When it comes to desktop PCs for gaming, small form factor is steadily gaining traction.  Many gamers haul their rigs around with them, so portability is a definite plus.  MicroATX motherboards have become just as feature-rich as full ATX motherboards.  Low-profile, high performance graphics cards are now available in a multitude of variations.  Small form factor cases themselves are becoming …

Cougar, a Taiwanese/German PC case and power supply maker, is introducing a new line of 120mm and 140mm LED case fans designated as “Dual-X”.  This follows the success of their previous Vortex line of fan products that saw strong U.S. sales of over 200,000 units.  Cougar engineers have developed a design that is the optimal combination of cooling efficiency, silent …

OFFICE 2013 NOW TRANSFERABLE When Microsoft began shipping copies of Office 2013 to customers in February, it quickly came to light that Microsoft was tying the individual licenses to the computer it was installed on; rather than to the user who purchased it and/or installed it.  This was a departure from previous retail versions, and meant that one could not …

HGST, the former Hitachi Global Storage Technologies (now owned by Western Digital), is developing nanolithography processes that will allow the doubling of hard disk drive (HDD) data storage density in future disk drives.  HGST Labs is announcing the combination of two innovative nanotechnologies — self-assembling molecules and nanoimprinting — to be able to create large groups of dense patterns of …

Micron Technology, Inc. and LFoundry are announcing that they have reached agreements for LFoundry to acquire Micron Technology Italia, Srl. and all of Micron’s semiconductor fab assets in Avezzano, Italy.  Micron has a current four-year supply agreement with Aptina to manufacture image sensors at the 200mm Avezzano facility that it will also assign to LFoundry.  LFoundry will be granted a …

Micron Technology has announced the introduction of the industry’s smallest 128GB NAND flash memory device.  This new NAND flash module utilizes Micron’s award-winning 20nm architecture with triple-level cells (TLC), which are able to store three bits of information per cell.  This creates a highly compact storage solution, targeted at cost-competitive removable storage applications such as flash cards and USB drives. …

Simple Audio, a networked audio company based in Scotland, has announced that they are being acquired by Corsair, the US-based PC enthusiast hardware firm, in a multi-million dollar deal.  The deal marks a strong step forward in the already positive growth experience of Simple Audio, and puts them in a much stronger position to extend their reach into global markets. …

Micron Technology, Inc. has targeted the ultra-thin computing market with reduced-height single-sided DDR3 DRAM modules and connector solutions.  They are announcing availability of a single-sided SODIMM and a low-profile, single-sided, double data rate (DDR3) SODIMM connector solution from TE Connectivity.  This new single-sided form factor will take advantage of the burgeoning market for Ultrabook devices, convertibles, tablets, and other thin and light devices.  …

The Consumer Electronics Association has officially dropped CNET as its Consumer Electronics Show awards partner.  CEA has restored Dish’s DishHopper with Sling DVR to the plum “Best of Show” award at CES 2013.  CNET, now owned by CBS, had originally given the award to the new Dish product, until parent company CBS intervened and forced CNET to choose another product …

Dutch-based Royal Philips Electronics (Philips) has announced an agreement regarding the transfer of its Lifestyle Entertainment Business (Audio, Video, Multimedia and Accessories) to Japan’s Funai Electric Company.  Terms of the deal are reported to be 150 million euros ( a bit over $200 million US) and a 5-1/2 year licensing agreement.  The licensing agreement also involves an optional second five …