Leading memory module brand Kingmax has launched its extended rechargeable battery case series, which is iPhone certified for Apple's iPhone 3G and 3GS devices. The new series is an extension of the Kingmax handset-accessory product line. The new Kingmax battery extender is a non-slip grip protective case, measuring 12.45×6.60×2.29cm (LxWxH) and weighs 70 grams. The portable battery case includes a 1500mAh lithium-polymer battery, which uses Japan-made battery cells to guarantee reliability and safety. With the built-in rechargeable battery, the Kingmax iPhone-use battery case powers the device for up to 270 hours standby. It also has an integrated LED indicator, which shows the charging status. Kingmax said it has already launched the iPhone-use rechargeable battery case series in Europe, Southeast Asia and Taiwan. It will be available in other parts of the world at a later date. In addition, Kingmax revealed plans to offer battery products for other leading smartphone brands including Blackberry, HTC, Samsung and Nokia. The company has tapped the handset battery market, introducing lithium (LiON) batteries that support Nokia- and Sony Ericsson-branded handsets. Kingmax iPhone power casePhoto: Company

SAN JOSE, Calif. Acer America today extends its leadership in delivering excellent products that take advantage of consumers' growing demand for 3D imagery with two new Nvidia 3D Vision-Ready video projectors.The three-dimensional experience is made possible by a combination of the projectors' DLP projection capabilities, high refresh rates and Nvidia 3D Vision technology. As a result, the flat surface of any wall can be transformed into a 3D screen."The new Acer video projectors provide incredibly compelling and realistic 3D video and images that make customers feel like they are part of the experience," said Irene Chan, senior product marketing manager for peripherals, Acer America. "With the Acer projectors, consumers can enjoy existing 2D content as if it were developed in 3D for a more immersive entertainment and learning experience – whether it's a fictional journey, a scientific exploration of the universe or a tour of ancient archaeological sites. Of course, customers will thoroughly enjoy the superior visuals projected from these new models even while watching traditional 2D content."Acer H5360 – brilliant 3D visuals for home theater entertainmentHome theater enthusiasts will enjoy video, game content, photos and more in an incredible new level of realism and video immersion using the new Acer H5360 projector. Delivering HD-ready 720p (1,280x720) resolution, the Acer H5360 boasts the latest technology for a truly unsurpassed video projection experience. The advanced lamp technology with illumination of up to 2500 ANSI lumens paired with the high 3200:1 contrast ratio also heightens the color and clarity of the images. Also – it displays images in native 16:9, so customers can view high-definition digital content without image distortion that arises from incompatible aspect ratios. The projector also has a 50-120Hz vertical refresh rate.The Acer H5360 projector has an HDMI port that provides a seamless connection to the latest digital sources ensuring exceptional high-definition viewing and audio from Blu-ray Disc high definition technology as well as DVDs. So even when it's not paired with Nvidia 3D Vision, customers get to enjoy incredibly realistic 2D images that are crisp and vibrant.Along with its HDMI port, the projector has other ports that ensure the projector can connect to a wide range of video sources; it has three RCA jacks, component video, S-video mini DIN, 2.5mm audio mini-jack, 15-pin D-Sub for a PC analog signal.The Acer H5360 projector is available now for US customers at leading retailers for a manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of US$699.00.Acer X1261 projector – excellent 3D performance for home, work, schoolThe Acer X1261 projector is ideal for home, business and classroom environments, providing rich visuals at an excellent value. Delivering bright colors and crisp images, the Acer X1261 projector features advanced lamp technology with illumination of up to 2500 ANSI lumens, a high 3700:1 contrast ratio and a vertical refresh rate of 50-120Hz. Its native XGA resolution and 4:3 aspect ratio are ready for presentations, photos, multimedia, and more. The projector can also be adjusted to a 16:9 aspect ratio for video content such as that from Blu-ray Disc and DVD. The Acer X1261 projector can connect to a variety of video input sources through its range of ports; it has composite video, component video, S-video mini DIN, and a stereo mini Jack.Customers who want an excellent home video projector for 3D video, games, photos and multimedia yet need to stay within a certain price range will appreciate the performance and value delivered by the Acer X1261 projector. It is available now for U.S. customers at leading retailers for an MSRP of US$579.00.State-of-the-art technology from Nvidia 3D visionBoth new Acer projectors – the Acer H5360 and Acer X1261 – deliver an incredibly realistic 3D viewing experience when combined with Nvidia 3D Vision technology, which transforms traditional 2D images into stunning 3D. Nvidia 3D Vision is a combination of an Nvidia 3D Vision compatible computer and graphics card, and 3D Vision Kit that includes wireless active-shutter glasses and advanced software that can transform hundreds of PC games into an exceptional 3D experience. The lightweight glasses, which can be worn over regular eyeglasses, can provide up to 40 hours of 3D entertainment on a single charge.Projectors have first-rate features for improved visual experience at homeBoth new projectors display images with more natural and balanced shades, and truly lifelike tones, thanks to Acer ColorBoost II+ featuring an optimized 3X color wheel design, a powerful image processor and an advanced lamp waveform to improve color performance. Further contributing to the enhanced images, the ColorSafe and DLP technology ensure picture integrity even with prolonged use, making the projectors virtually immune to color decay. The visuals are complemented by ample audio with an internal speaker on the new projectors with 2-watt output. External speakers can be connected.Up to 4,000 hours of lamp life on the two new Acer projectors reduces lamp replacement costs and ensures long-term dependable projector use. The extended lifespan and consistent image quality lower the total cost of ownership and translate to big savings. Further savings are ensured by the innovative DLP chip, enabling a filter-free design for lower maintenance and operating costs.Designed to be used in a variety of locations, the new projectors will deliver superior visuals at home, the office or in a classroom. Thanks to the innovative wall-color compensation capabilities, the projectors display clearly even on colored surfaces, so they do not need to be used with a screen. Acer projectors correct vertical distortions of up to 40 degree, so the audience sees a rectangular image rather than one with a wider top/bottom, even if the projector is placed above or below the screen. Plus, both models can be ceiling mounted and used with the included remote control. Customers can easily change the lamp module even when the projector is ceiling-mounted thanks to the Acer Top-loading Lamp design.Easy-to-use and eco-friendlyTo improve ease-of-use, Acer projectors are equipped with Empowering Technology, a suite of tools designed to simplify access to simple setup, viewing and timer utilities, making customers more productive. The Acer eView Management capabilities let customers quickly and easily adjust the projector settings to suit any environment and any type of content. Eight factory or user-defined presets instantly configure color, brightness and contrast to deliver best-quality images.The new Acer projectors employ an environmentally friendly management solution – Acer EcoProjection – which reduces standby power consumption by up to 50 percent after five minutes of being idle. Additionally, it delivers 20 percent additional power savings and automatically performs a safety shutdown if it does not receive input after a time interval that can be set by the customer. Also included in the Acer EcoProjection suite is Acer ePower Management, a tool that lets customers create customized power-saving configurations.The new Acer H5360 and Acer X1261 video-projectors are backed with a one year warranty on the DLP chip and 90 day warranty on the lamp.Acer's Nvidia 3D vision-ready projectors - the H5360Photo: Company

