San Jose, Calif., February 1, 2010 - Building on its history of technology leadership, Altera Corporation (NASDAQ: ALTR) announced today new innovations that will be incorporated into upcoming 28-nm FPGAs. Embedded HardCopy Blocks, a new method for partial reconfiguration and embedded 28Gbps transceivers will dramatically improve the density and I/O performance of next-generation Altera FPGAs and further strengthen their competitive position versus ASICs and ASSPs. The rapid growth of bandwidth-intensive applications such as high-definition (HD) video, cloud computing, online data storage and mobile video has created a challenge for both infrastructure and end-user equipment developers. How can they quickly increase system bandwidth while staying within strict power and cost budgets? Altera has developed its latest innovations to solve these challenges. The new Embedded HardCopy Blocks are customizable hard intellectual property (IP) blocks that leverage Altera's unique HardCopy ASIC capabilities. They are used to harden standard or logic-intensive functions such as interface protocols, application-specific functions, and proprietary custom IP. The Embedded HardCopy Blocks offer customers faster time to market for their designs while also reducing cost and power. For Altera, this innovation allows the company to quickly create variant products and target specific market segments. Partial reconfiguration allows designers to reconfigure part of the FPGA while other sections remain running. This is extremely important in systems where uptime is critical because it allows designers to make updates or adjust functionality without disrupting services. Lowering power and cost, partial reconfiguration also improves effective logic density by removing the necessity to place in the FPGA functions that do not operate simultaneously. Instead, these functions can be stored in external memory and loaded as needed. This reduces the size of the FPGA by allowing multiple applications on a single FPGA, saving board space and reducing power. To date, partial reconfiguration solutions have been time-intensive tasks that required designers to know all of the intricate FPGA architecture details. Altera is simplifying the partial reconfiguration process by building the capability on top of the proven incremental compile design flow in its Quartus II design software. Extending its leadership in embedded transceiver technology, Altera has developed 28Gbps embedded transceivers, which will also be implemented in upcoming 28nm FPGAs. These high-speed transceivers will enable customers to implement next-generation designs such as 400G systems on a single chip without the need for costly external components. "Two years ago, Altera introduced the industry's first 40nm FPGAs, and continued delivering industry firsts such as embedded 11.3-Gbps transceivers," said John Daane, president, chairman and CEO of Altera. "As we move to the next process node, these new innovations from Altera will take the industry beyond the benefits of Moore's Law to solve bandwidth challenges while staying within cost and power requirements."

Intel and Micron Technology have jointly introduced a 25nm NAND flash production process technology, which provides a more cost-effective path for increasing storage capacity in today's consumer gadgets including smartphones and personal music and media players (PMPs), as well as SSDs.Manufactured by their joint venture IM Flash Technologies, the 25nm process produces 8GB of storage in a single NAND device. It measures 167mm-square.The new 25nm 8GB device reduces chip count by 50% compared to previous process generations, allowing for smaller, yet higher density designs and greater cost efficiencies, according to their joint statement. For example, a 256GB SSD can now be enabled with just 32 of these chips (versus 64 previously), a 32GB smartphone needs just four, and a 16GB flash card requires only two.The flash alliance expects to begin mass production of the 25nm, 8GB device in the second quarter of 2010.Intel and Micron formed IM Flash in 2006 and started production with a 50nm process, followed by 34nm in 2008.25nm NAND flash waferPhoto: Company

DURHAM, N.C., January 20, 2009 — Cree, Inc. (Nasdaq: CREE), a market leader in LED lighting, announces the demonstration of a new 6-inch LED downlight designed for the residential market. The Cree CR6 LED downlight is being shown this week at the 2010 International Builder's Show in Las Vegas."By delivering the beautiful, warm light created by Cree TrueWhite technology in an affordable, energy-efficient LED residential fixture, we're providing consumers with an alternative to energy-wasting incandescents and the poor color-rendering of compact fluorescent bulbs," said Neal Hunter, president of Cree LED Lighting. "There is no residential LED downlight on the market today that can come close to matching the value and performance of the CR6. This product builds on the success of the award-winning LR6, which has shipped more than 350,000 units to date."The Cree CR6 LED takes the technology at the heart of the LR6 family and redesigns it to deliver maximum value for residential lighting. The CR6 downlight, planned for availability in mid-2010, is being designed to meet Energy Star criteria and for an end user price of approximately $60.As demonstrated in residential applications at the Builder's Show, Cree TrueWhite technology can deliver the warm light and beautiful color rendering that consumers should expect from energy-efficient lighting.Cree LED downlight - CR6Photo: Company

