In 1998, Accordance delivered the first Direct IDE-IDE RAID 1 disk array subsystem in the world and has since continued to provide different disk array products for over 10 years. ARAID not only sells to Japan, the US, Europe, Australia and Taiwan, but also has been appointed by many users as their standard disk array products for servers, industrial PCs, production machines, NAS systems and others. With 16 years of experience developing IDE, SATA and SCSI disk array products, Accordance is now focusing on developing and manufacturing RAID 1/RAID 0 disk arrays, Industrial RAID servers, megapixel surveillance IP cameras and monitoring software to fulfill the need of global customers.RAID 1/RAID 0 disk arrays are internal "ARAID 3500" designs for 3.5-inch SATA II/SATA III HDD and "ARAID M300" designs for 2.5-inch SATA II/SSD HDD. ARAID supports AHCI mode; there is no need for add-on cards and drivers. Users do not need to stop their computers when swapping HDDs, and they can do auto rebuilding. External models come with standalone power supply units for stable and safe operation. It also has holes in the front panel and uses an aluminum casing for heat dissipation. ARAID also provides IDE, USB 3.0 and e-SATA host interfaces for users to choose from.RAID servers are industrial standard products with good stability and quality. They include RAID 1 for OS hard drives and RAID 5 for data drives. Accordance provides 4U and 3U rack mount type, desktop type, and others to fulfill users' needs. They can be used as work stations, network servers, database servers, NDVR and other applications.In the current surveillance market, foreign brands' surveillance cameras may not meet Taiwan users' requirements, so Accordance has decided to design and manufacture its own brand camera series, called "ARay," (including 3MP, 2MP and 1.3MP models) which uses Sony CMOS sensors with minimum illumination of 0.1 lux at Color mode and 0.01 lux at Black/White mode. It comes with H.264, MPEG4, and MJPEG compression types, supports PoE and motion detection and built-in SD cards and microphones. Furthermore, the ARay series uses aluminum to build its casing to facilitate heat dissipation.Another product is called "AOR" (operating action video recording system for computer), which is a monitoring software. In order to keep the data center running smoothly, administrators should let all users login to the managed devices that they've been authorized to, so they can operate without any delay and all use of resources can be maximized. On the other hand, the biggest headache for administrators is that they may not be able track all that system Integrators, users and maintenance service providers had done to the equipment. The solution is to use the high-resolution IPEPS of ADDER to connect with the existing equipment or KVM directly or indirectly, and then use the Accordance RCVM program to record all the operating activities. Administrators can playback at anytime to identify the responsible party once there is a problem. It is not necessary to install any monitoring engine at any device. Neither will it increase the loading and bandwidth for any device.Visit Accorance's Computex booth K1229 at TWTC Nangang Exhibition Hall, 1st Floor. Please also feel free contact us by mail salesworld@accordance.com.tw.

Initio Corporation, a leading supplier of storage and high speed serial interface ASICs, has introduced INIC-3610, the first USB 3.0 to two ports SATA 6Gbps SOC solution in the world. This ASIC has a built-in hardware RAID engine, supporting RAID 0,1, and JBOD functionality. With USB 3.0 and SATA 6G protocol to fully enable high performance SSD and HDD drives, and offering low power-consumption and low BOM cost, INIC-3610 can be used either for mobile storage drive that uses only USB bus power, or for large capacity desktop applications. At the time of this public announcement, INIC-3610 has already attracted attention from tier-one customers and is being designed into end products."In the past ten years, the volume of consumer generated data has grown tremendously and will continue to grow at an even faster pace. As a result, the demand for high speed storage solution will also continue to grow," said Y.C. Liu, CEO of Initio Corporation, "We believe INIC-3610 will serve this demand well, and continue Initio's track record of providing successful high speed serial interface and storage ASICs that bring values to our customers and consumers. We are very excited about the various applications that INIC-3610 can enable. One very promising application of INIC-3610 is the hybrid drive application -- with two SATA-III ports, the system vendor can use one port with SSD drive and the other with HDD drive, thus combing the fast, high performance SSD capabilities with large HDD capacity and reliability in one single storage device. "In addition to providing the protocol translation functionality, INIC-3610 is also the only USB3-SATAIII controller in the world to offer hardware 128 / 256 bit XTS-AES encryption and decryption hardware engine. This engine has received NIST certification in the US. Unlike software encryption approach, Initio's hardware solution can handle USB 3.0 traffic without loss of performance. Initio has also successfully assisted its customers to receive FIPS 140 Level 2 Certification, a US government computer security standard used to accredit cryptographic devices. Including INIC-3610, Initio has introduced five USB 3.0 device ASIC products that have passed the USB-IF certification, including INIC3607, INIC3608 and INIC3609. Utilizing 