Gigabyte H55 Mini-ITX motherboard and Silverstone SG07 used to build (almost) perfect gaming toaster

We know you've seen Mini-ITX motherboards before, but how many have managed to fit in a PCI Express x16 lane, two full-sized DIMM slots, and Intel's LGA1156 socket? Gigabyte has done just that with its H55 circuit slab, squeezing the basic requirements for a gaming rig into a 6.7- x 6.7-inch footprint, and the lads over at Tech Report have taken notice. Pairing that tiny rig with a Silverstone SG07 small form factor case, they set out to discover if the PC craze of the Naughties -- SFF computing, mostly sparked off by Shuttle's efforts -- can be resurrected with more modern gear. What they found was that the SG07's 600W PSU stood up to the power demands of a GeForce GTX 470, all parts were somehow maintained in an acceptably cool state without making the enclosure sound like a wind tunnel, and gaming performance was highly satisfactory. Of course, there were some compromises and flaws to both the motherboard and case, but overall it turned out to be "one heck of a midget gaming system."

Michael Jackson MMO Planet Michael announced

SEE Virtual Worlds and the Michael Jackson Estate have announced they are teaming up to bring a new MMO based on Michael Jackson to the PC market.
In news which can only be filed under 'WTF?', Planet Michael will "celebrate Michael Jackson's life as an artist and humanitarian" and "allow everyone, from the hardcore fan to the novice, to connect and engage in collaborative in-game activities with people worldwide."
It turns out that this new "planet" should see the light of day at some point in 2011 and, "will be an immersive virtual space themed after iconic visuals drawn from Michael's music, his life, and the global issues that concerned him."

Off the wall...

As this is part of the Michael Jackson Estate you will be surprised to hear that the game will actually be free to download.
However, there will be ways that this cash cow will be milked, including: "the real world in-game economy features gameplay monetisation that allows players to take on dozens of different occupations and, in certain instances, contribute to a charitable cause at the same time."
As Jackson put it himself: "And when the groove is dead and gone..."