Nvidia have revealed their new flagship graphics card, the GTX 690. Available from May 3rd for $999 (£615), it features a dual-Kepler GPU with cast aluminium casing that should squeeze out performance equal to that of two GTX 680s pulled together in SLI.

"The GTX 690 is truly a work of art--gorgeous on the outside with amazing performance on the inside," said Brian Kelleher, senior vice president of GPU engineering at NVIDIA.

"Gamers will love playing on multiple screens at high resolutions with all the eye candy turned on. And they'll relish showing their friends how beautiful the cards look inside their systems."

Very, very cool. To hammer home the point, here's a breakdown of the key specifications:

CUDA Cores: 3072
Base Clock: 915 MHz
Boost Clock: 1019 MHz
Memory Configuration: 4GB / 512-bit GDDR5
Memory Speed : 6.0 Gbps
Power Connectors: 8-pin + 8-pin
TDP: 300W
Outputs: 3x DL-DVI
Mini-DisplayPort: 1.2
Bus Interface: PCI Express 3.0

Check out the impressive in-game performance chart below:

Apple computer users, who for many years felt they were practically immune from viruses, are more susceptible to dodgy software than everbefore said security expert, CEO and founder of Kapersky, Eugene Kapersky.

Brought to the public eye by the recent Flashback trojan which hit an estimated 600,000 Macs, Kapersky now feels that Apple are lagging ten years behind Microsoft's security procedures, who have more experience in the field after defending against attacks for so long.

"I think they (Apple) are ten years behind Microsoft in terms of security. For many years I've been saying that from a security point of view there is no big difference between Mac and Windows," said Kapersky

"(It's) just a question of time and market share. Cyber criminals have now recognised that Mac is an interesting area.

"Now we have more, it's not just Flashback or Flashfake. Welcome to Microsoft's world, Mac. It's full of malware.

"Apple is now entering the same world as Microsoft has been in for more than 10 years: updates, security patches and so on. We now expect to see more and more because cyber criminals learn from success and this was the first successful one."

Apple did release a Java fix for the Flashback intrusion, but many felt it took too long for Apple to act.

Via: Computer World

Here's a tasty little snippet of info flying around the web today. Apple CEO Tim Cook recently took a visit to Valve HQ, the team responsible for the games Half Life, Portal and Left 4 Dead, as well as the digital PC game distribution platform Steam.

The reason for the visit, which reportedly happened last week, is unknown, but coincides with some interesting moves from both companies. Firstly, Apple are on the brink of revealing their 2012 MacBook Pro and Air models. Secondly, Valve have been making fairly overt hints that they'd like to add a hardware arm to their already robust software one.

Could it be possible that Valve and Apple are to team up to make dedicated gaming hardware? Maybe!

Recently, Valve CEO Gabe Newell stated in an interview that if his company had to enter the hardware race to ensure the future of PC gaming, they would. The project name "Steam Box" has since been bandying around the web, bolstered by a Valve job listing looking for someone to join a "highly motivated team that's doing hardware design, prototyping, testing, and production across a wide range of platforms."

"We're not talking about me-too mice and gamepads here - help us invent whole new gaming experiences," teased the job listing.

Apple on the other hand, whilst pretty much having the mobile gaming market sewn up, have struggled to make a dent in the PC gaming market, and have never had a presence in the living room. It's possible that they're joining forces with Valve in order to bolster their position, and could be helping with the production of the Steam Box, or maybe even a gaming-orientated MacBook. Such a partnership could see Apple wrestling with Sony and Microsoft's PS3 and Xbox respectively, while Steam would grow beyond their hardcore PC gamer roots.

All rumour for now, but one thing is fairly certain; this wont affect the forthcoming MacBook Pro and Air range. Expected to be superslim, they'll likely be packing an Ivy Bridge processor and possibly wont even have a dedicated graphics chip, as it would compromise the slim design. Ivy Bridge will have improved integrated graphics capabilities, but nothing that could match even a low-priced gaming PC with a dedicated graphics card.

