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    Thai floods will raise prices of gadgets that use HDDs

    Gadgets Team
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    1
    Thai floods will raise prices of gadgets that use HDDs

    We told you guys a couple of days ago that flooding in Thailand was the disrupting supply the global supply of HDDs. Now it seems that the floods will also contribute to the rising prices of gadgets and devices that use HDDs, which include notebooks and basically any gadget that uses HDD for storage. Marketwatch reports that Acer has said that  it is raising PC and notebook prices as hard-drive prices rise. IHS iSupply has estimated that worldwide shipments of hard drives could fall by 30% during the last three months of the year, which would also contribute to the rise of prices for HDDs and any gadget that utilizes it for storage. Our advice is to buy whatever gadget you’re eyeing now to avoid paying for higher prices when the December comes.

    Source: Marketwatch 

    RIM offers corporate customers a free PlayBook when they buy two devices

    Gadgets Team
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    0
    RIM offers corporate customers a free PlayBook when they buy two devices

    Want a PlayBook? Or two? Or three? You’re in luck – All Things D is reporting that the company is putting the PlayBook up for a buy two get one sale for the enterprise market. While the offer is enticing, you gotta wonder what state the sales of PlayBooks are currently in – after all, RIM conducted a 50% off internal PlayBook sale for Rodgers employees just a couple of weeks ago. PlayBooks aren’t exactly flying off the shelves, as All Things D reports that RIM only managed to ship 500,000 units in their first quarter (when it was first launched), which dwindled down to 200,000 units for the second. It’s probably safe to say that we’ll see more deals for the device when the holidays roll in, but it still remains to be seen if RIM will go down HP’s TouchPad fire sale route.

    Source: All Things D, RIM

    Review: Sony VAIO S (VPCSB16FG)

    Gadgets Team
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    3
    Review: Sony VAIO S (VPCSB16FG)

    The Sony VAIO S is a greatly overlooked notebook in a saturated market – it is definitely primed to command the attention of consumers looking for a new laptop.

    Once set down on a table, users will spend a few minutes admiring the sleek and minimalist design of this new addition to the S Series line. Its polished magnesium body sports aluminum palm rests that denote a sense of class, combined with a touch of style. Not only is its exterior expertly designed, but it’s wonderfully lightweight, weighing in at mere 1.72 kg. This VAIO laptop is an ideal choice for those who are constantly on the move and want something portable and suave.

    Opening the lid of its remarkably thin and flat chassis reveals the 13.3-inch wide TFT color display and its ergonomic backlit keyboard. The chiclet-type workspace is great for long hours of typing – they are evenly spaced and respond accurately. However, what makes the workspace truly amazing is its ambient light sensor, which lights up the keys automatically in places with low light, making it perfect for those that like to burn the midnight oil.

    Below the beloved keyboard is the gesture supported touchpad, and while the texture is smooth and inviting, some might find the buttons a little awkward to use. Sony positioned the clickers at the very edge of the laptop’s body, embedding it into the casing itself, which makes it difficult to operate at times.

    On the left hand side, a physical switch to turn the WiFi on/off can be found, along with the DVD SuperMulti Drive and headphone jack, which was blended in so well with the rest of the exterior that they were actually quite tricky to spot. On the right side of the notebook, you’ll find all of the connectivity options and ports: two USB 2.0, one SuperSpeed USB 3.0, SD Memory card reader, memory stick slot, Gigabit Ethernet port, HDMI and VGA.

    This laptop’s unique feature is its Dynamic Hybrid Graphics System, which provides a physical control located above the keyboard to allow users to switch between SPEED and STAMINA modes without having to restart the laptop. As the name implies, SPEED promotes greater performance, utilizing its AMD Radeon HD 6470M to process graphics. Toggling to STAMINA signals the laptop to use its Intel HD Graphics card and tells the software’s power manager to use its “balanced” settings, which is useful when users need to conserve battery life when they’re not performing graphic heavy tasks.

