Gaming PCs and home cinemas: the latest tech gadgets

Jan 1, 2012, 3:06 GMT

New gaming PC from Dell with two graphic card slots

Berlin (dpa) - Dell has launched the new Aurora model in its Alienware gaming PC range, complete with two graphic card slots which are capable of using AMD's CrossfireX technology simultaneously. The desktop PC's CPU is completely liquid-cooled, rather than by ventilation fans, while the processors originate from the Intel i7-3000 series and have six cores. Buyers can choose from speedy Solid State Drive (SSD) hard drives or larger models with 7,200 rotations per mintue. However, all this performance comes with a price, as the Aurora costs a minimum of 2,199 euros (2,870 dollars), depending on specification.

Boston Acoustics offers home cinema system for small rooms

Berlin (dpa) - A new sound system from Boston Acoustics promises to make home cinema sound possible even in the smallest of rooms. The SoundWareXS Digital Cinema system consists of two satellite speakers and a subwoofer with an integrated amplifier. The system has WiFi and a Bluetooth adapter as well as digital and analogue ports. The home cinema system will be available at the end of January for a price in the region of 499 euros and comes with a remote control and satellite speaker hanging system.

Changhong TV for living room and camper vans

Berlin (dpa) - Chinese manufacturer Changhong is bringing two new TV sets to the market which can also be used while travelling. The silver-framed EF22F888SD and EF24F888SDD models go on sale from January priced at 349 and 399 euros respectively. They can be used in camper vans thanks to their small 22- and 24-inch screens and compatible 12-volt electricity connections. Both TVs also have a triple tuner, capable of receiving digital, cable, satellite and DVB-T signals.

New Toshiba notebook comes with 3D webcam

Berlin (dpa) - Toshiba has launched a new notebook with 3D display and a webcam. The P775-11R has an integrated HD camera capable of taking pictures and video that can then be played in 3D on other devices equipped with the necessary software. Shutter glasses need to be worn for the 17-inch 3D screen and are included in the price of the notebook, which is powered by a four-core Intel i7-2670QM processor and a Geforce GT 540M from Nvidia. The P775-11R has 8 gigabytes of RAM, a 1390GB hard-drive, and costs around 1,449 euros.

Extra security protection for World of Warcraft accounts

Berlin (dpa) - Owners of a Battle.net account from games developer Blizzard, which can be used for games such World of Warcraft and Starcraft II, can in future enjoy better protection from hackers.

The greater security from attack is thanks to the Battle.net authenticator which operates in a similar fashion to the transaction number (TAN) generator used by some online banking services. At the push of a button, the device generates an extra password without which access won't be granted to a user's account. The authenticator is already on sale at a price of 10 euros.