Wistron said its after-tax profits declined 14.7% on year to NT$1.1 billion (US$33 million) in the first quarter of 2007, making it the only one of the four first-tier notebook makers to experience a setback in profitability in the quarter. The three other first-tier makers – Quanta Computer, Compal Electronics and Inventec – saw their after-tax earnings grow in a range between 18-62.5% in the January-March quarter, according to data from the companies. The weak earnings might reflect Wistron's declined notebook shipments in the first quarter, said market sources, who estimated that Wistron shipped about two million notebooks, down 10% from a year earlier. However, Wistron's first-quarter net EPS (earnings per share) of NT$0.87 were higher than Compal's NT$0.69 and Inventec's NT$0.71, although they were lower than Quanta's NT$1.02, according to data from the companies.

OCZ Technology has announced two new additions to the Reaper HPC family. The two new kits will be available in two classifications depending on the platform at hand and desired performance levels. While both feature DDR2-800 speeds, the PC2-6400 Reaper Enhanced Bandwidth Edition is designed for optimal performance on Nvidia nForce 680i chipsets.As one of OCZ's Enhanced Bandwidth (EB) editions, the PC2-6400 Reaper EB increases effective memory bandwidth through the optimization of memory latencies between the system memory, the chipset, and memory controller, says the company. At 800MHz, the Reaper EB edition is rated for 4-3-3 timings on 680i platforms, while the standard PC2-6400 Reaper is rated to run CL4-4-4.These unique DDR2-800 modules feature the Reaper HPC (Heat Pipe Conduit) heatspreader which is engineered to deliver silent heat dissipation. The Reaper HPC is an innovative cooling solution developed by OCZ to effectively minimize heat produced by high-speed memory. As heat rises into the thermo-conductive copper heat pipe conduit, it is dissipated through a compact aluminum fin array. By strategically guiding performance-robbing heat away from key memory components, the unique Reaper HPC design maximizes passive cooling to improve longevity and stability of the modules, according to OCZ.An OCZ Reaper HPC memory modulePhoto: Company

Kingston Technology has announced a new Photo Loader Card: a 1GB Secure Digital (SD) flash memory card with software that allows for automatic transfer of photos from ones PC to Shutterfly, the Internet-based social expression and personal publishing service.Once digital photos are taken and the SD card is placed into a PC card reader, the Photo Loader software automatically downloads the photos from the card to PC, and then uploads them to a personal Shutterfly account. Consumers who purchase the card also get 25 free 4×6-inch prints from Shutterfly, Kingston noted."The Photo Loader Card is the latest example of our company's commitment in the digital photography arena," said Jaja Lin, flash marketing manager at Kingston. "We believe this all-in-one solution on a Kingston card is a win-win for consumers." The Photo Loader Card (Kingston Part number SD/1GB-SMP) has an MSRP of US$12.99 and is available only through Amazon.com. The Photo Loader software was developed by MacroPort, a provider of mobile technology and content services. The Kingston Photo Loader Card is compatible with Windows XP Service Pack 1 and above and Internet Explorer 5.0 and above, and carries a lifetime warranty along with Kingston's 24/7 technical support. Kingston Photo Loader Card Photo: Business Wire

Mio Technology, the own-brand product division of Mitac International, on April 25 launched two in-car GPS devices, the C720t and C520, in Taiwan, with both models featuring a 4.3-inch LED display and built-in 3D maps.The C720t carries a suggested retail price of NT$15,800 (US$476), while the C520 is priced at NT$11,800, according to sources in the channel.Additionally, Mitac also expects its shipments of GPS devices worldwide to double in the second quarter from over one million shipped in the first quarter, buoyed partly by the launch of the 4.3-inch models, according to Mio president Samuel Wang.Overall, Mitac's shipments of GPS products, including Mio-branded models, are expected to total eight million units in 2007, accounting for a 32% share of the global GPS market, Wang noted.Mio has also established cooperation agreements with the top-four automakers in China to develop the in-car GPS market, and the company has already received orders for 66,000 GPS devices from the makers, said Wang, noting that China shipments will account for 6% to its own-brand shipments in 2007.Mio C520 in-car GPS devicePhoto: Company

