0) and three Firewire, as well as dual gigabit ethernet and NVIDIA 3-Way SLI support. The new ‘boards should land in early 2011, alongside the new Intel Core processors. Full spec-sheets and more photos in the gallery below.

Thanks @Nicole_Scooter!

The case will sell for around $35 when it launches and it might be basic, but you are getting the Gigabyte name, which means the quality will be there. The case measures 180 x 420 x 350mm and is made from 0.5mm SECC and ABS plastic. It’s black in color and has a side panel with an Intel CAG 1.1 air duct + AGP vent built-in. The case has four external 5.25-inch drive bays.

There is a single external 3.5-inch drive bay and inside the case there are five internal 3.5-inch bays. The back of the chassis has seven expansion slots and the chassis supports Micro ATX and ATX mainboards. The front IO panel includes dual USB 1.0 ports (seriously!) along with mic/headphone ports. Front and rear 80mm fans are options for the cooling system. I can’t believe Gigabyte uses USB 1.0 ports, how much more could 2.0 ports have actually cost.

The dual-core 1.2GHz U5400 T1125M model is apparently targeted at emerging markets, with everyone else getting the Core i3-380UM T1125N (with optional Core i5-470UM upgrade).  Both have a 11.6-inch 1366 x 768 multitouch display, 2GB/4GB of RAM, 320GB/500GB HDDs and Intel HD graphics, with the T1125N also toting an NVIDIA Optimus-compatible GeForce 310M GPU.

Connectivity includes USB 2.0, HDMI, eSATA, gigabit ethernet, audio in/out, VGA and a multi-format memory card reader, with the T1125N getting a USB 3.0 port as well.  There’s also WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, and an optional 3.5G cellular modem on the T1125N, together with a 1.3-megapixel webcam and a 6-cell battery.

Gigabyte’s docking station is particularly interesting, being a more developed version of the simple dock we looked at with Gigabyte’s BookTop M1022.  As well as the slot for the removable DVD drive, it can rotate to turn the tablet – in converted orientation – to face you as you work, meaning you can use both an external display and the T1125′s own screen simultaneously.

Unfortunately there’s no sign of any pricing or specific release dates, with Gigabyte apparently aiming for a holiday launch but a CES 2011 debut in January looking more likely.

The three mainboards use Gigabyte’s Ultra Durable 3 design with twin Copper PCBs for improved cooling and stability; there’s also higher powered USB ports for charging more juice-hungry gadgets like the iPad.  The P67A-UD3R has a distinctive matte-black PCB, four DDR3 memory slots, two PCI-e x16 slots, and Gigabyte’s own DualBIOS system for failure protection.

Meanwhile the Gigabyte P67A-UD3 has the same DualBIOS tech but gets a blue PCB, while the Gigabyte H67MA-UD2H is a micro-ATX board (the other two are ATX sized) with a few less PCI-e slots but plenty of other connectivity: HDMI, D-Sub, DisplayPort and DVI for a start, driven from integrated Intel HD graphics.

No word on launch dates from the company itself, though Intel expects its first Sandy Bridge based Core series chips to arrive in early 2011 so we’re guessing the 6 Series motherboards will drop at around the same time.  All of Gigabyte’s preview details are in the gallery below.

Thanks @Nicole_Scooter!

As for the T1125, that has an Intel Core 2010 series processor, USB 3.0 and gigabit ethernet, along with that rotating touchscreen display that can flip the ultraportable into either a regular notebook or a travel-friendly slate.  There’s also apparently a docking station, which will supposedly add an optical drive.  No word on pricing, but perhaps Gigabyte will tell us later on today.

There’s also 4GB of memory – made up of an array of eight Micron chips – together with WiFi and HDMI connectivity.  Unlike most set-top boxes (STB) the Revue won’t be silent in operation; there’s a large extractor fan for cooling the Atom’s heatsink.

Interestingly, the mainboard found inside the Logitech Revue – marked the Gigabyte GA-SBKAN2 – shares the same name as another Gigabyte IP-STB board spotted early last month by SemiAccurate, though the component layout is different and the earlier board has three USB 2.0 ports rather than the Revue’s two.  Gigabyte had been showing the board as part of a white-box IP-STB solution, leaving open the possibility that we could see another Google TV system with similar specifications to the Logitech unit using pretty much the same hardware.

