VIA Technologies and Mecer, a PC maker in South Africa, announced the new Mecer Education PC powered by the 1.5GHz VIA C7-D desktop processor.Leveraging the energy efficiency of the VIA C7-D processor, ideally suited for Africa's straining electricity infrastructure, the Mecer Education PC is available at an assortment of major retail stores in Southern Africa and is compatible with a variety of operating systems, according to the companies. Mecer Education PC major specifications Item Details Processor 1.5GHz VIA C7-D desktop processor Chipset VIA CN700 digital media IGP chipset Graphics VIA UniChrome Pro 2 integrated 3D/2D graphics processor with hardware MPEG-2 decoding acceleration Memory Up to 2GB of DDR2 400/533 SDRAM Source: Companies, compiled by Digitimes, July 2007Mecer Education PCPhoto: Companies

HANNspree North America has announced it has begun shipping its XM-series 19-inch monitors. The new monitors, HANNS Boston and HANNS New York, provide consumers with alternatives to traditional IT monitors, with stylish touches that let them express their personal tastes and passions in exciting new ways, according to the company.Both HANNS Boston (suggested retail price: US$249.99) and HANNS New York (suggested retail price: U$249.99) feature active matrix LCD screens, individualistic styling and the unique 360-degree design approach that sets HANNspree apart from other display manufacturers. HANNspree XM-series monitors take a different approach to "breaking the mold" in traditional computer display design. The 19-inch widescreen HANNS New York, for instance, with its rugged post-modern industrial cosmetic, sturdy brushed aluminum stand and overall "art techno" styling, derives inspiration from "industrial machine" design and offers the perfect complement for the most elegant Big Apple-inspired interior décor. For a more traditional style, HANNS Boston boasts a wood-grain cosmetic and straightforward functional design that embodies good taste and refinement and would not be out of place in the most refined Beacon Hill brownstone. Both XM-series monitors offer WXGA+ resolution up to 1440×900 (in the widescreen models), as well as astounding clear images, brightness levels up to 350 cd/m2 and response times up to 5ms. Both models feature advanced cable management and mounting options for total convenience and user flexibility, and feature 150-degree/135-degree viewing angles. For total flexibility and utility, both feature digital/analog PC inputs (DVI/D-sub 15 pin) and user-selectable color temperature settings.

Sony announced a new 80GB model of its PlayStation 3 (PS3) game console and a price reduction for its current 60GB version.Beginning in August, the new PS3 model will be available in North America for a suggested retail price of US$599. Sony's current 60GB PS3 model will be available in North America for US$499, or US$100 below the original launch price, according to the company.Both the 80GB and 60GB PS3 models come standard with a Cell Broadband Engine processor, Blu-ray Disc (BD) player, built-in HDD, 1080p high-definition output, Wi-Fi connectivity and SIXAXIS wireless controller.

Advansus has introduced its i915GV2-LEI mini-ITX motherboard which is based on the Intel Pentium M processor and the Intel 82915GV GMCH chipset.The Intel 82915GV GMCH has an integrated GMA 900 graphics core, which supports widescreen LCD displays, DirectX 9 and 3D graphics. It also supports dynamic video memory technology (DVMT) 3.0 with a video memory up to 128MB. The system memory is flexible with one 240-pin DIMM socket supporting DDR2 400/533 up to 1GB, according to Advansus. Advansus i915GV2-LEI mini-ITX motherboard specification Item Details CPU Supports 90nm Intel Pentium M and Celeron M CPU with 400/533 MHz FSB Chipsets Northbridge: Intel 82915GV GMCH Southbridge: ICH6 Memory One 240-pin DIMM socket supporting DDR2 400/533 up to 1 GB VGA Intel GMA 900 Source: Company, compiled by Digitimes, July 2007Advansus i915GV2-LEI mini-ITX motherboardPhoto: Company

OCZ Technology Group has released its PC2-6400 2GB SODIMM module, a high-speed addition to their line of premium laptop upgrade memory.The new 800MHz 2GB DDR2 memory module is built to handle the powerful processors and other high-end components of enthusiast and professional notebooks, as well as mainstream consumers looking to add value and performance to their systems, according to OCZ.The new OCZ PC2-6400 memory will be available in a 2GB module and 4GB (2x2GB) kit rated to run 5-5-5 timings, noted OCZ.OCZ's new PC2-6400 2GB SODIMM modulePhoto: Company

BenQ recently introduced its E820 and C740i digital cameras.The BenQ C740i, an upgrade to the BenQ C740, features a 7-megapixel CCD image sensor, 3x optical zoom, continuous movie recording with optical zoom and a function that can automatically detect and track human faces. The high ISO portrait mode supports high sensitivity up to 1600 to ensure clear photos in a dark environment and the PASM (Program AE/aperture priority/shutter priority/manual) mode enables users to manually customize the aperture and shutter speed to one's own preferences, detailed the company.BenQ's E820, a successor to the BenQ E720, comes with an 8-megapixel CCD image sensor, 3x optical zoom, Pentax lens and a bright 2.5-inch LTPS display. Furthermore, the camera is equipped with direct printing mode, continuous movie recording with optical zoom, 13 scene modes and 3:2 and 16:9 special output sizes; 3:2 resolution mode for easy printing without trimming edges; 16:9 resolution mode for direct display on a 16:9 TV making the E820 an all-round, highly versatile high-performance camera. The E820 also features a face-tracking function and comes embedded with creative photo frames for photo decoration.The BenQ C740i digital cameraPhoto: CompanyThe BenQ E820 digital cameraPhoto: Company

