The integration of the three major IT application technologies, embedded systems, the Internet of Things (IoT), and cloud computing architecture, will trigger an "intelligent system" revolution in the conventional embedded device market creating completely new life, work and decision-making experiences for business managers, employees and general consumers. Microsoft Corporation OEM Embedded Sales Manager, Daniel Li thinks that OEMs must seize the huge business opportunities generated by this revolution, and actively recruit the resources from mature development and management platforms already available on the market to develop the intelligent systems that businesses need. Only by doing so can they stand a chance to succeed in future competition.Li noted that the availability of low-cost, high-performance chips is promising huge growth potential for the global embedded device market. The use of embedded devices is becoming more and more common in professional fields, daily life and ordinary work environments. "For example, the various handheld devices ordinary people use, multimedia information kiosks, digital signage in hotels, medicare tools, point-of-sale (POS) terminals, on-board infotainment devices, and even desktop game consoles, etc. are all embedded devices of some kind."As embedded devices are already very common, a further step could be taken to link them to the increasingly popular IoT and cloud computing ecosystems. The front-end embedded devices perform real-time information gathering and context-aware functions, and through the intermediate IoT connection send the information to back-end cloud computing platforms. This forms a wider IT infrastructure that assists business players in conducting diverse analyses and developing value-added applications. Li thinks that this not only offers business players a brand new way of collecting and using information, while supporting their daily operations and enhancing their long-term planning; it also provides a brand new experience for both general consumers and business clients.Take digital signage for example. Such embedded devices support split screens to simultaneously provide diverse information on weather, tourism, stocks, advertising and news etc. With these devices, stores can also access back-end databases to check their inventories, as well as all previous transactions made during particular times each day. All promotional information can be shown on the front-end display while consumers can access the services offered by the system via such user interfaces as sensors or touchscreens.Intelligent systems will become the mainstream in the futureSuch an operating framework – where connected devices can (through wired or wireless networks) send real-time dynamic consumer information to managers and decision-makers of a business – is an upgrade from conventional embedded systems to intelligent systems that are more helpful to businesses. According to market research firm IDC, shipments of intelligent systems are experiencing staggering growth: currently their global market has reached 1.8 billion units with revenues of about US$1 trillion. The size has already exceeded the sum total of PCs, servers and mobile phones. By 2015, shipments of intelligent devices will more than double to reach four billion units, with revenues soaring to US$2 trillion.Li said, "In 2010, intelligent systems only accounted for 19% of all electronics devices, but by 2015 their share will increase to one third." In order to raise prices and profits for OEMs in the wake of this new market trend, Microsoft has made corresponding adjustments to its roadmap for Windows Embedded products. Microsoft supports cross-platform front/back-end operations for x86, ARM-based and other hardware architectures in view of the fact that a company may have diverse devices in different departments due to cost considerations and system requirements. Moreover, Microsoft also offers multi-function items and technology to allow companies to easily manage and analyze data, with which they can develop the customized and differentiated solutions that they need.As for how intelligent systems work, in general their work starts with the huge amounts of necessary data (such as speeds, altitudes, temperatures, remaining fuel levels, etc.) collected via diverse embedded devices. The data is transmitted in real time via various wired/wireless technologies (such as Wi-Fi, WiMAX, LTE and 3G) to cloud/information centers for integration and analysis. Managers can make related decisions and issue instructions based on the data, and these decisions and instructions can be quickly sent to designated devices via the devices' management platforms. The devices then can make adjustments according to the instructions and decisions received.Highly-integrated back-end IT infrastructure is needed for developing intelligent systemsLi said, "This means that the operation of complete intelligent systems needs the support of a highly-integrated back-end IT infrastructure (covering the Internet, cloud, security, database, devices, system management platform and others) to extend the general embedded devices all the way to the application systems of the company, allowing control personnel at the company to remotely manage and monitor the data and actual locations of each device. This can guarantee overall security and upgrade systems at the lowest cost possible." He stressed further, "Only by doing so can intelligent systems create bigger benefits and allow faster returns on the investments companies make in installing the systems."Because of this, Microsoft's Windows Embedded development team is now not only focused on the key areas concerning operating system platforms, but also improving data processing functions in order to enhance the capabilities of handling diverse data from embedded devices running on different platforms. Moreover, the development team is also working closely with others who are developing Windows