Here today's reviews and articles, including 50 handy Office 2013 tips, tricks and hints, Icy Dock MB882SP and MB982IP Hard Drive Converter Reviews, Windows 8.1 deep-dive review, Samsung Galaxy S4 Android Smartphone, and Kingston DataTraveler Ultimate 32GB review



In Depth: 50 handy Office 2013 tips, tricks and hints @ Techradar

Whether you've bought the apps as one-offs, the whole Office 2013 suite or signed up for Microsoft's new Office 365 subscription package, there's lots to like about the new versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.If you've taken the plunge with the new-look touch-friendly apps, these tips and tricks can help you go further with the software - from tailoring the interface to embedding online clips, there's plenty to explore. We've tried to focus on the new features in Office 2013 (though you will find some tricks that work across the board), while providing a mix of quick hints and more in-depth tips to suit every level of user.

Read more: In Depth: 50 handy Office 2013 tips, tricks and hints @ Techradar

Icy Dock MB882SP and MB982IP Hard Drive Converter Reviews @ Legit Reviews

Turn your 2.5" SATA and SSD hard drive into a standard 3.5" SATA drive in minutes with the ICY DOCK MB882SP-1S-1B. With universal mounting holes, the ICY DOCK MB882SP-1S-1B will fit into most common PC cases, 3.5" HDD duplicator, 3.5" SATA HDD enclosure, mobile rack, and backplane modules, without the need for any attachments for the 2.5" drives. Read on to find out if a converter like this is right for you.

Read more: Icy Dock MB882SP and MB982IP Hard Drive Converter Reviews @ Legit Reviews

MSI Z87-G45 GAMING (Intel LGA 1150) @ techPowerUp

Hatched at the same time as MSI's other GAMING Dragon, the Z87-G45 GAMING comes from the same brood as its bigger brother. The genes may be the same, but the abilities offered are different, including the hole the MSI Z87-G45 GAMING is going to burn into your wallet; being smaller sometimes has its benefits.

Read more: MSI Z87-G45 GAMING (Intel LGA 1150) @ techPowerUp

Fractal Design Integra R2 750W Power Supply Review @ ThinkComputers.org

Over the past couple of months we have been taking a look at Fractal Design's line of power supplies. We started with the high-end Newton R3, we then moved down the line to the Tesla R2 and now we have the budget and mainstream Integra R2 750W. This power supply is currently selling for $89.99 at my favorite online retailer. It features a 80PLUS Bronze certification, a silent temperature controlled fan and the great styling we know from Fractal Design. This power supply is a great choice for anyone who is on a budget for a power supply, especially if you are not looking for a modular power supply. Let's take a look

Read more: Fractal Design Integra R2 750W Power Supply Review @ ThinkComputers.org

VR-Zone Posts Intel SSD 5Q Roadmap LSI SandForce Based 530 and 1500/2500 Pro M.2 SSDs On The Way @ SSD Review

We aren't quite sure how they do it but VR-Zone has discovered and published the Intel SSD Roadmap once again, revealing that we should be seeing a 530 release, along with new M.2 NGFF form factors released in the very near future.

Believing to remain with LSI SandForce, the 5Q Roadmap identifies the 530 as being available in both SATA 3 and M.2 capacities, based on 20nm memory and reaching a top capacity of 360GB, with higher capacities to appear down the road.

Read more: VR-Zone Posts Intel SSD 5Q Roadmap LSI SandForce Based 530 and 1500/2500 Pro M.2 SSDs On The Way @ SSD Review

Sony VAIO Pro 13 Review @ TechReviewSource.com

The Sony VAIO Pro 13 Touch is an Ultrabook computer with an extremely lightweight, attractive design and extra long battery life. It has a very fast solid-state hard drive and good overall performance, but a few design flaws do trouble us.

Read more: Sony VAIO Pro 13 Review @ TechReviewSource.com

Mad Catz R.A.T.M Gaming Mouse Review @ Madshrimps

The R.A.T.M. mouse from Mad Catz is a fresh iteration of the previously released versions but with a more portable, compact revision. The use of Bluetooth 4.0 LE allows a battery life of about an year and for customizing the product we get software for both Windows and Mac OSX platforms.

Read more: Mad Catz R.A.T.M Gaming Mouse Review @ Madshrimps

Windows 8.1 deep-dive review: Well, it's a start @ Computerworld

Although the preview of Windows 8.1 fixes some of the problems users complained about in the previous version of the OS, is it enough? We take a close look at Microsoft's update.

Read more: Windows 8.1 deep-dive review: Well, it's a start @ Computerworld

Kingston 64GB microSDXC Class 10 Memory Card Review @ Review the Tech

For today’s review we will be looking at the Kingston 64 GB micro SDXC card. This is a class 10 micro SD card ideal for shooting videos, taking pictures as well as providing storage for music, games and all other kinds of data. Most commonly these cards are used for mobile devices such as Android phones and tablets. These microSDs are a great way to max out those device’s capacities. Since Kingston includes an SD card adapter this micro size memory card can be used in other devices that use the larger storage format such a digital cameras and video recorders. Let’s take a closer look.