AMD has introduced the ATI Radeon E4690 Mobile PCI Express module (MXM) for the graphics-intensive embedded systems at the Digitimes Tech Forum (DTF) 2010 in Taiwan.The ATI Radeon E4690 MXM features more than triple the 3D graphics performance of previously available solutions with low CPU utilization and enhanced picture quality. With its massively parallel, programmable architecture, the ATI Radeon E4690 MXM is designed for compute intensive, embedded applications such as digital signage, image recognition, signal processing and surveillance, arcade and casino games, and medical imaging, the company detailed.Working in collaboration with ALT Software, AMD is able to offer customers an alternative to custom programming by developing a standards-based parallel processing API, helping them to improve performance in embedded computing systems by leveraging the power of the GPU, the company said.The E4690 MXM features 512MB of on-board GDDR3 memory, 320 shader processors, a set of display output options and adjustable system clocks for exacting power and performance requirements.As the industry's only embedded graphics chip to offer support for both Microsoft DirectX 10.1 and AMD's Unified Video Decoder 2 (UVD 2), the E4690 MXM enables competitive advantages for AMD's embedded customers by providing graphics support coupled with high quality video playback performance, AMD pointed out.Incorporating ATI PowerPlay intelligent power management technology, the E4690 MXM is designed to optimize power consumption and enable exceptional performance per watt for power sensitive embedded applications.System designers have flexibility with a comprehensive selection of outputs including dual-independent display controllers, integrated DisplayPort, integrated single- and dual-link LVDS, integrated single- and dual-link DVI /TMDS/HDMI and analogue outputs.Supported by ATI Stream technology, the E4690 MXM can replace numerous system hardware components, helping to reduce overall system power, size, and cost, AMD added.

VIA Technologies has announced the VIA EPIA-T700, the first motherboard based on the recently announced Mobile-ITX form factor. Measuring 6×6cm, the VIA EPIA-T700 is a compact computer-on-module designed for a range of ultra-compact embedded devices in medical, military and in-vehicle applications, said VIA.The VIA EPIA-T700 can be used with a variety of carrier boards that can be adapted and customized to meet the needs of a range of applications and is powered by a specially miniaturized 1GHz VIA Eden ULV processor and the compact VIA VX820 media system processor that together offer I/O flexibility, said VIA.The VIA EPIA-T700 features 512MB of DDR2 on-board system memory.The VIA VX820 media system processor adds several key features including a VIA Chrome9 DirectX 9 integrated graphics core, VIA Chromotion video engine with hardware acceleration for MPEG-2, MPEG-4, WMV9, and VC1 video formats, and VIA Vinyl HD Audio supporting up to eight-channel HD audio.An integrated multi-configuration transmitter enables display connections to TTL LCD panels and CRT monitors. Added flexibility is provided through carrier board configurations that integrate a DVP interface to include LVDS and DVI support. Other integrated data bus technologies include PCI Express and Ultra DMA.The VIA EPIA-T700 uses two high-density, low profile connectors on the under side of the module that can also withstand vibrations of up to 5Gs making Mobile-ITX systems suitable for in-vehicle and industrial machining applications, VIA said.VIA EPIA-T700 Mobile-ITX motherboardPhoto: Company

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Vivitek Corporation, a leading manufacturer of environmentally innovative visual display and presentation products, today introduces the company's first native 1080p data projector. The Vivitek D952HD incorporates high brightness levels with amazing color reproduction for remarkable picture quality."With the D952HD, Vivitek allows the business user to have the same incredible picture on the screen in the office as they do at home. This new 1080p data projector lets people see and present 1080p content the way it was meant to be seen."The Vivitek D952HD takes 1080p resolution from the home entertainment system to the office. The projector displays impressive color reproduction though Vivitek's VividWheel technology, along with a DLP chipset and BrilliantColor from Texas Instruments.With a brightness of 3500 lumens and a 2,400:1 contrast ratio, the D952HD delivers the features needed for a business environment, with the connectivity options and native resolution found in home theater projectors."As high-definition multimedia content becomes the norm in business settings, Vivitek wants to ensure that the image quality is shown off in the best possible light," said Christopher Yang, senior product manager at Vivitek. "With the D952HD, Vivitek allows the business user to have the same incredible picture on the screen in the office as they do at home. This new 1080p data projector lets people see and present 1080p content the way it was meant to be seen."Key Features/Specifications:Native 1080p (1920x1080) resolution3500 lumens and 2,400:1 Contrast RatioDLP and BrilliantColor technologies from Texas Instruments3000 hours of lamp lifeConnectivity options include: HDMI v1.3, VGA-in (x2), composite video, S-videoVividWheel for improved color reproduction and automatic gain controlTop-loading, sliding cover for quick and easy lamp replacementAvailability/WarrantyThe Vivitek D952HD will be available in April 2010 through authorized Vivitek dealers and distributors for an estimated MSRP of US$1,999. The projector carries a one (1)-year limited warranty on parts and labor.Vivitek 1080p data projector - D952HDPhoto: Company

