San Diego, September 1, 2010 - Continuing to provide book lovers with the most natural, immersive digital reading experience, Sony today announced the launch of its beautifully-designed new line of Reader digital books, including the new Reader Pocket Edition, Reader Touch Edition and, in the US, the wireless Reader Daily Edition. The new line of Readers features a host of new design and technology enhancements that make them the perfect device for any reader's lifestyle."Today, we're excited to announce not just the availability of the Reader Touch Edition and Pocket Edition in the countries we already serve but also plans to expand the Reader line to previously untapped markets," said Steve Haber, president of Sony's digital reading business division. "We take a thoughtful approach to country expansion, including Italy, Spain, Australia, Japan and China, working with local bookstores to ensure content is compatible, relevant and in the appropriate language for each market."The new Reader models bring a fresh level of flare to e-reading with colorful, elegant aluminum designs and all new, highly responsive touch screens. In addition to the new devices in the US, Sony announced development of a set of applications for iPhone and the Android Marketplace to extend the Reader experience across multiple portable devices."The success of our previous line of Readers illustrates book lovers' demand for feature choices and full touch screens on their digital reading devices," said Phil Lubell, VP of digital reading at Sony Electronics. "Today, we're answering their call by providing an entire line of stylish, full touch screen devices with a variety of features and price points."What's newThe new generation of Readers builds on the popularity of last year's line. For 2010 Sony has restyled all three of the devices, reduced their size and weight, and made new, innovative touch screens available across the entire line.Touchscreen for everyoneBased on the popularity of the full touch screen on its previous Reader Touch Edition and Daily Edition models, Sony equipped the entire line of new Readers with improved, optical touch screen technology designed specifically for digital reading. The new, first-to-market technology enhances ease of use and increases reading clarity, creating an immersive reading experience for consumers. Book lovers can now escape into their favorite books with the lightest swipe of a finger or stylus pen.Improved E Ink displaysAll three devices utilize E Ink Pearl electronic paper displays, which delivers a paper-like display that is readable in direct sunlight. The screens offer a high contrast ratio with 16 levels of grayscale, ensuring that text and images are crisp and easy to read.A Reader Pocket Edition that will wow youThe new Reader Pocket Edition sports a 5-inch, full touch screen and a smart, lightweight design that is easy to slip into a purse or jacket pocket for convenient, on-the-go reading. It is available in chic colors, including silver and pink. It has 2GB of onboard memory, which lets you carry up to 1,200 of your favorite books, and retails for about US$179.A new Reader Touch Edition: More of everything readers loveThe new Reader Touch Edition features a 6-inch full touch screen and an intuitive design with 2GB of onboard memory. In addition, it offers dual expansion slots for up to 32GB of additional memory and the ability to play MP3 and AAC audio files. It is available in black or red for about US$229.A Reader Daily Edition that adds Wi-Fi and new web featuresThe Reader Daily Edition provides a wireless connection to Sony's Reader Store from most of the US via AT&T's 3G network. Now, it will also provide Wi-Fi and basic Web browsing capability on its large, 7-inch full touch screen."The eReading space is doing very well and the Daily Edition has been a great performing product in this popular connected devices category," said Glenn Lurie, president of AT&T emerging devices. "We're looking forward to connecting Sony's next generation wirelessly connected eReader on the nation's fastest mobile broadband network."A host of pre-loaded practical and reading-based URLs will provide direct access to optimized, text-based sites to add a new dimension to the reading experience. The Reader Daily Edition also includes 2GB of memory and expansion slots for additional memory (up to 32GB). It comes in silver and will sell for about US$299.Additional new features across the entire lineNew features allow for easier reading of PDF or personal documents. Intuitive content zoom, adjustable contrast and brightness control, as well as automatic multiple page creation will make documents designed for a standard sheet of paper easier to read on a smaller screen. Also, personalized standby screen options will allow users to use their favorite photos as a screen saver and the collections functionality will allow them to group their favorite reads.In addition, the new Reader line is more global than ever, offering users the ability to look up words and phrases with the built in New Oxford American Dictionary, Second Edition and Oxford Dictionary of English eDictionaries, as well as 10 translation dictionaries in languages such as French, German, Spanish, Italian and Dutch. Wordsmiths across the globe can now create "word logs" to track the words they've looked up per dictionary, book or periodical in chronological order, while quickly switching between dictionaries.More content on more devicesIn addition to announcing a new generation of Readers, Sony has also made several changes and improvements to Reader Store. More than 1.2 million titles are available in the US via the store. Sony remains committed to providing an extensive offering of newspaper and magazine content for single issue purchase or subscription within the newsstand area of the store. Soon to be available titles include The Harvard Business Review, The Wilson Quarterly and Dell Magazines' highly regarded fiction magazines: Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine,Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, Asimov's Science Fiction, and Analog Science Fiction and Fact. The store's Library Finder application continues to provide easy access to local public libraries to borrow eBooks for free. To make choosing a book easier, the New York Times Bestsellers list will be featured alongside the Reader Store's bestsellers. By next month, integration with Goodreads will also permit the inclusion of reader reviews from that site onto the Reader Store.With Reader Desktop Edition (formerly Reader Library) for Apple's Mac OS X and Microsoft Windows and Reader Mobile Edition for Apple iPhone and Google Android-based smartphones, users will be able to synchronize their reading among multiple devices. These free applications, available later this year, will offer an intuitive digital reading experience with an elegant interface and access to Sony's Reader Store for browsing and purchasing content. Reader Desktop Edition also includes the ability to easily manage content for the non-wireless Reader models.The new Reader Pocket Edition and the new Reader Touch Edition are available immediately, and the new Reader Daily Edition is expected to be available this in time for the holidays. The Reader Pocket Edition and Touch Edition, as well as available accessories such as AC adaptors, cases and covers with reading lights, are available now at SonyStyle.com and SonyStyle stores.Sony e-book reader, PRS-950 Daily EditionPhoto: CompanySony e-book reader, the PRS-650 Touch Photo: CompanySony e-book reader, the PRS-350 Pocket EditionPhoto: Company

