eMachines has introduced the new compact EL1200 desktop series PCs which are 40% smaller and 55% lighter than eMachines' smallest tower PC and start at less than US$300.The EL1200 series features a 64-bit AMD Athlon processor, 1GB or 2GB of memory, and Nvidia GeForce graphics. eMachines EL1200 series desktop PCs specifications Model EL1200-05w EL 1210-01e CPU AMD Athlon 2650e 64-bit processor AMD Athlon 2650e 64-bit processor Memory 1GB DDR2 memory 2GB DDR2 dual-channel memory VGA Nvidia GeForce 6150SE integrated graphics Nvidia GeForce 8200 integrated graphics HDD 160GB SATA (7200-rpm, 8MB cache) 320GB SATA (7200-rpm, 8MB cache) Price US$298 US$349 Source: Company, compiled by Digitimes, October 2008eMachines EL1200 series desktop PCs Photo: Company

Super Talent is targeting the Asustek Eee PC upgrade market with its new line of mini PCI Express SSDs, available in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB capacities. The company indicated that the devices were designed explicitly for the Eee PC, which comes standard with a maximum 20GB of storage.The upgrade cards offer up to 64GB of solid state storage, Super Talent noted, while adding that the devices have been tested extensively with Eee PCs to ensure performance and compatibility. Super Talent: SSD specifications and pricing Product number Description Max read/Write speed Expected street price FPM16GHAE 16GB mini PCIe SSD 40/15 MB/sec US$53 FPM32GHAE 32GB mini PCIe SSD 40/15 MB/sec US$79 FPM64GHAE 64GB mini PCIe SSD 40/15 MB/sec US$149 Source: Company, compiled by Digitimes, October 2008Super Talent targets Eee PC upgrade market with new line of mini PCI-Express SSDsPhoto: Company

Canon, on October 6, unveiled the EOS 50D, its new DSLR camera for launch soon in the Taiwan market at a recommended retail price of NT$37,900 (US$1,181), according to Canon Marketing (Taiwan).The EOS 50D is equipped with a Canon-developed 15.1-megapixel CMOS image sensor and a 3-inch 920,000-pixel LCD screen. The EOS 50D body (with a 18-55mm zoom lens) and a 17-85mm zoom lens will sell at NT$50,900, while a camera body bundled with a 18-200mm zoom lens will be available at NT$54,900, Canon Marketing indicated.Canon DSLR camera EOS 50DPhoto: Company

During the recently concluded CEATEC Japan 2008, Japan-based Murata Manufacturing used a unicycle-riding robot to guide visitors to its booth and highlight the company's products. The robot, named Murata Girl, is a follow-up of the company's bicycle-riding robot, Murata Boy.These robots incorporate several Murata products, including capacitors, sensors and communication modules. The company highlighted that Murata Girl can maintain balance and move around on a unicycle while keeping a certain distance from an object using a ultrasonic sensor. The robot can also transmits moving images via a live camera.The company explained Murata Girl features gyro sensors that detect Murata Girl's tilt angle. Signals from the gyro sensors are then used to help control the unicycle wheel in the forward and backward directions and a fly wheel inside her torso monitors side tilt in order to maintain balance. Ultrasonic sensors detect obstacles judge how far away an obstacle is by measuring the time it takes to transmit ultrasound and receive the reflected signal from the obstacle, while Murata Girl sends and receives commands via a Bluetooth module.Murata is a major player in the global passive component industry. The company was the largest supplier of DC-DC converters modules worldwide in 2007, according to IMS Research report of the worldwide power supply market, holding a market share of 12.5%. Delta Electronics was the second largest suppliers followed by Emerson with the total market for DC-DC converters estimated at US$2.9 billion in 2007.However, the DC-DC converter module market continues to be a tough environment, with high price erosion, new entrants emerging from Asia, and increasing competition from discrete solutions, according to David Dewan, power supply market analyst and report author. Dewan indicated that the standard board-mount DC-DC converter module business is becoming increasingly commoditized and the likely implementation of the IPC 9592 guidelines by tier-1 suppliers will drive standardization and could compound price pressures.Players in the industry are always looking to new markets to drive future growth, with Murata developing its MEMS product lines. The company pointed out that since the robotics market is expected to experience strong growth, expansion in demand for such electronic components is also expected.The company had MEMS sales of US$69 million in 2007, ranking number 22 worldwide among MEMS manufacturers, according to Yole Developpement.Murata GirlPhoto: Company