RELATED | MacBook Air Pro 2012 update: Everything We Know So Far

Getting excited about the 2012 MacBook Pro models? So you should be; with rumours of a massively redesigned super-slim build and super-fast Intel Ivy Bridge processors, it may well be the biggest update the line has seen since first being introduced back in 2006.

We'd been expecting a spring/summer launch for the line and those predictions now seem to have been accurate. Multiple Apple resellers are now stating that they are low on stock of 2011 MacBook Pro models, a sure-fire clue as to a product refresh coming in as they make way for the anticipated next generation of machines.

In the US, electrical giant Best buy are reporting low stocks of MackBook Pros in some territories, as are J&R. Head over to the Apple online store for refurbished products at the moment and it too is overflowing with 2011's MacBook models.

Similar clues in the past have pointed to an imminent refresh of the line, and we expect this to be no exception. It seems 2012's MacBooks are just a matter of weeks away.

RELATED | MacBook Air Pro 2012 update: Everything we know so far

Apple believe they have found a fix for the Flashback trojan which is thought to have infected some 600,000 Mac computers across the globe.

Flashback is a botnet that can issue commands to infected machines, harvesting usernames and passwords for nefarious means. Though Macs in particular have been hit hard by the trojan, the problem is not directly due to vulnerabilities in the Mac OS X software, but with Java.

Apple last week issued a makeshift Java fix for the Flashback problem, and yesterday posted news on their Knowledge Base website that a more comprehensive fix that would detect and remove Flashback is on the way. Apple will also be working with internet service providers to "disable the command and control network" that hijacks the machines.

"A recent version of malicious software called Flashback exploits a security flaw in Java in order to install itself on Macs.

"Apple released a Java update on April 3, 2012 that fixes the Java security flaw for systems running OS X v10.7 and Mac OS X v10.6. By default, your Mac automatically checks for software updates every week, but you can change that setting in Software Update preferences. You can also run Software Update at any time to manually check for the latest updates.

"Apple is developing software that will detect and remove the Flashback malware.

"In addition to the Java vulnerability, the Flashback malware relies on computer servers hosted by the malware authors to perform many of its critical functions. Apple is working with ISPs worldwide to disable this command and control network."

Via: AllThingsD

Name: Logitech Z623 2.1 THX-certified PC Speakers

Type: 2.1 Desktop Speaker

Specifications: Click here for full specs

Price: RRP £149.99

Logitech are looking to add a bit of oomph to your sonic desktop escapades with the Z623 2.1 speaker system. Complete with THX-certification and a whopping 200 watts RMS output, it packs a mighty punch. But can it deliver quality and clarity too? Read on to find out.

If your PC is the centre of your media-consuming life, buying a decent set of speakers is a must. With so many sets offered by Logitech at so many different price points, they're likely the first port of call for those on the market for a new set of speakers. While their low end speakers have a bit of a patchy track record, Logitech offer great bang-for-the-buck as you open your wallet that little bit wider. The Z623 2.1 speaker set is no exception, offering masses of output power, a robust design and sound quality that's not half bad for little more than £100 from some retailers.

Being a 2.1 set, the Z623 comprises a pair of satellite speakers and a subwoofer. The satellites (each rated at 35W RMS power) are magnetically shielded to protect your screen from discolouring, with fixed cables at their bases and a single single mid-bass 3-inch driver in each, hidden behind a fixed grille. The right speaker also holds the power switch (handily meaning you don't have to fiddle around the back of the sub to switch the set off), bass and volume control knobs, and 3.5mm stereo jacks for aux-in and popping in a pair of headphones. Finished in black and with a good bit of weight behind them, they feel solid and tough, despite being primarily made of plastic.

