The Blog: 2013

Tuesday, 31 December 2013

Repairing 2013 Apple Mac Pro won't be too difficult

It has been found that the late 2013 Apple Mac Pro is actually quite easy to repair.

Apple makes some of the most popular products, its notebooks, tablets and smartphones are recognized around the world. The company is also known for making these devices extremely hard to repair, a task that an average joe who knows his way around a screwdriver probably won’t be able to do. Its an entirely different case with the new Mac Pro, as the folks at iFixit demonstrate, in fact they give it an 8 out of 10 on the repairability scale, with 10 being the easiest to repair.

They believe that the design of this computer resembles an aluminium soda can more than it does a trash can, as many have pointed out on the internet. Removing the outer casing is actually very easy, just one slide of the lock switch and its free, exposing the first layer of components. The RAM modules can be easily accessed so users will be able to upgrade them to 64GB, which is the highest you can go, quite easily. Its almost as easy to take out the SDD, requires just a turn of the screwdriver, exposing the flash controller and flash storage underneath. Going beyond the graphics card, which is secured by four screws and a clamp, one can find that the I/O port, logic board and the dual graphics cards are all connected to one single “daughter board” shaped like a disc. The power supply is wedged between the logic board and the I/O board and is said to be a little hard to remove. Digging through these components will take users to the CPU, which is already known to be removable.

iFixit performed its teardown on a $3,000 stock configuration Mac Pro, and while it says that the computer is easy to disassemble, it mentions that there are some proprietary new connectors and fairly tight cable routing that might confuse people going into the depths of their Mac Pro, which is why they should invest in a repair manual before taking the Mac Pro apart.

via Hardware Forums http://forums.vr-zone.com/showthread.php?t=2997367&goto=newpost

China Mobile iPhone pre-order figure reportedly stands at 100,000

It appears that only a fraction of China Mobile’s massive subscriber base has signed up for the new iPhones at this point in time.

Back in December Apple finally announced that it had reached a deal with China Mobile which would bring its new iPhones to over 750 million subscribers of the world’s largest mobile carrier. This is certainly a big deal for the company, because not only will it be able to increase its market share in China, it could potentially add billions in yearly revenue. The carrier won’t launch iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C for its customers until January 17 but it has already started taking pre-orders.

Analysts at Wedge Partners believe that the China Mobile iPhone pre-order figure is around 100,000 for the first two days of availability. While the number is impressive, its not more than what the carrier’s rivals were able to pull in. China Unicom and China Telecom, who already sell the new iPhones, took over 120,000 and 150,000 pre-orders of the new iPhones respectively. Furthermore, 100,000 customers are only a small fraction of the over 750 million strong subscriber base of China Mobile. Analyst expect that Apple will be able to sell as many as 20 million iPhones on China Mobile alone in 2014.

Though it should be kept in mind that the new iPhones aren’t exactly that “new” now, China Mobile’s rivals launched both of them a couple of months back. It is also said that China Mobile isn’t offering any savings to set its iPhones apart from its rivals, in fact its rates are said to be slightly than that of China Unicom.

Source: AllThingsD

via Hardware Forums http://forums.vr-zone.com/showthread.php?t=2997363&goto=newpost

Focal XS Speakers spoilt - anyone has other advice?

Hi guys,

Thanks for reading the thread and thanks in advance for any suggestions on how to fix the problem.

Problem:

My Focal XS Book Speakers have a standby LED that glows. This morning however, the standby LED is not lighted up and cannot be turned on. No sound from the speakers too when I try to play music.

Attempted repairs:

1) Changed the power wire - replaced it with a different set of Focal provided wires -> no go

2) Checked if Belkin surge protector is spoilt -> Nope, the surge protector works fine on all sockets

3) Rechecked the connection on the speaker itself -> Not a loose connection

Does anyone have a suggested solution to try???

Sigh....looks like a budget model is designed 'budgetly' even though it may come from an established audio brand

Thanks everyone!

via Hardware Forums http://forums.vr-zone.com/showthread.php?t=2997315&goto=newpost

The Humble Store extends its Winter Sale to Jan. 3

The Humble Store extends its celebrated Winter Sale for a limited time, allowing gamers more time to nab PC favorites like Gone Home, Papers Please, Rogue Legacy and more.

The Humble Store’s Winter Sale was a rousing success, but like all sales, it had to come to an end. Instead of shutting down the winter savings, though, the humble folks behind the digital marketplace decided to extend the Winter Sale until January 3rd,*giving gamers across the globe the chance to pick up some of 2013′s best games at a discounted price.

The extended sale marks savings up to -75% off and will contain all of the best-selling titles featured in the original sale, including such gaming favorites as the Communistic indie Papers Please ($4.99), the inventive and visually unique Don’t Starve ($4.99), the intensely gory and satisfying Shadow Warrior remake ($9.99) and the humorous, super-addictive Rogue Legacy ($4.99).

Monaco is also on the list for a super-saver price of $2.99, and you can experience what it’s like to be a game developer with Game Dev Tycoon for just $4.99 as well.

This is the perfect time to nab your favorites for a great low price and help charity in the process; so far the Winter Sale has raised*$331,477 in proceeds for charity. So be sure to hop on over to the Humble Store to take advantage of this extension while it lasts!

Via Destructoid

Read More: http://vr-zone.com/articles/humble-s...n-3/68237.html

via Hardware Forums http://forums.vr-zone.com/showthread.php?t=2997290&goto=newpost

'Warframe' gets PEGI rating for Xbox One

PEGI, the European video game ratings board, has apparently rated an Xbox One version of the popular techno-ninja MMOFPS Warframe–hinting at a possible release on the next-gen console.

Warframe is an interesting MMOFPS that has since bridged the free-to-play gap between PC and consoles. Digital Extremes high-tech ninja shooter was first released on Sony’s PlayStation 4 console, and recent evidence may indicate a release onto Microsoft’s Xbox One.

A listing for the game has recently been spotted on PEGI’s online website, which–oddly enough–presents a release date of 12/31/2013 (today).

The game itself will no-doubt be a welcomed title to the Xbox One’s free-to-play scheme, allowing gamers to join their friends for some intense futuristic shoot-em-up action. Warfarme makes use of many different mechanics, blending action with randomized loot and surprisingly dynamic RPG elements, as gamers apply upgrades and mods to make their “warframe” even more deadly.

The visual style of the game is quite alluring as well, but like any free-to-play game, Warframe is riddled with micro-transactions. While it’s not essential that you purchase the in-game currency (known as Platinum), having a supply of shiny Platinum does give you direct access to new frames, weapons, and a host of other upgrades.