DALLAS, March 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Committed to solving the growing performance and efficiency challenges of the 8-bit market, Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) (NYSE: TXN) today announced the MSP430 microcontroller (MCU) Value Line that offers superior 16-bit MCU performance and industry leading ultra-low power consumption at ultra-low 8-bit MCU prices.Starting at 25 cents, the Value Line ensures 8-bit developers no longer need to sacrifice performance, power efficiency or scalability because of price. The roadmap includes more than 100 MCUs to be released over the next 15 months, providing developers with a broad portfolio to best fit their memory, peripheral and packaging configuration needs. The new MSP430G2xx devices are code compatible across the MSP430 MCU platform, enabling easy code migration and upgrades to higher-end devices as application requirements evolve. The new MCUs are also supported by TI's easy-to-use MSP430 tools, free software and broad third party support network, driving faster time-to-market across a broad range of cost sensitive applications, including safety, security and touch sense.

Nvidia has introduced the next-generation Ion graphics processor, which it claims will offer 10 times the graphics performance of standard netbooks and enable up to 10 hours of battery life thanks to Nvidia's Optimus technology, according to the company.The new Ion is a discrete GPU with dedicated memory that attaches to an Intel Atom Pine Trail CPU via PCI Express.The new Ion GPU outperforms basic netbook graphics by delivering rich HD media in games, movies, and Internet-based video. Unlike netbooks with Intel integrated graphics, Ion netbooks have the power to play HD video smoothly from video websites and support popular PC games, according to Nvidia.The new Ion netbooks also feature Nvidia's Optimus technology, which automatically selects the best graphics processor for running any given application – seamlessly routing the workload to either an Nvidia discrete GPU or Intel integrated graphics.More than 30 products featuring the new Ion GPU are expected to launch by summer 2010 including netbooks, small form factor desktops, barebone systems, motherboards, and discrete add-in cards. The Acer's Aspire One 532G (10-inch) and Asustek Computer's 1201PN (12-inch) are expected to be the first new Ion netbooks to be introduced. New all-in-one PCs powered by next-generation Ion will include Asustek's EeeTop 2010PNT and Lenovo's C200. Channel partners including AOpen, ASRock, Asustek, Foxconn, Giada, J&W, Jetway, Pegatron Technology, POV, Shuttle, and Zotac also plan to introduce new Ion-based products soon, Nvidia said.New Ion-based Asustek 1201PN netbookPhoto: Company