Garmin-Asus is set to launch its Android-based Nuvifone A10 smartphone in Taiwan on September 10 which is currently available for pre-order, according to company vice president and general manager of mobile device business, Bensen Lin.Lin pointed out that the Nuvifone A10 adopts Android 2.1, 512MB RAM, a 3.2-inch HVGA touch panel and a 5-megapixel camera, and will be mainly pushed for its GPS functions at a price of NT$13,900 (US$434).Garmin-Asus Nuvifone A10 smartphonePhoto: Company

Strontium Technology unveiled a new corporate logo and brand identity during a forum held at Bali in Indonesia from August 13-16. The new logo and corporate identity are aimed at making Strontium brand more recognizable for end-consumers."The new logo will help our consumers to connect with Strontium brand at emotional level too," said company CEO Anshuman Gupta. "Strontium will continue to provide major brand chipset memory products at competitive prices to our markets."The new logo and Corporate Identity was the result of a three-month long design process, where employees and consumers worldwide were asked for their inputs. The findings resulted in a logo that is more eye-catching and has a life to it. Along with the new logo, the product presentation has also been changed completely.The distributors were excited to see the new brand identity. "The new brand design is very eye catching. It will surely help Strontium sell well on the retail front," said Rajesh Attal from Kaira Technologies, Singapore.In addition, Vivian Singh, director of Strontium Taiwan, commented that "DRAM prices are going to be at current levels for a while longer as enough supply will continue to be there for the rest of Q3 and Q4.""Overall flash market is expected to be in balance or slight oversupply for rest of the year except some low density flash and specific applications which need only MLC flash may see some shortages," Singh added.Strontium's new logoSource: Company

