Panasonic has announced the availability of the company's next generation Blu-ray Disc (BD) player, the DMP- BD10A.The DMP-BD10A features an audio upgrade package that brings high-end surround audio to the viewing experience via the inclusion of 7.1 channel surround, Dolby True HD and 'dts-HD ' High Resolution Audio decoding technology, according to Panasonic. The DMP-BD10A also incorporates Panasonic's proprietary EZ-Sync system for integrated one-touch operation of Panasonic home-theater components.In addition to playing pre-recorded BD movie discs, the DMP-BD10A plays conventional standard-definition DVDs (with automatic 1080p up-conversion via HDMI) and conventional CDs. Other key features of the DMP-BD10A include proprietary P4HD technology for performing IP conversion at the pixel level for ultra-fine details, a 297MHz 14bit Video D/A converter with 4X oversampling, video noise shaping that improves signal-to-noise ratios by shifting noise to an unused band, and theoretical support for nearly 4400 billion colors. The DMP-BD10A also incorporates Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Digital and dts decoding, and BD-J (Java application) interactive capability.The Panasonic DMP-BD10A comes bundled with five BD movies and is selling at a suggested retail price of US$599.95.

Motorola presented its 2007 mobile devices collection, which included the RAZR 2 series, MOTO Z8, MOTO Q 9 and ROKR Z6 handsets.The RAZR 2 features a slimmer exterior than its RAZR predecessor, along with new features designed to facilitate communication, according to Motorola. Select models of the RAZR 2 series feature CrystalTalk technology for better call clarity, up to 2GB of on-board memory, external texting with the phone closed and full HTML Web browsing and email access. The RAZR 2 V8, V9 and V9m will offer GSM, 3G HSDPA and EVDO CDMA connectivity, respectively. The phones will be available worldwide starting in July, according to Motorola.Motorola's Z8 is a HSDPA-enabled handset which offers an ultra-high resolution mobile screen that operates in both portrait and landscape modes and can capture and playback video at speeds of up to 30 frames-per-second. Select versions of the Z8 features ROKR-like music capabilities and up to 32GB of expandable memory. The phone allows for mobile TV access to streamed content from select content providers as well as mobile gaming with access. The Z8 will launch across Europe and Asia in June.Motorola also introduced the Q 8 (GSM/EDGE) and Q 9 (HSDPA) to its MOTO Q series of phones. The Q 9, a global quad-band 3G QWERTY, based on the Windows Mobile 6.0 operating system, couples a new sleek form factor with a dual-processor HSDPA/UMTS engine, enabling broadband over-the-air at up to 3.6Mbps . The Q 9 will hit shelves in Italy this week, according to the company.Motorola announced that its newest ROKR, the Z6, will roll into Europe and Asia, following the success of the touch-screen ROKR E6 in China and India. The Z6 is a slider phone with a focus on music playback functions. The Z6 has dedicated music keys and a navigation wheel for instant access to the music library and allows for the transfer of songs using a USB 2.0 connection. The Z6 supports up to 2GB of optional removable memory and supports Stereo Bluetooth wireless technology for wire-free listening on stereo Bluetooth headsets such as the recently available ROKR S9.Ed Zander, Motorola's chairman and chief executive officer, introduces the RAZR 2Photo: Company

Kingston Technology has announced it is first to market with production volume of its ultra low-latency DDR2 800MHz HyperX memory modules. Available immediately, the new modules are the fastest performing memory available providing speed and performance without the need for overclocking. "In lowering the latency even more, going to 3-3-3 with our new HyperX ultra low-latency 800MHz DDR2 modules, Kingston is offering both gaming and tech enthusiasts the flexibility to drive performance and benchmarking scores to the limit," said Mark Tekunoff, senior technology manager at Kingston. "Gamers and reviewers have been waiting for memory vendors to achieve the ‘holy grail' of 800MHz 3-3-3, and they wait no more." Squeezing a little more performance out of current DDR2 technology, Kingston achieved the highest performance gaming memory without overclocking memory bus frequencies. The ultra low-latency HyperX is shipping in 512MB and 1GB modules as well as 1- and 2GB memory kits. Kingston ultra low-latency DDR2 PC2-64000 DIMM memory module specifications Part Number Capacity and Features MSRP (US only) KHX6400D2ULK2/2G 2GB 800MHz DDR2 Ultra Low-Latency HyperX DIMM (Kit of 2) US$255.00 KHX6400D2UL/1G 1GB 800MHz DDR2 Ultra Low-Latency HyperX DIMM US$128.00 KHX6400D2ULK2/1G 1GB 800MHz DDR2 Ultra Low-Latency HyperX DIMM (Kit of 2) US$138.00 KHX6400D2UL/512 512MB 800MHz DDR2 HyperX Ultra Low-Latency DIMM US$69.00 Source: Company, compiled by Digitimes, May 2007Kingston HyperXSource: Business Wire