Warframe takes players across the entire Solar System, with a variety of missions that emphasize teamwork. Up to four players play together in eradicating the enemy, making it a pure co-operative type of game (which is a nice change of pace among today’s competitive-based shooters).

The storyline is quite engaging as well, painting a galaxy riven with multiple factions all vying for their own causes. The Tenno–the do-good clan of warframes–stands as a means of justice, and converges with enemy factions to thwart their plans for domination and the like. Every new update adds in more stories and missions, carrying forth the game’s legacy to new paths.

As far as any solid evidence from the developers of the game, Digital Extremes have yet to make any official announcements on the matter. It’ll nonetheless be interesting to see if Warframe crosses over to the Xbox One sometime in the future.

As of now, though, the game remains one of the more solid free-to-play games available on the PS4 lineup, and is decently populated with gamers and frequently updated. Also there’s the added benefit of not needing a PlayStation Plus membership in order to play.

Warframe is now available as a free-to-play game on Sony’s PlayStation 4 and PC. For more information be sure to visit the game’s official website.

Via Hardcore Gamer , Joystiq , Gamekyo*& PEGI

Read More: http://vr-zone.com/articles/warframe...one/68231.html

via Hardware Forums http://forums.vr-zone.com/showthread.php?t=2997287&goto=newpost

Shapify.me uses Kinect to turn you into a 3D printed figure

Using Microsoft’s advanced Kinect sensor, the Shapify service allows gamers to purchase realistic 3D printed figurines of themselves and their friends.

If you’re anything like Raj and Howard on The Big Bang Theory, you’ve always wanted to have a figure of yourself. Fortunately there’s an option that avoids having to pick up an expensive 3D printer; the Shapify.me service from Artec Group has you covered.

How does it work?

The service is heavily reliant upon Microsoft’s Kinect sensor, making use of the device’s pinpoint pose-capturing to accurately render any given image, especially of people. The service currently supports Xbox 360 and Windows versions of Kinect.

To get the ball rolling, users scan a picture of themselves in any given pose, and use the free Shapify app software to put the finishing touches on their digital doppleganger. It’s also worth mentioning you’ll need to keep whatever pose you want captured for around a minute or so, as the Kinect captures you from multiple angles.

The finished product is a miniature figurine–not a full-scale action figure–but a small realistic rendition of you (or a loved one) to add to your collection. Oddly enough, Shapify doesn’t list the Xbox One’s Kinect 2.0 sensor as a supported product–but it’ll be interesting to see how this takes off in the future, especially on a broader scale.

Be sure to visit Shapify.me to check out the methods behind fabricating a mini-you, especially if you’ve always wanted to have a teeny version of yourself in a favorite Halloween get-up.

This is a unique and memorable way to immortalize someone (or even an occasion, say in your self-made Comic-Con cosplay outfit?) without having to take a snapshot–but the somewhat hefty price-tag might ensure you only have two or three of these miniatures laying about.

Via Gamespot

Read More: http://vr-zone.com/articles/shapify-...ure/68220.html

via Hardware Forums http://forums.vr-zone.com/showthread.php?t=2997286&goto=newpost

Battery self-destruction require battery discharger/charger to

Hi Vr-zone Users I require a battery discharger/charger to help a friend check out the entire MAH capacity of a battery because after

charging it to maximum capacity it keeps failing to charge a mobile phone as stated

product says 3000 mah

but it can only charge a device with 2700 mah once

If you have a device to check the circuit board.

it is greatly appreciated ty

My friend is offering to give a Firewire 1394a cardbus with it's cable and cd to install the driver

for the effort spend and as an act of gratitude

via Hardware Forums http://forums.vr-zone.com/showthread.php?t=2997284&goto=newpost

Used couch harbored large snake for two months without owner knowing

A Michigan woman finds her second-hand couch to be harboring a snake two months after she initially moved the furniture in.

Holly Wright recently found out that her used couch, which she picked up off the curb two months earlier, was actually housing a snake.* The snake remained dormant under the couch for months before it finally decided to crawl out.* Wright told the local WZZM-TV station that she had no idea the snake was snuggling up in between the cushion and bottom area of the couch.

“I picked this couch up off the street and it’s been in my bedroom for a couple months, and today we found a python inside the couch,” said Wright after she probed the reptile with a plastic coat hanger.

Wright reported that the snake died before it made it out of the couch, leading to the couch owner to believe the snake remained in the couch for so long because it was stuck—a truly unfortunate circumstance.

“It’s pretty big.* We don’t know what kind of snake it is for sure.” Wright added.* “Funny, my room almost feels a little empty now.* It’s been really sad actually to realize all this time I was in proximity to that animal (that) was probably suffering.”

Source: ABC news

Read More: http://vr-zone.com/articles/used-cou...ing/68221.html

via Hardware Forums http://forums.vr-zone.com/showthread.php?t=2996775&goto=newpost

Sony's first Japanese PS4 commercial revealed

Moving on with just one final step after East Asia, Sony now reveals their first advertisement for the much awaited Japanese release of the PS4 console.

When Sony first revealed release dates for the PS4, it was quite strange that it did not include any release dates for Japan. One would probably question why they did not decide to release it first in the country where they are sure it would succeed.

But maybe that’s exactly the reason why they decided to temporarily forego with the PS4′s Japanese release and move towards its international release first. Seizing the larger world gaming market may have given them a more strategic advantage. So what’s the better way to promote it to Japan as it arrives then?*Well, how about showing how successful the console is now after its international release? The first Japanese PS4 commercial may be very brief, but it tries to capture the emotion and excitement when the PS4 was launched worldwide.

Watch and enjoy.

Source: Doope (JP), Sony (JP)

Read More: http://vr-zone.com/articles/sonys-fi...led/68214.html

via Hardware Forums http://forums.vr-zone.com/showthread.php?t=2996772&goto=newpost

Hackers mod Wii U GamePad to stream games from PC

At this year’s 30th Chaos Communication Congress (30c3), a small team of hackers showcased a reverse-engineered Wii U GamePad that can play streamed video games from a localized PC.

The Chaos Communication Congress is an annual event in the international hacking scene hosted by the Chaos Computer Club wherein teams and hackers across the globe come to meet. The conventions hold numerous workshops and on-stage affairs wherein talented tecchies share their knowledge and showcase their creations.

