Asustek Computer has launched its new RS300-E6 series rack-mount servers featuring the Intel 3420 PCH chipset and Xeon 3400 series processors.The RS300-E6 series supports 45nm quad-core CPUs and dual-channel DDR3 1333 memory. The series is also designed to support upcoming next-generation 32nm dual-core CPUs, and utilizes Asustek's proprietary CPU heatpipe technology to provide cooling for more stable computing operations.Some selected models also include a special-designed slot to connect an optional Asustek PIKE card, which allows support of SAS storage. Asustek RS300-E6 series server specifications Model RS300-E6/PS2 RS300-E6/PS4 CPU support Quad-core Intel 3400 series Dual-core Intel Clarkdale FSB DMI/ FDI Chipset Intel 3420 PCH Memory. 6-DIMM slots supporting DDR3 1066/1333 up to 32GB for RDIMM and 16GB for UDIMM Storage Two SATA2 (hot-swappable) One 5.25-inch DVD-RW (optional) Four SAS/SATA2 (hot-swappable) One Slim-type DVD-RW (optional) RAID Support RAID 0, 1 (Windows) RAID 0, 1 (Linux) RAID 0, 1, 5, 10 (Windows) RAID 0, 1, 10 (Linux) VGA AST2050 AST2050 Sources: Company, compiled by Digitimes, September 2009Asustek RS300-E6 series serversPhoto: Company

San Jose, Calif., September 14, 2009—Altera Corporation today announced it increased the high-end density range of its 40-nm Stratix IV E FPGAs to an industry-leading 820K logic elements (LEs). The Stratix IV EP4SE820 FPGA is the industry's highest density, highest performance and lowest power FPGA in its class. The EP4SE820 FPGA is ideally suited for a variety of high-end digital applications that require resource-rich FPGAs, including ASIC prototyping and emulation, wireline, wireless, military, and computer and storage applications.Altera's Stratix IV E FPGAs feature four devices ranging in density from 230K to 820K LEs. The new EP4SE820 delivers 53% higher density than Altera's EP4SE530 device and is at least one speed grade faster than the closest competitor's largest offering. The density, performance and power-saving features in the EP4SE820 FPGA enable customers to simplify their design partitioning, accelerate their verification cycle, and reduce their total system power.Increasing the number of LEs in Stratix IV E FPGAs to 820K gives ASIC-prototyping designers the ability to implement much larger ASIC designs on a single FPGA, which simplifies board design and minimizes the number of design partitions. For designers wanting to move their design into an ASIC after FPGA prototyping, Altera offers a low-risk, low-cost migration path to ASIC production with its HardCopy IV ASICs.Altera's high-end Stratix FPGAs allow for seamless migration between families so customers can get started on their Stratix IV E FPGA designs today. This migration capability also allows users to move their existing Stratix III FPGA designs to Stratix IV E FPGAs without having to change the device pin-outs or the circuit board layout.One of the most critical issues that designers of high-density FPGAs face is minimizing compile times so they can bring products to market faster. Altera Quartus II design software offers several productivity features to Stratix IV FPGA users that enable faster overall timing closure. Features such as advanced place-and-route algorithms, multiprocessor support and incremental compile reduce customers' compile times two to three times on average when compared to the nearest competitor's 40-nm high-density FPGAs."Customers, particularly in the ASIC prototyping and emulation space, demand bigger and faster FPGAs, and we are meeting their demand by offering the industry's largest FPGA," said Luanne Schirrmeister, senior director of component product marketing at Altera. "The resource-rich EP4SE820 FPGA enables customers to fit more logic into their FPGA so they can deliver greater product differentiation at a lower cost."Altera is currently shipping engineering samples of selected members of its Stratix IV E FPGAs. Altera Stratix IV FPGAPhoto: Company

VIA Technologies has announced a new mobile computing device category, NetNote, that combines the company's Surfboard motherboard along with turnkey system design.NetNote, a new market segment VIA hopes to create positioned between netbooks and traditional notebooks, combines the portability and affordability of a netbook with functionality and entertainment capabilities of a notebook in a light, high performance clamshell mobile device with long battery life, screen sizes between 10.2- to 12.1-inch, and support for playback of high bit-rate 1080p HD video, said VIA.Combining the VIA VX855 media system processor with a choice of VIA C7-M ULV or VIA Nano processors, two new VIA Surfboard NetNote Edition platforms are available, enabling system designers the opportunity to create high-quality, energy-efficient and feature-rich solutions for manufacturing NetNote devices, said VIA.Along with support for