Following AMD's recent announcement of its Radeon HD 3850 and 3870 graphics chips, Tul (PowerColor) and GeCube have launched their latest AMD-based graphics cards.PowerColor announced standard and overclocked versions of its HD 3850 and HD 3870 cards, both targeting the enthusiast market. The overclocked versions included a unique cooling solution dubbed PCS (professional cooling system).GeCube announced several HD 3800 series-based graphics cards including some with its new X-Turbo III cooling fan. The company also launched overclocked versions of the cards. PowerColor: Radeon HD 3800 series graphics cards specification Model Number HD 3850 HD 3850 PCS HD 3850 Xtreme PCS HD 3870 HD 3870 PCS Core Speed 668MHz 720MHz 720MHz 775MHz 800MHz Memory Speed 828MHz 900MHz 900MHz 1126MHz 1200MHz Memory Size 256MB 512MB 512MB 512MB 512MB Memory Controller 256-bit Memory Type GDDR3 GDDR3 GDDR3 GDDR4 GDDR4 CrossFireX YES PCIe 2.0 HDMI Interface w/ Dongle w/ Dongle On-board w/ Dongle w/ Dongle Source: Company, compiled by Digitimes, November 2007 GeCube: Radeon HD 3800 series graphics cards specification Model Number GC-HD3850PG3-D3 (BBA) GC-XHD3850PG3-E3 (O.C Version) GC-HD3870XTG4-E3 (BBA) GC-XHD3870XTG4-E3 (O.C Version) Chips RV670PRO (55nm) RV670PRO (55nm) RV670XT (55nm) RV670XT (55nm) Core/Memory Frequency 668MHz/ 828MHz 700MHz/ 875MHz O.C to 720MHz/950MHz 775 MHz/1126 MHz 800MHz/1200MHz O.C to 857MHz/1250MHz Memory Bus 256-bit Memory Type GDDR3, 256MB GDDR3, 512MB GDDR4, 512MB GDDR4, 512MB DVI Dual DVI (2 Dual Link, HDCP) D-Sub Yes (By Dongle) Built-in HDMI Yes ( thru DVI to HDMI dongle) VC-1 Yes HDR+AA Yes HDTV HDTV by S to YPbPr cable (default included) Cooling Single Slot Fansink Dual Slot Fansink (X-Turbo III) Dual Slot Fansink Dual Slot Fansink (X-Turbo III) Source: Company, compiled by Digitimes, November 2007GeCube GC-HD3850PG3-D3 graphics card based on AMD's Radeon HD 3850 chipPhoto: CompanyGeCube GC-HD3870XTG4-E3 graphics card based on AMD's Radeon HD 3870 chipPhoto: CompanyPowerColor HD 3850 graphics cardPhoto: CompanyPowerColor HD 3870 graphics cardPhoto: Company

Kontron recently introduced its first lightweight, plastic-housed panel PC specially designed for medical equipment OEMs.Kontron's MediClient offers medical OEMs a highly reliable platform with flexible mounting options and the longevity required by the medical industry. Kontron's scalable x86 CPU boards and a range of I/O options are assembled into a complete medical human machine interface (HMI) with a light and cleanable plastic housing made in accordance with the OEM's individual corporate design.The 15-inch touchscreen offers graphics on a high contrast 1024×768 TFT display. It is usable with gloves and stylus pens and is resistant to disinfectants and detergents. The front panel of the Kontron MediClient offers IP65 protection against dust and liquids and allows the cleaning of fluid-born contaminants with alcohol. The extremely tough, light and cost-effective plastic housing (ABS UL94V0) is scratch-proof, corrosion resistant and chemical resistant for long life and easy cleaning. Mounting options include traditional panel mounting as well as VESA arm mounting.In addition to its mounting options, the Kontron MediClient offers flexible and scalable processor performance up to 600MHz with the Intel Celeron M processor. The dual LAN, dual USB 2.0 and serial RS232 (RS422/RS485 optional) interfaces add to the MediClient's versatility, making it suitable for a wide range of medical applications.Kontron's MediClient medical panel PC features a touchscreen panelPhoto: Company