At this year’s 30c3 event, one small group of hackers revealed their newest accomplishment: a reverse-engineered Wii U GamePad that could play games streamed by a PC, avoiding the primary console altogether.

While on stage, the group discussed how they managed to achieve this feat through an extremely technical lecture filled with highlights on integral subjects like firmware and code streams. The announcement was intriguing, but the magic didn’t happen until the theoretical applications became real; when the crowd got to see the streaming in action.

When the team started up an emulated GameCube version of The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker, the room burst out in fanfare. Here was one of the most celebrated Zelda games being streamed from a nearby laptop to the GamePad itself, without the need of the bulky console.

The footage below contains the full on-stage presentation, and the gameplay demo starts around the 47 minute mark.

The gameplay session was a bit buggy here and there, and the demo itself was accompanied by a few crashes, but all-in-all was a solid display of the hacked GamePad. The key here is that it worked, and while the tech is in its early stages, there is a staggering amount of potential for it to carry over to future projects.

While Nintendo may not be happy about this application, it was merely a demonstration of their breakthrough, and the team affirms that the released*source code is aimed at developers. Furthermore the group of tech-savvy hackers have future plans to make the tools available on Windows and OSX, and they’re even working on fashioning an Android version which will allow gamers to substitute their Wii U GamePad for an Android tablet.

We won’t see this replace other handheld game-streaming devices like the Nvidia Shield, but this is an interesting breakthrough that has a multitude of possibilities within the hacking/modding realm.

It would be interesting to see more on the specific logistics of the streaming capabilities; whether or not the video is dependent upon the host computer’s specs or those of the Wii U GamePad–but the accomplishment of turning the tablet-like controller into its own stand-alone gaming peripheral is an impressive feat to say the least.

Via Engadget

Read More: http://vr-zone.com/articles/hackers-...pad/68200.html

via Hardware Forums http://forums.vr-zone.com/showthread.php?t=2996765&goto=newpost

Netflix tests $6.99 subscription fee to compete with Amazon Prime

Netflix tries out a lower tier subscription price to better compete with Amazon in 2014.

There are more than one video-on-demand services out there, but so far it seems like Netflix is the pack leader.* Even so, big internet names like Amazon are threatening to slow down the growth of the popular video streaming service.

To keep up with its competitor, Netflix is testing out a new $6.99 per month service that is meant to keep the Netflix brand in the consciousness of consumers throughout 2014.

“The new plan likely has at least two goals: 1. Attract the more value conscious consumer.* 2. To more effectively compete with Amazon Prime,” said Sterne Agee analyst Arvind Bhatia.

Amazon currently offers its Prime service for $79 a year, which includes access to Prime Instant Video streaming.* Divide that fee by 12 the subscription price per month comes to $6.67 a month, which is slightly cheaper than Netflix’s new $6.99 (one viewer at a time) service.* The Amazon Prime service also comes with free 2-day shipping for goods purchased through Amazon.

Netflix is continuing to search for growth avenues, and garnering more subscribers via a cheaper subscription fee may lead to just that.* Bhatia, however, noted that the new model may also cannibalize the old service as subscribers can easily cancel their current subscription and re-subscribe to the lower-priced deal.

Source: USAToday

Read More: http://vr-zone.com/articles/netflix-...ime/68202.html

via Hardware Forums http://forums.vr-zone.com/showthread.php?t=2996764&goto=newpost

Ipad2 for sale at lower price

Black IPa2 (64Gb)

Condition:10/10

Warranty for one month

Meet: Any MRT STATION.

CONTACT: +65 91118634

via Hardware Forums http://forums.vr-zone.com/showthread.php?t=2996754&goto=newpost

Noctua NH-U14S 140mm Heatsink CPU Cooler Review

Noctua NH-U14S 140mm Heatsink CPU Cooler Review

It’s entirely possible the next product needs no introduction – the Noctua NH-U14S is the newest version in Noctua’s NH-U series of CPU coolers that were first introduced in 2005. For years, Noctua has been synonymous with premium performance cooling and the new NH-U14S model looks to continue the tradition. Designed to be the premier option for the NH-U series the 140mm NH-U14S and its 52mm wide heatsink promise quiet performance while still clearing RAM modules, even on sockets like LGA2011. Combined with the NF-A15 140mm fan and an entire host of cutting-edge trademark technologies from Noctua, will this cooler be worthy of the Noctua name? Benchmark Reviews has a chance to see where the NH-U14S ranks among the competition.

via Hardware Forums http://forums.vr-zone.com/showthread.php?t=2996748&goto=newpost

Evasi0n iOS 7 untethered jailbreak updated to fix iPad 2 boot loop

The latest update fixes Wi-Fi iPad 2 boot loop caused after using the evasi0n iOS 7 untethered jailbreak .

December was a great month for the jailbreak community. A couple of weeks back the first ever iOS 7 untethered jailbreak was released. It was developed by the infamous evad3rs developers team, which is well known in the community for its work on developing jailbreaks. The team is said to have rushed the release as it was rumored that their exploit had been stolen and sold off, which is why the initial version of the jailbreak was found to have a few bugs, one caused boot loop on Wi-Fi iPad 2 running the latest and greatest in Apple iOS.

Naturally there were a lot of complaints from users who tried jailbreaking their iPad 2 on iOS 7 using evasi0n. With Christmas holidays getting in the way, the team wasn’t able to release an update quickly. Though today they finally came through. Evasi0n 1.0.2 beta has now been released to fix iPad 2 boot loop after performing untethered jailbreak on iOS 7. The updated jailbreak tool can now be downloaded from the team’s official website.

While a lot of controversy has surrounded this particular jailbreak, it goes without saying that the community is very happy with its release. It had been quite long since a new jailbreak was released, and the new evasi0n covers all of Apple’s new mobile devices that are capable of running iOS 7.

via Hardware Forums http://forums.vr-zone.com/showthread.php?t=2996710&goto=newpost

HELP! Can't connect to M1 fibre Boardband via wire

I have subscript to M1 boardband for the pass 8 months and have been using wireless connection without any problem. Lately I am got some Cat 6 wire and planning to wired my whole house but I try to connect my PC to the ONT HG8240 the connection does not work. My PC is able to detect the 100Mbps signal but the IPv4 and 6 showed no connectivity. I have checked the protocol of both IPv4 & 6 and DNS are set to automatic to obtain address. I also checked my ethernet controller is working fine.

I have also try to connect the wire to my smart tv and again it failed. The TV is not able to automatically set the required field such as DNS, DHCP,etc..

