Super Talent Technology, a leading manufacturer of memory modules and flash products, today announced a line of USB drives that are designed and tested specifically to support the ReadyBoost feature of Microsoft Windows Vista. Windows Vista introduces a new concept in adding memory to a system. Windows ReadyBoost lets you use a removable USB flash drive to improve system performance, without the bother of opening your chassis to upgrade system memory. ReadyBoost improves system performance by taking advantage of the extremely fast Access Time offered by flash technology.

Windows ReadyBoost technology is reliable and provides protection of the data stored on your device. You can remove the flash device at any time without any loss of data or adverse effects to the system. Additionally, data on the USB drive is encrypted to help prevent unauthorized access to the data in the event your USB drive should be lost or stolen.

According to Super Talent VP of Business Operations, Mr. CH Lee, "This line of ReadyBoost USB drives will give Windows Vista users an easy way to add system memory and boost system performance." These products are currently offered only in the Super Talent DH-GY style, gray aluminum casing. These products will begin shipping to Super Talent resellers and distributors worldwide in early November. Expected street price on the 1GB model is $29, and the 2GB unit $59.

These and other Super Talent products will be on display at nine Intel Microsoft Ready 2 Rock Road Shows across North America from October through December.

Links after the click.

Zune is coming soon and Belkin are quick off the mark with a range of swanky accessories ready for the big launch. This rather attractive looking case should protect your Zune while attracting admiring glances from the opposite sex (that would be iPods right?). Other accessories include power boosters, FM transmitters, acrylic cases and folio stands to keep your Zune happy and your pocket lighter.

More pics after the click.

If you've got booted out of the pub, sick of fireworks or you're like us and can't stop fiddling with your hardware, here's some kit to get your teeth stuck into over the weekend.

• Cooler Master Hyper 6+ Cooler on Techware Labs
• Corsair Dominator PC8888C4 RAM on MADSHRIMPS
• Intel Core 2 Quad CPU on AnandTech (thanks Mike Martinez), bit-tech.net, Boot Daily, DriverHeaven.net, GotFrag Hardware, hardCOREware.net, Hardware.Info,
  TrustedReviews, TweakTown, and X-bit labs
• JustPC R910 Server Tower on Techgage
• Kama Connect USB Hard Drive Enclosure on GideonTech
• NZXT Adamas Case on Overclocker Cafe
• Philips Cineos 37PF9731D 37" LCD TV on TrustedReviews
• Sapphire ATI Radeon X1950 Pro 256 MB Video Card on GamePC
• SuperTalent 2GB (2x1GB) PC3500 CL2 DDR433 RAM on 3DXtrem
• Thermaltake Kandalf LCS Liquid Cooled Case on Tweaknews.net
• Vantec NexStar 3 NST-260SU-BK eSATA Enclosure on Bjorn3d
• 500GB Hard Drive Shootout on X-bit labs
• Antec TruePower Trio 650W PSU on GotFrag Hardware
• Arctic Cooling Accelero X1 VGA Cooler on Futurelooks.
• ASUS G2P Gaming Notebook on Hot Hardware
• Cooler Master Mars and Eclipse CPU Cooler on Big Bruin
• Intel X6800 Core 2 Extreme CPU on ViperLair
• Logitech G11 Gaming Keyboard on ASE Labs
• Microsoft Wireless Laser Desktop 6000 v2.0 on MetkuMods
• Nikon Coolpix S10 Digital Camera on TrustedReviews
• NZXT Adamas Aluminum ATX Case on Bjorn3d
• Olympus SP-510UZ Digital Camera on Digital Trends
• Philips SPC600NC Webcam on CoolTechZone

Alternatively you can just have a good stare at UC Kerry's hardware. Phew, I'm feeling hotter already...

The Seattle Times has suggested that Microsoft are gearing up to launch their long awaited 64bit operating system as early as next week.

Before you jump up and down and hit the reformat key for Windows XP, the new operating system will be provided to Microsoft's volume-license customers, such as large businesses first. Microsoft intends to launch Vista for these customers in November and the masses in January 2007.

In other news, Crysis, one of the first next generation games built for Vista and direct x10, has been delayed until at least April 2007 according to Electronic Arts. Reasons for the delay are not given but no doubt extra time to polish and fine tune will mean this stunning game is a real knockout when it finally launches.