Panasonic recently announced that the company will introduce, worldwide, write-once Blu-ray Discs (BD-R) with 4x writing speed. The new discs will be available in 25GB and 50GB capacities, which will be introduced in the market this July and September, respectively, according to the company.The new discs have the capability of 4x speed writing and reading, allowing users to handle large amounts of data or high-definition (HD) content with greater convenience. Panasonic said it is the first company to announce the market introduction of 4x BD-R Discs as of July 3, 2007.The new 4x discs have the maximum data transfer speed of 144Mbps, which means they can copy a 1GB folder in just one minute, while a DVD-RW (2x data transfer speed) needs six minutes, according to Panasonic. This is achieved by the application of new phase-change recording technology, which results in precise and stable recording even when writing at 4x high speed. Panasonic succeeded in applying this technology to not only single layer discs but also to dual layer discs, allowing users to write 50GB data at 4x high-speed without turning over the disc.Also the newly developed recording layer has a wide power margin at any writing speed from 1x to 4x. This enables high quality recording, even if the drive's laser power fluctuates, resulting in greater overall drive compatibility.The new discs offer low error rate thanks to a newly developed film forming technology which minimizes dust generated in the sputtering process. The error rate is reduced to 1/10 that of a conventional disc, ensuring high reliability and a high quality recording, said the company. Panasonic 4x BD-R Disc specifications Item Details Format name Blu-ray Disc Recordable Format Ver. 1.2 Model number LM-BR25LDE LM-BR50LDE Data capacity 25GB 50GB Layer constitution Single sided/single layer Single sided/dual layer Recording format Phase change recordable Laser wavelength 405nm (Blue-violet laser) Objective lens numerical aperture (NA) 0.85 Disc diameter/thickness 120mm×1.2mm Track pitch 0.32-micron Minimum mark length 0.149-micron Data transfer speed 36Mbps(1x)/72Mbps(2x)/144Mbps(4x) Hard coating Yes Source: Panasonic, compiled by Digitimes, July 2007Panasonic's new 4x BD-R DiscPhoto: Company

Taiwan-based second-tier motherboard maker ASRock recently launched its MCP 68-based motherboard, the AliveNF7G-HD720p, in China with a price ranging from US$55-60, targeting the entry-level market, according to sources at channel vendors.The AliveNF7G-HD720p adopts a GeForce 7050 graphics core but does not support HDMI, which is expected to save ASRock around 20% in costs compared to other HDMI-supporting MCP 68 motherboards, noted the sources.ASRock plans to grab more market share in China with the new MCP 68 motherboard in preparation to be listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TSE), added the sources. ASRock AliveNF7G-HD720p specifications Item Details CPU Socket AM2 for AMD Athlon 64FX / 64X2 / X2 / 64 and Sempron processors Chipset Nvidia GeForce 7050 / nForce 630A MCP Memory Dual Channel DDR2 memory technology Supports DDRII800 / 667 / 533 Supports up to 8GB Graphics Integrated Nvidia GeForce 7050 Price US$55-60 Source: Company, compiled by Digitimes, July 2007ASRock AliveNF7G-HD720pPhoto: Company

Silicon Integrated System (SiS) has announced that Asustek Computer's P5S-MX SE motherboard, which adopts its SiS671FX chipset has officially launched.The P5S-MX SE motherboard supports Intel Core 2 Duo, Pentium D, Pentium 4 and Celeron processors with 1066, 800 and 533MHz FSB. It supports single-channel DDR2 667MHz memory with bandwidth up to 5.4GB/s. The SiS671FX chipset also has HyperStreaming technology that can boost the overall PC performance plus built-in Mirage 3 graphics engine and an additional PCI Express x16 port, noted the company.The P5S-MX SE will adopt the SiS968 as the southbridge, added the company. Asustek P5S-MX SE motherboard specification Item Detail CPU Core 2 Duo, Pentium D, Pentium 4 and Celeron Processor with 1066, 800 and 533MHz FSB Memory Single-channel DDR2 667MHz memory Chipsets Northbridge: SiS671FX Southbridge: SiS968 VGA Mirage 3 graphics engine, or an additional PCI-Express x16 port. Source: Asustek and SiS, compiled by Digitimes, July 2007Asustek P5S-MX SE motherboardPhoto: Asustek

Fujitsu Computer Products of America has launched its new travel-ready high-capacity 2.5-inch external hard disk drive (HDD) for the US market. Featuring up to 300GB of storage space in a sleek, compact design, the new external HDDs are built on Fujitsu mobile hard disk technology.Designed for the busy mobile professional, the Fujitsu external HDD comes equipped with all of the necessary components to enable users to take their data wherever they go. The slim device includes an integrated USB 2.0 cable to allow for quick and easy connectivity.Additionally, because the product is USB bus-powered, a notebook can lend the device the necessary power without external resources required. Users can also be assured that their data will be protected with the distinctive 16-point omnidirectional shock mounting design, which helps to reduce the effect of impact, said Fujitsu.For extra security and backup convenience, Fujitsu external HDDs are also bundled with a data protection suite for PCs. Apricorn's EZ Gig II for Windows enables a system to be backed up as an image or an exact clone, while at the same time permitting backups to be compressed into a single file, allowing individual files to be restored, and providing security with password protection. There is also the Cryptainer encryption program that helps privacy, with AES 256 or Blowfish 448-bit encryption. Finally, to ensure data integrity, Second Copy 2000 synchronizing software coordinates file sharing and backup between multiple computers."We are proud to launch the world's highest capacity 2.5-inch external HDD product into the marketplace at a time when consumers are demanding more storage, compact designs, and features that advance the level of data security," said Lorne Wilson, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Fujitsu Computer Products of America. The Fujitsu external HDD 300GB/4200RPM will be available for US$229 (MSRP) and also in a 120GB/5400RPM version for US$129 (MSRP) in the third quarter of 2007 in the US market.Fujitsu 300GB external HDDPhoto: Company