By PC speaker standards, the Z623's subwoofer is a beast, measuring 302x282x264mm, something to take into consideration if you're strapped for space by your desk. A wooden enclosure, it houses an 8-inch front-facing driver with a side bass port, again protected by a metal grille. On the rear you'll find a 3.5mm stereo jack, alongside RCA inputs for connecting two separate audio sources. Along with the ports on the side of the right satellite, it's very convenient to have the option of hooking up so many audio sources at once. The left and right satellites are connected to a RCA port and a D-sub port respectively on the sub. Again, the subwoofer feels weighty (about 8 kilograms) and solid, which will help when throwing out rumbling bass frequencies.

And boy does it deliver some earth-shaking sounds! Max out the bass dial and your neighbours a few doors down will feel the floor shaking too, delivering a deep response that you feel just as much as hear, with no noticeable rattle from the enclosure. It makes for a great companion to explosive movies and games, making the system actually worth consideration if you're looking for a simple upgrade for your TV in the living room too.

Mids and highs are also good, if not quite of the impressive stature of the sub's bass response. The THX-certification is well earned; you get a very distinct separation across the stereo set-up, making for a wide and enveloping sound when in close proximity on your desk. The satellites lack a little in clarity and detail at the top and mid ranges, meaning they're perhaps not best suited for delicate classical music or jazz though, but instead dance or hip-hop's thudding beats.

Verdict:

They're fairly pricey, but gamers and movie fans will get a lot out of the Logitech Z623 speakers. Superb bass response and an excellent stab at immersive THX audio make them easy to recommend, even if the satellites lack a little in detail.

Sony have today unveiled their newest laptop line, the VAIO E Series 14.

Available in a range of colours including white, black and pink, the Sony are keen to point out the focus on design in the VAIO E Series 14, with a "wrap-around" colour trim on the laptops' edges, keyboard and touchpad.

Must interestingly though, the range introduces Kinect-like gesture controls. By waving your hand in front of the integrated webcam, you can control playback in Windows Media Player, PowerPoint and PowerDVD, and navigation in Internet Explorer 9.
The laptop range also boasts a 7 hour battery life, with a Rapid Wake + Eco function that will protect your work from being wiped by putting the machine in a deep sleep mode for up to 10 days when at critical battery levels.

In terms of core specs, you're getting a 14-inch VAIO Display (1366x768) with wide (16:9) aspect ratio, an Intel® Core™ i3-2350M Processor, 4GB DDR3 1333MHz memory, an AMD Radeon™ HD 7670M (1GB VRAM) and Intel® HD Graphics 3000 in charge of graphics and a 500GB HDD with a 5400rpm speed.

Available from the end of June, you're looking at about £650 for Sony's latest machines.

Jack Tramiel, founder of once-leading computing giant Commodore, passed away this weekend aged 83.

A truly remarkable man, the Polish Tramiel was a Holocaust survivor, being interred at both Ahlem and Auschwitz before the 1945 liberation of the camps. In 1947 he joined the US army, where he learnt the engineering skills that set him off on his future career.

Soon after the war Tramiel opened his first Commodore Portable Typewriter store in the Bronx, leading on to the founding of Commodore Business Machines in Toronto, which later became Commodore International.

Moving from typewriters to calculators to releasing their first computer, the Commodore PET in 1977, Tramiel and his company would pioneer home computing.

Stating that Commodore made "computers for the masses, not the classes," they led the industry with the release of the VIC-20 and iconic Commodore 64 which went on to sell over 20 million units and help popularise home videogaming.

Tramiel is survived by his wife Helen, their sons Gary, Sam and Leonard, and the happy memories of anyone who ever fired up a Commodore machine.

RELATED | Happy 30th birthday, Commodore 64!

With iPad season now beginning to slow for another year over at Apple, it's time to move onto their next big product launch, which will most likely be a refresh of the MacBook range.