hardware acceleration of a variety of video standards including H.264, MPEG-2/4, VC-1 and WMV9, NetNotes come with features including an optional HDMI port and a choice of integrated 3G connectivity modules. VIA Surfboard NetNote turnkey platform specifications Platform name VIA VT6552 VIA VT6549 Processor VIA C7-M ULV 800MHz FSB or VIA Nano 800MHz FSB Chipset VIA VX855 Media System processor Display resolution Internal resolutions: up to 1366 x 768 pixels External resolutions: up to 1920 x 1440 pixels Graphics VIA Chrome9 HCM IGP with memory share architecture, up to 512MB Memory support One SO-DIMM socket, support DDR2 667/800 up to 2GB Audio codec VIA Vinyl VT1702S Ethernet VIA Rhine VT6107 10/100Mb Embedded controller ITE8502E Card reader Genesys GL827S ITE IT1337E PATA to SATA Sunplus SPIF223B Marvell 88SA8052-TBC2 Clock generator IDT ICS9UM701AKLF-T USB extension USB hub (option) Battery 24.4Wh(3S1P) / 10.8V (3.6V x 2.2AH x 3 cells) Default 48.8Wh (3S2P) /10.8V (3.6V x 2.2AH x 6 cells) DC jack AC 110~240V, DC 20V@40W Audio jack Mic-In, HP-Out VGA output D-sub VGA Output USB port 2 ports LAN jack RJ45 LVDS Yes Yes Mini-PCIE 2 sockets with USB interface only SIM card Yes Yes Sources: VIA, compiled by Digitimes, September 2009VIA Surfboard NetNote Turnkey platformPhoto: Company

CEDIA, September 11, 2009 – Samsung Electronics America, a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics, today announced the release of the A600, the latest A Series (A/V) Home Theater Projector with full High Definition (HD) 1080p performance. The A600 builds on Samsung's engineering depth and leverages the image performance and color quality of the acclaimed A800 and A900 full HD 1080p "Joe Kane Signature Series" projectors. The A600 will be available for an estimated retail price (ERP) of US$1,795."The A600 is the latest addition to our growing home theater line up and provides an entry point for savvy consumers and home theater enthusiasts looking for an affordable solution that does not compromise picture quality and color performance," said Doug Albregts, vice president, Information Technology Division, Samsung Electronics America Inc. "We continue to execute against our strategy of meeting the needs of the diverse and growing market segments that rely on Samsung for compelling, dependable, innovative solutions."The A600 features rounded edges, a glossy black finish, low operating noise and weighs less than 13 pounds. With its high bright lamp wattage at 220 watts, the lamp life can last up to 4,000 hours in eco mode or 3,000 hours in high bright. With a shorter throw ratio, 1.99, the A600 offers the flexibility of being placed on the floor closer to the screen or mounted on the ceiling.The A600 has full connectivity and offers popular video capabilities for Blu-ray as well as an input for a PC. With two HDMI and inputs for component, composite and S-Video, the A600 is functional right out of the box. For PC connectivity, an analog 15-pin VGA style input is also available for video streaming off the Web or home presentations."For people interested in creating a home theater experience, but stopped short due to the costs, the A600 is a great alternative to the entry-level projectors that lack the full HD quality," said Tom Grau, senior product marketing manager, projectors, Information Technology Division, Samsung Electronics America. "We have incorporated the technology of our higher end models into the A600 to bring the movie-like viewing experience within reach of more people."Samsung Electronics new A series home theater projector - A600Photo: Company

REDMOND, Wash.- Sep. 15, 2009 - Microvision, Inc. (Nasdaq:MVIS), a global leader in innovative ultra-miniature projection display and image capture products for mobility applications announced the commercial introduction of the world's first laser-based pico projector, called Show WX, based on its proprietary PicoP display engine technology.The company plans to distribute its accessory pico projector product through three sales channels: OEM branded products, Microvision branded products sold through international distributors and Microvision direct sales through its on-line store. Microvision has signed several marketing and distribution agreements with international distributors in Asia and Europe to launch Microvision branded and private labeled versions of the laser pico projector. Microvision expects to begin product shipments in the next several weeks.The Microvision pico projector uses the revolutionary laser-based PicoP display engine that delivers large, colorful, bright, and vivid images that are always in focus, regardless of projection distance. The accessory product is a simple plug-n-play pico projector for people on-the-go who want to spontaneously view and share mobile TV, movies, photos, presentations and more. Users can take the pocket-sized projector anywhere, plug it into their portable media players, mobile phones, notebooks and other portable mobile media devices with TV-out or VGA functionality and share a big screen experience with friends, family or business associates. Depending on the ambient light, the projected images range in size from 12-inch to 150-inch.Microvision Show WX laser pico projectorPhoto: Company