Read more: Kingston 64GB microSDXC Class 10 Memory Card Review @ Review the Tech

Ebode VLHD30 Full HDMI Wireless Audio/Video Sender System Review @ Madshrimps

No more visible HDMI cables. Wireless HDMI until 30 meters for connecting to your HD video devices. This system, receiver and transmitter, sends High-Definition audio/video to your receiver and/or HDTV (or projector), everywhere in and around the house.

Read more: Ebode VLHD30 Full HDMI Wireless Audio/Video Sender System Review @ Madshrimps

Silverstone Precision PS08 mATX Case Review @ HiTech Legion

Ferrari certainly does not “need” to make such a car, but considering their engineering pedigree, a certain level of quality is expected even for such an unusual undertaking. If Ferrari ever decides to create a 3-cyliner engine car to compete against a Geo Metro, they will most likely do well. Actually, Ferrari made a 3-cylinder supercharged prototype before so you have to upgrade that “likely” to “possibly”. When it comes to computer cases, Silverstone’s high-end and unique designs have earned them the respect of PC enthusiasts, equivalent to that of Ferrari for car lovers. Although not widely known, Silverstone also just happens to offer budget cases as well through their precision series, the latest of which is the mATX PS08.

Silverstone’s Precision PS08 is available in an all-white or all-black version and can fit mATX as well as mini-ITX motherboards. Despite the small size, the Silverstone PS08 can house aftermarket CPU coolers up to 140mm tall as well as video cards up to 358mm long. A 120mm fan is pre-installed in the front intake that has a measured max 1238 rpm (via ASUS FanXpert2) and runs relatively silent even on full voltage. An optional 80mm fan can be installed in the front intake and either an 80mm or 92mm fan can be installed in the rear of the PS08 as exhaust. The front intake of the PS08 has a removable dust filter and both front panel Universal Serial Bus ports use a 19-pin USB 3.0 header.

Read more: Silverstone Precision PS08 mATX Case Review @ HiTech Legion

Samsung Galaxy S4 Android Smartphone @ MEGATech

There are two companies that are currently dominating the world of smartphones. Controlling the vast majority of the overall market share are Apple and Samsung. And when you take a look at the latter, the pre-eminent handset being offered today is the Samsung Galaxy S4. It’s big, it’s bold, and it’s what Samsung wants to have as your “life companion.” If you’re in the market for a new Android smartphone, the Galaxy S4 certainly cannot be ignored.

Read more: Samsung Galaxy S4 Android Smartphone @ MEGATech

ASRock's Z87E-ITX Mini-ITX motherboard reviewed @ The Tech Report

With 802.11ac Wi-Fi, DTS-laced integrated audio, and the best firmware fan controls around, ASRock's Z87E-ITX sets a new standard for Mini-ITX motherboards. We put the board under the microscope to see if it can keep up with the big dogs.

Read more: ASRock's Z87E-ITX Mini-ITX motherboard reviewed @ The Tech Report

Company of Heroes 2 Tested, Benchmarked @ Techspot

It's hard to believe nearly seven years have passed since Relic Entertainment and THQ released Company of Heroes, a World War II-themed real-time strategy title that impressed the heck out of me and many other RTS buffs at the time. I even invested in the two expansions that followed -- Opposing Fronts and Tales of Valor -- and in addition to logging many hours of playtime, I have featured the game across plenty of CPU and GPU reviews as it's an excellent benchmark for gauging the performance of both components.

The built-in benchmark made life easy by testing a reasonable portion of the game, which became even more relevant to hardware testers like myself when Relic added a DirectX 10 rendering mode a year after Company of Heroes initially shipped, patching in enhanced terrain, additional world objects as well as improved shadows and lighting. This update made Company of Heroes the first commercial video game to support DirectX 10.

Read more: Company of Heroes 2 Tested, Benchmarked @ Techspot

CM Storm QuickFire Stealth Mechanical Keyboard Review @ Neoseeker

With a wide variety of computer hardware products ranging from cases and fans to keyboards and mice under their belt, Cooler Master is definitely a brand well known to gamers and enthusiasts alike. The QuickFire series is Cooler Master's line of mechanical keyboards, something we’re all too familiar with here at Neoseeker. Several months ago, we reviewed the CM Storm QuickFire TK mechanical keyboard which uniquely combined the standard number pad with the navigation keys, in an implementation that made much work out of the Num Lock key. While I praised the product for its superior build quality, responsiveness, and bright lighting, the constant switching between navigation and number keys was a bother throughout the weeks I tested the keyboard.