Azure, SQL Server 2008 R2, etc., to enable the inclusion of cloud computing in this infrastructure to help companies make even more in-depth analysis of the data transmitted back from the embedded devices. The Windows Embedded Device Manager and Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager platforms can help IT personnel more easily monitor and control all intelligent systems deployed around their company's IT network. They can also fully solve such problems as unstable connectivity common in the IoT environment, and the complex work of identity management and data access authorization.For ordinary OEMs, Microsoft also offers its powerful development kits and a range of API tools (such as Windows Embedded Handheld, Windows Embedded POSReady and Windows Embedded Automotive) to help companies quickly customize various solutions according to the needs of different industries and platforms. With these tools, companies have a variety of ways of using intelligent systems. "For example, the ability to capture a user's full body movements allows users to operate a system through gesture or voice instructions. The Kinect body sensing technology that was originally developed for the Xbox 360 game console was officially included in Microsoft's Embedded series in February this year." Li noted, adding that developers only need to use Visual Studio to develop distributed applications to complete the entire deployment from devices to the cloud on a single platform.Makers must unleash creativity to develop intelligent systems from different perspectivesLi stressed that makers of future embedded devices should not only focus on hardware development. They must assume the standpoint of enterprise users and unleash their creativity to introduce total solutions incorporating the concepts and functionalities of intelligent systems. This is necessary for improving their products' overall value and enhancing their competitiveness in this highly competitive market. "But apart from the completeness of functions and architecture, makers must also consider such important factors as reliability, manageability, performance and product life cycle when developing solutions."Li said, "Currently Microsoft and its partners have already transplanted the core business processes and related application systems needed by different businesses – from retail, manufacturing to medicare – to this platform. For other embedded device makers, this means that they will no longer have to invest in infrastructure development. When there are upgraded versions in the future, the life and usability of their systems will be fully guaranteed." For example, when Microsoft launches its Windows 8, systems will be upgraded and enhanced directly. For makers, this means significant help for their products to stay competitive in the market.Microsoft Corporation OEM Embedded Sales Manager, Daniel LiPhoto: DigitimesLi answers questions about Microsoft's Windows EmbeddedPhoto: Digitimes

GIGABYTE TECHNOLGY Co. Ltd., a leading manufacturer of motherboards and graphics cards, recently announced their upcoming 7 series motherboards will boast GIGABYTE's industry leading Ultra Durable 4 technology, helping to safe-guard GIGABYTE motherboards from common everyday threats, including humidity and moisture, electro-static discharge, sudden power loss and high operating temperatures."With the launch of the first Ultra Durable motherboard in 2006, GIGABYTE revolutionized the motherboard industry by making quality the number one focus in our motherboard design," commented Henry Kao, Vice President of GIGABYTE Motherboard Business Unit. "Five and a half years later, GIGABYTE maintains our leadership in quality design by equipping our upcoming 7 series motherboards with even more lifespan enhancing technologies in the form of Ultra Durable 4."GIGABYTE Ultra Durable 4GIGABYTE Ultra Durable 4 motherboards embrace a range of exclusive technologies that guarantee DIY PC builders the absolute best protection for their PC, with built-in features that prevent common malfunction threats users encounter on a day-to-day basis.2X Copper PCBGIGABYTE Ultra Durable 4 design features 2X the amount of copper of a traditional motherboard for both the Power and Ground layers which dramatically lowers system temperature by delivering a more efficient spreading of heat from critical areas of the motherboard such as the CPU power zone throughout the entire PCB. GIGABYTE's Ultra Durable 4 also lowers the PCB impedance by 50%, which helps to reduce electrical waste and further lowers component temperatures. A 2X Copper layer design also provides improved signal quality and lower EMI (Electromagnetic Interference), providing better system stability and allowing for greater margins for overclocking.Humidity protectionThere is nothing more harmful to the longevity of your PC than moisture, and most parts of the world experience moisture in the air as humidity at some point during the year. GIGABYTE Ultra Durable 4 motherboards have been designed to make sure that humidity is never an issue, incorporating a new Glass Fabric PCB technology that repels moisture caused by humid and damp conditions. Using a new kind of PCB material which reduces the amount of space between the fiber weave, Glass Fiber PCB technology makes it more difficult for moisture to penetrate compared to traditional motherboard PCBs. This offers much better protection from short circuit and system malfunction caused by humid and damp conditions.Electrostatic protectionAll GIGABYTE Ultra Durable 4 motherboards use high quality IC microchips that are rated with higher electro-static discharge (ESD) resistance than traditional IC implementations. GIGABYTE Ultra Durable 4 motherboards use ICs with up to 3 times the ESD resistance levels compared to traditional ICs. This helps to better protect the motherboard, its components and the PC in general against potential damage caused by static electricity, a common threat to today's PCs.Power