Xi3 goes the crowdfunding route for future X3A, X7A modular PCs (video)

Xi3 goes the crowdfunding route for future X3A, X7A modular PCs

Xi3 has been one of the more inventive PC builders in the field, designing its Modular Computers in the belief that small, more upgradable desktops are the way of the future. The company is planning two new systems to further that dream, the X3A and X7A, but it wants our help: it’s running a Kickstarter funding drive until October 28th to assist the development and garner some early adopters. Put down $503 or $603 and you’ll get the entry-level X3A, a dual-core 1.65GHz (likely AMD E-450-based) PC with 4GB of RAM, a 32GB SSD and either Linux or Windows installed; splurge with $1,103 or more and you’ll get the more performance-driven X7A, which jumps to a quad-core chip with a 3.2GHz peak speed, a Windows-loaded 64GB SSD and faster graphics. Assuming Xi3 makes its target, we should see the X3A and X7A arrive in January and February respectively, with Kickstarter supporters beating the larger herd by a week. Even existing owners are accounted for through a Primary I/O Board upgrade, due before the end of this year, that carries more Ethernet and USB 3.0 ports. Crowdfunding is an unusual approach to buying that next PC, without the certainties of shopping at an online store — but we’re also dealing with an unusual PC from the get-go.

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VIA ETX-8X90 ETX Module

VIA-ETX-8X90-ETX-Module

VIA Technologies hits back by introducing their first ETX module, the ETX-8X90. Based on VIA VX900 MSP chipset, the board is equipped with a 1.2GHz VIA 64-bit NanoTM X2 E-Series dual-core processor, one DDR3 DIMM memory slot (up to 4GB RAM), two PCI slots and one ISA slot. Connectivity-wise, it has four USB 2.0, two mini USB, one SATA and Gigabit Ethernet. Pricing and release date are still unknown at the moment. [VIA]

Mouse Computer Lm-iH540B Desktop PC

Mouse-Computer-Lm-iH540B-Desktop-PC

Mouse Computer has released another desktop PC ‘Lm-iH540B’ into the market. Powered by a 3.40GHz Intel Core i7-3770 processor, the system is packed with an Intel H77 Express Chipset, a GeForce GTX 650 1GB graphics card, an 8GB DDR3 RAM, a 500GB hard drive, a DVD Super Multi Drive, a 500W power supply and runs on Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (SP1) OS. The Lm-iH540B is available now for 69,930 Yen (about $900). [Product Page]

Apple reportedly looking to make 2013′s MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models thinner

As it stands, Apple’s laptops can hardly be called bulky, especially the MacBook Air which is pretty darn thin as it is. Well if you thought that Apple could trim more fat off their MacBooks, perhaps come 2013 your wish will come true! According to a report by Digitimes, it has been suggested that Apple is currently working with their suppliers on a new process that will help reduce the thickness of the light guides used to illuminate the keyboards of the MacBook Air and the MacBook Pro. This process will reportedly shave 0.15mm off, reducing the thickness from its original at 0.4mm to 0.25mm.

A reduction of 0.15mm will probably not be noticed by many, but according to Kyle Wiens of iFixit, he speculated that the reduction will help to prevent the keyboard from leaving residual marks on the MacBooks’ display when closed. This is not a problem I have experienced personally, but we guess it’s an issue apparent in many cases to have arrived at that conclusion. In any case the reduction in thickness could lead to overall reductions down the road, but we guess we will have to wait until 2013 to find that if the rumors are true.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Ultrabook manufacturers reportedly facing metal chassis shortage due to Apple hogging the bulk of the supply, Apple rumored to refresh the majority of its Mac computers at WWDC,

Human Brain Can Control Robot, Even At Great Distances

Humanoid robot under mind controlWhat was once science fiction is becoming a reality faster than you
might have thought thanks to the work of internationally-supported
applied presence and applied cognitive neuroscience research.  Just ask Tirosh Shapira who recently, from a laboratory in Israel, commanded a humanoid robot
in a French laboratory to walk and pick up objects simply by imagining that he himself was walking and picking up objects.


