Here a roundup of the latest reviews and articles:

A first look at USB 3.1 performance
BlueAnt PUMP HD Sportbuds Review
Case Mod Friday: Snef’s Bloody Angel
Crucial Ballistix Elite 16GB DDR4-2666 CL16 Memory Kit Review
Crucial MX200 SSD Review @ HardwareHeaven
Entry-level PC - March 2015
FSP PB Runner 10400mAh Power Bank Review
How to integrate Prey into the security posture of your Linux PC
How to Quickly Transfer Your Files and Settings to a New PC (or Mac)
Lenovo Tab 2 A8 Review: Hands-on
Lumia 640 XL review: Hands-on
MSI GT80 Titan SLI Review
NZXT S340 Mid Tower PC Case Review
Raspberry Pi 2 Review
Remington iCoffee Opus Single Serve Coffee Maker
SanDisk Ultra II 240GB Solid State Drive Review
SanDisk UltraFit USB 3.0 FlashDrive (16GB)
The ultimate guide to ArmA

A first look at USB 3.1 performance

Today, we're going to take our very first look at some USB 3.1 gear. Asus has supplied us with a drive enclosure and a matching motherboard, which will help us gauge the kinds of performance gains users can expect.

Read full article @ The Tech Report

BlueAnt PUMP HD Sportbuds Review

We are all well aware that wires are almost a thing of the past in most areas of the industry and although at least currently wireless connections can't offer the same exact results still its preferred by most people since simply put it's far easier to deal with. Now for home use i truly believe that wires still have much to offer whether we're talking about headsets, speakers, gaming peripherals and pretty much everything else which is also why i prefer them as well but when away from home or the office things change drastically since comfort is what people care about the most (myself included). Now as i already mentioned in our previous review recently i started running in order to keep in shape so i started looking for a good Bluetooth wireless stereo set to listen to music and answer calls since i can't stand tangled wires and BlueAnt was ontop of my list with their latest PUMP HD Sportbuds model.

BlueAnt is a global communications company dedicated to connecting people to the sounds that keep them advancing confidently through life. From delivering pulse-pounding beats to push someone beyond their limits to making sure every detail of a career-changing call is received without interruption, we feel audio sits atop the five senses. Our devices integrate highly advanced technology in such a way as to not overpower the user. We innovate when it will improve the customer experience, not for the sake of innovation itself.

The PUMP HD Sportbuds is very much alike the SPORT Wireless+ by Jabra so once again we get two ear pieces connected together via a rather short flat tangle-free cable which makes it nearly impossible for them to fall from you while performing various intense activities like running and/or exercising. Also much like the SPORT Wireless+ the PUMP HD is waterproof (although it features a more advanced IP67 certification) thanks to the Kevlar and Teflon material used to seal the interior of the enclosures while the rubber coating on the exterior makes it easier for your ears to adapt. Under the hood BlueAnt has placed two 12.5mm drivers featuring their Energize HD audio technology (according to BlueAnt it produces audiophile-grade audio) along with Bluetooth v3.0 connectivity (supports A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP, APTX, ACC) and a rechargeable battery capable of powering the device for up to 8 hours of continuous use. Unfortunately size-wise the PUMP HD Sportbuds are quite larger compared to the SPORT Wireless+ by Jabra but if they deliver on what BlueAnt promises that shouldn't be a problem.

Read full article @ NikKTech

Case Mod Friday: Snef’s Bloody Angel

Welcome to another Case Mod Friday showcase! This week we have Snef Computer Design's “Bloody Angel” build. Snef went ahead and disassembled his "Sand of God" build and wanted something with a little more muscle. He really liked the Caselabs Mercury S5, but he felt like the horizontal board was not for him. He said that he wanted a real "Tower of Power" while looking at the Phanteks Enthoo Primo he stumbled upon the Caselabs SMA8.

Read full article @ ThinkComputers.org

Crucial Ballistix Elite 16GB DDR4-2666 CL16 Memory Kit Review

Couple of months ago we had a chance to test Crucial 4x8GB DDR4-2133 CL15 memory kit which was performing good and overclocking even better. Today we wish to present the latest Crucial memory which is designed for most demanding users - Ballistix Elite 4x4GB DDR4-2666 CL16. Also this time Crucial decided to keep default DDR4 voltage of 1.2V what gives us hopes on good overclocking results.
Except higher default frequency there is also new and unique design. New black-gunmetal heatsinks look really high end and I think most users will love them.
I don't want to make this introduction too long as I bet all are already waiting for test results and closer look at the Crucial Ballistix DDR4 memory. Stay with us to take a closer look at the highest series from the Crucial DDR4 memory kits - Ballistix Elite. I'm sure you won't be disappointed.
 

Read full article @ FunkyKit

Crucial MX200 SSD Review @ HardwareHeaven

Last week we tested Crucials new value orientated SSD, the BX100. Today its the turn of their mainstream model. This is our Crucial MX200 SSD Review.

