Unzip the archive, replace the existing definition file (the file location is configured in Web Update Settings section) and restart Ad-Aware\Ad-Watch. You can also use the webupdate component implemented in Ad-Aware to install this update.
Samsung BD-C6900
It seems like as soon as Blu-ray became a definitively mainstream home theater format, manufacturers scrambled to find a new format to charge extra for: 3D. Samsung's BD-C6900 ($360 street price) is the first 3D Blu-ray player we've reviewed so far, and the 3D price premium is steep. The step-down BD-C6500 is nearly identical except it lacks 3D and costs about $135 less. Not to mention the fact that you'll need to buy a new HDTV and pricey 3D glasses, as well as 3D content--which is exceedingly rare at the moment. We also didn't find the 3D Blu-ray experience to be all that satisfying with the Samsung UN55C8000 3D HDTV we used for this test, although we suspect our issues in that area had more to do with the TV than the BD-C6900's 3D performance.
3D-pricing gripes aside, we found the BD-C6900 to be an excellent Blu-ray player. Its outstanding feature set is highlighted by built-in Wi-Fi, the expandable Samsung Apps platform (which already includes services like Netflix, Vudu, and Pandora), and 7.1 analog audio outputs. Its Blu-ray image quality is in the top ranks of Blu-ray players we've tested and its speedy operational performance is bested only by the Sony BDP-S570. If a 3D HDTV is in your future and you're willing to pay the price premium, the BD-C6900 is one of the best Blu-ray players on the market. But if you're taking a wait-and-see approach to 3D--which we'd recommend--save your cash and go with the BD-C6500.
With four different Macs sitting in the CNET lab right now, Valve couldn't have picked a better time to release its Mac Steam client, at least from a testing perspective. We just spent the past few hours with Steam, as well as Portal and Torchlight, the two games available for Steam at launch. So far, we find Steam on the Mac just as seamless as the Windows version. The games are also mostly trouble-free.
First, to accompany this launch Valve is offering Portal as a free download until May 24. If you haven't played Portal, or even if you have, we recommend it. It's fun.
On our Steam account, it's PC games: 37, Mac games: 2.
(Credit: CNET)The Steam software itself should feel instantly familiar to anyone who's used the Windows version. Valve recently gave Steam a cosmetic overhaul, so even Steam veterans might need a minute to adjust, but overall it remains intuitive to navigate. The only potential downer for Mac fans is that when you check out your games Library, the default view shows you all of the games tied to your Windows Steam account as well. If, like us, you have a lot of PC games in Steam, your Mac library will look awfully small, even if you download every Mac game available. As of this moment, there are just two.
One considerate touch: In the Steam store you'll see the full list of titles available for download, Windows titles included, but a mouse-over message will warn you if you hover over a game that's unavailable for the Mac. That will hopefully prevent any incompatible purchases.
For the games themselves, we have few complaints about their performance on our various test systems. Granted, we'd expect neither the older Portal nor the purposefully lightweight Torchlight to challenge a halfway respectable computer. With more games coming to Steam for the Mac from Valve and (presumably) other game manufacturers, future titles may provide more of a challenge to the Macs we tested. For today at least, we find that Apple's higher-end Mac laptops and all-in-ones make capable gaming systems.
Our four test systems:
This Archos Android tablet could be an example of what Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam has in mind.
The Wall Street Journal spoke to McAdam, who said "we're looking at all the things Google has in its archives that we could put on a tablet to make it a great experience." The two companies signed a partnership last year to develop a family of mobile devices based on Android, although it's not clear if McAdam is referring to Android, Chrome OS, or just Google applications running atop something else.
Few will be surprised at the notion that Google and Verizon are heading down this path: The New York Times reported last month that Google was working on a slate-style Android tablet along the lines of Apple's iPad.
And tablets are the sexy new gadget of the week, with expectations that a wide range of companies will be getting in on the act following Apple's iPad launch. Nvidia demonstrated an Android tablet at CES earlier this year running on Verizon's network, but McAdam didn't specify any of the hardware partners for this particular device.
Updated 4:00 p.m. PDT: Google released a statement: "Android is a free, open source mobile platform. This means that anyone can take the Android platform and add code or download it to create a mobile device without restrictions. The Android smartphone platform was designed from the beginning to scale downward to feature phones and upward to MID and netbook-style devices. We look forward to seeing what contributions are made and how an open platform spurs innovation, but we have nothing to announce at this time."
'Nuff said.
(Credit: Bigfoot Networks)I don't know about other gamers, but whenever I lose in an online game, which is more often than I want to admit, I immediately look for excuses. And I have just found another one: not having the Killer 2100 network interface card .
The card was announced Tuesday by Bigfoot Networks, maker of the Killer Xeno network card, which was released a year ago.
Supposedly, the Killer 2100 ignores Windows and goes straight to your games.
(Credit: Bigfoot Networks.)According to the company, the Killer 2100 combines speed, intelligence, and control demanded by gamers while significantly reducing latency. It also comes with software that lets users maximize the control of the card's functionality and the network connection.
Specs-wise, the Killer 2100 looks impressive indeed. The card incorporates what Bigfoot Networks calls "groundbreaking Game Networking DNA technology," which includes advanced game detect technology to detect what game's being played and adjust bandwith accordingly; support for Windows stack bypass; visual bandwidth control; and more. The card itself has a dedicated network processor that runs at 400MHz and 128MB of DDR2 RAM.
Bigfoot Networks claims the Game Networking DNA is designed to accelerate latency sensitive game traffic while reducing stuttering, freezing, and other symptoms of lag.
The Killer 2100 will be available in a few weeks and is slated to cost $129, which is rather expensive, considering all gaming computers already have a gigabit network port. Despite how enticing this card sounds, the price is high enough that I'd rather keep my money--and my excuses.
