ASRock XFast RAM Utility

Here's a small and free RAMDISK utility from ASRock, called ASRock XFast RAM Utility (currently at v2.0.9).
A RAMDISK is a virtual disk that can have its own drive letter, and acts like a regular hard-drive, only it's much faster (faster than SSDs as well).

Basically you decide what portion of your RAM you're willing to allocate for the virtual RAM drive, and leave the rest for regular usage (usually 4GB is acceptable).
So for example - if you happen to have 16GB of RAM, you can leave 4GB for your OS and applications, and use 12GB for the virtual RAM drive.
Then you can use this RAM drive for boosting storage-heavy tasks and get some really amazing performance.

Xfastram


Direct download (2.02MB):

NOTE: XFast RAM is recommended to be used with RAM configurations of 6GB or more, and is currently supported in Vista and Win7 (x86 and x64).

Request to Dell - I need a proper LCD monitor

I've been waiting patiently for a good LCD monitor from Dell, but nothing in the 2012 lineup seems good enough.
Sure, they have a couple of excellent monitors, the 27" U2711 and the 30" U3011, which were introduced a while ago.
Both sport high-res panels and 10-bit support.

But I think a monitor with the following specs would be much more welcome:

- Screen Ratio: 16:9

- Size: 25"-27" (30" is a bit too much for my taste when I sit so close to the monitor).

- Resolution: 2720 x 1530 (4.16MP)
NOTE: If Apple can give us 3MP in under 10" on that new iPad, than Dell can at least try to give us a high PPI panel.

- At least 112% of AdobeRGB color gamut (aiming for Adobe Wide Gamut RGB would be nice)

- Contrast ratio: at least 1500:1 from 0° to 160° viewing angles (real, not dynamic)

- Accurate and uniform illumination across the entire panel.

- True 10bit capability without dithering or A-FRC.

- True 120Hz in 2D (without any fancy interpolation)

- video connectivity: HDMI 1.4a, DP++, miniDP++, ThunderBolt (in and out)

- USB3.0 hub

- Thin bezel all around (not more than 12mm)

- Proper physical buttons (not annoying touch-buttons)

- Built-in Wireless HD capability

- None glossy panel (anti-glare coating, or whatever it's called)

- Multi-Touch capability

- Stand with Height, Tilt and rotation adjustment. The monitor should be able to tilt all the way backwards for touch-friendly usage

I don't care which backlight is used or which panel technology makes the above specs possible.
I'll leave that for your R&D team.

If anyone from Dell is reading this, please pass these words to your Professional LCD department.

RED challenges all camera manufacturers - JUNE 4TH [CANCELLED]

Jim Jannard, head of RED Digital Cinema has just posted on the reduser.net forum a challenge for all camera manufacturers.
Each company can bring their own cameras, tech crews and post-process their footage any way they like.
The finished results will be put up to the test at Red Studios on 10', 20' and 40' screens.

http://reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?78283-Real-camera-tests

Sony, Canon & ARRI are the major competitors.

Will any one show-up?? Very intriguing...

EDIT (2012-05-03):
Looks like Mr. Jannard has just cancelled the challenge.

Alienware M14X R2

Alienware M14X R2 preliminary specs

AC Adpater: 150W

Battery: 8Cell, 63Whr

CPU options:
Ivy Bridge i5-3210M, 2.5Ghz, 2 cores
Ivy Bridge i7-3610QM, 2.3GHz , 4 cores
Ivy Bridge i7-3720QM, 2.6GHz, 4 cores
Ivy Bridge i7-3820QM, 2.7GHz, 4 cores

GPU options:
GPU with 1GB VRAM soldered to motherboard
GPU with 2GB VRAM soldered to motherboard
* sorry, no info on which exact models those GPUs are. Most likely to be NVIDIA 6xx series.

LCD options:
14" HD, 1366X768, White-LED, Anti-Glare coating
14" HD+, 1600x900, White-LED, Anti-Glare coating

*Sorry guys, no FullHD option and no RGB-LED option

HDD Storage:
1TB 5.4K 2.5" SATA2
750GB 7.2K 2.5" SATA2
500GB 7.2K 2.5" SATA2

SSD Storage:
64GB SATA3 mSATA, Samsung PM830
256GB SATA3 mSATA, Samsung PM830

256GB SATA3 7mm 2.5", Samsung PM830
512GB SATA3 7mm 2.5", Samsung PM830
512GB SATA3 7mm 2.5", Micron C400

RAM options:
2GB / 4GB / 8GB, 1600MHz

Webcam:
HD H.264 webcam + mic
Includes Facial Recognition software for auto-login to Windows

Wireless options:
Intel 2230 WLAN
Killer N1202 WLAN
WWAN
Bluetooth DW380
WiDi (DMC / SiBeam)

Speakers:
2x 2.5W Speakers + sub

Color options:
Red, Black

Alienware M18X R2 - Even more info

AC Adapter options:
240W and 330W

GPU options:
2x Radeon HD 7970M (CrossFire)
2x GeForce GTX 675M (SLI)
GeForce GTX 660M (not sure if it's going to be offered as a single card or in SLI configuration)

 

Wireless HD (WiHD) Card - optional extra for both M18X R2 and M17X R4.

LCD: 18.4" FullHD LCD White-LED Glossy...sorry, still no RGB-LED offered on this model.
Also, it's still "stuck" at FullHD (2MP) resolution. They're not even trying to compete with the New iPad 3MP screen.

CPU options:
Ivy Bridge i7-3610QM,2.3GHz
Ivy Bridge i7-3720QM,2.6GHz
Ivy Bridge i7-3820QM,2.7GHz

HDD Storage options:
500GB 7.2K 2.5"
750GB 7.2K 2.5"

SSD Storage options:
256GB / 512GB Samsung PM830, SATA3, 7mm, 2.5"
32GB / 64GB Samsung PM830, SATA3, mSATA
512GB Micron C400, SATA3, 7mm, 2.5"

RAM options:
2GB / 4GB / 8GB, 1600MHz
2GB 1866MHz

Dell Precision M4700 and M6700 - Preliminary Info

Dell Precision M6700
240W AC Adapter
Optionsl 3D Glasses
three NVIDIA N14EQx graphics options (real names not available yet)
one AMD Heathrow XT graphics option (real name not available yet)
17.3" 3D FullHD White-LED Glossy
17.3" 2D FullHD RGB-LED
Edge-to-Edge (E2E) or Regular screen options
Up to 65W Intel CPUs
ExpressCard and SD slots
Optional WiGi
2x 2.5" HDD/SSD
Webcam+mic option
1866MHz RAM options
65Whr and 97Whr battery options
Grey color

Dell Precision M4700
180W and 240W AC Adapter options
15.6" FullHD, RGB-LED, Matte with Anti-glare coating
Up to 55W Intel CPUs
Two NVIDIA N14PQx Graphics options (real names not available yet)
AMD FirePro M4000
ExpressCard and SD slots
Optional WiGi
1x 2.5" HDD/SSD
Webcam+mic option
1866MHz RAM options
65Whr and 97Whr battery options
Silver color

Black Magic Design - 2.5K RAW video camera for $3000

Black Magic Design are working on a new camera that can record 2.5K CinemaDNG RAW internally, and saves the files on an SSD.
Besides RAW, there's also an option to record ProRes Log, and ProRes REC709.
There's also an HD-SDI output.
The camera uses a touch-screen interface for most functions, and does not have a View-finder.
The target price is $3000.

Bmd_raw_cam

All the juicy details are here, including sample videos on Vimeo: