BenQ has announced the launch of the T33 mobile phone, a sleek slide phone that features a dedicated side key design that provides easy access to a full-featured digital audio player, including FM radio, and camera functions.Weighing 90g, the BenQ T33 is designed with a stylish, sleek mirrored finish, presenting a distinctively chic appearance, according to BenQ. Consumers can slide open the BenQ T33 to reveal a one-piece keypad that is tailored for easy and accurate input of telephone numbers, the company highlighted. Designed for easy listening, the BenQ T33 allows consumers to enjoy music anywhere, even when no SIM card is inserted. With the press of the dedicated side keys, consumers can access all the controls that are needed to playback music, the company highlighted.The BenQ T33 supports MP3, AAC and AAC+ files. The BenQ T33 integrates other entertainment functions, including a built-in FM radio and lyrics display.The BenQ T33 is outfitted with a 2.0 megapixel camera that supports AVI video recording and playback. The BenQ T33 also has a phonebook that holds up to 1000 contacts. It can also read micro SD cards for more storage.BenQ T33 mobile phonePhoto: Company

Advansus announced the first of its latest series of Intel-based motherboards, the i945GM3-DCQI, a highly integrated mini-ITX motherboard built with an Intel Core 2 Duo processor and Intel 945GM Express northbridge and ICH7-M southbridge mobile chipsets.The motherboard also supports 24-bit LVDS, DVI and VGA for displays, 5.1 channel amplified audio and Gigabit LAN. It also features four COM ports, eight USB ports, two SATA ports and 16-bit GPIO, according to the company.The i945GM3-DCQI is a multi-purpose platform suitable for applications, including POS (point of sale), Kiosk, digital signage, gaming and medical use, added the company. Advansus i945GM3-DCQI motherboard specifications Item Detail CPU Core Duo/ Solo / 2 Duo processors Chipset Intel 82945GM Express chipset Memory Two DIMMS support DDR2 533/667 memory up to 4GB VGA Intel GMA 950 integrated graphics engine Display DVI and two channel LVDS for dual view Audio Realtek ACL888 5.1 channel audio codec LAN Realtek RTL8111B PCI-E Gigabit LAN Source: Company, compiled by Digitimes, October 2007Advansus i945GM3-DCQI motherboardPhoto: Company

Hewlett-Packard (HP) at an October 17 press conference unveiled three new Photosmart series MFPs (multi-function peripherals) in line with its Print 2.0 concept. The C7280, C6280 and C4385 will launch in the Taiwan market at recommended retail prices of NT$10,599 (US$325), NT$7,499 and NT$4,499 respectively, according to HP Taiwan.To promote sales, HP will cooperate with Yahoo! Kimo (Yahoo! Taiwan) to allow users of Yahoo! Kimo Life + Map, Yahoo! Kimo's platform to provide map-based information search services, to exclusively use these MFPs on a trial basis without charge, according to the companies.The three MFPs are equipped with built-in SWP (smart web printing) software to enable users to integrate pieces information displayed on separate web pages, such as maps, photos, and text, on a single page for economic printing, HP Taiwan pointed out.In addition to SWP, the three models are equipped with IEEE 802.11g Wi-Fi for wireless connection with notebooks or hand-held devices.HP Photosmart C7280, a new MFP supporting HP's Print 2.0 conceptPhoto: Company

Micro-Star International (MSI) announced recently the worldwide availability of its overclocking-enabled GX600 notebook PC which the company unveiled in July this year.Instead of going through BIOS formation or application software, the CPU of the GX600 can be overclocking by simply pressing a turbo button on the keyboard, utilizing MSI self-developed TDE (turbo drive engine) technology, sources from the company noted.After overclocking, the pre-set speed of 800MHz FSB of the Santa Rosa-based GX600 can be boosted up to 920-960MHz, while the frequency of its CPU and memory can also be increased simultaneously, the sources detailed.The GX600, designed for enthusiast gamers, features a Nvidia GeForce 8600M GT graphics chip and supports DirectX 10 and shader Model 4.0, the sources added.MSI's gaming GX600 notebook PCPhoto: Andrea Liu, Digitimes, October 2007

