Top Affordable Full Tower ATX Computer Cases/Chassis

Picking a case for your computer can be a hassle. In some cases you make a decision and months or years later it turns out some feature or dimension is inadequate and you need something else. In this list I will outline some of the best cases in the full tower range that offer more modern features and are certain to be future proof. Why full tower cases? Because the larger size means you will not be short on space in the future. To compensate for this however, many of the cases in this list will be on the lighter side. The case itself will be at least under 30lbs (13.61 kg). Targeted price range is typically below $160 with the ability to find the case on sale for a significant bit less than this.

Some criteria for this list would be good airflow, removable drive cages and fan filters. 

More here

New iPad's HD display: The future of killer mobile visualization | ZDNet

New iPad's HD display: The future of killer mobile visualization | ZDNet:

Summary: The High-Definition QXGA “Retina” display on the new 3rd-generation iPad will usher in a new generation of sophisticated mobile visualization apps.

More on ZDnet 

What about that New iPad? Cheaper Tablets

I am typically not an apple fan. In fact, I could be considered someone who dislikes apple. This new iPad that Apple has recently been talking about is one attractive beast though. It's probably the best tablet out right now by a decent margin, not necessarily by hardware, but due to the combination of hardware and software. The one problem, which really is a problem for all comparable tablets, is the price. At a minimum of $500, it's not a choice to be made lightly. The specifications of this new device are below in a comparison image, courtesy of PCWORLD.

The significant changes over the previous ipad 2, which is now going for as low as $399, are the new processor and graphics processor along with a new higher resolution display. We have an A5X processor which is a dual core processor and a quad core graphics processor. The new resolution is 2048 by 1536 pixels with 264 pixels per inch. It is definitely an attractive option if you are willing to buy a device in this price range. Apple currently has the most games on their iOS devices so those interested in some mobile gaming on their iPad have a clear choice. They also have some unique app choices not present on the android app store. I can imagine a lot of people who own an iPad 2 will not care for this device, or will hold it in contempt for making their device less than what it was when they bought it so recently. Such is technology however. 

Reviews (will be updated)

Techradar

That is all well and good, but for those not willing to spend the funds on a glorified e-Book reader (bitter?), I have some options. These exclude a whole range of cheap tablets that are considered knockoffs of the iPad, from China. Only known manufacturers are included.

Tablets after the break (click "Read More")

Kindle Fire Specifications

CPU Texas Instruments Cortex A9 OMAP4

Processor Speed 1 GHz Dual-Core

Operating System Google Android 2.3 or earlier

Screen Resolution 1024 x 600 pixels (169 ppi) 16 million colors

Screen Size 7 inches

Battery Life 4 hours 55 minutes

Battery Type Supported Rechargeable

Storage Capacity (as Tested) 8 GB

Dimensions 4.7 x 7.5 x 0.45 inches

Weight 14.6 oz

Networking Options 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n

Email Access Dedicated email app

Web Browser Yes

Flash support Yes

Camera(s) None

Video Chat No

Music Playback Formats AAC, MP3, OGG, WAV

Photo Formats JPEG, TIFF, PNG, GIF

Video Formats MPEG4, H.264

Mass Effect 3: What Changes With ME2 Save File Transfers

The importance of choice is secondary to the importance of consequences. In Mass Effect 3, Bioware wants to give your decisions weight, and to pull that unique feat off, they’ve included the Character Transfer system into Mass Effect 3. Long ago, Mass Effect 2 allowed Character Transfers from Mass Effect 1, but this is a whole different beast. Instead of hundreds of variable, Mass Effect 3 features thousands of changes depending on your actions in Mass Effect 2. Not only that, you’ll find a slew of benefits and bonuses if Shepard continues his journey directly from the previous Mass Effect space adventure. There are far too many changes to list, and many more left to be discovered, but we’ve compiled a list of known factors that will change depending on your choices after a Character Transfer. Give Mass Effect 2 another play and prepare for another perfect run as Commander Shepard.

To help you save the universe, and yourself, check out our huge text and video walkthrough. For another look at the list of special articles covering anything extra in Mass Effect 3, check out thecheats page.

SPOILER WARNING: Massive Mass Effect 2 Spoilers! Minor Mass Effect 3 Spoilers!

Read the information on Gamefront

Mass Effect 3 Sound Fix

UPDATE: Sound problems may come back with the options below. Another fix that might be more permanent is to run the game as an Administrator. Right click the shortcut or exe file and select "Run as Administrator." You may also right click one of these, select properties and go to compatibility tab. There, select always run as administrator.

