Generally speaking, webcams aren’t all that interesting in and of themselves. In fact, most notebooks ship with some sort of lackluster webcam built right in, and considering that video calling still hasn’t gone mainstream, most folks sort of ignore the thing. Microsoft has developed quite a few nice ones for those really into keeping that face-to-face bond across seas and county lines, but now it’s the little-known Hercules joining the fray. According to the company, its Dualpix HD720p is ushering in a “new

BlizzCon 2009 came as fast as it went. The news Blizzard dropped on us last week during their 4th BlizzCon from the Anaheim Convention Center was very exciting and definitely delivered the thirst for previews and fun that we all have come to expect from BlizzCon. Read on to see our recap on this years event.

Corsair, a company famous for keeping cutting-edge RAM popular amongst performance junkies, has just issued its newest DIMMs. After introducing us all to its new DDR3 modules for Lynnfield CPUs, the outfit has today introduced new 8GB and 12GB solutions for those with a 64-bit operating system and a nagging desire to have more RAM than they’ll ever (probably) need. The new high-density devices play nice with Intel’s Core i5 and Core i7 processors, and they’re available in dual/triple channel configurations.

The move made almost mandatory by the recent announcement of the PS3 Slim as well as a $100 price cut by Sony made this an expected move.  On Thursday, Microsoft announced that the price of the Xbox 360 Elite will be dropped by $100 to $299.  Yes, that’s the high-end model with a 120GB hard drive, There might be some bad news, however.  The 60GB model will be reduced by $50 to $249.  But that’s good news, right?   Microsoft’s press release, however, notes “while supplies last.”

On Thursday, Nokia unveiled its first phone using a Linux OS. The N900 uses Nokia’s Linux-based Maemo OS, but for the first time in an actual cell phone as opposed to an Internet Tablet that requires wi-fi or cell phone pairing. The N900 runs Nokia’s new Maemo 5 software. Nokia makes sure to emphasize the device’s ability to run “dozens of applications simultaneously.” Size-wise, it compares favorably with the iPhone 3GS, at 110.9 mm x 59.8 mm x 18 mm vs. 115.5 mm x 62.1 mm x 12.3 mm. Yes, yes, it loses out

Today, Tritton Technologies, a leader in gaming audio technology, announced two headsets, the AX 180 and AX 720 will be available through consumer electronics retailer, Best Buy. Both headsets are optimized for computer gaming with a USB connection for PCs and MACs, and can be used as MP3 headphones as well through the use of a “breakaway cable”. The new AX 720 is pictured below:

Delivering superior voice communication and precise audio, the AX 720 takes full advantage of the Dolby 5.1 audio found on Xbox360, PS3 and PC games by replicating the individual audio details as they were meant to be heard. During crucial gaming moments, the inline audio controller featuring independent voice and volume controls provides a seemingly true-to-life aural environment – when clearly communicating with teammates can change ones fate from annihilation to victory. By using Dolby headphone technology the AX 720 delivers a simulated 3D audio encounter that transitions the gaming experience from the virtual to the real world.

Addonics has added new portable optical drives to its line that feature a built-in eSATA and USB interface. The new Pocket Blu-ray/DVDRW and the Pocket DVD-RRW drive provide throughput up to 3Gbits/second when connected via an eSATA port. For convenience in connecting to practically any computer, a USB 2.0 port is also available. Additionally, the drive can be powered directly from most USB ports. The Pocket Blu-ray model starts at $235 while the Pocket DVD-RRW is available for as little as $99. Addonics Unveils

Wacom Bamboo Fun Digital Pen Tablet Review @ Benchmark Reviews and other reviews from around the web can be found by visiting our forums!

The mouse has become the standard method of navigating graphical user interfaces, but it leaves something to be desired when you want more free-form control of your cursor. The pen tablet provides the the control that a regular mouse lacks. The Wacom Bamboo Fun Tablet is meant to be an introductory foray into the world of pen tablets, featuring a 5.8″ x 3.7″ active area, 512 levels of pressure sensitivity, battery-less pen and mouse, 4 function buttons and a scroll pad. In this article Benchmark Reviews will test how well the Wacom Bamboo Fun Tablet CTE450K holds up in Photoshop Elements.

Sony has officially announced the rumored full-frame A850 and mid-range A550 and A500 DSLR additions to its Alpha family. The A850 offers a few less features than the A900 but keeps the same 24.6 megapixel sensor and knocks the price tag down to around $2,000 for the body. The new A550 and A500 offer 14.2 and 12.3 megapixel sensors, respectively and offer tilt-able LCDs as well as fast burst shooting speeds. Read on for additional details as we take a closer look at what each of these new models has to offer.

Lian Li launches the PC-B25F Midi tower Chassis for discerning consumers Classic style and refined elegance combine 27 August 2009, Keelung, Taiwan – Lian-Li Industrial Co. Ltd Ltd has launched the PC-B25F midi tower chassis. The hair-line brushed all aluminum chassis is based on the original PC-B25 “Blue Ring” classic, however it has a few more refinements to make it that much more attractive. It still retains the basic award winning design but now has a completely tool-less functionality inside the chassis