Today, mechanical computer-aided design (MCAD), digital content creation (DCC) and broadcast applications received a major performance boost with the introduction of the NVIDIA® Quadro® FX 4800 ultra-high-end professional graphics card. With advances in GPU architecture, added graphics memory and 30-bit color, the Quadro FX 4800 gives professionals the right toolset to dramatically push the boundaries of realism, performance and quality.

“In this increasingly competitive landscape, it’s imperative that professionals deliver better, faster and more cost-effective results,” said Jeff Brown general manager, Professional Solutions, NVIDIA. “NVIDIA is not only addressing this challenge, but is raising the ultra-high-end visualization bar by creating specialized solutions to meet the direct needs of professionals – whether it be a geophysicists or MCAD designer.”

Equipped with 192 CUDAT parallel computing cores, the Quadro FX 4800 delivers a 2X performance increase over previous generations of ultra-high-end graphics cards. Key features in the Quadro FX 4800 include:

- Real-time Visualization of Large Data Sets – Equipped with 1.5 GB graphics memory, the Quadro FX 4800 has the capacity to process large textures and frames in real time while providing fill rates of 38 billion texels per second and geometry performance of 300 million triangles per second.

-Increased Image Quality – A 128-bit precision graphic pipeline and 32x FSAA for better image clarity and quality.

-Ultra-high Color Fidelity and Resolutions – Dual 10-bit display ports delivering a color palette of over a billion colors, orders of magnitude greater than previous generations of graphics cards. Also included is a single dual-link digital display connector for ultra-high resolution panels of up to 3840 x 2400 at 24Hz.

-High-performance Visualization – A CUDA parallel computing processor architecture exposed through a C language environment and tool suite. In combination with high-performance visualization, CUDA unleashes new capabilities to solve highly complex challenges such as real-time ray tracing, video encoding and interactive volume rendering.

Pricing and Availability
NVIDIA Quadro solutions are widely available through leading system manufacturers and workstation integrators, and NVIDIA channel partners PNY Technologies (US and EMEA), Leadteck (APAC), and Elsa (Japan). The NVIDIA Quadro FX 4800 is available today and has a MSRP of $1,999 USD. For more information on NVIDIA professional technologies and products, please visit: www.nvidia.com/quadro.

iBUYPOWER, known for it’s innovative and powerful gaming PCs, is excited to launch its newest gaming rig – the Paladin 998. Housed in a Cooler Master Haf Gaming case, the new Paladin 998 packs a powerful punch with an Intel Core 2 Quad Processor (Q9550), 4GB DDR-3 1333 memory and a 500GB SATA-2 7200 rpm hard drive. The Paladin’s Radeon 4870X2 graphics card from ATI renders lifelike HD graphics at incredibly smooth frame rates, for a superior gaming experience.

iBUYPOWER ensured the Paladin would run long and cool by including their brand new IBP-Z001 liquid cooling system, which was just named one of the 5 best Intel Heatsinks by Frosty Tech. The 998 also comes fully loaded with a Sony 20x DL DVD+/-RW optical drive and Blu-ray player, built-in 8 channel surround sound, and an 800W power supply. Best of all, the Paladin 998 ships with a free copy of Halo 2 so users can start gaming out of the box.

“iBUYPOWER machines are built by hand with only the best components; for gamers by gamers,” said Darren Su, Vice President of iBUYPOWER. “The Paladin 998 carries on that tradition, and at $1,999 is an amazing value considering all that it is packing like the quad core processor from Intel.”

The iBUYPOWER Paladin 998 also ships with Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-Bit Edition, a Logitech keyboard and mouse, and comes with a 3-Yr Limited Warranty and Lifetime Support Service (full specs below after the jump).

For additional information about iBUYPOWER visit www.iBUYPOWER.com

BUYPOWER Paladin 998
Case CoolerMaster Haf Gaming Case
Power Supply 800W Power Supply
Main Board Gigabyte GA-EP45T-DS3R Motherboard
CPU Intel Q9550 2.83ghz 12MB
Memory 4GB DDR-3 1333 Memory
HDD 500GB SATA-2 7200 rpm

Optical Drive Sony 20x DL DVD+/-RW Drive Sony Blu-ray Drive
Video ATI 4870X2 2GB Video Card
Audio Built-in 8 Channel Surround Sound
Network Integrated Gigabit Ethernet Network LAN
Software Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-Bit Edition
MS Office 2007 Trial
FREE Halo 2 Game
KB & Mouse Logitech Keyboard Logitech Mouse
Warranty 3-Yr Limited Warranty + Lifetime Support Service
MSRP $1,999

Burgled Britons have spent a staggering £27 billion pounds in the last five years in an attempt to regain peace of mind following a break-in. That’s just one of the findings of a recent ICM nationwide survey, commissioned by Intamac Systems, which examined the measures taken and costs incurred by UK householders to feel safe in their homes in the aftermath of a break-in.

