HardwareHeaven has the Dell XPS 13 Ultrabook on their bench and show off the amazing power that you can cram into something about as thin as a National Geographic special.  This is a pretty decent rig - especially since it comes with a Core i5 CPU running at 1.6Ghz and Turbo at 2.3GHz.  Even though it has cruddy Intel HD graphics, I'd still be happy with this for my birthday.

What if the Ultrabook is still too bulky for your main PC?  Maybe something like the Zotac ZBOX Nano XS AD11 Plus over at Vortez will be a better fit for your application.  This looks pretty awesome and I'd love to play around with one of these.  It's crazy small - for a full PC.

According to the Wall Street Journal, it seems that Mark Zuckerberg was the one pursuing Instagram.  In fact, he might have brokered the deal without actually even talking to the bank or the board of directors at Facebook.  Let's face it, with his birthday coming up in less than a month, what are you going to buy yourself for a present?  I know.  A billion dollar company.  CNET has more details as well.

While the 18-month-old startup had yet to record any revenue, Zuckerberg was attracted by the mobile photo app's explosive growth in user base. Two days before the two 20-something chief executives started talking, Instagram released an Android version of its app and immediately saw its membership base growing at the rate of 2,000 people a minute.

And that 2,000 Android/Google users per minute growth is why Mark bought it - to keep it off of Google+.  End of story.

As we wrap up the news for this fine Wednesday, we've got a lot of miscellaneous hardware bits to share.  I'm sure you'll find something of interest.

Wacom Inking - EverythingUSB --=-- RaidSonic ICY Box IB-MP3011Plus Network Media Player - NikKTech --=-- Apple TV 2012 - MissingRemote --=-- Brite-Strike Lightning Strike Tactical Light - TechwareLabs --=-- Logitech Harmony 1100 Advanced Universal Remote - NikKTech --=-- Biscotti TV Phone - MissingRemote --=-- Airlive N.Plug One Touch Wireless Repeater - NikKTech --=-- CustomSLR C-Loop HD and Split Strap - TechwareLabs --=-- Apple iPad (2012) - TweakTown --=-- Enermax DreamBass Genie Amplifier - HardwareLook

We have just taken a look at the BitFenix Raider Mid-Tower chassis.  This is a case that comes in well under $100, but has a lot of features and a really nice finish making it a great option for your next build.  It has some really nice internal customization as well so please check out all the details over here.

The Bitfenix Raider has a lot of features.  The built in fan controller is nice, but unfortunately only works with 3-pin fans.  The four USB 3.0 ports are easily accessed and the tool-less optical drive mounting system is simple and easy to use.  The Raider comes with three 120mm fans installed - one exhaust and two intake fans - giving the case positive pressure.  I would install another exhaust in top to even air-flow out, but it does fine without it.

We have a lot of storage reviews piling up in the news bucket and it's interesting to see that only one of them involves a mechanical spinning drive.

• Comay Venus 3 SATA 3 240GB SSD - TheSSDReview
• Intel 910 Series PCIe SSD - TechReport
• Crucial Adrenaline Solid State Cache - TechwareLabs --=-- HardwareHeaven 
• Kingston HyperX 3K 240GB SATA III SSD - TheSSDReview 
• Corsair Accelerator 60GB Caching SSD - VR-Zone
• SMART Storage Systems XceedIOPS 2 200GB eMLC - TheSSDReview
• Western Digital VelociRaptor 1TB HDD - TechReport 
• Renice X3 50mm 240GB mSATA - TheSSDReview
• Kingston V+200 90GB SSD Upgrade - HiTechLegion 
• Memoright MS-701 mSATA 240GB SSD - TheSSDReview

Episode #155 of Weekly Tech Update is now available on iTunes and the Zune Marketplace.  This is our weekly podcast that covers the hottest stuff in tech - not only around BCCHardware, but also the world.  Check it out over here - as well as a free download in the iTunes store and the Zune Marketplace.

In this episode we will be discussing Facebook spamming your feed with coupons, Apple is having Flashbacks and BestBuy closes 50 stores.  We have those stories and more...

Download Episode #155
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If you're looking for a new "Smartphone" to replace your aging candy-bar or flip phone, you may want to check out the LG Optimus 3D Android Smartphone over at MEGATechNews.  As far as specs go, this phone comes pretty loaded with a 4.3" display, and a dual-core 1GHz processor.  If you want to lose the 3D the Sony Xperia S Android over at HardwareHeaven may be more up your alley.  I'm not much of a fan of the Xperia line, but this device looks pretty classy.

Of course, according to the latest Nokia/Microsoft Ad - these phones are all just part of a social experiment.

Microsoft themselves have now confirmed the versions of Windows that it plans to ship later this year.  They include Windows 8, Windows 8 Pro and Windows RT.  Think of Windows 8 as your basic Windows "Home Premium" version and Windows 8 Pro, well, as Windows Professional.  The Pro version will have some media add-on features that will take it up to "Ultimate" - for an "economical" price.  Windows RT is simply for ARM-based devices.  Both Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro will ship in 32-bit and 64-bit flavors.  More information over at the Windows Blog.

Windows 8 Pro is designed to help tech enthusiasts and business/technical professionals obtain a broader set of Windows 8 technologies. It includes all the features in Windows 8 plus features for encryption, virtualization, PC management and domain connectivity. Windows Media Center will be available as an economical “media pack” add-on to Windows 8 Pro. If you are an enthusiast or you want to use your PC in a business environment, you will want Windows 8 Pro.

Shacknews has posted their latest video game releases of the week and if you're into some exciting gaming on the PC, you may have to wait a while longer.    There are a couple of games that may be worth checking out, but no blockbusters this week.  

PC

• AZMD! Scorepocalypse
• Botanicula (download)
• Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet (download - $15)
• MacGuffin's Curse (Steam)
• Super Ski Runner (download - "pay what you want")
• Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP (Steam)

360

• Deadliest Warrior: Ancient Combat
• The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Enhanced Edition
• Trials Evolution (XBLA - $15)

PS3

• Deadliest Warrior: Ancient Combat
• The House of the Dead 4 (PSN - $10)

PSV

• Disgaea 3: Absence of Detention
• StarDrone Extreme (PSN - $4)

NDS

• I Must Run! (DSiWare - $2)

Facebook Offers rollout has begun and now you'll have even more junk clogging up your news feed as they find yet another way to spam your wall, invade your privacy - all in the name of saving you money.  The Verge covers more of this opt-in coupon program that will no doubt be very popular.  It is yet another reason for me to migrate over to Google+.

The offers are free to create, though Facebook says that each will only reach a limited number of people. This is obviously a way for the social network to maintain interest in its regular ads, though it's an interesting strategy that could see more smaller businesses investing in wider advertising campaigns. Offers also marks another attempt by Facebook to enter the social shopping market that's currently dominated by the likes of Groupon and Livingsocial.