With the recent release of DiRT 3 AMD announced that it would be packing the game with select video cards.  Of course Sapphire’s Radeon HD 6950 was one of those cards.  From a technical standpoint the Radeon HD 6950 is basically the same card as the original card we reviewed back in December, except Sapphire has improved the cooling solution.  They have increased the size of the cooling surface, added 5 copper heatpipes, and finally added a second fan.  All of this plus the free game makes this the definite choice when it comes to deciding which Radeon HD 6950 to get.

Specifications
Output
1 x Dual-Link DVI
1 x HDMI 1.4a
1 x DisplayPort
1 x Single-Link DVI-D
DisplayPort 1.2


GPU
800 MHz Core Clock
40 nm Chip
1408 x Stream Processors


Memory
2048 MB Size
256 -bit GDDR5
5000 MHz Effective


Dimension
260(L)x110(W)x35(H) mm Size.


Software
Driver CD
SAPPHIRE TriXX Utility
1 x Dirt®3 Coupon


Accessory
CrossFire™ Bridge Interconnect Cable
DVI to VGA Adapter
6 PIN to 4 PIN Power Cable x 2
HDMI 1.4a high speed 1.8 meter cable(Full Retail SKU only)




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Hauppauge Digital, Inc., the world's leading developer and manufacturer of TV tuner products for personal computers, has announced the launch of the 'WinTV Extend for iPad' application optimized for Apple's iPad and available at no charge in the App Store. 'WinTV Extend for iPad' allows Hauppauge WinTV Extend customers to watch their favorite TV programs live on their iPad in the home via their Wi-Fi network, or outside of the home—in a hotel, at an airport etc.--any place their iPad has an Internet connection via Wi-Fi.

The 'WinTV for iPad' app is available at no cost from the Apple App Store. To find it, search for 'WinTV.'
The 'WinTV Extend for iPad' application delivers enhanced TV watching features such as a better iPad screen format, easier navigation of TV channel lists, landscape and portrait TV watching modes, and better network utilization on Wi-Fi networks. In addition to watching live TV, a user who has recorded TV programs using a PC-based Hauppauge TV tuner can watch those recordings on their iPad. Like live TV, these pre-recorded TV programs can be watched in the house or anywhere the user has an Wi-Fi Internet connection.

The Hauppauge live TV system has two pieces: a TV transmitter which runs on a home or office PC, and the 'WinTV Extend for iPad' TV receiving application which runs on the iPad. The live TV transmitter can be any one of the popular Hauppauge WinTV TV tuners. These PC-based TV tuners plug into a Windows based PC and connect to a users TV source, such as a cable or satellite TV or an over-the-air TV antenna. The WinTV TV tuner uses Hauppauge's 'WinTV v7.2' application, which formats the live TV program into a form which can be watched on an iPad, and then transmits the formatted TV signal to the new Hauppauge 'WinTV Extend for iPad' application.

An overview and screen shots of the 'WinTV for iPad' app are available here:
http://www.hauppauge.com/wintv_for_ipad

Any user of a Hauppauge WinTV-HVR TV tuner, or who uses the Hauppauge HD PVR or Colossus HD receivers, can upgrade to' WinTV v7.2' at a one-time cost of $9.95 here:
http://store.hauppauge.com/SoftwareProducts.asp#cd_wintv7


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If you have a smartphone that downloads apps, you’re ready to hit the trail at J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) on Sanibel Island and utilize its latest innovation, which officials recently unveiled.
Designed to appeal to the next generation’s techie side and get them outside, the Refuge iNature Trail along Wildlife Drive has two components – one for kids and one for adults.

The iNature Trail uses a set of QR (Quick Response) codes that smartphone-users can scan with free downloadable apps such as Neoscan or QR Scan. Similar in appearance to common bar codes, QR codes typically send scanners to websites for more information.

The refuge’s iNature trail goes a step further and incorporates short, engaging YouTube videos, making it more interactive. For instance, one of the 22 QR codes along the iNature Trail takes you to a YouTube video of Refuge Manager Paul Tritaik welcoming guests to the refuge, while another shows families how to plant a mangrove tree.

The iNature signs will be easily recognizable along the Trail and can be accessed while walking, biking, or driving along Wildlife Drive.

“This is the first such interactive trail in the 550-plus national wildlife refuges,” said Supervisory Refuge Ranger Toni Westland. “We also believe this to be the first interactive QR wildlife trail in the nation.”

“Talk about leading the way!” said Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau Deputy Director Woody Peek at opening ceremonies. “There’s no better way than to be first. It speaks highly of the vision of this group, and we congratulate that.”

“Currently nearly 40 percent of U.S. adults own a smartphone, and it is estimated that there will be more online visits from mobile devices than from PCs by 2014,” said Westland. “Our refuge is moving into the mobile world to educate thousands of people about wildlife and its protection in a whole new way.”

“The iNature Trail is a significant advancement in nature interpretation,” said Tritaik. “It not only takes advantage of the latest improvements in communication technology, but it is environmentally responsible because it allows us to reduce paper waste from brochures. We are very proud to introduce this exciting opportunity for our technologically savvy visitors to learn about and enjoy the wildlife at ‘Ding’ Darling.”

Funds for the iNature Trail along Wildlife Drive were made possible by private contributions to the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge (DDWS). As a non-profit, DDWS works to support “Ding” Darling NWR’s mission of conservation, wildlife and habitat protection, research, and public education through charitable donations and Refuge Nature Shop proceeds.

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