CEDIA, September 11, 2009 – Samsung Electronics America, a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics, today announced the upcoming release of its latest P Series (portable) projector, the P410M, an LED-based DLP pocket projector. Weighing less than two pounds, the P410M's compact design (5.8-inch W x 2.5-inch H x 5.7-inch D), USB port, and auto play feature, make presentations "laptop optional" and packs easily into your laptop bag or briefcase. The P410M is now available at an estimated retail price (ERP) of US$599.00."Samsung prides itself on delivering the most innovative and advanced display technology to its customers, and the P410M leverages our heritage of superior display performance," said Doug Albregts, VP, Information Technology Division, Samsung Electronics America. "We are committed to enhancing our mini projector portfolio with the performance that is expected of the brand – optimum flexibility and connectivity, lightweight and sturdy."The P410M allows auto play of media files from any USB storage device without connecting to a computer and the built-in multimedia player provides instant access to music, video and picture files. Standard audio, video and PC inputs easily connect to a laptop, camcorder, or DVD player, and two stereo speakers are placed strategically on both sides to make multimedia more enjoyable. The fan emits only 32 dB, which is quieter than the hum of a refrigerator and as whisper quiet as a library."The P410M is an ultra-portable projector with remarkable picture quality and versatility. Well-saturated colors from the RGB LED make it ideal for today's multimedia applications," said Tom Grau, senior product marketing manager, projectors, Information Technology Division, Samsung Electronics America. "The USB port and auto play feature for media files means you can play movies, run photo slide shows and play background music without being tethered to a computer."For impromptu business or personal presentations, the P410M's DLP technology and LED light source provides vivid color saturation and high contrast displays. Colors are saturated up to 140% of NTSC color gamut, ensuring colors are accurate, crisp and vibrant.The long-lasting LED can last up to 30,000 hours, consumes 30% less energy than traditional lamps and the LED lamp is mercury-free, making it easier to recycle.Samsung P410M DLP LED-backlit portable data projectorPhoto: Company

Even though the new USB 3.0 specifications were released back in Nov. 2008, with the maximum executable speed up to 5Gbps and actual transfer rate reaching 300Mbps; USB 3.0 related products are still "hearing the thunder, not seeing the rain" at this point.USB specifications were first developed and advocated by Intel and Microsoft, the biggest advantage of USB technology is the use of Plug & Play, which is more convenient compared to PCIe interface. USB 1.0 has the data transfer rate of 12Mbps, and USB 2.0 data transfers up to 480Mbps, and the latest USB 3.0 has the maximum data transfer rate of 4.8Gbps.Along with the launch of Windows 7 in Oct. 2009, it comes with two of the most important features, such as the touch screen support as well as the USB 3.0 compatibility. And to meet the potential market demands, USB 3.0 peripherals must be ready by then to catch the coming trend.Well known for its expertise and experience in the manufacturing of the USB peripherals in Taiwan, Good Way will exhibit at HK Electronics Autumn Edition in October, showing several USB 3.0 products that have been well developed, which will be launched by end of September. The Good Way booth at the Hong Kong Electronic Fair from Oct 13-16 is 20095BF42/5BF44. USB interface is split into two parts: Host and Device, in order for USB 3.0 specifications to be popular, the Host side must be fully prepared to support the peripherals on the Device side. Therefore starting in 2010, Intel and Microsoft will adopt the Southbridge chipset. With the launch of Windows 7 in Q4 this year, USB 3.0 is sure to be the next USB standard to replace USB 2.0.During this transform, the first range of USB 3.0 products offered by Good Way will bring on the solution that allows users to keep the existing hardware, while making the systems upgrade to benefit from the USB 3.0 features and advantages, solving the Host compatibility issues for both Desktop and Notebook computers.Through the insert of the USB 3.0 PCIe card, Desktop PC may be upgraded with 2 USB 3.0 Ports. And the USB 3.0 Express card offers the same