[via Liliputing]

Over at Computex in Taiwan, Gigabyte pulled the curtain off the M8000X, which also goes by the name of Aivia. As we said, it’s got plenty of features: it has a 6,000 dpi pro-laser engine, designed explicitly to handle high-speed movement in such a way that you don’t have to worry about missing anything. That’s not the only engine running at a gentle hum inside this mouse. You also get an integrated GHOST Engine, which is designed to memorize upwards of 45 button assignments, which also comes with macro editing.

The GHOST Engine also makes sure that the button configurations are stored on the mouse, and not based primarily on software that you’d have to reinstall every time you plug the mouse into a new piece of hardware. The mouse itself was just announced, so there doesn’t seem to be any mention of release date or price, but hopefully it’s soon and it doesn’t break the bank. It only comes in black, so hopefully that’s not a deal breaker — it’s a pretty standard color for the mouse, anyway.

[via UberGizmo]

The exact nature of that processor is unspecified, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see one of Intel’s newly-announced ULV Core i3 chips slotted inside.  Otherwise there’s USB 3.0 together with a proprietary docking station port for a dock that will apparently include an optical drive.

Finally there’s VGA, audio in/out and ethernet.  No word on what sort of touchscreen Gigabyte are using, but we’re guessing it might the sort of multitouch-capable resistive panel we’ve seen on recent Acer convertible tablets.

Press Release:

GIGABYTE Focuses on Extreme Performance and Flexibility for Computex 2010

Record-breaking components, stylish designs, and unique system accessories to be unveiled at Taiwan’s largest IT computer show.

TAIPEI, TAIWAN, May 28, 2010 – GIGABYTE will showcase a wide range of new technologies at Computex 2010 in Taipei, Taiwan. From June 1st to June 5th, the IT manufacturer will exhibit the latest gear and highlight the benefits that end-users can expect.

The newly released GA-X58A-UD9 motherboard shows GIGABYTE’s innovative approach to research and development. The new flagship motherboard is considered the most premium motherboard available on the market and already owns numerous overclocking and benchmark world records.

In addition to the Intel-based GA-X58A-UD9, GIGABYTE will release the 800 series motherboards powered by AMD 870, 880GX, 890FX and 890GX chipsets. These new motherboards will support the latest high-end AMD Phenom II X6 six-core processors.

GIGABYTE has also added a new premium graphics card to its product lineup for Computex 2010. The GV-R587SO-1GD is based on the ATI Radeon HD 5870 GPU and was designed specifically for extreme overclocking and gaming battles. The Ultra Durable VGA+ components offer excellent performance and stability during heavy loading.

On the notebook front GIGABYTE has set itself apart by releasing a new ultra lightweight 14-inch notebook called the M1405. In addition to stylish looks, this innovative product also includes a docking station with a built-in Nvidia GeForce 220 graphics card. Users will enjoy the ease of portability when on the go and powerful HD graphics performance when connected to the Booktop docking station.

Another unique component to be shown at Computex 2010 is the Monitor Integrated Box, or MIB for short. It is a computer chassis that includes an adjustable mounting arm with hinge which allows technology enthusiasts to build their very own All-in-One PC.

For media and visitors interested in learning more about the GIGABYTE products that will be shown at this year’s Computex show in Taiwan, please visit the GIGABYTE booth at the Taiwan World Trade Center Hall1, D002 from June 1st to June 5th.

Gigabyte announced that it has a new driver for some of its popular AMD and Intel mainboards that will allow the iPad owner to charge the device when the iPad is on or off. The new driver is called the On/Off Charge driver update. It is on the gigabyte website now for download.

The new drive supports a ton of gigabyte mainboards including those for the Intel X58, P55, H55, and H57 chipsets. AMD 800 chipset mainboards are also supported by the update.

Some pics of a new Gigabyte mainboard for compact computers using the mini-ITX form factor have surfaced. The new board is called the H55N-USB3 and as you can gather by the name of the board, it sports USB 3.0 connectivity. CPU support for the board is for Intel LGA1156 processors.

