Google Earth finds Loch Ness monster

Just like it found the lost city of Atlantis, Google Earth has now supposedly found the Loch Ness monster according to a bored security guy looking through images of on mapping software.

According to British newspaper, The Sun, "Sun reader Jason Cooke spotted "Nessie" while browsing the website's satellite photos."

"Nessie" can be supposedly found at co-ordinates Latitude 57°12'52.13"N, Longitude 4°34'14.16"W in Google Earth which is downloadable to your PC or Mac.

Sighting have been claimed for years with some researchers believing that a sea monster still lives in the lake, although previous scans have proved futile.

Could Google have finally solved the mystery? Or is it just another mapping artefact or overly large plastic bag?

R-400V PANTEX New Total Stations

PENTAX launches two new Total Station Series and enhances two existing ones. All four new Series stand for innovation, quality, design, performance and affordability.The R-400V Series Total Stations is the first of two new series to be launched during Intergeo 2009 in Karlsruhe. The R-400V Series is the entry-model total station without discussion. It is equipped with all standard features of today’s market needs such as a large LCD display, visible laser plummet, dual axis compensation, internal memory of 45.000 points, RS-232C data transfer cable, USB connection and SD card slot. The R-400V Series is available in 2”, 3” and 5” angle measurement accuracy and has a measurement range up to 400m in reflectorless mode, and up to 7000m with single prism.With entry-model, PENTAX wants to emphasize that the R-400V Series can be upgraded to the second new Series of Total Stations, the R-400VDN Series Total Stations, just by simply installing the camera module. The R-400VDN Series is a unique series with no comparison in the market. Equipped with a 3MP camera, on top of all standard features of the R-400V, the R-400VDN is ideal for specific applications requiring a high level of accuracy and verifiability. Whether for crime scene and accident investigation, architecture and cultural heritage, archaeology, quarrying or general construction, infrastructure and road construction, the R-400VDN provides the user with an extra level of verifiability and eliminates any possible confusion. The R-400VDN Series is available in 3” and 5” angle measurement accuracy. The existing R-400 and W-800 Series have both been enhanced with a Long Range reflectorless measurement of 550m, and up to 9000m measurement with a single prism. A new model of 1” angle measurement accuracy has been added to the existing 2”, 3” and 5” models. The PowerTopoCE software for W-800 Series Total Stations has been enhanced to meet the new needs created by the improvements of the W-800 Series, such as the 1” accuracy, but is also enhanced with new features such as the Road Design Module, direct installation onto the W-800 Total Station, and additional options in the existing applications. The R-400V, R-400VDN and R-400 Series are all standard equipped with the improved version of the onboard PowerTopoLite software. The PowerTopoLite software has been supplied with the previous total stations, R-300 and V-300 Series, and is now enhanced with additional features and applications such as the Road Design application.

Discover Innovation at Intergeo: Hall 1, stand 1.109 or

contact: C. LefebvreLefebvre.catherine@pentaxtech-eu.com

For more information visit:
PENTAX Surveying

ASUS Crosshair III Formula AM3 Motherboard

Manufacturer's Part Number: Crosshair III Formula

Price: $229CDN+ Compare Prices

Manufacturer's Product Page: ASUSTeK Computer Inc.