Lanner Electronics has launched the LEC-7100, a fanless industrial computer powered by the new dual core Intel Atom D510 processor at 1.66GHz. The LEC-7100 is designed to be easily deployable for a variety of industrial and commercial applications, according to the company."We're very excited about the new dual-core Intel Atom processor and the advantages it brings to our fanless computers," said Spencer Chou, product planner, Embedded Business Group, Lanner. "The LEC-7100 is a versatile network-ready computer with all the interfaces needed for a wide variety of end-use applications, and with the new D510 processor, we've developed a powerful solution that improves on all aspects of the fanless design, including performance, stability, power consumption and price."The LEC-7100 includes multiple audio and video interfaces, two Gigabit LAN network ports, and two storage interfaces – Compact Flash Type I/II and SATA HDD. Another feature in the LEC-7100 is the ability to communicate wirelessly via a 3G/GPS module and Wi-Fi ready hardware, Lanner highlighted.Additionally, the LEC-7100 features both VGA and DVI-D video ports, delivering increased flexibility for dual-display applications such as digital signage, point of sales, kiosk and jackpot displays, the company said.The LEC-7100 embedded computer's fanless design makes it suitable for video applications such as digital signs, outdoor advertising and kiosk systems. Lanner claims the dual-core Atom CPU provides outstanding performance with very low power consumption and minimal cooling requirements, resulting in improved stability and longevity and providing a higher return on investment.Lanner Luge LEC-7100Photo: Company

Micro-Star International (MSI) is showcasing the latest members of MSI G-series notebooks, the GX640, GX740 and GT660, at CeBIT 2010.The GX640 and GX740 boast Intel Core i5 processors with AMD's ATI Radeon HD 5870 and HD 5850 discrete graphics cards, respectively. Both notebooks feature 1GB GDDR5 VRAM on the graphics cards and SRS Premium Sound for audio output.The GX740 adopts a 17-inch LCD panel, and the GX640 a 15.4-inch. Both notebooks feature MSI's ECO Engine Power Saving Technology as well as Cinema Pro Technology for enhanced performance.The GX640 and GX740 are covered by an aluminum magnesium alloy chassis and have a keyboard designed specifically for gamers.The GT660 gaming notebook has an Intel Core i7 processor with Nvidia GeForce GTX 285M (1GB GDDR3 memory) discrete graphics card. MSI GX640 notebook specifications Item Detail OS Windows 7 Home Premium CPU Intel Core i5 processor Chipset Intel HM55 Graphics ATI Radeon HD 5850 with 1GB GDDR5 VRAM Memory DDR3 memory supports up to 8GB Display 15.4-inch TFT LCD HDD 2.5-inch 320/500/640GB SATA Source: Company, compiled by Digitimes, March 2010 MSI GX740 notebook specifications Item Detail OS Windows 7 Home Premium CPU Intel Core i5 processor Chipset Intel HM55 Graphics ATI Radeon HD5870 with 1GB GDDR5 VRAM Memory DDR3 memory supports up to 8GB Display 17-inch TFT LCD HDD 2.5-inch 320/500/640GB SATA Source: Company, compiled by Digitimes, March 2010MSI GT660 gaming notebookPhoto: Company

Gigabyte Technology is is set to launch its latest AMD AM3 Socket GA-890GPA-UD3H motherboard, the first featuring the AMD 890GX chipset paired with the new SB850 southbridge.In addition to supporting upcoming six-core AMD CPUs and the new ATI Radeon HD 4290 IGP, the Gigabyte GA-890GPA-UD3H offers native support for SATA 6Gbps for up to six devices with the ability to configure RAID 0, 1, 5 and 10 for maximum data performance or enhanced data backup, the company highlighted.The NEC USB 3.0 controller which is becoming a key value-added feature of Gigabyte's lineup for 2010 appears again offering high-speed data transfer rates for external devices and storage, and 3x USB Power Boost, which allows power-hungry peripherals to be used with a single USB port, without the need for an extra power supply.The Gigabyte GA-890GPA-UD3H's HD 4290 IGP supports DirectX 10.1 and 128M DDR3 sideport memory, and scores up to 18% higher than the previous generation AMD 790GX chipset in certain benchmarks, according to Gigabyte. In addition, the motherboard includes two PCI Express 2.0 x16 slots, allowing users to run ATI CrossfireX or Hybrid CrossfireX configurations depending on their gaming, productivity and power efficiency needs.The GA-890GPA-UD3H is expected to launch at CeBIT 2010 which runs from March 2-6.Gigabyte GA-890GPA-UD3HPhoto: Company

