Elitegroup Computer Systems (ECS) has unveiled its G10IL netbook (mini-notebook) available with either a 10.2- or 8.9-inch glossy display.The netbook features a built-in tri-band HSDPA and HSUPA modem to allow a download speeds up to 7.2Mb/s or 2Mb/s. It also comes with three USB 2.0 ports, Ethernet networking, a 56kbps analog modem, WLAN, Bluetooth, a four-in-one card reader, and 1.3-mega pixel camera.And ECS representative said pricing for the G10IL will be available in April. ECS G10IL netbook specifications Item Detail CPU Diamondville Chipset Intel 945 GSE (w/o S-Video) + ICH7M Memory Support up to 2GB Display 8.2-inch/10.2-inch Webcam 1.3 mega pixel CCD Storage HDD/SSD Battery 4 cell/6 cell Dimensions 259×180×28.5 (mm) Source: Company, compiled by Digitimes, March 2008ECS G10IL netbook Photo: Company
Asian consumers (not including Japan) bought more than 53 million televisions in 2007 in the 13 countries measured. Volumes are expected to increase to nearly 60 million televisions in 2008, driven by continued strong demand for flat panel televisions across the region. The market volume of flat panel televisions in Asia is forecast to reach 22 million sets in 2008, according to GfK Asia. In the TV category, seven out of ten dollars are spent on flat panel technology, the firm stated.In Asia total, retail volumes for flat panel televisions measured 62% higher in the second half of 2007, as compared to the same time frame in the previous year.In the flat panel television category, LCD TVs outsold PDP TVs 5 to 1 overall and registered an on-year unit growth rate rise of more than 60%. Retail sales of PDP TVs increased 37% on a unit basis during the second half of 2007 compared to one year earlier. "In particular, 32-inch plasma TVs posted strong sales gains in China," said Steven Kaiser, commercial director of consumer electronics, GfK Asia. "The recent spike in plasma TV sales should continue in 2008, as more brands market 32-inch screens to consumers."The average retail price of a flat panel television in Asia was above US$1200 in 2007, and could dip below US$1100 in 2008. Says Kaiser, "Retail prices all across Asia for flat panel televisions continue to fall, even as the manufacturers improve the technology offer and Asian consumers increasingly opt for larger screen sizes. However, some signs suggest that the supply side is tightening; this could slow the speed of price erosion considerably, especially if paired with a surge in demand."The third quarter is historically measured in Asia as the slowest sales period for televisions. However, expectations are that third quarter demand for televisions in 2008 should be above historical norms for Asia, due to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Summer Games. "The Beijing Games will be broadcast live and in Asian prime time," says Kaiser. "As a result, we expect that the demand in Asia for flat panel televisions will be unseasonably strong in July and August, similar to a spike we measured during the 2006 FIFA World Cup."In 2008, the market size of DVD players across 12 countries in the Asian Region is forecast to stabilize, reaching 21 million units for the second consecutive year. The value of the DVD player market in Asia declined in 2007, as average retail prices for DVD players dropped to US$85. In Asia total, unit sales increased both for DVD recorders and DVD portable players in 2007, however, combined the two segments make up less than 10% of the DVD hardware market in Asia.The 13 countries surveyed for Television are China, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia, Cambodia, Philippines, New Zealand, and Australia, while 12 countries surveyed for DVD Player, DVD Recorder, DVD Portable, and Home Theater System are China, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, New Zealand, and Australia.
Leadtek Research has announced its latest portable hybrid TV box, the WinFast DTV200 HU. The TV box features a palm-size design with USB 2.0 plug-n-play interface and supports both analog and digital TV and FM radio.The WinFast DTV200 HU supports high-definition terrestrial DVB-T and worldwide analog TV reception, including NTSC, SECAM and PAL standards. With new de-interlacing technology, it provides quality video without flickering, the company highlighted. The hybrid TV box also supports HDTV and Dolby Digital AC3 audio.Leadtek WinFast DTV200 HU hybrid TV boxPhoto: Company
Advansus has announced the i965GM-DCQI, an Intel GME965-based mini-ITX motherboard designed for high definition video gaming machines and digital signage systems.The i965GM-DCQI is based on Intel's GME965 chipset and Intel Core 2 Duo mobile processors combined with dual-channel DDR2 667 memory up to 4GB. It also features Intel's integrated GMA X3100 graphics engine.The i965GM-DCQI offers dual 24-bit LVDS and DVI display capabilities with a built-in Chrontel CH7307C DVI transmitter. The motherboard supports dual-view display at resolutions up to 2048×1536. Advansus i965GM-DCQI mini-ITX motherboard specifications Item Detail CPU Intel Core 2 Duo/Solo, Core Duo/Solo mobile processors Chipset Intel GME965 Express Memory Dual channel DDR2 533/667 memory up to 4GB VGA Intel integrated GMA X3100 Display output DVI, dual 18/24-bit LVDS Source: Company, compiled by Digitimes, March 2008Advansus i965GM-DCQI mini-ITX motherboardPhoto: Company