failure protectionIf your home experiences a sudden power outage for any reason, GIGABYTE Ultra Durable 4 Classic are equipped to ensure that you won't be dealing with a fatal malfunction. All GIGABYTE Ultra Durable 4 motherboards use patented DualBIOS technology to provide fail safe protection for the BIOS on your motherboard, automatically refreshing your BIOS from a back up version in the case of a critical power outage.GIGABYTE Ultra Durable 4 motherboards also feature special anti-surge ICs that protect your motherboard, and your PC, from any surge in power delivery that may occur, helping to ensure that your PC is equipped to deal with any kind of irregular and inconsistent power delivery.High temperature protectionGIGABYTE Ultra Durable 4 motherboards feature specially selected components that make your PC capable of higher temperatures in more extreme conditions, hile at the same time preventing your PC from overheating. Using all solid capacitors for the GIGABYTE Ultra Durable 4 range both reduces overall board temperatures while, making the motherboard more robust at higher temperatures. The choice of Lower RDS(on) MOSFETs also helps to reduce operating temperatures significantly compared to traditional MOSFET solutions. These component technologies combine to guarantee enhanced longevity and stability for your PC.To learn more about GIGABYTE 7-series Ultra Durable motherboards, please visit:http://www.gigabyte.com/microsite/306/7-series.htmlGIGABYTE Z77X-UD3H

The SSD controller market is rapidly expanding, creating huge opportunities for the semiconductor industry. However, the design of complex chips and ever-increasing performance/functional requirements has also posed a challenge in terms of costs and efficiency to the industry players. MIPS has brought up the idea of having the chips operated in a multi-threading CPU environment to address these design challenges. And in the future, the company expects to remain the leading provider of processor architectures and cores for digital home and networking applications, and will actively pursue development in the emerging mobile market.The SSD market has witnessed an amazing rate of growth thanks to a surge in popularity of lightweight and thin multimedia mobile devices, extensive applications of cloud computing and social app platforms, significantly increasing demand for audio and video data storage requirements. According to data compiled by Forward Insights, SSD shipments will climb to 120 million units in 2014 from only 20 million in 2011. Judging from the recent spree of acquisitions and mergers in the IT industry, a number of enterprises are showing their optimism about how owning SSD technologies will help create competitive advantage. SoC suppliers should seize the opportunity to win a seat in this changing market, providing various high value-added solutions, said Del Rodillas, director of vertical marketing at MIPS.SSD designed to strike a balance between size, energy consumption and performanceHowever, producing the best set of SSD controllers to meet the trends is hard. Developers confront a number of design challenges including raising the bar for I/O speed (the latest version of SATA Express delivers data transfer rate of 8-16Gbps), and enabling management support for more information, more complex features (such as hybrid storage devices for ultrabooks) as well as error data correction capability, encryption/ decryption and safety procedures, and data stream priority and control (such as, specifying a higher priority for voice traffic than for data). Those design issues will greatly increase the difficulty in designing SSD controllers. Ways to extend the performance of SSD controllers under limited cost and energy supply conditions will be the problem developers have to overcome in the first place, said Rodillas.Up until now, the CPU has been the most important computing engines for SSD controllers, Rodillas continued. However, having SSD controllers run with a conventional single-core CPU structure has encountered bottlenecks, such as, advancing the performance of real-time processing makes it unlikely to make further progress, Rodillas said. He explained that SSDs have too many features needed to operate in parallel (such as NAND layer adaption, power management, wear leveling, NCQ, bad block management, garbage collection, traffic management & routing, etc.), which a single-core CPU architecture is unable to cope with. Though some companies alternatively use multi-core CPU designs, this will only result in increases in silicon area and power.Facing intense competition and a more challenging market environment, device manufacturers - particularly those specializing in mobile communications products - are aware that the ability to make products at the lowest possible costs while meeting specific dimensions and performance, and energy saving requirements is the key to winning customers.Therefore, in order to assist the industry to solve the problems, MIPS has introduced its multi-threaded processor core enabling one CPU to process multiple threads at a time. The capability does maximize the utilization of computing resources and improve system performance, Rodillas indicated. The CPU acts as an already-high efficient single execution pipeline, which does not require additional counterparts, and simultaneous multi-threading helps it further improve performance efficiency, Rodillas said.MIPS multi-threaded CPU core can assist the industry to address these design challengesMIPS' multi-threaded core solution for embedded applications incorporates several hardware virtual processing elements (VPEs) containing thread contexts (TCs) - used to further increase the number of hardware threads. Therefore, through multi-threading, developers no longer need to add full hardware required for implementing another VPE.In addition, MIPS' multi-threaded core offers an efficient inter-thread communication mechanism for implementing high-performance