SanDisk has announced that the Microsoft Windows Hardware Qualification Lab (WHQL) has certified the new SanDisk 1.8-inch UATA solid state drive (SSD), which is being used as a substitute for hard drives in selected laptop computers. The announcement was made at the 2007 Windows Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC 2007) at the Los Angeles Convention Center, where SanDisk is showcasing its comprehensive line of storage products for use in computing systems. On display at the exhibition are the SanDisk SSD products, which also include the 2.5-inch SATA SSD, as well as USB flash drives, the SD card family, uDOC memory modules and other flash-based storage products. With WHQL certification, the SanDisk UATA SSD is now compatible with Windows Vista and Windows XP and identified as a product that delivers a high-quality computing experience with Windows operating systems. SanDisk now can use the Works with Windows Vista and Designed for Windows XP logos on its SSD product. The SanDisk UATA SSD scored 5.4 out of 5.9 when tested with the Windows Experience Index utility, a new feature in Windows Vista. The results indicate that the new Windows Vista operating system will run optimally when installed on the SanDisk SSD. Using a scale ranging from 1 to 5.9, the Windows Experience Index measures performance capabilities of PCs and their components and calculates a score telling users how well the operating system will run using those components. Products receiving a score of 5.0 or higher are defined by Microsoft as the highest performers in their respective categories, according to SanDisk."Compared to a score of between 3 and 4 for a typical rotating hard disk in the same environment, we scored quite well," said Iri Trashanski, director of business development for the SanDisk Computing Solutions Division. "With results like these and certification from Microsoft, PC manufacturers and consumers will find it even more worthwhile to move away from conventional HDDs in order to enjoy the improved performance, durability and reliability delivered by our SSD product line." SanDisk SSDSource: Business Wire

Positive about the outlook of the ultra-mobile PC (UMPC) market, Gigabyte Technology recently debuted its first UMPC in Taiwan. The U60 will be available in Taiwan on May 22 with initial shipments of 500 units and hit the global market in the second half of 2007, said the company.Gigabyte is offering the UMPC with price tag of NT$26,900 (US$808), said the company. The model, features VIA Technologies' C7-M processor and is made by Arima Computer, according to sources. Gigabyte is also partnering with Chunghwa Telecom (CHT) to provide 3G/3.5G service.The motherboard maker said it will launch another UMPC model in the second half of 2007. UMPC market has the chance to exceed two million units in 2007, Gigabyte estimated.Gigabyte U60 ultra-mobile PCPhoto: Company

Fujitsu announced the release of its Primergy BX620 S4 blade server, which is designed to facilitate system expansion and reconfiguration while reducing the workload for systems administrators during server consolidation. The Primergy BX620 S4 is being offered in Japan starting immediately and will be gradually offered in other markets, noted the company.Powered by Intel Xeon L5320 1.86GHz processors, the new server can accommodate up to ten industry-standard LAN ports, among the highest number in the industry, thereby simplifying network design during server consolidation. When the server is connected to a storage area network (SAN), Fujitsu's Systemwalker Resource Coordinator Virtual server Edition V13.2 can handle storage, thus enabling plug-and-play configuration changes without affecting the SAN environment.Fujitsu's new server also improves utilization and availability while reducing running costs, electrical consumption, and administrative costs, enabling customers to realize significant reductions in total cost of ownership (TCO), according to Fujitsu.Fujitsu's new blade server has expandable LAN ports that simplify network setup and is designed so that administrators can change server configuration without affecting the SAN environment. When combined with the company's own middleware, the Systemwalker Resource Coordinator Virtual server Edition V13.2, it provides the higher availability and more efficient utilization that is expected for server consolidation with blade servers, claims Fujitsu.The Primergy BX620 S4 blade server has an optional 4Gbps Fibre Channel expansion board.The Fujitsu Primergy BX620 S4 blade serverPhoto: Company

Silicon Storage Technology (SST) has announced that its NANDrive storage solution is one of the first ATA solid-state storage devices to receive Windows ReadyBoost certification from Microsoft. When enabled as a Windows ReadyBoost device, the NANDrive achieves much faster application load time and system responsiveness, especially in low-memory conditions and after a resume from hibernate, in notebook and desktop PCs, according to the company.SST NANDrive leverages the company's innovative controller technology to manage all NAND flash complexities, resulting in an easy-to-integrate mass data storage solution that uses a fraction of the power that a hard disk drive requires while still maintaining high performance when enabled as a solid-state drive.Windows ReadyBoost is a new feature in Windows Vista that enables PCs to enjoy greater system responsiveness. With the Windows ReadyBoost feature, frequently used application data is copied into nonvolatile memory, such as NANDrive, resulting in much faster application load time and system responsiveness. During ReadyBoost certification testing, NANDrive achieved high performance results of 50% above certification requirements, demonstrating its suitability for compute-intensive applications such as laptop PCs and mobile multimedia devices. In addition, the NANDrive family, with the industry's first 8-bit hardware ECC engine and SST proprietary programmable firmware with multi-tasking NAND interface, helps solve the slow performance problem that is typical when using lower cost multi-level cell (MLC) NAND flash.SST NANDrive family spans densities of 128MB to 8GB, all with the same common ball layout, giving customers a wide range of easily upgradeable solid-state storage options. The first NANDrive device to receive certification for ReadyBoost is the 512MB SST85LD0512T.

