Here a roundup of today's reviews and articles:

Asus Echelon Forest Multi-Platform Gaming Headset Review
Dying Light VGA graphics performance Review
Func MS-2 Optical Mouse Review
Inateck HB3001G OTG 3-Port USB Hub and Card Reader Review
Installing Windows 10 Technical Preview on the HP Stream 7
Intel NUC Kit NUC5i5RYK Review
NVIDIA GeForce 347.52 Performance Analysis
Palit GTX960 Super JetStream Review
Philips Moda 2 Review
Plextor M6e Black Edition PCIe 256GB SSD Review
Sapphire Radeon R9 290X Vapor-X 8GB and 4GB review: is 8GB useful?
SDR Guide - SDR-Receiver with DVB-T USB Stick
The Dell XPS 13 is the PC laptop to beat
The TR Podcast 170 video: What the kids put in their PCIe slots these days
Verizon Sony Xperia Z2 and Z3v
WD My Passport Wireless Review: Shared Wireless Storage

Asus Echelon Forest Multi-Platform Gaming Headset Review

There’s no shortage of gaming headsets on the market and it can be hard to find the one best suited to your needs. You may want it for gaming at your desk, but what if you also want something good enough to listen to music, or watch movies. What if you want to travel with it and have it work with your mobile devices, or even a games console? That’s where the Asus Echelon Forest comes into play.

The Echelon is a multi format headset, which means it will work with multiple devices. It comes equipped with a 4 pole 3.5mm jack plug, making it compatible with devices such as your mobile phone, the PlayStation 4 (connects to the controller), a tablet, or a portable device such as the PS VITA. It also comes bundled with an adaptor to change the single 4-pole connector to a dual 3.5mm setup, making it compatible with your desktop PC.

In the box you’ll find a few accessories, such as the PC adaptor cable, which is nice and long to provide extra reach. A smartphone adaptor cable, a foam microphone head and a protective bag.

Read full article @ eTeknix

Dying Light VGA graphics performance Review

We take close to 30 graphics cards and check out Dying Light - Join us as we have a look at DX11 performance with the newest graphics cards and technologies. The new and popular title is looking great from a graphics point of view. And apparently Nvidia has had a hand in this title as well as the game has Nvidia Gamworks optimizations including HBAO+

After the initial launch issues, we figured, let's wait a little while until most of the stuff is rooted out by some patches. Based on patch 1.2 it's that time, so hence today we will present you our performance review of this title. A game that can be explained in just one line: Sprawling hills, city pastures, flowing rivers and lots of zombies ! Techland has launched its open world horror title for the PC. Scavenge for supplies and craft weapons, then defend the city against it's huge infected population.

Read full article @ Guru3D

Func MS-2 Optical Mouse Review

When Target Canada launched in 2013, there was a bit of excitement in the air. The store preceding it, Zellers, had sung its swan song, as it was unable to handle the competition. The first impressions I had of Target was generally a positive one. It was clean, updated, and felt fresh. However, as the months went by, the bottom line was not looking favorable for them. Worse yet, there were several clear signs targeting -- pun fully intended -- their demise. Target's entrance into Canada was done seemingly hastily; opening up well over a hundred stores within a year, rather than taking small steps into the country. While their hands were tied due to the purchase of the lease agreement, this "all-in" method generally does not work well, especially for an operation of this scale. When they were established here, their discounts were mediocre at best. The prices were not bad overall, but people had greater expectations. Finally, there was the supply chain management problem, leaving shelves half full all the time. To make it worse, Target would not modify their shelving plans, also known as plan-o-grams, to stock shelves with other products. Now of course, these reasons are not the be-all and end-all, but they played a part in the demise of Target. Thus today in 2015, Target Canada is closing their doors, and liquidating their stores. But what does this tell us? Even with a company like Target, with enough flaws and undesirables, the largest of giants will come crashing down. Rather, for a successor to be successful it must function well on its own, fixing the flaws of its predecessor, while not introducing any new ones either. While able to bring newness to the table, Target could not function well economically, and had its own share of flaws as well. As for the product in question today, the Func MS-2, it is not exactly a successor to the Func MS-3. However, I think it is still valid to ask if Func has fixed upon the flaws of the MS-3, even if they were few in number. Is the Func MS-2 at least a worthy brother to the Func MS-3? This question and more will be answered in today's review, so read on to find out!