Warranty: 3 Year Warranty

The motherboard marketplace is littered with contenders and for many system builders, settling on a motherboard can be a difficult task, given the often dozens of iterations of the same chipset. For the enthusiast, that task is even more daunting. The choice is more crucial than just a simple system backbone, the motherboard is the conductor that orchestrates the computer in perfect rhythm and it must lead the components to perform to their full potential. Asus has produced the Republic of Gamers line for this very purpose.The Republic of Gamers (RoG) title has been used by Asus to denote its premier product offerings. It is only awarded to the most prestigious of hardware that is specifically focused on gaming and overclocking. The components are fitted with ROG exclusive bells and whistles that are at the forefront of current technology and are intended to maximize your computer's potential. These boards are also incredibly user friendly, allowing those who are just starting the pursuit of ultimate performance to slowly build their confidence with the board taking control and offering a mix of manual and automatic settings.It is fitting then, that the 3rd generation of the Asus Crosshair AMD motherboard lineup be built under the ROG banner with all its accompanying features and BIOS intricacies. For the first time since the Crosshair took form, Asus has opted to go with an AMD based chipset, rather than an NVIDIA as found on the previous two generations. The company is looking to harness the power of the 790FX chipset to achieve world records and make it the most desired board amongst the elite of the computer world.The Crosshair III Formula is a full sized AM3 board set to utilized the power of DDR3 and the potential for stunning graphics with CrossfireX support. It is as fully loaded as them come, with the ROG extra's making for one of these most feature packed products on the market. It's advanced cooling makes it comfortable inside a stuffy case, or easily run on an open air bench with all controls easily accesble on the PCB.This motherboard is shaping up to be at the top of the heap for AMD based systems so let's hope it can live up to its potential.

Specifications:

790FX is not a new chipset to the marketplace as it originally debuted in late 2007 along with the first of the Phenom series. Since then, AMD-based boards have undergone a variety of changes, most notably the addition of the SB750 southbridge controller, which replaced the aging SB700. The SB750 holds much of the secret behind the Phenom’s overclocking success, with its unique ACC (Advanced Clock Calibration) feature and other improved technologies. This 790FX chipset can be found on both AM2 and AM3 series boards, as AMD includes the memory controller on the CPU itself and as such, does not require a new northbridge to handle the DDR3 support that AM3 chips require.

The 790FX powers the robust dual PCIe 2.0 x16 connections, which allow for Crossfire or CrossfireX in full 16 lane throughput. As with most top end AMD boards, HyperTransport 3.0 is supported, allowing for an maximum HTT frequency of 2.6GHz. The SB750 takes care of the extras, and on the Crosshair III Formula we find 5 internal SATA 2.0 ports with RAID support along with an additional external eSATA on the I/O panel, a single IDE output, the typical 12 USB 2.0, 2 Firewire and Gigabit LAN.