At the new iPad 3 launch, Apple CEO Tim Cook teased a big year ahead for the Cupertino company:

"Only Apple could deliver this kind of innovation in such a beautiful, integrated way. It's what we love to do. It's what we stand for. Across the year, you're going to see a lot more of this kind of innovation. We are just getting started."

As such, we're expecting exciting new things from the latest MacBook line, and so far the rumours we've been hearing seem to point towards exciting changes for the line.

For your convenience, we're collecting together all the most significant rumours surrounding the MacBook update in one handy spot below. We'll continue to update this post as new rumours come in, before doing a final round up when Apple eventually, inevitably unveil their goodies.

Super Slim MacBook Pro, Or A 15-inch MacBook Air?

Depending on which sources you read, Apple are either preparing to slim down their 15-inch MacBook Pro offering so that it's as lightweight and skinny as a MacBook Air, or that the MacBook Air line is expanding to include a 15-inch model.

Those two stances don't necessarily mean the same thing either. A thin MacBook Pro would be suggestive of the same processing grunt (or more) that the current Pro line offers, squeezed into a smaller chassis. A large 15-inch MacBook Air, a first for the line, may sport a bigger screen in that same lightweight design, but wouldn't necessarily have to boast the discrete graphics chip or processing power of the Pro line.

What's more interesting is whether the production of a 15-inch MacBook Air or a superslim 15-inch MacBook Pro means that the production of the other will not happen. Which leads to our next rumour...

MacBook Pro and MacBook Air lines to merge?

Some rumours have suggested that the MacBook Pro and Air lines are to be combined, streamlining Apple's laptop range under the simple "MacBook" banner once more.

With super-slim 11, 13, and 15-inch notebooks seemingly in production, that's pretty much every portable computing base covered, though we're not sure where that leaves the 17-inch MacBook Pro.

Streamlining would simplify the line, perhaps tempting more PC users to the Apple fold. This makes sense when you think again back to the launch of the latest iPad; rather than call it the iPad 3, or iPad HD, we're back to plain old iPad. We wouldn't be surprised if the "Air" and "Pro" suffixes are dropped altogether.

However, we'd hate to see the MacBook Pro lines forced into thinner form factors if this means specs take a hit. If there's one criticism regularly levelled at Apple portable computers, it's that their high price doesn't match the relatively low specs that the machines tend to ship with. If a slim, light design leads to the two lines merging and comes at the further expense of performance, you'll likely see the MacBook Pro faithful up in arms.

No Optical Drive in MacBook Pro 2012?

In order to achieve the super-slim profile seen in the MacBook Air, the MacBook Pro would have to go on a serious diet. Something has got to give, and we expect it to be the optical disc drive that's first on the scrapheap for Apple.

Apple had no qualms cutting the disc drive from their MacBook Air machines, and with the Mac App Store now well stocked, and broadband speeds more than capable of downloading giant applications, the optical drive is indeed looking a little long in the tooth.

There's also the rumour that the MacBook Pro may cut out cabled Ethernet connectivity in order to shrink down in size, which won't be much appreciated by those with poor Wi-Fi signals or those who spend much time in hotel rooms where cabled connections are the only way to get online.

Ivy Bridge Processors Onboard

Though there was a panic that Intel's brand new Ivy Bridge processors were going to be delayed significantly, missing the expected date they'd need to be ready for in order to make it into the next line of MacBooks, it seems now that they're once again on track for inclusion.

With Ivy Bridge heat efficient enough for Quad-core CPUs to fit into even the 13-inch MacBook chassis for the first time, when compared to the current Sandy Bridge generation of Intel processors the new models will offer up to 20% increase in CPU performance and 30% to 199% increase in integrated GPU performance.

High Resolution "Retina" Display

As well as the super-slim new chassis, Apple are also rumoured to be considering bringing their super-high resolution Retina displays to the MacBook line up. Much like the screens used in the iPhone 4, iPhone 4S and new iPad 3, MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models for 2012 could have screens with resolutions up to 2880 x 1800.