Read full article @ APH Networks

Inateck HB3001G OTG 3-Port USB Hub and Card Reader Review

Modern smart devices can perform all sort of things and we’ve reached a time where the term smart might actually apply, that is at least until we get to the issue of connectivity. And this is where the On-The-Go (OTG) feature comes into play, it allows us to expand the connectivity to our Android and other OTG devices by turning the micro USB connector into a USB host adapter. We’ve recently tested some flash drives that support this feature, but OTG is so much more.

Inateck have taken a serious look at what smart device users could lack on features and created the HB3001G All in one Card reader and 3-port USB hub for smart devices. While the packaging highlights Samsung S4, S5, Note 3, Note 4, Tab 4 and Tab S devices, this hub will work fine with any OTG enabled device. One of the great features that USB has, the plug and play nature, makes this a possibility.

Read full article @ eTeknix

Installing Windows 10 Technical Preview on the HP Stream 7

Ready to try Windows 10 on your HP Stream 7 or another compressed OS device? This how-to will walk you through that process.

Read full article @ WinSupersite

Intel NUC Kit NUC5i5RYK Review

Today, we'll be looking at an early production sample of the Intel NUC NUC5i5RYK. This model is currently the flagship model as it comes with the mainstream Intel Core i5 5250U Dual-Core processor with Hyper-Threading. The Intel Core i5-5250U is a 15W TDP processor based on the Broadwell microarchitecture, which means it is made using the 14nm process node. It comes with a base clock of 1.6GHz and thanks to Intel Turbo Boost Technology it can get up to 2.7GHz when needed. Read on to see how this tiny (115mm x 111mm x 48.7mm) system performs.

Read full article @ Legit Reviews

NVIDIA GeForce 347.52 Performance Analysis

Not long ago we looked at AMD’s Catalyst Omega driver release, the first major driver package for some time and heralded by AMD themselves as a big step forward in terms of driver stability and performance. In scant few months between it and a viable previous release driver compatible with our test system AMD were able to squeeze out substantial performance despite the relatively age of the GCN architecture. Today we’re putting Nvidia’s driver package through similar paces, primarily to see just how far they’ve come in optimising for their new Maxwell architecture since September’s hardware launch.

Nvidia are well known for an extremely fast turnaround time for new drivers, even WHQL-certified drivers. Game Day drivers – GeForce 347.52, the drivers we're focusing on, among them – tend to be issued on the day of every major game release. AMD by contrast tend to rely on progressive beta candidates before rolling in changes to a major update later in the month. By working closely with game developers Nvidia tend to have access to game release candidates early on, allowing their driver team some lead time prior to release to smooth out any problems.

Read full article @ Vortez

Palit GTX960 Super JetStream Review

Nvidia released their new Maxwell cards last month and on launch day we focused on the Asus and Gigabyte GTX960. Today we supplement our initial findings by looking at the new Palit GTX960 Super JetStream. This card is supplied in a highly overclocked state, with a bright red custom cooler. At £179.99 inc vat (http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-031-PL&groupid=701&catid=1914&subcat=2379) , is this a card you should be shortlisting for a new system build?

Read full article @ KitGuru

Philips Moda 2 Review

An IPS display with Bluetooth speakers and MHL for mobile device integration. There's only so much that can be done with a monitor in terms of design and functionality, as the majority of the focus relates to resolution, panel type and cost. In that sense the new £280 Philips Moda 2 isn't trying to reinvent the wheel but is bringing something new to market.

Philips Moda 2 is a recently-launched monitor that integrates two 7W Bluetooth speakers into the stand for consumers who live and die by their mobile devices. Better still is the ultra-slim, 6mm bezel that keeps the monitor looking stylish, which is a welcome variation to the mass of low-cost 1080p displays sporting clunky and uninspiring designs.

The Philips Moda 2 arrives in 23.6in and 27in varieties, and both sport the same 1,920 x 1,080 resolution with AH-IPS panels. In addition to the Bluetooth speaker the inclusion of Mobile High Definition Link (MHL) is another trait that makes this monitor suitable for mobile-centric users.

Read full article @ Hexus

Plextor M6e Black Edition PCIe 256GB SSD Review

It is always a pleasure to get an SSD in for review, and even more when it is a high-performance PCI-Express based M.2 SSD. We’ve previously had a look at the Plextor M6e and today it’s time to take a closer look at the brand new Plextor M6e Black Edition PCI Express SSD with 256GB capacity. This drive doesn’t just promise to be a high-performing SSD, but it is also a beauty to look at.

The Plextor M6e Black Edition supports PCI Express Gen II x2 and can achieve sequential reads up to 770 and writes up to 580 MB/s. Random speeds aren’t without either and the M6eBE broke through the 105K/100K IOPS barrier. The SSD also comes with native 256-bit AES encryption to keep your data protected.