Samsung Electronics on November 14 unveiled three Bluetooth-enabled digital music players, the P2, S5 and T10, and a localized version of its online audio/video platform, Samsung Play. The digital music players will launch in the Taiwan market soon, according to Samsung Electronics Taiwan, and are the first Bluetooth-enabled models available in Taiwan, it emphasized.Of the Samsung digital music players sold in the Taiwan market, 60-70% are entry-level models, such as the U3, with, currently, only 30-40% in the medium and high-end range, Samsung Taiwan pointed out. With the launch of the three Bluetooth models, the ratio is expected to reach 50:50, Samsung Taiwan indicated.Samsung sold about 70,000 digital music players in Taiwan in 2006, taking the second largest market share proportion at 10%. Samsung became the largest foreign brand in August 2007, said Samsung Taiwan general manager Chul-young Lee. In line with the trend of increasing storage capacity, Samsung plans to offer 16GB models in the first quarter of 2008, Lee noted. Samsung aims to grow its Taiwan market share to 15% in 2008, Lee indicated. Samsung's three new digital music player specifications Item P2 S5 T-10 Screen size and resolution 3-inch 480×272-pixel TFT-LCD 1.8-inch 220×176-pixel TFT-LCD 2-inch 320×240-pixel TFT-LCD Built-in flash memory capacity 4GB, 8GB 2GB 2GB, 4GB Battery service time: Music or video playback in hours 35 or 5 24 or 4.5 30 or 4 Dimension (W × H × D, mm) 52 × 100 × 9.9 46.5 × 96 × 14.95 41.5 × 96 × 7.9 Weight (gram) 85 85 43 Recommended retail price (NT$) 7,290 (US$225) for 4GB, 8,990 for 8GB 5,500 4,290 for 2GB, 5,290 for 4GB Source: Samsung Taiwan, compiled by Digitimes, November 2007Samsung's new P2 Bluetooth digital music playerPhoto: CompanySamsung's S5 Bluetooth digital music playerPhoto: CompanySamsung's T10 Bluetooth digital music player is available in five colorsPhoto: Company

HTC recently launched the HTC Touch Cruise in Europe, the third member of the HTC Touch product family and the first to feature in-built GPS for personal navigation.The new Touch Cruise features HSDPA/3.5G connectivity plus Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, as well as GPS functionality. The device has a 2.8-inch screen and runs on Windows Mobile 6.The HTC Touch Cruise utilizes mapping and navigation solutions from TomTom, which come with the option of full maps of Western Europe. Other key features include a 3-megapixel auto focus camera, FM radio and Micro SD memory card slot for adding to the 128MB of RAM.The HTC Touch Cruise will be available from both retailers and SIM-free from HTC from this month.HTC Touch CruisePhoto: Company

SanDisk unveiled a solid-state storage solution, Vaulter Disk, that works in conjunction with a PC's hard drive to store and launch the computer's operating system and software applications. This new solution aims to provide enhanced performance over a PC that has only a hard drive. Vaulter Disk will be offered to OEMs in early 2008 in capacities of 8-16GB.By introducing the Vaulter Disk, which is a flash-based PCI Express module, both laptop and desktop computer manufacturers are able to harness the speed of embedded flash memory for frequently accessed files while continuing to use a spinning hard drive for bulk storage of less frequently accessed data, said SanDisk.The Vaulter Disk requires only enough memory to host the computer's operating system (OS) and selected optional user data that is benefited by the faster access time using flash memory. The hard drive stores files, user-generated content and applications that do not require or benefit from faster seek times. The two drives operate in parallel, thereby increasing the overall speed and performance of the PC.The SanDisk Vaulter Disk's storage concept, for which patents have been applied, transparently speeds up data retrieval for boot and application load operations, as well as unexpected user access to new files, according to SanDisk. With Vaulter Disk there is faster response time when a user randomly accesses many small files for repeated operations, such as opening applications, and for unexpected behavior, such as retrieving new applications or entries on the Internet, stated the company.SanDisk Corporation's new solid-state storage solution, Vaulter Disk, works simultaneously and in conjunction with a PC's hard drive to store and launch the computer's operating system and software applicationsPhoto: Company