In terms of pixels-per-inch, a 2880 x 1800 resolution would bring the 13-inch MBP to a whopping 261ppi, the 15-inch to 226ppi and the 17-inch to 200ppi. That's pretty mad, and will likely be of great benefit to graphic designers.

NVIDIA Could Cause Discrete Graphics Supply Issues

After a spell with AMD as the MacBook Pro's discrete graphics chip provider, Apple had been expected to turn to NVIDIA for the 2012 laptop, popping the next-generation graphics card code-named "Kepler" into their machines.

However, there are rumours of supply issues surrounding the chips now, which could mean that all but the most expensive, larger MacBook Pro models this year could rely solely on integrated graphics solutions. Hopefully the new Ivy Bridge chips will be up to the task, and while they may be sufficient for moderately intensive graphics tasks, it's very unlikely they'll be able to come anywhere near the performance NVIDIA's dedicated chips could manage.

No Thin 17-incher?

The 17-inch MacBook Pro, so often favoured by road-weary creatives for visual editing thanks to its larger screen real estate, has been rumoured to be discontinued by Apple. Though often not the most accurate of sources, DigiTimes made no mention of its production when they claimed that the 13-inch and 15-inch 2012 MacBook Pro offerings had hit the factory lines.

Could this mean that Apple are looking to further streamline the MacBook product category, doing away with larger laptops as well as merging the Pro and Air lines? In respect of CEO Tim Cook's push towards the "post-PC age", it's totally possible.
Possible, that is, but unlikely. The 17-incher has always had a strong following, with its larger size allowing for more powerful components and, naturally, a larger screen that's great for visual pursuits. It may simply be that the industrial design constraints building the super-slim 13 and 15-inch MacBooks mean that a similar design overhaul isn't possible for the 17-incher, with production taking place beyond the reach of DigiTimes sources.

We'd hazard a guess that a 17-incher is still in production, and will be considerably more powerful than the re-worked 15-inch and 13-inch thin Pro models. Perhaps even the 17-incher will retain the optical drive in the thicker chassis, and become the sole laptop to bear the MacBook "Pro" title.

Release Date

All production rumours and release cycle info points at an April unveiling event for the new MacBook Pro and MacBook Air laptops.

The last MacBook Air release was seen on July 20th 2011, while the last MacBook Pro update came in only last October. However, in the case of the MacBook Pro update, it was merely an incremental spec bump, and didn't represent a truly new model.

In that respect, we'd expect a July release for the laptops if Apple were to continue a year-on-year update. But with the iPhone launch window now re-jigging Apple's usual product cycles, we expect the MacBook releases a little earlier this year, likely in late April or sometime in May.

UPDATED : April 4th 2012

Siri voice control headed to MacBook Pro and MacBook Air in 2012?

Rumours are now circulating that the latest MacBook Pro, MacBook Air and all-in-one iMac models will feature Siri voice control.

First appearing in Apple's iPhone 4S, Siri allows a user to access key features of the phone just through using voice alone, setting reminders, searching the web and contacting services (in the US at least) just by speaking into the microphone. Information is then presented by a robot voice/text combo that we affectionately want to call the "phone butler".

Now, a new Apple patent suggests advancements in the technology that may not only make it into the iPhone 5, but also MacBooks and iMacs too.

While some see Siri as a novelty, putting it into a desktop scenario as an optional extra could be very useful. Imagine not having to remember the masses of keyboard short cuts for Final Cut Pro or the Adobe creative packages? Even jumping from app to app, or dictating the odd tweet, could speed things up dramatically.

As the inevitable launch of Apple's 2012 computer range draws closer, rumours are now circulating that the latest MacBook Pro, MacBook Air and all-in-one iMac models will feature Siri voice control.

First appearing in Apple's iPhone 4S, Siri allows a user to access key features of the phone just through voice alone, setting reminders, searching the web and contacting services (in the US at least) just by speaking into the microphone. Information is then presented by a robot voice/text combo that we affectionately want to call the "phone butler".