The board uses the Gigabyte 3x USB power feature to let devices connected to the ports get more juice if they need it. The tiny boards measures 17 x 17cm and offers a single expansion slot for a single slot x16 PCI Express video card from the looks of it. The board also has a pair of DIMM slots for RAM, four SATA ports, and USB 2.0 headers. The back of the tiny board has lots of connectivity with VGA out, DVI out, HDMI out, S/PDIFF out, Ethernet and lots more.

Video demo after the cut

Other specs include a 320GB or 500GB 2.5-inch HDD, 1,366 x 768 display and integrated Intel X4500MHD graphics.  Both have a 1.3-megapixel webcam and WiFi, along with a fingerprint reader and optional 3G; the M1405 also gets Bluetooth 2.1+EDR.  Gigabyte reckon the M1305 will last for up to a slightly-unbelieveable 6hrs from the 3-cell 3,800mAh battery; a second, 2,550mAh power pack can be added to extend that by another 4hrs.

We still don’t know how much the two Gigabyte notebooks will cost, but we’re quietly excited.  Having dual-mode graphics in a notebook isn’t new, but it’s arguable whether most people use the higher-performance chip while on the move because of the battery impact.  Instead, they save it for when they’re back at their desk, just like the new BookTops offer.

Video demo after the cut

NetbookItalia have a good all-round photoset of the T1000P, and they also spotted a SIM card reader lurking behind the battery.  That certainly indicates that Gigabyte will be offering a 3G and/or 4G version of the tablet, something that wasn’t mentioned on the original spec sheet.

Meanwhile jkkmobile shot some hands-on video with the twisting convertible netbook, and he seems reasonably impressed.  He reckons the multitouch is actually more responsive than the comparable ASUS machine (the Eee PC T101MT) though the functionality is actually limited by the Windows 7 Starter Edition OS.  What’s left to be figured out is what sort of battery life can be stretched out from the 4-cell or 6-cell packs.

Two versions of the T1000 will be offered, the T1000X with a 4-cell, 4,500mAh battery and the T1000P with a 6-cell, 7,650mAh battery.  Both netbooks will have 1GB of RAM, a 250GB HDD and Intel GMA 3150 graphics, along with WiFi b/g/n, 10/100 ethernet and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR.

Ports include two USB 2.0, an eSATA/USB combo, audio in/out, VGA, ExpressCard and a multiformat memory card reader; there’s also a 1.3-megapixel webcam, microphone and 1.5W stereo speakers.  No word on pricing, but we’re guessing this won’t be an especially cheap netbook – Gigabyte will probably tell us more at CeBIT 2010 this coming week.

[via Xataka]

The latest notebook from Gigabyte is the M1405 and it has surfaced for the first time at the Taipei Game Show. The M1405 is described as a sleeker version of the M1305 that showed up a while back. The new machine comes in three colors and will sport an Intel Core 2 Duo SU7300 CPU.

Other features include a 14-inch 1366 x 768 LCD, Intel GMA 4500MHD and GeForce GT220 graphics. RAM is up to 4GB and the machine has 500GB of storage with a 5400 rpm HDD. A DVD drive is built-in and power comes from a li-poly 3-cell 2550mAh battery that slips into a vacant bay and a 6-cell li-poly unit in the main battery area with 3600mAh. The notebook should have some very good runtime with two batteries onboard.

On the site, users can easily select from drop-down menus the latest Gigabyte-based system components including motherboard, CPU, and graphics card, and from that, configure their desired build.  Then, the System Builder does an automatic calculation of the total Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price costs as well as the 3DMark benchmark performance of the selected hardware setup, and ultimately allows the buyer to examine the cost and performance of the system before purchasing any actual hardware.

As stated by Futuremark, “Anyone at any budget can confidently make PC purchasing decisions for any PC component combination using the latest CPU, motherboard, and graphic card technology.”  Not quite a try it before you buy it plan, but close; it’s a way to prevent some of that buyer’s remorse before you even consider buying anything.

BenQ, Gigabyte, Quanta and Compal have all managed to partner with carriers – the former two in Taiwan, the latter in Europe – but the unnamed sources say the actual number of MIDs supplied has been far less than Intel’s hype might have predicted.  BenQ and Gigabyte – together with Inventec and ASUS – are believed to have “significantly reduced” their R&D on MIDs.

