Here a roundup of todays reviews and articles:

10 Firefox Productivity Tips and Tools
20 things I did after installing Ubuntu 14.10/Ubuntu 14.04
All-round PC - November 2014
ASRock QC5000-ITX Motherboard
ASUS X99-PRO Motherboard
Buyers Guide: Which Surface Pro 3 is right for you?
Func MS-2 Review
Gigabyte Z97N-Gaming 5 (LGA 1150) Motherboard Review
Google Nexus 9 First Impressions
Hands-on review: Yoga Tablet 2 with Windows
HIS R9 285 IceQ X2 OC 2GB GDDR5 Video Card Review
Icy Dock Black Vortex Hot Swap Module Review
MSI X99S MPower review: affordable X99 board for overclockers
Nvidia Shield Gaming Tablet Review
Samsung Galaxy Alpha Review: Going for the premium look and feel
Stanley FatMax LEDLISL+HIDLISL Lithium-Ion Flashlights Review
Xbox One Digital TV Tuner Review

10 Firefox Productivity Tips and Tools

As a long time Firefox user I have come to love the options to customize the browser as well as the functionality that it offers and its add-on developers.

While it is fine to use Firefox as it comes by default, you will never reach the browser's full potential.

Little tweaks and add-ons can improve how you work with Firefox significantly so that you save time by optimizing workflows.

Read full article @ gHacks

20 things I did after installing Ubuntu 14.10/Ubuntu 14.04

Ten years has been gone by since the launch of brand Ubuntu. Ubuntu 14.10 is the 21st major release and this latest launch codenamed "Utopic Unicorn" could also be the most low-key release to date. But that's a whole different discussion. We will be reviewing Ubuntu 14.10 in detail soon. Here we'll see what all can be done to improve stock Ubuntu 14.10. 20 things to do after installing Ubuntu 14.10/Ubuntu 14.04 LTS. My favorite Ubuntu versions has almost always has been the LTS releases. Ubuntu 12.04 could be termed as my favorite Ubuntu to date, and Ubuntu 14.04 LTS comes a close second. On the other hand, Ubuntu 14.10 could be termed as one of my least favorite Ubuntu ever!A lot of issues actually.

Read full article @ Tech Drive-in

All-round PC - November 2014

The all-round PC is a PC with comprehensive features for around £650 - £750 that can do a little bit of everything. It should have enough speed and capacity to meet your needs for some time. Currently it can run all applications, and you're able to upgrade it with small future investments when you need more power or storage capacity.

Surfing, gaming, business applications, photo and video editing should all be possible on the all-round PC without giving you the feeling that it's lacking in performance.

This means a fast processor and graphics card with an excellent price/ performance ratio, in combination with more than enough memory and storage space. Let's not forget a good computer case and a power supply that will remain energy efficient and silent enough for some years to come. Since the monitor, mouse and keyboard will be used daily you should definitely not skimp on these peripherals.

Read full article @ Hardware.Info

ASRock QC5000-ITX Motherboard

The ASRock QC5000-ITX is a Mini-ITX motherboard that comes with an A4-5000 "Kabini" quad-core CPU soldered. It has six USB 3.0 and four SATA-600 ports, but its highlights are actually its low TDP and low cost, besides, of course, its small footprint.

Read full article @ Hardware Secrets

ASUS X99-PRO Motherboard

The ASUS X99-PRO is a top mid-range motherboard for the new Intel high-end "Haswell-E" processors, based on the new LGA2011-v3 socket. It includes three PCI Express 3.0 x16 slots, ten SATA-600 ports (with one SATA Express connector), ten USB 3.0 ports, a high-end audio controller, and an integrated Wi-Fi 802.11ac interface. Let's take a good look at this board.

Read full article @ Hardware Secrets

Buyers Guide: Which Surface Pro 3 is right for you?

When it comes to fielding questions about the Surface Pro 3, the most popular thing we are asked is, "Which Surface should I get?" Although our goal here at Windows Central is to keep you informed, we cannot give you one clear answer on this subject. The truth is that different configurations could be right for different people. I spent years as an IT consultant, often advising my clients on what equipment to buy based on their needs. Based on that experience, I have tried to put together a guide to help you decide which Surface might be right for you. This is just my humble opinion, but hopefully, you find it useful.

Read full article @ Windows Central

Func MS-2 Review

Can it do as well as its bigger brother? Func is among the oldest brand names in the peripheral market with its roots traceable as far back as 1999. Yet for the bulk of that 15- year existence Func laid dormant, that is, until it was resurrected in late 2012. Since making its return to the peripheral scene, Func has pursued a successful strategy of delivering simple, effective gaming products.

During Computex 2014, Func revealed the MS-2 gaming mouse that was designed with the intention of offering a smaller and slightly more affordable alternative to its bigger brother, the MS-3. The size shrink not only brings with it a reduction in price, as the newly launched MS-2 comes in at a reasonable sub-£40, but also a design better suited to a clawgrip style instead of the palmgrip preference of the MS-3.

