Code With AI2. Introduction

David Briddock introduces a new Android App coding series with App Inventor 2

In December 2010, Google launched App Inventor, an interesting and innovative attempt to open up Android app development by removing the need to learn or use a traditional coding language. Instead, apps are created by snapping together colourful interlocking blocks.

However, this initial version had a number of frustrating shortcomings, so in 2011 Google handed over the code and development responsibility to a Mobile Learning team at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Hacking: Can It Be A Force For Good?

Hackers are usually seen as nasty individuals wreaking havoc on computer systems worldwide. But are they? David Crookes finds out

For the last five years or so, a “mysterious figure” known as The Jester (his leetspeak handle being th3j35t3r) has been a claiming responsibility for a series of high-profile online take downs covering dozens upon dozens of websites. His work has become so infamous that he has his own Wikipedia entry and yet, while he has revealed himself to be a former soldier who served in Afghanistan, his identify remains unknown.

Mushkin Redline 16GB

You can be forgiven for thinking 'Who the hell is Mushkin?' because it’s not exactly a household name. However, in the overclocking and enthusiast world, Mushkin has quite the reputation and is regarded as being the one to go for when building a powerhouse gaming system.

The Mushkin product range starts with the kit we’re looking at for this group, the Redline. Moving up through the range, there’s the Radioactive, Blackline, Eco2, Stealth, Silverline and Proline. Each has its own set of specifications and is targeted at a certain type of user, but the general theme of high performance branches across all models.

G.Skill TridentX 16Gb

Although the likes of Crucial and Corsair seem to dominate the memory market, there are some other notable manufacturers worth paying attention to. G.Skill, of course, is among them; it does an incredible job of keeping its products in the same league as the more popular companies', but to do so it offers a little more than usual.

The G.Skill line of memory ranges from the entry-level Value brand, through the Trident, Pi, Performance, Ares, Sniper, RipJaws and finally to the model we have on test, the top-of-the range TridentX. As you can imagine, what’s on offer here is a performance lover's dream come true.

Kingston HyperX Savage 16GB Kit

The HyperX range consists of the Fury, Savage (which we’re reviewing here), Predator and Impact. The Fury is the entry-level HyperX memory, with Savage taking the mid-range spot, before the extreme DDR3/4 Predator steps in. The Impact is the mobile and small platform SODIMM version, lying somewhere between the Savage and the Predator desktop equivalents.

The HyperX Savage kit we have comes in the form of a pair of 8GB sticks at 2400MHz, with timings of 11-13-14-32 and a voltage of 1.65V, product number HX324C11SRK2/16. There are various speeds available, from 1600MHz and up to this 2400MHz version, the top of the line.

Kingston ValueRAM 16GB Kit

We couldn’t have a RAM group test without a mention for the ever faithful Kingston ValueRAM. KVR has been knocking around for years, provided a decent backbone for desktops at a reasonable price. But times change, so can ValueRAM once more prove its value?

Cheesy openings aside, the Kingston ValueRAM we have on test here is the pair of 8GB DDR3 PC3-12800, 1600MHz sticks, product number KVR16N11K2/16 and priced at around £65. The timings/latency for these sticks is 11-11-11-28 with a low voltage of 1.5V.

Crucial Ballistix Sport

The Crucial Ballistix range is deigned purely for gaming or other such data intensive task.

There are a range of kits available, but this time we have the 16GB DDR3 PC3-12800 1600MHz kit on test, product code BLS2CP8G3D1609DS1S00CEU, priced at roughly £70 (although you could probably find the kit a little cheaper depending on where you shop).

Corsair Vengeance Pro Red 16GB DDR3 RAM Kit

Corsair has proved itself as one of the leaders of high-quality memory, designed for professional system builders and enthusiasts alike, while offering superb stability and overclocking potential. It’s managed to retain that crown for quite some time now, mostly thanks to the Vengeance Pro range that was released a couple of years ago.

Designed to work with third- and fourth-generation Intel processors, the Pro kits are available in a range of capacities and speeds. From an entry point of 1600MHz through to 2800MHz and available in an assortment of colours, the Vengeance Pro pretty much has something for everyone.