Cold fusion reactor in every home and more powerful than gas

Not really computer related but here is an interesting article on cold fusion.  (and not the type developed by Allaire that powered Anandtech.com for "years")

against all probability, a device that purports to use cold fusion to generate vast amounts of power has been verified by a panel of independent scientists. The research paper, which hasn’t yet undergone peer review, seems to confirm both the existence of cold fusion, and its potency: The cold fusion device being tested has roughly 10,000 times the energy density and 1,000 times the power density of gasoline.

The process of cold fusion has been proved but it wasn't a viable energy source because it took too much power to get the reaction started.  I guess with this device they figured out how to bring the numbers down and make it safe to use.

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Beer drone using GPS will deliver drinks in South Africa

This might be fun, that is until a beer can explodes on your head.

Demoed in a recently posted YouTube video, an octocopter drone that delivers beer is being developed by a team that’s working with the OppiKoppi Music Festival in South Africa. Called the OppiKoppi Beer Drone, cans of beer are loaded into the drone prior to taking off and each can is attached to a clear, plastic parachute. After the drone reaches the approximate location of the person that requested the beer in addition to the appropriate altitude to safely drop the brew, the drone releases the can. Assuming the parachute opens correctly, the can safely glides to the ground into the hands of the thirsty festival attendee.

I wonder what happens to the plastic parachute after the beer has been delivered?  And why use plastic, wouldn't paper be more responsable?

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Google+ isn’t for us, it’s for researching us

I'm going to go ahead and put this opinion piece into the "No S#t" category and leave it at that.  Google+ launched with the promise that it may be able to compete with Facebook as a social media alternative.  I suspect that Google hoped their large user base would help launch them into social stardom and a year later the hype was gone and all those G+ buttons I placed on this website have gone un-used.

Heck I suspect most people with a Google+ account don't even bother logging in on a daily basis.  

On paper, Google+ is a beautiful, compelling, rich product. So why don’t I care?

When Google’s answer to Facebook first launched nearly two years ago, I was a cheerleader. Like everyone else, I was frustrated by the lack of control I had over Facebook and the early signs of “Facebook fatigue” (a phrase we’re now gratuitously throwing around) were starting to set in. Google+ had been under wraps for years; it was like this Internet-wide Easter Egg that we were so excited to finally see.

And I tried really, really hard to like it. And I still don’t.

The obviousness of it all is that Google uses everything own/build to market themselves,  They use Gmail to serve you ads and even tailor search results.  They use Youtube for the same purpose and, wouldn't you know it, they use g+ results to not only tweak your search engine position but also to tailor search results to those fortunate enough to click the little g+ button.

This is just smart business and a rather ingenuous way to tweak SEO.  It also makes the internet more responsive to the people searching for something.  its too bad Google+ will never be anything more than a fad.  /#opinion

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Nasa buys into Quantum computer

"Buys into" is the operable phrase here since this isn't the type of machine you just flat out "own"

It will be shared by Google, Nasa, and other scientists, providing access to a machine said to be up to 3,600 times faster than conventional computers.

Unlike standard machines, the D-Wave Two processor appears to make use of an effect called quantum tunnelling.

This allows it to reach solutions to certain types of mathematical problems in fractions of a second.

Effectively, it can try all possible solutions at the same time and then select the best.

Of course the Bitcoin miners are drooling right now and wondering how they can get on the NASA train.

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XS Gigabyte Series 8 Preview - Sound Profiles

With Computex quickly approaching I have started seeing more and more "leaks" regarding some of the new features found on new 8-Series motherboards.  Many of you have already seen the new Gigabyte heatsink design along with the new color scheme from Asus but maybe one of the most drastic updates comes on the new Gigabyte G1 gamer line.

Removable OP Amp chips to change sound profiles.

This feature has been common on Auzentech sound cards for years and the question remains on if this was ever something anyone would take advantage of.  Well, it would seem GBT has bought into the marketing and is now offering that feature.

Or so indicated by "Picture Rumors" posted on XS.