Sony recently announced three AVCHD high-definition (HD) camcorders, the HDR-CX7, HDR-SR7 and HDR-SR5.According to Sony, its new Handycam HDR-CX7 model is the world's smallest and lightest AVCHD high-definition camcorder and can record nearly three hours of full HD 1080 video on an 8GB Memory Stick Pro Duo media card (LP mode). The HDR-CX7 weighs just 15-ounces with the supplied battery, noted Sony.Sony's new HDR-SR7 AVCHD high-definition camcorder can record more than 22 hours of full HD 1080 video on its built-in 60GB hard disk drive, while the HDR-SR5 model's 40GB hard drive can hold more than 15 hours of footage (LP modes). In addition to long recording times, these two models offer compactness and Sony's HDD Smart Protection system to safeguard against data loss as well as easy connection to PCs via USB, noted Sony.The new camcorders debut enhanced functions for easy browsing and searching on their high-resolution, 2.7-inch Clear Photo LCD Plus screens. Users can swiftly find scenes via the new film roll button to view footage as a film roll index, which displays multiple scenes as thumbnails within a single movie file. Sony also integrated new face index technology so users can also access specific scenes by familiar faces.For more advanced searching on a compatible PC, users can use the camcorders' bundled Picture Motion Browser software to access the highlight index. It incorporates a search engine for voices and colors as well as faces so people can quickly get to the scenes they want to watch. All three models incorporate Sony's ClearVid CMOS sensor technology.The HDR-CX7 and HDR-SR7 models utilize Sony's 3-megapixel sensor for full HD 1080 video and 6-megapixel digital still photos. They are also equipped with Super SteadyShot optical image stabilization to produce smooth video results, as well as virtually blur-free photos. The HDR-SR5 model integrates a 2-megapixel sensor for full HD 1080 video and produces a 4-megapixel photo.Additionally, all models benefit from Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T optics for increased contrast and true-to-life color saturation.The new models support the AVCHD camcorder recording format based on the MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 codec for video compression and Dolby digital audio. In addition to high-quality video, the camcorders have built-in Dolby Digital 5.1-channel surround sound recording.The models' supplied Handycam Stations include a One Touch Disc Burn button for easy DVD creation using a PC and the bundled software. These stations now feature HD component output for instant connection to a compatible HDTV set when the camcorders are cradled.High-definition content recorded on standard DVDs can be played back on compatible Blu-ray Disc devices, PlayStation 3 (PS3) and standard DVD drives on compatible PCs with the models' bundled software. The next-generation Sony DVDirect recorder will also be compatible with these camcorders for HD video transfer to standard, 5.25-inch DVDs. The HDR-CX7 unit's Memory Stick PRO Duo or Memory Stick PRO HG media cards, featuring high data transfer rates, can also be played back directly on compatible PCs and PS3 by a system software update scheduled in the summer of 2007.The HDR-SR5, HDR-CX7 and HDR-SR7 camcorders will ship in June for about US$1,100, US$1,200 and US$1,400, respectively, with an array of optional accessories. All will be available at Sony's online store, in Sony Style retail stores, and at authorized dealers throughout the US.The Sony HDR-CX7 HD camcorderPhoto: Company

VIA Technologies and Everex jointly unveiled the notebook, which features a VIA C7-M processor and will be available through US retailers.The new StepNote NC1501 comes with a Windows Vista Home Basic operating system, a 15.4-inch widescreen display with DiamondBrite technology, a built-in wireless LAN and DVD burner. The notebook is powered by a 1.5GHz VIA C7-M processor, which is designed to provide ultra-low power consumption, advanced security features at a mere 12W peak power.The StepNote NC1501 is expected to aid users in reducing their overall electricity usage while lowering the total cost of ownership. According to the two companies, utilization of VIA Enhanced PowerSaver and TwinTurbo technology allow the notebook to dynamically transition between intermediate power states, providing users with 20% longer battery life than comparable systems.The notebook is available in Wal-Mart stores throughout the US and online through BestBuy.com and WalMart.com at a price of US$499. Everex StepNote NC1501 specifications Item Detail Processor 1.5GHz VIA C7-M processor Operating system: Genuine Windows Vista Home Basic Graphics: VIA Chrome9 HC IGP Memory: 512MB DDR2 533MHz SDRAM Sources: Everex, VIA, compiled by Digitimes, April 2007Everex StepNote NC1501 notebookPhoto: Everex

SiS has announced that its SiS671FX chipset is to be used in the new Fujitsu T671ME-FJ motherboard which recently entered mass production.In order to match the features of Windows Vista, the SiS671FX chipset is designed to meet all the requirements so that the system will be more secure, reliable, and easy to use, SiS claimed. This is one of the most critical advantages of the SiS671FX chipset, and is why Fujitsu has adopted it for its T671ME-FJ motherboard, according to SiS.The Fujitsu T671ME-FJ supports Intel Core 2 Duo, Celeron D, and Pentium 4 processors as well as DDR2 667 memory. For graphics, the SiS671FX chipset delivers the integrated Mirage 3 graphics engine in addition to one PCI Express x16 slot to allow for upgrades.The T671ME-FJ adopts the SiS968 southbridge which adds one PCI Express x1 slot, Serial ATA, and six USB 2.0 ports. Additionally, the T671ME-FJ features 6-Channel Audio and Gigabit Ethernet. Fujitsu T671ME-FJ motherboard specifications Item Detail CPU Intel Core 2 Duo, Celeron D, Pentium 4 Memory DDR2 667 VGA Mirage 3 graphics engine One PCI Express x16 slot Southbridge SiS968 chipset Source: SiS, compiled by Digitimes, April 2007Fujitsu T671ME-FJPhoto: Fujitsu, SiS