Ever been stuck in the middle of nowhere with no other cars around to give you a jump?   Now you can use your own energy to jump start your car, without the need for any friendly strangers to stop and give you a hand.  Using the attached foot pedal, you can charge the FreeCharge Weza to build up enough of a voltage to start your car.

If you're really pessimistic, you could plan ahead for such a situation.  The device can also be charged using AC power or solar or wind energy (none of these are included, though).  All in all, it's a useful thing to have, and it sure beats standing around in the cold.

For a long time, we've been trying to find new ways to use computers to either emulate or replace brain functions, especially in those who have suffered some kind of injury.  Researchers at the University of Washington have developed what they call a Neurochip.  This Neurochip attaches to the top of a monkey's head and monitors the electrical signals sent by the brain's motor cortex.  It then generates signals that can be sent back to the brain, creating a new pathway for the Neurochip to be able to function as a motor cortex in the future.

Of course, we would hope that this technology will work with humans as well as monkeys, and theoretically it probably can, after a few minor adjustments.  We can hope to see human trials of this in the future.

Philips has introduced a new Blu-ray player, the BDP9000.  Whether or not it has actually been released is currently up in the air--supposedly the release date is November 1, but Wal-mart seems to be selling it in a few stores.  No one else has it listed as being available, so...

What's interesting about this player is its reduced price.  At around $900, it's at least $100 cheaper than any other Blu-ray player available.  Is this a sign of Blu-ray trying to lower prices to compete with HD-DVD?  Probably.

Let's face it: voice recognition in automobile GPS systems can be really frustrating sometimes.  There are some things that it doesn't understand no matter how clearly you say them.  Pioneer's AVIC-HD1BT claims to improve that: it's the first voice-activated GPS unit that can operate on "plain speech" commands.  So you could say something like "find me a gas station close by" and supposedly the GPS would actually find the nearest gas station.  Built-in IBM software allows you to use plain speech in one of 14 languages.

Other features of the AVIC-HD1BT include a 30GB hard drive allowing you to store music in the space that's not being used for maps (which gives you around 10GB of free space).  There's also a DVD player and a way to connect your iPod to the unit.  The unit is available only in European models, for a price of about €2,500.

Worried about running out of disk space on your iPod?  The Archos 504 is now the world's largest portable media player, available in capacities of 40GB, 80GB, and 160GB.  The player features a 4.3" LCD display with a 430x272 resolution and a battery life of about 17 hours (probably while playing audio).  Supported formats include H.264, MPEG2, MPEG4, WMV (protected or unprotected), and VOB for video, and WMA (protected or unprotected), MP3, and WAV for audio.

All three players are already available, at prices of $350, $400, and $600 for the 40GB, 80GB, and 160GB versions, respectively.

Foxconn 975X7AB-8EKRS2H 975X Express Motherboard Review - PCStats.com

Gigabyte 3D Rocket II Cooler GH-PCU23-VE Heatsink Review - FrostyTech

Antec Truepower Trio 650 Watt Power Supply Review - Tweaknews.net

Is Technology Really Making Life Easier? - TechZone

2006 LG's Holiday of Style Product Briefing - FutureLook

Everglide g-1000 Mouse Review - NGOHQ.com

Anatomy of Switching Power Supplies - Hardware Secrets

Asus M2R32-MVP CrossFire Xpress 3200 Motherboard Review - PCStats.com

Cooler Master Mystique 632 Case Give Away - Big Bruin



Crucial Ballistix 1GB Kit DDR2-800/PC2-6400 Memory Review - OC Inside
Zalman Reserator 2 Water Cooling System Review - Tweaknews.net
Thermaltake Big Typhoon VX CPU Cooler Review - FutureLook
Elife Colorful Card USB Drive - ThinkComputers.org
How to Setup a RAID System - Hardware Secrets
CoolIT Freezone CPU Cooler (TEC) - 3dGameman
MSI NX7950GX2-T2D1GE Geforce 7950GX2 Videocard Review - PCStats.com
NGOHQ's Survey Shows Radeon 9x00 Still On Top - NGOHQ.com
Cooler Master Hyper TX Socket 775 CPU Cooler - Big Bruin
Vizo Paragon 2,5" One Touch Backup HDD External Enlcosure - Allround-PC.de
Apack Zerotherm GX710 Copper Videocard VGA Cooler Review - Tweaknews.net
Gears of War Gallery (not hardware but cool) - ThinkGaming.org
The Ultimate Geek Comforter (we'd pick UC Holly) - The TechZone

Ok you lot, that's enough hardware. Back to work.