data flow. Another capability is the zero-overhead interrupt support, which can be implemented through letting a thread "park" until an external event signals it to resume execution. These management tools allow users to execute instructions from multiple threads and ease management of real-time behavior. These unique features would be helpful for enhancing the quality of services (QoS) of end-market products.For example, a single-threaded CPU architecture consists of functional units such as MDU, ALU, LD/ST, ICU and MCU, as well as a translation lookaside buffer (TLB) responsible for virtual to physical address translations. Software must get the access to user and PRA registers to understand the CPU status. With the concept of virtual processors in the MIPS architecture, each virtual processor will obtain duplicate user and PRA registers, a TLB and program counter to share the resources of execution units.For software, the solution is tantamount to the existence of more than one complete processor, and can speed up the processing efficiency of the pipeline without increasing the area and power. Multi-threading can also be used in Linux-powered devices to develop multi-core programming solutions.MIPS has used the BrowsingBench benchmark from EEMBC - which provides an industry-accepted method of evaluating Web browser performance on smartphones, netbooks, portable gaming devices, navigation devices and IP set-top boxes - to evaluate the performance benefits of its multi-threading core solutions, according to Rodillas. Results show that Android-based web browsing performance is greatly enhanced by the technology. Within single-core CPU architecture, the MIPS multi-threading technology boosts the performance 43% through two VPEs. The performance will be 2X higher when the configuration is dual-core with two VPEs per core. A dual-core, 4-VPE system delivers 2.5X the performance of a single core. Therefore, a SSD operated in the MIP dual-core, multi-threaded CPU environment is able to see its efficiency improve 44%, save 57% more in power consumption and a dimension reduction of 43% when compared to rivals' fellow products. Systems operated in a single-core, multi-threading environment will be superior in terms of performance efficiency (up 55%), energy use (down 57%) and size (49% smaller).MIPS multi-threaded core adopted by many companies for their productsAccording to market watchers, 33% of the products shipping with mid-range to high-end MIPS cores are multi-threaded ones. For instance, Ralink's ADSL Internet access device is based on MIPS' multi-threaded architecture to enable more applications and ensure high QoS for its products. "With this architecture, Ralink is able to efficiently provide deterministic VoIP response and support for multiple applications in a single device," Ralink said.Mobileye also uses the MIPS multi-threaded core in the chips inside the company's driver assistant systems - the EyeQ2 vision-based SoC series - for luxury cars such as the Volvo S60 and BMW. "MIPS' multi-threaded 34K cores helped us achieve a 6x performance increase in the EyeQ2 vision chip over the prior generation," Mobileye said. In addiiton, the PWC-Sierra PM8013 maxSAS RAID-on-Chip controller comes with three multi-threaded MIPS cores. "The multi-threading MIPS 34K cores deliver performance higher than any other RAID solution," according to PWC-Sierra.MIPS is a leading global provider of industry-standard processor architectures and cores (Kernel), providing optimized structures that are cost efficient, meet their applications' scalability needs, and allow system developers to produce their next-generation solutions at lower risk. MIPS' architectures has become the standard in the embedded industry.According to the information provided by MIPS and industry analysts, MIPS provides the number one processor architecture for markets including digital TVs, cable/satellite/IPTV set-top boxes, Blu-ray Disc players, broadband consumer premises equipment (CPE) and Wi-Fi access points/routers. MIPS-based designs are integrated into tens of millions of products around the world.Rodillas stated that MIPS' growth strategy is targeting three key markets - the digital home, wired/wireless network and mobile communication. MIPS is committed to developing multi-core, multi-threaded and 64-bit technologies for high-end broadband CPE and WAN LAN applications. The company has also been investing heavily in the development of its ecosystem of partners dedicated to developing connected devices in order to maintain its existing lead in the digital home and networking market segment, Rodillas continued. Meanwhile, MIPS is currently working with a number of Android and 4G device companies, and has been actively developing its presence in the emerging mobile communications field looking to end the dominance of ARM architectures. Cisco, Hewlett-Packard, Huaya Microelectronics, Linksys, Microchip Technology, Motorola, Pioneer and Sony are among MIPS' important partners.Del Rodillas, director of vertical marketing at MIPSPhoto: DigitimesRodillas demos the latest SSD controller SoCs operated in a multi-threading CPU architecture at the MIPS boothPhoto: Digitimes