    When on SPEED mode, the Sony S Series might awaken the slumbering gamer within you. This laptop was able to handle recent titles such as Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood and Dragon Age 2 on recommended settings without any hiccups. Furthermore, HD streaming was also smooth and fluid on the notebook’s TFT LED backlit display with a resolution of 1366×768, producing vibrant images and causing no frustrations even when in a brightly lit room.

    What’s under the hood? Running on Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit, the Sony VPCSB16FG is equipped with a second generation Intel Core i5 processor, 4GB RAM expandable up to 8GB, and 320GB of storage. With that kind of power, this laptop handled both mundane operations and multi-tasking effectively and efficiently.

    With a touted battery life of up to 6 hours that can be extended up to 12 hours with an optional battery accessory, the Sony VAIO S (VPCSB16FG) will be getting its share of the limelight in a market that is saturated with a multitude of models to choose from. The ability to switch graphics dynamically without having to restart is a great option to have. This lightweight laptop comes equipped with impressive hardware and will definitely make heads turn.

     

    What’s Hot:

    –          dynamic graphic switching
    –          excellent backlit keyboard
    –          thin and light

    What’s Not:

    –          awkward touchpad placement
    –          physical buttons feel flimsy
     

    Buy Meter: 9.0

    Conclusion:

    In a nutshell, the Sony VAIO S (VPCSB16FG) is one of the best laptops out in the market. It’s solidly built, lightweight and packs a lot of processing power. Its stellar performance can appeal to just about anybody, making it a fabulous choice for those that are looking to purchase a new notebook.

     

     

    SPECIFICATIONS
    Dimensions (WxHxD) – 331 x 23.9 x 224.5mm
    Weight: 1.72kg
    Processor:  Intel® Core™ i5-2410M Processor 2.30 GHz with Turbo Boost up to 2.90 GHz
    Display: 13.3-inch wide (WXGA: 1366×768) TFT color display (VAIO Display Plus, LED backlight)
    Operating System: Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium 64-bit
    Memory/Storage:4GB DDR3 SDRAM (8GB max)320GB HD
    Optical drive: DVD SuperMulti Drive
    Graphics: AMD Radeon HD 6470M/Intel HD Graphics 3000, 512MB DDR3 VRAM
    Backlit keyboard
    Connectivity/Ports: two USB 2.0, SuperSpeed USB 3.0, HDMI, SD Memory Card Slot, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
    Webcam 0.3 megapixels
    Battery life up to 6 hours, 12 hours with optional battery
     
     
    [This review originally appeared in the August 2011 issue of Gadgets Magazine]

    Review: Popcorn Hour A210

    Gadgets Team
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    3
    Review: Popcorn Hour A210

    Not all media streamers are made equal. Just like any gadget out in the market, media streamers come in a variety of models and features, from the basic, USB streamer to more complicated NAS (network attached storage) capable models. Made by Syabas in Hongkong, the Popcorn Hour A210 delivers all you’d ever want in a media streamer – even if the experience is slightly unhinged by a less than friendly UI.

    There’s not much to say about styling when it comes to digital streamers – they’re usually just boxes with fans and few physical controls, and aside from Apple’s own take on the segment, visually boring. The Popcorn Hour A210 follows that particular design mantra, though it does look better than its competitors. The A210 uses a nice brushed metal material for its outer housing which gives the unit better heat dissipating qualities and a better aesthetic overall.


    When it comes to connectivity, the A210 has it all. It has a whole suite of connections that range from standard definition (composite, component and RCA jacks for audio) as well as HD (HDMI). There’s an Ethernet port thrown in for home network integration too. USB connections are also provided, and the A210 can reliably play content contained in thumb drives and HDDs.

    While the A210 can play media from external sources, it’s perfectly capable of taking both 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch HDDs for storage and playback. Putting the drives into the device is easy enough, and the drive caddy is designed in such a way that even the most novice of users can figure out how to do it.

    When talking about media streamers, one of the main things that people look for is file compatibility. You’ll be happy to know then, that the A210 can literally play almost every file currently out – .MKV, .MOV, .WMV – if it’s an audio or movie file and it has a dot and acronyms, you can bet that this baby can play it. It’s even capable of playing 3D Blu-ray files and a myriad of 3D video, so it’s the streamer to have if you already have a 3D capable HD TV.