Now, a new Apple patent suggests advancements in the technology that may not only make it into the iPhone 5, but also MacBooks and iMacs too.

Pictured above, the new patent would add desktop controls for Siri into Mac OS X.

While some see Siri as a novelty, putting it into a desktop scenario as an optional extra could be very useful. Imagine not having to remember the masses of keyboard short cuts for Final Cut Pro or the Adobe creative packages? Even jumping from app to app, or dictating the odd tweet, could speed things up dramatically.

As ever, we'll pass on more news as we get it.

Had a computer problem that's resulted in you being left on hold to a customer services call centre for the best part of an hour, totting up an enormous phone bill in the process? Wish your tech savvy mate was always on hand to offer advice as to how best to manage your PC? Then you should give an app called Soluto a try, which is looking to revolutionise the way we handle our PC trouble-shooting woes.

Compatible with Windows 7, Vista, XP and the forthcoming Windows 8 OS, Soluto is a program that allows users to help one another through their computer-based troubles.

Free for up to five users (with premium plans available for enterprise users), one member of a group of Soluto users is elected as the tech whizz kid, and becomes the go-to source of help for the other users. Using the Soluto interface, the users can view problems that the others in the group are experiencing, and use the Soluto toolset to remotely fix problems and install useful programs on each other's PCs.

It's a slick UI that makes tasks that would be daunting for novices (such as de-fragging a PC, or installing anti-virus software) a breeze, but really comes into its own when being used by a remote power user. They can use Soluto to manage multiple PCs at once, checking out a user's system configuration to tailor fixes to each machine. As Soluto uses the cloud to communicate between users, fixes can be queued up to be triggered even when the machine in question is switched off, kicking in when the system is again booted back up. For the most part, Soluto is a discrete application too; a user will never be able to trigger a fix for a problem that would interrupt another user's current session.

It's worth noting that you can't directly access another users' documents, photos or email through Soluto, due to obvious privacy concerns. The Soluto interface instead acts as a front-end, a portal through which to apply updates and run optimisation tools without compromising your pals' sensitive data.

Perhaps the program's most impressive feature however is how Soluto intelligently uses your solutions to help other users around the globe. While your identity is never shared beyond your circle of selected friends or colleagues, the Soluto team are constantly analysing data sent by the app in order to help notify users around the world when another Soluto users has come up with a solution to their problems. Soluto aim to make crash and usage data freely and publicly available too, which should be invaluable to the next wave of software developers.

Soluto is also available as a Windows 8 Metro app, and was one of the first available as part of the Windows 8 Consumer Preview build. We saw it running on a Windows 8 tablet, and was pleased to say it was just as intuitive as its desktop counterpart, with responsive, finger-friendly touch controls and clean, animated menu transitions. It can be difficult to make an IT trouble-shooting app look appealing, but the mix of pastel shades and Wii-like avatars dotted around Soluto make it very easy on the eye.

How much of a success Soluto proves to be will be largely down to how simple or complex the developers eventually allow the service to become for users of differing computer literacy levels. For instance, while we liked the fact that it had at least one application available to be remotely downloaded onto a fellow user's computer to fit most scenarios, the list of apps wasn't exactly extensive. We imagine some power users will be frustrated that they can't, for example, put their precise media player of choice on another user's machine.

Nonetheless, it's an intelligent and intuitive solution for dealing with the remote IT problems of your peers. We'd imagine premium-rate gadget and IT helplines will be looking at Soluto with some trepidation.

For more on Soluto, click here.

NVIDIA have revealed their first long-awaited "Kepler" GPU, detailing the specifications of the Geforce GTX680 and Geforce GT640M for laptops.

Built using TSMC's 28nm process node, it's the company's "step-up" technology from the Fermi architecture they launched two years ago.