Some users have been reporting sound problems with Mass Effect 3 since the demo release. Some also with the full game (to be officially released on the 6th of march). Some options to fix this problem follow:

1. Set your system sound to at least 24bit 44100KHz (Studio Quality). This solved the problem for me. To do this under Windows 7, follow the pictures. 

i.  Right Click the icon shown as 1
ii. Click on 2 in the picture below

iii.  Double-click the device that you use for your Audio, in my case it was the Sigma Headphones.

iv.  Change quality to minimum 24bit 44100KHz (Studio Quality)

2. The second option is to go into your Mass effect Config app and chance the audio setting to On, from "default"

This app will be in your binaries folder, right beside the Bin32 folder in the Mass Effect 3 installation folder. Go to the audio section and change the setting there. You application may be named MassEffect3Config.exe or contain the word demo in it, if you are somehow running the demo. 

3. Option 3 is a simple restart of the Game.

4. Check system Audio level to ensure it is not on mute, then check Mass Effect 3 Audio levels in game to ensure they are turned up to an audible level.

Kindle Fire Storage Expansion

The Kindle Fire is, in some ways, an excellent piece of hardware. Relatively cheap with a brilliant screen, wifi and a decent version of the android OS. Below you can find detailed specifications for the Amazon Kindle Fire:

Take a good look at those specifications. Notice something? Capitalism rears its ugly head. Amazon only included 8GB of storage with the device. In terms of books, and maybe even music, that is decent. Unfortunately this device has the capability for much more than just those functions. For those looking to watch movies and TV shows, you would have to take amazon up on their offer of Cloud storage and streaming. So they hope at least. There are options that would allow you to bypass Amazon and the need for internet access to use more storage.

These options detailed after the break

Diablo 3 beta Giveaways List

Your one stop source for Diablo 3 beta giveaways.

Gametrailers

Who wants Diablo III Beta Codes? We will be giving out A LOT of them during Invisible Walls Ep 200 Live in 90 minutes. Follow @invisiblewalls and @sidemission on Twitter to be the first to know.

Follow their facebook for updates on key giveaways CVG

As you may know, this week CVG's teamed up with Blizzard to give away a limited and precious store of 1000 Diablo III beta keys. In short it's been an amazing few days, opening us up to a small squeak of love and a huge deluge of hate as thousands of disappointed readers and a few lucky winners competed to get their hands on the hottest gaming ticket in town. People have pleaded, begged, whined, threatened, abused us, stalked us on email, Twitter and Facebook, and even phoned us up and told us to 'think of their starving children' (though how playing D3 would help that is beyond us).

Keep up to date with the site for more Giveaway news. Gamesradar

This is just a friendly reminder that GamesRadar wants you to go to hell. Our beta key contest for Diablo 3 continues – and we’ve still got hundreds of keys which will grant access to Blizzard Entertainment’s Diablo 3 beta test.

The Verge

The Diablo 3 release date might still be a mystery, but that doesn't mean you won't be playing the game as soon as tomorrow. Blizzard has just bestowed upon us a metric ton of Diablo 3 beta invite codes, which will grant you access to the game for as long as the beta is running. And, knowing Blizzard's tenuous release schedule, that might just be forever! Score!

... and this wonderful update on Beta keys from Blizzard themselves

Click below for MANY more sources

Reviews: Playstation Vita

 IGDaily - PS Vita Review

 

Sony PlayStation Vita review (TheVerge)

 

 PlayStation Vita Review (MobileTechReview)

Have a Vibrant? Want some ROMS?

I got a T-mobile Vibrant a few months ago. That is Samsung's Galaxy S smartphone. I can tell you that I did not stay with the stock ROM for long. At first I had no way to access the phone through a computer as I hadn't received the USB cable connection. As soon as I bought a new one, I was on the hunt for the right ROM. At first I updated to Samsung's other official ROM, which was the new FROYO 2.2. The phone had come with Android OS 2.1. Not being satisfied, and looking for as much awesome as possible, I went over to xda-developers.com They have a section specifically for the Samsung Vibrant, here. Over in the Android Development section you will find ROMS, Kernels etc for your perusal. Below is a recall of the ROMS I tested. I will cover how to install each in a future post.

 First:

Bionix 1.3.1 found here

 I originally found this ROM through XDA but it is easier to find on the ROMS official site. It was a decent experience, and I thought it would be the best ROM I could try, especially after my attempt at using the next ROM in this list. A review of the ROM is provided below along with pics and some features.

 

The battery life was excellent. I would get beyond a day with regular usage. Wifi with no 3g or 3g with no wifi, music playback, browsing etc. The interface was responsive and the added features were welcome. I used it with the Overstock kernel here.