    Video quality is fantastic for the A210, especially if you already have a properly calibrated TV. Images just seem to pop out at you, and everything just…looks better. Obviously lower bitrates and badly encoded movies will still look like garbage, but even decently encoded movies look fantastic on the A210. Audio pretty much follows the same trend as video – simply put, we were blown away. The A210 has support for the latest lossless audio codecs and the results is fantastic sound with every movie you play, from the running gun battles of the action classic HEAT, to the rousing sounds of the Imperial March in Star Wars.

    Probably the only fault we can see with the A210 is its simplistic menu system. Items are listed via their text file names, and you’re also shown the subfolders of whatever media you’re accessing (either through the internal HDD or external USB). Compared to the elegance of Apple’s GUI, the A210 looks primitive in comparison, but then again, the A210 is far more capable than Cupertino’s offering, so there’s that.

    There are also a number of additional features for the A210, like advanced networking features, being able to stream videos directly from networked PCs and downloading torrents and the like, but unfortunately using them isn’t as easy as pressing play. You’ll definitely have to dive into the manual a bit to properly use them (and even learn a few networking tricks along the way). Amateurs need not apply.

    But in the end, the Popcorn Hour A210 is a great media content streamer. Sure, it’s simplistic menus and more complicated features need a bit of learning, but you’ll also be getting a streamer that’s able to play almost any file imaginable with excellent picture quality and unbelievable sound. The Popcorn Hour A210 retails for Php 11,500.

    What’s Hot:

    Able to play almost all media files currently out
    Excellent picture and sound quality
    Has support for both standard and hi-definition setups
    Supports 3D

     

    What’s Not:

    Simplistic menus
    Novices will have a hard time setting up the advanced features of the device

    Bottomline:

    Simply put, the Popcorn Hour A210 is probably one of the best media streamers we’ve ever had the
    pleasure of testing. Grab it if you can.

    Buymeter: 9.0

     

    Samsung outships Apple and Nokia

    Gadgets Team
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    2
    Samsung outships Apple and Nokia

    Samsung has topped the list of international shipments in Q3 2011, followed by Apple in second, with Nokia coming in at third.

    Strategy Analytics, a market research firm, reports shipment figures of 27.8 million smartphones for Samsung, 17.1 million for Apple and 16.8 million for Nokia. This currently places Samsung at dominating 23.8-percent of the international smartphone market, which researchers attribute to the “elegant  hardware designs” and increasing popularity of Android

    On another note however, Strategy Analytics, states that “Apple’s growth during the third quarter was affected by consumers and operators awaiting the launch of the new iPhone 4S in the fourth quarter, volatile economic conditions in several key countries, and tougher competition from Samsung’s popular Galaxy S2 model.”

    It will be interesting to see the market’s development in the near future, especially with the recent release of the Nokia Lumia 800, impending rumors of an iPhone 5, and the possibility of flexible displays in Samsung devices by next year.

    Facebook will roll out ‘Trusted Friends’ security feature to help you get in your hacked account

    Gadgets Team
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    1
    Facebook will roll out ‘Trusted Friends’ security feature to help you get in your hacked account

    Here’s a change in Facebook we can get behind: the mammoth social network is now planning to implement a new feature that will help peopel who’ve been locked out of their account back into it. Dubbed as Trusted Friends, the new security feature solicits the help of three to five trusted friends to help you get back into your account if it’s ever compromised. The new security feature basically gives a set of codes to your trusted friends that they’ll relay back to you to allow you to access your account. This is especially helpful to people who’ve just fallen prey to identity theft, since it usually follows that your primary email account would also be compromised, along with your social networks. It’s also a handy tool for people who’ve forgotten the password to the email they’ve used to sign up with Facebook.

    Source: Facebook

     

    Smart rewards encourages you to relax, take a break.

    Gadgets Team
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    1
    Smart rewards encourages you to relax, take a break.

    Delight in an unforgettable beach escapade with SMART Rewards’ exclusive 10% discount offer for every 2-night stay at Boracay Terraces.