Speed isn’t everything, reliability is just as important. The M6eBE supports both S.M.A.R.T and TRIM to keep everything running smoothly. It has also been exposed to Plextor’s Zero-Failure Zero-Error standard where it’s rigorous tested using the world’s most advanced SSD testing facilities – FLEXSTAR testing chamber. The M6e Black Edition provides extreme reliability with an MTBF calculated at 2.4 million hours. To back up this statement, the drive comes with a five-year warranty.

Read full article @ eTeknix

Sapphire Radeon R9 290X Vapor-X 8GB and 4GB review: is 8GB useful?

AMD recently announced its hardware partners could start offering their own versions of the Radeon R9 290X with 8GB memory. Sapphire was the first (and as of yet the only) to be able to offer us a 290X with 8GB memory, namely the Sapphire Radeon R9 290X Vapor-X. We put the graphics card to the test and compared it to the 4GB edition to find out whether the added 4GB has a sizeable impact or not.

Read full article @ Hardware.Info

SDR Guide - SDR-Receiver with DVB-T USB Stick

Almost everyone has it in his electronic accessories box - a DVB-T USB stick.
Actually, it was a good idea, but with the introduction of digital TV Everywhere-DVB-T there rises the mighty cable, satellite and IPTV lobby.
And so many parts of Germany are supplied only with the bare minimum.
But as a resourceful hobbyist you do not throw those sticks away ...
Now there is a great possibility to help the DVB-T Stick get back its old glory.
It is called SDR and is the acronym for Software Defined Radio.
Using a specific chipset DVB-T Stick, it is possible to cover a broadband frequency spectrum and receive radio signals.
And that can sometimes be more interesting than a boring television program.

Read full article @ OcInside

The Dell XPS 13 is the PC laptop to beat

Stand aside Apple, Dell's just built the best ultraportable laptop. More than three years ago I wrote about Intel's $300 million investment plan to develop Ultrabooks. Lightweight long-lasting well-specced PC laptops to offer something approximating the MacBook Air experience, just not made by Apple.

It took PC vendors a long time to shape up, and there are still rough spots to the whole PC laptop experience—the proliferation of models and options remains more complex and confusing than it should be, for example—but with the 2015 edition of the Dell XPS 13, it's fair to say that PC vendors have not just matched the MacBook Air experience, they've beaten it.

Read full article @ ArsTechnica

The TR Podcast 170 video: What the kids put in their PCIe slots these days

We recorded the latest TR Podcast live on Twitch last night, and the video is now up on YouTube. You can watch us answer questions from the audience and also discuss smart TVs, Spiderman, Dell's Venue 8 7000 tablet, and Intel's new Broadwell-powered NUC, among other topics.

Read full article @ The Tech Report

Verizon Sony Xperia Z2 and Z3v

You may not realize it but with our phones and tablets, we tend to live our life around them rather than get devices that let you live the way you want to live. What I mean by that is for the most part a lot of us continue to want faster, thinner, and a bigger screen but we tend to completely forget a few things when shopping for a phone. For starters, what good is a phone or tablet if the battery is dead before you know it. Additionally we are careful with our phones and tablets around dust, dirt, and water because generally all of those things will ruin your fancy new phone/tablet. Remember when you could push someone in the pool without worrying, now you have to be concerned that they don’t have their phone on them. Well Sony has been pushing a lot of their product lines towards focusing on people with an active lifestyle and that means they now have a few devices that are waterproof and dust resistant. Well today I’m going to take a look at their Xperia Z2 tablet and Xperia Z3v phone to find out if having a waterproof phone/tablet is a big advantage.

Read full article @ LanOC Reviews

WD My Passport Wireless Review: Shared Wireless Storage

The Western Digital Passport Wireless is a member of a new class of storage devices that combine run-of-the-mill USB storage with wireless hotspot and media center functionality. These devices essentially marry what used to be two separate drives - an external USB device and a media device that can stream data wirelessly to connected devices. They also help address the relatively small amount of storage that is included with today's mobile devices, as they let you store and access terabytes of data on your smartphone or tablet without having to store it locally. It's an interesting combination, and very useful if you're the type of person who is constantly passing your external drive around to family members or co-workers. Instead of using Sneaker Net, a drive like the WD My Passport Wireless lets other people connect to the drive wirelessly for file sharing, and it also allows connected users to stream its contents either via a mobile app or via file explorer/Finder. It even doubles as a Wi-Fi Hotspot...

Read full article @ HotHardware.com