Can anyone advise me how can I get this solve. Thank you.

via Hardware Forums http://forums.vr-zone.com/showthread.php?t=2996699&goto=newpost

LG Lifeband Touch leaked, to be showcased at CES?

Prolific*leaker Evleaks has leaked a photo of a*new wearable device from LG called*Lifeband Touch.

Back at CES 2013, LG showed off the*Smart Activity Tracker, a wristband that was capable of displaying a phone’s notifications, control music on a compatible Android or iOS device, and track a user’s movements and heart rate. A launch was expected to take place sometime in the summer of 2013, but that didn’t happen, and now it looks like the Smart Activity Tracker might have evolved into the Lifeband Touch that can be seen in the leaked picture.

The Lifeband Touch looks like something of a cross between the Nike FuelBand and the*Fitbit Force, though details on its features and functionality remain unknown – a touch display should adorn its face, and health monitoring will likely be one of its main functions. An official announcement could be made at CES in the second week of January, though it remains to be seen whether the Lifeband Touch kicks off LG’s entry into the wearables market or if it ends up being vaporware like the Smart Activity Tracker.

Source: Evleaks

via Hardware Forums http://forums.vr-zone.com/showthread.php?t=2996674&goto=newpost

Verizon Moto G to launch on January 9, will cost only $100 off-contract

Leaked images of the Verizon Moto G’s retail packaging indicate that North America’s largest carrier could offer the device for as low as $99.99 off-contract.

At $179 for the base model, the Moto G is already one of the best smartphones one can buy, offering mid-range specs at budget pricing, which would make Verizon’s $100 price tag for a contract-free Moto G even more impressive, considering other similarly priced prepaid smartphones on Verizon don’t come anywhere close to what Motorola’s affordable 4.5-inch handset offers.*According to an internal document, the handset will go on sale at Verizon and Best Buy stores on January 9th, and in addition to the low price, users will also get unlimited text and call minutes, and a choice of one of Verizon’s data plans.

As a refresher, the Moto G comes with a 4.5-inch 720p LCD display, 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor, 1GB of RAM, a 5-megapixel rear camera, 8/16GB of storage, and a 2,070 mAh battery. It runs on a near stock version of Android 4.3, though the Verizon model will arrive with Android 4.4 KitKat out of the box – add that to the respectable specs and $100 price tag, and it could become nigh on impossible for other manufacturers to compete with the Moto G anytime soon.

Via: 9to5Mac, Droid-Life

via Hardware Forums http://forums.vr-zone.com/showthread.php?t=2996651&goto=newpost

Deepcool Lucifer Review

I have owed this review for some time, had delays and also was down with flu last week :(

Testbed :

Intel Xeon L5639 @ 3.6GHz 1.216v

In the accompanying case

ALL TESTS ARE DONE IN THE TESSERAC!

Mounting system is shared with Deepcool Assassin and Neptwin as well as Frostwin, very good system I shall say :thumb2: Installation is also very quick and done easily

Accessory bag

The base goes on like that, with the black rubber spacers above the motherboard

This top goes on top of the black spacers, 3 choices of orientation

3rd choice is not pictured but it is basically both ends facing inside, my recommendation for easy installation

Heatsink goes in the center :P

Basically a big heatsink that is cheap and good. In fact as the benchmarks show it is very good in passive as well as with the 140mm fan

SRP : 65SGD from TechDynamic

Do I recommend it? The looks do it for me and it's fantastic value is a definite recommend

via Hardware Forums http://forums.vr-zone.com/showthread.php?t=2996615&goto=newpost

Sparkline: Cutting through vanity metrics and finding the real data

Big data. These two words have been constantly on everyone’s lips. What is it? And just whom does it benefit? Sparkline provides some answers If we have to liken Big Data to a water body, it will have to be an ocean. According to tech corporation IBM, we create 2.5 quintillion bytes of data every Read the full article...

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Venturetec Accelerator targets enterprise startups in Asia Pacific

12-month-long Venturetec accelerator programme aims to connect enterprise technology startups in Australia and Hong Kong with global corporations Earlier this month during the StartmeupHK Venture Forum, Venturetec announced the launch of its new enterprise tech startup accelerator programme, which will be based in Hong Kong and Sydney, Australia. Up to eight teams will receive seed Read the full article...

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via Hardware Forums http://forums.vr-zone.com/showthread.php?t=2996575&goto=newpost

DBS Bank launches fully automated online account service for companies

Open a corporate account with DBS from the comfort of your home in just 15 minutes Companies can now open a bank account in 15 minutes or less, instead of the usual industry standard of one to two hours. Previously known as the*Development Bank of Singapore (DBS), DBS Bank*yesterday announced that it has launched a Read the full article...

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via Hardware Forums http://forums.vr-zone.com/showthread.php?t=2996576&goto=newpost

Research finds Apple one of the top two tablet vendors in Japan

Apple has increased its dominance over the tablet market in Japan.

Tablets are some of the most widely used mobile computing devices these days. Global tablet shipments are expected to increase substantially in the coming year as more customers opt for these mobile devices as opposed to now outdated options like the netbooks. The market is filled with high-end tablets such as the iPad, whereas the mid-range and low-end market is primarily catered to by Android tablets manufactured by a laundry list of OEMs.

In Japan, Digitimes Research finds Apple to be one of the top two tablet vendors in the country, ASUS being the other major vendor. This would also explain the dominance of market share based on operating system, the research finds that during January and October 2013 both iOS and Android accounted for more than 94.4 percent of the tablets in the Land of the Rising Sun. ASUS primarily manufacturers Android devices, though the company is expected to unveil a Windows-Android dual-boot tablet at CES 2014. Apple is the only company that makes the iPad.

Apple’s market share in Japan has surged this year, with the country being its fastest growing market. The company’s margins are 15 percent higher here than anywhere else in the world. It captured over 37 percent of the smartphone and 50 percent of the tablet market earlier this year.

Source: Digitimes

via Hardware Forums http://forums.vr-zone.com/showthread.php?t=2996522&goto=newpost

Apple and Samsung reportedly in talks to resolve patent disputes

Rumor has it that the companies are considering an alternate solution to their patent disputes.

Apple and Samsung have been involved in intense legal battles over the past couple of years, with the former claiming that the Korean manufacturer’s devices infringe on a number of its patents. Samsung has questioned the validity of said patents from time to time and it doesn’t look like these lawsuits are going to go away anytime soon. When the appeals process is exhausted and Samsung isn’t able to score a win, the company might have to pay as much as $900 million in damages to Cupertino.