Just in time for the kickoff of the fall football season, Sony has just announced three new 3D Bravia TVs that are perfect for the big game.With a number of college and pro football games slated to be broadcast in 3D this fall, Sony's Bravia is the perfect way to see the next dimension in sports - the full HD picture puts you right on the sideline.Offering outstanding contrast with smooth, vibrant images, Sony's new NX810 HDTV models have great picture quality even in brightly lit rooms - perfect for that lazy afternoon watching all the games and following your fantasy football league.With built-in Wi-Fi and access to Sony's Bravia Internet Platform and the company's new movie service, Qriocity, the Sony not only offers a great picture, but access to a massive amount of online content to match.In screen sizes including 60-, 55- and 46-inch, these new Sony models have any room covered.Also, anyone who purchases one of the new 3D Bravia models will receive two free Blu-ray 3D titles and a PlayStation Network voucher enabling 3D Bravia purchasers to download stereoscopic 3D gaming experiences on the PS3."Bravia is optimized to deliver the best possible 3D consumer experience by leveraging the vast knowledge from our theatrical and professional products groups," said Chris Fawcett, VP of Sony's TV business. "3D is driving the growth of the entertainment industry and only Sony is involved in every stage of the platform."Bravia KDL-60NX810 Edge LED LCD HDTV with 3D:Available in September for about US$4,700Full HD 1080p resolution with 3DDynamicEdge LED backlighting with local dimmingMotionflow Pro 240Hz technology for smooth motionBuilt-in Wi-Fi for network connectivityBravia Internet video & weidgetsLightSensor adjusts backlight with room lightBravia KDL-55NX810 Edge LED LCD HDTV with 3D:Available in September for about US$3,700Full HD 1080p resolution with 3DDynamicEdge LED backlighting with local dimmingMotionflow Pro 240Hz technology for smooth motionBuilt-in Wi-Fi for network connectivityBravia Internet video & widgetsLightSensor adjusts backlight with room lightBravia KDL-46NX810 Edge LED LCD HDTV with 3D:Available in September for about US$3,000Full HD 1080p resolution with 3DDynamicEdge LED backlighting with local dimmingMotionflow Pro 240Hz technology for smooth motionBuilt-in Wi-Fi for network connectivityBravia Internet video & widgetsLightSensor adjusts backlight with room lightSony Bravia 3D LED TV, the KDL-NX810Photo: Company

Mississauga, Ontario - (Business Wire) - Acer Canada has launched a new line of ultra-thin LED monitors that feature an eco-friendly, space-conscious design. The new S1 series displays combine the latest LED technology with a slim 13mm to 15mm profile, making them ideal for users with limited space for work or entertainment.The S1 series LED monitors come in two sizes, delivering excellent video performance and innovative display technologies to deliver crisp, clear images."In addition to the eye-catching design and crisp visual quality, the S1 series monitors were designed to be one of the slimmest monitors available today for consumers with a limited amount of desk space," said Chris Chiang, product marketing manager, Acer Canada. "Another key consideration was designing a monitor that delivers low energy consumption and environmental impact."Designed with clean lines, a polished black display frame and rounded porcelain-like stand, the eye-catching S1 series is the perfect blend of sophistication and style. These two modern looking displays are available in 23-inch and 21.5-inch models, featuring an ultra-slim profile, ranging from only 12.7mm for the 21.5-inch model to 14.8mm for the 23-inch model.The S1 series of monitors leverages some key eco-friendly, energy-saving technologies. The S1 series models feature white LED backlighting, which does not contain hazardous substances such as mercury or halogen gases, making it safer for the environment. Additionally, white LED technology consumes less power, providing up to 68% power savings to users.The new displays are MPR II, RoHS and Energy Star 5.0 compliant, the latest and most widely used energy-conservation qualification, helping consumers streamline costs and preserve power while providing higher efficiency. To further decrease the environmental impact of the displays, the Energy Star 5.0 specifications incorporates stringent energy consumption and power management requirements while in the "On" mode.For consumers with community recycling programs, the environmentally-friendly monitors all come in highly recyclable packaging materials, with all major plastic components properly labeled with the composition code and recycling symbols to facilitate future recycling based on ISO 1043/11469 standards.The sophisticated new Acer S1 series of LED monitors provides consumers with a premium viewing experience and advanced features. The monitors all feature 12,000,000:1 contrast ratio via Acer Adaptive Contrast Management (ACM), for crisp graphics and stunning picture quality. The ACM features advanced technology that enables users to adjust images frame by frame for a dramatic improvement of gradation and detail, especially in very dim or very bright scenes.Providing excellent high-definition picture quality, the monitors boast a 16:9 aspect ratio, allowing users to view high-definition digital content without the image distortion that arises from incompatible aspect ratios. The displays also feature 1,920x1,080 resolutions, further enhancing the video quality.Perfect for viewing high-definition (HD) videos, movies and other digital content, the displays feature rapid 5ms response times, 250 cd/m2 brightness and 16.7M colors.Each of the new displays ensure easy connectivity to home entertainment devices and office peripherals via a VGA port or DVI port with HDCP protection (depending on the model). Additionally, both models come with an all-digital HDMI interface, delivering exceptional high-definition viewing and top-quality uncompressed video.Acer's unique software solutions boost usability. The eColor Management on-screen interface allows users to tailor the performance of the display, such as brightness, saturation and contrast. The Empowering Key enables users to switch between viewing scenarios and create their own to compensate for application and environmental constraints. The eDisplay Management function is a powerful color enhancement and display rotation tool.The Acer S1 series of displays will be available this month for Canadian customers at leading retailers for an MSRP $209.00 (CAD) (US$197.63) for the 21.5-inch model (S211HL bid) and $239.00 (CAD) for the 23-inch model (S231HL bid).Acer S1 series LED-backlit LCD monitorPhoto: Company