Instead, development attentions have turned to Smartbooks, netbooks and ebook readers, which the sources suggest have replicated much of the functionality a MID might offer.  Despite Moorestown being expected in the first-half of 2010, the expectation is that fewer than half of the MIDIA members will actually produce MIDs using the new chips.

The Booktop M1305 itself looks physically similar to the M1022, but squeezes in up to 4GB of RAM, up to 500GB of storage and an optical drive.  Native connectivity includes WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, gigabit ethernet, HDMI, two USB 20 and a combo eSATA/USB port.  There’s also VGA, audio in/out, a multi-format memory card reader, 1.3-megapixel webcam and a fingerprint reader.

As for the included docking station, that gets six USB 2.0 ports, VGA, HDMI and DVI video outputs, gigabit ethernet and audio in/out, along with that NVIDIA graphics card of course.  The standard M1305 battery is a 6-cell 3,800mAh pack which Gigabyte claim is good for up to 6.5hrs of runtime; you can also swap out the optical drive for a secondary battery adding another 4hrs.

No word on pricing, nor specific availability; Gigabyte only say the CULV notebook is “coming soon”.  NetbookNews had a chance to grab some hands-on time with the Booktop M1305 and shot the following video demo:

[via Mobile+Notebook]

The Gigabyte GeForce GT 220 (model number GV-N220OC-1GI) has 48 SPs, a core clock speed of 720MHz, shader clock speed of 1,566MHz, memory clock at 800MHz and a 128-bit memory bus paired with 1GB of DDR3 memory.  Meanwhile the Gigabyte GeForce G210 (model number GV-N210OC-512I) has 16 GPs, a 650MHz core clock, 1,547MHz shader clock, 400MHz memory clock and 512MB of memory with a 64-bit bus.

That means you’re getting slightly higher core clock speeds than the OEM cards but slower memory speeds.  The GT 220-based card also gets a significantly larger heatsink (with 80mm fan) than the G210 card.  Both have HDMI outputs and quote low power requirements, and at $79.99 MRSP for the GT 220 and $44.99 for the G210 – each of which support DirectX 10.1 – we’re betting they’ll find plenty of buyers.

[via The Tech Report]

Toshiba confirmed that it will be entering the Blu-ray market with new players hitting the market in 2009. Toshiba has also applied to be a member of the Blu-ray Disc Association. The netbook news kept coming early in the week and Dell confirmed that it would be killing off the Mini 12 netbook to focus on the 10-inch screen market.

Apple has been rumored to be working on adding Blu-ray support to iTunes 9 and Blu-ray drives to its iMac line of computers. This would be no surprise; Blu-ray is becoming much more common on notebooks. Specifications for the entry-level Android device from Motorola called the Morrison tipped up early in the week. The device sports a 528MHz Qualcomm MSM7201A CPU, 256MB of RAM and more.

An insider claims that Sony Ericsson is developing a smartbook using non-Intel hardware and offering high-speed internet access. What they are really talking about is a netbook, but I doubt it will run Windows. A page on the Rogers Wireless website in Canada tipped up that showed an 8GB iPhone 3GS spurring rumors of the demise of the iPhone 3G this week. As it turns out the page was in error, or so says Rogers anyway.

One of the more interesting looking, if expensive, games to show up at E3 was Tony Hawk’s ride. The game has a skateboard controller that will ship with it. The game will show up on November 17 at U.S. stores. Pricing for the title is expected to be $120 or more. A screen shot from a Best Buy computer leaked the pricing of the Microsoft Zune HD PMPs a few days before the official announcement on Monday. The prices were later verified in the official Microsoft announcement. On Tuesday we saw one of the first official videos of the Zune HD in action over at CNET. Naturally, the device uses Bing as its search engine.

Sony is having a press conference on August 25 with the eReader team. The speculation is that a wireless device may be hitting that is finally able to fight the Kindle on even ground. Apple added a $50 matte screen option to the 15-inch MacBook Pro this week with the same 1440 x 900 resolution. The only downside is the matte screen isn’t borderless.

After pricing leaked on Monday, the Zune HD went officially on pre-order at Amazon on Tuesday with 16GB and 32GB versions offered for $219.99 and $269.99 respectively with a ship date of September 8. Nintendo filed a patent application this week on an inflatable horse-riding controller. The device seems destined, assuming the patent is granted, to make kids games more fun.