     

    Rain or shine, everyone deserves some “me” time. Just lounging at the pool, dipping in the hot tub, sipping some icy beverage or getting a reinvigorating massage can make the stress fade away. By spending days off or holidays at favorite spas, gyms, or resorts, you can get that much-needed and well-deserved escape.

    Marvel at the beauty of Coron Island in Palawan with SMART Rewards’ 10% discount for every 2-night stay at Coron Gateway Hotel and Suites.

    Enriching “me” time for its loyal users, Smart lets subscribers enjoy their time off with unique privileges that let them get the most out of their vacations. At the finest resorts and other top establishments, they can pamper themselves even more with discounts and freebies exclusively available through Smart Rewards.

    Escape from the hustle and bustle of Manila and enjoy some “me” time at Microtel Eagle Ridge in Cavite with a 30% discount on room rates from SMART Rewards.

    Qualified Smart Gold and Smart Buddy subscribers can enjoy special privileges by joining Smart Rewards just by texting “REWARDS” to 9800, while Smart Bro subs can sign up at the Smart Web Connect website at http://smart.com.ph/connect. To avail exclusive gifts such as discounts or free items at their favorite vacation spots, subscribers should simply text “COUPON <Code #>” to 9800. Over a dozen participating resorts and hotels across the country await subscribers who wish to redeem their Smart Rewards discount coupons.

    Accommodation arrangements and purchases can be enjoyed for less, thanks to Smart Rewards. The Alegre Beach Resort and Spa in Cebu provides subscribers a 40% discount on room rates, Oasis Hotel in Pampanga offers 10% off on cash purchases, and Boracay Terraces Resort and Coron Gateway Hotel and Suites give 10% off for every 2-night stay.

    Subscribers can chill out in Tagaytay with SMART Rewards’ 20% off deal at Residence Inn.

    Microtel hotels are included in the rewards program as well, with Microtel Boracay giving the vacationers a huge 50% discount on room rates; Microtel hotels in Baguio, Batangas, Cabanatuan, Cavite, Mall of Asia, Puerto Princesa and Tarlac giving 30% off on room rates; and Microtel Davao offering 20% discount on room rates.

    SMART Rewards offers 20% discount on entrance fees at the Zoobic Safari for an affordable and thrilling safari experience.

    Smart Rewards subscribers can also get 20% off on entrance fees to fun recreational spots such as Zoobic Zafari in Subic, Zoocobia Fun Zoo in Clark, Paradizoo Theme Park in Tagaytay, and Residence Inn in Tagaytay.

    Families and friends can enjoy de-stressing together, rain or shine, by redeeming their Smart Rewards coupons at these cool and relaxing hotels and theme parks. Smart Rewards are replete with relevant and exclusive gifts that will appeal to the busy urbanite, making that special “me” time even more rewarding.

    Sony buys out Ericsson stake in joint venture, ponys out 1.05 billion Euros

    Gadgets Team
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    2
    Sony buys out Ericsson stake in joint venture, ponys out 1.05 billion Euros

    We’ve heard grumblings that Sony was moving to buy out Ericsson’s stake in their handset joint venture, but it’s finally official. After 10 years of making mobile devices together, Sony has officially bought out Ericsson’s stake in the business, dropping a cool 1.05 billion Euros (roughly 1.5 billion US) for the deal. Sony sees that smartphones are vital to their mobile device offerings (which includes their handheld consoles and tablets) and the buy-out means that they’ll be able to enhance and strengthen their position in the rapidly evolving in the mobile space. Sony will also gain access to five essential patent families which will come in handy in today’s litigation happy patent atmosphere.