Chicago - (Business Wire) - NEC Display Solutions of America, a leading provider of commercial LCD display and projector solutions, announced today the X462UN, a 46-inch ultra-narrow LCD display designed for video wall configurations in professional digital signage environments, including lobbies, public venues, retail stores, transportation facilities and broadcasting.The new X462UN offers several improvements from the globally successful X461UN, which NEC announced worldwide in early 2009. The diverse input panel, including a new DisplayPort connection, allows full connectivity and maximum flexibility during product implementation. The X462UN also premieres EdgeComp technology, which improves brightness uniformity for a steadier image across the entire video wall. This correction feature operates by decreasing the brightness from the center of the display while maintaining the level of brightness around the left and right edges. There are three brightness settings for the center of the screen, as well as three types of brightness curves for even more control over the total image. The X462UN meets the standards of Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) which controls the display through the LAN. Users who adhere to this protocol will experience easier use of LAN control on the X462UN.The X462UN maintains its predecessor's ultra-narrow bezel, which allows for a screen-to-screen distance between two neighboring X462UN displays of only 7.3 millimeters. The X462UN can be deployed in matrices of up to 10x10. The barely discernable transition gap between displays ensures a homogenous picture across the matrix."Our enhanced X462UN exemplifies NEC's continued commitment to developing features that advance the digital signage industry, such as our new EdgeComp technology," said Keith Yanke, director of Product Marketing for NEC Display Solutions. "In addition to the new features in this display, we've included the most popular and beneficial features that our customers request. The X461UN was a huge product for us throughout the past year and a half, and we're excited to introduce the next generation product."The X462UN ultra-narrow display includes the following features:Professional-grade LCD panel, advanced thermal protection and sealed panel design for the most formidable digital signage industry requirements 1366x768 native resolution 3000:1 contrast ratio 500 cd/m2 typical brightness, 700 cd/m2 maximum brightness 200W power consumption (less than 2W in standby mode) Landscape and portrait orientations EdgeComp technology ensures a consistent image across the entire video wall SNMP support Full connectivity with DisplayPort, HDMI and DVI-D digital inputs and Ethernet with automated email notifications for diagnostic purposes Built-in expansion slot allows for seamless integration of NEC and third-party components Enhanced video wall capabilities, including TileMatrix (up to 10x10), TileComp, copy function, and individual or group ID functions Real-time clock allows for advanced scheduling of monitor powering up/down Carbon footprint meter tracks and calculates the conservation of green gas emissions RS-232 enables multi-display control and daisy chain capabilities Network Control and Communication allows the highest level of remote display management Built-in closed captioning enables the decoding and display of text information from a video source Windows Vista Premium certified Energy Star 5.0 Optional accessories and products for the X462UN include the Remote/Ambient Control Kit, Overframe Kit, Display Wall Calibrator Color Calibration Kit, stand, wall mount, single board computers, external PC, IPTV tuner, DVI daisy chain module and internal HD-SDI cardThe X462UN will be available in September 2010 at an estimated street price of US$4,699 and ships with a 3-year limited parts and labor warranty, including the backlight.NEC 46-inch ultra-narrow LCD display for video wallPhoto: Company