Micro-Star International (MSI) has launched the 890GXM-G65, a motherboard using AMD's 890GX chipset, for the home theater PC segment.The motherboard supports the latest AMD Phenom II processors, while its integrated graphics chip supports DirectX 10.1 and UVD 2.0 to enhance high-definition audio and video effects.The motherboard includes MSI's OC Genie Lite technology for overclocking, while adopts military class component for stability, MSI said.The motherboard also features native support of SATA 6Gb/s and USB 3.0, MSI noted.MSI 890GXM-G65 motherboardPhoto: Company

AMD has introduced the ATI Radeon HD 5830 graphics card, bringing gamers the latest features from AMD and performance of the ATI Radeon HD 5800-series at a lower price than US$250.With the introduction of the ATI Radeon HD 5830, gamers have another choice in graphics hardware, with full support for DirectX 11 gaming, ATI Eyefinity technology, and ATI Stream capabilities.MSI has released its R5830 Twin Frozr II graphics card which features 1120 stream processors and 1GB GDDR5 memory.The card also includes MSI's exclusive Twin Frozr II Thermal design and Afterburner overclocking software. The card is built by military class components for stability, MSI also claimed.MSI R5830 Twin Frozr II graphics cardPhoto: Company

SANTA CLARA, Calif., - February 8, 2010 - OmniVision Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: OVTI), a leading developer of advanced digital imaging solutions, today announced the introduction of the world's first 1.1-micron backside illumination (BSI) pixel. The new OmniBSI-2 pixel architecture represents a major milestone in digital imaging technology, and enables new imaging solutions with superior image quality and low-light sensitivity. The architecture also extends OmniVision's pixel roadmap to submicron levels, and serves as a key enabler in the continuous miniaturization of digital imaging technology."OmniBSI-2 drives the development of higher resolution image sensor solutions with an aggressive form factor and lower z-height for ultra-thin products," said Bruce Weyer, vice president of worldwide marketing at OmniVision. "OmniBSI-2 advances the digital imaging market by enabling improved image quality and enhanced low-light performance that dramatically improves the user experience in videobased applications. OmniBSI-2 technology can also be applied to larger pixel designs to achieve performance advantages that exceed current BSI and FSI imaging sensors."OmniBSI-2 is OmniVision's second-generation BSI technology, and is the first pixel built on a 300mm copper process at 65nm design rules developed in cooperation with strategic manufacturing partner, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC). By combining custom 65nm design rules and new manufacturing process modules, the 1.1-micron OmniBSI-2 pixel achieves industryleading low-light sensitivity as well as significantly improved dark current and full-well capacity. OmniBSI-2's custom pixel design rules also enable better pixel layout, better isolation, and significantly reduced crosstalk. Each of these advances represents a substantial improvement over the first generation OmniBSI technology resulting in better image quality, enhanced color reproduction and improved camera performance."By comparison, the new 1.1-micron OmniBSI-2 pixel not only outperforms our current 1.75-micron FSI architecture, but it also equals the performance of our industry-leading 1.4-micron BSI pixel that is currently in mass production," commented Howard Rhodes, vice president of process engineering at OmniVision. "Migrating to 1.1-micron BSI pixel architecture required moving production to TSMC's state-of-the-art 300-mm copper process, which enabled substantially improved design rules and more advanced process tools, resulting in tighter process control and improved defect density. Key to our success was the joint development by the OmniVision and TSMC R&D teams of multiple new process modules that substantially improved opto-electronic performance. We also leveraged our close partnership with joint venture partner VisEra Technologies to establish a 300-mm color filter fabrication capability.""OmniVision and TSMC have been long standing partners in CMOS Image Sensor development. Our engineering teams collaboratively push the boundaries of digital imaging, making them an excellent development and manufacturing partners," said Sajiv Dalal, vice president, business management at TSMC North America. "OmniVision's product migration to 300-mm manufacturing will give it a clear competitive edge and we stand committed to continuously drive improved efficiencies to help widen the gap."TSMC provides the foundry segment's leading CIS technology with the largest CIS production capacity. In 2009, TSMC supported a total capacity of approximately ten million eight-inch equivalent wafers, a six percent increase over its 2008 production capacity."TSMC has been a valuable partner in making the transition to this advanced process node," added Rhodes. "Their experience and expertise in 300mm processing at the advanced technology nodes and ability to continue enhancing the sensor performance have been invaluable in ramping this new pixel technology so quickly and seamlessly."