solution upgrade to that of the Notebook PCs.Both of these two models are compliant to the high speed USB 3.0 specifications, with the maximum data transfer rate up to 5Gbps, and with downward compatibility to USB 1.1/USB 2.0. Through these products users may connect to USB devices such as 2.5"/3.5" USB HDD.The most amazing feature of USB 3.0 is the high speed and high resolution image data transfer, its executable speed is 10 times that of the USB 2.0. If transferring 25GB of high resolution movie via USB 3.0, it would only take 70 seconds to complete the process, whereas with USB 2.0 interface, the time needed would be 14 minutes.Users have never-ending demands for storage products, especially for multimedia data processing; therefore, besides offering products for the Host side, on the Device end, Good Way developed the USB 3.0 Portable HDD Enclosures, using the USB 3.0 technology to enhance the speed of audio/video data transfer.USB 3.0 standards were developed by USB 3.0 Promoter Group lead by Intel, and the members include HP, Microsoft, NEC, NXP, and Texas Instruments.NEC being the member of USB 3.0 standards, and Good Way adopting the NEC chipset on its products, the biggest advantage is the compatibility and its protocol technology, which ensures the products' stability and quality.With the full supporting efforts from Intel and Microsoft, USB 3.0 controllers, interface ICs, and relevant consumer electronic peripherals are being promoted starting in late 2009, USB 3.0 market will sure be a success in forthcoming 2010.Good Way USB 3.0 cardsPhoto: Company

NXP Semiconductors today announced that it has integrated NDS MediaHighway set-top box (STB) software onto CX2450x, a highly integrated SoC solution for high-definition set top boxes. The cooperation will largely reduce the set top box operators and OEMs' time to market and integration cost to bring new digital pay-TV services with a range of interactive TV applications to their subscribers. The CX2450x with NDS MediaHighway will be demonstrated at IBC 2009, Sept 11-15, Amsterdam.NXP Semiconductors collaborated with NDS on the system integration of the NDS CDI system software abstraction layer and the MediaHighway platform to incorporate them on the CX2450x SoC. NXP CX2450x is a highly integrated high definition DVR SoC featuring single display and single decode MPEG-2/H.264/VC-1/DIRECTV/DVB compliant for worldwide markets. The MediaHighway set-top box software running on NXP SoCs is a prerequisite to support advanced digital TV services such as IP streaming, web browser support, easy-to-use Electronic Program Guides for advanced content search and seamless content access across the home network.STB OEMs can leverage NDS MediaHighway to customize Electronic Program Guides and implement other value-added services unique to each operator. It enables operators to engage and sustain viewer interest by offering new digital pay-TV services with a range of interactive TV applications, supplementing linear TV with social media functionality and the contextual linking of related content. It combines both the broadcast and broadband TV to enhance the TV viewing experience for end users."We are witnessing a growing demand for digital TV services from viewers across the world. To address this demand, NXP Semiconductors has implemented NDS' set-top box software to enable STB OEMs and operators to offer best-in class TV viewing experience to their customers and helping them to accelerate healthy time to market at low costs," said Alan Smith, Director of Satellite Operator Product Line at NXP Semiconductors. "NXP and NDS are committed to offer a consistent pre-engineering system solution for the OEM suppliers and pay-TV operators.""NDS MediaHighway provides operators with a unique advantage as it enables them to provide competitive offerings, both in the way of functionality and value added services. Interactive TV applications, targeted advertising and the delivery of over the top content are some of the many mutually beneficial features made possible by NDS MediaHighway," said Peter Yaxley, director of Consumer Devices, NDS Europe. "Expanding our relationship with NXP will mean that we are able to extend the reach of the services that we offer to a larger part of the market."NDS MediaHighway is available on NXP's CX2450x HD SoC and will be rapidly migrated to NXP's next generation PNX847x/8x/9x SoC featuring 3D Graphics and advanced power management. The CX2450x in conjunction with NXP's tuner and demodulators provides a complete silicon solution for HD-DVR STB applications. The very high level of integration enables a low system BoM to support a variety of applications. A complete reference platform is available for customer evaluation and development. The system implements NDS MediaHighway in a Linux OS environment, with a complete set of low-level STB drivers.