90 nm process technology, Initio's USB 3.0 controllers have been widely used from external hard drive, external optical drive, SSD bridge board, numeric keypad of encryption drive, to wireless drive. Combining with ten USB 2.0 products, Initio offers the most complete lineup of USB-SATA bridge controllers.INIC-3610 Design ConceptCompany Information:Established in 1995, Initio Corporation has been at the forefront of providing ASIC solutions for high speed serial and storage applications, such as USB-SATA bridge controllers, USB/SATA to NAND flash controllers, SCSI controllers, and firewire controllers. Among Taiwan based ASIC design companies, Initio stands out as one of the few companies capable of designing and has track records of successfully introducing products with internally developed IPs and PHYs. In 2012, Initio was the first company to introduce a 90nm design for USB3.0 -SATA controller. With teams in Taiwan, China and United States, Initio works with customers closely and provides a total solution and support to customers, from ASIC products to customized firmware / utilities to enable customers with complete and successful end products.Initio Corporation8F, No.192, Rueiguang Rd, Neihu District, Taipei City 11491, Taiwan R.O.C.TEL: (+886 2) 87516377FAX: (+886 2) 87510165Email : ContactUs@initio.comWeb: http://www.initio.com/

Ablecom Technology, a Taiwan-based quality chassis specialist, has been dedicated to designing and manufacturing high-end servers and workstations for years, and has managed to receive a number of patents with regard to the manufacture of uniquely designed chassis.In addition to its strong presence in the server market, Ablecom has expanded its product portfolios to include industry PC (IPC) products, fully utilizing its high-capacity factory located in Taoyuan, northern Taiwan.Digital signage solutions have been the first wave of IPC applications rolled out by Ablecom, which will showcase a series of integrated digital signage solutions at Computex Taipei 2013, enabling clients to see on spot how digital signage systems will work to enhance corporate image.Ablecom's digital signage systems come with powerful remote-controlled and scheduling capability and support multiple playbacks for integrated and highly-efficient performance.At the Computex, Ablecom will also showcase its professionally-designed tower and rack servers as well as its recently released cute mini tower chassis, the CS-M50, which comes with an elegant architecture and excellent heat dissipation capability, while also integrating an assortment of functions into a small form factor design. Ablecom's smart green factory in Taiwan provides clients with integrated one-stop shopping services ranging from R&D, design, sampling, verification, molding and production in a seamless process. Its automated production and standardized operating environments are instrumental to cost reduction and quality control, making Ablecom a primary candidate for OEM/ODM partner in product development.Ablecom chassisAblecom digital signage systemAbout AblecomAblecom has been a leader in design and manufacture of high quality server chassis since 1997. We focus on providing mission-critical and high-end chassis for servers, workstation, and blades; moreover, we are also dedicated to providing advanced cooling and low-noise solutions. Offering top-notch technology, reliable stability, and seamless manufacturing, we have worked closely with our partners to meet their needs. Apart from these advantages, we have expanded our presence to the multimedia home IT server based business (which has unlimited potential in HD/3D), surveillance, and home automation market since 2007.Ablecom Marketing DepartmentMedia contact: Michelle LiaoTel: 886-2-82265958 ext 1735

DataVan R-POS Touch POS Terminal has recently been honored with a Computex d&i award 2013 organized by iF Design, one of the world's leading and influential industrial design institutions. Incorporating scalable and future-proof design concept into a sleek and stylish appearance, the R-POS has impressed the jury consisting of experts and designers from the ICT industry, standing out of 254 entries from seven countries in the 6th annual d&i awards.The R-POS enhances high-security point-of-sale operations with integrated dual-touchscreen, combining business-optimized technologies and innovative design. The curved-shape stand and the silver and black aluminum housing ensure R-POS fit in any point-of-service environment with ruggedness and reliability. Featuring secure, tool-free access to components, R-POS enables fast and easy service and upgrades with its tray design of system core engine, reducing the cost of ownership up to 60%. R-POS adapts the Intel Core Processor. With easy-service features and proven integration techniques that fulfill retail and hospitality needs, DataVan managed to show its leadership in the POS technology industry.The DataVan R-POS will first be exhibited at both the d&i awards pavilion and the DataVan's premium show venue (TWTC Nangang Hall 5F#534) during Computex 2013, and will be displayed at other ICT exhibitions including CeBIT Hannover, CES Las Vegas, GITEX Dubai and IFA Berlin later.DataVan R-POSAbout DataVanDataVan International Corporation is a global leading POS hardware provider in retail and hospitality industry. It offers a wide range of point-of-sale products including touch POS terminal, modular POS, kiosk terminals, and POS-related peripherals. With 20-year experiences and reliable products, DataVan has been deployed over 500,000 terminals worldwide.