Embedded technology and its applications can be seen everywhere, whether is used in consumer electronics, industrial control, and the promising Internet of Things (IoT) market. Embedded technology and devices can be detected in all of the above markets and have been expected to experience tremendous growth in the future. Hence, to assist Taiwan-based firms to capture the essence of such technology, uplift the R&D power of Taiwan's IT industry, and to hold a symbolic market share, Digitimes held the "Embedded Forum" on February 9, 2012 at Yong Le Banquet Room (B3) in The Westin Taipei. The Forum invited key firms in the supply chain to discuss topics such as industrial control and automation, consumer electronics, and Internet of Things applications of embedded technology. In addition, the topics covered offered participants the opportunity to share their perspective on developments of embedded technology, the market, and application trends.AMD has been cooperating with Digitimes on the Embedded Forum for the past six years, said Andy Tseng, vice president and Taiwan general manager of AMD Corporate. Tseng noted the technology has been showing significant growth throughout the years.Tseng added "the range of applications for one chipset is like observing the transformation with the only limit being human imagination." This ability has created a massive market opportunity for embedded devices and growth in the market will likely reach 10% every year over the next few years. Tseng stated, "For firms, this is a rare opportunity especially when the economy of ICT products has been experiencing a downturn."AMD introduced the AMD Fusion APU series in 2011, which the platform combining a logic processing CPU with a graphic calculating GPU into a single chip. "Demand for high-speed network information transfer and interaction with a graphic interface has been increasing in the embedded platform device environment. Hence the heterogeneous multi-core integration of CPU and GPU has becoming a standard in the industry" said Tseng. Since its introduction to the market, shipments of AMD Fusion APU products have reached 30 million units in less than a year. This has attracted many firms to follow suit into development of the best method of integrating a CPU and GPU.AMD's strategy for the embedded market in 2012 will be to continue developing low power-loss solutions that satisfy users' need for products that are smaller, more active, more dynamic in content, and have a longer operating time and standby time. AMD plans to combine cloud computing structure to provide more service to users, according to Tseng. "The growth of embedded devices has been rapid in newly-developed countries like China, India and Brazil, hence we will invest more resources in these markets" said Tseng.In addition to AMD, the Forum included participants MIPS, Microsoft, InnoDisk, DMP, VIA Labs, Precision Machinery Research Development Center (PMC), Phoenix, OESF, Tektronix, Advantech, Fluendo and Digitimes Research to provide the experience and advice to players in the embedded market.Vice president and Taiwan general manager of AMD Corporate Andy Tseng Photo: DigitimesDTF 2012 Embedded Technology and Application Forum attracts hundreds of participants from the industryPhoto: Digitimes

GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY Co. Ltd., a leading manufacturer of motherboards and graphics cards showcased its forthcoming 7 series motherboard designs supporting 3rd generation Intel Core processors, showcasing a range of features including the new All Digital Engine, GIGABYTE 3D BIOS and GIGABYTE Ultra Durable 4 technology at CeBIT 2012 (March 6th - March 10th 2012.)GIGABYTE 7 series motherboards - exclusive All Digital EngineVisitors to CeBIT 2012 had an exclusive look at motherboards featuring the latest All Digital Engine design for the PWM. Our new All Digital power design allows users greater control over the power delivered to their 3rd generation Intel Core processors that use the LGA 1155 socket. Using entirely digital controllers for the CPU, processor graphics, VTT and system memory, users can enjoy more precise power delivery to the PC's energy sensitive components than previously possible."GIGABYTE 7 series motherboards featuring a new digital PWM design and an updated version of our popular 3D BIOS are on schedule and will be globally available in volume at launch," commented Henry Kao, Vice President of GIGABYTE Motherboard Business Unit. "Our customers are very excited about making a swift transition to these 7 series motherboards and the benefits they offer in terms of features, performance and control."Dual UEFI with exclusive 3D BIOSGIGABYTE also offered the chance to see for the first time in public, the updated look and feel of GIGABYTE's revolutionary 3D BIOS based on the exclusive GIGABYTE UEFI DualBIOS technology. 3D BIOS offers two distinct modes of interaction in a BIOS environment, 3D Mode and Advanced Mode, that re-draw the traditional BIOS user experience with a far more intuitive and graphical interface.GIGABYTE Ultra Durable 4 – insist on an Ultra Durable motherboardGIGABYTE Ultra Durable 4 motherboards embrace a range of exclusive technologies that guarantee DIY PC builders the absolute best protection for their PC, with built-in features that prevent common malfunction threats including humidity and moisture, electro-static discharge, sudden power loss and high operating temperatures.Set your desktop free: GIGABYTE Bluetooth 4.0/dual band 300Mbps Wi-Fi PCIe cardGIGABYTE 7 series motherboards come with an exclusive PCIe expansion card that offers support for the latest Bluetooth 4.0 (Smart Ready) and dual band 300Mbps Wi-Fi connectivity*. With the growing availability of affordable or free remote PC operation software, such as Splashtop and VLC Remote, GIGABYTE believes that now is the time to explore and enjoy the home cloud: a personal cloud within the secure environment of a home network where the performance and functionality of desktop PCs can be utilized and controlled by portable cloud devices.Onboard mSATA supportGIGABYTE 7 series motherboards feature an onboard mSATA connector* that, together with GIGABYTE's EZ Smart Response technology, allows users to simply and cost effectively enjoy better responsiveness from their PCs. mSATA solid state drives have been made popular by the rapid growth of tablet PCs, and provide a cheaper solution for smart caching because they are available in smaller capacities than traditional SSDs.Small business solutionsSetting its sights on the small business market, GIGABYTE demonstrated the B75M-D3H motherboard that represents a new product range with useful PC management features from both Intel and GIGABYTE. These features allow system integrators to add value to their products by offering services to small businesses with between 1 and 99 PCs, where manageability, affordability and GIGABYTE's Ultra Durable 4 design quality can lead to significant savings in time, cost and effort.GIGABYTE AMD A75 and 900 series motherboardsGIGABYTE also showcased a number of the latest motherboards designed to get the most from both AMD Fusion APUs and Bulldozer CPUs; these include the 990FXA-UD5, 970-UD3, A75-D3H and A75M-UD2H motherboards.*Features may vary by model.GIGABYTE showcased 7 series motherboards at Cebit 2012