It goes without saying that both companies have already spent millions in legal fees but still there’s no end in sight.*A swift resolution of the disputes will not only save time, but will also save a lot of money.*A Korea Fair Trade Commission official claims that Apple and Samsung are currently talking about a royalties deal and that the talks are at a “working level” right now, focus of current talks is said to be on reducing differences over royalty payments. *This isn’t the first time that these companies have tried to settle matters out of court. Last year Apple CEO Tim Cook and Samsung Electronics chief*Choi Gee-sung as part of court appointed mediation talks, they deliberated for nearly 17 hours but to no avail.

It is also rumored that Apple wants Samsung to pay more than $30 for each device that is found to be infringing on its patents, as of now it is believed that Samsung thinks this figure is quite high. *It goes without saying that there’s no guarantee that they’ll be able to resolve the patent disputes in renewed talks, so the world will just have to wait and see what happens.

Source: Korea Times

via Hardware Forums http://forums.vr-zone.com/showthread.php?t=2996520&goto=newpost

Monday, 30 December 2013

Samsung to release octa-core Exynos Chromebook in 2014

Samsung will continue to aid Google in its push of Chromebook by launching another budget-conscious Google-powered notebook sometime next year.

According to a recent NPD report, the use of Chromebooks are on the rise, and Samsung is hoping that its line of Chromebook will attract more users than its competitions.* Business Korea reported that the South Korean tech juggernaut will launch another Chromebook mod meant showcase the company’s in-house Exynos 5 ‘8-core’ chip utilizing the ‘big.LITTLE’ design.

The report also indicated that the updated Samsung Chromebook will likely feature a 12-inch (or less) 2560×1600 display with 3GB of RAM, the option of 16GB or 32GB of internal storage, USB 3.0 support, a 7-hour battery life, and weighing in at a little over 1kg.

Chromebooks had big year in 2013, according to NPD

Samsung stated that it is not planning on unveiling any laptops at CES 2014, so perhaps the new Chromebook may not show up until Samsung announces another flashy unveiling event.

Typical desktop and x86-based laptop users may see the Chromebook as a downgrade in terms of functionalities, which is why makers of Chromebooks are targeting the educational sector and developing markets to grow the user-base.

Read More: http://vr-zone.com/articles/samsung-...014/68165.html

via Hardware Forums http://forums.vr-zone.com/showthread.php?t=2996486&goto=newpost

Buy:Apple MacBook Air - Core 2 Duo 2.13 GHz - 13.3 $400.Apple iPad Air Wi-Fi 128GB.

Number 1 authorize wholesaler / reseller so our price can not be the same as the retail price.Most retailers do get there order from us and resell, But we get all our products directly from there various respective manufacturer in bulk, and that is why we offer them for those prices.

We offer wholesales for Brand New Latest Apple Products such as iPhone 4, iphone 4S & iPad2. All products are from Apple company, 100% original and official unlocked, with the original sealed new box and all the accessories, come with Apple manufacturers 12 month guarantee.

WE DEAL ON OTHER BRANDS OF MOBILE PHONES TOO FOR MORE PRODUCTS VISIT OUR OFFICIAL WEBSITE (Mozak Limited | ThePaceSetters)

Contact Name : Phillip Mecow

Send Enquiry to : mozak.ph@gmail.com

Website: (Mozak Limited | ThePaceSetters)

NOTE : Price is Negotiable and also we are running promo right now.

CHECK OUT ITEMS WE STOCK ON SALES : ---

Brand new Apple iPhone 5S 16GB Black/White :... $400usd

Brand new Apple iPhone 5S 32GB Black/White :... $430usd

Brand new Apple iPhone 5S 64GB Black/White :... $450usd

Brand new Apple iPhone 5C 16GB Black/White :... $350usd

Brand new Apple iPhone 5C 32GB Black/White :... $380usd

Apple iPhone 5 64GB ----- $300.00

Apple iPhone 5 32GB ----- $290.00

Apple iPhone 5 16GB ------ $280.00

Send Enquiry to : ph.mozak@yahoo.com

Apple iPads:

Apple iPad Air Wi-Fi 128GB..................................$410.00

Apple iPad mini 2 Wi-Fi + Cellular 128GB .........$400.00

Apple iPad 4 Wi-Fi + 4G 64GB...............$390.00

Apple iPad 4 Wi-Fi + 4G 32GB...............$360.00

Apple iPad 4 Wi-Fi + 4G 16GB...............$340.00

Apple iPad mini Wi-Fi + Cellular............$310.00

Blackberry Z30 white and black $360

Blackberry Z10 white and black $345

Blackberry Q10 White and Black $320

Blackberry Q5 White and Black $290usd

Sony PlayStation 4 - 500 GB Jet Black Console...$350.00

Samsung:

Samsung Galaxy Note 3..................$350.00

Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom...............$330.00

Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 I9200.....$330.00

Samsung I9502 Galaxy S4..................$320.00

Samsung Galaxy S4 CDMA................$320.00

Samsung I9500 Galaxy S 4.................$320.00

PlayStation 4 Knack Bundle PS490003

Two Dualshock4 Controllers

Price.......$368

PlayStation 4 Killzone Bundle PS490001

Two Dualshock4 Controllers

Price.......$421

PlayStation 4 System

One Dualshock4 Controllers

Price.......$316

Others ::

Leica S-Adapter for Hasselblad H-System Lenses

Leica | 50mm f/0.95 Noctilux M Aspherical Manual Focus Lens

Leica S - Type 006 - Digital Medium Format Slr Camera Body

Miller 903471 XMT 304 CC/CV 208-230/460 W/Auto-Link.....$1,700

Canon EOS 5D Mark II .... $700

HP ENVY 14 Beats edition series...... $999.99

Bose® Lifestyle 235 Home Entertainment System ........... $1,599

Bose® Lifestyle V25 Home Entertainment System ........... $1,610

Apple MacBook Air - Core 2 Duo 2.13 GHz - 13.3 ------ 400.00

Email us At: ph.mozak@yahoo.com

Shipping way: DHL, TNT, UPS, EMS, FedEx (delivery to any given address worldwide)

DELIVERY TIME

Within UK,USA & CANADA 2-3 days

OTHER EU,MIDDLE EAST & ASIA COUNTRIES 3-4 days

Drop shipping is available, we can drop ship individual orders directly to your clients.