Innodisk, a provider of industrial-embedded flash and DRAM storage technologies for commercial and industrial applications, is at Computex 2013 from June 4-8, 2013. Innodisk invites all interested parties to visit its booth (#K0915A at the Nangang Exhibition Hall 1F) and experience the wide range of customized DRAM and flash storage solutions that Innodisk has to offer.The highlight of Innodisk's exhibits is the world's first industrial-embedded SATA µSSD - nanoSSD. This tiny microSSD has dimensions of 16 x 20 x 2mm and a weight of only 1.5g. Not just small and lightweight, nanoSSD features SATA III support and the performance to compliment it, with read/write speeds of 480/175 MB/s, respectively. With capacities ranging from 4-64 GB and both x86 and ARM compatibility, nanoSSD can be incorporated into a wide variety of applications where a small form factor and high transfer rates are important, including industrial mobile devices, embedded systems, tablets, high-end smartphones and Ultrabooks.Alongside nanoSSD, Innodisk is showing its new line of SATA III products as well as its existing lineup of flash storage solutions that are fully compliant with the embedded industry's needs, including: thermal sensor implementation, -40 degrees C to 85 degrees C wide operation range, shock-resistance and military (MIL-STD-810F/G) compliant quick erase standards. There will be live demonstrations of anti-vibration, water-proofing, and conformal coating features.In the DRAM field, Innodisk is showing its ability to offer customized DRAM based on clients' needs ranging from server systems to highly specific aerospace and defense applications. Among Innodisk's exhibits are DRAM devices ranging from SO-DIMM to Long-DIMM with customized features for specific applications such as rugged design, conformal coating, wide operational temperature range, and built-in thermal sensors.Customized for non-x86 design systems, Innodisk also showcases SODIMM with ECC and Mini-DIMM 32-bit DRAM modules which work especially well with ARM-based tablets and mobile devices.Those interested in knowing more about the latest in industrial-embedded storage technology, Innodisk will be holding lectures on nanoSSD, SATA III and Innodisk's wear level visualization software - iSMART.About InnodiskFounded in Taiwan in 2005 and with a US branch office staffed with a support and engineering team, Innodisk Corporation has become the industry-leading manufacturer and solution provider of flash storage devices and DRAM modules for industrial applications and embedded systems, with a focus on the enterprise, industrial, aerospace, and defense industries. With its long experience and an unrivaled knowledge of the memory industry, Innodisk has developed a series of products with excellent quality, remarkable performance, great cost-efficiency, and the highest reliability. For more information about Innodisk, please visit http://www.innodisk.com/.