SAN JOSE, Calif., September 14, 2009 - Cypress Semiconductor Corp. (NYSE: CY) today announced two new architectures in its PSoC programmable system-on-chip platform that dramatically increase performance and extend the world's only programmable analog and digital embedded design platform delivering unmatched time-to-market, integration, and flexibility across 8-, 16-, and 32-bit applications. This new programmable analog and digital embedded design platform is powered by the revolutionary PSoC Creator Integrated Development Environment, which introduces a unique schematic-based design capture along with fully tested, pre-packaged analog and digital peripherals easily customizable through user-intuitive wizards and APIs to meet specific design requirements. PSoC Creator enables engineers to design the way they think and dramatically shorten time-to-market.The unique programmable analog and digital peripherals in PSoC 3 and PSoC 5, along with new high performance 8-bit and 32-bit MCU sub-systems, enable new capabilities such as motor control, intelligent power supply and battery management, human interfaces such as CapSense touch sensing, LCD segment display, graphics control, as well as audio/voice processing, communication protocols, and much more. These new capabilities dramatically expand the markets that PSoC can address, including industrial, medical, automotive, communications and consumer equipment. The total available market for PSoC products is now expanded to over fifteen billion dollars, spanning across 8-, 16- and 32-bit applications, as well as precision analog markets.The new PSoC 3 and PSoC 5 architectures include high-precision, programmable analog resources that can be configured as ADCs, DACs, TIAs, Mixers, PGAs, OpAmps and more. They also include enhanced programmable-logic based digital resources that can be configured as 8-, 16-, 24- and 32-bit timers, counters, and PWMs, as well as more advanced digital peripherals such as Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC), Pseudo Random Sequence (PRS) generators, and quadrature decoders. Designers have a unique ability to customize this digital system through full featured general purpose PLD-based logic available in PSoC 3 and PSoC 5. The new architectures also support a wide range of communications interfaces, including Full-Speed USB, I2C, SPI, UART, CAN, LIN, and I2S.The new PSoC 3 and PSoC 5 architectures are powered by high performance, industry-standard processors. The PSoC 3 architecture is based on a new, high-performance 8-bit 8051 processor with up to 33 MIPS, while the PSoC 5 architecture includes a powerful 32-bit ARM Cortex-M3 processor with up to 100 DMIPS. Both architectures meet the demands of extremely low power applications by delivering the industry's widest voltage range from 5.5V down to 0.5V along with low 200nA hibernate current. They provide a seamless, programmable design platform from 8- to 32-bit architectures with pin and API compatibility between PSoC 3 and PSoC 5, along with programmable routing, allowing any signal, whether analog or digital, to be routed to any general-purpose I/O to ease circuit board layout. This capability includes the ability to route LCD Segment Display and CapSense signals to any GPIO pin."These new families, along with the revolutionary PSoC Creator Software, will change the way embedded designers solve problems," said T.J. Rodgers, Cypress's President and CEO. "The PSoC 3 and PSoC 5 architectures deliver a scalable platform with the computing power of high-performance MCUs, the precision of stand-alone analog devices and the flexibility of PLDs, all with a powerful, easy-to-use design environment. This combination gives designers of 8-, 16- and 32-bit applications the flexibility and integration of true 'system-level' programmability for the first time.""The PSoC is the only architecture that extends the concept of programmability beyond instructions for the processor to configuring peripherals and customization of digital functions," said Tom Starnes, principal analyst at Objective Analysis in Austin, Texas. "Coupled with analog precision on-chip beyond that found in any other MCU, these highly-integrated PSoCs are more highly-programmable than any other chip. The addition of precision analog and the ARM Cortex processor to the family should bring the performance needed for any modern application."Sample and Kit AvailabilitySamples of the PSoC 3 devices are available today, with full production expected in the first quarter of 2010. The architecture includes three families with varying amounts of