Acer has announced the Aspire 6920 line, a new notebook PC series designed to for the enjoyment of high-definition content, according to the company.The Aspire 6920 series is powered by Intel Core 2 Duo processors, the mobile Intel PM965 Express chipset and includes an integrated module for wireless connection, supporting Acer SignalUp with InviLink Nplify wireless technologies.Acer is one of the first to market with a 16-inch notebook series that features either a Full HD CineCrystal LCD panel with 1920×1080 resolution or a HD CineCrystal LCD screen at 1366×768 pixel resolution, 8ms response time, and native 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio, ideal for HDTV or Blu-ray Disc content, the company highlighted.The screen is managed by the latest Nvidia GeForce 9500M GS GPU with up to 1280MB of TurboCache, and support for Nvidia PureVideo HD technology, Shader Model 4.0 and Microsoft DirectX 10.Acer Aspire 6920 series notebookPhoto: Business Wire
Transcend Information recently introduced 16GB and 32GB versions of its JetFlash V20 USB flash drive.The V20 features an attractively shaped pearlescent chassis with a semi-transparent color-band that lights up during use, noted Transcend.JetFlash V20 drives are equipped with software tools specifically designed for computer users who are constantly on the go and support Windows Vista, Windows 98SE / Me / 2000 / XP and Mac and Linux operating systems.The JetFlash V20 16GB and 32GB version USB flash drives have an untaxed list price of US$94.10 and US$185, respectively.Transcend JetFlash V20 USB flash drives in 16GB and 32GB versionsPhoto: Company
Shuttle recently introduced its K45 mini-PC barebone, based on the Intel 945GC chip set and supporting both power-saving and current dual-core processors.Simplicity was of primary importance in the development of the K45, according to Shuttle. In contrast to the orientation of Shuttle's XPC-series towards covering as many application areas as possible, the K45 is entirely targeted in its functionality: whether as an office PC, (thin) client on a terminal server, a control PC for information stands, a cashier system or a home server, the platform-independence with respect to Windows and Linux is ideal, stated the company.The mini-PC barebone also features Gigabit networking and has space for two hard drives. It can also optionally be equipped with WLAN.Dispensing with an optical drive and front-side connections means additional security for your company, according to Shuttle. Company data cannot be removed and damaging software cannot be introduced in this way.The Shuttle Barebone K45 is available now at a recommended price of 94 euros (US$144) before tax in Europe or US$99 in the US.Shuttle is also planning to offer the KPC, a pre-built K45-based system which ships with Foresight Linux, Intel Celeron CPU and 512MB RAM, with US pricing starting at US$199. Shuttle Barebone K45 specifications Item Detail Supported CPUs Intel Core 2 Duo E6xxx / E4xxx, Pentium Dual-Core 2xxx and Celeron 4xx (max. 65W) series with Socket 775 (to FSB 1333) Chipset Intel 945GC/ICH7 Memory Max. 2 GB DDR2-667 (OC up to 800MHz) Audio 6-channel audio PCI 1x PCI (32 bit) Network Gigabit LAN Connectivity 4x USB 2.0, 2x SATA2, 1x ATA100 Power supply 100W Dimensions (mm) 280×190×170 Source: Company, compiled by Digitimes, March 2008Shuttle K45 mini-PC barebonePhoto: Company
Thecus recently announced its i5500 NAS device for enterprises looking to store and secure mission-critical data.The i5500 comes with an Intel Xscale IOP80331 CPU and 512MB of DDR memory. This enables the i5500 to deliver iSCSI performance up to twice that of its predecessor, the N5200 PRO, the company claimed adding that with block level data transmission over regular Ethernet, businesses can forgo implementing a fiber channel network altogether.The i5500 comes with five hot-swappable SATA drive bays that accommodate up to 5TB of storage. A selection of RAID modes including RAID 0, 1, 0+1, 3, 5, 6, 10, and JBOD as well as instant RAID volume availability, auto volume rebuilding, and support for up to 256 logical volumes offers flexibility. And because downtime equals lost revenues, the i5500 also features online RAID expansion allowing businesses to increase their storage capacity without taking down their system.Included with the i5500 is Logical Unit Number (LUN) support, enabling administrators to specify read and write access to specific hosts accessing the unit through the iSCSI protocol. The i5500 also packs data protection capabilities in its compact housing, including Local N-way mirroring, offline array roaming and smart faulty sector relocation. Compatibility with all major operating systems including Windows NT/XP/2003/Vista, Mac OS 9.1 and above including OSX, OSX Server and XServe, and all Linux builds with SCSI support ensures seamless integration with existing corporate environments. Administration can be conveniently performed through Thecus' sterling web interface, and should something go amiss, the i5500 can notify administrators immediately via email or SNMP trap.Thecus i5500 NAS device for enterprisesPhoto: Company
VIA Technologies and Bitway, a Brazil-based system integrator, have announced a new desktop computer based on the VIA pc2500 motherboard. The Bitway Flex PC will be available at major retail stores throughout Brazil for a price of BRL$800 (US$474.21).The Flex PC features VIA's 1.5GHz C7-D processor which uses 76% less power than other same level desktop processors, according to VIA. The system comes with monitor, speakers, keyboard and mouse. Bitway Flex PC specifications Item Detail Processor 1.5GHz VIA C7-D desktop processor Chipset VIA CN700 IGP chipset Graphics VIA UniChrome IGP Pro integrated 2D/3D graphics processor Memory 512MB DDR2 Audio VIA Vinyl 6-channel AC97 Audio Hard Drive 80GB SATA Optical Drive DVD-RW Drive Networking 10/100 Ethernet Peripherals Monitor, keyboard, mouse and stereo speakers OS Support Bitlinux Dimensions 36cm X 40cm X 18 cm Source: Company, compiled by Digitimes, March 2008Bitway Flex PCPhoto: Company