GigaFast Ethernet, a OEM/ODM for HomePlug powerline (PLC) technology equipment, has launched a series of HomePlug AV2 PLC Ethernet Bridges during Computex. HomePlug PLC technology is an innovative solution that turns the electrical outlets into wired network connections by simply plugging a pair of the bridges into sockets without pulling any extra cables. No extra wires means saving time and money on installation cost and cable material cost.The launch of GigaFast's HomePlug AV2 Ethernet Bridges is a major step forward in the next-generation of multimedia networking. GigaFast's HomePlug AV2 Ethernet Bridges provide better performance and higher quality networking over existing home wiring and at the same time are interoperable with HomePlug AV, HomePlug Green PHY, and IEEE 1901 certified devices.GigaFast's HomePlug AV2 Ethernet Bridges are ready for today's high demand of reliable and fast network performance for digital entertainment and broadband access. GigaFast's HomePlug AV2 Ethernet Bridges provide gigabit-class speed to every electrical outlet, making each outlet ideal for HDTV, IPTV, multi-room HD DVR, online gaming, HD/3D video, HD audio, smart grid utilities management, home monitoring, and other home networking applications demanding ultra-fast network speed. GigaFast's HomePlug AV2 Ethernet Bridges can also stream multiple HD video and audio programs on the PLC network simultaneously and can be connected anywhere throughout the home. Currently, GigaFast has four Homeplug AV2 Ethernet Bridges. The nano AV2 Pass Through Bridge (PN959-EP5) is the smallest and fastest bridge of its kind with a built-in noise filtering AC socket for another device needing power to be plugged into this socket without taking up another wall socket space. Many more GigaFast HomePlug AV2 devices will be launched in the next couple of months.Also showcased at Computex is GigaFast's HomePlug AV home monitoring system: an IP camera with night vision (PC10g). This home monitoring system is easy to setup since this system sends signal through existing home electrical wires, and does not need to pull long cables throughout the house. Users can monitor their home anytime from anywhere in the world with iOS/Android devices. Unlike most home monitoring systems, this system does not need website configuration or long serial numbers to enter. The entire setup takes only three easy steps: simply plug in the camera, download the app for either iOS or Android devices, and scan the QR code for pairing. This system has a built-in microSD slot to save recorded videos and the recorded videos can be viewed anywhere with an iOS or Android device without any subscription fee. The camera has infrared night vision for low-light or no-light environment and has email notification for motion detecting. This camera also has 2-way digital audio for listening from and speaking to the surrounding from the mobile device.This camera system can be used for day-to-day home or small office security surveillance. Another usage for this camera system is for baby safety monitoring. Parents can monitor their baby sleeping inside the crib or monitor the nanny while the parents are away using their mobile devices.This camera system's casing is the smallest of its kind on the market, and the design of the camera and its stand is unconventional. It has a streamline egg-shape design, inspired by the concept of an egg resting gently inside a nest.For more information on GigaFast's PLC products, please visit www.gigafast.com or visit GigaFast's Computex booth at D0512, Hall 1, 1F.GigaFast HomePlug AV2 Ethernet Bridges and PLC home monitoring system

FSP has released a new universal notebook adapter, the Twinkle 65, the world's smallest and lightest 65W notebook adapter so far. The idea is to bring to the market an easy-to-use and convenient product for notebook users.The world's smallest and lightest 65W adapterPeople who have to carry heavy briefcases commuting to and from work may wonder how they could reduce their daily burden. The Twinkle 65 is the answer. Lightweight, compactness, and portability have become the priorities that modern-day travelers think about before leaving for a business trip. The volume and weight of the Twinkle 65 is a half of any other notebook adapters. Weighing only 100g, it is lighter, smaller and more efficient.Twinkle 65 meant to be taken anywhere in the worldThe Twinkle 65 notebook adapter, designed by FSP with cutting-edge technology, is light and easy to carry for any user. It includes exchangeable plugs, making it compatible with sockets in 157 countries. It means notebooks users will not have to buy extra power plugs if they travel with Twinkle 65. There are also eight tips for 99.9% of major notebook brands; users don't need to buy another tip for new notebooks. Furthermore, a travel pouch comes with the adapter for scratch-proof storage.High efficiency up to 91%Twinkle 65 has a 91% power conversion rate that vastly reduces power loss and waste heat to save energy and protect the environment. FSP's state-of-the-art technology makes Twinkle 65 compatible with all the major notebook brands.FSP's products have passed safety certifications in many different countries. Twinkle 65 offers a three-year warranty.FSP's Twinkle 65 notebook adapterThe packaging for Twinkle 65Specifications:- Output Wattage/ Voltage/ Current: 65W/ 19V/ 3.42A- Input Voltage: 100-240V- Input Frequency: 50-60Hz- No. of Tips: 8- Protections: OCP, OVP, SCP, OTP- Dimension (LxWxH): 71x49x24 mm- Warranty: 3 YearsAbout FSPFounded in 1993, FSP is one of the largest manufacturers of power supplies in the world. As a leading manufacturer with more than 20 years of experience in designing products, FSP has over 300 products that are 80PLUS certified. FSP has a strong commitment to quality, service and the environment. FSP is listed on Taiwan Stock Exchange under ticker 3015. To find out more about the FSP Group, please visit http://www.fsplifestyle.com/