The electricity sector in India supplies the world's 5th largest energy consumer accounting for 4.0% of global energy consumption by more than 17% of global population. To satisfy the needs of rising energy consumption - but also to solve electricity wastage, India has identified that during typical transmission and distribution between 30 to 45% electricity is lost, and modernizing these systems to be more energy efficient is a key task to secure future economic growth. These losses are due to inefficient metering, proper energy accounting and auditing, but with the use of smart grid technology, India's power generation industries have a way to overcome these power shortage issues.Smart Grids - The Way ForwardIn order to efficiently deliver reliable, economical ,and sustainable electricity services, the Government of India has been moving the transmission and distribution of electricity to a new smart grid model. Smart grids attempt to predict and intelligently respond to the behavior and actions of all electric power users connected to it - both suppliers and consumers.Transmission, distribution and electricity usage are reported real-time via smart controls, and a smart grid can respond instantaneously to provide just enough energy as required, as well as being able to monitor, regulate and maintain itself.This smarter process is another example of the intelligent use of technology that brings greater efficiency to the grid and allows consumers to actively participate in optimizing the system as well providing information and choice of supply.Smart Grids in IndiaFor electricity transmission reforms, Powergrid (Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd) needed to make plans for keeping pace with the increasing complexities of grid operation in a dynamically changing electricity market, by continuously upgrading load dispatch centers through Wide Area Monitoring, Adoptive Islanding, Voltage Security Assessments, and Dynamic Security Assessments.For electricity distribution reforms, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved a "Re-structured APDRP" project scheme. This program included projects for establishment of baseline data and IT applications for energy accounting/auditing & IT based consumer service centers, and included regular distribution strengthening projects. There were four goals needed for Smart Grids in India to succeed: 1. The end of load shedding (peak load shifting through combination of direct control and differential pricing (demand response/dynamic DSM). 2. Reliable power. 3. Cheaper prices. 4. Moresustainable power.Smart Substation SolutionTechnics, New Delhi, an India based channel partner of Advantech who delivers industrial automation solutions for the power & energy industry, designed a Data Concentrator solution for a Government of India R-APDRP substation project. The project was in two stages, phase I and phase II. For phase I, Technics used Advantech's ADAM-5550CE Programmable Automation Controllers with ADAM-5017 (Analog Input), ADAM-5053S and ADAM-5057S (High Density DI/O) I/O modules and Technics own control software. The Data Concentrator solution needed to be able to transfer input data to a control center and accept commands from the control center to control the switchgear at the substation. To satisfy Technics' requirement, Advantech (PAC division)created special customized solid state memory for their needs. Technics then had to integrate the whole system with the customer's SCADA system.Mr Abhay Tandon, CEO of Technics said, "Integration and communication with the end-user's SCADA system was a major challenge. It took our team 800 man days to overcome design challenges and successfully implement the desired solution, but joint efforts put in by Advantech and Technics design teams saw us through. We chose to work on this project with Advantech because of their wide-range product portfolio as well as vertical market domain know how.""Power & Energy customers also require long lifetime product support, so Advantech was the natural choice having been in the automation business for over 25 years. They could supply our customer with the longevity guarantees they needed. Technics software with Advantech's ADAM-5000 series controllers provided the smart solution our customer needed," said Mr Tandon.Technics Software and Advanetch's Industrial Controllers Improve Power Generation Efficiency

In its 20th year of advancing Sustainable IT, TCO Development released the new generation TCO Certified sustainability certification for PCs and computer displays. The updated program expands TCO Certified from a product focus to also include social responsibility requirements in the production phase of certified products. The release of the new generation criteria also opens the pre-test period for manufacturers to test and certify products in advance of the official worldwide launch to IT buyers.Considering increased attention to sustainability among professional purchasers worldwide, it is important that IT products not only are designed for the environment and performance, but that also that these features aren't included at the expense of fair working conditions and other social aspects during the production phase. TCO Certified helps professional purchasers reach their sustainable IT goals by offering them a reassurance of products that are designed with the social, economic and environmental aspects