While many speak of the emotional burden caused by a burglary, few realise the financial implications, as victims take the steps they think necessary to feel safe in their homes again – something not covered by home insurance policies.

For a large proportion of people surveyed, it was too late – nothing could make them feel safe in their home again. The thought of criminals being in their home was too much to bear, and so almost one third of those surveyed packed up their possessions and moved home.

Peace of mind was not something that those questioned felt was being offered by the surrounding community. In a sad indictment of neighbourhood support across the UK, 22% added a burglar alarm following a break-in, yet over 60% believed that their neighbours or passers-by would not respond should their alarm go off. Only 11% were ‘very confident’ that someone would.

For others, fortifying their home after the event was paramount, with 46% adding extra locks, 42% adding outdoor security lights and 37% changing the locks on the doors to their home. Over 10% of those questions decided to put extra ‘bite’ into securing their home and hoped that buying a dog would deter would-be thieves. In addition, one in ten decided to shut out the outside world by erecting a high fence around their property.

David Rimmer, spokesperson for leading home and SME security monitoring company Intamac systems, which commissioned the research said, “While we have tried to put a figure on peace of mind, it seems that feeling safe in your own home is priceless. We talk about our homes being our castles, but after a break-in, the householder’s relationship with their home dramatically changes, with many striving to regain the apparent air of safety and normality they enjoyed before the experience. Those surveyed have gone to great lengths to achieve this, with some sadly having to turn to counselling sessions and 10% even taking to staying in after dark.

“We were also astounded at the high numbers (60%) who didn’t have faith in their neighbours to come to their aid should their alarms go off.”

Other key facts from the survey include:

• One in four homes has suffered a break-in.
• Before being broken into, half of those surveyed viewed security as very important; this figure dramatically rises to 84% after a break-in.
• Prior to being burgled, 38% believed they would never need to secure their home.
• Wales is the place where you are least likely to be broken into (9 out of 10 homes have not been burgled), while London is the place you are most likely to be burgled (1 in 3 Londoners homes have been broken into).
• 21% of people burgled were at home sleeping at the time of the break-in.

“Unlike traditional bells-only systems, Intamac provides a home monitoring and messaging service through the Internet. So whenever there is a suspected break-in, you and your nominated contacts (friends or family) will get an automated messaging – voice call, mobile text message or e-mail in real time. This means that home owners can take control of the situation and take the appropriate course of action in a timely manner – whether they are at home, at work or on holiday,” concludes Rimmer.

The security product is available now through global partners such as Cisco, BT, Yale and IAG – and through leading retailers such as Homebase and PC World or by visiting www.intamac.com

ABC is bucking the trend to bring its content to some one else by making available its shows online at abc.com. Now it is going a step further and bringing true HD content to the web for streaming enjoyment of fans of shows such as Lost, Grey’s Anatomy and Ugly Betty. The 1280-by-720 content will be joined by a more “robust” line-up by September following the July launch of the ABC HD channel. Further, the “geo-targeted,” the ability to identify your geographic location, player will serve up local content such as news and weather. As they say in TV land, stay tuned.

[Via Multichannel]

In the past few months, Verizon Wireless has been testing its high speed Internet 3G connection in California’s agriculture hot spot through wee hours of the evening. All that testing has paid off as Verizon Wireless has announced today that Central California wireless users can no enjoy high speed access from their phone or computer like nearly the rest of the state has been using for the last year. While I myself still see 1x on my phones display and I more than deep in the allotted area, I’m sure it’s due to the signal tower in my town. Hopefully that’ll be resolved soon!

Customers in Stockton and Modesto can now access the latest high-speed business and entertainment services on their wireless phones, laptop computers, and other wireless devices thanks to Verizon Wireless.

New capabilities come with the expansion of the company’s Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) network, enabling both its BroadbandAccess and V CAST services. Customers in Stockton and Modesto now have access to the same high-speed Verizon Wireless services launched earlier in the San Francisco Bay Area and Southern California.

“Verizon Wireless is committed to expanding our high-speed data network across the nation and is proud to announce the launch in Stockton and Modesto,” said Rich Garwood, Northern California/Nevada regional president for Verizon Wireless. “These two communities continue to experience a high rate of growth as so many people make their homes in the area while commuting to jobs in Sacramento and the Bay Area, and vice versa. Now, customers who both live and travel through these areas have access to the true mobility of wireless data.”