Asustek Computer recently released its new Vento TA-D5 series chassisThe TA-D5 places the front I/O ports on the upper part of the front bezel for easy access for external device connections, while having a dust filter contained within the CPU air-duct keeps the interior of the casing clean. Other features of the TA-D5 including folded metal edges that protect fingers from scrapes and cuts, a spring-operated optical drive door that allows quick access to optical devices and additional space between each USB port to avoid mutual interference when multiple USB devices are connected, noted the company.The TA-D5 provides supports for both a 12cm front intake fan and a rear exhaust fan plus side venting holes provides cooler air from outside the chassis to lower CPU and video card temperatures, the company added. Asustek Vento TA-D5 chassis specification Item Detail Dimension w/Bezel (W×H×D) 190×433×474 mm MB form factor ATX; mATX Drive bays Three external 5.25-inch One external 3.25-inch Six internal 3.25-inch System fans Rear: 120mm x 1 Front: 120/92/80mm x 1 Side venting holes with air-duct Expansion slots 7 Front I/O options Two USB and two audio Color (Front/Band/Side) Gold/Black/Black and White/Black/Black Source: Company, compiled by Digitimes, October 2007Asustek Vento TA-D5 chassisPhoto: Company

Axiomtek has released a mini-ITX form factor motherboard, the SBC86841, supporting Intel Core 2 Duo and Core Solo processors with 533/667/800/1066MHz FSB. It adopts Intel Q965 and ICH8 Express chipsets to process multiple applications simultaneously, according to the company. The motherboard is suitable for gaming, POS (point of sale), DVR (digital video recorder), ITS, interactive clients, industrial control, industrial automation, digital security surveillance, and medical imaging applications.The SBC86841 is equipped with single-/dual-channel 24-bit LVDS and DVI-I interfaces, which integrate DVI-D and CRT for large size LCD panel displays. It also has the Intel GMA 3000 IGP supporting graphics memory up to 256MB.DualView technology features support of CRT plus LVDS, CRT plus DVI, and DVI plus LVDS outputs, while users have the ability to select different content and resolutions for each.In addition, the motherboard comes with multiple interfaces including two IEEE 1394a ports, eight USB 2.0 ports, eight Digital I/O (3 channel-in and 5 channel-out), four COM ports, optional TPM 1.2 and optional CompactFlash Type II socket for SSD storage devices.Axiomtek SBC86841 motherboardPhoto: Company

Israel-based MDTV (mobile digital TV) chip designer Siano Mobile Silicon showcased several products based on its MDTV chips and the company also revealed its future strategy at the recent IDF (Intel developer forum) Taiwan 2007.With Intel starting to push into the MID (mobile Internet device) market with its Menlow platform, Siano indicated it will be a solution provider in Intel's ultra-mobile segment. Siano provides solutions with the lowest power consumption among all other solution providers, according to Dror Meiri, director of Siano business development, marketing and sales.With each region in the world adopting different formats for their respective MDTV markets, Siano has integrated multiple formats into a single-chip solution to enable the production of devices capable of being used worldwide. Siano's SMS1010 receiver was chosen for Intel's Menlow platform since it is the industry's only low-cost, ultra-low power, quad-bank, multi-standard receiver chip in mass production, according to the company. Dr David Chang, director of Siano's business development in Taiwan pointed out that power consumption has always been a problem for ultra-mobile devices. However, Gigabyte Communication's T600 handset, which adopts a chip from Siano, is capable of running three hours while watching TV programs. Chang added that products based on Intel's next-generation Moorestown platform will be able to last ten hours.In addition to low-power consumption, Siano has also developed a ceramic antenna which has the shape and size of a chip (10×15×1mm) but the performance of a standard antenna. Thus it eliminates the need for an external antenna while minimizing the size of the product, noted Chang.The company currently has many different partners worldwide including Intel and Marvell. ODM partners include Taiwan-based Gigabyte and China-based ZTE whose handsets are used by Italy-based Telecom Italia Mobile and Germany-based Terratec. The company also welcomes cooperation with more other ODMs, Chang added.According to Meiri, MDTV is a fast growing market. He predicts that MIDs and notebooks with built-in MDTV capabilities will account for 50% of total shipments in two years, while for handsets they will account for 15% by 2010.In addition to built-in chips for MIDs and handsets, the company also develops MDTV products for external interfaces such as USB an SDIO.Dr David Chang and Dror Meiri, SianoPhoto: Joseph Tsai, Digitimes, October 2007Siano SMS1010 receiver chipPhoto: CompanySiano's ceramic antenna SMS8021Photo: Company