CPU
AMD Socket AM3 ;Phenom™II/Athlon™II/Sempron™ 100 Series ProcessorsAMD 140W CPU SupportAMD Cool 'n' Quiet™ TechnologySupports 45nm CPU
Chipset
AMD 790FX/SB750
System Bus
Up to 5200 MT/s ; HyperTransport™ 3.0
Memory
4 x DIMM, Max. 16 GB, DDR3 1600(O.C.)/1333/1066 ECC,Non-ECC,Un-buffered MemoryDual Channel memory architecture*Refer to www.asus.com or user manual for the Memory QVL (Qualified Vendors Lists)**Due to OS limitation, when installing total memory of 4GB capacity or more, Windows® 32-bit operation system may only recognize less than 3GB. Hence, a total installed memory of less than 3GB is recommended.
Expansion Slots
2 x PCIe 2.0 x16 (@ dual x16)3 x PCIe 2.0 x1 ( the PCIEx1_1 (black) is compatible with audio slot)1 x PCI 2.2
Multi-GPU Support
Support ATI CrossFire™X Technology graphics cards
Storage
SB750 Chipset1 xUltraDMA 133/100/66 for up to 2 PATA devices5 xSATA 3 Gb/s portsSupport RAID 0,1,5,10,JBOD,1 x External SATA 3Gb/s port on rear (SATA On-the-Go)* Due to the Windows XP/ Vista limitation, the RAID array with the total capacity over 2TB cannot be set as a boot disk. A RAID array over 2TB can only be set as a data disk only.
LAN
Gigabit LAN controller, featuring AI NET 2
Audio
SupremeFX X-Fi Audio Card8 -Channel High Definition Audio CODEC- EAX® Advanced™ HD 4.0- X-Fi CMSS®-3D- X-Fi Crystalizer™- Creative ALchemy- Supports 1 x S/PDIF out header- Supports Coaxial/Optical S/PDIF out ports on rear
IEEE 1394
2 x 1394a ports (1 port at back I/O, 1 port onboard)
USB
12 xUSB 2.0 ports (6 ports at mid-board, 6 ports at back panel)
Overclocking Features
MemOK!CPU Level UpExtreme TweakerPower Design:- 8+2 phase CPU power designKeyboard-TweakItiROGLoadline CalibrationIntelligent overclocking tools:- ASUS TurboV- O.C ProfileOverclocking Protection:- COP EX (Component Overheat Protection - EX)- Voltiminder LED- ASUS C.P.R.(CPU Parameter Recall)
Special Features
ASUS MyLogo 3ASUS EZ Flash 2ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3Q-ConnectorASUS Q-Fan 2External LCD PosterASUS Q-ShieldAMD® OverDrive Support*ASUS TurboV
Back Panel I/O Ports
1 x External SATA1 x IEEE 1394a1 x LAN(RJ45) port6 x USB 2.0/1.11 x Clr CMOS switch1 x PS/2 Keyboard port(purple)
Internal I/O Connectors
3 x USB connectors supports additional 6 USB 2.0 ports1 x IEEE 1394a connector1 x IDE connector for two devices3 x thermal sensor connector5 x SATA connectors (Blue)System Panel connector8 x Fan connectors: 1 x CPU / 1 x PWR / 3 x Chassis / 3 x Optional1 x LCD Poster connector24-pin ATX Power connector8-pin ATX 12V Power connector
BIOS
16 Mb Flash ROMAMI BIOS, PnP, DMI2.0, WfM2.0, SM BIOS 2.4, ACPI2.0a Multi-Language BIOS
Manageability
WOL by PME,WOR by PME,PXE
Accessories
SupremeFX X-Fi audio card1 x 2 in 1 Q-connector (USB, System panel; Retail version only)1 x Multi-functional module (1-port IEEE 1394a + 2-port USB2.0)External LCD PosterUltraDMA 133/100/66 cableSerial ATA cablesI/O shieldCable TiesUser's manual
Support Disc
DriversASUS PC Probe IIASUS AI SuiteASUS UpdateKaspersky® Anti-VirusAMD OverDrive Utility (AOD)Sound Blaster X-Fi UtilityFuturemark® 3DMark® 06 Advanced Edition
Form Factor
ATX Form Factor12 inch x 9.6 inch ( 30.5 cm x 24.5 cm )