in mind.The new social responsibility requirements are based on the eight ILO core conventions and labor laws in the country of production, which stipulate minimum standards for working conditions in production facilities. Manufacturers choosing to certify their products will need to provide verification that they are actively working to improve working conditions in accordance with the ILO conventions. Independent audit reports from production facilities will be required annually and will be assessed by independent experts.Soren Enholm, CEO of TCO Development, comments on the new generation TCO Certified. "The increasing demand for sustainable IT solutions among purchasers, along with the recent attention to socially responsible practices in the electronics industry makes the new TCO Certified a highly relevant tool in advancing sustainable IT. TCO Certified is a natural part of the solution; helping industry strengthen its commitment to sustainable and ethical practices, while offering purchasers worldwide a credible way to select IT products that are designed to meet their economic, social and environmental needs."The final criteria set in TCO Certified is a result of a stakeholder dialog with industry, purchasers and other experts over a 3 month period. Product models intended for certification will be tested at an accredited independent lab prior to certification. Projected launch of the first certified products is May 2012 for PC categories, with September being targeted for computer displays.About TCO Development - For Sustainable ITTCO Development is the company behind the TCO Certified third party sustainability certification for IT products and has been an international driver in the field of Sustainable IT for 20 years. Professional IT purchasers worldwide choose TCO Certified products as part of their sustainable IT strategy. Products achieving TCO Certified meet a broad series of criteria to ensure that manufacturing, use and recycling is carried out with consideration for environmental, social and economic responsibility. Product categories include notebooks, desktops, All-in-One PCs, tablets, projectors, computer displays and phone headsets. TCO Development is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, with regional presence in North America and Asia.

Apple has introduced its third generation iPad, which features a Retina display, Apple's new A5X chip with quad-core graphics and a 5-megapixel camera with advanced optics. The new iPad also comes with Wi-Fi+4G connectivity to fast networks worldwide, including AT&T's and Verizon's 4G LTE networks, while delivering the same all-day 10 hour battery life, Apple said.Meanwhile, Apple has lowered prices for its iPad 2 to a level starting at US$39.The new iPad's Retina display delivers four times the number of pixels of iPad 2, Apple noted. The 3.1 million pixels in the Retina display are more than one million more pixels than an HD TV, and with 44% increased color saturation the new iPad displays colors. Movies are also capable of playing at full 1080p HD-resolution.The new A5X chip with quad-core graphics was specifically designed by Apple to deliver a fast, responsive user experience while supporting the Retina display, Apple pointed out. With double the graphics performance of the A5 chip, the A5X provides a balance between performance and power efficiency so that users can enjoy all the benefits of the new display while experiencing a multi-touch interface, immersive gameplay, incredible visual depth and all-day battery life, Apple said.The 5-megapixel iSight camera features advanced optics for taking pictures and recording full HD video, Apple indicated. Backside illumination allows users to take photos in low-light conditions and a new video image stabilization feature removes the bumps and shakes typically seen when filming with a hand-held device.The iPad Wi-Fi+4G with built-in next generation 4G LTE also delivers comprehensive support for networks worldwide including HSPA+ and DC-HSDPA, and now both CDMA and GSM iPad users have the ability to roam internationally, Apple said.Apple also introduced the iPhoto app, along with major updates to iMovie and GarageBand, completing its suite of iLife apps for iOS. iPad runs almost all of the over 585,000 apps available on the App Store, including more than 200,000 native iPad apps.The new iPad Wi-Fi models will be available in black or white March 16 for a suggested retail price of US$499 for the 16GB model, US$599 for the 32GB model and US$699 for the 64GB model. iPad Wi-Fi+4G for either AT&T or Verizon will be available for a suggested retail price of US$629 for the 16GB model, US$729 for the 32GB model and US$829 for the 64GB model.Apple's new iPad features a Retina display, A5X chip, 5-megapixel camera and 4G LTE connectivityPhoto: Company

Memoright, a leading provider of integrated solid state drive (SSD) products, will showcase its ruggedized, extended temperature SSD solutions, long lifespan MLC HTM series SSD as well as a wide range of SSDs for industrial PCs, business servers and storage systems at Embedded World 2012 to be held in Nuremberg Messe in Nuremberg from Feb 28-Mar 1 at Booth 2-411, Hall 2.Memoright HTM series SSD is tuned for enterprise storage area which demands extremely stable random access performance and lower cost storage solutions with MLC based drive. Normally regular MLC only takes up to 3,000 to 5,000 cycles of erasures, with Memoright's proprietary flash writing scheme and data encoding scheme, HTM is able to great improve the MLC NAND Flash endurance up to 20,000 cycles.Memoright will present its GTR, GTR II and GTR-P series of military and industrial ruggedized SSDs at the upcoming trade shows in Nuremberg. The products meet both the US MIL-STD-810F/G and China GJB standards, which cover a broad range of environmental tests such as low pressure for altitude testing, exposure to wide temperature (both operating and in storage), humidity, fungus, salt fog (as a corrosion test), shock, vibration and so on.In addition, products for IPC solutions support 2.5-, 1.8- and 1.2-inch form factors, and Disk on Module, SD and CF formats, as well as transmission interfaces of PATA/IDE, SATA, mSATA, eMMC and PCIE that deliver an outstanding balance of system performance and solid reliability.Memoright's ruggedized SSD solutions have made inroads into the specialized application segment in an array of industries including military, industrial control system, aviation, business server and storage system with major clients spreading across North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. Optimizing its in-house developed SSD controller chips and integrated firmware development capability, Memoright offers customized services that meet the stringent demand for the establishment of reliable and efficient systems.For a better understanding of Memoright's SSD hardware and software integrated technology and customized services, you are kindly invited to pay a visit to our booth at #2-411, Hall 2 or our website at: http://www.memoright.com/About MemorightMemoright is one of a leading SSD innovator dedicated to collaborating with customers and partners on developing world-class excellent performance, high reliability, and cost effectiveness SSD products.The design of Memoright SSD is centered around corporate (enterprise and industrial/ military/vehicle) users, who need incredibly fast performance & unique, 100% data integrity. In addition to a standardized range of products, we also deliver customized services to meet our customers' needs. To accommodate supporting our extensive product range and rapid increasing needs all over the world, we have set up R&D and support centers in the US, Europe, Wuhan and Taipei. We have also constructed state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Wuhan with ISO: 9001 certified quality management system.Memoright HTM series SSD

Fujitsu announced the immediate release of Enterprise Telephony System LEGEND-V, the company's new IP-PBX product for building IP-based enterprise telephony systems.The new product includes redundancy and a host of functions to enhance reliability and minimize the impact that power outages or system failures may have on businesses. With one model that can cover from 400 to 16,000 extensions, customers will have the benefit of a scalable IP telephony system that can work with multiple carriers and trunk interface circuits. This means that it can be used effectively as a gateway device when transitioning to unified communications environments in several years time.For enterprise IP-based telephony systems, one issue of concern is the risk of losing business opportunities if the communications lifeline were cut because of system or network failures or because of a power outage caused by a disaster. To address this risk, bringing together the technology and know-how it has accumulated since 1986 in developing and operating IP-PBXs and deploying them in businesses and public institutions, Fujitsu has developed the Enterprise Telephoney System LEGEND-V IP-PBX to help ensure business continuity even in the face of infrastructure failures.Product Features1. Minimizes business impact of network or system failuresSystems come equipped with a host of features that ensure reliability and allow highly granular settings for maintaining operational continuity during system failures. These minimize the impact that network or system failures can have, and help businesses avoid missed opportunities.- Option for redundancy in system controller, circuit receiver, circuit power supply.- Battery power for continuous operation in the event of power outages.- Designated extensions can remain connected to outside lines even after battery power runs out.- "IP Remote Shelf" for centralized management of telephony systems at multiple sites, allows for backup servers to be designated at multiple sites, permitting business continuity from other sites during network failures.2. Flexibility to expand as customer businesses growThe new system is able to handle up to 16,000 extensions (compared to the 6400 extensions typical of earlier models). Because a single model can handle anywhere from 400 to 16,000 extensions, customers will not be faced with replacing equipment as their businesses grow and IP telephony requirements change.Customers using Fujitsu's IP telephony system can continue to use their existing line sets, handsets, and PHS phones for the duration of their maintenance and support contract.3. Ability to transition to uniform communications environment with moderate upfront investmentUse as a high-capacity gateway device is made possible as the system can accommodate a wide range of carriers, including the Hikari Denwa Office A (Ace) service from NTT East Japan and NTT West Japan, KDDI's IP telephony service (Hikari Direct), and Fujitsu's own FENICS IP Telephony Service, and trunk interface circuits, including analog, digital, and IP.To gradually switchover to IP while using existing assets, customers can transition to a unified communications environment, for a moderate initial investment, that allows them to continue using not only fixed IP phones but also smartphones, mobile phones, PHS phones, video conferencing, web conferencing, e-mail, and voicemail. Thanks to the efficient and streamlined communications that this setup allows, businesses can run faster and more productively.4. Centralized management for greater operational efficiencyIP Remote Shelf allows users to centrally manage the IP telephony systems for multiple sites, accommodating up to 600 circuits for each site's extensions. This allows a central location to handle in one batch such tasks as changes and additions to extension numbers, ad-hoc grouping, alarm monitoring, and maintenance. This increases operational efficiency.For more information, please visit Fujitsu's website (http://www.fujitsu.com/global/news/pr/archives/month/2012/20120227-01.html)