Enter the CM Storm QuickFire Stealth, Cooler Master's next entry into its mechanical keyboard line. Slightly shorter in length than the QuickFire TK, the Stealth eschews the number pad completely for more compact dimensions. In following with the Stealth name, the top of all the keycaps are left blank, with letters printed on the front instead. Theoretically, it means the printing will last forever because it will never come in contact with the oils from your fingertips. The QuickFire Stealth also features a soft-touch finish on the surface, Cherry MX mechanical key switches, NKRO (in PS/2 mode), and a removable USB cable. As with the QuickFire TK, the modular cable design is a welcome sight as it significantly increases the portability of the keyboard. Cooler Master advertises four options for Cherry MX mechanical switches: Red, Blue, Green, and Brown. Today, we will be taking a look at the Cherry MX Blue version.

Read more: CM Storm QuickFire Stealth Mechanical Keyboard Review @ Neoseeker

Iomega PX6-300D Review @ Vortez

Established in the 1980s, Iomega has been a forerunner for digital storage in both the consumer market and business sector. Back in 2008 EMC acquired Iomega but still maintained the Iomega branding. Earlier this year Lenovo teamed up for a joint venture to create LenovoEMC and their products now abstain from using the Iomega name. But today we will be taking a look at a device which came to market before all of these acquisitions…

Today we will be taking a look at the Iomega PX6-300D – a network storage device capable of housing up to six HDDs and coming equipped with a software UI to even the most demanding of requirements for the home/small office network.

Read more: Iomega PX6-300D Review @ Vortez

RockDoc Memory 4GB Portable Speakers @ NikKTech

After having used and tested a whole bunch of portable speakers over the past few years last month we received the NuForce Cube High Performance Portable Speaker which ended up blowing our minds since thanks to its size/volume/clarity combo it's probably (we can never be 100% certain with the amount of portable speakers in the market) the best such gadget one can get in the market currently. However the electronics industry is a place filled with surprises (mostly pleasant ones) so just a week ago we started using/testing another pair of portable speakers sized almost the same as the NuForce Cube and also without featuring Bluetooth connectivity. Instead they pack 4GB of internal memory allowing the end user to store and playback a large number of his/hers music collection without having to connect them to a source. We are of course talking about the POWER and BOOM memory 4GB portable speakers by RockDoc.

Read more: RockDoc Memory 4GB Portable Speakers @ NikKTech

MSI GTX 780 Gaming @ LanOC Reviews

Our first introduction to the new 700 series of cards from Nvidia was impressive and I can say without a doubt that I have enjoyed our time with it through the review and beyond. I was especially impressed with the stock cooler aesthetically, but the performance wasn’t too bad as well. Of course that can be improved on and I finally have a chance to see that now with our latest card to come in, MSI’s GTX 780 Gaming or the N780 Twin Frozr 3GB Overclocked. Every time I have had a Twin Frozr card on the test bench I have been impressed, I wonder if this will be the same. Of course I am going to put it through our test suite to find out.

Read more: MSI GTX 780 Gaming @ LanOC Reviews

Seagate 600 Series SSD 480 GB ST480HM000 @ techPowerUp

Seagate is trying to establish a strong presence in the SSD market using their new 600 and 600 Pro SSDs, which are based on a Link-A-Media controller. Clocking in at $400 for the 480 GB version, our testing shows good price/performance, at affordable storage cost.

Read more: Seagate 600 Series SSD 480 GB ST480HM000 @ techPowerUp

OCC E3 2013 Awards @ OCC

Is there any question? You only have to look at the small novel I wrote on the RPG category to see why The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is my Game of the Show. CD Projekt RED looks to be sending Geralt out on the highest note possible, with a massive world to explore, around 100 hours of quests (both main and side), and more things than you can shake a silver sword at. The Witcher 3 just looks like what I expect a next-gen game to be, and the best part is it's still coming to the PC. I mean, what more can you ask for? OK, I know, more photos/videos of Geralt doing his Witcher's stuff and probably (definitely) Triss Merigold, but give CDP time!

Read more: OCC E3 2013 Awards @ OCC

Kingston DataTraveler Ultimate 32GB review @ Myce

It’s a fact that USB3 has to offer very high speed reads and writes, in many cases most USB3 flash drives have the same or higher speed as a traditional spinning drive, but you don’t have to pay the penalty of the 2.5" portable size, and most importantly you don’t have to wait for it to access the file that you need.

The Kingston DataTraveler Ultimate 3.0 G3 is a drive that will outperform many mechanical drives, and it’s much easier to carry with you all the time. The flash drives come in two different sizes 32Gb and 64GB and they are more than enough to carry all the files that you want with you, but still have enough space for you to use if you need to.

Read more: Kingston DataTraveler Ultimate 32GB review @ Myce