Albatron Technology has announced the KI780G mini-ITX motherboard featuring the AMD 780G chipset. The mini-ITX board's most distinguishing feature is its AM2+ socket and support for quad-core and triple-core AMD Phenom processors.The AMD 780G chipset features integrated ATI Radeon HD 3200 graphics, while the motherboard also provides a PCI Express x16 slot for a discrete graphics card if needed.The board also features 128MB side-port DDR2 memory dedicated for use with the IGP helping to increase 3D performance by 10%, Albatron highlighted. Albatron KI780G mini-ITX motherboard specifications Item Detail CPU Supports socket AM2+ CPUs including Phenom, Athlon 64 FX, Athlon 64 X2 (CPU power consumption must be less than 65W) Chipsets AMD 780G/SB700 chipset Memory Supports dual-channel DDR2 1066/800/667/800MHz memory up to 4GB 128MB DDR2 side port memory for onboard graphics VGA ATI Radeon HD 3200 IGP and one PCI Express 2.0 x16 slot Source: Company, compiled by Digitimes, October 2008Albatron KI780G mini-ITX motherboard supports AMD's quad- or triple-core CPUsPhoto: Company

Microsoft on October 2 unveiled two Microsoft LifeCam series webcams, the VX-5500 and NX-8000, for launch in the Taiwan market at recommended retail prices of NT$1,890 (US$59) and NT$2,990.To maximize video and voice quality, the two hardware models will be integrated with three software products: Windows Live Video Message, Windows Live Messenger 9.0 and Windows LifeCam Video Effect, according to Microsoft Taiwan.Microsoft LifeCam NX-8000Photo: Company

Apple Taiwan has detailed pricing for the latest generation iPod products, including new color iPod shuffles, fourth-generation iPod nanos, the 120GB iPod classic and the second-generation iPod touch for the Taiwan market.Market watchers expect the new products to have minimal impact on the digital music player market in Taiwan since it has already reached maturity. Taiwan market: iPod recommended retail prices, Oct 2008 Model Storage capacity Price (NT$) iPod shuffle 1GB 1,700 (US$53) 2GB 2,400 Fourth-generation iPod nano 8GB 5,300 16GB 7,000 iPod classic 120GB 8,800 Second-generation iPod touch 8GB 8,300 16GB 10,900 32GB 13,900 Source: Company, compiled by Digitimes, October 2008Apple fourth-generation iPod nanoPhoto: Jimmy Hsu, Digitimes, September 2008

Passive component supplier Yageo has released its smallest 5320 coupling chip antenna featuring low sensitivity to environmental interference as well as less stray capacitance.Measuring 5.3×2×1.2mm, the 5320 coupling chip antenna is suited to meet the needs of micro portable devices including Bluetooth headsets and smartphones and requires only 3-5mm in clearance on motherboards.In addition to its feed design which effectively reduces product testing lead-time by less stray capacitance and minimizing the consideration of environmental interference, Yageo's 5320 coupling chip antenna supports bandwidths of 2.4-2.484GHz, Bluetooth and IEEE 802.11b/g/n applications.Yageo cited ABI Research as saying that 49.1% of global cell phones come with Bluetooth functions. Shipments of smartphones have also surged sequentially and are expected to reach 31% by 2013. As a result, demand for 2.4GHz antenna in smartphones and Bluetooth mobile phone markets will also rise substantially.Following the release of the 5320 coupling chip antenna, Yageo is scheduled to introduce its PIFA antenna and antenna array before the end of this year.Yageo's 5320 coupling chip antennaPhoto: Company

Sony, on September 30, debuted the DSC-T500, its first Cyber-shot series digital camera model equipped with 1280×720p HD video-recording functionality, for launch in the Taiwan market on October 9 at a recommended retail price of NT$12,980 (US$404), according to Sony Taiwan.Main specifications of DSC-T500 include a 10.1-megapixel Super HAD CCD image sensor, 5x optical and 10x digital zoom, and a 3.5-inch 230,000-pixel 16:9 TFT-LCD touch-panel screen. Dimensions are 97×59.3×21.4mm (W×H×D) with a weight of 155g (not including a battery and memory card), Sony Taiwan indicated.Vendors including Sony, Fujifilm and Samsung have been increasingly focused on the development of HD video-recording technology for their high-end digital cameras as a competitive feature.Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T500 digital cameraPhoto: Company

ZyXEL Communications will debut its WiMAX MAX-206M2 WiMAX MIMO residential gateway with the launch of Sprint's Xohm service this week in Baltimore and the company is showcasing its complete line of WiMAX solutions this week during WiMAX World in Chicago.Zyxel's WiMAX line of products include outdoor CPE, SOHO VoIP routers, SIP-based camera and PC cards.Along with Intel, Samsung and Nokia, Zyxel is a device partner for Sprint's recently launched Xohm WiMAX service in the US. The company indicated that its MAX-206M2 router provides users with seamless broadband wireless connectivity and the freedom to surf the Internet and access any information at home, in the office or anywhere under WiMAX coverage. The MAX-206M2 gateway comes with dual 5dBi gain antenna integrated into the device with 27dBm output power and a built-in ICSA certified firewall. Its design includes two VoIP ATA ports as well.ZyXEL's MAX-206 series CPEs are the world's first WiMAX Forum certified mobile devices that provide the highest link budget while WiMAX networks are still in the early stage of deployment, the company added.Zyxel MAX-206M2 router provides users with seamless broadband wireless connectivityPhoto: Xohm, September 2008