Sir Clive Sinclair, the 74-year old inventor of the much loved ZX80 computer, makes a return as he launches the Sinclair ZX Spectrum Vega-- a games console based on the Spectrum machines of the early 80s.

Essentially the Spectrum Vega combines an ARM-based processor, a memory chip and flash RAM with an emulator. It runs the entire library of Spectrum games (all 14000 of them), including favorites such as Chuckie Egg, Horace Goes Skiing and Jet Set Willy.

The hardware comes in the shape of a small gamepad-style device complete with familiar vulcanised rubber keys and rainbow branding. It connects directly to TVs and ships with 1000 preloaded games.

Asus launches 2 additions to the VivoMini mini PC range-- the VivoMini UN62 and UN42, both packing 4th generation Intel Core processors and UK/UHD resolution output within cases measuring 131 x 131 x 42mm.

Processor options include Intel Core i5, i3 and Celeron, with power consumptions Asus claim total as little as 6.95W at idle mode. Noise levels are also low, reaching 26.3dB ("quieter than a library", apparently) even at full load.

Connectivity comes via 4 USB 3.0 ports, Bluetooth and wifi. DisplayPort and HDMI ports allows the support for up to 3 displays, and the UN62 also handles 4K/UHD resolution video output via Intel HD 4400 graphics.

Researchers at the University of Surrey, University of Cambridge and the University of Southampton discover a glass material found in CDs and DVDs might be key to the super-fast all-optical (or photonic) computers of the future.

The computers we know and love use electrons to transfer information and process application. Meanwhile a lot of networking (including the internet) use transfer information using light, as carried in optical fibbers. As a result, information might travel at the speed of light, but slows down once it reaches a computer, as it has to be converted into electrical signals.

“The challenge is to find a single material that can effectively use and control light to carry information around a computer," project leader Dr Richard Curry says. "Much like how the web uses light to deliver information, we want to use light to both deliver and process computer data.”

Such a material might be amorphous chalcogenides, which is the basis of current optical storage. Using a technique called "ion doping," the researchers created a glass material able to use light to bring together different computing functions into one component. Or an all-optical system, in other words.

Noctua announces a trio of 92mm class CPU coolers-- the NG-U9S and NH-D93, a pair of retail successors to the popular NH-U9B, and the NH-D9DX i4 3U designed for use in Intel Xeon LG2011-based workstations and servers.

The NH-U9S is based on the NH-U9 series. It features an asymmetrical design with 5 heatpipes, while a 95x95mm footprint clears the RAM and PCIe slots for all Intel- and most AMD-based mainboards, including micro-ATX and ITX.

Meanwhile the NH-D9L is 15mm lower than the 9cm NH-U9 series coolers (110mm vs 125mm), allowing for full 3U compliance and making it ideal for HTPC and Small Form Factor cases. It features 4 heat pipes and a 95x95mm footprint for 100% RAM and PCIe compatibility with all Intel and most AMD mainboards.