FeaturesThe Crosshair III Formula comes a ridiculous amount of features and with its ROG status, it has the added benefit of the unique extras that come with these boards. To go through them all and explain their operation is a article unto itself. The highlights of each are listed below in a general description of their function. As you will see, the sole purpose of the RoG exclusive features are for advancing overclocking potential. It not only makes the task easier and more understandable for beginners, but eliminates often time consuming and strenuous troubleshooting for the more advanced.ROG Exclusive Features
MemOK!
Memory compatibility is among the top concerns when it comes to computer upgrades. Worry no more, MemOK! is the fastest memory booting solution today. This remarkable memory rescue tool requires nothing but a push of a button to patch memory issues and get your system up and running in no time. The technology is able to determine failsafe settings that can dramatically improve system booting success..
CPU Level Up
Ever wish that you could have a more expansive CPU? Upgrade your CPU at no additional cost with ROG´s CPU Level Up! Simply pick the processor you wanted to OC to, and the motherboard will do the rest!See the new CPU speed and enjoy that performance instantly. Overclocking is never as easy as this.
iROG
The iROG is a special IC which enables several ROG highlitghted functions that gives users full disposal of the motherboard at any stage! This design allows advanced user control and management to be processed purely at a hardware level. iROG greatly increases fun during overclocking for PC enthusiasts and it offers system maintainence and management with more control and efficiency.
Pin Fin Thermal Module
Compare with traditional stacked-fin heatpipe solution, the new generation pin-fin thermal design result in better thermal performance, which enlarges the “heat-exchange” surface area surface and breaks the "Boundary-layer" phenomenon for effective airflow. The Pin-Fin Thermal Module is the most efficient thermal system there is on the motherboard.
External LCD Poster The new LCD Poster now posts critical POST information in an ever friendly and flexible external display. When system malfunction occurs, the LCD Poster automatically detects device failure and translates the errors on the LCD during POST.
Extreme TweakerExtreme Tweakers is the one stop shop to fine-tune your system to optimal performance. No matter if you´re looking for frequency adjustment, over-voltage options, or memory timing settings, they´re all here!
Voltiminder LED In the pursuit of extreme performance, overvoltage adjustment is critical but risky. Acting as the "red zone" of a tachometer, the Voltiminder LED displays the voltage status for CPU, NB, SB, and Memory in a intuitive color-coded fashion. The voltiminder LED allows quick voltage monitoring for overclockers.
COP EXThe COP EX allows overclockers to increase chipset voltages without the worries of overheating. It can also be used to monitor and save an overheating GPU. The COP EX allows more freedom and less constraint for maximum performance achievement.
Loadline CalibrationMaintaining ample voltage support for the CPU is critical during overclocking. The Loadline Calibration ensures stable and optimal CPU voltage under heavy loading. It helps overclockers enjoy the motherboard´s ultimate OC capabilities and benchmark scores.
Onboard SwitchWith an easy press during overclock, this exclusive onboard switch allows gamer to effortlessly fine-tune the performance without having to short the pins or moving jumpers!