OCZ Technology Group announced its new StealthXStream 600W power supply designed for the value-minded consumer seeking simple, quiet performance.The StealthXStream is kept cool with a 120mm fan and features a standard ATX power supply form factor resulting in a compact footprint to accommodate virtually all computer towers. With a sustained output of 600W and four +12V rails to provide uniform distribution of power, the StealthXStream is well-suited for and driving today's higher end systems. The StealthXStream is built to provide sufficient output to power dual GPU and CPU platforms, complete with two PCI-Express cables and a 4/8 CPU auxiliary connector which are wrapped in a flexible mesh promoting a tidy environment inside the case, according to OCZ.The OCZ StealthXStream 600W power supplyPhoto: Company

Taiwan-based IPC makers Aaeon Technology and Axiomtek recently announced AMD Geode LX-based products.Aaeon announced its mini-embedded motherboard PCM-5895, which is based on the AMD Geode LX700, LX800 and LX900 series processors with support for DDR300 memory up to 1GB and DDR400 memory up to 512MB. The PCM-5895 can support LCD TV, CRT TV and has one CAN bus port for car electronics connections, according to sources at Aaeon.The PCM-5895 targets automation, ticketing machines, transportation, gaming and kiosk/POS markets, added the sources.Axiomtek also announced its low-power Internet platform, the NA-100, based on the AMD Geode LX 800 processor and CS5536AD chipset.The NA-100 targets the network security appliance market for small and medium enterprises. The product is modularized to reduce the cost and time spent by system integrators on system development, Internet security software developers and manufacturers, noted sources at Axiomtek. Aaeon PCM-5895 specifications Item Details CPU AMD Geode LX 800 (LX 700/900 optional) Memory DDR300 up to 1GB, DDR400 up to 512MB Source: Company, compiled by Digitimes, April 2007 Axiomtek NA-100 specifications Item Details CPU AMD Geode LX 800 (LX 700 optional) Chipsets AMD Geode CS5536AD Memory 512MB for DDR SODIMM DDR266/333/400 Source: Company, compiled by Digitimes, April 2007Aaeon PCM-5895Photo: CompanyAxiomtek NA-100Photo: Company

NEC Electronics America has announced the availability of two new metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) families that help reduce heat generation in servers, motherboards and notebooks.The uPA273xUT1A family is designed for use in the protection circuitry of lithium-ion (Li-Ion) batteries for notebook PCs, and is designed to help prevent heat generation and explosions that may result from Li-Ion battery overcurrent. The second, the uPA272xUT1A family, helps to power CPUs and chipsets in notebooks, desktop PCs and servers, and is designed for use in DC/DC converters, or point-of-load (POL) converters, which must provide clean and reliable power service to chipsets. All of the new MOSFETs are housed in NEC Electronics' proprietary 8-pin HVSON package that fits into the industry-standard SOP8 (small-outline package) footprint and provides efficient heat dissipation while allowing the devices to deliver significantly more power than standard SOP8-based solutions."Our new, highly efficient power MOSFETs meet the industry's most stringent power requirements in high-speed computing applications by combining large current capabilities and high-speed switching performance with low on- state resistance," said Bart Ladd, general manager, standard solutions strategic business unit, NEC Electronics America. "This combined functionality delivers the performance designers demand and the peace of mind they need to be assured that heat generation is being effectively minimized."Fabricated with a 0.25-micron process, the MOSFETs have on-resistances ranging from 2.0 to 7.7 milliohms in the uPA272xUT1A family, and from 2.6 to 3.1 milliohms in the uPA273xUT1A family. The devices also offer superior heat dissipation, allowing only 4.6 watts (W) of power. Unlike lead-frame packages, which are mounted and then covered with resin, the 8-pin HVSON package effectively prevents heat generation by connecting directly to the board, allowing heat to radiate via an exposed frame without the use of resin. As a result, 4.6W of power, approximately 80% more than existing MOSFETs, is available. Furthermore, without the need for resin, package height can be reduced to a maximum of 1mm, 40% thinner than existing MOSFETs, making it possible for designers to reduce the size of batteries in notebook computers.