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Beginners Guides: Crash Recovery & The Blue Screen of Death @ PCSTATS

Maybe one of the biggest problems plaguing the computer industry is the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD).  Of course a BSOD is different on every platform, for instance WIndows users know it as the blue screen you "might" see right before your computer just reboots itself.  Apple fanatics know the screen as "hey my computer locked up, it must be time to buy a new one" and finally Linux users are looking at us funny saying "what the heck are you talking about?"

Regardless of what system you use it is good to know there are some who are less fortunate  and have to deal with something bad in their PC.  For those, maybe this guide from PCStats can help.

In this article PCSTATS.com will walk you through the BSOD in many of its most familiar incarnations. We will not be exploring and cataloguing what each BSOD means, but rather providing a set of tools for troubleshooting that you can use to get around any Blue Screen Of Death, or constant crash issue. Just another step in PCSTATS' never-ending quest to save your hard earned cash from going to the computer repair shop.

Funny thing about the BSOD I used to get them all the time and 99 times out of 80 the problem was related to a bad driver or bad hardware.  These days unless you are overclocking most BSODs are caused by solar flares or from your computer giving you lip.

My how times have changed.

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MSI Radeon HD 7790 TurboDuo OC review @ Guru 3d

Seems like a pretty good card.  That is until you consider that there are faster ones on the market with dual fans and a much cooler heatsink.

We test and review the MSI Radeon HD 7790 OC edition, also known under SKU code R7790-1GD5-OC. We benchmark the product incl FCAT Frametimes. The new graphics card is intended to boost a little more performance into entry-level gaming. The MSI HD7790 OC clocks in at 1050 MHz on ther boost engine, packed with custom cooling and two heat pipe direct touch technology.

Funny how I didn't get one this time, humm

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Windows Blue (8.1) Will be Free Upgrade

Might we call this their way of saying, "oh sorry, here let me fix that for you".  No real word on what will be different but if the rumors are correct the version 8.1 should feature a start button and ability to boot directly to the desktop.

We can all stop calling Microsoft’s upcoming operating system Windows Blue now that Tami Reller, the CMO and CFO of Microsoft’s Windows Division, confirmed that its official name will be Windows 8.1. 

Confirming what fellow company exec Julie Larson-Green said earlier this month, Reller revealed during JP Morgan’s Technology, Media & Telecom Conference that you’ll be able to download the public preview version of Windows 8.1 by the end of June  – June 26, to be exact – which happens to be right at the beginning of the 2013 Build Developer Conference. Reller is keeping mum when it comes to the system’s actual release date – only hinting that it will be launched some time during or before the holiday season.

Of course the best part is getting this as a free upgrade which kinda takes the sting out of paying $40US for the Upgrade and losing your ability to downgrade.

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Cooler Master N200 Micro ATX Case Launch Day

Rumor is this case has already been available in the Retail channels for a week but today marks the first reviewers can talk about the new design.

Be sure to check out the N200 review on Ninjalane and browse some of the other sites for different perspectives and photo styles.

Web Reviews
- Cooler Master N200 Mini-Tower Case Review @ Hi Tech Legion
- Cooler Master N200 @ LanOC Reviews
- Cooler Master N200 Case Review @ Hardware Secrets

Also be sure to drop by the Ninjalane Forums and Cooler Master website for the latest in reddit free details related to the N200 including how to find the built in dual 120mm fan radiator mount exclusive to owners of the N200.

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Microcool Banchetto K Now Available

In the world of computer hardware testing the unsung hero of those pretty comparison numbers is the "test bench"  Sadly, many of us incorrectly call the entire system a "bench" while the reality is, the hardware holding the motherboard and video card is the bench and without it there would be nothing except sparks and depression.

In the Ninjalane Labs we use broken down computer cases to hold our computer hardware and while this may change in the near future there are some reviewers who are using off the shelf test benches including the super cool Microcool Banchetto.

The new K edition bench is a radical change from the elegant clear designs of the orginial but I like the update.  Everything has its place and the new design makes it easy to swap parts without having to tear everything down.  There are even fan brackets to ensure there is proper airflow over the open air testing platform.

Be sure to check out the Microcool Youtube video and drop by their site for complete bench details.

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