Toshiba Matsushita Display Technology (TMD) has developed a new circular design LCD intended for installation in instrument panels for automotive applications, the company has announced.The newly developed product features a 75mm outer diameter circular form, including the driving circuit, and is based on TMD's proprietary low temperature polysilicon (LTPS) technology. The compact design is beneficial in the tightly confined space typically found in a motor vehicle instrument panel, TMD pointed out.Historically, TFT LCDs have been designed in a rectangular format, due to the electronic connections and configuration needed to externally control the pixels at the intersections of electrodes arranged in horizontal and vertical directions. In the newly developed display, the peripheral driving circuit is integrated on to the glass, using TMD's proprietary LTPS technology, which enables a drastic reduction in the number of external points required for electrical connection. The result is a display module that is round for approximately three-quarters of its circumference.By achieving an effective viewing display area of 62mm and a thickness of 11mm or less, including the backlight and LCD driving circuit, this prototype may fit well within the typical speedometer or tachometer gauge found in automotive applications, said TMD.The newly developed display will be exhibited in TMD's booth # 561 at the FPD International 2007 in Yokohama Japan, from October 24 to 26, 2007. Major specifications of TMD newly developed display Item Details Screen size 62mm circular design Number of pixels 240 (H)×RGB×240 (V) [at the center vertical and horizontal lines] Pixel pitch 0.258mm (W)×0.258mm (H) Pixel array RGB horizontal stripe array Frontal luminance 500 cd/m2 Viewing angle direction Viewing angle at 12 o'clock (at the highest contrast) Contrast 600:1 Number of colors 260,000 colors Outline dimensions (Max.) Circular section: 75mm. Thickness: 11mm or less Source: Company, compiled by Digitimes, October 2007TMD new circular LTPS panel Photo: Company

Chi Mei Group recently announced the launch of its 52-inch full HD LCD TV in Taiwan. Chi Mei Group says that it is the first Taiwan-based company to launch a 52-inch LCD TV in Taiwan and expects its sales proportion of the segment to exceed that of 46- and 47-inch LCD TVs in 2008. Chi Mei aims to gain more than a 30% market share of the 46- and 52-inch TV segment, according to Ben Cheng, a vice president at Nexgen Mediatech, which operates own-brand businesses under Chi Mei Group. Key specifications of Chimei-brand 52-inch LCD TV Item Details Brightness (nits) 500 Contrast ratio 1,500:1 Dynamic contrast ratio 6,000:1 Response time 6.5ms Resolution 1,920×1,080 Price NT$104,900 Source: Company, complied by Digitimes, October 2007 Chimei-brand 52-inch LCD TVPhoto: Company

Panasonic will release a 103-inch plasma display panel (PDP) TV in Taiwan by the end of October, according to the Chinese-language Economic Daily News (EDN). Shipments of the TV are projected to reach over 50 units within six months after launch. The 103-inch PDP TVs have a recommended retail price of approximately NT$2 million(US$61,252), the paper cited Panasonic Taiwan as saying.