Contact Name : Phillip Mecow

Send Enquiry to : mozak.ph@gmail.com

Website: (Mozak Limited | ThePaceSetters)

Skype - Xaccomz

via Hardware Forums http://forums.vr-zone.com/showthread.php?t=2996447&goto=newpost

MSI 2014 CES Lineup

MSI is going to have a crazy 2014 and it begins when CES takes place in Vegas next month.

Quote:

During the 2014 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas next month, computer manufacturer MSI will unveil new gaming notebooks, workstations, touchscreen laptops, tablets, and a new All-in-One (AIO) gaming system.

Here is a link to full story.

via Hardware Forums http://forums.vr-zone.com/showthread.php?t=2996481&goto=newpost

All-Dock aims to be the only mobile device dock you'll ever need

Do you own more than one type of mobile device, and wish there was a dock that can support smartphones of all shapes and sizes?* Look no further, because All-Dock, a supposed universal dock is in the works.

Dittrich California Inc. is gathering funds on Kickstarter to develop and deploy the ‘fastest docking station in the world.’* The maker claims that the docking station is compatible with virtually all brand and size mobile devices.* From iPhones to HTCs to Kindles, the All-Dock will hold up almost anything you happen to own.

So what’s the concept behind the All-Dock?* Basically, it’s a plastic block that has wide grooves punched in, and most mobile devices will be able to sit snuggly inside the indentation.* At the heart of the dock is a USB hub that allows people to connect all sorts of charging cables and redirect them to where the phone or table is situated.* Best, of all, the block has a tool-less design, which means people won’t have to jump through hoops to insert a new cable into the dock.

The All-Dock comes in three sizes:

Small: 220 x 113 x 61 mm / 8.7 x 4.4 x 2.4 in

Medium: 220 x 142 x 61 mm / 8.7 x 5.6 x 2.4 in

Large: 315 x 172 x 63 mm / 2.4 x 6.8 x 2.5 in

Head on over the All-Dock Kickstarter page if you’re interested in becoming an early bird pledger.

Read More: http://vr-zone.com/articles/dock-aim...eed/68155.html

via Hardware Forums http://forums.vr-zone.com/showthread.php?t=2996449&goto=newpost

Chromebooks had big year in 2013, according to NPD

Google Chrome OS-powered laptops and mobile devices surged in 2013, according to research group NPD, signaling a continued change in the consumer and business markets.

Chromebook sales racked up 1.76 million units worldwide from January 2013 to November 2013, capturing 21 percent of notebook sales throughout the year.* Chromebooks also captured two of three spots on the Amazon “holiday best sellers” list, while the products are also proving to be popular in the classroom.

“The market for personal computing devices in commercial markets continues to shift and change.* New products like Chromebooks, and reimagined items like Windows tablets, are now supplementing the revitalization that iPads started in personal computing devices. It is no accident that we are seeing the fruits of this change in the commercial markets as business and institutional buyers exploit the flexibility inherent in the new range of choices now open to them.”

Google has taken the mobile market by storm with its Android OS on smartphones and tablets – and growing interest in the Chrome OS operating system.* Chrome OS is typically found on cheaper laptops that focus more on cloud-based tasks including e-mail, storage, and Web browsing, and is more flexible than Windows 8.

This is more continued bad news for Microsoft, as the company’s Windows 8.1 and Windows Mobile OSes continue to fight for market share.* The rise in Chromebooks means OEMs have more leverage when dealing with Microsoft, while more home users and enterprise workers enjoy alternatives to Windows. However, most consumer and business applications are designed for the Windows environment, and there is a learning curve when adopting Chrome OS.

Source: NPD

Read More: http://vr-zone.com/articles/chromebo...npd/68045.html

via Hardware Forums http://forums.vr-zone.com/showthread.php?t=2996407&goto=newpost

Hackers involved in $60 million ATM heist arrested in Spain

A group of hackers responsible for stealing more than $60 million finally get busted by world authorities.

A group of Romanians and Moroccans living in the suburbs of Madrid was recently taken into custody by Spanish police because they allegedly took part in hacking various networks and cash machines to steal over $60 million.

Authorities worldwide collaborated in the investigation that eventually led to the capture of the tech-savvy thieves.* According to the police, the group stole roughly $40 million in just a few hours by withdrawing cash from 34,000 locations in 23 countries.* Of those 34,000 locations, almost $400,000 was taken out of 446 machines based in Madrid.

Thieves snag $100K using 3D-printed ATM skimmers

“Most of the organization was based in Spain has been dismantled,” Spanish police said in a statement. “I was starting to reorganize to carry out a similar attack in different European Union counties and even in Japan.”

The leader of the network, an IT expert, was reportedly arrested in Germany, but it appears that the network is still running—albeit at a lower level.

The people arrested recently in Madrid had thousands of dollars’ worth of equipment, as well as unused credit/debit cards in their possession.

Source: Bloomberg

Read More: http://vr-zone.com/articles/hackers-...ain/68147.html

via Hardware Forums http://forums.vr-zone.com/showthread.php?t=2996406&goto=newpost

Archos to unveil $100 'pebble-like' smartwatch at CES 2014

Archos cooks up its own version of a smartwatch, adding yet another test product to the supposedly growing wearable market.

Tech companies, big and small, are thinking about smartwatches and other wearables as the smartphone sector has essentially become oversaturated.* Although quite a few big name companies such as Samsung and Sony have already released their own versions of smartwatches, the adoption rates of these devices are still minimal.

Archos, we can assume, is well aware of the buzz surrounding smartwatch, and have probably developed a device that will have decent battery life.* Moreover, one would also expect that the maker of budget tablets and phones to also be considerate of its following when it comes to the price of its smartwatch.* According to the company, Archos is looking at deploying smartwatches that are around the $100 price tag, which, in comparison to the Samsung Galaxy Gear, is a lot more affordable.

Checkout our review of the Galaxy Gear

Not much else is currently known about the Archos smartwatch other than it’s a ‘pebble-like’ gadget.* If such is the case, the Archos smartwatch should come with some basic connectivity that will allow it to pair with a person’s smartphone or tablet.

While many companies have already debuted what they consider viable smartwear tech, Apple is still keeping its highly rumored iWatch under wrap.* The Cupertino-based maker of the iPhone has amassed a huge following in the mobile sector, so the eventual release of an Apple smartwatch is imminent.* Now, it’s just a matter of speculating as to the time frame of the iWatch’s release.

Click here to read more about smartwatches

via Hardware Forums http://forums.vr-zone.com/showthread.php?t=2996396&goto=newpost

Sharks will post their location on Twitter to prevent attacks.