Read full article @ Hexus

Gigabyte Z97N-Gaming 5 (LGA 1150) Motherboard Review

Intel’s Z97 platform is a perfect basis for a mini-ITX system build as it features enough performance to please even the most demanding user while still being power efficient enough to be tamed by small form factor cases and modest cooling solutions. Due to those reasons it isn’t surprising to see Intel’s LGA 1150 platform dominate the mini-ITX landscape. Creating a mini-ITX motherboard from AMD’s AM3+ or Intel’s LGA 2011 platforms is unfeasible from a number of perspectives including heat and for LGA 2011, the size of the socket and number of memory lanes required. We have seen other mini-ITX motherboards emerge for low power platforms like Intel’s Bay Trail, AMD’s Kabini and AMD’s FM2+ APU platform but relatively speaking all three of these platforms cannot rival Intel’s LGA 1150 in terms of raw performance. In short, Intel’s mainstream LGA 1150 platform offers the best balance of features, performance, pricing and power efficiency for the mini-ITX form factor.

On the subject of mini-ITX today we are reviewing Gigabyte’s Z97N-Gaming 5 motherboard to see if it can match the high standards set by other motherboard vendors such as MSI with their Z87I Gaming AC or ASUS with their Z97I-PLUS. Gigabyte’s Z97N-Gaming 5 is part of Gigabyte’s gaming product stack meaning we see the usual audio and networking customisations found across the entire Gigabyte Gaming 9 series. The heart of this “Gaming” status is derived from a combination of Killer networking and advanced audio quality based on Realtek’s flagship ALC1150 codec. Those two things aside the customisation options for mini-ITX motherboards are limited for obvious reasons: space. The new storage form factors for Z97, M.2 and SATA Express, both get ditched due to space constraints. Gigabyte haven’t tried to reverse mount an M.2 port on the bottom of the board like ASUS managed to do with the Z97I-PLUS. Impressively Gigabyte have still managed to use all six SATA ports, offer a heatpipe cooling solution and a pair of fan headers for the CPU socket. The space on the Z97N Gaming 5 is used well, a point of congratulations goes to the decision to ditch the TPM header which ASUS and MSI both put on their mini-ITX boards for reasons unknown to the logical thinker: what gamer needs a TPM device?

Read full article @ eTeknix

Google Nexus 9 First Impressions

High quality and with a price tag to match. Google's latest tablet splits the difference between its predecessors from a size perspective while adopting a decidedly more premium design and price point. And if that's not ambitious enough, the Nexus 9 is also the very first device to ship with Android 5.0, an attempt to establish the Google mobile OS as a credible alternative to Apple iOS.

Read full article @ WinSupersite

Hands-on review: Yoga Tablet 2 with Windows

The new Yoga Tablet 2 with Windows practically matches the Android-equipped Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 Pro spec for spec with a few differences here and there. The Windows Yoga comes packed with a 13.3-inch quad HD display, 1.86GHz quad-core Intel Atom chip, 15-hour battery, Bluetooth 4.0, Dual-Band Wi-Fi, kickstand and 64GB of removable storage.The most obvious difference - Windows 8.1 instead of Android - the new Windows-based 13-inch Yoga Tablet 2 also lacks the Android version's built-in projector, as well as its rear camera, opting instead for a 1.6-megapixel front-facing camera.

Read full article @ Techradar

HIS R9 285 IceQ X2 OC 2GB GDDR5 Video Card Review

As the R9 285 OC model from Gigabyte, the HIS R9 285 IceQ X2 2GB OC video card is based on the Tonga architecture and is using a new form of compression for frame buffer color data, which reduces the amount of memory bandwidth required for buffer operations. The product is overclocked from the factory but not as high as the Gigabyte R9 285 OC so the overall results were a bit lower in the synthetic benchmarks but also inside the games. However, we could overclock the card quite a bit with the supplied utility and have reached similar performance when the card was maxed-out.

Read full article @ Madshrimps

Icy Dock Black Vortex Hot Swap Module Review

We have been looking at Icy Dock products for quite some time now, both external and internal solutions. They have recently released a new product that really caught my eye and seemed different from their normal offerings. The product that I am talking about is their Black Vortex (MB074SP-1B) 3.5-inch SATA HDD 4 in 3 Hot Swap Module Cooler Cage. This device allows you to fit four 3.5-inch hard drives into three 5.25-inch drive bays, but beyond that it has a blue LED cooling fan and a pretty unique design. If you need extra hard drive space in your system this is the perfect device for you and it looks great as well! Read on as we take a look…

Read full article @ ThinkComputers.org

MSI X99S MPower review: affordable X99 board for overclockers

Recently we have published an update on our Intel X99-chipset motherboard test where we looked at a total of 20 motherboards. Just after we finished out test we received the MSI X99S MPower. In this review we cover this affordable board aimed at overclocking and compare it to all other X99 boards we have already tested.