Read full article @ =?utf-8?Q?Hardware=20Heaven?=

Entry-level PC - March 2015

Our guidelines for the Entry-level PC category are as follows. The entire computer system, excluding OS, should not exceed £420. Its primary, but not only, function is to provide a smooth and enjoyable online experience. This means that the cheapest processors won’t be enough, as modern web pages and internet applications do demand some processing power.

Additionally, the system has to be able to efficiently perform internet-related tasks. This includes basic photo editing (cropping and resizing to upload or send a photo) and extracting compressed files. At the same time the necessary background programmes need to be active, such as a virus scanner, a firewall, and anti-spyware software. The computer also needs to be able to efficiently run word processing software and administrative programmes.

Read full article @ Hardware.Info

FSP PB Runner 10400mAh Power Bank Review

Long distance running is something I’ve just recently gotten into since in the past i never thought that it was really important so walking for a couple of kilometers per couple of days seemed to be sufficient (trust me it's not). Anyways a couple of weeks ago i was away with a friend trying to put my latest Mizuno shoes to the test when suddenly after almost 30 minutes of running my smartphone indicated that it was almost out of battery. Luckily I’m always prepared for that so while in one armband i have my smartphone in the other i have a small credit-card power bank (sometimes i carry a larger one) which can give my smartphone roughly 3 extra hours of life which although not really much especially if you use your smartphone a lot but for me and for that specific day it proved sufficient. Today however we're going to be taking a closer look at a much higher capacity power bank solution, the PB Runner 10400mAh model by FSP.

FSP Group is the 5th largest power supply vendor in the world. Since the company was established in 1993, our outstanding management team has drawn together our R&D expertise, our sizeable production capacity, outstanding product quality to consistently excel in this competitive marketplace. FSP group is a publicly traded company listed in the Taiwan stock exchange, symbol: 30.15.TW, with revenues exceeding over 600 million USD. FSP group provides OEM/ODM power conversion products and services to the majority of well-established manufacturers and is the leading volume supplier of desktop PC ATX power supplies. In recent years, FSP group has expanded its R&D and manufacturing capabilities to become one of the major power conversion supplier of power adapters, industrial PCs, servers, LCD/LED monitors, LCD/LED TVs, heavy duty industrial products (UPS), portable battery chargers, Uninterrupted Power Supply as well as providing off-the-shelf consumer products, partnering with many strategic manufacturers.

The very first thing people see when they purchase something is its looks ad to be honest with all of you the PB Runner 10400mAh is nothing special in that area since FSP followed a very simple design. Now the good news is that when it comes to portable battery packs looks aren't really important so all of us here care very little about that. In the end it's the interior that matters most and by using A-grade Samsung cells FSP can guarantee the highest possible battery capacity, shortest recharge times and endurance through time. However the battery type used is only part of what makes the PB Runner 10400mAh so FSP has paired that with over current, over discharge, over charge and short circuit protections, two 5V USB charging ports (1.5A/2.4A) and a 5 million USD product insurance (just in case something gets broken because of the power bank). So the time has come for us to see if the first step in this segment of the market by a giant like FSP has succeeded or not.

Read full article @ NikKTech

How to integrate Prey into the security posture of your Linux PC

Prey is a cross-platform (Android, Linux, iOS, Mac OS X, and Windows desktop) anti-theft tracking software that, when installed and activated on a supported device, makes it possible to remotely locate, lock, wipe and recover it, if its stolen or missing.

Read full article @ LinuxBSDos.com

How to Quickly Transfer Your Files and Settings to a New PC (or Mac)

Migrating your files, settings, and programs to a new PC can be a little intimidating, especially if youre not completely organized. These tools and simple tips will help you get started.

Read full article @ Howtogeek

Lenovo Tab 2 A8 Review: Hands-on

We put the Chinese firm's first Android Lollipop tablet through its paces

Read full article @ The Inquirer

Lumia 640 XL review: Hands-on

Microsoft phablet can be upgraded to Windows 10 later this year

Read full article @ The Inquirer

MSI GT80 Titan SLI Review

Meet the most powerful laptop we've ever tested. Gaming laptops are considered a strange breed by some. Never as pretty as regular laptops or Ultrabooks, they tend to be big, bulky and expensive, but make up for those shortcomings with benchmark-busting performance.

And sure, we've seen some sexier gaming laptops in recent years, but for the die-hard enthusiasts, you could argue that the perfect gaming laptop is one that's massive, unwieldy, lavishly priced and outfitted with enough firepower to make the Death Star seem antiquated. Step forward the MSI GT80 Titan SLI.