In order to stop the shark killing by sea authorities in Western Australia, scientists have tagged over 320 sharks in order to alert via Twitter when they are near the beach.

Western Australia is the most dangerous place to die by a shark attack with six deaths in two years. The state has decided to kill all the sharks that measure more than three meters and swim one kilometer from the beach. They will capture them, kill them, and dump them into the sea.

It seems unfair for the sharks due to that they’re just swimming in their natural habitat. So, Australian scientists have developed a new way to stop the killing. By tagging the sharks they will know when they are near to the beach sending an alert that shows like this on Twitter:

Fisheries advise: tagged Tiger shark detected at Ocean Reef receiver at 02:16:00 AM on 28-Dec-2013

— Surf Life Saving WA (@SLSWA) December 27, 2013

In this way, and as it is in real time, people can evacuate the beach before something unfortunate occurs, furthermore, marine biologists can gather more information about the sharks and the way they travel and the habits they have.

Source: Gizmodo

via Hardware Forums http://forums.vr-zone.com/showthread.php?t=2996339&goto=newpost

Invest in Bitcoin services, not Bitcoin itself, says economist

Economists advise would-be Bitcoin investors to put their money in peripheral services instead of holding on to the crypto-currency itself, which could be problematic due to volatility.

Bitcoin is on the rise. And it’s on the decline. These are statements that one might commonly encounter days, if not hours, apart. As a global, de-centralized crypto-currency, Bitcoin has proved itself useful in both local and cross-border transactions. However, its value is much too volatile for conservative investors.

It might be good to speculate on the movement of Bitcoin’s value, but you might lose money if you’re not careful. Case in point: prior to the holiday season, Bitcoin shot up to about $1,242 per coin. At present, it’s hovering at around $703. This is bad news for those speculating on Bitcoin by buying the currency and then waiting for the value to shoot up. However, it could be good news for those speculating against the currency by acquiring derivatives or contracts-for-difference taking a “long” position against Bitcoin.

According to economists, smart investors should not look at Bitcoin as an investment instrument itself. Rather, it would be better to invest in companies that offer Bitcoin-related services. For instance, Li Ka-shing, the richest person in Asia, has invested into Bitcoin payment processor BitPay*through holdings company Horizons Ventures. This is a sound investment choice, says John Greenwood, London-based chief economist at Invesco, which designed Hong Kong’s pegged currency system.

Greenwood likens investing into such “peripheral activity” with the gold rush, in which investors “made more money out of selling shovels and picks to gold-diggers than anyone ever made out of the gold mine.”

The economist added that Bitcoin is simply not reliable as a global currency because it does not meet three requirements. First, a currency needs to be an effective medium of exchange for a wide array of goods and services. Second, it should be able to provide a long-term store of value, which enables its use as settlement for long-term contracts. Third, it needs to be a universal unit of account.

Bitcoin’s de-centralized nature has actually enabled the currency to become popular in China, where users were able to mitigate government control on capital movement across borders. However, this has also been cited as one reason why China’s government has clamped down on the use of Bitcoin for paying for goods, to the extent of outlawing conversion between Bitcoin and the local currency.

Still, holding on to Bitcoin has proven to be beneficial for certain individuals, especially those who had the currency from the start, prior to its rapid rise in value. A few Bitcoins a couple of years back might already be worth millions of dollars today. But with volatility, the value could be difficult to predict in the medium- or long-term, which is why service providers that offer value through Bitcoin-related transactions might be the winners here.

Source: South China Morning Post

via Hardware Forums http://forums.vr-zone.com/showthread.php?t=2996172&goto=newpost

LG Odin gets benchmarked, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 800 still reigns supreme

While LG’s first in-house mobile SoC cannot beat the Snapdragon 800, it does feature a great GPU and is faster than Samsung’s Exynos 5410.

LG has announced earlier in the year that it would be manufacturing mobile SoCs in-house, with the LG G3 likely to be the first device to feature the octa-core Odin SoC. LG is licencing ARM’s 64-bit Cortex-A50 processors for use in Odin, along with Power VR’s Series 6 GPU.

The result is a SoC that comes close to the benchmarks netter by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 800. In an AnTuTu benchmark test that was leaked online, the Odin SoC scored 6132 to the Snapdragon 800 backed LG G2’s 9752. The clocks on the processor were set to 100 MHz – 1008 MHz, so it is likely that LG has found a way to maximize efficiency at low frequencies. This also means that Odin will likely be very efficient at power utilization, as low-level tasks can be undertaken at lower frequencies.*LG can also boost performance by offering a higher-clocked version of Odin.

While the SoC could not do as well as the Snapdragon 800, LG has managed to oust the Exynos 5410 with Odin.

Not one to be left behind, Samsung also announced over the weekend that it will unveil the next Exynos SoC at the CES next week. Nothing has been divulged, but Samsung has been said to be working on a SoC with 64-bit architecture. We should know more next week.

Source: AnTuTu, Twitter

Read More: http://vr-zone.com/articles/lg-odin-...eme/68070.html

via Hardware Forums http://forums.vr-zone.com/showthread.php?t=2996171&goto=newpost

Samsung Galaxy Grand Lite drops by the FCC, Note 3 Lite tipped for Q1 2014 launch

Samsung isn’t just focused on making strides in the high-end tablet arena, thus narrowing the gap between its big guys and Apple’s iPads, as a flurry of entry-level and mid-range phones and slates are reportedly landing in the next three months.

To help differentiate these from flagship Galaxy devices, Sammy is rumored to add a “Lite” appendix to each of their names. So will the Galaxy Tab 3 Lite, Galaxy Note 3 Lite and Galaxy Grand Lite be born, albeit odds are at least one member of the trio won’t be a pushover.

I’m talking of course about the Note 3 Lite, destined for a Q1 2014 launch, according to a number of sources. When exactly in Q1? Week 12 is the best bet, so between March 17 and 23.

Then again, that’s actually the purported ETA for a snazzy-sounding LTE-enabled flavor in green, which leaves the door open for a February or even January release of more conventional models with just 3G connectivity and, say, black and white paint jobs.

Expected to lower the original Note 3’s performance ante, the Lite should make use of a similarly sized panel (this time an LCD), possibly with 720p resolution, plus 1 or 2 GB RAM and, presumably, a more modest dual or quad-core Snapdragon SoC.