In our previous test we have already covered a few motherboards that are aimed at overclocking, the ASUS Rampage V Extreme, Gigabyte X99-SOC Force and the MSI X99S XPower AC. These three board all have one disadvantage in common, they cannot be called affordable by any stretch of the imagination. Obviously the CPU that will be used with these boards is not cheap as well, but in many cases there is functionality on a motherboard of that price that you will never need or use. As an example the XPower features a 802.11ac WLAN-adapter, but we doubt if any overclocker will actually use WiFi.

Read full article @ Hardware.Info

Nvidia Shield Gaming Tablet Review

The Nvidia Shield was and still is one of the coolest gadgets I have ever reviewed and owned; I still use it regularly when I want to break away from my desk and it has also become my vital travel buddy for long journeys. Gaming on the go is a great way to pass the time and mobile phones and tablets now take up a massive part of that market, but most phones and tablets come with one major drawback; touch screen displays. The original Shield solved this touch screen gaming problem by integrating a controller into the Android device; in a way that’s not all that dissimilar to other dedicated hand-held games consoles such as the 3DS and the PlayStation Vita.

The new Shield Tablet drops the integrated controller to turn the Shield into an Android tablet, this worries me somewhat as I love the integrated controller of the Shield console as it’s perfect for holding when you’re on the bus, train, plane, or anywhere else for that matter. Of course there will be pros and cons to dropping the integrated controller and that’s what I aim to find out; is the Shield better or worse for the new design choices?

A separate controller isn’t the only thing Nvidia have changed, in fact pretty much everything has been tweaked, revised or created from scratch for the Shield Tablet. The screen size and resolution has been increased, the device now features two 5MP HDR cameras, a stylus and more. The biggest feature change of all is the CPU/GPU upgrade; the Tegra 4 in the Shield was impressive, but it’s no match for the new Tegra K1 GPU and ARM Cortex A15 CPU combo.

Read full article @ eTeknix

Samsung Galaxy Alpha Review: Going for the premium look and feel

The Galaxy Alpha accompanies the Galaxy S5 at the top of Samsung’s line-up. The 4.7-inch device is a smaller alternative to their popular flagship, designed for people who place form at the top of their priority list. Samsung seems to be realizing that cheap plastic just doesn’t cut it anymore for its flagship smartphones, but the choice to focus on design has also left the Alpha with slightly downgraded specs compared to the S5.

Read full article @ Techspot

Stanley FatMax LEDLISL+HIDLISL Lithium-Ion Flashlights Review

Brand names. All companies have them. The name that is associated with a company is something all try their best to instill in the minds of consumers. Some brand names have a storied and lasting history behind them. When I think of the brand name of Stanley, I personally think about high quality tools that anyone can use for the home improvement trade, heck even the professionals use Stanley. Stanley is now technically part of the Black & Decker family and called Stanley Black & Decker.

Stanley makes everything from chisels for carpentry, measuring tapes, stud sensors, hammers, screwdrivers, wrenches, knives, and even flashlights. The FatMax line of tools has been a lineup of tools that has given steady growth for Stanley. Stanley FatMax products are those that are essential for the professional, or enthusiast who desire durable, high quality tools. They are a step above the norm and now have the FatMax Xtreme lineup of tools with a slogan of Treat It Like You Hate It, brilliant motto.

Today I have the chance at sharing with you two of Stanley's latest flashlights that are part of the FatMax lineup. These spotlights utilize new Lithium-Ion battery technology as opposed to previous generations that have used heavier and problematic Sealed Lead Acid battery types. Improvements come in the form of weight savings, extended runtime, and longer lifetime without much maintenance.

Read full article @ ModSynergy.com

Xbox One Digital TV Tuner Review

From its inception, the Xbox One has been envisaged by Microsoft as much more than just a games console.Rather it's been developed and positioned as a full home entertainment centre – a hub through which all your home entertainment content should pass.This vision hasn't always parsed well with the gaming community; certainly Sony did very nicely with its PS4 marketing policy of focussing on that console's single-minded interest in gaming.It hardly helped, either, that Microsoft dropped the ball by failing to deliver some key AV-related features when the Xbox One was launched. Europe fared particularly badly in this respect, as we didn't get any support for integrated TV functionality like the American market did.Thankfully things have slowly but surely been heading in the right direction since then. Various firmware updates have introduced such key AV tricks as 50Hz/3D Blu-ray playback, Plex multimedia support, Sky's Now TV service and the Xbox One Guide, which enabled the Xbox One to connect up with Sky and Virgin Media receivers to deliver enhanced listings and control options. Of course, though, not everyone is a Sky or Virgin subscriber.

Read full article @ Techradar