SpringSoft on August 24 announced Winbond Electronics has adopted its Laker layout tools and design flows for its mobile memory devices such as SDR, low power DDR and cellular RAM.The Laker system provides easy-to-use, automated tools including routing solutions that enable Winbond design teams to achieve significant time savings at both the block and chip level, schematic-driven layout (SDL) flow to increase user productivity, and built-in scriptable cells that dramatically reduce cell library development time, SpringSoft said in a statement."Using Laker, our design teams have been able to drastically cut routing and verification cycles for 65nm designs compared to other layout tools, while also continuously modifying designs to ensure the optimum power and highest quality implementation," said Mu-Tsai Lo, deputy director of the DRAM Design Department III at Winbond.SpringSoft claimed that more than 300 companies have adopted its Laker layout system for designs down to 28 nanometers.

Applied Materials has unveiled a new chemical vapor deposition (CVD) technology capable of electrically isolating the densely-packed transistors in 20nm-and-below memory and logic designs with a high-quality dielectric film. The gaps between these transistors can have aspect ratios of more than 30:1 - five times higher than current requirements, the tool vendor claimed.Using Applied's proprietary Eterna flowable CVD (FCVD) process, the system delivers a liquid-like film that flows freely into any structure shape to provide a bottom up, void-free fill, the vendor said.Applied said its Eterna FCVD tools are being installed at six customer sites for DRAM, flash and logic applications."The need to fill smaller and deeper structures in advanced chip designs creates a physical roadblock for existing deposition technologies. Applied has broken through this barrier today with the introduction of its new Eterna FCVD system – delivering the disruptive technology that can enable the continued progress of Moore's Law," said Bill McClintock, VP and GM of Applied's DSM/ CMP business unit.Applied Eterna FCVD systemPhoto: Company

Seoul, Korea, August 23, 2010 - Corning, a world leader in specialty glass and ceramics, announced today that Corning Gorilla glass has been designed into the Samsung Electronics Galaxy S, a newly released premium smartphone.The Samsung Galaxy S features a 4-inch super AMOLED display, while weighing roughly 119 grams in a slim, highly durable design. The enhanced super AMOLED display is enabled in part by using Corning Gorilla glass as the protective cover. Gorilla glass is an environmentally friendly alkali-aluminosilicate thin sheet glass that is both scratch resistant and durable.BJ Kang, senior manager of Samsung Electronics said, "Advanced display technology plays a crucial role in meeting consumers' growing expectations on high-end mobile devices, especially smartphones. Corning's Gorilla glass has helped maximize Galaxy S's unique smartphone features by enabling a high-quality touch display."Haeng Hee Lee, president of Corning Korea Company added, "Device makers are challenged with designing stylish yet durable products. The Galaxy S is a fine example of a premium device created through the combination of Corning's specialty glass and Samsung's mobile display technologies. Corning's Gorilla glass enables device makers to introduce durable display products with innovative designs."More than 20 major makers of PC and handheld devices have already recognized the benefits of Gorilla glass by designing it into more than 225 devices, and more than 55 models will be released over the next six months.

Intel has announced that a dozen new netbooks based on its new mobile dual-core Atom processors are available in stores today. The netbooks, available now and through the end of the year from manufacturers including Acer, Asustek Computer, Fujitsu, Lenovo, LG, Samsung, Micro-Star International (MSI), and Toshiba, enable new levels of support for applications like games, as well as Adobe Flash technology for access to a number of Web pages.With the dual-core Intel Atom processor N550, consumers can enjoy Internet access on the go with a more responsive experience in the same form factor, DDR3 memory support and similar battery life as the single-core Intel Atom processor N450, Intel said.