    Source: Sony

    HP keeps PC division

    Gadgets Team
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    0
    HP keeps PC division

    A lot of people were understandably upset when HP’s previous CEO, Leo Apotheker announced that HP was thinking of exiting the computer business and possibly going the way of IBM. Well, a lot of things have changed in HP since August (which includes Apotheker being booted out, replaced by Meg Whitman as new President and CEO) and it seems that the company will be staying in the PC business after all. Meg Whitman said that “HP objectively evaluated the strategic, financial and operational impact of spinning off PSG. It’s clear after our analysis that keeping PSG within HP is right for customers and partners, right for shareholders, and right for employees,” in press release. The release also highlights the role of the PSG (Personal Systems Group), saying that its “PSG is a key component of HP’s strategy to deliver higher value, lasting relationships with consumers, small- and medium-sized businesses and enterprise customers. The HP board of directors is confident that PSG can drive profitable growth as part of the larger entity and accelerate solutions from other parts of HP’s business.”

    Source: HP

    Lenovo Mobile officially here, launches bevy of mobile devices for budget conscious consumers

    Gadgets Team
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    0
    Lenovo Mobile officially here, launches bevy of mobile devices for budget conscious consumers

    Most people know Lenovo as that prolific manufacturer of notebooks and PCs. Few people know that the brand is also a prolific manufacturer of mobile devices as well, and has now unveiled a variety of mobile devices for Filipinos that range from standard mobile phones to affordable Android powered smartphones. There’s a lot of phones available, so we’re just going to let Lenovo speak for themselves:

    The Lenovo S800 is the perfect accessory for fashionistas who want to stay in touch, in style. Apart from its sleek design, the S800 swanks a 2.4-inch color display that’s completely see-through. A built-in answering machine, 2MP camera/webcam and other features make the phone both chic and functional. Php 8,880

    The Lenovo A60 is for those who want to keep in touch and stay in touch with the hottest apps. It is a dual-SIM phone equipped with the latest Android 2.3 Gingerbread OS for easy downloading of apps. The A60 also has a 3.5 inch HVGA capacitive multi-touch screen and built-in portable WiFi spot. Php 7,990

    The Lenovo Q330 is a full QWERTY phone that is ideal for those who can’t get enough of social networking. It has a built-in Facebook, Twitter, Yahoo Messenger and Opera Mini browser that allow one to share experiences with the world. Php 2,990

    The Lenovo E156 is a dual SIM phone for those who wish to talk and enjoy a few more add-ons. On top of standard features such as music player, FM radio and voice recorder, the E156 is GPRS and WAP capable to enable users to access information on the go and stay connected with friends on social networking sites. Php 1,290

    RIM and Porsche Design collaborate for P’9981 smartphone

    Gadgets Team
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    2
    RIM and Porsche Design collaborate for P’9981 smartphone

    Who would’ve thought that Porsche Design and RIM would collaborate to make a premium smartphone? Not us apparently. But nevertheless, the fruits of the partnership between the Canadian and German firms has borne fruit, in the form of the P’9981. Everything about this product screams premium, from the material choices (which include a forged stainless steel frame, hand-wrapped leather back cover) to the exclusive Porsche Design UI and a bespoke Wikitude World Browser augmented reality app experience. Under the hood lies a 1.2 GHz processor, HD video recording, 24-bit high resolution graphics, and advanced sensors enabling new augmented reality applications. It comes with 8GB of on-board memory, expandable up to 40GB with a micro SD card. RIM’s BlackBerry 7 is the OS of choice for this bad boy, with built-in support for NFC. No word on cost yet, but you know what they say – if you have to ask, you can’t afford it.

     

    Krator is set to make an impact with their desktop speakers

    Gadgets Team
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    2
    Krator is set to make an impact with their desktop speakers

    Krator is primed to make an impact on the local desktop speaker scene, as they introduce precision sound with great artistic designs at an affordable price.

    The photos above show the Neso 04 (N4-20U05) “Drop to the Nature” series, Krator’s entry-level 2.0 channel USB speakers, which showcase an elegant raindrop inspired design. Despite its small size, it has an impressively large 5W R.M.S output and is equipped with 2.75-inch drivers. Suggested retail price? Only Php 700.

    Now that we got you interested, another Neso 04 displayed at Krator’s press launch was their 2.1 channel Neso 04 – “Surrealism” (N4-21U26), which is also powered via their Ultra USB2.0ch technology. It comes with a curvaceous dome-designed 4-inch subwoofer, accompanied by 2-way satellite speakers with 3-inch full range drivers and a 1-inch tweeter. It has an output of 26W and is reportedly the most powerful USB-powered speakers in the country. Suggested retail rice? Only Php 2,400.