Micro-Star International (MSI) has announced its USB 3.0-ready motherboard, the P55-GD85.The P55-GD85 supports Intel's latest 32nm, LGA1156-based Core i3/i5/i7 series processors, SATA 6Gb/s and SuperSpeed USB 3.0 protocols. The motherboard has built-in chips from Marvell and NEC to support SATA 6GB/s and USB 3.0 technologies, respectively.The motherboard also features MSI's exclusive OC Genie, SuperPipe and DrMOS, technologies for enhancing performance, the company said.MSI has also launched its latest X-Slim series ultra-thin notebook with a dual-core processor. The X420 features Intel's ultra-thin notebook platform equipped with the dual-core Intel Core 2 Duo together with ATI's Mobility Radeon HD 5430 3D external display adapter (with built-in 1GB DDR3 VRAM).The X-Slim X420 adopts a 14-inch display and weighs 1.88kg. With the MSI's exclusive 3D Boost Technology, the notebook can be switched to high-performance external display mode with a click of button and switched back to integrated display mode shutting down the external graphics card to preserve battery power.MSI's ECO Engine energy-saving technology allows users to switch between the power options they need to help extend the notebook's running time. MSI X-Slim X420 ultra-thin notebook specifications Item Detail OS Windows 7 Home Premium CPU Intel dual-core Core 2 Duo SU7300 or SU4100 processor Chipset GS45 + ICH9M-SFF Graphic ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5430 (Up to DDR3 1GB VRAM) Memory DDR3 1066/800 MHz (SO-DIMM slot x 2) LCD 14-inch HD (Glare type) 1366×768, 16:9 HDD 2.5-inch 250/ 320/ 500GB SATA Battery 4/8 cells (Optional) Wireless Intel Shirley Peak, Bluetooth V2.1 Webcam 1.3megapixels webcam Weight (kg) 1.88 (With 4-cell battery) Source: Company, compiled by Digitimes, January 2010MSI USB 3.0-ready P55-GD85 motherboardPhoto: CompanyMSI X-Slim X420 ultra-thin notebookPhoto: Company

Shuttle received a "Best of CES 2010" award and was named by Computer Shopper as one of the top-10 products and technologies at the show in Las Vegas."CES has always been a place for forward-thinking companies to showcase their hottest new products, technologies, and game-changing innovations," said Nicolas Villalobos, Manager at Shuttle Computer Group in Los Angeles, "It's an honor to be a part of Shuttle's history in the making, and an even bigger honor to be recognized by media and industry insiders with this 'Best of CES 2010' award."Computer Shopper awarded the honor of "Best of CES 2010" to Shuttle for its SPA strategy that was launched at the event."The biggest architectural difference between modern notebook and desktop PCs is the lack of universal sizing and connection standards for many notebook components, especially motherboards," wrote John A Burek, Editor in Chief at Computer Shopper, "Shuttle is hoping to bring some of that same standardization to the notebook world with its Shuttle PCB Assembly (SPA) initiative. The core of SPA is a pair of standard form factors for notebook motherboards.""The idea here, with standardization, is to allow smaller notebook OEMs easier access to standardized parts and thus the ability to procure them in smaller quantities, less challenged by the bigger notebook makers' economies of scale," added Burek, "If SPA gets adopted by smaller notebook makers, it could portend a move toward more easily upgradeable notebooks, or, dare we hope for it, the build-your-own-notebook scenarios long sought by DIY-ers."

Shuttle was featured on ABC News 10 and was highlighted as "reinventing the notebook computer" in ABC News 10's coverage of the latest products and technologies."We used to have a motto when we created the first small form factor desktop with standard parts – Shuttle leads and others follow," said Nicolas Villalobos, manager at Shuttle Computer Group in Los Angeles, "With our new standardized form factor for notebooks, we're leading the innovation game once again and setting a standard for others to follow. We're redefining the way notebooks are built and in the end, this will not only benefit professional system builders, but also everyday consumers."ABC News 10 spotlighted the new notebook business strategy from Shuttle, which introduces a standardized form factor for notebooks, allowing for "close-to-universal part interchangeability" and "reinventing the notebook" as we know it today."While the popularity of notebook computers have been increasing over the years due to portability and ever-dropping prices, they've been suffering one of the things that make desktop models a much better choice for many: internal component interchangeability," writes Barry White at ABC News 10, "Shuttle seeks to change that.""The company has introduced their PBC assembly form factor which (depending on screen-size) will allow for close-to-universal part interchangeability," adds Barry White at ABC News 10, "While it is possible for somebody with a Toshiba, Dell or Hewlett-Packard (HP) notebook to contact their respective manufacturer for a replacement part, all too often by the time said part is in need of replacement the company has moved away from its form factor and no longer supports that model of laptop. Shuttle's PBC shouldn't face such issues."Click here for ABC News 10 interview

Micro-Star International (MSI) has released its R5670-PMD1G graphics card based on AMD's ATI Radeon HD 5670 GPU for mainstream markets.The MSI R5670-PMD1G adopts designs including GPU voltage adjustment, DisplayPort and military-class components.The MSI R5670-PMD1G graphics card is equipped with 1GB GDDR5 high speed memory and features MSI's exclusive Afterburner overclocking utility to enhance the GPU and memory clocks, as well as GPU voltage.The MSI R5670-PMD1G will also adopt military-class components, such as Hi-c cap and tantalum capacitors to ensure stability during overclocking, the company said. The all solid capacitor and all solid-state choke design can extend the lifespan of the graphics card and avoid high frequency noise generating from choke vibrations under high loading, MSI claimed.MSI R5670-PMD1G graphics cardPhoto: Company