Microsoft and Nokia announced this week that they would be teaming up to bring native Office capability and other features to Symbian devices. I have to wonder how the ruling that Microsoft can’t sell Word in America announced this week will affect the deal. HTC’s Leo broke cover again with a slightly different design. The phone was redesigned to remove the silver speaker that was disliked by many the first time we saw renders of the device.

NVIDIA was hit with more bad news Wednesday when Sony announced that it was adding its name to the growing list of notebook makers who had sold machines with faulty GPUs. Sony will repair notebooks with GPU issues free of charge and has extended the 12-month warranty to 36 months. HTC slipped the factoid out this week that it has sold over a million Magic smartphones globally. At the same time, HTC said it would start to focus efforts on mid-range devices.

We reviewed the slick new Clickfree Transformer for iPod cable this week that turns your iPod into a backup device. We figured it was a good device for a reasonable price. Those rumors of a new slim PS3 are almost as persistent as the rumors of a price cut for the PS3. The slim PS3 rumor tipped up again with a launch date rumored to be at GamesCon. I’ll believe when I see it.

My favorite story of the week came from Lamborghini with the announcement that it was working on a new hybrid Gallardo for 2015. I guess the hybrid will get 12 mpg rather than 8mpg. AMD launched its new high-end Phenom II X4 965 BE processor this week. The CPU packs in some nice performance at a low $245 price tag.

A developer poking around in the software of his Palm Pre found Wednesday that the Pre was taking lots of information about the user and sending it to Palm. Palm maintained that it is not violating the user’s privacy in collecting data. Microsoft’s Xbox 360 Elite was confirmed for a price cut this week after a new $299.99 price point was leaked inside a catalog for a retail store. The move also eliminates the Xbox 360 Pro.

Samsung has unveiled new ST500 and ST550 cameras perfect for the self-shooter out there. The cams have an LCD on the front and one of the rear so you can see what the camera has in the frame and check out the pics you took from either side. Those rumors of an Apple tablet computer coming won’t die. A video reportedly of the tablet in action leaked this week prompting arguments over if it was real or not.

Samsung unveiled the ND10 netbook this week that shipped without an OS. This may be the Android fanatic’s netbook of choice, but it would make a nice Linux rig as well. You only get a $50 discount from the normal machine for getting it with no OS though. Dell pulled the wraps off the Zino HD computer that is sized like a nettop but promises desktop class power. Exactly what the specs for the machine is are unknown.

Corsair offered up the fastest 128GB flash drive this week for a stiff $390. According to Corsair, the drive is held back by the speed that USB can handle. Dell’s Android smartphone is getting less and less camera shy ahead of it’s launched. More photos of the phone turned up Thursday showing it turned on and in profile shots. The device seems a bit pedestrian to me.

Lenovo issued a batteyr recall Friday that covers notebooks in six model ranges. The batteries in question could cause ominous error messages on the notebook like “Irreparable damage” or “battery cannot be charged.” The company is offering a free replacement to those affected. More specs and images of the HTC Leo surfaced Friday. The device will have a huge 4.3-inch capacitive touchscreen, Qualcomm MSM8250 Snapdragon CPU at 1Gz and a 5MP camera. The phone sounds nice to me.

HTC filed for a patent that covers a new method of using a stylus on a capacitive touchscreen. The stylus uses a magnetic tip. The company also filed for a patent on a method of controlling the display to prevent people from seeing what is on your screen. A French teen is claiming he was in mid call on an iPhone when the device started to hiss and the screen blew up. A shard of glass allegedly hit him in the eye. His eye was fine, but his mom said he was scared. Probably time for a new pair of boxers I’m guessing.

NVIDIA talked up its MCP89 and MCP99 successors to the Ion platform on Friday. Rumors have the new chips headed to Apple products in 2010. The chipsets are for Intel-based notebooks. Valve confirmed on Friday that it will not be developing for the PS3 in “any real way” anymore. I don’t get that, I have an Xbox and a PS3, I like the PS3 much better myself. Why leave money on the table.

Another week has come and gone, there is your week in review! Enjoy what’s left of your weekend!