Looking first at the GTX680, it comes with 2GB of 256-bit GDDR5 memory, with 1,536 cores running at a base clock speed of 1,006MHz, boosting to 1,058MHz under intense loads. The card's TDP maxes out at 195W, with the card requiring two six-pin power connectors.

Though the reference "Boost" frequency of the card is set at 52MHz, there's expected to be a fair bit of room for SKU's to play about with there, allowing them to set even more impressive clock speeds. Enthusiasts will have plenty of fun tinkering around it would seem, making each blade of Skyrim grass look that fraction better!

NVIDIA also revealed the Geforce GT640M for laptops, but we won't truly now how useful they are until we get their specs paired with those of the Intel Ivy Bridge chips. Till then, we know they're packing 394 cores at 625MHz, backed by 2GB of GDDR3 or GDDR5 memory.

There's a fair bit riding on the success of NVIDIA's Kepler GPUs, following rival AMD's succeful launch of the Radeon HD7900 series at the back end of last year. With the GTX680 landing at £420, it's putting itself in direct competition with the equally-priced HD7970, AMD's top-end offering.

HP have revealed the first line of laptops to sport Intel's new Ivy Bridge processors. Three models will be available (the DV4-5000, DV6-7000 and DV7-6000), each offering slightly differing specs within HP's new Mosaic chassis design.

Kicking off with the DV4-5000, it boasts a 14-inch (1366 x 768) screen, up to 8GB of RAM, a 1TB hard-drive and an NVIDIA GeForce GT 630M graphics card.

Moving up to the DV6-7000, it has a 15.6-inch (1600 x 900) screen, again 8GB of RAM and the same NVIDIA graphics card. Hard drive space jumps up to 2TB.

The top end the DV7-7000 also features a 15.6-inch screen, and the same amount storage and RAM. However, processor speed jumps up to 2.6GHz compared to 2.3GHz on the other two machines.

A leaked press release states that the machines will be available for order on April 8th with a shipping date of April 29th.

Though all three are listed on the HP website, there still isn't any pricing or pre-order details available. We'll pass on this info as we get it.

Today saw the long-awaited launch of the Raspberry Pi PC. Costing just under £22, the credit-card sized PC sold out just minutes after going on sale earlier today.

Designed by Robert Mullins and Eben Upton and distributed by the Raspberry Pi foundation, it's intended to inspire a new wave of UK coding enthusiasts in much the same way the BBC Micro did long ago.

Most pertinently, it's caught the attention of educators, with MP Michael Gove suggesting the device could have significant value for schools at a time when the UK education system is being criticised for its lack of computer science teaching.

Without any sort of casing and with its chips and components fully exposed, the Raspberry Pi isn't much of a looker. However, it's a fully-working ARM-based PC, with a HMDI port, two USB ports, Ethernet, audio output and an SD card slot.

It allows for the playback of HD video, as well as having the ability to carry out day-to-day computing tasks such as word processing and spreadsheet management, and also play less intensive games.

Stockists RS Components and Premier Farnell are now taking pre-orders for the second batch of Raspberry Pi PCs.

Image via: Stuart Frost's World

Samsung have finally revealed the release date of their Samsung Series 9 laptop, with the super-slim machine hitting the UK by the end of February.

Revealed back at CES, the Series 9 is the world's slimmest laptop, measuring just 12.9mm, and set to go toe-to-toe with Apple's MacBook Air line.

Under the hood it's boasting some pretty nifty specs, with an Intel Core i5 processor, 4GB of memory and an 128GB SSD. The pairing of the fast processor and SSD allow for the inclusion of Samsung's "Fast Start" technology, which sees the machine wake up and ready to work in just 1.48 seconds.

A HD+ SuperBright Plus sees the laptop perform well even in direct sunlight, while the battery should stretch to 7 hours with moderate usage.

John Lewis have a short initial period of exclusivity for the laptop, which will hit their stores on 25th February.