    To cater to the more discerning audiophile, Krator has a high-end line that includes the Neso 02 (N2-21030), which boasts a stunning 9mm reinforced MDF handmade wood cabinet. It’s a 2.1 channel system that consists of a bumping 5.25-inch long throw sub and a pair of satellites that rock 2.5-inch full-range drivers. Powered by an AC adapter, it will deliver a satisfyingly massive 30-watt R.MS output, and I must say it sounds pretty impressive.

    But you know what sounds even better? This Neso 02 has a suggested retail price of only Php 3,995.

    Expect to see these speakers to collide with PC retail stores soon.

    Seagate’s GoFlex Satellite officially here, Wi-Fi storage for Php 9,888

    Gadgets Team
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    1
    Seagate’s GoFlex Satellite officially here, Wi-Fi storage for Php 9,888

    It took it’s sweet time, but it’s finally here. Seagate’s Wi-Fi doodlin’ external HDD GoFlex Satellite has officially landed on our shores, and it’s still as functional as when it was announced back in May. You’ll still be able to connect Wi-Fi enabled devices to it (including tablets, smartphones and regular notebooks) and it still boasts an easy-to-use web interface and a dedicated iOS app so you spend less time configurating and more time actually watching and streaming your content. The same limitations apply too, though – you won’t be able to surf the web while connected, and you’ll be springing for a premium price of Php 9,888 for the convenience. The GoFlex Satellite comes in only one capacity though (500GB), but that should be more than enough to take care of your mobile storage woes.

    [album: https://gadgetsmagazine.com.ph/wp-content/plugins/dm-albums/dm-albums.php?currdir=/wp-content/uploads/dm-albums/[email protected]/SeaGate GoFlex Sattelite/]

    Remember must-try places with Matchbook

    Gadgets Team
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    0
    Remember must-try places with Matchbook

    My husband and I have this thing for driving by these hole-in-the-wall type places and hoping to one day check them out (to add to our sense of adventure and romance, if you will). But oftentimes, we forget about the places soon after thus never getting the chance to go lest we stumble upon it again on some half-chance we do and remembering to actually remind ourselves of its existence.

    If you’re anything like me who always “forgets to remember” certain places, here’s an app to remind you where you’re supposed to go. Matchbook (as an ode to the once efficient souvenir of where you’ve been) allows you to add bookmarks to places you’ve been to or have simply walked past. You can also add tags and notes to those bookmarks. These bookmarked places are organized by neighborhood and viewable on a map. You can even view top places from everyone else. Send places from your computer to your phone and share these locations with friends or family.

    Free from the App Store.

    Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim PC requirements

    Gadgets Team
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    2
    Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim PC requirements

    Bethesda Softworks has released the system requirements for Skyrim, the fifth installment of their well-received Elder Scrolls series. It looks pretty demanding, so you may want to start checking your specs.


    To play the open-ended RPG at its minimum reqs looks quite promising with the following minimum specs:

    • Operating System: Win XP/7/Vista (32 or 64 bit)
    • CPU: Dual Core 2GHz
    • Memory: 2GB RAM
    • Videocard: DirectX 9c videocard w/ 512MB RAM

    However, let’s not kid ourselves. Running Skyrim on minimum won’t deliver the same experience. Playing it on the recommended “High” settings on the other hand, is significantly more taxing:

    • Operating System: Win XP/7
    • CPU: Quad Core Intel/AMD CPU
    • Memory: 4GB RAM, 6GB hard drive space
    • Sound: DirectX compatible soundcard
    • Videocard: DirectX 9c with 1GB memory. GTX 260/Radeon 4890 or higher

    There’s even an additional “Ultra” setting that requires even more heft than those specs, but if it translates into a visual experience such as the screenshot above, it justifies everything. Bethesda’s new engine, coupled with the promise of quicker and more energetic combat models, places Skyrim as one of the most anticipated games to come out this year on November 11.

    Skyrim Official Site

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