The development of System on Chip (SoC) technology has increased significantly due to the increasing demands of lower power and smaller form factors in mobile devices, which are gaining widespread popularity in recent years. Throughout this period, the performance of SoC processors underwent significant improvements in performance and design simplicity, while still retaining the advantages of low power consumption and miniaturization, making them suitable for a range of industrial applications.For example, smaller SoC processors help miniaturization of embedded computers, panel PCs, embedded boards, in-vehicle computers and even dedicated network security appliances. Thus, they can be used as factory automation controllers, machine automation controllers, data acquisition systems (DAS) or human machine interfaces (HMI) in factories, self-service kiosks or point of sale (POS) terminals in retail, in-vehicle computing platforms in transportation and switching devices in machine-to-machine (M2M) networks.Embedded ARM Solutions Trigger the Next Revolution of Intelligent SystemsThe rise of Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing and network communication has pushed the evolution of traditional embedded devices into a drastic change, transforming them into intelligent systems that are gradually becoming adopted and deployed in both general and special workplace environments, as well as environments in the everyday lives of people. These systems all have attributes including their low cost and low power consumption, and their ability to provide network connectivity.The Super SoC ModuleIn the era of specialized knowledge economy, the challenge of integrating multiple silicon intellectual property (SIP) cores require complex verification of various elements, including from SoC processors, firmware, drivers to operating system kernels. Therefore, a highly integrated SoC module, comprising both hardware and software elements, is a shortcut to reducing the development lifecycle of SoC solution and time to market.NEXCOM's SoC modules come with pre-verified software and hardware and support Coretex-A8, Cortex-A9 and Cortex-A15 SoC processors. The SoC modules are based on Ultra Low-Power Computer-on-Modules (ULP-COM) standard in Qseven form factor, and feature rugged, heatsink-free designs capable of operating in wide temperature environments.Furthermore, NEXCOM's SoC modules provide graphical user interface (GUI) and contain Board Support Packages (BSP) that include device drivers for a wide range of operating systems such as Windows Compact, Linux and Android, allowing customers to migrate freely between different applications to determine the feasibility of the initial prototype as early as possible during project evaluation.NEXCOM has also established Computer-on-Module Competence Center (CCC), a comprehensive service center that aims to simplify ODM design processes and assist clients in designing a tailored solution. Backed by a talented pool of software and hardware professionals, CCC provides Evaluation Starter Kits, expert advice, application development assistance, system integration and verification services at every stage of the product development lifecycle to ensure smoother process, faster time-to-market.In addition, throughout the entire product development lifecycle, from initial product development, acceptance to final delivery, each process is strictly tracked and managed by product lifecycle management (PLM) to ensure the highest level of quality.Besides the talented engineering team, NEXCOM's project managers are dedicated to service clients around the world, working closely with local design partners and customers to provide rapid responses to any types of issues.Complete SoC Solutions for Every ScenarioNEXCOM has successfully applied SoC platforms into a broad range of industries. For example, in medical, NEXCOM's SoC solutions are used in portable medical equipments to monitor information collected by physiologic monitoring systems, acting as data collection devices that enable medical staff to monitor the health conditions of patients or newborns in real-time. The portable equipment can also connect to a USB On-The-Go (USB OTG) converter to upload simulated data, download software updates, or act as a host when connecting to a USB flash drive.In fitness centers, NEXCOM's SoC platforms are used to drive interactive fitness consoles with large touch panels, and provide