Silk May Be The Key To Dissolvable Electronics

Silk-silicon implant dissolves as programmedWhen I read about the dissolvable electronic medical implants created by Professor Fiorenzo Omenetto of Tufts University and John A. Rogers at the University of Illinois, my first thought was what about dissolving all my old cell phones packed up in my garage?  And, sure enough…


Epson Endeavor S Series AY321S Desktop PC

Epson-Endeavor-S-Series-AY321S-Desktop-PC

Epson is proud to bring you their latest desktop PC, the Endeavor S Series AY321S. This BTO (Build To Order) system is equipped with a 2.60GHz Intel Celeron G550 processor, an Intel H61 Express Chipset, a 2GB DDR3 RAM, a 500GB hard drive, a DVD Super Multi Drive and runs on Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit OS (Basic Configuration). The Endeavor S Series AY321S is priced at 31,920 Yen (about $411). [Product Page]

MAINGEAR ALPHA 24 Super Stock All-in-one PC

MAINGEAR ALPHA 24 Super Stock All-in-one PC

The MAINGEAR ALPHA 24 Super Stock all-in-one PC features a 24-inch 1080p touchscreen display, a choice of a 3.4GHz Intel Core i3-3240 or a 3.5GHz Intel Core i7 3770K Ivy Bride processor and up to 16GB of RAM. For storage, the computer provides up to a 3TB hard drive and up to a 256GB SSD. Other specs include a choice of a 1GB nVidia GeForce GTX 650 or a 2GB nVidia GeForce GTX 680 GPU, two 8-pin PCI-E power connectors, Gigabyte’s Solo 24 H61 chipset, HDMI, three USB 2.0 ports and a SD card reader. The MAINGEAR ALPHA 24 Super Stock all-in-one PC is priced at $1,349 upwards. [MAINGEAR]

IBM’s Mira computer gears up to create an entire universe

IBM’s supercomputer, Mira, happens to be the third-fastest computer in the world. Naturally, it can handle quadrillions of computations per second to accomplish some of the most difficult and complex tasks. Cosmologists are now gearing up Mira to create a simulation of an entire universe, sifting through the 13 billion years since Big Bang.

Such a task would simply be impossible for conventional computers, given the sheer number of computations that are required to be done. Mira is able to do so only because it is juiced up with 768,000 cores which furnish 8 petaflops of processing power for this monstrous computer! (more…)

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: IBM’s Watson is a genius compared to siri , Traffic jams investigated by IBM in Kenya,

A-DATA DashDrive Elite HE720: World’s thinnest external hard drive?

A-DATA claims that their recently introduced DashDrive Elite HE720 is also the world’s thinnest external hard drive, and I leave the commenting floor open to the rest of our dear readers to counter that claim or to further strengthen it. Well, one thing’s for sure though, the DashDrive Elite HE720 is definitely a thing of beauty from the moment you lay your eyes on it, where this USB 3.0 compatible device is sleek enough that it already looks fast without having you plug it into your computer.

Boasting a brushed stainless steel surface with a chassis that measures just 8.9mm thin, the DashDrive Elite HE720’s protective layer provides 9H scratch resistance, which is said to prevent damage even after long-term use. Perhaps Apple might want to look into this and see whether they can incorporate a similar material and build quality in their next iPhone, don’t you think so? A bright blue LED indicator will let you know of power and data transfer status, while other features include one-touch backup, USB 3.0 connectivity, and being eligible for a free download of the latest Norton Internet Security 2012 anti-virus software (albeit this is just a 60 day trial version). Not only that, throw in a 3 year warranty service and you’ve more or less got yourself a winner here.

Expect the DashDrive Elite HE720 to retail for $89.99 if you are interested.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: ADATA Wine Bottle USB flash drive , ADATA XPG SX910 announced ,