Feel like dropping your laptop 6 feet? Here's your machine.
(Credit: Panasonic)If you're in the military or working in rough field conditions and need a computer upgrade, you're in luck: Panasonic has just announced the upgraded Toughbook 31, a new successor to its most-rugged Toughbook line.
With a weight and thickness that would be unappealing to anyone but those who need serious environmental armor, the Toughbook 31 comes with either an Intel Core i3 or i5 processor, optional ATI HD 5630 graphics, and up to a claimed 11 hours of battery life.
A 13.3-inch LED-backlit touch-screen display has CircuLumin technology that Panasonic says will enable viewing of the screen at wide angles and at low screen brightness, both in bright sun and in complete darkness for use with night-vision goggles. The Toughbook 31's IP65 rating means it's maximally protected from dust, and will withstand water spray or even hosed-on water ("provided it isn't a pressurized spray," according to Panasonic).
Bluetooth and 802.11n Wi-Fi are included in all models, with WiMax and Gobi2000 mobile broadband optional.
In case you're curious about the rest of the specs: the unit weighs 7.9 to 8.2 pounds, is shock-protected for up to 6-foot drops, has a shock-mounted quick-release hard drive, comes preinstalled with 2GB of RAM that can be upgraded to 8GB, and comes with Windows 7, with an option to downgrade to XP. Other optional features include GPS, a backlit keyboard, fingerprint reader, and a Webcam.
In a demo at the USS Intrepid, NYPD CIO Jim Onalfo threw a Toughbook 31 onto the steel floor, and it booted up afterward. A video following that showed the Toughbook being dropped 20 feet off the Intrepid's deck--and, again, it started up and stayed intact.
The lowest-end model, with a 2.26GHz Core i3-350M processor and a 160GB hard drive, will run a steep $3,799--but it also includes a three-year warranty, and could be the first laptop you'd be comfortable dropping off your own aircraft carrier.
We wish Dell had announced the Studio XPS 7100 a few weeks ago, because then we might have included it in our midrange gaming PC roundup. As it stands we'll have to add it in after fact. That's too bad, because based on what we know about its specs, it sounds like this new all-AMD system would have made a competitive showing.
(Credit: Dell)Like almost all Dell PCs, the Studio XPS 7100 is customizable. We wouldn't be surprised to find a few fixed configurations at retail, however. For the online version, the starting price comes in at $499, and options include Athlon II X4 and Phenom II X6 processors (including overclockable "Black" editions), 3D cards up to the fast ATI Radeon HD 5870, and up to 4TB of storage space and 16GB of RAM. The system uses AMD's new 880G chipset, so you don't get a second graphics card slot, but at least the 460-watt power supply should have enough headroom to support single higher-end cards.
Dell has a review unit headed our way, and though we don't know exactly what we're getting, it mentioned a configuration with a six-core, 2.8Ghz Phenom II X6 1055T and a Radeon HD 5870 for $1,199. Such a build would very likely compete well with the Gateway FX6831-01 and the Maingear Vybe, both of which came in with fast CPU/graphics card combinations for $1,299.
There's a good chance you're unaware of Fujifilm's FinePix JZ500 and JZ300. When the company announced its 2010 cameras, there were so many launched at once that these two were quickly overshadowed by other more technologically interesting models. However, after testing these two out, there's a good chance that the company will sell a lot of these thanks to their very good price-to-feature ratio.
Both models feature a 28mm-equivalent wide-angle lens with a 10x zoom and a 2.7-inch LCD packed into a body that's easy to slip in a pants pocket or small bag. They're designed for snapshooters who tend to stay in Auto, but still include a few extra shooting options and HD movie capture with use of the optical zoom while recording. The 14-megapixel JZ500 starts at a price of $249, whereas the 12-megapixel JZ300 is only $200; both can be found for less than those prices.
Other than the higher resolution, the JZ500 gets new Dog and Cat Face Detection modes, for those who want to prioritize animals in photos, as well as Face Recognition for prioritizing specific humans in photos.
Generally speaking, the cameras perform as promised. The biggest problem with them is photo quality. It's not that the photos are bad, just that they are soft and lack fine detail when viewed at 100 percent. If you don't mind doing a little post-shoot sharpening occasionally or don't plan on printing larger than 5x7 regularly, the results will likely be satisfactory--especially considering the price tags.
My personal preference would be the JZ300, but if you want the flexibility of the extra resolution, take a lot of pictures of cats and dogs, and the Face Recognition appeals to you, the JZ500 is worth the $50 price difference.
Read the review of the Fujifilm FinePix JZ500 and the JZ300.
Every once in a while, something comes along that makes you wonder why no one thought of it sooner. BAE Systems' "Air Deck" does just that, with a balcony that folds right down off the rear of a private jet. The viewing platform, probably the first in aviation history, takes a mere five minutes to transform the back of the aircraft into either an extended living space or an elevated outdoor viewing deck.
U.K. luxury transport design consultancy firm Design Q came up with concept designs for BAE's Explorer One and Explorer Four Avro Business Jets and showcased them during the recent EBACE business aviation show in Geneva. The Explorer aircraft are designed to access short, unpaved runways in remote locales, so the fold-out deck theoretically wouldn't be hampered by airport runways or hangars.
Now, all that's missing are cocktails with little umbrellas in them, George Clooney for company, blue skies, and about several million dollars in crisp U.S. greenbacks for the ultimate in luxury travel. No money? Join the crowd and ogle the pictures instead. Clooney not included.
Lounge with a killer view.
(Credit: BEA Systems, Design Q)
Why set up a tent when you can have your own elevated "treehouse"?
(Credit: BEA Systems, Design Q)