Ethernet and Wi-Fi connections to stream rich, interactive multimedia contents on the displays.Similar to portable devices in medical, hand-held POS terminals in retail markets are also built with NEXCOM's SoC. This POS terminal helps retail customers to locate the product, streamlining the shopping process from product searching all the way to final payment.For factory automation (FA), NEXCOM's industrial-grade SoC controllers integrate a multitude of external connections including digital inputs and outputs (DI/DO), serial ports supporting RS232, RS232/RS422/RS485 and CAN bus signals, as well as display interfaces supporting VGA and LVDS. An internal mini-PCIe slot is available to turn the SoC controllers into FA gateways by adding fieldbus modules supporting industrial automation protocols such as EtherCAT, PROFINET, PROFIBUS and DeviceNet.About NEXCOMFounded in 1992, NEXCOM has five business units which focus on vertical markets across industrial computer, in-vehicle computer, multimedia, network and communication, and intelligent digital security industries. NEXCOM serves its customers worldwide through its subsidiaries in seven major industrial countries. NEXCOM gains stronghold in vertical markets with its industry-leading products including the rugged fanless computer NISE series, the in-vehicle computer VTC series, the network and security appliance NSA series and the digital signage player NDiS series. http://www.nexcom.com/

Taipei, Taiwan - Clientron Corp., a world-leading manufacturer of thin client and embedded systems, introduces its D200 Zero Client solution to support Microsoft RemoteFX (RDP7.1) hardware decode for achieving the goals of better performance, cost effectiveness and low power consumption.The Clientron D200 Zero Client, equipped with ARM cortex- A9 processor and the MegaRAC VUE solution package from AMI and ARM9 processor, is designed to work with Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 supporting RemoteFX (RDP7.1) for rich graphics and user experience. With pure hardwired hardware decoder, the D200's resolution can support up to 1920x1080 at 30 frames per second.Subramonian Shankar, President and CEO of American Megatrends (AMI), remarked that "AMI is pleased to partner with Clientron in providing our MegaRAC VUE Firmware/Software Solution for the Clientron D200 Zero Client System. MegaRAC VUE is the latest addition to the MegaRAC family of remote and server management products from AMI, used by many of the world's leading server OEMs and ODMs. MegaRAC VUE resides completely on the system's Flash ROM, removing the need for internal storage and greatly reducing its cost, complexity and power consumption. Clientron's expertise in hardware platforms and thin client solutions, combined with AMI's industry leadership in firmware and remote management, has resulted in a unique and groundbreaking zero client solution that offers excellent value, performance and manageability.""The D200 Zero Client design brings together AMI's experience in firmware and remote management. With the benefits of excellence performance and manageability of AMI's MegaRAC VUE software/firmware solution, users are enabled to deploy IT solution quickly with lower total cost of ownership." said Robert Chin, Chairman & CEO of Clientron. "This D200 Zero Client applies a new generation of Microsoft RemoteFX solution that takes advantage of cost and power efficiency with advanced user's virtual desktop experience."Built for the server-based infrastructure, the D200 Zero Client is quick, efficient and safe to run applications and easy to manage with the lowest risk of damage. With fanless and ultra-compact design, D200 offers one PS/2 port for keyboard or Y cable, audio ports, six USB2.0 ports, one DVI port, and one Gigabit LAN port. Featuring high performance with low power and low cost, the D200 Zero Client is one of the best choices for cloud computing solution.D200 Zero Client Features Highlight:Support RemoteFX (RDP7.1) hardware decodeHigh performance with low power and low costProcessor: ARM Cortex-A9 @ 400MHz with MegaRAC VUE solution from AMISupport DDR3 memoryDisplay Resolution: 1920x1080 @ 60Hz Optional WLAN moduleSupport 1 x DVI, 1 x GbE LAN, 6 x USB Support VESA mount and Kensington lockDimension: 28 x 145 x 133 mm (0.54L)For more D200 details, please visit our website http://www.clientron.com/ or visit Clientron at TWTC Nangang Exhibition Hall, Booth M1236, Computex Taipei 2013.Clientron introduces its D200 Zero Client to support Microsoft RemoteFX