Read full article @ Hexus

NZXT S340 Mid Tower PC Case Review

As with most computer components, PC cases come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes and of course prices. The key is finding the right case at a price that’s right for you. Today I have the pleasure of looking at a new chassis from NZXT that is available from Amazon for $69.99 shipped, the S340. The NZXT S340 is a sleek looking chassis that isn’t going to break the bank.

Read full article @ Legit Reviews

Raspberry Pi 2 Review

The latest chapter of the Raspberry Pi promises so much, but does it deliver? The Raspberry Pi is a series of credit-card sized single-board computers. The original Raspberry Pi was acclaimed by some reviewers as a desktop PC replacement. The reality was vastly different. With a single core CPU and a 256MB dollop of RAM it was honestly too slow for many typical desktop tasks. It was never a desktop replacement after all. The Raspberry Pi's creators, the Raspberry Pi Foundation, wanted to spark children's interest in computer programming and encourage students to apply for computing degrees. The original Pi, and its later incarnation with 512MB RAM have been a runaway success, selling 5 million units. The charitable foundation has used the proceeds from the project to train teachers, supply educational resources, and fund numerous open source projects.

The new Raspberry Pi 2 proclaims that it is 6x faster than the original Pi, taking the original machine to a new level. The big leaps focus on the processor and memory, with the machine now replacing a single core CPU with a quad core Broadcom BCM2836 CPU. The RAM has jumped to a very respectable 1GB.


I purchased the Raspberry Pi from Element 14. Contained in the small box is the credit card sized board, and a quick start guide & safety instruction manual. Nothing else! You will need other items to get started of course. After connecting an HDMI cable, ethernet cable, wireless keyboard and mouse, power lead, and installing Raspbian (using the simple to use NOOBS installer) on a spare Micro SD card, I was ready to see if the Pi 2 is a massive leap forwards, or an incremental improvement.

Read full article @ LinuxLinks

Remington iCoffee Opus Single Serve Coffee Maker

Let's face it - many of us are addicted to caffeine, and I like many get this fix from coffee. Sometimes it is to get us going in the morning, other times it is to keep us going late at night while we are messing with our new tech toys. For several years Keurig and other single serve brewers have been the staple for many people. These brewers have become popular because they are extremely convenient and make a very consistent cup of coffee without the hassle of brewing a whole pot. While it might not be as strong as other methods, the convenience typically makes the trade-off acceptable.

But what if you didn't have to have a trade off with your single serve brewer? Recently we received a Remington iCoffee Opus with SpinBrew for review. This single brew machine claims to brew a better cup of coffee by using a rotating needle to better utilize the grounds in the Kcup. To assess these claims I decided to compare this head to head with a Keurig K550 2.0.

Read full article @ Bigbruin.com

SanDisk Ultra II 240GB Solid State Drive Review

There are many "traditions" when it comes to our church-wide summer conference every year. When I say "traditions", I do not mean stereotypes like dressing in white robes or burning tall candles. Instead, it comes down to stuff like eating bowl noodles at night, playing Dutch Blitz during our free time, trading name tags with other people, and buying motor oil for fun. Additionally, one of the stuff we like to do is pay the guest speaker a visit in one night of the conference, and involve him or her in one or more of our traditions -- well, maybe except for the last one. In the most recent summer conference, on the second night, we decided to go ahead with the traditional guest speaker visit. After the evening talk, I approached him, and asked him if it was okay for us to come. Naturally, he agreed. At first, about four of us showed up at where he was staying. However, what he did not know was I have not-so-secretly invited almost everyone else. Before long, thirty to forty people crowded into his place. The next day, in his morning message, he commented on what happened the night before. "When I went back to my townhouse, I saw about four guys, which was what I have expected. Slowly, everyone started to trickle in. I did not expect all of you to show up!" A lot of times in life, there are expectations, and then there is reality. For some products, there are high expectations, and it delivers. For other products, there are low expectations, and you get exactly what you have paid for. In the case of the SanDisk Ultra II 240GB SSD, like our summer conference guest speaker last year, will we get more than what we expect? For about $110 at press time, let us find out.

Read full article @ APH Networks

SanDisk UltraFit USB 3.0 FlashDrive (16GB)

n an age where we no longer use floppy discs and many systems no longer even have an optical drive the USB-memory sticks have become invaluable for carrying around data, use as Live-“CD” for Linux-distros or even as install-media for Windows and other OS’s. While USB 2.0 was pretty slow USB 3.0 offers much higher transfer rates and the USB-stick we are reviewing today, the SanDisk UltraFit, promises transfer speeds of up to 130MB/s while also including some nice security features.

Read full article @ Bjorn3D

The ultimate guide to ArmA

Here's something somewhat unusual for today. This is a review and editorial of the highly comprehensive and realistic Operation Flashpoint and ArmA tactical combat guides compiled by Dslyecxi, as the ultimate gaming resource for the ArmA franchise. You may like this. Take a look.

Read full article @ Dedoimedo