memory, digital and analog performance. Package options include 100-pin TQFPs, 48- and 68-pin QFNs, and 48-pin SSOPs. PSoC 5 samples will be available in the first quarter of 2010 with full production in the second half of the year. The PSoC 5 architecture includes four different families.Cypress is offering two design kits to help engineers get started on PSoC 3 and PSoC 5 projects. The PSoC 3 FirstTouch Starter Kit (CY8CKIT-003) helps designers get acquainted with the new PSoC 3 architecture. It includes an array of sensors, I/O's, projects, and software in addition to Serial Wire Debugging (SWD), an accelerometer, a thermistor, proximity sensing, CapSense, a 12-pin wireless module header, and 28 general purpose I/O pins. The kit is available today, priced at US$49.00.The PSoC Development Kit (CY8CKIT-001) offers support for the entire PSoC line, including PSoC 1, PSoC 3 and PSoC 5 devices. The kit contains a main PSoC development board, and processor module boards for the different architectures. It also includes a MiniProg3 debug and evaluation device, prototyping cable kit, a USB cable, a 12V AC power adapter, and both PSoC Creator and PSoC Designer software. Sample projects are also provided. The kit is available today, priced at US$249.00.Cypress PSoC 3 and PSoC 5Photo: Company

Sunnyvale, Calif., September 8, 2009 - InvenSense, Inc., the leading provider of MEMS-based motion processing products for consumer electronics, today announced the new IDG-2000 dual-axis MEMS gyroscope, its next-generation IDG family of MEMS gyros. The IDG-2000 family provides the market with a smaller and thinner gyroscope ideal for improving optical image stabilization (OIS) in digital still cameras and high-resolution, eight-megapixel and above camera phones. The IDG-2000 is fabricated on the larger 8-inch wafer to meet increased volume capacity and to further reduce the overall solution cost to meet competitive price requirements demanded by consumer electronics OEMs.The IDG-2000, housed in a 4x4x0.9 mm QFN plastic package, is the first digital dual-axis pitch and roll (X- and Y- axis) gyro with integrated 16-bit analog-to-digital converters that allow for direct communication to advanced image processors over an I2C or SPI serial bus, eliminating costly discrete components."Optical image stabilization is quickly becoming a standard key feature consumers look for in new cameras," said Chris Chute, IDC Research Manager in the Worldwide Digital Imaging Practice. "Even with millions of digital cameras still being sold worldwide, competition for product differentiation, coupled with lower price points are forcing camera vendors to manage costs more closely than ever. New technologies like the IDG-2000 can help camera vendors remain competitive in the market.""We advanced the IDG series with this new digital gyro to address a critical market need for an OIS system solution at a lower total cost in a smaller and thinner package to help OEMs reduce blur in images," said Joseph Jiang, vice president, Imaging Business Unit at InvenSense. "We are committed to delivering breakthrough technologies that meet the specific needs of next generation smart phone cameras and DSCs."By leveraging its patented and high volume-proven Nasiri-Fabrication platform, which integrates MEMS wafers with companion CMOS electronics through wafer-level bonding, InvenSense has driven the gyroscope package size down to the smallest system footprint, while providing the highest performance, lowest noise and the competitively priced solutions in the market.The IDG-2000 family features lower phase delay from the higher bandwidth of the programmable digital low-pass filter with integrated sigma-delta ADCs. Other key product features include automatic gain amplification control, anti-aliasing filters optimized for OIS applications, and an industry-leading cross axis sensitivity of less than ±1%. An integrated temperature sensor provides temperature compensated bias adjustment. The IDG-2000 measures hand jitter across a wide frequency range of 0.1Hz to 20Hz with exceptionally low noise at 0.033 °/s-rms. Furthermore, the operating frequency in the 30 KHz range is immune to ambient noise. These features are required when taking photos in low ambient light conditions with high resolution sensors or when using zoom at any resolution. Power consumption is reduced by 50% compared to analog gyros with a low 4mA maximum current at 2.1 volts in active mode and 5μA maximum current in sleep mode.The IDG-2000 family of digital dual-axis MEMS gyroscopes begins sampling in October 2009 to selected OEM partners.