While smaller than many of its competitors, NVIDIA packs a big punch with its Tegra mobile processors. The company has achieved success by paying attention not only to mobile processor performance, but also to how CPUs and GPUs affect system-level features and performance. With each successive generation of the Tegra family, the fabless design house has not only met user expectations, but stimulated desire for even more features in next-generation products. Matt Wuebbling, director of product marketing for the mobile business at NVIDIA, recently spoke about how the mobile processor market is being driven by information mobility and access to information everywhere.Tegra historyTegra first gained popularity when NVIDIA launched its Tegra 2 mobile processor. The landmark processor was the first dual-core mobile processor available in the tablet market. At that time, many people questioned whether NVIDIA, as a new player in the market, could make a dent in the mobile space at all. However, with Android gaining traction in mobile devices, NVIDIA saw the potential of the market and focused on differentiating its products with its GPU DNA and heritage from PCs. This allowed NVIDIA to achieve significant smartphone design wins for the first time in the company's history.To succeed in such a competitive setting, NVIDIA had to show that it could not only differentiate its SOC (system on chip) from other products but also provide its customers and end users with a glimpse into the direction of its future products. The key message NVIDIA delivered to the market at that time was that in addition to bringing the expertise of technology and graphics to its CPU cores, NVIDIA understood that it was the mobile profile that dictated development on its processor platform, and any other added value needed to address innovation on the system level.This system level philosophy was clearly on display when NVIDIA launched Tegra 3 one year later. Although the top line message with Tegra 3 was that it was the first mobile quad-core processor on the market, from the perspective of NVIDIA, it was not just about cranking out more cores. Tegra 3 also featured system-level innovations such as PRISM technology to help lower overall system power, and DirectTouch to improve the touch responsiveness of mobile devices.At that time Google also came out with its first Google-branded Android tablet, the Nexus 7, which was built around the NVIDIA Tegra 3, further validating NVIDIA's processor development strategy.NVIDIA's success in the mobile processor market was also based on its focus on the overall user experience, rather than just benchmarks. For example, with Tegra 3, NVIDIA developed and implemented a memory interface that featured a standard PC interface and DDR3 solution. At that time, mobile chips tended to feature LPDDR2 memory, which boasted low power but was also more expensive. NVIDIA realized that if it could implement a memory solution that was slightly higher in power but offered a significant cost advantage, it could enable some interesting devices that could use the Tegra 3 but at a reduced price compared with competing solutions. NVIDIA realized that for some customers, a strong feature set would be considered as long as there were some considerations given to pricing.To help tablet makers bring a low-cost, premium experience to consumers, NVIDIA also introduced its KAI reference platform. KAI was a recipe that tablet makers could use to design and build low-cost, Tegra 3-powered Android tablets targeted at the $199 USD price point. KAI had some basic ingredients that could be spiced up with some options. Its basics included Tegra 3, a unique memory controller, DirectTouch and PRISM, as well as components integrated from leaders in the tablet ecosystem. The Nexus 7 was also the first tablet based on KAI.Extending its product line through multiple market segmentsTegra 2 and Tegra 3 were focused on high-end superphones and tablets. With Tegra 4, NVIDIA is targeting multiple market segments. Launched in early 2013, Tegra 4 is NVIDIA's first offering of a family of products. The company still has discrete application processors that focus on high-end tablets and smartphones, but it also has a second product family called Tegra 4i, which integrates a modem with a single-chip quad-core processor. This allows NVIDIA to attack the mainstream smartphone market. Tegra 4i-based products are expected to arrive in the first quarter of 2014.Tegra 4 family performanceAs a smaller company in the mobile processor market, NVIDIA has chosen to focus its roadmap and technology in areas and market segments where it can make a substantial difference. As a result, NVIDIA delivers a superphone experience at mainstream price points. The Tegra 4i, for example, competes with solutions at the same price point, while featuring graphics performance that is substantially (three times] faster than that offered by the competition.On the one hand, CPU performance is substantially faster. End users will be able to have 1080p displays because the graphics horsepower in these chips is so significant. They will also be able to get very fast load times for web pages, great gaming and some really amazing camera effects.One camera feature is NVIDIA's Chimera computational photography architecture, which melds CPU, GPU and image sensor processor abilities. The technology allows user to achieve results that cannot be done with an Apple iPhone 5 or Samsung Galaxy s4. One example of the technology is always-on HDR (high dynamic range). Competing HDR solutions require the processing of multiple exposures, accounting for ghosting and a limited ability to record video because it is hard to capture movement and HDR at the same time. However, with Tegra 4, every photo taken is in HDR. It captures scenes that have bright lights in the background or foreground. And it can take video in