Packaging and AccessoriesThe packaging and included goodies include everything you need to assemble your system; except the rest of the hardware. The box is styled in typical RoG fashion - showcasing on the outside with all the exciting tidbits contained within its cardboard walls. The motherboard and accessories are divided into two separate boxes, with the board itself housed snuggly in a well constructed box covered by a plastic lid. For the MacGyver builders out there, this box doubles excellently as a desktop tech station for pre testing. The accessory box reveals:
SupremeFX X-Fi audio card
1 x 2 in 1 Q-connector (USB, System panel; Retail version only)
1 x Multi-functional module (1-port IEEE 1394a + 2-port USB2.0)
External LCD Poster
UltraDMA 133/100/66 cable
Serial ATA cables
I/O shield
Cable Ties
User's manual The board isn’t short on anything, with the exact number of cables for every connection, even including 3 coveted right-angled SATA connectors. One of the RoG’s most notable feature’s is the LCD poster, designed to display specific system stats and assist with troubleshooting. Asus has gone with the add-in SupremeFX X-Fi sound card featured on many of its ROG boards, it is a bit of a step up from the usual onboard sound, but it eats up a perfectly good PCIe x1 slot.

A Closer Look At The Crosshair III Formula
The Crosshair III Formula makes its presence known with its full ATX form factor taking up the typical 12” x 9.6” dimensions, but feeling much larger given its aggressive style and foreboding chipset heatsink. Even with the impressive two page list of features, support for CrossfireX and the expected extra’s necessary to handle the purported level of overclocking, the board feels slightly empty. Asus has done an extremely good job with the layout, making sure that overlap and tight squeezes are unlikely. Despite the one piece and slightly over sized RoG chipset cooler, the CPU area has nothing but space which makes it perfect for insulating before a LN2 or phase cooling run. The 8+2 phase power design sits low, so as to not inhibit large coolers, and the few solid capacitors dotting the landscape do not sit high enough to impede heatsink installation.While primary competitor Intel has made the move to 6 DIMM slots, AMD is unfortunately still lagging behind in the 4 DIMM realm, limiting most users to a maximum of 8GB. However, even with less slots, this layout does not move the DIMM’s further from the CPU to provide more room. This means less likelihood of fitting oversized ram sinks in the first two slots without coming into contact with a larger cooler. The stylish heatsink that gives the board it’s unique look is a solid feeling aluminum unit that does triple duty, acting to displace heat from the PWM’s, the northbridge and the southbridge. It is designed using what Asus describes as "Pin Fin Thermal Modules", which enlarge the heat-exchange surface allowing for better dissipation and airflow.When powered, the centre logo lights up a cool white. While clearly gimmicky, it actually provides some practical use, giving off just enough light to illuminate the motherboard inside a case, for any “under-the-desk” troubleshooting.In addition to the gimicky centre light, the board boasts more lights than a cultural market, with nearly every square inch being occupied by some sort of LED. Onboard LEDs are also included for Asus's system of "normal" "high" and "crazy" for all the overclockable chips; CPU, Ram, Northbridge and Southbridge As with many Asus boards, the SATA & IDE connections have be set to a right angle to avoid conflict with oversized video cards. Apperently though, the designer's felt that including only 5 SATA ports would be plently for a high end motherboard; a strange thought indeed given that many competing board's have feautred up to 10!It is unavoidable -given the physical dimensions of the ATX form factor- for double slot PCI-E devices to not cover the slot underneath their location. Filling both expansion slots with double slot cards will cause the loss of two PCI-E x1 slots even though the single regular PCI slot will still remain available. While many devices are slowly adopting PCIe x1, a majority of devices still use the regular ole’ PCI making it’s availability much more valuable. The single black PCI-E x1 slot at the top is for all intents and purposes nonexistent, as it is reserved for the included discrete sound card. One thing Asus has made sure of with the Crosshair III is that you will never need use a fan to molex adaptor again. The board has a total of 8 on board fan headers including the one for the CPU. It is a challenge to even think of a case that has 7 additional fans to utilize this many headers. All of the fan connections are 4-pin PWM, and can therefore be controlled directly by the PC if used with compatible fans.The bottom is lined nearly solid with connectors and buttons. There are the typical connections for USB, Firewire etc etc. As well as easy push buttons for starting and resetting the board, along with the MemOK! button to call forth the Crosshair's ram compatibility powers. At the back, the I/O panel is rather devoid of the usual mashup of connections. With the audio on a separate card, what's left has been slimmed down to include only what is necessary. A keyboard PS/2 connector, while outdated, still holds as a failsafe for the often finicky operation of USB keyboards in a pre-OS environment. Along with that are six USB 2.0 connections, along with FireWire and eSATA to cover all possible options. A CMOS reset button has also found it's way to the back, making for quick work of a BIOS clear without having to open up the case (for the few who actually intend to put this motherboard in an enclosure).

Included SoftwareWith the Crosshair III, drivers, software and all the other fun digital goodies come bundled on a single DVD. The installer opens allowing users to choose exactly what they wish to install.
The Driver’s section allows you to selection individual drivers that you wish to install or use the InstAll feature which will automatically install all the drivers. The Utilities tab gives options to add some handy custom Asus tools such as PCProbe II, AI Suite and Update, as well as third party software such as AMD Overdrive, Anti-Virus and 3DMark Vantage which users receive a full license for. On the one disc is basically all of the basic utilities needed to get your PC back up to full operation after an install.The remaining four tabs hold some basic odds and ends. “Make Disc” allows for the creating of a disc for raid drivers, Manual contains the Motherboard Installation Guide and RaidXpert User Manual. Video includes two videos titled “The Battle” and “Extreme OC Clip” (short entertainment relating to the board) and “Contact” - you guessed it - holds the contact information for Asus customer service and technical support.ASUS AI Suite
Starting off, AI Suite is more of a basic information tool and serves as an access panel to a handful of other custom Asus programs, including EPU-6 Engine, AI NAP, CPU Level Up, Fan Xpert, and TurboV. It's usefulness is limited and to be truthful, if you install all of the the included programs that Asus has bundled, you wind up doubling or even tripling up on the functions.PCProbe II
PCProbeII is an excellent piece of software that is design to sync with the Crosshair III. It is strictly a voltage, temperature and fan monitoring program but is lightweight and easy to use; you can’t ask for more than that. TurboV
TurboV is where the fun begins even though its purpose and ability can be questioned, given that it mimics AMD’s Overdrive utility. TurboV allows a user to set speeds, voltages and multipliers for the BIOS all within Windows, and without having to restart the system.It is incredibly handy for those who may feel uncomfortable with unguided bios overclocking, though its functionality is somewhat limited as it doesn’t seem to be able to support the same level of overclocking as AMD’s own Overdrive utility.