Meanwhile, the Grand Lite, which may chaperone the GNote 3 Lite in Las Vegas next week for the yearly CES trade show, has been green-lit by the FCC and continues to be quite the puzzle. The federal agency doesn’t spell out the bad boy’s features for us, however trustworthy tipsters recently had it pegged as a 5-incher with dual-SIM support, quad-core 1.2 GHz power, 1 GB RAM, 5 MP rear-facing camera, pre-loaded Android 4.3 Jelly Bean and, get this, an 800 x 480 pix res panel.

Granted, there’s always a market for low-end stinkers like that, but why market it as part of the Grand series when you just took the wraps off a much more impressive Grand 2? Ah, forget it, it’s a rhetorical question anyway.

Sources: Twitter , FCC

via Hardware Forums http://forums.vr-zone.com/showthread.php?t=2996147&goto=newpost

[Singapore] CoFoundersLab Matchup Singapore

Find your co-founder this January 16 with CoFoundersLab! CoFoundersLab Matchup Singapore is an opportunity to find a co-founder for your business, or find a business to join. Brought to you by CoFoundersLab, this free event is a finely tuned networking event where you can meet other entrepreneurs and build the team to make your business Read the full article...

The post [Singapore] CoFoundersLab Matchup Singapore appeared first on E27.

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via Hardware Forums http://forums.vr-zone.com/showthread.php?t=2996121&goto=newpost

Untethered jailbreak for iOS 6.1.3, 6.1.4, 6.1.5 released

A group of well known jailbreak developers have released the untethered jailbreak for iOS 6.1.3, 6.1.4 and 6.1.5.

December has been a great month for the jailbreak community. Earlier this month the first ever iOS 7 untethered jailbreak was released which also covers all of the latest Apple mobile devices, including but not limited to iPad Air and the iPhone 5S. This particular jailbreak, called*p0sixspwn, will break the shackles on any support device that’s running the aforementioned firmware.

There’s a long list of devices that support these firmwares, all smartphones from iPhone 3GS to the iPhone 5, all tablets from the original iPad to the iPad 4, the first generation iPad mini as well as the fourth and fifth generation iPod touch.*The jailbreak has been developed by well known figures of the community, namely @iH8sn0w, @winocm and @SquiffyPwn, so those who opt to jailbreak their devices using their tool should have peace of mind when going through with the process.*The actual jailbreak process through p0sixspwn is very simple, just download the tool from its website, connect the device to the computer and follow the onscreen instructions.

Though at this point in time they have only released the tool for Macs running OS 10.7 or higher. A Windows version is currently under development and is expected to be released over the new couple of days.

via Hardware Forums http://forums.vr-zone.com/showthread.php?t=2996118&goto=newpost

Amazon offering AT&T's Nokia Lumia 1520 for $50 on contract

Amazon is selling the Nokia Lumia 1520 on AT&T for $49.99 on a two-year contract, offering more than a 50 percent discount on usual price of $199.99.

The offer is available for new AT&T customers for all four colors of the Lumia 1520. Existing AT&T subscribers looking to upgrade will have to shell out $99.99, which is still a good deal for a powerful device that is also the first Windows Phone phablet. Amazon doesn’t say when the deal ends, but if we were to hazard a guess, the price will probably go back up sometime in the first week of January.

The Lumia 1520 sports a 6-inch 1080p display, 2.2GHz Snapdragon 800 processor, 2GB of RAM, 32GB of storage that’s expandable via microSD cards, a 3,400 mAh battery and wireless charging, the latest version of Windows Phone 8 and Nokia’s Lumia Black software, and a 20-megapixel PureView camera on the back. It’s one of the best Windows Phone devices out in the market today for those who want a large gigantic screen, making Amazon’s deal one that shouldn’t be missed.

Head over to the links below to buy the Lumia 1520 from Amazon.

Lumia 1520 on Amazon: Black,*Red,*White,*Yellow

via Hardware Forums http://forums.vr-zone.com/showthread.php?t=2996117&goto=newpost

The iPad led U.S. tablet sales in 2013

Apple’s popular tablet led all tablet sales in the U.S. this year.

There’s only a day or so left until 2013 officially comes to an end, which is why it is the perfect time and look back at the year one last time before planning for 2014.*Apple released a number of products this year, including two new iPads. Research from The NPD Group reveals that Apple’s tablets took the lion’s share of all tablet sales in the U.S. The iPad accounted for 15.8 percent of all personal computing devices sold in the U.S., whereas Android tablets from a number of manufacturers could only muster 8.7 percent, Windows powered tablets can be found in third place with just 2.2 percent.

It is interesting to note that despite leading its competitors, iPad’s share of unit sales in the country actually decreased, last year it stood at 17.1 percent. Whereas its competitors surged, with Android and Windows tablets gaining 4.5 percent and 1.4 percent year over year in 2013, respectively. The new iPads were released in October and November, so the extent to which they might have been able to plug the gap will fully be known when results from the ongoing quarter come in early next year.

Apple is expected to make a number of tablet related announcements in 2014. The company is rumored to be working on a 12.9 inch iPad which might be released in the second half of next year, whereas the iPad Air and iPad mini will be due to receive the latest hardware.

Source: NPD Group

via Hardware Forums http://forums.vr-zone.com/showthread.php?t=2996116&goto=newpost

Alleged prototype of Apple's first ever iPhone fetches $1500 on eBay

A purported pre-production unit of the first generation iPhone was sold for online for $1500.

This isn’t the first time that someone has tried to sell a purported pre-production unit online. A number of similar iPhone units have surfaced online in the past as well, and eBay typically pulled those listings presumably at Apple’s request. This time around though a seller going by applefancollector, based in Australia, was able to make the sale. The device itself looks identical to the first generation iPhone, a smartphone that was unveiled to much fanfare by none other than the late Steve Jobs. Its safe to say that the smartphone turned out to be a colossal hit.

This particular unit seems to run an early version of iOS, which has also been spotted on similar pre-production models that have popped up online before. The software allows the user to test hardware functions of the iPhone, such as the touch sensor, display, battery, ambient light and proximity sensors and more. Apart from the special iOS version, signal bands of each radio housed in the device are etched on to the device’s backplate, the radios include Bluetooth, Wi-Fi as well as four GSM bands that the original iPhone supported.

The seller doesn’t reveal exactly how this unit was obtained, but claimed in the listing that it is “near mint condition,” which is presumably one major factor that might have enticed the buyer to fork $1500, enough money to buy two factory unlocked 32GB iPhone 5S.

Source: eBay

via Hardware Forums http://forums.vr-zone.com/showthread.php?t=2996114&goto=newpost