HDR, burst photos and photos with flash. With all of these features, pictures overall are substantially better when produced on Tegra 4-based devices.These features won't only be found in high-end tablets and smartphones. NVIDIA expects this technology to get into smartphones at a sub-US$200 level or even sub-US$150 price points.GPU performance of Tegra 4NVIDIA has always been known for its GPU performance, and with Tegra 4, the company does not disappoint. Tegra 4 is about 6x the performance of Tegra 3. With performance gains like that, developers who had never looked at mobile devices before are starting to take it seriously.This is primarily being driven by a level of GPU performance in devices that has never been seen before, with overall performance now approaching console performance. In addition, in the past it took developers a significant amount of work to port their games. Now, using NVIDIA tools, developers can take console-type content and put it on a mobile device without having to do a significant amount of rework.Changing usage models: Tablets becoming more like PCsWhen people first started using tablets, they wanted to access certain applications, mainly web and email, but the key concern was with power consumption. However, as the mobile market has matured, mobile users are now saying they want to do all the same things on tablets that they were doing on notebook PCs.In terms of performance, the Tegra 4 CPU is 2-3x faster than the Tegra 3. That in itself represents some pretty amazing improvement. However, power consumption in mobile devices remains a general concern for all processors. With Tegra 3, NVIDIA introduced an architecture called 4-Plus-1 that features four high-performance cores and one low-power core in the CPU. Tegra 4 is the second generation product with 4-Plus-1 so NVIDIA has implemented more innovation to help fire up CPU cores when needed - for instance when switching tasks, having apps like music intelligently run in the background, or when downloading files to the device on a home network or cloud.Based on ARM architecture, the NVIDIA Tegra 4 can intelligently fire up the cores needed to handle these important tasks, but more importantly making sure those cores are intelligently stopping when those tasks end. One of the advantages ARM architecture has over x86 architecture is the ability to very quickly deliver a lot of performance when needed and then quickly turn off those cores - not necessarily turning off all the cores immediately, but downscaling or down stepping them - when needed.Modem technologyAnother innovation with Tegra 4 is the efficient, software-defined modems - general-purpose modem processors that process algorithms in software. Because they are general-purpose processors, NVIDIA is able to deliver modem chip solutions that are 40% the size of a standard conventional modem. The reason is conventional modems will have to support legacy modem interfaces in different specific hardware blocks but NVIDIA can do that in software. NVIDIA's modem team has shipped 20 million modems on this technology with 95 different carriers around the world, so it's a proven technology and doing very well. One of the things that NVIDIA recently demonstrated is that it could upgrade its modem silicon from category 3 LTE to category 4 LTE on the same silicon, simply by flashing new software to the device. In this way, NVIDIA modems do not need a new tape out of hardware to introduce support for next-generation telecom services.The takeaway is that NVIDIA is able to deliver a very efficient product, so it enables very small chips - about 40% the size of conventional modems. It's also flexible. It allows NVIDIA to not have to spin new chips when it wants to support new network interfaces. The advantage for end users is having new high-performance features in end devices and having it at a compelling price point.The future of TegraThe next chip on NVIDIA's roadmap, a processor that the company has started to briefly talk about, is a chip called Project Logan. Logan is a code name (there is no official name) for a processor that for the first time includes NVIDIA's desktop and notebook GPU capabilities. NVIDIA is basically bringing its Kepler GPU into mobile, meaning DX11, OpenGL 4.3, CUDA-capable GPUs will be available in mobile devices for the first time.According to Wuebbling, this is exactly why NVIDIA is in the mobile processor business. This is what NVIDIA wants to bring to its products - 20 years of GPU technology capabilities that can be leveraged by more people and in more mobile devices. NVIDIA sees the mobile industry experiencing torrid growth and users are always demanding more.People are demanding higher resolution displays and better games. More importantly though, Wuebbling argued that the market doesn't even know what it requires, but it better be prepared to deliver once users realize what they want. Wuebbling pointed out that 10 years ago, if you looked at PC gaming, most users said that graphics can't get any better. Yet every year it gets better.You can see that same dynamic now going on in mobile. According to Wuebbling, we are at the very beginning of what mobile devices can do.NVIDIA Tegra 4