Lanner Electronics has announced the FW-8890, a 2U rackmount appliance for enterprise-grade network applications. Combining an Intel 5000P server-grade chipset and two Dual- or Quad-Core Xeon sequence processors enables the FW-8890 to deliver unparalleled performance which is backed up by Lanner's ODM service to ensure both flexibility and smooth integration, highlighted the company."The FW-8890 redefines the design of high-performance network security hardware," stated Lawrence Chao, Executive Vice President. "It integrates an Intel 5000P chipset, an onboard Cavium VPN accelerator, and a PCI Express network traffic bus, allowing our customers to deliver faster, feature-rich applications – which are simultaneously flexible, expandable, and easy to maintain."The FW-8890 builds upon the architecture of earlier generations by offering a PCI Express (PCIe) network traffic bus, up to 12 Gigabit RJ45 or SFP fiber ports, a PCIe enhanced north-southbridge link, four hot-swappable SATA bays, and eight FB-DIMMs. These enhancements give application designers both greater freedom in building today's network appliances and ample headroom for satisfying future hardware demands, Lanner pointed out.The FW-8890 network appliance is designed for multi-service communication applications – such as Business-to-Business Gateways, Unified Threat Management Appliances, and Triple Play Servers. By employing the FW-8890 in multi-service applications, customers can optimize data density, reduce operating costs, and improve business continuity with an energy-efficient network infrastructure, noted Lanner. Features of the FW-8890 Item Detail Quad-core processing Delivers better performance on multiple applications at a substantially reduced power envelope Intel Core microarchitecture Supports better system utilization, boosts application responsiveness, and increases performance headroom for single and multi-threaded applications. Onboard Cavium Nitrox CN1010 VPN Accelerator Increases total system throughput by processing high level IPsec and IKE, IPv6, SSL and Wireless LAN security protocol macro commands to reduce host I/O traffic and dramatically offload the system processor Up to 12 enterprise grade Intel Gigabit NICs High network throughput scans more packets per second with fail-over bypass support Intel Virtualization technology Enables migration of more environments including 64-bit applications and operating systems to virtual environments Intel's sub 65W dual-core processors Low-power SKUs improve data center density and thermal mechanics Expansion options Lanner offers an extensive line of PCI-X and PCIe VPN and content inspection network accelerators Source: Company, compiled by Digitimes, May 2007Further product information is available on the Lanner website. The FW-8890 is available for immediate evaluation.Lanner Electronics FW-8890, a 2U rackmount appliance for enterprise-grade network applicationsPhoto: Company

Fujitsu announced the development of its MHY2 BH series of 2.5-inch hard disk drives (HDDs) with a storage capacity of 250GB in a slim 9.5mm profile.Fujitsu's new series of HDDs utilizes perpendicular magnetic recording to deliver 250GB of storage capacity and is intended for use in notebook PCs, compact desktop PCs, and consumer electronics devices, according to the company. With an idle acoustic noise level of 2.4bels and low power consumption, operating at 1.9W or less when reading or writing data, the MHY2 BH series is also among the best-in-class in terms of noise and energy efficiency, stated Fujitsu. The new HDDs are also RoHS compliant.Sales of the new MHY2 BH series will begin during the company's second fiscal quarter of 2007, targeting global markets for consumer electronics products and notebook PCs.The Fujitsu MHY2 BH series of 250GB 2.5-inch hard disk drives (HDDs)Photo: Company

Hitachi Data Systems has introduced the Hitachi Universal Storage Platform (USP) V an intelligent storage services platform, which it claims is able to significantly outperform competing storage systems.The USP V offers 3.5 million input/output operations per second (IOPS) of maximum performance, and, fueled by its next generation large-scale heterogeneous virtualization layer and Hitachi architectural innovations, substantially increases virtualized storage port performance for external storage by up to 500% over its predecessor, highlighted Hitachi. Hitachi has also announced a 4Gb/s fiber channel switch (FSW) backplane for enterprise-class storage platforms, making Hitachi the only company with a switched internal architecture and a unique switched backplane architecture as well, providing customers with a fast, cost-effective way to process and transfer data through a storage controller engine, claimed the company.The USP V facilitates linkages across a spectrum of enterprise, mid-range and low-end storage systems, delivering unified, advanced storage services that span multi-dimensional virtualization, provisioning, partitioning, and replication capabilities-in effect enhancing the value of clients' existing storage environments, noted Hitachi. With the refined fourth generation massively parallel crossbar switch architecture as its engine, the USP V delivers 3.5 million IOPS, an advantage of between 75-500% over other enterprise storage systems in the market and a substantial 40% increase over the current Hitachi Universal Storage Platform, said Hitachi.Hitachi Universal Storage Platform VPhoto: Company