Cooler Master has announced the Cosmos ESA chassis, an updated version of its Cosmos chassis supporting Nvidia's Enthusiast System Architecture (ESA). ESA certified power supply units and water cooling units will be available from Cooler Master soon, the company added.The Cosmos ESA includes the same features and performance as the earlier Cosmos chassis, but has an additional thermal control board that includes four separate sensors for monitoring and adjusting fan speeds, while system information can be displayed through a software control panel provided by Nvidia. Upcoming Cooler Master ESA power supply units will allow users to monitor temperatures, currents, and voltages, while Cooler Master ESA water cooling units will allow users to monitor and control pumps, fans, water temperatures and flow rates, said Cooler Master.The Cosmos ESA is available worldwide with price of US$229.Cooler Master Cosmos ESA chassis with an additional thermal control board Photo: Company

Transcend has rolled out its largest capacity SD product to date – a 16GB Class 6 SDHC card.Transcend's 16GB SDHC card is based on the new generation of SD cards (SD 2.0) that support the FAT32 file system format. Fully Class 6 compliant, the card features a guaranteed minimum write speed of 6MB/s.The 16GB memory capacity is enough to store over 8,000 high-resolution 7-megapixel JPG photos, noted Transcend, adding that the card has a mechanical write protection switch that keeps data safe from accidental deletion or over-writing.Transcend 16GB Class 6 SDHC cardPhoto: Company

Transcend Technologies recently announced the launch of its JetFlash T3, a brand-new ultra-tiny USB flash drive.Measuring only 30.2×12.3×2.4mm, the T3 is compact and weighs only two grams and is designed to be extra-rugged, according to the company.Transcend's T3 comes in 1GB and 2GB versions and have a pre-tax list price of US$12.90 and US$20.80, respectively.Transcend JetFlash T3 USB flash drivePhoto: Company

Samsung Electronics recently reached its target of shipping one million handsets for a 14-15% share in the Taiwan handset market, according to Scott Huang, vice president of the mobile communications unit at Samsung Taiwan.Samsung will continue to boost its sales in Taiwan by introducing more camera, music and fashion handsets, with two 5-megapixel camera models, the G608 and G808, and three music handsets to be launched in early February 2008, Huang noted.Although Samsung has engaged simultaneously in the development of Windows Mobile-, Linux- and Symbian-based handsets, the company will focus on Windows Mobile-based models in the Taiwan market, with the i458 to hit the local market in early 2008, Huang added.Samsung on November 8 launched its Windows Mobile-based i608 smartphone in Taiwan. The i608 supports HSDPA and is equipped with a QWERTY keyboard. Chunghwa Telecom (CHT) is expected to purchase 10,000-20,000 i608 handsets from Samsung in the initial cooperation plan, according to sources at CHT.Samsung's i608 Windows Mobile-based smartphonePhoto: John Hsu, Digitimes, November 2007

Western Digital (WD) on November 6 unveiled its Passport series 2.5-inch portable hard drives for immediate launch as well as its My Book series 3.5-inch external drives for launch in early December 2007 in the Taiwan market, according to WD Taiwan.For the Passport drives there are three storage capacities available, 120GB, 160GB and 250GB, WD Taiwan indicated. The series features WD-developed synchronization and encryption software to protect stored data, the company pointed out.The My Book series will have four editions to cater to different kinds of users, namely, Essential, Home, Office and Studio, each with capacity sizes ranging from 320GB to 1TB.According to IDC (International Data Corporation) data, WD currently has a global market share of 27% for 3.5-inch hard drives and that of 34% for 2.5-inch models, slightly higher than Seagate's 25% and 32% respectively, WD Taiwan country manager Andy Kuo indicated. WD plans to offer 2TB 3.5-inch hard drives in the first quarter of 2008, Kuo noted.Western Digital (WD) Passport series 2.5-inch portable hard drivesPhoto: CompanyWD My Book series 3.5-inch external hard drivesPhoto: Company